While reading newsgroups, I came across this gem: squiz, (a quick, inquisitive glance, as in “Jerry, have a squiz at this bloke.”). And since I’m feeling especially editorial today, I’ll say thank God for the Aussies, and their apparent love of the the sound of language. Oy! Without them, we wouldn’t have the digideridoo,...
Free Web Site Advice
Try to Avoid Duplication Duplication
Today’s problem stems from the common practice of repurposing content that was in print as online docs (aka “brochureware”) — but it occurs in a number of other ways as well. In print, we generally included some related-but-relevant information in our handbooks, manuals, brochures, etc. These items might be found in several different publications....
Bigger Soapboxes Than This
I’ve given several presentations and had a pre-blog list of Web myths going in the past, and I thought some might be interested in them: Website Redesign and the Devil’s Work. How to make your Webs user-focused. Iceberg, Right Ahead: Managing Website Growth — Little gorillas are so cute. Then they grow. Web Site...
Details, details, details
Today is round one of the National Spelling Bee, where kids up to 16 years old put the rest of us to shame. The first round includes tricky words ranging from “tenor” to “onomatopoeia” to “rijsttafel.” I’m reminded that I spend a chunk of my time correcting spelling for my many college-edumacated content publishers,...
If you're not Amazon, maybe you shouldn't dress like Amazon.
I’m working on a site redesign, so I’m reviewing a lot of other Web sites’ designs right now, and re-reading Nielson & Tahir’s Homepage Usability, and here’s what I notice about the state of Web design: We’re all trying to be Amazon. Or Yahoo, or CNN, or any of the other 800-pound gorillas in...
That's the difference between art and design
I was speaking with my boss yesterday about a redesign we’re planning. I was pointing out the need to survey our key users, so that we could set and validate our design goals. “Art is very subjective,” sez I. “Some people like one thing, others like another. With this redesign, I need to be...
Tiny Text Isn't the Answer
Lately, I’ve been seeing a downward trend in information delivery, both literally and figuratively. The text on Web pages is getting smaller and smaller, and it’s gotten pretty annoying. I’ve got pretty good eyes, thanks to the wonders of contacts, but even I’m having to squint to see what’s on the page anymore. It’s...
You are the weakest link.
This morning, I’m reminded that the weakest link of a multi-publisher Web site is… people. I’m restoring a site because another publisher accidentally overwrote the site’s Home Page, which orphaned the entire site. Of course, this happens when all your main pages for subfolders are named the same (typically index.html or default.htm) and the...
Oh, Great. More Shouting.
Yes, I’m afraid it’s true. I’m setting up the soapbox, and get ready for some shoutin’. Just what we all need, right? Yet another blog from yet another so-called expert — in this case, on all things Webbish. Thing is, I work in Web space all day long, and sometimes all night too, and...