Celebrate or Panic?
Way back in the day, if you wanted to have some other font face gracing your pages, something other than Arial, Verdana, Comic, Times, Georgia etc etc, then you had to use a graphic. There were a set number of “web safe” fonts available and all html websites had to abide by it. Unlike the “web safe” colours of old that were largely ignored as graphics cards began to show millions of colours, fonts were still limited to what everyone was guaranteed to have in their system. ... [Read The Full Article]
Enter The Dragon Queen
When online marketing first hit the shelves, so to speak, there were a number of people proclaiming themselves Royalty. The King of … The … Queen. Now, at the time, it was a viable thing to do and drew attention, but a caveat for all you people that are proclaiming titular authority, I overheard one of my admins the other day saying;
“When I hear someone calling themselves the something King or Queen it reminds me of those tacky local commercials for local businesses, like... [Read The Full Article]
Have A Banana
I was introduced to MailChimp recently by a client. I wasn’t too keen on using it to start, it was free for less than 500 subscribers as long as you put their advertising on the end of the email.
Turns out, their advert is a really cute stamp with a monkey on it. That’s it. So if you have less than 500 people on your list, I suggest you give this a go. The rates after 500 people are very competitive too. If you are just starting or if you started recently, think about moving... [Read The Full Article]
It’s All About Me!
Except is really isn’t. When you have a website created, what you like, often isn’t what you should have.
Let me give you an example and let you in on a little secret. I’m a closet goth. I never really grew out of it. Inside, Im still wearing all black with panda like eyeliner while scowling and lamenting the cruelty and injustice of a world that just doesn’t understand me.
Thankfully for all concerned, this is no longer reflected on the outside. If it was, this... [Read The Full Article]
Spicing Up A Blog Post With Audio
It used to be hard work having audio on a web page, first you had to have an account with audio acrobat, then you had to record your message over a phone line with no ability to edit that tiny mistake in the middle of your 10 minute speech.
Then of course you had to get it online, hooking up the code, matching the site color. Its very laborious that most people stopped using the most powerful tool they had at their disposal. Oratory skills.
You can sell your product better than any text or image,... [Read The Full Article]
Pasting From Word – and why it isnt working
I have people asking me why some of thier posts are showing large gaps between lines, different fonts, different sizes and some times weird and wonderful symbols all over.
It’s because Microsoft Word is a web pretender and thinks it can write HTML code for websites. So when you attempt to copy and paste, it pushes into the html section reams and reams of bloated useless code that ultimately affects your layout and your post.
Up until recently, the only way around that was to writing directly... [Read The Full Article]
Search engines are not the only way to get the word out
Good old fashioned word of mouth. Give people the ability to tell the world you exist.
The great thing about this particular script compared to some of the others, if that you can write your own sales pitch in the script that the person sending doesnt see, try it out, send it to yourself and see what I mean.
Also this is a self hosted form, which in laymans terms means no ad’s complete privacy, no pop ups.
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In house FTP? You’re doing it right actually.
I have this set up over at 2dragons. Rather than having people email me 10 megabyte files, I have them use this. I have a version of it running over on the support pages.
So, what is this? Its the same as yousend it or send this file, if you need people to send you files for what ever reason, larger than 4 meg is considered bad form. It can clog your email account and crash your email client if there are problems trying to get it. The way around that would be to use yousend it or sendthisfile... [Read The Full Article]
Why do all new solo-prenuers & entreprenuers think they need shopping cart?
Nearly every new client I take on, that hasnt already got a data collection company in place, immediatly uses shopping cart, or asks me should I use shopping cart?
Maybe its the amount of affiliate links about to it, but I wonder why so many use it. Its very expensive, for the cart function and the mass emailing function, its about $60/70 per month. Most solo and entreprenuers sell products or services to people that know them. The likelyhood of anyone “browsing” your site and adding... [Read The Full Article]
You bought the domain name. So why are you using Gmail?
Really, the whole point of owning a domain name is for professionalism. So you own the domain myname.com or myname.net and yet when you email people you are using myname@gmail.com.
Think about how you feel when you see that email address from someone else. Are you impressed? Or do you immediately think that its a “one man band” outfit that you shouldnt take seriously.
Maybe I’m an internet snob, but I go with the latter.
There isnt much of an excuse, most of the domains come... [Read The Full Article]
SEO – What does it really mean?
I dont do Search Engine Optimisation.
I can do it, but I wont.
Im actually pretty good at it, but it is not something you can just “pop into” it is a constant organic growth that needs to be monitored and tweaked and compared with stats.
People bandy the phrase “I need some SEO on my site” like thats all that matters. We just add some code and voila! Google loves you!
For starters, let me ask you the first simple question before you even attempt to delve into the murky... [Read The Full Article]
Getting Started, Getting Online.
Part One: Whassa Interwebs?
You have a business, or a business idea and you’re raring to start promoting yourself online. Trouble is, you know very little about the internet, or computers for that matter. Navigating your way through the process is a headache and a half for anyone unfamiliar with the lingo and technologies that make up this brave new world.
In this post, I’ll try to give you noobs a helping hand. You’ve already passed the first hurdle with flying colours in hiring us to... [Read The Full Article]
YouTube and Wordpress
You know I rather optimistically thought I would be updating at least once a week. I thought as soon as the new year resolutions faded I would be able to find the time. Apparently not! Still its good to keep the staff busy, too much free time and I find the office is re-arranged.
So, todays subject? Youtube & Wordpress. For those of you using Wordpress, Im sure you will agree with me that it is in fact a most awesome peice of software that is an absolute breeze to use.
Except of course... [Read The Full Article]
The F Word
Font choices are a critical part of web design. Any graphic designer worth her salt should have a library of carefully hand-picked fonts at her disposal at any time. It’s not enough to have them, she should know how and why each of them works.
Newcomers to the wonderful world of font tend to get understandably excited about it. They want to use all the fonts at once. They go bonkers for Broadway crazy for Comic Sans and giddy for Giddyup Std
Some people can get attached to a certain font,... [Read The Full Article]
Favourite Icons
I had a couple of people ask me recently, how do you get the little image next to your site name when you add it to favourites, or when it’s in the browser?
Suprisingly simple, its called a fav icon it sits in your root directory with the name favicon.ico.
Well thats all well and dandy I hear you ask, but how does it get there!
You’re expecting a sales pitch next now aren’t you?
[Read The Full Article]
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Yes, we have a blog
Unlike the private one, you will be pleased to know there will be no teenage angst like poetry and amusing monkey jokes.
Ok, I can’t guarantee the lack of monkey jokes, but no poetry.
So, why a blog? Couple of reasons, I sent out a newsletter about a few things over Xmas and it occurred to me, people probably leave newsletters in their inbox meaning to read them later, and never get to it.
I have many clients ask me about something or to show them something, and I thought chances are most of... [Read The Full Article]
