WordPress Themes

WordPress websites are built on a Theme and contain numerous add-ons known as Plugins. Unless specified, annual Web Hosting costs do not include Theme updates.

All WordPress Themes need updates from time to time. These updates are to keep the website inline with updates to Browsers (Chrome / Firefox etc) and various other things which change / improve across the web, and ensure the smooth running of the website.

The top WordPress Themes are updated on a regular basis. When the Theme’s original Author releases an update, they are typically:

• (Code) Updates
• Code/ visual Improvements
• Bug-Fixes
• Additions / extra features
• Plugins – Security and stability.

We don’t normally bore clients with each individual update, but your Change-log is always available, if you wanted to see which bits were getting updated. During the first few months of a Website Design: we tend to swallow these costs as part of the website build and quote.

After the build, there will be minimal costs for these updates.

WordPress Plugins

As an open-source environment, WordPress is constantly evolving. Due to it’s popularity, any extra features (such as contact forms and image sliders) a Website might need, can be fulfilled using Plugins. Some of the most popular ones are used by millions of websites across the globe.

Much like Themes, Plugins regularly need updating. Normally, these are improvements and bug-fixes, but Plugins which aren’t updated are a security risk, and one of the most common routes in which hackers can attack a website.

Plugin updates will incur minimal costs, which we will try to keep as low as possible.

From time to time: a Plugin may become corrupt, we reserve the right to charge a minimum fee to rectify Plugins on these occasions.

Clients can request to update their own Plugins; but this must be kept up, as we cannot be held responsible if a website experiences issues due to a lack of clients’ upkeep.

WordPress Core

WordPress itself also needs updating. These are the core files which make up the back-end of your website. In other words: the Dashboard itself – which you log in to, to update your site. This includes improvements and new features such as the Guttenberg page editor, but also security related updates.

Most of the time, we can swallow the costs of costs of the many minor WordPress core updates; major core updates will incur minimal charges however.

PHP version

PHP is the scripting language in which WordPress websites are written in. Around 80% of websites which use a server-side programming language are written in PHP. The most common reasons for PHP updates are:

• Performance
• Security
• Speed
• Support

Every PHP update means a faster and more secure website. Advances in technology mean faster loading times (for websites that keep up with PHP version updates) …resulting is higher Search Engine rankings, which in turn results in more customers, happier customers, and more profit.

According to wordpress.org:

There are two main benefits to keeping PHP up-to-date:

Your website will be faster as the latest version of PHP is more efficient. Updating to the latest supported version (currently 7.3) can deliver a huge performance increase; up to 3 or 4x faster for older versions.

Your website will be more secure. PHP, like WordPress, is maintained by its community. Because PHP is so popular, it is a target for hackers – but the latest version will have the latest security features. Older versions of PHP do not have this, so updating is essential to keep your WordPress site secure.

And then there are a number of secondary benefits:

A faster WordPress website will be rewarded by search engines, so you’ll rank higher in search! A faster website will retain visitors better (they’ll leave if it takes too long to load), making your website more effective.

A more secure website is better protected against hackers, and the cost and reputational damage associated with a hacked website.

PHP updates incur minimal charges. You won’t be charged if we have to change your PHP version back, due to a conflict.

If a website contains a bug / error, chances are that it requires at least one of the above updates. Any specific (software) bugs not fixed and logged on a Theme’s Change-log can be sent as a request, so this can be included and debugged in the next update’s fixes and improvements.

Speak to us if you’d like to pay an ‘all-inclusive‘ yearly / monthly rate for the updates outlined above. The figure will reflect your particular website, but will be a saving overall – due to less admin and fewer invoices.

Clients retain the right to opt-out of any of the above updates, but we strongly advise against it, as this may jeopardise the quality, compatibility and stability of your website, and your brand and company’s reputation.

The post Website updates explained: Plugins, Themes, WordPress Core and PHP appeared first on Classic Lines Design.

Websites with the secure, green padlock symbol have been marked by your browser as ‘secure‘ because they contain an SSL certificate.

What is an SSL Certificate, and why do I need one?

• Our SSL Certificates provide secure https:// browsing,
• Browser padlock: Visitors will see the universally-recognised padlock in their browser bar, showing that they are viewing a site over a secure connection,
• Rank higher in Google: Google favours secure sites, so installing an SSL can help improve your rankings, helping potential customers to discover your site,
• Browser warnings: Web browsers, especially Google Chrome, let users know when a site isn’t secure. An SSL takes care of that, ensuring your website avoids browser warnings,
• eCommerce: SSL is a must for eCommerce websites. If you’re taking payments on your website, SSL is non-negotiable.
• The certificates utilise SHA-2 256-bit encryption and 2048-bit signing algorithm – the same type used by businesses and governments around the world to keep their data protected,
• SHA-2 and 2048-bit encryption.

It’s important to protect your brand:

• Protect your customers,
• Protect your company,
• Protect your rankings.

Secure private information: An SSL certificate shows that you care about the safety of your customers. So new visitors will be comfortable to buy from you,

Boost conversion rates: By displaying a padlock in the browser window, you show visitors that you are a company that can be trusted,

Boost trust: We will install and configure your certificate, quickly and efficiently.

What’s more:

Google have announced that as of October 2017: Google Chrome will start marking HTTP pages (which contain forms) as “NOT SECURE.” In July 2018, Google will release version 68 of Chrome, that will mark every HTTP website as “NOT SECURE.”

For more information, take a look at what Wikipedia has to say, or download our SSL Certificates PDF.

Email Arran to discuss the SSL Certificate for your website.

The post Do I need an SSL Certificate for my website? appeared first on Classic Lines Design.

However, we do offer the option of Virtual Private Servers.

VPS give our clients:

• Dedicated resources for superior performance: Our hosts build their Dedicated Servers on the very latest hardware; to ensure that you get the best possible performance and maximum reliability,
• 99.99% uptime SLA: We’re so confident you’ll always be online: that we’ll provide you with compensation if you experience more than 0.01% downtime per month,
• Superfast & reliable: Our host’s servers have a direct internet connection to major European exchanges > Ensuring a rapid and stable performance.

VPS

Our Hosting Provider is responsible for:

Server hardware, Power and network availability, Manual reboot availability and Control Panel license availability.

So all we need to worry about is:

All server software and performance, Configuring hosting and email settings, and securing your server. Also: Network configuration and Installation, third-party modules and plug-ins.

Server specification

• Intel Xeon E5-2420 x 2
• Up to128GB RAM
• Hardware of up to 4 x 1TB SATA RAID 1
• Up to 1 Gbit/s Bandwidth.

Contact Classic Lines Design to see if your website requires VPS.

The post Have you considered VPS / Dedicated Server Hosting? appeared first on Classic Lines Design.

If so, follow these simple steps:

1. Make sure your settings are configured properly: Ensure that you chose ‘IMAP’ in your original email account setup.
2. If there is an option to ‘remove emails from server, when deleted’ (or similar) …then TICK that. If not: skip this step.
3. People organise their Inbox into folders. While this is good housekeeping, it will not free up space in your mailbox. You’ll need to move / drag your emails in to folders on your desktop, (this will back-up your emails to your computer) …then delete them from Outlook / Mail / Livemail.
4. Remember to delete your Junk, and Deleted Items regularly,
5. Speak to us about *Premium Mailboxes. **We can upgrade you from 1GB, to 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10GB.

* Our prices are per mailbox (email account) and per year.
** Even if you upgrade, you’ll need need to do points 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Do you find yourself asking:

“Why do my emails keep becoming full?”

“Why does my inbox keep filling up?”

 “How come my mailbox keeps filling up?”

“Why does my inbox keep becoming full?”

“Why do my emails keep filling up?”

 “Why is my mailbox always full?”

“How come my inbox keeps becoming full?”

^ So if any if these questions sound like you, take a look at our full email configuration details.

The post Does your email inbox keep becoming full? appeared first on Classic Lines Design.