Adding an online store or e-commerce component to your website doesn’t have to be as difficult as you think. Website technology has come leaps and bounds in the last 5 years, and with these changes, the cost of implementing features such as online stores into your website has come down. The availability of new payment gateways such as Stripe has made taking online payments a breeze and online accounting systems such as XERO allow integration between all facets of your online store.
Woocommerce is the leading ecommerce solution for WordPress and is used on millions of websites worldwide. Woocommerce is capable of running online stores with just one product, all the way up to 10,000. The power of Woocommerce is outstanding and believe it or not, the setup process is not overly difficult. If you are looking to start selling a few simple products with no fancy shipping or billing options, then Woocommerce is a breeze to setup. The installation process will guide you through the required settings and prefill a lot of the tax and shipping rules. Paypal is built in as standard, so you can be up and running in no time and taking payments straight away.
When Woocommerce is installed a two new menu links will be added to your Dashboard – Woocommerce, and Products. Adding products to your store is much like adding a post or a page in WordPress. The option to “Add new product” is available from the Woocommerce submenu, and from there you are presented with a number of options to fill out. For simple products, it’s just a matter of providing some information about the product. The only required fields are a title or name for your product as you can run your store as a catalogue, and content such as a description, category, photo, price are all optional. To sell products you will require a price and this will then allow products to be purchased.
When adding photos you can set a featured image, much like pages and posts, and also subimages that act as additional photos shown under the featured image.
The beauty of Woocommerce is its ability to integrate seamlessly with WordPress – and it’s FREE. It’s opensource technology allows 3rd party companies to build plugins or addons for Woocommerce which extend the softwares usability. There are thousands of plugins available for Woocommerce ranging from shipping solutions, product display, complicated tax scenarios, checkout options and automation. Here are a number of top features:
So overall if you are looking at adding an online store to your website then take a look at Woocommerce. The ease of use and management of products and orders is exceptional and the product is easily scalable.
Woocommerce is the eCommerce software of choice at M2media and has been used on many clients website projects. M2media can take care of all the installation and setup along with any customisation that you might require.
As a professional web development and design agency, we have many clients that come to us asking what is the best password manager software or app to use. This is a great question as there are many to choose from.
These are our pick of the best password manager software for Australia that will help you never forget a password again and maintain a secure collection of passwords.
OUR NUMBER 1 PICK FOR PASSWORD MANAGERS
Special offer – Get 50% off the Premium version
Sticky Password is a feature rich cross-browser and device password manager that will keep your passwords safe and readily available. Offering both a free and premium account with unlimited encrypted password and data storage, you will never forget another password again.
Security is taken care of by a superstrong password generator and 2-factor authentication is available to prevent unwanted account logins.
StickyPassword is the only password manager software to offer an exclusive once off lifetime purchase offer.
With a 30 day money back guarantee on the premium product, it’s definitely worth giving the free download a go and taking Sticky Password for a test drive.
The digital software company, Cyclonis, offers a free password management solution that aims to simplify the process of securely managing and keeping track of all of your passwords.
Available for both Windows and Mac devices, the data management software can be easily accessed and downloaded at no charge from the company website.
If you want to find out more about Cyclonis Password Manager check out our Cyclonis review or visit the website.
Dashlane is a simple yet powerful password manager with a quality user experience. With support for PC, Mac, Android and iOS and Two-Factor Authentication you can’t really fault Dashlane. With support for 7 languages, actionable password strength, secure sharing and advanced form filling it’s hard to find any reason NOT to use Dashlane. They truly have set the bar for other password manager software.
Dashlane is free to install and start saving passwords. If you want the full range of great features there is a Premium version available with discounts for yearly memberships.
For more info check out our Dashlane review or the Dashlane website
tPass provides several benefits over other password managers, including strong encryption, multi-device syncing, automatic filling of login credentials, password generation, and secure sharing of passwords.
With LastPass, you only need to remember one master password, while all your other passwords are stored in a secure vault that can be accessed from anywhere. This makes it more convenient than other password managers, while also offering greater security. LastPass also includes a password generator, which can create strong, unique passwords for you, reducing the risk of using weak passwords that can be easily hacked.
Additionally, you can securely share passwords with others, making it a great choice for families and teams.
RoboForm is a well-regarded password manager that offers several benefits over other password managers, including:
Ease of use: RoboForm has a user-friendly interface and simple navigation, making it easy to store, manage, and access your passwords.
Cross-device compatibility: RoboForm can sync your passwords across multiple devices, including computers, smartphones, and tablets, making it convenient to access your passwords no matter where you are.
Auto-fill: RoboForm can automatically fill in your login credentials on websites and apps, saving you time and reducing the risk of typing errors.
Secure sharing: RoboForm allows you to securely share passwords with others, making it a great choice for families and teams.
Password generator: RoboForm includes a password generator that can create strong, unique passwords for you, reducing the risk of using weak passwords that can be easily hacked.
Overall, RoboForm offers a combination of ease of use, cross-device compatibility, auto-fill, secure sharing, and password generation, making it a solid choice for anyone looking for a password manager.
When reviewing password managers there are a number of features we look for. These core review items include:
So hopefully our reviews will help you in choosing the best Password Managers for your needs.
Passwords – absolutely, increasingly necessary, yet insanely frustrating, especially for those of us without eidetic memories.
Today, as businesses, health care facilities, organizations, and even government entities move their dealings to the internet, the rest of us have to play ball. For the most tech-resistant of us, that still likely means at least a dozen profiles requiring unique (ideally) user names and passwords.
For the majority of folks, it’s dozens of profiles and passwords. And because of the increasing brilliance and pernicious nature of hackers and cyber criminals, these passwords are supposed to be long, unique, and random.
Oh, and don’t write them down, because that’s a security risk.
Nobody has time to create and memorize that many unique passwords!
Fortunately, with the password managers, you no longer have to.
Password managers are apps or software that provide a variety of password services, from generating unique, random, complex passwords for all of your accounts, to providing encrypted storage of said passwords and usernames as well as easy access to this information when we need to log in.
They essentially solve all that is frustrating about password creation and usage:
Password managers can go a long way to simplify yet secure your life and some of your most valuable assets (such as bank accounts, health information, etc.). They are becoming very popular along with other security software such as VPN services (see our best Australian VPN services)
But there is a variety to choose from, and depending on your unique situation and needs, one type may be better suited than another.
How password managers work depends to an extent on the type of manager in use. There are three main types of password managers that you can choose from, each with their own pros, cons and unique features:
A web-based manager is basically a software service that you (usually) pay a monthly or annual fee for. Your passwords will be generated and stored on the service’s own server.
When using a web-based manager, you will be able to access your passwords anytime from any device as long as you have internet access. You will not have to install any software to use it.
You will, of course, need to memorize one password: the one you use to open up your password “vault,” as the lingo goes. But other than that, these web-based managers take care of everything else for you.
Web-based services do tend to have various levels of membership that you can buy into, and some of them also offer free versions. However, the features that are available at these different levels will of course be different, so be aware that no two web-based managers will be quite the same, and even one service will offer quite different features depending on the level you buy.
We will discuss common features further in a moment.
A locally-installed software password manager means that you have installed the password database software on your personal computer or your smart device usually through an app.
You will not need the internet to access your passwords, in this instance, since the passwords will be stored on the device itself in an encrypted database.
That said, there are certain brands in this genre that use a cloud-based hosting for password storage, in which instance, you will need access to the internet as well as to your specific device with the software installed on it.
Finally, token-based hardware managers require an actual hardware device, such as a USB flash drive or smart card, that acts as a key to authenticate its user and give access to the password data.
As with the other two types of managers, the password information is encrypted on the device, protecting it from probing or unauthorized access. A detail to note about these is that some of them will still require companion software to be installed on your device as well to enable accurate decoding and reading.
To sum up, while each of the above types of password managers uses a different location or method for storing your password database, or vault, all of them essentially perform the same following functions:
Besides these three basic functions, however, many of these managers have other similar features to offer.
Most password managers have a plethora of features they make available to users, albeit for the right price. This is especially true for locally-installed and web-based managers.
Some of the features that you can expect to see:
For those who are looking for bare bones features – usually individuals just looking for a secure way to both create and store the passwords for a few accounts – you can find free or very affordable and reliable password managers.
But if you want any of the added features that really make these versatile, for sharing with a spouse or among a staff-team, auto-filling, browser integration, etc., be prepared to pay for what you get. However, with all of the managers, platforms, and plans out there, you should be able to find something in your price point that meets your needs.
What you look for in a password manager will depend on your specific needs, so first be sure to identify those.
Why are you looking for a password manager? How many profiles are you wanting to manage? Are you looking just for you, or are you needing something to share with a spouse, whole household, or maybe a work-team? Do you want/need to be able to switch between multiple devices, or do you just use one? What kind of budget do you have set aside for it?
Answering these and other questions will help you hone in on exactly what you need from a password manager. Once you’ve identified that, then you can start to shop.
That said, there are some basic things you probably should keep an eye out for if you really want to be sure that your password information will be secure and the manager will be worth it:
Furthermore, some do make the case that you should choose to keep the data encrypted and decrypted on your device, rather than stored somewhere else. This is just for added security, since those services that store the data for you will be obvious targets to hackers.
Overall, the benefits of password managers are easy to see:
However, there are some downsides that you should keep in mind. We still think they are worth having, but knowing the pitfalls can help you use your password manager as effectively and safely as possible:
So, the moral of the story is – you still need to make sure you create a strong master password, change it up, and keep it private, and perhaps lean towards the project managers that give you the option to keep the data on your local device to decrease your personal risk should there be a breach.
The reality is that not all email marketing services are created equal when it comes to selecting the best email marketing software. Even though each email marketing provider varies slightly, the great majority provide the same fundamental functions to all customers.
If you wish to use Shopify for your email marketing, then you will be happy to know that it is FREE to use with a standard Shopify Plan.
You can send up to 10,000 emails each month for free using Shopify Email, and each additional 1,000 emails cost $1. You have access to all the features and there are no monthly obligations.
If you already have an online store with Shopify, then it makes sense to keep your email marketing and store in with the same provider.
With the aid of Shopify Email, you can communicate with subscribers and create enduring consumer relationships. For businesses who seek robust email capability with minimum effort, its simple and elegant interface eliminates the burden present in programmes like MailChimp or GetResponse.
Hopefully, this article has provided you with a starting point. It’s time to make the most of Shopify for Email and start experimenting so that you can start using email marketing for the benefit of your company. In the end, how well you use email marketing to expand your business will determine its success more than the product itself.
Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to grow a business. To get the best results you need to use the right type of email marketing for the right type of audience. This blog explores the different types of email marketing and how you can use them to get better results.
When it comes to email marketing, there are 3 main types of email campaigns, this include:
Depending on your business you may use only one type, or you may use all of them, every business is different.
Let’s take a look at each one in more details
Making an offer to your email list is the main goal of this most popular category of marketing emails. A white paper, webinar, brand announcement, new product launch, promotional content, and other things could be included in the offer. It’s little wonder promotional emails are so common – 66% of consumers have made a purchase as a direct result of an email marketing message
Promotional emails are a great way to stay in touch with your customers and keep them updated on your latest products and services. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when creating promotional emails.
First, make sure your email is clear and concise. You don’t want to overwhelm your customers with too much information.
Second, personalize your email as much as possible. Include the customer’s name, company name, or other relevant information. This will make the customer feel like you’re speaking directly to them.
Finally, include a call to action. Tell the customer what you want them to do, such as visit your website or call your store. By following these tips, you’ll create promotional emails that are both effective and engaging.
Relational emails are those that establish and maintain relationships between the sender and the receiver. They typically involve some sort of interaction or communication, and often include a request or response of some kind. In many cases, relational emails are the first step in building a business relationship, and as such, they need to be well-crafted and professional.
At their best, relational emails can help build rapport and trust, and can even lead to new opportunities. Done poorly, however, and they can come across as needy, intrusive, or even manipulative. If you’re sending a relational email, it’s important to strike the right balance and to be clear about your intentions.
To that end, here are a few tips:
With these tips in mind, take the time to craft a well-thought-out relational email, and you’ll be sure to build strong relationships with the people you communicate with.
Transactional emails are email messages that are sent in response to an action that a customer has taken. They can be sent in response to a purchase, sign-up, or other action. Transactional emails typically include information about the customer’s action, as well as any other relevant information, such as shipping details or a customer service contact.
In this post, we discussed the three different types of email marketing campaigns – transactional, informational, and promotional. We also discussed the pros and cons of each campaign, and how to decide which type of campaign is best for you and your business.
We hope you found this blog post helpful, and if you have any questions about email marketing campaigns and email marketing platforms, please contact us anytime. Thank you for reading!
As a professional web development and design agency, we have many clients that come to us asking what is the best VPN to use for privacy and safety when browsing online. This is a great question as there are many VPN services to choose from.
Based on our review criteria, these are our pick of the top VPN software for Australia that will help protect you online.
“There are a lot of VPN services on the market today, all with different features and offerings. As a the owner of digital agency, we are always asked what software we recommend to our clients. The tricky thing is, it all depends on the clients needs and also their future requirements. Small businesses can get away with any of the systems that offer a FREE plan, however, if you plan on growing then it’s best to look for a system that wont cost you a fortune”
OUR NUMBER 1 VPN SOFTWARE PICK
Voted #1
Quick Overview
Express VPN is in top of our list of the best VPN service providers for all the right reasons. Express VPN is a comprehensive VPN service provider with strong server diversity across the world, providing amazing features. It also has a huge selection of applications that are compatible with multiple platforms and are secure, well-designed, and user-friendly. Read along to know more about whether you should invest in Express VPN or not.
Our Verdict
In an oversaturated industry, Express VPN continues to stand out and outperform the competition. It features a network-lock feature to ensure maximum data security. Apart from this, it also has excellent offshore jurisdiction and company policies in place to ensure the customer’s data is fully protected.
The performance is solid and robust with the best speed for seamless user experience, and it also has Netflix streaming options available for all its applications.
With so many great options in place, Express CPN is our best bet in the best VPNs reviewed.
Quick Overview
Nord VPN is another strong contender in our list of the best VPN service providers.
The Panama based service provider started out in 2012 and until now has become one of the best VPN service providers available in the market with more than 4000 servers placed across 62+ different countries.
The most impressive features provided by the VPN service provider include top-notch security to ensure user privacy, zero-logs privacy policy, and fast speed.
Our Verdict
If you want to know if we would pay for it, the answer is absolutely yes!
It checks all the right boxes of security, privacy, and speed, which are the foundations of a good VPN service provider. Especially when it comes to speed, we think that NordVPN has exceeded our expectations.
One downside is that the application does have some letdowns in some specific regions like Malaysia, but that’s just one country out of 62, so not a major issue.
Quick Overview
SurfShark has been around since recently and has already gained a strong market reputation.
In a very short span of time, it has created an impressive server network. SurfShark offers numerous features like ad blockers, and options to whitelist websites to make the data secure and encrypted. It also offers Netflix streaming services with seamless speed.
If you are looking to invest in SurfShark, read along with the pros and cons related to the product and decide yourself.
Our Verdict
SurfShark is great when it comes to impressive features. The main key points worth mentioning here are consistent speed while using the VPN service, the affordable pricing, and without a doubt, its Netflix streaming.
Users might have additional requirements, but we believe that the project is ideal in terms of privacy and basic performance.
Quick Review
TorGuard is Best known for its strong torrenting support and good geographic server diversity.
Some of the best features of this VPN service include a built-in ad blocker, robust security, its ability to bypass censorship without getting notices, zero logs policy, and responsive customer service.
One big downfall of TorGuard VPN is that you have to purchase an additional IP with a monthly fee subscription in order to use Netflix.
Our Verdict
TorGuard has some really amazing features. The VPN is privacy-friendly with robust features to give users the freedom they want in customization of their user experience. The VPN can easily pass tough regional censorship and offers decent torrenting support.
One of the main drawbacks of TorGuard VPN is that you have to purchase an extra IP dedicated to Netflix streaming with a monthly fee. Plus, we are not quite satisfied with the speed of TorGuard VPN despite the good server diversity. As far as the user interface is concerned, we believe it has a lot of room for improvement as well. Streaming support is also not anything extraordinary. We would love to see better streaming support provided by the VPN service itself instead of an additional costly add-on to be purchased.
Quick Overview
The U.S based VPN service provider IPVanish focuses on speed, privacy, and security.
It checks all the boxes when it comes to the standard features of a decent VPN. IPVanish is one of the biggest names in the industry as far as VPNs are concerned, but is it really worth it? Read along for some pros and cons and decide for yourself.
Our Verdict
IPVanish is an easy-to-use VPN service providing multiple simultaneous connections. Its applications are available for all major platforms. The security is very strong in terms of data encryption and standards. This VPN provider also has a zero-logging policy to ensure the data privacy of its users. Other impressive built-in features include kill-switch, traffic obfuscation, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection. The interface of this VPN is easy to use with Kodi and other Android-based media systems.
IPVanish is an ideal option for security-conscious browsing due to its strong security and privacy policy of no-logging features. However, the system is not able to compete when it comes to online streaming and entertainment.
Some drawbacks of IPVanish VPN are that it falls short when it comes to unblocking Hulu and Netflix. Heavily censored regions like China are not able to use slick apps to bypass blacklists and blocks.
When doing any review there are a range of items we look at and with VPN services the same rules apply. The core review items such as:
So hopefully our reviews will help you in choosing the best Australian VPN service that best suits your needs.
There are many factors to keep in mind before buying a VPN. Some of the major ones are:
Technical security is the most important factor to look for before buying a VPN. A good VPN keeps all the information hidden, even to itself. Make sure the VPN provider offers a wide selection of strong protocols, the latest levels and techniques for encryption, and additional security features like split-tunneling, kill switches, and Tor compatibility.
Look for features that can be audited by a respected third-party. Features like OpenVPN, and AES-256 encryption, are some of the most important features to consider in a VPN. Your VPN should be able to accept anonymous payments. It must incorporate open-source software wherever appropriate, and it should have clear and strict policies for disclosing vulnerabilities.
Finally, a secure VPN should have multiple measures in place to ensure data protection, and it should also offer the latest and the most sophisticated standards for security available. Before buying a VPN, make sure its claims of security are validated by respected third parties.
Our second most important factor to consider before buying a VPN is being clear about the privacy policy. Evaluating the privacy policy of a VPN is another important factor to consider. With a market already full of different brands, it gets hard to distinguish sometimes, and buyers end up buying the wrong product. Also, many VPN providers in the market have left room for improvement in privacy policy areas.
The best and the most secure VPNs have ‘Zero-Log Policy’ in place, which means they cannot store any identifying data. However, some VPN providers are using this term without providing any substantial supporting evidence to the buyers, making it difficult for them to be certain whether the VPN is logging or not.
As a buyer, you should be clear about what kind of data the VPN creates and stores during and after a session. You should be clear about the logging policies of the VPN provider and any history of failure to cooperate with legal data requests.
Location and jurisdiction are two important features that are overlooked many times. VPN providers are bound to obey local laws and regulations. As a buyer, you should be aware of these laws, and if the VPN provider follows the rules or not as it might affect your privacy.
Theoretically, jurisdiction does not matter if the provider’s privacy policy is watertight. With that being mentioned, a legitimate VPN provider will have clear procedures in response to law enforcement, regardless of the logging policy they have implemented. All these procedures must be available publicly with necessary measures in place to protect user’s data privacy in case third-party requests access to the servers.
VPN service providers can monetize users’ data in unexpected ways. The development and maintenance of a secure and reliable VPN are costly, and many VPN providers choose to subsidize these costs with the help of income generated from multiple external channels.
Make sure your VPN provider clearly explains how they are generating their revenue and how your sensitive data is being used and processed. You should be able to distinguish whether the service provider is generating revenue from subscriptions only and not from processing personal information.
Lastly, make sure you are aware of the VPN service provider has financial stakes with other VPNs. If they do, make sure you know whether they are sharing data or not. As a VPN buyer, you should know who owns the VPN ultimately and whether or not it can be trusted.
People use VPNs for a variety of reasons. From torrenting to service streaming and censorship circumvention, it is important that you are aware of the services VPN provides, and you ensure your requirements are met.
After you have successfully tested your VPN for technical security, privacy policy and business model, it’s worth considering other factors like speed, customer services, and support, and device compatibility. Check the VPN provider’s official website and read reviews to see if the provider will work with the required platform and provides good speed. Also, you can research and find out if their servers are working in heavily censored countries.
Lastly, make sure your VPN service provider has dedicated applications for all types of devices. Lack of applications and support for your smartphone, tablet, or streaming device would result in the risk of partial protection and overall sub-optimal user experience.
We have put together a list of the most popular VPN questions in the hope that they answer some of your concerns. If you have a question about VPN services, don’t hesitate to ask – shoot us an email.
Pretty much all the VPN services reviewed will work with Android. Based on our findings, ExpressVPN would have to be the best all round VPN for Android users.
Much like the above question, all the reviewed VPN services will work fine with Mac iOS. When choosing a VPN for Mac it’s best to focus on what you are using the VPN for rather than the operating system you are running.
ExpressVPN is the best all rounder VPN for Windows and other operating systems. It ticks the most boxes in terms of speed, cost and reliability.
ExpressVPN or SurfShark offer good Netflix streaming options and are our pick of the best VPN for watching Netflix.
Coming soon
TorGuard is a VPN dedicated to those that use torrenting services.
As a professional website development and design agency, we are always on the look out for quality web hosting for Australian companies.
There are quite a few to choose from, but also a number of services that aren’t actually in Australia but provide an equally good service if not better than local providers (and for cheaper).
These are our pick of the top web hosting companies for Australia that will keep your business online and running smoothly!
OUR NUMBER 1 PICK FOR WEB HOSTING
Voted #1
Speed: 9/10
Security: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Value for money: 9/10
Siteground provides web hosting from a number of locations across the world, with the closest to Australia being Singapore. The service is fast, secure and also very cost effective compared to hosting locally in Australia. Tests conducted against 12 top hosting companies showed Siteground on top for Page loading speed (with cache enabled) and also Performance speed (cache enabled).
Support tests showed no wait time with a great resolution time of 5 minutes. Support tickets showed a response time of 8 minutes which is great if you are requiring a response quickly.
A must when dealing with any web hosting company is the level of security. Siteground takes security very seriously. The use of a Web Application Firewall allows for known vulnerabilities to be patched at the server level within 48 hours after vulnerabilities are made aware of.
For more info check out the Siteground website
Crucial Hosting is truely an Australian hosting company with servers located in Sydney at the Equinix SY3 datacentre. This by far makes crucial a stand out option if you are after Australian located servers. They provide a 99.9% uptime guarantee which is great peace of mind and also great support with a 24-hour tech team and Sydney based phone chat.
Another stand out feature is the no lock-in contacts. This is a great option along with the no set-up fees if you would like to test them out first hand. Resource limits are on the generous side and are optimised to run popular software such as WordPress, Joomla and Drupal straight out of the box.
For more info check out the Crucial website
A2 Hosting has a range of web hosting packages to choose from. They range from 1 simple site, up to Fully WordPress optimised and managed solutions. The top 2 packages have a TURBO feature providing speeds of up to 20 x faster than other hosting companies. The turbo feature provides additional resources and servers with less users resulting in great load times and better overall usability.
Free SSL comes standard with all packages as does the Solid State Drive Speed Boost which is referred to as a complete SSD Solution for your files, OS and databases).
A2 Hosting also offers a hassle-free anytime money back guarantee and 2/7/365 guru crew support which is comforting knowing support is readily available. With a 5 star average customer rating, it’s hard to look past A2 Hosting for your next hosting service.
If you want to find out more about A2 Hosting and their services visit the website.
As Australia’s first specialist WordPress host, you would expect WP Hosting to have a quality reliable product – and they sure do. They have been supporting WordPress since 2008 and have options for basic WordPress hosting through to enterprise solutions.
One handy feature is their Zero Click Install which will have WordPress installed automatically for you upon signing up for a hosting package.
To make it easy WP Hosting have 3 core packages billed monthly, or save by paying yearly. The resources offerings are fairly good on Australian standards, and all feature SSD storage, unlimited data transfer, daily backups and constant DDoS protection.
If you want to find out more about WP Hosting and their services visit the website.
Looking for a reliable Australian web hosting company to get your business online? If so, it’s important to understand the different types of web hosting and know the major features that a good web hosting company should provide for you.
The core review items such as:
With these items in mind, we review the best website hosting for Australia.
The first thing to do when shopping for web hosting services is to decide on the kind of website you need depending on your business needs. Here’s a look at the five types of web hosting:
Shared hosting is the cheapest web hosting option. As the name suggests, you get to share the same server with multiple other customers. It is ideal for small businesses with basic websites. Shared hosting typically comes with the tools you need such as website builders, email marketing software, and WordPress hosting.
The fact that you are sharing the server with other hundreds or thousands of users, surges in usage may undermine your website’s user experience.
Pros
Cons
Dedicated servers are usually the most expensive type of website hosting. They are best suited for large businesses with high-traffic websites. With dedicated server hosting, you have greater control over your site’s server. You have exclusively rented the server, and your website is the only thing stored on it. A high level of technical know-how is necessary for the installation and ongoing management of a dedicated server.
Pros
Cons
With virtual private server (VPS) hosting, your hosting provider divides a server into virtual services. That means every website is hosted like a dedicated server, but it still shares a server with other sites. VPS hosting is an ideal option if you need more control over your server but can’t afford a dedicated service.
It can also be a great option if you want dedicated hosting but don’t have the technical expertise needed. Unlike a dedicated server hosting, VPS hosting can’t handle high traffic levels or surges in usage. Website efficiency can also be affected by other websites on the server.
With cloud hosting, your website is hosted on several servers rather than a single server. It is a hosting solution that works via a computer network and allows businesses to utilise the computing resource like a utility. That means you can use the resource as much as you need without having to build or maintain your computing infrastructure in-house.
One of the best things about cloud-based web hosting is that it is scalable. Your website can grow over time, utilising as much resource as it needs and you only pay for what you use. The fact that the resources required to maintain your site are spread across several servers reduces the chance of downtime caused by server malfunction.
With managed hosting service, your web hosting Australia provider will handle all day-to-day management of the server hardware, operating systems, and standardised applications. It is unlike regular dedicated web hosting.
Most Australian web hosting providers offer managed WordPress hosting services. Many businesses prefer WordPress for its simplicity and ease of use. It is easy to set up and maintain.
There is numerous website hosting companies in Australia. However, not all of them offer the best web hosting services. Here are five things you should look for in a web hosting Australia provider:
Your website should be hosted as close to your target market as possible to ensure faster loading. However, you should also take into consideration the quality of the web host. For instance, you could be targeting an Australian audience, but if an American hosting provider can offer a more reliable service than an Australian provider, quality trumps distance.
Storage and bandwidth is another factor to consider when shopping for the best Australian hosting provider. The amount of storage and bandwidth you require depends mainly on the type of your website. If your site carries lots of high-resolution images or if you have a large inventory, you would need more storage.
Bandwidth determines the speed at which information travels to and from your website. For a high-traffic site, therefore, you would need a hosting service that provides plenty of bandwidth. You should include room for traffic surges and growth.
Some hosting providers claim to offer “unlimited” plans. However, unlimited never means infinite. These providers usually base their claims on the average client. Hence, if your website exceeds the average bandwidth by a significant margin, you may be required to pay more or asked to upgrade to another plan.
While most Australian web hosting providers promise up to 99.9 per cent server uptime, some providers are not truthful. Hence, it’s important to do your due diligence before you settle for a provider. Be sure to check online reviews and customer testimonials.
It is essential to consider website security, especially if you have an e-commerce website. A good website hosting service should have at least SSL encryption and SPAM protection. However, if you have an online store or need extra security, you should choose a hosting company that provides advanced encryption levels and other security features such as hack protection and DDoS protection. If you are interested in internet security, check out our best VPN reviews.
You want a Australian web hosting company that offers regular website backups and one-click restore. With regular backups, you are assured of getting back virtually all of your information easily in the event your website is compromised due to a security breach or a programming error. Backups can also help you avoid prolonged down times as you restore your site.
It is important to choose a hosting provider that offers reliable customer support. You want your issues addressed as quickly as possible and with the expertise they deserve. A good web host should offer multiple support options, such as email, telephone, and live chat, and knowledge base.
With this information, you can rest assured that you will get the best web hosting Australia provider for your business needs.
Please Note: M2media participates in various affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links.
The team at m2media has 20 years experience providing affordable website design services for small business throughout Brisbane. Our small yet highly qualified inhouse designers and developers know how to design and build websites that will be an asset to your business not just a pretty face.
By using WordPress as our content management system of choice, it allows site owners to take full control of their investment. Combine this with our expertise in digital marketing and SEO and your website will be ready to generate leads and provide a positive roi. If you are looking to start your own business and need a website, talk to m2media!
Make your website work for you! Ask us how!
All the websites we build utilise the world’s most trusted content management system WordPress. This allows site owners to have full control over their sites content. Not only that, we ensure all sites are responsive and mobile friendly and optimised for search engines.
m2 choose WordPress as the CMS of choice when it comes to building top notch websites every time.
All our sites are built to be responsive and mobile friendly from the day they launch.
We build websites with SEO in mind so your investment has the best chance of ranking in search engines.
A quick sample of WordPress website projects for some of our fabulous clients.
m2 in partnership with VIE Marketing & Soak Creative were engaged to provide a complete redesign and build of the Multinail corporate website.
The redesign was part of a complete rebrand for Multinail by VIE Marketing, which resulting in an AMI award for brand revitalisation.
Use of video was priority to create a more engaging user experience, whilst the use of angles was an important factor on point with the branding.
Working with Matisse Framing, Brisbane is always a pleasure. M2 had the opportunity to assist Matisse with their onpage SEO and help increase their rankings in Google.
After an initial site audit, content creation and onpage content updates, we were please with the outcomes.
Matisse Framing now ranks in the top 3 for their core targeted picture, certificate and memorabilia framing keywords in Brisbane.
If you would like to discuss any of our services or arrange a meeting feel free to contact us at any time using either the form or our LiveChat below.
2/2 Heather Street Wilston,
Brisbane QLD 4051
Phone +61 7 3059 9411
Have you thought of installing a virtual private network (VPN) and then dumped the idea as an unnecessary expense? Well, this article will give you 5 reasons for changing your mind and installing the best VPN for your PC or laptop today!
Any user logs on to the internet using the internet protocol (IP) address of their device. This exposes the user to many risks as the IP address can reveal a lot of sensitive information about the person. A person’s location, language, and the internet service provider (ISP) currently being used, can all be known using the IP address. A user can mitigate these risks by using a VPN.
When a VPN is installed on your device, you will access any site on the internet through a virtual network. Therefore if you make a connection request to a site, it will look as if the request is coming from the VPN and not from your IP address. Thus it is the VPN’s IP address that will be visible and not yours!
Moreover, the information passed between your device and the VPN is encrypted. It ensures that your device is untraceable, and you are not left like a sitting duck for cybercriminals to pry upon.
As discussed, if you do not use a VPN, then you access the net through your device’s IP address. It can pose a problem as your ISP can access your browsing history.
Therefore if you search for information that is prohibited by the government, then it will surely raise a few red flags.
Also, online marketers exploit a user’s search history to bombard them with targeted ads. So if you have searched online for a waffle recipe in the past, you are most likely to get find advertisements related to finding the best place for buying tasty waffles near you in your news feeds.
Access to your browser history is a violation of your privacy. It can leave you vulnerable to eavesdropping and potentially harm your reputation. This can be avoided by using a VPN as the virtual network will cloak your IP address and thereby protect your browsing history.
The free Wifi in a coffee shop or a hotel that you are staying in may seem like attractive perks. But what one does not realize is that public WiFi is not very secure. A hacker can gain access to these networks and control your device without you even knowing it!
Using sniffer software, hackers can decipher sensitive information such as your login details and passwords and put you at risk. They can even read your emails, bank statements, and private messages on your social media. Your device can also be infected with malware. Hence, it is strongly recommended not to access banking websites or shop online when using public WiFi.
So how do you get out of this jam? Use a VPN!
If you connect to a hotspot using a VPN, you need not worry about the safety of the public WiFi network as all the traffic coming from your device will be encrypted. It will keep you and your data protected against cyber attacks.
We live in times where we deeply rely on streaming platforms for meeting our daily dose of entertainment. But did you know that there are different versions of the on-demand services in different countries? Put, you may not be able to watch your favorite series if you move out of your country. Also, there are countries where some of the on-demand platforms cannot be accessed.
To get around the problem of geo-blocked content, you need to install a VPN. It gives you the power to unblock tons of content from around the world by encrypting your traffic and make it appear as if you are logged in from an entirely different country.
Using a VPN also gives you the freedom to bypass certain restrictions. If the internet at your place has restrictive network controls, VPN can circumvent this by not only encrypting your IP address but also keep your browsing history private.
We all love Google and its free services. But it tends to get a bit creepy when it knows about everything you do and every place you go. If you browse the net casually without caring about your privacy settings, Google will store and track all your movements online. It will even search your Gmail to show you better-targeted advertisements.
This may put you in a difficult or embarrassing situation, depending on where you went and what you searched for.
A VPN provides the user with the power to stop Google and others to track their location and activities online.
While VPN is not something new, it has gained a lot of momentum in the recent past. People realize the importance of protecting their online privacy. So if you want to safeguard yourself in the virtual world, get a VPN to hide your IP and save yourself from any inconvenience.
Netflix has grown to become one of the most popular online streaming services. From movies to TV shows, the options are endless when you choose this streaming service. There are several subscription plans that it offers, and you can easily pick one that fits your budget. There is one little hack some users pick to gain access to endless content on Netflix, and that is to use a VPN. With a VPN or virtual private network, you can make the connection request appear like it is coming from a different location. The virtual network that your VPN provider offers would mask your PC’s IP address and location from the server that you are trying to connect with. Some users use this little trick to access Netflix content from around the world. There might be some content that is only accessible in specific regions. With a VPN, you can gain access to content from around the world with a single Netflix subscription.
Using a VPN merely to work your way around the geographical restrictions is not directly illegal as of today. There are no laws that restrict the use of VPN to access streaming sites. You might, however, check with your local legislation regarding the use of VPN in general, to get a clearer picture.
There are times where you badly want to watch a movie that is available on Netflix. You login only to find that the movie is currently not available for your region whereas it is available in some other country. That is when you might find a VPN to be an easy solution to tackle this restriction and watch your favorite movie, no matter where you are located.
There are some places where Netflix is prohibited. You might already own a valid Netflix subscription, but then there could be times where you travel to a place where you cannot access Netflix. This is another situation where you can benefit from using a VPN for Netflix access.
To put in simple words, the VPN services for Netflix would help you change the viewing region for your Netflix account.
Netflix imposed a ban on the use of proxies to access the site and its services. This is why you might come across a prompt that requests you to turn off the proxy before accessing the site when you try using it with a VPN. The key is, therefore, to identify the best possible VPNs that work with Netflix. There is a handful of credible options that you can choose.
Once you pick one of them for your computer here are the steps involved-
You should only choose VPNs that come with robust encryptions when you wish to access streaming sites. Remember that your payment information and login credentials would all be at risk when you access your paid streaming services from a network that is not secure. VPNs that work at the router level can ensure that your entire network is safe. This also helps protect devices like smart TVs or even your home smart speaker that carries a lot of vulnerable information, including your contact details and location.
Have you noticed that Windows Firewall and anti-virus tools all block some connections by default? If the server seems to be risky, this happens. This is a precautionary machine that is executed to secure your computer. However, this is not enough, sometimes. Whatever be the site you access, details like your machine’s DNS (domain name server) and IP address are accessible to the site. In contrast, you might be thinking that your PC is secure and your anti-virus is offering reliable protection.
When you use a proxy to visit blocked sites, things get even worse. To make sure that hackers do not easily get a hold of your computer’s IP address and location, you need a reliable arrangement. This arrangement comes in the form of a VPN or virtual private network. This creates a virtual network and assigns a different IP address to your machine so that the site you access doesn’t see your IP and location.
The procedure here would often be simple
Even when you are using the best of VPN services, you should know whether your VPN is working. Make a timely check to understanding whether your VPN is leaking any information like IP or location.
The actual steps for installation and the method to turn on the VPN depends on the tool you pick. Some of them let you manually change the server location. You would find a list of servers available, and you can choose one. This can be useful for accessing online streaming services from a particular location. The VPN fools the desired server to believe that you are accessing the site from the chosen location.
Are you using Windows 10 in S mode, then you have the drawback that it doesn’t let you install apps outside the Windows store. This is where you can directly configure VPN from your machine manually.
Make sure that you complete the account creation process and keep your credentials ready. You should have prior information like the VPN type, sign-in info type, server address, and others. Once you have gathered these details here is how you should proceed-
When you then go back to the VPN page in Settings, you should see the VPN you completed configuring. Click “Connect” and enjoy secure VPN based connection on your Windows 10 PC.
You can navigate to any IP address checking site online. You should see a different IP address and not the default one that your PC has. If this happens, you can be assured that your VPN connection has gone live.
This disables the VPN and puts your PC back to the original state.
As you can see, enabling and disabling a VPN on a machine takes a few simple steps, and anyone would be able to do this. Make sure that you know the pros and cons of VPN and pick the best one out there. There are plenty of choices when it comes to VPN depending on the level of protection they offer, the encryption provided, and more. Pick something that works best depending on the sites you usually browse. If you access several risky connections, it is a good idea to invest in a VPN that doesn’t save your PC details while also offering good masking of the IP and DNS details.
