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Top 4 Free WordPress Plugins For Bloggers

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Hosting

The post Top 4 Free WordPress Plugins For Bloggers appeared first on HostGator Blog | Gator Crossing . How many plugins are available to WordPress users? A recent count put the number at nearly 40,000 plugins, most of them free. That places an astounding array of functionality at the fingertips of WordPress users. But not all plugins are created equal. Some are of more universal value than others. And while value is in the eye of the user, the Huffington Post recently published their take on the top 5 free WordPress plugins:   #1: Pretty Link Pretty Link helps you to “shrink, beautify, track, manage and share any URL on or off of your WordPress website.” It’s an elegant method of directing traffic to other sites as desired, or to other pages within your site. Both free versions and paid versions of the Pretty Link plugin are available.   #2: Google Analytics Google Analytics is an invaluable, free tool for measuring, tracking, and tweaking the performance of your website. And the Google Analytics plugin by Yoast makes it super simple to install GA on your WordPress site. This free plugin will deliver all of the benefits of GA, and has been installed on more than one million sites. And if you want some help with making the most of Google Analytics, there’s also a premium version of this plugin available.   #3: WordPress SEO by Yoast WordPress is a great content management platform for search engine optimization. But the Yoast plugin for SEO builds upon WordPress’ compatibility with SEO. SEO is a constantly moving target. And staying in the good graces of the search engines requires great expertise – or the Yoast plugin. This plugin is typically updated several times per year to stay up-to-date with SEO best practices.   #4: SumoMe It’s bad news for a business website when most of the visitors are hit-and-run: they stop in for a brief visit and then flit away, never to return. But each visitor that arrives at your website represents an opportunity to cultivate a relationship, and eventually, a customer. The SumoMe plugin can help you to do that. SumoMe offers great value both for e-commerce sites and for bloggers.   Tip of the Iceberg With a field nearly 40,000 strong, there are certainly far more than 5 WordPress plugins that offer great value. And while the plugins listed above could be considered must-haves for most business sites, they represent only a tiny portion of a massive group of wonderfully useful plugins. Not all plugins are great, of course. Many aren’t worth bothering with. But a fun aspect of managing a WordPress site is browsing through all the plugins available. If there’s a job that needs doing on your WordPress site, odds are good that there’s a great plugin ready to go to work for you – for free.   ***** Chris Delker is a freelance copywriter based in Dallas, Texas. web hosting Continue reading →

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How To Find The Right WordPress Theme

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Hosting

The post How To Find The Right WordPress Theme appeared first on HostGator Blog | Gator Crossing . Having been a blogger for over a decade now, it has been a first-hand experience of how difficult it can be to maintain a WordPress theme to keep up with the latest standards and demands. Sometimes I would find myself switching styles as frequently as every few weeks, but time has taught me an invaluable lesson — stick to what works for everyone, not just you. A good WordPress theme is one that serves the purpose of the website flawlessly, and the most important thing being the readability and accessibility of the content that you’re presenting. In my own experience, sometimes going through a hundred different designs might actually prove to be more rewarding than settling for a single theme you enjoy, since seeing more of what is out there — gives you an idea of which direction to take.   Free or Premium The most important decision you’re going to make about your WordPress theme is whether you wish for it to be free or premium. The difference in overall design can be pretty staggering. And the biggest advantages premium has over free are: It’s easier to switch styles and colors since most premium themes come with multiple styles. Features such as related posts and social buttons are automatically integrated within the theme. An extensive options panel that gives you access to modify the theme to your own liking, without any coding. I’m currently a customer over at MH Themes who provide nice and flexible themes for bloggers, magazine owners and small businesses who need a reliable solution to modern web requirements. Before that, I was constantly a user of free themes (even though I do have coding skills), but found that a premium theme can save me a lot of time that could be spent making more content, than trying to optimize the site for it.   Personal or Business One more thing I have learned to take into consideration is the overall audience of the blog/website that you’re building, is it going to be more of a personal blog that talks about your life and all the experiences you’re having, or is it going to be on a more business level — sharing stories and content that everyone can relate to? On the left side we have an example of a very simple and clean personal blog, no extra images or content, just a list of posts and that’s all. While on the right side we have an example of a magazine style blog, which is aimed at a global audience and is powered by all the latest gadgets of the web development world.   The Type of Content I think this is the one where you will spend most of your time on, to find a theme that resonates with the type of content you want to produce the most. For list posts, roundups and similar content types — a simple blogging/magazine theme will be just fine, but what about themes that compliment proper and insightful storytelling? Then there are websites like BuzzFeed , who focus on both roundups and also polls, quizzes and surveys type of content. Before you settle for a final theme, ask yourself these important questions about your content choices, and whether the theme you’re choosing is going to be able to reflect those answers. Amongst other things, look out for complete and total responsive integration (mobile support), make sure that the theme has been updated in the last year or so, that there are no previous security issues that might not have been taken care of, and avoid going for themes from shady and unverified sources, more often than not they’re polluted with encoded scripts that will rob you of your rankings and credibility.   ***** Alex Ivanovs is an online entrepreneur who has been writing about technology, business and developer topics for over a decade. He currently manages CodeCondo — an aspiring community for designers and developers. web hosting Continue reading →

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Why WordPress Is The Best Choice For Non-Technical Business Owners

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Hosting

The post Why WordPress Is The Best Choice For Non-Technical Business Owners appeared first on HostGator Blog | Gator Crossing . When the time comes to create your website, you’re going to have no shortage of options to choose from. In fact, the decision-making process can be very overwhelming. It’s hard to cut though all of the marketing messaging to truly find a platform that works for you. Luckily, there’s one platform that outshines most other platforms when it comes to an intuitive platform, that will help you build a beautiful website in no time at all. In this post we’re going to dive into why WordPress is the best choice for business owners with little to no technical know-how. WordPress began as simple blogging software, but it has now grown into a full-fledged website builder with a massive and interactive community.   1. Easy To Use Backend WordPress has a very easy to use backend. They’ve had the same backend for a number of years, which means there are a number of tutorials to guide you through anything you may be unsure of. The backend is straightforward and doesn’t require any knowledge of code to actually customize the look of the theme as well as implement many additional features.   2. Small Learning Curve Customizing your WordPress theme couldn’t be easier. Most themes also come with easy to follow documentation that will allow you to set up and populate your theme rather quickly. A lot of other website building platforms require little technical knowledge to get up and running, but the curve increases very quickly. WordPress is easy to setup, and also requires little technical knowledge to customize.   3. Massive Theme Selection There are literally thousands of WordPress themes available for you to download, both free and premium. The free themes are great for getting started, but if you really want to take your website to the next level you should consider upgrading to a premium theme. Most premium themes cost less than $50 and can leave you with a truly customizable, professional website.   4. Great Plugin Selection Plugins add increased functionality to your theme without having to outsource plugin creation, or invest a ton of money. There are thousands of WordPress plugins , both free and paid, that add things like increased payment support, homepage sliders, upgraded security and much more. If you want to add a specific feature to your website chances are there’s a plugin for it.   5. Large Support Community Since WordPress has been around for such a long time there a large dedicated support community. Most premium WordPress themes come with dedicated support, while the large free theme community has a very active user base. If you keep running into a problem, chances are someone else has faced the same problem, and the solution already exists.   6. SEO Optimized When you’re relying on search engine traffic to send you new customers, then your website must be optimized to rank. Luckily, most WordPress themes are primed to rank in the search engines right out of the box.   7. Very Inexpensive Like we mentioned above you can get a WordPress theme up and running without too much of an investment on your end. Aside from purchasing a domain name and hosting, you can even get by with a free theme. As you can see, WordPress is a great choice for business owners looking for a beautiful website without having to learn to code first. web hosting Continue reading →

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Is Your Business Cyber-Secure?

Posted on June 16, 2015 by Hosting

The post Is Your Business Cyber-Secure? appeared first on HostGator Blog | Gator Crossing . Cyber attacks upon large companies are reported in the news quite regularly. In recent times, companies like Target, Ebay, Domino’s Pizza, Home Depot, and AT&T were all hacked, resulting in varying degrees of damages. And it seems that cyber-criminals are getting better at what they do. The Heritage Organization reported that the cost of cyber crime against U.S. retailers more than doubled in just a year’s time. But in spite of the regular news reports about attacks that have occurred, many attacks are never reported publicly. The Heritage report indicates that cyber crime occurs on a daily basis. And many companies that fall victim aren’t even aware that their security has been compromised – at least not initially.   Small Companies Are Also At Risk Most cyber crime reported in the news involves large companies. And that fact might be feeding the false sense of security that exists among a number of small business owners. Many small business owners, in fact, believe that they simply aren’t attractive targets for cyber-criminals. But unfortunately, that’s wrong. That’s very wrong. According to the National Small Business Association , half of small businesses were the victims of a cyber attack last year. Half! And the average cost of each of those attacks was nearly $21,000. So while big businesses are getting most of the spotlight when it comes to cyber crime, small businesses are doing their share of the suffering. It’s true that large companies are attractive to cyber criminals due to the size of the potential payoff from a successful hack. But small businesses are also attractive targets because of the ease with which they can be compromised. Many small businesses just don’t have an effective security plan in place for thwarting cyber criminals.   How To Increase the Cyber-Security of Your Small Business Your small business certainly can’t match the resources allocated to cyber security by a Fortune 500 company. But that doesn’t mean that your company is unavoidably destined to become easy pickings for cyber criminals. The Small Business Administration offers a number of tips for tightening your cyber security, including the following:   Protective Software . Install antivirus and antispy software on all of your company’s computers. Make sure that the software is regularly updated (automated updates are recommended). Cyber-Secure Policies . Put in place policies for the handling of sensitive customer data. Make sure that all employees understand and comply with those policies. Up-To-Date Software . Software such as web browsers and operating systems are regularly updated with maintenance releases, and quite frequently the updates address security issues. Make certain that the software on your computers is kept up-to-date with the latest maintenance releases.   A great way to get started in your quest to tighten your cyber security would be to utilize the Small Biz Cyber Planner offered by the SBA. It’s free, and will help you to create an effective plan for making your business safer. And since knowledge is power, it might also be wise to invest some time in taking the SBA’s free training course about small business cyber security.   The Bigger They Are… The bigger they are, the harder they fall. And that’s why cyber criminals like hacking into big companies. The potential windfall is massive. But cyber crime against small business is also on the rise – big time. That’s partly because of the resources that big companies are committing to increasing their cyber security. And small businesses can fall awfully hard too, relatively speaking. If your small company is the one out of every two that is hit, the consequences can be devastating. So if you haven’t been putting lots of thought and effort into protecting your business against cyber crime, it’s time to do so. In fact, it’s way past time. web hosting Continue reading →

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How Using Freelance Workers Can Take Your Business To The Next Level

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Hosting

The post How Using Freelance Workers Can Take Your Business To The Next Level appeared first on HostGator Blog | Gator Crossing . Our nation is seeing a drastically different workforce than that of our parents and those working prior to the advent of online communication. According to an article put out by the Wall Street Journal surveying the freelance demographic , more than one third of the United States (34%) now falls within the freelance category of employment. While it’s true there have always been independent entrepreneurs, and sole-proprietors offering independent contracts, never before have we seen such an exodus towards working from the comfort of our homes. This could include anyone from stay-at-home parents, those who are in between jobs, or those who are making a full time living right from their laptops. From the human resources perspective there can be many advantages to hiring a freelancer to fulfill certain tasks within your company. You won’t have to pay them for sick time, or vacations, and will simply pay them at an hourly rate based on the job specifications you have set forth. On the other side of things, there can also be problems associated with hiring someone with no investment in your business. That’s why we’ve come up with a modern toolkit for informing you on what kind of freelancers are out there, and how to go about employing them to your advantage.   The 5 Types of Freelancers For Small Business When it comes to hiring a freelancer, these five categories tend to come in the most handy when looking for someone who can contribute remotely. 1. The Virtual Assistant – Let’s face it, sometimes the most valuable asset we can add to our team is the ability to cut out logistic tasks and free up some time. A VA can schedule appointments, manage the projects of your other freelancers, and apply for things like grants. Having this person manage these recurring tasks can really allow you to focus on what your passionate about with the business. 2. The Social Media Marketer – Not everyone wants to get involved with social media, or spend the time online studying posts, but in this day in age it’s nearly impossible to make a killing without putting yourself where the people are looking. Having someone handle your marketing will save you all the anxiety of forgetting to post, and having to deal with all the new trends if you’re truly not interested. 3. The Copywriter – Copywriters are the word smiths that ensure your audience is receiving your message fluently and effectively. Their strength in writing can assist you from anything to website content, grant applications, building an audience, or writing a proposal for your next project. Copywriters are in an overabundance so make sure to check their quality and work history prior to committing. 4. Web Designer/Programmer – The best part about this freelancer is their profession requires them to stay updated on the constant improvements and trends happening in the world of internet pioneering. Your specialty probably isn’t web design, and so in order for you to create a viable and engaging website it’s usually best to have this type of freelance consultant to produce the results that will deliver the best ROI. 5. The Designer – Just as web design can be very disciplined and challenging, artistic design usually comes from years of practice and experience. Branding your business is no trivial task, either, and bringing in someone who can add professionalism to your logos, pamphlets and even marketing posts will greatly improved how your company is perceived. What’s also great is that a lot of software goes into digital design these days, so when considering hiring a graphic designer remember you’re also not having to pay for the tools necessary to do it yourself. While these are some of the most common five, many other free lance occupations include: Accountants, Videographers, Photographers, IT Consultants, PR Experts, and Productivity Coaches. We strongly suggest interviewing their credentials thoroughly as freelancers have a reputation of moving on, or not turning in work in a reasonable amount of time. Here are some great resources for finding freelancers locally, or finding the best of who’s out there: Guru Elance Freelancer Craiglist   Always negotiate for the best wage, take your time during the application process, and never be afraid to tell someone you’re ready to move in another direction. web hosting Continue reading →

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