• Site Plan
• Modularization Plan
• Style Guide
• Copyright
• Colophon
• Learning Report #1
• Learning Report #2
• Learning Report #3
• Learning Report #4
• Learning Report #5
• Learning Report #6
• Learning Report #7
• Learning Report #8

Colophon Page

Web Standards

One of the web standards that I have used is using short meaningful phrases. One of the struggles with my website is using similar subjects for my portfolio (e.g. 3 different radio pages and 2 different direct mail piece). One of the ways that I have overcome this stuggle is having a short pre-tag and follow with a short description of the project (e.g. radio_safe.shtml; radio_scion; tv_scion)

Another web standard that I have used is my modules. Using the modules, I have made it easy for anyone to update or make minor corrections to my menu without having to change it in EVERY PAGE. As of March 27th, I have approximately 25 pages. To have someone go in and add in 25 different pages one link for a new page would be ridiculous and cause many headaches. Using the modularizations also helps with web standards as well.

Usablilty

One of the facts that I am proud about with my website is the usability. I have taken pride in my navigation between sites. I do have some things to still work with (having a highlight on what tab you're on) but what I do have is very helpful. In my site, I have followed the concept taught in "Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Kurg to amke things obvious (pg 14). With my navigaion bar, it is very obvious what the subject is. I do admit that the links themselves are not obvious links at first glance, but I have done things to make it more obvious. In my top nav, I have the background color a different color than the body and the header. Yes, the header does a gradient to the nav background color, but with the gradient only being the same color approximately ¼ of the page I felt that it would be OK and get the point across. I also have the font change colors when you hover over the link to indicate that it is clickable.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

I have utilized Google and Bing of making sure robertbucker.com comes in first on the search. I feel that having my website first on the list is an advantage so that future employers who search my name will not be led first to my Facebook account or Twitter account. It isn't that I am afraid of them looking at these accounts, it's that these sites are not, and are not intended, to be professional. I do make sure I don't do too many stupid things on these sites, but I have these sites to connect with my friends, not with my employer.

What I have done to make sure robertbucker.com is the top of the search is on every page on the site has robertbucker.com in the title. I have in every image in my portfolio I have also typed in robertbucker.com in the alt attribute.

Return On Investment(ROI)

In accounting, the term Return on Investment (ROI) refers to how much you plan or expect to make from your investment efforts. What my ROI is for this website is not to make money but to make impressions and to give a source that I can control the message sent to future employers. One of the ways I plan to use my site is in my resumé is to use this website as a contact instead of my e-mail address. This way they are forced to use the website to contact me via Internet instead of a friendly e-mail. Of course, when it comes time for me to communicate back to them it will be through my e-mail instead of my website (in due time I may be able to have an e-mail used through my website).

I have not been able to see any return on investment yet on my website because it is still not fully prepared to launch towards future employees. I do hope to have it with suitable portfolio pieces within this year, but as for now I am not fully ready to launch towards future employers.