Topics: Content: Community

Content-focused digital product and brand development. Building magazines and communities. Editorial best practices. The arithmetic of readers and writers. Conferences and communication. Blogs, cogs, and straw dogs. (19 articles)

Say No to SOPA

by Jeffrey Zeldman

Issue 340November 29, 2011

A List Apart strongly opposes United States H.R.3261 AKA the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), an ill-conceived lobbyist-driven piece of legislation that is technically impossible to enforce, cripplingly burdensome to support, and would, without hyperbole, destroy the internet as we know it. SOPA approaches the problem of content piracy with a broad brush, lights that brush on fire, and soaks the whole web in gasoline. If passed, SOPA will allow corporations to block the domains of websites that are “capable of” or “seem to encourage” copyright infringement. Once a domain is blocked, nobody can access it, unless they’ve memorized the I.P. address. Under SOPA, everything from your grandma’s knitting blog to mighty Google is guilty until proven innocent. Learn why SOPA must not pass, and find out what you can do to help stop it.

Findings from the Web Design Survey, 2009

by ALA Staff

Issue 315October 5, 2010

The findings are in from the survey for people who make websites. Once again, we have crunched the data this way and that, figured out what the numbers were telling us, and assembled the sliced and diced data-bytes into nifty charts and graphs for your edification and pleasure. As in years past, what emerges is the first true picture of the profession of web design as it is practiced by men and women of all ages, across all continents, in corporations, agencies, non-profits, and freelance configurations.

The Survey, 2009

by ALA Staff

Issue 298December 15, 2009

For the third year in a row, good citizens of the web, we ask that you take a few minutes to tell us about your professional skills, educational background, career prospects, job benefits, and more.

The Wisdom of Community

by Derek Powazek

Issue 283May 5, 2009

The Wisdom of Crowds (WOC) theory does not mean that people are smart in groups — they’re not. Anyone who’s seen an angry mob knows it. But crowds, presented with the right challenge and the right interface, can be wise. When it works, the crowd is wiser, in fact, than any single participant.

In Defense of Readers

by Mandy Brown

Issue 278February 17, 2009

As web designers, we concern ourselves with how users move from page to page, but forget the needs of those whose purpose is to be still. Learn the design techniques that create a mental space for reading. Use typographic signals to help users shift from looking to reading, from skimming along to concentrating. Limit distractions; pay attention to the details that make text readable; and consider chronology by providing transitions for each of the three phases of the online reading experience.

Findings from the Web Design Survey, 2008

by ALA Staff

Issue 281April 7, 2009

If we, the people who make websites, want the world to know who we are and what we do, it’s up to each of us to stand up and represent. This year, 30,055 of you did just that, taking time out of your busy work day to answer the detailed questions in the second A List Apart Survey. Find out what we learned about our profession and ourselves.

Coaching a Community

by Laura Brunow Miner

Issue 280March 24, 2009

A key to running successful “social networking sites” is to remember that they’re just communities. All communities, online or off, have one thing in common: members want to belong—to feel like part of something larger than themselves. Communicating effectively, setting clear and specific expectations, mentoring contributors, playing with trends, offering rewards, and praising liberally (but not excessively) can harness your members’ innate desires—and nurture great content in the process.

Ten Years

by Jeffrey Zeldman

Issue 269October 7, 2008

When Google was little more than a napkin sketch and the first dot-com boom was not even a blip, we started a magazine for people who make websites. Celebrate A List Apart's first decade. Join Zeldman for a look back at the way we were—and why we were that way. Find out what we've done and who did it with us, peek into our process, and get a clue about what's next.

Putting Our Hot Heads Together

by Carolyn Wood

Issue 265August 12, 2008

The web is a conversation, but not always a productive one. Web discussions too often degenerate into whines, jabs, sour grapes, and one-upmanship. How can we transform discussion forums and comment sections from shooting ranges into arenas of collaboration?

Community: From Little Things, Big Things Grow

by George Oates

Issue 258May 6, 2008

Q. What technology do you need to build the next Flickr? A. Trick question. What you need to build the next Flickr is people. George Oates, a key member of the core team that shaped the Flickr community, shares lessons that can help you grow yours.

How to Be a Great Host

by John Gladding

Issue 226October 24, 2006

Online communities can take time to get off the ground. Like small businesses, most fail to thrive due to poor planning and support. John Gladding explains how anyone who can host a great party can start a successful forum.

The ALA Primer Part Two: Resources For Beginners

by Erin Lynch

Issue 225October 9, 2006

In part one of this series, Erin Lynch suggested a few good starting points for those new to ALA. In part two, Erin and the rest of the ALA crew suggest resources for those new to the whole industry.

The ALA Primer: A Guide for New Readers

by Erin Lynch

Issue 223September 12, 2006

New to A List Apart? Welcome! ALA's own Erin Lynch suggests a few good places to start reading.

Community Creators, Secure Your Code!

by Niklas Bivald

Issue 215April 18, 2006

Don't be like MySpace. Protect your community site from malicious cross-site scripting attacks. Part one of a two-part series.

The Way It’s Supposed to Work

by Erin Kissane

Issue 192January 18, 2005

Groundbreaking accessibility information. Project management and information architecture theory from old-school experts. Plug-and-play solutions to universal design and development problems. Experimental CSS/DOM hacks that use non-semantic elements to do funky design tricks. One of these things is not like the others...which is why we’re introducing a tiny new feature to the magazine.

Anonymity and Online Community: Identity Matters

by John M. Grohol

Issue 214April 4, 2006

Most community managers want to offer a comfortable level of anonymity without spending too much time battling hooligans who aren't invested in the community. John Grohol offers advice on striking the right balance.