Get Connected

Want to stay connected with the latest WordPress news and information? We send regular email updates with the latest about WordPress, StudioPress and other related news.

Media317

Web Design Built on WordPress

Alan Smith - Web Design and Development

Alan Smith is a web designer and web developer using WordPress as a CMS and the Genesis Framework. I am a devoted husband and father, a Christ Follower and a Georgia Bulldog Fan (Go SEC!).

WordPress 3.5 Available

By

WordPress 3.5 has been in development for some time now and has finally been released to the public.  It has several new features with a new media center update taking center stage.

Elvin Jones in the House!

Code named Elvin Jones, WordPress 3.5 is loaded with updates and features.  The most noticeable change is the new media uploader.  The clunky uploader has been re-imagined.  It is sleek and modern and makes adding media to your page easier than ever before.

Ready to Upgrade?

If you are running WordPress, now is the time to update.  Before you do, make sure you have a backup of your database and files.

Welcome to the New Media317

By

After several weeks of work, I am pleased to announce the release of the new Media317 website.  It will provide a better user experience for all devices, desktop or mobile.

Media317 New Site Design
Media317 website design for any device

Web  3.0

The world of the internet is changing.  We have transitioned from web 1.0 to web 2.0 and we are now in the transition to web 3.0.  This new world of the internet is driven by mobile.  A recent Pew study found that nearly half of adults are using smartphones daily.  Mobile devices from phones to tablets are becoming the standard for users accessing the internet.

Google has recently conducted a study and found that 72% of consumers want to visit a website that is mobile friendly.  The current reality, however, is that the majority of websites are not mobile friendly.  This is costing you visitors and business.

Mobile Baby!

Realizing that the web is changing, I wanted to make sure Media317.net was ready for the future.  So I set out to design a site that would be very mobile friendly and very centered on the core business of Media317.

The Design

It is important for me to make sure the website provides you with a good user experience.  Buttons are larger so they are easier to use on mobile screens.  The navigation has been streamlined to help users navigate more efficiently through the site.

I wanted to make sure that the color palette was easy on the eyes, yet maintained consistency with Media317 branding.  By using black text on white background, the contrast is ideal for reading.  And by adding touches of color through out the site, there is a consistency with the branding.

We increased the overall whitespace on the site.  By increasing the font size, the pages are easier to read on desktop and mobile devices.

Responsive

A modern design must be mobile friendly.  When I developed the theme for the site, I used modern CSS and programing to make sure the site would adapt to the users browser and screen size.

Adjust the browser size and watch how things move around the site.  You’ll see the content area reduce in width, the header will adjust, the navigation changes, the sidebar drops below the content area.  Watch as the site adjust to your screen.  It is completely responsive and maintains the site design regardless of screen size or resolution.  If you have a mobile device, pull up the page and change the screen from portrait to landscape.

Responsive web design becoming more and more important in modern web design.

More to Come

I am very excited about the growing trend and changes in WordPress and web design.

Mobile devices are not going away.  They make up a large percentage of web traffic and the number is growing.  Soon, over half of all internet traffic is going to be from users on mobile devices.

The responsive design approach is a game changer for modern web design.  It allows site owners to reach the mobile user without having to develop and maintain two separate sites.

What do you think of the site?  I appreciate your feedback and your comments.  Shout off in the comments below.

5 Web Design Trends for 2013

By

Crystal Ball Lego
From Flickr

The year is coming to a close and 2013 is on the horizons.  Here are 6 trends that are going to be impacting web design and development in the coming year.  Get ready 2013, its going to be a mobile year.

If you are a web designer, it’s a good idea to stay up on the top trendy new ways to perk up the look of websites for your customers.

The following information will also be helpful for small business owners looking for information on how their websites should be designed.  The current trend is focused on user experience and mobile ready.

Web Trends Change Rapidly

When trends are changing quicker than you can bat your eyes, it’s not an easy task to predict where they are going in the future. As 2013 nears, it’s hard to say what turns the industry will take, and what will be popular and what will not.  The following are some trends we think you may see for the upcoming New Year:

1. Responsive Mobile Web Design

WordPress Responsive Web Site DesignMobile is a powerful force in web design for 2013.  A recent survey by Pew Internet found that 45% of adults use a smartphone and that number is growing every month.

Whether mobile or desktop, proportions and screen size will vary. Responsive web design is expected to be especially big on the trending scene in 2013.

Instead of having to design for each device, responsive web designing has the ability to create designs for all devices.

This means that you no longer have to design a “full” site AND a “mobile” site.  One design, one development, one site.  It is a very efficient way of developing your site in 2013.

To get an idea of how responsive design works, adjust the size of your browser window and watch how this website will adjust.  The width’s will adjust automatically and the different elements will move up or down to fit the screen properly.

2. Infinity Scrolling

Another important design factor will be new scrolling features.

Last year there was a trend toward horizontal scrolling.  It was a unique way to look at a site and scroll through content. Unique, but it doesn’t solve the problem most web site owners are trying to solve.

“How do I keep visitors on my site?”

The infinity scrolling idea is method of loading the next page in a sequence at the bottom of the page as your scroll.  Think of your Facebook newsfeed.  As you scroll down the page, the news feed keeps pulling the next posts.  You never reach the end.

Jetpack Infinite Scroll

This functionality is being introduced into several major websites this year and looks to be a trend for 2013.  Check out Mashable.com to see how the infinity scrolling works.

If you are a  WordPress user and have the Jetpack plugin installed, you may be able to activate infinity scrolling on your site.  This is a recent release in Jetpack, another indication that it will be growing mainstream in 2013.

3. Large Buttons

With the popularity of touch and tap growing every day, large buttons is definitely expected to be on the horizon in 2013. Previously large buttons were just a beautifying factor, but next year they’re expected to be more like a necessity. This is because it makes tapping easier.  Since using larger graphics for buttons can effect page load speed, expect more buttons to be generated using CSS.

4. Parallax Scrolling

Parallax Web Design Sample

This type of scrolling will become much more popular in 2013. It’s been around for some time, but it’s mostly used in video games. Parallax scrolling allows the designer to have direction over the depth of objects designed for websites.  As the user scrolls down the page, the design gives the illusion of 3-D.  It is an effect produced with multiple layers scrolling at different rates.

5. More HTML5 and CSS3 Adoption

HTML and CSS3 was on the trend list last year, but I think that there will be an increase in its adoption over 2013.  When Adobe finally put the nail in the coffin of Flash, the web world changed.  Previously, animations and effects were the result of Flash embeds.  Now that it is no more, look to see this gap filled with javascript and jQuery.

Web Trends are Going Mobile

Also something to take into consideration, and this is big, is the ease and fluidity in which your customers will be able to navigate your site. After considering the trending in website design, the savvy business owner will want to combine great aesthetics with some really cool techie features.

What are your predictions?  What do you want to see in 2013?  Shout off in the comments below and share your predictions.

WordPress: A Simple Solution for Small Business

By

WordPress StickersOf all the content management systems available, WordPress has to be one of the best options. In fact, it’s incredibly popular for small business owners who want a nice looking website that’s SEO friendly. Here are some of the top reasons why should use WordPress and the benefits it offers.

Simple to Use Tool

First of all, this platform is extremely easy to use. Even if you have little to no programming experience, you can conveniently publish content. Getting set up is a breeze and you have access to a knowledgeable technical support staff in case you need help. If you need to go back and edit content, this can also be done without any hassle. Installing a theme can be done with a click of a button and can be changed just as easily if you want a different look later on. This makes it possible to consistently update a website without having to jump through a bunch of hoops in the process.

Simple to Add New Function

Another advantage of using WordPress is the huge list of plugins that are available for free. Since this is an open source platform, there are countless programmers and software developers that are continually adding new plugins. For example, there are social share button plugins, widgets, an XML sitemap etc. This means that you can quickly install new plugins or delete existing ones as needed. As a result, you can customize your website so that it suits your needs and the needs of visitors.

Simple SEO

Besides this, WordPress is ideal for users who are concerned with search engine optimization and who want to climb search engine rankings. In fact, this platform comes with multiple SEO features that are already built in. There is also a fairly extensive list of SEO plugins that you can install that will give your website a boost in the search rankings. Since SEO has become increasingly important for driving traffic to a website, WordPress can be your ticket to reaching your intended audience.

Simple and Cost Effective

In addition, this is one of the more cost effective options for building a website. Due to the fact that most hosting options can incorporate the WordPress platform for under $100 annually, you won’t have to spend a fortune.

There are many cost effective benefits to using WordPress for you small business.  What are some of the reasons you use WordPress?  Shout off in the comments below.

WordPress 3.5 Preview

By

WordPress 3.5 offers some exciting new features and additions.  It provides a much simplified welcome screen, favorite plugin selections in the dashboard, better mobile integration and a few other tweaks of interest.

If you are currently on WP 3.4 or older, make sure to update to 3.5 when it comes available.  There are several enhancements and you need to keep your WordPress install current.

WordPress 3.5 Welcome Screen

A Simplified Welcome Screen

We were introduced to the Welcome screen in WordPress in 3.3.  With this release, there is a streamlined look and quick links to important areas of the dashboard.

A quick click of the “Customize Your Site” button takes you the customization screen where you can make changes to the appearance of your theme.  If you are using a theme that supports the customization functions, you can change the background colors, logo, site title and tagline.

New Media Upload

The new media uploader is getting a new facelift.  It is still in Beta and all the features are not currently setup, but the direction the WP team is moving is nice.  The interface looks clean and simple and it is undergoing a complete update.

Full Retina Support

Can you say mobile?  With the ultra high resolution so the new Apple products, iPad, Macbook Pro, etc, there is a growing issue with image and graphics for these devices.  Images are displaying soft and fuzzy on retina displays.  There is a push to use less graphics and lean more on CSS styling and font elements for icons and symbols.

Retina Display MCS Comparison

WordPress 3.5 is preparing for the retina display.  By loading retina ready images, the dashboard will look sharp on any device.  Matt discusses the direction WordPress is moving with HiDPI devices.

Your Favorites Are Here

One of the nice features that exist on wordpress.org is the ability to identify your favorite plugins.  By marking a plugin as a favorite, they are all collected on your profile page for easy access and reference.

WordPress Favorite

Now you will find your favorite plugins in your dashboard plugins area.  The plugin page now has a new tab, Favorites.  If you click it, you will be prompted to log into your wordpress.org account and then your favorite plugins will display.

WordPress Favorites

This is a very interesting feature for those who manage multiple WordPress installs and use the same plugins regularly.  Now you can log into your account in your dashboard and all of your favorite plugins will be one click away.  It will be a timesaver for developers!

XML-RPC Installed by Default

XML-RPC is a specification and a set of tools that allow software running on different platforms to make procedural calls over the Internet.  It allows communication between WordPress and other software. The most apparent use of XML-RPC is the remote blogging services that are offered by apps like Windows Live Writer and mobile apps.

With XML-RPC being installed by default, connecting to mobile apps will be much easier.

Links are Missing

One of the features of the dashboard that has hung around from the blogging days of WordPress is the Link tab.  Back when WordPress was primarily a blogging platform, the link tools were valuable for connecting to other blogs.

I have rarely used it personally and have never had any of my clients use it.  WordPress 3.5 will not have this feature enabled by default.  There is a plugin that will keep the Link feature on your blog if you feel you need it.

 Other Functions

There are several other features that are being added to WP3.5 that developers will appreciate.  The WordPress.org blog details these additions as follows:

  • External libraries updated: TinyMCE  3.5.6. SimplePie 1.3. jQuery 1.8.2. jQuery UI 1.9 (and it’s not even released yet). We’ve also added Backbone 0.9.2 and Underscore 1.3.3, and you can use protocol-relative links when enqueueing scripts and styles. (#16560)
  • WP Query: You can now ask to receive posts in the order specified by post__in. (#13729)
  • XML-RPC: New user management, profile editing, and post revision methods. We’ve also removed AtomPub. (#18428, #21397, #21866)
  • Multisite: switch_to_blog() is now used in more places, is faster, and more reliable. Also: You can now use multisite in a subdirectory, and uploaded files no longer go through ms-files (for new installs). (#21434, #19796, #19235)
  • TinyMCE: We’ve added API support for “views” which you can use to offer previews and interaction of elements from the visual editor. (#21812)
  • Posts API: Major performance improvements when working with hierarchies of pages and post ancestors. Also, you can now “turn on” native custom columns for taxonomies on edit post screens. (#11399, #21309, #21240)
  • Comments API: Search for comments of a particular status, or with a meta query (same as with WP_Query). (#21101, #21003)
  • oEmbed: We’ve added support for a few oEmbed providers, and we now handle SSL links. (#15734, #21635,#16996, #20102)

Prepare to Update

When 3.5 is released, you will see a prompt to update at the top of your dashboard.  I highly recommend updating your core files to this latest version.

What are your thoughts on these changes?  Are there features that were not added that you were expecting?  Sound off in the comments below.

Why Facebook Will Hurt Your Business!

By

Facebook - Mark ZuckerbergYou need your own website for your business, because Facebook will not only hurt your business, it can kill your business!

Small business owners are frequently telling me they are considering just using Facebook as their business or company website.  After all, isn’t it just as good as having your own website, plus, it’s free, all of my customers are already there, its easy to use, and its FREE!

All of those things may be true.  Social networks are wonderful tools.  They get us in front of our audience.  They attract new users or customers.  They really are powerful, effective tools.

But if you use a tool to run your business, you become subject to the winds of change and you become slaves to that machine.  Your business will get wrapped up in the cogs of social networks and that can hurt or kill your business.

Imagine where you’d be if you had made MySpace your business website (not a good place to be. . . )

Don’t Loose Control

The number one reason why you need to have your own website is content ownership.  When you create content and information on your own site,  you maintain control.

When you create content on social networks, you essentially license that content to them.  You loose control and ownership.  You are sharecropping.  You’re living on another’s property, creating content for them, and getting marginal return.

This is not good business.  You create the content and information for your website, which has immediate and long term value.  You should keep control of that content for your self.

Minimum Viable Website

I want to help you understand the absolute minimum website you need for your business.  If you plan to devote your time and energy to using Facebook for your business, you need to have a website that does the following two things for you.  This is an absolute minimum.

1.   Email

You need to be able to gather email addresses from visitors.  This is one of the most effective marketing tools you will have.  When someone willingly offers you their email address, they are giving you specific permission to market to them.

Seth Godin called this permission marketing and it is very powerful.

When someone visits your website and gives you their email address, they are telling you that they want you to send them information.  They have found your information, products or services to be something that they like and they want to hear more about it.  They want you to send them occasional emails about your stuff.

This information is extremely valuable and you need it for your business.  If Facebook goes away, you need to have a vehicle to continue to grow your business and email is a way to that.  Your website needs a way to gather these valuable email address.

2. Blog

Whether you call it a blog or news room or some other catchy thing, you need a place where you can write about your business.  A blog is a place where you can create content that attracts users or customers.

Regardless of the kind of business you run, a blog is an essential part of your website.  This is a place where you can announce new information about your business, like press releases.  It is a place where you can talk about the changing face of you industry or market.  It provides you with a platform to be proactive in dealing with objections to sales.  It is a cheap marketing tool that attracts clients and customers to your website.

Blogging for your business is one of the simplest and potentially most valuable marketing tool you can have in your business tool kit.

The Bigger Picture

These are the absolute minimum things you need for a business website.  Regardless of the business you are in, you need a website that will work for you.

Facebook is a wonderful tool, but if you plan to use it exclusively for you business website,  you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

Get online!

If you don’t have a website for your business, get one today!  It is important.  Use Facebook to drive traffic to a place that you own and control.  It is a much better long term strategy and will help you grow your business.

Sound off in the comments below.  Do you agree?

Adobe Flash for Web is DEAD!

By

RIP Flash: Image by Joel Oughton

Adobe Flash is no longer a viable web development tool.  With the development of HTML5 standards, CSS3 advancements, and the adoption of javascript, Flash is an antiquated web tool

In April of 2010, Steve Jobs published an open letter announcing Flash as a “has been” a “relic” in a new era.  He indicated that Flash would be supported on any of Apple’s mobile devices.  It was a flash point!

It turns out that Steve was right on the money.  Only 19 months later, Adobe announced that they were going to be turning the attention to Flash development for PC’s and focus on developing HTML5 tools for web development.

Twitter Chatter

https://twitter.com/NathanBowers/status/218730792245923840

 

The nail in the coffin of Flash for mobile was announced today, June 28, 2012, that Flash will no longer be supported on Droid devices.  Beginning August 15, 2012, Adobe will disable fresh installs of Flash.

“Beginning August 15th we will use the configuration settings in the Google Play Store to limit continued access to Flash Player updates to only those devices that have Flash Player already installed. Devices that do not have Flash Player already installed are increasingly likely to be incompatible with Flash Player and will no longer be able to install it from the Google Play Store after August 15th.”

What Does This Mean?

If you have a website that is built with heavy Flash elements,  you are loosing a significant amount of traffic.  The number of mobile devices that will be able to view your content has just been reduced.  Going forward, all tablets and phones, regardless of OS will not be able to access the flash components of your site.

Mobile is the next evolution in web.  If you do not have a website that is mobile friendly, you will begin seeing a reduction in site traffic.  I can help!  Media317 is a web design and development business and we can help you  become mobile friendly.

What do you think?  Are you glad to see Adobe catch up to current web standards?  Voice your thoughts in the comments.