 I am thrilled to be posting about another one of my colleagues.
Hillary Norfleet is a Freelance Contract Web Developer and owner of On Time Web Development. Let’s hear from her in her own words. —- Over the past 20 years, I’ve built, maintained, and optimized well over 300 websites. This experience translates into polished, sophisticated websites that load quickly, perform reliably, and instantly connect with visitors. One thing that sets me apart from other developers is that I’m a Google Certified Expert. Using search engine optimization and tools like Google My Business, Google Search Console, and Google Ads, I make sure your site is found by your target audience. Another advantage of working with me is cost. I provide the same level of service as large development firms for a fraction of the cost. —- If you want to know more about Hillary and On Time Web Development, you can visit her website at https://hillarynorfleet.com/.  I’m proud to have Dawn Verbrigghe of Jottful talk a bit about her company and how they help small businesses with developing websites.
—- There are really three ways to get a website for your business. The first option is to hire someone to build the website for you. With a website built from scratch by a designer or agency, you can ensure it reflects your brand exactly as you wish. Many websites created by designers are built on the WordPress platform, giving your business access to all the plug-ins available in that software. The downsides to hiring a designer or agency include:
The second way to get a website built is to do it yourself. If you have some graphic design experience, you can make your own website using do-it-yourself (DIY) software such as Squarespace, Wix, or Weebly. DIY software features a drag-and-drop interface that makes it possible to create a website without even having to know how to code. As you might have guessed, creating your own website with DIY software is far less expensive than hiring a designer or agency, often costing just $11-$26 per month. The downsides of using DIY software include:
The third option is to get a do-it-together website. In this final category is a company called Jottful. They’ve pioneered co-building and co-maintaining websites for small businesses that need a professional online presence, but have limited time or money. Jottful’s plans start at $59 per month. With Jottful, you can change text and images anytime you want, but when you have a bigger update, such as adding a new page, Jottful’s designers take care of it for you. Jottful also provides personal customer support and handles all the technical stuff, such as security updates, launches, and website hosting. The downsides of a Jottful made-together website include:
About Jottful Description: Jottful makes and manages professional, affordable, and hassle-free websites for small businesses. Mission: To make it possible for every small business to be found and tell their story online. Location: Ann Arbor, MI Founded: 2017 Jottful was founded by Dawn Verbrigghe. Dawn is a marketing expert with more than 20 years of experience in marketing and design, including seven years as a faculty member at Parsons the New School for Design. She loves helping small business owners achieve their dreams through creative and inexpensive marketing that attracts just the right customers. The Challenge We Address In the U.S. alone, there are 4.6MM businesses with fewer than ten employees — and only half of them have a website today. These small businesses are underserved by the current design agency and do-it-yourself website builder software options because they have limited financial resources, are uncomfortable with website technologies, and are intimidated by the prospect of designing their own website. Nonetheless, these businesses are fully aware that the lack of a professional online presence means they are missing out on new revenue. Specifically, these businesses want:
What We Provide We offer an affordable, all-in-one service for creating, hosting, and maintaining basic websites. We create professional websites that are mobile-responsive and optimized for search. We then maintain those websites for our customers, including: hosting; security; upgrades; backups; and uptime monitoring. Customers can easily make small text edits themselves and, when they need to make more significant edits to the site, they can just email us and we’ll take care of it. We do all this starting at just $59 / month. We’re able to provide astonishing service at an affordable price because we use our own proprietary technology. It is software we specifically developed for rapid creation and easy updating of websites for small businesses. For more information about Jottful, please visit their website at www.jottful.com.  If the answer is yes, then check out my blog, 4 DIY WEBSITE BUILDERS FOR STARTING YOUR SMALL BUSINESS WEBSITE. If the thought of building your own website sends shivers down your spine, then I have a solution for you… OUTSOURCE! This week I’ll be highlighting 3 outsourcing options: • McArdle Media • Jottful • On Time Web Development Today I’ll talk about what McArdle Media can do for you. If you are looking to create a basic website, your typical 5 page site with a home page, about page, contact me, etc., I can help. I use a drag-and-drop program called Weebly. I can get your website up and running, and then teach you how you can manage it on your own. Don’t worry, there is not coding involved. Here are some examples of websites that I have created for my clients. https://www.amyltherapy.com/ http://www.builtbyagirlllc.com/ https://www.headforthehillsllc.com/
Keep in mind, the websites that I create are very basic. If you are looking for a more complex site with various capabilities including eCommerce, then you’ll want to check out my friends at Jottful or On Time Web Development.
I hope this helps to ease the fears around building your website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at jennifer@mcardlemedia.com.  Creating a website can seem like a daunting task. And it can be if you don’t have the right tools. The good news is, with the right tools, you do not have to be a coder or know anything about coding.
Here are some DIY website tools that you can use to create your own website. WordPress WordPress offers 2 different options: WordPress.org and WordPress.com. These options are different, so before you create a WordPress site, you need to know the differences. One main difference is that a .org site will need to be hosted and maintained by you. The .com option hosts the site for you. WordPress is a great DIY option, but it does have a bit of a learning curve. You are able to customize your site using different themes, some free, some paid. Weebly Weebly is one of my favorite DIY options. Weebly is a drag-and-drop builder, which means you literally drag the feature you want, such as a text box or image, and drop it on the site. Weebly is very user-friendly and has professional themes to help you get started. It is also a low-cost option for building a website. It is a great option for beginners. Squarespace Squarespace is another drag-and-drop website builder, but in my opinion, has a bit of a learning curve compared to other drag-and-drop options on the market. Squarespace is a great option for eCommerce. Wix Wix is another drag-and-drop website builder that is easy to use. It is similar to Weebly and is another great option for beginners. Wix also offers customizable templates. If you are interested in creating your own website but have questions about the best option for your business, contact us for a free, no-hassle consultation to talk about your DIY options. This is not a sales pitch, but rather a short conversation to help you decide what works best for you based on your needs. jennifer@mcardlemedia.com (734) 237-7593  A website is crucial to today’s businesses. Many people rely on the internet to make their buying decisions. Here are 5 reasons your business needs a website.
1 - Your audience expects it When your customers are searching for your and your products and services, they expect that you will have a website. Having a website lends credibility to your business. If they cannot find you online, it is possible that they may move on to the next product/service provider. 2 - Your website is open 24/7/365 even if you are not When you are closed, your website is OPEN! You are able to display information about your business, your products, and your services even when you are not available. This is also a great way to generate new leads. The other thing to consider is your website as an extension of your customer services. When you are available, your website provides information to your customers and potential customers about your business and FAQs that may help them in their buyer’s journey. 3 - You own your website, you do NOT own your social media Social media is great. Here at McArdle Media, we provide social media support to our clients every day. But… you do not own your social media. Think about it… do you pay for your social media? Maybe you pay for ads, but social media is “free” which means it can be taken away at any time. The other thing to consider is that social media platforms can be shut down without notice. If you are spending ALL of your digital marketing on social media, you could lose it if the platforms “go dark” or shut down altogether. Your website is like a home you own vs. social media which is like the home you rent. 4 - Your website gives you credibility When your business has a website, it gives your customers confidence that you are credible. Whether we like it or not, this is how people gauge if you are a legit business or not. 5 - Your competitors have a website Your competitors are online. They have websites. Customers are finding them online. If you do not have an online presence, you will be missing out on these customers. |
AuthorJennifer McArdle is the owner and founder of McArdle Media. Archives
December 2022
Categories |
RSS Feed