• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Rocking Your Path with Kat Sturtz

Building a Life and Solo Business You Love

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
  • Blog
  • Meet With Kat
  • Fast Action Fridays
  • Community
  • MEMBERS
You are here: Home / Archives for WordPress

WordPress

Simple Quiz Engine plugin is a winner

By Kat Sturtz Leave a Comment

sqe-cover

The techie girl in me loves being selected as a Beta Tester for interesting new plugins and software. Even in its earliest stages of development, the Simple Quiz Engine proved fun to use and opened up for me a whole new level of thinking about using quizzes. And you know I only recommend resources I truly love.

sqe-coverAs a Beta Tester I reported early bugs I’d discovered, recommended features I thought would be useful additions, plus aired my views on what additional training and information I thought was needed to help future users get the most value from owning this plugin. 

Why this robust plugin is a game changer

Using questionnaires and quizzes is a great way to increase engagement with clients and followers. I love how the Simple Quiz Engine plug-in from NAMS makes creating them so easy, quick, and flexible.

From simple Q & A styles to more advanced ones that contain multiple bridges depending on an individual’s response. Plus, I have complete control over how and where I share the quizzes on my own WordPress sites using shortcodes, as well as what info is displayed once the quiz is completed. 

SQE even includes built-in integrations for several email management platforms, including my current favorite, ConvertKit.

Use it to boost your response rate

There’s nothing more frustrating than working hard on a post for hours (even days!) and getting little-to-no response.

It’s maddening!

But now there’s an answer to IMMEDIATELY boost audience
engagement . . . AND find out what your readers want most
at the same time!

Are you using the power of quizzes?

It’s no coincidence social media feeds are filled with quizzes.
Quizzes are interactive pieces of content that people love to share.

And the beauty of Simple Quiz Engine is that it helps you
design a perfect quiz that engages your audience AND tells
you exactly what they want at the same time.

It also lets you send your audience to offers which
solve their biggest problems on the spot (for an
INSTANT boost in sales!)

But you’ve got to act fast if you want to lock in your
purchase of Simple Quiz Engines at LIFETIME pricing
(no recurring fees ever if you purchase NOW!)

Learn more about why quizzes are hot right now and check out the demo video on this page:

Simple Quiz Engine demo

kat sig

 

 

P.S. If you’d like to discover more about building effective
funnels (without having to create products from scratch)
I’d highly recommend you check out OTO1.

 

[aff-link]

 

Leave a Comment

Mini Website Review 1: Joy After Cancer

By Kat Sturtz 8 Comments

jac-thumbnail

UPDATE: As of April 2016, this site is no longer available to view online. However, the information and opinions shared in this review are still valid.

Mini Website Review for JoyAfterCancer.com 

A few simple design changes was all it took from taking this okay website to one the client now loves. It’s not a full-of-feature site. It’s sleek and simple and fulfills the Number 1 Criteria for any website: It does the job it was designed to do per the owner’s intended purpose and goal.

Number 1 Criteria for any website:
— To do the job it was designed to do per the owner’s intended purpose and goal

Before we started, Peggy couldn’t put her finger on what seemed off, but she did feel that something wasn’t quite right. 

The first thing I noticed was the opt-in box. Its colors weren’t harmonious to the rest of the design, so we tweaked the colors. Then we concentrated on re-wording her freebie offer, as well as tweaking the layout and wording about Peggy herself in the top widget.

The second After screenshot shows a few more changes. Theme was changed from Thesis to Genesis with Prose child theme (although we could have accomplished the visual changes in Thesis). The headline and body fonts changed, and per Peggy’s request, we featured one of her Google Hangouts interviews in the sidebar just with simple coding to add a post link and image from her blog. A few additional changes were made to her Blog page, as well as the sidebars.

Before

JoyAfterCancer before design changes

After 

JoyAfterCancer after changes

After changing theme and adding some flare

with new WordPress theme

What do you think of these changes? Better or Worse?

Share your feedback in the Comment section below. Feel free to include additional advice, suggestions, and questions.

We discussed this review on the February 5th Freebie Friday show I co-host on Blab with Stephen B. Henry. Here’s the replay: 

Want some free professional advice about your website? 

Click here to request a FREE Mini Website Review from Kat and Steve here:

8 Comments

Who’s knocking on your door? Stop giving hackers the keys with these 4 tips to secure your WordPress site

By Kat Sturtz 2 Comments

Stay Out sign image

Website security is a hot topic and was the focus of our Fast Action Fridays call for May 2, 2014. It’s so hot that it’s keeping website developers and managers busy with regular client work plus increasing numbers of  “OMG! My site’s been hacked” emergency rescue requests.

Yet there’s a reality I see playing out everyday online, especially among writers, hobbyist bloggers and solopreneurs working hard to build their businesses.  They are overly concerned that some nasty person will steal their words or ideas, but do nothing to protect the integrity of their websites.

Stay Out sign imageThis recap is longer than usual. No apologies, though. The issue is too important not to make sure you understand just how important, plus how easy it is for you to take a few minimum fast action steps to help protect your investments.

Knock on wood … my sites haven’t been hacked (yet). That doesn’t mean I don’t focus on securing them best I can. Glad I did. Last week I got my first notification of someone looking to do harm but couldn’t get into my site because of a simple free plugin I have installed. It’s just one security tactics I have in place.

If you manage your own site, make time to deal with security issues. Do it today! Also carve out some time to establish scheduled procedures that can help keep your site safe and secure, plus if hacked can help get it cleaned and back online asap. If  someone else manages it for you, have a chat about security with them.

Not to feed your fears, but that last “if” (… if hacked…) should probably have been a “when” because for way too many sites, whether you use WordPress or some other platforms, it’s truly just a matter of time before disaster strikes. You may not be able to avoid it entirely. But it’s definitely within your power to minimize the damage. Think of it as homeowner’s insurance for your website.

For heaven’s sake, before you start setting up the barricades and mustering the troops, lock the *!@#% doors.

Fast Action Tip 1: Do NOT use admin as your username.

If your Username is “admin” you’re  just asking for trouble. Might as well take out an advertisement in Hackers R Us letting the baddies know the back door to your site is probably unlocked so come on by and make yourself at home.

Why would they assume that? Two simple reasons.

Once, long-ago (say more than a year in cyber-time) some semi-automated installations of the WordPress website software, such as Fantastico, kept things super easy by automatically filling in the installation username field with the descriptive but uber generic term “admin”. If memory serves me, Fantastico now offers the option to choose your username during new installations.

Two, because anyone blasé enough to keep “admin” as their username, is also likely to have created a password that’s either simple to guess (often based on minimal knowledge of the individual’s history or preferences), or can be discovered with a bit of time and effort. Are your passwords like that?

Does it need to be said? Hackers are more than willing to spend a little time and effort jimmying the doors to your website.

Changing your log in isn’t hard, but it is a two-step process. Here’s how:

STEP ONE

  1. Log into your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Scroll down the left sidebar until you see Users. Hover over it and click the option for Add New.
  3. Create a brand new user profile for yourself.
    IMPORTANT: Be sure to create a strong password. More about that below.
    AND use the drop down box next to ROLE (near bottom of page) and choose Administrator.
  4. Save the settings by clicking the ADD NEW USER button.
    The button is red on my screen, but yours might be different.

STEP TWO

  1. Log out of your current session.
  2. Log back into your dashboard using your new username and password.
  3. Scroll to the USERS again. Click the All Users option.
  4. Find your old “admin” username in the first column. Hover over it and click the option to delete that user.

Fast Action Tip 2: Create a strong password.

While your username can be of the Plain Jane variety, as long as it’s not “admin,” you must create a) a strong password, and b) a unique one.

Yes, remembering a convoluted password made up of random letters, numbers and symbols is a pain, and having different passwords for different sites and program is doubly so. But, … if you care at all about the security of your WordPress site … and all the hard work you’ve put into it … and all the future good you expect it to do in helping your build your business and make money, you must suck it up and use strong passwords.

The USERS Profile page in your dashboard includes a “Strength Indicator” to help you see at a glance how strong your chosen password is.

Reduce the stress and anxiety of creating and remembering passwords by using one of the quality log in manager systems. I personally like LastPass. Even its free version is robust. I’ve heard excellent recommendations for 1Password, and RoboForm, as well. [Those are non-affiliate links.]

Bottom line: Don’t let the hassle of creating and using strong passwords deter you from using them.

Fast Action Tip 3: Install free or premium security plug-ins.

Remember that free plugin I mentioned that prevented someone from accessing my site and trashing the place?

Well, that plugin is Limit Login Attempts. Click here to learn more about it. It’s easy to install and activate directly from your WordPress dashboard. And, super simple to understand and tweak the settings.

Also install a plugin such as iThemes Security (formerly called Better WP Security) or WordFence. Other options are available, but the free versions of those plugins come highly recommended [I use them :)], provide 24/7 behind the scenes watchdog protection and include a variety of settings to help keep you notified of suspicious activity and more. They’re like stationing your own private armed security guards to patrol your website.

I wasn’t familiar with WordFence until Renae Whitacre, my May 2nd Tipster of the Day, spoke up to share how she had seen it highly recommended by one of her favorite to follow bloggers, Beth Hewitt. You can check out Beth’s review of WordFence by clicking here. Tell Beth we said “Hi” if you visit her.

Check out the May 2nd Fast Action Fridays replay to learn more about Renae and why she said, “I have not had security issues, but heard so many horrible stories that I KNEW the necessity to have a security watch out and back up installed on my website.” Plus, Renae shares how easy she found WordFence to install and setup.

You can connect with Renae on her Facebook page here and check out her free offer, 7 Myths of Blocking your Money Magnetism, on her Magnetic Money Mentor website. She’ll be back as Tipster of the Day in the future to share tips on busting those money blocks that can keep us broke and playing small.

By the way, if you’d like to volunteer to be the Tipster of the Day for a future Fast Action Fridays call, share your tips, plus get some free promotion, just post your request on my Facebook page or contact me here.

Fast Action Tip 4: Keep your site software and files up to date.

Take responsibility for this, delegate it to a responsible party or hire a site manager. If you are the Administrator of your own site, and know your way around the basic dashboard, then you most likely understand how to keep your plugins and WordPress installation up to date, especially the incremental security and bug fixes. Feel free to contact me if you need help figuring things out or would like a recommendation to a trusty-worthy site manager.

Bottom line: Stay up-to-date.

Bonus Tip – Back up, back up, back up

All the proactive action you take is useless IF your site gets hacked anyway AND you haven’t taken steps to make sure you can put things back in order quickly with a minimum of fuss from a clean backup. There are reputable plugins that can help you automate this but you do have to pick one, install it, set it up, and verify the quality of your backups.

YOUR TURN Exercise

Review your current website security status. Create a plan of action, starting with changing your username and/or password if you’ve left your back door unlock and the keys in plain sight.

Access to Recordings is Available to Subscribers

Here’s the link to subscribe. Feel free to share the link below and recommend the Fast Action Fridays community to your friends, family, and networking contacts.
Copy & paste to share: http://bit.ly/1mPz3fl

SYSTEM USED today for call-in and recording: Free Conference Pro (free online version)

• Feel free to contact me if you have questions, have a Fast Action tip or technique you’d like to share, or would like to explore JV and other networking opportunities with me.

2 Comments

Primary Sidebar

Let’s Connect

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on LinkedInFollow Us on PinterestFollow Us on InstagramFollow Us on YouTubeFollow Us on RSS

Recent Posts

  • Building Your Digital Team to Maximize Your Skillset with guest Brook Borup
  • How to Grow Your Business and Self-Confidence with What You Wear with guest Scarlett De Bease
  • How to Create and Launch Your First Course Fast with guest Melody Johnson
  • The Holy Trinity of Website Design Success with guest Kurt Scholle
  • Finding Your Divine Rhythm with guest Dori Staehle

Legal Stuff

Privacy   |  Disclaimer  | Credits  | Contact

Kat Sturtz 56 Vibes Services
PO Box 147 |  Pigeon MI 48755 USA
Office: 989.545.5351

Music on Fast Action Fridays recordings by JewelBeat. Used with permission.

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Meet With Kat
  • Fast Action Fridays
  • Community
  • MEMBERS

Copyright © 2007–2022 • 56 Vibes Services • | All Rights Reserved