To start with make sure you do a backup.  I recommend using an online backup service. I use and love Backblaze.  They have fantastic support and their fee covers external drives (many do not).  SO I always start by reminding everyone to back up your website files, just as you should your regular files.

If you have had a computer crash you can find the steps to reload your website here.

To start with all the templates have different requirements.

Standard and Mini Templates:

The standard and mini templates have fixed sizes on the images.  This means if you import an image that is bigger then the editor accepts the editor will automatically reszie the image.  So if you cropped your image in photoshop your image will be downsized again, which can result in pixelation.

The best practice is to start with the full resolution image and then crop your images to the editor size.  All sizes are also listed on the batch import button as well and are at 72DPI.

Mini Editors:

Note the Mini editor resize your images when imported.  For best results we always recommend you start with a full resolution image and crop it to the maximum size the editor will accept. You can also see the pixel size when you click on batch import to the editor.

The meta description tag is where you should write a few sentences about what your company does.  This is very important to keep consise, short, but also convey what you are and what you do.  It is recommened that you keep it to roughly 2-3 sentences.  Longer descriptions could penalize your ranking by search engines as they might view it as keyword stuffing.

This is the sentence that clients will see after your name on a Google Search.  This should contain the key information you want to give them and motivate them to click on your site.  If you have what amounts to a long list of key words they are less likely to click on your link then if you say “James Doe photographer captures your wedding day with a mix of XX and XX” then if you have “Jame Doe wedding photographer town a, area b, city c, city d, county x, county w, etc.

Until next time!
Shannon

To find out what version you have open your editor up. On the upper left hand side is the name and version number of the editor.  This is important to send to use when you have a question about your site, as sometimes all that you need to do to correct the problem is update your editor.

To find out if you are using the latest version of your editor:

• Go to FlashPalette’s website  
• Click on the editor you have purchased
• Then click on the try button.
• You will see the vesrion number listed the third line down.
• If your version is a lower number then the one on our site you need to update your site.

To update your editor:

What you need to do so that your site reflects the changes we have made:

1. Download the new editor.

2. Install the new version — when you open your editor it should say Tristan version 3.0.XX

3. Open the editor – You will need to in put your license code

4. Click Save in your editor — this will update your site files.

5. Reload the site files on your server.  Best practice is to delete the old files first, to make sure the changes take!

6. Update these files on your server.

• xml folder
• .swf files
• mail.php
• .fpc file
• flashobject.js

You do not need to reload your images, unless you have made changes to them, and then you would need to load the folders with changes.

As always, let us know if you have any questions.

The way to tell if you have the latest version of your template is to do the following:

• Open your editor
• Look at your editors name and version number, in the upper left hand corner of your editor.
• Then go to our website FlashPalette
• Click on your editor.
• Then select try.
• This will then show you the Editor name and version number.
• If the version number on our site is higher then the version number on your editor, you do not have the latest version.

To update your site click on the download link and your editor should update. Then you will be asked  if you want to overwrite the files you have, as it is already installed.  You will tell it to go ahead and and overwrite the files.

To update your online site to show changes made to the site.

What you need to do so that your site reflects the changes we have made:

1. Open your site. You will need to in put your license code

2. Save your site — this will update your site files.

3. Reload the site files on your server.  Best practice is to delete the old files first, to make sure the changes take!

4. Files to update:

• xml folder
• .swf files
• mail.php
• .fpc file
• flashobject.js

5. Clear your cache, before viewing your site to check for changes.

You do not need to reload your images, unless you have made changes to them, and then you would need to load the folders with changes.

As always, let us know if you have any questions.

We detailed what files to update in this post.  However, sometimes even though you have updated the files you will find you can not view the changes.  Frequently this is because your Internet Browser is not pulling the new site files you just put on your server, but instead going into it’s history and pulling the last data retrieved.

If you have updated your files on your server, and still do not see your changes we recommend that you clear your cache.

Below we show you how to do this with many of the most common web browsers:

 IE — Tools, Delete browsing history, delete temporary internet files
Firefox, Flock, – Tools, Clear Private Data, check only the clear cache box
Safari – Safari menu, empty cache

 The key words should be 8-10 key words you think potential clients might use to find your business.  While search engines rely less upon keywords now then they did previously, they are still important to include.

Example: Widget, Widgetor, widget provider, companies that sell widgets, online widget company

The description, is just that two or three sentence that describe your business.  This is important as it is this tag that will come up as a short descriptor on searches.  You should use as many keywords as you can, but do not simply create long sentences that have as many words as you can think to list.  You want to keep is short and to the point.

For today I made up a widget company that sells widgets at their store/plant and online.

Example: Widget company services all models of Widgetors.  They sell widget adaptors and widgest at both their store in Central Michigan and online. 

Notice in the second example the list of key words are incorporated into the sentences giving the words relevance and importance.

Next week: More on how to improve your SEO.

Shannon

Debra

Gavin

Tristan

What you need to do so that your site reflects the changes we have made:

1. Download the new editor.

2. Install the new version — when you open your editor it should say Tristan version 3.0.43 or Gavin 3.0.14 Debra version 3.0.5

3. Open your site. You will need to in put your license code

4. Save your site — this will update your site files.

5. Reload the site files on your server.  Best practice is to delete the old files first, to make sure the changes take!

6. Files to update:

• xml folder
• .swf files
• mail.php
• .fpc file
• flashobject.js

You do not need to reload your images, unless you have made changes to them, and then you would need to load the folders with changes.

As always, let us know if you have any questions.

Today’s tech Tuesday is about editing your site on a new computer.  I know that many of you may have gotten or will be surprised with a nice new computer over the weekend, and I wanted to remind you of a couple of things.

1. If you create your site on a PC you have to continue to edit on a PC (or vice versa) the files will become corrupt and the site will not function properly. 

2. If you have questions about how to transfer your site to a new computer view this post here:

Happy Holidays!
Shannon

It is always important to keep your website optimized so potential clients can find you via search engines, especially if your business relies on them finding you by searching for terms like “photographers in yourtown” or “yourtown Wedding Photography”.   Flashpalette’s editor allows you to keep your website updated with some important “Search Engine Optimization” techniques:

In your editor, look at the Search Engine Settings.  Your keywords should be any words or phrases that you think a potential client should use to search for your website in the major search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN/Live Search).  Some good keywords to use may be “wisconsin wedding photographer” or “Seattle wedding photographers”.  You don’t want to have too many keywords, or Google may penalize you for “keyword stuffing”.  Nobody knows the exact number because the search engines keep it secret, but most people aim for 5-10 good keywords (or phrases).

Your Description should be a nice overview of your business and should also include some of your keywords. Mine includes, “Artist Kim Larson specializes in Wisconsin wedding photography, and also provides senior graduation photography, family and childrens photography.”  Again, this should not be too long or the search engines may penalize you for “stuffing” your description with too much content.  Two to three sentences is ideal.  The description may show up in search engine results, and many times directory websites such as photolinks.com will automatically use and display your description when they add your website to their directory – so grammar is important!

Now in your editor, look at the main Website Settings.  Your Website Title is also very important!  The title is what shows up in the very top menu bar of your browser.
The attached image shows a great example of a website title by a tree farm.  At this time of year, they are selling Christmas Trees, so the title of their website is set to “Christmas Trees by Tate’s Trees”.  Notice that their important keywords (“Christmas Trees”) comes before their business name.  Search engines put higher preference on the words found toward the beginning of the title.

Your title should describe what you do before who you are. My homepage title is “Wedding Photography by Life is Art”, because right now I am in full swing booking weddings for next year. Do not make your title more than 10-15 words, or you may also get penalized by search engines for “stuffing” the title. You should also put a different title on each page of your website and make it relevant to the page – so if you have a page about senior photography the title should be something like “Denver senior photography by Life is Art”.

It’s also important to keep your keywords, description, and titles up to date.  You don’t have to change them often, but make sure they remain relevant to your website content and your business.  Then let the new clients come rolling in!

Shannon