Tag Archives: web and hosting tips

HTML 101: Your HTML Cheat Sheet

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Hosting

Once your website is up and running, you may find yourself wanting to make some small additions or edits. Contacting your designer or a webmaster for every little change can become tedious (not to mention expensive), which is why it’s so helpful to understand some basic HTML. HTML is the language that most websites are coded in – it drives the layout, fonts, colors and other formatting and functionality aspects of your website. You may be thinking, “That’s great! But I don’t know any HTML.” If you’re in this position, this short cheat sheet will serve as a guide to making basic HTML changes to your website. This way, if you’d like to change some minor formatting on a page, you can quickly make these changes yourself.   What is an HTML tag? An HTML tag is a snippet of code that tells the website how to read or format your content. HTML tags are surrounded by the < > characters. All HTML tags must be closed with corresponding tags. This tells your website where your formatting changes begin and end.   Where do I make HTML changes? Before we get started, it’s important to note where these changes get made. In most content management systems (CMSs), you’ll find that each page has two views. One is a design or visual view. This lets you see the page as it will look when it’s posted to your website. The other view is often referred to as the text, code or HTML view, depending on which CMS you are using. HTML changes should all be added to the text, code, or HTML view. To enter a change, you’ll need to find the section of the page you’d like to change. Simply scroll until you see the text you’d like to alter or the space where you’d like to add new content. There, you can add the appropriate tags. After this, make sure to check the design view or preview the page to make sure everything looks the way you’d like it to.   Make text bold using HTML To make text on a web page bold, use the HTML tag . For example, if you wanted to make the sentence, “This is important” bold, it would look like this:   This is important   Make text italic using HTML To make text on a web page italic using HTML tags, you would use the HTML tag . This is short for emphasis. For example, if you wanted to make the sentence “This is important” italic, it would look like this:   This is important   Add a link using HTML Adding a link is somewhat trickier than simply changing the formatting of your text to be bold or italic. If you’d like to add a link, you’ll use the HREF tag. HREF tags tell the website what text should be linked, where the link should go, and how the link should be opened.   For example, if I wanted the text “Google” to be linked to the Google website, it would look like this:   Google   For contrast, if I wanted the text “Yahoo” to link to the website for Yahoo, it would look like this:   Yahoo   Additionally, if you’d like your link to open in a new window or tab so that users aren’t directed away from your site, you can add some additional information to the HREF tag. For this example, you would tell the code that you’d like to open the link in a new window by indicating that the target is blank. In this instance, the HTML code would look like this:   Yahoo   Add a picture using HTML Adding imagery is a great way to help users connect with your content and become more interested in what you have to say. To add an image, you’ll first need to host that image somewhere online, either on your CMS or on another service. Once you’ve uploaded the image to the place where you’re hosting it, simply add an image tag. As an example, an image tag should look like this:     Images are somewhat unique because they do not always have an end tag. The code does not need to know where the image ends – the image itself can dictate that. However, you can link images to a web page. For instance, if you wanted to link your image to your home page, it would look like this:     You’ll notice that, in this case, the code for the image simply replaces the text in the HREF tag. Obviously, these few tweaks only scratch the surface of full HTML coding. However, simply knowing how to handle these simple changes on your own can save you big money by minimizing the need to contact your web designer every time edits must be made. Start with these HTML 101 steps and continue to grow your coding skills as you go! Continue reading →

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Viewer Behavior Differences on Mobile Devices vs Desktop Computers

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Hosting

It’s no exaggeration to say that mobile internet usage has exploded over the past five years. With the advent of smartphones, users have changed the way they interact online. A recent report published by investment firm KPCB says that in 2008, mobile devices accounted for less than one percent of overall internet traffic. As of May 2013, they account for fifteen percent. Here’s another way to look at it… In 2012, the world’s mobile internet traffic was twelve times the amount of all combined internet traffic in 2000. This is information that webmasters can’t afford to ignore, mainly because mobile internet users behave differently from PC users. If you want to succeed online, then a mobile-friendly web presence is a must.   Mobile User Point #1: Touch vs. Click While it’s relatively easy to navigate a website using a mouse and a computer monitor, it’s not always so straightforward with a small-screened mobile device. Most everyone who has used a touchscreen mobile device has accidentally touched or typed something they didn’t mean to. A mobile website should be easily navigable with large navigation buttons and a simple layout. You need to use every bit of precious screen space in the smartest way possible.   Mobile User Point #2: The “Always On” Mentality Mobile devices have become powerful tools for quickly accessing and retrieving data. Mobile users have an “always on” mentality, meaning that they expect access to data at any given time. This changes the way advertisers operate, and also brings about the need for webmasters to deliver a rich online experience “on-demand.” For one thing, a fast-loading, easily navigable mobile website is a must. It’s also a good idea to give mobile viewers the ability to access the full desktop site if they prefer.   Mobile User Point #3: Apps, Apps and More Apps Mobile apps are very popular right now since they allow users to easily and quickly access information and services. A 2012 report published by Accenture shows that 71% of mobile users downloaded one or more apps to their mobile devices. If your website generates sales, then apps could play an important part in your overall mobile marketing strategy. If your website is media-rich, then you’ll be interested to know that the average mobile user spends 82% of mobile media time using apps, according to Smart Insights and Comscore . Take the time to find out what percentage of your visitors access your website via mobile device, and what platform they use (Apple or Android). A useful app can go a long way towards promoting your website.   Mobile User Point #4: Accessing Email A 2013 study done by Experian shows that mobile users spend 23% of their mobile browser time checking email. Creating mobile-optimized email is just as important as a mobile-optimized website, especially if you send regular email communications to your subscribers. Email marketing firm Emma offers five tips for creating the perfect mobile optimized e-mail: Use a simplified header that is 50-100 pixels in height. Enlarge your text and buttons. Choose bold images with a single focus. Link to mobile-friendly sites. Streamline your layout (a single column layout works best).   Mobile User Point #5: Super Social Networkers The Experian study also notes that if total time spent online were condensed down to an hour, then the average mobile user spends sixteen minutes of that hour on social networking sites. The importance of a social media presence for webmasters can’t be stressed enough. With so many mobile users spending time on sites like Twitter and Facebook, social media presents a significant opportunity for webmasters to expand their online reach.   Mobile User Point #6: The Informed Consumer The Mobile Path to Purchase study by Nielsen, xAd, and Telmetrics suggests that nearly half of the consumers they surveyed rely only on their mobile devices for pre-purchase research. They also found that 77% of people using their smartphones for research convert while in a store. Furthermore, they found that 30% of smartphone users and 25% of tablet users have immediate needs and purchase within an hour. It’s also worth noting that consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable with making online purchases through their mobile devices. This has significant implications for mobile advertising, and also underscores the necessity of webmasters making purchase information readily available. Webmasters should also utilize consumer review sites like Yelp and Google Places to bolster their online reputations.   The Bottom Line Although PC internet access is still going strong, people increasingly prefer to access the internet on the go. Professional demands, long commutes, multiple social activities, and other factors that keep people away from home make mobile internet access a necessity for many people. In fact, the CISCO global forecast estimates that global mobile data traffic will increase thirteen-fold between 2012 and 2017. Today’s webmasters must accommodate both PC and mobile users, as the need for mobile accessibility will only grow in the future. Continue reading →

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A Guide to Using Google Web Fonts

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Hosting

Not so long ago, standard monospaced fonts were the norm in computers. Then, a young Steve Jobs took a calligraphy class in college and eventually built a computer capable of housing endless font options. The Internet was slower to catch-on with the digital font revolution. When was the last time you took notice of a font on a website? We’ve been staring at the same old standard fonts for so long that we neglect customizing how our content looks from the first typed letter. If you’re ready to take the next step in customizing your web fonts, there are a few things to consider before taking the plunge. First of all, just because web fonts can be creatively customized doesn’t always mean they should. Your body copy should be easily readable, which is what makes fonts like Helvetica or Arial so popular. Instead, employ creative and innovative fonts in your titles or headers to bring some personality to your copy. Using a new web font also requires a little coding before you’re up and running. But don’t let digging into the backend of your site intimidate you. A tool like Google Fonts holds your hand throughout the process from font selection to instructions on inserting the code into your website. And best of all, it’s free to use!  Here’s how to get started:   Step #1 – Back-Up Your Website Before you touch your current fonts, back-up a copy of your website according to your local hosting provider’s instructions. You never know when you might hit a bump or a wrong key and need that latest version.   Step #2 – Getting Started To choose the font that’s right for your site, visit Google.com/fonts for a collection of 629 (and counting) font families. Look at the top of the screen and locate the tabs reading “Word, Sentence, Paragraph and Poster.” Pick the option you want to see and type the text you the “Preview Text” field. Next, pick a font size and start scrolling down to view your text in a wide variety of fonts. Each cell of text features a different font option ranging from Meriweather Sans to Caudex, making it easy to compare and choose your favorite.     Step #3 – Filter Your Results The left-hand side of Google Fonts offers a “Filters” section. Click on the “All Categories” drop-down and choose between serif, sans serif, display or handwriting and hit “Okay” to see your new preview. You can also select your font thickness, slant, width and script to customize your results to find the exact kind of typeface you’re looking for.   Step #4 – Build Your Google Web Font Collection Once you find the perfect font style, hit the blue “Add to Collection” button. You can also customize more font options and build up a collection of different options that are ready for use. Just be careful about the number you select. Google will end up taking all the font collections you choose and giving you a code to insert into your site. Stick with one or two fonts or risk dragging down the speed of your site.   Step #5 – Review Now, look at the bottom of your screen. There, you’ll see your Font Collection on the lower left-hand side. Highlight the collection you want to see and click “Review” to see your font in action.   Step #6 – Use Your New Font Once you’re ready to go, select your Font Collection and click on “Use” in the lower right-hand corner of your screen to read through the available options. Be sure to check out Google’s handy icon that displays your new font’s estimated impact on page load times and the tip, “Using many font styles can slow down your webpage, so only select the font styles that you actually need on your webpage.”   Step #7 – Add to Website Ready to integrate your new Google Web Font into your website? Scroll about halfway down the page until you see the option for, “Add this code to your website.” Stick to the standard option to copy and paste the code into the header of your site. Google Fonts will give you instructions to paste the code as the first element in the of your HTML document. You’ll also find instructions on how to import the code into your stylesheet or use JavaScript.     Step #8 – Integrate the Fonts into Your CSS Don’t worry about how the fonts will look in different browsers. Google Fonts’ API will go ahead and generate browser-specific CSS to use your new fonts. That said, you still need to add the font name to your CSS styles to make it all work. Here’s an example CSS style that Google Fonts gives to keep you on track: h1 { font-family: ‘Metrophobic’, Arial, serif; font-weight: 400; }   Step #9 – Test Your Site Hit “Save” and preview your site. If you’re not seeing anything different, try opening a different browser or clearing your cookies first. You might be staring at a cached copy of your site.   Step #10 – Take a Short Cut If you’re using a WordPress template for your website, consider taking a quick and easy short cut. Download the Google Web Fonts plugin and directly customize your font options from within your WordPress dashboard. Google Fonts regularly adds new options to its library, so keep checking back if you’re looking for a specific style. But don’t worry about missing out if you’re using the WordPress plugin. It will tell you when an update is available, unleashing a whole new world of fonts at your fingertips. Continue reading →

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Smart Ways to Update Your Stale Website

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Hosting

Does your website feel stale and uninspired?  Have you avoided making any updates to your pages, due to a lack of time or technical “know how?” Well, then, it’s time to move past these trite excuses and start updating your stale website! In today’s digital world, websites must be more than simple, static billboards that telegraph the same information day in and day out.  Your users are expecting an engaging, dynamic presence – and the easiest way to convey this feeling is to regularly update your content.  At the same time, regular site changes are important from an SEO perspective, as the search engines value and prefer to reward websites that feature “fresh” content. You don’t need to undergo a complete website redesign every month to keep things interesting.  Instead, consider the following strategies for ways to update your stale website without a significant investment of time or energy:   Tip #1 – Add a blog Blogs are great from both a reader and an SEO standpoint.  When you install and regularly update your company’s blog, readers come back again and again to see what new information you’ve posted.  The search engines also reward your site, as the inclusion of more content naturally creates more opportunities to get picked up for different keyword-specific search results pages. Installing a blog is easy when you use tools like WordPress or Joomla.  Truly, the harder part is setting and sticking to a consistent publishing schedule.  Though it can be a challenge to marshal the resources necessary for proper editorial standards, the effort is well worth the rewards of a regularly updated site.   Tip #2 – Revise your “About” page Most companies slap together a generic “About” page – only to realize later on that it isn’t connecting with readers in a meaningful way.  If you find yourself in this position, don’t worry.  It’s easy to update your “About” page in order to make this content fresher and more engaging for viewers. To revise this all-important page, start with the “5 Ws”: Who are you? What do you do? When did you open for business? Where are you located? How are you achieving your business’s aims? It’s a simple framework, for sure.  But by following these guidelines, you’ll create the kind of punchy “About” page that both answers readers most pertinent questions and encourages them to dive more deeply into your other content.   Tip #3 – Add a new special to your home page Want a quick and easy way to freshen up your website’s content?  Simply post a new special on your home page!  For example, you could: Offer a special discount on shipping costs to new customers Give away free product samples with purchases over a certain dollar amount Provide discounts in exchange for referrals to your business Remember – your website visitors are always looking to get the best possible deal they can.  Adding any of the different specials described above to your home page both captures their attention and helps them to believe that their getting great value by working with you.   Tip #4 – Feature a new product or service Similarly, showcasing a new product or service on your website connects with readers in the same way as featuring a home page special.  Most shoppers like to believe that they’re on the cutting edge – that they’re “early adopters” who try new things before others.  Featuring new products or services on your home page appeals to this instinct, while also putting different offerings in front of your regular readers’ eyes. You don’t even have to launch a new product or service to take advantage of this effect.  If you offer a product or service that doesn’t generate many sales, giving it a spotlight on your website’s home page can help to freshen the look of your site while also raising the impact of underperforming offerings.   Tip #5 – Try a new template Finally, if you want to go all out and truly freshen up your website, you can’t do much better than trying a new template. If your website operates on WordPress, Joomla or any other popular CMS, updating your stale look and feel truly is as simple as purchasing and uploading a new template.  Of course, with any template swap, you’ll likely have to do a bit of clean-up work to ensure that your information displays appropriately within your new site.  However, the time and cost of doing so still comes in dramatically lower than having a custom site built from scratch, making this a smart way to update your stale website. Do you have any other ideas for ways to freshen up the look and feel of a dated website?  If so, share your recommendations in the comments section below! Continue reading →

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11 Mistakes You’re Making on Social Networking Sites

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Hosting

With Facebook rapidly approaching its 10th anniversary, it’s not that social media marketing is a new thing for business owners and webmasters.  But that said, there are still quite a few people out there making mistakes that could cost them both followers and sales. To be sure that your social media strategy is as effective as possible, check your campaigns for the following mistakes:   Mistake #1 – Not customizing your profile design All of the major social networks – including Facebook, Google+ and Twitter – all give you different opportunities to brand your profile page.  Don’t miss out on these great opportunities to distinguish your company!   Mistake #2 – Not updating your design in response to platform changes That said, keep an eye out for platform redesigns, as in the case of the recent Google+ overhaul.  The display issues that can result from failing to adapt your profile images to these new standards can leave your page looking out-of-date.   Mistake #3 – Only talking about yourself Social media isn’t just about you.  Keep the self-centered updates to a minimum in favor of posts and content that puts the emphasis on your products and your customers.   Mistake #4 – Being overly-promotional At the same time, remember that social networking websites are supposed to be, well, social!  If all you do is blast the same promotional updates over and over again, you risk being labeled a spammer and losing the following you’ve worked so hard to build.   Mistake #5 – Disappearing for weeks on end One of the keys to proper social media marketing is consistency.  If you disappear for long stretches of time, you miss out on one of the major advantages of social media – the ability to keep your brand name in front of your followers.  Check in with your profiles at least once a day to give the appearance of being an active, engaged business.     Mistake #6 – Not investigating new social platforms But while it’s important to have a social media posting strategy and publishing calendar, don’t let your schedule prevent you from investigating new platforms when they arise.  Early adopters of social newcomers Pinterest and Instagram benefited from being among the first on each platform, and your company can grab the same competitive edge if you remain alert to industry changes.   Mistake #7 – Focusing on vanity metrics Newsflash – it’s better to have 100 highly-engaged followers than 10,000 followers who don’t know your brand from the next.  Stop focusing on your profile follower count and other vanity metrics and turn your attention to the statistics that demonstrate actual engagement.   Mistake #8 – Only posting automated updates Automated posting tools like HootSuite and BufferApp can minimize the amount of daily effort needed to manage your social profiles.  But don’t allow yourself to become overly reliant on them, as only posting automated updates takes the life out of your profile.  Engage in person and use these tools as a way to supplement your primary efforts.   Mistake #9 – Cross posting the same updates to different platforms Another temptation that automated tool users encounter is the desire to post the same update to all of their different social profiles.  However, every social networking site has its own culture and language.  Creating separate updates for each platform will allow you to engage each of your unique audiences is the most effective way possible.   Mistake #10 – Failing to respond to engaged users If people take the time to reach out to your brand – whether through direct messages, update shares or other types of engagement – acknowledge their efforts!  Responding promptly demonstrates to your followers that their contributions are appreciated, which – in turn – improves your brand’s overall reputation.   Mistake #11 – Deleting negative comments Finally, take a lesson from the recent debacle involving Amy’s Baking Company .  Receiving negative comments on your social profiles isn’t fun, but deleting them (or blowing up in response) makes your company look bad.  Respond respectfully and do everything in your power to make the situation better for followers who feel they’ve been wronged in some way.   Of course, the social networking landscape is tremendously large and the number of mistakes that can be made is correspondingly huge.  If you’ve seen somebody make a social media marketing mistake (or if you want to fess up to one of your own), share your observations in the comments section below: Continue reading →

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