In website development, more often than not certain files or directories need access restrictions.  Access can be restricted either through server-side scripting (i.e. Coldfusion, PHP, or ASP) or the web server, like Apache.  To restrict access in Apache, a file named “.htaccess” can be uploaded into the directory of which you want access restricted. The .htacess file is a text file that lets the web server prompt for a username or password, or displays a message that you are not authorized to view the contents of this page.  When restricting users by login name and password, the .htaccess file references a file called .htpasswd.  There is a program in the Apache directory called htpasswd.exe that will create a user and password in an encrypted MD5 format.  There are many options for the htpasswd.exe program that include recreating the file, appending the file, and using different encryption types.  Below is an example of the contents in a .htaccess file.

AuthUserFile c:\security\.htpasswd
AuthName “Please Enter a User and Password”
AuthType Basic
require valid-user

This would be an example of the .htpasswd file.

user1:Nd8VlAyM/Byno
admin:L7L1bBFu6QwEg

Nothing is more satisfying than finishing a massive project. I think the feelings of accomplishment and relief are universal to all when a task comes to a close that you have invested much time and effort. But though this feeling of elation may be addicting, rushing to complete a project just for the sake of finishing is a grave mistake. This holds true for all projects here at DDA. Creative online copy must be proofed and re-proofed, custom admin and database programming functionality must be verified, and graphic designs should be thoroughly reviewed. If not, you may experience a few moments of the “I finished a project” feel goods, quickly followed by regret for the oversights.

At DDA we have set in place a system of review to try and eliminate these faux pas. Every page of copy is thoroughly reviewed by fellow writers. After the page is posted to a website or laid out in a stylish design, round two of proofing commences. To some, this may seem like overkill, but our clients expect and deserve the highest caliber of work and this system of retracing our steps to ensure accuracy is a means of guaranteeing quality.

So, with every project completed, comes an equally important task of quality assurance.  Without it, the minor oversights will overshadow the hours of hard work. So test, test, and re-test!

The majority of my weekend I spent driving. Over 13 hours to be exact. The drive was tedious to say the least and I spent a large portion of it wishing it was over. I’ve found this, “Are we there yet?” mentality transcends to more applications in life than just driving. Often times we have the finish line in site, but we often wish to skip the whole ‘getting there’ process.  But without the hard work and time, would the final destination be as sweet?—probably not.

Like a long trek to a highly-anticipated location, the steps towards the completion of a project can be lengthy and involved.  But these advances towards the final product are what make the end result so rewarding. Proper website development, brochures, custom corporate and medical videos, 2d and 3d animations, and admin and database programming require a vast amount of time and effort. Though seeing the final product is supreme, the steps getting there are what make the project a success.

At DDA, our production process is carefully mapped-out to ensure the final destination is all that you imagined it would be. Programmers, graphic designers, webmasters, search engine optimization specialists, and project coordinators, work seamlessly together to ensure the process is done right. And though it may at times be lengthy, the end result is well worth the wait.

How much can one man or woman carry?  Some of us may be well versed in taking on heavy loads without buckling under the immense weight, but others may crumble. At DDA we are expected to continuously support a plethora of tasks, and if not managed correctly, you may find yourself struggling to support the load.  

As a full-service advertising agency that specializes in all things digital, our tasks are varied. Graphic design, website development, custom admin and database programming, corporate and medical video creation, and training programs are carried out seamlessly under one roof.  One person may be working on several projects at once, each with their own importance and designated deadlines. Consequently the pressure at times can be great and if you are not well versed in managing your time, the pressure can become overwhelming.

This ability to multitask is especially vital for me as a Project Coordinator. I am constantly striving to improve my efficiency and continually look to my coworkers for ways in which I can improve. When you are the liaison between a slew of clients and DDA staff, and you must also allocate time for your own projects, whether they are optimized content for a new website or creative copywriting for a brochure, the work load can be heavy. Each Project Coordinator has their own methods of managing tasks. Some desks are covered in an array of Post-It notes and some allocate designated times for a variety of tasks per day. Whatever the means, managing your time is crucial, or else you will quickly find yourself buckling under the weight.    

The one thing I’ve learned over the years in dealing with IT and programming is that patience is probably the most important trait to have, or else you’d die early of some stress related disease.   Or at least I think so today.  You have to have patience with clients who want everything in less than one click, or can’t find the most obvious thing that they need to complete their job.  You have to have patience with your computer - its operating system and programs.  And you have to have patience with yourself, while still rushing to meet deadlines and dealing with people in general.

No programmer, or program for that matter, is perfect, no matter how many people you have on the quality analysis/testing side, there are always problems to be found.  It could be outside influences, it could be programs that are meant to work together, it could be the weather that’s shorting out some cabling, or the distance the data has to travel changing things from black to grey.  In any case, technology can, and will fail.  Of course, it’s my job to fix it.  Whether it’s something on the server, someone’s computer, or the fact that Wireless G just doesn’t stay strong through the old house with plaster walls and all kinds of interference up to the kids’ room.  Just fix it.  We fix it to stop hearing people complaining.  We try, even though there’s probably nothing we can do to make it better given the technology we have.  We have theories and discussions, searches on Google…I bring this up because this morning I had to waste a good half hour of my time here getting my computer to start up correctly. 

Of course last night was when I finally installed the latest updates for XP.  This resulted in a nice black screen this morning.  No hard drive movement, no keyboard lights, but the mouse was lit though.  So after about 10 reboots, delving into safe mode, and the works, I was finally up and running, at least it seemed.  Then I go to open up all the things I need to work, IE housing, the calendar, blog, phpMyAdmin, CFAdmin, Opera housing, my TRAC,  and random pages I don’t want to forget about (gotta love the saved sessions), Firefox for everything else, and Thunderbird to check my email.  Of course IE froze.  What a pain.  So I killed that and restarted, and could finally get to work.  And here I am, 40 minutes into my day, blogging about the first 50 minutes since I tried to turn my computer on, that seemed to me a plain waste.  Of course that’s what I do.  If I was anyone else, with less patience, I probably would have made 10 calls to my personal tech and complained their ear off, like they could have helped prevent it.  But I am my personal tech, and I just take things as they go.  Of course I am human, and this will make my patience thinner the rest of the day.  I’m sure I’ll be firing at someone later.  In the meantime, please remember to be nice to your IT people, thank them today.  They didn’t cause your computer to be annoying, they just do their best to make sure you can work as best as you can.

My position at DDA is anything but redundant or formulaic. We consider ourselves a full-service advertising agency that caters to the specific needs of every client. Consequently the scopes of projects we handle are vastly varied. We do it all; from corporate and medical videos, training programs, e-commerce websites, to search engine enhanced copywriting, our capabilities are truly enormous.

With that said, work at DDA is a continual learning process. While I may be well versed in advertisement and creative copywriting, I must perpetually expand my knowledge to acclimate myself to my clients’ products and services.  For every project, the target audience and philosophy of the product and company must be considered. A style of writing and voice is tailored specifically to represent a company’s services and products in the most appropriate and effective way possible. The role of a copywriter is therefore dynamic and never static. We are like chameleons, adapting to every situation in order to achieve the ideal result.

As a Project Coordinator I work closely with each department. Everyday I learn something new about the video production process, database and admin programming, as well as graphic design. No, my job here is certainly not boring and I am thankful for this.

Today is the start of what I expect to be quite a busy week. As a member of the copywriting team, my responsibilities extend well beyond the role of creative online, print, and video copywriter. My day can consist of project coordination duties, new business development, and quality assurance tester for admin and website programming. This week I expect to be well immersed in all roles.

My first priority is to oversee the launch of Chains-and-Charms.com. Along with this quickly approaching deadline comes the need for extensive testing.  Link functionality must be verified, custom programming must be confirmed, and performance and stability must be established before making this site live. My goal will be to expose the errors and ensure they are resolved before the site launches.

I am also writing search engine optimized copy for Dynamic Digital Advertising’s new division, Corporate and Medical Training (CMT),  as well as developing a content plan for a new website. On top of this, I must ensure work continues at a steady pace for several projects that I am overseeing. This week will surely be a busy one and I will need to pay special attention to managing my time effectively. Though the pace may at times be brisk, I enjoy the diversity of responsibilities.

Building complex websites that are at once user friendly and innovative can be a challenging task. Companies want a website that present thier products and services in a unique way that demands the attentions’ of users and catapults their business above the competitions’. I have found through my experience as a Project Coordinator, the DDA team is well versed in achieving just this—a  new and exciting way to build not only websites, but corporate and medical videos, brochures, Corporate and Medical Training programs, and more.

DDA seems to excel at pushing the boundaries of the norm to achieve new and groundbreaking methodologies of video production, database programming, and graphic design. Just look at our website as an example. Several technologies are combined to make an experience like no other. Custom videos interact with site navigation, live actors are integrated into well-crafted 2d animations, and custom programming enable exciting functionality. Though the experience is one that is new to many, the DDA team never loses site of ease of use and functionality.

A project I am currently overseeing is an excellent example of our team’s expertise in pushing the boundaries while achieving an intuitive and easy to use website. Video elements, custom database and admin programming, and innovative designs meld together to create a site that can only be defined as groundbreaking, however the core philosophy centers on the users’ ability to navigate and utilize the site with ease.

Excitement is rising as we are quickly approaching the launch of a DDA developed e-commerce site for an online purveyor of charm jewelry. This site truly represents DDA’s capabilities and strength as an advertising agency that specializes in all fields. Search engine tailored copywriting, custom database and admin programming, stellar video capture and production, arresting web design, and more all fuse together, creating a website that we anticipate to lead our client to the top of online jewelry retail.

As this project’s coordinator, I have had the pleasure of witnessing the cooperation and effort put forth by practically every department of Dynamic Digital Advertising. The online copywriting experts have developed hundreds upon hundreds of optimized pages of content to ensure this site ranks high in the competitive search marketing realm. Intense and intuitive programming has taken place, creating a navigation system, database, and admin that is truly innovative. Plus, DDA’s design and video production team has transformed this site into one that is visually stimulating and engaging. I anxiously await the launch and I am very excited to see the many elements fused together and the hard work of the DDA team come to fruition.