Picks from the past
Design: Redesigning the Buffer iPhone App – A Design Story
Leigh Howells kicks off a series of posts looking at native iOS app design.
Content Strategy: 10 Harsh Truths About Corporate Blogging
Every company in western civilization seems to have a blog these days. But are they worth it, and why are so many terrible?
Design: 3 ways to make your site stand out from the crowd
Too many websites look the same as their competition. If you want users to remember your site it needs to stand out from the crowd.
Post categories
Accessibility (31)
Web accessibility is not just about catering to the needs of the disabled. It is about providing people with access to your online services whatever their situation, whether that be a disability, older technology or alternative device (such as a mobile phone). Making your site accessible is not only morally right, it will improve your search engine rankings and expose your message to a larger audience.
Featured: Ecommerce solutions fail their customers
We have recently discovered that the majority of ecommerce software solutions exclude users who have Javascript disabled. That is like turning away 1 in 20 customers.
Better UX (95)
A successful website has to be about more than pretty design or even fulfilling business objectives. A successful website has to meet the needs of users. Customer service and usability lies at the heart of differentiating yourself from the competition. However, a great user experience doesn't just meet user needs, it also nudges them in the right direction to ensure an outcome that benefits both the user and your business.
Featured: Three secrets to simplicity
Many website owners damage their sites by continually adding features and content when they should be simplifying. In this post I reveal why that happens and how to simplify your website.
Classic shows (233)
The original Boagworld Podcast ran for over 200 episodes and was the first podcast on web design. Aimed at those who design, develop and run websites, it won many awards and grew rapidly from its humble beginnings in 2005. We reinvented the show in 2010 but the old episodes have been kept online and redefined as 'classic episodes'.
Featured: 216. Thanks for all the fish
This week on Boagworld: Chris Coyier talks CSS and more, we say goodbye to the boagworld podcast and ask what can you listen to now?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Content Strategy (70)
Your website doesn't matter. Neither does it matter what social network you use. What matters is what you say. It amazes me how organisations will spend thousands on a content management system or shiny new design, but fail to invest in their content. What point is there in having a great website if your message is poorly communicated? I desperately want to see everybody take web content more seriously.
Featured: Make your company blog work harder
Running a company blog is never easy especially when you are unsure of whether it is making a difference. In this post we look at how to ensure your company blogging has the maximum impact.
Design (132)
I began my career in the web as a designer and that is where my passion still lies. I write regularly on all aspects of user interface design from aesthetics to structure and flow. I write about design, not just for other designers but to make the design process more accessible to clients and help them understand exactly what goes into the process. I believe in a collaborative process of design where the designer works alongside developer and client to find the right solution.
Featured: Do you really need a microsite?
Marketeers love microsites, but are they always the right solution? When are they appropriate and when are they more trouble than they are worth?
Development (91)
I am the first to admit I am not a developer. However, I am still interested in the development process and occasionally have something useful to say. I also know some amazing developers and try my best to get them to post here from time to time. With the web becoming ever more complex with more diverse devices and powerful applications, I can see my posts to this section becoming more frequent.
Featured: URL structures and analytics
It’s well known that good URL structures can help SEO, but how often do we think about the impact of URL structures on analytics? We should.
Digital Strategy (138)
Ultimately an organisation has an online presence for a single reason, to help fulfil its business objectives. To be online just because the competition is or because that is what everybody does is not enough. Your organisation needs a web strategy. It needs to outline how exactly the web can help. Establishing these goals and working out the best strategy for achieving them has become the primary focus of my job.
Featured: Do you really need a web design agency?
Thinking about hiring a web design agency? Think again. Is that really all you need, an agency that designs websites? Even if ‘design’ also encompasses building your site, I am not sure that is enough for most organisations.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Marketing (73)
It is no longer enough for an organisations 'web strategy' to only consist of having a website. The web is an incredible marketing tool but in order for it to work at its most effective you need to use its many aspects from your corporate site to social media and SEO. I believe that online marketing is about building relationships with potential customers wherever they are and using all the online tools available to us.
Featured: Analytics for content rich sites
A key component of web governance is an ongoing programme of monitoring site analytics. The question is; what do you monitor if you are not an ecommerce site?
Mobile (71)
The web has changed. Where once we had a fair idea of how people accessed the web (via a desktop computer at home or in the office) now things are more challenging. With a plethora of devices from smartphones to internet enabled televisions, we do not know where, when or how people are going online. Mobile devices in particular have changed the landscape and we need to move with the times.
Featured: How should we handle responsive images?
What’s the best technique for hiding large images on mobile versions of websites? Conditional loading of images with js?
News (149)
One of the things I love most about the web is how fast everything changes. It is hard to keep up, but that is perfect for somebody like me who seems to suffer from ADD. There is always something new happening and that is exactly what I try to share in this category. If you want to stay up-to-date keep an eye on what I post here.
Featured: My Web Design Challenge
As web designers we like to complain that clients don’t “get it”. However, the truth is we suck at explaining our designs.
Question & Answers (25)
Boagworld is not just my blog; its a community of designers, developers and website owners who support one another. One of the ways we do that is by answering each other questions. If you have a question about any aspect of the web or digital strategy, ask it here. Alternatively check out the existing questions and add your answer to the mix.
Featured: How should we handle responsive images?
What’s the best technique for hiding large images on mobile versions of websites? Conditional loading of images with js?
Reviews (66)
If it's shiny and new then you can guarantee I will be playing with it. From new web apps to the latest hardware and software, I share those little discoveries that make a web users life easier. You will find something in this section whether you are a designer, developer or website owner.
Featured: New Adventures Indeed
Marcus shares his thoughts on the New Adventures conference and why he is feeling just ever so slightly irked.
Short Audio Tips (92)
As well as the weekly podcast, Paul releases regular audio tips. Normally only a few minutes long, these tips are ideal for inspiring you while you work. No matter whether you are a designer, developer or website owner, you will find something for you among these tips. You can subscribe via itunes or RSS.
Featured: Collaboration is the secret to change
If you want to make real change to your clients website, you need to move from being an implementor to an advisor.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Talks (23)
One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is learning new things and then communicating that to others. I have been privileged enough to travel all over the world talking about every conceivable aspect of web design from accessibility to working with clients. In this section I bring together a small selection of those talks and make them available.
Featured: Marketing without being a douchbag
Whether we like it or not we are all marketeers. However, that doesn’t mean we have to be a douchbag about it.
Working in web (78)
Working as part of the web design community since 1994 has been a privilege. I love the web and I love the people I meet through it. This section is where I share something of my experiences as part of this community. Some of the posts are dully personal, but some talk more broadly about the challenges we face as web workers.
Featured: Putting clients in their place
How do you tell clients nicely that they are NOT web designers? :)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download