UK Web Site Design and Search Engine Optimisation
Where can I learn more?
So you have read around, examined all of our recommendations and are now wondering how to keep up with all the latest breaking news in the world of web design and search engine optimisation.
The following are brief reviews of several forums, websites and newsletters that can be useful for web developers in finding out the latest trends and rumours:
Forums
Forums are one of the best resources for finding out the latest news and receiving help. The key is to read a number of forums and find the ones that appeal to you. Before posting anything read the forum rules as you may find some communities don't suit your style of writing. Once you have found the place for you, join in and start contributing!
Webmasterworld is one of the largest forums for discussion on the internet and covers the whole range of information need to create run and promote a website from programming to marketing. The sheer volume of information can be a bit overwhelming although there are contributions from representatives of various search engines including Google made here. The main proviso is that amongst all of this useful information, there can also be found a fair amount of bad advice and unsubstantiated theories so don't rely on a single source.
Highrankings has an SEO forum run by Jill Whalen. Jill manages to keep the threads focused and there are a number of reputable people from within the industry that contribute here.
Sitepoint has been around since 1997 and the forum tends to include more programmer oriented discussion, including design tips and discussions on specific programming issues.
Best Practices is a relatively friendly forum for beginners to SEO, especially if you want to know how to avoid the shadier practises. If you know you would like to discuss contentious issues with regards to ethics you would do well to avoid this forum! (Matt's note - I may be slightly biased towards this one, as I was formerly a moderator here.)
Cre8asite can provide good information, especially if you are looking for help on usability or online marketing strategies.
Websites
Search Engine Watch is recognised as the place to go for the latest impartial search engine news and articles. Danny Sullivan has almost become an industry unto himself, and he is often the first person to be quoted in the press when they need a comment regarding the latest search engines news.
Search Engine Roundtable is a weblog for those who don't want to keep up with all of the SEO forums. It is a group blog which allows moderators from the various forums to comment on what they feel are the most important topics being discussed.
A List Apart is a magazine for web developers and designers and includes some great articles on website programming. In its own words it “explores the design, development, and meaning of web content, with a special focus on techniques and benefits of designing with web standards“. It often comes up with innovative solutions to the many quirks that can throw you off when programming for the web.
Sitepoint provides a large collection of useful articles for web developers, as well as their forum. The articles range from site planning and designing, to client and server side coding amongst other topics.
Search Engine Lowdown is one of the best blogs to cover the latest search engine news. Andy Beal is a respected individual within SEO, and he has a knack for finding interesting articles.
Searchengineblog is a blog written by Peter Da Vanzo. He tends to cover slightly more offbeat and humorous stories as well as the mainstream search engine news. It's also worth watching out for the articles and interviews that he provides from time to time.
Marketing Vox has almost constant coverage of internet marketing and advertising news from around the world. There can't be much that these guys miss (although I wish they would pick a name and stick by it!).
Clickz publishes various marketing articles on a regular basis, which often provide interesting case studies or thought provoking opinion pieces that may have otherwise been overlooked. It is worth bearing in mind that some of these articles can be self-promotional.
Newsnow is one of the best news aggregators on the web. It also provides more specific coverage on certain topics such as search engines.
Newsletters
Excess Voice by Nick Usborne is an excellent weekly newsletter which covers online copywriting. The writing can often be overlooked when it comes to websites, but this newsletter shows how to make the most out of it.
Highrankings Advisor is Jill Whalen's coverage of the latest search engine news. If you are new to SEO, this is probably one of the better newsletters to begin learning from.
Grokdotcom is a fun and eminently readable newsletter which covers anything to do with making your online business a success. Informal and enjoyable.