The downside of all the travel was the inability to be in touch with civilisation as I know it.  No phone, no tv, and (more shockingly) no Internet.  That’s right – no ability to consult Google to find out where Malta is located (close to Sicily), or what that Temper Trap song is with the kids running (Love Lost), or how much further it is to the next petrol station and will we make it (45km and yes, just).

The upside though was plentiful.  32 degrees, blue skies, seemingly unlimited alcohol – and the wedding of my cousin Carmen to Mark. It was a great weekend and the bride was gorgeous.  I took a LOT of photos, as did my dad, brother and pretty well everyone else.

Now that I’m back in the arms of the wonderful internet I’ve decided to create what I think is the perfect gift for Carmen, Mark, and their families.  An online wedding album!

Personal Websites

It’s the perfect way for Carmen and Mark (who are about 1,700km away from me) to see the images I took of the day.  It’s also great because everyone who attended can see the photos, and they can also upload their own photos to share with everyone else.  As a very wise man once said – WINNING!

The beauty of it is – creating a personal website is something you could do as well. Imagine creating a gift like this about a wedding, wedding anniversary, birthday, birth, baby’s first steps, your first car, home renovations, or even the silly things your pet does (yes Grumpy Cat is a WordPress website). Great idea, right?

You can be the website expert of your family

The first training program I created for Nerd Coaching is DIY Websites – where you build your own website for a business, blog, or personal page. Best of all, DIY Websites is absolutely free!

If you haven’t yet signed up, register now. After you successfully complete Nerd Coaching’s DIY Websites you will have built a website that most web developers would charge you thousands of dollars to build.

Back in 2003, Apple’s new iTunes store had just sold one million songs in it’s first week of operation; Arnold Schwarzenegger was making plans to become the “Governator”; and a delightful clownfish named Nemo was searching for his father in cinemas around the world.

At the same time, a loose-knit group of nerds were lamenting the decline of their blogging platform, B2/Cafelog.

A plucky young Texan named Matt Mullenweg put the call out, and was soon joined by a British gentleman named Mike Little, then hundreds, and soon thousands of others were demanding a publishing platform that was easy, flexible, and free to the world.

Just 10 short years later:

• 17.4% of the entire internet is powered by WordPress (Mar 2013),
• 22% of all new websites are powered by WordPress (Feb 2013) – that’s 100,000 new websites per day! (Mar 2013), and
• 52.2% of the top 10,000 websites, 61.51% of the top 100,000 websites, and 66.74% of the top 1,000,000 websites are all powered by WordPress!

It’s a staggering achievement for a free, open-source project.

WordPress began it’s life as a very limited and fragile blogging project, and has blossomed into a full featured, robust, CMS client for businesses and bloggers alike!

So on this auspicious day, let’s all take a moment to pay tribute to WordPress, it’s creators, the hundreds of community volunteers who continue develop the core software, and the thousands of theme and plugin developers who allow people like us to transform our blogs and websites into something amazing.

No matter what website someone goes to, if the text is accompanied with an image, it will be the first thing they look at. And, if the image is compelling, they’re more likely to stay and see what the website is all about.

There’s a reason why our website features our resident nerd – and it’s not because of his One Direction likeness.

Yes, images are very important.

But, because images are so important, there are do’s and don’ts when it comes to using images on your websites.

DO – think of the context of the image

An image should make you want to read the article. It therefore should be relevant to the topic and pull the reader into the content. Consider the value of diagrams, graphics and graphs to explain the concepts you’re presenting.

DON’T – go overboard (especially with anything that flashes or moves)

Images are used to break up a full page of text. While there is nothing more monotonous than a page filled with lines, an overkill of cliché photos can be just as disheartening. Use as many images that are relevant.

DO – love your team

If you use images of yourself and your team, you’re more likely to be portrayed as real and approachable rather than a stock image that anyone could buy.

DON’T – go fuzzy

Poor quality images will lead your customer to think you have poor quality products and give poor quality service. Whether it be images that are too small, images that are clearly stolen stock photos (complete with the watermark still on the picture!), or overly amateur photography, you’ll end up creating a name for yourself that won’t be so positive.

DO – show off your products

If you’re going to take the time to write about the features and benefits of the products you sell, take the time to show the customer what it looks like. 83% of learning occurs visually – images are easier to digest. Be proud of your products and let everyone see what they look like!

To sum up, over one hundred years ago journalist Arthur Brisbane was quoted as saying: “Use a picture. It’s worth a thousand words.” As you think about your own website and the images you use, remember this quote. If the image you pick can inform the reader what you want them to know, you’re on a winner.

Using images without permission? Naughty!

But can you use them on your website?

It’s important to remember that Google is not just one giant, free photo-bank. The images that come up are a mix of royalty-free, copyright-free, creative commons licensed, and copyrighted images. And, most of the time, you can’t tell what they are.

Working out whether something is copyrighted or not can be a mess. And, frankly, it’s not worth it. It really is smarter just to avoid the risk all together. There are many other easier ways where you can search for images and use them, knowing absolutely what you can and cannot do.

Stock Photography

If you’re looking for a decent image to use – one that is high quality, readily available, but doesn’t cost an absolute fortune – then stock photography is probably your best option. Stock photography allows you to purchase a license to use an image a number of times.

With stock photography websites such as www.istockphoto.com and www.canstockphoto.com, you can get instant access to the portfolios of thousands of photographers world-wide. It is almost impossible not to find the perfect image.

Be aware though that, if you purchase stock photography, you are not purchasing the exclusive rights to the image. Choose carefully. You don’t want to end up with the same image as your competitor (or worse).

Creative Commons

If you don’t want to pay for any images, consider creative commons. You can use images that are licensed under creative commons freely and legally, so long as you follow the license requirements. Some licenses do not allow you to use images for commercial purposes, and almost all require you to give credit to the owner of the image.

www.flickr.com is almost certainly the best online photo management website for images available under a creative commons license.

Free website images

Is there such a thing as a totally free image? One where you don’t need to give credit to the owner or provide a link back to the license holder? Of course there is!

They’re photos you take yourself. There’s nothing to stop you getting out there and taking your own photos. Just remember that lighting, colour, contrast and setting the scene is most important. A website with poor quality images is an indication to your audience that the product or services you provide is also poor quality. Unless you have those professional skills, it may not be a good idea.

Final thoughts

There is always the alternative option. One which we at Nerd Coaching have embraced. And that is to hire a professional photographer to provide images that meet our exact needs. Unless they’re a family member or long-term friend, it’s probable that professional photography is not free. But if the images are exactly what you want and help you brand your business exactly the way you need – then they’re absolutely worth it.

Choosing the right image can take a lot of research

If you have an existing business, you probably already have a logo. This, in turn will influence the colour scheme you adopt for your website. But what about images?

There are two different types of images you need to consider. The primary images are those that appear on your website pages – your home page, About Us page, and your product pages. The secondary images are that those that appear on your website blog posts.

Primary images are relevant to the overall topic / product / service your website is promoting. Secondary images on the other hand are relevant to the specific content of the blog post. No matter which image you need to add, there are a few things to consider – after all, images not only add life to a website, they also make it work better as a marketing tool. Using the right image can boost your sales and get you to connect better with your target audience.

Top tips for choosing the right images for your website

Size matters.

There is nothing worse than going onto a website and having to wait for images to download. In most cases it has nothing to do with your download capacity; but everything to do with the overall size of the image. Before you add an image to your website page or blog post, crop and resize them. You can either do it before you upload your image, or you can do it within WordPress. Find the image in the media library, select edit, then crop or scale the image to the right size.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

The right image captures a visitor’s attention, informs them about something important, and persuades them to act. The wrong image however can break the concept by confusing, annoying and repelling your website visitors. Consider:

• Images that include people are relatable and therefore more memorable. Strive to choose an image that includes eye-contact with a face wherever possible.
• Photos of your own employees will make the website more natural and trustworthy. Customers prefer images that look real and reflect true-life situations.
• Don’t use inappropriate images. Yes, sex sells. But a photo of a half-naked woman if you’re selling cupcakes may not be the best idea. If it’s properly contextualized however, knock yourself out.
• Images should reflect your target market interests and represent your business and products in a favourable and truthful light.
• Poor quality images always reflect that you have a poor quality business. Don’t use a free image just because it’s free. Sites such as www.canstockphoto.com offer quality royalty free stock photography at really good prices.

Be unique.

If you spend ten minutes on the web browsing small business websites, you’ll probably see images of beautiful office workers laughing together / pointing at some office object / shaking hands / walking strategically in a V shape toward the camera. While it is ok to use stock images, avoid using the super popular images. There are plenty of images out there. Search by the number of downloads and start at the lowest numbers.

Remember SEO.

When adding images, always add a description of the image in the “alt” tag (short for alternative to image tag). The alt tag provides a translation of the context of the image. This helps add important keywords to the page, which in turn, helps with search engine optimisation.

Consider your product.

If you’re selling a product online, consider these extra factors:

• Images must be clear
• If you have a small product, the visitor needs to be able to zoom in to see the fine details
• Use as many images as required to show the whole product and its features
• Make sure the product fills 2/3 of the image
• Use a neutral background with correct lighting

When developing your website, images are often thought of last. Humans are visual creatures though and a well-placed image can determine how your site is received. Always aim to send a positive message to your audience by using images that meets your audience’s needs.

The biggest factor that we needed to be aware of was that the Nerd Coaching website is not just the first point of marketing for us – it is the tool that sells our products and it is also the end product. All of our products and services are online; we don’t meet clients for a consultation, they don’t talk to us on the phone, and they don’t come to our office to see what we do. The website is what sells us.

Essentially for clients to come on board with us and become a dedicated Nerd-lover, our website needs to convince them that they can trust us, that we’re reputable, and that we’re experts. It also has to be personal enough for them to relate to it and to want to experience Nerd Coaching.

Launching Nerd Coaching

Nerd Coaching’s “Stock” Nerd

We had to do it though, knowing that it was going to be a temporary measure only. When you’re launching a new product you have to work out what the most important things are and do them first. Unfortunately that meant time with a professional photographer was not a priority.

I must admit, for stock photos, we picked a pretty cool looking nerd. Yeah he was a little bit on the skinny side, but at least he wasn’t the pimple-faced outdated nerd that non-nerds like to think we are.

New AND Improved!

However, it’s pretty exciting to say that, only a few months in to launching Nerd Coaching, we’ve been able to retire “stock nerd”. What’s even more exciting is to proudly announce that the new and improved nerd is the original (and the best).

Andrew Marks

We’ve spent the weekend updating everything – not just the website but also Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, and our YouTube channel. The new image is here, and he’s perfect for the Nerd Coaching brand.

We love him, but what do you think of our Nerd?

Making the most of blog posts

With WordPress you can schedule blog posts to go live at a particular date and time, so you don’t need to be sitting at your computer (or even awake!) when it is launched.

This is a great idea. There are certain days and even times of day when posting a blog is most effective. With WordPress, you don’t need to be logged on and ready to go at that exact time – you can load up all your blogs for the week (month, year!) and they’ll be published when you’re ready.

How to schedule blog posts for the future

1. In the top-right of the page, look for a box titled “Publish” where you’ll find an option that reads “Publish immediately”.
2. Click the blue “Edit” text next to “Publish immediately” and choose the month, date, year and time you want your post to be published. Remember to use military time (3:00 p.m. would be 15:00).
3. Click the grey “OK” button.
4. The “Publish immediately” text should now change to “Schedule for,” with whatever date and time you have chosen.
5. If you’re ready to go, click the blue “Schedule” button (formerly “Publish”). Your post is set to go!

Think of software that is 10 years old. Are any of them still around and still being actively used? (Well except for Sparkler Filters who are not only using a computer built in 1948, they’re still using the same technology programmed to it). Most likely not. Software is outdated pretty quickly and becomes discontinued as new models are released.

But there are a few that have stood the test of time. Over the years they’ve been improved upon, added to, and expanded. But they’ve stood the test of time and are now flourishing.

Nerd Coaching is very happy to announce that WordPress celebrates its 10th birthday in less than one month!

WordPress started in 2003 with a single bit of code to enhance the typography of everyday writing and with fewer users than you can count on your fingers and toes. Now, WordPress manages 22% of all new websites – that’s more than amazing.

In honour of the upcoming 10th anniversary of WordPress, they’ve produced a special tshirt. The shirt is only $10, which is fantastic; but what’s even better is that WordPress have stuck with their promise to be open source. WordPress are giving access to download the vector file so that you can print your own shirts!

If you want to purchase direct from the maker, head to Hello Merch. We’ve already got ours ordered and will be wearing them with pride.

What is a favicon?

Right now as you’re looking at this blog post and all of the other pages you probably have open (Facebook, Gmail, Twitter, Google…) you can see a favicon for each page. But what is a favicon?

Favicon is a shortened word for favourite icon. It’s the small icon that sits beside the website name beside each tab you have open. They can also feature when you bookmark a website or anywhere else to help identify a website visually.

Favicons are really quite small – generally they’re 16 x 16 pixels. They’re saved as favicon.ico in the root directory of your server. With WordPress, you can use a favicon with any website on a web server that allows access to the root directories.

How to create a favicon

There are many free online services that allow you to create a favicon for free. These services are great because they can take an ordinary image (.png, .gif, etc) and transfer it to the right file format – .ico. This will ensure it works in all browsers.

One of the easiest favicon generators is http://www.favicon.cc/ but a simple google search will allow you to find plenty more that you can try out.

The image should be clear and is usually designed to match your website content; a big task for something so small.

The online website you use will provide instructions to create the favicon in the right format. Sometimes you may find that, after creating a favicon, the image isn’t quite what you wanted. Just keep looking for the right image until you find the one that is clear and best suited to your website.

How to install a favicon

The instructions on how to install a favicon is a little bit more difficult – not because the task is difficult, but because there could be a few different ways to install it.

In most cases a favicon is uploaded in the Theme Options section of your admin panel. This is a specific section dedicated to the features of the theme you’re using. For example, if you’re using a theme from Woo Themes, the custom favicon is uploaded on the General Settings section of Theme Options.

Check your favicon

Once you’ve uploaded your favicon, always remember to check it to ensure it’s exactly what you’re after. When changing to .ico, the image sometimes changes the look and it may not be exactly what you want.

So that’s it for favicons! It really is such a small item on a website, but it is a great way to take your branding that extra step further.

When you go in to an Apple store you’re immediately transferred into a new, shiny, world. You get customer service within minutes, always by someone upbeat, and if you’re (un)lucky you end up leaving said store with a standing ovation.

Imagine our surprise then to find out that Apple aren’t telling us something. It’s a big secret that they don’t want the Australian public to know about…

Apple Australia Warranties Extended to 24 Months

Isn’t it exciting?! Although the Apple website still advertises a 12 month limited warranty, it turns out that they’ve (quietly) changed the terms and come in to line with Australian Consumer Law.

The new policy has been sent by email to all staff:
Any iPhone, iPad or Mac brought to a Genius bar that is between 13 and 24 months old and has not been subject to abuse or accidental damage, will automatically be flagged as eligible for repair or replacement via the iRepair or MobileGenius software.

Here’s the kicker though – Apple aren’t talking about it. As said, the website hasn’t yet been updated and there is no fanfare advertisement about the changing practice.

Got a warranty repair?

The simplest thing you can do is ask them! Although Apple Australia may not be advertising the change in practice, your product will be managed as per the new process.

This, of course, won’t help the thousands of shattered iPhone screens out there. Unfortunately accidental damage isn’t included in the repair plan; but it is beneficial for those of you who haven’t dropped your phone on the ground / down the toilet / out of the second floor window…

For more information on Apple Australia Extends Warranties, check out MacTalk.