webwise: dubious practices...

Webwise is introducing a new service, allowing internet users to replace any ads displayed on a site with Webwise's ads instead.

Nice concept - it is pretty much impossible to compete with Google directly, trying to convince publishers to replace google adsense with your own ads. Google adsense pays too well, and publishers are not likely to switch.

But..we don't need to ask the publishers! if one controls the ISPs, one controls what is displayed on the screen of any Internet users. This is how China for instance ensures that no controversial information about Tibet or any other sensitive topic is available to chinese internet users. And that is how Webwise intends to replace Google adsense (or other ads) with their own ads...

I frankly don't like it. It's only fair to try to compete with the online advertising giants using any weapons available. But in these case:
1) There is a lot of possible confusion between the two services they offer (safe web browsing, and ads replacement)
2) It will have a direct impact on publishers revenue: when they replace an advert on a site with their own advert, they don't pay the website's owner a single penny!

There is probably a lot to say about these types of practices, using ISPs in this case to replace content, or in other case to track browsing data for instance.

CSS trick: center horizontal menu

First time a came across this issue today, and then realised how common the issue was amongst front-end designers.

Issue: web designers tend to rely on cut and paste code when designing menus, without understanding fully what the actual CSS does.

If you google for "CSS horizontal menus", you'll find loads of valid examples.

e.g.: http://www.sovavsiti.cz/css/horizontal_menu.html

the trick is to use li {display: inline} in order to get the listed items aligned horizontally (li is by default defined as "block"). But if you then need to apply specific styles such as background, or padding (which you will probably need to make the menu look pretty), you are then stuck - display: inline prevents you from applying these types of style.

The recommendation from sovavsiti is to apply a float: left, instead of display: inline, which achieves the same effect (align menu items horizontally) while keeping the block property for display, which allows more styling options.

But this is where things start going wrong
The float: left property prevents you from using the align: center property, and you end up banging your head on the wall trying to work out how to modify the actuall css in order to center your menu => wrong approach.

The right approach (well, in my opinion any way) is to get back to the basics.
1) You cannot use float: left because it prevents you from centering your menu
2) You cannot use display: inline alone without loosing the ability to style your menu items with background images/colour, padding, etc ..

Solution: once you have described the issue properly, the solution is then straightforward: use span within the li to be able to apply the missing styling properties. Easy, isn't it?

An example is available at: strctlycss


Conclusion: it is often a matter of finding what the actual problem is. Once you understand exactly what your CSS does, and its limitations, the solution is then straightforward to find.

Accounting for small web design companies

I recently decided to pay a bit more attention to our account, and start learning about how to use accounts for management.

And it is amazing the impact of understanding your accounts can have on your business, regardless your turnover.

And the benefit of using a web design business is that it is quite straightforward to keep your accounts in order, without the need for sophisticated accounting software - 3 spreadsheets are enough.

1) Bank statements:
Download your bank statements on a monthly basis, and keep them on one sheet. And flag each transaction with a category:
1.1 for debit transactions
bank charges, transport, entertainment, telephone/internet bills, office supplies, call handling/virtual secretary, hosting, domain names, events fees, online tools cost, cash, VAT (if you are registered) , suppliers cost (try to specify which type of service they provide, such as offshore development, accounting, translation, etc .. )
1.2 for credit transactions
invoice (try to write down the reference if possible), cash back

You may need some additional categories for odd transactions, but categories above should cover pretty most of your transactions.

Important Note: Try to keep business account separate from your personal account. If you buy a tube ticket, and need to record this as a business expense, use your business card, not personal account. You then have just to worry about the statement you download from your online business bank account.

2) P&L
This is how you find out if you are doing things right, or if production is costing you too much , if you are spending too much in advertising etc ...

2.1: Revenue
The revenue is the sum of all the credit transactions - cash back

2.2 Gross profit
revenue - sum of all cost related to sales (suppliers cost, call handling/virtual secretary) - deprecation expenses **

use a 25% ratio. If you have bought a computer worth £1000 this year, it is costing you £250 in deprecation expenses this year, and will cost you £250 each year for 4 years. Don't ask me why it is considered as a cost related to sales...still cannot figure that out.

2.3 Net profit
Gross profit - sum of costs + cash - cashback

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If you keep this in order, it will save you loooooads of time in the long run. these are useful data, but you need a balance sheet to start running proper analysis about your business... which I will write about in the next post.