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עברית10 things you need for your new business website
- Posted by Livecity In category Website Builder
Congratulations! You are the proud owner of a new website for your business. Whether you are updating a previous website or you have never had one before, designing and launching a new website can be a significant accomplishment. However, before you go ahead and push publish, take a closer look at your site and make sure that it has these 10 components that you can't do without.
1. A simple web address
You need a web address that matches the name of your business, but it doesn't necessarily need to spell it out to people. Shorter names that incorporate nicknames may be a better option. Building a website in your own domain name rather than a free domain provided by someone else will go a long way toward making it much easier for your customers to find you.
2. Contact information
While it is standard to have contact information contained in the Contact Us page, you can dramatically increase your chances of actually being contacted by putting a method of contact on every page of your website. Even if it is something as simple as a chatbox or a button to auto-generate an email, this feature will make it much easier for your customers to contact you with their questions, concerns, and potential business opportunities.
3. Directions to your business
Don't just put down your address! Even though GPS does exist, you can save your customers the trouble. Features such as Google Maps can also make it much easier for your customers to find you if they wish to visit in person.
4. Responsive design
Ever-increasing numbers of your potential web viewers will be attempting to access your site through a mobile device. Make sure that they will be able to by incorporating responsive design.
5. Testimonials
You have had customers who have had great experiences with your company. Give them a chance to shine! Testimonials grant your business and website a sense of clout and credibility they would not otherwise possess.
6. A blog
Your website blog keeps your content fresh and is a great way to attract new viewers on a consistent basis. Blogging also establishes you as an authority in your industry.
7. Opportunities to opt-in
Newsletter subscriptions, RSS feeds, free eBook downloads, and white papers are all examples of items that your visitors can opt into receiving. These will create a more tangible connection with the people most interested in what your site has to offer.
8. Social media sharing
You can maximize exposure to your content by making it easy for your customers to share your pages on their social networks. Share buttons and other widgets empower your viewers to become your advocates on the web.
9. Responsible SEO
Your website should be optimized for search engine results, but not desperately so. You should be using relevant keywords in your text, include plenty of quality images, and make sure that your page titles and URLs are coded correctly.
10. A call to action
You know what you want your customers to do, whether it is buy a product or sign up for your service. Give them the opportunity to do it!
For more on how to improve your business website without pulling your hair out, check out Livecity's Free Website Builder and see for yourself how easy improving your business website can be!
Why does my company website need a blog?
- Posted by Livecity In category Blog & Forums
If you are running your own business, sooner or later you have probably received the advice that you need to start a blog. You may be considering it, but are unsure if it is a worthwhile use of your time. The fact is that blogging can be a very effective tool in promoting your business and defining your brand.
A launchpad to your success
Think of your business as a rocket with a potential destination in mind. Whether that goal is doubling your sales or expanding into an emerging market, your blog acts as a launchpad to get your business to its intended result. No matter what industry you are in, you are possessed of expertise. You have product knowledge that others are looking for, and this can make your products more attractive and give your business credibility. Many business owners miss out on this chance to connect with an audience of interested customers. Whether it is just clarifying misconceptions about your product or pointing out how it can be used in new and wonderful ways, your blog is a golden opportunity to increase your standing in your industry and even position yourself as a thought leader in your business sector.
What does having a blog do for my business?
Do you want a website that consistently figures highly in search engine results pertaining to your products? Your blog may just be the answer that you are looking for. These days, search engine algorithms are favoring websites that provide a stream of updates and fresh content, relegating those websites that never change to increasing irrelevance. Your blog is not only a forum to keep your customers informed about your products, but also a place to share the kind of content that will make search engines privilege your site over more static competitors. Every post is bound to organically incorporate keywords that relate to your business without making them sound forced, and this ensures that when your customers search for these keywords you will figure prominently in the results.
Blogging vs social media
If you are already active on social media, do you still need a blog? The answer is clearly yes. Social media is invaluable, but it is not the same as having a social platform that you own and operate yourself. Your blog is more than just a soapbox, it is the only place on the internet where you will be able to promote your business without worrying about complying with the ever-changing policies and terms of service of another business. Social media websites that were formerly the most popular sites of the internet have rapidly become virtual ghost towns, and your own blog is immune to these particular catastrophes. It is a place where you will always have a voice so long as the internet exists.
Do you want more information about how to integrate blogging into your website management strategy? Take a closer look at the outstanding suite of blogging tools that are included with Livecity's Free Website Builder.
Why do I need a website for my resume
- Posted by Livecity In category Website Builder
You may wonder why someone would bother to go to the trouble of creating a website that is just an expanded version of their resume when there are so many hugely popular job sites that will host them for free. The stone-cold truth is that if you depend on these other websites to host your resume you are at risk of being lost in a very large crowd. This can cost you more than you realize, because not only are the large majority of job openings never advertised on online career websites at all, the average posting on those sites receives hundreds if not thousands of applicants.
Your website as a resume
While social networking sites that are career-focused can be an outstanding place to host your resume, they do not give you any appreciable advantage over the legions of other professionals that are on that particular network. Why would a website work better? On a social network you are just a part of the pack, and having your own website marks you immediately as a maverick who is deeply committed to your career. Nobody was ever hired by a human resources drone flipping through resumes or even a headhunter looking for your specific skill-set. Hiring managers make hiring decisions, and hiring managers are impressed by initiative and creativity. So few of their candidates have their own websites that it cannot help but make you stand out from the crowd.
Your website will:
Be among the top results in search engines when hiring managers inevitably Google your name.
Give hiring managers more information on your talents and personality than even the best resume could possibly impart.
Allow you the creative freedom to really display your skill-set, perhaps even with pictures or video presentations
How to build a killer personal website to host your resume
There are some essential components that you will need to have an outstanding personal website for your resume.
- Your resume: it may seem obvious, but your website should match what is included in your paper resume. Your website is a place to highlight, not embellish, your experience. Remember to include accurate and up-to-date contact information.
- Portfolio: This is mandatory for creative professionals, but workers from many different career fields may benefit from displaying tangible results of their work, whether it is a picture of a house you worked construction on or a particularly delicious-looking meal that you created for a catering company.
- A purpose: One of the greatest advantages of your website is that it gives you a forum to make a big statement of purpose. What are your career goals and what value do you bring? These are two of the biggest questions on the mind of every hiring manager and you can answer them before they even pick up the phone to ask you for an interview.
Whether you are a professional with many years of experience or just trying to get your foot in the door for the first time, you can benefit from a personal website. If you are interested in quickly and easily introducing yourself to potential employers with your very own website, take a moment to review the great features of Livecity's Free Website Builder.
What is responsive design and why does my website need it
- Posted by Livecity In category Website Builder
Mobile internet usage is the fastest growing outlet for media in the world, but how suitable is your website for the mobile devices that a growing number of your customers are using to view your site? For many business websites, the answer is "not very" as they cling to methods of design that were conceptualized for an era dominated by desktop computers. Responsive design allows your users to view your website equally well on their smartphone or tablet as they would on their laptop, and is a crucial component of a fully accessible website that all of your potential customers can visit.
Mobile design vs responsive design
You may have already encountered mobile-friendly templates, but do these constitute responsive design? Not necessarily. A website with responsive design is coded to adapt to different screen sizes and device types. If you choose a mobile template you are, in essence, surrendering viewers who are not using mobile devices. To avoid this, you will need to have entirely separate domains for your mobile and desktop viewers. Responsive design is a much more elegant solution to the problem of website accessibility.
Responsive design and SEO
You may not think that SEO would be much affected by the design of the website as much as the content, but responsive design is certainly an exception. Google has gone on record as saying that their engine has a preference for web sites that utilize responsive design over those who have mobile templates and separate domains. This makes sense as a single URL is easier to link to and are not competing with one another for page ranking. It is also the chance that a searcher may have their search result chronically direct them to the site that is unsuitable for viewing, necessitating page redirects and further penalizing both of your sites with the search engine. Responsive design removes this headache completely.
The case for responsive design
There are many reasons why you should integrate responsive design into your website. Mobile device use is increasing not only in its number of subscribers but also the variety of devices that are being used by those subscribers. While a mere handful of years ago you were able to count the number of different mobile devices on one hand the market is expanding and diversifying at a dizzying rate. New devices are being created and marketed every day, and you can't be sure how people will be accessing your site in a few shorts years. Your first consideration should be your viewer's experience, and having a website that adapts to change and allows for an outstanding experience on a wide variety of devices is the best possible way for you to position your website for success in the long term.
For more information about how you can use responsive design to quickly and easily build the kind of website that can be viewed on any device, read up on the responsive design features included in Livecity's Free Website Builder.
5 useful tips to improve your e-commerce SEO
- Posted by Livecity In category E-commerce
E-commerce may be the complete reason for your business website, or simply a part of a range of activities you undertake or services you provide. Whichever, there are some specific points that can help make the most of the SEO you use. Here are five powerful tips:
Create unique meta tags
People seeking the product are not also likely to be seeking your business, unless you happen to be the manufacturer. Make sure your meta tags are therefore uniquely tailored to each specific product, ensuring that, when searching, your potential customers are brought right to the place they want to be. How often do you search for an item and find the link you click is to a home or general information page, leaving you to do the work and find where you want to be (or, just as likely, retrace your steps and go elsewhere)?
Keep your products close to your homepage
Further to the previous point, how often are you expected to start by choosing a category, and then you’ll find some sub-categories, followed by a multi-item menu or two? Eventually, if you are persistent enough, you might finally reach your destination. Remember, your homepage is also likely to be your highest SEO-ranked page, so keeping your products close is valuable.
Ditch those manufacturer’s descriptions
Well, perhaps not totally. When you read the descriptions provided by a manufacturer, it’s often clear that no person would talk in that way when describing the product. Yet, when searching, people are more likely to be in talk-mode. Also, your copy is not simply a description, it should be a sales tool as well. Think about the uses people will make of any product because that’s also likely to define their search terms.
Invite customer reviews and comments
This delivers unique content to your site, rather than simply the descriptions you have created. Those leaving their thoughts will often use words or phrases that you might not have thought of. Yet, if that’s one person’s view, then others might be using the same terms to search. It’s a terrific way to be more SEO friendly than you might have thought possible! Incidentally, the occasional negative review also makes your site seem more realistic, and gives you the chance to correct any misunderstandings, or clarify any areas of doubt.
Product tagging by customers
#whatagoodideathiswouldbe. The world of social media now sees people regularly tagging products with their own keywords or slang. Like the previous point, you are giving your site the opportunity to be found by a search by those terms people are currently using. You might not even fully understand some of the "speak", but as long as more potential customers do, it’s a no-brainer to welcome the idea.
When you use the terrific store templates here at Livecity to create your e-commerce website, and then as it develops and thrives, these five tips can help you gain that bit more traction when potential customers are searching for the products or packages you are offering.
5 key ingredients every restaurant website must have
- Posted by Livecity In category Website Builder
Every restaurant, no matter how small, can benefit from having an official website. It's an incredibly cost-effective investment in your business, especially if you use a free website builder. But what's the recipe for website success, and how can you be sure that your website has what it takes to help your restaurant grow? The following five essentials will help you attract new business and leave a professional, inviting first impression.
1. Comprehensive menu
No restaurant website is complete without a copy of the menu. Thanks to smartphones, social media, and review websites, it's even more important than ever to post your own official version. Don't let anyone else tell your potential customers what kind of cuisine they can expect to enjoy at your establishment. Instead, make it as easy as possible for them to access the full menu from home. Don't forget that allergens and dietary preferences are a necessary part of running a restaurant, too. Some menu accommodations are required by law, but if you make life easier for vegans, vegetarians, and people with food allergies, you'll gain a competitive edge over restaurants that don't care. This could be as simple as posting a separate allergen checklist, or as inventive as creating an interactive menu that highlights specific allergens and ingredients upon request. These should include eggs, dairy, gluten, nuts, seafood, poultry, meat, and soy.
2. Updated hours, location and contact info
Why build a website if it doesn't bring in new customers? Make sure your homepage includes your hours and phone number, but don't forget to offer your address, email address, and directions as well. If tourism is a booming industry in your town, you should make it as easy as possible for visitors to find your restaurant. Include landmarks and navigation instructions from at least two major roads. Finally, make a commitment to keep this section updated regularly. Wrong hours could lead to some very disappointed families.
3. Photos of the exterior, interior, and menu items
To complement the first two ingredients in your recipe, you should give your guests a preview of the ambiance they can expect. It's also helpful to show the external facade, even if you're nestled inside a strip mall. Make sure the pictures are flattering but accurate, so that guests will know what to expect (and how to find you). Pictures of the menu aren't a necessity, but it depends on your restaurant. Gourmet dishes merit high-quality closeups by professional photographers, but if your restaurant is more quick-service than fine dining, you have more wiggle room.
4. Takeout, delivery, and reservation information
This "ingredient" also depends on your restaurant's service style and price range. If you take reservations or prepare takeout orders, include clear instructions for interested guests. Some restaurants also let guests go online to submit and pay for their orders, make reservations, and even schedule deliveries. Convenience is everything, so to make this even easier, sign up with a website like OpenTable.com or GrubHub.com. You can embed or link to the forms on your own website, and guests won't have to worry about placing a phone call at all.
5. Clean, simple layout
If hungry locals can't pull up your hours at the touch of a finger - or tourists can't find your price range or cuisine - they'll move onto a third-party website, or worse, a competitor with a smarter digital presence. Simplify your layout as much as possible, and keep the same navigation menu consistent across every page. Visitors should be able to jump back and forth between your menu, contact information, home page, and other essential pages without getting lost or confused. Stick to easily readable, timeless fonts and colors that complement each other.
5 useful tips to improve your website SEO
You may already have an active site, or you may be creating your business website with the wide range of easy tools here on Livecity. Either way, one of the areas that is probably front-of-mind is to find ways to deliver the best possible search engine optimization. Here are five key thoughts to help you with this:
Be in it for the long haul
You will find programs that claim to offer an instant fix – offering to take you to the top of Google rankings in no time. If any results are achieved, this is often purely on a short-term basis. These tactics can also lead to problems with the search engine providers themselves who watch carefully for any manipulation of their systems. Accept that climbing these rankings takes time and is a gradual process as you are recognized as both trustworthy and expert in your field. So, simple hard work and commitment are the basis of tip one.
Understand how potential visitors will search
The vast majority of people who will visit your website through a search engine are not actually looking for you. Those who are, often already know your web address or are linked to you for quick reference. Others are seeking the solution to a problem or for the satisfaction of a need. Therefore, you are basically in the company of strangers. To attract them, the key is to analyze the specific words and phrases they are likely to use when searching. Then your aim should be to build these into effective copy, as described next.
Deliver much more than simply unique content
Some people dress weirdly to stand out in a crowd. This they may achieve, but often, others simply back away from them! Unique doesn’t automatically equal quality. Your aim should be to deliver content that does help you stand out from others, especially emphasizing what you can offer and they can’t, but in an engaging and understandable way. Quality SEO must be reader-friendly to initially attract but not then quickly repel.
Seek the contribution of customers
Some businesses are wary of incorporating customer surveys and comment facilities into their websites. Don’t be one of those scaredy-cats! This is a terrific source of good news, a place to help you understand how people search, and to know what they are really looking for. If negative comments are provided, these give you a chance to put it right for the next customer. It might not seem so immediately, but this is much better for you than one who simply leaves muttering quietly and then complains to everyone they know – except you! All this information also provides terrific clues to improve your SEO use.
Become a proper blogger
Sadly, many websites demonstrate an initial enthusiasm for a blog that quickly withers and dies. A couple of lackluster entries do more harm than good. A properly-constructed and regular blog, incorporating but not over-using SEO-friendly phrases, brings searchers to your site, and then they are engaged as they find what’s there to be of both interest and use. They might even tweet the link or copy and pass an entry on to others.
Using these five tips will help you create effective SEO as you develop your site with the tools provided here by Livecity. It will become an ongoing asset to your business and a place that interested folk like to visit.