by Nick Throlson | Mar 2, 2017 | Off Topic
Now that mobile phones have become the most commonly used device to access the internet, responsive design has become more important than ever. This has completely changed the website game for businesses all around the world. While before they had plenty of room to get all their messages across, now they must do it in a limited amount of space. As well as opening up challenges for business owners, it has also created a host of new challenges for web developers.D
epending on what business it is, some prefer to establish a separate mobile site while others go for the responsive option. While both approaches have numerous pros and cons, if SEO is an issue, there are a number of reasons why responsive is the best way to go.Search Engine RecommendedResponsive design sites have one URL and the same HTML making it easier for search engines to crawl, index and organize content. More and more businesses are finding that SEO is the way to go, and are channeling their resources into creating sites that are well optimized. If people are planning on sharing content off the site on social media, it is easier to do from one source. One Site For All Devices
The cleverness of a mobile responsive site is that it still provides a great user experience regardless of what device it is accessed on. For business owners, this really forces them to think about the essence of their company and the key messages they are trying to get across. There are plenty of places to turn if they need help with web developers. For the website developers themselves, responsive sites make them think about features that work across all devices. Ultimately, if a person likes a particular website, they will access it from numerous different devices. If they can enjoy a consistent experience across all of these devices, all the better.Easier to ManagePurely in SEO terms, having separate websites requires separate campaigns to manage. One site and one campaign is significantly easier to manage than two. That?s not to say that the two campaigns can?t both be effective, and indeed many people use their laptops and phones for two different types of searches. Having said that, for smaller businesses, it is much easier just to focus time and attention on one campaign. ScalabilityWith new devices being released all the time and different screen sizes being preferred, a responsive site is always ready to adapt to trends as they happen. For now, this is likely to be a significantly smaller investment than creating separate sites. This means that once a website is created, it won?t need to be constantly updated which is a relief considering the speed in which technology moves.Ultimately, responsive sites are one of the main trends for businesses, brands and developers up and down the country. This is something which shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
by Nick Throlson | Feb 23, 2017 | Business, Web Design
Making a site popular is a combination of loads of different areas. First, of course, your site has to look good. If your site looks bad; people won?t want to use it. Then, you need to make sure that it?s filled with relevant content. Without it, people wouldn?t have a reason to visit. And, you need to work on SEO. Or, your customers will never be able to reach your site. SEO mostly involves changes to the website in question. But, there?s work you can do outside of it towards the effort. Often, this can be the only thing stopping you from getting to the top. To help you out, this post will be going through some ways to improve your SEO off of your own site.
Social media is a great way to improve your SEO. Certain social media sites have millions of active users. This means that, when you use them, you have the chance to reach out to loads of people. And, when people see your posts, they will be directed to your website. This is a great way to make sure that you are catching people?s eyes without having to do much more. When it comes to SEO, social media does a lot of work. Because the sites are so popular, having more than one instance of a link to your site on them can be a great benefit. You just need to make sure you?re popular. To get the ball rolling, it can be worth buying some likes and followers. To find out about this, visit SocialProof for more information, or find another company.There are loads of blogs online. In fact, you can find a blog for most areas of interest. These sites are usually run as side projects that people do for fun. But, they?re always looking to improve their content. This makes them a great candidate for a post written by you. This sort of activity is called guest posting. You, as a business, benefit from having links to your site on someone else's blog. And, the blogger benefits because they get some free content. In some cases, popular bloggers will ask for money for this service. But, it can be worth it. Having backlinks on other people?s sites is a great way to make sure that your SEO is up to snuff.It seems simple and obvious, but a lot of companies neglect traditional advertising to bring people to their sites. Advertising on other people?s websites is nice and easy. You just have to make sure that you have a small budget for it. Companies like Google offer their own advertising services. They have their own pool of websites which are advertised on. And, they also handle the people who want to be advertising. Their systems are very complex and powerful. They?re able to keep your adverts to just people who are interested in them. So, this is a great way to make sure that people are seeing your site.Hopefully, this will help you in the quest to get more people viewing your site. It can be hard to improve your presence online. But, once you?ve started working, you?ll see the improvement very quickly. Any money that you have to spend at this stage can be seen as an investment into your business.
by Nick Throlson | Feb 14, 2017 | Business, WordPress
Do you need to create a website for your small business? In this article, you'll learn why WordPress?is used to create?27% of content?on the Internet.WordPress is the industry leader and is likely?the best tool for your website.This article details?the 10 major reasons people love using WordPress to design their own website for blogging, e-commerce or?for other content management system (CMS) purposes quality backlinks service1. Affordability
One reason why WordPress attracts so many users is its affordability.Its features are inexpensive, and many services are completely free. WordPress has open source content, meaning that the source code?is freely available to use or modify according to your business needs.2. Visibility
Regardless of how affordable your website is, if it doesn't pop up on the Google results page, you're out of luck.It simply will not generate the traffic and revenue you want.Luckily, WordPress has in-built search engine optimization (SEO) functionalities. This means that people are more likely to find your website when they need it.Plugins are another reason why WordPress sites rise to the top of the list. They enhance SEO to attract?the customer you want with every search.3. Ease of Use
WordPress is highly user-friendly and accessible.Even if you have no experience in website development, you can find forums about everything from how to install WordPress to how to troubleshoot any problems you may encounter.The best part is, you don't need to know HTML or any other programming languages to get started. You just need a little time and a general notion of what you want your site to look and feel like.It's also easy to add multimedia elements to your webpage, including:
If you want to customize the template of your choice, you can change anything from the color scheme to the layout of text and images.If you know a lot about programming, you can also edit the code manually.Or?if you want to learn to program, using WordPress is an excellent way to get started. Since it is an open source product, you can scour the code in your free time. See it as an opportunity to learn without paying for a textbook.4. Support
Another?reason why WordPress is such a good choice for building a website is its community of millions of users and developers.When website technologies are first emerging or have a limited number of customers, technical support can be lacking. There may not be a lot of experts to ask, and there may not be a lot of other people asking the same questions.Thankfully, if you have a question about a certain feature of WordPress, you can almost guarantee that someone has already answered it. WordPress forums are comprehensive?and don't cost you a thing.Since WordPress is a hub for developers to create new features or improve existing ones. The competition benefits users by providing a wider selection?of options.If you're not up to building your website from scratch, you can easily find an expert who can do it for you.Since WordPress is open source, web developers can easily modify WordPress features to suit your needs. They can design a page tailored to your business that your customers will love.5. Blogging
If you look back to why WordPress was created, it started as a blogging platform?in 2003 and has since then grown into a multi-purpose website service.You can easily create a blog for your company using WordPress. In accord with its original purpose, certain blogging features have been fully integrated into WordPress from the?beginning.6. RSS
One such feature explains why WordPress has become so popular: their Really Simple Syndication (RSS) service.RSS sends out messages to customers who sign up. These messages let your customers know when you add new posts or products to your site.Instead of having to bookmark your website and check periodically for new products or content, RSS notifies your customers of updates right away. This fosters customer loyalty and keeps your brand fresh in their minds.7. Comments
WordPress also allows your customers to leave comments on your pages.This greatly benefits both you and your customers.Their comments on blog posts also provide you with valuable feedback on what they like and don't like.?Their feedback also offers clues into how you can improve your product or service.Plus, their comments can?give you ideas on topics for future blog posts. Posting?content they find useful and important will build trust in your brand.Your customers also feel appreciated when you respond to their questions and comments online. Comments are just another reason why WordPress excels in the industry.8. Design
Want to know another reason why WordPress has gained so much favor?in its users' eyes?Take a look at the variety of beautiful themes, and you'll see why.WordPress offers thousands of unique website templates to choose from. Clean layouts, engaging?photography and carefully overlaid text?will ensure a professional and enjoyable customer experience.Do you need an elegant and flirty motif?for your prom dress boutique? Or do you need a classic, simple design for selling medical supplies?Create a lasting impression in seconds with the click of a button and let their expertise do the work.9. Security
If you're considering using?WordPress to create a website for your small business, you may be asking questions about security:- How can I protect?my website from cyberattacks?
- How can I keep my customers safe?
These questions are particularly important for businesses that engage in e-commerce.You can rest assured knowing that CNN, UPS and Samsung Camera all trust WordPress for their blogging websites.In addition, many successful clothing brands,?including VanHeusen and IZOD, trust?WordPress for their e-commerce needs.Additionally,?WordPress has millions of users. Its popularity ensures that updates of WordPress, its themes and its plugins, are constantly being developed.So if there's a bug in the code, chances are that someone has already noticed it and created a fix. It's up to the user to stay up-to-date by implementing the updates regularly.WordPress also offers numerous plugins that can safeguard your webpage. You'll find multiple plugins that prevent common, brute-force attacks.Some plugins?can identify suspicious activity on your site and notify you immediately. Other plugins can?bar unauthorized use of your site?based on the?user's IP address.The security of your website also depends on your password. Choosing long, complex passwords helps safeguard your site.Hefty strings of digits, symbols, and letters form the basis of a strong password.All of your registered users also need to create passwords that are difficult to guess.10. Constantly Evolving
In this age of information, content on the Internet seems to change every day.Technology is continually improving, and the possibilities for change?are almost limitless.That is the?last reason why WordPress is such a great tool. Just like our society, WordPress is constantly evolving. Every day someone adds new and innovative content to make?it better.Just as one great idea can spark another, so one person's creativity sparks another. We will probably look back 5 years from now and marvel at how much has changed.Why WordPress?
WordPress is the content management system (CMS) industry leader for a reason.It is affordable, easy to use and secure. It can increase your SEO visibility, provides access to great customer support and is easy on the eyes.Its blogging capabilities, such as RSS and leaving comments make it ideal for most users.Still, creating a website is a big project, and not everyone has the time or motivation to do it themselves.If you would like professional assistance with your website from a trusted expert in WordPress, contact Nick Throlson today for a quote.
by Nick Throlson | Jan 30, 2017 | Off Topic
E-learning is electronic learning, if you didn?t guess. This means using a computer, tablet, laptop or smartphone to access a course whether it's in a school, part of your mandatory business training or a full distance learning course.In the earliest years of its inception, e-learning garnered negative press, mainly due to the fact that many people, at this time, were still against the induction of modern day technology into life and especially into classrooms. Those that thought bringing computers into the classroom would remove the all-important human interaction that some learners need. However, as time has progressed, both ways of teaching and technology have developed, meaning that there is now a healthy and balanced style of teaching that involves both physical and technological aspects and is on the whole expected by the students being taught.
But you don't just have to access e-learning, you can deliver it too, even if you?re not an educational institution such as a university. If you wish to create a not-for-profit company with the remit of educating children in a certain field, like Digital Ink Drop?s goal of teaching children to learn to read and write through electronic activities, then choosing the best platform to create your e-learning content is pivotal, as, in many respects, the eLearning authoring tool you use have the power to make or break your eLearning course. This is why it's so essential to choose the that offer you the features and functions you want, as well as the usability you need. And once you?ve chosen the right one for you, it?s important to get to grips with it as quickly as possible, because once it?s up and running you will be inundated with the challenges of making sure everybody who is using your service is finding it as easy as possible to use. Training Connection's Captivate classes, for instance, are highly recommended if that is in fact that authoring tool that you choose to utilize. As well as this, you must research the audience you are targeting and as well as everything that might be asked regarding the lessons you are offering. You must be able to answer ANY questions that come your way.But it is not just about the learning aspect of your task. You must also provide an easy interface for your students, or audience, to use; for instance, you must focus on website design. Like the shop windows of businesses of past generations, your e-learning platform must have a website that shows prospective customers everything they could possibly want to see, and quickly. And with searching and shopping from smartphones and tablets, otherwise known as mobile commerce, soaring in popularity, your website must be responsive to mobile devices; simply meaning they must work clearly and coherently when accessed on them. Website design tips can be sought here. So if teaching is a passion of yours, but you haven?t got any desire to get yourself into a classroom, then setting up an e-learning system could be for you.
by Nick Throlson | Jan 19, 2017 | Business, Web Design, WordPress
Beautiful images. Bold color schemes. A sleek design.These are all important elements of a great website design. After all, they are the first things a new visitor notices and judge you by. Your website acts as a virtual front door to your business. If people don?t like what they see inside, they hit the back button and leave without converting. But, here?s the deal: although the design is one of the most important factors in deciding the credibility of a company, functionality plays a more important role. Think about it that way: would you spend time on a site that looks good but works poorly? Probably not.Let?s take a look at all the important elements that, together with the design, make your website a force of nature.
The number one trick to follow is to build your website so as to provide comfort to your customers. You want everything to be as easy and flowing as possible. That said, if any design feature interferes with your site?s functionality, then you should disable it. Try to identify what would provide users with a seamless onsite experience and implement those instead.Last but not least, make it easy for potential prospects to contact you. Include a search bar, preferably on the top of your blog. Fast, easy access to desired information is essential.- Responsive Website Design
One the same note, you want to make your website responsive for mobile use. A wide majority of the time spent online is on mobile devices. You want your web design to be easily translatable into various screen sizes. To make sure your website runs smoothly via smartphones and tablets, test it with Google?s Mobile-Friendly Test. - Make It Relevant and Specific
While you do want to have enough content and features to cover up a wide spectrum, relevance is still important. In other words, you need to cut the fluff and stick to what matters to your audience. Sure, everyone might be talking about the latest trend in tech, but that doesn?t mean you should jump on the bandwagon if the topic doesn?t fit your business profile.
This might sound obvious, but your website?s design and functionality must fit your customer?s needs like a glove. Know your target audience well enough to translate their needs into your web design. Think about what they might want when they land on your page and try to put that information in front of them. Make navigation simple and intuitive and don?t make them think too much about how to find their ways around your site.If you don?t know where to start from, try asking yourself this: Why would anyone want to visit my website?Do a thorough research ? there are plenty valuable resources out there on what user-centric design is and how to apply it.
Last but so not least, don?t forget that a well-designed website can help with your SEO efforts. Google prefers websites that have a clean structure with friendly navigation, solid backlinks, and descriptive image file names. ?Building a good website that looks great and works properly is no easy task. By paying attention to these elements, you can rest assured that your website won?t be just another pretty face on the internet. 
epending on what business it is, some prefer to establish a separate mobile site while others go for the responsive option. While both approaches have numerous pros and cons, if SEO is an issue, there are a number of reasons why responsive is the best way to go.Search Engine RecommendedResponsive design sites have one URL and the same HTML making it easier for search engines to crawl, index and organize content. More and more businesses are finding that SEO is the way to go, and are channeling their resources into creating sites that are well optimized. If people are planning on sharing content off the site on social media, it is easier to do from one source. One Site For All Devices
The cleverness of a mobile responsive site is that it still provides a great user experience regardless of what device it is accessed on. For business owners, this really forces them to think about the essence of their company and the key messages they are trying to get across. There are plenty of places to turn if they need help with web developers. For the website developers themselves, responsive sites make them think about features that work across all devices. Ultimately, if a person likes a particular website, they will access it from numerous different devices. If they can enjoy a consistent experience across all of these devices, all the better.Easier to Manage
Purely in SEO terms, having separate websites requires separate campaigns to manage. One site and one campaign is significantly easier to manage than two. That?s not to say that the two campaigns can?t both be effective, and indeed many people use their laptops and phones for two different types of searches. Having said that, for smaller businesses, it is much easier just to focus time and attention on one campaign. ScalabilityWith new devices being released all the time and different screen sizes being preferred, a responsive site is always ready to adapt to trends as they happen. For now, this is likely to be a significantly smaller investment than creating separate sites. This means that once a website is created, it won?t need to be constantly updated which is a relief considering the speed in which technology moves.Ultimately, responsive sites are one of the main trends for businesses, brands and developers up and down the country. This is something which shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. 
