Graphic Design and Web design

What’s the Difference Between Website Hosting and Website Maintenance?

On January 7, 2022   /   Graphic Design and Web design, Web Hosting Web Security   /   Leave a comment
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Difference in Website Hosting and Website Maintenance

Each year when we send out annual invoices to our WordPress website hosting customers we get the same questions. In most cases, customers are curious about the difference between website hosting and website maintenance. I understand why there is confusion and I hope to offer clarity on what website hosting includes and what is meant by website maintenance in this blog.  Most of the information to follow is applicable for all types of websites. However, we specialize in WordPress website design, development, hosting, and maintenance and I will cover WordPress websites mostly. The rules also apply to all geographical areas too. It’s not limited to Michigan or even the United States. We are located in Michigan however we design, develop, host and, maintain websites from all over the United States. Let’s get started with the frequently asked questions.

Hosting vs Website Maintenance

Simply put website hosting is the storage of your website data, all of your website files. Website maintenance services are tactics to help keep your website updated and functioning properly. There are various levels and types of website updates from back-end code updates to front-facing content updates. We’ll get into that more in-depth later.

To answer the question on website hosting and website management more clearly it will be helpful to explain what website hosting is. I intend to simplify explanations and resist using highly technical terms. I believe explaining this in layman’s terms will help those users who need to hear it most. If you want more technical information please reach out to a web technologist and take notes!

What is Website Hosting:

All live websites are accessible because they are connected to the internet. The www in URLs -www.yourwebsite.com- stands for the world wide web – mind blown yet? The worldwide web also referred to as the web, is the pages you see when you are online, pages are pieces of a website.

All websites and web pages must be stored on a server that is connected to the internet for people around the world or around your town to access it while online. The internet is a network of these servers (or computers) that are connected (networked). The web works on the internet which is made up of all these servers. You are able to access these sites by paying an internet provider or (ISP) then connects to this network of servers.

An analogy could be that your web page, for example, the About Us page, is a page in a book. Your website is the book. The www/web is the bookshelf you see your book is stored on and the internet is the library (or bookstore) people visit to search for your book. Your internet service provider (ISP) is the library card that allows you to access that book.

All that to say, website hosting is when your website files are stored on a server that is connected and part of the internet.

website-www-server-internet

Why Does Web Hosting Cost Money?

Although your website files are not physical they take up digital space. Digital space is costly. Anyone who pays for cloud services or large computer hard drives knows the more files you store the higher the cost. Servers are actual physical hardware. The servers used for storing websites and connecting to the internet are costly to build, purchase, and maintain.

Some businesses have in-house servers. This is a smaller server for your internal company communications and file storage. These personal servers range from $1000-$3000 depending on your needs.  These are puppies compared to the big dog web servers used by most web hosting firms. Beyond the cost of the hardware, there is the expense of software, continuous maintenance, security, and all of the human brainiacs making sure everything is flowing smoothly to the internet.

At the beginning of website development, they were simpler (until we website designers got added in the mix…. but that’s another story the coders and engineers still have nightmares about.) Suffice it to say, making websites pretty, adding cool functionality, e-commerce, and content management capability, etc. adds – you guessed it – more space on servers.

Why is There a Large Range in Cost for Website Hosting?

A big differentiator with hosting is whether you are on a shared server or a dedicated server. Shared servers can have 100s to 1000s of websites on one server. This can cause bottlenecks because all of those websites are sharing the same CPU, RAM, etc.

As well, WordPress websites perform best on dedicated WordPress servers that include optimized features for WordPress.

Some Advantages of Dedicated WordPress Website Hosting:
  • Increased security
  • Predictable server usage
  • Ease in updating – plug-ins and themes
  • East of Set up
  • Optimized speed from shared hosting

Does Website Hosting include Website Maintenance?

By now you understand the difference between website hosting and website maintenance. In most cases when you purchase website hosting you are just paying for hosting. Website maintenance is an add-on service you can choose.

This is a critical differentiation to understand. If you purchase website hosting only and nobody is updating or maintaining it, you are leaving your website at risk. Be sure to determine if you will handle the maintenance required to keep your website fresh and safe or if you need help. When you choose which hosting company to use ask about hosting and website maintenance. Be honest with yourself and your vendor about your comfort level and the likelihood of you or your staff making updates.

What to ask when pricing website maintenance and hosting:
  • Will your website be hosted on a shared server or a dedicated WordPress server
  • Are plugin updates included – how frequently and at what cost
  • Are theme updates included – how frequently and at what cost
  • What level of security is included
  • Does maintenance include content updates
  • Other additional services included (design, SEO, blog writing, etc.)
  • Is email included, how many email addresses,
  • Is email set-up support included

Ask for pricing and the tactics they will use and the frequency each will be done.

What is WordPress Website Maintenance?

All websites rely on shared code, languages such as php and sql, etc. These languages are constantly evolving and code gets outdated. If you are a website owner who doesn’t add new content such as text or photos, etc., and you never look at the back end of your site you can be prey to issues.

Sometimes there are major updates to this code. In 2021 PHP had a major update and many older websites became disabled or had sections that no longer functioned properly.

Often times it is a minor update. These smaller updates are in response to security vulnerabilities. So although small, they are important to pay attention to.

What we encounter most often are WordPress plug-in updates.

Plugins are pieces of software/code that work with your WordPress website and add functionality. A plug-in allows a user to perform a specific set of actions easily. For example, a donation plug-in builds in the capability for users to donate money by clicking a donate button. The plugin automates the action behind the scenes and allows the user to just click a button while performing multiple steps behind the scenes.

WordPress plugins require maintenance regularly. This can be a very simple task even for novices. we suggest logging into the back end of your website monthly to check the status. When you log on you will see an alert if there are any plugins that need updating. Go to the plug-in page and click update. Save yourself from features being disabled and protect your website from hackers and malware.

Updating one plug-in can sometimes affect another plug-in. When there are major updates to your WordPress theme it may be wise not to update instantly. That is because some plug-ins you use may not have updated to the new version and may no longer work.

It’s important to keep this in mind when you or your website developer is building your WordPress website. Automated features are included in your website development with the use of WordPress plug-ins. However, the more bells and whistles you add, the more often you need to check to be sure they are all current and functioning optimally.

The more complex the features on your website the more time-consuming keeping it updated and optimized will be.

What is included in Website Maintenance Packages?

Website development and website design firms offer a variety of options for website maintenance. Some website design firms only offer plans for keeping your front-facing website content updated.

Types of Website Content Maintenance:
  • Updating your office hours and other page content
  • Adding important time-sensitive announcements
  • Adding a new product or service, etc.
  • Blog writing and optimization
  • Adding new photos or videos
  • Adding client testimonials, etc.
  • On page SEO
Website Design and Development Maintenance Plan
  • Updating data / content (as above)
  • Adding additional sections and pages
  • Updating themes and plugins
  • Troubleshooting issues
  • Security updates, etc.

We offer a variety of website care packages to suit.  If you do not update your website or log in to your WordPress website backend monthly we recommend at minimum hiring us or another firm to monitor and update your website plug-ins. Plug-in update service is only available to our web hosting customers. Save hundreds or thousands of dollars in missed sales inexpensively by making sure your website is not compromised.

I hope I answered the questions about Website hosting and Website Maintenance clearly. Be sure to connect or call if you have any other questions. It has always been our mission to stomp out ugly websites and we also want to help keep websites secure from hackers and optimized for search engines. Keeping your website current and fresh is your best means of defense from hackers. It is also your best practice for keeping your site optimized for search engines.

We’re here to help

If you need help keeping your website current and safe, check out our Website Care packages. We can customize plans if there are additional features you would like to add or items you are already handling. If you still have questions about website hosting or what types of maintenance services your specific business will do best with, give us a call, we’re happy to help you.

Good luck, and stay connected!

 

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Holiday Promotion Ideas for Professional Services and SAAS Businesses

On November 2, 2021   /   Branding - Marketing, Entrepreneurs - Small Business, Graphic Design and Web design   /   Leave a comment
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Holiday Promotion Ideas for Professional Services girl shopping online

 

Black Friday has been a mainstay promotional event for e-commerce and brick-and-mortar shops for decades. Many a shop owner prepares months in advance for that magical 6 am door opening. While throngs of caffeine-crazed shoppers stand prepared ready to snag the best deals of the year.

Our focus for this particular blog is to share holiday promotion ideas for professional services and SAAS businesses. If you offer a mix of retail, subscription, and member-based offers, read on—much of this may apply to you too. Businesses also seek deals this time of year and not only for traditional products. These holiday promotion ideas for professional services and SAAS businesses can add a revenue boost to B2B companies in a historically slow quarter. However, to take advantage of it this year it’s important to start planning now.

Many marketing experts recommend preparing for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday at least four weeks in advance. We are posting tips every week leading up to Black Friday on our Facebook and Instagram channels to help tackle everything from page load to email testing. With the challenges many of us are encountering with supply chain issues, product deliveries, etc. it’s important to plan as far in advance as possible for all holiday promotions. Retail and e-commerce product sites are especially vulnerable. Brick and mortar retailers and e-commerce shops will want to check availability well in advance to make sure what they are promoting will be in stock. Fortunately, Professional Service companies and SAAS companies are not as affected by the supply chain. However, planning is still critical.

Following are some Holiday Promotion Ideas for Professional Services and SAAS Businesses

Although Cyber Monday began as the online version of the retail industry’s Black Friday (thank you Amazon) it has evolved to include service and digital product promotions. Personally, Cyber Monday/Cyber Week is when I finally purchase the personal apps and training courses I haven’t been able to justify purchasing. From meditations, to music, to digital training courses, Cyber Monday gives non-traditional tech and digital sales a boost. I havee have also taken advantage of stock art subscriptions, annual software purchases, or BOGOs for professional services for business during the big holiday sale days. More and more professional service and SaaS companies are jumping in the holiday promotion wagon and everyone benefits.

Here are a few holiday promotion ideas for professional services to get you started:

1. Offer a percentage off of the entire purchase

We’ve come to expect discounts from retail shops and service companies and SAAS firms can benefit from this promotion too. The biggest consideration is determining the percentage you want to offer. Getting 30% off a pair of $90 shoes is a good deal, offering 30% off an entire construction project could bankrupt a builder. Paying attention to margins here is key. 

  • Offering customers a percentage off of services can be the trigger to get in the door for the bid or the customer to choose you instead of another contractor.
  • Create an on-demand offer or annual retainer model and offer a percentage off the annual fee
  • Monthly website hosting or IT services, $5 off monthly fee when you pay the year in advance, etc.
Industries who can benefit from this promotion: 
  • SAAS Companies – percentage off of a download or annual commitment
  • Construction service firms: plumbers, remodelers, cleaning services, roofers, etc. 
  • Professional service firms: Attorneys, IT service companies, event management firms, Accountants, Bookkeeping, Marketing, Design Firms, etc.

 

2. Offer One Free of a Multiple Purchase (one session, one month, one download, one window, etc.)

Get creative and think beyond the promise of a free consultation or free estimate. In construction, law, and other industries a free initial consultation or estimate is expected and won’t be perceived as a true ‘freebie’.

  • For products or services, you can offer one free window install with the purchase of a full house of windows. Or for professional firms offer a small add-on service for free. Cover a filing or registration fee or offer free set-up or installation, etc.   
  • Think of offering a set of services, 11 massages for the price of 10, 10 coaching sessions and one free e-book, one free month with annual membership purchase.
  • For digital companies, this could be one or more downloads for free. Think e-cards, meditations, courses, the first chapter, or the introduction of a book. Another idea could be the first download in a series customers usually have to pay for. Give a free introductory training download.  This helps introduce your products and services to customers and can keep them coming back for more or investing in a higher level or longer-term commitment. The customer will save money and when they find value in what they received, you become their go-to company because you helped them get started.
Industries who can benefit from this promotion:
  • SAAS (One free month with annual commitment, or one add-on or in-app purchase)
  • Coaches (Life Coaches, Business Coaches, Family Coaches, Sales coaches)
  • Counselors, Massage Therapist, Hairstylists, Nail Salons
  • IT Services, Website hosting service, Marketing maintenance service, 
  • Bookkeepers, Accountants, Association Management, Client Management
  • Teachers, Trainers, Speakers, Authors,
  • Artists (Digital Downloads)
  • Construction: builders, skilled trades, plumbers, remodelers, cleaning services, roofers, etc.
  • Professional Services: Attorneys, IT service companies, event management firms, Accountants, Bookkeeping, Marketing, Design Firms, etc.

 

3. Offer Free Shipping/Delivery or a Fixed Amount Discount  

Keep it easy for everyone. Taking $20 off every $100 spent is much easier to understand than 30% off of a $100 purchase. Customers don’t want to do the math. Keep it simple for them Keep it simple for you.

  • SaaS companies could do $20 off purchase or $5 off in-app purchase. Coaches, Therapists, Hairdressers, and Nail Techs could do $10, $20 off a session, etc.
  • If you have higher ticket items you can offer a scale. $15 off $100, $40 off $200, etc. The more they buy the more they save and the more you sell. Just be sure to keep your margins in mind when you are selecting the discount. Win/Win
  • If you have a hard copy study, journal, workbook, calendar or other books for sale consider offering free shipping. Nobody likes add-on fees especially delivery costs. Choose a dollar amount the shopper needs to spend that will earn them free shipping. Set up your e-commerce platform to tally their totals as they add items to their cart. Honestly, who here hasn’t added another $7.00 item so they could get free shipping?
  • Always create promotions that are clear. Don’t make shoppers have to think – Black Friday or any day.
Industries who can benefit from this promotion:
  • SAAS
  • Coaches – Life Coaches, Business Coaches, etc
  • Counselors, Massage Therapist, Hairstylists, Nail Salons
  • IT Services, Website hosting service, Marketing maintenance service,
  • Bookkeepers, Accountants, Association Management, Client Management
  • Teachers, Trainers, Speakers, Authors
  • Artists (Digital Downloads)
  • Construction, skilled trades, builders
  • Professional Services

 

4. Give a Gift, Send a Card

The holidays are about giving. If you don’t have an add-on, training, or a download to share you can look for other ideas. You can still give a gift that brings you top of mind to your customers and prospects during the holidays. Do your best to find an item that connects with your business in some way.

  • For companies that have time-sensitive services, calendars with your branding may be seen every day, all year long.
  • Work with a promotional product company to discover a gift that is appropriate, on budget, and useful. 
  • For small businesses with a local focus personal deliveries of food or homemade goodies are always great ways to get in the door.  
  • If you have a large customer and prospect list and gifts are not in the budget this year send a card. In lieu of customer favors some companies donate to a cause. Acknowledging this in a holiday greeting sheds a positive light on your brand. Cards are always appreciated and once again get your business name out there. I recommend resisting sending postcards. Cards are often displayed on customers’ desks, file cabinets, in their homes, etc. Postcards do not fit with standard display options and in many cases won’t be seen by others. The last tip to stand out a little more is to consider sending cards for Thanksgiving or New Year instead of Christmas.  
Industries who can benefit from this promotion:
  • Everyone!

 

If you decide to run a campaign this year be sure to follow us on social media. We have broken down tasks for each week leading up to the major holiday sales days. Catch tips on how to optimize your website for holiday promotions. We will also share what to review to be certain your campaign goes without a hitch, and more. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for 4 weeks worth of step by step tips.

 

Good luck with your holiday promotions!

If all of this is just too much, or if there are pieces that make more sense for us to do instead of trying to plow through them alone, connect with us. We’re happy to help with setting up your website for e-commerce, creating auto-generated emails, or digital graphics and pop-ups to promote your sale. Give us a call or shoot us an email today. We’ll do a quick phone review to get us all up to speed and plan the next steps.

Stay connected!

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Are You Embarrassed to Share Your Company Website With Prospects??

On September 22, 2021   /   Branding - Marketing, Graphic Design and Web design   /   Leave a comment
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Embarrassed to Share Your Company Website With Prospects

 

Recently I spoke to one of our favorite customers, Life Coach Jamie Lightner, about how the new responsive WordPress website we designed for her was working. We were in a group of other women business owners when I asked the question. Jamie’s response to my question actually made most of the women laugh out loud. She said she loved it and mostly she was happy not to have a website she was embarrassed by anymore! Jamie has an authentic sense of humor that is never lost on the crowd.

However, she explained further that the statement was sadly all too accurate. The free DIY website she built when she started her coaching business over 6 years prior really was embarrassing to her. Her experience, her services and programs, and the technology had all outgrown that initial DIY website solution. Of course, as the chosen website design firm I was happy to know how much our new website design has helped her in such a short amount of time. I knew when we started the new website design, organization and updating of content would help her prospecting and for her current clients. What I didn’t consider was the emotional impact the newly branded website would have.

Some of the reasons you may be embarrassed to share  your company website:

 

  1. Life coach, Jamie Lightner responsive website designOutdated design that looks like it is from another decade
  2.  Broken links that prompt 404-page errors
  3.  Confusing navigation that doesn’t lead the visitor where they intend
  4. The website isn’t responsive and is hard to read on mobile devices
  5. No clear calls to action
  6. Outdated services, products, or promotions
  7. Staff members listed who are no longer with the company
  8. No clear brand messaging or visuals
  9. Competitiors websites are modern and have valuable content
  10. The information doesn’t present current level of expertise
  11. …more…

It was rewarding for me to hear Jamie express that her decision to update her DIY website to a professional website design was the best business decision she has made. She now confidently shares her website URL with prospects and customers and she has quickly realized a return on her investments.

 

Want to Love Your Website Again?

Schedule a 100% free, no-obligation 15-minute consultation.

We’ll visit your website while on the call, talk about your goals and offer some insight. Even if your website is embarrassing right now, we can make it shine again – we promise. Let’s Connect

 

I’d like to say the conversation about being embarrassed to share your company website ended there.

It didn’t. Total transparency, I had to share my true confession that Connection Group also found ourselves in that same predicament.  (Obviously, I was feeling pretty safe with this particular group of women business owners!) My confession didn’t receive a laugh like Jamie’s did. The reaction was more surprise, “You? But your company excels at website design and development!”

After being in business for over 20 years our website has experienced many iterations, much revamping, some re-dos. Remember Flash websites? Yes, as cool as all the moving text and dancing graphics were, there was little to no ROI on that website design technology – and we did it in-house!  But, I digress from the point of my story…

Although we have over 20 years of experience in website design and have one of the most talented responsive WordPress developers leading our team our website was sadly outdated. It wasn’t because we didn’t have the talent, or the desire, or the budget, our reason was we didn’t have the time. We were living the proverbial ‘the cobbler’s children have no shoes’ saying. If you are a small business owner you may relate to our position. Basic business principles taught us customer orders, customer service, and billable hours come first.

We now liken our marketing to putting our own oxygen masks on first – before we save others.

Although we were allocating time for brainstorming, re-branding, targeting key audiences, and content planning, the new website was not given the priority it deserved. In the midst of the planning, COVID hit and our existing and new customers needed us even more. Of course, along with the rush of orders, there was the unknown. In addition to the customer projects we were also being proactive and responding to RFPs that we felt were a good fit.

I will never forget the late night preparingto post our RFP response to a web portal. I made the mistake of checking how many other branding firms had submitted responses. To my dismay, that particular RFP had 64 submissions, 64! To further add insult to injury I decided to check out my competition. I definitely needed to put my oxygen mask on after that! For over an hour I perused modern, sleek, contemporary websites that shone bright like diamonds. Talk about being embarrassed to share your company website with prospects! Ugh! It was too late (literally and figuratively) to do anything about it at that point, so I submitted the RFP and went to bed.

In the end, we did rank pretty high in the selection – because our credentials, experience, and cost were competitive and our proposal rocked. However, what I gained was the insight that taking care of our brand needed to be a higher priority. Never, ever may we make excuses or neglect imprtant components of our branding and prospecting ability.

Today, I am proud to see our new website doing its job. Like Jamie, I too appreciate the ease in updating it with the new front-end editor, the clear brand focus, and imagery we have developed. We took our time to hone in on the services that we do best and we have simplified the navigation and content to make it clear to our customers and prospects. Would we have won that RFP if this new website design was in place earleir? I’ll never know, either way, I know I always want to honor our brand, our abilities, and show our expertise. I want to proudly post our website everywhere and know the information is up to date, attractive, and fully functional on all screens.

So, that’s our story. What about you? Are you embarrassed to share your company website? If so, don’t wait any longer, I promise you, your competition isn’t waiting. Connect today, we’re happy to craft a professional, responsive website you will be proud to share and update for years to come. 

Stay connected!

Hurry and reserve your 15-minute slot today!

Commit to starting the new year strong. All of our websites come with step-by-step training. You and your team will know exactly what to do to keep your website up-to-date.  Let’s Connect

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Adobe® End Support of Postscript Type 1 fonts

On March 16, 2021   /   Branding - Marketing, Design Tips, Graphic Design and Web design, Uncategorized   /   Leave a comment
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Adobe® Ends Support of True Type fonts

Nothing is fixed and everything changes. 

With the creation of web fonts, responsive design, and apps in the Cloud, the way fonts are built has changed too. Our team started noticing the adverse effects of these updates when our trusted creative design apps started crashing frequently. We discovered it was often when using older fonts or some designed by certain foundries.  Plus some super fun free ones that maybe weren’t coded well, to begin with, may have played a role. We have come to accept that Adobe Creative Cloud applications (you know the ones all graphic designers live and breathe by) only play well with Adobe cloud fonts. In addition to this realization, Adobe has also announced that they will be ending support of Postscript Type 1 fonts in 2023. 

This all matters to brand owners because the Helvetica typeface your designer used in your business card design from 2017 may not render correctly in your next update. If your brand visuals and logo were designed with Postscript Type 1 fonts or are not developed by Adobe your designer may need to make adjustments.

Options available to ensure your brand fonts are up to date:

  • Change your font entirely if there is not a compatible version of the brand font (stab to the heart)
  • Show certificate of license – depending on how many years ago it was purchased this may be impossible  (the license is probably on some installation CD that was obsolete 5 years ago)
  • Purchase a new font license to continue use, update the font files and ensure they are not type Postscript Type 1 (cha-ching!)
  • Font license pricing is across the board. First, you have to know if your brand materials just incorporate Helvetica Bold or a combination of Helvetica Medium and Helvetica Light Condensed? One font style, like Helvetica Light, can be $9.99 to $99.99. If you need to purchase the whole Helvetica family of fonts (30+ styles) this can begin to break brand marketing budgets.

How can Adobe® dictate how fonts are supported and End Support of Postscript Type 1 fonts?

Connection Group has been using Adobe® Creative Suite since its invention. We started with installation CDs for each software product from Photoshop to InDesign and even Flash. Changing now would be reinventing the wheel – plus there aren’t other compatible options at this time. It’s also not just Adobe® making changes, it’s a digital revolution – nothing is fixed and everything changes.

Personally, I love that we don’t have to frantically locate a license key when a computer station needs a fresh install of Adobe® Creative Cloud.  Adobe® Cloud allows us to install fonts under the Creative Cloud platform at a whim – a font hoarder’s dream. As long as we maintain our Adobe Cloud membership we have the license to use the fonts. However, for fonts to function in all media and for font foundries to protect their licenses, changes had to be made. The font license (like the Adobe cloud license) covers a specific number of users or computers.

When we design brochures, sales sheets, print magazines, etc., the logo graphics and the brand fonts can be sent to the commercial printer or pre-press company. This is still a legal option. Sending fonts to others, such as a virtual assistant, or even your IT personnel may not be covered under the brand design firm’s license.

For new brands and others who have updated their brand visuals recently your need for Postscript Type 1 font support is not likely. Most software applications stopped supporting Postscript Type 1 font in early 2005. Adobe® is one of the last applications to phase them out. If you use Postscript Type 1 fonts in Adobe products and need help preparing for the final demise visit this article in Apple Insider for more information.

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Font Copyright Infringement – Protect Yourself and Your Brand

On January 13, 2021   /   Branding - Marketing, Design Tips, Graphic Design and Web design, Uncategorized   /   Leave a comment
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Font copyright infringement

What? What is that all about? Anyone who has designed social media graphics, posted photos to blogs and websites, etc. has encountered information about art and photo copyrights. But font copyright infringement may be new to many of you.

When you hired a graphic design and marketing firm to develop your brand and design your logo you also may have received a brand standards guide. In that brand standards guide, the graphic designer provided names of the fonts utilized for your visual brand. Intentional use of fonts and colors is key to establishing visual consistency in all communications and media promotions.

If you are designing images connected to your brand you will want to purchase licenses for the fonts. Fonts are designed by independent graphic designers and type foundries. Therefore, fonts hold copyrights and require licensing. Much like we do not own our domain names for our corporate websites, we do not ‘own’ fonts. These days with the cloud and digital marketing, discovering font copyright infringement is much easier than it has ever been.

Use of Fonts on Products and Apparel

This is also very important if you are selling products that use fonts. Whether you are designing and selling decorative signs, t-shirts with professional lettering, and any digital artwork for download and reproduction be sure to check the copyright of the fonts you use. Some sublimation printers come with software and fonts that may allow unlimited use, fonts you find online may not. Be sure to check the usage license on all fonts you use. If you are designing products or digital graphics for the mass market, learning to design your own original fonts may be fun. Another option is looking for font designers on Etsy and other marketplaces. Original font designs by freelance artists may be less costly and have more flexible licensing than the large foundries.

Keep in mind, even if you design a clever typographical design, font copyright is different from fine art or graphic design copyright. Just varying the fonts size, color or using a combination of bold, italic, small caps, etc. in a typography design is not enough to claim originality. Protect yourself, read all font licenses very carefully.

Font Copyright Infringement is a Honey Hole for Foundries

Font copyright infringement by individuals and corporations is often done by mistake because of an under licensed or unlicensed font. An innocent mistake doesn’t mean they get off with a warning though. Some foundries look for infringement and get as much revenue from enforcement as from normal licensing! There are now automated bots that can scan for font usage in web pages and posted PDFs. The public seldom learns of lawsuits for font copyright infringement because most are settled out of court.

Although there are some tricks like converting fonts to outlines or only using open-source fonts, etc. it is best to play it safe.  So when you need us to create a new team member business card and your brand font is not up to date or licensed please don’t blame your brand design team for adding a font license fee. It’s not revenue for us. It’s protection for your company and brand and it’s an homage to those clever coders and typeface designers who need to feed their families too.

For more information, we referenced this article on Communication Arts for this blog post. 

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What Skills Makes Great Graphic Designers Stand out?

On October 13, 2020   /   Branding - Marketing, Design Tips, Graphic Design and Web design, Uncategorized   /   Leave a comment
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Great Graphic Designers Grow with Targeted Training

Great graphic designers are trained in Lansing, Michigan! Each year I spend time with local graphic design experts as well as Lansing Community College’s, (LCC), Communication, Media, and Arts Department faculty members. The LCC Annual Advisory Board Meeting is a time where faculty and selected professionals from the Lansing, Michigan graphic design community discuss what is most important for students to learn to succeed in the graphic design industry. It is interesting to hear other professionals and instructors share what talents they are seeing from students and what skills are sorely lacking as they enter the workforce.

Because LCC is a community college, many students are enrolled for an Associates’ degree. This means they receive a mere two years of training. Other students are there to earn credit to transfer to a four-year college. When students are able to attend a four-year university the additional two years at University offers educators the ability to dive deeper into philosophy.

Graphic Design Theory Including:

  • Design concepts
  • Color theory
  • Drawing techniques
  • Nuances in typography
  • Problem-solving
  • Graphic design software training

However, the majority of LCC students plan to earn their Associates’s degree in Graphic Design, Website Design, or Animation, and enter the workforce right after graduation. The challenge for the faculty and Advisory Committee each year is to determine the most important graphic design training for students during their limited enrollment. These students need to have skills and knowledge that employers find valuable. They need to hit the ground running to be able to compete in a competitive field.

In an ideal world, training would cover all areas. This luxury is saved for the colleges and universities where students will receive Bachelor’s in Graphic Design degrees or hang out until they earn a Masters in Graphic Design.
It is a dilemma that we face each year. In the era of COVID, decreased enrollment, reduced budgets, and inflated graphic design software costs, the questions are even more important. What I appreciate most about our annual meeting is that we are determined to address the needs of the students.

Some of the questions we ask include:

  • What can we do to build better graphic design modules for students?
  • What does a graphic designer need to know to hit the ground running when they graduate?
  • Should there be a strong focus on teaching drawing techniques?
  • Are problem-solving techniques most valuable?
  • What about software, is Adobe Creative Suite® the only game in town?
  • How much time should be allotted for learning specific software?
  • What if graphic design firms switch to a different software?
  • What is a process that separates the creative graphic designer from the novice?

So many clearly important questions and all are difficult to answer. Each of our views is distinctive to our chosen areas of expertise. As designers and art appreciators, we consider what we like and what we look for as employers and instructors. My favorite discussion from this year’s meeting was the list compiled of creative prompts and practices all great graphic designers would benefit from establishing. I would love to adopt many of these into my own daily practice as well as my team of the graphic designer team at Connection Group.

Every Graphic Design Student will:

  1. Complete 7 sketchbook pages each week
  2. Design and develop at least one web component with each brand project
  3. Show process – steps taken to get to the finished design
  4. Demonstrate a clear understanding of fonts and how it relates to other visuals
  5. Create a clean design of a boring project, such as a form (shows tenacity!)
  6. Share designs in public – on Pinterest, Facebook, or other platforms and forums
  7. Develop an online portfolio and a solid, neat interview portfolio
  8. Research great design in print and digital format
  9. Subscribe to Communication Arts and other print or digital design magazines)
  10. Students and designers will enjoy doing some of the tasks above and some may find them tedious.

The interesting part is that all of these tasks are important if a graphic designer is going to be well-rounded and successful.

I believe the skill of graphic design can be taught. However, graphic design that stands out, conveys and emotes a moving and clear message is created by those who are skilled in the ability to see things others don’t see. Great graphic designers can break down complex ideas into simple visuals and messages the mass market understands. Neither a two-year or four-year degree ensures this ability.

Whether it is determined that a sketchbook is required in all graphic design classes, or that software training should be the focus, regular review is ket. I am happy LCC critiques their program and is always striving to bring the highest value to their students and to the organizations that hire them. I am proud to be a member of the LCC Graphic Design Department Advisory Board. I know the entire committee is committed to the success of the students and the value they will bring to the industry we love.

So what did I miss? What daily practices do you think great graphic designers can implement to stay inspired?

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How Do I Start My Small Business WordPress Website Design?

On August 10, 2020   /   Branding - Marketing, Graphic Design and Web design, Web Hosting Web Security   /   1 Comment
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Before marketers or advertisers start any advertising or brand campaign they start with the 5 Ws. These basic problem solving and information gathering questions set a framework for small business WordPress website design and development too. Matter of fact they come in handy for a lot of life choices. In this post, we will focus on using them for website design planning.

Let’s start with the Why

The first ‘Why’ is why do you need a website? Why do your customers want to work with you instead of your competition? What are the differentiators that set your company apart? Clarify a value proposition for prospects and customers to connect with.

Begin to compile evidence of this expertise. Include all the content that proves your claim throughout the website.

  • marketing and website plan diagramtestimonials
  • awards
  • client list
  • reviews
  • certifications
  • quantitative facts

The What is the Website Format and Function

What type of website do you need for your business? Are you selling products online? What style do you want for your website? What type of content will be included? What features need to be included? Have you looked at different WordPress themes that are suitable for your industry? Some themes are industry-specific and include plugins that are targeted to increase functionality based on the needs of your company such as calendars, easy to edit contact forms, woo-commerce shops, and more.

As You Begin to Research Themes and Styles Consider the Who

In marketing speak, who is your specific target market? While planning your small business website, think about who it is intended for. Who will benefit from the content on the website? Who do you want to attract to the website?

Determining the Who, in the beginning, will help you select the appropriate website style and the tone. If your website is meant to reach professionals as a business to business service the colors, features, and tone will be very different than if you are a company needing an e-commerce website selling kids pay supplies.

Where Does the Information Go?

The ‘Where’ gets into the actual design and flow of your small business WordPress website design. As in all design, your website layout needs to consider eye flow. When a visitor lands on your website what do you want them to see first? Where will you place key information so the visitors see the most important information first? Placement of website elements, including calls to action, contact information, photos, and videos can either help guide the visitor or confuse them.

sample xml sitemapPlacement and flow considerations also include the website navigation. The goal of your website navigation interface is to maximize usability. When you know what information and media you want to include, begin to categorize it. Select no more than 6 categories for your main navigation. Once these main categories are defined start placing your content on pages under the main sections and quickly a site map will begin to develop.

For more robust websites with a lot of content and pages, there are additional options for website navigation built into the user interface.

Optional navigational schemes include:

  • Hierarchical navigation systems – The primary navigation system that allows users to navigate within the site using levels
  • Global Navigation – serves as the outline and template to allow users ease in maneuverability throughout the site
  • Local Navigation – helps visitors in a specific area of the site (often referred to as sub-navigation)
  • Adaptive web navigation – Personalized website experience based on a user’s browsing pattern in order to find relevant information more quickly and efficiently

Considering all aspects of navigation in advance allows for more efficient experiences for visitors to the webpage.

Moving Deeper into the Website Content Leads us to the When

The goal of every successful website is to lead the prospect to action. Whether it is a step by step funnel, a short contact form or a quick chat option the goal is to encourage visitors to act and act now before they are distracted by another cat video alert. Calls to action (CTAs) with a sense of urgency are key here. In some instances, you may want to offer limited-time specials. Other times offering a lead generator such as a free download or a 15% coupon with your next purchase will capture their contact information right away. This helps to stay connected with every website visitor even if they don’t purchase or contact you on the first visit.

Lastly, We Get to the How to Begin a Small Business WordPress Website Design

There is a couple of considerations when we look closely at the ‘How’ question.

Screen cap of a WordPress back endHow includes the securing of your domain name and choosing where your website will be hosted. Also the actual building of the pages uploading the theme and website content to the webserver. When choosing website hosting make sure you select a WordPress hosting plan that offers fast page load speeds and also helps to keep your website secure. For over 20 years Connection Group has chosen to work with Network Solutions for our customer domain registrations and we use Liquid Web for our small business WordPress website hosting. There are many companies offering these services. Choose one that is reputable and make sure you track the name and the URL of the companies you are working with and note your login credentials.

The other ‘How’ is the actual building of the website. The beauty of a small business WordPress website design is that you don’t have to be trained in website code and development to build it yourself. There are many WordPress website design tutorial videos on YouTube, local community education courses, and colleges that offer WordPress design classes.

small business website under developmentIf you are an entrepreneur who hopes to build your own company website I suggest starting on YouTube with some introductory videos. If the videos are easy to follow and you are starting with a small website, answer the questions above and begin your build-out. If you require a website that is more complicated or if the website design tutorials are confusing save time, money, and sanity and hire a professional WordPress website design firm.

Connection Group provides small business WordPress website design and development and we offer training once it is complete. We help you get to the business of running your business by doing the heavy lifting of building the entire website for you. Then when you need to make updates or edits you can choose to do that in-house without additional cost. Our goal is to lighten your workload and create a website design that contributes to the success of your business. Give us a call, we’re available for a consultation and we’re always here to assist with making critical updates for you as needed.

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Format and Design of a Webinar or Digital Meeting

On August 4, 2020   /   Design Tips, Entrepreneurs - Small Business, General, Graphic Design and Web design   /   Leave a comment
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Most of us never thought we would be responsible for the format and design of a webinar. Nor did we expect we would be spending entire mornings in digital meetings with colleagues we use to share a cubicle with.

Historically, webinars have been embraced as lead generation tools. As a result of the pandemic, webinars and Zoom meetings have become the solutions for all forms of business communication. Today many customers have gone beyond merely attending Zoom and GoToMeeting events to now creating their own webinars. To help in this effort we have put together an outline of things to consider as you create webinars and online meetings.

We will touch on:

  1. Determining the objective for the webinar
  2. Create a webinar format and plan
  3. Establish deadlines
  4. Developing webinar content
  5. Pre-Webinar marketing and advertising to gain attendees
  6. Post-webinar follow up
  7. What to do on the day of the webinar
  8. Creating a webinar registration page on your website or email
  9. Following an outline for webinar creation.

Your first step is setting clear webinar objectives. How will you know if the webinar was successful if you have not defined the objectives beforehand?

#1. Determining the objective for the webinar

  • Are you introducing a new product?
  • Do you want attendees to purchase a product or service at the end?
  • Are you seeking input on new features or training attendees on the use of a product?
  • Do you hope attendees will view you as an expert in your industry by attending your webinar?

Determining the objective for the webinar will help define what content to include, what format the content should take, how you market to prospective attendees, and the results you hope to receive.

#2. Format and Design of a Webinar with a plan and deadlines

Determining the format and design of a webinar comes next. Will the webinar consist of one person going through Powerpoint or pdf slides? Will you have a panel of experts in various departments or companies sharing insights or extolling the benefits of working with you? Will people need to access it live for the best results? Will recordings be available?

Once the format and design of a webinar is determined it’s time to recruit speakers. If you are the presenter or will serve as the facilitator, you can begin to organize content or questions for panelists.

#3. Establish Deadlines for each Phase of Webinar Development

Once guest speakers are secured determine a date and time for optimal attendance. Make sure you avoid holidays, popular industry events, etc. Then work backward from the presentation date to set deadlines for marketing your webinar and completing content.

Consider the following when establishing deadlines:

  • Consider time zones for your prospects
  • If you are delivering a series of webinars can you set them to be consistent with the time of day and day of the week?
  • If guests will have slides, set a date to receive them in advance to avoid any concerns on the day of the webinar
  • Choose dates when announcements will be ready to send out for registration
  • When will registration and website support pages be ready to launch?
  • Determine the last date to enroll

#4. Finally, we get into the Webinar Content

Whether you’re developing webinar content for a software product, professional service, publishing, manufacturing or packaged goods your actual content will vary. Do some research on the content that is getting the best results in your industry.

  • Can you offer a full demonstration of your product?
  • Are there popular highlights of your product or services that all attendees will benefit from learning?
  • Will you let your attendees guide which aspects you will cover through their questions?
  • Should your content be adjusted depending on the audience/demographic, etc?
  •  Do you have a clear niche or unique offering to share that will set you apart from the completion?
  • Will you be explaining your pricing model?
  •  How do you want attendees to interact with you? Can you create leading questions to increase involvement through chat?

5. Creating a webinar registration page on your website

Before you begin marketing your webinar create the supporting pages and links. Create a landing page on your website that all webinar promotions will lead the prospects to. Consider the format and design of the webinar when you create the supporting promotions.  You also do not want to put a webinar/meeting login information on this page. That will be shared in a follow-up email once the attendee registers.

This page should include:

  •  title of the webinar,
  •  brief description of the webinar content
  •  benefits of attending (special offers/discounts to attendees?)
  •  date and time
  •  speaker information
  • simple registration form (Least requirement is name and email. You may want to include company name, role in the company, and other fields depending on your objective.)

Be sure to copy this page URL to include in pre-webinar marketing and advertising.

6. Pre-Webinar marketing and advertising campaigns to attract attendees

To increase webinar registrations you can use a drip campaign to lead visitors to your website through a funnel.

  • Email announcement to current contacts about the upcoming webinar
  • Social media posts with messaging about the webinar and a link to the registration page
  •  Website messaging including banners, pop-ups, buttons, graphics and website sections that link to the registration

Be consistent with your messaging and be clear on what attendees will receive when they register. Consider offering a value-added incentive to attend or to register by a specific date. A discount on a purchase or the opportunity to have questions answered personally, a giveaway to the first 20 enrolled, etc.

If you are just beginning to build your contact list or if you are seeking a large number of attendees right away, consider paying to advertise your webinar. If you choose to purchase pay per click (PPC) advertising on social media, search engines, or targeted websites double-check that links are included for registration. If you are implementing traditional media including tv, print publication, direct mail, etc. double-check that the steps to register are accurate and functioning prior to running any ads. Always ensure your messaging is consistent.

7. What to do the day of your webinar

You can choose to send login information when people first register or you can hold off until a few days before the webinar. It is also advised to send a reminder email on the day of the webinar. Include a contact phone number and or email for troubleshooting issues.

  • Check your system to make sure everything is functioning as expected.
  • Check-in with speakers, you have lined up to remind them of timing and log in contact.
  • Do a test-run with all presenters. Have them share their screen and their presentation.
  • You may also want to share an agenda with everyone in advance so that they know what to expect.

We recommend to skip updates of webinar or meeting software within 24 hours of your scheduled webinars. Functions and features can change and software incompatibilities can arise. Rather than becoming flustered and appearing unprofessional hold off on any updates if you can.

8. Post-webinar follow up

One of the greatest benefits of webinars is the ability to capture the contact information of each attendee. Be sure to request attendees to opt-into future correspondence. This will allow you to reach out to them in response to this webinar and long into the future for other opportunities.

Determine what information or call to action you would like from attendees when you set up your follow up plan.

  • Do you want to survey attendees about specific elements of the webinar?
  • Will you have a drip campaign created that is in line with the webinar topic to continue to keep attendees engaged and interested?
  • Will you offer a limited-time or exclusive discount for purchase or enrollment for attendees?
  • Can you provide a value-added download or membership that is aligned with the webinar topic?

If the survey is most important send that follow up first. Then remember to pace your correspondence. If attendees become overwhelmed with communications from you they may choose to opt-out and you will lose the lead entirely.

We hope this content is helpful to you. Please let us know if we can help you create registration landing pages or format and design of a webinar presentation and slides.  Webinars and online meetings have been forced upon all us in response to the pandemic stay-at-home-orders. Although it may not be the preferred format there is value in adopting digital communication. Companies and organizations, large and small, are seeing cost savings with reduced meeting travel and in-person training begin with addressing the format and design of a webinar. Getting comfortable with the ‘new normal’ of digital meetings will help you stay connected now and in the future.

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Small Business Responsive Website Design is Easy

On February 20, 2017   /   Graphic Design and Web design   /   Leave a comment

 
Free website design Michigan
We all see the ads in our feeds and on tv,  commercials from GoDaddy and WIX and others, with claims to build a small business responsive website design… in a day… for free. We get the business calls and emails daily from companies that say can build custom websites for less than if we shop local.
Thus far this year, 83% of new small business responsive website design orders have been from entrepreneurs who tried building their websites internally.  Some customers have bought into monthly payment plans with a local media outlet promising do-it-yourself training, regular updates and local SEO.  Six months later, the local business owners website is out of date, they can’t  fix it, and they don’t even own the website they paid thousands of dollars for! A quick glance at reviews could have saved them money and time.

Small business responsive website design , tired of pushy sales people? Check online reviews ...When small businesses know it’s time for a professional website design:

  • Website is out of date and there is no time to make updates.
  • Business has grown but the professionalism of the online presence has not.
  • When their “free” website gets hacked and they can’t access it anymore
  • When their customers experience confusion or frustration when visiting the site
  • They have spent more of their time attempting to build a functioning site instead of building their business.
  • Junior or Intern or ____ gets a life and can’t be bothered to keep it current.

There is no easy button to create a fully functional, attractive, and responsive website design. It takes an understanding of graphic design, color, website navigation, user interface, marketing and coding — yes, knowing a bit of code is a lifesaver!

All content management systems (CMS) are not equal.

Some CMS, like WIX, are proprietary and can’t grow with you, or  take them with you if you go. There are some online registrars with CMS responsive website builders that limit features depending on your monthly budget. You can’t make custom changes or additions. And just try and get them on the phone.
Our customers have come from these examples and more. Our own research  landed us on WordPress as the most comprehensive website CMS choice for us and many of our customers.

Why is WordPress a good choice for responsive website design?

  • Wordpress logo Plethora of plug-ins available to customize and automate features
  • 1,000s of responsive website design  themes
  • Features targeted to e-commerce and events
  • Features connecting social activity and news
  • Attractive user interface (UI)
  • Popular format for developers
  • Ease of updating
  • Hours of YouTube WordPress How-To videosLastly, the ease of training customers for DIY edits is invaluable to those who invest time in keeping content current. For those who choose monthly website maintenance, WordPress administration is fairly standard and  experienced staff can quickly implement most changes and updates.

What are the drawbacks to choosing WordPress for a small business responsive website design?

With all of the capabilities and features offered for small business responsive website design today, the more you add on a limited budget some

  • Software needs to be updated
  • Can be susceptible to hacking if software is not maintained and updated when required
  • Plug ins don’t always play well together
  • Custom plug ins can add one -time or monthly fees
  • Pre-purchased themes do not include support or troubleshooting
  • Can load slow on shared servers

If you’d like a professional website design, shoot us an email or call today.  Let’s connect, you won’t be overwhelmed by the process.

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Resort and Vacation Rental Website Designs

On January 18, 2017   /   General, Graphic Design and Web design   /   Leave a comment
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Love of travel and web savviness had us viewing resort and vacation rental website designs long before it was the standard that it is today. As timeshare owners, we search resort and vacation rental websites regularly for new travel experiences. We seldom stay at the same venue twice – not even our home resorts. Why bother when of timeshare exchange companies like RCI and Interval International and vacation clubs such as Global Connections, offer web portals and we can view thousands of resort and vacation rental website designs all in one spot.
In addition to our timeshare travels and online vacation planning, we list our own vacation rental property. Our vacation property guests book online through our Michigan cottage rental website. We are not in a highly-sought Up-North Michigan location. We are not on any of the Michigan Great Lakes. Lake Michigan is at least an hour and a half away from our rental cottage. Our rental is just a kitschy one bedroom cottage on a small lake in mid-Michigan. Yet, each season we have to turn people away because we get booked up so early.

Amateur or professional, when it comes to resort and vacation rental website designs seeing is believing

Responsive website design for resortWith resort reviews, beautiful photos of every suite, villa, view, and amenity offered, finding a premium vacation rental is just a click away. Sadly, many very desirable resort destinations neglect to present their property and amenities effectively. When resort and vacation rental websites show views of a pristine beach or bright lights of the city with luxury designer furnishings, travelers feel confident booking their stay. When another beachfront resort has a website that doesn’t function on mobile devices, lacks standard features, or has outdated content and photos, visitors are not as confident and they search other options.
Many vacation properties and resorts assume listing with RCI, II, Travelocity, TripAdvisor, Homeaway, AirBnB, etc. can serve as their online marketing. When travel or vacation rental referral sites suggest a property, visitors will still visit the actual resort and vacation property website. Even when photos and property descriptions are posted on the referral site, vacationers practice due diligence.
vacation rental property website designRecently, we were seeking a resort destination for spring break. We searched for a resort within driving distance and planned to use some of our RCI points. I searched through RCI and found a resort with availability. When I showed the photos and the resort website to the 13 year old she was mortified. “Look how old the furniture is! Ewww they probably have bedbugs!.”
Granted we stretch our points and seldom stay at 5 star resorts, but this kid has never stayed at a resort where there was a concern about cleanliness, let alone bugs. I share her response only to demonstrate how important visuals are in this world of internet shoppers. Even if resort furnishings aren’t top-of-the-line updating your resort and vacation property website designs can go a long way.

Work with a company who gets you.

It’s time to take charge of your online brand and improve your resort and vacation rental website designs. Give us a call today and let’s review your current website design and functionality. We can put together a cost effective, timely solution, within budget that exceeds your goals.

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