Welcome to the August issue of ZooNews, Zoonini Web Services' monthly missive.

The end of summer never fails to bring on the back-to-school butterflies... even if I'm no longer a student. Along within the inevitable thoughts of lunch bags, new clothes, and – my favourite – school supplies, every August I get the itch to learn something new. The Web now makes it easier than ever to pick up new skills through Web-based instruction called e-learning.

With online education, students log in to a restricted area to participate in discussion forums with classmates and instructors, and view and submit assignments.

Many universities offer e-learning counterparts to their brick-and-mortar establishments, such as Concordia University's eConcordia, which offers both credit and non-credit classes via the Web.

There are also many outlets offering free or very low-cost short-term online courses on everything from digital photography to bookbinding. Here are some to consider:

LVS (Leader in Virtual Studies) offers inexpensive courses covering software like Dreamweaver, Flash and Photoshop, along with esoterica such as Conscious Romantic Relationships and Seed Starting for Home Gardeners. Next session begins September 3.

Eclectic Academy – Here you'll find everything from traditional art classes to business software, Web development to computer graphics. A wide range of eclectic (they really earn the name) courses run the gamut from Feng Shui Basics to eBay Buying Simplified. Next session starts September 4.

HP Online Classes features a rotating selection of free courses on topics relating to the computers and electronics products that HP sells. The next session, starting August 18, features The Art of Scrapbooking and Designing the Ultimate Home Theatre, among a few dozen others.

Help.com – Technology portal CNet's e-learning division offers a small selection of free technology-themed courses geared to consumers, including Build the Ultimate Gaming PC, The Wireless Mobile Office, and Understanding Plasma TVs. (Note: This service is no longer available in its previous form.)

Barnes & Noble University's roster includes free "life improvement" courses such as Become Your Own Pilates Trainer and Homeschooling Your Children, while Liberal Arts courses focus on literature and creative writing. B&N also offers online reading groups – some even led by the book's author – for those who crave the book-club experience in a Web-based form. They also offer courses on CD-ROM. Next session begins September 6. (Note: This service morphed into B&N Book Clubs.)

Got a technology term you'd like us to discuss in a future edition of ZooNews? Fire it off to questions@zoonini.com.

Zoonini has a bevy of new sites and remakes in the works, including two for professional organizers, a remake for a well known synagogue and a site for an innovative coaching tool. Stay tuned for the "reveals" to begin soon! Until then, here's a sneak peek at some of what's to come:

This month I'd like to highlight the Top Five Web Site Mistakes that may seem obvious, but are still surprisingly common.

1. Underlining. Don't go against viewers' expectation that underlined text is clickable. When you underline headlines or sections of text you want to emphasize, you leave viewers frustrated and confused, thinking "Am I supposed to be clicking here? Why isn't this a link?"
2. Using Frames. Once considered a clever way to keep certain parts of a site – such as navigation buttons – in the same place from page to page, frames have so many negative side effects that they should usually be avoided. For example, framed pages cannot be indexed by search engines or bookmarked by users.
3. Forgetting About Keywords. If you want your site to be found in online searches – and most of us do – you must incorporate relevant keywords throughout your text and in other parts of your site, like page titles and headings. Research the keywords and phrases your potential customers and competitors are using – then properly integrate them in your site.
4. Out-of-Date Content. Most visitors find it a huge turnoff to see that the last time your site was updated was back in 2001. Those who have made the effort to visit your site are left with the impression "Why should I think you will take care of me as a customer if you neglect your own site?"
5. Amateurish Design. You may think you're shrewdly saving money by having a friend or family member design your site for you... but keep in mind that a substandard site reflects poorly on your business and tends to drive potential customers away. I call this the Teenage Nephew Phenomenon and it's unfortunately still fairly widespread. A professional-looking site implies crediblity and trustworthiness.

Do you belong to a networking club, professional association or another group interested in learning more Web site dos and don'ts? My presentation Web Site Boo-boos, Blunders, and Bad Things to Avoid... and Some Good Things to Strive For helps entrepreneurs get the most out of their Web site. Please pass my name along to any meeting organizer who may be interested in having me as a guest. My presentation can be customized to almost any audience, and can last anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours.

I hope everyone in the East has been surviving this scorchingly uncomfortable summer. My basement has been a valuable refuge during the way-too-frequent heat waves we've been having. More than once I've contemplated moving my office down there – or better yet, getting a sleek new laptop and a wireless Internet connection...

Stay cool, everyone, and see you in the fall!

À la prochaine,

kp
aka Kathryn Presner