Comments for We Heart Ecommerce

Comment on Convert!: Designing Web Sites to Increase Traffic and Conversion Reviews by Joshua Martyn

Joshua Martyn — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:34:37 +0000

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

Great resource that is to the point, January 28, 2011

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This review is from: Convert!: Designing Web Sites to Increase Traffic and Conversion (Paperback)

I've been developing web application for 10 years and the one area that I have always been weak in is reliable conversion rates for my clients. I can deal with the complexity of the software, but the presentation and flow of the message for the audience is a different animal all together. For those of you who work in the online industry, you are probably aware of the wide array of skillsets required to take a concept through the entire lifecycle to completion. I've only read through a portion of this book, but so far, Ben is conveying the right message for professionals in my field. Having to deal with servers, development frameworks, existing applications (cms/ecom), design opinions and copy can make any web project way more complicated than it has to be. The focus on simplicty in design, copy and analysis that Ben has put together will definitely help bring me into the minds of the visitor for a better conversion rate and ultimately successful projects.

I highly recommend this book to all online professionals of all backgrounds.

-Josh (Bend, Or)

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Comment on Convert!: Designing Web Sites to Increase Traffic and Conversion Reviews by Dan Bobinski

Dan Bobinski — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:22:24 +0000

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

Read this before you hire an 'expert' (who may not be an expert), April 28, 2011

Dan Bobinski (Boise, Idaho) -

This review is from: Convert!: Designing Web Sites to Increase Traffic and Conversion (Paperback)

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As a small business owner who's been involved in several website designs -- and paid thousands of dollars to 'experts' on upping the conversion rates on web visits -- I say "read this book before you hire any experts." The reason? After reading this you may not see a need to spend thousands of dollars on 'experts.' In fact, I was in the middle of a website overhaul at the same time I got this book, and reading it saved me plenty of hours (read: $$) with my designer.

What I liked:
- Hunt acts as a consultant/advisor, not a theorist or artist.
- Hunt's "if/then approach makes his advice easy to grasp. No fluff.
- Photos showing the nuances and how little changes made big differences.

What I didn't like:
- LOL ... Nothing. I liked it all.

Take this book and Jakob Nielsen's "Prioritizing Web Usability" and you have a wealth of information for designing websites that bring results (read: $$).

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Comment on Convert!: Designing Web Sites to Increase Traffic and Conversion Reviews by Diana M. Ratliff

Diana M. Ratliff — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:56:08 +0000

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful

Uncommon commonsense - easy to read, lots of examples, solid advice, January 31, 2011

Diana M. Ratliff (Columbia, MO USA) -

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This review is from: Convert!: Designing Web Sites to Increase Traffic and Conversion (Paperback)

I've been building websites for 12 years and have long believed that most sites are a waste of money; they look pretty but don't generate profits for the client. I tell prospects that if no one can find your site - and they don't do what you want (buy, donate, sign up, order) when they get there - it's money down the drain.

Still, web design courses have focused on how a site LOOKS ("graphic design") or the technical aspects of building a site. Ben Hunt goes beyond that. He marries technical knowledge with solid marketing fundamentals in a clear and compelling way. And best of all he provides examples of sites he's redesigned, explaining the reasoning behind each revision.

If you design websites, if you do copywriting for websites, if you simply want to understand how "online marketing" is SUPPOSED to work - get this book!

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Comments (3)

Comment on Q&A: Where can I buy online the type of paintings that you see in Mexican restaurants? by Dorothy

Dorothy — Tue, 15 May 2012 02:56:54 +0000

You can buy Mexican Painting from http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Mexican%20Painting&tag=heaandlif55-20&index=misc&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325

Comment on Q&A: Where can I buy online the type of paintings that you see in Mexican restaurants? by Carl

Carl — Tue, 15 May 2012 02:43:56 +0000

You might try these places:

http://www.northlightshop.com/products/587/50

http://www.artshow.com

dart.fine-art.com

http://www.smallbusinessbible.com

art.glencoe.com

Comment on Q&A: Where can I buy online the type of paintings that you see in Mexican restaurants? by John L

John L — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:50:35 +0000

I found this place for you. Maybe some velvet paintings or dogs playing poker??? LOL

http://www.wevegotit.com/index.php?search=fabric+bolt+wholesale&Submit=Search+eBay

OLE’

John L

Comment on Q&A: Where can I buy online the type of paintings that you see in Mexican restaurants? by Bethany P

Bethany P — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:40:21 +0000

ebay ?

Comment on Q&A: Where can I buy online the type of paintings that you see in Mexican restaurants? by Lindsey

Lindsey — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:13:53 +0000

Craigslist or ebay

Comment on PHP & MySQL For Dummies, 4th Edition by Richardjf "rjf333"

Richardjf "rjf333" — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:46:34 +0000

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

Great book for beginners, March 25, 2003

Richardjf "rjf333" (Wellington New Zealand) -

This review is from: PHP and MySQL for Dummies with CDROM (Paperback)

This is a great book for someone learning to use PHP and MySQL. It assumes the reader already knows basic HTML. The book is easy to read and understand. The topics it covers gives the reader a good grounding of the basics, enough to create a reasonably sophisticated web application. The stuff it leaves out is not essential to know, and can be left for when the reader steps up to more complicated applications.

Information is well organised and easy to navigate. The two web application examples towards the back of the book are also excellent to learn from. They're very good at demonstrating techniques described in earlier chapters.

One potential difficulty someone might have is with the explanation of relational database design. Someone without any past knowledge of relational databases might find the book's explanation a bit light. Designing relational databases isn't terribly complicated, but has its tricky bits.

Another thing I liked about this book is how it helped me set up the appropriate software on my computer so it all worked cleanly together.

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Comment on PHP & MySQL For Dummies, 4th Edition by Cole Marshall

Cole Marshall — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:40:16 +0000

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful

Solid way to start with PHP, June 20, 2006

Cole Marshall (United States) -

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This review is from: PHP and MySQL for Dummies, Second Edition (Paperback)

Prior to reading this book, I had no experience with an algorithmic programming language. All I knew was HTML. After sitting down with this book for a day or two, I was already programming in PHP. This book covers EVERYTHING you need to know to get started, and after programming in PHP for three years now, I still look back to this book as a very helpful reference.

I am disappointed to see dismal reviews of this book when it has been so helpful to me. Most of such reviews are written by people who are simply using the book to the wrong ends. Before buying this book, you'll want to make note of a few things:

-This book is perfect for people who only know HTML and want to expand their endeavors on the web. If you know another algorithmic programming language, chances are the bulk of this book will be filled with too much information you already know. For everyone else, the explanations are in depth enough to actually understand what the different aspects of PHP do.
-This book does not provide step-by-step tutorials. It gives you the information you need to create YOUR OWN programs. It provides examples of how a PHP program might be set up, but if you're attempting to make use of the examples line by line, you will be disappointed with the end result (and you will be cheating yourself, because you're just copying someone else's code, not learning the language).
-As I said, I use this book as a basic reference, one that is far easier to understand than the complex explanations in the PHP manual found on the Internet. A good half of this book acts as a layman's reference guide that's organized to help you learn PHP and MySQL.
-This book just jumpstarts you for using PHP and MySQL, and yes, eventually you will outgrow it, but that's not a shortcoming of the book. You'll learn everything the book has to teach you and then you'll want more. Once you're ready to take that next step, and it won't be long after you've exhausted this book, I suggest you pick up PHP Cookbook: Solutions and Examples for PHP Programmers to further your skills.
-Even after you seem to have learned everything you can from this book, you'll still want to keep it nearby. Every once in a while, I still reach for it to make sure I'm using the right syntax.

Without a doubt, this book will teach you what you've always wanted to learn about the most important language for the web right now.

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