Seven Sins of Web Design

In no particular order, here are seven web design sins that make me cringe:

  1. Too much flashing text
  2. Use of frames
  3. Under construction signs
  4. Too many banner ads
  5. Lack of a title (do a search on Google for “No Title” and you’ll see how many people forget this important step)
  6. Lots of text in ALL CAPS
  7. Outdated dates and content (”coming soon in April 2002!”)

July 29, 2005 | Filed Under Author Websites | Leave a Comment 

Getting Flashy … or Not

When I first started using Macromedia Flash I was excited about the possibilities of this unique multimedia tool. I created what I thought was a cool, cutting-edge intro for my website that was designed to excite readers about my books and demonstrate to editors my skills in multimedia development. Then a funny thing happened. People kept telling me that they were skipping my intro because what they really wanted was to read the content on my site. After seeing my Flash intro once, repeat visitors didn’t want to see it again. I still love Flash and its capabilities, but I don’t have that Flash intro on my site anymore. I may introduce Flash again, perhaps in an on-demand tutorial or in a more subdued way. The bottom line lesson here is that when creating websites less is sometimes more. Focus on the content and not on the flash.

July 27, 2005 | Filed Under Author Websites | Leave a Comment 

Are You a Web-Savvy Writer?

Are you making the most of the latest technologies that can help take your writing career to new levels? What do you know about websites, blogs, RSS, ezines, podcasts, search engine optimization, online media kits, virtual book tours, book trailers, and web marketing campaigns? Take the Web-Savvy Writer quiz and find out.

July 26, 2005 | Filed Under Author Websites, Blogging, Getting Publicity, Podcasting, Virtual Book Tours | Leave a Comment