Are free websites really free? If you scroll through social media long enough, you’ve probably seen ads or posts offering “free websites”. They sound appealing, especially if you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, or creative just starting out. Who wouldn’t want a professional website for free, right? But as the saying goes: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Here’s what you need to know about these so called “free website” offers and why caution is key. 1. The Free Website Isn’t Really Free Most of the time, the site itself is free only on a temporary trial or comes with severe limitations. You’ll quickly run into restrictions such as: Ads placed all over your site (which you can’t remove unless you pay). A forced domain name like yourbusiness.freewebsitename.com instead of yourbusiness.com. Limited storage and bandwidth. To get a truly usable site, you’ll usually have to upgrade and those upgrades often cost more than building a proper site from the start. 2. Your Data Becomes the Product Many of these platforms survive not by charging you directly, but by collecting and monetizing your information. They may: Sell your email and business info to third parties. Track user behavior for advertising purposes. Lock your content into their system so you can’t easily move it elsewhere. You’re essentially paying with your data and privacy. 3. Hidden Costs Add Up Even if the base site is free, you’ll often discover hidden fees: Premium features (SEO, e-commerce, analytics) only available on paid plans. Expensive hosting or domain name markups. Surprise renewal fees once your “introductory period” ends. The free entry point is simply a hook to get you invested before the bills start coming. 4. You Don’t Own the Platform With many free website services, you’re building on rented land. If the platform shuts down, changes terms, or decides to suspend your account, your site can vanish overnight. Unlike owning your own domain and hosting, you have little to no control. 5. Professionalism Suffers Customers and clients can tell when a site is built on a free platform. Free domains, pop-up ads, and limited functionality can make your brand look less credible. What you save upfront can cost you in reputation and missed opportunities. How to Protect Yourself Do your research before signing up for any “free website” offer. Read the fine print about hosting, domain ownership, and upgrade costs. Invest in your own domain and hosting this gives you control and credibility. Think long-term: A cheap or free solution may hold you back as your business grows. The Bottom Line Free websites promoted on social media are rarely free in the ways that matter. The catch is almost always hidden in ads, data collection, upgrade costs, or lack of ownership. If you’re serious about your online presence, it’s worth investing in a website you truly control. Ready to ditch the gimmicks and build something real? Contact WJM Digital Design today to get started on a website that works for you, not against you https:wjmdigitaldesign.com

The Ultimate Checklist for Launching a New Website   Launching a new website is exciting  but it can also be overwhelming. Whether you’re building a business site, an online store, or a personal portfolio, there are dozens of small but critical steps you don’t want to miss. To help you avoid launch-day disasters, we’ve put together the ultimate website launch checklist that covers everything from design and functionality to SEO and performance. 1. Finalize Your Design and Branding Before you hit “publish,” make sure your site reflects your brand perfectly. ✅ Consistent logo placement and color palette ✅ Clear typography hierarchy (headings, body text, buttons) ✅ High-quality, optimized images (JPEG/PNG/WebP) ✅ Responsive design for desktop, tablet, and mobile 💡 Pro Tip: Preview your site on multiple screen sizes and browsers to ensure it looks great everywhere. 2. Test All Website Functionality A beautiful website is useless if it’s broken. ✅ Check all links for errors or redirects ✅ Test contact forms, booking systems, and checkout processes ✅ Verify interactive elements (sliders, menus, pop-ups) work smoothly ✅ Ensure videos load and play correctly 3. Optimize for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) A successful launch means your website is findable. ✅ Add keyword-optimized title tags and meta descriptions ✅ Use heading tags (H1, H2, H3) correctly ✅ Include alt text for all images ✅ Set up a clean, descriptive URL structure ✅ Create and submit an XML sitemap to Google Search Console 💡 Pro Tip: Use an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math if you’re on WordPress. 4. Improve Site Speed and Performance Fast websites rank higher and keep visitors around longer. ✅ Compress images with tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh ✅ Enable browser caching and a content delivery network (CDN) ✅ Minimize CSS, JavaScript, and HTML files ✅ Test load speed using Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix 5. Set Up Website Analytics If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it. ✅ Install Google Analytics or GA4 ✅ Connect Google Search Console ✅ Set up conversion tracking for forms, sales, or leads ✅ Monitor user behavior with heatmaps (Hotjar, Microsoft Clarity) 6. Ensure Security and Backups Protect your site from hackers and unexpected issues. ✅ Install an SSL certificate (HTTPS) ✅ Enable security plugins or firewalls ✅ Schedule automatic backups (daily or weekly) ✅ Hide backend login pages or limit login attempts 7. Check Legal Pages and Compliance Don’t risk legal trouble — make sure your site is compliant. ✅ Privacy Policy & Terms of Service ✅ Cookie consent banner (GDPR/CCPA compliance) ✅ Accessibility features (WCAG standards) ✅ Copyright disclaimers 8. Announce Your Launch When your site is ready, tell the world. ✅ Write a blog post about the launch ✅ Share on social media platforms ✅ Email your subscribers or past customers ✅ Consider running a paid ad campaign to boost visibility Conclusion Launching a new website is more than just clicking “publish.” By following this checklist, you’ll ensure your site is fast, functional, secure, and ready to rank in search engines from day one. If you need help designing, developing, or optimizing your next website, our team at WJM Digital Design specializes in building high-performance websites that convert. 📩 Contact us today for a free consultation!

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org: What’s the Difference and Which One Should You Choose? If you’re thinking about launching a website or starting a blog, chances are you’ve come across WordPress. But there’s a common point of confusion: WordPress.com vs WordPress.org. At first glance, they sound like the same thing — but they’re actually quite different platforms with distinct features, pros, and cons. In this blog post, we’ll break down the differences between the two, help you understand which one suits your needs, and guide you toward the best choice for your website goals. What is WordPress.org? WordPress.org is the self-hosted version of WordPress. It’s the open-source software that anyone can download for free and install on their own web hosting server. With WordPress.org, you have full control over your website. Key Features: Complete Customization: Install any theme or plugin, modify the code, and design your site exactly the way you want. Ownership: You fully own your website and all its content. Monetization Freedom: Use any ad network, sell products, offer memberships, or add affiliate links with no restrictions. Advanced Functionality: Great for eCommerce (using plugins like WooCommerce), custom development, SEO tools, and more. Pros: Total control and flexibility Thousands of free and premium plugins/themes Full access to your site’s backend and data Ideal for business, large blogs, and complex websites Cons: Requires web hosting (usually $5–$15/month) You handle security, backups, and updates (though plugins can automate much of this) Slightly steeper learning curve for beginners What is WordPress.com? WordPress.com is a hosted platform created by Automattic (the company behind WordPress). It offers a simplified, all-in-one solution for building a website without worrying about hosting, maintenance, or technical tasks. Key Features: No Hosting Needed: Hosting is included. No need to buy a separate plan or domain (though custom domains are available on paid plans). Easy to Start: Perfect for beginners who want a fast and simple setup. Maintenance-Free: WordPress.com handles updates, security, and backups. Pros: Free basic plan available No setup or maintenance required User-friendly dashboard Great for hobby blogs, personal websites, or simple portfolios Cons: Limited customization (especially on the free plan) Cannot upload custom themes or plugins unless on Business or higher plan Limited monetization options on lower-tier plans WordPress.com branding unless you upgrade WordPress.com vs WordPress.org: Quick Comparison Table Feature WordPress.com WordPress.org Hosting Included You provide (self-hosted) Cost Free with paid upgrades Free software, hosting cost Custom Themes & Plugins Limited (paid plans only) Unlimited Monetization Freedom Limited Full control eCommerce Only on paid plans Full eCommerce support Maintenance Handled for you You manage it Suitable For Beginners, personal blogs Businesses, pros, devs Which One Should You Choose? Choose WordPress.com if: You want a hassle-free experience and don’t want to manage hosting or security. You’re a beginner with no technical background. You just need a simple blog or portfolio site. You’re okay with limited flexibility or willing to pay for premium features. Choose WordPress.org if: You want full control and the ability to customize everything. You’re building a business website, store, or scalable project. You need to monetize your content freely. You’re comfortable (or willing to learn) about managing your own hosting. Final Thoughts Both WordPress.com and WordPress.org offer powerful tools for creating websites, but the right choice depends on your goals. If you’re starting out or want something easy and low-maintenance, WordPress.com is a solid option. If you’re aiming for maximum control, customization, and scalability, WordPress.org is the way to go. Still unsure? Start with WordPress.com to get your feet wet — and when you’re ready for more freedom, you can always migrate to WordPress.org. Need help deciding or building your site? Contact WJM Digital Design for professional guidance, custom WordPress development, and support tailored to your goals. info@wjmdigitaldesign.com

At WJM Digital Design Why Good Design is Good Business: The ROI of Investing in Quality Digital Design At WJM Digital Design Why Good Design is Good Business: The ROI of Investing in Quality Digital Design At WJM Digital Design Why Good Design is Good Business: The ROI of Investing in Quality Digital Design At WJM Digital Design Why Good Design is Good Business: The ROI of Investing in Quality Digital Design At WJM Digital Design Why Good Design is Good Business: The ROI of Investing in Quality Digital Design At WJM Digital Design   In today’s fast-moving digital world, design is often the first and most lasting impression your brand makes. Whether it’s a website, a social media ad, or an app interface—how your business looks and feels directly influences how customers engage with you. But great design isn’t just about making things look good. It’s a powerful business tool that can increase trust, boost conversions, and drive long-term growth. Let’s break down why good design is good business—and why investing in quality digital design is one of the smartest decisions a company can make. 1. First Impressions Are Formed in Seconds Research shows that users form a first impression of a website within 50 milliseconds. That’s faster than the blink of an eye. In that fraction of a second, people decide whether your brand feels trustworthy, credible, and worth their time. Good design uses color, layout, imagery, and typography strategically to create a professional and inviting digital space. Bad design, on the other hand, creates friction and sends people running to competitors. Bottom line: You never get a second chance to make a first impression—especially online. 2. Design Directly Impacts Conversion Rates You could have the best product or service in your industry, but if your digital design doesn’t guide users clearly, you’ll lose potential customers. Quality design improves conversion by: Making navigation intuitive Placing call-to-action (CTA) buttons where they make the most sense Designing for mobile responsiveness Using visual hierarchy to guide users toward decisions For example, a well-placed CTA button with the right color contrast can improve click-through rates by 20% or more. Similarly, optimizing page layout can reduce bounce rates and keep users engaged longer. Design isn’t just decoration—it’s strategy. 3. Brand Consistency Builds Trust Your brand’s visual identity needs to be consistent across all digital platforms—from your website to your social media to your email campaigns. Inconsistent colors, fonts, and styles confuse users and reduce your credibility. Strong branding creates familiarity. Familiarity breeds trust. And trust leads to conversions. A professional digital design agency ensures every visual element aligns with your brand’s personality and message, making your business more memorable and trustworthy. 4. Real-World Examples: The ROI of Better Design Here are a few anonymized client examples that demonstrate the power of great design: Client A: After a homepage redesign with better UX and CTAs, their lead conversion rate increased by 48% in just two months. Client B: A full brand refresh and website overhaul led to a 65% increase in time on site and a 30% decrease in bounce rate. Client C: A mobile-first redesign helped them improve mobile sales by 40%, tapping into an audience segment they were previously losing. These numbers show that professional design pays for itself—often faster than you’d expect. 5. The Pitfalls of DIY Design With so many drag-and-drop tools available today, it’s tempting for business owners to create their own designs. But there’s a difference between putting content on a page and crafting a strategic user experience. Common DIY mistakes include: Poor use of white space Inconsistent branding Lack of mobile optimization Unclear navigation CTA buttons that get ignored A digital design agency brings experience, strategy, and polish—turning your vision into a tool that drives real results. 6. How to Know It’s Time for a Redesign Not sure if your current design is holding you back? Here’s a quick checklist: Your site looks outdated or cluttered Your bounce rate is high Your branding is inconsistent Your design isn’t mobile-friendly You’re not getting the conversions you want Users complain about usability or navigation If you checked off even two of these, it’s time to consider a design upgrade. Final Thoughts: Design That Drives Growth In a world where digital is often the first (and sometimes only) touchpoint with your audience, design is no longer optional—it’s essential. It shapes perceptions, builds trust, and directly impacts your bottom line. At WJM Digital Design, we don’t just create beautiful designs—we craft strategic digital experiences that turn visitors into loyal customers. Whether you’re a startup or an established brand, investing in quality design is an investment in growth. 🚀 Ready to Elevate Your Design? Get in touch for a free design audit or a no-obligation consultation. Let’s explore how better design can bring better results to your business.

AI Web Designers Compared to Human Web Designers: What First-Time Site Owners Need to Know   Creating your first website is a big step—whether it’s for a business, a personal brand, or a creative project. With the rise of AI-powered tools like Wix ADI, Bookmark AIDA, and others, it’s easier than ever to build a website quickly. But how does AI really stack up against a human web designer? In this blog post, we’ll break down the pros and cons of both options to help you choose the right path for your website journey. 1. Speed and Efficiency AI Web Designers: AI tools are incredibly fast. Most platforms allow you to create a functional site in minutes by answering a few questions. You don’t need to write code or even think much about design—AI does the heavy lifting. Pros: Instant results No coding or design experience required Pre-built templates optimized for usability Cons: Limited customization Generic design elements Human Web Designers: Working with a human means more time spent on planning, revisions, and communication. But that extra time often results in a more tailored, high-quality product. Pros: Personalized service Unique design aligned with your brand Flexibility in layout and features Cons: Longer timelines Higher cost 2. Cost Considerations AI Web Designers: Most AI website builders are budget-friendly. Some are even free, with optional upgrades for premium features. Pros: Low upfront cost No maintenance fees (in many cases) Bundled with hosting/domain services Cons: Subscription-based pricing may add up Limited design ownership Human Web Designers: Custom design often comes with a higher price tag. Costs vary depending on experience, complexity, and location. Pros: Higher-quality craftsmanship More control over features and branding Cons: Higher initial investment Ongoing fees for updates or support 3. Customization and Flexibility AI Web Designers: AI uses templates and algorithms to generate websites. While some tools offer editing capabilities, they’re often constrained to a specific structure. Pros: Easy drag-and-drop customization Responsive by default Cons: Limited originality Difficult to break away from the mold Human Web Designers: A human designer can build your site from scratch—or modify templates extensively—to suit your exact needs. Pros: Full creative control Tailored user experience Cons: Changes can take more time May require ongoing collaboration 4. Ongoing Support and Maintenance AI Web Designers: Most platforms include customer support, tutorials, and automated updates. Pros: Little to no maintenance needed Help centers and live chat available Cons: Limited help with complex issues Less adaptability to unique problems Human Web Designers: Designers often offer ongoing support contracts or freelance maintenance services. Pros: Personalized help Hands-on problem solving Cons: May be unavailable without a support plan Additional costs for updates or changes 5. Final Results and Long-Term Value AI Web Designers: Ideal for quick projects, MVPs, or small businesses just starting out. Best for: Hobby websites Simple business pages Testing an idea Human Web Designers: Better suited for long-term branding and businesses aiming to stand out. Best for: Growing businesses eCommerce platforms Unique brand experiences Conclusion: Which Should You Choose? If you’re launching your first website and need something fast, affordable, and easy, AI web design tools are a great starting point. They’re perfect for testing ideas or getting your brand online quickly. But if you’re building a business you plan to scale—or if you want a truly custom experience—a human web designer offers the creativity and strategic thinking that AI can’t yet replicate. Pro Tip: Some first-time website owners start with AI and later upgrade to a custom design when their business grows. It’s not an either-or decision—you can evolve with your goals.

10 Biggest Stumbling Blocks for People Starting Their Own Website Starting a website is an exciting venture, whether for a business, personal brand, or creative project. However, many beginners face unexpected challenges that can slow down their progress or even lead to giving up altogether. In this blog, we’ll explore the ten biggest stumbling blocks people encounter when launching a websiteand how to overcome them. 1. Lack of a Clear Purpose Before building a website, it’s crucial to define its purpose. Many people start a website without a clear goal, which leads to confusion in design, content, and marketing strategies. Ask yourself: What do I want my website to achieve? Whether it’s selling products, sharing blog posts, or building a portfolio, having a clear vision will guide your decisions. 2. Choosing the Wrong Platform With so many website builders and content management systems available—such as WordPress, Wix, Shopify, and Squarespace—choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Selecting the wrong platform can limit functionality or increase costs later. Research different platforms to find one that aligns with your needs, technical skills, and budget. 3. Technical Difficulties Many beginners struggle with technical aspects such as domain registration, hosting setup, coding, and website maintenance. If you’re not tech-savvy, consider using beginner-friendly website builders or hiring a professional to help with the setup. WJM Digital Design offers expert website development services to ensure a smooth and hassle-free launch. 4. Poor Website Design and User Experience (UX) A slow, cluttered, or hard-to-navigate website can drive visitors away. A well-designed website should be visually appealing, mobile-friendly, and easy to navigate. Keep your design simple, ensure fast loading times, and use a responsive layout to provide a great user experience. WJM Digital Design specializes in modern, user-friendly website designs tailored to your brand’s needs. 5. Struggles with SEO and Online Visibility Building a website is just the first step—getting people to find it is another challenge. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) helps websites rank higher on search engines like Google, but many beginners overlook this. Learning basic SEO techniques, such as optimizing page titles, using keywords, and creating quality content, can improve your website’s visibility. Need help? WJM Digital Design provides SEO optimization services to enhance your online presence. 6. Content Creation Challenges A successful website needs engaging and valuable content. Whether it’s blog posts, product descriptions, or multimedia, many website owners struggle to create high-quality content consistently. Planning a content strategy and using tools like AI writing assistants, Canva for design, or hiring freelancers can help maintain consistency. WJM Digital Design can assist with content creation to keep your website fresh and engaging. 7. Security Issues and Cyber Threats Many beginners don’t consider website security, making their sites vulnerable to hacking, malware, and data breaches. To protect your website, use SSL certificates, strong passwords, and security plugins. Regular backups can also prevent data loss in case of an attack. WJM Digital Design offers website security solutions to safeguard your online presence. 8. Budgeting and Unexpected Costs Although many website platforms offer free plans, a serious website often requires investments in hosting, domains, themes, and plugins. Many beginners underestimate these costs and run into budget issues. Before starting, list all potential expenses and choose cost-effective solutions that match your needs. WJM Digital Design provides affordable web solutions to fit your budget. 9. Difficulty in Driving Traffic and Monetizing Attracting visitors and making money from a website can be tough. Whether you plan to use ads, affiliate marketing, or sell products, generating traffic is essential. Effective digital marketing strategies such as social media promotion, email marketing, and paid ads can help grow your audience and increase revenue. WJM Digital Design offers marketing services to help drive traffic and increase conversions. 10. Lack of Time and Consistency Running a website requires continuous effort, including updates, content creation, and marketing. Many people give up too soon because they don’t see immediate results or struggle to stay consistent. To overcome this, set realistic goals, create a schedule, and automate certain tasks where possible. WJM Digital Design can manage your website and marketing efforts, allowing you to focus on your business. Conclusion Starting a website comes with challenges, but with the right approach, you can overcome these stumbling blocks and build a successful online presence. By planning ahead, investing in learning, and staying consistent, you can create a website that meets your goals and attracts an audience. If you need expert guidance, WJM Digital Design is here to help with web development, design, SEO, security, and marketing services. Are you currently facing any challenges with your website? Let us know in the comments, and we’d be happy to help!

How to Create a Website 1. Web Hosting Deciding where you’re going to put your website doesn’t have to be your first step, but it should be on the top of your list. This location is called Web hosting and there are lots of options to choose from. If you’ve decided to hire a Web designer to work on your site, he or she might have a preference as to what host you should use. Talk to them to see if they have suggestions. Choosing a domain name can be as important to your company as choosing the company name. In fact, in several cases, companies have changed their name to their website domain because people recognized it more readily than the company name. So finding a domain name can be very important. These tips should help you choose wisely. Branding and Your Domain Name Whether you are trying to sell paper clips or web design services, your website domain name will affect your brand. As I said above, some companies have even changed their company name to their website domain name. So, when you’re choosing a domain name it should be something that you could live with if it were your company name. In fact, the best domains are your company name. Your current customers know your company name and they’re comfortable with it. Some of your customers may have already typed in your name with .com at the end to see if that’s your website. So if you can get a domain name that is your company name, you might have the perfect domain. To do: Check to see if your company name is already taken. Go to your Web browser and type http://www.your company name.com/ into the URL box. If the result is a competitor or something you wouldn’t want to be associated with, you can try to buy the domain or you might want to consider changing your company name. How Long Should Your Domain Name Be? It depends upon your domain name registrar, but in general domain names can be anywhere from 26 to 67 characters long. But just because you can, doesn’t mean that you should have a domain name that is over 30 or 40 characters long. Remember: ·       Your customers need to type your domain in ·       Even if they’re clicking a link, that link needs to be typed in by someone ·       Longer domains are often harder to remember ·       I recommend sticking with domain names that are no longer than 20 characters or so. To do: How long is your company name? Is it more than 20 characters including spaces? What about not including spaces? Special Characters in Domain Names There aren’t a lot of special characters allowed in domain names. For the most part you can use alphabetic and numeral characters as well as hyphen (-). Some domain registrars may allow other characters, but those are the most common ones allowed. Camel Case or Dashes in Domain Names Camel case is when you see two words that are typically separated written as one word with the inner word capitalized. e.g. FedEx. Camel case is very popular for domains because even though the domain is registered in all lowercase, you can write it in camel case to differentiate the words. But you can also use hyphens or underscores to separate the words. Dashes are considered preferable to camel case if you want search engines to recognize separate words in your domain name. However, search engines are getting better and better at reading the domains with or without dashes. The problem is that dashes are not as user friendly to customers. People are more likely to write your domain name without dashes, and then possibly even end up on your competitor’s site. So if you can avoid dashes in the domain name, that’s better. To do: If you were planning on using a domain name with dashes in it, check the site with the dashes removed. Is it a competitor? Bad Word Combinations in Domain Names Once you think you have your domain name figured out, get someone else to look at it. Preferably someone who has no knowledge of your business or your company name. You don’t want to end up with a domain name that has a completely different meaning from the one you intended. I won’t print the worst examples(and don’t follow that link if you’re easily offended), but I’m speaking of something like www.ipanywhere.com. This domain might seem perfect for a company that provides IP services, but when read aloud, they seem to be advocating something better kept in the bathroom.    2. Domain Name A domain name is the address where your website will be found on the Web. The best domain name is one that uses the company’s name in the URL. But sometimes that can be hard to get, if you haven’t already registered it. If you can’t get your company name, then consider something catchy or memorable that your customers can associate with you. Remember that it should be something that you like and can live with for a long time, as there’s a possibility that people will start remembering your domain name before they remember your real company name.   3. Plan, Design, and Build the Website Don’t neglect the planning. Even if you’re going to hire a professional Web designer to build your site, you should have an idea of what you want on it and how it should look. And don’t be afraid to build it on your own. The key to doing it yourself is to start small. Build just a few pages at first, and then add to your site as you grow more comfortable building Web pages. A site plan will help you create a business website that meets your needs and the needs of your customers. By taking the time at the beginning to draft a plan, you can avoid pitfalls and make sure you have the content needed to get your site off the ground. Your site plan should include:

Why Have a Website? Benefits of an Effective Website A website provides an instant visual presentation: Not every organization can afford television advertising, but a website provides a visualization element and is always available to anyone with Internet access. If a customer has questions that can be better answered on a website than over the phone, this is a valuable asset to your marketing mix. A website can be found through search engines: There is a good possibility that you found this website through a search engine such as Google. Between 80-95 percent of all website traffic usually comes from search engines. You can target visitors who are actively looking for you, your product, your service, or your information. A website is an extremely cost effective way to advertise to those who are already interested in what you have to offer. A website is always available: No other medium for being available 24/7/365 even compares to a website. With the modest cost of developing a website and putting it online, there is nothing even close to being as cost effective. Printed materials are easily misplaced. TV and radio commercials air at preset times. A website can be visited at a time that is convenient for the visitor, and it is more engaging when designed correctly. A website is interactive: Even just a few years ago, most websites were nothing more than an electronic brochure. Their real potential was not being realized. That has now changed dramatically. Website visitors have the ability to control and interact with a well designed website. You can take a virtual tour, spin an object around to see all sides, provide direct feedback, and much more. A website can target each visitor specifically: Every visitor’s needs are met with an effective website design. With proper targeting, you have their attention because they are already interested. By strategically planning your website, you can customize each area to the type of website visitor who can benefit from it. It is even possible to customize web pages to individual users for added convenience. A website is easily updated: Unlike printed materials, websites can be changed on a minute by minute basis if needed. The expensive production costs of video, and the editing time needed for a good advertisement, make websites even more attractive. Plus, video can be provided on a website, and printed materials can be made available for instant download on a website. A website saves on printing and mailing costs: By making printed materials available on a website, it benefits both you and your website visitors. They have instant access so they do not have to wait for your mail to arrive, and you save on printing and mailing. Your website can have even more impact because you can illustrate things such as movements and animation that printed materials alone cannot show. A website improves customer relations: Aside from the fact that when a customer asks you for your website address, they expect you to have one, there are numerous benefits a website can offer to your customer relations. These are only a few: Customers can make an informed buying decision. If they are deciding between you and a competitor, your website could mean the difference between who gets the business. It also provides a way for customers to benefit after a sale. If you provide information or support through a website that makes them happier about buying from you, it strengthens your business. By providing an opt-in mailing list, your customers and website visitors will give you permission to contact them about special offers or additional things they may be interested in purchasing from you. There are a lot more benefits to having a website than what we have listed here. We encourage you to contact us for more specific benefits that an effective web design can offer you. If you already have a website design that is not meeting your expectations, or you are not getting the benefits that you should be getting, then we can help you change that.

10 Benefits of Website Redesign Website redesign is nothing but updating your company vision, mission, values and the new services and products to gaining potential customers and visitors. It’s an investment for your future Business. Website redesign can help in following ways. To stay up-to-date with new technologies. To increase search engine friendliness. To reduces the cost. To communicate in a better way with your customers using web2.0 standards. To make your website load fast. To make your website more appealing and easy navigation system. To gain more visitors and increase sales. To make the website more visually appealing with latest graphical technologies. To compatible for latest browsers like Firefox, IE, Safari and Google Chrome. To have better accessibility in all screen resolutions.

21 Reasons why you shouldn’t use a website builder Flash. In the case of many site builders, especially the one that rhymes with “Six”, sites are usually created with Flash. No matter what they say, Flash is not search engine friendly. Google recommends against it. 1 page only. Because they sometimes limit you to just one page (the Flash portions make it seem like you have multiple pages, but technically, you don’t.), you decrease the amount of content Google can crawl. Decreased content means fewer keywords. Fewer keywords mean fewer searchers and traffic. No data. Again with the 1-page-only thing: you can’t create multiple kinds of keywords, page titles, or meta data to be indexed for other search terms. It’s like having a phone book with only 1 page. Google unfriendly. Google can’t verify your site in Webmaster Tools. That may be too advanced for some right away, but for a team like us, we use Webmaster Tools to monitor site downtime, crawl rates, broken links, and search traffic. Poor analytics. Inaccurate site analytics, caused by older scripting technologies, don’t allow many site builder users to get an accurate picture of a site’s traffic and performance. We use Google’s highly recommended Analytics service. All of our clients receive a report each month indicating how their site is doing. Bad taste. The templates look like something out of Microsoft’s template directory. If you think that’s okay, I have a bridge to sell you. Bad first impressions. “I’m just a small shop, I need a site for cheap, I’ll use one anyway.” Have you ever heard the expression, “First impressions are everything?” You may think your customers aren’t discerning enough to figure out the difference, but they’ll know something is lame about it. Would you trust Amazon.com if it looked like your site? This is what you get. Just look at this example. No really, just look. Not mobile friendly. Slow-loading self-built sites, that are data and graphics laden, turn off all mobile users and churn through limited data plans faster. Only desktop users can see your site and they won’t wait longer than 5-7 seconds for a site to load. Would you? Rome wasn’t built in a day. You can build a website with any other site builder in about 30 minutes. It takes more time to bake a cake. Don’t you assume your business or organization deserves more time and energy for it’s most important public-facing thing than a cake? We take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the size and scope of a project. No branding. Without a real domain name, having a URL of suchnsuch.com/username sounds a bit cumbersome to put on your business cards, or say over the phone. Flash. Again without a domain name, you’re missing out on the most important thing Google looks to for keywords. “Hmm, this site must be about nothing”, said Google. No differentiation with your competitors. At the time of this writing, The main competitor has about a few hundred templates. GoDaddy has far fewer. Some boast 42,785,291 users. GoDaddy has many millions, too. Guess how many other people have a website that looks exactly like everyone else’s. Ads. You get a big “THIS SITE WAS CREATED WITH SUCH-N-SUCH.com CREATE YOUR OWN FOR FREE!” banner at the bottom of your site. We put our name at the bottom of our sites because that’s what artists do. But we don’t put a big “HIRE US TO DO YOUR SITE TOO!” down there. No support. If you have questions, no one can hear you scream. They have support staff, but in many cases you have to pay. Would you pay your bank or insurance company everytime you called to ask a question? Forever costs. The highest-priced plans are about $30 a month, or $360 a year. Forever. If you hired someone (we’d love it to be us), you could pay for a new site that would pay for itself in about 2 years with no monthly payments in perpetuity aside from the domain and hosting renewal costs. Flash. Have I mentioned Flash? The support they give you is purely technical. They won’t review your site for errors, they won’t help you craft a marketing message, they won’t help you build a better business or tell your story. The same goes for GoDaddy’s site builder, Register.com, 1and1, the whole lot. No such thing as a free lunch. Nothing’s ever really free, is it? 1&1’s “My Website” starts out on a free trial, and then charges you. I know a company that was paying $1250 a year for their Register.com online store until Register.com lost a license to do business with eBay and shut them down because of Register.com’s own screwup. They are now happy clients of ours and they paid that once for the setup and they’re good to go. Domain holdups. We had a phone call from a site builder user who wanted to move away from them. She had been paying for their professional design services (see #8 again for a sample of those services) for some time and was shocked to learn of the many parts of her site that wasn’t driving traffic. And she knew it wasn’t because she didn’t have any business. Now that she wanted to get away, the domain registration was tied up with the site builder. Her domain name was stuck in some DIY Hell. Bad business. GoDaddy is a company we don’t support anymore on account of their terrible business practices, objectification of women, and their former CEO used to hunt elephants for fun. Even Forbes says you should get away. We care. No one cares more about your success than a good team. We have every incentive to help your business grow because when you grow, we do too. We’re only as good as our last project. The builders, however, will continue to find people who don’t know better and don’t care and are only good so long as their shareholders are happy.