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5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a Website

August 26, 2016 by Angela Leave a Comment

Building a successful professional website requires more than just hard work: it requires a vision. Before you invest in starting a website, take time for serious reflection and answer these 5 questions:

What are my goals?

In order for your website to be successful, you need to define what success means for you and your company. For some, e-commerce is the end game. Others are content with promotion and consumer education. Still others hope to profit off of online advertising while possibly fulfilling one or more of the goals listed above. Defining your goals will make it far easier to measure success and craft your online campaign.

What are my customers (or visitors) looking for?

Understanding your audience is another prerequisite to success. Ask yourself what your customers and/or online visitors are looking for. Conduct surveys or market research if necessary. Once you have the answer, crafting your website around those needs will help you reach success.

How much am I able to budget?

This may not being the most exciting question to answer, but it will help you allot your resources in the most logical manner possible.

What do I know about the process of building and maintaining a website?

Most business owners are not web developers. Ask yourself how much you know, and make an effort to educate yourself in the areas that are still unclear.

What components of website construction can I handle myself, and what components require professional assistance?

Finally, think about how you can help your website grow–and consider which components may be better off outsourced to experts. Perhaps you are a great photographer, or perhaps you can write great copy–but the odds are good you will still need help when it comes to programming.

RFE Hosting is here to help! Our blog features a wide selection of resources that can help business owners get their blog running, so be sure to visit us online!

Filed Under: Guides, SEO, Web Design, Web Hosting, WordPress Tagged With: budget, business, website

4 Security Tips for Website Owners and Administrators

August 19, 2016 by Angela Leave a Comment

Though it may not be as glamorous as driving traffic or boosting sales, website security is ultimately one of the most important investments that website owners and administrators can make. After all, a breach in security could cause sensitive data to be compromised while endangering both funds and reputations. The measures needed to boost online security are generally simple–and when they are ignored, it is usually due the perception that web security is difficult to attain, or the equally erroneous “it could never happen to me” mentality. That is precisely why learning about the basics of website security is so valuable. Here are 6 things that all website owners and administrators should keep in mind.

Don’t Delay on Security Updates. A great deal of modern hacking is automated: malicious bots scan and scour the web looking to exploit weaknesses. Most updates to software and plugins (including most WordPress updates) are direct responses to newly discovered weaknesses and newly circumvented security measures. Postponing security updates increases your chances of being compromised.
Use Strong Passwords. This tip is the hallmark of virtually every cyber security article on the web today–and the reason you keep seeing it in everything you read is because countless people continue using 123456 to protect extremely sensitive information. Ensure that your passwords are long, complex, and unique–or risk paying the consequences!
Backups matter. Whether due to a malicious security compromise or a failure in software or hardware, the loss of data can be a financially (and emotionally) frustrating experience. Make sure that you frequently back up your online data–and, if possible, make sure that your hosting service automates the process.
SSL Certificates. It bears emphasizing: SSL certificates are not a panacea for security issues. However, they are a true necessity for any website that performs e-commerce: make sure your hosting service offers the possibility of encryption.

Hosting counts when it comes to security. Choose a company you can trust–RFE Hosting can help get you started today.

Filed Under: Blog Guides, Guides, Web Design, Web Hosting Tagged With: backups, passwords, security, security updates, ssl, web security, website, website administrators

6 Ways To Increase Conversions

August 11, 2016 by Angela Leave a Comment

Owning a professional website for your business offers a lot of benefits–beginning with the simple fact that it allows your presence to be seen and felt in the online world, thus establishing credibility for potential customers and clients. Ultimately, though, most websites are about more than just presence: what business owners are really after are conversions.

What exactly a conversion means for you might vary. It could mean pulling off an online sale, or it could be as simple as just getting a visitor to sign up for your e-newsletter. Whatever the case may be, the fundamentals of conversion are generally the same: visitor arrives to your site; you must convince him/her to take a certain action before leaving. In today’s data-driven world, the art of conversions has become, in many ways, a science. Here are a few tried and true methods that can help boost your conversion rate.

Make sure you site loads quickly. People are extremely impatient, and if ultra hi-res photos or other similar factors are causing slow loading times, visitors are far more likely to get bored and find what they are looking for elsewhere.
Write good titles. Titles that are too generic and/or too long can also bore away the more fickle of visitors.
Don’t use home as landing page for ads. Instead, have a dedicated landing page that targets the exact people who click on your ads and “streamlines” them to conversion.
Use less fields. Whether its for a purchase or a mailing list, you’re almost always going to need to solicit some information from your visitors. It’s important to prioritize, though: the more fields you ask for in your form, the more likely visitors are to change their minds, get uncomfortable with a question, or–the old classic–get bored and leave to a different website.
Customer testimonials. “Social proof” is real. Showing off all those glowing reviews by former customers and clients can really set a visitor’s mind at ease and encourage them to convert.
Offer a privacy statement. Let your customers know you don’t plan on giving away or selling their information.

Keep your Website Running Smoothly with RFE Hosting. Maximum uptime and a properly configured website are two crucial factors that can make or break conversions. That’s why RFE Hosting is one of the best online investments your business can make. Contact us today to learn more!

Filed Under: SEO, Web Hosting Tagged With: business, Conversions, websites

6 Web Design Tips That All Small Businesses Should Consider

July 28, 2016 by Angela Leave a Comment

Sometimes it’s the small things that matter. SEO, conversions, bounce rates, and a number of other important metrics can all be affected by very simple components of your website. Here’s how you can get things right:

Use a professional logo that links to homepage. This is a hallmark of virtually every well-constructed website. It will help build trust among visitors while making your website easier to use.
Offer easy and intuitive navigation. The easier it is to get around your website, the faster visitors will find what they are looking for (and, hopefully, make the decision to make a purchase or sign up for your mailing list.)
Reduce website clutter. Sidebars, excessive advertising, and even multiple columns of text can result in a stressful and unproductive visitor session.
Write short paragraphs. Internet paragraphs are typically far shorter than the paragraphs you might find in books or even newspapers–and for good reason! Short paragraphs are far easier on the eyes (especially for mobile users) and thus make for a more pleasant experience.
Use colors strategically. Keep your website colors mostly neutral–and if you do decide to use bright, bold colors, use them in the places where you truly wish to draw attention.
Take original photography. There’s nothing wrong with a well-placed stock photo or two, but make sure your visitors know that you’re willing to invest the time and effort into taking original photos that really show off your business, your products, and your services.

Bonus tip: Quality Hosting. Sometimes, the infrastructure of your website matters even more than the superficial design. By investing in a quality web host, you can guarantee that your website works smoothly and gives off the best first impression possible.

Filed Under: Blog, Blog Guides, SEO, Web Design, Web Hosting, Website Tagged With: Conversions, Search engine optimization, Web Design Tips

5 Ways You Can Improve Your Company Website

July 22, 2016 by Angela Leave a Comment

A professional online presence is a must. But most business owners are experts in their own industry…not in web design and management! Fortunately, most of the basic components of a good website are quite achievable with just a little bit of research and hard work. Here are 5 simple steps you can take to improve your website that require minimal time and effort while paying off big!

Check for simple errors. It might sound silly, but it is truly amazing how many professional businesses leave simple typos or formatting errors on their websites! The truth is we are all human and it is easy to make mistakes…but leaving a mistake up on your website is a surefire way to look unprofessional in front of potential customers and clients!
Simplify design. Many websites are guilty of allowing far too much clutter. This ultimately distracts people from your main message while running the risk of making your website look “spammy.”
Refresh SEO keywords. There is no need to rewrite all the content on your entire website, as that can be very costly and time consuming. Nonetheless, performing a bit of keyword research and then incorporating a few important keywords into your web content is a great way to boost search engine rankings fast!
Start a blog! Speaking of SEO, a blog is a great way to improve your rankings while also providing potential customers and clients with valuable information that can help establish you as an authority in your field. Even just a couple posts a month can start to add up and make a difference over time!
Add social media buttons. Given the rapidly growing importance of social media, it is quite surprising to see that many otherwise professional websites are missing out on the opportunity to link to social media! This can be done quite easily, so there is truly no reason not to!

Bonus tip: improve your hosting services! A reliable and functional host is key to a great website. If you’re not one hundred percent happy with your current hosting solution, visit RFE Hosting online today to learn about the alternatives!