- the first story is about connecting the dots
- the second story is about love and loss
- the third story is about death
The mission of Beantown Web is to provide information about web development training and career opportunities in the Boston metro area.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Steve Jobs Speaks
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Boys vs. Girls
Websites created by men and women are different. So different, in fact, that women prefer Websites developed by women and men showed a preference for Websites developed by men, according to a first-of-its-kind-study published by a Business School in the U.K.
The study's co-author states that "businesses definitely need to sit up and take notice."
The implication is that Websites visited predominantly by one gender (women's beauty products, for example) may be less effective at attracting customers if developed by a person of the opposite gender.
The study evaluated Websites on 23 factors and significant differences were found on more than half of these factors when comparing male vs. female designers. Males, for example, favor the following design esthetics:
- straight lines (as opposed to rounded forms)
- few colors in the typeface and background
- formal or expert language with few abbreviations
Friday, August 19, 2005
IT Hourly Wages
This hourly pay calculation is based on wage data from 5,000 IT professionals working on short- and long-term projects at 1,000 large employers according to the Yoh Index of Technology Wages.
Not all IT pay is equal, however. Workers possessing skills that are in heavy demand receive higher-than-average pay. A few of the hottest skills, centered largely around database and programming skill sets, are as follows (average hourly wages in parentheses):
- ASP.Net ($50.90)
- C#.Net ($52.09)
- C/C++ ($49.97)
- Java Developer ($52.59)
- Oracle DBA ($53.81)
- SQL DBA ($47.53)
So, Web developers who want to upgrade their skills -- and their earning potential -- will do well by adding a technology such as ASP.Net to their arsenal. ASP.Net is the latest version of Microsoft's Active Server Pages (ASP) technology.
Software and training does not need to be costly. In fact, Microsoft offers "a lightweight, easy-to-use and easy-to-learn development tool focused exclusively on Web development" called Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition. In addition Microsoft provides an online QuickStart Tutorial. Also, be sure to check out W3Schools' ASP.NET Tutorial for complementary training. All resources referenced are free of charge.Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Web Design Pet Peeves
A study of 2,500 adult Internet users in United States reveals Web design features that annoy them when accessing commercial Websites. The implications are clear: more than 70% of visitors who are aggravated when viewing a Web page say they are less likely to make a purchase or even return to the Website!
So, what do visitors find annoying? Here are the top offenders:
- pop-up ads
- registration log-on pages
- eye-catching Flash software
Additional "pet peeves" include the following:
- dead links
- confusing navigation
- slow loading pages
- ineffective site search tools
Web developers can use this research to educate clients on effective Website design. To review the details of this study access a press release issued by Hostway, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and sponsor of the study.
Hostway is also sponsoring a free Web seminar entitled "How to Design a Consumer-Friendly Web Site" on Tuesday, August 16. It is designed to look at the business ramifications of these "pet peeves" and provide advice and resources for building appealing Web sites.Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Boston Market -- August
HTML is used to display information in a Web page. SQL is used to locate and display information stored in a database. The display of database information in a Web page requires knowledge of both HTML and SQL. In addition, knowledge of a scripting language - the glue that binds HTML and SQL - is the third piece of the puzzle that can make a static page dynamic.
Listed below are five common Web-based scripting languages along with the number of jobs currently listed in BostonWorks.com:
- ASP (126)
- JSP (94)
- ASP.NET (74)
- PHP (31)
- ColdFusion (10)
Listed below are the number of jobs posted on BostonWorks.com for our two core skills:
- HTML (207)
- SQL (463)
SQL job listings have consistently outpaced HTML job listings by more than a 2:1 ratio throughout the year. In fact, knowledge of SQL is vital in developing proficiency in the top five hottest non-certified skills (25% or more pay growth) in the past twelve months. So, Web designers who want to buff up their resume will do well to add SQL to their skill set.
SQL training is a mere click away by accessing a free SQL Tutorial at W3Schools. If you feel you already have a working knowledge of SQL you can test your knowledge with a 20-question SQL Quiz.Sunday, July 31, 2005
IT Market Compensation Study
In particular, if your technology experience touches on the following areas then IT recruiters want to talk with you:
- project manager
- web applications programmer
- security analyst
- database administrator
- network engineer
Specifically, the skills that IT organizations report having the greatest difficulty recruiting are the following:
- PeopleSoft
- J2EE
- Microsoft.Net
- Java
- Oracle
- Visual C#.Net
- SAP
- XML and XML Web Services
The survey reveals that while Web applications programmers are in demand, the specific technologies that professionals with Web-based skills should consider developing include Microsoft.Net, Visual C#.Net and XML.
The place to start: XML. If you have a working knowledge of HTML, you can add XML to your resume with a little self-paced training. Simply access W3Schools' XML Tutorial and begin your free training today. W3Schools also provides free tutorials on Microsoft.Net and ASP.Net.
To learn more about the 2005 IT Market Compensation Study access a press release from Gartner.Sunday, July 24, 2005
IT Skills & Certification
So what are these in-demand skills? Tech skills were evaluated based on pay growth for individuals with and without certification. The non-certified skill areas that exhibited the most pay growth in the first six months of 2005 were as follows:
- operating systems (8.2%)
- networking/internetworking (5.1%)
- database (4.3%)
- applications development (2.1%)
In particular, four of the top five hottest non-certified skills (25% or more pay growth) in the past twelve months were Microsoft-related:
- SQL Server
- Websphere
- Active Server Pages
- Microsoft .NET
- SQL Windows
For those tech workers with certification the areas that have seen the most growth were as follows:
- Web (3.8%)
- applications development/programming languages (2.3%)
- database (0.7%)
According to the author, companies are searching for "workers with solution-specific experience within a particular industry" to develop "new products and services that will ensure their competitiveness against challengers of all sizes and geographies." He concludes by stating that "most employers favor both experience and credentialing in a job candidate whenever possible."
Web designers and developers should consider obtaining CIW Associate certification, the first in a series of Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW) certification paths available from Prosoft. For a complete list of 86 certifications used in this analysis, along with links to certification Websites, access Web Apprentices' Training Center.
A summary of this research is available at Information Week. For a more detailed findings access a Foote Partners Press Release.Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Boston Market -- July
Listed below in descending order are a few of the most in-demand Web Developer skills.
- Skill -- number of listings (percent increase from February)
- SQL -- 425 (12%)
- MS Access -- 217 (36%)
- HTML -- 192 (22%)
- ASP -- 124 (27%)
- JavaScript -- 93 (58%)
- Photoshop -- 80 (40%)
- Dreamweaver -- 28 (33%)
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Best Places to Work
Small (20-100 Employees):
Adheris Inc.
ADS Financial Services Solutions
ath Power Consulting
The Castle Group Inc.
ChoiceStream Inc.
DSCI Corp.
Eliassen Group Inc.
Epsilon Associates Inc.
Imceda Software Inc.
Insight Performance Improvement Inc.
Intranets.com
Kforce Professional Staffing
Mazu Networks Inc.
Pyxis Mobile Inc.
Richards Barry Joyce & Partners
SHIFT Communications LLC
Stacy's Pita Chip Co.
Text 100 Public Relations
Thrive Networks Inc.
Travel Collaborative
Midsize (101-500 Employees):
athenahealth Inc.
BBN Technologies
Boston Communications Group Inc.
Commonwealth Financial Network
Danversbank
Deploy Solutions Inc.
Excel Switching Corp.
Gentle Giant Moving Co. Inc.
MC Communications LLC
Nixon Peabody LLP
Nutter, McClennen and Fish LLP
Seaport Companies
Shawmut Design and Construction
SolidWorks Corp.
Suffolk Construction Company Inc.
TechTarget Inc.
VERC Enterprises
Vitale Caturano & Co.
Wolf & Company PC
Wolf Greenfield & Sacks PC
Large (Over 500 Employees):
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Bingham McCutchen LLP
Bright Horizons Family Solutions
Comcast Corp.
Deloitte & Touche USA LLP
Digitas LLC
Genzyme Corp.
Grand Circle Corp.
Hallmark Health System
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
International Data Group
Kronos Inc.
Lifeline Systems Inc.
New England Baptist Hospital
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Progress Software Corp.
Roche Bros. Supermarkets Inc.
Shields Health Care
Simmons College
Winchester Hospital
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Technology Skills in Demand
The skills sets reported to be in greatest demand by CIOs were the following:
- Microsoft Windows (NT/2000/XP) administrators (77%)
- Wireless network management (48%)
- SQL Server management (47%)
In addition, nearly a quarter of CIOs reported a demand for Active Server Pages (ASP) development and .NET development skills.
While help desk/end-user support (17%) and networking (17%) are the job categories experiencing the most growth, data/database management (11%) and internet / intranet development (8%) professionals continue to be in short supply. These findings bode well for Web professionals with database knowledge and network administration experience.
Since many of the skills in demand are Microsoft-specific (SQL Server, ASP, .NET, etc.), Web professionals should consider obtaining certification in one of nine core skills. A 15-minute video is available to learn more about Microsoft certification.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Boston Market -- June
As discussed in yesterday's post, E-commerce Trends, online commerce continues to expand at greater than 20% annually. This month's Boston Market explores the skills necessary to be proficient in developing an e-commerce Website.
The two basic skills of HTML and SQL are the starting point because they represent the knowledge required to create a Web page (HTML) and access information from a database (SQL). Of the two skills SQL is in greater demand as reflected by current job listings in the Boston Globe:
- SQL (412)
- HTML (228)
A search on the combined skill set of SQL and HTML reveals 77 listings.
In addition, knowledge of a scripting technology that facilitates the connection between a Web page and a database is the third basic skill necessary to develop Web applications. Of the three primary scripting technologies, Microsoft-specific skills (ASP and ASP.NET) continue to be in the greatest demand in the Boston marketplace:
- ASP (133)
- ASP.NET (81)
- PHP (34)
- Cold Fusion (8)
A search on the combined skill set of SQL and HTML and ASP reveals 30 listings.
The links on the right-hand side provide easy access to these and other job listings in both BostonWorks.com and Monster.com.Saturday, June 11, 2005
E-commerce Trends
- cosmetics and fragrances (33% growth)
- over-the-counter medications and personal care (32%)
- jewelry and luxury goods (31%)
- flowers, cards, and gifts (30%)
The report entitled The State of Retailing Online 8.0 is a detailed survey of 137 retailers that explores the opportunities and challenges facing retailers selling and marketing on the Web, including store-based, catalog-based, and Web-only retailers.
These online retailing trends bode well for Web developers with e-commerce skills. To learn more about how to work with clients who might want you to develop an e-commerce Website access a five-lesson tutorial available from Web Monkey, The Web Developers Resource. Topics include the following:
- Lesson 1 -- Making a plan
- Lesson 2 -- Sales techniques
- Lesson 3 -- Online transactions, taxes, security, credit card processing
- Lesson 4 -- Software solutions
- Lesson 5 -- Attracting customers
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Spring Business Barometer
The top three business priorities according to these business leaders all tracked back to the bottom line:
- revenue growth (79 percent)
- customer retention (70 percent)
- expense reduction (46 percent)
Web developers can use this survey data to help position their services and assist business leaders with helping to meet their business priorities. In particular, the following three "e-commerce features" were listed as valuable to small business owners:
- online payment transactions
- online business forms
- email requests
In addition, small business owners ranked these Web-based marketing strategies relatively low: e-mail marketing, search engine keywords, and banner advertising. The top three marketing tools critical in driving business for their companies were as follows:
- community relations (55 percent)
- Web sites (47 percent)
- public relations/media coverage (31 percent)
Friday, May 13, 2005
Microsoft Access Training
Microsoft Access training is available for free at Microsoft's New England District offices on Wednesday, May 18. The agenda is as follows:
- Introductory sessions -- 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
- Intermediate sessions -- 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Developer sessions -- 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Yahoo! Website Service
http://ma.local.yahoo.biz/webapprentices/
It took me about one hour to set this site up. It's easy to do once you know what you want to say -- it might take another hour to capture and edit the content.
As you will see, this approach has limitations (advertising, lack of flexibility, etc.). However, this might be a solution for some businesses who merely want to establish a temporary Web presence until a custom solution is developed.
Check it out. We are all aware of a local business that could use a simple Website. Your sister's Beauty Salon. Your nephew's lawn mowing service. Your local church, mosque, or synagogue. Offer to get them on The Web using this service. Keep in mind that your time has value. At the very least you should barter for two hours worth of service in exchange for your efforts.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Boston Market -- May
- Oracle (369)
- SQL Server (225)
- Microsoft Access (188)
- MySQL (19)
Monster.com lists the following opportunities (number of listings in parentheses):
- Oracle (831)
- SQL Server (507)
- Microsoft Access (366)
- MySQL (53)
Regardless of the database product Web developers can enhance their career prospects by learning SQL, the standard programming language used to access information from databases.
The links above and on the right-hand side provide easy access to Web development job listings in the greater Boston area.Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Webby Award Nominees
Web developers can benefit from reviewing the nominee websites and incorporating the "best of breed" concepts into future development projects. Simply click the category below to gain access to the five nominee Websites in that category.
Webby Award categories:
- activism
- arts
- associations
- automotive
- banking
- beauty & cosmetics
- best copy writing
- best home/welcome page
- best navigation/structure
- best practices
- best use of animation or moving images
- best use of sound or music
- blog
- broadband
- celebrity/fan
- charitable organizations nonprofit
- community
- consumer electronics
- cultural institutions
- education
- employment
- events
- family/parenting
- fashion
- financial services
- food & beverage
- games
- games-related
- government
- guides/ratings/reviews
- health
- humor
- insurance
- investor relations
- IT hardware/software
- law
- lifestyle
- magazine
- movie & film
- music
- news
- newspaper
- personal web site
- pharmaceuticals
- politics
- professional services
- radio
- real estate
- religion & spirituality
- restaurant
- retail
- school
- science
- services
- social networking
- sports
- student
- telecommunications
- television
- tourism
- travel
- weird
- youth
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Disruptive Technology
Yahoo! has decided to capitalize on these trends by launching a new feature that provides free Web sites for small businesses. The service features five free pages that can be customized from a variety of templates, as well as, free listing in the Yahoo! local search engine.
If you are a veteran Web developer you merely need to be aware of this service. Small businesses with limited resources are probably not in your target market.
Junior developers, on the other hand, can position this free service as an entry level offering in a portfolio of services. You can offer to develop a limited "free" Website for friends and neighbors with small businesses and charge an hourly rate for your service. You can use the Yahoo! local search engine to identify prospects. As you develop a client base you can interest these small business owners in additional value-added services, such as database connectivity, as their needs expand.
You can learn more by accessing the Yahoo! local website beta site.
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Boston Market - April
Database skills are in even greater demand with 390 listings for individuals who can demonstrate an understanding of SQL, the language used to access information from databases. Individuals with knowledge of proprientary database management systems such as Access (156), SQL Server (209) and Oracle (385) continue to be in high demand.
Connecting a Web page to a database requires HTML and SQL knowledge, as well as, understanding of a server-side scripting language. Four common scripting methods include the following:
- ASP (107)
- ASP.NET (67)
- PHP (21)
- Cold Fusion (11)
Monster.com consistently lists twice as many opportunities as BostonWork.com. The links on the right-hand side provide easy access to these job listings.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
The Next 10 Years
The following seven technology jobs will likely see 20% employment growth over the next decade:
- network systems and datacom analysts
- database administrators
- biomedical engineers
- compensation, benefits, and job analysts
- network and systems administrators
- computer specialists
Thursday, March 10, 2005
ASP Retirement Date
ASP is a Web-based technology that utilizes VBScript to interact with a Web server. VBScript is a "lite" version of the Visual Basic 6.0 programming language. The practical implication of Microsoft's announcement is that Web developers are being discouraged from creating ASP applications in favor of Microsoft's newer ASP.NET technology.
So what's a Web Developer to do? If you are familiar with creating ASP applications, then you should consider upgrading your skills to include ASP.NET training. If you are not yet familiar with server-side scripting using ASP you might consider learning an open-source alternative called PHP.
Beantown Web will begin monitoring job opportunities in the greater Boston area for ASP.NET and PHP, as well as, ASP in its "Boston Market" report at the beginning of each month.
Keep in mind that Dan Rather is not going away -- you can still see him on 60 Minutes (Wednesday). ASP, likewise will still be around for a while before slowly riding off into the sunset.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
What is a Webmaster?
Webmaster: Develops and maintains the company's portal. Performs backups and ensure user accessibility to the site. Monitors site traffic and helps scale site capacity to meet traffic demands performance. Improves the company's efficiency and designs the look and feel for the site. May require a bachelor's degree and 2-4 years of experience. Must have a working knowledge of HTML, JavaScript, and SQL. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Works under general supervision; typically reports to a manager. A certain degree of creativity and latitude is required.
So, what does it take to become a Webmaster?
- Training: HTML, JavaScript, and SQL
- Experience: 2-4 years
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Who's Hiring?
A majority (52 percent) of technology chief executives in Massachusetts say they plan to create jobs this year, according to a new survey conducted by the Massachusetts High Technology Council. Only 6 percent said they plan to eliminate jobs. Increased sales is the primary reason for improved job prospects.
A press release detailing the survey results is available at the Council's Website. Approximately 100 Massachusetts technology companies belong to the Council. A roster of member companies along with links to their Websites is also available.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Boston Market -- March
In the area of Web Design knowing how to manipulate HTML code is eight times more valuable than being familiar with how to use a program like Dreamweaver that will manipulate the code for you.
In the area of Web Development knowing how to access information from a database using SQL is two and a half times more valuable than being comfortable manipulating Web pages using HTML.
The following analysis illustrates the demand for Web Design and Web Programming candidates based on keyword searches in BostonWorks.com. The Links in the right-hand column provide easy access to these job listings.
Web Design Skill (Number of Job Listings)
HTML (144)
JavaScript (50)
Photoshop (61)
Dreamweaver (18)
Web Programming Skill (Number of Job Listings)
SQL (362)
MS Access (178)
HTML (144)
ASP (106)
JavaScript (50)
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Most Admired Companies
Analog Devices Norwood
Boston Properties Boston
Boston Scientific Natick
EMC Hopkinton
Gillette Boston
Iron Mountain Boston
Liberty Mutual Insurance Boston
Massachusetts Mutual Life Springfield
PerkinElmer Wellesley
Raytheon Waltham
Reebok International Canton
Staples Framingham
State Street Boston
TJX Framingham
Thermo Electron Waltham
Saturday, February 19, 2005
Survey of Design Salaries
Last year 3500 design professionals completed what is "widely recognized as the most comprehensive survey of compensation conducted" for creative positions, according to the organization that commissioned the study. Three of the 15 job titles included the following:
- Web designer
- Web developer: front-end/interface systems
- Web programmer/developer: back-end systems
The median total cash compensation for each job title in the New England region is as follows:
- Web designer ($50,000)
- Web developer ($55,000)
- Web programmer/developer ($56,000)
An Entry-Level Designer with one to two years experience, however, can expect to earn considerably less ($31,000).
To review job descriptions for all 15 job titles access an online salary calculator made available by the American Institute of Graphic Arts. The entire survey is also available for download.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Wikis & Blogs
To learn more about wikis and blogs access a Yahoo! Technology WebTech text-based article. A version of this article that includes hypertext links to collaboration tools such as JotSpot, Socialtext and Blubber can be downloaded from the BHCC_web data files, under the file name wikis_blogs.doc. This document can be forwarded to prospective clients to help educate them on the range of possibilities for online collaboration.
Monday, February 07, 2005
Job Market -- February
The job market in the greater Boston area continues to be strong for Web Designers based on job listings in The Boston Globe. Web Designers who have advanced their skill set to include training in scripting (ASP) and data storage (SQL and Access) dramatically improve their employability and earning potential in today's job market.
The following analysis illustrates the demand for Web Design and Web Programming candidates based on keyword searches in BostonWorks.com. The Links in the right-hand column provide easy access to these job listings.
Web Design Skill (Number of Job Listings)
- HTML (157)
- JavaScript (59)
- Photoshop (57)
- Dreamweaver (21)
Web Programming Skill (Number of Job Listings)
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Web Standards
Bob is veteran Web designer who provides "thoughts, links, information, and ramblings from the perspective of one web designer making the transition from "old-school" design methods to the use of modern web standards."
Thursday, February 03, 2005
2005 Salary Guide
According to RHT's quarterly e-newsletter six information technology initiatives are driving demand for highly skilled project professionals including the following:
- The Web – Continued investment in the Internet allows businesses to enhance collaboration, customer service, customization, streamlining and management.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Online Web Classes
- HTML 2: Enhance Your Web Site
- Introduction to Cascading Style Sheets
- Surviving the Internet 1: (Viruses, Worms, Phishing, Email Hoaxes)
- Surviving the Internet 2: (Spyware, Adware, and Personal Firewalls)
The class I will be taking is the following:
The end product will be a marketing plan for WebApprentices.com.Classes typically last for five weeks with weekly lesson plans being posted every Monday. You can register for up to three classes for a cost of only $20. Check 'em out!
What is a blog?
Blogging software is generally free. Check out a few of the following resources:
You can search blog on the Web at the following sites:
Web developers will be asked by clients about the value of blogs. Setting up a blog site for a client is easy and can add instant value. The best way to learn is to sign up and start blogging today.