Posts
Web Site optimization improves the volume and quality of traffic that a website gets. In other words, it brings more people to your website. Meta tags are one of the ways you can optimize your site. The keywords, title and description that you give to your website allow Google and other search engines to easily index your web site, rank it according to the search that had just been made, and then describe it to the searcher.
My website uses the following keywords: Bouchard, Kleinman, Wright, P.A., NH, law, attorney, lawsuits, trusts, wills, estates, small businesses.
Navigation
Navigation is using links to get around a web sight, and a good navigation system should be easy to use, simple, visually appealing and be consistent. For example, if a website is using a navigation bar, and the order in which the links appear changes from page to page, it will be harder for a user to get around the website. Also, you want your navigation bar to be unobtrusive and not take up the entire screen. It should be small, easy to use, and nice to look at.
A really nice definition for web navigation and some tips on what to do can be found at this website.
A really nice definition for web navigation and some tips on what to do can be found at this website.
Social Networking Revisited
I recently heard on the news that a High School teacher was forced to resign after some pictures on her Facebook page were brought to the attention of her principal. I know we've already covered the social networking pros and cons, but I thought this might generate some discussion.
The teacher had her page set to private, and the pictures only showed her holding drinks, not actually drinking them. The teacher defended herself saying, "I don't look like I'm intoxicated in any way or doing anything provocative or inappropriate". The photos were taken on her European vacation, and she claims she was just acting like any normal adult would.
Her Facebook page is set to private, and she does not friend students or strangers on it. Do you think she should be allowed to keep her job?
Also, should students Facebook or Myspace pages be open to employers as an evaluation tool? What about blogs or personal web sites?
(For the complete story, click here.)
The teacher had her page set to private, and the pictures only showed her holding drinks, not actually drinking them. The teacher defended herself saying, "I don't look like I'm intoxicated in any way or doing anything provocative or inappropriate". The photos were taken on her European vacation, and she claims she was just acting like any normal adult would.
Her Facebook page is set to private, and she does not friend students or strangers on it. Do you think she should be allowed to keep her job?
Also, should students Facebook or Myspace pages be open to employers as an evaluation tool? What about blogs or personal web sites?
(For the complete story, click here.)
Cascading Style Sheets
Cascading Style Sheets (or CSS) are easy ways to format the layout of a website. A CSS file is just a collection of code that defines parameters for different parts of your website. In other words, it can give different areas of your website different background colors, text styles and sizes. I mainly use CSS to change the positioning of my webpages. If I want a box of text to appear in the left corner of the screen, underneath an embeded video, I can use CSS to make it happen.
CSS is a lot more professional than using tables or line breaks to set up a website. With it, even an amatuer like me can make a professional looking web site.
CSS is a lot more professional than using tables or line breaks to set up a website. With it, even an amatuer like me can make a professional looking web site.
What Is a Good Website?
Personally, I think the best website is a visually attractive one. No one wants to go to an ugly website where the text is hard to read and nothing lines up. If a web designer can manage colors and images well, he can make something that looks professional. I like websites that follow a similar style on every page.
Also important is the websites content and useability. The site should contain a lot of information, but break it up over a variety of pages so visitors won't get intimidated. Also, links should be easy to use. Whether they are buttons, pictures or text, it should be obvious that they are what you use to navigate.
A list of the basic do's and don'ts of websites can be found here.
One of my favorite websites is Blue House Group's Homepage. They are a web design company that is located in Vermont. It looks amazing, and has an interesting color scheme.
Also important is the websites content and useability. The site should contain a lot of information, but break it up over a variety of pages so visitors won't get intimidated. Also, links should be easy to use. Whether they are buttons, pictures or text, it should be obvious that they are what you use to navigate.
A list of the basic do's and don'ts of websites can be found here.
One of my favorite websites is Blue House Group's Homepage. They are a web design company that is located in Vermont. It looks amazing, and has an interesting color scheme.
Search Engines vs Web Browsers
The basic differences between a web browswer (such as Internet Explorer) and a search engine (such as Google) can be found here.
I would define a web browser as a program that lets you look at a web site or a search engine. They can run without internet access (if you were viewing a saved webite) and run off of your computer.
On the other hand, a search engine is an internet tool used to find websites of interest to you. It is not a program that can be installed on your computer, and needs internet access and a web browser to work.
I would define a web browser as a program that lets you look at a web site or a search engine. They can run without internet access (if you were viewing a saved webite) and run off of your computer.
On the other hand, a search engine is an internet tool used to find websites of interest to you. It is not a program that can be installed on your computer, and needs internet access and a web browser to work.
The Man Van
This is the video I made for my Web Design Class. It's a commercial for my friend's van.
Unique Wikis
I found a Wiki that fans of the Lost (my favorite tv show) have made to hold information on the show's characters, mysteries and theories. You can look at it here.
Blogs vs. Wikis
A Blog is a more like an online journal, while a Wiki is more of an online encyclopedia. Anyone can edit a wiki, but only one person can edit a blog. This makes a blog more personal, and its sually used to record someones personal thoughts, ideas or information that is important to them. Because Wiki's can be edited by anyone, they hold much more information, and tend to be less personal.
For information on when to use a Wiki, and when a blog would be more appropriate, look here.
For information on when to use a Wiki, and when a blog would be more appropriate, look here.
Video Communication
I found a company online that specializes in Digital Video, Animation and Graphic Design called Sugarsnap. They use these skills to create videos for other businesses. These videos are used to teach, motivate and advertise. Check out the informational video on their website.
I think digital video has replaced powerpoint presentations and other slide shows or text based learning. By using video, you can communicated with anyone in a more personal and creative way.
I think digital video has replaced powerpoint presentations and other slide shows or text based learning. By using video, you can communicated with anyone in a more personal and creative way.
Social Networking: Legal / Social Issues
The biggest legal or social issue that comes from social networking websites have to do with privacy and harrassment. Harrassment is a huge issue, because complete strangers can try to send you messages or view your profiles. New York's Attorney General conducted an undercover investigation of Facebook and found several examples of these problems. Can the United States government even enforce a social networking website that includes several other countries?
Social Networking
I found a simple list of the pros and cons of social networking at this website.
I agree with what he says about protecting your privacy. I try to put as little personal information out on facebook as I can.
I agree with what he says about protecting your privacy. I try to put as little personal information out on facebook as I can.
RSS
RSS is an acronym that stands for Really Simple Synidcation, represented by a small orange box with radio waves in it. RSS is a way of sharing information from your website or blog with the world. It allows other websites to take information from your site and show it to the rest of the world, giving you more traffic on your site or blog.
For a basic introduction to RSS, click here.
For a basic introduction to RSS, click here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
