I am happy to announce that we launched the South End Surf Shop website yesterday (just in time for hurricane Earl’s swell)!  This site is built in DNN and features a feed from the client’s live, HD surf cam.  He also has a custom tool that allows him to post surf reports and archive daily surf photos.  There are other great tools on the site including a weather report and information from SwellInfo.com.  The client loves the overall site design and the flexibility that DNN offers.

Today we launched the new Results Production and Post website.  The site is a redesign of the site we developed several years ago.  The new website was developed in DotNetNuke and will allow the client to keep it up to date with their latest work and clients.  The site features YouTube videos and audio clips of their past work and provides a way for potential customers to contact Results Production and Post.

We are excited to let all our Sage fans know that Fells Point Surf Co. has launched! This site, built in ASPDotNetStorefront, allows the client great control in editing content on topic pages, managing products/categories, as well as managing online sales through automatic Credit Card processing. In addition to the cool storefront features such as a wish list, coupon codes and gift cards; this site also features a WordPress blog which automatically feeds their Facebook page, as well as an Email Newsletter sign up, which automatically opts email addresses in their email system Constant Contact. When you get a chance, be sure to drop by and leave them a note on their blog!

When you get a moment, be sure to check out the new and improved Bento Box website. Completely redesigned and built within WordPress, this site includes classy rotating header images, an attractive interface and some really neat rollovers for the primary navigation. The original Bento Box site was built soley in Flash prohibiting Chef Lee to edit on his own, but this new site built in WordPress enables him the ability to manage the content, add pages and add posts to the blog portion of the site.

I am happy to announce yesterday we successfully launched the website for Ben Wright’s Broadway Project. As a former Broadway star, Ben Wright sought out our services to create an online presence for the Broadway Project—a national talent search inviting individuals to audition for an opportunity to perform in a NYC Showcase for Broadway industry professionals. After initial consultation, planning and logo development, we moved forward with the site build within a content management system. While developing the site, the Wright family did an amazing job of social media marketing by creating and updating a Facebook Fan page and spreading the word. After a short month, they already have over 2,000 fans! Not only does this site allow for individuals to participate in auditioning, it also allows for participation in online coaching. Complete with a unique look and layout for each page, the client is pleased with the end result and is looking forward to building the buzz and watching the Ben Wright’s Broadway Project grow!

We spend a lot of time educating our clients and helping them prevent viruses, spam, and other Internet threats. One of the most common threats we face is email spoofing.

Email spoofing is a technique used by spammers to alter the originating email address to appear as though it came from some other address, even your own. Email spoofing is relatively common, and is usually caused by malicious bots randomly scanning websites to pick up email addresses, and then using them to mass target other email addresses around the world.

If you suddenly receive a big spike in spam that seems to be coming from yourself, you may have been targeted by email spoofing. When a spammer spoofs an email address they will use an email name generator that can send thousands of messages to random names at any domain name. This results in you getting thousands of bounce-back messages in your inbox. The messages that are bouncing back to you are from legitimate mail servers either denying the spam message (that you did not actually send) or letting you know that the email address where the message was sent does not exist.

Unfortunately, once you have been targeted, there really isn’t a lot that a spam filter can do to block these messages from coming into your inbox. They aren’t technically spam even though they are bothersome. If you notice a substantial amount of bounces coming from the same domain name, they can be blocked at the domain level. Other than that, you just have to ride out the storm.

The easiest way to prevent these malicious bots from harvesting your email address is to use a public contact form on your site instead of posting a mailto: link. This will not prevent all harvesting, but it can definitely slow some of it down.

In today’s technologically advanced world, every business needs a website.  Just think how many times a day you hear someone say, “What’s your web address?” or “I’ll have to check out that website,” or “I’ll just buy it online.” The number can be staggering when you stop and count.

Having a website just makes good sense.  Consider it your very own spot on the Internet that has the capability of reaching customers worldwide. It is the place where important company and product information can be accessed by millions of current and potential consumers. In a nutshell, a website can be an advertising machine for your business.

But have you ever stopped to think about where your website “lives” or where you would even go to get started? The skills of the company you select to build and/or host your website can have a profound impact on its success.

Below are a few pointers on what to look for in a web hosting company and how to go about getting your business on the Internet.

Reliability

The web host you select must be reliable. It is essential to the online success of your business. Any length of time your website is “down” translates into lost customers and revenue. If your web host cannot guarantee 99% up time (or close to it), it is time to look for a new web host.

Support

Select a web hosting company that offers 24/7 support.  After all, the Internet is the technological city that never sleeps. Customers are always shopping. You want your web host’s support staff to keep your company’s “lights on” day and night.

Security

The bottom line is your website must be secure. If customers do not trust your website, they will simply shop somewhere else. Ask about the security your web host offers and make sure it fits your needs.

E-mail

E-mail is an absolute necessity. It is the primary way your online customers establish communication with your company. Make sure your web host can provide you with dependable e-mail services. The reliability and support that is so crucial to your website should also apply to your e-mail.

Storage

Websites take up space on servers owned by your web hosting company. Simply put, storage is how much disk space you are allowed to use on the server. Make sure you find out how much storage space will be allotted for your website. You should also confirm that you would have the ability to increase your storage as your online business grows.

Bandwidth

In layman’s terms, bandwidth is the amount of traffic or information passed from your website. Most web hosting companies measure this on a monthly basis and charge accordingly for any overages. Bandwidth is typically not a concern for starter online businesses, but it can become an issue as your business thrives. Bandwidth is like storage in this regard – make sure your web host allows you to increase your bandwidth allotment as your company’s website increases in size and popularity.

Other Considerations:

Above all, make sure you do your research. Know what your website requires to function properly and select a web host that knows how to support the programming language(s) used in building your site.

Remember, web hosting is not a “one size fits all” type of business. You should select a company that offers multiple solutions to meet your hosting needs. Look for several different package options and web applications. By having choices, you will ultimately be able to push your website to its full potential.

Lastly, find a web hosting company that offers personal service. Your questions and concerns should be addressed and resolved in a timely manner. Nothing is worse than having to wait on hold to talk with technical support and being treated like “just a number.”