Denise,
 I've reloaded the page and yes, you have fixed the offset button. 
The issue with the main page seems to be a problem endemic to 
designers in general. It seems that many designers must use the 
front page as an example of their graphic/flash skills, even if its at 
the expense of the client.

 Looking at the main page you have buttons, and one image 
(addresslogo.gif). From a search engine standpoint, there is enough 
information on this page to allow the search engine spiders to detect 
and spider the lower level pages. However, in terms of content, this 
page is devoid of any. If your client is happy with this, so be it, but 
I'd warn the client that the lack of visible, stock html based text, is 
going to make this page rank very poorly in most search engines. 
Meta Tags alone are not an answer to the search engine issue. Its 
doubtful that this page will appear on any search engine unless 
you're searching for the name of the company or searching via url.

 I think it falls upon a designer to inform the client that some wanted 
feature may have a detrimental effect on the site. There are a lot of 
nice bells and whistles a designer can use, but if you're not aware of 
the limitations in these products, you can end up designing a Mona 
Lisa of the web, and no one will be able to find it.

 I didn't notice the order change in the buttons, but the person that 
pointed them out is correct. Consistentency of the MMI is critical. 
Misplacing even a single button can result in lost revenue for the 
client. 

 In regard to the meta tags, there are only three tags that are used 
by the search engines. Keywords, Description and Robots. And you 
can drop robots unless you have specific instructions for the 
spidering bot. Since this is sorta off topic, if you want, email me 
privately and I'll point you to a resource I have online which 
describes the correct formats for these tags, and some tools which 
aid you in developing tags for your designs.

    Bob Minnick, Northern Webs


On 8 Oct 2001, at 8:26, denise wrote:

> 
> Well I was wondering whether or not to have that front index page 
> at all, or to start with the "about us" page, which gives the 
> information which a reader will want about mediation.  The name 
> address and contact details are at the bottom of every page 
> anyway.   The person who asked me to do this site seems to think 
> that he must have a "front door".
> 
> As for the last button shifting 10 pixels, I think I've fixed it.  At the 
> end of every button there is a <BR> and there wasn't at the end.  
> 
> Meta tags are to come next, along with search engine registrations - 
> how should the meta tags be put into the list??
> 
> Denise
> 

Northern Webs, http://www.northernwebs.com
208.265.0474

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