Website Design Archives - Page 3 of 8

October 26, 2022 by David Henderson

What You Need To Know About Web Hosting

Whether you have products or services to sell or ideas to share, you need to have a website. The internet is everywhere and over 5 billion people use it regularly. A website puts you and your business in front of millions of customers, improving your visibility, credibility, and reach. The right website looks professional, loads quickly, and connects you to the right people. While having a plan for custom web development is important, one of the most important factors is how and where your site will be hosted. Here’s what you should know about web hosting.

Understanding Web Hosting

When you think of a store or other business you can visit, there will be products or services the owner wants to sell to clients or customers. That store or business needs a facility to conduct its business, including equipment to conduct transactions, spaces to display goods or information about services, and a building that houses operations. You can think of web hosting as the service that makes your site and its elements accessible to internet users. Web hosts provide the space and technology necessary for your site to operate according to its purposes.

Taking a Closer Look

A web hosting service provides the server, which is a physical computer that stores the data, images, and other elements used for your website. When a user types a specific address or URL, your web host transfers all the files needed for your site. Your web host is responsible for making sure the right elements are transferred each time. Web hosting also covers security for site use as well as the maintenance necessary to keep the site running. While you could build or operate a computer to act as a server for self-hosting, that could be a very expensive option. Many individuals and organizations use a third-party hosting service that takes care of the costs and responsibility of server maintenance and security.

Exploring Web Hosting Options

When it comes to third-party web hosting, there are different options available, each with its own advantages:

Shared hosting: This option involves multiple users sharing the same server resources, such as storage, memory, and computing power. Shared hosting is usually quite affordable and requires no technical expertise; however, you don’t have access to server settings and your site performance is impacted by other website traffic.
Virtual private servers: Generally more expensive than shared hosting, VPS hosting dedicates space and resources to your site’s files. Although you enjoy much more freedom to customize, you’ll likely need to hire a custom web development service to manage the technical details.
Dedicated hosting: This web hosting option comes with dedicated server space and boosted functionality. While you do have root access to the server, this type of service is usually very expensive and better suited for large businesses.
Managed hosting: This option comes with dedicated server space, but less control and responsibility than dedicated hosting. Typically you manage your site’s content using networked computer communication rules, also known as a file transfer protocol.
Cloud hosting: Although more expensive than shared and VPS hosting, cloud hosting uses multiple virtual servers reducing the chance that your website will be impacted by hardware failure or high traffic. Depending on your provider, you may not have root access to these services.

Finding the Right Custom Web Development Solution

You may seem overwhelmed by what’s available for web hosting. The good news is that Unwired Web Solutions offers a full suite of services to make your website dreams a beautiful and functional reality. Not only do we help you develop a website, but we also specialize in search engine optimization, helping to ensure your site is visible and accessible by the users that are in most need of the products or information you provide. Contact us today to get started!

August 22, 2022 by David Henderson

4 Essential Ingredients for a Successful Website

Building and maintaining a website can be challenging to do if you are not aware of what makes a successful website. Websites are much more sophisticated than they were just a few years ago. The Google algorithm keeps updating to help users get the information they want quickly. Laying a good foundation with your website now can help you keep up with the bots and how consumers are searching differently. Here are four ways UWS can help you stand out among your competitors with content optimization services in Canada.

1. Design and Easy Navigation

An often-overlooked aspect of a website is its design and navigation path. You want your website to be attractive and inviting, kind of like your front door. When customers enter your site, they need to be able to get what they want quickly. The links should be easy to follow, to see where each link leads. The links should also set your customers up through your sales funnel. There’s no point in directing a customer to buy an item if they’re still gathering information. You have to lead them through the sales journey. Navigation is key to a successful website.

2. High Quality, Relevant and Engaging Content

There’s a good reason content is considered king. Customers want relevant content that keeps them interested. Search analytics notice when customers spend time consuming content on your website. You get ranked higher. When you invest in high-quality content, it makes customers stay on your site to see what else you have to offer. This product content optimization adds to your bottom line.

3. SEO Keywords to Get Noticed By Google

It used to be thought that “if you build it, they will come,” but search is changing. Google uses keywords to index sites and ranks your pages in search. Your content might be excellent, but if Google can’t determine what your page is about, it will be difficult to index. If no one comes to your website, what’s the point?

WSI uses deep research to find the most relevant keywords for your business. We build those into your content to help drive traffic to your business. We also look at your competitors, to see what keywords they’re ranking for. This information can help rank your site higher in local and global searches without spending all your budget on digital marketing.

4. Blog and Social Media Presence

Search engines like new content. Blogs are a great way to update your site with new information and to link back to evergreen content on your site that already ranks high. This helps the bots index your site and learn how to navigate your site to rank in search. Users like new information about your product, services and brand. It’s another way to break down your story into bite-size parts to get your message across.

Social media can’t be ignored as part of your website strategy. Promoting your website on social media can drive traffic to your site to build your customer base. With so many different platforms, it can be hard to decide where to start. The WSI team can help you analyze your customer lists by demographics and find out where they hang out on social media. You don’t have to be active on dozens of social media platforms, just one or two to start to gain a following. Once you’re established, you can always add another one. The important thing is to have a way to connect with your audience.

Professional Online Marketing Support

WSI understands that there is a lot that goes into a successful website. We can help you bring all the parts together to create a harmonious symphony that gets an audience. Contact us for more information.

July 13, 2022 by David Henderson

3 Tips for Choosing a Web Designer

Nearly every venture, especially in business, requires a digital presence. If you want to prove authority, your business or brand needs to have a social and digital profile. Website design services can help bring credibility to a brand by creating and managing its digital portfolio.

However, you should never be too eager to hire a web design firm without checking out its legitimacy. Also, with the number of design firms available, you need to find ways to narrow your search to ensure the correct fit between business and design. Thankfully, a few strategies can help you and other brand managers select the right web design service, one that complements your brand’s image and voice.

1. Do Your Homework

Research should be a significant part of any business decision. When looking for a website design firm, you will want to talk with business allies, read reviews, and look at all prospective portfolios.

A business partner might have experience working with a web designer. If they recommend someone, it is likely because the individual or firm performed some work for the company. You can get a first-hand review of the service and review the project.

While not as valuable, online reviews can offer tremendous insight into the customer relations of a prospective firm. You will need to take most reviews at face value because they are subjective, but you can learn a lot by looking at average ratings and weighing the best against the worst.

Finally, most web design companies will have digital portfolios. You need to review the prospective portfolios for functionality and comparability to your project.

2. Check Services

Every web design firm has specific services they provide. Some firms only deal with the creation of websites but not the management of them. Other firms are full-service firms, providing not only design features but management and content creation.

When you are searching for a company to design your site, you need to consider how hands-on you want to be and what exactly you need from a website. Do not worry if you do not know everything yet; you can consult with full-service firms to get a better idea of what you need.

Ultimately, before you sign on the dotted line with any firm, make sure it offers what you need. If you do not know what you need, it is best to consult with a specialist before contracting any services.

3. Ensure They’re Capable

Before you spend any money on web design, you will want to ensure the company you hire is capable of doing what you need. While a service’s website is a good way to get an idea of what the business is capable of doing, it is best to go straight to the recipients of the service.

Before signing any contracts, ask the service about references. It is not enough to receive a couple of links. When looking into references, you want a list of previous customers you can actually talk to. Only when you get that one-on-one, face-to-face time can you make an informed decision about the work ethic and abilities of service.

Many business owners and brand managers do not have enough time to research all available design firms, but they still need to settle on one they can trust. Unwired Web Solutions is one of Canada’s leading web design firms. If you want to work with a firm you can trust, contact an Unwired Web Solutions representative. They can learn about your website needs and walk you through your available options, ensuring you are comfortable and informed about the service’s capabilities.

July 7, 2022 by David Henderson

5 Rules To Follow When Hiring a Website Design Agency in Kitchener

Most businesses understand the necessity of a website in the digital age. Unfortunately, many companies fail to execute web design in an efficient and appealing way. A web design and SEO company in Kitchener can help take your business’s digital identity to the next level, but you must be careful. A legitimate design company is a game-changer and worth every penny, but not all establishments are created equal. Therefore, you must understand and follow five fundamental rules before diving into a professional relationship with a web design firm.

1. Understand Your Business Requirements

What does your business require from its website? All companies are different. Some businesses want a website that will allow e-commerce functions so that they can make online transactions. Other companies want a simple interface for customers to find contact information.

The requirements you need from a website are likely specific to your business. Before selecting a web design firm, it is necessary to make a list of all the elements essential to operations, especially those necessary for digital consumer interactions.

Keep in mind that any service you work with should have experience in your industry. The designer’s expertise will help them guide you through the creation process, possibly bringing more needs to light.

2. Research the Agencies Process

When selecting an agency, you want to get an idea of its design process. The process is about more than strategies for image optimization for SEO; it is about how the company manages its projects.

An excellent company will have a repeatable process. They will create timelines, deadlines, budgets, and deliverables. As the client, you will know when your site will be finished and the steps it took to get there. Essentially, a process saves time and yields results, and a lack of one results in frustration and delays.

3. Create a Realistic Budget

You get what you pay for; it is a common saying that happens to be true in the case of web design. Creating websites from scratch is a time-consuming process, and ensuring those websites comply with SEO best practices to ensure traffic and rankings is challenging.

Knowing your budget can help you select better options for web development. For example, if you have a small budget, a DIY option like Squarespace or WordPress. A fully managed solution with a design firm is likely best for moderate to large budgets.

4. Communicate Effectively

Communication is paramount to any professional relationship, and it goes both ways. A client should expect a web design firm to provide routine updates about the progress of their website. However, a client also needs to communicate their needs with the designer.

Most often, breakdowns in communication result in poor outcomes and bitter partnerships. Too many professionals assume that design services should know what they want, but design firms are not psychic. To make the most out of your experience, communicate.

Before hiring a firm, contact their office and ask questions. A firm willing to answer questions and welcome inquiries are likely an excellent company to work with.

5. Contact References

Legitimate web design firms are happy to supply potential clients with references for their services. Too many prospective clients ignore the reference list, failing to call or chat with even a single customer. Communicating or checking out references is one of the only ways to familiarize yourself with a company’s process and product.

Businesses are aware that websites are vital to operations in the current market. If you want to improve your business and convert more sales, it is time to focus on web development. Contact a representative with Unwired Web Solutions to discover what a quality website can do for your business.

May 11, 2022 by David Henderson

The importance of an engaging and user-friendly website cannot be overstated. A quick and easy-to-navigate website will encourage more people to visit and make purchases. A complicated website to use will result in fewer visitors and less profit. Learn more about UX design and who to contact for expert website design services.

Prioritizing a User-Friendly Site

Website usability is critical for both businesses and consumers. A website that is difficult to use will frustrate visitors and might also dismiss customers. In this competitive age, companies must make every effort to create websites for users that make it easy to find what they are looking for and to be able to complete their tasks quickly. Navigation should be simple, organized, and logical.

UX Design

A user-friendly website makes it simple for users to access information, no matter the platform. If your website is user-friendly and approachable, users will spend more time interacting with your website, eventually leading them to convert. When leads convert, you have a more significant ROI.

SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) improves the quality and quantity of your website traffic. While there are a lot of SEO factors, search engines emphasize website user-friendliness by promoting updates such as Google’s Page Experience. Staying on top of tech updates can be challenging for users, and professional support is ideal.

Page Experience is considerably more critical than page content for search visibility, which implies it is vital to create a positive user experience for SEO optimization.

Time

Slow-loading websites will convince visitors to click away before engaging, thereby raising bounce rates. If search engines discover that you are not providing fair value to site visitors, their algorithms may push your website further down in search pages. Once this determination has been made, it is difficult to regain your standing.

Credibility

Increasing website credibility is crucial because it contributes to how folks are inclined to judge the entire company’s credibility. Web pages won’t be the company’s end, but they can be critical for success.

Reputation

A website’s reputation is based on how often it is recommended by others, while its loyalty is based on how frequently users revisit the site. A website’s content, aesthetics, design, and layout can also affect its reputation and loyalty.

Sales

Improving website design and user experience naturally leads to more sales. The easier it is to access products and services, the easier it is to buy them. Customers who spend more time on a website are more likely to convert.

To increase website engagement, consider using design elements such as clean typography, easy-to-navigate menus, and user-friendly navigation. Make sure your content is engaging and valuable. By providing helpful information and exciting products, you will encourage customers to stay longer on your site and potentially make a purchase.

Creating a User-Friendly Site

There’s a very high probability site visitors will leave a website if it is slow-loading. Customers are now accustomed to rapid web page loading times. Slow loads or broken links are the root cause of quick abandonment. A slow-loading site may result in cart abandonment, no matter the initial level of excitement.

Accessibility

Make your website content accessible to as many people as possible. Accessibility increases access to people and their devices, primarily when catering to handheld devices. Globally, many people connect to the internet through their mobile devices. Accessible websites are user-friendly and meet the criteria for all accessibility guidelines.

To create a website that is both engaging and user-friendly, it is crucial to consider the needs of your target audience, design with user experience in mind, and test the website regularly. An engaging and user-friendly website will help your business achieve its marketing and sales goals.

For more information on increasing the user-friendly experience of your website and receiving a more promising ROI, contact the experts at Unwired Web Solutions today.