|
February 7, 2008
 How much do you know about HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)? HTML is the "code" that's used to create web pages and web sites. Do you know a paragraph tag < p > from a link tag < a >? Do you know how to make a table or put an image in the document?
In my post The Frustration of Trying to Make Money Online, item #6 is Learn Basic HTML Skills. If you're trying to do anything online, like blogging or creating web pages for whatever reason, you need to know HTML.
You may be asking: what if I use a WYSIWYG GUI software package, why would I want to get my hands dirty with HTML? WYSIWYG = What You See Is What You Get, GUI = Graphical User Interface: meaning a software package like Microsoft FrontPage or Adobe GoLive that lets you create web pages by dragging and dropping and typing like you would in a word processor. These programs generate the HTML for you. Even if you are using a software package like this, you should still take the time to learn HTML. There are times when you will want to, or need to, edit the HTML these programs generate: having enough knowledge of HTML to do so will hopefully keep you from shooting yourself in the foot. One word of warning: these types of programs don't always generate HTML code that's easy for a human to follow (which is one of several reasons I don't use them).
What about blogging? You should really know enough HTML to make your blog post stand out by adding images, hyperlinks, etc. This is easy stuff to learn, and if executed correctly, will make your blog appear much more professional.
What about CSS? What IS CSS you ask... CSS = Cascading Style Sheets... see this post where I explain CSS and why it's important.
What about forms and other cool stuff like dynamic or interactive pages (pages that change based on data or something that the user has entered)? Creating a form to accept user data (from a visitor to your web site) and then send an email with that data is not hard. An example is a form to request more information: a visitor to your web site could fill out a form and when they submit it, an email is sent to you with their request. What about randomly rotating images from a group of images... that's not hard either. Or, how do you verify that an email address that someone entered is formatted like an email address and is probably not junk? This type of thing is called "scripting" which is really a form of simple programming using PHP, JavaScript, or some other programming language. Don't let me calling it programming or that the fact that it uses a programming language scare you. It's easy to learn the basics.
Make your blogging and web site life easier by learning the basics of HTML.
Until next time,
Fred
About the Author
Fred Black is an experienced programmer, web site developer, online business operator, systems integrator, father, husband, musician, and songwriter. Visit his Internet Business Blog at: http://www.pqInternet.com.
|
Posted by Fred on February 7, 2008 | Printer-Friendly
TrackBack: http://www.pqInternet.com/Blog/mt-tb.cgi/118
Assigned Categories:
Web Site Design, HTML, CSS
Related Entries:
|
You may reprint or distribute this article as long as you leave the content and the About the Author resource box at the end intact. |
|
Comments:
-
I found this information very useful Fred thank you
Chris
-
-
Dear Friend:
I am a newby to all this Website set up etc,. and I need help getting started. I am sure once I do, that things will fall in place for me. My website is probably set up wrong and I'm not sure where things go and the setup process. Please repond. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jay Dolgos
-
-
Thanks for the links. I too am learning HTML and every resource I can get my hands on is helpful.
-
This is a great example of a pillar article. I was just reading about this on Yaro's blog.
-
This information is also handy because it helps you do the simple tasks you might want to get done. Thanks for pointing out the Javascript and PHP tutorial.
-
I agree that learning HTML is usful. Once a person does learn I think that they see the value of doing so even more. Yes you could use a WYSIWYG HTML editor but that work should always be checked. Sometimes extra tags are put in when not needed and if you don't know HTML, you have no idea what to check. And then you won't be able to fix the problems with the HTML.
-
Fred, your columns are very down to earth and written in understandable language. I design websites so I'm pretty proficient in HTML, but a lot of clients think there's nothing to it, so they'd rather try it themselves.
I tell them - just because you can hold a scalpel, that doesn't make you a brain surgeon.
I'm starting to send them to your site to learn more about the intricacies of HTML, rather than try and explain the same basics over and over.
Thanks again,
Jim Moore
-
-
A few years ago I started with html as a basis - today I´m working as a webdeveloper and internet marketeer to earn my living. I had NO IDEA at the beginning, that this stuff will change my live. But it did.
So: learn that stuff!
-
Wow, great tutorial I got my website up and running in about 3 weeks by learning php and mysql. Check it out:
|
|
Post A Comment
|
|
Insert your name and e-mail to receive a short notice each time I make a new post.
NOTE: You will receive a confirmation email. You must click the link in the email to subscribe. Please check your spam folder(s) if you don't receive the email.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
From Fred...
