Erich Stauffer

Category: Web Design

  • Security

    One of the big trends in 2012 is going to be security. We’ve gone through the initial stages of getting people used to password rules and best practices. We’ve taught people not to put sensitive information in their mail boxes and to shred things they don’t want fished out of their garbage. People are even getting better about keeping things private on Facebook. But as more and more of our personal data is stored in the cloud, security will be top of mind for time to come.

    I was recently at Sam’s Club and noticed the security cameras they had on display (no, not the ones mounted to the walls and ceiling) and took a picture of myself. This is part of my initiative to not use stock photography anymore. In order to do this, I take pictures of things I think I might use in a blog post later. I post these pictures on the web using WordPress, which has it’s own security issues.

    WordPress Security

    WordPress has a nice page on hardening WordPress, but here are some basic things you should be doing:

    • Keep WordPress updated – these are free and easy to do
    • Keep WordPress plugins updated – one bad apple can spoil the bunch
    • Keep Theme files updated – some themes have scripts that can be exploited
    • Keep Passwords to yourself – use secure FTP (SFTP) to transmit files so you’re not sending your password via plain-text over the Internet
    • Use secure passwords and choose a username other than “admin” or “administrator”

    Remember to backup your WordPress installation before updating or making changes. This can be as simple as doing an XML export and backing up the WP-Content folder.

    Wireless Security

    I’m an early adopter of technology. I was the first one on my block to get a wireless router and a tankless water heater, but today there’s over 10 and this is not uncommon. When I do in-home computer repair and while using my iPhone, I often see multiple wireless access points all around me. What boggles my mind is the number of wireless connections that still don’t have passwords.

    If you don’t have a wireless password and you haven’t changed the default password on your wireless router, your entire network is exposed and can be compromised in seconds. If you’re sharing any folders or printers on your network, those are completely exposed to any novice user, but any experienced user can find more. Even though it’s illegal to browse someone else’s network, it doesn’t mean it can’t happen.

    If you need help with WordPress security to keep your web site secure or wireless security to keep your network secure, contact Erich Stauffer at Watershawl – 317-572-7521.

  • Tips for Graphic Designers Starting Out in Indianapolis

    I recently met some recent Ball State graduates at a meetup in Broad Ripple, which led me to write this post on the current state of graphic design from my perspective and how to get noticed online:

    Types of Design Work You Could Do

    • Design book covers – people are self-publishing more (as ebooks and print-on-demand paperbacks), but they still need graphic design for the cover and possibly for the layout of the books themselves. Ebook platforms like for the Kindle simply use HTML so if you know that, you’re halfway more helpful than the average person. I have some resources for that here.
    • Design custom Facebook pages and Twitter backgrounds – business owners usually know they need to be on Facebook, but don’t always know how or what to makes an effective design. Learning a little bit more about how to get people to click on the like button will help you sell the service. Remember to ‘sell the hole‘, which means to sell the value, not the product.
    • Design materials to match a website design or vice versa – web designers don’t often make print materials and print graphic designers don’t always make web sites, so there is some opportunity to make a business’ brand match by filling in the gap on either side of that equation.
    • Freelance – through sites like Elance, Odesk, Crowdspring, or Vworker. You could also offer your services on Craigslist or Backpage. Some web design and app design firms also hire freelancers for project. Kurtis Beavers has done freelance work for Silver Square (web design) and Expected Behavior (app design), among others, and would be a good example for you.

    Web Design and WordPress Resources

    • Web design websites for best-practices in design: Smashing Magazine and A List Apart.
    • About the business of web design: Get free advice on this forum at Webmaster World.
    • Free WordPress blog: WordPress.com – they have paid versions, but sub-domain versions are free.
    • WordPress Support: WordPress.org – here you will find many resources about all things WordPress.
    • How to get started making custom WordPress themes: this Web Designer Wall article gives good direction for WordPress newbies.
    • Other popular web platforms: Joomla, Drupal, and Sharepoint.

    Indianapolis Web and Graphic Design Firms

    • Alpha Graphics – Carmel – they do traditional print and web graphics as well as social media graphics and social media marketing and SEO.
    • SpinWeb – Keystone at the Crossing – web design and content marketing.
    • Small Box Web – Broad Ripple – web design and online marketing.
    • Slingshot SEO – Keystone at the Crossing – seo consulting.
    • DK New Media – Downtown Indianapolis – all things new media.
    • List of 70 Indianapolis-Area Web Design Firms.

    Indianapolis Meetups

    • Verge Indy – “The hottest startup event in the Midwest”.
    • Indianapolis Marketing – Learn Marketing Strategies Tools and Best Practices for Promoting Your Business Online and Off.
    • WordPress Indianapolis – Learn best practices, ask questions, and get answers on WordPress in Indianapolis.

    Web Hosts and Free Blogging Platforms

    Ways to Promote Your Portfolio Online

    • Pinterest – invite-only, but very popular and growing.
    • Twitter – post pictures in addition to text tweets.
    • Flickr – be social here – treat it like a social network.
    • Dribbble – a Pinterest for designers.
    • Your own blog (SEE above for free blogging tools).
    • Youtube – use software like Jing to show the world what you can do – remember to put a link back to your blog or portfolio in the description. It will turn into a hyperlink and help you with SEO.
    • Vimeo – Anything you post to Youtube, also post here – it won’t hurt you and can only help.
    • Facebook Pages – post pictures on your wall/newsfeed/timeline – it won’t help with SEO, but ‘go where the people are’.

    Lean Methodologies: Product and Customer Development

    Websites to Follow

    • Ramit Sethi – I Will Teach You to Be Rich – advice on freelancing, job interviewing, and saving for retirement while you’re young.
    • Michael Hyatt – advice on the publishing industry and how to build a platform to promote your business and services online.
    • Chris Brogan – advice on social media and how to build a platform.

    Please let me know if you have any questions. I’d be happy to help.

  • No More Stock Photography

    Recently I’ve noticed from social media experts like Jason Cobb and from Pinterest boards like No More Boring Stock Photos, there is a growing revolt against the use of stock photography.

    Now, I’ve used my share of stock photography in the past from sites like iStockPhoto, but now I’ve got a [quiet] goal of not using any stock photography in my posts going forward. I’d encourage you to think about what strategy you’ll use going forward this year.

    As a general rule, every blog post needs at least one picture.

    Why do blog posts need pictures?

    1) It’s sure dull when you go to post it on Facebook, Digg, Google+, or LinkedIn without it.
    2) It’s another avenue for search engine traffic from Google Image search.
    3) People don’t tend to read articles without them (if it’s not important enough for you to add one, why should they read it?)
    4) It allows other people to pin your work on sites like Pinterest.

    How do you propose getting your images then?

    Take them or make them.

    I’ve been taking photographs with a camera and my phone. I’ve also been sketching things in paint programs. I’ve also been creating things in Visio. It’s harder so if it hinders you from accomplishing other goals or diminishes your brand, don’t do it. It’s just something I’m doing. My thought process is that eventually what I produce will get better over time due to practice and I don’t mind a little egg on my face in the mean time.

  • Service Scheduling Online Software

    WordPress Scheduling and Online Estimators

    Our Noblesville carpet cleaning client wanted a way to keep track of appointments and allow clients to schedule and possibly even pay on his website. His site runs on WordPress so we looked into a WordPress plugin for a calendar that we’ve used before successfully, however it has to be updated manually and doesn’t interact with other estimator scripts or even with Google Calendar. The All-in-One Event Calendar allows you to import a Google Calendar, but it didn’t meet all of his needs. The Appointy Scheduler said that it can 2-way sync with Google Calendar (meaning that if someone makes an appointment online, it can sync to your phone); allows someone to book an appointment; will send them an SMS alert prior to the appointment; and allows you to accept pre-payments. That sounded like what he was looking for, but it didn’t have an estimator. The WebReserv plugin and Booking Bug are other options similar to the Appointy Scheduler.

    When we looked into a WordPress price estimator we only found the Thickthumb Price Calc, but it’s not very built out. To get a custom estimator script built, it meant hiring a programmer to make it for him as that’s not something we do, but we expected to pay around $200 for this based on what we saw at Freelancer. However, there is a estimator script that can be bought for $30 and customized here. Knowing all of this, it makes the WordPress Calculator plugin look quite reasonable and maybe the best bet.

    Other Online Service Scheduling Software

    The simple ability to schedule online is a something you can get for free from  Schedulicity. CEO, Jerry Nettuno, said “We learned it’s not really the calendar. Anybody can have an online calendar. For a service-based business, the relationship with customers is much different than in other types of businesses. Giving them the tools to manage that relationship is where things get interesting.”

    Marc Woodward, vice president of marketing for GenBook, concurs. “The sophistication of the average small business user demands a rich feature base,” he says. For example, “It has to be real-time. Can a customer schedule an appointment and get instant confirmation? They don’t want to wait to hear back or be presented with three choices. We’ve heard anecdotes of customers standing in front of the salon, wondering, ‘Can I get my hair cut now? Can I get a massage now?’”

    In fact, Melody McCloskey, CEO of StyleSeat, says her service for beauty and wellness professionals is “a platform for people to run their entire business on, from maintaining a website to building word of mouth and retaining clients.”

    For web design service and WordPress setup and configuration in the Indianapolis area, consider Erich Stauffer Web Design and Technology Consulting where we make the web work better for you.

  • History of Indianapolis Web Design

    Erich Stauffer originally began doing web design in Indianapolis under the name Telablue back in 2007, but in 2011 we merged the brands. Recently, while working on our new Industries pages, we ran across some snap shots of earlier Telablue designs that are near and dear to our heart that we wanted to share.

    A lot has changed over the years, but one thing remains the same: we still want our clients to be happy.

  • Instructions on How to Use WordPress

    This WordPress guide is intended to be a primer for WordPress beginners learning how to login and post a page or a post for the first time. It’s not meant to be an guide on how to use WordPress in general.

    How to Login to Your WordPress Website

    In order to edit your website using WordPress, you will first need to login. You can do that by going to http://[yourdomain.com]/wp-admin. You’ll need to enter your username and password provided to you by your web designer or host.

    If you get it wrong, don’t worry about locking yourself out like you can on some other websites. Unless there is a specific plugin (an add-on piece of software for WordPress installed by your web designer), you won’t get locked out.

    How to Navigate the WordPress Dashboard

    Once you login, you will see your dashboard. From there you can click on “Posts” to view current posts or “Add New” to add a new post. A post is just a term for a specific type of web page within the content management system. It is different from a “Page” for example. Media is where pictures you have uploaded can be managed. Comments (if enabled) can be approved, deleted, or replied to from the “Comments” link. “Profile” is where you can change your password.

    How to Write a Post

    Under the “Posts” heading on the left navigation, click on “Add New”. You can type your post just as you would in any other advanced text editor like Microsoft Word. There is even a button with many smaller boxes in it which opens up more editing options like the ability to change text color and underline. Its the second icon from the right in the editing toolbar.

    To add a picture or music, use the “Upload / Insert” menu just above the editing toolbar. The box-in-a-box icon opens a window which allows you to select files. To add or edit a link, highlight the word or phrase, then click the chain-link icon in the menu. You’ll have the option to type or paste a link in or link to existing content on your site by clicking “Or link to existing content”.

    How to Add an Image to a Post

    click the camera icon above the editing box. When the box comes up, upload the image, fill in the options, and click “Add to Post”. Options like left, right, and center will do that to the image relative to the text.

    Click “Select Files” then choose options for the picture. You can add a title, a link, or a caption as well as left, right, or center the picture. These settings can be changed at any time so if you’re not sure, just go with the default. Once the picture is in your post, if you don’t like it, hover over it and click the properties button to change options.

    How to Publish or Update a Post

    Once you are satisfied with the way your post looks, click “Publish”. Once you do this, it becomes live on your website. To preview it first, click “Preview”. When you are done, simply log out or close your browser. If you’ve already published and are just editing, the button will say “Update” instead. This button saves your changes.

    Erich Stauffer is an Indianapolis-based SEO web design company specializing in converting static HTML web sites into dynamic, easily editable web sites with blogging functionality using WordPress. Contact us with your fears and your problems and we’ll see if we’re a right fit for you.

  • What Can SugarCRM Do for You?

    SugarCRM is a great customer relationship manager with pipeline management and email marketing capability.  The core Sugar modules are as follows:

    Home – The Home module provides a quick view of the relevant data and activities that you select for display.

    Accounts – Manage customer companies, entities, or even individuals if’s it’s a small business.  You can track a variety of information about an account including website URL, address, number of employees and other data. Business subsidiaries can be linked to parent businesses in order to show relationships between accounts.

    Contacts – Individual customers, essentially the various contact points within an organization. These are the individuals with whom we are doing business and we wish to target marketing activity towards.  You can track contact information such as title, email address, and phone number. Contacts are usually linked to an account.

    Opportunities – Click this tab to view the Opportunities module. Use this module to track potential customers. Opportunities help you manage your selling process by tracking attributes such as sales stages, probability of close, deal amount and other information.

    Activities – Click this tab to view the Activities module. Use this module to create or update scheduled activities, or to search for existing activities.

    Activities consist of the following sub-modules:

    Calendar – View scheduled activities (by day, week, month, or year) such as meetings, tasks, and calls. You can also share your calendar with your coworkers to coordinate your daily activities.

    Calls – Manage outbound and incoming phone calls between you and your customers.

    Meetings – Manage meetings, including both internal and external invitees, which you schedule or accept.

    Tasks – Manage a list of actions that you need to complete by a specific date.

    Notes – Manage notes and file attachments.

    Leads – Used to track potential customers.  This is the entry point into the system to know when a potential new customer is requesting information, or could even be a current customer wanting a new product.  Leads are an important aspect of the sales management process inside of SugarCRM.

    Emails – Click this tab to view the Emails module. Use this module to send, and receive emails. You can also automate email management, create email templates for automated responses, and for email-based marketing campaigns.

    Campaigns – Click this tab to view the Campaigns module. Use this module to create and manage marketing campaigns. You can implement and track marketing campaigns. These can be telemarketing, mail or email-based campaigns.

  • How to Find Your Top Keywords in the New Google Analytics

    If you’re like me, you had trouble originally finding where the top keywords were in the new Google Analytics dashboard. It used to be under Traffic Sources > Keywords, but now it’s under Traffic Sources > Sources > Search > Organic.

    Google Analytics Organic Search Keywords report shows Site Usage with Keyword, Visits, Pages/Visit, Average Time on Site, % New Visits, and Bounce Rate as the default metrics. Most of the time its best to have high Visits and a low Bounce Rate, but not always.

    When you’re reviewing your keywords, look for problems people are trying to solve, issues their having, or products their trying to find. If you’re not solving these problems, know the answer to these issues, or sell what they’re looking for, these are opportunities for you to grow.

    Erich Stauffer is a search engine optimization (SEO) web design firm located just north of Indianapolis. We specialize in helping business owners create great content to make it easy for people looking to solve problems to find them as the answer.

    What problems do you need solved?

  • Visualize WordPress Categories by Post Count

    This is a cool WordPress charting tool to visualize your WordPress posts by category into an auto-updating chart. It works by querying WordPress for its posts counts and then using the Google API for creating charts to create and display an image. The JPG that is returned is actually stored on Google’s servers, but displayed on whatever post or page you add it to. The plugin currently uses a shortcode (category-chart) to display and doesn’t work in the sidebar, nor does it have a widget. And if you want to change the charts title, width, and height, you’re going to have to manually edit the one PHP file it uses to run. It’s simple enough to figure out where to make changes, but here is what the pie chart looks like by default:

    Thanks to Elvin Haci for making this neat WordPress post charting plugin.