Training
You're a thrifty-minded individual, and time is money. Sometimes its worth the money spent to have an outside professional do the work. Other times, however, it might be cheaper and faster to do it yourself. Spiffyweb can provide training, tools and customized documentation to help you make the most of the technology you have.
- Web: we can train you in using a tool that allows you to update your site without having to know anything about coding. Or we can go hard-core, and teach you how to manually upload files and code using raw HTML: it's up to you!
- Computers: we can provide an overview of all the pieces and parts of a computer, how it all works together, and some basic trouble-shooting skills. We can also provide short (one to two hour) training sessions on how to use any of the major software packages.
- Network: we can help you understand how it all works, and provide some basic trouble-shooting steps in case you can't get "out" to the 'net.
Let us know how we can help you!
Resources
For those of you who like to be well informed before undertaking any project, check out these articles if you're interested in obtaining a web site:
- Project Profiler: helps you to determine what you need on your website. You'll need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this document.
- Writing for Business: how to keep your content short, sharp & captivating. Works for the web as well as your print corresponance.
- Public Relations: if your business frequently deals with the press, how quickly can a journalist find the facts on your site?
- Universal Accessibility: sound reasons for making sure your site can be accessed by everyone.
Books We Recommend
Feel like you want to develop your own site? Want to know more about computers and networks in general? Here are the books we recommend to get yourself started.
Web:
- "The Non-Designer's Web Book" by Robin Williams & John Tollett (PeachPit Press)
Slim book gives you an simple overview of everything you need to know about obtaining, designing, and maintaining a web site. Anyone can code a web page, but you're not always taught the elements of a well-designed web page. This book does that, and more.
- "Don't Make Me Think! A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability" by Steve Krug (circle.com library)
Another slim book that works for the layman as well as the design professional, it discusses how to make your site easier to use, and why that's a good thing to do.
- "Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML and XHTML (Third Edition)" by Laura Lemay (SAMS Publishing).
The author teaches you how to code in easy, easy steps, using nothing more that Notepad or SimpleText. Teach yourself HTML with this book before you start using WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) web page software such as Microsoft FrontPage®, Adobe GoLive®, or Macromedia's Dreamweaver®.
Computers:
- "How Computers Work" by Ron White and Timothy Edward Downs (QUE Publishing).
This book uses loads of illustrations and easy text in a way that informs but does not patronize. Have been using it to explain computers to personal and business associates for years. Updated and republished in Fall 2003.
- "How The Mac Works" by John Rizzo and K. Daniel Clark (QUE Publishing).
If you enjoy Apple® computers, you'll really enjoy this book. Mac specific.
Networking:
- "Networking for Dummies" by Doug Low (For Dummies Publishing)
Bummer of a name, but a good introduction; covers networking for both PCs and Macs.