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Friday 19 th July 2024 will go down as a date to forget for the American cybersecurity company, CrowdStrike. As you will have almost certainly read by now (or directly experienced), the business issued a faulty software update that left millions of Microsoft Windows computers around the world suffering the “Blue Screen of Death” (BSOD) and failing to restart properly.

It was Australian banks, TV broadcasters, and airlines that first raised the alarm, with thousands of machines going offline in a short time period. Before long, the issues reverberated across the globe; as Europeans woke up and commenced their own workdays, it became apparent that retailers, hospitals, and emergency services were also being adversely impacted.

In New Zealand, services such as Auckland Transport and St John were disrupted. Even acting Prime Minister David Seymour was forced to weigh in; the Minister for Regulation confirmed that the issue was not a malicious attack, and expressed relief that “it looks like, by and large, New Zealand has got off luckier than some other countries around the world.”

So, what did cause the BSOD issues?

As PCs and servers across the planet continued to be knocked offline and forced into a recovery boot loop that prevented machines from starting properly, CrowdStrike quickly took the blame for the fiasco.

In the words of CrowdStrike President and CEO, George Kurtz, the company was “actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts… this is not a security incident or cyberattack. The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed.”

Amid predictions from IT experts that the episode could cost billions of dollars of lost productivity and commerce, and that it could take days for some systems to be fully recovered, it is clear that the bruise to CrowdStrike’s reputation could linger for much longer.
In the words of at least one Reddit user summing up the enormity of the situation, “this is what Y2K wishes it was”.

The return of the legendary ‘Blue Screen of Death’

At this point, many of our blog readers may feel inclined to mention that the “Blue Screen of Death” is hardly a phenomenon borne out of this latest CrowdStrike incident. Indeed, it has been a slightly too familiar sight to many a PC user since Microsoft introduced it with Windows 3.0 way back in 1993.

Of course, the “Blue Screen of Death” is hardly what Microsoft calls it; this critical error screen is officially known as a “stop error”. Basically, if you see such a screen – which typically displays text along the lines of, “Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart” – you will know that your machine’s Windows operating system has crashed.

The infamous BSOD frequently happens due to kernel-level conflicts or bugs. Or to put it another way, the bugs that cause the Blue Screen of Death are often those operating deep within the operating system – a situation that can make them notoriously tricky to diagnose and resolve.

Some classic causes of BSOD errors over the years, though, have included the likes of overheating issues and memory malfunctions.

How to fix the CrowdStrike Blue Screen of Death

It is important to note that the CrowdStrike BSOD issue is very much a problem with Windows PCs – Mac and Linux hosts are not impacted by the bug. Presuming you are among those affected, the problem may have been resolved for you by the time you read this.

Indeed, on the Saturday after the issue hit, the Microsoft Download Center made available a USB tool that, according to the Redmond corporation, can assist IT administrators to resolve the problem. However, in order to use this tool, a user will need to have administrative privileges and a BitLocker recovery key for every Windows PC they need to fix.

For its own part, CrowdStrike has referred customers to its “support portal” for the latest updates. The company added that its website would be continually updated with information on the situation.

If, though, you’re still scrambling for answers to “how can I fix my blue screen?”, one remedy could be to simply restart your computer… again, and again, and again. Indeed, Kurtz stated in a Friday appearance on NBC’s Today show that “many of the customers are rebooting the system and it’s coming up operational because we fixed it on our end.”

Some sources, such as this X user, indicate that rebooting over and over is, in fact, bringing success for some people. Microsoft, too, has stated that according to feedback it has received, repeated rebooting – even as often as 15 times – could help clear the issue.

Such constant rebooting, though, reportedly hasn’t fixed the problem for everyone. CrowdStrike has recommended that those still suffering from the dreaded BSOD should boot up into safe mode, followed by deleting the corrupted file.

These are the exact steps that the CrowdStrike website suggests:

1. Booting the Windows PC into Safe Mode or the Windows Recovery Environment
2. Navigating to the %WINDIR%\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike directory
3. Locating the file matching “C-00000291*.sys” and deleting it
4. Booting the host normally.

CrowdStrike recommends an alternative way of solving the problem for those with a public cloud or an alternative virtual environment. More details can be found on the CrowdStrike website.

I still can’t fix my blue screen – what steps should I take next?

Hopefully, pursuing the aforementioned actions – and the further advice and guidance set out on the CrowdStrike website – will allow your business to say goodbye to Blue Screen of Death woes (at least until the next, hopefully non-CrowdStrike-related issue, turns up).

When creating the most effective website for your business, web developers in Auckland will recommend adding a search function. Remember that people visit your website mainly to gather information or find a specific product or service. The easier you make this for them, the more likely you are to be able to keep them engaged and convert this lead into a sale.

It is proven that well-planned, clearly laid out, and user-friendly websites are the most effective. Read on to learn more about the importance of including search functionality on your website and how web developers in Auckland can do this for you.

Why Is Search Functionality So Important?

Having your web developers in Auckland add a search feature to your website will enhance the user’s experience in the following ways:

• Help them to find the product or service they are looking for faster. This can increase sales in the case of online shopping sites.
• Search results will include similar products, services or information from your website, thereby exposing them to more information and other options which might also appeal to them.
• If you have a busy website with a lot of content, a search bar will help to prevent the user from being bogged down by information overload.
• Having a positive experience on your website will encourage the user to return, which is precisely what you want.

What Kind Of Search Functionality Can Web Developers In Auckland Add To Your Website?

Search functions on website do not operate the same way as you may be used to from, for example, a Google search (although this is also available as an option). Usually, the search functionality will be based on one of these options:

• Auto-fill searches are based on pre-programmed keyword searches, so when a user begins typing the word, the predefined list of matching options will appear for the user to select from.
• Feature searches will allow users to refine or sort their search results on predefined categories such as price, colour, brand, size, tags, etc.
• Abstract searches are more complex and will return the results considered to be the closest match to the keywords typed into the search feature.

All these will enhance the user’s ability to find the product, service, brochure, download or other information they seek, which improves their experience of using your website.

Contact Numero today to find out how our web developers in Auckland can upgrade your website to include a search function and other features to make your website user-friendly. Our team of experts is on hand to help you convert visitors into customers.

Your website design needs to be on point to attract potential customers and hold their attention for as long as possible. Converting a browser into a customer is directly related to how long you can keep them engaged on your website.

There are many techniques that your website design services in Auckland will employ to make your website more appealing. One of these is to make effective use of white space. Read on to learn more about white space and how it can be used to enhance your website.

What Is White Space?

Any media that contains print or graphics also contains white space. White space, also known as negative space, is the part of the page or document with no text or graphics. In other words, it refers to blank spaces. Included in this are the spaces between the text itself and even the line and paragraph spacing.

White space is a crucial design element that balances printed areas, graphics and “breathing space” in your document or page.

Your website design services in Auckland will employ this technique to create a design that enhances the user’s interactions with your website. Pages that are crammed with information and graphics can be overwhelming and off-putting. The effective use of white space enriches the user’s visual perception of your pages.

Website Design Services In Auckland Tell You Why White Space Is Important

We have all had that experience of opening a webpage crammed full of text and graphics from top to bottom. The dizzying array of information is overwhelming for our brains, and there is nowhere for our eyes to be at rest.

Now compare that impression to a website with only a few graphic elements, simple headings and defined blocks of text, surrounded by plenty of empty space. Immediately, this will be more calming and eye-catching.

Website design services in Auckland will tell you that the other most important reasons for including white space are the following:

• Focal Points – Adding white space around specific pieces of text or a graphic emphasises it on the page, leading the viewer’s eye to the thing you want them to be focussing on.
• Increasing Legibility – Adding white space to text makes it easier to read. Increased font sizes, additional line spacing and extended paragraph spacing all contribute to this.

Contact Numero today for more information on top web design techniques. Our website design services in Auckland can enhance your website by including white space and many other effective design concepts. We can help you create a website that attracts and holds the attention of your potential customers.

If you are looking to increase traffic to your website, an excellent tool to use is pay per click advertising in Auckland. It allows you to get your adverts placed in front of users who have already demonstrated their interest in your product or service. And you only pay if they click through to your website from the ad.

Read on to learn more about how pay per click advertising works in Auckland and how you can use this very effective marketing tool.

What Is Pay Per Click In Auckland?

Google Ads offers a pay per click advertising solution that is the most commonly used advertising network. Other platforms offer similar services, such as Microsoft, Facebook, and LinkedIn ads.

The way it works is that businesses can bid on specific preselected keywords for a chance to show an advert on a search engine results page (SERP). As Google is the most commonly used search engine, Google Ads is a great place to start your pay per click campaign in Auckland.

The critical thing to note is that you only pay for the advert if someone clicks on it to visit your website, giving you more bang for your buck. You are also entirely in control of the keyword selection and the budget.

How To Start Your Pay Per Click Campaign In Auckland

Your digital marketing company will help you to set up your pay per click parameters to get the maximum benefit from this type of advertising. In a nutshell, here is the process that will be followed:

• Identification of a set of keywords that are relevant to the products and services that you offer. Remember to think like a potential customer when creating this list – what will they type into a search engine search when seeking what you offer?
• The campaign will then be set up in Google Ads along with your desired budget.
• The bidding will begin based on how your campaign is set up. You can opt for an automated bid strategy by setting an average daily budget, and Google Ads will do the work for you. Or, if you would like the manage the bid process yourself, you can opt for the manual bidding option. This allows you to move the budget to things that are working well.

Contact Numero today to add pay per click advertising in Auckland to your digital marketing campaign. We can do a free Google Ads audit for your business and help you generate high-converting landing pages for your campaign.

The first step in the web development process for your company starts with the planning phase. This is not just about how your website will look but rather a more strategic activity to determine the purpose and goals of your website in your online marketing strategy.

Read on to learn why the planning phase is critical and how your web development company can help.

Why Is Web Development Planning So Important For Your Company?

As with most aspects of your business, there are multiple benefits of having a good plan before you embark on a project. Web development is no different. Here are some key benefits of a good web development plan for your company:

• Saving time and money – having a detailed plan will prevent having to rework parts of the development and design as your blueprints will be ready to implement, making it less likely for the project to run overtime.
• A better end result – by working through different ideas and objectives in the planning phase, the web development team will have a clear picture of the requirements from the beginning giving sufficient time to produce an excellent end result.
• Avoid design issues and conflicts – a properly thought out plan will include all aspects of the layout, design and purpose, which will assist in getting the job done right the first time.

What To Include In A Web Development Plan For Your Company

Use this checklist to ensure that you have covered all the essential elements of your web development plan.

• Define the goals and purpose – clearly outline the expectations by choosing specific, measurable goals that sync with your overall marketing strategy.
• Setting a budget – within the confines of your overall marketing budget, it is vital to set a realistic web development budget for your company. Remember to include design, launch, hosting, upgrades, and maintenance to keep your website performing well over time.
• Assemble your team – decide who will be responsible for which aspects of the web development and whether you will do the work in-house or outsource to a web development company.
• Define structure and content – decide on the basics of the required structure for your website and the type of content that will be required.

Contact Numero today for help with all aspects of web development for your company, from planning to completion. We have a great deal of experience and can deliver a website that will exceed your expectations.

Anyone serious about making their website work for them will likely to be implementing SEO strategies, either in-house or outsourced to an SEO company in New Zealand.

Either way, for your SEO campaign to produce the desired results, it is vital not to fall into the trap of believing these SEO myths. Read on to learn more about these SEO company myths in New Zealand.

1. SEO Is A Once-Off Activity

When SEO activities are seen to be working, and search engine rankings have risen to the top, the inclination might be to think that the work is done. However, this is not true. If SEO is neglected, you will see declining website traffic before long. And this is something that can easily be measured.

Your SEO company in New Zealand works on a monthly retainer because they need to work on your SEO on an ongoing basis, consistently striving to keep your rankings at the top.

2. Only The Number 1 Position Will Do

While research shows that the number one ranked result in a search engine search will get the most hits, with declining hits as the rankings go down the page, it is not only the top slot that gets hits.

With updates in the way Google presents the search results, there are multiple opportunities for a hit by structuring the content on your website to encourage other listings on a search engine results page (SERP), such as:

• Rich snippets which add additional information to the result, for example, a star rating or review result
• Featured snipped
• Answer box
• Knowledge graph
• Panels and side boxes
• Images
• Shopping results

Done right, your SEO company in New Zealand might even be able to get you to appear on the SERP more than once in different callout formats.

3. Website Design Is Not Important To SEO

This is not true because the very design, appearance and how it is coded give your website the boost it needs to ensure a top ranking. To ensure the best possible outcomes from your SEO efforts, take cognisance of these vital web design pointers:

• An error-free, fast-loading website that works on all platforms
• Relevant content that search engines can readily index
• Appealing layout and easy user interface to keep potential customers engaged

Chat to the experts at Numero today; we are a leading SEO company in New Zealand and can show you how to get top rankings and excellent results with our SEO services.

Not all website design is equal, and you will know this if you have spent time browsing for products, services or information on the Internet. From your own experience, you will know that you are more likely to stay on a website that is easy to navigate and “helps” you to find what you are looking for.

Poor website design in Hamilton, will have the effect of driving users away, possibly toward competitors’ websites. So, to avoid losing customers because of your website, here are some top tips to incorporate in your website design in Hamilton to maximise customer engagement.

1. Don’t Have Too Many Pages On Your Website

Your website designer will be able to guide you when setting up the blueprint for your website, be creative in arranging your information to minimise the number of pages. This will simplify your website and make it easier for potential customers to find what they are looking for. Having to wade through reams of information to see what they seek may cause them to leave, unsatisfied.

2. Simple, Clean And Easy Layout On Each Page

Even if you need a vast amount of information on your website, look for a simple, uncluttered, easy-to-navigate layout. Ensure that your pages include enough white space, improving your design’s visual perception and appeal. White space is the empty space around your website’s text, graphics and other elements.

3. Provide A Search Feature

Engaging website design in Hamilton will include adding a search bar, or other search functionality to your website, allowing users to find what they are looking for quickly and, therefore, will be more likely to stay on your website. This gives you a better chance to impress them and turn them into viable leads.

4. Include Internal Links In Your Website Design In Hamilton

Make it easy for visitors to get to various parts of your website by providing them with internal links. For example, on each page, ensure that your company logo’s image includes a link to your home page. Further links can be included at the top or bottom of every page to various parts such as the home page, contact page, blogs and more.

5. Menus

Provide your users with clean and easy-to-navigate menus at the top of every page. You can use this to divide the information logically, enhancing the user’s ability to find different categories of information, products or services.

Contact Numero today for help with website design in Hamilton that will maximise customer engagement. Our expert website designers can make it happen.

If you are looking to give your website a facelift, or perhaps you are creating a brand new one, you will need the services of a website designer. Their professional skills and expertise can be employed to create a website that is an asset to your business and fulfils its task of generating more sales for your business. Boosting your bottom line is always a good idea.

When selecting the right website designer in Wellington for the task, here are some things to look out for to ensure that you hire the right one.

A Web Designer In Wellington With Skills And Experience

Ask your prospective website designer to show you examples of their work and the types of organisations that they have worked with. Ideally, you will be looking for someone with solid experience in designing websites for clients from various industries. It is also helpful if they have worked with clients from your sector, as this will provide them with insight into dealing with your type of target audience.

Up-To-Date Knowledge Of The Lastest Strategies And Trends

The digital marketing landscape is ever-changing, so you should look for a website designer in Wellington that has their finger on the pulse of current strategies like search engine optimisation and design and content trends.

It’s no good having a website created or updated only to discover that it is already outdated!

Package Deals And Realistic Price Points

It would be wise to look for a website designer in Wellington that works for or with a full-service digital marketing company. You can opt for various online marketing services to boost your business. There need to be strategies in place to drive traffic to your fresh, new look website; otherwise, it is a wasted resource.

Digital marketing companies can help you with website design, search engine optimisation, digital advertising and a host of other services to get you on the digital map, all in a package deal customised to your specific needs, saving you money in the long run.

Ongoing Support And Communication

When seeking out your website designer in Wellington, look for someone that can offer you ongoing support for your website in particular, and your digital marketing campaign in general. They need to be available when you need them and to be able to communicate clearly around timeframes, content and strategies.

To find the best website designer in Wellington, contact Numero today. We offer a full range of digital services and are Google certified. Let us help you boost your rankings and optimise your digital presence.