In case you’ve missed the news, Google has released their very own web browser called Chrome. I downloaded it yesterday after I had checked my Google Analytics and saw that at least several people using Chrome had visited my website. After I did a quick check to make sure that my blog didn’t look like an unholy mess in Chrome, I played around with it for a bit and found it to be a pretty nice, simple browser. Once big flaw for me is that there’s currently no version for Mac, but apparently they’re working on that. I hadn’t had a lot of time to play with it, but it looks to be a nice browser so far (other than that Windows only thing).

Although we all have our favorite web browsers, whether it’s Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, whatever, remember that it’s a good idea to make sure that our websites look good in as many as possible. Remember that there may be some differences in how some browsers display your website, so you should try to check this out instead of waiting for someone to tell you that your website is broken when they look at it using Internet Explorer. I wrote about the importance of this in response to a reader question a while back. You can check that post out here.

Another thing to remember is that web browsers aren’t solely just for computers anymore. If you’re one of the lucky ducks that has an iPhone or a cell phone or a Blackberry in which you can surf the web with, then you’ll know that websites also need to be designed to that they look good for people using mobile devices to surf the web. If you want to see what your browser would look like on an iPhone, you can go to Testiphone.com, type your web address and find out.

Well, I’m coming into the homestretch of my website redesign project. It’s been a big long process that I hope not to have to do again for a couple of years at least. Since I am also a web designer as well as an artist, I am able to develop a website exactly how I want it without having to shell out money. Unfortunately, what I save in money usually is paid in time…because there’s nobody more persnickety than a web designer working on their own website.

If you are planning to take the plunge and create your own website or if you want to give your existing site a facelift, take a look at this great article that I found through the Daily Blog Tips blog before you get started. It’s a list of 10 Assumptions that people make when developing their websites that can end up becoming costly mistakes. Some of these assumptions include:

• Assumption #1: People will know how to find your website
• Assumption #2: People know what you sell
• Assumption #3 : Everything will go as planned
• Assumption #7: People know how to buy (this is huge!)
• Assumption #9: People will contact customer service if they have a question or problem
• Assumption #10: People will come back (I covered this point in past newsletters)

Dang, I almost posted the whole list…but the rest of it just as good. You can check out the article here.

Now when I learned web design way back in the days of yore (about 1996), I started by using one of mom’s back issues of Computing Magazine and a lot of trial and error. But now there’s tons of books and websites out there that can get you started on the right track in no time.

But not everyone has the time and patience to read through a manual on web design and HTML, so for you multimedia learners out there, Mashable has compiled a list of 10 Video Tutorials for Learning Basic Web Design Skills. So if you’re the type that learns better by watching than reading, you want to check out some of these videos!

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted an Ask a Question reply. This one is by Carol about the best way to learn HTML…

I am so new at this, but I want to learn how to do web sites. I am getting the feeling that learning HTML might be essential. I was going to buy Dreamweaver, but it looks like I should learn code as well. My question is: Can I learn that on my own or should I take some college courses (local Junior College)? Thanks

There’s a lot of ways that someone can learn HTML…here’s what I wrote to Carol…

Hi Carol,

I must admit that I’m an old school web designer. I learned to design websites by hand before there were tools like Expression Web and Dreamweaver, so coding in HTML is like second nature to me. That being said, strictly speaking you don’t have to know how to code in HTML to create a website using a tool like Dreamweaver. But a good working knowledge of HTML will certainly be beneficial because you’ll know what the program is doing to your page behind the scenes.

Now basic HTML is not a very difficult thing to learn, and how you learn it is really dependent on how you learn best. If you’re good studying things by yourself, you can get a good reference book like Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML or Sams Teach Yourself HTML & XHTML in 24 Hours and teach yourself. And while you’re at it you should probably also get a good reference book on Dreamweaver as well, like Dreamweaver CS3: The Missing Manual.

There’s also some online resources that can help you out as well. Web Design from Scratch has a good basic HTML tutorial that you can look at.

If you prefer the multimedia approach, Lynda also has some video training for HTML as well.

If after looking at some of these online resources and the reference books, you feel that you need some one-on-one direction or you feel that you learn better in the classroom environment, you can certainly take some classes at the local junior college. They’ll be able to get you pointed in the right direction and you’ll also have some feedback if you get stuck.

I hope this helps you some…if you have any more questions, please feel free to ask!

Do you have a burning question about websites or promoting yourself online? Click on the “Ask a Question” tab at the top of the page and send me your question. I’ll send you an answer to your question personally.

Psst! I’ve got a secret for you. My website really stinks. In addition to this blog, I also have a website for my jewelry, and I have to admit to you…it’s pretty pathetic. And no wonder…I hadn’t done a major update on it since 2005. It’s in bad…bad…need of a makeover. I’ve been so busy working on this blog and other people’s websites that I haven’t be able to get to my own. But that’s about to change…

So! As I alluded to yesterday, I’m in the midst of doing a major overhaul of my jewelry website Mixed Media Designs.com…I’m hoping to relaunch it sometime around June 16th. So I’m doing a series of videos documenting the before and after my website overhaul.

Here is the first video of the series where I’m critiquing what’s wrong with my website…so check it out!