Blog - Freelance Web Designer & Developer

Web Performance

2 September 2026 / 2 September 2026 by danielmrey

Web performance measures how quickly a page loads, becomes visible, remains visually stable, and responds to user interaction. Definitions Render-blocking resources: CSS or JavaScript that the browser must download and process before displaying the page. These resources mainly delay FCP and LCP. Inline critical CSS, load non-critical CSS asynchronously, and use defer for non-essential scripts. […]

Recommended File Standards for Web Development

13 July 2026 / 13 July 2026 by danielmrey

These settings help keep files consistent and compatible, reducing problems across different editors, operating systems and web servers. For Web Development End Of Line (EOL): LF (\n) > Applies only to text files (1) Encoding: UTF-8 without BOM > Applies only to text files (1) Final newline: End every text file with one newline character […]

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Website Design

1 April 2026 / 3 September 2026 by danielmrey

Regarding how people interact with a website, it is essential that the overall design conveys professionalism, trust, and credibility. This is achieved through a well-planned combination of UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience). A website should not only look attractive, but also feel clear, intuitive, and reliable for the visitor. The visual elements of […]

Website Legal Pages for an EU/UK website

13 November 2025 / 23 January 2026 by danielmrey

GENERAL CONDITIONS (sections) WordPress > Settings > Privacy: Privacy Policy (select page) Company Information Name / Address / Contact (email and phone if you use it publicly) Registration number (if you have a limited company) / VAT number (if you have one and charge VAT) Privacy Policy Who you are: name of the data controller and their […]

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Get Google Traffic to your website (in a nutshell)

2 September 2025 / 12 January 2026 by danielmrey

Google can show your website in its search results in two ways: Free: SEO Using SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). SEO has two parts: SEO On-page: Each page needs a good amount of clear, high-quality content that naturally includes the target search phrases in these places: The text copy, headings, images, meta information, etc… SEO Off-page: Get […]

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Web Design Client Fundamentals

25 June 2025 / 5 March 2026 by danielmrey

THE PROCESS This is the WEB CREATION SERVICE Process: I have an Initial meeting with the client, normally by phone or using an email conversation I send to the client a Brief with an estimated price If the client accepts the estimated price, I show the client a functional Mock up If the client approves […]

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Add WordPress text content

25 February 2024 / 24 November 2025 by danielmrey

To add text copy to your WordPress pages and blog posts, when using the classic editor, follow these simple rules: ADD TEXT TO PAGES Go to the Admin area, normally: /wp-admin and enter your user and password On the left menu go to: Pages to access all the pages Select the page that you want […]

Read more »: Add WordPress text content

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Spam Emails

21 February 2024 / 14 April 2026 by danielmrey

The recipient’s email provider or email client (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.) decides whether an incoming email is placed in the Spam or Junk folder. This decision is usually based on factors such as the sender’s reputation, suspicious content, authentication issues, and the recipient’s own spam settings or previous actions. If you receive many Spam Emails […]

Google SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)

12 April 2023 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

Google SEO on page: To appear high in Google search list results, Google needs to index your pages correctly by understanding what your pages are about and the only way to achieve this is by reading the text copy in your pages, so pages with no text or few text will not be indexed correctly […]

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Basic WordPress Website Maintenance

10 June 2022 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

On your Admin area (backend) Go to Tools > Site Health: Attend any Critical issues and Recommended improvements. Go to BackWPup > Jobs: Mouseover Complete Backup (click on Run now) > Wait until the backup is finished > When the Backup is done, it will appear listed in BackWPup > Backups, where you can download […]

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Google SEO on Page

26 April 2021 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

To appear higher in its Google search lists, Google indexes your web pages using the text content copy in each web page. Images cannot be indexed but the text in image file names, images alt tags and image captions can be indexed. Repeat all of these techniques for each page, being the most important one […]

A Well Created Website

3 March 2021 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

Text contents: Separated from design and functionality, only with HTML format, without inline design, easily exportable (ie: XML), transportable to other systems Image contents: All in a single place (folder), with correct image dimensions for all responsive scenarios, correct file format, correct compression, correct file names, correct alt tags, without upsampling (pixelation/blurry) CMS system: Well […]

Get more conversion to your website checklist

9 July 2020 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

To get more conversion using your website, your website needs to be well optimised, have the correct contents and have links from other websites. These are my main recommendations: Web optimisation: Create websites that are Google SEO friendly + Fast to download + Ready for all devices + Easy to use by your visitors > […]

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Get more traffic to your website checklist

2 July 2020 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

To get more traffic to your website, your website needs to be found by Google, that means that your website needs to have correct contents and also be fast to download. These are my main recommendations: Size: Use less than 1MB per page Requests: Use less than 50 requests per page Plugins: If you use […]

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WordPress client update

2 September 2019 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

I have created this post for my clients, to help them update their WordPress website. These are all very important matters about the security and traffic related to your website, all issues are important, so if there is anything that you do not understand please do not hesitate to contact me. Security Backup: Use a […]

WordPress Backup

20 July 2019 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

Basic WordPress Backup Main text contents XML: pages, posts and menus, not widgets (WordPress Core, no need for plugin): Tools > Export Widgets text contents WIE (Widget Importer & Exporter plugin): Tools > Widget Importer & Exporter > Export Widgets Images uploaded in all sizes: (Export Media Library plugin) : Media > Export OR (UpdraftPlus […]

Web Links

12 June 2019 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

I list here some external links that you can use to check your website, page structure, Google services, change your design and get information about your website. Check your Website SEO: Check your Search Engine Optimisation: seositecheckup.com Performance: Check your download speed: tools.pingdom.com Responsiveness: Check if your website is responsive: ami.responsivedesign.is Check your Page Structure […]

Web Myths

3 May 2019 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

If you love your website because you think it is fast, has got many functionalities, huge images and you love its current minimal design with not much text, you may need to read this: Cache: The speed that you experience is not what others do Your perception of the speed of your website is not […]

WordPress Gutenberg Block Editor

25 March 2019 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

Since WordPress version 5.0, The new Gutenberg Block Editor has been added to the core of WordPress. If you are going to use the new Blog Editor > Great, then you do not need to do anything. If you use Woocommerce plugin, then you should install the the WooCommerce Products Block plugin If you are not […]

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What does “PHP Update Required” mean?

25 March 2019 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

Recently a client asked me In my WordPress Admin Dashboard area I see a message that says, PHP Update Required, what does that mean and can it be fixed? And this is what I told him PHP is a programming language used by WordPress and WordPress recommend a minimum version 7.3 and this is required […]

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What does “Not secure” website mean?

25 March 2019 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

Recently a client asked me When I open my website it has a message saying “Not secure” what does that mean and can it be fixed? And this is what I told him The reason you are seeing the “Not Secure” warning is because your website is providing an insecure connection HTTP instead of a […]

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Website features

20 August 2018 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

These are the minimum requirements that you need when you create a new website and that I include when I create new websites: Structure Header: Logo: Unique image logo that represent your business Navigation: Easy to use and collapsible on mobiles Main: Banner: Good quality and catchy image Contents: For your text copy, images, etc… […]

Progressive Web App

10 August 2018 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

What is a Progressive Web App? A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a special website that combine the best of Web pages and Native Mobile Apps to bring an enhanced user experience. A PWA is a Web App so: It works in any Scenario: any browser and any device It is Linkable and can be shared […]

Images for Web

6 June 2018 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

Formats JPG: Use JPG for photos with millions of colours as JPG uses lossy compression that can reduce the image file size much more than PNG which uses lossless compression, so never use PNG for photos PNG-24: Use PNG-24 (millions of colours) for images with transparencies or graphics/logos with not many colours PNG-8: Use PNG-8 […]

Web Optimisation check list

2 June 2018 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

WPO (Web Performance Optimisation) > SPEED Do not use a single one page website: split your contents in different pages to reduce downloading time Reduce number of files: deactivate libraries, frameworks and plugins that are not important or unnecessary Reduce file sizes: optimise images in dimensions, compression and format Use Server caching and Browser caching […]

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One page website

14 May 2018 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

One page website, is a new trend in web design, I tend not to use this approach and I do not recommend it and this is why. But if your website uses already this approach, find below how to optimise your SEO correctly. Disadvantages of one page websites: Loads all assets at once >>> Slower […]

How to avoid CSS Spaghettification

26 April 2018 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

CSS is a very powerful language for styling HTML pages but can get very complex and very difficult to manage if you do not follow some sort of order. Years of experience in CSS has taught me this: Use a Framework first, I recommend Bootstrap (which is mobile first and progressive enhancement) After the Framework, […]

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Web Performance Optimisation

3 January 2018 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

Web Performance Optimisation > Reduce Downloading time > Get more conversion to your business. Files in General: Reduce number of files: If you use WordPress: Deactivate unnecessary and unused plugins > This will reduce JS files and CSS files Combine JS files and Combine CSS files Reduce number of images per page if possible (next […]

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Cache memory

22 August 2016 / 4 December 2025 by danielmrey

When you see a website page, your browser keeps a version of that page and it is stored locally in your computer in the so called Cache Memory. Then if you connection is slow or the Internet is busy and you request that page again, if it takes a long time to download, the browser […]

Update correctly contents in your website

20 July 2016 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

Contents Website contents is mainly Text and Images. You can update your website contents using the CMS (Contents Management System) associated to your website, currently I am using WordPress. Your Text must be Original, using correct Semantics and SEO Keywords Your Images must be copyright free or your own, and you must upload your images with […]

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Things that you can do NOW to improve your website Discoverability traffic

20 May 2016 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey | 6 Comments on Things that you can do NOW to improve your website Discoverability traffic

Direct traffic Use the power of word of mouth to promote your website by giving your website directly to people. Put your website in cards and give them away in networking events related to your business. Put your website in printing ads (magazines, newspapers) and also use local resources (business, shops). Use Google Google SEO (Free): Search […]

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PC Utilities

16 June 2014 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

System processes Security > Internet: Antivirus + Adware AVG Antivirus (free Antivirus) AND Spyboot Search & Destroy (free Adware) AND Windows: Start > Control Panel > Windows Security Center: Firewall + Automatic Updates + Virus Protection: On Optimise > System: Clean + Repair Advanced System Care (free Optimiser) OR CCleaner (free Optimiser) OR Windows: Start > […]

Web Special Files

16 June 2014 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

Create these Web Special Files in the root folder .htaccess Contains the permanent 301 redirect to unify your website with and without “www” + Names the Error page + Redirects pages RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^domain.com : Unify URLs RewriteRule (.*) http://www.domain.com/$1 [R=301,L] : Unify URLs ErrorDocument 404 /error-page.html : Error page Name redirect permanent […]

Validate and Submit

9 June 2014 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey | 2 Comments on Validate and Submit

Code Validator > HTML + CSS Use the W3C Validator HTML to validate your HTML code Use the W3C Validator CSS to validate your CSS rules Use the CSS Lint code quality tool to perform static analysis of source code and flags patterns that might be errors or otherwise cause problems for the developer Website […]

Digital Images

9 June 2014 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey | 2 Comments on Digital Images

Images by Computer Pixel is the smallest unit of image information which can be controlled by a computer Digital Image is a sequence of pixels in a rectangle disposition Image Dimension is measured in Width x Height pixels, and it is common practice to specify Width first, ie: 1024×768 pixels Colour System: each pixel has […]

Domain and Hosting

9 June 2014 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

When you create a website you need to buy two components in a Provider company: Domain name is the name of your website, ie: www.yourdomain.com Hosting space is a physical space in a server computer to upload the files needed for your website And optionally you can also add: Brand email: if you want to […]

Noticed on Google

6 June 2014 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

Google Listings > Sponsor (Google Ads) + Natural (SEO) Google is the world’s most popular search engine, where users search using keywords and get 2 result of listings: Sponsor Listings: These appear either on top of the main listings or on right hand column. To be included in these listings you have to use Google […]

PageRank

6 June 2014 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey | 2 Comments on PageRank

What is PageRank? PageRank is a Google patented method to assign a numerical weighting, between number 0 and 10, to a web page. The speed of Google search we experience can be attributed in part to their search algorithm and the heart of this algorithm is PageRank. PageRank is a system for ranking web pages […]

Exchange Links

6 June 2014 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey | 4 Comments on Exchange Links

Why exchange links? Exchange Links make the Internet world go round Inbound Links > Why is good to have links from other websites to your website Get Traffic: Links drive traffic from other websites to your website Get Indexed: Links help Google to find the content on your site to index that content Get PageRank: […]

Mobile Web App

5 June 2014 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey

What is a Mobile Web App? A Mobile Web App is simply a website optimised for mobile devices that look like a Native Mobile App. Mobile: Uses a Responsive Layout for providing an optimal experience for all mobile devices (phones/tablets) and orientations (landscape/portrait). Responsive means the use of fluid layout (widths in %) + flexible […]

Responsive Web Design

5 June 2014 / 9 June 2025 by danielmrey | 8 Comments on Responsive Web Design

What is a Responsive Web Design (RWD)? Responsive Web Design is a web design approach to provide optimal user experience for all mobile devices (phones/tablets), orientations (landscape/portrait) and computers (desktops/laptops) using one single website for all. >>> As opposed to use different websites for mobile devices and for computers. Responsive Layout Responsive Layout = Fluid […]