Web Site Design Goodies [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Joe Burns (Author), internet.com Corporation (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Web Site Design Goodies starts by asking, "Who is your site for?" and "Why should someone come to your site?" Once readers have answered those questions, the author takes them through essential web site creation issues, including:

• Deciding on a Server
• Planning your site ahead of time
• Text and Navigation
• Images and visual issues
• Communicating with visitors

The final chapters cover advanced concepts including site promotion and adding the latest web tricks - in ways that make sense.

Throughout the book, Joe critiques actual, published web sites, demonstrating the techniques that worked -- and the ones that didn't. Many of these sites will be pictured in a special 4-color section of the book.

From the Back Cover

Web Site Design Goodies starts by asking, "Who is your site for?" and "Why should someone come to your site?" Once readers have answered those questions, the author takes them through essential web site creation issues, including:

* Deciding on a Server
* Planning your site ahead of time
* Text and Navigation
* Images and visual issues
* Communicating with visitors

The final chapters cover advanced concepts including site promotion and adding the latest web tricks - in ways that make sense.

Throughout the book, Joe critiques actual, published web sites, demonstrating the techniques that worked -- and the ones that didn't. Many of these sites will be pictured in a special 4-color section of the book.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Que; illustrated edition edition (July 16, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789724855
• ISBN-13: 978-0789724854
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,089,460 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another superb job by Joe Burns!, July 22, 2001

By	Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I have been working with web pages for over 4 years and I have taught web design classes. I thought I had a good idea of what is involved with the design, setup and marketing of a web site. Now I find this book and there are so many things I had never thought of before.

As with other Joe buns books this book is an excellent representation of what you can do if you have a little guidance to help you along. Burns is truly remarkable in the ways he is able to present ideas clearly yet make them understandable at the same time.

The book begins with an overview of what things to look for and what ideas to consider when planning and designing a web site. Then Burns has you consider 5 questions before you begin the actual design layout, an approach that will help in making a better website.

There are other topics like the 10 things you shouldn't put in the website, to choosing a server and ISP, to text and color, there is something for beginners and experts alike. Burns also spends time explaining links, images and visual effects before moving on to counters and web site promotion.

Overall there is about everything you need to have in order to make sure you have a successful website right from the start and for years to come. A first-rate book from a first-rate author.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top notch design advice without HTML getting in the way, July 29, 2001

By	Charles Ashbacher "([e-mail])" (Marion, Iowa United States([e-mail])) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This is the kind of book that an aspiring web designer should read before learning HTML. For it is not just another HTML book, in fact it contains no HTML at all. The author presents pages followed by his opinion regarding the design. As Burns is the first to say, his opinions are not infallible, there can be circumstances where you may not want to follow his advice. However, he does know what he is talking about, so do not be hasty towards the contrary position.
I found the book easy to read and the choices for sample sites were well made. Rather than make it easy for himself by picking sites that are awful, in general he chose pages that were quite good. If a site had been atrocious, the problems would have been obvious, even for a beginner. By choosing good ones, he could then point out the flaws that are easily overlooked.
This is a book that should be read either before or concurrently with a book that teaches the construction of pages. It is not necessary to know HTML to understand the material and web pages are like houses, you should first learn to read the blueprints before you start to build the walls.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read before designing your next site, August 29, 2001

By	"paulanator" (Oregon) - See all my reviews

Joe Burns has done an incredible job putting together the most useful information on creating your site. The first few chapters are so useful, I cannot believe I did not do all of the recommended things before.
Now I am much more confident the site I am working on will be more appealing, and target the visitor, their needs/wants, and not what I like.
This is a must read, if you do nothing else, read his chapter Two, on, "Before you write a Word". If more people read this book, there would be a lot more GREAT and SUPER web sites, as opposed to the spattering of GREAT one's now. It is worth taking the time to stop doing what you are working on, and read this book.
He is a bit opinionated, however, 95% of his thoughts are right on, and I have already seen it work on my new site.. You will not find chunks of code, or cookie cutter templates here, but you get the design concepts, and how to make your pages stand out and get visitors that want to come back.