Website Development for Online Newspaper

Website Development .

We undertook the development of a website in Agrinio for iNews Now, an article platform that provides reliable and up-to-date news. We designed a modern and user-friendly website that ensures excellent navigation and quick access to all categories of articles, enhancing iNew Now’s digital presence and providing the best visitor experience.

See iNews Now HERE

Methods Used

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Basic SEO (Basic Search Engine Optimization)

Basic search engine optimization (SEO) is the foundation for any website’s successful online presence. In the case of iNews Now, the implementation of SEO starts with the correct structure of the page and the use of keywords that are directly related to its articles and services. One of the key steps was to optimize the titles and meta descriptions to attract more visitors from search engines.

iNews Now’s SEO strategy also includes adjusting the URLs so that they are understandable and search engine friendly. Clean and concise URLs make it easier for search engines to categorize the content and identify the articles, which helps to improve the website’s position in the search engine results page (SERP).

Proper implementation of SEO is not limited to the initial construction phase. Instead, it requires regular monitoring and adjustments to keep the website competitive and visible in searches. This type of continuous optimization enhances the long-term performance and success of iNew Now in the digital world.

Responsive Design

Responsive Design is the foundation for a good user experience on any modern website. It is the element that ensures that content is displayed correctly on any device, be it a computer, tablet or mobile phone. At iNews Now, the need for a fully customizable website was imperative, as its users are likely to visit the platform from different devices and with different screens.

The implementation of Responsive Design at iNews Now means that, regardless of screen size, users will have comfortable navigation and easy access to all articles and website functions. The site adapts dynamically, with images and page elements changing size and layout, so as to maintain usability.

This design not only improves the aesthetics of the website, but also increases accessibility. Visitors can read articles and browse categories comfortably, without the need to zoom in or scroll unnecessarily. This enhances the user experience and helps iNew Now attract and retain visitors from different devices.

In addition, Responsive Design has a positive impact on SEO, as search engines prefer websites that are fully functional on mobile devices. Thus, implementing this design contributes to better ranking of the website in Google and other search engines.

Speed Optimization

Website loading speed is one of the most important factors for user experience and the success of a platform in the digital world. In the case of iNew Now, speed optimization was one of the first and most critical goals during its development. A fast and efficient page load not only improves user interaction, but is also a fundamental factor for proper search engine ranking.

The Speed Optimization process for iNews Now began with the recognition and acceptance that any additional delay in loading a page can lead to significant loss of visitors. Users have limited patience, and for every second of delay, the likelihood of abandoning the website increases. Thus, we aimed to improve the performance of the website by using modern optimization techniques to ensure that pages load instantly, even in areas with slower internet connections.

One of the first steps was to reduce the size of images. Images, if not properly optimized, can significantly slow down page loading. For this reason, image compression techniques were used, without sacrificing the quality of the photos and graphics. The use of advanced image formats, such as WebP, helped reduce file sizes and speed up loading, while maintaining high visual quality.

In addition, we used the caching technique, which temporarily stores data on the user’s computer or on the server. This reduces the number of requests that need to be made to retrieve page elements each time the user visits the page. Caching allows visitors to load pages faster, as much information is already stored locally, and does not need to be retrieved from the server again.

Minifying JavaScript, CSS, and HTML files was also an important step in the loading speed of the website. Excessive lines of code or unnecessary elements can slow down page performance. By minimizing these files, we removed unnecessary code and reduced the overall file size, making the website lighter and faster.

In addition, to ensure even greater speed, we proceeded to analyze HTTP requests and reduced the number of requests made when the page loads. Each HTTP request takes time to complete, and many times, third-party requests (such as external libraries or fonts) can delay loading. For this reason, we optimized external connections and loaded elements, reducing dependency on third parties.

Addressing latency from hosting services was also important. Choosing a reliable and fast web hosting provider was crucial to achieving the loading speed we desired. At iNews Now, we chose to host the website on a server that ensures fast performance, especially during peak hours, when traffic can increase significantly.

Another technique implemented was loading content during browsing (Lazy Loading). Using this technique, only the content visible on the user’s screen is loaded initially. The remaining elements, such as images and videos, are loaded when the user scrolls the page, reducing loading time and resource consumption.

In addition, we proceeded with a comprehensive audit of the website using tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix, in order to identify areas that could be improved and implement best optimization practices. These tools allowed us to evaluate the overall performance of the page and make the necessary improvements, ensuring that the iNews Now website meets the highest standards of speed and performance.

Continuous monitoring and ongoing optimization of speed is also important. Technology is constantly evolving and by continuously upgrading the website, we ensure that it remains fast and efficient, successfully competing with other websites in the same category.

Speed Optimization at iNews Now is not just a technical choice, but a strategy that impacts the user experience, SEO ranking and competitiveness of the website in the market. Through this process, we ensured that iNews Now provides a fast, reliable and enjoyable experience for every visitor.

Connection to Social Media (Social Network Integration)

Connecting with Social Media is one of the most powerful mechanisms for enhancing visibility and increasing interaction with the audience for the iNews Now website. In the era of digital communication, social networks play a crucial role in enhancing the visibility and dissemination of content, while at the same time allowing businesses and media to communicate directly and effectively with their audience.

For the iNews Now website, connecting with social networks is not just a feature, but a strategic tool that strengthens its presence on the internet. By integrating links for posting articles and sharing content on the most popular platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, readers are given the opportunity to share articles with their network, increasing the dissemination and impact of the content.

This feature offers multiple benefits. On the one hand, it increases the website’s traffic, as users can easily promote articles through their personal social networks. On the other hand, it allows for the faster dissemination of important news and articles, which can contribute to strengthening the influence of iNews Now on its readership community.

Direct Communication with the Audience and Exchange of Opinions

Connecting to social networks offers visitors to the iNews Now website the opportunity to participate in discussions and express their opinions on the articles and news published. The integration of comments and reactions through platforms such as Facebook and Twitter allows for real-time interaction, enabling readers to actively participate in shaping the journalistic debate.

Users can also follow iNews Now on social networks, to be instantly informed about the latest developments and to monitor its posts on a regular basis. The ability to follow iNews Now on Instagram and view the images and videos that accompany the articles creates a more complete user experience, offering a visual approach to the news and analysis provided on the website.

Increasing Community Interaction

Integrating social media buttons for instant content sharing is also critical to increasing engagement. iNews Now visitors can share articles and connect with their personal social media pages, giving readers the opportunity to participate and contribute to the growth of the iNews Now community. This feature not only strengthens readers’ trust in the credibility of the website, but also strengthens continuous repeat traffic.

This interaction also creates new opportunities for iNews Now to reach and grow its audience. By integrating social media into the website strategy, iNews Now can adapt to the needs of readers and offer a more personalized and immediate experience for each visitor. The content posted can be quickly disseminated to a wider audience and gain more recognition across the social sphere.

Strengthening the Brand and Improving Public Perception

The continuous presence and interaction on social networks helps to strengthen the brand identity and increase its recognition. Each article shared on social media strengthens the presence of iNews Now and attracts new readers. Users who follow the website on social networks gain an ongoing relationship with the brand, which they recognize as a reliable source of information and content.

With this capability, iNews Now can create a dynamic online community that interacts and discusses the latest developments and the most important articles. Sharing content enhances the reputation of the website and allows it to expand into new markets, increasing its popularity and user loyalty.

Integrating Social Promotion Strategies

Η σύνδεση με τα social media δεν περιορίζεται μόνο στη δυνατότητα κοινοποίησης άρθρων. Επιπλέον, παρέχονται εργαλεία για τη χρήση διαφημίσεων και προωθητικών καμπανιών στα κοινωνικά δίκτυα, οι οποίες ενισχύουν τη στόχευση του κοινού και προωθούν το περιεχόμενο με αποτελεσματικό τρόπο. Το iNews Now μπορεί να ενσωματώσει στρατηγικές διαφήμισης στο Facebook και το Instagram, χρησιμοποιώντας πληρωμένες διαφημίσεις για την αύξηση της αναγνωσιμότητας του περιεχομένου του και την προσέλκυση νέων επισκεπτών στην ιστοσελίδα του.

Connecting to social media is not limited to the ability to share articles. In addition, tools are provided for the use of advertising and promotional campaigns on social networks, which enhance audience targeting and promote content in an effective way. iNews Now can integrate advertising strategies on Facebook and Instagram, using paid ads to increase the readership of its content and attract new visitors to its website.

Using social networks for advertising purposes allows iNews Now to create targeted advertising messages and increase the penetration of its content to specific audiences, based on their interests.

Blog Creation

The creation of a Blog on iNews Now was one of the key elements in developing and strengthening the website’s online presence. Our goal was to create a platform that offers readers fresh and up-to-date content, which helps them follow the latest developments, but also participate in discussions around the topics covered by the website. The iNews Now Blog is not just a place to post articles, but acts as a central hub for information, participation and interaction with the audience. Each new article published offers information and analysis on current news and topics of interest, making the Blog an indispensable resource for any user who wishes to be informed with the latest and most relevant content.

The structure of the Blog is user-friendly and organized in such a way that visitors can easily navigate and find the articles that interest them. For example, articles are classified into categories so that the user can search for content according to its topic. There are also search features, which allow visitors to easily find older articles or posts related to specific interests. The powerful design and usability of the Blog helps increase interaction with visitors, allowing them to comment under each article and participate in the discussion.

The commenting feature strengthens the community around iNews Now and allows users to express their opinions, ask questions, or interact with the writers and other readers. The addition of the Blog also has other important implications for the website’s SEO strategy.

Regularly publishing articles with fresh content improves the website’s visibility in search engines. When articles are well-optimized with keywords, meta descriptions, and links to other relevant pages on the website, they help iNews Now rank better in search engine results pages (SERPs).

In addition, high-quality content posting enhances the authenticity and value of the website, which also contributes to improving the SEO strategy. Another important element incorporated into the Blog is the ability to embed multimedia, such as images, videos, and charts, which enrich the user experience and make the articles more interesting and readable. Readers can better understand topics and news when articles are accompanied by visual materials that explain and reinforce the text. In addition, the iNew Now Blog incorporates dynamic social sharing capabilities, allowing users to share articles on their profiles on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

This capability is crucial for the dissemination of articles and the growth of iNew Now’s awareness through social media, while also strengthening the connection with the audience and helping to expand traffic. The development of the iNews Now Blog aims to continuously create content that is in line with the needs of readers and keeps the website updated with the latest developments and analysis. The addition of new articles and posts is continuous and adapts to the needs of the audience, while providing a space for communication and continuous interaction with the readership. With the development of this Blog, iNews Now not only offers daily news and analysis, but also creates a dynamic interaction platform that enhances the user experience and contributes to building a dedicated community.

Introduction of First Articles

The introduction of the first articles to iNews Now was crucial for the launch of the website. These first articles, which cover a variety of topics from the current affairs sector, offer readers the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the content and style of the site from the very beginning.

The initial publication is essential to give life to the website and ensure that visitors do not find the platform empty or devoid of content. The first articles provide the foundation for the development of a loyal readership and create the basis for an active and ongoing content production.

The presentation of these first articles not only meets the needs of users at the beginning of the website’s operation, but also strengthens the SEO strategy, helping the website to appear higher in search engines from the very first day.