15 Nov

WordPress 5.0 Update and Gutenberg

By Jesse Velez In Gutenberg, WordPress /  

After November 27, Be Wary Before You Hit the “Update” Button in WordPress!

The Largest Change In How Content Is Created In WordPress Is Being Introduced – And It Is Called Gutenberg

On November 27, 2018, WordPress is set to release version 5.0 of their popular website software. This version will include the new default editor, Gutenberg. Many website owners are concerned as to how the new default editor will affect their website. Below are some steps you can take to prepare for this new update — that is taking place during one of the busiest shopping weeks of the year!

  • Ensure your website is backed up regularly and that you have a backup of your website and database before November 27. Daily backups are recommended.
  • Ensure sure your website’s WordPress version, theme, and all plugins are up-to-date. Before updating to Gutenberg, make sure you have a recent backup with these updates.
  • Review any theme customization or extended functionality which could be incompatible with Gutenberg, exporting theme options if possible.
  • Finally, install the Classic Editor plugin, which will replace Gutenberg as the default plugin and will keep the classic (former WordPress) editor that users are accustomed to and know works with their site. By adding this plugin, you will be able to re-activate to Gutenberg when you and your site are ready.

Why Even Have the Upgrade to Gutenberg?

As a brand-new editor, Gutenberg was built from scratch and as a result its interface and features are completely new. How you add or edit content in WordPress is completely different but substantially easier with Gutenberg.

Users will create content “blocks” and be able to dictate layouts directly in the editor without relying on plugins or a developer to create that functionality. Users can also insert pre-made blocks in different configurations such as two-column and four-column layouts.

Gutenberg allows for embedding third-party content very easily. It eliminates the need of using plugins for adding YouTube videos or Twitter feeds into content areas, for example. As of now, there are more than 34 different embed blocks supported. In addition to embeddable content, adding a feed of the latest blog posts, a custom shortcode, a widget or layout elements are also possible. Users should find it easier to add content than it was in the past.

So What is the Downside?

Many believe Gutenberg is not ready for release and there are bugs being worked on. WordPress has pushed the release date to November 27, to make sure all the bugs are worked out. In addition to the changes Gutenberg will introduce, users will experience a significantly new way of editing, literally overnight, forcing them to relearn a tool which they may spent months or years learning.

Since Gutenberg will introduce major changes to virtually every WordPress website, all users who own a WordPress website should pay attention to this update. After a website is updated to Version 5.0, Gutenberg will be the default editor, the former editor will be replaced, and the interface will be completely different. Even if the upgrade executes without a hitch, the new interface could cause a lot of confusion since it is being used for the first time.

Key Factors of Concern

To what extent users should be concerned depends on the following:

Website Use or Type

If your WordPress site is used for e-commerce or a high traffic blog/website such as a business to consumer or business to business website, users should take proactive steps (previously mentioned) to ensure they don’t have any issues. It may be best to post-pone updating to version 5.0 until you are sure you will not be adversely affected.

Out of Date Website Software

If your WordPress website and plugins have not been updated for a long time, users may encounter issues. Plugin developers are scrambling to add support for Gutenberg. If users don’t have the latest updates in place, they could be more at risk for problems.

Custom Built vs. Third-Party Website

Potential issues related to Gutenberg will be impacted by how your website was built. If it was built using a third-party theme with a page builder and that theme or page builder hasn’t been updated recently to work with Gutenberg, users might not be able to add or edit content. Third-party themes tend to rely on more plugins for functionality. If users haven’t updated their theme recently, they may not have also updated their WordPress or plugins either.

How Compatible with Gutenberg?

Unless a website developer took proactive steps to ensure a website is already compatible, it most likely isn’t going to be compatible with Gutenberg. Gutenberg is a major change to how content is created in WordPress and the largest change ever introduced. Users who have been proactively keeping their software up to date will most likely fair much better than those who did not.

If you think that your WordPress website is in need of updates, give us a call at 973-655-9396.

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18 Jun

GDPR and Your Website

By Jesse Velez In Global Security /  

On May 25th, 2018, the European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) went into affect. This Privacy/Data protection law stretches beyond the European Union’s member countries and will directly impact your website.

Why should I worry?

Thankfully, the GDPR is not a cause for fear. It is a sensible approach to data collection and letting your website visitors know how you are using and protecting their Personally identifiable Information.

This sensibility is why the rest of the world will start adopting this type of law and why every website should start taking the steps to becoming compliant.

I’m too Small to Care

You might think that this isn’t important because you only have U.S. based visitors and your business is not really large enough to be noticed. This kind of thinking should be avoided! The U.S. is connected to the global community through the internet. This means that you may be getting visitors from the EU without knowing it. Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law.

No matter what size company you are, you need to protect your website by providing a privacy policy page and a cookies policy pop up.

What’s my next step?

Disclaimer: Our expertise is not in the Law. Nothing on this website or article should be considered legal advice.

Ok, so what are the rules?

If you are a large company with users from the European Union, contact a lawyer that clearly understands the GDPR and what you need to do specifically for your company.

If you are a smaller company with most of your website visitors in the U.S. and collect info through a contact form or through cookies then here are a few things you can start doing.

Start to generate a Privacy Policy that protects you and the user. This should be a clear, easy to understand web page that let’s your website visitors understand how you collect, store and delete their personally identifiable information.

What is PII?

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is anything that can be connected back to a specific person. For example, when a person visits your website, your browser collects information and stores it in a cookie.

This cookie might have the visitors IP address, or email address. This cookie is normally stored on the visitors computer but your website uses it when it needs to.

The more blantant use of PII is a contact form. This contact form when submitted will be sent by email to you (where you store it) and may also be stored inside of a database (if you are using a form that has that ability). Please note that if you are using a web based service for your contact form, like Woo-foo or MailChimp, you are responsible for how that data is managed once the visitor submits it even though you may not have it stored in/on your website. Check with your service and see what they are doing to be GDPR compliant.

Another way you collect visitor data and don’t really know is through Google Analytics. Google Analytics quietly collects information about a visitor and stores it in their website under your account. This could be demographic information as well as your visitors actions as they view your website.

Your company is responsible to make sure that the information stored in your Google Analytics account is compliant with the EU’s GDPR.

Here are some examples of PII: Name, Address, Telephone Number, IP address, an online identifier (e.g. user name), health info, income, ethnic or cultural info.

What’s at risk?

M-O-N-E-Y. If you are found to be non-compliant then your are at risk of being fined. Although, not at first. You will get a warning. You will then get a reprimand. Then a Suspension of data processing and if you don’t get your act together, you can be fined EU2,000,000 dollars or 4% of global annual turnover.

This last heavy duty fine is aimed at big business who generate revenue and are refusing to get with the plan. This would include companies with a global reach like, IKEA, Facebook, automobile companies or any company that has that kind of money to be taken.

What’s most important?

Here are a few must-have’s regarding becoming GDPR compliant:

Explicit Consent – if you are going to collect info through a form or cookie, you must get explicit consent and offer clear language as to what you are asking. With a contact form, you must have a check box that is not pre-checked.

WordPress has added this to the Comment section to their blogging web software and two personal data items in tools:

Rights to Data – this is the who, what, where, why and how your website visitor’s data is processed and stored. They have the right to download their personal data and the right to be forgotten when they ask (you must provide a way for them to request it).

Breach Notification – you are obligated to report some types of data breaches to the appropriate authorities within 72 hours, unless it is considered harmless and doesn’t appear to pose a risk to an individuals data. If the breach is high risk, then you must report this to the individuals affected as well and quickly. Please contact a lawyer if you have any kind of breach and you are unsure of how to deal with it.

Data Protection Officers – this only matters if you are a public company or you handle large amounts of personal information. You must then make someone a data protection officer. This isn’t required for every company, but if you are not sure then you should contact a lawyer.

If you think your company needs to do more and is at risk for fines, contact a lawyer.

Is WordPress GDPR compliant?

Yes, with the release of WordPress 4.9.6, the WordPress core is GDPR compliant.

If you need assistance updating your website, adding a Privacy Policy page or Cookie Consent Pop Up, then we can help.

Call us at: 973-655-9396

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21 Jun

What hour of the day can you be the greenest?

By Jesse Velez In Email Ads, Other tips, Real Estate /  

Two weeks ago I was at the ICREWNJ luncheon at the Woodbridge Hilton. ICREW is a great organization that brings together companies that service the commercial real estate industry. From brokers to IT professionals to furniture consultants they are all there. The group is organized by women who have a common goal to:

  • to advance the professional development of women in commercial real estate through educational meetings and seminars and
  • to promote opportunity for business growth through networking on a local, state and national level

They always have a speaker that can give some insight into the real estate industry. This month it was Adam Zellner who is the President of Greener by Design. I had seen him at another event wherein he discussed the need to build with energy in mind. The ability to obtain credits for the creation of energy via solar panels, windmills, etc. could definitely help property owners in this day and age.

What got me this time in his speech was the 3PM to 4PM syndrome. He told us that most of the energy bill for a day comes from the time between 3-4PM. That is the time when the kids get home, everyone is at their desks, PlayStations and whatever else turn on an make a drain on the “net” as he called it. He said if we were able to conserve during those periods by:

  1. shutting down some lights
  2. turning off some non-essential systems
  3. unplugging the cell phone chargers that are just stuck to the wall
  4. or turning off the computers we just have to leave on

the bill would dramatically decrease. To me that was interesting to know that in one hour a day I’m getting billed the highest electric rate of the day and that if I could just make a change for an hour it would make a difference. Wow! That seems too simple. For more information feel free to check him out at www.gbdtoday.com.

The question is what could you and I do differently to keep our green (money) from 3-4PM. What can building owners do? Comments are welcome.

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21 Jun

How can you involve your potential customers?

By Jesse Velez In Email Ads, Marketing Tips, Real Estate /  
Gold Key

Gold Key

Our team just came back from the Kean University Design Conference: Thinking Creatively. Last year I went to the How Conference and I have to say that although the Kean University Design Conference was on a smaller scale it definitely was worth the time. I would go back next year in a minute.

One of the sessions discussed how you can involve your prospects in your brand. What does that mean? From the instructor’s point of view you have to start by asking What, Why and How? What am I trying to let my prospects know? Why is it important to them? How can I let them know about this opportunity? After you answer those questions you make it personal; you create an experience they will remember; you become a storyteller and everyone loves a good story.

For real estate an example may be the following:

What: I have 25,000 sq. ft. of office space located in Paramus
on an often crowded Route 17. We are in an Excelsior owned building, known for its owner’s quality standards. Our prospects include accountants and law companies with leases expiring in 6 months.

Why: Tenants will need quality space to impress their own potential customers and maintain a level of standards in their staff.

How: The space will be promoted via events prospects will attend in addition to direct mail mailings.

Make it personal: Call the space the Gold Key space. Mail potential companies a gold key symbolizing the quality of the building. Show pictures in the brochure that highlight the quality entrance, doorman, lounge, etc.

Create an experience: At a trade show that your target market attends have people give out gold keys that open different elaborate doors at your booth. After a short presentation, introduce a few beautiful doors. Behind each door there will be something special about the building and behind one door is a free “fill in the blank” prize showing quality.

Be a storyteller: The gold keys also lead to a website. Here they view a video of a tenants experience of being in the building. That experience could highlight an instance in which they received excellent service (repair, catering, etc.).

What would be your “fill in the blank” prize? Comment on this eblast.

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