Speed Up Your Site: Web Site Optimization

Andrew B. King, MSME

Ideal Job

Web Performance Czar - Optimization of usability and speed of multiple web sites at large design firm or corporation.

Experience

2002 - present President / Consultant

Founded Web Site Optimization, LLC in late 2002 to assist companies improve their ROIs with their business web sites by increasing speed, targeted traffic, conversion rates, and credibility. Manages on-demand teams of experts in web performance, search engine marketing, design, copywriting, accessibility, and usability.

2002 - present Freelance Writer

Wrote Speed Up Your Site: Web Site Optimization for New Riders Publishing. Published January 17, 2003. Writes the monthly Bandwidth Report and the biweekly Speed Tweak of the Week and Optimization Week.

2002 - 2004 Technical Advisor

To MBA classroom discussion, for students in The Kellstadt Graduate School of Management at DePaul University. Weekly input to classes, and response to students' questions related to websites, linkages and e-business tools and applications. DePaul is ranked #4 among graduate schools of business by U.S. News & World Report.

2001 - 2004 Newsletter Editor

For internet.com's WebReference.com and JavaScript.com (2003). Wrote twice-weekly newsletters for WebReference.com. Wrote book and site reviews, interviews, and summaries of related news on and off-site. At their peak both newsletters had over 400,000 subscribers.

1997 - 2001 Managing Editor/Usability Czar

For WebReference.com, JavaScript.com, and internet.com. Managed and edited eight expert columnists in developer-related topics (Perl, JavaScript, DHTML, HTML, graphics, design, etc.) on WebReference. Webmastered, wrote articles and code, and promoted sites. Increased WebReference's traffic over ten-fold from 700,000 to over 9,000,000 impressions per month with 70-80,000 unique visitors per day. Won over 100 awards including nine times on PC Magazine's Top 100. As Usability Czar optimized home pages and site templates for internet.com properties.

1998 - 1999 Project Manager

At internet.com managed the creation of News Harvester, a free headline news distribution service. Utilizing a Perl backend, JavaScript, DHTML, and Perl front-ends, users can display news from internet.com on their sites. Compatible with RSS.

1995 - 1997 Webmaster

Created and maintained WebReference.com, a Web site devoted to teaching developers about the Web and webmastery.

1995 - 1996 Web Integrator

At Internet Connect Inc. planned, organized, created, maintained, and promoted Web sites.

1993 - 1994 Sysop

Huron Valley Free-net, one of the first free-nets to utilize the World Wide Web as an interface.

1989-1995 Macintosh consultant

Software and hardware selection, Internet assistance, technical writer, database design.

1985-1989 CAD Engineer

Engineering Technology Associates, Inc. an engineering consulting firm in Madison Heights, MI.

System modeler - used finite element analysis (FEA) to optimize the ride of automobiles.
Structural engineer - used FEA to design and optimize automotive components.
Programmer - created hidden surface algorithm for ETA's finite element modeling program.

1984 (summer) Research Engineer Trainee

Ford Motor Company, Impact Factors Department, Dearborn, MI. Used computer simulation of auto crashes to meet FMVSS.

1983 (summer) Research Assistant

University of Michigan, Mechanical Engineering department. Structural optimization research utilizing analytical and numerical methods. Implemented these ideas into interactive structural optimization programs.

Education

1984 Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Specialized in design optimization; GPA 7.33 out of 8
1983 Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Computer Expertise

Computers: Macintosh expertise, IBM PC, Sun, Apollo, mini, mainframe, and Cray
Courses: Computer science, graphics, FEA, design optimization, sysad and UNIX
Databases: Filemaker Pro, 4th Dimension
Languages: Perl, JavaScript, Pascal, Fortran, Algol, also speak and write German
Internet: Sysop, UNIX, webmaster, consultant, HTML/Photoshop/usability expert, Web site/graphics optimization/design, information architect, writer

Publications

Optimization Week: Reports on what's new in the web performance industry with industry news, site reviews, and how-tos. Also reports on what's new at WSO, LLC and the Web Page Analyzer.
Speed Tweak of the Week: Biweekly tips and techniques on improving web performance for high speed web sites. Published since November of 2003.
The Bandwidth Report: Monthly trends in connectivity in the US and other countries. Includes broadband trend prediction using data from Nielsen//NetRatings. Feb. 2003.
Speed Up Your Site: Web Site Optimization: Along with showing readers how to optimize popular web page components this book explores the psychological aspects of performance. Includes compression and search engine optimization chapters. Published Jan. 2003 by New Riders Publishing, ISBN: 0735713243. Companion site at WebSiteOptimization.com.
JavaScript.com News: Free weekly newsletter on JavaScript and DHTML-related tutorials and news from internet.com. Over 350,000 subscribers at its peak. Published from 1999 to August 2003.
WebReference Update: Free semi-weekly Web development newsletter with over 50,000 subscribers, published continuously since 1997. Numerous book reviews, interviews, and usability reviews.
http://www.webreference.com/new/
Advanced CSS Layouts: Create complex table-like layouts with CSS.
http://webreference.com/authoring/style/sheets/layout/advanced/
Extreme HTML Optimization: Drastically reduce your page size to speed display and reduce bailout rates.
http://www.webreference.com/authoring/languages/html/optimize/
Universal Related Popup Menus: Interdependent JavaScript-enhanced popup menus that degrade gracefully.
http://www.webreference.com/dev/menus/
Evolution of a Home Page: Chronicles the development of WebReference.com's home page over time (1995-2001).
http://webreference.com/dev/evolution/
Evolution of RSS: An in-depth tutorial and history of Rich Site Summary (RSS), used for news syndication.
http://www.webreference.com/authoring/languages/xml/rss/1/
JavaScripting Netscape 6: No More Sloppy Code: Shows how to adapt your JavaScript and HTML to support Netscape 6 and the DOM.
http://webreference.com/programming/javascript/netscape6/
Introduction to RSS: Gives an overview of RSS and its benefits.
http://www.webreference.com/authoring/languages/xml/rss/intro/
HTML & Web Publishing Secrets: Contributing author to Jim Heid's 1997 book ISBN: 0764540033. Wrote "Pushing HTML" chapter.
Optimizing Animated GIFs: First published in Web Techniques in June 1997 (cover story), updated version online.
http://www.webreference.com/dev/gifanim/
Optimizing Web Graphics: First published in Web Techniques in Dec. 1996, updated version online.
http://www.webreference.com/dev/graphics/
HTML 4 and Netscape 4: How to tame the wild Mozilla: Shows which tags and attributes comply with HTML 4.
What Makes a Great Web Site?: Outlines the essential characteristics of great Web sites.
http://www.webreference.com/greatsite.html

Awards and Credentials

Over 100 awards for WebReference.com, including 9-time winner of PC Magazine's top 100 Web sites
Passed Professional Engineering Exam Part 1: Fundamentals
James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Award for design of three-wheeled human-powered vehicle

Andrew B. King, MSME (email: andy at athenia dot net)