Get a faster, more secure website – the importance of updating your PHP

Is your WordPress website telling you that you need to update to the latest PHP version for your website to run correctly?

PHP is the coding language WordPress is built on, and its version is set at the server-level by your hosting company. If you manage your own website, here are the benefits of updating your PHP:

  • A faster website will often rank higher in search engines.
  • Your web pages will load and show your images correctly, pages will scroll better, and going to linked content won’t be delayed.
  • A more secure website is better protected against hackers.

Steps to updating to the latest PHP version

If you manage your own website, you can go through these steps to prepare your WordPress website for a PHP update:

  • Make a backup of your website first
  • Make a backup of your database
  • Update your theme and plugins
  • Update your website to the latest WordPress version
  • Check your PHP compatibility with a “PHP compatibility checker”

Next, log into your webhost’s dashboard and either run a manual PHP update or request the tech support department to run it for you.

  • Update PHP to the latest version – 7.4 or higher

If you run into any issues or need help, contact a professional web developer like HTB Website Design, your hosting company, or your WordPress theme and plugins authors.

get help

Black Friday Sale!

50% off stock photography on Dreamstime! Featuring HTBphotos stock photography for your print and website projects.

Healing Time Books presents HTBphotos on Dreamstime - Black Friday Sale 50% Off!
HTBphotos by John and Katharina Notarianni

Click on the photo, or here is the link: https://www.dreamstime.com/credits#res16409905

Hurry Sale Ends Soon!

Don’t wait – the opportunity you have been waiting for is here!

Is becoming an author one of your personal goals? Not sure if you can write an entire book? How about a chapter?

Are you a solopreneur with some lessons learned and successes under your belt? Are you a network marketer with a story to tell? Or, are you creative and entrepreneurial in spirit and want to share your innovative ideas with others? Then, this opportunity is for you! Here’s a chance to collaborate with other like-minded people.

It’s true, you can become a BEST SELLING AUTHOR NOW…

You read that right… Follow these steps to get started:

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Once there… simply choose to Be an Author In one or two upcoming bestsellers:

(1) Be a Success Maverick Book, or

(2) The Network Marketing Boom Book

…Get ready to be known as an International Best Selling Author!

My own experience has been fantastic with The Maverick Millionaire Publishing.

I am an international bestselling author with my book, ‘Be A Success Maverick Volume 2‘, featuring The Maverick Millionaire Paul Finck and many like-minded business entrepreneurs who “Do It Different.”

Find Out More

Are you a thoughtful and careful sort? You can order a copy of Be A Success Maverick Vol. 2 to see if being a part of the next Be A Success Maverick resonates with you. Volume 2 is full of great information inspiration stories about how we created our success, and I am grateful to have had the experience to be a #1 international bestselling author.

HTB author Katharina Notarianni is number one best seller on amazon

Be A Maverick Success Vol. 2

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Get Started Now!

Do you prefer to take action right away so no more time is lost? Then, let’s get started!

Get started

Once there… simply choose to Be an Author In one or two upcoming bestsellers.

Thank you! and best wishes for every success as you embark on your journey to become a bestselling author.

Have questions? Please contact info@healingtimebooks.com.

Demystifying Stock Photo Sizes for Social Media

Stock photo sizes for any social media post

I love the brilliant colors of autumn!

Add some fall colors to your social media projects with HTBphotos ‘Fall Foliage‘ Series by John and Katharina Notarianni, available on Dreamstime.

HTBphotos fall foliage series available on Dreamstime
HTBphotos ‘Fall Foliage’ by John and Katharina Notarianni has been cropped and resized to 1200×1200 pixels for social media purposes.

Stock photo sizes for any social media post

Graphics, photos, and other visuals are a necessity when posting content on social media!

And with copyright concerns, it is best to either take photos with your cell phone, digital camera or even your iPad, or leverage the many reputable stock photography sources like Dreamstime, or design services like Canva. There are even high quality free stock photo sites like Unsplash.

The question is, now that you have the perfect image for your social media post, what size image displays correctly across multiple platforms? Is that even possible? Yes!

Keep It Simple Strategy

Square images are ideal for Facebook and Instagram posts. Square format also works well for LinkedIn posts – and can work for Twitter.

Easy 1:1 ratio (square)

Instagram and Facebook photos: 1200 x 1200 pixels

Pinterest Pins (repurpose from Instagram)

All profile pictures* (allows cropping to circle format): 500 x 500

YouTube channel icon*: 800 x 800

Best size for link posts

As you can see the featured image at the top of this post also from HTBphotos ‘Fall Foliage’ Series, has been resized to 1200×630 pixels which work perfectly for WordPress blog posts as well as for several popular social media platforms that have a similar size requirement: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

For specifics on all popular social media platforms, I recommend taking time to review Louise Myers’ Social Media Cheat Sheet.

Get noticed with a Video Cover

Facebook: Tell More of Your Story

Instead of a cover photo, now you can use a video. It can be 20-90 seconds and should be at least 820 x 312 pixels.

Louise Myers, Visual Social Media

HTB | Website Design

HTB | Website Design designs, develops and hosts mobile friendly business websites. E-commerce, SEO and Social Media packages available. Please contact info@healingtimebooks.com to request a free 15 minute consultation.

What Makes A Website Great!

Is it time to update your business website?

Does your website inspire action? If the answer is Yes! then your website is doing it’s job.

If not, what can you do to make it better? Ask yourself:

Can anyone find your website?

  • are you on the map, as they say? Can search engines find your website?
  • does your domain name represent your brand?

Is it easy to use?

  • is it pleasure to click around?
  • does it look good on a mobile phone or tablet?

Does it present you and your business in a credible way?

  • are there reviews or testimonials about you?
  • does it list your credentials on the About web page?

Can the visitor easily buy or request your product or service?

  • do you have an email opt-in request?
  • do you have a contact form to request your service?
  • do you link to a shop where it is easy to buy your product or service?

Is it current or out-dated?

  • Does your website represent your current business focus?
  • does the platform get updates or upgrades frequently enough to keep up with the changing internet landscape?
  • can your website handle sudden increases in traffic?

If you answered NO! to any of the above questions, it might be time for an overhaul of your website.

Here are some steps you can take:

  1. Define the goal for your website – what do you want the visitor to learn, experience, buy etc.
  2. Streamline it so it is easy to use and content loads quickly
  3. Brand yourself. Evaluate whether you are consistently using your brand across all platforms – website, social media, email communications, etc.
  4. Make it mobile friendly – view it on your phone and tablet as well as on a laptop.

Need help?

If you don’t have time to do this all by yourself, we invite you to request a free consultation to help you achieve your goals.

Just fill out our online Contact Form, or by sending us an email at info@healingtimebooks.com

HTB Website Design by Katharina Notarianni for SEO

HTBphotos presents the ‘Easter Bunny Series’ of stock photos

Find HTBphotos stock photos on Dreamstime.com for your social media, website and print needs.

Exclusively available on Dreamstime.com, explore the new HTBphotos ‘Easter Bunny Series,’ a collection of stock photos featuring rabbits and bunnies. Have a look and see what suits your social media, website and print project design… So adorable!

Stock photographs from HTBphotos ‘Easter Bunny Series’ are exclusively available on Dreamstime

Tips for using stock photography

Here are tips from an article by bossproject.com ‘5 Ways to Successfully Use Stock Photography on Your Website.’

  1. Start with the Design – Define your brand colors and style. Once you have the design in place, it’s much easier to narrow down your search and find the right images for your project
  2. Choose the Right Photos – choose stock photos that fit your brand colors and style
  3. Customize Your Images – add text to create fun graphics
  4. Get some SEO Going – use keywords and keyword phrases as well as captions or alt titles
  5. Add in some of Your Own Images – have a professional, branded head shot made to use on your website and across social media so people know who you are

Get 10 Free Stock Photos

New to stock photos? Get started now with Dreamstime’s offer of 10 free stock photos! And, your purchase helps fight COVID-19! Dreamstime is donating 5% of all purchases to WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund

Want help with updating your website?

Contact HTB Website Design for a free consultation.

HTB Free Book Offer

Special Offer: Give Mom a signed copy of The Beauty of Irises to help relieve stress.

SPECIAL OFFER – FREE BOOK FOR MOM

Spring Blooms! Blooming in Katharina Notarianni’s garden… this one is called Night Moves, almost black when it first opens and turns more purple as time passes. Like velvet and silk. The lovely bright orange beard provides a nice contrast.

Click HERE to request your free book! ($10 shipping & handling)

For a limited time, you can request a signed copy of The Beauty of Irises by Katharina Notarianni for just the cost of Shipping and handling $10 to be shipped to your Mom or your Grandmother for Easter or Mother’s Day, or anyone else who is special in your life. Give them something beautiful to focus on, to relieve stress and panic.

Simply fill out our CONTACT FORM, or send an email to info@healingtimebooks.com with your and your mom’s name and address. Payment by PayPal or Square credit cards are accepted. Details will be emailed to you.

Thank you for taking advantage of this Special Free Book Offer.

Happy Spring Blooms!


Your purchase helps fight Covid-19!

Help fight COVID-19 and Get 10 Free Images Trial with Dreamstime

Looking for photos of Spring blooms for your print, website or social media project? We can help.

We are pleased to present HTBphotos ‘Spring Blossoms’ Series of stock photos by John and Katharina Notarianni, available exclusively on Dreamstime.com.

Get 10 Free Images Trial with Dreamstime (https://www.dreamstime.com/#res16409905)

Your purchase helps fight Covid-19! We are donating 5% of all purchases to WHO’s Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund when you sign up for a free trial with Dreamstime.

Get 10 Free Images Trial with Dreamstime (https://www.dreamstime.com/#res16409905)

Free Success Book Giveaway

Get your free copy of Be A Success Maverick Vol 2. Limited Time Offer so Hurry!

We hope all of you and your families are keeping well during this time of crisis unlike anything we have known. Our heartfelt thanks go to all who are helping our communities by continuing to provide essential services and all the healthcare professionals who are keeping us all healthy!

Those of you who are home-bound, helping to keep your families and communities safe, no doubt have spent some time reflecting. What you will focus more on when the home stay quarantine mandate is lifted? Are you wanting to reach for more, expand your success, make changes?

Learn Secrets of Success from Success Mavericks!

“To all the Mavericks in the world whom believe in a dream larger than themselves and continue to follow their dream regardless of sound reason and logic. To all the entrepreneurs who pursue their vision year after year, sometimes decade after decade, with no finish line in sight.” Paul Finck, the Maverick Millionaire

Get your free copy of Be A Success Maverick Vol. 2 – How Ordinary People DO IT DIFFERENT to Achieve Extraordinary Results. A compilation of success stories and lessons learned by many Mavericks from around the world.

“Timing, perseverance, and ten years of trying will eventually make you look like an overnight success.” BIZ STONE

HURRY! LIMITED TIME OFFER!

Be A Success Maverick - HTB free book giveaway. Hurry! Ends March 31 2020. ORDER COPY OF THIS BOOK https://bit.ly/3dEiMI8

Learn How Ordinary People Do It Different to achieve extraordinary results!

Request your copy BEFORE midnight Tuesday March 31, 2020. Email info@healingtimebooks.com with your mailing address.

OFFER DEADLINE

Include “Free Success Book” in the subject line of your email to receive a print copy of this book.

Want a Kindle eBook?

Now available for download from Amazon.com. Order Be A Success Maverick Vol. 2 ebook available on Amazon.com in the Kindle Store for only $6.99!

Missed the Deadline? No worries…

If you miss the March 31, 2020 deadline, no worries! You can still get a Free Book. Just cover the cost of Shipping & Handling – only $9.95. To request your free copy of Success Mavericks Vol 2, email your mailing address to info@healingtimebooks.com with “Free Success Book” in the Subject line BEFORE APRIL 30, 2020, and a Shipping & Handling invoice will be emailed to you. Once payment is received your copy will be shipped.

This HTB Free Book Offer is good through April 30, 2020.