10 Tips For Your First Email Campaign
Digital Web Magazine offers 10 things to consider before sending your first email marketing campaign. Interested in sending an email campaign? Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Sign Up Forms Must Die
A thought-provoking article from A List Apart about best practices in user information collection forms.
How to give effective feedback to your web designer
Friend and colleague Rick Whittington offers useful advice on communicating from both sides of the client/designer relationship.
Well Done
A brilliant annual report design for a European food company, that has to be baked in an oven before it becomes readable…
6 Benefits of Email Newsletters
A great summary of the benefits of email newsletters. And speaking of, have you signed up for the 28 Media newsletter?
Why Are You Doing This?
Think about “why” before you think about “how,” and your website will thank you…
Blasting the Myth of the Fold
Wherein it is proven that website users do, in fact, scroll...
Reviving Anorexic Web Writing
“The content is the heart of the website. I can’t build you a body until you give me a heart.” Brilliant...
Eight points for better e-mail relationships
In response to an earlier article, and the resulting fallout, Jeffrey Zeldman offers up eight ways to improve your email campaigns.
Email Newsletters Are the Preferred Information Source for Small and Medium Businesses
Interesting study results from Bredin Business Information.
43 Web Design Mistakes You Should Avoid
A great comprehensive list of common web design mistakes… it covers both functional and strategic mistakes, and is a good read for anyone with, or considering, a website.
What Small-Biz Owners Can Learn From Blogs
The Seven Deadly Sins of Email Marketing Management
7 ways to ensure an above-the-board email campaign.
11 Tips to Ensure a Successful Web Design Process
From the Blog Studio, 11 great tips to help ensure a successful web project.
Getting the Subject Line Right
Getting the Subject Line Right… 5 tips for writing e-mail subject lines that’ll get recipients to read on.
Converting The Converted
So, you’ve already got people on your website? How do you convince them to want more? Converting The Converted offers advice on converting your visitors to email subscribers.
5 Reasons Why Blogs Fail
Like the title says, 5 reasons why blogs fail… the key seems to be write often and write well.
10 High-Profit Redesign Priorities
From Jakob Nielsen, a list of 10 priorities that should be considered during every redesign.
Little Known Link Building Secret
Though the article is focused on blogs, this simple technique will work for building links on any site… be friendly.
The Secret of Effective E-Mail Marketing
Following their own advice, these guys managed a 70% open rate and 35% clickthrough rate… not too shabby for a day’s work!
2006 Logo Trends
Logo Lounge offers up its annual analysis of logo trends. Some interesting stuff in there…
10 Web tips for entrepreneurs
CNNMoney.com offers 10 Web tips for entrepreneurs that will benefit even the smallest businesses.
10 Ways to Create Buzz In Mobile Content
You do have a mobile version of your site, right? Me neither. But the need for a mobile-friendly version is growing quickly as more and more consumers are using their mobile phones and PDAs to access all sorts of online services. 10 Ways to Create Buzz In Mobile Content offers tips for making a splash with the launch of your mobile site, most of which apply to traditional sites as well.
10 Kick A** Opening Credit Sequences
Nothing web-related here… just a little eye candy to wrap out the week.
2007 Web Predictions
An interesting group of web predictions for the coming year, from read/write.
Selecting a Solid Business Domain Name
Selecting a Solid Business Domain Name makes some interesting points about choosing your business domain name (though with an admittedly odd example).
21 Surefire Tips for a Successful Blog Launch
These 21 Surefire Tips for a Successful Blog Launch are mostly applicable to any website. You’re sure to find a few things you can do to increase the success of your website, whether it’s just launching or already established.
50 Blogging Resources
Neil Patek presents his 50 Favorite Blogging Resources.
Top 10 domain name tips
10 things to consider when choosing your domain name.
10 Marketing Tactics Under $10
Just like the title says, 10 Marketing Tactics Under $10. Most could be easily adapted for promoting your new website or online campaign. I love the one about paying the toll of the car behind you…
Using Your PayPal History for E-Mail Marketing
If you’re selling products through PayPal, your past transaction history can provide a great email marketing list in just a few easy steps.
What Makes A Good Website?
A few thoughts on the matter...
How To Piss Off 1086 People With 1 Click
A cautionary tale on what not to do with your mailing list…
Home Page Goals
Setting goals for your home page, from the inimitable A List Apart.
Tracking Your Buzz
So you’ve launched a blog, but is anyone talking about it? Tracking Your Buzz provides a wealth of options for tracking site traffic, specific mentions around the web, and more.
101 Ways to Build Link Popularity in 2006
The article gets a little tongue-in-cheek towards the end, but 101 Ways to Build Link Popularity in 2006 offers just that… a ton of great suggestions for developing quality links to your site in order to improve your search engine rankings.
Two Must Haves for Business Websites
Two Must Haves for Business Websites: an About page and a Contact page… good advice on getting the most out of each.
What You Should Know Before You Redo Your Website
IT Business Net features an extensive article, What You Should Know Before You Redo Your Website, that’s stuffed with great information on getting the most out of every phase of your web project.
Creating A Useful Custom 404
A 404 page is the page visitors see when the page they requested cannot be found. But, the generic “Page Not Found” error message leaves them with few options. Why not make their experience easier by creating a useful custom 404?
Your About Page Is A Robot
In Your About Page Is A Robot, Erin Kissane shows how to pump some personality to your site with a well-crafted, well-written About page.
5 Steps to Pay Per Click Advertising That Works
So you’ve decided to shell out your hard-earned money for paid SEO? Then it had better work.
Six Ways to Turn Techno-babble Into Commanding Copy
Technical content doesn’t have to mean dry, stale copy. Learn how.
Building More Effective "Contact Us" Pages
Bryan Eisenberg explains common mistakes on contact pages and offers simple solutions to fix them. Want more? He did the same for About Us pages in a previous article.
9 things to put in your list welcome messages
9 things to put in your list welcome messages… some really great suggestions from Mark Brownlow.
15 Websites That Changed The World
15 Websites That Changed The World… will yours be next?
Types of Website Content
This interesting article argues that there are only three types of website content: the type that persuades, the type that sells, and the type that reassures.
The Quiet Death of the Major Re-Launch
Worried that launching a full redesign of your site may alienate your long-time, loyal cutomers? You may be right.
A Domain By Any Other Name...
...is not the same. CNNMoney posts a great article on choosing, and getting, a domain name that works.
Ding Dong, Dial Up Is Gone
Well, not completely gone… but on it’s way out. In an informative article by Om Mailk, we see that household broadband pentration has hit almost 66%, and is expected to be 74% by next year and 89% by 2010.
How Much Blog?
Webreference.com asks How Much Blog?, and then answers the question in an interesting article on what’s required of a successful business blog.
The Power of Natural SEO
Mike Cherim explains how to achieve SEO results without all the trickery, through The Power of Natural SEO.
Do Keywords in Post Titles Really Matter?
From Copyblogger… Do Keywords in Post Titles Really Matter? Nearly every article on their website is worth a read.
5 Myths in SEO
Yet another list of 5… this time, 5 Myths in SEO.
5 Rules for Great Websites
Forty Media (no relation!) offers up 5 rules for great websites. Good stuff.
5 Steps To Building Better Websites
From Project 83, 5 steps to building better websites.
Why Business Blogs Are Important
A great article from The Undersigned on why business blogs are important.
What Users Hate Most About Websites
A list of the five easiest ways to annoy your users.
7 Ways To Promote Your Website
Just like the title promises, this article delivers 7 powerful ways to promote your website.
How to write so your customers learn from your website
“I just visited your Web site. I’d like to talk to you about what I found there.” A great article on writing to give your customers the most out of your website.
Startup Websites That Work
Though targeted at startup companies, the great tips in this list can be applied to any company’s website.
Your Logo Doesn't Matter
Some refreshing advice from Mark Bixby on the topic of logos and brands.
Cautious Advice for Accepting Online Payments
James Duncan Davidson offers cautious advice for accepting online payments.
Design and Partnership
D. Keith Robinson shares his thoughts on design and partnership. An outstanding article.
An Argument for Small Business Blogging
The guys at Particletree crunch some numbers and end up with a rock solid argument for small business blogging.
The Website Development Process
The website development process, as demonstrated with plastic figurines.
The Domain Name Game
Choosing your first domain name? Then step up and play the Domain Name Game. Note: I chose 28MEDIA before reading this article!
Should Your Company Be Blogging?
Should Your Company Be Blogging? Blue Flavor weighs in with their opinions.
Can You Find Me Now? Good.
Simple, effective and inexpensive methods for higher search engine placement from Mark Bixby.
Quick Tips on Corporate Blogging
“Corporate blogs are the new faces of business.” Quick tips on corporate blogging from Clickz.com.
SEO Refresher Course
On the topic of Search Engine Optimization, recommended reading from Duct Tape Marketing.
Advertise on the Cheap, Using Your Assets
Great article from Business Logs, explaining how to use what you have to build your business.
Who's Your Copywriter?
“If content is King, why is it treated like a second-class citizen?” An excellent article from, appropriately, goodcopywriting.com.
Instant Press Release
A handy press release generator from Duct Tape Marketing.
Web Terminology for Non-Geeks
The Godbit Project explains common web terminology using a great food analogy.
Writing Press Releases for a Design Business
graphicPush offers tips for writing press releases for a design business, though the article easily applies to any small business.
Integrated Advertising Campaigns
Advertising Age discusses the use of integrated advertising campaigns – mixing online and offline advertising – for increased results. According to the article, microsites seem particularly effective for raising awareness of a promotion.
Our Position On Permission
Campaign Monitor, my email newsletter software of choice, offers their stance on permission-based lists: what’s OK, what’s not OK and what’s just plain illegal?
Good Design Is Good Business
In an insightful article from Trusty and Company, learn about the importance of design in business.
Blogs Will Change Your Business
BusinessWeek.com offers great advice on business blogging, in an article loaded with tips, examples and success stories.
For more Sound Advice, browse the categories or monthly archives to the left. And, for the latest entries, subscribe to the RSS feed.