Web Development
I Once Set Up a Google Alert for a Client’s Obituary
I once set up a Google alert for a client’s obituary. I’m not a monster. Let me explain. Frank His name was Frank. He lived in one of those zip codes where the lawns are immaculate and the cars never have door dings and everyone is someone’s Paw-paw. He was an artist — a real…
Read MoreShould Links Open in a New Tab? (Spoiler: No.)
Every few months, a client emails me with the same request: “Can you make all our external links open in a new tab? I don’t want people leaving the site.” I get it. You worked hard on that website. You don’t want visitors wandering off into the wilds of the internet, never to return. Forcing…
Read MoreDoes your website need some extra TLC? Or maybe it’s time to swipe right on a new design?
When did you most recently give your car a little TLC? Now instead, let’s think about your website. When was the last time you had an online “tune-up,” an evaluation, or checked to make sure everything’s running smoothly? If you can’t remember, it might be time for an upgrade or at least a visit from…
Read MorePart 3 of 4: Graphic Design — Answering 20 Burning Questions
Quick summary of your design process? Discovery: I have a quick conversation (phone or email) with the client to understand the job and the goal. I ask about the end-product (web page, flyer, will it be digital or printed, how many copies, etc.) to ensure the design makes sense once it leaves my hands. Understanding…
Read MoreWhen is the last time you sent yourself an email from your own website?
When was the last time you sent yourself an email from your own website? Be honest. You probably haven’t, right? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. But let me explain why this is crucial. Recently, I had a client contact me because they weren’t getting emails from a new marketing campaign. A little digging revealed a…
Read MoreCheat Sheet: Improve Your Landing Pages
What Exactly is a Landing Page and Should I Care? Think of your landing page as the grand finale of your marketing campaign. It’s where your audience lands after clicking on your ads and promotions, and it’s designed to close the deal. Imagine it as the final level in a video game – you’ve battled…
Read MoreThe Science (and Science Fiction) of DPI
Don’t use inches when talking about digital images. Only use pixels. Remember when Han Solo claimed he made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs? And you thought your head was going to explode, because YOU know that a parsec is a measure of distance and not speed? Okay, maybe you aren’t that nerdy.…
Read MoreHow to use the Colour Contrast Analyser to Check your Website and Screen Documents for Accessibility Color Usage
What is color contrast and why is it important? Color contrast is the relationship between two colors when they are next-to or on-top-of each other. Great contrast is readable. Poor contrast is not. You probably never gave it much thought but there is a reason that a stop sign is red with white lettering —…
Read More6 Common Bloopers Businesses Make When Hiring a Web Designer
If you’re looking to build a new website then you’re in the right place. I love helping businesses build a great website so they can attract more customers and relieve some of the tedium that comes with running your own business. Before you jump right into building your own website, here are some of the…
Read MoreI’m a Wizard, Harry!
I was recently bestowed the honor of being the Wizard of the Week at GravityWiz. GravityWiz makes a set of tools called “Gravity Perks” to extend the power of GravityForm (a fantastic form builder). It does all KINDS of neat building block things. I have been a licensed user for both products for years now.…
Read MoreHow to Pick a Good Designer
Question How do you judge the quality of a designer? They don’t have a typical résumé like a sales rep. I’m sure there’s more to it than “ooh, I like this website”. Answer What a beautiful and potentially self-serving question. There are several things you can look at to determine the quality of a designer.…
Read MoreHow to Make a PDF of an Entire Website
You have a couple of ways to make a PDF from a website. Actually, there are more ways than that, but I will be outlining two. Adobe Acrobat Pro (not the free version) — Lots of professionals have this suite already and you won’t have to buy an extra software PDFmyURL — This is a paid…
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