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Here are some tips and tricks to get free images for your website

Published

3 years ago

October 11, 2021

tips-and-tricks-to-getting-free-images-for-your-website-–-recentlyheard

Recent search engine updates made it clear that Google will not accept websites with fewer images. It seems harsh, doesn’t it? It is important to evaluate what steps will help your SEO and what will make you feel discouraged. Google’s latest bottom line states that your SEO will suffer if your website doesn’t have at least one relevant, high-quality image per page.

For all you website owners who find it easier to put pen to paper than to use flash, here’s the scoop: Google loves images and we should follow their lead. Images look great. The world is different than it was once. And the daily newspaper is not filled with black-and-white text. Today, images fuel our society. Images that capture a moment in time, are captivating and captivating. They also entice our attention and captivate our senses. To truly connect to what they see on the screen, the majority of online society today relies on delicate juxtapositions of text and images.

Sharing is another trend that has been reviving in recent years to add to the ever-growing list. Online sharing has become so common that websites without sharing tools are considered obsolete. It is important to attach a relevant image to each post to allow website visitors to share them. You are doing yourself a great disservice by leaving an imageless post. If no one is able to share your post, all the effort and time you put into researching, writing and editing, it will be a waste of time. Google will also discredit the work you put into writing if it doesn’t have a quality image that compliments it.

Since images are now the key ingredient for website success, it is no surprise that “free images” is one of the most popular trends on the internet. The copyrighted photo is the most popular of all these trends. Website owners have found it too risky to use copyright-protected images on their websites. Therefore, the internet follows one simple rule: “Take your own pictures or search the internet for free pictures.” Option “B” is not an option for people who don’t know how to use a Nikon. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable images that are free from copyrights on the internet. However, there is a growing demand for these images. Website owners who are skilled at photography have resisted anyone trying to get a ride. Google made it nearly impossible to steal and republish copyrighted images. New services and developments opened the door.

Remember those times when your mother used to remind us that there is no such thing as a free lunch. It was only a matter time before copyright-free images became so in high demand that new companies began popping up all the time to fill the gap. Website owners were excited to sign up and gain access to a free library of images they could use anywhere, anytime. Many of these stock image websites offering “Free Images” are offering false dreams. Website owners will often be hit with image costs and subscription fees after signing up. While some website owners will pay 99 cents per image, those who want to make a profit from their website before spending more money on it will be charged 99 cents.

The next step that the image-seeking deperado often takes is to load his web pages with all images he finds. But cowboy, keep your horses there, too. Google is smarter than that. It is no longer enough to fill a tech post with a photo of your pet cat, Pebbles. Google is becoming smarter by every megabyte and can now recognize the images that you use to fill your pages. To get your pages the recognition they deserve, you must align the images you place side by side with your posts.

There are some service providers that can be called “the good guys” when it comes to searching for free images. Foter.com is one of them. Foter.com is a free stock photography website that offers unlimited access to free images. It also has a WordPress plugin. However, there are always the bad things. Foter.com’s limited collection of photos is not all that great. Website owners who are considering browsing Foter.com’s photo database should be aware that they must give credit information to any image they use on their website.

PhotoDropper, another website, is a good example of a website that blurs the lines between good and evil. PhotoDropper can also be used as a WordPress plugin and offers a large library of photos. Be sure to carefully read the fine print before you click on that relevant image. PhotoDropper offers a large library of photos. However, most of the best ones are not available to those who have purchased the “premium” package. While you will find useful images in their free collection, you’ll end up with only a toothache if you go to the candy shop and find out that you can only eat gummy worms.

Stock.EXCHNG and Stock Vault also have managed to secure their place in the race for free images. Unfortunately, as with PhotoDropper and Foter.com, these free-image-sharing services have their own set of problems. Stock.EXCHNG demands that every image be accompanied with attribution information. The service is not available for WordPress plugins. Stock.EXCHNG offers a wide range of high-quality images and you can use any of them on your website if you have the time to browse their database. However, the search options don’t allow you to narrow your selection. Stock Vault is also proud of its high-quality image library and is available to all WordPressers. However, there is a catch. This may make it difficult for many to keep searching for the next best thing. Stock Vault can only be used for non-commercial purposes. If you are looking to sell soap online, stockvault has images of bubble baths.

What does it all boil down to? Your content is great, you have great ideas. But without images, everything is falling apart. There are two new options for SEOs stuck in a SEO rut. Zemanta, and imonomy have been making waves on the internet one site at a while. Zemanta and imonomy were the first to offer an automated service that lets you add non-copyright images to your pages. These services can scan your pages and instantly locate similar images. Before you click on the catchiest service, let’s first discuss the limitations and benefits of each of these automated and free-image-providing websites.

Zemanta scans website text as it is posted and then offers website owners the option to select from a smaller number of images that Zemanta’s automated database pulls from. Zemanta’s automated system offers high-quality images and a large enough selection to satisfy most website owners. Before you start exploring Zemanta’s collection of free-of-copyright images, there are some things to be aware of. Zemanta is not retroactive. This means that all your posts after you start using Zemanta will have access the automated image service. If you have a mature website, older posts and archives won’t be given the same image-makeover as your newer posts. It is important to remember that Zemanta requires the attribution information for every image. These attributions can sometimes be as long as three to four lines. Zemanta is not only able to provide images for free, but also allows you to add external links to related posts. Depending on their placement and the quantity of links, they can either hurt or help SEO. The links will ultimately lead to other websites. Users may be redirected by Zemanta’s free images.

Zemanta’s matchup imonomy offers similar services, but with a twist. Imonomy’s technology scans every post on a website and matches it instantly. This is in contrast to Zemanta. imonomy can retroactively update web pages by simply clicking a few buttons. Imonomy can scan the entire website and offer a secondary service to allow users to be reconnected with related posts from the same site. imonomy’s free images are not subject to copyright and do not require attribution credits. They also act as interactive components of websites and encourage SEO through intelligent internal links. No matter which service you use, free images have a catch. To that end, imonomy inserts small ads alongside the images. After all is said and done, the advertisements are content-related and the website owner walks away with most of the profits.

It is essential to have high-quality images that are relevant and useful for your website posts. While there are a few booby traps along this path, it is possible to find the treasure chest. Those of you who are still fighting denial should move on to the glorious stage of “acceptance”. Google has set very high standards for website design. You can call it superficial, but these new image laws will not be changing. It is time to do some research on how to improve your pages.

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Best Crypto Payment Gateways for Businesses in 2024

Published

2 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Max

Best Crypto Payment Gateways for Businesses in 2024

In 2023, the total transaction value of crypto gateway payments recorded worldwide was $1.62 billion. This is projected to grow at a CAGR of 17% from 2023 to 2030. Since most crypto transactions are through direct wallet-to-wallet transactions, the actual value of cryptocurrency transactions used for payment of goods may actually be significantly higher than this value.

Businesses looking to get a piece of that pie are exploring ways to start accepting cryptocurrencies beyond the usual wallet-to-wallet crypto transactions. A crypto payment gateway allows businesses to accept cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether as payments within a more secure payment flow. Crypto payment gateways may also allow merchants to keep the payments as cryptocurrencies, convert cryptocurrencies to fiat currencies, and accept cross-border payments.

Aside from the increased adoption of crypto payments, some other benefits of accepting cryptocurrency payments are lower transaction costs, no risk of chargebacks, enhanced security, and access to a unique customer base.

Top crypto payment gateways comparison

The best crypto payment gateways offer a combination of seamless integration, extensive cryptocurrency support, robust security features, and competitive pricing. The comparison table below illustrates the transaction fees, number of crypto and fiat currencies supported, and e-commerce plugins for each crypto payment gateway.

	Our rating (out of 5)	Transaction fee*	Cryptocurrencies	Fiat settlement currencies	E-commerce plugins
NOWPayments	4.54	0.5% (if no currency exchange)	200+	20+	9
BitPay	4.30	1%–2% + 25 cents	15	9	6
Coinbase Commerce	4.25	1%	13	1	4
OpenNode	3.98	1%	1	8	6
Crypto.com	3.98	0	30+	4	6
*Crypto transactions always incur a network or gas fee for executing operations on the blockchain. The transaction fee charged by the payment gateway is a separate fee.

NOWPayments: Best overall

Image: NOWPayments

Our rating: 4.54 out of 5

NOWPayments is a flexible cryptocurrency payment gateway that allows businesses to accept both crypto and fiat payments. It offers a range of integration options and settlement methods, giving merchants control over how they manage their funds.

Why I chose NOWPayments

NOWPayments’ biggest strength is the complete flexibility it provides to merchants when it comes to accepting payments. It allows merchants to receive both fiat and cryptocurrencies. Upon receiving the payment, the merchant has continued flexibility on what to do with it (keep it in the same currency or convert it to a different currency) and where to put it (keep the payment in custody or withdraw it to a crypto wallet or bank account).

Aside from the settlement flexibility, NOWPayments offers all the possible ways to accept crypto payments. Its Custody feature allows merchants to accept cryptocurrency payments without a crypto wallet and make currency exchanges without paying network fees. It also has a network fee optimization that can help minimize blockchain fees when converting or transferring cryptocurrencies.

NOWPayments offers a more comprehensive set of features than other crypto payment gateways on this list. This makes it an excellent fit for businesses seeking full control and flexibility in managing their crypto payments.

Pricing

Transaction fee: 0.5% for payments without exchange.
Conversion fee: 0.5%.

Features

Instant account registration.
Accepts over 100 cryptocurrencies as payments.
Settles in more than 20 fiat currencies.
Custody feature.
Ways to accept crypto payments:
- API integration.
- Invoices or payment links.
- Ecommerce plugins: PrestaShop, Magento 2, OpenCart, Zen Cart, Shopware, WooCommerce, WHMCS, Ecwid, Shopify.
- QR code.
- Subscription.
- Donation button.
Payment flow:
- Accept crypto > keep in custody
- Accept crypto > convert to other cryptocurrency > keep in custody
- Accept fiat > convert to cryptocurrency > keep in custody
- Accept crypto > withdraw to your crypto wallet
- Accept crypto > convert to other cryptocurrency > withdraw to your crypto wallet
- Accept crypto > convert to fiat > withdraw to your bank account
- Custody balance > withdraw to your crypto wallet
- Custody balance > convert to fiat > withdraw to your bank account/
Fixed-rate exchange option.
Crypto-to-fiat withdrawal: 1 business day.
Mass payouts.
Network fee optimization.
API to integrate with any mobile POS terminal.
Sandbox environment for testing.
24/7 customer support.

The NOWPayments Dashboard. Source: CoinGate

Pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Settlement flexibility.	Complex refund process.
Custody feature to save on network. fees for currency exchanges.	Limited reporting tools.
Accepts both crypto and fiat payments.	Minimum payment fluctuates.
API integration with any mobile POS terminal.

BitPay: Best for multi-user access

Image: BitPay

Our rating: 4.30 out of 5

BitPay is a cryptocurrency payment gateway known for its user-friendly interface and multi-user account capabilities. It offers tiered transaction fees that decrease with higher monthly volumes. However, it provides limited flexibility to merchants as payments are automatically converted and settled into the merchant’s bank account or cryptocurrency wallet.

Why I chose BitPay

BitPay is the only crypto payment gateway on this list that allows multi-user access. This makes it a great choice for businesses that require multiple team members to manage payments. It also locks in exchange rates at the time of purchase, which helps protect merchants from crypto price fluctuations.

While its transaction fees may be higher than others on this list, BitPay is a reliable and well-known provider, and its mobile POS app makes it easy to accept crypto payments in-store.

Pricing

Transaction fee (based on monthly volume):
- $500,000–$999,999: 1.5% + 25 cents
- $1,000,000 and above: 1% + 25 cents
Application fee: $75
Minimum withdrawal amount: depends on currency; $20 for USD

Features

Instant account registration.
Accepts 15 cryptocurrencies as payments.
Settles in 9 fiat currencies.
Automatic volume discounts.
Daily settlement.
Ways to accept crypto payments:
- API integration.
- Invoices or payment links.
- Subscription.
- E-commerce plugins: Magento 2, Shopify, WHMCS, Wix, WooCommerce, BigCommerce.
- Easy to embed payment button.
- Donation button.
- Mobile POS app.
Payment flow:
- Accept crypto > converted to your chosen currency > daily settlement to your chosen bank account or cryptocurrency wallet.
Multi-user login access.
Locks in rate at the time of purchase.
Lightning network support.
Customer support via email within 1 business day.

Pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Multi-user capability.	Fewer e-commerce plugins.
Mobile POS app for accepting payments in-store.	Application fee.
Locks in rate at time of purchase.	Higher transaction fees, even with the automatic volume discounts.
Low minimum withdrawal amount.

Coinbase Commerce: Best for instant settlement

Image: Coinbase Commerce

Our rating: 4.25 out of 5

Coinbase Commerce is a cryptocurrency payment gateway that makes it simple and straightforward for businesses to accept cryptocurrency payments. It automatically converts incoming crypto payments into USD or USDC and offers instant settlement to the deposit address provided by the merchant.

Why I chose Coinbase Commerce

Businesses that are just exploring crypto payments and would like to start small will find Coinbase Commerce simple and easy to use. Unlike other gateways on this list, Coinbase Commerce does not provide the option to keep other currencies except USD and USDC. Instead, it locks in exchange rates at the time of purchase and transfers funds directly to the merchant’s chosen deposit address.

While it lacks currency exchange options and is limited to website payments, its ease of use and support for popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce make it an ideal choice for businesses prioritizing straightforward, hassle-free transactions.

Pricing

Features

Accepts 13 cryptocurrencies as payments.
Settles in 1 fiat currency only.
Daily settlement.
Ways to accept crypto payments:
- API integration.
- E-commerce plugins: Jumpseller, Primer, Shopify, WooCommerce.
Payment flow: Instant settlement to deposit address indicated.
Locks in rate at the time of purchase.
Lightning network support.
Customer support via account dashboard only.

The Coinbase Commerce dashboard. Source: Coinbase Commerce

Pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Simple and straightforward.	No currency exchange.
Instant settlement eliminates rate volatility.	No sandbox environment for testing.
	All incoming payments are converted to USD or USDC.
	Only for accepting payments on a website.

OpenNode: Best for Bitcoin-only payments

Image: OpenNode

Our rating: 3.98 out of 5

A cryptocurrency payment gateway focused exclusively on Bitcoin, OpenNode offers features such as split settlement and scheduled payouts. Its Lightning network support makes it highly efficient for Bitcoin transactions.

Why I chose OpenNode

OpenNode stands out as the best option for businesses that want to accept Bitcoin and nothing else. Its features, like custom automatic settlement schedules, multiple ways to accept crypto payments, and limited settlement currencies, make it an ideal option for businesses that want to limit their crypto payment acceptance but would like to accept it in various payment channels.

Although limited to Bitcoin, OpenNode’s simplicity, combined with strong e-commerce integrations, makes it a great fit for businesses focused on Bitcoin payments.

Pricing

Transaction fee: 1%.
Withdrawal fee: 1% for on-demand bitcoin payout.

Features

Accepts 1 cryptocurrency only (Bitcoin).
Settles in 8 fiat currencies.
Ways to accept crypto payments:
- API integration.
- Payment button.
- Invoices or payment links.
- E-commerce plugins: Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, Prestashop, WooCommerce, OpenCart.
- QR code.
Payment flow: Accept bitcoin > keep as bitcoin or convert to local currency > transfer to bank account or bitcoin wallet.
Merchant may choose to initiate payouts or to set them on a schedule.
Split settlement.
Lightning network.
KYC compliant.
24/7 customer support.

The OpenNode dashboard. Source: OpenNode

Pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Merchants may set a custom automatic settlement schedule.	Bitcoin only.
Lightning network support.	Withdrawal fee for on-demand bitcoin payout.
Split settlement.

Features

Instant account registration.
Accepts over 30 cryptocurrencies as payments.
Settles in 4 fiat currencies.
Ways to accept crypto payments:
- API integration.
- Invoices or payment links.
- Ecommerce plugins: Shopify, WooCommerce, OpenCart, Ecwid, NopCommerce, PrestaShop.
- Subscription.
Payment flow:
- Accept crypto > convert to your chosen currency.
- Account balance > withdraw to bank account or cryptocurrency wallet.
Any conversion and transfer fees are charged to the customer.
Customer can pay using a QR code or by linking to Crypto.com, Metamask, WalletConnect, or other cryptocurrency wallets.
The merchant receives the exact pricing amount.
Lightning network support.
24/7 customer support.

The Crypto.com Pay dashboard. Source: Crypto.com

Pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Merchants receive the exact price of the goods/services.	Limited fiat and cryptocurrencies for settlement.
Allows merchants to choose pricing currency in fiat or crypto.	No POS option for in-person payments.
Merchant is not subjected to exchange rate volatility.	No advanced reporting tools.

Benefits of using a crypto payment gateway

Using a crypto payment gateway offers some advantages for businesses, including:

Lower transaction fees compared to traditional payment processors.
Instant payments and quicker settlements.
Global reach.
No chargebacks or payment reversals.
Enhanced security with the blockchain technology.
For some gateways, flexibility to convert crypto into fiat or keep as digital currency.

How do I choose the best crypto payment gateway for my business?

When choosing a cryptocurrency payment gateway for your business, consider these key factors:

Transaction fees: To maximize your profits, look for a gateway with low fees, especially if you process a high volume of transactions.
Supported cryptocurrencies: Make sure the platform supports popular cryptocurrencies or those most relevant to your customer base.
Fiat conversion options: If you don’t want to hold crypto, choose a gateway that offers easy conversion to fiat currencies.
Ease of integration: Ensure the platform integrates smoothly with your website, POS, or e-commerce platforms.
Settlement times: Consider how fast the gateway settles payments into your bank or crypto wallet to maintain your cash flow.

Methodology

For this list of the best crypto payment gateways, I focused on solutions that offer flexibility, security, and ease of use for businesses looking to accept cryptocurrency payments. I evaluated each gateway based on specific criteria: integration, developer tools, and user experience (25%); supported cryptocurrencies and payment options (25%); security, compliance, and privacy (20%); pricing and transaction fees (15%); and customer support and resources (15%).

My research included a thorough review of product documentation, pricing pages, customer feedback, and hands-on testing or demo environments where available. The goal was to recommend gateways that offer a strong balance of features, ease of use, and security for businesses across different industries.

This article and methodology were reviewed by our retail expert, Meaghan Brophy

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Free Websites for Students – WordPress.com News

Published

1 day ago

September 18, 2024

Max

Free Websites for Students – WordPress.com News

A website can change the world. If you’re a student, we’d like to help you get started with that.

Your online presence is paramount to the success and well-being of your future self. Whether it’s for sharing your latest creative project, building an impressive portfolio, or simply expressing your ideas, owning a personal website gives you the power to control your online identity. It’s a space where you can showcase your work, share your story, and set yourself apart in a sea of digital noise.

A simple website can, in fact, change the world.

You are the future of the web

At WordPress.com, we know that students are at the forefront of driving online culture. Michael Dell founded Dell while he was a student at the University of Texas. Google came to life when Larry and Sergey were at Stanford. Mark Zuckerberg was 19 when he started Facebook. We could keep going.

To kickstart your own world-changing ideas, we want to give you a free website.

Starting this week, university students can get a free Premium WordPress.com website for one year. We’re offering this opportunity to the first 1,000 students who sign up.

Investing in yourself—here’s what you get with a WordPress.com premium plan

A website is more than a tool. It’s an investment in your future. As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, having an online space where you can display your work, write about your passions, and connect with like-minded people is invaluable. From resumes to portfolios to blogs, your WordPress.com site will grow as you do.

Here’s what’s included when you take advantage of this free website offer:

Free custom domain name for the first year: Choose a personalized domain that reflects your identity.
Premium themes: Kickstart your site with professionally designed, fully customizable templates.
13 GB of storage: Plenty of room to host your photos, videos, and other media, with ownership that’s entirely yours.
SSL certificate: Your site is secure and protected by industry-standard encryption.
Ad-free experience: Build and manage your site without ads distracting your visitors.

No matter what you’re creating, WordPress.com’s Premium plan gives you all the tools you need to succeed.

How to secure your free website

Here’s how you can grab this amazing deal:

Submit the interest form ASAP: Head over to our campaign landing page and fill out the form with your details. Be quick—only the first 1,000 students will get the free site!
Verify your student status: After you’ve submitted the form, you’ll receive an email asking you to verify your student status through VerifyPass. This step ensures that our offer goes to real students.
Claim your free website: Once your student status is verified, you’ll receive a unique coupon code that allows you to create a new Premium plan website for free.
Build your site: Choose your domain, select a theme, and start building!

This offer is perfect for students looking to stand out in their personal and professional journeys. Don’t miss out on this chance to create a space that’s truly your own.

Get started right away

Having your own website is a game-changer in an online world increasingly controlled by social media algorithms. You’ll stand out by breaking the mold and announcing yourself as an individual, unmoved by the platform of the moment.

WordPress.com is here to help you take that leap.

Take control of your digital identity. Sign up now and claim your free website while spots are still open!

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Our Partner Directory Has Arrived – WordPress.com News

Published

2 days ago

September 17, 2024

Max

Our Partner Directory Has Arrived – WordPress.com News

The partner directory connects your agency with new customers.

Since we launched the Automattic for Agencies program earlier this summer, we’ve helped agencies save thousands of dollars and countless developer hours.

Today, we’re making it easier than ever for agencies to connect with potential clients by presenting the new WordPress.com Partner Directory. This directory lists top-tier agencies for our customers who are looking for a partner for their web development projects.

If your agency’s growth is top of mind, there’s no better time to join Automattic for Agencies. In addition to saving time and money, your company could be eligible for a listing in our official partner directory, paving the way for more qualified leads and, ultimately, happy clients.

Get your agency in front of eager customers

When someone needs a professional website, it can be hard to find the right agency to work with. Sifting through search engine results and going through credentials takes a lot of time and energy, which can leave them exhausted before they even get to your digital door. With the launch of the partner directory, we’re making it easier for consumers to find and connect with vetted, talented agencies—like yours.

When you apply to the agency directory, your application will be reviewed to assess critical areas like security, performance, and adherence to different business requirements. Accepted agencies can showcase their profile across the Woo, Jetpack, and Pressable brand directories via a single listing.

Visit our knowledge base for information about detailed application steps and criteria for inclusion as well as agency tiering and benefits.

Join Automattic for Agencies today

In addition to our curated directory, the Automattic for Agencies program brings together powerful hosting and a professional suite of plugins and tools in a flexible platform that allows your team to focus on building beautiful and functional websites.

At its core, Automattic for Agencies allows for the bulk purchasing and reselling of WordPress.com hosting plans (along with WooCommerce and Jetpack plugins). Our platform also equips you with direct referrals and invoicing, license management, and monitoring tools to assess security and performance needs across all your sites.

As an added bonus, Automattic for Agencies gives your agency access to volume discounts for your clients. Your first WordPress.com site starts at $30 per month; but with ten or more sites, the price drops to just $10 per site, per month. (All WordPress.com sites purchased through the agency program are on our powerful Business plan.)

Those savings coupled with our referral incentives make Automattic for Agencies a potent combination for growing your agency’s offerings and profitability.