27 useful resources to build Websites

When building Websites, we find it useful to have a list of elements to consider to help us ensure we’re not forgetting anything. Over the years, we’ve used several online tools and resources to perform automated tests, improve the design, perform SEO, etc. The following is a list of some of the best resources we came across:

Accessibility

We use FAE and EvalAccess to perform automated accessibility compliance evaluations. It’s always a good start.

• EvalAccess
• Functional Accessibility Evaluator

Analytics

We use Feedburner for RSS feed analytics and feed handling. Google Analytics is simply one of the best on-demand Web Analytics tools.

• Feedburner
• Google Analytics

Browser Compatibility

We use Browsershots to quickly test and fix browser compatibility issues when we don’t have direct access to certain browsers or platforms.

• BrowserShots

Code Validation

The W3C CSS and HTML validators allow you to test the validity of your code. The Multipage HTML Validator takes it a step further and allow validation of multiple pages at the same time.

• Multipage HTML Validator
• W3C CSS Validator
• W3C HTML Validator

Code Formating

Two simple tools to help you re-format the structure of your CSS and HTML code. Very helpful when working on tight deadlines.

• CSS Formatting
• HTML Tidy

Color Contrasts

Two useful tools to evaluate the contrast between foreground and background elements and get a sense of the issues colorblind people might run into.

• Access Colors
• Snook Color Contrast Analyzer

Color Palettes

We use Adobe Kuler to find color palette ideas and to create our own. Color scheme is a good tool to test patterns without having to modify your stylesheet.

• Color Scheme
• Kuler

Content

We use the Readability Analyser to perform Flesch-Kincaid content analysis. Joomla is a simple, open-source content management system.

• Joomla
• Readability Analyser

Design Elements

We use Ajaxload to create simple pre-loaders, Favicon Generator to create .ico images and the Stripe Generator to create background images. Iconlet is a growing icon search engine.

• Ajaxload
• Favicon Generator
• Iconlet
• Stripe Generator

Domain Names

PCnames is the best tool to verify a domain name’s availability. Domain Name Suggestion is a good tool to help you find domain name ideas.

• PCnames
• Domain Name Suggestion

Search Engine Optimization

We use SEOMoz and Xinu to get an overview of our SEO efforts. The two tools help us find ways to improve our ranking.

• SEOmoz Page Strength
• Xinu

Tags

The W3 Schools Website is the HTML and CSS bible. HTML Playground is a quick tool to help you brush up on your HTML knowledge.

• HTML Playground
• W3 Schools

Templates

MyCelly has quality CSS templates that can really help you jump start a project.

• CSS Layout Templates

Bonus, iWeb Tools has a lot of interesting Web-based tools to help you perform automated tests and improve your Website.This list should give you a head start. Let us know if you see any quality tools missing. We’d also like to know some of the resources you use when building Websites?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 at 11:28 pm and is filed under Resources / Tools. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.