Simon says…

Plain talk on web tech and practical AI, no acronyms left undefined.

Run your WordPress site Why I Built C7 LaunchPad (And Why I Still Love WordPress Anyway) Table of contentsHappy Canada Day!Five reasons WordPress drives people crazyFive reasons WordPress is still the right choiceSo I stopped complaining… Jul 2, 2026

Self-hosted tools We Launched a Store. On Father’s Day. On Go Skateboarding Day. The Stars Don’t Mess Around. Table of contentsWhat we actually builtC7 LaunchPad: the theme that runs the whole showThe hero plugins worth knowing right nowC7… Jun 21, 2026

AI that ships The Weekend an Idea Built Its Own Home Table of contentsThe first thing it did was listenTwo days, start to finishThe part where I fought six robotsThe actual… Jun 1, 2026

Run your WordPress site Tips for going on an information diet in 2026 The 2026 World Happiness Report came out last month, and one stat stuck with me. About a decade ago, Canada… Apr 20, 2026

AI that ships Tips for which AI you should actually use in 2026? Table of contentsA Guide for People Who Just Want to Get Stuff Done.The “I Just Want a Smart Assistant” TierThe… Mar 20, 2026

AI that ships A Valentine’s love letter to vibe coding (it’s complicated) Table of contentsThe Honeymoon PhaseWhen You Don’t Know What You’re Looking AtYour Relationship Is Only As Good As Your CommunicationUse… Feb 14, 2026

Run your WordPress site What I learned from inheriting other people’s websites. Table of contents1. “Don’t touch anything or the whole thing breaks”2. The Elementor (or Divi) graveyard3. The domain is registered… Oct 31, 2025

Run your WordPress site What I learned from doing dial up tech support in the 90’s Table of contentsJust cause you are certified, doesn’t always mean you are any good.People don’t read the instructions. Another case… Jun 3, 2025

Run your WordPress site The biggest fork in the road for estimating the cost of a website Table of contentsRoute 1: Full Design Using Design ToolsRoute 2: Build As You Go (aka “Agile method”)So… Which Fork Is… Apr 19, 2025

AI that ships Why you should get AI to ghostwrite your content. A controversial take. Table of contentsWhy AI Ghostwriting WorksHow to Use AI EffectivelyA Final ThoughtFirst, let me start with a genuine apology to… Mar 2, 2025

Run your WordPress site Tips for when to Build an App (And Why You Probably Shouldn’t) Table of contentsWhy Web Apps Make More Sense for Most ProjectsThe Real Cost of Mobile App DevelopmentSo When Should You… Feb 3, 2025

AI that ships Happy New Year! Now what? Tips for getting help from AI for 2025 planning Table of contents1. Tell It Your Troubles2. Share Your Goals3. Get SpecificThe Final TouchAs the calendar flips to another year,… Jan 1, 2025

AI that ships Tips for creating holiday cards using AI Table of contentsWhy Limericks?Step 1: Set the MoodStep 2: Provide Clear PromptsStep 3: Refine and PersonalizeStep 4: Pair with a… Dec 13, 2024

AI that ships Tips for using AI in your daily life Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an incredible tool for simplifying everyday tasks, and with ChatGPT, you have a personal assistant… Nov 15, 2024

Run your WordPress site Tips for what drone to buy Table of contentsSo Flying cameras seem awesome, but do you need one?Not all drones are the same, so how do… Oct 1, 2024

AI that ships Tips for adding a chatbot to your website So, you’ve decided to slap a chatbot onto your website because, hey, it’s 2024, and everyone’s doing it. It’s the… Sep 16, 2024

AI that ships Tips for getting images for your website Table of contents1. Understand Your Brand2. High Quality is Non-Negotiable3. Be Original When Possible4. Leverage Stock Image Libraries5. Optimize for… Aug 16, 2024

Run your WordPress site What is a CMS and how do I choose the right one? Table of contentsWordPressShopifyJoomlaSquarespaceWixThe VerdictA CMS is a content management system, so you can (hopefully) easily update your website. In 2024,… Jul 16, 2024

Run your WordPress site What is the cost for a website in 2024 Table of contentsConsultingLogo & BrandingPhotographyCopyMaking It WorkKeeping It WorkingConclusionThe age-old question I get is, “How much for a website?” There’s… Jun 9, 2024

Own your exit Tips for deciding between WooCommerce and Shopify for ecommerce Table of contentsCustomization: WooCommerce, the “Have It Your Way” BuffetSimplicity: Shopify, the “Plug and Play” WonderCosts: The “Do I Have… May 16, 2024

For agencies So you want to talk to the programmer? Table of contents1. They Don’t Want to Talk to You (And It’s Not Personal)2. Programmers Can Take Things Too Literally3.… Apr 15, 2024

Run your WordPress site What is Screen Resolution? and why does it matter? Table of contentsWhat is Screen Resolution?How Does Screen Resolution Affect User Perspective?How Can You Cater to Everyone?How to Check Your… Mar 15, 2024

Run your WordPress site Give people their flowers while they are here. What I learned from a well timed email. A wise man said to give people their flowers while they are here and last year I took the opportunity… Feb 14, 2024

Run your WordPress site What is DNS and what are all these acronyms?! Table of contentsWhat is DNS?What are Name Servers?What are the types of DNS records?What are DKIM, DMARC, SPF records and… Jan 15, 2024

Run your WordPress site SEO. What is it and how much? Table of contentsWhat is SEO?Why Invest in SEO?Is SEO the Same as PPC?How Does SEO Work?What Should You Optimize For?Challenges… Nov 15, 2023

Run your WordPress site Maintenance. What is it and do I need it. Table of contentsWhat Does WordPress Maintenance Include?Who Should Handle WordPress Maintenance?Why You Shouldn’t Skip MaintenanceFinal ThoughtsWordPress is one of the… Sep 15, 2023

Run your WordPress site Nothing is impossible! What I learned about web development from skateboarding. Table of contentsCreating something out of nothing and approach the world differentlyFailure is part of the gameThings are hardStyle &… Jun 21, 2023

AI that ships Rise of the machines. What is AI and how can it affect businesses? Happy New Year!  Can you believe it is 2023? I figured we would have had jet packs and hoverboards by… Jan 3, 2023

Run your WordPress site What I learned in business from Iron Maiden Table of contentsBrandingHaving a good front manPerformanceA strange brotherhood/sisterhood of sortsBeing Original & AuthenticLongevity and ability to adapt.ConclusionYou have not… Dec 25, 2022

Run your WordPress site Tips for how to get revenge online Table of contentsStep 1 – Process and be done with itStep 2 – Try not to think about itStep 3… Oct 10, 2022

Run your WordPress site Tips for keeping costs low on a website Table of contentsStep 1: Admit itStep 2: Be realisticStep 3: Know you are not going to get everythingStep 4: Be… Sep 25, 2022

For agencies What I learned from doing design for 20 years Table of contentsDesign is SubjectiveDesign can fadeFeedback can be toughFeedback can be vagueGood design is not cheapDesigners are different and… Sep 15, 2022

Run your WordPress site API. What is it? and do I need one? Table of contentsWhat is an APIWhat would I use this for?How much to API?ConclusionSo today is the first day of… Sep 7, 2022

Run your WordPress site Scope Creep – What is it? and how to deal with it. Table of contentsWhat is scope creep?Is scope creep bad?Why does scope creep happen?How to avoid scope creep with a websiteHow… Aug 15, 2022

Run your WordPress site Tips for telling if an email is real or not Table of contentsIs this email fake?What are bots? and what do they want with me?How to tell if an email… May 15, 2022

Run your WordPress site Tips for working virtually Table of contentsProsConsTips for working in a virtual environmentConclusionSince COVID, it has changed the way a lot of people work.… Feb 25, 2021

Own your data Why you should register your own domain Table of contentsWhy is this importantHow to tell who owns your domainWhat to do if you are not in control… Feb 16, 2019

Run your WordPress site How much to build the unknown? People often ask how much to build the next Facebook, Youtube and more. This article explains our various different methodologies… Feb 10, 2019

Run your WordPress site What is AODA Website Compliance? Table of contentsWhat is the AODA?Does it affect me?What do I have to do to my website? What should I do… Mar 28, 2018