Monthly Archives: January 2018

23 Jan

Tools for the Very Security Conscience

Data is money, but there is a trade off  in security, when using online services. However there are a number of tools/services for those who want that extra bit of secrecy.

DuckDuckGo Search EngineDuckDuckGo.com – Search Engine (www.duckduckgo.com)

DuckDuckgo is great, if you want to search (I nearly typed google) for something and you didn’t google, or perhaps the company or site you are searching for to know that you are visiting their site. Even as an alternative to Google search it is well worth using.

SpiderOak File Sharing Storage MessengerSpiderOak (www.spideroak.com)

SpiderOak is an alternative to Box, Dropbox, iCloud, Copy, OneDrive, and Google Drive. Just like the other services it is a backup, file sharing and messaging platform, with additional security that the other platforms.

Tor Project Browser (www.torproject.org)

While surfing the web, you do leave a trail, perhaps a bit obsessive but the Tor Browser is a way to hide your surfing. Other browsers have their incognito, or browse in secret options but Tor is that extra level of secrecy.

Personally the benefits in using Google and Microsoft software online outweigh the price you pay in data secrecy. It is beneficial,  for the search engine to have access to data about you, making the search results more relevant.

19 Jan

Email Setup and Website Optimization

This past week or so Email and website optimization duties covered a lot of time.

EmailOutlook Email Office SuiteGoogle Gmail

To me it seems more people are using Outlook to access their work email, rather than Gmail of late, not really a scientific survey just my recent experience. When asked which one I would recommend I say there is no right answer, better to use which ever you are use to and which ever other technology you are using, i.e. if you are using Microsoft Office using outlook is more straightforward, and if you use Gmail and google products stick with it.

Optimization

I do recommend anyone wishing to test their website for page loading speed, and for mobile compatibility to use googles tools, such as Page Speed Insights and Test My Site. Your website needs to load fast, and needs to be mobile friendly.

  • Email Setup new host and domain
  • Email configuration for importing to cloud hosted email
  • Website Optimization for Mobile and Speed
  • Update WordPress CMS Updates to 4.9.2
  • WordPress plugin updates
  • WordPress plugins for optimization
  • Website Image changes, and additional banner added new image and page link
  • Blog posts for New Year campaigns
  • Tidy up websites remove redundant content
14 Jan

Email configuring using your own domain

This week I have been doing some work for clients regarding their email. Both have come round to the pestering (by me) that they should use their email with their domain name, and not their gmail or outlook email, it just looks more professional. So here is a number of options or solutions for small businesses or sole traders who want to use their domain email.

Most hosting packages will offer a number of emails, so set up a personalised one, firstname, or firstname.surname, also set up some generic ones info, sales, support, etc., even if these are forwarded to the one email.

Often your domain email can be forward to your gmail or outlook email address so you can get them using your phone etc. However I still recommend configuring outlook and gmail, so as you can respond to emails using the domains.

There are a variety of ways of accessing your email, webmail, email client and forwarding  or importing to another email provider.

Roundcube emailWebmail

There are a variety of ways to access your email, via the web using webmail, normally, webmail.yourdomain.ie, www.yourdomain.ie/webmail etc., this will give you an online email application RoundCube, Horde or Squirrel and you can use this process your emails. Personally I like RoundCube but it is really personal preference. Which ever you use I would recommend setting up an email signature with your business contact details.

Email Client

In setting up your email you will be given POP and IMAP settings. These can be used to configure an email Client e.g. MS-Outlook, evolution or Thunderbird on your laptop or desktop (n.b. Always use SSL settings)  but also lets  you configure an email client on your mobile phone.

Hosted by Google

Google has a product offering where you can configure your email domain to be hosted on gmail at a cost.

Importing into Outlook or Gmail

For small business who would have a website and hosting package I would advocate importing into your outlook or gmail, your domain emails, and reply with your domain email address, for this you would have to configure it, and configure your online email with separate email signatures one for yourself, and one for your work guise.

Personally I like and use Gmail, however from an unscientific sample I find more clients like Outlook, particularly those who use Microsoft products.

09 Jan

Passed HubSpot Inbound Certification Exam

I passed the HubSpot Inbound certification exam (with 97%) it is very much based on the inbound methodology, buyers personas and buyers journey. The certification lasts for 26 months – which is an improvement on 13 months as it was if I recall correctly. You can also use the snazzy badge on your site. I would recommend this course particularly for website owners and managers.  I would also recommend it in conjunction with HubSpots Content Marketing, and Email Marketing certification.

Badge



 Certificate

Hubspot Inbound Certificate

Inbound is drawing customers to products and services via content marketing, social media marketing, search engine optimization and branding.

04 Jan

The Benefits of an SSL Certificate

Since last autumn Google has evaluates websites which have an SSL Certificate higher than those which do not. While an SSL is essential if you are conducting financial transactions and debit or credit card information is being handed on your site otherwise it wasn’t necessary. Now changing your website to be on a secure server with an SSL even if it is a relatively cheap one is well worth it. If your site is an eCommerce one processing card details on it you should choose a higher level secure cert, but just to reap the benefits of googles search change a relatively cheap one shall do.

Secure Certificate Providers

A few secure cert providers I used which have relatively cheap SSL Cert.’s  which I have used are.

Another option if you just want to have an SSL for the search engine benefits although it requires some configuration is Lets Encrypt  https://letsencrypt.org/. You will need access to the shell.

 

03 Jan

Happy New Year – resolutions, certificates, etc

Happy New Year, I hope 2018 will be a good one. Over the Christmas I did get some time to  look back on the year and at a few things I put off until the christmas down time.

Bing Ads Accredited ProfessionalLast year I resolved to do or re-do some of those online certifications in 2017, I had done the Digital Garage/Google Cert., so I worked my way through Google Analytics Cert.,  then the Google Adwords Certs (Search, Display, Video, Shopping and Mobile), and Mobile Sites, I also did the Bing Ads. Cert., I had also done the HubSpot Email and Content Marketing Certs. which I found quite useful.

Google Adwords Profile

Google Certifications Conor Gilmer

I suppose this years resolution will be to renew the google certs., as they come up for renewal, and perhaps do a few of the other HubSpot.  I actually started when i noticed the Digital Garage had a few extra badges so I spent a few hours doing them, I do notice the latest Certificate from them has Google more prominent on it. I encourage people who have a website to do this course it is not that technical and the videos are excellent.

Google Digital Garage Certificate

Dashboard Digital Garage Google Profile

Digital Garage Google Certificate Online Marketing

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