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Web and Graphic Design in Campbell River
There are quite a few scams involving Facebook, so you should always keep an eye open on fishy situations; however, sometimes you just lower your attention a bit and you don't find out right away that you've been involved in a scam.
Two of the most recent scams I've heard of (or I've been witnessing) are:
In the first case, you receive a friend request from one of your friends... only, it's not your "real" friend but it's someone using their picture and name, trying to access to all sort of info about your life (according to what level of privacy you are using with your friends).
It looks like a stupid scam (why the heck would someone send you another friend request!) but sometimes you just got distracted and you don't realize this person is already on your friends' list. So please, before accepting a friend request from someone that you know, please take a moment to check if you are already “Facebook friends” and, if you are, give this person a call and recommend to warn friends and family about what's going on.
The second scam is pretty creepy: someone knows that one of you friends is away for a holiday and send you, under a fake profile, a desperate request for help and money because something terrible had happened. Avoid to panic and do your research to see if this request is legitimate – usually it's not.
A last advice: change your Facebook password frequently. Someone suggests once a month, maybe it's a little drastic but please do it from time to time. Use a combination of letters and numbers that are directly related to you (like your date of birth) and change it periodically.
Two of the most recent scams I've heard of (or I've been witnessing) are:
- the new (fake) account of one of your friends;
- the desperate request for help (and money) from a friend.
In the first case, you receive a friend request from one of your friends... only, it's not your "real" friend but it's someone using their picture and name, trying to access to all sort of info about your life (according to what level of privacy you are using with your friends).
It looks like a stupid scam (why the heck would someone send you another friend request!) but sometimes you just got distracted and you don't realize this person is already on your friends' list. So please, before accepting a friend request from someone that you know, please take a moment to check if you are already “Facebook friends” and, if you are, give this person a call and recommend to warn friends and family about what's going on.
The second scam is pretty creepy: someone knows that one of you friends is away for a holiday and send you, under a fake profile, a desperate request for help and money because something terrible had happened. Avoid to panic and do your research to see if this request is legitimate – usually it's not.
A last advice: change your Facebook password frequently. Someone suggests once a month, maybe it's a little drastic but please do it from time to time. Use a combination of letters and numbers that are directly related to you (like your date of birth) and change it periodically.
Who wouldn't like to see their business ranked as #1 website on a Google search? No one, right? But there are a few things you should consider when you talk about Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
The very first thing that you should ask yourself is how you think Google will help your business to grow, and which kind of results are you looking for. Are you looking for new prospectors? More online sales? Do you want to outmatch a specific competitor? You need to set a precise goal and be realistic, because being "the #1 on Google" is a very vague goal! (it's more a dream than a goal, actually).
Google changes its ranking algorithm quite often and understanding how the new algorithm works is always difficult; this means that a website that has done very well in the past can suddenly slip down to the page #30 of the results!
This also means that you need to monitor your website results constantly and that your website needs constant updates, e.g. a reviewed content; new blog posts; an update to the coding, and so on.
Like your car, your website needs maintenance to keep working fine on the Google roads.
Some other questions that you should ask yourself are: do you know how many competitors are you trying to outmatch? Do you know if there is a specific area of your business that can help you to win this battle? Are you willing to spend money and time to do that?
There are a large number of techniques that you can use to achieve the #1 ranking on Google, but it's a very slippery place over there.
My best advice is to book a consultation with a web designer or a web marketing consultant to review your needs and goals and to establish a SEO strategy.
If your budget is limited don't worry, there are still lots of available options, so don't be discourage and talk to a consultant. This talk can help you to clarify your necessities and to set reasonable goals - which will lead you to achievable and happy results.
The very first thing that you should ask yourself is how you think Google will help your business to grow, and which kind of results are you looking for. Are you looking for new prospectors? More online sales? Do you want to outmatch a specific competitor? You need to set a precise goal and be realistic, because being "the #1 on Google" is a very vague goal! (it's more a dream than a goal, actually).
Google changes its ranking algorithm quite often and understanding how the new algorithm works is always difficult; this means that a website that has done very well in the past can suddenly slip down to the page #30 of the results!
This also means that you need to monitor your website results constantly and that your website needs constant updates, e.g. a reviewed content; new blog posts; an update to the coding, and so on.
Like your car, your website needs maintenance to keep working fine on the Google roads.
Some other questions that you should ask yourself are: do you know how many competitors are you trying to outmatch? Do you know if there is a specific area of your business that can help you to win this battle? Are you willing to spend money and time to do that?
There are a large number of techniques that you can use to achieve the #1 ranking on Google, but it's a very slippery place over there.
My best advice is to book a consultation with a web designer or a web marketing consultant to review your needs and goals and to establish a SEO strategy.
If your budget is limited don't worry, there are still lots of available options, so don't be discourage and talk to a consultant. This talk can help you to clarify your necessities and to set reasonable goals - which will lead you to achievable and happy results.
Domain slamming
(also known as unauthorized transfers or domain name registration scams) is a scam in which the offending domain name registrar attempts to trick domain owners into switching from their existing registrar to theirs, under the pretense that the customer is simply renewing their subscription to their current register. (Source: Wikipedia).
You may have received (or you will in the future) an official-sounding letter from “iDNS Internet Domain Name Services”. They say that it’s time to renew your domain name, but what they really want is to trick you into changing your registrar to them - and then they will charge you about three times what everyone else charges:
"As a courtesy to domain name holders, we are sending you this notification of the domain name registration that is due to expire in the next few months. [...]
They also try to scare you:
"Failure to renew your domain name by the expiration date may result in a loss of your online identity making it difficult for your customers and friends to locate you on the Web. [...] "
What are you supposed to do? Throw the letter in the recycle bin ; if you are not sure if what you have received is legitimate, call your webmaster and he/she will take a look at it.
You may have received (or you will in the future) an official-sounding letter from “iDNS Internet Domain Name Services”. They say that it’s time to renew your domain name, but what they really want is to trick you into changing your registrar to them - and then they will charge you about three times what everyone else charges:
"As a courtesy to domain name holders, we are sending you this notification of the domain name registration that is due to expire in the next few months. [...]
They also try to scare you:
"Failure to renew your domain name by the expiration date may result in a loss of your online identity making it difficult for your customers and friends to locate you on the Web. [...] "
What are you supposed to do? Throw the letter in the recycle bin ; if you are not sure if what you have received is legitimate, call your webmaster and he/she will take a look at it.
Many people incorrectly assume that they can freely use any font for any project: if you are in the process of creating a new logo for your company (or for any other project that is not strictly personal) you need a font licence.
Now, the question is: do you REALLY need a font license? The simple answer is yes.
When in doubt you should always assume that a license is necessary, and then check the specific license of the font you are using and for how you are using it.
A font license grants the owner the right to use that font in a specific manner as outlined in the license. Every font comes with a license of some sort – even those free online fonts.
The big problem about font licenses is that every "font designer" has the right to create a license of any type. It is mandatory to check the specific license for any font you want to use commercially - before you use it.
Obtaining the proper license is important: it ensures that the person (or company) who designed the font is compensated for their work; plus, you don't want to be (1) threatened with a legal action, (2) forced to pay what you already should have, and/or (3) sued for using fonts in unlicensed ways!
When you budget for the design of your logo (or for any other project involving the use of a font!) please keep in mind that an additional fee will be requested in order to purchase on your behalf the font licence and that you'll be the legal owner of that licence.
Now, the question is: do you REALLY need a font license? The simple answer is yes.
When in doubt you should always assume that a license is necessary, and then check the specific license of the font you are using and for how you are using it.
A font license grants the owner the right to use that font in a specific manner as outlined in the license. Every font comes with a license of some sort – even those free online fonts.
The big problem about font licenses is that every "font designer" has the right to create a license of any type. It is mandatory to check the specific license for any font you want to use commercially - before you use it.
Obtaining the proper license is important: it ensures that the person (or company) who designed the font is compensated for their work; plus, you don't want to be (1) threatened with a legal action, (2) forced to pay what you already should have, and/or (3) sued for using fonts in unlicensed ways!
When you budget for the design of your logo (or for any other project involving the use of a font!) please keep in mind that an additional fee will be requested in order to purchase on your behalf the font licence and that you'll be the legal owner of that licence.
Web and Graphic Design in Campbell River
There are quite a few scams involving Facebook, so you should always keep an eye open on fishy situations; however, sometimes you just lower your attention a bit and you don't find out right away that you've been involved in a scam.
Two of the most recent scams I've heard of (or I've been witnessing) are:
In the first case, you receive a friend request from one of your friends... only, it's not your "real" friend but it's someone using their picture and name, trying to access to all sort of info about your life (according to what level of privacy you are using with your friends).
It looks like a stupid scam (why the heck would someone send you another friend request!) but sometimes you just got distracted and you don't realize this person is already on your friends' list. So please, before accepting a friend request from someone that you know, please take a moment to check if you are already “Facebook friends” and, if you are, give this person a call and recommend to warn friends and family about what's going on.
The second scam is pretty creepy: someone knows that one of you friends is away for a holiday and send you, under a fake profile, a desperate request for help and money because something terrible had happened. Avoid to panic and do your research to see if this request is legitimate – usually it's not.
A last advice: change your Facebook password frequently. Someone suggests once a month, maybe it's a little drastic but please do it from time to time. Use a combination of letters and numbers that are directly related to you (like your date of birth) and change it periodically.
Two of the most recent scams I've heard of (or I've been witnessing) are:
- the new (fake) account of one of your friends;
- the desperate request for help (and money) from a friend.
In the first case, you receive a friend request from one of your friends... only, it's not your "real" friend but it's someone using their picture and name, trying to access to all sort of info about your life (according to what level of privacy you are using with your friends).
It looks like a stupid scam (why the heck would someone send you another friend request!) but sometimes you just got distracted and you don't realize this person is already on your friends' list. So please, before accepting a friend request from someone that you know, please take a moment to check if you are already “Facebook friends” and, if you are, give this person a call and recommend to warn friends and family about what's going on.
The second scam is pretty creepy: someone knows that one of you friends is away for a holiday and send you, under a fake profile, a desperate request for help and money because something terrible had happened. Avoid to panic and do your research to see if this request is legitimate – usually it's not.
A last advice: change your Facebook password frequently. Someone suggests once a month, maybe it's a little drastic but please do it from time to time. Use a combination of letters and numbers that are directly related to you (like your date of birth) and change it periodically.
Who wouldn't like to see their business ranked as #1 website on a Google search? No one, right? But there are a few things you should consider when you talk about Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
The very first thing that you should ask yourself is how you think Google will help your business to grow, and which kind of results are you looking for. Are you looking for new prospectors? More online sales? Do you want to outmatch a specific competitor? You need to set a precise goal and be realistic, because being "the #1 on Google" is a very vague goal! (it's more a dream than a goal, actually).
Google changes its ranking algorithm quite often and understanding how the new algorithm works is always difficult; this means that a website that has done very well in the past can suddenly slip down to the page #30 of the results!
This also means that you need to monitor your website results constantly and that your website needs constant updates, e.g. a reviewed content; new blog posts; an update to the coding, and so on.
Like your car, your website needs maintenance to keep working fine on the Google roads.
Some other questions that you should ask yourself are: do you know how many competitors are you trying to outmatch? Do you know if there is a specific area of your business that can help you to win this battle? Are you willing to spend money and time to do that?
There are a large number of techniques that you can use to achieve the #1 ranking on Google, but it's a very slippery place over there.
My best advice is to book a consultation with a web designer or a web marketing consultant to review your needs and goals and to establish a SEO strategy.
If your budget is limited don't worry, there are still lots of available options, so don't be discourage and talk to a consultant. This talk can help you to clarify your necessities and to set reasonable goals - which will lead you to achievable and happy results.
The very first thing that you should ask yourself is how you think Google will help your business to grow, and which kind of results are you looking for. Are you looking for new prospectors? More online sales? Do you want to outmatch a specific competitor? You need to set a precise goal and be realistic, because being "the #1 on Google" is a very vague goal! (it's more a dream than a goal, actually).
Google changes its ranking algorithm quite often and understanding how the new algorithm works is always difficult; this means that a website that has done very well in the past can suddenly slip down to the page #30 of the results!
This also means that you need to monitor your website results constantly and that your website needs constant updates, e.g. a reviewed content; new blog posts; an update to the coding, and so on.
Like your car, your website needs maintenance to keep working fine on the Google roads.
Some other questions that you should ask yourself are: do you know how many competitors are you trying to outmatch? Do you know if there is a specific area of your business that can help you to win this battle? Are you willing to spend money and time to do that?
There are a large number of techniques that you can use to achieve the #1 ranking on Google, but it's a very slippery place over there.
My best advice is to book a consultation with a web designer or a web marketing consultant to review your needs and goals and to establish a SEO strategy.
If your budget is limited don't worry, there are still lots of available options, so don't be discourage and talk to a consultant. This talk can help you to clarify your necessities and to set reasonable goals - which will lead you to achievable and happy results.
Domain slamming
(also known as unauthorized transfers or domain name registration scams) is a scam in which the offending domain name registrar attempts to trick domain owners into switching from their existing registrar to theirs, under the pretense that the customer is simply renewing their subscription to their current register. (Source: Wikipedia).
You may have received (or you will in the future) an official-sounding letter from “iDNS Internet Domain Name Services”. They say that it’s time to renew your domain name, but what they really want is to trick you into changing your registrar to them - and then they will charge you about three times what everyone else charges:
"As a courtesy to domain name holders, we are sending you this notification of the domain name registration that is due to expire in the next few months. [...]
They also try to scare you:
"Failure to renew your domain name by the expiration date may result in a loss of your online identity making it difficult for your customers and friends to locate you on the Web. [...] "
What are you supposed to do? Throw the letter in the recycle bin ; if you are not sure if what you have received is legitimate, call your webmaster and he/she will take a look at it.
You may have received (or you will in the future) an official-sounding letter from “iDNS Internet Domain Name Services”. They say that it’s time to renew your domain name, but what they really want is to trick you into changing your registrar to them - and then they will charge you about three times what everyone else charges:
"As a courtesy to domain name holders, we are sending you this notification of the domain name registration that is due to expire in the next few months. [...]
They also try to scare you:
"Failure to renew your domain name by the expiration date may result in a loss of your online identity making it difficult for your customers and friends to locate you on the Web. [...] "
What are you supposed to do? Throw the letter in the recycle bin ; if you are not sure if what you have received is legitimate, call your webmaster and he/she will take a look at it.