Finally, we change over to more easy readable URLs (=internet addresses, please check Wikipedia for further information) that are going to be loved by search engines. Example: The URL of a page called "about me" was the following until now: name.jimdo.comc/about_me.php. From now on, it'll be name.jimdo.com/about-me/. Pages on the second navigation level will be included in the new URLs, e.g. name.jimdo.com/about-me/friends/.

Your advantages:

• For search engines, it's much easier to find these URLs - so the chance that your website is found, increases (the SEOs among you will be happy about that news! - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine_optimization)
• Looks better and is easier in all ways - If you send the link via email to friends, if you integrate the link on another page of your website or if you tell somebody a link on the phone...
• Info for the pros: URL encoding in UTF-8

Before and after – comparison

Let's assume that the navigation of your website is the following:

What do I have to consider?

First, the most important thing is: Even though the links of your page will change - the old links will still work fine.

Example: Your page name.jimdo.com/sailing.php will change into name.jimdo.com/sailing/ - Friends and Google only know the previous link. But we built it in a way that they are redirected automatically to name.jimdo.com/sailing/. Your friends might not notice the change, but Google recognizes it at once and saves the new link at once (for pros: 301 moved permanently).

You should consider that pages in the second navigation level repeat the name of top page. Example: /skitrip.php changes into /trips/skitrip/ -> check if you like the names of your pages. Otherwise, name them whatever you want to.

When and how are the changes made?

• All new websites get the new names immediately.
• The URLs of older websites are changed directly at the moment, if you change the navigation.
• Within the next weeks, we'll change all existing pages to the new name scheme.

We're looking forward to receiving your feedback!

All the best,

Your Jimdo Team

P.S. Of course, we tested everything in detail, but sometimes we overlook something. So if you should notice any errors or any noticeable problems, please let us know and write an email to support@jimdo.com - THANKS!

At the beginning of July, we asked you to vote for the next Jimdo feature in our forum (take a look at it here). As a little reminder - you could vote for one of the following features:

• Restore/backup
• Own forum
• Poll
• Music player
• Counter
• Customisable fields for your contact forms
• Continuously adjustable image sizes
• Flash banners

The poll was finally closed on September 1st. Actually, it was a nip-and-tuck race between "Restore/backup" and "Own forum". It was so close that, summing up the votes of the English and the German forum, the score was even.

...and the winner is...

We thought about how to solve this stand-off and decided to develop "Restore/backup" as the next Jimdo feature. We really think that this is very useful and might be a great help after deleting something accidentally. Since it is a quite complicated process to develop such a feature, we won't be able to release it tomorrow :) But don't worry, we're working on it!

Those who voted for the own forum: Don't be disappointed! There are other ways to integrate a forum into your website! Several providers offer forum widgets for free - so it's not impossible! In our forum there are some posts in which an own forum is already discussed. Maybe you'll find some good tips here?

So, thank you all for voting! The winners of the JimdoPro packages will be informed by email! Congratulations to you!

Best regards,

Your Jimdo Team

Often desired, long awaited and finally there: The new music player for your Jimdo Page is online! From now on you can enjoy your favorite music on your own Jimdo Page!

That's how it works

And there's more behind it...

Looks promising, doesn't it? :) Great Pages and creative ideas - what do you think?

Best regards,
Your Jimdo Team

We all know this: Almost every day our email accounts are overflowed with spam mails... it's just annoying! And contact forms can be affected, too - unless you put some obstacles in the spammer's way: Captchas! Captchas are little tasks that can usually be solved easily by humans, but not by computers. So if the correct solution is entered, it is presumed that the user was human.

Since we received many questions concerning anti-spam protection recently, we decided to create a little Captcha for your contact forms that should preserve you from spam mails. However, since Captchas rely on visual perception, they offer only limited web accessibility. Users who are unable to view Captchas won't be able to perform the task. That is why you can decide when integrating a new contact form if you want to deactivate the anti-spam protection and offer full accessibility for your website (important for official websites of public authorities) or if you activate the anti-spam protection and get rid off spam mails.

Let us know what you think about it - does it work for you? Those who want to learn more about Captchas can look it up on Wikipedia.org.

Last weekend, our Jimdo packed the bags and to go on a little works outing! Incl. a mudflat hiking tour, barbecue and a night in a "hay hotel" (there were no rooms, we all slept in an old stable on the warm and cosy hay). Employees of other companies might not feel like spending a whole weekend with the company, but we all were really excited and looking forward to the weekend!

On Friday we started our trip in a good temper and spent the first night at Fridel's place (the old farm, where once the idea of Jimdo was brought into being). But before we went to sleep, we had a nice barbecue and celebrated... and so we were a bit tired when we had to get up at 5.30 a.m. :) Finally we made it and started our mudflat hiking tour in time and there was not even a not even a suggestion of fatigue when we arrived at the little island Neuwerk (it actually has only 36 habitants) off the coast in the North Sea. In the evening, we made some hot dogs while we were sitting on the levee, payed a visit to the crowded (and only) bar on the island, had a night-time walk and finally enjoyed our well-deserved sleep in the hay...

The next morning, we made our way back home to the mainland, had a second breakfast at Fridel's place and then all got back to Hamburg... We're already looking forward to going on the next Jimdo Tour! It was such a great weekend!

Enough the talking - we don't want to withhold the pictures any longer... Enjoy! :)

Have fun!
Your Jimdo Team

P.S. Want more? Take a look at our partner site - we started to make a list of great widgets we recommend for your website! If you have any suggestions, which widgets should be recommended, too - let us know! Just write an e-mail to support@jimdo.com

Add new pages, hide them (read more about this in our Wiki), and move them up and down or to the second or third navigation level... - it couldn't be more simple with the improved version of the Jimdo navigation!

A big Blog Beta Update is done! There are some changes concerning the teaser and the RSS feed, furthermore you can create categories > but we'll come closer to the details in a second..

First, we have to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH to all the busy Beta testers! Your incredible feedback, your suggestions and all your support helped us a lot - and is still helping us a lot to improve! Thanks! :)

Closed ends - open begins...

...and we would like to welcome all of you! Everyone who would like to test the blog, is invited to join the Beta! From now on, you'll not be asked to enter an invitation code - just go ahead and set up your Blog! Indeed, we'll stay Beta - that means, errors still may occur and other updates will be made, but everyone who fancies to have a blog should try it! We happily welcome every new Jimdo blogger!

And here are the technical details:

1. Teaser image and teaser concept changed

The figure you enter here, defines how many elements of the blog article's content are displayed as a teaser. Those who want to keep the originally considered appearance of the teaser (small image and introduction text), just choose "Text with photo" for the first element and the 1 for teaser length. But of course, any other element can be integrated after the heading... Just try it out - and we'll work on some good tutorials that will show you all features of the blog element step by step.

All existing teaser texts and images will be transformed into a "Text with photo"-element autmatically, so don't worry: no content will be lost!

Here's an overview of the changes for already existing blog articles:

• The option "Show teaser image" is no longer valid. All teaser images are visible now (because they have been transformed to a "Text with photo" element).
• You can change the size of your teaser image! (The quadratic shape of the image might be lost by changing the size)
• In the overview of the "Blog beta" element: from now on, the first element after the heading is displayed automatically in the teaser view.

2. Categories

Finally, here they are: Categories! Now you can sort your blog articles according to different topics.

And so the articles are sorted and categorized. The readers of your blog see the articles below the heading of the blog article:

3. RSS feed

We would be pleased if you let us know what you think of the update :)

Have fun blogging!

All the best,

Your Jimdo Team

Time for a change? At least, it's summertime and maybe your website needs a refreshing outfit...? ;) What about trying one of the new layouts? Just try them on - you'll find them under "Layouts"

Here you can take a look at the new layouts (click on the picture to enlarge it):

Do you like them? Let us know... :)

Best,

Your Jimdo Team