New CMS Offered to Clients
New features included in the new CMS are:
multiple admin access
built in login
multiple users
multiple group options, this allows you to give special access to certain groups
built in calendar calendar (can be setup to only be accessed by certain groups)
stores old copies of pages, easy to revert back to old version if a mistake is made
random fortune (can be used for client quotes, etc)
multiple templates
The old CMS can be upgraded to the CMS for those of you who already have the CMS installed. The charge for an upgrade is $75. If you would like to have a CMS installed for your site, please contact me for a quote.
Labels: cms, web design, web maintenence, web updates
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Website Updates and Economic Woes
In the past couple of months I have had to clean up several messes left by hackers. On one particular site the store was hacked. The hacker was able to enter the admin and steal credit card information from a few customers. This is VERY bad. It ruins your reputation as an online store owner. No one wants to buy from a store that is vulnerable like that. This particular website hadn't been updated since it was installed over a year ago. It is important to keep on top of upgrades.
If you are unable to upgrade your site on your own, I can maintain your website for as little as $35/month. I will keep track of which web scripts need to be updated and perform the updates as needed. If you are interested let me know.
During these tough economic times people are having a hard time finding money to put toward website upgrades and updates. If you are struggling to make ends meet, but are in need of upgrades or other website services, let me know. I am willing to barter and trade for my services. I love scrapbooking, as many of my clients do and I am willing to do work for products!
It is important to me for your site to be secure. When my clients succeed, so do I. Contact me if you need work done and we can work something out for payment. Payment plans can be worked out.
I appreciate those that I have worked with this past year and look forward to working with many others year. I am excited to make your website dreams a reality!
Labels: barter, security, trade, web design, web maintenence, web updates
Monday, December 15, 2008
Paradise Scrapbooking

I installed my new cms for her along with Zen Cart, WordPress, and Coppermine Gallery. Many people are foregoing message boards these days. There is too much maintenance involved when running a message board. Instead they opt for a blog. Blogs are a great way to stay in touch with your customers, without the maintenance and headache of a message board.
Labels: blog, coppermine gallery, logo, store, web design
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Trojan Alert
Kind of dumb how I got it. I should have known better. After performing an update on my desktop computer that runs Windows XP, I received a Security Center Alert message stating that there was suspicious software on my computer and I needed to enable protection. So I clicked on the button and downloaded the software that was supposed to be a firewall/virus scanner. Well, it wasn't, it was a trojan. Not sure where the initial suspicious software (the Security Center Alert) came from.
Now I am backing up all my data. It's going to take awhile, I have gigs and gigs of data. Then I will be reformatting my computer to start fresh and clean. Until everything is reformatted, reinstalled, and my information is put back on my computer I will not be able to do much in the way of web design. All my files and programs are on my desktop computer. I am using my laptop right now. There will be some things I will be able to do on here and I will be setting it up tomorrow to be able to complete some work that was promised to be completed soon.
Take this as a warning not to click on links to software that is NOT from Microsoft. They are not going to be sending you to some third party to download stuff, they will want to sell it to you themselves. Or give it to you because you use their software.
Labels: trojan horse, virus
Thursday, October 30, 2008
ScrapBiz has a new look

Kim, the owner of the scrapbook retailers group ScrapBiz, contacted me a few months ago. She was ready for a new look. I have been a member of this group since 2003. I have been maintaining the ScrapBiz website since 2005. Kim found a template she really liked. I made changes to the template and added Kim's content to it. The website looks great, has more information than ever, and is easy to navigate.
One of the additions that was made to the website is the option to open a PhotoBookBiz. Kim has partnered with RocketLife to bring this great opportunity. To read more about starting a PhotoBookBiz visit ScrapBiz.
Labels: kim guymon, scrapbiz, web design
Monday, August 11, 2008
Available Galleries
If you are in the market for a gallery to put on your website the first recommendation would be to go with Coppermine Photo Gallery. This gallery script is php based and uses a mysql database. It is also FREE! It is released under the GPL which means that it is free for you to download and change at will. It also means that there are MANY programmers that have written cool scripts and add-ons for it. These scripts and add-ons give you the capability to have several cool and unique features on your gallery. It will also integrate with some message boards, including PhpBB, so that users only have one username and password for both scripts.
If you are willing to pay for your gallery I would recommended PhotoPost -This one has a ton of features and a nice layout. You can integrate it with your messageboard as well.I can install either of these galleries for you. If you choose to go with PhotoPost you must pay for it first and then I will install and customize it.
I have become quite good at customizing these galleries. I can make them look exactly like your website. Here is a list of galleries I have done:
http://colormedaisy.com/gallery
http://www.kypaperkreations.com/gallery/
http://addictedscrappers.com/gallery/
http://www.memoryworkshop.ca/gallery/
For those who are ScrapBiz members will be able to view the ScrapBiz gallery. I setup and customized the ScrapBiz gallery.
Another type of gallery is a portfolio gallery. This gallery does not have users, you are the only contributor. The galleries listed below are based on a javascript technique called LightBox.
Here are some examples of a portfolio gallery that I did:
http://www.distinctivemoments.com/portfolio/
http://kristyscustomcreations.com/?p=7
If you are interested in a gallery for your website, contact me for questions or pricing.
Labels: coppermine gallery, coppermine gallery template, customize coppermine gallery, customize photopost, gallery, lightbox gallery, photopost, photopost template
Friday, August 8, 2008
Finding a Domain Name
As you are brainstorming a business name check for the domain name. If it's not available in the .com, move on. The harder you make it for people to find you online the less successful your online business will be.
I found this website that makes it VERY simple to look up a domain name to see if it's available. If the domain name is available it gives you a list of registrars that you can register with.
http://instantdomainsearch.com/
Another tip I have for registering a domain name (if you're planning on getting your site up soon) is to register it with the host you plan on using. Some hosts will offer free domain name registration with sign up. BlueHost is one that offers this and so does . Start Logic.
Ez Web Hosting offers a wizard that can help you choose a domain name, I haven't used it, but it could be helpful. Here's the link to the wizard http://www.ez-web-hosting.com/whois...php?do_wizard=1
Hope this will help anyone who is on a search for a domain name or looking to register one!
Labels: business name, domain name registration, website

