Blog posts from FatCow blog |
80 blog posts:
Feb 11, 2014
Your website is often the first way people recognize you or your brand. When it’s prototyped in the right way, you can actually save time with the right web design. Visitors should be able to instantly identify that it’s you or your company. Your logo should appear on every page, and be prominent without being […]
Feb 06, 2014
Social Media Optimization (SMO) is only one letter different from SEO (Search Engine Optimization) but it’s changing the way we think about SEO. Let’s start with understanding SEO first. Search engine optimization is making websites as search-engine friendly as possible, both in terms of content and design. The goal of good SEO is to make […]
Feb 03, 2014
Good web design is a combination of factors, all of which need equal attention if you’re going to build the best site for your business. Those include usability, visuals, clarity, trust and search engine optimization. If you pay careful attention to each of these traits as you design your website, you’ll find your end result […]
Jan 31, 2014
Allowing guest authors on your website has many benefits. It’s a win/win in the sense that it can help to create a community for your readers, while allowing the authors to create awareness of their business through their useful content. Allowing guest bloggers on your blog is also one way to boost your inbound traffic. […]
Jan 29, 2014
Any new web design is an opportunity to start fresh. It’s the perfect time to re-evaluate your goals and what your site is truly supposed to do. Many businesses have an established brand, and those who don’t are keen to develop one so they’re instantly recognizable to clients and prospects alike. It may be easy […]
Jan 06, 2014
Web design is a process. It has a beginning, middle and an end, and skipping a step or cutting a corner will always show in the finished product. At the same time, the digital world never stops, and we could all use a little more time. Your site is meant to bring you potential customers, […]
Dec 26, 2013
Every year brings new progress and ideas that fuel web design. Whether it’s learning from previous mistakes, borrowing best practices from other industries, or taking massive leaps of faith on new techniques, trends always emerge as the year draws to a close. This year was no different, so let’s take a look at the top […]
Dec 20, 2013
The presentation of your website involves a smorgasbord of branding, content marketing, driving conversions and connecting with your audience. All of this is truly important, but it’s easy to lose sight of how the magic happens behind the curtain. After all, behind every great looking website is a content management system (CMS). Here are some […]
Dec 18, 2013
Once upon a time, the Internet consisted only of simple web pages full of text and links. It was a sparse, largely colorless landscape meant to convey information in the smallest possible file sizes. You may or may not remember how slow Internet connections were. Dial-up, anyone? But that was then, and this is now. […]
Dec 16, 2013
Now that you’ve read how to prototype your website, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get down to the real work of building something. It can be daunting if you’ve never done it before, but it’s nothing to worry about. There are plenty of tools out there for newbie web designers, so let’s […]
Dec 02, 2013
Introduction Amateurs and professionals alike throw around the “web design” word all of the time. But if you’re going to set out to build your own company website, it’s a good idea to decide what web design means, and what sort of best practices you can use to ensure you’re not just spinning your wheels. […]
Nov 27, 2013
You can find inspiration for your web design just about anywhere. Whether you look to art, architecture, movie, television, or books, ideas are virtually (and physically) everywhere. But some days you don’t necessarily need more ideas. You’re already brimming with inspiration. You simply need to find a way to streamline. You need to find ways […]
Nov 25, 2013
Web design is a core component to your website. Your photos, the quality of the designs you choose, and your font choice speaks volumes about your business. You may think that in order to be a big player in the web design game, you’ll need lots of fancy (and expensive) tools. But sometimes simplicity with […]
Nov 13, 2013
Inspiration for your web design can build trust…if you know where to find it and if it’s done right. In the 1997 movie Good Will Hunting, Matt Damon stars as a fantastically intelligent but troubled young man trying to come to terms with his past with the help of his psychologist, Robin Williams. In one […]
Nov 11, 2013
If you’re wondering what responsive web design can mean for your business, there’s no better place to start then…Blockbuster. People of a certain age may remember trudging down to the local Blockbuster with your parents to rent a DVD – or before that a VHS video. It seems strange now given the technology we all […]
Nov 06, 2013
If you’re in the process of creating a new web design, you’re probably aware of the one thing there’s never a shortage of – ideas of what should go on the website. And right there is one of the biggest problems with web design: keeping things simple. Content is the centerpiece of good design. But […]
Nov 04, 2013
There has been a lot of talk about Retina displays in the web design community recently, but what does it all mean. Here is a brief summary: The Good: We can now see Robert Pattinson or Mila Kunis in all their glory. The Bad: Those who don’t change their approach to web design risk being […]
Nov 03, 2013
You’ve probably heard a lot about creating online communities. This sometimes generates some strange mental images, like who is going to be the mayor, where the convenience store will be located, who is going to be the biggest local gossip, who are going to be your close friends, and who is the odd person who […]
Nov 01, 2013
On behalf of the entire Moo Crew, we just wanted to take a moment to thank you for supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month! The response was overwhelming: more than 300 of you shared a pink badge on your website, and many also shared your inspirational stories. No matter how you contributed, it made a big difference! […]
Oct 21, 2013
If Billy the Kid (the American outlaw who lived in the late 1800s) or others like him lived today they’d probably be spammers or malware spreaders instead of robbers and gunslingers. Why? The Internet is a lot like the Wild West of the 21st century. It’s a place with honest businesses, crooks, great brands and […]
Oct 15, 2013
Here at FatCow, we believe that awareness is the first step to finding a cure for breast cancer. So please join us in supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month by adding a pink banner to your website. It’s easy and free!Our goal is to reach as many people as possible who are willing spread the word […]
Oct 10, 2013
If you’re a business owner planning a new website, please repeat the following phrase over and over again: “my website is not a brochure, my website is not a brochure!” Many people make this common mistake. They think a website is about having something that is shiny and attractive for people to look at and […]
Oct 03, 2013
How can your website stand out? Well, what makes you stand out against other people? The answer to both of these questions is your personality. A website has to speak to your visitors. It should aim to convey a personal, conversational tone to keep visitors coming back. Creating copy on your website that’s personable and […]
Sep 30, 2013
When the Internet was first around, you could put up a webpage, post a picture of something and stick up some content. You might come back every other week or so, check on it, add a little something and then forget about it for another couple of weeks. But in today’s digital environment, fresh content […]
Sep 25, 2013
Do you have a website? Would you like to use your website to earn money? If you answered yes, one option is to become an affiliate. Below are some tips on how you can get started and on your way to becoming a successful affiliate online. Join affiliate programs of products you know and trust. […]
Aug 29, 2013
By now, if you’re a Gmail user, you’ve probably formed an opinion about those curious new tabs in your inbox. The updated interface, which sorts your email into primary, promotional, and social categories, has been met with mixed reactions. On one hand, important messages might be easier to spot in a sea of daily deals […]
Jul 29, 2013
Introducing Lynsi! Lynsi’s company, Coconut Rain, was founded as a result of trying to find an all-natural laundry detergent solution that worked for her 5 children’s skin sensitivities and eczema. After over a year of formulating many different recipes of detergent, Coconut Rain was born. All of the Coconut Rain products are antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal and bio-chemist tested....
Jun 17, 2013
What is a Hashtag? Put simply, a hashtag is a name given to the # sign by social media users. Hashtags are used to start a word or a sentence (written without spaces) to relate a social media post with posts from other users discussing the same topic. Originally started on Twitter, hashtags are now...
Jun 11, 2013
We’re excited to announce the Beta release of our Dedicated Server offering! These servers are custom built using Intel Xeon E3 server processors, and come with guaranteed RAM in either 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB options running CentOS. On top of that, we wanted to take our Dedicated servers one step further, so we built them...
May 31, 2013
Our Phoenix, AZ team is taking the term “team” to a whole new level! They’ve organized a co-ed softball team called “The Moo Crew” and meet every Sunday night. Everyone from the office was invited to play, even Slim! FatCow covered the team fee and the awesome jerseys. Enjoy the pictures and cheer them on...
May 15, 2013
The next time you log in to your control panel, you may notice a new section at the top -“My Favorites!” This is the latest and greatest update to the vDeck control panel, and is aimed at creating a better user experience for everyone. My Favorites helps you to easily showcase your most important (and...
May 08, 2013
According to an unofficial source for Google news and tips at Googlesystem.blogspot.com, Google Maps is planning a launch of a new interface for Google Maps. As seen below, the current interface shows the search results in the sidebar to the left of the map: The new update removes the sidebar to expand the map having the...
May 06, 2013
Normally we feature some customer websites as our Featured Site, but today I can’t help but write about a new site I discovered recently that I think can benefit our customers as well. The company is called ClickToTweet.com. According to the ClickToTweet site, here’s how it works… 1. Write the message you want to share...
Apr 29, 2013
? FatCow loves to support the web design community, and we offer a professional collection of free web icons — perfect for both PC and Mac users — free to download with a simple click. Over the years, we’ve dedicated our efforts to keep this collection growing, and we just added 500 new icons! Like the original...
Apr 26, 2013
Google+ is proving to be a great social media channel for small businesses looking to interact with the community and engage with their customers. Here are some tips on how make the Google+ page for your business get noticed. First things first, you’ll need to get your Google+ page verified by Google. Once your page...
Apr 20, 2013
You may have asked yourself, “how can FatCow pay a $100 commission when they sometimes go on sale for less than half that?” No, it’s not a scam– we really do pay hundreds of affiliates $100 a piece each month for each new customer that they send to us. Furthermore, there’s no limit for how...
Apr 15, 2013
Introducing Kelly! Kelly’s a long time FatCow customer, and with an online shop named Cow & the Moon Paper Co., we think she’s a moooovelous addition to the herd! Cow bells aside, Kelly uses her website to sell personality packed greeting cards to individuals and small business retailers. With the help of Facebook and Twitter,...
Apr 12, 2013
As you may know, Tuesday, a widespread “brute force” attack against WordPress sites started impacting sites across the internet. This attack is leveraging a botnet which looks to have more than one hundred thousand different computers at its disposal. Its intent is very simple: to find and compromise WordPress sites with simple passwords, to likely later use them to distribute malware (and...
Apr 11, 2013
What happened? Tuesday morning, our team became aware of a potential brute-force attack on the default WordPress admin login page. A brute-force attack occurs when a third party attempts to access a system by repeatedly trying multiple combinations of passwords across a variety of usernames. Typically, this occurs to gain access to account data and...
Apr 08, 2013
Performing a “Hadoken” is the newest internet meme that has taken off around the world, claiming the virtual throne from last month’s Harlem Shake videos. This meme, originating in Japan, is based on a fighting move from the video game “Street Fighter.” To create a typical “Hadoken” style picture, take an “action shot” of one...
Apr 03, 2013
A goal of any website owner should be to always work on attracting more traffic to their site, and in turn, converting those visitors into customers. To do so, you’ll need to first work on capturing visitor attention quickly and efficiently. Ask yourself, can site visitors find what they’re looking for within 10 to 20...
Mar 30, 2013
Like a lot of people, I got my personal Google+ account when it first launched and was by invite only. I immediately added to my circles a handful of my friends who were also excited about trying this new social media outlet. However, the initial buzz soon faded, and I stopped logging in as frequently....
Mar 28, 2013
When you’re registering a domain for a new website, the first thought that most likely pops into your head is “I need to get a .com!” However, despite .com domains being the number one domain extension around the world, there are several other different top level domain (TLD) extensions aside from .com websites that currently...
Mar 25, 2013
Introducing Jack and Eric! These boys prove that no matter how old you are, everybody’s capable of making a difference. Over the past five years, the brothers have raised a total of $4,518 for a variety of charities. And with their new FatCow website, Dedham Pirates, they’re ready to take things to the next level....
Mar 19, 2013
Many businesses are hesitant to create a Facebook page or Twitter account because they feel it’s going to be very time intensive with very little measurable return on investment. Those might have been good arguments 2 or 3 years ago, but now a business without a social media presence is viewed by customers as a...
Mar 13, 2013
In today’s online world, an ever-increasing number of people are using smart phones and tablet devices to access the web. Some of the challenges faced when visiting a standard website using a mobile device include small, hard-to-read text, difficult navigation between pages, and media (such as photo galleries and Flash video) that won’t work correctly...
Feb 28, 2013
When it comes to email, many users are mostly familiar with just how to write an email and how to send an email. However, it may prove useful to know what’s going on “under the hood,” especially when setting up a new computer or mobile device to access your webmail while you’re on the go!...
Feb 20, 2013
So you’ve been doing your homework and have been reading about the benefits of using shared hosting from FatCow. However, every now and then you come across some strange or confusing term that is exclusive to the world of web hosting. Never fear! FatCow is here to help define some of these often used (and...
Feb 15, 2013
Have you ever been using your account and read something that looks like it’s a code for spies and secret agents? Not to worry! FatCow is here to help interpret this web-speak for you with a few commonly used terms and acronyms that our support teams use every day. FTP – FTP, or “File Transfer...
Feb 06, 2013
Building a website with a FatCow web hosting account is an easy way to establish an online presence. However, many users may come across some unfamiliar terms when signing up. For example, we all know what a website is, but how is that different from a domain? Learn how these various services work together to...
Dec 26, 2012
We hope your holiday season is going well. Here at FatCow, we love this time of year because it allows us to reflect on what’s most important: family, friends, and philanthropy. Every year the Moo Crew joins together to contribute to Toys for Tots, an organization run by the Marines that collects unwrapped, new gifts...
Nov 20, 2012
The holiday season is in full swing here at the FatCow farm. In honor of Thanksgiving, the whole herd joined together last week for our second annual casino night. The event was filled with hors d’oeuvres, gambling (with “funny money,” of course), and employee bonding – all for the sake of charity. At the end...
Nov 02, 2012
Howdy! Hope ya’ll had a Happy Halloween. The MooCrew had a blast celebrating… and with a costume contest on the line, things got pretty competitive here at FatCow. The day reinforced our team’s creativity, with costume inspiration drawn from movies (Pedro from Napolean Dynamite), video games (Pacman & the Pacman ghosts), decades past (groovy disco...
Oct 11, 2012
Hey ya’ll! The Moo Crew is excited to be supporting Breast Cancer Awareness this month, a cause really important to the whole herd. Many of our lives have been personally impacted by the disease, and though we’re not doctors or scientists, we’re doing everything we can to assist researchers as they search for a cure. Every...
Mar 09, 2012
Although you don’t necessarily need to know HTML to maintain a successful site (with FatCow you can use the Drag and Drop Site Builder for free!), a basic understanding is definitely useful when you have your own website. This blog post will touch upon the most commonly used HTML codes: WHAT IS HTML? HTML, or...
Mar 09, 2012
Although you don’t necessarily need to know HTML to maintain a successful site (with FatCow you can use the Drag and Drop Site Builder for free!), a basic understanding is definitely useful when you have your own website. This blog post will touch upon the most commonly used HTML codes: WHAT IS HTML? HTML, or...
Mar 02, 2012
If you’ve ever lost or accidentally overwritten your website’s files, you know the importance of backing up your site on a regular basis. Website back up is essential … and is usually only thought about after the fact. With FatCow it’s easy to archive your site’s files using FileManager, available for free through your control...
Mar 02, 2012
If you’ve ever lost or accidentally overwritten your website’s files, you know the importance of backing up your site on a regular basis. Website back up is essential … and is usually only thought about after the fact. With FatCow it’s easy to archive your site’s files using FileManager, available for free through your control...
Dec 29, 2011
The Moo Crew loves to celebrate the holidays because it means fun and philanthropy! This year we kicked off the season the week before Thanksgiving when the whole herd got together for a company hosted casino night. Members of the Moo Crew nominated a handful of charities and each attendee was given some funny money...
Dec 29, 2011
The Moo Crew loves to celebrate the holidays because it means fun and philanthropy! This year we kicked off the season the week before Thanksgiving when the whole herd got together for a company hosted casino night. Members of the Moo Crew nominated a handful of charities and each attendee was given some funny money...
Jan 31, 2011
We’re proud to announce that we have been awarded membership to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2011 Green Power Leadership Club, which the EPA describes as “an elite group of Green Power Partners who are demonstrating exemplary environmental leadership.” To celebrate, we’ve created six new “green badge” designs that customers can add to their websites,...
Jan 31, 2011
We’re proud to announce that we have been awarded membership to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2011 Green Power Leadership Club, which the EPA describes as “an elite group of Green Power Partners who are demonstrating exemplary environmental leadership.” To celebrate, we’ve created six new “green badge” designs that customers can add to their websites,...
Jan 20, 2011
Did you know that all websites hosted at FatCow are powered by 100% wind energy? In fact, we’ve created some badges customers can put on their sites that certify their websites are eco-friendly in accordance with a partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. FatCow’s Gone Green? You bet. Granted, we’re a web hosting company;...
Jan 20, 2011
Did you know that all websites hosted at FatCow are powered by 100% wind energy? In fact, we’ve created some badges customers can put on their sites that certify their websites are eco-friendly in accordance with a partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. var sc_project=6554406; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_security="27d0d954"; FatCow’s Gone Green? You bet....
Dec 03, 2010
Thanksgiving is a special time for many families in lots of different ways. FatCow’s “family” is not an exception. We have our own tradition that makes Thanksgiving truly unique, memorable and… a bit stressful for some at FatCow. But there’s no need to sweat – we simply are trying to find the best bowler among...
Dec 03, 2010
Thanksgiving is a special time for many families in lots of different ways. FatCow’s “family” is not an exception. We have our own tradition that makes Thanksgiving truly unique, memorable and… a bit stressful for some at FatCow. But there’s no need to sweat – we simply are trying to find the best bowler among...
Nov 22, 2010
Throughout the years, FatCow has sponsored some fun and cool giveaways– And this year was no different! This years winners won a smart fortwo coupe, a Vespa scooter and 4 people won a Schwinn bike. This year’s “Host Smart, Drive Smart” giveaway was an extension of FatCow’s ongoing commitment to the environment and our Green...
Nov 22, 2010
Throughout the years, FatCow has sponsored some fun and cool giveaways– And this year was no different! This years winners won a smart fortwo coupe, a Vespa scooter and 4 people won a Schwinn bike. This year’s “Host Smart, Drive Smart” giveaway was an extension of FatCow’s ongoing commitment to the environment and our Green...
Sep 29, 2010
The Moo Crew is MOOved and excited to learn that we earned new web hosting award! Over the years we have received numerous awards, but still each one of them is very special to us. We work around the clock to provide the best service to our customers and an award like this from an...
Sep 29, 2010
The Moo Crew is MOOved and excited to learn that we earned new web hosting award! Over the years we have received numerous awards, but still each one of them is very special to us. We work around the clock to provide the best service to our customers and an award like this from an...
Jul 08, 2010
The Internet not only needs to be able to bridge the gap between different languages, but also different alphabets and characters. Now, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has announced they will now take non-Latin character Web addresses. This would essentially change the way Web wanders see the Internet. Jordan’s Proposed ccTLD The...
Jul 08, 2010
The Internet not only needs to be able to bridge the gap between different languages, but also different alphabets and characters. Now, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has announced they will now take non-Latin character Web addresses. This would essentially change the way Web wanders see the Internet. Jordan’s Proposed ccTLD The...
Jun 24, 2010
The ongoing evolution of the Web 2.0 framework continues to change the way marketing and publicity work in the new digital world. Everyone knows that the groundswell of awareness that services like Facebook, Twitter and other peer to peer networks can marshal has to be worth something, but the question is, what, exactly? The quest...
Jun 24, 2010
The ongoing evolution of the Web 2.0 framework continues to change the way marketing and publicity work in the new digital world. Everyone knows that the groundswell of awareness that services like Facebook, Twitter and other peer to peer networks can marshal has to be worth something, but the question is, what, exactly? The quest...
Jun 23, 2010
After the successful launch of the Apple iPad, many are wondering what Apple will do next. Their success in the electronics industry is truly incomparable. Through the iPod series, iPhone, iPad, iMac, MacBook and countless other computers, electronics and accessories they have developed, the question that has to be asked is what is left? According...
Jun 10, 2010
4G is the newer, faster mobile internet service that is expected to speed by 3G services within the next couple of years. According to MSNBC, web standards expect that 4G coverage should reach download speeds of more than 100 mbps, faster than most home and business services available. Current 3G download speeds range between 400...
Jun 08, 2010
Attention designers! Our comprehensive set of free web icons just got a whole lot bigger. We’ve added 400 new free web icons to our farm-fresh set — perfect for both PC and Mac users — and they’re free to download with a simple click. Check ‘em out! Last fall, FatCow put together a professional set...
May 28, 2010
New plans revealed this week by Facebook stand poised to provide a major change in the internet. The Facebook F8 event, patterned after the MacWorld expo, was host to several major announcements by the social media powerhouse, many of which may have far reaching implications in the way that the Internet functions. Facebook, with 500...
May 25, 2010
The popularity of the iPad has proven this format will certainly create a profitable marketing base for those willing to work with it. This means making sure websites are optimized for the iPad to give them an edge over their competitors. Here are three ways to do it: Start with a Basic HTML Coded Site...