Latest news with #webdesign
CBC
6 days ago
- CBC
International student Sahil Kumar found dead 10 days after disappearance in Toronto
A 22-year-old Hamilton student who was reported missing nearly a month ago was found dead in Toronto, according to police. Sahil Kumar was last seen on the afternoon of May 16 near Yonge and Dundas streets in downtown Toronto. A recent arrival from India, Kumar had moved to Hamilton in April and was set to begin a web design program at Humber College earlier this spring. In a news release, Toronto police said Kumar's body was found on May 26 — 10 days after he went missing. While the investigation remains open, police said the case "does not appear to be a criminal matter." A spokesperson told CBC that no further information would be released. Kumar's family, however, says the circumstances surrounding his death raise far more questions than answers. "He was happy. He had no problems. He called home every day and told us he was enjoying his course," said Akshay Yadav, Kumar's uncle in India, in an interview translated from Hindi. "He told us: 'Next time I want to bring grandma with me. It feels good here.'" According to the family, Kumar spoke to his parents, brother, and grandmother on the day he went missing. "That was May 16, in the afternoon. After that, his phone was off," Yadav told CBC Hamilton. His roommates initially thought he may have returned home and gone to sleep. But when they realized he hadn't, they began calling and eventually filed a police report. It was issued on May 20. "It felt like the ground had slipped from under our feet," said Yadav. "We had just spoken to him." On May 27, they received a message confirming Kumar had been found dead in the water. His body was identified by the family overseas during a video call with police. "We were shocked. It was impossible to believe. Sahil even knew how to swim," Yadav said. "We kept asking, 'Why would he go to the beach? What happened?' But we've gotten no clear answers." Toronto police have not commented on the location where Kumar's body was found or the specific circumstances surrounding his death. The family says communication largely stopped after the body was recovered. Based in a small village in India, without the financial means or many Canadians connections, the family says they feel powerless to push for a more thorough investigation or to look privately into the circumstances. "It feels like an injustice was done to us," said Yadav. "We're not wealthy, we don't have the means to fight this." Yadav said the family has begun to reach out to other families of international students from India who also went missing recently. They were alarmed to read about one case in Ottawa, where a college student died in April under some similar circumstances, he said. They also connected with the family of Vedatman Poduval, a York University student who was reported missing on June 2 by Toronto police and found four days later, on June 6. While police have only said he was found, the family told CBC News he had died. Yadav said the conversation between the two families underscored the similarities between the cases — young international students, all found in water under unclear circumstances. "When this happens again and again, it should raise questions," Yadav said. CBC has asked both Toronto and Ottawa police whether they are investigating any potential patterns across the cases or are coordinating on the cases but did not hear back before publication. If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to look for help:
Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
5 Essential Elements Of A Successful Website
Anthony Savino is the CEO of Benjamin Marc Corp., a web design and digital marketing agency in Long Island. When you have owned a web design and digital marketing company for over 20 years, you start to realize which concepts work and which ones don't. Through trial, error and statistics, my company has been able to examine each website we build to provide the best results for our clients. A website should have a lot of factors to be successful. I've seen large companies have extremely unsuccessful websites and small companies have very successful websites. What makes a successful website? It's the ability to sell someone on your product or services without having a salesperson. In this article, I will share essentials that I feel should be on every website for maximum performance. Whether you are selling a product or providing a service, the following five essentials apply to you. Visitors can land on your website at any hour of the day on any day of the week; we, as web designers, need to make your visitors convert to customers. If your website falls short of explaining your products and services thoroughly, that potential customer will be gone. Over the last 20 years, we have seen so much more growth in the digital marketing space. We need to offer more as web designers to retain our clients. Who, what, why, when and how: We have been hearing these five words our whole lives, but how do they apply to web design? When a customer walks through your door or calls you on the phone, they generally ask you these five questions. Did you ever think to see if these questions are answered on your website? If a customer is asking you face-to-face or over the phone, they are curious about your business and your services, so why not find a way to answer them directly? As you're reading this, you're probably realizing that there are several questions to consider related to "who, what, why, when and how." Each business is different, but you as the business owner will know which is important for your potential customers. Here are some examples of some successful answers to your potential visitors' questions. Who is an easy one, but it's important. Who are you? People want to know who they're doing business with, so mention your name as well as the name of the company. I've found that sharing your origins and history is also very important to your potential customers. We all started a business for a reason; some people want to read that reason and understand why you started it. What products or services do you offer? The reason visitors are on your website is to find in-depth information about your products and services. Don't say too much because you may lose them, but don't say too little because they're on your website to get information. Why do customers need your products and services? Why do they need them from you rather than your competitors? Give explanations for why they should choose you over someone else. When should they contact you? When should they use your services? How can your products or services help your potential customer? Explain your business's success rates. As we stated before, there are several potential questions and answers to consider within the who, what, why, when and how. But it all breaks down to why visitors are on your website. As a business owner, the best way to equip the web design company building your website for success is to write down the list of questions customers ask you on a daily basis. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Globe and Mail
12-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Digital Silk Launches Purpose-Driven Web Design for Project Fire Buddies, Fueling Engagement and Community Support
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2025) - Digital Silk, an award-winning agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites and digital marketing campaigns, has launched a new purpose-led digital platform for Project Fire Buddies. This non-profit organization partners with fire departments across the U.S. to bring joy to children battling critical illnesses. The website revamp is part of Digital Silk's mission to support cause-based organizations through strategic web design that fosters engagement and community involvement. Bringing Joy Online: Project Fire Buddies' Mission Comes to Life Through Engaging New Website To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: From February 6 to May 6, 2025, the new website achieved impactful early results: +16.2% increase in average engagement time per user, showing visitors are connecting more deeply with the content +37.4% rise in engagement events such as clicks and scrolls across pages +3.8% increase in organic and direct traffic, despite a decline in total users Over 13.3K pageviews driven by the homepage and the "Chapters" section, indicating interest in the organization's reach and mission The redesign aimed to tell the Project Fire Buddies story through an intuitive, emotionally resonant interface with clear calls to action for support and participation. The full case study is available at: Human-Centered Website Development Enhancing Visibility and Support Digital Silk built the platform with accessibility, ease of navigation and emotional storytelling at its core. The homepage, mission and chapter pages now deliver a more immersive journey, helping to inform, inspire and mobilize visitors. "Project Fire Buddies is more than a website – it's a movement," said Gabriella Garcia, Senior Project Manager at Digital Silk. "Our team worked closely with their leadership to create a site experience that would amplify their impact and encourage more people to get involved." Key Results from the Digital Transformation The platform's performance metrics over its first 90 days show promising signs of long-term success and support for the non-profit's mission: Average session duration rose, indicating content relevance and design effectiveness Users interacted more with key calls to action, increasing potential for donations and volunteer involvement Direct and organic traffic grew, a strong indicator of improved visibility and search presence About Project Fire Buddies Project Fire Buddies was created by local firefighters to build relationships and boost the morale of critically ill children. By expanding across multiple fire departments, Project Fire Buddies developed a national presence — now supported by a centralized and engaging online platform built by Digital Silk. About Digital Silk Digital Silk is an award-winning Miami web design agency focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, Digital Silk delivers industry-leading digital experiences through strategic branding and cutting-edge web design to support engagement and visibility through custom marketing strategies.
Hospitality Net
26-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Conversion-First Design: What Every Hotel Website Must Fix in 2025
Intro In today's highly competitive hospitality market, a hotel's website is far more than a digital brochure. It is a key sales tool, brand ambassador, and often the first impression a guest has of your property. This article covers common web design and content mistakes and offers practical solutions to improve conversions of your website and boost your online presence in 2025 and beyond. Technical Foundations: Speed, Mobile, and Security Ensure Fast Loading Time Studies show that websites loading longer than three seconds experience significantly higher bounce rates. Many hotel sites still use large, uncompressed images or outdated booking engines that slow them down. Compressing images using modern formats like WebP and implementing lazy loading can speed up your site and improve guest retention. Ensure Fast Loading Time— Source: Exely Optimize for Mobile Devices Over two-thirds of bookings in Asia come from mobile devices. Websites that are not fully responsive or hard to navigate on small screens lose potential revenue. That's why mobile-first design, with thumb-friendly buttons and simple booking steps, is extremely important. For example, some hotel groups saw nearly 20% more mobile bookings after making navigation easier to use. Optimize for Mobile Devices— Source: Exely Secure Your Site with Certificates Security warnings scare off potential guests. Still, many hotel websites in CIS countries don't have proper SSL/TLS certificates. By automating certificate renewals and ensuring all third-party widgets use secure protocols, hotels can prevent browser alerts and build trust with visitors. Secure Your Site with Certificates — Source: Exely User Experience: Navigation, Booking Engine, and Scarcity Signals Create Clear, Intuitive Navigation Confusing menus make visitors give up. Research shows many hotel websites bury crucial information like room rates under multiple clicks. Using sticky menus with persistent 'Room Rates' and 'Special Offers' tabs helps guests find what they need fast and without hassle. Integrate the Booking Engine Booking engines that redirect guests to external pages or look different from the main site lead to lost bookings. Embedded booking widgets showing real-time availability and matching the website's style make the process smoother. For example, some hotels managed to increase booking by more than 30% after investing in a booking engine. Use Genuine Scarcity Signals Messages like 'Only 1 room left!' when plenty of rooms are available hurt trust. Synchronizing scarcity cues with PMS data makes urgency credible and encourages bookings without pushing guests away. Content Strategy: Localization and Visuals Localizate for Markets Many travelers want to see prices in their local currency and read content in their local language. Offering geolocated content that switches currency and provides payment info based on where guests come from significantly improves user experience and boosts conversion rates. Leverage High-Quality Visuals Professional photos matter. According to the study, hotels that show more than 20 high-quality photos per room see up to 136% more bookings. Pictures help guests imagine their stay and often make them willing to pay more. Adding video tours and virtual walkthroughs further immerses visitors and deepens their interest. How to Make Your Hotel Website Special Even with a fast and easy-to-use website, standing out in crowded markets requires creativity. Here's how to make your property different. Create Location-Specific Guides Build free practical guides that solve guest pain points. City hotels: Offer downloadable PDFs like '5 Hidden Cafés Locals Love' or 'Weekend Walking Tour Map.' Beach resorts: Share guides on snorkeling spots, sunset views, or family activitie. Example: A hotel in Baku increased bookings by 18% after adding a '24 Hours in Baku' guide with metro tips and restaurant highlights. Highlight What Makes You Different Most hotel websites use the same words like 'luxurious' and 'excellent service.' Instead, highlight what makes your hotel special. Heritage properties: Share the building's history in a video. Eco-resorts: Show certifications like Earth Check or Green Key and explain how guests support local communities. Boutique hotels: Introduce staff, for example, with a 'Meet Our Chef' activity Leverage Local Partnerships Guests often book tours through others that you can offer yourself. Work with local businesses and share special deals. Mountain hotels: Promote private hiking guides with lunch packs. City hotels: Partner with museums for skip-the-line tickets. Resorts: Offer discounted spa packages combined with nearby restaurants. Conclusion Improving your website's technical performance matters, but true success comes from creativity. Unique content, personalized experiences, and genuine local partnerships turn your site into more than a booking tool. They help you engage guests, build excitement, and earn loyalty. Focus on these elements to make your hotel stand out and attract more bookings. At Exely, we specialize in creating hotel websites that combine effective conversion strategies with memorable branding. Whether you choose a template site or custom development, we make sure your website captures the unique spirit of your property. Anna Belash Chief Marketing Officer Exely
TechCrunch
20-05-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
Stitch is Google's AI-powered tool to help design apps
At the Google I/O 2025 developer conference, Google launched Stitch, an AI-powered tool to help design web and mobile app front ends by generating the necessary UI elements and code. Stitch can be prompted to create app UIs with a few words or even an image, providing HTML and CSS markup for the designs it generates. Users can choose between Google's Gemini 2.5 Pro and Gemini 2.5 Flash AI models to power Stitch's code and interface ideation. Stitch lets users choose between Gemini 2.5 Flash and Gemini 2.5 Pro models Image Credits:Jagmeet Singh / TechCrunch Stitch arrives as so-called vibe coding — programming using code-generating AI models — continues to grow in popularity. There's a number of large tech startups going after the burgeoning market, including Cursor maker Anysphere, Cognition, and Windsurf. Just last week, OpenAI launched a new assistive coding service called Codex. And yesterday during its Build 2025 kickoff, Microsoft rolled out a series of updates to its GitHub Copilot coding assistant. Stitch is a bit more limited in what it can do compared to some other vibe coding products, but there's a fair amount of customization options. The tool supports directly exporting to Figma and can expose code so that it can be refined and worked on in an IDE. Stitch also lets users fine-tune any of the app design elements it generates. In a demo with TechCrunch, Google product manager Kathy Korevec showed two projects created using Stitch: a responsive mobile UI design for an app for bookworms and a web dashboard for beekeeping. '[Stitch is] where you can come and get your initial iteration done, and then you can keep going from there,' said Korevec. 'What we want to do is make it super, super easy and approachable for people to do that next level of design thinking or that next level of software building for them.' Soon after I/O, Google plans to add a feature that'll allow users to make changes in their UI designs by taking screenshots of the object they want to tweak and annotating it with the modifications they want, Korevec said. She added that while Stitch is reasonably powerful, it isn't meant to be a full-fledged design platform like Figma or Adobe XD. Techcrunch event Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot for our leading AI industry event with speakers from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere. For a limited time, tickets are just $292 for an entire day of expert talks, workshops, and potent networking. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you've built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | REGISTER NOW Stitch lacks the elements that could've made it a full-fledged design platform Image Credits:Jagmeet Singh / TechCrunch Alongside Stitch, Google has expanded access to Jules, its AI agent aimed at helping developers fix bugs in their code. Now in public beta, the tool helps developers understand complex code, create pull requests on GitHub, and handle certain backlog items and programming tasks. In a separate demo, Korevec showed Jules upgrading a website running the deprecated version 16 to 22. Jules cloned the site's codebase in a clean virtual machine and shared a 'plan' for the upgrade, which Korevec was then prompted to approve. Once the upgrade was completed, Korevec asked Jules to verify that the website still worked correctly — which Jules did. Jules currently uses Gemini 2.5 Pro, but Korevec told TechCrunch that users will be able to switch between different models in the future.
