Please note this offer is open to all new customers: we are now offering a 15% discount off your website if you can provide a referral at the time of your order. Simply refer a friend or someone you know who is also looking for a website and if they work with StudioRav too you will receive a 15% discount off your quote! Just get in touch to take advantage of this offer.

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At StudioRav we understand that there will sometimes be times when you find it hard to settle an invoice on time. That’s why we offer custom payment terms which are designed to help you and your business. Even then however there are some people who think that it’s ok not to pay what they owe or expect to get something for free.

If you’re someone who is having difficulty paying up then the best thing to do is get in touch with me. Speak to me and I am certain we can arrange something which will be beneficial to both of us. I am interested in maintaining long term business relations so I will do my utmost to keep your website live.

On the other hand, if you don’t get in touch or let me down too many times I will have no option other than to take your website down. Please be aware this is a last resort and I am always open to speaking with you and sorting things out. Ultimately it will be your customers who suffer if they visit your website only to be hit by a message like this. The choice is yours.

For professional quality webdesign visit StudioRav

Many of the tips listed here are also in the very good ‘official’ WordPress guide called Hardening WordPress.

Wp-config

Update password

Ok if you have no idea what this file is then it may be better you get someone else to do this for you. Wp-config is the configuration file all WordPress installations use. It contains information such as your database name and password. The first thing I’d check is that your database password is secure. You can change this from your hosting cPanel or admin area.

Update unique keys and salts

By changing your unique keys and salts in the wp-config file you will invalidate all cookies and force users to have to log in to their accounts again. This can be a good step in bolstering your defences before you update all admin user passwords. You can generate the required keys really easy by going to this link and then copy and paste it into your wp-config file.

.htaccess and robots.txt

.htaccess

.htaccess is a special file which controls access to the directories on your webserver. A properly-written file can help minimise access to areas of your website you don’t want anyone snooping around.


# BEGIN WordPress

# protect from sql injection
Options +FollowSymLinks
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (<|%3C).*script.*(>|%3E) [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} GLOBALS(=|[|%[0-9A-Z]{0,2}) [OR]
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} _REQUEST(=|[|%[0-9A-Z]{0,2})
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.php [F,L]


Save this .htaccess file in your root directory.

Robots.txt

Robots.txt file on the other hand is a special file which gives instructions to search engines on how to search and index your site. Bear in mind that it’s up to the search engine spiders to honour this request or not, but at least you can give them some guidelines. By disallowing the indexing of certain sensitive directories you minimise the chance of them being compromised.


#
User-agent: *
Disallow: /cgi-bin
Disallow: /wp-admin
Disallow: /wp-includes
Disallow: /wp-content/plugins/
Disallow: /wp-content/cache/
Disallow: /wp-content/themes/
Disallow: */trackback/
Disallow: */feed/
Disallow: /*/feed/rss/$
Disallow: /category/*


Place this file in the same directory as .htaccess.

WordPress

Upgrade WordPress

The next step is upgrade your WordPress installation. WordPress is constantly being updated and bugs / security holes are always being patched so make sure you take advantage of this and keep your version up to date. The simplest way to do this is log in and if there is a newer version of WordPress available you will see a message at the top of your admin screen.

Choose a strong password

Another quickfix but so often overlooked is to choose a strong password. Don’t go for the obvious

pa55w0rd

but pick something which has uppercase and lowercase characters, numbers and special characters too. You could think of a word or maybe two random words which you put together such as

b0AT!fl&g

. One of the ways botnets and hackers use to get into your system is brute-strength password attacks which means they try many different words and combinations one after the other. If you choose something really strong and complex then they have much less chance of cracking it.

Plugins

WordPress is blessed with countless plugins and security is also very well represented. There are some pretty good ones out there but there are a few other steps to think about.

Delete unused plugins

It’s easy to end up with loads of downloaded plugins with many which you don’t actually use. A good tip is to delete any unused plugins, even if they are de-activated. Older plugins could contain vulnerabilities which newer plugins have fixed so if you don’t use them just remove from your system.

Upgrade plugins

Same as with your WordPress installation, make sure you upgrade your WordPress plugins. It’s easy to do and WordPress actually tells you when new plugins are available. As mentioned above new plugins sometimes contain fixes to vulnerabilities and security flaws, as well as additional features.

Wordfence Security

Wordfence is a described as an anti-virus and firewall plugin for WordPress. One of its best features is a scan which will check your themes, plugins and settings to uncover any flaws. Another handy feature is the ability to track visitors to your site, such as who has tried to login and logout, any humans and crawlers who have accessed it and other stats.

Better WP Security

In addition to Wordfence, this plugin provides a more proactive layer of securing your site to prevent unauthorised access. The dashboard presents a list of important points to strengthen your WordPress installation such as changing your username from admin to something else, or enforcing strong passwords for all users. Many of the features can be automatically set and you can also manually override them. Another feature I like is this will lockout any IP which tries to login and fails more than 3 times. (I should point out that some botnets have thousands of IPs so it’s not great against those, but it’s useful against humans from fixed IPs and also you get a handy email advising of their lockout).

Using the above 2 plugins together is definitely a very good strategy and greatly reduces security holes in your WordPress installation.

Backups

There will always be some type of flaw in your security and if the worst does ever happen then a recent backup can prove to be the most useful thing you have. I use the WordPress Backup 2 Dropbox plugin which is very useful. As well as being able to download a backup of your website, you can also automatically have it uploaded to your Dropbox account and even tell it how often to do this eg. every Sunday night.

If you require tailored help for your own WordPress-based website then get in touch with StudioRav and we can help you out.

For professional quality webdesign visit StudioRav

I’m a supporter of local business. I think local stores run by local people make the community. Local markets, shops and business places help the economy, provide jobs and give pride to an area. So it makes me sad to walk up and down local High Streets (such as West Brom, Dudley, Perry Barr) to see so many boarded up shops. Why is that?

I have to say it does seem that there are fewer people on the High Streets these days. Maybe I’m just going out on the wrong days, but the only stores which seem busy are the supermarkets and pound stores. Again, why is that? At this rate, soon they’ll suck the business from all the other independent stores and take over, promising us deals whilst taking away our right to shop elsewhere.

But the problem can’t just be blamed on the supermarkets and discount shops. Maybe locals need to be more smart and inventive. If they can’t compete on price, what else is there? Maybe on exceptional customer service, or real expertise in their field, or free delivery or whatever. Even the supermarkets were once the little guys.

But even with Asda and Tesco on the High Street there is still plenty of room for smaller, independent shops. So where are they? Anyone who travels will tell you that it’s great finding hidden gems, shops and stores which make a break from the generic High Street names, offering something that little different and special. It’s those sorts of places which really make up the High Street.

Maybe the ball is in the court of the Council people. Maybe they need to be the ones who have to make it really easy for people with a plan to get started. How about allowing people to set up shop with a months free rent or help in paying some of the costs? Personally I think financial barriers in getting funding seems to be one of the biggest barriers to setting up a new business.

But my own idea is something even simpler than that and today I’ve emailed Paul Muntford, Business Engagement Officer at Sandwell Council about it. What I was thinking is that we need to start promoting and advertising our local services more too. Right now there isn’t much in the way of promotion and advertising for SMEs. You could do a flyer campaign or pay to advertise on TV / radio but you still need some investment.

So what I suggested to Paul is using empty shops and plots around the High Street as advertising spaces? These places would be great to put up banners showcasing new and local businesses. As well as covering up eyesores and empty windows, they would more importantly help let people know about new shops and services available to them run by locals.

The important thing about this is:

• It needs to available to local businesses either for free or very low cost. After all, it’s the Council getting money for what would otherwise be an empty place.
• It needs to be actively managed so every month or so there is the opportunity for a new business to advertise their services.
• It needs to be tracked properly so people can judge how effective it is and in turn this could help for future sites.

I hope someone does something about this. The idea is to use what we already have in terms of space and use it in a positive way. It won’t solve every problem there is but it will certainly be a step in the right direction and hopefully give a few new businesses the jumpstart they deserve.

For professional quality webdesign visit StudioRav

As more and more people use the internet on their smartphones it’s also interesting to see that tablet sales are also booming. Tablets sit between smartphones and laptops, combining ease of use, user interface and features of both. They’re great for when you’re on the go, and with screens larger than smartphones they provide a better visual experience.

If you’re looking at getting a new website designed then consider how many people will be viewing your website on a tablet. Here are a few things you need to remember:

Your website needs to look good on different screens

Any good designer will already make sure your website looks good in different browsers. But these days they all need to think about what the site will look like if it’s viewed on the latest smartphone or tablet. And it’s not just about resizing the website but providing an equally good user experience on different platforms.

Tablets offer different user interface features

The main one being you can scroll, pinch and slide. This opens up a whole new world of how you’re website can be accessed and how users can interact with it.

Tablets can be used anywhere

Tablets are less bulky than laptops and they have bigger screens than mobiles. You can hold them like you hold a book – that’s why you see presenters on TV with tablets not smartphones. So if you want to design a website for the tablet market then think about where your user will access it, eg. Behind the counter in their shop, on the factory floor?

Tablets are about ease of use

The reason Apple’s iPad was so successful is because (apart from excellent marketing and design) it was very sleek and simple to use. The idea of apps is very neat and easy to use. This is what people expect when using tablets.

Be accessible

If you want to reach the entire tablet market then you either have to design apps for use with iPad and Android, or just go for one website which both can access and display. It’s a lot cheaper, the results can be just as good and development time is vastly reduced.

So if you’re looking at tapping into the tablets market with a new project then get in touch with StudioRav to discuss further.

For professional quality webdesign visit StudioRav

At StudioRav we understand being a startup is difficult. It can be hard to raise finance, it takes a lot of time and effort, and sometimes you have to learn the business as well. So that’s why we’re here to help.

One of the best ways to promote your business when you first set up is with a good looking website. The advantages are:

• You can make your company look professional and established
• Provide information about your company which no ones knows yet
• It can be a way for people to contact you 24/7
• People can find you online with a search, even if they have never heard of your company name

Many new businesses try to cut costs here and try to make the website themselves or get a family / friend to help out, sometimes for no cost at all. The problem with this is the website never looks that professional (people can tell it’s homemade) and the person who made it can’t offer the lifetime support that webdesign companies like StudioRav offer.

With this in mind StudioRav offer quick, no-fuss and professional assistance for startups. We understand the pressures and constraints involved in managing a new business and so can do a lot to help save you time, money and headache. Some of the things we do:

• Provide hosting, emails and website all under one roof
• Guide you where to get the best deals and services from for other things eg. flyers, accountants etc.
• Put you in touch with business advisory support groups
• Provide completely Free technical support for life on your website
• Be available whenever you need us 7 days a week
• Meet you at your home or office
• Help you stay away from expensive ways, pick the smart option

So if you need a helping hand to get online then get in touch with us and see how we compare to other webdesign companies. If you need more information read this article about how to run a smooth webdesign project.

For professional quality webdesign visit StudioRav

For the new StudioRav website I’ve gone for a simple design and looked to focus on content over design. It’s great to have a flashy, graphics-intensive website but it can get overwhelming to keep updating it. So the new design is clean and easy to maintain. I wouldn’t say it’s definitely complete but it’s a step in the right direction.

Another thing I’ve done is use a responsive design which means this site will look good on phone or tablet. It’s another nod to the changing way we use and access the internet. A greater proportion of people are viewing sites first on their mobile devices, so it makes sense to cater to this market.

Finally the site has been streamlined so every page has a specific call to action to funnel customers towards the contact page. It’s important to have a final goal for the website and obviously what I’m looking for is to interact with my visitors and hopefully convert them into customers.

For professional quality webdesign visit StudioRav

One of the best ways to keep your website fresh in the minds of your customers is to use email marketing and e-shots. Unlike regular mail and flyers, email is cheap, instant and you can include video and other interactive features. Email marketing also allows you to track who is reading your latest sales literature, how many clicks to your website you get, and where in the world your customer base is.

If you’re interested in email marketing then StudioRav provide a no-frills service to help you get up and running quickly. In addition we can help with the design and content of your emails and help link it on to your website. If you want to spread the word about your business give it a go.

For professional quality webdesign visit StudioRav

Millions of people access the internet through their tablets such as iPads, Kindles or Nexus’. If you want to leave a good impression with them then you need a responsive website which will automatically adjust to their screen.

StudioRav design responsive websites for mobiles and tablets too which can automatically adjust themselves to suit the viewers screen. Responsive sites are a great, cheaper alternative to expensive webapps and they can be done at the same time as your site is being developed. If you want to give your customers a seamless user experience when they visit your site then be sure to check it out. For a great example of responsive website design check out StudioRav.co.uk on your phone or tablet and see for yourself.

For professional quality webdesign visit StudioRav

The number of people using mobile phones to access the net has sky-rocketed in the past few years. With more advanced smartphones it makes sense for any business to have a web presence which is tailor-made for the smaller screen. Webapps are big business, but they are expensive and take time to develop. Instead, responsive webdesign is the way forward for smaller businesses.

StudioRav can design responsive websites for you which are coded in a special way so they will resize and readjust themselves to whatever screen size you are viewing them on. So whether your customer views your website on a tablet or laptop it will always look good. If you wonder what responsive websites actually look like then this website is just that! Visit StudioRav.co.uk on your mobile phone or tablet and see how it changes to match the screen.

For professional quality webdesign visit StudioRav