Looking to get an edge on your web site content and features? Here are a few tools that can help make your web site much better.
by Lynn Eriksen
December 13th, 2006
Over the past few years we have fielded questions from many people about what they can do improve their web site. Along with a strategy for success for business or ministry, there are several easy reading resources and friendly design tools you can use to help keep your site design simple and your content up to date. If you already have a web site or are starting one from scratch, these four resources can help your web site be successful.
Web Site Design Reading
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Growing Your Business with Google
It might sound like it's just about Google, but it's much more. This insightful book gives you an entire strategy for online marketing in addition to insight on how you can use Google to attract the right visitor to your web site. This book covers search engine basics, web content strategies and much more. We recommended this book for novices and seasoned web professionals alike.
Find out more about 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Growing Your Business with Google'.
Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability
This book demystifies the art of good, simple Web Design. With visual examples of how to improve existing web designs. this book stress clarity and simplicity for the visitors benefit. If you want to know more about how a good web site should work or need to know more about great web design, this is the book for you.
Find out more about 'Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability'.
Web Site Design Tools
Adobe Contribute
Keeping your content up to date doesn't have to be difficult. We recommend Adobe Contribute as a solution to your web site. This easy to use software works much like a combination of your browser and word processor. After Contribute is set up for your web site you can edit a web page by browsing inside Contribute and clicking 'Edit' on the page that needs updating. Not only can you make text changes, you can also add new graphics, upload pdf's and other media, and add new pages in a snap. Contribute allows you to change and grow your web site as needed.
Find out more about Adobe Contribute.
Adobe Fireworks
Another product that we recommend for creation of nice web graphics is Adobe Fireworks. We use this product in-house because of it's powerful, web-specific features. And the fact that it's easy to use doesn't hurt either. With Fireworks you can make everything from simple buttons and animations to complex web templates and advanced menus
Find out more about Adobe Fireworks