Avallo's Blog

New Website Coming Soon

After designing and developing hundreds of websites for our incredible clients, the team at Avallo Web Development is thrilled to announce that it's OUR time!   

We're working on a brand new website that showcases our passion, expertise, and dedication to creating top-notch digital experiences. Stay tuned for a fresh look, innovative features, and a seamless user experience that reflects the best of what we offer. We can't wait to share it with you all!

Website Accessibility

Avallo offers a web accessibility solution designed to help websites comply with accessibility standards such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Here's how it works and why it's crucial to have it installed on a website:

How It Works

The solution uses AI to scan and analyze a website, automatically adjusting the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to ensure that screen readers can correctly interpret the content and that keyboard navigation is smooth and logical. It also generates accurate alt text descriptions for images if they are missing, ensuring that visually impaired users can understand the image content. The solution includes an accessibility interface that allows users to customize the website according to their needs. Users can adjust elements such as font size, color contrast, and more.

Disability Profiles

Users can select from various profiles tailored to different disabilities (e.g., vision impairment, cognitive disorders, motor disabilities), which will automatically adjust the website settings to suit their needs.

Continuous Monitoring

The solution continuously scans the website to ensure ongoing compliance. If new content is added or existing content changes, the AI re-analyzes and adjusts as needed. It provides detailed reports on the website’s accessibility status and any issues that need to be addressed manually.

Why have your website compliant?

Depending on the entity, non-compliance can result in legal actions and fines. Accessibility standards and laws evolve. Our solution helps websites stay compliant with the latest regulations and guidelines. Making a website accessible ensures that people with disabilities can access and use it, increasing the potential user base. Accessibility features often enhance the overall user experience for everyone, including those with temporary disabilities (e.g. a broken arm) and those using mobile devices.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 

Accessible websites are often better optimized for search engines. Features like alt text for images and proper heading structures improve SEO, potentially increasing traffic. Demonstrating a commitment to accessibility can enhance a company's reputation and show that it values inclusivity and diversity. Our solution can foster loyalty among users who appreciate and rely on the accommodations provided.

Overall, Avallo can provide an efficient and effective solution for ensuring web accessibility, benefiting website owners and users.

Why You Still Need a Human to Create and Maintain Your Website

While AI (artificial intelligence) has made significant strides in automating various aspects of web development, there are several reasons why a human touch is still essential for creating and maintaining a company website:
  1. Creativity and Innovation: Humans bring creativity and innovative thinking to the table, crucial for designing visually appealing and unique websites that stand out from the competition. While AI can assist with generating code and content, it cannot generate truly original ideas and concepts.
  2. Understanding of Business Needs: Human web developers have the ability to understand the specific needs and goals of a company and translate them into a website that effectively communicates the brand message and serves the target audience. They can adapt and tailor the website based on the company's evolving requirements and market dynamics.
  3. User Experience (UX) Design: Designing a website that offers an intuitive and engaging user experience requires human expertise. Human designers can empathize with users, anticipate their needs and preferences, and create interfaces that are easy to navigate and visually appealing.
  4. Quality Assurance: While AI can assist with automated testing, human web developers play a critical role in ensuring a website's overall quality and functionality. They can identify subtle issues, inconsistencies, and usability problems that automated tools may not detect.
  5. Adaptability and Problem-Solving Skills: Human developers can adapt to new technologies, frameworks, and development methodologies, allowing them to tackle complex challenges and solve problems creatively. They can also troubleshoot issues and implement solutions in real-time, ensuring the website's smooth operation.
  6. Communication and Collaboration: Building a website often requires collaboration between various stakeholders, including designers, developers, content creators, and clients. Human developers excel at communication and collaboration, facilitating effective teamwork and goal alignment throughout the development process.
  7. Ethical Considerations: Humans can make moral decisions regarding content, data privacy, and accessibility, ensuring that the website adheres to legal and ethical standards. They can also address potential biases and ensure inclusivity in design and content.
  8. Continuous Improvement: Maintaining a website involves ongoing updates, optimizations, and enhancements to keep up with evolving technology trends and user expectations. Human developers can analyze website performance metrics, gather user feedback, and implement iterative improvements
.
While AI can streamline certain aspects of web development and maintenance, the human element remains indispensable for creating high-quality, user-centric websites that effectively serve the needs of businesses and their audiences.

Selecting a Web Development Company

Selecting a web development company is a crucial decision that can significantly impact the success of your online presence. Here's a list of reasons why you should choose Avallo over another company:

Expertise and Skills: Avallo is a 28-year-old company with a proven track record of expertise in web development. The team's skills in programming languages, frameworks, and technologies will always be a good fit. Otherwise, we will let you know and give you a referral.
Portfolio and Previous Work: Avallo's company's portfolio shows the quality of our work. We are custom web developers. That means, you will get exactly what you want and need. We have hundreds of websites from all kinds of companies and nonprofits.
Technology Stack: We design and develop in the best CMS for your project.
Customization and Flexibility: We do not just use templates. We custom design a website that fits your needs. We are flexible and easy to work with.
Industry Experience: Avallo has been around longer than Google. We keep up on the newest technologies. That is the fun part!
Client Reviews and Testimonials: We have clients that have been with us for decades. We are there for the build and after. And the next build too.
Communication and Collaboration: We answer the phone!! I know it seems simple. We also answer emails and texts promptly. We collaborate well with your inside or outside marketing teams.
Scalability: Our websites scale as your business grows without major reworks.
Budget and Pricing: Our pricing structure is transparent and we ensure there are no hidden costs that we have not talked about.
Timely Delivery: We get websites done on time - sometimes ahead of schedule. Once the website is paid for, you own the code.
Post-Launch Support and Maintenance: Unlike companies that use a lot of freelancers, we will be there after launch for any upgrades or changes. We can do maintenance agreements but we usually just do changes by the 1/4 hour. You will only pay when we do work. To us, that is good business.
Security Measures: Security is paramount in web development. Avallo follows best practices for securing websites and applications. This includes measures such as data encryption, secure coding practices, and regular security audits.
User Experience (UX) and Design: Avallo creates visually appealing and user-friendly websites which is essential for engaging visitors and achieving business goals.

Now that you know a little more about Avallo Web Development, contact us for your next website project or other marketing projects!

The Primary Goals of Good UX Design

User Experience (UX) for websites refers to the overall experience that visitors have when they interact with a website. It encompasses all aspects of the user's interaction, including their perception, feelings, and behavior while navigating and using the website. The primary goal of a good UX design is to create a positive and enjoyable experience for users, making it easy for them to find the information they need, perform tasks, and achieve their goals efficiently. Here are some key elements of UX we use for Avallo websites:

Usability: The website should be easy to use and navigate. It should have a clear and intuitive layout, with well-organized menus and content. Users should be able to find what they are looking for without unnecessary confusion or frustration.

Visual Design: Aesthetics play a significant role in UX. The website should have a visually appealing design, with a consistent color scheme, appropriate typography, and a balanced use of white space. Visual elements should complement the content and not distract or overwhelm the user.

Accessibility: A good UX considers the needs of all users, including those with disabilities. The website should be designed to be accessible to people with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. This may involve using alt text for images, providing captions for videos, and ensuring proper keyboard navigation.

Page Load Speed: Slow-loading pages can lead to a poor user experience. Optimizing website performance and reducing load times are crucial for keeping users engaged and preventing them from abandoning the site.

Mobile Responsiveness: With a significant portion of internet traffic coming from mobile devices, it's essential to have a responsive design that adapts to various screen sizes. Mobile users should have the same positive experience as desktop users.

Clear Call-to-Actions (CTAs): Well-defined CTAs guide users to take specific actions, such as signing up for a newsletter, making a purchase, or contacting the company. CTAs should stand out and be easy to understand.

Consistency: Consistency in design and navigation elements creates a sense of familiarity and helps users feel more comfortable and confident while exploring the website.

User Research: Understanding the target audience's needs, behaviors, and preferences is vital in crafting a user-centered design. User research can involve surveys, interviews, and usability testing to gather valuable insights.

Error Handling: If users encounter errors or make mistakes, the website should provide clear and helpful error messages, guiding them to the correct path without causing frustration.

Feedback and Validation: Providing feedback to users when they complete actions or submit forms helps reassure them that their actions were successful. Visual cues and validation messages can contribute to a positive UX.

User Journey Mapping: Understanding the user's journey through the website helps identify pain points and opportunities for improvement. By optimizing the user flow, the website can be made more efficient and user-friendly.

By prioritizing the user's needs and expectations, our clients will have e a satisfying and memorable user experience, leading to increased user engagement, higher conversion rates, and improved brand perception. Want to chat about the user experience on your website? Call Avallo