Product Description

Debunking many of the myths and obstacles surrounding web design, this title shows that you do not need big budgets or the latest technology to produce a successful site. Readers can discover how to benefit from research and planning and learn the practical processes of design, navigation and content management. Key issues such as accessibility, usability and information architecture are discussed and analyzed with case studies and examples. But successful websites are not just built; they have to be actively promoted and marketed. "Max Hits" shows you how to construct and deliver an effective on-line marketing strategy, how to provide "sticky" contents and, crucially, how to bump your site up the search engine ratings.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #466080 in Books
• Published on: 2003-08-29
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Top Web designer Slocombe (urban75.org) demystifies the entire Web site production process with fun, slang-filled text in Max Hits: Building and Promoting Successful Websites--sometimes all one needs to finally "get" a concept is to hear it re-worded in a friendly, less technical way. He makes ideas that novices often find confusing, like XML, SVG, and CSS, seem easy and points the way to further reading and useful applications. Not strictly a how-to manual, the book is rich with screenshots and bite-size blocks of text, with a hip layout by Bark Design that makes it more entertaining than most technical books.

Slocombe dispenses a lot of hard-earned wisdom. Rather than teaching all of HTML, he gives a simple tutorial that gets across the main idea of how tags work and then sends the reader off to look at source code, consult online resources and/or use an HTML editor such as Homesite. When discussing how wide a site should be, he gets right to the crux of the problem: should a Web designer worry about how the site looks on every monitor from plasma to PDA? What are the pros and cons of specifying the table tag width at 100%? Again, he points the way to places online where readers can check how their site displays in different browsers and resolutions.

Pros and cons come into play in most Web site design decisions. For example, developers must weigh design versus download time or latest technology versus browser compatibility. These decisions are unique to each site and Slocombe helps readers make informed choices. His advice can be as simple as hitting the auto button on the levels panel in Photoshop to clear up a muddy photograph or as complex as delivering appropriate content to your audience.

This is a hip book that looks at all the details involved in making a Web site. It's well written, well designed, well coded and gets lots of attention from search bots. And it clues readers into some of the coolest sites existing on the Web today. It may just be what you need to get off to a good start with your own Web site. --Angelynn Grant

About the Author
Mike Slocombe was recently described by Internet magazine as one of the 40 most important people on the net. He regularly attracts the attention of the media including The Daily Telegraph, Dazed & Confused and The Jenny Jones Show. He will be judging the BBC2 Online Awards ceremony in November this year and continues to work as a freelance web journalist and Internet consultant.

Customer Reviews

Nicely designed book de-mystifying the web design process
Written by the designer/editor of the superb urban75 website, this book de-mystifies the entire web design process. With sections on HTML, design and useability issues, through to planning and working with clients, this book is a good guide to all the stages neccessary in creating a site where content and useability come first.
Illustrated with screen shots galore, with loads of useful URL's and interviews with some of the industry's major players, this book, while not being technically in-depth, is a good addition to any aspiring web-designer's library.

Superb book for all web authors!
I've found this book absolutely invaluable for helping me improve the design and navigation on my site and the search engine information is easily worth the investment alone.

The book explains in straightforward terms the best way to make your site 'search engine friendly' and the stuff on accessibility is invaluable - all designers should be forced to read it!

I only wish this book had been out when I started building my site as I could have avoided all the mistakes that I'm now going to have to fix!

I recommend it thoroughly for new and experienced designers keen to improve their site - and the graphics are lovely throughout too!

Worth every cent!
Man, I learnt so much from this book! Most other web books are all about trying to show you pretty pictures or clever code, but this book really teaches you stuff you need to know.