The Free Option

If you’re only looking for a place to store your thoughts – a diary of sorts, then hosting your website freely is probably the best option. Some people don’t really find the need to buy a domain name and hosting package for something nobody else will see, and that’s fine for WordPress users. This is also ideal for children aged under 18, as no credit card or PayPal account is required; quite naturally, as it’s free. Luckily, WordPress haven’t chosen to support this by plastering ads all over your site, so you don’t have to worry about inappropriate content appearing on your web space.

Another big bonus is that, should you choose to up and leave for a self hosted solution instead, the migration process is very simple and has been streamlined to the point you can practically put it on autopilot. There is an in-depth guide to backing up the database, and even if you struggle with that, several people have written blog posts on the subject to help you along.

The Personal Option

On the other hand, you may be looking to host a personal website on a shared hosting package that lets you have full control over the entire site. It’s a bit more complicated, but this lets you fiddle with the set up and create your own brand. Buying your own domain name looks slightly more professional, so this is probably the best option for those of you looking to put your website on business cards.

One popular misconception is that WordPress is blogging software, even though it’s really a CMS (content management system) that can be used for whatever you need it for. There are portfolios, internet stores, and much more powered by WordPress, so don’t feel that you have no use for it if you’re not writing a blog. Using a CMS makes adding and removing content easy, giving you the ability to quickly change the layout of the site on the fly.

The Enterprise Option

Large businesses will find use in WordPress too, just not in the same way. For companies getting the equivalent of the population of a small country coming to their website every day, a shared host won’t do. In this instance, the options are either using a single dedicated server, or (the more probable) is that they will invest in several and join them in what’s called a cloud. Using multiple parallel servers to host one website minimises down time under heavy load – very useful when you’ve just had your advert shown in the FA Cup final.

To know more about the perks of WordPress head over to SEO friendly features of WordPress.

Image Courtesy: smashingweb.ge6.org

Do it Yourself

It may sound overwhelming to build a website on your own, but with the plethora of foolproof software solutions available these days, anything is possible – especially if you’re willing to invest the time to experiment.  Why hire an expensive graphic artist when you can transform a stylish website template into your own design with a little bit of time and effort?  There are literally dozens (if not more) of DIY web design services that enable first time webmasters build gorgeous websites with minimal struggle.  With a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor, for example, you can literally apply your ideas to the program and see how they look instantly, with little or no technical knowledge required.  If you really don’t feel comfortable designing the site entirely on your own, consider asking a graphic artist to work with you on the look of the pages, then implementing his or her ideas independently.  Or, in contrast, submit your design ideas to a designer or webmaster and have him create the coding you’ll need to launch the site successfully.  By taking an active part in the process you’ll be able to save a significant amount on the overall cost of building a website.

Hire Affordable Workers

It may be painful to admit, but in today’s tough economy, there are many skilled workers out there who are willing to work for surprisingly inexpensive fees.  If you want to take advantage of a professional designer or website programmer you can pay top dollar for a local boutique design firm, or you can outsource the project on sites like Elance which allow you to post your project and to choose from a range of candidates and bids.  If you choose to use inexpensive contractors make sure to read reviews and to ask for samples before committing.

Use a Cheap Web Host

Web hosting services can cost anywhere from a few dollars a month to a few hundred dollars each month.  But if you have reasonable growth predictions for your site and understand that it will likely start out small (and may remain that way, depending on the type of website you’re launching), you won’t need premium web hosting services from the outset.  In fact, many of today’s cheap web hosting options offer unlimited bandwidth and storage which can be more than sufficient to meet your needs both immediately and in the future.  There are also options to upgrade in the future, so that you can spend exactly what you need without overpaying.

Use a Free Content Management System

There are many free content management systems that can not only save you a fortune in contrast to the process of having one built, but can also make your website easier to maintain.  Among the most popular CMS options are WordPress and Joomla, both of which are search engine friendly and relatively easy to use.  Both of these CMS options also support hundreds of free plugins that can enhance your service, from comment services to photo sharing add-ons, and more.

Get Free Help

This may be the most interesting or inspiring suggestion yet, but it’s also entirely practical.  If you know a student who is looking to practice his programming skills, a designer who is looking to build her portfolio or another web professional looking to get noticed, why not offer your website as a way for them to spread the word about their services?  Ask around at your local high school or college to see if there are programming or design courses, and see if you can connect with someone in the class.  You can offer to pay if you website turns a profit, or offer to put a mention to your helpers in the footer of the website, something which is entirely common these days.  If you don’t like what your free advisors offer, you shouldn’t be obligated to keep it, but hopefully you can either update the aspects you don’t love so that everyone is satisfied.

AllThingsDigital

As the official technology blog of the Washington Post, AllThingsDigital is an amazing source of breaking tech news and exclusive interviews. It boasts an impressive lineup of respected technology journalists anchored by veterans Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher. For the inside scoop, AllThingsDigital is often your best bet.

GigaOm

Many who work in the fields of telecommunications, networking and systems administration no doubt make GigaOm their first stop when they hop online in the morning. For updates and analysis on the latest developments in wireless technology, VoIP, mobile applications and more, GigaOm is where it’s at.

Ars Technica

Founded in 1998 and later acquired by Condé Nast Digital, Ars Technica is one of the most comprehensive tech sites around. It features op-eds, in-depth reviews of PC hardware, articles profiling new technologies and helpful how-to guides. For both professionals and casual tech enthusiasts, Ars Technica is one of the most well-respected technology sites on the web.

Engadget

As the name implies, Engadget is focused squarely on the latest in tech gadgets. They provide some of the most current and thorough coverage of consumer electronics in the world at the moment. Boasting weekly podcasts, news, reviews and more, Engadget is one of the most highly ranked blogs online.

Computer World

Regarded by many as the elder statesman of technology websites, Computer World is the ultimate tech news portal. Computer World began its life as a print publication all the way back in 1967, and since then they’ve delivered cutting-edge coverage of all things hardware and software.

Techcrunch

Former attorney Mike Arrington began Techcrunch in 2005 as a small scale blog that published industry analysis articles and company profiles. Since then, the site has risen to prominence and spawned a network of companion tech blogs and websites. Though their coverage has generated controversy in the past, Techcrunch is nevertheless an influential digital publication that can’t be ignored.

Mashable

Popular among Millennials, serial entrepreneurs, social media experts, developers and web designers, Mashable is the go-to blog for all things web-related. They churn out an impressive volume of news, analysis, op-eds and infographics on a daily basis, most of which is fairly topnotch.

Lifehacker

Though it’s really more about improving your daily life as a whole, Lifehacker is a technology website more than anything else. Lifehacker posts a slew of helpful articles every day that aim to assist their readers in getting the most out of technology regardless of who they are or where they live.

ZDNet

If your interest in technology is strictly business, then ZDNet is the website for you. They offer detailed coverage of all things IT with a heavy focus on software. Though their daily news articles are some of the best in the industry, their expansive library of white papers is just as impressive.

Tech Republic

For the serious IT professional, Tech Republic is the premier destination for the latest news and views in the world of technology. In addition to videos, webinars, podcasts, white papers and reviews, Tech Republic publishes a number of helpful guides that are a godsend to IT geeks everywhere.

Deciding Edge

Be sure to follow us too if you are interested in all sorts of technology news and gadget reviews. Our posts are also helpful for bloggers and business owners. Just scroll over to the top of the sidebar where you can either subscribe for the email newsletter or go to our Facebook and Twitter page.

Building an engaging community- and individually-driven site will do far more to boost a business’ profits than a flood of bored users. All you need is some savvy web design. Here are our top 5 tips for doing just that.

Use stock photography…strategically. Few things bring a website to life like well-placed photography. However, if users are going to take the site seriously, it’s best to avoid cliched stock photos. These include business people shaking hands, money, a family laughing, fingers typing and any meme like, “Women laughing while eating salad.” Stay relevant to the business’ niche, but don’t be afraid to use abstract images or vectors to enhance the look.

Even better, incorporate stock footage into the design. Humans are intensely visual, and few things suck away our time more than getting sucked into a screen. Make that screen your site and you’re sure to see more engagement conversions. There is a wealth of interesting content to pull from these days, so finding the right material should be relatively simple with a Google search.

Enhance user engagement. Make the site fun to be on. Create polls, whether they’re something product specific, like, “Which is more awesome: our shoe with the green stripe or the one that’s all purple?” or something totally goofy and fun, like, “In a fight between a baby chick with nunchucks and an unarmed horse, who would win?” Just get creative, have fun and use the company brand and voice as the guide. Read: don’t get all sassy with your questions unless you have a sassy brand.

Similarly, incorporating space for games on the site can also be a great engagement tool. This is especially true if the site relates to kids, who will lobby hard if they feel invested in a site.

Build a community. The most vibrant websites are those that are more than just a landing page where a sterile transaction takes place. Get to know a company’s audience and build them a community – one that shows them how the company’s products fit into their lifestyle. This could mean everything from a helpful blog and resources page to a video feed for employees documenting their experiences with products to customers adding stories about their adventures within the business niche. An eco-travel organizer, for instance, might have a section for, “Funniest Adventure.” Design the site so that it can become a meeting place for like-minded people.

Empower customers. In this day and age, customers expect to be heard…and quickly. Incorporate customer reviews and ratings systems into the site design, and make the “contact us” section easy to spot and easy to use. Nothing frustrates a customer more than not being able to reach the company.

Overall, customers like feeling cared for, heard, and like they’re a valuable member of a community. Give them these elements as well as a well-designed, engaging, clean and professional looking site and they won’t be able to help coming back for more.

Image Courtesy: f6design

A thorough evaluation of the various phone services would help one to understand their importance and their uses.

Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) – This is a state of the art telephone lines that have been introduced in the market. There are several advantages that come hand in glove with this connection. Being a modern means of connection, these have various features that are on offer for the customers. Some of the factors that make it a good option to consider are:

• Mobility – this connection can be availed from any destination or location. All one need to have is a fast internet connection. This is very helpful for students who study abroad and people who have to extensively travel all over the world.
• Cost – This is a vital factor that makes this connection so sort after. Call charges from a distant land would have certainly been a costly affair if there had been no VoIP phones. Calls that are made over this phone are routed over the internet. This makes them cost less.
• Transfer files – One can easily send files, including pictures and music to another computer via this phone.
• Miscellaneous services – Apart from the calling, these phones also offer services like chatting and surfing. This implies that one can well use the internet simultaneously while making a call. This is very helpful in business purposes.
• Service fidelity – These phones offer good service fidelity. Back up batteries make it usable even when there’s a power cut or any other interruption.

Mobile phones – This is a landmark invention in the history of phone service. These phones offer several benefits to the users. They are packed with utility features which enables a user to accomplish several tasks. Some of the features that provide a cutting edge are as follows:

• Web browser – These phones provide the benefit of web browsers, which can be used to connect to the internet. This is very useful when one needs to go online while they are travelling.
• GPS – This is one feature that adds to the safety that these phones provide. With the aid of this, one can track their phone if it gets misplaced. It can also be used to get route maps, which is so very essential for tourists.
• Bluetooth – Connecting with another mobile phone is made easy with this feature. It does not need any wires or computers to connect them.

Landline phone service – This is the oldest form of phone service in the market. Though the relevance of this phone has been over shadowed by the cell phones, yet there are certain advantages that make this phone very useful. The factors that contribute in making this phone useful are:

• Long distance call rates – The services provided by this phone service is pretty reasonable in price and helps is saving money while making long distance calls.
• Good quality – The service provided by this phone service is of utmost quality. One can make important calls, without the apprehension of the call getting dropped.

A good phone service finder will help you to get the top companies and the best deals and services that are offered by them.

Fortunately, apps have opened the door a little bit more and given start-up companies some breathing room. With any of these apps, a company smartphone or laptop can be transformed into something even more valuable than it already is. Here are some of the best apps for a start-up.

Square Card Reader

For companies that don’t conduct business solely over the Internet, Square Card Reader is a terrific app and hardware combination. All a company has to do in order to begin using Square is download the app to an iPhone, Android smartphone or tablet. Square will then issue a free card reader with no annual fees, allowing new companies to begin taking credit and debit card payments. A percentage of revenues are taken off the top by Square, but having this kind of versatility is well worth it to most new organizations.

Google Drive and Docs

Being able to access documents and files from anywhere is a functionality that used to be restricted to big businesses with large IT staffs. With Google Drive and Google Docs, accessible from any computer or smartphone, start-ups can now have that same luxury. Google Drive functions as a cloud storage solution, while Google Docs serves as collaborative software so that anyone within the organization can make changes to documents, presentations or spread sheets.

Timewerks: Mobile Billing

One of the biggest obstacles for new companies to overcome is properly billing clients. Manually keeping track of hours and expenses can lead to errors and looks unprofessional. With Timewerks: Mobile Billing, companies have access to a professional-grade piece of software that tracks hours. The app can be used to generate and send invoices in a PDF format as well, taking the hassle out of billing individual clients.

Splashtop Remote Desktop

This is by far one of the most fantastic apps on this list. Even though smartphones and tablets have started to perform many of the same functions as computers do, the fact is that they don’t do everything. At some point computer access will be necessary, but it might not always be possible. With Splashtop Remote Desktop, anyone who’s running their own start-up can access their laptop or desktop directly from their phone. Splashtop provides a quick and easy-to-use interface that’s as close as anyone will get to putting Windows 7 or OS X on a phone.

There is no denying that launching a new company is difficult. What these apps intend to do is ease some of that difficulty. By improving efficiency and working to streamline tasks that used to required dedicated equipment, these apps can help a start-up out considerably. Maximization of resources is critical, and these apps accomplish just that.

Image Courtesy: wired.com

In the past, answering these questions would have required a trip to the local library, with no guarantee the information could even be found there. However, not everything you read on the internet is true. Sometimes companies have a vested interest in presenting themselves and their products well. In other cases, what starts out as a rumor or a joke gets twisted, turned and presented as fact by accident. In still other cases, people will present falsehoods as a prank or a joke. With so much different information, how can you figure out what’s true?

Know Where to Look

While Wikipedia is an amazing resource, the fact that it can be edited by anyone is both a strength and a weakness.

It is all too easy for mistakes or deliberate falsehoods to sneak in. Governmental and educational websites are often considered to be the most reputable resources.

In addition, if you want to check if something is true or false, you can run a quick check on Snopes, a fact-checking and myth-busting website. Something as simple as doing a Google search for a keyword followed by the word ‘scam’ can give you information you need.

Check your Sources

It is not enough to simply see sources listed at the bottom of a webpage or article. You need to actually visit those sources, see if they are themselves reputable and make sure they actually say what the original article attributed to them. They might have been misinterpreted or even deliberately lied about. Visiting source sites only takes a little bit more time and it could end up saving you embarrassment or more serious problems.

Get Both Sides of the Issue

You should never believe a single source. Always look for more than one source on a particular issue. While someone can easily make a single fake page, it is more difficult to fill the entire web with his side of the issue.

If it is a controversial subject, look up conflicting information so you can draw your own conclusions. A healthy level of skepticism lets you find the real truth.

Make Sure You are Up-To-Date

Something that was thought to be true ten years ago may now have been proved to be wrong. Make sure you are not relying on old or out-of-date sources. The writer may have been bona-fide, but his information could now be known to be inaccurate.

Image Courtesy: insula-elhierro

Do You Want 4G Coverage?

It is because 4G mobile is the up and coming service that so many people wish to be able to enjoy, it is one of the first questions that you will need to address when you are considering plans for your new cellular service. Of course, you can choose any plan and still enjoy 4G coverage, so you may be wondering what one has to do with the other. Quite simply, not all wireless carriers can provide 4G at this time. If getting access to this type of coverage is important to you, then you will only need to consider cell phone plans that are through carriers who can offer the coverage that you want.

Consider Your Cell Phone Use

When you are comparing cell phone plans, you will need to think about your past mobile use. This could affect the type of plan that you need to consider. For example, how many minutes of talk time do you usually use on a monthly basis? You need to consider this carefully. It is vital that you choose a plan that includes enough minutes so that you will not have to deal with overage, which can be quite pricey. In addition, consider what extra services will be important to you. Do you use a great deal of data? Some cell phone plans offer different levels of data and you need to ensure you will have enough for your typical use. Keep in mind that downloading videos or music will consume a great deal more data.

Choosing the right cell phone plans can be overwhelming if you let it. After all, there are so many options out there. The best thing you can do is determine which carrier you should work with and then consider what level of plan will work best for your cellular use.

Image Courtesy: cellphonesandsmartphones

MyBlogGuest eliminates the need for that searching.

How It Works

Unlike most sites dedicated to this purpose, this isn’t just a database for bloggers. It’s an active community with lots of features. One of the best-known feature is the gallery of articles where you can showcase your articles for blog owners to compete to publish them.

You choose whoever you like, denying the others. Then wait to see the traffic role in. They give you full credit, so it is a great way to gain some exposure. It will even let you monitor the different articles you have allowed to be published through their link tracker.

User Reviews

Being two years old, My Blog Guest is still in the early stages. There’s lots of more features to build. But it’s already usable and useful.

To find out more, see user reviews in this collection or view video reviews collected in the official MyBlogGuest Youtube channel.

You can share this infographic in various layouts as well as read the history of the project here.

Digital Coming into the Real World

1. QR code shopping walls have made their way into bus and train stations around the world. This is a simple poster that is along the wall on the station that has product pictures and prices. People have to scan the item they want on their phone, pay for it and it is then delivered to their door. You no longer have to worry about rushing home in traffic to get to the shop to buy food; you can simple do it while waiting for the train to arrive.
2. Ikea now uses ThingLink technology that shows a decorated room online and has you scroll over the items you can add them to your cart. Therefore you can see how the item will look in a fully decorated room.
3. The eBay iPad app lets consumers type in the show they are currently watching in real time and a variety of items pop up that relates to the show. For example you are watching a live football match; you can buy a soccer ball from the game, and any other sports memorabilia.

Providing a personalised experience

1. Converse created a Facebook app that allowed consumers to create their own converse sneaker, which they could then sell to their friends on their own virtual store. The consumer is then rewarded with a free pair of sneakers after a certain number of sales.
2. The UK band Kaiser Chiefs created 20 songs for their latest album, they then gave consumers the chance to create their own album of 10 songs, and for every unique album they sold they received €1.
3. One of China’s biggest fashion digital stores lets consumers create a social page where they can upload pictures of themselves wearing items from the store. Other consumers can then buy items that they see people wearing. For every item that is sold off your page you get 10% of all profits made.

Digital making life easier

1. A Berlin based company called Upcload has invented a CD that you press against your body in front of your computer and it measures your exact measurements, which makes buying clothing online much easier.
2. A USA company, Zazzle, allows consumers to upload pictures of their dining room or bed room, you can then hang paintings from the website in the rooms to visualise how it will look in real life.
3. Virtual gift wrapping is the latest and greatest innovation. It aims to make online vouchers and gift cards seem more exciting and special. It acts as a real gift on your screen and arrives a couple of days before it’s supposed to be opened. The recipient can’t open the gift until the ‘unwrap date’ ends.

Image Courtesy: mastersofmedia.hum.uva.nl