"Wait, when did this new release become available? Can I upgrade or do I have to purchase an entirely new copy?"

Actually, Web 2.0 is free of charge and you are already using it.

"Then what exactly is Web 2.0?"

Web 2.0 is an improved version of the web. In its earlier days websites were generally isolated containers of information that held static content. In contrast, Web 2.0 is characterized its ability to openly share and contribute opinions, images and even video by its users. The content of the web is now in the hands of its citizens rather than the "webmaster". According to Tim O'Reilly, "Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the internet as platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform."

Here are some examples of what I consider to be Web 2.0:

-wikipedia
-flickr
-youtube
-myspace
-google
-blogs


All of these examples encourage user participation as way to add value to the website. The Web 2.0 concept allows webpages to grow on their own without the need for a "webmaster" to post new content.


Has Web 2.0 killed the "webmaster"?

One major struggle we all have as CSS designers is keeping the consistency across multiple browsers and most of the problems come from the default setting that browsers have for common elements. By using a basic CSS reset and working from there you can override the browser's settings and start fresh from ground zero.

After doing some research I've put together a simple CSS reset. I've seen some more complicated ones but this one seems to work fine for general use. I've even added in a few additions I have yet to see in other CSS resets such as the dotted border that Firefox commonly puts around links and an overflow-x issue I've commonly run into.

Enjoy!

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One of the benefits of the internet is its ability to serve information to an unlimited amount of people , anywhere in the world , anytime of day. Additionaly that content can be updated with up to the minute news from any number of resources. the speed of communication and the availability of up to date information has reached an all time high.

Todays business owner naturally wants to be part of this action and they want their business to leverage the power of the internet to gain marketshare.

But what happens when the internet goes down? Does your business model depend on the internet?

Diversification is key here. Remember the old addage "Dont keep all your eggs in one basket." The same applies to business. Be careful not to depend to much on one channel of marketing. If that channel were to go down, ask yourself: " Do I have a backup plan? "

To protect yourself from occasional internet outtages its a good idea to establish an easy to remember telephone number. Something like 1800-NEW-SITE. Using an acronym may help here. This way, customers can reach a real person in the event of a network outage. Also, make sure that number appears on your marketing material so people become familiar with it. Another important step is to keep an active listing in the yellow pages and or information (411).

Internet outages are rare but if you take a few steps you can protect your customer base.

Though we'd like to think that design make the world go 'round, the actual driving force behind the web is now and will always be content. Content is what will get you noticed in the search engines and it's still content that the overall web user is looking for. Making it look good is still a big part in the marketing process but if you don't have valid, relevant and useful content your site will fail.

The search engines base their algorithm on content, meta and body copy that best suits the users search. There are several other factors that come into play but let's stick with the few for this discussion. The importance of well written valid content cannot be stressed enough and for the most part the development of better search engine and well written content the web has become a better place to visit. Less and less completely Flash based sites are out there and developers and designers alike are using those technologies for good and not evil.

One very important thing to think about when writing your site content is it's keyword density and relevance to common search terms for which your sites goals revolve. There are several online apps that generate varying results but I typically use Ranks.nl for quick and general density reports. This allows me to adjust my content as necessary and gives me helpful insight as to how dense the keywords or target phrases actually appear in my content. Such online tools can be infinitely helpful when writing relevant and informative content.

Well its official, The verb Google was added to the Oxford English Dictionary on June 15, 2006.

The verb to Google, or to Google, depending on the dictionary, means "to use the Google search engine to obtain information on the Internet."

Think about it. A business name is commonly used as a verb , and now they've added it to the Oxford dictionary. To me, this clearly puts Google in front as the most influential brand on the internet.

Since the advent of the internet there has been several companies that have really stood apart from the rest. In order to be part of this group the company would need to have changed our day to day lives or how we used the internet.

My list is as follows:

Amazon - Amazon stands apart because it made me buy more books. Once you become a user of Amazon - it begins to track your buying history and will notify you of new books that, based on your history, might interest you. These notifications made me aware of books that I normally wouldn't have known about and therefore caused me to purchase more books. This led to me reading a bit more which officially makes Amazon a company that changed my life.

EBay - EBay is another good one. EBay makes it possible to put you in contact with buyers all over the world and makes it possible to find a buyer for anything. If you have a Stock car stereo from a 2001 ford f250 put it on EBay and you will have bids within hours. Prior to EBay that car stereo would have been junk. I personally have used EBay to sell things that would normally be kept in my garage indefinitely. So EBay earns a spot on the list.

Google - Google is my newest addition. Unlike the other two, Google's services (at least for me) don't involve any money. Instead, Google offers services that make your life easier. Things like Google Image, Google maps, Gmail, and even Google docs are all so easy to use and so readily available that using them has become part of my life. Imagine life without Google maps? of course you could use mapquest or even a map, but that would suck. And Google Earth? how cool is Google Earth?

So next time you Google something or tell a friend to Google something think about how that small search engine from Mountain View , Ca has become a household verb.

Often as a designer you'll come across some odd/bad request from a client. More often this request is at the last minute or the worst possible time in the project time line. How and when should you "save the client from themselves" and adversely when should you put the designer ego aside and just do it?

As a designer you have a vested interest in making sure your clients look as good as possible but sometimes it's just out of your hands. Last minute inane request, color changes or redesigns often have you pulling your hair out and asking "why". The best bet is to ask questions... and lots of them.

"Is there a particular reason you wanted this change?"
"What do you feel you'd benefit from making this change?"
"Do you realize this may back up the deadline(s) and are you concerned about that?"

instead of simply :"that's a horrible idea"

By trying to get in their heads and find out what made them decide to make the change you have a better understanding and may, just may, be able to sway them in a different more beneficial direction. Or come up with a better plan of action all together. Letting the client know of the ramifications on their scope and project timeline will often detour them from outrageous adjustments.

Some clients simply won't budge - "I said do it, so do it". As long as you clearly understand and communicate with your client even when they go against your design expertise at least when the the project comes out "not so good" you gave it your best effort to ensure the quality of the project. Always try and educate your client first and try to keep personal preference out of the equation while trying your best not to talk down to or belittle your client. They'll appreciate your input more if you do so.

The primary key here is understanding what the client needs and why. Often you'll find an answer by simply running through it in your head and having a short educational conversation with your clients. This is why it wont' work or may destroy an otherwise perfect layout. Sometimes by going back to comp stages and trying it out visually you can easily illustrate the pros and cons of changes and often you'll quickly find a comparable solution. Take the time to listen and educate - you'll be less stressed out than you think.