carli_creates

5 Signs Your Website Needs An Upgrade

carlicreates4u@gmail.com (Carli Holas) — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 19:37:15 GMT

5 Signs It's Time to Update Your Site

Every business, large and small, needs a website; and in the digital world we live in – that’s a no brainer. Simply having a website isn’t enough, though. Your website has the potential to be an insanely powerful business tool. Besides being the digital home/hub for your business, your website’s main objective is to grow your reach and find you new customers. That can only be done if your website can be found in search results and enables a great experience for users. Both of those requirements mean keeping your website fresh, engaging, and active is a must. If you are curious whether it’s time for your website to get an upgrade, here are five signals that the time has come.

Website Aesthetics & Design

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a website is worth millions. What is the look of your website instantly communicating to those who visit? Particularly if you built your website more than a year or two ago, the aesthetic or visual presentation of your website could be outdated. The way your website looks is the first impression you give potential customers. If they click to your website and see a perceived lack of professionalism or creativity, that customer may leave your site before they ever even read more about your services or products. The visual appeal of your website is very important, and if you find the aesthetic of your website could use a refresh, it’s likely other aspects of your website are outdated, too.

Did you know?? The average time spent on a website is just 10-20 seconds and that’s not a whole lot of time to convince someone that your business is the best for them. Having modern and visually pleasing aesthetics can make the difference in someone staying on your website or bouncing away to your competitor’s site.

Is Your Site Secure?

Security is absolutely the most important responsibility you have with your website. People are more weary than ever (and with good reason) when it comes to the information they are willing to share online. Your customers are sharing very personal information when they make purchases on your site, and you don’t want to be the reason that personal information is stolen. Maybe security wasn’t the first thing you thought of when building your website, many often assume the website platform they use has those security features built in, but this isn’t always the case. This means you could be exposing you and your customers to a potential security breach or hacking. Go back to the framework of your website, and if it isn’t protecting all website users (and your privacy as the owner), it’s time to reach out to a web designer for help .

Did you know?? Site security is one of the biggest factors the Google algorithm uses to decide whether or not to recommend and show your site to your potential customers.

Your Website Speed

We live in a world where we can have any piece of information we need in a matter of seconds. With the fast-paced lifestyle we are all accustomed to (and have grown to expect), you don’t want to be the business with the slow website. People just don’t have the patience we had in the early 2000s, so if a potential customer clicks on your website and sees any buffering, the likelihood they will stay on your site is very slim. Don’t let your website speed hold you back from sharing your amazing products or services!

Did you know?? You can see the score Google gives your websites’ speed for free? Click here to test your site.

How Engaging Is Your Website Copy?

Your website copy should be refreshed relatively often to ensure it stays current. It should include relevant keywords to help with your SEO (Search Engine Optimization), and it should be engaging for readers. There is a happy medium with an SEO copy, and we’ve all likely seen those that lean too heavily on the SEO side, taking away from readability. Google wants to promote websites that can keep people on them, clicking to various pages. Keywords help your audience find you and should certainly be included (and refreshed) on your website, but engaging content is what will keep people on your website. If your content is stale, it’s time for an upgrade.

EXPERT TIP: Blogs are a great way to keep your user on your website by providing useful info while simultaneously increasing your SEO which means Google, and other search engines, will be more likely to show your website when people search for it!

User Experience

The average user on your website should be able to intuitively navigate the site. There should be a flow, with relevant links placed with intention. Additionally, your site should give users a similar experience whether it’s accessed on a desktop or on a mobile device. If your website is tough for a potential customer to navigate, or simply just doesn’t work well on a mobile device, that person isn’t going to struggle to try to figure it out – they will find a similar business with a website they can navigate with ease. Ensure your site is the “breath of fresh air” website anyone can use to seamlessly find what they need.

MUST READ: Looking to discover how and why users make the decisions they do? Carli’s top book picks are “Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking” by Malcolm Gladwell and “Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve Krug. The theme of both? None of us want to work harder than we have to!

The Gist

If you want your website to generate business for you, Website design is not a “one and done” task. It requires upkeep, activity with new content, and a keen eye. Successful website owners...

Protect users’ personal information
Feature beautiful and modern aesthetics on their site
Ensure their site’s usability and speed are up to par
Constantly create new content to keep their website relevant

If those are some things that are out of your comfort zone (or you simply don’t have the bandwidth to accomplish them), you can still breathe easy. Ensure your website is 100% optimized for success and partner with a professional that can confidently redesign your site for you. When your website is strong, your online reach becomes stronger. Do you see any signals it’s time for your site to be refreshed? Reach out to Carli today!

PANDEMIC PROOF YOUR BUSINESS - The Butterfly Method

carlicreates4u@gmail.com (Carli Holas) — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 23:04:42 GMT

Hope Is The Thing With Wings

I'm going to skip over the part where I depress you with all of the small business revenue statistics for 2020; summation of the report: things...aren't great.

So how do we do this? How do we chart a course forward for our businesses when everything around us seems to be working against us? The answer? The Butterfly Approach.

Clocking in at just half a gram in weight, these lightweights hardly seem like heavy hitters. Yet, these iridescent insects teach us the 3 keys you need to Pandemic Proof your business .

Key 1: Go The Distance

According to the U.S. Forest Service , Monarch butterflies can sense when it's time to head south of the border before colder temperatures arrive.

With no GPS, no Biscoff cookies or inflight magazines; these brave little bugs make an extreme, 3,000 mile trek south. Why? Because they know it means survival.

To survive as a small businesses, you must be willing to leave your comfort zone. At least one a week (once a day is even better), get off your hamster wheel and get out there.

Get on social media and ENGAGE. Talk to (notice we said talk "to" not "at") people online that could be interested in your service or product. Sign up for online courses to learn something new and improve the quality of your existing services , or maybe even add some new ones. Never, stop, growing.

Key 2: Don't Be Afraid To Get Dirty

While butterflies are usually able to get most of their nutrition by sipping nectar from luscious blooms, life isn't always just sunshine and roses. To get life sustaining minerals, like salt, butterflies will often drink from mud puddles.

The takeaway? As a small business owner, you have to be willing to do the less glamorous tasks in order to survive. Good record keeping, accounting , and budgeting , while not fun for most, are essential to keep your business going in the right direction.

For a business to thrive though, you have to do what the other 99% aren't willing to do . For example, (introverts, get ready to cringe here) cold calling. I know, I know. But remember, you have a valuable service /product that helps solve a problem for someone. The best salesmen and women know that their job isn't to force anything on anyone, instead, they are there to solve problems for people.

Key 3: Endurance

Scientists have observed injured butterflies that have up to 70% of their wingspan missing, still flying and feeding.

The real secret sauce to running a successful business, is to know how to keep going despite obstacles . That's endurance. It makes it easier to endure when you know you've done everything in your power to make your business succeed.

Great service/product + powerful branding + marketing = Your pandemic proofed business.

Why having more followers doesn't make you successful

carlicreates4u@gmail.com (Carli Holas) — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 19:19:22 GMT

You are not small potatoes

I get a text from a colleague, and she's ecstatic. A big brand saw her work on Instagram, loved it, and asked if they could feature her work on their page. SUCCESS! She, of course, being the incredibly humble and kind unicorn she is, was bamboozled by the fact that such a big brand would want to collaborate with her:

"I'm small potatoes! I didn't think they would care about me!"

With less than 500 followers on Instagram, she wasn't "insta-famous", yet, she was successful! We all get sucked into the follower count trap. At some point, it became that more followers = more success. But is this actually true? If you have a low follower count, does this mean you/your business is unsuccessful? Are you just small potatoes!? Repeat after me...

"I am NOT small potatoes. I am a FULLY LOADED potato!"

Here's why your business' follower count might be low, but that doesn't mean you aren't (or that you won't be) successful!

You're busy building an empire

The average person spends 2 hours and 24 minutes on social media every, single, day (Tech Jury) . As a business owner, you know you need to be on social media, sharing your services, engaging with customers and connecting with your community, but let's be real. You don't have enough time.

You spend every waking moment perfecting your craft and improving your customers' experience (especially so if you are just starting out). You only have so many hours in a day and a low follower count on social media in the beginning, might just be a sign that you are ultra focused on establishing your actual product and system processes. Focusing on getting things up and running is completely normal and a great thing!

You're making your blows count

"If you build it, they will come" doesn't really apply here. Just because you like a certain social media platform, that doesn't mean that your potential customers are hanging out and looking for your services there.

Suppose a business is mainly focused on targeting Gen Z , but the owners only like to use Facebook so they focus all of their energy on posting there and only there. After a time (and lots of frustration) they are noticing they aren't getting any sales or leads from their Facebook profile. So they try out Instagram. What a difference. Leads are coming in like crazy and they are making more sales than ever before. If Instagram is such a strong winner for them, why would they waste their limited resources advertising on another platform?

A truly successful company looks at data and metrics and responds accordingly. So if your business has low followers on just one platform, don't worry! Make your blows count and focus on the platforms that bring you the most leads and sales!

It's not your bread and butter

#this #isn't #what #you #want #to #do. Maybe social media isn't your thing. And that's ok. You are really really good at what YOU do. You matter, what you do matters and the world is a better place for it! And if you ask us, that's what success is all about.

Social Media Management and Ads are our bread and butter. Our social media expertise + your business = $$$ for you! Contact us today for a free consultation!

DIY vs Professional Web Design - Which is right for you?

carlicreates4u@gmail.com (Carli Holas) — Wed, 13 May 2020 15:21:39 GMT

“Oh cool! I'd love to learn more. Where can I find your business online?"

That statement can evoke waves of sheer panic OR sheer delight through any business owner. There’s no debate over whether or not you should have a website for your business. In our modern, tech-driven economy, having a website for your business is no longer an option – it’s essential.

Sometimes though, there is a struggle over HOW to go about building a business’ website. What causes this struggle? BUDGETS. Especially in this economic climate, business owners have to defend and protect their resources like never before. As a result, some are quick to eliminate the option of a professionally designed website. Out of perceived necessity, they turn to DIY website building.

So, let’s put down our weapons here for just one moment and consider a few reasons why professionally built websites aren’t the evil, resource-eating monster you might think they are.

1. USING WEBMD DOES NOT MAKE ME A DOCTOR

Ok, I’ll admit it, as soon as I get the sniffles, or any other ailments, my first stop is google and/or WebMD. I enter my list of symptoms, one by one, being sure to be extremely specific. Then, at long last, the Internet reveals to me that I’m most likely sneezing my head off because – “I HAVE A MAN EATING NOSE BACTERIA”!!!!

Ok…. so….obviously that’s not likely so I go with the second self diagnosis from the internet – allergies.

For the next week, I’ll try dozens of DIY home remedies and try to muddle through life with tissues plugged in my nose.

About a week and a half into it, I’ll break down and decide to see a professional and I’ll drag myself to the doctor, he’ll prescribe me an antibiotic for my sinus infection and then a few days later, I’m good as new.

DIY has its place. But sometimes, you just need a professional. Having a good website is directly connected with having a healthy business. A website is the very life of most businesses. Web developers, especially those working under an agency, are trained experts. They devote their entire working careers to knowing the BEST way to build websites.

2. BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

A good website should be aesthetically pleasing but also functional. You want to use colors and images that send the right message and help enforce your brand image. Without proper design experience, this can be hard and nearly impossible to accomplish. You may think the layout you have is complete perfection, and that the lime green background with barney purple font really makes the site pop (please tell me you wouldn’t really do that) but the truth is, just because you think it looks good, doesn’t mean that it actually does. It takes an eye for design to make websites that appeal to your customers, no matter who or where they are.

3. BUILDING A WEBSITE IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART

There appears to be a common misconception that web development is easy. Just click and type a few things, and there you have it…the perfect website! Reality check: web development takes time to learn and you have to KEEP LEARNING. Technology is changing every single day, which means that as soon as you figure out how to do something, soon, it will be replaced by something newer. The web is constantly shifting and changing and if you aren’t a web developer/someone’s whose life revolves around coding, you simply don’t have the time to learn all of this.

4. THERE ARE ONLY 24 HOURS IN A DAY ( NO MATTER HOW MUCH COFFEE YOU DRINK)

What often takes people by surprise is just how much time is involved in developing a good website. It can take dozens or even hundreds of hours to build a site.

As an alternative, many DIY sites advertise that you can build a website in under an hour. Unfortunately though, you are stuck to using templates that thousands of other businesses (yes even your competitors) have already used. So there’s nothing unique about your site. At the end of the day though, you are most likely already trying to fit 30 hours worth of work into one day anyways…do you really have time to make a site? Most likely, the answer is no.

5. LOOKING FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK IS NOT FUN

Technology is great, when it works. Even with the best sites, there will, at some point, be a bug or glitch in the function of the site. As a web developer, let me tell you, there’s nothing more infuriating than not being able to figure out why something isn’t working properly. You could have forgotten something as simple as, ONE JUST ONE, little tiny bracket in all this code and BAM, your site is useless.

In conclusion, there are a multitude of reasons why getting a professional’s help building a website can be a great idea for your business. Having said that though, there are exceptions! DIY site builders are not evil or bad, in fact, they are the right fit for some businesses!

I would love to help you with your website needs! Contact me today !

Tips for great posts that increase your site traffic

carlicreates4u@gmail.com (Carli Holas) — Tue, 12 May 2020 14:44:53 GMT

Write about something you know. If you don’t know much about a specific topic that will interest your readers, invite an expert to write about it.

Speak to your audience

You know your audience better than anyone else, so keep them in mind as you write your blog posts. Write about things they care about. If you have a company Facebook page, look here to find topics to write about

Take a few moments to plan your post

Once you have a great idea for a post, write the first draft. Some people like to start with the title and then work on the paragraphs. Other people like to start with subtitles and go from there. Choose the method that works for you.

Don’t forget to add images

Be sure to include a few high-quality images in your blog. Images break up the text and make it more readable. They can also convey emotions or ideas that are hard to put into words.

Edit carefully before posting

Once you’re happy with the text, put it aside for a day or two, and then re-read it. You’ll probably find a few things you want to add, and a couple more that you want to remove. Have a friend or colleague look it over to make sure there are no mistakes. When your post is error-free, set it up in your blog and publish.