So I'm currently working on a project for the House of Mews in Memphis, TN.  It's a volunteer project, and kind of a long story on how I got wrapped into it - so I'll save it for another time.  Anyway, a problem I've run into is how to effectively communicate ideas to the House of Mews proprietor.  Using words like content management system, web services, and flex app only draw blank stares.  Bumbling through a long discription of site features elicits some nodding, but the only response I get are questions like, "Can we keep the same music from the old site?"

Argh.

Enter Balsamiq.  The folks at Balsamiq Studios were nice enough to give me a free license since I'd be using it for a non-profit project.  I can't be more grateful.  This app blows visio out of the water.  It's so ridiculously easy to use. I cranked out a handful of wireframes in about an hour.  Since it's all drag and drop, it appeals to the whole 'instant gratification' thing.  And when you're done, you have this neat drawing that looks like you drew it yourself on a piece of paper.

Showing this to the 'client' avoided comments like, "that's the wrong font," and "that shade of red needs to be lighter."  Instead I get, "Ohh, so you can click on the little pictures, and the cat's bio appears. Great!"

Smile.

Here's an example of a 'first draft'.

Neat, right? Too bad it looked like crapola when I built it.  So I started over.  After shuffling things around, adding new ideas (and subtracting new ideas), I wound up with this - the mighty 'work in progress'.

Go try Balsamiq.

 

A great way to get a blog or simple website up and running very quickly is to use Wordpress.  Blogging couldn't be easier when using Wordpress, as it provides a handy interface for writing and categorizing posts, adding features via widgets, creating RSS feeds for syndication, and allowing for static pages.  Another insanely useful feature is the ability to change the look and feel with the click of a few buttons using themes. Themes allow your blog or site to take on a look of its own.  There are literally thousands of Wordpress themes available for download. Many (most, even) are available directly on the Wordpress website.  Searching Google for wordpress themes will get you a few million results, but many websites simply repost the free sites available on wordpress.org and wrap advertisements around them.  Premium themes are also available for purchase at many places, but again, some sites are more reputable than others.

Everyone's seems to be head over heels about standards based HTML/CSS these days.  Web designers and consultancies all seem to tout their ability to create standards compliant and accessible sites.  You just can't use deprecated tags, and you must separate content from presentation if you want to be a high class webfellow. I remember way back when <center> and <font> were considered perfectly good HTML tags, but today web developers  scowl at these tags like a half eaten egg-roll in the buffet tray - it just shouldn't be there any more, and anyone who considers partaking is icky.  Time to get serious and learn the correct way of doing things...