The Website 101 Podcast offers advice on how to build and manage websites. Whether you’re a web developer, or someone who manages your organization’s website, learn how to do your job better. Hosted by Sean Smith, Amanda Lutz, and Mike Mella, who each have 15+ years of experience in the industry.
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January 1, 20197 min
Introduction to Website 101 Podcast
In this episode I talk about the guests, topics and format of the show.
An introduction to the podcast, the goal of the podcast, the format and the target audience. A brief introduction to Sean, the host of Website 101 Podcast.
Advice for both DIY website owners and for those working with a web professional. I hope you enjoy the show and continue to listen. If you have any questions or suggestions, I'd love to hear from you; send me an email.
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Caffeine Creations
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January 8, 201947 min
Planning, Structure, Goals
In this episode of Website 101, Sean Smith talks to Penny Olorenshaw about the importance of website planning and strategy. Learn how to identify your target audience, create a site that resonates with visitors, and optimize for maximum impact.
The website is for the client not for you. It should be addressing what your potential clients are looking for. Take some time to plan your website and online presence before starting.Your customers are not everyone who breathes. It's important to choose a niche and narrow down your target before building your website and writing copy.Themes are one size fit all. You can use a website builder and it will get you online quickly but it won't be as effective as a design that is custom to your clients and needs. Themes look like every other site, but a custom site is unique and driven by your content.Don't get caught up in the tools, use what works for you. Try a couple of different tools until you find one that fits. It's not necessary to use what other people use.Plan before you build. You won't have to start over and will not regret the extra focus it provides. This is really important to do when you are doing it alone. When working with a professional this is often called discovery.
Show Links
Slick Plan
Google Drawing
Google Slides
FreeMind
Mind Meister
Trello
Basecamp
Team Work
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January 11, 201942 min
Web Design Shortcuts You Should Never Take
In this episode of Website 101 Podcast, Sean Smith and Mike Mele discuss the importance of usability testing in website design, the dangers of taking shortcuts like using pre-designed themes and carousels, and the importance of custom microcopy for your website. Learn from an expert how to create a user-friendly website that truly represents your brand.
We talk about some things that businesses often do to save money by cutting various parts of their websites. Avoid shortcuts if you can, but sometimes its unavoidable.
Usability testing should be conducted to help you make your website the best it can be. It's not as expensive as you think it might be. Testing should be done with people in your target audience but not from your organization. They should be unfamiliar with your website to get the best results.
Do not use a predefined theme for WP or a website builder if possible. You content should determine the design not the design determine the content. When using a theme, the design shapes the content and copy which results in sub par messaging and a website that is not memorable or unique.
Common issues include avoiding pop-ups, don't use the phrase click here, and pdfs. There is no fold. Don't worry about above the fold.
Show Links
Should I Use a Carousel
Steve Krug (usability expert)
CRA
Presto Card
Eight common user experience problems (and solutions) for nonprofit websites: Part one
Eight common user experience problems (and solutions) for nonprofit websites: Part two
Why you shouldn't say "Click Here"
Content Carousels/Sliders on the Homepage
I am the Fold
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January 14, 201944 min
Websites Benefit from Continual Development
In this episode Andrew and I talk about why websites need to be continually developed and maintained contrary to expectations of one and done.
A lot of businesses tend to ignore the maintenance on their website and look at it like it's a one and done project. The expectation that a website will work without maintenance is unrealistic. Maintenance doesn't always have a tangible benefit that you can see. The benefits however include not dealing with downtime, bugs, or the site not working like it did when it first launched.
Technology doesn't last forever, this is common in all industries. Support for older operating systems on computers or phones is no longer available. CMSs also get retired, for Example ExpressionEngine 3 retired in December 2018 and Craft CMS 2 will retire in March 31 2019.
Older un-maintained sites may reach a point where it's not possible to upgrade. The only options are to rebuild completely or do band-aid fixes to keep the site limping along temporarily. By being proactive and maintaining a site regularly these sorts of things should not happen.
Continual development is adding in new features or options that were not available at the time the site launched.
Show Links
The Dangers of Over Reliance on Plugins in Website Builds
A Website is Like Owning a Car
Hotjar
Full Story
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January 29, 20191 hr 0 min
SEO 101
A discussion with Luke Stevens talking about the basics of SEO including advice on how to improve your SEO as well as what to avoid and how to choose an SEO specialist.
In this interview with Luke Stevens we discussed SEO. We began with a definition of what SEO is and then some general ideas on building your content and expertise to improve your results.
We also talked about E.A.T which is Expertise, Authority, and Trust.. Luke also talked about technical SEO, how to improve your search results appearance with more details and appropriate meta data.
Other talking points include:
Improving CTR (Click Through Rate) is easier than improving your ranking.Structured DataA/B TestingSEO MythsContent MarketingHow to choose a good SEO Agency
Show Links
Toku (Luke Stevens)
Google Search Quality Guidelines for SEO
Dominic Woodman Slide Deck
Moz
Google Search Console
Google SEO 101 Guidelines
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February 12, 201958 min
Unlocking the Secrets of PPC Advertising with Dan Wood
Learn about the basics of PPC advertising from Dan Wood, a digital marketing expert. Discover how PPC works, what it costs, and how you can start driving traffic to your website today.
Dan starts by explaining what PPC is and how it helps generate traffic including the difference between organic and paid traffic.
Search intent is very important. Google wants to show results to what the user is searching for. Relevance is more important than paying to get to the top of the results.
You have the ability to fine tune the target of where ads show including location and a radius around a pin on a map. It's also possible to exclude variables from results to more accurately target your ads.
Ads are checked by humans, no adult products or ads for products that alter the mind or body: pharmaceuticals, cannabis, alcohol, tobacco. Basically the Disney of advertising.
YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world. RemarketingBidding on the phrases that your target market uses to solve their problems (Speak the language your customer speaks)Customer lifetime valueSpeak the language your customer speaksHow to choose someone to run your ads for you.
Show Links
How Target Figured Out A Teen Girl Was Pregnant Before Her Father Did
Google Academy
Udemy
Adwords Express
Google My Business
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February 26, 201954 min
PR & Marketing
What is PR and Marketing - a look at the traditional approach and then a discussion of how Lyndon is turning that approach upside down.
There were a couple of technical issues from 30:00 to 31:50 resulting in some overlapping voices. Once past this section everything is back to normal.
Public relations is the process of building strong mutually beneficial relationships between a stakeholder and an organization.Marketing is getting people to do things that have a commercial value.We talk about how a small business can get PR and Marketing without the deep pockets of a large conglomerate. And how your company website can be utilized in this area.Relationship strength and mode of communication is very important.
Show Links
Startup PR, Marketing & Publicity – The Future is Lean
The Lean Communications Framework
Maserati’s SuperBowl “Strike” Was Public Relations NOT Advertising
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March 12, 201945 min
Designing Effective Landing Pages for High Conversion Rates
Explore the secrets of high-converting landing pages, their importance in marketing campaigns, and best practices from industry expert Isaac Brudansky.
Isaac defines what a landing page is and when you would create a landing page for a specific campaign or market. We also talk about what makes a successful landing page, successful.
What is a conversion and the different typs of conversions that you may want to track.A/B testingLanding pages are best built in a landing page builder optimizer, not your website CMSCall to action, goal of the page
Show Links
Landing Page Design (Udemy Course)
Google Optimize
Optimizely
Visual Website Optimizer
Unbounce
Lead Pages
Webflow
Conversion XL
Nielson Norman Group
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March 26, 201944 min
Accessibility: Why Your Website Should Be Easy to Use for All
In this episode I talk with Emily Lewis and Lea Alcantara about website accessibility. What it is, why it's important, and how it is more than just websites for blind people.
Emily and Lea start off by providing a definition and example of what accessibility is related to websites. Accessibility is more than making websites accessibility and they also address isssues of why it's a good business case to ensure your website is accessible.
Some businesses are federally mandated to meet specific standards of accessibility. This will vary by country but Canada and the United States both require it in certain industries. Emily and Lea discuss the business case for accessibility - and it's a very compelling reason: Better SEO and increased customer base.
We also discuss remediation which is essentially retro-fitting a website to be accessible. This is not an easy process and there is no silver bullet that will make your website accessible at the push of a button.
Show Links
What is Section 508?
An Overview of Canada's Accessibility Laws
Ontario Government: How to make websites accessible
WCAG - Overview and Guidelines (international standard)
Accessibility according to actual people with disabilities
The Business Case for Accessibility
Master Chef
Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT)
Defendants Fighting Website Accessibility Cases Face An Uphill Battle
Walmart Is Sued by Blind Customers Over Its Self-Service Accessibility
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April 9, 201950 min
DIY Vs Bespoke
In this episode we discuss the pros and cons of do it yourself (DIY) vs a custom bespoke design. We also talk about when DIY is the correct approach and when it may be time to switch from DIY to a bespoke website.
DIY may be unpolished and unprofessional. With an established business that doesn't already have a website, DIY is probably the wrong choice as the wrong decisions could negatively impact your business. On the other hand a newly established business with untested premises and a limited budget DIY is probably the correct choice.
Choosing the correct DIY platform: Website builder or Wordpress
What is the best ROI on your time? Is it in DIY your website or is it spent serving your clients and building yoru business. There's a lot that the DIY person may not be aware of that goes on behind the scenes including UX, SEO and technical issues that are easily misunderstood or skipped entirely. As a website novice the DIYer doesn't know what they don't know.
Hosted platforms such as Wix or Squarespace will take care of security. Self hosted such as wordpress you are responsible for security update.
Show Links
Shopify
Magento
Open Cart
Snipcart
Foxy (Previously Foxy Cart)
Wix
Squarespace
Weebly
Wordpress (Hosted)
Wordpress (Self Hosted)
A Website is Like Owning a Car
My Space (Yes really it's still around)
Who Should Use a Website Builder?
Struggle Free Podcast (no link yet)
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