Earlier this week we looked at designing webpages with CSS, a clever language with a rather steep learning curve to make your website look great. With CSS, it’s all about presentation. HTML controls what your web page does and CSS controls how it looks. Most HTML editors can be used to create HTML and CSS together, such as Dreamweaver, so are there any advantges to using a CSS only editor?
Omar Abid has compiled a list of 10 of the best CSS editors that use features to help you write better CSS code quicker. Stylizer, for example, has a real-time preview to show any changes you make to the code instantly. I always use Dreamweaver, but next time I need to create a web page, I’m going to try one of these editors.
As a webmaster I know first-hand the value of Daniel Scocco’s advice to always be learning new skills. To design, build and promote a website or blog, you need more skills than anyone has a right to expect. Constant learning is the only way. And you’re always aware of your weakest skills. I have found the Open University has some great courses on web design and development. Or you could try some webmaster training. Always invest in yourself.
The social web is everywhere. You can’t escape it even if you wanted to. But as a webmaster you can embrace it by turning your website into a social networking hub with open social gadgets from google friend connect. Google have even provided a video to show you how to do it. You can encourage your visitors to interact with each other through gadgets, such as facebook, linked-in, plaxo and more.
Some web design tools are so comprehensive, they are a little overpowering. Photoshop is like that. You open it up and are faced with so many options you don’t know where to start. So, photoshop tutorials are always welcome. Ionut Ciursa has written an excellent tutorial on how to make a light and sleek web page layout in photoshop. The final result looks great.
With so much to do, I’m always looking for good productivity tools.
