I recently searched the web for some deals on a new product I had tried out. Visiting the manufacturer’s website, I discovered a coupon offering decent savings. You had to provide your contact information, which for me was a decent exchange for the coupon’s value. I completed the form and submitted it.
Read more about It’s Never Simple – CouponsDennis Deacon
Delving into a Website the Wrong Way
— “Put the cart before the horse.” Why do website owner’s do this? All the time? They come up with a great website element or feature. Then, they build the site around it. But they forget the primary reason for the site. The goal. Increase sales. Sell books. Increase downloads of brochures. They’ll all agree that these are the reasons
Read more about Delving into a Website the Wrong WayThe latest…
It’s been a while since I last posted to the blog here. A lot of things have happened in my live, both professionally and personally. I’ll cover the professional here. In June, I started a contract gig at United Airlines as a HTML Developer. Hands-on, indeed. It has been an adventure and a great experience. Although I don’t yet write
Read more about The latest…Malibu Garden Club
This project was not so much a redesign as a refresh of the site’s current design. The original design was flat & dated. The initial view of the site was a Flash-based animation, followed by a redirect to the About page which contained information on the organization, PDF newsletters and the club’s board members, not hardly the primary interest when
Read more about Malibu Garden ClubEasy Keyword Research with New Google Search Results
Google recent released a change to its search engine results page. While the change is subtle, one of the new features is a handy, easy to access tool for performing keyword research for optimizing your web site for the search engines.
Read more about Easy Keyword Research with New Google Search ResultsImprove Website Relevance & Conversion via Google Analytics
Search engine optimization is an ongoing task that covers a variety of aspects of your website. One item of note is the relevancy of your landing pages. I’m not referring to search engine ranking, but meeting the expectation of site visitors when they first arrive on your site. Here’s an exercise that can improve your website’s landing pages. The article
Read more about Improve Website Relevance & Conversion via Google AnalyticsDo Online Presentations Right
I’ve done several presentations in my time. They tend to be text heavy, as I want the presentation to have value long after I’ve delivered it. In the last several years, there’s been a trend in the Internet community to give presentations where primarily supportive imagery is displayed on the slide, while the presenter talks through the points he/she wishes
Read more about Do Online Presentations RightThe Way We Build Websites
Late last year, I wanted to verify thoughts I had on web design and the industry, specifically related to the web design process. I tapped my network at LinkedIn to poll. The results are definitely not scientific, as the questions were polled at different times, with different responders. Consider this just a quick check into the industry, not an all
Read more about The Way We Build WebsitesText-Decoration vs. Border-Bottom
The topic of using text-decoration versus border-bottom for hyperlinks recently cross my mind. To be honest, I had never consider the effects and impacts of these two different implementations. However, since playing with these concepts, it has become quite an important usability item to me.
Read more about Text-Decoration vs. Border-BottomEvangelize Yourself for a Change
I evangelize about things that I’m passionate about. I’ve evangelized about the web and web design for over ten years. I attend web-related meetups and get really wound up about the topic. Segue to the networking side of those same meetups. I stumble. Ok, I fall flat on my face. I typically find someone to introduce myself to, but it
Read more about Evangelize Yourself for a ChangeModular CSS – Flexible Web Design
I really don’t know the official term to describe this method. It’s not new, by all means. However, it’s a powerful method of using CSS code & classes effectively and efficiently. Multiple CSS Classes First, you may not be aware that you can use multiple css classes on elements. Example: <p class=”classone classtwo”></p> Here’s where the power comes in. We
Read more about Modular CSS – Flexible Web DesignGreat New Web Design Podcast
Just learned of a great new web design podcast. The Pipeline, hosted by Dan Benjamin, features interviews with leading designers, developers, writers, and entrepreneurs. The first episode featured Jeffrey Zeldman, designer, founder of ALA. I found this to be the best interview with Jeffrey. Other shows feature interviews with Ryan Carson and Jason Fried, with more interviews to come. Visit
Read more about Great New Web Design PodcastLet’s Eliminate Sexism in the Web Industry
My typical post center around sharing my knowledge and experience with other web professionals. This particular post will depart from the norm and cover the very important topic of diversity & respect in the web industry, specifically related to gender. I recently attended the 200th episode of the Boagworld podcast. The podcast celebrated by spanning twelve hours with special guests;
Read more about Let’s Eliminate Sexism in the Web IndustryToo Much Emphasis De-emphasizes Content
Early in my web career, say 2000, I was always told to limit what you emphasize. The theory is that the more you emphasize, the less something is emphasized. I remember debating with several content producers on this topic.
Read more about Too Much Emphasis De-emphasizes ContentBLP Labels
This website redesign project was referred by my web design partner. A printing business has an existing site, which was outdated and not representing the company’s products and services. We worked with the client to examine their competition and agree upon an information architecture that would provide results. After creating wireframes that represented the content for each page type, my
Read more about BLP LabelsLindblad Alaska
Lindblad Alaska is a standards-based, lead-generation, travel-related microsite designed for an existing client and developed on a WordPress CMS. Much of the look n’ feel was derived from existing branding from travel supplier print material. I participated in the end-to-end design & development of the website.
Read more about Lindblad AlaskaUser Experience and Mobile Flash
I recently had a bad experience at a local restaurant. So what does that have to do with web design? My wife & I were told to view the carryout menu online. As we were physically at the restaurant, we attempted to view the menu on the restaurant’s website from our smart phones. That failed, due to the site being
Read more about User Experience and Mobile FlashUpdate Your Copyright Date Automatically
It’s a new year, and it’s time to get back to work. So why do your websites still read © last year or worse? Most web site owners forget to update their copyright date. And it’s easy to understand why. For most sites, the footer, where the copyright date usually sits, is below the fold and in small type anyways.
Read more about Update Your Copyright Date AutomaticallyTrubyLaw
This web design project was for a business lawyer client in Los Angeles, California. The project involved information architecture, wireframes and Photoshop design mock-ups. The site was then built on the WordPress CMS platform leveraging a web standards approach. It encompasses the clients need to communicate that their legal services provide direction. Highlights About the site WordPress, standards-based website Completed
Read more about TrubyLawDecember Chicago Dreamweaver Meetup Wrap-up
We are truly blessed. No, I’m not getting religious. As a web professional, we here in Chicago are truly bless.
Read more about December Chicago Dreamweaver Meetup Wrap-up