Newsletter issue #37 - 2nd April 2007
This issue
Hello and welcome to the April edition of the Webcredible newsletter!
In this issue:
- Feature article: Print stylesheet - the definitive guide
- Top tip: Ensure your site looks up-to-date
- Useful program: WDG HTML Validator
- Top link: Accessify
- New articles in March
- Webcredible news in March
- Increasing online conversions seminar
Enjoy!
Feature article: Print stylesheet - the definitive guide
A print stylesheet formats a web page so when printed, it automatically prints in a user-friendly format. Print stylesheets have been around for a number of years and have been written about a lot. Yet so few websites implement them, meaning we're left with web pages that frustratingly don't properly print on to paper. Find out once and for all how to make the ultimate print stylesheet...
Read this article in full at www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/css/print-stylesheet.shtml.
Top tip: Ensure your site looks up-to-date
Ensuring your website appears up-to-date is crucial for encouraging first-time visitors to enter into the site. As the Internet grows the number of 'abandoned' websites is increasing at a tremendous rate. Even if you think you've got a well known brand, first-time visitors may not have heard of you and/or may not know what you do with your website - reassure them by following these essential guidelines:
- Use dates Nothing can convince site visitors your site is up-to-date like dates can. Providing today's date can be useful but far superior is providing dates within context next to certain items (see point 2 below for examples). To further promote the image of being up-to-date be sure to include the year in the date (this is particularly important if the gap between dates on the page is more than a few weeks).
- Have 'latest' or 'most recent' items Text embedded within images can't of course be resized. Nowadays there's usually no need to embed text within images, as advanced effects can easily be created with CSS and background images.
- Continually update content & images on homepage Site visitors are of course likely to return to your site if they perceive new content is regularly being published. Returning site visitors will likely enter via your homepage so do keep this page regularly updated to create the illusion of a regularly updated website. A simple change such as using a different image on the homepage can create this effect.
Useful program: WDG HTML Validator
The WDG HTML Validator works in much the same way as other HTML validators with one important difference - it can validate up to 100 pages at a time. Rather than validate pages one-by-one you can now validate whole sections of your site one-by-one.
You can use this handy program at www.htmlhelp.com/tools/validator.
Top link: Accessify
The Accessify website contains a wealth of accessibility tools and information and is a must-look for anyone interested in accessibility. Whether you're new to accessibility or think of yourself as a guru, you'll certainly learn something new here!
Access this useful site at www.accessify.com.
New articles in March
Read these and many other articles at www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources.
Webcredible news in March
- Enhanced viewing options now available
- 'Three steps to greater online conversion' seminar announced
- Latest poll shows you look for https when buying online
- Demand for training courses going through the roof!
Read these news stories in full at www.webcredible.co.uk/about-us/latest-news.shtml.
Increasing online conversions seminar
Webcredible is running a free morning seminar on increasing online conversions. The seminar will show you how to use SEO, analytics and usability to significantly increase conversion rates on your website! Read more and sign up to attend at www.webcredible.co.uk/services/online-conversion-2007.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 April and May:
- Usability testing training - Monday 16th April. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our usability testing training page.
- Web writing training - Tuesday 17th April & Tuesday 15th May. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our intermediate web writing training page.
- Web usability training - Wednesday 18th April & Wednesday 16th May. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our web usability training page.
- Web accessibility training - Thursday 19th April & Thursday 17th May. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our web accessibility training page.
- Advanced CSS training - Friday 20th April & Friday 18th May. 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 research
- User-centered design
- Accessible CSS web design
- Training courses & support
- Website reviews
- Usability lab hire
Please contact us on 020 7423 6320 or info at webcredible.co.uk, or consult www.webcredible.co.uk for further information.
