Empower Small Biz

Google Business Account for Non-Profits?

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 14:49:15 GMT

Does it make sense?

✅ Why Switch to Google Workspace for Nonprofits Now

Professionalization & Branding

You get custom email (e.g., you@yourdomain.org ) instead of @gmail.com .
Builds credibility with partners, donors, and site visitors.

Better Integration

DUDA supports Google integrations like Calendar, Forms, Drive — all of which are more robust and secure under a Workspace environment.
Shared calendars, contact forms, or even embedded documents function more reliably when tied to an organization account rather than a personal one.

User & Access Control

Create and manage multiple users and roles (staff, volunteers, board).
Set permissions on shared files, calendars, and drives across your team — something personal accounts don’t handle well.

Data Ownership & Continuity

All data (Drive, Calendar, etc.) is tied to your org, not to any individual. When volunteers or staff leave, their access can be revoked cleanly.

Increased Storage & Tools

Free plans for nonprofits include 30GB/user and access to Gmail, Calendar, Meet, Docs, Drive, and more.
Optional upgrades to Business Standard/Plus at deep discounts if you need more features.

�� Migration Considerations

Start early — it's best to set this up before more tools and integrations are anchored to your personal Gmail.
Google provides admin tools to migrate emails, calendars, and Drive content from personal accounts.
Avoid using personal Gmail accounts as owners of any shared docs or calendars once the transition begins.

�� Steps to Make the Switch

Register with Google for Nonprofits

Apply at Google for Nonprofits
Requires validation via TechSoup (a simple process for most 501(c)(3) orgs in the U.S.)

Set Up Google Workspace for Nonprofits

Use your domain (e.g., yourorg.org ) or purchase one via Google if needed.
Set up core services: Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Meet, Docs, etc.

Reconfigure DUDA Integrations

Replace personal calendar embeds with ones linked to your new Workspace account.
Update form notification addresses and shared docs accordingly.

�� Recommendation

Make the switch now before more systems (like DUDA, mailing lists, or workflows) get embedded in your personal account. The sooner you centralize under a Workspace for Nonprofits account, the more scalable, secure, and professional your infrastructure becomes.

Importance of the 'Hero Section'

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 02:29:37 GMT

Designing the first row of a website, commonly known as the hero section, is crucial for making a strong first impression. Incorporating a scrolling hero image (also known as a carousel) with extensive text has been a topic of debate among web designers and usability experts.

Scrolling Hero Images (Carousels):

While carousels can showcase multiple messages or visuals in a single space, they come with notable drawbacks:

User Engagement: Studies have shown that users often ignore carousel content, with the majority of clicks occurring on the first slide and subsequent slides receiving significantly less attention.
Accessibility and Usability: Auto-scrolling carousels can be distracting and may cause usability issues, especially for users with disabilities or those using assistive technologies.
Performance Impact: Carousels can increase page load times, negatively affecting user experience and search engine rankings.

Given these concerns, many experts recommend using a static hero image with a clear, compelling message instead of a carousel.

Text in the Hero Section:

When it comes to text within the hero section, clarity and brevity are key:

Headline: Craft a concise and impactful headline that immediately conveys your value proposition. Aim for 5–7 words.
Subheading: Use a brief subheading to provide additional context or detail, ideally no more than 20 words.
Call-to-Action (CTA): Include a prominent, action-oriented CTA that guides users toward the desired action, such as "Get Started" or "Learn More."

Avoid lengthy paragraphs in the hero section, as users tend to scan content quickly. Overloading this area with text can overwhelm visitors and dilute your core message.

Best Practices for Hero Sections:

Use Relevant Imagery: Select high-quality images that align with your brand and message. Ensure they are optimized for fast loading to enhance performance.
Ensure Responsiveness: Design the hero section to be responsive across various devices, providing an optimal viewing experience on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
Optimize Load Times: Compress images and minimize code to reduce load times, improving user experience and SEO performance.
Test and Iterate: Regularly test different versions of your hero section to determine what resonates best with your audience and refine accordingly.

In summary, while scrolling hero images with extensive text might seem like a way to convey more information, they often lead to decreased user engagement and potential usability issues. A well-designed, static hero section with concise messaging and a clear CTA is generally more effective in capturing and retaining user interest.

The Impact of Social Media on SEO: Which Connections Matter Most?

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:23:39 GMT

Search engines are constantly evolving, and one of the most debated topics in SEO is the influence of social media on search rankings. While Google has stated that social media metrics like likes and shares are not direct ranking factors, there’s no denying that social media activity can have a significant indirect impact on SEO. The question is: Are some social media connections more valuable to SEO than others?

The short answer is yes. Not all social media platforms contribute to SEO in the same way. Some platforms are more authoritative, indexed more frequently, and capable of driving high-quality referral traffic. In this article, we’ll explore which social media connections offer the most value for SEO and how to leverage them for better search rankings.

1. YouTube: A Powerhouse for Video SEO

YouTube is owned by Google, making it one of the most influential platforms for SEO. Well-optimized videos can appear in both Google’s video search results and regular search listings. By incorporating keyword-rich titles, descriptions, and captions, you can enhance your website’s visibility.

SEO Benefits:

YouTube videos rank in Google’s search results, providing an additional avenue for visibility.

Embedded YouTube videos can increase dwell time on your website, a positive user engagement signal.

Video content encourages backlinks and social shares, indirectly boosting domain authority.

2. Twitter/X: Fast Indexing & Brand Mentions

Twitter is one of the few social media platforms that Google indexes frequently. Tweets from authoritative accounts often appear in Google search results, making Twitter an effective tool for amplifying content reach.

SEO Benefits:

Tweets appear in search engine results, increasing visibility for trending topics and branded searches.

Twitter encourages brand mentions, which can lead to natural backlinks from other sources.

Sharing high-quality content can drive referral traffic and encourage organic link-building.

3. Pinterest: Image SEO & Long-Term Traffic

Pinterest is often overlooked in SEO discussions, but it is a powerhouse for driving organic traffic, especially in visual niches like fashion, food, travel, and home decor. Pins can rank in Google image searches and continue driving traffic for months or even years after they are posted.

SEO Benefits:

Pins and boards get indexed by Google, providing additional opportunities for search visibility.

Keyword-rich descriptions help improve rankings in both Pinterest and Google searches.

High engagement on Pinterest can lead to more inbound links from blogs and websites.

4. Reddit & Quora: Niche Authority & Referral Traffic

Both Reddit and Quora offer opportunities to position yourself as an industry expert while driving targeted traffic to your website. While links from these platforms are typically nofollow, their impact on SEO goes beyond link value.

SEO Benefits:

Well-received answers and discussions can appear in Google search results, increasing your content’s reach.

A strong presence on these platforms can build brand authority and encourage organic backlinks from other sources.

Referral traffic from niche communities tends to be highly engaged, reducing bounce rates and improving on-site metrics.

5. Facebook & Instagram: Brand Awareness & Engagement

While Facebook and Instagram are less directly tied to SEO, they still play a role in overall digital marketing success. Posts on these platforms aren’t typically indexed by Google, but they help with brand discovery, social sharing, and audience engagement.

SEO Benefits:

Strong social engagement can lead to more website visits and increased branded search queries.

Viral content can attract media attention and backlinks from other websites.

Social proof and user engagement contribute to trust and authority, indirectly boosting SEO.

Maximizing Social Media for SEO Success

To make the most of your social media connections for SEO, follow these best practices:

Share high-quality content that is valuable, shareable, and engaging.

Optimize your social media profiles with relevant keywords, descriptions, and links to your website.

Encourage social sharing to increase content reach and the likelihood of earning backlinks.

Use social media to amplify new content, driving initial traffic and engagement that can lead to organic ranking improvements.

Engage with industry influencers and communities to increase visibility and credibility.

Not all social media connections are created equal when it comes to SEO. YouTube, X, Pinterest, and Reddit offer the strongest indirect SEO benefits by driving traffic, encouraging backlinks, and increasing content visibility in search results. However, a well-rounded social media strategy that includes brand-building on platforms like Facebook and Instagram can still contribute to overall online authority.

By leveraging the right social media channels strategically, you can enhance your SEO efforts, drive more organic traffic, and establish your brand as an industry leader. Social media and SEO go hand in hand—so make sure you're using both to their full potential!

Is your website current?

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 22:29:37 GMT

At Whidbey Web Design, we understand that having a website with up-to-date content is crucial for any business or organization. In today's fast-paced digital world, having a website that is active and engaged can make all the difference in attracting and retaining customers. It is no secret that search engines favor websites that are regularly updated with fresh content, which can help boost your search engine optimization and ultimately lead to higher rankings in search results.

With our expertise in creating websites for small businesses and organizations, we can help you keep your website current and relevant to your audience. We know that staying on top of the latest trends and technologies can be challenging, but we have the experience and backgound necessary to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape of web design. We can work with you to create a content strategy that aligns with your business goals and helps you connect with your target audience.

Whether you need help creating new blog posts, updating your product pages, or adding new features to your website, we are here to help. We are here to ensure that your website is not only visually appealing but also informative and engaging. We understand that your website is a reflection of your brand, and we take great care to ensure that it accurately represents your business and values.

In addition to helping you keep your website up-to-date, we can also provide ongoing support and maintenance to ensure that your website is running smoothly and efficiently. From regular backups and security updates to performance optimization and analytics tracking, we can help you stay on top of all the technical aspects of your website.

Overall, at Whidbey Web Design, we believe that having a website with up-to-date content is essential for any business or organization looking to succeed in today's digital landscape. So why not let us help you keep your website current and relevant to your audience? Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve your online goals.

How does the lastest Google Search Engine Algorithm affect my website?

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 22:29:37 GMT

5 Features That Will Make Your [Niche] Website Stand Out From The Crowd

How to use X Threads to Increase Engagement

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 22:29:37 GMT

"Threading out" on X (formerly Twitter) refers to the practice of creating a series of connected tweets, known as a "thread," to convey a more complex or detailed idea than would fit into the 280-character limit of a single tweet. It allows you to break down longer content, such as blog posts or articles, into smaller, digestible chunks while keeping the narrative flow intact.

### Why Threading Out Works

- **Engagement**: It keeps the audience engaged for a longer period as they scroll through your series of tweets.

- **Visibility**: Each tweet in a thread can receive its own likes, retweets, and comments, increasing the chances of your content being seen by more people.

- **Context**: It allows you to fully explain a topic, showcase your expertise, and provide detailed insights without overwhelming readers in one tweet.

### How to Thread Out Content

1. **Start with an Introductory Tweet**: This should hook your audience by introducing the topic and encouraging them to keep reading. It might highlight a problem, ask a question, or make a bold statement.

Example:

*"As a startup founder, delegation can feel like giving up control—but it's essential for scaling your business. Here's how to do it right. �� #Leadership #StartupGrowth"*

2. **Break Down Key Points**: Each tweet in the thread should present a single point or idea. This could be a step in a process, an insight, or a piece of advice. Keep each tweet concise and clear.

Example:

*"1/ The first step in effective delegation is building trust within your team. Without trust, you’ll be hesitant to let go of tasks that you could be passing on to others."*

*"2/ Set clear expectations when delegating tasks. Ensure your team knows the objectives and outcomes they’re working toward—this removes ambiguity and empowers them to perform."*

3. **Use Visuals or Links**: Some tweets can include links to your full article, website, or even images or charts to enhance the point you’re making. Visual elements can draw more attention and increase engagement.

Example:

*"3/ Still unsure about letting go? Here's a quick guide on how to develop a delegation mindset: [link to blog post]."*

4. **Conclude with a Call to Action**: The last tweet in the thread should tie everything together and invite further engagement. You could ask for comments, encourage retweets, or direct your audience to more resources.

Example:

*"Thanks for following along! What delegation challenges have you faced in your startup? Let me know in the comments, and check out my full article here: [link]. #Delegation #StartupLife"*

### Example of a Full Thread:

**Tweet 1:**

*As a startup founder, delegation can feel like giving up control—but it's essential for scaling your business. Here’s how to do it right. �� #Leadership #StartupGrowth*

**Tweet 2:**

*1/ The first step in effective delegation is building trust within your team. Without trust, you’ll be hesitant to let go of tasks that you could be passing on to others.*

**Tweet 3:**

*2/ Set clear expectations when delegating tasks. Ensure your team knows the objectives and outcomes they’re working toward—this removes ambiguity and empowers them to perform.*

**Tweet 4:**

*3/ Don’t micromanage! Trust your team to get the job done once the task is handed off. Micromanagement stifles creativity and slows down progress.*

**Tweet 5:**

*4/ Remember: Delegation isn’t about dumping tasks; it’s about providing opportunities for growth. Empower your team by giving them meaningful responsibilities.*

**Tweet 6:**

*Thanks for following along! What delegation challenges have you faced in your startup? Let me know in the comments, and check out my full article here: [link]. #Delegation #StartupLife*

### Conclusion

Threading out is an excellent way to share detailed insights while keeping your audience engaged. By breaking down content into smaller pieces and creating a cohesive narrative, you can showcase your expertise in leadership or any other field while driving traffic to your longer content on LinkedIn or your website.

Google Indexing Explained

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 18:52:23 GMT

The Google Index process refers to how Google collects, organizes, and stores information from web pages to make it accessible through search results. The purpose of this process is to enable Google Search to quickly retrieve relevant information in response to user queries.

The process involves several key steps:

1. Crawling

Definition: Google uses automated bots called "Googlebots" to discover new or updated web pages by following links on the web.

Purpose: To find as much content as possible, ensuring the search index remains comprehensive and up-to-date.

How it works: Googlebot begins with a list of known URLs (from previous crawls or sitemaps) and discovers new pages by following links from these.

2. Rendering

Definition: After crawling, Google processes the HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and other elements to see how the page would appear to a typical user.

Purpose: To understand the layout, design, and content as users would experience it.

How it works: Google uses headless browsers (like Chrome) to simulate how the page renders, ensuring it can read dynamic or JavaScript-generated content.

3. Indexing

Definition: Google analyzes the content and structure of crawled pages and organizes the data for storage in its massive index.

Purpose: To make content searchable by categorizing it based on topics, keywords, and other signals.

What Google stores:

Text content
Meta tags (e.g., titles, descriptions)
Structured data (e.g., schema markup)
Images and videos (if applicable)

4. Ranking

Definition: When a user searches, Google retrieves information from its index and ranks results based on relevance and quality.

Purpose: To deliver the most accurate and helpful answers to users.

Factors considered:

Keywords in the content
Page quality and authority
User experience metrics (e.g., page speed, mobile-friendliness)
Backlinks and site reputation

Purpose of the Google Index

Efficiency: By pre-organizing data, Google can retrieve results almost instantly when a query is made.

Relevance: The index helps ensure that users get the most pertinent results based on their search intent.

Scalability: The index allows Google to handle billions of searches daily across an enormous volume of web content.

The Google Index process is essential for organizing the internet’s vast amount of information, making it searchable, and ensuring users find relevant, high-quality results efficiently.

Maximizing Engagement: The Power of Repurposing Content on X (Twitter) for Business Growth

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:13:58 GMT

H aving a strong presence on social media is essential for any business. Whether you're a coach, consultant, or entrepreneur, the key to expanding your reach and engaging with your target audience is consistency and smart content strategy. One of the most effective approaches for growing your following on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) is by repurposing content you’ve already created. Here’s how you can take your insights and leverage them across platforms for maximum impact.

The Strategy: Repurposing Your Best Insights

If you're already sharing articles and thought leadership on LinkedIn, you're in an excellent position to maximize your content’s value. Grabbing engaging statements or thought-provoking takeaways from these articles and posting them as concise tweets is a proven way to reach new audiences. Why? Because X thrives on short, sharp, and engaging messages. By repurposing existing content, you're not only saving time but also giving your content a new lease of life.

Key Benefits of Using X to Grow Your Audience

1. Concise Thought Leadership: With its 280-character limit, X forces you to distill your insights into bite-sized wisdom. Posting these key ideas helps you build authority in your niche, whether it’s leadership coaching, consulting, or any other field.

2. Increased Engagement: By pulling quotes or highlights from your articles, you provide followers with impactful, easily digestible content. This encourages likes, retweets, and comments—furthering your reach.

3. Multi-Platform Presence: Using X to promote your full articles posted on LinkedIn or your website can drive traffic across platforms. You create a digital ecosystem where users can engage with your content at different touchpoints.

4. Conversation Starter: Engaging statements not only showcase your expertise but also invite conversation. Use your tweets to ask questions or offer solutions, inviting others to contribute and share their perspectives.

Best Practices for Repurposing Content on X

1. Thread it Out: Some topics are just too rich for one tweet. Use Twitter threads to break down your article into a series of connected tweets that tell a complete story or present an argument. Each tweet should lead naturally into the next, keeping your audience intrigued.

2. Use Hashtags: Don’t forget to include relevant hashtags like #Leadership, #Coaching, or #Consulting. This expands your reach to users searching for specific topics.

3. Engage in Real-Time: It’s not just about posting and walking away. Interacting with comments, retweeting valuable insights from others, and actively participating in conversations will increase your visibility.

4. Link Back to Full Articles: Always include a call to action or link back to your longer-form content. This could be your latest blog post, a detailed LinkedIn article, or a resource on your website.

5. Consistency Is Key: Like any good social media strategy, consistency is critical. Make repurposing content from your articles into tweets a regular part of your social media routine. It reinforces your expertise and keeps your name in front of your followers.

Why This Approach Works

By repurposing content, you’re not just filling space on your social media feed. You’re reinforcing your personal brand, creating valuable touchpoints for your audience, and driving traffic back to your core content on LinkedIn or your website. You’re establishing yourself as an authority in your field, making sure the effort you’ve put into creating long-form content is recognized and appreciated across different platforms.

Conclusion

The more platforms you can engage on, the stronger your digital presence will be. Repurposing content from LinkedIn for X (Twitter) is an efficient, highly effective way to maximize your reach and grow your business. If you need help creating a content strategy that works across platforms or want to build a professional website to showcase your services, we’re here to help. Contact us today to learn how we can elevate your digital presence and take your business to the next level!

Unlock the Power of LinkedIn Premium: 10 Proven Strategies to Expand Your Network and Grow Your Business

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 18:17:51 GMT

10 Tips for using LinkedIn to expand your customer reach!

In today’s digital age, LinkedIn has emerged as a powerhouse for professional networking and business growth. With its Premium features, LinkedIn offers an array of tools designed to help you expand your customer base effectively. Whether you’re a business owner, marketer, or sales professional, leveraging LinkedIn Premium can significantly enhance your outreach efforts. Here’s a detailed guide on how to use LinkedIn Premium to grow your customer base.

1. Leverage InMail Messaging for Direct Outreach

InMail Messaging** is one of the standout features of LinkedIn Premium, allowing you to send direct messages to anyone on LinkedIn, even if you’re not connected. This feature is perfect for personalized outreach.

Tips for Effective InMail Messaging:**

- Personalization is Key: Craft your messages to address the recipient’s specific needs or pain points. Mention how your product or service can solve a particular problem they are facing.

- Keep It Concise: Busy professionals appreciate brevity. Keep your message short and to the point, highlighting the main benefits upfront.

- Follow-Up: If you don’t receive a response, follow up with a polite reminder after a week or two. Persistence can pay off.

Example Usage:

- Reaching out to a potential client who viewed your profile but didn’t connect. Introduce yourself, mention their recent activity, and suggest a call or meeting to discuss how you can add value to their business.

2. Utilize Advanced Search Filters for Targeted Prospecting

LinkedIn Premium’s Advanced Search Filters allow you to narrow down your search using specific criteria such as company size, seniority level, industry, and location. This helps in identifying and connecting with your ideal customer profile.

Tips for Using Advanced Search Filters:

- Define Your Target Audience: Clearly define the characteristics of your ideal customers. This could include their industry, job title, company size, and location.

- Save Your Searches: Save your search criteria to receive notifications when new profiles match your requirements.

- Engage with Insights: Use the insights from your search results to tailor your connection requests and messages.

Example Usage:

- Searching for marketing directors in tech startups within your city. Use the filters to find and connect with them, offering insights or solutions tailored to their industry challenges.

3. Analyze Profile Views Insights for Follow-Up Opportunities

Profile Views Insights lets you see who has viewed your profile over the last 90 days. This feature can provide valuable information on potential leads who are already interested in you or your business.

Tips for Leveraging Profile Views Insights:

- Follow-Up Promptly: Reach out to users who viewed your profile but didn’t connect. Acknowledge their visit and express interest in connecting.

- Tailor Your Outreach: Use the information from their profiles to customize your messages, addressing specific interests or needs they might have.

Example Usage:

- A potential client viewed your profile after reading an article you posted. Send them a message thanking them for visiting your profile and suggesting a meeting to discuss how your services can benefit their business.

4. Expand Your Reach with Network Visibility

LinkedIn Premium gives you Expanded Network Visibility, allowing you to see more profiles and connect with a wider audience beyond your immediate network.

Tips for Expanding Your Network:

- Connect with Industry Leaders: Use this feature to connect with influencers and thought leaders in your industry. Engaging with their content can increase your visibility.

- Explore New Markets: If you’re looking to expand into new geographical areas, use network visibility to find and connect with professionals in those regions.

Example Usage:

- Expanding your consulting business to a new city. Use expanded visibility to connect with business owners and decision-makers in that area, establishing new relationships and potential clients.

5. Enhance Your Skills with LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Premium provides access to LinkedIn Learning, offering a plethora of courses on various topics, including marketing, sales, and professional development.

Tips for Using LinkedIn Learning:

- Continuous Improvement: Regularly take courses to stay updated with the latest trends and best practices in your industry.

- Showcase Your Learning: Share your course completions and new skills on your LinkedIn profile to demonstrate your commitment to professional growth.

Example Usage:

- Completing a course on digital marketing strategies. Share your certificate of completion on LinkedIn and write a post about key takeaways and how you plan to implement them in your business.

6. Take Advantage of Lead Recommendations

LinkedIn Premium offers Lead Recommendations based on your profile and activity, helping you discover potential clients more efficiently.

Tips for Utilizing Lead Recommendations:

- Review Daily: Check your lead recommendations regularly to find new prospects.

- Personalized Outreach: Customize your messages to the recommended leads based on the insights provided by LinkedIn.

Example Usage:

- LinkedIn recommends a potential client who matches your saved search criteria. Send a personalized message highlighting how your services align with their business needs.

7. Gain Competitive Insights

LinkedIn Premium’s Competitive Insights feature allows you to see what your competitors are doing, including their content and engagement strategies.

Tips for Using Competitive Insights:

- Benchmark Your Performance: Compare your profile and company page metrics against competitors to identify areas for improvement.

- Adapt Successful Strategies: Analyze what type of content and engagement tactics are working for your competitors and adapt them to your strategy.

Example Usage:

- Noticing that a competitor’s posts on industry trends receive high engagement. Start creating and sharing similar content to increase your visibility and engagement.

8. Utilize Analytics and Insights for Performance Tracking

Analytics and Insights provide detailed data on your profile views, post engagement, and company page performance.

Tips for Leveraging Analytics:

- Track Engagement: Monitor which types of posts receive the most engagement and focus on creating more of that content.

- Refine Your Strategy: Use the data to adjust your content and outreach strategies based on what’s working best.

Example Usage:

- Analyzing that your posts about case studies receive high engagement. Create more case studies showcasing your success stories to attract potential clients.

9. Stay Informed with Job Insights

Job Insights offer information on job postings, including how many people have applied and the skills required.

Tips for Using Job Insights:

- Tailor Your Applications: Use the insights to tailor your applications and highlight the most relevant skills.

- Identify Market Trends: Understand the demand for specific skills and roles in your industry to stay competitive.

Example Usage:

- Noticing a high demand for digital marketing skills in job postings. Emphasize your digital marketing expertise in your profile and content to attract more opportunities.

10. Share Relevant Content with Content Suggestions

LinkedIn Premium provides **Content Suggestions** tailored to your industry and interests, helping you stay relevant and engage your audience.

Tips for Sharing Content:

- Regular Posting: Share industry news, insights, and trends regularly to position yourself as a thought leader.

- Engage with Content: Comment on and share content from other industry leaders to increase your visibility and network.

Example Usage:

- Sharing an article about the latest trends in your industry with your own commentary. Engage with your audience by asking for their opinions and starting a discussion.

LinkedIn Premium offers a wealth of tools and features that can help you expand your customer base and enhance your professional presence. By leveraging InMail messaging, advanced search filters, profile views insights, and other premium features, you can effectively reach and engage with potential clients, stay ahead of competitors, and continuously improve your skills and strategies. Start using these tips today to unlock the full potential of LinkedIn Premium and drive your business growth.

Ready to take your social media marketing to the next level? Contact us for expert social media marketing services tailored to your business needs. Let us help you expand your customer base and achieve your business goals!

How to Use LinkedIn to Drive Traffic to Your Website

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Fri, 24 May 2024 23:13:24 GMT

Maximize Your Website Traffic: Leveraging LinkedIn's Professional Network for Optimal Results

Using LinkedIn to drive traffic to your website can be highly effective, given the platform's professional audience and networking capabilities. Here are some strategies to help you leverage LinkedIn for driving traffic to your site:

Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Complete Your Profile: Ensure your profile is fully completed with a professional photo, headline, and summary that highlight your expertise and the value you offer.
Add Your Website: Include your website URL in your profile's contact information section and in the summary section.
Use Keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords related to your industry and expertise in your profile to increase visibility in search results.

Share Valuable Content

Publish Articles: Write and publish insightful articles on LinkedIn’s publishing platform. Include links to your website within these articles to drive traffic.
Post Updates Regularly: Share updates that include links to your website, such as blog posts, industry news, or company updates. Use compelling headlines and descriptions to attract clicks.
Use Visual Content: Share engaging visuals such as infographics, videos, and images that link back to your website. Visual content tends to attract more attention and engagement.

Engage with Your Network

Participate in Groups: Join and actively participate in LinkedIn groups relevant to your industry. Share your expertise and include links to your website where appropriate.
Respond to Comments: Engage with those who comment on your posts. Meaningful interactions can encourage more clicks to your website.

Utilize LinkedIn Features

LinkedIn Ads: Invest in LinkedIn advertising to promote your website to a targeted professional audience. Sponsored content, InMail, and text ads can effectively drive traffic.
LinkedIn Showcase Pages: Create showcase pages for different aspects of your business or products. These pages can be used to highlight specific areas and include direct links to your website.

Network and Build Relationships

Connect with Influencers: Build relationships with industry influencers who can help share your content and drive traffic to your website.
Offer Value: Provide valuable content, resources, or free tools on your website and promote them on LinkedIn. This encourages your network to visit your site to access these resources.

Monitor and Adjust

Analyze Performance: Use LinkedIn Analytics to track the performance of your posts and updates. Adjust your strategy based on what type of content drives the most traffic to your website.
A/B Testing: Experiment with different types of content and posting times to see what drives the most traffic. A/B testing can help refine your approach.

By consistently sharing valuable content, engaging with your network, and utilizing LinkedIn’s features, you can effectively drive traffic to your website and enhance your online presence.

Modern Web Design Evolves

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 17:17:23 GMT

Is your website stuck in the past?

Modern web design has undergone significant transformations in recent years, with several key changes reshaping the digital landscape. These changes reflect evolving user expectations, technological advancements, and design trends. Here are some of the biggest design changes in modern web design:

Responsive Design: One of the most significant shifts has been towards responsive design. With the proliferation of mobile devices, websites must adapt seamlessly to various screen sizes and resolutions. Responsive design ensures optimal viewing experiences across desktops, tablets, and smartphones, improving accessibility and user engagement.
Minimalist Aesthetics: Clean, minimalist design has become increasingly popular. This approach emphasizes simplicity, with a focus on clear typography, ample white space, and minimalist navigation menus. Minimalist aesthetics enhance user focus, readability, and visual appeal while reducing clutter and distractions.
Typography Emphasis: Typography plays a crucial role in modern web design. Designers are experimenting with bold, expressive typography to create memorable brand identities and enhance content hierarchy. Custom fonts, variable fonts, and creative typography treatments are gaining traction, adding personality and character to websites.
Microinteractions: Microinteractions are subtle, interactive elements that enhance user experience and engagement. From hover animations and button feedback to scroll-triggered effects, microinteractions add depth and interactivity, making websites more intuitive and enjoyable to navigate.
Accessibility Focus: Designers are placing greater emphasis on accessibility, ensuring that websites are inclusive and user-friendly for people with disabilities. This includes implementing accessible color contrasts, keyboard navigation support, screen reader compatibility, and other accessibility best practices to improve usability for all users.
Illustrations and Animations: Visual storytelling through illustrations and animations has gained momentum in modern web design. Custom illustrations and animated graphics add personality, convey brand messages, and create immersive experiences that captivate and engage users.
Scroll-based Navigation: Long-scrolling websites with scroll-based navigation have become prevalent, offering seamless transitions between sections and enhancing storytelling capabilities. Scroll-triggered animations, parallax effects, and fixed headers optimize the scrolling experience, making content more engaging and interactive.
Video Backgrounds: Incorporating video backgrounds has become a popular design trend, adding dynamic visual elements that capture attention and convey brand narratives effectively. Video backgrounds can create immersive experiences, set the tone for websites, and increase user engagement.
User-Centric Design: Overall, modern web design is increasingly focused on user-centric principles. Designers prioritize user experience (UX) research, usability testing, and iterative design processes to create intuitive, enjoyable, and meaningful digital experiences that resonate with users and drive results.

These design changes reflect the dynamic nature of web design, driven by technological innovation, user behavior trends, and evolving design aesthetics. Embracing these trends and best practices can help designers create impactful and user-friendly websites in today's digital landscape.

Do I need SEM?

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 17:45:00 GMT

SEM vs. SEO

SEM, a digital marketing tactic, is employed to enhance the visibility of your website in search engine results. This encompasses both paid advertising and organic search engine optimization (SEO) activities. The difference between SEM and SEO is that SEO refers to organic results ("free" traffic) as a result of relevant and useful content.

In need of Search Engine Marketing? If you aim for your website to secure a top spot on the Search Engine Results Page (SERP), the answer is a resounding YES. It's common to see websites ranking well organically, yet requiring visitors to scroll down the SERP to locate them. The challenge arises when competitors opt to pay for prime placement at the top of the SERP. Unfortunately, online searchers tend to choose the most visible and convenient option, often favoring your competitor's ad.

What's the plan? To lock down highly sought-after paid advertisement placements at the top of the SERP, advertisers compete in keyword auctions. The highest bidder claims the top position.

When determining the investment per click for each keyword, the suitable price is dependent on the particular industry. For example, the average cost per click in the Insurance sector tends to be higher than in less competitive fields like Arts & Entertainment.

Google Ads pricing ranges from $100 to $10,000 per month, with the majority of businesses typically spending between $0.11 and $0.50 per click, and $0.51 to $1000 per 1000 impressions on average in 2024. The cost of Google Ads can differ based on factors such as your industry, campaign targeting, and ad network.

Next steps? If you have spare time, and are confortable with being a DYI Online Marketeer, simply visit https://ads.google.com/ and jump right into learning how to start showing up at the top of the SERP. Google has an extensive tutorial on line to get you started. They also offer expert consultation.

If you are too busy running your business to start learning a new trade, you are most likely better off hiring a professional for this task. In this case, contact me today for a free, no obligation consultation.

Crafting Value-Driven Content: A Guide to Creating High-Quality Content That Delights Your Audience

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 18:30:00 GMT

In today's digital age, creating content that truly resonates with your audience is essential for building a loyal following and driving engagement on your website, blog, or social media channels. Value-driven content goes beyond mere information-sharing; it provides actionable insights, practical advice, and inspiring stories that enrich the lives of your audience members. In this blog post, we'll explore how to create value-driven content that educates, informs, inspires, and entertains your audience while helping them solve problems and achieve their goals.

Understand Your Audience

Before you start creating content, it's crucial to understand your audience's needs, preferences, and pain points. Conduct audience research, gather feedback, and analyze data to gain insights into what matters most to your target audience. What are their challenges? What questions do they have? What are their aspirations and goals? By understanding your audience deeply, you can tailor your content to address their specific needs and interests.

Provide Actionable Tips and Practical Advice

One of the hallmarks of value-driven content is its practicality. Offer actionable tips, step-by-step guides, and practical advice that your audience can implement in their lives or businesses right away. Whether it's a tutorial on mastering a new skill, a checklist for improving productivity, or a recipe for a healthy meal, make sure your content provides tangible value and helps your audience achieve real results.

Tell Inspiring Stories

Storytelling is a powerful tool for connecting with your audience on an emotional level and inspiring them to take action. Share personal anecdotes, case studies, or success stories that illustrate key concepts or lessons. Use storytelling to humanize your brand, showcase your expertise, and demonstrate how your products or services have made a positive impact on people's lives. Inspiring stories have the ability to captivate and motivate your audience, making your content more memorable and impactful.

Educate and Inform

In today's information-saturated world, people crave knowledge and insights that can help them navigate complex issues and make informed decisions. Position yourself as a trusted authority in your niche by creating content that educates and informs your audience. Dive deep into topics relevant to your industry or area of expertise, provide in-depth analysis and commentary, and offer valuable resources and recommendations that empower your audience to expand their knowledge and skills.

Entertain and Delight

While providing valuable information is important, don't forget the power of entertainment in capturing and holding your audience's attention. Incorporate elements of humor, storytelling, or visual appeal to make your content more engaging and enjoyable to consume. Infuse your content with personality and authenticity, and don't be afraid to inject a bit of fun or levity into your messaging. By entertaining and delighting your audience, you create a positive and memorable experience that keeps them coming back for more.

Creating value-driven content is the key to building meaningful connections with your audience and driving long-term engagement and loyalty. By understanding your audience, providing actionable tips and practical advice, telling inspiring stories, educating and informing, and entertaining and delighting your audience, you can create content that truly resonates and adds value to their lives. So, roll up your sleeves, get creative, and start crafting content that makes a difference!

Remember, the more value you provide to your audience, the more they'll appreciate and engage with your content, ultimately leading to greater success for your brand or business.

Unlocking the Secret to Exceptional Web Content: What Defines 'High-Caliber' Website Material?

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 17:15:00 GMT

High-quality content on a website refers to content that is valuable, relevant, accurate, and engaging for the target audience. It is content that serves the purpose of meeting the needs, interests, and expectations of visitors while also aligning with the goals and objectives of the website owner.

Here's a detailed explanation of what constitutes high-quality content:

Relevance : High-quality content is directly relevant to the audience it serves. It addresses topics, questions, and concerns that are pertinent to the target audience's interests, needs, and pain points. Understanding your audience and their motivations is crucial for creating relevant content that resonates with them.
Accuracy and Credibility : High-quality content is accurate, reliable, and backed by credible sources whenever possible. It is factually correct and free from errors, misleading information, or outdated data. Providing accurate information helps build trust and credibility with your audience.
Value-Driven : High-quality content provides value to the audience by offering useful insights, actionable tips, practical advice, or entertaining stories. It educates, informs, inspires, or entertains the audience, helping them solve problems, make informed decisions, or achieve their goals.
Uniqueness and Originality : High-quality content is original and stands out from the crowd. It offers a unique perspective, fresh ideas, or innovative solutions that differentiate it from similar content available elsewhere. Original content helps capture the attention of the audience and establishes your authority in your niche.
Clarity and Readability : High-quality content is easy to understand, well-organized, and presented in a clear and concise manner. It uses plain language, avoids jargon or overly technical terms, and breaks down complex concepts into digestible chunks. Clear and readable content ensures that the audience can quickly grasp the message and absorb the information presented.
Engagement Potential : High-quality content is engaging and captures the audience's attention from the outset. It sparks curiosity, evokes emotions, or prompts action, encouraging visitors to explore further, share the content with others, or interact with the website in meaningful ways. Engaging content may include storytelling, interactive elements, multimedia assets, or compelling visuals.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) : High-quality content is optimized for search engines to improve visibility and ranking in search results. It incorporates relevant keywords, meta tags, and descriptive titles and headings to make it easier for search engines to understand and index the content. SEO-friendly content helps attract organic traffic and increase the website's online presence.

Overall, high-quality content is the cornerstone of a successful website. It serves as the bridge between the website owner and the audience, fostering meaningful connections, driving engagement, and ultimately contributing to the achievement of business goals and objectives.

5 Key Website Strategies to Increase User Engagement

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 19:15:01 GMT

In today's digital landscape, capturing and maintaining visitors' attention on your website is essential for driving conversions and achieving your business goals. To effectively engage visitors and encourage interaction, it's crucial to implement strategic design and content elements. In this blog post, we'll explore five key strategies that can help you boost website engagement and interaction, ultimately enhancing the user experience and driving meaningful outcomes.

1. Clear and Compelling Content:

Engaging visitors starts with providing clear, compelling content that immediately communicates your value proposition. Utilize attention-grabbing headlines, concise copy, and impactful visuals to capture visitors' interest and encourage further exploration. Focus on addressing visitors' needs and pain points to establish relevance and build trust from the outset.

2. Intuitive Navigation and User Experience (UX):

Seamless navigation and a positive user experience are fundamental to keeping visitors engaged on your website. Design intuitive navigation menus, incorporate breadcrumbs, and optimize page layouts to help users find the information they seek quickly and easily. Prioritize mobile responsiveness and accessibility features to ensure a consistent and inclusive experience across all devices and user scenarios.

3. Engaging Visual Design:

Visual design plays a pivotal role in captivating visitors and conveying your brand's identity and message effectively. Choose a visually appealing color palette, use high-quality images and graphics, and leverage whitespace to create a clean and inviting layout. Strive for visual harmony and coherence throughout your website to enhance readability and user engagement.

4. Interactive and Multimedia Elements:

Incorporating interactive elements and multimedia content can significantly enhance user engagement and interaction on your website. Consider adding interactive features such as quizzes, polls, and surveys to encourage active participation from visitors. Integrate multimedia content like videos, animations, and slideshows to provide dynamic and engaging experiences that resonate with your audience and keep them invested in your content.

5. Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs) and Conversion Paths:

Clear calls-to-action (CTAs) are essential for guiding visitors towards desired actions and conversions on your website. Strategically place compelling CTAs throughout your site to prompt visitors to take specific actions, whether it's making a purchase, subscribing to a newsletter, or contacting you for more information. Design intuitive conversion paths that lead visitors through the sales funnel, providing them with relevant information and opportunities to engage at every stage of their journey.

If you are like most small business owners, you do not have the time, nor expertise to properly adress these yourself. That's where I come in. My website and design services include implementing these five key strategies, that create a website that not only attracts visitors but also keeps them engaged and motivated to interact with your content. I'll continuously monitor and analyze user behavior to identify areas for improvement and optimization. By prioritizing user engagement and interaction, we can enhance the overall user experience and drive meaningful results for your business.

Contact me today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Unlocking Organic Traffic: Why On-Page SEO Trumps Paid Online Marketing

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 19:00:02 GMT

4 Compelling Reasons why On-Page SEO Yields Superior Results!

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, the quest for visibility and traffic remains paramount. With 53% of all trackable website traffic originating from organic search, according to BrightEdge, the significance of optimizing for search engines cannot be overstated. While paid online marketing certainly has its place, on-page SEO stands out as a foundational strategy for sustainable growth and long-term success.

Here are why prioritizing on-page SEO can yield superior results compared to its paid counterpart.

Cost-Effectiveness and Sustainability:
Paid online marketing campaigns often require substantial financial investments, which can be prohibitive for startups and small businesses with limited budgets. On the other hand, on-page SEO techniques are comparatively cost-effective and can deliver enduring results without ongoing expenditure.

By optimizing website content, meta tags, headers, and other on-page elements, businesses can enhance their organic search rankings over time, driving consistent traffic without continuous financial outlay.
Building Organic Authority and Credibility:
Organic search results are perceived as more trustworthy and credible by users compared to paid advertisements. A prominent presence in organic search listings signals to users that a website is relevant, authoritative, and deserving of their attention.

Through strategic keyword targeting, content creation, and user experience optimization, businesses can establish themselves as industry leaders within their niche, fostering trust and loyalty among their target audience.
Long-Term Visibility and Brand Exposure:
While paid advertisements offer immediate visibility, they cease to exist once the advertising budget is depleted. Conversely, on-page SEO efforts yield sustainable results that endure over time, providing ongoing visibility and brand exposure in organic search results.

By consistently delivering valuable and relevant content optimized for search engines, businesses can maintain a prominent position in search engine rankings, driving continuous organic traffic and expanding their online presence.
Alignment with User Intent and Behavior:
On-page SEO emphasizes understanding and addressing user intent, ensuring that website content aligns with the queries and needs of target audiences. By crafting high-quality, informative content that resonates with users, businesses can attract qualified leads and convert them into loyal customers.

Paid online marketing campaigns may capture user attention momentarily, but they often fail to deliver the depth of information and value that users seek. In contrast, on-page SEO prioritizes user-centric content that satisfies search intent and fosters meaningful engagement.

In a competitive digital market where organic search accounts for 53% of trackable website traffic, prioritizing on-page SEO represents a strategic imperative for businesses seeking sustainable growth and visibility. While paid online marketing certainly has its merits, it pales in comparison to the long-term benefits and cost-effectiveness of on-page SEO. By investing in optimization efforts that enhance organic search visibility, businesses can fortify their online presence, build credibility, and attract high-intent traffic that converts into lasting relationships and revenue streams. In the pursuit of digital success, on-page SEO emerges as the cornerstone of a robust and enduring marketing strategy.

Ready to unlock the full potential of your online presence? Contact Whidbey Web Design today!

With at-launch SEO included in every website they develop and hosting solutions built with SEO in mind, they're your trusted partner in navigating the complexities of digital marketing. Don't just exist online – thrive with Whidbey Web Design. Reach out now to take the first step towards maximizing your website's visibility, credibility, and success.

Increase Engagement on your Facebook Page with these post ideas

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 19:30:52 GMT

If you're wondering what to share on your business Facebook Page to connect with your audience, we've curated a list of 6 diverse post ideas that will surely boost engagement.

Ask Questions

A fantastic way to initiate dialogue with your audience is by posing questions. Though it may seem elementary, this strategy, when used judiciously and not excessively, can be remarkably effective. Delve into creative thinking to come up with a variety of thought-provoking questions. By doing so, you can solicit authentic feedback from your audience and customers, potentially influencing business decisions. Alternatively, posing industry-relevant and intriguing questions can boost engagement with your posts.

Show your Personality

Your company's Facebook Page doesn't need to be strictly professional at all times. It's actually a fantastic notion to infuse some brand personality into your posts and captions. Inject some playful humor or share inspirational quotes that align with your industry.

A Step by Step Guide to the Web Design Process

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 20:30:00 GMT

From the outside, the web design process can seem overly complicated.

Well-crafted websites go beyond mere visual appeal. They enchant visitors and effectively communicate the essence of the product, company, and brand through a variety of cues, including visuals, text, and interactions. This requires that every aspect of your site contributes to a specific objective.

So, how can you achieve this seamless integration of elements? By implementing a thorough web design process that takes into account both form and function. While this may seem like a daunting task, I have distilled the process into a simple, manageable series of activities I've found successful over the past 14 years.

I have outlined the process in these steps:

Goal Identification: Working with the client to determine the objectives that the new website needs to achieve, in other words, its purpose.
Scope Definition: Once we have established the website's goals, we can define the scope of the project, including the necessary web pages and features required to achieve the objectives, as well as the timeline for their development.
Sitemap and Wireframe Creation: With the scope clearly defined, we can begin developing the sitemap and wireframes, outlining how the content and features identified in the scope definition will interact.
Content Development: Once we have a thorough understanding of the website, we can start crafting tailored content for each page, making sure to incorporate search engine optimization (SEO) best practices to uphold the emphasis on specific subjects. It's crucial to have substantial content prepared for this next stage. Some clients may prefer to write their own content, but regardless, I guarantee that the content is optimized for maximum engagement and strong search engine ranking.
Visual Design: Following the establishment of the site's structure and initial content, we can now concentrate on developing the visual brand. Depending on the client, this may already be well-defined, or we may be tasked with defining the visual style from scratch. I can use Client provided images,stock photos, or a combination of both.
Testing: At this point, your pages are set and their display to the site visitor is defined. It's crucial to ensure that everything functions properly. This involves a combination of manual browsing on various devices and using automated site crawlers to detect issues ranging from user experience to broken links.
Site Launch: Once everything is running smoothly, it's time to plan and execute your site launch. This includes determining the launch timing and communication strategies - essentially, when and how you will announce the launch. After that, it's time to celebrate!

Do I Need a Web Designer

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 18:45:00 GMT

Small business owners often underestimate the value of a web designer, assuming they can handle it on their own. Free websites may seem like a deal, but are you willing to risk your company's reputation on the cheapest option? Your website is often the first thing potential customers see. Does it accurately represent your business and entice customers, or does it make them seek alternatives?

Without the skills, knowledge, and experience of professional web designers, a DIY website could harm your business and brand, costing you thousands in lost business. Web design is a complex job best left to professionals. Instead of spending weeks on your website, focus on growing your business.

Below are five crucial reasons why you need to consider hiring a professional web designer to create and maintain your website:

1. Tailored Design: A professional web designer will create a website that is unique to your brand and tailored to your specific needs and goals. They will take into account your brand identity, target audience, and overall business objectives to ensure that your website effectively represents your business.

2. User Experience: A professional web designer has the expertise to optimize your website for a seamless user experience. They will pay attention to factors such as navigation, page loading speed, and mobile responsiveness, which are crucial for keeping visitors engaged and converting them into customers.

3. Custom Functionality: A professional web designer can incorporate custom functionalities into your website to enhance its performance and meet your specific business requirements. From e-Commerce features to integrations with third-party applications, a professional web designer can make your website work harder for your business.

4. Search Engine Optimization (SEO): A professional web designer understands the importance of optimizing your website for search engines. They will implement best practices for on-page SEO, ensuring that your website ranks higher in search results and attracts more organic traffic.

5. Ongoing Support and Maintenance: A professional web designer provides ongoing support and maintenance to keep your website running smoothly. They will monitor the performance of your website, update software and plugins, and make necessary adjustments to ensure that your website remains secure and up-to-date. This level of ongoing care is essential for the long-term success of your website and business.

Top 3 Tips for Promoting your Valentine's Day Sales and Events

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 22:26:42 GMT

There's no better time than now to get a head start on planning and promoting your Valentine's Day sales and events online. With the holiday just around the corner, taking early action will position your business for success and ensure that you can effectively capture the attention of potential customers. By initiating your marketing efforts early, you can maximize your reach and engagement, and ultimately drive more sales and participation in your Valentine's Day promotions.

Valentine’s Day 2022 saw $23.9B spent on gifts for partners, friends, pets and more. Here are my top 3 tips on making your Valentine's Day sales and events promotion a great success!

Consider incorporating red and pink hues into your landing page to evoke the romantic essence of Valentine's Day.
These colors are synonymous with love and should be utilized by eCommerce platforms to resonate with customers. Implementing heart-shaped, red, and pink products, as well as banners adorned with these colors and heart shapes, will effectively communicate Valentine's Day promotions. By creating a visually compelling red and pink page with heart shapes, website visitors will be subtly reminded of Valentine's Day, even without explicitly mentioning the holiday.
Encourage customers to remember Valentine’s Day.
On average, people spend two weeks planning Valentine’s Day activities and choosing and buying gifts. Therefore, eCommerce websites should begin their Valentine’s Day promotions in the last week of January to coincide with customers' schedules and deadlines.
Suggest Complementary Items for Purchase.
Gift boxes are a popular choice for Valentine’s Day gifts. Rather than selecting just one item, many people prefer to purchase multiple smaller gifts and present them in a beautifully packaged box to their loved ones.

Sometimes, opting for a single gift such as chocolates or flowers may feel insufficient, and individuals seek to add a personal touch by curating the contents of the gift box themselves. Providing options for selecting from a range of smaller items to customize the gift box allows buyers to tailor it to their preferences. Alternatively, offering pre-assembled gift boxes can simplify the purchasing process for customers.

With Dynamic Bundles, you can propose items that complement each other, enabling your customers to craft their own personalized gift sets.

Key to Holiday Shopping Sucess!

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 02:38:13 GMT

Black Friday shopping data has historically been an analytics boon for marketers who wish to dive into the psychology of today’s consumers.

According to Adobe, what is the BIG takeaway from this year’s shopping data?

Black Friday shoppers spent a record $9.8 billion in U.S. online sales, up 7.5% from last year.
$5.3 billion of the online sales came from mobile shopping. He noted that influencers and social media advertising have made it easier for consumers to get comfortable spending on their mobile devices .

How is this relevant to you? It confirms that having an online presence, specifically a modern, secure, and mobile-friendly website is key to increasing sales!

If you don’t have a website, or your website is outdated, not secure, or not mobile-friendly, it may be too late to cash in on the remaining holiday shopping season. But this shouldn’t be the end of this discussion. Contacting us to get a modern, responsive design website should be on the top of your to-do-list for today! Don't let another year pass you by with an outdated website.

You may be too busy right now with holiday activities, but it will only take 5-minutes to schedule a call.

Let’s connect today and put a January appointment on the calendar.

5 Signs of a High-Quality Web Developer

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Sat, 09 Dec 2023 19:40:02 GMT

How do you assess the work and approach of someone from a different field or industry? This is a crucial question as you rely on them for your business and want to ensure that the designer you're working with is top-notch. Whether you're from the construction industry or an optician, how can you determine if the designer is of the highest quality?

Listening Abilities

You don't need to be an expert in the field to discern whether someone's listening abilities are strong or lacking. Consider your designer as a person and potential partner or colleague with whom you'll collaborate on a project. Are they truly listening? Do they grasp the requirements? When they respond to your inquiries, is it clear or do their answers leave you perplexed? Surrounding yourself with individuals possessing strong listening skills brings you closer to smoothly delivering a project.

Effective Communication

Clear communication is a byproduct of strong listening skills. A competent designer can offer comprehensive explanations, even on technical matters beyond your expertise. Assess their communication skills, both in simple and complex contexts, such as specific design and technical terms.

Portfolio Evaluation

A designer's portfolio is a reflection of their work quality, but don't just focus on aesthetics. Assess the functionality and diversity of their designs. It's not essential for them to have designed for a company in your industry. A diverse, beautiful, and functional portfolio indicates a great designer.

Creativity and Imagination

A strong portfolio, coupled with creativity and imagination, is a winning combination that's likely to meet your needs. The portfolio testifies to their past work quality, while their creativity and imagination promise innovative and functional designs tailored to your requirements.

Transparent Process

A well-defined design process is vital for project clarity and seamless delivery. Clearly outlined processes and milestones enable you to understand what to expect and when. Your proactive feedback is crucial for a smooth project delivery, so ensure timely and constructive input.

Market Research before Web Design

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 03:51:02 GMT

How to move the needle further...

Many businesses fail to recognize the significant impact that conducting thorough market research can have on their success. Prioritizing market research before undertaking a web design overhaul can greatly enhance results, surpassing what can be accomplished through tactical approaches alone.

Focusing your market research on learning what your competition is doing, what challenges your potential customers are trying to navigate, and how your can position your services to place you at the forefront for people looking for your product or services requires 5 key elements.

It is crucial to identify and analyze your competition. Understanding their strengths, weaknesses, and strategies can provide valuable insights into how you can differentiate yourself and gain a competitive edge. By studying their marketing tactics, pricing structures, and customer service approaches, you can identify areas where you can improve and stand out.
Understanding the challenges faced by your potential customers is essential. By conducting surveys, interviews, and focus groups, you can gather valuable data on the pain points and obstacles that your target audience is experiencing. This information will enable you to tailor your products or services to meet their specific needs and provide solutions that are both relevant and impactful.
Positioning your services to place you at the forefront requires a deep understanding of your target market. This involves researching their preferences, behaviors, and buying habits. By analyzing demographic data, market trends, and consumer insights, you can create targeted marketing campaigns and messaging that resonates with your audience and encourages them to choose your brand over competitors.

Additionally, conducting market research allows you to identify emerging trends and opportunities. By staying ahead of the curve and anticipating changes in consumer behavior, you can adapt your strategies and offerings to meet evolving demands. This proactive approach will position your business as innovative and forward-thinking, attracting customers who value staying up-to-date and ahead of the competition.

Finally, market research provides a solid foundation for developing a comprehensive marketing strategy. By understanding your target audience, competition, and market dynamics, you can develop a marketing plan that effectively communicates your unique value proposition and captures the attention of your ideal customers. This strategic approach will maximize your marketing efforts and increase your chances of success.

Conducting thorough market research is a crucial step in achieving business success. By prioritizing market research and implementing the five key elements mentioned above, you can gain valuable insights, differentiate yourself from competitors, and position your business for long-term growth and profitability.

A website content strategy is essential

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 19:51:50 GMT

Guide to Creating Website Content

A content strategy will guide your plans for the what, where, and when of content creation. Content is why people visit your website, and any redesign should be conducted with a content-first approach.

Discover your distinctive value proposition
Your website ought to effectively convey the rationale and strategies behind your company, elucidating on how your services and approach provide added worth for your clientele. Your distinct value proposition should directly tackle these facets and distinguish you from other companies in the field. Utilize this value proposition as the bedrock for the content you create for your website. Make certain that your unique value proposition is prominently showcased and seamlessly integrated throughout your website content. Ensuring that your content is tailored and relevant to your target audience is imperative for the success of your site.
Target each of your personas
When developing website content, many companies focus on what they want to say rather than what their audience wants to read. It is crucial to create website content with your various audiences in mind and prioritize what matters most to them, as they are the true recipients of your content. Visualizing your buyer personas helps you understand the specific type of people you are trying to reach and gain insights into buyer behavior. By identifying your key buyer personas, you can craft personalized content that addresses their interests, needs, and goals. Your content should aim to answer their questions, educate them on industry subjects, and address their pain points. Remember that your website caters to multiple audiences, including prospects, clients, potential employees, business partners, and the media. Therefore, it is important to have content that caters to each of these groups.
Map content to the client lifecycle
Ensure your content guides visitors and potential customers through the sales journey. Your website should offer diverse content that caters to the specific inquiries or concer of prospects at different stages of the buyer's journey, from initial awareness to making a purchase and becoming brand advocates. For instance, a blog or thought leadership piece serves as a powerful tool to raise awareness, educate, and address general questions about your services or industry. However, when a prospect is evaluating your firm for potential collaboration, a case study or testimonial is more suitable to showcase the successful outcomes achieved for your clientele.
Use the right language
When crafting your content, it is crucial to communicate effectively with your target audience. Avoid the use of complex industry jargon and instead, opt for language that resonates with your readers. If your audience is technically inclined, it may be appropriate to incorporate technical terms; however, for the most part, it is recommended to utilize clear and straightforward language that showcases your expertise and familiarity with their field. In addition to blog articles and other forms of thought leadership content, your website copy should adopt a conversational tone rather than a formal one. Imagine you are engaging in a one-on-one conversation with a potential client, always keeping in mind that your content should focus on them and how you can assist them, rather than solely promoting yourself.

In today's digital world, having a strong website content strategy is absolutely crucial. It's what determines your search engine rankings and ensures that potential customers can find you. But it's not just about getting people to your site - it's about keeping them there. By focusing on the quality and relevance of your content, you can engage visitors and guide them through your website. By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating website content that not only boosts traffic, but also generates valuable leads for your business.

Best SEO built into the service.

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 18:45:00 GMT

When it comes to Search Engine Optimization (SEO), not all Customer Managed Systems (CMS) are equally effective. We specifically utilize the industry-leading CMS, DUDA, to build and host our Client's websites, ensuring optimal SEO performance.Duda takes care of a wide range of SEO optimizations automatically for our customers. With many other content management systems, these items must be done manually or managed.

How do we back this claim up? By simply highlighting these 5 pieces of functionality that are built into the DUDA CMS:

Indexability

While this might sound basic, it’s anything but. For Google to understand the content on your website, they need to be able to crawl it and understand it first. This is a core requirement for any feature Duda releases.

Duda ensures that any type of content you add to the site can be indexed by Google.

Videos? Check.
Lazy loaded images in a slider? Check.
Products in the eCommerce store? Check.

Duda’s clients rely on this. We primarily do this by:

Making sure that all primary content is server-side rendered. This means that when a crawler comes to the page, they get the full content of that page in the initial response (and content is not loaded via JavaScript).
Using proper HTML5 standards that Google and other search engines support. With the modern web, this is not always straightforward. Many websites today use JavaScript (via frameworks like React, Vue, Svelte, etc..) to render and display content. Duda makes sure to deliver full HTML, ensuring the best chance of content being indexed.

With the release of Core Web Vitals, the website experience (and performance) has become one of the most important and difficult topics in SEO. This is important because websites that perform better on Google's Core Web Vitals metrics will be ranked higher in Google search results.

Duda invests a lot of time and effort into ensuring that websites built on Duda deliver a good experience out of the box.

We do many optimizations automatically for websites, such as:

Image Optimization: Duda automatically resizes, compresses and converts images to the most optimal settings, sizes, and formats for each use case.
Above-the-fold Loading: Duda ensures automatic generation of required styles to enable the fastest loading of the most important experience: the first thing someone sees on your website
Best Practices of Hosting: Duda implements a global CDN, optimal cache settings, minification of JS and CSS files, and more out of the box. And More...
Sitemaps: Duda automatically generates an XML Sitemap file every time the website is updated. We ensure that all pages of the website are automatically added (or removed) and are perfectly in sync with the pages on your website. The XML sitemap allows Google to know all the pages that exist on your website so they can crawl them and index them correctly. This eliminates the potential that some pages of your website might not be found through normal linking.
Robots.txt: Duda automatically generates a robots.txt file to tell crawlers how to crawl the website. The robots file will always tell the crawler to crawl the full website and never prevents any crawling.
Canonicalization: Automatic generation of canonical tags. This tells search engines what page is the source of truth is for this content. This always lines up with the exact URLs added into sitemaps directly.
SSL / HTTPS: Duda automatically generates an SSL (TLS) certificate for each website. This ensures that connections to the website are secured and data transferred between the visitor and the site can’t be snooped on.
Mobile Optimization: Out of the box, all Duda websites are mobile-friendly. Google will always use their mobile-first crawler when crawling a Duda-based website.
Image Optimization: For any images uploaded to Duda (PNG and JPG formats), Duda will automatically resize and compress the images. We’ll also create WebP (a newer, smaller image format) versions of those images and automatically serve them to browsers that support WebP. Duda automatically sets the right size of the image based on how big the image is within the design of your website or the device the visitor is coming from.
Crawler-Friendly Links: When creating links within Duda, we automatically create them using standard anchor href tags and don’t use JavaScript redirects or non-standard URLs for Google to follow. This allows search engines to follow the links to new pages on the site.

What is 'Simple Navigation'

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 15:45:00 GMT

Creating a simple and user-friendly navigation system for your website is crucial in ensuring a positive user experience. By implementing an easy-to-use navigation menu, you can enhance your website's usability, help visitors find the information they are looking for, and ultimately increase engagement and conversions.

To start, it is important to carefully plan and organize your website's structure. This involves categorizing your content and determining the most logical hierarchy for your navigation menu. By grouping related pages and sections together, you can create a seamless flow for users to navigate through your website.

Next, consider the placement of your navigation menu. Typically, it is best to position it at the top of your website, either horizontally across the header or vertically along the side. This allows for easy visibility and accessibility, as users expect to find the navigation menu in these standard locations.

When designing your navigation menu, simplicity is key. Avoid overwhelming users with too many options or cluttered layouts. Stick to a concise and clear menu structure, utilizing dropdown menus or submenus when necessary. This helps users quickly locate the information they need without feeling overwhelmed or confused.

Furthermore, make sure to use descriptive and straightforward labels for each menu item. Avoid using jargon or ambiguous terms that may confuse users. Instead, opt for clear and concise labels that accurately describe the content or section they lead to. This ensures users can easily understand and navigate your website.

Another important aspect of creating simple navigation is ensuring that it is responsive and mobile-friendly. With an increasing number of users accessing websites on their mobile devices, it is crucial that your navigation menu adapts to different screen sizes and remains easy to use. Consider using a hamburger menu icon for mobile devices, which expands into a dropdown menu when clicked.

Lastly, regularly test and refine your navigation system to ensure optimal user experience. Conduct usability tests, gather feedback from users, and monitor analytics to identify any pain points or areas for improvement. By continuously refining and optimizing your navigation menu, you can provide an intuitive and seamless browsing experience for your website visitors.

In conclusion, creating a simple navigation system for your website is essential for enhancing user experience and driving engagement. By carefully planning and organizing your website's structure, using clear and descriptive labels, and ensuring responsiveness across different devices, you can create a user-friendly navigation menu that helps visitors find what they need and ultimately leads to increased conversions.

Design Ideas for Ecommerce Site

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 17:15:00 GMT

When it comes to designing an ecommerce website, there are endless possibilities and ideas to consider. A well-designed website can make all the difference in attracting and retaining customers. Here are some design ideas to help you create a visually appealing and user-friendly ecommerce website that will drive sales and boost your online business.

First and foremost, it's important to choose a clean and modern design that aligns with your brand identity. The layout should be intuitive and easy to navigate, allowing users to find what they are looking for quickly and efficiently. Consider using a grid-based layout with clear sections for different categories and products.

In terms of colors, opt for a color scheme that complements your brand and evokes the right emotions. Bright and bold colors can grab attention, while muted and pastel tones can create a more calming and sophisticated atmosphere. Use colors strategically to highlight important elements such as buttons, call-to-action buttons, and product images.

Typography is another crucial aspect of ecommerce website design. Choose fonts that are easy to read and reflect your brand personality. It's recommended to stick to a maximum of three fonts to maintain consistency and avoid overwhelming the user. Consider using larger font sizes for headings and important information to ensure they stand out.

Product images play a significant role in ecommerce websites, as they can make or break a sale. Invest in high-quality product photography that showcases your products in the best possible light. Consider using multiple images to provide different angles and show product details. Implement zoom-in functionality to allow users to examine products closely.

Incorporating user-generated content can also enhance the overall user experience. Displaying customer reviews, ratings, and testimonials can build trust and encourage potential customers to make a purchase. Additionally, featuring user-generated images of customers using your products can create a sense of authenticity and relatability.

Mobile responsiveness is no longer an option but a necessity for ecommerce websites. With the increasing use of smartphones and tablets, it's crucial to ensure that your website is optimized for mobile devices. The design should adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable browsing experience for mobile users.

Lastly, don't forget about the importance of speed and performance. Slow loading times can lead to high bounce rates and lost sales. Optimize your website's loading speed by minimizing file sizes, leveraging caching techniques, and using a content delivery network (CDN) to deliver content faster to users around the world.

In conclusion, designing an ecommerce website requires careful consideration of various elements. By implementing these design

Will My Web Designer Create Content For Me?

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 16:30:00 GMT

The question that is often asked by clients is whether their web designer will create content for them. And if you are my client and you ask me that question, my answer will be a resounding "Gladly." With years of marketing experience under my belt, coupled with my extensive experience in creating websites for clients over the past 16 years, I have gained a unique insight into the world of effective content marketing.

However, I believe in full transparency, and I want to be honest about the process. It's not solely my marketing communication talent that empowers me to provide top-notch content; it is also the remarkable AI tool that I utilize. This AI content writer is incredibly powerful and does all the necessary research, ensuring that when I write content for your website, it is thoroughly researched and well-informed.

The AI content writer is an innovative tool that revolutionizes the way content is created. But how exactly does it work? Well, let's dive into the inner workings of this cutting-edge technology.

At its core, the AI content writer is powered by advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques. These algorithms are trained on vast amounts of data, including articles, blog posts, and other written content, to develop a deep understanding of language patterns and writing styles.

When I provide a topic or a brief to the AI content writer, it uses this knowledge to generate a unique and coherent piece of content. It analyzes the given information, identifies key points, and then crafts a well-structured and engaging content.

But how does it ensure that the content is relevant and accurate? The AI content writer utilizes natural language processing to comprehend the context and meaning behind the given topic. It can distinguish between different nuances and produce content that is tailored to my specific needs.

The AI content writer is a game-changer in the world of content creation. Its advanced algorithms, natural language processing, and continuous learning capabilities make it a powerful too l for generating high-quality and relevant content.

2024 Design Trends - What's Coming

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 19:41:03 GMT

Does your website look like it was developed last century? If you haven't refreshed your website in the past 3 years, it probably does. Web design evolves very quickly, so don't be discouraged if your website looks outdated. The important thing is that you have your website redesigned by someone like myself who is on top of the latest trends, so that your website doesn't look outdated 6 months after it's launched.

In today's digital age, where technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace, it is crucial for businesses to keep up with the latest web design trends. The year 2023-2024 brings a new wave of exciting possibilities for web design, with cutting-edge innovations that will captivate your audience and give your website a fresh and contemporary look.

One of the most prominent trends of this era is the concept of immersive storytelling. Gone are the days of static and monotonous websites - now, users crave an interactive and engaging experience. Incorporating immersive storytelling into your web design allows you to captivate your visitors by taking them on a visual journey. Through the artful integration of striking visuals, compelling narratives, and interactive elements, your website can become an immersive digital world that leaves a lasting impression.

Another trend that has gained significant traction is the use of micro-animations. These subtle, yet impactful animations add a touch of life and personality to your website. From animated buttons and hover effects to scrolling transitions and loading animations, these micro-animations create a delightful and seamless user experience. By incorporating these small but powerful details into your web design, you can enhance user engagement and leave a memorable impression on your visitors.

Furthermore, the rise of mobile devices has transformed the way people access the internet. As a result, mobile-first design has become an essential aspect of web development. In 2023-2024, it is crucial to ensure that your website is responsive and optimized for mobile devices. By adopting a mobile-first approach, your website will adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes, providing a user-friendly experience on smartphones and tablets. This not only improves user satisfaction but also plays a vital role in search engine optimization, as search engines now prioritize mobile-friendly websites.

Additionally, embracing bold and vibrant colors has become a popular trend in recent years. Gone are the days of muted and subtle color palettes. In 2023-2024, web designers are embracing the use of vibrant hues to create visually stunning websites that grab attention and evoke emotions. By incorporating bold color

Get found on Google - FAST

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Sat, 30 Sep 2023 13:47:56 GMT

Stand out on Google with a Business Profile and increase your online visibility to potential customers. By creating a Business Profile on Google, you can showcase important information about your business, such as your address, phone number, and hours of operation. This makes it easier for customers to find and contact you when they are searching for products or services related to your industry.

Having a Business Profile also allows you to showcase your brand through photos and videos. You can upload images of your products, your team, or even happy customers enjoying your services. This visual content helps to create a strong and positive impression of your business, encouraging potential customers to choose you over your competitors.

Another advantage of having a Business Profile on Google is that it allows you to collect and showcase customer reviews. Positive reviews can greatly influence a potential customer's decision-making process, as they provide social proof that your business is trustworthy and reliable. By encouraging your satisfied customers to leave reviews, you can build a strong online reputation and attract more customers to your business.

In addition to these benefits, a Business Profile also provides valuable insights into how customers are finding and interacting with your business. You can see the number of views, searches, and clicks your profile receives, as well as the actions customers take after viewing your profile. This information can help you make informed decisions about your online marketing strategy and improve your overall customer experience.

So, if you want to stand out on Google and increase your chances of attracting new customers, creating a Business Profile is a must. It not only helps you improve your online visibility but also allows you to showcase your brand, collect customer reviews, and gain valuable insights into your customers' behavior. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a great impression and grow your business.

Contact me to start creating your Business Profile on Google today!

What's the difference between content and concept?

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 16:00:01 GMT

When it comes to distinguishing between website content and concept, it is important to understand the unique qualities and roles that each element plays in creating a successful online presence. Website content refers to the textual and visual information that is displayed on a website, serving as the primary means of communication with the audience. It includes written text, images, videos, and other multimedia elements that are strategically placed to convey a specific message or promote a particular brand or product. The content is carefully crafted to engage and inform the visitors, while also optimizing the website for search engine visibility.

On the other hand, the concept of a website refers to the underlying idea or vision that drives the design, layout, and overall structure of the site. It encompasses the overall theme, purpose, and goals of the website, determining the user experience and interaction. The concept is the creative backbone of the website, dictating the aesthetic appeal, navigation, and functionality. It sets the tone and style of the website, ensuring cohesiveness and consistency throughout.

While website content focuses on delivering specific information and engaging the audience, the concept focuses on the overall user experience and visual appeal. The content is the substance that fills the website, providing valuable and relevant information to the visitors. It is the driving force behind SEO strategies and helps in establishing credibility and authority. On the other hand, the concept is the foundation that supports the content, providing a framework for organizing and presenting the information in an aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly manner.

Website content and concept are two crucial components that work together to create an effective and impactful online presence. While the content serves as the means of communication and information delivery, the concept provides the structure and visual appeal that attracts and engages the audience. By understanding the difference between the two, businesses can create websites that are not only visually appealing but also informative and user-friendly, ultimately leading to a successful online presence.

Why Transition from Content to Concepts

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 16:00:00 GMT

Lower Costs and Streamline Bloated Websites with Added Benefi

NEWS FLASH: In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, a groundbreaking revelation has emerged, shedding light on the transformative power of transitioning from content to concepts.

This paradigm shift not only promises to significantly reduce costs and optimize the functionality of unwieldy websites, but also holds the potential to revolutionize customer engagement and skyrocket conversion rates.

As businesses strive to stay ahead in the fiercely competitive online landscape, the importance of adopting an innovative approach cannot be overstated. In this context, the shift from content-centric strategies to a more concept-driven approach is gaining momentum as a game-changer in the realm of digital marketing.

By placing greater emphasis on concepts, brands are empowered to transcend the limitations of traditional content creation. Rather than simply producing copious amounts of text, images, and videos, the focus shifts towards crafting compelling and thought-provoking concepts that resonate with the target audience on a deeper level.

Not only does this shift in mindset have the potential to streamline the bloated and cluttered nature of websites, it also has the power to captivate and engage customers in ways that traditional content cannot. With concepts at the forefront, businesses can create a cohesive and immersive online experience that leaves a lasting impression on visitors.

Moreover, the transition from content to concepts is not merely a cosmetic change, but rather a strategic move that has the potential to yield tangible results. By designing websites and marketing campaigns around powerful concepts, brands can tap into the subconscious desires and emotions of their customers, ultimately driving them towards the desired actions and conversions.

In this digital age where attention spans are dwindling and competition is fierce, brands must adapt and evolve to stay relevant. Embracing the shift from content to concepts is not only a means of survival but an opportunity to thrive in an increasingly saturated online marketplace.

The transition from content to concepts represents a seismic shift in the world of digital marketing. It not only promises to drastically reduce costs and optimize website functionality, but also holds the key to unlocking unparalleled customer engagement and conversion rates. By embracing this transformative approach, businesses can position themselves at the forefront of the digital landscape and reap the rewards of a more immersive and impactful online presence.

Top 3 website holiday marketing ideas that are guaranteed to drive traffic.

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 16:45:00 GMT

Are you looking for some innovative and effective website holiday marketing ideas to boost your business during the festive season? Well, you're in luck! We have compiled a list of the top 3 website holiday marketing ideas that are guaranteed to drive traffic , increase conversions , and maximize your profits . So, without further ado, let's dive into these fantastic strategies that will leave your competitors in the dust!

1. Create a Festive Landing Page:

One of the most impactful ways to capture the attention of your website visitors during the holiday season is by designing a festive landing page. Use vibrant and eye-catching colors that reflect the spirit of the holidays. Incorporate holiday-themed graphics and images that evoke feelings of joy and celebration. Make sure your landing page highlights any special offers, discounts, or promotions you have for the season. This will entice visitors to explore your website further and make a purchase.

2. Run a Holiday Giveaway:

Everyone loves the chance to win something, especially during the holidays! Running a holiday giveaway on your website is an excellent way to generate excitement and engage with your audience. You can ask visitors to enter the giveaway by subscribing to your newsletter, sharing your holiday-themed content on social media, or leaving a comment on a blog post. Make sure the prize is enticing and relevant to your target audience. This not only encourages participation but also helps you build your email list and increase brand awareness.

3. Personalize Your Customer Experience:

During the holiday season, people are bombarded with advertisements and marketing messages from various companies. To stand out from the crowd, it's crucial to personalize your customer experience. Utilize customer data to create personalized email campaigns that include product recommendations based on their past purchases or browsing history. You can also send personalized holiday greetings with exclusive offers or discounts tailored to each customer's preferences. By making your customers feel valued and special, you are more likely to build loyalty and drive repeat business.

These top 3 website holiday marketing ideas are sure to set your business apart from the competition and help you make the most out of the festive season. So, why wait? Start implementing these strategies today and watch your website traffic and sales soar to new heights. Happy holidays and happy marketing!

What comes first? Content or Concept?

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 01:38:25 GMT

When embarking on a new website project, one might wonder: what comes first, website content creation or website concept creation? It's a chicken and egg situation that can leave even the most experienced web developers scratching their heads. However, it is essential to establish a clear understanding of the right sequence in order to ensure a successful and cohesive website.

On one hand, some argue that website concept creation should take precedence. The concept sets the tone for the entire website, dictating its design, functionality, and overall user experience. Without a well-defined concept, content creation may end up being disjointed and ineffective. By starting with a solid concept, web designers can create a visually appealing and user-friendly framework that will seamlessly integrate with the content.

On the other hand, there are those who believe that content creation should come first. After all, what good is a visually stunning website if it lacks meaningful and engaging content? By developing the content before the concept, web designers can better understand the needs and goals of the website. This allows for a more targeted and purposeful concept creation process, resulting in a website that truly speaks to its intended audience.

In reality, the best approach lies in finding a balance between both aspects . It is crucial to have a general idea of the website concept before diving into content creation. This ensures that the content fits seamlessly within the overall design and structure of the website. At the same time, content creation should be an ongoing process, continuously evolving and adapting to the needs and goals of the website.

By giving equal importance to both website concept creation and website content creation, businesses can create a website that not only looks visually appealing but also delivers a compelling message to its users. It is a delicate dance between design and content, where each element complements and enhances the other.

Ultimately, the answer to the question of what comes first, website content creation or website concept creation, is not a definitive one. It depends on the specific needs and goals of the project. What is crucial, however, is to approach the development process with a holistic mindset, ensuring that both aspects receive the attention they deserve. Only then can a website truly succeed in capturing the attention and engagement of its target audience.

End of August - Time to Get Your Holiday Season Marketing Ready!

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 15:00:06 GMT

Get ready, get set, and prepare for the upcoming holiday season marketing extravaganza in August! Yes, you heard it right, it's never too early to start planning and strategizing for the most wonderful time of the year. As the summer heat starts to wane, it's the perfect time to shift your focus towards the holiday season and capitalize on the immense potential it holds for your business.

August serves as the ideal month to kickstart your holiday marketing efforts for several reasons. Firstly, it allows you ample time to craft and refine your marketing campaigns, ensuring that every detail is meticulously planned to perfection. By starting early, you can avoid the last-minute rush and stress that often accompanies the holiday season.

Moreover, launching your marketing initiatives in August enables you to stay one step ahead of your competitors. While they might still be basking in the summer sun, you can gain a significant advantage by capturing the attention and loyalty of customers who are already in the holiday spirit. By establishing your brand as the go-to destination for all their holiday needs, you can build a strong customer base and set the stage for a profitable holiday season.

Additionally, starting your holiday marketing in August allows you to take full advantage of the back-to-school season. As families gear up for a new academic year, their spending habits shift towards purchasing school supplies, clothes, and other essentials. By aligning your marketing efforts with this trend, you can tap into the increased consumer spending and position your brand as the top choice for back-to-school shopping.

Furthermore, August presents a unique opportunity to engage with your audience and build anticipation for the upcoming holidays. Through carefully planned social media campaigns, email newsletters, and blog posts, you can create a buzz and generate excitement among your customers. By offering exclusive sneak peeks, early-bird discounts, and special promotions, you can foster a sense of urgency and encourage early holiday shopping.

So, don't wait any longer! August is the perfect time to dive headfirst into holiday season marketing and make a lasting impression on your target audience. Start brainstorming ideas, crafting captivating content, and strategizing your campaigns. Remember, the early bird catches the worm, and in this case, the early marketer reaps the rewards of a successful holiday season. Embrace the holiday spirit in August and watch your business thrive during the most wonderful time of the year!

5 Elements to Improve Website Ranking

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 15:00:00 GMT

5 Elements to Improve Website Ranking

When it comes to improving your website ranking, there are several key elements that play a crucial role. These elements are essential for enhancing your site's visibility and attracting more organic traffic. By paying attention to these factors and implementing effective strategies, you can significantly boost your website's search engine ranking and ultimately drive more visitors to your site. In this article, we will discuss five important elements that you should focus on to improve your website's ranking.

1. High-Quality Content: Content is king in the online world, and it is crucial for improving your website ranking. Creating high-quality, unique, and engaging content not only attracts visitors but also keeps them coming back for more. By providing valuable information, insightful articles, and helpful resources, you can establish your website as a reliable source in your industry. This will not only enhance your credibility but also increase your chances of ranking higher in search engine results.

2. Keyword Optimization: Keywords are the foundation of search engine optimization (SEO). By conducting thorough keyword research and strategically placing them throughout your website's content, you can optimize your site for specific search queries. This will help search engines understand the relevance of your website to users' search intent. However, it is important to use keywords naturally and avoid overstuffing them, as this can negatively impact your ranking.

3. On-Page SEO: On-page SEO refers to optimizing various elements within your website to improve its visibility in search engine results. This includes optimizing meta tags, headers, URLs, and alt tags. By using descriptive and relevant meta tags, organizing your content with headers, creating search engine-friendly URLs, and optimizing your images with alt tags, you can improve your website's overall SEO.

4. Backlinks: Backlinks are links from other websites that point back to your site. They are an important ranking factor for search engines as they indicate the credibility and authority of your website. Building high-quality backlinks from reputable and relevant websites can significantly improve your website's ranking. This can be done through guest blogging, influencer outreach, and creating valuable content that others will want to link to.

5. User Experience: User experience (UX) plays a crucial role in improving your website ranking. Search engines prioritize websites that provide a positive user experience. This includes having a fast-loading website, easy navigation, mobile responsiveness, and engaging design. By optimizing your website for a seamless user experience, you can increase the time users spend on your site and reduce bounce.

8 Tips For Providing Your Designer With Helpful Feedback

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 18:30:00 GMT

Providing feedback to your website designer is crucial for achieving the desired results and ensuring that your website meets your expectations. However, it's not always easy to effectively communicate your thoughts and ideas. To help you provide helpful feedback, we have compiled a list of tips that will make the process smoother and more productive.

1. Be specific: When providing feedback, try to be as specific as possible. Instead of saying, "I don't like the design," explain what exactly you don't like and why. For example, you could say, "I feel that the color scheme is too dull and doesn't reflect our brand identity."

2. Use examples: If you have any specific examples or inspiration that you'd like your website designer to consider, make sure to share them. This will give them a better understanding of your vision and help them incorporate elements that align with your preferences.

3. Focus on goals: When giving feedback, it's important to keep in mind the goals you have for your website. Is the design aligning with your brand image? Is the navigation user-friendly? By focusing on these goals, you can provide constructive criticism that will lead to improvements.

4. Be honest but respectful: It's essential to be honest when giving feedback, but always remember to be respectful and constructive. Avoid using harsh language or making personal attacks. Remember, your website designer is there to help you, and respectful communication will foster a positive working relationship.

5. Provide context: To help your website designer understand your feedback better, it's helpful to provide some context. Explain the purpose of your website, your target audience, and any specific functionality you require. This will give them a clearer picture of how to tailor the design to meet your needs.

6. Focus on the user experience: A successful website is one that provides a positive user experience. When giving feedback, put yourself in the shoes of your target audience and consider how they would interact with your website. Are there any areas that could be improved in terms of usability or accessibility?

7. Offer suggestions, not just criticisms: While it's important to point out areas for improvement, it's equally important to offer suggestions or solutions. Instead of simply saying, "I don't like this," try to provide alternative ideas or examples that could be explored.

8. Take time to review: Before providing feedback, take some time to review the design thoroughly. This will ensure that your feedback is accurate.

Winning with Effective Messaging

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 18:30:00 GMT

80% of your conversion rate is determined by your messaging!

Messaging plays a crucial role in determining your conversion rate, accounting for a significant 80% of its success. It serves as the driving force, enabling you to capture the attention of your target audience, address their pain points and aspirations, and generate interest in your product or service. However, in today's highly competitive landscape, relying on a one-size-fits-all messaging strategy is no longer sufficient.

Countless brands fall into the trap of adhering to outdated messaging frameworks and attempting to appeal to a broad audience. However, to truly connect with your customers, it is essential to identify your unique customer base and communicate directly with them.

Creating effective messaging necessitates a deep understanding of your market, competitors, buyer intelligence, and user research. It involves dedicating ample time and effort to conducting thorough research, testing different approaches, and optimizing your messaging to craft the most impactful message that resonates with your audience.

Contact us today, and let's delve deeper into this topic and explore how you can elevate your messaging to the next level, ensuring optimal results for your business.

3 Tips to Get Your Website to Stand Out

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 18:30:00 GMT

Are you in search of a professional and visually appealing website for your small business or organization? If so, you have come to the right place! Whidbey Web Design is here to cater to all your website design needs. With our extensive experience in the industry, we are equipped with the knowledge and expertise to guide you through the process. To help you get started, we have compiled three essential tips that are sure to make your website stand out from the crowd.

Choose a design that is clean, modern, and easy on the eyes . A cluttered or outdated website can be off-putting to visitors, leading to them leaving without exploring further. By opting for a clean and modern design, you create a positive user experience that keeps visitors engaged and encourages them to stay on your site.
Use of high-quality images and graphics is essential in capturing your visitors' attention. Visual elements play a significant role in conveying your brand's message and creating a lasting impression. By incorporating visually appealing images and graphics, you can effectively communicate your products, services, or organization's values and capture the interest of your target audience.
Select a color palette that aligns with your bran d and creates a cohesive look is vital in establishing a professional and visually pleasing website. Colors evoke emotions and can influence how visitors perceive your brand. By carefully choosing the right colors, you can evoke the desired emotions and create a memorable brand identity.

At Whidbey Web Design, we understand the importance of a visually appealing website that not only looks great but also delivers results. Our team of experts is here to guide you through the entire process, from selecting the perfect design to creating a compelling user experience. With our years of experience in the industry, we have the knowledge and skills to create a website that not only meets your expectations but exceeds them.

So, why wait any longer? Let us help you create a visually appealing website that not only looks great but also gets results. Contact Whidbey Web Design today and take the first step towards establishing a strong online presence for your small business or organization.

Signs of Good Web Design

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 03:03:57 GMT

Exceptional web design is required when establishing a thriving and prosperous online presence for both small businesses and organizations alike. Meticulously crafted and thoughtfully designed website possesses the unique ability to captivate and enthrall its visitors, providing them with an experience that is not only visually stimulating but also effortlessly navigable, thereby ensuring an exceptional user experience.

In this digital age, where attention spans are diminishing and competition is fierce, it is paramount for businesses to have a website that not only captures the attention of potential customers but also effectively showcases their products or services in a manner that leaves a lasting impression. A well-designed website serves as a powerful marketing tool, acting as a virtual storefront that not only informs and educates visitors about your offerings but also persuades them to take action and engage with your business.

Speed and responsiveness of the website is critical in today's fast-paced world. A website that loads quickly and seamlessly across all devices is of utmost importance, as it ensures that potential customers can access your content and interact with your business effortlessly, regardless of whether they are on a desktop computer, a tablet, or a mobile phone. A mobile-friendly website is no longer a luxury but rather a necessity in this mobile-first era, and we make it our mission to ensure that your website is fully optimized for mobile devices, allowing you to reach and engage with a broader audience.

Good website desogm does not only exude visual appeal but also yields tangible and measurable results for your business. Your website developer should work closely with you to understand your unique needs and goals, tailoring thier services to meet their specific requirements. From conceptualizing and designing the layout to implementing cutting-edge features and functionalities, the developer should strive for excellence in every aspect of the web design process.

Whidbey Web Design, we go above and beyond to deliver exceptional web design solutions that not only enhance your online presence but also drive real and meaningful results for your business. With our unwavering commitment to excellence, attention to detail, and passion for innovation, we are confident in our ability to create websites that not only meet but exceed your expectations. Contact us today and let us help you take your online presence to new heights.

7 Things to do to Improve Average Time Spent on a Website

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 23:00:00 GMT

When it comes to enhancing the average time spent on your website, there are several effective strategies you can employ. By implementing these techniques, you can captivate your audience and keep them engaged for longer periods.

In this article, I will explore seven essential steps that can significantly boost the time visitors spend on your website, thereby increasing the likelihood of conversions and maximizing your online success.

Address is the load time of your website. Ensuring that your site loads quickly is crucial, as slow loading times can lead to frustration and prompt visitors to abandon your site. To decrease load time, consider optimizing your website's performance by compressing images, minimizing CSS and JavaScript files, and utilizing caching techniques.
Focus on is your website's navigation. A user-friendly and intuitive navigation system can make a significant difference in how long visitors stay on your site. By optimizing your navigation, you can make it easier for users to find the information they are seeking, leading to a more positive user experience.
Internal links are an excellent tool for encouraging users to explore your website further. By strategically placing internal links within your content, you can guide visitors to related pages or relevant articles, enticing them to delve deeper into your site. This not only increases the average time spent on your website but also improves overall user engagement and boosts the chances of conversions.
Ensure that your content is well-formatted, easy to read, and visually appealing. Break up long paragraphs, use headings and subheadings, and employ bullet points or numbered lists to enhance readability. By making your content more accessible and visually appealing, you can captivate your audience and encourage them to stay on your site for longer periods.
Add relevant and high-quality visual elements can help convey your message more effectively and provide a more immersive experience for your visitors. Visual content, such as images and videos, can significantly enhance user engagement and increase the average time spent on your website.Consider using eye-catching images, informative infographics, or engaging videos to enhance your content and capture your audience's attention.
Optimize your website for all devices. With a significant portion of internet traffic coming from mobile users, it is essential to ensure that your website is responsive and mobile-friendly. By providing a seamless browsing experience across different devices, you can keep visitors engaged.

3 Things to Consider When Hiring a Web Developer

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 19:15:00 GMT

When it comes to hiring a web developer for your small business or organization, there are 3 key factors to consider.

Expertise - ensure the developer has experience in creating websites that deliver tangible results.
Look for a developer with a track record of successful projects, testimonials from satisfied clients, and a portfolio showcasing their ability to create effective and engaging websites.
Communication - find someone who can effectively understand and execute your vision.
Evaluate their portfolio to gauge their ability to create websites that align with your desired aesthetic. Next, discuss your goals and objectives in detail, ensuring they grasp your brand's essence and target audience. Additionally, inquire about their experience in designing for small businesses and organizations, emphasizing the importance of achieving tangible results.
Affordability - choose a developer who offers competitive rates without compromising on quality.
Your future web development agency should be more than a vendor. Look for the qualities that you would like to have in a business partner who truly cares about your business growth and turns challenges into opportunities.

If you’re facing any challenges in website development or revamping, contact us . We’d be more than happy to solve your web challenges.

User Experience is Key to Increasing Conversion Rates

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 02:06:17 GMT

User experience is paramount when it comes to achieving high conversion rates on your website. A seamless and intuitive design that caters to the needs and preferences of your target audience can significantly increase engagement and drive conversions. By optimizing navigation, layout, and functionality, we ensure that visitors have a positive and satisfying experience, leading to increased conversions and ultimately, business success. Trust us to create a website that delivers tangible results for your small business or organization.

Here are my top five key elements to ensure your website stands out and delivers results.

A clean and intuitive design that captures attention and guides users seamlessly.
Fast loading times that keep visitors engaged and prevent them from bouncing.
Mobile responsiveness, allowing users to access your site on any device.
Clear and concise navigation that simplifies browsing.
Compelling and relevant content that informs and engages your audience.

If your website is not delivering the results you expect, contact me . I'll gladly review your existing website and provide you with a FREE consultation .

4 Most Important On-Page SEO Elements.

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 02:03:38 GMT

Optimizing on-site elements for target keywords enhances page quality and boosts its relevance for specific search queries. This approach enables you to stay ahead of the competition and adapt to the latest updates in search algorithms. When executed correctly, on-page SEO leads to higher rankings and increased traffic.

What are the most crucial on-page SEO factors?

Content: Does your content incorporate keywords and phrases that your target audience would use when searching for a product or service you offer?

Title Tags: Wondering how people choose which website to visit from the search engine results page? They often click on the link with the most captivating title.

Page Experience: How well is your website optimized for mobile devices? Does it utilize a secure HTTPS connection? Is it safe for users to browse?

Usability: To ensure easy navigation for users, consider the following factors:

- Adherence to WCAG standards

- Implementation of responsive design and mobile friendliness

- Simplified navigation

- Readability of content.

Happy Independence Day!

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 15:00:00 GMT

So what did happen on July 4, 1776?

July 4, 1776, is commonly associated with the Declaration of Independence, which is regarded as America's revolutionary Charter of Freedom and the foundation of the nation's core principles. However, it is important to note that July 4 was not the day when independence was declared or when the Declaration was officially signed.

Instead, this holiday commemorates the momentous occasion when delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. On this day, the Continental Congress gave its approval to the final wording of the document, marking the birth of the United States of America.

We all celebrate this day in different ways. What ever your tradition, we wish you a safe and enjoyable day!

Our CMS platform provides exceptional funtionality and performance

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 01:30:00 GMT

At Whidbey Web Design, we take great pride in providing our clients with top-notch website performance. We believe that a website should not only look great but also perform at the highest level possible. That's why we rely on DUDA CMS and Hosting, which is powered by the trusted Amazon Web Services, to ensure that our clients' websites are always up and running smoothly.

Our team of experts is committed to delivering reliable and secure hosting services. We understand that your website's availability is crucial to your business success, which is why we provide a guarantee that our hosting service will always be dependable. You can count on us to keep your website functioning optimally, so you can focus on your business growth.

Our CMS is an integral part of our website development process. It is designed to make content management easy and intuitive. You won't have to worry about technical details or coding when updating your website. You'll be able to make changes effortlessly, from updating product descriptions to adding new blog posts. With our CMS, you will always be able to keep your website current and relevant to your business needs.

At Whidbey Web Design, we have years of experience in website development and hosting. Our team of experts is dedicated to providing you with the best possible service and support. We believe that our clients' success is our success, and we are committed to helping you achieve your goals. Let us help you take your online presence to the next level with our reliable and secure hosting and easy-to-use CMS. Contact us today to learn more about our services, and how we can help you grow your business online.

Revitalize Your Website: 5 Reasons to Keep Content Fresh

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 02:42:40 GMT

Your website is much more than just a static online presence; it's a dynamic and ever-evolving entity that interacts with visitors, clients, and search engines. Each update you make to your live website can significantly impact its performance and relevance. In fact, search engines may perceive a non-updated website as "dead" and potentially irrelevant.

But why is it so crucial to update your website frequently with fresh content? Well, for starters, it boosts your search engine rankings by allowing for more frequent indexing. Additionally, search engines adore websites that have frequent updates, as it shows that the website is active and relevant. Furthermore, the more content you add, the more keywords you can incorporate, which can further enhance your visibility.

Fresh content also increases your authority potential and keeps your audience informed and engaged. By providing new, valuable information, you demonstrate your expertise and relevance in your field. Your audience will appreciate the effort you put into keeping them up-to-date, and they'll be more likely to return to your website in the future.

Thankfully, by updating your website often with top-quality content, you'll create a space for search engines to find fresh content and new information that they can share with their users. So, keep up the updates and watch your website flourish!

Need help? Contact us today and we'll give you a free website SEO review and a written proposal that will adress your needs within your budget.

The power of AI, now in your Website Editor

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 01:18:52 GMT

Elevate your content editing game with the latest capability at your fingertips.

We are now equipping you with game-changing capabilities integrated right into your hosting platform that can make a significant impact on your business. Now you can leverage the power of AI, right from your web editor! No worries if you are not making use of the web editor, I'm always available to assist you with creating or updating content.

Meet your new AI Content Assistant

To kick off the integration of AI capabilities within the website editor, you’ll find the AI Assistant ready and waiting where you spend most of your time when updating your website - creating and optimizing content using the Text widget.

Get suggested texts within seconds

To generate content, simply select an option from the AI Assistant’s menu in the Text widget, describe in a few words what sort of text you need and within seconds it will suggest content that you can then customize however you wish.

The quality is in the details

To make sure you get high quality and relevant content from the AI Assistant, we’re incorporating some basic details about the business into each content prompt.

That’s why when you first use the Assistant, we’ll ask for a few details about the specific business behind the site. It’s a one-off action that will automatically add the relevant business context to any future content prompt to make sure the suggestions you get are the most relevant.

Make quick edits and preview suggestions

Want a quick rephrase of a sentence you've already written? Have a big block of text you’ve written that’s too long for a certain site section? Use the AI Assistant’s Quick edits menu options to improve the text, make it shorter or longer, and even fix its spelling and grammar.

For each suggested piece of content, you can choose to preview it on the canvas and see what it looks like before making your decision final. And if you want to copy any of the suggested texts to share with others or use elsewhere, that’s also available for your convenience.

In case you want to explore or compare additional versions of the same content, hit the Try again button to generate a new version.

Contact me if you have any questions about this new feature, or would like me to use this new tool to review and update the content on your existing website.

Paid Membership Website

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 23:42:06 GMT

New! Offer Paid Membership Content to your customers.

We’re excited to announce that we can now offer paid membership functionality to your website. This will help you monetize your site and sell content-based online subscriptions . This is truly a revolutionary enhancement functionality.

Membership opens up a new world of increased engagement and revenue opportunities for you. Use it to grow a site-based member community or to offer exclusive paid content.

The yellow brick road to monetizing a site.

Let’s say you are a fitness instructor, and want me to build you a freemium based website. To do this, I can set up 2 membership plans for you: A free one and a paid one.

The free membership plan can serve as a lead generation source, with limited content of, say, 1 or 2 video classes plus a contact form. The paid membership plan can be a monthly subscription that includes unlimited access to all video classes you, the trainer, has and will upload in the future.

How membership works?

Paid membership is essentially the option of creating exclusive content behind a paywall (if paid) or a desired user action (if free). Membership is made possible by these main components:

Setting members-only site pages.
Creating membership plans.
Allowing site visitors to purchase a membership plan.
Letting existing members log in and enjoy their exclusive content.

Membership plans can be either free or paid, and you can have multiple plans on a single site. With the flexibility that membership plans offer, you can even have a multi-tiered membership.

Interested? Call today for a FREE consultation.

Best way to distinguish yourself from your competitors.

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 17:50:06 GMT

The key to getting noticed online is to highlight your business’ distinct value. One of the best ways to accomplish this is with the use of case studies. These authentic, unique stories should put your unique qualities on display. You don’t need many of these stories to achieve the desired result, but you should plan on publishing at least one new story each month.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Write for potential customers. You’re not writing for the company owner - you’re writing to people visiting the website.
Tell a good story. Start with the problem, move to the solution, then wrap it all up in a persuasive, positive ending. Adding quotes helps make the story credible.
Provide real facts and figures. Numbers are easy to digest. Make sure you have some good ones to make your case study persuasive at a glance.
Make sure it is well written. This goes without saying for all content on your site, but is particularly important here. This is a content-rich area of your site, with more text than other areas, so make sure the content is easy to read and error-free.

Holiday online shopping are set for record-breaking rates!

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Sat, 22 Oct 2022 21:15:00 GMT

Read how you can reach customers and beat your Q4 goals

I know, autumn has just started, and you are still in the Halloween planning mode, and here is yet another article talking about holiday ecommerce marketing and your Q4 goals.

Just because you are enjoying the present and getting the full fall experience, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be building your holiday shopping marketing plan. For most of us, past experience has proven that waiting until the last minute to build your online holiday messaging and promotions yields less than stellar results. I’m guessing you have had the same experience.

Trying to cram online marketing efforts into an already increasingly frantic holiday season creates even more stress.

Consider these data-driven forecasts by salesforce:

· Online spending will remain large. Sales in November and December are predicted to reach $265 billion in the U.S. That’s a 3% increase above pre-pandemic levels.

· Increasing prices will mean fewer orders. It’s expected that there will be 5% fewer orders compared to the 2021 holiday season.

· Profit margins will tighten. Rising supply, labor, and transportation costs cut into the bottom line. Research shows that 10% of retailer profits are at risk because rising costs are outpacing what can realistically be passed on to consumers.

· Holiday shoppers will seek out sustainable products.

Now that we have this information, let’s put it to practical use.

· Personalize your messaging. Update your website so that it ‘speaks’ directly to the visitor. You can do that by replacing lengthy text on your webpages with call-to-action buttons.

· Use your website’s built-in marketing tools. People are starting their holiday shopping early. They may not be buying right away, but they are looking and adding products they like to their favorite’s lists. Most ecommerce sites allow you to follow up with visitors who have marked something as a ‘favorite’. Be sure to utilize every tool you have available to follow up with existing shoppers.

· Use loyalty programs and send out promotions to existing customers early. It’s cheaper to retain existing customers than to reach new ones.

· Create holiday email campaigns. Email is one of the most effective ways to reach out. Remember, everyone’s mailbox is blasted with emails these days. Get creative! Use visuals rather than lengthy text. Always include a call-to-action that takes your customer to the relevant webpage. Make your offers exclusive. Limit the time the offer is valid. People are more likely to act when they understand that the offer is limited.

· Include your holiday calendar that tells people how much time is remaining to place an order for it to arrive in time.

· Create an email signup call-to-action for getting alerts when specials are announced.

Now is the time to start working on your holiday marketing!

Drive profitable customer action

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 23:00:00 GMT

The 3 C's of Content Marketing

The internet has opened an opportunity to reach virtuallyevery American consumer. The Pew Research Center, in a survey conducted lastyear, found that 87% of adults (18 and older) use the internet and 80% ofAmerican homes have internet access. Are you doing all the right things toaccess these consumers?

Today's leading marketing strategy revolves around thegeneric concept of 'Content Marketing'. The premise is that chances are yourcompetitor also has a website, so what is it that sets you apart from the rest?Enter Content Marketing - content marketing is a strategic marketing approachfocused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent contentto attract and retain a clearly-defined audience — and, ultimately, to driveprofitable customer action.

The three important elements of writing content that sells:content, connecting and converting. It's important to learn and understandpractical useful techniques to help you write clear, concise messages from thereaders' point of view. By organizing your copy logically and communicatingbenefits in a conversational and persuasive tone, you will generate more salesand connect with your target audience. The general outline I use to produce thecontent to promote my clients online:

Content

· Writing for Your Audience

· The Headline

· Making It About Them

· How Your Copy Looks

Connecting

· Your Selling Points

· Writing About Benefits

· Using Simple Words and Short Sentences

· Conversational, Informal Tone

· Sell, Sell, Sell – but Do It Softly

Converting

· Tell Them What You Want Them to Do – Leave NoDoubt

· Convincing Them You Are the Expert

· The Almighty Call to Action

· Don't Sell Them - Build a Relationship

· Get Them to Sign up, Order, or Call

Just being aware of these points isn't enough. Consistentresearch, learning, and training is paramount to continued success. In my nextarticle, I'll identify some of the free online marketing courses I've used. Asyou have probably already surmised, producing effective content takes time andeffort. If you are a small to medium business owner who would rather focus onyour business and leave the Content Marketing to professionals, contact ustoday. Getting an effective contentmarketing program started and maintained by a professional Internet Presence firm like ours is much more affordable than you may think.

Medium – Social Media for Writers

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 16:37:05 GMT

Are you frustrated with social media platforms that focus more on short content, rather than the alure of rich story writing or the ability to fully formulate a thesis? Writer’s have long been struggling with how to get their content out and noticed. Social Media platforms link Facebook and Twitter just are not built for putting out publications. Enter Medium.

Evan Williams, co-founder and former CEO of Twitter, created Medium in 2012. Williams is quoted saying “We are trying to make it as easy as possible for people who have thoughtful things to say”.

If you are a writer, and what to generate BUZZ around your work, I would recommend using Social Media Marketing concepts and use multiple platforms to push out content. Use both your website and Medium to publish your content. Posting your content on your website will help with SEO and build your online reputation. Posting the article on Medium will be great for pushing out your content and creating ‘Buzz’. Medium is built for this.

Medium makes it easy to import your article if you have published it on your website blog. Simply grab the URL from your blog post and use the ‘import’ function. By importing the article this way, a link is generated at the bottom of the article stating when and where it was originally published, with a link back to your website.

As an added push, when you publish the article in Medium, use their tool to post the Medium article to your LinkedIn account. LinkedIn will notify all your connections that you posted a new article and drive them to your Medium space. This will make great use of the connections you already have and will amplify the ‘Buzz’ when your existing connections comment on or share your post.

I would recommend driving people to your Medium space and allow the Medium engines to promote and drive more readers to your articles. Medium is much more robust in pushing out articles than Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, especially if your article meets their editorial board standards. “If the Medium algorithm selects one of your articles for the Medium homepage or Editors Picks, expect a LOT of readers”, says one of the members who recommends Medium.

To monitor progress and to see what works best, keep track of your analytics from your Medium Stats page. At a glance, you can see your page views, full reads, read ratio, and the number of fans you have gained. Comments from members indicate that 7 minutes of reading time is the sweet spot.

As a side note, when using the Medium tool to post an article on LinkedIn, it does not actually post the article, but rather creates a link back to the article on Medium. One possible downside to driving your LinkedIn connections to Medium is that unless they subscribe ($5/month), they can only read two articles per month. You may want to reconsider using your Twitter account to help push out the content. When someone goes to Medium from your Twitter link, they bypass the paywall.

Setting up Medium is simple and quick. If you are a writer or author wanting to create BUZZ around your work, integrate Medium into your Social Media Marketing.

Customers Visit Your Business Online Before They Visit It In Person

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 23:36:50 GMT

A website is now a must-have for doing business in today’s world, and it’s essential that it looks great and works perfectly on desktop, tablet and mobile.

The research makes the case for a responsive design for us...

Local searches lead 50% of mobile visitors to visit a store within one day
57% of all Google searches happen on a mobile device
Non-mobile pages have been found to fall 27 spots in Google search rankings
72% Percent of millennials research their options online before going to a store
40% of smartphone users will choose a different site if the first is not mobile-friendly
74% of mobile users are more likely to revisit a site that works well on mobile

The power of the web comes from being able to put everything your customers need right at their fingertips. Our websites are designed to do just two things: increase convenience for your customers and sales for your business.

Our Lead-Generating Business Tools

The Case for Blog Tags

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 22:15:45 GMT

Boosts site SEO

Adding tags to your post allows search engines to understand what your post is all about, so it can be found much easier. A few tips about tags:

Use a few tags on each post.
Use tags that are real words that people will use when they search online.
Make sure the tags you use relate to multiple posts in the blog.

Makes it easy to arrange site content

When you add blog posts to your site, you want them to be found. Adding tags to your posts enables them to be filtered so they can be sorted according to topic.

5 Ways to Prepare Your Business & Digital Presence

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 17:43:20 GMT

The coronavirus is affecting businesses of all sizes all over the world. Fewer people are traveling, in-store traffic is down, and events of all kinds are being canceled. However, there are steps you can take to improve and expand your digital presence that may help mitigate the fallout in this challenging time.

Your website is a reflection of your business!

Sat, 05 Feb 2022 01:38:36 GMT

We recently reviewed the websites of business owners who are members of Whidbey Island Chambers of Commerce. What we found was astonishing. Even among members who obviously understand the importance of marketing, almost 10% of them have websites that don’t meet today’s web standards. We then did a random sampling of businesses who are not members of any of the Chambers and found a significant number of businesses who either didn’t have a website or had websites that are woefully inadequate. By woefully inadequate, we mean sites that had broken links on their home page, missing photos, no information on how to contact them or contact information that was very difficult to find, or simply websites that haven’t been updated in the past 5 years. Most of this ‘woefully inadequate’ category had poor performance scores, were not secure or were not mobile friendly.

When someone searches for your product or service online, they expect to find a website that provides them with a site that is easy to navigate and informative. According to Google, more than 34% of all “near me” searches result in store visits. 50% of “near me” Google searches done via mobile result in a store visit. 60% of searches are done via mobile devices. What are the takeaway’s from these statistics? Having a well-designed, mobile friendly website is most IMPORTANT! People searching for your products or services on their mobile phone are motivated and ready to act. If your website is not mobile friendly, you are missing out! If your website is outdated, you are providing a poor customer experience. Is this the ‘first impression’ you want to make?

Countless consumer studies show the above to be major factors in consumer perception and purchasing habits. If your website hasn't been updated in the last 3 years, chances are it is OUTDATED. Now is a good time to give us a call and get a FREE estimate on a fully responsive, modern mobile friendly website that will rank well on Google and provide your business with a professional image online.

New Website – Low/No Search Ranking?

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 18:13:11 GMT

One of the most frustrating things that people experience immediately after launching a website is learning that it takes some time for Google to rank the website, and even longer for the site to get on the top-ranking pages. According to a study conducted by ahrefs.com, less than 3% of all pages studied ranked in the TOP 10 Google Search results within the first year for at least one keyword. So what does it take to beat the average?

Here are three things you can do to get Google’s ranking algorithm to take notice.

1) Be Social Get active on Social Media. The importance of having an active social media presence cannot be overemphasized. Did you know that 68% of U.S. adults use Facebook? They are second only to YouTube (73%). 74% of Facebook users visit their site at least once per day. If this is where your potential visitors are hanging out, why aren’t you? While there are many options for social media, each platform offers slightly different opportunities. Do a little research to see which platform is best suited for your needs. For business owners who have limited time on their hands to manage their social media accounts, limit yourself to one or two platforms and focus on being active.

2) Online Networking. Use Google to search for blogs in your business or service area, and look for those that allow comments. Read the content and pick one or two items for the content that you find interesting and write a comment to point those out and explain why you find them interesting. Another approach is to ask a question about an item in content. Focus on blogs that have space for you to include your business name and website address.

3) Maximize your Social Presence. Once you have a social media account setup, spend some time finding other people who are active or related to your business or service. Engage with them by commenting and sharing their content. Engaging will get their attention, and most will come to your channel to check you out. If you have been posting relevant and shareable content, they will likely reciprocate and engage with you as well.

Most small business owners either don’t have the time or specific expertise to do the three things outlined above. If you fit this profile, the worst thing you can do is nothing. Be proactive and contact us today! We have several options available to improve your ranking on the major search engines.

Duda versus WordPress

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 21:01:55 GMT

You deserve better...

Are you considering a website built on WordPress? In my opinion, it would be a mistake. WordPress was good for building blogs, not small businesses. A good small business website can’t be built on WordPress without the use of unstable plugins that may break your website every time WordPress runs an update. We have a better choice because small businesses are our specialty.

Long gone are the days of building a website, one line of code at a time. Sure, there still are coders out there building websites, but they are building highly specialized sites for Clients with deep pockets. In all the years of providing web design and development services, I have yet had a Client request I use a specific CMS system because it produces a superior look or better-performing website. When a Client does have a preference, it’s because someone they know has recommended it or because they have had prior experience with a specific system.

Why not trust the advice of someone with years of experience using a variety of systems, including Word Press? After years of building sites using WordPress, I finally found a better CMS that didn’t rely on 3rd party plugs, slow shared hosting, and a need for frequent updates.

I’ve replaced building websites on the WordPress platform with Duda. Lessor known than WordPress, it is growing exponentially in popularity, and according to online marketing firm enlyft, has a 11.95% website builder market share. Their study finds that Duda is the leading builder for small businesses.

What does our platform have over WordPress?

Better SEO - Right from the start, our websites’ innovative, built-in architecture improves SEO automatically. Our entire platform is aligned with Google protocols to raise your website’s Google ranking.
Better Performance - We optimize our websites to load faster and score higher on the Google PageSpeed test. On WordPress, your website’s content will be slowed down by numerous code and software bloats.
Better User Experience - Our natively responsive websites provide a better user experience across all devices. Turn more visitors into customers with up to 70% higher conversion rates than industry averages.
Better Security - We’ll keep your website safe and secure with free encryption and auto-renewing SSL certificates. On WordPress, you’ll have to pay for manual installation and all security updates.

Good is Good, but better is better. Don’t just make a good choice; make a better choice. Let us build you a better website today.

Top 4 Holiday Marketing Tips!

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 01:00:00 GMT

Don't wait till Black Friday and Cyber Monday to plan for the holiday shopping season. Even if you neglected to develop your holiday marketing campaign during the summer, you can still take advantage of the increased consumer spending that occurs this time of year. Here are some late in the year marketing tips that small businesses can use to boost their holiday revenue.

Use email marketing to connect with customers: Even though social media seems to have taken up much of the spotlight, email is still a great marketing tool, especially for those customers who have not yet embraced social media. Most email marketing services like Constant Contact and Mail Chimp make it easy to send special holiday offers to those on your online mailing list – just a few clicks of the mouse, and it’s ready to go!
Take advantage of social media: If you’ve got a sizable following on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media platform, take advantage of it by offering your fans special deals. One way is through Facebook’s Offers feature; they’re available to any business with 400+ likes. Need more followers? We can help.
Cater to last-minute shoppers: Make procrastination pay off for your customers by offering special deals or incentives for last-minute shoppers. Discounts are great, but expedited shipping to beat the holiday deadline can be an even better incentive.
Give back to your community: ‘Tis the season for giving, so consider donating a percentage of sales or profits to a local charity. It’ll make shoppers feel all warm and cozy about buying from you, not to mention the goodwill you’ll be building in the community.

As a side note, has your website been updated in the last several years? Is your website mobile friendly to attract those last-minute shoppers looking for what you have to offer? Are you using it for eCommerce to drive even more sales? Certainly, it's not too late to plan for a redesign before the end of November, but at a minimum, mark your calendar with a 'Must Do' for January 2020.

Schedule a FREE, no obligation consultation with us to review your online marketing performance. We would love to review your existing online presence and provide you with constructive feedback on what you can do to increase your visibility on the web and increase your bottom line!

Tis’ the Season – Already?

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 17:48:18 GMT

Between the warm temperatures outside and the lingering effects of the Covid pandemic, the holidays may not be top of mind – but to see a successful November and December in retail, the planning begins now.

Holiday shopping has grown over the years into a multi-billion dollar event, and online shopping has led the way. 29% percent of holiday shoppers plan to spend more than last year (NPD). Shoppers are feeling more confident about their holiday spending this year, according to an NPD survey of US consumers.

September is typically the most popular time for brands and retailers to begin planning for the holidays. However, I recommend starting early! Here are 2 actionable items you can start working on today!

Create a Holiday Marketing Plan
Identify what you will be offering. Outline the campaign structure and collateral you’ll need to promote your holiday sales.
Create a Holiday Marketing Calendar
Set up milestone dates for when you will need to publish your content. From there, work backwards to set dates for when you need to start gathering photos and content. Be conservative and give yourself extra time. Don’t be surprised if the milestones ends up telling you to start now.

Don’t underestimate just how important holiday marketing can be for your business, and certainly don’t leave your planning to the last minute. There’s still time to define your goals, get your collateral ready, and prepare to launch.

Key to Holiday Shopping Success

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 23:35:47 GMT

Black Friday shopping data has historically been an analytics boon for marketers who wish to dive into the psychology of today’s consumers.

According to Adobe, what is the BIG takeaway from this year’s shopping data?

• Small Retailers who had an e-commerce presence to compliment their brick-and-mortar store saw a 61% jump in sales this year. The big retailers like Target, Best Buy, and Walmart saw a 244% increase.

• Nearly half the purchases were made from a smartphone.

How is this relevant to you? It confirms that having an online presence, specifically a modern, secure, and mobile friendly website is key to increasing sales!

If you don’t have a website, or your website is outdated, not secure, or not mobile friendly, it may be too late to cash in on the remaining holiday shopping season. But this shouldn’t be the end of this discussion. Contacting us to get a modern, responsive design website should be on the top of your to-do-list for today! You may be too busy right now with holiday activities, but it will only take 5-minutes to schedule a call.

Let’s connect today and put a January appointment on the calendar.

Is your website delivering results?

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Sun, 30 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A periodic review of how well your marketing is performing is critical for future growth! This coming year, as with the past decade, we’ll see an even higher reliance on using online channels to brand and promote your product or services. Five years ago, adults spent less than 1 hour per day online with their mobile device. In 2020, it’s reported to have increased to 3 hours per day. That’s not counting time spent online with their laptop or desktop computers. How about Social Media?

On average social media use continued to climb, although the younger age groups have now reached a saturation point, as about 90% already use social media. The fastest growing segment is the over 65's, which will change the marketing landscape when it comes to using social networks for targeting certain audiences. All metrics point to the fact that online usage isn’t just reserved for the younger generation.

How does this relate to increasing the success of your business? Consumers have too many choices these days and they have to be constantly reminded that you exist. The best way to reach them is where they spend a good bit of time… which is online.

Most small businesses today still aren’t taking full advantage of ‘Content Marketing’. Understandably so. First of all, the technology and playing field is constantly changing. Business owners don’t have the time or resources to stay current on what the latest online marketing trends are, let alone generate content to push out on social media sites, blogs or emails.

Keeping your website current and relevant is probably a chore to most and isn’t getting attention either. Most small business owners I speak to either believe hiring an Internet Presence Consultant to manage and maintain their online presence is too expensive or not something they wish to invest their money in.

Well, the facts are in! Content Marketing is an investment you can’t afford to make. Don’t be like a recent contact I spoke with who said, “My business isn’t doing well enough to justify spending money for online marketing”. My call to her was prompted by a conversation I had over coffee with a friend who was asking me if I knew of any local print shops that could handle a project for him. I pulled up a local print shop website on my iPhone to show him. Sadly, the website wasn’t mobile friendly and we were not able to get the information he wanted. Instead, we searched Google and went to the business who appeared first on the list.

I wonder how many customers she misses out on daily because of her inferior online presence?

Let us manage and maintain your online presence so you can devote your time and resources to do what you are best at – managing your business and providing awesome customer service!

Influencer Marketing

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Sat, 22 May 2021 23:00:00 GMT

The voice in your head

Are your ready to take your marketing to the next level? Sure, you have a shiny new website and it's even 'mobile friendly'. You have a Facebook page, Twitter account, and an Instagram for your business; you're updating your status and posting to your Social Media accounts on a somewhat regular basis. But are you getting the results you were hoping for?

Chances are you are like most small business owners and are not seeing the results you expected because you didn't have a set goal in mind and expected instant results. You didn't take the time to learn about your audience or focus on followers over engagement. If you are ready to take your marketing to the next level, you'll need to resolve yourself to the fact that it won't be easy to pull off. The latest buzz term is "Influencer Marketing". What marketers have figured out is that simply maintaining your website and social media accounts isn't enough to set your brand apart from the noise that has engulfed the Internet. It's identifying the who and what influences your target audience to make a specific choice. Who is the 'voice in your head?'.

Is Influencer Marketing the future of Marketing?

Consider this:

69% of marketers who use influencer marketing consider it effective
73% of marketers say it’s effective for lead generation
76% say it helps with boosting customer loyalty
93% say it can help with building brand awareness

These are stats published by HootSuite and Content Marketing Institute.

If you consider your own recent purchase decisions - how were they affected by something you read or who you are connected to through the web of social media? Most likely it was more so than through traditional marketing channels. Influencer marketing is a new twist on content marketing.

While influencer marketing provides plenty of benefits to marketers, it isn’t an easy task to pull off. You might end up facing a number of challenges along the way. Maybe you’re unable to provide engaging content or choose the right influencers. Whatever the reason is, you might end up experiencing a failure in your campaign.

Check out the top influencer marketing challenges faced when trying to execute a campaign:

Identifying the right influencers is the biggest challenge for 75% of marketers
Finding the right engagement tactics is a challenge for 69% of marketers
53% say measuring the performance of a campaign is their biggest challenge

So you see that these factors can influence the success or failure of your campaign. There are a lot of articles written about Influencer Marketing, so if you are ready to step up your marketing game, you'll need to do some homework. If you are like most business owners, you are probably too busy. My advice if you don't have the time to do your own research: hire an Internet Presence firm . It's a whole lot less expensive than you think!

Don't go backwards

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:28:44 GMT

What are the chances that the web designer you are about to hire will build you a website that performs well? My survey says 40%. I’m guessing you are surprised. I’m not. Most people searching for a web designer look at their portfolio first to see if they like the website design. As part of my marketing program, I do continuous competitive analysis, review their portfolio and then take it one step further by analyzing the performance of a website.

One of the most important performance factors is how quickly a website loads. Why? Because page speed impacts a visitor’s experience with your website and it is a key ranking factor with the major search engines (part of SEO). Slow performing websites will frustrate your users, sending them elsewhere. Yes, aesthetics is important, and most designers can build you a nice-looking website. But sadly, many do a poor job building a website that performs well.

Back to my survey. I recently went back and reviewed a list of businesses that I communicated with last year. I had a list of 40 businesses that had websites that were not mobile friendly and/or secure, who choose to have someone other than me build their new website. I then ran a test on all the websites and found that only 16 out of the 40 businesses ended up with a website that received a performance grade of A or B (options are A, B, C, D, F – A being best, F being worst). What’s unbelievable is that 16 business owners now have a brand new website that provides only average performance. If you are going to spend time and money on a new website, wouldn’t you expect better than average?

By the way, 14 out of the 40 sites I analyzed received a falling graded (F). Nine were rated Poor (D).

When choosing a web designer, go beyond looking just for someone who builds nice looking websites. Go with someone who builds beautiful looking websites that also are user-friendly and perform GREAT.

My commitment to you is that the website I create for you will score A!

Contact me today for a free consultation and avoid the mistake that 60% of the business owners I surveyed made.

Lessons Learned

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 20:22:12 GMT

In just a few weeks, the Novel Coronavirus outbreak has changed the way thousands of companies operate in an unprecedented manner. Those most affected are small businesses, just like yours. Restaurants and most retail outlets have closed to the public. Contractors have been forced to curtail work. Trades like plumbers and electricians, whose work takes them into people’s homes, are having to reschedule or have canceled projects altogether. Almost all small businesses have been affected by shutdown orders to help stem the tide of the virus.

Peter Cappelli, a professor of management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania told ABC News, “the big test will come when it goes on for more than a couple of weeks.” We are now well into the ‘couple of weeks’ now. How have you adapted?

One thing that has become clear is that your website and your social media presence are more important than ever. Businesses who sell a physical product have added delivery and curbside pickup. Training and consulting businesses have discovered that they can still provide their services via video conference services like Zoom, Google Hangouts, Google Meetings, GoToMeeting, and Skype. More and more businesses who were slow to adapt to technology, are now forced to embrace the same or face serious economic loss.

Where are you in the curve? If you have a website, and possibly a social media presence, are you using it to the fullest extent possible? Even if you don’t think your business can benefit from eCommerce or online video conferencing, you still need to keep your potential customers aware and informed about the products and services you provide. This pandemic will pass. How you come out of this and move forward will depend greatly on the online presence you deploy today. Let’s schedule a quick, 30-minute review of your online presence and together, develop an action plan to supercharge your online potential. I’ll provide the 30-minute consultation free of charge and without any obligation on your part. The consultation will be via telephone or video conferencing (your choice).

We are all in this together.

Communication is KEY!

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 17:46:11 GMT

Our response and our communication to the coronavirus will leave a lasting impression.

Staying connected to our customers has always been a key element in maintaining a profitable business. In the environment we find ourselves in today, communication is even more important. With new information coming out every day, sometimes hourly, our response to the coronavirus requires us to rapidly change how we conduct our business.

Hours of operations change, how or if, we meet our customers face-to-face becomes fluid, and even how we deliver our goods and services must be adjusted. All these things affect how our customers interact with us. It is not only how we change our business operations that matter, but also how we communicate these changes to our customer. Our response and our communication to the coronavirus will leave a lasting impression. This crisis too will pass, but if history is any indication, there will be lingering effects in the minds of people. How will your business be viewed once this pandemic is resolved?

Have you taken to email, social media, and your website to communicate clearly about what you are doing to respond?

Here are a few suggestions for what you should address in your messaging

Let people know what you are doing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

We train our people on Health and Safety standards.
We are taking measures to avoid crowding and encouraging people to use our online resources.
We are opening windows or adjusting our heating and ventilation to maximize ventilation.
We actively encourage our employees to stay home if they are sick or not feeling well.

We are deep cleaning and disinfecting our business, especially high touch areas
Offer online deals. Remind customers that they can still shop for their favorite items on your website. If you don’t have an eCommerce website, let them email, message, or call in orders. Provide curbside service
Post photos of your cleaning and disinfecting efforts.

Most of all, increase your social media presence. People are checking in on social media much more frequently. Whether you're posting about the virus specifically or trying to offer light, positive content to help take people's minds off the panic, it can be helpful to increase your posting frequency to ensure you are showing up in their news feeds.

With all that’s going on, don’t forget to stay informed yourself. Avoid the hype and sensationalizing and get your information directly from the scientists working the problem – Interim Guidance for Business and Employers (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

Important security update released!

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 18:59:16 GMT

Great news! We are pleased to inform you that we continue to improve our infrastructure and use the latest technologies to keep your website fast, secure, and modern. As of February 2020, if you are one of our Clients, your website secure connection (HTTPS) has been upgraded to the latest cryptographic algorithms. This latest upgrade replaces the standard that hasn’t had a major improvement in over 10 years.

I’m sure you can appreciate how much the internet has changed in the past 10 years. This improvement has been long overdue. The biggest improvement is in the speed of the connection. Over the past 10 years, security updates were constantly being installed as hackers and spammers became more and more advanced. The core engine of the security protocols continued to be rooted in 2008 technology. This latest version, TLS 1.3 improves the speed of the connection, literally removing an extra round trip (back and forth) communication between the browser and web server. Fewer steps are important, especially for users on mobile network connections where the latency between the user and service is high. This is a big deal!

One of the things that sets us apart from the competition is our continuous improvement and upgrades to the backend and infrastructure. Unlike WordPress sites hosted on shared servers, updates and upgrades occur without the need of any action on your part, and best of all, at no additional cost to you.

For more information about why you should be concerned about having a secure website, read How secure is your website?

Are Lead Machines like HomeAdvisor and Angie's List Worth It for Contractors?

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 23:30:27 GMT

I usually don’t tell personal stories, but my wife and I recently moved and bought a house with lots of crazy colors on 2 story walls. Not the type of project we wanted to undertaker ourselves. Being new to the area, we started online searches for painters. Most didn’t have websites, so we had to make lots of phone calls without being able to do any type of due diligence.

During our search, my wife happened upon HomeAdvisor and found a painter with good testimonials and recommendation, who was willing to give us a bid and work within our budget. We hired him and now have newly painted walls. As we were wrapping up our transaction, I asked him how HomeAdvisor was working for him. As it turns out he, he was considering a website because he’s not that happy with the service. Which got me to thinking about how these services compare and why so many small business owners who don’t have websites are on multiple services such as Angie's List, Yelp, Thumbtack, Houzz, etc. Is it more cost effective?

After a little research I found the cost of these services astonishing. A recent article on LinkedIn by Michele Deane does the math for you: “$300 per year for the basic service. Each of the leads sent … generate a variable fee, usually between $15 and $60+ per contractor and per lead. If you use an average rate of $30 per lead and … If a typical contractor receives 12 leads per month, they could conceptually pay $360 for these leads plus $25 of the prorated annual fee. That adds up to $4,620 per year.” She also goes on to say that since it’s a free service for the consumer, they have no vested interest, they aren’t pre-qualified, and they may just be shopping for prices. You are still required to pay for that lead. Y Eugene Aquino with Small Business also wrote an article outlining several more cons: “Compared to the searcher traffic on Google, the number of paid members who visit Angie’s List is miniscule. It likely won’t be your main source of leads … They also have very self-serving interests. For example, they offer an icon for your website that says, “read my reviews here” ... However, instead of showing your reviews … it links back to a sales page to sell their membership. You can’t see the reviews unless you join. They also show the website visitor a list of your competitors instead of your reviews.”

My prices are advertised on my website , so I don’t need to give you the lowdown on what your initial investment would be, or your annual hosting cost. Stand out from the rest with your own website.

Still not willing to invest in a website? At least let me offer a free recommendation:

If you’ve ever wondered why your business doesn’t show up in Google maps when you search for your industry in your area, it’s likely because you’ve never set up your Google My Business account. It’s free to set up your listing, so you’ll want to make certain you fill it out completely and accurately and add a bunch of high quality images of your work to show off exactly how good you and your team are. Google averages about 6.5 billion visits per month. Also consider Facebook. It is worth setting up and maintaining an account just due to its sheer popularity. Plus, with an account you can encourage customers to share your work with their friends to create greater online word of mouth for your services. You should be posting something at least once a week. Just setting up a page, posting once or twice and then letting it sit dormant doesn’t encourage potential customers. They’ll only wonder if you’re still in business. As for numbers, Facebook averages about 2.9 billion visits per month.

Interested in spending your money a little more wisely and increasing your visibility? Give me a call . I offer a one-hour free consultation.

What is Quality Content

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 02:33:27 GMT

Content is the most influential factors on your website’s search engine after page URL, title, and headings. Some would even argue that quality content has the greatest effect on your website traffic. This is important to you because site traffic improves your site’s authority and relevance. Site authority and relevance are key drivers of your website’s search engine ranking.

What are the hallmarks of quality content?

Is it current and accurate? When was the last time you updated your website content? Not only will your visitors reject you if the information on your website is outdated, but Google will punish you in the search engine rankings if they don’t see that you update your content from time to time. A big part of the ‘relevance’ score is seeing regular updates to your website.
Written content that provides deep, valuable and concise insights relevant to your product or service is a good start. Let visitors know what’s unique about your product or service. Tell your visitors a story that they can relate to.
Does your content have a clear focus? Does it have a single, overriding message that can be stated in a few sentences?
Is your content clear? Does it use the language and concepts your target audience understands.

Your business evolves, and so should your content. Be sure that when someone visits your website, they find fresh and current information. Don’t have time to update your content? I’ll be happy to do it for you.

What is E-A-T?

Mon, 05 Aug 2019 20:12:16 GMT

For more than 20 years, Google has been the leader in connecting people to content on the internet. They are the most used gateway to content on the web. If your website does not rank well on Google, chances are you’re missing out on reaching more customers. Is your website showing up on the first or second page? If not, here are at least 4 items that you should focus on: Content, Page Speed, Security, and Mobile Friendliness. In this next series of blogs, I’ll discuss each item, how it affects your websites ranking, and what you can do to improve your sites performance.

Let’s start by looking at CONTENT: The vast majority of Google ranking algorithm updates made over the last 8 years have focused on website content. This is a clear indication that Google places a premium on content when determining ranking on a search results page. Internally, Google uses the acronym E-A-T to when considering Page Quality - essentially determining a websites’ value. What is E-A-T?

· Expertise . Create content that highlights industry knowledge, informs people, and helps them.

· Authority . Become a go-to resource for info by building a repertoire of valuable content that generates high-quality backlinks.

· Trustworthiness . Earn customer confidence with quality content, sound business practices, and positive digital word-of-mouth.

Expertise means you need to demonstrate you are the go-to person. Others point to you and label you the expert. One way to do that is to narrow your focus. The content on your website, especially on the home page, needs to be focused on what your product and service is, what makes it unique and why. Demonstrate your expertise by telling a story. People love stories. This can include leveraging past success. You can also demonstrate expertise by creating case studies and using testimonials. Do so in a way that you ideal clients can see themselves in your past successes.

Authority comes when your content is engaging. There are several metrics that indicate authority: how long people stay on a web page, how many backlinks your page has, quantity and quality of testimonials, and social media presence. You can jump start your online authority by including a blog on your website. Publish short, but informative articles relevant to your industry. As a minimum, publish 1 article on your blog per month. Another way to establish authority is to be active on social media. Facebook is still the dominant platform, so every business should have a Facebook Page. Depending on your industry, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter should be on you list of platforms to use. Don’t try to do them all. Pick at least one and do that one well first.

Trustworthiness is gained when sites that already have a high trustworthiness score link back to your site. Likewise, you benefit from linking to other sites with high trustworthiness scores. If you link spammy sites, your rank will suffer. Be sure to have Privacy Notice and Terms pages. Google pays attention to these “boring” pages.

It pays to review your website’s Content against E-A-T periodically. Your business evolves, and so should your website.

Too many words, not enough engagement?

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 01:28:33 GMT

Let’s face it, a lot of businesses use their website to provide information, so it’s not uncommon for one page to contain 1,000 to 2,500 words. I stress that wordy webpages are only necessary if the content adds value and is expected by your target audience. The good news is that studies show that pages with that amount of text tend to experience the highest user engagement. The challenge is that few people are going to take that much time to read a block of text, especially one that is up to 2,000 words in length.

This is where hiring a professional web designer pays dividends. Experienced designers are trained to take voluminous content and break it up visually. Great results are achieved when breaking up content into keyword rich subheadings, bullet points, and numbered lists. Introducing lots of white space between concise paragraphs, and using relevant images further helps enrich the presentation and keeps the reader’s attention.

If large blocks of text are unavoidable, structure content like an upside-down pyramid or cone. The most important messages go at the top of the page. Then, gradually drill down to the more specific, supporting information. End with tangential details. This allows the visitors with shorter attention spans to get what they need quickly, while still providing the 'beef' to those looking for more detail.

It might seem logical that the more words there are, the longer visitors will spend on your website. But I caution my Clients against being wordy. Best results are obtained when the text is free of fluff and provides quality useful and interesting information. Actionable content is what keeps readers attention and increases engagement.

When designing a page with lots of text, I like to think of people who will skim the site’s content rather than read it. When formatting for those people, the page generally ranks well and gets plenty of user engagement in the process.

Gmail is going 'James Bond'

Thu, 30 May 2019 15:29:32 GMT

Gmail Confidential Mode

Are you one of those businesses that include an automated footer in your outgoing email stating that the "information contained in the email is company sensitive information and cannot be shared outside its intended use"? Or perhaps you occasionally want to send confidential information, but don’t want to risk the recipient accidentally forwarding it to the wrong person?

Sending important, private messages via email is riddled with risk. Not only could someone forward your missive to someone you don't trust, but they could also hold onto it forever to one day use it against you.

Fortunately, Gmail has introduced a new feature to protect your sent messages. Google is adding a Gmail confidential mode to its list of features. Why would you need or use this feature? You can now send confidential information via email without worrying that the recipient will forward, copy, print or download the email. You will also be able to revoke previously sent messages or create expiration dates so the email can only be seen for a set amount of time. For added security, users can set SMS passcodes wherein recipients will get a passcode by text message to be able to access the email sent using the confidential mode. This will make it much easier to protect sensitive content.

This new functionality isn’t useful for everyone and certainly isn’t intended for everyday, general use. This is one of those features that sounds great on the surface but comes with some usability concerns. If the recipient views an email sent via confidential mode, they don’t see the body of the email unless they are also a Gmail user and view the email in their own Gmail account. If they are not using Gmail to view the message, all they get is a link to the message. They then need to go to the link, while logged into their Google account to view the message. If you select the SMS passcode option, they will need to be able to receive an SMS text with the passcode. So unless your recipient is tech savvy and patient enough to go along with these conditions, you'd be creating confusion or irritation.

For instructions on sending and opening confidential emails, visit https://tinyurl.com/y8jvf48m

Website - When it's your only digital marketing piece.

Thu, 23 May 2019 15:21:23 GMT

Yes, your website is one of several pieces of Digital Marketing. Is it, or should it be the most important piece? That depends on your target audience and your business goals. Should your website be the only piece of digital marketing? Not likely. But, if you are like almost 75% of small business owners, you do not have an active social media marketing program.

If you are like the majority of small business owner whose business does not have an active social media presence, your need for a modern, user friendly, fast loading website is even GREATER! With over 90% of shoppers going online to do research before making a purchasing decision ( Search Engine Land ), having an online presence is CRITICAL. And not just any presence will do. Remember, you only have one chance to make a good first impression – and in today’s digital world, your website is your potential customer’s first contact with you. Is your website a good ambassador for your business? What kind of first impression does it make?

If your website is outdated, loads slow, and isn’t mobile friendly, you are losing out on customers. Did you know that 88% of consumer local business searches on a mobile device either call or visit the business within 24 hours ( Nectafy ). Today, 70% of customers visit a store based on information found online ( NetMarketShare ).

If your website is the only online presence you have, then it’s the one and only ‘face’ of your business online. If your website is more than 3 years old, or was designed by someone other than a professional web designer, it is ready for a redesign.

4 Clear Signs It’s Time for a Website Redesign

Sat, 04 May 2019 14:12:06 GMT

Your website looks outdated
Is your website more than 5 years old. Is all the content on your website current? Are the images on your website the same as the day it was built? Do your competitors have a newer website than you? If you answered yes to any of these, your website not only looks outdated, but it IS outdated.
Your website loads slow
Most online users expect a website to load in 2 seconds (Speed Index) or less. You can test your website load speed by going to https://www.webpagetest.org/ .
Your website is not easy to navigate.
If it takes 2 or more clicks to get to what an online user is looking for, it’s too hard to navigate and your potential customer just moved on.
Your website is not mobile friendly or responsive.
More than half of the online users today search for products or services from their mobile device. If your website is not mobile friendly, mobile device users have a difficult, if not impossible time using your website.

These clear signs that your website is ready for a redesign are supported by a recent study by Blue Fountain Media which provides some relevant insights into web users perceptions.

81% of respondents think less of a brand if their website is not updated and 39% would think twice about using a product or service if the website is not fresh, user friendly and current.
58% of respondents said speed and ease were the most impactful over the others.
25% said they are turned-off from a website when the site isn’t mobile-friendly

Content Marketing - Exposed!

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 18:05:15 GMT

If you’ve been following our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn feeds, you’ve already been exposed to what content marketing is and why it’s important. In this article, we’ll give you a real-world example of a content marketing strategy for a hypothetical client. This client sells professional services Business to Business, so his most effective channels are Facebook and LinkedIn. If you sell to the general public, you should substitute LinkedIn with Instagram and/or Twitter. Recommended strategies and schedule:

Content Creation:

1. Create blog posts that are of interest to your target audience. Be sure your blog posts are no more than 300 words in length.

2. Reach out to influencers in your business space and invite them to be Guest Bloggers. Giving influencers space to contribute content increases reach and authority, while gaining valuable influencer marketing activity.

3. Find at least ten Facebook pages and LinkedIn connections/groups that are associated with your business (not competitors). Like and follow the Facebook pages and connect with the LinkedIn members/groups.

4. Ongoing – add any of your business events to the Events area of Facebook

5. Ongoing – post any specials or business activities on both Facebook and LinkedIn.

Content Distribution Channels:

1. Update Facebook and LinkedIn pages/profiles to reflect the business and marketing strategy.

2. Subscribe to an email marketing platform, such as MailChimp .

3. Update website blog area to reflect the business and marketing strategy.

Content Distribution and Schedule:

1. Publish a blog every two weeks on the website.

2. On the date your blog is published, post the blog summary or main point on Facebook/LinkedIn with a link back to the blog post.

3. Find an engaging statement in the most recent blog post and use it to create and schedule a Facebook and LinkedIn post for the week following publication of your blog. Be sure to add a link back to the website blog post.

4. Weekly, share Facebook /LinkedIn posts on pages you follow that you believe your target audience would find engaging. Add a comment of your own.

5. Weekly, create a post that describes an activity you or one of your employees performed in the past few days. Be sure to post a picture of the activity.

6. Monthly, publish a newsletter that consists of snippets of the past two blog posts, with links back to the website blog and short announcements of any specials or events, with links back to the website (you should be publishing specials and events on your website).

All of the items above can be managed with online tools that will save you time. If you’re interested in learning more about Content Marketing, and its importance in generating more customers for your business, let us know. We can help setup a specific plan for you, as well as offer services to assist you with the implementation.

What is a bounce rate and why does it matter?

Sat, 06 Apr 2019 17:16:47 GMT

What is a bounce you might ask? A “bounce” occurs when someone visits your website and leaves without interacting. Your bounce rate shows you the percentage of your visitors who “bounce” off your site. Bounce rates in the range of 26% to 40% are considered quite good, while an average rate would be somewhere around 49%. According to SEMrush, bounce rate is the 4th most important ranking factor on SERPs.

Google Analytics considers an interaction if the visitor goes to at least one additional page before leaving.

Speaking of Google Analytics, you’ll be amazed at the information you can find if you have a Google Analytics account setup for your website. By logging into your account, you’ll not only find your bounce rate but also the site-wide bounce rate. RocketFuel defines site-wide bounce rate as the average number of bounces across all of your pages divided by the total number of visits across all of those pages within the same period. If you set up benchmarking, you’ll be able to compare how your site fares with industry averages.

Ultimately, a “good” bounce rate will be different for every site. It may even be different for every page on your site. The focus should be on using this metric to find weaknesses in your site.

A high bounce rate is an indication of low interest in the content on the page, or a poor site navigation.

Recommendations for how to improve your site’s performance:

Perhaps your first option is to weed out those pages that have a high bounce rate. Are they needed if your customers aren’t staying on the page?
User experience improvements.
Conversion rate optimization .
Improving calls to action.
Create outstanding content. Quality over quantity is always a better option than just a lot of text!
Speed up page load time .
Reassess your keyword targeting for SEO.

3 Things to do after launching your website

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 17:14:49 GMT

Most people believe that once their shiny new website is launched, it will magically appear on everyone’s screen. Obviously not true. Yes, eventually the search engines will index and rank your website and it will start showing up in search results, but that can take months. Only 22% of websites ranking in the top 10 on the 1st page were created within the first year. That’s your competition.

Here are 3 things you can do to get traffic to your new, mobile friendly, search engine optimized, secure website, and increase the chances of getting into the top 10 search results on Google within the first year.

Blast your pre-existing email list and social following announcing the launch of your new website. If the site was built by us, you’ll be able tout the site’s user-friendly browsing experience and the fact that the new uncluttered design is easy to navigate and is much more user-friendly.
Spend ome of your marketing budget on Google AdWords. AdWords works faster than SEO, so you’ll get immediate visibility on the top page of search results. Google AdWords, in addition to boosting traffic, clicks, and conversions, is also an efficient way to tell people about your brand.
Go through all your marketing materials and affiliations and verify that you have your website address listed on all your materials and in all your online listings. If you have articles published, or if you plan to publish articles, be sure that your website address is listed right after your business name.

If your website is mobile friendly, loads fast, is secure, and you follow the 3 items above, you are well underway to ranking well on the major search engines, including Google.

Things you were never told about WordPress

Sat, 16 Mar 2019 01:30:04 GMT

Today, WordPress (WP) is the dominant Content Management System (CMS). In the beginning WP goal was to provide less tech savvy marketers and individuals with a way to get content online. What began as a blogging site, quickly grew to a platform for building basic websites. As popularity grew, more and more developers created ‘plug-ins’ that allowed WP owners to install prebuilt widgets with more functionality to their site. It also became a popular place for developers to contribute, and as a result, a community of developers and users grew who mutually benefited. This sharing and contributing grew WordPress into what it is today.

As with most technology, things change and evolve, and those not adapting and changing, lose their luster. Almost three (3) years ago, we moved away from using WordPress as our preferred CMS system for our small to medium business Clients. Why? Advancement in various internet protocols, and the growing sophistication and coding elegance of HTML and CSS has given rise to new CMS systems that allow for faster website development and much easier editing and updating tools for site owners.

Our decision not to use WP sites was also an issue of security - it takes a lot of ongoing maintenance and additional security measures (and costs). To maintain security, WP sites require almost monthly security updates. The more plugins you have, the more time you’ll spend installing updates. Access to WP admin is another continuous effort. Site owners often do not want or understand how to add and maintain the added security layers to their admin area.

One of the core attributes of a website that ranks well on the major search engines is usability. Google’s ranking algorithm is said to favor signals that indicate a website’s usability. How fast a web page loads impacts website traffic and bounce rate. Bounce rate is the percentage of visitors to a website who navigate away from the site after viewing only one page. Studies show that a site that loads slow has a much higher bounce rate. WordPress, mainly because of its heavy dependence on plugins, load slower. This is particularly true for people who use the FREE templates or go with the bargain prebuilt themes. These require additional plugins to get the functionality you want, and that’s where the load speed really drops. We found that you can’t beat working with a CMS platform that uses integrated Widgets that are developed to work together. WordPress just isn’t an effective CMS platform when you consider the time-consuming ongoing maintenance it requires keep the hackers out, while optimizing the pages to load fast. Our websites are hosted on Amazon Web Services business class servers, protected by the latest 2nd Generation SSL Certificates (HTTPS2), and the latest web code HTML 5.2. Our sites are Search Engine Optimized at launch and tested/verified for fast loading. Find out why our website design and development outshine the rest. Contact us for a FREE, no-obligation consultation.

7 Reasons Responsive Design is What You Should be Asking For!

Fri, 08 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

7 Reasons Responsive Design is What You Should be Asking For!

In 2015, Google updated their search ranking algorithm to factor in a website’s ‘mobile-friendliness’ as a ranking signal. That means that as of April 26, 2015 sites not optimized for smartphones smaller screens started seeing their ranking downgraded.

If your site is like most websites, Google brings you more traffic than any other source. Google estimates that more than half of all searches are performed on mobile devices. If you aren’t seeing similar results in your traffic, it’s most likely because your website isn’t mobile-friendly. While Google doesn't explicitly favor one method of mobile optimization over another in the rankings, the search engine does recommend using responsive design. Doing what Google recommends seems like a no-brainer.

If you are unclear whether your website is considered mobile-friendly by Google, use their free online test .

If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you have several options to get you there. These options will be most likely be tied to the web developer you choose, but generally speaking the options include: building a separate mobile website, adaptive design, responsive design or even a mobile app. For most websites, the best solution is responsive design. Here are 7 reasons why:

Google recommends it
If your website is like most websites, the vast majority of traffic is coming from Googles search results. Given that more than half of online searches today are coming from mobile devices, shouldn’t your website be in line with what the world’s most utilized search engine recommends? Google recommends using responsive design. That should be good enough for you.
Better Cross-Device Experience
Mobile Shopping Research, published by Internet Retailer, found that the majority of shoppers will use multiple devices when shopping. When it comes to conversion rates, it’s clear that usability and trust are key components. What the research found is that customers might begin their research on a mobile device and then return to your site later from a tablet or desktop to purchase or complete a contact form. What if your desktop site doesn’t match the look and feel of your mobile site? With responsive design, your customers will always get a uniform experience across all devices. This reinforces usability and trust and increases conversion which translates into SALES!
Responsive Design is Exact
Responsive Design provides an ideal user experience on any device. No mater what device your customer uses, smart phone, tablet, laptop or desktop, they will see the site you want them to see. Other methods of mobile optimization can only optimize for a specific device (not multiple devices).
One Website to design, build and maintain
It is true that Responsive Design is more complex than a traditional desktop website, but with other options, you’ll need to build a stand-alone mobile website. That means with other options, you'll need to invest additional time and expense to design, build and maintain two websites.
Superior SEO
If you want your website to rank well in both desktop and mobile search, you’ll only need to optimize one domain and one version of each page. When you opt for a separate mobile website, you are doubling the workload. In addition, with a Responsive Design, you will eliminate the potential of duplicate content which decreases your ranking.
Scalability
Display technology continues to change on a rapid pace. Mobile phone and tablet screen sizes are always changing. While other methods of design focus on specific screen sizes, Responsive Design does not! Your website will render properly on today’s version of a smartphone, as it will on what comes next.
Cost
You will hear lots about Responsive Design costing much more than the other methods. You will be surprised when you contact us for a quote. We have been quoting $900 for a basic 5-page website. Hosting plan for a Responsive Design Website costs $39/month. This includes a User Control Panel allowing you to make edits yourself if you choose. This price includes SEO at launch and monthly summary or detailed traffic reports sent directly to your email inbox.

If your website is 3 years or older, you are a likely candidate for a website redesign. The days of talking about most online searches being performed via a mobile device have come! If your website is not mobile-friendly, you are missing out on all those potential customers and clients searching for your products and services from their mobile device. Contact us today for your FREE, no obligation, consultation.

People ARE searching for you online

Sat, 02 Mar 2019 03:58:47 GMT

Whether you believe it or not, people are searching for the products or services your business provides. Maybe not right at this very moment, but possibly while you’re reading this article. A recent Salesforce study showed that 46% of consumers surveyed preferred to buy in a physical location, but 87% of those started their research online. So even if you believe your target audience is attracted to you because of your location, your facility/store, or your reputation, take note that the vast majority of those who do prefer the ‘in-person’ experience, still go online to research or validate an assumption before acting.

The question for you is: what does your online presence look like? When someone goes to search for a product or service you provide, will you show up on the first or second page of the search results? According to MOZ, listings on the first page of Google capture up to 92% of the traffic. Second page results capture less than 6%. If you are being found online when they search, what does your website look like? Does it represent your business properly? Does it communicate your business offerings in a professional manner? Does your website address questions that a potential customer might have? Does it make it easy for someone to contact or find you? Is it mobile friendly? Do your website pages load quickly? Do you have a social media presence? If you have a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account, when was the last time you posted something? If a customer scrolls through your posts, will they find engaging posts that are a balance of information related to your industry, shared posts from others, and information about your products and services?

If you had difficulty answering these questions, or answered no to some of the questions above, you are a great candidate to become a Whidbey Web Design client. Contact us for a FREE, no-obligation consultation. I would love to discuss how my services can assist you in helping people find you online.

So, you don’t think you need a website

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 19:55:33 GMT

Are you a small business owner that is getting more business than you can handle? If so, you may believe you don’t need a website, or that your existing outdated website is serving your needs. But now, when your business is doing well, is EXACTLY the time to get a website or update the tired one.

Our country, like most, go through economic cycles of highs and lows. When business is good is the best time to invest in building up your brand awareness. In my experience, and I suspect you have had this same experience, when business starts dropping off, business owners start ‘tightening their belts’. When business is going well, and cash flow is healthy, prudent business owners reinvest some of the profits back into their business. One of the ways to sustain success, is to future-proof your business for the next downturn in the economy. By investing in a modern, professionally designed, lead-catching, sales-increasing, brand-differentiating website, you are setting your business up to get noticed. When we do have a downturn in the economy and competition for customers increases, you’ll be happy that your marketing is more effective than your competitors. When your competitors struggle to get noticed online, your investment in a new website will pay dividends.

Another thing to consider is that the purpose of a website isn’t just for getting more customers. It’s also to provide a service to your customers – now and in the future. Websites cam provide contact information, directions to your location, as well as frequently asked questions and answers. A good website will answer basic questions right away—which could free up time if you or your staff are spending a lot of it answering questions on the phone.

97% of consumers go online to find and research local businesses. Most do so by using Google. This makes showing up on the top of the Google search page critical to getting new customers. Google’s own data shows that less than 22% of pages ranking in the top 10 were created within the last year. What that means to you is that getting a new website launched today, will most likely not get you to the top of the Google search page right away. If you wait until you believe you need more customers, you’ll be about a year too late.

Having more business than you can handle is not a good reason not to have a professionally designed website. If anything, it is the perfect time. Now is when you have the cash flow to invest in building brand awareness that will sustain your success.

Contact us today for a FREE, no obligation consultation!

Spiegel Online Review

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 19:12:20 GMT

Evidence of the Power of Online Reviews to Shape Customer Behavior

Download the Spiegel Online Review eBook.

This eBook provides a compelling reason to includes customer testimonial on your website. Our methodology for including customer testimonials perfectly align with the core attributes the reach data shows are most effective. Ready to give your online presence a boost? Contact us today for a FREE consultation.

Relevance?

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 18:49:20 GMT

Small business owners may not know the ins and outs of Google Ranking Signals, but they do understand that having their website on the first page of a search engines search results is important to getting people to visit their website. Among leading web developers and search engine optimization experts, it’s well known that there are over 200 ranking signals used by Google to determine page rank (where your website shows up on a search page.) What keeps web developers on our toes is the fact that Google is constantly tweaking and refining its algorithm priorities and introducing new ranking signals.

The one thing that has remained constant over the years is Google’s primary ranking goal – deliver the most relevant results for any given search by a user. When looking at improving a websites search ranking, the very first thing we try to understand about our Client’s business is what makes their service or product unique, what key words or phrases would someone use to search for the Client’s service or product, and what is the most succinct way to describe the Client’s service or product. Before starting the layout and design process, gathering information about what makes the Client stand out from the rest is critical, as well as supporting imagery.

The key to producing a website whose written content is focused is by representing the Clients services or products, its key attributes, and why the visitor will complete the desired action. Avoid cluttering up web pages with words or images that don’t support the overall goal of the website. Plenty of Clients want fluff and ‘eye candy’. But what Google is looking for is how relevant is the site to any given key word or phrase search. Words or images that don’t support the overall premise of the website only serve to dilute the effectiveness of the relevant content.

Creating a beautiful website is easy. A successful website strives to produce both a visually pleasing website as well as one that feeds the Google bots with relevant content and signals. That is what will result in first page ranking.

Latest Technology Upgrade to our Hosting Platform

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 19:16:06 GMT

Progressive Web Apps

The Latest technology upgrade to the hosting platform Whidbey Web Design uses brings along a whole set of advantages, including improved performance and better conversion rates. It does this by updating scripts that will enhance page speed, thereby improving user experience and lowering bounce rates. Let me put this in laymans terms: The technology that runs our websites has been updated to allow our websites to load faster on Desktops, Tablets and Mobile devices. This is a good thing because page speed is one of the key factors Google and other search engines use to rank websites.

Website technology continues to evolve, and here is another example of how our hosting service stays current with the changes in our industry. The technology upgrade I’m referring to is known as Progressive Web Apps (PWS). To date, not all browsers take full advantage of this new technology, but websites in our portfolio will be ready when they do. This new technology was developed by Google, so of course Chrome has implemented this technology. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and Apple’s Safari have also started implementing some of the features.

Keeping our Clients websites up-to-date with the latest web and security standards is our top priority! Updates such as the PWA upgrade happen in the background, and are included in our monthly hosting fee. We consider that just part of good customer service.

Need more customers in 2019?

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 19:34:49 GMT

66% of small business owners say that finding new customers is a TOP CONCERN. It’s January, and by now you have a good idea of how well you met last years goals. Whether you had a great 2018 or not, I’m guessing you would like this year to be better than the last. If this is true, then research shows you have a better chance of succeeding in that goal by finding new customers. Interested?

Having a strong and effective online presence is key to finding new customers and retaining existing customers. Here are some statistics that back up this claim:

Studies show that between 70-80% of people research a company online BEFORE visiting the small business or making a purchase with them (does your website properly showcase your business?) Business Insider , 2017
50% of search queries today are made on smartphones, and this percentage will grow to 70% by 2020 (is your website mobile friendly and load fast?). Google, 2017
Mobile marketing can accelerate time to purchase by 20% BCG , 2017
Almost 90% of marketers say their social marketing efforts have increased exposure for their business, and 75% say they’ve increased traffic Vendasta , 2017
84% of users would abandon a purchase if data was sent over an unsecure connection (is your website secure – HTTPS?)

Here are three big reasons why websites underperform:

They are not Mobile Friendly! More than half of the consumers today searching for a product or service do so from a mobile phone. If your website does not meet today’s ‘mobile friendly’ standards, you are missing out on potentially 50% or more traffic.
They are mobile friendly but load slow! The average mobile webpage still takes 15.3 seconds to load. Sites we develop load on average between 3 – 5 seconds. Google studies show that the expected bounce rate for that range is 32%. That’s a normal bounce rate (according to Google). Sites that load in 10 seconds experience a 123% bounce rate.
They are not ‘trustworthy’! In Google’s ever-changing algorithm for SEO rankings, one of the latest is the inclusion of websites using SSL certificates as a factor of their ‘trustworthiness’. Having an SSL certificate on your website is the new standard!

If you believe your online presence could use a tune-up, more specifically your website exhibits at least one of the three shortcomings listed above, you are a great candidate for a website redesign project. We are the website redesign experts! We build effective websites using ‘responsive’ technology, so that the website automatically adjusts based on the device the viewer sees it in. Responsive design means our websites load fast (on average 3 seconds fast), are hosted on business class servers, and provide SSL security (HTTPS) to ensure that all data transmitted in between the web service and browser remains encrypted.

3 Marketing Mistakes to Avoid in 2019

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 21:51:41 GMT

1) Taking your Website for Granted
One of the most common misconceptions regarding a website: "if you build it, they will come." The thought that simply publishing your website, people will magically find it is a fallacy. The latest statistic on websites I read claimed that there are over 1 billion websites on the internet today. That’s a lot of traffic. Here is a simple exercise for you to try. Think like a potential customer and try to search for your product or service on Google. Look at the top of the Google search page for the number of Search Results. The number of results will be listed just below the menu and the start of the search results. Example, I typed in ‘used cars sales Whidbey Island’. That resulted in 297,000 results. This tells me that if you have a used car lot, your website competes with over 297,000 others. The first page of Google results only has room for 10 listings. Are you or your webmaster doing the work necessary to get on the first page of the search results?

2) Marketing to Anyone and Everyone
Do you know what your typical customer profile is? Sure, you may have a large variety of customers, but you should be focusing your marketing efforts to ‘speak’ to a niche, not a demographic.

3) Not having a Marketing Plan or Budget
This is a biggie! There is nothing worse than an ad hoc effort to capture customers. The result is often a sporadic marketing effort that leaves you spinning your wheels and spending time and money without any measurable results.

Delivering solutions for these and many other typical marketing mistakes is what we do. If your website isn’t performing as well as you would expect, we can help. When we start working with a new Client, we focus on solutions for the three items listed above. Why? Because they are typically the items most often ignored, and they happen to be the items that deliver the best results.

How is your online marketing working for you?

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A periodic review of how well your marketing is performing is critical for future growth! This coming year, as with the past decade, we’ll see an even higher reliance on using online channels to brand and promote your product or services. Over five years ago, adults spent less than 1 hour per day online with their mobile device. In 2016 the number increased to 3 hours per day. That number, which does not count time spent online with their laptop or desktop computers has now risen to 4 hours per day. How about Social Media?

On average social media use continued to climb, although the younger age groups have now reached a saturation point, as about 90% already use social media. The fastest growing segment are the over 65s, which will change the marketing landscape when it comes to using social networks for targeting certain audiences. All metrics point to the fact that online usage isn’t just reserved for the younger generation.

Keeping your website current and relevant is probably a chore to most and isn’t getting attention either. Most small business owners I speak too either believe hiring an Internet Presence Consultant to manage and maintain their online presence is too expensive, or not something they wish to invest their money in.

Well the facts are in! Content Marketing is an investment you can’t afford not to make. Don’t be like a recent contact I spoke with who said, “My business isn’t doing well enough to justify spending money for online marketing”. My call to her was prompted by a conversation I had over coffee with a friend who was asking me if I knew of any local print shops that could handle a project for him. I pulled up a local print shop website on my iPhone to show him. Sadly, the website wasn’t mobile friendly and we were not able to get the information he wanted. Instead, we searched Google and went to the business who appeared first on the list. I wonder how many customers she misses out on daily because of her inferior online presence?

Let us manage and maintain your online presence so you can devote your time and resources to do what you are best at – managing your business and providing awesome customer service!

You've known us as Island Internet Presence...

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 19:25:54 GMT

Now doing business as Whidbey Web Design

It's official! Island Internet Presence, LLC is now doing business as Whidbey Web Design. Why? We want to return to our roots. We started in 2007 as a web design firm and quickly expanded into Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Content Marketing, Social Media Marketing and more...
The time has come to acknowledge the community we serve.

We will continue our tradition of professional, responsive, and affordable service to local businesses. Our core service offering will be Web Design, but we'll only offer SEO, Website Maintenance, and Social Media Marketing to Clients whose websites we develop. To this end, we've rebranded our website and social media channels.

3 Tips for Choosing your Domain Name

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 22:06:32 GMT

Most often, clients who are looking at having their website designed and built for their business have already selected and registered their domain name (URL) by the time they reach out to me. Over the years, I've encountered lots of 'novice' mistakes as a result. Your domain name is your business's unique identifier online, so it's critical you get this part right. Here are three tips that will help you get closer to building an effective web presence.

1) Be mindful of the search engines! Search engines use a variety of methods to measure the 'relevance' and purpose of your website. Your domain name is one of the items the search engine algorithms include in their calculus. As an example, if your business is building websites, you don't pick a domain name like www.quickprint.com . If you are like me and are a web designer who's audience is local, www.whidbeywebdesign.com makes sense.

2) Avoid word games. Don't try to be clever and do a play on word spelling. Remember, the domain name needs to be something that you can easily communicate verbally to someone and something that they will type into a browser correctly. Example, www.carphax.com is a poor option if you are selling information on cars and www.carfacts.com is not available.

3) Be social! It is important that you have a strong social media presence. As such, be sure that the domain name you choose to register is also available as a business name on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and any other platform you will be using.

Get Social!

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 20:29:39 GMT

Your website can't do it all for you.

According to the Small Business Administration, 66% of small business owners say that finding new customers is a top concern. Given this, business owners need to understand that in today's competitive digital marketing environment, having a modern, mobile-friendly, secure website is only a 'first step' in attracting new customers.

Many small business owners shy away from maintaining a social media presence. BIG MISTAKE. 68% of U.S. adults are now Facebook users. Over half of those visit Facebook several times a day! If that's where the majority of people spend their time, don't you want to be there as well?

Facebook has become an excellent platform for businesses to educate and entertain their target audience. It is also a platform that excels in promoting special events. It even provides e-commerce and email list building capabilities. Sharing on a regular basis on your Facebook business page will help you build your brand and develop a self-sustaining referral engine when done correctly. Besides, the Google ranking engine takes your social media presence into account when determining your ranking position when someone searches for your products or services.

Don't feel like Facebook is the social media for your business? What about Instagram? Twitter? Pinterest? LinkedIn? These are all viable alternatives.

Still not convinced or not sure you have the necessary skills or time to maintain an effecting social media marketing program? Contact us, and we'll give you a FREE consultation. You'll be surprised at how cost-effective hiring a content marketing firm is.

The True Cost of Hosting - Part 2 of 2

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 17:01:50 GMT

In my previous article, The True Cost of Hosting - Part 1 or 2, I explored the typical view of hosting costs. There are, however, less obvious tangible costs when using a low budget hosting plan. Those plans host your website on ‘Shared Servers.’ In simple terms, this means that your website shares space on a single server. All sites on the server share the same CPU and Memory resources. These resources are finite, so your site responsiveness decreases as traffic to all the websites you share the server with increases.

Do you know what the cost to your website traffic is when your website response slows down? According to surveys done by Akamai and Gomez.com, nearly half of web users expect a site to load in 2 seconds or less, and they tend to abandon a site that isn’t loaded within 3 seconds. What does losing half your traffic during peak hours cost you?

My advice, take another look at the value of your budget hosting service. Better yet, if your website is more than three years old, consider a redesign and choose a developer that uses responsive design techniques and a hosting service that provides SSL security, automatic backups, and cloud-based business-class servers for optimum traffic load balancing and protection from malware.

We build websites using responsive design. Our hosting is on cloud-based business-class servers. These servers are best in class and scale resources automatically as demand fluctuates to ensure your website loads fast.

The true cost of hosting - Part 1 of 2

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 18:20:37 GMT

If I were to quote you a monthly hosting fee of $39 per month, would you be inclined to ask if that included automatic backup? How about an SSL Certificate? Would you care if the hosting is on a shared server? If you are like most small business owners, you wouldn’t know to ask these questions. You would most likely be wondering why you should pay $39 per month for hosting when your current hosting is only costing you $7.99. Do you really know what your website hosting is costing you? Yes – this is a trick question.

Hosting services that offer the low $7.99 type rates wait until you start having issues before pointing out that you may want to purchase an ‘add-on.’ These hosting plans charge you an additional fee for items like ‘automatic site backup,’ ‘malware protection,’ 'search engine visibility,' and ‘SSL certificate.’ As an example, GoDaddy charges an additional $23.96 to add these items. That brings the cost of the low budget hosting plan to $31.95. Doesn’t sound so inexpensive anymore, does it?

Why are these add-ons essential? Well if ranking well with the major search engines or getting more traffic to your website is vital to you then the answer should be YES they are essential. Starting last month (July 2018), Chrome is marking all non-SSL protected sites as ‘NOT Secure.’ I’m guessing people will avoid going to websites with that type of label. Moreover, if that’s not reason enough, search engines like Google and Bing are prioritizing secure sites over non-secure sites in their search rankings. Add-ons like automatic backup, malware protection, and search engine visibility speak for themselves. Who wants to find out that malware has infected their website? Worse yet, finding out and then realizing you don’t have a clean backup. What would the cost of reconstructing your site be? Moreover, why wouldn't you want basic search engine optimization services? If your site doesn't rank well with search engines, then what's the point of having a website?

So the comparison between the hosting your website gets with our service and the 'low cost' hosting services comes down to $7.95. What do we provide for that additional $7.95? If you were to host your website on another service, you would be responsible for installing security updates for your website's plugins and compatibility updates, so your website displays properly when Google, Bing, or Yahoo updates their browsers. Last year (2017) alone, Wordpress released 21 updates. That doesn't include updates released by plugin vendors. What's the cost of taking the time out monthly to log in to your hosting account and installing security and maintenance releases? We handle security and maintenance releases - so you don't have too. Assuming it takes an average of 30 minutes to install an update, we save you 7 hours per year. Unless your time or your webmasters time is worth less than $9.08 per hour, your 'low cost' hosting', will cost you much more than $39 per month.

If your website performance is vital to you, don't be lured into a false sense of 'value' when going with a 'low cost' hosting service. Skip dealing with all the necessary add-ons and go with the business class hosting service from the beginning. Who needs to learn the hard way when you are busy focusing on running your business?

3 Reasons Your Website Should Be ADA Compliant

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 02:36:01 GMT

Even though the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed in 1990 as a means to ensure that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as anyone else, web development standards didn't start seriously addressing accessibility until the W3C recommendation, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, which was published in December 2008. This recommendation replaced the W3C recommendation released in May 1999. The advances in web technology are the main reason why W3C 2.0 can address accessibility more effectively.

Why, as a business owner, is it important that your website is ADA compliant?

1) Approximately 50 million people in the U.S. suffer from disabilities.* Many of those require screen reading tools to 'read' your website. If your website isn't properly developed, people with certain disabilities who are interested in your services or products, won't be able to navigate your site.

2) If you care about how well your website ranks with the most popular search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing, then you should know that these search engines use readers to crawl websites. This crawling is what provides the search engines with the content and information needed to rank your site. WCAG 2.0 provides standards to ensure screen readers can read your website properly. If your website isn't ADA Compliant, you risk your website not being properly ranked by search engines. This can have a serious negative impact on your search ranking.

3) Having a more operable and navigable website ensures optimum usability for all visitors. Usability is key for your website visitors to find the information they need. As a business owner or leader of an organization, you are most certainly interested in people being able to easily find content and take the desired actions.

In addition to these 3 reasons, remember ADA Compliance is the LAW! Although the 1990 ADA Act originally did not mention websites since they weren't widely used; many brands, such as Brooks Brothers and Foot Locker, have been sued in recent years. As of today, there is a safe harbor clause that exempts websites built or updated before January 18, 2018, but the guidelines DON'T pertain to any page that is updated and any websites published after January 18, 2018.

The ADA's website has guidance and tips. Give us a call or email us to find out if your website is currently ADA compliant. We would love to review your site and if it's not compliant, assist you with bringing your website into compliance.

*ADA National Network - adata.org

Will Facebook continue serving your needs?

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Wed, 16 May 2018 16:08:24 GMT

In 2009, Facebook started down the road of being a marketing platform for businesses with the roll-out of Pages. Since then, Pages has become a second website for companies. Pages have become so effective and feature-rich that today many small businesses are abandoning the creation of websites and are using Pages exclusively. Apart from using Pages to promote and market their business, eCommerce functionality can be added.

Given this, the ongoing tweaks to the News Feed algorithms are problematic. The social network is prioritizing "meaningful" conversations between friends and family over stories from pages. This effort started in 2017 and is accelerating. To make matters worse, the recent uproar about privacy issues has driven Facebook and other social networks to examine their paid advertising programs. Changes being made will most likely reduce the reach of paid ads.

Social Media Marketers are making the best of the changes by developing services to exploit News Feed algorithms. The argument is that it now takes a professional social media marketer to generate acceptable reach and engagement on a Page. So far, analytics seem to show that professionally managed Pages are not losing reach and engagement as drastically as Page's self-managed.

What's the solution? The same as always. In the history of technology, staying ahead of the curve is the smart approach. So what is the fastest growing application? What new application is getting the most subscribers and active users in your target demographic? These are the type of questions you should be asking, and then working towards getting answers. Staying with Facebook Pages as your key social media marketing tool is okay, as long as you are also exploring and trying out a social media platform that supports your marketing strategy.

How secure is your Website?

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 01:34:52 GMT

There was a time when people were only concerned with a secure website connection if it was an e-commerce website. Obviously, if you are going to make a purchase online with a credit card, you do not want your information to be transmitted without encryption. Today, with spammers and hackers causing havoc at every turn, more and more people are becoming sensitive to online security. Starting in December 2015, Google started pushing e-commerce websites to become more sensitive to security. They recognized early on that credit card theft wasn't the only goal of the unscrupulous. Eavesdropping, man-in-the-middle attacks, or data modification was becoming more and more perverse. As a user, you may not be immediately aware of the impact of eavesdropping or data modification, but think about how many times you have visited a website and signed up for a newsletter or completed an online form that included your name and address. These are little nuggets for spammers and identity thieves.

In Googles, December 2015 notice to websites owners that they should invest in securing their websites with an SSL Certificate, was their announcement that they would give a "slight ranking boost to HTTPS URLs in search results." Then in January 2017, Google went much further with their release of Chrome 56. The latest Chrome browser rewards HTTPS connections with a Padlock icon and the word SECURE. Non HTTPS sites are marked with a neutral indicator.

By putting your entire website behind SSL, it protects your visitors/members by preventing eavesdropping on your internet communications, increasing your privacy, blocking many types of hacks and security intrusions, and verifying to the visitor that your website is really you, and not some "spoof" that was set up to trick people.

If your website doesn't have an SSL Certificate (HTTPS URL), being punished by Google's ranking isn't the only negative item you are faced with. A non-secure website is much more likely to be a victim of malware. Malware is designed to steal data or perform other damaging tasks. Phishing scripts uploaded to your site allows spammers to send fake emails from your account. And if you think your website isn't popular enough, or your content isn't important enough to become the victim of hackers, think again. It's not uncommon for us to get a new Client because their website was hacked and the site taken offline by malware. If your website is on a 'shared hosting' plan, you are responsible for cleaning up the malware or risk your website being shut down by your host. Costs for removing malware can range from $52 to several hundred, depending on the extent and number of files infected.

The latest research by Acunetix reveals around 84% of websites contain vulnerabilities. If you want to rest easy, consider our website development and hosting services. Our websites come with an SSL Certificate and are hosted on Amazon Cloud business-class servers.

Contact us today for a FREE, no-obligation consultation.

Persona Development

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Key ingredient of a Content Marketing Plan

All marketers know it is important to understand WHO your customers are.

At first blush, one might assume we are looking at characteristics such as age, gender, race, and/or income level. But we are not referring to demographics here; we're referring to psychographics, the term used to describe segmenting your customers by lifestyle, personality, motives and attitudes. Identifying your customers by developing psychographic personas for each segment will enable you to create content specifically tailored to that segment, which will be more effective, impactful and memorable.