Design looks easier than it is, and it’s more important than it looks.

Good design doesn’t just happen! And while building a website may appear effortless to someone who hasn’t attempted the process, those of us who make it our business know how much goes on behind the scenes.

An anecdote from that same article is worth sharing to illustrate the point -

Picasso is in a park when a woman approaches him and asks him to draw a portrait of her.
Picasso agrees and quickly sketches her.
After handing the sketch to her, she is pleased with the likeness and asks how much she owes him.
Picasso replies: “$5,000.”
The woman screams, “But it took you only five minutes.”
“No, madam, it took me all my life,” replies Picasso.

It may take 5 minutes to do your website update – but it takes years of experience to be able to do it in 5 minutes instead of 5 hours.

No one is an expert at everything, although some people seem to have a talent for quickly learning whatever they put their mind to.  Sometimes you may have the time and inclination to learn how to repair an appliance, cook up a special meal, or build something.  There are other times when you hire a professional to do the same thing in a much shorter time frame, and with enhancements that you wouldn’t (or couldn’t) have added because you don’t have the tools or experience.

Whether you hire the pro or do it yourself is a decision only you can make … choose wisely!

What this will do, when scanned with a smartphone app, is send me a text message that says you scanned the code. There’s much more you can do with QR codes. By placing a QR code on your business card, advertising flyer, newspaper ad, or elsewhere, you have provided anyone with a smartphone and a QR reader the ability to instantly connect with you, grab a coupon for your merchandise, read the latest news, see a video about your business, link to your website, even “Like” your Facebook page simply by scanning the code with their smartphone . . . there are many options!

Just start looking around you – I’ll bet you’ll see a few of these in some strategic locations. If you have a smartphone (BlackBerry, Android, iPhone) check out the QR Reader apps and start thinking of the possibilities!

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In November we welcome grandchild #2, a grandson this time. We are all looking forward to this, none more so than my daughter and her husband, I’m sure. How well I remember having two babies just over a year apart, and how tired I was towards the end of the second pregnancy, just wanting to hold the baby in my arms instead of carrying him/her in my body.

Updates soon, as my daughter is due right around Thanksgiving time.

Here are a few websites full of good information and some tools that will aid in keeping you and your website safe:

• National Cyber Security Alliance – http://staysafeonline.org
• Anti-Phishing Working Group – http://apwg.org
• Tips from the United States Computer Emergency readiness Team – http://us-cert.gov/cas/tips

Email scams and “phishing” are ways that unscrupulous people can get your personal information without you suspecting that is what is happening.  Being aware of their methods is the first step in protecting yourself so that you are not taken in by their schemes.

Be suspicious of any e-mail, text message, or phone call with urgent requests for personal financial information.  Don’t use links in an e-mail, instant message, or chat to get to any Web page if you suspect the message might not be authentic or you don’t know the sender. Call the company, or log on to the website directly by typing the address in your browser.

Avoid filling out forms in e-mail messages that ask for personal financial information.  Communicate information such as credit card numbers or account information only via a secure website or a known telephone number.   Enter the address of any banking, shopping, auction, or financial transaction website yourself, and do not depend on links. Phishers can forge the yellow lock icon you see near the bottom of your screen on a secure site. When doubleclicked, the lock should display the security certificate for the site. If you get a warning that the address of the site does not match the certificate, do not continue.

Look at the address/status line. Scam sites may show “https://” and/or the security lock icon.   A variation of the URL, i.e., bankname-verify.com, usually denotes a scam site.

Regularly log into your online accounts. This will not only keep you familiar with what they look like and the security procedures they have in place, it will also make it much easier to spot a fraudulent or spoofed site.  Check bank, credit card and debit card statements for suspicious transactions. Ensure that your browser is up-to-date and security patches are applied.

Forward phishing or “spoof” e-mails to:

• reportphishing@antiphishing.org
• The Federal Trade Commission, at spam@uce.gov
• The “abuse” e-mail address at the company that is being spoofed

Be safe!

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Living Grace Fellowship Church in Fairfield hired me to redesign their website, and it was launched in early April.  We did a total overhaul of the old site and completely redesigned from the ground up.  How satisfying to see it “go live”!

Moving in a different direction, Shredders Federation launched their online store, selling T-shirts, hats, shoes, and other apparel geared towards Extreme Sports enthusiasts – skateboarders, snowboarders, BMX bikers.  Soon to come will be gear and equipment as well.

And By Faith Productions is about to host Stand and Be Counted, the premier Christian Music Festival in Solano County, May 21 at Andrews Park in Vacaville.  This event has touched thousands of lives over the years, and the weeks before the event see a flurry of activity on the website as the one day event takes shape.

So, yes, I’m keeping busy, it’s all good, and I really need to visit this blog more often!!

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, seems to be my focus this month. Making sure sites are optimized, updating some sites I haven’t worked on in awhile, and redoing some things that worked THEN, but work better NOW with a little re-tooling.

My own site will be the testing ground for new techniques, and I will begin implementing them on other sites as I get comfortable with how they work and what results I get!

Our granddaughter Lily is one week old today!  She was born on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 3:54 in the afternoon. On Thursday, she went home, and the new family is adjusting to new routines.  Here’s a photo of the newest addition to the Cotey family!

What a blessing it is to see your children become parents and have children of their own!