Newsletter issue #23 - 1st February 2006
This issue
Hello and welcome to the February edition of the Webcredible newsletter!
In this issue:
- Feature article: Usability for older web users
- Top tip: Newsletter usability
- Useful program: Spider simulator
- Top link: E-bore
- New articles in January
- Webcredible news in January
Enjoy!
Feature article: Usability for older web users
The number of older and elderly web users is growing and growing at a rapid rate. The needs of these web users can often be quite different to other web users' needs. Find out what you need to do in order to cater for this market...
Read this article in full at www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-usability/older-users.shtml.
Top tip: Newsletter usability
Newsletters are one of the best online marketing tools available, as they act as a regular reminder to subscribers about your existence. With the proliferation of e-mail newsletters now available, and the continued influx of spam, your newsletter will need to work doubly hard to ensure people sign up for it and then read it each time it comes in. Here are a few guidelines to get you started...
- Provide a reason to sign up Hardly anyone is going to sign up to your wonderful newsletter unless you provide a reason for doing so. Think of the main benefit for signing up to your newsletter and sum up this benefit in just a few words. Place this benefit in the newsletter signup box.
- Send it out regularly Tell subscribers up front when they can expect to receive the newsletter, and then stick to this schedule no matter what. This way, subscribers will know when your newsletter is arriving and are less likely to mistake it for spam. It also enhances the credibility of the newsletter and your organisation if you can be seen to stick to the newsletter schedule.
- Make it useful 'Content is king', the mantra that has rung true for the Internet, also applies to newsletters. Cramming your newsletter full of sales and company information may turn off most subscribers and actually damage their perception of your organisation. Include information that's actually useful to your subscribers and let your knowledge and expertise do the selling for you.
- Follow web writing rules Reading websites and reading newsletter both happen on screen, so general web writing rules also apply to newsletters. Break up the newsletter into manageable chunks with sub-headings, use clear and simple language, front-load content and use lists where appropriate.
Useful program: Spider simulator
The spider simulator will run some basic search engine optimisation checks on any web page. Just type in the URL and the program will do the rest for you!
You can use this program at tools.summitmedia.co.uk/spider.
Top link: E-bore
The E-consultancy e-bore-ometer has nothing to do with usability or accessibility, but is a great test for you as an individual. Simply go through the questionnaire and the e-bore-ometer will tell you how badly you suffer from e-bore syndrome.
Check out this hilarious site at www.e-consultancy.com/ebore.
New articles in January
Read this and many other articles at www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources
Webcredible news in January
- Webcredible website gets a new look!
- Revolution Magazine watches Webcredible focus group
- Webcredible is recruiting a usability consultant!
- Association of Accessibility Professionals launches
- Webcredible to run E-Consultancy training courses
Read these news stories in full at www.webcredible.co.uk/about-us/latest-news.shtml.
Training courses
Courses continue to sell out well in advance! Our next training courses will take place in our training centre in Aldgate, London in March and April:
- Writing for the web training - Tuesday 14th March & Tuesday 25th April. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our writing for the web training page.
- Web usability training - Wednesday 15th March & Wednesday 26th April. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our web usability training page.
- Web accessibility training - Thursday 16th March & Thursday 27th April. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our web accessibility training page.
- Advanced CSS training - Friday 17th March & Friday 28th April. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our advanced CSS training page.
About Webcredible
Based in London, UK, Webcredible is a user experience consultancy. Tailor-made usability, accessibility & design solutions include:
- User-centered design
- Accessible web design
- CMS services
- Usability
- Accessibility
- Training
- Website review lite
Please contact us on 0870 242 6095 or info at webcredible.co.uk, or consult www.webcredible.co.uk for further information.