Best Practices Archives – MRW Web Design

Pop-ups win the Pepsi Challenge

I’m guessing you don’t like pop-ups. So why do so many sites use them? Should they, even if they “work”? Let’s re-use a tired metaphor to talk about it!

How do I proactively make sure my website is accessible?

This is post 3 of 3 in the series “Ask Me Anything” The Washington State Nonprofits Conference provides a chance for me to answer questions about all-things-nonprofit-websites for any attendee of this great conference. I’ve participated in 2021, 2022, and 2023, answering questions about website accessibility, website strategy, and content management. Many of the questions … Continue reading “How do I proactively make sure my website is accessible?”

How to make your website accessible (and not use an accessibility overlay)

There is no such thing as a cheap and easy “fix” to supporting and communicating with people with disabilities. Every single person who reads this post has a role in making websites more accessible. Yes, even you!

Writing Excellent Client Emails

As someone who provide services online, it’s no surprise that I write a tremendous number of emails. I’ve spent years thinking about the keys to good client emails. Here’s my list.

Why Your Menu Shouldn’t Match Your Org Chart

I just thought of the perfect (and very obvious in retrospect) example to help explain why nonprofit website menus should never match their org charts.

Information Cascades and Bad Website Decisions

Why do people put bad design elements and features on their websites? Information cascades are a good way to think about it.

10 Things Your Image of Text Can’t Do (That Real Text Can)

Whenever you can, don’t use images of text, just type out the text. There are an overwhelming number of reasons why.

On CSS Tricks: In Praise of the Unambiguous Click Menu

I just had another post published on the CSS Tricks blog! This one shares why click-triggered submenus are better than ones that appear on hover, complete with diagrams and a demo!

“Resilient Web Design” by Jeremy Keith

There’s nothing like reading a short book about web design on a plane! I just finished reading Jeremy Keith’s fantastic web book Resilient Web Design. It is itself a website, and it’s built so that supported-browsers can store it offline once you’ve visited any page on the site! How resilient! The primary point of the book … Continue reading ““Resilient Web Design” by Jeremy Keith”

Common Heading Mistakes

It’s really important not just to use headings when writing for the web but to use them correctly. Here are the most common mistakes I see when people try to use headings.

8 Reasons Not to Use a Slideshow for Your Nonprofit Website

Slideshows aren’t the new, hip things they used to be, and they never should have been! Now is time to cut the cord on your nonprofit website’s home page slideshow.

Recognizing and Avoiding Domain Name Scams

This week I got a letter about one of my website domains, except it wasn’t from my domain registrar. What did they want and why?

Cases for Accessibility [link]

On my blog, in talks, and in my work with clients, I’ve really taken it upon myself to advocate for accessible design and development practices. There are so many good arguments for accessibility, yet it’s not always easy to get decision makers to buy in to accessibility requirements or commit to investing money in accessibility. Elle … Continue reading “Cases for Accessibility [link]”

Documentation Brainstorm (Reporting Back from InfoCamp Seattle)

Documentation is often a word that elicits groans, but it doesn’t have to! You barely notice good documentation because it just helps you and then you move on. Here are tips for avoiding the bad and embracing the good documentation practices, generated during my sessions at InfoCamp Seattle 2015.

Tip: CTRL/CMD + F for Find in Page [link]

Do you know what CTRL + F on Windows does (or CMD + F on Macs)? In many programs, it allows you to “Find in Page.” This is immensely useful, particularly in browsers and word processors. If you don’t know it, join the club! Apparently most people don’t: 90 percent of people in their studies don’t … Continue reading “Tip: CTRL/CMD + F for Find in Page [link]”