# Gulf Coast Web Net > Website design to make your online presence beautiful. ## Posts - [How to Think Outside the Box](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/think-outside-the-box/): Thinking outside the box is not easy and can be quite scary, because it means you have to do something different and you run the risk of failure. But, it can lead to great results. - [What is Wordpress](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/what-is-wordpress/): There are two distinct legs that operate independent of one another. Wordpress is Open Source Software, which in my opinion, is the BEST! It is like democracy on steroids. - [The Future of Online News & Online Video](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/the-future-of-online-news-online-video/) - [What is the name of the .com part of a domain name?](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/name-com-domain-name/): Many people ask me what the .com is called in the domain name. It is called the TLD or Top Level Domain, the last label of a fully qualified domain name. - [Free Forms by Google](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/free-forms-google/): [av_one_half first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”] [av_icon_box position=’left’ boxed=” icon=’ue8a5′ font=’entypo-fontello’ title=’Free Forms’ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” font_color=” custom_title=” custom_content=” color=’custom’ custom_bg=” custom_font=’#f05a1a’ custom_border=”] Google has a free form building module for people with a google account (google or gmail email). The module is stored […] - [Local Advertising - make it count](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/local-advertising-make-it-count/): [av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”] [av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”] Local Advertising matters Local advertising can give you the best bang for your buck and it says a lot about you, your company and your values. When you pay to advertise, why not help […] - [How does Adwords Work Anyway?](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/adwords-work-anyway/): [av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”] How does Adwords Work? Adwords can look very confusing and it seems like a stretch for most people. However, it is one of the best ways to gain traction on the internet for your business. Ads can provide you with insight about people looking for your products and services, and it gives your […] - [How to use your blog: The Scoop Alaska](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/how-to-use-your-blog-the-scoop-alaska/): The Blog The Scoop Alaska is one of our newest personal blog clients and it has hit the ground running. If you think this story doesn’t pertain to you because you don’t have a personal blog, you would be wrong. The People First, let me tell you a little about Tim & Angel who run […] - [Bing Places for Business](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/bing-places-for-business/): Everyone knows about Google. But, millions of people use Bing and prefer Bing for their online searches. Bing has a “BingItOn” marketing campaign that rewards you for using Bing. Bing Dashboard I really like the News feature on my Bing Dashboard. It quickly summarizes the news according to location, subject matter and even Social Media channel. […] - [How to build a link strategy for your website](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/how-to-build-a-link-strategy-for-your-website/): This week we promised to give you more idea’s on how to build a link strategy for your website. There are different types of links, inbound and outbound links. Inbound links are links to your site from another and outbound links are links you add to your website which link to other websites. Both are […] - [Wordpress 4.4](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/wordpress-4-4/): This month WordPress 4.4 was introduced. This version was named “Clifford” in honor of jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown. WordPress is our core software and anytime we have an upgrade it means two things; more security for your website and additional functionality. This version has introduced some great new features and has positioned developers for a new future […] - [New Automated Website Estimate](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/new-automated-website-estimate/): [av_one_half first min_height=” vertical_alignment=’av-align-top’ space=” margin=’0px’ margin_sync=’true’ padding=’0px’ padding_sync=’true’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ radius_sync=’true’ background_color=” src=” attachment=” attachment_size=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”] [av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”] We just launched a great new automated website estimate tool and we’re super excited. Just click on the components you would like and see how much your website installation will […] - [Using SEO Yoast Plugin on your Website](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/using-seo-yoast-plugin-on-your-website/): The SEO Yoast plugin is a great tool to help you take advantage of those keywords. We found this great video by Online Media Masters that explains how you can best use this plugin. - [Blogging to make your Website Sing](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/blogging-to-make-your-website-sing/): Most people think… I write and share on my Facebook page “all the time!“. Why do I need to blog on my website, nobody goes there. - [Monarch Social Media Plugin for your Website](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/monarch-social-media-plugin-website/): Elegant Themes, one of our providers recently introduced a brand new social media plugin called Monarch. It is a Social Media plugin that makes sharing on your website look enticing and fun! Any social network Anywhere on your website Choosing from over 20 social sharing networks we can create a custom collection of sharing options […] - [Most popular and funniest videos of 2014](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/most-popular-and-funniest-videos-of-2014/): According to Google, videos are more engaging than blogs or articles. Online videos now account for 50% of all mobile traffic. Here are our favorites! Mutant Spider Dog 120,905,549 views First Kiss 96,070,482 views iPhone bend test 61,015,051 views Jean Claude Van Damme splits 76,866,269 views Worlds Toughest Job 22,329,502 views The Game Before the Game […] - [Finding Free Images on Google Chrome](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/finding-free-images-google-chrome/): There are many ways to find free or inexpensive images for social media. Because so many of the services I use are Google based, like Gmail, Google+ and Google Analytics, I prefer to use a browser that is compatible with those services for most of my work to make the whole process easier. When you […] - [Mailchimp Snap: A Great New iPhone App](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/mailchimp-snap-a-great-new-iphone-app/): Now you can send a photo to the people who subscribe to your newsletter right from your iPhone! Mailchimp just built something new. It’s an iPhone app that lets you easily take a picture of new merchandise and email it to your customers. Mailchimp Snap App MailChimp Snap is a quick, effective way to share […] - [You’ll Be Able to Watch Apple’s iPad Event Live Next Week](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/apple-ipad-event-live/): Next week (10 a.m. ET/1 p.m. PT on Oct. 16) you’ll be able to watch the launch of the next-generation iPad Air, iPad mini and iMac. You can tune in at Apple.com/live Apple to Live Stream iPad Event on Oct. 16 - [Freebie: “Walk & Ride” One Page Website Template](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/freebie-walk-ride-one-page-website-template/): We love to see new developers and what they produce because it is always a fresh look. If you are looking for a clean, simple one page website theme this is a great one, and it’s FREE! If you would like this template on your website let us know. We can do it for you.   […] - [eCommerce Payment Options](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/ecommerce-payment-options/): We deal with eCommerce almost everyday as a customer, but when it comes to selecting an eCommerce solution for your website it seems more complicated. Here are some of the most common payment options. [av_font_icon icon=’ue911′ font=’entypo-fontello’ style=’border’ caption=’Payment Gateways’ link=” linktarget=” size=’40px’ position=’center’ color=” av_uid=’av-efjnje’][/av_font_icon] A payment gateway is one of the first choices you […] - [Halloween Makeup Inspiration](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/halloween-makeup-inspiration/): Halloween is just around the corner and I hope you’re thinking about some fun activities. This year I was considering dressing up for Halloween which I haven’t done in years. Below is a Pinterest Board of Halloween makeup to inspire you. [alpine-phototile-for-pinterest src=”board” uid=”gulfcoastwebnet” board=”halloween-makeup” imgl=”pinterest” pinit=”1″ dl=”1″ dlstyle=”medium” style=”gallery” row=”4″ grwidth=”800″ grheight=”2400″ size=”192″ num=”25″ […] - [Calendarize It Wordpress Events Calendar](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/calendarize-wordpress-events-calendar/): Calendarize it is one of the best calendar plugins for WordPress. It has lots of great functionality right out of the box, but it also has some very inexpensive extensions to give you more functionality if you need it. [av_icon_box icon=’ue85b’ font=’entypo-fontello’ position=’top’ title=’Calendarize It Out of the Box’ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” av_uid=’av-m8wu4′] Great Color […] - [Creativity in Miniature](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/creativity-in-miniature/): One of our goals here at Gulf Coast Web Net is to inspire your creativity. Today we’re featuring creativity in miniature. Recently I ran into an article about a man who creates art from nature, but in an entirely different way than you might expect. His name is Klaus Kemp and he creates images from […] - [Shared, VPS, Dedicated Server, What's the difference?](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/shared-vps-dedicated-server-whats-difference/): Have you ever wondered about where your website lives? If your website is hosted with us your website lives in a VPS environment. InMotion Hosting – Types of Web Hosting Plans - [The Best Online Appointment Calendars](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/best-online-appointment-calendars/): There are so many great online appointment calendars it is hard to narrow the best ones down. When you are looking for an online appointment calendar there are some key features you should not compromise on.   [av_icon_box icon=’ue8d2′ font=’entypo-fontello’ position=’top’ title=’Best Features’ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” av_uid=’av-40r9z4′] Manage Staff & Services – The capability of taking […] - [Pinterest Rich Pins](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/pinterest-rich-pins/): Pinterest Rich Pins are a recent addition to Pinterest. They make it easier for people to actually shop using Pinterest. So, if you are a business selling merchandise you owe it to yourself to invest some time into Pinterest. You could think of Rich pins as “Super Pins”. They add extra product information to your […] - [Use of Lines in Design](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/use-lines-in-design/): [su_pullquote align=”right”]Drawing attention to the content is what you want to do, right?[/su_pullquote]Design effectively is more about subtlety than about bold strokes. Lines in design can play a critical role, drawing attention to the content; that is what you want to do anyway, right? There are many design tricks to make your design more interesting. […] - [Using Media Grid Wordpress Plugin](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/using-media-grid-wordpress-plugin/): Media Grid comes with masonry layout, is designed to adapt each portfolio to any situation and is mobile optimized for responsive themes. - [Managing your Website Membership](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/managing-website-membership/): Managing website membership can seem a little daunting. There are a lot of people out there just waiting to take advantage of your inattention to your website and fill it with spam comments and invalid links. So, when you are a manager of a membership website you should be diligent; not just in the daily […] - [Get more shares on Facebook](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/get-more-shares-on-facebook/): Shortstack is a company I use often in my task as a Webmaster. They have some great tips about how to get more shares on Facebook. They have produced this great infographic. My Favorite Share on Facebook idea “Ask yourself if your fans will find value in what you’re posting” Something I do that helps me stay […] - [Sharing your Facebook Page with Friends](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/sharing-facebook-page-friends/): Somewhere in the flurry of Facebook changes lately a feature that used to be easy to do became almost impossible to figure out… How do you share your Facebook Page on your personal timeline?   I scoured the Facebook help section, I tried several different Google searches and online Forums. All the help out there was […] - [New Facebook Business Page](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/new-facebook-business-page/): There has been a lot of hype about the new Business Facebook Page format being rolled out. I really like the new layout, but it is taking FOREVER for them to roll it out. I manage over 30 Business Facebook pages and only one of those has the new format as of today, May 11, […] - [Smith: Wordpress 3.9 Upgrade](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/smith-wordpress-3-9-upgrade/): WordPress just came out with an upgrade they are calling Smith. Managing your website from the backend got even easier and more intuitive. Thanks WordPress. We LOVE YOU! - [Shooting Interiors](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/shooting-interiors/): Looking Great Looking great is not just about the work you do, but about how you present it. The success of your business rides on your ability to look great. With this in mind I have presented some great tips for regular people (meaning non-professional photographers) who need to take photographs of the interior of […] - [The Best Online Jigsaw Puzzles](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/the-best-online-jigsaw-puzzles/): If you are a puzzle geek, like me, you will love the challenge and flexibility of some of the free jigsaw puzzle games on the internet. - [Tagging your images for SEO](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/tagging-your-images-for-seo/): When people search the web they use words. They may look at images once they have typed in search terms, but they always start their search with words. So, if you are not adding or tagging your images with words you are missing out on an opportunity to reach your audience. - [Pinterest for Artists](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/pinterest-artists/): I was asked by a friend to do a presentation for the Gulf Coast Art Association. Since I was a child I have dabbled in art and now as a web designer I am fortunate enough to combine my love of art with my skill with computer systems. One of the best tools for finding […] - [Donate Buttons for Nonprofit Organizations](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/donate-buttons-for-nonprofit-organizations/): If you’re a nonprofit you know that every penny counts. Because of this many companies offer discounts for nonprofits. Facebook donate button for nonprofit Facebook recently unveiled a “Donate Now” button to make it easier for nonprofits to take contributions. It will appear beside Posts in your News Feed when shared by participating nonprofits and […] - [Music making robot machine goes viral](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/music-making-robot-machine-goes-viral/): In October 2011 Intell published a video of this amazing electronic music making robot using 36 ball hoppers, 2300 balls, 120 unique tones. It took only 90 days from concept to reality using off the shelf hardware. The first video here is a visual representation of the actual machine by AniMusic.com. The second video is […] - [Life of a Web Designer](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/life-web-designer/): Life of a Web Designer can be challenging. Most of my clients are wonderful people who are easy to deal with and some are, still wonderful people, but more difficult to deal with. I thought this was a cute rendering of the process and challenges. Enjoy. From: Top Web Design Schools - [The Best To Do List Ever](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/the-best-to-do-list-ever/): Sometimes keeping a to do list can be nearly as time consuming and frustrating as the tasks themselves. So, I wanted to share with you an application that I use to keep track of all the tasks required to maintain a few dozen websites plus new client tasks. It is from todoist.com. This tool allows […] - [Great Free Fonts and How to Install Them](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/great-free-fonts-and-how-to-install-them/): Have you ever wondered where people get those cool looking free fonts? Or, maybe you just don’t even know how to install a font once you’ve found one. Here you go… www.DaFont.com has so many really cool and creative fonts. If you can’t remember the name later, no worries… Just come back to GulfCoastWebNet.com and look […] - [Etsy Trends and How You Can Take Advantage](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/etsy-trends-can-take-advantage/): Etsy is one of my favorite places to shop. I think it is because I can find something unique; something someone else doesn’t have. Everytime I look at someones shop on Etsy I find myself saying “I can do that”, “I could make a great shop”. If you have an Etsy shop or have been […] - [Newsletter Best Practices](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/newsletter-best-practices/): People debate about the effectiveness of email Newsletters. My recommendation is… Why not? People opt in to your email list, so it isn’t like you are spamming people. People have asked that you send them one. You should however, use an email service that utilizes an opt out feature. Letting your customers know how often […] - [Great Social Media Goals](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/great-social-media-goals/): Social media can drive significant business results. So many people jump into social media without understanding what they are doing or why they are doing it. The answer is not to just do what others are doing, but to do it with intention. Join and participate in Social Media because it will help you reach […] - [The Internet doesn't have ideas - People do](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/the-internet-doesnt-have-ideas-people-do/): In the past 20 years the internet has evolved and affected our lives in ways we could not comprehend. And as always there are people that think it is a great medium with lots of promise and others that think it is ruining our lives. In the past few years, in particular, a number of […] - [Share your Google Calendar](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/share-google-calendar/): Did you know that you could create a simple and easy Google Calendar, make it public and show it on your website? It can become cumbersome to share your calendar with clients manually or to try to sync up over the phone. Google has a great solution: Publish your calendar on your website. [av_icon_box icon=’ue855′ […] - [Bring back your Website Lustre](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/bring-back-your-website-lustre/): Bring back the lustre of your image and let us style a website for you that makes you shine. Your online presence is a touch point with customers and potential customers on the web. Everywhere your business is represented online is part of your online presence, whether you have full control of it or not. An […] - [Great Christmas Window Displays](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/great-christmas-window-displays/): A Great Window display is one of the best ways to pull people into your shop. Many shop owners believe that they should allow people to see inside the shop from the windows. However, if you are lucky enough to have a window display area you should be using it to lure people into your […] - [Free icons](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/free-icons/): This icon set includes 44 beautiful and fun icons and comes courtesy of Elegant Themes. The soft and bright style of these icons is sure to add some color to your website. The package includes PNG images in three sizes, as well as the original PSD files for each icon so that designers can easily […] - [Create a Marketing Strategy using Visuals to Build a Brand](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/create-a-marketing-strategy-using-visuals-to-build-a-brand/): Building a brand is more about the visual aspects than the words you select. Think about it… when you see the golden arches with a bright red background you know instantly what the brand is you don’t need to see the menu. Understand the Purpose Consider what you are trying to achieve: Are you trying […] - [How to choose an Avatar image](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/choose-avatar-image/): [av_hr class=’short’ height=’50’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’left’ av_uid=’av-9x5ncm’] Before the Avatar Movie… There were avatar images. An “Avatar” is an image that represents you online. The traditional Avatar system used on most Internet forums is a small square-shaped area close to the user’s forum post, where the Avatar is placed in order for other users to easily identify who […] - [Apps for People who love to Read](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/apps-people-love-read/): [av_image src=’https://green-crab-738955.hostingersite.com/wp-content/uploads/14361573_S.jpg’ attachment=’6432′ align=’center’ animation=’no-animation’ link=” target=’no’ av_uid=’av-bhijga’] People who love to read don’t have to be left out of the online world. There are some really wonderful app’s built specifically with the reader in mind. Here are some of the apps for people who love to read: [av_font_icon color=’#f05a1a’ icon=’158′ size=’40px’ position=’left’ link=” linktarget=’no’ […] - [Manage multiple email accounts with Gmail](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/manage-multiple-email-accounts-with-gmail/): My favorite email client is Gmail. You can funnel multiple email addresses through it and keep all your emails in one place for easy access, prioritize your inbox automatically, reply to using multiple addresses and use canned responses quickly and easily. Gmail Labels Labels are like folders. You can apply one label or multiple labels […] - [Great Product Photography](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/great-product-photography/): Recently I had the opportunity to open an Etsy shop for my client, Mercader Antiques. Selling online with Etsy is easy and FUN! Fun is a big thing to me, so when I find something that is not only fun but profitable I have to jump on it. I have many clients who sell online so I wanted […] - [SEO Factors search engines love](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/seo-factors-search-engines-love/): Keywords are simply words or phrases you think people might use to search for your products or services. When you first start your online identity giving some thought to how people might search for your website will be very beneficial because you want to use these words on your pages and posts (or articles). - [Boost your blogs SEO on Google](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/boost-your-blogs-seo-on-google/): Search Engine Optimization is about improving your page ranking with search engines, whether it is a website or social media. And it isn't as hard as it sounds. - [What is a Comfort Zone and how to step out of it](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/what-is-a-comfort-zone-and-how-to-step-out-of-it/): A Comfort Zone (noun): A situation or position in which a person feels secure, comfortable, or in control. In your comfort zone you can, most likely, be productive because you know what you’re doing, how long it will take you, what you will need to complete the task, etc. In a comfort zone we can […] - [What is foursquare and how can it help your business](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/foursquare-helps-your-business/): So, what is foursquare anyway? Your business cannot succeed without happy, loyal customers who support your business and spread the word about it. As a small business owner, you can take advantage of Foursquare for free marketing, especially to reach a younger or more tech savvy audience. It is very easy to use and works […] - [Add your Business to Google Maps](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/add-your-business-to-google-maps/): If you are a business you should be on Google Maps. People use Google Maps for so many reasons. They use it from their smart phones, from their computers and it is another method to get your name out and improve the SEO rankings. The free service that is commonly known as “Google Maps” is […] - [Ratings and Reviews can be crucial to your success](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/ratings-and-reviews-can-be-crucial/): Ratings and Reviews can be the second most important feature on your website! The good news is that most reviews posted on your website are positive. And Social Media is crucial because customers believe their friends reviews over almost anyone else. If you have an eCommerce website ratings and reviews should be part of the […] - [Ken Jennings Jeopardy Champion Reflects on Technology](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/ken-jennings-jeopardy-champion-reflects-on-technology/): If you don’t know Ken Jennings I’ll give you a little hint. Ken Jennings won a record $2,522,700 at Jeopardy. He also writes a weekly news quiz for Slate, a weekly column for Condé Nast Traveler, debunks myths for Woot.com, creates a trivia puzzle for Parade magazine and a myriad of other interesting things. Jennings’ run, which started on June 2, 2003 set game show […] - [Do you need a multi-use website?](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/do-you-need-a-multi-use-website/): [su_spacer size=”5″] If you have ever said: [su_pullquote align=”left”][su_note color=”#ffffff”]I wish this website page could look different than the rest of my website.[/su_note][/su_pullquote][su_spacer size=”1″]Then you probably need a multi-use website. A multi-use website allows you to essentially apply different “skins” or “themes”, apply different functionality, access a different (or the same) user community and much more. […] - [Wikipedia: Why you should donate](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/wikipedia-donate/): There are lots of “open source” programs out there, but Wikipedia is unique because it creates open source IDEA’S. Like the retired farmer in upstate New York who’s using Wikipedia to study the science of sludge, and the student in Kuala Lumpur who’s researching organic chemistry. The British mechanic who, after he broke his back […] - [Twitter Fiction Festival - What is your Twitter Story?](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/twitter-fiction-festival/): Twitter Fiction Festival Began Yesterday Yesterday The Twitter Fiction Festival (#TwitterFiction) began and will last 5 days. The goal is to write a story in 140 characters or less. It sounds like fun and I’m going to participate, even though it seems like a ploy to get more people to use Twitter. I have always […] - [Excellence in Every Action](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/excellence-in-every-action/): Excellence is a talent or quality which is unusually good and so surpasses ordinary standards. Excellence does not come naturally. How many times do we do JUST what is necessary to accomplish the task? We give ourselves a dozens reasons to make it acceptable. See if you recognize some of them. [unordered_list style=”red-x”] No one really cares […] - [Google is Mapping Our Galaxy](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/google-is-mapping-our-galaxy/): Things are changing The internet, after a decade of exploring device interaction with the iPad and iPhone, changing our idea of reality by electronically altering images with tools like Photoshop and finally going back to the organic imagery of photography with creative shots of everyday objects; the internet is finally giving you the opportunity to explore the […] - [Style your Product Images for Pinterest](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/pinterest-style-your-product-images/): If you’re online you most likely know about Pinterest®. Currently Pinterest® is free for everyone and is one of the best ways to get your products noticed. The catch is you need to make your product image interesting. What you Need I have been working with a client to get his online eCommerce store humming and […] - [Facebook Saved my Life](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/facebook-saved-my-life/): That is a huge statement, but it is true. Mashable just surpassed 1 million Facebook fans and so they are sharing the stories of their fans about how Facebook changed their lives. Is Facebook a Relationship Killer? There are a lot of statistics banging around about the time people spend on Facebook and how it […] - [PrivacyFix a New Chrome Extension for Facebook Privacy](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/privacyfix-new-chrome-extension-for-facebook-privacy/): People fall, generally, into the continuum of two extremes when it comes to their private lives. Those who have given up keeping their private lives private Those who vehemently defend their private information Because the people that fall into the extreme’s of the continuum will never read this post, this information is for those who still want […] - [Bloggers Block?](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/bloggers-block/): One of my client's biggest hangups is their blog. It can be intimidating. You sit there and look at a blank page and don’t know what to write. - [On our Radar - Yahoo: Real Change or Toilet Paper](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/on-our-radar-yahoo-real-change-or-toilet-pape/): Well, Don’t ask me why Yahoo is on my radar… I guess it is because it may be on yours. I stumbled upon an announcement by the new CEO of Yahoo, Marissa Mayer, that I found worth watching. I don’t personally use Yahoo much; I’m more of a Google fan (which is a bit conflicting since […] - [Measuring Friendship in Social Media - more than a click](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/social-media-measurement/): When I saw Delta Airlines say they would give $1 to Breast Cancer Awareness (up to $50,000) for every "Like" on their page I was dismayed. - [Square + iPad = SquareUp an Elegant iPad Solution](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/squareup-elegant-ipad-solution/): Today I witnessed the iPad + Square (SquareUp) cash register for the second time and it struck me as such an elegant solution. You attach a little square card reader adapter to the iPad and put the iPad in a stand that flips from the cashier to the customer. The customer accepts the amount, add […] - [iPhone 5](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/iphone-5/): My family is heavily into the iPhone, kind of like people who love their Chevy or their Ford. It is an irrational love, that somehow identifies them. For example; one of the reasons I knew my husband and I was compatible was that we both owned iPhones. Funny… Anyway, to the point of this article… […] - [A Little Content Can Go a Long Way](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/a-little-content-can-go-a-long-way/): Your website can be so much more than just a BUSINESS CARD. You wouldn't own just one pair of shoes, so why own just one website! - [Apple victory could be a loss for consumers](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/apple-victory-could-be-a-loss-for-consumers/): Friday a San Jose, California jury concluded that Samsung’s Android-based mobile products had infringed on a handful of Apple’s patents, including ones covering features like “pinch-to-zoom” and the shape of the phone. Apple Insider article about the technology and testimony  - [The Day Everything Changed: A Look Back at the First iPhone](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/the-day-everything-changed-a-look-back-at-the-first-iphone/): 19 years ago, Apple reinvented the phone. From physical keyboards and styluses to the multi-touch era. The first iPhone wasn't just a gadget; it was the start of the modern smartphone revolution. Where would we be without it? - [Use Opt-in to a Newsletter on Every Form](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/use-opt-in-to-a-newsletter-on-every-form/): Looking to grow your subscriber list? Discover the most effective ways to integrate newsletter signup opportunities directly into your WordPress website without disrupting the user experience. - [Exciting Times on the Horizon: Preparing for Divi 5!](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/exciting-times-on-the-horizon-preparing-for-divi-5/): Want to know the secret to a faster, more reliable website? ⚡ It’s coming soon! We are thrilled to announce that we'll be transitioning our client websites to Divi 5 over the next year. The best part? We take care of the entire process behind the scenes. Discover how this upgrade will benefit your business, improve your search rankings, and make content updates a breeze. - [What is Google Workspace?](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/what-is-google-workspace/): I've been using cloud-based Google Workspace for my company, and it's really helped my team work faster and more efficiently. I think you'll like it, too, and you can access tools anywhere from any device. - [Updates Are Boring (That’s Why We Do Them For You)](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/updates-are-boring-thats-why-we-do-them-for-you/): Let’s be honest: You didn’t start a business to stare at loading bars and worry about plugin updates. 🛑💻 Updates are boring. They’re tedious. But ignoring them? That’s dangerous. Your time is worth way too much to be spent playing IT manager. We love the technical stuff so you don't have to deal with it. Secure your site, protect your investment, and buy back your time. Read why we love doing the chores you hate 👇 - [The Power of Backlinks: Why They're Essential for Your Website's Success](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/the-power-of-backlinks-why-theyre-essential-for-your-websites-success/): Don't let your amazing website get lost in the digital noise. Investing in a robust backlink strategy is an investment in your website's long-term success and visibility. - [A Thanksgiving Message of Gratitude to Our Clients](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/a-thanksgiving-message-of-gratitude-to-our-clients/): At Gulf Coast Web Net, Thanksgiving is more than a holiday—it’s a time to appreciate the people who make our work meaningful. And that’s you. - [Why Email Newsletters Still Outperform Social Media (and How to Start One)](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/why-email-newsletters-still-outperform-social-media-and-how-to-start-one/): Social media followers scroll by… but email subscribers take action. Find out why email newsletters still outperform social media—and how to start one that actually grows your business. - [Why Branding Consistency Across Web, Email, and Social Media Matters](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/why-branding-consistency-across-web-email-and-social-media-matters/): Your brand should look and feel the same everywhere your customers find you — on your website, in your emails, and across social media. - [Google Workspace - A Great Solution at a Great Price](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/google-workspace-a-great-solution-at-a-great-price/): Google Workspace is more than just Gmail—it's a powerful, secure suite of tools that helps teams collaborate better, work smarter, and stay organized no matter where they are. - [The Power of Ongoing Website Maintenance - The Impact of One Hour](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/the-power-of-ongoing-website-maintenance-the-impact-of-one-hour/): Your website should work as hard as you do! Our $50/mo hosting plan includes 1 hour of updates every month—whether it's uploading new menus, updating events, fixing contact forms, or refreshing staff info. We also handle the behind-the-scenes tasks that keep your site running smoothly: backups, SSL renewals, domain checks & more. Let your website be your most reliable employee. Message us to get started or learn more! - [Why Every Small Business Needs a Website (And How Gulf Coast Web Net Makes It Easy for You!)](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/why-every-small-business-needs-a-website-and-how-gulf-coast-web-net-makes-it-easy-for-you/): In today’s digital world, having a website is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you run a local shop, a service-based business, or an online store, your website is often the first impression potential customers get. - [Google Trends and Ted Lasso Season 4](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/google-trends-and-ted-lasso-season-4/): For web designers and content managers, such trends present opportunities to engage audiences by aligning website content with current interests. - [October 2024](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/october-2024/): Disabling XML-RPC, disable file manager, update old security keys, check backup schedule. - [Make Your Website Work For You](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/make-your-website-work-for-you-2/): Your website isn’t just a digital business card or a static brochure—it’s a powerful tool that can generate leads, - [How to develop a cornerstone article to drive traffic and authority for your website](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/how-to-develop-a-cornerstone-article-to-drive-traffic-and-authority-for-your-website/): Among various types of content, a cornerstone article stands out due to its potential to attract significant traffic and bolster your website’s authority. - [E-A-T in AI Search Engine Optimization: A Comprehensive Guide](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/e-a-t-in-ai-search-engine-optimization-a-comprehensive-guide/): In the evolving world of search engine optimization (SEO), Google's ranking algorithms adapt to ensure users receive the most relevant and reliable information. - [The Future of Google Search: How AI Will Transform Page Ranking](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/the-future-of-google-search-how-ai-will-transform-page-ranking/): Integrating AI into Google search is set to revolutionize how we access information, which has profound implications for website page rankings. - [Create an appointment schedule with Google](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/create-an-appointment-schedule-with-google/): Now you can setup a Google appointment booking system for free! - [Protecting your website](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/protecting-your-website/): One of my primary roles as a webmaster is to keep the websites of my clients safe from intruders. In this environment of hackers, it is not an easy job. - [Recognizing Domain Renewal Scams](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/recognizing-domain-renewal-scams/): Cybercriminals frequently use domain expiration scams to take advantage of website owners and businesses. These scams involve sending emails or letters to website owners, falsely claiming that their domain name is nearing expiration, and offering to renew it for a high fee. - [Whats up with WhatsApp and End-to-End Encryption](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/whats-up-with-whatsapp-and-end-to-end-encryption/): WhatsApp has been advertising its messaging app touting its use of end-to-end encryption. They imply that they are the only messaging app to use it. Since I had several friends ask me about my recommendation I decided to do some research on the subject. What I found is that there are many other popular messaging apps with the same security features. With end-to-end encryption, no one can access your messages except the people with the keys. You and whoever you’re talking to are the only people with unique, matching keys. WhatsApp end-to-end encryption WhatsApp uses several security measures besides end-to-end encryption. […] - [Google Search Quality Guideline Changes](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/google-search-quality-guideline-changes/): Google is changing its guidelines to reduce low-quality and unoriginal content in search results. The changes should help users find the content they are searching for. - [Easy Checklist for SEO](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/easy-checklist-for-seo/): SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, refers to "organic" search results. This means your efforts to reach your audience without paid advertising. There are many things you can do to improve your website reach and results. - [Your website needs your help to send email](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/your-website-needs-your-help-to-send-email/): Yes, your website sends emails. Most people are unaware that their website sends emails. Of course, if you have form software or an eCommerce system you may have received an email from your website. But, most people are unaware of this need or its requirements. - [Improve your website reach by improving your SEO](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/improve-your-website-reach-by-improving-your-seo/): Nothing can improve your website reach more than you telling people to visit it, but there are things you can do to improve the ability of people to find your page when they are looking for your services using SEO. - [The hidden network that makes the internet possible](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/the-hidden-network-that-makes-the-internet-possible/): In 2012, a team of researchers set a world record, transmitting 1 petabit of data— that's 10,000 hours of high-def video— over a fifty-kilometer cable, in a second. This wasn't just any cable. It was a souped-up version of fiber optics, the hidden network that links our planet and makes the internet possible. - [Make your website work for you](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/make-your-website-work-for-you/): So many people put their website together and then just let it sit there. You have spent a lot of time and money to put your website together so make sure it works for you. Every business is different which means that every approach will be different, but here are some ideas to get you started. - [How backlinks can help you build trust](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/how-backlinks-can-help-you-build-trust/): Backlinks help Google determine your website's authority. When you receive a link from a website with a higher ranking than yours it improves your score. - [Whats new in the web design field](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/whats-new-in-the-web-design-field/): Ran has some great observations on current web design trends. There are some design trends that will date your website and others that are classy and get the message across, which is what you want to do. You need to balance trends with functionality. The tools we have today are so much better than in the past which put these features in the hands of nearly every web designer. - [Ashburn, VA Bots & Facebook is Down](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/ashburn-va-bots-facebook-is-down/): This week we had a couple of interesting things happen on the internet. Well, actually one interesting thing happened and the other interesting thing I just uncovered. - [How to Show Up in Local Search Results](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/show-local-search-results/): If you're having trouble getting your local business' website to show up in the Google local 3-pack or local search results in general, you're not alone. - [Your website as the Hub](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/your-website-as-the-hub/): Watching people do things the hard way can be frustrating. Boosting your visibility isn't hard, but you need to focus on the Hub to make everything run efficiently. - [The Lowdown on Phishing](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/the-lowdown-on-phishing/): Phishing and Malware are serious issues. There is a lot you can do to keep yourself safe. We can even tell you where you can go to report phishing. - [Everything you want to know about Backlinks](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/everything-want-know-backlinks/): Backlinks are, perhaps, the most influential part of the Google Algorithm for your website SEO. The exciting thing is that you can do something to improve your backlinks. Here we give you some ideas on how to do that. - [SEO is Everything](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/seo-is-everything/): There are a lot of misconceptions about SEO. People new to the world of Websites often ask if I can improve their SEO. These people are still under the misconception that managing SEO is all in the hands of the Web Designer. - [5 Ways Professional Copywriting Elevates Your Website](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/5-ways-professional-copywriting-elevates-your-website-and-your-bottom-line/): Every web page is an opportunity to capture a customer. But writing high-quality content requires time and skill. Furthermore, web copy needs to satisfy two audiences: your customers and search engines. - [Honest Vulnerability Makes a Better Brand Than Being Perfect](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/honest-vulnerability-is-a-better-personal-brand-than-pretending-life-is-perfect/): Social Media creators are creating content with the understanding that real life is not a series of just highs. Giving a more holistic view of your life, the good and the bad is more likely going to help you attract more interest because that’s how most people’s lives actually are. - [Start your day at 4 am and you will be in Good Company](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/start-your-day-at-4-am-and-you-will-be-in-good-company/): Many well known people like, the CEO of Apple and Starbucks, get up at 4 am. Every one of these folks choose different activities. Some work out, catch up on email, or meditate. But, they are all trying to escape interruptions. - [To Blog or Not to Blog - that is the question](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/to-blog-or-not-to-blog-that-is-the-question/): One of the advantages of WordPress is the CMS platform that allows you to blog. Unfortunately, few clients take advantage of this great opportunity. Blogging is something that people can do, regardless of their business, I thought this would be a great topic for my WordPress Meetup group. - [Feeding Into Negativity Won't Grow Your Business](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/feeding-into-negativity-wont-grow-your-business/): We’re human. We get angry when things don't go as planned. We get frustrated when we don’t sign a client we were sure would sign up. We are tempted to go negative when we get attacked after doing everything we can to add value to the lives of our audience and customers. - [Link Building 101](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/link-building-101/): Link building is the process of manually encouraging people to link to your website. In order to rank #1 on a page, you need to get around the same number of links that the results ranking on page 1 already has. - [8 Cybersecurity Tips for Your Small Business](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/8-cybersecurity-tips-for-your-small-business/): Today, cybersecurity tips for small businesses should not be taken lightly. If you are like millions of small-business owners in America, you probably cannot imagine how a cybercriminal halfway around the world could possibly cause your business to suffer a data security breach. After all, aren’t hackers busy enough with the Fortune 500? - [5 Easy Steps to Better Website SEO](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/5-easy-steps-better-website-seo/): Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of affecting the visibility of a website or a web page in a search engine's unpaid results—often referred to as "organic" results. In general, the earlier (or higher ranked on the search results page), and more frequently a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine's users, and these visitors can be converted into customers. - [Website Maintenance should be Invisible](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/website-maintenance-should-be-invisible/): If you pay someone to manage your website it is because you understand the importance of maintaining your website. If you maintain your own website you either know how much time it consumes, or you aren't doing it correctly. - [Children learn the language of code using Scratch from MIT](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/children-learn-code-scratch-from-mit/): Children can not only learn a language, but learn creativity, tenacity, and discipline, but they also have lots of fun. It enriches their lives and expands their horizons. - [Document Signature Solutions](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/document-signature-solutions/): If you require a signature from a client on documents you know how difficult it can be to come up with a solution for obtaining and storing the documentation. Here are some online solutions that are super affordable and can be customized to your situation. - [Live Video Broadcasting? Why Not?](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/live-video-broadcasting-why-not/): Live video is a great way to engage your audience. Users watch more than 300 million videos every month. Here are some live video services that can work for you. - [Everyday Objects make Great Web Elements](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/everyday-objects-make-web-elements/): Photos in every aspect of website design are on the rise and it provides professionals and amateurs alike with new opportunities. - [Is your Site Mobile Friendly?](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/is-your-site-mobile-friendly/): Mobile-friendly websites benefit your customer and in turn your business. These sites produce an average 75% higher rate of engagement (revenue, page views, etc.) per visit for mobile users. - [Finding Facebook and Blog Free Images](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/finding-facebook-and-blog-free-images/): We all know that blog and Facebook posts that contain compelling images get more attention than others and most people know there are severe implications of using an image someone else owns - [Google Analytics Data Studio Dashboard](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/google-analytics-data-studio-dashboard/): Google launched a product they call Data Studio, and I just recently took an online course to learn how to use it. The result is a dashboard that will be mailed to clients weekly that will have all the information they need to understand their website visitors and to see what effect their activity outside the website affects their results. - [5 Reasons Why You Should Still Be Advertising on Facebook](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/5-reasons-why-you-should-still-be-advertising-on-facebook/): With social media platforms like Snapchat and Twitter growing in popularity, particularly among young people, you might think that advertising on Facebook is a waste of your time. But the fact is, that’s just not the case. - [Optimizing your Website Speed](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/optimizing-your-website-speed/): Today I am presenting some strategies and tools you can use to speed up your website. Speed is important to your page rank and is rumored to be the next inclusion in the Google Algorithm. - [Menu and Navigation Management](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/menu-and-navigation-management/): There is more than meets the eye when designing a WordPress menu and navigation strategy. There are many different ways to set-up your main navigation. Here we discuss everything from a hamburger menu to a mega menu as well as breadcrumbs. If you think you are making the best use of your menu you should think again. - [A Great Blog Post is like a Great Podcast](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/great-blog-post-great-podcast/): A great blog post is very similar to a great podcast. You start with an idea and then elaborate on it with real world stories, guests and new information or a new way of looking at old information. - [Add AdSense Advertising to your Website](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/add-adsense-advertising-to-your-website/): Google AdSense provides a way for publishers to earn money from their online content. AdSense works by matching ads to your site based on your content and visitors. - [Making and Maintaining your Online Store](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/making-and-maintaining-your-online-store/): Creating your online store using WooCommerce isn't difficult, but it does take time. Once you have your store up and running you will be so proud. I can't wait to see what you come up with. - [Getting creative with sidebars](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/getting-creative-with-sidebars/): Sidebars are a great way to attract a user's attention to other parts of your website and keep them there. We will discuss different ways to do that and great plugins to help you implement your ideas. - [Wordpress, WordCamp, and Open Source](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/wordpress-wordcamp-open-source/): November 1st I will be attending WordCamp 2019 in St. Louis, MO. I am super excited about the opportunity to meet people who are passionate about WordPress and developing better websites. Here I go over some of the highlights on what is going on. - [Above the Fold - Hint: It's Important](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/above-the-fold-hint-its-important/): Above the fold is the upper half of the front page of a newspaper where an important news story or photograph is often located. Why not help people navigate your website by making it easy on them? - [How to Draw Attention to Your Online Store in a Crowded Marketplace](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/how-to-draw-attention-to-your-online-store-in-a-crowded-marketplace/): Operating an Online store in the age of Amazon can be tough for sellers of common products like candles, chocolates, and coffee. - [Like It or Not, You're Getting Twitter's Redesigned Website Soon](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/like-it-or-not-youre-getting-twitters-redesigned-website-soon/): Twitter's redesigned website makes the site look a lot more like the company's mobile app. But if you don't like it, you're out of luck. - [Why WooCommerce Merchants Should Consider Selling on Amazon](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/why-woocommerce-merchants-should-consider-selling-on-amazon/): “Should I be selling on Amazon or through my own online store?”. This is a common question asked by online sellers. The answer? Both. - [20 Types of YouTube Videos for Business](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/20-types-of-youtube-videos-for-business/): You can’t ignore YouTube if you’re looking to promote any type of business these days. There are 1.9 billion monthly users and over 30 million daily users. - [How Millennials are Marketing to Gen Z](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/how-millennials-are-marketing-to-gen-z/): Those born after 1995, known as Gen Z, have grown up completely surrounded by technology, making traditional marketing efforts relatively useless. - [Business Insurance Doesn’t Have to Be Hard](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/business-insurance-doesnt-have-to-be-hard-here-are-3-types-youll-need/): If you plan on being in business in the long run, it’s pretty unrealistic to think that nothing bad is ever going to happen. That is why you should consider business insurance. - [These Tech Companies Will Need More Women on Their Boards](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/these-tech-companies-will-need-more-women-on-their-boards/): California is the first US state to require that women be represented on corporate boards. Several European countries have similar laws or guidelines, following the lead of Norway, which a decade ago required all companies to have at least 40 percent women on their boards. - [Local News Stories Blocked by Facebook](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/local-news-stories-blocked-by-facebook/): This is a case of legitimate news stories being blocked by Facebook inadvertently. But, just like Google, there are many filters Facebook uses to detect spam. One of which is the lack of an SSL on your website. Interesting... - [Firefoxs New Browser Will Keep Brands From Stalking You](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/firefox-new-browser-will-keep-brands-from-stalking-you/): Today, Mozilla, the company behind the popular Firefox browser, said it will take more aggressive measures to protect users' privacy. - [The SurfSafe Browser Extension Will Save You From Fake Photos](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/the-surfsafe-browser-extension-will-save-you-from-fake-photos/): Determining whether a photo that's been meme-ified and screenshotted a thousand times over depicts something real requires a different level of forensic analysis. - [Introducing the Simple Payment Widget](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/introducing-the-simple-payment-widget/): Use the Simple Payment Widget to add a quick payment option to the sidebar or footer of your WordPress.com or Jetpack site. - [Microsoft Calls For Federal Regulation of Facial Recognition](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/microsoft-calls-for-federal-regulation-of-facial-recognition/): Over the past year, Silicon Valley has been grappling with the way it handles our data, our elections, and our speech. Now it’s got a new concern: our faces. In just the past few weeks, critics assailed Amazon for selling facial recognition technology to local police departments, and Facebook for how it gained consent from Europeans to identify people in their photos. Microsoft has endured its own share of criticism lately around the ethical uses of its technology, as employees protested a contract under which US Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses Microsoft’s cloud-computing service. Microsoft says that contract did not involve […] - [4 Tools for Automating and Recycling Social Media Posts](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/4-tools-for-automating-and-recycling-social-media-posts/): There are tools that automate social media posts, so that important, evergreen content pieces get published on a recurring schedule without more work from you. Here’s a look at a few social media automation solutions to consider. - [WooCommerce Sales Tax for the US: How to Enable Automated Calculations and Filing](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/woocommerce-sales-tax-for-the-us-how-to-enable-automated-calculations-and-filing/): The US Supreme Court decided this week that each state can now require sales tax to be collected on internet sales. - [4 Unconventional Ways to Bring Traffic to Your Site](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/4-unconventional-ways-to-bring-traffic-to-your-site/): Because of increased participation in social media, however, success with conventional online advertising has become harder to come by. - [Google and Uber Race to Dominate the Future of Search: Maps](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/google-and-uber-race-to-dominate-the-future-of-search-maps/): Open the Uber app in downtown San Francisco, and you’ll discover you can do a lot more than hail a ride. You rent a bike, thanks to Uber’s recent acquisition of Jump Bikes. You can rent a car, courtesy of a partnership Uber has struck with the startup Getaround. - [How to Growth Hack the Facebook Algorithm to Reach Your Most Engaged Fans](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/how-to-growth-hack-the-facebook-algorithm-to-reach-your-most-engaged-fans/): Facebook is not going away, and any marketing professional or small business owner would be foolish to stop using it in spite of the fact that marketing on Facebook today is not easy. - [If You Use Facebook for Business, Don't Make These 3 Mistakes](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/if-you-use-facebook-for-business-don039t-make-these-3-mistakes/): Facebook has become an incredible resource for getting more business. Every time you log on, it's like walking into a networking event -- full of potential clients. If you're interested in using Facebook for business, be sure to avoid these terrible mistakes. - [Rejected by Network TV, These 3 Women Took Their Talents to YouTube and Grew an Audience of 3.6 Million](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/rejected-by-network-tv-these-3-women-took-their-talents-to-youtube-and-grew-an-audience-of-3-6-million/): Yolanda Gampp has 20 years of experience in making cakes that look like all sorts of foods and everyday objects, from a baked potato to a fidget spinner. But she and her co-producers faced disappointment when their show was canceled after one season in 2012. - [Facebook Imposes New Restrictions on Ads and Popular Pages](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/facebook-imposes-new-restrictions-on-ads-and-popular-pages/): As Facebook tries to make itself over before CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies to Congress next week, the company is announcing several new authentication requirements for ads and Pages. - [Google to build new undersea cable in Asia and Australia](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/google-to-build-new-undersea-cable-in-asia-and-australia/): The cable will provide better connectivity to the five regions where Google Cloud Platform services are available in Asia and Australia: Mumbai, Singapore, Taiwan, Tokyo, and Sydney. - [Apple nabs Googles top A.I. exec to make Siri smarter](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/apple-nabs-googles-top-a-i-exec-to-make-siri-smarter/): Apple just took a very important step toward improving its AI capabilities. The company hired Google's top AI exec, John Giannandrea, to lead Apple's artificial intelligence strategy, The New York Times reports. - [Nobody needs a Chromebook with a 4K screen](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/nobody-needs-a-chromebook-with-a-4k-screen/): Word on the street is a Chromebook with a 4K display might be in the works. At least that's what source code from Google's Chromium OS suggests. - [Mark Zuckerberg: Nobody's perfect!](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/mark-zuckerberg-nobodys-perfect/): On a rare call with journalists Wednesday, Financial Times reporter Hannah Kuchler asked, "Has the board discussed if you should step down from chairman?" Zuckerberg replied with a cocky tone quite unlike his often robotic-cheery responses: "Not that I'm aware of." - [Millennials destroyed the rules of written English & and created something better](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/millennials-destroyed-written-english-created-better/): Millennials have created a new rulebook for a variant of written English unique to social media. A rulebook which states that deliberately misspelled words and misused grammar can convey tone, nuance, humor, and even annoyance. I discovered all kinds of new information I did not know about from this article. I hope you will enjoy it. - [20 Revelations From Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's Apology Tour](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/20-revelations-from-facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg039s-apology-tour/): Facebook apparently had been crafting its response to the news that a voter-profiling data consultancy called Cambridge Analytica had obtained private data of more than 50 million Facebook users back in 2014 - [Deleting Facebook Is Easier Said Than Done](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/deleting-facebook-is-easier-said-than-done/): Over the past few days, Facebook has come under intense scrutiny due to its previous relationship with Cambridge Analytica, a data-science company that secretly culled information from 50 million Facebook users. This has raised questions about their role in the data harvest and its collection of data from its users. - [Fake News Spreads Faster on Twitter Than Real News, Study Says](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/fake-news-spreads-faster-on-twitter-than-real-news-study-says/): Fake news tends to have the real news beat in one area: novelty. That's why Twitter users can't help but share half-truths and unchecked rumors over the platform, according to a trio of MIT researchers. - [The Complete Guide to Direct Traffic in Google Analytics](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/complete-guide-direct-traffic-google-analytics/): When it comes to direct traffic in Analytics, there are two deeply entrenched misconceptions. The first is that it’s caused almost exclusively by users typing an address into their browser (or clicking on a bookmark). The second is that it’s a Bad Thing, not because it has any overt negative impact on your site’s performance, but rather because it’s somehow immune to further analysis. The prevailing attitude amongst digital marketers is that direct traffic is an unavoidable inconvenience; as a result, discussion of direct is typically limited to ways of attributing it to other channels, or side-stepping the issues associated with […] - [How to Make Your Website More Secure (So Google Doesn't Punish You)](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/make-website-secure-google-doesnt-punish/): The folks over at Google are known for paving the way for Internet behavior. Last month, they took a monumental step forward in helping protect people from getting their personal data hacked. - [Do iPhone Users Spend More Online Than Android Users?](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/do-iphone-users-spend-more-online-than-android-users/): With so many other smartphones on the market offering similar functionality, it begs the question: Do iPhone users simply spend more money than everyone else? - [How to Rev up the Success of Your Website](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/how-to-rev-up-the-success-of-your-website/): How do you know which combination will not only attract more visitors but keep them coming back? The top-performing websites, it turns out, have something in common... - [Top 10 Plugins you should install on your Wordpress Website](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/top-10-plugins-install-wordpress-website/): After years of installing websites I have a great list of standard plugins I install on every website. Remember that every plugin takes memory to load. - [Voting Rights are not Black and White](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/voting-rights-black-white-debra-cleaver/): Debra Cleaver's vision is for 100% participation. She is well on her way toward allowing people to exercise their Voting Rights. The first step is voter registration. - [Low Down on Phishing & Malware](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/phishing-malware/) - [Digital Tools for Teachers](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/digital-tools-teachers/): I got excited this morning to learn about some new digital tools for teachers. So, I thought I would share this with you. Amazon developed a new tool for teachers called Amazon Inspire. - [Branding or Rebranding your Business](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/branding-rebranding-business/): The first step in branding is to identify your target market. Don't just focus on demographics, but tastes. Are your customers businesslike, cutting-edge, organic and earth loving, or just practical? - [Voice Search Implications](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/voice-search-implications/): Today's video tip of the day is to gear up for voice search. We have seen an ever increasing rise in voice search and it isn’t just related to driving. - [On Email Newsletter Campaigns](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/email-newsletter-campaigns/): If you don't have an email newsletter campaign then I have to ask, why not? Email is one of the best ways to capture the attention of your audience. ## Pages - [Email Setup with Hostinger](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/email-setup-with-hostinger/): Hostinger has all the great services other email providers do, but at a fraction of the cost. - [One-Time SEO Boost](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/one-time-seo-boost/): Give Your Website the Edge It Deserves—Without the Monthly Commitment. Boost your visibility with a one-time, comprehensive On-Page SEO Boost. - [Website Examples](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/website-examples/): These are examples to give you an idea of what is possible. Each website we build is unique to you and is not limited by a template. - [SEO Client Portal](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/seo-client-portal/) - [SEO Subscription Services](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/seo-audit-service-for-your-website/): Continuous, end-to-end search engine optimization designed to capture searchers, adapt to live analytics, and convert visitors into active leads. - [Maintenance Log](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/maintenance-log/): A list of maintenance tasks performed for each website I manage. - [hub](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/hub/) - [Search Webmaster Blog](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/search-webmaster-blog/): We have lots of great information for business owners and website owners. Hope you will subscribe to our newsletter and get these great tips right to your email address. - [GoDaddy Email Setup](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/godaddy-email-setup/) - [Landing Page Example](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/landing-page-example/) - [Helpful Links for Website Owners](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/helpful-links-for-website-owners/): These are links to resources I have found helpful for website content, SEO, inspiration, image curation, etc. - [GoDaddy Delegate Access](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/godaddy-delegate-access/): Granting delegate access to someone in GoDaddy is pretty easy to do and I'll show you how to do it and explain why it's important to use. - [Google Business Profile Video Verification](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/google-business-profile-video-verification/): Google has recently started requiring video verification for businesses to open their Google Business Page. I have included some videos here to explain how you can get your business verified using this new process. - [Email Setup](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/email-setup/): If you need a Google email for your domain then I highly recommend Google Workspace. Here I have several helpful videos to help you set up and manage your Google Workspace account. - [New Google Analytics](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/new-google-analytics/): This is an explaination for the standard Dashboard you will receive as a client at Gulf Coast Web Net. - [Calendar](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/calendar/): Find available times for Gulf Coast Web Net right here on our calendar. - [Website FAQ](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/website-faq/): Still have questions? Please feel free to contact us. - [Website Training](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/website-training/): At Gulf Coast Web Net we believe in empowering our clients. In an effort to help you with your website we have compiled some helpful videos for you here. - [Training Videos by Gulf Coast Web Net](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/training-videos-by-gulf-coast-web-net/) - [Gulf Coast Web Net Team](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/gulf-coast-web-net-team/): We are here to help you navigate the world wide web. - [Google Analytics](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/google-analytics/) - [Welcome](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/welcome/): We want to welcome you to the family. This information will help you use our website services to their fullest. - [Client Websites](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/client-websites/): We design beautiful, elegant, and affordable websites for small business, and non profit's. - [Webmasters Blog](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/webmasters-blog/): Keep up-to-date on new technology as well as many ideas about how to improve your online presence. - [Affordable Web Hosting, Website Design & SEO | Gulf Coast Web Net](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/): Custom Website Design and Hosting for as little as $35 a month. Free changes, high-speed server, and additional SEO, and Newsletter & Blogging Services. - [Ooops](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/ooops/) - [Terms & Conditions](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/terms-conditions/): The website.com website (the "Site") is comprised of various web pages operated by Website ("WEB"). website.com is offered to you conditioned on your acceptance without modification of the terms, conditions, and notices contained herein (the "Terms"). - [Privacy Policy](https://gulfcoastwebnet.com/privacy-policy/): WEBSITE.com (the "Company" or "we" or "us") is committed to preserving the privacy of all visitors to this website. Please read the following privacy policy to understand how we use and protect the information that you provide to us. ## Optional - [Agent (MCP protocol)](websites-agents.hostinger.com/gulfcoastwebnet.com/mcp) [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)