Blog
Concrete5 Update
I have been getting more spam recently so decided to update to the latest Concrete5 build so I could take advantage of the built-in Google Recaptcha3 support.
On update I received and error code and had to reinstall a backup of my site so it took a lot longer than normal. I was recieving an error when the website tried to automatically update the database and hopefully by posting how I fixed it this will save some other people some time.
Concrete5 Best in Field
It's official, according to www.softwarereviews.com Concrete5, my Content Management System of choice ranks no1 for Web Experience Management. These scores are created from user reviews so they give a good idea of the actual facilities and ease of use that the software provides.
Quality products or services aren't necessarily the most expensive
Just watched a show on Netflix called Brain Games and in it they showed the way our brains think when it comes to picking between two products with different prices, equating the most expensive with the best quality product. Even a simple thing like the price of a product can influence you but the most expensive isn't always the best. It's important to ensure that you get the best web designer so don't fall into that trap.
Google Chrome set to block unsecure mixed content
Starting in December 2019 Google Chrome will start to block mixed content in websites. Potentially images,video and other content which is served insecurely on a secure website will be blocked. Google has set out a phased system for introduction but you need to act now to ensure no disruption to your website.
A Couple of Sites That Will Help You Find a Good Designer/Developer
Does your designer think beyond the design - use these couple of sites to get an idea that your proposed website designer/developer knows all about a sites performance and its importance - if their own site isn't fast it's unlikely the ones they build will be fast.
Wordpress Maintenance Services
In response to the number of Wordpress websites I have had to repair and improve over the last 6 months I am launching a new Wordpress maintenance service. The service items are all designed to make running a wordpress website easy and stress free.
Fixing Broken Wordpress websites again
In the last 6 months I have seen more and more broken websites needing to be sorted out due to supposed web designers using a template for a Wordpress website. In fact, I have done way more fixes than new websites. It’s not necessarily the fault of the template as these vary in complexity and construction.
Often it is the fact that the designer has implemented the template incorrectly
How to avoid your website being held hostage
I have seen this happen all too often. All sorts of problems can occur when a business owner trusts their web developer too much and doesn't ask the right questions when arranging their domain and website. Sometimes I can't fix these issues purely because the law is on the side of whoever is registered as the domain owner.
Hiring a web designer is an important decision. You should ensure prior to allowing someone to handle your online presence that they are honest and actually care about your business. Often once a developer has your money they aren't really concerned whether your business succeeds or not.
Company Info you have to show on your website - it's the law
Has your web designer made sure you display the correct legal information on your website? - small details but important. They might say it's not their job to know this and that it falls on the website owner to ensure this is done. I say it's the website designer’s responsibility to help their clients as much as possible and this should be standard advice.
Social Media Marketing
Yes I have finally joined Twitter. After years of providing advice to clients regarding their own social media marketing I have decided to do my own. Like it or not social media is here to stay and it forms a vital part of any marketing strategy. With the widespread use of mobile phones, the ability to stay in touch has gone from strength to strength. Social media is part of our lives. It also gives us a great platform for getting our message out to the masses.