#26312
A short report (circa 1997) on how one documentation deparment could use Cascading Style Sheets to format the HTML-based documentation it produces.
Nesbitt, Scott. ScottNesbitt.net (1997). Articles>Web Design>CSS
#27810
A report on a presentation by Ginny Redish where she discussed how research from linguistics, as well as cognitive psychology, reading studies, writing studies, and other disciplines could contribute to useful and usable Web sites.
McDaniel, Scott M. Usability Interface (2006). Articles>Web Design>Usability
#24132
Respect: Last Word of Advice for Online Copywriters
I'd urge you to treat your readers with respect. Respect for site users or e-mail and newsletter recipients is not a way of writing, it's a state of mind. It's the belief everyone should be treated decently, be told the truth. It's a genuine discomfort with even the idea of treating people as if they were suckers to be taken advantage of. Writing with respect is about being honest, with both your audience and yourself.
Usborne, Nick. ClickZ (2001). Articles>Web Design>Writing
#32004
Responsible Asynchronous Scripting
Asynchronous or remote scripting has been lurking in the background of web app development for quite some time now. Originally dependent on proprietary technology like Java applets, ActiveX and Flash or clever combinations of disparate technologies like images and cookies, native support for the XMLHttpRequest (XHR) object in modern browsers has made it easier than ever to make web apps more responsive and more like their desktop counterparts. This lower barrier to entry also makes it easier to make poor decisions and inappropriate use of a powerful technology.
Inman, Shaun. Vitamin (2008). Articles>Web Design>Server Side Includes>Ajax
#20551
Restructuring Online Documentation for the World Wide Web 
Technical communicators around the world are turning to the World Wide Web us their primary delivery agent for on-line documentation. The transition from older forms of on-line documentation to HTML-based documents pre - sents new challenges in every phase of the documentation process: document creation, layout, access, and especially hypermedia capability The constant development of new web tools presents an even greater challenge for an organization seeking to stay abreast of technology with an ever decreasing budget. This panel will outline the basic steps in migrating to the web while focusing on one organization’s solution to meeting the challenges of restructuring its on-line documentation for web migration.
Goode, Christina M., Jennifer Campbell and David Hale. STC Proceedings (1996). Articles>Documentation>Web Design>Online
#29879
Reviewing Your Website for Legal Landmines
Establishing an e-commerce website without having had that site reviewed for legal landmines is a potentially devastating lawsuit waiting to happen. Every e-commerce website simply must be reviewed for such vital issues as copyright ownership, trademark and domain name issues, legal notices, disclaimers and terms of use, and privacy policies.probable, that your site and your company are infringing on someone's copyright of that content. Copyright infringement is serious business, carrying penalties that range from $750 to $150,000 per violation. Know the source of your website content and whether
Juillet, Christopher. STC Proceedings (2004). Articles>Web Design>Legal
#25083
To manage a huge, worldwide information space, users need proven features like fat links, typed links, integrated search and browsing, overview maps, big-screen designs, and physical hypertext.
Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (2004). Articles>Web Design>Hypertext
#31910
Right-Justified Navigation Menus Impede Scannability
Users scan lists by moving their eyes rapidly down the left edge. Menu items that are right-aligned make scanning more difficult.
Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (2008). Articles>Web Design>Usability>Typography
#21548
Since finding the right keywords is the most important step in any SEO endeavor, it is imperative that you find the ones your target audience is using.
Leonard-Wilkinson, Theresa A. W-edge Design (2004). Articles>Web Design>HTML>Marketing
#26282
RoI: How Hard is Your Web Site Working?
Accountability is a good thing — as long as it's based on sound objectives. ROI objectives can represent tangible things such as cost savings and intangible tings such as the projected impact your Web site will have on customer perception and behavior. They identify how you plan to use the Internet recover your financial investment and to achieve some specific communication goals and marketing efforts.
Janisch, Troy. evolt (2005). Articles>Web Design>Assessment
#25216
ROI: How Hard is Your Web Site Working?
Every web site needs to provide a tangible and timely return on investment (ROI). Your company's web site should be one of the most active and accountable members of its marketing team.
Janisch, Troy. Icon Interactive (2005). Articles>Web Design>Assessment>Marketing
#10408
Role Playing on the Web: Guidelines for Designing and Evaluating Personas Online 
This article starts from the premise that humans communicate through a series of roles that they assume appropriate to their rhetorical purposes. Even when speaking face to face, they present a version of themselves that they deem suitable for the time, place, and situation. When this rhetorical principle is applied to Web design, it provides powerful insights and strategies for designing and evaluating online communication. We begin this article by tracing how the tradition of rhetorical role playing has become incorporated into the electronic medium. We then present a series of guidelines in the form of prompts or questions as starting points for effective Web design.
Coney, Mary B. and Michael Steehouder. Technical Communication Online (2000). Articles>Web Design
#27625
Rotate Regular HTML Content Via DHTML
One of the great pitfalls of using client side techniques, such as JavaScript, to display content on demand is the prerequisite that everything be contained in variables. This makes adding and updating the content very cumbersome.
Chiang, George. SitePoint (2004). Articles>Web Design>Information Design>DHTML
#27679
RSS Will Replace E-mail for Marketing Purposes: What You Need to Build Right Now to be Ready
RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication (depending on who you believe). If you don't know what it is, you had best grow a brain about it tout de suite.
Improving Customer Experience (2006). Articles>Web Design>User Centered Design>RSS
#31396
RSS, Search Engine Visibility and Brand Perception
Branding has been called the most powerful idea in business, yet few companies consciously craft and promote their brand. Making a brand visible to an online audience can be an additional challenge. Studies show that searchers regard the companies that are placed on the first page of search engine results as the major players in the field. So how do you get the coveted page-one positioning? New technologies like RSS feeds are one way to accomplish this and make your brand more visible in the process.
Falkow, Sally. Communication World Bulletin (2005). Articles>Web Design>XML>Search Engine Optimization
#30887
The Rules of Digital Engagement
For contract web workers, consultants, and freelancers who work with far-flung collaborators, multiple clients, and constantly shifting teams, the rules of digital engagement--the way we interact with each other and resolve conflict in virtual space--are constantly changing. As we adapt to new ways of collaborating, we must also learn how to communicate effectively, set expectations, and build team confidence in an evolving work environment.
Follett, Jonathan. List Apart, A (2008). Articles>Web Design>Collaboration>Workplace
#22953
Safe Web Colours For Colour-Deficient Vision
Colour is increasingly used these days to help convey information. When one in twelve men have some measurable degree of colour vision deficiency, the use of certain colours in certain ways can cause difficulty when navigating web pages or software, and even total illegibility in some cases. The key issue is to know when you are using colours which some people will not be able to differentiate - because that (for them) removes the benefit of using colour for visual cues. Colour scientists have long known which colours are confused by colour blind people, but this tends to be expressed in a way difficult for designers to utilise.
BT Group (2004). Articles>Web Design>Accessibility>Color
#31948
Same DOM Errors, Different Browser Interpretations
Have you ever looked at how the different browsers handle the same DOM errors? As this article from Opera JS guru Hallvord R. M. Steen points out, their different interpretations can be surprising.
Steen, Hallvord R.M. Vitamin (2008). Articles>Web Design>Standards>Web Browsers
#29961
Save Time and Code with XPath 2.0 and XSLT 2.0
Three interesting new features in XPath 2.0 and XSLT 2.0 are the item data type, the to operator, and the concept of sequences. Build a sample application that uses these features to generate a sophisticated HTML view of an XML document, and with the new features in XSLT 2.0, create shorter stylesheets that are easier to maintain. Along the way, spend a bit of time on data typing in XSLT 2.0, and learn to use the new
Tidwell, Doug. IBM (2007). Articles>Web Design>XML>XSL
#26140
Certain expressions in web content get users all discombobulated. Relative expressions of time and place need an anchor, a key, right there in the text. Some common confusers follow. They would not be a problem in other circumstances. But on the Web or intranet, every page must make sense in isolation.
McAlpine, Rachel. Quality Web Content (2005). Articles>Web Design>Writing
#28781
Abel's presentation on Web 2.0 was the most popular presentation of the STC 2007 conference (at least this is my impression from these interviews). In his presentation, Abel touches upon RSS feeds, wikis, blogs, geospatial positioning, social networking, tagging, podcasts, and other Web 2.0 technologies. He expands here on geospatial positioning and tagging. Abel also explains why he uses a newsletter in addition to a feed for his popular blog, www.thecontentwrangler.com.
Abel, Scott and Tom H. Johnson. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>Interviews>Web Design>Podcasts
#30472
Screen Readers and 'display:none'
When an element is hidden with display: none, the browser doesn't generate a box for the element; the element is not visible on the screen, and the layout of the page isn't effected by the element. As screen readers are supposed to read the screen, it makes sense that they do not announce content that is hidden with display: none.
Lemon, Gez. Juicy Studio (2007). Articles>Web Design>Accessibility>CSS
#26641
Despite posing well-known risks, websites continue to feature poorly designed scrollbars. Among the ongoing problems that result are frustrated users, accessibility challenges, and missed content.
Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (2005). Articles>Web Design>Human Computer Interaction>Usability
#25319
The Search Doesn't End at Your Homepage
Your visitor hasn't completed their 'search' when they arrive at your homepage. The search is just the beginning. Part of your task is to understand how best to write the links that take people deeper into your site. And one way of maximizing that clickthrough is to use terms that are directly relevant to the visitor's continuing search.
Usborne, Nick. Excess Voice (2003). Articles>Web Design>Search
#27504
This article will try to tell you about the basics of copywriting and its advanced application on the SEO aspect. This article aims to provide the beginners in the Search Engine Optimization industry, an in-depth but friendly guide to seo content writing, as well as providing the more advanced copywriters with a guide to remind them of the several tricks they might have forgotten about the craft.
Anthony, Liam. SEO Global Pro. Articles>Web Design>Search>Search Engine Optimization
