On Wednesday, there was buzz about both how quickly the administration turned on new websites and the accessible features found on them. Today I want to look into one resource that likely helped guide this process from the USDS, the Digital Services Playbook. This guide builds on best practices from both government and private business. […]
Solve
zero budget website, intro to options
A client recently asked me for advice about a problem a nonprofit organization she volunteered with needed to solve. The free platform they had used to host their website for the past decade was being shut down. They didn’t have any budget; did they have any options? Would they need to register a domain name […]
What do you need to solve?
I understand the allure of wanting a new magical tool when times aren’t great. A new thing can often help begin a new habit, but is it really solving the actual need? Let’s look at the worksheets I’m slowly writing. Could new software and tech help me to do it faster? That’s what marketing would […]
Book Review Roundup: Accessibility, Usability, and Experience
I read voraciously on a wide range of topics. I like to search out books that help me enhance my knowledge, as well as titles that are useful for my clients. Over the past few months, I’ve focused on accessibility, usability, and experience. I’ve looked to gain a better understanding as to the definition of […]
Exploring 3 Aspects of a Good Link
Links are what make the web what it is. This humble connector of pages within a site and to the vast internet beyond have completely changed the world as we once knew it. They are simple to create and yet it is challenging to make a good link. Why & What makes a good link? […]
some thoughts on inclusive design
From time to time I’ve brought up the topic of accessibility — for example how a well designed webpage will be more accessible to humans and easier to search by computers. Several recent events have nudged this topic from one I merely mention to clients as something to think about to one I am actively […]
book review: digital minimalism
Note: This post first appeared in the penat.work notebook. I’m in Cleveland, Ohio for The National NeedleArts Association (TNNA) Summer Show. Come see PennyWise Consulting at booth 642 on Sunday. I am a longtime proponent of being thoughtful and intentional with the technology I use every day. I’ve shut off notifications for years. Over the […]
moving forward, thoughts on domain forwarding
Over time, businesses evolve and change. Over the past few months I’ve seen an increase in clients inquiring about options if they no longer wish to maintain a complete website for a particular domain. While the exact answer is different for everyone, the general answer is — domain forwarding. What are the benefits to this […]
A Quick Tip for Local Yarn Store Day
LYS Day is fast approaching. This week’s tip is a quick one — and important. It’s time to double check an often neglected part of your website. Is your contact information up-to-date? What does that mean? If you are a store, is your address and store hours correct? If you’re a yarn company, have you […]
Two steps to help secure your business technology
Cybersecurity is something you know is important for your business, but it’s easy to get overwhelmed. When you’re a solo or micro-business, it’s difficult to know where to turn for help. I was happy to learn this week that the Global Cyber Alliance has created a toolkit specifically for small businesses such as yours. Its […]