Design is not always just a pretty face, good design is a tool. A marketing tool, and organizing tool, an always on salesperson type tool.
PHP Copyright Date – auto updating
© <?php echo (date('Y') == 2007) ? '2007' : '2007-' . date('Y'); ?>
Replace all “2007” years in the above code with the beginning copyright year and the rest will be updated to the current year.
Looks like:
© 2007-2012
And if your initial copyright year is the current year it will simply look like the following until the next year:
© 2012
Insert your name or company name after that and voila – a copyright date for the bottom of your site that you don’t have to go in and update each year.
Website backup instructions
These instructions are for a full backup of database driven websites and those who have cpanel access to their sites.
If you are one of my clients on my server, I will complete this for you before a major site redesign and other relavant increments.
If you have a wordpress website, I typically will have a plugin installed that also emails me a backup of the database at regular intervals (typically weekly.)
Backup instructions:
1) cpanel backup: in cpanel > under “files” > select “Backup”> Download or Generate a Full Website Backup > and choose your backup location. Home directory is typical. You can then have it email you when it has completed that backup.If you chose “home directory” you will then log in using your choice of ftp program and download the file that typically includes the date and ends in “.tar.gz”
My overly paranoid self does not trust the cpanel backups alone however as I have seen it leave out data. I’m not sure if the person’s server was misconfigured of a snafu but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Which leads me to backup recommendation #2.
2) ftp & phpmyadmin export:
Files:
- log in to your site via ftp (filezilla, cyberduck, transmit … etc) > and navigate to the files or directory that you want to back up and simply download those to your computer to a location that makes sense for you.
- make sure you have the htaccess files if there are any. These are often invisible and you will either need to change your ftp programs settings in order to see these or type in .htaccess in the search to download them. There may be more than one. Typically there may be one outside of a wordpress or drupal or joomla folder as well as one just inside the first level of those folders.If you are on a mac, once you download htaccess files they will again be an invisible file – in order to see them on a mac you will either need to make changes to your computer or download the “Hidden Files” dashboard widget.
http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/developer/hiddenfiles.html
Database:
- Log in to your site’s cpanel > navigate to “Databases” > select “phpMyAdmin”
- From the navigation on the left side of the screen select your database (most people will have only one but if you have more than one, make sure what you’re backing up is the one your site uses … or back them all up by repeating the next steps for each database.) Once you’ve clicked on your database name you’ll have new information in the left menu. Typically the first item will be “access” or “wp-commentmeta.”
- From the menu bar across the top, click “export.”
- Typically the default settings are what you want: Export Method = quick and Format = SQL (even though this is a mysql database, you will be choosing sql.) Click “Go” and your file will be downloaded to your browser’s default download location. The file extension name will be: .sql
If you have another database to back up, select it from the dropdown on the left and repeat the last two steps. - When done, close the phpMyAdmin tab/window and log out of cpanel.
Ebb & Flow
Know when your WORK cycles are
AND know when your REST cycles are.
You can’t just keep going full tilt all the time.
A great podcast on this topic (about 9 minutes) right click to save or use the player below:
DB 186 _ The Big Mo – Otherwise Known As Momentum
Tools to help you find your when you are most productive, even your flow:
(some of these are affiliate links just because they were available)
- Subscribe to the Daily Boost Podcast:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-boost-daily-motivation/id207251905 - Rescuetime: Rescuetime tracks your computer activity and helps you figure out how you spend your time on the computer, how productive you are and even figure out your most productive times of day or week. There is a free plan so go ahead and click the link and check it out. https://www.rescuetime.com/rp/fascinationdesign
- StayFocusd Chrome Extension limits the amount of time that you can spend on time-wasting websites. RescueTime also offers something similar as part of their paid features. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji
And remember:
Nothing is something
and sometimes you just need to be still.
Specialty Printing Techniques booklet
Quick video I did of some of the specialty printing techniques booklet:
via YouTube
8 minute video, lots of neat printing examples. Some are kinda interactive like the one the still above. 🙂 You’ll have to watch to see what I mean.
Also if you go to youtube for the video, I have a link for the related webinar.
code snippets:
file name extension change from .shtml to .php
using mod_rewrite in .htaccess
The following bit of code is if you’re just changing site files from .shtml to .php and the file names stay the same. This code should be added to your .htaccess file. Remove the “=301” if this is a temporary change.
RewriteEngine On RewriteBase / # Old site redirects RewriteRule ^(.*)\.shtml $1.php [R,L=301]
Short Social Media Checklist:
Converse, Connect, Create
- CONVERSE: Social media is ideally a conversation.
- Reply: reply to comments made to you. Drives me crazy when I post a question only to find out that the person never responds to anyone. You may not need to respond to all questions (see the definition of “trolls”) but don’t neglect responses completely.
- CONNECT: Review recent posts by people you are connected to. Set a time limit if you find yourself spending too long on this step.
- Comment: Are there any posts that you can comment on? Answer questions? Ask questions? Say how cool something is?
- Re-Share: Are there any posts that you think other people following would enjoy reading? Local events that need to be shared? Industry news?
- “Like” / +1: Maybe someone has a great picture of a sunset or something else you enjoyed seeing but doesn’t really require a comment. Let them know you liked it by hitting that “like” (facebook) or +1 (Google+) button.
- CREATE:
- What did you do today that’s interesting? (Don’t post about your cereal unless you work for a company that makes cereal please! If you REALLY don’t have anything interesting to say, it’s ok to go a day without posting!)
- Do you have any events, milestones to share? Upcoming to announce or events you just wrapped up. Some goal you achieved?
- Do you have a photo or flyer? Visuals often draw people’s attention.
- What is special about this? Don’t just share what, share something that’s interesting and unique about it if you can.
- Is there a WWWWWH? Who, What, When, Where, Why, How.
- Is there a question you can ask? You want to engage people, remember, it’s a conversation.
If you don’t have time to do all of this, don’t panic. Just do something regularly – don’t over think it too much.
Disclaimer: We don’t want any political gaffs so when I say don’t over think it, if you think you would offend your mom or it needs to be a private post, don’t post it. Also if you wouldn’t say it to the person’s face, don’t say it.
I recommend focusing on positive “I like” instead of negative “I hate” posts and responses.
I recommend focusing on positive “I like” instead of negative “I hate” posts and responses.
Also, if your business is larger you may need more tools and to focus on more like best times to post and scheduled announcements or reminders. This is just a checklist to help get you started.
Worth repeating: Social media is ideally a conversation.
What do print books do better than ebooks?
- Print does fixed layout better than ebooks. Yes, you can technically do a fixed layout ebook format but it’s pretty much only usable for ibooks. Most ebooks are a flowable style format (unless you do each page as an image which is not a good idea in most cases.) Ebooks are more like basic websites in this sense.
- Print does resale better than ebooks. If you’re as a consumer you’re going to read something once and not reference it you’re still sometimes better off buying the physical copy so you can resell it when you’re done. Unless mass paperback with no resale value.
- Print does sharing better than ebooks. Yes, there are ways to share with someone for a limited time but it’s not as simple as grabbing the book. Though it could be argued that ebooks do sharing easier than print because you have all of the books with you at any time and don’t have to go home to get one if you wanted to share it.
- Print does libraries better than ebooks. My local library offers a small selection of ebooks, not as many titles as you can get in print AND their system logs me in and then tells me I don’t have an account when I go to download (like that makes sense. I should call and see if they can reset or delete my account and start over.) You don’t get that kind of glitch and barrier to entry with a physical book.
- Print does the social coffee shop factor better. You see someone reading a great book at a coffee shop and are able to start a conversation from it because you can see the book cover. It’s arder to start a conversation with someone when you don’t know what they’re reading on an ereader. But this is also a perk for some who either want to be left alone OR would like to read a trashy romance novel without trying to hide the cover.
- Print does not have glare or batteries. I like my kindle fire but there’s glare when trying to read outside. E-ink is fine outside but you have the same glare problem with an ipad or a nook. All have batteries. What if there’s an ice storm and your power is out for a week? What if you’re going camping? Battery life is less of a worry on some devices over others.
That said I’m reading and buying more and more ebooks. I really like it for reference as well as the portability and always with me factor.
I however still buy most of my design / layout books in physical format because most do a horrible job of converting to ebooks (some do not even seem to understand resolution and put key images at a low enough resolution that they are unusable.
Scammers & Internet Fraud :
educate yourself
A couple of nice references when your gut makes you think you might be dealing with a potential scammer.
Educate yourself:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_fraud
http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
http://www.snopes.com/
Prompted by a client that I think might have a “potential customer” who may be trying to pull the reshipping scam:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_fraud#Re-shippers
Drawbacks to each type of payment:
- Checks : bounced If you decide to accept this method of payment and are uneasy about the customer, require a waiting period to match your bank’s cleared check policy. Typically 7 days. Your bank will probably also charge you a bounced check fee between $20-$40 if this happens.
- Money Order or Cashiers Check: Fakes Like checks, Money Orders and Cashiers Checks may appear to have cleared with the bank only to come back and bite you.
- Credit Card or Paypal: Chargebacks Someone is paying with a credit card, that isn’t fool proof either, the buyer can do a chargeback: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chargeback
- Cash: Counterfeit You can get a Counterfeit money pen for around $4 or take the money to the bank for confirmation: http://www.staples.com/Dri-Mark-Counterfeit-Money-Detector-Pen/product_450130
Consumer reports has a more thorough run down of each type of payment and some additional options for accepting payment that might be useful: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/money/consumer-protection/counterfeit-currency-and-checks/overview/index.htm
Red flags can include:
- Unusual or unusually large order
- Out of country shipping
- gmail address (or yahoo or aol … anything easy to sign up for)
- business address is an apartment or house or PO Box
- when searching online for the person’s name and/or business name, nothing comes up
- Asking you to take payment for more than your invoice and then pay another company / shipper for something (this one is more than a flag.)
- No BBB record, no Dunn and Bradstreet record, no record of the business registered in the city of their address
Most of these alone do not mean that the business is not legitimate but the more red flags you have, the more cautious you should be.
There are times when you just have to pass on the business if it’s not worth the risk and there are too many red flags.
Slightly obsessed with:
Japanese Washi patterned tape
Slightly obsessed right now with Japanese Washi patterned tape
