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Website Design & Development

The Benefits of Outsourcing Website Design and Development

By on

July 26, 2023

- Category : Website Design & Development

- Tags : 2022, affiliate, agency, automation

About 38.5% of website visitors will judge your business after glancing at your website. In fact, 38% will leave if your site is poorly designed. A poor user experience (UX) will drive 50% of users to choose your competitors, too.

If your website is lacking, consider outsourcing website design and development this year. With an experienced team on the task, you can wow customers. In fact, the ROI of spending on UX is 9,900%!

Discover the benefits of professional website design and development services today.

1. Expertise

If you try to update your company website on your own, you could break the entire site. People who visit your website will struggle to find the information they’re looking for. They might leave your website before taking their business to one of your competitors.

If you lack website design and development expertise, don’t choose the DIY route. Instead, rely on professionals. Their skill set and expertise will ensure your website is impressive and effective. 

Otherwise, you could waste valuable time trying to figure out how to create an effective website alone. That’s time you could spend helping customers or growing your business!

Look for a website design and development agency that has years of experience. Prioritize finding a team that has experience with businesses like yours. They can provide valuable insights about your industry and customers.

They’ll have a better understanding of how to appeal to your target audience. Leveraging their expertise will save you time and stress. 

A professional team can leverage time-tested approaches you can only gain from years of experience. They’ll leverage their experience and expertise to your benefit.  

Remain Relevant

New website design and development trends pop up constantly. If you’re not remaining informed, your website could look outdated. You won’t impress customers if your website looks old or doesn’t function as expected. 

Working with a professional website team will ensure you apply the latest trends and standards. 

For example, design trends for 2023 include:

  • Scrolling effects
  • Experimental navigation
  • Color gradients
  • Layering
  • Animated illustrations
  • Ultra-minimalism
  • 3D design

Web development trends include AI chatbots, progressive web apps (PWAs), and motion UI. Dark mode is becoming a standard. More customers are expecting voice search optimization, too.

Not every trend will appeal to your target audience, though.

Your website design and development team will determine which trends suit your needs. As new trends emerge, they’ll help you make informed changes to your site!

Better User Experiences

Professional website designers and developers also understand how design and development work together. Website design and development ensure a positive, cohesive user experience (UX). A strong UX means your website is easy to navigate and use.

A negative UX could scare visitors away. Your bounce rate will increase, hurting your organic search engine rankings. 

In fact, 88% of online visitors won’t return to a site after a bad UX. About 70% of online businesses also fail due to poor usability. Unfortunately, only 55% of businesses bother to conduct UX testing.

Choose a web design and development agency that understands Google’s Core Web Vitals. Appealing to these ranking factors will help you offer a strong user experience.

Better UX design could boost conversion rates by up to 400%!

2. Meet the Deadline

Designing and developing a website on your own could take days, if not months. Remember, that’s time you could dedicate to your business. Relying on professionals will save you time.

Outsource your project to a company that understands the importance of meeting deadlines. The sooner your website is up and running, the sooner you can generate results. 

3. Customization

A basic website builder will only offer limited design options. Outsourcing will give you access to more options. It also gives you access to new perspectives and ideas you likely didn’t consider. 

Using a basic template and website builder won’t ensure the website meets your needs. You could waste money and time if it’s not customized to support your business.

Professional websites are more likely to align with company goals.

Collaborate with your website development and design team. Outline the goals you want to accomplish with your website. For example, you might want to:

  • Improve search engine rankings
  • Increase website traffic
  • Boost online sales

They’ll customize your website based on your needs. For example, maybe you want to create an online store or generate more leads. 

They can add eCommerce capabilities to your website. New leads, forms, and pop-ups can support your lead-generation efforts.

If you want to improve organic search engine rankings, discuss search engine optimization (SEO). Both web design and development services can benefit your SEO rankings. Better organic rankings can lead to increased traffic.

Your website team will customize your website to help you experience success as a business!

4. Scalability

An effective business website is never complete. As your business grows, you’ll need to make adjustments to your website. Otherwise, it might no longer support your business. 

You can rely on ongoing website services to scale your site as needed. A website that grows with you will enable you to continue growing over time. 

5. Cost-Effectiveness

Relying on professional website services is more cost-effective than the DIY route.

Remember, a website builder might not offer the tools you need to create an effective website. If the website isn’t customized based on your needs, it won’t accomplish your goals. Don’t waste time and money on an effective site. 

Outsourcing will allow you to update your website based on your budget. You can choose between flexible pricing options or services. 

As you generate more leads and sales, your website will more than pay for itself. 

Consider Outsourcing Website Design and Development

Don’t choose the DIY route when updating your company website. Instead, consider outsourcing website design and development. With help, you can create a website that sets your business up for growth. 

Want to bring your website vision to life? We’re here to help. 

Discuss your website project with our team today!

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Website Design & Development

Web Design Best Practices Every Small Business Should Use

By on

May 20, 2023

- Category : Website Design & Development

- Tags : 2022, affiliate, agency, automation

It might surprise you to learn that there are approximately 2 billion websites on the Internet. At first, standing out from your competition might seem impossible. The good news is that there are steps you can take to help your small business cut through the clutter.

Proper website design will help maximize your online presence, and we’ve put together a brief guide of web design best practices that you can leverage. Let’s take a closer look at what you should know.

Minimize Loading Times

This is one of the most important attributes to consider.

The longer your website takes the load, the less likely it is that your visitors will stay on it. In context, pages that take more than even a few seconds to load will likely drive visitors away. Don’t be alarmed, though — optimizing loading times is relatively straightforward.

Compressing images, enabling browser caching, and minimizing redirects are all important steps to take.

Optimize For Mobile

Mobile devices account for approximately 70% of web traffic.

To take advantage of this, you’ll need to optimize your website’s formatting for this type of browsing. By default, sites that have only been formatted for desktop computers will not display correctly on mobile devices.

They will feel clunky and difficult to navigate. When it comes to lead conversion, this is a death sentence. You can’t expect someone to make a purchase or sign up for the newsletter if they can’t find the button to do so.

Instead, ensure that your site runs fluidly on mobile devices while also remaining aesthetically appealing.

Search Engine Optimization

No matter how well your site runs or how pretty it is to look at, it won’t mean much if nobody can find it.

Leveraging search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial when it comes to maximizing your website traffic. This involves having a comprehensive understanding of your audience, researching user intent, understanding the nuances of linking/indexing, etc.

For many people, this is a complicated process that is also difficult to learn. Working with a professional can help ensure you avoid mistakes you may have otherwise encountered.

Simple and Unique UI

It may be tempting to add plenty of detail to your website. However, this can be counterproductive in practice.

People want a website that is both easy to look at and easy to navigate. The simpler the user interface of your website, the easier it will be for your audience to understand. Keep in mind that this is not free reign to neglect site aesthetics.

Using the appropriate font and color choices for your brand is crucial when it comes to providing the best experience.

Proper Organization

Your site needs to be organized in a way that is intuitive.

This means that your users should be able to find what they’re looking for even if they have never used the site before. For example, let’s assume that they were looking to learn more about a specific product or product category. They might look for a segment on a menubar called “Products” that they can click on.

Or, they might look for a search bar at the top of the page. Understanding these consumer behaviors will help you resolve problems before they even arise. By extension, this will also lead to higher conversions and better site performance.

Develop Killer Content

If you want people to come to your website, you need to have something of value to offer them.

There’s a catch, though — people don’t always know what they’re looking for at first, and they don’t always want to pay for it. Offering useful information for free is a great way to drive traffic to your website. This comes in the form of developing a killer content strategy.

Not only does this provide informative content to your audience, but it also gives you the opportunity to promote your brand. Having a blog full of useful information will help get your audience on your website and establish an opportunity for them to see what you have to offer.

You’ll need to develop a content schedule, however. Search engines prioritize websites that frequently upload new content.

Consistency

It can be jarring to navigate through a website that has a handful of different formats, aesthetics, etc. Many users will find this offputting and may choose to visit a competitor site instead.

In a case like this, it can be almost impossible to get them back.

This doesn’t mean that every single page needs to look the same. You can have different layouts for different types of pages. It’s common for websites to use the same layout for all of their product pages, for instance.

They might then use a different layout for their landing pages.

In general, the layout should be consistent among related segments of your site. If you have a “Help” section, it wouldn’t make sense for each topic to have a completely different type of page layout.

Don’t Overlook Web Design Best Practices

The aforementioned web design best practices could mean the difference between whether or not you meet your goals for your site. As long as you keep them in mind, you’ll be sure to hit your target metrics and create the best user experience possible.

Feel free to get in touch with us at Forge Digital Marketing today. Our team has all the required tools and resources to help you hit the ground running.

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Website Design & Development

7 Must Haves for Your New Ecommerce Website Design

By on

January 23, 2023

- Category : Website Design & Development

- Tags : 2022, affiliate, agency, automation

Did you know that 64% of small businesses lack a website? If you’re taking the plunge into website design, you want your new site to offer the features and sense of style that bring in viewers — and revenue. But it can be hard to know where to start if you’re just beginning or doing a long-awaited update.

Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn about the 7 must-haves for your new ecommerce website design!

1. Easy Navigation

A website that is difficult to navigate is a big turnoff for visitors. Keep in mind that many visitors might be in a hurry, so you have a small window of time to make a good impression and share your products. That’s why it’s critical to integrate ecommerce website design elements that make your site easy to navigate. 

Create menus that extend across the top or side of the page, making it easy for visitors to find everything. Use labels for your shop, contact information, and other pages that are clear. And offer multiple ways to filter and view products to help users pinpoint the product they need quickly. 

2. Professional Images and Videos

When you’re setting up an online store, you need professional images and videos that reflect well on your brand. Don’t rely on quick snapshots with poor lighting and bad compositions. Elevate your profile with sharp imagery that shows off your products. 

Take product images that show different angles and provide different contexts for your product in your online store. For example, this could mean staging hiking gear against a rocky backdrop at a state park. Or it could mean showing users the scale of your product by including a model in the image. 

In addition, add some short videos to your site. Doing this is a great way to show the ease of use for your products, or provide new info about the features. You also can use videos to introduce members of your company to help personalize your brand. 

3. Mobile Design Compatibility 

One of the best ecommerce website features you can have is a mobile-friendly design. Since so many people will be accessing your website from the palm of their hand, you need your site to translate to mobile mode easily. 

This means that your site should conform to the screen size of the device someone is using. The last thing you want is for your website to appear at the size it is on a laptop when someone is looking at a smartphone. You can count on the user becoming frustrated when the graphics and text are oversized. 

Work with a skilled website design team to ensure that your site can translate well across all devices. Commit to using responsive website design. This will demonstrate your professionalism and commitment to putting your customers first. 

4. Social Media Links

When someone leaves your website, you want them to be able to stay connected to your brand. Good ecommerce sites will embed links to social media sites where they have pages that are updated regularly. Make sure you add these links if you’re doing a website revision.

Embed links in blog posts or product information blurbs. Use clickable logos for sites like Facebook and Instagram to make it obvious that you are linking to those pages. Likewise, link to your website from your social media pages. 

5. Contact Information

A user may have questions about a product that they can’t find on your website. Or they may want to visit a brick-and-mortar store if you have one. For these reasons and others, it’s important to have your contact information accessible on your website. 

Link to a contact page from your homepage. If the contact page is included in your menu bar or in a separate button, users will see it right away.

Include your email, phone number, and address. You may also want to create a form for users to fill out. This can help streamline the process when users have questions or concerns. 

6. Easy Shopping Cart Access

When a user finds a product that they want to purchase, how do they move forward? There should be no questioning on how to add a product to a shopping cart on your site. Make clear buttons that say add to cart or buy.

Make those buttons a prominent feature on your site. And allow your users to click on their carts so they can track what is in them. 

Consider that users may want to remove some items from their carts, too. They should be able to do this by clicking a button and then seeing an updated total. And if a user needs to leave your site, make it simple for them to save their cart and return later.

7. Several Payment Possibilities

Not all users will want to use the same payment method to purchase your products. You’ll stand a better chance of completing a sale if you offer several payment possibilities. 

For instance, some users may want to use PayPal if they have an account. On the other hand, others may prefer using their credit cards. Giving users different options shows that you are a flexible and considerate shop!

Get the Best Ecommerce Website Design

The right ecommerce website design can elevate your brand and help you score more robust sales. Focus on building a site with a strong design scheme and clear navigation. Make your site mobile-friendly and offer easy access to payment options, social media, and company information. 

When you’re ready to develop the best ecommerce website, contact us so we can help!

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Website Design & Development

How to Improve the Website Usability of Your Shopify Site

By on

January 23, 2023

- Category : Website Design & Development

- Tags : 2022, affiliate, agency, automation

Did you know that, in 2021, an estimated 2.14 billion people shopped digitally? This is over 27% of the world’s population.  Are you looking to improve website usability on your Shopify site? If so, you’ve come to the right place.  This article covers everything you need to know about the user experience, so you can create the best website possible. You’ll learn how to implement SEO, utilize headers, increase loading times, and more.  Let’s begin!

Improve Page Loading Times

You don’t want to detract visitors from your site before they even load your page in its entirety. Part of the user experience is a website with a fast loading time, especially a Shopify website. You can test website performance by using things such as Google’s performance tool. You can also perform an audit using Google’s PageSpeed Insights.  If your site is slow to load, you may lose your visitors to competitor sites. To reduce page loading times, you can optimize images. Once you reduce the file size and scale them to the appropriate size before re-uploading them to your site, you’ll find that they load faster, along with the rest of your pages.  You can also optimize CSS files along and cache your browser to assist with page speed. 

Focus On Your Call to Action

Your call to action (CTA) is an integral part of SEO. It tells your customers to take action and helps show them what content is the most important. When you have clear action words, your visitors can navigate your page easier so they know how to get what they want, faster.  You can use buttons to aid in your CTA, but remember to use words that encourage your visitors to take the next step forward with their purchase. Aim for words with emotional tethers. Your words should be bold, stand out, and be time-sensitive so they know to take action immediately to take advantage of savings, a sale, a promotion, etc.  “Sign Up Today” and “Get Started” are great CTA words to use. 

Create a Uniform Website

You want your website to have a sense of consistency and uniformity. This is a vital factor and crucial for your website’s usability. When each page has a similarity to it, your visitors become more easily acquainted with your brand and product.  Stick to similar fonts and colors to keep a sense of cohesion from page to page.

Use Bullet Points

Bullet points are essential for any type of ecommerce UX. They help your visitors understand the key benefits of your product, how you can solve their problems, and key features. Bullet points help them determine this in a short amount of time. Don’t bombard your visitors with walls of text— make everything scannable and easy for them to read and quickly navigate.  There’s no shortage of neat icons available to use, so you can get creative when using bullet points and integrate your brand into them. You can also use images so your reader can visualize each bullet point (more on that shortly).  A mix of bullet points and scannable text sets your website apart from the competition. 

Incorporate Images

Images (in moderation) are your friend. You can even add alt tags to your images to help your website rank higher in Google Images. Plus, alt tags are a great way to help the visually impaired navigate your website, and if your images fail to load, your alt tags will keep visitors engaged.  When looking for images, avoid stock photos when possible. Use pictures of your product or services to help build trust with prospective customers. This isn’t to say that stock images don’t have a time and place. But it’s still a great idea to showcase your work whenever possible.  You can even create infographics to help visitors better understand your products and services. 

Use a Simple Layout

To avoid confusion on your website, it’s best to stick to a recognizable layout. Site visitors rely on a conventional navigation bar to help them toggle across your site. You should include links to your most important pages using simple terms. In short, make everything as user-friendly as possible and utilize a familiar layout so visitors feel comfortable when accessing your site. 

Utilize Headers and Subheaders

Headers and subheaders are key. As previously mentioned, walls of text might send visitors running to a competitor’s site.  On average, human beings have an attention span of 8.25 seconds. Break your text up into scannable paragraphs and use headers and subheaders to help your visitors navigate your site easier. Instead of forcing visitors to read walls of text, make it easy for them to locate the information they’re seeking. You can even create (and hyperlink to) a table of contents so they can easily click on the information they’re searching for.  Even better, headers and subheaders help with your SEO, as they help Google to better understand your website’s content. 

Highlight Important Features and Services

You should always incorporate a section that highlights all of your business’s products, services, and benefits. This is a quick, easy way for visitors to gather all the information they need. You can even use icons so your most important features stand out amongst the rest, along with images to illustrate your product’s benefits. 

The Best Tools for Website Usability

Now that you know how to improve website usability, you can implement the tips and tricks in this article to help you get the most out of your Shopify site.  Forge can help. We’ll work with you to create the best digital strategy for your business’s needs. Contact us today to get started.  

 

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eCommerce, Website Design & Development

Quickly Increase Your Website Conversion Rate With These Tricks

By on

April 13, 2022

- Category : eCommerce, Website Design & Development

- Tags : 2022, affiliate, agency, automation

Did you know that over 600,000 businesses are founded in the United States each year? Not all of these go on to become successful companies, though, and it’s essential to understand the key factors that influence your longevity. One of the most important is your website conversion rate, which details how likely your site visitors are to convert into customers.

This is a key component of website design that you should not overlook, and conversion rate optimization is an essential responsibility you must handle as an entrepreneur.

Let’s explore everything you need to know about how to quickly increase it.

Streamline Your Landing Pages

As you might guess, it’s essential to remove all clutter from your landing pages. Your visitors should be able to see what you’re offering and how it can benefit them within seconds of arriving on your page.

Too much text, images, or videos can overwhelm potential customers and lead them to leave without taking action. To determine whether your landing pages have an effective design, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Is my value proposition clear?
  • Are my CTA buttons visible and easy to find?
  • Is there too much information on the page?
  • Can visitors easily navigate to other parts of my website?

If you’re not sure whether your landing pages are up to par, consider conducting user testing.

This involves showing your page to potential customers and asking for their feedback. This can help you identify design flaws that are causing potential customers to leave without converting.

This can also go a long way when it comes to helping you reduce your bounce rate. This is a metric that Google uses to determine if a website is high-quality. As the name suggests, it refers to a scenario where people immediately leave a website after visiting it, thus “bouncing” off of it.

Strengthen Your Call to Action (CTA)

Your CTA is one of the most important elements of your website, so it’s essential to configure it properly. Ideally, your CTA should be clear, concise, and offer a strong incentive for customers to take action. Here are a few tips for crafting an effective CTA:

  • Use persuasive language that urges visitors to take action
  • Keep your CTA short and to the point — no more than a few words
  • Use a CTA button rather than a text link
  • Place your CTA in a prominent location on your website

Make sure to test different CTAs on your website to see which ones are most effective. Try changing the color, location, and wording of your CTA to see if it has an impact on your conversion rate.

Offer Discounts or Coupons

Discounts and coupons can be a powerful motivator for customers to convert.

If you’re not currently offering any type of discount, consider doing so as a way to increase your conversion rate. Just make sure that your discounts are well-targeted and relevant to your potential customers.

There are a few different ways to offer discounts on your website:

  • Use pop-ups or banner ads to advertise your discounts
  • Include a coupon code in your email marketing campaigns
  • Promote your discounts on social media

If you decide to offer discounts, make sure to track how they impact your conversion rate. This will help you determine whether they’re a worthwhile investment for your business.

Make It Easy For Visitors to Contact You

If potential customers can’t easily contact you, they’re likely to give up and look elsewhere. Make sure that your contact information is prominently displayed on your website, and consider adding a live chat feature to make it even easier for visitors to get in touch.

It’s also important to respond promptly to any inquiries that you receive. If visitors have to wait days or even weeks for a response, they’re unlikely to convert.

Provide a Money-Back Guarantee

Money-back guarantees can be a great way to increase your conversion rate. They remove the risk for customers and give them the peace of mind they need to make a purchase. If you don’t currently offer a money-back guarantee, consider doing so in one of the following ways to increase conversions:

  • Offer a full refund within a certain time period (e.g., 30 days)
  • Offer a partial refund (e.g., 50% of the purchase price)-
  • Offer a store credit rather than a refund

Whichever option you choose, make sure that your money-back guarantee is prominently displayed on your website. This will give potential customers the reassurance they need to convert.

Test Different Versions of Your Landing Page

You can never be sure which version of your landing page is going to be most effective. The only way to know for sure is to test different versions and see how they perform.

A/B testing is a great way to compare different versions of your landing page and see which one converts at a higher rate. Consider the following when designing your landing page:

  • The headline
  • The copy
  • The images
  • The CTA
  • The layout

Try testing one element at a time so that you can isolate the impact that it has on your conversion rate. Once you’ve found a winning combination, you can be confident that you’re driving more conversions.

Improving Your Website Conversion Rate Is Easier Than You Might Think

Although the process can seem intimidating at first, it’s much more straightforward than most people expect. As long as you keep the above information in mind about how to optimize your website conversion rate, you shouldn’t encounter issues in the future.

Want to learn more about what we have to offer? Feel free to get in touch with us today and see how we can help.

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eCommerce, Website Design & Development

The Complete Guide to Finding the Best Woocommerce Developers of 2022

By on

March 31, 2022

- Category : eCommerce, Website Design & Development

- Tags : 2022, affiliate, agency, automation

Woocommerce development has come a long way since it was first introduced. It has undergone many changes and upgrades over the years, and is now an all-in-one solution for online stores.

In this article, we will take a look at the future of eCommerce and Woocommerce, and how it can help boost your sales.

A company’s online presence is crucial for its success. A website is the first point of contact with a potential client and it needs to be designed in a way that makes the customer want to stay on the site.

The design of a website should be able to provide an overview of what that company does, showcase its products and services, and answer any questions that a potential customer might have. The design should also convey the company’s message and values, while being functional and easy-to-navigate. If you don’t currently have this locked down or don’t yet have a website at all, you may be looking to hire one of the Best Woocommerce Developers in 2022.

Woocommerce Developers Market Overview & Trends

Woocommerce is a free and open-source ecommerce platform for online stores. It is designed for small to medium-sized businesses and offers an easy way to manage their product catalog, orders, payments, reports, and other aspects of their business. As the number of Woocommerce users increases every day, it has become the most popular ecommerce platform on the web.

In this article we will cover all you need to know about Woocommerce Developers Market Overview & Trends – why build a site in woocommerce? How much does it cost to build a website in woo? What are the best skills for a good woocomerce developer?

How to Choose the Best Woocommerce Developer for Your Project

Building a website is not an easy task. It requires a lot of research and planning. You need to know what kind of website you want and how to go about getting it.

The first step is to find the right developer for your project. There are many factors that go into this decision, so it’s important that you do your research before making any final decisions.

One of the most important factors in finding the best woocommerce developer is their experience with WordPress. If they have a lot of experience, they will be more capable of handling any issues that come up on your site and will be able to offer better solutions for them, too.

If you are looking for the best woocommerce developer, then this article will help you to make a decision.

The first thing to do is to find out why you need a woocommerce developer. You can do this by asking yourself some questions:

-What are my requirements?

-How much time and budget I have?

-What skillset should the developer have?

-Do I need an agency or freelancer?

-Do I need someone with in-depth knowledge of WooCommerce or just basic knowledge?

Finding and Working with the Best WooCommerce Developer For You!

A WooCommerce developer is a person who creates or maintains websites that use the WooCommerce e-commerce platform.

This platform is an open source shopping cart system, which means that it can be used to sell products or services online without any additional cost.

A WooCommerce developer can either work on their own, or they can work for a company that specializes in this type of development.

The first thing you should do when looking for a good WooCommerce developer is to think about what your needs are and what you are looking for in a developer. For example, if you want someone to create your site from scratch, then it would be best to find an independent contractor like an agency that is highly specialized in this skillset.

Check their Credentials and Work Examples

Once you’ve identified a few potential contractors or agencies you like, the next step is to get in touch and ask for additional examples of their work. Take the time to peruse their website design and development examples to make sure their styles align with your aesthetic and functional desires.

Next, don’t be shy to check their reviews online. Go to Google Business, Design Rush and look for customer testimonials on their website. These will give you an unbiased opinion of the potential partners’ work quality and collaboration style.

Finally, check for awards specifically related to woocommerce website design and development. These are another green flag if the woocommerce agency has won awards (*cough* like us at Forge *cough*).

 

If you have more questions about getting started with a Woocommerce ecommerce site design, get in touch with us today!

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Website Design & Development

The Hottest Web Design Trends for 2022

By on

January 20, 2022

- Category : Website Design & Development

- Tags : 2022, affiliate, agency, automation

Are you looking for ways to separate your brand from an award-worthy website? Do you want to learn more about the different ways you can build your online presence? If so, then you need to learn everything that you can about the latest web design trends for 2022.

Nothing turns a client off faster than an outdated site. Learning about the newest innovations can help your brand appear relevant and more attractive. People will start to view you as the industry leader in your field.

See below for an in-depth guide listing several website design trends that you should consider for your company’s digital marketing strategy.

1. Industry-Based Designs

You might be surprised to learn that the design of a website is highly influenced by the industry that the brand is in. So much so, that customers in 2022 have come to expect your website to be designed similarly to that of your competitors.

This can help niche markets to thrive with their digital marketing. Customers know where to quickly retrieve the information that they need.

For example, if you’ve been to the website of one brewery, you’ve been to them all. Breweries these days are creating simplified site layouts that tell a customer all they need to know as quickly as possible.

The layout includes a menu, tap list, and in-depth location page. The design sports the brewery’s primary colorway, logo, and a briefing on the inspiration behind the beer they create.

Using all of that information, beer drinkers can quickly build interest in their products and reach out to learn more.

To get access to this for your brand, start by finding an industry-specific digital marketing agency to guide you. Here at Forge Digital Marketing, we have experience with things like CBD marketing, eCommerce marketing, supplement marketing, beauty marketing, and more.

2. Website Scavenger Hunts

Just when you thought websites couldn’t get any more interactive, some marketing genius out there decided enough was enough. They were tired of the high bounce rates and set out to encourage more active site users through a site-wide scavenger hunt.

At a time when the customer attention span is smaller than ever (currently around 8.25 seconds for the average person), marketing agencies are finding creative ways to keep the clients entertained.

Let’s go back in time a bit. Imagine if you were a child and one of your friend’s moms put together an elaborate scavenger hunt for everyone to go on. In the end, those that completed the hunt would get a big chocolate bar.

What would your perception be of your friend’s mom? Would she not be the coolest mom of any friend that you have? That’s exactly what a website scavenger hunt can do for your brand: it will make you the go-to brand in the customer’s mind.

But how can you put this into action? That’s up to you! You could offer free samples to anyone that finds the secret password on your site and enters it into the correct field with their email and phone number. That way, you’re simultaneously building intrigue in your brand and growing your email list.

3. Color Psychology

The colors that your brand uses mean more now than ever. As we just mentioned, customers’ attention spans are shrinking. As a result, you need your website to tell them as much about your brand in as little time as possible. 

One of the best ways to do that is through color psychology. Every color has its own unique emotions and feelings that it portrays in your brain. Using the right colors, you can tell them what your company is all about without having to say a word.

For example, the color orange exudes emotions of friendliness and warmth, making it the perfect color for nonprofits, marketing agencies, and service-based businesses.

However, you shouldn’t be flooding your pages with too many colors, either. That can overwhelm a customer. Keep it between 2 or 3 choice colors that work well together. Remember, shading is your friend, people.

4. One-Page Websites

Imagine coming across a website from a brand you’ve never heard of and have all of the information you need on that very page. You can learn all about their products, services, and staff by simply scrolling down. How convenient would that be?

As it turns out, it’s very convenient. This is why so many brands are using it as the primary concept for their web design.

Simply give them all of the information they need with a strategically-placed call to action. You’ll be amazed at how effective this can be!

5. Hand-Drawn Copy

Digital marketing can be hard to personalize. The biggest struggle that all companies have is getting their clients to see that there are humans on the other side of that logo. As soon as a client comes to this realization, they aren’t easily deterred from that brand.

Hand-drawn content on your site can be a great way to personalize your site. For example, you could leave a personalized note on your “About Us” page and then place your hand-drawn signature at the end.

This immediately shows more sincerity in the message you’ve written. Better yet, hand-drawn copy can be used in other areas of your site, such as page tabs, company logos, and more.

Use These Web Design Trends to Your Advantage in 2022

Now that you have seen an in-depth guide on the hottest web design trends 2022, be sure to implement a few of these in your site layout today.

Take the time to read this article for more information on what a done-for-you marketing agency is and why they’re the solution you’ve been looking for. To get started, please reach out to us and we’ll help you map out your new website.

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eCommerce, Website Design & Development

Woocommerce vs. Shopify: An Updated Guide for 2022

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November 23, 2021

- Category : eCommerce, Website Design & Development

- Tags : 2022, affiliate, agency, automation

It is estimated that there are between 12 to 24 million online stores currently in operation. Even established retailers are switching from brick-and-mortar stores to web-based platforms. So how do you harness that potential, while keeping up with the competition? One way is to build the best store possible and to do that you have two main choices. Read on as we settle the WooCommerce vs. Shopify debate.

Ease of Use

With Woocommerce comes flexibility. This is because it runs on the WordPress platform, and this is the hallmark of this content management system. However, that also means more complications. One of the main Shopify benefits is that it is extremely easy to use, though at the cost of being more restrictive. The platform will take care of hosting, guide you through the whole set up and let you test the store before publishing. In fact, everything is fairly easy to do and you don’t need any prior technical capabilities. For ease of use, Shopify will come out on top. It is definitely recommended for first-time users or those without any technical knowledge.

Designs and Themes

Both WooCommerce and Shopify have a number of designs that make your website look stylish and professional. In addition, all of them are user-friendly and easy to navigate. This is vital to increase conversions on your store. WooCommerce comes with an entry-level theme named Storefront. From here, you can customize and upgrade your theme to your own wishes. There are hundreds of designers creating WooCommerce storefronts for a custom experience, not even counting the modifications you can make yourself. Once again, this does come with the caveat that you may need some technical ability. As independent designers can make them for WooCommerce, it does mean the quality of them varies. At the very least, you need a design that is mobile-friendly. The Shopify website designer is much more streamlined in terms of how many themes you can choose. Including premium paid options, you can find just over 1000. This means you do risk having a shop front that looks the same as many others. The plus point is that they are all created to a very high standard. Even the free themes will be functional and responsive. You may not get the choice, but you do have the quality.

Cost

When you start out designing a website, the cost can be an important factor. As well as the start-up and monthly fees, there are a number of add ons that may push up the price of your online store. Shopify has a basic plan that starts at $29 a month. This can be upgraded to the Shopify plan at $79 a month with more features. The advanced plan, for much larger stores, is $299 per month. To start with WooCommerce, you will first need to buy hosting, a domain name, and an SSL certificate. A domain name costs around $14 a year, and this may also be something you want for your Shopify store. An SSL certificate costs around 70$ per year. Your hosting can vary in price but can be bought for as little as $4 a month. Both of these are included in Shopify plans as part of your monthly fee. One way to keep these hosting costs down is to opt for a company that does specific WooCommerce hosting. They will be able to combine the costs into one package, lowering your overall price.

Sales Features

There is more to your website than just being able to sell products. As you grow, you may need extra sales tools and integrations. Some may be included as standard, while some may need to be paid for separately. Shopify has an app and API store. Though the amount available are fewer than WooCommerce, it would be hard to find an item that is not covered in this range. As they are vetted by Shopify, each should work effectively and efficiently. WooCommerce has a lot more choices when it comes to integrations. You could also hire a developer to make your own unique plugin, should you have the budget and need to create something no one else has yet made. The downside is that they are often not as well-vetted, so check the reviews before buying.

Standard Features

The Shopify website designer has a number of very useful features that come as standard. Many of them require plug-ins, which may cost extra if you decide to use WooCommerce. One of these is abandoned cart recovery. If customers leave the website and return, the basket will fill with items they previously had. This can seriously improve conversions, and comes as standard on Shopify. Another feature is multichannel selling. This allows your shop to have channels on Amazon, eBay, and Instagram. They come as standard on Shopify but will cost on WooCommerce. The final stage is shipping. Shopify has a partnership with many of the major companies such as USPS, DHL, and UPS. This can save you a lot of time and effort, instead of having to look for your own shipping methods which you may need to do on WooCommerce.

Payment Options

The more payment options you have in place, the easier it is for people to make a purchase. However, different payment options can cost. You have to work out if the value added is worth it. Shopify comes with Paypal Express Checkout as standard. For other options, Shopify payments are the best to use as you will get fees for external processors. However, this is only available in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. WooCommerce adds payment through integrations. Many of the ones from major providers like Paypal and Stripe are free. Others may have added charges.

WooCommerce vs. Shopify

In the battle of WooCommerce vs. Shopify, the decision comes down to what you want. For ease of use and setup, then go for Shopify. For the ability to expand and be unique, choose WooCommerce. For all your online assistance, visit Forge Digital Marketing. We can manage all of your web needs, from its design to SEO. Click here for your free site audit and let us help you thrive in the digital economy.
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Email Marketing, Influencer Marketing, SEO, Website Design & Development

Weed 101: 5 Dispensary Advertising Techniques

By on

November 1, 2021

- Category : Email Marketing, Influencer Marketing, SEO, Website Design & Development

- Tags : 2022, affiliate, agency, automation

Did you know that the global cannabis market is prepared to hit $166 billion by the year 2025?

The industry is fast growing and public opinion on cannabis products is shifting towards acceptance. Dispensary advertising is difficult, but by no means impossible. 

Since cannabis finds itself in a unique situation when it comes to marketing, we have to get creative. Finding the right channels to advertise your dispensary through is a challenge that needs facing.

With the right marketing strategies, you can reach a wide audience inside your geo-targeted area and beyond. 

Keep reading to find out several dispensary advertising techniques that you can start using right now! 

1. Social Media

Social media is tricky when trying to advertise your dispensary. Most social media websites will not permit you to advertise anything cannabis-related, even legal CBD. 

Yet, it is still advised that you create a social media presence for your brand. When speaking about digital marketing, social media is one of the best ways to connect with your audience. 

You may not be able to advertise your products, but there are many ways to get around social media’s advertising restrictions. 

On Instagram, many dispensaries post user-generated content, quality photos of their products, team member profiles, and details about upcoming events. 

LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook have other similar opportunities. You can build a community without advertising. 

2. Digital Ads

Almost no digital advertising platforms allow advertisements related to cannabis. Because of this, dispensary advertising often has to be done by reaching out to publications and websites directly. 

Publications within the cannabis industry are your best bet for securing a deal and reaching your intended audience. Most companies will allow negotiations concerning advertising rates on a CPC or CPM basis. 

Sometimes, advertising with cannabis-friendly platforms or individual publishers is a more successful alternative to large networks.

3. Cannabis SEO

Digital presence is the best way to get recognition for your brand.

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all have restricted the promotion of products related to cannabis. You have to be sure your brand is at the top of google for a search like “cannabis near me”. 

What you can do is create a website for your business. Then, drive people to your website. Create web pages with helpful content that answers questions you know your customers have.

Finding relevant SEO keywords for your website and its content can be difficult. They are marked as prohibited content by Google and other search engines. 

These search engines choose not to display data on keywords like cannabis. Likely, because the product is federally illegal. 

You can improve your search and online presence by investing in your website. Make it mobile-friendly, include your menu, and add your store’s hours. 

Additionally, you can get your business listed in directories. There are both local directories like Yelp or cannabis-related directories like Weedmaps. 

Don’t forget to ask for customer reviews. Customer reviews are often the difference between choosing you or someone else a mile down the road. A good review can go a long way to bring in more customers.

4. Brand Ambassadors 

Many dispensaries rely on brand ambassadors and word of mouth to promote their brand. This has been a very successful approach to bridging the gap that is limited advertising options. 

Cannabis retailers benefit from reaching out to their most influential customers. They have social media accounts with followers that match their customer profile. 

By identifying influencers who match your brand you can reach a larger audience. An audience that is already interested in the product you are selling.

You can collaborate with brand ambassadors or social media influencers to increase your sales. It also helps you build a trusted brand that brings in long-term profits. 

Consider encouraging new customers brought in by brand ambassadors to stay. This can be done with influencer-specific discount codes and/or a loyalty program. 

5. Billboards

Billboards are a popular way to advertise dispensaries. In most legal states, billboards are the best way to direct customers in your area to your store with little effort. 

Live in or visit a legal state that allows billboards for cannabis-related products. You’ll see dispensary billboards all over. That’s because they work! 

Still, billboard advertising for marijuana is illegal in many states or it is highly restricted. Before designing or buying a billboard for your dispensary, be sure you know the regulations in your state. 

Why Marketing Cannabis Is Difficult 

Marketing cannabis is difficult for the reason that it is not legal federally.

Many platforms do not allow marijuana-related advertisements on their pages. And, some states have strict advertisement restrictions for cannabis products. 

It’s especially tricky because most dispensaries are only looking for customers locally. Unlike chains, many companies that sell cannabis only need to appeal to locals within their state.

State regulations on advertising are different from one state to the next. In Maryland, a state with legalized medical usage, cannabis ads of any kind are not allowed. Yet in Washington, you may advertise on billboards. 

Knowing your state’s regulations on advertising for cannabis is highly recommended. Fines can be expensive for those who go too far.

This relatively new industry finds itself in a unique situation when it comes to marketing. That’s why we have to get creative. Finding the right channels to advertise your dispensary through is a challenge that needs facing.

Dispensary Advertising for You 

There’s no doubt that cannabis marketing is difficult. With a little bit of creativity and finesse, though, your dispensary can stand out in a state that is competitive with cannabis products.

Reaching target audience with dispensary advertising. Use hyper-local tactics and hire a great digital marketing and advertising agency. 

Contact us at Forge Digital Marketing today. Start discussing how we can help you advertise your dispensary successfully. 

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Website Design & Development

5 Reasons Your Business Needs a Mobile-Friendly Website

By on

August 2, 2021

- Category : Website Design & Development

- Tags : 2022, affiliate, agency, automation

By the year 2025, about 73% of all internet users will do so from their phones. Did you know that you can create a mobile-friendly version of your existing website?

Nothing is more frustrating than being limited to a personal computer to access a website. Customers will appreciate having access to your company’s offerings from anywhere in the world.

Read our article to learn about the top 5 reasons your business needs a mobile-friendly website, today!

1. Integrate Social Media With Ease

Social media is the gateway to your brand. Not only does social media generate brand awareness, but it is also an engaging portal to your website.

A mobile-friendly website generates an effortless flow into all that your company has to offer. The ease of use will incentivize customers to visit your website from their mobile device as often as they’d like.

2. Optimize Your Website With SEO

SEO, or search engine optimization, is an essential step in attracting new clientele (outside of social media).

Every website, mobile or standard, should be built on top of a foundation of SEO. Integrating keywords into your headers, content, and social media accounts is a great way to rank higher on search engines like Google!

Mobile-friendly websites with integrated SEO are essential for your success in the rankings as well. 

Did you know that Google indexes your website’s mobile version first? Now is the perfect time to consider making your pocket-sized website a top priority.

3. Provide Accessibility to Your Audience

Mobile devices are responsible for a large portion of daily internet traffic. Therefore, smartphones like the iPhone come equipped with more accessibility features.

Creating a mobile-friendly website can provide accessibility to those who rely on their mobile devices for their ability to consume digital content.

Mobile devices are also equipped with data plans. This means that people will be able to enjoy your content in places without wifi. 

These perks result from a growing digital age as we enter into a new era of globalization. Make sure your website isn’t left in the dust as the mobile revolution comes into more power.

4. Achieve a Custom Aesthetic

This is for all of the graphic designers on your team! Feed their creativity by assigning them the task of a tailor-made website design fit for a small screen.

Website hosts are even creating their own custom plugins for mobile-friendly websites. Enjoy browsing through your design options or create your own mobile-friendly website from scratch using HTML!

This is your opportunity to add depth to your brand’s aesthetic as well. Who said a business website design couldn’t have depth? 

Marketing businesses online is much easier if your target audience enjoys the aesthetic of your brand’s image. Creating a different version of your website is one way to expand the breadth of your brand’s style.

5. Enjoy New Tech and E-Commerce Features

Purchasing with mobile devices has become a whole lot easier as e-commerce tools like credit card remembrance and apple pay become integrated into everyone’s smartphone.

Create a mobile marketing strategy that is backed by fast website loading time to increase profits and organic flows of mobile traffic.

Ready to Create a Mobile-Friendly Website?

Now that you are aware of why you should create a mobile-friendly website, it’s time to pick your design!

We offer website design services, so feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have as you brainstorm your mobile-friendly website design!

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