2004 April - MJS Blog

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Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Essential Web Design Books

There are three books I think are essential in any web designers library. Essential to understanding the complexities and surprisingly simplicities of web design.

The Non-Designer’s Web Book
Exactly what the title says. This book is for the beginning designer. And it’s all about design, not code. The highlight of the book is about the Principles of Design - Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, Proximity. I recommend highly.

Web Design Workshop
Another excellent book by Robin Williams. In greater detail, she explains about building outside the “HTML box”. A breakthrough in our web design - build your page first in Photoshop and export your design to HTML.

Web ReDesign : Workflow that Works
This book explains in full detail the complete web design process. Building in 4 - 5 phases: Strategy, Site Design, Visual Design, Production, and Launching. If you want a successful site, include these phases in your next design.

Don’t forget to check your local library for these books. And if they don’t have them…recommend them.

Mike Swartz says, “Check it Out!”

Posted by: Michael Swartz at 10:36 pm

Comments: None | Filed under: Web Design

Monday, April 26, 2004
Customer Web Experience

When building a new website (or upgrading) it is critical you build with the user in mind. Your #1 goal is providing a pleasant web experience for your visitors - a web experience without time constraints or frustration. I’m talking about Web Usability or making your website work well for your visitors. Remember…a website doesn’t come with a manual. And if it did, no one would read it anyway.

Here are 3 things you should do right now if you haven’t already.

Remove “Under Construction” Pages
If a page is under construction - that’s exactly what it is - it’s not ready. If you were reading a book and you turned to the next page and it said, “Under Construction”, I highly doubt you would purchase or continue reading the book. Same as a website - If it’s not ready, don’t put it up. One exception: A website “coming soon” page is okay…as long as its true.
Provide Consistent Navigation
If you don’t you’re losing your audience. Provide a consistent navigational menu on every page so visitors can click thru your website no matter what page they’re on. Navigation is like the “I Am Here” star. Your visitors need to know where they are, where they can go, and where they’ve been.
Remove All Underlined Words
The only underlined words should be links. It is very confusing for your visitor when they see a word that is underlined and they can’t click on it. If you need to emphasize a word, bold it, enlarge it or CAPITOLIZE it.

Remember, you only have a few seconds (7 seconds if you really want to know) to capture your visitors attention and get them to stay. If your site is filled with errors and other time consuming tasks they’ll go elsewhere or may stay and become frustrated on your site. Make your website intuitive and as simple to use as possible.

Does your website pass the blooper test?

Read “Don’t Make Me Think” for more info and tips.

Mike Swartz says, “Check it out.”

Posted by: Michael Swartz at 12:23 pm

Comments: None | Filed under: Web Design

Monday, April 19, 2004
Thank you!

On Saturday night my family and I drove into San Francisco to see Lang Lang (pronounced: Lung Lung) in concert. Lang Lang is one of the most brilliant pianists I have ever seen or heard. His fingers move over the piano with so much warmth and intensity. (Mike Swartz says, “Check him out.”)

(I know this is supposed to be about Internet related topics, but just hear me out)

My girlfriend and I arrived at Herbst Theatre early and entered the lobby. A crowd had gathered around a table full of Lang Lang CD’s. People were looking, but not buying. After looking at his CD’s we got a program. I read that Lang Lang was going to “be on hand to personally autograph programs and recordings in the lobby following the performance.”

Well sure enough, after his performance a line had formed downstairs. Wanting his autograph, my girlfriend and I decided to purchase one of his CD’s. We arrived at the same table we were at earlier only to find ONE CD. We bought it and got in line. Lang Lang was taking pictures with fans – young and old, signing autographs (after two solid hours of playing the piano) and talking with his fans.

It was our turn - we commended his performance and got his autograph. Nice guy.

(…the point is…)

This story made me think about two things.

There aren’t many performers I know who greet and chat with their fans after a performance. Granted it would be a mob scene with some, but here was someone who truly appreciated the joy he brought to his fans, especially the younger kids who came to see him.
All of his CD’s were sold out. You had to buy the CD so he could sign it, right?

Appreciating your customers will always pay you back many times over. Give a gift, send a card, buy lunch, or just say thank you.

To our customers,

Thank you very much for your business and support.

Sincerely,

Michael Swartz

Posted by: Michael Swartz at 12:13 pm

Comments: None | Filed under: Uncategorized

Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Avoiding SPAM

Spam has become an enormous problem. We are all victims to what seems like an unstoppable nuisance. (I see it getting worse before it gets better) I would guess that all of us are sick and tired of it. Below are a few solutions that have been successful for me in reducing the amount of junk mail that comes my way.

Use an alias email address (DO THIS IF NOTHING ELSE)
Create a separate email account with Yahoo, Hotmail, or another account from your ISP. Something like alias@yahoo.com. Use this when purchasing anything over the Internet, buying/selling items on Ebay, entering sweepstakes, or any other situation where you are asked to provide your email address.
Keep your personal email address personal
Setup a separate email account with your ISP strictly for personal use. I have an email account that I only use to send email to my close friends and family. I use my alias account for everything else.
Notify your ISP
Email is sent and received through your Internet Service Providers first - before it comes to you. If you’re getting enormous amounts of SPAM, contact your ISP. Tell them about the problem and ask if they can help stop the SPAM you’re receiving? Ask them what kind of filtering methods they use? If you continue to receive spam, contact or switch to another ISP.

Techy Tip

I had to throw this one in. A really cool trick - Set your email program to “leave messages on the server”. This way you can preview your email messages on the remote email server - before they reach your local computer. You won’t have to continue to create email filters for every spam email. Just delete the emails you are unsure of and then download the emails you want to keep. This trick can also prevent viruses from invading your local computer. If you’re previewing your email on the remote email server, you’re not endangering your local computer to virus threats.

One drawback though is if your email account gets filled up with too many emails. You may have to increase your disk space and/or check your email more frequently to avoid overload.

Read the Anniversary of SPAM for more information, history and opinions. Quite intriguing.

Until next time…

Posted by: Michael Swartz at 11:09 am

Comments: None | Filed under: Web General

Monday, April 12, 2004
Stop The Popup

When surfing the Internet, all of us have had to deal with the inevitable popup advertisement window. You’re clicking around and suddenly ‘bam’, without warning, a new window pops up asking you to buy something or to “Click Here” to win. You close the window and suddenly another pops up or yet another. Sometimes you feel like your stuck in some horrible popup loop. Why is this happening? The popup started due to the lack of interest people have with banner ads. Studies have shown most people ignore banner ads so advertisers have had to get more creative. Enter the pop-up, a script enabled function, that triggers a new window to open without your consent. Web surfers are fighting back!

Here are a few solutions:

No-Ads
It is very simple to setup and use. No-Ads runs in the background always on the alert for the next popup. If a popup occurs, you simply open the program and select the window that is giving you the trouble. It records your entry and blocks the popup. It works with all browser types, including AOL and best of all…it’s free. No-Ads can be found at www.southbaypc.com.

Google Toolbar
If you’re familiar with Google, you probably have heard of the Google toolbar for Internet Explorer. The Google toolbar takes a few seconds to download and is immediately added to your browser. With many extra search features, the Google toolbar is capable of blocking and eliminating the nasty occurrences of popups. The Google toolbar can be downloaded from http://toolbar.google.com/ and it too is free.

Pop-Up Stopper
The Pop-Up Stopper, from Panicware, can setup various popup notifications, such as flashing icons or sounds. Simply hold the Ctrl or Shift key to allow selective popup windows. Pop-Up Stopper is not advertising-supported, nor does it require registration, and no information is collected from or about product users. Pop-Up Stopper can be downloaded from http://download.com.com/3000-7786-10048866.html.

If these programs aren’t powerful enough or do not work to your satisfaction, search your favorite search engine using the following keywords: “popup blocker”. Or check out the many online computer magazine websites for more info on popups and their blockers, including:

www.pcmag.com
www.pcworld.com

Unfortunately popup advertisements are here to stay. This could all change though…Microsoft has recently announced it will add (slated for release in Q2 2004) a popup blocker to its very popular browser, Internet Explorer (http://news.com.com/2100-1032-5105139.html).

This change to the most popular browser among consumers is likely to virtually kill popups as a useful technique overnight. But for now, we must contend with the present and utilize the tools we have.

Mike Swartz says, “Check it Out”

Posted by: Michael Swartz at 9:36 pm

Comments: None | Filed under: Web General

Thursday, April 8, 2004
Google Gone Local

Not officially. But they are testing (beta) the technology. Check to see if your website is listed in Google Local.

This is yet another way to generate visitors to your website - adding your contact information to local search directories. Local searching is big business. “Staying close to home can likely generate $2.5 billion.“, says The Kelsey Group, a leading provider of strategic research and analysis on Yellow Pages and local media. And what better way to search locally than using Google - still the most popular search engine!

If your site is not listed under Google Local, send your contact info to local-listings@google.com and Google will update your listing.

For more information on Google Local, visit their FAQ

Mike Swartz says, “Check it Out”.

P.S. Notice the dash in the email address: local-listings. It is not one word (locallistings) nor is it separated with an underscore (local_listings). Why does this matter? I’ll explain in an upcoming blog. Stay Tuned.

Posted by: Michael Swartz at 11:50 am

Comments: None | Filed under: Web General

Tuesday, April 6, 2004
Think Content

The #1 reason people use the web is to locate quality content. Designing a website is not only about visual design. It’s also about content design - especially the words we present to our audience.

When writing for the web…

Think Scanning
People skim and scan words on the Internet. They rarely read every word. Use words or phrases that will catch users attention when reading. Also, separate content with headings or bold words for quick viewing.

Think Keywords
When writing content for your website, always remember to think search engines and how your target audience will locate you. Ask yourself, “What words or phrases will my customers use to find my organization?”

Think Links
This is how the Internet is built and how Google index’s the web – by jumping from one link to the other. Use keywords as links, not “click here.” These words do not have any relevance to your company, target audience or Google.

Also…I know search engines are important, but remember who will be visiting your website…humans. Write for humans first, then for search engines.

Posted by: Michael Swartz at 11:54 am

Comments: None | Filed under: Web Design

Monday, April 5, 2004
To Blog or Not to Blog?

That was the question. Now I’ve decided to do it.

What is a blog?
A blog is the next revolution in communication. First there was email, then came Instant Messaging and now Blogging. A blog is an online journal or diary…at least that’s how it started out. On personal websites, people, mostly kids/students, would post their thoughts of the day online. Blogging really started taking off when businesses began to recognize its immediate potential. Literally immediate. What better way to provide immediate company updates or meeting minutes, news items and press releases.

Why Blog? (or Why I Chose to Blog?)
To share ideas, thoughts, web tips and tricks, search engine news, and any other web related topics we think are worthy with our customers, partners, friends and even our competition.

To find out more about blogging and all its glory, visit:

Wired.com

CNN News

or type in “blog” or “blogging” into your favorite search engine.

Mike Swartz says check it out!

Posted by: Michael Swartz at 7:44 am

Comments: None | Filed under: Blogging