The Hands-On Web Site Development Workshop Training Class

Day one: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
How to lay the foundation for a successful Web site ... and avoid the most common mistakes
Preparation is one of the key secrets to Web site success. Starting without a clear picture of where you want to go and what you want to accomplish makes it that much harder to put together a site that's content-rich, user-friendly and a magnet for repeat visitors. We'll show you what you need to know before you start designing, including:
How to select the right Web server
Once you decide to establish an on-line presence for your company, you have many options to consider ... there's a bewildering array of Web-related services available, with a range of price tags to match. How do you know which vendor, product or service is right for you? When is choosing a higher-priced option the right choice, and when is it simply throwing your money away? When should you outsource? How will you keep your Web site and your e-commerce transactions safe? We'll answer these questions and more, equipping you to make the right choices in all the important areas, including:
How to assemble pages quickly and easily with Web page layout tools
Once the planning and logistics are covered, it's time to start the creative portion of the process. For the rookie and experienced developer alike, there are important choices to make: For example, should you begin writing HTML code yourself, or does an editing tool like FrontPage?? or PageMill?? suit your purposes better? Which provides the most flexibility and features, and do they justify the expense? In this session, we'll give you the information and perspective you need to answer these questions and make the right decision every time. You'll learn:
12 simple ways to make your site inviting and irresistible
Having the best Web site content in the world matters little if people can't-or won't-read it. In this session, you'll learn the fundamentals of creating visual impact on the Web without distracting from your all-important message. We'll show how to make your Web site "sticky"-so people stay there once they find it-and user-friendly-so they come back again and again. You'll learn which Web site features surfers love and which ones send them clicking off to another site. We'll also teach you:
The do's and don'ts of creating great animation for the Web
There's nothing that chases potential customers away from your site faster than pages and pages of nothing but text; on the other hand, static images don't always provide the pizazz that you need either. To make the cutting-edge impression that will make your Web site stand out from the crowd, you need to bring your graphics into the 21st century. In this session, we'll teach you the latest animation techniques, including:
Day two: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Studio secrets revealed: How to use scripting to make your pages virtually pop off the screen
Great content and outstanding visuals form the basis of a great Web site. Now it's time to take your site to the next level-and beyond-with the latest and greatest design tools available. In this session, you'll learn about the amazing power of scripting and what it can do to make your site a Web surfer magnet. You'll learn everything you need to know about:
How to make sure you stay on the right side of the latest laws, rules and guidelines
The explosive growth of the Internet-particularly the World Wide Web-has spawned a new "digital frontier" with few rules and an "anything-goes" mentality. But, as with any frontier, efforts are being made to tame the Web's wild nature. We'll bring you up to speed on the laws, rules, guidelines, regulations and court decisions that affect everyone who uses the Web, preparing you to tackle these and other issues:
The art of Web site promotion ... what works, what doesn't and why
Your message is important ... but if people can't find it, they'll miss the benefit. Given the more than 350 million sites currently active on the World Wide Web, steering people to your organization's site is a task of major proportions-which is where search engines come to the rescue! In this session, you'll learn how to harness the power of the various types of search engines used on the Web today and discover how to get them to direct a steady stream of visitors to your site. We'll show you:
Security secrets and solutions you can't afford not to know
Internet security is a hot topic these days, and rightly so. In this session, you'll learn what it takes to avoid falling victim to the many kinds of attacks hackers use to damage Web sites. You'll also get strategies for reassuring customers that your site is secure and that their credit card numbers and personal information will not be compromised. This is can't-miss instruction on what you must know about all sorts of security features-dependable standbys such as firewalls and proxies, as well as some of the latest technologies available. You'll find out about:
The big picture: How to ensure that your site continues to succeed!
A Web site is, by definition, a work in progress-getting the site up and running is merely the first step. Once your creation is launched, you've got to concern yourself with maintenance, upgrading, data collection, usage monitoring and other Webmaster responsibilities, including tracking hits to the site and making sure the people visiting your site match your target audience. In this session, we'll go behind the scenes to show you what a Webmaster really does and what to expect once that title is bestowed on you. You'll learn about: