How Web Developers Manage Their Time When Working from Home

Posted on  January 21, 2022  in Tools

When you work from home, it can be difficult to stay focused on your work. There are so many distractions! But with a little bit of organization and self-discipline, you can manage your time well and get a lot done. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips for staying productive when working from home. We will also talk about the benefits of working from home and how to overcome any potential challenges.

One of the best ways to stay productive when working from home is to create a work schedule and stick to it. When you have a set routine, it becomes easier to focus on your work. You know what you need to do and when you need to do it. A work schedule can also help prevent procrastination.

Another way to stay productive when working from home is to take breaks. It’s important to get up and move around every once in a while. This will help you stay alert and focused. And if you feel like you’re getting stuck, take a break and come back to it later.

Working from home can be a great way to save time and money. You don’t have to spend time commuting, and you can save on childcare costs. Plus, you have the flexibility to work from anywhere.

There are a few challenges that come with working from home, such as isolation and distractions. But with a little bit of effort, you can overcome these challenges and reap the benefits of working from home. So, what are you waiting for? Start working from home today!

A Web Developer’s Guide To Hosting A Party

Posted on  August 4, 2020  in Clients, Hosting

 

Many party essentials should be considered for each party. By using a web developer’s guide to hosting a party you will be able to find the party essentials that best suit your needs.

 

Tips for Party Hosting

 

In addition to the essentials, a party host should have paper and cardstock so that guests can make their invitations, centerpieces, napkins, table covers, etc. You may also want to consider having LED colored lights or glow-in-the-dark balloons to decorate the venue.

For an entertainment party, you may also want to consider having a DJ and live band so that the guests can be entertained. While these may not seem like necessary party essentials, they will not be as expensive as you think. And once you have it all set up, you can be sure that it will last longer than you would have thought.

Accent your decorations with a custom logo, banner, and invitations so that guests know where to go to be sure to check out what you have to offer. Choose decorations that reflect yourself to give you an overall professional yet approachable appearance.

If you are hosting a corporate event or would like your guests to RSVP to your party, then you should consider offering online invitations so that guests can print their invitations or fill in their on-line form. This is also a great way to save money.

 

By using a web designer’s guide to hosting a party, you will be able to take advantage of any party favor opportunities you might have. Party essentials may include cold beverages such as sodas, juices, or even wine, cookie dough, or cheese dip. Part of it depends on the context of the party

 

Additional Party Essentials

 

You should consider a cookie cutter to make cookies if you would like to include the children as a part of your party. You may also consider serving cookies at the end of the party if you prefer them that way. Guests will certainly appreciate this type of gesture.

If you are planning a party that is more of a children’s party, you also may want to consider incorporating some games into it. Children love games so it is always fun to play them with them. This is part of a nice family gathering.

 

Most people who host a party are unaware of how easy it is to incorporate some games into a party. Playing a quick game during the party is one way to entertain everyone without spending too much money.

 

Additional party essentials include creating party favors that are edible treats that your guests will enjoy. People often have chocolate chip cookies at their house but only eat them when they visit friends. Have them at your party.

 

You may also want to consider having other types of party essentials such as gourmet food items that you can serve at your party. Just make sure you get a good idea of what these are before you start making or buying them.

 

Closing Comments

 

It is always fun to be creative and to not spend a lot of money on your party when it comes to party essentials. Using this web developer’s guide to hosting a party and you’ll be well on your way to making your event memorable.

How to Setup Your Office to Put Your Clients at Ease

Posted on  March 11, 2019  in Clients, Design

They say that there’s nothing quite as strong as a first impression. When you’re working with a new client you want them to feel comfortable with you as a person and trusting that your services are the right fit for their needs. The first meet and greet can make all of the difference. Sure, you can meet them at a coffee shop and go over your proposal, but it can be so much more impactful to have them into your office for an intimate discussion. Here are some things you can do to help put your clients at ease when it counts the most.

 

First of All, Be Prepared

 

Before you consider anything else, you have to make sure that you’re on top of your game. Make sure that your proposal is as thoroughly fleshed out as possible. You want to show them how much value you can bring to their organization, and you want to look like you have spent the time needed to come up with an actionable plan. Do some research about them and their organization so it will be clear that you are familiar with their needs.

 

Beyond the proposal, you’ll want to make sure that you’re dressed to impress. Make sure your outfit is professional and is complementary to the kind of business you’re working with. You don’t necessarily need to be wearing a suite, but jeans and a t-shirt are probably not the best attire if you’re meeting a client for the first time. Your office should be neat, tidy, and orderly as well. Make sure your desk is clear of stray papers, your trash cans are emptied, etc. You’d be wise to have refreshments on hand to offer your clients, such as coffee, tea, waters, etc. Perhaps a small snack too – some cookies, chips, or something along those lines.

 

Liven Up The Ambience

 

There are some steps you can take to lift the overall mood of an office as well. Choose furniture that looks comfortable and luxurious. Leather is great if you can spring for it. Make sure that you have plenty of seating for the clients that will be visiting you and that the seating is comfortable. Make sure the office is sufficiently warm in the winter, and refreshingly cooled in the summer.

 

Bring your office to live by choosing a select few amenities to hang on walls and stand in corners. A nice painting can give your client something to look at when there’s a bit of down time in the meeting – say, for example, you need to go find a file in your computer, or perhaps you’re setting up their account in your database.

 

A nice floor lamp in the corner can add style and sleekness, especially if you go with a modern design. If you choose a lamp that is tall it can make the ceilings feel higher, making your office seem like a more open and inviting place to be. Make sure that the office is bright enough that your client won’t fall asleep, but also is not so bright that they feel like they’re in a hospital.

 

Consider also having an item that is unique that will instill a solid memory in the client’s experience. That could be an abacus, a cactus, or perhaps a small fountain. One web designer recently shared that they had installed a small electric fireplace for exactly this purpose, which could be an excellent choice. If you’re interested in an electric fireplace that you can hang on your wall you can read more about it here.

 

Know When It’s Time To Close

 

All of this attention to detail is worthless if you miss the mark when it comes time to close the deal. Once your client is comfortable with you and has faith in your ability to get the job done, make sure to seal the deal right then and there. If fail to do so, the chances of closing drop off significantly. As people have time to think things over, they often start to form doubts in their mind as to whether they really need a service. You don’t want to come off as aggressive, but at the same time if you think you can help a person it is your duty as a service provider to do so.

How To: Designing a Website for an e-Commerce Paintball Store

Posted on  August 16, 2018  in Design, Digital Media, Websites

Designing a website for e-commerce purposes is a standard procedure nowadays as many individuals and companies want to sell their products online. However, the number of customers that a site is likely to attract highly depends on the design of the website. In this case, we’ll use the example of designing an e-commerce paintball store. Designing an e-commerce platform for a paintball store will require expertise and skills that will ensure the website is attractive and optimized enough to attract and retain customers. The strategies below highlight how one should design such a website.

 

Use Complementing Colors

Like any other kind of design word, website design relies very much on color combination and complementing one another. You want your Paintball platform to look attractive and not confused. This means that you need to use colors that are consistent with the color of your Paintball tools such as guns and other equipment. For example, you can consider complementing black, white, and grey colors together. These have been used in this case as an example. You can find using a color wheel or color chart that will help you to determine complementing colors that will make your e-commerce platform to look attractive and lively.

Adopt Minimalist Design

An e-commerce platform can adopt two user interface design which includes either minimalist or brutalist. Minimalist website design has a few images and much white space. This means that any visitor can easily see what is essential in that page rather than a brutalism design that has large and bold text such that the user finds it difficult to find what is important in that website. In your Paintball Store, make sure you implement a minimalist design where products on the store will be easily displayed for the user to see them without much struggling.

 

Adhere to Intuitive Website Design

Adhering to the fundamental standards of an e-commerce platform should be done while designing your Paintball online store. You might mistake me for discouraging creativity and fresh ideas. However, you should understand that individuals are accustomed to a particular website design such that anything else might surprise them and they might find it confusing. An intuitive website design ensures that navigation options such as tabs to different web pages are placed on top of the landing page while helpful links such as ‘About Us’ or ‘Contact Us’ should be set at the bottom of the page.

Add Navigation Options

Your Paintball online store should be easy to navigate without giving many challenges to the users, especially the first time visitors. You should ensure that you place the most important links that lead to various pages on top of the home or landing page. For people to buy your items on your e-commerce platform, they must be able to navigate from one page to another such that they can read various product and their specifications while at the same time going to the payment page without difficulties. You should understand that customers are not willing to stay on a page that is difficult to navigate and they will easily bounce to another e-commerce platform where they can navigate easily.

Maintain Consistency

For your Paintball Store to attract and convert traffic to customers, it should have a consistent design. For example, the images used on the site should be on the same size and they should be vector quality so that individuals can be able to see even the fine details when they access your platform through mobile. The text and colors used on the home page should be maintained across all the pages of your e-commerce platform. You cannot use cool colors and one page and then follow that with bright colors on the next page. Take a look at some other paintball related websites to see how yours stacks up.

Performance and Speed

Performance and speed are other essential features that you should consider when designing the website for your Paintball Store. You want your customers to access your e-commerce platform within the shortest time possible so that they can purchase or see what they are looking. People will not spend their precious time waiting for your platform to load while there is another platform selling the same products that are loading quickly. You should ensure that your Paintball online store takes less than two seconds to load as a website taking much longer than two seconds is considered slower.

 

Security

Security is a paramount feature that should be considered when designing a website for your e-commerce platform. With the emergence of cyber-security, ensuring that your visitors feel secure by ensuring that their registration passwords have been encrypted, especially when you want your customers to register. The payment option should also be secure as online hackers are using information on credit/debit cards to transfer money illegally.

How To Choose Headphones for Music-Loving Web Developers

Posted on  August 8, 2018  in Design, Tools

In the world of web development, an often overlooked component is proper headphones. You could spend up to hours on end sharing information, being on a conference call or just being glued to the screen in general. This necessitates the use of high-quality audio hardware. If you are a web developer, here is what to consider when choosing your next headphones.

 

Environment

Before you choose your headphones, you are going to have to decide what is required out of your headphones for maximum quality. Web developers require different needs, which means there is not one set of pre-requisites a headphone requires to work for one in particular. One certain aspect that you will want to invest heavily in is your work environment. If you do the majority of your work from the comfort of your own home, then you may not have to spend an arm and a leg for high-quality headphones. Seeing as how you control your own environment and you can always use the same thing, don’t try to look for anything too lavish. The Beyerdynamic DT 770 is rated one of the best studio headphones for mixing by audio engineers, and it’s a reasonably priced headphone that’s versatile in its environment adaptability.

 

If you are always on the move, you will probably require something much more portable and convenient. Your initial choice should entail an earbud. You’ll also need to focus on having a headset that can connect to multiple devices. Wired headsets don’t have a drawback in this regard, but you may want to consider Bluetooth technology to remove any of the excess clutter that you may face.

 

If you physically take yours to work, try to focus more on noise-canceling headphones that also have a microphone that can withstand any environment. Some may not appreciate the added bulk in order to gain the higher quality, but for others, it is a necessary sacrifice. Getting a premium microphone can also be quite costly, so be sure to weigh your budget in regards to your needs.

Duration

Another important aspect is the duration and frequency of the calls that you make. Comfort, battery life, and ergonomics should be your top priorities if you are one that makes weekly calls. There may be nothing worse than being in the middle of an important session, just to have your headphone die on you and having to wait for it to recharge. However, you may want to consider comfort even more if you find yourself talking for hours on end each day. Wireless headsets tend to become a bit more cumbersome and tedious when dealing with daily goals.

 

Creating a conference room audio setup may also be necessary if you share an office with teammates and if you want to be able to hear them while they are on call. If you don’t require the rest of the team, a bone conductivity headset may have to be on the table for you.

Ergonomics

You will have to eventually figure out which headphone configurations is right for you. This is a subjective category as it ranges from person to person. Not every headset is made for every hairstyle, glasses and look. Evaluate what you will be sporting every day in order to get proper headphones that suit your style. Size and weight also play a big role here. If you aren’t the type that likes carrying around bigger headsets, then consider earbuds. You may have to deal with the nagging cord length issue, however. Some sleeker designs include the AKG K701 and the Sennheiser HD 650.

 

These are just a few of many considerations you’ll have to make when it comes to getting the right headphones for you. The most important thing to remember is that everything is subjective. There is no one appropriate style that can accommodate every single web developer. So evaluate your needs, prioritize your concerns, and adjust accordingly to enhance your headphone experience.

Designing Responsive Websites in 2018

Posted on  June 15, 2018  in Design, Tools, Websites

It is necessary for all entrepreneurs to have a good responsive website nowadays. In the world today, people are increasingly using their cell phones to conduct research online before they buy any product and catch up with the latest news. You should not let your business have a website, which is not responsive.

Google favors websites that are mobile responsive in their search algorithm; if this is your goal- which am sure it is- you should always make your site is fully responsive in all devices. Bellow are the guidelines for a good responsive website:

 

Understand how clients use their cell phones

Most people will use their websites on their computers more than they will on their mobile phones. Survey to know why your website visitors are accessing your site using a cell phone and find out the elements and pages they obtain most. With this information, you will be able to know the sheets and other factors that you should be available on smaller screens to favor those clients.

 

Plan for the design

It is best if you plan your layout before designing the website. Planning will not only enable you to come up with the exact thing that you wanted but also it will make it easy for the designer to be able to modify the template and integrate the site seamlessly with your product.

It will be good if you generate several prototypes of the website and conduct a test on them on different screen sizes to make sure the real site will be responsive.

 

Navigation

Be keen and careful with the navigation because it is the most vital part of all websites. It acts as a roadmap for your clients or any other visitor allowing them to access all pages on your site quickly. On the desktop version of your website, the navigation will always have some visible links that will lead visitors to the relevant pages. However, on the mobile phone, the best thing to do is using a menu icon and then placing the links behind.

 

Nevertheless, the idea might not favor everyone since some visitors might not realize they have to click on the icon to see the menu, they will be frustrated since they cannot visit pages that are more important. The best option is having the vital list visible to all people and then uses the menu icon for the other links.

Navigation doesn’t have to be complex. This page is a great example of how navigation can work well on both mobile and desktop with a responsive design.

 

Optimize the Images

Images are also important when designing your website. They act as a link between you and your clients allowing visitors to see the type of products you have and choose the best. You should consider having your images visualized all the time. You should also have your pictures saved in the appropriate format with the correct information to avoid confusion.

 

Consider a Mobile As Your First Approach

Designing a mobile version of the website is another approach for a responsive design. It helps you know and sees how the logos, images, texts, and other elements will appear on smaller screens if a visitor uses a cell phone. If they display without problems, it is easy to do it right on larger screens.

WordPress Vs Drupal: A Brief Comparison

Posted on  March 20, 2018  in Digital Media, Tools, Websites

Ease of Use

One of the deciding factors when using a website development program is going to be how easy it is to use. After all, for those of you who do not know how to code or only a little coding, you want something that can be leveraged to get the maximum benefit. In most instances, WordPress wins. As far as back-end use is concerned Drupal is more complicated to use. On the other hand, the CMS employed in WordPress is intuitive and straightforward to use. No coding experience will be required. The interface is such that setting up a simple website or blog, for that matter, is relatively easy. Really speaking, Drupal is more for those of you who have decent programming knowledge.

 

Security Issues

In this day and age, security is a big topic among IT professionals. And on this front, Drupal performs better. Although, some would argue that this has more to do with WordPress being a more popular and widely used tool. That may or may not be the case, but the fact is that you, the user of Drupal will be able to expose any security vulnerabilities, once found. When it comes to plugins and themes, WordPress has had issues. For all these reasons and more, security concerns are one of the top reasons why government agencies use Drupal more often.

 

Custom Designs

The plugins and themes provided by WordPress is very easy to use. All it takes is drag and drop action by you, and you can turn a bland looking web page into a nice one. The WordPress website now offers over 5000 themes and over 50,000 plugins to choose from, for free! If you are willing to spend a little money, then there are even more options. In Drupals case, there may not have as many plugin options but users like the scalability option and coders like the API Features. Drupal also offers database abstraction, auto-update notification, localization, etc. These features are not quite as advanced on WordPress.

 

SEO is King

No talk of website building or anything related to it is complete without speaking about Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This topic is all about getting your web page a high ranking, organically. What’s interesting is that both Drupal and WordPress get high marks in this area, but they achieve it in different ways. Drupal decided to go toward the default caching route. This ensures faster load times; an important criterion to get high SEO ranking. With WordPress, they tackle the SEO ranking issue by offering you the required plugins.

 

Cost

Both Drupal and WordPress will not charge for downloading and using their system. However, Drupal does not have as many free themes and plugins. This means, as soon as you start buying the premium themes from Drupal, it will cost quite a bit more than WordPress. Things get worse when you get third party help to set up your web page for Drupal. This has more to do with the law of supply and demand since there are less Drupal developers available.

Designing Your First Website Is Easy

Posted on  February 17, 2018  in Design, Digital Media, Websites

You can take a couple different steps that will get your first website designed, and you will be so happy about the fact that you have made these choices. You will also notice that you can get the website to look perfect when you have trusted in people who knows how to make this easy on you. You will be much happier because you are using something that can get you just where you need to go. You also have to see if you can work this out before you have to get your website actually up. You need time, and you will use this time for design.

 

Pick The Right Place

You can pick the right place, and you will be very happy with the fact that you can get your whole different website made just with a company that you trust. You can also make sure that you will have a site that will look great and also look professional. This is a very big deal for you because it can help you make certain that you have the comfort that you need. There are some people who will be very happy about this, and now they can make some thing pretty.

 

Choose Art Well

The art that you choose has to be picked because you believe that it will work the best for you. You can get something that will work on your site because it was so much nicer for your site. You can pick out things that you think are the best, and you also have to know if you will have something that will be just right for the site. You are making the site in the image that you want, and you are making the site look like it belongs.

 

The Site Address

You have to pick an address that will be just right, and that will be right for you. This means that you have to pick something simple, and you will use that simple product to get yourself into the right place. That will be the right thing for you, and it will make you so much more comfortable because you will have much more fun for you because you can make the site memorable. The site that has the easiest of the URLs to remember will help you have the best way to make people remember and come back to you.

 

The best part of this is that people will start to learn about something that could be just right for them so that they can figure out how to make the site look great. You will build something that is perfect, and you will notice that you have a way to make a site that is actually the right thing for you to do. You get all the things you need, and you will be much happier.