This time around, I’m answering a question from someone just looking to learn web design, that wanted to know if they needed traditional pen-and-paper drawing skills in web design.

Along the way, I explore a few other similar questions about web design related design skills.

The podcast: Web Design and Drawing (MP3 running time: 4:40)

Thanks,

Stefan Mischook

www.killersites.com

An organic website is a website that derives most of it’s traffic organically. OK, so what is ‘organic’ traffic?

Organic traffic is traffic that comes to you by why of direct type-ins, natural search engine results and links coming in from other websites.

… Basically, it is traffic that does not come in from ads/links you have paid for. Check out the podcast for details and tips on creating organic websites.

Organic websites explained:

Thanks,

Stefan Mischook

www.killersites.com
www.killerphp.com

I am still currently in the process of fleshing out all the details, but I do have a lot down on paper.

That said, I am very close to being ready to record the first (of many) sessions and I expect to have something out this week.

Update – Good news everyone! I’ve just released the first session.

The Introduction:

About the style of the course

The audio sessions (podcast) will be created in a natural conversational style, rather than being like a dry lecture.

… I’ve listened to audio books before and though they are professional, they tend to be too formal sounding and so I typically end up falling asleep.

With that in mind, I decided that a conversational style would be a better way of doing this. And so when I will sit down to record the sessions, with my notes in hand, I will imagine that you are sitting here beside me (with a coffee perhaps) as I go over the subject at hand.

The Three Basic Sections

The book can be roughly divided into three major sections:

1. Startup of the business

• Learning about business types (incorporations, sole proprietorships etc )
• What skills do you need? Do you need to be a ‘hot-shot’ web designer?
• How much money do you need? Should you buy high end software and hardware?

2. Managing and building the business

• Getting clients and getting paid
• When and how to expand your business
• How to write out contracts, invoices etc…

3. Professional web design project management

• Managing your clients
• Understanding the web development work-flow
• Using a CMS and templates

I will be releasing chapters/sessions say … once a week or so. Each session will get it’s own post so that if you subscribe to the magazine’s RSS feed, you will be notified each time.

Why listen to me?

When any so called expert comes out of the woodwork to offer their sage advice, the first question you have to ask yourself is: why should I listen to them?

… I always found it strange that people would listen to a fat man about how to loose weight!

About me:

I’ve been designing web sites since 1994. I’ve been running companies since I was 19 years old – and I haven’t looked back since.

I’ve been a freelancer, contractor and web design business owner with employees and assistants working for me. In short, I have 18 years experience (and a relaxed secure lifestyle) to show for it.

Yes, I’ve made many mistakes along the way, but I’ve also managed a few good moves too. I can’t show you how to become filthy rich (because I am not there yet) but I can show you how to become financially independent by starting and running a profitable and fun web design business.

Let me know what you think!

If you have any questions, if you want something specifically answered, please post a comment and let me know.

Thanks,

Stefan Mischook

www.killersites.com

1. Content
2. Ease of use
3. Design aesthetics

It’s important to recognize and understand these elements (and their order) because how you build an effective web site is largely affected by the above.

It’s all on video!

In the following video, I get into the details and show examples that back up my reasoning.

… I should point out that this video is not just for web designers and nerds, the discussion is relevant to managers and small business owners as well who are trying to figure out how to effectively use a website to support their business.

Video Notes

The following is a summary of some of the points I make in the video:

• Content sets the stage for the web site – it determines the structure and technology used to build out a web site.
• You can make websites easier to use (from a users perspective) by sticking to web conventions: have a top and side navigation, offer a search feature, provides links to the same information in several places.
• Content and ease of use trump slick design – Google and Craigslist are great examples.

Thanks,

Stefan Mischook