Content Critical
Posted Sunday, April 24th, 2005 by
Dave |
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This is a disappointing book. But if you’re part of a large organisation, it is still essential reading.
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Writing effective link text: facts
Posted Monday, January 31st, 2005 by
Dave |
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Are your links as strong as they could be? This is the first of a series of posts all about how to write effective links. There’s a lot to say about links and link text but it all stems from seven basic facts.
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Dangerous words in hyperspace
Posted Tuesday, January 25th, 2005 by
Dave |
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Dangerous words is a list of cliches and confusions. It’s dated but has some useful corrective advice on the use of spatial concepts online (“back”, “up” etc.). See also The A to Z of alternative words from the Plain English campaign.
Hot Text: Web Writing That Works
Posted Monday, January 24th, 2005 by
Dave |
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This books has several great strengths. The layout is excellent, the examples are effective and the tips are put in context.
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Fifty writing tools
Posted Wednesday, January 19th, 2005 by
Dave |
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These fifty writing tools from Poynter Online are aimed at journalists. Still worth a scan.
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Using a screen reader
Posted Wednesday, January 19th, 2005 by
Dave |
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A screen reader is a software program that reads the contents of the screen aloud to a user. How do people use them? What does this mean for good web design? This is a summary of research observing users of screen readers carried out at the United States National Cancer Institute.
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Shneiderman’s eight golden rules of interface design
Posted Tuesday, January 18th, 2005 by
Dave |
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In Designing the User Interface Ben Shneiderman offers eight golden rules of interface design.
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W3C wrong on link text?
Posted Tuesday, January 18th, 2005 by
Dave |
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You can do stuff on the web! Surprised? Of course not. But a writing tip from the W3C recommends that links should not include verb phrases. I disagree. A verb phrase in your link text can clarify, emphasise and improve fluency. Can I persuade you?
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Navigation blindness
Posted Thursday, January 6th, 2005 by
Dave |
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Most users don’t care about the structure of your website. They are highly goal-directed and follow a simple stategy:
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Research reveals web page hot spots
Posted Monday, November 22nd, 2004 by
Dave |
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New research by the Poynter Institute recorded people’s eye movements as they criss-crossed a selection of web pages. Patterns emerged: people tended to linger on or return to the same features. Used in conjunction with other layout methods, these patterns could form a useful guide for a redesign.
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