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Why PDFs are Bad for the Web and How to Make Them Better
I used to be a strong advocate for using PDFs. They are easy to create, view, and distribute—especially for those who deal with cross-platform and application compatibility issues. But what I didn’t foresee was how PDFs would be used to circumvent the web publishing process, compromising effective web writing, usability, accessibility, and search engine optimization (SEO). Now I lament [...]
FAQs Pages: Good Web Usability or Outdated Content Strategy?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) pages are a common component of business websites (including higher education) and an important consideration when developing your content strategy and web usability plan. But, is it the best option for your organization’s website? The answer depends on the needs of your target audience and how your FAQs page is implemented and maintained [...]
However You Say it, Kuler is Better
I started writing this post as a list of “top color scheme generators”, but rather than offer a list of applications – of which there are many (Veerle’s Blog maintains a good list of color swatch applications) – I decided to focus on the one I use most: Adobe Kuler. I haven’t found a definitive source for the correct pronunciation of Kuler. I say “cooler” like most people, but it seems likely [...]
#FollowFriday Recommendations for Web Publishers
I think #FollowFriday on Twitter is a great way to recognize and recommend people that you feel add value to your Twitter stream. However, I’m often more interested in why people follow those they recommend. For this reason, I’m explaining my recommendations. Below are three people I follow on Twitter because I appreciate their contribution to the field of web publishing and [...]
Should site visitors always get what they want?
I recently helped a school publish an online orientation guide that included a listing of recommended books for this fall’s incoming class. The reading list was not a mandatory one, but rather a collection of favorite books offered up by faculty and staff. I thought the list was a good idea and added value to the guide. In creating the page I linked the book titles to Amazon.com. Offering this [...]
Think More Like a Publisher and Less Like a Marketer (and Other Lessons From eduWeb 2009)
Last week I attended the eduWeb Conference in Chicago. It was a great opportunity to meet other higher-ed web professionals and discuss common challenges and creative solutions. Some popular topics included social media, online marketing, user-generated content, web design best practices, content strategy, and search engine optimization. There is a great deal of information [...]
Share to Learn
People naturally like to share what they know. It’s validating to show expertise in a subject and get positive feedback. Still, I continue to meet people who conceal what they know, particularly in the work place. They are either worried about exposing what they don’t know or consider it job security to protect what they [...]