by Charleen Montano May 16, 2022

Your business is running slow. I mean, really dang slow. Is this an isolated incident, or has your team been slowing you down for a while now?

You see, your customers don’t care about the struggles of your business, only the results that you deliver and their satisfaction in the process– truth be told, right straight to the heart.

Honestly, we all know that. All businessmen know that. It’s given.

The world has changed dramatically in the last decade and will continue to change at an even faster pace. Businesses that don’t keep up with this change risk becoming obsolete. This is due to the fact that consumers are no longer satisfied with simply having a product or service available– they want it now!

In business, speed is your competitive advantage.

Speed. Something we all need in business, right? Wrong. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. But seriously, though– speed is essential to the success of your business and actually one of the reasons it won’t fail.

If you’re able to do something faster than your competition, then you have an advantage over them.

This applies to both internal processes, such as payroll or sales reports, and external processes, such as responding to customer emails or shipping orders.

Speed matters in all aspects of the business– including customer service.

Faster companies are more profitable and more agile than slower ones. The faster you can move, the better your chances of success.

So how do you make your business faster? In this article, we’ll define speed and look at its role in running a business.

Or, if a video is more enjoyable to you, you can also watch the live video– Jose Silvera, the CEO of Strive Enterprise, makes videos that could help you grow your business– live weekdays at 9 AM and 3 PM PST on YouTube and Instagram!

What is Speed in Business?

Speed is often confused with execution speed, but it is actually much more than that.

Speed is the ability to move quickly and efficiently with minimal friction.

Speed can be defined as the time it takes to complete a task or activity divided by the resources used to complete it. The result is expressed in terms of time saved or gained compared to other methods or processes.

In business, speed is how a business can execute its strategy. It can be measured by how quickly a company can produce or deliver its goods or services to customers.

Speed is one of the most critical factors in business. It’s not just about your ability to move fast but also about how quickly you can react to changes in the market, customer needs, and new technologies.

The speed of a company’s response can be measured by its time-to-market (TTM), which refers to how long it takes an organization to bring a product or service to market after conceiving it. A company with a TTM of just six months will beat its competition on speed alone.

Businesses that operate at high speeds have several advantages over competitors:

They can adapt more quickly to change. A fast-moving company can respond more quickly when customers’ needs change or when competitors introduce new products or services into the market. This allows them to stay competitive longer than slower companies might be able to do so.

Why You Need Speed in Business?

Speed is the new currency in business. If you can’t keep up with the competition, you’re going to lose out– that’s a fact.

But what if there was a way to increase your sales, save time (and money), and grow your business? Well, you’re in luck.

So, here’s to tell you about 9 reasons speed is essential for business success.

FASTER RESULTS

If you want to get from point A to point B quickly, you should use a fast car. If you’re going to get more done in less time, you should use speed in your business processes.

Speed isn’t just about being faster than competitors, though. It’s also about being better at what you do. If you can complete a task in less time than it takes others to do it, they’re going to come back to you again and again because they know they won’t have any problems getting things done with you.

 MORE RESULTS

One of the reasons you need speed in your business is to gain more results. It’s not just about getting things done; it’s about doing something right.

The faster you can get something done, the more time you have to work on other essential tasks.

You may think that working at a slower pace will help you avoid mistakes, but that’s not necessarily true. In fact, it can be quite the opposite– working slowly can lead to more errors and mistakes because you’re spending so much time on one thing.

Working quickly means having more time to do other things than just one thing. And this is important because it gives you more time for rest and reflection, which will keep your mind fresh and give you new ideas for what else needs to be done in your business.

MORE EXPOSURE

The more exposure you get, the better. It’s simple logic– the bigger your audience is, the more potential customers you will have. In addition to that, more people coming through the door equals more profit!

If you want to sell more products, you need to make them available to more people faster so they can see what they are and decide whether or not they want them.

With that said, It’s important to realize that speed isn’t always about being fast or quick but about moving quickly enough so that people can actually experience what you have to offer.

 MORE RESPECT

The faster you are, the more credibility you get for your business from your clients and your team.

If you can do it more quickly than other people, they will think of you as an expert. But if you are slow and inconsistent, they will feel that you don’t know what you’re doing and perhaps not even care about their success or failure.

Speed means being able to deliver results quickly. It’s so important because it gives us confidence that we won’t disappoint our clients or customers. When we fail to deliver quickly enough to meet their expectations, we lose their trust and respect.

And when we lose their trust and respect, it’s tough to gain it back later on down the road when another opportunity comes for them to work with us again!

This is what we call “respect-by-default.” If you get things done on time and deliver on time, people will assume that you are competent and trustworthy.

MORE MONEY IN VS MONEY OUT

Everyone wants to make money, and the best way to do that is to spend less than you earn. To reach that goal, though, you have to be able to generate enough cash flow that you can actually take money out of business.

There are many ways to increase revenue in your business, but one of the most important things is speed. The faster you can process orders, send invoices, or collect payment on invoices, the sooner you’ll be able to get paid. 

This is why one of the reasons that you need speed in your business is that you can produce more money in than money out. You can’t do that if you’re spending too much time on things like invoicing and expense reports.

Many companies get bogged down with inefficient systems for tracking sales, tracking expenses, and sending invoices. Instead, they should invest in a system that allows them to do all three things simply and quickly to get back to focusing on what they do best– running their company!

MORE & BETTER RECYCLED MONEY

The faster you grow, the more money you can make, and the more money you make, the easier it will be to make more of it.

Speed allows you to produce more money and reinvest it back into your business. You’ve got more money coming in than going out, so you can reinvest more money into your business and start growing even faster than before.

Money loves speed.

You can’t get rich by putting in the same amount of work and making the same amount of money over and over again. If you want to make more money, you need to work smarter and more prominent. This is one of the reasons why it’s so important to learn how to build a business that runs on autopilot.

The faster your business grows, the easier it will be for you to grow faster.

 MORE KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

The secret to achieving the right speed in running your business is gaining more knowledge and experience better than your competitors.

Speed is a powerful tool for learning and growth as well.

When you move faster, you learn faster. And when you learn faster, you can implement better strategies and tactics.

The more quickly you can do something, the more likely you’ll get right on the first try.

But when it comes to business, speed isn’t just about doing faster. It’s also about learning from mistakes and successes as quickly as possible so that you can keep improving and your business.

LESS DOWNTIME & LESS DISTRACTIONS

When you run a business, it’s easy to get distracted by all the things going on around you and forget about the important things.

Having speed in your business allows you to focus on what needs to be done and get it done. When you’re in a rush, there are no distractions, which means you don’t need to waste time dealing with them.

Speed also allows for more productivity. When you’re moving quickly, there is no time for procrastination or hesitation; this means that your staff doesn’t waste time trying to figure out what to do next or if they should do something at all.

Being fast also means not having to worry about overhead costs such as rent, utilities, staffing, and maintenance costs. If your company is set up properly and can be scaled at any time without additional labor costs, your overhead will always be minimal!

MORE EXPANSION

Last but not least, one of the reasons you need speed in your business is that you will have more expansion.

If you are not growing, you are dying.

If you want to make more money, you need to expand.

If you want to expand, speed is essential.

If you take one step forward every day and one step back every week, then in a year, you will be where you were when you started. It does not matter how hard you work or how much effort you put into it; if your progress is slow, then your business will never get anywhere.

Speed means momentum, and momentum means success. You cannot have success without momentum, and if your business lack speed, it will never gain momentum.

The faster a company expands, the more likely they are to succeed because they are expanding at an exponential rate rather than a linear rate which allows them to grow exponentially faster than its competitors who may have started out with similar resources but have failed to take advantage of this opportunity because they lacked the speed required for exponential growth.

5 Quick Tips on How to Increase Speed in Business

Be Organized and Prepared.

Set goals and deadlines for yourself and others involved in the project or task at hand.

Don’t stretch yourself too thin; remember that multitasking doesn’t equal productivity!

Don’t miss a deadline– set up reminders in your calendars, so there’s no chance of missing them (or be prepared for a late fee).

Keep an eye out for slowdowns that could affect your productivity (such as bad weather or traffic jams).

In the world of business, you don’t want to be slow–you don’t have time to be slow! So, it’s important to maximize your speed.

By using some of these quick steps and reminding yourself of the importance of speed in business we have provided above, you can operate at a faster rate without sacrificing quality. In the end, you’re likely to accomplish more in a shorter amount of time.

At a high level, the end result is that we are all our own consumers, and we all promote or consume businesses that align with our goals and mindset. Those who build businesses based on innovation, quality, and a strong customer support system will likely enjoy increased growth.

A business’s ability to create value for its customers is key, and those who take the time to address customer challenges quickly will reap the rewards from doing so.

While we can’t provide any magic bullets, we hope that this article will help you see your way through the maze that big corporations have created for us all. And even if you’re not in a big corporation, these approaches can still help shave off time for your own business.

After all, when it comes down to it: time really is money!

How Can A Website Helps You Speed Up Your Business?

A website is a great way to speed up your business because you can use it to make the process of finding, booking, and paying for your services as fast and easy as possible.

You can also use it to increase the visibility of your business by allowing potential customers to find you online. 

You can’t do business without a website.

And you can’t do business without speed.

But what if you had to choose between the two?

Good news: You don’t have to! 

A fast, reliable website will help you get your customers in and out of your door as quickly as possible, so they can move on to the next thing on their list of things to do today. When you have a faster site that’s easier to navigate, you’ll see more traffic—and more traffic means more customers and more sales from people who are actually looking for what you have in store.

Get it started! 

Contact us.

(833) 886-2681

Strive Enterprise Official Website

We are the Best Web developers & Online Marketers in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Check out our Portfolio

We Also Offer Digital Marketing For Small & Big Businesses, SEO, E-Commerce, WordPress, PPC Campaign Development & Management for Google, Bing & Yahoo!, Facebook Ads, and more!

See you!

by Charleen Montano April 1, 2022

So, you’re thinking of getting a website for your business.

But you’re stuck on the process of where to start, what should be things to consider, and you’re having trouble getting the best design that fits your business.

Do you really need a website? Is getting a website essential to growing a business?

Well, yes, and yes!

“Your website is one of the biggest assets your business has, it’s like a salesman that never stops and keeps your door open 24/7”

You can think of your website as the front door to your business; it provides your clients with more information about you and gives them a sense of what you offer. So, make a good impression through it by taking the time to learn about what you need to know before getting one.

Ready to dig in? 

Let’s do this.

Is video more your thing? See the video version of the post, right here:

See dozens more videos on our YouTube channel.

Jose Silvera – YouTube

In this guide we will be covering the following:

What is a Website? (Most common types of Websites)

How does the website work?

Why do you need a website?

The 5 Elements to know before getting a website

How do you want your website to serve your business? (Factors to consider when getting a website)

Ready to get the most creative and catchy website?

WHAT IS A WEBSITE?

OK, let’s start by defining it briefly.

So, what is a website exactly?

Generally, a website consists of one or more web pages as well as related content that is published on one or more servers under a common domain name.

Websites usually consist of photos, videos, and text, and contain information about a business or organization.

Examples are wikipedia.org, google.com, and amazon.com. All publicly accessible websites collectively constitute the World Wide Web.

But what are the types of Websites by the way?

What kind of websites will you actually need?

There are actually dozens of different types of websites, and choosing one that is right for your business is crucial. And in order to choose the web that is right for your needs as a designer or small business owner, you need to be familiar with all the types of web pages available.

And because we care for you so much, here are the most popular type of websites you should know:

• Business

            Basically, a business website serves to provide general information about your company or as a platform for e-commerce.

• eCommerce

            It allows people to buy and sell physical goods, services, and digital products online rather than in a physical location. It also allows a business to accept orders, ship and handle logistics, and provide customer service.

• Personal Blog

            This site allows people to share their experiences or information with other readers on any topic.

• Online Portfolio

            Online portfolios (also called digital portfolios) are a digital collection of works, skills, and experiences that you have developed.

• Online forum

            A website that facilitates the exchange of information between users about a particular topic. The forum allows for questions and answers and may be monitored to ensure that the content is appropriate.

• Non-profit websites

            While non-profit websites do not intend to sell products or services to their visitors, they still need to convince people to donate to their cause. Charity organizations use their websites to connect with potential patrons.

• Brochure website

                        It is a short site that contains the main information people need to know about your business. In addition to allowing uninterrupted access to information about you and providing communication with those who visit your website, the brochure website also serves as a communication tool for your customers.

Often, business uses their websites to attract leads or prospects but don’t close sales through them. Instead, the website aims to generate qualified leads and allow them to submit their information to the business, who will then contact them directly.

It should be obvious by now that the purpose of having a website is to express yourself in any way you wish.

But, let me explain it further, but briefly….

HOW DOES THE WEBSITE WORK?

Not a techie? No worries. It is vital that you know how a website works to avoid being taken for a ride in the future.

It’s easy for anyone to understand what a website is: we click on the letters with the blue thing, we Google things, we type in the www-dot-something, then we are looking for a bunch of pictures. Websites work like that right?

To explain it further, as soon as your domain name is typed into a visitor’s browser address bar, their computer makes a request to connect to your web server. DNS looks up the server’s IP address before the request reaches the webserver.

Web servers are internet-connected computers that receive requests to display web pages. An IP address provides your computer with access to a web server.

That’s how websites work.

Don’t worry, you don’t need to understand everything to get a website. Just knowing a simple glimpse of how it works will do. You just gotta have an idea.

Really.

Now, you got an idea of what is a website and how it works. And now you are thinking, why do you need one.

Are you a small business owner? Did you just start your business and your friend told you that you need to get one?

Hmm, I like your friend.

Really.

So, if I was right then keep reading. We will help you out.

WHY DO YOU NEED A WEBSITE?

 The majority of businesses cannot survive without a web presence, so there is no reason not to have one. You can make great use of your company’s website as an effective marketing tool. The benefits outweigh the downsides.

 In fact, “81% of retail shoppers research products online buying.” GE Capital Retail Bank reports that a majority of retail consumers start their search online.

Customers would be unlikely to think of you without a website.

Therefore, if you do not have a website for your business then you are not set up for success.

 Now, you must be thinking “So, does this mean I simply need a website to gain customers and then become successful?”

 The answer is: Yes and no, my friend.

 Businesses often make the mistake of thinking that any website will do. The logic goes: If you build it, they will come. Beware! It is also better to not have a website than have a bad one.

 By getting a website, I recommend you talk to an expert about it. They can help you out with the type of website you are looking for or what may be the type of website that fits your business. Or if you have a friend that can help you out, then talk to them.

 The process of getting a website is not that as simple as “Hello, and thank you.” You need to go through all the factors to consider. Talk to someone you can trust to avoid making a mistake and regret it in the future.

Trust me, it will all be worth it!

 And because we care a lot about you so much,

 Here’s the list of things presented by Jose Silvera – Owner of the GUI Web Pro, CEO of Strive Enterprise, a website expert, digital Marketer recognized by Google, and Bing ads for training campaigns with over 100% conversion rates.

THE 5 ELEMENTS YOU SHOULD HAVE BEFORE YOU BEGIN GETTING A WEBSITE:

Images

Make sure you have images that represent your business. Whether you hire a professional photographer or a friend who takes good photographs, I recommend taking your own picture. It is important to get your original picture.

Imagine visiting a website and seeing familiar Google images, the experience will make a bad impression on you and your business.

Images can be used to draw attention to your site and direct your visitor’s gaze. Using them to present information can be very beneficial. Additionally, images are a great way to draw your visitors in and engage them in your content.

 Now, you must realize that using your own pictures on your site will not only make you unique but will also help you build rapport and trust with your customers.

 Domain Name

A good way to name your website is [Businessname].com. In addition to making your website appear more professional, by having a website address such as this, you can establish a brand.

 Avoid having a website name such as  “We are the best in the market – dot-com.” — No! Please. Do you know how that sounds?

 I hope you know.

 It sounds lame, my friend. So, do me a favor. Don’t do that. Thank you.

 Remember this formula: yourbusinessname.com that will do the trick.

 Text / Content

When getting a website, you should also consider getting the text before you begin. Think about what you really want to highlight such as your experiences.

Content that captures the reader’s attention can be challenging. The average website visitor will spend just a few seconds on the page before deciding what to do. To figure this out, you must also know your audience, which we will discuss later on this page, by doing so, as they are seeing what they want, they are most likely to stay longer and even engaged.

Logo

By creating an original logo for your business, you will be able to create or establish your brand. You should ensure it is creative and attractive enough to catch the attention of potential clients.

 Ensure your logo reflects your business and the services you provide.

 You can hire someone to create one for you by getting freelancers from websites such as fiverr.com and upwork.com and of course, pays them as per their particular rate in dollars to build an awesome logo for you. Or, you can create your own if you are crafty and know how to use Photoshop.

 Now, if you have these 5 elements, you are good to go.

 Do not even begin until you have it!

 OK, So, you have those 5 things done? Now what?

 WELL, THE NEXT THING TO CONSIDER IS: HOW YOU WANT YOUR WEBSITE TO SERVE YOUR BUSINESS…

 Think about…..

What is the Purpose of your website? Or what SHOULD be the purpose of your website?

                   This could be something like, “I want to have some online presence because my business is already established and I’m doing fine.” Or you just want people to glance at your design and the stuff you do, or you want to have a place you want to show your portfolio, and whatever…

Just think of the things like, what do you want a website to do for you, what do you want the website to accomplish, or why do you want a website?

Let me help you…

Understand Your Customer.

A businessman should, of course, understand their customer by doing some research and knowing who they are and what they want such as general preferences that could easily catch their interest. 

“In the business world, it doesn’t matter what you like, but what the customer likes!”

So, here is what he got to say for getting to understand your customer: Get a sheet of paper and make your customer’s profile.

 Take note: If you are a business owner, you are helping your customer’s problem. You are solving them. So, figure out what their problem is and make a solution for them.

In general: By knowing your customer’s backgrounds, you will have an idea of what they want and how to help them out. Build a rapport!

Keep in mind: Only the relevant things, you can ask them. Don’t be a stalker, it’s illegal:)

 Create an Appropriate Design.

Now, we get to the part of the design. You might want to consider how your website should look, but you have no idea what that should be like. Make sure to not make your website look like that of your competitors, or you will fall behind them. 

Making a good impression on potential customers is easier with a well-designed website. You can also nurture leads more effectively and increase conversion rates. More importantly, it provides an enjoyable user experience for your website visitors, allowing them to navigate and access it easily.

So, by getting a website you should also make a big consideration on what is your customer’s general ideal design. And going back to the last topic, you can achieve this by getting to know their preferences and how you can make it an enjoyable experience for them for visiting your website.

Remember to always think about how to keep your customers interested in your business, and don’t even consider what your competitors do to their sites.

“If you just copy the competition, they will always be ahead of you.”

Be unique and original!

Dominate the market!

Be the map, let them follow you!

READY TO CREATE THE MOST AMAZING AND CATCHY WEBSITE?

 If you’ve made it this far, then looks like you can start looking for a good designer/developer.

 Great business owners aren’t born, they are made.

 Go and take the lead!

 Hey, before we say goodbye. Would like to meet the most amazing web developers that can help you with your problem in getting the right website for you?

 I know,

 I should’ve said it before, but here you go….

Contact us!

(833) 886-2681

Strive Enterprise Official Website

Strive Enterprise has been selected among the Top Web Design Companies in Las Vegas by Designrush

We are the Best Web developers & Online Marketers in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Check out our Portfolio

We Also Offer Digital Marketing For Small & Big Businesses, SEO, E-Commerce, WordPress, PPC Campaign Development & Management for Google, Bing & Yahoo!, Facebook Ads, and more!

Adios!  See you!

Strive Enterprise has been selected among the Top Web Design Companies in Las Vegas by Design rush

by Charleen Montano April 8, 2022

As a general rule, you should expect a web designer to charge based on their proficiency. On top of that, you’ll have to pay for the monthly maintenance. However, this depends on the nature of the website. And have in mind that custom websites will cost more.

But before we dig into this, if you are a small business owner I want to remind you that you don’t need to have a fancy website to start. A decent website will do for a fresh start and then you can upgrade later.

However, if you are willing to take the chance and if you are ready to take the risk then do it.

“If you’re going to achieve your dream, go higher.”

I love this quote, it inspires me to look forward to something in life without even knowing what that is….

ANYWAYS!

Here we go.

Is video more your thing? See the video version of the same topic, right here:

See dozens more videos on our YouTube channel.

Jose Silvera – YouTube

What Affects Website Design Prices?

When it comes to creating and maintaining websites, web design encompasses many different skills and techniques. As a result of these overlapping roles, web design encompasses a wide range of skill sets from graphic design to authoring to Search Engine Optimization.

Setting up a price is a pain for web designers. I mean, as much as their effort and talent go, it is fair enough to price themselves however, considering the high level of competition in the market, as well as to pay rent and eat, setting a decent profit while aiming to get a client is also part of the equation.

Nevertheless, if you are a client, you may want to take a look and see what you are paying for.

Size. The page size is equal to the sum of the page sizes of each of these files. For instance, a 420 KB web page will consist of a 110 KB HTML document, a 223 KB image, and an 87 KB sheet file, all of which take up space.

When it comes to your website’s search engine rankings, page size does play a role. Both your websites’ ranking and its performance will be impacted.

To put it simply, your website would cost more since the web designer needs to do more to your website to accomplish this.

Design. The type of business and the necessity of the entrepreneurs influence the choice of website design. Each of these websites will be built on a different platform. Web design is the process of designing websites that appear on the internet. In website development, user experience is usually a consideration rather than software development.

Customization. Allows you to choose what you want your users to see or how you want the information on your website to be displayed. In general, the harder it is to apply, the higher the cost.

SEO. Search Engine Optimization is a term used to describe the process of improving your website so that it appears higher in search engine results when people search for products or services that are relevant to your business.

A website must build its SEO because it raises your website’s visibility, resulting in increased traffic and, ultimately, more sales.

Content. Text, images, and audio are all examples of web content that can be found online and used by users as part of their experience on a website. In addition to text and images, multimedia content, such as online videos and audio files, can be included on web pages.

Mobile website. To access a traditional website, one must have a computer, which includes a mouse and a large monitor. Smartphones and tablets with smaller screens and touchscreens are used to access mobile websites.

You will increase the number of users by giving them the option to search your website both on computers and mobile devices. This will also make your website more accessible at any time.

Email Newsletter. In simplest terms, an email newsletter is a message sent to a list of people who have signed up to receive it. Included in this list should be the customer’s agreement to receive marketing communications from your brand via digital mediums. Both current and potential customers are included here.

Training. Launching your website will require your employees to learn how to use it, so training will increase the cost of website design.

Apart from what was mentioned above, prices also vary by adding Social Media, Usability, Content Management System, and Additional Revisions to your website.

The 3 Ways Web Developer Charge You.

Ok, so now let’s go into the ways your developer charges you.

 The profession of a web designer/developer is one that requires a hands-on approach – there is a lot to study to become an expert.

 Study and coding are the only things that the finest web designers and developers do.

 Yay nerds!

 So, how would they really charge you by executing your desired website for your business?

 Before you begin your project, always remember that you can pay for their services in several ways, so make sure to include this in your contract before stepping any steps forward. Check this out: Want to Get a Website for Your Business? Here’s How. In this blog, we tackle the contract and planning in getting a website. 

 And to answer the question, here you go,

1). FIRST HALF BEFORE START AND SECOND HALF BEFORE THE LAUNCHING.

Generally, you will be required to pay half of your agreed price before anything is completed. This is usually done upon signing the contract.

And then you proceed with going through the process of making the website then boom! Your website’s done and then you pay the rest of the amount. 

Case closed.

Nah! Make sure to do all the testing and then you’re good to go.

This type of payment method is commonly used, and it covers both parties. The first payment is the first step to ensure your developer that he will be compensated, and that will serve as a kick-start for them. The rest of the payment is for you to ensure that they will complete the project according to your specifications. And worst of all, they won’t disappear during that time.

But, hey! Again, should you be reading the previous article to avoid that?

And because I care about you so much, here you go: Want to Get a Website for Your Business? Here’s How.

2). START-UP FEE OR SET-UP FEE

 As mentioned above, the most common method used is First Half Before Start and Second Half Before the Launching, however, in my opinion, by using a Start-Up fee you can get the most out of it.

I mean, typically in this method, you will be paying less than the original price for the service, and then you’ll be paying a monthly fee which usually includes maintenance. Maintenance covers updates, little SEO, little content changes, and so on depending on the agreement. Some companies though, provides promo images, content creation, etc.

Maintenance! In this way, you will be able to make sure that your website will be okay for the rest of your life for as long as you want it to.

Right? I mean, just my opinion.

In addition, the start-up fee for a website usually costs $300 or so then monthly fees will also depend on your developer or your agreement.

Right? What do you think?

Always remember that the start-up fee method will be a good choice only if you’re going to use it and take advantage of it. Make sure to utilize the service and make your monthly payment worthwhile.

Come on, it’s a pretty cool deal!

2). PAY IN THREE PARTS (BEFORE YOU START, AT THE MIDDLE OF THE PROJECT, THEN BEFORE LAUNCHING)

Payment in this manner is not very common because this often leads to conflicts between the client and web developer.

 Typically, in this method, you will be paying around 30% of the total payment of the service before anything else or before implementing the project. Then, another payment for the other 30% should be done midway, and lastly, 40% shall be done before the website launching.

 Now, usually, conflicts begin in the last part in which most of the clients stop paying after the second payment. The common reason is, busy and will pay after the launch which leads to never. This is sometimes an issue and it happens pretty much often so better yet pay before launch.

 As a matter of fact, some companies take down sites because of the same reason.

 Well, fair enough.

 After all, it’s all in the contract.

 In this case, web design companies or freelancers especially, don’t prefer having this payment method for smooth operations and relationship success.

 Also on the client’s side, testing is very important before the remaining payment is made. Prior to paying the exact amount, make sure everything meets your expectations and requirements.

Monthly Maintenance and Why Do You Need It?

Checking your website for errors and problems on regular basis and keeping it up to date and relevant is known as website maintenance. If you want to keep your website in good health, keep traffic flowing in, and improve your search engine rankings, you need to do this on an ongoing basis.

Regardless of how big or small your company is, you’ll need website maintenance.

So, what is it exactly?

What are the main advantages of maintaining a website?

Continue reading to learn more about this subject.

For the sake of this article, let’s put it this way: think of your website as your physical store that needs to be maintained in terms of paints, updated style, and should be clean all the time to ensure that you are following the trend and that your store is always presentable to your market.

In order to keep this store attractive and appealing to all ages, you must maintain it well.

The same is true for your website’s design. You’ve paid for it, and you’ve spent a lot of time and effort getting the word out about your company. When it comes to creating a website, however, it’s not a one-time endeavor that you can leave to run on its own. For the time being, that’s not how things work in the digital world.

WHAT IS WEBSITE MAINTENANCE?

How often do you inspect your physical store for leaks and other damages? Well same goes with your website. Checking your website’s performance is known as website maintenance. Keep up security updates, promote traffic growth, and make sure Google is pleased. Website maintenance services are, in fact, a vital part of attracting and retaining customers.

Now, in order to maintain your website, you need to perform regular checks.

Nope! We’re not talking about once-a-year or twice-a-year checks.

But, we are talking about “regular check-ups.” Yes, you hear me. Regular! like monthly monitoring, my friend.

This is to keep your business running smoothly equals your customers happy and enjoy their experience whenever they’re on it.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN A WEBSITE?

Don’t know how many times I said this in my blogs but, your website creates the first impression of your business. This serves as the front desk if you’re a hotel. Or a 24/7 store that waits for your customer anytime they want to visit you. Or a bridge to your potential customers.

 Now, let’s dig in deeper…

In Customer’s Perception.

Imagine you are a customer that tumbles upon a website or you really search for the website because you heard about it and that you are looking for something and thought the business could help you on it somehow. Then, while scrolling through it, it keeps on crashing, links not working, slow load times, and spam messages pop up to your face every 5 seconds. You will probably, no, surely you’ll get annoyed. Unless you’re having the best day of your life?

Now, imagine that you land on a well-maintained website with professional design and trends. You find relevant content on the blog and smoothly move through the website. How do you feel now? Better, huh?

For over years, Garner for Marketing Leaders clients has seen an increase in the percentage of companies who believe they will compete based on customer service experience by 2016, from 36% to 90%.

Steve Cannon, CEO of Mercedes Benz USA, may have said it best. According to him, “customer experience is the new marketing” in Loyalty360. This is exactly what every business owner needs to hear.

With that being said, you’ll not only delight your clients, but you’ll also generate more revenue. Having a positive online impression will encourage customers to buy from you.

And the best-case scenario, they will likely spread the word about your website and recommend your business to others. 

And this is another way of marketing, for free!

In Business/Website Owner’s Perception.

Customers are searching for a company they can rely on. Poorly maintained websites, on the other hand, are a  turnoff for potential customers. They’ll think you are out of touch, outdated, and unreliable. As a result, they will likely avoid doing business with you.

Another thing is the long-term neglect of your website’s health can lead to a buildup of problems.  When a site is not properly maintained, it can cause downtime or even lead to a loss of revenue. It will cost you tens of thousands of dollars to fix multiple problems, so might as well, maintain it the way I said it above.

There are many benefits to investing in web maintenance services and keeping your website up-to-date and error-free at all times.

You’ll reap the benefits for your business and your wallet.

Choosing a Payment Method.

Anyways are possible depending on your agreement with your developer. This may include cash, a gift card, credit cards, prepaid cards, debit cards, or mobile payments.

But what I want to tell you is, what is the safer way to do your payment in which most web developer as well, prefers this method.

Disclaimer alert! This article is not sponsored by PayPal. But hey PayPal, maybe we can talk about this?

ANYWAYS!

5 ONLINE PAYMENT RECOMMENDED METHODS.

1). PayPal– is a known and widely used method of online payment. More than 254 million people used Paypal as their way of purchasing as well as paying bills, etc. Customers who use PayPal to make a purchase convert at a rate of 82% higher than those who use other payment means.

Another reason PayPal is a popular way to pay for a service is that it is secure for both parties. PayPal makes it hard to disappear with the money or mess someone because you can always call PayPal right away in case something bad happens and they will assist you. PayPal’s customer service response is amazing.

 Additionally, creating an account with PayPal is very easy. Just present a valid ID to be verified to get the most out of the service.

 2). Amazon Pay– this is a payment method you already have associated with your Amazon account. By using Amazon Pay, you can be assured that the fraud protection technology used by Amazon.com is keeping you safe. In this online payment service, you can give your fraud models more time to analyze transactions by processing authorizations asynchronously.

3). Google Pay– To facilitate online payments, you can also use Google Pay for your web designer via your smartphones. You can use Google Pay to store e-money and credit card information. 

4). Apple Pay– If you are an iPhone user, you don’t need to do anything more than open the Wallet app on your iPhone and enter your credit or debit card information and you’re good to go.

5). Masterpass– As with American Express and Visa, Mastercard offers a contactless payment option called Masterpass. Anyone with a Mastercard can now check out your website with ease. Tokenization, issuer authentication, and fraud monitoring are just some of the advanced security features you’d expect from a credit card company.

So, now that you got the whole idea in the big picture of getting your website for your business. The steps and processes you learn through this and the other blogs and videos will help you find your website in a better way and result. I bet you’ll have some fun in the process.

Looking for a starting point? 

Contact Us!

(833) 886-2681

Strive Enterprise Official Website

And meet The Best Web Developers & Online Marketers in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Check Out Our Portfolio

We Also Offer Digital Marketing for Small & Big Businesses, SEO, E-Commerce, WordPress, PPC Campaign Development & Management for Google, Bing & Yahoo!, Facebook Ads, and more!

Adios! See you!!

by Charleen Montano April 12, 2022

Have you ever wondered where to find a good developer that can really help you achieve the ideal website? How do web designers ensure that websites meet their objectives? Or is that even necessary to find one or you can just DIY?

The thing is, it is a lot easier to find a bad web developer than to find a good one. So, beware!

Code written by good developers is often clean and well-structured. As a result, their code is frequently well-documented and can be debugged by other members of the team. An important quality of a good developer is that they are self-aware and aware of the technologies they do not yet master.

Having discussed all the options on how and where to start getting your website, the next step should be learning how and where to find competent developers to help with the project.

Why?

Of course, we all know why. Come on!

It is the work of web developers to create websites and mobile applications that help businesses increase their online sales while making life easier for consumers. Software and computer code are used by web developers to create web applications that can be accessed via the internet or corporate intranets, respectively.

Well, just in case, it is crucial to hire a web developer who can help you design your ideal website as well as give you an idea on how to execute the project.
If you hire a developer who doesn’t know what they’re doing, you’ll just end up with a robot that functions only when you press a button.

I bet you don’t want that! Do you?

Is video more your thing? See the video version of the same topic, right here:

See dozens more videos on our YouTube channel.

Jose Silvera – YouTube

When To Find A Good Developer?

Before we proceed I recommend you read our previous articles in order to gain more understanding of what I am about to discuss.

So, you are planning to get a website, huh? And now, you are looking for reasons whether it is good to create it on your own or hire a developer instead? Or let’s say you want to hire one.

Well, these will give you a clearer picture of what you are looking for:

• A good web developer maintains a high standard of quality and consistency in your website development by adhering to the best practices for web development, including responsive and mobile site design.
• Workflows should be established and maintained by good web developers to provide visibility and ensure that the workload is evenly distributed for consistent visual designs.
• They keep abreast of the latest developments in technology and business trends.
• And lastly, they implement data from back-end databases and services into websites and user interfaces by following standard HTML/CSS practices.

What to Look For in a Web Developer?

Most of the time, there are 4 main routes to find the good developers that can really help you build your website.

Look for Reviews.

The number one to look for when finding your developer is the reviews of their work. Not necessary though, but if you could and if that is available, go check that out!

For me, there are only two reasons why customers leave a review for a product or service. One is when they are happy and satisfied with the service and two, when furious and having a bad experience. And those in between, won’t bother.

However, bear in mind that not all developer deserves all the bad reviews, sometimes conflict and misunderstanding happens. So, be neutral and don’t be quick to judge. I would suggest you go through the best and the worst reviews and see if all the issues are repeating and have been addressed.

Portfolio.

The portfolio of a company is a compilation of its products, services, and accomplishments. Its purpose is to establish a presence on the market, attract new customers, and demonstrate how the company differs from its direct competitors.

Good developers demonstrate their skills through their portfolios. It serves as the visual representation of their works, relevant skills, and abilities rather than tell.

Ask Someone.

Ever heard of “word-of-mouth”? We all know it’s powerful in terms of businesses. There is no better marketing tool than a word of mouth, it is free and more reliable than any marketing tool. I mean, you wouldn’t refer a company to your friends or family when you’re not sure of the product or services, will you?

That’s right! Look for someone who has experience with using the service. They can give you the face-to-face reviews about it and give you the overall experience they have during the project. You can ask around you or make the best out of technology, go online!

Know Your Web Developer.

The best you can do is get to know your developer if possible meet them. Create a rapport with them and determine if you can count on them as a partner in the development of your website. But, if they are physically out of your reach, skype them up! Or choose any way that you can reach and talk to them. That is very important.

Types of Web Developer.

Websites and webpages can be as simple as a one-page text document or as complex as an e-commerce site with thousands of products for sale. Simple websites can be created by a single person, but more complex ones may necessitate the efforts of a group of people with a variety of backgrounds and expertise. 

Before we dig into the types of web developers/designers, let’s tackle the specific jobs that they do when developing your website, this will help you gain more important knowledge in getting the right people for you.

Web Designer.

The primary responsibility of a web designer is to create the visual appearance of a website. There are many aspects of design that they handle, including color schemes and fonts as well as the layout of the page. Depending on the designer’s comfort level with programming code, they may use image editing software like Adobe Photoshop to create what is essentially a drawing for the programmer to convert into code. Alternatively, the designer may use software to create the code for the pages.

Content Developer.

Web content refers to the information that appears at the top of a webpage. In most cases, it is written, but it can also be video or audio. Content developers include writers, editors, and videographers. In some cases, they may be both a writer and a videographer at the same time. A small website’s content management system (CMS) can be created by the same person who handles most of the other website development tasks, but large projects often have multiple people working on them because of the specialized knowledge required.

Web Programmer.

A web programmer may be responsible for translating the design into the actual code that controls a simple webpage. Database, shopping, carts, and other online applications may be programmed by her as well as the more straightforward elements of a website. An experienced programmer is needed for e-commerce sites with a large number of products to be sold, while a designer with some programming knowledge can handle simple pages of text.

Flash Developer.

Developers can use Adobe Flash to build interactive, animated, and sound-enhanced web pages that are both visually appealing and functionally engaging. When a user visits a website for the first time, or when they hover their cursor over or click on an element on the page, these animations may play. Flash can be used in a variety of ways, from an introductory page to a site navigation menu.

Heading to the types of web developers that you might be interested in hiring.

• FREELANCERS. FOR THE MOST PART, FREELANCERS ARE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR A FEE ON A PROJECT-BY-PROJECT BASIS. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR FREELANCERS TO WORK ON MULTIPLE PROJECTS AT THE SAME TIME UNLESS THEY ARE CONTRACTUALLY BOUND TO WORK ONLY ON ONE PROJECT AT A TIME, IN WHICH CASE THEY ARE FREE TO DO SO.

Freelancing began as a way for people with specialized skills to work independently of a single employer. When it comes to freelance work, it’s generally considered to be the domain of an expert.
In light of this, let’s examine the pros and cons of hiring a freelancer in various aspects.

 Cost: Pros & Cons.

In most cases, freelancers are easier to find and more cost-effective to work with.

The lower the freelancer’s fee, the lower the quality or the level of expertise.

Making sure every resource is aligned is a challenge in this situation. In addition, you must have to supervise these developers.

The flexibility of Team Structure: Pros & Cons.
The ability to easily adapt to changes in the team’s size. It may take longer or shorter depending on the obstacles that are encountered during the development process. It is common for freelancers to work on a fixed-price or hourly basis. As a result, your project plan must be flawless if you want to get the most out of your freelancers.
Freelancers cannot keep track of the time they spend on fixed-price projects. On top of all of this, freelancers aren’t used to keeping track of their hours worked. A freelancer may find a daily/hourly timesheet restrictive. Freelancers are used to working on projects that last only a few weeks or even days. For the time being, most small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) require developers only temporarily. In addition, they expect bug-fixing services to be available on-demand.
 
Quality of Software: Pros & Cons.

Since the next gig for most freelancers is entirely dependent on the reviews or feedback they receive from a client, they are expected to go above and beyond to meet the needs of their customers.

Because the freelancing movement was not tied to a specific industry, industry norms did not apply to it. As a freelancer, developing an SW to ISO standards can be a time-consuming task. Thus, quality is confined to the perspective of the developers and testers. To assess the quality of the work, you’ll require the services of a Quality Analyst.

Quality of Developers: Pros & Cons.

Because they are regarded as experts in their fields, freelancers can work on their initiative without supervision.

Even if freelancers have the necessary qualifications and certifications, they may lack expertise in other areas.

• WEB DESIGN AGENCY. CREATING A WEBSITE THAT ATTRACTS VISITORS IS CALLED WEBSITE DESIGN. TECHNICAL ELEMENTS AND SOFTWARE CAN BE USED IN WEBSITE DESIGN BUT ITS PRIMARY GOAL IS TO IMPROVE HOW A WEBSITE APPEARS TO VISITORS. 

A website design agency provides a team that can conceptualize and then creates an online presence that reflects your brand’s vision and values. At a web design agency, your logos, color schemes, branding, and any content you produce will likely be handled by a professional graphic designer (or a team of designers). Web designs agency provides a team of experts (as mentioned above)  who know how to make a website works.
Web design is a creative field, but it also necessitates a solid understanding of coding and backend architecture. There is a lot more to website design than simply putting up a page and pressing a button. Hire a website designer who has the expertise to take your site to the next level.

Reasons why hiring a website design agency is a better idea:

1). The Site Will be of a Higher Quality– A professional web designer will produce a better product. Every time a good website designer creates a new one, they follow a specific process.
This usually includes:

• Collaborating on the fine-tuning of design concepts and layouts; color palettes; logos; and other aspects of branding.
• Performing an investigation (sites functions, including navigation, e-commerce, display, mobile optimization, and so on) are thoroughly tested by the designer.
• Go through the process of learning about the company and determining its requirements and desired outcomes for the website (this includes SEO research)
• Updates any issues that were discovered and addressed. 
• Launch
• Reporting

Note: Final Steps involves the website developer looking at the key metrics, such as page speed, to determine how well your site performs. They will work with you to resolve any issues that may arise.

2). It’s Easier to Scale a Professionally Designed Website– In the future, depending on the nature of your business, you may find yourself needing to expand both your online and offline presence. Professionally constructed sites are much easier to scale than those that are self-constructed.

3). Hiring a Web Design Firm Ensures that your Website will Function Properly– Your website needs to look good, but also needs to work well. It’s best to hire a web design company to ensure this outcome. They’ll make sure everything’s running smoothly.

However, please note that there’s a good chance you’ll run into problems with functionality just in case you are planning to build your site. This undermines consumer confidence and can be a roadblock to sales and interactions with customers.

4). Website Designer Make Sure Your Site is Compliant With All Legal Requirements– There are numerous laws governing privacy, personal information, and even disabilities when creating a website. The thing is, are you well familiar with all of those? If the answer is no, then go ahead and hire a web designer, they are experts in that matter and can take that out of your head and shoulder.
GDPR, anti-spam laws in the US, privacy laws in Canada, and the Americans with Disabilities Act will all be met by their efforts.

5). The Time You Save by Working with a Web Designer is Immeasurable– On top of all that is being mentioned, one of the biggest advantages when it comes to hiring a web design agency is the time you will be saving.
An experienced web designer can create the bare-bones site you’re looking for in a matter of days or weeks. As a general rule, it’s best to set aside a few weeks or months for additional functionality and pages.

• FULL-SERVICE AGENCY. THIS IS ALMOST THE SAME AS THE WEB DESIGN AGENCY BUT BETTER. BUCKLE UP, THESE AGENCIES WILL DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO HELP YOUR COMPANY SOAR BY MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR WEBSITE! THEY USUALLY HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING GRAPHIC DESIGN, SEO, AND MORE. EVERY STEP OF THE WAY IS SUPPORTED BY A TEAM OF EXPERTS IN EACH FIELD AND EACH PROCESS IN WEB DEVELOPMENT IS CONDUCTED IN A STANDARD MANNER.

So, basically, in the full-service agency, they’ve got everything! From marketing, PPC campaigns, social media, graphic design, SEO, apps, and more.
Like, seriously, you don’t have to worry a bit.
Learn more about the Pros and Cons of each of the ways to build a website here.
You might want to have an Idea about how much it cost, you can also check that out here.

Where to Find a Good Web Developer?

Now, let’s talk about where to find these Web Developers that I have been disputing with you earlier.

As both of us know that all it takes to get one is first, to build trust. Not just you towards your web developer but the other way around as well. To be in that line, here are the points you might want to consider:

Ask Your People/Referrals.

If someone in your network refers a new customer to your business, it’s a referral. As a result of intentional referral marketing, this may occur naturally during the conversation.
You might want to find people you know or trust who has experience in getting a web designer/developer for their business. Ask them where or how to get in touch with them, and see if they could help you out. You could even ask for a discount under your friend’s referral!

Local.

Google can be the best place to start looking for a local web design company. And don’t forget to follow our “What to Look For in a Web Developer?” points to guarantee a successful search.
Or if magazines are more your thing, you might find magazines from your local department stall.

International.

If you are not feeling the web developer companies locally, then you might want to look for in another time zone, well not necessarily in another time zone though, but in case you think the web developers that can help you achieve the website that you have in your mind is another country, then go for it. 

Follow your guts, they say. 

Go where your heart wants to go, they say.

Like, come on, it’s 2022! You can reach out to whoever you want in this world and make them work for you!

Or you might want to meet our guys? They are The Best Web Developers & Online Marketers in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Contact Us!

(833) 886-2681

Strive Enterprise Official Website

And meet The Best Web Developers & Online Marketers in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Check Out Our Portfolio

We Also Offer Digital Marketing for Small & Big Businesses, SEO, E-Commerce, WordPress, PPC Campaign Development & Management for Google, Bing & Yahoo!, Facebook Ads, and more!

Adios! See you!

by Charleen Montano April 18, 2022

Imagine selling a house with a messed up lawn, zero to bad painting, creepy backyard, or what else? No buyer, right? Unless you’re in a horror movie where the protagonist usually buys an old creepy house and later on complains that the house is haunted. Great!

ANYWAYS!

A great homepage is exactly what you need for your website because of this! 

You can think of your homepage as your house’s front door or let’s say, your lawn which welcomes visitors on their first step going through your house. People see it as they land on your site and you want to make a good first impression. That said, it’s not just a matter of appearances. Your homepage should also be able to generate sales. An unattractive lawn or unusable driveway prevents future buyers from considering or even stepping into the house, as stated earlier, your website is no different.

“Be so good they can’t ignore you.”

It’s important to know what to include on a website’s homepage in order to attract more customers.

I’m going to tell you what goes into a great home page. 

Ready? 

No?

Read on. 

Or if video more thing, check this out:

See dozens of related videos that can help you through your getting a website journey: Jose Silvera – YouTube we’re in this together!

What is the Effective Website Homepage Design?

A website homepage is the first page that visitors to your site will see. It is the page that will represent your brand online. Your homepage is where you make a first impression, so it has to be fantastic.

Your website homepage design determines whether visitors stay or leave. Statistics show that more than 40 percent of visitors leave a website if it takes more than three seconds to load. Therefore, you need to make sure that your site loads fast and is designed properly in order to boost conversions.

Here are the major elements to consider for an effective website homepage design:

1- CREATE A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION

“Make a good first impression always” is a problem because it’s vague advice, and the concept has been beaten to death since the day I was born. A good homepage is important to make it easy to quickly communicate a great user experience. The first impression design will always excite the visitors and make them want to experience your site’s contents within seconds of landing on your homepage.

Is your homepage design effective in creating a great first impression that engages your potential customers? 

Does it convey the right message? 

Does it show the value of your services and products? 

Starting the prospect’s journey on the right path can make all the difference– make all of these questions answered by “YES” and hit the win button!

2- HAVE A CLEAR NAVIGATION MENU & KEEP IT SIMPLE

Aladdin had one. 

The Starship Enterprise has one. 

It would be hard to find a website that doesn’t have one. 

That’s right, I’m talking about the navigation menu — it’s been around since the dawn of the internet (and probably longer) and is an essential part of every site that deals with visitors and users.

You know how it is. You’re on a website and you see a link to something that looks interesting…except, ugh. It’s a seven-step process to get there. You’d almost rather skip it. 

Why don’t website owners just keep the navigation simple? You know, keep things one click away and make navigation obvious by putting your most important links at the top of the page.

Having such a thing as a clear navigation menu on your homepage will not only help your visitors find their way around your website, it will also give your website a professional look, and can also increase the number of users who convert into clients. You should keep in mind that some of the most well-known websites in the world have no more than two or three links for their navigation and yet they get by successfully. Keep in mind that if you go overboard and try to include more links than you need, you might end up making things more confusing rather than less.

Good design is ultimately one that meets the user’s needs and expectations. In order to achieve any complexity, you need to know your audience. 

Begin by asking yourself, “Who will be viewing this site?” 

You could have the modern equivalent of the Sistine Chapel for a website homepage and if the user’s demographic can’t appreciate it, it won’t matter.

3- INCLUDE A HERO IMAGE OR VIDEO WITH AN EFFECTIVE CTA

One of the elements to consider for an effective website homepage design is to Include a Hero Image or Video with an Effective CTA. 

First things first — what exactly is a hero image or video? 

Essentially, a “hero image” is a large banner image or video that occupies a prominent position on the homepage of a website. What it serves as is a sort of primer on the site’s features and functionality.

You don’t want to go to a restaurant without knowing what they serve, right? 

I mean, why would anyone want to go someplace and order something when they could get it somewhere else? 

You see, you’re exactly like me. 

What is a hero image or video on a website with a call to action? 

So, you want to make sure that when your visitors land on your site, they’re really wowed.

For this to happen, you’d want them to go, whoa! 

Your website’s hero image or video is the best place for that. It’s supposed to catch the visitor’s eye and draw attention. A hero image or video is usually a visual representation of the niche your site belongs to. These images or videos are like first impressions, so it’s crucial that they tell your audience what you have to offer in the best way possible.

You can never go wrong with great hero images or videos.

You may only have a few seconds to pique their interest before they click away. Using a call-to-action (CTA) in your site’s hero section that directly addresses the primary concerns or needs of your visitors encourages them to act immediately.

The best website homepage designs are both inviting and conversion-worthy. 

Put yourself in your optimal customer’s shoes: how would you feel upon landing on your site? What would compel you to act on your call to action? The answer may have a lot more to do with aesthetics than you might think. 

When the time comes to use hero images or videos on homepages for a high bounce rate, consider these tips to help get the priorities of your multimedia content and text in alignment with the best homepage design practices for maximum effectiveness.

4- USE SOCIAL PROOF ELEMENTS LIKE TESTIMONIALS, AWARDS, AND REVIEWS

Throughout life, there are many situations where we want to fit in with the ‘in-crowd.’ 

No matter what you’re trying to find – a trendy new bar near you…

Or a new hairstylist to meet with. 

If you want to convince someone they’re in the right place and that this is the right decision, you might make it a lot easier to convince them if you demonstrate that others have already done it.

Online reviews are now a common occurrence. As soon as we decide to buy something online, we check out other people’s opinions and ratings.

And correct me if I’m wrong– decision-making becomes a lot easier when all five stars are displayed!

Social proof elements, such as testimonials, awards, or reviews, should always be considered for inclusion on your homepage. Even if you aren’t an expert, you can learn a lot from these resources. 

While social proof can help your site succeed, it is important to select the right elements.

5- USE HIGH-QUALITY IMAGES/GRAPHICS AND LIMIT TEXT CONTENT

The homepage design of the top internet marketing companies has been studied and found to be interesting. High-quality images, graphics, and video are just some of the notable features. The home page now takes precedence over any other part of the website, and this is especially true for large, corporate websites. This is due to the fact that many of the site’s features are only of interest to a small percentage of its users. It is common for them to have a strong desire or hunger for a specific piece of information, and then to pursue it directly. 

Home page elements are now being fine-tuned to reflect users’ interests so that relevant information about a site’s product or service can be effectively delivered.

First impressions are important, and a well-done website homepage can pique visitors’ interest and encourage them to learn more about your business.

Whatever you decide to do, remember that less is more. 

Your homepage is not a gallery; it’s a real estate investment opportunity. You need to immediately convince the visitors that your website has a reason for existing and no one else’s. 

The design elements have to tie together seamlessly and directly contribute to the goal of convincing the visitor to spend time on your site.

Checking Your Homepage’s Performance.

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to web design. The design of a website may appeal to me while it irritates you. People aren’t the same, you can’t please everyone.

So, choose who to please.

How?

Let’s figure it out.

Is your website homepage generating a steady flow of new leads and sales?

Most business owners answer this question with a resounding, “No!”

And they’re right. In fact, most homepages convert at less than 1%.

What gives?

You’ve done everything you can to make your homepage look great. You’ve included pretty pictures, compelling headlines, and convincing calls to action. Yet, it still doesn’t seem to be getting the job done.

Sometimes all that’s needed is a little fine-tuning to get things moving in the right direction. But where do you start?

Here are 4 simple steps you can use to check your homepage’s performance:

• AVERAGE TIME SPENT ON YOUR WEBSITE. 

More and more people are spending time online, so it is critical that your website is set up to encourage them to stay and explore. 

Longer, however, isn’t always preferable. 

You don’t want your visitors to leave your website because they can’t find the information they need or are not able to fulfill the desired action, like making a purchase, but you want them to stay because they enjoy the content and experience.

As a performance metric, Google Analytics is one of the most commonly used tools in the market today. Google Analytics uses the difference in timestamps of hits to calculate the average time spent on a page. 

• RETURNS OF VISITORS.

The one-and-done approach, of course, isn’t going to work long term because you’ll need to keep attracting new visitors to your site and should show more effort in making them all come back or at least 70% of them. 

Visitors who already visited your website, especially those who engaged and became your customer should be enticed to return to your site by the content you are putting out there.

New visitors have a two-year expiration date set by Google. Returning visitors are marked in Google Analytics if they have visited a website within the last two years and returned from the same device. Anyone who last visited a website more than two years ago will be counted as a new visitor when they return.

• SEARCH ENGINE RANKING.

Search engine rankings are a good way to see how well your homepage is doing. You must be doing something right if your rankings are so high. If they’re low, it’s likely time to reevaluate your search engine optimization strategy.

It’s not always easy to figure out how to get a good search engine ranking. To your readers, it’s difficult to figure out what to do and what steps to take. 

I’ve been trying to come up with a fresh approach to this issue. Perhaps you need to stop considering ranking as just one element that you focus on separately.

Choosing a homepage that has a high search engine rank is important if you want your business to thrive. Having a high-quality website isn’t worth anything if no one can find it. Having a high search engine ranking can be a huge benefit to your business.

• TRAFFIC ON A WEBSITE.

Ahhh yeah, of course, the tools to measure page load speeds and site loading times. These tools can be crucial to your success because they can help you track how your website is improving or decreasing over time (month, year, or even 5 years). 

Using these tools, you can discover which aspects of your business are contributing to or detracting from your bottom line.

The homepage of your website is the first thing a visitor sees, and it’s also the source of the majority of your traffic. Your SEO strategy should include it and should conform to best practices, but needs constant tweaking.

Online statistics may be flashy, but at their core, they are nothing more than numbers. Everyone wants something and will keep looking for it until they find it.

Just because more people are looking for the same things online doesn’t mean they’re doing it elsewhere. Only you know if making a change will have a positive or negative impact on your livelihood.

5 Things That Make Up A Good Home Page

When it comes to website homepages, some things stand out – and others don’t. 

So what makes a homepage great? 

Put simply, it’s the sum of its parts. 

Here are five elements that every great homepage has.

1). SHOWCASE WHAT MAKES YOU THE BEST

One of the elements to make up a great homepage is to showcase What Makes You The Best. 

If we delve deeper into this, I mean: Why should your visitor care? 

Who knows, maybe the visitor is only looking for the above-the-fold trending topics but isn’t it always better to hook them in with something that makes them curious?

“Never compete, dominate!”

Right! Show them why you’re the best, don’t let visitors look for another site, and make them feel that they have everything that they need by visiting your website.

A good home page is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to start getting attention. If you can get customers to opt into your home page, your email list will grow dramatically, your overall conversion rate will increase, and you’ll make a boatload of money. 

And trust me when I tell you this, people will put in their details on a great homepage in droves.

2). HERO SECTION/CAROUSEL

A hero section is the area of your website that appears immediately beneath your logo and menu when a visitor arrives. As a general rule, this section of the page should contain the following: 

• Describe what you can do for us. 

• Because you are trustworthy. 
• How working with you will benefit me.

Now, you might be saying “Carousels are dead” and I forgive you for saying that.

I know and hear a lot of people saying that, and trust me, it’s not true.

The Hero Section or Carousel is one of the elements that make up a great homepage. Hero section is another term used when referring to this part of the page, however, carousel has been popularized by many startups like Facebook and Tumblr.

All in all, using the Hero Section/Carousel element on your homepage can be a highly effective strategy to use.  They can make your homepage look visually appealing, and they allow you to display relevant information that details whatever it is that your homepage is selling. 

Believe it or not, many of these elements have already been used before on popular websites. Although they are not new ideas by any means, they are gaining popularity each day as more people and companies find out their benefits. 

So why not give them a shot? 

See how they work for you and see if they have the same positive effects on your business as they have had on other businesses around the world.

3). KEY PRODUCT/SERVICES BENEFITS & FEATURES

Products and services are not as complicated as they used to be. Just tell the customer what they get by using your product or service, and let them know how much it’s going to cost. 

Done and done.

Put it on their face!

Your customer is going to be surprised to learn that you are as awesome as they think you are.

It’s important to let your potential customers know about the product/service benefits you offer, where else do you do that? 

Umm… home page. 

Just kidding.  

But yes, there is no place more important to highlight the key benefits than on the homepage.

4). TESTIMONIALS & REVIEWS

A good headline, a great offer, and a compelling call to action are fundamental factors that make up a great homepage. However, testimonials and reviews are not to be overlooked either. 

Reviews showing trust and writing customer testimonials give you an association with clients and help build the connection between them and your brand.

Testimonials & Reviews have become so important. 

This is because people want to know that you have good products and services. After all, they would hate to give their time, money, and effort to someone who is an unknown entity or doesn’t know what they are doing.

You can’t make up a great homepage without testimonials and reviews. It’s like making chicken noodle soup without the chicken, or nachos without the cheese. 

Wait…does that mean nachos are just chips with salsa and sour cream? 

Well ha! Nice try Frito-Lay, but we know better.

By the way, don’t forget to include where those reviews coming from whether it is from google or somewhere, of course, they need to know that the reviews you are putting are real ones and not that you are making them yourself.

5). CALL TO ACTION

Ha! Those above mentioned? Are just warm-ups. Here we go with the real deal….

Call To Action – CTA for short, is a term that every marketer hears about and uses. But have you ever wondered what exactly is it? Why do marketers use it and how to use it effectively?

A homepage without a clear and concise call to action (e.g., like, sign up, or buy) can sometimes be an unfocused mess. The scattershot approach doesn’t do anything except make the visitor feel frustrated and that they have ‘lost’ on their website session. Still, many websites seem to do just this — scatter bits of content all over the place with no real focus or direction.

After all the efforts you put into your website and getting visitors to engage and convert, of course, tell them the part which is the reason for all of these. Call to action button.

The buy now button, bruh.

This is the point of all these, right?

Get them or you’ll lose the opportunity. 

What a Well-Designed Homepage Can Do for Your Business?

This should be common knowledge, but just in case, a well-designed homepage can help you out a lot. As a result, we’re always looking for ways to improve our businesses. This is, in fact, true, and there is a solid basis for it. The design of your website is just as important as the quality of your content when it comes to how well your website performs.

Human psychology is a major focus in the corporate world. Consumers aren’t completely logical beings who can be persuaded by facts and figures alone, and businesses have finally realized this. Customers are more likely to purchase from your website if you create a strong emotional connection with them through the design and content of your website. A well-designed homepage can aid in establishing a relationship with customers and fostering a sense of community among those customers.

A good home page doesn’t need to include all of the above mentioned, but if you’re missing one or more of these elements you’re missing out on a key component. Even though this guide isn’t written law, it will help you get started in the right direction when it comes to designing a homepage.

The good news is that there are plenty of good home page examples out there. 

The bad news? 

It can be tough to identify all the things that make a homepage great. 

That’s why going through lists like this one can be so beneficial. Use them to get some ideas, and then start thinking about how you can incorporate these elements into your own site. After all, if you want to make a good first impression on your viewers, your homepage has to be nothing short of excellent!

Wondering where to find a good web developer/designer that can help you execute all the 5 things every great homepage has?

We’re ready to help you with open arms!

Contact Us!

(833) 886-2681

Strive Enterprise Official Website

And meet The Best Web Developers & Online Marketers in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Check Out Our Portfolio

We Also Offer Digital Marketing for Small & Big Businesses, SEO, E-Commerce, WordPress, PPC Campaign Development & Management for Google, Bing & Yahoo!, Facebook Ads, and more!

Adios! See you!

by Charleen Montano April 20, 2022

No website? Ok. 

I know what they will say, “But I need a website; it is very important to create my own website.” Stop there and listen carefully before jumping on this wagon towards the land of making your own website.

I know I talked a lot about how and why having a website will positively impact your business, however, we are all unique and different after all!

If you are still struggling with whether to get one or not, read on to help you analyze and finalize your decision.

I don’t want you to blame me in the end!

You might get one because I say so and convinced you after reading, or you might definitely not get one after this.

The decision is all yours, but let me give you a hand by taking part in the process of your decision-making. It would be my pleasure.

Let’s see. Post your thoughts in the comment section below after reading this article entirely.

Just in case you are more of a video person. Check this out:

See dozens of related videos that can help you through your getting a website journey: Jose Silvera – YouTube 

Articles that might help you through this journey: 

10 Things Small Business Should Have

Getting a Website: What You Need to Know

Want to Get a Website for Your Business? Here’s How.

How Much Does a Website Cost in 2022 (What’s Best For Your Business)

3 Ways a Web Designer/Developer Charges You

How to Find A Good Developer in 2022

5 Things Every Great Homepage Has

we’re in this together!

It is a hot topic in today’s marketing and advertising circles whether you should have a website or not. You can’t be business-like without a website, but then again you will be wasting your time and money if you have one. 

What is the right answer to this question?

Well, it’s quite simple actually.

Does My Business Need a Website?

At what point do small business need their own web presence? And what’s the point of having a website for them? Despite the fact that these two questions may appear to give you an automatic thumbs up, they’ll be more useful in guiding your decision if you first answer the following questions.

Is your business a small or medium-sized enterprise? Some businesses require a website for reasons other than generating revenue, such as enticing new clients. If you want to make it easier for people to find your business, you should think about a few things before launching an e-commerce website.

Pinpoint out that people can now do almost anything online because of the vast amount of information that is readily available today. 

And because of this, many businesses today don’t even need a brick-and-mortar location. All they have to do is create a website or blog and post all the information their customer require there.

So, if your company is just getting off the ground, it might not be a good idea to spend money on yet another web platform. Only in the current digital age can your business thrive without an online presence. If you don’t need a website to promote your business, then don’t waste your time creating one. Instead, use the creative juices you were going to use for a website to work on something else.

Is a Website Necessary if I Have a Facebook Page?

There is a new Facebook page you’ve just created and you’re ready to share it with everyone. But before you press the publish button, a thought came to your mind, “Will a Facebook page be able to help me grow my business?”

Hmmm, I might want to change my career and become a mind reader?

 No?

Okay.

B2C (Business to Consumer) companies use a variety of platforms to spread the word about their products and services, but for B2B (Business to Business) firms, social media is a must-have tool for brand awareness. So, is having a website as important as having a Facebook page?

Well, yes.

Years ago, most small-business owners would have been caught dead if they didn’t have a website of their own. Today, many businesses are turning to Facebook and Google+ as a new way to promote their products and services. After all, creating a page is completely free.

So, to avoid taking the wrong direction, you need to know whether or not you really need a website in order to figure out where your business commitment lies.

And to answer the question on the header above “Is a Website Necessary if I Have a Facebook Page?” Well, they aid in audience growth and can even be used to conduct market research. 

A Facebook page, on the other hand, should not be used as a substitute for your company’s website. You can see why here:

1). YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU.

Your Facebook page does not belong to you. It belongs to Facebook. The Platform. At least according to the terms of service.

That’s right, Facebook can remove any post/page they like. This is something that most people don’t realize until it happens (or almost happens) to their business.

In addition, because Facebook is owned by the company you work for, you have no control over whether or not they decided to delete your Facebook page with all of your likes, shares, and other hard-won kupunas you have worked so hard to achieve.

Shiverrr! 

A big problem is that they can do this at any time and you have no recourse.

There is nothing wrong with telling people your business has a Facebook page, it’s just like saying that you own a house. The question is, does this mean that you own it? In a strict sense, the answer is yes.

But no, not really.

If you compare your Facebook page to a house, you’ll get the same results as hiding your money in an old sock under your bed. Some of it may work for a short period before being compromised by a hacker or other outside influence.

You might be seeing the point by now…

Your website, on the other hand, gives you complete control over the look and functionality of your website.

2). ON FACEBOOK, ATTENTION FLITS FAST

Marketers see their primary role as getting potential customers to visit their site, but the trouble with social media on Facebook is that attention flits fast. Someone could spend 30 seconds looking at a list of your posts on Facebook or glance at your status update and just move along– so all that effort you’ve been trying to shout about yourself or your brand may get you nowhere.

In addition, there is no zero-sum game to attend to. There are a lot of options. Facebook is an attention-driven environment and in that kind of social media place, people all want their share of the attention, and your audience is divided on it.

What more? You’ll have to compete with the Facebook friends of your potential client. A lot of people don’t like seeing advertisements, especially when they’re trying to connect with their friends. 

Meanwhile, if you have a company website, you can be sure that potential customers will pay attention to everything you say. As a  result, even if you have to put some effort to get them to your website, once they’re there, the chances of them becoming your customer are much better.

Now, we’re not saying that your company should not have a Facebook page, of course not. Rather than supplanting your website, your Facebook page and other social media should work hand in hand with it.

3.) SEO IN FACEBOOK IS LIMITED

Does my Facebook page necessitate the creation of a web presence?

Yes, that’s correct.

Despite the fact that you can connect with your potential audience via Facebook, there is a large information gap in this regard. It is one of the reasons why Facebook is not enough for a business. One must have a website as a separate tool to boost his/her marketing and branding campaign.

Building a website is the best way to keep your competitors from outranking you in search engine results.

Additionally, having a business website gives you the opportunity to position yourself so that customers who are looking for the products or services you offer will find you. Optimizing your site for local searches can help you attract an audience from your local area, even though you may be able to compete with larger websites.

4.) CREDIBILITY IMPROVES WITH A WEBSITE

When it comes to a business, a website is more trustworthy than a Facebook page. There are numerous reasons why individuals believe Facebook is more valuable than a website. Indeed, Facebook has about 2 billion users around the world. With this large population of internet users, it provides the perfect two-way communication and marketing avenues. But the truth is that when it comes to legitimacy, a company cannot avoid having its own website to advertise itself online.

Reasons You Might Not Need a Website.

If you own a business– well, I guess you do, since you’re here reading this article heh! Or you might be still planning to have one, huh? Anyways, either of the two, see the need to expand your consumer base, you may wonder if you truly need a website. 

Web marketing, after all, can be costly and time-consuming. Furthermore, there are many businesses with websites that do not appear to be performing as effectively as they could. It’s difficult not to wonder if investing in a website is truly worthwhile.

That said, a website might not be necessary for your business for the following reasons.

• YOU ARE NOT A BUSINESS, FREELANCER, ARTIST/ACTOR, ORGANIZATION

A website is a representation of yourself. Your website should be focused on you, your brand, and the services you can provide to others. So, I’ve got a question for you: are you a company? Do you offer products or services? Do you run non-profit organizations? 

If you answer no, you can stop reading now.

This blog post will definitely help you realize that you don’t need a website and that there are actually great ways to promote yourself without one depending on what you do for a job, whether you are an organization, freelancer, artist, or actor, or even someone who just doesn’t have yet.

And, hey!

If you fall into these categories, this would be an excellent read for you as well.

• YOU WANT TO STAY PRIVATE

If you wish to maintain your privacy, you may not require a website. However, I’m not simply referring to your ordinary blogger when I say this. Many industries must maintain a level of privacy, and since this is the case, many industries are unable or unwilling to maintain an open online presence.

A website is a very private matter. An important part of your brand’s public image is how you present yourself to the outside world. Be aware that your website will be visible to the world, and that even those who aren’t particularly patient will have to wait for it to load completely. 

A website isn’t necessary if you wish to keep your life private and disconnected from the rest of the world. The fact is, though, that you’ll need a website if you want to acquire the trust of your clients and beat off your competitors.

• NO PLANS TO EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS

You may believe that having a website or a blog is important to your business’s success. Getting one, on the other hand, can be a waste of time, money, and effort if you’re content with your current setup and have no plans to extend your domain.

In my opinion, if you’ve been in business for quite some time and aren’t aiming to grow your market, you don’t need one, except of course, if you want to surf the net and build your own business name, and need an image of yourself in a website.

Nevertheless, by comparing your company to those that don’t have a website, you gain a competitive advantage. You’ll gain a lot more credibility and value from it than most people realize. 

• YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MANAGE IT

Let’s face it. That much is obvious.

We’d rather be doing something else than managing a website. Unless a client asks why they don’t have a website, you don’t need one if you won’t be managing it. This is the most common reason given for not having a website.

It’s hardly the worst thing that might happen to your business if you don’t have a website. You may want to think about creating a website if you don’t plan on managing it yourself and making it a top priority in your business.

In any case, if you are looking to run your own website for your business, we hope the information we’ve provided above has been useful. 

To get the most from your website and avoid overspending, it’s critical to keep these aspects in mind no matter what type of website or business you want to.

Final Thoughts

It is entirely up to you whether or not to have a website for your business. However, I can feel the urge to tell you that a website is a good starting point if you want to increase your business’s online visibility by generating leads, building social proof, and increasing your authority.

Still having any doubt? Let’s get help from the experts!

We’re ready to help you with open arms!

Contact Us!

(833) 886-2681

Strive Enterprise Official Website

And meet The Best Web Developers & Online Marketers in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Check Out Our Portfolio

We Also Offer Digital Marketing for Small & Big Businesses, SEO, E-Commerce, WordPress, PPC Campaign Development & Management for Google, Bing & Yahoo!, Facebook Ads, and more!

Strive Enterprise has been selected among the Top Web Design Companies in Las Vegas by Designrush

by Charleen Montano April 26, 2022

“We are still in the first minute of the first day of internet revolution”

– Scott Cock

….and yes, we still have far to go.

Technologies nowadays are fast-growing and thus, every company must cope with these changes and it has to start where it all started— the website.

Ever heard of “A good first impression can work wonders” quote by JK Rowling? Well, it is a pretty common and over used quote ever. But have we truly understand its value and impact?

I don’t think so.

Potential clients search for the character of its company by visiting its profile through the website, so you want to create a creative, informative, and exciting website design. 

So what are the keys to building a better Web design?

It’s something you can start right now. 

We’re going to teach you.

Keep reading and learn the tips and tricks you should follow to have a successful website design by Jose Silvera— CEO of Strive Enterprise, a website expert, digital Marketer recognized by Google, and Bing ads for training campaign with over 100% conversion rates. 

A super simple way to help you attract clients is to reach out to you and make a good deal with your business.

So grab a snack and get ready to dig in.

Perhaps you are more of a video person, check this out:

Websites design has become an ever-changing field, with new trends and tools popping up every day. The field is also becoming more accessible to casual users, so it’s essential to keep up with the latest changes in design and development. This list of tips and tricks is meant to give you a little something that will help you make your site look better, function better, or just be a little bit more fun for everyone who visits.

Why Do You Need to Improve Your Website?

There are many reasons for it, but most importantly, it’s good for business. When your customers have a positive experience on your website, there is a greater chance that they will trust you and come back again.

 “If the customer doesn’t find what he’s looking for, he’s gone.”

 Having a good-looking website and intuitive navigation is critical because it allows customers to visit your site and find the information they are looking for. A website will enable you to share the news with customers, promote special offers and coupons, or simply provide a great way to get in touch with them.

You can also showcase your products and services and project a professional image of your company. If people can easily find what they are looking for on your website, they are more likely to order from you instead of going to a competitor.

It’s not just about design anymore.

The web is now a place where people come to read your content, enjoy your media, and learn about your products and services. Your website needs to be an extension of your business that does all of these things in the most effective way possible. Many companies are still using their websites as brochure sites or as glorified online catalogs, but those who have made the leap into creating a truly powerful asset use their websites to attract visitors.

A website with a great design can help you sell more products and services, but if it’s not optimized for search engines or doesn’t communicate clearly what you do, then all the pretty pixels in the world don’t matter.

Website design is an art form combining both art and science. Like any art, it needs to be beautiful, but unlike other arts, it also needs to be functional.

The main goal of website design is to make it easy for visitors to find information and navigate the website using different devices, browsers, and platforms. The following are some of the tips and tricks that can help you achieve that goal.

Tip # 1: Fixed header

A fixed header, also known as a sticky header, follows your visitor throughout the website. A header is the top part of the website, which is the first thing that visitors see. It usually displays the name of the website, the logo, the navigation area, and the contact number.

A website without a fixed header can easily have its users confused. This is because it is harder to navigate through the website when there are no visual cues to direct the user’s eyes towards where they must click next. A website with a fixed header, however, has clear visual cues that tell you where you need to go next.

One of the most important benefits of having a fixed-header website is that it gives the user an idea of where they are on the page.

It does this by providing you with a mental map.

The user will know that there are links above their current position on the page that lead to other pages and sections on the site. Below their current position, there are links that take them back to the main menu or forward them to other sections or pages of the site.

The main menu that appears above your current position on the page should be straightforward and easy to read. It should contain links to all of your sites, as well as links to other areas such as contact information and copyright statements. It should not be cluttered with unnecessary information or links, but instead kept simple and clean so that anyone using your site can quickly find what they are.

And for the sake of this blog, allow me to explain it further and simply…..

The importance of having a fixed header on a website is like the importance of having your pants on when going to a job interview. You can look great and be really good at your job, but if you don’t have your pants on, you’ll find yourself going home unemployed. 

If you’ve ever used a website without a fixed header, you’ll know why it’s important to have one: it gives the user a sense of place and trust. It’s also important because people will expect it and they’ll be annoyed if it isn’t there.

The biggest benefit is that people visiting your site will have consistency with other sites they’ve visited. It’s just easier for them to interact with the site if they know what to expect– for example, their screen won’t suddenly shift around as content gets added or moved around.

 A fixed header (which usually means “no scroll”) is also used as an anchor for links that point outside of your site, such as social media buttons (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) or a link to email someone about the site.

When these things are constantly moving up and down the screen as users scroll through your site, it breaks the user’s immersion in the content of the site and pulls them out of whatever experience they were having.

Tip # 2: Background Video

Videos are inarguably the most powerful visual medium. They can evoke strong emotions, make us remember things for longer periods of time, and, most importantly, they’re fun!

While videos are more common on landing pages and in social media posts, they’re also starting to be used more often in website design. Video backgrounds can be a great way to engage visitors with your content and keep them on the page longer.

If you want your website to be imprinted on the minds of your visitors and be more engaging, adding a video is a step forward. Here are some tips on how to accomplish this:

Website design and development should be user-friendly.

The use of video will make your website more appealing to users.

Sometimes it can be hard for a person to stay focused on the content of your page if there is no background video playing because a lot of times, these videos play annoying music or sounds that people cannot stand listening to. If you want them to stay engaged, then make sure that the sound is turned off or muted for this type of project when working with background videos on web pages!

The best thing about using a video as opposed to an image is that you can use high-resolution photos in the background, which gives your website more of an artistic feel while still being very professional looking at the same time!

You need to remember just a few things when it comes to having a background video as a part of your website. The main thing is that your video needs to be compatible with all of the browsers out there. So make sure you have both HTML5 and flash versions, and if possible, go for the flash version if the users have it.

Tip # 3: Compressed Images

As the saying goes, 

“A picture is worth a thousand words.” 

Well, the same goes for websites.

Having pictures on your website is one of the best ways to grab a visitor’s attention, but it’s also one of the most effective ways to slow down your website. 

Image compression is the act of reducing the size of an image without losing quality to an acceptable level. The goal is to produce images that load quickly without sacrificing quality.

For many reasons, it is important to have compressed images on your website. The first reason is that it speeds up the time it takes for your page to load. If you have a website with many images that are not compressed, then you will see a dramatic slowdown in the time it takes for a web page to load. It can also decrease the amount of server space you use, which will result in a lower cost to host your site. Compressed images can also help people using mobile devices view your site because it will help reduce their data usage.

To sum it up, here are five reasons why you need to compress images on your website:

1. A website with compressed images loads faster.
2. It improves the user experience.
3. It reduces bandwidth usage, which in turn reduces hosting costs.
4. It helps you save on SEO costs.
5. Google rewards you for it by ranking your website higher in search results because page speed has been a ranking factor on mobile devices since 2018 and on desktop devices since 2010. 

The next question you probably have is… “How do I compress my images, then?”

There are many ways to do this, actually, and most of them are free! There are websites out there that will allow you to upload your pictures and they will compress them for you and then allow you to download them, such as the sites that we are using:

https://compressimage.toolur.com

https://www.ps2pdf.com/video-compressor

“Even if it’s just a few milliseconds, that could be the difference between your site either gaining or losing countless website visitors. And you need those visitors so you can increase your web leads. ”

Tip # 4: Lazy Loads and Script Defer

A very important technique to make your web page load faster is to lazy load images and scripts that are not critical for the initial page rendering.

Lazy loading is an optimization technique for online content, be it a website or web app. It delays the loading of non-critical resources at page load time. Instead, these non-critical resources are loaded at the moment of need.

When a user visits a web page, the browser begins to construct it. If the page includes external resources, such as images, style sheets, JavaScript files, etc., the browser has to download them all before showing anything on the screen. Lazy loading helps prevent that by delaying resource downloading until they’re really needed.

Script deferring allows you to write code that will run after the DOM has finished loading rather than before, which helps with performance.

Tip # 5: Section Distinction

Don’t you hate it when you get to the end of a website and have no idea where to click next?

With all the scrolling, swiping, and clicking between pages, there are so many opportunities for things to get lost in cyberspace. When there is no clear distinction between sections of a website, it can be easy to get lost or become confused about where to go next. It’s important for sites to make it clear where one section ends and another begins so that visitors know that they’re not missing anything by clicking the wrong link.

The best way to achieve a visually pleasing but user–friendly design is by using section distinction. Here are a few tips for doing so:

     Use different colors for different sections of your website, such as complementary colors (red/green) or those with high contrast (blue/yellow).

     Add images or icons that complement each in different sections but not elsewhere on the page.

    Keep each section simple and related to the main idea of its respective page.

As a rule, content is king. You’ve probably heard that a million times before. But that doesn’t mean it’s the only thing you need to consider while creating a website.

You also need to think about how the content is organized and how it’s presented, otherwise, your site will quickly become cluttered and confusing, with important information buried under a pile of visual distractions.

That’s why section distinction matters– this simple technique can go a long way toward creating an effective website.

Tip # 6: Call to Action Buttons

There are different elements that you will find on a website, but one of the most important is the call-to-action button. If you want to make sure your website is converting visitors into prospects or customers, then this is one of the key things you need to include.

This is what can help to increase conversion rates, but there are also other benefits associated with these buttons as well.

One of the main functions of a call-to-action button is to encourage the visitor to take action by clicking on it. They are used in all kinds of ways, such as encouraging people to subscribe to a mailing list or purchase a product. If a person has no way of making purchases on your site, they will not be able to do anything, so they may leave and never come back again. The only way that you can get them to stay on your site and buy something is if you have some sort of button that encourages them to take action. When someone clicks on the button, then it will take them directly to the page where they can make a purchase, which means more sales for you.

Click here to buy, sign up for our newsletter, join our community, etc. But how do you make a good one? 

Well, it doesn’t take a genius, but there are some simple tricks that can help you make your CTAs more effective. You may want to read our previous article, “How to Make a Perfect Call to Action That Generates Leads,” to have a better understanding of this topic and use those tips to get your call to action buttons noticed.

First of all, keep in mind that the CTA button is not just another link in the sea of links on your website. It should be different so that it stands out and gets noticed by your visitors. Use colors that contrast with the colors on the rest of your website. Choose colors that have high contrast with other colors on your site—for example, if your site is predominantly white, use bright red or yellow for your CTA buttons because they will be easy to spot among all that white.

Secondly, make sure that your CTAs are easy to find. Don’t hide them at the bottom of a page or behind other information like text and images—they should be front and center so that people see them first thing when they come to your site.

In conclusion, a call to action button is extremely important to have following a landing page or an offer website. Without it, you would be wasting your time.

If your goal is to make the maximum profit while spending the minimum, then you should add a “Call to Action” button to the website design for your next project.

Tip # 7: Never add YouTube Videos to the Homepage

The website’s homepage is the first thing your visitors will see, so it’s important to make good decisions about how you design it. Some people might argue that you should always add a YouTube video to your homepage because it looks nice and grabs people’s attention. But we’re here to tell you that this is a mistake.

To begin with, not everyone has high-speed internet or unlimited data plans on their phones. A video can take up a lot of space on someone’s device and may cost a lot of money if they end up paying for excess data charges. If a visitor sees a video on your homepage, they may immediately decide that your site isn’t worth the risk of using up all their data for the month.

Also, videos are really annoying to some people. They don’t want anything to distract them from their task. They just want to view your website without having to worry about turning off the volume or clicking on something to pause the video. And when you add YouTube videos to your website, you’re also making visitors watch ads—because Google doesn’t let you share videos unless you have advertisements included on them too!

At the end of the day, it’s about being respectful of other people’s preferences and experiences.

Tip # 8: Simple Design

The best website designs are simple, clean, and direct. But there’s a lot more to know about the importance of simple web design than just that. The best designers don’t fall into the trap of going overboard with design elements. They understand what their users want, how to give it to them, and why less is more.

Macaroni and cheese are delicious because it’s one of the simplest recipes out there. It’s just elbow macaroni and melted cheese, with salt and pepper for taste. Sure, you can add other ingredients, but why bother? Adding veggies or meat makes a macaroni dish “better” in some people’s eyes, but others would argue that you’re ruining its simplicity—and, therefore its taste.

Simple web design is the same way.

You may be tempted to add all the bells and whistles to your site (sliders, carousels, hamburger menus), but this often detracts from usability and causes confusion for visitors. A simple design gives users what they want without making them feel overwhelmed or confused. If users feel overwhelmed by a website, they tend to leave without buying anything or taking action—which means no conversion for you!

When it comes to web design, simplicity is essential. While there are many ways to go about designing your site in a complex fashion, you’ll find that it’s best to stick to the essentials when it comes to your visitors’ experience. The simplest designs are often the most effective and can be achieved in several ways.

Simplicity makes for faster loading, by the way.

In this day and age, it’s essential for your website to load as quickly as possible. Even the most loyal of customers will likely give up on a site if it takes too long to load, so the faster your site runs, the better. A simple design means that you’ll have fewer images on each page, which will lead to much faster loading times.

Tip # 9: Don’t Use Stock Photo

Stock photos are everywhere. Whether you need a picture of a smiling couple, a beach at sunset, or an office space, the internet is awash in photos of people who don’t know you. These images have become synonymous with lazy web design and have the potential to turn off your website visitors.

Why?

Because they’re fake. And people can tell. 

People can tell when something doesn’t seem right. And stock photos on your website definitely don’t feel right. They create this sense that something is off—that what we see isn’t really what we’re getting.

It creates this little seedling of distrust, which makes it hard to connect with visitors on an emotional level. This makes it harder to convert visitors into customers because they don’t feel like they can trust you yet.

If you use stock photos on your website, you give the impression that you don’t care about your brand enough to take real pictures for it. It also makes it appear like you have nothing real to say about yourself or your business because all of your photos are fakes, and you have no real experience in the field you claim to be an expert in.

I know you want your website to look legit, but using a stock photo of generic people in business clothing just makes your site look like a template.

Think about it: if you’re looking for a trustworthy service provider and come across two websites, one of which has photos that look staged and unnatural, and the other has photos that are clearly of real people who are visibly happy with what they do, which one would you be more likely to choose? If it’s the latter, then you know where I’m going with this.

You want site visitors to buy into your credibility—the best way to do that is by showing them the real people behind your business.

Don’t be afraid to show off your fun side on your website!

The human brain is wired to be attracted to things that are familiar and relatable. So let people see you for who you really are.

Tip # 10: Reviews & Testimonials

“Customer reviews are critical; they count as much as a personal recommendation to 72% of online users.”

As you know, word-of-mouth marketing is the most valuable source of marketing. According to a Nielsen study, 92% of consumers believe suggestions from friends and family more than they do advertising—the stat alone solidified the word of mouth use case.

Testimonials are a great way of connecting with your customers. It’s a human thing: we love to know what other humans think, and we love to hear stories that make us feel good.

Reviews and testimonials will help you connect with your users on a more personal level, but they also have plenty of practical benefits. Let’s take a look at some of the main ones:

     Testimonials build trust.

     They provide proof that you are legitimate and can be trusted.

     They help create social proof.

     They give you an idea of what people like about your product or service, allowing you to improve it.

So, it is best to add a review section to your home page or your landing page and showcase the best reviews you’ve ever gotten from social media, either from Google, Twitter, or Facebook.

Ready to Create the Best Website Design You’ve Ever Had?

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by Charleen Montano April 29, 2022

We understand that credibility is one of the most important factors for business and not just any small business but all industries. Businesses with credibility attract clients, show professionalism, and offer services that can be trusted.

We also understand that there are many ways to gain credibility, but not all of them are guaranteed to work. Some methods may work for some businesses, while others may not. In this article, we will discuss the best ways to establish credibility for your business.

When you start a business, it’s very easy to get lost in the world of the unknown. Not knowing how things should be done or where to start can really put you in a tough spot and make things harder than they need to be.

But this is where we come in!

We’ve got experience in this area, and we want to help you figure out what you need to do in order to establish credibility for your business. 

Is video more your style? Here is a live video on the topic.

More on that at:

Jose Silvera YouTube Channel

Trust. Credibility. Realness… whatever you would like to call it, it’s an important part of online business and the internet marketing niche in particular.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of fake companies out there posing as real businesses who use their websites to sell shoddy products and rob people of their money, I know you are aware of that; it’s pretty common. This is the biggest reason why the credibility crisis that businesses face today has become a more massive impact on the industry than it was ten years ago.

And this problem is the biggest obstacle that your business has to face in order to grow and succeed.

What is Credibility in Business World?

Well, credibility simply has the ability to be trusted and believed in. In the business industry, to be credible, you must be convincing, trustworthy, and plausible.

Credibility is the ability to inspire trust and confidence. Its faith in a person or thing allows us to accept what someone says as authentic. It’s a vital component for a business to have.

It is a powerful tool used to make customers feel comfortable doing business with you. The idea of credibility is not new and has been around since the beginning of time, though some may argue that it has been defined in different ways over that time. Some might say it is dependent on past experience, others might say character and integrity, while others still say it can be impacted by perception alone.

Regardless of which definition you subscribe to, what matters most for us today is how we view credibility in today’s world as online entrepreneurs.

Why Is Having Credibility Important in Business?

Any company or business can claim its customers’ loyalty, respect, and trust. But only a few businesses today have established their long-lasting, positive reputation and recognition in the global customer base.

These businesses earn their customers’ confidence because they uphold the highest standards in terms of operational processes, accounting practices, public relations policies, financial stability and transparency, and consumer protection.

If we look back in the history of business, we will see that a significant number of unsuccessful entrepreneurs lacked credibility.

Business credibility is the backbone of a business’s existence. No business can ever thrive without credibility.

Credibility might also be referred to as reputation, trustworthiness, and popularity. These words illustrate the significance of a business to its survival and how it becomes successful in the market. Credibility has a lot to do with the customers, and it is important because the customers don’t go for what they don’t trust or perceive as high quality.

6 Ways to Enhance Credibility in Your Business.

How do you enhance your credibility in business? Is it hard to make yourself more credible?

Well, the thing is, credibility is something that has been earned. This means you already have it if you know how to earn it. It’s not as hard as it seems. In fact, you can achieve it much faster than you think.

Here’s how:

 SHOW UP CONSISTENTLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA

As a business owner, it’s important to show up consistently on social media in order to build your credibility. In fact, it might be the most important element of your marketing strategy in today’s competitive digital world. Even though you might have a great product or service that can help people, they’re not going to do business with you if they don’t trust you yet.

Social media is one of the best ways to establish and grow your reputation as an expert and a leader in your field. The more often you post and share relevant and valuable content, the more people will begin to see you as an authority figure.

The keyword here is “consistently.”  

Posting every day is better than posting once a week. Posting several times a week is even better!  

However, if you are just starting out and that sounds like too much for you, start with one post per day. Or, if posting every day isn’t realistic for you because of your busy schedule, commit to at least one post per week. The important thing here is that your audience knows what to expect from you, so they can count on seeing something new from you on a regular basis.

 CUSTOMER VIDEO REVIEWS

Video customer reviews are a great way to help your business look more professional and trustworthy to the customers who are viewing and shopping on your site. A good video customer review can make you seem more credible, professional, and reliable, which is definitely something that will help your business grow and succeed.

To begin creating video customer reviews, first, you’ll need to think about what needs to be included in the video. You’ll want to consider what questions your target audience would like answered by watching a video customer review of your product or service. It would help if you also thought about how you would get the information you’ll include in the video. One of the easiest ways to get this information is through email interviews with satisfied customers.

You can send an email questionnaire out to customers who have already purchased your product or service to ask about their experience with it.

Once you’ve received the information from these emails, you can begin putting together a script for the video customer review.

FOLLOW UP A LOT

Following up can be the difference between closing a sale and losing it, between winning a new client and having to start all over again, between getting a promotion and staying in the same position. Follow up is the key to making your business relationships work for you.

The follow-up process has been demonstrated to be so effective that some businesses have even seen their sales increase by over 500%! And it’s not just about getting more money—it’s about building credibility and trust. If you can show your audience that you’re willing to go out of your way to make sure they’re satisfied, they’ll be much more likely to spread the word about you and bring in more business.

Not following up is the fastest way to lose credibility in your business. The act of following up is a complete game-changer because not everyone does it.

Think about it: they probably get calls and emails all day long, so how can you stand out from the crowd? By attempting to connect with people who aren’t interested or don’t respond to your email? It’s a total waste of time.

Instead, here are some rules for effective follow-up:

Rule 1: Don’t be afraid to ask, only if you’ve built rapport first.

Rule 2: Ask them what they think…but not too often!

Rule 3: Stop chasing people who are clear that they’re not interested–it’s time to let go and move on.

Rule 4: Never send the same message twice; instead, keep changing what you say until you get a response.

With these four rules, you’ll never have to worry about making another follow-up call again! 

GET A VIRTUAL OFFICE

If you’d like your business to be seen as credible and trustworthy, a virtual office can help. When you meet with potential investors, customers, or partners, they often want to see a physical location of the company. Even if your business is predominantly online-based, having a virtual office space gives you that physical presence.

A virtual office gives you a business address in a prime location. This helps build credibility for your company, no matter how big or small it is. When a client sees an address at a prestigious business center, it can give them more confidence in your company’s professionalism. The address will also appeal to clients who may be looking for companies that are located near their own offices.

A virtual office also gives you the opportunity to meet with clients in professional conference rooms or suites instead of coffee shops and restaurants. Using these facilities allows you to give off an air of professionalism by offering your clients privacy and comfort when discussing important matters with you. In addition to these amenities, many virtual office providers offer additional services such as mail forwarding, live answering, and phone messaging services which will enable you to communicate with your clients in a professional manner and help make sure nothing falls through the cracks by having all of your company’s functions taken care of in one place.

To sum up all the ideas, here are the four benefits of getting a virtual office: 

1. They make your company look more professional

2. They help clients find you more easily

3. They let potential clients know that you’re serious about your business

4. They’re surprisingly affordable (and often include extra perks)

GET A GREAT WEBSITE

If you don’t have a website, it’s like you are saying, “Hey! I am not a real business! I can’t be trusted! Buy from somebody else!”

I have seen amazing businesses get turned down for contracts because they were the best option but did not have a website. Having a website is a very important element in building credibility in business.

As I mentioned billion times in my previous blogs, the website is once again a crucial part of your business. When it comes to building credibility, a website is absolutely essential.

If you don’t have one, the first thing your potential customers will do is search for you on Google. When there is no result for them to click on, your credibility drops significantly in their eyes. It’s as if you aren’t even in business because you’re invisible online.

That’s why it’s so important to have a website—it puts your business on the map. And as mentioned a gazillion times on my blogs, having just any website isn’t enough. 

Let me tell you again; your site has to be designed with care and thoughtfulness so that people can navigate it easily and find the information they need quickly. They should be able to tell what your company does or sells instantly and intuitively—not after clicking through links or pages of text.

If your site doesn’t meet these simple criteria, it could hurt your business more than not having a website at all. Customers who can’t figure out how to get the information they need are going to move on to someone else who makes it easy for them—and that means losing money and losing potential customers both now and in the future.

PRESS RELEASES

If you want to inform the public, create an official statement, or make an announcement that will be released to the media, you’ll need to use a press release. Press releases are also regarded as primary sources, meaning they are the original sources of information.

Why is it that so many people find the idea of sending out a press release distasteful? You may be one of them; you might think it’s contrived, or that it feels self-promotional. But here’s the thing: what you’re doing is, in fact, newsworthy—and if there’s no one to tell your story, then who will? That’s why sending a press release is essential for building credibility for your business.

Writing a press release and sending it to a suitable media person is a great way to get free publicity. It’s important to keep it short, professional, and newsworthy. The best way to attract the interest of your target audience is by making sure you have interesting content, quality writing, and focus on what the reader wants.

A few things to keep in mind when writing a press release:

1) Start with an attention-grabbing headline that reads like a news story.

2) Write the body of your press release in the third person and include background information about you and your company.

3) Write 300-500 words for the main body text and use bullet points or numbered lists for additional information such as contact details or key facts about you/your company.

4) Include links to relevant websites so people can learn more about you/your company after reading the press release.

For one thing, a press release serves as a written record of important milestones in your company’s history. It helps give context to future developments and offers outsiders a chance to see where your business has been and where it might be headed. A good press release can also attract new business from existing clients and potential customers; it lets everyone know that you’re serious about what you do and that you’re committed to keeping them informed about your work.

Common Mistakes That Lost Your Credibility.

When you’re trying to establish yourself as a legitimate business person, it can be easy to make small mistakes that end up costing you credibility. These don’t have to be fatal flaws- if you’re careful, they can be easily corrected to avoid damage.

Here are some of the most common pitfalls that cause credibility issues and what you can do to avoid them.

NOT DELIVERING ON YOUR PROMISES

You may be tempted to promise the world in order to make an impression or get a client, but if you aren’t prepared to deliver on your promises, you’ll find yourself with a lot of disappointed customers and a bad reputation.

So, before making any guarantees or commitments, think about whether or not it’s something you can really do for your clientele.

Remember: It’s better to under-promise and over-deliver than it is to make grandiose statements that you can’t keep!

BEING UNPROFESSIONAL OR UNORGANIZED

When your customers see how professional and organized you are, they’ll feel more confident doing business with you. If they see sloppy work or inefficiency, they’ll start wondering what else isn’t being done properly and may question whether they should stay with your company at all. Make sure you’re always projecting an image of professionalism.

DON’T TELL PEOPLE YOU’RE PERFECT- IT’S A LIE.

If you make mistakes, admit it- and then tell people how you’ll make it right. Owning up to your screw-ups makes you more human and shows that you really care about each customer’s individuality.

DON’T USE HYPERBOLE.

Don’t overdo the praise- when you do, it sounds false and like you’re trying too hard to get customers to buy from you. “The Best Thing Ever” or “The Best in the World” might be true for some people, but it’ll sound hollow when everyone uses those phrases to describe their own business.

Instead, focus on what makes your product better (for example: “Our product has an extra layer of protection against viruses”).

 Mistakes happen. It’s just a part of life. But it’s what we learn from these mistakes that changes our lives, determines our fate, and helps us to succeed. The same basic rule rings true no matter where you are in life, either personally or professionally.

If you repeat the same mistakes again and again without learning from them, your chances of losing credibility- in business or in life- shoot up dramatically.

If you’ve lost your client’s faith in you and your services, then expect to see less work from them as well. While this might seem straightforward enough, maintaining that credibility is actually much easier said than done. But if you can avoid the mistakes we mentioned above and those similar to them, you should be fine.

Conclusion

Ultimately, it’s important to remember that credibility isn’t something that’s earned overnight. It’s built over time through consistent action and trust that your audience has for you. So make sure that if you want people to take you seriously– to trust you, to value your opinion– you need to approach every area of your business with the same mindset.

We are rooting for your success!

Adios! See you!

by Charleen Montano May 3, 2022

It’s the question that haunts every entrepreneur: How do you build a great brand? What strategies and tactics should you focus on? And how can you make sure your company really stands out?

And yup! We’ve all heard the same old advice: Be authentic. Be genuine. Be different.

But how do you actually do that?

You’ve been there. You’re sitting in front of a blank screen, or maybe a yellow notepad, and you’re trying to come up with some kind of branding for your business. You know that branding is important and can help you grow your business in the long run, but you just don’t know what to do.

You’ve tried everything- you’ve looked at other company brands, you’ve thought about your own favorite brands, you’ve even asked your friends what they like.  But no matter what you try, you just can’t come up with any ideas that are seen right for your business.

You’re not alone. In fact, it’s estimated that around 80% of businesses fail to create an effective brand strategy. Why? Because they don’t take the time to understand what a brand really is and how their company should use it.

The definition of a brand is something that’s often debated in business circles, but for the purpose of this article, take time to have it defined concisely.

Do you find videos more enjoyable? Watch this:

What is a Brand?

A brand is a name, term, design, symbol, or any other features that distinguish one seller’s product from those of others. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising. A brand is a valuable marketing tool that differentiates your company’s product from competitors because it creates loyalty to your product, and most importantly, it makes money for you.

Or simply, a brand is why you buy Coke over Pepsi or Apple over Dell. Or why you choose product A instead of product B in the grocery store.

That simple, huh?

Now, I want to dig deeper into the definition because I’m so tired of this long debate about this. 

The word gets thrown a lot, but it’s not often defined. The fact is, there’s no single definition of “brand.” It’s a word that means different things to different people. To some, a brand is nothing more than a product name or logo. To others, it’s the sum of how the customers feel about the company’s products, services, advertisements, and customer service. 

In my opinion, most people think too narrowly about what constitutes a brand.  They equate it with a logo or name. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. A brand is so much more than that tiny silver at the surface of your company’s image. It includes everything from the words you choose for your website copy to how your employees answer the phone to what happens on your social media channels to whether there’s an umbrella in your company logo.

Yes, really.

And it has very little to do with what you think about your business– it’s all about how customers perceive it.

So, why does any of this matter?

Because without a strong brand, your business will struggle to grow and succeed against a larger company that has its brand established since World War 2.

OK, maybe after that.

Why is Branding Important?

When you’re launching a business, it can be tempting to just focus on the basics: getting a product or service up and running, acquiring customers, and making money. However, this kind of “business first” thinking often fails to consider one crucial element vital to your business’s success: its brand.

In addition to what I was blabbering above, a brand is more than just a logo or a name– it’s the sum of all the ways that people perceive your business, whether through advertising and marketing materials or word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family.

The right brand has the power to make people feel a certain way about your company.

In fact, studies have shown that consumers are willing to pay significantly more for products that carry their favorite brands; in some cases, they will pay up to 50% more for the same product!

That’s because people identify with their favorite brands and want to support them– and if you don’t have a well-defined brand image, people won’t know what they’re supporting when they buy from your company. 

The goal is to make sure that every experience aligns with who you are and what you stand for as a company. Your brand is not just about how your business looks; it’s about how it feels. This is important because when you create a positive experience for your customers, they’re more likely to be loyal to your brand and buy products or services from you even if they’re more expensive than the competition.

They’ll also be more likely to recommend your product or service to other people, which is the best kind of advertising!

As a small business owner, the idea of establishing a brand can feel overwhelming—or even pointless. After all, you’re busy running a business and don’t necessarily have the time or budget to hire an agency or marketing team to help you create your brand. But branding is not just for big businesses with huge marketing budgets.

In fact, it’s just as important for small businesses as it is for big ones.

Here’s why:

1) It sets you apart from the competition. A branding strategy helps you distinguish yourself from other businesses in your industry, which makes it easier for potential customers to choose your company over someone else’s.

2) It gives your employees direction. Your employees are the face of your business, so it’s important that they understand and embrace your vision, mission, and values so that they can deliver a consistent customer experience every time.

3) It helps attract talent. Branding enables you to create a unique identity within your industry, which will appeal to people who want to work for an innovative company that offers growth opportunities.

6 Steps To Create Your Brand

It’s true, creating a brand for your business is a complex process. You’ll need to know what to include in your company brand, how to use the tools at your disposal, and how to deliver a cohesive message throughout your entire brand.

But before you can dive into creating or revamping your brand, there are some basic steps you’ll need to take. Branding isn’t something that happens overnight, so don’t let the idea of branding intimidate you into delaying the process!

With just these six steps and some time in your hands, you’ll have a new brand up and running no matter what industry you’re in.

FIND OUT WHO YOUR CUSTOMER IS– AGE, GENDER, RACE, PROFESSION, AND ANY OTHER KEY THINGS ABOUT THEM.

Here’s a fun fact: If you don’t know who your customer is, you don’t know what to sell them.

In a world where it feels like everyone has a business and everyone is selling something, how can you stand out?

One of the most important ways you can stand out is by building your brand, and one of the ways to build your business brand is to find out who your customer is, their age, gender, race, profession, and any other key things about them.

If you don’t know this information, you can’t target your marketing efforts toward people who are likely to be interested in what you have to offer. You will probably be wasting time and money marketing to people who aren’t interested in what you have to offer or, worse yet, don’t even need it.

You may think that the answer to this question is “anyone with a pulse.” While that may seem like a reasonable answer on the surface, think about it for a moment.

If everyone needs what you have to offer, why do so many businesses fail?

Businesses fail because there aren’t enough people willing to pay for their product/service or people who can afford to do it themselves (DIY) the product you might be selling or not in the right marketplace.

Might you be selling high-heeled sandals in the middle of the forest without even realizing it?– OK, Don’t take it personally and literally.

But you got the point, right?

First things first. Do yourself a favor. Know your customer!

FIND OUT WHAT THESE CUSTOMERS NEED, WANT, AND LIKE

“When you find out what your customer needs, wants, and likes, that’s the beginning of a business relationship. The more you know about your customers, the better off you’ll be.”

-Kevin Stirtz.

As Kevin is a marketing expert, he understands that customer insight is mandatory for businesses to succeed. You can’t build a brand without knowing who your customers are. It’s important to do so because it helps you generate leads faster, make better decisions, and improve your customer service skills by analyzing the customers’ feedback. All of this will help give your brand an image of being reliable and efficient, making it easier to build relationships with new clients.

Getting to know your customers is a lot like dating. You want to make sure you’re compatible with each other and that you’ll be able to keep each other happy in the long run. A healthy relationship between business and customer is no different—it is built on understanding what each party needs from the other and making sure that everyone’s needs are being met accordingly.

Determining your customers’ needs, wants, and likes might seem difficult, but it’s actually very simple. Once you’ve figured out the types of people who buy your products or use your services, you can start to ask yourself more detailed questions about their personalities and preferences. Are they young? Do they have kids? What kind of car do they drive? How much money do they spend on groceries? What do they do for fun? What kinds of problems do they have in their lives? What worries them? The answers to these questions will help you tailor your marketing efforts to their interests, which makes for a better experience for them as well as for your company’s bottom line. This process also helps you clarify what your product or service is really all about—and it helps you think of ways to make it even better!

FIND OUT HOW TO REFLECT ON EXACTLY WHAT YOU KNOW THEY CARE ABOUT THE MOST

What does it mean when your customer cares about something? What should you do if they care about more than one thing? Does it matter what they care about, or can you just make them care about something you think is important? And why is it important to find out what they care about in the first place?

It is not just a matter of knowing what your customers care about the most. You need to reflect on exactly what that means and why you should care, too. Asking yourself these questions regularly will help keep your brand relevant to your audience.

The world of personal branding is tricky to navigate, and it’s easy to get lost in the process. The most important thing to remember is that you need to be yourself. It’s the only way you’ll create something unique, and if you don’t do that, then all your efforts will be for nothing. And how do you know who you are? By reflecting on exactly what you know your customers care about the most and why it’s important to them.

One of my favorite personal branding examples comes from Seth Godin, who wrote a book called Purple Cow. In it, he explains how he came up with his brand by focusing on what his customers didn’t like: old-fashioned yellow cars. When he realized they were tired of seeing those cars everywhere, he came up with the idea of a purple cow—something that would stand out from everything else around it. That purple cow led him down a path toward creating an entire company based on this concept (he even has an office with purple cows painted all over the walls!).

Another great example comes from Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who knew what his customers wanted before they did: sleek design and minimalism. He took these ideas and turned them into something new by creating products that could help fulfill his customers’ needs and ideas.

When you’re building your brand, it’s important to know what your customers care about the most—not only because it helps you connect with them and make them happy, but also because it’s a way of giving back. If you know what matters to them, then you can show that they’re not just paying for a delivery service or a product—they’re also supporting something that’s meaningful to them, whether it’s a cause or an organization.

And in this day and age, where people want brands that align with their values, knowing those values is key to success.

For example, suppose you know your customers are passionate about animal welfare and environmental sustainability. In that case, that means you can offer products made from organic cotton or fair-trade hemp instead of conventional cotton and denim.

Or, if your customers’ top priority is gender equality and women’s rights, you can highlight how important hiring women in leadership positions is to your company culture. Knowing what your customers care about the most will help you build a brand that attracts more people who share those values—and can even change the world in the process!

CREATE THE 3 CORE VALUES OF YOUR BUSINESS

You’ve heard that it’s important to define your company’s core values, and you’re probably thinking, “how the heck am I supposed to do that? The core values of my company are 1) to make money and 2) to have fun.”

The truth is, establishing this essential foundation for your business is actually pretty simple.

First off,

What are core values?

Core values are the basic tenets of your business philosophy. They’re the principles and beliefs that guide how you operate on a daily basis. In other words, they describe how your company does things.

Why define core values?

Because when you know exactly what you stand for as a business, you can lead with confidence. You know how to make decisions about where to invest time and resources. You can determine which kinds of partners or clients are ideal for you. And you can also find ways to differentiate yourself from competitors in a crowded marketplace– a huge advantage!

How do you define them?

Eazy peezy as reflecting on the past experiences and identifying the things you value most in those situations that have brought success, fulfillment, or joy. It might not be obvious at first what those things are– sometimes it takes really thinking about them before they become clear.

Now, here’s the main point: a brand’s core values are an organization’s essential and enduring principles that guide its actions, behaviors, and decisions. These values are like the DNA of any company; they represent the foundation upon which all other aspects of the business are built. Core values should be more than just words on a piece of paper; they need to influence how employees behave and how customers perceive them.

Core values are important because they help companies define who they are and what they stand for. They also influence how employees operate within the organization and how customers perceive them.

For example, one of the core values of Strive Enterprise is “over delivery,” we always aim to exceed what was the expectation of our clients. It is very important to us to do more of what is in the average and aim high to reach the highest peak result of our product.

Another is “we are always for the client,” which is why we do custom works– the fact that we care about our clients and bring out their branding, we do customized work in need or preferred by the client to achieve their branding goal.

With these example of core values, we believe that this will set us apart from other companies that may not adhere to such high standards, which makes our reputation better known among consumers as well, leading them to become more loyal over time.

DISCOVER THE BEST SALES PSYCHOLOGY FOR ALL TYPES OF CLIENT (WHETHER THEY ARE PASSIVE, AGGRESSIVE, OR NEUTRAL)

When it comes to sales, the customers aren’t always right. Not really. In fact, they’re frequently wrong– and that’s just fine. 

The customer doesn’t have to be right. They just have to be happy enough to buy what you’re selling. The key is learning how to make them happy enough, and that means understanding their psychology. The three main types of customers are passive, aggressive, and neutral, and each one responds best to a different kind of interaction with salespeople.

Passive customers are those who are hesitant to make a purchase. They will likely not make any decisions on their own, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not interested in buying your product. You’ll just have to be persuasive enough to get them to come around.

Aggressive customers are often described as having an extroverted personality type, which means they’re outgoing and enjoy socializing with others. They tend to be assertive and prefer to make decisions quickly– perhaps even impulsively. Because of these traits, they’re likely to be more receptive to short-term sales pitches, like those that focus on discounts or other incentives that encourage instant gratification.

Neutral customers are those who will buy only if the cost is right and who don’t care about anything else. They’ll look for the cheaper option unless something is truly better than what they’re considering; then, they may pay more for it– but only if it’s exactly what they want or need.

Identifying the type of client you’re dealing with is a crucial step in building a strong brand and sales strategy. This can give you the insight you need to sell yourself up for success.

Remember, the key to the customer’s mind is not what they want to buy… it’s WHAT they want TO buy.

If you solve their problem, people will buy, even if it’s not your product.

APPLY ALL THE 5 STEPS.

Following all the steps mentioned will be the first big step to creating your brand. You should always believe that your brand has to be something very positive and with which you will identify yourself. And next step is to have big ambitions in the future and work harder every time to get success everywhere in this world.

And thus, design your brand like you are designing a nice dress for it. Decide on a color that is just right for your brand’s personality; you can do it gradually or go bold. Maybe add some accessories or dominant features like the waistline or something else. But most importantly, finish it with a nice bow!

Writer’s Thoughts

The majority of the factors in the success of a business can be narrowed down to customer experience and relationships. We want you to focus on improving and recognizing your customers while doing what is honest, best, and right for them.

This is just as a customer as it is as a business owner. We do not want you to buy-in to something that says it will magically or instantly get your money back in five minutes online.

Your brand should be the core of all that you offer. If you take any of this information and make changes in the way that you develop your brand, we would love to have feedback from you about it because there are many options available for building yourself a solid brand in today’s competitive market.

Hopefully, we have provided you with a good set of tools to think about and how to apply them in your business. Find ways to use these tools to build your own brand, and take some time every now and then to reflect back on your brand.

Does this help or hurt the brand?

From this reflection, you will likely find ways to improve on your current brand or come up with a new brand idea that you can implement.

In the end, it’s all worth it.

by Charleen Montano May 5, 2022

So you have opened your own business, congratulations!

You want to get known, eh?

You’ve got a great product, an innovative service, and a unique idea. You know people will love it. But how do you make sure they know about it?

There are lots of ways to get the word out about your startup: social media, PR, advertising, word of mouth, and more. But some strategies are better than others– and some strategies should be avoided at all costs.

In a world where so much information and so many businesses, being unknown is a quick way to get left behind.

The good news is you don’t have to be a celebrity or a household name to get known as an expert in your industry. In fact, most of the time, it’s the people who are the most successful at getting their companies known and who aren’t well-known outside of their industry.

Why? Because they know what they’re doing. They’ve figured out how to build a brand that people trust and want to work with. So if you’re trying to make your business into something bigger than just yourself and your reputation, here are seven ways to get yourself known.

And oh! We’ve got a video version of the same topic– Jose Silvera, the CEO of Strive Enterprise, makes videos that could help you grow your business– live weekdays at 9 AM and 3 PM PST on YouTube and Instagram!

 RECONNECTING

To be known as a business owner, you need to do your research and find out what your target audience wants.

Reconnecting with everyone you know, whether you think they will buy from you or not, is one of the ways to get your business known.

This is called networking, and it’s a compelling way to build your business. The more people who know about you and what you do, the better for business.

There are many people you know who you don’t think will buy from you. And there are some people that you think might buy from you but haven’t yet. The key to getting your business known is to reconnect with everyone, whether they’re going to buy from you or not.

Here’s why:

You Never know what the future holds. If someone was interested in buying from you and didn’t have the money, they may have it now and be ready to buy. Or maybe an opportunity presented itself that made it possible for them to make a purchase now instead of later.

Sometimes, people just need reassurance that what they’re doing is right or wrong. They need validation from someone they trust before taking action on something important, like making a purchase or hiring someone for a project.

And, that’s where you come in!

TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS

You’ve connected with your friends and everyone you know. You’ve asked them how they’re doing and told them how you are doing. You’re all doing great. Great!

Or maybe you’ve told them you’re back in town and want to spend some time with your family and might as well spend time with them before going back to your busy schedule. They have a busy schedule, too, and you met up and had a great time together. Great!

Now it’s the time to start talking about your business.

Tell people about what you do if they ask. If someone asks what you do, take advantage of the opportunity by telling them about your business (even if it isn’t related). Not only will this give them valuable information but also shows that you’re proud of what you do, which builds trust in others. 

To promote your business, it’s important to talk about it whenever you can. After all, if you don’t talk about it, who will?

The more people who know about your business, the more likely it is that someone will hire you or refer someone else who needs a similar product or service.

FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM AND SOLUTION

You may be the best business person in the world, but if you don’t know your target customers, you won’t be able to sell anything.

 If you want to start a business, you need to know your potential customers. You can’t just create a product or service and expect everyone will enjoy it.

It’s important to take time to know deeper about your potential customer’s problems, and knowing the best possible solution to help them is one of the steps to getting your business known.

The more you know about your target audience, the better chances you have to make them happy with your services or products so that they become regular customers and eventually refer others. 

After all, people don’t buy products. They buy solutions to their problem.

The first thing you need to understand is what your customers want. Ask yourself: Why do people buy my products? What problem does it solve for them? If you’re going to sell more, you need to know what your customers want and how your product can help them.

People don’t care about you; they care about themselves and how your product will benefit them. This means that if you want people to be interested in what you have to offer, then you need to show them how it will benefit them.

GET A LIST OF WHAT PROBLEMS THEY HAVE THAT YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE MIGHT HAVE SOLUTION

What you want to do next is make a list of all the problems that these people are having and how they will be solved using your products.

This is called a “need analysis.” A needs analysis is the process of finding out what problems your customers are having and then finding out if you can solve those problems.

The best way to do this is by asking directly. You might ask them to fill out a survey or questionnaire, or maybe even literally make a list of the problems they are facing. The key here is that you want to find out why they’re having these problems.

Why? Because this is where your product or service can come in. If you know what problems people face and how your product solves those problems, you can offer them the solution at just the right time!

POST A CONTENT DESCRIBING THE SOLUTIONS

You have to keep in mind that people are becoming more and more conscious about buying products and services. The reason behind this change is the fact that people now have access to a large number of information sources on the internet. They can easily find out everything about any product or service before buying it.

When you post content about your business through social media, it becomes easier for people to find out about your brand and products. This increases trust in your company and makes them more likely to buy from you rather than from other companies offering similar services at lower prices.

You may have heard of the saying,

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

-Theodore Roosevelt

This is incredibly true when it comes to getting your business known in the industry. In fact, this is one of the best steps in building trust with your customers and establishing yourself as a leader in your field.

Creating content to help your customers solve their problems is the best way to create awareness and get your customers to know about you. However, it is important to understand your target audience and what they want from you.

When you have this information, then you can start creating content for them. You can write articles or blogs about the solutions for their problems and then post these on social media sites as mentioned above. 

The more solutions you offer for a particular problem, the more likely it is that someone will find one that their needs perfectly!

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH ALL YOUR CONNECTIONS

Once you have reconnected with everyone, keep in touch with them! Send them emails and text messages when something new is going on, such as an upcoming event or a special offer. If someone mentions something about your business, reply with a thank-you note and let them know how much it means to you that they think of you.

With that said, you also need to have a strong social media presence, and you can’t just rely on Facebook alone. It would help if you connected with people on Twitter and Instagram, too, or any other social media that could possibly help you with the matter.

Make sure that you’re sharing content regularly on all of these platforms. It doesn’t matter if it’s promotional or not; as long as it’s good quality content, they will share it with their friends and family members, who will then share it with their friends and family members.

You need to make sure that you are engaging with your audience consistently so that they feel like they know about your brand and its products or services because if they don’t know about what you have to offer, how will they buy from you?

PRODUCE A GOOD PRODUCT OR SERVICE AND DELIVER ON TIME!

In this age of rapid technological development, the customer is king. People want what they want, and they want it when they want it.

If you’re not able to deliver on time, your business will be in trouble. And if your product or service isn’t good enough, you’ll be out of business even sooner.

Think like your customer. When you create something, you should think like your customer. You have to understand what they want and what they need. Once you get this, it will be easier for you to come up with something that will satisfy them completely.

The following are some techniques that can help you produce a good product or service and deliver it on time:

Do not just focus on the product alone but also on the customer’s experience when using it. If a person buys a car, he wants to enjoy driving it too – not just own it! Therefore, if you are selling any products or services, make sure that they are not only useful but also enjoyable as well so that people keep coming back for more even after buying them once already!

Make sure everything is done properly from start to finish so that there are no mistakes or errors, which may lead to problems later on down the road when someone tries using your product or service for the first time after buying it from you! It is always better to do things correctly the first time around rather than having to do them over again because of something that was done incorrectly in the first place!

General Overview

There are many reasons why people want to start their own business. For some, it is a way to escape from the rigidity of working for someone else. Others want independence and control over their lives. Still, others hope that they can make more money than they can as an employee.

But often, when people first begin their business, they have no idea what it takes to succeed. They don’t know how hard it will be or how much time and energy it will consume. They also don’t know how much money they will need to get started or how long it might take them before they start making any money at all.

As you begin your journey into entrepreneurship, you need to understand what you’re getting into. You need to know exactly what kind of business you want to run and how much time and money it will require before you can expect any return on your investment (ROI).

The most important thing is to choose a business that you enjoy doing — one that will allow you to fulfill your passion in life while earning a living at the same time. Even if this means earning less than your current job pays or spending more hours in the office than normal, at least you’ll be happy doing what you love!

Got any questions? Let me know, comment down below or DM us!

Adios! See you!