DALEN DESIGN

Optimize Your Blog Posts

Andrea — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 01:35:19 +0000

In order to understand the importance of Search Engine Optimization in relation to a blog, we need to understand how Google views a website. Google, and other major search engines, develop algorithms which automatically rank all websites. They are employing automated search bot spiders which crawl and seek out indicator requirements. The resulting data is

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WordPress Security Updates

Andrea — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 03:59:03 +0000

In recent months, WordPress security vulnerabilities in numerous plugins made headlines worldwide. Furthermore, Sucuri Security cautioned thousands of WordPress users to be aware sites had been hacked. Concealed SPAM pages could have been added to the wp-includes directory. This concealment made it harder for some WordPress site owners to determine if their website was affected. While

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Content Best Practices

Andrea — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 01:00:45 +0000

In our entry on the changing landscape of web design, we briefly touched on content best practices. It would seem the post was timely, as a recent social media summit addressed the same topic. If you followed our advice by adding a blog or reworking existing content, you may be interested in learning more about the

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WordPress Plugin Directory

Andrea — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 01:53:04 +0000

The WordPress Plugin Directory has exceeded 30,000 entries, and boasts widgets, links, social media bars, imaging options, and so much more. With a wealth of downloadable possibilities, how do you choose the right one for your WordPress site? Check the ratings, review the comments, or talk with a WordPress webmaster like Dalen Design. Looking for

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Monitor Your Website

Andrea — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:12:16 +0000

The vast majority of companies now rely on the Internet for lead generation and online sales. Your website makes an impression on every visitor, and demonstrates how much you value interaction and feedback. To ensure you are not losing potential clients, it is critical to monitor your website on a regular basis. In this article,

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Generating cPanel Backups

Andrea — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 00:41:09 +0000

While no substitute for automated offsite backups, manual cPanel backups are an integral component of your data recovery strategy. When initiated, a full cPanel backup makes a copy of all your emails, files, and databases. The straightforward process can be used regularly or periodically. It should also be used before making any major changes to your

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MailPoet Plugin Critical Vulnerability

Andrea — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 13:02:52 +0000

A critical vulnerability was found in the popular WordPress MailPoet plugin (formerly known as Wysija). Attackers are able to take over a website using the MailPoet plugin without authentication. According to Daniel Cid, CEO of Security for Sucuri, this flaw “can allow attacker to use your website for phishing lures, sending spam, host malware, infect

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All in One SEO Plugin

Andrea — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 02:00:09 +0000

Earlier this month, WordPress sites running the popular All in One SEO Plugin were urged to immediately install an upgrade version. During a code audit, the All in One SEO Plugin was determined to have flaws and vulnerabilities. As such, search rankings could be beaten down by readers and hackers could inject malicious code permitting

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CASL Canada’s Anti-Spam Law

Andrea — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 22:09:56 +0000

On July 1, 2014, Canada’s tough Anti-Spam Legislation comes into force. Known as CASL, it is the broadest legislation of its kind in the world. Designed to safeguard Canadian consumers from unwanted electronic communication, CASL will impact individuals, businesses and organizations utilizing electronic communications as a means of marketing, advertising and client contact. In essence,

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Responsive Design

Andrea — Tue, 27 May 2014 03:09:59 +0000

With smartphone and tablet usage expected to outweigh desktop usage in the next 2-3 years, the collective need for responsive design websites is skyrocketing. Gone are the days of scaled down, “mobile-friendly” websites. Instead, our tech-savvy society demands a fully functioning site they can navigate on any device. From a laptop to a desktop, smartphone,

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Changing Landscape

Andrea — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 13:13:19 +0000

The changing landscape of web design and search engine optimization (SEO) is forcing many businesses to re-evaluate their online presence. Smaller companies may not have the funds or resources to redesign regularly, yet seek surefire methods keep in touch with customers. Larger companies need to drive traffic to their website, and feel pressured to showcase

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WordPress Terminology

Andrea — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 03:16:38 +0000

WordPress terminology is expansive. In an effort to help new and existing clients gain familiarity with the design, technology, software terms, Dalen Design is pleased to share this guide to WordPress terminology. WordPress WordPress is a free and open source blogging and content management system (CMS), used to create websites or blogs. Based on PHP

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Flat Web Design

Andrea — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 19:07:34 +0000

Flat web design became the rage in 2013, with Microsoft Windows 8 and Apple iOS 7 cementing the momentum. Rarely do you see web developers showcasing their skills with flashy illustrations or animations. Even the shift towards skeuomorphic design, which endeavoured to bring real life imagery to websites with drop shadows and textures, was short

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Why your website needs to go mobile

Michaela — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 04:23:26 +0000

We don’t just live in a mobile world, we live in a diverse media world. Gone are the days where we had one place, and one place only, to browse the web. Now, we are what Google calls multi-screen users. We view web pages through computers, smartphones, tablets and TVs. This means that your website

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The social side of events

Michaela — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 04:17:22 +0000

Events are crucial to growing your business. They give you an opportunity to network with others in your industry, attract new clients and learn new tactics. But you can maximize this opportunity if you use social media properly before, during and after the event. Before: Find other partners or clients (current and prospective) who are

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How Social Media affects SEO

Michaela — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 03:55:08 +0000

Social media plays an important role in how your company ranks in search engines. While you may see social media as a marketing and customer service medium, it carries much more weight in your search engine optimization (SEO). How does this work? The effect of social media on SEO comes down to search engine algorithms.

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How to create a social Black Friday campaign

Michaela — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 03:51:13 +0000

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, it’s hard not to think about our neighbours to the South and their upcoming holiday. With American Thanksgiving comes the kickoff of holiday shopping: Black Friday. Black Friday is no longer about getting up early and snagging a good spot in line at the store. Customers prefer to stay home

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Outsourcing your social media

Michaela — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 05:55:05 +0000

Not everyone realizes just how time-consuming social media management can be. Some small business owners spend 5-10 hours/week just updating their company’s social media. Who has the time for that? If you’ve committed to social media, but don’t have the time or resources to manage it from within your company, you can outsource it. Before

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Five ways to increase engagement on Facebook

Michaela — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 05:10:43 +0000

Social media engagement is more than just a buzz phrase these days. We all know it’s not just about sharing content, it’s about creating discussion with your audience. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? What if you post to Facebook regularly, but just can’t seem to get people talking? It might not be what you’re sharing, but

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How to write content people want to read

Michaela — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 02:20:22 +0000

You have a blog. You write for it regularly. But for some reason, people aren’t reading it. Sound familiar? With the exorbitant amount of information on the Internet, it can be hard to make your content stand out. You have to show people why your content is worth their valuable time. Making your content easy

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Why you should mentor a young entrepreneur

Michaela — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 00:12:51 +0000

As a business owner, you remember what it was like to be a struggling entrepreneur just trying to get your business off the ground. Even though those days are long behind you, the experiences you gained during that time got you to where you are now. So why not help someone trying to get to

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How to choose your website keywords

Michaela — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 04:36:34 +0000

In the Google age, keyword search and SEO are two of the most important components of a good website. Implementing the keywords is easy, but choosing those keywords can be a little more tricky. You have to be very strategic in deciding on these words. Here are some factors to consider during this process: Google

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How to grow your blog audience

Michaela — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 23:41:26 +0000

Having a blog is one thing, having a large audience on your blog is another story (or so it can feel like). If you have a blog, you know how difficult it can be to increase views. There’s no anxiety like waiting for the view count to go up on a new blog post. It

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Social media faux pas

Michaela — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 00:10:24 +0000

When it comes to social media, there is a lot of information out there about what to do. It’s also important to understand what not to do. Everyone has their own strategy for social media. As a result, they are going to use it differently. But there are certain unofficial rules that everyone should make

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Dalen Design at the i14 Worlds

Michaela — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 00:15:15 +0000

This weekend, the i14 World Championships of Sailing kicked off in Toronto at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club. What does this have to do with us? Well, we are proud to serve as official web master for the event. Are you attending the i14 Worlds? If so, you’ve likely followed the event online recently, and

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