WORD - THEBESTDESIGNS.COM

Do you sometimes just feel like the creativity is gone?  It helps to look at other great work to get inspired.  Check out some of the great web designs showcased at thebestdesigns.com.  This site showcases work from some of the best designers in the world!  Use sites like this when you’re in need of something to spark your creativity.

WORD - W3SCHOOLS.COM

Do you know about w3schools.com?  It’s the world’s largest web development site.  It has TONS of free web tutorials on everything for beginners through experts.  Try to use resources like this to study and learn more outside of the classroom.  The site has a nifty “Try It Yourself” editor that tests HTML, CSS, XML, and JavaScript right in your own browser.  This is a great tool for learning more about the web!

WORD - tinyURL

Do you know what tinyURL is?  It’s a way to convert long links to short ones in case you are posting info on Twitter (140  Characters) or anything else that has a limit to the amount of characters you can type.  Many times, when you copy and paste URLs, they can look messy and long. 

Take for example a link to a book on Amazon.com:  http://www.amazon.com/Layers-Complete-Photoshops-Powerful-Feature/dp/0321749588/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299169304&sr=1-2  ß That’s a link to a Photoshop book.  This link is 126 characters long.  It’s a bit too long to post if I were to try to share the link on Twitter. 

Instead, I can copy and paste the address into TinyURL.com and get the following:  http://tinyurl.com/65jl4fe ß This is a link to the exact same page, only much smaller (26 characters) and easier to share. 

Start using tinyURL!

WORD - 2Advanced.com

Have you ever heard of the website http://2advanced.com/?  If not, check it out.  It’s pushing the boundaries of what Flash based websites can actually do.  They are leading the world of flash web design with their fresh take on what the web is capable of.  Take a minute to check out the site and see what all the buzz is about.

WORD - Flash Catalyst

Do you know what Flash Catalyst is?  It’s a way to create highly interactive flash files without the stress of learning the code!  Catalyst is a way to put together your assets and add interactivity without the need for programming.  Do not think that this is an easy way out of learning ActionScript, but it is available for you to use and learn.  ActionScript is still a highly desired skill-set by most employers in this field.

WORD - Do you BLOG?

Do you BLOG?  Do you understand why a blog may be beneficial to people?    Blogging is a good way to share ideas, post inspirational content, teach people, offer your opinion, showcase your passion, and much more!  I would highly recommend each of you set up a blog and start posting stuff that you strongly feel passionate about.  Google even blogs on their own blogspot here http://googleblog.blogspot.com/ where they post interesting info about Google events/apps/ideas/etc.  I’ve even set up a blog for W.O.R.D. where I’m placing my emails to you in one location so that you can find the daily WORD online (even from past emails).

WORD - Google Analytics

Do you use GOOGLE ANALYTICS? Google Analytics is a MUST HAVE for all websites you create! It tracks your visitors that come to your website, and also does so much more. This provides you with extremely valuable data that can help you adjust your ROI (Return on Investment). Please set yourselves up with an account and test it on your own website. This is completely FREE and is also something clients/employers want from their talent. Start learning to use this powerful tool and consider getting certified in it as well ($50 to take certification test)!