As a webmaster myself I know it can be stressful handling a full-scaled backup. You need to make sure all the website files download properly and that everything has been put in the right folders. Then you also need to organize a zipped or compressed SQL database backup which contains all the content & users from your website.
[Read more…]
Archives for 2013
5 Ways to Use Social Media to Make Money
Social media is here to stay, and it has changed the world as we know it. On the one hand, spending too much time socializing on sites like Facebook and Twitter can be an enormous waste of time and productivity.
But on the other, these connective technologies and communities can absolutely help you accomplish the things you’ve wanted to do this year.
And if making money is one of those things, you’re in luck, because we’ve organized five solid ways we’ve seen people using social media to make money! [Read more…]
Design Focus: Ambient Video
Another round of video backgrounds used in the wild in this week’s set of featured sites.
Designs of the Week
Create unique, extraordinary websites with Squarespace. No experience necessary!
Video backgrounds are a great fit for film websites but this design doesn’t rely solely on that feature. Navigation from one page to the next is animated horizontally, and then downwards. Using the scrollbar isn’t necessary as the content are all fitted into one screen, and keyboard shortcuts are enabled, but it would have been nice to mouse interaction to trigger the directions, not to mention active/inactive states for those arrows. The About Sam page is a nice take on the traditional FAQ, and so is the Gallery.
The bright purple-blue definitely has an oomph factor, and the feature-by-feature animations below are lovely.
On first load, you get several descriptions of the product with the same video looping in the background, and then culminates in this screen, with an email form. Simple and elegant.
Social Media Weekly
Want your site to be as good-looking and inspirational as these? Start by choosing a well-designed theme from ThemeForest.
Typography – Choosing the perfect Typeface – Cucumbertown’s journey
“Unlike the other design choices that are data driven or research oriented, type choices we designers make tend to be ad-hoc and impulsive even today.”
Design, Business – How to give constructive design feedback over email
“Email feedback also arrives all at once, and when done poorly, it’s hard not to interpret it as a big ball of negativity — even if the sender meant well.”
Optimization – Jank Free!
“Here are some links for those of you who want to make the web smoother.”
CSS – CSS3 Inheritance Tips and Tricks
“It’s easy to overlook the cascading features of stylesheets. Most developers are aware of the inherit keyword but there are a few new inheritance features in CSS3 you may not be aware of.”
Design Focus: Blogging in 2013
The clean, minimal, and handcrafted feel that has dominated the current generation of web design is probably most apparent in this crop of websites. Time to take some notes on their attention to detail in building an interface that’s familiar to us all.
Designs of the Week
Get solid WordPress themes, plugins, and even design training from iThemes.
Social Media Weekly
Need help in promoting your site? INeedHits has been in the search engine marketing since 1996!
Mobile, User Experience – Communicating Animation Ideas
“If you design mobile apps and you’re looking for ways to animate your interactive prototypes, you may want to figure out which solution is best for you and take the time the learn it.”
CSS – Single-direction margin declarations
“Everything I’ve written here is nigh on impossible to prove and isn’t quantifiable, but speaking anecdotally and from experience on some huge websites, the method I use works perfectly.”
Design – The Extra Mile
“Polishing is this continuous act of refining your user experience down to the smallest detail. It is what might ultimately set your product apart from crowd—it is your special sauce.”
HTML – Using the HTML5 section element
“In the enthusiasm for all the other HTML5 structural elements, there is a growing tendency for the section element to be used whether it’s the right element for the job or not.”
Top 5 Antivirus Features That You Should Always Require
Antivirus software is NOT created equal. Some programs offer very basic protection by scanning incoming files and looking for already installed virus and malware files. Others are more complex, offering identity protection, safe web browsing settings, social network protection, and other security features that are a must-have in today’s technologically focused society.
Whether you plan on purchasing an enterprise level antivirus suite for your company or a paid option for home use, these top 5 features that Antivirus programs must have should remain on your radar. [Read more…]