#Website Development Checklist

[dreamsoft4u]

E-commerce website development is the process of building an online store. It allows businesses to sell products or services. This process involves designing the website interface, setting up essential features, and ensuring smooth backend operations so customers can visit a store, explore products or services, and make purchases without hassle. That is what a good eCommerce website looks like.

[thehubops]

Don't Go Live Half-Baked! The Ultimate Small Business Website Checklist for a Flawless Pre-Launch

Launching a website is a significant milestone for any small business. However, going live without a comprehensive plan can lead to issues that could harm your brand’s reputation. To ensure your website is fully prepared, a small business website checklist is essential. This guide will provide an exhaustive website review checklist to help you navigate the pre-launch phase with confidence.

Understanding the Importance of a Website Checklist

A website checklist is crucial for several reasons. It ensures that every aspect of the website has been considered and tested, minimizing the chances of issues post-launch. From design to functionality, usability to credibility, a well-thought-out checklist covers it all.

The Comprehensive Small Business Website Checklist

1. Website Requirements Template

Before diving into the design and development, it is vital to outline your website requirements template. This template will guide the entire process, ensuring that all necessary features and functions are included.

Key Components:

Business Goals: Clearly define what you want your website to achieve.

Target Audience: Identify who will be using your website.

Core Features: List essential features such as contact forms, e-commerce capabilities, and blog sections.

2. Website Credibility Checklist

Building trust with your visitors is paramount. A website credibility checklist ensures that your site appears professional and trustworthy.

Key Components:

Secure URLs: Ensure your site uses HTTPS.

Contact Information: Provide clear and accessible contact details.

Testimonials and Reviews: Include customer feedback and reviews.

Privacy Policy and Terms of Service: Clearly outline your policies.

3. Website Evaluation Checklist

A thorough website evaluation checklist will help you assess the overall quality and performance of your site.

Key Components:

Page Load Speed: Test your site’s speed using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights.

SEO Optimization: Ensure all pages are optimized for search engines.

Mobile Compatibility: Test your site on various devices to ensure responsiveness.

4. Website Functionality Checklist

Functionality is the backbone of your website. The website functionality checklist ensures all features work seamlessly.

Key Components:

Form Functionality: Test all forms for proper submission and responses.

Links: Verify that all internal and external links are working.

Navigation: Ensure the navigation is intuitive and user-friendly.

5. Website Features Checklist

Your website features checklist will ensure that all necessary features are present and functioning.

Key Components:

Search Function: Implement a search bar for easy content discovery.

Social Media Integration: Ensure your social media profiles are linked.

Analytics: Set up Google Analytics to track visitor behavior.

6. Website Usability Checklist

User experience is crucial for retaining visitors. A website usability checklist ensures that your site is easy to use and navigate.

Key Components:

Clear Call-to-Actions: Make sure CTAs are visible and compelling.

Consistent Design: Maintain a consistent design throughout the site.

Accessibility: Ensure your site is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

7. Choosing the Right Development and Design Partner

Partnering with a professional responsive website development company or an ecommerce website design agency can make a significant difference. These experts can provide affordable website design service and custom website design packages tailored to your needs.

Recommendations:

HubOps: A reliable partner for customer-centric website design and user centric design.

Web Development Cincinnati: Known for their expertise in creative design website and marketing website design.

8. Avoiding Poor Website Design

A poor website design can deter visitors and harm your credibility. Focus on customer-centric website design to ensure your site meets user expectations.

Key Considerations:

Simplicity: Avoid cluttered layouts and excessive elements.

Professional Aesthetics: Ensure your design looks professional and polished.

User Experience: Prioritize usability and intuitive navigation.

Problem-Solving Solutions

Addressing Common Issues

Slow Page Load Times: Optimize images, leverage browser caching, and minimize HTTP requests to improve load times.

Broken Links: Regularly check and update links to prevent 404 errors.

Poor Mobile Experience: Use responsive design practices to ensure your site looks good on all devices.

Security Vulnerabilities: Regularly update software and plugins to protect against security threats.

Utilizing Tools and Resources

Google PageSpeed Insights: Analyze and improve your page speed.

Screaming Frog: Crawl your site to find broken links and other issues

Google Analytics: Track and analyze visitor behavior.

Post-Launch Monitoring

Regular Audits: Conduct regular audits using your website evaluation checklist to ensure ongoing performance.

User Feedback: Gather and act on user feedback to continuously improve the site.

SEO Monitoring: Use tools like Google Search Console to monitor and improve your SEO performance.

Conclusion

A successful website launch requires meticulous planning and attention to detail. By following this ultimate small business website checklist, you can ensure that your site is ready to impress visitors and achieve your business goals. Partner with experts like HubOps for responsive website development and custom website design packages to make your website launch a seamless experience.

Remember, a well-prepared website is a powerful tool for your small business. Don’t go live half-baked — use this checklist to achieve a flawless pre-launch.

[adasitecompliance]

User-Friendly Financial Website Design

User-friendly financial website design not only enhances accessibility but also improves the overall browsing experience for all visitors!

[archive-z]

curating reading lists (without social media)

a guide to finding stuff to read, for @divorceblogger. this is a guide specifically for avoiding things like goodreads/storygraph etc which aggregate books that are popular without being all that helpful for finding things on niche/specialist topics.

a bit of housekeeping before getting to the actual list-making tips:

i mostly read nonfiction targeted at both academic and popular audiences. i also read a mixture of classic lit, genre fiction, zines & conceptual/artists’ books, and playtexts & poetry. i read traditional print books, non-traditional print publications, PDF and ePub ebooks on an iPad/iPhone, and listen to audiobooks and audio dramas.

i have a infinite number of books i want to read. the discovery process of new & interesting outstrips my capacity to read them all, so i have to be extremely selective. this also means i never tolerate a book i’m not enjoying. it can have weak points, but i have to be getting something out of the experience, or else i am wasting my one wild n precious life, ya feel?

my goal is to read for quality, not for quantity. i tend to dislike a lot of online reading communities for their focus on metrics (number of books, page count, word count, etc). i bristle at tools that try to push my reading into this direction. i have a reading practice, in the same sense that one would have an artistic practice. thinking of my reading as a practice — rather than a project, a thing to be completed and checked off the checklist — helps orient me towards patterns of thinking that serve me better

i work in the arts industry, so fiction and non-fiction books are reference tools. when I finish reading a book, I put it back on the shelf, like returning a tool to the toolbox until it is time to use it again. i live in a bachelor flat, so obvs i have to resist the incessant pressures of consumerism, but it doesn’t bother me that i have not read every book that i own. they are there for when i get to them. similarly, i would not be bothered by owning a kitchen fire extinguisher that i have not used.

where do I keep my reading lists?

Obsidian: for organising to-read lists on specific topics, genres, eras, locations, etc. i repeat books across multiple lists where appropriate. i don’t keep a single master list of everything I want to read because it would simply be too unwieldy to manage. Small focused lists of no more than ~25 books on the topic are best, imo.

TinyCat: for cataloguing physical books that i own. i have a shortcut to the website on my phone so i can easily pull it up if i can’t remember what books in a series i already have. i can tag anything unread with my “antilibrary” tag. for my own amusement, i also insert library pockets and circulation cards into my books and stamp them with the date completed (using my beloved rotary date stamp). i can also stamp the date a friend who borrowed the book completed it. i like seeing the signatures add up over time.

Zotero: for academic bibliographic citations. useful habit to get into if you transcribe lots of quotes from yr readings into yr notes.

how do i develop my reading lists?

i usually develop my reading lists through a combination of concerted effort to research a topic & ambient browsing. this isn’t Abt How to rigorously conduct research though so im gonna focus more on ~letting books organically find me~

when i have a book that i enjoy, i see if the author has written any more books on topics that interest me. incredibly basic 101 advice but somehow people still miss this one.

check the bibliographies & acknowledgements. if something comes up in bibliography after bibliography, its usually a good sign its worth checking out. also, authors usually thank other authors in their acknowledgements, its a great way to start building an idea

i love when artists talk abt their influences in interviews, like this interview abt what influences and easter eggs there are in disco elysium (i screamed at the Einstürzende Neubauten reveal!!!). i love when fans come up with their own reading lists for media, like my list speculating what daniel molloy would have read and watched in 1973.

when i am travelling somewhere i try to read something related to the to place I am going. Wikipedia is a first easy point of reference to find out if yr destination is famous for being the birthplace of X poet or Y film is set there.

tertiary sources. secondary sources are about a primary source, whereas tertiary sources aim to provide an overview of the major debates in those secondary sources on a specific topic rather than to generate their own new ideas/arguments. the oxford university press “a very short introduction” series varies in quality but its often a very useful starting point.

recs from friends/gifts. my loved ones know i like books, and books are usually a cheap & easy gift for holidays & special occasions. i gift books that i want to read myself, so we can talk abt the book together.

what physical locations do I browse?

Local library, university library. You might be even be able to get a specialist library card to an archive or museum reading room. Some public libraries also have special collections like the Seattle Zine Library.

For-sale section in the local library. proceeds usually go to supporting the library

local secondhand bookshop. there are several in walking distance, i usually hit them up quarterly, especially as i gift a lot of secondhand books

local independent bookshops. several local independent bookstores host an annual bookstore crawl where if you get a stamp from all of them in one weekend u enter a draw to win $1000 gift card :)

thrift store/charity shop/antique markets. there is usually a section with books even if the main focus is clothes/furniture

book events. author talks, staged readings of new plays, poetry readings, book/lit mag launch parties, Writers Festivals, small/independent press fair, rare book fair, zine fests, international library day, conferences

bookshelves at house parties. im 100% the person checking out yr bookshelf at a house party. great place to get yr flirt on.

travel. basically any new place im going, i look-up in advance the local library, second hand bookstores, charity shops, antiques stores etc. and save them in my maps on my phone. if i can conveniently pop into one while im there, neat! i particularly like municipal libraries bc the big ones are usually architecturally interesting (like the Vancouver Public Library) and the small ones are usually really charming and full of specific local history, leaflets to interesting local stuff, etc.

what online locations do I browse?

navigating the online catalogue to yr local & academic libraries is a whole skill unto itself. i was very fortunate be born in the late 90s and to have a specific local librarian teach me boolean operators before i could tie my shoelaces, ride a bike, or, frankly, do most human being things (shoutout to Miss T yr a real one). your library very likely has something like a workshop or at the very least a help desk that can help u with this if needed.

mailing lists of small/independent presses.

publishers websites (academic and general audience).

wikipedia. u can look at the footnotes section on wikipedia. its free. its legal.

looking up university syllabi. some are on profs’ websites, some are available through the university library. there is also the Open Syllabus website which aggregates the most often mentioned books in submitted syllabi, organised by discipline or through a visual map.

what’s available on libby/borrowbox.

Archive dot org and google books/google scholar to read the previews and judge if the book is worth following up on.

i didn’t actually include any selections of my personal reading lists, but if you would like to know more you can always shoot me an ask with a specific topic in mind.

[cripplecharacters]

Hello! I just found your blog and I have a lot to ask. (So. Sorry about the upcoming wall of text)

I have a few questions for writing a character with disabilities

I am attempting to write a character in his teens (around 16-17 years old) with joint problems (most likely osteoarthritis, although I haven’t fully decided yet.) I have done some research on my own, but I am physically abled and therefore cannot fully get into the headspace of this character. Are there any small details or common experiences that might be useful for me to add when writing this character so I portray their disability better? (So their experience with disability feels more realistic and less like the checklist of common symptoms from various medical websites? )

As well, the story leans more towards the genre of action and as thus, this character would have been very athletic before developing this disability, and would probably still be after. Do you have any tips for writing an physically active character with (joint problem based) disabilities?

And finally: are there any stereotypes, misunderstandings or other common issues that occur in writing disabilities I should know about (so I can avoid accidentally using them) I do not want to unintentionally promote misconceptions or anything harmful in my work, but I also am aware that I am physically abled and therefore will have unconscious biases + will not be as good at noticing issues in how I write disabled characters as I would like to be. So. Essentially, what common problems with writing disabilities should I know to avoid?

(Additional information: this character would have had this disability for a few years before the story began, it isn’t new; he would be a part time cane user and have knee braces.)

- overexcited anon

Hello, lovely anon! So, a couple of things that I think are important with something like arthritis, whether osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis, is that arthritis is a dynamic disability. Some days it may be more severe and disabling than others. It is always around - your character will have a baseline level of pain, but your character will also likely have "flare ups" as well where the pain and symptoms such as swelling or stiffness are more severe. Arthritis also changes how the joint looks so that's something to keep in mind. People can have arthritis in certain joints or in multiple joints, or an inflammatory arthritis that affects significantly more areas.

I will also say that osteoarthritis is rare in someone younger unless it is connected to another disorder, such as a joint misalignment or a connective tissue disorder. I personally have Osteoarthritis at 25 due to a connective tissue disorder in my hands and knees. I would think about what joints are affected primarily and how the person may accommodate that - if it's their hands, that affects a lot of fine motor skills. If it's their back, how do they deal with sitting for long periods? If it's their hip or hips, how do they accommodate themself? You mentioned knee braces, so I assume it mainly affects his knees, so that would affect stairs and walking especially.

As for being physically active, it's mainly remembering that sometimes being active has a cost - light physical activity is recommended for arthritis but more severe activity could cause a flare up in the days after. We have a #combat and disability tag that may help to look through, as well!

The main stereotype for arthritis is that it mainly affects the elderly or is not something that young people get. There are so many types of arthritis as well - osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, etc. There's also a stigma or belief that arthritis is not disabling - it absolutely is and can be. It's a disorder that has levels of severity as well, with some minorly affected and some majorly affected. It's important to decide where on this spectrum your character is.

I hope this helps and happy writing!

-Mod Bert

[asneakyfox]

there's this thing you see a lot on the internet in fandom media discourse spaces where there's a fictional character, right, and they start as an unsympathetic antagonist and then they go through an arc that involves some personal change and they are presented more sympathetically and are no longer acting in opposition to the protagonists. and then maybe some people in the audience buy the change and some people find it unconvincing and some people are like but was it SUPPOSED to be convincing? (and some very tiresome people smugly insist that there was no change they were always presented a good guy actually) and it turns into this big semantic argument about the exact definition of a redemption arc.

let me solve this argument for you: "redemption arc" is not a term that has a strict definition.

now i know someone reading this is running off right now googling the phrase and coming back with some website that insists you have to check every box on this five point checklist for an arc to actually qualify as a redemption arc and if it doesn't it's actually a healing arc or an identity arc or a domestication arc or a recovery arc or what have you. those websites exist because hack writers fucking love story structure checklists. but i am telling you as a person who works in narrative, when a professional writer submits a pitch that says "this character will have a redemption arc," what they mean is "bad guy becomes good" and no more. if i said "well that's not a redemption arc because the character doesn't fully confront their wrongdoing and atone for it" or whatever they would have no idea what the fuck i was talking about, because nobody within the field defines the term that strictly. if you talk to anyone in academia whose field is film studies or media studies or comparative literature they will tell you those fields don't use "redemption arc" as a strictly defined term either. it is a loose term used casually in popular discussion of media, and as such it doesn't have a strict agreed-on definition, it just generally describes arcs where an unsympathetic bad guy character transitions into a character the audience is expected to root for.

i really just don't see the point of making this a semantic thing anyway, though. you can say "<character> went through some changes and is presented more sympathetically, but the change doesn't involve really confronting their culpability, and because of that, expecting the audience to act as if their past actions no longer matter rings hollow" and that's fine that's a stance we can talk about! that's what i would say if i got a pitch where a character was supposed to have a redemption arc but it didn't land! but just smugly saying "well it's not a REDEMPTION ARC because it's only a redemption if they tick every single box on the zuko checklist, otherwise it's just sparkling character development" like that's some sort of checkmate strikes me as pointless. i mean i guess if you're going to insist on defining the term "redemption arc" in an extremely narrowly restrictive way then sure that's true but i don't know that it's really saying anything useful.

i know what you're thinking but this is mostly about jaime lannister.

[psychics4unet]

100 Mind-Blowing Ways to Supercharge Your Spirituality 🚀✨

Start a daily meditation practice 🧘‍♀️

Create a spiritual vision board 🌟

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Practice gratitude daily 🙏

Use crystals for energy healing 💎

Follow and interact with spiritual bloggers ✨

Share your tarot card readings 🔮

Write about your dreams and their meanings 🌙

Read and discuss spiritual books 📚

Explore and practice different forms of divination 🃏

Practice and share mindfulness techniques 🌸

Create and use affirmations ✨

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Discover tips for finding inner peace ☮️

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Experience and reflect on spiritual retreats 🏞️

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[when-life-gives-you-lemons-if]

Hi there! I'm a twine game developer and I noticed you'd converted your games to be used on Steam and the Google Play store. I'd love to ask a few questions about this, if that's okay? 1. What tools/methods did you use to convert your Twine game to APK? Did you come across any limits with file sizes and game dependencies? e.g. Images pushing you over the 100mb limit? 2. As above, but what tools/methods did you use to get Twine into an executable for Steam? Were there any hiccups here? 3. If you had to make a text-based game with gamified elements and graphics (and you wanted it on Steam/Android, and to retain screen reader capabilities) would you do it in Twine again, or would you use another engine or solution such as Ren'py, Godot, Unreal, etc? Thank you so much for your time!

Hi.

Under the cut, you'll find a list of videos and links that helped me put the game on Steam and Android.

Feel free to ask any questions as you go through the process—some steps aren't detailed here, as a few things currently escape my memory.

To be able to publish your game on Steam, Google Play, or Apple store, you need to create an account.

Follow the steps on this video to create an account on Steam:

Or this one:

This is the Steam work page to start:

Follow this step for google Play

Twine game needs to be repacked as app before you can publish them.

To repack your Twine games, use these steps:

For Google, you'll need an Android repacker. You can use this one below: (This site is not free)

Here is how to use it (Skip to 3:01 minutes)

For point #1, I had no issues with size or image limit. Steam does give you different ways to upload depending on the size of your game.

For point #2, there will be hiccups and errors when you try to complete this checklist on Steam, but again, watch the videos and send some questions my way, I'll help as much as I can.

For point #3, I have no idea about the Screen Reader part. I know Twine is good for it, but personally, I don't plan on using Twine any longer, I'm moving to Renpy because it's are easier for me as of now.

Side note: Be sure to watch even more videos than those listed and don't hesitate to do additional research on Google whenever you feel stuck. Most questions and answers are already out there, so a quick search can often point you in the right direction.

If you still need help, feel free to send your questions my way!

[socialbloomus]

What is Lead Generation? A Complete Guide for Beginners in 2025

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing and sales, lead generation remains a foundational strategy for business growth. Whether you’re running a small startup or a large enterprise, understanding what lead generation is—and how to do it effectively—can make or break your customer acquisition efforts.

In this post, we’ll break down what lead generation means, how it works, why it’s important in 2025, and how you can start implementing a successful lead generation strategy today.

What is Lead Generation?

Lead generation is the process of attracting and converting strangers into someone who has indicated interest in your product or service. These individuals are called "leads" and are typically the first step in the sales funnel.

A lead can be anyone who has shared their contact information with your business—whether by filling out a form, subscribing to a newsletter, downloading an eBook, or booking a demo.

The goal of lead generation is simple: build a pipeline of potential customers and nurture them into becoming paying clients.

Why Lead Generation is Crucial in 2025

With buyers becoming more informed and self-directed, the way businesses generate leads has shifted significantly. According to Demand Gen Report (source), 71% of B2B buyers start their journey with a generic search. This makes it more important than ever for businesses to have a strong online presence and provide value from the very first interaction.

Here’s why lead generation is essential in today’s landscape:

It drives business growth: Without leads, you have no sales. And without sales, you have no business.

It builds relationships: Lead generation introduces people to your brand in a helpful, non-intrusive way.

It improves ROI: Targeted lead gen strategies ensure you’re attracting the right audience, not wasting resources.

It supports long-term success: A consistent lead pipeline means predictable revenue and scalable growth.

Types of Leads

Not all leads are the same. Understanding the different types can help you tailor your messaging and approach.

1. Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL)

Someone who has shown interest through content interaction but isn’t ready to buy yet.

2. Sales Qualified Lead (SQL)

A lead who has taken action suggesting they’re ready to talk to your sales team (like booking a call).

3. Product Qualified Lead (PQL)

Typically relevant for SaaS—someone who has used your product (like a free trial) and shows buying intent.

How Lead Generation Works

The lead generation process usually includes these key steps:

1. Attract Visitors

Use SEO, social media, content marketing, and paid ads to bring people to your website or landing pages.

2. Offer Value

Create lead magnets like guides, webinars, checklists, or free tools that your target audience wants.

3. Capture Information

Use forms, chatbots, or popups to collect user details in exchange for your lead magnet.

4. Nurture and Convert

Send follow-up emails, offer more content, or schedule calls to move leads further down the funnel.

Watch: What is Lead Generation?

📹 This beginner-friendly YouTube video explains it well: "7 Keys to Lead Generation & Sales Prospecting for Business Development and B2B Sales"

Popular Lead Generation Strategies in 2025

✍️ Content Marketing

Publishing helpful blog posts, whitepapers, or videos to attract and educate potential customers.

🔍 Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Optimizing your site and content to rank high on Google so your target audience can find you.

📧 Email Marketing

Sending personalized, value-packed messages to nurture leads and keep them engaged.

💼 LinkedIn Outreach

Great for B2B businesses—use it to connect with decision-makers and share valuable resources.

📣 Paid Advertising

Run targeted ads on Google, Facebook, or LinkedIn to bring traffic directly to high-converting landing pages.

Tools to Help with Lead Generation

Here are some must-have tools to streamline your lead generation efforts:

HubSpot – CRM and marketing automation for capturing and nurturing leads.

Mailchimp – For sending and automating email campaigns.

OptinMonster – Great for creating popups and opt-in forms.

SEMrush – For keyword research and SEO optimization.

LinkedIn Sales Navigator – Ideal for identifying and connecting with B2B leads.

How Businesses Use Lead Generation Services

Many companies choose to outsource their efforts to experts who specialize in attracting and converting high-quality leads. These lead generation services offer tailored strategies that align with your industry, audience, and growth goals—saving time while maximizing ROI.

Final Thoughts

Lead generation is the lifeblood of any successful business. Whether you’re a marketer trying to fill your sales funnel or an entrepreneur looking to grow your client base, understanding how to attract and convert leads is essential.

By combining valuable content, smart targeting, and nurturing tools, you can build a lead gen system that works for you 24/7. In 2025, the businesses that thrive will be the ones that focus not just on selling—but on providing value from the very first click.

[bomberqueen17]

Loftus Bralette Sewing Journal: cutting out

LOL so I have started the project but not made a ton of progress, but I thought, well, I'll write it up anyway.

First thing I did was watch the sewalong. It's not the slickest, shiniest sewalong-- there's no jaunty theme song, there's no animated intro, there's no flashy graphics-- it's very much Old Youtubey, where it's someone actually doing the steps and showing you as she goes, not really sped up, with minimal intercuts. As it happens, the demonstrating sewist is the owner of Porcelynne, which is a lingerie supply company and pattern maker, and she also helped design this pattern and the previous Cashmerette bra because she is not only a bra specialist but also is a very busty woman herself, and so completely on the same wavelength. She has incredible technical knowledge, has clearly sewn very many bras, produces a lovely end product, and shows you several places where she either made a mistake or has made many mistakes in the past and has developed this trick to avoid the mistakes. So it's a good solid sewalong... just not the most short-attention-span-friendly thing in the world.

So I will say I watched the sewalong with closed captions on and at 1.5x speed, just for my first runthrough.

(I can't watch a sewalong or tutorial while I'm trying to sew a thing. I do best if I watch it first, so I know what to expect. Hopefully it relates well enough to the instruction manual that I can piece the two together and figure out what I'm supposed to do as I go.)

And now I've started my own sew-through.

I bought a bunch of stuff from Porcelynne-- a nice kit for once I've made it, but basic stuff to muslin it. There are several places on the Cashmerette website and also in the instruction book for the pattern that lays out exactly what fabric you need and what notions. I also then made a list in Sharpie on a scrap of paper, inventorying how many pieces of each pattern piece I needed, and how many inches of each type of elastic I needed, so that I could enclose that inventory along with this iteration of the garment, so that I could refer to the checklist.

I also labeled the elastic-- N for neckline, U for underarm-- as I cut it, so I would know what was supposed to go where.

[img desc my hand holding several lengths of peach-colored elastic, one with a sharpie N and the other with a sharpie U which is sideways and looks like a C but I know what it means trust me. in the background is a baggie with other elastic in it including two pink straps I cut off an old bra to reuse the notions. This bra muslin is not going to be all one color or even going to match, that's just how it is.]

I forgot to order cup lining, it was in my cart but then the session refreshed and I didn't re-add it. So I'm making my muslin with two layers of the same fabric, which means I need to label which layers are the lining and which the outer. This is both easier and harder and I'll let you know whether I recommend this or not 😅.

I'm following Jen from Porcelynne's suggestion of marking the wrong side of the fabric with painter's tape, and i applied the tape immediately after cutting out each piece since there's not an obvious right or wrong side to this fabric, and I also used a felt-tipped marker to write on the painter's tape which 1) piece it was, which 2) layer it was, and 3) whether it was the pattern piece or the mirror image. (Given my specific brand of neurospicy I cannot reliably tell left from right so I'm just making One Half Of The Bra The Same Direction As The Paper Pattern And The Other Half Mirror-Imaged and I'll find out which is right and which is left once i put it on.)

I also immediately used a felt-tipped marker to trace the grainlines on the pattern pieces, then flipped them over and traced the marker line onto the other side, so that I could see how the grainline should be oriented while I had the pattern pieces in mirror-image mode, since the most accurate way to cut fabric is not to cut it while folded. And i know myself, I'd want to wiggle the odd-shaped pieces to fit best on the fabric, and I'd fuck up the grainlines, which are important especially as some of the pieces are cut from stretch fabric.

To add to the confusion, the lining is inside-out from the regular bra. So my first layer, everything mirror-imaged gets an A on the end. (Piece 1a, 2a, 3a on the painter's tape.) but for the lining, the A goes on everything NOT mirror imaged, because the lining and main pieces are cut from the same pattern piece. So the first half of my bra consists of pieces 1, 2, 3 in main fabric, and then mirror-imaged pices 1L, 2L, 3L, and 6L in the lining fabric, and then also 6 non-mirror-imaged in the lining fabric-- 6 is the center front bit and you cut both layers from your lining.

So then the opposite of that is the other half of my bra. Pieces 1A, 2A, 3A, and then lining 1LA, 2LA, 3LA, etc. And then there are two copies of pattern pieces 5 and 4 cut from the powermesh fabric-- the powerbar, and the back band.

L for lining appears in the written instructions, and that plus my own inability to distinguish left from right is why the bra is not labeled L for left or R for right. L for Lining would confuse me even if I just labeled the right half. So I did not, it is Side Unmarked and Side A.

I traced the paper pattern in felt-tipped marker directly unerasably onto the fabric because this is my muslin. And then after I cut it out (with a rotary cutter and mat) I took a pencil, laid the translucent fabric over the paper pattern piece, and traced on every notch, every marking, and the entirety of the sewing lines. For the mirror-imaged pieces, I did this and then flipped them over and darkened the sewing lines onto the now-right side of the fabric. Because this is my muslin and it is far more important to me to sew it perfectly accurately than it is to have the marks erase for later when I maybe wear it and maybe never do.

Yes, this took forever. I did not do this at my usual cutting table I did it on the kitchen table where I could sit comfortably, because I only needed about 24x24" of space to work, and I needed good light and a very steady surface and to be comfortable and not rushed while I worked.

[image description: all my cut out pieces spread across my kitchen table/counter, labeled in silver metallic sharpie on blue painter's tape, with the roll of painter's tape and the paper pattern pieces and my cup of water and scissors all strewn around.]

As soon as I was done I lay everything out, compared it to my checklist, compared the checklist back to the instruction book, made sure the painter's tape was on the correct side of each piece, and then put everything neatly away. I have all my elastics and notions in one little plastic baggie, and then all of the second half of the bra (so, mirror-imaged main pieces, and then non-mirror-imaged lining pieces) in another little plastic baggie, and then the first half of the bra is just in the main baggie that i put the other baggies into.

I brought the whole thing down into my sewing room, and what I did was get the lid of a rubbermaid tote to use as a tray, and lay out half the bra on that, triple-checking the orientation of the pieces, and I did find one where the masking tape was on the wrong side somehow argh. But I've started off by sewing the outer layer and lining layer of the first half together, and I got like one seam in before I was interrupted, but everything inactive is still in the baggies and everything active is on that rubbermaid tote lid in its correct orientation, so I could walk away from it and know where to resume when I come back.

I also have the paper pattern pieces easily to hand to check that notches are correctly marked, because I have no faith in myself to have done that right consistently. Normally I put the pattern away but I'm not doing that here, and I think it makes sense to just print the pattern out numerous times and put any corrections on every instance of it, and then have several copies of it so that any project in-progress can still have the pattern pieces with it until it is complete.

This is my note to myself to do that, keep the pattern pieces there and make adjustments as necessary and then when I finish the muslin, print out another copy with adjustments included.

I also would like to print out a mirror-imaged copy, and potentially have separate pattern pieces for the left and right, as I expect some asymmetry to be a factor.

[madhukumarc]

What are the best content marketing strategies for freelancers?

Best Content Marketing Strategies for Freelancers:

Here are some of the best content marketing strategies for freelancers:

Create a niche-focused blog or YouTube channel.

Utilize social media platforms strategically and maintain an active presence. LinkedIn & X (Twitter) a must.

Offer valuable free content (e.g., ebooks, webinars, templates, checklists).

Guest posts on reputable industry-relevant websites.

Leverage email marketing (could be niche-specific newsletters) for client nurturing.

Showcase case your studies and testimonials.

Engage in short-form video marketing on tips and trends (e.g., Instagram Reels, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts)

Participate in podcasts as a guest expert.

Optimize content for voice search and featured snippets.

Leverage content distribution and repurposing strategies to maximize your content reach, visibility, attention, and engagement.

Explore collaboration, networking, and mutual content promotion.

Pro-Tip: Focus on developing a strong personal brand (or as a thought leader) in your niche.

P.S: In case, if you're searching for marketing freelancing, I suggest you check out this online marketing job board to discover the latest opportunities.

[digitalhive923]

10 Things To Do Before You Approach A Web Design Company For Doing Your Website

There are frequently gaps between what a web design company offers and what a customer requests. This blog highlights challenges between web design companies and clients, stressing clear communication to minimize iterations. It offers a checklist for seamless website development, emphasizing client expectations and preparatory materials. Here is a link to the complete blog "10 Things To Do Before You Approach A Web Design Company For Doing Your Website".

[adasitecompliance]

Financial Services ADA Checklist

7 Tips To Design ADA-Compliant Financial Services Websites

Banking and investment have recently changed a lot in the US, where more than 40% of adults access online financial services. With this ride in demand and need for online financial services comes the increased need for accessible web content. Despite only viewable pages of banking and financial sites considered to be places of public accommodation, only 1% of the most popular sites on the internet are compliant. And with more than 25% of US adults living with some disability, ensuring your site is compliant helps avoid ending up in expensive ADA lawsuits.

There is no need to worry if you do not know how to make your site ADA-compliant. We at ADA Site Compliance are here to help. We are the #1 source for all ADA website compliance issues and will check your site for accessibility while you focus on doing what you do best. Use the Financial Services ADA Checklist to tick all the accessibility boxes on your website.

Top 7 Best Practices to Adopt to Design ADA-Compliant Financial Services Websites

Here is a list of the seven best practices financial services should adopt while designing their website to ensure they adhere to website compliance standards:

1. Conduct Automated and User Testing

The first step involves assessing the current accessibility level of your website. Automated user testing is especially a better option for checking sites with hundreds or thousands of template product pages, which is tedious to perform manually. An automated test involves analyzing accessibility status based on real-time data. Upon completing the analysis, recommendations are made for the entire site to be easily integrated into the overall website design. However, your site requires user testing because automated testing cannot flag every WCAG violation. It is where usability and digital accessibility experts and people who use assistive technologies daily manually test your site for accessibility issues. The best user interface and testing program for a website is performed with the help of experts from:

Local activist groups or nonprofit organizations working with people with disabilities

The disability community

Friends, family members, or work colleagues using assistive technology or who have disabilities

Testers from different databases

2. Simple Fonts and Texts are Always Better

With the website’s text size, font, and style speaking a lot of your brand, its consistent and logical use helps prevent any confusion among site visitors. And to prevent confusion, it is always better to:

Use bold or italic text for important points

Avoid using large paragraphs, as it can be confusing for users with dyslexia to read

Divide information into bulleted lists

3. Simple Fonts and Texts are Always Better

You never know who may visit your financial website. That is why it should be accessible to users with auditory, mental, visual, physical, and visual impairments too. So your website needs some changes if users with disabilities cannot navigate the website using the help of only the tab button. These four tips help ensure your site content is easy to navigate:

Placing important information in the exact location on all pages

Ensuring disabled users can quickly find specific information on your website

Linearly presenting information on the website so that users with screen readers can easily scan the page from top to bottom

Having a “Skip Navigation’ feature at the top of the site so that screen readers can quickly find and access specific content

4. Clear and Concise Navigation

Accessibility issues due to poor color contrast may arise in websites that focus more on using colors consistent with their branding instead of using colors that promote effective communication. Users with cognitive disabilities, the color blind, and some other users with disabilities may find it challenging to access a site if the text and background colors are not in proper contrast. Some tips to consider to ensure proper contrast involve:

Maintaining a color-contrast ratio of 4.5:1 between all text and background colors

Using high-contrast visual aids or color schemes

Not depending solely on text of different colors for communicating messages

5. Using Proper Color Contrast

Your financial website audio and video assets determine your website accessibility. Accessing your website’s audio and visual content can be challenging for users with visual or cognitive impairments without the proper measures. Including descriptions of all audio and video files embedded in the website helps improve your website compliance. It is because it will help visually impaired users understand the purpose of all the website audio and video content. The following tips can improve your site accessibility:

Adding text captions, subtitles, and alternative text for images makes it easier for screen readers to read

Including audio descriptions and subtitles in multiple languages

Adding audio cues signaling changes in setting, color, gestures, and other visual elements

6. Including Descriptions on All Website Social Media Assets

Most users with disabilities resort to using screen readers to access ADA-friendly websites. So placing help text inline error messages below fields will help ensure visitors fill out forms. This helps in two ways:

The first is visitors can quickly contact your website through the form

Secondly, inline errors help users understand how to repair any incorrect fields

7. Include Labels and Inline Messaging in Website Forms

Ensuring the alt text in the website copy is as straightforward as possible lets visitors easily access the content they need. The best way to achieve this is by dividing the website text into headings and subheadings and correctly positioning them on the web page. Lastly, ensure all abbreviations and acronyms used in the website are appropriately punctuated using periods for better readability. And do not forget to have a developer review your website code once the website is ready. Not only should your website comply with all laws, but it should also function properly without a code.

More About ADA and Website Accessibility

The ADA law requires that users with disabilities should be able to access public physical structures with the help of wheelchairs and ramps. In addition, it requires that users with disabilities be able to access websites easily. This means that users with impairments should be able to read, use, and navigate page elements of the website easily without any problems. This is achieved with the right website color contrasts, alt tags, website navigation, and proper markup and coding.

What are the ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines?

The web accessibility standards WCAG 2.1 are presently the highest in the US for website accessibility. It is challenging to attain Title III compliance as the law does not specify any website accessibility procedure. However, despite no official ADA standard, web content accessibility guidelines WCAG 2.0 AA is the standard adopted for website compliance.

Conclusion

Whether you plan to design or redesign your financial services website does not matter. What does matter is ensuring it is ADA-compliant for two main reasons: To ensure your website is accessible to everyone and also to avoid landing up in a lawsuit. Following these steps ensures video content on your website is accessible to everyone, including users with various types of disabilities. Web compliance is a continual process wherein you must check your website to ensure it’s updated with the latest compliance issues. Do not worry if you find this tedious because we at ADA Site Compliance can help. It is what we are best at, ensuring ADA-compliant websites. We proudly say we are the #1 source for all ADA-accessible website and compliance issues. Our team of accessibility experts will check and fix all errors to ensure your website is fully ADA-compliant!

[pumpsoul-oct123]

I'm a Product Developer, and I’ve Built a Customized Preparedness Guide for My Family

Hey everyone,

I’m a product developer with a bit of a survival prepper streak. Lately, with everything going on in the world, I’ve been thinking more about how to make sure my family is prepared for any kind of disaster.

After diving into tons of disaster preparedness checklists, I noticed something: most of them aren’t exactly tailored to my specific situation. A lot of the items listed don’t really make sense for where I live, the climate here, or the resources I have access to. So, I started tweaking these lists myself, adjusting them to better fit our needs.

That’s when I had an idea—what if there was a tool that could do this for you? So, I created a website that generates personalized disaster preparedness guides based on your location, how many people are in your household, and the type of home you live in. The tool gives you custom supply lists, knowledge cards, and even emergency contacts that make sense for your situation.

Here’s a sneak peek at the guide I made for my own family:

Location: Los Angeles

Household: 2 adults, 1 elder

Home Type: Apartment

The full report is about 10 pages long, but I’ve pulled a short excerpt so you can get a feel for it.

The cool part? You can tweak the supply list and quantities to suit your own needs.

The tool is pretty much free, and now I’m looking for some feedback. I’d love to hear what you think—whether it’s about the content, how the report is worded, or any other suggestions you might have.

As a thank-you, I’m going to have a special section on the website’s homepage where I’ll shout out everyone who gives valuable feedback. Your name will be featured as a key contributor to making this tool even better. Thanks a ton for your help!

[linkablewritingadvice]

Where can I get critiques or feedback for my writing?

Finding someone who understands what you’re trying to do with your writing, is knowledgeable in your genre, and is able and willing to read your writing and give good feedback is difficult! You’re asking someone to get invested in your work and provide you free labor on their own time, so be respectful and responsible.

It’s sort of like finding someone to date or be friends with - you can’t just dump out an “application” and expect the perfect person to fall into your lap. But once you find someone, it’s great! Remember that you really only have to find one or two people, and it’s worth putting in the work.

General advice about giving and getting feedback:

13 Rules To Be a Better Beta Reader

Critical Feedback For Writers

Using A Critique Checklist

How To Deal With Criticism For Writers

The Writer’s Game Plan For Constructive Criticism

Giving Feedback

Giving & Getting Feedback

Before asking for feedback

Be judicious about whose feedback you take. Just because someone has the time and energy to talk to you about your writing doesn’t mean they are the right person to help you hone your craft. Know what you are trying to do with your writing and what specific questions or areas of focus you have for your reviewers. Know where you want to improve and what you are working on. 

Make sure you are in a place in your own work and development to receive feedback. If you are sensitive and will get discouraged or defensive in response to constructive criticism, spend more time with your own work before reaching out for feedback.

Consider spending time giving other people feedback before asking for it yourself, so you understand the process and what it’s like on the other side.

Get your work to a good state before sharing it - read other books in the same genre, read books on craft and style, and polish your writing as much as you can on your own. Don’t ask someone else to do work that you could do yourself, and maximize the benefit of getting outside feedback by fixing any issues you can handle without help first.

Meet them organically in a writing or genre focused community

Get involved in forums, subreddits, discords, Facebook groups, or other places where people who read and write in your genre gather to connect. Be friendly, follow the rules and social norms of that community, and make conversation. Comment on other people’s writing and go with the flow of the community.

Focus on making friends and connections and finding people who vibe with you rather than just dumping a post about your desire for a beta reader, and start meeting people who share your interests.

Use a specific beta-reader finding platform

There are specific websites and forums where you can post looking for someone to be a beta reader for you. Some places to start:

Writing Buddy Link-Up

Beta Readers subreddit

Beta readers Facebook group

NowNovel Beta Reader Network

Always make sure to read and follow the rules in any group you’re posting to!

Offer a swap/be generous

All the websites linked above will also let you browse posts by other people looking for beta readers. Look for someone who seems to be in a similar place as you, looking for similar things, and writing in a similar genre and consider reaching out to offer a swap or ask if they’re interested in you two becoming beta readers for each other. 

Connect with them via critique sites

You can get active on a critique site, giving and receiving feedback. As you engage with the community, you may meet people whose feedback seems to really click with your work or vice versa. Reach out to them to make friends and see if they want to go deeper on a critique partnership. 

Critique Sites:

Scribophile

Destructive Readers

Writing.com

Critique Circle

Go in person

You can look for in-person writing groups in your area on Meetup or Shut Up And Write.

Many colleges, libraries, book stores, or rec centers also host writing groups - look for one near you.

Consider taking a writing class at a community college or through a rec center/adult education organization near you.

Hire them

There are people who offer beta reading, developmental editing, or other feedback services for a price. This is a bit different than finding a critique partner, because you’ve entered into something more like an employee/employer relationship when you contract someone to do this paid work for you. Be prepared to manage this responsibly. If you don’t trust yourself to have uncomfortable conversations or end the contract if they are not giving you what you want, don’t hire someone. 

Remember that since you’re paying them, you can be more explicit about your expectations and requests. And make sure you have the budget to pay them fairly - you get what you pay for!

Always check someone’s credentials - just because someone is charging money for a service doesn’t mean they are worth your money. Make sure you trust the person you’re hiring. Check for reviews and search for them on Writer Beware. Ask them about other authors they’ve worked with.

Places to hire paid beta readers:

Independent Book Review

Fiverr

Reedsy

The Author Buddy

There are also a lot of individual people who run their own beta reading/editing businesses. There’s no way I can link all of them, but try searching for things like “hire a beta reader” or “editor for hire” with keywords related to your genre. Here are some random examples of what you might find:

Fanna For Books

Lyss Em

HorrorSmith Editing

Darling Axe