Chapter 9. building for the web

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don't miss ...

  1. Building for speed

  2. Building for compatibility

  3. Fixing a broken site

  4. Building for accessibility

  5. Building your site to last (Plus: Following web standards)

  6. Building the backend

For many site owners, building is the most intimidating step in starting a web site. The plan they can read; the design they can see. But the building process is shrouded in mystery. They know it happens, but they have no idea how.

It's natural, actually. As Arthur C. Clarke famously said, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." And the magic that makes your web site work can be confounding indeed obscured as it is in acronyms and buzzwords.

But even if you don't know HTML from the ACLU, you could build a simple site in a day. The basic technology is easy to learn (Start with how web sites work: a primer, p. 190). Of course, things quickly get more complicated. You'll need experienced engineers, designers, and production specialists to build a site of substance.

But even if you're working on a complex, commercial site, you can still contribute to technological decisions. And you must. While it's good to recognize your limits and trust the people you hire, you have to stay involved. (See how to work with engineers, p. 236)

"Looking back, I would have asked more questions," said Randi Shade, founder and CEO of CharityGift. "And I would have stayed involved even if the engineers said I shouldn't because the things I brought up really were important to the product."

Confidence is key here. You can't allow yourself to be intimidated, even if the technology is new to you. "It's important not to be afraid to sound stupid if you don't understand what someone's talking about," said Tim Ziegler, founder of FamilyAlbum.com. "The critical thing is to ask questions."

So as you build your site, keep your wits about you. Don't be razzle-dazzled by the technology just focus on what you know. Be clear about your priorities. Keep your eye on the end product. Hire good people, set reasonable deadlines, invest in testing, and don't forget to throw a party when you're done.

the well-built web site

Every site owner should know how to assess the workmanship on her site, even if she couldn't build one herself. Here's what to look for:

The well-built web site is

  1. Fast. This may be the only thing that matters. You could do everything else right, and still fail if your pages load too slowly. See building for speed, p. 221.

  2. Compatible. People will use your site with a wide range of computers, browsers, monitors, and connection speeds. Your site doesn't have to look the same in all browsers it doesn't even have to look good in all browsers but it should work for the vast majority of your users. See building for compatibility, p. 176.

  3. Reliable. Customers expect your site to work consistently and reliably, just as they expect their TV to turn on or their newspaper to be delivered. Your site should always be available, the pages and images should always load, and the applications should return correct results. See building for reliability, p. 179.

  4. Accessible. What's true in the real world is true online: It's good business to make your site accessible to the disabled.You should offer a coherent, if not equivalent, experience to users who are sight- or hearing-impaired. It's nice. It's smart. And in many cases, it's the law. See building for accessibility, p. 182.

  5. Built to last. When you bring your company online, it should be an investment in your future. Your site should be built to function not only in today's web browsers, but future devices as well. To ensure longevity, build the site in compliance with industry standards. See building your site to last, p. 184


Not sure where to start

how web sites work, p. 190.




The Unusually Useful Web Book
The Unusually Useful Web Book
ISBN: 0735712069
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 195
Authors: June Cohen

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