Just because your are an web designer does not mean you can’t be a techy either. There are some skills you should have/learn does not matter what profession you are.
In this post you will find some useful tips that can increase your productivity and can help you get more done. Most of these discussed tips are easy to learn and use. Some of the talked about topics you might already know, but maybe it is time you revisited. Hope this tips helps on your everyday work.

Install a Home Web Server

This is quite anadvanced and challenging task but you might want to learn to  run a home web server . “A home web server that lets anyone (with the right password!) connect to your computer and download.” This way you can easily share files, templates with you co-worker easily if you are working in a team or you simply want to share your new illustration with you design buddies. You are paying online host companies to store you file,  Why not set up your own and save some money? You might to check out Lifehacker’s Guide on 5 best  Home Server Software and  post from Redhat on how to set up your own home server.

Install CMS  such as Wordpress, Drupal on Local Computer

If are a web designer this is a must! If your are designing themes for Wordpress or Drupal, you can check your work it before  submit to the client.If you are using windows you need to download WAMP and MAMP for Mac, which Installs Apache, PHP and MySQL on your computer.

Weblogtools provides a detailed post on How to install wordpress locally on your windows computer.

If you are using Mac, Check out this detailed post from Webdesignerdeopot ot Installing and using MAMP with wordpress

You can also Install Drupal on you Mac and Windows as well.

Know Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are always helpful. They make you more productive and less reliable on mouse. Here the list of  5 types of Keyboard shortcut you should make you familiar with.

1. Most Useful keyboard Shortcuts for windows XP
2. Unix / Linux shortcut keys
3. Mac OS X Leopard: Keyboard Shortcuts
4. 20+ Cheat Sheets Handy For Designers
5. 230+ Keyboard Shortcuts for Top Web Services

Install Application Launcher

Application Launcher’s are another great way to save time. Some of the application launcher are not only helpful they are also has sexy GUI and plugin add more functionality, which makes them great little tool in everyday work. Here are the comparison between the available application launchers and 5 best Application launchers.

Must have Applications for Web Designer

The web designer applications are the web designer’s weapons. They express their creative ideas through these applications. Also, if you are regular blogger and you want to add text or mash pictures together for your post, these applications will come in handy for those tasks. Here are web design applications out there:

1. 30+ Amazing Mac Apps for Developers
2. 30 Essential Free Portable Web Design and Development Applications
3. 10 Must have Web design Softwares for Web designer

Know How to take Proper Screenshots/Screecast and related tools

This is an important trick everyone should know. Lets say you are doing a web site review or you want to share a sneak preview of latest design or just want to share a desktop wallpaper that you are using with your friend. Just takes quick snap shot of your desktop and send it to your friend. If you don’t know  how to take a screenshot here is how:

1. What is a Screen Shot?
2. How to Take a Screenshot in Microsoft Windows
3. Easily take screenshots in Mac

Screen Capturing is recording a video of the activities going on your screen. Screen capturing is useful when you want to do a video tutorial.  Some time it is better to visually show something than explaining it. Here are applications you need get started:

1. 5 Free Screencasting Apps for Creating Video Tutorials
2. Mac: Faceoff: Screencasting

Master you Firefox

There is no doubt that Firefox is one best browser out there. The add-ons are the best one features of Firefox. You can add  more functionality and features as you like. If you are someone whole lvoe video you can include video add-ons, web developer debug add on and more. Here are post where you can learn to master firefox skills:

1. Firefox Keyboard shortcuts
2. 50 Best Firefox extensions for Powerful Browsing
3. Top 10 Firefox Extensions to Improve your Productivity
4. 10+ Best Firefox Addons for Security and Privacy
5. Top 10 Firefox Web 2.0 Add-ons
6. The Best 50 Firefox add-ons for Web-developers!

Convert/Resize Online

Photoshop and other image Editor are best choice to edit your images. However, converting your images to multiple formats and resizing online can be time consuming. Why not just do it on click on line and save time and hassele?

1. Hongkiat shows How to Resize your images online without Photoshop
2. Image Converter: on-line image converter. It supports over 100 major image formats.
3. Convert Hub: Converting all common images formats.
4. Increase Image Resolution: Convert Raster Images to Vector

Know How to Set-Up- Your  Monitor: Dual and Extended

As web designers we have to constantly check how the web site looks in different resolutions. Sometime its dual monitors or just extend your desktop or laptop view. Following post explains how to set up your monitor:

1. Dual Display Desktop: Windows
2. How to Setup Extended Desktop : Windows?
3. Setting up Multiple Displays as an Extended Desktop :Mac
4. How to Connect Multiple Monitors to Your Mac

Fix a Stuck Pixel

Nothing drives me crazy more than a stuck pixel. Stuck pixel are like annoying bee in front of your eye, but not to worry help is on the way…

1. Pixel fix : Mac Dashboard Widget
2. JScreenFix: fix stuck pixels, reduce screen burn-in.
3. Fix a stuck pixel on an LCD monitor

Know Where to Creative Commons Content

As web designers/bloggers we use Creative Commons Content such as images everyday in our post, design and more. You can use this Creative Commons Search engine to look for content or follow the following post to find your desierd content

1. 25+ Sources For Creative Commons Content
2. Top 30 Sources For Creative Commons Content
3. 3 Tips For Getting More Out Of Creative Commons

Know How to Stop Image Hotlinking with .htaccess

It is not fair when people hotlinks your images and files. You lose a lot of bandwith . David Airey wrote a post about it which I thought was funny and helpful at the same time. Here are tutorial you need to stopping people from stealing images and hotlinking your file.

1. How to Deter Thieves from Stealing Your Images and Server Bandwidth
2. Smarter Image Hotlinking Prevention
3. Stop Image Hotlinking with .htaccess
4. How To Stop Hotlinking and Bandwidth Leeching

Know How to Monitor your Web Sites

Do not just put a web site and sit back. Monitor your website, get the statistic, see who is visting and who is searching what. This can help on writing your blog post.

1. Tools to Monitor your Website
2. Top Tools to Monitor your Website Traffic and compare it with your Competitors
3. 10 Must Have SEO Plugins for WordPress

Learn About the Desktop Blogging Applications

Desktop blogging allows to manage your blogs in different CMS more easily with more features.  Hongkiat Reviews all the Desktop blogging applications. You may also want  ReviewSaurus post on why you should use Desktop Blogging Clients.

Know How to Back Up

Back Up! Back up! Always Back Up! Machines, Computers are stupid. They do not know that tomorrow is you presentation or your site is due. It is always a good idea to back up on any project your doing. If you do not have external hard drive do not worry use a free online back up service.

1. Best free Online Backup Sites
2. 13 Great Free Backup Programs for Windows, Mac, and Linux
3. 10 Best Online File Backup Services

Protecting your Gadgets and Dealing with Accidents

Our laptop, cell phones, netbooks, macbooks, camera are our babies. Anything happens to them our world crashes. It is better to be precautious than be sorry. Always use laptop cover, cellphone screen protector and something to protect your gadget.Nevertheless, we are human and accidents can happen. But if it does happen, then

1. How to Protect Your Gadgets Outdoors?
2. How to Protect Your Expensive Electronic Toys
3. Cola Spills on Laptop Keyboards – What to Do?
4. What to do if you Spill Liquid on Your Laptop?
5. How to Recover From Liquid Inside Your Equipment?
6. If You Spill Water On Your MacBook?

Is there any other tips you thought should have been included in the post? Shout it in the comment.