1 year and 100+ posts!

Well it has been a year since my first post here on Website Design in a Flash, and this will be my 104th post!



This was my first blog that really got me started in the world of blogging, and I have learned a lot. I hope that I can continue to provide useful information for people working to tame the Internet. My posting frequency has slowed down over the last couple months, but I will try to pick it up again.

Here's to another year of Website Design Tips and Tricks!
-Ashton Sanders

Flash Random Scene ActionScript

I recently created a Flash Animation that would randomly play one of three different Flash scenes. Then after each scene, it would go back to the beginning and randomly choose another scene to play. This was all programmed in ActionScript in Flash.

I have a feeling that even though this code is very simple, it will save a little bit of time if I have it stored here for the future.

// First Choose a random number
//from 0 to the number of scenes
num = random(3);

//Depending on which random number
//was chosen, go to a flash scene
switch (num)
{
  case 0:
    gotoAndPlay("scenename", 1);
    break;
  case 1:
    gotoAndPlay("scenename1", 1);
    break;
  case 2:
    gotoAndPlay("scenename2", 1);
    break;
  default:
    trace ( " no case tested true " )
}

That's it!
-Ashton Sanders

SEO - Where to Host Your Blog?

I know that a blog can really help to increase your website content. A blog shows the Search Engines that there is actually someone behind this website, and they actually care about their website.

When I started this blog at the beginning of this year, I was trying to research whether it was better to have two medium-content heavy sites that link to each other, or one site with all of the content.

The Setup

My main Website Design Website is Websites in a Flash. This site has 20-30 pages of content, and got approximately 400 unique visitors a month. (This is primarily from Search Engines.)

I knew that this blog would have many pages of website-terms, so I decided to host it on my Ashton Sanders website as a subdomain. The purpose of this was to see if two medium sized sites linking to each other would create an increase in unique visitors for both my Main Website and my Blog.

Results

Obviously, my Blog had an increase in visitors (because it didn't have any before). Surprisingly, it has totally surpassed my normal website, although I guess it shouldn't be surprising.

My Websites in a Flash website increased to about 650 Unique visitors. It also finally got back to PR4, but I'm not satisfied with that product. So, I've moved my blog to my Websites in a Flash Site, 301 redirects and all. I will now be testing my statistics/results on this new server, and will give you another update after 4 or 5 more months.

My findings, so far, from this test lead me to believe that it is best to have your blog on the same domain as your main website, but a final verdict will come in early 2008.

Note: After this Search Engine Optimization test, the only thing I have to test for myself if whether a blog on your website is better as a subfolder or subdomain.

-Testing the Bounds of the Internet
-Ashton Sanders

Ashton Sanders - Interview

This is more of a Question and Answer with me, Ashton Sanders. Enjoy.

Q: What caused you to end up working on the Internet?

Ashton Sanders: Computers have always been my forte, and I greatly enjoy working and creating on the Internet. There is no other industry like it, and it will be one that I know I will always be learning new things about. There is no ceiling to how much I can learn and do.

Q: Why did you buy www.AshtonSanders.com?

Ashton Sanders: Ha! I bought www.AshtonSanders.com because I thought it would be a lot of fun to have and create with. I am the only Ashton Sanders who works on the Internet, (from what I could tell from the Google search) and I knew I would never forgive myself if some other Ashton Sanders bought it... or even worse, someone bought it just to spite me.

Q: What do you feel is your greatest strength in regards to Website Design and Development on the Internet?

Ashton Sanders: There are many aspects of the Internet that I am very proficient at: Website Design, PHP programming, ActionScript, Flash Animation, CSS, HTML, XHTML, etc. If I must choose one part of the Internet that I am the most proficient at, I would have to say it is Search Engine Optimization (SEO). For the last couple years, I have been under the tutelage of Jere Matlock of www.WordsinaRow.com. He is the greatest SEO resource anyone could ask for, and the things that he has accomplished with his client's websites is truly amazing. With his help, I have begun to create some equally amazing products in the field of Search Engine Optimization. I look forward to all the SEO accomplishments that I will achieve in the near future.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of Website Design and Development?

Ashton Sanders: I love it all! I love taking a blank page, and creating a place that is pleasing to look at, and entertaining to use. I love using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to simplify a website's infrastructure and HTML Coding. I love the accomplishment of programming an elaborate PHP website that does all sorts of fun things. I love putting together an extensive Flash Movie that is entertaining, but most of all I love having fun, and giving my visitors something they can enjoy.

Q: Do you have any company policies that are different from other Website Design Companies?

Ashton Sanders: Yes, definitely! First and foremost, I always answer my cell phone. I am probably the easiest-to-reach web master on the planet. Even if I am behind on a project (not likely), I am not afraid to tell my client. I will never avoid a client for any reason. That brings up another company policy: "If you ever do anything, do it 'In a Flash!'"

Q: Any Closing Thoughts?

Ashton Sanders: The mind can never be full. No matter how much you learn, there will always be space for more. It my personal policy to never stop learning. It doesn't matter if I've never heard about the subject before, I know what everyone has to start somewhere. Why not here and now? I love expand my information on any subject!

-"Never Stop Learning... Ever!"
-Ashton Sanders"

About Ashton Sanders

Who is Ashton Sanders? I realize that many of you have no idea who I am, so I thought I would do a quick post about my past.

I was born in Los Angeles, and joined cub scouts when my younger brother got into tiger cubs. We were both the goody-two-shoes of the school. When I finished 6th Grade, I went to Delphi Academy of Los Angeles.

I've always loved sports. I was on the soccer team my four high school years and was the captain of the Soccer Team the year we became undefeated League Champions; a school record to say the least. I got the League Most Valuable Player Award and the Team Spirit Award.

I also became very interested in computers (a computer nerd). We had a LAN Party every break, and I built a couple of my own computers. (I'm currently typing on one that I built two years ago, and it still running strong.) I love working on the computer, and am very good at it. I've picked up on a lot of tricks and shortcuts over the years, and consider myself a computer nerd in every aspect. I started working on websites with my brother at the age of 16, under the name Websites in a Flash.

I stayed in the Boy Scout of America Program since I joined in 3rd Grade. I got my Eagle Scout at the age of 17 and spent three summers working at Camp Cherry Valley, a Boy Scout camp on Catalina Island. They were the best summers of my life: teaching kids how to grow up and become a productive, helpful member of society, and having a blast doing it. I was the Head Commissioner for my last year there.

After my second year at Camp Cherry Valley, I moved to Montana with my fiance, and bought my first house at the age of 20. My website business has been growing and expanding since I graduated. I've been fortunate enough to work with some amazing website design and Search Engine Optimization professionals. I'm very proud of my website company, and have some very big plans for my website. (I'll be posting my website updates as they are completed.)

I think that summarizes it pretty well.
-Ashton Sanders