#Factors Considered in Web Design

[payblogs]

DARK SMS - DRAGON+

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, maintaining privacy and security while communicating is more important than ever. Introducing DarkSMS, a cutting-edge virtual SMS platform designed to streamline your messaging experience without compromising your personal information. With our innovative virtual number service, users can receive SMS messages securely and anonymously, eliminating the risks associated with sharing private phone numbers. Whether you’re signing up for online services, verifying accounts, or simply looking to keep your communication confidential, DarkSMS has got you covered. 

Virtual SMS

Virtual SMS refers to the messaging service that enables users to send and receive text messages through a virtual phone number rather than a traditional mobile line. This service is particularly useful for individuals and businesses looking to maintain privacy while communicating or verifying accounts.

One of the key advantages of using virtual sms is the ability to receive SMS without revealing your personal phone number. This is especially beneficial for online transactions, sign-ups for apps, or any situation where you might need to provide a phone number but want to protect your privacy.

Furthermore, virtual numbers can be easily managed from a web-based platform, allowing users to organize and store messages effectively. Many service providers offer features such as message forwarding, where received SMS messages can be redirected to your email or other platforms, ensuring you never miss an important notification.

In addition to privacy and convenience, virtual SMS services are often cost-effective. They eliminate the need for extra SIM cards or mobile contracts, allowing users to only pay for the services they actually use. This flexibility makes virtual number services highly attractive for startups and individuals working from remote locations.

As businesses increasingly adopt digital communication strategies, integrating virtual SMS into their operations can enhance customer interaction and improve engagement through instant messaging capabilities.

Virtual Number Service

A virtual number service offers a practical solution for individuals and businesses looking to maintain privacy while receiving communications. By using a virtual number, you can receive SMS messages without exposing your personal phone number. This feature is especially useful for those engaged in online transactions, such as e-commerce, as it safeguards against unwanted spam and protects your identity.

One of the key advantages of a virtual number service is its capability to function seamlessly alongside your primary phone line. Users can receive messages from various platforms effectively, whether it's for verification purposes, two-factor authentication, or simply keeping in touch with clients. The convenience of managing multiple numbers through a single device cannot be overstated.

With options to select numbers from different geographic locations, this service caters to users looking to establish a local presence in different markets. Moreover, these numbers can be set up quickly and easily, providing instant access to receive SMS without lengthy contracts or commitments.

To optimize your experience with virtual SMS and virtual number services, consider features like call forwarding, voicemail, and the ability to choose your own number. Such functionality enhances user experience by offering flexibility in communication while maintaining professional boundaries.

Ultimately, investing in a virtual number service can significantly enhance your business's communication strategy, allowing you to receive SMS reliably while focusing on building relationships with your clients.

Receive SMS

Receiving SMS through a virtual number is a convenient service that allows users to get text messages without needing a physical SIM card. This is particularly beneficial for individuals and businesses looking for privacy or those who wish to avoid exposing their personal phone numbers.

The process is straightforward: once you obtain a virtual number through a reliable virtual number service, you can start receiving sms messages. This service is essential for various reasons, including:

  Account verification codes: Many online platforms use SMS to send verification codes. A virtual number allows you to receive these codes securely.

  Business communications: Companies can use virtual SMS to receive client inquiries or feedback without revealing their primary contact numbers.

  Privacy protection: By receiving SMS through a virtual number, users can protect their personal phone numbers from spam and unwanted solicitation.

Moreover, the get SMS feature of a virtual number service ensures that you don’t miss any important messages, even if you are on the move. Messages are often stored digitally, which means you can access them anytime and anywhere.

In summary, the ability to receive SMS through a virtual number enhances both privacy and accessibility, making it a valuable tool for users in various contexts.

Get SMS

Getting SMS messages through a virtual number service has become increasingly popular due to its convenience and versatility. Whether you need to receive texts for verification purposes or want to maintain privacy while communicating, virtual SMS provides a robust solution.

With a virtual number, you can easily get sms from anywhere in the world without needing a physical SIM card. This feature is particularly beneficial for businesses that require secure communication with clients or customers, as it ensures that sensitive information remains confidential.

Here are some advantages of using a virtual number to get SMS:

Privacy Protection: Using a virtual number helps keep your personal phone number private.

Accessibility: You can receive SMS messages on multiple devices, including tablets and laptops.

Cost-Effective: Virtual SMS services typically come with lower costs than traditional SMS plans.

Global Reach: You can get SMS messages from international numbers without incurring roaming fees.

Easy Setup: Setting up a virtual number to receive SMS is straightforward and often takes just a few minutes.

In summary, leveraging a virtual number service for SMS communication allows you to manage your messages efficiently while maintaining privacy, enhancing accessibility, and reducing costs. This is particularly useful for both personal and business communications, making it a smart choice for anyone looking to streamline their SMS functions.

[watermelonlicker]

"babygate killed this fandom as it was designed to do."

This sentence made me cry now. I haven't thought of that this way. I always thought babygate was to push Louis (and Harry) further back into the closet, but I never thought by doing this, the fandom will loose a lot of larries. And not because they don't believe in them being a couple, but because they got fed up with this shit.

I came to the fandom only in 2022, so I missed all of this. But a close friend of mine was a huge 1D fan, and she left the fandom totally. Recently we discussed some stories about the boys, and she told me literally all of his fan friends thought Harry and Louis were a couple, it was never a question.

She also said, she might enjoy their solo music, but she's so disappointed in how the boys were or still are handled that she won't listen to anything from them anymore (she thinks even their solo work royalties are tied to XF and/or SC, and she just doesn't want to support that).

She's still friends with some people from that fan group, and some of them follow the other boys' solo career, but not H and L anymore. And not because they don't like them, but because they think them being more and more successful ties them down even more.

And now reading your last sentence of that post it dawned on me, yep, this what exactly was the goal of babygate to erase the activity of these fans. They're still here, but they just won't put up with this shit anymore, they won't engage anymore. And that's also one of the deepest cut on Louis' career.

i agree with all of this like babygate happened for a multitude of reasons but i definitely think weakening the fandom/causing division played a factor. i said that about a zarry ask i answered not too long ago where some of the zarries even felt like planted accounts. the shift in 2015 was genuinely so crazy and blindsiding and my gf told me it only got worse in 2016 onwards.

and ive said many times now about why i returned here instead of twitter and it was bcos i saw the harries so freely making fun of jay/fizzy’s deaths without anyone calling them out but larries and they’re considered the better fans than us bcos they what? they don’t acknowledge the closet of two queer people? ok.

and i definitely agree about their money still being tied to sc in some form. you have the x factor contracts to think about + syco entertainment is a branch of sony so they technically never left sony. columbia (who harry is currently signed to) is also a part of sony and the azoffs have monopolized everything. like i’ve said before it’s one giant web you can’t untangle yourself from unless you want to like… have no career. people who have no understanding of anything think harry is “free” bcos his closet is glass but he was still saying on hslot that he can’t wait to be more open which is why a lot of people think hslot changed his perspective on his career/image going forward but at the end of the day there’s just so many terrible factors so it’s anyone’s guess. i try to be optimistic but i’m also realistic.

anon is quoting this

also what i said about zarries pls my teen nemesis

[onionsites]

ONİONSİTES - DRAGON+

Onion sites, also known as Tor sites, are a unique type of website that can only be accessed through the Tor network. The term "onion site" specifically refers to websites that are exclusively accessible via Tor, distinguishing them from traditional websites that can be reached through standard web browsers. These sites utilize a special-use top-level domain name.onion, which designates them as anonymous onion services previously known as "hidden services". The Tor network, short for The Onion Router, is a free and open-source platform that enables users to browse the internet anonymously and access content not typically available through conventional means.

The functionality of onion sites is based on the encryption and routing protocols of the Tor network. When a user attempts to access an onion site, their connection is routed through a series of volunteer-operated servers, or nodes, to conceal their identity and location. This process helps to protect the privacy and anonymity of both the user and the site they are visiting. Onion web list offer enhanced security and privacy compared to traditional websites, making them attractive to individuals seeking to safeguard their online activities from surveillance, censorship, or tracking.

What are onion sites presents both benefits and risks for users navigating the dark web. Understanding the potential advantages and drawbacks is essential for making informed decisions about online activities. Some key points to consider include: Benefits:

- Enhanced privacy and anonymity

- Access to content not available on the clear web

- Protection against surveillance and tracking Risks:

- Exposure to illegal or harmful content

- Potential security vulnerabilities

- Increased likelihood of encountering malicious actors

By weighing these factors and exercising caution while browsing onion sites, users can leverage the unique capabilities of the Tor network while minimizing potential risks to their online security and well-being.

[wrathbit]

* . ➠ FILE I : THE SPIDER

< 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 > recorded at 10/14/XX / location: 𝘕𝘌𝘞 𝘠𝘖𝘙𝘒 𝘏𝘈𝘓𝘓 𝘖𝘍 𝘚𝘊𝘐𝘌𝘕𝘊𝘌 ( queens, new york city, new york ). specimen urged forth per the goddess NEITH's will, mistaken injection of radiation occurred before contact with CHOSEN HUNTER [ peter parker ].

< 𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 > family [ araneidae ], genus [ neoscona ], species [ neoscona crucifera ]. an orb-weaver spider.

[ 𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐑 ] was bitten by a *female neoscona crucifera at age FIFTEEN ( mid-puberty, exacerbating hormone imbalance ), which altered his DNA along with a normally lethal dose of < 𝚐𝚊𝚖𝚖𝚊 𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 >. DNA sequence now presents as XXY ( human designation ), or XX1X2Y ( mutate designation ).

{ ORB WEAVER SPIDERS } can be found all over north america and are known for building webs, often remaking them every day. they have excellent sensory skills and can detect vibrations whenever their web is touched. 𝐍𝐄𝐎𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐀 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐀 females can be 0.37 - 0.75in long, with only a slight size difference for males. they are generally nocturnal, but females can become diurnal in the fall, 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚕𝚊𝚢 𝚎𝚐𝚐𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚛 / 𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗. typically, they spin their webs in higher, man-made structures, populating gardens and urban areas. this species is considered docile, but will bite if provoked. their venom is not dangerous to humans beyond the sensation, swelling, and irritation likened to a bee sting.

𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐒 - 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂 𝐌𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 / < 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 >

* excludes radiation-based mutations ( gold eyes, etc. ) & spider-related abilities given via mysticism, not localized to species ( super strength, spider-wave detection, spider-sense, etc. )

i ) small setules on his hands and the bottoms of his feet ( allowing him to adhere to walls ).

ii ) glands in each wrist that eject webbing. there are silvery "veins" visible on his forearms in bright settings; they funnel web fluid from a small organ that produces it in his upper abdomen.

- * produces a steady amount consistently, but stores can be emptied when a lot of webbing is used at one time. alternatively, build-up from lack of use can cause pain, swelling, and discharge. - * as the webbing is not infinite, overuse (and attempted use after stores are emptied) causes irritation, swelling, and discomfort. - * two types are produced: sticky and non-sticky.

iii ) reduced need for sleep. only requires four hours of sleep to be fully rested, can vary depending on food intake, health, injury, and stamina. rather than sleep, he can on occasion enter a 'stupor', or a rest state, which is not true sleep but indicates a lack of movement and response.

iv ) regeneration. classified as a healing factor, but is a step beyond basic healing. he doesn't scar, his injuries repair within a few days, and he's able to regenerate huge swaths of skin, keratin, and potentially bone. unlikely to be able to regrow entire limbs, but that hasn't been tested yet.

v ) slowed metabolism. able to go many days without eating. an opportunistic eater, will consume huge amounts of sustenance in one short period of time and then last a week without. hunger varies based on health, sleep, and stamina.

- * peter's body is in a constant state of ' overworked ', and he passively uses his regeneration to stay afloat. therefore, his need for food is greatly increased beyond what would typically be standard for his species.

vi ) ectotherm. " cold - blooded ", his body temperature adapts to the surrounding environment. heat is obtained through alternate sources, as his body is unable to produce it to a human standard. prolonged exposure to temperatures below freezing cause him to enter a hibernation-like state, eventually leading to death.

vii ) reproductive organs. has a copulatory opening, oviduct, ovaries, and egg-laying ducts. altered from straightforward female spider organs, tied closely to the human male reproductive organs.

𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐒 - 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂 𝐌𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 / < 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 >

i ) autumnal mating season. elevated hormone levels and increased inclination towards sex. may be aggressive, irritated, needy, or standoffish.

ii ) web display. enjoys creating large, intricate webs. seeks shelter and comfort in large, protective web "cocoons" where he can retreat in.

iii ) natural hunter. capable of staying in one spot for elongated periods of time. swift, silent, and single-minded. messing with webs that he has created for his comfort may incite aggression or prey-vision.

iv ) self-regulation. finds comfort in and reduces stress by perching in high areas, lingering in corners, hanging up-side down, and sitting within a web.

[vladim-3d]

I believe that if you're one of those Web Revival folks, who make websites in Web 1 style, then you should fully follow Web 1's design philosophy. Do a research on it, there are actual books about it ("Digital Folklore" is my favorite one).

Take image backgrounds, for example. People pick classic choices because of nostalgia factor and because "that's how it was", but let's go beyond this passivity. Let's consider that you pick one of those animated starry backgrounds, because you believe that the Internet is still a vastly unexplored futuristic frontier, where each web page is own planet or asteroid hiding materials for your mind and your soul. Or how about one of those flowery backgrounds? The ones that look like wallpapers of your grandma's bedroom? Wouldn't it be rebellious to have a website that looks the American Midwest house, sitting in the middle of sterile corporate landscape?

If there is one thing to take from Web 1 revisionism, it's that its design choices were conscious and they reflected one cool idea: the Internet is the place, the web pages are homes. No matter how scrappy those homes looked like. This is post-punk at its finest, and you should totally take notes.

[holyraconteur]

I had another thought about Chaos is A Ladder

What would happen if one of Spider's missions just went wrong? Say, someone realized he wasn't one of them and he got captured. What would happen?

Would he be interrogated and/or tortured? Would he find a way to escape? Could he talk his way out? How long would it take the Sullies and co to realize something had gone wrong, and when they did, what would they do? Would they try to rescue him? Would the kids want to rescue him, but the adults say its too risky and try to shut down any rescue attempts?

You mentioned you don't really like Quaritch, but if you care to factor him in, how would his presence effect this situation? Would he try to intervene for Spider like he did canonically, or would he leave Spider to his fate? Or if not Quaritch, are there any other RDA characters who would feel conflicted about harming Spider since he's only a teenager?

This was a lot to type, but your questions made me think about the possibilities of Spider's capture and inevitable meeting with his "father," or rather, the echo of his father. It's like looking at a distorted reflection of himself when he sees his "father" for the first time ever.

Spider’s mission is meant to be another clean strike. He infiltrates a remote RDA base under the alias Alec Stone, posing as a green, fresh-faced recruit rotated in from Earth. He wears the uniform. He eats the food. He flinches at gunfire just enough to seem green.

It’s been three days, and he’s already found the pressure points to make this place erupt into chaos: An affair between two officers, a missing shipment of arms blamed on a third, a young soldier who saw something suspicious but hasn’t reported it, and is considering blackmail. This place is rife with corruption and incompetence. Spider had already begun spinning his web and spreading rumors. It's only a matter of time before fingers are pointed and accusations are flung around.

But there’s a mistake. A small one.

A face from a different outpost, a security technician named Harlan Reese, recognizes him. Not entirely. Just enough to ask questions.

“You… I’ve seen your face before…”

Spider plays dumb. Blinks dumbly. Shrugs it off. But Harlan, competent weasel that he is, checks the system, trying to verify Alec Stone’s ID. He finds a ghost. No real transfer. No medicals. No origin.

Spider is fucked and he doesn’t realize he's been made.

Tranquilizer darts hit him in the chest. Three to bring him down.

He wakes chained to a steel chair in a dim interrogation chamber, stripped naked. There's no talking himself out of this, and it's only a matter of time before these clowns figure that he's been sabotaging outposts and turning everyone against each other. The walls are damp. There’s a camera above. A drain in the floor.

They leave him alone for hours. Long enough for the chill to set in. This prison was specifically designed to be as uncomfortable and dirty as possible. Too bad for them, he's lived in filth before. This is nothing.

They torture him.

First, it’s sleep deprivation. Then cold water. Then a shock collar. When Spider doesn't talk, his brain gets damn near turned into mush and still, he resists them. Obviously, the Sullies don't save him. They don't even know that he's here. Spider always leaves High Camp randomly to go on long missions of sabotage. This has sparked more than one argument between him and Jake for leaving without telling anyone, but as long as he keeps coming back after a job well done, Jake just lets him do his own thing.

Luckily for him, Quaritch does intervene in hopes that a change in scenery will get the kid to relax and open up. Also, he might just have a soft spot for the brat. He sees Paz in his eyes, and if the old man's memories are correct, this little stray might just be his son. After some wheeling and dealing, Spider is released into his care for more personal interrogation. Maybe some one-on-one "gentle parenting" will make him talk.

Big mistake.

Before he got found out by Harlan, Spider had planted a fabricated “leak” implicating two officers in some serious shady dealings. The soldiers here are already overworked, and the humidity is so uncomfortable that it makes them more short-tempered than usual.

One minute, Quaritch is pulling some slop together from the cafeteria for the kid to eat, the next, the fire alarms go off, soldiers are fighting each other, and an explosion sweeps Quaritch off his feet. Spider is gone, the entire base is on fire, almost everyone is dead, and Quaritch is deaf in one ear and half his face is a burnt mess from the explosion. He's limping around in search of the kid, but Spider is long gone and this place is fucked to hell. Whatever the little shit did, he got away with it and what little intel they had is gone with the wind.

So, yeah, Spider had a little oopsie, but he learned his lesson. The whole time he was with Quaritch, he was counting down the minutes to slip out of sight and start a fire in the labs...which triggered a chemical explosion. Even worse, his fabricated "leak" triggered a riot...so, yeah, he wasn't interested in sticking around with daddy dearest. Quaritch is strangely proud of the little shit, but resents him for causing so much destruction against his "own kind" and causing the explosion that re-arranged half of his face and deaf in one ear.

Next time they meet, he's going to beat the kid's ass with a switch and then ruffle his hair for a job well done. Apple doesn't fall too far from the tree after all.

As for Spider, he returns to Hell's Gate with enough intel to keep Jake happy and doesn't breathe a word about what happened and what he went through. Mistakes were made. Lessons were learned. He simply wants to lie down and let Kiri reapply his stripes until the next infiltration.

And if he's a little relieved that Quaritch is still alive...then that's his secret to keep.

@cyren-myadd

[crossatlanticsoftware-blog]

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 – 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 don’t just deliver projects — we build partnerships that grow with your business. Many of our clients have been with us for years, and we’re 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 isn’t just helpful — it’s essential. When everyone’s 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.

Let’s simplify your eCommerce success — one pixel at a time.

Ready to build your dream Shopify store?

Visit us at www.crossatlantic.software and let’s get started.

[galacticnova3]

Speaking of bugs, out of all the different new forms Matthew could take… why some kind of arthropod?

So glad you asked! Miracle Matter’s original forms all correspond to the individual/“pure” abilities in Kirby 64. However, that game also introduced mix abilities, and I wanted to reference that while also primarily taking inspiration from abilities that weren’t in 64. With that in mind, I decided to base its new forms off of two abilities each, while simultaneously building on the idea of the old forms changing to be even more representative of the original “elements” as Miracle gained a better understanding of them. Some didn’t change much at all, like the spark one, while others like cutter changed more noticeably; the main reason I went with this second goal was actually because of the bomb form. I knew I wanted to do something with water and bubble, but the bomb form having bubbles both didn’t make much sense to me to begin with and would have overlapped with a water/bubble form. I could have gone with water and poison, but those abilities are simultaneously already too similar(poison is just water ability with lingering effects pretty much) and not similar enough(water and poison as elements are generally considered distinct) to work for this kind of idea.

Anyways, now to actually answer the question: there’s a few reasons! Like me being biased as an entomology major(/hj). In terms of the concept side, the bug form is, if it wasn’t already obvious given the wording on the original post, based on the beetle and spider abilities. Insects famously include a huge number of species that make use of eyespots— this will kind of spoil the eventual design but I was specifically inspired by the very fittingly named eye-spot ladybug— which felt extremely fitting for the Covered In Eyes character. They’re commonly used as symbols of transformation, but also of simplemindedness and lower intelligence; as far as animals go, their intelligence and capacity to experience certain things as seemingly simple as pain are not well understood, to the point that many people assume there is nothing TO be understood. I felt that would be an interesting parallel to Miracle, given that even the fandom doesn’t agree on whether it’s even sentient or not, let alone sapient, something I decided to echo in-universe with how others mistake it for being mindless.

On the spider side of things, Mariel shows us that some Dark Matters already manifested in a spider-ish form, which to me makes it feel like less of a stretch than it initially seems. When many people think of traits that define spiders, they think about the number of eyes they have, often with a perspective of “they have too many”. A lot of people are also frightened of them and immediately assume the worst, regardless of what the spider is actually doing; if you have seen basically any of the stuff I’ve written about post-Zero/02 Dark Matters, this should sound like a familiar predicament. Their webs often look very geometrical(especially when constructed by spiders on LSD, this was learned from an actual experiment) and are made up of many more or less straight lines. There’s also the fact that multiple spiders have evolved specifically to thrive in manmade structures, and, to my knowledge, Miracle Matter is the only Dark Matter fought exclusively indoors; this wasn’t much of a factor but I did think of it. Visually, it doesn’t actually take much from them other than body plan; the beetle side definitely makes up a majority of the inspiration.

This was the form I came up with last, and by that point there weren’t many abilities left that didn’t have too much overlap with existing ones. Plasma and beam(and to a degree ESP) overlapped too much with spark, sword too much with cutter, sand with stone, crash with bomb, spear with needle, tornado and leaf were already used, as were water and bubble, and most other abilities seemed too specific to really make sense. Fighter, cook, hammer, archer/cupid, staff, ninja, bell, circus, yo-yo, cleaning, doctor, and magic(which is def more in line with the performance type rather than arcane arts) would be hard to make work with a character that doesn’t have hands or experience with specific fighting styles/objects.

Mecha and jet are similar and would have been cool to combine, but those are extremely specific and a bit beyond the complexity I could see Miracle replicating in any meaningful capacity. I DID think about trying to do something with metal and mirror, but I couldn’t think of how it would be used in a way that wasn’t just the stone form but reflective, nor a reason for it to have taken that sort of form. Animal doesn’t have an ability that’s particularly similar to it, and even if it did I don’t know how I could make a fucked up D20 mammalian-ish. Wing and hi-jump had a similar issue and also felt pretty redundant for a character that can already float. Copy shouldn’t need explaining.

[vikenticomeshome]

Cyberchase Character Discussion (for your local Cyberchase trivia quiz) - #1: Inez

Since I have been archiving data from the Cyberchase section of the old pbskids.org website for the FlashPoint Archive Project lately, I thought should share some content I have dug up, particularly information that was provided on the different characters. Much of the information is no longer on the site. While much of it is available in the FlashPoint Archive Project now, and I would consider the project easy to look into and setup, not everyone will take the time to do so. #1: Inez I figure the best place to start is with her official "Meet the Cybersquad" character bio from back in the day. This was placed on the pbskids.org website way back in 2001, before the series initially started airing in 2002. This is no longer on the pbskids.org site, so I can't promise that it is still canon.

So, we start off learning that Inez is the youngest of the group, at nine years old. We never see the kids in school together, but I would not be surprised if Inez jumped forward a grade or two. The page emphasizes her curiosity. Now, would you call the parkway vs. driveway thing pedantic? For me: no comment.

The second page tells us that her favorite color is purple, her favorite food are popcorn and mangoes, and her favorite book in "By the Shores of Silver Lake", by Laura Ingalls Wilder. That is part of Wilder's autobiographical "Little House on the Prarie" series, with this particular book being published in 1939. I know its a classic that has been republished numerous times, but I do find it interesting that she went for such an old book. Her favorite music is by Mac Anthony. The page doesn't mention specific genres, and Marc Anthony has done several different genres over the years. I don't know his discography very well, but it looks like he was best known for Latin Salsa in the late 1990s and early 2000s, so that's probably her favorite music genre overall.

The third page tells us that her favorite move is "Harry Potter", as she loves Hermione Granger. Because this bio came out in 2001, only Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone would have been released as a movie at the time.

Her pet peeves are listed as heights, bad sportsmanship, and whenever Matt calls her "Nezzie". According to TVTropes, she did conquer her fear of heights by the time The Cyberchase Movie came out. She has one pet, her cat, Gatito. We do see Gatito in a few episodes of the show.

Now, there's something odd about Inez's design on the "Meet the Cybersquad" page. The star on her shirt is purple, as opposed to the yellow we got in the show. I'm not sure how this happened, as Inez had the yellow star as far back as the 1999 pilot.

This reminds me of another piece of trivia. During Season 4 Episode 2 "The Icky Factor", the kids get wetsuits for the first time, as they need to swim around Aquari-yum. They had already been to Aquari-yum twice by this point. However, they stayed in the sub the whole time during Season 1 Episode 16 "Codename Icky". Then, during Season 3 Episode 6 "The Grapes of Plath", they just wore their regular clothes with a bubble helmet to walk around the bottom of the bowl.

Look at their wetsuits. Matt gets plain blue wetsuit, Jackie gets a plain yellow wetsuit, and Digit gets a plain orange wetsuit. Inez gets a green wetsuit with a yellow star on the front and a purple vest. I like this detail. It's about as close to matching her color scheme as they could get without making the top half of the wetsuit pink, which would have just been weird. Maybe a full pink wetsuit would have been a little better? I don't know. If they did that, she would be missing out on the green from her shorts

Anyway, the next piece to look at is this page from Cyberchase: How It All Started: Webisode 3. This was an official prequel web comic that come out before the show started airing, so its a little off. I promise that this is the original image without any edits.

https://web.archive.org/web/20080610025304/http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/webisode_3/7.html

They got her skin-tone and hair color very wrong, as they showed her as white with red hair. The lenses on her glasses aren't as opaque. They did get the yellow star right this time, but I would consider her skin tone to be far more important. I would love to hear the story of how this mix-up happened. You know what? I'll add my attempt at fixing their mistake below, based on skin, hair, and glasses colors picked from "Meet the Cybersquad". I don't have much GIMP experience, but I think I did a pretty good job.

Anyway, the main reason I brought this image up was that she is noted as being a computer whiz who loves to go on the Internet. As far as I remember, she never uses her computer skills in the show, probably because they played it so fast and loose with the terminology.

So, that first image only showed her from the waist-up, but we do get a shot of her riding her bike to the library to meet her new friends and start the first episode. They did it again.

https://web.archive.org/web/20080607121655/http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/webisode_3/8.html

I honestly wouldn't care if it was just the shirt, vest, or shorts being the wrong color. Alright, I have added a color-corrected version below.

The second page gives us "Oh no, this is not good at all!" That is the prototype for her iconic phrase: "This is not good! This is not good at all!".

Did you know that on her way to the library, Inez road her bike all over town to run other errands? She went to Betty's House, the Post Office, and the Video (VHS) store before arriving at the library just in time to make some new friends and upload her mind into the Internet.

As far as character trivia goes, Cyberchase did have official printable trading cards. Here's the one for Nezzie. I love this card. One of her favorite things is E-mail. Her other favorite things include experiments and big words, but we all knew that already. They picked a more optimistic, but less iconic, favorite line for her with, "Hey, I've got an idea!" rather than "This is not good! This is not good at all!". She is great at basketball, which may be surprising to some, given her height. We'll come back to that. She is also great at reading, standing up for herself, and singing. We do get to hear her sing "Brahm's Lullaby" in Spanish for Chewcrocca's baby during Season 3 Episode 1 "EcoHaven CSE".

I can think of two pieces of official Cyberchase media related to Basketball. There was Season 6 Episode 7 "Jimaya Jam", which had a sport of the same name, except it took away dribbling. However, Inez was actually separated from the group at the time, with Creech taking over her role during the Jimaya Jam game. Presumably, Inez was just too powerful.

The second piece is from the singular Cyberchae chapter book, "The Search for the Power Orb". The story actually starts with Inez playing basketball against Matt. She is frustrated that he is able to block her shots due to his clear height advantage, and his teasing about her height doesn't help. Towards the end of the story, they retrieve the titular Power Orb, which is roughly the size of a basketball. It needs to go back into its basket to save Cybersite Serentia from complete deletion. Inez is able to use her short stature to run between The Hacker's legs, get a boost from Izzy, and slam dunk the Power Orb.

What else? I found this early concept art on the Cyberchase wiki. It seems like the biggest change was the style for her boots.

There is also this write-up from a "Who's Who" document. I don't know whether this was always available to the public, or if this was an internal document when they were developing and pitching the show. It doesn't add too much information to what I already posted, but it does state their intent to make her a tomboy, and it talks about her tendency to giggle, give inspirational quotes and stand on her head.

I figure no Inez compilation is complete without her standing on her head at some point. Here she is in Season 2 Episode 12 "The Guilty Party" flinging herself out of a handstand, twisting around, and landing on her feet.

[jcmarchi]

The Importance of Investing in Soft Skills in the Age of AI

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/the-importance-of-investing-in-soft-skills-in-the-age-of-ai/

The Importance of Investing in Soft Skills in the Age of AI

I’ll set out my stall and let you know I am still an AI skeptic. Heck, I still wrap “AI” in quotes a lot of the time I talk about it. I am, however, skeptical of the present, rather than the future. I wouldn’t say I’m positive or even excited about where AI is going, but there’s an inevitability that in development circles, it will be further engrained in our work.

We joke in the industry that the suggestions that AI gives us are more often than not, terrible, but that will only improve in time. A good basis for that theory is how fast generative AI has improved with image and video generation. Sure, generated images still have that “shrink-wrapped” look about them, and generated images of people have extra… um… limbs, but consider how much generated AI images have improved, even in the last 12 months.

There’s also the case that VC money is seemingly exclusively being invested in AI, industry-wide. Pair that with a continuously turbulent tech recruitment situation, with endless major layoffs and even a skeptic like myself can see the writing on the wall with how our jobs as developers are going to be affected.

The biggest risk factor I can foresee is that if your sole responsibility is to write code, your job is almost certainly at risk. I don’t think this is an imminent risk in a lot of cases, but as generative AI improves its code output — just like it has for images and video — it’s only a matter of time before it becomes a redundancy risk for actual human developers.

Do I think this is right? Absolutely not. Do I think it’s time to panic? Not yet, but I do see a lot of value in evolving your skillset beyond writing code. I especially see the value in improving your soft skills.

What are soft skills?

A good way to think of soft skills is that they are life skills. Soft skills include:

communicating with others,

organizing yourself and others,

making decisions, and

adapting to difficult situations.

I believe so much in soft skills that I call them core skills and for the rest of this article, I’ll refer to them as core skills, to underline their importance.

The path to becoming a truly great developer is down to more than just coding. It comes down to how you approach everything else, like communication, giving and receiving feedback, finding a pragmatic solution, planning — and even thinking like a web developer.

I’ve been working with CSS for over 15 years at this point and a lot has changed in its capabilities. What hasn’t changed though, is the core skills — often called “soft skills” — that are required to push you to the next level. I’ve spent a large chunk of those 15 years as a consultant, helping organizations — both global corporations and small startups — write better CSS. In almost every single case, an improvement of the organization’s core skills was the overarching difference.

The main reason for this is a lot of the time, the organizations I worked with coded themselves into a corner. They’d done that because they just plowed through — Jira ticket after Jira ticket — rather than step back and question, “is our approach actually working?” By focusing on their team’s core skills, we were often — and very quickly — able to identify problem areas and come up with pragmatic solutions that were almost never development solutions. These solutions were instead:

Improving communication and collaboration between design and development teams

Reducing design “hand-off” and instead, making the web-based output the source of truth

Moving slowly and methodically to move fast

Putting a sharp focus on planning and collaboration between developers and designers, way in advance of production work being started

Changing the mindset of “plow on” to taking a step back, thoroughly evaluating the problem, and then developing a collaborative and by proxy, much simpler solution

Will improving my core skills actually help?

One thing AI cannot do — and (hopefully) never will be able to do — is be human. Core skills — especially communication skills — are very difficult for AI to recreate well because the way we communicate is uniquely human.

I’ve been doing this job a long time and something that’s certainly propelled my career is the fact I’ve always been versatile. Having a multifaceted skillset — like in my case, learning CSS and HTML to improve my design work — will only benefit you. It opens up other opportunities for you too, which is especially important with the way the tech industry currently is.

If you’re wondering how to get started on improving your core skills, I’ve got you. I produced a course called Complete CSS this year but it’s a slight rug-pull because it’s actually a core skills course that uses CSS as a context. You get to learn some iron-clad CSS skills alongside those core skills too, as a bonus. It’s definitely worth checking out if you are interested in developing your core skills, especially so if you receive a training budget from your employer.

Wrapping up

The main message I want to get across is developing your core skills is as important — if not more important — than keeping up to date with the latest CSS or JavaScript thing. It might be uncomfortable for you to do that, but trust me, being able to stand yourself out over AI is only going to be a good thing, and improving your core skills is a sure-fire way to do exactly that.

[thesplendidspiderweaver]

Just your friendly neighborhood menace!!

(This is a spiderverse rp account.)

I’m Spider-Weaver! But most spider-people just call me Weaver. I’m 19 years old and I live in New York.

Any pronouns but They/Them is the most accurate

Only Spider People allowed below the cut

My name is Carmen. I go to Cornell University and I’m a bioengineering major. I got my powers in a lab accident at an internship with my best friend Collie. We both got bitten by different spiders.

I don’t know why there were so many radioactive spiders in one location, but I’ve been investigating the sponsor of the lab, Luther Brown. I have reason to believe that he is a supervillain. (He’s rich)

Anyway, this has been my audition for spider-society?? Please let me in! G’bye!!

Ooc: so I have a whole notes page for this character that I made years ago so I’m just gonna copypaste it here so yall have more context

Weaver

The Splendid Spider-Weaver

Origin

Weaver was an arachnologists intern to make money during their junior year in college. They worked alongside their best friend, Collie. The lab was in the middle of a top secret experiment exposing different types of spiders to radiation to try and identify the kind of spider that bit the original spider-man and therefore discover some of his weaknesses.

When spider-man learned about it, he enacted a virtual attack to corrupt the data. This, however, caused a panic in the lab, leading to a few of the spiders escaping.

One of the many bit Weaver. This particular spider was a Splendid Dwarf Spider.

Weaver, after discovering what had happened, started to investigate the lab and it’s funders. Namely, Luther Brown, a shady young man with a strange obsession with spider-man.

Abilities

Weavers super abilities are limited, but enough.

The webs they produce aren’t the normal “spider-man” webs and are rather cotton like Sheet Webs. Though they are still sticky, they can’t shoot out in strings like the original Spider-man’s can. Weavers webs are used mainly for sticking, securing, and padding. (Weaver is quite a bit smaller than their suit suggests, but the stuffing of web makes it much safer for them to fight and be places that are high up.)

Weaver does have a healing factor, though it is weak.

They have minimal super strength, limited to the weight of a standard car.

Weaver’s main ability, however, is psychic. When the spider bit Weaver, their vision split into four, making it quite a headache for them to see anything. In their normal day attire, they have a pair of glasses designed to stifle the other three sights. In their suit, however, they have eyes built in to effectively split the sights into different paths that feed a computer interface and interpret the signals. This gives Weaver thermal vision, and mind reading capabilities. The last sight that Weaver gained from the spider was something that Weaver considered to be a person’s “vibe.” With this information, they were able to code a system to identify the vibe and hypnotize people. Keep in mind that hypnosis only works with getting people to do things they aren’t opposed to doing.

Weaver also excretes toxic jelly from their fingertips involuntarily that can cause people to pass out.

Core beliefs

Nemesis

Weavers nemesis is the aforementioned Luther Brown. A rich, straight, cis, white boy that has way more power and money than he could ever earn. He was born into a billionaire family and uses insider trading to game the stock market and only get richer. He is a Viola player, and though he is very talented, most of his orchestra positions and solos were bought rather than earned. He has followers by the barrel that seek out information for him. As previously mentioned, he has a strange obsession with Spider-man rooted in admiration and jealousy.

His alter ego is known as the recluse. A cannibal that leaves viola music playing at every crime scene he makes. He tends to leave the victims head at the crime scene as well.

He gained his abilities from being bitten by the brown recluse spider at the lab. He did this on purpose to gain similar abilities to Spider-Man however slightly stronger so that Recluse could capture him of so desired.

Recluse, though well known and feared to the civilians, is under no investigation by the police and never appears in official news. Though the crimes are reported, the offender remains nameless despite having a name. This is because Luther Brown has paid off the police to not investigate these mysterious murders.

Possible dialogue

Recluse: You know, Collie will die

Weaver(pissed): now is not the time to be threatening me

Recluse: it’s not a threat. It’s a prediction. All spider-men have had a caretaker figure die, and yours is Collie.

Weaver: good thing I’m not a spider-man then

Recluse(smug): then what are you?

Weaver: Spider-Weaver

Recluse: many spider-men have had different names

Weaver: I’m not a man

Recluse: then what ARE you?

Weaver: a communist

Recluse(getting annoyed): what’s in your pants?

Weaver(rifling through their pockets): I got some doubloons, uhhh, a mint, you could use that, and I got this (flips him off)

Recluse: >:(

[nividawebsolutions]

How to Choose the Right Web Design for Your Brand

Imagine walking into a store with flickering lights, chaotic shelves, and no one to guide you. You’d probably walk out, right? Your website is no different. In the digital world, your website is your storefront, your first handshake, your 24/7 brand ambassador. At Nivida Software, recognised as the Best Website Design Company in Gujarat, we understand that web design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about aligning visuals with values, purpose with presence, and design with direction.

So, how do you choose the right web design for your brand? Here’s a thought-provoking guide to help you decode that puzzle—with insight, not just information.

Understand Your Brand’s DNA:

Before you pick fonts and colours, you must know who you are. Is your brand bold or subtle? Youthful or sophisticated? Playful or professional? You should design your logo considering all the above factors.

Start by defining your brand’s tone, mission, and unique selling points. When we, as a Web Design Company in Gujarat, take on a project, we dig deep to understand what drives your business. A well-defined brand voice makes design decisions far more intuitive and authentic.

Know Your Audience Like You Know Your Product:

Your website should speak your audience’s language—visually and functionally. Designing with interaction, minimalism, and mobile in mind is essential if you want to attract tech-savvy millennials. Targeting B2B clients? Your site should inspire trust, credibility, and professionalism.

At Nivida Software, one of the Best Web Design Agencies in Vadodara, we conduct extensive user profiling to ensure your website design connects with the right emotions and expectations of your audience. Because relevance is the real design currency.

Prioritise User Experience (UX), Not Just Decoration:

You may fall in love with a particular layout or animation, but if it confuses your user or slows down their journey, it’s a liability, not an asset. Building a house without doors is the same of web design without user experience.

As a forward-thinking Web Design Agency in Vadodara, we follow a user-first approach. We map the customer journey, define intuitive navigation paths, and ensure that every scroll, swipe, and click contributes to conversions.

Design for Mobile—Not as an Option, but as a Rule:

We live in a pocket-first world. More than 60% of users will visit your website on a mobile device. If your design isn’t responsive, you’re practically invisible to half your audience.

Being a Best Website Design Company in Vadodara, our responsive design philosophy ensures your website adapts seamlessly across devices—whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, or desktop—without compromising on speed or quality.

Stay Consistent, but Never Boring:

Brand consistency builds recognition, but that doesn’t mean being repetitive. It means using cohesive colour palettes, typography, and imagery that align with your brand guidelines while still allowing creative expression in layouts and content blocks.

We at Nivida Software, a leading Web Design Agency in Gujarat, blend innovation with identity, ensuring your design remains fresh without straying from the core brand essence.

Content and Design Must Work Like a Duet:

A stunning design without engaging content is like a concert with no music. Your design must support your message, not distract from it.

We ensure that copy and visuals work hand-in-hand. Our collaborative approach makes us stand out as one of the Best Website Design Agencies in Vadodara. Every button, headline, and image placement is intentional, crafted to guide the visitor naturally toward action.

SEO-Optimised Design Is Not a Luxury, It’s a Necessity:

Search engines don’t care if your site looks like a masterpiece. They care about structure, speed, tags, responsiveness, and accessibility.

As a highly experienced Web Design Company in Gujarat, we bake SEO into the foundation of our designs. Clean code, proper heading hierarchy, optimised images, and fast loading speeds are non-negotiables in our workflow.

Scalability: Design Today with Tomorrow in Mind

Whether it’s adding new product lines, integrating with CRM tools, or including multilingual capabilities, a scalable architecture is crucial.

That’s why our design frameworks at Nivida Software, the Best Website Design Company in Gujarat, are built to be modular and flexible—so your site can evolve as your brand does.

Choose the Right Design Partner:

At the end of the day, choosing the right web design comes down to choosing the right people to build it. A team that listens, understands, advises, and executes with precision.

At Nivida Software, we’re not just designers—we’re digital storytellers, strategists, and brand builders. As one of the Best Web Design Agencies in Vadodara, we bring years of industry experience, a robust creative process, and an obsession with pixel-perfect delivery.

We don’t just build websites. We craft experiences that help brands stand out, sell more, and stay memorable.

Look Beyond the Portfolio, Seek the Process:

Many agencies flaunt flashy portfolios. A well-thought-out plan, however, is essential to its success. Always ask about their process—how do they understand your business, plan your sitemap, choose your design direction, or test user journeys?

Our proven design methodology, backed by extensive market research and conversion insights, has made us the go-to Web Design Agency in Vadodara for businesses that want more than just a pretty face—they want performance.

Closing Thoughts:

Choosing the right web design for your brand is not a checkbox—it’s a commitment to crafting a digital presence that reflects who you are, resonates with your audience, and drives results.

At Nivida Software, the Best Website Design Company in Vadodara, we walk that path with you—from ideation to implementation. With a blend of strategic thinking, technical expertise, and aesthetic excellence, we help brands come alive online. 

[mrsagrant]

Web writing and schedule

I work 4 nights a week, 1-2 days on the weekend and I also have 4 classes, so you can imagine like most of us, juggling school and work can be difficult at times. It is also difficult trying to incorporate a social life along with all of that. School is my top priority and so is paying my bills. I have my own apartment that I share with my partner, I drive a car that is paid off thankfully, but insurance is still a factor. I have actually recently just learned how to better manage my time in order to be successful in my studies. This web writing class seems to be very flexible considering I have the beginning of each week to prepare to create posts, and finish my assignments. A full and busy schedule can be overwhelming but I certainly feel comfortable with the design of this class as well as the work load. Since I work at night for the majority of the week, I am able to carve out time within my day to work on assignments. My goal is to complete all assignments/posts for this class well before the weekend. I feel like the weekend goes by so fast and I should be preparing for the next week's checklist by the time the weekend comes. Although Thursdays are our check in days, I would like it to be a checkpoint day for me. Between Tuesday and Thursday I want to have all my posts done and ready to submit my assignments by Thursday. My weekend job is usually a mid shift on Saturdays and Sundays, sometimes one or the other. I feel like this does not allow me to get a lot of things accomplished on those days and after working for most the day I want to relax. Having class Monday through Friday I also simply would like to use the extra time I have on weekends to allow myself to unwind and regroup for the next week. This class allows me to create my own schedule and as long as I stay on track I don't see how I can't be successful in this class. I will admit 6 posts a week is a lot for someone who barely posts on her other social medias, but since Dr.P. gives us prompts it gives me something to talk about.

[rumi1252552]

The Ultimate Guide to SEO: Boost Your Website’s Rankings in 2024

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a crucial digital marketing strategy that helps websites rank higher on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. With ever-evolving algorithms, staying updated with the latest SEO trends is essential for success.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover: ✔ What is SEO? ✔ Why SEO Matters ✔ Key SEO Ranking Factors ✔ On-Page vs. Off-Page SEO ✔ Technical SEO Best Practices ✔ SEO Trends in 2024 ✔ Free SEO Tools to Improve Rankings

Let’s dive in!

What is SEO? SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, the process of optimizing a website to improve its visibility in organic (non-paid) search results. The goal is to attract high-quality traffic by ranking for relevant keywords.

Types of SEO: On-Page SEO – Optimizing content, meta tags, and internal links.

Off-Page SEO – Building backlinks and brand authority.

Technical SEO – Improving site speed, mobile-friendliness, and indexing.

Why SEO Matters ✅ Increases Organic Traffic – Higher rankings = more clicks. ✅ Builds Credibility & Trust – Top-ranked sites are seen as authoritative. ✅ Cost-Effective Marketing – Outperforms paid ads in the long run. ✅ Better User Experience – SEO improves site structure and speed.

Without SEO, your website may remain invisible to potential customers.

Key SEO Ranking Factors (2024) Google’s algorithm considers 200+ ranking factors, but the most critical ones include:

A. On-Page SEO Factors ✔ Keyword Optimization (Title, Headers, Content) ✔ High-Quality Content (Comprehensive, Engaging) ✔ Meta Descriptions & Title Tags (Click-Worthy Snippets) ✔ Internal Linking (Helps Google Crawl Your Site) ✔ Image Optimization (Alt Text + Compression)

B. Off-Page SEO Factors ✔ Backlinks (Quality Over Quantity) ✔ Social Signals (Shares, Engagement) ✔ Brand Mentions (Unlinked Citations Still Help)

C. Technical SEO Factors ✔ Page Speed (Google’s Core Web Vitals) ✔ Mobile-Friendliness (Responsive Design) ✔ Secure Website (HTTPS Over HTTP) ✔ Structured Data Markup (Rich Snippets)

On-Page vs. Off-Page SEO On-Page SEO Off-Page SEO Optimizing content & HTML Building backlinks & authority Includes meta tags, headers Includes guest posts, PR Controlled by you Requires outreach Both are essential for a strong SEO strategy.

Technical SEO Best Practices 🔹 Fix Broken Links (Use Screaming Frog) 🔹 Optimize URL Structure (Short, Keyword-Rich) 🔹 Improve Site Speed (Compress Images, Use CDN) 🔹 Use Schema Markup (Enhances SERP Appearance) 🔹 Ensure Mobile Responsiveness (Google’s Mobile-First Indexing)

SEO Trends in 2024 🚀 AI & Machine Learning (Google’s RankBrain, BERT) 🚀 Voice Search Optimization (Long-Tail Keywords) 🚀 Video SEO (YouTube & Short-Form Videos) 🚀 E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) 🚀 Zero-Click Searches (Optimize for Featured Snippets)

Free SEO Tools to Improve Rankings 🔎 Google Search Console – Track performance. 🔎 Ahrefs Webmaster Tools – Analyze backlinks. 🔎 Ubersuggest – Keyword research. 🔎 PageSpeed Insights – Check site speed. 🔎 AnswerThePublic – Find user queries.

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How Custom Web Design Can Set You Apart in the Competitive Dublin Market

Introduction

In today’s digital age, a robust online presence is no longer just an option; it’s 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, you’ve 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 – from colors and fonts to imagery and layout – you not only convey your message but also resonate with your target audience.

Creating Emotional Connections

Websites aren’t just about aesthetics; they’re about building relationships. A custom-designed site can evoke emotions through visual storytelling. When users connect emotionally with your brand, they’re 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 images—all 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 “Web Design Company Dublin” or “Ecommerce Web Design Dublin” can help you capture relevant traffic.

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 content—a key factor in maintaining search engine rankings.

Tailored Functionality

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We've already discussed how the Israel-Hamas war is the latest conflict where people are poring over social media and news channels looking for updates on what, exactly, is happening. After all, whether it’s news about our neighborhoods or communities on the other side of the world, the web is where we go to find updates.

And it’s another reminder that misinformation is often big business, and it’s everywhere: fake news and fabrications, half-truths and obfuscations, and flat-out lies and propaganda. The rise in AI-powered deep fakes has only made the problem worse and increased the amount of untrustworthy content out there.

So is it actually still possible to filter truth from lies online? We don’t yet have a foolproof way of checking—perhaps that’s a task AI could be trained on next—but there are ways to limit the likelihood of being fooled.

Know Your Sources

Some online sources are clearly more reputable than others: It’s right to be more skeptical about a post by an unknown X user than it is about something from The New York Times or The Washington Post (or WIRED). That’s not to say citizen journalism can’t be useful, because it absolutely can, but be wary of taking it at face value.

It’s not just the source that’s important, it’s the number of sources. Like Bernstein and Woodward, you need to get information backed up and verified by more than one source whenever possible. If you’re looking at a video of an event, for example, look for more recordings from other people, taken from different angles.

If you’re not sure about a particular source, check its history—which is fairly easy to do on social media. Does their most recent post match up with what they’ve posted before? Are they posting a lot of generic content that can’t really be authenticated? How many followers do they have, and how are they interacting with them? These can all be useful factors to consider.

Check the Context

As well as checking the sources of particular stories, photos, and videos, examine the context around them. You can look at whether a video clip is one of a series, for example, or something that seems to have appeared out of nowhere.

Context can extend to whatever the content is showing. If it’s a demonstration, for example, check to see if there’s any other record of it elsewhere on the web and ask a few questions—do the photos and videos match up with where they’re supposed to have been recorded? Are there any pieces of evidence (like police uniforms) that tell you where this is happening?

Sometimes there are context tools built into the platforms themselves: You might see false information warnings on Facebook, for example, if a post has been flagged by other users. You might also see what are called community notes attached to posts on X (formerly Twitter), adding extra context about what has been posted. These can be useful signals to consider, though they're not fallible.

Spot the Patterns

Fake news is often designed to spread as quickly as possible: If something is shocking, inflammatory, or surprising, we’re more likely to pass it on to other people. On social media especially, that can quickly mean inaccurate content starts trending, which of course means it’s then shared by even more people.

With that in mind, look for posts that seem engineered to go viral—to provoke a reaction—rather than to provide information. Misinformation and fake news will often come without any real context attached, such as a source, a location, or an accompanying link that directs you to something similar (like a longer version of the same video or a related story).

Be particularly cautious with posts and media that are furthering a particular cause or course of action. Sometimes a little bit of cynicism is all you need—and sometimes you just need to take a beat and evaluate what you’re looking at again, rather than instantly assuming it’s correct and sharing it elsewhere.

Do Your Research

There are now several services dedicated to flagging misinformation and fake news reports. You may have heard of Snopes, which doesn’t just dispel urban myths, but also tackles contemporary news stories, complete with background and fact checks. Take, for example, this video that was incorrectly labeled as featuring a Palestinian flag, when it was in fact a Puerto Rican flag.

Courtesy of the Annenberg Public Policy Center comes FactCheck.org, which does exactly what its name suggests. It examines claims and counterclaims put forward by governments and other organizations and explains what’s true and not true about them. Here’s a story about an online video that misrepresented how Ukraine conscripted women into serving in the military, for instance.

There are other resources, including another fact-checking service from Reuters, that can be useful, especially when it comes to photos and video. There’s no guarantee that the content you’re unsure about is going to be covered by one of these sites, but it’s certainly worth checking.