WebMastersLoom

1. The first page appears quickly.

It’s a good way to have your brief tagline in the starting page of your web site and your company logo. Highlight the benefits and advantages of your products on the starting page.

But don’t dump all the information on it so that it will appear quickly. Limit your graphic to a file size of 20 KB or less.

2. It’s purpose is immediately and clearly identified.

Say what you want to say and say it briefly and straight to the point to get across your purpose why you existed in the web.

3. It’s well laid out and well-written.

Take advantage of positive space and check the spelling and grammar of your web site. Tables can be a good tool to place your graphics and text on proper position. Maximize also the use of cell padding and cell spacing. < --more-->

Hire somebody to write marketing materials for you. A good way to start is to access my archive of my newsletters and do a quick research on it. Try the arhives here

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When it comes to building a website, most individuals and small business owners think you either have to do it yourself or hire someone to do it. Web builder software is often the better option for this group by far.

Even if you’re a seasoned web professional, you should know what web builder software can offer private individuals and small businesses. Designers regularly waste time fielding inquiries from small-time website owners who don’t realize the time, effort, and therefore cost involved in making a website from scratch. Or your brain may be picked endlessly by a would-be developer. Recommending a good web builder program is a great way to help this group–you can even monetize these non-prospects by reselling web builder software or referring it as an affiliate.

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If you are thinking about, or you are in the process of creating a new site, you will most definitely find this article interesting and maybe even inspiring. Actually the term ?interesting? is not quite what I thought as I slowly and painfully reconstructed the pages on my mother?s website several times over.

I wanted to create a site that was going to be both incredibly user friendly and informative, and at the same time earn a bit of revenue from Google Adsense! Why not?

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Why are there so many Web Design and Search Engine Optimisation myths on the internet? The following article exposes some of the most common SEO myths effecting web design and looks at the reasons why they have become widely accepted as the truth by many web designers and Webmasters.

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is a complex and diverse topic that?s both never constant and constantly changing. There are hundreds of myths about SEO, some were once true but no longer apply (outdated information), while others were simply never true to begin with (disinformation).

The large amount of different opinions and tactics used by both Web Designers and SEO Consultants (which can be completely contrasting) has also helped to create myths. Combine this with the large number of web forums and blogs that allow people to share their views, and you have the perfect environment for not only creating myths but for them to spread like a viral epidemic. Here are some of the most common myths explained.

Myth Name: Build it and they will come

Myth Description: The belief that a website will receive large quantities of targeted traffic as soon as it goes online.

Truth: The biggest myth I still come across most days is the aptly named ?build it and they will come myth?. The cause of the myth is a combination of outdated information, a non realistic, over optimistic site owner or a lack of understanding of the web. Back in the old days of the internet you could ?build a site and they would come?, just by submitting to the main search engines of the day (to a degree). This was largely due to the lack of web sites around at the time, meaning top positions were that much easier to secure.

Nowadays a site must be advertised just like any business. A good analogy is your site is shop and a search engine is a high-street. The only problem is your shop is not on the high-street, so some kind of sign is required to inform passers by where you are and what you do.

Myth Name: Search Engine Submission Myths

Myth Description: The belief that a website needs to submit every page to the search engines. The belief that regular or monthly submissions will result in better search engine rankings. The belief that a website needs to keep on submitting to search engines or they will forget about the site. The belief that if a website submits to thousands of search engines its traffic levels will go through the roof.

Truth: While some of these myths used to have a bit of truth to them, nowadays search engine submission is not required at all. The myths have been caused mainly by companies who provide submission services. This is because it?s financially in their interest for people to believe the myths are true.

It doesn?t hurt to submit to the major search engines but indexing can be achieved simply by getting links to a site (as long as the page where the link is on is known to the search engines).

There is also no point at all submitting to thousands of search engines. There are only a handful of search engines that people actually use. Many of the other search engines have been created to obtain the submitters email address which is then added to email lists (which spammers will pay money for).

Myth Name: Meta Tag Optimisation

Myth Description: The belief that search engine optimisation is just about Meta tags.

Truth: Meta tags used to be very important to rankings until search engines became more complex. While some Meta tags are still important like the description and title tags which most search engines will display on their results (so they can influence click through rates drastically). Most tags like the keyword tag are obsolete.

I believe the cause of this myth is twofold. One, because it?s outdated information (to a degree) and two, because people want to believe there?s a secret magic formula that only SEO?s know about. That way a lack of rankings is not their fault, plus it keeps the conspiracy theorists happy.

Myth Name: Ethical Search Engine Optimisation

Myth Description: The belief that there are two types of SEO, black hat and white hat (the old good verses evil).

Truth: Quite simple this one but nearly always over looked. Any attempt to alter the search engines results and obtain more traffic is against most search engines guidelines. While there are tactics that may get you banned and others that may not or are not widely known about (yet), all of them are trying to influence the results and therefore are against the guidelines. SEO is neither black nor white, but many shades of grey. Just try to know what you?re doing and more importantly the associated risks.

Myth Name: Google’s PageRank (PR) is the most important aspect of a sites ability to rank

Myth Description: Self explanatory this one, the belief that PR is a god like entity we must all worship in order to obtain rankings.

Truth: It is widely believed by expert SEO?s and even been stated by Google Guy (a Google employee) that the PR we see on the toolbar is out of date as soon as we get to see it. Google update PR constantly but only update the toolbar PR now and then. PR is also only one part of a complex ranking system. How big a percentage it plays in rankings, only Google knows.

One thing for sure, it doesn’t matter how good your PR is on the toolbar, it’s not going to get you anymore traffic from Yahoo or MSN (you heard it here first).

There are many more web design myths about SEO, most of which can be spotted if you read between the lines and think about whether it would make sense for a search engine. One of the most important parts of SEO is finding a reliable source of information. If you want to learn more, a good place to start is one of the numerous SEO Forums on the web.

I’m pretty sure that once in your life you have seen a brochure or a postcard. Well correct me if I?m wrong but these things are not new today and they are all over the place. Business talks so much and they are considered the best means for a clear promotion. Some brochures and other printed stuffs may appear to be deceiving. Just one glance at it and you?ll know it is expensively made and processed. You might be wrong with your thoughts because printing nowadays is offered in the most affordable prices if you have knowledge of how and where to find it.

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“The power of the web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.” Tim Berners-Lee, Director of W3C.

The article covers:

• What is website accessibility
• The need for website accessibility
• Why website accessibility matters
• Improving website accessibility

Website Accessibility Definition

We define website accessibility as the ability of a website to be used by all, irrespective of mode or disability.

The ever growing Web is home to immense information. Responsible web content contributors make efforts to have the website information accessible regardless of what mode the visitors are using to access the website and of disabilities.

Website Accessibility: The Need

Web is a huge resource that is accessed by people with different accessing devices and disabilities.

Different devices may include:

• Different graphic browsers (Opera, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer etc) and their different versions
• Reading devices like JAWS etc
• Text-only browsers etc

Different disabilities may include:

• Blindness
• Paralysis
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Dyslexia
• Lack of hearing etc

Even situations like loud and crowded place, lack of an audio device at hand can lead to website inaccessibility.

Not being able to serve your audience with the information they need is a handicap that must be avoided. Making the website accessible not only addresses the needs of users with disabilities but also caters to user preferences and situations.

Website Accessibility Benefits

Website Accessibility Guidelines were released in May, 1999 and yet larger part of the web still inaccessible to many. Here are a few reason why you should be part of the Web that follows website accessibility standards:

• It promises equal opportunity to all on the Web
• It enhances web user experience
• It makes your website more usable
• It makes your website more manageable
• You can reach a broader audience
• It can improve your conversion rate by 100% (http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030107.html)
• It makes you a responsible web content contributor
• It’s a law in many jurisdictions (http://www.w3.org/WAI/Policy/)
• Denying access to all can be seen as discriminatory and may land you into expensive lawsuits

Improving Website Accessibility

Improving accessibility features depends on the tools used to develop the site and the design itself. While it may be possible to improve a few features, it is not possible to implement all features if the site was not designed flexibly.

Nonetheless, all efforts should be put towards making the website as accessible as possible.

Making the website accessible to all would endorse the universality of the Web. When we create a website, we are reaching out to the global audience. By creating a website which adheres to accessibility standards, we are respecting our audience and the web space.

I believe some people create and publish websites for the sole purpose of tormenting their visitors. Browsing various websites and navigating the Web can often be like trying to read on an airplane while a kid kicks the back of your seat and the baby next to you alternates between screaming, crying and drooling on you. There are some excellent websites out there to be sure, but there are also a lot of dreadful ones too. The latter are the bane of so many people?s existence, especially those who use the Web regularly.

The Net continues to grow in popularity and importance for consumers and businesses alike. Therefore, the quality of sites needs to keep pace. Creating and maintaining high-quality websites is more important now than ever. Higher quality equals more revenue.

The following lists the top ten ways that a website misses the boat and contributes to hair loss and nervous breakdowns. Notice the common thread that runs throughout each of these. Namely, a bad website neglects to consider the site visitor?s experience in some fundamental ways.

1. Animation

Seven year-olds like watching animated cartoons on Saturday morning, business people, professionals and most other adults don?t. Sites that include showy Flash animations as an ?Intro?, animated gifs on every page, or flying words are really annoying. They take away from the content and distract the visitor from achieving their goals. Unless your site is an entertainment site, try to avoid maddening motion. However, if your product or service can be better demonstrated using Flash, Quick Time, or other multimedia, which is common, offer your visitors the chance to click a link to view it. But don?t force them.

2. Too much scrolling

Once I scroll down a full screen?s worth, my eyes start to blur, I feel slightly lost, my head spins and my interest wanes. Computer monitors really aren?t the best medium for reading. The Net and many sites are so big that it?s important to always provide a clear frame of reference for your visitors at all times while they?re on your site. If a page requires two full screens of scrolling or more, simply split it up into multiple pages.

3. Long, text-heavy and blocky paragraphs of unbroken text

I really have to be into a topic or desperately need to glean the information to trudge through big chunks of unbroken text online. If I?m just shopping around for a product or service, you?ve lost me if I have to endure this kind of torture. Again, it is harder to read text on the Web than in other mediums such as books. Additionally, Web users are notoriously impatient, so make your content easy to read and non-intimidating. Use titles, sub-titles, small paragraphs, bullets and numbering.

4. No obvious ways to contact the company

If all you supply is an email on your website, your legitimacy may be questioned. Why can?t you answer the phone? Why hide behind an anonymous and cold email address? Make it easy for your existing and potential customers to talk with you.

5. Unchanging or out-date content

If I start reading content on a site and soon discover that the content was written three years ago, I split. Since there?s so much information out there, my reasoning is there?s got to be comparable information online that?s more current. If you keep your content fresh your site will attract repeat visitors. And repeat visitors are more likely to turn into customers.

6. Long page downloads

It?s amazing that this is still a problem. When I click on to a site and have to sit there waiting for it to appear in my browser, I start sweating, picking my teeth, tapping my toes, rolling my eyes and soon want to throw my computer through my office window. I?m obviously a little impatient, but again, I know there are other sites out there with the same information that will download more quickly, so why wait? I?m gone.

7. “Me, me, me!” instead of “You, you, you”

Generally speaking, no one cares about you, your company or your thoughts. What they do care about is what you can do for them. So sites that show pictures of the company building or tout their deep philosophy on the way business should be conducted really don?t bode well for keeping the interest of site visitors. On the other hand, sites that speak directly to potential customers about how they can solve their problems, make their lives easier, safer, richer or more comfortable have a much better chance of keeping the eyeballs glued.

8. Non-explanatory buttons or links

Here are some examples of buttons that leave me dazed and confused: A wedding site with a button called ?Blanks?, a boating site with a button named ?The Lighthouse?, a book site with a button called ?The Inside Story?, or a Web design site with a button called ?Tea Time?. They sound like Jeopardy categories. Imagine trying to find your way on a highway where its various signs read ?Over Here?, ?Moon Beams?, and ?Lollypops?. Good luck navigating your way through. It?s the same with navigating websites. Button and link names need to tell the visitor where the link leads to. Make it as easy as possible for a visitor to know where they?re going before they click. However, there are times when naming a link an ambiguous name may pique the curiosity of a user and get them to click on it. But as a general rule, keep your links and buttons as descriptive as possible.

9. Inconsistent navigation

Imagine sitting down at a restaurant and the waiter comes over to you and hands you five different menus, one for the appetizers, one for the soups and salads, one for the entrees, one for the desserts, and one for the drinks. Annoying. Now imagine if each menu had a different format, layout and method for listing the items. Brutal. I really don?t want to work that hard at picking out my dinner, I?m hungry and I just want a meal. Don?t make your visitors work hard either by expecting them to re-learn your navigation system each time they enter another section of your site. They too are hungry; for useful information and they?re even more impatient.

10. Inconsistent look & feel

When the look & feel completely changes from one page to another in a website, I think I am visiting another site, another company, a partner or subsidiary. I get very confused. This screams poor planning and often results from tacking on new sections later after the original site was built. This can lead to design-drift. It may be tempting to stray from the original design; you may have a better design now. But wait till you do a complete next-generation re-design of the entire site before introducing a new look & feel. If not, lots of visitors will be scratching their heads with one hand and possibly clicking away with the other.

Finally, any site that employs a number of these notorious features is particularly painful to experience. When I click to a website that has five different fonts and colors, scrolls down to the core of the Earth, incorporates zinging words and big fat blocks of text, lists no phone number and has content written and dated in 1996, I scream and know deep down inside that pulling my fingernails out wouldn?t be as torturous as having to remain there a minute longer.

Website Templates

Looking to establish an online presence? Then, your most affordable solution is to buy a web template. It is important to determine what kind of templates are there in the market before you proceed to but one. The following is a brief explanation of the most popular templates that you expect to find on the market analyzing the degree of expertise to develop them, the required tools and their functionality.

Flash Templates

Flash is a registered trademark of macromedia studios. Flash has really modified the way that web pages look. It has allowed for movement and interactivity on previously very static and boring websites. It has its advantages and disadvantages like everything. Flash Templates bring alive every website allowing visitors to sometimes interact with the web page that they are visiting. However, they are not very useful from the search engine optimization standpoint. Search engines can not read flash movies. Therefore, a flash website, built entirely in flash, can not be optimized for key terms, so users can find you. Then, you have websites that have a flash introduction and or a flash heading. This websites provide users with the flashing and whistles that some website owners are looking for, and allow you to somehow optimize the pages making them friendlier for search engines like yahoo and google. Flash can be downloaded from the macromedia site with a test license for thirty days.

Dreamweaver Templates

Dreamweaver is another gem of macromedia. It is a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) html editor which means that you do not need to know HTML to create pages. HTML is the standard protocol or language that most pages are created on the internet today. Dreamweaver templates allow you to speed the production of a website, and it also allows you, one your website is established, to modify all pages but just modifying the templates. You will only have to add the content to it. Of course, you will need dreamweaver software, which can also be downloaded from the macromedia site with a 30 day test license, and some knowledge of how it works. There are plenty of tutorials to learn dreamweaver, and even macromedia distributes it with a good but rough tutorial.

Frontpage Templates

Just like macromedia templates, frontpage templates speed the process of creating a website with multiple templates. Frontpage templates are more like a theme as you can apply it to existing pages and not use the template to create them. Frontpage is created by the Microsoft Corporation and is distributed with office package. You will need frontage to edit the templates.

PSD Templates

PSD files are the ones created by photoshop from adobe. Photoshop is one of the leading picture editing software on the market. Although PSD templates are very easy to modify, you will need extensive knowledge of what photoshop is capable and its commands. Usually, PSD templates include only one master file that you work with to produce many different web pages, and you will need to modify some graphics in order to alter the template to your need. PSD templates provide you with a great finished product that will look good on any browser. Photoshop, from adobe, is defiantly a require tool.

Fireworks Templates

As PSD templates, fireworks templates are made to work with an image editing software. The export capacity of fireworks allows you to have crispy clean layouts for your website. You will need, of course, fireworks from macromedia to modify them although you can get away with photoshop.

Full site template

Full site templates are templates that are sold with the most common pages already created. Your customizing is reduced to the minimum. Usually, you will receive a set of files, images, and some scripts, depending on the template and the provider. You will also need a HTML editor such as dreamweaver or frontpage to work with them. Full site templates are a little be more costly than other types of templates depending on the design, but it allow you to reduce creating pages and modifying images.

Ecommerce Templates

Ecommerce templates are templates that have a shopping cart with payment processors already incorporated, also depending on the provider and the template. It is a great solution to small to medium size companies that are looking to sell their products on the net. These templates are usually customizable with frontpage or dreamweaver, and you will only need to add your company information and the products. There is also a free ecommerce solution called Oscommerce. OsCommerce is an online shop free under the open source license and it works with a template system or theme. It features multilanguage options, and different payment gateaways. It is written in PHP, and works with most hosting services. The only conflict with Oscommerce is that every shop that uses it looks about the same. You will need to purchase an customized Oscommerce theme in order to obtain some uniqueness. There is minimal to non modification of the template once you implement it.

CSS Templates

CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheet. It is a regular template ruled by an external file that has the colors, font sizes, font styles, and other information about the look of your website. It is especially useful when modifying the looks of a multi page website. If you are thinking on building a large website and changing the look if it when you want it, this is one of your best choice. The CSS file is editable with a text editor. You basically define the set of rules by what the website pages are governed.

Flash Intro Templates

Flash intro templates are templates that present a movie to visitors before they go into the detail pages of your website. Flash intro templates tantalize users with motion and information about your company. For some users, the flash intro is a turn off, and they skip the website which is the content that you want them to see since the intros usually takes time to load and finish. For some other users, flash intros amaze them. There is not between. Webmaster are also divided by the use of flash intros. In order to modify flash intros, you will need flash and a HTML editor.

Phpnuke Themes

Phpnuke is also another open source project that is free to the public. It can be a portal of information, or anything that you want. It works through modules, and presents the information in ?boxes?. There is a lot of add on features that you can easily include to a phpnuke website. It is better that you visit www.phpnuke.org in order to learn what you can do with it. Also as Oscommerce, it works with a theme or template system where you only select the theme that you would like to set your site, and it changes the whole look of the site at the push of a bottom. Themes for phpnuke need little to non modification. The very little modification that you need is done with image editng software such as photoshop of fireworks.

Forum Templates

Whether you are looking to set up a forum or have an established forum, you need an appealing look to your users and subscribers. We have the forum templates that you are looking for. You can select from flash headers or regular forum templates. Our forum templates work with most popular open source forums such as PhpBB. They will include all required files to put it into the template system of your site. Our forum templates are of great quality and design.

When designing or redesigning a website the most important part of the project happens before any graphics or code are created.

Start by determining the primary goals of your website. Are you using it to sell your products or services. Maybe it’s intended simply to advertise your offline business, provide support to your existing customers or build your company brand. Whatever the goals are, clearly defining them ahead of time will better guide you in the actual creation process.

Next, remember that first impressions mean everything. Your website design must be professional and portray the right image for your business. Most web surfers decide within seconds of reaching your main page if they will browse deeper into your site or click away to another. Studies have shown that this decision is usually made based on the appeal of the design rather than the text copy. This means that your site design has to grab their attention and convince them that you?re offering something of value fast.

Chances are you’re not a graphic designer or web coding guru, so how can you develop a professional design? We get asked this question a lot by potential clients at BanPro NET, especially from owners of home-based or new small businesses.

You basically have two options, hire a professional designer or firm to create your website or purchase a website template. Templates are pre-made designs that allow you to just add your text and product graphics. Templates have the advantage of being able to go live with your website quickly and usually for a very low cost, however they also have the disadvantage of being seen on numerous websites, so you won?t stand out from the crowd as well.

Either way, keep in mind that your website design is what most online visitors to your site are going to judge your company on, regardless of your industry, so it must be as professional as possible.

Did you know that nearly 20 percent of all Web users have some form of disability?

Making your site accessible for all is a matter of courtesy, is good business practice, and is not difficult, explains Robert Roberts, a professional SEO who owns the SEO Toolbox (http://www.seotoolbox.com).

In fact, Roberts believes that Web accessibility issues are so important that he?s been having monthly chat sessions on the subject for students at the Academy of Web Specialists (http://www.onlinewebtraining.com/courses.html). He?s also created a special section of his Web site that?s devoted to accessibility issues (http://www.seotoolbox.com/htmlchat/accessibility.html).

Roberts states that disabilities can be anything from ?simple? color blindness to more severe disabilities.

The Use of Alt Text to Solve Accessibility Issues

Let’s start with image alt tags. You can use the alt tag to your advantage, not just for SEO purposes. The alt description tells those users with assistive technologies what the image is about.

There is the issue of lots of clear images meant to be used as spacers in layouts. Should you use an alt tag for every one of those? Yes, in a sense, you use what’s called the Null Alt, meaning an empty alt tag, like this: alt=”". Notice that there is no space between the quotes, which means that assistive devices will bypass the image and not try to explain it. But if you don’t use it, assistive devices will show a blank where the image would be or cause other display issues.

The alt tag for navigation images is critical. Actually, you should use text navigation wherever possible, as good SEO?s, but there are times when the layout uses buttons, which brings up another issue - that of navigation preceding content.?

Solving the Problem of Navigation Preceding Content

Roberts continues, ?When a person using an assistive device opens a Web page, he or she is usually greeted by lots of navigation before getting to the content. Furthermore, an assistive device like a screen reader will read ALL of the navigation every single time. One solution is to include a “skip navigation” link that allows the person to jump to the page content. This can be in the form of a tiny hidden clear image linked to an anchor tag.

If you would like to see an example, take a look at the source code for any page at SEO Toolbox (http://www.seotoolbox.com). The logo at the top of the page is linked to the menu, because the menu markup is actually at the bottom of the HTML code. You would be able to use this strategy with any assistive device or in a text browser like Lynx.

Why Accessibility Issues Are So Important These Days

One of the reasons all of this is so important,? says Roberts, ?is because of a lawsuit in progress that looks like it may get to the Supreme Court. A blind man in Florida is suing Southwest Airlines because he is unable to complete normal transactions on their Web site.”

By means of explanation, the Americans with Disabilities Act provides provisions on the accessibility of public accommodations to the disabled, and this is the Act that is being referenced in the case.

The plaintiffs in the case claim that Congress wrote the ADA so broadly that the Internet is covered, meaning that it ‘applies to Internet Web sites just as it does to brick-and-mortar facilities like movie theaters and department stores.’

The defendants (Southwest Airlines and American Airlines) have taken the position that Congress never meant to include the Internet, because cyberspace was in its infancy at the time the law was written. So, the argument is whether a Web site is a ‘public accommodation’ under Title III of the ADA.

But,” continues Roberts, “there is a precedent that will surely influence the outcome. In Australia, a similar suit was brought a couple of years ago by a blind person against the Olympic Committee because he could not get tickets online. The suit resulted in a win for him: a $20,000 damage settlement.

What all this means is that sooner or later, any Internet site offering goods and services will have to comply with accessibility standards.?

In Roberts accessibility section (http://www.seotoolbox.com/htmlchat/accessibility.html), he?s placed a link to the lawsuit, if you?d like to learn more.

What if you have an image that conveys information, such as a pie chart, graph, or schedule? A simple alt tag description isn?t sufficient to convey that information adequately. Roberts explains a work-around for this problem:

There are a couple of things you can do, with one being right in the tag itself: you can use the ?longdesc? element. The longdesc is actually a link to another page where you can lay out the information in text format.

Here is a sample tag:

The problem with the longdesc attribute is that it is not widely supported by assistive technology. As a result, an alternative convention is suggested, using a D-Link. This is a text link placed immediately after the image. It is a link to the same descriptive page contained in the longdesc attribute. This way, you are sure that it can’t be missed.

Here’s an example using the D-Link:

D

Some Accessibility Solutions Are Actually Beneficial from an SEO Standpoint

Since Search Engine Marketers often use alt text as an extra spot to place keywords, can it still be used in that manner?

Bear in mind that it should not be only for keywords, because it really is an assistive aid. What I’ve done is something like this: keyword keyword - link to description page, explains Roberts.

Roberts continues, ?A link to a more informative text explanation of a pie chart or whatever can only add to search engine relevancy because you can make the additional page focus on a keyword. Accessibility also applies to things like WAP, handheld devices, and telephonic devices.

People need to see what your information is and how to get to it. The matter of tables is important not only because of accessibility but because it will actually be easier for search engines to get around in them. There is a brief example of this on the regular SEO Toolbox site: http://www.seotoolbox.com/spider-friendly-tables.html. There is more complete information, with two examples, at: http://www.seotoolbox.com/htmlchat/tables_layout.html.?

After all, Roberts continues, which do you think will be better for relevancy? If a spider must wade through yards of code before getting to your content, or if the spider can see your content first thing? The answer is pretty obvious.?

If you aren’t using Lynx, Roberts recommends adding it as part of your Web development arsenal for seeing how your pages look in a variety of browsers. (http://lynx.browser.org/)

Lynx is a free, predominately text-based browser that will give you an idea of how those with disabilities view your site. Many Web visitors prefer it because it doesn’t support JavaScript, Flash, or DHTML and is free of popups.

For More Information

According to Roberts, one of the best books on the topic of accessibility is Constructing Accessible Web Sites by Jim Thatcher. The book just hit the shelves and covers what you need to know in an efficient, easy-to-understand manner.

And, be sure to keep a close watch on Robert’s accessibility section of the SEO Toolbox: http://www.seotoolbox.com/htmlchat/accessibility.html. He?ll be adding more information to the section as he conducts chat sessions at the Academy.

Academy students can attend any of Roberts’ upcoming chats, or even if you?re not an Academy student, you can read the transcripts afterward at the Chat Index area: http://www.onlinewebtraining.com/chat/chatindex.htm.