A while ago I published "Adaptive vs. Responsive Design: What They Are, Why They Matter," and immediately received some follow-up questions about HTML5. Here's a very quick explanation: For the last fifteen years (since 1997, actually), we've been stuffing all sorts of new content onto the web … [Read more...] about HTML 5: What It Is And Why It Matters
Adaptive vs. Responsive Design: What They Are, Why They Matter
Another topic trending on my personal buzzword watch is "adaptive design vs. responsive design." The difference is a bit confusing, but at the highest level, responsive design means building one design that works on all devices, "responding" to the device with design and layout changes. Adaptive … [Read more...] about Adaptive vs. Responsive Design: What They Are, Why They Matter
Audience Development: What Drives Digital Growth?
A friend recently asked what kind of projects I'd seen that were effective at bumping up traffic. The site he manages had recently started to plateau and he needed ideas. I said that in most cases execution was as important as the type of campaign, but I'd send him a brief list. Once I started I … [Read more...] about Audience Development: What Drives Digital Growth?
Sources for Free and Cheap Images
Generally, when I'm looking for blog post art I search Flickr first (check the Creative Commons "commercial use" box) and Google next (select "usage rights:free to use or share, even commercially"). If they don't have what I need, here are some other sites I check. I also like to skim them … [Read more...] about Sources for Free and Cheap Images
Is Discovery a Problem for Readers?
A couple of years ago, I worked on a project that included building a recommendation engine for books. It seemed like a worthy goal until I looked at my bedside table, which was covered with books I hadn't read yet. And the floor around the table. And my home office desk. And my desk at … [Read more...] about Is Discovery a Problem for Readers?
Publishing and Self-Publishing: The First Copy
Update 2/19/2014: After I posted this, a friend pointed me toward a post that delineated the costs of the various steps toward self-publishing. Developmental editing costs $45-$65 per hour. The minimum cost for 280 typescript pages is $2,520. Maximum could be as much as $18,000 depending how much … [Read more...] about Publishing and Self-Publishing: The First Copy
“TO DO: Don’t ignore your dreams; don’t work too much; say what you think; cultivate friendships; be happy.”
Paul Graham, founder of start-up incubator YCombinator … [Read more...] about “TO DO: Don’t ignore your dreams; don’t work too much; say what you think; cultivate friendships; be happy.”
What Publishers Do
Science fiction writer Charlie Stross recently wrote an interesting post called "Why I Don't Self-Publish." It isn't necessarily designed to discourage writers from self-publishing, but it does show why the process can be daunting -- and why the publishers expect the lion's share of all revenue. … [Read more...] about What Publishers Do