#Custom Web Design Articles
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
Text
Lovely article+illustrations by Kimono Ichiba (via Tanpopo <3), overviewing famous "scary"patterns... which are in fact often auspicious as traditional Japanese patterns ;)
I believe I have them all on the blog somewhere but it's nice having them in one place so let's go!
Spiderwebs (kumo no su)
In ancient China, spider were seen as auspicious messengers connecting Heaven to Earth.
As the spider catches its prey in its web, spiderweb came to signify "grasping happiness".
Apparently during Edo period, prostitutes and geisha used spiderweb patterned items as a good luck charm (meaning something like "this customer will come back").
A very famous spiderweb depiction is the Lady Rokujo ukiyoe [ç honĂŽ (the flame of passion)] by female artist Uemura Shoen. Wisteria caught in the web could mean ``I hope [Prince Genji] will come tonight'' which is pretty sad considering her story T_T
Skulls (dokuro)
Exact name for human remains pattern is "nozarashi" (lit. "weather beaten") ie bones scattered in a field. This depicts a corpse turned to bones/unveiled from its grave by the elements.
Skulls are thought to ward off evil and bad luck. Bones can also symbolize a do-or-die spiritâ, or hope for rebirth after death.
OP stresses a theory linking bones pattern to a buddhist saying èČćłæŻç©ș shikisokuzekĆ« "form is emptiness, matter is void, all is vanityâ". An interpetation is that we'll all turn to dust one day so we're all equal.
Bones patterns are often seen during Obon (Festival of the dead) season.
Monsters, ogres and ghosts (yÎkai / oni / yûrei)
Monsters patterns were then worn to ward off bad luck and evil spirits. Reasoning is: let's repel scary things by wearing an even scarier monster!
Fearsome monsters were especially use by people with dangerous jobs, like Edo period firemen.
Firemen often had the lining of their heavy fire attire (ç«äșèŁ
æ kajishouzoku) embelished with lavish designs of brave heroes and fantastic monsters. It was both a talisman and a way to show that they did not fear danger or death.
Another reason behing monsters patterns is the Edo period love for "scary" entertainements, be it ghost stories, parlor or other types of games, art (see for ex. Utagawa Kuniyoshi), etc. And Edo city dwellers were all about being fashionable so a monster pattern would have been considered quite iki!
#japan#art#history#pattern history#kimono#obi#halloween#spider#spiderweb#kumo#kumo no su#skull#skeleton#dokuro#nozarashi#weather beaten bones#obon#monster#youkai#oni#ghost#yurei#firemen#kajishouzoku#kaidan#ghost stories#Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai#One Hundred Supernatural Tales#Kimodameshi#Test of courage
1K notes
·
View notes
Text
worldbuilding websites list
guides/prompts
Fantasy Worldbuilding Questions - SFWAÂ
Dr. Zahir's Ethnographical Questionnaire - FrathWikiÂ
University of Auntimoany Ethnographical QuestionnaireÂ
Creature-Race creation sheet by Sethian-Motzart on DeviantArtÂ
Worldbuilding Bible Template â Ellen BrockÂ
Guide to World Building - Pantheons â Dump Stat AdventuresÂ
Building a Pantheon: How to Choose Your Gods - TribalityÂ
Making Gods & Pantheons: Worldbuilding Abstract | Red Ragged FiendÂ
I invented this world building system for myself, and it's helped me a lot. Posting it here in case it helps somebody else too! (and because mnemonics are rad) : r/worldbuildingÂ
Simple Ideas for Your Solarpunk Worlds : r/worldbuildingÂ
50 Worldbuilding Prompts : r/worldbuildingÂ
A few months ago I posted a not-so-elegant expansion of the 4-elements system, and got tons of truly excellent feedback. Inspired by the exciting discussions from back then, here is version 2.0! CC appreciated :) : r/worldbuildingÂ
TheCosmicForces-WoWChronicleSample.png (PNG Image, 1350 Ă 1800 pixels) â Scaled (37%)Â
GitHub - honno/classical-elements-expansion: Because the alchemical elements are so last millennia.Â
brownlisthumanuniversals.pdf - Google DriveÂ
Worldbuilding: Fantasy Religion Design Guide â Inkwell IdeasÂ
Worldbuilding: Clothing and Fashion | HumanVariantÂ
A Guide to Conworld Architecture : r/worldbuildingÂ
Medieval Bestiary : Contents/SiteMapÂ
kosemen-2017-updated-edition-of-book-all-your-yesterdays.pdfÂ
Political SimulatorÂ
A World Building Checklist | Articles | cruâs D&D Reading RoomÂ
Split CityÂ
Fantasy name generators. Names for all your fantasy characters.Â
word processors/graph makers/visualizers
TiddlyWiki â a non-linear personal web notebookÂ
bibisco: Best Novel Writing Software for WritersÂ
Preceden Timeline Maker: Create a Timeline in MinutesÂ
Timetoast timeline maker | Timetoast timelinesÂ
Free online timeline makerÂ
draw.ioÂ
Parliament DiagramsÂ
TreeGraph 2 - A phylogenetic tree editorÂ
Fantasy Calendar - Level up your narrativeÂ
Family Echo - Free Online Family Tree MakerÂ
Hero Forge Custom MiniaturesÂ
TennessineÂ
Courtneyâs Picrew ZoneÂ
Ellipsus | Collaborative writing softwareÂ
real world inspiration
The Meaning and History of First Names - Behind the NameÂ
Geologic Time Scale - Major Divisions of Geologic Time ChartÂ
Geologic Time Scale v. 6.0 - The Geological Society of America - timescl.pdfÂ
Travel Through Deep Time With This Interactive Earth | SmithsonianÂ
ChronostratChart2023-09 - ChronostratChart2023-09.pdfÂ
ics-chartÂ
International Commission on StratigraphyÂ
Home - Nationalclothing.orgÂ
Folk Fashion Tumblr - Traditional Clothing from the worldÂ
Glossary for Medieval Art and ArchitectureÂ
Heraldry Links-A Free Learning ResourceÂ
Flags of the WorldÂ
Food Timeline: food history research serviceÂ
History of invention: A science and technology timelineÂ
Medieval Bestiary : Animals in the Middle AgesÂ
Medieval LifeÂ
Medievalists.net - Where the Middle Ages BeginÂ
Historical World Maps - World History AtlasÂ
57 notes
·
View notes
Text



Hello, everyone!
In light of Neil Gaiman's comment that Amazon is close to officially renewing Good Omens but hasn't done so yet, I think those of us who can should start sending physical postcards to Amazon Studios!
The TL;DR of this post is that you can easily send a postcard from MyPostcard.com for about $3 (USD, I'm sure other currencies can vary). The Web site will print and mail it for you, so you don't have to do any printing or mailing yourself. The postage is included in the $3.
If you don't already have an image or card you want to use, you can just use one of mine above. Some of them are small because of small source images, but the site seems to resize them appropriately for the card. There are bigger versions in a Google Drive folder that you shouldn't have to be logged in to see.
You can send the postcards asking for a third season of Good Omens addressed to Jennifer Salke and Vernon Sanders, co-heads of Amazon Studios, at:
AMAZON STUDIOS 1620 26TH STREET, SUITE 4000N SANTA MONICA, CA 90404 USA
@fuckyeahgoodomens was the first to post this contact information for Amazon, so thank you, Ixi.
If it's something you don't mind, I would very deeply appreciate reblogs on this, since it works better if lots of people see it! No pressure if you don't want to, though.
And if you have Questions, click through below for my reasoning on all this.
Why should we send postcards to Amazon Studios?
We've made lots of noise online about renewal, and we've done a lot of streaming Good Omens. But I haven't seen much discussion of sending physical mail or, specifically, postcards.
Mail takes up space in the real world. It's slightly harder to ignore than email. It's way more attention-grabbing than posts on X or Tumblr or any other social media site. Because postage is required, physical mail can also appear more "committed."
Postcards specifically are great because of their convenience for the recipient. No one has to open them to read them. All it takes is a quick glance to see what we're asking for, and realistically, a quick glance is the best we can ask for in a corporate office. That's why I'm emphasizing postcards over regular letters (although really, anything helps).
Is sending postcards really going to motivate Amazon to make more Good Omens?
Postcard and letter-writing campaigns have helped get shows renewed in the past. Star Trek: The Original Series is a good example of a series that got another season after a letter-writing campaign. This article has more examples.
We don't actually know what's going on in Good Omens's case. Maybe postcards would make a difference; maybe they wouldn't. We can only make our most determined effort at making sure we're heard, and sending mail is part of that.
The cost of sending a postcard is too much for me.
I understand that sending a postcard will not be an option for many of us. This post isn't intended to try to push you into spending money you don't have. If you still want to find a way to participate, you can also send an email to [email protected] with your comments about wanting Good Omens 3. It's not physical mail, but it is still a personal message from a customer.
In fact, people who are sending postcards might want to follow up with an email, too.
Do we have to use your postcard designs?
No! Not necessarily! You can use anything.
As long as the message you write includes how much you want Good Omens 3, your postcard's image doesn't necessarily have to relate. You could send a souvenir postcard that says "Greetings from Los Angeles, CA / Tadfield, England / etc" from your local post office and just write your message on the back.
Technically, even a plain index card should be thick enough to mail as a postcard, at least by USPS standards. Just write your desire for Good Omens 3 on it, put a stamp and Amazon's address on it, and make sure it's at least 90mm x 127mm (3.5in x 5in).
Isn't Amazon Studios going to notice a bunch of postcards being mailed from the same Web site?
I'm sure they will. But the messages will each be unique, and again, they'll know each card represents a person who had to order the card and postage themselves.
Speaking of unique messages, what should I write?
One sentence is enough. Definitely indicate that you want Season 3 of Good Omens. If you want to add more, you could also write a sentence or two about how much you love the series so far.
Above all, be polite and straightforward! Remember that sarcasm and jokes often do not come across well in print, so it may be best to stick with simple statements that can be taken at face value.
What address should the cards go to?
The co-heads of Amazon Studios appear to be Vernon Sanders and Jennifer Salke; you can address them by name, although I'm guessing it will be someone else who does the reading/glancing.
Amazon Studios's address is:
AMAZON STUDIOS 1620 26TH STREET, SUITE 4000N SANTA MONICA, CA 90404 USA
Where did you get these images?
The images for the nightingale postcard and the Crowley postcard are screencaps from directedbypiper.
The Please Do Not Lick the Walls and Fell the Marvelous posters were downloads from the Amazon X-Ray feature.
The Nice and Accurate Prophecies postcard was adapted from cover art I did for A Nice and Interpretive Fanzine. Most of it is my own, although the mottled background is an extremely blurred version of a free stock texture from Pixabay, users chrisfiedler and/or humusak.
The bookshop postcard is a promotional image from Amazon used in a Den of Geek article.
398 notes
·
View notes
Text







Monty Jaggers McGraw:
I am writing new BASIC programs to demo at my VCF Southwest 2025 exhibit of my 1979 Tektronix 4054A color vector graphics computer.
One of the programs I am writing is a 1978-1979 Battlestar Galactica TV demo. That TV show had $500,000 of Tektronix vector graphics computers and test equipment and many screenshots of their green vector storage CRT displays - some stills - some animated. These computer graphics were generated on both 1975 4051 and 1976 4081 vector graphics computers - predecessors to my 4052 and 4054A computers (see first photo attached).
Miami Herald TV 1978 magazine interview with the Battlestar Galactica set designer indicated extras on the set stationed in front of the 4051 computers were playing games during filming to increase realism and were so absorbed they kept playing after the cut! (article page attached).
The 4051 and second generation 4052 were the same physical size and used the same CRT and same Display board, but the 4052 and 4054 computers replaced the 800KHz Motorola 6800 CPU with a custom four AMD2901 bit-slice CPU to create a 16-bit address and data bus ALU which emulated the 6800 opcodes and added hardware floating point opcodes to speed up these computers 10x over the Motorola 6800, doubled the BASIC ROM space to 64KB and doubled the RAM space to 64KB!
I created these vector bitmap graphics using a "3D CAD" picture I found on the web of the Battlestar Galactica (last attachment).
As far as I know - there was never any 4050 BASIC program to view bitmap pictures on any of the 4050 computers. The 1979 4014 vector graphics terminal had a grayscale bitmap mode in the Extended Graphics option board, but I have only found a couple of bitmap 4014 images on a single Tektronix demo tape cartridge.
My 4050 BASIC program to display bitmaps works on all 4050 series computers - with an optional Tektronix 4050R12 Fast Graphics/Graphics Enhancement ROM Pack. This ROM Pack speeds up displaying vector images (including vector dot images) 10x over using BASIC MOVE and DRAW commands.
The Battlestar Galactica bitmap image in R12 binary format is 332234 bytes - slightly larger than would fit on a DC300 quarter-inch tape cartridge in the internal tape drive of all three 4050 computers, but would have fit on a 3M DC600 tape cartridge with a capacity of 600KB - it would have been very slow to load.
I designed an Arduino board to emulate the Tektronix 4924 GPIB tape drive - with the help of my software developer. My GPIB Flash Drive board contains a MicroSD card with gigabytes of storage and the Flash Drive emulates a GPIB tape changer, storing all the files of a "tape" in a single directory. I have also attached to this post a photo of my GPIB Flash Drive.
I have recovered almost 100 Tektronix 4050 Tapes and posted the ones I think are the most interesting at this time on my github repository for Tektronix 4051/4052/4054 computers: https://github.com/mmcgraw74/Tektronix-4051-4052-4054-Program-Files I included Tektronix published MATH volumes 1, 2, and 3 and Electrical Engineering, but I don't think they have a lot of use today. I have in my collection but not recovered tapes on Project Management, Statistics, and over 100 more tapes from the very active user group, which Tektronix made collections and published abstracts in their newsletter and the newletter customer got the tape for free. Commercial software like CAD programs were likely encrypted to eliminate copying - since Tektronix 4050 BASIC included a SECRET command which would then encrypt the program file as it was recorded to tape and add a SECRET flag in the tape header that would signal to BASIC ROM when that file was accessed to decrypt the program when it was loaded into memory. One big limiter to the size of the program was RAM in the 4051 was limited to 32KB and the 4052 and 4054 were limited to 64KB of RAM, although Tek BASIC did include commands to allow program "chunks" to be overlayed as necessary. Tektronix used those commands in their 4050 System Tape which was shipped with every system and included a tutorial on many of their BASIC commands. The tutorial ran on the original 4051 with 8KB of memory, and if the program detected 16KB of memory it would APPEND larger program files to speed up the tutorial.

15 notes
·
View notes
Text


hello! I am a 23 year old self-employed, disabled, transmasc creative living in the us faced with rent and bills I can't pay due to âunemploymentâ and refusal of disability payments by state and federal government. i need to raise money and get a job asap because I don't have enough to pay to survive.
rest of description and health update below the cut â
I need to raise/ make $250 USD before the end of January, and I'm hoping at least half of that can come from donations, as with recent developments, I'm in a near complete shutdown. it's hard to do anything because my brain is making my body go into survival mode, and I'm constantly bombarded with body pain and headaches and nausea. I'm scared for my friends. family, and myself, and want to give up
I make art and write poetry full time, but marketing with no way to pay for advertising online doesn't get me very far, so please share this if you can. I have some examples of my work available and more if you shoot me a message, but my creative skills are mainly in freewritten poetry, acrylic painting, mix media collage/ collage poetry, anthro character design and artwork, graphic design/ logo work, and minimal web design (not the coding side, but like wix and such). I'm also experienced in tech writing, blog/ article writing, customer service, sales, and more.
I am offering lowered rates on all custom work for a limited time, with traditional media pay rates dropping from $70/hr to $45/hr and digital media from sliding scale $30-50/hr to a flat $25/hr. I'll run discounts on any finished pieces that spark interest. I don't have an hourly rate for poetry, I'd do something like $5/15 lines or send a document with 5 premade poems for $5
if you have any leads for remote work, or you yourself could use some load lightened that you could pay me to do, please reach out. my state's minimum wage is $15/hr, but depending on the work, I'd be hoping to work closer to $20/hr based on experience and education. I really only need to make $150 a week to survive, so a part time gig or two would help me at least afford food, bills, meds, and doctors
thank you for sharing and supporting me at this time. donation links available on request, message here or DM floraternum on discord for more information
--
--
physical & mental health cw!!â
as far as my health goes, I have a bug right now, my tummy is uncooperative, my head hurts all the time, my back and neck and hands hurt all the time. this on top of the aches I'm always dealing with, it's rough. and between my anxiety about the anti trans stuff going in in the us and tension and problems on this planet, the OCD, autism, ADHD, bipolar, etc are all aligning to make the most unbearable and just LOUD depression of my recent memory. brain is just a lot to deal with and I don't know how I'm supposed to support myself through much more than surviving rn.
14 notes
·
View notes
Text
Object permanence
Picks and Shovels is a new, standalone technothriller starring Marty Hench, my two-fisted, hard-fighting, tech-scam-busting forensic accountant. You can pre-order it on my latest Kickstarter, which features a brilliant audiobook read by Wil Wheaton.
#20yrsago Shirky: Net is a kayak, driven by its environment https://corante.com/many/folksonomies-are-a-forced-move-a-response-to-liz/
#20yrsago Whistlerâs Delight mashup mixes 22 whistling songs https://web.archive.org/web/20050909012025/https://www.djriko.com/music/DJ Riko - Whistler's Delight (Full version).mp3
#15yrsago Londoners: Mass photography event in Trafalgar Square today! Iâm a photographer, not a terrorist https://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorow/tags/phnat
#15yrsago Activist ejected from âpublicâ meeting on secret copyright treaty for tweeting https://pisanty.blogspot.com/2010/01/acta-consulta-del-impi-en-mexico.html
#15yrsago Remembering the golden age of pulps with Robert Silverberg https://francesca.net/silverberg.html
#15yrsago OâReilly drops ebook DRM, sees 104% increase in sales https://web.archive.org/web/20100406013442/http://toc.oreilly.com/2010/01/2009-oreilly-ebook-revenue-up-104-percent.html
#15yrsago Defective by Design anti-DRM picket at Apple tablet launch https://www.defectivebydesign.org/apple-tablet-san-francisco-launch
#15yrsago EFF wonât give up the fight over NSA warrantless wiretapping https://www.eff.org/press/archives/2010/01/21
#15yrsago Canadaâs National Film Board online archive: a success story https://blog.nfb.ca/blog/2010/01/21/online-video-stats/
#15yrsago Naked airport scanner catches cellphone, misses bomb components https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/01/german_tv_on_th.html
#10yrsago They put a Pirate Party MEP in charge of EU copyright reform: you wonât believe awesomesauce that followed https://www.discuto.io/en/consultation/6240
#5yrsago The 1970s called and they want their proto-McMansions back! https://mcmansionhell.com/post/190405899096/the-mcmansion-hell-yearbook-1970
#5yrsago Angelenos! Come to ICANN this Friday to Save Dot ORG! https://www.eff.org/event/savedotorg-protest-icann
#5yrsago The sordid tale of Microsoftâs epic tax evasion and the war they waged against the IRS https://www.propublica.org/article/the-irs-decided-to-get-tough-against-microsoft-microsoft-got-tougher
#5yrsago Forensics team accuses Prince Bone Saw of hacking Jeff Bezosâs phone to obtain kompromat and force Washington Post silence on Khashoggi https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/01/report-bezos-phone-uploaded-gbs-of-personal-data-after-getting-saudi-princes-whatsapp-message/
#5yrsago Boeing indefinitely halts 737 Max production https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/21/business/boeing-737-max-production-halt/index.html
#5yrsago Sonos warns customers that their older speakers will shortly be e-waste https://www.theregister.com/2020/01/21/sonos_bricking_laudio_gear/
#5yrsago Year of the Rabbit: a graphic novel memoir of one familyâs life under the Khmer Rouge https://memex.craphound.com/2020/01/22/year-of-the-rabbit-a-graphic-novel-memoir-of-one-familys-life-under-the-khmer-rouge/
#5yrsago In serving big company interests, copyright is in crisis https://memex.craphound.com/2020/01/22/in-serving-big-company-interests-copyright-is-in-crisis/
#1yrago Boeing, Spirit and Jetblue, a monopoly horror-story https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/22/anything-that-cant-go-on-forever/#will-eventually-stop
Check out my Kickstarter to pre-order copies of my next novel, Picks and Shovels!
8 notes
·
View notes
Text
some thoughts on leaving a social media website...again
as of 10/16/2024, twitter has announced its intention to implement a new feature into the platform: instead of blocking allowing you to block certain accounts from viewing your profile if it's public, it now just... doesn't do that anymore. it only limits interaction. though this certainly isn't a surprise with musk's twitter rollouts since 2021âwhen i first saw people start to trickle outâthis, in particular, breaks a lot of users boundaries and has prompted many to private their accounts and move to bluesky.
i'm in support of this, btwâthe ceo of bsky is strongly opposed to ever running any sort of ads on the site ("won't enshittify the network with ads"), doesn't use any blockchain technology, and has a culture where supplying alt text on images is the norm. your main timeline is in reverse-chronological order (like intended), but there are other separate options to create a custom algorithmic feed for certain types of content, only if you wish to. though bsky is a work in progress, i have high hopes for what it can be in the future: that is, usable, practical, and more reminiscent of what it was like when twitter first started, than how twitter currently is.
but despite my love for bluesky, i won't spend too much time glazing yet another microblogging platform. instead, i'm here to ponder the concept of social media: why we have it, why we use it, and why these moves happen in the first place. people have been trickling in and out of twitter ever since the richest and evilest man in the world took possession of it; especially in a fandom sense, there's been a back and forth between twitter and tumblr due to tumblr's former porn ban, as well. we all have principles and morals that guide the decisions we make, including what websites we decide to use. they speak to a pattern of not only our culture as people at any given timeâbut how these platforms have the power to implement these changes whenever they want. and we, as individuals, must make decisions both based on those principles, but also our desires to fit in.
i'll start off by saying thisâeventually i'm going to start talking about what social media means for creatives. but there is in fact an extremely well-written article about this already that goes into more detail. if you're more interested in that, let me direct you there first: R U AN ARTIST ON SOCIAL MEDIA??? by omoulo
with that out of the way, let's talk about me, shall we?
i got onto the internet through geocitiesâcrazy sentence to say now after all these years. of course, i played neopets and flash games like many other kids, but that was mostly through knowing those websites and urls existed, and preserving them in my mind so i could return to them for some mindless minutes of entertainment later. geocities was my first introduction to the creative, user-designed web, so to speak. instead of being a number to interact with a thing that someone else has madeâa flash game, a youtube video, a website where you can collect fictional petsâthe idea of geocities to me at the time was this idea of participating on the internet. being a part of it. writing whatever i wanted and posting it. sharing the link with others. having others find it and read it tooâa part of me, my method of creative self-expression, whatever i desired to write and post on the less than permanent internet.
my best friend at the time was the one who needled me into creating accountsâfirst an email address, then an AIM, then a myspace, then an IMVU, so on and so forth. i wasn't going out looking for these, and though i'd heard of them before or seen ads of some of these sites, i wasn't interested in actually being on these platforms and making these accounts until my friend told me that i should. call me a people pleaser or easily influenced or whatever; i was 12. but it was through this link sharing, this naivety and ignorance of the vastness of the internet, that allowed me to be fascinated with the world wide web in the first place.
i usually cite quizilla as my first "fandom" website, because it wasâbut it wasn't because i found it by accident. it wasn't that i googled it or looked for a personality test and stumbled upon it. no, it's because i was chatting with a friend on AIM, and she had found some crazy chain letter story and shared it to me for how absurd it was, and sent me the link. it was on quizilla.
literally the moment i clicked that link changed my life forever. even though i read the crazy story, i also clicked on the username of the person who posted it, out of curiosity. that person had jonas brothers fanfics on their quizilla profile, of all things, which led me into an obsession with the jonas brothers in the 2 years that followed. through that linkâthat accountâthat platformâi got a lot more interested in writing, webdesign, and what it meant to be on the internet, not just as a numbered participant, but also as someone with an imagination, who finds fulfillment in creative expression. i wrote the longest thing i'd ever written in that time (30k of a self-insert, but we won't go into that), began to experiment with css and website design, and participated, sharing stuff that i thought was interesting or fun, worth 5 minutes of anyone's time.
the internet wasn't just about being a place where my presence didn't matter anymoreâit became a medium of self-expression. more than that, it became a place where i could meet and socialize with people, especially as i developed avpd in my high school years.
the internet wasn't always like this. right now, when we talk about the internet, we don't talk about the random websites we find, the links we stumble upon. (i have an entire website dedicated to those for me, though.) the games we spend hours playing, by ourselves, without interacting with others. random personality tests, or just simply the news. we talk about google, but in the same way we talk about facebook, or even twitter. it's a verb; it's omnipresent; it exists within the context of our internet culture, but becomes meaningless outside of it. it's not to say it doesn't have meaningâbut that the language we use represents our relationship with it, this assumed normalcy. this assumed dependence.
i bring up my own history because as young as i feel compared to many of my older internet friends, and how late to the game i always feltâi was there. i was there on the internet before twitter (since 2009), tumblr (since 2010), facebook (i lied about my age), bluesky now, and whatever will come in the future. i was there when people were saying that the internet was still being written; when websites were made with tables (eugh); when email was the primary way to connect with others, because irc was for nerds and nothing else had been invented yet.
i'm a big advocate for not looking at the past with rose colored glasses and getting caught up in nostalgia and greener grass. i believe that technology is not inherently harmful or badâit creates more options for accessibility, especially for those who are disabled. and even outside of that, it allows us to learn about more people, communicate with others with a few keystrokes, and form relationships that we otherwise would never get to have. i don't want this to seem like i'm saying "man remember how good the internet used to be?" because i'm notâi believe that as things change, there are benefits as much as there are hindrances.
of course, it bears saying that the primary hindranceâof current twitter, of many platforms over the years, and the internet with increasing recencyâis corporations. big money interests. capitalism.
it's why we get so tired of adsâit's why ads exist in the first place. it's why these social media platforms that used to feel like they were made by the same people who would use them (livejournal, youtube, twitter) have suddenly become these soulless impersonal websites. it becomes more obvious that they want you to use them more because they sell you on exclusivity and visual minimalism, rather than because that's where your friends are, and you have this unique way to express yourself.
in fact, i'll say this: the first time i learned about facebook when i was too young to use it, i was not impressed. i had a myspace at the time that i had dolled up to make pretty with sparkly gifs and obnoxious colors and weird fonts. when i saw how boring and samey everyone's facebook profile page was, i was like, what's the point? sure i could talk to my classmates and random other people in my life that i didn't really care about, but what about making myself different from others? what about my creative expression? what about having an account that makes me look unique, instead of blending in with everyone else?
and so here i am nearly two decades later pondering about the use of social media, our individuality as well as our collective interests, and how the internet has changed so much, both in itself and how it affects us, in that time.
i'm here because i want to talk to my friends and meet new people with common interests and get excited about them. i don't want to feel left out, but that's a normal experienceâoutside of fomo, it is in our core to connect with others. it's the whole meaning of everything. it's why i even made an email in the first place, in my basement with my best friend, secretly setting up a yahoo account because she wanted another way to talk to me, and i wanted another way to talk to her. it's why people have been leaving twitter little by little for another siteâthe same site as many others, because that's where all their friends are. whether it's bsky or mastodon or misskey or just back here on tumblr, we're here not just because of our desire for community, but even as simple as our desire for a bond, a relationship with another human being. to me, that is how "social media" is definedâa medium through which we socialize because of this innate desire.
and yet, of course the enshittification and corporatification makes this more difficult for us, in ways more than one. because the fact is that as we (as people) became better at using the internet, finished writing it, and understood itâpsychologically and sociologicallyâso did the corporations. or advertisers, you take your pick. we, the everypeople who use the internet as means to fulfill our social and other self-indulgent desires, are not the only people here. as with many things else in the world, the internet turned from an unpredictable but fun mess of us figuring shit out as we went along, into a product designed to keep us using it and engaging with it more, so some rich people can put even more money into their pockets. it's why twitter is the way it is now; even why tumblr is the way it is. why social media has become about "content creation" and "small businesses." why it feels like, every day, we see more ads and AI generated bullshit, as a little bit of the original soul of the internet gets sucked away day by day.
but even there, i don't want to come across as cynical or world-weary. though i believe this to be true, i don't think it says anything about our lack of agency, or our lack of innate humanity. instead, i believe that this means, at least on the individual level, that we should think more about not only what we're doing on the internet, but why we're doing it. how we're doing it. are we here because we're addicted? or is there something we're getting out of it? sure, many websites now have more addictive UI and algorithms that tell the receptors of our brain to return to them because we were getting so much dopamine from them earlier. but i also wouldn't necessarily argue that the only solution to this is to, then, go offline.
i have many friends who've elected to depart social media but stay onlineâfriends who i met through website building, to be fair, but that's one of my main points. i already wrote a manifesto on my love letter to the personal website; but the tl;dr is this:
the internet is not evil, it is not good, it is just a form. if we desire to express ourselves and socialize with others in this space, it does not have to be just about social media, and creating a new account on a new website every time people move. instead, we have personhoodâwe have individuality, we have agency. we have the ability to build our own websites, no matter how shitty or times new roman comic sansy or color clashy or sometimes inaccessible they can be. regardless of all these seeming impractical setbacks though, it does not absolve us of that ability to do whatever we want on the internet. and it also bears saying that websites, both the personal and impersonal, can change over time, for better or worse.
i am a huge proponent for people making their own personal websites. it makes me so so happy that neocities is gaining popularity, mostly because i love seeing people try their own hand at making a website for themselves, a new form of self-expression. i won't go into too much detail on this because i've already said everything i want to say about it (see above), but if you take away anything from this post, let it be this: consider making a personal website, a corner of the internet, for yourself, by yourself. not just because you want people to engage with it, or because you want to curate to an algorithm or an artistic/fannish trend. not because you want the things you make to gain traction, to get bigger numbers without considering the people behind those numbers, as soon as possible.
do it because you want to. because you have to. because you think it's cool, and because it's you. people may find it and judge it; but they may like it as well. the more unique and authentic and weird we are with each other, the more we are able to appreciate each other for who we really are. the internet is one of many places we can do this.
i don't really see these forms of self-expression separate from social media, but i do see social media separate from it. to me, social media is a vehicle to strengthen those connections, those relationships, much like DMs and IRCs; but it is not the be-all, end all of the internet. it's only a small part of it. not everything is permanent on the internet; but everything that ever has been online is a microcosm of the human experience, whether it's an old cloudflare site or twitter dot com in 2010.
our experiences on the internet are not about corporate interests. it's about using limewire to download pirate music, sharing random links we find, building a design that may not be practical or universally appealing but still represents a form of individuality. when i think of how the internet has grown, i don't think about what it means for companies or advertisers or what meetings must go on to get people like me to keep using itâi think about remembering the difference between addicting games dot com and addicted games dot com, clicking links on websites to find even more websites, sitting at the family computer and deciding if i wanted to spend hours on neopets or that one willy wonka flash game i grinded like several hours on one night when i was 7. i think about what it's always meant to me, because the internet was not always a centralized place where i was going on the same website every day. the rise of internet centralization to the point that it's become expected, the norm, the primary way any of us to be online, is not inherently a bad thingâbut i wouldn't say it's a universal good, either, when the internet is a wide and vast space, and can be so much more than that.
because the one thing that remains throughout the years is our agency and choice. we still have the ability to make the internet what we want it to be, or at least a corner of it, something separate from the corporations, the enshittification, economically researched user interfaces and experiences, the advertisements, the "like and share so the algorithm boosts me more." there's still a point to it all without the money, and without twitter. and it's both our desire for creativity and self-expression, as well as our intrinsic bonds with each other. despite it all, it's about our humanity.
as the internet continues to grow, so do we. nevertheless, the importance of our humanity, and retaining it, will remain. oftentimes it is up to us to remind ourselves of that.
-
links here, for access:
Bluesky CEO Jay Graber Says She Wonât âEnshittify the Network With Adsâ
R U AN ARTIST ON SOCIAL MEDIA??? by omoulo
links @ kingdra.net (my links, like bookmarks)
A manifesto of sorts; or, my love letter to the personal website by me
9 notes
·
View notes
Note
Top 10 most chaotic Tim Drake headcanons?
1) (stealing this from audreycritter) his parents lied about his age to get him into school a year early for "bragging about their genius kid" purposes, and he doesn't realize this until at the age of eighteen he digs up his birth certificate and it's like oops, I'm still only seventeen!
2) Tim didn't fool Bruce with the fake uncle but he did fool Bruce with the fake "school fundraiser, idc just write a check or smth" routine, which is what he uses to sneak his own personal Batmobile into the budget
3) was an early investor in crypto (bought it as a kid on the dark web) but is now hesitant to cash in because that would mean admitting to Dick Grayson that he's cryptobro adjacent
4) ran habbo hotel scams as a child
5) paid his way into being one of the voice sound effects in Tony Hawk: Ride (aka, the alleged worst Tony Hawk game in the franchise). He's the "ouch!" sound. In an article criticizing the game, they specifically call out the "ouch!" sound as being so annoying they purposely turned the sound effects off.
6) has a YouTube channel where he does "tutorials" on how he built his gaming PC, but the tutorials are impossible for anyone to follow because every single thing he uses is custom made and obscenely expensive. only the best for Tim Drake-Wayne
7) has paid over a thousand dollars for "organic designer weed". The weed was actually cilantro. The drug dealer was actually Jason in disguise
8) Cass doesn't like driving and will crash cars on purpose to get out of the task. Tim is her assigned chauffeur because he's the only one who lets himself get bullied by her whims
9) has a self-destruct button on his phone, which you would think is for normal "don't let bat data fall into the wrong hands" reasons, but it's actually because he wanted at least one grenade at hand at all times. The data-wipe functionality was a bonus, and did not occur to him until Bruce approved his design
10) has requested his dinner be seasoned with "a dash of cocaine" before. Alfred was not amused
EDIT: I guess I had this saved in my drafts for [indeterminate] and never posted this oops
#yellowocaballero#headcanons are hard actually#my real answer is 'whatever red raven does? that's him'#I need Tim's public Wayne persona to be So Annoyingly Rich Kid#his Twitter account has the most unhinged shit
64 notes
·
View notes
Text
A week after its algorithms advised people to eat rocks and put glue on pizza, Google admitted Thursday that it needed to make adjustments to its bold new generative AI search feature. The episode highlights the risks of Googleâs aggressive drive to commercialize generative AIâand also the treacherous and fundamental limitations of that technology.
Googleâs AI Overviews feature draws on Gemini, a large language model like the one behind OpenAIâs ChatGPT, to generate written answers to some search queries by summarizing information found online. The current AI boom is built around LLMsâ impressive fluency with text, but the software can also use that facility to put a convincing gloss on untruths or errors. Using the technology to summarize online information promises can make search results easier to digest, but it is hazardous when online sources are contractionary or when people may use the information to make important decisions.
âYou can get a quick snappy prototype now fairly quickly with an LLM, but to actually make it so that it doesn't tell you to eat rocks takes a lot of work,â says Richard Socher, who made key contributions to AI for language as a researcher and, in late 2021, launched an AI-centric search engine called You.com.
Socher says wrangling LLMs takes considerable effort because the underlying technology has no real understanding of the world and because the web is riddled with untrustworthy information. âIn some cases it is better to actually not just give you an answer, or to show you multiple different viewpoints,â he says.
Googleâs head of search Liz Reid said in the companyâs blog post late Thursday that it did extensive testing ahead of launching AI Overviews. But she added that errors like the rock eating and glue pizza examplesâin which Googleâs algorithms pulled information from a satirical article and jocular Reddit comment, respectivelyâhad prompted additional changes. They include better detection of ânonsensical queries,â Google says, and making the system rely less heavily on user-generated content.
You.com routinely avoids the kinds of errors displayed by Googleâs AI Overviews, Socher says, because his company developed about a dozen tricks to keep LLMs from misbehaving when used for search.
âWe are more accurate because we put a lot of resources into being more accurate,â Socher says. Among other things, You.com uses a custom-built web index designed to help LLMs steer clear of incorrect information. It also selects from multiple different LLMs to answer specific queries, and it uses a citation mechanism that can explain when sources are contradictory. Still, getting AI search right is tricky. WIRED found on Friday that You.com failed to correctly answer a query that has been known to trip up other AI systems, stating that âbased on the information available, there are no African nations whose names start with the letter âK.ââ In previous tests, it had aced the query.
Googleâs generative AI upgrade to its most widely used and lucrative product is part of a tech-industry-wide reboot inspired by OpenAIâs release of the chatbot ChatGPT in November 2022. A couple of months after ChatGPT debuted, Microsoft, a key partner of OpenAI, used its technology to upgrade its also-ran search engine Bing. The upgraded Bing was beset by AI-generated errors and odd behavior, but the companyâs CEO, Satya Nadella, said that the move was designed to challenge Google, saying âI want people to know we made them dance.â
Some experts feel that Google rushed its AI upgrade. âIâm surprised they launched it as it is for as many queriesâmedical, financial queriesâI thought theyâd be more careful,â says Barry Schwartz, news editor at Search Engine Land, a publication that tracks the search industry. The company should have better anticipated that some people would intentionally try to trip up AI Overviews, he adds. âGoogle has to be smart about that,â Schwartz says, especially when they're showing the results as default on their most valuable product.
Lily Ray, a search engine optimization consultant, was for a year a beta tester of the prototype that preceded AI Overviews, which Google called Search Generative Experience. She says she was unsurprised to see the errors that appeared last week given how the previous version tended to go awry. âI think itâs virtually impossible for it to always get everything right,â Ray says. âThatâs the nature of AI.â
Even if blatant errors like suggesting people eat rocks become less common, AI search can fail in other ways. Ray has documented more subtle problems with AI Overviews, including summaries that sometimes draw on poor sources such as sites that are from another region or even defunct websitesâsomething she says could provide less useful information to users who are hunting for product recommendations, for instance. Those who work on optimizing content for Googleâs Search algorithm are still trying to understand whatâs going on. âWithin our industry right now, the level of confusion is on the charts,â she says.
Even if industry experts and consumers get more familiar with how the new Google search behaves, donât expect it to stop making mistakes. Daniel Griffin, a search consultant and researcher who is developing tools to make it easy to compare different AI-powered search services, says that Google faced similar problems when it launched Featured Snippets, which answered queries with text quoted from websites, in 2014.
Griffin says he expects Google to iron out some of the most glaring problems with AI Overviews, but that itâs important to remember no one has solved the problem of LLMs failing to grasp what is true, or their tendency to fabricate information. âItâs not just a problem with AI,â he says. âItâs the web, itâs the world. Thereâs not really a truth, necessarily.â
18 notes
·
View notes
Text
How to Choose the Best Shopify Website Design Company for Your Store in 2025?
In the ever-evolving world of eCommerce, having a well-designed and fully optimized Shopify store is no longer just an option â it's a necessity. As more consumers turn to online shopping, brands must ensure their Shopify website delivers an exceptional user experience, reflects the brand's identity, and supports seamless transactions. This is where a professional Shopify website design company can make all the difference.
Cross Atlantic Software, we understand that the decision to hire a Shopify website design company is a major step in your eCommerce journey. With so many service providers available, making the right choice can be overwhelming. This article aims to guide you through the most important factors to consider when selecting the right partner for your Shopify website design in 2025.
1. Understand Your Goals and Business Needs
Before you even begin searching for a Shopify website design company, clearly outline what you want your Shopify store to achieve. Are you launching a new brand, rebranding an existing one, or scaling up operations? Do you need custom integrations, advanced product filtering, or mobile-first Shopify design?
Having a clear vision will help you communicate effectively with potential design partners and ensure they align with your goals.
2. Look for Specialized Shopify Expertise
Not all web design companies specialize in Shopify. It's essential to choose a team that lives and breathes Shopify website design. Shopify has its own ecosystem, with unique themes, apps, and a proprietary Liquid coding language. Hiring a company that focuses specifically on Shopify design ensures they understand the platform inside-out.
Cross Atlantic Software has dedicated Shopify experts who have built and optimized hundreds of Shopify stores, giving clients the edge they need to compete in saturated markets.
3. Review Their Portfolio and Past Work
A reputable Shopify website design company should have a robust portfolio showcasing their past work. Look for:
Aesthetically pleasing, modern designs
Fast-loading Shopify websites
Mobile responsiveness
Seamless checkout experiences
Custom features like animations or personalized recommendations
Pay attention to diversity in their projects. This tells you whether the company can adapt their Shopify design to different industries and audiences.
4. Read Client Reviews and Testimonials
Real feedback from past clients is one of the most reliable ways to evaluate a Shopify website design company. Look beyond just the star ratings. Focus on detailed testimonials that highlight communication, professionalism, turnaround time, and post-launch support.
Cross Atlantic Software, we donât just deliver projects â we build partnerships that grow with your business. Many of our clients have been with us for years, and weâre proud to be part of their ongoing success stories. Our testimonials reflect our commitment to excellence and custom-tailored Shopify website design solutions.
5. Ask About the Design and Development Process
Transparency is crucial. A reliable Shopify website design company should be able to walk you through their process from start to finish:
Initial Consultation
Strategy & Planning
Wireframing & Prototyping
Shopify Theme Customization or Custom Build
QA Testing & Optimization
Launch & Post-Launch Support
Knowing how your design team works isnât just helpful â itâs essential. When everyoneâs on the same page from day one, the process becomes smoother, timelines are clearer, and there are no last-minute surprises.
6. Consider Their Understanding of UX and Conversion Optimization
Good design isn't just about looking pretty. A successful Shopify website should convert visitors into buyers. That requires deep knowledge of user behavior, sales funnels, and design psychology.
Choose a Shopify website design company that prioritizes:
Clear CTAs (Call to Action)
Simple navigation
Fast page load times
Engaging product pages
Mobile-first design
Cross Atlantic Software, our team fuses creative Shopify design with data-backed UX principles to help you maximize conversions and sales.
7. Evaluate Support and Maintenance Services
Your Shopify store needs continuous updates, improvements, and sometimes emergency fixes. Make sure your design partner offers ongoing support even after launch. Ask questions like:
Do they offer monthly maintenance packages?
How do they handle bugs or errors?
Will you have a go-to person to call when something breaks or when you need a quick update? A dedicated point of contact makes all the difference when time and clarity matter most.
Cross Atlantic Software offers flexible support plans to ensure your Shopify website stays up-to-date, secure, and optimized at all times.
8. Transparency in Pricing
Clear pricing is a mark of a trustworthy Shopify website design company. While it's tempting to go with the lowest quote, remember that quality design and development require expertise and time.
Request a detailed breakdown of costs, including design, development, apps, and post-launch services. A good partner will explain every line item and adjust to fit your budget where possible.
9. Look for Creative Collaboration, Not Just Execution
The best outcomes happen when the design company works with you as a creative partner rather than just following orders. You should feel heard, respected, and inspired during the design journey.
Cross Atlantic Software, we treat every client as a collaborator. Our team engages in regular brainstorming sessions and strategy calls to ensure your vision translates beautifully into a high-performing Shopify store.
10. Check If They Offer Additional Services
Many eCommerce businesses need more than just Shopify website design. Check if your prospective partner can also help with:
SEO Optimization
Email Marketing Integration
App Integrations
Product Photography
Social Media Integration
A company that offers a comprehensive solution can save you time, money, and the hassle of managing multiple vendors.
Cross Atlantic Software provides end-to-end services to make your Shopify store launch as seamless and impactful as possible.
Conslusion:
Choosing the best Shopify website design company in 2025 is about more than just good looks. It requires strategic thinking, technical expertise, and a collaborative approach.
With a trusted partner like Cross Atlantic Software, you can build a Shopify website that not only looks amazing but also drives growth and customer loyalty.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your current Shopify design, now is the time to make the investment in a company that understands your vision and has the skills to make it real.
Letâs simplify your eCommerce success â one pixel at a time.
Ready to build your dream Shopify store?
Visit us at www.crossatlantic.software and letâs get started.
4 notes
·
View notes
Text
How Custom Web Design Can Set You Apart in the Competitive Dublin Market
Introduction
In todayâs digital age, a robust online presence is no longer just an option; itâs a necessity. With countless businesses vying for attention in the bustling Dublin market, how does one stand out? The answer lies in custom web design. This article delves into how tailored website solutions can create a unique identity for your brand, enhance user experience, and ultimately drive success. If you're on the lookout for insights into Web Design Dublin and its many facets, youâve come to the right place!
How Custom Web Design Can Set You Apart in the Competitive Dublin Market
In an era where first impressions are often made online, having a distinctive website is crucial. Custom web design allows businesses to tailor their online presence to reflect their unique values, culture, and offerings. Unlike generic templates that can make your site blend in with competitors, personalized web design establishes a memorable digital footprint.
The Importance of Brand Identity Defining Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
Every business has something special to offer. Custom web design creates a platform to articulate your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). By incorporating specific elements of your brand â from colors and fonts to imagery and layout â you not only convey your message but also resonate with your target audience.
Creating Emotional Connections
Websites arenât just about aesthetics; theyâre about building relationships. A custom-designed site can evoke emotions through visual storytelling. When users connect emotionally with your brand, theyâre more likely to engage and convert.
User Experience: A Cornerstone of Modern Web Design Responsive Web Design Dublin
With mobile usage skyrocketing, ensuring that your site looks great on all devices is non-negotiable. Responsive web design adjusts Get a Free Quote seamlessly across desktops, tablets, and smartphones. This adaptability enhances user experience and boosts SEO rankings.
Intuitive Navigation
Custom sites allow for thoughtful navigation structures tailored specifically for user behavior. An intuitive design will guide visitors effortlessly through your content, reducing bounce rates and improving engagement metrics.
SEO Benefits of Custom Web Design Optimized Structure for Search Engines
Custom web designs are often built with SEO best practices in mind from the ground up. This means cleaner code, better loading times, and optimized imagesâall factors that search engines consider when ranking websites.
Localized SEO Strategies
For businesses targeting local customers in Dublin, integrating localized keywords within a custom web design can significantly increase visibility. Utilizing phrases like âWeb Design Company Dublinâ or âEcommerce Web Design Dublinâ can help you capture relevant traffic.
youtube
The Role of Content Management Systems (CMS) Flexibility and Control
A well-designed custom CMS allows you to manage content easily without needing extensive technical knowledge. This empowers businesses to regularly update their sites with fresh contentâa key factor in maintaining search engine rankings.

Tailored Functionality
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Top Features of Uber suggest That Every Digital Marketer Should Know
In the sector of virtual advertising and marketing, in which visibility and engagement are key, having the proper tools at your disposal could make a widespread difference. Among the plethora of search engine marketing tools available, Uber suggest has emerged as a powerful and flexible answer that caters to companies, marketers, and individuals aiming to decorate their on-line presence. Created through fam end marketer Neil Patel, Uber suggest offers a variety of capabilities designed to optimize websites, generate focused site visitors, and enhance search engine ratings. This article delves into the features, advantages, and practical programs of Uber suggest, showcasing how it may be leveraged to reap SEO success.
How to optimize content with Uber Suggest
What is Uber suggest?
Uber suggest is an all-in-one SEO and key-word research device that offers insights to help users improve their internet site's performance on engines like google. Originally launched as a simple keyword thought device, it has advanced into a complete platform offering features like key-word research, content material thoughts, one way link analysis, website audits, and aggressive evaluation. Whether you're a newbie or a pro professional, Uber suggest is designed to simplify complex search engine marketing procedures and deliver actionable insights.
Key Features of Uber suggest
1. Keyword Research
Keyword research is on the core of any search engine marketing method, and Uber suggest excels on this area. It permits customers to find out new keywords, analyze their search volume, and check their competition degree. By coming into a seed key-word, users can generate a listing of associated key phrases along side metrics consisting of:
Search Volume: The common variety of monthly searches for a key-word.
Search engine optimization Difficulty (SD): A rating indicating how challenging it is to rank for the key-word organically.
Paid Difficulty (PD): A score displaying how aggressive the keyword is for paid search campaigns.
Cost Per Click (CPC): The common value of running a paid ad for the key-word. These metrics enable customers to discover excessive-appearing keywords that align with their content material dreams and audience desires.
2. Competitor Analysis
Understanding your competition is critical for gaining a aggressive edge. Uber suggest provides distinctive competitor analysis via revealing:
Top-performing pages of competition
Keywords using visitors to their websites
Backlink profiles, including the number and nice of one way links
Estimated month-to-month traffic
By reading these metrics, users can find possibilities to outperform competitors by growing better content material and constructing more potent back-link profiles.
Three. Content Ideas
Creating excellent, engaging content is crucial for attracting and maintaining traffic. Uber suggest content thoughts function helps users generate topics based on famous keywords. It presentations:
Trending articles related to the keyword
Estimated visitors for every article
Social media stocks and engagement
These insights manual customers in crafting content material that resonates with their audience and ranks well on search engines like google and yahoo.
4. Backlink Analysis
Backlinks are a crucial ranking thing for search engines, and Ubersuggest gives a robust oneway link analysis device. Users can:
Analyze their very own oneway link profile
Identify referring domains
Discover inbound links pointing to competitionâ web sites
Evaluate the satisfactory and authority of inbound links
This function is useful for developing a hyperlink-constructing method that complements domain authority and boosts scores.
5. Site Audit
Ubersuggestâs web page audit feature gives a comprehensive evaluation of a internet siteâs health. It identifies technical troubles, along with:
Broken hyperlinks
Slow page load instances
Missing meta tags
Mobile usability issues
The device generates a health score and gives pointers to restore troubles, making sure optimum performance and person experience.
6. Rank Tracking
Monitoring your key-word scores is vital for assessing the effectiveness of your search engine optimization efforts. Ubersuggestâs rank tracking characteristic lets in users to:
Track keyword positions through the years
Analyze fluctuations in ratings
Compare overall performance towards competitors
This facts helps customers refine their strategies and maintain a aggressive area.
Benefits of Using Ubersuggest
1. User-Friendly Interface
One of the standout functions of Ubersuggest is its intuitive and person-friendly interface. Unlike some search engine optimization gear that may be overwhelming for novices, Ubersuggest simplifies complicated facts and gives it in an smooth-to-understand layout.
2. Cost-Effective Solution
While many search engine marketing equipment include hefty fee tags, Ubersuggest offers a variety of less costly plans, which include a unfastened version with primary features. This makes it available to small corporations and people with constrained budgets.
Three. Comprehensive Insights
Ubersuggest affords a wealth of data, from keyword evaluation to web page audits, permitting users to make knowledgeable choices and enforce powerful techniques. Its comprehensive approach ensures that no element of search engine marketing is omitted.
Four. Regular Updates
As search engine marketing algorithms evolve, staying up to date is critical. Ubersuggest is regularly updated to reflect modifications in seek engine algorithms, ensuring that users have get admission to to correct and relevant data.
Five. Actionable Recommendations
Ubersuggest doesnât simply offer factsâit gives actionable pointers that guide users in optimizing their websites and improving their ratings.
Practical Applications of Uber suggest
1. Content Creation
By figuring out high-acting key phrases and analyzing competitionâ content material, customers can create weblog posts, articles, and different sorts of content material that attract natural site visitors. For example, a health blogger can use Ubersuggest to find out trending topics like "10-minute domestic workout routines" or "wholesome meal prep ideas."
2. Improving On-Page search engine marketing
Ubersuggestâs website audit function helps users identify and connect on-web page search engine marketing issues, such as missing alt tags or duplicate content. Addressing those issues improves website performance and search engine rankings.
3. Enhancing Link-Building Efforts
With the one-way link analysis device, users can discover first-rate websites for outreach and construct relationships that result in valuable oneway links. This strengthens their area authority and boosts visibility.
Four. Monitoring Competitors
By analyzing competitorsâ strategies, users can pick out gaps of their very own method and capitalize on opportunities. For instance, if a competitorâs pinnacle-appearing web page lacks comprehensive statistics, customers can create extra specific content material to outrank them.
5. Tracking Progress
Regularly tracking key-word ratings and website overall performance guarantees that customers stay heading in the right direction with their dreams. If rankings drop, customers can quickly pick out the cause and modify their strategies.
Tips for Maximizing Ubersuggestâs Potential
Start with the Free Version:Â Explore the simple capabilities to recognize how the device works earlier than upgrading to a paid plan.
Focus on Low-Competition Keywords: Targeting key phrases with low opposition and high seek quantity can yield quicker results.
Leverage Content Ideas:Â Use the content material ideas characteristic to brainstorm attractive topics that align along with your area of interest.
Schedule Regular Audits:Â Conduct site audits periodically to become aware of and address technical problems.
Monitor Progress:Â Use the rank tracking characteristic to evaluate the impact of your search engine optimization efforts and make facts-pushed adjustments.
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Maximising Business Growth Through Custom Website Design and Development
In todayâs competitive digital landscape, a strong online presence is crucial for businesses of all sizes, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A well-designed website is the foundation upon which businesses can build their online success. Itâs no longer enough for a website to simply exist; it must be optimised to showcase your brand, engage visitors, and ultimately drive conversions. This is where custom website design and development come into play, offering SMEs the tools they need to stand out, attract the right audience, and foster long-term growth.
In this article, we will explore how custom website design ensures a seamless user experience across all devices, why SEO-friendly development is critical for visibility, and how a professional team can create a website that not only draws traffic but also converts visitors into loyal customers.
The Importance of a Strong Online Presence For many businesses, a website is the first point of contact with potential customers. Itâs the digital equivalent of a storefront, and it needs to make a positive impression within seconds. A poorly designed or outdated website can lead to high bounce rates, lost opportunities, and a damaged brand reputation. In contrast, a custom-built website provides an opportunity to communicate your brandâs unique message, showcase your products or services, and build credibility.
For SMEs, a custom website is particularly beneficial because it allows you to tailor every aspect to meet the specific needs of your business and your target audience. From intuitive navigation to engaging visuals, custom design enables you to create a site that reflects your brand's personality while also providing a seamless user experience.
Responsive Design for Seamless User Experience One of the key elements of modern web design is responsiveness. A responsive website adjusts its layout and functionality based on the device being used, whether itâs a smartphone, tablet, or desktop. In an age where mobile browsing accounts for a significant portion of internet traffic, having a responsive website is no longer optional.
Custom website design allows developers to prioritise responsiveness, ensuring that your website looks great and functions smoothly on all devices. This leads to a better user experience, which translates to longer site visits, lower bounce rates, and ultimately higher conversions. A responsive site not only caters to a wide range of users but also enhances your brandâs reputation as a modern, user-focused business.
SEO-Friendly Development for Greater Visibility Search engine optimisation (SEO) plays a vital role in determining how visible your website is to potential customers. Even the most beautifully designed website will struggle to succeed if it doesnât appear in search engine results. SEO-friendly development ensures that your website is structured in a way that search engines like Google can easily crawl and index it.
Custom-built websites provide the flexibility to implement SEO best practices from the ground up. This includes optimising page load speeds, ensuring mobile-friendliness, using clean code, and incorporating proper meta tags, headings, and keywords. By focusing on these elements during the development process, SMEs can improve their search engine rankings, drive organic traffic, and reduce reliance on paid advertising.
Converting Traffic into Loyal Customers A visually appealing and SEO-friendly website is only part of the equation. The ultimate goal is to convert visitors into loyal customers. Custom website design enables businesses to create a personalised user journey, guiding visitors through the sales funnel with clear calls to action, engaging content, and a seamless checkout process.
With a custom-built website, you can implement features that are tailored to your audienceâs needs, such as user-friendly forms, integrated payment gateways, or personalised content recommendations. These features enhance the user experience and increase the likelihood of turning casual browsers into repeat customers.
Partnering with Professional Web Developers To truly maximise the benefits of custom website design and development, itâs essential to work with a professional team. Experienced developers understand the latest trends, technologies, and SEO strategies that can give your business a competitive edge. They can also provide ongoing support, ensuring that your website continues to perform optimally as your business grows.
By partnering with a professional web development team, SMEs can ensure that their website is not only visually appealing but also optimised for performance, security, and growth. In todayâs digital age, a custom-built website is one of the most valuable assets an SME can have. It serves as the foundation for a strong online presence, helping businesses showcase their brand, engage with customers, and drive measurable growth. By investing in responsive design, SEO-friendly development, and a professional team, SMEs can create a website that attracts traffic, converts visitors, and fosters long-term success. https://toctoc.com.au/website-development-perth/
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
Unleashing the Power of A2 Hosting Review: Hear Why Customers Are Raving

Introduction
Overview of A2 Hosting
When considering web hosting providers, A2 Hosting often comes up as a distinctive choice. Known for its speed and reliability, A2 Hosting caters to a diverse range of usersâfrom bloggers to large enterprises. Their commitment to performance is backed by a suite of features designed to offer not just hosting, but a robust online experience. What sets A2 Hosting apart? Let me simplify it for you:
Turbo Servers: Up to 20x faster than standard hosting
Developer-Friendly: Supports various programming languages and frameworks
Green Hosting: Environmentally responsible with energy-efficient practices
Using A2 Hosting has truly allowed me to focus on what I loveâcreating contentâwithout the worries of server downtimes.
History of A2 Hosting
Founded in 2001, A2 Hosting began with a clear mission: to provide a top-tier web hosting experience. What started as a small startup has evolved into a significant player in the hosting industry over the years. Here are some pivotal milestones in A2 Hosting's journey:
2001: A2 Hosting was established in Ann Arbor, Michigan, mainly targeting developers.
2003: The introduction of their "Turbo" server line showcased their focus on speed.
2013: The launch of their Managed WordPress hosting solidified their offerings.

A2 Hosting Features
High-Speed Servers
One of the standout features of A2 Hosting is its high-speed servers. Speed is crucial, especially if you want to provide users with a seamless experience. When I first migrated my blog to A2 Hosting, I noticed an immediate boost in page loading times. Their Turbo Servers promise up to 20x faster performance, which is a game changer! Here are a few highlights about their speed capabilities:
SSD Storage: A2 utilizes solid-state drives that drastically improve data retrieval times compared to traditional HDDs.
Turbo Boost: This optional feature allows for even faster speeds by optimizing server settings specifically for your site.
Global Data Centers: With multiple data centers across the globe, A2 Hosting ensures that your content is as close to your visitors as possible.
Reliable Customer Support
Another noteworthy aspect of A2 Hosting is their reliable customer support. We all encounter technical hiccups from time to time, and having a responsive support team can make all the difference. Personally, I found their customer service representatives to be knowledgeable and eager to help with any questions I had during my initial setup. Hereâs what you can expect from their support services:
24/7 Availability: Whether itâs the weekend or the middle of the night, help is just a click away.
Multiple Support Channels: Reach out via live chat, phone, or emailâwhichever method suits you best.
Comprehensive Knowledge Base: A detailed library of articles and tutorials helps users find answers swiftly.

A2 Hosting Plans
Shared Hosting
When it comes to affordability and ease of use, A2 Hosting's Shared Hosting plans are a fantastic option, especially for beginners. I still remember my initial foray into web hosting; I started with a shared plan simply because it fit my budget and needs perfectly. With shared hosting, multiple websites share the same server resources, which is both cost-effective and simple to manage. Here are some key features of A2 Hosting's Shared Hosting:
Low Starting Price: Their plans are competitively priced, making it accessible to many.
Free Site Migration: A2 offers migration assistance from your existing host, saving you the hassle.
Unlimited Storage and Bandwidth: Ideal for growing websites that may need more resources as they scale.
VPS Hosting
As my website grew, I found myself needing more control and resources, leading me to explore A2 Hosting's VPS Hosting options. Virtual Private Servers offer dedicated resources within a shared environment, providing better performance and greater customization. Here's what I discovered about their VPS Hosting plans:
Flexible Resources: You can scale your resources according to your site's evolving needs.
Root Access: Ideal for developers like me who want complete control over their server's configurations.
Enhanced Security: A private environment adds an extra layer of security for sensitive data.

Benefits of Using A2 Hosting
Enhanced Security
One of the aspects of A2 Hosting that truly stood out for me is their enhanced security features. In todayâs digital landscape, safeguarding your website is crucial, and A2 Hosting takes this concern seriously. From the moment I started my journey with them, I felt reassured by the various security measures they implemented. Here are some highlights of their security features:
Free SSL Certificates: A2 provides free SSL certificates, which are essential for encrypting data and boosting customer trust.
HackScan Protection: Their proactive monitoring helps detect vulnerabilities and block potential threats before they cause harm.
Reinforced DDoS Protection: This feature safeguards your website from malicious attacks that could disrupt services.
Knowing these measures were in place allowed me to focus on my content without constantly worrying about potential breaches.
User-Friendly Control Panel
Navigating the world of web hosting can be intimidating, especially if youâre new to it. Thatâs why A2 Hostingâs user-friendly control panel is yet another reason I appreciate their service. It simplifies website management, making it accessible to everyone, regardless of technical expertise. What I love about their control panel:
Intuitive Design: Easy-to-navigate menus mean you can quickly find what you need.
One-Click Installations: Setting up applications like WordPress or Joomla is a breeze with just one click.
Resource Usage Stats: You can easily monitor your resource consumption, helping to manage your site effectively.

Customer Reviews
Positive Feedback
As I dove deeper into the world of A2 Hosting, I couldn't help but notice the buzz surrounding their services. Many users rave about the performance and overall experience they receive. The positive feedback is nearly unanimous, emphasizing how this hosting provider sets itself apart from the competition. Hereâs what many customers appreciate most:
Speed and Uptime: A consistent theme in reviews is the impressive speed and reliability. Users often mention page load times significantly improving after switching to A2 Hosting.
Responsive Support: Customers frequently highlight the quick response time and helpfulness of the support teamâsomething I can personally attest to. I reached out to them once, and I was amazed at how quickly I received a thorough solution.
Testimonials from Satisfied Customers
Real-life testimonials often speak volumes, and A2 Hosting is filled with success stories from satisfied customers. Many express how transitioning to A2 Hosting transformed their online presence. For instance:
John, a Small Business Owner: Sharing his journey, John mentioned that after moving to A2 Hosting, his e-commerce site experienced record sales due to faster page load times, which directly bolstered customer satisfaction.
Sarah, a Blogger: Sarah remarked, "The user-friendly control panel took the headache out of managing my blog. It's simplified everything for me!"
In my experience, witnessing such genuine testimonials gives me confidence in A2 Hosting. Their customers not only praise the services but feel genuinely looked after, and thatâs something we all want when selecting our web hosting partner.
#web hosting#vps hosting#hosting services#hosting service provider#cybersecurity#web development#web design#computer#internet#technology
4 notes
·
View notes
Text
Why AWS is the Best Cloud Hosting Partner for Your Organization â Proven Benefits and Features

More entrepreneurs like e-store owners prefer Amazon Web Services (AWS) for cloud hosting services this year. This article will single out countless reasons to consider this partner for efficient AWS hosting today.
5 Enticing Features of AWS that Make It Perfect for You
The following are the main characteristics of Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2024.
Scalable
The beauty of AWS is that a client can raise or lower their computing capability based on business demands.
Highly Secure
Secondly, AWS implements countless security measures to ensure the safety of a clientâs data. For example, AWS complies with all the set data safety standards to avoid getting lawsuits from disgruntled clients.
Amazon secures all its data centers to ensure no criminal can access them for a nefarious purpose.
Free Calculator
Interestingly, AWS proffers this tool to help new clients get an estimate of the total hosting cost based on their business needs. The business owner only needs to indicate their location, interested services, and their zone.
Pay-As-You-Go Pricing Option
New clients prefer this company for AWS hosting services because this option lets them pay based on the resources they add to this platform.
User-Friendly
AWS is the best hosting platform because it has a user-oriented interface. For example, the provider has multiple navigation links plus instructional videos to enable the clients to use this platform.
Clients can edit updated data whenever they choose or add new company data to their accounts.
Unexpected Advantages of Seeking AWS Hosting Services
Below are the scientific merits of relying on Amazon Web Services (AWS) for web design and cloud computing services.
Relatively Fair Pricing Models
Firstly, the AWS hosting service provider offers well-thought-out pricing options to ensure the client only pays for the resources they utilize. For example, you can get a monthly option if you have many long-term projects.
Limitless Server Capacity
AWS offers a reasonable hosting capacity to each client to enable them to store as much company data as possible. Therefore, this cloud hosting partner ensures that employees can access crucial files to complete activities conveniently.
Upholds Confidentiality
AWS has at least twelve (12) data centers in different parts of the world. Further, this providerâs system is relatively robust and secure to safeguard sensitive clientsâ data 24/7.
High-Performance Computing
Unlike other cloud hosting sites, AWS can process meta-data within seconds, enabling employees to meet their daily goals.
Highly Reliable
Unknown to some, over 1M clients in various countries rely on AWS for web development or hosting services. Additionally, AWS is available in over 200 countries spread across different continents.
Finally, AWSâs technical team spares no effort to implement new technologies to safeguard their clientsâ data and woo new ones.
Summary
In closing, the beauty of considering this partner for AWS hosting is that it has a simple layout-hence ideal for everyone, including non-techies. Additionally, the fact that this partner is elastic ensures that this system can shrink or expand based on the files you add.
At its core, AWS offers various cloud services, such as storage options, computing power, and networking through advanced technology. NTSPL Hosting offers various features on AWS hosting aimed at improving the scalability of cloud infrastructure for less downtimes. Some of the services NTSPL Hosting offers include pioneering server administration, version control, and system patching. Given that it offers round the clock customer service; it is a good option for those looking for a solid AWS hosting solution.
Source: NTSPL Hosting
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
Top Hosting Providers in Delhi
Launching your dream website only to face constant crashes and slow loading times can be a nightmare for any business or individual aiming to thrive online. Choosing the right hosting provider can make or break your online journey. In Delhiâs competitive market, finding a dependable solution can be overwhelming. This article explores the top hosting providers in Delhi to ensure success for your digital presence.
Key Features of a Reliable Hosting Provider
1. High Uptime Guarantee
A reliable hosting provider ensures your website is accessible 24/7, minimizing interruptions and maximizing productivity.
2. Affordable Plans for All Budgets
From startups to established businesses, flexible plans with transparent pricing ensure premium services are accessible to everyone.
3. Blazing-Fast Speeds
Website speed is critical for user engagement and SEO. Optimized server performance ensures lightning-fast loading times that enhance the user experience.
4. Robust Security Measures
With threats like cyberattacks on the rise, hosting providers offer SSL certificates, DDoS protection, and regular backups to safeguard your data.
5. Outstanding Customer Support
Technical issues can be stressful, but 24/7 support teams ensure quick resolutions and peace of mind.
Top Hosting Providers in Delhi
1. Hostagle
Hostagle combines affordability, reliability, and robust features to deliver exceptional hosting services. Whether you need shared hosting, dedicated servers, or domain registration, Hostagle is a trusted partner for businesses in Delhi. With 24/7 customer support and scalable plans, Hostagle ensures your websiteâs success.
2. Penguin Technology
Penguin Technology specializes in Cloud, Linux, and DevOps solutions, offering end-to-end IT infrastructure management. Their expertise ensures that businesses have professional hands managing their hosting, both in-house and on the cloud.
3. Webkype
Webkype is a preferred technology partner for startups and enterprises, providing comprehensive solutions like ERP, CRM, web development, and IT services. They empower businesses to thrive in the digital era with reliable hosting and IT support.
4. Softzenia
Softzenia is a team of experienced professionals delivering services such as web design, e-commerce development, payment gateway integration, and online marketing. Their hosting solutions complement their full suite of web services, making them a one-stop shop for businesses.
5. D2Web Solution Ltd.
D2Web Solution Ltd. offers domain and server solutions, including website hosting, VPS servers, cloud hosting, and digital marketing services. Their versatile offerings make them a go-to choice for businesses in Delhi.
Choosing the best hosting provider is vital for your websiteâs success. With options like Hostagle, Penguin Technology, Webkype, Softzenia, and D2Web Solution Ltd., businesses in Delhi have access to reliable, affordable, and secure hosting solutions. Evaluate your needs and partner with a provider that aligns with your goals for a seamless digital experience.
FAQs
Q1: What makes Hostagle different from other hosting providers? A: Hostagle offers a unique combination of affordability, reliability, and robust features tailored to diverse needs.
Q2: Which hosting provider is best for startups in Delhi? A: Hostagle and Webkype offer affordable plans and scalable solutions, making them ideal for startups.
Q3: Do these providers offer 24/7 customer support? A: Yes, providers like Hostagle and Softzenia offer round-the-clock support to assist with technical issues.
Q4: Can I get cloud hosting services in Delhi? A: Yes, Penguin Technology and D2Web Solution Ltd. specialize in cloud hosting solutions.
#web hosting#hosting service provider#hosting services#cloud hosting provider#webhosting#vps hosting#Domain and Hosting
2 notes
·
View notes