I’m weeks away from finishing my first eBook!

I haven’t yet decided on the title. They (the expert eBook marketing folks) tell me that much thought should go into the title. There are two important reasons for that:

1. You want the title to be alluring and catchy to increase sales.
2. You want the title to accurately communicate what the reader can expect to find inside.

I’ve put several months of work in creating this eBook. I think most small business folks who want to create and maintain their own websites in an easy way will find this eBook quite valuable.

It’s loaded with screenshots and graphics, because many folks are very visual in their learning mode. Once I’ve got this finished, I will begin working on a companion video series that will work nicely with the eBook.

Stay tuned… we’re close!

If you work on websites, you should take a close look at Coda. Coda has these tools built in: text editor, file transfer, source control system, terminal (SSH), website preview, and resource library for HTML, CSS, Javascript, and PHP.

The interface is clean and doesn’t get in the way of doing work. In Edit mode, the code is color-coded for easy identification.

There’s a very cool CSS editor built in that allows you to quickly add and change your style sheets with a very nicely designed visual editor.

When you need to preview your work, there’s no need to fire up a browser. Coda provides a built-in preview tab.

If you need to SSH into your server, Coda provides that too.

And if you’ve forgotten that bit of PHP or CSS or Javascript, Coda provides a built-in reference library. You can even add more of your own.

Working with Coda on site development is like a dream within a dream!

There is also a good collection of third party plugins that extend Coda’s functionality. Check out their site at: http://www.panic.com/coda/

In my years of website development, I’ve typically seen two scenarios when it comes to small business websites.

The first scenario is the do-it-yourself business owner who learns just enough HTML to cobble together a website either from scratch or from some template or model site. Typically, the website is just adequate, and maybe not quite as professional looking as expected. “But it’s just temporary until I get the time to really do it right,” says the owner. Often the site remains neglected because additions and modifications are just too cumbersome.

The second scenario is the business owner who is willing to spend some money on a web developer to create a site. In this case, often the website ends up costing more than expected. Additionally, the business owner typically becomes dependent on the web developer for any future additions or modifications, making the costs even higher.

Both of these scenarios are far from ideal.

If you find yourself in or contemplating either of these scenarios, I suggest you consider creating your website with WordPress. Whether you do it yourself, or hire a developer, WordPress turns out to be an excellent website creation and management system.

See this post for more information: Building a Successful Business Website

This was expensive for the client, and not very interesting work for me once the original site was complete.

So I’ve been working on a new model of site design for small businesses which uses opensource (free) software and allows website owner (or staff) to easily login and make changes or additions to the site. I’ve developed a design technique and process, using all opensource software, which allows me to design smart looking sites that are easy to navigate, have a high level of functionality, and have a simple backend user interface for maintenance.

This translates to considerable savings for the business over the long run, more internal control of the website for the business, and it allows me to focus on site design and development rather than site maintenance.

I am putting together this process with a training component for small business owners who want to create a website.

Please email me if you are interested in this model for your business.

One option, for the more technically intrepid, is to create your own site based on templates. If you have some knowledge of HTML and have the time, this option can save you money. The trick is to find a well-designed template that closely approximates your vision for your website. There are several free design template directories on the web, but finding the good designs can be a lengthy process. The following are a few of the better opensource design template directories that I’ve come across:

• TemplateNavigator: A big catalogue of free website and flash templates.
• OSWD: Huge collection of free web design templates.
• CSS Tinderbox: Basic design templates that get you well on your way.
• OpenWebDesign: A huge and active community that shares free web design templates.
• Open Designs: A non-profit design community that reviews each design submitted before allowing it on their site.
• Free CSS Templates: Another large and frequently updated design template catalogue.

These 6 sites should provide you with some good starting point templates. Take your time and review several designs before making your choice. Your website will only be as good as the foundation upon which you’ve built it. These templates should get you up and running, letting you decide later when to bring in a consultant or web developer.