Designing
Web
Usability
Written by
the best-known guru
of usability.

Secrets of
Successful
Web Sites
Siegel gives
a perfect blueprint of ways to
plan, develop and design websites
that work.

Creating
Killer
Web Sites
Another enlightening book by
Siegel, which (in my opinion) counts as the "creme de la creme" of website development books.

Don't Make
Me Think
If you read
this book
along with Nielsen's books, and follow their advice,
visitors will
love visiting your
websites.

101 Ways
to Promote
Your Web Site
Once you
have your website launched,
you want people to
visit. Author Sweeney is
an expert on
a plethora of ways to accomplish it.

• Pros - No payment for a domain name, no ISP fees (see the previous issue), no worry about keeping it up-to-date or checking on statistics - i.e. no fuss or bother about the Internet.
• Cons - Embarrassment when people ask for your website address. Lack of credibility for your business in the minds and eyes of those who search for your site. Lack of the fun and pride that come with having a website you are proud of.

STEP #2. A Free Website with Site Building Tools

• Pros - No big expenditure of funds. By following directions, you can have a decent website up and running within a short amount of time. The building tools and templates will help you with your decisions.
• Cons - Free sites often include advertisements which will detract from your own content. Free sites are obviously "free" so don't give the impression of a credible business presence. Also, many are database driven, so won't be picked up by search engines.

STEP #3. A Homemade Website

• Pros - You will save money and learn a great deal about how the Internet works and doesn't work. You will feel a great deal of pride in your accomplishment and also be able to maintain your website on a regular basis.
• Cons - You will be amazed by the number of hours it will take to learn how to use any of the authoring tools. I know they say that FrontPage is easy - not if you want to have an extraordinary, non-amateurish looking and working website. And, will you know if your website looks "homemade?"

STEP #4. A Family Member/Friend Made Website

• Pros - Again, you save money. A family member/friend has your best interest at heart. If they are really a professional designer, you may be in for a treat and a website that will please you and your visitors.
• Cons - If, however, you are displeased, how will you tell this family member/friend without losing their love and/or friendship. Will they be willing to maintain the website? How comfortable will you be telling them what to do and what not to do?

STEP #5. Novice Website by Some Do-Gooder

• Pros - Again you will be saving money. This may be a novice who has just completed a course and wants to create your website for his or her "portfolio." Or, it may be someone who is starting out and charging much less than the going rate. Or someone who feels that everyone should have a website (YES!), so will help you achieve that goal.
• Cons - Oftentimes, even though the novice means well - we know that everyone has to start somewhere - they just don't have enough experience with the wiles of the web to create a website for you to be proud of. And, if it is someone you know relatively well, how are you going to tell them that the site really looks and navigates like a novice put it together?

STEP #6. Professional Website by a Professional 
       Designer

• Pros - You are paying for a professional website, so you can make sure that a professional website is what you get. Before hiring the designer, you can check out his or her prior work, ask questions and get all of the concerns answered up front. You should also have the advantage of a signed contract to guarantee that everything goes as expected. You should finally experience the fun and credibility that come with a website you are proud of.
• Cons - For a top professional designer, you will need to spend some money. Plan to set aside somewhere between $1,000 and $3,000 depending upon the size and complexity of the site. How many pages? Do you want a shopping cart? Interactive forms?

If you would like to subscribe to this e-zine and receive five free Internet tips, send an e-mail to subscribe@creativekeys.biz with subscribe in the subject line. If you ever wish to be removed from the mailing list, just send an e-mail to unsubscribe@creativekeys.biz with unsubscribe in the subject line.

Chris King
P.O. Box 221255
Beachwood, Ohio 44122
(216) 991-8428
http://www.creativekeys.biz