Max Hits: Building Successful Websites (E-pro S): Amazon.co.uk: Mike Slocombe: Books

Amazon.co.uk Review

Top Web designer Slocombe (urban75.org) demystifies the entire Web site production process with fun, slang-filled text in Max Hits: Building and Promoting Successful Websites--sometimes all one needs to finally "get" a concept is to hear it re-worded in a friendly, less technical way. He makes ideas that novices often find confusing, like XML, SVG, and CSS, seem easy and points the way to further reading and useful applications. Not strictly a how-to manual, the book is rich with screenshots and bite-size blocks of text, with a hip layout by Bark Design that makes it more entertaining than most technical books.

Slocombe dispenses a lot of hard-earned wisdom. Rather than teaching all of HTML, he gives a simple tutorial that gets across the main idea of how tags work and then sends the reader off to look at source code, consult online resources and/or use an HTML editor such as Homesite. When discussing how wide a site should be, he gets right to the crux of the problem: should a Web designer worry about how the site looks on every monitor from plasma to PDA? What are the pros and cons of specifying the table tag width at 100%? Again, he points the way to places online where readers can check how their site displays in different browsers and resolutions.

Pros and cons come into play in most Web site design decisions. For example, developers must weigh design versus download time or latest technology versus browser compatibility. These decisions are unique to each site and Slocombe helps readers make informed choices. His advice can be as simple as hitting the auto button on the levels panel in Photoshop to clear up a muddy photograph or as complex as delivering appropriate content to your audience.

This is a hip book that looks at all the details involved in making a Web site. It's well written, well designed, well coded and gets lots of attention from search bots. And it clues readers into some of the coolest sites existing on the Web today. It may just be what you need to get off to a good start with your own Web site. --Angelynn Grant

Product Description

How do you lure internet visitors to your site and encourage them to come back time and time again? Max Hits Web Design answers these questions and is an essential guide to creating effective designs that produce results. It is not just a question of money and using the most advanced technology - more important elements such as careful planning, research and a bold approach to design are needed to ensure success. Working designers and those who commission designs share their thoughts, and useful links are detailed, providing an invaluable resource for practising designers and anyone embarking on a web-based project for the first time.

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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

Nicely designed book de-mystifying the web design process 13 Jan 2002

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

Written by the designer/editor of the superb urban75 website, this book de-mystifies the entire web design process. With sections on HTML, design and useability issues, through to planning and working with clients, this book is a good guide to all the stages neccessary in creating a site where content and useability come first.
Illustrated with screen shots galore, with loads of useful URL's and interviews with some of the industry's major players, this book, while not being technically in-depth, is a good addition to any aspiring web-designer's library.

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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

Superb book for all web authors! 13 Jan 2002

I've found this book absolutely invaluable for helping me improve the design and navigation on my site and the search engine information is easily worth the investment alone.

The book explains in straightforward terms the best way to make your site 'search engine friendly' and the stuff on accessibility is invaluable - all designers should be forced to read it!

I only wish this book had been out when I started building my site as I could have avoided all the mistakes that I'm now going to have to fix!

I recommend it thoroughly for new and experienced designers keen to improve their site - and the graphics are lovely throughout too!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

Worth every cent! 13 Feb 2004

Man, I learnt so much from this book! Most other web books are all about trying to show you pretty pictures or clever code, but this book really teaches you stuff you need to know.