 Dear
Readers,
Debate - it can be a beautiful thing. That's why I published the best responses
to last week's article "New Strategies for Website Development." There's
one major issue I'd like to clear up: the difference between an interior designer
and an interior decorator.
Interior designers go to college for four years and "pass a rigorous 2-day
test on all aspects of interior spatial planning, building codes, ADA requirements,
electrical, heating and plumbing issues." Interior decorators don't.
Thanks to Maria P. Perron for her educational email (see below...)
Our feature today is an experiment: I've gotten so many requests for review
that I decided to farm out some of them to Charlene Rashkow, a professional writer
and regular WebPro contributor, to get her opinion on the quality of their web
copy.
In keeping with the content-theme that Charlene set, we have article on how
to arrange the content on your site or in your email newsletter for optimum impact.
If you missed out on the debate from last issue, check out the article here:
/articles/2003/0121sb.html.
I hope you find today's issue useful, and thanks for all your mail!
Best Wishes,
Garrett
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 Better
Writing, Better Business: 4 Web Copy Reviews
By Charlene Rashkow
A few days ago when I spoke with Garrett to discuss some ideas I had for new
articles, he told me that he had countless requests for web site reviews. It seemed
like a great opportunity to share my opinion on specific sites so I offered to
write some reviews in lieu of an article.
However, once I had a chance to look at the sites, I noticed that all the requests
expressed more concern for finding the right key words and meta tags than they
did for writing energetic, effective copy that attracts.
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| Site
Review: American Translation Partners
American Translation Partners wanted to know
what’s wrong with their site. This is a peer review that ran in our sister publication,
DevWebPro. There are some great reviews here: "There’s practically a whole course
in usability and site design..."
Read the Article
Here |
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My years of experience operating an Internet related business has taught me
a lot about making money on the web. What I've discovered is that developing a
successful online business requires a lot more than high search engine placement
and effective linking. In truth, getting people to your site is only half the
battle because even if a site gets a lot of hits it doesn't mean people are going
to buy...
Send your site in for Charlene to Review.
(Your site will also be considered for a standard peer review.)
Read the full
article
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Architect vs.
Designer: the Debate
Remember last
issue when I said "I believe that the best website design follows from
sound, logical, clearly stated website development?" Well, that started a
landslide of responses from our vocal and vehement web design and development
readership. Here are some of the best responses. See if their websites match their
arguments.
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Following your invitation,
I'd like to let you know my position on the issue of website design vs. development.
As a designer I firmly, but respectfully, disagree with you.
read
the complete debate |
As a graphic designer and art director
for 16+ years, working for commercial printers, advertising agencies, and my own
free-lance clients, it was inevitable that website design would become one of
my responsibilities.
read
the complete debate |
Your point is well taken and I
very much agree that structure and design are best handled by those who can bring
a particular skill-set to a Web project. But I also feel that one process should
not preclude the other; in-other-words, both programmer and designer need to work
in sync.
read
the complete debate |
Unfortunately you began your article
with a reference to a "decorator" designing a home. Bad choice of reference
as we at the NH Interior Design Coalition along with ASID, IIDA and NCIDQ are
trying valiantly to educate the public to the valuable trade of true Interior
Design.
read
the complete debate |
I agree with your analogy between
"architects" and "interior designer," however... you forgot
about the builder!
read
the complete debate |
I'm concerned that some
readers may, in staffing what's best for their
project, actually decide merely by a web worker's arbitrarily earned, if not
self-garnered title.
read
the complete debate |
As a designer/developer I somewhat agree with
your statement, but have
troubles with the simplicity of your analogy.
read
the complete debate |
Read 9 more arguments
in the Architect vs. Designer debate.
Read
the rest of the debate |
 How
to Feed Content-Hungry Site Visitors
By Marilynne Rudick and Leslie O'Flahavan
Writing good web content is a lot like planning a big dinner party.
You're looking forward to having lots of guests, but you're not sure about when
they'll arrive or how hungry they'll be. You know Deborah will only nibble on
the salad, Laura will snack on the chicken, and Dan will cheerfully devour everything
you serve. As an experienced party planner, you'll accommodate your guests' diverse
appetites. A good web writer does the same thing - accommodates the appetites
of all content-hungry visitors by providing different amounts of content for different
users.
Read the full
article
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Name: Bruce Gilbert
Name of your
company: eGeneralMedical Inc.
Why do you read WebProNews?
I read WebProNews in order to keep up with the latest trends in web design and
development as well as marketing techniques and SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
I also enjoy reading the peer reviews of other websites to get ideas on how to
improve our site.
What is your website's competitive edge?
We are a great and inexpensive on-line resource for top-notch medical
equipment and health care supplies, as well as the latest medical information.
URL: http://www.egeneralmedical.com
Introduce Yourself |
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For information about advertising within an iEntry email
newsletter or via a targeted direct emailing contact Susan Coppersmith at susan@ientry.com.
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