Website Development Resources

Articles · Design & HTML · Promotion · Visitor Tracking · Affiliate Programs · ISPs/Domain Registries

Building a Writer's Website

http://www.sff.net/people/victoriastrauss/victoria%20strauss%20whywebsite.html

Ideas and design tips from fantasy author Victoria Strauss.

Concise, Scannable, and Objective: How to Write for the Web

http://www.useit.com/papers/webwriting/writing.html

The results of a study by John Morkes and Jakob Nielsen on how users "read" online, with tips on writing for an online audience.

Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/

Numerous articles on Web site design, content, readability, and related issues.

Usable Web: Guide to Web Usability Resources

http://usableweb.com/index.html

A collection of 1317 links and accompanying information about human factors, user interface issues, and usable design specific to the World Wide Web.

Bare Bones Guide to HTML

http://werbach.com/barebones

A list of every HTML tag, plus tutorials and links to other Web design resources.

Bravenet.com Webtools for Webmasters

http://www.bravenet.com

A wide range of tools for websites, including clip art, hit counters, guestbooks, java scripts and more.

Christian Webmaster Resources

http://www.clickfire.com/tools/christian

Tools specifically designed to aid in building Christian websites, such as Christian content (cartoons, trivia, quizzes, etc.), search tools, Bible search tools, etc.

Clickfire Web Authoring Software

http://clickfire.ezthemes.com/software/index.php

Various tools and scripts for websites.

Color Specifier

http://users.rcn.com/giant.interport/COLOR/1ColorSpecifier.html

An easy-to-use chart of colors for use in backgrounds or fonts, showing the color, the name of the color, and the HTML code.

Designing a Website

http://www.jessett.com

A step-by-step guide to creating a website, with information on html, dhtml, style sheets, graphic design, dreamweaver, etc.

Digital Photography Tips and Techniques

http://www.hp.com/

Hewlett Packard's digital photography information site; full of tips, tutorials and articles.

Formsite.com

http://www.formsite.com

CGI scripts and other forms that you can add to your site.

HTML Goodies

http://www.htmlgoodies.com

Tutorials, primers, images, software, and a host of other resources on HTML, java, and Web site development.

Matt's Script Archive

http://www.scriptarchive.com/

Free CGI scripts that can be used to create forms, feedback messages, forums, visitor counters, site search tools, and more.

Netlingo: The Coloring Book

http://www.netlingo.com/more/color/index.cfm

Easy way to test font and background color combinations.

PicoSearch

http://www.picosearch.com

Enables you to build a free search function into your Web site.

TinyURL

http://www.TinyURL.com

Create shorter URLs for long links; especially handy when citing URLs in newsletters. (Editor's Note: I have tried other URL "shortening" sites and have encountered problems transmitting the shortened URL by e-mail; I have had no troubles with TinyURL.)

Web Style Guide

http://www.webstyleguide.com/index.html?/contents.html

A useful tutorial on designing Web sites, with illustrated examples.

HTML Goodies: Ad Banners

http://www.htmlgoodies.com/primers/bannerprimers.html

An excellent series on how to promote your site or newsletter through ad banners.

JimWorld

http://www.virtualpromote.com

A variety of promotion tools.

SelfPromotion.com

http://www.selfpromotion.com/

Tips on making your site more "search-engine friendly" and submitting to search engines.

URL Submission List for Publishers

http://www.midwestbookreview.com/bookbiz/url_sub.htm

WebXACT

http://webxact.watchfire.com/

A service that analyzes your Web page for accessibility and browser compatibility.

NOTE: Chances are, your ISP has several web tracking and web analysis tools available, so check your control/admin panel or with your webmaster for options.

1.2.3.Count.com Traffic Analysis

http://www.123count.com/

StatCounter.com

http://www.statcounter.com

A very simple, easy to use but effective web tracking system (I use it on several of my sites). It offers a wide range of free tracking data services, with options for paid upgrades.

UsersOnline

http://www.usersonline.net

This site offers a one-time sale of a web-tracking program that you can load onto your site; unlike most other services, there is no monthly fee.

(Search on "web tracking service" for more options)

Amazon.com Associates Program

http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html/104-9974037-9219937?node=3435371

AssociatePrograms.com

http://www.AssociatePrograms.com/index.shtml

Commission Junction

http://www.cj.com

PayLoadz

http://payloadz.com

Enables one to set up affiliate programs through PayPal.

Softseller.com

http://www.softseller.com/SS/

A very useful site that enables you to sell electronic products with encrypted PayPal links; the download is processed through Softseller for 25¢ per transaction. It streamlines the PayPal checkout process (helpful if you ever have customers coming back to you and complaining that they can't find the download page after having made their payment). It also enables you to set up multiple products in your shopping cart with multiple encrypted download pages. You can also set up a PayPal affiliate program.

Computer User ISP/Web Hosting Directory

http://www.isprank.com/

DSL Service Providers and Availability Search

http://www.dsl-service-providers.net/

Find out whether DSL is available in your area, and locate service providers.

Find an ISP

http://www.findanisp.com/

Lists 8000 ISPs in US and Canada. Search by criteria such as price, platform supported, services, etc.

Internet4Free.net

http://www.internet4free.net/

A list of free and "cheap" ISPs.

The List

http://thelist.internet.com/

A list of ISPs, searchable by various criteria.

RegSelect

http://www.regselect.com

Includes price comparisons for single and multiple-year registrations.

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