BRIAN FRYER.com http://brianfryer.com Thu, 10 May 2012 03:36:01 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 HTML/CSS is my new video game. http://brianfryer.com/htmlcss-is-my-new-video-game/ http://brianfryer.com/htmlcss-is-my-new-video-game/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 03:36:01 +0000 Brian Fryer http://brianfryer.com/?p=451 Continue reading →]]> HTML/CSS is my new video game. Creating a pixel (and color) perfect layout is like…

* placing towers in Tower Defence games, or like
* building an army in a RTS game…

Plus, it’s a lot more fun to build something that will last longer than a single session!

And for web app design: It’s something that other people are going to be using — which means I’m indirectly making someone’s life easier :-)

]]> http://brianfryer.com/htmlcss-is-my-new-video-game/feed/ 0 My favorite web app of the week — Punchfork http://brianfryer.com/my-favorite-web-app-of-the-week-punchfork/ http://brianfryer.com/my-favorite-web-app-of-the-week-punchfork/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 00:44:39 +0000 Brian Fryer http://brianfryer.com/?p=448 Very simply put: Punchfork features the best gluten free recipes from top food sites. The site also provides ratings, and can sort recipes by vegetarian or vegan diets.

Time to start planning this weeks menu…

]]> http://brianfryer.com/my-favorite-web-app-of-the-week-punchfork/feed/ 0 Adding a “search” box to your site is dumb. http://brianfryer.com/adding-a-search-box-to-your-site-is-dumb/ http://brianfryer.com/adding-a-search-box-to-your-site-is-dumb/#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 18:04:10 +0000 Brian Fryer http://brianfryer.com/?p=444 Continue reading →]]> Generally speaking, if a visitor to your website can’t find what they need with simple navigation, your doing one of two things wrong:

  1. You’re trying to say too much, or
  2. You’re site needs better organization.

K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid)

If your site’s goal is to convert a visitor into a customer, you should keep things as simple as possible. Provide visitors with the features/benefits of your product, social proof (if applicable), information about who you are, a method for them to give you money, and a means to deliver your product to them.

Simple, right? If any of that requires a “search” box, you’re doing it wrong. Simplify, people. Simplify.

]]> http://brianfryer.com/adding-a-search-box-to-your-site-is-dumb/feed/ 0 Sriracha and Social Media http://brianfryer.com/sriracha-and-social-media/ http://brianfryer.com/sriracha-and-social-media/#comments Thu, 03 May 2012 22:22:30 +0000 Brian Fryer http://brianfryer.com/?p=435 birthday cards

A friend on Facebook shared the above image. I was reminded of The Oatmeal. So I headed over to check out a comic or two, and then ended up buying some birthday cards.

See? Social media *can* work!

]]> http://brianfryer.com/sriracha-and-social-media/feed/ 0 My favorite web app of the week: Tiny Grab http://brianfryer.com/tinygrab/ http://brianfryer.com/tinygrab/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:48:33 +0000 Brian Fryer http://brianfryer.com/?p=424 Continue reading →]]> I have previously used both Droplr and SnagIt for taking & sharing screenshots. Droplr kept trying to upgrade when there were no upgrades (and their support guy is Mac fiend asshole), and SnagIt… well, SnagIt just sucked.

TinyGrab, though, is amazing screenshot software. The web-interface is beautiful, the desktop portion of the software was incredibly simple to setup, and everything works seamlessly.

They even have both Mac and Windows versions of their software (note: I haven’t checked out the Windows application, yet).

Seriously, check it out: http://tinygrab.com

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