Contact UsNeed domain privacy on your domain?

Domain Privacy service acts as a shield — instead of showing YOUR personal contact information in the public database, the database will show contact information for the Domain Privacy service. This allows you to keep your information accurate and up-to-date with our service, as demanded by ICANN regulations, but still invisible and shielded from the public.
Domain Privacy protects you from:

• Spam and other Unsolicited Email
• Unwanted Phone Calls & Postal Mail
• Identity Theft
• Fraudulent Domain Transfers
• Competitors being able to look up which domains you own and much more

If you would like domain privacy on your domain, please contact us.

When registering and setting up a domain name, it is best to have the business owner register the domain name under the business and not a third party. This makes sense as the business then ‘owns’ the name and there can be no dispute as to own retains ownership.

The alternative can result in the following:

• legal proceeding to retain ownership
• loss of time/money (branding/marketing efforts, legal costs)
• loss/forfeit of domain name
• inability to transfer domain name when selling the business

We routinely come across companies that have made the mistake of not registering their own domain name and it becomes time consuming to obtain and transfer the domain name to the registered business. On occasion, the business has had to forfeit the domain name and start from scratch which has resulted in lost revenue, time, reputation, branding/marketing efforts and money.

Lastly, the ability and flexibility to sell or transfer your domain name should you sell the business is lost when you don’t retain ownership of the domain name.

File Type Detection

Wordpress 3.3 has streamlined things! Instead of needing to click on a specific upload icon based on your file type, now there’s just one. Once your file is uploaded, the appropriate fields will be displayed for entering information based on the file type.

Drag-and-Drop Media Uploader

Adding photos or other files to posts and pages just got easier. Drag files from your desktop and drop them into the uploader. Add one file at a time, or many at once.

More File Formats
We’ve added the rar and 7z file formats to the list of allowed file types in the uploader.

Dashboard Design

Flyout Menus

Speed up navigating the dashboard and reduce repetitive clicking with our new flyout submenus. As you hover over each main menu item in your dashboard navigation, the submenus will magically appear, providing single-click access to any dashboard screen.

Header + Admin Bar = Toolbar
To save space and increase efficiency, we’ve combined the admin bar and the old Dashboard header into one persistent toolbar. Hovering over the toolbar items will reveal submenus when available for quick access.

Responsive Design
Certain dashboard screens have been updated to look better at various sizes, including improved iPad/tablet support.

Help Tabs

The Help tabs located in the upper corner of the dashboard screens below your name have gotten a facelift. Help content is broken into smaller sections for easier access, with links to relevant documentation and the support forums always visible.

Feels Like the First Time

New Feature Pointers

When we add new features, move navigation, or do anything else with the dashboard that might throw you for a loop when you update your WordPress site, we’ll let you know about it with new feature pointers explaining the change.

Post-update Changelog
This screen! From now on when you update WordPress, you’ll be brought to this screen — also accessible any time from the W logo in the corner of the toolbar — to get an overview of what’s changed.

Dashboard Welcome

The dashboard home screen will have a Welcome area that displays when a new WordPress installation is accessed for the first time, prompting the site owner to complete various setup tasks. Once dismissed, this welcome can be accessed via the dashboard home screen options tab.

Content Tools

Better Co-Editing

Have you ever gone to edit a post after someone else has finished with it, only to get an alert that tells you the other person is still editing the post? From now on, you’ll only get that alert if another person is still on the editing screen — no more time lag.

Tumblr Importer
Want to import content from Tumblr to WordPress? No problem! Go to Tools → Import to get the new Tumblr Importer, which maps your Tumblog posts to the matching WordPress post formats. Tip: Choose a theme designed to display post formats to get the greatest benefit from the importer.

Widget Improvements
Changing themes often requires widget re-configuration based on the number and position of sidebars. Now if you change back to a previous theme, the widgets will automatically go back to how you had them arranged in that theme. Note: if you’ve added new widgets since the switch, you’ll need to rescue them from the Inactive Widgets area.

Under the Hood

Flexible Permalinks
You have more freedom when choosing a post permalink structure. Skip the date information or add a category slug without a performance penalty.

is_main_query()
This handy method will tell you if a WP_Query object is the main WordPress query or a secondary query.

Post Slugs: Less Funky
Funky characters in post titles (e.g. curly quotes from a word processor) will no longer result in garbled post slugs.

WP_Screen API
WordPress has a nice new API for working with admin screens. Create rich screens, add help documentation, adapt to screen contexts, and more.

jQuery and jQuery UI
WordPress now includes the entire jQuery UI stack and the latest version of jQuery: 1.7.1.

Editor API Overhaul
The new editor API automatically pulls in all the JS and CSS goodness for the editor. It even supports multiple editors on the same page.

This free set includes 80 icons of the most popular social media networks on the internet. The icons are designed in 32px and 16px vector format. With the vector format, you can scale the icon to any size to fit with your design or use it in high quality print materials. What you will get from the zip package: 16px, 24px, 32px in PNG format and a vector EPS file. Download file below.

DOWNLOADFree Vector Social Media Icons

License Info

Free to use for whatever purposes. If you use these icons, please link to http://icondock.com

Note: the company logos in the icons are copyright of their respective owners.

We are offering a collection of HTML email templates with various layouts that can serve as a solid foundation and starting point for the design of emails. All email templates have been tested vigorously in all major email clients. Download file below.

DOWNLOADFree HTML Email Templates

Brought to you by MailChimp

These email blueprints are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share-A-like 3.0 Unported License

What Should You Look For?

You should choose your web hosting provider with care. But that’s not an easy task. So, how do you identify the best web host? Here’s a quick web hosting checklist we’ve compiled to help you:

Web Hosting Checklist

These are some of the general things your web hosting provider should offer irrespective of the applications you are going to install or the purpose you are buying the hosting space for:

• Server uptime/speed

Settle for nothing less than 99% uptime. See to it that the web host is reputed enough to honor the promise. Web visitors are impatient so ensure that server speeds are fast and your site loads fast.

• Scalability

Today you may be okay with shared hosting but tomorrow you may grow and require Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting or Dedicated Server Hosting. If your host provides these types of hosting as well, you will not have to look elsewhere in future and the migration of an existing account will be easy.

• Reliability

This should be one of the most important considerations when selecting a web host. See what others are saying. Will they be here today and gone tomorrow?

• File backup

You should be able to take a complete backup of your website from the web hosting control panel. This will be useful when you plan to move on to some other web host. Even otherwise, it’s always prudent to take periodic backups.

• Support

Good customer support definitely matters since web hosting service providers are generally located in other provinces and/or states and in some cases other countries. Is there an ‘online chat function’ on the host provider’s website that provides you with 24/7 live support?

• Affordability

Last but not the least in the web hosting checklist is affordability. You should be comfortable with the pricing. See our tutorial on what to do when your current hosting provider gets too expensive.

Contact UsGet started on your website now!

Additional – WordPress Checklist

If you are going to install WordPress, then also look out for these additional things while selecting a web host:

• Web hosting control panel

Look out for some easy to use control panel like cPanel.

• Auto install script

If you do not have technical knowledge, then you may not be able to install WordPress without the help of some auto install script like Fantastico.

• CGI/database support

Check out whether the web hosting you are selecting supports the required versions of CGI/database such as PHP & MySQL.

We hope you found this web hosting review and checklist helpful. Should you require more information, please contact us.

When it comes to media design for the web, it’s important to provide a good experience for your visitors. Despite the fact that people usually look online for the information offered on a particular web site it’s important to offer an experience that will stimulate their senses; sight and sound. Attraction, engagement and conclusion are the critical elements in providing a good online experience.

Attraction is what lures a visitor to the site. Imagination comes into play here where colors, graphics, movement, sound and other features will entertain the visitor and stimulate their senses in the form of cognitive, visual or auditory stimuli. Although the visitor may be seeking information the creativity of the site will lead them to the next part of the experience; the engagement.

The engagement is the actual experience. Simplicity is important during this step but it’s also as important to continue to engage the senses. Provide the visitor with information using some form of creativity. Uniqueness is important when competing with traditional forms of media.

Concluding the experience could be an option you may choose. If so it’s important to maintain that good experience for your visitor and to make them want to come back to that site again. Provide some resolution to make the experience enjoyable.

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Translating an experience using web media.

The best way to translate a given ‘experience’ would to be to identify the product/services and match the presentation (attraction, engagement and conclusion) with the prospective audience. The problem with today’s new media is that often the developer overlooks his/her audience and makes their work ‘overdeveloped’ with too much graphics, pictures and animation that it becomes an assault on the senses when the main purpose is to seduce people and enhance their experience and lives. Another mistake web developers make is to try and appeal to everyone and the end result is too much information and becomes difficult to navigate. In order to translate an experience using the web it must be simple, yet affective.

An example of a good experience using the web would be the Goodlife Fitness blog blog.goodlifefitness.com/. It attracts visitors with a simple, easy layout and a few excellent graphics. The site engages its visitors with an online discussion board that is easy to navigate and provides a cognitive ‘connection’ with other visitors. This sites conclusion is that of providing its visitors/membership with nutritional supplements but not ‘in-your face’ advertisement that would discourage its visitors from returning.

Arguably, the less “overwhelming” and more considered your website is the more effective your website will be. Some of the best experiences are achieved from simple structured websites that don’t confuse visitors and are designed for a target audience.

Keeping your visitor engaged.

The first thing that the visitor sees on the site will determine whether or not they are attracted to it. The attraction could have a simple yet stunning flash introduction or beautifully designed graphics. It should be easy to navigate and relevant to the information or the services provided. It should remain easy to understand. Sound could also be an option. If using music it should be appealing to the target audiences as well as relevant to the information presented. It should capture the mood of the site.

Designing and implementing trans-formative takeaways.

Essentially a website is just another type of publication: an electronic brochure. So what we put in it makes a difference. What all good websites have in common is a transformative takeaway. A transformative takeaway is a memorable and life changing experience. In fact the best experiences are transformative as they “…change people and as such are the absolute best for measuring the value of experience.” In other words a person can take this memorable experience with them even after they’ve left the site and change the way they think or perceive things and will see things in a new light. They may even see the website differently the next time they visit.

Our trans-formative takeaway on a web designer’s page could include a flash demonstration to showcase talents through sample work. This demonstration would be accompanied with audio effects and/or music. I would demonstrate to my prospective clients how they could have stunning web site/multimedia presentations by employing my talents and creativity. An example is found at: mistercoo.com/indexe.html. This website demonstrates the designer’s flash talent by using flash graphics bubbles to represent the navigational links to the portfolio, artwork, and contact information. It is memorable because it is simple and entertaining.

Another effective takeaway is providing a cognitive experience through shared stories and interaction. A forum provides a place for visitors to start a dialog, make a friend, or close a sale.

When your target audience has an interesting, attractive and compelling takeaway experience, they’re more likely to revisit and recommend your site to others.

Cognitive modeling as it relates to design.

It is important when organizing and presenting data that we take in consideration the way it is organized. “Data can be made to lie by simply rearranging it”. Data and information can be organized within a few principles. Organizing things based on similar characteristics shared by all data by time, number, alphabet, and magnitude. Category and location allow us to organize data and information based on qualitative and quantitative properties. And lastly, data can be presented randomly or ‘without organization’. Clearly data can be organized many ways as long as the meaning is the same and consistent throughout.

The concept of cognitive modeling as it relates to design is that the designer and audience understand the same thing. It is an important aspect of design to understand how the audience perceives a design or how they perceive information being presented. If the end result is to convey a certain ‘mood’ or ‘experience’ then the designer must choose to present the information carefully. The designer must think like the visitor does so that he/she can give them what they want.

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It’s easier than you think to switch. Let us show you the steps involved in transferring your website from one host to another*.

Step 1: Backing Up Your Old Site

You will need to backup all of your files, email forwarders, and databases in preparation for the transfer. To do this you will need to login to your current hosting provider and make a full backup.

Click to enlarge

Under the ‘cPanel’ tab at the top of site:

• Select ‘Site Backup & Restore’ from current provider.
• Select ‘Full cPanel Backup’ under the ‘Backup’ tab.
• Select ‘Daily System Backup’ as this is usually the most up to date backup available.
• Select ‘Start Archiving’ to archive the backup.
• Now you will need to download the backup.
• Choose “download’ and save the file to your computer.

Step 2: Finding Your New Provider

Find a suitable hosting provider to switch to. Keep in mind the new provider should have a lot of the features you already take advantage of (reliable customer service, reputable, and have a 99.9% uptime, etc.). If you are in need of recommendations, read our hosting reviews here. Once you have selected your new hosting provider you should choose the package that is right for your needs. You can usually save money by choosing to go with a longer term contract (1, 2, 3 years). Once you have registered for the new account you will need to login to the account so you can upload your current site.

Step 3: Restoring Files to New Site

Next step is to restore the backup to new site.

Click to enlarge

Under the ‘cPanel’ tab at the top of site:

• Select ‘Site Backup & Restore’ from new provider.
• Select ‘Restore a Backup’ under the ‘Restore’ tab.
• You will now be asked to locate the file you backed up in Step 1.
• You should now have the files, email forwarders, and databases from your old site on your new site.

Step 4: Changing DNS Name Servers

At this point you’ve backed up the old files to the new site and your almost done. So the next step is to change the DNS Name Servers to the new site. The DNS Name Servers will direct a visitor, when they type your website name into a browser, to the server with your current files at the new hosting provider. If you neglect to update the DNS Name Servers your visitors will get an error message once your old hosting account expires.

Click to enlarge

You will need to note the new name servers and record them into the old site. Do this by logging into your new hosting provider account.

Note the Old Name Servers

Under the ‘Domain Manager’ tab at the top of new site:

• Select your domain from the checkbox.
• Select the tab ‘Name Servers’ from the right-hand box.
• Make a note of the name servers.
• Next you will login to the old hosting provider.

Entering the Name Servers into the New Account

Under the ‘Domain Manager’ tab at the top of new site:

• Select your domain from the checkbox.
• Select the tab ‘Name Servers’ from the right-hand box.
• Enter the Name Server information into the ‘Custom Name Server’ fields.
  Enter the information exactly as it appears from the old hosting provider avoiding the number string.
• Select ‘Save Nameserver Settings’.

You are done! You can transfer your domain name(s) over the new hosting provider as they expire.

Contact UsNeed help with your website?

*This article assumes your hosting provider is using cPanel. Contact us if you are unsure of how to proceed in transferring your website.

If you only plan to provide some basic contact information, your web designer does not need any in-depth technical (as in programming) skills. However, they should have a firm grasp on how to create clean, professional looking sites. Each designer has different styles, so visit the sites of multiple designers to get a feel for what you like.

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What is the purpose of your site?

Is your goal to inform site visitors about what you do and contact info so they can come to your brick-and-mortar business?

Do you expect to gather information from the user? What do you plan to use this information for? (feedback, surveys, future marketing?)

Are you planning to sell goods or services online?

If you plan to sell goods or services online, your web designer should have some programming skills such as Perl, ASP, PHP, Javascript, or Java. They should also have some database experience, typically in MySql.

Who is your audience?

Many people have a “build it and they will come” kind of mentality. The reality is much different. It is imperative to target a specific group of people and offer those customers a product suited to their needs. A good example of this principle would be Old Navy (http://www.oldnavy.ca) and Tiffany’s (http://www.tiffany.ca). Old Navy’s web site is colorful with moving graphics – this site targets young, cost-conscious people. The prices scream from the front page to lure customers in. Tiffany’s web site, on the other hand, is stark white, relying on the beauty of diamonds and portraying elegance and affluence. Both of these businesses know who their target audience is and aim their marketing towards those groups.

How many pages do you expect your site will have?

A basic informational site (known as a brochure or brochureware site) is typically 3 pages – just enough space to offer basic information about who you are, what you do, and how to contact you. This kind of site is suitable for many small businesses. However, many companies find 3 pages do not offer enough detailed information.

Do you already have a business logo, or will you need one designed?

A common misconception is that a web designer will automatically design a logo as well. While some web designers offer those services, not all do. If you already have a business logo, do you have it in an electronic format?

Do you have any pictures you would like to use on your site?

Pictures add visual interest to a web site. Good candidates are pictures of the building where your business resides and pictures of products/services you sell.

Less is more-tips to remember

Many people who are inexperienced with web design want lots of “flash and dazzle” such as flashing banners, animations or graphics that move around. While animation can be interesting for the first time you see it, if you visit a site often the animation quickly becomes very annoying. You can use animation, but remember – less is better.

Plan for site maintenance

That means periodically (once a month or so) making small changes to the site to keep it fresh and interesting. Your site loses credibility if the information is very old.

Organization counts

Visitors will leave your site very quickly if they can’t find the information they are looking for.

The purpose of your web site is to attract new customers. Often one or two new customers is all it takes to recoup your budget spend.

Contact UsGet started on your website now!

Exposure, Canada’s premiere digital imaging Expo.

This Show has something for the photographer in everyone! They continue to provide you with the latest technology and innovations in the industry – from capture and storage to post-production. Demo products, see what’s new, shop for great deals, and take in various FREE imaging seminars, provided by Henry’s School of Imaging.

Exposure highlights:

Download the Show Guide
(PDF, 7.7MB)

• Learn at Free Presentations all Weekend – Over 150 FREE seminar presentations and workshops
• Take in a Key Note Presentation
• ProCentre – Featuring Pro-Video & Lighting gear, live demonstrations & presentations.
• Great Deals – Browse and purchase the latest in NEW imaging product & accessories
• NEW Outlet Centre area – Check out the huge selection of end of life or previously enjoyed demos!
• New Product – Be among the first to see new photo industry product introductions.