Design Bytes๐Ÿด

Welcome to Design Bytes, where I serve up fresh insights and sizzling trends straight from the world of design. My goal is to provide you with the essential ingredients to elevate your brand to new heights.

  • 7 Reasons Why Your Website Needs a Blog

    Content is king and having a blog on your website is no longer optionalโ€”itโ€™s essential. A blog can serve as a powerful tool to boost your online presence, establish your authority in your industry, and build lasting relationships with your audience. Whether youโ€™re running an e-commerce store, a service-based business, or a personal brand, there…

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  • How to Host a Website on GitHub Using GitHub Pages: A Step-by-Step Guide

    Last week I had a consult with a client and after hearing his situation I suggested that he look into Github Pages. GitHub Pages is a popular and free option for hosting static websites. Itโ€™s particularly useful for developers and tech-savvy users who are already familiar with GitHub as a version control platform. In this…

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  • If Not WordPress, Then What?

    Exploring Alternative Blogging Platforms WordPress has long been the go-to platform for bloggers, powering over 43% of the internet. But as the drama continues to unfold, a recent Twitter thread I made highlights, many creators are now exploring other tools to host their blogs. From no-code website builders to developer-friendly headless CMS options, thereโ€™s a…

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  • What in the WorldPress?

    I’ve delayed writing this for weeks. The drama is something I like to avoid. But I feel like I must get my thoughts out there, as this is seemingly a critical time in the world of WordPress, a software the presently powers 43% of the actively crawled websites on the internet. If you are unaware,…

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  • What is a funnel site and why should you have one?

    What is a funnel site and why should you have one? How can they help your business thrive? Hereโ€™s why creating a funnel site can drive results for your business.

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  • 8 Reasons Why Canadians Should Switch to E-Transfers for Payments ๐Ÿ’ฐ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ

    Canadians struggling with high payment processor fees or dealing with charge backs that are unfair or unwarranted need to embrace e-transfers for payments. There arenโ€™t too many tech advantages in Canada, but e-transfers are definitely one of them. Here are 9 reasons businesses should embrace them.

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  • 8 Easy Steps to Quickly Build a Website that Ranks on Google

    When you’re trying to build a website that ranks on Google, it isn’t just about having a digital presenceโ€” it’s about ensuring your business stands out in a crowded marketplace. With more consumers turning to search engines to find local services, having a website that ranks well can be the difference between thriving and merely…

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  • Top 10 Web Design Trends To Look Out For In 2025

    Crafting the Future of Digital Experiences I spend a lot of time snooping websites and I have noticed some solid trends that continue to reign supreme. Staying ahead of the curve is crucial for creating captivating, user-friendly, and effective digital experiences. As we step into the end of 2024, this wave of innovative trends is…

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  • How To Make And Use Lists On Twitter/X

    Last week one of my readers, Stanzi, asked about how to make a list on Twitter. This was in response to my blog on My First X Payment. I absolutely love comments and I am thrilled to help you out with this Stanzi. Lets dive into why you might want to make Lists a part…

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  • Hubspot Certifications ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿผโ€๐Ÿ’ป

    As a part of my launch of design kitchen, I wanted to be sure I am up to date on the latest in marketing, so I took a couple of courses from Hubspot and thought I’d take the opportunity to share my thoughts on the courses now that I’ve had time for them to marinade.

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  • 103.1K Impressions Per Day?

    My account growth has been unprecedented this week, averaging 103,100 views per day, with almost a million impressions in one day last week. I decided to take some time to dive into the Twitter Blog and read up on how they decide to rank tweets. This turned out to be a rather in depth dive…

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  • How I got 1.5M Impressions On X In 28 Days

    The last month has been a really interesting and exciting month on X. I had over 1.5 million impressions in 28 days, which is definitely the largest boost I have seen. A fun kind of viral Important to note that I had a post go a little bit viral which brought in over 1000 followers…

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  • EJS: Your Secret Sauce for Dynamic Web Pages ๐Ÿช„โœจ

    Ahoy fellow web enthusiasts. I’ve spent the last few days exploring the wonder of EJS (Embedded JavaScript). Have you ever marvelled at a website’s ability to show real-time updates, adapt to user input, and display dynamic content seamlessly? If so, you’re in for a treat because today, we’re unraveling the magic of EJS, your secret…

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  • Blogging: The Ultimate Project Management Companion

    This blog started the way all great blogs start: in an attempt to explain a point to a stranger on the internetโ€ฆ๐Ÿ˜น But seriously, a Twitter friend of mine questioned the value of allocating time on blogging when that time could better be spent on projects. This is a valid question. But one that is…

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  • To Host, or Not To Host, That Is The Question ๐Ÿง

    Hey there, fellow peeps in the digital realm! ๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿผ Today, we’re delving into a topic that’s absolutely crucial for anyone looking to set up a WordPress website: hosting. As the bard might say, “To host, or not to host, that is the question.” In this rather comprehensive blog post, we’ll embark on a journey through…

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  • How to Increase Domain Authority ๐ŸŒ‹

    Welcome to the exciting world of boosting domain authority! ๐Ÿ˜ƒ In this concise and engaging guide, let’s explore the steps to level up our web presence. ๐ŸŒŸ Quality Content Reigns Supreme: ๐Ÿ‘‘ When it comes to domain authority, having engaging and informative content is the foundation. Think of it as a delicious recipe – it should leave…

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  • Jakob Nielsen’s 10 Usability Heuristics

    Yesterday we talked about the Laws of UX Design and one of the “laws” mentioned was Jakob Nielsen’s 10 usability heuristics. Jakob Nielsen’s 10 Usability Heuristics are a set of design principles and guidelines used for evaluating the usability of user interfaces. They provide a framework for identifying and addressing usability issues in software, websites,…

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  • Open Source Water Animations ๐Ÿ’ง

    I am still working on replacing the 2 plumbing websites we have, and I have been trying to incorporate as many water features as I can without it being over the top and tacky. I came across this open source website that has a bunch of really cool water animations! Here is the link! I…

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  • The Laws of UX Design ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ“ฑ

    As I embark upon the task of converting several of my websites over to WordPress, I cant help but finding myself craving a reminder of some of the dynamic needs of design. It can be a lot to take in, which is why it is helpful to refresh upon some of the basics of the…

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  • Exploring CSS Transition Timing Functions: Adding Life to Your Animations

    When it comes to web design, a key aspect that can greatly enhance user experience is the use of animations. Animations add an element of dynamism and engagement to your web pages, drawing visitors’ attention and guiding them through your content seamlessly. One fundamental tool at your disposal for creating smooth and appealing animations is…

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  • Code & Tags: Unraveling the Tale of Programming vs. Markup Languages

    I recently stumbled upon a tweet that gave me a good chuckle. The jest was about the blurred lines between programming languages and markup languages: It made me laugh, and then it got me pondering โ€” do we all really know the difference? So I dug in, consulted the google, and found that it’s a…

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  • The Command Line: A Practical Guide to the Backbone of Computing

    When it comes to interacting with a computer, most of us are familiar with the graphical user interfaces (GUIs) of todayโ€™s operating systems. But before colorful icons and touch-responsive windows, there was the command line, a powerful tool that remains fundamental for many professionals. This article takes a deep dive into command line prompts, their…

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  • The Benefits of Semantic HTML

    Starting my journey as a web developer in Edmonton, I have been constantly on the lookout for best practices and efficient ways to make the web more user-friendly. One principle that stood out to me early on was the power and importance of semantic HTML. In this blog post, I aim to delve into why…

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