Stuff

Some useful Reading Recommendations

Transcending CSS – Andy Clarke

Great book that forces us to think differently about the relationship between content and styling. The methodology introduced really helps us to understand the importance of creating work which is totally compliant with web standards, and to think about pushing the limits of web design first and looking at how we make cutting edge design compliant with legacy browsers second.

Don’t Make Me Think – Steve Krug

We got hold of this book as part of an in-house stint on web usability whilst building a new client web site, and the simple approach and useful advice really helped us in the process. We’ve previously performed full usability studies on larger client sites as part of the web re-design process with the help of external agencies, and in every case the results have exceeded client expectations so you can’t ignore this important part of digital marketing practice.

Steve’s book now forms part of our arsenal when building or re-designing sites for clients with smaller budgets. the commonsense approach really makes you go ‘doh’ when you look at things and realise that a few minor tweaks can make a real difference. Just spend a couple of hours with this book and you’ll find it will continually pay dividends. It’s so good we always recommend that clients using us for marketing but not design get a copy and read it!

Building Findable Websites – Web Standards, SEO and Beyond – Aaron Walter

OK, so building a web site is one thing, making it findable in the search engines is another. As a student of Dave Chaffey at the IDM I learnt the importance of SEO theory, and if you join the excellent digital marketers resource e-consultancy as apaying member you can download the excellent best practice guide to SEO, which we use as a bible when doing new builds.

However, this book by Aaron Walter turns up some really interesting stuff such as implementing microformats, on-site search and tips for working with WordPress. Some of it is a bit techy, so I think this is one for the developers bookshelf, and would be an occasional read for the web design guys.

Bulletproof Web Design – Dan Cederholm

Making your web design bulletproof isn’t easy until you’ve read through this one. Dan’s approaches seem complex and sometimes unnecessary to established web designers at first.e had to have a round table discussion about the benefits of using flexible text with ems as opposed to point sizing, but we all came to the conclusion that Dan’s way was best cross platform. So now we implement it into new builds where we can.

Other tips such as the construction of indestructible boxes in CSS are great. This book should be on every web designers bookshelf, it’ll get well thumbed!

Places to Go

Econsultancy – Home from home for the digital marketing fraternity in the UK – some free content available

The Institute of Direct Marketing – really useful resource for direct and digital marketers. Membership required