Confused on how to pick the right plugin? Watch the video below to see how I evaluate and review plugins for my site. Determine your needs Don’t just install the first one you see without researching it Check to see when it was last updated Check for support issues Check the cost Evaluate plugins on […]
HOW TO BUILD IT
The art of the elegant opt-in
I’m so thrilled with the response to my last video – and a got a lot of questions about how I made the elusive horizontal opt-in. I used widgets to hold my newsletter sign-up code – There are several widget areas already available for use in this particular theme (Parallax Pro Theme from studiopress.com). and […]
How to create a FAQ page for your website
If you’ve got any sort of business that deals with clients and the general public (and especially if you’re offering digital or software products), I’ll bet you’ve answered a lot of the same questions over and over again. In this Minima tutorial I’ve got a simple solution that will cut down on your customer support […]
How to create a simple placeholder page in less than ten minutes
Have you ever started a project and wanted to put up a placeholder page while you work behind the scenes? Or are you working on your site and want to put it into maintenance mode but keep your email opt-in available to your visitors? Today’s tutorial will show you exactly how to do it – […]
How to get and stay inspired
Whenever I start a new project, my first step is to review my idea collection. I’m constantly scouring the web for inspirational textures, photos, layouts, and coding techniques and saving ideas I find for different needs – these hits of inspiration help form color and layout choices and push me to think differently. If you […]
How to add and modify your WordPress Navigation Menu
Watch the video tutorial as I explain how to add and modify items to your navigation menu.
WordPress security – why changing your username isn’t enough
This week there’s been a lot of buzz around WordPress security and botnet site attacks. Truth is, these types of issues have been around a long time and simply changing the default admin account and your password isn’t enough to keep you secure. WordPress, while easy to install and use, is NOT set it and […]
How to create an effective banner graphic
Running an online business? You’re likely going to need to create a banner at some point to advertise a program, class, event or to promote a product offering. The images below were recently created for one of my clients to promote a teleclass. This tutorial highlights the different aspects I had to consider when designing […]
How to show rates, fees and schedules on your site
I often work with a lot of clients who need to show schedules, rates or options on their website. For ease of readability and maintenance, I like to place this data into a table. My favorite way to do this in WordPress is to use a great free plugin named TablePress. The flexibility of this […]
Make it easy for your audience to contact you
How your users can contact to you is of utmost importance. It amazes me every day the number of sites that make it just plain hard to contact the business! I’ve talked before about how location based businesses need to easily show their location in standard locations (upper right hand of site and footer) – […]
Why you don’t always need a logo
Do you really need a logo? Over the years I’ve worked with a lot of different types of businesses at various stages of their development. Typically when you’re just starting out (and especially if you run a digital/online business), I recommend NOT going through a logo design process. The budgets allocated for logos are often […]
Avoid this tech nightmare: get your accounts together
Click here to get the guide The call came late at night. My friend was in the middle of her biggest product launch yet and her site had suddenly gone off-line. Panicked, she didn’t know what to do and was going to potentially lose thousands of dollars. Her former web developer was no longer available […]
Is your website working for you or against you?
The web is a living thing – always changing and evolving. I often tell my clients that nothing is “set it and forget it” – you should always be reviewing and evaluating what’s working or isn’t working for you and your users. Standards and technologies change rapidly and a site you created more than a […]
Should you start from scratch?
I often get emails from prospective clients who say they don’t need a new website since they already have one — they just need a facelift. Unfortunately, when you look under the hood of a site, there can be so many issues that it often makes more sense to start from scratch. Especially if that […]
How to choose your web hosting company
Website hosts can make or break your online business. Choosing the right place to host your website is a huge decision – and migrating to a new host can be a major pain, so take the time to ask the right questions when setting yourself up. Know that a lot of bloggers out there who […]
Why creativity matters & copycats stink
Design. Thought. Intention. Theory. Practice. It all matters and it makes you stand out as a designer and as a business. Create your own style & materials and you will be rewarded. Show your integrity and your creativity instead of straight up copying who you think is successful. There’s a huge difference between inspiration and […]