Blog

1. Believe in yourself.

Don’t panic, you’ve come up with great ideas before you can do it again. Grab a piece of paper and write down everything that comes to mind no matter how random. It may trigger an idea.

2. Pretend you’re a customer.

Ask yourself what you’d want to know about your business if you knew absolutely nothing about the industry in which you work. Write a blog answering each question.

3. Crowd source.

Why do all the thinking for yourself? Post the question on your social media outlets and wait for your Facebook or Twitter followers to put their two cents worth in.

4. Ask a guest to blog for you.

Find someone or related to your industry to write a guest blog on the topic of their choice.

5. Search trending topics in a Google.

Hot searches on Google will give you a good indicator of what everyone on the internet is talking about and searching for.

6. Use predictive search for Google or YouTube.

Start typing in one idea and both Google and YouTube will automatically give you a list of other suggestions which might inspire a few ideas.

7. Get inspiration from reviews on eBay and shopping sites.

Look at reviews from similar products or services you are selling and address feedback or comments made online in a blog.

8. Visit forums.

Find out what internet forums are talking about, address questions posted in these groups and turn it into a blog or a social media post.

9. Listen to podcasts.

Find podcast related to your industry and set aside some time to listen to a few. It’s a great way to generate ideas.

10. Outsource to a professional.

Far too busy to worry about coming up with your own ideas, contact XDesigns who have the creative tenacity to conjure up content for you.

11. Visit a blog idea generator.

Google blog idea generator and add in three keywords you’d like your blog to be about and it will think of the ideas for you, then you just have to write them.

Google recently announced a new Google algorithm called BERT and they’ve already started rolling out the changes. What does this mean for your business? Should I be worried?

In this article we’re going to cover:

• What BERT is
• What effect will the algorithm have on search engine results pages (SERP)
• How the Google update will affect your business
• The changes you can make now to ensure your website stays relevant

What is BERT?

BERT is an acronym that stands for Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transforms. We know what you’re thinking. So what does that even mean? In the most basic terms BERT has been developed to help computers understand the way humans speak and our language patterns.

Will Google’s new algorithm affect search engine results?

Definitely. In fact, Google has already started to introduce changes, starting with English and then being updated globally. It is the biggest change since the introduction of RankBrain (part of Google’s core algorithm that uses machine learning for computers to get smarter) and it will affect 1 in 10 search queries. In the most basic terms, there is no doubt that it will affect the traffic to your website.

Using Natural Language Processing (NLP), it allows Google to predict what you’re trying to search for before you even finish typing. You may have noticed when you type into the search engine bar, Google will try to anticipate your next words, this is called Natural Language Processing.  Try this out for yourself. Open Google Chrome and start typing: What does the…Google will try to predict what you are searching for and provide you with a selection to choose from. As you keep typing, if it hasn’t already figured out what your are searching for, it will keep throwing up suggestions. Google was already using this before the introduction of it’s new algorithm, but let’s take a closer look at the effect Bert will have on search results.

One of the examples of Bert in action that Google provided was a search that included the phrase ‘2019 brazil traveller to usa need a visa. In this search, the word to is exceptionally important to understanding the correct context of the phrase. Before Bert, Google would have struggled to comprehend that sentence structure and the relevance of preposition and would have included search results about travellers from the USA travelling to Brazil. Now that Bert is on the scene, Google now knows that the word ‘to’ is very pertinent to the search results. Going forward, Google will be able to take into consideration words like ‘for’ and ‘to’.

There are also changes to featured snippets. For example, if you searched how to parallel park on a hill, Google would put the emphasis on the parallel parking part of the search query and ignore the hill aspect of the question, so the Google update is going to make your search requests much more relevant.

What does the new Google Algorithm mean for my business?

If you haven’t paid much attention to your SEO, it would be a very good idea to get an SEO or marketing expert audit your website. People are getting more specific in their search queries and with the update, it means your website and SEO need to be very specific too.

What changes can I make to my website to ensure it says relevant?

Any SEO expert will tell you to create extra long educational content is the answer, but BERT doesn’t count words. It doesn’t care whether you have a 500 word page or 900 words, because it’s quality that counts. Does it answer the questions your customers would be typing into a search field? Is your content informative and educational? Are you using the specific words in your page titles? It’s time to get ultra-specific.

Check out where you rank on the search results, if you notice you’re not ranking as highly or you’re not getting the traffic you used to, at XDesigns Advertising we can help you get back on track. Remember, it’s not about ensuring you just rank for certain keywords, it’s a holistic approach that’s required. For an SEO health check to ensure your website is ready for the BERT Google Algorithm updates, contact us today.

Websites are continually evolving.

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) feels like a mammoth task to get your head around. It feels like you just get to grips with what it takes to get your website to rank in search engine results and BAM, Google updates their algorithms.

There have been vast improvements on voice recognition software and with searches via mobile phones being increasingly popular way to access the web, Google is focusing more on answering questions.

So what do you need to know to future-proof your website for 2016?

It’s all about being mobile

It seems like common sense considering the popularity of smartphones and portable devices like the iPad, but you would be surprised at how many businesses still don’t have mobile responsive websites. The goal is to make sure the user experiences the same experience they would access your site from a desktop computer. This means when designing the website layouts and page elements need to be taken into consideration.Here are a few options you can incorporate to improve the experience for your potential customers navigating your website

• Think about designing for the mobile first, rather than just what looks on a desktop computer.
• Keep design simple.
• Make sure the products are set out clearly and big enough to see with priority given to products mobile users may purchase more frequently.
• Consider using mobile coupons.

Making sure your website is mobile-friendly is your first priority

Become an authority on your product or service.

When users are searching, they are more like to ask questions like “How do I know if I have Shingles?”, “Where is the best restaurant in Melbourne?”, “How do you do a French braid?”

Providing the direct answers to questions people might ask about your products or services will help with your SEO. Particularly now that voice command software is increasingly becoming more popular.

Make yourself an authority on your business by providing the answers to everything can possible imagine. This is made easier by remembering the 5 W’s – Who, What, When, Where and Why, and the one H- How.

Think about the way you interact with Siri, Samsung Galaxy, YouTube voice search, you don’t just say, “Cold”, the web search is likely to generate thousands of search results on cold weather, cold places to live, anything with the word cold. You are more likely to say, “How do I cure a cold?” Siri or whatever voice search software will reply with here’s what I’ve found on How do I cure a cold?. If you are a naturopath or have a pharmacy, having a page on cold cures and making yourself an authority on all things to do with colds and flu is going to help you rank higher.

Concentrate on making your content local, don’t skimp on product information and pricing

Make use of Google+ Local

Get your friends and family to review your website, products or service on Google+ Local, The more rave reviews, the more visible your website will be. After all, what’s the point of having a great website if no one can find you.

If you’ve been putting off future-proofing your website, now is the time. Don’t miss out on prospective sales and clients. Contact XDesigns today to get your current website evaluated so you start off 2016 in the right way.

Finding a great graphic designer can be a mission. While it can be tempting to accept the cheapest quote, you have to remember the old adage, “You get what you pay for.” However, that being said, how can you be sure you’re getting your money’s worth from your graphic designer.

A graphic designer worth their weight in gold should be:

1. Able to think outside the square.

A good graphic designer should be able to recommend ideas or avenues you may not have even contemplated. By sharing innovative opinions with you it demonstrates they actually engage their brain to think about what they’re doing rather than pumping the work out exactly to your specifications

2. Attitude-free

While it’s great that a graphic designer cares enough to point out if they think design is going to look hideous, there comes a time when it comes down to it, you’re paying the bills. You don’t want to have to engage in a full-scale argument over fonts.

3. Provide you with options

A great graphic designer will provide you with a number of concepts to select from and explore each option in a variety of colours.

4. Quick turnaround

Obviously you can’t expect great design concepts overnight, but you also don’t want to be waiting for a month or more. Be sure to check when you can expect to get your designs back before signing any contracts.

5. Creative

Designs should be unique to your company, not just plagiarized from another business

Run your current graphic designer past this five-point checklist and if they don’t meet the standards, you’re not getting your money worth. For a graphic design studio that prides themselves on meeting every criteria of this list, contact XDesigns Advertising and find out how they can transform your business branding.

2015 is just around the corner and if you don’t already have a responsive website design, your company could be in big trouble.  B y 2015 all businesses that rely on the internet will need a responsive website, because it really is the way of the future.

What is a responsive website?

It’s a website designed to modify itself to perfectly fit the screen depending on what kind of device a person is accessing it by. Have you ever accessed a website on your smartphone and it’s so large, you have to move it around your small screen with your finger to even access the navigation bar? Then it wasn’t designed as a responsive website.

If a person can’t open your website on a smartphone, iPad, laptop or desktop computer without it looking like it was designed for the device they are accessing it by, and navigation or reading body copy is difficult (i.e.: they have to zoom in or out to read text or it doesn’t look like the same website design they can access via the internet), you’ve lost a potential client in about 2.5 seconds. If it’s all too hard, they’ll go looking somewhere else.
Even if we can’t convince you to upgrade your website, perhaps the fact that everyone else is getting theirs upgraded to being responsive should be motivation enough. After all, do you want to be the only business in the world that hasn’t redesigned their website to be accessible by all devices? If you don’t switch now, you’re going to be left out of the running.

More than 4.3 billion people worldwide use their phones to access the internet which is expected to grow to over 5 billion by 2017. Surely, that’s proof alone that having a multi-device friendly website is the way of the future.

If you’re completely technically-challenged and aren’t sure whether your website is responsive, or you want your website to be responsive ready in time for 2015, it’s time to make your move. Spend the money today and invest in your website future by contacting XDesigns Advertising. Whether it’s a few tweaks or a complete website overhaul, they have the technology and the professional know-how to take your website worldwide.

How to increase the lifespan of your blogs

You’ve just paid an amazing copywriter to create a blog post for you, so now what? How do you get the most out of a blog post?

The majorities of blogs have the lifespan of a goldfish’s memory, but there are strategies you can utilise to inform your social followers the minute it is published and processes to recycle it weeks and months later.

There are 5 easy steps to follow.

In a highly competitive digital world your website needs to stand out to make a difference. It has to look good, be easy to find and simple to navigate. It needs to automatically adjust depending on the device and browser it’s being viewed on, and most importantly, it needs to be working for you after hours.

You can have the world’s most attractive website, but without the essential components to drive your marketing results, convert visitors into customers and generate new leads, it’s basically just a good-looking website.

In an exclusive offer to visitors to XDesigns.com.au, you have to opportunity to gain insight into the must-have website components enabling you to take your business to the next level.

You’ll discover how certain website elements combine to create engagement and highlight your company’s uniqueness, along with discovering ways to turn visitors in repeat customers.

Learn how to make your website work for you while you are taking care of other aspects of your business, even while you are sleeping. Additionally, you’ll find out how to integrate your social media networks and start your own blog.

XDesigns can walk you through this entire process with a complete website review, helping you understand what aspects of your website work well, and areas they feel your site could benefit from improvement. Then if you decide to proceed with their suggested changes, they can work with you to streamline this process.

Ensure your website is digital ready for 2017 and contact XDesigns without delay to book in your website review. Hurry, spaces are strictly limited. Our clients are located throughout Australia, Sydney, Castle Hill, Norwest, Parramatta, Ryde and Seven Hills.

Related Tag: Website Designers Sydney

What is a web spud?

It’s the internet form of a couch potato, a website that sits on the internet doing absolutely nothing. It achieves nothing. It costs you even though it’s sitting in cyber space doing nothing and it never changes. People get bored of visiting and sooner or later, your website is forgotten. Find out if your website has turned into a web spud and whether it’s time you contacted XDesigns for a refresh.

1. Your staff profiles include bios of ex-employees.
2. You haven’t logged on to your website to update it in over a month.
3. You haven’t made any changes to your website since it was built.
4. It features products you no longer stock.
5. You don’t have Google Analytics installed to track how your website is performing.
6. You have Google Analytics installed but number of visitors clicking on your website are staying for 30 seconds and never coming back.
7. It’s hard for visitors to navigate their way around your website.
8. Your page titles don’t reflect the content.
9. The text is hard to read and there’s screeds of it.
10. Poor security makes your website a target for hackers.
11. You haven’t embraced social media.
12. Your website has been set up by a family member or friend as a favour.
13. Your website isn’t mobile friendly.
14. The site is slow to load.
15. You’ve had your website for years but it’s never had a makeover.
16. Search engines don’t know your website exists.

If you’ve answered yes to just one of these questions, contact XDesigns Advertising to get your website back on the cyber highway to success.

Everyone keeps telling you how important brand awareness and positioning are. You know that, what you want is practical advice you can put into action. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Today we’re going to talk about how to create the voice of your brand.

Think of your brand like a person. Every person is a unique creation, the distinctive sound of their voice, the way they speak, the type of language they use, all combines to make them different.

The first question you need to ask yourself is who are you trying to reach?

Who are you trying to reach?

Depending on the type of people you want to communicate depends on how you would speak to them. The way you speak to your grandparents is different to the way you would talk to your best friend. It’s the same with a brand. If you want your brand to reach unemployed school leavers, you wouldn’t use the same language as if your brand was directed at medical professionals.

What are you trying to say?

Pretending that your brand is still a person with its own unique personality, what would it say if it was asked questions? What would your brands response be?

How are you trying to spread your message?

Is the way you are trying to communicate with your target audience going to reach them? For example, elderly people are less likely to get on to the internet, so perhaps a brochure with larger sized print would be better than a website. Gen Y are smartphone savvy so a mobile ready website would be better than a press ad.

Are your clients listening? 

Your brand might be doing a lot of talking, but are your prospective clients listening? If your brand voice isn’t working, don’t be afraid to rework it and try a fresh approach.

If all this brand talk is baffling and you don’t have the time it takes to sit down and develop your brand properly, there’s no harm in asking for help. At XDesigns we specialise in taking your brand to the next level. Give us a call today and we can help steer you in the right direction.