If you’ve got tired of using lorem ipsum as dummy text for your designs and of using the Lipsum Generator to create it, you might want to check out the Dummy Text Generator. Read More
Tools & Resources
Write Better: Online Readability Testing Tools Compared
There are a number of readability testing tools available on the web.
I was recently looking for a good online readability tool to use and as I was reviewing them I thought it would be helpful to write up my research. I found 12 tools worth checking out. My comparison of them is below.
I was especially interested to see how their results compared when analyzing the same text. I used the Gettysburg Address for my sample text (see “Conclusions” for some take aways).
Cheap Alternative for Web Site Usability Testing
Just came across UserTesting.com — a company that conducts remote usability testing for only $19 per user study. For that you get a 15 minute video of the tester using your web site and a short written report.
Book on User-Centered Web Design Available Online for Free
I just discovered that Sarah Horton, one of the writers of the “Web Style Guide”:www.webstyleguide.com/ has published a book on designing usable web sites — Access by Design.
Even better, the “book is available online for free”:universalusability.com/access_by_design/ in the form of a very usable web site.
Working with Clients
Whether you work for an agency or an internal web team, working well with clients is integral to the success of your web projects. Here is a collection of articles to help you do it better.
Read MoreCustomer Reference Checklist / Questionnaire
I recently had to conduct a customer reference call for a web services vendor we are considering. A quick web search brought up Adam Kalsey’s excellent list of customer reference questions. Read More
Tools to Compare Fonts Online
I’ve been using Typetester for some time as an online alternative to fiddling around with CSS in order to test out font settings. However, more recently I’ve come across a couple of alternatives that show promise.
10 Things You May Not Know About the Web Developer Toolbar
Yes, we all love the Web Developer Toolbar. However, unless you’ve really taken the time to explore it, you’re probably only scratching the surface in terms of what it can do for you. I know I am.
Recently, however, I’ve been trying to learn some of its less obvious (but no less useful features). Here are 10 of them that you may not be aware of. Read More
Review of Inspyder InSite Website Spelling and Link Checker
One task that no webmaster looks forward to is checking their site for broken links. In terms of popularity, I’d say it’s the web equivalent of flossing (and is done about as frequently by most site owners too).
Read MoreHow Customer-Focused is Your Web Site?
This tool’s been around for a while, but I just came across the Customer Focus Calculator. It’s a nifty tool for analyzing your web page copy to see whether you’re truly focused on your customer or are still a little too self-involved. Read More