Because of the constant updates in the tech world, understanding how to optimize JavaScript for search engines is now essential. This guide will walk you through the key aspects of JavaScript SEO, ensuring your content is both user-friendly and easily accessible to search engines.

But before that, let’s start by exploring what JavaScript is and why it’s so important for your website.

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a widely used programming language that is critical in web development. This language allows you to implement complex features on web pages.

It’s part of the three core web technologies which include:

1. HTML or HyperText Markup Language: The descriptive language that specifies webpage structure.
2. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): A declarative language that controls how webpages look in the browser.
3. JavaScript: A scripting language that allows you to generate dynamically updated information, manage multimedia, and animate graphics.

So Javascript is more likely involved if you see things like animated 2D/3D graphics and interactive maps on a website.

Simply put, think of JavaScript as the engine that powers a website’s interactivity and dynamic features. If a website were a car, HTML would be the frame and structure. CSS would be the paint and design. And JavaScript would be the engine that makes everything move and respond to your actions.

How JavaScript is Used

JavaScript is unique in that it can be used both on the client side or in the user’s browser and on the server or web server. 

On the client side, JavaScript is often used to create interactive features on web pages like buttons that do something when clicked, dynamic forms that update based on user input, or content that updates without needing to reload the page.

On the server side, thanks to environments like Node.js, JavaScript can handle tasks traditionally managed by other programming languages. This includes managing databases, handling requests from web browsers, and serving dynamic content. 

This allows developers to use a single language across the entire web development stack, streamlining development processes and improving collaboration.

Common Uses in Web Development

One of JavaScript’s greatest strengths is its versatility. Here are some common ways it’s used in web development:

1. Interactivity: This programming language enables websites to be more interactive. For example, it can be used to create animations, handle form submissions, and validate user inputs in real-time.

2. Dynamic Content: It allows websites to update content dynamically. For instance, social media feeds that update automatically or interactive maps that respond to user input are powered by JavaScript.

3. Full-Stack Development: With frameworks like Node.js, JavaScript is also used on the server side. It enables developers to build the entire application, from the front-end user interface to the back-end database interactions, using a single language.

4. Game Development: While not as common for large-scale games, JavaScript is often used for browser-based games and simple mobile games, particularly those that can be played directly within a web browser.

5. Real-Time Applications: JavaScript is integral to the development of real-time applications like chat apps or live collaboration tools, where updates and changes need to be reflected instantly across all users.

We’ve already covered what JavaScript is and how it’s used. Now, let’s move on to understanding SEO and how it connects to JavaScript.

What is SEO?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) involves a set of strategies and practices aimed at improving the visibility of a website in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Unlike paid advertising, where businesses pay for their placement, SEO is about earning that spot organically. This is done by optimizing various aspects of your website to align with what search engines like Google look for when deciding which sites to show first.

Why is SEO Important?

SEO is crucial because it drives organic traffic to your website, which is often considered the most valuable kind. Why? It’s because these visitors are actively searching for what you offer.

A higher ranking in search results leads to greater visibility. This, in turn, can lead to more traffic, credibility, and trust from users. When your site appears at the top of the search results, users are more likely to see your brand as authoritative and trustworthy.

Moreover, SEO is cost-effective compared to paid advertising. Once your website is well-optimized, it can continue to attract traffic without the need for ongoing payments. This makes it a sustainable long-term strategy for online visibility and success.

How Does SEO Apply to Modern Websites?

Modern websites use SEO in multiple ways:

• On-Page SEO: This involves optimizing individual pages on your website to rank higher. Techniques include using relevant keywords, creating high-quality content, and ensuring the site is user-friendly with fast load times and mobile optimization.

• Off-Page SEO: This focuses on building the website’s authority through backlinks from other reputable sites. The more trustworthy sites that link to your content, the more credible your site appears to search engines.

• Technical SEO: This ensures that your website’s backend is well-organized, making it easier for search engines to crawl and index your site. It involves improving site speed, mobile responsiveness, and overall site architecture.

• Content Quality: Creating valuable, relevant content is at the heart of SEO. High-quality content that answers users’ queries effectively will not only rank higher but also keep visitors engaged, reducing bounce rates and increasing conversions.

• User Experience: SEO now extends to the overall experience of your website, including how easy it is to navigate and how quickly it loads. Google and other search engines prioritize sites that offer a good user experience.

What is JavaScript SEO?

JavaScript SEO refers to a specialized area of technical SEO focused on optimizing websites that rely heavily on JavaScript for rendering content. 

Unlike traditional websites, which primarily use HTML and CSS to deliver content, JavaScript-powered websites generate or modify content dynamically on the client side (in the user’s browser) rather than on the server side.

This dynamic behavior can present challenges for search engine crawlers, which are traditionally more adept at indexing static content.

While search engines have improved their ability to execute JavaScript, they may not fully index content that relies on user interactions (like clicks) to become visible. This can lead to portions of your site being invisible to search engines, reducing your overall search visibility.

Challenges JavaScript Poses to Traditional SEO Practices

JavaScript introduces several challenges to traditional SEO practices:

Delayed Rendering

Since JavaScript requires additional processing by search engines to render the content, it can slow down the indexing process. This delay can lead to critical content not being indexed as quickly. Or, in some cases, your web page may not be indexed at all if the rendering process fails.

Content Duplication

JavaScript frameworks can inadvertently create multiple URLs for the same content (e.g., with or without trailing slashes, or different query parameters), leading to duplicate content issues. This can dilute your SEO efforts by spreading link equity across multiple URLs instead of consolidating it into one.

Blocked Resources

If JavaScript files or other resources are blocked by robots.txt or not properly linked, search engines might not fully crawl or index the site, leading to incomplete indexing.

How Search Engines Work with JavaScript

Search engines like Google handle JavaScript through a three-step process: crawling, rendering, and indexing. Understanding these steps is crucial for optimizing JavaScript-heavy websites.

Crawling

This is the initial step where search engine bots, often called crawlers or spiders, visit your website and read its content. For traditional HTML websites, the content is straightforward. But for JavaScript-heavy sites, crawlers need to execute JavaScript to fully understand the page content.

This means the bot fetches HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files and queues them for further processing.

Rendering

After crawling, the search engine must render the JavaScript. Rendering is when the search engine processes the JavaScript to generate the complete webpage as it would appear to a user.

This includes any dynamic content generated by JavaScript. Google uses a headless browser for this task, which mimics how a regular browser would execute the code.

Indexing

Once the page is rendered, the search engine analyzes the content and stores it in its index. This index is a massive database of web content that Google uses to retrieve relevant pages in response to search queries.

For JavaScript-rendered content, this step is crucial because if the content isn’t rendered, it might not be indexed.

Image source: Google website

Crawling vs. Rendering JavaScript Content

The key difference between crawling and rendering in the context of JavaScript is that crawling involves fetching the basic HTML and associated files, while rendering involves executing JavaScript to build the full webpage. 

Crawlers can quickly gather HTML, but rendering JavaScript takes more time and resources. Therefore, pages that rely heavily on JavaScript might experience delays in being indexed if the rendering queue is long.

The Role of Googlebot in JavaScript SEO

Googlebot, Google’s web crawler, has evolved to handle JavaScript much more effectively than in the past. When Googlebot encounters a webpage, it first downloads the HTML and then queues the JavaScript files for rendering. 

The rendering is done by a web rendering service (WRS). This service executes the JavaScript code to generate the complete, interactive version of the webpage, including any dynamic content.

During this process, Googlebot constructs the Document Object Model (DOM), which represents the structure of the webpage after JavaScript execution.

Once the DOM is fully rendered, Googlebot can parse and index all the content, including dynamically generated elements like text, images, and metadata. 

This means that if your content is generated or modified by JavaScript, Googlebot can still see and index it as long as it can fully render the page.

Technical SEO for JavaScript Sites

There are two different approaches to how web pages are generated and displayed to users, and each has a significant impact on JavaScript SEO:

Server-Side Rendering (SSR)

In SSR, the content of a web page is rendered on the server before it is sent to the user’s browser.

When a user requests a page, the server processes all the necessary data and sends a fully-rendered HTML page to the browser. The user sees the content almost immediately, and search engines can easily crawl and index the content because it’s already in the HTML when it arrives at the browser.

SSR is generally better for SEO because search engines receive a fully rendered page. This makes it easier for them to crawl and index the content. 

Client-Side Rendering (CSR)

In CSR, the server sends a minimal HTML page to the browser, which then uses JavaScript to fetch and render the rest of the content. This method relies heavily on the browser to build the page, which can lead to slower initial load times since the browser has to execute JavaScript before displaying the content.

While Server-Side Rendering (SSR) is excellent for SEO and initial page load performance, Client-Side Rendering (CSR) offers benefits that SSR alone cannot provide, particularly in terms of user experience and application interactivity.

It can also reduce server load and provide faster subsequent page loads in certain scenarios.

Balancing SSR and CSR

In many modern web applications, a hybrid approach is used where SSR is employed for the initial page load (to ensure quick loading times and SEO-friendliness), and CSR takes over for subsequent interactions, enhancing user experience and reducing server strain.

Dynamic Rendering for SEO

Dynamic rendering is a technique used to optimize JavaScript-heavy websites for search engines, particularly when traditional rendering methods cause problems with indexing and crawling.

It works by detecting when a search engine bot like Googlebot is trying to access your website and then serving a pre-rendered, static HTML version of your page to that bot.

Meanwhile, human users continue to see the fully dynamic, JavaScript-powered version of your site. 

Should You Use Dynamic Rendering?

In general, dynamic rendering is seen as a temporary solution or a workaround, not a permanent fix. 

Google still recommends using techniques like Server-Side Rendering (SSR) or hybrid approaches when possible. These methods are more sustainable and provide better long-term results for both SEO and user experience.

Most Common JavaScript Frameworks

When building websites, developers often use JavaScript frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js. 

React

React is a JavaScript library developed by Facebook for building user interfaces, particularly single-page applications. Developers can create reusable UI components that manage their own state. This way, it’s easier to build complex user interfaces. 

By default, React uses client-side rendering (CSR). But it also has strong support for server-side rendering (SSR) through frameworks like Next.js.

Angular

Angular is a comprehensive JavaScript framework developed and maintained by Google. It is a full-fledged framework, offering a range of features such as two-way data binding, dependency injection, and extensive tools for building large-scale applications.

Similar to React, Angular also leans heavily on client-side rendering, but it also has SSR capabilities through Angular Universal.

Vue.js

Vue.js is a flexible JavaScript framework that facilitates the creation of user interfaces and single-page applications. Created by Evan You, Vue.js is designed to be adaptable and can be used incrementally. You can start using it for just a part of your application and scale up as needed.

This JavaScript framework is known for its simplicity, flexibility, and ease of integration with other projects and libraries. It can also be set up for either client-side or server-side rendering.

Common JavaScript SEO Issues and Solutions

Duplicate Content and Canonicalization

Duplicate content occurs when identical or very similar content is accessible through multiple URLs on the same website. 

This can confuse search engines, leading to the dilution of ranking power, as they struggle to determine which version of the content should be prioritized in search results.

So how does JavaScript cause duplicate content issues?

JavaScript can inadvertently create duplicate content issues by generating URLs with different parameters that point to the same content. Without proper handling, these different URLs can be seen by search engines as separate pages with duplicate content.

As an example, imagine your visitors going to your store website. After adding an item to their cart, the URL changes from store.com/shoes to something like store.com/shoes?session_id=12345. 

Even though the content (the shoe page) is the same, search engines might think store.com/shoes and store.com/shoes?session_id=12345 are different pages. Without proper management, search engines could index both URLs, creating duplicate content.

Canonicalization is a process used in SEO to address duplicate content issues. It involves using a canonical tag (rel=”canonical”) to indicate the preferred version of a page when there are multiple versions available. 

This tag helps search engines understand which version of the content is the “official” one that should be indexed and ranked.

How to Fix Duplicate Content and Canonicalization Issues

You can establish a canonical URL for duplicate or extremely similar sites in Google Search using a variety of approaches. These are, in order of their strength in influencing canonicalization:

Redirects

Redirects are a clear indication that the target of the redirect should become canonical. You can use redirects to tell Googlebot that the redirected URL is superior to the original URL. You should use this exclusively when removing a duplicate page.

Using rel=”canonical” Link Annotations

You can use rel=”canonical” link annotations to indicate that the supplied URL should become canonical

The rel=”canonical” link element method allows you to add a <link> element in the code for all duplicate pages, pointing to the canonical page. However, this only applies to HTML pages and not to formats like PDF. In such circumstances, use the rel=”canonical” HTTP header.

As an example, if you want the site https://store.com/shoes to be your canonical URL even though there are many variants of URL that can access this content, you can do so by doing what’s shown below.

<html>
<head>
<title>Check out our new collection of shoes</title>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://store.com/shoes" />
<!-- other elements -->
</head>
<!-- rest of the HTML -->

Include a Sitemap

You can specify your canonical pages in a sitemap. This can be easy to do and maintain and can be beneficial, especially on large sites. But it’s a weaker signal to Google than the rel=”canonical” mapping technique.

Google must still find the related duplicate for any canonicals you specify in the sitemap.

Do note that these methods work best when they are combined, so we encourage you to give all of these methods a try.

Best Practices for Canonical Tags for Better JavaScript SEO

• Do not utilize the robots.txt file for canonicalization purposes.
• Don’t define various URLs as canonical for the same page using different canonicalization techniques (for example, don’t specify one URL in a sitemap but a different URL for the same page using rel=”canonical”).
• Do not use the URL removal tool for canonicalization. It conceals all URL variants from Search.
• It’s not advisable to use the noindex tag to manage canonical page selection within a single site, as this would remove the page entirely from search engine results. The preferred option is to use rel=”canonical” link annotations.
• When linking within your site, use the canonical URL rather than the duplicate URL. Linking to the URL you believe to be canonical helps Google understand your preference.
• If you use hreflang elements, make sure to include a canonical page in the same language, or the best available substitute language if one does not exist.

Challenges with Hash-Based Routing (#) 

When you see a # in a URL, like example.com/#section1, that # is used by browsers to jump to a specific part of the same page, like a table of contents or a section further down. It’s a built-in function of browsers, and anything after the # usually isn’t sent to the server when the page is requested.

However, some JavaScript developers have started using # for other things, like navigating between different pages or adding extra data to the URL. While this might work technically, it can cause confusion and problems.

Why It’s a Problem

• Browsers Ignore the Rest: When you use # in a URL, the server ignores everything after it. This can mess up how the page is processed or how data is handled.
• Confusing to Manage: Since # is meant for one thing (jumping to parts of a page), using it for something else can make your website harder to manage and can confuse both developers and the systems handling your website.

Better Alternatives

For example, if you’re using the Vue.js framework, developers often use # to manage how the website navigates (this is called routing). Instead of using #, it’s better to use something called ‘History Mode,’ which creates clean URLs without #.

By using History Mode, the URLs on your site will look cleaner (like example.com/page1 instead of example.com/#page1), and it avoids the issues that come with misusing the #.

Lazy Loading and SEO

Lazy loading is a web development technique that delays the loading of non-essential content, like images and videos, until they are needed.

If not implemented correctly, lazy loading can prevent search engines from indexing content that is loaded later, such as images or text that appear only after scrolling. This might cause important content to be missed during the crawling process, which can hurt your SEO.

How to Fix Lazy-Loaded Content

Ensure that all important content is loaded when it becomes visible on the screen (the viewport). This makes sure Google can see it, as Google’s crawler doesn’t interact with your page like a user would.

• Built-in Browser Lazy Loading: Modern browsers have built-in support for lazy loading images and iframes.
• IntersectionObserver API: This API allows you to detect when elements enter the viewport and load them accordingly. It can be best described using the example below.

• JavaScript Libraries: Some libraries are specifically designed to load content when it enters the viewport, without needing user actions like scrolling.
• Avoid Lazy Loading Critical Content: Don’t apply lazy loading to content that is immediately visible when the page loads. This content needs to be prioritized and should be seen by both users and search engines.

Lastly, always test your lazy loading setup to ensure that it works correctly and that Google can load all your content. One way of doing so is by using the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console

Best Practices for JavaScript SEO

Make Your Website More Accessible

When designing your website, focus on making it accessible to all users, not just search engines. Consider the needs of people who might not be using a browser that supports JavaScript, like those who rely on screen readers or have older mobile devices. 

A simple way to check your site’s accessibility is by turning off JavaScript in your browser or viewing it in a text-only browser like Lynx. This approach helps you spot any content that might be hard for Google to read, such as text that’s embedded in images.

To turn off JavaScript in Google Chrome, open the browser, click the three dots in the top-right corner, and go to “Settings.” On the left side of the screen, click “Privacy and security,” then click on “Site Settings.” Under the “Content” section, find “JavaScript” and toggle it to “Don’t allow sites to use JavaScript.”

Infinite Scrolling

If you’re using infinite scroll on your website, it’s important to also include paginated loading. 

Paginated loading helps users share specific sections of your content and makes it easier for them to return to those sections later. It also allows Google to link directly to a specific part of the content, instead of just the top of the page.

To enable this, make sure each section of your content has a unique link that users can share and access directly. Use the History API to update the URL as new content loads dynamically.

Create Unique Titles and Descriptions for Your Pages

Having unique and descriptive <title> elements and meta descriptions helps users quickly find the best match for their search. You can use JavaScript to set or change these elements.

Title Links

The title link is what users see in search results. Although Google may generate this title link automatically, you can influence it by following best practices.

• Make sure every page on your site has a specific title in the <title> element.
• Keep your titles descriptive but concise. Avoid vague terms like “Home” or “Profile” and don’t make the titles too long, as they might get cut off in search results.
• Don’t overuse keywords. While it’s good to include some descriptive terms, avoid repeating the same words multiple times.

Snippets

Snippets are short previews of your page’s content that appear in search results. Google may use the meta description tag to create these snippets if it provides a clearer summary than the content on the page.

It’s important to write unique descriptions for each page. Using the same description on every page isn’t helpful for users. Focus on creating accurate descriptions for individual pages, especially your homepage and most important pages. If you can’t write descriptions for every page, prioritize the most critical ones.

Write Compatible Code

When you write JavaScript code for your website, it’s important to make sure it works on all browsers and that Google can understand it. JavaScript is always changing and getting new features. But not all browsers, even Google can support every new feature right away.

If your code isn’t compatible with the browsers your users are on, parts of your website might not work correctly, or at all. Also, if Google can’t understand your code, your site might not show up properly in search results.

How to Make Sure Your Code Works Everywhere:

1. Understand Browser Compatibility: Different browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari might not all support the latest JavaScript features or APIs. To write compatible JavaScript code across all browsers, focus on using standardized features supported by the latest ECMAScript (ES) specifications and avoid browser-specific code.  You can ensure compatibility by testing your code in multiple browsers and using tools like Babel to transpile modern JavaScript into versions supported by older browsers.

2. Use Polyfills: A polyfill is like a backup plan. If a browser doesn’t support a feature your code needs, a polyfill provides an alternative way to make that feature work. It’s like giving older browsers a cheat sheet so they can understand newer JavaScript.

3. Use Differential Serving: This means giving different versions of your code to different browsers based on what they can handle. Modern browsers might get the latest and greatest version, while older ones get a simpler version they can understand.

4. Check for Limits: Not every browser feature can be poly-filled. Some things just won’t work on older browsers no matter what. So, it’s important to check the documentation to understand what can and can’t be made compatible.

Use the Correct HTTP Status codes

When you visit a webpage, your browser and the server hosting the webpage communicate using something called HTTP status codes. These codes are like messages that tell the browser or Google’s web crawler what happened when trying to load the page.

Googlebot uses these status codes to understand if there were any issues when it tried to access a page on your website. Depending on the status code, Googlebot will know if it should make your page searchable or if there is a problem.

Using the correct status codes helps ensure that Google and other search engines understand what’s happening with your pages. This way, Google can index your site correctly, and users won’t run into issues like broken links or pages that don’t exist anymore.

Key HTTP Status Codes You Should Know

404 – Page Not Found: This code tells Googlebot and browsers that the page doesn’t exist. If someone tries to visit a URL that doesn’t exist anymore, the server will send a 404 code. Googlebot then knows not to index this page.

401 – Unauthorized: This code is used when a page is behind a login screen. It tells Googlebot that it needs special permission to view the page. In other words, the server requires the client (such as a browser or application) to authenticate itself before accessing the requested resource. Googlebot won’t be able to index these pages unless access is granted.

301 – Moved Permanently: If you’ve moved a page to a new URL, you use this code to tell Googlebot that the page has been permanently moved. This helps Google update its index with the new URL so users can find the right page.

Avoid Soft 404 Errors in Single Page Apps

When you build a single-page app using JavaScript, the entire app runs on one web page. JavaScript handles the navigation to moving between different pages of content.

A soft 404 error happens when a page that should show a “not found” message (like when a product doesn’t exist) instead shows a normal page with a message like “No product found” but still returns a status code that says everything is okay (like 200). This confuses search engines like Google, which might think the page is valid when it really isn’t.

How To Avoid Soft 404 Errors 

1. JavaScript Redirect to a 404 Page:

If a product or page doesn’t exist, you can use JavaScript to redirect users to a dedicated “not found” page that properly returns a 404 status code.

Example:

2. Add a Noindex Tag

If redirecting isn’t possible, another approach is to add a meta tag that tells search engines not to index the error page, so it doesn’t show up in search results.

Example:

Allow Crawling of JavaScript Files for JavaScript SEO

When it comes to JavaScript SEO, it’s important to make sure that search engines like Google can access all the files they need to properly display your webpage. 

Allowing Google to crawl your JavaScript and CSS files is crucial because it ensures that your website is rendered correctly in search results. If Google can’t see these files, parts of your page might be missing or displayed incorrectly, which can negatively impact your SEO.

How to Allow Google to Crawl JavaScript Files

1. Update Your robots.txt File

The robots.txt file tells search engines which parts of your website they are allowed to access. To make sure Google can access your JavaScript and CSS files, you need to add the following lines to your robots.txt file:

2. Check Subdomains and Other Domains

If your website uses resources from other subdomains (like an API) or external domains, you need to make sure those robots.txt files also allow access to the necessary JavaScript and CSS files. If these resources are blocked, it can cause problems with how your site is displayed in search results.

3. Test Using the Network tab

You can test whether blocking certain resources affects your page’s content by using the Network tab in Chrome DevTools. Block the specific file, reload the page, and see if anything changes. If blocking the file causes issues, that file should be accessible to Google.

Use Structured Data

Structured data is a specific format that provides information about a page and classifies the page content. This structured data can be included in your pages using a format called JSON-LD.

JSON-LD (JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data) is a way to encode structured data in a format that search engines like Google can read and understand. It helps search engines understand the context of your content, such as identifying a page as a recipe, an article, a product, etc.

Why This Matters for JavaScript SEO

Properly implemented structured data can enhance how your pages appear in search results, often leading to rich results like enhanced listings with stars, images, and other visual elements. 

By using JavaScript to manage this data, you keep your site flexible and dynamic, while still providing search engines with the information they need to rank your content effectively.

Using JavaScript to Inject JSON-LD

You can use JavaScript to create and add this structured data (JSON-LD) directly to your webpage. Follow the steps below to do so.

1. Generate JSON-LD with JavaScript: Write a JavaScript script that creates the JSON-LD structured data for your page.

2. Inject JSON-LD into the Page: Use JavaScript to insert the generated JSON-LD into your page, typically within a <script type=”application/ld+json”> tag.

3. Test Your Implementation: It’s crucial to test your structured data to make sure it’s working correctly. Google provides tools like the Rich Results Test where you can check if your JSON-LD is being read and interpreted correctly by search engines.

Tools to Test How Googlebot Sees Your JavaScript Content

Several tools can help you understand how Googlebot interacts with and indexes your JavaScript content:

Google Search Console’s URL Inspection Tool

The URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console is a powerful tool that helps you see what Google knows about a specific page on your site. This is especially useful for troubleshooting issues related to JavaScript SEO.

You can use the URL Inspection Tool to:

• Troubleshoot Missing Pages: If a page on your site isn’t appearing in Google’s search results, you can use this tool to find out why. It tells you whether Google has crawled and indexed the page or if there’s a problem preventing it from showing up.

• Check Fixes: After fixing an issue on a page like a JavaScript problem or an indexing error, you can use the tool to verify that the fix worked.

• Request Indexing: If you’ve just added or updated a page, you can ask Google to crawl and index it right away, rather than waiting for Google to find it on its own.

How to Use the  URL Inspection Tool:

I. Inspect a Page:

1. Type the full URL of the page you want to inspect into the search bar at the top of Google Search Console.

2. Or, click the inspect icon next to a URL in one of your reports.

II. Check the Page Status:

• URL is on Google: This means the page is indexed and there are no major issues.

• URL is on Google, but has issues: The page is indexed, but there are problems that could affect its performance in search results. The tool will show you what those issues are.
• URL is not on Google: This means the page isn’t indexed. The tool will help you understand why, whether it’s due to crawl issues, indexing blocks, or duplication with another page.

III. Fix and Recheck:

1. If you find a problem, fix it on your site.
2. Then, use the tool to “Test live URL” and confirm the issue is resolved.
3. If everything looks good, click “Request indexing” to ask Google to re-index the page.

Rich Results Test

As mentioned previously, the Rich Results Test is a tool provided by Google to help you check if your webpage is eligible for special features in Google Search results, often called “rich results.” 

Using the Rich Results Test ensures that your structured data is set up correctly so that Google can display rich results for your pages. These features might include things like star ratings, images, or other enhanced information that makes your search listing stand out.

The Rich Results Test supports several formats for structured data, including JSON-LD, RDFa, and Microdata. JSON-LD is the most common and recommended format for JavaScript SEO because it is easy to implement and works well with JavaScript.

How to Use the Rich Results Test

1. Testing a URL

Enter the full URL of the page you want to test. Make sure that all resources on the page (like images, scripts, and structured data) are accessible to anyone on the internet, not just users who are logged in or behind a firewall. 

If your page is on a local machine or behind a firewall, you can still test it by exposing it using a tool that creates a secure tunnel.

2. Testing a Code Snippet

Instead of testing a full page, you can also test a piece of code. On the tool’s main page, select “Code” instead of “URL,” paste your code snippet, and run the test. You can modify the code and run the test multiple times to see how changes affect the results.

3. Choosing a User Agent

A user agent is the system (like a smartphone or a desktop computer) that Google uses to browse your page. By default, Google uses a smartphone user agent because most people access websites via mobile devices. However, you can choose to test with a desktop user agent if needed. 

It’s generally recommended to use the smartphone option since it aligns with Google’s mobile-first indexing approach.

Reviewing the Results

After running the test, you’ll see which types of rich results were found on the page and any errors or warnings related to your structured data. If there are issues, you can click on them to see more details and even view the specific part of your code that needs fixing.

As an important tip, make sure there are no comments within your JSON-LD code. While the Rich Results Test tool ignores them, they might cause potential issues when your page goes live.

Lighthouse

Image Source: Google

As part of Chrome’s Developer Tools, Lighthouse provides an SEO audit that includes checking whether JavaScript content is correctly rendered and indexed. It also gives insights into performance issues that might affect how Googlebot renders your page.

Lighthouse can run in different programs. It can be through Chrome DevTools, from the command line, from a web UI, or as a node module.

Lighthouse is also open-source, and contributions from developers are highly encouraged.

Web Design Strategies for Better JavaScript SEO

Progressive Enhancement

Progressive enhancement involves building a website by starting with a basic, functional version that works on all browsers, including those with limited capabilities. Then, you layer on more advanced features like JavaScript.

For JavaScript SEO, progressive enhancement ensures that the core content of your website is accessible to all users, including search engines, even if JavaScript fails or is not supported by the browser.

Search engines like Google may not fully render JavaScript when first crawling a page, so having a solid, HTML-based foundation helps ensure that the essential content is indexed properly.

Graceful Degradation

Graceful degradation, on the other hand, takes the opposite approach. It starts by creating a fully-featured version of a website using the latest technologies. Then, as the site is accessed on older or less capable browsers, it degrades by removing features that aren’t supported, ensuring the site still functions, albeit with fewer features.

In terms of JavaScript SEO, graceful degradation helps ensure that your site remains functional and accessible even if some of the JavaScript features don’t work.

Both strategies ensure that all users and search engines can access your content, regardless of the browser or device they are using.

FAQs About JavaScript SEO

Wrapping Things Up

Although JavaScript can be challenging for SEO, it’s a powerful tool that, when optimized, can greatly improve your site’s visibility and user experience.

If you’re new to JavaScript SEO, the information above may be overwhelming. But don’t worry, you can start with small, manageable steps and gradually build your knowledge and skills.

By applying the strategies in this guide, you can make sure that your website content is search engine-friendly and engaging for your audience. And with the right approach, you will see your website rise in search engine rankings in no time.

The post A Comprehensive JavaScript SEO Guide appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

Luckily, there are ways to make money quickly with affiliate marketing if you already have an established audience. That said, if you are starting a website from scratch, the prospects of making money fast are almost non-existent.

Affiliate marketing relies on linking your large audience to a product or service within your niche. When done correctly, some of your audience will buy that product or service, and you will receive a small commission.

The bigger the audience, the better the odds you will be able to capitalize.

With that said, let’s take a look at how you can make money as fast as possible with affiliate marketing.

What Is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is the process where a business will offer incentives to other sites or influencers (affiliates) for sharing their product with their audience. In return, the affiliates get a small commission for every purchase made by using a set link or code.

The process is very simple and can be extremely lucrative for both sides.

Normally, a business would pay for ad space on platforms like Google, Facebook, and so on with the hopes that users see the ad and interact. While this is effective, affiliate marketing presents businesses with better results.

This is because influencers will create their own ad to promote the product, which is likely to resonate with their specific audiences, thus resulting in higher engagement. And influencers can create these ads in a variety of ways.

For example, one of the most prominent places you will see this is on YouTube. Most content creators get paid to advertise a product or service and include a link or discount code in the description. They get paid every time someone uses them.

Of course, this isn’t exclusive to video content. Many blogs will write product reviews that include an affiliate link at the end. This way, they can tell the user all about the product and entice them to buy it if they like it.

How to Make Money Fast with Affiliate Marketing

Generally speaking, affiliate marketing is rather simple. You sign up with a company to become an affiliate, share that affiliate link with your audience, and hopefully profit.

Yet, nothing is ever as simple as it appears. Depending on the platform, it can get a bit convoluted.

Trying to get someone to click on a link and spend money in 2024 is not easy. Most visitors are on guard to avoid this type of content, which is why you are going to need to put in some effort to make it work.

Step 0: Build a Following

To be successful at affiliate marketing, you need a following. There’s no getting away from this, and building one takes time.

As such, this is the real first step. You need to have an audience to whom you can market the product or service. And if I’m being realistic, you need a sizeable one to make any significant amount of money from this.

While building up an audience, you need to make sure you are building a great reputation that people can trust. Affiliate marketing relies heavily on people trusting you, thus if you fail to achieve this, you will have a hard time convincing users to buy something.

The following steps are built around the assumption that you already have an audience in place, whether it’s on social media or through a blog.

Step 1: Understand Your Audience

The first thing you need to consider is the interests of your audience. Affiliate marketing relies heavily on putting a product your audience is already likely interested in right in front of them.

As such, understanding what your audience likes is vital. For example, if you have a website dedicated to cooking, you probably won’t have any luck trying to push a VPN service to your audience.

However, you would be in a really good position to push cookware, recipe books, oven mitts, and so on. Anyone on a site about cooking will be interested in equipment that can help them cook.

It’s easy to see why knowing your audience is important, but the real question is how to figure out their interests.

There are several ways you can collect this information. The first, and probably most obvious, is to check out what content does well on your site. Do you notice that a specific content topic does better than another?

If so, your user base probably prefers that topic, so finding an affiliate deal you can advertise makes a lot of sense. A more direct approach is to just ask your audience what kind of content they want to see.

Creating a poll or survey for your audience in WordPress is easy and many users will give feedback, especially if they want to see more of a certain kind of content. Understanding your audience is vital to all aspects of your website, so be sure to research it.

Step 2: Find or Embrace A Niche

Once you know what your audience is interested in, it is time to zone in on a niche within that topic. You may have heard that diversifying the content you offer is a good practice, which it is, but when it comes to affiliate marketing, niches are your best friend.

This is because it is much easier to find products or services your audience is interested in when you focus your efforts on a single topic.

Let’s start with the basics, niche content is content built around a singular topic, which is usually a smaller part of a larger topic. This content targets a specific audience that is interested in that niche and all content related to it.

For example, take a broad topic like reading. Making reading recommendations is a great way to market new books to your audience. However, it’s no secret that readers typically favor a certain genre like fantasy or sci-fi.

A niche would be focusing on one of those genres within the broader topic.

You would be in a better position to advertise new books to your readers and merch related to those titles if it exists.

For instance, The Lord of the Rings is still one of the most popular fantasy franchises to ever exist. Covering this franchise would allow you to recommend merch related to it, collector book sets, and more. And you can branch out to other books or franchises within the genre.

This makes it much easier to find affiliate partners.

Step 3: Find Affiliate Programs to Partner With

Now that you have an idea of what your audience likes, it’s time to find an affiliate program that sells what they like. Choosing an affiliate program can directly affect how long it takes to make money with affiliate marketing.

There are several key factors you need to keep in mind when selecting one.

The first is the conversion rate. Some products or services are just more likely to sell, and when you are focused on making money fast, choosing a program that has a high conversion rate is critical.

This doesn’t just come down to the products, Things like if the business works with a platform like PayPal that allows customers to quickly process their payment are also a factor. The fewer barriers there are, the more likely a sale is made.

Next, you want to ensure that the business is trustworthy. You may have found an excellent affiliate program, but if it’s from a brand that no one knows on a shady website, it’s not gonna do very well.

A great example would be Amazon. Nearly anyone who uses the internet knows what Amazon is and that it is safe to buy products from them. They also have fast shipping options that ensure shoppers get their goods in a few days.

This makes users more likely to purchase from an affiliate link from them. Now, there are two main ways that you can find an affiliate program, so let’s go over both of them.

Manually Search For One

The most obvious way to find an affiliate program is to search for one. Most companies have some form of affiliate program, regardless of whether they are big or small.

Keeping with the same example, if you were to visit the Amazon Associates web page, you can go through the signup process. In this case, it can take somewhere between 1 and 3 days before Amazon approves you to be a partner.

Every program is unique, thus the time can vary. Some are quicker than Amazon, while others are longer.

It’s worth pointing out that some companies are very exclusive with their affiliate program. Some programs may decline to work with you if you fail to meet certain criteria. Others may not make the program public and reach out to you.

One of the nice things about manually finding an affiliate is the payout. A lot of companies are open to negotiation, especially if you have a large enough following that can prove lucrative to both of you.

Use Affiliate Marketing Networks

An Affiliate Marketing Network is essentially a hub where brands can look for partners to advertise their products, or for partners to look for brands they can advertise. There are dozens of these platforms, and they can significantly help speed up the process.

Most of them allow you to search for brands based on a category like fitness, cooking, beauty, and so on. One of the more well-known networks to use is Impact. It has a great interface and a lot of brands to choose from.

It’s important to mention that many affiliate marketing networks are not free to use. However, most make their money directly from affiliated sales, so it doesn’t cost you anything upfront.

They act as a middleman, but if you are looking to speed up the search, they are a great tool that can help you connect with brands.

Step 4: Optimize Your Content For Affiliate Marketing

Once you are part of a program and are ready to start adding affiliate links to your site, you need to understand that you can’t just drop a random link to a product and expect users to follow it. Instead, you need to start building content around these links.

Now, there are several ways to go about this so I will cover some of the more popular options.

Product Reviews

95% of customers read an online review before making a purchase. Naturally, this makes affiliate links within a product review on your site a great choice. The goal should be to accurately describe a product that can lead a customer to use the link.

If you can build up a reputation within a niche, you can become a trusted source for product recommendations within that community. That said, this relies heavily on you choosing quality products to promote.

Let’s face it, if you reviewed a product and said it was horrible, would anyone buy it? Probably not. Sometimes this happens, and being honest is important in a review because users become warry about your reviews when you recommend a bad product.

Coupon Areas

Everyone is always looking for a deal, and in some cases, affiliate programs act more like providing coupons to users. For example, you may get 50% off your first order if you use a certain code, or just get free shipping.

Building a coupon page that contains all of your affiliate deals in a single location is a really good tactic. There are entire sites dedicated to just offering users discount codes online that are funded purely by the affiliate income.

Just be sure to refresh any deals. Sometimes the promotional code has an expiration date and users can find a different one if yours does not work. Essentially, you lose a sale every time one fails.

Email Marketing

Email marketing remains one of the most effective marketing strategies a website can use. Naturally, this makes it a great option for affiliate marketing as you can include affiliate links in an email.

In most cases, the affiliate product will be a small section within the email. Remember, users didn’t sign up to be bombarded with affiliate products in their email, so they should never be the primary focus.

A great tactic is to create a “My Weekly Picks” area, or something to that effect, in the email that can be used to show a product you like. You can include an affiliate link or a link to your review of the product.

Show the Product In Use

Perhaps one of the simplest ways to promote an affiliate product is to use it. For example, if you run a cooking blog, make sure all of your images contain the cookware you are partnering with in use.

At the end of every post, you can include the affiliate link telling users that they can get the same cooking ware by using this affiliate link. Also, be sure to mention that it helps you produce more content, so users feel more inclined to use the link.

Or perhaps you run a podcast. You may have a partnering deal with a headphone company, be sure to wear those headphones to show them off. There’s a reason product placement in movies is so important, and affiliate marketing is no different.

Use Social Media

Virtually all businesses today have social media accounts on platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, and more. They allow companies to reach a wider audience than their websites ever could.

These platforms all support affiliate links, although each platform has its own rules that you must follow. Refer to their documentation to learn what is allowed on the platform and what isn’t, as a violation can get you banned.

As such, creating tweets or posts about a product that includes an affiliate link is very common, so go for it. Just make sure you have a lot of other content to engage users. After all, no one is going to follow an account that only releases updates or affiliate posts.

Step 5: Optimize the Way You Deliver Content

One of the most important aspects of any affiliate marketing strategy is the call to action (CTA). The CTA is essentially telling the customer to do an action. This can be simple like signing up for a newsletter or purchasing a product.

Have you ever noticed a site that you visit one day and see some form of a CTA and the next day see a different one for the same product? Well, that is called A/B testing, and most sites today utilize it to optimize their content delivery.

Let’s face it, creating a successful CTA is difficult, and a lot of your affiliate marketing relies on it.

As such, if you want to make money fast with affiliate marketing, you need to quickly optimize your CTA to increase the number of clicks you get. A/B testing allows you to do just that.

On a simple level, you create multiple CTAs to use on your site, and you then set up A/B testing where different users will see one of those CTAs. You can then collect that data and see which CTA is the most popular.

The more engagement a CTA gets, the higher the chance someone will make a purchase using an affiliate link on your site. Then, you simply discard the one that isn’t working out.

Step 6: Increase Your Traffic

I mentioned right at the start you need a large audience to be successful with affiliate marketing. When it comes to speeding up your growth, optimizing your site for search engines will not cut it in such a competitive market.

Instead, many sites will invest in PPC or paid advertisement to grow their audience as fast as possible. This is not cheap, but if you want to grow quickly, there is no better way.

What is PPC you ask? Well, simply put, it’s buying ad space to advertise your website to a wider audience. This can help you grow much faster than waiting for your site to rank high naturally.

With this said, it doesn’t mean you should ignore SEO. Optimizing your site for search engines is a great way to naturally grow your audience. It is especially helpful to have high-ranking pages that have affiliate links in them, as they are more likely to make a sale.

Creating great content that ranks well also means that other sites are more likely to link to your site. This can help improve your authority and increase your traffic. In fact, link trading is another great tactic to grow fast.

Continuous growth is critical for you to continue reaching new users, which allows you a better chance at making sales.

Why You Should Consider Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a booming industry that continues to grow, with spending surpassing $8 billion in 2022 and expected to reach $27.78 billion by 2027. This growth is driven by low-cost entry and high potential returns, making it an attractive option for content creators and businesses alike.

One of the key strategies for successful affiliate marketing is to launch your affiliate site with existing content.

Stacey MacNaught, an experienced affiliate marketer, emphasizes the importance of having a substantial amount of content before going live. Her team typically creates 20-plus pieces of content before launching a site, ensuring a strong foundation for attracting and retaining an audience.

Diversifying affiliate partners is another crucial strategy. By partnering with multiple brands, marketers can spread their risk and increase their chances of earning commissions. This approach also allows for the promotion of a wider range of products, catering to different audience preferences.

Owning the relationship with your audience is vital. Building trust and providing valuable content can lead to higher engagement and conversion rates. Disclosing affiliate links and sharing discount codes are effective ways to maintain transparency and offer added value to your audience.

Social media platforms play a significant role in affiliate marketing. TikTok, for instance, has emerged as a top platform for income generation, with its Creator Fund paying creators based on views and engagement levels.

Instagram, while not offering direct payments for views, allows influencers to earn through sponsored content and affiliate links, with potential earnings ranging from 1 cent to 5 cents per 1,000 views.

The average affiliate marketer earns around $8,038 per month, with some generating six-figure monthly incomes. However, earnings can vary widely based on factors such as niche, audience size, and marketing strategies.

For example, business-related affiliate programs tend to offer higher commissions compared to those for books or clothing.

Affiliate marketing can be particularly profitable in certain niches. Education/E-Learning, Travel, and Beauty/Skincare are among the most lucrative niches, with high demand and substantial commissions.

On the other hand, niches with lower conversion rates may require more effort to achieve similar results.

Real-life case studies highlight the potential of affiliate marketing. The website “This Is Why I’m Broke” earns over $20,000 per month from Amazon affiliate links, demonstrating the power of high traffic and effective monetization strategies.

Another example is “Money to the Masses,” which generates significant revenue from financial product affiliate commissions by regularly updating content and leveraging YouTube videos for SEO.

Statistics show that affiliate marketing is responsible for 16% of all internet orders in the U.S., with 81% of brands using affiliate programs to boost brand awareness and drive sales[4]. This highlights the effectiveness of affiliate marketing in generating revenue and expanding reach.

The average annual income for an affiliate marketer is $54,251, with 10% earning over $73,000 annually. This demonstrates the potential for substantial earnings, although it also underscores the variability in income levels within the industry.

Affiliate marketing is not without its challenges. The industry is highly competitive, and success often requires a long-term commitment and continuous learning.

For instance, SEO is a critical component of affiliate marketing, with 78.3% of affiliate marketers using it as their primary traffic source. However, SEO can be complex and time-consuming, requiring ongoing optimization and adaptation to algorithm changes.

Despite these challenges, the future of affiliate marketing looks promising. Experts predict an annual growth rate of 7.7% between 2024 and 2030, driven by increasing adoption and the effectiveness of affiliate marketing in driving sales and brand awareness.

This growth is further supported by the rising popularity of social media platforms and the increasing number of content creators entering the industry.

Affiliate Marketing FAQ

Affiliate marketing is a complicated subject, as such, I’m sure you still have some questions.

Here are some of the most frequently asked:

Start Affiliate Marketing Today And Make Money

Affiliate marketing is a powerful way for websites to passively make income by including links to products or services your user base will find useful. Luckily, it is not overly complicated to implement on your website.

That said, the time it takes to generate money varies wildly. Some websites can have overnight success, but in most cases, that won’t happen. Usually, only 1-5% of your traffic will ever purchase a product or service through an affiliate link.

As such, increasing your total traffic can help boost your earning potential exponentially. Do not get discouraged if you do not find success overnight. Like most things, even if you do everything right, it can still take some time.

I hope you found this tutorial helpful in learning how to make money faster with affiliate marketing.

How long did it take you to earn your first dollar from affiliate marketing?

The post How Fast Can You Make Money With Affiliate Marketing in 2024? appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

So, why should you learn coding? First, coding opens doors to endless possibilities. You can turn your ideas into reality with coding, like building your own apps and automating your daily tasks.

Aside from giving you an edge professionally, coding also helps you develop problem-solving skills and creativity, which are useful in any field.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to get started with coding. From selecting your first programming language to creating your first project, we’ll take you through the entire process step-by-step.

What is Coding?

Let’s start by defining what coding is.

Imagine coding as if you were writing a recipe that tells a computer a step-by-step process of exactly what to do. Just like a chef needs clear instructions to create a dish, computers need specific commands to perform tasks effectively.

These commands are written in a coding language that the computer can understand, such as Python or JavaScript. So, when you learn coding, you’re learning how to give computers directions in their language.

Now, coding is part of a bigger process called programming, which also includes planning, designing, and testing software. Coding is the act of writing the instructions, while programming is like creating the whole plan for the software.

In short, coding is the way you communicate with computers, and it’s the key to building websites, apps, games, and more. As you get more comfortable with coding, you’ll learn about logic and algorithms, which help you solve more complex problems efficiently.

Benefits of Learning How to Code For Beginners

Aside from what we mentioned earlier, there can be many benefits once you’ve learned coding.

1. Creativity and Innovation: Coding allows you to bring your ideas to life, whether it’s developing an app, building a website, or creating a game. It’s a form of creative expression that lets you turn your concepts into real, functioning products.

2. Automating Tasks: Once you learn programming, you can automate repetitive tasks, saving time and increasing efficiency in your personal and professional life.

3. Adaptability in a Tech-Driven World: Understanding code helps you navigate and utilize the digital world more effectively. As technology evolves, coding skills will remain relevant and useful across different industries​.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Learn Coding

Technically, anyone can learn to code if they put in the effort—it’s a skill that can be taught. However, coding might not suit everyone’s interests, strengths, or preferred way of thinking. While many can grasp it, only some may enjoy or excel in it.

Before diving into learning how to write code, it’s helpful to ask yourself some foundational questions to clarify your goals and find the right path for your learning journey:

Why do I want to learn coding?

Understanding your motivation is key. Are you looking to switch careers, develop a specific project, or simply build problem-solving skills? Your reasons can shape which languages and areas to focus on first.

What kind of projects am I interested in building?

Knowing the types of projects that interest you can help guide your choice of language and learning path.

For example, web development requires languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, while data science benefits from learning Python and SQL​.

How much time can I realistically dedicate to learning?

Coding can take time and practice, so assessing your schedule helps set realistic expectations and creates a consistent study plan. If you can only spend a few hours a week, choosing a beginner-friendly language and pacing yourself may be ideal​.

Am I prepared to work through challenges and errors?

Coding involves troubleshooting and debugging, which can be frustrating at times. Building a mindset that embraces challenges as learning opportunities is crucial for staying motivated.

Key Terminologies That You Should Know

While you learn programming, it’s essential to understand a few key terminologies that every beginner should know:

1. Variables: Think of a variable like a box where you can store information. This information could be a number, like 5, or a word, like “hello”. You can also change what’s inside the box at any time. For example, if you write x = 5, you’re putting the number 5 into the “x” variable. Later, you can change it to something else, like x = 10.

2. Data Types: Variables can hold different types of data. Some common types include:

• Integers: These are just whole numbers like 5, 10, or -3.
• Strings: This is text, like “hello” or “coding is fun!”.
• Booleans: These are simple true/false values, like answering yes/no questions.

3. Functions: These are mini-programs inside your bigger program. You can write it once to do a specific job, like adding two numbers or responding to a specific format, and then you can ask it to do that job whenever you need.
   
   As an example:

When you call greet(“Roland”), it will say “Hello, Roland!”

4. Loops are instructions that repeat themselves. For example, if you want to say “hello” five times, instead of writing “hello” five times, you tell the loop to repeat it until it reaches five. This is super helpful when you need to do the same task over and over.

5. Conditionals: Conditionals are like decision-makers in your program. They ask, “Is this condition true or false?” and do something based on the answer. For example, you might tell the computer, “If it’s raining, show an umbrella picture. Otherwise, show the sun.”

6. Syntax: Every coding language has its own rules, or syntax, which is like grammar for a spoken language. You have to write your code in a way that the computer understands; otherwise, it won’t know what to do. Each programming language has slightly different syntax rules, just like different spoken languages.

Understanding these basic terms will give you a solid foundation to start coding and exploring more advanced concepts as you progress.

Understanding Programming Languages

A programming language is a structured system of communication used to instruct a computer on what tasks to perform. It serves as the bridge between human ideas and machine execution.

We use programming languages to break down big tasks into simple, step-by-step commands that the computer can follow and execute.

There are different types of programming languages, each serving different purposes:

Scripting Languages

These are used to automate repetitive tasks or enhance web development. Examples include Python, JavaScript, and PHP. Unlike traditional programming languages, scripting languages are interpreted line by line at runtime, making them easier to learn and understand.

Logic Programming Languages

This type of programming language uses formal logic to express facts and rules about a problem. Instead of telling the computer how to solve the problem step by step, you define relationships and let the computer figure out the answer through logical deduction.

Prolog (short for Programming in Logic) is the most well-known example of a logic programming language. In Prolog, you define facts and rules, and then ask questions based on those definitions.

Explanation:

• Facts: These lines define relationships. For example, parent(john, mary) means John is the parent of Mary.
• Rule: The rule grandparent(X, Y) says that X is a grandparent of Y if X is a parent of Z and Z is a parent of Y.
• Query: The question ?- grandparent(john, alice) asks if John is a grandparent of Alice. Prolog will check the facts and rules and return true if it’s correct, or false if it’s not.

This example shows Prolog’s declarative style, where you define relationships and ask questions without explicitly programming the steps.

Logic programming is different from other programming languages because it focuses on what the solution should be rather than how to compute it. This makes it powerful for solving complex reasoning problems, especially in fields like AI and machine learning.

Markup Languages

Though not technically programming language, markup language is a system used to structure and organize content, often for web pages, by wrapping text and other elements with tags to specify how they should appear or behave.

The most common example is HTML (HyperText Markup Language), which forms the foundation of web pages. HTML uses tags like <p> for paragraphs, <h1> for headings, and <a> for links. Each tag tells the browser how to display content.

High-level vs. Low-level Languages

High-level languages are closer to human languages and abstract away the complex details of the machine’s inner workings. They are easier to write, read, and maintain. Popular high-level languages include Python and Java.

On the other hand, low-level languages, like Assembly or Machine Code, are closer to the hardware, offering more control over the system’s memory and resources. However, they are harder to read and write because they resemble binary code, the 1s and 0s that computers process​.

If you want to learn coding, understanding the distinction between these levels can help you choose the right language for your needs. High-level languages are typically better for most software development tasks, while low-level languages are reserved for performance-critical systems like operating systems or embedded devices.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s go into to step-by-step process of learning how to write code:

Step 1: Choosing Your First Programming Language

You’re ready to learn coding, but which programming language should you choose? You should consider several important factors, especially if you’re just starting. Here are some of them:

1. Project Requirements: First, identify the purpose of your project. Different languages are better suited for different types of tasks. For example, Python is great for data science and machine learning, while JavaScript is ideal for web development.​

2. Learning Curve: If you’re a beginner, choosing a language with a simpler syntax like Python or JavaScript can make it easier to grasp the basics. More complex languages like C++ or Rust offer more control but come with a steeper learning curve.​

3. Performance and Scalability: For performance-critical applications, languages like C++ or Rust are preferred as they allow developers to manage system resources more efficiently. Python is commonly used for quick development and prototyping despite being slower.

4. Ecosystem and Libraries: A strong ecosystem means the language has many libraries and frameworks that can help you develop features quickly.

5. Community Support: Popular languages like Python, Java, and JavaScript have large, active communities. This makes it easier for you to find resources, tutorials, and support whenever you need them.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the different programming languages that you can easily get started with.

Python

Python is considered to be the most beginner-friendly programming language for several reasons. First, its simple and readable syntax, which is similar to plain English, helps you quickly grasp programming concepts without getting bogged down by complex rules.

For instance, printing “Hello World” in Python is as easy as writing print(“Hello World”), whereas other languages require a more intricate setup.

In addition to being easy to learn, Python is versatile and used in a wide range of real-world applications. Some common uses include:

1. Web development: Popular frameworks like Django and Flask are built with Python, allowing developers to create dynamic websites.
2. Data Science and Machine Learning: Python’s powerful libraries like Pandas, TensorFlow, and PyTorch make it a go-to language for data analysis, artificial intelligence, and machine learning tasks.
3. Automation: Python is often used to automate repetitive tasks, such as file handling or web scraping, making it practical for many industries.

Overall, Python’s flexibility, ease of use, and large community make it ideal if you want to learn coding. It also provides opportunities to work on diverse projects in various industries.

JavaScript

JavaScript is a foundational language for web development, powering over 98% of websites globally as their client-side programming language. It is used to create responsive and engaging user experiences, such as live updates, forms that respond immediately, or dynamic content.​

This programming language enables you to create dynamic and interactive features on websites. Learning how to program with JavaScript opens up opportunities to create responsive websites with smooth user interactions. Programs that use Javascript can handle complex tasks on both the client and server sides.

Moreover, Javascript is versatile and works with various frameworks and libraries like React, Angular, and Vue for building web apps. It is also widely supported by all modern browsers making it an essential tool for any aspiring web developer.​

Here are some examples of interactive websites built using JavaScript:

• X: The platform uses JavaScript extensively to provide real-time updates, interactions, and a smooth user experience.
• YouTube: JavaScript powers much of YouTube’s video playback features, enabling users to pause, play, and control videos without page reloads.
• Google Maps: JavaScript is responsible for the dynamic loading of maps, dragging, and zooming, making the site highly interactive.

HTML

HyperText Markup Language is the standard language for structuring web pages. It provides the building blocks that define how web content is displayed, from text and images to links and forms.

For a beginner web developer, learning HTML is essential because it creates the structure upon which other technologies, like CSS (for styling) and JavaScript (for functionality), are layered. Without HTML, the browser wouldn’t know how to display content.

HTML knowledge isn’t just for developers—it’s also useful in digital marketing, content creation, and SEO since it allows you to optimize web content effectively​.

CSS

Cascading Style Sheets is a language used to control the appearance and layout of web pages. It works hand-in-hand with HTML, which defines the structure and content of a page. While HTML provides the “skeleton” of a webpage, CSS adds the “skin,” determining how elements like text, images, and buttons are styled and displayed.

Learning CSS is essential because it enables developers to create visually appealing web pages, making them more engaging and user-friendly. Without CSS, websites would look very plain, with no design elements like colors, layouts, or spacing.

CSS allows developers to build responsive websites that adapt to different screen sizes, which is crucial as more users access the web through mobile devices​. CSS also makes it easier to maintain and update websites.

By applying one set of CSS rules across multiple pages, developers can ensure consistency and quickly implement design changes without altering each page individually.

Ruby

Ruby is an object-oriented programming language recognized for its ease of use. Created in 1995 by Yukihiro Matsumoto, this programming language was designed to make coding enjoyable for developers. It emphasizes clean, easy-to-read syntax, which is similar to writing in plain English.

Ruby is an ideal language for those who are just starting to learn coding due to its ease of use, strong community support, and relevance in web development, particularly through Ruby on Rails. It offers a gentle learning curve while remaining powerful enough for complex applications.

Step 2: Setting Up Your Coding Environment

A coding environment refers to the setup or tools developers use to write, edit, debug, and test their code. It typically includes components like a text editor or an Integrated Development Environment (IDE), version control systems, and other utilities that enhance productivity and help in managing the entire software development lifecycle.

When starting to learn coding, choosing the right text editor or IDE is crucial for your productivity and learning experience. Here are some tools that you can consider:

Text Editors

For your text editor, you should look for lightweight, fast, and flexible tools for writing and editing code. 

Popular examples include:

Sublime Text

Sublime Text is known for its simplicity, speed, and extensive customization options. It’s a great tool for beginners and advanced programmers alike.

VS Code

These editors can be customized with plugins to add features like syntax highlighting and code formatting. They are ideal for smaller projects or for developers who prefer simplicity.

IDEs (Integrated Development Environments)

Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) offer a comprehensive package of tools in one application. It allows you to write code, compile, debug, and test it. IDEs like Visual Studio, PyCharm, and Eclipse come with advanced features such as code autocompletion, error highlighting, and version control integration.

IDEs are useful for larger or more complex projects and for developers who want all their tools in one place. However, they can be more resource-intensive and might feel overwhelming for beginners.​

Installing Your First Programming Language

For Python:

• Visit the official Python website.
• Download the latest version suitable for your system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). 

• Ensure you select the correct version (32-bit or 64-bit) based on your computer’s architecture.
• Run the installer, and during installation, check the box labeled “Add Python to PATH” to make running Python commands easier.
• Click “Install Now” and follow the prompts to complete the setup. Once done, verify by typing the Python version in your terminal to confirm the installation.​

For JavaScript:

• Install Node.js, which includes JavaScript, and the Node Package Manager (npm), necessary for managing JavaScript tools.
• Visit the Node.js website, download the latest stable version, and run the installer. Follow the on-screen instructions.

• Once installed, verify it by typing node -v and npm -v in your terminal.​

Understanding Version Control

Once you’ve installed your first programming language, the next step is to set up version control. Version control is a system that keeps track of changes in your code, allowing you to save different versions, view previous work, and revert to earlier versions if needed.

Git

Git is a distributed version control system that lets developers manage code versions, track changes, and collaborate efficiently. 

With Git, team members can work on their own copies of the project, merge updates, and ensure everyone is working with the latest version without overwriting each other’s work.

GitHub

GitHub is a cloud-based platform built around Git. It provides a space to store, share, and manage code repositories (collections of code files). 

At the same time, GitHub also offers features like issue tracking, pull requests, and project management tools. This makes it a popular choice for collaborating on projects and hosting code online. 

How Does Version Control Help in Writing Code?

• Tracking Changes: Git allows you to record the history of changes made to your codebase. Every time you update your code, you can commit those changes with a message explaining what was done. This way, you have a clear timeline of edits, making it easy to see what has been modified and by whom.

• Undo Mistakes: If an error is introduced in your code, Git makes it easy to revert back to a previous version. This allows developers to experiment freely, knowing they can always undo changes without breaking the project.

• Branching: Git’s branching feature allows developers to work on multiple fixes simultaneously without affecting the main project. Each developer can create their own branch, work on it independently, and later merge their changes back into the main branch once everything is tested and ready.

• Collaboration: With GitHub, multiple developers can collaborate on the same project from different locations. They can contribute to changes, review each other’s code, and discuss improvements. When one developer makes changes, others can review and merge those changes into the main codebase using pull requests.

• Conflict Resolution: When multiple developers edit the same file simultaneously, Git helps detect conflicts, which can then be resolved by manually reviewing and merging the changes.

Step 3: Taking Online Courses

The use of online courses to learn programming can give you several advantages at any stage of your coding journey. First, online courses are flexible so you can learn at your own pace and on your schedule. It’s also ideal if you’re balancing work, school, or other commitments.

Another major benefit of online courses is their practical, hands-on learning. Many online platforms offer interactive exercises that allow you to write code directly within their interfaces and get immediate feedback. This type of learning is critical for developing real-world programming skills. 

Moreover, some platforms provide access to vibrant online communities where you can collaborate with peers or get help when you’re stuck.

Here are some of the best online platforms to learn coding:

Codecademy

This is highly recommended for beginners due to its interactive approach and free introductory courses. It covers popular languages like Python, JavaScript, and HTML/CSS, with both free and paid tiers.

HarvardX CS50 (via edX)

Known as one of the best introductions to computer science, this free course teaches you the foundations of coding and computer science using languages like C and Python. A paid certificate is optional but not required.

Coursera

Offering courses from top universities, Coursera provides both free and paid options if you want to learn coding. You can learn from beginner to advanced levels, with courses in Python, web development, and more​.

Step 4: Writing Your First Code

When you first learn to code, the “Hello, World!” program is typically the first code you will write. It’s a simple program used in almost every programming language as a beginner’s introduction to writing and executing code. 

The purpose of this program is to display the text “Hello, World!” on the screen, helping you understand basic syntax and how different languages handle output.

Example in Python:

In Python, the code to display “Hello, World!” is incredibly simple. It’s coded as:

print("Hello, world!")

Here, the print() function outputs text to the console. This example introduces the concept of functions, which are key in most programming languages. Python’s minimal syntax makes it a great starting point for beginners.

Example in JavaScript:

In JavaScript, the equivalent code looks like this:

console.log("Hello, world!");

Here, console.log() is the function used to display output in JavaScript.

While the “Hello, World!” program may seem overly simple, it demonstrates several important concepts:

• Basic Syntax: It introduces the fundamental structure of a program—functions, statements, and how to write valid code
• Output Functionality: You learn how to make your program interact with the user by displaying information on the screen.
• Language-Specific Details: Writing the same program in different languages highlights their syntax differences, teaching you to adapt to new programming languages.

Understanding Code Structure and Formatting

Code structure and formatting refer to how code is visually organized. This includes using spaces, tabs, and alignment to make the code easier to read and work with. When you start coding, understanding these basics helps make your code clearer for you and others who may need to read or edit it.

Why Indentation and Readability Matter

Indentation means adding spaces or tabs to the start of lines in code. This is important, especially in languages like Python, where indentation isn’t just for appearance, it’s required for the code to run correctly.

Proper indentation groups related parts of code together, making it easier to understand the program’s structure and reducing the chances of errors.

What is Clean Code?

Clean code is code that is easy to read, understand, and maintain. It uses clear names for variables and functions, has good formatting, and avoids unnecessary repetition. The goal of writing clean code is to communicate effectively so others can understand and use your code in the future.

Clean code usually organizes tasks into small, easy-to-manage functions, where each function does one specific thing.

Tips for Writing Clean, Organized Code

1. Use Consistent Formatting: Follow consistent rules for indentation and spacing. Many code editors have automatic formatting tools to help with this.
2. Choose Clear Names: Name variables, functions, and classes to reflect their purpose. Avoid single-letter names unless they’re standard, like “i” in loops.
3. Keep it Simple: If a piece of code seems too complicated, break it down into smaller parts.
4. Comment When Needed: Use comments to explain complex parts of the code or specific choices you made, but keep it brief.

Basics of Debugging

Debugging is the process of finding and fixing errors, or “bugs,” in your code that keep it from running as expected. These bugs can come from syntax mistakes, logical errors, or runtime problems, often causing unexpected results or crashes. Debugging is crucial to ensure your code works correctly.

Syntax Errors

These occur when your code breaks the rules of the programming language, such as missing punctuation or incorrect structure. 

An example of this is shown below.

In this example, there are a few syntax errors. First, the function definition line def greet(name is missing a closing parenthesis after name. Without it, Python doesn’t recognize the end of the parameter list. 

Additionally, the function call greet(“Alice” is also missing a closing parenthesis, which prevents the code from correctly executing.

Here’s how it should look with the errors fixed:

Modern IDEs and code editors highlight syntax errors to make them easier to spot and fix. Reading error messages carefully can also guide you to the exact line where the issue occurs.

Logic Errors

These happen when the code runs but doesn’t produce the correct result. An example is shown below:

This code is supposed to calculate a 20% discount on a given price. However, instead of calculating 20% of the price, it simply subtracts 0.2 directly from the price, which doesn’t produce the correct discounted amount.

To fix the logic, multiply price by 0.2 to get the correct discount amount:

If the price is 100, the code correctly outputs 80, as intended. Logic errors like this don’t cause syntax errors but lead to incorrect results, which can be harder to spot during coding.

To identify logic errors, especially in complex codes, break down your code into smaller parts and test each section independently.

Basic Debugging Tools and Techniques for Beginners

• Console Logs and Print Statements: A simple yet effective way to debug code is by printing variables and values to the console to check if they’re behaving as expected. For example, in JavaScript, console.log() can help you trace your program’s flow.

• Breakpoints: Most IDEs allow you to set breakpoints, which pause the program’s execution at a specific point so you can inspect the state of your application. You can examine variable values and program behavior at different stages.

• Browser DevTools: For web development, browser developer tools (accessible via F12) are essential. They allow you to inspect HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, set breakpoints, and track errors in real-time.

Key Tips for Debugging

The following are important pointers for debugging:

1. Understand the Error: Carefully read the error message, as it often indicates the issue and where it occurred.
2. Take Breaks: If you’re stuck, sometimes stepping away and revisiting the problem later with fresh eyes can lead to a solution.
3. Ask for Help: Use online resources or programming communities for guidance when you’re stuck.

Step 5: Join a Coding Community  

Joining a coding community offers a wealth of benefits for anyone learning to code. As a beginner, it can provide support, resources, and motivation, helping you overcome challenges that are common when you learn coding. Here are some key reasons to join a coding community:

1. Support and Motivation: Coding can feel isolating, especially when you’re just starting. Being part of a community allows you to ask questions, share struggles, and find encouragement from others on the same journey.

2. Knowledge Sharing: Communities are rich with shared knowledge. Developers post tutorials, offer advice, and share coding resources. This can help you stay up to date with the latest technologies and trends without having to search the web endlessly.

3. Networking Opportunities: Coding communities are filled with developers at different stages of their careers. You can connect with mentors, potential collaborators, and even employers. This networking can open doors to job opportunities and collaborations​.

4. Problem Solving: When you run into errors or bugs, a community can offer a quicker path to solutions. Experienced coders often share tips and troubleshooting methods that will help you solve problems more efficiently​.

5. Challenges and Competitions: Many coding communities host challenges, hackathons, or coding competitions, which help you test your skills, learn new techniques, and stay motivated by working on real-world problems.

Best Communities for Beginners

• Stack Overflow: A Q&A site where you can ask coding questions and find solutions.
• FreeCodeCamp: Offers free coding lessons and a supportive community to help you learn coding from scratch​.
• Reddit’s r/learnprogramming: A welcoming community for beginners to ask questions and learn coding from more experienced developers.

Step 6: Hands-On Practice – Building Your First Project

Project-based experience is the best way to go when you learn to code because it helps bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application. 

By working on actual projects, you move beyond tutorials and get hands-on experience, which deepens your understanding of coding concepts. It also boosts your confidence as you take ownership of your projects and see tangible results from your efforts. 

Moreover, solving real problems prepares you for challenges in a coding job and sharpens your problem-solving skills.

Beginner Project Ideas To Learn Coding

• Calculator: A simple arithmetic calculator helps you practice basic programming concepts like handling user input and performing mathematical operations.

• To-Do List App: Building a to-do list introduces you to managing user data (tasks) and working with interfaces, such as adding, editing, and deleting tasks​.

• Recipe App: Organize and display recipes with features like filtering by difficulty or ingredients. This project helps you work with databases and dynamic content.​

• Countdown Timer: Create a timer that counts down to an event, teaching you about working with date and time functions in your chosen language​.

• Simple E-Commerce Store: If you’re into web development, try building a basic online store. By doing so, you can learn about front-end and back-end development, including managing products and payments.

Step 7: Learn Coding By Digging in Other People’s Work

Checking someone else’s work is an invaluable practice when learning to code. It allows you to gain insights into different coding styles, approaches to solving problems, and ways to organize code effectively.

Here are some of the reasons why you should benchmark with other coder’s work:

1. Learn New Approaches: Reading other people’s code exposes you to different ways of thinking and problem-solving. Each developer might solve the same problem in a unique way, and by studying their approach, you can learn alternative methods and techniques you might not have considered.
   
2. Build a Toolkit: When you study how a function or block of code works, you can add that technique to your personal toolkit and use it for future projects. You’re not just copying; you’re learning how different components can be used as building blocks for new ideas​.
   
3. Inspiration for Projects: Exploring someone else’s project can spark your own creativity. You might find a particular feature or design element interesting, and that could inspire you to build your version or integrate it into your next project​.

Step 8: Continuously Learn Coding

Technology evolves rapidly, so staying up to date ensures your skills remain relevant. Learning new coding languages, frameworks, or tools can open doors to more job opportunities and allow you to contribute to innovative projects. 

Additionally, as you expand your knowledge, you may discover new areas of interest, sparking inspiration for side projects like apps, websites, or even games.

Here are some alternate learning styles that you can use to learn coding:

1. Video Tutorials: Platforms like YouTube and Udemy offer countless coding tutorials for visual learners. Videos often provide step-by-step guidance and make complex concepts easier to grasp.

2. Books & Articles: Reading materials can offer in-depth insights and help you understand the theory behind programming. For instance, the programming books by Al Sweigart can help you learn by reading and doing some exercises along the way.

3. Podcasts and Blogs: These provide opportunities to learn passively, keeping you informed about trends and best practices in the coding world​. You can listen to podcasts like tomorrow.fm and Scaling DevTools to know the latest topics in coding.

Step 9: Use Tools and Platforms To Help Your Coding 

The right coding tools can significantly improve your efficiency while making the process easier and more enjoyable. Here are some essential tools that every beginner should use if they want to learn coding:

Chrome DevTools

For web developers, Chrome’s built-in DevTools are invaluable. It lets you inspect elements, troubleshoot JavaScript, and optimize your website’s performance.

Debugging is crucial for identifying and fixing errors in your code, which Chrome DevTools can easily help you with.

CodePen and JSFiddle

These are great for web developers to experiment with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They provide instant feedback and allow you to see your changes in real-time.

Such platforms help you quickly test ideas without setting up complex environments.​

Bash

Bash is useful for automating repetitive tasks, such as file management or deployment. By learning Bash, you can write scripts that make your workflow more efficient, saving you time on manual tasks.​

CodeNewbie

CodeNewbie is specifically designed for people who want to learn coding, with a friendly community that hosts podcasts, discussions, and support groups. It provides encouragement, resources, and weekly chats that help beginners stay motivated.

Dev.to

Dev.to is a social platform for developers to share articles, tutorials, and coding insights. It’s a friendly space for beginners to learn coding through articles and participate in discussions, with many posts geared toward newcomers.

Discord Servers

Many Discord servers, like The Coding Den, are dedicated to coding and provide real-time discussions, study groups, and coding challenges. It’s a casual space where beginners can interact directly with others, ask questions, and participate in coding events.

Step 10: Staying Motivated and Avoiding Burnout

It can be challenging to learn coding, but there are several strategies to help you maintain momentum and avoid burnout:

1. Set Realistic Goals

To effectively learn coding, it’s important to set achievable goals. Break your larger goal (like learning a new language) into smaller milestones, such as completing a specific module or building a small project. Celebrating these small wins helps keep motivation high and gives you a sense of progress.​

2. Take Breaks

Coding for extended periods without rest can lead to burnout. The Pomodoro Technique is a popular method where you work for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. Regular breaks give your brain time to recharge so it’s easier for you to stay focused and avoid exhaustion.​

3.  Work on Fun Projects

Incorporate projects that interest you to reignite your passion for coding. If you’re feeling stuck or bored, building something fun—like a personal website or a small game—can remind you why you started to learn coding in the first place.

4. Learn at Your Own Pace

Avoid comparing yourself to others. Learning to code is a journey, and everyone progresses at different speeds. Focus on your own path and learn programming at a pace that feels comfortable. Taking things slow can help you retain information better and reduce the risk of burnout.​

Careers You Can Pursue After You Learn Coding

So, what’s next after you’ve learned how to program? Actually, you have a lot of options in terms of career growth!

Listed below are some popular jobs you can pursue after you’ve mastered coding, along with the key programming languages you’ll need to know:

Web Developer

A web developer designs and builds websites, focusing on either the front end (user interface) or back end (server-side). They create visually engaging and functional sites for clients or companies.

Best languages to learn: HTML, CSS, JavaScript (for front end); Python, Ruby, PHP (for back end)​

Software Developer

Software developers create applications and programs for computers and mobile devices. They design, build, and test software solutions for users.

Best languages to learn: Java, Python, C++, JavaScript​

Mobile App Developer

These developers specialize in building apps for smartphones and tablets. They work with UX/UI teams to design user-friendly mobile applications.

Best languages to learn: Swift (iOS), Java/Kotlin (Android), React Native (cross-platform)

Data Analyst

Data analysts gather, process, and interpret data to help companies make informed decisions. They clean and analyze data sets, and then present insights out of them.

Best languages to learn: Python, SQL, R

Data Scientist

Data scientists build algorithms and models to predict trends and answer business questions. They work closely with data engineering and business teams.

Best languages to learn: Python, R, SQL, JavaScript 

Game Developer

Game developers design and build video games. They work on various aspects, including graphics, storylines, and player interactions.

Best languages to learn: C++, C#, Java

Full-Stack Developer

Full-stack developers manage both front-end and back-end development for web applications, handling server infrastructure and user interfaces.

Best languages to learn: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, SQL

Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity analysts monitor systems and networks for security threats and implement measures to protect data.

Best languages to learn: Python, SQL, Bash scripting, JavaScript (for web security)

Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer

QA engineers test software to ensure it’s bug-free and functions correctly. They create test cases and collaborate with developers to fix issues.

Best languages to learn: Python, Java (for automated testing frameworks like Selenium)

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine learning engineers create systems that learn and make predictions using data. They work on advanced AI applications.

Best languages to learn: Python, R, Java, and frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch

FAQs about Learning How to Code

Your Next Steps as a Programmer

Programming isn’t just about writing lines of code. In a deeper sense, it’s also about learning how to solve problems, think logically, and create solutions.

As you continue on your path as a coder, remember that practice is crucial. Consistently working on projects, debugging code, and learning from your mistakes will improve your skills over time.

For beginners, coding can open doors to numerous opportunities, not just in the tech industry but across all sectors. And with technology becoming more intertwined in our daily lives, programming skills will only grow in demand, offering you a competitive edge in the job market.

So keep learning, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to tackle new challenges. Every line of code brings you one step closer to mastering this invaluable skill.

The post How to Learn Coding: A Beginner Programmer’s Guide appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

DNS issues are common, but they can still make your work harder and your day more challenging. The good thing is there are many options you can choose to fix these DNS server issues. Let’s begin with some basics first.

What is a DNS?

DNS, or Domain Name System, is a directory used to convert domain names or hostnames into an IP (Internet Protocol) address. The DNS allows users to access any website almost immediately and browse the internet.

However, systems that face issues with their DNS server cannot run web pages or access the internet.

“DNS Server Not Responding” is still the most common error. It means that the system cannot connect to the web pages because it fails to correctly map the hostname and domain names.

Users may see this error for various reasons, including simple ones like misconfigured internet adapters and wrong DNS addresses. Therefore, there is not one kind of issue you will encounter while trying to solve the problem.

However, it is not difficult to identify and resolve these issues if you know the proper methods.

What Does “DNS Server Not Responding” Mean?

The error means that the system could not access the internet because it could not connect to the domain DNS, making it unavailable for access. People use different approaches while trying to resolve this issue.

For instance, most people try restarting their internet router as it can be a simple misconfiguration issue, which they can resolve right away. In other cases, people also try to restart their computers to ensure that the system connects to the internet properly.

What Can Cause DNS Server Not Responding Error?

Here is a list of some possible reasons for a DNS Server connectivity issue:

Unavailable DNS Provider
Heavy traffic and server outage are common backend network issues that can stop your device’s internet.

Router or Modem Issues
Issues with the router or modem can also cause DNS server issues. There are many fixes, like checking the Ethernet cables and ports to determine the leading cause of the malfunction.

Hardware and Network Issues
Hardware issues can also cause DNS Network connectivity issues. For example, if the server fails to correctly transmit the information to the next server.

Antivirus Problems
Problems with Antivirus programs can also stop the network connection from operating correctly.

While these simple fixes may work for some users, not everyone can benefit from them. Let’s go over some of the best ways to fix the DNS Server Not Responding Error that might pop up on your computer systems.

9 Troubleshooting Steps for a DNS Server Not Responding Issue

1. Resolve Network Issues on Windows

As you understand, the DNS server issues are mainly because of network connectivity issues. However, resolving these network issues works differently for Mac and Windows Users. Copy the following steps to ensure you resolve all possible DNS server issues for better internet connectivity.

Resolve Network Issues on PC

Access the Control panel on your Windows, find Network and Internet, and click on Network and Sharing Center.

• Select the Troubleshoot option and access your network settings by clicking on it.
• Click on additional troubleshooters, then on Internet connections to run the troubleshooter.
• Users can also click on the internet icon on the bottom right of the screen and access the troubleshoot problems by right-clicking it.
• Wait for the system to run the troubleshooting and check if your DNS server error resolves. If not, the system displays steps to repair connectivity to help resolve the issue.

Resolve Network Issues on Mac

• Running wireless diagnostics on Mac works a bit differently than on Windows.
• Start by closing all the applications and connecting to the internet network you face the DNS server issue with.
• Click on the Options button and access the Wi-Fi Status listed on the screen. Access and choose the Open Diagnostics option listed.
• Next, check your network connection for possible issues and try to resolve them by going through the guide on the screen.
• The system will run a quick scan, and you can view the status and details of each entry on the list by clicking the Info icon on the screen and selecting Summary from it.

These steps will likely resolve your DNS server issues; if not, continue to the following method we have listed below.

2. Try Connecting on a Different Device

Often, DNS server issues can be because of a faulty device, so you need to try connecting to another. If the other device can access the internet, your primary device is faulty.

However, users that cannot access the internet still likely have a problem with their internet router.

It all depends on the kind of situation a user faces, and running this quick diagnostic method can help determine the right reason. There is a simpler alternative; users can use their mobile data to check if their internet devices are faulty.

Users who can connect to the internet on either of the options will know the actual problem they are facing with the internet connection.

3. Try another Web Browser

The issues with the DNS server can often be because of an incompatible web browser. There are chances that you may experience your browsers facing connectivity issue, which is not visible right away.

The easiest way to check if your web browser is the culprit is to try another one. You can choose between popular browsers like Google, Opera, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, etc.

Users that continue to face connectivity issues are likely having trouble with something else. If you are using Google Chrome, try switching to Mozilla Firefox and check the same web pages that you wished to access. 

The easiest way to resolve the browser issue is to make the working browser your default search engine and reinstall the faulty internet browser. It will help the software restore all the required files, which may solve the DNS Server Not Responding error.

Users can make the newly installed browser their default software and continue to use it instead.

4. Run your PC in Safe Mode

The operating system (whether Windows or Mac) plays an essential role in network connectivity, and it runs all the files required in the backend for internet browsing.

Any trouble could lead to a severe problem because the PC will have insufficient files for internet connectivity, leading to DNS server issues. 

You need to check if the DNS server problems arise because of connectivity problems from the operating system by running the PC in safe mode. For this, users need to restart the system in the safe mode, which is a simpler version of the operating system.

It will limit your system’s processes, files, and functions.

Starting in Safe Mode (for PC)

Following are some steps that users can follow to restart their systems in Safe Mode.

• Access the start menu by pressing the button on the screen or the keyboard, pressing the shift key, and restarting.
• A new Choose an Option window will popup where you need to select Advanced Options and click on the Restart to reboot the PC.
• Next, users need to access the Startup settings under the Advanced Options menu and click on Restart.
• Lastly, press F5 on the keyboard to select the Safe Mode Networking Options to view all the PC processes underway.

Once you reach the settings, check if the DNS is fully connected.

Starting in Safe Mode (for Mac)

Starting the PC in safe mode for Mac devices is different than windows. Here are some steps you need to keep in mind.

• Access the Apple menu and click on shut down. It should take up to 10 seconds to complete, after which you can proceed to the settings.
• Press and hold the shift key as your Mac device turns on and wait until the login screen pops up again.
• Check if your internet connection works once you are in safe mode on your respective system. If it is working okay, the chances are that you face the DNS server error because of a third-party application. It can be any third-party application, and you need to skim through your installed files to see which one it is.
• Delete the application once you find it; reboot the system, and your DNS server connection error should resolve. Ensure that you deleted the third-party software properly, or the issue may happen again.

5. Restart Your Modem or Router

A modem or router not working is one of the most common reasons for the DNS server not responding to the error you might face and can cause connection errors and fail to link the device properly.

Reconnecting your modem or router to the system can help resolve this issue in most cases. Once you restart the router, you may also need to clear the data cache to give the modem a fresh start.

Unplug the connection cable from the router after turning it off by pressing the power button. Wait for around 30 seconds until the modem clears out all the data. Press the power button again, turn on the modem and reconnect the internet cable.

Your DNS server connectivity error should resolve right after this. However, users may need to reset the router’s settings if this doesn’t help. The exact instructions for resetting the routers will vary for each modem.

You’ll need to check the device instructions listed in the user manual.

6. Deactivate the AntiVirus and Firewall

Antivirus is protective software designed to save your computer from harmful/unidentifiable files. However, firewalls and antivirus can also cause DNS server connectivity issues.

It is easy to check if this is the problem by temporarily turning off the firewall software.

For Windows users, you will need to access the Control Panel and find the relevant settings on the list. Access the start menu and click on Settings, following to Update Security and finally to the Virus and Threat Protection Option Listed.

You can click on the Firewall and Antivirus button and deactivate it temporarily. The system will ask for confirmation before the deactivation, so, simply confirm the choice.

Mac users need to check the System Preferences, Find Security and Privacy, and Access the Firewall Option on the list.

Users should recheck the internet diagnostic and troubleshooting options listed above once they have deactivated the Firewall and Antivirus. Access the website you have trouble with from your PC, and it should be available.

If the problem resolves, the issue is with the antivirus and firewall settings. You’ll need to update and recheck them. The operating systems usually have an auto-update option that allows choosing the firewall settings.

Users can turn on the firewall and antivirus settings once the updates are complete. You have to turn on the settings, or it could leave your system prone to cyberattacks and malicious files.

7. Disconnect Other Connections

A computer system can connect with multiple networks over a period of time. For instance, what if you take your laptop to various locations and use the WiFi?

This can also cause the DNS Server not responding problem. Users can use the following steps to disable other connections listed on the device:

Deactivate Other Connections on a PC

• Start by accessing the Control Panel and access the Network and Internet Option Listed.
• Find the Network and Sharing Center option and click on Change Adapter Settings listed on the left column on the screen.
• The settings will access the Network Connections page, where users can view the system’s different connections.
• Click on Local Area Connection and other details that you do not use. Click on Disable, and the extra connections will turn off.

Deactivate Other Connections on a Mac

• Access the Apple Menu and look for System Preferences.
• Click on Network, and a new window will pop up.
• Choose the number of unused connections on the screen on the left and click the minus (-) sign listed next to them. Pressing the minus sign will disconnect the network from the system.
• Once you have disconnected the unused connections, restart the browser and try to reaccess the website.

8. Alter Your DNS Server Address

The DNS server address can often stop the system from accessing the domain name or hostname. You can resolve this issue by changing the DNS server address listed on the menu.

The internet connections are pre-designed to grab a DNS server address from the Internet Service Provider (IPS).

However, there are times when the system will not collect this information directly. Therefore, you will need to change the DNS server address manually. In other cases, the internet service provider’s DNS server may not respond, which will cause connectivity issues again.

Users can temporarily change their current DNS server address to resolve this problem and connect to a different one. It will allow your system to load any website you want until you can resolve the ISP problem.

You will find many online tools like Google Public DNS, which you can use for the time being. However, using them for a long time can be dangerous, so it is best to resolve the ISP connectivity issues.

Change DNS Settings on a PC

You can follow these steps to set up a different DNS server on your device.

• Find the Network Connections listed by clicking on the ncpa.cpl in the search box of your operating system.
• Find the network you are using on the list and click on Properties for more information.
• Users need to look for the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) option listed on the window and access the Properties.
• Check the Obtain IP Address Automatically and fill in the preferred and alternate DNS server address settings.
• Users can specify their desired DNS server address and Alternative DNS Server Address and confirm the settings.
• You need to confirm your changes by clicking on Validate the Settings upon Exit and choosing OK.
• Reboot your system, and the new DNS server address settings should apply.

Change DNS Settings on a Mac

Following are the additional steps you may need to follow for your Mac devices.

• Users need to begin by accessing the Apple Menu and looking for the System Preferences options.
• Access the Network button and click on your primary network connection. Select the Advanced Button and choose DNS.
• Click on the Plus (+) button to add the DNS server address to the list. Click on OK and then Apply the settings.
• Finally, restart your internet connection to see if the DNS Server Not Responding issue resolves.

9. Update the Network Connection Adapter

Outdated adapters on the device are another reason why the DNS server may fail to connect to your system. Users need to update their network adapted either automatically or manually.

Note that the automatic updates are ideal for new users who may not know much about DNS servers and network adapters.

However, manually updating the adapters will take more time if you are new to problem-solving network issues. You can select from various online tools or detectors to help identify the missing network adapters, install/update them as required, and manage other details.

Nonetheless, we suggest creating a system restore point that can help you bring your system back to its original setting if the network adapter updates take time.

Most auto-update programs involve checking the system for possible adapter issues and resolving them by installing/updating the required files.

Take Away

DNS Server Not Responding is a standard network connectivity issue that might appear often while using your device. It simply means that your system cannot connect to the internet, which usually happens due to server connectivity problems.

You can resolve these issues in several ways depending on the reason, but the following are the most effective and simplest ones.

· Troubleshooting Network Problems

Users should let the operating system’s in-built troubleshooting software handle the DNS server connectivity issues by running a diagnostic.

· Restarting the Router

Users can reset the modem or router by turning it off, unplugging the Ethernet, and reconnecting it after 30 seconds. Or, you can reset the modem setting by following the device manually.

· Flush DNS Cache

Clearing the cache will refresh the DNS configuration allowing the users to connect to the system again.

· Change the DNS Server Address

The ISP DNS server may not work in many cases, which can cause many problems. You need to replace the ISP DNS address with an alternative one for some time.

We are sure that the fixes we have mentioned on this blog will help you fix the “DNS Server Not Responding” error and reconnect your PC to the internet. We suggest you let an expert look at your system if you continue to have DNS server connectivity issues.

The post DNS Server Not Responding: The Complete Guide appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

A decline in performance is the most common sign that a move to a dedicated server would benefit your site. An increase in traffic may cause that performance decline, but traffic isn’t the only thing that can slow down a site.

Slowdowns are also typical on improperly managed shared hosting platforms, where another site unrelated to yours can cause problems for you.

Shared Hosting Can Be Great

I don’t want to give the impression that all shared hosting can lead to performance problems, because that’s certainly not true. But low-quality shared hosting can cause performance issues for websites.

Such problems often arise when you use a host that is inexperienced, sloppy, or doesn’t care about its customers.

But when it’s done right, high-quality shared hosting is an excellent home for the majority of websites. Most of us don’t need to accommodate millions of daily visitors, and shared hosting makes operating our sites affordable.

A VPS Can Be Better Than Shared Hosting

If you use a good host but you’ve outgrown shared hosting, a dedicated server isn’t your only option. Most sites experiencing growth first move to a Virtual Private Server or VPS.

A VPS is just what the name implies, a virtual web server. A VPS provides many of the benefits of a dedicated server at a lower cost. Several virtual servers can run on each piece of hardware, which allows for more economical pricing than a dedicated server.

However, a VPS doesn’t offer the same level of control that a dedicated server provides. And, though your server is isolated from others on the hardware, you’re still sharing resources with other VPS instances.

If you want to increase security or do more elaborate configuration, it isn’t always possible on a VPS. You can also run into IP blacklisting problems caused by other domains on the VPS.

Finally, most VPS have resource limitations, so in some cases, file storage can become an issue.

Nothing Beats a Dedicated Server

A dedicated server is all yours. No one else’s sites or services run on the hardware. That means no problems caused by “neighbors.” If you want to beef up website security, a dedicated hosting service is the only way to go.

If you want complete freedom to choose your operating system, you need a dedicated server. If you want full control of your website hosting environment, only a dedicated server can provide it.

All Dedicated Servers Are Not Created Equal

Recognizing that your site would benefit by moving to a dedicated server is the first step. The next is deciding which kind of dedicated server hosting you need. The first choice you’ll have to make is between managed or unmanaged.

Managed dedicated servers are set up and maintained (and often backed up and DDoS protected) by the hosting company. If server maintenance, updates, and security aren’t in your wheelhouse, a managed server is for you.

Managed dedicated servers don’t usually offer the same freedom when it comes to the selection of an operating system or certain server software. So your choices will be limited to what the host supports.

With an unmanaged dedicated server, you take care of set up, maintenance, and security. You get an empty server (sometimes called “bare metal”), and it’s up to you to decide how to use it. This means more responsibility, but it also means more freedom.

If a managed dedicated server is a Ferrari, an unmanaged dedicated server is the keys to the Ferrari assembly plant.

How to Set Up a Dedicated Server

Since you’re free to do whatever you’d like with a dedicated server, there isn’t one prescribed path to a successful setup. You may not be running a web server. Perhaps it’s a database server, or a file or backup server.

That being said, every server needs certain things. If you are setting up a web server, let’s take a look at a list of what you might use.

• • • An operating system
    • DNS software
    • An SSH shell
    • An FTP shell
    • Database management system (DBMS)
    • An email server
    • Statistics program
    • Backup software
    • Server monitoring software
    • DDoS protection

Operating system

At the risk of starting a holy war, I will decline to suggest an operating system for your server. 😉 If you think people are contentious when it comes to Mac vs. PC or iPhone vs. Android, let me tell you, the Linux factions are much more invested in their fight.

Suffice it to say, pretty much every web server OS that doesn’t come from Microsoft has its roots in an old OS called UNIX (your Mac runs on a version of UNIX). UNIX gave birth to Linux, and now here we all are. Pick your poison.

Spoiler alert: all operating systems do essentially the same things.

DNS software

Linux usually includes BIND. BIND works, but it’s very old, which is a concern for some people. Popular alternatives to BIND are TinyDNS and PowerDNS.

SSH

Most Linux distributions include an SSH shell. There aren’t a lot of replacements for what comes with Linux. Maybe because there isn’t much need for a replacement.

FTP

Most Linux distributions include an FTP shell, but most Linux admins install vsftpd. From a security standpoint, vsftpd is an improvement over the standard ftpd because it does not run as root.

Database management system (DBMS)

MySQL was king of open-source DBMS for a long time. But since the sale of MySQL to Oracle, MariaDB (a fork of MySQL) has become a favorite. MongoDB and PostgreSQL are also very popular.

Email server

Linux includes mail sending and receiving programs like SendMail, but a lot of people install email servers like Exim or PostFix. Mail is one of those things that is pretty simple and hasn’t changed much in the past 30 years, so any server you use will do the job.

Statistics program

Sophisticated statistics programs to analyze web server logs can be very expensive. But check out Webalizer and AWStats, two popular open-source solutions that have been around forever.

Backup software

You can custom-build a solution that backs up to cloud storage or use a cloud service to automatically transfer files. Companies like Carbonite or Backblaze can perform full server backups. Just be sure your backups are not stored on your dedicated server.

Server monitoring software

You’ll need a dashboard that shows server status and resource use. Nagios is free and widely used by dedicated server users and large companies alike. It can alert you to problems and show trends over time.

DDoS protection

DDoS protection isn’t something you’ll be able to configure or provide for yourself. I include it here because any mission-critical website that can’t afford to go down needs DDoS protection.

Cloudflare is probably the best known CDN/DNS/DDoS protection provider, but there are many to choose from. Shop around for a plan that suits your needs.

Make Your Life Easier When You Set Up a Dedicated Server

While more often associated with VPS, cPanel, and Web Host Manager (WHM) can be helpful tools for a dedicated server. cPanel works with Linux and can set up domains and subdomains, create sites, databases, email accounts, site statistics, etc.

WHM is kind of the back end for cPanel. In WHM, you can access your domain DNS zones, install SSL certificates, set up cPanel accounts, etc. It also monitors server status and resource usage.

cPanel and WHM are typically used to set up web hosting businesses, so again, they aren’t often used on dedicated servers. But to me, a tool is a tool. If you think cPanel and WHM would make your life easier, that’s all you need to know.

Dedicated Servers Use a Lot of Natural Resources

Regardless of what kind of server you’re using, electricity is needed to run the system. That includes the power to the server itself, but also the cooling system (typically massive air conditioner systems that run 24 hours a day). Needless to say, a lot of energy is required to operate the web.

We are GreenGeeks, so if server resource use is a concern for you, you’re in the right place. We match every kilowatt of power used by our dedicated servers with three times the amount in the form of renewable energy via the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (the same applies to all of our hosting plans). No other dedicated server provider can come close to that.

The post Setting Up Dedicated Server Hosting appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

What Are Dedicated Servers?

A webserver not shared between multiple users is a dedicated server. Shared hosting or Virtual Private Servers (VPS) split server resources between multiple users and sites.

All the resources of a dedicated server are dedicated (hence the name) to one user. A dedicated server can host multiple websites, but they’re all controlled by a single user or company.

There are several different kinds of dedicated server hosting, but they break down into two categories, managed and unmanaged. When you use a managed dedicated server, the hosting company takes care of maintenance and updates, and usually server security.

With an unmanaged dedicated server, the user is responsible for maintenance and security. You’re basically given an empty server and it’s up to you how it’s used.

Dedicated servers use a lot of energy, so if resource use is a concern, check out GreenGeeks dedicated servers. We match every kilowatt of power we take from the electrical grid with three times the amount in the form of renewable energy via the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. No other dedicated server provider can make that claim.

How to Secure a Dedicated Server

Before we get to tips, know that there are a lot of ways to gain access to a dedicated server. Depending on which services you run on the server, you have to be concerned with not only root server access, but also the security of your firewall, web server, web applications, database server, email server, DNS, and FTP.

Every service running on the machine has its own security concerns. A weakness in one service puts them all at risk.

If you can’t dedicate time and resources to security, consider a form of secure server hosting or a managed server. A managed dedicated server is almost always more expensive than an unmanaged one. But you’re paying for the expertise of professionals who deal with security issues every day.

This article is a high-level overview with some universal tips, not a comprehensive guide. We’re talking about Linux and other unix-based systems. But some of the things we’ll talk about (default port numbers, etc.) apply to Windows servers as well.

Number One Dedicated Server Security Tip: Stay Up to Date

Almost every service or software package that you install on a dedicated server will be updated at some point. Some more often than others. It’s easy to skip or overlook updates. But it’s a good practice to schedule some time periodically to check for updates. Then you can determine whether you need to install them.

You probably won’t find it necessary to install every update issued for every service, but you want to avoid getting too far behind or relying on outdated services. The older any given version of a service gets, the more susceptible it is to exploits.

Limit Access

Every operating system creates a root user that has administrative access to, well, everything. Obviously, you should change the root credentials to a secure password or passphrase. And, it’s best to avoid using the root user for your everyday server access.

Instead, create a user with restricted permissions and log in as that user. When you need root access to do something on the server, you can gain it using the “su root” command, and entering the root password.

If you make a practice of logging in using a restricted user, you can then block the root user from logging in via SSH. That will defeat any attempt by hackers to brute force a root login.

It’s also best to limit the number of users who have access to the server and to force periodic password changes. No one likes to change their passwords, but the longer a password is used, the greater the chances of it being compromised.

Finally, if you do allow multiple users access to the server, make sure they are logging in via trusted networks whenever possible.

Your server security is only as strong as its weakest link. And if a user logs in from a coffee shop over an unsecured wifi connection, their credentials are at risk of exposure.

The best way to secure a dedicated server is to make sure the server users are employing sound security practices.

Hackers Look for Services Running on Standard Ports

By default, most services run or “listen” on standard ports. For example, if I’m going to try to gain SSH access to your server, I’m going to focus my attention on port 22, the standard SSH port.

Changing the port numbers for every service that you can, or at least the services that can do the most damage (like SSH) helps increase security. It doesn’t make it impossible to find the services, but it hides them from bots that only scan certain ranges.

If You Don’t Use It, Remove It

If you’ve ever looked at the processes running on your home computer, you’ve no doubt come across a lot of programs or services that you had no idea was up and running.

A web server also launches many common services by default. What’s necessary depends on your needs, of course. But if you don’t use services that log a user onto the server, like FTP, disable them.

Also, remember to uninstall any programs or services that you test or try and then decide not to use. It’s easy to forget about things like that, which is why the periodic update check that I mentioned earlier is important.

That’s a good practice to extend to your websites themselves, where you’re also likely to be installing programs just to test them or check them out.

There’s nothing worse than a three-year-old version of WordPress or Joomla sitting around unattended. They’re magnets for exploitation. If you aren’t using something, delete it!

Backup Your Data

A lot of dedicated server users back up their entire servers, operating system and all. Those kinds of backups serve a purpose. But if someone compromises the OS, it’s like the backup is as well. For that reason, a re-install of the OS and services may be preferable.

But your data is a different story. Back it up as often as you can. And your backups should not live on your dedicated server. Always back up to a separate location or cloud-based storage.

The Best Server Security Tips Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg

If the beginning of this article reads as if I’m advising against doing your own server security, it’s because security isn’t something that I take lightly. I base that on painful personal experience as well as seeing too many other well-meaning people have their servers owned because they overlooked an open port on an obscure or unused service.

Of course, you can secure a dedicated server. It just takes attention to detail and a good maintenance plan. Most hackers are not fools, and they’re almost always more devious than we are. So it’s best not to leave any stone unturned.

To demonstrate just how devious they can be, I’ll leave you with this cautionary tale. Many years ago, a server for a business I was part of was compromised. Our server security was on point, but hackers got in through an extremely complicated and convoluted path. It began with the BlueTooth on the server admin’s phone!

Keep things like that in mind, and remain vigilant and you can keep the bad guys at bay.

The post How Do You Secure a Dedicated Server? appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

As I type this, there are over 1,500 TLDs. You can register a domain on about 1,000 of them. So clearly there is no shortage of available domain space. Yet the secondary domain market is thriving.

Why? Because people still want a domain name on a small handful of specific TLDs, .com being the most desirable.

The TLD is the part of the domain that comes after the last dot. TLD stands for Top-Level Domain. So com, net, and org are TLDs. As are club, store, and chat. Technically they are “generic” top-level domains, but we’re just going to refer to them as TLDs.

How to Sell Your Domain Name

Hi, my name is Michael, and I an a domainaholic.

I’m in recovery now, but at one time I owned more than 500 domain names. I realize that’s small potatoes compared to the big domain name holders, but during that time I learned a thing or two about buying and selling domains.

The main thing I learned is that it pays to be patient. It can take a long time to sell a domain name.

But, there are steps you can take to accelerate the process. The more aggressively you “market” your domain, the quicker you’ll sell it. And if you do it right, you’ll reap the maximum amount the domain can bring.

Whether you go about selling your domain name in an aggressive or more passive way, the basic steps are the same, so let’s get to them.

Determine the Value Before You Sell the Domain

One of the most common pitfalls that we run into when trying to sell a domain name is believing it is more valuable than it actually is. Reading about those million-dollar sales can lead us to believe we’re sitting on a goldmine when our domain may only be worth the cost of a nice dinner.

But hey, at least getting the cost of a nice dinner is something. If we don’t temper our expectations, it’s likely we’ll wind up with nothing. Listing a domain for more than it’s worth rarely (okay, never) leads to a sale.

There are sites and services out there that will provide you with an estimate of a domain’s value. Those are only estimates though, based on algorithms. And like all algorithms, they are generic, not specific.

I prefer to look at comparable sales. It isn’t like selling on eBay where you can see what the exact same product sold for. Domain names are unique, so you have to look for roughly comparable names.

Sites like DNJournal, estibot, DNPric.es, and NameBio provide information on what domains are actually selling for, so they are a good place to start.

There are also rules of thumb you can apply. Like if ggexample.net sold for $100, you can assume that you could reasonably ask for 5 to 10 times more for ggexample.com.

Those multiples work the other way too. If you own a .net or .org version of a .com that sold for $100, you can expect to get 5 to 10 times less than the .com sales price for your domain.

Other than comparable sales, here are some things to take into consideration when pricing your domains.

Things That Can Have a Positive Impact on Domain Value

• • • If the domain is a .com
      Despite the availability of hundreds of new domain extensions, the old standby .com is still king. When you look at the top 100 domain sales of all time, 96 of the 100 domains were .com.
    • If it is short
      Generally speaking, the shorter the domain, the higher the price. One, two, or three-letter domains are historically among those that bring the highest prices.
    • If it is easy to spell
      Domain names that include common words or regular abbreviations will fetch a higher price.
    • If it is a single “dictionary” word
      Along with short domains, generic single word domains (shop.com, pizza.com, clothes.com, etc.) also top the charts with all-time high sales numbers. The logic here is obvious: there are a limited number of generic words that everyone knows.
      The average native English speaker only knows or uses about 20,000 words. Maybe half of those are generic. There are 142.5 million .com domains currently registered, which means only 0.007% of all registered domains are generic English words that would be known to most native speakers.
      If you own one of those domains, you have a rare quantity that has commensurate value. (commensurate.com, on the other hand, is available for a mere $13,000.)

Things That Can Have a Negative Impact on Domain Value

This can be pretty much summed up as anything that is the opposite of the positives list. So:

• • • Any TLD other than a .com
      While Google used the TLD as a ranking factor in the old days, they say now that they treat all (okay, most) TLDs equally. So there isn’t any reason that a .ink or .xyz couldn’t be just as valuable as a .com. But they aren’t. They are “sellable” though, but temper your expectations as to the prices they may realize.
    • If it has too many characters
      I find this one interesting as well since few of us type domain names into web browsers anymore. We’re far more likely to click a link, either from a search engine or a referring site.
      Even if you do have to type a domain, your browser probably remembers it and you don’t have to type more than a few characters. So why do domains with fewer characters still demand a premium price?
      Whatever the reason, they do. So the easy thumbnail equation is: the longer the domain, the lower the sale price.
    • Difficult to spell (or spells something you don’t want it to spell)
      Even a relatively short domain can be worth considerably less than a comparable domain if it is difficult to spell. Such as words where ‘i’ and ‘e’ can be mixed up.
      And as far as a domain spelling something you don’t want it to spell, you’ve probably seen examples of that. If not, try removing the spaces to turn “American Scrap Metal,” or “Experts Exchange” into a domain. You can see the possible problems there.
    • If the domain is made up of multiple words
      Combining two words is actually one of my favorite tricks for finding a .com domain that’s available to register. But when it comes to reselling, multiple words can work against you. It’s even worse if your domain contains hyphens or numbers. I understand the temptation, but you should never buy or register a domain name with hyphens.

Why Is .com Still King?

The internet started with seven top-level domain extensions (com, net, org, int, edu, gov, mil). Of those seven, you, as an unaffiliated early Internet user, could only register a domain on .com (and doing so was no easy feat). The others were reserved for institutions or computer networks.

It’s worth noting that while .org and .net were intended to be restricted to non-profit organizations and computer networks, those restrictions were never enforced.

It’s interesting that .com retains so much of its old-school glam luster since most web or internet users weren’t even around when .com was the only game in town. In fact, more than a billion internet users weren’t even born when the first “new” TLDs (biz, info) were introduced in 2001*.

But much of the early writing about the Internet used, or centered around, the phrase “dot com.” All of the early Internet businesses were on .com domains (so most internet users would have just assumed that any new business site would also use a .com domain). When the bottom fell out of the Internet economy in 2000, it was referred to as “the dot com bubble” bursting.

So it seems to me that history is the only thing propping up the perceived value of a .com domain. There’s no technical or practical reason for a .com to be worth more than any other TLD.

After You’ve Priced it, Let’s Sell the Domain

Okay, I know, that was a lot of information. But properly pricing your domain is arguably the most important part of the sale.

If you’re overpriced, nothing we’re going to talk about from here on out will matter because your domain won’t attract buyers.

So let’s get your domain ready to sell. Here are six steps to sell a domain today.

1. Let the World Know That the Domain Name Is for Sale Using the Domain Name Itself

You’ll need a website for any domain name that you want to sell (yes, it sounds obvious, but not everyone bothers). This is one place you can gain an advantage over a large domain seller. Where they will have generic pages on the domains, you can create something more attractive.

You don’t need anything fancy, just a single page with contact information, or better yet, a contact form. Make the page as unique as the domain name. Incorporate color or imagery that lines up with the name whenever possible. Make it personal, let potential buyers know there are dealing with an individual, not a corporation.

If you’re selling multiple domains you can keep your hosting costs down by using multi-domain reseller accounts.

2. Make Your Contact Information Public in the WHOIS Database

This is a key point – if you can do it. I’ve sold domains I never intended to sell simply because someone contacted me using WHOIS information and made an offer.

But the rise of domain “privacy” is making WHOIS a less-reliable way to publicly provide contact information for a domain. Many registrars turn on privacy by default. And if your domains are registered through certain large registrars, it isn’t even possible to publicly display contact information anymore.

Check with your registrar and see if you can expose at least an email address in the public WHOIS database. If not, your registrar may offer email forwarding from WHOIS records.

3. To Market, to Market (Finally), A.K.A. Where Can I Sell a Domain Name?

Now you are armed with your optimum sales price, your domain is visible, and your contact information is attached. It’s time to start shaking the trees for a buyer.

Rather than talking about the dozen or so possible ways to sell a domain name, let’s talk about the two that actually work.

4. Listing Your Domain for Sale on Domain Marketplaces

The best domain selling sites are the best domain buying sites, and those are domain marketplaces.

Marketplaces are most people’s first and last stop when selling domains. The obvious advantage here is that everyone browsing a domain marketplace is a potential buyer.

On the downside, it can be hard for the average domain to be noticed in a large marketplace. Consequently, sales can take time.

But even if you intend to sell your domain at auction, you should still list it with the major marketplaces. Those being Afternic, Sedo, Snap[NAMES], and Flippa.

If your pricing is close to market rates and your domain is attractive, these marketplaces should net you some offers.

Which reminds me, be prepared to negotiate. While it isn’t unheard of for a buyer in a marketplace to pay your asking price, it’s more likely that they will make you an offer below that value.

5. Sell Your Domain at Auction

Most of the previously mentioned marketplaces have online auctions. If you’re going the online route, don’t dismiss eBay. I’ve sold a few domains on eBay without issues.

But did you know there are also live auctions where domains are sold? It’s true, and they are the best place to sell domains. There used to be a lot of live domain auctions, but these days most of the live auction action is at Heritage Auctions and the annual NamesCon conference.

It’s more difficult to get your domain into a live auction, as they tend to feature premium (i.e. expensive) domains, and the vetting process is more involved. But if you have a good domain, you may be able to get into a live auction.

Live auctions are great because they are fast, and if the action is good, you can realize higher prices than you ever could online.

6. Use an Escrow Service for Payment

You’ve sold your domain, congratulations. Now you have to get paid.

In the old days, selling a domain name was a troublesome proposition. You had to trust the buyer and the buyer had to trust you, the seller. There was not an easy mechanism in place to protect both parties.

Now we have escrow services that are (relatively) inexpensive and very easy to use. Escrow services are neutral third parties that hold and process payments. Some domain marketplaces have built-in escrow services for domains sold through the site.

But if you didn’t use a marketplace, you’ll have to take care of setting up escrow yourself. There are a few online escrow services, but you can’t go wrong with the established leader, escrow.com.

Selling Domains and Selling Websites Are Two Different Things

This article has talked about domain name sales, not website sales. But, it’s worth taking a minute to talk about selling domains attached to websites.

Sometimes when you see that a domain name sold for a certain price, that sale price included the website and its files attached to the domains. The value of an existing website is easy to calculate, usually based on the income earned by the site. The domain name can be part of that value, but most of it is based on the amount of money generated.

Websites are often specifically developed to be sold. That can start with an established site that is given a quick cosmetic overhaul and flipped, or it can start with only a domain name.

The seller buys a keyword-based domain and then creates content based around that keyword to try to attract traffic to the site. If they can establish enough traffic to create advertising revenue, they have a sellable website.

If that sounds like a speculative and potentially costly way to make a website sale, it is. But the risk can be reduced by studying keyword popularity, employing successful SEO tactics, learning how to create—or discover—attractive content, and keeping your hosting costs low with multi-site reseller accounts.

Domain Names Will Always Have Value

Will they though?

I wouldn’t be so sure.

As long as we continue name-based Internet addressing, certain domain names will have value. But trying to predict the future of the Internet is like predicting which number a roulette ball will land on. All you can do is guess, and you’ll be wrong most of the time.

For that reason, I wouldn’t hold domain names as long-term investments, believing that I was going to fund my retirement on domain sales. There are too many unknowns. Too many variables. Eventually, some 13-year-old kid in Iceland or São Paulo will come up with a technology that makes domain names obsolete.

Even if the technology stays the same, what is considered a valuable domain name can certainly change. The biggest domain selling payday I ever had was a $19,000 live auction sale in 2008. But that was a long time ago, and I’m pretty sure it would be tough to get a couple of thousand dollars for the same domain name now.

Timing can be important when considering when to sell a domain.

You Just Never Know What May or May Not Sell

I’ve had the .net and .org versions of my name – which is pretty common – up for sale for years, and so far, no takers. But I suppose even though it’s a common name, it still requires a very specific buyer.

But I’ve also had a four-letter dictionary word domain up for sale for years without any takers. Its problem? It’s a .net. If it was a .com, I could have sold it many times over.

We talked about managing expectations earlier, and that’s certainly a key factor in selling domains. Being prepared will give you every advantage. As for patience and expectations, well, those are up to you.

If you decide to sell or have a good domain selling story, let me know in the comments. I’m interested in hearing from you.

*30% of the world’s population is under the age of 18, and there are 4.95 billion Internet users, so 1.49 billion of us are under 18.

The post How to Sell Your Domain Name: Ultimate Guide appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

Google is more than just the most popular search engine on the Internet. In fact, it’s office platforms have helped many businesses with collaboration and productivity. And all of this is for free!

Perhaps one of the most popular of these office apps is Google Docs. It’s a free and powerful word processor that comes with all the tools you’d expect and a variety of those you don’t.

It’s a great alternative to other word processing platforms when sharing and collaboration are a high priority.

Today, I’ll go over some of the basics of how to use Google Docs. And because it’s free to use, you lose nothing by giving it a try.

What Can Google Docs Do for You?

Google Docs gives you a powerful word processing tool without the need for downloads, subscriptions or fees. You operate it directly from the Cloud. This means you’ll benefit by:

• Not requiring a download or install.
• Being able to access it from almost any Internet-capable device.
• Not requiring a monetary investment.
• Being able to easily share documents with others.
• Accessing files from mobile devices using the Google Docs app.
• Saving files online, which means you won’t lose important work if your computer catches fire.

And if you use Google Chrome like I do, you can quickly access Google Docs with just a couple clicks of the mouse.

As Google Docs is so popular, a lot of WordPress plugins will integrate with the system. For instance, you can include Google Slides for posts and pages to share content with website visitors.

Google Docs is also part of G Suite. Previously known as Google Business, this collection of tools is among some of the best productivity apps on the Internet.

One thing you can do with the files you save in Google is embed them into WordPress.

So, let’s dive into learning Google Docs and some of the things you can do in the system. Before long, you may have the same opinion I do and how this word processor can benefit your purposes.

Creating Files in Google Docs

If you’re using Google Chrome, click the “Apps” icon on the left side of the screen.

Click the “Docs” icon.

Alternatively, you can also go directly to the Google Docs website.

From this first screen, you can choose a new template for a document or access anything you’ve previously opened. This includes any documents others have shared with you throughout history.

For instance, I can still see a document someone shared with me back in 2012.

Google Docs is full of templates spanning across various needs. You can create professional resumes, letters, recipes, project proposals and more.

For now, let’s just create a basic form so I can show you how the system works.

Click the “Blank” document on the left. It has the big blue “+” in the middle.

In the document editor, you’ll see that it has all the same tools most paid word processors have.

These functions include things like printing, text formats, fonts and adding images or links.

In essence, it’s everything most creators will need in a word processor.

You can even download the file in a variety of formats depending on your needs.

Let’s change the name of the file so we can find it later.

Click into the document’s name. By default, this will read, “Untitled document.”

Name the title according to what you need. For instance, I’m labeling this one as “Google Docs Example” so I know what it is.

What if you want to save the file? Google Docs actually does that for you anytime it detects changes. Even when you change the name of the file, Google Docs saves it as you work.

This means you won’t lose any important adjustments if the power goes in the office or your computer accidentally shuts down.

Now, what if we want to see the history of changes to the file? Click the “All changes saved in Drive” link.

On the right, you’ll see a time stamp along with the name of the individual. These “editors” will also have a corresponding color next to their names. This will highlight the editor’s changes on the document.

If you hover over the colored text on the form, you can see exactly what areas he or she added.

Editing Files

Editing files in Google Docs is pretty straightforward. Just like any other word processor, you make your changes and save. However, there’s a few additions when working in a team environment.

Let me break down a few of these for you.

Tracking Changes

I showed you earlier how Google Docs records edits made to a document. But what if you don’t want to save permanent changes from your staff? You need to have them change the way they edit the document.

Click the “Editing” option on the right.

Have staff or editors select “Suggesting” from the list. Note that those who are making changes to the document need to select this on their end.

Now when someone makes a suggestion, Google Docs will create a strike through of the original while highlighting the new portion. A message box will also appear regarding who is making the change.

At which point, you can accept or deny the changes while leaving a reply regarding your decision.

Adding Comments

Users can also comment on a section of text without making edit changes. This is helpful if others have questions or concerns regarding specific areas.

To add this in Google Docs, highlight the text you want to comment on.

When you highlight text, you’ll see a comment bubble with a “+” sign in the middle. It will appear on the side of the document which gives you a chance to add a message. This does the same thing as the top tool bar version.

Click the bubble to open a dialog box.

Enter the message and click, “Comment.”

Now the highlighted area will change colors. If you click on this, you can leave a reply to the commentor or resolve the issue to remove the comment.

Using Spellcheck

One of the most important aspects for a word processor is the ability to spellcheck. Most popular web browsers come with a basic ability to do this by highlighting text you write with a red underline.

But what if you want to make sure all is spelled well?

Go to Tools and hover over, “Spelling.”

You’ll have three tools available for spelling. You can run the spell check, underline any errors or access your personal dictionary. Let’s just run a quick spell check for now.

Click the “Spell Check” option.

Google Docs will then scan the document and give options to replace words it finds. Select which option you want and the system will move on to the next.

What’s the deal with adding to a personal dictionary?
A personal dictionary holds common terms you’ll use which are not necessarily proper words. For instance, a lot of tech terms and company names may flag as misspellings. Just click the “Add to Dictionary” button and Google Docs will ignore these in the future.

Work Offline Mode

Using Google Docs doesn’t necessarily mean you have to remain online. In fact, you can work just as easily without an Internet connection.

However, you’ll need to activate this feature manually. It’s not enabled by default.

Click the menu icon from the top left of Google Docs.

Select “Settings” from the list.

Click the switch next to “Offline.”

You’ll see a “Setting up offline” message from Google Docs. This means the system is preparing your computer to store offline files which will upload automatically once an Internet connection is detected.

Click the “OK” button in the Settings window.

Note: If the offline switch is already blue before you click it, you already have offline mode activated. If you click it again to shut it off, Google Docs will remove any files your computer is currently storing.

Voice Typing and Its Benefits

Want to use voice typing instead? Google’s voice-to-text algorithm has made leaps and bounds since the early days. And it’s convenient in a myriad of situations.

Open a Google Doc as if you were editing or creating a new one.

Go to Tools and click, “Voice Typing.”

A microphone icon will appear on the right of the screen. Select the “Click to Speak” function.

The mic will turn a reddish color and begin turning speech to text.

After a moment of not detecting input, the mic will turn off. Just click the microphone icon again to start converting speech to text.

Sharing Your Files

With some of the basics out of the way, let’s go over some of the sharing options you have available. This is what makes Google Docs an excellent system for collaborations and the team environment.

First, let’s share a document so others can read it. Click the blue “Share” button on the top right.

Enter the name or email address to share the document.

Click the pencil icon to assign permissions. The people in the list of sharing are able to edit, comment or view according to what you send.

Click “Send” when you’re ready. Google Docs will then send an invite to everyone in your list with the selected permissions. Of course, everyone in the list must have a Google account.

But what if the people don’t have a Google account ready? Click the “Get shareable link” option on the top right.

This creates a direct link to the document and opens the file’s ability to be shared outside of Google.

If the person you’re inviting doesn’t have a Google Account, you’ll see a message. In which case, the system will automatically opt to send the link and turn sharing on.

Click “Send” and everyone in the list will receive the link.

Advanced Settings

You can enable far more control in the advanced settings of the share tab. Click the “Advanced” link on the bottom right.

From here, you can choose to share through Gmail, Facebook and Twitter. You also can fine tune exactly what each person can do to the file, such as edit or just view.

Other options on the bottom let you choose whether editors can add new people or disable download and printing. This is useful if you don’t want others sharing the document, especially if the information is sensitive.

Expanding with Add-Ons

Perhaps you want to do more with your Google Docs layout. This is where Add-ons come into play. You can install additional features from Google to provide greater functionality.

Go to Add-ons and click, “Get Add-ons.”

A new window will open and show you all the different elements you can add.

A lot of add-ons you have access to are free. You may come across some that are premium add-ons which require a fee. However, it’s worth the effort to see if you can find a tool you need from this database.

Select the add-on you want and click the button to install.

In many instances, you’ll need to authorize the add-on to access your Google account.

The list of add-ons is quite extensive, and you may find a lot of elements that can fit your specific needs perfectly.

Get More Out of Google

Using Google Docs is a great way to share forms and documents with the rest of the team. And because it’s all Cloud-based, files are easily accessible from virtually anywhere you have an Internet connection.

Dive into the tools Google has available and enhance the way you perform tasks. You may find it to be a great time-saving and productive set of tools.

The post A Practical and Easy Guide on How to Use Google Docs appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

How often have you been away from the office and realized you needed an important file? Perhaps you’re working in the office and want to take a file home to finish only you forgot to bring a flash drive and have to spend time emailing the document to yourself.

Dropbox is the answer to all of that.

These and many other problems are part of life in the digital age. However, a large portion of issues are averted when you use something like Dropbox.

Over the years I’ve personally used this platform to do everything from sharing business documents to team collaborations.

What is Dropbox?

Dropbox is a Cloud-based storage system which allows you to save virtually any file type you use. From documents to video files, they can all be stored in cyberspace while instantly synchronizing with other computers connected to the account.

For instance, any file I store in my office computer is also available to me on my laptop. This is incredibly convenient if you travel as often as I do.

The flexibility and cost-effective points of Dropbox put it among some of the best productivity apps on the Internet.

Key Benefits of Dropbox

Dropbox delivers an incredible number of benefits for businesses. However, I am just going to point out seven of the most prominent. These are reasons why any company would want to look closer at what this platform can do.

1. Free Starter Account

Perhaps the best way to learn how Dropbox can benefit your business is to sign up with the free starter account. This platform gives you 2GB of storage space, which is quite a bit if you only save text files.

2. Always Active

Dropbox is always operating in the background of any computer you’re using. It requires very little in the way of resources, which means it will not slow down your computer. Updated files are immediately uploaded to the Cloud once Dropbox detects there have been changes made.

3. Excellent Device Support

One of the system’s most attractive features is its overall support for various devices. Dropbox supports Windows, MAC and Linux operating systems. It also supports Android, iOS and Windows phone. On top of all that, it also has the capacity to operate with IPv6 addressing.

This doesn’t include the various integrations that are support from other platforms such as WordPress web hosting.

4. Team Capabilities

It’s very easy to set up teams in Dropbox. You can assign certain users to access specific folders while restricting how those documents are handled. For example, what if you want staff to read a document but not edit it? This prevents making mistakes as well as accidental overwriting of original files.

5. Great Security Measures

Dropbox uses excellent security measures such as top-notch encryption and two-step authorization. The system also provides a 30-day history of files in the event something is corrupted or altered allowing for an easy restore.

6. Saving the Business Money

One of the most important benefits of using Dropbox is the amount of money a business can save. How often do you pay employees to fix mistakes? How much money does your business wastes because staff are waiting for specific files? Saving time impacts an employee’s productivity.

Consider the costs of moving to a paperless system. Depending on the size of a business, Cloud storage can save everything from paper expenses to office space no longer needed for printing supplies.

7. Expandable for Continuous Growth

It’s easy to upgrade Dropbox in the event a business needs additional storage. The monthly fees are often negligible considering what you can save in the long run.

Some of the larger account types give you unlimited storage space and a plethora of advanced features to fine-tune business practices.

How Do You Use Dropbox for Businesses?

In this tutorial, I am going to show you how easy it is to set up the free starter account to use Dropbox for business practices. You can upgrade to the next level with ease, which offers 2TB of storage and a variety of business-minded features.

Setting Up Dropbox

Go to the Dropbox website, enter your information and click “Sign up for free.” Don’t forget to click the “I agree to Dropbox Terms” check box. You can also sign up using your Google profile.

Click the “Download Dropbox” button to save the file to your computer. Note that you don’t necessarily have to download and install the application if you choose not to. Your account is created whether you save this file or not.

Once the file is downloaded, complete the install for your computer system.

Having the application installed on your computer allows you to use the integrated folders to easily share documents through the Cloud. For instance, I have it installed on my desktop and laptop computers. I can quickly move files back and forth just by dropping them into the Dropbox computer folder.

An email from Dropbox is sent to the address you registered. This is to verify the account. Click the “Verify your email” button in the message.

Sign in with the email account you registered. The link sent to you in an email is an encrypted link specific for that address. When you click to verify, the email address you use has to match that particular message encryption. This means you can’t use a different verify link to access the account.

Once you log in, Dropbox will give you a tour of what you can do. It’s probably a good idea to take the tour if you have a few moments. It’ll help you understand the different sections of the web-based app.

Adding Work Folders

By default, Dropbox will have you sign in under a free personal account. That is, unless you already upgraded to the business platform. For this tutorial, though, we are working with the free starter account.

The personal account is great for freelancers and individuals who are self-employed. If your business is only a one-person show, then you don’t really need to share anything with others.

But what if you have staff who need files from this system?

On the bottom left of the screen, you’ll see the type of account you are using. It will read, “Personal.” Click this to open a selection window.

Click the “Add a free work Dropbox” option above the “Personal” selection.

On the next screen, click the “Create work Dropbox” button.

Choose which style of Dropbox you want to use. In this tutorial, I am going to convert the account to a working platform. You may want to consider adding a new working Dropbox in addition to a personal account. This will let you archive your own personal files as well as share work-related content.

The only reason why I don’t select the “Add a new work Dropbox” is because I already have a personal account.

Click the “Create work Dropbox” button after you’ve made your selection.

Add the details for the business and click “Create work Dropbox.” You can invite members at this point by using their email addresses separated by commas. You also have options regarding how coworkers can join the Dropbox folders. You can set them up for invite only, ask to join or have it automatic.

If you have sensitive information you don’t want everyone to see, I would suggest setting the option to “They can join by invite only.” This means no one but you can see available folders unless you directly invite others.

For the sake of this tutorial, I created a place to store “Wattpad Stories.” This is a great way to share written materials with editors and/or contributors for projects and novels.

In reality, you can create any folders you want for the business whether it’s finances or project reports.

Once the folder has been created, click the “View…” button. Keep in mind the text in this view button will change depending on the name you give your folder.

Now, you’ll see a Team folder with your label available to share files.

Sharing with the Team

Sharing folders with others is quite simple in Dropbox. The best part is you can distinguish who has what access to resources. For example, you could create a folder for the finance team while having a separate one for web development.

Let’s say, for example, that I create Financial Data and Web Development folders in Dropbox. Now I can assign specific people to access those folders by inviting them via email.

Hover your mouse over a folder you want to share and click, “Share.”

This will open the settings for the folder. At which point, you can add a user by his or her email address as well as establish whether or not the person can edit files or just view them. You can also modify who can be invited to the team as well as who manages the folder.

When your selections are complete, click the “Share” button on the bottom. Those you invite by adding their email address will receive a link to the folder.

If the person you’re sharing with has his or her own Dropbox account installed on a computer, that person will also see the shared folder available.

Requesting Files from Others

Perhaps you need a file from a vendor, such as an invoice or tax documents. What if they don’t use Dropbox? Luckily, they can add those files without requiring a Dropbox account through the requests feature in the system.

Click on the “File requests” option on the left side of the admin screen.

Click on the button to “Create a file request.”

From this screen, you can:

• Title the request; usually with the type of document you’re looking for.
• Assign which folder the document will be placed into.
• Assign a deadline for the file.

Once you’re done with the settings, click “Next.”

Dropbox will then create a link which you can share in email, social media or any other option where others can access web pages. You can also simply add a person’s email address and the link will be sent automatically. This is perhaps the easier of the two options and limits sharing the link with the wrong person.

Click the “Done” button on the bottom right to finish the request.

The recipient will then be able to access a landing page where he or she can upload the file directly to your folder. That person will not have any other access to your Dropbox account other than the ability to upload the requested file.

The Admin Console

The Admin Console is a bit limited in the free version. You only have access to change the working name of the Dropbox, membership access and deleting the whole team. However, the paid business accounts have access to a myriad of tools for productivity.

For example, you’ll have access to unlimited team folders, recovery options and other admin tools allowing you to control even more in regards to your team.

Installing the App on Mobile Devices

For staff who are constantly on the move, the mobile app is a great addition. Because it’s available on Android, iOS and Windows Phone, you don’t have to worry about alienating most members of your team.

The app is laid out similar to the website and desktop versions of Dropbox. Users can flip through folders, access supported documents and preview files like .CSV documents in the platform.

What if there is a doc in Dropbox that a mobile device cannot open? The Dropbox app will advise to use other integrations to view the document.

For example, I can save an ODS spreadsheet from Libre Office and the Dropbox Android app will advise me to install Microsoft Excel on my phone to open the file.

One feature I like about the mobile app is that I am able to view images shared in Dropbox. This means I can stay in the loop in regards to design ideas no matter where I am as long as I have an Internet connection.

Ideas for Using Dropbox

There is a great deal of potential when it comes to using Dropbox in a business environment. This is especially true if you purchase the business upgrades. That doesn’t mean the free version is anything to scoff at. In fact, here are some of the ways I use the free version for work.

Backups and Direct Archives

A large portion of the materials I download from the Internet are set to automatically save in the Dropbox folder on my computer. This creates an instant backup and archive of any program, image or office document I pull from websites.

This is very useful if you’re traveling and find an application or other file you need for your computer at home. With the Dropbox app installed on the home computer and your laptop, the saved file will be ready for you on the other system.

Ready to upgrade your computer? Using Dropbox, you can back up all of your important files so you can use them on the new device. As long as you have the space available in your account, there is almost no limit to what you can keep safe in the Cloud.

Sharing Documents and Projects

I often share projects with developers whether it’s a Word document or PSD file from Photoshop. The best part is that you can have a different folder for each client or customer, which keeps everything organized and separated.

What if you’re away from the office on vacation and the payroll department needs you to verify information before handing out paychecks? This is where a financial folder would be quite beneficial for the business.

Website Backups

Creating a backup of your website keeps it protected in the event of a disaster. One of my favorite combinations is using WordPress and the Backup & Restore Dropbox plugin. This allows the entire website, including the database, to be stored in your Dropbox account as well as restoring the site.

Another way I’ve seen Dropbox used as a web backup system is by using FileZilla to download the site and save it directly to the folder system installed on a computer. This method works with virtually any FTP application that allows you to save files directly to your computer.

Getting More Out of Dropbox

Dropbox is an incredibly useful tool to have in the business dynamic. Everything from small businesses to larger corporations can improve efficiency by having a Cloud-based method to store and share files.

Because Dropbox has a free starter account, you’ll lose nothing but time giving it a try. You may be impressed by what you can accomplish with such a versatile system.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Using Dropbox for Business appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

This is a program designed to help users quickly access the backend of their website and upload new files, delete existing ones, move them around, or even edit them without having to go through the cPanel.

While there are many options to choose from when it comes to FTPs, FileZilla remains one of the more popular options.

In this guide, I will show you how to use FileZilla and what it can do for you.

Why Use FTP Programs to Make Modifications?

The use of FTP software can give you access to files on your website directly. This means you can remove, change, delete, or upload modifications to your site from your computer.

Many developers use these kinds of tools in order to work on webpages offline. Once the files are created, you can easily upload them to your FTP hosting account.

In addition, these programs also help you create a mirror of the site on your computer system. This can be very beneficial when you need to recover from file corruption thanks to malware attacks.

Essentially, you can create a backup copy by downloading all of the files from your website.

With all of this said, it is worth pointing out that you can use the File Manager in cPanel to do everything you’ll need, but many developers prefer an FTP program because it is quicker to access than the cPanel.

What is FileZilla and Why Use It?

We’ve talked about what and FTP is and why you should use it, but let’s get a bit more specific and talk about FileZilla.

FileZilla is a free FTP program that been around since 2001. It utilizes a two-panel design that places the files on your computer on the left-hand side, and the files from your site on the right-hand side.

This simple interface makes it incredibly easy for beginners to use and gives experts the flexibility they need to carry out simple uploads, downloads and file transfers in seconds. For this reason, it remains one of the most popular FTP clients online.

One of the main reasons to use FileZilla over the cPanel is because it supports bulk uploads.

Normally, if you had to upload multiple files through the cPanel, you would have to do each one individually. With FileZilla, you can upload everything at once. Combine that with a great UI and quicker access time, and it’s easy to see why people use FileZilla.

How to Use the Client for FileZilla

FileZilla is not a hard tool to use, but when first starting out the sheer quantity of options can be overwhelming. And while the interface is simple, it can seem quite foreign when you first get started. Let’s take a look at the client itself and getting started.

Installing FileZilla

Before we can really get into any details about FileZilla, we need to go through the initial setup process for it. Luckily, it is rather simple and is the equivalent of installing any other program off the internet.

Step 1: Download FileZilla

Simply visit the FileZilla website. Here you will see two options. One is the FileZilla Client, and the other is the FileZilla Server. The main difference between them is that a client is for personal use, and the server allows for others to connect to it.

In this case, click on the Download FileZilla Client button.

On this next page, you will select which operating system you use on your computer.

Note: FileZilla is compatible with the following OS:

• Windows 64-bit
• Windows 32-bit
• Mac OSX
• Linus

Simply download the version that matches your device.

Step 2: Installation Wizard

Once you have downloaded the software, it will be in your device’s Downloads folder. Go to this folder and run the file. This will bring up the FileZilla installer. This is your standard installer that most software on the internet shares.

There are no special settings to configure, or anything like that. Thus, I’ll leave this to you, but it really just asks you where you want the files to be stored on your computer. Once it is done installing, FileZilla will open on your computer.

Step 3: Explore FileZilla

After you install FileZilla, it should open automatically. The program itself is ready to use, but you should take a minute to examine the interface. Take note of the toolbar at the top.

If you hover over each item, you can read the tool tip to learn what the icon is.

You can also explore the files stored on your computer using the left-hand panel. This will give you some experience practicing with the interface before you connect to site’s host.

Once you are comfortable with the interface, it’s time to connect to the web server.

Connecting to Your Server with Quickconnect

Installing FileZilla by itself, doesn’t do us much good. Without it being connected to your web server, it can’t do anything. As such, we need to connect it, however, this requires a small amount of setup from within the cPanel.

Note: Previously, it was possible to use a configuration file from cPanel to connect FileZilla and your web server, but that has been removed. Manual input still works fine.

Step 1: Create An FTP Account

The first thing we need to do is create an FTP account on the cPanel. This is quite easy to do and only takes about a minute. If you already have one of these made, go ahead and skip to Step 2.

Log into your cPanel and locate the Files section. Click on the FTP Accounts option.

You will see the Add FTP Account section. Here you can create an FTP account to login on FileZilla with, or any FTP for that matter.

All you need to do is enter the login name, choose the domain (only applicable if you have multiple domains), create a password, and most importantly, set a path.

The path determines what file you have access to; thus, you want to set it to the root directory of your website. In most cases, this will be something like “/home/domain/public_html”.

However, it can be something slightly different depending on your web hosting environment. The most important aspect of the path is usually public_html.

Click on the “Create FTP Account” button to finish.

And with that, the account is ready to use.

Step 2: Obtain FTP Account Credentials

You should know the username and password that you created in the previous step, but you probably don’t know the server’s name itself. Thus, we need to take a minute and get all of the credentials. Luckily, this takes less than a minute.

Below the Add FTP Account section, there is an FTP Accounts section. This lists all of the FTP accounts you have created. Locate the one you want to use and click on the Configure FTP Client option.

The Manual Settings section contains all of the login credentials except the password. Write down the Username, Server, and Port information, or keep this tab open to use as a reference.

Now that we have this information, we can use it in FileZilla.

Step 3: Log Into your FTP Account in FileZilla

Back in FileZilla, enter the account credentials in the area below the toolbar. Do note that the Host is the same as the Server we just obtained in the previous step. Click on the “Quickconnect” button to log in.

Once you do, you will see the files from your root directory appear on the right-hand panel.

You are now ready to use FileZilla.

Managing Your Site Servers

If you happen to have multiple sites that you would like to connect to FileZilla, you’ll be pleased to know there are no limits to doing so. FileZilla has a Site Manager that makes it easy to switch between the site servers.

Let’s take a quick look at this feature to learn about the potential benefits you can reap.

Step 1: Open the Site Manager

In FileZilla, click on File and select the Site Manager option. Alternatively, you can press CTRL+ S.

This will open the Site Manager window.

Step 2: Add A Site

In this window, there are several options. Let’s ignore this for now and just click on the “New Site” button.

In the General tab, you can now enter your FTP Account details. This will add it to the Site Manager, so you can quickly connect to it, or switch between other registered sites.

You will need the Username, Password, Host (Server), and Port Number.

Below these options, there is also a background color. This is useful as you can assign a different color to each site. That way you can avoid editing the wrong site by recognizing the color. You can also ignore this if color coding isn’t for you.

Click on the “Connect” button to finish.

This will connect to the site, and if you changed the color, you would see that as well. You can use the Rename button to change the site name to that domain name.

Simply repeat this step to add multiple sites to the site manager.

Step 3: The Advanced Tab

Most users will never need to adjust the settings in here, but it is worth pointing out that they exist. By clicking on the Advanced tab, you will be able to configure a variety of settings.

The first option is the Auto Detect option. Again, most sites will want it this way, but there may be cases where you want to configure the server type.

The more useful option is the local directory option. While we set the path to the public_html directory, you may want it set to something else.

For example, perhaps you only use FileZilla when you want to bulk upload video content. Well, you can use this section to always have you start in the file you need to load them to.

The default remote directory works in much the same way as the local folder. The difference is that it will automatically go to the default remote location when you connect.

Synchronized browsing works well if you have an identical directory structure on both the local computer and the web server. This means that any move you make in one screen, it will be duplicated in the other.

Enabling directory comparison allows you to see the differences between local and remote files. This can help troubleshoot file sizes, modifications or identifying obscure files.

Again, I don’t recommend changing anything unless you understand what you are doing, but the options do exist.

How to Manage Your Files

Now that you’re able to connect to the web host server, it’s time to manage your files. You want to be careful as to what you change in the remote site area as you could inadvertently corrupt your website.

This could result in your web pages no longer working correctly.

As such, it is always recommended to have a backup of your site ready in case something goes wrong.

Creating a Local Site

One of the best practices when using FileZilla is to have a local site prepared on your computer. Essentially, this is a folder on your computer that will hold your website data.

It helps keeps our work separated from the rest of the content on your computer.

Step 1: Create a New Directory

The left-hand panel represents your computer. You can choose to create this directory anywhere on your computer. For simplicity, I am going to put it in the Documents area of my computer.

You just need to locate the location you wish to create, right click in that area, and select the “Create Directory” option.

This will bring up a small window to name the new directory. You may call it whatever you want. In this case, I will call it MySite. The directory should now read something like, “C:\Users\YourName\Documents\MySite.” Click on the “OK” button.

And with that, we have created an empty directory with FileZilla. Now, we just need to actually fill it.

Step 2: Transfer Your Site to the New Directory

With the directory setup, we need to take a moment and actually transfer our site files to it. As such, use your FTP account to log in and connect with your web server.

Once the connection is made, we are just going to copy over the core files of your site. This can act as a local backup in case anything happens.

In your root directory, locate the wp-content directory, right-click it, and select the Download option.

This will cause it to download a copy of it into the current directory that is open on your computer, which should be the blank one we just created.

Afterward, you should have a copy of all of the WordPress content on your site, which can be used for an offline site with something like Xampp.

Editing Your Files

One of the big misconceptions about FTPs is that they only exist so you can upload or download files. While this is certainly one of their more popular uses, they can also be used to directly edit files located on your web server.

With FileZilla connected to your web server, locate a file that you want to edit. In my example, I will choose the .htaccess file.

Right-click the file and select the “View/Edit” option.

Note: If this option is not available, you may not have permission to edit or view that file.

A small window will appear asking if you want to use the default program to view them (Notepad for Windows), or if you want to pick a specific program. This is up to you but Notepad will suffice for most files.

Once you click on the “Ok” button, Notepad or your default HTML editor will load up and show you the contents of the file. From here, you can just edit or view the file as you see fit. To make changes, be sure to use the save option.

However, when you save the changes to that file, they are not saved to the web server, thus it does not impact your site. When you close the actual file editor, you will see a small dialogue box in FileZilla.

It will recognize a file was changed, simply click on the “Yes” button to upload the changes.

And that’s it. Just be mindful that you can also save it locally as a spare copy.

Changing File Permissions

I mentioned before that you may not be able to edit/view a file if you do not have permissions. Well, you can change this, assuming you are the site admin or set them up for other users.

Essentially, the file permission determines who can access a file. This can help you protect important files from being accessed by others. It can also act as an extra layer of security against hacking attempts.

To do this, locate the file or directory that you wish to change the permissions for, right-click it, and select the File Permissions option.

This will open up a small window with the file permission options. Here, you can select if it is viewable, writable, or if it can be executed.

Simply click on the “OK” button to apply the changes.

Note: You want to be careful when you set permissions. If these are set incorrectly, you could inadvertently give public access to your website which could lead to compromising your webpages or be one of the reasons why your website becomes hacked.

Creating New Files and Folders Online

While you can upload a file to the web server using FileZilla, you can also just create a new file on the web server itself. The same is true for directories. It is quite easy to do, and once the file is created, you can edit using the method I demonstrated.

Simply locate the directory you want to create a file in, right-click it, and select the Create New File option.

A small window will open up. Use it to enter the name of the new file. Don’t forget to add the extension.

For example, if it is an HTML file, it should end with “.html” to help make it identifiable.

And that’s all there is to creating a new folder or file. Just remember the file you create is blank and it will be added to the current directory.

Manual Transfers

In many cases, you may just want to manually transfer files between your computer and web server. This is more commonly known as uploading or downloading files between devices.

It’s quite easy to do once you have established the connection between your computer and web server.

To upload a file, first, on the right-hand side (your web server), locate the directory you want to upload the file to. Once that is open, on the left-hand side (your computer), locate the file on your computer, right-click it, and select the Upload option.

A copy of the file or directory will now be on your web server.

Downloading a file from your web server is an identical process, but in reverse. It is also worth noting that this is not exclusive for between your computer and web server.

You can also use drag and drop between the screens to copy files back and forth.

If you use the Site Manager to connect to multiple sites, you can actually transfer files between them in the same fashion.

Disconnecting from FileZilla

When you are done using FileZilla, you should disconnect from your web server. You can find this option by clicking on the Server option and selecting the Disconnect option. Alternatively, you can press CTRL+D.

It is also worth pointing out that just closing FileZilla will also end the current session and disconnect from the web server.

FAQs About FileZilla

Start Using FileZilla Today

As you can see, FileZilla is a simple program to use and offers a lot of versatility to developers. As such, it can be a powerful tool in the hands of a web developer, but more importantly, it can save you a lot of time.

It is much quicker to use an FTP client to access your files than logging in through the cPanel. Not to mention that the File Manager will limit you to uploading a single file at a time. FTPs like FileZilla get around this limitation.

Do you find FileZilla to be easy to use? Are you considering using another FTP client?

The post How to Use FileZilla (Ultimate Guide) appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.