What is Web 2.0?

It is the next phase of the world wide web.

In the beginning, there was HTML.

In the mid-nineties, Tim Berners-Lee crafted a new markup language by extracting a subset from an older markup language and boom! The Web was born.

Web technology continued to improve over the next decade, producing a whole slew of applications with each having their own set of bells and whistles. Then in 2004, ten years after the birth of the web, another Tim, Tim O'Reilly, declared the birth of Web 2.0.

With all the new technologies and seemingly endless array of options facing web users, Web 2.0 in many ways goes back to the basics in terms of usability and scalability.

In Web 2.0, no longer do you have to handcraft each web page, or know a programming language to have a web site, you do not even need a web guru to run your web site. In Web 2.0, you enter the world of content management systems(CMS), search engine optimization (SEO), web services such as RSS and Amazon, web automation such as Google sitemaps, and countless other improvements.

What does this mean for web site owners?

So what is the difference between a web design and a web theme?

A web design is how a web site works, what you can create, and how it all fits together to satisfy some goal or create an outcome.

Amber Eyes, for example, is a small one person company that excels in making affordable and attractive web sites that are easy to use. So our web design includes this blog so you can tell that I am a real human being. I list all of my web sites on the front page so you can see my work. I include my design notes to illustrate my design philosophy. I showcase my most recent designs and I offer a menu of things right at the top to take you to areas you might find interesting as a potential client. And I keep the whole thing simple and pretty straight forward, a lot like me in fact.

A web theme includes all the graphical elements, colors and fonts. It is what the design wears.

Amber Eyes, for example, is wearing a sturdy pair of shoes, khaki pants and a comfy t-shirt. Every element says casual and laid back. Of all the themes I have created, this one is the simplest -- all I did was increase the font on an existing design template. I let my client designs showcase my talent. Low key, sturdy and accessible -- that is the theme for Amber Eyes.

So when you purchase a design from Amber Eyes, we include a theme for free. If later you want a new look, all you do is order a new theme, and all your content stays exactly where it is.

Simple, hunh?

My thoughts exactly!

Maybe you are considering getting a web site, maybe you have a domain and need hosting or maybe you need hosting, design and a domain.

Here at Amber Eyes, we can help.

But the first question we usually hear is, "How much space, bandwidth, etc do I need?"

If this is your first web site, and you do not intend to open a storefront on the net -- at least not yet .... just get a blogger site.

Why?

Because unless you suddenly get as popular as Google, you will not generate much traffic initially. And unless you have a storehouse of very large images, you will not need that much storage capacity either. You can always upgrade to a larger site when you need to.

As examples, Connect DC and Katrina's Joy (my most popular sites), together generated less than 15 Mbs bandwidth for all of March. And Blue Moon Studio, my largest site, is using less than 125 Mbs of storage.

So don't worry so much about going for a larger site initially.

Also beware of hosting companies that offer huge storage and bandwidth capacities that you will most likely never use. They also may charge for technical support or will not help you with issues surrounding site design.

Use your best judgement.

Here at Amber Eyes, our primary product is web site design.

Add our registration fees to the ticket price and enjoy FREE registration! Just one of the bright ideas that can make a success out of your next event.

Need answers, just Ask Amber!