Web Design on a Shoestring

Using case studies and countless anecdotes throughout the book, she begins with some steps for good project planning: find a clear focus for the site, figure out what resources (hardware, software, people) are already available, and, (this will cause a knowing smile for many readers) keep the number of decision makers small. She outlines how to document the goals and requirements, both functional and technical, and advises keeping this documentation where every team member can see it. The book covers user testing, proving that usability checking needn’t be sacrificed when money’s tight, and there’s helpful advice on what makes good written and visual content.

But the pot of gold in this book is in the chapter on content-management systems (CMS), especially ones that save money like templates, cascading style sheets (CSS), server-side includes (SSI), and open-source CMS solutions. Bickner discusses how employing good markup and adhering to Web standards can make your site work on the widest range of browsers and devices and even goes over some fine points of proper XHTML. She finishes with some sage words on choosing and registering a domain name and comparison shopping for domain hosting.

The checklists at the start of each chapter and little "Budget Threat" sidebars make Web Design on a Shoestring a handy desk companion for any money-strapped office. And isn’t that every office these days? --Angelynn Grant

Product Description

With the struggling US economy, many businesses have had to implement steps to curb expenses and pinch pennies. One of the first areas to feel these cutbacks is the web site design and development group. Employees have been asked to fill roles previously held by other employees due to staff reductions. At the same time, these remaining employees are expected to execute robust and efficient mechanisms for their corporate web sites on a tight or non-existent budget. Developers and designers are looking for shortcut tools to get there. It's all about getting more bang for the buck. Web design on a Shoestring is the tool these web site developers and designers need. It reveals all sorts of free or inexpensive resources that are available but unknown. More specifically, Carrie Bickner shows you how any individual can do the things a team of web professionals are often brought in to do. Learn how to create a pennywise plan so that you avoid being nickled and dimed to death later. Find out the best ways to test your web sites efficiencies and functionalities. Understand the most effective content management systems, and the commercial products to use or avoid - all with no dollars being spent.

First a confession. As a web designer with over seven years' experience, I've designed, coded, and produced more than 50 Web sites in my career but never once had the opportunity to work on a big budget project ... not even during the so-called dotcom boom years.

So what Bickner talks about in this book is not a new world to me, it's the world I work and live in. This makes me a writer's worst nightmare, because I feel I know as much as anyone about exceeding expectations with little to no support. I expected to be able to trash this book but instead I found myself learning a lot. The chapters on hosting costs and gotchas and on content management systems were particularly useful.

There's also a risk that a book like this will be too general for its own good, but Bickner seems to know what to include and what to leave out. Her focus is consistent throughout ... it's all about delivering great results even when your budget is laughably small. She writes well and respects the reader's time. I like this book, will keep it on my desk, and recommend it highly.


Web Design on a Shoestring is A "Must Have"   November 11, 2003
Elizabeth Hepola (one of the Big 3, Detroit, MI)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

This is a "must have" book for anyone who is involved in or responsible for a web site or intranet. Whether you are a Decision Maker/Manager with little technology know how or a seasoned Web Professional, you will find something of immediate value that will not only save you money but time as well in an increase in productivity.

Carrie Bickner has done an excellent job of distilling out what is truly essential to creating well crafted, successful sites (under any circumstance.) Excellence is not only NOT sacrificed but she moves the reader through how to "think" the web as well.
I would not let the title dissuade those who may not have budget constraints as she does an excellent job of helping the reader focus on what is really important (and how to achieve it regardless of the circumstance.)

Of the several dozen (or more) Internet related books I have bought over the past eight years as an Internet Professional, only a core set of books still get used and remain true dispite technology advancements.
This book will not get stale for a very long time and I've added "Web Design on a Shoestring" to my core library. I plan on using it as a training resource for staff and am recommending it to colleagues and friends. If you could only afford several resource books, I'd make sure this was one of them.


Building a new site? Read this first...   June 3, 2004
John Maliga (Los Angeles CA USA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I was talking with a friend who had just had a web site built. It was a simple site with attractive graphics and probably fewer than 10 separate pages. It had no shopping cart, and suffered from the typical Flash intro that interrupted visitors before they had time to explore what they wanted. I offered a gentle critique, and then casually asked him how much he paid to build the site. I could hardly contain my shock when he waved his hand in the air and said, "oh, about $20,000".

If he (and I aim this at any solo entrepreneur, or anyone else with limited resources) had read Carrie Bickner's book first, he might have spent as little as a tenth of his eventual cost, with greater satisfaction, and the ability to update his site more easily and inexpensively in the future. Bickner takes a holistic view, looking at the fabric of the site from initial planning, to hosting, to web standards. She's also ready with suggestions along the way to economize, whether it's by backing-off features you can't afford, through savvy design choices, or in careful selection of service providers.

Be warned: this book assumes a fairly broad array of skills and knowledge that one person alone might not likely hold. You may gloss over her suggestions for planning, usability, copywriting, and design without understanding their necessity. Likewise, the technical discussions of CSS, XHTML, content-management, and web hosting may be too detailed or obscure for your liking or experience. This is not a guide for beginners. If you've never launched a site before, use this book with trusted colleagues who have, and who are willing to share Bickner's perspective.

Though she mentions it only in passing, her New York Public Library Style Guide is a wonderful parallel resource that ties her into the web standards community. Once you tap into Jeffrey Zeldman, Eric Meyers, or other folks in and around alistapart.com, you'll appreciate even more how Carrie Bickner's simple little book is tied to the cloth of the web universe. This is a handbook (not a cookbook) that you might have around for a while.


Solid advice for novices & professionals alike!   October 14, 2003
Greg (Bronx, NY United States)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

On a tight budget? Overwhelmed and overchoiced by your design options? Read this book and learn how to create spectacular web sites without cramping your wallet or your client's image. Carrie Bickner guides you through the ups and downs, ins and outs of designing great web sites while keeping your budget low and your sanity in check. Chapter 5 is especially meaty giving good examples on the use of colors, typography, and images; and the benefits of separating content from design with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). She also tells you how to minimize your web site costs by piggy-backing on other web site domains until you can afford your own DSN.

As a web designer myself, I have definitely gained some insight into developing my online writing style, balancing client expectations with realistic work loads, and the undeniable advantages of using web standards at all costs. Buy this book, you need it!


A "must have" for the budget-constrained web designer   October 14, 2003
Simon Jessey (Pennsylvania, USA)
9 out of 12 found this review helpful

Before I review this, I must say one thing. If you have ever seen the movie "This is Spinal Tap" you will laugh when you see the figure on page 30 and remember the bass player saying, "making a big thing out of it would've been a good idea."

Since the dotcom bubble burst, web designers have been expected to deliver whizz-bang websites for pocket change. They are supposed to do the work of five people with a fifth of the budget. This book is intended to help the designer who is trying to work within a tight budget.

"Web Design on a Shoestring" is packed with tips on planning, testing, and building websites when working with small margins. It is full of helpful advice about where to go for low-cost resources, such as image libraries and web hosting providers. Plus there is a special section about saving time and money by designing with web standards.*

I heartily recommend this book to any web designer who is feeling the pinch, and to others who would like to make a few extra bucks for their efforts.

*For more on designing with web standards, I recommend a book by Jeffrey Zeldman, called ... er ... "Designing with Web Standards". Some might say that they were a match made in heaven...