CIL2008: Fast & Easy Site Tuneups

Great tips from Jeff Wisniewski, from U. of Pitt. Presentation will be on CIL site - probably in a week or so. Most of the tips can be done in under 1 minute; at most 4-5. I've bolded the ones I really like.

• Update your copyright automatically with a script
• Add "last updated" script ot all pages
• Add photos to contacts
  
• Turn boring contact info into Hcards - use for individuals, branches, or services. A Dreamweaver plugin is also available.
• Replace all instances of "click here". For example "Click here for info guides" becomes "Info guides are here"
• Use Firefox extensions Tails & Operator
• Harness the power of the 3 question survey - ask for email (and respond)
• Don't make the server think: If a directory link, add the final slash
• Web 2.0ifiy your logo - Web2.0 Stylr
  
• Small chunks of sans-serif type
• Cheery colors
• Rounded corners
• Be an Icon icon - be more graphic: Commons.wikimedia.org - icons
• Need for speed - Install Firebug & Yslow in Firefox to test site speed
• Cache the cache
• Combine small images into an image map - Yahoo research has found this can make images load faster
• Scripts:
• Eliminate inline scripts on a page. Put them in a separate file and point to the file so it loads once
• Exception: Your front page - put them inline, it will load faster
• Tidy up your homepage. Validate with w3.org
• Optimize your CSS Cleancss
• Move important info out of the "blindness zone"
• Search engine optimize page titles. Use page title analyzer from Google Webmaster Tools
• Add labels to forms for accessibility
• Use radio buttons & check boxes appropriately
• Add social bookmarks links for "Add to X" - Social Bookmark Creator