2020-midnet-v3

Effective Social Media Strategies for Engaging Audiences

thelton@midnetmedia.com (Tanya Helton) — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:52:39 GMT

Effective Social Media Strategies for Engaging Audiences

In today's digital landscape, social media has become a cornerstone for businesses and organizations looking to connect with their audiences. With billions of users active on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, the potential for engagement is immense. However, with this potential comes the challenge of standing out in a crowded space. Here are some effective social media strategies to help you engage your audience meaningfully and maximize your online presence.

1. Define Your Target Audience

Understanding who your audience is crucial for crafting content that resonates. Develop detailed buyer personas by considering demographics, interests, and online behaviors. This knowledge will guide your content creation, ensuring it addresses the needs and preferences of your audience.

2. Create Valuable and Shareable Content

Content is king, but it must be valuable to your audience. Aim to provide insights, entertainment, or solutions to problems they face. Use a mix of formats—videos, infographics, blogs, and images—to cater to different preferences. Don’t forget to encourage sharing by creating content that’s easily shareable, such as listicles, how-tos, and inspirational quotes.

3. Leverage Storytelling

Humans are wired to connect through stories. Share your brand’s story, customer testimonials, or case studies to create emotional connections. Authentic storytelling can foster trust and loyalty, making your audience feel like they are part of your journey.

4. Engage with Your Audience

Social media is a two-way street. Respond to comments, messages, and mentions promptly. Ask questions and encourage discussions to foster a sense of community. Use polls and surveys to invite feedback, showing that you value your audience’s opinions.

5. Utilize Hashtags Strategically

Hashtags can expand your reach and visibility. Research relevant hashtags in your industry and create branded hashtags to build community around your content. Don’t overdo it; a few well-chosen hashtags are often more effective than a long list.

6. Post Consistently and at Optimal Times

Consistency is key to keeping your audience engaged. Develop a content calendar to plan your posts and maintain a regular schedule. Use analytics tools to identify when your audience is most active and schedule your posts accordingly to maximize visibility.

7. Monitor and Analyze Performance

Regularly analyze your social media metrics to understand what’s working and what isn’t. Track engagement rates, reach, and audience growth. Use this data to refine your strategies and focus on content types and topics that resonate best with your audience.

8. Collaborate with Influencers

Influencer marketing can be an effective way to reach new audiences. Collaborate with influencers whose values align with your brand to amplify your message. This can introduce your brand to their followers and build credibility through trusted voices.

9. Utilize Paid Advertising

Organic reach can be limited, especially on platforms like Facebook. Consider investing in paid advertising to boost your posts and target specific demographics. Use A/B testing to optimize your ads and ensure you’re getting the best return on investment.

10. Stay Authentic and Transparent

In an era where consumers value authenticity, being transparent about your practices and values can set you apart. Share behind-the-scenes content, company culture, and challenges you face. This openness can deepen the trust and connection between you and your audience.

Conclusion

Implementing effective social media strategies can significantly enhance your ability to engage and connect with your audience. By understanding their needs, creating valuable content, and fostering genuine interactions, you can build a loyal community around your brand. Remember, social media is not just about promotion; it’s about creating relationships that matter. Embrace these best practices to maximize your social media presence and watch your engagement soar!

The Rise of Minster Oktoberfest's Online Presence

thelton@midnetmedia.com (Tanya Helton) — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 16:33:39 GMT

Case Study: The Rise of Minster Oktoberfest's Online Presence

As our community puts a bow on this year's Minster Oktoberfest, we wanted to take a moment to highlight a fascinating case study on the website, minsteroktoberfest.com. Tracking its traffic leading up to the event reveals valuable insights into digital engagement and the effectiveness of event marketing.

A Closer Look at the Numbers

In the 30 days surrounding Minster Oktoberfest, the website experienced a significant surge in visits. Here’s a breakdown of the impressive stats:

Total Visits: The site garnered 33.6k visits in the month leading up to the event.

Early September Activity: Around September 1st, the site had a modest average of 500 views per day.

End of September Surge: By the end of September, daily views jumped to an average of 1,600, signaling growing interest.

Peak Traffic: During the prime days of Oktoberfest week/weekend, daily views soared to an impressive 6,000.

Mobile vs. Desktop Growth

The increase in traffic wasn’t just notable in total visits; it also highlighted a shift in how users accessed the site:

Mobile Visits: There was a staggering 378.7% increase in mobile visits, reflecting the growing trend of users accessing information on their phones.

Desktop Visits: Desktop visits also saw significant growth, up by 251.7%, showcasing that both platforms are important for engaging audiences.

What Contributed to the Surge?

Several factors likely contributed to this dramatic increase in website traffic:

1. Effective Marketing Campaigns: As event promotions ramped up, marketing efforts across social media, email newsletters, and local advertising likely drove more traffic to the site.

2. Engaging Content: Regular updates, engaging content, and event highlights may have kept potential attendees returning to the site for more information.

3. User-Friendly Design: A well-structured website that provides easy navigation and accessibility encourages visitors to explore more and share with others.

4. Community Engagement: As a community-focused event, local engagement and word-of-mouth likely played a significant role in boosting online interest.

Conclusion

The case of minsteroktoberfest.com serves as an excellent example of how effective digital strategies can significantly enhance engagement leading up to a major event. Tracking these trends not only showcases the event's popularity but also emphasizes the importance of a strong online presence for cultural events.

As we continue to be involved with projects like this, we’re excited to see how digital engagement will evolve in the future. If your organization is looking to enhance its online footprint, let’s connect and explore the possibilities together!

Transforming Digital Experiences: Armstrong Air & Space Museum's Website

thelton@midnetmedia.com (Tanya Helton) — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 10:57:31 GMT

Transforming Digital Experiences: Armstrong Air & Space Museum's Website

At Midnet Media, we believe that a strong online presence is crucial for cultural institutions to connect with their communities and share their stories. That's why we are excited to showcase our latest project: the newly revamped website for the Armstrong Air & Space Museum. This partnership not only highlights our commitment to enhancing digital experiences but also underscores the importance of making history accessible to everyone.

A Fresh Look for a Rich History

The Armstrong Air & Space Museum, dedicated to preserving and celebrating the life of the legendary astronaut Neil Armstrong, needed a website that reflected its rich heritage while being user-friendly and visually appealing. Our goal was to create a digital space that invites visitors to explore Armstrong's incredible journey from small-town Ohio to the moon.

Key Features of the New Website

1. User-Centric Design

We prioritized an intuitive layout that allows visitors to easily navigate through various sections, including exhibits, educational resources, and event information. The design incorporates visually engaging elements that draw users in while providing a seamless browsing experience.

2. Responsive and Accessible

With more people accessing websites from mobile devices, we ensured the Armstrong Air & Space Museum's site is fully responsive. Our team implemented accessibility features to ensure that everyone can enjoy the content and resources available.

3. Interactive Exhibits

One of the standout features of the new site is the interactive exhibits section. Users can explore Neil Armstrong's life through engaging multimedia presentations, videos, and photographs that bring his story to life.

4. Event Calendar

The museum hosts a variety of events throughout the year, from lectures to community gatherings. Our integrated event calendar makes it easy for visitors to stay informed and participate in the museum’s offerings.

Collaboration and Feedback

Working closely with the team at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum was a rewarding experience. Their passion for education and community engagement inspired our design choices and content strategies. Throughout the development process, we prioritized open communication and feedback, ensuring that the final product truly reflects the museum's mission.

The Impact of the New Website

Since the launch of the new Armstrong Museum website, early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Visitors appreciate the modern aesthetic and ease of navigation, and the museum staff is excited about the increased engagement and accessibility. This project has not only enhanced the museum’s digital footprint but also strengthened its connection to the community and beyond.

Looking Ahead

At Midnet Media, we are proud to have played a part in this transformative project. The Armstrong Air & Space Museum’s new website is just one example of how we strive to elevate cultural institutions through innovative digital solutions. We look forward to continuing our work with the museum and other organizations dedicated to preserving history and fostering education.

If your institution is ready to enhance its digital presence, we invite you to reach out to us. Let’s create something remarkable together!

Meet The Team - Carly Caywood

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 11:56:52 GMT

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT - CARLY CAYWOOD

This month we are featuring the employee spotlight on our summer graphic design intern here at Midnet.

Meet: Carly Caywood

Carly is going into her Junior year at Bowling Green State University, studying Graphic Design. When thinking about future career choices, she knew she wanted to do something where she could create something every day. She enjoys being creative and taking something that is poorly designed and improving it. This is her second summer working for Midnet Media. Last summer, she gained a lot of knowledge about this field of work and improved her skills as a designer. This summer, her goal is to continue her progress, build some work to show to future employers, and overall gain more confidence within this field of work. Most importantly, she hopes to gain a glimpse of what her future career could look like.

We asked Carly to answer a few questions that we feel really helps you to get to know her!

1.) How long have you been working at Midnet?

This is my second summer here.

2.) What is your position at Midnet and what do you like about the position?

I am an intern here at Midnet. I create social media graphics, schedule posts, help design websites, answer phone calls, and clean the office.

3.) What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

In my free time, I like to spend time with friends and family, draw, listen to music, go outside, and travel.

4.) If you could travel anywhere in the world where you go?

I’ve always wanted to travel across Europe!

5.) What three items would you take with you if you were shipwrecked on a deserted island where all your food and water needs were taken care of?

A tent, a lighter, and a gun.

6.) If you could choose one song to play every time you walked into a room the rest of your life, what song would you choose and why?

Cowboy Take Me Away by the Chicks because it's my favorite song!

Meet The Team - Tanya Helton

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 19:26:42 GMT

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT - TANYA HELTON

This month we are featuring the employee spotlight on one of the talented graphic designers at Midnet.

Meet: Tanya Helton

Tanya graduated from Rhodes State College with a degree in Information Technology. Through her work she aims to present a clear and organized message. Tanya believes there are no limits for design, and that's what keeps her passionate about what she does.

We asked Tanya to answer a few questions that we feel really helps you to get to know her!

1.) How long have you been working at Midnet?

I started at Midnet in September of 2021.

2.) What is your position at Midnet and what do you like about the position?

I am a graphic designer for Midnet. What I like most about my positions is being able to explore different areas and reinventing concepts. Working with many different companies allows me to experiment design with new mediums.

3.) What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

When I am not working I am spending time at home with my kids. I like to take them to do small activities when time allows. I also enjoy spending time with my family.

4.) If you could travel anywhere in the world where you go?

Though this may seem small, if I could go anywhere I would love to be able to take all the kids to Disney World before they get too old to want to go.

5.) What three items would you take with you if you were shipwrecked on a deserted island where all your food and water needs were taken care of?

If I were shipwrecked on a deserted island I would bring a tent for shelter, a satellite phone to call for help, and sunscreen.

6.) If you could choose one song to play every time you walked into a room the rest of your life, what song would you choose and why?

If I could choose one song to play every time I walked into a room for the rest of my life I would choose Brick House by The Commodores. I feel like women should hear this song and think about themselves being a strong independent and amazing woman, and feel great about it.

Meet The Team - Curt Albers

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 13:52:02 GMT

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT - CURT ALBERS

This month we are featuring the employee spotlight on our Multimedia Director at Midnet.

Meet: Curt Albers

As a visual communications graduate, Curt has broadened his skills to all facets of interactive design. Videography, 2D animation, pre- and post-production, and creative editing are his trademarks. He founded and is president of two 501c3 Non-Profits; Harmony for Ohio Foundation and Minster Youth Basketball Organization. Curt also spends his "free" time serving as a Village Council Member, a Varsity Assistant Basketball Coach, and Board Member of the Minster Oktoberfest

We asked Curt to answer a few questions that we feel really helps you to get to know him!

1.) How long have you been working at Midnet?

14+ years

2.) What is your position at Midnet and what do you like about the position?

Multimedia Director - What I like most about the position and working at Midnet in general, is getting to do something new everyday, creating something that wasn’t there the day before, for a multitude of different types of clients. One day I might be shooting video for a burlap manufacturer, the next day creating intro animations for a hospital touch screen, then the next day deploying content on a website for an e-commerce hunting website.

3.) What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

Being involved in my community. Have that be coaching local kids the game of basketball, attending meetings to help decide how to best improve something in our village as a council member, or meeting up with fellow board members to discuss the upcoming Minster Oktoberfest.

4.) If you could travel anywhere in the world where you go?

Wherever my kids are playing sports; Ft. Wayne, Indian Lake, Indianapolis, Greenville, Atlanta, Lima, or Las Vegas. Having the opportunity to talk with them to and from those gyms, getting to know them and shape them as humans… win or lose.

5.) What three items would you take with you if you were shipwrecked on a deserted island where all your food and water needs were taken care of? The three things I would take with me are:

1.) My wife, so she can enjoy the island beach with me

2.) Canopy for shade

3.) and whatever turns that water into alcohol

6.) If you could choose one song to play every time you walked into a room the rest of your life, what song would you choose and why?

Tupac - Can’t C Me

My nickname in high school was "C"...this album was released while I was in school, when gas was cheap enough to just drive around and be kids, listening to music. In college, my friends and I revived a childhood backyard tennis/baseball tournament called the Clune Classic Strikeout Tournament, and this song was my intro song every time I stepped to the plate. It gave a nod to the fact that everyone was watching and thinking they could match me…but now I am enshrined in the Clune Classic Strikeout Tournament Hall of Fame. #ThugLife

Meet The Team - Evan Prenger

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 12:49:29 GMT

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT - EVAN PRENGER

This month we are featuring the employee spotlight on one of our web developers at Midnet.

Meet: Evan Prenger

Evan graduated from UNOH with a degree in Digital Multimedia and is currently studying for his bachelor's in Software Developer at Western Governor's of Ohio. He is an ambitious problem solver with experience in creating both logical and innovative solutions to complex web problems. He is thorough and precise in everything he does, and has a keen interest in technology plus user experience. Evan is a great addition to the team.

We asked Evan to answer a few questions that we feel really helps you to get to know him!

1.) How long have you been working at Midnet?

I have worked at Midnet for 1 year and 9 months.

2.) What is your position at Midnet and what do you like about the position?

I am a Web Developer for Midnet. What I like most about my position is I get to work on many different projects and not every day is the same.

3.) What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

When I am not working, I am normally out doing something with my dog, playing video games or watching sports.

4.) If you could travel anywhere in the world where you go?

If I could travel anywhere in the world I would go to Plitvice Lakes in Croatia.

5.) What three items would you take with you if you were shipwrecked on a deserted island where all your food and water needs were taken care of?

If I were shipwrecked I would bring flares, matches and a bed so I don't have to sleep on the ground.

6.) If you could choose one song to play every time you walked into a room the rest of your life, what song would you choose and why?

If I could choose one song to play every time I walked into a room I would pick Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley so I would be Rick Rolling everyone every time I walked into a room.

Drupal 8, Duda, or WordPress: Which CMS Platform is Right for You?

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 11:32:22 GMT

A website can be an exceptional tool for reaching your audience and customers. That is a well-known fact. But, when you’re thinking about building a site, it can be less clear where to start. Sure, you can throw some HTML on a page, upload it to a hosting service, and call it a day. But building a site from scratch is undoubtedly the most time consuming and involved way to make your vision a reality. Fortunately, there are many alternative ways to avoid this path in the year 2021.

Throughout the past twenty years, many new CMSs have appeared offering a variety of platforms which can be used as a foundation for a website. A CMS, or a Content Management System, offers an easier and more user-friendly experience for those who have little time to learn web development while still wanting to make changes to their site. However, not all CMSs are created equal, often going about similar functionality in different ways or providing a different range of functionality altogether. In this article, we’ll highlight some of the most prominent platforms we use to make sites and what goes into choosing the right CMS for the job. The three CMSs we’ll be highlighting are Drupal 8, Duda, and WordPress, all viable options for creating a website but rather different in their approaches.

WordPress is undoubtedly the most popular platform used today with an estimated 61.8% of the market share of all CMSs while powering over 27 million active websites. That’s over 36% of all websites on the internet whether they use a CMS or not. Wordpress is a great option for someone who wants to get started quickly and without much of a headache or learning curve while offering a large selection of expandability options. However, it is important to mention early on that there are two separate ways to enjoy WordPress’s functionality.

Although it appears to be the better and more attractive option, we suggest forgoing WordPress.com in favor of WordPress.org. The primary difference between the two is the level of control you’ll have over your site. Although WordPress.com seems more accessible at first, allowing its users to go in and create a site for free, you will find major limitations in monetizing, hosting, and theming your site. Your website will also technically be a subdomain of WordPress.com and will be locked in to using WordPress’s hosting plans which can lock core features like Google Analytics behind a higher pay wall. Although WordPress.com might be better for more temporary site needs such as school projects, for our purposes today, we’ll be focusing on the .org solution as it really offers the better WordPress experience.

So what makes WordPress stand out among the competition? WordPress’s core strengths fall on its swift setup process and its easy accessibility. Getting started with WordPress is a breeze especially seeing as some web hosts (such as Hostgator) come with the built in functionality to setup a WordPress environment with one click. Once that is done, users can easily choose pre-built themes and add pages to their heart's content. Where it gets a bit trickier is when you want to expand the functionality and performance of your site.

To expand your site’s functionality, you must select plugins which can be varied in their presentation, price, and stability. There is a huge selection of tried-and-true solutions for common needs, but many plugins have been discontinued, and the rest may leave you with frequent updates that may add additional work for your team. WordPress’s plug-in system can be quite useful, but it is also sometimes hard to separate out the good from the bad and can sometimes lead to unexpected results. This plugin aspect can require a bit of research, but ultimately, they’re pretty easy to add to the site, and just as easy to remove if you find you would prefer something else.

Furthermore, because WordPress is so popular, that also makes it the biggest target for exploiters whether that means spam or a full site-wide hack. The latter is rare, but it's good to keep in mind that WordPress’s popularity can be a double-edged sword. Additionally, WordPress can be a tad heavy to load which results in slower page speeds and potential downtime. It also falls short in SEO functionality. Although its Search Engine Optimization methods are easy to use, the options available don’t allow as much potentiel for search engine dominance as some other site building methods might provide. All in all, the WordPress experience can be a solid choice if you want an easy to use and inexpensive website with a large range of improvements at your disposal. However, it is good to keep in mind that it can fall short in other important functions like fast page speed, search engine optimization, and advanced security measures.

Similarly, our second CMS, Duda, also boasts simplicity at the expense of depth and creative freedom. Duda is quite new compared to WordPress’s 17 year long run. Duda only released in 2019 but is quickly becoming one of the fastest ways to set up a website.

Duda sets itself apart from WordPress with a streamlined drag-and-drop interface and preconfigured section layouts that allow users to quickly and easily create an attractive website at the expense of more complex customization options. That doesn’t mean Duda isn’t powerful though. Unlike similar drag-and-drop site builders like Weebly or Wix, Duda offers a range of advanced functionality that really puts it in a unique position. It boasts a more user-friendly interface with a less-steep learning curve than WordPress while lacking in an over-abundance of extended functionality options.

One of the essential differences for quick site-building comes from the fact that Duda doesn’t require a second webpage to view your changes, while WordPress does. This extra step of switching pages and refreshing to preview changes can add a lot of time when building out a website. Additionally, Duda and WP both offer similar functionality in the way of content blocks where you can add a preconfigured set of fields to a section in a defined layout. However, Duda’s widget system is better thought out for aesthetic and usability purposes and adds a lot of useful features from the get go. It also gives you access to create your own widgets in a way that isn’t as difficult or time consuming. This is possible by switching to Duda’s developer mode, which trades the Drag and Drop interface for a more customizable code-based layout.

One of the drawbacks of Duda, though, is its pricing model. While both WordPress.org and Drupal are open-source and allow you to use nearly any hosting service, Duda comes with a subscription plan starting at $14 a month. However, this gives you complimentary access to AWS (Amazon Web Services) hosting, which means you won’t have to pay for a hosting service to get your site online. AWS is among the top hosting options though, so the trade off may be worth it for the ease of use and time saved.

Marrying simplicity, efficiency, and potentiel functionality, Duda is quickly becoming an avid competitor with other top-name platforms. If you just need a simple site to display information and you aren’t a web developer, Duda should be a strong option to consider. This is not to say it can’t compete in terms of advanced functionality like payment gateways or email handling, but there will be less resources out there to assist you due largely to Duda’s “new kid on the block” nature.

Finally, we come to Drupal, another veteran of the CMS market. Drupal has been around since January of 2001 and has since seen a lot of success in building sites with more in-depth needs such as Nasa, Tesla, and the Australian Government who all use Drupal for their websites. If Duda is the king of simplicity, then Drupal gets the crown for functionality. Not only does it come out of the box with a light weight design that outperforms WordPress’s page speed and SEO needs, it also boasts many features such as Webforms that allow you to create easy Contact Us forms with a lot of customizable options through visual editors. Its streamlined menu system adds a range of easy-to-access customization without having to write any code. However, basic web coding knowledge is definitely recommended if you’re going to build a site with Drupal. It has a steeper learning curve, and is more geared towards developers as far as building the layout of the site.

Unlike the other two which come with pre-configured themes that make aesthetics easy, Drupal has more of a blank page approach to its visuals and allows the site editors to flesh out the details through traditional web development practices such as using CSS for styling. Drupal also has themes, but they are more of a base on which to build your own custom theme as opposed to a rigid structure that you must work within. Some themes come with simplified coding terms, such as UIkit, which takes common website needs (such as a sliding banner or image gallery) and makes them easier to code and customize. Drupal themes can be a double edged sword though, as you are given greater access to how the site functions while having to spend more time setting things up.

However, once your Drupal site is configured and looking good, content editors can easily go in and add content without much trouble. Drupal makes back-end editing complex while making front-end tasks seamless. It also takes a scalable approach to page content compared to Duda’s more rigid Widgets and Wordpress’s Blocks, which means non-developers won’t have to go in and change how things work just to add content or images. With Drupal, you can do functions like pulling content from other pages to display them in a section with a huge list of results programmatically. An example would be if you wanted to pull all blog photos into an image gallery, then you can do that. Drupal has a smarter-not-harder approach to web development that allows you to build your site in a way that is truly unique to your needs. Did we mention it was free?

Unlike Duda, there is no subscription fee to get a better product, and the Module system Drupal utilizes is also free and open-source. This means you’ll almost never have to worry about paying more to get expanded features. However, the difference may be limited by the time and knowledge it takes to build out the site properly. You may have to hire some developers at the offset, but, once the site is created, it's largely smooth sailing. Wordpress and Duda might be easier to build out of the box, but if you want a site done right and have a lot of specific ideas in mind for form and/or functionality, Drupal will definitely get you a lot closer than many other options (and will perform better doing it).

All in all, we recommend that you research these CMS options for yourself, as there isn’t really a one-size-fits-all solution to every need. Drupal will offer you functionality and creative freedom, while Duda will excel at simplicity and quicker build times. Wordpress is somewhat a blend of both options as it wields some of the simplicity of Duda but also harnesses some of the experience and extended functionality of Drupal. In a sense, they will all be able to fulfill most website needs, but there is a choice to be made between ease of use and complexity of customization. Ultimately, it is important to gauge what needs your site will have, so you can choose the option that is right for you.

Dynamic Websites Site Building For Multiple Platforms

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 14:30:02 GMT

In today’s technology scene, mobile devices are becoming an ever more popular way to browse the web, and why wouldn’t they be? Being able to browse the internet at any time and from anywhere without having to worry about a full-sized computer is incredibly convenient. However, there are still many websites out there today that are not optimized for mobile visitors. This can be a lost opportunity.
When a mobile user visits a site that has not taken mobile devices into account, they can run into all kinds of problems. Users might have to scroll horizontally to see the entire page, or images and words can get crushed together, get cutoff, or be completely inaccessible. In essence, the non-mobile friendly user experience can make a website aesthetically displeasing and difficult to work with. Non-optimization can even knock a website down in SEO rankings like on the Google search platform. What has been proven effective time after time is a clean design and a clear delivery of information for all screen sizes. So how do websites and web developers plan for mobile interactions? They put additional effort into styling for different use cases.

At Midnet Media, for example, we often use Drupal 8 as the foundation for our websites along with a theme called UIkit which helps to simplify many common web building functions including those which help with responsive web design. Using UIkit’s library of classes , Midnet can simply add these terms into the code to create certain behaviors.

For example, uk-visible and uk-hidden are two classes we often use together in responsifying a web page for different sizes. When we add the class uk-visible@m to a section, this means that the section will disappear when a browsing window is under 50% width but will reappear when the window width is over 50%. Using this method, we can add uk-hidden@m on a separate section, so that one disappears at the same time as the other section appears. This allows us a great range of functionality to optimize for different screen sizes independently from other screen sizes. However, knowing that UI Kit is not the norm, site builders can achieve similar results as uk-hidden/visible by setting up media queries in their site’s CSS file. Setting the display attribute to “none” or “block” dependent on the width of the screen makes it really easy to optimize sections for different screen sizes.
Similarly, you can also use media queries to generate dynamic widths for your elements. One of the key reasons websites aren’t responsive is because they don’t use widths that are a percentage of the section size and instead use static widths that will always take up the same number of pixels.
However, in UIkit, we have a way of quickly creating dynamic widths through the uk-width class where we can write “uk-width-1-2” as the class to make our section render at 50% width of the section it is in. Using the CSS property, flex, in the parent element allows us to create side-by-side sections that we can easily size. Say we have an image gallery, and we want the images to be 3 wide when the screen is large, 2 wide when it is under half width, and a single stacked column when the screen size is at the smallest quartile. We would add uk-flex to the section along with uk-child-width-1-3@m, uk-child-width-1-2@s, and uk-child-width-1-1. This means that every child of this section will be 1/3 the width at medium, 1/2 over small but under medium, and full width when at the smallest size. This allows sections to be efficiently stacked so that images, words, and sections are always the proper size for visibility and functionality.
Ultimately, swapping out sections and making your widths dynamic are the two most effective ways to get your website ready for any device. You’ll need both for best results. Having just percentages can be effective, but sometimes this will force side by side sections to squish together horizontally forcing text to overflow or images to shrink beyond optimal visibility. Using the section swapping allows you to go a step further and amend any weirdness that might only occur at one size.

Consider what it will take to get your website mobile-friendly. What needs to stack, and what needs to be changed or removed entirely at smaller sizes? A little responsification can go a long way to improving your site’s feel and functionality for all users while making sure your website gives off the best impression possible.

Why You Should Hire Help For Your Website

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 14:00:04 GMT

You may be wondering whether or not you should hire someone to help with your new website. With all the “free” website building tools out there now, it can be easy to get lost deciding which website building application you should be using -- if any. And while these applications seem tempting by being advertised as “free,” users of these applications miss out on a lot of needed functionality. They may want and even sometimes be limited to the number of pages you can have on your site. You might possibly come across some websites that do something you think would work well with your website, which is great; but then you’re left wondering how to get that.

All these things can be daunting when you’re not familiar with building a website. But when you hire professionals, not only can they help you get what you’re looking for; but they take the stress off your shoulders on making sure it will look good and work properly.

Here are some reasons why you should consider giving professional help a chance:

Saves You Time

Whether you’re just starting a business or have been at it for a while; you have more important things to do than spend all your time worrying about building your own website and making sure it works the way you want. Hiring someone takes that time off your plate and allows you to manage your business while being confident you are getting the site you want and deserve.

Help When Things Aren’t Working/Go Wrong

So, you built the site yourself, but now something is not working the way it should. Where do you go to fix this? Who do you reach out to? When you hire a professional, you know exactly who to reach out to and have confidence that they know how to fix the issue. There is no guessing game on what “contact” email you should reach out to.

Oftentimes you only get access to email support with these “free” site builders. When it comes to your business do you really want to be stuck waiting for a response to not know if they will even help you fix it? Working with professionals gives you a personal contact who you have been working with from the beginning to help you when things are broken. Whether this be an email or a phone number, you know who it’s going to and takes away the guessing game of who is going to help.

Access to Expert Advice

When you hire someone, you have access to someone who knows what they are doing and can help you get exactly what you are looking for and offer other suggestions along the way. If you don’t know what you want your website to look like it can be difficult starting from a blank canvas on your own. Say you run across something on another website and want to know if it would work for yours, you can ask and have another opinion on things and help getting it done instead of doing guess work on your own.

Better Web Security

You can rest assured that when you hire someone to help with your site, they are going to take the steps necessary to make sure your information stays safe along with your customers. Nothing’s worse than worrying if important information can get into the hands of the wrong person. When working with someone they want your information just as secure as you. When you have security threats you know you have someone to help you take care of them instead of no one to reach out to.

Midnet Media Intern Spotlight - Carly Caywood

Thu, 27 May 2021 19:37:06 GMT

2021 Summer Intern

My name is Carly Caywood I am a Sophomore at Bowling Green State University, and I am studying Graphic Design. I chose Graphic Design as my major because I love making things look “nice” and “pretty.” When thinking about future career choices, I knew I wanted to do something where I could create something every day. My dad is a graphic designer and once I saw what he did, I was really inspired to take the graphic design route over other options. From this internship, I hope to gain more experience with photoshop and illustrator and to learn valuable skills to help me with my design classes as well as in the future. Overall, I hope to gain a glimpse of what my future career could look like.

In my free time, I like to hang out with friends, draw, listen to music, go outside and be active, go on social media, and take naps.

We asked Carly to answer a few questions that we feel really help to get to know her!

- Someone gives you an elephant. You can’t sell it or give it away. What do you do with the elephant?

I would call a zoo and ask them how to take care of it and go from there.

- What three items would you take with you if you were shipwrecked on a deserted island where all your food and water needs were taken care of?

A machete, a fishing net, and a mirror.

- Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck and why?

I would rather fight one horse-sized duck because fighting one thing versus one hundred things is probably faster.

- If you could choose one song to play every time you walked into a room the rest of your life, what song would you choose and why?

Cowboy Take Me Away by the Chicks because it's my favorite song of all time.

- If you had to work but didn’t need the money, what job would you choose?

I would open a smoothie or shaved ice shop in Hawaii.

Work at Midnet Media

Tue, 18 May 2021 18:53:57 GMT

Interested in working for Midnet Media? Apply Today!

Midnet Media is seeking applications to fill two full-time positions. If you are interested in applying, please CONTACT US now. Learn more about these positions here:

PHP Web Developer

Midnet Media seeks a skilled, flexible and motivated PHP Web Developer who is additionally the kind of person whom coworkers and clients like being around.

This position is located in Minster, Ohio, and/or Columbus, Ohio.

Responsibilities

Provide the best possible technical solutions for each Midnet project while far surpassing the client objective
Learn and teach
Improve the quality of PHP development on assigned projects
A desire to turn purty pictures into powerful web solutions via open source development
Real experience building web solutions based on bullets below

Requirements

Experience with PHP and/or complex PHP projects
Competency with related web technologies: Javascript, CSS, HTML
Experience working in Web-based Content Management Systems
Superior interpersonal and communication skills (fluent written and spoken English)
Troubleshooting and problem-solving capabilities
Flexibility: You must be able to deal with constantly shifting priorities

Wanted

Ability to develop, review, test, and deploy custom PHP modules
Knowledge of agile development methodologies
Performance and scalability benchmarking and profiling
Open source contributions, interactions with the OSS community

This position is salaried and is based on experience. Other benefits offered as well.

AWS/Microsoft 365 Administrator

Midnet Media seeks a skilled, flexible and motivated AWS/IT/Systems/Email/Server Administrator who is additionally the kind of person whom coworkers and clients like being around.

This position is located in Minster, Ohio, and/or Columbus, Ohio.

Requirements and Experience

Understanding of cloud computing technologies, business drivers, and emerging computing trends
Proven track record of driving decisions collaboratively, resolving conflicts and ensuring follow through
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills leveraging all available resources
Working directly with architects and developers to create supportable designs and debug problems
Developing cloud infrastructure designs and implementations and guiding the process from development to operations
Making decisions on problem resolutions in critical down time situations when escalation is impractical
Experience implementing software-delivery solutions in AWS that may have included a variety of toolsets: EC2, GitLab, Ansible, Networking, Snapshots
Experience with service-oriented architecture for cloud-based services.
Working knowledge of distributed architectural design patterns
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Collaborate with solution architects and other software engineers to design and launch new features
Implement software components of highly available, scalable, and robust cloud services
Maintain cloud component organization, code integrity, quality, and ensure responsiveness of applications
Optimize applications for maximum scalability and speed

Microsoft 365

Provide technical direction on Microsoft 365 deployment
Implement best practices and standards
Identify and manage technology risks
Provide recommendations to be considered in developing the Technology roadmap
Microsoft 365 products and deployment
Backup & Recovery Systems
Technical Procedures and Industry Best Practices
Ability to work effectively in an outsourced IT environment
Experience with and knowledge of legacy and new computing architectures
Experience with managing technology costs and development of business cases
Experience working with a variety of technologies within a domain
Ability to identify group conflict and facilitate resolution
Experience with managing Service Providers
Ability to prioritize work effectively

This position is salaried and is based on experience. Other benefits offered as well.

Writing for Web: How to Get the Most Out of Your Website Content

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 19:26:58 GMT

Writing for websites can be a daunting undertaking to those who are new to the medium. The process seems simple in practice, but many soon discover that there is more to it than first meets the eye. A blend of factors go into considering a good content strategy. Between good marketing and design practices, writing for Search Engine Optimization, and informing your audience in an engaging way, the process of writing effectively can get a little hectic especially when considering all of the potentiel web tools at your disposal for presenting information. We’ll go over some of the finer details and give some guidance on how to get the most out of your content.

First off, an important rule of thumb to remember is that content should fit the purpose of the page. A home page, for instance, has the purpose of establishing what the website is about and guides users to relevant information and resources. Because of this, a front page should often follow a less-is-more strategy of phrases, keywords, links, images, and diagrams that help users to quickly understand your business at face-value and to generate searches for some of your more important keywords. You may put in a short introductory synopsis to the brand, company, or institution, but straying away from long-form text is recommended in this situation. Doing so can cause an overwhelming first impression or distract site visitors from navigating further into the site. Similarly, you wouldn’t overload a Contact Us page with content, as the purpose of that page is to seamlessly direct users to contact information, so clutter should be avoided.

On the other side of the coin, informational pages such as About Us pages, product pages, FAQs, or articles can be a lot more long-winded. One mistake websites can make is that they apply a less-is-more philosophy to the entire site which can deny site visitors from being able to find out important information and can miss potentiel SEO opportunities. Informational pages are important because that’s where you can focus on more specific subject matter that can help your site become relevant to different niches within your field of expertise. For example, writing about a specific product can draw users to the site who are searching for that product through Google or another search engine. Informational pages are important for generating SEO, building credibility for your website, and informing visitors.

However, even with informational pages, it can still be good to organize information in a way that is easy to navigate and digest. You will often see website content broken up with bulleted lists, images, section titles, and website implementations that can make a visitor’s life easier. For example, on FAQ pages, we often utilize a website tool called a drop down to only present relevant information. The way it works is that the questions are displayed for the reader to browse, but the answers are hidden until a user clicks on the question they’re interested in. Once they click on the question, the answer is displayed below. This avoids clutter and allows a visitor to go directly to the information they’re looking for.

On the subject of SEO, there are a few things to be aware of when writing for the web. The first is that page titles matter quite a bit. Titles are given specific priority in search engines, as they are considered the most important keyword/phrase for the page. Titles should be under 60 characters long to fit within Google’s teaser text that can be found when searching on their site. It is important to pick relevant and descriptive keywords for each page as this helps pull visitors to the site.

Another important thing to remember is that you don’t want to use the same keywords too often. It might sound like you can game the system by utilizing keywords more than the competition. However, keyword stuffing can actually hurt your SEO potentiel, as search engines can identify a page as spammy and actually knock it down in search results. To counter this, you’ll want a focused, yet well-rounded set of keywords that open up the possibility of different keyword combinations being found. This should actually come naturally for a skilled writer, as repeating words can create a sense of boredom even when SEO isn’t a factor. Using a good diversity of words while making sure those words are relevant to your site can be a huge advantage and act as a double whammy for both SEO and engaging writing.

Finally, it is important to talk about in-text hyperlinks, a tool that is largely unique to websites. Using links within text can be good for both establishing your credibility with search engines and in helping users to find further information about a subject either externally or within another part of your site. This is a tool that should be used somewhat sparingly, as too many links in long-form text can be overwhelming as well, but, in small doses, they can show a user references or get them to stay on your site by taking them to a page they may have not found otherwise. Using hyperlinks in meaningful ways can be just another way to build up your website’s reputation with both search engines and site visitors.

That is basically the goal of content on a website, to build out what subjects are relevant, build credibility within these subjects, assist in easy navigation, and ultimately drive users to trust your services enough to utilize them. A strong understanding of a page’s intent can go a long way towards knowing how best to write a section, and following steps to write respectable, yet, relevant copy can also go a long way towards driving traffic to your site. Follow these guidelines, and you’ll be climbing the search engine rankings in no time.

The Importance of Updating Your Internet Browser

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 20:43:23 GMT

It’s no secret that countless numbers of people use the web every single day. They utilize browsers such as Chrome, Microsoft Edge (previously Explorer), Firefox, and Safari to view websites of all shapes and sizes with a large variety of functionalities.

What some web-surfers might not realize however is how much the technology behind the scenes advances every single day. Websites are often updated to newer and newer versions of languages and interfaces as each piece of technology is improved upon by programmers behind the scenes. Because of this, you never know what issues you might run into as far as loading pages correctly, playing media, viewing files, or protecting yourself from malicious software.

This is why keeping your web browser updated is one of the most vital steps you can take to make for a smooth and secure browsing experience.

Primarily, the security focus should be your main concern. As these platforms and technologies have grown in popularity so too have they attracted individuals who wish to exploit at-risk site-goers. Fortunately, the companies behind major browsers work hard to stay a step ahead of these exploits, often pushing updates just to mend gaps in their security. Updating your browser not only allows you to add the latest security measures, but modern browsers have also gotten much better at detecting threats and blocking annoying popups.

Neglecting to update can lead to your browser being manipulated to extract information from you like your search history or even more sensitive information. It can even render your browser unusable completely. There have even been past instances where people could gain access to your computer’s operating system, potentially causing all kinds of mischief which can lead to serious setbacks for your machine. Computer viruses definitely aren’t as bad as they used to be thanks to browser security, but it’s still well worth your while to keep the main touch point between your machine and the wider internet as protected as possible.

Another important reason to update is to keep up with website technology. If you think about how websites work with browsers, you begin to understand that the browser’s job is to interpret the language of the website. If the website is ahead of the curve with the latest internet features, and the browser doesn’t understand all the “new lingo” it will fail in properly interpreting the message and will leave gaps in the logic. This can result in errors, missing elements, and sometimes just make a website look downright ugly. Keeping your browser updated ensures that you are seeing a website the way it was meant to be seen and makes sure you aren’t left guessing whether you’re looking at a corrupted web page or not.

Updating is also not just about being able to interpret the website’s data but also improves how well and how fast it can be interpreted. Some updates to technology include methods of slimming down the lingo, simplifying messages to reach more efficient loading speeds, or just more efficient ways of interpreting information. Your web browser version can have a large impact on how efficiently websites load and, in turn, how fast you can navigate and interact with the internet.

Fortunately, with the advancement of browser technology, the methods of updating your browser have also never been easier. Google Chrome will do the updating for you each time you get on. Firefox and Safari will hit you with reminders if there is a new update available, and Edge’s updates are tied to updating Windows, so automatic updates for your Windows device will also make sure you automatically get the latest and greatest version of Edge.

We know it can be easy to quickly click the X every time you get a pesky notification from your internet browser or operating system, but consider the many benefits of keeping your browser up to date. Doing so pays off with speed, security, and a peace of mind that you are getting the best internet browsing experience possible.

Elements of Good Web Design

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 14:45:52 GMT

Good web design involves more than just an aesthetically pleasing appearance, it should convey a message while engaging the user. A well designed website can help build a users trust and encourage them to take action. There are several factors that contribute to good web design such as: typography, imagery, functionality, colors, and consistency.

Websites that are not designed well tend to perform poorly. So what makes good web design? Let’s explore some basic principles that will help you with your next project.

Purpose

Your website should be centered around a purpose. There are many purposes for websites a few examples being:

Informative / Practical Information
Ecommerce
Service Based
Entertainment

It’s important that your site caters to the needs of the user and conveys its message.

Simplicity - Less really is more!

It is unnecessary to load your design with elements that do not serve a purpose. Be aware not to “over design” your site. Putting too many elements on a page can be distracting for visitors and cause them to miss the purpose of the site. A clean site is not only appealing but allows a user to be able to navigate more easily.

Consistent Design Elements

Consistency in web design matters a lot and design elements should match throughout the site. To give a cohesive look elements such as typography, buttons, colors, and imagery should be planned out ahead of time and repeated on each page.

Colors

A well thought out color scheme can go a long way in design. Color has the power to communicate a message and evoke feelings that can influence a user's emotions towards your site. Contrasting colors between text and backgrounds will make reading easier. Bold colors can pull a users eyes throughout the site but should be used sparingly. And finally the use of white space can give a site a modern and uncluttered feel.

Typography

Text is important to a site because it provides the user with the desired information. It’s the main way to convey the site's purpose and should be legible. Consider using fonts that are easy to read and use NO more than 3 different font styles.

Imagery

Imagery should be expressive, after all a picture is worth a thousand words. Images should relate to the site's purpose and help with brand positioning. Be careful not to clutter a site by incorporating too many images. Remember less is more. Choose high quality expert pictures, consider purchasing stock photos if you don’t have access to large images.

Visual Hierarchy

Visual Hierarchy is the principal of arranging elements to show their order of importance. This can be done through manipulating certain site elements such as:

Color - Dark and bright tones typically attract more attention then muted ones
Alignment - Elements that break the grid and are out of line stand out over aligned ones
Size - Users notice larger elements more easily
Whitespace - Elements with white space around them draw the eyes to them
Proximity - Closely placed elements seem related, elements on their own stand out more

Effective visual hierarchy helps inform, impress and lead users to a page/functionality by giving them the right visual cues.

You can easily design and develop an aesthetically pleasing and functional website by incorporating all of these principles into your next project.

How to Speed Up Your Website With Image Optimization

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 19:07:20 GMT

As users of the web, many of us are familiar with the feeling you get when you click on a link only to be met with a long load time and a half-baked web page. As the full contents slowly creep into focus, the seconds tick by sometimes trying our patience enough to warrant hitting the Back button in our web browser of choice. We end up feeling like we wasted our time, while the website misses an opportunity to show o ff its stuff. All in all, long load times can be a problem for everyone involved.

So, how does one improve their page speed? Well, there are a variety of factors that go into how a site performs when it is serving a web page such as the Content Management System you might be using as a foundation, the functionality the page utilizes, or the sheer amount of traffic and activity your site might be managing. We can’t cover every possibility across the web, as sites are often created using different methods and can fulfill a wide range of functions. However, there is one method that helps to improve just about every website out there. This method is image optimization, one of the easiest, yet, most neglected steps you can take to speed up your website.

If you don’t know, optimizing images is a process which involves balancing out visual detail with the file size of an image. The lower the file size is, the quicker the image will load. The quicker the image loads, the less strain there will be on the rest of the page which nets an overall faster page speed. And, the faster the page speed, the less combined weight the site will have to manage which means increased speed across all concurrent users of the site. In other words, a little optimization can go a long way.

So, how do we go about improving the images on our website? Well, the first step is to figure out how much space your image is going to take up. Reducing an image’s dimensions also reduces its file size, so it is best to only use as much size as you need. There’s no use in storing a bunch of detail in an image that will be too small to see the details.

To find the dimensions of the section where our image will go, we can start by adding the image to the site and “inspecting” it in our browsers. Alternatively, you can inspect another image in the section that matches the dimensions you will be utilizing. To inspect an image in the browser, right click on it and press “Inspect” in the menu. You will see a window full of code pop up. If you hover over the highlighted line of code, you’ll see numbers appear near the image you selected. These numbers tell you the width and height of the section respectively.

Next, you’ll want to navigate to your image file and edit it to meet these criteria. You can resize photos in a variety of software, but both Windows and Mac come with their own default options through Microsoft Paint and Apple Preview which both offer resizing functionality. When resizing, you’ll want to maintain the aspect ratio and change the first value to the width you found by using the inspector. Make sure you are resizing with pixels and not percentages so you can match the measurements precisely.

You’ll want to match height too, but an image’s aspect ratio may not always match up with that of the section on the website where it will be placed. In this case, cropping the image a bit to match the dimensions can be useful. Once, the dimensions match that of the section, hit Save in your image editing software, and name the new image something different than the original. You should be able to check the properties of the new and old files. When you do, you’ll notice the new, downsized image will have a significantly smaller file size than the previous rendition.

Although you can stop here and add the image to your website, there is also an additional step you can take to optimize your images further. This step is compression. Compression is a method of reducing an image’s level of detail without changing its size. Optimally, you’ll want to keep almost all images on a site under 1 MB at the most and much smaller than that if possible. A large 1000 px by 300 px banner image can be under 200 KB and still be highly detailed. If you find that your image’s file size is still above 200 KB after resizing, compression can be an additional step to take.

There are a variety of resources you can use to compress images. But the one we recommend is https://imagecompressor.com/ . Just drag and drop your images into the box, the web site will compress the images, and you’ll be able to press the Download All button once they’re ready. Next, you’ll be able to download a folder of all of the newly compressed images. This resource can reduce a file by as much as 75% while still ensuring a presentable level of detail.
Combining these two steps for every image you upload to your site will help to shave time off of your pages in a very direct way. Users will seldom have to wait for pictures to load, which means your site spends less time showing white or non-existent image fields and more time looking as it was intended. This is also a great way to optimize your site for mobile devices, as the less powerful hardware of phones and tablets will be able to process the images more quickly. If you own a website, definitely consider taking these steps especially if your images are taking a little bit of time to load in. Reducing the file size reduces the load times, and reducing the load times builds trust in your platform. It’s just that simple.

Why an Online Presence Is So Important Now More Than Ever

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 19:54:32 GMT

During this pandemic, it is critical that businesses and organizations have an online presence. The coronavirus pandemic has significantly impacted how consumers see and relate to businesses and organizations, and your digital strategy must be as strong as possible to keep up with ever-increasing online demands. Having an online presence can help you build an audience, connect with your customers and keep them updated on your day-to-day activities, as well as inform the public of changes in your hours of operation.

The average time a person spent online before COVID-19 was roughly 4 hours a day. Now just 8 months into the pandemic, it's already up to an astonishing 6 hours and 42 minutes per day! Activities that were once exclusive to the real world are now increasingly interwoven with the world wide web. Many consumers are more likely than ever to turn to the Internet to address their needs during these uncertain times. Having an online presence is critical, and here are a few ways to have a stronger online presence.

1. Improve Your Overall Online Presence
Having a strong online presence with a personal website can help you build your brand and gain credibility to attract new customers. Plus, it makes your business more readily accessible to customers so they can find out more information about what your business has to offer from the comfort of their homes. To give your website a nice boost, you can:

Refresh your websites look
Optimize your site for mobile
Create valuable content
Do some SEO research
Incorporate keywords on your website pages
Improve overall user experience

2. Build Your Social Media Presence
Social media is a wildly important tool for communication right now. Even before the Coronavirus started, social media was a great way to communicate with customers directly. Not only can social media be used to reassure your clients you're taking the necessary precautions to keep them safe during the pandemic, but it’s a prime place to promote your business offerings online. To market your business on social media:

Be active and be present
Develop strong campaigns
Utilize sponsored posts or paid advertisements
Engage by going live
Keep your customers in the loop with company/organization updates
Promote special or limited-time offerings

3. Be Creative
Many businesses have implemented innovative strategies to provide products and services safely and remotely to their customers and clients. When it comes to marketing your business during the pandemic, the more creative you are, the better. Some creative strategies to consider:

Humanize your company/organization and build a positive connection with the public by showcasing your employees and their stories.
Use video to share business advice, inspiring stories, or product reviews.
Show support for your customers with new financial constraints by offering special discounts that will keep revenue flowing.
Use smart marketing on social media, email campaigns, or paid ads to promote positivity and relay important messages of safety during the pandemic.

The pandemic has created many challenges but also provides a great opportunity to be more strategic than ever with your digital strategies. Now is the time to boost your online presence. Go have some fun and get out there to give your business the online boost it deserves!

Get in touch with Midnet to see how we can help position your business for online success.

Time for a New Website

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 18:39:38 GMT

In the 20+ years that Midnet Media has been designing and building functionally attractive websites for organizations around the world, we’ve often found our very own website in need of a refresh. Truth be told, we’d prefer working on YOUR new website more than a new website for ourselves. Well, push came to shove and...meet our new website: www.midnetmedia.com

It was timely for us to revamp our site for a number of reasons. One reason that sticks out to me though is the fact that I’m hearing the same question from a lot of our customers -- “Is my website outdated?”

Though this concept can be quite objective -- and though you can find a variety of answers to “What is the average lifespan of a website?” -- the numbers tell us that most websites are redesigned and rebuilt every 3 years.

We pride ourselves on the shelf life that we afford the majority of our clients. That is, we design and build websites with a number of goals in mind, but a foundational goal is to provide a website solution that is going to age well. We avoid web fads and passing trends. We lean on our design team to use tried and true design theory when creating the look. We then take that design and shift into development mode. Our developers stay on the leading edge of website development, ensuring that our websites are fast and functional, provide an intuitive user experience, and are built in a way that pleases search engines and human consumers alike.

Plenty has changed in the world of web over the past few years, but perhaps the biggest change is how mobile-first design has been pushed to the forefront. That is, all websites that Midnet has built over the past few years have featured responsive design. This means that the sites render properly on all devices -- mobile, tablet, laptop, desktop etc. This idea of responsive design has been pushed hard by the search engines, especially Google. Search engines have been penalizing websites that are NOT responsive with lesser search rankings.

How is your website holding up? Call or email Midnet today to talk about refreshing your most important marketing piece.

Maximize Your Local SEO in 2019

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 16:56:56 GMT

Now that 2018 has come and passed, many businesses are searching for new ways to boost their online presence in 2019. Now stronger than ever, local SEO has become a staple in online searching and allows business owners to gain a steady/growing audience of targeted traffic without having to dump thousands of dollars into advertising campaigns.

Did you know: 92% of online users will choose a business that is displayed on page one of the local search results, and 50% of mobile users will visit the store within one day of performing a local search?

Not only is the strategy for local SEO different than a normal SEO campaign, it is also changing at a rate quicker than ever. There have been some big changes in local SEO the past few year, especially from Google. Here are some of the biggest changes:

Local search results are now showing fewer businesses
Changes were made to the aesthetics and placement of SERP ads (non-organic result)
Mobile-friendly and mobile optimized are now a must, not a choice.

With such huge changes taking place, it is becoming more and more difficult to rank high and grow your business through local SEO. You may be asking yourself, “How can my business optimize it’s website for SEO and rank well locally?” Contact Midnet Media today to learn more about local SEO and get your strategy put in place for 2019!

Social Collisions

Tue, 21 May 2019 18:00:11 GMT

We’ve all heard it before: “Do as I say and not as I do.”

I know that world is different nowadays - especially the business world. Social media plays an ever-increasing role in the corporate world. And I get it. I really do. I’m very proud of our team in the way we share ideas, tips, and holiday messages.

But it’s just not my personal style.

I have a lot of different interests and hobbies. Here they are in no particular order:

My work, my family, my faith, fishing, hunting, writing and playing music, collecting music, playing cards, going to sporting events, socializing, golfing, and general tomfoolery.

For whatever reason, I sometimes cringe when my world’s collide. And social media just makes things collide at a faster pace. I understand some people want to bring all of their worlds together. But I like having my interests compartmentalized. For now, I don’t want to put myself out there. But maybe someday I will.

I’m sure I’ll have a massive legion of followers and friends and thumbs-uppers who would just love to see what I’m eating and drinking and catching and shooting and writing. Or not.

-DC

ps - I somehow have a LinkedIn page with one connection. Be right back…I’m gonna let them know about my first blog post.

Tricky Twig Bits: Part 1

Wed, 17 Apr 2019 17:58:50 GMT

One of the biggest hurdles to moving from Drupal 7 to Drupal 8 as a front end developer was Twig files. While in D7, the theme templates were written in HTML/PHP, Drupal 8 (as part of the adoption of symfony) has moved to using Twig for templating.

So to help my site-builder, themer, front-end Drupal developer colleagues, here’s part one of my Tricky Twig Bits series.

The Ternary & Null Coalescing Operators

Official Documentation - My Github Gist

One of my biggest goals when writing out a template file is to have the file be as simple, straight-forward, and foolproof as possible. To that end, it’s preferable to format your code in ways that balance readability and brevity. For example, consider the following:

The code below is simple and straightforward, but it spans 5 lines and has a lot of noise in there with the twig tags.

{% if boolean %}

{% set var = "value_A" %}

{% else %}

{% set var = "value_B" %}

{% endif %}

Using a code editor with nice syntax highlighting would help with readability, but writing basic if/else statements can get out of hand quickly. Imagine trying to add a handful of classes conditionally - those 5-line chunks stack up fast! A better way would be to use the ternary operator.

{% set var = boolean ? value_A : value_B %}

So much better! In a single line of code, we can see:

The variable we’re setting
The condition we’re testing
The value if true
The value if false

Additionally, ternary operators can be used to conditionally print strings. For example, under a traditional if/else block:

* Add "hidden" attribute if is_hidden = TRUE

{% if is_hidden %}

{% else %}

<div>

{% endif %}

<p>Lorem Ipsum</p>

</div>

Again, 5 lines to simply add the hidden attribute. But with a ternary:

<p>Lorem Ipsum</p>

</div>

Suddenly, we’re down to one line of code and it doesn’t interfere with properly structured HTML.

There’s even shorthand for cases like this where we only care if the boolean evaluates one way or the other. Here’s the quick version:

/* Test & set/print based on true or false */

boolean ? val_if_true : val_if_false

/* Test and set/print only if true */

boolean ? val_if_true

/* Test and set/print only if false */

boolean ?: val_if_false

And again, the Official Documentation and My Github Gist .

Cyber Self-Defense

Sat, 05 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Every other week there’s a news story about a data breach where millions of people have had credit card numbers, social security numbers, email address or passwords leaked out onto the internet. As an example, between May and July 2017, Equifax had a data breach that according to the Federal Trade Commission exposed the “names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and, in some instances, driver’s license numbers” of somewhere around 143 million Americans. That’s about 50% of the population. So if the giant companies can’t keep your data safe, how can you possibly do it?

While you have no control over the data in their systems, there are a few simple steps you can take to keep unauthorized individuals out of your email, social media, banking, and other online accounts. These steps fall into two basic categories:

Don’t get phished
Be difficult to hack

Phishing vs. Hacking

Depending on who you ask, you’ll get different definitions, but in my opinion, phishing (pronounced “fishing”) is the act in which an attacker poses as a trustworthy individual or institution and tricks the victim into simply handing over their username and password. Hacking, on the other hand, is the act in which an attacker gains access to the victims accounts or data by guessing their password, exploiting security flaws, or otherwise breaking through the barriers in place. A simple analogy is that phishing is tricking someone into thinking that they’re the valet and stealing the car while hacking is picking the lock, breaking the window, or towing the car away to your chopshop.

So how can I avoid being phished?

Everywhere you go online now they want you to log in. Email, social media, online shopping, e-banking, and all sorts of other sites make you sign in before you can see your account, and you’ll usually see a page structured like this:

Login window at midnetmedia.com

You’ve got a spot for a username and a spot for a password. That’s a simple site to build for someone with nefarious intentions. All they have to do is send you an email with a fake link (again, very easy, check out this link to https://www.gmail.com) and then you type your information in and that’s it, they know your login information.

This happens all the time. They might send you a message pretending to be Amazon saying your recent purchase failed and that you need to update your payment information. They might pretend to be Facebook and want you to login to approve a phony friend request.

There is, however, a way to tell if your link is legitimate. Let’s zoom in to the address bar.

Firefox's address bar displays a green lock icon and the https:// protocol when connected securely.

Chrome's address bar displays a green lock icon, the word "secure", and the https:// protocol when connected securely.

Safari's address bar displays a lock icon connected securely. Clicking on the URL also reveals the https:// protocol.

Your browser will tell you what site you’re logging into in the address bar at the top of the page. If the attacker’s email said it was going to Gmail and then goes somewhere else, your browser will always tell you the truth. Another thing to look for is if your browser shows the site as “http://” or “https://” That “s” stands for “secure” and means that whoever is running this site has an SSL certificate proving to your browser who they are. If your browser loads a site starting with “https://” and you recognize the web address, you can be pretty certain you’re at the real version of the site you’re logging into.

This is the most convincing way to phish, but there are others that are worth mentioning. The classic “Nigerian Prince” email is a 21st century version of an advance-fee scam where someone promises you large sums of money, all they need is your bank account information so they can deposit it. Another is the annual IRS phone scam that you’ll likely hear about as tax season approaches. If you’re concerned if something is a phishing attempt, your best bet is to attempt to verify the information, either through a phone call, or by going to the recommended site without clicking any links you were sent in the questionable emails.

And how can I avoid being hacked?

While in phishing attacks you can be more vigilant and skeptical of questionable sources, hacking attacks aren’t always detectable until it’s too late, so your best bet is to make yourself a more difficult target.

The first step to making yourself less of a target is having a good password. There are lots of different thoughts on how to make the strongest password, but there is some consensus on what makes the worst passwords . If you see your password on this list, we highly recommend changing it today.

To get an idea of how to make a strong password, it’s good practice to think about how passwords can be broken, which generally falls into two categories:

Guessing personal information (birthdays, anniversaries, kids’ names, etc) Using significant dates and names as a password makes it very easy for you to remember your password, but it also drastically reduces the number of options an attacker has to go through to guess the correct password.
Brute force trial-and-error Initially with brute force attacks, an attacker uses a computer to loop through all possible combinations of letters to break a password, and so security professionals recommended longer passwords made up of a few easy-to-remember words so the computers guessing would statistically have to go through trillions of trials before stumbling upon your password, but then attackers adapted to attempt combinations of words, making your 5-word password no better than a 5-letter password.

The strongest passwords of today all have a few things in common:

Length
Mixed case
Add numbers
Add symbols
Avoid personal information
Avoid reusing passwords

That last tip is a big one. Like we mentioned earlier, data breaches are just another part of 21st century life now, and part of that is your email address and passwords for those sites being exposed. If you log in with the same password across all your sites and your password is ever exposed, suddenly all your other accounts become vulnerable. Keeping a strong password unique to each account is the best way to keep all of your various accounts secure. If you’re worried about forgetting dozens of different passwords, fear not, here are a few password manager services that will help you keep all your accounts locked up tight.

The second step to making yourself less of a target is to make sure the only way to access your information is through the login page. You’ve likely seen these icons or messages on your computer or website.

Keeping your computers, websites, and other accounts consistently up-to-date is the best way to keep people from exploiting weaknesses in the programs that normally keep them out. Just this past September, Apple launched the newest iteration of their operating system, OS 10.13 “High Sierra”, and in November, it was found to have a major security flaw where anyone could log into the computer with the username “root” and no password. At that point, it doesn’t matter how strong, complex, or unique your password is, because attackers can just go around it.

Why You Should Have Been Mobile Yesterday.

Thu, 03 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT

The landscape of what the "internet" is and how users choose to access it changes on a nearly day-to-day basis.

This causes a lot of confusion / frustration for businesses on how they should prioritize resources to harness the internet.

Fortunately there's a near guaranteed solution to improve nearly all important aspects of using the internet in 2018. This includes improvement to SEO (Search Engine Optimization), user experience, and business reputation.

What is this magic bullet?

Mobile Friendly Websites.

As of April 2015, Google (essentially the architects of the modern day internet) updated their search engine algorithm to prioritize mobile friendly over non-mobile websites.

Starting April 21, we will be expanding our use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal. This change will affect mobile searches in all languages worldwide and will have a significant impact in our search results. Consequently, users will find it easier to get relevant, high quality search results that are optimized for their devices.[1]

"Cool story Kyle, but what does this mean to me?"

Let's look at an example: You search Google for "best burger in Columbus, Ohio"

Click the first few results and you'll notice that they look great on your mobile device of choice. As you go further down the list, you'll notice the quality of the mobile experience drops.

This is not an accident.

There are a number of different strategies that our SEO experts can help you with to grow your brand / business, but I can guarantee that one question that will be asked is:

"Is your website mobile-friendly?"

Now that you have a better idea on how mobile friendly websites improve your website on a technical level, let's talk about the next important thing.

User Experience:

The dictionary defines "User Experience" as:

noun

"the overall experience of a person using a product such as a website or computer application, especially in terms of how easy or pleasing it is to use."

As of August 2017, 42% of all internet traffic was done through mobile devices .

Given that viewing a non-mobile website on a mobile device is considered a negative user experience, businesses without a mobile-friendly website are turning away nearly half of their potential customers. It is for this reason that it is critical for businesses to update their internet strategies to always keep their mobile customers in mind.

Generating a negative user experience not only hurts your business from a user's perspective but can have long term damaging effects on your business's brand.

Your business's reputation is important so it's necessary to be perceived as modern and relevant. One of the most telling ways a business can seen as obsolete is a non-mobile website. Google produces thousands of search results for every query so your potential customer isn't going to waste time pinch-zooming around your dated website. They'll simply hit the back button and move on to the next result. The first and only impression that customer will have of your business and brand is that it's antiquated.

It's 2018 and there's no end in sight for new iPhones and Android devices. That is why it is imperative that you adjust your business model to include mobile customers.

Do it for SEO. Do it for user experience. Do it for your business brand.

Do it because Google plans on putting your non-mobile website at the bottom of the pile.

New Year, New Midnet

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 16:59:42 GMT

Welcome to the newly designed and built midnetmedia.com.

Darren and I often joke that the relationship of Midnet Media to our website is like that of the shoemaker whose children have holes in their shoes. Too often we get so focused taking care of our clients and their needs that we inadvertently leave our own website and marketing efforts behind. Well 2018 is here and so is the new midnetmedia.com.

Rolling out our new website allowed us to approach the entire design and build project with new eyes. We set onto the entire process by envisioning ourselves as clients of Midnet Media. It was a useful practice that gave us a different perspective on our entire operation -- from creative, to development, to internal communication and beyond.

We hope you take the time to click around on our new website, and we look forward to bringing our renewed approach and refreshed spark to the very next project that we’re fortunate to work on with you.

Happy new year!

- Mike

2020-midnet-v3

Effective Social Media Strategies for Engaging Audiences

4. Engage with Your Audience

5. Utilize Hashtags Strategically

6. Post Consistently and at Optimal Times

7. Monitor and Analyze Performance

8. Collaborate with Influencers

9. Utilize Paid Advertising

10. Stay Authentic and Transparent

Conclusion

The Rise of Minster Oktoberfest's Online Presence

Case Study: The Rise of Minster Oktoberfest's Online Presence

A Closer Look at the Numbers

Mobile vs. Desktop Growth

What Contributed to the Surge?

Conclusion

Transforming Digital Experiences: Armstrong Air & Space Museum's Website

Transforming Digital Experiences: Armstrong Air & Space Museum's Website

A Fresh Look for a Rich History

Key Features of the New Website

1. **User-Centric Design**

2. **Responsive and Accessible**

3. **Interactive Exhibits**

4. **Event Calendar**

Collaboration and Feedback

The Impact of the New Website

Looking Ahead

Meet The Team - Carly Caywood

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT - CARLY CAYWOOD

We asked Carly to answer a few questions that we feel really helps you to get to know her!

Meet The Team - Tanya Helton

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT - TANYA HELTON

We asked Tanya to answer a few questions that we feel really helps you to get to know her!

Meet The Team - Curt Albers

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT - CURT ALBERS

We asked Curt to answer a few questions that we feel really helps you to get to know him!

Meet The Team - Evan Prenger

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT - EVAN PRENGER

We asked Evan to answer a few questions that we feel really helps you to get to know him!

Drupal 8, Duda, or WordPress: Which CMS Platform is Right for You?

Dynamic Websites Site Building For Multiple Platforms

Why You Should Hire Help For Your Website

Midnet Media Intern Spotlight - Carly Caywood

2021 Summer Intern

Work at Midnet Media

Interested in working for Midnet Media? Apply Today!

Writing for Web: How to Get the Most Out of Your Website Content

The Importance of Updating Your Internet Browser

Elements of Good Web Design

How to Speed Up Your Website With Image Optimization

Why an Online Presence Is So Important Now More Than Ever

Time for a New Website

Maximize Your Local SEO in 2019

Social Collisions

Tricky Twig Bits: Part 1

Cyber Self-Defense

Why You Should Have Been Mobile Yesterday.

The landscape of what the "internet" is and how users choose to access it changes on a nearly day-to-day basis.

New Year, New Midnet

Welcome to the newly designed and built midnetmedia.com.

1. User-Centric Design

2. Responsive and Accessible

3. Interactive Exhibits

4. Event Calendar