Expert Roundup : How to choose and purchase a domain name

"What do I need to know before I buy a domain name?"

I'm not kidding when I tell you I've probably been asked that question over a hundred times - and for good reason, too! Knowing how to choose a domain name and figuring out where to purchase it is a major step for any website or business endeavour. Heck, it's usually one in the same so you want to make sure that you've got it right!

Your domain name matters because it is the very first point of contact that your audience has with your brand, your blog, or your business. People will make unconscious biases about your website and business based on your domain name so it's important to be intentional here.

In many cases, your domain name will be the same as your business' name which keeps things simple. But for others, the domain name might not necessarily be the same as a business name... in those cases, wouldn't it be nice if you could build your site first and THEN purchase a domain later? While you can sort of do this with Squarespace (thanks to their free trial), it's not a perfect solution and you shouldn't let the stress of choosing a domain name stop you from getting your website up and running.

Choosing and purchasing a domain name for your website isn't rocket science but it IS a step in the development process that should be considered carefully!

Ultimate CMS Showdown - which platform is right for you?

After a summer hiatus, I'm back at it again and taking full advantage of Vancouver's booming tech scene. I've been popping around the city attending tech industry meet-ups, networking events, and panel discussions on a regular basis once more and it feels great. I love that our city is buzzing and that new opportunities present themselves at every turn. Our local tech industry is growing by leaps and bounds and I'm thrilled to be a part of it!

But does that mean that you're doomed if you DON'T live in a tech hub? Are you automatically at a disadvantage if you want to make it in our field outside of these areas? Are your chances of becoming a quality web designer/developer lower from the start?

NOPE, nope nope!

Thanks to the internet, information is instantly accessible to anyone, anywhere in a way that has never been seen before. This means that even if you don't live in a major area where tech events are happening every night of the week, you can still get the Coles Notes of these events with a little research!

5 tips for attending a tech event

I recently attended an awesome tech event that had a lively expert panel and community discussion session. The event lasted nearly three hours but it seemed to fly by and believe it or not, I had a blast!

Attending this event got me thinking about what a hot mess I was when I first started attending tech events. I would get super nervous and anxious for days ahead of the event, and when I finally dragged myself through the doors, I would hover around the exit with a warm drink in my hand without saying a word to anyone. I've come a long way since those early days and now I actually enjoy and look forward to them! The more events you go to, the more people you meet and friends you made, and before long these tech events start to be FUN!

I decided to record this video to share my top 5 tips for attending a tech event and I hope you find them useful and applicable! I also share my email templates so that you can follow up with new industry friends & contacts the RIGHT way after a tech event.

Tech TipsCharlotte O'HaraSeptember 6, 2017event summary, tech events, women in tech, videoComment

Expert Roundup : Using social media to support your website

What comes to mind when you hear the words "social media"?

Do you think about how much fun it can be to grow an audience on the platform of your choosing? How great it is to show off your products/services for free (or low cost)? How awesome it is to interact with your audience on a daily basis and see how they are engaging with your brand?

Or, on the flip side, do you get overwhelmed with how much of social media relies on pre-scheduling? Feel defeated whenever you see accounts growing faster than yours? Or get frustrated trying to maintain a picture-perfect aesthetic?

Trust me, we all experience feelings on every end of the spectrum when it comes to social media.

Social media is a powerful tool that holds an enormous amount of weight in your website's marketing efforts, but it doesn't come easy. It takes a lot of time and effort to build and maintain a strategic profile no matter which social media platform you're on.

But believe me when I tell you that social media is one of the greatest ways to drive traffic back to your website and support your business efforts. It just takes a bit of know-how!

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