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	<title>Design - Upswept Creative</title>
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	<link>https://www.upsweptcreative.com</link>
	<description>Portland web design and social media agency</description>
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	<title>Design - Upswept Creative</title>
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	<item>
		<title>What’s the deal with Instagram Edits?</title>
		<link>https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2025/whats-the-deal-with-instagram-edits/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kaïa Kirkbride]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 20:54:12 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canva]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CapCut]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[content creation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Instagram Edits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Instagram Reels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Video Content]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.upsweptcreative.com/?p=11876</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Back in April, Instagram launched its new platform-integrated video editing app, Edits, to a mixed bag of reviews. Some of them are positive, though.&#160; Now, if you’ve been following along with me these past few months, you can guess my feelings about giving Meta access to even more of our time, energy, and money. &#x1f609; [...]</p>
<p><a class="btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link" href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2025/whats-the-deal-with-instagram-edits/">Read More...</a></p>
The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2025/whats-the-deal-with-instagram-edits/">What’s the deal with Instagram Edits?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Back in April, Instagram launched its new platform-integrated video editing app, Edits, to a mixed bag of reviews. Some of them <em>are</em> positive, though.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Now, if you’ve been following along with me these past few months, you can guess my feelings about giving Meta access to even more of our time, energy, and money. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/72x72/1f609.png" alt="😉" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> On the other hand, I DO love an efficient tech stack. The idea of one less app is pretty appealing.</p>



<p>Is Edits actually good enough to replace tools like Canva or CapCut, though? Before you cancel any subscriptions, here’s what you should know:</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Edits is intuitive, but with limitations</h2>



<p>Thus far, users are saying Edits is pretty intuitive for non-designers! It also lets you post directly to Instagram and gives you full access to Instagram Reels features that social schedulers don’t have.</p>



<p>However, it doesn’t let you stitch together multiple video clips, due to its basic editing capabilities. Edits is also not ideal if you rely on templates to make Reels – it doesn’t support them. And, if you don’t like working on tiny screens, you won’t like that Edits is only available to use on your phone.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Compare that to tools like CapCut and Canva, where you can:</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>edit videos on both mobile and desktop</li>



<li>access an extensive library of templates and assets</li>



<li>use more advanced editing capabilities, like combining multiple video clips</li>
</ul>



<p>Canva is also an especially good option for small teams and organizations, because it offers easy sharing and collaborative editing.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Keep in mind, however: </strong>Canva and CapCut require a paid plan to unlock some of their more helpful features and libraries, and non-designers may find it to be less intuitive to use.</p>



<p>Ultimately, it all comes down to which option best fits your style, your time, and your business needs. Your video editing skill level – and how complex you want to get with your Reels – will help determine which tool is right for you.</p>The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2025/whats-the-deal-with-instagram-edits/">What’s the deal with Instagram Edits?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<item>
		<title>Is It Really Time to Redesign Your Website?</title>
		<link>https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2023/is-it-really-time-to-redesign-your-website/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sarah Giffrow]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2023 22:28:09 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Content Strategy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Web Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Websites]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[redesign your website]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[web design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[website best practices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[websites]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gentle-day.flywheelsites.com/?p=10520</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>It’s January! We’re stepping into another year! Renewal! Huge goals! Time for big changes! Time to&#8230; redesign your website?! That kind of energy is huge this time of year, in life and in business. We want to make the most of it, so it’s tempting to do ALL THE THINGS… and yet, you probably don’t [...]</p>
<p><a class="btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link" href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2023/is-it-really-time-to-redesign-your-website/">Read More...</a></p>
The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2023/is-it-really-time-to-redesign-your-website/">Is It Really Time to Redesign Your Website?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It’s January! We’re stepping into another year! Renewal! Huge goals! Time for big changes! Time to&#8230; redesign your website?!</p>



<p>That kind of energy is <em>huge</em> this time of year, in life and in business. We want to make the most of it, so it’s tempting to do ALL THE THINGS… and yet, you probably don’t have room to do ALL of the things right now, right?</p>



<p>So, if one of your big changes is about a redesign of your website, I’m going to suggest you pump the brakes for a second. (A web designer telling you to <em>slow down</em> with your website? What?!)&nbsp;</p>



<p>Yes, seriously, because as excited as you might be to dive in, it’s worth your while to do a quick sanity check! There are a few big things to think about that’ll help you decide whether the time is Now or Not.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Is your website actually reaching your goals?</h2>



<p>Think about it: if your website is doing the job it’s designed to do, then there might be other parts of your business that need your attention more.</p>



<p>If it’s not bringing you those leads or sales or email newsletter signups, though, then now is the time to fix that!</p>



<p>If you’re thinking, “What do you mean, goals?” then the answer is probably No. That also means you have some thinking to do!&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Before you start to redesign your website, you’ll want to <a href="https://gosolo.subkit.com/upswept-creative/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">know what results you want to see from it!</a></strong> Even a <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62041bcbd328ec5152cef774">simple website plan</a> can be a huge help for the web designer you plan to work with.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Does your audience know how to find what they need?</h2>



<p>Outside of serving <em>your</em> goals, your website’s job is to give your audience what they want. So ask yourself: can they find it?</p>



<p>If you’re getting constant emails and phone calls with questions that you know your website is supposed to answer, your website likely does need a tune-up.</p>



<p>Or, maybe your website used to be a great fit!  &#8230;But now it feels more like you’re trying to fit an entire circus’ worth of content into a tiny clown car. If you’ve outgrown what you have, it could be time for something new.</p>



<p><strong>Does your website feel like a maze? </strong>Simply sitting down and <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62041bcbd328ec5152cef774">planning your website</a> can help you and your web designer get a handle on what content needs to be there–<em>and</em> what’s most important.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Does it look appealing to you <em>and</em> the people you want to attract?</h2>



<p>I’ll be the first to tell you that even the prettiest, most dynamic website won’t sell a damned thing without appealing and inviting content.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Even so, I’m <em>not</em> going to tell you that looks don’t matter, because, well, they do.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Good content does a lot of the heavy lifting on any good website, but it can’t do <em>any</em> lifting if you’re embarrassed to show your website to anyone!</p>



<p>It may be high time to redesign your website if:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>it doesn’t visually align with the look of your other marketing materials</li>



<li>the design doesn’t appeal to the audience you want to attract (<em>note:</em> the audience you <em>want</em> may not be the same as the audience you’re already getting!)</li>



<li>the look and feel doesn’t fit with where <em>you</em> want your business to go next.</li>
</ul>



<p><strong>So, how much do looks matter to you?</strong> They could be a good enough reason for a redesign.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">If you redesign your website, do you even have time to think about it?</h2>



<p>This is a really hard question for small businesses, because we <em>always</em> seem to be busy! Still, even if you hire a professional to redesign your website, it’s still going to take some of <em>your</em> time.</p>



<p>Any good web designer will at least some of your time for things like:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>giving them a sense of what you want your website to look like</li>



<li>telling them what you want your visitors to do on your website</li>



<li>giving them feedback about whether things are headed in the right direction</li>



<li>making sure all of the information that needs to be there is included.</li>
</ul>



<p>If it’s your busy season, and you don’t even have 5 seconds to reply to your web designer with a thumbs up emoji, you might have to put redesigning your website on hold for a bit.</p>



<p><strong>Do you know you’re too busy now, but want to make sure you don’t put it off?</strong> You can <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/website-design-content-strategy/">book a web design consultation</a> now, and let them know when you’ll be ready to start! Your dream web designer may not even be able to start right away, but even if they are, no creative is ever going to complain about being booked out into the future.</p>



<p>If all of this talk about website goals and content has you reeling, my Simplify + Sell Website Planner is just the thing! <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62041bcbd328ec5152cef774">Get your own copy</a>, organize your thoughts, and get clear on your goals for the new year.</p>The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2023/is-it-really-time-to-redesign-your-website/">Is It Really Time to Redesign Your Website?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>Map It Out: Smart Website Planning</title>
		<link>https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2022/map-it-out-smart-website-planning/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anna Antic]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Dec 2022 21:38:20 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Web Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Websites]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pro Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[web design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[website]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gentle-day.flywheelsites.com/?p=10440</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Let’s say you’ve just started a new business, and you’re next-level excited to get the word out about it. Or maybe you’ve been at it for a while, and you think your online presence could use a New Year’s refresh. Looks like you’re in the market for some design assistance!&#160; A team like ours is [...]</p>
<p><a class="btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link" href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2022/map-it-out-smart-website-planning/">Read More...</a></p>
The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2022/map-it-out-smart-website-planning/">Map It Out: Smart Website Planning</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Let’s say you’ve just started a new business, and you’re next-level excited to get the word out about it. Or maybe you’ve been at it for a while, and you think your online presence could use a New Year’s refresh. Looks like you’re in the market for some design assistance!&nbsp;</p>



<p>A team like ours is ready to help, but good web designers can get it done better <em>and faster</em> if you have a good idea of what assistance you need.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Before you start vetting web designers or jumping on consult calls, let’s discuss how you can start outlining a smart plan for your website design.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What Exactly Do You <em>Do</em>?</h3>



<p>If you’re thinking about a website, your initial thoughts might lean more towards design elements – colors, fonts, logos, et cetera. While these elements are certainly important (and we’ll get to them!), your offering should take center stage.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Start your design mission with clarity about <strong>who you are</strong>, <strong>what you offer</strong>, and <strong>who will benefit</strong> from this offering.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What Exactly Should Your Website Do?</h3>



<p>Consider your website as your virtual storefront. If someone were to walk into your shop or office, what kind of experience would you want them to have? Would you make a great first impression if a potential customer had to wade through piles of boxes just to get to you? Probably not!</p>



<p>A physical storefront exists to feature what you’re selling, and make it easy to buy. From the customer’s perspective, they want a place where what they need is within reach and easy to find. Your online storefront should have the same intentions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As you embark on your website design project, be clear about what you want your website to feature and how you want your potential customers to engage with you.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Put the “Fun” in “Functionality”</h3>



<p>With your offering taking center stage, you should also think about how your new website can improve the experience you deliver to your client.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Having your contact information accessible and easy to find is an excellent start. Perhaps there could also be questions you can add to a contact form to speed up the onboarding process.</p>



<p>Can your website eliminate some extra steps for the customer as well? Functionalities like online scheduling or payment portals can help them start working with you quicker.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Online stores or e-commerce plugins can also improve the shopping experience if you’re selling products. Again: <strong>the goal is creating a clear path for your customer to get what they need.</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Good Design Solves Problems!</h3>



<p>Remember when I said we’d get to design elements earlier? Well, here we are! Smart, intentional design sets you apart from your competitors. A unique look or brand can also help attract your dream customers.</p>



<p>You may be thinking, “Geez, if design is so important, why’d you wait so long to bring it up?” If you’ve chosen a smart design team, their goal should be <strong><em>purpose-driven design</em></strong>. You want the look and feel of your website to support your mission and vision, and to guide your site visitors on a clear path through your site. Yes, the design should attract your ideal folks – but it’s your offering that should keep them engaged and interested.</p>



<p>All of this said: it definitely helps if you have at least a general idea of how you’d like things to look. If you already have a brand kit, complete with a logo and color palette, that’s a great start.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Maybe you’ve seen other websites that inspire you (or turn you off!). Sharing these with your design team can get the creative wheels turning. Don’t be shy about letting them know about your likes and dislikes!</p>



<p>If a new or refreshed website is one of your 2023 goals, you know we’re ready to help! If you want an assist mapping it all out, <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62041bcbd328ec5152cef774" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">our website planner</a> is the perfect tool to get that started. Or jump on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/website-design-content-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">a consultation call with us</a>!&nbsp;</p>The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2022/map-it-out-smart-website-planning/">Map It Out: Smart Website Planning</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>Collaboration By Design: Tips for Better Creative Teamwork</title>
		<link>https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2022/tips-for-better-creative-teamwork/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anna Antic]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Sep 2022 22:11:19 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pro Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[design]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gentle-day.flywheelsites.com/?p=10247</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>There comes a time in every small business owner’s life where she realizes she’d rather focus on delivering her offering, instead of stressing out about marketing and promotion. When that time comes, you have options! Folks like our fine team here at Upswept are happy to chat with you about making your online presence shine. [...]</p>
<p><a class="btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link" href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2022/tips-for-better-creative-teamwork/">Read More...</a></p>
The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2022/tips-for-better-creative-teamwork/">Collaboration By Design: Tips for Better Creative Teamwork</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There comes a time in every small business owner’s life where she realizes she’d rather focus on delivering her offering, instead of stressing out about marketing and promotion. When that time comes, you have options! Folks like our fine team here at Upswept are happy to chat with you about making your online presence shine.</p>



<p>Something to consider, though: you’re inviting a designer or agency to be more than a service provider. You want someone who understands you, your audience, and your goals. You want a creative teammate.</p>



<p>Of course, we all remember the old adage, “There is no ‘I’ in ‘team.’” As much as you are hiring someone to provide a service, your provider will expect at least some collaboration so they can help you reach your goals. Here are a few tips to help you and your agency partner work better together.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What’s All This About “Teamwork”?!</h3>



<p>You may be thinking, “If I hire an agency to design my logo/build my website/manage my social media presence, shouldn’t they be doing most of the work?” And you’d be right, for the most part! You hire someone for their specific expertise, which is likely outside of your own zone of genius.<br><br>Thing is, your agency isn’t in it to only show off their skills. Their zone of genius is using their years of technical experience to help <strong>YOU</strong> shine online. The only way they can make that happen is if they have a strong grasp on your goals. And the only way they’ll capture that is if you share the details, goals, and resources that are so vital to the project.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Know Your Values &#8211; And Theirs</h3>



<p>We talk about values often here at Upswept. Making positive contributions to our community is important to us. We choose to partner with other small businesses and nonprofits with the same intentions, and we don’t shy away from these intentions in our own messaging.</p>



<p>How an agency carries itself online can tell you a lot about them. It will also give you an excellent idea of how they may express your ideals online. Take some time to scope out someone’s social media presence to get a better sense of their “voice” and their priorities. Make sure they fit with your own.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Skip the Culture Shock</h3>



<p>Just as a creative provider has a set of values, they also have a certain vibe to who they are and what they do. Make sure your company culture matches theirs. You can appreciate someone’s design style or marketing brand voice, but their approach to the work should fit you well, too. For example, if you’re a by-the-book professional focused on metrics and strict deadlines, you may find working with a more laid-back creative-type more frustrating than fruitful.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Communicate Clearly</h3>



<p>Keeping lines of communication open is crucial to a good working partnership. What makes great teamwork, though, is also being clear about <strong><em>how</em></strong> you prefer to communicate.</p>



<p>These days, many of us work remotely, and often asynchronously. We rely on email to keep us connected to our coworkers and clients, but there may be times when you need a different way to communicate. You may prefer the occasional phone call, or feel more confident with a regular in-person meeting. You may also find that an online meeting with screen sharing makes it simpler to talk through your needs. Be clear about what works best for you! This way, your creative teammate knows the best ways to connect with you.</p>



<p>Set expectations around availability. You may need someone who can share files or deliverables outside of traditional work hours. Make that expectation clear on the outset, so you don’t find yourself frustrated when you need something after 5pm on a Friday.&nbsp;<br><br>Deciding to work with a creative team can be daunting. But it’s a sign that your business is growing, so celebrate it! Remember your goals, your values, and your communication style—being clear on those will help you find your perfect match in a team.</p>The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2022/tips-for-better-creative-teamwork/">Collaboration By Design: Tips for Better Creative Teamwork</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>Simple ways to improve your website accessibility</title>
		<link>https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2022/simple-ways-to-improve-your-website-accessibility/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sarah Giffrow]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jul 2022 18:16:42 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[general]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pro Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Web Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Websites]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wordpress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[accessibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[web design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[website]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gentle-day.flywheelsites.com/?p=10105</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>If your website is hard to navigate for people with disabilities, you're leaving out a potentially huge part of your audience.  [...]</p>
<p><a class="btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link" href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2022/simple-ways-to-improve-your-website-accessibility/">Read More...</a></p>
The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2022/simple-ways-to-improve-your-website-accessibility/">Simple ways to improve your website accessibility</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A great time to think about how to improve your website accessibility is, well, yesterday. If your website is hard to understand or navigate for folks living with disabilities, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/infographic-disability-impacts-all.html">millions of people who may be in your audience</a> could get left out–and leave your website entirely.</p>



<p>Still, with this July being the 32nd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, <em>now</em> is a good time to think about website accessibility, too. Some accessibility issues can get pretty technical, but there are some simpler ways to improve website accessibility that will help other folks in your audience, too.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Headings can improve your website accessibility.</h2>



<p>Using headings throughout your website is just good practice, especially if you have a longer piece of content. Larger and more visually interesting headings help break up content visually for everyone, whether they have a disability or not.&nbsp;</p>



<p>If you’re using a website builder, making the text “look nice” isn’t enough for website accessibility. If you see text options in your builder such as Heading 1, Heading 2, etc., you want to use them! Those Heading options correspond to their own special tags in the website code, so assistive technologies can recognize them as headings, making it much easier for folks to move through your website.</p>



<p>An added bonus of using headings properly: they can also help your search engine rankings! Using key search terms in heading tags is <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/category/seo/">great for SEO</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Use descriptive link text.</h2>



<p>“Click here” is a frequently used phrase for links on websites, and I’m here to tell you: that is precisely what NOT to do for website accessibility.&nbsp;</p>



<p>People who rely on screen readers to navigate your website won’t know what the purpose of the link is or where it will take them, if you just use “click here” for your link text.</p>



<p>Instead, be descriptive with the link text you choose. For example, you can let folks know that they’re about to <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/website-design-content-strategy/">learn more about web design services</a>. For buttons, you can keep it shorter but still give a clue about what will happen when they click, like saying <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/web-design-social-media-consultation/">Book a Consultation</a> on a button that leads to your bookings calendar.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Check your color contrast.</h2>



<p>Colors aren’t just for making your website look engaging and pretty–they also help your audience easily distinguish different pieces of content! However, when folks in your audience have color blindness, or even just have trouble reading dark text on a darker background, you can lose their attention pretty quickly.</p>



<p>This is why it’s important to choose colors carefully. If you’re working with a good web designer, then they’re hopefully checking for color contrast already! If you aren’t, there are some tools that can help, such as this <a href="https://adasitecompliance.com/ada-color-contrast-checker/">color contrast checker</a>, or even <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/i-want-to-see-like-the-co/jebeedfnielkcjlcokhiobodkjjpbjia/related?hl=en-GB">a Chrome add-on that lets you see like someone who’s color blind</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Use Alt tags on your images.</h2>



<p>Something we’ve definitely noticed in web design trends is a reliance on photos and graphics. And hey, I get it. They’re eye-catching and inviting when done right!&nbsp;</p>



<p>Unfortunately, screen readers can’t interpret photos and graphics used on your website. (sad trombone) That’s where Alt Text comes in! In short, alt-text describes the photo that a screen reader sees when it’s on your website. That way, folks with vision impairments can at least understand what’s in the image, even if they can’t see it.</p>



<p>And, just as with headings, using Alt tags on your images can also boost your SEO, so it’s definitely worth doing. Just look for an area in your website builder (such as WordPress) for a place to type in the short description of your photo.</p>



<p>This post isn’t an exhaustive list of ways to improve website accessibility, but I hope I’ve given you a few ways to help make sure your website is inviting in <em>all</em> of the people who are looking for you. To learn more about website accessibility, take a peek at <a href="https://adasitecompliance.com/20-ways-improve-web-accessibility/">ADA Site Compliance’s 20 Ways To Improve Web Accessibility</a>. If you’re looking for help from a website pro, <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/contact/">give us a shout</a>.</p>The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2022/simple-ways-to-improve-your-website-accessibility/">Simple ways to improve your website accessibility</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>Don&#8217;t Make Your Website Users Think</title>
		<link>https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2021/web-design-user-friendly/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sarah Giffrow]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Sep 2021 19:38:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Web Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Websites]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gentle-day.flywheelsites.com/?p=9161</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Good web design is a must-have if you want your small business to look professional. However, looks aren’t the only thing your website needs to focus on. Good design should also keep website usability in mind. If your visitors have to think too hard about how to find what they want, you’ll easily lose their [...]</p>
<p><a class="btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link" href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2021/web-design-user-friendly/">Read More...</a></p>
The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2021/web-design-user-friendly/">Don’t Make Your Website Users Think</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Good web design is a must-have if you want your small business to look professional. However, looks aren’t the only thing your website needs to focus on. Good design should also keep website usability in mind. If your visitors have to think too hard about how to find what they want, you’ll easily lose their attention and their business.</p>



<p>I’m sure it comes as no surprise that it’d take a long time to teach you how to make your website look sharp. Still, there are a few basics of design that you can use to make your website more user-friendly.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">User Expectations: If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It</h2>



<p>Most of us have been using the web long enough to see that there are certain patterns and trends to how websites are laid out. That’s not an accident! Experienced website experts have tried and tested a lot of different structures and design standards over the years, so we’ve learned a lot about what’s intuitive.</p>



<p>The good news: that means we don’t have to reinvent the wheel—in fact, we should avoid getting too wild with structural changes in your website design! Folks have come to expect certain structures because of the time they’ve spent on other websites in the past. When you stick with those patterns, your website is going to be more familiar, and users will have an easier time finding what they need.</p>



<p>Don’t be afraid to look at websites of other brands you admire, and see how they’ve laid things out and what they have in common with each other. They can provide clues for how you can make your own website more intuitive.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Most Important Info Comes First</h2>



<p>You’ve probably heard me say it before: you have a tremendously short amount of time to capture your audience’s attention on your website. Furthermore, nobody visits a website because they want to do things the hard way! Doing business online is supposed to make life easier for your audience.</p>



<p>You can make their experience with you easy from the start, by making it easy to find important information on your website.</p>



<p>Think about the last time you wanted to visit a local restaurant. You probably wanted to know their hours, their address, and maybe check out their menu. <em>Did they make it easy to find that information?</em> (A surprising number of eateries still don’t!) You probably didn’t want to read a whole page of information just to find a few small-but-necessary details.</p>



<p>When you’re planning out each page of your website, think about the information that your audience needs the most, and make it easy to spot. If getting vital information feels like a scavenger hunt, your visitors may just give up.</p>



<p>Fair warning: this can be a challenging task. Too much information too soon can intimidate your visitors. Still, planning your content intelligently in order to strike that fine balance does pay off, so it’s worth the effort!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Make Calls-to-Action Catch Their Eye</h2>



<p>Remember <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2019/why-your-website-doesnt-keep-your-audience/">what it felt like walking into the Apple Store</a> for the first time in a long while? Did you look around and think to yourself, “I’m here… but what am I supposed to do next?” That feeling is exactly what you <em>don’t</em> want your website audience to have.</p>



<p>If we’re already unsure of how far the average visitor will read, they also may not read very carefully. That means they could skim right over that booking link or purchase button you’re dying for them to click!</p>



<p>Luckily, this is a problem that’s easily solved: a splash of color, a bold icon or border, or larger text are all ways you can draw more attention to that call-to-action. Catch their eye with visuals, and make it clear what will happen when they click through.</p>



<p>It’s natural to want to stand out online—we want that for you, too!—but we also want to be sure it doesn’t muddy your audience’s experience. If you stay in touch with what your audience needs, you can have fun experimenting with brand voice and visuals, while still giving folks an easy-as-pie experience that delivers on what you promise.</p>



<p><strong>Want to know more about making your website serve you <em>and</em>&nbsp;your customers better?</strong> Our Purpose-Powered Website course is designed to guide you through dialing in your content strategy and structure, and our next cohort starts in just a few weeks! <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/programs/purpose-powered-website/">Learn more about the program and reserve your spot.</a></p>The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2021/web-design-user-friendly/">Don’t Make Your Website Users Think</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>Why You Aren’t Getting Website Leads</title>
		<link>https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2020/why-you-arent-getting-website-leads/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sarah Giffrow]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2020 19:06:03 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pro Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Web Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Websites]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gentle-day.flywheelsites.com/?p=8141</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>I believe that a website should do more than take up space on the internet. I’ve created websites with features ranging from online booking to membership programs to interactive quizzes, and y’all, the power of a website as a business tool is massive. A pretty universal goal for most any website, however? Get someone to [...]</p>
<p><a class="btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link" href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2020/why-you-arent-getting-website-leads/">Read More...</a></p>
The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2020/why-you-arent-getting-website-leads/">Why You Aren’t Getting Website Leads</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I believe that a website should do more than take up space on the internet. I’ve created websites with features ranging from online booking to membership programs to interactive quizzes, and y’all, the power of a website as a business tool is massive.</p>
<p>A pretty universal goal for most any website, however? Get someone to click something. Whether it’s filling out a contact form, visiting an info page, or clicking a “buy” button, you want your visitors to engage somehow. You want them to take the next step.</p>
<p>What’s getting in the way of that? Chances are, it’s at least one of the following reasons.</p>
<h3>They Don’t Understand What You’re Offering</h3>
<p>Part of your website’s job is to educate your audience on what you’re offering them. If they don’t understand it, they won’t know if they want it… so why would they click through?</p>
<p>If you’re not getting those click-throughs, think about your website as if you were totally new to it. What would someone who doesn’t know you or your product need to know to decide if it’s right for them? A few bullet points or an explainer video could go a long way towards getting your audience excited.</p>
<h3>They Don’t See How It Can Help Them</h3>
<p>Okay, so now it’s pretty clear what your offering is, but you’re still not getting clicks. That means you may not be giving them quite enough detail about your offering. They can see what it is, but they aren’t seeing why they need it.</p>
<p>So, give a little attention to the value: what does it do for them? Is it a shoe that can survive a hurricane? Is it the perfect massage tool to solve their back problems? Is it a cool piece of tech that can save them a ton of time and money?</p>
<p>You don’t have to write a novel about it on your homepage, either—just give them the highlights, and invite them to click through and learn more.</p>
<p><figure id="attachment_8143" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8143" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-8143" src="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/simpsons-wheres-any-key-300x225.gif" alt="animated GIF of Homer Simpson asking &quot;where's the 'any' key?&quot;" width="300" height="225" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-8143" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Does your website make your visitors feel like Homer?</strong> Make sure it&#8217;s clear where they should go next.</figcaption></figure></p>
<h3>They Can’t Tell What To Do Next</h3>
<p>Okay, so you’ve got them educated, and they’re interested. It’s clearly something they need… but what if they can’t find the next step?</p>
<p>This can be for one of a couple reasons:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>The Action Isn’t Obvious.</strong> Do you not have a call-to-action link they can click on? Add one! Is your “Order now” button getting lost on top of a busy photo? Make it bigger and bolder, or try adding some color.</li>
<li><strong>Too Many Options.</strong> If there are too many eye-grabbing elements, they won’t be able to decide which one to click. If you hit them with too much text, they’ll get overwhelmed and leave your website. Instead, think about it more like a story that unfolds as they move through the site: give them just enough to keep them interested, but no more.</li>
</ul>
<p>Whether you’ve got Too Much or Not Enough going on, here’s a good gut check: when you look at your homepage with an unfocused eye, does the next step jump out at you? Is it easy to find? It should be obvious and easy to take the next step, so if it’s not? See how you can make it so.</p>
<p>When it comes to website strategy, this just scratches the surface, but hopefully you have a better handle on the basics.</p>
<p>If you’re looking for individualized help with strategizing and updating your website to get you more of those spicy-hot leads, you can <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/one-day-website-intensive/">reserve a One-Day Website Intensive</a> and get our help with making big changes in a small amount of time.</p>The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2020/why-you-arent-getting-website-leads/">Why You Aren’t Getting Website Leads</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>Shifting Your Website for Shifts in Your Goals: A Case Study</title>
		<link>https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2020/shifting-your-website-for-shifts-in-your-goals-case-study/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sarah Giffrow]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2020 03:24:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[case study]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Content Strategy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Web Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Websites]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wordpress]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gentle-day.flywheelsites.com/?p=7359</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>A consistent mistake I see in websites, across a variety of industries, is that they don’t show clear goals or intentions. Or, perhaps a business website reflects goals from their past, rather than reflecting what they are now. Your website has the potential to be a powerful tool, but if your website isn’t trying to [...]</p>
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The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2020/shifting-your-website-for-shifts-in-your-goals-case-study/">Shifting Your Website for Shifts in Your Goals: A Case Study</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A consistent mistake I see in websites, across a variety of industries, is that they don’t show clear goals or intentions. Or, perhaps a business website reflects goals from their past, rather than reflecting what they are now. Your website has the potential to be a powerful tool, but if your website isn’t trying to achieve the right goals, then it can actually hurt more than it helps.</p>
<h3>If you look at your website and feel unsure about what goals it’s meant to achieve, that’s a strong cue that it’s time for a redesign.</h3>
<p><strong>When the First Presbyterian Church of Portland came to us, their outdated website wasn’t helping them reach their goals for the future.</strong> The First Presbyterian Church of Portland’s old website was a classic example of one that did well enough at past goals, but not current ones. They had created an informational resource that worked for their existing members, and covered the long history of the church and its unique features.</p>
<p>However, beyond that, their old site missed out on some key opportunities:</p>
<ul>
<li>Their website didn’t function well on mobile devices.</li>
<li>The multitude of resources and bulletins for members didn’t do much to invite new visitors in, so growing their membership was a slow process.</li>
<li>Their community service and their music and arts events got lost in the shuffle, when First Presbyterian wanted those aspects at the forefront.</li>
<li>They lacked clear messaging and imagery to give a sense of what their community is like—a serious gap when community is the biggest motivator for becoming a member!</li>
</ul>
<h3>Getting Goal-Oriented</h3>
<p><figure id="attachment_7363" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7363" style="width: 400px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mobile-view-scaled.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-7363" src="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mobile-view-300x202.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="269" srcset="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mobile-view-300x202.jpg 300w, https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mobile-view-1024x688.jpg 1024w, https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mobile-view-768x516.jpg 768w, https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mobile-view-1536x1032.jpg 1536w, https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mobile-view-2048x1377.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-7363" class="wp-caption-text">First Presbyterian Church of Portland needed to reach a younger and more on-the-go audience, so a mobile-responsive design was a must-have in our website goals.</figcaption></figure></p>
<p>As we dug into learning about First Presbyterian’s culture and goals, we discovered aspects of their community that could really shine on their website and widen its scope beyond promoting worship services and getting news out to current members.</p>
<p>We knew their goals as an organization were:</p>
<ul>
<li>Encourage participation in services and other activities,</li>
<li>Grow their membership,</li>
<li>Reach an audience of younger families,</li>
<li>Create greater awareness of their public events in music &amp; art.</li>
</ul>
<p>To ensure they could expand their reach towards younger families, part of our process involved a deep dive into their brand voice, with the help of copywriter <a href="http://www.abbiwood.com/">Abbi Wood</a>. Focused discussions with the Head Pastor and other leadership at First Presbyterian helped us learn about their vision and their community values, so the website’s messaging would be both clear and inviting for a modern and tech-savvy audience.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, we did a thorough audit of their existing website content to determine what content best served their audience, and worked to gather photo and content resources to bolster their brand story.</p>
<p>From there, we crafted a website design that supports their goals, as they are in the here and now, by:</p>
<ul>
<li>Creating a mobile-friendly website that reflects their community’s modern perspective and commitment to the city of Portland</li>
<li>Restructuring the site map and homepage to bring their Community Outreach and Music &amp; Arts efforts to the forefront.</li>
<li>Making it easy to find information about worship services and joining their membership</li>
<li>Sharing details about First Presbyterian’s offerings and events in a way that is both visually engaging and easy-to-digest.</li>
<li>Building an interface that is easy for their internal staff to manage, so all of their information is up-to-date.</li>
</ul>
<h3>First Presbyterian Church of Portland now has a modern website where people can easily find out how to join their events, and become a part of their membership.</h3>
<ul>
<li>Visitors immediately see the faces of an active and engaged community, whether they’re on mobile or desktop, and are invited to learn more about it.</li>
<li>Visitors can easily see calls-to-action on the homepage guiding them towards attending services, exploring their outreach efforts, and partaking in their arts and music offerings.</li>
<li>Their public events and volunteer efforts for the community are front-and-center, as cornerstones of what makes their community unique.</li>
<li>Their website now has a refined content strategy, speaking to their values in a way that is concise and inviting, rather than dense and intimidating.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Some Benefits of the New Website:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Improved engagement from visitors who are new to the organization,</li>
<li>Time saved on administrative tasks and website maintenance, so they can turn more of their attention towards publications and social media outreach,</li>
<li>Fewer questions both from current members and from those interested in joining,</li>
<li>Comfort in having an online presence crafted by a team of professionals, that truly reflects their community and values.</li>
</ul>
<p>To take a closer look at the finished product or others like it, <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/portland-web-design-branding-social-media/">take a look at our portfolio</a>.</p>The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2020/shifting-your-website-for-shifts-in-your-goals-case-study/">Shifting Your Website for Shifts in Your Goals: A Case Study</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>Get That &#8220;Yes&#8221;: Your Customer&#8217;s Journey Starts With Content</title>
		<link>https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2019/drive-your-customers-journey-with-content/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sarah Giffrow]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Nov 2019 21:53:58 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Web Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Websites]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gentle-day.flywheelsites.com/?p=7031</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>For a lot of people, the web seems like weird tech magic—you create something out of bits and bytes, and it somehow generates sales, right? For organizations redesigning their websites, the &#8220;process&#8221; might look like this: Build new website and launch it. &#8230;???&#8230; Profit! Sounds pretty easy, right? Not so, friends. An updated design isn&#8217;t [...]</p>
<p><a class="btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link" href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2019/drive-your-customers-journey-with-content/">Read More...</a></p>
The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2019/drive-your-customers-journey-with-content/">Get That “Yes”: Your Customer’s Journey Starts With Content</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For a lot of people, the web seems like weird tech magic—you create something out of bits and bytes, and it somehow generates sales, right? For organizations redesigning their websites, the &#8220;process&#8221; might look like this:</p>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Build new website and launch it.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">&#8230;???&#8230;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Profit!</li>
</ol>
<p>Sounds pretty easy, right? Not so, friends. An updated design isn&#8217;t necessarily going to boost revenue or connect you with the right people just because it&#8217;s &#8220;new.&#8221; <i>That expectation is not reality.</i></p>
<p>To get real mileage and actual results from your website, you need to take the time to think like your customer. Can they tell what you’re offering? Can they easily make a purchase? Can they tell how to contact you? If you’ve heard the term <i>user experience</i>, that&#8217;s what it is on a basic level: you want to design your website in a way that’s centered around what your customer needs to know, and directs the <i>experience</i> your customer will have.</p>
<h2>Your Customer&#8217;s Journey</h2>
<p>You can pretty safely make some assumptions about your customer’s first visit to your website. In all likelihood, they land on your homepage, thinking that <i>maybe</i> they could benefit from what you offer. Maybe you&#8217;ve had a conversation with them, or maybe they found you through a web search.</p>
<p><figure id="attachment_7032" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7032" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/giphy.gif"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-7032" src="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/giphy.gif" alt="David (Schitt's Creek) looking at phone confused" width="300" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-7032" class="wp-caption-text">Don&#8217;t leave your customers lost and confused! A good user experience means keeping it simple.</figcaption></figure></p>
<p>They&#8217;re not 100% sure they want to buy in, however. They don&#8217;t know much about you and may not even fully understand what you do! And if they can&#8217;t find what they need in a few short seconds, they’ll bounce away. (oh no!)</p>
<p>You’ve probably struggled to get what you needed from a website yourself. Think about a time you were on a company’s site trying to find pricing, hours, contact information, or even service or product offerings. What was <i>your</i> journey like? Were there words or functionalities that confused you? Could you find what you needed, or did you click around before getting frustrated and going elsewhere? What drew you in? What drove you away?</p>
<h2>What&#8217;s Keeping Them From Saying Yes?</h2>
<p>Ultimately, your website&#8217;s job is to make the <i>right</i> people feel 100% sure that they want what you offer. How do you get them to 100% sure? <b>Give them what they need to know to get there, and make it </b><b><i>easy</i></b><b> to find.</b></p>
<p>That means helping them understand what you offer <i>and</i> what problem it will solve for them. That means building their trust in you and your expertise.</p>
<p>AND, it means <i>NOT</i> burying those offerings in a wall of text, behind a truckload of details and buzzwords that your potential customers don&#8217;t actually care about.</p>
<h2>Start Driving The Bus: What Are You Actually Saying?</h2>
<p>We&#8217;ve said it before, and we&#8217;ll say it again: <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2017/content-first-design/">Content Is Queen</a>. The most beautiful and rich design in the world won&#8217;t get you where you want to go, if the right content isn&#8217;t there to back it up. Style matters, of course, but substance is what makes your brand communicate easily, stick in your audience&#8217;s minds, and speak to their hearts.</p>
<p>What do you need to tell them? Here are a few places to start looking for those hooks that will make them feel ready to say Yes to you:</p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What are the common misconceptions about your work? </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What do your customers ask you about most often?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What specialties do you offer? (or </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">not</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> offer?)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">And most importantly: </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">how do they get started?</span></i></li>
</ul>
<p>Are the gears in your brain already turning? That&#8217;s because this is A LOT to think about! It&#8217;s a key part of what we do when we design and build websites at Upswept, and it&#8217;s too important to gloss over. If you&#8217;re not sure where to go next, <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/brand-strategy-session/">I&#8217;d love to help you out with a Strategy Session</a>. Let&#8217;s talk it through!</p>
<p>Next time, we&#8217;ll go more deeply into why content strategy is so important to building an easy-to-use design, and how to start getting those results!</p>The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2019/drive-your-customers-journey-with-content/">Get That “Yes”: Your Customer’s Journey Starts With Content</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>Cascadia Blade Works puts an end to dull moments with sharp tools</title>
		<link>https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2019/cascadia-blade-works-puts-an-end-to-dull-moments-with-sharp-tools/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sarah Giffrow]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Sep 2019 20:39:14 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Locals We Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Web Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Websites]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gentle-day.flywheelsites.com/?p=7002</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>One of the real joys of our work is bringing an exciting venture to life, and Cascadia Blade Works has excitement going for them in spades. Connecting with them was a learning experience not only in the technicalities of blade sharpening, but also in the power of connecting with your values, and following the path [...]</p>
<p><a class="btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link" href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2019/cascadia-blade-works-puts-an-end-to-dull-moments-with-sharp-tools/">Read More...</a></p>
The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2019/cascadia-blade-works-puts-an-end-to-dull-moments-with-sharp-tools/">Cascadia Blade Works puts an end to dull moments with sharp tools</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the real joys of our work is bringing an exciting venture to life, and <strong><a href="http://www.cascadiabladeworks.com/">Cascadia Blade Works</a></strong> has excitement going for them in spades. Connecting with them was a learning experience not only in the technicalities of blade sharpening, but also in the power of connecting with your values, and following the path where they lead.</span></p>
<p><figure id="attachment_7004" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7004" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/interview_cascadia02.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-7004 size-medium" src="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/interview_cascadia02-300x200.jpg" alt="interviewing Suzanne Pratt, co-owner of Cascaida Blade Works" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/interview_cascadia02-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/interview_cascadia02-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/interview_cascadia02-1024x683.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-7004" class="wp-caption-text">Co-owners Don Fitchett (top) and Suzanne Pratt (above) chose with purpose in mind when they embarked on their sharpening business.</figcaption></figure></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Co-owner Don Fitchett</strong> shared during our interview that enjoyment was at the heart of their business beginnings. &#8220;Suzanne and I started the business a little over a year ago, with the pretense of, &#8216;hey, what do we want to do that&#8217;s fun, enjoyable, and unique?&#8217; And I&#8217;ve always had an affinity for machines and tools!&#8221; </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After doing some research, and talking with an acquaintance who’d made a similar career pivot, they found there was a lot of opportunity to pursue their knife sharpening venture here in Portland. At that point, they were committed to the idea, and reached out to us about getting their branding and website in place, to make a splash in the local knife sharpening market.</span></p>
<div class="work-testimonial" style="width: 40%; float: right; margin-left: 20px;">
<div class="work-gallery-corner"></div>
<h3 style="padding: 20px 30px;">&#8220;Having my own business&#8230; the human interactions, and helping people&#8230; it&#8217;s made me feel more comfortable. I&#8217;m more happy with myself.&#8221;</h3>
</div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Co-owner Suzanne Pratt</strong> shared with us early on that their sharpening system was special: &#8220;It really comes into play with knives, because different knives have different purposes. And they were manufactured to be at very specific angles. And we can set those angles. It&#8217;s precise, repeatable, and symmetric… we&#8217;re in the small minority of people using this process.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After I saw their process in action, I knew that we wanted to present them as a higher-end service than your average knife sharpener, and giving their online brand a polished and refined look was a lot of fun for Team Upswept.  As Fitchett noted, &#8220;a lot of people are eyeballing it, and they are getting a sharp edge. But are they getting the </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">right</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> edge?&#8221; </span></p>
<p><figure id="attachment_7003" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7003" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/SLG_1485-Edit_web.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-7003 size-medium" src="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/SLG_1485-Edit_web-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/SLG_1485-Edit_web-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/SLG_1485-Edit_web-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.upsweptcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/SLG_1485-Edit_web.jpg 1000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-7003" class="wp-caption-text">Cascadia Blade Works had a plan to stand out in their market, with their water-cooled sharpening technique and a focus on garden tools.</figcaption></figure></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cascadia Blade Works also wisely had a niche in mind to set themselves apart even further: sharpening garden tools. &#8220;From talking to other knife sharpeners in the area, they really want to focus on knives. And we&#8217;re branching out and doing garden tools, and we’re really finding a market in there. There are a lot of passionate gardeners in Portland, and to help them is great.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The best part of collaborating with these folks was the sheer energy they brought in. They were actively engaged throughout our project together, and I felt their emotional investment in the venture. Just in talking with the two of them, it quickly becomes apparent how much pride they take in their work, and the sheer fulfillment they feel at helping others: </span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>DF:</strong> &#8220;Even with garden tools, I can think of specifically a woman who brought us a hand-pruner… about ready to throw them away. And we sharpened them, and I made her cut some weeds, right then and there, and the look on her face was, &#8216;look out, garden, I&#8217;m coming after you!&#8217; [laughs] It was just great seeing the joy in her face&#8230; there are no bad vibes in there.&#8221;</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>SP:</strong> &#8220;She was really excited, because her hands are arthritic, and she loves gardening, but it was just getting so hard for her.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="http://www.cascadiabladeworks.com/"><strong>Cascadia Blade Works</strong></a> is now appearing at farmers markets, and also hosting neighborhood pop-ups and offering on-site sharpening for commercial clients. Don in particular is loving the work, and the direction their lives have taken: &#8220;Having my own business, especially working around these farmers markets, and the human interactions, and helping people&#8230; it&#8217;s made me feel more comfortable. I&#8217;m more happy with myself.&#8221;</span></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/projects/cascadia-blade-works/">Take a closer look at their online brand »</a></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>The post <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com/2019/cascadia-blade-works-puts-an-end-to-dull-moments-with-sharp-tools/">Cascadia Blade Works puts an end to dull moments with sharp tools</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.upsweptcreative.com">Upswept Creative</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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