What does a “website designer” do all day? Sit in a dark basement writing code for hours on end? Some do, some don’t!
I love sharing personal tidbits in my emails, but this month I wanted to share some recent client projects that have delighted me.
I met a local business owner to discuss their growing business and what they need in a new website. Their current website was built 10 years ago and has served them well, but they’re opening a storefront next year and want a more modern and helpful website. We spent time talking about their clients who tend to be older and highly educated — important things for us to consider as we start to plan the new site.
I finished building out the main pages for a new non-profit organization’s WordPress website and reached out to a developer who I’ll sub-contract with to connect their volunteer software. Most of my client projects don’t require me to bring in a developer, but I know a couple of great devs I can rope in when needed.
I helped a new consultant with some updates to a Squarespace website she started building herself. She did a great job creating a first draft, and she brought me in to finish tweaking the design and help her figure out a few user experience questions.
I worked with a lawyer to update a webpage for one of her services that’s more automated and passive than the rest of her work. We wrote new SEO-focused copy, added some internal links, and created a related blog post in hopes that we’ll get some more search traffic to that page. We made sure everything was set up correctly in her analytics tools so we can see how the traffic to this page changes after these small updates.
And I launched a new Squarespace website for a family-run property management company. Getting a brand new website out into the world is one of my favorite things.
If you need help with anything website- or SEO-related, I’d love to chat! These things bring me joy and if they don’t bring you joy… there’s a better way.
Monthly Tip: Your expertise and personal experience win against AI.
I’ve started discussing AI’s impact on search with a handful of clients. I heard recently that you shouldn’t work in SEO if you don’t love constant change, and boy does that feel true these days. A recent Agents Of Change podcast provides a helpful take on how AI is currently affecting search and what might happen going forward.
My favorite excerpt from the episode:
“If your content doesn’t add value over the generic AI model … then why should people go to your website? Why should Google give up its traffic, its potential for ad generation and revenue on its homepage? …
The only reason why Google would send people to your site is because you have something to add to the conversation. A personal experience, expertise, a real-life use case, information that otherwise these AIs don’t have access to. That is what’s creating expertise.”
Here’s what the podcast recommends you do in terms of AI and content: use AI tools for idea generation, editing, spell check, and making content more readable. Use it to help speed up your process, but don’t forget what sets your content apart: your personal experience and expertise. That’s what will help you get found and be seen as an authority, rather than “becoming obliterated by search generative experience.”
Website & SEO Updates from Around the Web
What is a lead magnet? Opt-in form? Landing page?
My colleague Stefani breaks down these good-to-know email marketing terms.
How to make sure users with cognitive disabilities can use your website
“Cognitive disabilities are the least understood and least discussed type of disability among web developers. As a result, developers rarely design web content to be accessible to people with cognitive disabilities.”
This list is worth reading or skimming for all website owners. Like with all aspects of website accessibility, what’s best for users with disabilities is usually best for all users.
E-commerce website accessibility tips
Most notable to me in this article: a 2023 study found that 84% of web accessibility lawsuits in the U.S. this year have been filed against e-commerce businesses. So this is even more important if you run an e-commerce website.
How to upgrade from Squarespace 7.0 to 7.1
I’m so excited for this news. We’ve been waiting years for Squarespace to create an easy migration tool for websites on their old editor, 7.0, to convert to 7.1. It’s finally here and it seems to work pretty well. If you need help with this, get in touch!
Powerful logos: how to nail the design process
If you haven’t worked with a logo designer before, the process can feel nebulous. Margo’s blog post outlines how things should go.
Did you know Wix is an Israeli company? Squarespace is an American company, and WordPress is open source and not owned by anyone. WordPress’s cofounder runs an American company Automattic (which owns WordPress.com). Clear as mud, right?
From My Portfolio: The Cairn Project
I mentioned this project a few months ago when we launched the new website, but I finally got it added to my portfolio and outlined some of this redesign project’s process. Redesigning a big website — one with a lot of custom post types, blog posts, and other moving parts — is always complicated, but we’re all happy with how the website turned out.
See the portfolio post or check out the website. The Cairn Project is a great nonprofit to support this week if you’re looking for one. 😉
