Design Notes: A CSS Web Designer's Blog

Will Global Warming Cause Flooding?

Yes, this is way off the topic of web design, but it was funny and thought provoking:

The main argument is that since ice is 9% bigger by volume than water, it’s not likely that the polar ice caps melting would cause flooding. I have no idea about the validity of the argument because I can’t verify the amount of water such melting would release, or how that relates to the volume of the oceans, but presentation is everything!

New Pricing for CSS Sage XHTML/CSS Coding Service

~~After evaluating other offerings in the marketplace, I’ve lowered my initial page fee and per page fee. I also added a minimum project size. Check out the details here.~~

After careful thought, we’re removing all commodity based pricing from our services for the time being. CSS Sage services are being offered by the hour or as a project based quote. Visit the CSS Sage Site.

CSS Menu Maker - Menu Making Contest for Web Designers

Russell Taylor of cssmenumaker.com. The purpose of the site is to provide a library of CSS Menus that webmasters can customize and download. In order to jump start the site and increase the library of available menus he is holding a Menu Making Contest. The grand prize is a free iPhone to whoever submits
the best menu design! Learn more.

The Open Source Web Design Toolbox: 100 Tools, Resources, and Template Sources

Looking for free & open source design tools, advice, and design resources? Design Vitality has published, “The Open Source Web Design Toolbox: 100 Tools, Resources, and Template Sources.” I recommend taking a look.

HTML Email Design Advice

On occasion I get asked questions about HTML design techniques and technical constraints. The bottom line is that keeping it simple and using a proven email broadcasting provider is key. Some very smart people have researched HTML email design guidelines and their advice should also be considered. I found this carefully written post via Roger Johansson’s blog, 456 Berea Street.

5 Reasons to Email Your Past Customers

One-to-one conversation is one of the most powerful forms of communication. Email messages can be personalized easily to tap into relationship building potential. Email remains a dominant form of communication on the Web.
Email can renew customer relationships. Customers who have forgotten about your business, or who have stopped visiting your Web site because it never changed can be enticed to return. Do you have a long list of dormant customer names and email addresses? Sending a special offer or newsy blurb about what’s happening with your business may be exactly what you need.
Broadcasting a professional email message is almost free. It’s worth taking a risk when the stakes are low.
Email messages generate an immediate measurable response. Good email broadcasting services provide statistics about open rates and link clicks that can help you estimate the effectiveness of your email design, content, and delivery.
Email marketing requires less frequency than content publishing strategies. In fact, email marketers should beware of sending a message without a compelling message. If you aren’t sure why you are sending the message, imagine how your recipient will respond.

SEO Is Not the First Step in Online Marketing

On occasion, I talk to prospective clients who have a relatively low amount of cash flow. Some of these are ready to spend many hundreds of dollars on Web site re-designs, SEO experts, and pay-per-click campaigns. If you are becoming desperate at the lack of growth in your sales base, here’s what I suggest you do before you start throwing money into risky SEO, Pay-per-Click and re-design projects.

First, evaluate what contacts you have made with customers and prospects. Do you have a database of customers who have already purchased from you? Do you have names of prospects collected from a newsletter sign-up script?
Second, plan some basic content for a 4 paragraph email with or without images that solicits these contacts with a special offer and a request for referrals to friends
Use a handy email broadcasting tool such as Constant Contact, Vertical Response, or Aweber.

Stick at the email campaign effort for several months by watching response and adjusting your offers or email design accordingly. If there is a market for your product, this approach should have a measurable effect and should begin to raise cash flow. After you’ve learned about your market and expanded your income by taking this approach, you will be in a better position to evaluate SEO, Pay-per-Click, and re-design services.

Quick Tips on Learning to Design with CSS from softwaredeveloper.com

These guys pulled together most of the current information on CSS tools, tutorials, templates, and more in and excellent CSS beginner’s guide. Take a look if you’re just beginning Web design.

Online Payment Alternative - Bill Me Later

A new payment option available to allow customers to pay off line by sending a check. The risk is absorbed by the Bill Me Later service. This may be appreciated by risk averse customers. If you’re using this service and have any feedback as to how it has affected your business, please let me know.

Be Like The Internet

How can a business thrive in a culture based on immediacy and interaction rather than the hierarchy and order that used to characterize company-client relationships? An interesting powerpoint presentation by Lane Becker and Thor Mulle provides some food for thought.