5 Steps to a Successful #GivingTuesday Campaign

November 24, 2020 By Charles Johnston Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving is right around the corner which means now is the time to be strategizing your #GivingTuesday campaign. You don’t need a high-level fundraising executive working for your non-profit to get your name out there among the masses. HeartWired Digital has compiled a list of 5 simple steps even the smallest non-profits can take to make #GivingTuesday2020 a successful and profitable celebration.

Step One: Make it a Celebration

Great news! Your non-profit has survived 2020! That’s reason enough to celebrate! Turn your #GivingTuesday campaign into a celebration of what you’ve accomplished so far in 2020 and what you have in the works for 2021. Shift your mindset from “how to get people to donate” to “how to show people your cause is worth donating to”.

Are you building something new? Are you starting a new project? Is there a specific need you’d like to see met through these #GivingTuesday donations? Announce your project, set a goal, and provide a progress meter that stays up-to-date throughout your campaign.

Invite your current donors, volunteers, and followers to join you in celebrating and show them specifically how they can make an impact moving forward. Is there something measurable within your project that you can anchor a price to? For example, would a $20 donation provide warm bedding for a child in need? Would a $5 donation buy rice for a hungry family? Donors want to see how their money will be put to work, so show them what it will accomplish and why that’s worth celebrating.

Step Two: Don’t Forget the Basics

With all the creativity and excitement that comes with building an effective #GivingTuesday campaign, it’s easy to overlook the basics. Here’s three things you don’t want to forget:

Join #GivingTuesday- To participate in a #GivingTuesday campaign, you’ll want to register with givingtuesday.org. It takes about 30 seconds to register for their email list. Once you do, a toolkit of ideas, graphics, logos, and Canva templates become available for you to use. They don’t collect your donations. There’s not a list of official registered participants. This just gives you permission to use the #GivingTuesday name and logo for your campaign, which adds to your credibility as a non-profit.

Make Sure Your Donation Button Works- The only thing worse than not receiving donations on #GivingTuesday would be not receiving donations on #GivingTuesday because your Donation button didn’t work. Seriously. Donate $5 to your non-profit right now. Make sure it works smoothly and that it is easy to find on your website. Don’t let inaccessibility or a technical glitch be the reason you lose donors.
Pick a Project Leader- Decide right now who is going to take this ball and run with it. Who will be responsible for implementing these strategies? Who is going to communicate with the rest of the team and keep everyone on the same page? Make sure everyone knows who your point person is on this project and encourage your team to support him or her throughout the campaign.

Step Three: Get Your “Why” Out

Why are you fundraising? Why does your organization exist? Why are you the logical, trustworthy choice for my donation? Your current donors know who you are but we want the rest of the world to know who you are, too. So, don’t just tell them, show them!

There’s a number of fun, trendy ways to get your “why” out there. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Consider adapting one of these already-successful campaign strategies:

The Unselfie- Many successful non-profits such as The Michael J. Fox Foundation have profited greatly from using the popular hashtag #Unselfie throughout the month of November. Social media users simply hold up pieces of paper in front of their faces that say, “I’m Giving to (non-profit) Because (reason)”. They snap their Unselfies and post them on social media with the #Unselfie hashtag and any other hashtags that apply to the specific non-profit. Because the #Unselfie hashtag already has a large following, this is a fun and free way to spread the word about your cause.

Create an “I Give Because” Video- Create and share a video of your current donors reading letters about why they give to your non-profit. Showcase ways people have thanked your organization for meeting the needs of people within your community.

Share Impact Stories- Don’t wait until #GivingTuesday to share how you’ve been making a difference. The week before, share positive impact stories on social media as well as with your email list. Ask your current donors to share impact stories and create fundraisers on their social media accounts, as well.

Involve Your Recipients- Do you have access to individuals your non-profit has helped? Don’t exploit them! That’s icky. But do ask them if they would like to be involved. Ask them to share their stories and to encourage others to give.

Step Four: Turn Your Celebration into an RSVP-able Event Online

It doesn’t matter how excited you are about your party if nobody shows up. Use the scheduling tools of Google and Facebook to schedule an online “Event” on #GivingTuesday. When followers RSVP, they are sent reminders about the Event and will receive notifications when you go live, share posts, and give updates throughout the day.

Ask your staff, volunteers, donors, recipients, mail carrier, hairdresser, and your mom’s second cousin to share the Event, as well. Statistically, a low percentage of social media users actually show up to the Events that they RSVP to. Even fewer will donate. So saturating the web with your invitation is crucial to spreading awareness and getting your “why” out. Just don’t be spammy. Reach your audience organically and watch the donations roll in.

Step Five: Follow-Up, Say “Thank You”, and Upsell Your Donations

Did your mother make you write Thank You notes after each birthday party? The sentiment is just as important to Jane and Joe Donor as it is to your Aunt Beatrice. Your donors want to hear from you again and not just when you need more money. Show them how their money has been put to work by sending pictures and letters of thanks from recipients of your organization. Thank them for helping you make a difference in your community. And for the love of financial stability, offer them an opportunity to continue giving on a regular basis.

It’s impossible to check-out online or at a brick and mortar store without being asked if you’d like to supersize, upgrade, or buy another for 50% off. So, make it easy for your donors to give regularly by upselling their donation. Have your web person add a monthly giving feature to your website. Need help with that? We’re happy to assist.

Bonus: Start on Monday

If Walmart can start it’s Black Friday sale a day early, your non-profit can get a jump on things, as well! Consider offering a special gift for donating on Monday, such as a sticker, magnet, ink pen, or anything else you might have a surplus of. No Merch? No worries. Enter everyone who donates on Monday into a drawing for a gift from your organization. Don’t make it something big that will make your donors question how you’re spending their money. Give away something small and personal or ask a business to donate an item that can be given away in your drawing.

Remember, this has been a difficult year but we have all pulled through it because we have pulled together. We appreciate the difference you are making in your own little corners of the world. Continue doing great things! And may your #GivingTuesday campaign be a phenomenal success.

7 E-commerce Myths Debunked – Why You Should Offer E-commerce!

October 26, 2020 By Charles Johnston Leave a Comment

e-commerce website, small business website, e-commerce, shop online, shopping online

If we have learned anything this year, it is the importance of not only that businesses have a presence online, but also the ability to sell their products or services. Virtually overnight business were shuttered, out of business or scrambling for a new way of doing business. Yet many are still unsure if their website should offer e-commerce or not.

It used to be that e-commerce was thought solely as a way for people to sell tangible or perhaps digital items online.

People that once held the belief that they would never shop for clothes, furniture, car parts, whatever are now shopping that way almost entirely. Even before the pandemic department stores have shut their doors thanks to the emergence of Amazon and other e-commerce powerhouses.

Even while online shopping became a normal way of doing business, there were and still are many thinking that brick and mortar is the ‘only’ way to do business. In fact, we have actually been laughed at ourselves when we have suggested it to business owners, because it would not fit their “model”, or “e-commerce does not work for what we do.”

What if I were to tell you whether you sell physical products, digital products, services or even take donations, e-commerce can fit into your organization. In fact, it likely can increase your sales, no matter what products or services you offer.

This simple concept applies to consumers as well as suppliers and manufacturing. Sure it may mean you won’t need as many sale people in the future, but it also means you won’t need to need them.

Of course there are pros and cons to everything and there are also many misconceptions. It is the misconceptions that I am going to hopefully debunk, and in doing so the cons really won’t amount to much.

Myth #1

You lose the personal touch with e-commerce. Well, not if you are doing it right. Sure you can use AI, chatbots and all kinds of things to simplify the process. The personal touch truly is up to the business and whether they go the extra mile no matter how people buy. E-commerce should be an extension of the way you serve your customers, not a replacement.

Myth #2

Shipping is always so expensive. So is your time, gas and patience when you travel to a store. You avoid traffic, rude customers, pushy salespeople, and can shop in the convenience of your home. All without wasting gas or having to even get dressed. Sure the cost of shipping and handling can be elusive and at times feel like a bait and switch. If you have an idea what the product or service is worth to your customers, pricing them accordingly and being transparent about pricing including shipping, the convenience is worth the extra cost.

Myth #3

Online shopping is risky. If you are shopping at shady places perhaps. Personally I am more comfortable giving my credit card online on an encrypted site than I ever was when they swiped my card and gave me the carbon copy. There are some things to make sure your e-commerce website has to ensure customer safety.

Make sure you are using a SSL to encrypt transactions.
Use a hosting company that protect you from hacking, malware, and viruses.
Provide a privacy policy on your site how you use the customers information.

Myth #4

How do I know what I am really ordering, it might be from China. This is true, actually I just fell victim to this ploy and am still waiting for the product to make it through customs. Yet, again do you research, use a credit card with a protection plan. You can buy plenty of things from China at your local Walmart too, and guess what they ordered them online!

One way to ensure the comfort of your customers is to be transparent about your products or services. If you import, outsource or do anything that may raise concerns, tell them. Being upfront about your practices garner trust and your customers likely won’t care as long as you tell them.

Myth #5

I offer services I don’t need an e-commerce website! So you only like to sell your services in person do you? I mean that means you don’t promote them online, on social media or anything right? Why not give your clients a place to not only read about your products or services, but even schedule and pay for all online, 24/7? Or does that not fit your business needs?

Imagine coming into work and already having your calendar full with new clients, or having orders to ship. All of these activities can happen while you are not at work. Creating a business model to best serve your clients where they are, when they want.

Myth #6

I must always offer a discount to sell online. People that run their business based on offering discounts continually rarely win. Competing on price alone rather than offering more value is a slippery slope for any business whether online or in person.

In a recent KPMG study, a company’s sales team and their customers were asked what they thought were the top purchase criteria. Although, 60% of the sales team put price or discount at the top of the list, only 20% of their customers did the same. It was reported that delivery, reliability, accuracy and quality of service were the most important factors when choosing a supplier, outranking price.

Myth #7

Build it and they will buy. Like any website, any e-commerce site needs a bit more than just a great design and pretty pictures. So many people create sites and then get frustrated. They then fire their web designer because they did not get the ‘traffic’ or sales they wanted. Optimizing your site, whether e-commerce or other, takes skill, time and generally a budget. SEO is just the beginning. Without a strategy you likely won’t see the sales you hope for, at least not long-term.

As shopping online becomes more and more common, and part of the new normal, customers willingness to trust will wane. Click-bait will become more rampant and their ability to decipher a real ‘deal’ will become more difficult. Rather than using short lived strategies that do little beyond burn your cash, build a e-commerce strategy that will last.

We are at the beginning of an economic shift. We will see the the need for brick and mortar locations for many businesses go away. The time is now that your website should offer e-commerce, to prepare for the new way of doing business.

How A Chance Conversation Converted To A New Nonprofit Website

September 21, 2020 By Charles Johnston Leave a Comment

When you run a small business, you are consistently advertising your business in every activity you involve yourself with. About two years ago, our owner, Charles had a chance conversation at a fundraising event convert into a new nonprofit website at such a opportunity.

September 2018, our local St. Matthew chapter of the Diocese of St. Augustine St. Vincent de Paul conference was having their annual “Friends of the Poor” fundraising and awareness walk in Riverside part of Jacksonville Florida’s north bank.

Charles walking with his wife and they were in front of a gentleman by the name of Bart. Charles’ wife slowed her pace a little to chat with the gentleman. In amidst that conversation, the gentleman, happened to comment about the back of Charles’ shirt. As many times in public, Charles was wearing a HeartWired t-shirt.

Charles slowed his pace and he and Bart engaged in conversation about St. Vincent de Paul, and Bart’s vision for the future of the organization.

“Charity is infinitely inventive.” ~ St. Vincent de Paul

Most leads that take a long time to convert, dry up. Rarely does a lead stick around over a few months much less years. Emails sent with little to no response. Having the prospect to work with such a great organization had all but been written off, yet Charles figured he would try one last time.

One more email, likely to be the last one, paid off.

Bart and Charles began discussing the web project again, about a year after the first conversation. What was thought to be a missed opportunity converted into a new website project, all of which happened by a chance conversation that converted.

The St. Augustine Diocesan Council Society of St. Vincent de Paul , nonprofit website, local nonprofit, 501c3, not for profit organization, charitable organization

Business success is dependent on marketing. Some marketers use cold calls, email campaigns, spamming their social media inboxes. Others still do it the simple tried but true way of having a conversation, developing a rapport and relationships. Allowing the seeds that were planted to flourish in their timing.

“No work of Charity is foreign to the Society”

This month, we finalized the web design for an organization that locally had zero web presence.

This website will provide a place for people in need can find access to resources they need. St. Vincent de Paul helps with financial assistance for housing, utilities, and other family needs. Food assistance, clothing, furniture, and other household goods. All these services are provided by volunteer services and donations. All donations stay within the local community in which they serve.

Every web design project we work on has its nuances. The St. Augustine Diocesan Council Society of St. Vincent de Paul website has been no exception. Now the site is live, we look forward to hearing how it changes lives for years to come. HeartWired was founded on the concepts of service and compassion, and we love working with clients like St. Vincent de Paul that mirror the same principles.

You are your brand, and your brand is you.

If you or someone you know can benefit from the services St. Vincent de Paul provides, we encourage you to contact your local council. If you or someone you know can benefit from your own chance conversation to convert into a new website design, we at HeartWired would love to discuss how we can help you and those you serve.

Book your consultation today!

Why Reputation Management is Important to Small Businesses

September 6, 2020 By Charles Johnston Leave a Comment

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Turning your customers into advocate is any small business owners dream. Reputation management is how to influence the way people think about not only your brand but also you. Heard the saying you are your brand and your brand is you. Reputation of your brand has nothing to do with you as a person, so much as it has to do with people’s perception of you. Today that is based a great deal on Google searches, AI and reviews both good and bad.

Overview:

What is reputation management
How to control the conversation
Is there a difference between your reputation and your business’
Can you control what people read about you?

Reputation management has become a popular term that is used in the marketing, SEO, and online branding spheres. It goes by various names and service descriptions, but they all have the same goal in mind. The goal is to ‘manage’ the perception the public has about a person, a business, and in many cases both.

Reputation management defined

Activities performed by individual or organization which attempt to maintain or create a certain frame of mind regarding themselves in the public eye. Reputation management is the process of identifying what other people are saying or feeling about you or your business; and taking steps to ensure that the general consensus is in line with your goals. Many people and organizations use various forms of social media to monitor their reputation.
Business Dictionary

While there are many definitions depending on who you talk to. One thing that remains consistent about reputation management is it is an attempt to control the way people think.

1. Start where your customer start

We spend the vast part of our days online, so do our customers. Unfortunately if you know anything about the internet, you should know is it not always true or accurate. It is even more true when people read things about you online, as you have no control over the context as to what they read or where. In other words, protect your brand always, and make sure you represent your brand both on and offline.

Your reputation and that of your small business lives, breathes and potentially can be destroyed online. What people read about you and your business is sometimes just as true as the news. It is up to you to protect your brand, as well control your reputation. Reputation management in a digital world can be similar to having a public relations expert online 24/7 listening as well as controlling the conversation about your brand.

2. How to control the conversation in a crisis and everyday

Ever read something about a person or a business and jump to a conclusion based on what you read? Of course you have, everyone has. In fact we many times are quick to share a story on social media before ever checking to see if it is true. In moments a person or a small businesses reputation can be in crisis. What if you or your business was not listening and did not know until ti was too late and the damage was done.

The best way to survive a social media backlash is to avoid one. Be mindful that anything you post can potentially be seen by many, many people.
The Hartford

One way to obviously avoid some missteps is to not make them yourself. General rule of thumb, don’t say or do anything you would not be proud to show your grandmother. Stay away from tasteless jokes, politics, or anything that can be divisive, and we all know anything can be construed as divisive with the right audience. Remain vigilant in keeping in touch with the pulse and climate of the world around you. Something that was poignant and funny yesterday could be trite or devastating today.

Simple steps to take to control your reputation

Read what you post, reread it before you post.
Just because you think it, does not mean you have to say it
Compassion and sensitivity go a long way
Represent what you want people to see with every post.

One way to know what people are saying about you or your company is to listen. This goes beyond just reading (and responding) to their reviews of you. Create listeners on Google Alerts or other places that will alert you every time you, your tagline, or your business are mentioned. Pay attention to your social media channels, or hire someone to monitor them for you. Plenty of people and businesses have been ruined by a simple tweet, you don’t want you be next.

3. You are your brand, and your brand is you

Somewhere along the way people have felt that they can speak their minds on social media, blog posts, and other mediums as themselves and think it won’t reflect their brand. Newsflash you are your company and your company is you. Anything you say or do is associated with your brand and vice versa. When you are concerned about your reputation management strategy for your business then send an off color tweet, that causes mixed signals for the public.

We see time and time again owners of large corporations have to make public apologies for something they said “privately”, the same thing happens with small businesses and their owners. Being authentic in your messaging is key for a brands reputation. The same kind of social responsibility should be used when speaking as yourself.

So how can reputation management help? It is simple, yet complex. One way control your online reputation is to provide digestible content for people to find. Without getting too technical, you want others to be talking about you as well as your brand in a positive light on a regular basis.

I am sure if you ever worked for a big corporation, or simply read a magazine or newspaper you have seen a press release or two. Or perhaps you were getting ready to buy a new product like a book and all of sudden the internet was inundated with reviews before it hits the shelves. These are a couple of examples on how brands both big and small are controlling the conversation. Tactics like these can be used to manage the reputation of small business like your own.

4. Why online reputation management and can you really control the conversation?

Online content can circulate in literally second and the way people perceive your brand can change forever. All you have to do is look back on brands and people who were convicted in the courts of public opinion whether true or not. All it takes is a tweet, a Google review, or a Facebook post and things can spiral out of control.

One way to control the conversation is to provide people something to talk about as well as increase you ranking authority. You can do this by creating press releases, blog post, whitepapers, social media campaigns, and organically grow your online reputation by providing authentic links to connect to your brand.

Another way is to use customer reviews to their fullest. Whether you focus on Google, Facebook, Clutch, Yelp, wherever you get reviews, respond to them. One step that is just below a negative review is one that is not responded to good or bad. If it is a positive review, thank the customer for their valuable feedback. If it is a negative review, apologize if you were wrong, acknowledge them even if you were not. However do not argue with them in the comments for the whole world to see. Take the conversation offline if you can, make amends if necessary. Arguing in a public forum, simply makes you look bad.

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So, how is your reputation management process working?

Reputation management is an important part of owning a small business in today’s word full of tweeters, Instagramers, media outlets and keyboard warriors. In seconds your brand can be tarnished, and its effects can last for years to come. Many people are likely thankful they lived their younger years before the internet, as now the lasting stain of someone’s opinion can last forever.

Reputation, while much of it cannot be controlled, you do possess the abilities and in some cases rights to sway the power it holds. If you would like to learn more of how to expand you online reputation in the forms of content creation, guest posts, press releases and more let us know we would love to help. Contact us to learn more on how we can help

What Makes for Affordable Web Design?

June 23, 2020 By Charles Johnston Leave a Comment

We cannot tell you how many times we get inquiries for “affordable web design” for a small business website. The funny thing is, what is affordable for you might well be unaffordable for someone else.

So what makes for affordable web design?

web-designer-laptop, affordable web design, lady with microsoft surface

Let’s start with the basics.

Determine YOUR budget – keep in mind generally you get what you pay for.
Investigate the current market. – what is the going rate for the type of website you want?
Do your research. – there are a lot of web designers and agencies, check them out.
Shop around. – your first choice might very well not be your best choice.
Scope your project- having an idea of what you want helps you find who can do the work within your budget.

Establishing a budget for a website takes more than setting a dollar amount on what you can afford today. Websites require things like hosting, maintenance, and some sort of marketing plan.

All of these should be topics when discussing your website with an agency or marketing consultant. If they are unable to provide a consultation along with their affordable web design, you likely will want to pay more. Otherwise, you will pay more in the long run anyway fixing the things they did not offer to begin with.

After you have a better idea of your budget, you now need to decide what features you want on the site. Features can increase costs exponentially if you don’t have a plan.

Website features can include:

digital marketing agency, marketing, web design, marketing agency

Forms
E-commerce
Social media integration
Landing pages
Content creation
Custom functionality
and so much more

So how does any of this help you figure our what makes for affordable web design?

We think that is a loaded question actually. Affordable web design is simply what you can afford. Many times what you can afford is outside of your current budget. However, the cost of not stretching your budget can cost you much more than the investment of a professional website.

Ways cutting corners can hurt you long after a larger investment could have been paid for.

Building a site yourself well makes about as much sense as painting your house with no ladder and watered down paint.
Hiring your cousin is likely not a good idea unless he is a web designer, then you may want to consider whether you really want to hire a family member.
Lack of web-savvy will reflect in lack of traffic and likely longevity as your clients look for someone that cares about their business and them.
Cost of fixing a website can many times be more expensive than doing it right from scratch the first time. Affordable can be costly.
Spending money on the online portal to your business is vital. Skimping due to cost will make your business look like the local bodega rather than a boutique.

Don’t dismay there are web design agencies for any budget. Many of the lesser expensive 299.00 websites can be a great start. If you want to take your online reputation and your business to the next level it will likely cost you a bit up front. Long outliving the expense will be its benefits for years do come.

Things you want to check for no matter the budget, else you might as well play the lottery when choosing an agency. Just because they offer ‘affordable’ web designs, that does not mean you can afford to choose them.

Do they guarantee their work?
Hosting and maintenance should be essential, not optional
Are they personable? If you don’t like one another the next few months can be very long for everyone.
Communication is vital, this starts from the first contact. If they use big words to confuse you, they likely studied web design via Google search.
Is your best interest in their best interest? Every design agency is not for every customer and vice versa. Make sure the partnership makes sense.

These of course are just the tipping point on how to find a web agency that fits your budget. While affordable web design is preferred, it is not always practical.

We at HeartWired offer web design packages to fit almost any budget, but honestly not all budgets. We think you will make a great client, and quite possibly even our client!

The only way to find out if we also are affordable is to have a conversation. If you or someone you know needs website design or redesign, or simply would like some guidance on your current site, share this article with them or simply give us a call.

How You Know You’re Doing Web Accessibility The Right Way.

June 15, 2020 By Charles Johnston Leave a Comment

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When you run a web and marketing agency, your work goes beyond your brand. Your work has an impact on the success of your clients and the people that they serve. Holding the success and legal responsibility of someone else’s business is something all creative agency owners should take very seriously.

Web design and marketing as a whole can be a bit trendy. While techniques or a particular user experience that was popular last year, just won’t cut it today. One trend that is not going away, and in fact has increasing attention year after year is web accessibility.

ADA compliance once was treated somewhat like a luxury, or nice to have. It has now become something all web designers, developers, and agency owners should not only pay attention to but also implore their clients to take it seriously.

Providing accessible websites shows that your care.

Agencies that care, address the needs of those who require additional access to the content on the web. Caring for the needs of others is at the heart of what we do. We encourage our clients to do the same. One way of doing that is to make your website accessibility one beyond reproach.

Originally when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed, it was meant to protect those individuals from discrimination. Discrimination initially meant places of business, schools, government buildings, etc. They were required to make accommodations to allow access for those with a disability. These accommodations were geared towards the physical accessibility of the locations people visited.

In turn, this has broadened into areas such as those with hearing or visual impairments. Implementing legal guidance for both physical barriers, but also barriers that included closed captioning, telecommunication changes. Eventually, it has now included the internet itself as an important accommodation for accessibility.

Web accessibility lawsuits have been growing exponentially across many industries. Many of whom impact small to medium-sized businesses such as our own clients. Lawsuits are expected to not only continue but to rise. Having the ability to provide everyone an accessible digital experience becomes more vital.

So How Do You Know You’re Doing Web Accessibility The Right Way?

Many elements and guidelines determine what it means to have your website to be compliant as it pertains to accessibility. One thing you can do is read up on the light reading over at the Web Accessibility Initiative Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 and determine if your website fall in line with their guidance.

When you are done there, there is also the ADA, Section 508, AODA, ACA, EAA/ENC301548, and IS5568 to read up on as well. By the time you are done reading and complying with all of these items that have to do with web accessibility, you likely will need to start over as the laws would have changed as well as your web design is probably no longer trendy.

A simpler way to Know You’re Doing Web Accessibility The Right Way, is to follow these steps:

Scan your website for free here
Contact us to discuss your report
Add Accessibe to your current site

A line of code, no changes to your website. Using the power of AI (artificial intelligence), to ensure that your website follows accessibility guidelines both today and years to come. Your website will be WCAG 2.1 & ADA Compliant. You will receive an Accessibility statement and certification of performance for your site. Your site will be scanned daily for compliance monitoring and monthly auditing.

Or you could always spend countless hours and thousands of dollars to have someone change your website to be compliant. We personally recommend and are partners with Accessibe, and use it on our own websites as well.

5 Practical Tips to Vetting a Web Agency in Jacksonville

May 26, 2020 By Charles Johnston Leave a Comment

5 Tips to Vetting a-Web-Agency in Jacksonville FL, web design agency, marketing agency in jacksonville

Most people like to think they have a great website that is appealing visually. Picking and vetting a web agency in Jacksonville can be a different story. Having a vision and taking it from an idea to a finished product can be overwhelming. Wanting to take on designing a website, many soon realize that they may not have the technical knowledge, patience, or time to create their vision to their own satisfaction. This is where picking a web agency to create your website can help.

Finding and hiring a web agency in Jacksonville is easy. Vetting the right agency that has the web professionals skilled for your project might not be as easy. Our designers and developers at HeartWired are trained professionals that will guide you through the process of designing your website. Whether you are a start-up just starting out or an established business in need of a redesign. Our focus is to create and tell your business’s story in a way only you can.

Let’s discuss what five tips we have to vetting a web agency in Jacksonville.

Determine your budget

While this may seem a logical step, we have found many clients who have no idea what their budget is. Having a budget in mind will help you eliminate those web agencies that are simply outside of what you are willing or able to spend. It also helps you establish guidelines upfront when selecting an agency to work with.

Check References

One way to find a web design professional in Jacksonville is to ask their previous clients. Hopefully, you can find some testimonials on Google, Facebook, Yelp, and others as a starting point. It is also important to ask the web agency during your discovery consultation if they have references they would be willing to share. A great way to vet the agency is by the words of others.

Storyboard Your Vision

Having a vision for your business will make the design and development process simpler for all involved. Using a storyboard or some other process to iron out the majority of your business vision before shopping for a web agency in Jacksonville will make the vetting and hiring process simpler. In addition by having a vision, you will eliminate potential scope creep that is encountered when you are not sure what you want.

Watch out for Trendy Designers

This may sound a little counterintuitive but hear us out. We firmly believe the trends that appear in the design space many times are gorgeous..but. Those trends tend to lack longevity. What is popular today could be outdated in a year or two. Having a focus on modern design versus trendy will help your website from becoming the next GeoCities page.

Make Sure You Own Your Website

We cannot stress this enough. So many agencies find it appropriate to hold their clients’ site ransom by controlling the ownership. Whether the agency offers ongoing services and support (and they should) your ownership is not a bargaining chip. When we build a website for our fellow small businesses in Jacksonville, we are more than willing to give our clients access to their site. This includes access to the WordPress dashboard along with their database as they so desire. So many times we hear horror stories about clients who have no access to the website they paid for, and we simply do not understand that methodology.

Agencies in Jacksonville as well as elsewhere that operate with transparency and integrity should have no problem being vetted. They know their work, as well as the relationships with their clients, speak for themselves.

We at HeartWired hope you have enjoyed these 5 tips on vetting a web agency in Jacksonville. While this list is only the beginning, we pray that it has given you a good understanding and foundation for starting your web development process.

We love serving our local community in Jacksonville, FL as well as elsewhere. If you or someone you know could use a new website, please share these tips and contact us to discuss your website vision.

How To Master a Game Of Chess and Web Design with a Little Strategy

May 18, 2020 By Charles Johnston Leave a Comment

I grew up playing chess with my dad. Anyone that has played the game of chess beyond just a hobby knows that strategy is involved. A similar strategy is used in web design which in the end can only result in a win, a stalemate, or a checkmate assuming, of course, no one knocked over the board during the game.

You might be thinking how in the world am I correlating web design with the game of chess?

Let me explain.

In chess, you open the box and pull out a checkered board. Similarly no matter the design there is a framework or wireframe involved. One thing that is constant between the two is change is expected, the strategy is required, and adapting to both many times is through A/B testing also known as trial and error.

Always play with a plan. Playing with a bad plan is a LOT better than playing with no plan whatsoever.

Pawns

While the most plentiful of pieces they are also the least useful beyond interference. Pawns provide a level of protection similar to that of the infantrymen in a battle. If nothing else they play a critical role in protecting from attack and used for a strategic advantage during the game chess.

Keep Moving

Pawns, just like in business can only move in one direction, forward. There is no option of retreat or even redirection. In web design the same approach is used, a designer is always having to stay ahead of the trends. Constantly push for inspiration and not letting moss grow under your feet.

Some tips to be able to maintain this kind of mindset:

Always keep up on trends, not because they are cool but because they help your clients remain relevant.
Stay abreast of your clients and their needs and be proactive in offering services that can benefit their strategy.
Only overhaul your clients’ website if they will have a better user experience, else there is no room for retreat.

Sacrifice is Your Responsibility

One duty of both a pawn and a web designer (or at least a good one) is the willingness to have a servant’s heart. Being the servant means letting go of your pride and giving for the greater good. Many times this comes in the shape of being willing to let go. Letting go of the work you put into a project knowing that the design no longer benefits the client as it once did. This can be hours of time, blood, sweat, and tears washed away with the press of a button when a redesign is in order.

Some tips on how to be sacrificial:

Take into consideration the client’s wants over their needs. Many times they are experiencing shining object syndrome versus the actual need for the site.
Think simpler, less is more. Provide your clients with more real estate on their website with fewer distractions and more value.
Design the website the right way the first time, this means implementing SEO, making it responsive, adding analytics the first time around.

Knights

Knights are used as one of the more strategic pieces with the ability to move forward a couple of spaces and over one as well as being able to jump over chess pieces. Many times knights are used in creative, sometimes elusive attacks that have benefits of its own.

Knights of the Round Table

The Knights of the Round Table were legendary characters from the stories of King Arthur. They were not just any knight, they were the best of King Arthurs Court. They were called the Knights of the Round Table because the table they met at was round rather than your normal rectangle table. Their level of uniqueness and creativity is something we as web designers share.

Web designers are creatives, we are unique in nature in our ability to solve problems is something we take for granted as do many of our clients. We take our creativity as an innate ability to navigate through complex problems and side-step problems that would be complex for someone else.

Some ways to be legendary like a knight:

Remember why you started, stick to the morals and values that you have built your agency on.
It is okay to borrow but never steal, web designers especially those that work in opensource environments give credit where it is due.
Figure out what you stand for, offer what you are comfortable offering. You are the right designer for some people, not all people.

Bands of Bravery

Knights are known for their bravery and honor, characteristics one can hope their web designers possess. Web design agency owners must be not only brave but also compassionate. Possessing the ability to face difficulties with not only determining the best processes to implement but also how to face difficult times without compromising their standards.

Some tips on being nimble like a knight:

Knights rarely fight alone, be willing to share the load, and find resources to shore up in areas that you may not necessarily be an expert.
Competition builds character and collaboration builds a team, both of which make a web designer better at their trade and how they serve their clients.
Criticism happens, many times from a client. Don’t take it personally, instead use it as a tool for growth and improvement.

Bishop

Bishops is a sneaky piece on the board always looking for a straight path to the opponent’s next move. Unlike other chess pieces, the bishop moves either direction diagonally across the board as long as it has no other pieces in its way. Also the bishop cannot cross colors assigned, similarly as agency owners pick vendors and stick with them until proven otherwise.

Resiliency is Vital

Web designers are subject to disagreements of opinions both with their clients, vendors, and even staff. One thing we must learn early on is not only how much we can handle but also how to bounce back when others won’t. Sometimes design projects get scope creep that will defeat a person or a client that can never

Image of a businessman in dark suit playing chess

Some tips on how to comeback:

Seek advice from others when you are in a bind. Collaborators can be a great sounding board as they likely have experienced similar hurdles.
If something does not go as planned, look for options that would fulfill the same desired result.
When you get feedback from a client, take it with a grain of salt as a lesson rather than an insult.

Faith Crosses Barriers

As you knwo the bishop generally relates to one of faith. While faith may not be required for some web designers, we at HeartWired feel differently. Faith is what we believe helps us make decisions every single day as well as give us the reason to serve the way that we do at our agency. If you lack faith in the why as well as the how, you are destined to have lesser an outcome in our opinion.

How to build and share your faith in your work:

Make every single project one that you would be proud of and amplifies not only your gifts and talents but those of your clients.
Be transparent and compassionate to all that you serve. Speaking of serving, that is why you should be in business in the first place.
While mistakes happen to all of us, one thing as a business owner is learning how to own your mistakes and move on.

Rook

Rooks are pieces of strength and can move across the board both vertically and horizontally. They are only impeded when another chess piece blocks its way as it generally can not jump over other pieces. One thing that the rook always has over all the other pieces is stability and endurance. Web designers also require the same similar traits.

Helping Others is Strength

One thing the rook does exceptionally well is it assists other pieces on the board both on offense and defense. Creatives also have to learn to work well with others as well as help those in need. Building a website is only one small piece of the overall strategy behind building one. The website is never for the person building or even the person buying it, but it is for those who use it. Finding ways to help others matters most when it comes to designing a website correctly for the user.

chessboard-with-laptop-web-design, responsive web design strategy

Here are some tips on how to help others:

Check your work, again check your work. Nothing is worse than a buggy or unattractive, nonfunctional website.
Make the website accessible to everyone. While many business owners may find this to be unnecessary, a good web designer should make it a priority.
Keep it simple. By keeping the site simple, you will improve the user experience as well as things like load time, usability, and ease of navigation.

Design with the User in Mind

A rook is also known as a castle or fortress, a building or structure of strength and stability. Your web design should have a similar structure and resistance to penetration or vulnerability. Making sure the site is secure, built with clean code, and if using WordPress making sure the core, as well as the plugins, stay up to date. Every day websites are attacked as castles once were built as a defense mechanism so should your site be built.

Ways to secure your site to protect the users:

Update plugins, code, and anything applicable to code vulnerabilities or security risks.
Create a website that is both user friendly and easily maintained by the owner, unless you provide maintenance for them (recommended practice).
Build the site on a reputable code base that provides the capability to adjust as needed to ensure the user and their data is secure.

Queen

The queen, she can move in mysterious ways, in all directions for any distance. She spans the board with her power and grace, her sole job is to protect the king. Power can come with a price, losing her during a chess game can be a fatal blow. Misusing your power as a web designer can cause a similar fate. Our profession is full of power-hungry designers that manipulate their vendors and clients any way they can, don’t be one of them.

Amateur or Pro at Chess or Design

One of the quickest ways to decide between an amateur and a professional whether in chess or web design is the way they handle things in the heat of battle. Sure technically speaking as a designer you hold most of the power when it comes to a client’s website. Not only are you creating many times proprietary code that would be difficult for the average user to understand. You also use web calls, integrations, APIs, and other tricks of the trade that combined create an arsenal of tools. With all this ‘power’ comes great responsibility.

Ways to be a professional at all cost:

Educate yourself on the latest trends, be transparent on your abilities. Your client will figure out quickly if you were blowing smoke to get the job.
Do your homework before the first line of code. Knowing your client and their audience will allow you to provide a website that matters.
Know your potential as well as your limits. Be willing to outsource what you do not know and admit when something just won’t work as planned.

Power Comes with a Price

Just because someone possesses the power to hold over someone else that does not mean they should use it. If a client gives you carte blanche to create their site as well as host and maintain it, that does not give you the leverage you might think. Unlike the queen who can run the chessboard as she wills, a designer does not have the same liberties, or at least should not act as if they do. So many designers use hosting or even development as leverage that they end up holding their clients hostage rather than helping.

Ways to ensure power is equally distributed:

Give your client access to their website to the level they are comfortable when the design is complete and paid in full.
Offer to educate your clients to use their website. This can come in the form of 1 on 1 tutorial, YouTube videos, FAQs, and much more.
Be honest with your client, if things are not going as planned don’t walk away without at least trying to find common ground.

King

We all bow to the king, okay not all and only in some countries. On the chessboard, the king is the most important piece on the board, yet is relatively weak. Avoiding capture in the game of chess is ultimately the strategy that keeps him alive at the end. Prevention goes a long way to avoid disaster, the same can be said for web professionals.

Building the Vault of Trust

Web designers have a large amount of responsibility that many never think of when it comes to creating a website. Our job, while in part is to create beautiful designs involves much more. We are expected to protect credit card information, passwords, access to databases, and other personal information. Failure to protect the items we are entrusted with can cause a loss in reputation or worse. Creating that trust can take time, but can be lost in a moment just like your king.

red king chess piece on black and white chessboard

Some tips on how to gain and keep trust:

Limit the number of interactions on the website that require sensitive data to either be submitted or exposed.
Price yourself competitively and fairly, do not retain credit card information on your own server or PC. We recommend using a third party.
Secure all sites you create with appropriate spam and malware protection and require all sites that you host to also utilized encryption and an SSL.

One responsibility of a king is to know when it is time to surrender. In chess this comes in the form of a checkmate when the king has no options that won’t result in a loss. Web designers occasionally run into similar circumstances with either projects or even clients. One thing to always keep in mind when working with people in any capacity, there can be impasses that arise, it is how you handle them that matters.

Ways to know when it is time to resign:

You can resign your project at any time, just make sure that if you do that you have an ironclad contract and a darn good reason.
Some projects are just not worth the battle and whether it be scope creep, unreasonable expectations sometimes enough is just enough.
Clients from hell do exist, it is okay to fire them or yourself if you get one.

Game Set Match

While web design is a game of strategy similar to chess, it has its differences. There is good and bad or light versus dark in design as in chess. This battle can be strategically managed with proper planning and keeping your eye on all the moving pieces. Personally I am thankful for the hours and sometimes days of playing chess with my dad as a kid. That experience prepared me to have the patience, endurance, and thoughtfulness that is required to be a web design professional.

checkmate, king knocked over on chessboard after playing a game of chess

Strategy Matters

Anyone that has played chess knows that you are constantly having to strategize for what could happen. This is true in website development as well. Having a plan for what could happen along with the agility to react helps you provide next-level service. A well thought out web strategy can separate you from the pack when a client is shopping around for solutions.

As in chess being able to visualize your web project early on allows for lining up the next few moves. Usually, this starts with a discovery session where you get the background of not only the project but the why behind it. Then if applicable mock-ups and wireframes are created to determine the best plan of action. Piece by piece you knock a step off the board until your project is completed. Once your client declares checkmate, the site goes live and with any luck declares you the “grandmaster of web design”.