Archive for Ministry – Page 4

Benefits of video on your website

By Terrell Sanders
Friday, August 26th, 2011

More and more companies are adding video to their websites. Production costs have dropped drastically and the benefits are pretty straightforward:

1. Video is sticky
In the world of web stats, “stickiness” refers to how long people stay on your site. If they click on your site and immediately click away, your site is NOT sticky. Video makes people stay longer on your site. When they stay longer, they are more liable to click on other links and investigate your site more deeply.

2. Video improves your search engine exposure
Youtube is the second most popular search engine in the world. The math is pretty simple: if you don’t have some type of content on Youtube, then you are not listed on the second most popular search engine — period. If you have a product or service that requires an “educational” sales pitch, Youtube is the perfect place to tell your story.

3. Video is engaging
Generations of Americans have grown up on TV. They prefer to watch than to read. It’s easier to get people’s attention and hold it with video than with written text. When you want to call someone to action, video generates better results than copy.

4. Video reinforces your brand
Video lets you say a lot in a short time. Everything from the choice of talent, to wardrobe, to backgrounds and music send messages to the viewer. If you are in an industry with many similar competitors and products, video can help you stand out as unique.

Main Street now offers custom web video production with packages starting under $500. Contact us for  details and start using video to improve your website responses.

Categories : Developers, Ministry, Non-Profit, Small Business

Who Uses WordPress?

By Terrell Sanders
Friday, August 26th, 2011

WordPress recently conducted their first ever user and developer survey. Over 18,000 responses were received from all over the world.

The results show most developers are using WordPress as a complete content management system, and not just blogging software. WordPress is the platform for a huge number of new business sites, and there are experienced WordPress developers on every continent except Antarctica.

Some highlights:

  • 14.7% of the top million websites in the world use WordPress.
  • 22% of new active domains in the US are running WordPress.
  • 61% of WordPress developers use it as a content management system without a blog.
  • Only 8% of WordPress sites are developed specifically as a blog.
  • There are over 6,800 WordPress developers worldwide.

Details and a “State of the Word” address are available here: http://wordpress.org/news/2011/08/state-of-the-word/

Categories : Developers, Ministry, Non-Profit, Small Business, Social Networking, WordPress

Web video production from Main Street

By Terrell Sanders
Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

Main Street now offers complete production of custom web videos starting at less than $500. We work with you to develop the script, then Main Street provides professional onscreen talent, the background with your logo, and all production and editing. You get a finished video formatted specifically for use on your website and youtube.com.

Check our video production page for details.

Categories : Developers, Ministry, Non-Profit, Small Business, Social Networking

URGENT: Security Vulnerability in Many WP Themes

By Terrell Sanders
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

Many WordPress theme developers (including Main Street) have relied on a nifty little code plugin called TimThumb to resize images for WordPress themes. Yesterday a security vulnerability was discovered that can use this plugin to load malicious code on your site.

Current versions of WordPress do resizing automatically, but until recently developers had to rely on plugins like TimThumb for these functions. Unfortunately this flaw is in an incredibly popular plugin that major developers have used for years. All themes by ElegantThemes include this code.

We recommend all WordPress users verify that they are not running TimThumb on any themes installed on their site, even themes that are not active.

To determine if any of your themes use TimThumb, go to Appearance Menu > Editor. In the list of Templates on the right column you are looking for a file called timthumb.php. If you have that file in your theme, it needs to be updated immediately. Be sure to check each theme installed on your site, you can use the pulldown box in the upper right corner to select each theme. Do not edit anything. You can break your theme.

Update instructions vary based upon your theme, contact your theme developer or Main Street if you find the timthumb.php file in your theme.

This is a serious security threat and should be investigated immediately.

 

Categories : Developers, Ministry, Non-Profit, Small Business, WordPress, WordPress Plugins

Customized Themes Allow Inexpensive, Professional Sites

By Terrell Sanders
Friday, July 22nd, 2011

When the Cochrane Sustainability Plan came to us, they needed a professional site but had limited funds. They had ideas of what they wanted, but nowhere near the budget for a custom developed theme.

We consulted with them, helping them pick a Premium theme and then provided customization and support so they could complete the site content. They chose the popular Architect theme from iThemes.  With a few hours of customization they had professional looking site for a fraction of the usual cost.

Categories : Developers, Ministry, Non-Profit, Small Business, WordPress
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