Tuesday, January 26, 2010

10 Useful Steps to be a Better Web Designer

10 Useful Steps to be a Better Web Designer

A great web designer is the one who can easily create great website designs after the latest trends have already passed. When starting a web design job, always consider the basics that have been learnt from books and internet. Below are the 10 useful steps to be followed to become a better web designer.

1. Trends New web technologies are appearing these days. So it's important to be up to date with the latest trends in the web design field. However trends do not mean copy and paste someone else work. Consider others work to get inspiration for your web design works.

2. Learning and developing is an ongoing task Great website designers are always on the move to know about the latest styles out on the web. Learn, learn, learn… There are lots of website regarding interface designs. So consider them frequently for new design ideas. Patterntap.com is a great place for interface collection for design inspiration.

3. Sketching is crucial If you are still in the beginning stage of a wireframe or simple web design ideas, sketching should be done. Get away from your computer and do something on paper before starting the design on the computer. Try to write down whatever comes into your mind. From whatever on paper, then it will be easier to translate the work on the computer. Don't ever be so excited and just start everything on the PC.

4. White space Keep designs simple. Readability in a web page is key to its success. For some great design works, please check out minimalsites.com.

5. Technology / Software Keep up to date on the latest software coming out in the web design field. If you want some online training, you can consider lynda.com.

6. Read magazines There are various good magazines recommended to be read. Computer arts magazine, Smashing magazine are among those.

7. Know who you are targeting Try to figure out the market your client wants to target. Gather information like the age group, demographics and other related info before starting the web design. If you are designing something you like, that does not mean the client will like it.

8. Get other's opinions When designing, try to get opinions from colleagues and other people. You can also post your work on some websites and lets others comment on your work. In this way, you will get various opinions, good and bad. So comments should be welcomed and don't ignore any one's comments if its negative.

9. Organise your tools and assets Old works done, codes and other design tools should be well classified in your hard disk. Create different folders, example, CSS, Flash, Forms etc. While working on a web design project, that will help you a lot to find something. This will save you enormous time.

10. Competition Always, take a look at what other web designers are doing. To be aware of what is happening in the web design field is a must. There are lots of websites on these. So please check from frequently

http://www.mytripledub.com/blog/arts/10-useful-steps-be-better-web-designer

Social Networking Sites and Parenting

Social Networking Sites and Parenting

There are hundreds of social networking sites and chances are your kids are members of a few of them. As a parent, you should help your kids navigate through this site and others so they don’t fall victim to pedophiles and other threats.

This is why parents should teach the kids about what information should remain private. If they fail to do so, they may accidentally tell someone exactly where you live, what is your phone number, you social security number and your current financial status.

Since they are required to give a screen name, tell them not to use their real name but rather something else which does not give them away.

The social networking site they are a member of surely has privacy settings. As a parent, help your kid activate it or teach them how to use it because there is a reason why web developers decided to install it.

You should also teach your kids to use their better judgment when they decide to put information about themselves in their profiles. They must be comfortable with whatever they put because this will be viewed by their classmates, teachers, college admission officers and even employers.

With today’s technology, you don’t need a laptop or a desktop to log into a social networking site. You can also do this by simply using your cell phone. To limit how much time that your kid is spending on the web, buy them a phone that does not have this function. After all, the cell phone is used for SMS and calling.

Believe it or not, bullying has moved from the school into cyberspace and there are many ways of doing it. Some examples of this are the spreading of rumors online to getting threatening messages in your inbox or cell phone. Some kids have taken their own lives because of it so if you don’t want this to happen to your child, take steps so you can monitor them.

The best way is to have open communication with them. Should they bring this matter up to you, tell them to delete the account in this social networking site and just open a new one elsewhere. This will make them more careful in accepting people who want to be their friends.

Aside from cyber bullying, parents should also talk to their kids about sex. It is better that they hear this from you rather from some stranger who is more likely a sexual predator.

If they feel threatened by someone and don’t know what to do, help them report it to the police and the social networking site so this person can be banned.

An effective way of keeping tabs on your kid’s is to search for their name through blog sites and search engines. If there is nothing posted, then they are safe.

Keeping your kid’s safe is one of the things that we have to do as parents. We may not be with them 24/7 but there are ways by which we can make sure that they are safe until the time comes that they can fend themselves.

On the part of the social networking site, they have privacy policies in place. You just have to understand the features and privacy controls it in order to use it.

http://www.mytripledub.com/blog/family-home/social-networking-sites-and-parenting

More How To Make A Man Love And Adore You

How To Make A Man Love And Adore You

| More How To Make A Man Love And Adore You


Now, let me just say right off the bat that you can’t manipulate a guy into loving and adoring you. This is not what this is about. This is about drawing a guy in because of your inner beauty and qualities. So, put all those tricks aside and let’s get to the real stuff.
One of the first things is to have a personality! If the guy you like loves to laugh and joke around. How adorable would it be if you busted out your funny and joking side? If this is your personality type then let it flow naturally. If not, then at least show that you really appreciate good humor. When a guy senses you dig his personality, he can better connect with you emotionally. Connecting with a man on an emotional level is the real ticket to winning his heart and having him love and adore you. Laugh and have some fun in his presence!


For more great and date transforming helps please stop and pick up your dating life guides

http://www.xomba.com/how_make_man_love_and_adore_you

Woman's Guide to Writing a Great Profile

| More A Woman's Guide to Writing a Great Profile


OK…the time has come. You have joined an online dating service or two. Now you must write that all-important profile… the one that will attract attention and reel in the man of your dreams… but where to start? Maybe writing isn’t even something you think you do all that well. Even so, you can do this.

The first thing is to be absolutely honest about yourself. You are looking for that man who will like…maybe someday love…YOU….THE REAL YOU! Examine past relationships and list the things that you liked and the things you did not like. If he smoked in the house and you hated it, you won’t like it any better the next time. If you love cats and will always want to own one or more, say that you are an animal lover and want indoor pets. Someone who hates cats or is allergic to them is not the guy for you.

Accent the things that make you unique. If you play the piano well, you really want Mr. Right to appreciate it. If you run in marathons, a couch potato is not a good match. If you love art, you really don’t want a man who thinks Picasso is an ice cream flavor.

Describe the things that are vital in your life. If volunteering is the one thing that makes you feel useful and worthwhile, you want someone who would, at the very least, support you if not join you in your volunteer projects. When you get beyond superficial things, you will attract men who share your values.

Invest in your online profile by hiring a professional photographer for your first online picture. This is so important. The picture is the FIRST thing men see. The second thing is that they read what you have written about yourself. Some online dating sites even provide you with a list of photographers in your area that specialize in online dating site photos.
Above all else this is your time to really reflect true beauty. You know many men today have had some terrible experiences with women. This is a great opportunity for you to show them that you are a true gem, in a humble manner you want to show men that you have something of great truth and value to add to their lives. We are here to reflect the goodness and the beauty of God, so let’s show that to the men around us!

http://www.xomba.com/womans_guide_writing_great_profile

social network users

Understanding social network users:

Besearchers find a way to identify individuals in supposedly anonymous social-network data. One way for social networks to make money is by sharing information about users with advertisers and others who are interested in understanding consumer behavior and exploiting online trends.

Social networks typically promise to remove “personally identifying information” before sharing this data, to protect users’ privacy. But researchers has found that, combined with readily available data from other online sources, this anonymized data can still reveal sensitive information about users.

In tests involving the photo-sharing site Flickr and the microblogging service Twitter, the researchers were able to identify a third of the users with accounts on both sites simply by searching for recognizable patterns in anonymized network data. Both Twitter and Flickr display user information publicly, so the researchers anonymized much of the data in order to test their algorithms.

The researchers wanted to see if they could extract sensitive information about individuals using just the connections between users, even if almost all of the names, addresses, and other forms of personally identifying information had been removed. They found that they could, provided they could compare these patterns with those from another social-network graph where some user information was accessible.

Data from social networks–particularly the pattern of friendship between users–can be valuable to advertisers. Most social networks plan to make money by sharing this information, while advertisers hope to employ it to find a particularly influential user and target her with advertising to reach her network of friends, for example.

The researchers say that it is fairly easy to find non anonymous social-network data: the connections between friends in many networks, such as Twitter, are made public by default.

http://www.socialmediacatalyst.com/

Trends in Social Media Marketing

Trends in Social Media Marketing in 2010
Mobile will gain in Social Networking – people will start using cell phones more extensively for social net working needs. Fall in rates, more competition between mobile service providers, and the most anticipated 3G spectrum will fuel this growth.

Digital divide of the online and offline world will come together – there would be more explosion of interest based meet ups – feng shui, dog lovers

Social Networking will not be just a few handful of early adopters, but this time the voice would be much louder and the reach would be larger and more amplified

On the applications and websites the “coolness quotient” will move to more “utlity quotient”. The coolness will attract but then utility will make the stick around and keep coming back for more!!

One thing that might be negative or should be used with caution will the aspect of Peronsal Privacy and copy of content without giving acknowlegement to the user, specially true in case of blogging.

More celebrities will start engaing with their fans online, will use this tool not only to promote their movies, but also the causes that are close to their heart. Fans will be excited to have a tweet reply from their favourite celebrity or celebrities’ symphatasies on their fan’s loss.

From a more business perspective it would become micro-tagetting, mass-prsonalization and interest based profiling of users and demographic profiling of users would be a passe.

Facebook, Twitter will stagnate, next big thing would foursquare.com, are you on it yet or be left behind.

http://www.socialmediacatalyst.com/

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The Advantages And Disadvantages Of The Social Networking

Social Networking is a recent invention that has the Internet still at the edge of its seat due to its popularity with people. This is mostly because it really is for the people. Bringing every kind of social group together in one place and letting them interact is really a big thing indeed. Everything about it lies on the advantages and disadvantages of social networking, and what it can do for you.

Here are the advantages that can be more than enough for you to want to join in.

Low Costs

Definitely, it's cheaper to use online social networking for both personal and business use because most of it is usually free. While personal use is rather simple for anyone, the business functions are underestimated by many. In a social networking site, you can scout out potential customers and target markets with just a few clicks and keystrokes, adding a boost to your usual advertisements and promotional strategies. It lets you learn about their likes and dislikes, which is tremendous. If you want to fine tune your business, then this is the way to go, whether on a budget or not.

Builds Credibility

You definitely can gain the customers' confidence if you can connect to them on both a personal and professional level. Despite having to do a bit of work, it definitely pays off as you can be tapped for an offer if someone catches wind of your products or services. As long as you don't pursue them too aggressively, you will do well here.

Connections

You are friends with people who have other friends, and so on. There is potential in such a common situation. By using a social networking site, you can do what you can and get connected with these people to form a web of connections that can give you leverage if you play your cards right. As long as you give as well as you recieve, then they will most likely stick with you. These connections are definitely valuable in the long run.

That definitely sounds enticing. However, what about the disadvantages though?

Lack of Anonymity

You are putting out information about your name, location, age, gender, and many other types of information that you may not want to let others know. Most people would say be careful, but no one can be certain at any given time. As long as people can know who you exactly are, then some can find ways to do you in.

Scams and Harassment

There is a potential for failure of security in both personal and business context. While many sites apply certain measures to keep any of these cases of harassment, cyber-stalking, online scams, and identity theft to an absolute minimum, you still may never know.

Time Consuming

If this is not your kind of thing, that it would just be a waste of time for you. The key to social networking is that it is supposed to be fun, whether you are just doing it for kicks or clicking around for business purposes. That should be reasonable enough for anyone, but there are those people who don't see the point. For them, it can be a disadvantage.

Now there's something to really think about. Nothing is without a blemish, but those of social networking shouldn't really be that much of a concern regarding your safety. As long as you go along without making big mistakes, then it is all good. You can take advantage of the Internet phenomenon that continues up to this day.

Once you understand the advantages and disadvantages of social networking, then you can cruise through without fail.

for more information:http://www.mytripledub.com/blog/romance-relationships/advantages-and-disadvantages-social-networking