How to Give Useful Feedback to Your Designer | Prescott, AZ

Believe it or not, website designers, like many creatives, need a fair amount of information and direction from their clients to deliver. Designers are considering so many visual and background elements that they are generally unable to produce the best work without their client’s thoughts and desires being understood. When the client feels there is more direction needed to achieve their vision, they should feel comfortable expressing their thoughts. Here are some tips on how to effectively communicate with your designer to achieve the results you want.

Specifics. We hear from clients that they are timid about providing a designer too much information or aesthetic direction. More times than not, an over-explanation of what you are seeking from your digital presence is more welcome than total creative freedom. Designers will take your list of must-haves, dreams and desires and boil them into a cohesive presence.

Inquiries. There are times when elements of a website edit don't suit you, but you are unsure of how to proceed - that’s okay! It is the perfect time to ask your designer his or her thoughts on how to bring a given element to life or rethink your approach. The designer is your ally in making your digital presence enticing, cohesive and user friendly.

Sources of Inspiration. Remember Pinterest? Think of the accumulation of your perfect website inspiration as a pin board. Gather it together; the colors, layouts, fonts, down to the cute accents - everything that makes you think “this is so my brand”. Designers are really good at taking your laundry list of likes, dislikes and “I want to be likes” and boiling them down into a presence your clients or customers will remember. More is more so bring it on!

Design is a collaborative process. It’s going to take time and multiple edits to get it just right so take a deep breath and be a true creative partner - even when you don’t know the answer.

Interested in developing a website with the professional designers at Jelly Websites? Visit us online at jellywebsites,com or call our team at 951.371.9327 today!

Website Elements that Highlight Your Services | Prescott, AZ

As website developers, we encounter clients whose industries range from dentistry to boating. Each client wants to showcase their products or services in a way that shares their story, captures interest and generates clientele. Here are a few ways we suggest business owners may highlight their enterprise on their website.

Video. This is a great way for businesses to showcase their services. Whether you are an architect showing areal footage of a project or sell jet skis and want to show them in action, many industries can benefit from this visual experience. It makes a compelling introduction to your enterprise to feature a video on your website home page. It’s certainly an investment worth considering.

Podcast. Relatively new to online spaces, podcasts are another compelling way to generate interest in your services. Podcasts are not for every industry, but if you can tap into an interest with consumers about your business it can go a long way to highlight your services. Setting aside an hour every week-or-so to discuss your enterprise can be a time efficient way to generate interest and expand a client’s understanding of what sets you apart.

Social Channels. Integrating an Instagram feed or Youtube channel to your website is another way owners can expand their SEO, getting them found more seamlessly online. While it would’t  necessarily make sense to share your personal feed with potential clients, having a business-oriented social channel can. These mediums serve as a pseudo-resume, exemplifying quality, customer service and an expertise in your craft.

A Seamless Experience. Of course, all of this is lost when a potential client becomes frustrated with their experience on your website. Ideally, a potential client will work through your website, and gain an understanding of your enterprise without a second thought. While it may seem counter-intuitive, or feel like what you would want is acknowledgment for a fantastic website, the more seamless the better. You would rather a potential client not notice the subtleties of a brilliant presentation than be frustrated.

Want to learn more about how you can add exciting elements to your website to highlight your services? Visit us online at jellywebsites,com or call our team at 951.371.9327 today!

How to Make Your Website Shine | Prescott, AZ

Believe it or not, but you have about eight seconds to grab the eye of your website’s visitors. There isn’t much time to convince new or returning customers to linger, so when you add content to your website, think fast. What do you want your possible clients to know before they click on?

Here are some ways you can reconfigure your website to get the attention you want:

Keep it quick. Try to come up with a catchy, effective paragraph about your company and its products. If there is something you want your visitor to check out, make sure to place it at the top of the page.

Quick loading time. A slow website will not only limit what you can say but may also dissuade your potential customers. If you are worried about load time, try resizing pictures, limiting GIFs and make sure you also have a reliable host.

Make it attractive. Landing pages are great to capture attention since it’s just one page to display your idea or product. Make sure it matches the rest of your website, so you don’t confuse your visitors.

Easy read. Most people prefer to read a short amount of text, so try eye-catching headlines that lead to longer articles. Bullet points on your front page are also great to make points quickly.

Safety and statistics. People like to feel secure about your company or purchases, so use colorful charts, testimonials and security logos to help make them feel better about your business and website.

Mobile and tablet friendly. Now that most internet browsing is done on mobile devices or tablets, it is very important for your site to load quickly and reliably on all devices.

If you’d like to improve your website's visibility, contact Jelly Websites at 951-371-9327 or visit www.jellywebsites.com for additional information.

Is Your Email Secure? | Prescott, AZ

Believe it or not, internet scams, viruses and hacking can impact your computer – and life – via email. These online threats are more than just annoying pop-up ads, people can use these email scams tap into your personal information.

So, how secure is your email server?

Here are some things we have noticed that contribute to a less-than-secure email server:

  • It uses SMTP rather than encrypted messaging
    • Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) can be accessed by outsiders because it inherently lacks security features
  • Your mailbox consistently receives spam
    • Your email may be linked to a cybercriminal if you are bombarded with potentially malicious emails. Clicking unknown links can put malware on your system

Email communications are tied into the fabric of our lives and businesses. It’s important to understand your security settings, application allowances and the access your email has to your computer. While it may not make an email server “safe”, at least you know what your settings were and can improve upon them if needed.

 Jelly Websites utilizes and trusts Microsoft Office 360 for us and our clients. We recommend Office 360 because it is compatible with most operating systems (including MAC), provides premier security, is reliable, encrypted and HIPPA compliant. This means that Office 360 is there for you and your business, no matter what you need to keep secure.

When you create or transition to a Microsoft Office 360 account for your business, it can be quite the task. Trying to set up a well-integrated business profile with multiple domains and employee accounts can get messy quick. Our team is prepared to help! We will work with you to understand the domains and email accounts you need to run your business, set you up with Office 360 and pass along the information so you manage it from there.

Take the stress and insecurity out of your business communications with Microsoft Office 360 and let the team dedicated to helping small businesses grow, do the work for you.

Call Jelly Websites at 951.371.9327 or visit online at www.jellywebsites.com today!

Pros and Cons of Building Your Own Website | Prescott, AZ

Creating a compelling website for your business matters. In our globalized world, you want everyone to connect with your brand and purchase what you have on offer.

There are several ways to create the website of your dreams; here are some things to consider.

The Pros:

Save Money. Taking the time to ideate your own website design, and even get a service to create it will be cost effective. Especially if your business is a start-up, then getting the basics of what you want out of your site is going to be a cost saver.

Accomplishment. There is a valid sense of accomplishment that comes with creating your own website design to promote your business!

New Skills. Since there are so many ways to put together a website, there are certainly some things to learn. You will walk away with an understanding of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Flash and many other creative and technical programs.

The Cons:

Time. Between learning about all the programs, design and finalizing user experience, building a website is a time commitment. As a business owner, you may not have the time it takes to create and maintain your new site.

Professional. For a website to look great, drive sales, and work properly takes a lot of effort. Building your own website could lead to it looking unprofessional simply because you aren’t a web designer.

Copycats: When the average person creates their own business website they typically gravitate towards prefabricated templates. While not an inherently bad idea, it can cause your website to blend in with the crowd.

Your online presence will help you make strides in your enterprise. Whether you decide to create one yourself or work with the professionals at Jelly Websites, a great website is just a few clicks away! If you would like to build, improve, or better maintain your website, call the design team at Jelly Websites today at 951.371.9327 or visit www.jellywebsites.com for more information.

Website Building

Building an engaging, beautiful and informational website can seem like a daunting prospect. A business owner in any field may be able to sell his or her product or self in-person but translating that into an online presence may not come easily. The process can be generalized into about four steps:

  1. Conceptual meeting about the needs of the client or business online
  2. Foundational design and coding of the website
  3. Business- specific adjustments
  4. Maintenance

One of the most precarious aspects of website design, and arguably the most daunting, is the coding. Handwritten code can elevate a website to the next level, providing a customized experience for the consumer that, ideally, will allow them to remember your business presence and come back for more.

A website is necessary for any business anymore, but it does not mean it needs to be the owner’s responsibility. With 25 years of experience in custom website design, the professionals at Jelly Websites will build a website that meets your needs and engages consumers, guaranteed.

If you’d like to find out more about building a website, contact Jelly Websites in Corona, CA at (951) 371-9327 or visit www.jellywebsites.com for additional information.

Custom Web Designs

Modern business owners rely on the tools that have escalated countless enterprises from start-ups to six figure companies. Most notably, a company’s website needs to land; both on the first page of a Google search and with the consumer. One of the best ways to ensure your business presence is representing the best of what you have to offer is with a custom design for your website. As the digital world becomes increasingly intertwined with globalization its not unfathomable to have your business go global – meaning your website needs to be more than active; it needs to tell a story. When you work with a professional to enhance or create a presence for your company, it allows you the opportunity to share what features, colors, flow and feeling you want your potential customer to experience without the hassle of developing it yourself. There are several reasons why hiring out the initial design, and maintenance of, your website is beneficial to the modern owner:

You have a full schedule – Last time we checked, being a business owner does not mean you need to develop everything. Its okay if at the end of the day there isn’t any energy left to think about color schemes and file formatting. If running the business is taking up all your time, keeping up on your website should be shared with the professionals so you can focus on growing your company.

You are a “big picture” thinker – Maybe you are the type of business owner that can see how your five-year plan breaks down per quarter but can’t seem to come up with a creative spin for your online presence. Having your website professionally designed means your big picture ideas can be worked into a beautiful and functional site that enhances the vision you have for your brand without all the stress of sweating the details.

Your website requires updated content – As it grows, your business might become heavily reliant on getting information to your client base meaning a website can quickly go from being a digital business hub to requiring weekly maintenance. If this is the case, its going to take away from your allotted time to actually run the company meaning hiring a professional to take care of it means you can better care for your clients.

If you’d like to find out more about building a website, contact Jelly Websites in Corona, CA at (951) 371-9327 or visit www.jellywebsites.com for additional information.

Tips to Writing a Great Blog | Corona, CA

One popular way to get out some creative energy is to write a blog. Not only will it enhance your website’s content and drive traffic, but it can also generate more business your way. But there are some basic tips to keep in mind when getting started. After all, you want your blog to be read – why not make it the best it can be?

Find your focus. Ask yourself this question: Who do I want to target? Once that's settled, you can home in on a niche category and be the expert on it. People want to know that they are getting help from someone they can trust.

Be relatable, be yourself. What will set you apart from others is going to be your voice. Let them know what you’re about. Let them know that you can be trusted, and your voice will be that exact way to showcase that.

Use links within your posts. Linking sites within your blog is a great way to increase your search engine rankings, but it can also enhance your reader’ experience.

Include images. Not all posts will lend themselves to an image, but when they do, take advantage of it. There are plenty of ways to visually enhance each blog to keep the reader’s attention.

Respond to blog comments. A great way to connect directly with the people who are reading your work. Answer their questions and thank them for reading.

Post to all social media platforms. Don't be afraid to use social media to publicize your posts. Anything that makes it easier for potential readers to find your blog is a must. It may seem silly, but friends and family will love to support all your hard work!

If you’d like to find out more about writing a blog, contact Jelly Websites in Corona, CA at (951) 371-9327 or visit www.jellywebsites.com for additional information.

Jelly Websites proudly serves Prescott, AZ and all surrounding areas.

Building Your First Website | Corona, CA

Here we are – ready to take a stab at creating your very first website. It’s incredibly overwhelming, isn’t it? We get it. There are good websites and there are poorly built websites – how can we be so sure that we can do this? Because we want a great looking website, one that will drive traffic to what you’d like to show to world. And there are lots of hosting sites that make it seem easy as pie. But not everything is as simple as it seems and using these sites may not be the smartest decision for your current goals. Here are some reasons why not to use these sites to build a website.

It doesn’t save money. It begins with a free offer and ends with a bait-and-switch. Sure, you can set up a basic blog, but it has ads on it (that don’t benefit you), you get terrible support with significant space limitations. Unless you subscribe. Third-party sites can become expensive as they try to get you to add on unnecessary features.

Third-party builder limitations. At first, you’re not going to be customizing your website much, but compared to a standalone content management system (CMS), you have very limited options when it comes to web design, functionality, file access, and customization.

Template platforms aren’t any easier to work with. The final reason that people are drawn to these website template platforms is that they promise beginner ease. But if you know what you’re doing, you can set up a WordPress business website in 5 minutes. And each time you do it, you’ll learn more and get better (and faster) at it.

If you’d like to find out more about building a website, contact Jelly Websites in Corona, CA at (951) 371-9327 or visit www.jellywebsites.com for additional information.

Jelly Websites proudly serves Prescott, AZ and all surrounding areas.

Common Website Mistakes | Corona, CA

Bad web design advice is everywhere. We hear it practically every day in our line of work from clients who just want the best for their business. Which are you a culprit of? Take a look at the more common mistakes:

Desktop design. Now that roughly half of all website traffic comes from users on mobile devices, having a responsive website is an absolute must.

Calls to action above the fold. A case study found that pages with calls to action lower on the page perform 304% better than pages with a call to action above the fold.

Cluttered forms. Instead of overwhelming your users with long forms asking for several pieces of their background, history, and contact information, stick to the key info that you need to get in touch.

Broken links. Removing broken links from your site is an extremely easy and effective way to improve user experience, keep users on your site, and even improve your search engine rankings.

Pared-down mobile websites. Instead of eliminating important features, prioritize which ones your mobile users need most and place those higher on your mobile page.

Pop-ups. Pop-ups, autoplay content, and other interrupting elements frustrate and annoy your website visitors. Instead, entice your users to opt into your content.

The competitors. When you mimic designs and content that you see on your competitors’ websites, you don’t set yourself above the competition.

Too much copy. Use things like headings, images, and bulleted/numbered lists to break up that content while using shorter paragraphs to embrace white space.

Press releases vs. blog posts. If your blog is filled with press releases, there’s a good chance that users won’t want to read them. If there’s a certain point you want to get across, a blog post is best.

If you’d like to find out more about building a website, contact Jelly Websites in Corona, CA at (951) 371-9327 or visit www.jellywebsites.com for additional information.

Jelly Websites proudly serves Prescott, AZ and all surrounding areas.