Writing is a process of constant editing and revision. When the dreaded red or blue squiggle appears under the text you’ve just written, it can induce frantic back-tracking and even self-doubt. If you don’t know where to start, staring at a blank screen can be disheartening.
(more…)Tag: UX
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Design and Development
What’s the difference between a designer and a developer? A lot of people assume that these terms are synonymous, but they are increasingly found on different teams in large organizations. There are other roles in the software development space that are also needed to ensure that the finished product is reliable and usable.
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Tools for Developers
These are some of the tools that I use all the time during development.
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Choosing a CMS
A content management system (CMS) is a system for storing all of your web pages, templates, images, and other assets in one place and displaying it on the web. It allows people with little or no knowledge of coding to edit content for your website.
Choosing a CMS is tricky. There are many systems available, and several factors you should consider in the selection process.
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Getting the Tone Right
Writing for the web requires a different style of writing than other formats. You need to be succinct, but also clear. Getting the tone right (not too formal, not too informal) is important.
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Responsive Websites
A responsive website is one that you can view equally well on a mobile or desktop device. The font size and layout should be readable without zooming, panning, or scrolling horizontally.
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Organizing your Content
When you are building or updating your website, you need to think about what your target audience will expect to see.
There are various ways to find out what they will expect; you can ask a group of people who are likely to use your site what they would expect to see; you can look at other websites offering a similar product or service; or you can experiment with different ways of presenting your information and see which is the most effective.
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User Stories and Personas
A user story is a way of describing a website or product feature in relation to the person who will use it, how they will use it, and why it is useful.
User stories usually follow the format “as a [role], I want to do [task], so that I can achieve [goal]”. This can also be written “as who, I want what, so that why”.
The role, the task, and the goal are all equally important, and a user story is incomplete without all three being present.
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Writing for the Web
Have you ever experienced the fatigue that results from being presented with a giant wall of text on the screen?
Sure, if you’re committed to learning about a topic in depth, you’ll read a whole long-form article, but if you are not committed, and just want to see the salient details, you’ll likely skip the verbiage and leave.
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Accessibility
Making websites accessible is a very important aspect of user experience. Accessibility benefits everyone, because it makes websites easier for everyone to use. It is also a legal requirement in most countries, including Canada.
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