I have to say that the best thing I ever did for myself in terms of development was to learn basic HTML. I didn’t sign up for an expensive course or buy a bunch of books. I did it all with the help of Ebay.
When I was selling domain names on Ebay a few years ago, they began to offer sellers the option to customize their listings with HTML. You could either use the visual effects, where you would highlight the text and push buttons (bold, italics, colors, indent…etc) to make changes, or if you were daring, you could open up the actual HTML sheet. I haven’t been a seller in a long time, so I don’t know what it’s like now, but I would imagine it’s similar. This is also similar to the admin panel on WordPress.
Instead of simply using the “cheating” visual method, I also checked out the HTML and got a grasp for using HTML, which is a universal development language. I know what varies tags mean (like <b>bold</b> for example). Knowing basic HTML from my Ebay days a few years ago, I am now been able to manipulate and edit design code provided by my developers and designers. Each time I do this, I am able to learn new things and grow my knowledgebase.
I have never been entirely comfortable using HTML, and I would never call myself an expert, but I am confident enough to make changes and edits, and as a result, I am less reliant on developers for small changes. I can make edits on my sites much more quickly and for a lot less money. Whether I use full websites or mini-sites, my HTML knowledge is immensely helpful.
So, when you have a chance, learn basic HTML and you will be much better for it. Incidentally, I have absolutely no computer science or technology background at all, so this is all foreign to me – so that’s no excuse!
Totally agree with you !!
I did the same with eBay and moved on to doing my own little sites with the help of free templates.
Once you get the hang of the basic html and then some CSS, it great that you can change things about to your liking.
Books do help, but for me nothing is better than actually having a bash at it !!
If you have the desire and the motivation and really want to learn and understand web development…..there is no better way than hands on learning!
That’s how I became the “WordPress Expert!”
🙂
@ Tony
Is that self-titled or official? 🙂
Not self-titled……that’s what they call me in all the forums when it comes to WordPress Design & Development……:)
@Tony what’s the link to some of your work. People email me a bunch asking for WP design options.
Good advice Elliot. Not many domainers know html which is unfortunate. Html is actually fairly simple to learn but even after so many years of working with it I still have occasional difficulties with it since I am not a geek kind of person.
Elliot….
Work samples can be found here…..
http://www.dnforum.com/f60/wordpress-custom-website-design-search-engine-optimization-thread-238011.html
and here….
http://www.EcyberMedia.com
Tony
Elliot, this is such a “me and you” article. You nailed it on the head for a lot of domainers and even website owners themselves.
I am going to contact Tony at http://www.EcyberMedia.com for some advice to hop up my blog. I want him to make it better than yours. Then maybe people will like me more than you. (not likely)
I am an attention whore according to some really cool noobies and you’re not, nyah nyah nyaa…… wait, this doesn’t look good, does it? Okay, let’s just say I’m honored that you print my comments.
Seriously, great article, and it connects with my experience exactly. That’s what makes you such a great source of info, you see so many angles in becoming successful in this industry that some of the “big” names overlook. It’s the little things like learning some html that help a domainer get the extra edge.
cheers, good buddy.