Tips and Tricks for Website Managers

Citation

Billingham, L. (2001), "Tips and Tricks for Website Managers", Online Information Review, Vol. 25 No. 6, pp. 406-421. https://doi.org/10.1108/oir.2001.25.6.406.1

The aim of this book, stated on the summary on the back cover of the book and also in the introduction, is to act as an “invisible support team” for Web site managers who are often working as sole experts in their organisations. The book includes tips from over 50 (named) Web experts and information professionals.

This is a smallish book, which covers the most important points of Web management in six chapters. These chapters cover site definition and planning, architecture and navigation, page design and graphics, accessibility and site quality, policies and e‐commerce, and finally marketing and promotion.

There are also ten case studies split into two sections/chapters, one section emphasising design issues, and one section concentrating on structural and management issues. Each case study includes several topics, e.g. intended site audience, how the site was built, content management, recent developments or projects undertaken, and a critical analysis of how the site could be improved. The case studies, and the experts providing the “tips”, are from organisations of various sizes and from various sectors. This offers the reader the opportunity of learning from dissimilar organisations, rather than just developing a Web site based on those of their competitors.

There is also a supporting Web site, which provides links to sites used in the case studies, and to partners and tools and resources mentioned in the book. The editor states that the Web site will be kept updated, maintained and expanded, and he welcomes suggestions for improvement.

The book is written in an easily understood style, but does not talk down to the reader. Non‐technical readers, or those without Web design experience, would be able to understand this book. Experience of Web usage would be very helpful, but almost all information professionals have this.

Summaries and Web addresses (and some diagrams) of useful Web sites are given at appropriate places in the text. References and resources are also listed at the end of most chapters or sections. Some have been mentioned previously, and some are new. Short quotes and recommendations, of about 50‐100 words, are interspersed in the text.

The book ends with a list of e‐mail Webmaster newsletters, a select bibliography of ten items, and a four‐page index.

Overall, I recommend this book as a good general introduction to the topic. There are plenty of Web site software books available on the market, but this book fills a gap as an informative book that is not overly technical. It would also be of continuing use to a prospective Web site manager as their career progressed.