BookofthewebSecrets

Outline, Timeline, Core Concepts, Secrets of the Web, Ingredients of the Web, Example Campaigns

Secrets of the Web

A list of The Secrets of the Web: The difference between Internet lovers and Internet skeptics isn't In what they knew the day they first got online; it's what they've learned since then. Internet enthusiasts learn to love the web because they've learned about the web. The Secrets of the Web will share the resources that help explain the most important concepts online.

• Watch before you talk: When you decide to try out a new social network or a new way of participating online, watch for a while before you jump in. Read the kinds of things people post on a forum, and see what kinds of responses they get; follow a range of people on Twitter and see what they tweet; check out lots of your friends' Facebook pages before you share personal information on yours. This will help you get a feel for the culture of that particular part of the web, so that you can shape your own participation accordingly.

• Google your error messages: If you get stumped by an error message on a website or a piece of software you're using, search Google for a solution by copying and pasting the error message into Google's search box. You're almost certain to find other people who've encountered the same problem..and shared the solution.

• Ask for help: The web is an incredibly generous place, and you'll be amazed at who will offer help if you ask nicely and do your homework (i.e. google that error message before posting your question to a forum). Whether you're looking for advice on which graphics application to buy, or tips on how to get your kid to go to sleep, somebody online will be happy to help.

• Learn how to ask smart questions from Eric Raymond and Rick Moen.

• Contribute something: Part of what makes the web work is that people offer help at least as much as they ask for it. If you contribute your own wisdom -- whether it's your frittata recipe, your blogging setup or the best place to buy discounted ShrinkyDinks -- you'll get lots of appreciation. Most people who spend a lot of time online find that contributing to the web (and getting that appreciation in return) is what keeps them coming back and helps them build relationships. You can even use the Web to make contributions to worthy causes that will take effect offline

• Follow 5 smart people: Identify five smart people who seem to make effective use of the web: they might be colleagues in your field, experts you admire or people who seem to have a good reputation online. Check out their blogs, social network profiles and overall online presence to see how they manage their online activities. Let them be your role models for how to engage online.

• Think twice: It is so easy to hit "send" or press the "submit" button, a carelessly written sentence can have several different meanings depending on who reads it...which is why so many of us have received e-mails or read blog posts that seem unkind. Never put something online while you're angry: just set it aside, and read it the next day. When in doubt, ask someone else to read your message out loud before you send it: remember that other people may not read your words in the same tone you wrote them in.

• Bake cookies for the geekiest person you know: Befriend someone who has stronger tech skills, so that you can ask them for help if you run into trouble. (But be sure you Google your error messages before asking your geek friend for help!) Techies get a lot of requests for help, though, so think about what you can do to help your geek friend in return: if you're not a baker, maybe you can offer to walk the dog, mow the lawn or file that pesky expense report.

• Registering a Domain is easy : Registering a domain is often seen as a difficult or even unnecessary task...but its much cooler to have a URL which is special to you or your project and its very easy to do...

• A quick search almost always provides the answer to any Question : One of the things I love with the web is that whenever I have a question, any question at all. I can just type it into the search bar on my browser and I'm almost alway provided with the answer. The web is like the sum of all human knowledge avalable to anyone with an internet connection and a browser. Just remember to check 4 or 5 of the sites that the search returns to confirm that the answer you get is the correct answer.

• 'Find old versions of sites with the Way Back Machine

• snooping the source with view source and firebug awesome way to learn html/web programming

• W3C pages with the 'try this' buttons are amazing ways to learn css

• free culture and freeDOM means a little pain