Mac Sage » Online Business

The Power of WordPress

patrick — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:16:20 +0000

I’m weeks away from finishing my first eBook!

I haven’t yet decided on the title. They (the expert eBook marketing folks) tell me that much thought should go into the title. There are two important reasons for that:

1. You want the title to be alluring and catchy to increase sales.
2. You want the title to accurately communicate what the reader can expect to find inside.

I’ve put several months of work in creating this eBook. I think most small business folks who want to create and maintain their own websites in an easy way will find this eBook quite valuable.

It’s loaded with screenshots and graphics, because many folks are very visual in their learning mode. Once I’ve got this finished, I will begin working on a companion video series that will work nicely with the eBook.

Stay tuned… we’re close!

Coda, The Developer’s Tool

patrick — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:36:14 +0000

Every once in a while, someone comes up with a tool that makes you wonder what you ever did before using it. For me, Coda is that tool.

If you work on websites, you should take a close look at Coda. Coda has these tools built in: text editor, file transfer, source control system, terminal (SSH), website preview, and resource library for HTML, CSS, Javascript, and PHP.

The interface is clean and doesn’t get in the way of doing work. In Edit mode, the code is color-coded for easy identification.

There’s a very cool CSS editor built in that allows you to quickly add and change your style sheets with a very nicely designed visual editor.

When you need to preview your work, there’s no need to fire up a browser. Coda provides a built-in preview tab.

If you need to SSH into your server, Coda provides that too.

And if you’ve forgotten that bit of PHP or CSS or Javascript, Coda provides a built-in reference library. You can even add more of your own.

Working with Coda on site development is like a dream within a dream!

There is also a good collection of third party plugins that extend Coda’s functionality. Check out their site at: http://www.panic.com/coda/

Co-Location For Your Server

patrick — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:59:25 +0000

If you’re interested in having a website which runs on OS X, having full control of the server with multiple fail-safes and redundencies, and a very large pipe to it, then you might want to consider the offerings from MacMiniColo.net.

These folks are part of a larger operation run by Switch Communications in Las Vegas, Nevada. Switch runs one of the biggest high-speed data centers in the country.

MacMiniColo specializes in running MacMini servers with OS X server. You can send them your MacMini, or buy one from them. The monthly costs start at $35, and go up from there depending on what add-on services you require.

While you can certainly get hosting packages for less then this, remember that your site will be the only one on your server. Also, these guys offer a very fat pipe to your server.

Check them out: http://www.macminicolo.net

Web Design For Small Businesses

patrick — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:38:23 +0000

I’ve done web design and development for over 10 years. In the past, it was done in the typical way: I design and develop the site for a client, and deliver and launch the site. Then, typically, every time an addition or change is needed, the client must come back to me because they don’t want to invest the time into learning DreamWeaver, CSS, XHTML, PHP, etc.

This was expensive for the client, and not very interesting work for me once the original site was complete.

So I’ve been working on a new model of site design for small businesses which uses opensource (free) software and allows website owner (or staff) to easily login and make changes or additions to the site. I’ve developed a design technique and process, using all opensource software, which allows me to design smart looking sites that are easy to navigate, have a high level of functionality, and have a simple backend user interface for maintenance.

This translates to considerable savings for the business over the long run, more internal control of the website for the business, and it allows me to focus on site design and development rather than site maintenance.

I am putting together this process with a training component for small business owners who want to create a website.

Please email me if you are interested in this model for your business.

Web Development On A Shoestring

patrick — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 23:18:06 +0000

For new, small or developing business, website design and development can be a daunting, if not expensive, endeavor. While there are more “web designers” out there than you can shake a stick at, finding the right one at the right price can be difficult.

One option, for the more technically intrepid, is to create your own site based on templates. If you have some knowledge of HTML and have the time, this option can save you money. The trick is to find a well-designed template that closely approximates your vision for your website. There are several free design template directories on the web, but finding the good designs can be a lengthy process. The following are a few of the better opensource design template directories that I’ve come across:

TemplateNavigator: A big catalogue of free website and flash templates.
OSWD: Huge collection of free web design templates.
CSS Tinderbox: Basic design templates that get you well on your way.
OpenWebDesign: A huge and active community that shares free web design templates.
Open Designs: A non-profit design community that reviews each design submitted before allowing it on their site.
Free CSS Templates: Another large and frequently updated design template catalogue.

These 6 sites should provide you with some good starting point templates. Take your time and review several designs before making your choice. Your website will only be as good as the foundation upon which you’ve built it. These templates should get you up and running, letting you decide later when to bring in a consultant or web developer.