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  • Linking Gravity Forms to BuddyPress Forums

    I was posed with problem: make BuddyPress forum topics from a Gravity Forms form submission. Turning Gravity Form submissions into posts isn’t a big party trick– that is built in. What doesn’t work, is the linkage to a particular forum as a new topic. So: I did some hacking (see the code below).

    • I made a gravity form
    • I have it posting to the post_type for topics
    • I put in a hidden value with the label of “forum_id” and the number for that forum id as the default value for the hidden value
    • I had an existing plugin that was mine. I added the code below to listen for Gravity Form events and then act on the submission.
    • WordPress will do the submission, save the post, then go to this function to act and create linkage between the form submission and a forum.
    // publish and associate the form
    
    function sboxr_application_submission( $entry, $form ) {
    	if (function_exists('bbp_update_forum')) {
    	    //getting post
        	$post = get_post( $entry['post_id'] );
    
    	    //changing post content
    	    foreach ($form['fields'] as $key => $values) {
        		if ($values['label'] == 'forum_id') {
        			$post->post_parent = $values['defaultValue'];
        			break;
        		}   
    	    }
    
    		$forum_meta = array(
    			'forum_id' => $post->post_parent,
    			'topic_id' => $post->ID,		
    			'comment_status' => 'open'
    		);
    		$post->comment_status = 'open';	
    		$post->post_status = 'publish';
    
    		bbp_update_forum(array('forum_id' => $post->post_parent));
    	    //updating post
    		wp_update_post($post);
    	
    		foreach ( $forum_meta as $meta_key => $meta_value ) {
    			update_post_meta( $post->ID, '_bbp_' . $meta_key, $meta_value );
    		}	
    	}
    }
    
    // Hook to make the gravity form submission to connect to forum post creation
    add_action( 'gform_after_submission_2', 'sboxr_application_submission', 10, 2 );
    
  • Making The Most of a Google Business Profile

    Small business owners need to pay attention to their Google Business  profile. Given the power and reach of Google, having a business profile is like getting a desk somewhere at Google where you get to influence how people find your business. Some people don’t even leave Google before they make a decision about your business. Done right, a Google Business Profile helps reach more potential customers by increasing online visibility.

    First, make sure that all of the information on your Google Business profile is accurate and up-to-date. This includes your business name, address, phone number, and hours of operation. You should also include a description of your business and the products or services you offer.

    Add high-quality photos of your business and products to your profile. These photos should be clear and well-lit, and showcase the best aspects of your business.

    Another important step is to encourage your customers to leave reviews on your Google Business profile. Positive reviews can help improve your online reputation and attract new customers. You can encourage customers to leave reviews by including a link to your Google Business profile on your website and social media pages, and by asking satisfied customers to leave a review.

    Be sure to monitor and respond to any reviews or questions that are left on your Google Business profile. This can help build trust with potential customers and show that you value their feedback. When people leave feedback (good or bad) respond and show that you care. They took the time to comment and you have to honour that in some way. At the very least, it makes them feel heard. It makes your business human– not some faceless corporation.

    By optimizing your Google Business profile, you can improve your online visibility and reach more potential customers in British Columbia. By accurately representing your business and encouraging positive reviews, you can build trust and attract more customers to your small business.

    Does this still sound hard? No problem: we would love to help. Contact Web321 and we can’t get you set-up on Google Business and take care of other tasks that keep a website in tip top shape.

  • Customer Feedback and B2B: It’s Still Essential

    How many times a day does the topic of online toxicity and cancel culture come up? That boils down to reputation management and how a comment can be an asymmetrical attack– an attack with no adequate defense. Some business have spiralled and crashed thanks to a spate of negative online reviews. This isn’t uncommon for the B2C market, but business-to-business is not immune. Customer feedback is essential for B2B businesses for a number of reasons:

    1. Product or service improvement: Customer feedback can provide valuable insights into what works well and what could be improved with a company’s products or services. This can help businesses identify areas for improvement and make necessary changes to better meet the needs of their customers.
    2. Increased customer satisfaction: By actively seeking and considering customer feedback, businesses can show their customers that they value their opinions and are committed to providing high-quality products and services. This can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
    3. Enhanced reputation: Positive customer feedback can help improve a company’s reputation in the industry and attract new customers. On the other hand, negative feedback can highlight areas of concern that need to be addressed to maintain a good reputation.
    4. Increased sales: Satisfied customers are more likely to continue doing business with a company and recommend it to others. This can lead to increased sales and revenue for a business.
    5. Competitive advantage: By actively seeking and using customer feedback, businesses can gain a competitive advantage by continually improving their products and services and providing a better customer experience.

    Customer feedback is essential for B2B businesses because it can help improve products and services, increase customer satisfaction, enhance reputation, increase sales, and provide a competitive advantage. By actively seeking and considering customer feedback, businesses can gain valuable insights and make necessary changes to better meet the needs of their customers.

    Review Venues

    There are a number of places where people can leave reviews for a business, in addition to Google Business:

    1. Yelp: Yelp is a popular review website that allows users to rate and review local businesses. Many people use Yelp to find and learn about local businesses in their area.
    2. Facebook: Many businesses have a Facebook page where customers can leave reviews and ratings. These reviews are visible to other users who visit the business’s page.
    3. Trustpilot: Trustpilot is a review website that allows users to leave reviews for businesses in a variety of industries. These reviews are visible to other users who visit the business’s profile on the website.
    4. Consumer Reports: Consumer Reports is a well-known consumer advocacy organization that provides ratings and reviews for products and services. Many businesses are reviewed on Consumer Reports, and these reviews are visible to users who visit the organization’s website.
    5. Better Business Bureau: The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a non-profit organization that aims to promote trust in the marketplace. Businesses can be reviewed on the BBB’s website by consumers who have had a positive or negative experience with the business.
    6. Glassdoor: Glassdoor is a website that allows employees to rate and review their workplaces. Many businesses are reviewed on Glassdoor, and these reviews are visible to users who visit the website.

    In addition to these review websites, customers can also leave reviews on a business’s own website, on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. It’s critical to nurture good reviews. Ask for them when possible. In marketing copy, devote a little space to call for a review. With the above sites, build a profile first. These are high authority websites and it’s important to have a link there. Some of them will try to upsell you on expensive services. Usually, that’s not in your best interest.

    What About Bad Reviews?

    If you receive a bad online review of your B2B business, here are a few things you can do:

    1. Respond to the review: It is important to respond to negative reviews in a timely and professional manner. Thank the customer for their feedback and apologize for any issues they experienced. Offer to address their concerns and find a resolution. Give them a point a contact: an email address and a phone number. Talk with them. In some cases, the bad review is driven by keyboard courage and the direct approach may weaken their resolve. In some cases, the customer has bad news about your business and it’s important to hear that directly.
    2. Investigate the issue: If the review highlights a specific issue or concern, it is important to investigate the matter and determine if there was a problem with your product or service. This can help you identify any issues and take steps to prevent similar problems in the future.
    3. Make necessary improvements: If the review points to a problem with your product or service, take steps to address the issue and make necessary improvements. This can help prevent similar problems from occurring in the future and improve the customer experience.
    4. Monitor your online presence: It is important to regularly monitor your online presence and reviews to identify any issues or concerns that may arise. This can help you respond to negative reviews quickly and prevent similar problems from occurring in the future.
    5. Encourage positive reviews: In addition to addressing negative reviews, it is also important to encourage your satisfied customers to leave positive reviews. This can help balance out any negative reviews and improve your overall online reputation. Honestly: no one is perfect. A business with nothing but glowing reviews sounds a little fishy. Remember: pearls come from sand getting into an oyster.

    It is important to remember that negative reviews are a natural part of doing business, and it is not possible to please everyone all of the time. However, by responding to negative reviews and taking steps to address any issues or concerns, you can improve your online reputation and the overall customer experience. We have a number of clients who get reviews both good and bad. We coach them on how to turn around even a negative situation to make the best of it: as a learning experience; as a way to reach out and rebuild bridges; and a way to show the human side of your business online.

  • 8 Things To Consider TO Build A Successful Ecommerce Website

    The pandemic pushed businesses away from the traditional models and accelerated the move to online first interactions. Ecommerce has changed the face of commerce. Despite that,  most ecommerce websites will still fail.

    Things to keep in mind when building a highly successful ecommerce website:

    1. User experience: A positive user experience is critical for the success of an ecommerce website. This includes making it easy for users to find and browse products, as well as making the checkout process smooth and efficient.
    2. Mobile-friendliness: With the increasing use of smartphones and tablets to access the internet, it is important to ensure that your ecommerce website is mobile-friendly. This means that it should be easy to read and navigate on smaller screens.
    3. Product images and descriptions: High-quality product images and detailed product descriptions are essential for an ecommerce website. Customers need to be able to see what they are buying, and having detailed descriptions of products can help them make an informed decision.
    4. Payment options: Offer a range of payment options to make it easy for customers to complete their purchase. This includes accepting credit cards, PayPal, and other popular payment methods.
    5. Security: Ecommerce websites handle sensitive financial information, so it is important to ensure that your website is secure. This includes using SSL encryption and keeping your website software up-to-date. Where possible, offload jeopardy to card processors and try, if at all possible, to never hold credit card numbers in your local databases.
    6. Shipping and returns: Clearly outline your shipping and returns policies to help customers understand what to expect when they make a purchase. During the pandemic, people used online buying as a trial system. They would buy several options (near sizes, near styles, colour variants) and then use the promise of free returns to send back what they didn’t like. That was bad for online retailers. It was also bad for the environment, as some large retailers wouldn’t return them to their inventory. Returns were destined for secondary markets and landfills. Do the math of what happens in 2/3 of your sales came back as refunds?
    7. Customer service: Provide excellent customer service by offering multiple channels for customers to contact you, such as phone, email, and live chat. Customer service– the human touch– is more critical online than you may think.
    8. Search engine optimization: Optimize your ecommerce website for search engines to help increase its visibility and drive traffic to your site. This includes using relevant keywords in product titles and descriptions, and optimizing your website’s meta tags and titles.

    Retailers that focus on these key areas can build a highly successful ecommerce website that provides a positive user experience, build a solid reputation and draw in more sales.

  • Keeping Your Small Business Going In The 2023 Recession

    There are so many doomsayers out there saying that the end is nigh. The forecast keeps being kicked down the road. What is the music stops in 2023? How can a small business survive the confluence of high interest, high inflation, customer downturns and all of our pre-existing pressures. Here are a few tips that may be helpful for small businesses looking to survive a potential recession in 2023:

    1. Be proactive: Instead of waiting for the recession to hit, take proactive steps to prepare your business. This may include reviewing your budget, identifying cost-cutting opportunities, and diversifying your revenue streams.
    2. Focus on customer service: Providing excellent customer service can help your business stand out during a recession and encourage customer loyalty. Consider offering promotions or discounts to customers, and be responsive and helpful when they have questions or concerns.
    3. Diversify your customer base: Don’t rely on a single customer or market segment to drive your business. Instead, try to diversify your customer base to reduce the impact of any downturn in a particular market or industry.
    4. Stay agile: Be prepared to adapt to changing market conditions and pivot your business model if necessary. This may involve introducing new products or services, expanding into new markets, or adopting new technologies.
    5. Build a strong team: Your employees are your most valuable asset. Foster a positive and supportive work environment, and encourage open communication and collaboration to help your team work effectively during a recession.
    6. Communicate with your stakeholders: Keep your employees, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders informed about your business and any changes that may be happening. This can help to build trust and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
    7. Seek out resources and support: There are many resources and organizations that can provide support to small businesses during a recession. Consider reaching out to your local Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Administration, or other small business support organizations for guidance and assistance.
  • What Is Data Resiliency?

    Data resiliency is about having your organization’s data always available and accessible even in the face of unexpected business disruptions such as cyber attacks. It allows a business to keep a handle on the data, continue to use the data and assess the potential for unauthorized changes or destruction (aka data vandalism).

      1. It is important for an organization to achieve data resiliency in order to ensure that its data is protected against potential failures or disasters, such as hardware failures, software glitches, power outages, natural disasters, or cyber attacks. By achieving data resiliency, an organization can ensure that its data is always available and can be recovered quickly in the event of an interruption or loss.
      2. The biggest threat to data resiliency is often cyber attacks, such as ransomware, data breaches, or malware infections. These types of attacks can compromise an organization’s data and make it unavailable, potentially leading to significant disruptions and financial losses.
      3. Data resiliency refers specifically to the ability of an organization’s data to withstand and recover from disruptions or failures. Business continuity, on the other hand, refers to the overall ability of an organization to continue operating and providing services in the face of disruptions or disasters. While data resiliency is an important part of business continuity, it is just one aspect of a comprehensive business continuity plan.
      4. There are several ways to create data resiliency, including:
        • Regularly backing up data to multiple locations or devices
        • Implementing data replication or mirroring
        • Using cloud-based storage solutions
        • Implementing robust cybersecurity measures to protect against cyber attacks
      1. A data resiliency initiative should involve key stakeholders from across the organization, including:

        • IT professionals: IT professionals should be involved in the planning and implementation of a data resiliency solution, as they will be responsible for managing and maintaining the data backup and recovery systems.
        • Business leaders: Business leaders should be involved in the data resiliency initiative to ensure that it aligns with the overall goals and strategy of the organization. They can also help to prioritize the data that is most important to the organization and ensure that it is adequately protected.
        • Employees who are responsible for managing or using the data: Employees who are responsible for managing or using the data should be included in the data resiliency initiative to ensure that their needs are taken into account and that the solution meets their requirements.
        • External partners or vendors: If the organization relies on external partners or vendors for data storage or other services, it is important to involve them in the data resiliency initiative to ensure that their systems are compatible and that the organization has access to the data in the event of a disruption.

        It is important to involve all relevant parties in the planning and implementation process to ensure that the data resiliency solution meets the needs of the organization and all of its stakeholders.

    In addition to the measures mentioned above, organizations can also consider implementing disaster recovery and business continuity plans to help ensure that they can quickly recover from disruptions and continue operating as smoothly as possible. It is important for organizations to regularly test and update these plans to ensure that they are effective in the event of an actual disruption or disaster.

    How does this matter to a website owner? As websites are becoming more integral to the overall business success, the data is also likely to be integrated. We keep track of data is used, backed-up, preserved and disseminated.

  • WordPress Trends for 2023

    It is difficult to accurately predict specific trends in WordPress design for 2023, as the field is constantly evolving and new trends and technologies are emerging all the time. However, here are a few general predictions for WordPress that developers may want to consider as they build and update sites in the coming year:

    1. Continued focus on user experience: User experience (UX) is likely to remain a top priority for WordPress developers in 2023, as more and more businesses recognize the importance of providing a seamless and intuitive experience for their users. Developers should focus on creating responsive and mobile-friendly designs, as well as making sure that websites load quickly and are easy to navigate.
    2. Shifts in technology choices. Venerable JQuery is being sidelined by React and Vue. Freelancers are going to find some career longevity by shifting gears. CSS3 is now extensively adopted and that allows so much of what JavaScript used to do can be tasked into clever implementations of CSS. Likewise, there will be a continued push in WordPress to make Gutenberg the defacto theme in lieu of Divi, Elementor and other premium themes.
    3. Increased use of artificial intelligence and machine learning: As technology advances, we may see more developers incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning into their WordPress designs. For example, AI-powered chatbots and personalized recommendation engines could become more common, helping businesses improve customer engagement and satisfaction.
    4. More emphasis on accessibility: Ensuring that websites are accessible to users with disabilities is likely to continue to be a key trend in WordPress design in 2023. Developers should consider making their websites compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure that they are accessible to as many people as possible.
    5. Greater use of video and multimedia: Video and other forms of multimedia are likely to play an increasingly important role in WordPress design in 2023, as they can help to engage and inform users in a more interactive and visually appealing way. Developers should consider incorporating video, audio, and other multimedia elements into their designs to make them more engaging and interactive. As bandwidth capacity increases, it’s increasingly easy to deploy video to capture attention.
    6. Increased security measures: As cyber threats continue to evolve, it is important for developers to prioritize security when building and updating WordPress sites. This may involve implementing measures such as SSL encryption, two-factor authentication, and regular updates to plugins and themes to help protect against vulnerabilities.
  • Hiring a Webmaster vs. Retaining a Web Management Company

    Hiring a Webmaster vs. Retaining a Web Management Company

    According to data from the Canada’s Job Bank, the median hourly wage for web developers in Canada is $30.50. That works out to an annual salary of around $63,000 based on a full-time work week. It’s important to consider other costs associated with hiring an employee: benefits, training, and employment insurance. These costs can add significantly to the overall cost of putting a full-time webmaster on staff.

    It’s important to carefully consider the costs and benefits of hiring a webmaster on staff versus using a website management company, and to consult with a web design professional or marketing specialist to determine the best course of action for your business.

    Things to consider when deciding whether to hire a webmaster on staff or use a website management company:

    1. Cost. Hiring a webmaster on staff can be more expensive in the long run. A website management company may charge a monthly or annual fee for their services.
    2. Expertise. A webmaster on staff may have more in-depth knowledge of your business and its website, but a website management company may have a team of experts with a wide range of skills and experience.
    3. Time commitment. Hiring a webmaster on staff may require a larger time commitment in terms of training and management, while a website management company can handle all website-related tasks.
    4. Scalability. If your business is growing quickly or experiencing sudden spikes in traffic, a website management company may be able to scale up their services more quickly than an in-house webmaster.

    The best option for your business will depend on your specific needs and resources.

    Is Having A Full-time Webmaster Too Much AND Not Enough?

    With a webmaster on staff, you have a full-time staffer and all of the costs that come with them. A WordPress support agency can cost much less than a dedicated staffer. In a pinch, they can bring the whole force of their service to the clients in times of need. When something goes really wrong, there’s not way to scale a single webmaster, but WordPress support can commit multiple people to making a fix.

    Traditionally, WordPress support services commonly include:

    1. Troubleshooting and bug fixing. Experiencing issues with your WordPress site? We can help diagnose and fix problems.
    2. Plugin and theme support. If you’re using a plugin or theme that’s causing issues on your site, a support company can help troubleshoot and resolve the problem.
    3. Security support. WordPress support companies can help secure your site by installing and configuring security plugins, performing regular security scans, and helping you recover from a hack or malware attack.
    4. Performance optimization. If your WordPress site is running slow or experiencing other performance issues, a support company can help optimize your site’s speed and performance.
    5. Design and customization. Some WordPress support companies offer design and customization services to help you customize the look and feel of your site. Web321 adds projects to the support work. We can create custom plugins or themes.
    6. Ongoing maintenance and updates. Many WordPress support companies offer ongoing maintenance and update services to ensure your site is always running smoothly and securely.

    WordPress support services can help businesses and individuals who use WordPress to manage their websites by providing a range of technical and design support services. Beyond the basic services, Web321 offers more services to fulfill the role of a webmaster.

    When Is It Time To Hire or Retain WordPress Support?

    The best time to retain a WordPress support company is when the company is too big to ignore the Web (ie. if the company grosses more than $100k), yet small enough that they can’t bear the expense of a dedicated staff member. If a company is spending $500,000 on payroll, one full time webmaster would cost $60-80k or 11 to 16% of the overall payroll. Ideally, the webmaster role should account for 5 to 10% of the payroll. Their work should be key to digitization of the business and the marketing successes. Put another way: what’s the return-on-investment (ROI) of a full time webmaster on the payroll? If they cost $80k/yr, they need to do work that generates far more than $80k per year. Is that the case? if the role of the webmaster is only making a modest gain on the company bottom line, then a less expensive option is the better solution. A company like Web321 can come into play to help the company, but create a positive ROI. This is what we do: we take care of websites and offer WordPress support.

  • Porthole Solutions.com Acquired by Web321

    We are proud to pick up the mantle of Porthole Solutions. Back in the day, they provided full service solutions. As they said it, back then:

    We provide full web services, including hosting and domain registration, and create custom designed websites that can be maintained by you depending on your needs. With advances in technology, it is easier than ever to have a professionally designed web presence to market your products and services to your clients in the most effective way possible.

    Whether you require a brand new site or an overhaul on an existing site or perhaps you’d just like more control over your site content, give us a call and we can help you make your site what you really want it to be.

    They served a long list of great local businesses and enterprises:

  • Indigenous Funding Options in BC

    National Programs

    PacifiCan Jobs and Growth Fund 
    If you are working on a project for your business to transition to a green economy, foster an inclusive  recovery, become more competitive and create jobs for Canadians, you could get a contribution for up to 100% of the project’s cost. https://www.canada.ca/en/pacific-economic-development/services/funding/jobs-growth-fund.html 

    Natural Resources Canada Indigenous Forestry Initiative 
    Funding of up to $6.2 million available for period 2021-2023 for clean technology, forest bioeconomy,  environmental stewardship and forest resource management projects in the forestry industry that  create economic development opportunities for Indigenous peoples.

    https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/science-and-data/funding-partnerships/funding-opportunities/forest-sector funding-programs/indigenous-forestry-initiative/13125

    BDC Financing Indigenous Entrepreneur Loan 
    Purchase assets, start exporting, pay start-up or franchise fees and replenish working capital with a $350,000 loan if you have an existing business or $250,000 if you are a start-up.  https://www.bdc.ca/en/i-am/indigenous-entrepreneur

    FuturPreneur Canada Indigenous Program 
    Get a collateral-free loan of up to $60,000, along with 2 years of expert business mentoring and  resources to get your startup off the ground if you’re an Indigenous person 18–39 years old.  https://www.futurpreneur.ca/en/indigenous

    CIPO Indigenous Intellectual Property Program Grant 
    If your organization is Indigenous-led, you can get a grant up to $15,000 to help fund its IP initiatives,  like research projects, drafting policy papers, or developing educational materials.  https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/108.nsf/eng/h_00010.html

    Provincial Programs 

    Tale’awtxw Aboriginal Capital Corporation (TACC) Financing Programs 
    TACC provides financing to Aboriginal Entrepreneurs including Status, Métis, Inuit and Non-Status  Indians residing in the Coast Salish Territory. We understand that it can be difficult to access financing  and we will try our best to meet your needs.  https://www.tacc.ca/financing 

    Indigenous Business Advisory Centres 
    Business advisory centres in Cranbrook, Fort St. John and Prince George help Indigenous entrepreneurs  with business startup or expansion, partnerships, and planning. These centres ensure that Indigenous

    entrepreneurs have access to business support and advice to help them reach their business goals.  https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/indigenous-people/economic development/business-advisory-centres

    First Citizens Fund Business Loan Program 
    Business loans are available to Indigenous entrepreneurs in British Columbia. All Nations Trust Company  (ANTCO) delivers the Aboriginal Business Loan Program in partnership with four Aboriginal Capital  Corporations located throughout the province.

    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/indigenous-people/economic development/business-loan-program?bcgovtm=FTF