Web Optimization? Meta-Tags? What purpose do they serve?

What is Web Optimization?

• :the process of specifically designing your web pages to rank high in the Search Engines by using meta-tags, keywords, title, image, alt text, text and overall design.
• 1st step: Select keyword phrases that best reflect your web page (example: if your site was about dogs, your keyword should be dogs. )
• 2nd step: Choose your keyword phrase-A keyword phrase includes two or more words to describe your site, (example: if your site was about grooming a dog, your keyword phrase should be dog grooming)

What are Meta-Tags? What purpose do they serve?

• :html code that is placed between the < head > and < / head > tags/describes your site to the browser so that searcher's can find you.
• The META description tag: focus on your site's main topic (do not generalize).
• The most important keywords belong towards the beginning of the description.
• Describe your site in detail to make sure the searcer know what youre offering, but use no more than 200 characters.
• (ex. < meta name="KEYWORDS" content="dog grooming, dog grooming tips, dog groomers, pet care, animal groomers" >)

Site:
http://www.web-source.net/webpage_optimizing.htm

Navigation Structure & Function :)

What is navigation?

Navigation is a way to navigate, or search a websites pages through links. It easily shows the visitor what the site has to offer.

What qualities would a good navigation system have?

-ALWAYS have a link on your navigation leading to your homepage.

-direct, consistent, and clear-cut.

-drop-down menus are good if you have alot of links or pages.

-use short clear and consise words in your links.

-put things where people would expect them to go

(a navigation bar wouldn't be at the bottom or far right normally)

-be creative!

What would make a navigation system ineffective?

Going overboard can be ineffective when creating navigation for your website.

(too many links overwhelm the visitor)

sites:

http://www.smartwebby.com/web_site_design/website_navigation_tips.asp

http://www.yourhtmlsource.com/accessibility/navigation.html

What is a style sheet? Is there more than one kind? How are they used?

What is a style sheet?

Where web designers define the layout and design of their pages.
They are called Cascading Style Sheets or CSS.
With style sheets, a designer can define many aspects of a Web page:

• fonts
• colors
• layout
• positioning

They make it really easy to update your pages when you want to make a new design.

http://webdesign.about.com/od/css/f/blfaqwhatiscss.htm

What makes a great website? What is the purpose of a website?

The purpose of a website is to convey information needed by the searcher. It should be credible, updated regularly, well-edited, easy to read and understand! You want to attract visitors to your site, not scare them, so use colors that go well together. Make sure your graphics and images files are a small enough size so it doesn't bore your visitors by making them wait for them to load, but the quality is great. Site where you got your information and be original, but at the same time legit. Spelling and grammar are an important part too.

I like the UNICEF website because the colors (sky blue, orange and white)work really well together. The organization is very good, and the navigation is set up conveniently and easy to find. The images slide show is informative and the quality is great without taking forever to load. The blog section on the far right is in a convenient place also. This site is very user-friendly. As soon as you go to this site it is set up so that the first thing you see without scrolling is the images slide-show, blog section, navigation and banner. You don't have to scroll down to see this stuff, and that makes it look nice. Overall this is a very well put together site :)


sources:

webreference.com

UNICEF

What is the difference between a browser and a search engine?

• a browser is a program that is used to access the Internet and view what there is.
• a search engine is a program that when you type in a phrase it can point you in the direction of a website that relates to the words you type in.
• You use a browser(internet explorer) to get to a search engine (google)

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061020140645AAgI6v1

Social Networking

Social Networking:

• The interaction between a group of people who share a common interest.
• Social networking has encouraged new ways to communicate and share information.
• The use of social network services in an enterprise-the potential of having a major impact on the world of business and work
• The National School Boards Association reports: "almost 60 percent of students who use social networking talk about education topics online and, surprisingly, more than 50 percent talk specifically about schoolwork"

... which shows that it can be a benifit for educational reasons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking

Dangers and Benefits:

• In Education:

-a way to connect with or meet people such as other students, staff, and faculty.

-offers campus surveys

-campus events/partys can be communicated easier.

-can be a great way to stay connected to your campus community.

• In General:

-staying connected with classmates and friends

-offers students the opportunity to create a positive self-image/to create the image of themselves that you want people to see.

- shows that you care about you reputation and what people think about you

http://web.pacific.edu/x4989.xml

Examples:
Facebook MySpace Twitter

9-10-09

http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2007/11/03/the-dos-and-donts-of-blogging/