The websites with folders and files set to the wrong permissions. The out-dated, vulnerability found plugins. The lack of file and database backups, a major crash, possibly wiping your work. Worse yet the websites running content management systems not updated, sitting there vulnerable, just waiting.

People worry about SEO, they worry about studying their site statistics, getting the sales pitch just right, reducing bounce rate and keeping people on site for longer, hoping they make contact or people hit the order button, they don’t realise their site is at risk. Other times they realise, but delay and kid themselves about those stories they hear, believing it won’t happen to them.

WordPress does a fantastic job of informing you of updates to their system and plugins. Joomla has an email update service. Modules exist to automate your backups or downloading a database is a few clicks away. I know WordPress and Joomla are just two giants amongst many and if modules don’t exist for your cms, hosts control panels often offer feature rich options. Scattered across the internet modules and code ready to lend a helping hand, though be weary of these as some could be harmful and malicious.

There are forums and freelance sites overflowing with developers, php junkies, eager to bid for your work. Plus the size of many communities to assist for free are incredible, even if you think you are secure it is worth taking the time every so often to visit, to see what others are discussing. Often people do have motivations for advising, but many don’t. I’m always impressed by the kind and generous souls at hand to advise.

With a few hours spend surfing, learning and a ftp client or browser at hand you can hugely increase the security of your site. If you don’t have the time, ask a trusted and qualified person to assist. Sometimes a migration from a long abandoned bespoke content management system is the only option. The time taken overwhelming, but the security gained worthwhile.

I’ve learnt the hard way. I’ve suffered the heartache of the data gone. The lack of an offsite or online backup and the time to replace data is painful. Now I’ve written a backup module myself. I’ve spent time securing sites and the job is never done, just waiting for your next series of security conscious updates. The predators are out there, the errors can happen, you are not immune, but doing your best is all you can do.

Does your business have a neglected website?

This blog post was written by Andrew from Vectis Solutions. If you have a neglected website check out http://www.vectissolutions.com , contact them to see how they can support you.

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I regularly post book reviews and bits n bobs over at a website called Reading By Candlelight and wanted to quickly create an icon file for the site. Here is what I did:

1. Download and install ico.fx it’s a nifty free icon creation application for windows.
2. I decided to create a 32×32 icon, so clicked on new and choose that option.
3. I draw a rather bad image of a book.

4. Saved the file as favicon.ico and then uploaded to the root of your site via ftp. The same root directory you will find your index.php, .htaccess etc in. Often called www/home/html, /httpdocs, /public_html or similar.
5. I cleared my browsers cache and the icon is now displayed.

The above tips will also help for any website, not just wordpress blogs.

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So what is a flat file cms? They simply store their data in individual files or a file. No need for a database server such as MySQL to power your dynamic website. Often easier for non-tech savvy users to create and edit pages, rather than having to migrate around a complex cms.

So what are the pitfalls? Many are created by an individual, never get traction and are often abandoned. Active ones are generally developed by a lone coder and fail to gain a momentum. Like any product, it’s not just about the functionality and features, as any sales person would tell you. There are some though that have been around for a number of years and gained small followings. With active communities contributing code, modules, support and templates.

Often though these cms’s are slow to receive updates, which can be critical if a security flaw is found. Due to the lack of developer time and the size of communities, if a community actual exists for the cms in the first place.

However that being said, a small flat file cms doesn’t need to compete with the large packages. It doesn’t need to offer bells and whistles. They are carving a market for themselves. The logically step for a site that will never be large. They don’t need communities the size of joomla or wordpress to be a cms to take note of and use.

What are the benefits of a flat file cms?

-    Speed. Flat file cms’s are generally faster than MySQL powered sites.
-    Easier to migrate between servers.
-    Generally less complex and smaller. Thus easier for novices to work with and take up less bandwidth and hosting space.
-    Often easier for non-tech savvy users to edit and create pages once the site has been initially setup.

Flat file cms’s generally lack the features that large cms’s have, however many can be upgraded by installing modules. You won’t find the huge number of available modules though, as you would for joomla or wordpress for example.

They are not geared towards hundred page sites, but for small niche sites they can be just what the doctor ordered.  So if you’re looking to setup your own small website, be it personal, small business or charity or even a micro site for an event, a flat file cms is worth considering.

So what are the recommendations? Well I’ve tried quite a lot, but my favourite has to be nanoCMS and the more developed fork called nanoCMS Community. I even like the cms so much, I setup the website www.nanocms.co.uk and am a strong community supporter and contributor. I’m going to be mean and leave the recommendation at the one.

Creating a dynamic website has never been so easy.

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http://wordpress.org/download/

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Even if you have a web team that deals with your Joomla site updates, it is wise to subscribe yourself and monitor to make sure your site is being updated. It’s important to make sure your security is kept updated. Plus gain new features and general updates to the core package.

http://www.joomla.org/download.html

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From the move for the majority of sites from uploading of static files to dynamically edited sites online, backup is unfortunately being overlooked. Scary as sites should be seen as an ‘asset’.

There are two types of backup you should be concerned with. The backup of content so you can roll back to previous versions if required and the ability to have an offline version of your content that can be restored or migrated to another host if need be and quickly.

Relying on your host or an out sourced web design team is not unfortunately wise. Your site is your data, your content and you need to have more control.

You also need to be weary of being locked into platforms that have no means to export your data to another system, should you wish to or have to move or a business hosting your content goes bust.

Recently I wrote a php module for a content management system for small web sites that makes a backup of the current content when an administrator logs in. Very simple and effective if coupled with a monthly regular backup. Plus the cms in question can be installed on other hosts quickly and easily.

With some cms platforms you can sometimes find modules to set automated backups or allow one click backups and offline downloading. However automation if secure is always wiser as this provides more regularly backups, taking away the need for someone to initiate.

There are many ways to implement a backup for a site and I won’t make this article too long and in-depth as there are even more reasons to have control and flexibility of your ‘data’.

So three simple questions to help get you started:
Can you do an offline backup of your site right now?
Do you have a recent offline backup of your site?
Could you quickly migrate an offline backup to a new hosting?

Don’t rely on someone else. It’s too important for that.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask.

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Today I happened to stumble upon this great and comprehensive guide to Google Analytics and wanted to share it with all of our small business owners who might have websites and are looking to pull in more visitors.

The guide can be found at http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/google-s-guide-to-analytics-472634. I hope you all find the guide helpful!

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As a business no matter how big or small it is extremely important to have a website.

You could be excused if you think the above line comes directly from the starving web designer’s phrase book, of course you’re going to say that, but not every business really needs to have a website though… do they?

As a business no matter how big or small it is extremely important to have a website.

The answer is always going to be the same, I don’t care what type of industry that you are in, the size of the organisation or that your core business has nothing to do with computers or the internet.  Yes you need a website.

Your competition probably has one and if you were a gambler you would always back better to have a website rather than not:

• If you don’t have a website and they do, you are behind your competition.
• If you don’t have a website and they also don’t, you’re both equally behind (waiting on someone who does get one to get ahead).
• If you both have a website, then you’re on equal footing and it becomes an issue of using your website better than your competition.
• If you have a website and they don’t then you are ahead of them.

Notice that you are never behind your competition if you have a website, it’s just playing good odds and stacking them in your favour.

People do their research online now, yes you’re probably listed in the online telephone directories but consumer confidence is always going to go where they can get more information.

Say for instance your Indian restaurant is listed in a directory, it has your address and your phone number.  Next to your restaurant’s entry is Joe’s Indian restaurant with a link to his website.  Your potential customer clicks on his link (the easiest thing in the world to do), because they’ve already gotten all the information they can about your restaurant (phone number and address).  On Joe’s site he has the menu, photos of the restaurant and a map on how to get there.

Joe wants my patronage more and he’s made it easier for me to give it.

But my business doesn’t have any information to put on a website!

Remember the Who, What, Where, When and Why:

• Who are you?
• What do you do?
• Where can I find you?
• When are you open?
• Why should I give you my business?

So here is an example of smallish business that you may not think can benefit from a website, think about it though if you were a potential customer and how useful this information may be:

A Small Family Dry Cleaner

What time do they open, how do I get to the shop, can I get same day cleaning, do they treat leather, what type of chemicals do they use, do they do alterations, any specialities, do they offer repeat business discounts etc.

The importance here is that anyone looking for a dry cleaner in this area (and probably surrounding areas) has been armed with information about the business and whether it suits the customer’s needs.  It also presents the business owner as an expert in their field, especially if they were to include tips such as how to care for garments and minimise damage after a stain.

My point is that as a small business you shouldn’t underestimate the power of empowering your potential customers with information about your services and a website can be paramount to this endeavour.

As a business no matter how big or small it is extremely important to have a website.

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