Web Design – Dionne Design

Three Website Mistakes That Could Be Costing You

Sarah Sullivan — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 16:56:18 +0000

You’ve invested time and money in your website but is it as effective as it could be?

Here are three website issues that could be costing you site visitors which directly impacts sales. But have no fear, I’ll also let you know what you can do to fix it.

1. Slow website

The average time spent on a website is 15 seconds. So if your website takes too long to load, you’re missing out.

Today’s consumers would rather search for a different site than wait for a slow site to load. This is especially true for e-commerce sites.

Improve your website speed by optimizing images and minimizing code and plugins which can slow down a site’s load speed.

2. Poor mobile optimization

55% of all website users visit a website from a mobile browser. A fast and efficient mobile experience encourages people to visit, stay, and engage.

Additionally, Google’s algorithm prioritizes content optimized by mobile. So by making this important change, you will automatically improve your chances of ranking high in Google search results.

3. Poorly written copy

Appealing headlines, product descriptions, and specific and persuasive calls to action encourage your site visitors to stay on your site and make decisions about purchasing your product or service. Make sure you give site visitors enough information to make a purchasing decision but not so much that it’s overwhelming or confusing.

Bonus tip: Include testimonials at key points on your site (not on a stand-alone page). People feel more confident deciding on a purchase after reading the experiences of others.

A website is only good if it can be effective to attract visitors, to encourage them to explore and to make a decision to purchase your product or service. Paying attention to these three key areas will improve your chances of building a strategically effective site.

Should You Use AI to Write Website Content

Sarah Sullivan — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 01:26:16 +0000

AI seems to have exploded into our consciousness over the last new months. Suddenly AI is the answer for everything from writing content to editing photos to making art. Now that we have this powerful tool at our disposal, how should we use it?

Can you use AI to write website content? Absolutely you can, with a few well chosen prompts, AI kicks out paragraphs of ready written text. It can be an enticing to just copy and paste that text into your blog post, social media caption, or web page. But by doing so, you remove the element that is the key part of your business’s USP (unique selling point): you.

Understanding How AI Works

AI operates by scouring databases for information. There’s a lot of information available out there so what it send back to a prompt is only as good as what was put in and it presents the most general, middle-of-the-road responses. So if you’re trying to set your business apart from everyone else, going to the same source as everyone else is not the way to do it.

Putting AI to the Test

For example, I wanted to put together instructions on how to update a Squarespace website. It was a daunting task for me so I decided to see what AI had to say. To the prompt “Give me basic instructions for updating a Squarespace website” I received 7 bullet points with instructions such as:

- - Click on the text, images, or other elements you want to update and make the necessary changes. Use the formatting options available to customize the appearance of your content.
  - If you wish to change the overall design of your SquareSpace website, look for options like “Design” or “Style” in the website editor. You can usually choose from pre-designed templates or modify the existing design elements such as fonts, colors, and layouts.

It was giving me the most obvious, general info and none of it was helpful for providing the point-by-point instructions that I needed. Perhaps I didn’t input the right prompt but somehow I feel that the work that goes into finding the right prompt would have been the same amount of effort that would go into writing the guide to begin with.

AI as Writing Prompt

However, if you find yourself with writer’s block, AI is a great starting point. Here are some recent searches I made and how they turned out:

- - I asked AI for ten taglines for an independent marketing consultant. None of the taglines were compelling on their own– they sounded very generic– but I was able to take a part of one and add my own thoughts to come up with something that worked.
  - My request to AI for a mission statement for an online creative group, produced 300 words of high-level concepts of inspiration, creativity and empowerment which sounded professional. But what I was looking for was a statement in more friendly, personable language. In the end, I ended up re-writing the mission statement using my own words.

In Its Own Words

Just out of curiosity, I asked Chat GPT “Should you use AI to write website content.” Most points it came up with talked about the amount and speed of text AI could produce but, this point really does say it best:

Understanding your audience and creating personalized, engaging content is crucial for website success. AI may struggle to capture the nuances and emotional appeal that human writers can provide. Human-generated content may be better suited for connecting with your audience on a deeper level.

Building SEO Into the Design Process

Sarah Sullivan — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 15:20:55 +0000

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) shouldn’t be an afterthought to your web design process. All the decisions you make in design should serve the goal removing obstacles that could limit the ability of search engines to serve your product or service to your customers.

Here are 6 key things you can do to improve your SEO in the design process:

1. Write strong text/copy

Be clear about what your business does. Don’t use a lot of industry jargon. This will allow search engines to easily identify who you are, what you offer in order to serve those results to people who are searching.

2. Create clickable headlines

Your headlines should arouse interest and get people to click while, at the same time, being clear enough for search engines (computers) to understand.

3. Compress image sizes

Large image sizes slow your website page load times which ranks you lower in Google searches. Just resize your images (No need to have a 45 inch wide image when a 5 inch would suffice) and use a free, only service like tinypng.com to compress the image further.

4. Add external links

This tells search engines that your are offering value to readers by being a resource linking them to other sites.

5. Plan header hierarchy

Simply put, put your most important info in the largest font and make sure it is coded to be H1 (heading 1). Search engines pay attention to what text is labeled H1, H2, H3 and prioritize accordingly.

6. Optimize for mobile

As of August 2022, 62.06% of all website traffic comes from people using mobile devices. If your site is not optimized to function as well on a mobile device as it does on a desktop, Google will lower your search engine ranking.

All of these are things that we pay attention to during the design process so that you don’t have to hire an SEO expert later.

A beautiful website is worthless if it doesn’t show up in searches to be shown to potential customers. So make these smart choices while you’re building your site to make your beautiful site effective as well.

Below the Surface of Web Design

Sarah Sullivan — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 13:17:00 +0000

Why is web design so expensive? Why is a DIY website less effective than a professionally designed site? Because web design is about much more than just making a pretty website.

An experienced designer (or a well-educated DIYer) will go below the surface to plan for and implement these six key elements:

1. Aesthetics + design

A business website needs to be consistent with the brand identity and look professional. This will go a long way toward lending legitimacy to your business and can make a difference in if a visitor will become a customer or not.

2. Search engine optimization (SEO)

SEO shouldn’t be an add on service. Every decision a designer makes can impact your business’ ranking on Google. Paying attention to image file size, which headings are used, and factors that impact website speed will give your site the best chance to show up in organic searches.

3. User Experience (UX)

An experienced designer will understand how people navigate through your site and will make decisions like the placement of a menu or buttons, etc. which will encourage site visitors to stay longer, click more, and ultimately help you make the sale.

4. Converting copy

A copywriter or designer can help you write appealing headlines, descriptions, or call to actions which are clear to your site visitors and encourage them to learn more. This copy also has a direct impact on your site SEO.

5. Mobile Optimization

As of October 2022, 59.53 percent of all web traffic comes through mobile phones so your site should also be designed to look just as good on a mobile device as it does on a desktop.

6. Accessibility

It’s so important to understand how disabilities can impact how viewers experience your site. Making your site accessible to those with visual impairments, neurodiversities like dyslexia, or physical symptoms like tremors is not only the right thing to do, it’s good for business.

A good designer— or a well-educated DIYer-/ will know not take shortcuts in any of these important areas. A pretty website is nice but a pretty and effective one is better!

How to Use Stock Photography on Your Website

Sarah Sullivan — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 17:52:19 +0000

Did you know that content with visuals gets 94% more views than content without visuals? It is nearly impossible to build an engaging website without images and those images need to be high quality. Here’s how the options break down:

Best: professional brand photography

Investing in high quality brand photography is the best case scenario. This may be an investment for a small business but the return (ROI) can be huge. These brand photos can be used not only on the website, but also in social media and other marketing materials and ads for years to come. Having professional photos taken is really the best investment you can make in your business.

Better: High quality on-brand stock photography

If you’re starting out and not able to afford a professional, custom photoshoot, stock photography is a perfectly acceptable solution. Sites like Unsplash and Pexels even provide this stock photography for free! Other reasonably priced stock photo options are: Creative Market, Etsy and Moyo Studio.

Good: Graphic Illustrations and minimal photos

A lot can be accomplished in web design by using graphics such as icons or shape elements and color blocking. If you have not yet invested in professional photography and are for some reason nervous about using stock photography, this can be a good option if it is implemented well.

Not advisable: Snapshots

The worst possible option is using low quality, badly framed, mismatched snapshots. Using these images will make your business seem unprofessional and leave a bad impression with clients.

So you want to use stock photography but how can you do it without looking like everyone else? How can you incorporate stock photos in a way that they are not obviously stock photos?

Here are 8 tips for effectively using stock photos for your website, social media, or marketing materials:

Choose photos that fit your brand.
Choose photos with colors that fit your brand palette.
Make sure that you are not misrepresenting yourself or your work by including stock photos in your portfolio or your About page. (You’re not fooling anyone.)
Consider modifying the photos to make them your own such as cropping, adding a text overlay, making them black and white or duotone. (This can be done using a photo editing program or Canva.)
Use stock photos as background on website sections or banners, Instagram stories or more.
If people are in the images, consider using close up of hands, or crop the image so the face is not showing.
Never use watermarked images (It makes you look so bad!)
Never use copyrighted images without permission.

By following these tips, you can effectively use stock photos without blending in! Download the free guide (pdf) below.

Write A Pain-Free About Page

Sarah Sullivan — Fri, 27 May 2022 13:47:59 +0000

Some clients are surprised to learn that they are need to write copy for their website. And one of the pages that can be most painful to write is the About page.

Let’s make writing your About page pain-free for you and a joy to for your audience to read!

1. Focus on your customer

It might seem counter-intuitive but, just like every other page on your website, your About page isn’t about you, it’s about your client or customer.

The goal of your About page should be to find common ground with your client.

Ask yourself: Where does my story, experiences, and values intersect with those of my audience?

Often the answer to that question can be explained telling why you started your business, what you enjoy about what you do, and why you are passionate about it.

For example, when I really stopped to think about it, I realized that I was passionate about helping independent business owners because my own parents were entrepreneurs. By telling my parents’ story, I am able to find common ground with potential clients and let them know that I understand them.

2. Introduce yourself

Let your audience know the skills you bring to the table. This isn’t a dry recitation of your services. Let them know you are passionate about what you do!

Tell a little about your journey. What appealed to you about this field? Did you like numbers/building/art from a young age? Did you go to school for this or for something different and then pivot back to your one true passion?

What is most rewarding aspect of your business? Is it helping people, seeing a smile on someone’s face, making a person’s life easier?

3. Show your personality

Each brand is different and the tone of your written voice can be funny, irreverant, friendly, professional, etc.

So if it feels right for your brand, feel free to weave in your love for The Office, or coffee, or your favorite breakfast cereal. Just be sure to keep these glimpses into your private life brief and relatable.

4. Show your face

This can be a hard one for some people but showing the face behind the company is key. It’s often been said that people buy from people. So if potential clients/customers can see you or your team, that goes a long way toward establishing trust.

It’s important that this photo be professional, meaning not blurry or low quality and not too casual.

BONUS: You might want to also include a few different poses of you “in action,” doing what you do throughout your site.

5. Location is great for connection and SEO

One of the easiest ways to find common ground is by sharing your location. This doesn’t mean your address per se, but your general location such as The Lower East Side, near the ocean, in the desert. People in your general area will really connect with you based on your geographic location.

BONUS: Sharing a city name throughout your site is a great SEO (Search Engine Optimization) hack.

5. Don’t forget a CTA

Your About page isn’t the place for a hard sell but, at the same time, you don’t want it to just end abruptly. It’s like starting a conversation and then just leaving the room.

Think of concluding your About page as turning the conversation over to the other person. “So that’s me, now let’s learn about you and how my service can help you.” And then include a link to your contact page/an invitation to sign up for your newsletter/book a consultation call, etc.

By following these guidelines, you will be well on your way to writing a pain-free About page that really resonates with your audience!

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS:

How would you introduce yourself to a client/customer in one sentence?
Why did you start in this field? What was your journey?
What is at the core of why you do what you do?
How can you help the person reading this?
Why should they invest in your product or service?

EXTRA READING:

Does Your Business Need a Blog?

Sarah Sullivan — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:00:00 +0000

When setting up a new website, a small business owner might wonder, “do I need a blog?” They might feel hesitant to commit themselves to creating blog content on a regular basis.

I always tell clients that if you know you can’t contribute to a blog regularly, it’s probably better not to have one. Having a blog that has been laying fallow for a year or more just makes your business look bad.

That having been said, there are a lot of benefits to having a blog:

1. Establish yourself as an expert + provide value

Your website may have a list of services, some testimonials, and even a portfolio, but your blog allows you to take it a step further to show your audience that you know what you’re talking about. By writing about what you know or sharing tips, you establish yourself as an expert and you provide value to your audience which will make them come back again and again.

2. Be personable + build trust

Often what sets your business apart from your competition will be you. A blog is a great place to show your personality a bit more and to connect with potential clients. By writing in your own voice, people come to get a sense of your personality and will feel more comfortable reaching out.

3. Improve SEO

Search engines reward you for producing fresh content and for meeting the needs of online searches. A blog with the right title and keywords allows you to rise higher in the search results, driving traffic to your site.

Keep in mind that SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a long-term process with many components. So a blog may not get you on the first page of Google results overnight, but it will improve your search engine rankings over time.

4. Create Social Media Content

A blog post should definitely be shared on your social media platforms, thereby creating content, but its usefulness can go further. The information from one post can be repurposed into several social media posts.

For example, you can create a graphic for your social media with statistics, a quote, or an interesting fact from your blog post. Not only does this help with content creation, it ensures your information goes out to your audience, even if they don’t read the blog post.

5. Generate Leads

Capitalize on visits to your blog by talking about what you do. Include a call to action at the end of your post. And make sure that your sidebar contains links to promotions or services to drive traffic further into your site.

So while starting– and maintaining– a blog for your business may sound daunting, the benefits make the effort worthwhile.

Web Design – Dionne Design

Three Website Mistakes That Could Be Costing You

1. Slow website

2. Poor mobile optimization

3. Poorly written copy

Related Posts

Should You Use AI to Write Website Content

Understanding How AI Works

Putting AI to the Test

AI as Writing Prompt

In Its Own Words

Related Posts

Building SEO Into the Design Process

1. Write strong text/copy

2. Create clickable headlines

3. Compress image sizes

4. Add external links

5. Plan header hierarchy

6. Optimize for mobile

Related Posts

Below the Surface of Web Design

1. Aesthetics + design

2. Search engine optimization (SEO)

3. User Experience (UX)

4. Converting copy

5. Mobile Optimization

6. Accessibility

Related Posts

How to Use Stock Photography on Your Website

Best: professional brand photography

Better: High quality on-brand stock photography

Good: Graphic Illustrations and minimal photos

Not advisable: Snapshots

Related Posts

Write A Pain-Free About Page

1. Focus on your customer

2. Introduce yourself

3. Show your personality

4. Show your face

5. Location is great for connection and SEO

5. Don’t forget a CTA

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS:

EXTRA READING:

Related Posts

Does Your Business Need a Blog?

1. Establish yourself as an expert + provide value

2. Be personable + build trust

3. Improve SEO

4. Create Social Media Content

5. Generate Leads

Related Posts