Surfing

The code that's used to build your site is best kept to a minimum. It's easier to manage, quicker to draw up on screen and is less susceptable to errors. The language of code that's used is also important. Using an accepted standard is the best way to go, that's why I stick to the solid basics of HTML, PHP, CSS and JavaScript. Each of these can run on virtually any web server and with 3rd party programs can run on your own computers. Handy if you're working or presenting a site with no internet access.

Structure of code is also a focus area of mine along with CSS. The order of elements such as a logo, headers, titles, sub titles, paragraphs and images needs to be logical - or semantic. The reason for this is so that if you want to print or view the page on a restricted browser e.g. one with CSS / images / JavaScript dissabled, the page contents still need to make sense and be viewable.

This is why, where possible, 'unnobtrusive Javascript' is used when I code a site. CSS is kept external and is set by a 'media type' to cover the viewing requirements of Screen, Print and Handheld mediums. The HTML structure is written first - just like you would a letter on a word processor, before any layout or formatting is applied by the CSS.

Mailing

Improving the appearance of emails sent to current or potential customers is a way of increasing response. Simple text e-mails often don't have the impact required to grab the attention of the end user. Using similar techniques as a web page you can send a HTML e-mail.

Styled tastefully, this approach could create a response that's more positive than a simple text mail ever could. Your HTML email can include formatted text, colours, images and links to online sources.

All HTML emails are fallback tested to ensure that if an end user hasn't got HTML email viewing abilites, a simple text or plain text version will be displayed. If images aren't allowed through due to a filter, then text alternatives will be shown in their place - all of which means that your message is still delivered, albeit a little less glamourous.