So lets talk a bit about web presence. I have been looking at the web design and branding strategies used by various agencies and there is a lot of specific techniques that make all of the difference when intending to build a superior brand. First I'd like to bring some attention to some companies that I thought could use a little work on their strategy. I took a look at http://www.richsoil.com/raising-chickens.jsp and found a few things that are not helping their efforts. Fist of all their is a google add at the top that is confusing to have to establish is NOT an offiliated part of their site since it is so well woven into the color scheme used on the side menu (not a good display of concept and contrast or alignment). Also it is not visually stimulating since there is no moving graphics which these days can send a sense of low budget as a silent message before you have even realized it. Also the main font used in the body of the main page text I found to be a bit more difficult to dicipher than most pages, it was like too much of the characters were too bold and made it hard to make them out next to each other. And finally their main page is just too darn long. I can't stand going to sites where I am scrolling down for days only to find the side menu is a pilgramage back up to the top. They would be well served to use a different main text font, make a better logo, loose the google add mixed in to the top and break up their main page aswell as add a site map. Next I went to http://www.swagelok.com/. They appeared to be a more proffesionally created web presence but I still found plenty of room for improvement. First of all their logo was nothing substantual. Basically just a slightly catchy font of the company name. Also it is not really made immediately apparent just what the company does. Only if you hover over the website name in the browser tab does it reveal a dialogue box that follows with a little description behind the name that gives some idea of who they are. The concept and contrast was not well defined until you really begin an in depth study which made me feel that the ease of use of their site could be worked on. Another example of this is seen in the sideways text on the oscillating menu graphics at the top. I can't think of a more confusing way to create a menu to display a representation of options. They could remedy these issues by considering making a more recognizable catchy logo that features a graphic that sums up what they are all about for ease of association. Loose the sideways text and redue that attempt at a menu to become something obvious. And how about an obvious slogan right at the top to right away give an impression of what the brand is all about? Ok lets talk about whose doing it right. Apple.com. No big surprise here. If you had as much money and resources as they do to be continually planning and employing the most up to the minute marketing and advertising techniques you'd have no excuse for anything less than high calliber first rate brand delivery either. First of all right away they make it catchy with oscillating high quality images of their latest products and news. Which speaks to a sense of importance. Excellent concept and contrast through out the entire site. The depth of content is well configured to continually wet one's appetite and curriousity to learn more at every click. Also a they feature a site map to help with over all navigation incase you're looking for one. Great Higherarechy, the important content stands out. Top to bottom first rate content delivery done in a very streamline appealing manner. Next I went to http://www.gforceracecars.com/. While not as high end and fancy as the apple.com site I still liked the layout of this website for what it is geared to do for their consumers so I think it is a good example of a site done right. First of all the Alignment is great. Logo up to right away with immediate contact info right under the name which indicates by nature of there services that a large volume of their potential customers are calling with specific questions regarding applications of specific products and services they offer since it is to a great extent a company dealing with customized circumstances. So good job on ease of use.Their menus are straight forward and easy to navigate. Easy to discern what is important here and the color schemes featured look sharp and streamline which gives a sense of appropriate for the nature of their business and is a good mix of catchy but not too busy or confusing. A little bit of animation always adds a sense of modern up to the minute strategy even if it is nothing significant and they have just that where it keeps spellin gout the words "featured product". Also it is nic that they have a little blurb right up top that says what they are all about in a few sentences. I wish this was the way everyone did it. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the length of that opening page. I still think it is best to move a lot of content to a different page when it begins to make the home page too long but theirs is right on the edge of acceptability in my eyes. Overall a well done site asthetically pleasing and appropriate for the type of business and customers they mean to attract.