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Design Rules - VVDesigns
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1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.7https://vvdesigns.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/cropped-logo-32x32.pngDesign Rules - VVDesigns
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3232197740417What Is Responsive Web Design And How To Use It?
https://vvdesigns.in/what-is-responsive-web-design-and-how-to-use-it/
https://vvdesigns.in/what-is-responsive-web-design-and-how-to-use-it/#respondSat, 13 Apr 2024 13:00:17 +0000https://vvdesigns.in/?p=3363Social media today is a very crucial component of any marketing strategy. The main focus for a growing business is the production of intriguing content, appropriate metric tracking of the campaign performance, and the analysis of audience behavior. All of which can be done if you hire a social media agency. Since a marketing agency ...
The post What Is Responsive Web Design And How To Use It? appeared first on VVDesigns.]]>Social media today is a very crucial component of any marketing strategy. The main focus for a growing business is the production of intriguing content, appropriate metric tracking of the campaign performance, and the analysis of audience behavior.
All of which can be done if you hire a social media agency. Since a marketing agency fully understands the power of a solid online presence. To provide a hassle-free online experience for your audience, Responsive Web Design is vital. In this article, we will understand what it is and how you can use it for growth boost.
What Is Responsive Web Design?
What happens when your website delivers an average experience for a growing segment of users? Your mobile audiences face issues surfing through your website which is caused by bad website response. To solve this issue you should know What Is Responsive Web Design (RWD). Such a phrase is not merely a technical term, but it is the approach, which is user-friendly and allows visitors to have a great experience on the sites from their desktops to tablets and smartphones.
As modern society gets more used to mobile devices, people spend a lot of time on their phones engaging in social media. To be perfectly clear, if the website of your client is not optimized for viewing on a mobile device, then when the user clicks through the campaign, he/she will meet much discomfort.
Visualize the quiz being unclickable or the pictures loading at the same speed as tortoises. This is the same as saying that you stand to gain little or zero sales, spoil your brand image, and eventually leave many disappointed clients.
How Can Responsive Web Design solve this problem?
Here’s how RWD empowers and delivers exceptional value to your website:
Seamless User Experience: A responsive website involves providing comfortable browsing for users regardless of the device they use. Thus, the longer the engagement times, the higher conversion rates (e.g., online purchases or inquiries on the site form), and in the end, the contented website visitors are ensured.
Social Media Engagement Boost: Social media is propelled by this user engagement. When your website offers seamless navigation across screens, users are more willing to go deeper, stick around, or even click through social media posts with a higher possibility of paying for services. This means that the efficiency of your social media investments will rise.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Advantage: Search engines such as Google give websites that are mobile-friendly favor instead of those that are not. A responsive website inherently enhances your SEO ranking, through which more organic web traffic is generated and your brand gets more and more people discovering it through online search engines.
Brand Consistency Across Channels: If you know what is a responsive web design and integrate it into your website. Your brand or product images will remain uniform throughout all devices. This not only brands your business but also builds trust with the target audience leading to a more cohesive presence on the internet.
Streamlined Maintenance: This is done by using a responsive web design for which you will have to maintain a single website for your business. This allows you to cut down on both the multiple mobile and desktop versions which reduces your website maintenance cost in the long run.
How Does A Social Media Agency Use Responsive Web Design for Client Success?
If you want to have a good RWD you can look for a social media company in Delhi like Red Dash Media. We will integrate it into your workflow in the following ways:
Strategic Integration: RWD is not a one-off idea, it is a part of your social media strategy which we discuss with clients as we plan goals and objectives for them. We detail the advantages of it in particular areas which are user experience, SEO, and branding while confirming that they appreciate its crucial role in the overall digital performance.
Client Education: We teach about the relevance of RWD and its effect on the results that are the outcome of their social media spending. What we offer is case studies and data demonstrating the extent to which RWD promotes user engagement and conversion.
Collaboration with Web Development Experts: Our professional web developers work towards the same responsive design. With this, your site is not just visually attractive on any device, but also works well on all the devices and provides the best user experience.
Mobile-Optimized Social Media Content: Our social media content creation plans ensure mobile viewership. Our creativity is shown in various visuals that show the information, while the text is made to be concise and calls to action statements are clickable.
Responsive Landing Pages: To catch social media attention, we develop mobile-friendly responsive pages, dedicated to mobile users. The unique pages importantly tie up to the overall design of the site yet essentially provide a tailored user experience in support of campaign objectives.
By incorporating responsive web design into our services, we become a one-stop shop for our social media clients. We manage their online presence holistically – from crafting engaging content to driving traffic to a website that converts and fosters brand loyalty. This comprehensive approach ensures our clients achieve their digital marketing goals and build a strong online presence that thrives in the mobile-first world.
How Can Social Media Agencies and Clients Agree and Benefit Together?
We do not perceive Responsive Web Design only as a technical detail. we see it as a strategic advantage. By guaranteeing that your website is offering an uninterrupted experience on any device, we are setting them up to be victorious in a highly mobile-driven Internet landscape.
As a social media agency, we are your digital marketing partner eliminating hurdles to success by promoting the conversion rates, image, and online visibility of the brand thus surpassing the overall digital marketing goals. This brings about lifelong customer relations which are built on trust, incredible results and a joint target of online success.
Are You Ready To Use Responsive Web Design For Your Brand?
A digital agency that aims to offer its clients the best social media service possible and the most outstanding results should make RWD a pillar of its strategy. Join us and let us work hand in hand to get your brand the smooth online experience that generates sales, improves brand awareness, and increases the chances of success in the fast-paced mobile-first era.
We can help you by:
Conducting a website audit to assess your current website/mobile responsiveness.
Developing an RWD strategy aligned with your social media goals.
Collaborating with trusted web development partners to implement a flawless responsive website solution.
Don’t just wonder about what is responsive web design instead use it for your business growth. Contact us today to discuss how responsive web design can become your secret weapon for social media client success!
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https://vvdesigns.in/e-commerce-design-best-practices/#respondMon, 16 Jan 2023 04:43:12 +0000https://vvdesigns.in/?p=3037E-commerce design is the process of creating an online store that is visually appealing, easy to navigate, and converts visitors into customers. The goal of e-commerce design is to create an enjoyable and seamless user experience that leads to increased sales and customer loyalty. Keep it simple: A clean and simple design is essential for ...
The post E-commerce Design Best Practices appeared first on VVDesigns.]]>E-commerce design is the process of creating an online store that is visually appealing, easy to navigate, and converts visitors into customers. The goal of e-commerce design is to create an enjoyable and seamless user experience that leads to increased sales and customer loyalty.
Keep it simple: A clean and simple design is essential for any e-commerce website. Visitors should be able to find what they are looking for quickly and easily. Avoid clutter and unnecessary elements that can distract or confuse the user.
Use high-quality images and videos: High-quality images and videos are essential for showcasing your products. They help to build trust and credibility with your customers and can also increase conversion rates. Make sure to use clear, well-lit images that accurately represent your products.
Make it mobile-friendly: With more and more people using their mobile devices to shop online, it’s essential to ensure that your e-commerce website is mobile-friendly. This means that the website should be optimized for smaller screens and touch-based navigation.
Use clear and concise product descriptions: Product descriptions are an important part of e-commerce design. They should be clear, concise, and informative. Make sure to include all relevant information, such as dimensions, materials, and care instructions.
Implement easy navigation: Navigation is crucial for an e-commerce website. Visitors should be able to find what they are looking for quickly and easily. Use clear and intuitive navigation menus, and include search functionality to make it easy for visitors to find specific products.
Include customer reviews: Customer reviews can be a powerful tool for increasing trust and credibility with your customers. Make sure to include reviews on product pages, and consider including a section on your homepage that showcases your best reviews.
Optimize for conversions: The ultimate goal of e-commerce design is to increase conversions. This means making it easy for visitors to find what they are looking for, and to complete their purchase. Make sure to include clear calls-to-action, such as “add to cart” buttons, and consider implementing features like live chat or an FAQ section to help visitors with any questions or concerns they may have.
Test and optimize: Finally, it’s essential to regularly test and optimize your e-commerce website. Use tools like A/B testing to try different design elements and see what works best. Pay attention to metrics such as bounce rate and conversion rate to see how your visitors are interacting with your website.
In conclusion, a well-designed e-commerce website is essential for any business looking to sell products online. By following these best practices, you can create a website that is visually appealing, easy to navigate, and optimized for conversions. Regular testing and optimization will help you to improve the user experience over time and increase sales.
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https://vvdesigns.in/best-web-design-inspiration-marketing-websites/#respondTue, 20 Dec 2022 13:50:52 +0000https://vvdesigns.in/?p=3010Dive into the world of top-notch marketing websites and unlock their creative potential! Get inspired by sites crafted exclusively from leading web designers, agencies and developers. EngineRoom — Brand Platform 👨🎨 Martijn van Meijel Cards design 👨🎨 Louis Charachon 👥 Specify Solar system exploration platform 👨🎨 Tako Chkhikvadze 👥 Ascended NFT marketplace — NT11121714 👨🎨 Tomasz Trefler Geneveire — Art Gallery Website 👨🎨 Adin Yanuar ...
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The post Best Web Design Inspiration — Marketing Websites appeared first on VVDesigns.]]>https://vvdesigns.in/best-web-design-inspiration-marketing-websites/feed/03010How To Create a User Interface for a Mobile App + Ui Design Templates
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https://vvdesigns.in/how-to-create-a-user-interface-for-a-mobile-app-ui-design-templates/#respondFri, 25 Nov 2022 09:38:05 +0000https://vvdesigns.in/?p=2976How to create an interface for a mobile app? There are many ways you can go about it and the best way to find out what will work best for your app is to start by thinking about your target audience. Then, use user feedback as a guideline to help you create an interface that ...
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How to create an interface for a mobile app? There are many ways you can go about it and the best way to find out what will work best for your app is to start by thinking about your target audience. Then, use user feedback as a guideline to help you create an interface that is easy to use, intuitive, and visually appealing. Once you have created a prototype of your interface, test it with real users before finalizing it.
Use These User Interface Design Templates To Create Your Own Mobile App
Creating a mobile app is a great new idea, an exclusive design, and an attractive way to get your business or product out there. Thankfully, there are many user interface design templates available online to help you get started. The following three examples will show you how to create an app using different templates.
The first example is for a business that wants to create an app for its customers. To start, choose the type of business you are in (e.g., restaurants, hotels, etc.). Next, you will need to find the right template for your business. There are many templates available online and some are free while others cost money. Once you have found the right template, it is time to begin creating your app.
To create your app using this template, first choose the type of app you would like to create (e.g., restaurant guide).
Free User Interface Design Templates To Help You Build A Perfect App UI
A lot of people believe that a well-designed user interface can make or break an app. This is why it’s important to have a quality template available to help you build a perfect UI. Free user interface design templates are the perfect way to get started.
Finding the right template can be difficult, but thankfully, there are plenty of them available online. If you’re looking for something exclusive, then you should check out premium templates. However, if the quality is more important to you than price then any of the free templates will work just fine.
Whatever your requirements, there’s sure to be a template out there that fits them perfectly. So don’t hesitate – to start building your perfect app UI today with one of these free templates!
How To Create A User Interface For Your Next Mobile App
Creating a user interface for your next mobile app can be a complex and time-consuming process. Whether you’re designing from scratch or borrowing elements from an existing app, there are a few tips to keep in mind.
Start by thinking about the main tasks users will need to perform on your app. What are the most common actions? How can you organize these actions into menus or screens? Once you have a basic layout figured out, you can start designing individual screens with graphic designer software.
Choose appropriate buttons, text fields, and images for your app’s interface. Make sure all elements are responsive and fit properly on different screen sizes. Finally, test your user interface frequently to make sure it looks and works as expected.
UI Design Tips for Your Next Mobile App
When you’re designing your next mobile app, pay attention to the user interface. Here are some tips to help you create an exclusive, quality design:
Start with a new idea. Don’t copy the design of your competitors. Be creative and come up with an innovative approach that will set your app apart from the rest.
Use high-quality templates. There are plenty of quality templates available online that can help you get started quickly. Make sure to use one that is compatible with your app’s theme and style.
UseUXkit for wireframing and prototyping. This free software offers great features for creating user interfaces and can be used in conjunction with other tools such as Sketch or Inkscape.
Test your designs before implementing them fully.
Unique User Interface Designs for Mobile Apps
There are many different types of user interface designs for mobile apps. Some have unique designs that make using the app easier and more efficient. Here are some examples of user interface designs that stand out:
The Instagram app has a scrolling feed that is continuously updated. It makes it easy to see what your friends are up to and keeps you constantly engaged with the app.
The Uber app has a simple design with colorful icons on a white background. The icons represent different types of transportation, so it’s easy to find the type of ride you need.
The Airbnb app has an intuitive design that makes it easy to find listings and book rooms. The layout features large images and bold text, which makes it easy to read and navigate.
Takeaway
There are many different ways to design user interfaces for mobile apps. However, by following some simple tips and using templates, you can create a user interface that is both effective and consistent across all devices. So, don’t be afraid to get creative, but always keep your users in mind when designing your app’s UI.
The post How To Create a User Interface for a Mobile App + Ui Design Templates appeared first on VVDesigns.]]>https://vvdesigns.in/how-to-create-a-user-interface-for-a-mobile-app-ui-design-templates/feed/02976Adobe is buying Figma, and creatives have… concerns
https://vvdesigns.in/adobe-is-buying-figma-and-creatives-have-concerns/
https://vvdesigns.in/adobe-is-buying-figma-and-creatives-have-concerns/#respondSat, 17 Sep 2022 16:39:09 +0000https://vvdesigns.in/?p=2959Its a question to Users also who choose Figma over adobe, and there trust is broken. This is what the corporate politics is all about ? So Adobe is buying Figma, and unsurprisingly the news is causing some controversy in the creative world. The software giant behind tools such as Illustrator, Photoshop and Premiere Pro ...
The post Adobe is buying Figma, and creatives have… concerns appeared first on VVDesigns.]]>Its a question to Users also who choose Figma over adobe, and there trust is broken. This is what the corporate politics is all about ?
So Adobe is buying Figma, and unsurprisingly the news is causing some controversy in the creative world. The software giant behind tools such as Illustrator, Photoshop and Premiere Pro is snapping up the collaborative design platform for a cool $20 billion, and creatives are worried about what that might mean the platform.
Since its release in 2016, Figma has become a hugely popular online tool for user interface and user experience design. It’s praised for its streamlined form and collaborative tools, while free access for those in education have made it a hit with students – in fact, Figma currently tops our own list of the best UI design tools. Adobe, meanwhile, is behind some of the most fully featured industry-standard programs in the creative sector, but its subscription-based pricing is sometimes a bone of contention for users (although Adobe Creative Cloud discounts can be found).
What Adobe’s acquisition of Figma means for creatives
(Image credit: Figma)
For Adobe, buying Figma makes sense. It dominates many areas of design, but UI has been a bit of an exception. Its own Adobe XD playing catch up to a wide range of other tools and hasn’t managed to establish itself like other Adobe products.
Adobe says it will keep Figma going rather than eliminate a rival to Adobe AD, but Figma users are concerned for two main reasons: price and bloat. Many liked Figma’s independence and see Adobe as a monopolistic behemoth that’s going to want to charge them more money. Figma currently has a free starter plan and a professional plan that starts at $12 per month per editor – significantly less than an Adobe Creative Cloud single-app subscription. However, Figma insists that there are “currently” no plans to change its pricing and that access will remain free for those in education.
Creatives also liked Figma for its streamlined platform’s light footprint. They fear that becoming part of Adobe will see it become heavier and slower. What the change will really mean for the platform isn’t yet clear, though. Adobe says that “The combination of Adobe’s and Figma’s communities will bring designers and developers closer together to unlock the future of collaborative design,” which is probably just the kind of corporate talk that makes users uneasy.
See more
Figma’s CEO and co-founder Dylan Field has provided a bit elucidation. He’s confirmed that he’ll stay in his position after the deal, though he’ll now report to David Wadhwani, president of Adobe’s Digital Media business. He wrote in a blog post(opens in new tab) that “Adobe is deeply committed to keeping Figma operating autonomously.”
He said he’ll work with Wadhwani on how to grow Figma’s business but that the Figma team will report to him and will “run Figma the way we have always run Figma – continuing to do what we believe is best for our community, our culture and our business.”
He said the partnership aimed to accelerate growth and innovation, with Figma incorporating Adobe’s “expertise in imaging, photography, illustration, video, 3D and font technology”. Figma will also ” have the opportunity to reimagine what the best creative tools could look like within the Figma technology stack.”
Field hinted that there will be new products to come. However, he said the company will continue to improve Figma Design, FigJam and the Figma community platform. He added: “One of the trickiest design decisions is when to make a new capability a separate tool vs part of an existing tool. Please know that we have some fun ideas on how to address this issue.”
Adobe buys Figma: creatives react
Creatives were quick to react on social media. Of course there are memes aplenty, and many of them are not exactly celebratory. A lot of people have dug up an old tweet that Field posted in January 2021 in which he wrote “Our goal is to be Figma not Adobe”, while others are suggesting that they’ll move to rival UI design products such as Sketch.
“My heart sank when I read this,” one person tweeted in response to Field’s announcement(opens in new tab). “Happy for the people at Figma, I’m sure this is great for the business. But I think a big part of the magic of Figma, was being it’s own thing.” “I’m happy to announce I’m raising money to build the next great functional and affordable design tool, as a sudden opportunity in the market just appeared,” someone else joked.
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https://vvdesigns.in/weekly-design-inspiration-inspirationsweekly/#respondSat, 27 Aug 2022 15:49:35 +0000https://vvdesigns.in/?p=2952 Business Process Builder Mobile by Halo Mobile Cybersecurity platform: dashboard by Viet Dang Metrium — Landing Page UI by Bogdan Falin Nimula App Design by Lisa Jacobs New Milkinside web site by Gleb Kuznetsov Curiosity by Dmitrij Imaginary Lands 🌈 by Hurca!™ Selected Illustrations 2019–2020 by Alex Krugli ANDRÉ PRANDO • COVER ARTS by Caramurú Baumgartner Nature Illustration 2020 by FEBIN RAJ №8 Nootropics ...
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The post Weekly Design Inspiration #inspirationsweekly appeared first on VVDesigns.]]>https://vvdesigns.in/weekly-design-inspiration-inspirationsweekly/feed/029523 Essential Design Trends, March 2022
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https://vvdesigns.in/3-essential-design-trends-march-2022/#respondThu, 19 May 2022 05:24:16 +0000https://vvdesigns.in/?p=2859This month all of our web design trends have a common theme – imagery. Whether it’s seasonal or just coincidence, there’s a shift in the styles and types of images on many designs right now. One thing that might push these design trends is a relaxation of COVID-spurred rules worldwide or even fatigue from the ...
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This month all of our web design trends have a common theme – imagery. Whether it’s seasonal or just coincidence, there’s a shift in the styles and types of images on many designs right now. One thing that might push these design trends is a relaxation of COVID-spurred rules worldwide or even fatigue from the pandemic.
Here’s what’s trending in design this month.
1. Little Images Everywhere
The jury is still out on whether we love or hate this design trend – tiny images (and videos) everywhere.
The thing that’s nice is there is a lot to see and interact with. The thing that’s challenging is that these designs can feel a bit unbalanced and all over the place.
Most of these designs feature four or more images or videos at a time. That can be a lot for a user to digest when we are accustomed to having just one thing to look at in the hero area.
Those four or more images then include all of the other user interface elements that you would expect on the page – navigation, large headline, secondary text, scroll, or engagement interaction. It can be a lot to decipher.
Tokyu Garden City does it with a mix of still and moving images with sliders and other animations. The images are always changing and moving, and there’s constantly something new to look at with movement at the top and bottom of the screen.
Buro Jantzen takes the tiny image idea to an extreme with ten images on the homepage. And every one is smaller than a postage stamp. There is a cool effect that happens with each image though. On hover, the small image pops into the large black box at a size where you can really see the photo.
Oliver Guy uses a combination of video images on his website, which makes perfect sense for his industry of drone photography. There’s some interesting hover animation happening that allows you to see additional video clips without leaving the homepage. The contrast of small video on the white background makes this design easy to understand.
2. Big Detail Photography
Photographic details in all their glory. Images and elements that are so in your face that you can see every detail. That’s majorly trending in website design.
Big detail photography and videography is one of those image trends that can be so visually interesting that you can’t look away. It has other benefits, too, such as facilitating decision-making for e-commerce or helping someone better understand what an item is or the overall messaging.
Each of these examples shows something larger than life-size.
Karak creates ceramic tiles. The primary background image is so big and with such detail that it almost only serves as texture for the design. But it is paired with a smaller image and video that pull everything together for a complete understanding. The big detail image is beautiful and exciting and provides an extra layer of information.
Wuillemin Fleuristes features an off-balanced hero image with a large floral detail. What’s interesting about this design choice for a detail image is that it is the only image on the screen and partially obscured by a tinted box and text element. The overall design draws the eye but may leave the user wanting to see a little more of the image.
Horage pushes its watch in your face with motion in a video that zooms the product closer and closer into view. The combination of detailed video with very little text is a bold choice for e-commerce and might work because this item is still in the preorder phase. Detailed imaging is designed to help create a desire for the product.
3. Big Faces are Back
After two years of not having that many faces in design projects, designers are going big and bold and showing people again.
One of the reasons we haven’t seen as many faces in design projects is because there was concern over how to show people – masked or maskless, alone or in crowds – and it caused more concern than was worth just going another way.
But projects with big faces are back in a major way. And it’s refreshing to make virtual eye contact again.
There are plenty of ways to do it, as outlined in each of these examples.
Glassbox Media uses a full-screen oversized video on the homepage. You can see the subject’s eyes and feel engaged with the person on the screen. She seems happy, and the size and scale of the face make you feel almost like you are in a room with her, ready to have a conversation.
Reamarie uses smaller still images with tight crops to bring you into the faces on the screen. There are more, bigger faces throughout the scroll as well so that the user feels connected to the people and product. Even if an image isn’t super large, a tight crop can make it feel bigger and create the same level of engagement as something that has more size on the screen.
Recruit Holdings Co. uses a trio of people together, happy and smiling, to establish a connection with website visitors. The entire design features similar images throughout and makes you feel like you want to be a part of what they are offering. Note that the people are close together and without masks; that’s a culture shift we are starting to see in a lot of imagery.
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https://vvdesigns.in/see-inside-the-worlds-skinniest-skyscraper/#respondMon, 25 Apr 2022 05:26:04 +0000https://vvdesigns.in/?p=2792On the famed Billionaire’s Row, SHoP Architects and Studio Sofield have delivered on a long-awaited promise There’s a new skyscraper in New York, and architecture enthusiasts can’t wait to see it. And though New York City can be an unforgiving place to call home—the cost of living is famously high, square footage is precious, and ...
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On the famed Billionaire’s Row, SHoP Architects and Studio Sofield have delivered on a long-awaited promise
There’s a new skyscraper in New York, and architecture enthusiasts can’t wait to see it. And though New York City can be an unforgiving place to call home—the cost of living is famously high, square footage is precious, and the traffic seemingly doesn’t move—the Big Apple is one of the most beloved metropolises in the U.S. for a reason: the energy and ambition is unparalleled. And one area in which that appetite for boldness is particularly obvious is its architecture—specifically the daring structures that have shot up within the last few years. From Summit One Vanderbilt with its 1,300-foot-tall observatory to the Sir David Adjaye-designed Affirmation Tower that defies gravity, the enormous buildings are doing their part to redefine one of the most famous skylines. And the recently debuted residential skyscraper at 111 West 57th Street is shaking up Midtown in a big way. After all, it is the world’s skinniest tower.
Building such a vision took some work, though. With the collaborative effort of developers JDS Development Group, Property Markets Group, and Spruce Capital Partners; SHoP Architects, who designed the exterior; and AD100 architects Studio Sofield taking on the interior architecture, 111 West 57th Street is like a monument for impressive design. It’s also the second tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere, reaching a whopping 1,428 feet high, including a 300-foot decorative steel crown.
Though the tall, slender tower is surely the first thing passersby will see, 111 West 57th Street is actually a two-part building: the original landmarked Steinway Hall—the Warren & Wetmore-designed home to Steinway & Sons piano company—and the new high-rise by SHoP Architects. Both, however, house sprawling residences. There are 14 in the landmarked 1925 building and 46 full-floor and duplex residences within the tower. Just last week, the developers broke the good news to residents, who have been eagerly waiting to get their keys since the project was announced back in 2013, that they could finally move into the building.
Not only does that new build look incredibly skinny from every angle, it actually is. It has a height-to-width ratio of 24:1, officially making 111 West 57th Street the skinniest skyscraper in the world. Residents don’t have to worry that the building may blow over or snap in half during a storm, though, because the building is made with the highest strength concrete in the world, according to SHoP Architects. It may be a new build that, from afar, looks almost futuristic, but the architects—both SHoP and Studio Sofield—wanted to reference Manhattan’s pre-war Golden Age wherever they could. For instance, each exterior section of the building is paired with a layer of terra-cotta pilasters that don both the east and west facades of the tower, giving it that glamorous late 19th-century feel without overdoing it.
To pay homage to both Steinway Hall and the collection of decades-old skyscrapers strewn throughout the city, Sofield infused the central lobby with glamour, with its glossy tall doors and, of course, Steinway piano.
Giving it that Golden Age look makes sense considering that half the project—Steinway Hall—is nearly 100 years old. For that part of the project, SHoP Architects restored much of the building originally designed in the 1920s. The facade and instantly recognizable rotunda were restored in collaboration with the Landmarks Preservation Commission of New York, and it will be connected to the new tower by way of a sweeping central lobby. For the block-long entry, William Sofield enlisted New York artisans such as John Opella and Nancy Lorenz to create what he describes as “a series of emotional experiences” that are informed by the New York skyscrapers of the past.
Among the many amenities, 111 West 57th Street has an 82-foot-long indoor pool.
The amenities, though, are all about modern living. They feature an 82-foot-long two-lane swimming pool surrounded by private cabanas, sauna, steam room, double-height fitness center with its own mezzanine terrace, private dining room, and a chef’s catering kitchen, residents’ lounge boasting an expansive terrace, and a dedicated concierge service.
More than 10 years after the project was announced and after several setbacks, 111 West 57th Street will surely transform Billionaire’s Row in a big way.
The post See Inside the World’s Skinniest Skyscraper appeared first on VVDesigns.]]>https://vvdesigns.in/see-inside-the-worlds-skinniest-skyscraper/feed/02792How to Create Professional Reports and Documents in Microsoft Word
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https://vvdesigns.in/2740-2/#respondMon, 31 Jan 2022 15:19:07 +0000https://vvdesigns.in/?p=2740This guide examines the elements of a professional report and reviews the structuring, styling, and finalizing of your document in Microsoft Word. If Microsoft Office had been a country, it would have been the third most populous country in the world. 1.2 billion people using a single suite of apps is mind-boggling. And, they “speak” 107 languages! ...
The post How to Create Professional Reports and Documents in Microsoft Word appeared first on VVDesigns.]]>
This guide examines the elements of a professional report and reviews the structuring, styling, and finalizing of your document in Microsoft Word.
If Microsoft Office had been a country, it would have been the third most populous country in the world. 1.2 billion people using a single suite of apps is mind-boggling. And, they “speak” 107 languages!
But right now, you and I are speaking in English and we are going to talk about the most popular tool in the Microsoft Office arsenal — Microsoft Word 2016.
This document editor is used for writing a variety of documents. From a simple application to the necessary resume. From a plain bucket list to an office memo. We think we can work with Word. But it is when we sit down to write a serious professional report, we discover an important fact.
Professional report writing needs a different set of skills.
So, ask yourself this — can you make the leap from a single document to a lengthy report? Do you know all the Microsoft Word features that will help manage this large scale document project? Can you collaborate on the work with other team members?
You may be a student, a small business owner, or an office worker…you will need to create a report or a professionally formatted document of some kind. This MakeUseOf guide will help you update your techniques and sharpen your design approach.
Writing a Report
Report writing involves research and then publishing the outcome of that analysis. In the professional world, the “look” or appearance of what you publish is paramount. The eye-pleasing final result could burnish your reputation and enhance your personal brand.
The steps below will handhold you through the expert features in Microsoft Word 2016. Spend a lot of time on a plan. Start with these guidelines…
Step 1: Decide the Purpose
Before you begin the report, you must first know why you are writing it in the first place. Reports are of many kinds but they are either meant to inform or persuade. It can be meant for describing a technical process, sharing background information, or demonstrate progress on a project.
Ask yourself – What and Why. This will help you distill the purpose to the one main point and stick to it instead of rambling on with unnecessary details.
Step 2: Identify Your Audience
The second important consideration is to evaluate your audience. Will they be able to understand what you are talking about? Are there different levels of readers who will read the report? The reader’s knowledge of the subject will greatly influence the information that you need to include.
Decide on the primary audience and then script the report at the adequate technical level. The secondary audience can be supported with supplemental information at the end of the report.
Step 3: Know Your Topic
You must know what you are talking about. So, research the topic, and include all the relevant information to prove your point. Make sure that you come to a conclusion based on facts and not personal opinion. The information must be correct, current, and well-referenced.
Also use a variety of resources such as journals, newspaper articles, books, websites, brochures, raw data, annual reports, and speeches to help support your point. Just don’t stick to Wikipedia.
Step 4: Outline the Report
You have done the research. There’s a ton of information that is waiting to be typed and printed. But wait! Don’t drown before you enter the water. Prepare the final outline of the report which will be the chart of waypoints to help you navigate from start to finish. The outline is the blueprint. It will give you a bird’s eye view of the land and also show you where you need to fill in the details.
The structure of an idea report can include the following elements:
Once you have structured your report, it is time to fill out the headers with content. I personally find it best to tackle a little bit of each section, and then bulk it up with information. You can do that if you want, or finish each section as you go down the report structure. Make sure you focus on presenting your ideas and using supportive evidence rather than spelling and grammar first. Outline your argument and write a few sentences that cast your main ideas. If you find something worth quoting, quote it.
Once the majority of your text is written, it is now time to read through it and make sure it flows well. Make sure you guide the reader’s understanding with transition words such as “This information shows…”, “In other words…”, “Similarly…” and do highlight relevant and key points.
Finally, spend time to proofread, check for grammar and spelling, and double-check all relevant information and its logical flow. It is best to leave at least one day to check and proofread your work. Don’t try to edit it straight after you think you have finished, as you will tend to miss read what you have written. Get some sleep, and proofread it the next day.
The Report Checklist
Before you go and submit or hand in your report that you have worked so hard on, make sure you have done the following:
Completed the title page with the Title, Your Name, Date, Who the report is for, and a possible description of what the report is about.
The contents page has appropriate headings and pages numbers are correct.
Make sure the introduction covers key points, the scope of the report, and the objective it wants to meet.
You have added captions above tables and below images/graphs.
Does the content of the report present the information in a clear way, logical, factual, stay on topic, is to the point?
Does the conclusion state the results, restate main idea’s, and does not include any new information?
Are the headings and sub headings clearly labeled?
Are quotes relevant, up-to-date, and correctly referenced?
Have you used page breaks where appropriate?
Now, let’s launch Microsoft Word and take you through the features that will help piece together the draft of your report and present it as a professional document.
Useful Microsoft Word Features for Report Writing
Take these as bite-sized tips and master them one by one.
Microsoft Word is a big howitzer with many nuts and bolts. Let’s focus on the key skill sets and the tools you will need to plan, prepare, and present the professional report. The Microsoft Word features we will cover below are also productivity shortcuts that will make your job easier.
Tip: Use Microsoft Word 2016’s “Tell Me” assistant to learn more about new features in the Office suite.
Let’s start with three preliminary tools…
Use Paste Special
For most of us, when we need to copy text or an image into Word, the CTRL+V shortcut does just fine. But sometimes we might want to paste the copied data into another format, such as Excel data as an image. With the Paste Special command you can discard or specify the format when you paste a picture, presentation data, table, or object from any other program into Word.
You will work a lot with Excel tables and charts in a professional document.
If you just copy what you want and click paste, you will notice that it will insert the data as tables. But, if it is a large area of cells you want to paste, and you do not want to edit it, you may want to paste it as an image, with the extra option to edit it.
In Microsoft Excel: Select and highlight the cells that you want to copy > Press CTRL+C.
In Microsoft Word: Go to Home > Paste > Paste Special. Select Paste Special and from the dialog select Microsoft Office Excel Worksheet Object.
You can resize the data as it was an image, and if you double click, you will be able to edit the values. You can change the table or chart and redesign it. And, if you update the data in the chart or table in Excel, you can automatically refresh the chart in Word.
Try the right-click context menu too. The Paste Special menu pops up:
Yes, there is Google and Wikipedia. But constantly switching from Word to your browser can hamper your productivity. Office 2016 brings in powerful research integration to this grunt work. The Researcher can not only help you find content from within Microsoft Word but also help you quickly add citations. It uses the Bing Knowledge Graph to find the right content to support your document.
Go to Ribbon > References tab and c Choose Researcher. A pane will open on the right with the search options.
Type a keyword for the topic want to search for and press Enter.
The Results pane shows a list of sources you can use in your document. Choose a topic to explore in detail.
Add the topic to your Microsoft Word document with a click on the plus sign on the top-right. You can also click the plus sign on any result to cite the source in your research document. The cite source helps you support your research with web sources and books.
As we will see later, an annotated bibliography is one of the toughest parts of a document. The Researcher is an intelligent assistant who steps in.
Freeze Part of Your Word Document
Let’s take for granted that your professional report will be a long and complex work. You can split the Word window into two panes so that you can view two different parts of a document at the same time. It is a valuable time saver when you want to copy and paste parts from one place to another or refer to one part of the document while working in another.
Go to Ribbon > View tab > Split.
To remove the split, click on Remove Split in the same tab.
The Windows group gives you several options to change the way you work with two or more documents. The features are self-explanatory.
To scroll both documents at the same time, click Synchronous Scrolling in the Window group on the View tab. You can also click on View Side by Side to put two parts of the document next to each other.
Tip: Use Split View to display two different layouts – for instance, Print and Outline. Set the split. Then, click in the pane that you want to change, and then select a different layout on the View tab.
Work on the Layout & Design
The presentation of a report is what gets someone to read a report in the first place, and that is why it is crucial that your report is well presented. If you had the choice of four reports to read, what will you choose?
A hand written report.
A document printed in black and white.
A report printed on normal A4 paper in color.
A report printed in color, with a catchy title page, neatly bounded, and slick?
You will pick up the fourth report because it will pull you towards it by the visual appearance alone.
The front cover is not the only reason. A well-designed report is easier to read. It is also easier to scan when you don’t have time to read. That is why you need to spend some time on your headers and footers, and the different styles and themes. In short – the formatting of every element in the report.
Formatting may seem like a difficult chore, but it is a fun exercise that will exercise all your creative muscles. The key takeaways will be the skills you can apply to anything in Microsoft Office going forward. And the time you will save with all the productivity tips learned here.
Microsoft Word 2016 has a wealthy set of features. These are only some of the ways that your report design can stand out from the rest and be professional. So, let’s break down the layout and design skills.
This section will cover these features step-by-step:
Start with a Cover Page
Make a Table of Contents
Create Your Header and Footer
Add Page Numbers
(Format the Content)
Pick the Right Fonts
Style the Paragraphs
Control Page Breaks
Use Styles and Themes
Captions
Use Quick Parts
Decorate with Page Borders
1. Start With a Cover Page
The first page is the first point of contact with your reader. It is also your opportunity to make a favorable impression. Don’t let your lack of artistic skills be an excuse because Word takes up the job with its in-built gallery of title pages. All you have to do is marry one to the theme of the report.
Microsoft Word 2016 offers you 16 pre-formatted templates and three more on Office.com.
Go to Insert > Pages Group > Cover Page.
The cover page appears at the beginning of the document by default.
As there are only 16 “official” templates on offer, you may find that all your other peers have the same cover page. So, why not customize it, and make it a bit more unique.
Casual readers scan. Good readers scan first and then dive deep. A table of contents provides the waypoints that help both. When it is a long and complicated document, wouldn’t you rather check the lay of the land before you head to the section that interests you?
Consider a Table of Contents (TOC) if your document is more than 10 pages long. You should first make sure you don’t need to rearrange any pages in your document before creating the TOC.
In Microsoft Word, you don’t have to write the entire TOC by hand. There’s a Table of Contents automatic tool under the References tab which takes your outline and designs it for you. Also, you can easily keep it updated when you want to change something.
There are also templates you can download and fit it around the nature of the content. For instance, a TOC for a thesis will look different from that of a company’s annual report.
Create the outline and use heading styles to organize the hierarchy. Apply the automatic TOC tool to the heading styles. Word 2016 searches for those headings and then inserts the table of contents into your document. Then you can automatically update your TOC if you make changes in your document.
For more hands-on control, you can also use the Manual Table of Contents style. Word inserts placeholder text and you have to insert and format each content in the list.
3. Create Your Header and Footer
Headers and Footers are important in reports as the main purpose is to provide information about the report on every page. They are the common display areas for page numbers. The header of the document should contain the title of the report, and possibly the name of who created it. The title of the current section is helpful.
Let’s start with the header in your document and give it a unique look.
Select Insert, then select either Header or Footer from the group. The built-in gallery shows you several options you can choose from.
The header and footer space is inserted in your document with placeholder text or table. The Header & Footer Tools opens on the Ribbon for other formatting work like the date, time, or picture.
Enter your text and then select Close Header and Footer.
You can start with a blank header and footer. If you have the design skills, use the Header & Footer Tools to design your own. Master the header and footer space if you want to create custom letterheads for your organization. You can use brand elements like company or organization logos at the top and neatly formatted footnotes at the bottom
Let’s try with and modify one of the inbuilt headers. I selected Facet from the gallery.
The final look took two minutes to put together with simple text effects and an icon sourced from the Microsoft Office icon gallery.
The header and footer are in place. But, how do you know where you are in the document? Insert page numbers as the next important signpost.
4. Add Page Numbers
Page numbers look best in the footer (unlike in the header as in the image above). You can add a basic page number from the Insert > Page Number button on the Ribbon. You can also add it from the Design tab that appears when you add the header and the footer.
You have a lot of control over page numbers. Choose from a wide range of number formats and customize them to your needs. In this case, we are adding the number to the footer, but you can put them at the top or even at the margins. In this example, I have placed the page number at the bottom left. But, I would like to change the default look and the format.
For example: Using a “Page X of XXX” makes for a better indicator on a long document.
Select the page number. Go to Insert > Quick Parts. From the drop-down menu, select Field. You can also reach the Field dialog from the Header and Footer Design tab.
Choose NumPages from the long list of field names. From the box on the right, you can pick a specific format. I selected the usual 1, 2, 3. Click OK, and the number of the number of pages will appear. Now all you have to do is add your text such as Page X of XXX, and change the look of the numbers with the usual text formatting tools available from the Home tab.
It now looks like this:
Design the look on any page number in your document and Word updates all the remaining automatically. Page numbers are the most common elements in a footer, but it can also hold any other information like the header. From the options in the Insert group, you can add the date and time, document info, pictures, and more to your header or footer.
Next, we’re heading into formatting the content.
The visual draw of your professional report comes together with the “beautification” you apply to the content. Formatting is also an essential step for a document that flows well. So, you must focus a lot of energy on picking the right font, paragraph space, and the colors.
Don’t worry. Even, the artistically challenged will find this part easy because Microsoft Word comes packaged with default themes and visual styles. Let’s start with the most basic element of a document.
You can apply a typeface (i.e. the visual look of the font) to either an entire document or to specific parts of a document. All font choices are available from the Home tab. Go to Home > Font.
The default font in Microsoft Word 2016 is Calibri. Look beyond that as you have lots of others to choose from. If you choose Times New Roman, you may be considered lazy, if you choose Windings, well… I don’t think I need to explain that. So make sure you choose a font that is easy to read and suits the report. To play it safe, pick from one of these professional-looking Google fonts; they’re available for free.
Tip: Baskerville and Georgia are good alternatives to the over-used Times New Roman
Try different font pairing for the body text and Headings (and Subheadings). Several websites like FontJoy and TypeWolf will help you experiment with font pairings. You can download and use custom fonts too. But remember the thumb-rule — never use more than three different typefaces in a document.
If you want to have your lines double spaced, or single spaced, you need to change the format of the paragraphs. By changing the spacing, you can make a document easier to read or give the impression that it is longer and that you have put more work into it.
To change the paragraph for the whole document, it is best that you select each block of text; otherwise, if you are using headers in your report, they will change too. Another better option is if you customize the particular style you are using to format the paragraph.
To do this, go to Home> Styles. Right click on the style you want to change and select Modify. Click on Format > Paragraph which is at the bottom of the dialog box. Now, change the spacing, indentation, and alignment for the paragraph. Click OK to close the dialogs.
When you want to change a smaller portion of the document, select what you want to change. Right click on the highlighted text and select Paragraph. The same dialog box as above will appear.
7. Control Page Breaks
A page break — by its very name — splits a continuous block of text across two pages. Page breaks are important structural elements for long documents. Word automatically inserts a page break at the end of the page. But in a long document, you can place page breaks where you want them.
To insert a manual page break, click Insert > Page Break. (Keyboard shortcut: CTRL + Enter)
A page break looks like this when you click on the Show/Hide command in the Paragraph group.
But what if you want to keep a bunch of lines together on a page or column and not have them separate because of a page break? The layout is in your control. Click the tiny arrow you see in the bottom right of the Paragraph group.
In the Paragraph box, click Line and Page Breaks. Select from these four pagination options:
Widow/Orphan control places at least two lines of a paragraph at the top or bottom of a page.
Keep with next prevents breaks between paragraphs you want to stay together.
Keep lines together prevents page breaks in the middle of paragraphs.
Page break before adds a page break before a specific paragraph.
Styles and themes are perhaps two of the more underused features in Microsoft Word. But I think you should use them at every opportunity to save a lot of time.
But what is the difference between a theme and a style? Microsoft says:
Themes provide a quick way to change the overall color and fonts. If you want to change text formatting quickly, Word Styles are the most effective tools.
So, as themes control the general look with color, effects, and fonts – start with a good theme for your document first. Then, use Styles to dig into the specific portions you want to change the appearance for.
For Themes: Go to the Design tab. Pick a theme from the gallery. You can see previews of what the color combination is like.
For Styles: Select the part of the text you want to change. Go to the Styles group on the Home tab. You can see previews of what they look like. Choose the Style that is suitable for your content. For instance, choose a heading style for the headings in your document. Or, a particular style for any quotes. You can also modify an existing style and create new styles from scratch.
9. Captions
Every picture, chart, or illustration needs a caption to clearly describe it. It is a single line of text, usually located below a graphic. Captions are also an important reference when you need to mention them in another place. Many documents omit this small detail.
It is easy to add a caption. Right-click the illustration you want to add a caption to. Select Add Caption.
In the dialog box, add your caption text and configure the remaining options. Captions can be automatically referenced in Word.
10. Use Quick Parts
Professional documents can get repetitive. This is why you should start using Quick Parts for boilerplate content you reuse all the time. For instance, let’s say there is a contract clause you include with every document. Or, some introductory information. Instead of repeated copy-paste, save them as Quick Parts and re-use them again and again.
Quick Parts is also a type of building block. You can see the gallery of all reusable blocks of content in the Building Block Organizer.
Save and reuse your own Quick Parts in two steps:
Select the phrase, sentence, or other portion of your document that you want to save to the gallery.
Go to Insert > Text group > Quick Parts > Save Selection to Quick Part Gallery. Change the name and add a description if you like. Click OK.
Just as easily, you can re-use the saved snippet of content.
Place your cursor where you want to insert a selection from the Quick Parts Gallery. Go to Insert > Text group > Quick Parts. Then click the sentence, phrase, or other saved selection you want to reuse.
You will notice three other categories in the Quick Parts menu.
AutoText: Word 2016 has retained the old AutoText feature. It works like Quick Parts for any block of text that you use a great deal. Example: A note you want to use with every document.
Document Property: A set of constant properties that you can include with every document. Example: Company name or author.
Fields: These are predefined elements that update automatically. Example: Date, time, page numbers etc.
Remember, entries for document property can sometimes include information you wouldn’t want to share with everyone. So, keep a close eye on these fields and remove the hidden personal data whenever required.
11. Decorate With Page Borders
Page borders look good not only on flyers and invitations. If done right, they can add a touch of class to a document. A variety of line styles and widths and art borders are available from the Design menu on the Ribbon.
Go to Design > Page Borders.
In the Borders and Shading box, use the Page Border tab to design your border.
The settings are self-explanatory. Try Shadow or 3-D with the right colors to add a subtle but elegant border. The Art styles with their clip-art borders might be too garish for professional documents.
Use the four corner buttons in the Preview window to select the sides of the page to draw borders. Click these buttons to remove or add borders, as you wish.
Place the cursor on the first page of a document if you want to put a border around only the first page. You can also put borders around certain pages in a section. Place the cursor in the section — either in the first page of that section or in a subsequent page.
References and Collaboration
A Word report can seem like an unmanageable chore. It’s like organizing a million piles of hay into neat little stacks. The idea is to know precisely which stack has the pin you are looking for. These features are meant to make it easier.
1. Create an Index
When writing large documents such as a report that contains a lot of information, a contents page may not be enough. An Index should appear at the end of the document, with page numbers to keywords and information in the report. Create an index to help the reader reference the right information with just the page number.
Make an index if your document has more than 20 pages. Microsoft Word 2016 doesn’t let the process overwhelm you. It basically has two parts:
Select the words or information you want to include in the index.
Place the index at the right place in your document.
You can scroll through the finished document and mark the words or phrases you want to include in the index or mark them as you go along. Either way, select the text you’d like to use as an index entry or click where you want to insert the entry.
1. Click References > Mark Entry.
2. Edit the text in the Mark Index Entry dialog box. You can also add a sub-entry which further defines the main word you used in the index. You can add multiple levels and each appears indented under the main entry.
3. Under Options, you can also create a cross-reference to another main entry. A reader can use this to refer related information elsewhere in the same document.
4. Use the Page number format to decide on the appearance of the page numbers in the index.
5. Click Mark to mark the index entry. To mark this text everywhere it shows up in the document, click Mark All.
6. Repeat the process for all the words and phrases you want to include in the index.
You have now built your index. Insert it at the right place towards the end of the document.
1. Click on the page where you want to insert the index.
2. Click References > Insert Index.
3. The Index dialog box is displayed. Here you can choose to format the text entries, page numbers, tabs, and leader characters.
4. Choose the appearance from the different formats in the list and check the Preview window on the right. Remember, the Preview window doesn’t show you actual index. It is just a “simulation” of how it will look like.
5. Click OK. Your Index is now ready.
Sometimes, you may need to add more entries to the index after you have inserted it on the page. Mark the entry and go to References > Update index to include the new mentions.
Also, add a heading for the index because Word doesn’t do it automatically.
2. Creating Bibliographies
Your document is almost done. Now, you need to credit all the other research work and ideas which you have referenced in your document. It’s time for a bibliography.
A company report might not need a bibliography but an academic paper isn’t finished without one. The bibliography is one of the most painstaking jobs in an academic report. You need to have all your citations in order before you sit down to frame the bibliography. Also, decide on the citation style (typically MLA, APA, or Chicago-style) as per the guidelines of your subject.
But, Microsoft Word 2016 has a complete toolset to make this process as painless as possible. So, go to the point in the document where you would like to place the bibliography. It’s good if you have at least one citation to include, but even if you don’t, Word 2016 lets you use a placeholder citation and fill in the sources later.
Click References > Bibliography.
Word offers a few bibliography styles that differ only in their heading names. Choose the appropriate style and then insert citations from the button in the Citations & Bibliography group.
The bibliography tool has a few steps to it. For the sake of brevity, I will direct you to the excellent Microsoft Office help page which is a step-by-step guide.
Some academic papers will ask you to create an annotated bibliography. It is a more fleshed out version of a bibliography with a list of citations to journals, books, articles, and other documents followed by a brief paragraph. The paragraph is a description of the source and how it supports your paper.
3. Cross-Referencing
You can use a cross-reference to help the reader navigate through a long document. At any point in a document, you can tell the reader to refer back to a heading, page number, image, chart, footnote, endnote, and paragraph. A cross-reference link is a neat way to connect related information together. The reader just has to click on the link to go that snippet of information.
Here’s how you begin:
1. Select the place for the cross-reference and type the text that tells the reader about it. For instance: “Refer to Chart 3 for future trends.”
2. Go to Insert > Cross-reference.
3. In the Reference type box, click the drop-down list to select what you want to link to.
4. The options in the Insert Reference to drop-down will change according to your choice above.
5. In the For Which field, go through the choices and tell Word the exact information to link to.
6. Check the Insert as hyperlink box to create the hyperlink for the referenced information.
7. Click on Insert to include the cross-reference in the document.
Remember, our mention of captions? You can make cross-references to equations, figures, graphs, and tables if you used captions below them.
Word cannot create a cross-reference for something that does not exist. Word will let you know about these errors and also update the cross-references automatically when you change the page number or text of the referenced item.
4. Using Comments
A professional report can be a solitary job or you can take the help of a team to prepare the first draft. The humble Comment is one of the most underused tools of a Word document. It is displayed as a rectangular colored balloon in the margin or in the Reviewing Pane.
You can use comments as small “stickies” or self-notes. Leave little notes to yourself in the margins as you write, edit, and revise your way through a report or a manuscript. Be creative – add extra links to other resources, use them for tips and pointers, link to different parts of a document, or set up a feedback link for your readers. And when you finalize, you can easily remove all comments in Word.
Microsoft Word 2016 is also an enhanced collaborative writing tool. Comments play a huge role in communicating feedback across a team. Here’s how the comment system works…
1. Highlight the text you want to add a comment to or click at the end of a text block.
2. Go to Insert > Comment. Type your comment in the box. The comments appear in the markup area on the right. The Print Layout view is usually the best way to see the comments alongside the text.
3. Go to the Review tab and see more options for comments. This tab also shows all the controls for tracking changes and comments in a collaborative document. Use the Markup options to display or hide the comments. For instance: No Markup will hide the comments and the markup area on the right.
Finalize Your Report
Once the bulk of your report is completed and saved, it is time to finalize your report. When I say finalize, I don’t mean proofread it. That should be done too. Now, you have to take the security measures to protect the report from unauthorized changes and plagiarism.
These security measures will give an extra level of authenticity to your electronic file before you share it.
This section will cover:
Signatures
Insert watermarks
Make the document ‘read only’
Password protect your document
Print your document to PDF
1. Signatures
You can add text signature for a personal touch to the report. But a simple text signature does not need any authentication. A digital signature is the better way to protect your document from unauthorized access. A digital signature confirms that the document came from the signer and hasn’t been tampered in any way.
Let’s create a signature line in Microsoft Word 2016.
In the document, place your cursor where you want to create a signature line.
1. Go to Insert > Textgroup > Signature Line and click Microsoft Office Signature Line.
2. The Signature Setup dialog box is displayed. Fill the fields as indicated. If you are sending the document to someone else for signing, add instructions for the signer in the field reserved for it (Instructions to the signer). The signer can also add give the purpose for the signing if the Allow the signer to add comments in the Sign dialog box is checked.
3. Click on OK and the document will now display a placeholder for the signature.
Enter a signature:
When you need to sign a document with a digital signature, go to the signature line and right-click on it.
You will be prompted to sign with a digital ID. If you don’t have one, Microsoft will tell you to get one from a signature service partner.
A Microsoft Word watermark is a “fake” but still useful visual indicator for the status of the document. For instance, you can use a watermark that says “Drafts” to differentiate it from the final version of the document. Or, use the watermark to suggest the document is “Copyrighted” or “Confidential”.
The “Draft” mark is the most common. But, Microsoft Word gives you several other watermarks to choose from.
1. Go to Design > Page Background and choose Watermark. The Watermark button will be enabled in the Print view only.
2. You can choose a picture or a text watermark from the gallery. Both horizontal and diagonal versions are available. The dialog box gives you all the customization options for the final look of the watermark. Try different fonts, layouts, sizes, and colors.
3. You can type your own text in the Text field to create your custom watermark.
4. Choose OK to apply the watermark to your document. Word automatically applies the watermark to every page except the title page.
3. Make Documents “Read Only”
A professional report by its nature should not need to be edited by its readers. Converting the document to a PDF is one way. But, you can also apply a few more restrictions in Microsoft Word and prevent accidental modification or omission of any kind.
There are three ways to protect a document.
First — Make your document “read only”.
This ensures that your document can only be read or copied. It won’t prevent anyone from copying the file and making changes to the copy.
1. Go to the File tab > Info > Protect Document > Mark as Final.
2. When readers open a document, a bar on top will prompt readers to treat this document as read only. But, they can click on “Edit Anyway” to open the document in Edit mode.
Second — Password Protect Your Document.
Protect your document from unwanted edits with a password barrier.
1. Under Protect Document, choose Encrypt with Password. Type a password and click OK.
2. In the Confirm Password box, type the password again, and then click OK. The document will open with the reader prompted for a password.
Microsoft uses the AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), 128-bit key length, SHA1 (a cryptographic hashing algorithm which generates an almost unique 160-bit key to replace the plaintext), and CBC (cipher block chaining) to give a hacker a well-deserved headache.
Third — Restrict Editing.
This control feature helps you as the author decide which parts of the document others can edit and which will be locked out. Think of it as the bouncer who lets the VIPs in but otherwise bars the door for the common folk.
1. Go to Review > Restrict Editing.
2. Under Editing restrictions, check Allow only this type of editing in the document, and make sure the list says No changes (Read only).
No changes (Read only) is the default restriction type. For a different restriction level for the document, click the menu and select from Tracked changes, Comments, or Filling in forms.
3. To free some sections from the editing blockade, select the sections for editing without restrictions. To select more than one area, click CTRL while selecting the area using the mouse.
4. You can check Everyone under Exceptions (optional) in the Restrict Editing panel. Or, click More users… and allow only specific users to modify the sections. The allowable areas will be marked with square brackets.
5. Click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection.
Now, type a unique password in the box that opens. You have to type it again to confirm it.
The password is optional. But it ensures that no one can just click Stop Protection and edit the document. If you are still paranoid, go ahead and encrypt your Microsoft Word document as we did in the second process above.
4. Print Your Report to PDF
The Portable Document Format comes with many advantages. Not least is its cross-platform compatibility across all computers. Your document is ready and now you need to share it or send it across to be printed. Many professional reports — for instance, a legal document — need to retain the format as intended.
Save or convert a copy to PDF. Microsoft Word 2016 does not need any third-party add-ins.
Go to File > Export > Create PDF/XPS.
Remember, your Word document may contain sensitive information that you do not want to be included in the PDF. Remove it before you publish to PDF. In the Publish as PDF or XPS window, choose Options. Then select Document and clear Document properties. Set any other options you want and choose OK.
Browse to where you want to save the file and click on Publish.
The Next Step…
You are close to the finishing line. The report is ready to be handed over to your readers. But there’s one last job left.
Turn the pages and make sure (again) that your report is reader-friendly. Approach it with the eye of the reader. Have you organized your thoughts and written persuasively? Does the information flow well with the charts and illustrations? Can they skim through and find the information quickly? Is the text readable? Use the readability score to gauge the readability level of your documents as a final step.
You also might have noticed we didn’t cover some aspects of Microsoft Word. For instance, Microsoft Word Tables are an important tool for data display. Or, the power of lists in information management.
Microsoft Word is more than a quarter of a century old, and packed with little features. At MakeUseOf, we have covered every nook and cranny of this beast. So, do use our resources to learn more about this software for free. Each new feature of Microsoft Word learned will make your life easier.
The post How to Create Professional Reports and Documents in Microsoft Word appeared first on VVDesigns.]]>https://vvdesigns.in/2740-2/feed/027404 Best Website Builder Tools for Food & Beverage Industry
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https://vvdesigns.in/2727-2/#respondSun, 30 Jan 2022 16:20:32 +0000https://vvdesigns.in/?p=2727Do you need a website where you can take online orders or a place just to share information about your restaurant? Maybe a platform to make online reservations? Whatever your answer is, it is clear that you need a restaurant website builder solution. According to the survey, 80% of the U.S. population said they are likely ...
The post 4 Best Website Builder Tools for Food & Beverage Industry appeared first on VVDesigns.]]>Do you need a website where you can take online orders or a place just to share information about your restaurant? Maybe a platform to make online reservations? Whatever your answer is, it is clear that you need a restaurant website builder solution.
According to the survey, 80% of the U.S. population said they are likely to visit a restaurant’s website before they dine-in, order takeout or delivery. The most attention-grabbing result is 65% of those surveyed indicated that they have been disappointed because of a hardly navigated and outdated restaurant site.
As you can see, websites are commonplace for people who are looking for a place to dine out. A well-designed website will leave a good impression on your customers-to-be. In other words, this will lead them into your door with little effort. If you feel stuck in the designing step, get some inspiration from these web design examples for restaurants.
The importance of having a proper website has increased even more during the pandemic period. So, restaurant owners started to look around to find the best website builder for restaurants. What we mean by saying “the best” is the solution that meets all your business needs.
Before we move on to analyzing the best builders for restaurants in a detailed way, we would like to mention a few evaluation points.
Key Criteria While Evaluating the Best Website Builder for Restaurants
In this article, we take a closer look at each website builder in many aspects. Such as:
Pricing,
Key features,
Industry-specific features and
Customer support.
No doubt that industry-specific features are the top-of-mind criteria for choosing the best platform for a restaurant website. A website builder should offer extensive restaurant specific templates, customizable menus, prebuilt menu pages, reservation booking systems and online ordering and payments methods.
Long story short, every restaurant owner desires a solution that offers effective features with affordable pricing plans. Some may come with handy features but are a bit pricey or vice versa. Also, it would be better not to rely on a free plan too much if you would like to create professional-looking websites.
Still can hear your inner voice asking “How can I choose the best website builder for my restaurant?”. So, it is better to ask yourself the following questions:
Do I need a website that provides online ordering and payments?
Does branding come at the top of my business needs?
How much time do I need to spend to just learn using the website builder?
How much money do I want to invest?
If something has started to form in your mind thanks to these questions, let’s take a closer look at the best solutions for your business.
4 Best Restaurant Website Builder with Online Ordering
If you ended up here, you may be overflowing with a dozen of options. The good news is that we have made a selection only of the best website builder for restaurants to ease the process for you! Here are the top solutions to get help from while building a website:
Anyone who looks for a website builder for restaurants must have come across Wix at least once. Wix is known as the best eCommerce restaurant builder that comes with fantastic features. The all in one platform provides built-in payment systems, 800+ restaurant specific templates and great social media integrations.
While offering a free domain and hosting, Wix also adds great value to the restaurants that need extensive marketing tools. Not only limited to this but it also optimizes restaurant websites to rank better on search engines with SEO tools.
Source: Wix
Moreover, if you face any type of issue Wix’s super friendly customer service put their hands on it at lightning speed. Not-so-well working customer service will cost you a lot. So, it is better to invest in a solution that provides 24/7 customer support to avoid discredit.
The pricing plans at Wix are divided into three parts:
At the Website Plans, prices vary between $14/month to $39/month. This plan is great if you want to showcase a professional site.
The Business and eCommerce Plans are essential if you want to accept online payments. The prices are starting from $23/month.
Lastly, the Enterprise Plans offer custom solutions tailored to your business needs. The prices start at $500/month.
Additional Note: Wix offers a 14-day free trial option.
When seeking for an easy to use website builder for restaurants, Duda shines out. It provides stylish restaurant specific templates and easily customizable site structures that suit your web design needs. What actually makes Duda shine is to provide a myriad of widgets. These widgets help make your website more customized easily.
With getting help from Duda’s beneficial world, you can power up your eCommerce restaurant website. As Duda offers several integrations with other platforms, it gives your sales operations and digital advertising campaigns a boost.
Source: Duda
The customer support Duda provides is great for the ones who need to get a quick response. You can schedule a call or get in touch via email. If you encounter any technical or billing issues, there is dedicated customer support for you.
The prices at Duda are starting from $19 per month and it offers four different pricing options:
The Basic Plan offers a limited template library at $19/month.
For slightly more features, The Team Plan allows you to create a website once at a time. The prices start at $29/month.
The Agency Plan comes with managing up to four different websites. Starting at $59/month.
You can get in touch with them to learn more about the Custom Plan.
Additional Note: Duda offers a 14-day free plan with all of the features available in the Team plan.
Webflow makes it easier to create a restaurant website as it is a responsive website builder, CMS and hosting platform. The robust website builder offers a great number of responsive HTML5 website templates which can be customized easily. No matter what type of business you are running, Webflow helps create menus, customized order and booking forms, blogs and many other useful components.
Like Duda, Webflow also provides widgets. Can you see that the code-free solution makes customization easy as anything?
Source: Webflow
If you are planning to create an eCommerce restaurant website, Webflow can answer that need as well. The eCommerce related templates allow you to both provide information about your restaurant and sell your products online. Just like each solution in this best website builder for restaurants list, Webflow does not only help the technical side but also supports marketing, advertising and SEO related things.
At Webflow, you can start building your restaurant website for free. To make your website go live, you need to sign up for the additional plans:
The Site Plans are great for informational restaurant websites and blogs. The prices are starting from $15 per month.
For more advanced and unlimited features, there are the eCommerce Plans starting at $42 per month.
Ecwid provides extensive industry specific solutions to create a restaurant website in minutes. Whether you create a new website or optimize your existing website, Ecwid will support you in every step of your journey.
Everything you need while launching your website is provided by the all-in-one platform of Ecwid. Creating custom food orders forms, designing informative sections, building booking forms, managing advertising campaigns and much more. Ecwid can handle everything.
Source: Ecwid
Moreover, once you create your restaurant website, you can connect it with all your social media accounts from one place. This ease of use makes managing your sales channels and advertising campaigns easier. Not only limited to this but it also helps keep your marketing & sales related customer data in one place. When you would like to conduct an email marketing campaign, things get just simpler!
It is possible to start selling with the free forever plan at Ecwid and you can upgrade it whenever you want:
The Venture Plan is good enough for people who need a proper starter solution. The prices are starting from $15/month.
It would be better to go for the Business Plan if you are concerned with abandoned carts, integrations and quick customer support. Starting at $35/month.
For priority support and POS system integration, the Unlimited Plan is just for you.
Final Words: Which is the best website builder for restaurants in 2022?
“The best” is a relative concept as it totally shapes according to your needs. That’s why we don’t want to point out one solid option here. The questions above might help to decide on what you really expect from the best platform for a restaurant website.
We have tried to streamline your decision-making process by striping down the best options. Whether you are a small or large business, these best website builders for restaurants can suit your requirements in different aspects. The key consideration here is what features exactly you need.
Martijn van Meijel
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