Category Archives: Coaching

What to Look for in a Website Host

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I’m the first one to promote small businesses, but sometimes you really need to work with the Big Guys! This is often the case with web hosting services. Here’s some really important features you’ll want from a hosting service: Website backup – Daily, a fresh copy each time (not overwriting the prior night’s copy), with an archive of 5-7 days, on the host’s server. Access to all the files and databases – usually through something like a cPanel. Full writing permissions – On computer file systems, different files and directories have permissions that specify who and what can read, write, … Continue reading →

WordPress 3.8 is Out

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Version 3.8 “Parker” of WordPress is out with a new magazine theme called Twenty Fourteen, and a redesigned and responsive admin that offers a better reading experience on phones and tablets, various color schemes to choose from, and refreshed theme, widget, and dashboard pages. Unlike the last release, the new update is pretty big. The moment you log in to WordPress 3.8 you’ll see the change. The WP Admin area has undergone a complete makeover. Read all about it at WordPress.org and watch this brief, well done video by WP Apprentice. … Continue reading →

Signs Your Web Person Knows Nothing About SEO

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While I develop and build WordPress websites, and coach clients too, I’m always quick to say I am not an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) expert. I know it’s a full time job, and it’s not where I want to put my focus. Yes, I can offer suggestions in how to optimize your website – read this. And, I have a bit of knowledge about SEO, and I use a plugin to enhance SEO in WordPress sites. Employing this plugin also educates me as I use it – and it’s fun too! I also know that SEO needs to be considered … Continue reading →

Using a WordPress Child Theme

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Thanks to my business colleague Paul McNeese, who through OPA  Author Services provides services that every self-publishing author or small publisher will need in order to transform a manuscript into a printed book, I recently worked on a robust – and fun – author project. For Karyn Rashoff, M.S., I created a website, an announcement e-newsletter, and a one-sheet for the launching of her first book “Parents in Highschooland: Helping Students Succeed in the Critical Years.” Choosing to use WordPress’ TwentyTwelve default theme, I created a child theme. A WordPress child theme is a theme that inherits the functionality of … Continue reading →

Bulk Edit in WordPress

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There may be times in WordPress when you need to change the same value in multiple posts, i.e., author name. You can use ‘Bulk Edit’ to quickly implement the change. 1. Login into the WordPress admin area. 2. Click All Posts. 3. Select the posts for which you want to change the author by clicking on the box to the left of each title. A check mark will be inserted. 4. Go to Bulk Actions (near the top), and on the drop-down list select Edit, then click the Apply button. A Bulk Edit section will open up. 5. Make the … Continue reading →

What the Heck is a Responsive Website?

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Responsive web design (RWD) is a web design approach aimed at crafting sites to provide an optimal viewing experience – easy reading and navigation with a minimum of resizing, panning, and scrolling – across a wide range of devices, from an over-sized desktop computer monitor, a laptop, a 10-inch tablet, a 7-inch tablet, or a 4-inch smartphone screen. A responsive website changes its appearance and layout based on the size of the screen the website is displayed on. Responsive sites can be designed to make the text on the page larger and easier to read on smaller screens make the … Continue reading →

Akismet: Spring Cleaning Your WordPress Website

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Spam is the use of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited bulk messages, especially advertising, indiscriminately. While the most widely recognized form of spam is email spam, it also shows up as comments and track-back on your WordPress site. Luckily, you can first set up your site to moderate comments, so spam won’t be visible on your site. And then, you can make use of a really nifty plugin called Akismet, which automatically filters out your spam. Created by the folks who created WordPress, Akismet checks your comments against the Akismet web service to see if they look like spam … Continue reading →

WordCamp PHX 2013

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Earlier this month I attended WordCamp PHX 2013, in Chandler, AZ. WordCamp is a (ridiculously) low-cost event where WordPress users and enthusiasts gather to learn how to get the most out of WordPress. Usually held on a weekend in cities around the world, WordCamp has incredible workshops and speakers, but most importantly, it’s a fun environment to meet others and share knowledge, ideas and experiences with one another. I attended sessions that spanned diverse topics, from “SEO Basics” to “WordPress File Structure, FTP, and MySQL” to “Fundamentals of a Kick Ass WordPress Site.” I guess you can sense the level … Continue reading →

One-to-One Coaching Session with Joyce Kaye

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I just finished a great one-to-one coaching session with Joyce Kaye. It was excellent! I went into the session with a list of questions and got them all answered. We also wound up covering more than just my questions in the process. It is so helpful to have someone who really knows their way around websites and WordPress to show you things and then have you practice those things.  I don’t worry about messing something up on my site. I have learned a lot from the WordPress workshops but the one-to-one coaching was really focused on specific questions I needed … Continue reading →

Testimonial for One-on-One Tutorial

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My recent three-hour one-on-one tutorial with Joyce was money well spent. Joyce is an interesting mix of computer expert, empath, and teacher. She knows her stuff but also knows how to get her points across clearly and efficiently. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, she doesn’t do things for you during your one-on-one session. Rather, she works with you, providing guidance and support as you use your own computer to gradually build your WordPress website. It’s a very empowering experience, and very different from the usual classroom computer course where you’re sitting flummoxed while the instructor charges ahead, leaving you in the … Continue reading →