Where'd you get that font? - video tutorial

When it comes to branding your business and websites, fonts and typography are one of the first design elements to nail down.

The fonts you choose will really set the tone of your website and depending on how you use them (e.g., headers vs body), the effect could be totally different. Think about how different a site would feel if you used an old-school, goofy font like Comic Sans as opposed to a classic, professional font like Times New Roman. The vibe of your brand goes from one end of the spectrum to another super fast when you mix up the fonts!

I've written before about my secrets to beautiful Squarespace typography, which is a great introduction to fonts and typography, so if you haven't read that post yet, I suggest you start there. Once you've covered the basics, it's time to dive in a little deeper to the wonderful world of fonts and typography!

In this article, I'm going to share my thoughts on paid fonts and point you towards some of my favourite places to purchase fonts online.

Let's dive right in!

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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! 

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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!

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How to add an Instagram feed to a Squarespace website - video tutorial

Put your hand up if you spend WAY too much time on Instagram! *raises hand in shame*

According to MediaKix, the average person spends about 15 minutes a day on Instagram... but if we're being honest, I bet that for a lot of us the number is WAY higher.

What does this mean for you? Well, dear friend, it means that you have a really great opportunity to build a relationship with your audience if you tap into social media - Instagram in particular!

Related: Expert Roundup : Using social media to support your website

I'm going to assume you already have an Instagram account, but now you're ready to integrate it further with your digital strategy. The first step is to connect your social media accounts with your Squarespace website.

Once that's done, the natural next step is to add an Instagram feed to your Squarespace website. If you've ever wanted to add an Instagram feed to your site (whether on a web page or in a blog post) but weren't sure how to do it, this video tutorial will show you how.

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