I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be presenting my “Web 101 for Business” seminar six times in 2006. After presenting the first seminar last month and stepping in as a last-minute presenter for a program in Burbank, I think it’s safe to say the program’s a hit. If you’re a small business owner or...
Please wait… Loading…
I’ve been on a lot of Flash-only sites lately, and I continue to be annoyed at the experience. After typing the URL, I get “Please Wait…” or the even-less-polite “Loading content.” Now, I haven’t even seen a logo or anything yet, so I have no idea if the wait will be worth my while...
Last Updated On… Who Cares?
It’s time to start thinking clearly about when, how, and whether to put dates on your Web pages. You know, the snippets (usually at the bottom of a page) like “Page last updated: June 2, 2005 17:51:06 EST“? On its own, this statement is pretty useless. Remember, Web pages tend to stay out there...
Why "Consulting" Matters
There’s a substantial disconnect when businesses outsource their Web projects. Here’s the problem: in general, the agency is oriented towards discrete projects (y’know, where there’s a start and a finish), while any business is ongoing and ever-shifting. Maybe for initial designs and site redesigns this works, but quality Web sites are more organic than...
It's a Fluid Medium — Don't force it to be static
OK, I’m a reformed perfectionist, and there are times I still obsess over the smallest details. (In my own defense, my clients like that I fix their typos for them, so maybe obsession has a place…) But I love that the Web is a fluid medium, where changes are possible at any time, and...
When Creative Gets in the Way
I’ve been visiting a lot of artistic sites lately, and the right half of my brain is impressed with the amazing visuals that some designers have created. The left brain, however: not so impressed. Folks, this isn’t Myst. As much as I admire the creative impulse, if a user has to hunt around just...
Getting to Done… or, "The door's open, Spot — just go outside already!"
I’ve got a client who decided to start small, with a very basic site (something I often recommend for small businesses — get your feet wet, find out what works, limit your investment risk). But now that it’s time to launch, they’re balking. We’re still speaking, and the relationship is solid enough, but for...
Web Site Housecleaning
I’m starting work on a small site — home page and five subpages — but the Web server has hundreds of files on it. Unused pages, drafts from who knows when, navigation graphics from previous versions, and who knows what else… I’ve dealt a lot in site management, including archiving strategies and site organization,...
Technology Moves Fast, People Don't
It’s worth remembering that people don’t change as fast as the technology does, especially for those of us who work in technology every day and (perhaps) are more oriented to changing along with it. I’m not advocating that people adapt to change faster — I’m advocating that technology workers remember that with technology, people...
Quality vs. Quantity
There’s a lot of talk about SEO (Search Engine Optimization) lately. It’s like it’s the second coming of Jello Pudding Pops — everybody’s just gotta have one. And as with most Internet things, where the buzz is, businesses have sprung up to meet the “need.” All these businesses need clients, so they set about...