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  • Retiring Web Designers: Secure Your Legacy and Earn Recurring Income with Web321

    Retiring Web Designers: Secure Your Legacy and Earn Recurring Income with Web321

    After years of crafting beautiful websites and building strong client relationships, you’re considering retirement. It’s a significant decision that brings both excitement for the future and concern for the clients you’ve supported over the years. What will happen to them once you step away? How can you ensure they’re in good hands without abandoning them?

    At Web321, we understand the unique position you’re in. We’re here to offer a solution that not only takes care of your clients but also provides you with a stream of recurring income even after you’ve retired.

    Your Legacy Matters

    You’ve dedicated your career to helping businesses thrive online. The websites you’ve built are a testament to your hard work and creativity. As you plan your retirement, it’s essential to consider:

    • Client Continuity: Ensuring your clients continue to receive the support they need.
    • Quality Assurance: Trusting that the new team will uphold the standards you’ve set.
    • Financial Security: Leveraging your client base to provide ongoing income.

    Why Partner with Web321?

    Client-Centric Approach

    We prioritize your clients just as you have. Our commitment is to provide them with exceptional service, ensuring they feel supported throughout the transition and beyond.

    Expertise and Reliability

    Our team of skilled professionals is equipped to handle a wide range of web design and development needs. We stay updated with the latest industry trends and technologies to offer top-notch services.

    Seamless Transition Process

    We have a structured process to make the handover smooth for both you and your clients. Communication is key, and we work closely with you to address any concerns.

    Benefits for You

    Recurring Income

    By entrusting your client list to Web321, you set up a passive income stream. We offer competitive referral commissions, providing you with recurring revenue based on the services we continue to provide to your clients.

    Peace of Mind

    Retire knowing your clients are in capable hands. We value the relationships you’ve built and aim to maintain them with the same level of care and professionalism.

    Flexible Arrangements

    We can customize the transition plan to suit your preferences, whether you wish to remain a point of contact during the initial phase or step back entirely.

    How the Transition Works

    1. Initial DiscussionLet’s talk about your needs, expectations, and any specific considerations regarding your client base.
    2. Agreement SetupWe’ll outline the terms, including the commission structure and transition timeline, ensuring transparency and mutual agreement.
    3. Client IntroductionTogether, we’ll plan how to introduce Web321 to your clients, positioning it as a positive step for their ongoing support.
    4. OnboardingOur team will reach out to your clients, gather necessary information, and begin providing services without interruption.
    5. Ongoing CollaborationIf desired, you can stay involved during the initial stages to ensure a comfortable handover for your clients.

    Take the Next Step with Confidence

    Retirement doesn’t have to mean leaving your clients adrift or missing out on future earnings from the relationships you’ve nurtured. By partnering with Web321, you can secure your legacy, provide for your financial future, and ensure your clients continue to receive the high-quality service they’ve come to expect.

    Reach out to Web321 today to discuss how we can tailor a transition plan that respects your contributions and looks after your clients.

    About Web321

    At Web321, we specialize in web design, development, and maintenance services tailored to businesses of all sizes. Our mission is to empower businesses with effective online solutions while building lasting relationships based on trust and excellence.

    Contact Us

    Let Web321 be your partner in web success—whether you’re a website owner seeking support or a web designer planning your next chapter.

  • What Comes After WordPress?

    What Comes After WordPress?

    This week WordPress and its founder, Matt Mullenweg, got into a conflict with the Managed WordPress hosting company, WP Engine. WP Engine started in 2010 under the helm of Jason Cohen. It currently hosts 200,000 WordPress websites. At the WordPress WCUS 2024 event, Mullenweg called out WP Engine for its ‘lack of contribution’ to the community. WP Engine sent a cease and desist letter over the statements. WordPress sent a cease and desist letter of its own. In their letter on the 23rd, they called for action and a response by October 3rd. On September 25th, Mullenweg blocked access to code updates by all of the WP Engine sites hosted there. In short, WordPress wants 8% of WP Engine’s estimated $400-million/year income for “licensing.” They want $32-million. The WordPress community is in disarray. Some are siding with Mullenweg. Many are questioning if this is the point where WordPress dies. It’s a good question. One person has hobbled 200,000 websites leaving them vulnerable to bugs and exploits. WordPress runs approximately 30 – 40% of the websites on the Internet. If there is a massive shift in how it functions, how one can gain access to updates or how much it costs, they could change. Developers adopt content management systems. Salespeople sell what the developers produce. If WordPress becomes toxic, that adoption trend could reverse. People could start to replace their WordPress websites with alternatives like Squarespace, Laravel, etc..

    What if, as some have said, this is The Death of WordPress? Well, first: it won’t be the actual death of the project. People out there are still using janky applications concocted in 1995 and they won’t surrender them. There’s always going to be a million websites using WordPress. Second, people are going to adopt new tools. The trend of simplicity is going to snag many WordPress site owners who have been shaken out of their complacency. They will go to Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, Card and a host of other simple solutions. For many, this will be fine. Honestly, there’s a tier of WordPress sites that were never well served by the excess horsepower of WordPress.

    Maybe this is an opportunity.

    Where am I coming from? My personal history with content management goes back to the 1990s. I’ve been coding since the Apple ][ days. I was tapped ca. 1996 to build functionality into my websites. I built ecommerce systems from scratch. I built Perl based content management systems. In the 2000s, I built “Daccor” an ASP driven content management company that ran sites like the BC Conservatives website and the CARP BC website. Why didn’t I keep going? Money. I was too poor to do the slog of evangelizing an unknown CMS while building out functionality, roll out new designs, and being a breadwinner. Since 2005 or thereabouts, I have been building custom code for Drupal, WordPress and other projects.

    WordPress started as blogging software. It was a fork of the b2/cafelog project by François Planque. Mullenweg and Mike Little forked the code and began building towards what we know as WordPress today. If you look at the b2 code, you can see evolutionary clues of what grew from there. A lot has happened in 21 years.

    The Content Management System

    Here are my thoughts for what a content management system needs. It’s coloured by my affinities, so what I propose will echo what I like. For the longest time, WordPress’ stack looked like my goto stack, so some of these choices will be familiar.

    PHP Based. Love it. Hate it. PHP is very popular and runs almost all of the web servers. PHP8 is economical in its processing. It’s well adopted. The one trend I see that I don’t like: Composer. There are so many applications that ship with the need to go through Composer to get the supporting libraries. That’s great for nerds, but for every nerd rolling out a WordPress website, there are 1000 non-nerds who want to hit [DOWNLOAD] and call it done. Using Composer knee-caps adoption. If a product is going to be popular, it needs to be easy.

    When it comes to coding conventions: I spent my first 20 years (1983 – 2003) writing procedural code. Object oriented (OO) code is bolted on as a skill set for me. I found that how WordPress combined OO and procedural code was really attractive. Some developers are so in love with OO code that they miss the heart attack it delivers to the hardware it runs. The code needs to be as lean as possible. Period.

    When the considerations are stacked: security, performance, utility: in that order. There are so many bad actors, security has to be the first and foremost considerations. Second, but a close second: the CMS needs to deliver its output quickly. It’s not uncommon to see WordPress sites dawdle for two to three seconds before it gets around to serving its content. What a failure. Third, utility. The user experience has to be good. There needs to be easy templating available to control the look and feel of the admin screens, the front end displays and data directly sent to users.

    The code conventions need to be straightforward and orderly. There needs to be a way to filter all of the content and templating easily. I used to write code to track the behaviour of Drupal code to build its output. It would go round and round and round, refactoring and messing with the presentation of the data. That all cooks into server load, performance lags and unpredictable code.

    JQuery Based. This is a personal bias. I like JQuery and I dislike React. As WordPress has adopted JQuery, it’s a move I like that I would keep with a new CMS. I would move towards headless, but not full on headless. I have seen web servers have partial failures and their output is immediately lobotomized. I maintain that while search engines can index dynamically built pages that pull in data via Ajax, search engines better index pages where the content is on the page. I like the idea that a page can be saved offline and look intelligible. I don’t like the idea that a web page has to only be viewed on the connected Internet. It flies in the face of using the Internet to publish data in a way that delivers portable content. I like the idea of using Ajax to bring in content for progressive disclosure– to enhance the experience. Maybe having the JavaScript library as a swappable element would be a winning feature. It would let some developers work with React, JQuery or whatever library they choose.

    MySQL Based, but flexible. MySQL and MariaDB are workhorses. Going to one server for the true source of data creates a chokepoint. WordPress’ architecture has been good when it comes to its data schema. I used to wince seeing all of the tables that Drupal would spin up; with their complicated and resource intensive db joins; the 500+ tables that would give the MySQL paging system a stroke. WordPress avoided that for the most part. I think they went a little too far and some of the tables are cumbersome and problematic in their own way. Lessons learned from other CMSes:

    • Fewer tables is better, to a point.
    • Simple queries win– it’s best to pull a lot of records.
    • Remember revisions. Every piece of content should have a way to see its history.
    • Find a way to warehouse old data to remove it from the active data.
    • Build in a way to use DB replication (master-slave relationships) from the outset. Write to main DB, read from the best available child DBs.
    • Build in a way to pull in other data sources easily to synthesize a complete picture: remote data, S3 storage, text file content, etc.
    • Cache data as much as possible without being its own performance hit.
    • Pre-package data as much as data when the data will be commonly called in its packaged form.

    HTML5. Embrace it. Use the HTML5 potential and all that it brings. There are powerful shorthand ways to accomplish things nowadays. Make sure all of the HTML conventions work with lean code.

    Build with SEO and Performance In Mind. We’re talking about web publishing. It’s not an afterthought to have the page load fast, work well and be discoverable on the web. WordPress will plunk all manner of render blocking Javascript in the header. Don’t do that. Put as much code in the footer and defer as much as possible. Work with what web clients need to create the best output delivered in the best fashion. Build the output to make the time-to-first-byte (TTFB) as short as possible.

    Fetch some content routinely at the client. Some of the aspects of a page don’t need to appear immediately. If they’re not indexed by Google it may not be that important. Build in a capacity to easily fetch some content from the CMS or even remote sources of data.

    Portable. Portable Portable. Make everything on the site portable. Make it show that content and configs can be backed up, downloaded, moved, frozen or otherwise worked with. With the prospect of use generated content, but the need to promote websites through the development lifecycle there needs to be easy ways to move setting without slamming content.

    Reconcile CSS before it gets served out. In my coding, I will see three and four layers or countermanding CSS instructions: WP core, Woo, Divi, some other plugin, then eventually what I introduce to style the output. That’s sloppy. There needs to be a compilation step that sorts out these conflicting and countermanding rules before the styling comes out. If it’s not reconciled, it creates processing load for the web client, and inconsistent user experiences. It needs to be cleaned up before it’s delivered.

    Inherit Good Code. In mulling this over, I’ve thought: keep all of the WordPress hooks, lose some of the code. WordPress plugins go beyond hooks. I’ve written many plugins that drill right into the core of WordPress to get the functionality and data I need. This proposed plugin should be poised to make the use of the huge number of WordPress plugins that exist. Because of the deep ties to the WordPress core, I propose this instead: map the hooks (actions and filters) to how the arguments are made with WordPress. Build a conversion system to adapt incoming WordPress plugins to operate in the new CMS. It gives those products additional longevity and it gives the new CMS a library of tools to start with.

    The Open Source Project

    WordPress’ row with WP Engine has shown off that the organizational shortcomings can jeopardize a project more than bad coding or poor adoption. There needs to be several things in place to proceed successfully.

    Make it Open Source. Make it under the GPL2 license to ensure that there won’t be a rug pull later by a petulant player.

    Put shared assets under the control of the non-profit. It should be easy to add assets and value. It should be hard to vandalize it; or repeal it. That’s in the core of the Open Source movement, but it’s obvious that people can decide to ignore that. The key holders of these critical elements need to be vetted by the non-profit oversight and then there needs to be a means to hold them accountable to uphold a charter of conduct.

    Set up a non-profit. Set up a non-profit that oversees the roadmap. Make it democratic. Given how many anecdotes there are of women and other voices being squelched by less than diplomatic developers and gatekeepers, put governance, safeguards and oversight into the core of the organization, along with a way to deal with people who make the contribution environment toxic. When my staffer and I were listening to a talk by Angela Byron about how they were blockaded by bad actors in the Drupal community, she described their tactics, their language and how they put a chill on participation. Everything she said was valid and I believed all of it, but also: my staffer and I experienced the same thing despite being men. The gatekeeping and anti-social conduct can kill a community. The oversight of the community needs to keep people on good behaviour and it has to watch the watchers with cycles of accountability and democratic interaction.

    Set up a means of commercialization. Often founders struggle to get a glimmer of adoption. Then something kicks and the process takes off. Open source is a different beast from commercial software. Software accomplishes work and carries value. When open source does that, often consultants and producers of add-on products reap the rewards. With software, the money comes to those who exploit the technology more so that the person who pioneers the technology. There needs to be an understood means of commercialization that all parties understand. If one company reaps billions while another gets millions, that’s how it goes.  Rasmus Lerdorf, the inventor of PHP, is not as wealthy as Mark Zuckerberg the user of PHP who used the technology to build Facebook. It’s impossible to police parties that profit from a successful venture.

  • ECommerce Transaction Alternatives For WordPress.

    There are several alternative ecommerce plugins for WordPress that you can consider:

    Easy Digital Downloads (EDD)

    Easy Digital Downloads is an excellent choice if you’re primarily selling digital products like ebooks, software, or downloadable content. Key features include:

    • Built-in support for popular payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe
    • Customer account management
    • Order tracking
    • Ability to sell subscriptions and accept recurring payments

    EDD offers a free version with robust features, making it a cost-effective option for many online stores.

    WP Simple Pay

    If you don’t need a full shopping cart system and primarily sell services or single products, WP Simple Pay is a decent alternative. It offers:

    • Pre-built templates and a drag-and-drop form builder
    • Support for multiple payment gateways
    • Easy setup for buy now buttons and donations
    • Ideal for one-time payments and simple transactions

    Ecwid Ecommerce Shopping Cart

    Ecwid is a versatile option that can be integrated with WordPress and other platforms. It offers:

    • Focus on physical product sales
    • Shipping and tax management
    • Integration with various payment providers
    • Customizable design blocks for store layout

    GetPaid

    For freelancers and service providers, GetPaid offers a simpler solution focused on invoicing and payments:

    • Buy Now buttons for standalone products
    • Invoice creation and sending
    • Customizable checkout pages
    • Recurring payment options

    MemberPress

    If your business model involves selling online courses, memberships, or exclusive content, there is MemberPress:

    • Tools for creating and managing online courses
    • Membership site functionality
    • Content dripping and paywalls
    • Subscription payment handling

    When choosing an alternative to WooCommerce, consider your specific needs, such as the type of products you’re selling, payment requirements, and desired features. Each of these plugins offers unique strengths that may better suit your ecommerce goals.

  • Setting Up A Custom Color Scheme For Divi

    Setting Up A Custom Color Scheme For Divi

    I have attached the file that I used my case.blankOne Divi feature is”Color Scheme.” It presets for green, orange, pink, red and its default blue color schemes that influence the colors of borders, buttons and other accents on a baseline Divi theme. What happens if none of those colors jibe with your design? In our case, there were layers of styling rules: baseline WordPress, Divi, Woocommerce, and our styling. It’s great that Divi has Woo specific styling available, but it wasn’t helping what we were trying to accomplish.  That’s a lot to wade through and all of those style rendering decisions turn into processor use on your client machines. A site that is intensive to render may perform worse or appear to render in some unpredictable way on some browser. Rather than add to that, setting the color scheme in Divi is one way to output as little styling as possible. The following is my approach for overriding the Divi color schemes and adding a reference for your project.

    The Divi color schemes can be appended by adding some filters and actions to your custom theme’s functions.php

    In my case, I was working on a custom theme, named “hira,” so the prefixes in my example echo that.

    The color scheme choices need to be appended.


    // Add Hira color scheme to Divi color scheme choices
    function hira_color_scheme_choices($color_choices = []) {
    $color_choices['hira'] = esc_html__( 'Hira', 'Divi' );
    return $color_choices;
    }
    add_filter('et_divi_color_scheme_choices', 'hira_color_scheme_choices');

    The color schemes need to be appended with an entry for the new key (example here: ‘hira.’)


    // Define the Hira custom color scheme
    function hira_custom_color_scheme($color_schemes) {
    $color_schemes['hira'] = array(
    'Accent Color'         => '#FF5733',
    'Secondary Color'      => '#33FF57',
    'Footer Background Color'  => '#3357FF',
    'Menu Background Color' => '#FF33F1',
    'Menu Text Color'      => '#33FFF1',
    );
    return $color_schemes;
    }
    add_filter('et_builder_color_schemes', 'hira_custom_color_scheme');

    After the color scheme is set, it can be referenced. In my case, I added a css sub-directory to my child theme, “css.” I made a stylesheet for this scheme. I called it “hira_scheme.css” and put it in that css file.


    // Load the CSS only if Hira color scheme is selected
    function load_hira_scheme_css() {
    // Get current theme options
    $settings = get_option('et_divi');

    /* Check if 'hira' is selected as the color scheme */

if ( isset( $settings['color_schemes'] ) && $settings['color_schemes'] === 'hira' ) {
// Enqueue the Hira color scheme CSS file
wp_enqueue_style( 'hira-scheme', get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . '/css/hira_scheme.css', array(), null );
}
}
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'load_hira_scheme_css', 15 );

    To build out the scheme elements, I cribbed from the main divi file,
    /wp-content/themes/Divi/style-static.min.css
    I looked for all of the color scheme relevant stylings with the “_scheme_red” phrase in the selectors and copy them into my [keyword]_scheme.css file. I then do a find-replace to swap
    “_red” to match your phrase from your color scheme settings (in my example, I would be swapping _red or _hira

    I have attached the file that I used my project.

     

  • Webflow Price Increases

    Webflow’s recent price increase of approximately 44% for its CMS plans has sparked significant reactions among its user base, particularly among freelancers, agencies, and developers. Here are some key points and side effects based on user feedback:

    User Reactions and Concerns

    • Shock and Discontent:
      • Many users expressed shock and dissatisfaction with the steep price hike, describing it as “absurd” and a potential deal-breaker for continuing with Webflow
      • The increase has made it challenging for some users to justify the cost to their clients, especially when compared to other platforms like WordPress.
    • Impact on Business Operations:
      • Some users mentioned that the price increase has led them to reconsider their hosting options, with plans to move sites to their own servers or explore alternative tools
      • Agencies and freelancers, particularly those with clients in third-world countries, find the new pricing structure difficult to manage due to the disparity in cost of living
    • Feature Development and Expectations:
      • Users have voiced concerns that despite the price increase, some key features like Memberships, Logic, and Multilingual support are still in beta or under development
      • There is frustration over the lack of a clear roadmap and timeline for the release of these essential features.
    • Positive Feedback on Platform Evolution:
      • Some users acknowledged the improvements Webflow has made over the years, such as enhancements in CMS performance, WebP support, and new beta functionalities like Memberships and Logic
      • Webflow has introduced new workspace plans aimed at freelancers and agencies, which include features like full CMS access on unhosted sites and free guest access in client workspaces.

    Webflow’s Response

    Webflow has attempted to address these concerns by:

    • Locking existing plans into their current pricing for one year to ease the transition
    • Highlighting the significant investments and improvements made to the platform, which they believe justify the price increase
    • Promising continued development and enhancements, particularly for features still in beta

    While Webflow’s price increase has caused discontent and operational challenges for many users, the company maintains that the changes are necessary to support the platform’s growth and future developments. It’s important to note that WordPress is free with the costs coming from design and hosting.

  • If I Have Divi For My Theme, Why Would I Need A Child Theme for Divi?

    If I Have Divi For My Theme, Why Would I Need A Child Theme for Divi?

    If you’re using the Divi theme, there are several reasons why you might want to consider using a child theme:

    Preserving Customizations

    The main benefit of using a Divi child theme is to preserve your customizations when Divi updates. If you make direct changes to Divi’s core files, those changes will be overwritten when you update the theme. A child theme allows you to make customizations that won’t be affected by updates.

    Advanced Customization

    If you want to make more advanced customizations beyond what’s possible through Divi’s built-in options, a child theme is necessary. This includes:

    • Editing PHP files like header.php or footer.php
    • Adding new PHP or JavaScript files
    • Making extensive CSS changes

    Professional Development

    For agencies or freelancers, using child themes allows for easier customization and integration for client websites. It provides more flexibility and control over the site’s functionality and appearance.

    When You May Not Need a Child Theme

    It’s important to note that you don’t always need a child theme for Divi. If you’re only:

    • Using Divi’s built-in customization options
    • Adding custom CSS through Divi Theme Options
    • Using the Divi Builder for layouts
    • Not editing core theme files

    In these cases, a child theme isn’t strictly necessary.

    Deciding to Use a Child Theme

    Consider using a Divi child theme if:

    • You’re serious about your website and want maximum flexibility
    • You plan to make extensive customizations
    • You want to ensure your changes are preserved during updates
    • You’re a developer working on client sites

    If you’re creating a website for your business or blog, Divi’s built-in design tools might be all you need, especially if you want to keep things simple. Think of it like decorating a room – sometimes you just want to arrange the furniture and hang some art, rather than knocking down walls or doing major renovations. While there are ways to make more advanced changes to your site’s design, you don’t have to worry about those unless you want to do some serious customization down the road.

  • NXDOMAIN and DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN

    NXDOMAIN and DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN

    An NXDOMAIN error, which stands for “Non-Existent Domain,” occurs when a domain name cannot be resolved by DNS servers. This error is common in various contexts, including WordPress sites. Some insights and solutions regarding this issue:

    Understanding NXDOMAIN

    NXDOMAIN indicates that the domain name entered does not exist or cannot be resolved by the DNS servers. This can happen due to several reasons, such as misconfigured DNS settings, issues with the DNS server, or the domain not being registered.

    Common Causes and Solutions

    1. DNS Configuration Issues:
      • Ensure that your DNS records are correctly configured and that your domain name is registered with a valid DNS provider. Tools like DNS Checker or MX Toolbox can help verify your DNS configuration
      • If your DNS server is experiencing issues or is not running, this can cause an NXDOMAIN error. Check your server logs or use tools like DNSstuff to perform a DNS lookup
    2. Local Hosts File:
      • Sometimes, incorrect entries in the local hosts file can cause NXDOMAIN errors. Editing this file to correct or remove erroneous entries can resolve the issue. On Windows, this file is located at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts, and on macOS, it is at /etc/hosts
    3. DNS Cache:
      • Flushing the DNS cache can resolve issues caused by outdated or incorrect DNS information. On Windows, use the command ipconfig /flushdns, and on macOS, use sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
    4. DNS Server Settings:
      • Changing your DNS server settings to use a different DNS provider, such as Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS, can sometimes resolve NXDOMAIN errors. This can be done in your network settings

    WordPress-Specific Considerations

    For WordPress sites, NXDOMAIN errors can also be related to issues with the hosting provider or misconfigured domain settings. Here are some steps specific to WordPress:

    1. Check Domain Registration:
      • Ensure that your domain is correctly registered and that the DNS records are properly set up with your domain registrar
    2. Verify DNS Records:
      • Make sure that the DNS records, such as A, CNAME, and MX records, are correctly configured. Incorrect or outdated records can lead to NXDOMAIN errors.
    3. Contact Hosting Provider:
      • If the issue persists, contact your hosting provider for assistance. They can help diagnose and resolve DNS-related issues that might be affecting your WordPress site

    To fix a DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error, you can try the following steps:

    1. Reboot your internet connection and restart your computer
    • . This can resolve temporary network issues that may be causing the error.
    • Flush your DNS cache
      • On Windows: Open Command Prompt as administrator and run “ipconfig /flushdns”
      • On macOS: Open Terminal and run “sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder”
    • Renew your IP address
      • On Windows: In Command Prompt, run “ipconfig /release” followed by “ipconfig /renew”
      • On macOS: Go to System Preferences > Network > Advanced > TCP/IP and click “Renew DHCP Lease”
    • Change your DNS server
    • . Try using public DNS servers like Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1).
    • Clear your browser’s DNS cache
    • . For Chrome, enter “chrome://net-internals/#dns” in the address bar and click “Clear host cache”.
    • Disable VPN or antivirus software temporarily
    • . These can sometimes interfere with DNS resolution.
    • Check your local hosts file for any incorrect entries
    • Restart the DNS Client service
      • On Windows: Open Services, find “DNS Client”, right-click and select “Restart”
    • Reset Chrome flags
    • . Enter “chrome://flags” in the address bar and click “Reset all to default”.
    • If you’re a website owner, check your domain’s DNS settings and ensure it’s properly registered and not expired

    If none of these steps work, contact your internet service provider or hosting provider for further assistance. Remember to try these solutions one by one and check if the error is resolved after each step.

    If you need help, contact Web321.

  • What Causes a Blank White Screen?

    What Causes a Blank White Screen?

    A blank white screen on a WordPress site, often called the “White Screen of Death,” is typically caused by a PHP error or memory exhaustion. When a critical error occurs, instead of displaying the error message (which is often disabled for security reasons), PHP stops executing the script. This results in a blank white page being shown to the user.

    Common causes include:

    1. PHP memory limit exceeded
    2. Plugin conflicts or errors
    3. Theme compatibility issues
    4. Corrupted WordPress core files
    5. Database connection problems
    6. PHP version incompatibility
    7. .htaccess file errors
    8. Syntax errors in PHP code

    Here are some common causes and solutions:

    1. PHP Memory Limit:
      • Increase PHP memory limit in wp-config.php file
      • Add: define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);
    2. Plugin Conflicts:
      • Deactivate all plugins
      • Reactivate one by one to identify the problematic plugin
    3. Theme Issues:
      • Switch to a default WordPress theme
      • Check if the issue persists
    4. Corrupted WordPress Core Files:
      • Re-upload fresh WordPress core files
    5. Database Connection Errors:
      • Verify database credentials in wp-config.php
    6. PHP Version Incompatibility:
      • Ensure your hosting supports the minimum required PHP version
    7. .htaccess File Errors:
      • Rename or delete the .htaccess file
      • Generate a new one through WordPress settings
    8. Syntax Errors:
      • Check recently modified files for syntax errors
      • Use FTP to access and edit files if necessary
    9. Hosting Issues:
      • Contact your hosting provider for server-side problems

    Remember to back up your site before making any changes. If you’re not comfortable with these steps, consider seeking help from a WordPress professional.

  • Why Your Website Needs SSL: A Simple Guide for Business Owners

    Why Your Website Needs SSL: A Simple Guide for Business Owners

    As a business owner with a website, you’ve probably heard about SSL. But what is it, and why should you care? Let’s break it down in simple terms. What is SSL? SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. Think of it as a digital security guard for your website. It creates a safe, encrypted connection between your website and your visitors’ browsers. How can you tell if a website has SSL? Look at the address bar in your browser. If you see a little padlock icon and “https://” before the website address, that site has SSL. The “s” in “https” stands for “secure.” Why is SSL important for your business website?

    1. It protects your customers’ data
      When someone enters information on your website – like their name, email, or credit card details – SSL encrypts it. This means hackers can’t steal or misuse this information.
    2. It builds trust with your visitors
      That little padlock icon tells visitors your site is safe. It shows you care about their security, which can make them more likely to do business with you.
    3. It’s good for your search engine rankings
      Google and other search engines prefer secure websites. Having SSL can help your site appear higher in search results.
    4. It’s becoming the standard
      Many browsers now warn users when they visit a site without SSL. You don’t want potential customers to see a “Not Secure” warning when they visit your site.

    How do you get SSL for your website? Getting SSL is usually simple:

    1. Contact your web hosting company. Many now offer SSL certificates for free or at a low cost.
    2. They’ll install the SSL certificate for you.
    3. Once installed, your website address will change from “http://” to “https://”.

    Remember, you don’t need to be tech-savvy to implement SSL. Your web host can handle the technical details for you. In today’s digital world, having SSL isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s a must-have for any business website. It protects your customers, boosts your credibility, and can even help your site perform better in search results. So if your site doesn’t have that little padlock yet, it’s time to make the change.

  • 9 Trends & Flexes In 2024 Web Design

    9 Trends & Flexes In 2024 Web Design

    In 2024, the landscape of web design continues to evolve, embracing new technologies and design philosophies that enhance user experience, accessibility, and visual appeal. Here’s an updated take on the key trends mentioned in your article, reflecting the latest developments and best practices in web design.  We put a lot of effort into assembling a list of advents that website owners could consider adding to their web projects to take their design to the next level.

    1. AI-Driven Personalization

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become deeply integrated into personalizing user experiences across various digital platforms. Websites and applications now leverage advanced AI algorithms to dynamically adapt content, layout, and recommendations in real-time based on user behavior, preferences, and contextual data. This tailored experience extends beyond just websites, as AI-powered personalization is now prevalent in virtual and augmented reality environments, smart home assistants, and even interactive advertising displays.

    One notable development is the rise of generative AI, which can create personalized content, such as articles, images, and even videos, tailored to individual users’ interests and preferences. This technology is being utilized by content platforms, e-commerce sites, and social media networks to provide a highly customized and engaging experience for each user.

    Furthermore, AI-driven personalization has become a crucial component of optimizing user experiences in fields like healthcare, education, and customer service. Intelligent systems can analyze individual needs and adapt interfaces, content delivery, and even treatment or learning plans accordingly, leading to more effective and efficient outcomes.

    As AI capabilities continue to advance, the level of personalization is expected to become even more granular and dynamic, with systems capable of anticipating user needs and preferences before they are explicitly expressed. However, concerns around privacy, data ethics, and potential biases in AI systems remain ongoing discussions as this technology becomes more deeply integrated into our daily digital experiences.

    2. Dark Mode

    Dark mode continues to be a prominent trend in 2024, driven by its modern aesthetic appeal, potential energy savings, and user preferences for reduced eye strain, especially in low-light conditions. However, the implementation of dark mode has evolved to become more sophisticated and user-centric.

    • Accessibility remains a key consideration, with web designers placing significant emphasis on ensuring that text, icons, and interactive elements have sufficient contrast against dark backgrounds to meet accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2 or higher). Advanced techniques, such as dynamic text and UI element coloring based on ambient light conditions, have become more common to optimize legibility and reduce eye strain further.
    • Dynamic switching between light and dark modes has become more seamless and intelligent. Many websites and applications now offer automatic mode switching based on user device settings, time of day, and even user behavior patterns. Additionally, AI-powered personalization algorithms can analyze individual preferences and adjust color schemes, contrast levels, and other visual elements accordingly for an optimized dark mode experience tailored to each user.
    • In the mobile space, dark mode has become a standard feature, with most operating systems and popular apps offering this option. The focus has shifted towards maximizing battery life on OLED and AMOLED displays through intelligent power management techniques that adjust brightness levels and color usage dynamically based on content and user interactions.
    • Furthermore, the rise of extended reality (XR) technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), has introduced new challenges and opportunities for dark mode implementation. Designers are exploring innovative ways to integrate dark mode into immersive digital environments, considering factors like depth perception, spatial awareness, and user comfort during prolonged usage sessions.
    • Overall, while dark mode remains a popular design trend in 2024, the focus has shifted towards creating more inclusive, personalized, and energy-efficient experiences that cater to diverse user needs and preferences across various digital platforms and emerging technologies.

    3. Liquid Animation

    Liquid animation continues to be a relevant and evolving topic in web design for 2024. Here’s an updated perspective: Liquid animation creates smooth, fluid transitions and interactions. It has become more sophisticated and widely adopted in 2024. Advancements in web technologies, such as CSS and JavaScript libraries, have made it easier to implement complex animations while maintaining high performance.

    Performance remains a critical consideration, as poorly optimized animations can significantly degrade the user experience, especially on mobile devices with limited processing power. Techniques such as hardware acceleration, lazy loading, and optimizing animation sequences have become industry best practices to ensure smooth and efficient rendering.

    Accessibility has also taken center stage in the implementation of liquid animations. Web designers are now more conscious of providing alternative ways to access content for users with motion sensitivity or those using screen readers. Options to disable animations or toggle between animated and static experiences are becoming more common, ensuring an inclusive experience for all users.

    Liquid animations has evolved from being primarily aesthetic to serving a functional purpose. Animations are now used to guide users through complex processes, highlight important actions, and provide visual feedback, enhancing the overall user experience and intuitiveness of web applications.

    The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has also impacted liquid animation. AI-powered tools can analyze user behavior and preferences, allowing for personalized animations tailored to individual users’ needs and preferences. Generative AI techniques are being explored to create unique and dynamic animations on the fly, opening up new creative possibilities.

    In the realm of extended reality (XR), including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), liquid animation has become a crucial element in creating immersive and seamless experiences. Animating transitions between virtual environments, interactive elements, and user interfaces requires a high degree of fluidity and responsiveness to maintain a sense of presence and prevent motion sickness or disorientation.

    Overall, while liquid animation continues to be a significant trend in 2024, the focus has shifted towards optimizing performance, ensuring accessibility, serving functional purposes, and embracing emerging technologies like AI and XR to create engaging and inclusive user experiences across various digital platforms.

    4. Uniquely Designed Typography

    Uniquely designed typography can be a valuable asset in web design for 2024, but it should be implemented thoughtfully and with careful consideration of several factors:

    1. Brand Identity: Unique typography can help reinforce brand identity and create a distinctive visual language. However, it’s essential to ensure that the custom typeface aligns with the brand’s overall aesthetic and messaging.
    2. Legibility and Accessibility: While unique typography can be visually captivating, it should not compromise legibility and accessibility. Designers must strike a balance between creativity and ensuring that text remains easily readable, even for users with visual impairments or in various lighting conditions.
    3. Performance Optimization: Custom typefaces can potentially increase page load times, especially if not optimized correctly. Web designers should prioritize performance optimization techniques, such as compressing font files, to mitigate any negative impact on user experience.
    4. Cross-Platform Brand Consistency: With the proliferation of devices and screen sizes, it’s crucial to ensure that custom typography renders consistently across different platforms and environments, including desktop, mobile, and various operating systems.
    5. Progressive Enhancement: Implementing unique typography through progressive enhancement techniques can ensure that users with older browsers or limited capabilities can still access the content, even if the custom typeface fails to load or render correctly.
    6. Scalability and Flexibility: As responsive web design continues to be a priority, custom typography should be scalable and flexible, adapting seamlessly to different viewport sizes and maintaining legibility across various screen resolutions.
    7. Licensing and Legal Considerations: If using a third-party or commercially licensed typeface, designers must ensure they have the appropriate licenses and follow any usage guidelines or restrictions.

    In 2024, uniquely designed typography can be a powerful tool for creating memorable and engaging user experiences, but it should be approached strategically, considering performance, accessibility, and cross-platform compatibility. By balancing creativity with these critical factors, web designers can leverage custom typography to enhance brand identity and user engagement while maintaining a seamless and inclusive experience for all users.

    5. Voice User Interface (VUI)

    Voice user interfaces (VUIs) and voice interactions are indeed becoming increasingly prevalent in web design as of 2024, driven by the widespread adoption of smart speakers, virtual assistants, and the growing demand for hands-free experiences. With the increasing adoption of mobile-first user behaviour, users are leaning on devices that have high quality microphones and speakers, but tiny screens that don’t work well with big fingers. Here are some key considerations for integrating voice capabilities into web design:

    1. Voice Search Optimization: With more users relying on voice search, it’s crucial to optimize website content and structure for voice queries. This includes using natural language and conversational phrasing, optimizing for long-tail and question-based keywords, and providing concise, easily understandable answers.
    2. Voice Command Integration: Many websites now offer voice-activated commands and controls, allowing users to navigate, perform actions, or access information using voice inputs. This requires integrating with speech recognition APIs and ensuring a seamless, responsive experience.
    3. Multimodal Experiences: Effective VUIs often combine voice interactions with visual interfaces, providing users with the flexibility to switch between input modes based on their preferences or situational needs. Designing intuitive multimodal experiences is key.
    4. Context and Personalization: Voice interactions should leverage context and personalization to provide more relevant and tailored experiences. This includes adapting responses based on user location, device capabilities, and personal preferences or usage patterns.
    5. Accessibility and Inclusivity: Voice interfaces can greatly enhance accessibility for users with disabilities or those in hands-busy scenarios. However, it’s important to provide alternative input methods and ensure that voice interactions are inclusive and free from bias.
    6. Privacy and Security: As voice interactions often involve capturing and processing user audio data, robust privacy and security measures are crucial. This includes obtaining user consent, implementing secure data handling practices, and adhering to relevant data protection regulations.
    7. Discoverability and Guidance: Users may not be aware of available voice capabilities on a website. Providing clear visual cues, prompts, and guidance can help increase discoverability and adoption of voice interactions.
    8. Error Handling and Fallback: Effective error handling and fallback mechanisms are essential to ensure a smooth experience when voice recognition fails or when users encounter difficulties with voice interactions.

    As voice technology continues to evolve and become more integrated into our daily lives, web designers must prioritize creating intuitive, accessible, and secure voice user interfaces that enhance the overall user experience while ensuring privacy and inclusivity.

    6. Mixed Realism

    Mixed realism, combining digital elements with real-world imagery, has gained traction, especially with the rise of augmented reality (AR) and advanced graphic design tools. In 2024, this trend focuses on:

    • Interactive Experiences: Use mixed realism to create interactive experiences that blend the physical and digital worlds, such as virtual try-ons for e-commerce.
    • Enhanced Storytelling: Leverage this technique to tell compelling stories that resonate with users, using a mix of photography, illustrations, and 3D elements.
    • Technical Precision: Ensure high-quality image rendering and seamless integration between digital and real-world elements to maintain a professional appearance.

    7. Sustainable Web Design

    Sustainability is becoming a significant consideration. A complicated, data heavy website does cost more in electricity and data transfer. A sustainable website is optimized to reduce their carbon footprint. The hosting choice can also have an impact by hosting on green servers.

    8. Advanced Micro-Interactions

    Micro-interactions are subtle animations or feedback mechanisms that enhance user experience. In 2024, these have become more advanced, providing intuitive and responsive feedback during user interactions, such as button clicks or form submissions.

    By incorporating these updated trends and best practices, web designers can create modern, engaging, and accessible websites that meet the needs of today’s users.

    9. Minimalism

    Minimalism remains a timeless design philosophy, emphasizing simplicity and clarity. Take this advice with a grain of salt: If your website requires multiple elements to capture attention, minimalism may not be the ideal approach. Consider Amazon as an example. Their homepage is densely populated with items but remains highly usable. A minimalist design for Amazon could negatively affect sales by reducing the number of product recommendations visible per page.

    In 2024, the minimalist approach has evolved to include:

    • Functional Minimalism: User-centric design, where every element serves a purpose. Avoid unnecessary clutter that can distract from the main content.
    • Whitespace Utilization: Whitespace use to effectively to create a clean, organized layout that guides the user’s attention to key information.
    • Interactive Elements: Incorporate subtle interactive elements, like micro-interactions, to enhance user engagement without overwhelming the design.

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