They’re usually not as earth-shattering as we think, and even when it feels dire, we learn from those stumbles and figure out how to do better next time. 

Still, I’d like to help you avoid a few of those early mistakes, by sharing a few things I wish I’d known during Upswept Creative’s first year of business:

1) Your Small Business is Not For Everyone.

I’ve asked a lot of business owners who they think their offering is for, and they’ll often say, “oh, I think everyone could benefit from this!” They’ll rattle off several audiences or reasons why, and sure, it all sounds reasonable.

And yet, that’s often where new businesses start to lose their way: even if “everyone” could conceivably benefit from what you offer, it’s not really FOR everyone! 

Don’t believe me? Consider this: your offer is not for people who aren’t ready to make the change you’ll bring them. (not everyone is!)

It’s not for people who will have you losing sleep, because they don’t respect the boundaries you’ve set around your work. 

And it’s definitely not for people who aren’t willing to pay what you’re worth. 

If you want to dodge this mistake, start thinking about who’s READY for you. Who has the right mindset? Who has the resources? Who is ready to put their money where their mouth is and invest in your services? 

Then, start zooming in on what those folks have in common. You’ll likely find that it’s far easier to sell your work!

2) Don’t Go All-In on Social Media.

This is maybe a funny thing for me to be saying–I literally offer social media services, after all. And don’t get me wrong: social media can be a valuable investment!… as long as you’re ready for it.

What often happens, however, is that a lot of scrappy entrepreneurs start from zero, thinking that social media will be the magic bullet that gets everyone buying. 

I was no exception! But then, reality hit me: success through organic social calls for a LOT of consistent effort, put in over time. When I was in that early stage of business, I didn’t really have the time or money to throw at social, so my feeds were inconsistent–and inconsistency is often the thing that kills your visibility on social. 

I couldn’t patiently wait for the return on my organic social media efforts, either. Newer businesses usually need a faster return on a smaller investment, and that’s often an investment of time. When you need to book new clients fast, dusting off your Instagram account after several months of ignoring it won’t do the job.

The fact is, as a brand-new business, I’d have been better off focusing on networking, partnerships, or email marketing to build my foundation–and so will you. Then, you can move onto social media to widen that circle once you’re well-established.

3) Only Sell the Work You Want to Do.

In that first year as a solo entrepreneur, I needed to get paid! That led to me taking on a downright unhinged variety of projects: 

• I designed posters and flyers. 
• I dug into hand-coded HTML web pages. (a more common occurrence 13 years ago than it is nowadays!) 
• I worked with all kinds of folks, from tiny budgets to big needs. 
• I took product and real estate photos. 

Here’s the thing: I knew the online space is where I really shine. I knew I wanted to work in WordPress. I knew that in my heart, but for some reason, I slapped all of those other services up onto my website anyway, because I knew I could get paid for them. 

Basically, anything in the design and marketing realm that I thought I could do reasonably well was fair game… but so many of them WEREN’T things I wanted to do all the time! They were merely paychecks.

There are two HUGE reasons why you should only actively sell the work you really want to be doing in your business: 

1. it’s much easier to market and get really good at two services than 20!
2. There will be times when no amount of money is worth doing something you don’t want to do.

Note that this does not mean that you can’t accept other work, if you need to! If you’re feeling the baby business blues and are strapped for cash, it might bring you more peace in the short-term to take those less-than-ideal projects. But, if you don’t enjoy doing those projects, don’t actively sell them.

How did my small business fare in the end?

Well, I’m writing this blog post, so clearly, I made it through the ups and downs. I definitely learned some things the hard way (oops), but now I have a team, and have focused down into websites, social media, and email marketing. It’s 13 years later, and my workdays are much simpler, money comes more easily, and I’m working on projects that I’m actually excited about!

Hopefully, you’re well on your way to a business that lasts 10 years, 20 years, or more! (?!) But if you’re over those early humps and feeling growing pains, jump onto our weekly email series, Social Media Snack Break, to get some help delivered straight to your inbox.

When you’re a new service business, there’s the temptation to take on every client that pays. Even if you may not want to work with a client, you might say yes just to get revenue flowing. (We’ve all been there!)

But, if you’re an established business, there’s the fear of shifting who you serve. Maybe you’re bringing in a stable income with clients who were really exciting to work with back in the day… but now the work doesn’t quite light you up like it used to. Or, maybe your existing client base doesn’t align with your vision for the future.

Whatever the reason, that awkward twinge in your gut is your body telling you to think about client fit. Paying attention to client fit benefits your business, and starting now will bring you more peace and profit in the year to come.

Client fit builds an audience that’s absolutely right for you.

It feels scary to say no to bad-fit clients when you’re new. It’s even scarier to start building a new audience when you’re comfortable with the one you have. 

But, when you think about where your business could be a year or two from now, do you want your inbox to be full of inquiries from this type of client? If you don’t want that, but you keep saying yes to them anyway, you could end up growing an audience you never wanted in the first place.

You’ll save time by ensuring a clear and respectful relationship.

Even when a client needs what you have to offer, the client fit could fall short in other ways:

• Do they work in an industry that doesn’t fit you, or that you even find to be… boring?
• Does the client expect you to be available 24/7, or outside of business hours? 
• Are they asking for fast turnarounds or last-minute changes that you aren’t able to easily accommodate?
• Do they micromanage you when you’d rather be given creative freedom?
• Do they want to be totally hands-off when you prefer to build a more collaborative relationship?

When a client’s needs don’t align with your work style, you take on a bigger headache than you would for a client who fits you well… and you won’t even get paid more for your trouble! Sounds like a bum deal, doesn’t it?

Paying attention to client fit means that you’ll have a client who understands what you need from them and respects your boundaries. You get paid and get to work with someone delightful!

Client fit builds the potential for more ideal clients to come through with less effort from you.

If you’re building a referral-based business, it’s even more important to pay attention to client fit!  When your existing clients refer others to you, they’re most likely to refer you someone who’s just like them.

Think about it: if you just wrapped up working with the Client From Hell, would you want them to send you even more clients like them? Whether working with them was boring, frustrating, or just more than you bargained for, you know you don’t want to do it again.

On the flip side of that, if you just finished your work with an ideal client who was absolutely lovely to work with… do you want them to tell all of their like-minded friends and colleagues about you?

I think I can guess which option sounds better to you.

It doesn’t have to be hard to assess client fit, either.

Not sure whether you have the bandwidth to suss out whether a client fit is pitch-perfect? Even a brief conversation with the client can give you enough information to feel sure in your choice, or enough red flags that you know to pass them onto someone else. Spending that 15 minutes of time up-front could save you hours upon hours of time and frustration!

How can you shift your marketing or your consultation process to start making sure those dream clients come thru?

I get it, too–it’s a tool with a lot of potential, if you know what you’re doing! Some of those changes, however? Mmmmaybe aren’t so positive.

I won’t tell you how to live your life  But if you’re going to embrace AI, I do want you to know what you’re getting into.

First, answer this question:

• Will you be writing all of your copy yourself?
• OR, do you want to hand off copywriting entirely?

“I have to write my own copy.”

If you’re writing your own copy, using AI for marketing copy can actually be a helpful time-saver. Got a topic to write about, but find yourself staring at a blinking cursor and feeling stuck? Asking an AI such as ChatGPT to write about that topic can give you a starting point to work from. 

If you go this route, make sure that you: 

1. check the copy for accuracy, because there’s a lot of misinformation out there.
2. make edits to fit the type of marketing (social, email, blog, etc.).
3. revise the copy so it sounds more like you, and less like a robot.

So, if you’re a newer business that doesn’t have a marketing budget yet, it could actually be appropriate to tag that robot for some help. You’ll be putting your own time into your marketing copy anyway, so a time saving measure like this one is a HUGE win for folks like you.

What if I want to hand off my marketing copy?

If you’ve been reading about AI and thinking, “why don’t I just save some budget and use AI for marketing copy across the board? What’s the problem with that?”

I know, you don’t WANT to write your own copy. You’re busy, you don’t like writing, you’d rather be going on a hike or having some oh-so-precious quiet time.

But sorry, friends, here’s the harsh truth: AI is NOT a substitute for good marketing.

“But why not,” you ask? WELL, here are just a few things our robot overlords can’t do:

• AI doesn’t do unique strategy for your business–it just does exactly what you ask it to. A good copywriter or marketer will come up with strategy as part of their content creation.
• Copywriters and marketers check for accuracy. ChatGPT doesn’t have that kind of quality control built-in.
• An AI “learns” by looking at existing copy… which leads to it generating content that sounds just like everyone else in your industry. (womp wommmmp) Copywriters and marketers, on the other hand, know how to create content that stands out.

The long and the short of it is, if you’re big enough to have a marketing budget, you’ll get much more out of your investment by working with a human being. There’s no algorithm for creativity (well, not yet anyway), and it doesn’t pay to cut corners on quality.

What can I do instead?

If handing off all of your content to a copywriter or marketer feels cost-prohibitive right now, consider hiring an editor or a copy coach to support you! Having an expert eye on the content you create will help you learn to create better content faster, and you’ll see better results from your marketing.

Are you looking for support with your online marketing? Get in touch with us! We can help you rework it all–marketing copy included!–or connect you with a trusted copywriting expert.

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.

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.

What’s All This About “Teamwork”?!

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.

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 YOU 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.

Know Your Values – And Theirs

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.

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.

Skip the Culture Shock

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.

Communicate Clearly

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

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.

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. 

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.

Still, with this July being the 32nd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, now 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.

Headings can improve your website accessibility.

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. 

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.

An added bonus of using headings properly: they can also help your search engine rankings! Using key search terms in heading tags is great for SEO.

Use descriptive link text.

“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. 

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.

Instead, be descriptive with the link text you choose. For example, you can let folks know that they’re about to learn more about web design services. For buttons, you can keep it shorter but still give a clue about what will happen when they click, like saying Book a Consultation on a button that leads to your bookings calendar.

Check your color contrast.

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.

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 color contrast checker, or even a Chrome add-on that lets you see like someone who’s color blind.

Use Alt tags on your images.

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! 

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.

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.

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 all of the people who are looking for you. To learn more about website accessibility, take a peek at ADA Site Compliance’s 20 Ways To Improve Web Accessibility. If you’re looking for help from a website pro, give us a shout.

That’s a LOT of communication. How much of it is truly effective, though?

There are plenty of resources out there about professional email etiquette, and I’m sure you already know about proper salutations, proofreading, and signatures. I’d like to focus on writing better emails, to bring more ease into your everyday communication.

Set Your Intention

Don’t worry: we’re talking effective communication here, not manifestation. Being mindful and intentional about the reason for your email can help you get to, and stay on, your point.

Most of your professional communications will involve asking questions and getting answers to items relevant to your ongoing projects. Be clear about your own objective for your email before you start writing it.

Questions to ask yourself as you draft your email: What’s the main thing I’m hoping to achieve with this email? What’s the main action I want my reader to take?

Having clarity around your intentions can help you get to the heart of the matter more quickly.

One Thing At A Time

You may feel compelled to stuff your email with numerous questions. I’m here to tell you: DON’T.

Yes, it may seem like a time-saver to load up on all the requests at once. But people’s attention spans are short, and their inboxes are full. Stay focused on the one main action you want your recipient to take.

You’re also more likely to receive a useful response. Folks tend to get overwhelmed by too many options, and may be less likely to reply–or send a response that doesn’t give you everything you need. If you really needed those answers, now you’ve got to follow up again. There goes the time you thought you saved!

A question to ask yourself here: how can I make it easier for them to take that action?

If there are several options, narrow them down to the two most effective responses. Make those options clear and concise. You may even consider a straightforward A/B format.

Remember: the goal is to keep things simple, and make it even easier for your reader to reply.

Less is More

Numerous studies suggest that the ideal length of an email varies between 50-200 words.

Of course, the intention of your email can help you determine if you’ll need more content to achieve your objective. While an email that’s too short may come across as terse or ineloquent, a too-long email may turn off your recipient from the get-go.

It’s also important to remember that many of us check email on smartphones. Between a smaller screen and the likelihood that someone is on-the-go, brevity can be the difference between getting a reply and getting ignored.

You’re already proofreading your email for spelling and grammar (you are proofreading, right?). Take another pass for directness.

Avoid cliches and overused words. No need for corporate word salad!

Remember your initial intention. What is the main action you want your reader to take? Does your email include all the information for them to take that action? Anything beyond that may be better suited for another send. 

No matter what you do for work, you almost certainly don’t want to spend all day in your inbox! By taking a few extra minutes to bring thought and intention to the emails you do write, you can save yourself a wealth of time and frustration in the long run.

A lot of us hesitate to raise our rates, even when someone tells us we should, because of what we don’t know. What if we set a price that’s way higher than our competitors? Will we lose clients if we raise our rates? Can we even justify a higher rate?

If you’re looking for permission to just do it already, I’m here to give it to you. It’s probably past time for you to start charging more, and here’s why.

Raise your rates if you know more than you did before.

Back when you first set your prices, you may not have known what you were getting into. Still, even when impostor syndrome is making you feel like you don’t know anything, it’s still a fact that you definitely know more than you did yesterday. 

You’ve put in hours of work since you first set your prices, and you’ve learned from each of the experiences you’ve had during those hours. You’re always learning, and you deserve credit for that, so give yourself that credit.

Your process has gotten better.

A lot of surprises can lurk within the process of getting from start-to-finish with your client, especially when you’re starting out. Every time you experience an unexpected hiccup, though, you likely tweak that process so that hiccup doesn’t happen again in the future, right?

From intake to delivering the goods, you’re doing your work more smoothly and efficiently than you used to, and that leads to a better client experience. Bringing ease to your clients’ work with you has value, too.

You can do the same work in less time.

The time you spend on your work is a big consideration when you charge an hourly rate. As you get more practiced at what you do, you’re able to do it faster than before… which means you’d spend less time, and make less money than before. That doesn’t make sense!

If you bill by the hour, it’s worth your while to regularly evaluate your skill level, and raise your rates accordingly. If you don’t already use a time tracker, start using one–it can give you a better sense of the time you spend on each of your clients.

The world is getting more expensive. (sorry)

If you had a day job before starting your own business, you might have heard the phrase, “Cost of Living Adjustment.” Over time, it tends to take more money to keep up the same lifestyle, so a lot of corporations and government organizations regularly increase pay to keep up with the cost of living.

Or, maybe you’ve been to your favorite restaurant recently, and seen a notice that they’ve raised their prices. If the food they use to make your meal costs more than it did a year ago, they’ll have to raise their prices similarly.

What it all boils down to is that doing things in the world just costs more than it used to. (bummer!) So, if it costs you more to buy supplies for your business, or to buy lunch for yourself, it might be time to bump up your own rates to compensate.

Above all, remind yourself that yesterday’s price is not today’s price. Things like developing new skills, gaining experience, and leveling up your brand are a given as you grow your business. Consider the value you bring to your clients, and what rate will justify that. As long as your new rate matches the quality of services you’ll offer, don’t be afraid to aim high!

—Vivian Ward, Pretty Woman

Whether we like it or not, social media is an important part of modern marketing strategy. 

To be as visible as possible you need a strong, consistent, focused social media presence with engaging content and strategic messaging. You’ll have to regularly post new information, engage with your audience, and keep up with the latest trends and best practices.

And who, exactly, has time to do that and run a business?

You can DIY it for a while, but eventually, you’ll a) get burned out by having to keep up with posting or b) grow enough that social media needs to play a larger part in your business, or c) both. 

Social Media Managers to the rescue! Posting powers activate! 

Having someone take over your social media needs is one of the best things you can do to save yourself time and energy. 

But… what does a Social Media Manager do?

As Upswept Creative’s Social Media Maven I say what we post, when we post, and how often we post. 

Follow me for a peek into what it’s like to have me on your side!

Social Media Strategy

One of the first things I do as a social media manager is evaluate your current social media strategies and figure out how to make them better. If you’ve been flying solo with posting you might not have much of a strategy, but believe me—it’s a whole lot better to have a plan.

Your strategy is individual to you and your business, but includes a few key things:

• What are your goals with social media? 
• Who are you trying to reach?
• What are they interested in and what do they like?
• Where and when are they on social media?

All of these questions determine which social media platform is best for your business and what kind of message will speak to your particular audience. 

Optimize Your Social Media Accounts

Do not neglect your bios! 

If you only knew how many times I’ve seen bios with no information, outdated information, or irrelevant information…

You don’t want to be that person, and I won’t let you. I’ll optimize your accounts to be the first impression that grabs attention. Social media algorithms pick up keywords in your bio that can direct more people to your account. 

We’ll work together to make sure any images, profile pics, or logos are up to date and relevant to your audience and your branding.

And I’ll check that your accounts are all set up to be as effective as possible.

Set Up Social Marketing Tools

There are hundreds of tools, platforms, and software that all want to help you streamline your social media marketing. Researching all the options and learning how to use them is a giant time suck as a business owner.

I’ll help you choose the tools that fit your budget and your needs. And I’ll figure out how to use them!

Social Media Content and Branding

Not all Social Media Managers also create content, but it’s generally part of the job description unless you work with a dedicated marketing team—as is branding.

Your brand is how you show up online. It’s your story, your personality, your voice, and your look. My job is to bring your social media content in line with your brand. 

When someone looks at your social media, they should automatically be able to tell it’s yours. The colors, style, and tone of your posts should be consistent and cohesive across platforms. 

As a content creator, I aim to get your message across in your voice—whether it’s funny and irreverent, serious and business-like, or cute and bubbly. 

Social Media Analytics

How do you know your social media strategy is working? 

As part of my job as a Social Media Manager, I keep a close eye on what’s getting engagement and what’s not. Tracking, tweaking, and testing different kinds of content or different scheduling strategies helps me know what your audience wants more of. 

We’ll meet at certain intervals (monthly, quarterly) to discuss the analytics and what direction we need to take. 

Analytics is one of the most intimidating parts of social media for people to learn, so it’s helpful to have someone else take that on. 

Do I Need a Social Media Manager?

If you want to grow your social media presence and make the platforms work for you, you can totally do it yourself. 

But the time commitment necessary might be more than you’re willing to give. And social media might not be in your wheelhouse. I definitely can’t run a foundation, bake a wedding cake, or any number of things that our clients are amazing at!

If you find yourself overwhelmed and unsure about what to do with your social media, check out our Social Media Strategy Session! We’d love to help you figure out what your next steps should be.

Follow us on Instagram for more social media info and tips.

(Just About) Everyone is Online Now

Once upon a time, online-only entrepreneurs were more exceptions than rule. In the wake of major changes in our economic landscape, more businesses have shifted to an online-heavy or online-only footprint.

According to the Census Bureau, over 4 million Americans filed paperwork to start new businesses in 2021. While this statistic does not necessarily translate to 4 million new online-only businesses, the rise of platforms like Patreon and OnlyFans does indicate rapid growth in the “Creator” sector.

That rapid growth also means more competition in the digital sphere. Which means your offering has to show up and stand out online.

Getting Anti-Social (Media)

Of course we’ll see exceptions to how businesses show up in the online space.

Remember the great Facebook outage of 2021? While it wasn’t connected to an increased number of users, we can say with certainty that more than a few small business owners felt the pinch of lost exposure, engagement, and sales.

We’ve talked before about ensuring you have more control over your digital audience. With concerns about security, privacy, and misinformation, there’s no time like the present to consider changing how you show up online.

Blogs, email newsletters, videos, and podcasts are all viable digital tools to introduce you to new audiences and keep you in touch with your tried-and-trues – all while allowing you greater control of how you engage with these folks.

If you can’t imagine doing business today without Instagram, remember that companies like Lush have already cut the social media cord! That could give you the nudge you need to rethink how you show up online.

Less Work, More Life

Let’s think about those 4 million-plus new businesses. You likely recall the myriad changes in our work worlds that gave rise to this influx of entrepreneurship. Mass layoffs and furloughs, as well as shifts away from in-person business, had many of us rethinking our notions of work-life balance.

Nowadays it’s not enough to pay lip service to ideas like family-friendly work policies and unlimited PTO. Workers want to know they’re being legitimately respected and cared for by their employers. If that isn’t the case… well, we clearly see they’re unafraid of striking out on their own.

If you manage a staff, there’s no time like the present to establish – and practice – workplace values that will help your business stand out. (Shameless plug: we actually know a pretty rad agency hiring right now!)

Before you get too stressed about adapting to all of the new trends on the horizon, keep in mind that not every trend will be as impactful or lasting as predicted. Some of those trends may not make much sense with how you do business, either!

We’ve said it before: it’s better to pick and choose what works for you than to try to be everywhere and do everything–and if you could make it work for you with some outside help, start exploring what that support could look like.

You don’t have to know everything about it, but having a basic understanding will help you make the right choice!

What is Web Hosting?

Web hosting is a bit like renting an apartment. Once your website is ready to be born, it needs a place to live on the web, and it needs an address where folks can easily find it.

You can think of your domain name–as in, the .com, .org, etc. address you purchase–as the address that lets visitors know where to find you.

Your web host, on the other hand, is who you’re renting space from. Web hosts store your website on a server that’s online 24/7. That means it’s ready to serve up your website whenever someone asks for it.

How Do I Choose A Good Web Host?

There are a few big considerations when you’re deciding on web hosting:

Speed and Reliability. It may seem like a no-brainer, but the web host you choose should be fast and reliable! That means it should load your website quickly, and it should very rarely have downtime–even when a lot of people are visiting. Some low-cost web hosting plans will have tight limits on traffic, because they hope you’ll upgrade to a more expensive plan.

Customer Support. If your website does go down for some reason, your web host could be the reason. If your web host simply tries to sell you an upgrade every time something goes wrong, however, they may not have your best interests in mind.  When you contact their customer support team, do you get prompt responses? Do they offer you useful, easy-to-understand details? Do they actually resolve the problem?

Control Over Your Website. Some web hosting companies will insist you get all of your services through them, or they’ll make you pay additional fees for add-ons that are free elsewhere. Do they require you to buy your domain name through them? Do they require you to use their page builder, or pay for extra email addresses? If there are a lot of restrictions on what you can do, chances are there are hidden fees waiting in the wings.

Shopping Your Values. The tech industry has a history of being, well, pretty problematic. Web hosts are no exception, so you may want to keep an eye on what they’re putting out there (anybody remember GoDaddy’s cringe-y Super Bowl ad? CW: gross kissing audio) to see if they reflect values that you’re comfortable with.

Why Does Website Maintenance Matter?

Every website needs a bit of regular maintenance, such as software and plugin updates, to make sure it stays up-to-date and secure. Maintenance plans can vary wildly from one provider to the next, however, and your web host may or may not offer the right service at a reasonable cost. Before you dive in with the first option that seems easy, consider this:

Don’t get scared into overpaying. Unless something in your website gets seriously broken, it should not cost you $1000/month just to keep your plugins updated. Some website companies will intimidate you with tech jargon to sell you an expensive package, but hold steady and make sure to do a little research before you commit.

…But don’t skip out, either. On the other end of the spectrum, it’s tempting to skip a maintenance plan altogether, especially if you’re a newer business on a tight budget. The trouble is, ignoring maintenance could easily lead to security vulnerabilities (leaving you open to hacking!) or cause issues with how your website looks and functions–especially if your website uses a lot of plugins.

Using WordPress? Look for managed hosting. If your website is built in WordPress, managed WordPress hosting is the way to go. It’ll cost a bit more per month than standard hosting, but the web host will also install software updates for you, so you’ll always be up-to-date.

Hopefully, you’re now more confident about finding the right home for your website, but if you’re still feeling nervous, you can always ask your web designer for recommendations. They may even have a hosting partner they can set you up with, like we do!

Or, if you’re ready to shift your WordPress site away from an underwhelming web host, let us take care of you with one of our Maintenance Plans. That means one less thing for you to worry about, which I’ll wager sounds like a sweet deal to most any business owner.