Minor Website Updates

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Websites undergo updates all the time. My website is no exception. This time, I’m experimenting with a few visual improvements.

Responsive Web Design

I noticed that a lot of websites use the entire width of the browser and adjust columns according to the width. Why waste space? I took this approach and increased the maximum width to display text. This change allows me to display larger graphics and minimize the amount of scrolling. In addition, if you prefer a smaller width for your browser, the columns and images scale down. Try it by changing the width of your browser!

CSS Visual Improvements

Going along the same lines of adjusting the columns for responsive web design, CSS is used to make these improvements possible. For example, I manually changed the maximum width in the WordPress theme to allow for a wider header image and use a Child Theme to override CSS styles present in the current theme. In addition, I updated the background color to a blue gradient.

Header Image

If I could go back to 2012, I would have made it a habit to save my website graphics. Instead, I had to go back to the source picture I own and recreate it. This time, I cleaned it up a bit and made the colors pop out a little more. Also, I had a better resolution image for branding other places, such as Facebook and Google Helpouts.

Backend Improvements

Using a shared server is also a challenge, especially when you want your website to load quickly. People do not like to wait for a website to load. W3 Total Cache is a great WordPress plugin to optimize page load time and it works amazingly!

Enjoy the minor improvements!

Try Google Helpouts

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Ever heard of Google Helpouts? Most likely you may have heard of Google Hangouts if you use Google+. Helpouts is the professional sibling of Hangouts, which experts in anything can share their knowledge for free or for a price. Depending on what you need help in, you can schedule a session for advice on medicine, science, technology, writing, and much more.

Screen shot of Roger's Helpouts Listing

Roger’s listing on Helpouts

When Helpouts premiered in November 2013, ArsTechnica wrote a small piece about it. I felt it was neat to see that an online tech news site covered Helpouts and that I was part of this new venture. It was a wide rollout that can show how Google and everyday people can monetize face-to-face interaction.

The underlying technology of Hangouts is no different in Helpouts. For example, you can have a two-way video and audio conference with customers and service providers. All that a user needs is a webcam, microphone, and a high-speed internet connection. Additionally, tools, such as Google Drive and screen share are extremely useful. In my case, both are wonderful collaboration tools for me to review, edit, and provide feedback on documents.

Screen shot of Hangouts

Helpouts looks similar and has the same tools found in Hangouts.

Right now, my scope includes documents, but it could expand to screen sharing, remote computer service, and training. These Helpout sessions remind me of the work I once did as a Writing Tutor for the Center for Student Success at New Mexico Tech. I would consult with students about their papers for 15 or 30 minutes. Essentially, I’m doing the same but for a small fee and via the internet.

Currently, the marketplace for these services varies and I understand that people’s time and money is valuable. If you want to try Google Helpouts for my services, I would greatly appreciate the business. Google says that you will like Helpouts and offers a 100% money back guarantee.

Check out my 15 minute Helpout for documents that are 500-1000 words (1-2 pages long)  or my 30 minute Helpout for documents longer than 1000 words .

Your documents deserve better with some editing and feedback love.

November STC CAC Webinars

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Earlier this month, Viqui Dill and I presented on Social Media, Websites, Wikis, Email, and more for the Society for Technical Communication Community Affairs Committee (STC CAC). This time, we were invited by Cindy Pao to present on these topics. These presentations are expanded forms of our STC 2013 Summit Leadership Day progression presentations–which limited us to split 20 minutes on these topics.

We worked on our presentations back in April–brainstorming ideas and splitting our talks. What was amazing back then was our knowledge complemented each other very well and we could cross-link our thoughts and ideas across. Also we put our research in the form of handouts to provide communities with alternatives and tips for using these new communication technologies.

Here’s our newly updated presentations:

Viqui Dill’s Presentation

Adobe Connect Presentation

 

Roger Renteria’s Presentation

Adobe Connect Presentation

 

Both presentations were fun and very informative. I’d love to present more of these webinars and progressions in the future.

Related: STC 2013 Summit Wrap-Up