Website Development for IT Idiot

1. "In July 2023, I will turn 51 years old (thank you for your early present ??) One item on my bucket list is to learn website development, including #SQLdatabase, #Pythonprogramming, #UXdesign and #UIdesign. While I have led a technical team in building a front-end website for RHB Banking Group in 2010, I have no prior knowledge or experience in the technical aspects of website development. I believe that learning this #digitaltransformation skill will help prevent diseases like #dementia and #Alzheimer as long as I am able to continue learning.
2. Therefore, I am documenting my journey to become an IT professional in the form of a newsletter. The title of this newsletter is 'Gen-X's IT Pro Guide: From IT Idiot to IT Pro with David Ho .' It will be conversational between me (DTI - David The Idiot) and my Subject Matter Expert (SMEx). (If you would like to join me on this journey, please consider subscribing to this newsletter. ??) Subscribe here:
3. Okay! ??Here goes:
4. [DTI]: Teach me about website development, SQL database, python, UX and UI
5. [SMEx]: Website development refers to the process of creating a website for the Internet or an intranet. This includes tasks such as designing the website layout and graphics, writing the code that makes up the website, and setting up a web server to host the website.
6. SQL (Structured Query Language) is a programming language used to manage and manipulate databases. A database is a collection of data that is organized and stored so that it can be accessed quickly and efficiently.
7. Python is a high-level programming language that is widely used for web development, artificial intelligence, data analysis, and scientific computing. It is known for its simplicity and flexibility, making it a popular choice for beginners and experienced programmers alike.
8. UX (user experience) refers to how a person feels when interacting with a website, software, or other product. It encompasses a wide range of elements, including the design, functionality, and usability of the product.
9. UI (user interface) is the part of a product that the user interacts with. It includes the layout, buttons, and other elements that the user interacts with to use the product.
10. I hope this helps! Do you have any specific questions about these topics?
11. [DTI] Can you teach me step-by-step on?#websitedevelopment ?
12. [SMEx] Sure! Here are the basic steps involved in website development:
13. Planning: This involves identifying the purpose and goals of the website, as well as the target audience and content that will be included on the site.
14. Design: The website's layout and appearance are created in this step, using graphics and other visual elements.
15. Development: The actual code that makes up the website is written in this step, using languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
16. Testing: The website is tested to ensure that it functions correctly and looks good on various devices and browsers.
17. Deployment: The website is uploaded to a web server and made available to the public (or to a specific group of users in the case of an intranet).
18. Maintenance: The website is kept up-to-date with new content and features, and any issues that arise are addressed.
19. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions.
20. [DTI] Can you teach me step-by-step on this: Website Planning
21. [SMEx] Certainly! Here are the steps involved in planning a website:
22. Define the purpose of the website: What do you want the website to achieve? This could be to provide information, sell products, or offer a service.
23. Identify the target audience: Who do you want to visit the website? Consider factors such as age, location, interests, and needs.
24. Determine the content and features: What content and features will be included on the website? This could include text, images, videos, forms, and interactive elements.
25. Create a sitemap: A sitemap is a visual representation of the structure and hierarchy of the website. It helps to organize the content and determine the navigation structure.
26. Create wireframes: Wireframes are simplified sketches of the website layout that show the placement of content and features. They help to visualize the design and functionality of the site.
27. Set goals and objectives: Determine what you want to achieve with the website, and create specific and measurable goals and objectives to track progress.
28. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions.
29. [DTI] Can you teach me step-by-step with examples on this: Define the purpose of the website
30. [SMEx] Certainly! The purpose of a website is the reason why it exists and the goals it aims to achieve. Here are some examples of common website purposes:
31. Providing information: Many websites exist simply to provide information on a particular topic. For example, a website about a particular type of animal might include information on its habitat, diet, behavior, and other characteristics.
32. Selling products: E-commerce websites exist to sell products directly to consumers. For example, an online store might sell clothing, electronics, or home goods.
33. Offering a service: Some websites exist to provide a service, such as booking a vacation, finding a job, or connecting with other people.
34. Generating leads: Some businesses use their website as a way to generate leads, or potential customers, by offering free resources or information in exchange for contact information.
35. Building a community: Some websites exist to bring people together around a shared interest or cause. For example, a forum or social network website might provide a platform for users to connect and share information.
36. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions.
37. [DTI] Can you teach me step-by-step with examples on this: Identify the target audience?
38. Certainly! Identifying the target audience for a website is an important step in the planning process, as it helps to determine the content, style, and overall direction of the site. Here are some steps you can follow to identify your target audience:
39. Define the purpose of the website: This will help to narrow down the potential audience and give you a better idea of who you are trying to reach.
40. Consider the demographics of your audience: Think about factors such as age, gender, location, income level, education level, and occupation.
41. Determine their needs and interests: What does your target audience need or want? What are their interests and hobbies?
42. Think about their behavior: How do they typically access the internet? What devices do they use? How much time do they spend online?
43. Here are some examples of target audience descriptions:
44. Our target audience is young professionals in the city, aged 25-35, who are interested in staying up-to-date with local events and happenings.
45. Our target audience is parents with young children, aged 25-45, who are looking for educational and entertaining activities for their kids.
46. Our target audience is outdoor enthusiasts, aged 18-35, who are interested in exploring new hiking trails and finding gear recommendations.
47. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions.
48. [DTI] Can you teach me step-by-step with examples on this: Determine the content and features
49. [SMEx] Certainly! Determining the content and features of a website is an important step in the planning process, as it helps to define the purpose and goals of the site. Here are some steps you can follow to determine the content and features for your website:
50. Define the purpose and goals of the website: This will help to narrow down the types of content and features that are necessary and relevant to your target audience.
51. Identify the target audience: Understanding the needs and interests of your audience will help to determine the types of content and features that will be most appealing to them.
52. Create a list of content and features: Brainstorm and write down a list of all the content and features that you would like to include on the website. Some examples might include text, images, videos, forms, interactive elements, and social media integration.
53. Prioritize the list: Not all of the content and features on your list will be necessary or feasible to include on the website. Prioritize the list based on importance and feasibility, and consider which items will be most effective in achieving the website's goals.
54. Here are some examples of content and features that might be included on a website:
55. A blog with articles on a particular topic
56. A forum for users to discuss and share information
57. An online store to sell products
58. A booking system to schedule appointments or reservations
59. A newsletter sign-up form to collect email addresses
60. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions.
61. [DTI] Can you teach me step-by-step with examples, recommended SaaS tools and resources on this: Create a site map
62. [SMEx] Certainly! A sitemap is a visual representation of the structure and hierarchy of a website, and it helps to organize the content and determine the navigation structure. Here are the steps for creating a sitemap:
63. Define the purpose and goals of the website: This will help to determine the types of content and features that will be included on the site.
64. Identify the main sections and pages: List out the main categories or sections that will be included on the website, as well as the pages within each section.
65. Determine the hierarchy: Decide on the logical order in which the sections and pages should be organized. For example, you might have a top-level navigation menu with categories such as "About," "Products," and "Contact," and then sub-pages within each of those categories.
66. Create the sitemap: Use a tool such as a pen and paper, a spreadsheet, or a sitemap generator to create a visual representation of the website's structure.
67. Here are some examples of sitemaps:
68. [Example 1]

2. [Example 2]

1. And here are some tools and resources you can use to create a sitemap:
2. GlooMaps (https://www.gloomaps.com/)?
3. SlickPlan (https://slickplan.com/)?
4. Mockingbird (https://gomockingbird.com/)?
5. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions.

7 Jan 2023

[DTI] Can you teach me step-by-step with examples, recommended SaaS tools and resources on this: Create wireframes

[SMEx] Certainly! Wireframes are simplified sketches of the website layout that show the placement of content and features. They help to visualize the design and functionality of the site before creating the actual content. Here are the steps for creating wireframes:

1. Define the purpose and goals of the website: This will help to determine the types of content and features that will be included on the site.
2. Identify the main sections and pages: List out the main categories or sections that will be included on the website, as well as the pages within each section.
3. Determine the layout: Decide on the general layout and structure of the pages, including the placement of the header, footer, navigation menu, and main content areas.
4. Sketch out the wireframes: Use a tool such as pen and paper, a wireframing tool, or a graphic design software to create simple sketches of the layout and placement of content and features.

Here are some examples of wireframes:

And here are some tools and resources you can use to create wireframes:

• Balsamiq (https://balsamiq.com/)?
• Wireframe.cc (https://wireframe.cc/)?
• InVision Studio (https://www.invisionapp.com/studio)?

Here is an example from Zurich Insurance who launched a complete CX toolkit in under 12 months: https://www.invisionapp.com/events/zurich-insurance-event-2021?

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions.

[DTI] Can you teach me step-by-step with examples: Set goals and objectives, which is to determine what you want to achieve with the website, and create specific and measurable goals and objectives to track progress.

[SMEx] Certainly! Setting goals and objectives is an important step in the planning process, as it helps to define the purpose and direction of the website. Here are the steps for setting goals and objectives:

1. Define the purpose of the website: This will help to determine the overall goals and objectives for the site.
2. Determine the target audience: Understanding the needs and interests of your target audience will help to guide the goals and objectives of the website.
3. Set specific and measurable goals: Instead of setting broad or general goals, try to be as specific as possible. For example, instead of setting a goal of "increase website traffic," set a goal of "increase website traffic by 25% over the next six months."
4. Create corresponding objectives: Objectives are specific actions that will help to achieve the goals. For example, if your goal is to increase website traffic by 25%, your objectives might include creating a social media marketing campaign, guest blogging on relevant websites, and optimizing the website for search engines.

Here are some examples of goals and corresponding objectives:

Goal: Increase online sales by 20% over the next year.

• Objective 1: Create an email marketing campaign to promote new products.
• Objective 2: Optimize the website for mobile devices to improve the user experience.
• Objective 3: Implement a referral program to encourage customers to spread the word about the products.

Goal: Increase website traffic by 50% over the next six months.

• Objective 1: Write and publish blog articles on a regular basis.
• Objective 2: Promote the website through social media and targeted advertising.
• Objective 3: Conduct keyword research and optimize the website for search engines.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions.

[DTI] Can you teach me step-by-step on this: Website Design (next article...]

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