Web Harmonics - articles on accessibility, usability, seo, web standards, keyword selection

These are links to some informative articles that relate to the services offered by Web Harmonics and why we believe the methods and techniques we use are so valuable to you.

For prospective clients a cursory glance may give you some extra knowledge of the issues involved in the development of a website and aid you in the decision making process.
For web designers and developers they may act as a resource to delve further from.

If you know of an article that could be added to this resource please . Also if you find any article links that no longer work on this page please can you send us a quick so we can keep this resource up to date. Thanks.

A good place to start when thinking about the processes involved with website development is the

Web Design for Business

website.

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SitePoint - An Introduction To Accessible Web Design
Discusses the concepts, current initiatives and guidelines surrounding accessible web design.
SitePoint - Interview with Julie Howell of the Royal National Institute of the Blind
Interview on a number of web accessibility-related topics.
SitePoint - W3C Accessibility Guidelines
14 key guidelines from the W3C.
W3C - Auxiliary Benefits of Accessible Web Design
This article describes the benefits to an organisation when employing the W3C's accessibility guidelines.
Wired News - Reality Check for Web Design
Article explaining the need for accessibility amongst websites and tools that can achieve this
Evolt.org - Making Internet shopping accessible
The RNIB's Julie Howell discusses the findings from a report into shopping online.
Webnauts.net - Web site accessiblity article
Excellent resource from John Britsios on website accessibility.

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UsableNet - What is usability?
Explains what usability means and why it is important.
Human Factors International - 10 Web Usability Tips
10 usability principles to consider when planning and developing a website.
Webnauts.net - Web site usability article
Excellent resource from John Britsios on website usability.

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WaSP - About the Web Standards Project
Discusses the ongoing mission of the Web Standards Project.
Adobe Developer Center - Why Use CSS?
Outlines the history of cascading style sheets and their key benefits.
Adobe Developer Center - What Is the W3C and Why Do We Care?
Explains the work of the W3C and the standards and specifications they have helped to develop.
The Noodle Incident - So, why bother?
Why not just keep using tables instead of sorting out this CSS trouble?
Stopdesign - Throwing Tables Out The Window
Explains why there's no reason to use tables for layout or develop browser specific versions.
XHTML- Kicking and Screaming into the Future
Excellent article explaining why it's good to adopt XHTML coding methods.
Ten reasons to learn and use web standards
The top ten reasons why web designers should learn and use web standards.

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Mike's Marketing Tools - How To Justify A Search Engine Optimization Budget
Informative article on why SEO will pay for itself.
StartupJournal - Search-Engine Marketing Will Boost Your Business
Explains the benefits of focusing part of your online strategy on SEM.
Information Week - Content Matters Most In Search-Engine Placement
With more engines relying on human editors, it's what a site contains that counts.
Search Engine Watch - 131 (Legitimate) Link Building Strategies
In SEO, "off page" factors have become more and more important in relation to search engine rankings.
Digital Web Magazine - Designing for Search Engines and Stars
This article discusses writing content and designing for better search engine placement.
Business Link factsheet - How to make your website Google friendly
Outlines key criteria in designing for Google as well as other search engines.
Google - Information for Webmasters on SEO firms
Information from Google on choosing a reputable search engine optimisation company.
Google - Information for Webmasters on PageRank
Information from Google on their PageRank algorithm.

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DTI - Electronic payments
DTI information on accepting various types of electronic payments.

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Google - Definitions of Content Management System (CMS)
Various definitions of a CMS from the Internet.
About.com - Before You Buy a Content Management System
Explains the CMS tools that range from high-end corporate solutions to cheaper products you set up and maintain yourself.
SearchEngineWatch - Making Dynamic and E-Commerce Sites Search Engine Friendly
Strategies for making dynamic websites search engine friendly.
Gerry McGovern - Why content management software hasn't worked
Points that CMS software providers and organisations should consider regarding CMS products and implementation.

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Search Engine Strategies - Keywords and keyword rich text
Advice on choosing keywords and writing keyword rich content.
WebsiteHelpers - Choosing Good Keywords
Common mistakes in selection of search terms.
SuccessWorks - How to Write a Keyword-Rich Home Page the Search Engines Will Love!
Explains the benefits of writing keyword-rich text-based content.
Nick Usborne - 3 Steps to Great Copy
Some simple steps you can take which, when taken in the right sequence, can improve your copy.
A List Apart - 10 Tips on Writing the Living Web
10 tips to consider when writing content for the web.
WhatIsCopyright.org
A resource explaining the basics of copyright law as set out in the Berne Convention.
A to Z Writing
An excellent resource for all types of writing.

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W3Schools - Web hosting tutorial
If you want your website to be visible to the world, it has to be hosted on a web server.
What does this mean and what do you get for your money?
WebEstates - Domain name FAQ
Excellent FAQ explaining the pros and cons of TLDs and ccTLDs.