Author: odezadmin

  • You never need backup until ….you need it

    You never need backup until ….you need it

    That’s right, you never consider backing up your website until you’ve experienced a loss of a file, post, web page, or worst case…and entire website! Luckily we are able to learn from our mistakes. All websites, no matter how secure they are built, should use a backup method. Backup means a process that automatically copies the website files and stores them in a different location. There are lots of options out there, hosting companies will charge a monthly fee for such a service or you can find a free plugin to do the same thing. At ODEZ we use a plugin called UpdraftPlus and we agree with their tagline, “The World’s Most Trusted WordPress Backup Plugin“. This plugin is very easy to use, there’s lots of documentation on how to set it up and it offers many different locations to store files (Dropbox, Google Drive, FTP, just to name a few).  They offer a free version as well as a premium. The free version is the perfect way to get started and see the benefits of having a backup of your website scheduled daily, weekly, monthly…just so you can sleep better knowing your site files are safe.

  • Contact Forms – does it matter where it’s located on your website?

    Contact Forms – does it matter where it’s located on your website?

    It’s obvious you but great care in determining where content goes on your website. It’s important to list the pages in an order that makes sense to the visitor, and it’s strategic to place opt-in forms next to relevant content. But did you ever consider the contact form? Do you even have a contact form on your website? Well it’s a good idea to have a form for conversion rates. This tells you how many people are looking at your site and interacting with you.

     

    Contact forms might seem unnecessary if you simply list your contact information on a page (phone, email, address, fax….does fax still exist?).  However, most visitors prefer the contact form method because it’s quick and easy, they don’t have to open their email program or write a letter and drop in the mailbox (who does that?). So it’s a great idea to have a contact form on your website.

     

    The next step is to decide where to put the contact form. It seems obvious to add it to the “contact” page because we’ve been trained as web surfers to go there first when we need to contact the website owner. Some businesses build it right on the home page, at the bottom, which is also helpful. Take a look at American Express, they have added a helpful contact form at the very end of the page as a feature box.

     

    There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to the placement of the contact form on your website. If a visitor needs to connect with you they will take a moment to find the form and fill it out, unlike special products or services that the visitor might not know about. So keep it on the contact page or about page and it’s sure to be found.

  • Privacy Policy – it’s the law

    Privacy Policy – it’s the law

    Just like low cut jeans in the early 2000’s, privacy policies are all the rage right now. From Mark Zuckerberg testifying in front of the Senate to the new European privacy law, GDPR, privacy is a hot topic. But what is a privacy policy? And do you need one? A privacy policy is a statement or legal document that informs people on how a particular company collects data, what data is collected, who it is shared with and how it is used. A privacy policy can usually be found on a website or application and provides the users or visitors with all of the relevant information on their data. You need a privacy policy if you collect any personal information on your website or application. In fact, a privacy policy is required by law if you collect the information of users from California or the European Union. Noncompliance with laws that require a proper privacy policy can lead to millions of dollars in damages. Furthermore, a privacy policy that is copied from another website and is not accurate to your organization’s acts can lead to lawsuits by the Federal Trade Commission, fines and can be a huge disruption for your business. Having a privacy policy is obviously important if you want your business to stay open. However, where do you get one? Lawyers are so expensive. As such, we have decided to offer Termageddon as a solution to our clients. Termageddon is an online generator for privacy policies, terms and conditions, disclaimers and end user license agreements. What’s cool about Termageddon is that it charges one low fee for all policies and their policies update automatically as the law updates so that you are always protected. For example, GDPR came into effect on May 25, 2018 and their policies updated so that you can be in compliance with minimal effort on your part. You can read more about the service and why policies are important on https://termageddon.com/.

  • Facebook Cover and Profile Image sizes

    Facebook Cover and Profile Image sizes

    The web is always changing and updating, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. Good news is that Facebook finally realized the old page layout with the profile image slightly covering the cover photo was NOT a good design option. The new layout allows the profile image to sit fully left of the cover photo allowing the full image to be seen and not hidden behind the profile image. This gives designers more canvas to work with for cover image and the profile image (or company logo) doesn’t have to be designed within the cover image.  This new layout solution is much better. THANK YOU Facebook!

     

    For specific sizes for images and how they are positioned, visit https://www.facebook.com/PagesSizesDimensions/.

  • New way to manage members

    New way to manage members

    Recently we came across a very helpful member registration plugin. It gives the ability to create different member registration forms and goes beyond the simple name and contact info. It’s so smart it even allows you to create detailed forms for members to fill out and then the same plugin allows you to create a directory page showcasing all the members and the exact content you want to show. For example, we had a client who wanted to show products that each member sold but wanted to hide the number of years they were a member. This plugin has solved a lot of member registration issues and organized the process in one simple plugin.

    [ut_btn button_size=”bklyn-btn-normal” button_align=”bklyn-btn-left” font_weight=”” button_text=”You can download a trial version or purchase the pro version HERE ” button_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cozmoslabs.com%2Fwordpress-profile-builder%2F||target:%20_blank|” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_background=”#025dfc” button_text_color_hover=”#ffffff” button_background_hover=”#fd7e00″]
    [ut_animated_image image=”6928″]
  • 43rd Annual Annie Awards

    43rd Annual Annie Awards

    The Annie Awards is always an exciting time of year. We work so hard throughout the year to breathe new life into the annual event with new logo design, new website skin, new program book design and all the little things along the way. The actual event is a celebration of a job well done! We work with very talented people in the public relations field, creative writers, savvy developers and of course the funny comedians who draw cartoons. The Annie Award is animation’s highest honor and we’re very proud to be part of this night celebrating such extraordinary individuals.

  • Adobe MAX 2016

    Adobe MAX 2016

    Join over 7,000 like-minded creatives from around the world for a week of sessions, labs, speakers, events, inspiration and fun — everything you need to keep you creative for the rest of the year.

    Preregister now and save.

  • The Balancing Act

    The Balancing Act

    It’s that time of year again, where the holidays consume more of your time than daily life. Even work takes a backseat to the holiday office party or the holiday gift exchange. It’s impossible to get all your work done and feel comfortable to enjoy the actual holiday time. Luckily we dug up some helpful advice from a previous blog post By US News: On Careers blog.

     

    4 Ways to Find Work-Life Balance During the Holidays

     

    1. Schedule a walking meeting. Exercise is a proven stress buster, yet it’s often the first thing to go during the holiday season, edged out by festivities and obligations. Maren Kate Donovan, CEO of Zirtual, notes that if you’re feeling stressed from the pressures, it’s a fair assumption that many of your clients and colleagues will be in the same boat.

     

    2. Think of alternatives to travel. While many people equate the holidays with cross-country flights packed like sardines, the rigmarole of holiday travel often infuses us with the spirit of bah humbug. While many people feel they have to travel during the holidays to get together with extended family they don’t often see, the holidays may be better spent limiting travel or calling it off completely, according to author April Masini.

     

    3. Don’t power through it. Perfectionist personalities may fall back on all-or-nothing thinking during the holidays, which transforms potentially fun times into misery. With so much to do in only a few short weeks (or sometimes days), you’ll have to make decisions about which priorities really matter and what you need to let go.

     

    4. Say “no” more often. In the spirit of the holidays and giving back to others, it can be even more difficult than usual to decline requests. But Charlie Harary, professor of management and entrepreneurship at Yeshiva University’s Syms School of Business in New York, notes that everything you take on when you’re too busy at this time of year has a cost.