Tag Archives: blogging

Show 75: Christian Bears

Posted in Classic shows on by Paul Boag

Marcus is back and talks about what to do if a client doesn’t pay. I look at clearing floats in CSS and we have Richard Rutter on the show giving us the lowdown on good web typography.

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News and Events

Blogger’s code of conduct

This week has seen Tim O’Reilly pushing hard for a code of conduct among bloggers following the vicious online attacks against Kathy Sierra. Although, like everybody else, I was shocked by what Kathy has been through and although I respect Tim’s endeavors to change the current situation, I struggle to see what good a code of conduct will really do.

Tips for Bloggers

Tom Johnson has drawn together 20 principles for a successful blog based on feedback he has received from numerous top bloggers. If you are new to blogging or trying to revive a failing blog this article is definitely worth checking out.

120 Adobe Photoshop tips

Talking of tech tips, check out this superb document of over 100 things you never knew you could do in Photoshop. As a regular Photoshop user I was shocked by just how many of these I was unaware of. For example did you know that you could:

  • Straighten a crooked image using the measure tool?
  • Access key image function by right clicking the top bar of an image?
  • Modify the text on multiple text layers at the same time?

CSS Vista

The wonderful folks over at Site Vista has released a superb new tool that allows you to edit CSS files and instantly see the changes in both Firefox and Internet Explorer simultaneously. Very useful indeed although currently it is only available under windows.

Client corner: Resolving payment disputes

This week Marcus answers a question from Dan in Texas. Dan has a client who hasn’t paid and so is asking whether he should take their site down or not.

The core of Marcus’ approach is to ensure good dialogue with the client. He covers the idea that prevention is better than cure by establishing clear contracts up front but then looks at what steps can be taken if things do go wrong. We also when this happened to us at Headscape and how we resolved the dispute.

Marcus also broadens the discussion to look at it from the client’s perspective. He investigates when a client should withhold payment and how this should be discussed with the web agency.

Ask the expert: Richard Rutter on web typography

Richard Rutter is one of the three founders of Clear:Left and is passionate about typography. In fact he is so passionate that he has produced a practical guide to web typography which is freely available at webtypography.net. He therefore seemed the logical choice to introduce us to the basics of using typography on the web.

Agony Uncle: Clearing Floats

I got sent a question by Dan in Texas ages ago and I promised him we would tackle it on the show. Unfortunately I totally forgot about it until I read this recent article by Robert Nyman a couple of days back. Dan was asking about dealing with floats in CSS and how to ensure that the parent of a floated item contained it. This was exactly what Robert was talking about in his post and so I have shamelessly used his thoughts in the show to answer Dan’s question. Thanks Robert ;)

Review: Question Form

I am a great believer in giving users the chance to feedback their thoughts on a site. However its not always that easy. Online forms and email are hard to collate and all of the survey services I have found online in the past are crap. However, recently I came across a site called Question Form which really does stand head and shoulders above the competition

  • It is incredibly quick and easy to put a survey together
  • It provides a painless user experience to the user
  • You have complete customizable control over how your form looks
  • It provides excellent statistics as well as access to individual responses
  • It offers alerts of new responses via email, RSS and even SMS

The basic account is absolutely free and the pro accounts start from as little as $10. If you are thinking of adding a survey to your site then you should definitely check these guys out.

If you fancy trying a form out then take a second to complete the boagworld podcast survey.

Show 75 Script

In last week’s show I posted the rather muddled notes I use when recording the show. This was to make up for the less than perfect show notes I provide here. This idea seemed popular so here is my script from this week’s show.

Why meetups matter

Posted in Web strategy on by Paul Boag

There is a lot of focus on the negative aspects of web design at the moment such as the debate about the role of accessibility. However, I believe web designers have a lot to be proud of and that other professionals (like website owners) have a lot to learn from them.

I went to my second Geek Dinner on Friday and thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was superb to meet up with other people from my industry and talk about everything from personal blogging to emerging screen reader technologies.

It’s amazing when you think about it. The majority of people in that room are in direct competition with Headscape, and yet we freely discussed techniques and good practice that would normally be kept confidential in order to maintain a competitive edge.

I would argue that there are few professions outside of academia who so freely shares knowledge. What is more, I believe that the phenomenal evolution of the web can be partly attributed to this free exchange of ideas.

Personally I know I have learnt so much from the online and offline discussions I have had with other designers and I hope that in turn people have learnt from me.

If you are a web designer then I would really encourage you to take the time to attend some of these meetups. Unlike conferences, meetups tend to be free or at least very cheap and so there is little excuse not to go. The only problem I can see at the moment is that not much is happening outside London, which is frustrating. However, there is no reason why this is the case. If there isn’t a meetup in your area, organise one. Even if it is only four or five people, it is still a chance to swap war stories and have a drink while you’re at it.

However, what really saddens me is that this current enthusiasm for knowledge exchange seems to be limited to web designers and developers. What we really need to see is website owners sharing ideas in the same way. Although there is always the exception to every rule, it appears that most website owners are more reluctant to give away their competitive advantage. They are happy to attend conferences where they receive information but reluctant to attend meetups where they may be required to give out.

This attitude needs to change. There are important issues web site owners need to discuss. Things like marketing, fulfilment and customer retention (to name but three). From my perspective business strategy lags behind the technology and this is at least partly due to the communities’ hesitancy to share.

If you are interested in attending or organising a meetup then I suggest the best place to start is Upcoming.org. This site allows you to quickly and easily find events in your area as well as post your own.

Finally, if you are interested in a boagworld meetup then post a comment below. Also if you could add your location to our frappr map that would be useful too.

Podcast 32: In-house vs. outsourcing

Posted in Classic shows on by Paul Boag

Decisions, decisions… develop in house or use a third party web design company? This is discussed in this weeks podcast along with other bits and pieces.

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The decision of whether to develop your website in house (by taking on additional staff) or outsource it to the third party web design company can be a tricky. This week Paul and Marcus look at the pros and cons of both approaches as well as throwing in some additional options for good measure.

Download this show.

Also in this weeks show:

In-house vs. outsourcing

The decision of how you are going to resource your web project will radically affect not only the price of the project but also how that website develops in the future. It is therefore important to understand the options available to you and to know the pros and cons of each.

Although there are some alternative approaches that I will discuss later, you basically have two options available:

  • You can use internal resources within your organisation to develop your new web project. This can either be existing staff or new employees that have been recruited specifically to work on the website.
  • You can outsource the project to a specialist web design agency who can work either on a fixed price or time and material basis.

Either option has both its advantages and disadvantages:

In-house development

In short, an internal development team demonstrates a greater commitment to placing the web at the heart of your business

If you envisage that your site is going to need ongoing support and development (beyond basic text amendments that could be completed via a CMS) then hiring in-house staff may well be the best way to proceed. Although this does produce an ongoing financial commitment in the form of salary, equipment and training, it will ultimately be cheaper than the higher rates you will be forced to pay an external agency. An in-house development team will not only understand your business better than an external agency but will also be in a position to push the virtues of the web internally on an ongoing basis.

In short, an internal development team demonstrates a greater commitment to placing the web at the heart of your business and a vision to ensure your site evolves overtime instead of going through sporadic redesigns.

Outsourcing your web project

External agencies are often better placed for dealing with more challenging sites.

Of course having an in-house team isn’t always appropriate. For a start the ongoing financial commitment may simply not be an option even where site evolution is the preferred approach. Secondly, external agencies can sometimes have the advantage when it comes to complex and cutting edge sites. External agencies are normally larger than in-house teams including more specialists in specific fields (e.g. accessibility, usability etc). In addition because of the competitive nature of external agencies there is more pressure on them to keep up-to-date with the latest innovations and developments. As a result they are often better placed for dealing with more challenging sites.

Finally there is a danger in some organisations that the in-house web team can become “institutionalised” whereas an external agency will bring a fresh perspective that can challenge internal preconceptions.

Management mistakes

Of course the biggest factor in undermining in-house teams can often be mistakes made by management and not anything to do with the team itself. One such problem is recruiting the wrong person for the job. Often smaller organisations will recruit a web developer when what they really need is a web strategist and evangelist. Although coding and design are important skills, a smaller organisation needs to have somebody with business acumen that can help the organisation identify opportunities to utilise the web and to promote its use internally.

However, probably the biggest mistake made my management is ignoring the internal team they have. As a member of an external agency who works with in-house teams on a regular basis, I am constantly amazed how often we are brought in only to validate what the in-house team has already been saying. It is as if our presence is required simply to mediate in the internal politics that can often be found in larger organisations.

Other approaches

Of course choosing how to develop your website doesn’t need to be a black and white choice between in-house or outsource. There are in fact a number of other options to suit different organisations:

Ad-hoc specialists

For larger organisations it may sometimes be appropriate to bring in specialists to compliment an existing in-house team. For example specialists in accessibility, usability or design can often work well alongside an in-house team primarily made up of coders.

Part time contractors

For smaller organisations that cannot afford fulltime in-house staff but who wish to enjoy the benefits that come with that approach, there is the option to take on a part-time contractor. These individuals will probably have 2 or 3 websites they manage on a regular basis but still will be able to work more closely with you than an external agency.

Maintenance contract with an external agency

Although probably the most expensive approach, maintenance contract with an external agency does provide the best level of service. If the agency provide the right kind of service this can be very much like working with an in-house team. The agency will really get to understand the business, evolve your website on a regular basis and still provide all of the benefits of an external agency.

Conclusion

In many ways the title of this entry is somewhat misleading. The decision between development in-house or outsourcing is not a black and white one. Different solutions are right for different organisations. However I believe one thing is universally true, whether you use an external agency or in-house staff, you need a “website owner” within your organisation who is the project manager for any work done and the evangelist for the site within your company.

A muddled mind

Posted in Working in web design on by Paul Boag

Last week we did a podcast on the WAI accessibility guidelines and, after my blunder, I thought it might be worth having a go at persuading you that actually I am right and the WAI guidelines are wrong!

Last week we did a podcast on the WAI accessibility guidelines where I made a fairly major blunder on one of the checkpoints. Unsurprisingly this has led to a lot of entirely justifiable joking at my expense. However, now that I am suitably humiliated I thought it might be worth having a go at persuading you that actually I am right and the WAI guidelines are wrong (well not wrong as such just slightly lacking)!

Panicking in a podcast

Producing a podcast is a strange experience and very different from blogging. When you write a blog you can consider every word you use and make sure you are 100% happy with it before posting. Podcasting isn’t like that. Sure, you can script out what you are going to cover and can even edit it to some extent in post production. However, at the end of the day you have to think on your feet and keep things moving. Most of the time I can pull it off, but every now and then I drop a clanger and last weeks show was a perfect example.

The blunder

In the show we were working through the various WAI checkpoints when we reach checkpoint 3.2 which says:

Create documents that validate to published formal grammars.

Now much to everybody’s amusement I went off on one talking in great depth about how it was important that the content on our sites are grammatically correct in order to help those with cognitive disabilities. Poorly written content, I argued, is hard to follow when you have a cognitive disability like dyslexia.

Of course this is not what the guideline is about at all. Rather it refers to ensuring your code validates and that you do things like declare a doctype.

The reason

So why was I so horribly confused? Well obviously this was largely due to my own stupidity however I was also thrown by the fact that earlier in the day I had been reading some fascinating material from Mencap.

So I was right after all *cough*

Mencap is one of the UK’s leading charities dealing with learning disabilities and they have produced some excellent material relating to cognitive disabilities and the web. If you have time I highly recommend downloading the following two PDF documents:

Am I making myself clear (1.3mb)

Guide to making your website more accessible (82kb)

Both of these documents are, unsurprisingly, well written and very easy to read. The advice they provide (including some vague references to good grammar!) helps not only those with disabilities but anybody reading the copy on your site.

An overlooked art

Well written content is an overlooked art and one that we as web designers generally ignore. After all, it is the client’s job to write the content and so it is not really our concern.

The trouble is few places teach you how to write good copy for the web and fewer still help you cater for cognitive disabilities. The WAI guidelines only make passing reference to it and web designers often fail to advise their clients on best practice. The result is that clients are left floundering not really knowing where to begin.

These two documents are an excellent starting point for anybody writing content for their website. In fact they are so good they complete distracted me on my last podcast.

Well, that’s my excuse and I am sticking to it!

A short break

Posted in Working in web design on by Paul Boag

Due to an overwhelming workload, we are going to be forced to take a short break from boagworld. Please don’t forget us!

Every year it’s the same, with the end of the financial year looming all our clients want to get their new website in this year’s financial budget. The result is that everybody at Headscape are running around like headless chickens (hmm… that doesn’t sound very professional, lets go for "very organised but overworked chickens" instead).

Unfortunately, this means that boagworld is going to have to take a backseat for a few weeks while we break the back of the work to be done. However, I do promise to start podcasting and blogging again soon. This is only a temporary glitch.

So sit back, subscribe to our RSS feeds or email notifications and we will be sure to let you know when things start rolling again.

A parting gift

As a parting gift, we have tried to improve the audio on the last couple of podcasts. Several people have commented than they are even worse than our normal quality! Unfortunately this tweaking has made the music at the beginning a bit intrusive however, it’s still significantly better than before.

Web Design Podcast (11) – Benefits of blogging

Posted in Classic shows on by Paul Boag

This week we look at blogging. Is it just a cheap form of therapy for those who feel a need to unburden their emotional problems, or is it a powerful marketing tool for increasing your businesses exposure.

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Podcast: Download (16.8MB)

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Below is a brief outline of what was covered in this show as well as links to more information where appropriate

News

This week on boagworld.com…

A new web feed is added

If you can’t get enough of Paul’s pearls of wisdom why not subscribe to his "best of the web" feed which includes links to useful web design content…read more

Boagworld.com goes flickr crazy

We have created a flickr group that allows you to discuss web design, post examples of good and bad design as well as get your own designs reviewed…join the group

Web design podcast Directory

One of our podcast listeners (Jonas) has been kind enough to compile the ultimate list of web design podcasts…see the list

Blogging – the benefits to business

Why blog?

  • Blogging adds content rich in keywords to your site so increasing your ranking on search engines
  • Blogging encourages the creation of non-marketing content which people will actively want to link to. The more links, the better your search engine ranking.
  • Blogging ensures your site always has fresh content that in turn encourages repeat traffic.
  • Blogging builds a personal relationship with your readers and fosters trust.
  • Blogging provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate your experience in the sector you are trying to reach.
  • Regular blogging increases the amount your site is spidered by search engines so ensuring your content appears on them faster.
  • Blogs are indexed and listed on exclusive blog directories so exposing your site to a wider audience.
  • Blog software also produces web feeds, which come with their own unique set of benefits.

Objections to blogging?

  • You cannot customise your blog to integrate with the rest of your site.
    This is simply not true if you select the right blogging software. Do not settle for second-rate blogging applications just because they are free.
  • It’s too much work to maintain a blog.
    Yes, it is true that a blog takes time and effort, but then so does every other form of marketing. If you spend the time to blog regularly, you will see a return on investment.
  • We expose our trade secrets to the competition.
    This is true but you also expose your knowledge to potential customers. The benefits of one, outweighs the other.

Many of these points are expanded the boagworld.com post on the benefits of articles.

The opportunities of Podcasting

Posted in Classic shows on by Paul Boag

There has been a lot of talk about Podcasting over the last couple of weeks with the latest version of iTunes now supporting the technology. But what exactly is a PodCast and how if at all, can it benefit your organisation.

Sometimes it feels like the whole world has gone iPod crazy. iPod has spawned the next generation of music devices and single handedly changed the fortunes of Apple. But even though it is near on impossible to have avoided the iPod you may yet have escaped the phenomena of Podcasting.

What is Podcasting?

In many ways the PodCast is a natural extension of blogging. It allows anybody with a microphone and an internet connection to publish a radio show/blog that can be subscribed and downloaded to any MP3 player. PodCasts cover every imaginable subject from science fiction to gardening and are produced by enthusiastic amateurs and large corporations alike. They range from being entire radio shows such as those published by the BBC to short 5 minute bulletins.

It is still very much an emerging technology but it has seen much larger adoption than many other such technologies especially among the younger iPod generation.

How could it benefit my organisation?

Although largely untested I believe there are some real business opportunities in Podcasting. Podcasting provides a powerful new marketing and communication medium that is almost completely unexploited.

Of course the opportunities for organisations to utilise PodCasts are largely limited to those groups who are trying to reach the demographic that uses MP3 players. Currently this seems to be teenagers, students and young male professionals with disposable income. However there is an expectation that this audience will broaden significantly over the coming months.

Higher education PodCasts could contain hints and tips on university life, interviews with existing students and even demo tracks from student bands.

Nevertheless, for those trying to reach this demographic there are some interesting opportunities. Take for example the higher education sector that is always looking for new ways to attract school leavers. They could use popular existing PodCasts to advertise their courses or even run their own casts. These could contain hints and tips on university life, interviews with existing students and even demo tracks from student bands. Many university student unions also run their own radio stations which could be tapped for content.

With a bit of imagination it soon becomes apparent that PodCasts are an excellent way of connecting with a generation who are extremely unreceptive to traditional forms of marketing.

Click here for additional uses of Podcasting in the educational sector

How do we create a PodCast?

Because Podcasting is designed to open up broadcasting to everybody the process of producing a PodCast is very straightforward and there are many pieces of software that automate much of the technical process.

The real challenge is ensuring the quality of the PodCast doesn’t undermine the message being communicated.

The average PodCast listener is used to quality media and as a result has high expectations. The production value will be key to the Casts success. A combination of good content, professional vocal presentation and quality music will make your PodCast stand out from the crowd. In many cases finding this balance can be hard to achieve and could require the use of professional agencies to assist in the production process at least initially.

Looking beyond the PodCast

I would like to leave you with one last thought. At the end of the day a PodCast is just a downloadable MP3 track and so there is no reason why you need to limit the content you produce to a PodCast. What about broadcasting directly from your site or allowing users to subscribe to an email version of the Cast. Podcasting really has opened up a world of possibilities.