Webmaster Blog

Digital streaming is rapidly becoming the delivery method of choice for various forms of media, from music to movies and a whole lot more. Streaming movies alone has become an enormous industry, with tens of millions of people signing up to services from large companies offering films and programmes that are instantly viewable across a range of devices. A large part of the attraction of streaming movies is that people get to watch what they want and when they want it. It does away with scheduled broadcast services from television companies, whose executives decide what we should view, and when. It's all about providing more choice, flexibility and control to people, and it's a development that's also being seen in other forms of traditional media, such as newspapers. Editors are losing their control over what kind of news and features people should read about. Consumers are seeking out what they want themselves, on the multitude of internet sites. With the development of advanced Wi-Fi devices that can be plugged into televisions, enabling seamless streaming, and the emerging availability of limitless data packages that are also affordable, it’s a safe bet that streaming movie and programme services are going to rise even...

Digging out of tremendously deep debt can sometimes seem daunting and an insurmountable task. To tell you the truth, it is overwhelming for most people. Did you know more than 1 million U.S. households filed for bankruptcy in 2013 in a desperate effort to get away from debt? Nevertheless, bankruptcy courts are not the only way to shed debt. There are countless methods to do so, and earning a reasonable amount of money each month is undoubtedly the foundation of them all. Lately, blogging has almost become a profession. There is nothing more amazing than doing something for a living that you are passionate about. If you have decent writing skills, and sharing your knowledge is what you always wanted to do, blogging can definitely be an alternative career path for you. There are countless bloggers out there who are making big chunks of money through blogging, and you could be one of them if you have that fire in you. How to make money blogging? The income streams outlined below (from numerous blogs) can help you earn a 6 figure income every year from blogging, which means you can kiss your debt goodbye very soon. We hope you find the...

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a term that has gained a lot of popularity lately. Anyone who owns or runs a website has something to say about it. Some people are doing a good job in terms of optimizing their website, others lack the complex skills required to do SEO. In Orange County, local or enterprise businesses have a general idea how web marketing works, however, the amount of time and resources it takes to build their presence online takes away their focus on what truly matters, that is to make revenue. An Orange County SEO company can help boost the presence of a business based in Orange County, online. Whether you are interested in industrial marketing or in B2C relationships, optimization will deliver a range of important benefits. What do SEO Companies do? SEO is a strategy that essentially improves the placement of a website on a search engine results page for keywords of preference. When done correctly, it can result in a very significant traffic boost. An Orange County SEO company will rely on various techniques to deliver the best possible results. The content of the website, its design, social network integration and backlinking attempts will all play a...

Congratulations! If you are looking into hiring an SEO services firm, chances are you just finished creating your long-awaited website. It is just the first in many steps toward creating the successful business of your dreams. Even if you are just looking to drum up more business on a long-established page, you need to stop and celebrate your dedication to your site and your company. How Do You Keep Up? The first key is looking for an SEO marketing company that keeps up with changes in search engine optimization. As anyone who has been around for a few years knows, this is one marketplace that changes quickly and unexpectedly. Being flexible and adaptable to the unexpected is the first key to being a good SEO company. The number one question to pose to potential SEO companies is how have they stayed relevant and kept up with changes imposed by, say Panda? How does your search engine analyses set you apart from the competition? The next area is to find out how an SEO company analyzes the content on your site. What analyses does is indicate how effectively your site is working with the search engines. Another followup question is what search...

Vine is an app that is owned by Twitter. The purpose of the app is to capture a short video that can be shared online. You get just six seconds to capture your visual creation before sharing it with the rest of the world on Twitter or embedding it on other networks or websites. Vine was once only available for people with iOS devices but now it can be used on android phones as well as Windows Phone, Windows 8 and HTML5. This is an app that took of tremendously quickly, with 110,000 vines shared within the first two days of being launched and now it’s not only used for fun, it’s used for marketing. Tips for Using Vine as Part of Your Social Media Marketing You need to begin with creating content that is going to engage your target audience. This is probably the most difficult bit, especially if you’re not particularly creative. Revisit your marketing brief and ensure your target audience are going to respond to Vines. Then begin considering your current campaigns and come up with fresh ways to expand on your marketing using a six second looping clip. Whatever the message you’re trying to get across is...

When you decided to open a graphic design business, you probably had grandiose ideas of being your own boss. You would have more time to spend with family and friends, make more money, and get away from your overbearing boss. If you are still struggling with time management, lost under a sea of bills, business and insurance paperwork, and dealing with hard to please clients, your graphic design business may not be as healthy as you want it to be. Establish a Marketing Plan Your flow of business may be all over the board. You take each and every job that comes your way because you want your business to be successful. The only problem is, you no longer enjoy what you do. Take a step back and figure out what kinds of graphic designs you want to work on and go from there. What is your creative edge? Who is your target demographic? What kinds of businesses do you want to work with? How are you going to keep your name out there? These are all questions that you need to answer honestly to determine if your graphic design business is healthy and mold it the way you want so that...

If you are anything like me, whether to push or pull doesn’t always come naturally. Signs which strictly or even helpfully inform us to push, often result instead in a pull, with their counterparts receiving exactly the reverse treatment. With such a plethora of visual cues available to us, why is it that so many people have issues when simply existing or entering a building? Clearly I have too much time on my hands because after a life time of imbibing lattes in a variety of cafes, I think I may have happened on an answer. Door handles. Yep, that’s right, door handles. When they exist we are oh so tempted to pull. When they don’t exist, pushing really seems to be our only means of escape. Put a pull sign on a handle-less door and where would we be? Stumped. Shocked … terrified even? Similarly, put a handle where there is a push sign and before we know it we are doing a version of the hokey cokey that would definitely not impress the judges on Strictly. When finally we emerge on the right (or even wrong) side of the door, we are left red, sweaty and more indeed of...

Mobile is bigger than ever and only going one way – up. In 2014 we can expect to see a notable increase in queries and searches on mobile – again. However, though the constant is mobile search growth, the variable is going to be in preparing your site for search. So, let’s look at what we should we expect from mobile SEO in the coming twelve months? Responsive Sites and Mobile Sites If you don’t have a mobile site or a website that’s responsive, then you’re going to need to get on the bandwagon in 2014. SEO is changing and Google has alluded that it will begin to favour sites searched for on mobile that offer the mobile experience. Currently, sites with no mobile optimisation rank well in its mobile search – this will most likely change this year. Expect to see responsive and mobile sites rise to the top and be rewarded for providing the optimised experience. Load Times Of course, it’s not just about a site being mobile. Page load times look like they could be a big factor too. Matt Cutts of Google has mentioned on a number of occasions Google’s preference for faster page load times for...

The discussion of social responsibility has typically revolved around how big-business practices are ethically justified. Now the term has also come to describe how companies, big or small, are creating campaigns to support social causes. Read our six reasons below that explain why your business should start a social responsibility campaign right away!  1) Secure Tons of Financial Support Whether you’re an individual or a small business, you have access to numerous foundations that can help fund your cause. Ashoka and The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship are two of many not-for-profit organizations that sponsor innovative and social-minded initiatives among private, philanthropic, and civil sectors. 2) Encourage Customer Loyalty Customers may not care about your brand beyond the value they get from your service or product. Market your social responsibility campaign through social media, an interactive website, or set up campaigns that call for consumer opinions. That way you get customers to interact with your brand and with a cause that defines your company values. Check mate.com, an online background check service, supports Together We Bake, a nonprofit that helps previously incarcerated women develop professional and personal skills. While the company reduces criminal victimization by giving users access to public records, the organization...

If you’re new to Facebook or want to improve your results, you’ll want a few tips to improve your timeline cover photo. The cover photo is the large, banner top that you see on every Facebook timeline format page. A cover photo is the first thing your visitors see when they come to your page, so you’ll want it to look as good as possible. Whether you have a business or personal page, you’ll benefit from some of these helpful tips. What Makes a Good Cover Photo? There are many things to consider when determining what makes a good timeline cover photo. There are different things to look at depending on whether it’s a personal or business page photo. Both should be crisp, clear pictures that are sized properly (see below). If you’re using the photo for a personal page, you’ll have a little more leeway when it comes to content. You can choose from any photo you like so choose one that is fun and displays your personality. A business Facebook timeline cover photo should be professional looking. Make sure it is a high quality photo that relates directly to your business. It should not be a personal photo and...

In this blog post we will feature some top secrets that will help guide your logo design in the right direction. Logos are everywhere. On our TV screens, mobiles, public transport and much more. To consumers, a logo can become a reminder of who a company is and what they sell. It can trigger an instant association, which is why it is up to the designer to make it in such a way that it achieves a good amount of recognition and increases awareness. Brands are literally causing the market to overflow with choice for the consumer. They are surrounded by a range of brand identities and so each logo must now go the extra mile to stand out. How is this possible though? Are there effective ways that can guarantee the success of a logo? Well, we will now share with you some professional points that will help you start the preparation process with promise and purpose. Remember; start as you mean to go on!   1 – Research to Understand the Audience A strong logo must do more than just look pretty. It needs to get across a message to the right person. It must look aesthetically pleasing of...

Facebook currently stands as the largest and most influential social networking site today. With a membership that has already surpassed one billion, it has become a very valuable tool for online entrepreneurs and marketers. In fact, a lot of businesses today generate most of their customers via Facebook pages. With that said, if you want to have a piece of the action, now is the time to jump into the bandwagon and create a Facebook business page. If you are still having doubts, below are some of the reasons why it's very important that you utilize a Facebook fan page in promoting your business. 1) It's a great and effective way to keep your loyal customers updated. This is especially true if you are offering products and services that are always being changed or modified. For instance, let's say you are selling t-shirts. If there's a new batch of designs ready for sale, you can use a Facebook page to inform your customers that you've come up with t-shirts featuring new designs. You can upload photos of the shirts so that your customers can take a look at them. One great advantage of doing this is that if people like the...

There are many people who do not know what SSL certificates are. Many online customers check for security on websites by looking for a green address bar, locked padlock or https:// address without knowing that these things come as a result of the site owner having SSL certificates set up on the site. An SSL certificate will perform a selection of functions that will help to keep customers safe when they are using a website. They can encrypt data when they are sending personal information through the website. They can provide malware checks on the website. They can provide evidence of who the site belongs to. This will all help customers in different ways. They will know that they are not a phishing site, they will not risk banking problems when doing transactions and that they will be safe when using the site. This is extremely important. Customers need to have trust in a seller when they are buying form them. There are different levels of trust, but knowing that they will be safe when they are using a website is one of them. They will also want to be sure that you will provide the good or service that they...

With all benefits of living in Internet era, there are some pitfalls that comes along with it. Let's talk about “on-line privacy”, not just about the obvious risk of identity theft and fraud, but regarding personal information, that you certainly do not want to share. What are the risks? I personally doubt that many people think about this serious, but there are so many risks and traps that normal Internet users fall into especially those who are active at social networking websites. Let me give you few possibilities that can put you in danger: Blackmail Identity theft SPAM marketing Other people to know where you are, what you do, your location and act against you Employers accessing your personal info Phishing scams How to protect yourself and your family? Some of the steps to stay protected and quite easy, though some require advanced knowledge related to computer networks and security software. Easy steps to stay protected: Be careful what you share, where you share Use strong passwords Use 2 ways authentication on email, profiles, etc.. Install anti-virus software, firewall software and anti-malware/adware software Keep your operating system up-to-date double check the email address of every suspicious email do not share essential...

Every couple of years, Google ‘lays the smackdown’ on segments of the Internet that it deems can use a bit of housecleaning, or at least some fine-tuning. Sometimes its actions may rub site owners the wrong way, but by and large, Google’s motives are generally pure: a cleaner, more orderly and helpful Internet.  These actions are generally called Google algorithm updates, the most famous are known as Panda and Penguin. One segment that has received attention over the years has been web directories. For more than a decade, Google has been trying to rein in lower-quality, spammy directories that sometimes aren’t much more than a crowded list of links on a simple page. While Google’s intention to not index some directories hasn’t led to a ban on all online directories, it has encouraged page owners and businesses to try harder to create more original content. It’s interesting to see the Internet community’s take on the topic of “the end of lists as we know them” over the last 10 years. In 2007, MOZ.com, a top technology and marketing blog, offered a list of suggestions for webmasters and page owners wanting to avoid being rejected by Google. Examples of bad directories at that...

There are constant changes in the world of graphic designs and there are new technology, tools and software to aid the designers. This gives a constant change in the appearance of the visual designs of the sites and makes your site pages better with effort. You must keep up with these changes of technology and appearance so that you are ahead of the competitors. You can also experiment with the new trends and software so that you give interesting looks to your site. The current trends will keep you ready for the new ways and thinking and will pave way for you to become an exceptional designer. Learning Never Ends There are many things that you can learn. There are constant evolution of new technologies and tools. You can keep on continuing with your education as a graphic artist to become successful with your designs and creations. The continuing of education in local colleges from time to time can bring about consciousness of the current thinking and trends. Exhibitions at art museums and checking out of the works of the graphic design workshops and organizations can also enrich you with ideas. You will meet new people and listen to a discussion...

As an e-commerce business, the importance of having a website which not only looks good but functions to a high degree is second to none. Fundamentally, through your website you want to sell items to the public; the more attractive and easy-to-use your website is will simply result in more items being sold. Wordpress can be a powerful tool when it comes to website design; many websites are built using this platform due to its raw potential in building highly professional-looking e-commerce websites. From investing in set themes, you can transform your website into something special. Here are the some of the top e-commerce WordPress themes that are out there.     Origami Origami is a smart WordPress theme, which has the ability to be a full webshop or just a regular website if you choose ecommerce is not for you. Packed with features, this easy-to-navigate website ticks all the boxes. As with any ecommerce business, the homepage is the most important; Origami features a slider, box for messages, featured posts, categorised posts and even a space for a twitter feed for business. Ecommerce-wise, Origami supports tax, different payment options, retains user account information, postage & packaging information plus a wealth...

There are various trends to follow for your website designs and these can make a big difference in the success of your site. There are few things that can give your visitors that extra interest for your site. These are as follows: A Polished Logo – You must find a professional logo for your site so that it becomes easier for your visitors to recognize and adhere to the different write-ups from your site. Navigation Options – Easy navigation is a part of the web design. The main menu in horizontal position and the submenus underneath each main menu can give an adequate idea of the navigational options. No Clutter – You must keep an eye for unnecessary clutter. There should not be an overload of the links and images on your site pages. There should not be any competing images or videos that can draw attention away from the main topic and write up on the page. Strategically Placing Color – You can bring in an elegant and fresh appearance of your pages by using neutral colors on them. Use colors wisely and small dashes of different colors for headings and the important links or keywords will help the visitors....

Two of the most common hosting plans are shared hosting and VPS (virtual private server) hosting. They are a popular choice especially among first time users and can be the right choice for you depending on your specific needs. Here is a look at the advantages and disadvantages of both of these systems. What Is Shared Hosting? Shared hosting is a system where one single server is divided among various users. This means that you do get your own disk space and database but the performance resources, such as RAM and bandwidth, are shared. What Is VPS Hosting? VPS on the other hand means that a server is divided into smaller private servers and thus each account is allocated their own server. This also means that all the performance resources, such as RAM and bandwidth, aren’t shared with other users. VPS hosting also provides you with a bigger disc space than shared hosting. The Disadvantages And Advantages Of Shared Hosting Perhaps the biggest advantage of shared hosting is the fact that it is the least expensive hosting plan available. Thus it is often a very good choice for first time users and can be enough for users who are only running...

A lot of businesses get scared when they contemplate entering the world of Paid Search. And we can’t really blame them because it is an element on online marketing that is often talked about and recommended, yet the details are almost never fully disclosed. Between the acronyms (CPC, PPC), the budgets, the long lists of keywords, and all the little features you can turn on and off within a Paid Search platform like Google AdWords, it’s no wonder that many businesses hesitate on creating their own campaigns. However, you’re about to receive a crash course in Paid Search. You might not become a master of AdWords instantly, but you’ll understand the basics – enough to boost your confidence and embark you on a journey of powerful business development. What Is Paid Search? Paid Search is a one-stop elevator to the top of a Google search page. When you create a Paid Search campaign, there isn’t the same waiting game like there is with organic SEO methods. Instead, when a user searches for something that’s right up your company’s alley, Google will display your advertisement right at the top of the page.    Perform a Google search for just about anything. See...