For the past few months I’ve been working with Davidsons Animal Feeds to develop a new website in conjunction with their system guys at Cuando. And I’m very happy to announce that their website is now live!

I worked with Davidsons to build a site that would work with their current systems, so that they didn’t need to duplicate all their information. Three months ago I didn’t have a clue what was in store, and that’s what I love about this job! I could have never imagined climbing to the top of an animal feeds mill or researching social media in agriculture, I even have a basic understanding of dairy cow nutrition!

It’s all been part of understanding exactly what Davidsons and their customers need so I could design a site that is easy to use and demonstrates just how knowledgable and professional this family run business really is!

You can visit the site at www.davidsonsfeeds.co.uk or find them on Twitter @davidsonsfeeds. You can find out more about the project in our portfolio.

If you would like to work with Mariposa to create a website that is tailored to meet the needs of your business and your customers then contact Helen for a FREE no obligation chat to discuss how you can make improvements. 

On the 26^th May 2012 all UK business websites should be compliant with the EU Cookie Directive or they may face a fine. If you aren’t compliant yet – don’t worry! It’s not difficult or expensive. You can get it sorted on WordPress in a few minutes with a free plugin that’s easy to install.  

The information below tells you all about cookies, the Cookie Directive and how you can make sure you are compliant. If you know the basics just skip down to the juicy implementation stuff!

• What is a cookie?
• What are functional reasons for using a cookie?
• What are tracking reasons for using a cookie?
• Are cookies dangerous?
• What is the Cookie Directive?
• How do I know which cookies I have on my site?
• What should the opt-in message include?
• How do I make sure my WordPress website or blog is compliant?
• Installing Cookillian

What is a Cookie?

A cookie is data stored by a website in a browser, which is sent back to the website by the browser. They are a way for websites to remember things and are used for both functional reasons and tracking reasons.

What are functional reasons for using a Cookie?

Some websites need to use cookies so they work. An essential functional (or strictly necessary) cookie enable you to navigate a website and use it’s features. Without these cookies functions like logging into your account, creating a shopping basket and search facilities wouldn’t work.

What are the tracking reasons for using a Cookie?

Some companies use tracking or performance cookies to find out how people are using their website. The most common cookies used for this purpose are Google Analytics cookies. This information can be used for a variety of reasons, including:

• Finding out how many people visit a site to make sure the bandwidth you have can cope with the number of visitors you expect to get.
• Finding out which web browsers and devices people are using to make sure their website is suitable for a majority of users.
• Understanding how people use the website to make improvements for website users and resolve any problems quickly.
• Some companies use this information for marketing and revenue purposes e.g. telling potential advertisers how many people visit their website or using it to develop their own advertising and marketing campaigns.

Every business website in the EU should already have a Privacy Policy telling you how the information collected by tracking cookies is used by them. This new Directive means that you have to also ask permission before you place the cookie in their browser.

Are cookies dangerous?

No. Cookies can’t be used to spread computer viruses or malware. The concerns about cookies are to do with privacy.

What is the Cookie Directive? 

The Cookie Directive is a law that requires all business websites to disclose which cookies they use, and explicitly gain permission to use them from you website visitors. In May 2011 the Cookie Directive became law and applies to all European countries including the UK. UK business websites must be compliant by 26^th May 2012 (that’s this Saturday) or you might face a fine.

How do I know if I need an opt-in for cookies on my site?

To find out if you need an opt-in for cookies you need to answer two questions:

1. Is it a business site or a personal site? Only business sites need cookie opt-ins.

2. What do the cookies on your site do?  If you only have functional cookies that are essential for users to be able use your site you don’t need an opt-in form. If you have tracking cookies you must have an opt-in form.

How do I know which cookies I have on my site?

You can find out which cookies are running on your site using the Firefox browser. Open a tab with your website on it and in the browser menu bar go to Tools > Page Info. Click on Security and then the View Cookies button.

What should the opt-in message include?

The opt-in message should tell people briefly that you store cookies, why and which cookies you use. You should then link to your Privacy Policy page for more information.

If possible include a Yes/No button so it’s quick and easy for people to opt-in or opt-out.

This is the text on the Mariposa website (click on the image to enlarge):

“This site uses cookie to store information about how you use the website, so we can improve the site and provide you with the best experience when you visit. We use Google Analytics to do this. To find out more please read our privacy policy.”

You can see three different examples of wording at ICO, BT and Durham County Council.

How do I make sure my WordPress website or blog is compliant?

If you are using WordPress there are plugins that can do most of the work for you. I’ve tried the three most popular and Cookillian seems to be the best choice because you have more control over what the plugin does and I’m confident that I am compliant. Most importantly it doesn’t place any cookies in the browser until a user opts-in or opts-out, which ensures no data is collected without consent. Alternative plugins are CookieCert and EU Cookie Directive.

Cookillian is a free plugin, but you can donate to the creator via the Cookillian WordPress Plugin page.

(Note: You need PHP 5.3.0 for Cookillian to work, if you get an error get in touch with your hosting provider and ask them to upgrade your account to PHP 5.3.0 or higher. The hosting provider for Bright by Design did it within 2 hours of my request.)

Installing Cookillian

1. Go to Plugins  > Add New and search for ‘Cookillian’ and then Install Now and Activate Plugin (alternatively download and upload manually)

2. Go to Settings > Cookies

3. Adjust the Cookillian settings as follows:

Auto-add cookies – Keep this checked

 GeoLocation Service – If you get high volumes of traffic from Europe take a look at the CloudFlare option, otherwise keep it as geoPlugin

 Countries – You need to check boxes against all EU Member Countries. There’s a full list of EU Member countries on the europa.eu website

 Show Alert – Set to automatic

 Alert Content – Default uses the text in the Alert Heading and Alert Text boxes. Custom allows you to create your own content in HTML. If you’re not sure use Default.

 Content– Edit the content to say what you want it to and make sure it links to your privacy policy, using HTML e.g. <a href=”privacy policy link URL goes here”>Privacy Policy</a>

 Javascript – Put your Google Analytics tracking cookie JavaScript in the Header and/or Footer boxes.

Advanced Options – Check the box next to Root Cookies. If the code you’ve put into the Header and/or Footer boxes has <script> at the beginning and </script> at the end make sure you uncheck the Javascript Tags option. Leave the other two boxes unchecked, unless you use cookie-based PHP sessions, in which case make sure PHP Sessions is checked.

4. Delete the Google Analytics code from where it was previously stored in your website. This might be in header.php (Appearance > Editor) or if you’re using the Thesis theme it should be in Thesis > Site Options under Stat & Tracking Scripts.

If you’re not sure which code to delete ask someone who’s familiar with WordPress and Google Analytics to do it for you.

5. To test that Cookillian is working correctly visit your website in the Firefox browser.

Check Opt-Out: Select your NO option. View cookies for the page (Tools > Page Info – Security – View Cookies) and the only cookie should be cookillian_opt_out. (unless you have functional cookies (link) running)

In View Cookies clear all your cookies and revisit the page.

Check Opt-In: This time select your YES option. View cookies for the page again and this time you should see cookillian_opt_in and your tracking cookies, e.g. for Google Analytics this is _utma, _utmb, _utmc_ and utmz.

And you’re done!!! With all this talk of cookies I think it’s time for a well deserved cuppa and a biscuit!

Further details about the Cookies Directive can be found at the ICO website or in this ICO document (pdf).

If you have any other questions leave them in the comments below or email me helen@mariposadevelopment.com and I’ll do my very best to answer them.

If your website needs redesigning or updating get in touch with Helen to arrange a FREE no obligation discussion about how you can improve your website.

Today I’ve launched the Bright by Design blog, built with the Thesis theme for WordPress. You can visit the site at www.brightbydesign.com or find out more about Bright by Design in the Mariposa portfolio.

We’re almost ready to launch the new website for Davidsons Animal Feeds, that I’ve been working on in conjunction with Cuando!

If you need a website or blog get in touch with Helen for a no obligation chat so I can find out more about what you need and help you to take your business from strength to strength! 

I was asked to post about how to get your brand noticed by writing press releases. Just as I was contemplating what to cover, someone far more qualified has written about this very subject over in the Green Room at the fantastic Rock n Roll Bride. Debbie Carlisle (@dcbouquets) owns her own business, and was previously a journalist, so she’s seen it from both sides.

The tips work for any industry, not just the wedding industry (If any guys need to hide in a dark corner to read this one it’s fine… we won’t tell anyone you visited a wedding blog!)

So head over to Rock n Roll Bride now to hear what Debbie has to say – it’s very good and very very useful!

Sometimes things happen at just the right moment, like finding a guide to design for startups the night before my first post on this brand spanking new blog!

Startups, This Is How Design Works is a guide for non-designers by Wells Riley and gives an introduction into why design is so important.

The site gives you a background to design, and it explains why it’s not just about having a pretty website or a nice logo. It’s why a designer needs to get to know you, your business and your customers. Only then can they create things for you that are effective, and help your business to thrive and grow.

And why bulls**t isn’t necessary. You are doing something amazing by creating your own company and you don’t have to come up with fancy new science, technology or wild claims to sell it*

If you really understand why your product or service will benefit people, and what makes the way you do it unique and specia,l then you can tell people all about that. You can communicate it through your brand and design too. When people say that it’s best to be authentic, what they really mean is honest. Honest about who you are and the fantastic things you do, no spin necessary.

Go on, get a cuppa and have a read… Startups, This Is How Design Works

And if you need any help with design then take a look around the Mariposa website  and get in touch to discuss how I can help you.

*“Vision technology” anyone? I spotted that ‘selling point’ in an advert last night. I’m pretty sure John Logie Baird invented vision technology in 1925. 

Hello and welcome to the Mariposa blog. It’s here to give you simple and honest advice on all things branding, design, social media and web related to help you make the most effective use of everything out there.

The first rule of this blog is that there’s no such thing as a stupid question!

As I want to answer REAL questions and solve those niggling problems you have then please do email me your questions so that I can answer them and we can help other people having the same issues as you.

Let me know in your email if you want me to refer to you in the blog post by…

1. Name / Business / Web Link (share your details on the post so people can find your business)

2. First name only (make sure people know you’re human but don’t give anything else away)

3. Anonymous (answer your question then pretend you don’t exist – my other half would pick this option every time!)

By default I’ll go with the option number 2

I’ll also share cool, interesting and useful things from around the web to give you extra doses of help and inspiration! If you have anything you would like to contribute then email me!