Website Analyst Newsletter
Meeting Your Needs With Excellence
Issue 10
September 2000
Editor: Lucian Millis, editor@website-analyst.co.il
Publisher: Website Analyst http://www.website-analyst.co.il/
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IN THIS ISSUE
1. Editor's Note
2. Kevin's Cardinal Rules For Web Design by Kevin Wakefield
3. SendFree Autoresponders - Free Email Advertising!
4. Links of Interest
5. Pick Of The Month (Astra SiteManager)
6. List Management
7. Contact Information
1. Editor's Note
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2. Kevin's Cardinal Rules For Web Design by Kevin Wakefield
So, you've got your Internet Marketing idea off the ground
and now you need a killer web site. What the heck do you do
now? Don't panic just yet. I'll give you a couple of tips
to make your site stand head and shoulders above the crowd.
More importantly, these tips could actually help you make
more money!
OK, let me give you my opinions on great web site design...
1. KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid.
This is one of the rules I live by and it applies to web
site design as well. The more complicated your site is to
use, the more likely someone will leave before finding
anything useful --- or worse yet, without buying your product
or service.
2. The Need For Speed
Design your site to load fast. Most people still access the
internet with a 33.6 modem or less. Here's a good rule of
thumb... the total size of the page, including graphics and
HTML, should be less than 40 kilobytes. The reason behind
this seemingly arbitrary size is that most people will leave
if a page takes longer than 15 to 20 seconds to load. And
a page that is 40k or less will load on almost any modem
connection speed within this "magic" time limit.
3. Three Clicks to Gold
Your site should be designed so that a user is never more
than three (3) clicks from their desired end result. Read
that last sentence carefully - the emphasis is on what the
user wants, not on how you want to lead her around by the
nose. Remember, people on your site are probably looking for
specific information, so make it easy for them to find it.
4. Never, Never, Never Use Frames! Period. Ever!
If you don't know what frames are, don't worry. Just don't
ever use frames on your site. Search engines throw-up on
frame pages. The frames take up valuable screen real estate
that can be put to better use. And your users will have
trouble bookmarking a specific page on your site. Have you
ever seen a great web site that used frames? Me neither.
Enough said. In fact, I hate frames so much that all my
HTML pages use a small piece of javascript code that breaks
the browser out of a frame. Send a blank email to
framebreak@wiredmarketer.com and you'll get a reply with the
instructions. It's such a small piece of code that it's
easier and more efficient to deliver in an email message.
5. Simple and Intuitive Site Navigation.
If you use graphic buttons, make them easy to understand!
If you want to link to the products section on your site,
put the word "Products" on the graphic button. Make use of
the ALT tag - it's there for a reason. If a user has
graphics turned off, they can still see a text description
that says "Product". Also, give your users a couple of ways
to navigate your site. For example --- a graphic navigation
bar at the top or side of the page and some small text links
at the bottom of the page. And make sure your navigation
scheme works on ALL of your pages.
6. Consistency is Key.
Your site should have a common look-and-feel across all the
pages. You don't want to confuse your reader. Consistency
will make it easier for your users to find what they want on
your site. This also makes updating and maintaining your
site much easier!
7. Use White Space Effectively.
Again, this goes back to the KISS principle. Ever seen one
of those sites that try to cram too much information onto
the screen? Do you ever go back to visit those sites? Use
your screen real estate effectively. Oh, and notice that I
said white space --- never use a black background on your
web site. Ever tried to print a web page with a black
background and white text?
8. Don't use cool technology just because it's available.
Each and every piece of technology you use on your site
should be in response to a SPECIFIC problem or opportunity
you encounter. Don't just throw some java code on your site
because it looks cool and scrolls a message across the page.
And don't use technology that requires some other piece of
software to run (i.e., browser plugins like ShockWave) ---
unless this technology is appropriate for your target
audience.
9. Hire the best web designer you can afford.
If you aren't an HTML coder or you don't want to buy a
WYSIWYG editor, hire great talent! Make sure you hire
someone who is knowledgeable on UNIX (or Windows NT) and
more importantly on CGI programs (the guts that drive your
site automation).
10. There is no Rule Number 10.
See Rule Number 1 again! (Keep It Simple Stupid)
Bottom line... A good, simple web site design is worth it's
weight in gold and will keep your customers coming back for
more! Just follow my Ten Cardinal Rules for Web Design and
you should be head and shoulders above your competition.
About the Author
Kevin Wakefield is the founder of WiredMarketer.com,
http://www.wiredmarketer.com, a free resource portal
targeted to home based internet business owners, web
marketing professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Prior to
becoming a full time entrepreneur, Kevin spent ten years
with several Fortune 500 companies as a high-tech product
and marketing manager. Kevin is also the founder of
dotComLab, http://www.dotcomlab.com, a web design firm
located in Atlanta, Georgia.
Having an automated system to send information and follow up
with your potential customers will save you time and money,
maximize your marketing efforts.
An email autoresponder is programmed to receive a mail
message from an online user and IMMEDIATELY email back to that
user a preselected email text message. An autoresponder offers
you the ability to send your sales letter, price list, press
release, newsletter, catalog, or technical data, on demand!
Why is the SendFree Different?
For every two times you display a single ad with your
autoresponder, your ad will run on another autoresponder!
SendFree does not allow pornography or autoresponders and/or
ads linking to pornographic sites. In addition, illegal
activity, or other inappropriate content is not permitted in
the SendFree Autoresponder Ad Exchange.
Detailed Statistics. Copies of ALL inquiries are forwarded
to you.
http://www.sendfree.com/
Learn more about autoresponders...
http://www.web-source.net/autoresponders.htm
4. Links of Interest
Ada's Introduction to CGI
"CGI is not the only language when it comes to making your
site cool and interactive (DHTML is another), but it's
definitely the most important and one the web can't live
without."
Generally, CGI is used to process the data submitted by users
and send the response back to them.
http://adashimar.hypermart.net/
Learn about CGI, and how to use Perl to create your own CGI
scripts for your website. A great source of information!
http://www.pageresource.com/cgirec/index.html
Write your first CGI program!
http://www.bignosebird.com/prcgi.shtml
The best CGI meta site with links to lots of scripts.
http://www.cgi-resources.com/
## Perl scripts can help make your site more interactive for
your visitors! ##
TIP: Smaller web pages download fastest into your visitors
browsers. Your first page is the most important one on your
website. Try to keep it at 20k or under.
Information Design Resources
InfoDesign is an excellent portal of resources and links
related to information architecture and design.
http://www.bogieland.com/infodesign/
Building A Site From The Ground Up
"In this article, you'll get a general overview on the major
steps of planning a website -- from defining the site, to the
look and feel, to functionality, to asking for feedback from
your users."
http://www.webtools.com/story/graphics/TLS20000418S0001
TIP: Are you using tables on your web pages?
If so make several smaller ones rather than fewer large ones.
Reason: Most browsers don't display a table until it has been
FULLY downloaded. Small ones will be seen more quickly by
your visitors.
Promote Your Site!
Use the keyword search community that pays YOU.
One EXACT Response! Is this a real search engine? Exactly!
No obligation on your part, just join.
http://ExactResponse.com
PeaKaBoo.Net is a family friendly search engine that refuses
listings to so called "adult" sites as well as listings which
support or promote e-mail and search engine spam. PeaKaBoo
welcomes ethical web sites offering products and services that
are safe to shop. PeaKaBoo supports a safer internet through
the "PeaKaBoo Pledge".
http://PeaKaBoo.Net
5. Pick Of The Month
Astra SiteManager v2.0
SiteManager scans your entire web site, highlighting
functional areas with URLs and color-coded links. It builds
a comprehensive map of your site!
It contains helpful statistics and enables you to view an
overview of your ENTIRE site or detailed information about
specific elements. The map that SiteManager creates includes
all web objects in your site, such as HTML, Java applets,
and Common Gateway Interface (CGI) scripts.
SiteManager enables you to print out maps of your entire web
site. You can print out textual information for your site,
including lists of broken links within the site.
Excellent User's Guide. FREE Download. Get License Key.
http://www.astratryandbuy.com/
TIP: Something for nothing CAN be worth plenty! Boost your
web traffic by offering and promoting FREE stuff on your
website. Give free reports, help, info, cool resources, etc.
Website Analyst
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Thanks for reading another issue of WA Newsletter!