(or websites as I like to call them)

Nice article from Suzanne Scacca on Smashing Magazine on how web developers can help restaurants up their digital game.

Restaurants that fail to digitize going forward won’t survive.

That applies to any business. Key take aways (ahem) from this article:

1. Think about your customer’s needs and prioritise the website for them
2. Diversify your income. Don’t rely on any sector or client
3. Make sure all related social sites and directory entries have consistent branding. If you aren’t mentioned on other sites start work now

Dan Goodin at Ars Technica

‘Researchers from Kaspersky Lab on Monday said that they have recently observed about two dozen infected sites that found a novel way to achieve this. Instead of sending it to attacker-controlled servers, the attackers send it to Google Analytics accounts they control. Since the Google service is so widely used, ecommerce site security policies generally fully trust it to receive data.’

Clever but very creepy. Check you don’t have an extra Google Analytics profile in your sites source.

Here’s another (deep dive) article on card skimming via embedded image data.

Chris Herbert has collated opinions from 85 WordPress Professionals (ahem) on the page builder plugins they use to manage and layout content, and why it’s best for them.

Gutenberg, my new best friend when it comes to editing WordPress content, sadly didn’t make the top three. I’d say that for some, it’s too new and doesn’t have a full feature set, therefore too much work and not enough reward to change their development process.

I contribute the following.

‘Gutenberg – “Despite a few visual quirks that need ironing out, the built-in block editor (launched in December 2018) is by far the best way to layout content without reaching for any HTML or CSS.

It’s faster than other page builders such as WPBakery, my previous go-to for WordPress layout. And it represents more accurately what the final content will look like, especially compared with the layout plugin Divi.

But most importantly, it’s built directly into WordPress, so you know it will be supported for years to come, and with hundreds of contributors, it’s going to get a lot of attention.

On the downside, the built-in editor doesn’t yet include all the features you might want, such as fancy sectional divides or masonry style image galleries but with additional plugins the editor can be extended to do more, much more. My favourites are Stackable which has feature grids and popup videos that look great, and also Coblocks that has a collection of image galleries, layout containers and dividers that I use in most of my web sites.

I highly recommend testing it out for your next website build.”’

Tip on rudrastyh.com which I wish I had known years ago.

1. Go to the Products > All Products in the sidebar
2. Click on the Sorting tab just above the list of products
3. Drag and drop your products into the order you want them

Also in the article is how to manage default product sorting in the WooCommerce settings.

Paul Boag writing for Smashing magazine on How To Convince Others Not To Use Dark Patterns

‘Brands always used to be able to get away with manipulation because consumers were mostly unaware of being manipulated. Even if they did realize(sic), the choice was limited, and so there was very little they could do. That is no longer true. The web has changed that.

We need to help management realize the fact that consumers have changed. That in every consumer’s pocket is instant access to every other company on the planet that offers the same thing as you. It is so easy to find your competitors and so simple to swap that one small annoyance is enough to make people switch.’

Dark patterns are tricks to make people do things they don’t mean to do. You’ve probably come across them on an airline website when booking seats or paying extra for insurance. Find out more about what they look like here.

While these tricks seem like a clever way to up-sell, here’s an example Paul cites as a reason why dark patterns are not as profitable as they might seem.

‘Sure enough, the sales of filters skyrocketed, and the e-commerce team was pleased because they were one step closer to meeting their targets.

Unfortunately what they were not aware of was what was happening elsewhere in the company.

The marketing team who ran the companies social media channels found themselves having to spend time addressing complaints on Twitter and Facebook.

The customer support team received an increase in calls asking for refunds or complaining. Each call was costing the company £3.21, more than the profit margin on the filters.’

Two great presentations at last weeks Cheltenham WordPress Meetup. Here are some of the notes I took away.

Building interactive maps in leaflet.js

• Lucy Sloss (@lucysloss) from Studio Mothership
• Leaflet.js – an open-source JavaScript library for mobile-friendly interactive maps
• Has a WordPress plugin (of course)
• Can choose your own tile set such as Google, Map box (also higher customisable), Open Street maps or custom image tiles
• Create own markers and pop ups content
• Works with GEOJSON map format for importing multiple locations

Content personalisation

• Paul Lacey (@wp_paullacey) from Dickie birds
• Content personalisation – website content that changes based on the unique things it knows about the user
• Personalising experiences – Just like walking into a coffee shop when they know your name and how you like your coffee.
• Can be creepy. So respect a website users personal space
• Mutually beneficial conversion – Use personalisation where it will help you user find information or do something more quickly
• Personalisation plug-ins – logichop.com (cheapest) and if-so.com
• Logichop has Gutenberg integration

Also discussed in the pub after the meetup was wordsesh.com a virtual conference all about WordPress via @Just2Ronald

Advice and guidance on how to maintain, develop and drive more traffic to your WordPress website.

• Backup your WordPress website
• Protect your WordPress website from hacks
• Speed up your WordPress website
• Search optimise your WordPress website
• Get stats from your WordPress website

Save tears and backup your site before making any changes. If you don’t feel confident about making any of the recommended changes yourself, consult with your web developer, techie friends or get in touch, we’d be happy help.

(more…)

Subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Android.

Ben discusses with Ben Wheeler the role of websites in current marketing, diminishing in favour of social business pages.

The sponsor for this episode is 34SP. A Fast, Secure and Managed WordPress host based in the UK. Visit 34sp.com and use the code WPINVENTIVE at checkout to get your first three months of hosting completely free.

(more…)

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Ben meets with Nicholas van der Walle to discuss how Astute Graphics managed the process of updating their website with a new product pricing system.

The sponsor for this episode is our Internet Marketing Club. Remember to use code INVENTIVEPODCAST for 20% off annual membership.

(more…)

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Kimb Jones from Make Do joins Ben to discuss embracing the Gutenberg editor along with a demo of some of the rather handy features built into it.

The sponsor for this episode is Inventive People. Get 20% off first order with the code INVENTIVEPODCAST.

(more…)

Subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Android.

In this episode Ben is joined by Tess Coughlan-Allen, Marketing Manager at Mind Doodle to talk about content planning, mind mapping and minidoodle.com.

The sponsor for this episode is Inventive People. Get 20% off first order with the code INVENTIVEPODCAST.

(more…)

Subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Android.

Ben is joined by Elliot Richmond who runs the local (Cheltenham) WordPress Meetup group. They discuss, WordPress, meetups and the importance of community. If you want to dip into WordPress meet-ups are the best way to meet local developers, designers and businesses who use it.

The sponsor for this episode is Inventive People. Get 20% off first order with the code INVENTIVEPODCAST.

(more…)

Ben speaks with Richard Bell and Elliot Richmond (both members of the WordPress Cheltenham Meetup) on their highlights from the first day of the most excellent WordCamp Bristol 2019.

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Ben is joined by Sarah Dixon who shares what you need to have in place to ensure your website is legal, image libraries and copyright.

The sponsor for this episode is Inventive People. Get 20% off first order with the code INVENTIVEPODCAST.

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Show notes

• Inventive People – outsourcing work
• Sarah Dixon Contract Store
• Spider Creative
• Free Image Libraries: Flickr, Pexels, Pixabay, Elements
• German Protest to bring down Article 13
• Blog: Being authentic on LinkedIn with Alex Galviz
• Blog: How to captivate your audience
• Gingerbread milk stout and Elvis juice (Mac and Forth Podcast)
• SayHola Feedback

Edited by Clare Harris – ‘Goofy Vocal Groove‘ intro music by Dave Girtsman–Image courtesy of Pexel.

Subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Android.

Ben catches-up with Alex Galviz, who is one of the top influences on LinkedIn in the UK. She has co-created an incredible global network of events called LinkedIn local and encourages people to communicate with authenticity.

This is a recommended listen if you want to up your game on LinkedIn.

(more…)

Ben is joined by Jonathan Pollinger and they talk about the future social media, why it’s worth making predictions, JP’s rebrand and why Facebook is bloated and not very much fun to use.

The sponsor for this episode is Inventive People. Get 20% off first order with the code INVENTIVEPODCAST.

If you have any feedback, ideas or topics you’d like covered on our podcast we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch via our contact page, leave a voicemail on 0800 881 5805 or mention @RatherInventive on Twitter.

Something Inventive is an entertaining and lively podcast on creativity and the web. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or search for ‘Something Inventive’ in your favourite podcast player.

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Episode sponsored by our SEO report

Check out our laser focused SEO report. If you need to build up your traffic then this report is for you! Mention our podcast when your order and get 10% off.

Show notes

• Inventive People – outsourcing work
• Jonathan Pollinger Social Media Trainer
• Jonathan Pollinger Social Media Predictions 2017
• Google and Facebook’s Complete and Total Digital Ad Domination Explained in 1 Chart
• The FTC and Facebook Are Negotiating a Record, Multibillion-Dollar Fine for the Company’s Privacy Lapses
• Mark Zuckerberg Promised A Clear History Tool Almost A Year Ago. Where Is It?
• Marketing automation with Marcus Unemyr
• Rather Inventive Marketing Events 2019
• If Baguettes could move
• SayHola Feedback

The Hosts

Jonathan Pollinger (@pollingersocial) – An unusual mix of logical thinker with a creative eye
Ben Kinnaird (@benkinnaird) – Knower of Social media, SEO and ‘the Web’

Be part of the show

Tweet a service or product you’d like to promote, mentioning @RatherInventive and the hashtag #podvert and we’ll read it out over the coming episodes.

If you like the show please give us a rating in iTunes and we’ll read out your comment. You can do this from the podcast player on Apple.

Thanks for listening!

—
Edited by Clare Harris – ‘Goofy Vocal Groove‘ intro music by Dave Girtsman–Image courtesy of Pexel.

Al and Ben discuss lessons learnt from their first webinar, how to check if your data has been hacked, gdpr fails and a look back at Al’s time with Rather Inventive before he embarks on a new adventure.

The sponsor for this episode is Inventive People. Get 20% off first order with the code INVENTIVEPODCAST.

If you have any feedback, ideas or topics you’d like covered on our podcast we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch via our contact page, leave a voicemail on 0800 881 5805 or mention @RatherInventive on Twitter.

Something Inventive is an entertaining and lively podcast on creativity and the web. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or search for ‘Something Inventive’ in your favourite podcast player.

---

Episode sponsored by our SEO report

Check out our laser focused SEO report. If you need to build up your traffic then this report is for you! Mention our podcast when your order and get 10% off.

Show notes

• Inventive People – outsourcing work
• Webinar IMC follow-up – You can join here
• Hacked Data
• Have I been pwned
• Recaptcha
• Why Captchas have got so difficult
• SayHola Feedback

 

The Hosts

Al Osmond (@inventiveal) – An unusual mix of logical thinker with a creative eye
Ben Kinnaird (@benkinnaird) – Knower of Social media, SEO and ‘the Web’

Be part of the show

Tweet a service or product you’d like to promote, mentioning @RatherInventive and the hashtag #podvert and we’ll read it out over the coming episodes.

If you like the show please give us a rating in iTunes and we’ll read out your comment. You can do this from the podcast player on Apple.

Thanks for listening!

—
Audio edited by Clare Harris – ‘Goofy Vocal Groove‘ intro music by Dave Girtsman–Image courtesy of Pexel.

Ben chats with Magnus Unemyr on how implementing artificial intelligence and automated marketing can impact society and if done well, AI driven, marketing automation can not only propel sales but can and waste less time through more targeted interactions.

They also dip into the darker side of how big data can, and has been misused by companies in the recent past.

 

• Unemyr.com
• Linkedin
• Marketing automation course
• Data Driven Marketing with Automation Book

 

Image Credit: Magnus Unemyr portrait. Banner Image Credit: Image of Magnus Unemyr presenting a lecture.

Subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Android.

In this interview Ben chats with Michelle Evans on how developing a marketing funnel can take your from simply surviving, to SOLD OUT.

Michelle takes us through the steps of developing a funnel from understanding your audience before jumping in to develop a funnel that will nurture more customers into working with you.

(more…)

Subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Android.

Al and Ben discuss the website trends to look out for this year and the impact of blanding branding. Ben shares Jonathon Pollinger’s social media predictions for 2019.

Sponsor: Inventive Marketing Club – Learn to build a better marketing strategy. Find out more

(more…)

It is truly amazing what we can all achieve with a mobile phone camera but you need to be realistic. When it comes to producing stunning imagery for your business, it really is worth getting the professionals in.

We see so many hobbyist photographers who believe they are saving money by taking the photos themselves but in fact, it’s costing them in the long run.

 

A professional photographer provides experience, knowledge & creative flair

When you hire a professional photographer you are hiring someone who does photography for a living. They have a wealth of experience they can apply to any given situation and will strive to capture your vision. Photography is an art and it’s not at all as simple as point and shoot. They are thinking about their depth of field, lighting, angle, overall composition and scene to tailor the photography style to your industry. It takes years of practice to hone their skill and develop their creative flair to enable them to deliver breathtaking shots that enthusiasts can only dream of.

The skill is not only taking the original shot but also being able to adjust and edit the photos depending on your photo requirements. Whether the colours need to be punchier or the background needs enhancing, editing photos can take hours. To do it well takes experience, practice, and creativity usually on expensive software.

Customers can judge in an instant from the presentation of a product whether or not it is right for them. Using a professional photographer will only increase your chances of getting their attention and for the right reasons.

 

Investing in stock images could be an alternative answer

If hiring a professional photographer is currently beyond your means then consider investing in some stock images. There are many libraries online like EveryPixel, Adobe Stock and Flickr who provide a range of free and inexpensive images for all to use. Just remember if you opt for this, other people will also be using these images, maybe even your competitors so they won’t be unique to your business. If you want to stand out and have professional, unique images which represent your brand, then you have invested in a professional photographer.

 

It doesn’t have to be expensive

If you value how your business is perceived then invest. This doesn’t have to be overly expensive, many photographers will tailor a bespoke package to your needs and means. Or for ease if mind, you can always purchase an off the shelf deal so you know exactly what you can expect. On Inventive People we offer lots of options to enable us to meet our clients’ needs.

 

Image courtesy of Pexel

In this interview Ben managed to catch Dan Lewis from Free Agent 247 in-between meetings to chat about their free business model and how video plays an important part in their promotional strategy.

 

• • Dan Lewis – Founder of free-agent247
  • free-agent247.com
  • free-agent247 on instagram
  • Worcester Foregate Street Station
  • Michelle Morris – Natural Photography

Image Credit: Founder Dan Lewis, FreeAgent247. Banner Image Credit: Image of Dan Lewis sat in a chair reading.

Voice search on Alexa and Google, is an area we don’t have a complete grasp on yet, particularly optimising for it. So, Ben was keen to talk with Duane Forrester, VP of Industry Insights over at Yext.

We discuss why we should be using structured data on our website. How this impacts conventional SEO and why it matters for voice and augmented reality.

 

• • • Duane Forrester
    • Bing
    • Next
    • Mocca Master
    • Schema.org (Jointly operated by Google and Bing)
    • Structured Data (Trust Signal)
    • Amazon Echo Dot
    • Digital Knowledge Engineer job role
    • Ready Player One
    • Google Glasses
    • Augmented Reality
    • Yext.co.uk

Image Credit: Founder Duane Forrester. Banner Image Credit: Accounts icons on a mobile courtesy of Pexel

Subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Android.

Al and Ben muse over some GDPR myths. Al shares his enlightened experience on meet-ups over in Bristol and we talk about outsourcing curtesy of Seth Godin.

Sponsor: Inventive Marketing Club – Learn to build a better marketing strategy. Find out more

(more…)

What is Gutenberg?

It’s the new visual editor built directly into WordPress and replaces the standard content editor used on post and pages. It’s designed to give people more flexibility on how they layout content.

We’ve used tools such as Visual Composer to layout our customers’ web page content for the last few years but it’s nice to see that WordPress is embracing its own visual layout system going forward.

However, if you update your website to version 5 without understanding the consequences it could be cause for frustration.

You can find out more about Gutenberg directly on the WordPress blog.

Update: Checkout episode 40 of our podcast Working with WordPress Gutenberg, where I talk to Kimb Jones about the Gutenberg editor along with a demo of some of the rather handy features built into it.

Ok so what do I need to do?

We always recommend that people update to the latest version of WordPress to ensure they have the most reliable and secure version.

However, updating to version 5 will change the way you make content changes in the admin area and if you are using any page builder plugins such as Visual Composer, Elementor or Divi it may prevent these from working correctly.
If you’d like to update to the latest version of WordPress, but keep on working as you are without the Gutenberg editor, we recommend following these steps:

1. Backup your WordPress site files and Database
2. Download and install the Classic Editor plugin
3. Then update your WordPress core

If you run a mission critical website then we would recommend you make the updates on a development server first before rolling out on live just to make sure any incompatibilities are identified.

If you’re a customer on our WordPress Support hosting plan then we’ll manage the transition for you, if not get in touch as we’d be happy help.