PREVIOUS EZINE ISSUES:
BIG RESOURCES #4 VOL II
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Big Resources Ezine
http://www.bigresources.com
Issue 4 Volume II, Nov 27,
2000
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In this issue:
PARTNERS AND SPONSORS
1. Webmasters: want Free
dynamic content for your site?
2. Tap into the knowledge
of other IT Professionals.
3. Community Architect
NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS
4. New Ezine Feature: Developer
Tales
5. A1Javascripts Search
Box
6. Get Reviewed at HTMLforums.com
7. Looking for Submissions
WEEKLY FEATURE
8. 5 Most Common Web Design
Mistakes
DEVELOPER TALES
9. A Stone, Alone: Part
I
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PARTNERS AND SPONSORS
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*Big Resources is currently
running an end of year advertising special. You can reach over 40,000 OPT-IN
subscribers for just $35 CPM, or reach our website visitors through banners
for as little as $10 CPM! Contact advertising@123webmaster.com for details*
1. Webmasters: want Free
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In one minute, put the latest
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2. Tap into the knowledge
of other IT Professionals.
EarthWeb's Knowledge Market
is a peer-to-peer, micro-consulting environment where
you can get quick solutions
to your problems. Better than newsgroups, as users are rated
by other users based on
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Increase your traffic and
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NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS
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4. New Ezine Feature: Developer
Tales
This week I'd like to introduce
a new ezine feature: Developer Tales. This segment, which is located at
the bottom of the newsletter, will feature developer related stories and
tales. This is an experimental segment, and may not appear every week.
If it interests you, and you would like to see it appear frequently, you
can let me know by sending me an email at: jason@bigresources.com. It's
existence may very well depend on your feedback. If you'd like to see it
again, drop a line.
5. A1Javascripts Search Box
http://www.a1javascripts.com
A1Javascripts.com has recently
become searchable! Now you can search for your favorite javascript at http://www.a1javascripts.com,
or add April's helpful javascript search to your own site, 100% FREE!
To bring the A1javascripts
archive to your own page, visit:
http://www.a1javascripts.com/utilities/a1searchbox.html
6. Get Reviewed at HTMLforums.com
http://www.htmlforums.com
Hundreds of webmasters have
taken advantage of our "Free Review" category at http://www.htmlforums.com.
Why has this discussion category so popular? It gives webmasters a chance
to expose their sites to a webmaster community of thousands! Simply post
your site at:
http://www.htmlforums.com/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=
Overall+Review&number=20
Please take the time to
review another site after you have posted your own link, to keep this category
friendly for everyone. You must follow this rule to receive a review on
your site.
7. Looking for Submissions
We're looking for original
articles, and product review submissions to be featured in both our ezines,
and on http://www.123webmaster.com. If you feel that you are a talented
web writer, and are knowledgeable with website promotion, webmaster tools,
graphic design, webmaster tips, or web scripting (any language) then please
send your article submissions to jason@bigresources.com. All approved articles
will be published with full credit to their writers (including a link,
email address, and any other information that you would like included),
and will be read by thousands of webmasters. Submit today, and get published!
I'd like to thank our most
recent contributor, Candice Pardue of http://www.webmastercourse.com, for
this week's feature: 5 Most Common Web Design Mistakes.
Jason M. DesRoches
jason@bigresources.com
Editor In Chief, Big Resources
Ezine.
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WEEKLY FEATURE
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8. 5 Most Common Web Design
Mistakes
by Candice Pardue
http://www.webmastercourse.com
As you're designing your
new web site, you'll be tempted with web design ideas that could turn into
fatal mistakes. This is especially true if your web site represents your
business. Below are five of the most common mistakes to avoid at all costs...
1. Too Many Graphics.
Having too many graphics
(particularly large graphics), can cause your site to load entirely too
slow. Visitors will get impatient and often times click out of your site
-- never to return.
SOLUTION: When possible save
your graphics as GIF files (gif.htm) rather than JPEG (jpg.htm). Also,
reduce your graphic in actual size as much as you can without distorting
the graphic or picture.
2. Counters
A visitor counter or hits
counter should not be seen on your site unless you have tremendous traffic.
The reason for this is visitors really don't want to know which visitor
they are, especially if they're visitor number four. There's no benefit
to your visitor, nor is there any benefit to you.
The only way showing a counter
is advantageous is if you've had millions of visitors and wish to display
the popularity of your site or would like to attract advertisers with the
large numbers. Otherwise, you can use this space for a benefit-packed headline
that leads your visitor to another part of your site.
SOLUTION: Most web hosts
offer web statistics that reveal daily visitors, hits, referrers, etc.
This feature will let you know how many people are visiting your site without
the whole world seeing the information. If you're just starting out, make
sure your web host offers this free service.
3. Banners
Limit your banners to the
bare necessities. Why? Because banners are graphics that can slow loading
time and are a turn-off for many surfers on the internet. For most, "banner"
is just another word for "ad" and they avoid clicking on them.
SOLUTION: If you do have
a banner or two, place the banner at the very top or bottom of your page.
Or you could place a small banner in your sidebar. Most people will look
at the first picture they see and then start reading below the picture,
so any writing or links that are above the banner may remain unnoticed.
Also, the banners on your site should be related to your product or service.
Remember, everything on your site should work together to benefit your
target customer.
4. Scattered Web Site
When designing your site,
make sure it has a pattern that leads your visitor. Get several people
(friends or relatives) to visit your site and watch them as they navigate.
Notice the places where they stop (as if they're finished) and also links
that they click on. Organizing your site to lead visitors is very important
whether you're leading them to buy something or just to click and go to
another place in your site. Customers are silently begging to be led.
SOLUTION: Take a look at
the flow of your site. Design it in a fashion that always continues like
this...
Make sure that graphics
don't get in the way of your lead. If the visitor stops in the middle of
the home page to click on a graphic or banner before getting to your sales
page, they may never return. You've got one chance to get the visitor's
attention and keep it. Make the most of it.
5. Generalization
The most effective way of
selling on the internet is to personalize your web site to reach your target
audience. Many web sites are general and try to reach everybody. The reality
is that you can't be everything to everybody. The business owners who are
successful on the web normally have very specific products or services
that target a niche market.
SOLUTION: Make your site
as personal as possible. As you're writing, pretend that you are face to
face with the customer. Present your web site in such a way that the visitor
feels like he just walked into a store in his hometown. Also, stay focused
on your target customer (one who would be interested in "your" product.)
These five mistakes should
be avoided at all costs if you want to build an effective and successful
web business.
Design your site to sell!
To review this article online,
please visit:
http://www.123webmaster.com/Articles/Common_Web_Mistakes.html
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DEVELOPER TALES
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9. A Stone, Alone: Part I
by Jason M. DesRoches
Our webmaster Stone sits
patiently on the only Internet accessible computer in his office, while
the office doors open and close in his building. One by one the building
empties of it's small 8 man team. First the CFO leaves, then the CEO, followed
by the VP of marketing. The other two customer service representivities
that sit in cubicles next to him punch out, the young marketing assistant
is off next, and finally the customer service manager heads for home. Stone,
who represents the entire night shift of this small health care marketing
office is finally... alone.
Switching from the company
site which Stone had been piecing together during the first few hours of
his shift, Stone now turns to his passion. The vision that is 123webmaster.com.
Being fairly new to the web, Stone must spend great time scrubbing, and
searching for the tools he needs to build, the tools he needs to settle
the web. The Internet is scattered, and good tools are hard to find, especially
all in one place. Stone works late into the evening, searching the oracles
known as Hotbot, Lycos, and Altavista for the items that will help him
in his quest.
Stone spends hours and hours
querying the great portals for words such as "cgi" "perl" "color chart",
and "WYSIWYG". A severe problem soon arises, many of the services and tools
which stone comes across require "membership contributions", "donations",
and "financial commitments". Stone, who is a simple man, has few means,
and can not meet these obligations. Stone must search deeper, he must develop
more refined scientific postulates, equations, and searching methods; he
must limit himself only to what is free. A trek into the woods has become
a journey into the forest.
End Part I
Next Week(?) A Stone Alone,
Part II
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