Design Notes: A CSS Web Designer’s Blog

Your Potential Customers Fear Online Fraud

Now more than ever, online retailers need to demonstrate credibility and integrity. Public inclination seems to be leaning away from doing business online.

According to John Soat of Information Week, an IBM survey on computer security reveals that people (in this case technical people) are more afraid of online fraud than of being held up on the street.

How can small businesses demonstrate that they are legitimate and have done their best to secure their Web sites?

• Post your privacy policy
• Demonstrate that your shopping cart is secure. First, actually secure it with an SSL. Then use a badge or link to your security information.
• Post your fair, open, and generous returns policy if you deal in physical merchandise.
• Post your physical address on each page
• Post your telephone number prominently and invite customers to call if they have any problems or reservations with purchasing online.

I’m sure there are many more steps that can be taken to combat the fear of online crime. I’ll share more as I think of them.

Related Links:

• Online Shoppers More Confident in Buying Online
• Top Ten Reasons Not to Shop Online
• Winning Customer Confidence Online

February 6th, 2006

Why Hide Web Content?

Recently, I checked into a software package devoted to the encryption and obfuscation of page content. Not only does it prevent copying and pasting and printing; it uses Javascript to encrypt and decypher the page content (HTML or JavaScript). WebLock Pro does seem to effectively prevent digital theft. Of course, a determined person probably can find a way around this encryption to steal your content, copy the text longhand, or perhaps do a Print Screen to capture the layout.

Recommendation: While I think it is effective, the WebLock Pro home page has a bug that does not display any information on Firefox until a blocked pop-up is cleared and the page is reloaded (At least on Windows XP Pro with IE and Firefox). Does anyone really need to encrypt all their content to prevent others from viewing it? The web abounds with plagiarism detection tools and email is capable of contacting those who flaunt common ethical boundaries. How many alternative browsers (small screen, audio browsers) does this technique lock out?

Tools for finding copied content:

• Turnitin.org
• Copyscape.com

Code Obfuscators:

• WebLock Pro
• Thicket Obfuscator

September 19th, 2005

On Borrowing Web Content

Now that everone realizes the importance of keyword rich content in reaching potential customers through search engines, the Web is bursting at the seams with SEO experts and others seeking free content via robots that scrape Web pages and by RSS feeds. The reuse of content is not wrong, in fact it is a major reason RSS was created. This post is simply a plea the Web community to make an effort at crediting the sources from which this information comes.

Borrowing high quality copy from Web sites is always risky even if the content was syndicated via RSS. Here’s how I suggest you approach borrowing content if you feel it is necessary.

• Contact the Webmaster of the site from which you want to borrow to ask for permission. If it is an RSS feed, you may believe you are above reproach to use it without asking, but cover yourself nonetheless.
• Always credit the source conspicuously.
• Always link to the source.

I want to say a word about borrowing concepts and design themes as well. I believe that borrowing is an inherent fact of life. If we see a concept or design motif that works well, we will likely use bits and pieces. At times it is hard to know where to draw the lines.

My reason for writing this post is not to belittle anyone else, but to call attention to the dilemma facing all designers and business people who want to create high quality products, services, and marketing materials. Let’s not give in to the urge to copy directly from one another, but struggle to maintain high standards and to create our own original work - even when it is difficult.

Related Links

• Recently, Step Inside Design included an interesting article about copyright issues that contains some very challenging guidelines. As I read it, I realized how little thought I give copyright issues in general. Shel Perkins raises a very timely and challenging standard. This is the level of professionalism to which I aspire.
• Copyrights, Trademarks & Search Engines

September 17th, 2005