Successful Site Architecture

Successful Site Architecture Notes taken at the Search Engine Strategies Conference Dallas, Texas, November 2001 by Robin Nobles

(Written based on a session given at the Search Engine Strategies Conference in Dallas in November 2001.)

Speakers:

Buying A Home Zoning and Architectural Review Board Restrictions

When you buy a home, you need to be aware of the various things that can limit your control over the property. This is as true for finished lots and single family homes as it is for townhouses, condos, and apartments. Its a good idea to understand these limitations before you buy, so that you can decide whether youre willing to live with them or not. After you buy, its too late; youre stuck.

Zoning

In most jurisdictions, zoning limits how a piece of property can be used. There are many variations of residential zoning. In some, no business activity is permitted. Some allow business activity but no signs. In some, no commercial vehicles can be parked regularly.

Some residential zones permit only a single dwelling per quarter acre, per acre or per ten acres. Most limit the owners ability to subdivide land. Some allow only single family dwellings while others allow high rise apartments. Still others allow apartments, but limit the height of apartment buildings. Many do not allow mobile homes.

Some jurisdictions have overlay districts in addition to zoning. These are common in areas with many older buildings and a community desire to preserve them. Additions to homes of this type are obviously restricted, but restrictions regarding the location, style, height, and even whether theyre allowed at all or not, also applies to fences, sheds, walks, gates, and similar ancillary structures.

Fredericksburg, Virginia has a forty block historic district. Residents of this area must follow normal zoning rules. However, they must also submit an application to the Architectural Review Board for any changes to the visible exterior of their homes. This can be a surprise for some new homeowners in the area.

You can find detailed information about zoning, overlay districts and the like fairly easily. Simply visit the courthouse for the county in which the property is located or ask your real estate professionals for assistance.
Raynor James is with http://www.fsboamerica.org- sell your home online. Sellers list your home for free the first month. Buyers always look for free.

Content Layering :: Using Site Architecture To Improve SEO

Many times, a site gets very large and its ability to rank well in competitive markets decreases in part because of the size of the site. While we in the business know that content is king, more often than not it is a combination of content and effective site structure which will ultimately help your pages rank.

In this article I look at how to most effectively structure your site to take advantage of this.

I read this great article on layering on the SEOmoz Blog http://www.seomoz.org/blogdetail.php?ID=789 and while it does a good job of explaining what content layering is, I feel it could be improved just a little bit.

I'm not saying it is wrong in any way. In fact the tactic outlined will be very effective for a small to medium sized site, however I have also found another way to organize your site which can be more effective if done properly.

In the article, it explains how you use layers to organize your site. Now we're not talking about CSS layering or anything like that. It's more of a site structure issue than anything.

According to the article, one can layer their site through the use of sub-folders. By creating layers of sub-folders and then placing all related content within that sub-folder you can layer your site to help specific sections of it rank higher.

This is a great way to organize a smaller site because it allows you to place topical pages together, and promote links within the pages to help improve overall positioning of these sections.

Further, it helps reduce the dilution factor often felt by sites that attempt to cover multiple topics in a flat file structure.

For example, if you sell widgets you could organize the sections by some common element, such as color. That way your site could be: http://widgetts.com/blue/page1.html and all blue widget pages would go into this sub-folder. You'd then organize all other sub-folders in a similar style.

Like I said, I think this is a very effective strategy for a smaller or medium site. There would be a much greater chance of blue widgets ranking highly in a structure like this.

However, I feel that for larger sites there's an even more effective way to organize your content.

Through the use of sub-domains one could further organize this content. This would make it even more relevant to search queries and more likely to rank. If one sold a larger variety of widgets yet still wanted to organize them by color then the structure of the site would be: http://blue.widgetts.com and all site content relating to blue widgets would appear within this sub-domain.

The reason I say sub-domains would be more effective is because search engines tend to treat a sub-domain as its own site. In other words, a search engine sees http://blue.widgetts.com and http://widgetts.com as essentially 2 different sites.

Keep in mind that such a strategy is of the most benefit to larger sites. If you don't have a large site, or don't foresee your site growing to become a large site then I wouldn't recommend the sub-domain layering tactic.

This is because, as I've said, the search engines will treat your sub-domain as a unique site. So if you've only got 10 or 15 or even 50 pages in your sub-domain, chances are it won't rank as competitively as it would have as a sub-folder of a larger site.

Now, to make your content even more competitive, why not combine these two strategies - use a sub-domain and sub-folders to provide you even more control in site organization as well as an even greater chance of ranking.

This is because the broader sub-domain can rank competitively for the broader terms while the sub-folder content can rank competitively for the less broad, more specific terms.

What you are doing by combining the two strategies is getting more bang for your buck. This is because you are covering more area on the web, allowing your site to rank for both broad and specific terms.

Then, with some good strategic interlinking you will be able to even further promote the broad areas of your site by linking all your internal pages to the pages above it.

While I'm not entirely dismissing the layered content theory presented above, I am saying consider your situation. If your site is a smaller site, by all means use the layered content approach. If it's larger then use the sub-domain approach.

Also remember that there could be multiple ways to organize the same content.

For example, in addition to organizing your sub-domains or sub-folders by color in the widget example, also consider organizing them by features. This way, a chosen widget could be linked to from multiple related categories.

Not only that but you've now bulked up your site with a bunch of additional pages. These new pages are required to help create the sub-domains and navigation required to drive visitors to the individual widget pages.

This type of multi-category linking is common among many large sites. One good example is Ebay. It organizes its top auctions into sub-domains like antiques, art, autos and clothing. Then, within the categories the sub-folder structure is used to further segment the site.

In conclusion, if you've been looking for a way to most effectively organize your site while helping to improve rankings, consider these options. Through the use of sub-folders, sub-domains or a combination of both you can effectively organize your site, segment your products and target searchers more effectively.

Rob Sullivan is a SEO Consultant and Writer for http://www.textlinkbrokers.com. Textlinkbrokers is a link building company. Please provide a link directly to Textlinkbrokers when syndicating this article.

Be Your Own Architect

There is hardly anybody reading this that will not know who an architect is. If you have built a house before or seen/know anyone who has built one, you will not find it hard to understand the work of an architect. As we all know, an architect is a person that designs the plan of a house before it is built. He sits down to take brief of his/her client and help transfer the client's brief into a workable plan.

If there is a job you need to be good at dear friend, it is the job of an architect. I am not saying when you want to build your own house; you should draw the plans yourself. No! What is at stake is bigger and far from building house. There is a building that we all need to be good at planning for and thereby transferring our own brief into action. The planning for this building is often neglected by not a few and it is what determines what result we get. This building is our own life! We must learn to draw a plan for our own lives.

I have an uncle who happens to be an architect and I used to be fascinated at the amount of time and energy he devotes to drawing a plan of a client's house. At times, I hear him speak out loud to no one in particular followed by a lot of gesticulations. Unfortunately, majority of us do not put enough time and energy into planning our lives like the professional architects. It is saddening seeing people live their lives without a plan. Most people who are living out a plan, are unfortunately living out other people's plans for their lives. The greatest joy one can have is to live according to one's plan. Setting your plan and living it out brings an inner peace you can describe and this cannot be experienced if you are living without plans or living another person's plan for your life. Living other people's plans for our lives always lead to discomfiture and absolute frustration later in life.

When an architect is about to draw the plan of a house, he takes so many things into consideration, which may mean little or nothing to a lay man. Same goes for us. Nobody knows us better than we know ourselves therefore nobody should know what is better for us than ourselves. If I were to draw the plan of a house, I will draw it according to how I wish it will be but an architect will not make such a mistake. He will draw it according to how it should be drawn putting into consideration so many factors. If you are going to plan your own life, will you put in things that will inconvenient you later in life? Will you draw up a plan to do things that you know will not be of any use to you?

If you decide to put the plan of your life in someone else's hand, then you are courting trouble in the future. Nobody knows you more than you know yourself. I may just be seeing your shining face but I don't really know who or what you are inside. I may not know your abilities and your weaknesses, so asking me or anybody else to help design your life is going to be a mistake that will surely lead to regret later in your life. You know your potentials and your inner dreams more than anybody else and you are the best person who can plan and design your life and future.

When you design your life in line with your dreams and abilities and things don't seem to be working out according to the plan, you can still alter the plan since the "original copy" is still with you but if it somebody else's plan you are living, changing may not be that easy. If you are living other people's dreams and things don't work out as planned, you will still take the blame. So why don't you assume the responsibility of becoming an architect of your own life.

Nobody has the right to know how your life should be spent except you; not your parents, so many parents have misled their wards just by telling them they know what is good for them. Not even your relatives, friends, boss or any other living creature. If it is going to be, it is up to you. You have a choice to design your life and live according to the plans or borrow someone else's. It is your choice! It is up to you and you should know that it is the end that justifies the means.

PLEASE TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE!

Adebola Oni is the Author of "The Lessons Of Life". So many lives have been touched by his newsletter, Life Lessons Digest. You can have a copy delivered to you every week by visiting his website: The Lessons Of Life.

Parity course mapped to the new ISEB Certification in IT Architecture

Parity's Technical Architecture, Integration and Development (TAID) course has been fully accredited by ISEB to map to the new 'ISEB Certificate in IT

Architecture' qualification.

This makes Parity's course the first (and currently only) officially accredited course mapped to the ISEB qualification. Parity's TAID course is

targeted at experienced IT staff wishing to move into an IT Architect role. This could include IT Managers, Project Managers, Senior Developers and

Business Analysts. The TAID course sits within our extensive programming development training portfolio, which compliments our management training for IT

managers and directors.

ISEB's Accreditation Manager Rachael Kavanagh said "ISEB is pleased to announce that Parity has become the first Training Provider to offer a course

leading to the new ISEB Certificate in IT Architecture. Having been involved in the development of the

syllabus and with their track record for providing technical and management training, Parity is currently the only Training Provider able to support

candidates in achieving this qualification and in turn raising the standards for IT Professionals in all industries."

Parity Training's Managing Director Ebi Zadeh said "This is great news for Parity customers. Parity has worked closely with ISEB for many years setting

standards across the industry. Our expertise in the Technical Architecture field has long been established, working with clients to meet organisational

objectives. We believe that aligning our TAID course to the ISEB syllabus brings clear benefits to clients to enable ongoing management at all levels

using its frameworks and latest developments in this area."

Parity understands the difficulties of designing and managing complex IT Systems and the requirement for change

management training.

Aimed at Technical Architects charged with shaping the environment to support the successful introduction, integration, and evolution of business systems,

Parity provides an unrivalled portfolio of courses focused directly at this area.

Editorial notes:

About Parity:
Parity, uniquely for its size, offers a full range of IT services including;

Business process consultancy
Change management training
Management training
Technology training
Programming training
Development and management of complex IT systems
Oracle and Microsoft technology and application skills
Permanent and temporary IT staff


Major clients include:

Alcatel, Allianz, AT&T, British American Tobacco, CISCO, Department for Education & Skills, Department for Work & Pensions, HBOS, Hewlett Packard, HM

Revenue & Excise, HSBC, IBM, ICI, Ministry of Defence, NASA, National Programme for IT at the NHS, O2, Perot Systems, Reuters, Royal Bank of Scotland,

Royal Mail, Siemens, Sony Ericsson, The Cabinet Office, The Met Office, and T-Systems.

Contact details:

For more information on Parity, visit http://www.parity.net or by contacting Gina Cannon (g.cannon@parity.net)

Author: Michael Hanna

About Michael

Michael is a keen writer, and internet marketer living in Scotland:

Contact details:

E-mail: samqam@googlemail.com Phone: 0131 561 2251
Michael's Website: Belfast

Building Online: How Architects Use Extranets for Online Collaboration

Traditionally, architects are a conservative bunch who fiercely guards "company secrets." As a result, the idea of using an extranet to share documents and collaborate with others has been totally alien.

But tradition is rapidly changing. Increasingly, architectural firms are using extranets to share documents in a secure environment. Why? Because projects move faster, clients are happier, and everything - from schedules and budgets to CAD drawings and renderings -- is more accessible.

An extranet allows engineers and construction companies to immediately access all pertinent information about a project. It eliminates the frustration of waiting until the architect decides to share his plans.

Client relationships are enhanced through the faster and easier access to the vast volume of documents. Approvals are made more quickly, and the client has the comfort of knowing that they can review anything, at anytime.

What is an Extranet?

An extranet provides a secure workspace for clients, vendors and business partners. It is an area where all the pertinent information for a project can be made available to all of the parties involved in the project.

Studies show that almost 50% of architectural firms have used an extranet. Some firms have resisted using the tool due to the high cost of implementation and maintenance. It is true that the cost of setting up an in-house extranet can be expensive. It requires the purchase of equipment and software, and hiring or training personnel to setup and maintain the system.

However, hosted extranets have become a popular alternative to in-house solutions. They can be purchased for a monthly fee from an application service provider. This approach eliminates the need for hardware and software, and requires no internal staff to maintain the system. In fact, most hosting companies provide training for your staff.

Today, as people become more accustomed to doing most of their business over the internet, clients are requiring that architectural firms use extranet technology. The good news is that extranets have become affordable. More importantly, they make the complex task of collaboration more efficient, enhancing the relationships with clients and partners, and accelerating project completion.

Rick Mosenkis is CEO of Trichys, providers of extranet and intranet tools for online collaboration.

Career Track : Network Architect

Network Architect Roles and Responsibilities :

Although there is some cross over between the job roles of Network Engineers and Network Architects, there is a difference in actual responsibilities. A Network Architect primarily focuses on the design of the network and the implementation of that design while an actual Network Engineer is usually the one responsible for the actual implementation of the design. Similar to a Network Administrator or regular Network Engineer, Network Architects may also be responsible for some tasks relating to telecommunications as well.

In companies that combine the telecommunications responsibilities with that of the Network Architect, candidates may also be responsible for the analysis, engineering and execution of software functions for telecom voice and data. Other general responsibilities may include :

* Design Modeling

* Network Performance Planning

* Network Capacity Planning

* Establishment of Telecommunications Standards (LAN/WAN)

Some employers may also require their Network Architects to manage technology vendors. This would require candidates to stay abreast of how technology infrastructures are currently impacting and driving competitors. You may also be responsible for negotiating high level contracts and maintaining long-term relationships.

Educational Requirements :

Although a bachelor's degree or associates degree in computer science, electrical engineering, MIS or other related industries will suffice for a general network engineering position, you need at least 6-10 years of technology experience to move into the position of a Network Architect as well as several years of experience working with Windows, Unix or Novell Systems. Extensive knowledge of network management, engineering disciplines, and operating systems are a must. An excellent addition to your skill sets is a sub-specialty such as telecommunications or e-commerce.

Soft skills as well as technical skills are important in the position of a Network Architect. Understanding and knowing how an application may affect the function of a business unit is critical, as is the ability to negotiate technology issues while building solutions. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required as well as the ability to create and deliver effective presentations. A Network Architect will also need to work closely with other department heads and must possess the ability to see both the large and small picture.

Salary Potential : (As reported by the U.S. Dept. of Labor)

Average salaries (nationwide):

Entry (less than 1 year of experience): Engineer $44,999 Architect $43,077

Junior (1-2 years of experience): Engineer $50,282 Architect $55,961

Emerging (3-5 years of experience): Engineer $59,803 Architect $67,187

Experienced (6-9 years of experience): Engineer $68,845 Architect $78,787

Advanced (10+ years of experience): Engineer $75,584 Architect $87,384

Industry Certifications :

There are many certifications that will look good on a resume for a Network Architect. The most recommended are Novell's CNE and Master CNE, Nortel's Network's Certified Network Architect and Cisco's CCNP and CCIE. The larger the enterprise you've worked with the better. You should however, complete the recommended certifications for a Network Engineer first, however. These include:

* A+ 2003

* CCDA

* CCIE

* CISSP

* Linux+

* LPIC2 Linux Junior Level

* LCPI2 Linux Intermediate Level

* Master CIW Administrator

* Master CIW i-Accelerate

* MCNE

* MCSA 2000

* MCSA 2003

* MCSE 2000

* MCSE 2003

* NetWare 5 CNE

* NetWare 6 CNE

* Network+

* RHCE

* RHCT

* SCE

* SCM

* SCP

* Security+

* Server+

* Solaris 8 SCNA

* Solaris 9 SCNA

* Solaris 9 Security

* TICSA

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