Ideas about the Internet
When I began writing web and internet tips on my web site, I decided that I'd need to give the reasoning behind what I advise; unfortunately that tended to make my pages far too long. I decided to write out separate pages to explain why I say things that don't agree with the latest "kewl" thing to do on a web page. Once I started, I couldn't stop. I ended up setting up a whole section of my site just for them. Most somehow became letters to the offenders as I wrote them.
Just after I began writing these, I got a letter (junk mail) from a place which wanted me to put their shopping mall on my site. It says in the letter "A web site should be more than a source of information for customers - it should help build your business". Yes, a web site should help you build your business, but I failed to see how building their business would do my site any good. My site is an information site, any shopping is incidental. They got a snail-mailed copy of my commentary on shopping sites. Their site was one of the worst offenders I've ever seen.
Most of these essays are directed toward business websites, but even "my home page" types can benefit. If you have any ideas about things I've missed, or some things on the web that should or should not be done, please leave me a comment.
- Javascript can be useful when used correctly, when abused, it can guarentee a site has no return visitors.
- Image maps can be beautiful, but only if there is a second way to navigate the site
- All graphics no text, is just as boring as the other way around.
- Server side Vs Client side. Should you use CGI or in-page scripts?
- Pages best viewed with are best left un-viewed, anyone who does this offends a lot of people.
- Popup ad windows This one went with Javascript, but it's so often misused it deserved a whole page.
- General Shopping - I'd like some more information please!
- Upgraded items - may I have some support here? Why not?
- International websites have the whole world to sell to.
- Advertisers: The WWW is not a television set, or a magazine, or a radio. It's a whole new thing.
After I wrote these, I was just a little tired of saying "Please do this, please don't do that", so I started writing a series describing exactly how to win the award for the worst site on the web. So far, I've done the Basics, Main Pages, and Scripts. Don't try this at home!