Category Archives: Blog

How to get affordable custom packaging as a small business

We all know the first impression can indeed be a lasting one. Same goes for your packaging, it’s like the front door to your brand’s experience. And contrary to what you might think, achieving beautiful custom packaging that is affordable is totally doable. So, here are some budget-friendly packaging trends that you as a small business can adapt to make a big impact.

DIY and Customization

Who says you need to outsource everything? There’s something inherently personal and charming about DIY packaging. Whether it’s hand-stamping your logo, or adding personalized thank-you notes, these small touches can make a big impact without costing a fortune. It shows that there’s a human touch behind the brand, creating a connection with your customers.

Custom Packaging Sleeves

So, recently I’ve come across custom packaging sleeves – they’re sort of like a neat little jacket for your product. If you’re tired of using custom tape to elevate your packaging, go for custom sleeves. Not only are they cost-effective, but they also offer a canvas for your brand’s story, aesthetics, and values. Imagine slipping a beautifully designed sleeve over a plain box. Instantly, you’ve elevated your packaging without the need for expensive custom boxes. Plus, you can change designs with ease, keeping your packaging fresh and seasonal without breaking the bank.

Stickers and Labels

You can never go wrong with a good set of beautifully designed stickers and labels. They’re versatile, affordable, and can be applied to just about anything. Think of a simple kraft paper wrapped package, sealed with a custom sticker that bears your logo – it’s minimal, eco-friendly, and most importantly, budget-friendly. You can also use stickers inside the package or on the product itself as a way to extend the unboxing experience. The key here is to invest in quality design and printing, so your stickers don’t just look good, but also last.

Go eco-friendly!

Going eco-friendly with your packaging isn’t just a trend; it’s a movement. And the best part? It can actually save you money. Materials like recycled paper, biodegradable plastics, and plant-based inks often cost less than their non-eco counterparts in the long run, due to their growing availability and demand. Plus, eco-friendly packaging resonates well with consumers, potentially boosting your brand’s image and appeal. Reusable bags, containers, or even fabric wraps can serve as a constant reminder of your brand in your customers’ daily lives.

Use QR Codes

Image Source : The Soap Works

QR codes can add a sophisticated ~virtual~ layer to your physical packaging without adding much to the cost. A simple QR code can direct your customers to your website, social media, or special offers. I remember buying a soap from The Soap Works and I absolutely fell in love with their packaging – they sell unwrapped, yes unwrapped soap bars, and have a sticker that has their barcode on the soap bars. Best part – their stickers are made of recyclable paper with vegetable-based ink. Like how cool is that? You can apply the same concept but with QR codes. Not only are you saving a lot of money by skipping the extra need of printing other stuff, you’re minimising your carbon footprint AND you can update the info on that QR code whenever you need to.

Work with a Packaging Designer

Bringing a custom packaging designer into the fold can open your eyes to cost-effective solutions that you might never have stumbled upon on your own.

So, here’s the scoop: I once had the pleasure of working with The Tea Collective, a charming brand on the verge of launching four different gift boxes each with at least 6 unique collections. They had this vision of crafting a sophisticated unboxing experience for their customers – you know, the kind that makes you go “Wow” before you’ve even seen the product. But, there was a catch: achieving this level of sophistication seemed to demand a pretty penny, especially since they wanted each gift collection to boast a unique design, both inside and out of their mailer boxes.

I collaborated closely with their packaging supplier to brainstorm cost-effective solutions that maintained that high-end feel without the high-end price tag. The breakthrough? Designing versatile labels for the different gift collections that could be applied to a standard mailer box used across all collections. You can view the full project here. This approach not only slashed costs but also kept the brand’s elegance intact. As their journey evolved, they transitioned from sticker labels to custom packaging sleeves – still an affordable option compared to fully printing each box with a unique design.

Sophisticated packaging don’t have to break your wallet.

So, if you’re sitting there, thinking about how to elevate your product’s first impression without draining your resources, let’s chat. I’d love to make your packaging dream a budget-friendly reality.

Work with me!

How to create a purpose-driven brand that people love

Have you ever stopped to think about what really makes people fall in love with a brand? Honestly, it’s not just about the products or services they offer. It’s something much deeper, something that resonates with the very core of their identity: their purpose. It’s that special something that drives a business forward, way beyond the sole aim of making money.

The Essence of a Brand’s Purpose

So, what exactly is a brand’s purpose? Well, it’s like the brand’s best self, an ideal that guides every action and decision. This underpinning ideal isn’t just a fancy tagline; it’s proven to significantly influence long-term business success.

Crafting Your Brand’s Purpose: What we can learn from Hanahana Beauty

First things first, look inward. What makes your brand stand out? For Hanahana Beauty, their purpose shines brightly: a commitment to disrupting the global beauty industry with consciously clean skincare and wellness products. They’re all about increasing accessibility, transparency, and sustainability . But it doesn’t stop there.

Your brand’s purpose should embody a mission to correct a cultural wrong. Hanahana Beauty, for instance, empowers women of color through their all-natural, hand-crafted skincare products. They have formed a beautiful relationship with the Katariga Women’s Shea Cooperative in Ghana, ensuring fair wages and contributing positively to their lives.

Using Your Brand Purpose Effectively

A solid brand purpose isn’t just a fleeting statement; it’s a commitment to a cause that needs to be woven into every aspect of your business. It should resonate with real cultural truths and be both aspirational and achievable. Hanahana Beauty does this impeccably by bringing humanity into the beauty space, focusing on health care, education, and economic growth for the women in their cooperatives .

So, there you have it. Creating a brand with purpose isn’t just about what you sell; it’s about the story you tell and the impact you make. Just like Hanahana Beauty, your brand can be a beacon of positive change, resonating deeply with your audience. Remember, it’s not just about making a profit; it’s about making a difference.

Need a Helping Hand in Crafting Your Purpose-Driven Brand?

That’s exactly what I’m here for!

Crafting a brand that truly stands for something, a brand that makes a real difference in the world, can be quite a journey, you know? But guess what? You don’t have to do it alone. I’m here to guide you through every step of the way. From unraveling your core values to articulating your mission and making it resonate with your audience – we’ve got this!

Ready to build a purpose-driven brand that people will fall in love with? Let’s chat! 🌟

Changes I’m making to my design business for 2024

How is it already 2024? It feels like just yesterday I decided to take my design business seriously. Last week during the holidays, I sat down with myself and wrote down my goals and wishes for 2024. I’m bringing some game-changing shifts to my business, and I’m super excited to share them with you! Who knows, Perhaps this may inspire you to make bold business moves this year.

Taking in limited no. of clients

Honestly, I used to be that person who thought more clients meant more success. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. I ended up feeling burned out and, let’s be real, not giving my best to anyone. I stretched myself waaaay too thin. The moment I had my son and realised how much of my time stripped away. Now, as a full-time mom and entrepreneur, I’m choosing to limit the number of clients I take on. This way, I can pour all my focus and creativity into each project. It’s about creating real relationships and serving my clients right, not just ticking boxes, getting paid and then signing off the project.

Niching Down Like Never Before

Okay, so this is big. I’m niching down – like, way down. I kinda knew this was coming but I was always hesitant to do this. But I know by shifting my offers to branding and websites, I’ll be fulfilling my purpose and I’ll be doing what I’m so passionate about. I’ll still be offering digital illustrations but as an additional service for those that worked with me on their brand identity or those that have their brand identity set. This is because it made it more challenging and harder to create illustrations that aligned with the brand’s mission and messaging. And for websites, I’m only choosing platforms that I know will truly elevate your brand. Which are Webflow, WordPress – for non-ecommerce brands and Shopify for e-commerce brands.

Embracing A.I.

I’m not afraid of AI; in fact, I’m pretty much hugging it. It’s transformed the way I handle my admin work – faster, smarter, and more efficiently. We’re talking about working smarter, not harder. AI tools have been a game-changer, giving me more time to focus on what I love: creating stunning brands and websites.

Being more authentic

Being more authentic is my mantra for 2024. I used to dread writing blog posts or posting consistently on social media. I felt this pressure to sound uber-professional and, like, super intelligent. But no more. I’m embracing my true voice – the one that speaks directly to you, just as I am. The one that I use to talk to my sister, to my friends when advising them about their business. I want to be real, connect on a more personal level, share my journey, share my insights and and knowledge for small businesses to benefit from.

Listening More (Because That’s Why I’m Here)

At the heart of it all, I’m here to listen. To understand the unique challenges you face as a business owner and to help solve them. This is why I created my design business in the first place. I don’t want to just design for you and deliver everything we created together; I want to be your partner in your business journey, help you keep growing and empower you to take those scary steps you have to take as a business owner.

I’m super excited for 2024. I’m confident that the new paths I’m taking will lead to more fulfilling, impactful work – not just for me, but for my clients too. I’m thrilled to share this journey with you, knowing that together, we’ll create something truly special. Here’s to a year of focused creativity, meaningful connections, and, above all, turning visions into vivid realities. 2024, we’re ready for you!

Boost Your Sales with these High-Conversion Website Tips

With the year slowly coming to end and businesses desperately looking for ways to make the new year a profitable one, I wanted to share a few website tips you can start doing just before the new year. I wanna dive deep into a topic CLOSE to my heart – and probably yours too – Boosting Website Conversions to skyrocket those sales.. I’ve been there, tweaking every pixel on my website, analyzing every click, and hey, it’s been a journey full of AHA! moments. Here’s a couple of tips on how to fine-tune your website to significantly boost your conversion rates and sales.

Don’t Forget Your Local SEO

First things first, improving your local SEO. Remember that time you Googled the best pizza place nearby? Your customers are doing the same for services YOU offer. If you’ve never come across this word, SEO stands for “search engine optimization,” and it refers to the practice of making your website more visible on search engine results pages so people can find you. As a small business, local search is suuuuper powerful. I recommend having a ‘Google My Business‘ page. It’s honestly THE BEST tool – you can have reviews, contact information, your opening hours – all details that really make your customer’s experience better.

Define Your Website’s Goal

Now before you go looking for a new website template or revamping it altogether, you need to think about setting REALISTIC goals. What do you want visitors to do on your site? Sign up? Make a purchase? Your goal should be as tangible as that morning coffee in your hand. It’s hard to know if your conversion rate is improving if you don’t track and measure your success. You can check how many conversions (i.e., the percentage of visitors who convert) you got over the past two to six months to get a rough idea of past performance, but don’t be afraid to push your goals. Think, “Increase website conversions by 10% in six months” or “Generate 500 more conversions a month”. Set a clear target, and you’re halfway there!

Analyse Your Website’s Data

Data analysis might sound daunting, but it’s super helpful in making informed decisions without assumptions or bias. Many analytics tools can produce this data, but one of my favourites definitely have to be Google Analytics to understand your audience’s behavior. Which pages are they loving, and where are they bouncing off? This insight is GOLDEN.

Ever heard of Heat maps?

Heat maps show you where users drop off. I recently came across heat maps when listening to Chris Do’s interview with Amanda Webb on The Futur’s podcast. You should reeeally check it out – both the podcast episode and the tool that Amanda suggests, Microsoft Clarity. This way you’ll be able to a adjust your website strategy based on real user interactions, not just gut feelings.

Simplify Your Value Proposition to Amplify

Your value proposition is your handshake with potential customers. I touched a bit more in depth in my previous post about simplifying your value proposition. It’s not about fancy words; it’s about addressing the pain point your product solves. Replace that “Welcome!” with a clear, compelling message. Once you’ve set your value proposition statement, conduct an A/B Test.

A/B Testing

Here’s where A/B testing becomes your best friend. Use tools like Google Optimize to test and tweak elements like call-to-action buttons, images, and incentives. Small changes can lead to BIG results. You can also use it to test copy changes directly on your site to see which version drives more conversions.

Social Proof: Let Others Do the Talking

Social proof is the digital version of word-of-mouth. I don’t know how many times I bought an item, just because of the detailed reviews customers left. Showcasing reviews and testimonials builds trust faster than you can say “conversion”. People trust people. Social proof can be video reviews, photos of the product taken by the customer, written reviews.

Make your User Journey Stellar

A smooth user journey is effortless and enjoyable. Ensure that finding products, navigating your site, and checking out is as easy as pie. Add search bars, recommend products, send abandoned cart emails, and maintain stellar customer service. Keep it simple, keep it on-brand.

Quality Product Photos Speak a Thousand Sales

And let’s not forget, a picture is worth a thousand words, or in our case, sales. Invest in high-quality on-brand, product photography and don’t shy away from UGC (user-generated content). It adds authenticity and relatability.

Time Your Pop-ups

Lastly, let’s talk about pop-ups. Time them right, like when a customer scrolls up or is about to exit. Offer a sweet deal in exchange for a sign-up – but remember, promise them no spamming! People immediately unsubscribe from your mailing list if they receive more than 3 emails in a week from you.

In essence, boosting sales through high-conversion website strategies is about understanding and catering to your customer’s journey. Each of these tips is a piece of the puzzle. Fit them together, and you’ll see the bigger picture: a thriving, high-converting website that not only attracts visitors but turns them into loyal customers.

Remember, it’s a journey filled with learning and growing. So, keep experimenting, keep analyzing, and most importantly, keep it authentic. Your website is your digital storefront; make it a place where customers love to visit, and more importantly, love to buy. 💥

Looking forward to hearing your success stories!

How to Craft Your Brand’s Core Message + Some Best examples

Struggling to sum up why your brand stands out in one sentence could be a red flag. This oversight might be draining your wallet. You’re investing in marketing, but if responses are lukewarm, your brand’s core message likely needs clarity.

Here’s the deal: A complex core message confuses customers, leading to no clicks, no sales—nada! In my years of crafting brand stories and strategies, I’ve seen firsthand how convoluted messages can stifle a brand’s growth. I remember working with App Samurai who offered an array of innovative tech solutions.
Their brand core message was “App Samurai offers agile and cost-effective app development and modernization services, with a customer-centric approach that delivers high-value, tailored application solutions for businesses of all sizes.” Their message was too complex for their target audience to understand, no one got what they were selling. We went back to basics. Instead of a mouthful of tech speak, we switched to “We help new and growing businesses create great apps easily and affordably, focusing on what customers really want.” Isn’t that better? People started sticking around the website, and sales went through the roof.

The solution is simpler than you might think. Your brand’s core message, or ‘value proposition’, should be clear, not overwhelming. I like to use a simple formula for this and I’m going to share it with you.

How to fix your Brand Core Message (Value proposition)

Strip down to the essentials. Let’s learn to create a brand message that’s as simple as coffee talk.

There are three things to ask yourself. The answers to the following questions will help create a simple statement. Maybe get a paper and pen or open a notepad app for this –

1.Who is your target audience? Who are you trying to sell your products to?

2.What is their aspiration? What do they dream to achieve or their pain points?

3.What benefit does your product or service bring to them?

Once you’ve written your answers down, fill in the blanks in the following statement:

We or I help (target audience) (verb) (target audience’s aspirations) by (benefit of your product/service).

Don’t worry if you can’t craft a perfect one right away – trust me, it took me weeks to craft mine. I have a couple of examples to help you understand.

If you’re a beauty brand, instead of “We provide high-quality, multifaceted cosmetic products to enhance beauty regimes for discerning customers seeking luxury and efficacy.” You can refine your brand core message to “We help beauty lovers glow with confidence by offering easy-to-use, radiant makeup essentials.“

For a home decor brand, instead of “Our brand curates a sophisticated array of home furnishings and decor accents that reflect a commitment to aesthetic excellence and functional design.” You can refine your brand core message to “We help homeowners create their dream space by offering stylish, comforting decor that’s a breeze to set up.“

If you’re a food brand, you can say “We help foodies savor every bite by crafting delicious, all-natural sauces that make meals pop.“

Or if you’re a wellness coach, a simple brand core message would sound like “I help wellness seekers achieve balance and vitality by providing personalized, easy-to-follow health coaching.”

If we want to finally connect with customers, we have to avoid blasting them noisy statements.

Where to use your new brand core message?

Use it almost everywhere!  Here’s a few places you will want to be sure to include it:

-Headline in your website’s homepage

-Instagram profile bio

-Facebook business page, LinkedIn and Pinterest about section (tweaked with additional keywords for search)

-Introducing yourself / being introduced (think guest speaking, podcast, keynote, etc)

Feeling stuck?

You’re not alone. Most of my clients reach out to me feeling stuck, confused about the underlying problem in their business. One of my services includes brand strategy workshop and during the workshop, I work together with businesses to identify what’s keeping their business from soaring and we refine who their target audience and how to so touch their pain points. If you need a helping hand to make your brand message as clear and compelling as it should be, just reach out to me!

5 Proven Strategies to stand out in a saturated market

Let’s get real for a sec. The entrepreneurial world is like a bustling city market where new businesses open every day. Being in a saturated market means there’s definitely demand for your service or product — but standing out can be a challenge. But guess what? You don’t have to shout to be heard; you just need to speak the right language. That’s where your brand strategy comes in. Specifically your ‘positioning’. Here’s 5 easy steps to get started.

Craft Your Unique Story

I used to think “brand storytelling” was just marketing fluff. Add “storytelling” to anything and it sounds cooler, right? I was so wrong. Your brand story is more than a tale; it’s your brand’s soul, raw and unfiltered. It’s what turns casual browsers into people that connect with you deeply. Get crystal clear on your core values, mission, and vision. If you’re doing it right, storytelling provides value and solutions. Share stories that solve their problems or make their lives easier.

Find Your Niche … within a Niche

The key to standing out is to specialize in something so specific that you become the go-to expert. Instead of just selling skincare, how about organic skincare for sensitive skin? You can niche down based on the type of industry you want to serve, the target audience you want to sell your products, or even a skill set. The more you narrow it down, the less crowded your space.

Deliver Insane Value

What does your audience crave? Is it top-notch customer service, killer content, or maybe a killer app? Identify what your target audience truly values and go above and beyond to deliver it. Even though this might sound obvious, it’s not to a lot of people. Provide premium customer experience from start to finish to your customers and they’ll be talking about you to their friends and family.

Master ONE thing

Instead of being a jack-of-all-trades, focus on mastering one product or service. Make it so good that it becomes your signature offering. This not only makes you memorable but also positions you as an authority in that specific area.

Leverage other Audiences

Collaboration is the new competition. Partner with influencers or brands that complement your offerings. This allows you to tap into their audience and gain credibility by association. Choose partners whose values align with yours for a more authentic connection.

Your Action Plan:

Ready to stop blending in and start standing out? Here’s a no-nonsense action plan that’s easy for any entrepreneur to replicate.

Conduct a Brand Audit

Use a simple SWOT analysis (Hubspot has a really good template and examples, definitely recommend getting it! ) to identify your unique selling points and areas for improvement. List your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. This will give you a clear picture of where you stand in the market. Working with a brand strategist for this will really help you to identify your ‘it factor’ and any areas for improvement.

Find Your Sub-Niche

Research your industry and identify gaps or underserved markets. Use tools like Google Trends or industry reports to find a sub-niche that aligns with your brand.

Create a Value-Added Offer

Identify a common problem your target audience faces and create an offer that solves it to make you irresistible. This could be a free eBook, a discount on first-time orders, or a complimentary consultation.

Partner for a Co-Marketing Campaign

Find a brand that complements yours and propose a win-win partnership to tap into a new audience and gain credibility. This could be as simple as guest blogging on each other’s sites or as involved as a joint product launch.

Measure and Tweak

Finally, Use analytics tools to track key performance indicators like website visits, conversion rates, and customer engagement to ensure your strategies are effective. Make data-driven adjustments to your strategy as needed.

Need help with your Brand Strategy?

If you’re feeling like this is a lot to take in, don’t sweat it. My ‘Brand Blueprint Intensive‘ service is designed to provide new businesses with a clear brand strategy and creative direction for their visual language. Perfect for those who want to invest wisely in their branding without breaking the bank.

5 Signs you may need a rebrand

Why It May Be Time for a Rebrand

Does this sound familiar to you?

It starts slow – a text here, an icon there, and soon you’re left with a haphazard brand that doesn’t quite represent who you are. This blog post looks at why this can happen and what you can do about it.

1. Your target audience has changed.

This is the real, big reason you may need a brand refresh. Maybe when you started your business, you started out with a simple logo and it looked cool at the time, without thinking about your brand’s message of the ‘why’ behind your business. Now that you’ve settleed a bit more into your brand, and know the true target audience, you want to connect with them through strategic brand design that will help you attract the right people.

2. Your branding has become inconsistent

Maybe you feel your brand is outdated, not as quite modern as it once was, or you don’t like the overall feel of the brand. You feel slightly embarrassed to send people over to your website or hand them your business card because you’ve introduced different fonts and colours that weren’t part of your brand identity. Branding inconsistency can make your business look and feel unprofessional. But hey, that’s okay! Every business evolves and that’s very normal! If you find yourself in this predicament on a regular basis, it may be time for a brand refresh!

3. You feel like your business doesn’t stand out

Ever since the pandemic, small businesses and personal brands are growing at an unprecedented pace and that is pretty awesome! But it can be easy to get lost in a sea of businesses that delivers similar products or services. If you feel like your business doesn’t stand out, it may be time for a rebrand. The best way to solve this problem is dig deeper into your inner work on your business, discovering your unique value propositions by revising your brand’s story, mission and vision. And this can be accomplished by brand strategy.

4. You have a change in business direction

When you first started your business you focused on, for example, a providing a service. But as time went by, you find that a lot of your customers are now approaching you for, your digital workbook, for example.  When you’re making big changes in your business like this , you definitely require a rebrand as your old/current brand’s value proposition may not be portrayed correctly, or you may not be attracting the right clients or customers.

5. You want to raise your price

You feel like it’s high time you raise your prices. However, changing your price while your customer’s perception of your products or services hasn’t changed may be tricky and challenging. By rebranding strategically, you can reshape the way your customers perceive you and raise the asking price for your products or services.

Take the Quiz !

If you’re still not sure, whether it’s time for a rebrand or not, take this easy quiz to self diagnose and check how strong your Brand is at the moment.

5 Things your Website Visitors love to see on your Website

Five website tips that keep your visitors on your website longer

As a business owner with a website, what do you really want?

No, not more pageviews.

You want visitors that stay on your website longer, get to know you and your business better, and hopefully come back for more. There are website tips you can do that will make a huge difference for your visitors and put a smile on their face when they arrive there!

Think of it like your first date. They get a chance to observe you and decide if you are a good match for their needs, whether they’ll remember to come back in the future, or whether they’ll convert into sales. Your website can’t just look good, but has to also build trust in your customer.

Attractive Website Design

Imagine your date shows up messy. That’s going to be your first impression of them because it’s the first information you have to go on. The same goes for your website. Whether you invest on a web designer to design your website for you or do it yourself or buy a template, you need to pay attention to the website layout and visuals. Make sure your website looks attractive in a professional way, reputable and trustworthy. Make it easy to read and leave negative spaces when needed. A visitor’s eye can only handle so much stimulation so try to go easy with the animations and resist using every colour in your brand colour palette. I do suggest looking for inspirations to mix a few ideas to make your own and learning the best website layout hierarchy and the grid system.

Show them what they came for (Clear Navigation and Call to actions)

Your visitor has finally landed in your website, so what would you like them to do next? They most probably are ready to buy or hire you, they just need to be directed where to go next. If you would like them to buy from your online store, have a clear navigation at the top of your website and different sections in your website reminding them to visit your shop. If you want them to hire you for a service, show them where they can view your services, read reviews, book a consultation call by adding buttons leading to those pages or sections. To know if your website have a clear navigation, give your website to a friend or a family member to test it out and observe if they can manoeuvre easily through your website.

If you want them to sign up for a newsletter or an email list so they can build a deeper connection with you, say so with a clear and captivating call to action. You can have a pop up that appears at the end of a blog post, a simple section highlighting a email list sign up form, or even a simple button. It’s even better when there’s a cool incentive for them after they sign up, for example, a freebie, exclusive content, etc.

Show up with better visuals

Remember, a visitor is more apt to relate and trust a “real” person. Have images, GIFs and videos of yourself and your team in your website. These days, people are more drawn to moving pictures, so have GIFs, slow motion videos of you, in your website to make it more alive. Better visuals can also be pictures or videos of inanimate objects. For example, a coffee brand’s website can have a video background of a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee by a window on a rainy day, a retro themed sunscreen brand can have images of swimming pool and 80s themed summer, just to evoke the sensories and depict the brand visually.

Ugh, you can literally smell the coffee from your screen. So relaxing

Just make sure your media isn’t huge sizes so your website can load faster. (Better website speed, better ranking on Google search…more on that later.)

One of my absolute favourite places online to find high quality free-copyright stock videos is Pexels .

 

Fresh Quality Content

Majority of your website is going to be written content (unless if it’s just a photographer’s portfolio). You want the content to be written in your brand’s tone of voice and personality – that can be authoritative and formal, friendly and funny or romantic and classic. You can show personality through text and that way you’ll attract the right audience. Have a simple, efficient content without jargons or words from the thesaurus.

I definitely suggest getting a good website copy writer to work with your website designer so that your website can confidently address about what you do and how useful your service or product is for your visitor.

If you have a blog and your last blog post was five years ago, it’s time to write a new blog post to let people know you’ve not abandoned your blog. Having fresh content will let search engines like Google know that your website is still alive. Additionally, go easy on the ads. Monetising your blog is cool, but do consider your visitors. Having too many ads can make your website look distracting and spammy.

Responsiveness throughout all screen sizes

Last but definitely not the least, you want your website to be mobile and tablet friendly. To be honest, most of my visitors (maybe including you) are viewing my website right now, on a phone or tablet. We use these devices more than a laptop or desktop and they’re always with us on the go. You want your visitor to have a good experience navigating, reading, viewing and shopping your website, even on a small screen.

Most website builders these days have the feature of editing the mobile version or the tablet version of your website because you might want to make a couple of tweaks so that your website is user-friendly. For example, a section that has two columns side by side on the desktop version, may need to be reversed so that one column is on top of the other. Or another common example, is having a hamburger menu icon (the one that looks like three lines stacked on each other) that opens your menu list on your mobile and tablet version instead of displaying the whole navigation bar.

Desktop version of a website
Desktop version – Two columns, side by side
Mobile version of a website
Mobile version: Reversed, Each column now on top of each other

Again, it’s always nice to have other people test out your website, this time on different screen sizes. You can check out my previous blog post where I listed down the pros and cons of each popular website design platform for more website tips.

 

 

If you require an expert’s help to build your website, I’m here to lift that burden off your shoulder! I offer flexible packages that meet you where you’re at: whether you’re just getting started or on the path to a 7-figure business. If you’re struggling to DIY your website, contact me today to find out how I can best support you.

I need help with my website

Which Website Platform is Best for Your Business

Nobody likes making decisions. 😩

Whether it’s what to wear on Wednesday morning, how you should invest your money, or what platform to use for building your website, there’s a lot at stake when choosing one thing over another. Hey, even I was in the weeds trying to figure out what platform would be best for my business and struggling with all of the different programs I came across like WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, Shopify and Showit! I’m sure you know the feeling: You spend days or even weeks weighing the pros and cons of each platform and ultimately, you choose one – only to wonder if you picked the best option. 🤦🏾‍♀️

If you're a business, your website is the front door to your business. It's the place where people go to learn about what you offer and how you can help them solve their problems.

When it comes to choosing a website design platform for your small business, there are many options and the list keeps growing. Most of them are either free or very affordable. But not all of them are as easy to use as others. 

Here are some tips for picking a website design platform for your business:

👉🏾Identify Your Needs

Before choosing a website design platform, you need to identify what your needs are and how you want to use the site. For example, if you’re looking for an easy-to-use interface that allows users to create their own content and blog posts, then Squarespace may be ideal for your business. If you need more control over how things look, including fonts and colors, then WordPress might be better suited for your needs

👉🏾Think About How You’ll Use It

Once you’ve identified what kind of platform will work best for your needs, think about how you’ll use it. For example, if most of your customers come from social media networks like Facebook or Twitter, then having an integrated social media feed is important so they can easily share posts with their friends and followers on these sites without leaving your site and going somewhere else first (as well as making it easier for them.

Below I’ve listed the Pros & Cons of each platform, because I think it helps to see what exactly makes them different from one another and what is right for your business depending on your needs, your business, your priorities & your future growth!

01. WordPress

PROs

  1. Virtually limitless options of Plugins .
  2. Great SEO capabilities
  3. Can be completely custom
  4. Lower Cost for hosting (complete ownership of your website)
  5. Best Blogging Platform
  6. Great ecommerce plugin (Woocommerce)

CONs

  1. Hard to customize without page builder plugins

  2. It can take a little while to get the hang of using WordPress backend.

  3. Domain and Hosting are Not Included

  4. Plugins have to be up to date so that the website don’t crash

WordPress is best for you if ...

You are willing to invest in your website, and want a completely custom design without code using page builders with unlimited number of plugins.

WordPress may not be for you if ...

You have a limited budget and can’t afford big monthly fees, you want complete design control, and an easy to use backend and platform for updating.

02. Squarespace

PROs

  1. Drag & Drop

  2. E-Commerce Built In

  3. Domain and Hosting Included

  4. Great Support Team

  5. Lots of awesome modern themes

  6. Requires very little maintenance

  7. Lower Monthly cost

CONs

  1. Customization is limited

  2. Can’t customize mobile view, usually requires a bit of custom code

  3. Not many features like WordPress plugins

  4. SEO capabilities can be limited

  5. Not made for large e-commerce sites

Squarespace is best for you if ...

You have a Smaller product-based business and/or are okay with using a template, care more about functionality and less about design & customization.

Squarespace may not be for you if ...

You want more design control to look/feel custom, you have a lot of products in your store, Or if you want to grow your blog.

03. Wix (specifically Editor X)

PROs

  1. Drag & drop
  2. Has mobile and tablet customize options
  3. Allows selling on social media (eCommerce premium plan)
  4. Quick to create & launch
  5. Has hosting, email, analytics built-in
  6. Advanced design platform
  7. Good Support
  8. Good SEO capabilities

CONs

  1. Speed – Wix sites load slowly which can affect your website ranking on Google search
  2. Can get expensive with ecommerce pro plans
  3. Can’t export blog or subscribers
  4. Must use Editor X instead of regular Wix to get more design control

Wix is best for you if ...

You want a quick and easy to learn platform and your website launched quickly, with all the necessary capabilities and use Editor X.

Wix may not be for you if ...

You want more complex functionalities, have a lot of products to sell or want a more powerful SEO blog platform like WordPress.

04. Shopify

PROs

  1. Easy to setup shop 
  2. Easy to use platform
  3. Great E-Commerce capabilities
  4. Great for larger shops
  5. Unlimited add-on apps
  6. Linkable to sell on social media

CONs

  1. Custom design is limited
  2. Few templates & code needed for more customisation
  3. Higher cost plans
  4. Blog is limited

Shopify is best for you if ...

You want an easy to use ecommerce platform, analytics and have a higher quantity of products to manage.

Shopify may not be for you if ...

You care more about design, have less products and want more design control.

05. Showit

PROs

  1. Drag & Drop
  2. Customizable Mobile & Desktop
  3. Great Support Community
  4. WordPress Blog Platform with plugins
  5. Good SEO capabilities

CONs

  1. No E-Commerce or website analytics built-in
  2. Non responsive (if you view the website on a smaller laptop, everything would just get smaller, instead of rearranging the elements.)
  3. Domain hosted separately

Showit is best for you if ...

You want a fully custom website with complete design control, easy to update, and the power to grow your WordPress blog.

Showit may not be for you if ...

You need an E-Commerce website or someone who may not care as much about full customisation.

What I personally recommend

I would recommend Editor X for smaller businesses that are just starting out because it’s an advanced website builder that has everything all in one for businesses that want a quick ecommerce website launch, with lots of design capabilities and an easy to use platform.

 

However, if you prioritise function over design, and care more about having a purely e-commerce based website with a large number of products, then Shopify is best for you.

 

WordPress is the website platform I use the most when creating websites for my clients. Here’s why: As a professional web designer nad web developer, it’s important for me to have complete freedom when designing websites and ability to add plugins and custom codes whenever necessary. My clients get the most value out of their website when it’s completely unique to their brand and optimized for their specific goals and needs.

 

At the same time, if you’re a photographer, a designer like me and just need a website that showcases your work and lists your services, you really cannot compare the creative freedom you get when using Showit compared to the other website builders. It kind of reminds me of Adobe Illustrator or Canva – you have a blank space where you can do whatever you want and add functionalities to it, without needing to know any code. Although, they don’t have built in ecommerce plugin, it does allow you to use third party plugins, like Shopify Lite.

There are so many more website design platforms out there that I haven’t yet played with. Ultimately, the quality of your content and design will outweigh most of the pros and cons discussed in this post. Let me know in the comments, what website design platform do you prefer? How did it help your business to grow?

If you require an expert’s help to build your website, I’m here to lift that burden off your shoulder! I offer flexible packages that meet you where you’re at: whether you’re just getting started or on the path to a 7-figure business. If you’re struggling to DIY your website, contact me today to find out how I can best support you.

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