Custom web site design directory: WebmastersLookup

By: Alexandra Krasne

Web developers, designers, bloggers, and even major media outlets have been abuzz with talk of "Web 2.0" this year. Though the term bears the familiar version number so often attached to software products, it doesn't actually refer to any one technology. Rather, Web 2.0 is the moniker for an emerging set of Internet-based tools and an emerging philosophy on how to use them.

The technologies encompassed by Web 2.0 include, but are by no means limited to, blogs, tags, RSS, social bookmarking, and AJAX. The philosophy focuses on the idea that the people who consume media, access the Internet, and use the Web shouldn't passively absorb what's available -- rather, they should be active contributors, helping customize media and technology for their own purposes, as well as those of their communities.

This philosophy contrasts sharply with the old "Web 1.0" methodology, in which news was provided by a handful of large corporations, Web pages were static and rarely updated, and only the tech-savvy could contribute to the development of the World Wide Web.

Of course, it may seem premature for nonprofits to be thinking about Web 2.0 when many haven't yet mastered Web 1.0, but Web 2.0 isn't just the latest new toy for geeks or the bleeding edge so beloved by entrepreneurs. It's the beginning of a new era in technology -- one that promises to help nonprofits operate more efficiently, generate more funding, and affect more lives.

By: Christian Heilmann

One of the biggest obstacles to tackle in web site and web application design is the initial response time of the product. There is a common feeling among web users that things just don’t happen fast enough.

Why is this such an issue? Perhaps people who’ve been using the web for years remember the times when we had to pay by the minute (in the way that hotel or airport users do even now), or there could be just a general feeling of being let down by the promised information superhighway. I think in part it’s Hollywood’s fault: in every action flick there are high-resolution, data dense animated web interfaces that show up at the touch of a button, and encyclopaedic data gets loaded and displayed in a matter of milliseconds.

By: : T.J. Philpott
If you use article marketing as part of your online marketing strategy you've likely experienced an occasional brain freeze. You know what I'm talking about, the inability to even come up with a new idea on which to base your article. UGH!

It seems that when this occurs the only thing you find yourself focusing on is the mental block itself. Once this starts to happen you start to feel yourself sinking into a black abyss of frustration and desperation. Now your growing concern is the time you're wasting by being 'non-productive' as your online marketing campaign slowly grinds to a halt.

By: Rob Rose

The potential of the Internet as a constructive force (and even as a disruptive one, if you consider how it has fundamentally altered interpersonal and organizational communication) has been proven without doubt today. Traditional hindrances such as distance and geographical proximity have been shattered, as the Web has given all businesses a level playing field, irrespective of their size. However, the same level of flexibility that has made the Internet so powerful brings with it a host of challenges.

With the Internet representing an ocean of information, your company’s Web site has to be positioned in such a way that it stands out. In a world where information needs change rapidly, Web sites need to be constantly updated with fresh content. Users and even search engines such as Google seldom visit Web sites that have stale content. In such an environment, developing an online audience that looks forward to your Web site is a daunting task.

This white paper describes some tactics you could use to develop your online audience, the challenges involved, and how a CMS can facilitate your organization’s ascendancy in the online space.