One of the most common mistakes my clients make is building too many websites. This fractures their web presence and harms their traffic. Luckily, judging whether you need another website isn’t difficult; you just have to ask the right question.

Continue reading “One Website or Two?” →

When people hear about WordPress, they don’t usually realize that it comes in two different packages. It’s easy to become confused by information that applies to one WordPress but not the other. If they’re not careful, they might get a website with WordPress.com when they really needed one on WordPress.org, or vice versa.

Don’t worry, the difference is pretty simple once you know it. Continue reading “WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org” →

These days, having a website can mean using the software or services of a dozen or more companies. It’s inevitable something will go wrong, and when it does, someone will need to contact tech support. If you don’t have a professional like me chatting with them, you may have to do it yourself. Knowing how to effectively converse with tech support can minimize frustration and help you solve your problem faster. Continue reading “5 Tips for Talking to Tech Support” →

A common request from clients is for external links to open in a new tab. Unfortunately, some pervasive myths state that using new tabs benefits your site. In reality, it only causes trouble for site visitors. That’s why with few exceptions, I strongly recommend against this practice.  Continue reading “Why You Shouldn’t Open Links in New Tabs” →

During any web project, one of my tasks is to assist clients in updating their practices to match the new ways that people communicate online. Frequently, the biggest hurdle is getting the client to move away from their PDF newsletter toward a better system for publishing their content.

Why are PDF newsletters a mistake? It comes down to this: Continue reading “Say Goodbye to Your PDF Newsletter” →

WordPress started as a blogging platform back in 2003, but it didn’t take long to evolve into a full-fledged Content Management System, or CMS. Now it’s a mature, well-supported program, with thousands of users worldwide. More than 20% of all websites are running a version of WordPress – that’s almost 250 million websites! Continue reading “Why I Love WordPress” →

One of the most challenging tasks for any designer is ensuring that designs match what the client is looking for. Tastes in design vary a great deal from person to person. However, with the right process, client satisfaction is almost guaranteed. Continue reading “How I Ensure Client Satisfaction With My Designs” →

Mark Root-Wiley and I presented on using the WordPress post editor for WordCamp Seattle 2012. We showed our audience tips and tricks for configuring the edit screen and editing content. I highly recommend it for anyone who manages their content in WordPress.

If you’re thinking about getting a custom website, here’s how the process goes. Budget packages use a more streamlined process, with less planning upfront and more flexibility throughout. Continue reading “What You Can Expect in a Web Project” →