Welcome to to the first 2008 issue of ZooNews issue of ZooNews, from professional Web site design company Zoonini Web Services.

It's hard for me to fathom, but this year marks the 10th anniversary of Zoonini's incarnation as a Web design firm. (Prior to 1998, Zoonini Productions served as an independent film and television production company.)

If there's one thing I've learned after a decade in the Web design business, it's that there is a surprisingly large number of unprofessional-looking business Web sites out there, on both the design and content fronts. This still never fails to dismay me, because my philosophy has always been: What's the point of having a Web site unless it shows your company in a professional light?

I'm not entirely sure why – perhaps because the skills to build Web sites can seem deceptively simple – but this phenomenon of unprofessional corporate Web sites has been around since the Web's earliest days. Whether it's the do-it-yourself entrepreneur looking to save some money, or the proud dad happy to entrust his company's Web site to a 12 year-old child, I'm always amazed at how little things have changed.

Take the following email I received recently:

Hello

I am freelancer content writer and willing to work with your organization on freelancing basis. I can send you my relevant experience if you provide with an opportunity to work with your reputed organization. I will provide you the high quality content with desired schedules.

Admittedly, I had to chuckle a bit at this one. I mean, how can I take a writing offer seriously from someone whose English writing skills are so obviously not up to snuff?

So, for 2008, my motto remains: Professional = Credible. Something to keep in mind the next time you cast a critical eye at your own business Web site!

For over 30 years, Lake Superior State University has compiled a list of English words and phrases they'd like to see banned from use. Among 2008's list – which also features "post 9/11", "it is what it is", and "X is the new Y" – the technology term named most deserving of banishment is webinar, meaning a seminar held via the Web. Scott Lassiter of Houston, Texas calls it, "Yet another non-word trying to worm its way into the English language due to the Internet. It belongs in the same school of non-thought that brought us e-anything and i-anything." Explore more of 2008's List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness.

Got a technology term you'd like demystified in ZooNews? Send it to questions@zoonini.com.

Meet Zoonini's latest friend. Over the holidays, we took the opportunity to do a small revamp of Zoonini.com. We added a section to better define our custom Web design services. Our new resources section suggests some ways that original and stock photography can enliven Web sites, collects some of our favourite search engine optimization resources, and offers several e-commerce options for those wanting to sell products or services directly via their sites. Would you like to see something else added to Zoonini's Resources? Let us know!

Speaking of the power of photography, the US Library of Congress recently released to the public thousands of fascinating, well annotated historical photographs via the Flickr photo-sharing service. From iconic Rosie-the-Rivetter-style World War II propaganda shots, to black-and-white sports images taken in the early 20th century, this vast collection of high-resolution photos is a veritable treasure trove. And even better, most of the images have no known copyright restrictions, and are free to use by anyone! Enjoy.

À la prochaine,

kp
aka Kathryn Presner