In today’s digital landscape, selecting a reliable responsive web design company is crucial for small business owners and entrepreneurs aiming to make a strong online impact. With countless options available, knowing the right web design strategies can make all the difference in ensuring your website not only looks great but also functions seamlessly across all devices. From prioritizing site security with tools like WordFence to implementing regular backups and quality design, these strategies are essential for safeguarding your online presence. Responsive service and well-prepared contingency plans further ensure that your website remains updated and resilient against any unexpected challenges. In this post, we’ll delve into the key considerations that will guide you in choosing a web design partner who can transform your digital vision into reality.

Choosing the Right Web Design Partner

Selecting the ideal responsive web design company is a critical step in establishing a strong online presence. This section explores key factors to consider when evaluating potential partners for your web design project.

Evaluating Expertise and Experience

When choosing a responsive web design company, assessing their expertise and experience is crucial. Look for a portfolio that showcases a diverse range of projects, particularly those similar to your industry or goals.

Consider the company’s track record with responsive design specifically. A proficient partner should demonstrate a deep understanding of mobile-first approaches and adaptive layouts.

Don’t hesitate to ask for client references or case studies. These insights can provide valuable information about the company’s problem-solving abilities and project management skills.

Pro tip: Pay attention to the longevity of client relationships, as this often indicates consistent quality and reliability.

Emphasizing Quality Design Standards

Quality design is the cornerstone of an effective website. A reputable responsive web design company should adhere to industry-standard best practices and demonstrate a commitment to excellence.

Look for partners who prioritize:

• User-centered design principles
• Accessibility standards (WCAG compliance)
• Performance optimization
• Cross-browser compatibility

A quality-focused company will often have a structured design process, including wireframing, prototyping, and iterative feedback loops. This approach ensures that the final product not only looks great but also functions seamlessly across devices.

Assessing Responsive Service and Support

Responsive service goes beyond just designing a website that adapts to different screen sizes. It encompasses the company’s ability to adapt to your needs and provide ongoing support.

Consider the following when evaluating a company’s service responsiveness:

1. Communication channels and availability
2. Response times for inquiries and issues
3. Flexibility in accommodating changes or updates
4. Availability of post-launch support and maintenance

A truly responsive web design partner will offer clear service level agreements (SLAs) and demonstrate a proactive approach to addressing potential challenges.

Ensuring Security and Reliability

In the digital age, security and reliability are paramount for any online presence. This section delves into critical aspects of maintaining a secure and dependable website.

Importance of Site Security

Website security is non-negotiable in today’s threat landscape. A reliable responsive web design company should prioritize security measures from the ground up.

Key security considerations include:

• SSL certificates for encrypted connections
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Implementation of security best practices in coding and server configuration

Tools like WordFence can provide an additional layer of security for WordPress sites, offering features such as firewall protection and malware scanning.

Remember, security is an ongoing process. Your web design partner should offer continuous monitoring and updates to keep your site protected against evolving threats.

Running Backups Effectively

Regular backups are your safety net in case of unexpected issues or data loss. An effective backup strategy is crucial for maintaining business continuity and protecting valuable content.

Consider the following when implementing a backup system:

1. Frequency of backups (daily, weekly, real-time)
2. Storage locations (on-site, off-site, cloud)
3. Retention periods for different types of data
4. Testing and verification of backup integrity

A reliable web design company should not only implement robust backup solutions but also provide guidance on best practices for data management and recovery procedures.

Implementing Contingency Plans

Contingency planning is about preparing for the unexpected. A forward-thinking responsive web design company will help you develop strategies to handle various scenarios that could impact your website’s functionality or availability.

• Key elements of a solid contingency plan include:
• Disaster recovery procedures
• Redundancy and failover systems
• Incident response protocols
• Regular drills and simulations to test plan effectiveness

By having well-defined contingency plans in place, you can minimize downtime and ensure business continuity in the face of unforeseen challenges.

Strategic Considerations for Success

Successful web design goes beyond aesthetics and functionality. This section explores strategic approaches to ensure your website aligns with and supports your broader business objectives.

Leveraging Web Design Strategies

Effective web design strategies are the blueprint for creating a site that not only looks great but also delivers tangible results for your business.

Key strategies to consider include:

• User journey mapping to optimize the customer experience
• Conversion rate optimization (CRO) techniques
• Content strategy aligned with SEO best practices
• Performance optimization for improved search rankings and user satisfaction

A strategic approach to web design ensures that every element of your site works cohesively to achieve your business goals, whether that’s increasing leads, boosting sales, or enhancing brand awareness.

Aligning with Business Goals

Your website should be a powerful tool for achieving your business objectives. When selecting a responsive web design company, ensure they have a process for understanding and aligning with your specific goals.

Consider the following:

1. How does the company gather information about your business and target audience?
2. What metrics do they use to measure success?
3. How do they incorporate your unique selling propositions into the design?
4. What strategies do they employ to ensure your website supports your overall marketing efforts?

A goal-oriented approach to web design can significantly impact your return on investment and long-term success.

Building a Long-Term Partnership

Choosing a responsive web design company is not just about creating a website; it’s about establishing a long-term partnership for ongoing success.

Look for a company that offers:

• Regular performance reviews and optimization recommendations
• Scalable solutions that can grow with your business
• Proactive communication about industry trends and new technologies
• Flexibility to adapt to changing business needs

By fostering a strong, collaborative relationship with your web design partner, you can ensure that your online presence continues to evolve and thrive in the ever-changing digital landscape.

The post Unlocking Success: Key Strategies for Selecting a Reliable Responsive Web Design Company appeared first on Platform Creator.

Your homepage is the front door to your business. It’s the first thing potential customers see when they land on your site. And just like a real front door, it needs to be inviting, welcoming, and make a great first impression.

Listen up, your homepage is more than just a pretty face. It’s your chance to show your ideal customer that you get them – you understand their struggles, feel their pain, and have the answer they’ve been looking for. Your homepage is where you build that trust and credibility that’ll turn them into loyal fans.

Ready to turn your website into a fan-generating machine? In this post, we’ll break down the essential ingredients for a homepage that not only looks great but also converts like crazy. From understanding your dream customer to leveraging the power of social proof, we’ve got you covered. So, let’s dive in and create a homepage that truly speaks to your audience!

Your homepage should be a mirror of your ideal customer

Your homepage is the first impression you make on potential customers. It’s your chance to show them that you get them, that you understand their struggles and dreams. From the moment they land on your site, every element should reflect that understanding. The images, the words, the overall vibe – it all needs to say “I see you, I feel you, and I’m here to help.”

Key Elements of a Believable Home Page

So what exactly makes a homepage believable? It comes down to what we call the 5 P’s:

1. A Person – Do you know me? First identify who they are and what they want.
2. A Problem – Do you feel me? Empathize with their frustration and demonstrate your intricate understanding of their unique problem.
3. A Promise – What is actually possible? Define success beyond expectations in a way that gives them hope.
4. A Process – How will you do it? Preview how and what’s next.
5. Proof – Sez who? Give social proof. Let’s break each of these down.

First: How Technical And Visual Design Affect Credibility

Before we even get to the words, the visual element of your website homepage design plays a huge role in establishing credibility. A cluttered, outdated, or unprofessional-looking site immediately raises doubts. On the flip side, clean website content, modern design with consistent branding and easy navigation signals that you’re legit. High-quality images, graphics, and videos also boost perceived value.

Analyzing Successful Home Pages

One of the best ways to craft a believable homepage design is to study some that are already killing it. We always look at examples from a range of industries to see what’s working. Some common themes we’ve noticed: – Clear, concise messaging that speaks directly to the target audience – Prominent social proof like testimonials, trust badges, and media mentions – Intuitive website design that guides visitors to take action – Strong visuals that support the brand and message

Make it personal

I get it, when you’re passionate about what you do, it’s tempting to want to share ALL the things on your homepage. But here’s the deal – your ideal customer doesn’t care about all the things. They care about the one thing that’s going to make their life better. So put yourself in their shoes. What’s the #1 thing they’re coming to you for? What do they REALLY want, even if they don’t know how to articulate it? Forget about all your bells and whistles for a sec and just focus on that core desire. Then make sure every word and image on your homepage is laser-focused on fulfilling it.

What’s their problem?

Here’s a hard truth: if your website homepage isn’t addressing a real, visceral problem for your ideal customer, they’re not going to stick around.

In our experience, there are two key problems you need to tackle:

1. The surface problem – This is the thing they think they need, like a new website or a social media strategy.
2. The deeper problem – This is the real issue, the thing keeping them up at night.

Maybe it’s struggling to stand out in a crowded market or feeling like they’re constantly spinning their wheels. Your job is to show that you understand both, but to really dig into that deeper problem.

Paint a picture of their current frustration and let them know you feel their pain. This isn’t about manipulation – it’s about empathy. Put yourself in their shoes and genuinely acknowledge their struggles. Only then can you start to offer a solution.

Give the reader reason to hope.

Okay, so you’ve shown that you get their problem. Now it’s time to show them a way out.

We’re not talking about some generic, one-size-fits-all solution. We mean something specific and tangible, something that makes them say “wait, maybe this is actually possible.” Paint a picture of their life after working with you.

How will things be different?

What will they be able to do that they can’t do now?

Use vivid, emotional language and concrete examples. Make them feel the relief, the joy, the freedom that comes with solving their problem. Remember, people don’t just need a solution – they need hope. They need to believe that better is possible. Your homepage needs to give them that.

Show them why it works

Alright, you’ve got their attention with a personalized problem and a vivid solution. But now comes the moment of truth – they’re thinking about pulling the trigger and working with you. 

This is where things often start to feel a little scary for the customer. They’re wondering – is this really going to work? Can I trust this person? What if it doesn’t work for me? Your job here is to put their mind at ease by showing them exactly how your process works. 

Give them a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to work with you. Walk them through your system step-by-step. Explain the logic behind it. Show them the mechanisms that make it effective. You’re not just telling them THAT it works – you’re showing them WHY it works. 

This demonstrates your expertise and gives them a tangible understanding of how you’ll get them results. Bonus points if you can also paint a picture of what happens AFTER they sign on the dotted line. How will you support them? What’s the onboarding process like? Make the unknown feel known.

Social proof is not a new concept

Here’s the thing about humans – we’re wired to follow the crowd. When we see other people doing something, we assume it must be a good idea. That’s why social proof is so dang powerful.

To build a believable home page, showcase real people getting real results from your product or service, it short-circuits the part of your visitor’s brain that’s skeptical and uncertain. There are tons of ways to leverage social proof on your homepage: – Testimonials from happy customers – Case studies showing the transformation you’ve helped others achieve – Trust badges from well-known brands or institutions – Press mentions or awards that establish your credibility

The key is to use social proof that’s relevant to your ideal customer. If you’re targeting enterprise clients, a testimonial from a small startup might not carry much weight. But a case study with a major brand in their industry? That’s gold. Also, whenever possible, use visuals to make your social proof more tangible. A video testimonial or a before/after image will always be more compelling than a block of text.

Start now. Build Homepage.

Phew, we’ve covered a lot of ground here. But don’t feel overwhelmed. The beauty of the 5P’s framework is that you can start implementing it right away. Take a look at your current homepage design and content and ask yourself: – Am I clearly identifying my ideal customer and what they want? – Am I empathizing with their problem and painting a vivid picture of their frustration? – Am I offering a specific, tangible solution that gives them hope? – Am I explaining my process and showing them why it works? – Am I leveraging relevant social proof to build trust and credibility?

If the answer to any of those is no, you’ve got some work to do. But don’t worry – even small tweaks can make a big difference. Remember, your homepage isn’t about you – it’s about your customer. Make them the hero of the story and show them that you’re the guide who can help them achieve their goals. Do that, and your website visitors will find a homepage that doesn’t just look good – it converts.

Key Takeaway:

Build a believable home page that speaks directly to your ideal customer by focusing on their core desires and problems. Use the 5P’s – Person, Problem, Promise, Process, Proof – to make it believable. Show empathy, offer hope with specific solutions, explain why your process works and back it up with social proof. Start making changes today for a more engaging and converting homepage.

FAQs in Relation to Build a Believeable Home Page

How do I design my own homepage?

Start by defining your target audience, then craft a clear message that resonates. Focus on user experience with a clean layout, high-quality images, and easy navigation. Use a website builder like WordPress for a hands-on approach or consult web design pros.

What should a good homepage contain?

A great homepage features a hero image to draw attention, concise messaging that speaks to the visitor’s needs, clear calls-to-action (CTA) buttons directing users further, social proof like testimonials, and mobile optimization to cater to all users.

How to write a killer home page?

Capture your audience with compelling headlines; address their problems directly; offer hope through your solutions. Include social proof and use simple language that invites action. Make every word count towards guiding visitors deeper into your site.

What is an example of a homepage?

An effective example includes Neuro Gum’s website: it blends bold colors with direct CTAs while showcasing product benefits upfront. It balances visual appeal with practical information in an F-shaped pattern for natural reading flow—great for driving actions and building trust.

Conclusion

Building a believable homepage is all about putting yourself in your ideal customer’s shoes. It’s about understanding their needs, desires, and pain points, and crafting a message that speaks directly to them.

Ready to turn your homepage into a trust-building, credibility-boosting, fan-converting machine? It all starts with understanding your perfect customer better than they know themselves. Step into their shoes, feel their frustrations, and show them you’ve got the answer they’ve been searching for. Pull back the curtain on your process and let your social proof shine. Watch as visitors become loyal followers, eager to join your tribe.

Remember, your website homepage is the front door to your business. Make sure it’s sending the right message and inviting your ideal customer to step inside. With these key elements in place, you’ll be well on your way to building a believable homepage that drives real results for your business. Want to start with a free homepage assessment?

The post Use the 5P Formula to Build a Believable Homepage appeared first on Platform Creator.

Embarking on a website redesign can be both an exciting and daunting endeavor. Whether you are starting from scratch or refining an existing design, this guide provides a structured approach to navigate the complexities of redesigning your website effectively.

1. Platform Selection

Before engaging with a website designer, it’s crucial to decide on the platform that best suits your needs:

• Wix: Ideal for solopreneurs needing a visually appealing site without extensive coding skills. It offers affordability with plans starting at $17/month but has limitations in SEO customization and advanced design features. Learn more about Wix.
• Squarespace: A step up from Wix, offering more design flexibility but still less SEO and customization compared to WordPress. Explore Squarespace.
• WordPress: Highly favored by intermediate to expert developers for its extensive customization capabilities. Plugins like Yoast SEO and Rank Math aid in optimizing your site. Discover WordPress.

2. Brand Strategy

Understanding your brand identity is paramount. If you’re unsure about your brand’s core values and messaging, consider attending a Brand Strategy Workshop. Your website’s design and content should be a reflection of your brand, beyond just the logo.

3. Budgeting for Redesign

Costs can vary significantly based on the complexity of your site and the expertise of your chosen professionals:

• Agencies: Typically charge between $7,000 to $75,000.
• Freelancers: Rates range from $2,000 to $25,000.
• DIY Solutions: Cost between $300 and $5,000 depending on scope.

4. Design and Optimization Tools

For WordPress users, consider using the Divi Builder to enhance design flexibility and site optimization. Transitioning to Divi can improve site aesthetics and lower bounce rates by keeping visitors engaged longer.

5. Personalization and Preferences

Personal taste plays a significant role in website design. Identify your preferences in color schemes, typography, and overall aesthetics by reviewing other websites that inspire you. Maintain consistency throughout your site to strengthen your brand identity. You may want to lean on your website designer or brand strategist to help you with #5 in your website redesign checklist.

6. Developing Strategic Alliances

Effective SEO isn’t just about keywords; it’s also about building online alliances. Quality backlinks from reputable sites can drive traffic and elevate your site’s credibility. Focus on crafting meaningful anchor texts that enhance your SEO efforts.

7. Hosting and Security

Choosing the right hosting provider is critical for your website’s performance and reliability. Companies like Liquid Web offer robust services with excellent customer support. Ensure your site’s security by regularly updating software, using strong passwords, and installing security plugins like Wordfence. Wordfence protects your web platform from threats like hacking, malware, and data breaches. In addition, use SSL certificates for secure connections, and regularly update your software and plugins.

8. Domain Registration

Your domain name is part of your brand’s online identity. Register a domain that is memorable and reflects your brand’s essence with providers like GoDaddy or Namecheap. Ensure it is easy to spell, and type, and remember to make it accessible to your audience.

9. SEO and Content Strategy

Develop a comprehensive SEO strategy that includes:

• Keyword Research: Identify keywords that your audience is searching for.
• Content Optimization: Craft content centered around your primary keywords.
• Promotion: Utilize your digital platforms to share and promote your content.
• Link Building: Earn backlinks to boost your domain authority.

10. Functionality and User Experience

Your website should not only look good but also function seamlessly. Prioritize SEO to enhance discoverability. Create a user-friendly experience that builds trust and educates your audience. Implementing strategic CTAs can help convert visitors into leads and customers.

11. Ongoing Maintenance and Testing

Regularly test your website for usability and keep improving based on user feedback. Maintain engagement with your audience by updating content and optimizing performance continuously. Your website designer likely offers monthly services to keep your plugins, theme, and security of your site updated. Don’t forget to ask about website backups and what happens when your website goes down. Who is responsible? What are the expenses?

Conclusion A website redesign involves numerous elements from choosing the right platform to effectively promoting your redesigned site. By following this comprehensive checklist, you can ensure a successful redesign that not only looks great but also performs well, aligns with your brand strategy, and meets the needs of your target audience.

For further guidance and building out your website redesign checklist, explore A List Apart for more insights on design and content strategy or Moz’s Beginner’s Guide to SEO for a deeper understanding of search engine optimization.

The post Website Redesign Checklist: 11 Critical Steps appeared first on Platform Creator.

Platform Creator is offering free website assessments to help business owners get more out of their online presence. Our team of experts will analyze your website and provide a custom report focused on your business goals, whether that’s increasing traffic, generating more leads, or driving online sales.

The free assessment includes:

An analysis of your website’s design, speed, mobile-friendliness and ability to convert visitors. Platform Creator will check for issues that may be impacting performance.

Here’s a great tool to help you measure your website upload speed.

A review of your SEO strategy and recommendations for improving search engine visibility. Proper SEO is key for bringing qualified traffic to your site. Benchmarking against top-performing sites in your industry to identify gaps and opportunities. You’ll see how your website stacks up.

Prioritized recommendations for changes to immediately improve conversion rates, along with a roadmap for long-term optimization. You’ll know where to focus your efforts.

Answers to your questions about website best practices from their digital marketing experts. Our team will help you interpret the findings.

Analyze Your Website

Having an unbiased set of expert eyes review your website can provide valuable insights into changes both big and small that can take your results to the next level. And by making the assessment free, Platform Creator eliminates all risk to explore if your website is really working for you.

Our experts will analyze your homepage and provide a custom video and spreadsheet with tips to improve your homepage in three categories:

1. Your messaging
2. Your SEO results
3. Your marketing strategy

Our assessment provides an actionable blueprint for transforming your website into a lead-generation machine. Start acquiring more of your best customers within 60 days.

There’s no obligation, but we’re confident you’ll find immense value in the analysis.

Claim your no-cost website review here: https://www.platformcreator.com/free-website-assessment/

The post Analyze Your Website – Increase Your Conversions by 2X appeared first on Platform Creator.

Get it right, and your visitors will feel welcomed and eager to engage. But, on the other hand, if you miss the mark, you may as well be writing Lorum Ipsum.

It’s not to say that every other page on your site can’t be equally important, but if a visitor isn’t interested in building a relationship with you after visiting your homepage, there’s a good chance they won’t be back anytime soon.

Here’s an analog way to think about your website’s homepage. Say you meet someone at a business conference and have an interesting conversation. You’re excited about your product, and you sense some of that excitement taking hold.

But your conversation is cut short when the next speaker takes the stage, and you never manage to reconnect.

Later, that potential prospect is unpacking after the trip and sees your business card. They vaguely remember something intriguing about the conversation and decide to visit your website.  

Now comes the moment of truth question: 

Does your homepage pick up where your conversation left off? 

There are three possible outcomes:

1. They want to know more
2. They immediately know it’s not a fit 
3. They’re confused or unimpressed and quickly bounce away 

Option 1 is better than option two, but three is the worst. 

Three is awful. You don’t want number three.

Two isn’t all bad. It means less time wasted because your home page clarified who it’s not for.

So let’s talk about ways to make option one the most likely outcome.

Idea #1: Write the copy first

Most people think the first task is planning the build-out of pages and structure. But this is short-sighted.

Copy—words on the web page—is your website’s reason for being. The whole point of the exercise is to generate content that will capture readers’ interest, enable engagement, and ultimately compel them to act. 

We’ll get to the design element shortly—and it’s vitally important—but for now, remember: 

Written copy represents the function or substance of your website. Design is the form that enhances it.

As a rule, keep your web copy simple, straightforward, and no lengthier than necessary. People have short attention spans online. They want a quick hit of information before moving on to something else. 

A smart homepage helps launch a new story—between you and your customers and establishes trust and credibility.

Here’s a basic content structure:

A headline that communicates the solution offers for the reader’s specific problem. 

Develop a lede that demonstrates your in-depth understanding of the fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) the reader is experiencing. 

Use the body of the homepage to make generous use of bullets and short paragraphs. Use them to treat each of the FUD pain points and provide proof with examples and customer testimonials. 

Wrap up the body section by anticipating specific objections the prospect may have to move forward with you and your solution. Cost, hassle, and risk are just a few to consider. 

Objections will vary according to the nature of your business, but your interactions with customers provide firsthand knowledge of which to address.

Finally, your conclusion should contain two vital elements:

1. Social proof. Name dropping is encouraged! Use the logos of companies you’ve worked with and happy customers’ names and smiling faces sharing their success stories.  
2. A clear call to action (CTA). It’s tempting to create a “click here” button linking to a form contact info, but resist! If the reader has made it this far, don’t allow a vague description of what’s next.

Take the time to create content with the framework above, and you’ll have a running start on a friendly welcome mat for your website. 

Next, we’ll enhance the user experience with even more aha moments.

Idea #2: The three-story framework 

From a strategic perspective, there are two stories in play when someone lands on your home page: 

1. Their story—the one about them and their peculiar problem began prior to their visit. Use the headline and the lede to speak to these two elements and grab attention.
2. Our story is about you and how you’ve arrived at this moment to help. Use the body of the content to match up your solution with the reader’s problem. 
3. And finally, the “Us” story you initiate by earning the privilege of creating a better story together. Here you paint the vision of what a better world will look like for them.

Everyone wants a better story.

The part of their story you’re most interested in is what brought them to your site in the first place. What trigger or inciting event found them typing those keywords into Google? Use those words in your web copy.

Err on the side of You (the reader) language, not Us language.  

When writing homepage content, the biggest mistake we can make is starting with our own (Us) story.  

But the main purpose of your homepage is to initiate the third story. Consider this the trailer for what’s to come: you anticipating and meeting expectations for a better business experience. 

The customer is always the hero—your role is to be the guide.

Now for the final layer.

Idea #3: Discover the Design

Web design is an art in itself. One that is vitally important and challenging to master. Here’s an excellent primer for design concepts illustrated via some common mistakes.

Using a discoverer’s mindset as opposed to a build-from-scratch mindset will save you gobs of time. Here’s why.

When we see it, we know great design, but creating it is much different. In other words, it’s one thing to appreciate a work of art, and it’s something completely different to create one.

The truth is it’s more a matter of external discovery, especially if you’re not a trained designer.

You’re far better off with a design that is simple, readable, and easy to scan like this one:

The fact is, some of the most visited sites on the internet are pretty straightforward. Like this one:

Or, this one:

Superb web copy and stunning graphics are great to have, but focus on functionality first. 

And don’t be afraid to imitate existing design. Instead, you should steal boldly (and legally).

Your compass for all your homepage content creation and design comes in the form of a single overarching question:

Idea #4: Who’s it for?

When you create a homepage, your work is wasted if you don’t have a specific persona in mind. It’s the context for every decision you make. 

Here are some more minor Wayfinder questions to navigate by:

• What other sites does your target audience visit?
• What are some of the triggers that would lead them to search for a product or service like yours?
• Who do they follow? Trust? Like?

Answering these questions may seem like an exercise in soothsaying, but your customer is the best guide for finding answers. Make it a goal to master the art of asking questions. It will serve you well.

Of course, SEO, site speed, and security are essential too, but writing excellent copy and incorporating the three-story framework with clean, straightforward design will put you way ahead of most competitors.

The wrap-up

Ask yourself how well your website picks up where your conversation with prospects leaves off. Where are the gaps? 

Use clear, lean copy to frame up the major homepage sections:

• Write a headline that gets attention 
• Use the lede to connect by empathizing with FUD
• Offer promises and proof in the body of the page and anticipate objections
• Your conclusion seals the engagement with social proof and a clear CTA

Incorporate the three-story framework to pave the way forward for a better story.

Continuously review your work and ask yourself if it’s addressing your ideal customer.

Need some help with website homepage ideas? Share your homepage url, and we’ll offer a friendly suggestion or two.

The post Use these Website Homepage Ideas to Create a Warm Welcome appeared first on Platform Creator.

First, the fact is Google prefers fresh content. And, like it or not, Google is still the behemoth for search engine results.

Another consideration is marketing strategy. Assuming you have a clear one, you’ve likely made changes over time. You want your content to reflect those changes.

Evaluating and enhancing your web structure and content is a way of shoring up your online presence. And it helps ensure your new content is easy to find.

Now that you know why it’s important let’s look at how to go about a website refresh.

Step 1: Identify and leverage top-performing content

According to personal development expert Tom Ziglar, the fastest way to improve one’s life is to replace bad habits with good ones.

Ziglar’s advice is solid for making a positive life change, and you can do something similar to optimize your website. But rather than replace underperforming content, you’ll eliminate or update it.

Still, you want to make the most of the content already getting good results. Here’s how.

Assess your top-performing posts and make sure you understand why they’re doing better than the rest. Here are a few common causes:

• Are you using the right keywords? A simple and ridiculously inexpensive tool like Keywords Everywhere can help you with this. Trust us; it’s worth the learning curve.
• Is your content aligned with your audience’s search intent? In other words, are you speaking to the motive behind the words the user types into search? For example, if a post is performing well, it’s probably on target because you made it informational, transactional, or research-oriented. Use this knowledge to guide future content and media.
• Is your headline an attention grabber? According to advertising legend David Ogilvy:

“On the average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy. When you have written your headline, you have spent eighty cents out of your dollar.”

Now let’s take a look at a structural element.

Step 2: Check your website speed

Beautiful web design and great content won’t help if site visitors click away because your home page takes forever to load.

Go to https://pagespeed.web.dev/, type in yourcompanyname.com, and check both your mobile and desktop results.

Don’t pay as much attention to the performance score for now. Our is 87, but we know why and have reasons for being ok with it.

As for your site, pay the closest attention to the top two lines, especially TTI or “Time to Interactive,” which describes how quickly the homepage populates and allows visitors to navigate your website.

If it takes over 5 seconds to load, you’ll want to get some help. User experience (UX) studies show that 57% of folks leave if it takes longer than three seconds.

Step 3: Apply your findings to refresh your website

Remember, the goal here is to refresh your website, not revamp it. So here are some basics that don’t require a significant mental or financial investment.

1. Improve the writing quality – don’t underestimate the value of digital writing tools like the Hemingway Editor or Grammarly. AI writing tools such as copy.ai are popping up everywhere and can lessen the blank page woes, but don’t underestimate the power of developing your voice.
2. Re-Examine Your Keyword Strategy – If you’re not using keywords in your title tags, meta descriptions, page headers, and URL structure, now’s the time to start. You want to make sure your pages contain relevant keywords so they’ll rank higher when people search using those terms.
3. Update Your Images. Images are an essential part of your website design, helping users navigate your site more efficiently. In addition, a fresh image can give a unique appeal to an article, like the new paint in a living room.

As a busy business owner, you may not be ready to address all of these items at once. So take an incremental approach.

But do consider getting help on some of the important stuff, such as site speed. It won’t break the bank, and it will make a big difference in performance.

Making these small changes to refresh your website, and seeing positive results, will likely inspire you to learn even more.

The post Adopt this process to refresh your website and boost results appeared first on Platform Creator.

We get a lot of web design questions from our clients and people who call Platform Creator. Where do I start? Do I need several different domain addresses? What is web hosting? If you have a business in Dallas, Fort Worth or any metro area, chances are there is a wealth of freelance web design, SEO and brand strategists near me and you. In addition, there are several free online marketing tools that can help get you started with your online platform.

However, if you’re on a tight budget, here’s a free step by step web design resource that utilizes several professional tools and answers many of these web design questions. Even though we, at Platform Creator, are in the business of serving our web design and video production clients, we understand that not every business or individual has a large enough budget to launch a stunning website.

Nine Web Design Questions.

1). What change are your trying to create? Why is this critical? It’s important to know the reason why you are creating a website in the first place. This will determine your strategy for how it’s designed and on which platform it will be designed. A website should help accomplish many things. It should help you: build trust with whoever visits your site, get found, inform, engage, tell your story and differentiate from others. 

2). What platform should I use to have my website created? Many of the top websites in the world use WordPress. It’s where a large pool of talented web developers create and exchange ideas and tools to best bring businesses from a brick-and-mortal presence to a well-designed graphical representation of their brand online. Here’s another resource to help you determine which website platform to use.

3). Who is your persona? Not just age, income and gender demographics, but dig a little deeper into who your typical customer is. As an example: ‘What does their typical day look like?’, ‘What do they value most?’, ‘Where do they go for information?’, etc. Some of this information can be gathered through Google Analytics. Other info can be gathered through surveys (online and in store) and online research.

4). Once you find out who your ideal persona is, how are your going to develop your website (design, content and functionality) to create a positive user experience and to accomplish your goals? 10 Quick Fixes to Build Killer Landing Pages

5). How often will you need your website updated? This is were local talent comes in. It’s fine to work with someone outside your trade area, but it’s helpful if they understand your market. What’s good for web design in Dallas may not cut it in New York. But, it’s convenient to have a face-to-face meeting on occasion.

Consider price, quality and timing. Normally, you can have two of the three (low price, high quality, fast turnaround). If you want it done fast and at a low price, often the quality will suffer. If you want quality work and at a low price, it might not happen as quickly as you’d like. However, if you’re willing to pay the standard $100 – $175 an hour to keep your website properly maintained and secure, you should expect quality work with a fairly quick turnaround (24 – 48 hours, depending on the complexity of the request).

6). Are you using your site as a lead generation tool? If the answer is yes, it’s best to engage a digital marketing agency or freelancer who has multiple capabilities such as: building lead generating landing pages, designing your email marketing campaigns, marketing to and engaging your ideal persona with social media tools, optimizing your website with an effective SEO strategy and measuring progress through Google Analytics.

7). How will you know if it’s working? Creating your online platform is much more than just building a website. You are competing with hundreds or possibly thousands of other companies online who have had an established online presence for many years. It takes time, at least six to nine months, to make even a small impact online. Of course, it depends on your digital marketing budget.

If you don’t have that kind of time or thousands of dollars to spend on your monthly digital marketing budget, you might want to start with a free website builder like Wix or Strickingly. Are you trying to generate sales or donations online? What’s your baseline for sales now and by what percentage do you expect your sales or donations to increase. Consider times of the year and doing a year over year comparison.

8). How long before you lose patience? As mentioned in number 7, building an audience online takes time and money. Set reasonable goals, possibly a 10 – 15% increase over 6 – 12 months, depending on your ad budget.

9). Who is responsible for messaging? Are you hiring an agency to compose your story or are you handling this on your own? Does your content have good flow throughout each page (reading like a story)? And a bonus question, does your messaging help you accomplish your goals in question 1? Is your content telling your story in an engaging way, with keywords for effective SEO and does it help differentiate yourself from the competition? The message map below can assist you in getting started with your content strategy.

Help For Creating Your Message Map

Platform Creator is a Dallas Ft. Worth area web design and SEO company that also provides video production, social media and SEM services. Give us a call with your web design questions or email us if you are interested getting started with your online platform.

john@platformcreator.com

972-672-8805.

The post 9 Critical Web Design Questions appeared first on Platform Creator.

Since day one, the general game hasn’t changed. Pick out key words and phrases in which you want to rank and build content around those keywords. Each new indexed page is a new way for potential clients to find you on search engines. But, if you haven’t upgraded to a mobile responsive website you are being penalized by Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc. and more importantly your clientele is likely thinking, ‘they’re old school’.

So, you were an early adopter who is now a late adopter of new mobile technology. What to do? How much do I need to spend to update the website and start adopting some inbound marketing principals to attract new traffic to my website and nurture and engage potentially new clients online? It could range from $5,000 to $25,000 to get started. However, there are huge pools of talented content marketing resources to help develop your online content and effective inbound marketing campaigns are available for as little as $2,500 monthly.

We’ll cover more on inbound marketing in our next post. Want to connect to talented low-cost free-lance talent to help you get started? Email us at john@platformcreator.com.

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