The Internet is one of the most powerful marketing tools a writer has at her disposal. Find out how to make the web work for you! Learn basic HTML skills, the building blocks of web design, plus how to get your web space, the difference between websites and blogs (and what each can and can't do for you), domain names, and more! Whether you've got a high-speed connection or a slower dial-up connection to the Internet, Laura Wright, a writer with years of hands-on technical experience, will show you how to make the most of your web presence.
Starts: every Monday
Duration: Six weeks
Prerequisites: Students must have a computer with Internet access.
Class Limit: 20 students
Cost: $100.00
Class Materials:
Students will receive course materials via email on the start date. Lessons will be sent as HTML files; students must be able to accept attachments via email.
Syllabus
Week 1
- Opening Discussions
- What You Can Expect from This Course—projected outcome of participation
- Accessibility—maintaining the best practices as dictated by the W3C
- Comparisons—What types of web sites are available
- Browsers—How many are there? How do they differ?
- Introduction to HTML —The language of the web
- Introduction to Horizontal Rule (HR) —Create a horizontal rule on your web page. Learn to manipulate specific details and alter rule length.
- What About My Virtual Needs—Current web needs as opposed to web overkill.
- The Objective, of course—Your objective for participation.
- About Perfect HTML Coding—Is it possible to maintain "perfect" web code?
- Why Aren't You on the Web—Further exploration into logic behind domain.
- Find Your Connection Speed—Use appropriate formula to ascertain precise internet connection speed.
- Benefits of a SLOW Connection?—Around 44 million Americans are still "stuck" with dial-up access. Can this be a positive element?
Week 2
- Opening Discussions
- Choose Your Web Service—What suits your current audience?
- The Condominium: Creating Your Blog
- The Apartment: The "Free" Site
- The Trailer: A Professionally Done Site
- What You Can Expect As A Domain Owner—Fact and fiction behind domain administration.
- HTML: Fonts and Breaks—Alter fonts and create line breaks.
- When Web Design Gets Annoying—The worst elements for your web site.
- All You Need To Know About Website Building And Hosting To Get You Started—A discussion to walk you through obtaining a domain, hosting service, and publishing your site.
Week 3
- Readability—Presented in plain HTML with full color examples.
- Maintaining a Professional Image Online—Using your web presence wisely to achieve optimum results.
- Site Maps and Mazes—Navigation issues and common problems.
- HTML: Images and Links—Proper coding for inserting both images and links.
- Common Link Problems—Troubleshoot link problems.
- HTML Music—Insert audio files into your web file.
Week 4
- HTML Editors—Common webmaster software.
- Choosing and Purchasing a Domain Name—Find a name to suit your purpose.
- Formatting Your Content—Polishing your content and making your pages reader-friendly.
- Common Web Page Errors—Correcting the most common errors associated with web pages.
- Web Site Checklist—Details you shouldn't overlook before publishing.
Week 5
- Purchase That Domain—A walk-through to purchasing your domain.
- Avoid Plagiarism—What is online plagiarism and how do you avoid it?
- How Much Should You Publish? Sample Chapters are Best—Excerpts are better for visitors than too much material.
- Should You Feature Other Authors?
- To Frame or Not to Frame—Frames may seem impressive, but are they becoming outdated?
- XHTML—Learn how to adapt your HTML to XHTML.
- How Can You Protect Your Creations Online?
- The "No Right-Click" Script—Does this trick work?
- HTML Tables—Plain text lesson
- HTML—Troubleshooting
Week 6
- The Host with The Most—The best hosting service.
- R.E.S.P.E.C.T. —Respect the Panel—Your control panel can make or break your site.
- Back It up—Quick tips on file back-ups and protecting your work.
- Updating Without Incapacitating
- Share Cropping the Web through Link Farming
- Link Leeches
- Hotlinking—This practice is a common problem online. Learn how to prevent it from happening to you.
- Fontzercise—Be certain you know how your fonts will render in other browsers before selecting.
Supplemental Materials:
- Extensions—Common file extensions and their respective programs.
- Folder Creation—Create folders online and offline to organize your work.
- Vocabulary—Glossary of terms for web designers.
- Accessibility Issue: Fonts
- Email Problems
- The Email Process
- Protect Your Health
- Does Your Site Have You?
- Code Red: Burnout
- Meta Myths—Introduction to Meta Tags
- Notepad
- Spam and Cookies
- Accessibility Issue: Graphics
- Accessibility Issue: Navigation
- FTP
- Search Engine Submission
- WHOIS
- Diagnosis: Worms
- Diagnosis: Trojans
- Diagnosis: Viruses
- Diagnosis: Browser Hijackers
*Free HTML Editor Included*
Course also comes with free ebooks to help you on your way to webmaster success!
About Laura Wright:
Laura Wright is a three-time published author and writer. Her non-fiction has appeared in such publications as, "The Business Journal," all the way to high-end travel magazines and opinion editorials. She has worked as everything from a book reviewer to staff writer and guest columnist.
Wright has been on a computer since 1993. In 1999, she became connected to the Internet, personally, and immediately started working with HTML. She has owned and operated forums, "free" sites, countless blogs, and in 2002, became owner and administrator of her own domain: www.laurawrites.net.
Wright has since been trained in general web development and site development, and is certified in CSS. She has participated in academic training for Dreamweaver and Flash.
Wright is an avid photographer and enjoys hiking in her native Appalachian Mountains. She is an advocate for many small towns in her region and contacts representatives and leaders to bring about awareness for the lack of technology. Wright is currently a "dial-up" user as well.
Wright's published books include, While I'm Dying (2001), Timeslips & Terrors (2005), and Virginia Creeper (2007).
Her web sites include: www.laurawrites.net and the new www.vacreeper.com.
Click here to register via PayPal: