Customer Reviews

Developing Online Content: The Principles of Writing and Editing for the Web

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Don't spend your hard-earned money on this book. If you really want to learn about developing content for the Web, buy a good grammar book, a good style book and a good Web design book. "Developing Online Content" is little more than a rehash of other publications, inflated with meaningless graphics and unnecessary new terms. The only worthwhile parts of the book are the lists of resources.

This book was severely marred by poorly-constructed sentences, punctuation errors (someone needs to instruct this book's copy editor on appropriate comma use), and grammatical errors. Sample sentence: "Each of these groups undertake separate activities and use separate technologies."

Far more troubling, however, are the technical inaccuracies this book contains. A sample:

1) The authors state that an 800 by 600 monitor displays this many pixels per square inch. Not true: 800 by 600 pixels refers to the size of the entire screen.
2) HTML is repeatedly described as a programming language -- it is more accurately described as a markup language.
3) XML is defined as "a new language for creating vector graphics for use on web sites, cell phones, and PDAs." This definition confuses XML with SVG, a language that allows scalable vector graphics to be described using XML. It is not an accurate definition of XML itself.

This book is geared toward professional writers, not technical experts. In this context, simplified explanations of technical concepts would be understandable. There is no excuse, however, for technically inaccurate explanations.

I purchased and read this book because a professor required it; I plan to recommend that he no longer use it as a textbook.

This book provides a complete blueprint and set of best practices for writing, editing, organizing, and delivering effective Web content. Perfect for anyone responsible for or interested in Web content, including professional writers or editors, knowledge or content managers of corporate or organization Web sites, Web production managers or designers, marketing specialists, and subject-matter experts.

This really is a great resource for anyone developing content for a site. The examples and resources provided have been very helpful.
My only negative comment would be that the authors mention a companion website with the publisher that does not seem to be working as of yet.