The Importance of Honest Estimations

What happens when someone gives an estimate knowing it won't take as long or cost as much as quoted? When I give a client an estimate, I am trying to give them an accurate estimation as to the time and cost of what they want. I am not trying to be a pessimist, and give them a due date two weeks longer than what they ask, just in case the worst happens. By being honest, my clients can accurately plan their own activities and budgets. But what happens when someone wants to appear like a … [Read more...]

Strong Password – a new free JavaScript tool

In the same spirit in which Validator was released in this post, I am also releasing several other JavaScript tools. It has taken a little longer than I expected to prepare them for release. But I wanted to release the tools with good documentation, and several examples. Strong Password has been in soft release since Validator, and now is being fully released. It includes 4 separate examples on how to use and extend the Strong Password tool, including making visual graphs, custom text, … [Read more...]

Validator – Improved Samples

I've updated the samples provided with validator to clearly show the code used on the sample page, instead of making you view the source code. Hopefully it will be helpful to those who are looking to use a simple Form Validation tool. Form Validator is a free JavaScript form validation tool that requires almost no knowledge of JavaScript, just simple HTML skills. … [Read more...]

5 Questions to Ask before integrating an existing Component into your Web Site

I get people asking me about any of the 1000s of free website components and tools that exist all of the time. Sometimes these tools (shopping cart, ad rotator, content management system, etc.) might only provide 85% to 90% of what they need. Other times there might be a fee associated with it, and that is fine too – because when used properly a component can reduce the development time (and potentially cost) of your site. In a perfect world, these components can be dropped them and work with … [Read more...]

What about everyone else?

I recently posted an article about why it doesn't matter if you are a geek when it comes to putting things on the web. Most people wouldn't know what to do with some of the technology that a "geek" thinks of and uses anyway. Case in point: Robert Scoble recently posted an article about "Hanging out with the other 99%". At a recent block party he spent his time trying to explain to people what he did. Most didn't know about blogs, video on the internet, facebook, Linked In, or any of a number … [Read more...]

So what if your a geek?

62 Some people tend to get caught up in being a technical genius, looking for others like them, etc. But does that really matter? I used to think that it did, but it doesn't. Yes I can still "out geek" 95% of the world's population - but that doesn't help a small business. So I named 62 of the ~70 different HTML elements - it means nothing. What matters is if I can help your company solve a business problem using technology. If I, or anyone else, am only concerned about the technology … [Read more...]

Promotional Video for Any Occasion Photography

We've just launched a new promotional video for one of our clients, Any Occasion Photography. They wanted a video to showcase their wedding photography style and abilities, showing some of their clients. Because of the cost of distribution, a 20-30 second television commercial wasn't applicable. Also a television commercial would hit a broad market, many of which would not be requiring their wedding photography services. Instead, a one minute video was designed, for viewing over the web. … [Read more...]

Update to Validator – a JavaScript Form Validator

I small bug was discovered and fixed in the Validator JavaScript library. The new upload (version 0.9.1) has been released. The bug related to how the minval function was working. About Validator Validator is a easy to use form validation tool. If your client machine has JavaScript enabled, it will capture almost any kind of Form Validation you might need. Some basic benefits of Validator are: Do not have to know JavaScript 23 different validation rules to test … [Read more...]

Avoid a lack of service

I don't get to travel much for my job, and that is not necessarily a bad thing, so when I do, I get to experience all types of oddities. However, today I find myself sitting on the floor, against an pole, typing this article (but not into the website – more on that later), waiting to get on a plane. <rant on> I live in the greater Orlando, FL area and here in town we have a large international airport. Given the heighten security restrictions, I knew I'd have to get there early – … [Read more...]

Protect your website (and on-line business)

What would happen if you were to lose your website? This is one of those good questions to ask but one, that few want to answer. If your website were to go down for the following periods of time, how bad would it be? 1 hour 1 day 3 days a week - or more OK, hopefully, no one looses their site for a week or more, but I've run into plenty of new and potential customers that have had their site down for hours to days. See if your response fell into one of the following (these are … [Read more...]