Newsletter issue #15 - 1st June 2005
This issue
Hello and welcome to the June edition of the Webcredible newsletter!
In this issue:
- Feature article: Website content & usability
- Top tip: How to sell web accessibility
- Useful program: Eyedropper
- Top link: SitePoint
- New articles in May
- Webcredible news in May
- We are recruiting!
Enjoy!
Feature article: Website content & usability
Writing for the web is totally different to writing for printed matter. This is because we tend to scan web page content hunting for the information we're after. Find out what you need to do to make website content more user-friendly so your site visitors can find what their looking for quickly, easy and intuitively.
Read this article in full at www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-usability/web-content.shtml.
Top tip: How to sell web accessibility
Most people who work in the web industry have heard of web accessibility by now. Many organisations are attempting to make their sites more accessible, and over the past few years the general level of accessibility on the web has clearly risen. There is still a long way to go though, and clients and managers do sometimes need some persuasion:
- Increase in reach In the UK the number of people potentially facing difficulties on the web is startling: 14% of the population are registered disabled, 4% are registered with some form of sight problem and 21% are aged 60 or over. Populations of countries across the developed world undoubtedly have a similar number of people with special needs.
- Increased search engine ranking There's a massive overlap between accessibility and search engine ranking. Both screen readers and search engines access web pages through the HTML code - pages that are easier to access for one are equally easier to access for the other.
- Enhanced usability There's also a large overlap between accessibility and usability. Using headings and descriptive link text and front-loading content, for example, are great for both accessibility and usability. Essentially, a lot of accessibility is usability: a site that's more usable for non-disabled web users is exponentially more usable for users with special needs.
- Access to 'new' technologies The use of mobile phones and PDAs to access the web is increasing at a dramatic rate - block this group of users from your website at your peril!
Useful program: EyeDropper
The Eyedropper has nothing to do with usability, accessibility or credibility, but we love this lightweight program so much we just had to include it. Simply mouse over an on-screen item and it will tell you the colour code for that item - so useful!
You can use download this program at www.inetia.com/en/eyedropper/download.
Top link: SitePoint
SitePoint is a website aimed mostly at web developers featuring a host of free resources. With forums, blogs and articles covering pretty much every topic related to all aspects of websites, you can't fail to find some useful information here.
Check this site out at www.sitepoint.com.
New articles in May
- Web accessibility for screen magnifier users
- Creating a sales page that converts
- The definitive link building strategy
Read these and many other articles at www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources.
Webcredible news in May
- Webcredible wins accessible web design award
- Web accessibility training dates announced for June
- Webcredible interviewed by E-Consultancy
- MacWarehouse site up for award
Read these news stories in full at www.webcredible.co.uk/about-us/latest-news.shtml.
We are recruiting!
Our workload continues to pile up so we now have a number of vacancies for permanent and freelance usability positions here at Webcredible. If you have exceptional communication skills and a strong desire to develop yourself we want to hear from you now!
Webcredible is also looking for a part-time office administrator. Based out of our offices in the City district of London, the role involves about 25 hours work per week, ideally from 10-3 each day although these hours are very flexible.
Please consult www.webcredible.co.uk/jobs for further information and details on how to apply for these vacancies.
Training courses
Courses continue to sell out very quickly! Our next courses with available places will take place in our training centre in Aldgate, London in late May:
- Web accessibility training - Monday 11th July. To receive a £60 discount on the course, for more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our web accessibility training page.
- Advanced CSS training - Tuesday 12th July. To receive a £60 discount on the course, for more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our advanced CSS training page.
Web accessibility & CSS support packages
We now offer a range of accessibility and CSS support packages, offering you access to one of our accessibility consultants anytime you like. Please read more about this innovative service in our web accessibility and CSS help section.
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.