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The Hidden Costs of “Free” Website Services: A Reddit Discussion Analysis

Author: Reddit Website Facebook LinkedIn

In the competitive world of digital marketing, few strategies generate as much controversy as offering services completely “free” of charge. A recent deep-dive discussion on Reddit’s r/marketing community revealed troubling user experiences with companies offering free website services, raising important questions about what “free” really means in today’s marketplace.

When marketing professionals began analyzing various free service models in a mastermind group discussion, the findings were eye-opening. Rather than legitimate strategies to build trust and relationships, multiple Reddit users shared experiences suggesting business models designed around being locked into affiliate commissions and difficult to end ongoing contract commitments.

Disclaimer: The following analysis is based on user-reported experiences shared on Reddit. These represent individual opinions and experiences that have not been independently verified.

Understanding Different “Free” Service Models

While legitimate “loss leader” strategies do exist in marketing – where businesses genuinely offer products at a loss to attract customers – Reddit users described experiencing something fundamentally different.

True loss leaders, like oil changes at auto repair shops or free resume creation services, involve genuine free services designed to demonstrate value. As Reddit user Verizonwiz explained about their staffing company: “our Loss Leader is Free Resume Creation for candidates” which takes only “2-5 minutes” but helps candidates secure higher-paying positions.

However, several Reddit users reported experiences with free website services that operated very differently, with mandatory purchases and costs that allegedly exceeded traditional web development services.

User-Reported Business Models and Revenue Sources

According to Reddit user discussions, certain free website companies generate revenue primarily through affiliate commissions from hosting services. As user InsaneFatty explained: “From what I read, you don’t need to sign up for any service, only for the hosting (Bluehost in this case) through a referral link.”

User BusinessAdviser0 noted that hosting costs approximately $35 for the first year, though this appears to be a promotional rate that increases to $9.99 per month ($119.88 annually) after the discount period ends – nearly tripling the ongoing cost for customers.

As Reddit user Due_Key_109 pointed out: “they get money from Dreamhost or whatever host for that affiliate program guys! x percent of what you spend.”

Based on these user reports, the revenue model appears to depend on customers purchasing hosting through affiliate links, making the “free” website conditional on this purchase.

User-Reported Experiences and Concerns

Multiple Reddit users across different threads shared detailed experiences that raised concerns about the actual value delivered and business practices.

The Selection Process and Work Quality

User trainwrekx provided insight into their selection process and actual work performed: “If you read their site thoroughly, they take on less than 1/3 of the requests submitted, and they typically ‘build a site’ within 7-10 hours. This boils down to installing WP, adding some plugins and a theme, and making some very basic tweaks.”

The same user explained the business strategy: “They basically get you into a ‘starter’ site and then you’ll end up hiring them to provide a finished product. They also don’t do the hosting themselves, so they’re collecting a commission from what you pay for that when it’s set up.”

Detailed Customer Experience Reports

User ineerav provided an extensive account of their experience:

“When I enrolled with them, they said you are one of the lucky ones as we have thousands of requests and we do free websites for only selected ones (scam), what they really do is they enrol you with them by doing this kind of smart marketing, then first they will ask you to buy blue host hosting service, they will force you to buy it even if you have one. once you buy the hosting, they will push you to buy a website design template, once you by the template all they will do is place the template on your hosting with very basic minor edits(when I say minor they will just edit 2-3 words nothing more than that), and thats it they will ask you to add your own content pictures everything you have to do it on your own, and to do just this they spent 1 and half months”

User phantom_zone58 shared their test experience: “I got a site from them as a test, I was going to build a new site anyway so I thought why not. In the end I was disappointed, communication was mediocre at best even though they do email first. And like others have mentioned the ‘work’ they do is basically setting up a template on hosting they push and other add ons they push, which I’m willing to bet they get commissions on.”

Long-Term Project Issues

User Larsent reported concerning long-term outcomes: “site not finished a year later” and described customer psychology: “Client went in 110% believing they had been especially ‘chosen’ and they they’d hit the jackpot. They quit a year later.”

Historical Context from Similar Services

User RandyHoward provided valuable historical context, having worked for a similar company: “I used to work for a company that did websites for free. It was [** redacted**].com… Every site was a template. Their scheme was that you got the website for free but you had to buy their hosting, which was super expensive. And then they’d nickel and dime people for every possible thing they could.”

Upselling and Theme Tactics

Reddit user claaaaaaaah described upselling practices: “They do try to encourage you to purchase premium themes (divi in particular) but if you are not interested they will go ahead with a free them. They just make it sound like free themes are all terrible and they show their clients a very limited set of templates to choose from if they want a free theme.”

The same user commented on the actual work and revenue model: “I think the reality is that they just profit off the commission they earn from hosting. They claim they spend about 8 hours building a site but really they just set things up and install a prebuld starter site/template and maybe tweek it a bit…. I really don’t think that it’s 8 hours worth of work.”

Reported Long-Term Cost Analysis

Based on user discussions, the long-term costs of these services may significantly exceed alternatives. User Greedy-Mechanic-4932 shared a concrete example: “I had a convo with someone a few days ago who admitted they’d been spending circa [** redacted**]/yr on them for the past four years. For non-ecomm, brochure sites.” This represents [** redacted**] over four years for basic brochure websites.

The reported cost structure includes:

Year 1: Customer pays $35 for promotional hosting rate through affiliate link Year 2 and beyond: Hosting reportedly increases to $9.99/month ($119.88 annually) Additional reported costs: As user Greedy-Mechanic-4932 outlined: “Pay over the odds for hosting, Pay over the odds for a domain, Pay over the odds for an SSL certificate” and “Continue to pay over the odds each year for the above”

User RandyHoward confirmed this pattern from their experience working for a similar company: “you got the website for free but you had to buy their hosting, which was super expensive. And then they’d nickel and dime people for every possible thing they could.”

Time investment: Users reported significant delays, with Larsent noting “site not finished a year later” and ineerav reporting “they spent 1 and half months” for basic template installation.

As user claaaaaaaah calculated: “the cheap rate and short hours means that they don’t eat up all the commission money they get from the hosting.”

Several users suggested that hiring a freelance web developer who might charge $500-2000 upfront but allows customers to choose their own hosting provider could be more cost-effective than paying high prices monthly or annually for years while being locked into specific and limited arrangements.

Warning Signs Identified by Reddit Users

The discussion revealed several red flags that consumers should consider when evaluating similar offers:

1. Mandatory Third-Party Purchases

Users reported being required to purchase hosting through specific affiliate links, even when they already had hosting services.

2. “Limited Time” or “Selected Customer” Claims

User ineerav described being told they were “one of the lucky ones” and that the company had “thousands of requests and we do free websites for only selected ones.”

3. Extended Timelines and Unfinished Projects

Multiple users reported significant delays and incomplete work. User Larsent noted “site not finished a year later” while user ineerav reported delays of “1 and half months” for basic template installations. User trainwrekx noted the actual work typically involves just “7-10 hours” of “installing WP, adding some plugins and a theme, and making some very basic tweaks.”

4. Active Sales Outreach

User OfficialEileenDover reported: “So I just had these guys reach out to me” indicating active marketing efforts to recruit customers rather than purely inbound requests.

5. Hosting Dependency and Lock-In

Users consistently reported being forced to use specific hosting providers. As OfficialEileenDover noted: “The catch seems to be that I’d have to have my site hosted by their partner.” User Greedy-Mechanic-4932 explained this results in customers having to “Pay over the odds for hosting, Pay over the odds for a domain, Pay over the odds for an SSL certificate.”

6. Pressure to Upgrade During Process

Users described consistent pushing of premium add-ons while free options were presented as inadequate. As trainwrekx explained: “They basically get you into a ‘starter’ site and then you’ll end up hiring them to provide a finished product.”

7. Lack of Transparency About Ongoing Costs

Several users mentioned not initially understanding the hosting renewal pricing structure.

The Psychology of “Free” Positioning

The original Reddit post highlighted an important insight about consumer psychology:

“The thing is that the word ‘free’ is a double-edged sword. While offering something for free can draw certain customers in, others are going to see it as a red flag.”

This observation was supported by another user’s experience in auto repair marketing, where cheap promotional pricing “attracted the wrong crowd, who fixated only on price” and approached the service “like going into a time-share presentation and you just want the round of golf.”

Historical Context: Similar Business Models

The user experiences reported align with historical patterns in the industry. Reddit user RandyHoward provided valuable insight from their experience working for a similar company over a decade ago:

“I used to work for a company that did websites for free. It was freewebsite.com… Every site was a template. Their scheme was that you got the website for free but you had to buy their hosting, which was super expensive. And then they’d nickel and dime people for every possible thing they could.”

This historical example demonstrates that the business model described by current users follows a long-established pattern in the industry, suggesting these practices are systematic rather than isolated incidents.

User joshstewart90 summarized the fundamental issue: “As the saying goes ‘nothings for free’. Why would someone build a business model for a ‘business’ thats supposed to generate money on something thats free? Chances are somewhere (hidden in some terms and conditions or in practice) you’re going to have to pay for something, be it hosting, ongoing maintenance etc.”

How to Evaluate “Free” Service Offers

Based on the Reddit discussion, users suggested several ways to distinguish legitimate from potentially problematic free offers:

Characteristics of Legitimate Free Services (according to users):

  • Require minimal ongoing commitments
  • Don’t force specific vendor relationships
  • Provide clear value without hidden costs
  • Have transparent timelines and expectations
  • Don’t use high-pressure tactics

Red Flags Identified by Users:

  • Requirements to purchase through specific affiliate links, even when customers already have hosting
  • Expensive ongoing contracts and annual fees (users reported high yearly cost for basic sites)
  • Manipulation tactics about being “selected” or “limited spots”
  • Minimal actual work delivered (7-10 hours of basic template installation) while maximizing affiliate commissions
  • Long-term commitments that may exceed market alternatives
  • Template-only work presented as custom website development
  • Active sales outreach combined with claims of exclusivity
  • Projects that remain unfinished for extended periods (users reported sites incomplete after a year)

Key Takeaways from the Reddit Discussions

The Reddit community’s analysis across multiple threads of free website services revealed several important considerations for consumers:

  1. Research actual costs: Look beyond promotional pricing to understand long-term expenses.
  2. Understand the business model: As trainwrekx explained, companies may “take on less than 1/3 of the requests submitted” and the work involves just “7-10 hours” of basic template installation while collecting hosting commissions.
  3. Recognize the template reality: Multiple users confirmed the “custom” websites are actually just “installing WP, adding some plugins and a theme, and making some very basic tweaks” as trainwrekx described.
  4. Compare total cost of ownership: Factor in ongoing hosting, domains, SSL certificates, and other required purchases that users report cost significantly more than market alternatives.
  5. Be aware of selection claims: User experiences suggest the “you’re one of the lucky ones” messaging may be a standard sales tactic rather than genuine exclusivity.
  6. Read user experiences: Multiple detailed accounts from actual customers reveal patterns of poor communication, delays, and unfinished projects.
  7. Consider alternatives: Compare against traditional freelance or agency pricing, which users suggest may be more cost-effective long-term.

As Reddit user ineerav concluded: “Nothing is free your time and money is more valuable so use them wisely.”

Final Considerations

This analysis is based on user-reported experiences shared across multiple Reddit marketing community discussions, providing a broader view of consumer experiences with free website services. While these accounts provide valuable insights into patterns of customer experiences, potential customers should:

  • Conduct their own research
  • Read terms and conditions carefully
  • Understand all associated costs before committing
  • Consider multiple alternatives before deciding
  • Seek independent reviews from verified customers
  • Be particularly cautious of services requiring specific hosting arrangements
  • Calculate long-term costs rather than focusing only on initial “free” offers

The marketing community’s discussions serve as a reminder that, as user joshstewart90 noted: “nothings for free” and as user ineerav emphasized: “Nothing is free your time and money is more valuable so use them wisely.” Understanding the true cost structure and business model of any service offering is essential for making informed decisions.

All quotes and experiences cited are from public Reddit discussions and represent individual user opinions and experiences that have not been independently verified.

Why Your Web Agency Should Be Committed to Creating Less E-Waste

Author: Eleanor Hecks Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

Old electronics — such as computers, televisions and cell phones — are considered e-waste. How you get rid of these items can impact the environment. Focusing on green production helps companies protect the environment for future generations, be good stewards of their local resources and reach like-minded consumers wanting to embrace an eco-cause.

Committing to reduced carbon output and preserving resources is easier than you might think. You will gain a lot of traction with those wanting to do business with eco-friendly companies. Here are some things you could do and why you should be doing them.

1. Recycle and Reuse

The Environmental Protection Agency mentions recycling electronics reduces pollution by lessening the amount of new materials necessary to produce new items. It also keeps old devices out of landfills. Some e-waste leaches into the soil and contaminates groundwater, impacting everything from local wildlife to human drinking water.

Upgrading a computer system rather than completely replacing it might also save your agency money. Electronics are a considerable expense, so stretching them further is sensible.

2. Sell Old Devices

Small businesses often need upgrades to keep software up to date or keep up with a growing enterprise. If you are scaling up by buying new electronics, consider how well the old ones work. Are they in a condition where you could reset them to factory settings, trade them in or sell them to make a few bucks?

You can even offset the cost of purchasing new electronics by selling your current equipment. You will reduce e-waste and get paid to do it.

3. Keep Devices Out of Landfills

It might be tempting to pitch that smartphone that no longer works and send it out with the trash. However, this is not the best way to dispose of electronic devices.

Experts estimate people around the globe contributed about 33.8 million metric tons of e-waste in 2010, but the number keeps rising as new phone models, computer hard drives and other modern electronics advance rapidly. Make it a policy to recycle responsibly if you must trade your old devices in for new ones.

4. Know the Laws in Your State

Regulations surrounding e-waste vary from state to state and even from one town to the next, so learn the rules where you run your business so you do not rack up any fines. Some laws are more stringent than others. If you are not sure you comply, talk with an expert on local regulations and ensure you change policies as necessary to meet expectations.

5. Pay Attention to Partnerships

Who does your web agency partner with and how do they handle e-waste? Look at all your service providers as well as suppliers. For example, if you work with a hosting company for your website, be aware of its ongoing impact on the environment and whether it throws old servers into landfills.

Web hosting is a $90.42 billion industry with steady growth. You can find an organization with similar policies to yours regarding reducing carbon footprint. Ask the tough questions to verify you are doing your part and any company you support is, too.

6. Be Aware of Toxic Substances

As electronic parts break down, they seep back into the environment, and can poison local land and water. Some items are worse than others. Do your due diligence and research how to reduce the toxic waste your enterprise produces. Also, take the time to look for ways to ensure your old electronics do not turn into a problem for future generations.

7. Fund Research

Taking items to dedicated recycling centers is sometimes the only option. However, scientists are researching how you can recycle different components and reuse them instead of just throwing them away.

For example, one European project called CROCODILE considers cobalt recycling and how old batteries can take on new life. Look for cutting-edge solutions to a growing problem and invest in them to improve the impact of e-waste in the future.

How Worried Should Your Brand Be About E-Waste?

It might seem like a small contribution to delay buying new machines or recycling responsibly. After all, giant corporations may not be overly concerned about doing the same and they have much more of an impact. It is crucial to remember that if smaller brands come together and do their part, they can set an example for the rest of the world and safeguard the environment.

Eleanor Hecks is editor-in-chief at Designerly Magazine. Eleanor was the creative director and occasional blog writer at a prominent digital marketing agency before becoming her own boss in 2018. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and dog, Bear.

Mastering the Art of Product Page Designs

Author: Eleanor Hecks Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

Product page designs can make or break conversion rates. Big players, such as Amazon and Walmart, use a formula to ensure each page has images, descriptive text and calls to action (CTA) to drive buyers through the sales funnel. Outside of the basic data each page needs, there are a number of things e-commerce brands can do to improve customer experience (CX) and see an increase in revenue.

The best way to figure out how to create stellar product page designs is by studying what successful companies do. Here are six favorite examples and why they work.

1. Grab Their Attention

Consumers see numerous ads each day. Standing out from the noise of marketing means companies must figure out how to grab attention. The headline or product title is often the first thing users see. A descriptive heading pulls them in and answers the question of whether the item is right for their needs.

Source: https://bellroy.com/products/slim-sleeve-wallet

Bellroy sells slim wallets with lots of storage. They use pointed headlines, such as “Slim Sleeve,” “Hide & Seek” and “Flip Case.” The user knows what the product is when they click on the landing page link.

People also have no question about the product’s category from these descriptive terms. The keywords shoppers are most likely to use can serve as an excellent way to refine headings.

Spend time on the call to action (CTA) and make sure the wording engages the user. Use action words and keep the language short.

2. Use Clear Images

A crucial part of product page designs is showcasing the product via photos. For e-commerce stores, the user has no way to experience the item if they don’t do so through visuals. They aren’t in a physical store where they can touch, smell and hold the product in their hands. Photos are one of the ways they can understand the finer details of an item’s design.

When researchers asked people what website features they value, 91% said visuals attracted them. The images must tell a story and showcase inventory from all angles. Consider what the consumer most wants to know before making a purchase. Showing color might require a close-up of the surface. Size needs a comparison to a familiar object. Answer the questions users have before they ask them.

Source: https://www.towersealants.com/products

Tower Sealants shows how much images add to a product description. Each of their product packaging designs comes in a different color to make it easily recognizable. Customers who’ve ordered the item in the past can easily identify it.

Note the similar placement for images in each product box. The user knows where to look for the image and glances to the right each time as they scan down the product page’s design. Showing some consistency helps show a company is reliable.

3. Create a Hierarchy

The best designs embrace a visual hierarchy. The impact is subtle but still draws the user in and makes pages predictable. Create a visual hierarchy with a color palette, text size and style. For example, you might bold the title and make it larger than the body text.

Source: https://www.seattlechocolate.com/collections/best-sellers/products/sip-sip-hooray-truffle-bar

Seattle Chocolate Company uses bold and larger text for the product page title. They also bold the purchase options to make them stand out. Another thing they do to set a few features apart is use bold colors, such as pink for the reviews and green for the “Add to Cart” CTA.

4. Utilize the Power of Video

A video can say more about a product than static images. Add some music and text overlay and users become more likely to watch to the end and turn from browsers into buyers.

The 2023 Application of Video Marketing Statistics Report showed 91% of marketers use video content. Keep up with competitors by showcasing popular items and giving users an immersive experience.

Source: https://vflatworld.com

V-Flat World shows their photo backdrop boards in various settings and includes a video to explain how they work and how to set them up. Embedding the videos gives users an opportunity to see the product from different perspectives. Users can choose to view them or not, depending on where they are in the buyer’s journey and the push they need to know if the item is right for their needs.

5. Evoke Emotions With Color

Most product page designs use colors that pop to grab attention. However, the psychology of colors indicates some hues might bring forth emotions in the viewer.

For example, most people like the color blue. Red evokes passion and excitement. Black can be seen as elegant or serious.

Add product page design colors to your style guide so each item has a similar look. You may need to do some split testing to see which shades work best for your target audience.

Source: https://www.kettleandfire.com

Kettle & Fire uses three colors repeatedly throughout their site–a soft, earthy yellow, white and bright red. By using the red as more of an accent color, the design pulls the user in and encourages them to take action.

Note how the red is used in the discount offer selection box and the CTA. Because the rest of the page is neutral, the CTA pops and grabs attention. The color generates excitement and pushes the user to add the item to their cart.

Study Successful Product Page Designs to Learn

Which products sell best on the brand’s site? A clue to improving current descriptions is to repeat successes and replace failures. Apply the things learned from studying the website examples above and find the right combination of elements to drive conversions.

Eleanor Hecks is editor-in-chief at Designerly Magazine. Eleanor was the creative director and occasional blog writer at a prominent digital marketing agency before becoming her own boss in 2018. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and dog, Bear.



5 Reasons Cybersecurity is Important for Remote Businesses

Author: Maggie Bloom

Recent stats indicate that phishing emails increased by over 600% during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020 alone, Google blocked over 18 million coronavirus-related phishing emails and malware. These facts indicate the security risk that comes with working from home. There are also good reasons every remote business must reinforce its Cybersecurity. To protect your remote business from Cybersecurity attacks, implement the latest Cybersecurity countermeasures. Here are five reasons your remote business needs enhanced Cybersecurity reinforcement.

  1. Cybersecurity Risks Increase When You’re Working Remotely

When working remotely, Cybersecurity attacks spike since you lack robust security systems. You’re not under the protection of secured firewalls and networks. When you get Cybersecurity attacks, you don’t have access to in-person security and IT support. Your devices and networks lack the proper security reinforcement. Therefore, you’re more likely to face serious security threats.

When working remotely, you rely heavily on the internet and cloud-based tools. These systems create loopholes for cybercriminals to access your company data. The good news is you can lower your company’s Cybersecurity risk by hiring qualified managed IT services for San Antonio and Austin if your business is located in these areas.

  1. Data Leak Protection

Remote businesses must reinforce their Cybersecurity to protect against data leaks. When working from home, you rely heavily on the cloud and the internet to share data. You store business data, customer data, and sensitive details online. Online storage systems expose your data to the risk of hacking and unauthorized access.

By reinforcing your Cybersecurity systems and networks, you can protect your data from leaks. The most effective Cybersecurity countermeasure is using burner emails. These dummy emails enable your employees to log into your official websites. They help your business avoid leaking your crucial credentials to unauthorized hands. There are many other internet-based tools you can use to reinforce your Cybersecurity and prevent data leaking.

  1. Cybersecurity Crimes Are Costly to Manage

The risk of attack by cybercriminals is higher when you’re working remotely. The risk of unauthorized data access and manipulation is as well high. The costs of countering data breaches cost companies over $3.62 million annually. These are massive amounts that can render your company bankrupt.

Data breach management costs keep increasing every day as cyber criminals become smarter. Think of how often you share unencrypted data with companies. Figure out how often you connect to unsecured networks and use the wrong passwords when working remotely. These and many more challenges can leave your company’s data at risk of hacking. To save your company money and time wasted to recover hacked systems, you must reinforce your cybersecurity systems.

  1. Hackers Have Advanced Their Game

The recent years have seen more and smarter cyber criminals. They have advanced their game and continually researching and implementing sophisticated technologies. As you upgrade your cybersecurity game, cybercriminals keep reinventing new attack technologies. Cybercriminals have advanced their game in system infiltration, password sniffing, and website defacement. They use more advanced instant messaging abuse and web browser exploits.

They keep reinventing new Key loggers, Trojans, malware, Ransomware, Adware, and rootkits. Not reinforcing your cybersecurity game make your business more vulnerable. Implement innovative tools and systems to protect your company from cybersecurity threats.

  1. Hackers have Increased

When working remotely, you must also be ready to deal with increased hacking attacks. More sophisticated cyber criminals realize the potential the business has. They’re almost everyone, including healthcare institutions, finance, small businesses, and insurance. These hackers also try their lack in higher education centers and government agencies.

It’s only wise to prep your business to counteract attacks from all angles. Even the most secure systems and applications risk data breaches and attacks. You need to hire online security experts to enable you to detect and mitigate threats from every angle. Invest in the latest technological innovation to keep your business safe.

If you resorted to remote working owing to the pandemic, it’s time you upgraded your cybersecurity game. Cybersecurity risks and data breach issues have spiked significantly in recent years. If you’re not preparing your business to counteract these threats, you’re at risk. You’re likely to spend millions of dollars to mitigate cybersecurity attacks. Invest in the latest technologies and hire qualified online security experts. You may need to invest in managed IT services to help you counter cybersecurity threats.

Why Every Business Needs SEO? – 5 Ultimate Reasons

Author: Jessica Smith

Over the last few years, the digital marketing world has expanded exponentially. Currently, every business is rushing to rank higher in the Search Engine Result Pages (SERPS). Think of the last strings of words you Googled last – it might have been for service, information, or a planned purchase. There’s a greater chance you went for the top results for your search query.

Search engines like Google scour through the web to bring you what they believe to be the best, as per your query. It’s what search engine optimization – SEO is all about. With 81% of people searching online to find products or services according to data from the Global Web Index through Datareportal, soon, you might need to optimize your site using a solid SEO strategy.

Your business can snowball with exposure and generate more leads with an SEO strategy when managed and implemented correctly. Besides this, there are various reasons businesses need SEO. But, in the following sections of this article, we’ll look at the five ultimate reasons every business needs SEO. So, let’s begin.

SEO Leads to Increased Visibility

Photo by PhotoMIX Company from Pexels

To attract more customers to your business, you must ensure that they find you. As stated above, more and more online users search for services, products, and companies before purchasing. According to a Google study, 70% of smartphone users used their devices to do online research before making an in-store purchase. Therefore, even if your primary plan is to drive traffic and acquisitions for your marijuana business, an excellent digital presence is still vital in helping you reach your goal.

So, how can SEO increase your online visibility and help your CBD or Marijuana business connect to a larger audience of potential customers? SEO includes various ways of accomplishing one goal-improving your business ranking in the SERPS. When potential customers seek products or services like yours by entering specific search queries into the search engine, you’d want your business to rank as high as possible for the keywords. You’re more likely to receive more traffic the higher you rank.

SEO Improves Your Site’s User Experience

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Imagine walking into a fast-food joint. Once you get seated, the servers ignore you for over five minutes, and once they do, they hand you a 20-page menu that looks disorganized. There’s a greater chance you’ll get up and walk away, never to come back. You then find a more organized and welcoming place.

If your potential customers come to your site and have to wait over ten seconds for it to load, the site isn’t readable on a smartphone, or you have to click over five pages to find your service page, they will leave your website and look somewhere else.

Search engines favor delightful and valuable websites like the ideal customer-fast loading websites that are easy to navigate on any device. If you create effective SEO strategies for your site like weedsmart.co , you’ll provide your visitors with an excellent user experience. It will lead to them trusting, liking, and choosing to do business with you over the less SEO savvy competition.

SEO Offers Higher ROI and Conversions

Every business aims to maximize its ROI and conversions. As organic search traffic is free, it provides greater volume for a significantly smaller investment in contrast to paid search campaigns where you’d have to pay for every click. Your business doesn’t have to seek funds for monthly ad spending. All it requires is time.

This time commitment might include building an SEO strategy, researching its basics, or creating optimized content. It directly contributes to higher ROI, but the benefits don’t end there. It also offers a higher conversion rate, established trust, and ease of discovery.

SEO Supports Other Marketing Channels

Photo by Brett Jordan from Pexels

Online marketing works best when there is a connection. For instance, if your social marketing campaign supports your SEO initiatives, you poise your business for success. So, both channels claim this advantage.

You can use organic search to complement several other marketing strategies, including:

  • Paid
  • Social
  • Video
  • Email

If your company launches an informative blog series, you can reuse that content on social media. A Facebook post, for example, could include a pull quote accompanied by an eye-catching statistic that will pique users’ interest and direct them to your article.

You should align these marketing channels. Hence, if one team member runs your social media campaigns and another executes your content marketing efforts, they must collaborate so that your campaigns are as effective as possible.

SEO Builds Loyal, Engaged Audiences

Relationships with customers should not end after a sale – instead, it’s best to keep them for a lifetime. Your goal is to keep your customers loyal, buy more products from you, and tell their friends about you.

You can accomplish this through SEO. You create a sense of value by sharing helpful, customer-centric content and keep customers coming back to you.

Conclusion

One excellent way of improving consumers’ user experience is through SEO. You can place your business as an authority within your respective industry through SEO for various reasons like building a loyal, engaged audience, getting higher ROI, and conversions, among other reasons mentioned. These are the ultimate reasons every business needs SEO.

References

Maximize ROI with Behavior Analysis

Author: Sean H. Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

Many small businesses worry that they don’t have the budget for behavioral analysis. They’re either a non-profit that funnels as much as they can to support their cause or a small business trying to keep the lights on. Neither of these organizations has the budget for large-scale analytics investments. Fortunately, many analytics tools are free and there are multiple sources of data from which to choose.

For example, public records and other forms of third-party data (like industry publications or earnings reports) can tell marketers about their industry and audience. This might be as simple as reading about the spending habits of millennials before marketing to them. This research is typically free and easy to access. Meanwhile, a lot of first-party data is free because it’s collected by the company. This might include donation size for nonprofits, average purchase size, and regularity of purchase or donation. This information alone can help companies focus on their calls to action and frequency of marketing to customers, which can be a huge money saver.

Naturally, data collection and analysis is only the first step of the analytical process. Many companies collect and analyze data but then fail to take action on the insights that they learned. Execution is a crucial step in the behavioral analysis, as the whole process is moot without it.

Check out this infographic by CopyPress on the value of Behavioral Analysis and how it can be implemented throughout your campaign. Even small businesses on bootstrapped budgets can find ways to analyze their customers and tailor their marketing strategies to their needs.

The Current State of the Content Marketing Ecosystem

Author: Sean H. Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

Today’s consumers expect businesses to own websites. Despite this, nearly half of small businesses in 2016 didn’t have websites. Most of the small businesses that didn’t have websites said that they didn’t want to spend money on them. Looking at the price of pay-per-click (PPC) advertising may have scared them a bit. When you own a business with less than $1 million in annual revenue, you can’t afford to spend much on advertising.

Many small business owners probably don’t know that they can reach new customers online without spending a lot of money. Content marketing offers an affordable way for small businesses to brand themselves, improve their online presence, and convert people into paying customers. Perhaps best of all, content marketing does these things without forcing businesses to break their budgets. With PPC ads, you never know how much you will spend. With content marketing, you have stable costs that you can adjust throughout the year.

When deciding whether you want to pursue a content marketing strategy, consider that 27 percent of freelance content creators only get paid $0.04 to $0.07 per word. You can probably find room in your budget to afford those costs. Take a look at this infographic made by CopyPress to learn more about the current state of the content marketing ecosystem. The company interviewed more than 300 professionals to provide up-to-date information that will help you make a decision that benefits your business.

5 Tips For Creating Great Content For Your Blog

Author: Sean H. Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

Blogs are a dime a dozen as everyone from writing enthusiasts to businesses and journalists start a blog. There is so much writing and a limited number of eyeballs for each blog post, so you may wonder how your business can be the one that draws attention away from your competitors. This will require content that goes above and beyond what everyone else is creating. Starting a new blog on your website is invaluable.

1. Be Original, Unique And Interesting

Great content must be original. At the very least, the content should be unique so that it does not appear as duplicate content from the perspective of Google. Even if you wrote the content originally, it must not appear on a separate page or it will be treated as duplicate content.

But original content is more than simply unique. Your blog should generate ideas that are unique and approach old ideas with a fresh twist.

2. Be Readable And Scannable

Write blog posts based on how they will be read. Internet users, especially mobile users, prefer blog posts that are short and scannable. But in these short posts, you must pack a punch by delivering as much valuable information as possible per word.

This requires that you cut out the filler and only include essential information. Also, to make your content easier to read, use subheadings, include bullet lists and find other ways to make the content scannable.

3. Avoid One-Hit Wonders

Use your analytics to find out which posts are the most popular. While you should create unique posts, this doesn’t mean that you can’t create new posts that are based on successful old posts.

For example, if you wrote a post titled: “5 Mistakes You’re Making With XYZ” and it was a huge hit, consider writing a post titled: 5 More Mistakes You’re Making With XYZ.” Continue working with successful ideas until your analytics show that it is no longer profitable.

4. Be Actionable

Find ways to make your content actionable. Readers love content that they can put into practice. How-to blog posts naturally lend themselves to this goal, but any post can be made actionable.

For instance, if you write a news post about a security flaw that was discovered in a system, you could wrap up your blog post by instructing customers on how they can avoid being victimized by this security flaw. Since blogs are often niche and since the readers are sometimes highly knowledgeable, make sure to respect the intelligence of your readers and only provide instructions that will likely be new and surprising to them.

5. Use Visuals

Use visuals. Not only are the inclusion of images make your content more enticing, but search engines prefer content that comes with visuals. The images should be very specific to the content and should ideally provide additional information. For example, an instructional blog would include images that show exactly how to perform a specific task. Also, use infographics frequently.

When your blog consistently creates great content, it will be more sharable, which will lead to more traffic. Your business will appear more professional. You will also develop a following of readers who will be much more likely to convert into sales.

Jessica is a professional blogger who writes for Faxage, a leading company that provide Internet fax service services for individuals and businesses.

 

Email Gets A Make Over Today: Gmail Embraces CSS Media Queries

Author: Sean H. Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

As of today, you will be able to use CSS media queries with Gmail and Inbox by Gmail. What does that mean exactly? It means you can ensure that your message is formatted the way you intended, whether it is viewed on a computer, a phone in portrait mode, or a tablet in landscape mode by using a css media query. You’ll even be able to change styles based on rotation, width, and resolution. Your emails, which stylistically have been trapped in the 90s in regards to design flexibility, will now have the potential to be more responsive, with formatting that can be optimized for every device. Goodbye to standard styling for desktop, tablet, and mobile! Hello gorgeous communications! Let’s hope all other mail service providers embrace this new option soon too.

If you are a business that sends out marketing emails, or a business that would like to start sending out beautifully designed and branded communications, just give Design Web Louisville a shout. They have reusable template designs ready to purchase or custom order.

How to Create Great Headlines

Author: Sean H. Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

Most writers function on autopilot when they’re creating headlines. They either create something before they begin or throw something in at the end. It can feel like a meaningless task after spending several hours on a piece of content. Unfortunately, a two-second headline can make an article unreadable. The audience might be confused by the language or bored by the bland title. Either way, the hours of work are lost. Consider the effects of quality headline creation on your next piece.

Smart writers will include headlines in their ideation process. Instead of researching basic concepts and assuming the writer will come up with something interesting, marketers need to discuss headline hooks and options that will make the article stand out. Not only will a catchy headline inspire readers to click, it will also give the writer more guidance in how the piece should be covered. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to content creation.

The infographic below starts with the ideation process and teaches writers how to create something amazing. You don’t have to be a seasoned journalist to come up with something exciting, but you do need to inform the audience about what they’re reading. That’s why we start by reviewing the basics and then expanding into more creative hooks and tactics to add to your main concept. With this, you can treat your headline like a sandwich: start with the meat and bread, and then decide what sauces and garnishes to add. Together, the headline and the body make for an amazing meal.
Read on below for more information!

headlines - IG