9 Website Copywriting Hacks You Need to Sell More

Website Copywriting Hacks You Need to Sell More

Do you have a website but not selling much from it? I hear you. Sometimes you can have the most beautiful, interactive, state-of-the-art website. But if it’s not converting (a.k.a. selling, generating leads, or getting subscribers), then what’s the point of it? See, when this happens it’s usually because the copy of your website isn’t … Read more

What’s the difference between wordpress.com and wordpress.org

What's the key difference between wordpress.com and wordpress.org

Are you ready to build your website with WordPress but are confused between the .com and the .org version? Don’t fret, in this post I will tell you what’s the difference between wordpress.com and wordpress.org.

Knowing the key differences between the two versions will save you time and money. Let’s get started!

As you may know WordPress is one of the most popular platforms for building websites. Its flexibility for design and functionality has no match. This is why it’s my #1 recommendation for my clients.

WordPress itself is free. But when choosing a hosting service, you can decide to either host it yourself (wordpress.org) or do it under their domain name (wordpress.com).

Here are the key differences:

What’s the difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com.

  • With WordPress.com it’s them who host your site for free (though they also have paid plans). Creating a basic website is easy, but you have less flexibility to grow and monetize your site.

Your domain name will look like this: www.mycoolsite.wordpress.com

  • With WordPress.org you have to shop for a quality domain and hosting service. There’s a learning curve, but in the long run it’s more flexible for growing, customizing and monetizing your website. See wordpress.org

Your domain name will look like this: www.mycoolsite.com (personally, I think this looks more professional).

What's the difference between wordpress.com and wordpress.org

When to use WordPress.com

If you want to set up a basic website without the trouble of getting a hosting, and don’t want to grow or monetize it , then wordpress.com is right for you. Their free plan includes up to 3GB of data, a subdomain and includes wordpress.com ads.

But if eventually you want to grow it, add functionality and make business with it, then:

  • You have to pay a costly business plan that allows you to install plugins (for more functionality) or themes (to change your your site’s appearance).
  • You may need to hire someone to help you migrate from wordpress.com to your own hosting service.

When to use wordpress.org

If you want to grow your website through a blog, make business with it and have the flexibility to change its appearance, then using wordpress.org is the best choice.

Keep in mind though that there’s a learning curve and you have to shop around for quality hosting. But the investment in time and money is worth it. You’ll end up getting full control over your site.

To sum up

WordPress is a great platform for building websites. But when choosing between free or paid hosting, it’s best to think about your goals first.

If you need a basic website, the tech side overwhelms you, and you don’t want to grow or monetize it, then host it on wordpress.com.

But if you want to grow your site, monetize it and gain full control of it, then I recommend you to choose a quality hosting service an build it with wordpress.org.

That said, consider long term goals so you can choose the right version for your needs.

I hope you found this post useful. If you have any questions, feel free to ask away on the comment section below.

To your success, 🍷

Estela.

How To Choose The Best Website Builder For Your Business

How to choose the best website builder with 5 factors to consider

So you want to create your own website for your blog or business, but don’t know which website builder is the best for your project? I get you. Choosing a platform to set up your website can be tricky, there are simply endless options to pick from! WordPress, Shopify, and Squarespace are the top platforms … Read more

What Platform Should You use to Build Your Website?

What platform should I use to build my website

Looking to build your own website in 2023, but there are so many options to pick from? I get you, this decision can be tricky.

Luckily, you came to the right place. In this post I’ll tell you the 3 most popular platforms for building websites, their pros and cons, and who are they best for.

Then, to wrap things up you can get a personalized recommendation through my free quiz.

Are you ready to choose the right platform to build your website? 😎

Let’s get started!

What are the 3 Most Popular Platforms for Building Websites?

What website builder should I use to build my website in 2023. Comparison of the 3 most popular website builders.

As of 2020, WordPress, Squarespace and Shopify are the 3 most popular website builders. Many successful websites have been built on them.

Keep in mind that if you’re looking to DIY, there’s going to be a learning curve. There will be a lot of things that you have to learn by yourself or to hire someone to help you out. The good news is that you can find online a lot of easy to use tools to help you set up a professional-looking website.

That said, before choosing a website builder make a careful assessment of your goals, budget, time and willingness to learn. Next, get informed on the pros and cons of each platform you’re considering.

To help you get started, I’ve prepared a list with all the details of the 3 most popular website builders mentioned here.

Let’s get started!

1. WordPress

What website platform should you use to build your website in 2023

WordPress is the industry standard for website platforms. Nowadays 36% of all the websites in the world are made with WordPress. Its user-friendly interface allows you to grow and customize your website however you’d like.

WordPress itself is free, but you will have to pay a third party for hosting. See What’s the key difference between wordpress.com and wordpress.org

That said, WordPress is my #1 recommendation to my clients because it offers the most flexibility for both design and functionality.

WordPress advantages:

  • Easy to install and upgrade;
  • inexpensive;
  • highly customizable with endless options for themes;
  • flexible to start a blog;
  • in constant development;
  • supported by a global community who publishes online free documentation. This is very helpful for solving technical issues;
  • thousands of available plugins (free and paid) for more functionality;
  • good for showing up on Google’s search results through SEO;
  • has specific themes available for podcasters and/or Youtubers.

WordPress cons:

  • Not an all-in-one option, which means you have to shop around for hosting and premium plugins;
  • requires more technical skills than either Squarespace or Shopify.

WordPress is ideal:

  • if you feel comfortable enough with technology to figure things out yourself;
  • if you want the ability to customize your design;
  • for bloggers, podcasters and freelancers.

Squarespace is a sleek all-in-one option for building and hosting your website. Its user-friendly platform allows you to create nice landing pages, a clear customer “journey map” and a professional, yet easy to maintain site.

2. Squarespace

Squarespace website builder

You can take a look at their Business plan for all pro users of Squarespace, which gives you unlimited (ish) pages and all of the features of Squarespace.

Squarespace advantages:

  • Easy to use;
  • has beautiful templates;
  • all-in-one option for domain, hosting, and design, allowing you to get up and running quickly;
  • includes options for eCommerce.

Squarespace cons:

  • More expensive than WordPress;
  • not fully customizable;
  • most templates are for setting up websites, not blogs;
  • not ideal for setting up podcasts.

Squarespace is ideal:

  • for brochure or information style websites.
  • if you want to go online as quickly as possible, and don’t want to be overwhelmed by options;
  • for beginners or anyone who feels intimidated by technology.

3. Shopify

What are the best website builders in 2023

If your main goal is to sell goods online, you can’t go wrong with Shopify. It is an easy-to-use eCommerce platform designed foremost to help you sell products and manage your inventory. It offers thousands of themes, most of them including the ability to add a blog.

There are a number of apps you can add to the system to improve the shopping experience for your customers. Many of Shopify’s features (such as auto-categorization of new items) can make large inventories easier to manage.

Shopify advantages:

  • Easy to use;
  • has lots of beautiful themes to choose from;
  • designed to showcase and sell your products (both physical and digital);
  • ecommerce options already built-in.

Shopify cons:

  • Expensive;
  • more focused on eCommerce than blogging;
  • extra paid apps & plugins used to add functionality can add up costs quickly.

IDEAL…

if you already have an inventory of products to sell.

What platform should you use to build your website?

Deciding to set up a website is a smart first step into building your online credibility. But when you’re in front of so many options, things can get tricky. Don’t fret! Remember to:

  • make a careful assessment of your goals, budget, willingness to learn ;
  • compare the top platforms for building websites which are WordPress, Squarespace and Shopify. For sure there many other options (free and paid) that you can check out in this guide.

I hope this article and my quiz help to take a better decision. If you have any questions send me an email.

Why a Website is Important for Your Business Growth?

Why a website is important for my business growth

Thinking about creating a website for your business and wondering what are the benefits of having one? Then you’re in the right place. In this post I’ll tell you 8 reasons why a website is important for your business growth in 2021.

Some Interesting Facts

The fact is, consumers expect companies to have an online presence and will consider a company that doesn’t have one as less professional. And with an effectively designed website, you can showcase your products or services to new and existing clients 24 hrs a day, all year round.

Moreover, with the way people research for local businesses nowadays, having a website where they can find yours is key.

How to promote a blog post after publishing it

Here are some interesting statistics:

That said, if you want your business to pop up in your dream client’s search queries, then you need a website.

Why a website is important for my business growth

8 Reasons Why a Website is So Important for Your Business

1 Get found online by your dream clients.

A website can get your business in front of new targeted clients. Not only those who follow you on social media, but also the people who are looking solutions to their problems on search engines (like Google, Bing, DuckduckGo).

When properly optimized to appear on search engines (with effective SEO techniques), your website can appear for organic (unpaid) search results.

2 Create new streams of income.

A website can help to create new sources of income like selling digital products or services, affiliate marketing, donations, and others. And even though hard work is required to set you up for ecommerce, it’s a long term benefit that’s worth the effort.

3 Be accessible to your clients 24/7.

In case of any eventually, a digital home base can help you keep doing business 24hrs a day, all year round. For instance, when social media platforms are down or change their algorithms, your audience can still engage with your brand through your website.

Moreover, with the new reality the COVID-19 lockdown has brought, a website can help you stay on business.

4 Build online credibility.

Imagine you’re a big success on Instagram with your fashion sense or your photography talent, and then you start getting the attention of big brands. Where would you like them to see your portfolio or send to you an email? 🤔

Well, I’m sure you’d like to refer them to a beautiful professional website where they can see who you are, your work, and some testimonials. That’s right, you want them to see your business as an authentic one. A website can help you build credibility.

See How to build online credibility for your business

5 Create authority in your industry

By publishing content regularly on your website about your knowledge on a topic, you’ll be seen as the leading expert in your niche. Moreover, you can promote that content to other social media channels, right from your website.

See How to grow your email list and show off your expertise with a quiz.

6 Cultivate trust for your business

Blogging regularly about your craft and sharing your knowledge with your audience, can help you build a connection with them. In other words, by evolving your website into a blog, you can earn your reader’s trust.

See “Why Start a Blog for My Business?”

7 Brand positioning

By building a website with a consistent look and feel, people will start recognizing your brand’s voice. It can help you to stand out among a sea of competitors.

8 Grow your business while you sleep.

By implementing an Email Marketing System (EMS) on your website, you can build an engaged audience through email subscriptions. But most importantly, you can keep that audience. Say goodbye to social media’s algorithm, you can still engage with your readers.

What are the benefits of having a website for my business

Where do I get started?

If you’re ready to set up your website, then the next step is deciding to either DIY or to hire someone to help you out. Either way, start by making a careful assessment of your budget, time and willingness to learn.

Next, get informed on the most popular website builders nowadays. To help you find out the right choice, I’ve set up the follwing free quiz.

Take the first step!

Having your own website can bring new possibilities for your business’s growth. From reaching your ideal clients, to creating new streams of income. Moreover, a website is essential to keep your business thriving during these challenging times.

That said, grab your spot in the digital world and get a website today!

How to create an effective blog post on WordPress

How to create an effective blog post in WordPress 2019

In 2019 more and more people come to the Internet searching for solutions to their problems. Whether these problems are health, family, relationships or work related, people want immediate solutions. This represents an opportunity to show up if you have an expertise!

Creating valuable content and sharing it through a blog, is a really great way to start. However, the key is to create useful content for people, which is properly optimized for search engines.

That being said, I’ll tell you how to create effective blog posts on WordPress with 10 steps that go from choosing a topic to publishing your post.

Step by step process for creating an effective blog post.

Following this process will help your blog post increase its chances of ranking well in search engines. Although there is no guarantee that your post will appear in the 1st place of the Search Engine Results Page (SERP), you can still stand out among the competition.

How to create an effective blog post on WordPress and rank well in search engines

HOW TO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE BLOG POST ON WORDPRESS

  • GENERATE AN IDEA
    • Firstly, ask yourself what problem will you help your readers to solve, what value you’re creating for them. Take this post for instance, I will help my readers to learn how to create an effective blog post.
  • DO A KEYWORD RESEARCH
    • Make a research about the idea or topic you came up with. Then, evaluate the level of competition for that topic and decide a specific keyword. This keyword can be a phrase or a “long-tailed keyword”, something that addresses a specific situation. * This is the time to be as authentic as possible.
    • Continuing with the example above, I’ll specify it even more “how to create an effective blog post in WordPress.”
  • START WRITING
    • After you chose your topic and your keyword, write down your ideas around it. Use a word processor, a mobile application in your cell phone or a home assistant. For example, I use the Evernote app in my phone or my Google home assistant to save my ideas and work on them later.
  • FORMAT YOUR POST
    • The key to create a comprehensive blog post is to make your text READABLE. Use short phrases, big large headings and subheadings, and bulleted or numbered lists. TIP: Somehow list posts tend to be more shareable, given that people find them easy to read.
  • INCLUDE HIGH QUALITY IMAGES
    • Emphasize your message with gorgeous, high quality images. If you can produce them yourself, the better, but if not, you can use stock free images from sites like Unsplash or Pixabay. Just remember to never use unauthorized images, as this practice would bring you legal consequences.
    • For photos, I prefer to take my own pictures with my DSLR Canon Digital Camera and my Pixel phone. In addition, I use free stock images from the websites I mentioned in the paragraph above.
    • For graphics, I recommend the Canva or PicMonkey apps. You’ll find tons of designs, fonts and templates for your brand’s needs.
    • Finally, mind the size of your images, as you don’t want to bloat up your website and slow it down. *Page speed is another ranking factor.
  • USE A CALL-TO-ACTION
    • Invite your readers to take an action within your post such as: sharing it, subscribing to your newsletter, read another article from your blog, leave a comment, follow you on social media, etc.
  • LINK IT WITHIN YOUR WEBSITE
    • If somehow your post relates to another post (or several) from your website, link them to it. This is a great opportunity to let your readers navigate better through your website. At the same time, you’ll be making your post available to crawl for search engines. This practice is called Internal linking, which is another ranking factor to consider.
  • REFINE YOUR POST
    • Make sure your post makes sense and works well. Read it two more times or ask someone else to do so, do a spell check, and make sure every link works. In addition, test it in a mobile device and desktop. Finally, fix the issues that may come up before hitting the publish button.
  • PUBLISH
    • Once you are sure your post makes sense, is free of spelling mistakes, and works well in mobile and desktop, you’re ready to go!. Personally, I ask myself if it impresses me, if it does, it’s ready to be published! 🙂

Certainly, this process is not a one day task, however, you can set daily goals to complete each task.

WHAT TO DO AFTER PUBLISHING A BLOG POST?

Right after you hit the “Publish” button, you have to promote your post in order to get as many people as possible to read it, by:

  1. Telling search engines to crawl your web page.
  2. Getting readers from social media.
  3. Notifying subscribers about your new post.
  4. Leaving useful comments in other blogs relevant to your niche.
  5. Responding to comments on your post.

Visit my next post where you can learn:

TO SUM UP

Create content that brings value to your readers and is properly optimized for search engines. In addition, add your own dash of creativity to the mix to create an authentic blog post.


Let’s keep in touch!

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Also, if you have any questions please send me an email, or leave a comment in the form below.