Category Archives: How To

7 Bits of HTML Everybody Should Know

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Anybody who edits a website should know something about HTML.

That’s the conclusion I’ve come to after years of developing websites. When done right, good HTML is good for search engine optimization (SEO), accessibility, mobile friendliness, and more. And many novices aren’t doing it right.

So I created a series of tutorials for anybody who writes for or edits a website. Here a video on the first 7 bits you should know:

7 Bits of HTML Everybody Should Know

Introduction – 7 Bits of HTML Everybody Should Know

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Skip to the Video

Introduction

All websites are code, hypertext markup language (HTML).

When you edit a website, you edit the HTML code.

Anybody who edits a website should know something about HTML.

That’s the conclusion I’ve come to after years of developing websites. When done right, good HTML is good for search engine optimization (SEO), accessibility, mobile friendliness, and more. And many novices aren’t doing it right.

Point-and-click systems (page builders) give novices the option to move things around, change fonts, add animations, and lots more. But behind the visual design is the code, the HTML. When used by beginners, point-and-click systems often lead to bloated sites that are slow, fail accessibility tests, and hurt SEO.

Series of Tutorials

So I created a series of tutorials for anybody who writes for or edits a website on any system. These tutorials start with my first 7 bits of HTML site editors should know:

  • page title
  • meta description
  • headlines
  • paragraphs
  • image alt text
  • local markup/formatting (strong/bold & em/italic)
  • links

I try to keep the videos short and packed with good info. So I hope this is a useful, informative series for my clients and all non-experts who edit a website.

Other Important Concepts in Website Design, Editing and Publishing

I also share some best practices. But only those important to writers, editors and point-and-clickers. I mostly avoid developer-level stuff unless it’s relevant.

Send Me Your Questions

Please send me your questions when doing these tutorials. Or send me topics you want me cover next. I appreciate any ideas, questions or feedback.

    Tutorial: Introduction & Orientation

    And here’s the first tutorial.

    How to Get Your Point Across in 30 Seconds

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    When I joined a new networking group last year, the kind where every week you speak for a minute about your business, I remembered a perfect little book from over twenty years ago: How to Get Your Point Across in 30 Seconds or Less, by Milo O. Frank. It’s full of practical tips on delivering a short message.

    So I reviewed my notes from a class I taught based on this book. I’m including some of the tips here. They’ll help you focus your message in spoken, written, and video communications. Here goes.

    Have a Single Objective

    Your objective is your goal, purpose or destination.

    • It is why you are there. You can have only one objective.
    • In every form of business communication, your thoughts and words should introduce, reinforce or help you achieve your objective.
    • You do not have to state your objective except to yourself.
    • The FIRST BASIC PRINCIPLE of the 30‑second message is to have a SINGLE CLEAR-CUT OBJECTIVE

    Who’s Listening

    Go to the RIGHT PERSON, the person who can give you what you want.

    • Know as many facts as possible about the person or persons you’ll be talking to.
    • Identify with your listener. What does he/she want from you, and what one thing more than any other will get a favorable reaction from him?
    • Knowing your listeners and what they want is the SECOND BASIC PRINCIPLE of the 30‑second message.

    The Right Approach

    The right approach is the single thought or sentence that will best lead to your objective. To me, this is the strategy to appeal to your audience. It’s about appealing to your audience’s motivation.

    • The right approach will also take into consideration the needs and interests of your listener.
    • The right approach will give you focus, and always keep you on track toward achieving your objective.

    Knowing WHAT you want, WHO can give it to you and HOW to get it are the three BASIC PRINCIPLES of the 30‑second message.

    The Hook

    A hook is a statement or an object used to get attention.To get your listener’s or reader’s attention, use a hook as the first statement in your 30-second message.

    • Your hook should relate to your objective, your listener and your approach.
    • Your hook can be a question or a statement, and it can be dramatic or humorous. If it’s a question, it must be answered.
    • Anecdotes or personal experiences make excellent hooks. Your entire message can be a hook.

    Your Subject

    The subject explains and reinforces your objective.

    • The subject contains and corresponds to your approach.
    • What, Who, Where, When, Why and How are all part of your subject. The subject is what your 30­‑second message is all about.
    • Know your subject and present it as concisely and forcefully as possible.

    Ask for It

    A message without a specific request is a wasted opportunity. He who don’t ask, don’t get.

    • Decide your close in advance.

    Find More in the Book

    This just scratches the surface. There’s lots more in the book to improve your spoken, written, and video communications

    Find the book on Google