Web Design Blog

Avoid being locked into one system without a choice:

• Secure (End-to-end encrypted) chat on your own server.
• Audio / Video calls (no need for Zoom)
• Compliant with EU, HIPAA, and other privacy regulations
• Build chatbots, extend into 3^rd party systems, etc.
• Fully Free and Open Source

I recommend using this tool to confirm your site is accessible: 
accessibilitychecker.org

1. Find out if your website is Accessible and Compliant
2. Scan your website for free, identify accessibility issues, and get exact instructions on how to fix them.
3. "Export" the results and email them to me if you need help making the necessary changes.  
   
   

Alternatives:

AccessiBe - I tested the AccessiBe platform and their accessibility widget is blocked by uBlock and other popular ad blocking scripts.  My suggestion is to fix the underlying issues by making the adjustments in your CMS, or at the server level, rather than relying on a third party 'band aid widget' 

See Also:
Are you using an accessibility overlay to help disabled users? Don’t!

Google is finally making it easier for you to make sure your personal information doesn’t show up in online search results – and all it took was hundreds of thousands of requests over nearly a decade.

(via CNBC)

Directly from Google:

• New options for removing your personally identifiable information from Search
• A new Search tool to help control your online presence

Update 3/27/23:
Countdown to GA4: 100 days to make the switch

Update 2/7/23
Google will soon configure Google Analytics 4 for you (automatically)

Hello.

Universal Analytics standard properties will stop processing data on July 1, 2023. To maximize historical data and to ensure that Google Analytics 4 (GA4) meets your specific needs, we recommend you make the switch to Google Analytics 4 now. This will give you the opportunity to customize the setup including using the latest site tag.

For any customer who does not set up a GA4 property with basic settings, starting in March, we will configure one with a few basic settings consistent with the existing Universal Analytics property; this includes certain conversion events, Google Ads links, and existing website tags.

For Universal Analytics customers whose websites are tagged with gtag.js or analytics.js (including through tag management systems like Google Tag Manager), we will create a connected site tag that will reuse existing tags when possible to send traffic to the new GA4 property. If you do not wish to have a GA4 property created and configured based on your Universal Analytics property and existing tags, you may opt-out.

Sincerely,
The Google Analytics Team

Not sure what to do about this alert regarding Google Analytics? 
Universal Analytics will no longer process new data in standard properties starting in 2023.  Prepare now by setting up and switching over to a Google Analytivs 4 property. 

- Or this email? -

We'll soon sunset Universal Analytics
On July 1, 2023, Universal Analytics will stop processing new hits. If you still rely on Universal Analytics, we urge you to prepare for the future by moving over to Google Analytics 4, our next-generation measurement solution.

Google has recently announced some changes coming to their Analytics platform. 

If your website was created before October 14, 2020, most likely changes will be required in order to continue using Google Analytics.

One of the frustrations I've encountered with the K2 extension for Joomla is the lack of a "description" when editing tags.  It allows for a description under categories, not tags.  What gives?

Here is the solution:

Are you in the process of switching domain registrars?  This helpful guide will help navigate the process. 

The image below illustrates the flow of a domain transfer, including the actions taken by each of the parties involved. Please note that all confirmation emails are sent to the Administrative Contact email address listed for the domain.  (See attachment below)

If you've got the "My Business" app installed on your smart phone, you'll probably want to uninstall it soon.  

Back in 2020, Cloudflare started connecting with the Internet Archive (archive.org) for some sites using its Always Online feature.  In July 2022, cloudflare is announcing that ALL sites will use the Internet Archive, rather than Cloudflare itself hosting the "always online" version.  

Reports of a new Google Business Profile (GBP) verification label are currently circulating within the local SEO community. Select GBPs have received the new ‘confirmed’ label from Google to show that the associated business has had its details verified recently.

Many common vulnerability scans are now requiring and recommending HSTS security enforcement.  How easy is it to fix?

Answer:

Assuming your site already has an SSL certificate installed and working, this is a pretty simple fix.