It’s All In The Numbers

Welcome back to part 2 of my 2 part series on highlights from WordCamp Boston 2013. Here are two more talks I attended.

What the heck is 320, 480, 640, 720, 768, 960, 1024?

A talk entitled, “320, 480, 640, 720, 768, 960, 1024” by Chris Cochran focused on why pixel numbers are not driving website design, today. Instead it’s all about communication, content, and designing for mobile devices.

Developers and designers need to “…design from the bottom up, and from the content out,” said Cochran.

“Websites should be planned to a specific use of purpose, and begin with text only.” Instead of trying to design a pixel perfect site, think EM first, so text is scalable to any device.

Designing for maximum readability

• CPL: The standard Characters Per Line are 60–75, but 50–65 is better: the visitors’ eyes will have a shorter distance to travel back and forth
• Use EM in Media Queries
• Set font to 100%

Designing for a positive user experience

• Before beginning to design a website be sure you can answer this question: ‘What is the true message of the website?’
• Start with the content first
• Be clear and concise because more than 1 second of hesitation by the visitor can cause them to move elsewhere
• Start a design for mobile devices first because a site that begins on a desktop first will leave out many features on a mobile site
• Ask: “If it’s not important on 3” is it important on 13?”

“How to Blog for Reach and Influence”

IT Pro Technical Evangelist Dan Stolts recommended the following:

1. Cross link, cross link, cross link
2. Start with great content because without great content you have nothing
3. Solve problems
4. Give complete solutions
5. Make sure your solutions are detailed and concise
6. Promote other people’s blogs and events
7. Give other’s influence
8. Respond to readers questions and comments
9. Give them ways to share your content: use the “Share This” button
10. Even if you don’t use Twitter, make it easy for other’s to share your comments by using a Tweet button
11. Use good permalink structure in your URLs
12. Always link back to your source
13. If your blog posts are syndicated on a few different sites change up the copy a little bit. It will be better for site ranking, because the search engines need to identify the original.
14. Always hold something back so they finish reading the post on your blog

Words that inspires action

1. Read
2. Download Our Products
3. Free
4. Achieve Certification
5. Tell Friends

What you audience wants you to do for them

1. Solve problems
2. Learn quickly
3. Save Time
4. Achieve certification

 Looking forward to next year’s WordCamp Boston

When I first entered the WordPress world I didn’t have a clue how to keep up with the program as it grew and changed. WordCamps make it easy. They’re attended by inspiring designers, developers, and plain ‘ole WordPress users. If you ever have an opportunity to attend a WordCamp near you, don’t hesitate. Go. You’ll be glad you did.