Don’t worry it is most likely it is a simple issue.

Empty the cache!

And you say “The what?  I all out of cash.  I am broke! I just hire a web designer that makes changes I can’t see!”

Nope this doesn’t cost you money, it is more like taking out the trash.  Basicly it is just cleaning out the “memory” on your web browser.  This memory helps make sites load faster but sometimes when a site changes things it makes it so you can’t see those changes.

But the good news is that is is a VERY simple task that even those that  think the computer is akin to the monster under the bed can do.

Here is a very good post on all the browsers with directions on how to do this: http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-Your-Browser’s-Cache

Now of course, some older browser are grumpy and they don’t like change, heck they refuse to see the change, they just can’t support it. Good news is that unless you computer is from the dark ages you can download FREE, yup free browsers, that are way better than IE (YUCK IE!).  I highly recommend Chrome and Firefox.

But wait your computer is from the dark ages, down’t worry I have one of those too.  I love my old iMac, we are old buddies, however it can’t download Chrome.  If you have a grumpy old computer combined with a grump old browser, well, it might be time to adopt a new friend (the Apple Genius are waiting!).

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About New Kent Humane Society: New Kent Humane Society, Inc. is a non-profit organization which incorporated in January 2009 to address the growing number of homeless animals in our county needing assistance.  We are run entirely by volunteers and have no paid staff.  Our organization relies entirely upon donations, adoption fees, and fund- raising efforts for support.

Providence Forge, VA

http://newkenthumane.org

Web Design Highlights:

• Dynamic Welcome page with rotating images and content
• Event Page with google map, and event feed to facebook
• Portfolio Page listing animals available for adoption with automatic feed to facebook
• Online forms for adoption, and fosters
• Online donation form with PayPal integration
• Online order for New Kent Humane Society Products with PayPal integration
• Testimonial form that automatically creates page with testimonial.

Before Web Design Makeover

If you are anything like me you HATE doing bills. I am all about making my life more streamed line and that is even more true when it comes to book keeping and bills. It seems that you don’t have to be Samantha from Bewitched anymore to have bills automatically pay themselves or have you book keeping automatically do the dirty work for you. Here are some suggestions for online money management that I use to spend less time thinking about money and more trying to make it!

e-bills

This is the most amazing feature since sliced bread.  Through your bank you can automatically received and pay your bills.  This makes your life easier by eliminated two things.  First, you can cancel your paper statements and go green– saving paper and your time filing paper that you eventually will shred anyway.   Second, you can set up the bill to automatically pay itself!   You can choose to pay in full, or just to pay the minimum amount.  Check with your bank to set up these services.

Online Finance Management Tools

Once you get your bills automated it is time to tie it all together and see where it is going.  Most banks offer something that will tie into your bank accounts as well as into your credit cards so you can easily and automatically see where all that hard earned money is going.  Bank of America offers this but I am not a huge fan of their built in tool.  It seems a bit clunky but it does do the job.  However, some banks offer FinanceWorks or if your bank doesn’t offer it you can use its sister site Mint (this is mostly for personal use).  Both are free services.  I have found FinanceWorks to be extremely helpful and easy to use, but have only used it for personal use.  There is a Small Business FinanceWorks that I have not used since the banks I use do not offer the service.

For my business I use Outright.  It has many features that are designed for small businesses.  Such as Yearly and Quarterly Taxes!  Which is a HUGE time saver when it time comes to pay Uncle Same.  It is a very easy to use website and all your accounts will automatically update.  All you need to do is go in there every once in awhile and make sure that you have properly categorized the transaction to match your Schedule C Categories. Unlike both Mint and FinanceWorks, which are both Intuit, if you use Paypal, there is no way to automatically sync with those Financial tools.  With Outright, it will sync with Payapal!  Since that is how I process credit cards and receive payments for invoices, this feature is worth its weight in gold!  Outright costs $9.95 a month but since it offers Paypal and Freshbooks and Harvest Invoicing, and all but sends your Schedule C to DC!  It is worth the monthly costs.

Of course Intuit offers Quickbooks Online ranging in price from $12.95 on up to $78.  You can explore their services here.  If you need a more heavy hitter then this might be your best choice, as long as you don’t use paypal. For the size and functions of my business, I am happy using a separate invoicing system, a money tracking system, and then Paypal as my means to collect payment.  But Quickbooks Online does offer all of those services bundled into one place.

What are other ways to manage money online?  Any other companies and services that you recommend?

So you have your blog, you have your copy but you don’t want to shell out the cash for a photo editing software just so you can resize, crop  or do minor editing to an image?

Luckily there are several FREE and easy to use resources.

WordPress has a built in image editor!

That’s is right. You can edit your images directly from the media library!  To learn how to use this feature, hop over to WordPress Support and follow these easy to use directions.

Pros: You can crop an image right there in wordpress, saving you time and stress.

Cons: Sometimes seems to read the previous older file.  Only basic editing capabilities- Cropping, Rotating, Flipping and Resizing.  You do not have a saved copy of the image.

Photobucket

Photobucket, as decribed by Photobucket, “is the premier destination for uploading, downloading, sharing, linking and finding photos, videos and graphics. Host all your images and videos for free, then share them by email or on social sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. Your free Photobucket account can store thousands of photos and hours of video.”

Pros: Can give you access to more methods of sharing. More options for editing that the WordPress Image Editor.  It has the ability to add text, adjust image contrast and sharpness, special effects, decorative features, animations and even layers.

Cons: You have to either use the photo code to embed the photo on your blog, or download the edited photo and then uploaded to wordpress.

Picnik- closed April 2012

As described by Picnik, “Picnik makes your photos fabulous with easy to use yet powerful editing tools. Tweak to your heart’s content, then get creative with oodles of effects, fonts, shapes, and frames.”

Pros: Similar editing options as Photobucket.  You can create your own blog header using Picnik.  Integrates with Picasa, flicker, facebook, and Photobucket to grab your photos.

Cons: To get all the bells and whistles you will have to upgrade from your free account to $24.95 per year.  Same cons as Photobucket, you have to either use the photo code to embed the photo on your blog, or download the edited photo and then uploaded to wordpress.  

Website Makeover based on the Premium Professional Package with additional coding, buttons, multi-page formatting, and data transfer.

Before

Premium Profession Site with Writing Portfolio.

One of the best changes for small businesses and crafters is the ability to process credit cards securely and affordably on the go.  Long gone are the days of the knuckle buster and worrying about if your credit card info is secure.

Two great and extremely affordable options are GoPayment and SquareUp.

Square Up

Cost:

Monthly Service Fee: None.
Card Reader: Free!
Swipe Fee: 2.75%
Key Fee: 3.5%
Transaction Fee: .15
Limit:  Will only deposit $1001 per week.

Pros:

Card Reader is Free.  Easy to use.  Automatically deposits into bank account.  Easy and quick to use!

Cons:

No backup plan if your phone is not working!

GoPayment

Cost:

Monthly Service Fee: Free up to $1,000 of processing a month. ($12.95 for the other account)
Card Reader: $179.95 BUT is currently being offered free to new customers!
Swipe Fee: 2.7%
Key Fee: 3.7%
Transaction Fee: .15
Limit: $1000 per month for the free account.

Pros:

Comes with a insert for your knuckle buster with your business name and account number.  Great for the just in case situations when your cell phone reception doesn’t work or your phone battery dies.  Just like SquareUp, deposits funds directly into checking account.  One thing it does differently, which I like for tax purposes, is that it withdrawals from your checking account the Transaction/Swipe/Key fee after it deposits your transaction.  Why is this a good thing?  When it comes to taxes, it makes it much easier to account for the fees.  (Tie that in with Outright and you will have taxes done in a second).

Cons:

If you are like me, when I signed up the card reader was not free and now I have to make the choice if it is worth $179.95.  You have to have two log ins. One is for the GoPayment on your phone.  One is for the Merchant Center.