Creating a Web Site
The Missing Manual
Think you need an army of skilled programmers to build a website? Think again. With nothing more than an ordinary PC, some raw ambition, and Matthew MacDonald's "Creating a Web Site: The Missing Manual", you'll learn how to create and maintain a professional-looking and visitor-friendly site. This thoroughly revised, new edition gives you all the tools, techniques, and expert advice you need."Bookstore shelves are packed with Web design books written years ago. These older books don't cover the up-to-the-minute techniques your site needs to distinguish itself, make money, and show up in search results. 'Creating a Web Site' corrects those mistakes--and includes all the advice and guidance you need to build a modern Web site," writes MacDonald, an author and programmer extraordinaire. His books include "Excel 2007: The Missing Manual," "Your Brain: The Missing Manual," and over a dozen books about programming with the Microsoft .NET Framework.
And with MacDonald's new book by your side, you'll learn how to:
Create Web pages. XHTML (Extensible HyperText Markup Language) is the modern language of the Web, and the latest stage in the evolution of HTML. It's surprisingly easy to use but maddeningly inflexible--violate its strict syntax rules at your own peril. In this book, you'll learn how to write first-rate XHTML pages and get the most out of the language.
Make pages look beautiful using CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). CSS picks up where XHTML leaves off, adding formatting muscle that can transform the drabbest of sites into a family of coordinated pages that look like they were professionally designed. Best of all, once you understand the right way to use CSS, you'll be able to apply a new look to your entire site by tweaking just a single file.
Put your Web site online. The world's greatest Web site isn't much good if no one sees it. That's why you'll learn how to choose the best Web hosting company, pick a domain name, and get your masterpiece online. Don't panic--there are plenty of cheap Web hosting companies ready to show off your site for pennies a day.
Attract visitors. You'll learn how to make sure people can find your site using popular search engines and how to build an online community that encourages repeat visits with discussion boards.
Get rich (or at least earn some spare change). The Web's a lynchpin of retail commerce, but even ordinary people can make money selling products (using convenient services like PayPal) or displaying ads (with Google). You'll learn how to get in on the action.
Pile on the frills. Every Web site worth its salt boasts a few cool tricks. You'll learn how to dazzle visitors with cool buttons, slick menus, and other flashy elements, courtesy of JavaScript and Dynamic XHTML. You'll even learn how to (shudder) serenade visitors with background music.
Indeed, this isn't just another dry, uninspired book on how to create a Web site. "Creating a Web Site: The Missing Manual" is the witty and intelligent guide you need to make your ideas and vision a web reality.
Matthew MacDonald is a developer, author, and educator in all things Visual Basic and .NET. He's worked with Visual Basic and ASP since their initial versions, and written over a dozen books on the subject, including The Book of VB .NET (No Starch Press) and Visual Basic 2005: A Developer's Notebook (O'Reilly). He has also written Excel 2007:The Missing Manual, Excel 2007 for Starters: The Missing Manual, Access 2007: The Missing Manual, and Access 2007 for Starters: The Missing Manual, all from O'Reilly. His website is www.prosetech.com.
Creating a Web Site: The Missing Manual, Second Edition
By Matthew MacDonald
Read: Chapter One
About O'Reilly
O'Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O'Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying "faint signals" from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.
About the Missing Manual series
The book that should have been in the box. Warm, witty, and jargon-free, Missing Manuals have enough clarity for the novice, and enough depth and detail for the power user.
Return to &Else News & Views. . .
.
Participate in your Design Center
Lots of fun and information for all... don't forget, any community is only as good as the participation of its members. We invite your tips, tricks, comments, suggestions and camaraderie.
- Ask for the DT&G Monthly: to receive DT&G newsletter each month, happenings in the Design Center and regular columns like the "Mail Bag" and "Cool Sites"
- Discuss Design & Desktop Publishing : in the Designers' CAFE
- Link to this site, and then show us the link. We'll send you any of our current door prizes, just for your trouble.
- Discuss Photoshop at Photoshop 911
- SUBMIT: a news link, new font, or product review
- REVIEW a website: posted by our readers
- SUBMIT a Website: for review in Web Design & Review
- Submit a Critique: of a popular web site, or YOUR web site!
- WIN PRIZES: in our "Question of the Month" column
- Meet Friends of the Design Center people who care!
- Become a Friend of the Design Center: and put your link on the front page
- Submit News, Views or your latest press release
- Submit your Software Review: shareware, freeware, fonts, graphics, utilities -- if you've found software you like, let DT&G readers know about it!
Learning, training, tips, tricks, and moreThe Design Bookshelf team reads and reviews the best books for the creative visual designer, desktop publishing practitioner and visual communicator. If you want to know it -- we'll show you the very best way to learn it... in the Designer's Bookshelf
Get more out of your computer: join a user group - There are computer clubs around the world called "user groups" where you find fellow computer users ready and willing to share a wealth of information. If you're not a UG member, you should be.. find a group at the User Group Network
Photoshop FAQ - Got a question? Get an answer: in the Photoshop 911 FAQ if you don't find the answer there, you can ask your question or send your problem to the Photoshop 911 Team