(10392,5,'2016-05-02 12:41:27','2016-05-02 16:41:27','Search engines consider video content to be a marker of useful websites. To give your website the best chance at ranking well in search, you need to put more video content online. If you follow the 5 tips we\'ve included below, you\'ll improve your search rank and <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/how-to-use-sticky-content-to-make-visitors-stay-on-your-website/\">keep visitors on your website longer</a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>5 SEO Tips for Video Content On Your Website</h2>\r\n<h4>1. Metadata really matters</h4>\r\nRich metadata is one of the best methods to increase the ranking of your video content in search. Some companies rely on the smart strategy of including long tail keywords in the metadata.\r\n\r\nHidden tags in the HTML code of your video landing pages are important areas to populate--Facebook OpenGraph tags, Schema.org\'s microdata tags, and Twitter card tags can all boost your video content in search.\r\n<h4>2. Videos should be easy to browse</h4>\r\nThis one provides a distinct benefit for the user and your website: Make videos easy to browse by arranging them in an indexed gallery. Not only will users be able to quickly find videos they\'re interested in under the proper category and keyword, but by creating separate landing pages for each video, you\'re indexing each video so search engines can more easily find and rank the content.\r\n<h4>3. Transcriptions are SEO miracles</h4>\r\nTranscribing a video is a sneaky-but-smart SEO move that can rank videos that aren\'t currently ranking. By adding the transcription of a video, you get a chance to use text keywords to rank your video in search.\r\n\r\nAdd your video transcriptions right to the HTML of each page where your videos are hosted. Transcriptions let users read your video content if they can\'t listen or have a hearing disability. At the same time, the transcription provides a keyword-rich chunk of text for search engines to crawl.\r\n<h4>4. Host all videos on your domain</h4>\r\nAlways, and we mean always, host videos on your own domain if you\'re serious about ranking video content in search.\r\n\r\nUsing Youtube or Vimeo is wonderful for social purposes, but not for hosting video content. By hosting it on their website, you\'re giving all the search cred to that website instead of your own. Some companies create \"teaser\" videos for Youtube and then include CTAs in the video that direct the viewer to their website to view the full video.\r\n<h4>5. Allow users to embed video content</h4>\r\nIf you\'re creating good videos that bring value to your viewers and make people stick around on your website, chances are, there are lots of people who will want to embed your video content on their own websites. That\'s why it\'s essential that you make it easy for viewers to embed your video (resulting in inbound links to your website). We call that an SEO win! Include the code for users to embed your video easily.','5 SEO Tips for Video Content On Your Website','','inherit','closed','closed','','10390-revision-v1','','','2016-05-02 12:41:27','2016-05-02 16:41:27','',10390,'https://itxdesign.com/10390-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10393,5,'2016-05-02 12:43:26','2016-05-02 16:43:26','','growing','','inherit','open','closed','','growing','','','2016-05-02 12:43:26','2016-05-02 16:43:26','',10390,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/growing.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10394,5,'2016-05-02 12:43:48','2016-05-02 16:43:48','<img class=\"wp-image-10393 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/growing.jpg\" alt=\"growing\" width=\"226\" height=\"226\" />Search engines consider video content to be a marker of useful websites. To give your website the best chance at ranking well in search, you need to put more video content online. If you follow the 5 tips we\'ve included below, you\'ll improve your search rank and <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/how-to-use-sticky-content-to-make-visitors-stay-on-your-website/\">keep visitors on your website longer</a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>5 SEO Tips for Video Content On Your Website</h2>\r\n<h4>1. Metadata really matters</h4>\r\nRich metadata is one of the best methods to increase the ranking of your video content in search. Some companies rely on the smart strategy of including long tail keywords in the metadata.\r\n\r\nHidden tags in the HTML code of your video landing pages are important areas to populate--Facebook OpenGraph tags, Schema.org\'s microdata tags, and Twitter card tags can all boost your video content in search.\r\n<h4>2. Videos should be easy to browse</h4>\r\nThis one provides a distinct benefit for the user and your website: Make videos easy to browse by arranging them in an indexed gallery. Not only will users be able to quickly find videos they\'re interested in under the proper category and keyword, but by creating separate landing pages for each video, you\'re indexing each video so search engines can more easily find and rank the content.\r\n<h4>3. Transcriptions are SEO miracles</h4>\r\nTranscribing a video is a sneaky-but-smart SEO move that can rank videos that aren\'t currently ranking. By adding the transcription of a video, you get a chance to use text keywords to rank your video in search.\r\n\r\nAdd your video transcriptions right to the HTML of each page where your videos are hosted. Transcriptions let users read your video content if they can\'t listen or have a hearing disability. At the same time, the transcription provides a keyword-rich chunk of text for search engines to crawl.\r\n<h4>4. Host all videos on your domain</h4>\r\nAlways, and we mean always, host videos on your own domain if you\'re serious about ranking video content in search.\r\n\r\nUsing Youtube or Vimeo is wonderful for social purposes, but not for hosting video content. By hosting it on their website, you\'re giving all the search cred to that website instead of your own. Some companies create \"teaser\" videos for Youtube and then include CTAs in the video that direct the viewer to their website to view the full video.\r\n<h4>5. Allow users to embed video content</h4>\r\nIf you\'re creating good videos that bring value to your viewers and make people stick around on your website, chances are, there are lots of people who will want to embed your video content on their own websites. That\'s why it\'s essential that you make it easy for viewers to embed your video (resulting in inbound links to your website). We call that an SEO win! Include the code for users to embed your video easily.','5 SEO Tips for Video Content On Your Website','','inherit','closed','closed','','10390-revision-v1','','','2016-05-02 12:43:48','2016-05-02 16:43:48','',10390,'https://itxdesign.com/10390-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10395,5,'2016-05-02 12:44:05','2016-05-02 16:44:05','<img class=\"wp-image-10393 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/growing.jpg\" alt=\"growing\" width=\"226\" height=\"226\" />Search engines consider video content to be a marker of useful websites. To give your website the best chance at ranking well in search, you need to put more video content online. If you follow the 5 tips we\'ve included below, you\'ll improve your search rank and <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/how-to-use-sticky-content-to-make-visitors-stay-on-your-website/\">keep visitors on your website longer</a>.\r\n<h2>5 SEO Tips for Video Content On Your Website</h2>\r\n<h4>1. Metadata really matters</h4>\r\nRich metadata is one of the best methods to increase the ranking of your video content in search. Some companies rely on the smart strategy of including long tail keywords in the metadata.\r\n\r\nHidden tags in the HTML code of your video landing pages are important areas to populate--Facebook OpenGraph tags, Schema.org\'s microdata tags, and Twitter card tags can all boost your video content in search.\r\n<h4>2. Videos should be easy to browse</h4>\r\nThis one provides a distinct benefit for the user and your website: Make videos easy to browse by arranging them in an indexed gallery. Not only will users be able to quickly find videos they\'re interested in under the proper category and keyword, but by creating separate landing pages for each video, you\'re indexing each video so search engines can more easily find and rank the content.\r\n<h4>3. Transcriptions are SEO miracles</h4>\r\nTranscribing a video is a sneaky-but-smart SEO move that can rank videos that aren\'t currently ranking. By adding the transcription of a video, you get a chance to use text keywords to rank your video in search.\r\n\r\nAdd your video transcriptions right to the HTML of each page where your videos are hosted. Transcriptions let users read your video content if they can\'t listen or have a hearing disability. At the same time, the transcription provides a keyword-rich chunk of text for search engines to crawl.\r\n<h4>4. Host all videos on your domain</h4>\r\nAlways, and we mean always, host videos on your own domain if you\'re serious about ranking video content in search.\r\n\r\nUsing Youtube or Vimeo is wonderful for social purposes, but not for hosting video content. By hosting it on their website, you\'re giving all the search cred to that website instead of your own. Some companies create \"teaser\" videos for Youtube and then include CTAs in the video that direct the viewer to their website to view the full video.\r\n<h4>5. Allow users to embed video content</h4>\r\nIf you\'re creating good videos that bring value to your viewers and make people stick around on your website, chances are, there are lots of people who will want to embed your video content on their own websites. That\'s why it\'s essential that you make it easy for viewers to embed your video (resulting in inbound links to your website). We call that an SEO win! Include the code for users to embed your video easily.','5 SEO Tips for Video Content On Your Website','','inherit','closed','closed','','10390-revision-v1','','','2016-05-02 12:44:05','2016-05-02 16:44:05','',10390,'https://itxdesign.com/10390-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10396,5,'2016-05-03 16:14:12','2016-05-03 20:14:12','<img class=\"wp-image-10397 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/talking.png\" alt=\"5 negotiation mistakes that will cost you a deal\" width=\"210\" height=\"127\" />You might be a <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/how-to-negotiate-like-a-pro-in-6-steps/\">good negotiator</a>, but making mistakes while negotiating with another party makes you vulnerable in the interaction. One mistake in an important negotiation can be the difference between coming out on top and hitting rock bottom.\r\n\r\nIt\'s easier to avoid making mistakes when you know exactly what they are and why people tend to make them. Below, we\'ll outline 5 negotiation mistakes you can make that will cost you a deal along with how you can steer clear of making these mistakes.\r\n\r\nKeep these in mind to become a better negotiator!\r\n<h2>5 Negotiation Mistakes That Will Cost You a Deal</h2>\r\n<h4>1. Taking the first offer</h4>\r\nSure, you might technically make a deal, but it won\'t be a good one. If you don\'t counter offer to the other party\'s first offer, you\'re setting the bar awfully low. You\'re telling them that the lowest possible price they imagined you\'d go for is exactly what you\'re worth, and that\'s a mistake that could taint your business relationship.\r\n\r\n<strong>To avoid it</strong>: Don\'t ever settle for the first offer--always counter, even if it\'s for a small increase.\r\n<h4>2. Keeping quiet about your needs</h4>\r\nThe other party isn\'t telepathic and doesn\'t know what you need or expect out of this deal. To get the ball rolling in your direction, explain why you need a concession from them or a specific term you\'re bargaining for. People respond more favorably when you\'re putting all your cards on the table.\r\n\r\n<strong>To avoid it:</strong> Speak up about your needs to give yourself the best chance of having them met. Ask and you may receive.\r\n<h4>3. Being unsure what amount you\'ll settle for</h4>\r\nIf you don\'t know your target price, it will be obvious. You won\'t appear professional or confident when reviewing, making, or considering offers from the other party, and that\'s a big mistake to make in a negotiation.\r\n\r\n<strong>To avoid it</strong>: Before you go in, decide on the price you\'re willing to take before you walk and say \"No thanks\" to remove the guesswork.\r\n<h4>4. Expecting an unrealistic deal</h4>\r\nYour expectations are a major factor in the success of a negotiation. If you expect a great deal in your favor, your actions will follow your expectations and cause you to be more confident and positive in the process, resulting in a better deal for you. Likewise, if your expectations are too high, you could come across as arrogant or ignorant to the other party. If your expectations are too low, you could be taken advantage of or pitied by the other party.\r\n\r\n<strong>To avoid it</strong>: Try to go in with realistic expectations for what you should expect from the negotiation. What can the other party realistically concede? What about you?\r\n<h4>5. Appearing desperate</h4>\r\nIf you come across as desperate during a negotiation, you alienate the other party from you. They feel like you\'re a different type of person, one who may be unpredictable due to desperation. That\'s not going to result in a positive negotiation for you.\r\n\r\n<strong>To avoid it</strong>: If you notice yourself appearing desperate at any point during a negotiation, remind yourself to stop and let silence work in your favor.\r\n\r\nWhen you\'re negotiating with anyone--a car salesman, your spouse, child, the owner of the sweet bike you\'ve always wanted--keep these mistakes in mind and be sure to avoid them. The most important thing in any negotiation is confidence, so be sure of what you want and be willing to walk away if you don\'t get it. Good luck!','5 Negotiation Mistakes That Will Cost You a Deal','','publish','open','closed','','5-negotiation-mistakes-that-will-cost-you-a-deal','','','2016-05-03 16:14:12','2016-05-03 20:14:12','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10396',0,'post','',0),(10397,5,'2016-05-03 16:06:13','2016-05-03 20:06:13','','talking','','inherit','open','closed','','talking','','','2016-05-03 16:06:36','2016-05-03 20:06:36','',10396,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/talking.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10398,5,'2016-05-03 16:11:27','2016-05-03 20:11:27','<img class=\"wp-image-10397 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/talking.png\" alt=\"5 negotiation mistakes that will cost you a deal\" width=\"210\" height=\"127\" />You might be a good negotiator, but making mistakes while negotiating with another party makes you vulnerable in the interaction. One mistake in an important negotiation can be the difference between coming out on top and hitting rock bottom.\r\n\r\nIt\'s easier to avoid making mistakes when you know exactly what they are and why people tend to make them. Below, we\'ll outline 5 negotiation mistakes you can make that will cost you a deal. Avoid these mistakes to become a better negotiator.\r\n<h2>5 Negotiation Mistakes That Will Cost You a Deal</h2>\r\n<h4>1. Taking the first offer</h4>\r\nSure, you might technically make a deal, but it won\'t be a good one. If you don\'t counter offer to the other party\'s first offer, you\'re setting the bar awfully low. You\'re telling them that the lowest possible price they imagined you\'d go for is exactly what you\'re worth, and that\'s a mistake that could taint your business relationship.\r\n\r\n<strong>To avoid it</strong>: Don\'t ever settle for the first offer--always counter, even if it\'s for a small increase.\r\n<h4>2. Keeping quiet about your needs</h4>\r\nThe other party isn\'t telepathic and doesn\'t know what you need or expect out of this deal. To get the ball rolling in your direction, explain why you need a concession from them or a specific term you\'re bargaining for. People respond more favorably when you\'re putting all your cards on the table.\r\n\r\n<strong>To avoid it:</strong> Speak up about your needs to give yourself the best chance of having them met. Ask and you may receive.\r\n<h4>3. Being unsure what amount you\'ll settle for</h4>\r\nIf you don\'t know your target price, it will be obvious. You won\'t appear professional or confident when reviewing, making, or considering offers from the other party, and that\'s a big mistake to make in a negotiation.\r\n\r\n<strong>To avoid it</strong>: Before you go in, decide on the price you\'re willing to take before you walk and say \"No thanks\" to remove the guesswork.\r\n<h4>4. Expecting an unrealistic deal</h4>\r\nYour expectations are a major factor in the success of a negotiation. If you expect a great deal in your favor, your actions will follow your expectations and cause you to be more confident and positive in the process, resulting in a better deal for you. Likewise, if your expectations are too high, you could come across as arrogant or ignorant to the other party. If your expectations are too low, you could be taken advantage of or pitied by the other party.\r\n\r\n<strong>To avoid it</strong>: Try to go in with realistic expectations for what you should expect from the negotiation. What can the other party realistically concede? What about you?\r\n<h4>5. Appearing desperate</h4>\r\nIf you come across as desperate during a negotiation, you alienate the other party from you. They feel like you\'re a different type of person, one who may be unpredictable due to desperation. That\'s not going to result in a positive negotiation for you.\r\n\r\n<strong>To avoid it</strong>: If you notice yourself appearing desperate at any point during a negotiation, remind yourself to stop and let silence work in your favor.\r\n\r\nWhen you\'re negotiating with anyone--a car salesman, your spouse, child, the owner of the sweet bike you\'ve always wanted--keep these mistakes in mind and be sure to avoid them. The most important thing in any negotiation is confidence, so be sure of what you want and be willing to walk away if you don\'t get it. Good luck!','5 Negotiation Mistakes That Will Cost You a Deal','','inherit','closed','closed','','10396-revision-v1','','','2016-05-03 16:11:27','2016-05-03 20:11:27','',10396,'https://itxdesign.com/10396-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10399,5,'2016-05-03 16:14:12','2016-05-03 20:14:12','<img class=\"wp-image-10397 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/talking.png\" alt=\"5 negotiation mistakes that will cost you a deal\" width=\"210\" height=\"127\" />You might be a <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/how-to-negotiate-like-a-pro-in-6-steps/\">good negotiator</a>, but making mistakes while negotiating with another party makes you vulnerable in the interaction. One mistake in an important negotiation can be the difference between coming out on top and hitting rock bottom.\r\n\r\nIt\'s easier to avoid making mistakes when you know exactly what they are and why people tend to make them. Below, we\'ll outline 5 negotiation mistakes you can make that will cost you a deal along with how you can steer clear of making these mistakes.\r\n\r\nKeep these in mind to become a better negotiator!\r\n<h2>5 Negotiation Mistakes That Will Cost You a Deal</h2>\r\n<h4>1. Taking the first offer</h4>\r\nSure, you might technically make a deal, but it won\'t be a good one. If you don\'t counter offer to the other party\'s first offer, you\'re setting the bar awfully low. You\'re telling them that the lowest possible price they imagined you\'d go for is exactly what you\'re worth, and that\'s a mistake that could taint your business relationship.\r\n\r\n<strong>To avoid it</strong>: Don\'t ever settle for the first offer--always counter, even if it\'s for a small increase.\r\n<h4>2. Keeping quiet about your needs</h4>\r\nThe other party isn\'t telepathic and doesn\'t know what you need or expect out of this deal. To get the ball rolling in your direction, explain why you need a concession from them or a specific term you\'re bargaining for. People respond more favorably when you\'re putting all your cards on the table.\r\n\r\n<strong>To avoid it:</strong> Speak up about your needs to give yourself the best chance of having them met. Ask and you may receive.\r\n<h4>3. Being unsure what amount you\'ll settle for</h4>\r\nIf you don\'t know your target price, it will be obvious. You won\'t appear professional or confident when reviewing, making, or considering offers from the other party, and that\'s a big mistake to make in a negotiation.\r\n\r\n<strong>To avoid it</strong>: Before you go in, decide on the price you\'re willing to take before you walk and say \"No thanks\" to remove the guesswork.\r\n<h4>4. Expecting an unrealistic deal</h4>\r\nYour expectations are a major factor in the success of a negotiation. If you expect a great deal in your favor, your actions will follow your expectations and cause you to be more confident and positive in the process, resulting in a better deal for you. Likewise, if your expectations are too high, you could come across as arrogant or ignorant to the other party. If your expectations are too low, you could be taken advantage of or pitied by the other party.\r\n\r\n<strong>To avoid it</strong>: Try to go in with realistic expectations for what you should expect from the negotiation. What can the other party realistically concede? What about you?\r\n<h4>5. Appearing desperate</h4>\r\nIf you come across as desperate during a negotiation, you alienate the other party from you. They feel like you\'re a different type of person, one who may be unpredictable due to desperation. That\'s not going to result in a positive negotiation for you.\r\n\r\n<strong>To avoid it</strong>: If you notice yourself appearing desperate at any point during a negotiation, remind yourself to stop and let silence work in your favor.\r\n\r\nWhen you\'re negotiating with anyone--a car salesman, your spouse, child, the owner of the sweet bike you\'ve always wanted--keep these mistakes in mind and be sure to avoid them. The most important thing in any negotiation is confidence, so be sure of what you want and be willing to walk away if you don\'t get it. Good luck!','5 Negotiation Mistakes That Will Cost You a Deal','','inherit','closed','closed','','10396-revision-v1','','','2016-05-03 16:14:12','2016-05-03 20:14:12','',10396,'https://itxdesign.com/10396-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10400,5,'2016-05-04 12:23:00','2016-05-04 16:23:00','<img class=\"wp-image-10401 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/quit.jpg\" alt=\"10 reasons people leave your website\" width=\"174\" height=\"174\" />Having trouble <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/5-website-changes-that-will-reduce-your-bounce-rate/\">keeping people on your website</a>? It\'s a common problem, and a quick look at your website\'s bounce or exit rate can be a sobering wake up call. In order to get more conversions and signups, you need to keep people on your site longer.\r\n\r\nThe first step of action to take? Find out why people are leaving your website so you can make the appropriate changes.\r\n\r\nFor example, if you\'re writing great content but no one is reading it, you might be able to trace the problem back to a bad content organization structure on your website that doesn\'t let users search content by keyword or properly organize it and make it available.\r\n\r\nHere are <strong>10 reasons people leave your website</strong>.\r\n<h2>10 Reasons People Leave Your Website</h2>\r\nYou\'ll know the errors you\'re committing when you see them. Be open to making changes that optimize your website and keep people from leaving before they make a purchase or sign up.\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>Too many ads</strong> - Ads clutter up a webpage and make your site seem cheap and untrustworthy</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Unclear navigation</strong> - If users don\'t know where to go, they don\'t stick around to figure it out</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Bad content structure</strong> - Even great content gets ignored if it\'s not easily found on your site</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Boring design</strong> - Design that isn\'t bad, just boring, is a turn off to users who value design</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Bad design</strong> - Bad design is a turn off to all users, design-minded or not, and looks cheap</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Outdated content -</strong> If users notice your last blog post was 2 years ago, you seem irrelevant</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Grammatical errors</strong> - Simple errors frustrate users and cause them to rethink your expertise</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Pop ups -</strong> They interrupt the browsing experience and appear desperate, so don\'t use them</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Audio and video overload</strong> - Users get overwhelmed when there\'s too much going on</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Pages not loading fast enough</strong> - The internet is fast, so if your site is loading slowly, you\'re out</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nCreating a positive user experience on your website encompasses so many different elements, from the words you use to the design you choose. As you can see, it doesn\'t take much to send users packing when they are browsing your website.\r\n\r\nThat\'s what makes it so important to keep a close watch on your site and ensure you\'re always working toward optimization.\r\n\r\nThese are 10 reasons people commonly leave websites. Do you have any additional reasons people leave websites? What about website optimization tricks to keep people on your website longer? Reach out to us @ITXdesign on Twitter. We love to connect with our readers!\r\n\r\n<em>If you\'re experiencing issues with web pages loading slowly, it\'s time to switch to ITX Design. <a href=\"http://itxdesign.com/compare-hosting-plans\">Click here to view our pricing plans</a>.</em>','10 Reasons People Leave Your Website','','publish','open','closed','','10-reasons-people-leave-your-website','','','2016-05-04 12:23:00','2016-05-04 16:23:00','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10400',0,'post','',0),(10401,5,'2016-05-04 12:17:04','2016-05-04 16:17:04','','quit','','inherit','open','closed','','quit','','','2016-05-04 12:17:13','2016-05-04 16:17:13','',10400,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/quit.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10402,5,'2016-05-04 12:17:30','2016-05-04 16:17:30','<img class=\"wp-image-10401 alignleft\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/quit.jpg\" alt=\"10 reasons people leave your website\" width=\"174\" height=\"174\" />Having trouble keeping people on your website? It\'s a common problem, and a quick look at your website\'s bounce or exit rate can be a sobering wake up call. In order to get more conversions and signups, you need to keep people on your site longer.\r\n\r\nThe first step of action to take? Find out why people are leaving your website so you can make the appropriate changes.\r\n\r\nHere are <strong>10 reasons people leave your website</strong>.\r\n<h2>10 Reasons People Leave Your Website</h2>\r\nYou\'ll know the errors you\'re committing when you see them. Be open to making changes that optimize your website and keep people from leaving before they make a purchase or sign up.\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>Too many ads</strong> - Ads clutter up a webpage and make your site seem cheap and untrustworthy</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Unclear navigation</strong> - If users don\'t know where to go, they don\'t stick around to figure it out</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Bad content structure</strong> - Even great content gets ignored if it\'s not easily found on your site</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Boring design</strong> - Design that isn\'t bad, just boring, is a turn off to users who value design</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Bad design</strong> - Bad design is a turn off to all users, design-minded or not, and looks cheap</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Outdated content -</strong> If users notice your last blog post was 2 years ago, you seem irrelevant</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Grammatical errors</strong> - Simple errors frustrate users and cause them to rethink your expertise</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Pop ups -</strong> They interrupt the browsing experience and appear desperate, so don\'t use them</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Audio and video overload</strong> - Users get overwhelmed when there\'s too much going on and leave</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Pages not loading fast enough</strong> - The internet is fast, so if your site is loading slowly, users will just leave</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nThese are 10 reasons people commonly leave websites. Do you have any additional reasons people leave websites? What about website optimization tricks to keep people on your website longer? Reach out to us @ITXdesign on Twitter. We love to connect with our readers!\r\n\r\n<em>If you\'re experiencing issues with web pages loading slowly, it\'s time to switch to ITX Design. <a href=\"http://itxdesign.com/compare-hosting-plans\">Click here to view our pricing plans</a>.</em>','10 Reasons People Leave Your Website','','inherit','closed','closed','','10400-revision-v1','','','2016-05-04 12:17:30','2016-05-04 16:17:30','',10400,'https://itxdesign.com/10400-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10403,5,'2016-05-04 12:18:07','2016-05-04 16:18:07','<img class=\"wp-image-10401 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/quit.jpg\" alt=\"10 reasons people leave your website\" width=\"174\" height=\"174\" />Having trouble keeping people on your website? It\'s a common problem, and a quick look at your website\'s bounce or exit rate can be a sobering wake up call. In order to get more conversions and signups, you need to keep people on your site longer.\r\n\r\nThe first step of action to take? Find out why people are leaving your website so you can make the appropriate changes.\r\n\r\nHere are <strong>10 reasons people leave your website</strong>.\r\n<h2>10 Reasons People Leave Your Website</h2>\r\nYou\'ll know the errors you\'re committing when you see them. Be open to making changes that optimize your website and keep people from leaving before they make a purchase or sign up.\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>Too many ads</strong> - Ads clutter up a webpage and make your site seem cheap and untrustworthy</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Unclear navigation</strong> - If users don\'t know where to go, they don\'t stick around to figure it out</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Bad content structure</strong> - Even great content gets ignored if it\'s not easily found on your site</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Boring design</strong> - Design that isn\'t bad, just boring, is a turn off to users who value design</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Bad design</strong> - Bad design is a turn off to all users, design-minded or not, and looks cheap</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Outdated content -</strong> If users notice your last blog post was 2 years ago, you seem irrelevant</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Grammatical errors</strong> - Simple errors frustrate users and cause them to rethink your expertise</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Pop ups -</strong> They interrupt the browsing experience and appear desperate, so don\'t use them</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Audio and video overload</strong> - Users get overwhelmed when there\'s too much going on</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Pages not loading fast enough</strong> - The internet is fast, so if your site is loading slowly, you\'re out</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nThese are 10 reasons people commonly leave websites. Do you have any additional reasons people leave websites? What about website optimization tricks to keep people on your website longer? Reach out to us @ITXdesign on Twitter. We love to connect with our readers!\r\n\r\n<em>If you\'re experiencing issues with web pages loading slowly, it\'s time to switch to ITX Design. <a href=\"http://itxdesign.com/compare-hosting-plans\">Click here to view our pricing plans</a>.</em>','10 Reasons People Leave Your Website','','inherit','closed','closed','','10400-revision-v1','','','2016-05-04 12:18:07','2016-05-04 16:18:07','',10400,'https://itxdesign.com/10400-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10404,5,'2016-05-04 12:22:27','2016-05-04 16:22:27','<img class=\"wp-image-10401 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/quit.jpg\" alt=\"10 reasons people leave your website\" width=\"174\" height=\"174\" />Having trouble <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/5-website-changes-that-will-reduce-your-bounce-rate/\">keeping people on your website</a>? It\'s a common problem, and a quick look at your website\'s bounce or exit rate can be a sobering wake up call. In order to get more conversions and signups, you need to keep people on your site longer.\r\n\r\nThe first step of action to take? Find out why people are leaving your website so you can make the appropriate changes.\r\n\r\nFor example, if you\'re writing great content but no one is reading it, you might be able to trace the problem back to a bad content organization structure on your website that doesn\'t let users search content by keyword or properly organize it and make it available.\r\n\r\nHere are <strong>10 reasons people leave your website</strong>.\r\n<h2>10 Reasons People Leave Your Website</h2>\r\nYou\'ll know the errors you\'re committing when you see them. Be open to making changes that optimize your website and keep people from leaving before they make a purchase or sign up.\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>Too many ads</strong> - Ads clutter up a webpage and make your site seem cheap and untrustworthy</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Unclear navigation</strong> - If users don\'t know where to go, they don\'t stick around to figure it out</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Bad content structure</strong> - Even great content gets ignored if it\'s not easily found on your site</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Boring design</strong> - Design that isn\'t bad, just boring, is a turn off to users who value design</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Bad design</strong> - Bad design is a turn off to all users, design-minded or not, and looks cheap</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Outdated content -</strong> If users notice your last blog post was 2 years ago, you seem irrelevant</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Grammatical errors</strong> - Simple errors frustrate users and cause them to rethink your expertise</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Pop ups -</strong> They interrupt the browsing experience and appear desperate, so don\'t use them</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Audio and video overload</strong> - Users get overwhelmed when there\'s too much going on</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Pages not loading fast enough</strong> - The internet is fast, so if your site is loading slowly, you\'re out</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nCreating a positive user experience on your website encompasses so many different elements, from the words you use to the design you choose. As you can see, it doesn\'t take much to send users packing when they are browsing your website.\r\n\r\nThat\'s what makes it so important to keep a close watch on your site and ensure you\'re always working toward optimization.\r\n\r\nThese are 10 reasons people commonly leave websites. Do you have any additional reasons people leave websites? What about website optimization tricks to keep people on your website longer? Reach out to us @ITXdesign on Twitter. We love to connect with our readers!\r\n\r\n<em>If you\'re experiencing issues with web pages loading slowly, it\'s time to switch to ITX Design. <a href=\"http://itxdesign.com/compare-hosting-plans\">Click here to view our pricing plans</a>.</em>','10 Reasons People Leave Your Website','','inherit','closed','closed','','10400-revision-v1','','','2016-05-04 12:22:27','2016-05-04 16:22:27','',10400,'https://itxdesign.com/10400-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10406,4,'2016-05-06 15:24:18','2016-05-06 19:24:18','<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/42092103_s-300x210.jpg\" alt=\"WordPress Website Traffic\" width=\"300\" height=\"210\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10409\" />After creating the best-looking, most functional site ever, you may be wondering why nobody has visited it. When you create a WordPress website, you cannot just use The Field of Dreams motto of, \"If I build it, they will come.\" You need to do specific things to help drive traffic to your website. Here are 10 of the best tips you can use to help you get traffic to your new WordPress website.\r\n\r\n<h2>Use Yoast SEO</h2>\r\n\r\nOne of the easiest ways to start your marketing is to install the Yoast SEO Plugin. This plugin will allow you to setup your site for SEO success. It will help you add meta tags, Twitter Cards, Breadcrumbs, an XML sitemap, Facebook OpenGraphs and more. \r\n\r\n<h2>Share Socially and Make it Automatic</h2>\r\n\r\nSocial media is probably the best way to gain traffic to any WordPress website today. When you share socially, you have the opportunity to go viral or at least to get in front of some eyes. \r\n\r\nThe best part about sharing your blog posts socially is that you can automate the process. By using a service, such as Hootsuite or Buffer, you can schedule your WordPress posts to go out to your social media accounts automatically.\r\n\r\n<h2>Create Engaging, Useful Content\r\n\r\nYour WordPress site will never attract the right attention without great content. You need to engage your audience and give them something they can use. Content is still king and it always will be. If you want to gain traffic to your new website, make sure the content you put on your blog and your pages is high quality.\r\n\r\nYou may be better off hiring a professional writer to create content for you. If you\'re not a very good writer or it takes you forever to create a blog posts, this may be a task to outsource to a professional writer.\r\n\r\n<h2>Use Internal Linking Often</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/7041384_s-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Internal Linking\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-10407\" />The most successful blogs and websites always link to their older posts and to pages. They know that internal linking not only helps the search engines understand how important your content is, but it also allows for a better user experience. Anytime it makes sense to link to an older post, do it. This will give you a better SEO score and it will help keep users on your site longer.\r\n\r\n<h2>Allow Sharing and Make it Easy</h2>\r\n\r\nAgain, social media is a great source of traffic. Not only should you be sharing your own posts, but you should also make it easy for your readers to share your posts. With the right plugin, you can add social buttons to every post at the bottom or top. This makes it easy for readers to share on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter and other social media platforms.\r\n\r\nYou should also add the \"Pin It\" button to all of your images. This makes it easy for readers to share your images all over Pinterest.\r\n\r\n<h2>Join the Conversation</h2>\r\n\r\nAs traffic starts to come in and people comment on your blog posts, you need to join the conversation. People don\'t like to feel ignored or like they left a comment for no reason. Make sure you take the time to reply to every comment you receive and engage your users.\r\n\r\n<h2>Build Your Email List</h2>\r\n\r\nAfter coming to your WordPress site, three out of every four visitors will never come back on their own. However, if you offer something free of charge if they subscribe to your list, you will have direct access to invite them back. This allows you to better engage your visitors and get them to come back for another blog post or something else. There\'s no good excuse to keep you from building an email list.\r\n\r\n<h2>Use High Quality Images</h2>\r\n\r\nImages help engage your readers much better than text. When you choose high quality images, it makes your blog even better. You want to buy the pictures from a service, such as Shutterstock or take your own pictures. There are plenty of royalty free images out there, but you want to make sure you\'re going further than just some simple clipart. \r\n\r\n<h2>Make Your Site Faster</h2>\r\n\r\nA fast WordPress website makes a big difference. When you add plugins, such as WP Super Cache to help speed up your website, you gain SEO points with Google and other search engines. You can also add plugins to decrease the size of your images and many others to help speed up your WordPress website.\r\n\r\n<h2>Use SSL for Your Site</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/7065603_s-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"SSL Certificate\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10408\" />Adding SSL to your site has become very popular and a great way to gain a small ranking boost. It\'s a big change for your urls, as they will go from http to https, but it can make a difference. You can buy an SSL certificate or you can add it free with Let\'s encrypt.\r\n\r\nUsing these ten tips will help you gain traffic to your WordPress website. Remember, these are not tips to help you gain a ton of traffic overnight. It takes time to build a highly successful WordPress website. You need to use these tips and continue to build your blog, share on social media and make improvements.\r\n','10 Top Tips for Driving Quality Traffic to a New WordPress Website','','publish','open','closed','','10-top-tips-for-driving-quality-traffic-to-a-new-wordpress-website','','','2016-05-04 15:28:56','2016-05-04 19:28:56','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10406',0,'post','',0),(10407,4,'2016-05-04 15:27:35','2016-05-04 19:27:35','','Internal Linking','','inherit','open','closed','','7041384_s','','','2016-05-04 15:28:06','2016-05-04 19:28:06','',10406,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/7041384_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10408,4,'2016-05-04 15:27:37','2016-05-04 19:27:37','','SSL Certificate','','inherit','open','closed','','7065603_s','','','2016-05-04 15:28:22','2016-05-04 19:28:22','',10406,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/7065603_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10409,4,'2016-05-04 15:27:39','2016-05-04 19:27:39','','WordPress Website Traffic','','inherit','open','closed','','42092103_s','','','2016-05-04 15:27:51','2016-05-04 19:27:51','',10406,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/42092103_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10410,4,'2016-05-04 15:28:30','2016-05-04 19:28:30','<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/42092103_s-300x210.jpg\" alt=\"WordPress Website Traffic\" width=\"300\" height=\"210\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10409\" />After creating the best-looking, most functional site ever, you may be wondering why nobody has visited it. When you create a WordPress website, you cannot just use The Field of Dreams motto of, \"If I build it, they will come.\" You need to do specific things to help drive traffic to your website. Here are 10 of the best tips you can use to help you get traffic to your new WordPress website.\r\n\r\n<h2>Use Yoast SEO</h2>\r\n\r\nOne of the easiest ways to start your marketing is to install the Yoast SEO Plugin. This plugin will allow you to setup your site for SEO success. It will help you add meta tags, Twitter Cards, Breadcrumbs, an XML sitemap, Facebook OpenGraphs and more. \r\n\r\n<h2>Share Socially and Make it Automatic</h2>\r\n\r\nSocial media is probably the best way to gain traffic to any WordPress website today. When you share socially, you have the opportunity to go viral or at least to get in front of some eyes. \r\n\r\nThe best part about sharing your blog posts socially is that you can automate the process. By using a service, such as Hootsuite or Buffer, you can schedule your WordPress posts to go out to your social media accounts automatically.\r\n\r\n<h2>Create Engaging, Useful Content\r\n\r\nYour WordPress site will never attract the right attention without great content. You need to engage your audience and give them something they can use. Content is still king and it always will be. If you want to gain traffic to your new website, make sure the content you put on your blog and your pages is high quality.\r\n\r\nYou may be better off hiring a professional writer to create content for you. If you\'re not a very good writer or it takes you forever to create a blog posts, this may be a task to outsource to a professional writer.\r\n\r\n<h2>Use Internal Linking Often</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/7041384_s-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Internal Linking\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-10407\" />The most successful blogs and websites always link to their older posts and to pages. They know that internal linking not only helps the search engines understand how important your content is, but it also allows for a better user experience. Anytime it makes sense to link to an older post, do it. This will give you a better SEO score and it will help keep users on your site longer.\r\n\r\n<h2>Allow Sharing and Make it Easy</h2>\r\n\r\nAgain, social media is a great source of traffic. Not only should you be sharing your own posts, but you should also make it easy for your readers to share your posts. With the right plugin, you can add social buttons to every post at the bottom or top. This makes it easy for readers to share on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter and other social media platforms.\r\n\r\nYou should also add the \"Pin It\" button to all of your images. This makes it easy for readers to share your images all over Pinterest.\r\n\r\n<h2>Join the Conversation</h2>\r\n\r\nAs traffic starts to come in and people comment on your blog posts, you need to join the conversation. People don\'t like to feel ignored or like they left a comment for no reason. Make sure you take the time to reply to every comment you receive and engage your users.\r\n\r\n<h2>Build Your Email List</h2>\r\n\r\nAfter coming to your WordPress site, three out of every four visitors will never come back on their own. However, if you offer something free of charge if they subscribe to your list, you will have direct access to invite them back. This allows you to better engage your visitors and get them to come back for another blog post or something else. There\'s no good excuse to keep you from building an email list.\r\n\r\n<h2>Use High Quality Images</h2>\r\n\r\nImages help engage your readers much better than text. When you choose high quality images, it makes your blog even better. You want to buy the pictures from a service, such as Shutterstock or take your own pictures. There are plenty of royalty free images out there, but you want to make sure you\'re going further than just some simple clipart. \r\n\r\n<h2>Make Your Site Faster</h2>\r\n\r\nA fast WordPress website makes a big difference. When you add plugins, such as WP Super Cache to help speed up your website, you gain SEO points with Google and other search engines. You can also add plugins to decrease the size of your images and many others to help speed up your WordPress website.\r\n\r\n<h2>Use SSL for Your Site</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/7065603_s-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"SSL Certificate\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10408\" />Adding SSL to your site has become very popular and a great way to gain a small ranking boost. It\'s a big change for your urls, as they will go from http to https, but it can make a difference. You can buy an SSL certificate or you can add it free with Let\'s encrypt.\r\n\r\nUsing these ten tips will help you gain traffic to your WordPress website. Remember, these are not tips to help you gain a ton of traffic overnight. It takes time to build a highly successful WordPress website. You need to use these tips and continue to build your blog, share on social media and make improvements.\r\n','10 Top Tips for Driving Quality Traffic to a New WordPress Website','','inherit','closed','closed','','10406-revision-v1','','','2016-05-04 15:28:30','2016-05-04 19:28:30','',10406,'https://itxdesign.com/10406-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10411,4,'2016-05-10 15:29:06','2016-05-10 19:29:06','<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/12351735_s-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Web Copy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10412\" />Any good website, whether for a single owner or a company, should provide plenty of benefits for the brand, company or entrepreneur. It should inform the customer of the services or products offer and tell them why you\'re better than your competition. Of course, any good website will also draw in plenty of traffic and create sales.\r\n\r\nWhen a website is created properly, it will rank well in search engines, gain exposure on social media and make your company or personal an expert in your field. However, when it’s not properly created, it won\'t do any of these things and could actually cause doubt in your potential customer\'s mind. \r\n\r\nPoor writing, random images and a confusing layout often lead to a failed or less successful website. It doesn\'t have to be perfect or earth shattering, but your website has to be properly created and maintained. If not, it won\'t provide you with the success you desire. Here are seven excellent tips you can use to write incredible web copy capable of converting visitors into sales.\r\n\r\n<h2>K.I.S.S.</h2>\r\n\r\nWhile it\'s important to give your visitors plenty of high quality content, don\'t fill it with fluff. Make sure the words you write provide value and Keep It Short and Simple. Get to the point and tell your visitors what they want to hear before they leave.\r\n\r\nYou have about 3 seconds to grab their attention. Do it with a great headline/title. Then, provide short sentences and short paragraphs. When the paragraphs and sentences are longer, your content looks harder to read. \r\n\r\n<h2>Always Create Scannable Content</h2>\r\n\r\nThere\'s nothing worse than a big blob of text. It looks hard to read and often causes visitors to leave.\r\n\r\nYou want to create scannable content all the time. Every page and blog post needs to be easy to scan. \r\n\r\nScannable content includes multiple subheadings, bullet points and images to help break up the content. It also includes shorter paragraphs and shorter sentences. \r\n\r\nYour reader should be able to find what they\'re looking for fast. They shouldn\'t have to read every word to find the one point out of five they\'re interested in.\r\n\r\n<h2>Write a Compelling Headline</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/15142994_s-300x272.jpg\" alt=\"Headlines\" width=\"300\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-10413\" />Some say the headline is the most important part of your content. It has to be written to bring in visitors. Some of the best headlines will:\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Include numbers, such as 7 Ways to Write Better Blog Posts</li>\r\n<li>Solve a problem</li>\r\n<li>Provide a benefit</li>\r\n<li>Play on popular phrases, such as Why YOLO Doesn\'t Mean What You Think</li>\r\n<li>Provide something specific</li>\r\n<li>Create shock</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThe headline you create for each blog post or page on your website will make a huge difference. A great headline will bring more visitors and more conversions than an average headline.\r\n\r\n<h2>Honesty Goes a Long Way</h2>\r\n\r\nCompanies with a very low product return rate, high online reviews and plenty of repeat customers are often the most honest companies you will find. They may not have the lowest price or the best product. However, they get the job done and they\'re honest about what they offer.\r\n\r\nPeople respond to honesty and you have to provide honesty within you copy. If you lie or stretch the truth, it will come out sooner or later. Then, it will end up in the online reviews and it will become a part of your reputation.\r\n\r\n<h2>Focus on the Benefits for the Reader</h2>\r\n\r\nYour readers really don\'t care too much about you, at least at first. They care about how you can help them. Focus your web copy on the benefits you provide for the reader. \r\n\r\nA list of features may be nice, but features don\'t translate into benefits. Instead of telling the reader your golf ball provides a better dimple pattern, tell them how it will cure their slice or go further because of the dimple pattern. \r\n\r\n<h2>Use Images</h2>\r\n\r\nWhile the written content is vital to the success of your web copy, images are incredibly powerful. An image of how well your product works or the before and after of a service you provide will speak volumes.\r\n\r\n<h2>Provide a Video</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/50536265_s-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Video\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10414\" />Images and written content are great, but videos give the consumer an actual look at what you provide. If possible, provide a video with a product demonstration or a look at the services you provide.\r\n\r\nWhen you combine well-written, compelling text with the right images and videos, your web copy becomes very powerful. The right web copy will help readers go from mere visitors to customers. Make sure you use these seven tips to make your web copy better.\r\n','Top 7 Tips for Writing Attractive Web Copy to Drive Sales','','publish','open','closed','','top-7-tips-for-writing-attractive-web-copy-to-drive-sales','','','2016-05-04 15:34:52','2016-05-04 19:34:52','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10411',0,'post','',0),(10412,4,'2016-05-04 15:32:37','2016-05-04 19:32:37','','Web Copy','','inherit','open','closed','','12351735_s','','','2016-05-04 15:32:55','2016-05-04 19:32:55','',10411,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/12351735_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10413,4,'2016-05-04 15:32:40','2016-05-04 19:32:40','','Headlines','','inherit','open','closed','','15142994_s','','','2016-05-04 15:33:09','2016-05-04 19:33:09','',10411,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/15142994_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10414,4,'2016-05-04 15:34:10','2016-05-04 19:34:10','','Video','','inherit','open','closed','','50536265_s','','','2016-05-04 15:34:22','2016-05-04 19:34:22','',10411,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/50536265_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10415,4,'2016-05-04 15:34:41','2016-05-04 19:34:41','<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/12351735_s-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Web Copy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10412\" />Any good website, whether for a single owner or a company, should provide plenty of benefits for the brand, company or entrepreneur. It should inform the customer of the services or products offer and tell them why you\'re better than your competition. Of course, any good website will also draw in plenty of traffic and create sales.\r\n\r\nWhen a website is created properly, it will rank well in search engines, gain exposure on social media and make your company or personal an expert in your field. However, when it’s not properly created, it won\'t do any of these things and could actually cause doubt in your potential customer\'s mind. \r\n\r\nPoor writing, random images and a confusing layout often lead to a failed or less successful website. It doesn\'t have to be perfect or earth shattering, but your website has to be properly created and maintained. If not, it won\'t provide you with the success you desire. Here are seven excellent tips you can use to write incredible web copy capable of converting visitors into sales.\r\n\r\n<h2>K.I.S.S.</h2>\r\n\r\nWhile it\'s important to give your visitors plenty of high quality content, don\'t fill it with fluff. Make sure the words you write provide value and Keep It Short and Simple. Get to the point and tell your visitors what they want to hear before they leave.\r\n\r\nYou have about 3 seconds to grab their attention. Do it with a great headline/title. Then, provide short sentences and short paragraphs. When the paragraphs and sentences are longer, your content looks harder to read. \r\n\r\n<h2>Always Create Scannable Content</h2>\r\n\r\nThere\'s nothing worse than a big blob of text. It looks hard to read and often causes visitors to leave.\r\n\r\nYou want to create scannable content all the time. Every page and blog post needs to be easy to scan. \r\n\r\nScannable content includes multiple subheadings, bullet points and images to help break up the content. It also includes shorter paragraphs and shorter sentences. \r\n\r\nYour reader should be able to find what they\'re looking for fast. They shouldn\'t have to read every word to find the one point out of five they\'re interested in.\r\n\r\n<h2>Write a Compelling Headline</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/15142994_s-300x272.jpg\" alt=\"Headlines\" width=\"300\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-10413\" />Some say the headline is the most important part of your content. It has to be written to bring in visitors. Some of the best headlines will:\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Include numbers, such as 7 Ways to Write Better Blog Posts</li>\r\n<li>Solve a problem</li>\r\n<li>Provide a benefit</li>\r\n<li>Play on popular phrases, such as Why YOLO Doesn\'t Mean What You Think</li>\r\n<li>Provide something specific</li>\r\n<li>Create shock</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThe headline you create for each blog post or page on your website will make a huge difference. A great headline will bring more visitors and more conversions than an average headline.\r\n\r\n<h2>Honesty Goes a Long Way</h2>\r\n\r\nCompanies with a very low product return rate, high online reviews and plenty of repeat customers are often the most honest companies you will find. They may not have the lowest price or the best product. However, they get the job done and they\'re honest about what they offer.\r\n\r\nPeople respond to honesty and you have to provide honesty within you copy. If you lie or stretch the truth, it will come out sooner or later. Then, it will end up in the online reviews and it will become a part of your reputation.\r\n\r\n<h2>Focus on the Benefits for the Reader</h2>\r\n\r\nYour readers really don\'t care too much about you, at least at first. They care about how you can help them. Focus your web copy on the benefits you provide for the reader. \r\n\r\nA list of features may be nice, but features don\'t translate into benefits. Instead of telling the reader your golf ball provides a better dimple pattern, tell them how it will cure their slice or go further because of the dimple pattern. \r\n\r\n<h2>Use Images</h2>\r\n\r\nWhile the written content is vital to the success of your web copy, images are incredibly powerful. An image of how well your product works or the before and after of a service you provide will speak volumes.\r\n\r\n<h2>Provide a Video</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/50536265_s-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Video\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10414\" />Images and written content are great, but videos give the consumer an actual look at what you provide. If possible, provide a video with a product demonstration or a look at the services you provide.\r\n\r\nWhen you combine well-written, compelling text with the right images and videos, your web copy becomes very powerful. The right web copy will help readers go from mere visitors to customers. Make sure you use these seven tips to make your web copy better.\r\n','Top 7 Tips for Writing Attractive Web Copy to Drive Sales','','inherit','closed','closed','','10411-revision-v1','','','2016-05-04 15:34:41','2016-05-04 19:34:41','',10411,'https://itxdesign.com/10411-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10416,0,'2016-05-06 15:24:26','2016-05-06 19:24:26','','','','inherit','open','closed','','10416','','','2016-05-06 15:24:26','2016-05-06 19:24:26','',10406,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/42092103_s-300x210-1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10417,5,'2016-05-09 12:45:26','2016-05-09 16:45:26','Web hosting is a comedic gold mine because there\'s so much that can wrong. So much that does go wrong. So many free and too-good-to-be-true offerings from untrustworthy companies. So much downtime.\r\n\r\nWe investigated every dark corner of the internet to find the best funny web hosting memes out there and compiled them into this very easily digestible list.\r\n\r\nWhether you\'re a web hosting provider, a web hosting customer, or simply someone with a healthy interest in website hosting comedy, you\'re in the right place.\r\n\r\nCheck them out--a compilation of the best funny web hosting memes online!\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">A Compilation of Funny Web Hosting Memes</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-10418 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s9.jpg\" alt=\"s9\" width=\"492\" height=\"377\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Free web hosting isn\'t all it\'s cracked up to be.</p>\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-10419 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s8.jpg\" alt=\"s8\" width=\"480\" height=\"480\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">So are they lying or what?</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10420 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s7.jpg\" alt=\"s7\" width=\"510\" height=\"510\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">And I bet it looks GREAT</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10421 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s6.jpg\" alt=\"s6\" width=\"236\" height=\"236\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Yes, we notice when your site\'s not optimized for mobile.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10422 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s5.jpg\" alt=\"s5\" width=\"350\" height=\"348\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">If you\'re using free hosting, sorry, you\'re no pro.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10423 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s1.png\" alt=\"s1\" width=\"480\" height=\"336\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Oh, the quandary.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10424 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s2.jpg\" alt=\"s2\" width=\"480\" height=\"480\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Just, why?</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10425 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s3.jpg\" alt=\"s3\" width=\"510\" height=\"339\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">That\'s right--network on point.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10426 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s4.jpg\" alt=\"s4\" width=\"580\" height=\"386\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Team WordPress, anyone?</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As always, we hope you\'ll check ITX Design out for your website and blog hosting needs. <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/compare-hosting-plans/\">Compare our available hosting plans here</a> to learn more about our offerings and how we can help your business create a reliable, solid online presence.</p>','A Compilation of Funny Web Hosting Memes','','publish','open','closed','','a-compilation-of-funny-web-hosting-memes','','','2016-05-09 12:45:26','2016-05-09 16:45:26','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10417',0,'post','',0),(10418,5,'2016-05-09 12:32:24','2016-05-09 16:32:24','','s9','','inherit','open','closed','','s9','','','2016-05-09 12:32:24','2016-05-09 16:32:24','',10417,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s9.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10419,5,'2016-05-09 12:32:28','2016-05-09 16:32:28','','s8','','inherit','open','closed','','s8','','','2016-05-09 12:32:28','2016-05-09 16:32:28','',10417,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s8.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10420,5,'2016-05-09 12:32:31','2016-05-09 16:32:31','','s7','','inherit','open','closed','','s7','','','2016-05-09 12:40:37','2016-05-09 16:40:37','',10417,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s7.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10421,5,'2016-05-09 12:32:35','2016-05-09 16:32:35','','s6','','inherit','open','closed','','s6','','','2016-05-09 12:32:35','2016-05-09 16:32:35','',10417,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s6.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10422,5,'2016-05-09 12:32:39','2016-05-09 16:32:39','','s5','','inherit','open','closed','','s5','','','2016-05-09 12:32:39','2016-05-09 16:32:39','',10417,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s5.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10423,5,'2016-05-09 12:33:12','2016-05-09 16:33:12','','s1','','inherit','open','closed','','s1','','','2016-05-09 12:33:12','2016-05-09 16:33:12','',10417,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s1.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10424,5,'2016-05-09 12:33:14','2016-05-09 16:33:14','','s2','','inherit','open','closed','','s2','','','2016-05-09 12:33:14','2016-05-09 16:33:14','',10417,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10425,5,'2016-05-09 12:33:15','2016-05-09 16:33:15','','s3','','inherit','open','closed','','s3','','','2016-05-09 12:33:15','2016-05-09 16:33:15','',10417,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s3.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10426,5,'2016-05-09 12:33:17','2016-05-09 16:33:17','','s4','','inherit','open','closed','','s4','','','2016-05-09 12:33:17','2016-05-09 16:33:17','',10417,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s4.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10427,5,'2016-05-09 12:41:39','2016-05-09 16:41:39','Web hosting is a comedic gold mine because there\'s so much that can wrong. We investigated every dark corner of the internet to find the best funny web hosting memes out there and compiled them into this very easily digestible list.\r\n\r\nWhether you\'re a web hosting provider, a web hosting customer, or simply someone with a healthy interest in website hosting comedy, you\'re in the right place.\r\n\r\nCheck them out--the best funny web hosting memes online!\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">A Compilation of Funny Web Hosting Memes</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-10418 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s9.jpg\" alt=\"s9\" width=\"492\" height=\"377\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Free web hosting isn\'t all it\'s cracked up to be.</p>\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-10419 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s8.jpg\" alt=\"s8\" width=\"480\" height=\"480\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">So are they lying or what?</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10420 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s7.jpg\" alt=\"s7\" width=\"510\" height=\"510\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">And I bet it looks GREAT</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10421 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s6.jpg\" alt=\"s6\" width=\"236\" height=\"236\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Yes, we notice when your site\'s not optimized for mobile.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10422 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s5.jpg\" alt=\"s5\" width=\"350\" height=\"348\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">If you\'re using free hosting, sorry, you\'re no pro.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10423 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s1.png\" alt=\"s1\" width=\"480\" height=\"336\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Oh, the quandary.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10424 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s2.jpg\" alt=\"s2\" width=\"480\" height=\"480\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Just, why?</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10425 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s3.jpg\" alt=\"s3\" width=\"510\" height=\"339\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">That\'s right--network on point.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10426 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s4.jpg\" alt=\"s4\" width=\"580\" height=\"386\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Team WordPress, anyone?</p>','A Compilation of Funny Web Hosting Memes','','inherit','closed','closed','','10417-revision-v1','','','2016-05-09 12:41:39','2016-05-09 16:41:39','',10417,'https://itxdesign.com/10417-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0);
INSERT INTO `wpitx_posts` VALUES (10428,5,'2016-05-09 12:45:26','2016-05-09 16:45:26','Web hosting is a comedic gold mine because there\'s so much that can wrong. So much that does go wrong. So many free and too-good-to-be-true offerings from untrustworthy companies. So much downtime.\r\n\r\nWe investigated every dark corner of the internet to find the best funny web hosting memes out there and compiled them into this very easily digestible list.\r\n\r\nWhether you\'re a web hosting provider, a web hosting customer, or simply someone with a healthy interest in website hosting comedy, you\'re in the right place.\r\n\r\nCheck them out--a compilation of the best funny web hosting memes online!\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">A Compilation of Funny Web Hosting Memes</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-10418 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s9.jpg\" alt=\"s9\" width=\"492\" height=\"377\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Free web hosting isn\'t all it\'s cracked up to be.</p>\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-10419 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s8.jpg\" alt=\"s8\" width=\"480\" height=\"480\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">So are they lying or what?</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10420 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s7.jpg\" alt=\"s7\" width=\"510\" height=\"510\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">And I bet it looks GREAT</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10421 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s6.jpg\" alt=\"s6\" width=\"236\" height=\"236\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Yes, we notice when your site\'s not optimized for mobile.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10422 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s5.jpg\" alt=\"s5\" width=\"350\" height=\"348\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">If you\'re using free hosting, sorry, you\'re no pro.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10423 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s1.png\" alt=\"s1\" width=\"480\" height=\"336\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Oh, the quandary.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10424 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s2.jpg\" alt=\"s2\" width=\"480\" height=\"480\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Just, why?</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10425 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s3.jpg\" alt=\"s3\" width=\"510\" height=\"339\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">That\'s right--network on point.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10426 aligncenter\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/s4.jpg\" alt=\"s4\" width=\"580\" height=\"386\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Team WordPress, anyone?</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As always, we hope you\'ll check ITX Design out for your website and blog hosting needs. <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/compare-hosting-plans/\">Compare our available hosting plans here</a> to learn more about our offerings and how we can help your business create a reliable, solid online presence.</p>','A Compilation of Funny Web Hosting Memes','','inherit','closed','closed','','10417-revision-v1','','','2016-05-09 12:45:26','2016-05-09 16:45:26','',10417,'https://itxdesign.com/10417-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10429,5,'2016-05-10 15:02:38','2016-05-10 19:02:38','If you\'re <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/building-a-tech-startup-these-10-tips-are-for-you/\">building a startup</a> for the first time, you\'re very likely overwhelmed, exhausted, and full of doubts. That\'s normal. However, if you\'re in a state of perpetual exhaustion or confusion about your efforts and mission, you\'re not likely to get anywhere fast. That\'s where advice and learning from others\' experiences becomes important.\r\n\r\nWe asked ourselves, \"What do we wish we had known about building a company without learning it the hard way?\" The result is this: 5 tips for first time startup founders that will help you get off to a good start and plan your steps a little more surely.\r\n<h3>5 Tips for First Time Startup Founders</h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>Make SURE someone wants it before you build it</li>\r\n 	<li>Build a strong community online</li>\r\n 	<li>Hire someone to build your website</li>\r\n 	<li>Start gathering email addresses ASAP</li>\r\n 	<li>Create a solid content foundation</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h5>1. Make SURE someone wants it before you build it</h5>\r\nThere\'s no shorter path to failure than when no one wants your product or service. You can have the best sales people in the world, the lowest prices, and the most amazing location, but none of that will matter if no one is interested in what you\'re selling.\r\n\r\nMake sure there\'s a viable audience for your product by doing questionnaires, consulting existing research, and mapping out forecasts.\r\n<h5>2. Build a strong community online</h5>\r\nWhether your company exists entirely online or from a brick-and-mortar location, you should begin concentrating on building a strong online community around your brand. With ample support online, more people will become familiar with your startup and any events you host.\r\n\r\nIt\'s a great way to advertise, communicate, and start discussions. Treat everyone as friends, not customers, to build a strong online community.\r\n<h5>3. Hire someone to build your website</h5>\r\nUnless you have adequate experience in web development and design, <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/what-startup-websites-get-wrong-most-of-the-time/\">leave the job to an expert</a>. If you have a specific vision for the way you want the site to turn out or functionalities you want on the site, share your ideas with the developer and have them shape it into your vision.\r\n\r\nDon\'t rely on your own skills or learning enough about design to get you by. Users can spot bad or unprofessional design quickly, and it diminishes trust in your brand.\r\n<h5>4. Start gathering email addresses ASAP</h5>\r\nSupport means everything when you\'re building a startup. You can make the most of the support you get by gathering email addresses early on. Ask influencers and potential investors to join your mailing list so they can keep track of your startup\'s progress.\r\n\r\nCreate an email newsletter signup page for your website and buttons that ask users to sign up visible on every page.\r\n<h5>5. Create a solid content foundation</h5>\r\nWhen you\'re still in the early stages of business and there isn\'t much on your website, you can still rely on content to fill up the space and offer users something to keep them around for a while and familiarize themselves with your brand.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/how-to-write-evergreen-content-that-doesnt-go-stale/\">Create a solid content foundation</a> by covering the basics of your company, your industry, and why your company exists. Connect your brand to current news topics in your industry and begin building a foundation of good, interesting content that will make your startup website a more interesting place to be.','5 Tips for First Time Startup Founders','','publish','open','closed','','5-tips-for-first-time-startup-founders','','','2016-05-10 15:02:38','2016-05-10 19:02:38','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10429',0,'post','',0),(10430,5,'2016-05-10 15:00:25','2016-05-10 19:00:25','If you\'re building a startup for the first time, you\'re very likely overwhelmed, exhausted, and full of doubts. That\'s normal. However, if you\'re in a state of perpetual exhaustion or confusion about your efforts and mission, you\'re not likely to get anywhere fast. That\'s where advice and learning from others\' experiences becomes important.\r\n\r\nWe asked ourselves, \"What do we wish we had known about building a company without learning it the hard way?\" The result is this: 5 tips for first time startup founders that will help you get off to a good start and plan your steps a little more surely.\r\n<h3>5 Tips for First Time Startup Founders</h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>Make SURE someone wants it before you build it</li>\r\n 	<li>Build a strong community online</li>\r\n 	<li>Hire someone to build your website</li>\r\n 	<li>Start gathering email addresses ASAP</li>\r\n 	<li>Create a solid content foundation</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h5>1. Make SURE someone wants it before you build it</h5>\r\nThere\'s no shorter path to failure than when no one wants your product or service. You can have the best sales people in the world, the lowest prices, and the most amazing location, but none of that will matter if no one is interested in what you\'re selling.\r\n\r\nMake sure there\'s a viable audience for your product by doing questionnaires, consulting existing research, and mapping out forecasts.\r\n<h5>2. Build a strong community online</h5>\r\nWhether your company exists entirely online or from a brick-and-mortar location, you should begin concentrating on building a strong online community around your brand. With ample support online, more people will become familiar with your startup and any events you host.\r\n\r\nIt\'s a great way to advertise, communicate, and start discussions. Treat everyone as friends, not customers, to build a strong online community.\r\n<h5>3. Hire someone to build your website</h5>\r\nUnless you have adequate experience in web development and design, leave the job to an expert. If you have a specific vision for the way you want the site to turn out or functionalities you want on the site, share your ideas with the developer and have them shape it into your vision.\r\n\r\nDon\'t rely on your own skills or learning enough about design to get you by. Users can spot bad or unprofessional design quickly, and it diminishes trust in your brand.\r\n<h5>4. Start gathering email addresses ASAP</h5>\r\nSupport means everything when you\'re building a startup. You can make the most of the support you get by gathering email addresses early on. Ask influencers and potential investors to join your mailing list so they can keep track of your startup\'s progress.\r\n\r\nCreate an email newsletter signup page for your website and buttons that ask users to sign up visible on every page.\r\n<h5>5. Create a solid content foundation</h5>\r\nWhen you\'re still in the early stages of business and there isn\'t much on your website, you can still rely on content to fill up the space and offer users something to keep them around for a while and familiarize themselves with your brand.\r\n\r\nCreate a solid content foundation by covering the basics of your company, your industry, and why your company exists. Connect your brand to current news topics in your industry and begin building a foundation of good, interesting content that will make your startup website a more interesting place to be.','5 Tips for First Time Startup Founders','','inherit','closed','closed','','10429-revision-v1','','','2016-05-10 15:00:25','2016-05-10 19:00:25','',10429,'https://itxdesign.com/10429-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10431,5,'2016-05-10 15:02:38','2016-05-10 19:02:38','If you\'re <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/building-a-tech-startup-these-10-tips-are-for-you/\">building a startup</a> for the first time, you\'re very likely overwhelmed, exhausted, and full of doubts. That\'s normal. However, if you\'re in a state of perpetual exhaustion or confusion about your efforts and mission, you\'re not likely to get anywhere fast. That\'s where advice and learning from others\' experiences becomes important.\r\n\r\nWe asked ourselves, \"What do we wish we had known about building a company without learning it the hard way?\" The result is this: 5 tips for first time startup founders that will help you get off to a good start and plan your steps a little more surely.\r\n<h3>5 Tips for First Time Startup Founders</h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>Make SURE someone wants it before you build it</li>\r\n 	<li>Build a strong community online</li>\r\n 	<li>Hire someone to build your website</li>\r\n 	<li>Start gathering email addresses ASAP</li>\r\n 	<li>Create a solid content foundation</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h5>1. Make SURE someone wants it before you build it</h5>\r\nThere\'s no shorter path to failure than when no one wants your product or service. You can have the best sales people in the world, the lowest prices, and the most amazing location, but none of that will matter if no one is interested in what you\'re selling.\r\n\r\nMake sure there\'s a viable audience for your product by doing questionnaires, consulting existing research, and mapping out forecasts.\r\n<h5>2. Build a strong community online</h5>\r\nWhether your company exists entirely online or from a brick-and-mortar location, you should begin concentrating on building a strong online community around your brand. With ample support online, more people will become familiar with your startup and any events you host.\r\n\r\nIt\'s a great way to advertise, communicate, and start discussions. Treat everyone as friends, not customers, to build a strong online community.\r\n<h5>3. Hire someone to build your website</h5>\r\nUnless you have adequate experience in web development and design, <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/what-startup-websites-get-wrong-most-of-the-time/\">leave the job to an expert</a>. If you have a specific vision for the way you want the site to turn out or functionalities you want on the site, share your ideas with the developer and have them shape it into your vision.\r\n\r\nDon\'t rely on your own skills or learning enough about design to get you by. Users can spot bad or unprofessional design quickly, and it diminishes trust in your brand.\r\n<h5>4. Start gathering email addresses ASAP</h5>\r\nSupport means everything when you\'re building a startup. You can make the most of the support you get by gathering email addresses early on. Ask influencers and potential investors to join your mailing list so they can keep track of your startup\'s progress.\r\n\r\nCreate an email newsletter signup page for your website and buttons that ask users to sign up visible on every page.\r\n<h5>5. Create a solid content foundation</h5>\r\nWhen you\'re still in the early stages of business and there isn\'t much on your website, you can still rely on content to fill up the space and offer users something to keep them around for a while and familiarize themselves with your brand.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/how-to-write-evergreen-content-that-doesnt-go-stale/\">Create a solid content foundation</a> by covering the basics of your company, your industry, and why your company exists. Connect your brand to current news topics in your industry and begin building a foundation of good, interesting content that will make your startup website a more interesting place to be.','5 Tips for First Time Startup Founders','','inherit','closed','closed','','10429-revision-v1','','','2016-05-10 15:02:38','2016-05-10 19:02:38','',10429,'https://itxdesign.com/10429-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10432,0,'2016-05-10 15:29:25','2016-05-10 19:29:25','','','','inherit','open','closed','','10432','','','2016-05-10 15:29:25','2016-05-10 19:29:25','',10411,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/12351735_s-300x225-1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10463,0,'2016-05-19 15:04:45','2016-05-19 19:04:45','','','','inherit','open','closed','','10463','','','2016-05-19 15:04:45','2016-05-19 19:04:45','',10452,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/6072965_s-300x251-1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10434,5,'2016-05-11 14:29:07','2016-05-11 18:29:07','<img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-3243\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/META-DATA-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"META-DATA\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />Metadata is literally \"data about data.\" Meta tags give information about the data on your website to search engines so they know when to show users your website in results.\r\n\r\nMetadata gives details about your website as a whole and is a key factor in the way search engines rank your website.\r\n\r\nInformation on your website is \"crawled\" by search engine bots or spiders, where it can then be indexed by the search engine and placed in a library of sorts.\r\n\r\nNext time someone enters a search query that is related to your metadata, the search engines return the best URLs, ranked from best to least valuable, in the results.\r\n<h3>3 types of metadata</h3>\r\nThere are 3 types of metadata that search engines use to determine what websites are about.\r\n\r\n<strong>Meta title tag</strong> - Tells the search engine what the website is about, includes the main keyword the site wants to rank for\r\n\r\n<strong>Meta description tag</strong> - Gives 160 characters of description or snippet of information from the webpage\r\n\r\n<strong>Meta keywords tags</strong> - Words and phrases relevant to the topic or subject matter of the website; the words and phrases people will query to receive your website in the results\r\n\r\nThe metadata makes it possible for search engines to effectively locate and return the best, most relevant results when a user enters a search query. That\'s why it\'s so important that you set up your website with the right metadata and keywords.\r\n\r\n<strong>Metadata and website traffic</strong>\r\n\r\nThe more traffic a website receives, the greater the chances that some of that traffic will convert to sales. It is estimated that 85% of all traffic for any particular keyword goes to the top 10 results in the search engines.\r\n\r\nMost people never click past page 1 of search results, so it\'s important that you rank well if you want to boost traffic and sales.\r\n\r\n<strong>Meta Keyword Format</strong>\r\n\r\nThe keyword should be written into the Meta keyword tag in the following format:\r\n\r\n<strong>Meta name=\"keywords\" content=\"Keywords for the webpage go here, separated by commas\"</strong>\r\n\r\nEx.: Meta name=\"keywords\" content=\"web hosting, website hosting, web design, web hosting provider\"','How Meta Tags Boost SEO and Online Visibility','','publish','open','closed','','how-meta-tags-boost-seo-and-online-visibility','','','2016-05-11 14:29:07','2016-05-11 18:29:07','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10434',0,'post','',0),(10435,5,'2016-05-11 14:28:47','2016-05-11 18:28:47','<img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-3243\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/META-DATA-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"META-DATA\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />Metadata is literally \"data about data.\" Meta tags give information about the data on your website to search engines so they know when to show users your website in results.\r\n\r\nMetadata gives details about your website as a whole and is a key factor in the way search engines rank your website.\r\n\r\nInformation on your website is \"crawled\" by search engine bots or spiders, where it can then be indexed by the search engine and placed in a library of sorts.\r\n\r\nNext time someone enters a search query that is related to your metadata, the search engines return the best URLs, ranked from best to least valuable, in the results.\r\n<h3>3 types of metadata</h3>\r\nThere are 3 types of metadata that search engines use to determine what websites are about.\r\n\r\n<strong>Meta title tag</strong> - Tells the search engine what the website is about, includes the main keyword the site wants to rank for\r\n\r\n<strong>Meta description tag</strong> - Gives 160 characters of description or snippet of information from the webpage\r\n\r\n<strong>Meta keywords tags</strong> - Words and phrases relevant to the topic or subject matter of the website; the words and phrases people will query to receive your website in the results\r\n\r\nThe metadata makes it possible for search engines to effectively locate and return the best, most relevant results when a user enters a search query. That\'s why it\'s so important that you set up your website with the right metadata and keywords.\r\n\r\n<strong>Metadata and website traffic</strong>\r\n\r\nThe more traffic a website receives, the greater the chances that some of that traffic will convert to sales. It is estimated that 85% of all traffic for any particular keyword goes to the top 10 results in the search engines.\r\n\r\nMost people never click past page 1 of search results, so it\'s important that you rank well if you want to boost traffic and sales.\r\n\r\n<strong>Meta Keyword Format</strong>\r\n\r\nThe keyword should be written into the Meta keyword tag in the following format:\r\n\r\n<strong>Meta name=\"keywords\" content=\"Keywords for the webpage go here, separated by commas\"</strong>\r\n\r\nEx.: Meta name=\"keywords\" content=\"web hosting, website hosting, web design, web hosting provider\"','How Meta Tags Boost SEO and Online Visibility','','inherit','closed','closed','','10434-revision-v1','','','2016-05-11 14:28:47','2016-05-11 18:28:47','',10434,'https://itxdesign.com/10434-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10436,5,'2016-05-11 17:52:26','2016-05-11 21:52:26','<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\r\n\r\nThe internet is full of great content (and really bad content, too). When you’re browsing online, it’s easy to forget where you saw a statistic, image, or other piece of usable content.\r\n\r\nAnd sure, you could always sift through your browser\'s lengthy history to find them again. But after noticing that today’s date alone has 5 pages of results, you’ll probably wish you had some great <strong>bookmarking apps and tools</strong> that do the work for you.\r\n\r\nThat’s why we gathered 5 <strong>bookmarking apps and tools</strong> that help you keep track of what you see online, and that includes great content to share on your social media networks.\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\r\n<h3>Top 5 Bookmarking Apps and Tools</h3>\r\nLet’s take a look at 5 tools that have great features and usability to help you keep track of your content.\r\n<h4>1. Dropmark</h4>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-6001 aligncenter\" src=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ember.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 503px) 100vw, 503px\" srcset=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ember.png 1014w, https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ember-300x209.png 300w, https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ember-768x536.png 768w\" alt=\"5 bookmarking tools that help you keep track of great content\" width=\"503\" height=\"351\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Dropmark is a Google Chrome extension in the form of a sidebar that allows you to drop content into a folder to be accessed later. It has the social element of letting you invite people at work if you’re collaborating on a project.</p>\r\n\r\n<h4>2. Flipboard  <img class=\"size-full wp-image-6000 aligncenter\" src=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emm.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" srcset=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emm.jpg 500w, https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emm-300x225.jpg 300w\" alt=\"5 bookmarking tools that help you keep track of great content\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Flipboard lets you put interesting content that you customize into an easily readable and skim-friendly magazine-style layout. Include social media, news, and anything you find interesting or relevant. You can also send updates to your Apple Watch.</p>\r\n\r\n<h4>3. Dragdis</h4>\r\n<h4><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5997 aligncenter\" src=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmmmmm.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px\" srcset=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmmmmm.png 570w, https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmmmmm-300x196.png 300w\" alt=\"5 bookmarking tools that help you keep track of great content\" width=\"570\" height=\"372\" /></h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Dragdis is a visual tool. Another extension to Google Chrome, Dragdis lets you drag content to a folder you select. When you drag something, the sidebar will pop out and allow you to store info, links, and images in the folder you’ve selected.</p>\r\n\r\n<h4>4. MyWebRoom<img class=\"size-full wp-image-5998 aligncenter\" src=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmmm.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px\" srcset=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmmm.jpg 570w, https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmmm-300x187.jpg 300w\" alt=\"5 bookmarking tools that help you keep track of great content\" width=\"570\" height=\"356\" /></h4>\r\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\r\n\r\nMyWebRoom is a platform that also enables you to discover new content. It works by designing a virtual room for you to “store” your finds. Each object in your room is a digital a folder for different streams of constantly-updated content that is selected based on interests you input. The platform lets you invite others to check out your “room” and share your room designs with the community.\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<h4>5. Ember</h4>\r\n<h4><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5999 aligncenter\" src=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmm.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px\" srcset=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmm.jpg 570w, https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmm-300x191.jpg 300w\" alt=\"5 bookmarking tools that help you keep track of great content\" width=\"570\" height=\"363\" /></h4>\r\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Ember takes screenshots that work together to help you keep track of great content you find online. You can take clippings of any webpage or photo you come across, internet or otherwise, and clip them to your Ember clipboard.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Since the internet is filled with more information than ever, it’s important to get a grip on good information while it’s in front of you by grabbing a screenshot of the most important part of the content.</p>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n</div>','Top 5 Bookmarking Apps and Tools','','publish','open','closed','','top-5-bookmarking-apps-and-tools','','','2016-05-11 17:52:26','2016-05-11 21:52:26','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10436',0,'post','',0),(10437,5,'2016-05-11 17:52:04','2016-05-11 21:52:04','','emmmm','','inherit','open','closed','','emmmm','','','2016-05-11 17:52:04','2016-05-11 21:52:04','',10436,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmmm.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10438,5,'2016-05-11 17:52:12','2016-05-11 21:52:12','<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\r\n\r\nThe internet is full of great content (and really bad content, too). When you’re browsing online, it’s easy to forget where you saw a statistic, image, or other piece of usable content.\r\n\r\nAnd sure, you could always sift through your browser\'s lengthy history to find them again. But after noticing that today’s date alone has 5 pages of results, you’ll probably wish you had some great <strong>bookmarking apps and tools</strong> that do the work for you.\r\n\r\nThat’s why we gathered 5 <strong>bookmarking apps and tools</strong> that help you keep track of what you see online, and that includes great content to share on your social media networks.\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\r\n<h3>Top 5 Bookmarking Apps and Tools</h3>\r\nLet’s take a look at 5 tools that have great features and usability to help you keep track of your content.\r\n<h4>1. Dropmark</h4>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-6001 aligncenter\" src=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ember.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 503px) 100vw, 503px\" srcset=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ember.png 1014w, https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ember-300x209.png 300w, https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ember-768x536.png 768w\" alt=\"5 bookmarking tools that help you keep track of great content\" width=\"503\" height=\"351\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Dropmark is a Google Chrome extension in the form of a sidebar that allows you to drop content into a folder to be accessed later. It has the social element of letting you invite people at work if you’re collaborating on a project.</p>\r\n\r\n<h4>2. Flipboard  <img class=\"size-full wp-image-6000 aligncenter\" src=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emm.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" srcset=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emm.jpg 500w, https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emm-300x225.jpg 300w\" alt=\"5 bookmarking tools that help you keep track of great content\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Flipboard lets you put interesting content that you customize into an easily readable and skim-friendly magazine-style layout. Include social media, news, and anything you find interesting or relevant. You can also send updates to your Apple Watch.</p>\r\n\r\n<h4>3. Dragdis</h4>\r\n<h4><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5997 aligncenter\" src=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmmmmm.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px\" srcset=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmmmmm.png 570w, https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmmmmm-300x196.png 300w\" alt=\"5 bookmarking tools that help you keep track of great content\" width=\"570\" height=\"372\" /></h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Dragdis is a visual tool. Another extension to Google Chrome, Dragdis lets you drag content to a folder you select. When you drag something, the sidebar will pop out and allow you to store info, links, and images in the folder you’ve selected.</p>\r\n\r\n<h4>4. MyWebRoom<img class=\"size-full wp-image-5998 aligncenter\" src=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmmm.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px\" srcset=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmmm.jpg 570w, https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmmm-300x187.jpg 300w\" alt=\"5 bookmarking tools that help you keep track of great content\" width=\"570\" height=\"356\" /></h4>\r\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\r\n\r\nMyWebRoom is a platform that also enables you to discover new content. It works by designing a virtual room for you to “store” your finds. Each object in your room is a digital a folder for different streams of constantly-updated content that is selected based on interests you input. The platform lets you invite others to check out your “room” and share your room designs with the community.\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<h4>5. Ember</h4>\r\n<h4><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5999 aligncenter\" src=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmm.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px\" srcset=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmm.jpg 570w, https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/emmm-300x191.jpg 300w\" alt=\"5 bookmarking tools that help you keep track of great content\" width=\"570\" height=\"363\" /></h4>\r\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Ember takes screenshots that work together to help you keep track of great content you find online. You can take clippings of any webpage or photo you come across, internet or otherwise, and clip them to your Ember clipboard.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Since the internet is filled with more information than ever, it’s important to get a grip on good information while it’s in front of you by grabbing a screenshot of the most important part of the content.</p>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n</div>','Top 5 Bookmarking Apps and Tools','','inherit','closed','closed','','10436-revision-v1','','','2016-05-11 17:52:12','2016-05-11 21:52:12','',10436,'https://itxdesign.com/10436-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10440,5,'2016-05-13 14:38:29','2016-05-13 18:38:29','','contact','','inherit','open','closed','','contact','','','2016-05-13 14:38:45','2016-05-13 18:38:45','',10439,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/contact.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10441,5,'2016-05-13 14:42:29','2016-05-13 18:42:29','<img class=\"wp-image-10440 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/contact.jpg\" alt=\"6 reasons a contact form on your website is a necessity\" width=\"351\" height=\"234\" />When visitors come to your website with questions, comments, or problems, they look for the fastest and simplest way to get in touch with you. Phone calls are an important method of contact for many businesses and industries, but others take place primarily online and rely on communication through the internet. A contact form is an easy way to remove any barriers a user might have to getting in touch with you and asking a question.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>Website Tip:</strong> If you\'ve already got a working contact form on your website, live chat should be the next thing on your list. Offering users the chance to talk to a live representative right away instead of hours or days later is a smart choice for optimizing your user experience and <a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/live-chat-lead-generation-grow-your-business-faster-starting-today/\">generating leads with live chat</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n<h3>7 Reasons a Contact Form on Your Website Is a Necessity</h3>\r\n1. You need to have a simple contact form on your website to <strong>give yourself the opportunity to answer users\' questions that may lead to a sale</strong>. Having multiple channels of customer service is important, and a contact form is one more way you can provide for users to get in touch with you quickly.\r\n\r\n2. Information sent from <strong>a contact form is generally encrypted and more secure than email</strong> messages. People may feel better about sending their email, address, full name, or other personal info knowing that it\'s not easily accessible to hackers.\r\n\r\n3. Website visitors enjoy <strong>the convenience of being able to reach you directly from their website</strong>. Instead of opening their email homepage or app to send an email or picking up the phone to call customer service, they simply enter their info into your contact form and hit submit.\r\n\r\n4. There are <strong>no chances the messages will accidentally be sent to the wrong email</strong> address, or that someone else has access to the email address.\r\n\r\n5. The messages visitors send <strong>never get lost in your Spam or Trash folders inadvertently</strong> when you use contact forms, ensuring you get every message you were intended to receive.\r\n\r\n6. You can <strong>get a clearer sense of what the user needs from you</strong> by offering drop down menus with a required subject of the request, question, or comment (General, editorial, careers, etc.)\r\n\r\n7. Contact forms <strong>allow users to contact you any time they want, 24 hours a day</strong>. Since it\'s a fast but not immediate form of communication, you have a little time to get to the message without actually having to be available 24 hours a day.','7 Reasons a Contact Form on Your Website Is a Necessity','','inherit','closed','closed','','10439-revision-v1','','','2016-05-13 14:42:29','2016-05-13 18:42:29','',10439,'https://itxdesign.com/10439-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10442,5,'2016-05-13 14:43:03','2016-05-13 18:43:03','<img class=\"wp-image-10440 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/contact.jpg\" alt=\"6 reasons a contact form on your website is a necessity\" width=\"351\" height=\"234\" />When visitors come to your website with questions, comments, or problems, they look for the fastest and simplest way to get in touch with you. Phone calls are an important method of contact for many businesses and industries, but others take place primarily online and rely on communication through the internet.\r\n\r\nA contact form is an easy way to remove any barriers a user might have to getting in touch with you and asking a question.\r\n\r\n<strong>Website Tip:</strong> If you\'ve already got a working contact form on your website, live chat should be the next thing on your list. Offering users the chance to talk to a live representative right away instead of hours or days later is a smart choice for optimizing your user experience and <a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/live-chat-lead-generation-grow-your-business-faster-starting-today/\">generating leads with live chat</a>.\r\n<h3>7 Reasons a Contact Form on Your Website Is a Necessity</h3>\r\n1. You need to have a simple contact form on your website to <strong>give yourself the opportunity to answer users\' questions that may lead to a sale</strong>. Having multiple channels of customer service is important, and a contact form is one more way you can provide for users to get in touch with you quickly.\r\n\r\n2. Information sent from <strong>a contact form is generally encrypted and more secure than email</strong> messages. People may feel better about sending their email, address, full name, or other personal info knowing that it\'s not easily accessible to hackers.\r\n\r\n3. Website visitors enjoy <strong>the convenience of being able to reach you directly from their website</strong>. Instead of opening their email homepage or app to send an email or picking up the phone to call customer service, they simply enter their info into your contact form and hit submit.\r\n\r\n4. There are <strong>no chances the messages will accidentally be sent to the wrong email</strong> address, or that someone else has access to the email address.\r\n\r\n5. The messages visitors send <strong>never get lost in your Spam or Trash folders inadvertently</strong> when you use contact forms, ensuring you get every message you were intended to receive.\r\n\r\n6. You can <strong>get a clearer sense of what the user needs from you</strong> by offering drop down menus with a required subject of the request, question, or comment (General, editorial, careers, etc.)\r\n\r\n7. Contact forms <strong>allow users to contact you any time they want, 24 hours a day</strong>. Since it\'s a fast but not immediate form of communication, you have a little time to get to the message without actually having to be available 24 hours a day.','7 Reasons a Contact Form on Your Website Is a Necessity','','inherit','closed','closed','','10439-revision-v1','','','2016-05-13 14:43:03','2016-05-13 18:43:03','',10439,'https://itxdesign.com/10439-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10445,5,'2016-05-16 13:31:38','2016-05-16 17:31:38','Quotes about failure - that sounds like it has the potential to be depressing. Right?\r\n\r\n<strong>Not if you\'re reading the right quotes. </strong>\r\n\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-10446 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/failed.png\" alt=\"25 quotes about failure\" width=\"307\" height=\"230\" />The most brilliant and innovative people in history have been students of the school of failure.\r\n\r\nWe use this metaphor because experiencing <strong>failure is a lot like going to school</strong>--it\'s miserable when you\'re there, but you know that it\'s inevitable and will better you in the end. It\'s often unfair and challenging, and besides, do you <em>really</em> need this class to graduate?\r\n\r\nPerhaps the best way failure resembles school is this: You get out of it exactly what you put in.\r\n\r\nStudents who slept through class, never did homework, and endlessly complained about school weren\'t at the top of their class. They probably didn\'t go on to do great things (unless they changed their perspective!).\r\n\r\nEntrepreneurs who fail stand a chance of getting something out of it--a valuable lesson.\r\n\r\nBut if you\'re too busy sleeping through class, not doing your homework, and complaining that what\'s happening to you is unfair--guess what? You won\'t be at the top of your \"class.\" You won\'t be successful unless you begin to learn from failure, not dread it or wallow in it.\r\n\r\nSometimes, you just need a little reminder that you are not alone, you\'re not the first or last person to deal with the challenges you\'re facing, and most importantly, that <strong>your failure does not define you as a person or as a business owner. </strong>\r\n\r\nThat\'s what these 25 <a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/25-powerful-failure-quotes-can-change-perspective/\">inspiring quotes about failure</a> are here for. Read on to reaffirm what failure is and how it can shape us as business owners.\r\n<h2>25 Inspiring Quotes About Failure</h2>\r\n<h5>Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.</h5>\r\n-Henry Ford\r\n<h5>Win as if you were used to it, lose as if you enjoyed it for a change.</h5>\r\n-Ralph Waldo Emerson\r\n<h5>Most people have achieved their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.</h5>\r\n-Napoleon Hill\r\n<h5>Failure is a bruise, not a tattoo.</h5>\r\n-Jon Sinclair\r\n<h5>Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.</h5>\r\n-C.S. Lewis\r\n<h5>Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.</h5>\r\n-Truman Capote\r\n<h5>The phoenix must burn to emerge.</h5>\r\n-Janet Fitch\r\n<h5>It’s failure that gives you the proper perspective on success.</h5>\r\n-Ellen Degeneres\r\n<h5>We are all failures–at least the best of us are.</h5>\r\n-J.M. Barrie\r\n<h5>There is no failure, except in no longer trying.</h5>\r\n-Chris Bradford\r\n<h5>Mistakes are the portals of discovery.</h5>\r\n-James Joyce\r\n<h5>I think you have to try and fail, because failure gets you closer to what you’re good at.</h5>\r\n-Louis C.K.\r\n<h5>I can accept failure; everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.</h5>\r\n-Michael Jordan\r\n<h5>Failure is unimportant. It takes courage to make a fool of yourself.</h5>\r\n-Charlie Chaplin\r\n<h5>Failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.</h5>\r\n-Arianna Huffington\r\n<h5>Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.</h5>\r\n-Benjamin Franklin\r\n<h5>Success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable.</h5>\r\n-Coco Chanel\r\n<h5>Failure happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.</h5>\r\n-Mia Hamm\r\n<h5>Who I am as a guitarist is defined by my failure to become Jimi Hendrix.</h5>\r\n-John Mayer\r\n<h5>You don’t go into anything contemplating failure, if you did, you wouldn’t make it.</h5>\r\n-Simon Cowell\r\n<h5>Success is usually the culmination of controlling failure.</h5>\r\n-Sylvester Stallone\r\n<h5>Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.</h5>\r\n-Winston Churchill\r\n<h5>A person who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.</h5>\r\n-Albert Einstein\r\n<h5>I have always been pushed by the negative. The apparent failure of a play sends me back to my typewriter that very night, before the reviews are out. I am more compelled to get back to work than if I had a success.</h5>\r\n-Tennessee Williams\r\n<h5>I don’t want to let the fear of failure stop me from doing what I really care about.</h5>\r\n-Emma Watson','25 Inspiring Quotes About Failure That Will Boost Any Business Owner\'s Mood','','publish','open','closed','','25-inspiring-quotes-about-failure-that-will-boost-any-business-owners-mood','','','2016-05-16 13:31:38','2016-05-16 17:31:38','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10445',0,'post','',0),(10467,5,'2016-05-23 15:28:40','2016-05-23 19:28:40','We don\'t always know what other people are thinking, and when it comes to web design and development, you may feel even more uncertain. How do others see your website? What impression does it leave them with? And, perhaps most importantly, do they think it\'s boring?\r\n\r\nIf users are bored with your website, they won\'t stay long and they won\'t return - two important factors in getting conversions and making more sales. You can\'t afford to have a boring website when there are so many informative, interactive, and interesting sites for people to visit.\r\n<h2>5 Signs That Customers Think Your Website is Boring</h2>\r\nHere are some signs to watch for that indicate customers think your website is boring. Be vigilant!\r\n<h4>1. Images are in short supply</h4>\r\nWe are all visual creatures, so images on a website are very important in grabbing our attention and keeping us interested. Some of us learn primarily through the aid of images and video. If you don\'t have many images on your website, or if your images are too small, it\'s a sign that customers find your website boring. Additionally, if you\'re using stock images that look generic, you\'re sending a visual cue to visitors that your company is generic.\r\n<h4>2. Big chunks of unbroken text</h4>\r\nSee above - people enjoy images. Not only are images visually interesting, but they also serve to break up chunks of text and keep a webpage from seeming too homogenous. Big chunks of unbroken text are sure signs of a boring website because if you can\'t be bothered to hit Enter to create smaller paragraphs or add relevant images to break up the chunks, you\'re probably not putting much focus on providing great content and aesthetic design.\r\n<h4>3. High bounce rates</h4>\r\nThey came, they saw, they left. It\'s a sign of a boring website and it\'s one that is dangerous to ignore. After all, if most people leave your website after viewing one page, you\'re not likely to get many conversions or build a positive reputation online. Bounce rates measure the percentage of visitors that navigated away from your site after viewing one page, so high bounce rates usually mean the people visiting your site are finding it boring.\r\n<h4>4. Low average time on page</h4>\r\nJust like bounce rates can clue you into how customers feel about your website, so can the average time users spend on your page. The less time people spend on your website, the more likely it\'s boring. Unless you\'re seeing low average time on page coupled with a low bounce rate (which usually means the user is leaving the page to navigate to other content on your website, not leaving it altogether), low average time on page is a sign that customers think your website is boring.\r\n<h4>5. You only have a landing page</h4>\r\nLanding pages are an amazing tool for new businesses that want to get online quickly, but haven\'t fully hashed out the website plan or are still coming up with product or service offerings. While you\'re using a landing page, you\'re limited in the amount of content you can include. Limited content and information means customers probably think your website is boring. Don\'t assume that a landing page is a good long-term solution for your website because you\'ve seen others do it - transition to a full website as soon as you are able.','5 Signs That Customers Think Your Website is Boring','','publish','open','closed','','5-signs-that-customers-think-your-website-is-boring','','','2016-05-23 15:28:40','2016-05-23 19:28:40','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10467',0,'post','',0),(10446,5,'2016-05-16 13:27:44','2016-05-16 17:27:44','','failed','','inherit','open','closed','','failed','','','2016-05-16 13:28:05','2016-05-16 17:28:05','',10445,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/failed.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10447,5,'2016-05-16 13:29:55','2016-05-16 17:29:55','Quotes about failure - that sounds like it has the potential to be depressing. Right?\r\n\r\n<strong>Not if you\'re reading the right quotes. </strong>\r\n\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-10446 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/failed.png\" alt=\"25 quotes about failure\" width=\"307\" height=\"230\" />The most brilliant and innovative people in history have been students of the school of failure.\r\n\r\nWe use this metaphor because experiencing <strong>failure is a lot like going to school</strong>--it\'s miserable when you\'re there, but you know that it\'s inevitable and will better you in the end. It\'s often unfair and challenging, and besides, do you <em>really</em> need this class to graduate?\r\n\r\nPerhaps the best way failure resembles school is this: You get out of it exactly what you put in.\r\n\r\nStudents who slept through class, never did homework, and endlessly complained about school weren\'t at the top of their class. They probably didn\'t go on to do great things (unless they changed their perspective!).\r\n\r\nEntrepreneurs who fail stand a chance of getting something out of it--a valuable lesson.\r\n\r\nBut if you\'re too busy sleeping through class, not doing your homework, and complaining that what\'s happening to you is unfair--guess what? You won\'t be at the top of your \"class.\" You won\'t be successful unless you begin to learn from failure, not dread it or wallow in it.\r\n\r\nSometimes, you just need a little reminder that you are not alone, you\'re not the first or last person to deal with the challenges you\'re facing, and most importantly, that <strong>your failure does not define you as a person or as a business owner. </strong>\r\n\r\nThat\'s what these 15 inspiring quotes about failure are here for. Read on to reaffirm what failure is and how it can shape us as business owners.\r\n<h2>25 Inspiring Quotes About Failure</h2>\r\n<h5>Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.</h5>\r\n-Henry Ford\r\n<h5>Win as if you were used to it, lose as if you enjoyed it for a change.</h5>\r\n-Ralph Waldo Emerson\r\n<h5>Most people have achieved their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.</h5>\r\n-Napoleon Hill\r\n<h5>Failure is a bruise, not a tattoo.</h5>\r\n-Jon Sinclair\r\n<h5>Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.</h5>\r\n-C.S. Lewis\r\n<h5>Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.</h5>\r\n-Truman Capote\r\n<h5>The phoenix must burn to emerge.</h5>\r\n-Janet Fitch\r\n<h5>It’s failure that gives you the proper perspective on success.</h5>\r\n-Ellen Degeneres\r\n<h5>We are all failures–at least the best of us are.</h5>\r\n-J.M. Barrie\r\n<h5>There is no failure, except in no longer trying.</h5>\r\n-Chris Bradford\r\n<h5>Mistakes are the portals of discovery.</h5>\r\n-James Joyce\r\n<h5>I think you have to try and fail, because failure gets you closer to what you’re good at.</h5>\r\n-Louis C.K.\r\n<h5>I can accept failure; everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.</h5>\r\n-Michael Jordan\r\n<h5>Failure is unimportant. It takes courage to make a fool of yourself.</h5>\r\n-Charlie Chaplin\r\n<h5>Failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.</h5>\r\n-Arianna Huffington\r\n<h5>Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.</h5>\r\n-Benjamin Franklin\r\n<h5>Success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable.</h5>\r\n-Coco Chanel\r\n<h5>Failure happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.</h5>\r\n-Mia Hamm\r\n<h5>Who I am as a guitarist is defined by my failure to become Jimi Hendrix.</h5>\r\n-John Mayer\r\n<h5>You don’t go into anything contemplating failure, if you did, you wouldn’t make it.</h5>\r\n-Simon Cowell\r\n<h5>Success is usually the culmination of controlling failure.</h5>\r\n-Sylvester Stallone\r\n<h5>Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.</h5>\r\n-Winston Churchill\r\n<h5>A person who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.</h5>\r\n-Albert Einstein\r\n<h5>I have always been pushed by the negative. The apparent failure of a play sends me back to my typewriter that very night, before the reviews are out. I am more compelled to get back to work than if I had a success.</h5>\r\n-Tennessee Williams\r\n<h5>I don’t want to let the fear of failure stop me from doing what I really care about.</h5>\r\n-Emma Watson','25 Inspiring Quotes About Failure That Will Boost Any Business Owner\'s Mood','','inherit','closed','closed','','10445-revision-v1','','','2016-05-16 13:29:55','2016-05-16 17:29:55','',10445,'https://itxdesign.com/10445-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10448,5,'2016-05-16 13:31:38','2016-05-16 17:31:38','Quotes about failure - that sounds like it has the potential to be depressing. Right?\r\n\r\n<strong>Not if you\'re reading the right quotes. </strong>\r\n\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-10446 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/failed.png\" alt=\"25 quotes about failure\" width=\"307\" height=\"230\" />The most brilliant and innovative people in history have been students of the school of failure.\r\n\r\nWe use this metaphor because experiencing <strong>failure is a lot like going to school</strong>--it\'s miserable when you\'re there, but you know that it\'s inevitable and will better you in the end. It\'s often unfair and challenging, and besides, do you <em>really</em> need this class to graduate?\r\n\r\nPerhaps the best way failure resembles school is this: You get out of it exactly what you put in.\r\n\r\nStudents who slept through class, never did homework, and endlessly complained about school weren\'t at the top of their class. They probably didn\'t go on to do great things (unless they changed their perspective!).\r\n\r\nEntrepreneurs who fail stand a chance of getting something out of it--a valuable lesson.\r\n\r\nBut if you\'re too busy sleeping through class, not doing your homework, and complaining that what\'s happening to you is unfair--guess what? You won\'t be at the top of your \"class.\" You won\'t be successful unless you begin to learn from failure, not dread it or wallow in it.\r\n\r\nSometimes, you just need a little reminder that you are not alone, you\'re not the first or last person to deal with the challenges you\'re facing, and most importantly, that <strong>your failure does not define you as a person or as a business owner. </strong>\r\n\r\nThat\'s what these 25 <a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/25-powerful-failure-quotes-can-change-perspective/\">inspiring quotes about failure</a> are here for. Read on to reaffirm what failure is and how it can shape us as business owners.\r\n<h2>25 Inspiring Quotes About Failure</h2>\r\n<h5>Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.</h5>\r\n-Henry Ford\r\n<h5>Win as if you were used to it, lose as if you enjoyed it for a change.</h5>\r\n-Ralph Waldo Emerson\r\n<h5>Most people have achieved their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.</h5>\r\n-Napoleon Hill\r\n<h5>Failure is a bruise, not a tattoo.</h5>\r\n-Jon Sinclair\r\n<h5>Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.</h5>\r\n-C.S. Lewis\r\n<h5>Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.</h5>\r\n-Truman Capote\r\n<h5>The phoenix must burn to emerge.</h5>\r\n-Janet Fitch\r\n<h5>It’s failure that gives you the proper perspective on success.</h5>\r\n-Ellen Degeneres\r\n<h5>We are all failures–at least the best of us are.</h5>\r\n-J.M. Barrie\r\n<h5>There is no failure, except in no longer trying.</h5>\r\n-Chris Bradford\r\n<h5>Mistakes are the portals of discovery.</h5>\r\n-James Joyce\r\n<h5>I think you have to try and fail, because failure gets you closer to what you’re good at.</h5>\r\n-Louis C.K.\r\n<h5>I can accept failure; everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.</h5>\r\n-Michael Jordan\r\n<h5>Failure is unimportant. It takes courage to make a fool of yourself.</h5>\r\n-Charlie Chaplin\r\n<h5>Failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.</h5>\r\n-Arianna Huffington\r\n<h5>Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.</h5>\r\n-Benjamin Franklin\r\n<h5>Success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable.</h5>\r\n-Coco Chanel\r\n<h5>Failure happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.</h5>\r\n-Mia Hamm\r\n<h5>Who I am as a guitarist is defined by my failure to become Jimi Hendrix.</h5>\r\n-John Mayer\r\n<h5>You don’t go into anything contemplating failure, if you did, you wouldn’t make it.</h5>\r\n-Simon Cowell\r\n<h5>Success is usually the culmination of controlling failure.</h5>\r\n-Sylvester Stallone\r\n<h5>Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.</h5>\r\n-Winston Churchill\r\n<h5>A person who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.</h5>\r\n-Albert Einstein\r\n<h5>I have always been pushed by the negative. The apparent failure of a play sends me back to my typewriter that very night, before the reviews are out. I am more compelled to get back to work than if I had a success.</h5>\r\n-Tennessee Williams\r\n<h5>I don’t want to let the fear of failure stop me from doing what I really care about.</h5>\r\n-Emma Watson','25 Inspiring Quotes About Failure That Will Boost Any Business Owner\'s Mood','','inherit','closed','closed','','10445-revision-v1','','','2016-05-16 13:31:38','2016-05-16 17:31:38','',10445,'https://itxdesign.com/10445-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10449,5,'2016-05-17 15:05:22','2016-05-17 19:05:22','Web hosting as an industry hasn\'t been around all that long. In fact, if the web hosting industry were a human being, it wouldn\'t even have attended its 10th high school reunion yet. That\'s what makes it pretty amazing - websites were a new medium to share and spread information that quickly took off in popularity. That\'s why web hosting became essential for companies and organizations, in turn increasing demand and making prices more competitive.\r\n\r\nBut before we get into that, let\'s go over the beginning of the web hosting industry as we know it.\r\n<h4>The beginning</h4>\r\nThe year was 1991. Grunge was just beginning, jeans were torn and tattered, hats were a big thing, and the internet began connecting our world in ways we\'d never known before.\r\n\r\n(We never would have guessed we\'d one day use the exciting connectivity of the internet to look at pictures of aggravated cats and argue with strangers. But I digress.)\r\n\r\nWhen the internet first came into widespread use, if you wanted to host a website, you had to own your own server to do so. Servers are expensive and challenging to maintain, so for the web hosting industry to get its start, the first order of business was making servers (and resulting web hosting capabilities) available to <em>more</em> people for a <em>lower</em> cost.\r\n<h4>Making web hosting accessible to more people</h4>\r\nThe more innovative and resourceful people among us quickly spotted a golden business opportunity (and in retrospect, don\'t you <em>really</em> wish you\'d have been one of them?).\r\n\r\n<em>What if</em> we purchased servers and rented the space at a lower cost to others without technical know-how that still want to build their own website?\r\n\r\n<em>What if,</em> indeed. The web hosting industry was born of this notion, and the rest is history. But keep reading.\r\n\r\nWhile most people are familiar with the term \"web hosting\" today, it hasn\'t always been so recognizable. For a while, there was very little demand for web hosting because:\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>a)</strong> Not many people were online</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>b)</strong> Web hosting was new and still obscure to the public</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>c)</strong> Web hosting was expensive in the beginning</p>\r\n\r\n<h4>Web hosting demand increases</h4>\r\nBut Father Time worked his magic, and as the internet became a bigger part of our daily lives, so did the web hosting industry. Suddenly, big web hosting companies became household names. More people knew what web hosting was. And most importantly, more people were looking for web hosting companies to build their website and internet presence through.\r\n\r\nThings began to change because of the advent of web hosting. The entire marketing industry had to shift to adapt once websites became a core branding destination for businesses and the focus moved from print to digital.\r\n\r\nAnd as the demand for affordable web hosting rose, the high costs of the early days of web hosting gave way to unbelievably low prices. Some companies began offering <a href=\"http://web.archive.org/web/20170713145158/http://www.thehostingnews.com/you-get-what-you-pay-for-with-free-web-hosting.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">free web hosting</a> - something that sounds like a great deal, but is actually the scourge of the internet - and market competition encouraged hosting providers to adopt competitive, user-friendly prices and features.\r\n<h4>Web hosting today</h4>\r\nToday, every serious company, freelancer, blogger , and nonprofit organization has a functioning website. Without one, users don\'t take you seriously.\r\n\r\nWeb hosting did that--from making it possible for a select few to own space online to opening it up for anyone with an idea and an available domain name. That\'s pretty amazing.\r\n\r\nIn the future, the web hosting industry will continue to see new improvements, developments, and even disruptions. Cloud hosting is an example of a recent update to the industry, and we\'ll see more like it in the future.\r\n\r\nThat\'s the history of web hosting in a nutshell. If you have any <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/compare-hosting-plans/\">questions about web hosting, click here.</a>','How Web Hosting First Became an Industry','','publish','open','closed','','how-web-hosting-became-an-industry','','','2018-07-10 05:48:38','2018-07-10 09:48:38','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10449',0,'post','',0),(10450,5,'2016-05-17 15:04:34','2016-05-17 19:04:34','Web hosting as an industry hasn\'t been around all that long. In fact, if the web hosting industry were a human being, it wouldn\'t even have attended its 10th high school reunion yet. That\'s what makes it pretty amazing - websites were a new medium to share and spread information that quickly took off in popularity. That\'s why web hosting became essential for companies and organizations, in turn increasing demand and making prices more competitive.\r\n\r\nBut before we get into that, let\'s go over the beginning of the web hosting industry as we know it.\r\n<h4>The beginning</h4>\r\nThe year was 1991. Grunge was just beginning, jeans were torn and tattered, hats were a big thing, and the internet began connecting our world in ways we\'d never known before.\r\n\r\n(We never would have guessed we\'d one day use the exciting connectivity of the internet to look at pictures of aggravated cats and argue with strangers. But I digress.)\r\n\r\nWhen the internet first came into widespread use, if you wanted to host a website, you had to own your own server to do so. Servers are expensive and challenging to maintain, so for the web hosting industry to get its start, the first order of business was making servers (and resulting web hosting capabilities) available to <em>more</em> people for a <em>lower</em> cost.\r\n<h4>Making web hosting accessible to more people</h4>\r\nThe more innovative and resourceful people among us quickly spotted a golden business opportunity (and in retrospect, don\'t you <em>really</em> wish you\'d have been one of them?).\r\n\r\n<em>What if</em> we purchased servers and rented the space at a lower cost to others without technical know-how that still want to build their own website?\r\n\r\n<em>What if,</em> indeed. The web hosting industry was born of this notion, and the rest is history. But keep reading.\r\n\r\nWhile most people are familiar with the term \"web hosting\" today, it hasn\'t always been so recognizable. For a while, there was very little demand for web hosting because:\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>a)</strong> Not many people were online</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>b)</strong> Web hosting was new and still obscure to the public</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>c)</strong> Web hosting was expensive in the beginning</p>\r\n\r\n<h4>Web hosting demand increases</h4>\r\nBut Father Time worked his magic, and as the internet became a bigger part of our daily lives, so did the web hosting industry. Suddenly, big web hosting companies became household names. More people knew what web hosting was. And most importantly, more people were looking for web hosting companies to build their website and internet presence through.\r\n\r\nThings began to change because of the advent of web hosting. The entire marketing industry had to shift to adapt once websites became a core branding destination for businesses and the focus moved from print to digital.\r\n\r\nAnd as the demand for affordable web hosting rose, the high costs of the early days of web hosting gave way to unbelievably low prices. Some companies began offering <a href=\"http://www.thehostingnews.com/you-get-what-you-pay-for-with-free-web-hosting.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">free web hosting</a> - something that sounds like a great deal, but is actually the scourge of the internet - and market competition encouraged hosting providers to adopt competitive, user-friendly prices and features.\r\n<h4>Web hosting today</h4>\r\nToday, every serious company, freelancer, blogger , and nonprofit organization has a functioning website. Without one, users don\'t take you seriously.\r\n\r\nWeb hosting did that--from making it possible for a select few to own space online to opening it up for anyone with an idea and an available domain name. That\'s pretty amazing.\r\n\r\nIn the future, the web hosting industry will continue to see new improvements, developments, and even disruptions. Cloud hosting is an example of a recent update to the industry, and we\'ll see more like it in the future.\r\n\r\nThat\'s the history of web hosting in a nutshell. If you have any <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/compare-hosting-plans/\">questions about web hosting, click here.</a>','How Web Hosting First Became an Industry','','inherit','closed','closed','','10449-revision-v1','','','2016-05-17 15:04:34','2016-05-17 19:04:34','',10449,'https://itxdesign.com/10449-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10474,5,'2016-05-25 15:13:53','2016-05-25 19:13:53','In a time when shopping can take place from home, in seconds, without all the distractions and annoyances that normally accompany a shopping trip, eCommerce is a solution that many embrace enthusiastically. The internet made it possible for retailers to sell products and services online to people they\'ll never meet or even be within 3,000 miles of.\r\n\r\nBut is it killing small business?\r\n<h2>Is the Internet Killing Small Business?</h2>\r\nSelling to such large audiences makes it practical for exclusively-online retailers to sell a wide, diverse range of products (like Amazon) at almost unbeatable prices that small brick-and-mortar businesses struggle to compete with.\r\n\r\nThat solution benefits consumers, but it\'s a frightening sign for many small business owners.\r\n\r\nIt\'s clear that exclusively online businesses are finding an advantage in their methods of operation, but is the trend going to continue? Is the internet killing small business?\r\n<h3>Small business can\'t survive based on past models</h3>\r\nThe idea that what\'s worked in the past will continue to work is inaccurate. The game is different now that the internet has created an expectation of instant availability and unmatched convenience.\r\n\r\nSome small businesses try trudging along, continuing to follow their old strategies and plans in the hopes that things will return to normal and business will be better. This doesn\'t happen. Don\'t rely on outdated instructions to a new game.\r\n<h3>Internet prices are too cheap to compete with</h3>\r\nSmall businesses face the disadvantage of competing with internet companies that can order large quantities of items to have in stock for cheaper prices than they can get from the manufacturer.\r\n\r\nBecause companies that operate exclusively online serve a much wider and more diverse audience than the typical brick-and-mortar small business, they make more sales in general and earn higher profits. They can order more of the same items, getting a lower price than a small business buying smaller quantities would ever be able to get. And if small businesses try to lower their prices to compete with the online retailers, they quickly find that it\'s not a sustainable business model and will put them out of business.\r\n<h3>Pivoting can save small businesses</h3>\r\nWhile a small business may not be likely to survive in competition with an exclusively online retailer who offers the same products for a lower price, they may be able to survive and even thrive by pivoting at the right time. Owners should take stock of their current employees, decide who should be part of the new venture, and what suitable ideas for strategic changes could be implemented.\r\n\r\nMany small businesses have chosen to simply move horizontally in their industry, from offering products that they are being outsold in to offering services that appeal to the same audience, but don\'t directly compete with the internet product prices.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Is the Internet Killing Small Business?','','publish','open','closed','','is-the-internet-killing-small-business','','','2016-05-25 15:13:53','2016-05-25 19:13:53','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10474',0,'post','',0),(10452,4,'2016-05-19 15:04:45','2016-05-19 19:04:45','<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/6072965_s-300x251.jpg\" alt=\"Thank you Page\" width=\"300\" height=\"251\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10454\" />A thank you page on your website is a great way to show your readers how much they mean to you. You want your subscribers to know that you appreciate their contributions to your site whether it’s by being a loyal follower, commenting on your work, or following you on social media. Sometimes offering things like a free e-book or other gift is a great way to thank your subscribers. \r\n\r\nEven if you have newbies visiting your site, you can offer a gift juts for signing up with your page or sharing it on social media. Rather than just adding a “thank you for your subscription” message on your page, why not create a thank you page to show that some thought has gone into this? Take a look at these four tips to make a thank you page and to make one that’s great. \r\n\r\n<h2>The first way to thank your subscribers</h2>\r\n\r\nIn order to offer a thank you to your subscribers, you need a way to reward your subscribers for doing something for you. The first way you can thank your subscribers is by asking them to share your mailing list with their friends. When a reader is interested in what you have to say, it’s easier for them to decide to share it with their friends as well. When you offer great content, people want to share it. \r\n\r\nOn the other hand, people find great content all of the time and only have so much time to share their favorite pages. When you offer a discount, more free content, a free course, or other freebie, your readers will be even more anxious to take the time to share. When new people join your ailing list and add their friends, your list will continue to grow and then you only have to worry about keeping them around for more. \r\n\r\n<h2>Utilize social media</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/34537775_l-300x192.jpg\" alt=\"Social Media\" width=\"300\" height=\"192\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-10455\" />One of the top ways to market yourself in today’s world is using social media. You can share your work on social media anytime but it sometimes means more coming from a friend. When you ask your subscribers to follow you on social media, as well as like or share your posts, their friends are likely to see this activity and want to check you out too. \r\n\r\nIf your subscribers follow you on social media, they could be rewarded with more content, live streaming, or more news updates in exchange. Make it clear why following you on social media is worth their time. \r\n\r\n<h2>Ask your visitors to sign up for a live event or a free webinar</h2>\r\n\r\nWhen you are trying to take your page further than an email newsletter or blog, sometimes you need to get visitors to invest in your words through other means. Offer a free webinar or host a live event that your subscribers can register for. Even if they can’t attend it live, offer a replay of the webinar or live event that they can be gifted with for registering for the event. \r\n\r\n<h2>Offering a discount on purchases</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/36130680_s-300x203.jpg\" alt=\"Discount\" width=\"300\" height=\"203\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10456\" />Lastly, you can thank your website visitors by offering a discount on their purchase. For those that sell online, it’s a great way to give a small discount in exchange for an increase in your mailing lists. Offer a discount for signing up, such as half off their first order, a discount on your services, or a freebie in the mail. It may be a great way to show appreciation, add to your mailing list, and retain your subscribers. \r\n\r\nUse these tips to show appreciation on your website. These gifts will speak volumes over a simple “thank you” message and show your subscribers that you put more thought into making your appreciation known. \r\n\r\n','4 Tips to Make Your Thank You Page Better','','publish','open','closed','','4-tips-to-make-your-thank-you-page-better','','','2016-05-17 19:09:33','2016-05-17 23:09:33','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10452',0,'post','',0),(10453,4,'2016-05-17 19:05:58','2016-05-17 23:05:58','A thank you page on your website is a great way to show your readers how much they mean to you. You want your subscribers to know that you appreciate their contributions to your site whether it’s by being a loyal follower, commenting on your work, or following you on social media. Sometimes offering things like a free e-book or other gift is a great way to thank your subscribers. \r\n\r\nEven if you have newbies visiting your site, you can offer a gift juts for signing up with your page or sharing it on social media. Rather than just adding a “thank you for your subscription” message on your page, why not create a thank you page to show that some thought has gone into this? Take a look at these four tips to make a thank you page and to make one that’s great. \r\n\r\n<h2>The first way to thank your subscribers</h2>\r\n\r\nIn order to offer a thank you to your subscribers, you need a way to reward your subscribers for doing something for you. The first way you can thank your subscribers is by asking them to share your mailing list with their friends. When a reader is interested in what you have to say, it’s easier for them to decide to share it with their friends as well. When you offer great content, people want to share it. \r\n\r\nOn the other hand, people find great content all of the time and only have so much time to share their favorite pages. When you offer a discount, more free content, a free course, or other freebie, your readers will be even more anxious to take the time to share. When new people join your ailing list and add their friends, your list will continue to grow and then you only have to worry about keeping them around for more. \r\n\r\n<h2>Utilize social media</h2>\r\n\r\nOne of the top ways to market yourself in today’s world is using social media. You can share your work on social media anytime but it sometimes means more coming from a friend. When you ask your subscribers to follow you on social media, as well as like or share your posts, their friends are likely to see this activity and want to check you out too. \r\n\r\nIf your subscribers follow you on social media, they could be rewarded with more content, live streaming, or more news updates in exchange. Make it clear why following you on social media is worth their time. \r\n\r\n<h2>Ask your visitors to sign up for a live event or a free webinar</h2>\r\n\r\nWhen you are trying to take your page further than an email newsletter or blog, sometimes you need to get visitors to invest in your words through other means. Offer a free webinar or host a live event that your subscribers can register for. Even if they can’t attend it live, offer a replay of the webinar or live event that they can be gifted with for registering for the event. \r\n\r\n<h2>Offering a discount on purchases</h2>\r\n\r\nLastly, you can thank your website visitors by offering a discount on their purchase. For those that sell online, it’s a great way to give a small discount in exchange for an increase in your mailing lists. Offer a discount for signing up, such as half off their first order, a discount on your services, or a freebie in the mail. It may be a great way to show appreciation, add to your mailing list, and retain your subscribers. \r\n\r\nUse these tips to show appreciation on your website. These gifts will speak volumes over a simple “thank you” message and show your subscribers that you put more thought into making your appreciation known. \r\n\r\n','4 Tips to Make Your Thank You Page Better','','inherit','closed','closed','','10452-revision-v1','','','2016-05-17 19:05:58','2016-05-17 23:05:58','',10452,'https://itxdesign.com/10452-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10454,4,'2016-05-17 19:08:06','2016-05-17 23:08:06','','Thank you Page','','inherit','open','closed','','6072965_s','','','2016-05-17 19:08:20','2016-05-17 23:08:20','',10452,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/6072965_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10455,4,'2016-05-17 19:08:15','2016-05-17 23:08:15','','Social Media','','inherit','open','closed','','34537775_l','','','2016-05-17 19:08:36','2016-05-17 23:08:36','',10452,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/34537775_l.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10456,4,'2016-05-17 19:08:19','2016-05-17 23:08:19','','Discount','','inherit','open','closed','','36130680_s','','','2016-05-17 19:08:50','2016-05-17 23:08:50','',10452,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/36130680_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10457,4,'2016-05-17 19:08:56','2016-05-17 23:08:56','<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/6072965_s-300x251.jpg\" alt=\"Thank you Page\" width=\"300\" height=\"251\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10454\" />A thank you page on your website is a great way to show your readers how much they mean to you. You want your subscribers to know that you appreciate their contributions to your site whether it’s by being a loyal follower, commenting on your work, or following you on social media. Sometimes offering things like a free e-book or other gift is a great way to thank your subscribers. \r\n\r\nEven if you have newbies visiting your site, you can offer a gift juts for signing up with your page or sharing it on social media. Rather than just adding a “thank you for your subscription” message on your page, why not create a thank you page to show that some thought has gone into this? Take a look at these four tips to make a thank you page and to make one that’s great. \r\n\r\n<h2>The first way to thank your subscribers</h2>\r\n\r\nIn order to offer a thank you to your subscribers, you need a way to reward your subscribers for doing something for you. The first way you can thank your subscribers is by asking them to share your mailing list with their friends. When a reader is interested in what you have to say, it’s easier for them to decide to share it with their friends as well. When you offer great content, people want to share it. \r\n\r\nOn the other hand, people find great content all of the time and only have so much time to share their favorite pages. When you offer a discount, more free content, a free course, or other freebie, your readers will be even more anxious to take the time to share. When new people join your ailing list and add their friends, your list will continue to grow and then you only have to worry about keeping them around for more. \r\n\r\n<h2>Utilize social media</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/34537775_l-300x192.jpg\" alt=\"Social Media\" width=\"300\" height=\"192\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-10455\" />One of the top ways to market yourself in today’s world is using social media. You can share your work on social media anytime but it sometimes means more coming from a friend. When you ask your subscribers to follow you on social media, as well as like or share your posts, their friends are likely to see this activity and want to check you out too. \r\n\r\nIf your subscribers follow you on social media, they could be rewarded with more content, live streaming, or more news updates in exchange. Make it clear why following you on social media is worth their time. \r\n\r\n<h2>Ask your visitors to sign up for a live event or a free webinar</h2>\r\n\r\nWhen you are trying to take your page further than an email newsletter or blog, sometimes you need to get visitors to invest in your words through other means. Offer a free webinar or host a live event that your subscribers can register for. Even if they can’t attend it live, offer a replay of the webinar or live event that they can be gifted with for registering for the event. \r\n\r\n<h2>Offering a discount on purchases</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/36130680_s-300x203.jpg\" alt=\"Discount\" width=\"300\" height=\"203\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10456\" />Lastly, you can thank your website visitors by offering a discount on their purchase. For those that sell online, it’s a great way to give a small discount in exchange for an increase in your mailing lists. Offer a discount for signing up, such as half off their first order, a discount on your services, or a freebie in the mail. It may be a great way to show appreciation, add to your mailing list, and retain your subscribers. \r\n\r\nUse these tips to show appreciation on your website. These gifts will speak volumes over a simple “thank you” message and show your subscribers that you put more thought into making your appreciation known. \r\n\r\n','4 Tips to Make Your Thank You Page Better','','inherit','closed','closed','','10452-revision-v1','','','2016-05-17 19:08:56','2016-05-17 23:08:56','',10452,'https://itxdesign.com/10452-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10458,4,'2016-05-24 13:11:56','2016-05-24 17:11:56','<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/22836425_s-300x203.jpg\" alt=\"Website Traffic\" width=\"300\" height=\"203\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10460\" />How do you improve your WordPress website traffic once and for all? Rather than staring at your website’s traffic stats, take the steps to guarantee yourself more traffic to your site. You’ll find that businesses and personal sites are equally obsessed with gaining the most exposure for traffic leads because it means more revenue and getting their name out there. When you’re obsessing over your website stats and wondering why traffic isn’t where you wanted it to be, take a look at the 15 ways you can drive up traffic and almost guarantee results. \r\n\r\n<h2>Using social media </h2>\r\n\r\nIf you’re not on social media yet, it’s time to sign up! What started as a fun way for friends to connect to one another online has turned into a marketing must-have for businesses. Sign up for all of the major sites like Facebook and Twitter, start sharing your content with the masses, and engage with people on social media in order to gain or retain customers. It’s a great way to increase your audience and build relationships in order to gain customer loyalty.\r\n\r\n<h2>Go old school</h2>\r\n\r\nJust as you’re getting used to modern techniques of social media marketing, you should also be focusing on old school measures to reach your audience. Using the regular mail rather than email is a great way to reach your target audience. \r\n\r\nYou’ll find that people get overwhelmed with email and eventually stop reading it or unsubscribe themselves from mailings with too many messages. Promote yourself through the mail by reaching out to your target demographic. You could also start reaching out to your regular visitors with care packages in the mail to show your appreciation. \r\n\r\n<h2>Speak at an event</h2>\r\n\r\nSometimes it’s hard to get your name out there until you do a public speaking gig. If you have an experience to share or knowledge about something to let people know about, a speaking gig can be a great way to make yourself known. Then when people hear about you, they’ll want to find out more at your website, blog, or social media account. \r\n\r\n<h2>Guest blogging</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/47348414_s-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"Guest Blogging\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-10461\" />Sometimes when people need a new spin on their website, they’ll bring in a guest blogger to drive traffic. It offers the blog a fresh take with someone else’s perspective and knowledge on the niche. It not only expands the audience for your blog, but readers of the guest bloggers’ will end up checking out your site in order to see their favorite writers work wherever it is. \r\n\r\n<h2>Contribute to someone else’s site</h2>\r\n\r\nOn the other hand, you could reverse this theory and contribute to a well-known site as a guest blogger. Their readership will now get to see your work and if they like what they read, they will end up at your site to hear more about what you have to say. See if you can get in on a site like the Huffington Post or Forbes with great content. \r\n\r\n<h2>Improve your SEO</h2>\r\n\r\nAnother great method of improving your traffic is to work on your SEO strategy. Sometimes instead of promoting a post or trying to come up with a new post, working on your SEO for your current work is more productive. Consider using your dashboard, clicking on the categories section, and filling out descriptions for the Category Descriptions. You may find yourself at the top of a search engine result for having the right keywords. \r\n\r\n<h2>Repurpose content</h2>\r\n\r\nSometimes when you run into a creativity rut, you can’t figure out a great new thing to write about. This is a great time to repurpose your existing content into something better. Whether the information has updates or a news story has come out about the topic, or if you simply know more about the subject now, it could be a great time to enhance the posts you’ve previously offered. \r\n\r\n<h2>A giveaway</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/15192567_s-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Giveaway\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10459\" />Have a little fun by offering a fun giveaway or running a contest right now. When you offer a product or service, you can award someone with a huge discount or free product for completing a call-to-action. \r\n\r\n<h2>Other ideas</h2>\r\n\r\nWhen you still haven’t found the right formula for what’s missing on your site, try a few other great ideas that may be the perfect recipe for changing your current traffic problem:\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Run a 30-day challenge that will invite your readers to follow along on your journey\r\n</li><li>Start a website forum to open the conversation up\r\n</li><li>Creating videos with YouTube with a call-to-action\r\n</li><li>Visit Quora.com where people can ask questions to anyone that may have the answer, and provide your expertise in order to attract visitors to your website \r\n</li><li>Write an ebook, especially if you have a great deal of information that is too long for a blog post\r\n</li><li>Create t-shirts, keychains, pens, or mugs to promote your website \r\n</li><li>Ask your friends and family to tell their friends and family about your blog\r\n</li></ul>\r\n\r\nUse these top 15 tips and you’ll find that your traffic will start to increase in one way or another!\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n','15 Excellent Ways to Drive Traffic to Your WordPress Website','','publish','open','closed','','15-excellent-ways-to-drive-traffic-to-your-wordpress-website','','','2016-05-17 19:16:05','2016-05-17 23:16:05','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10458',0,'post','',0),(10459,4,'2016-05-17 19:14:48','2016-05-17 23:14:48','','Giveaway','','inherit','open','closed','','15192567_s','','','2016-05-17 19:15:48','2016-05-17 23:15:48','',10458,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/15192567_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10460,4,'2016-05-17 19:14:51','2016-05-17 23:14:51','','Website Traffic','','inherit','open','closed','','22836425_s','','','2016-05-17 19:15:34','2016-05-17 23:15:34','',10458,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/22836425_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10461,4,'2016-05-17 19:14:52','2016-05-17 23:14:52','','Guest Blogging','','inherit','open','closed','','47348414_s','','','2016-05-17 19:15:16','2016-05-17 23:15:16','',10458,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/47348414_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10462,4,'2016-05-17 19:15:52','2016-05-17 23:15:52','<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/22836425_s-300x203.jpg\" alt=\"Website Traffic\" width=\"300\" height=\"203\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10460\" />How do you improve your WordPress website traffic once and for all? Rather than staring at your website’s traffic stats, take the steps to guarantee yourself more traffic to your site. You’ll find that businesses and personal sites are equally obsessed with gaining the most exposure for traffic leads because it means more revenue and getting their name out there. When you’re obsessing over your website stats and wondering why traffic isn’t where you wanted it to be, take a look at the 15 ways you can drive up traffic and almost guarantee results. \r\n\r\n<h2>Using social media </h2>\r\n\r\nIf you’re not on social media yet, it’s time to sign up! What started as a fun way for friends to connect to one another online has turned into a marketing must-have for businesses. Sign up for all of the major sites like Facebook and Twitter, start sharing your content with the masses, and engage with people on social media in order to gain or retain customers. It’s a great way to increase your audience and build relationships in order to gain customer loyalty.\r\n\r\n<h2>Go old school</h2>\r\n\r\nJust as you’re getting used to modern techniques of social media marketing, you should also be focusing on old school measures to reach your audience. Using the regular mail rather than email is a great way to reach your target audience. \r\n\r\nYou’ll find that people get overwhelmed with email and eventually stop reading it or unsubscribe themselves from mailings with too many messages. Promote yourself through the mail by reaching out to your target demographic. You could also start reaching out to your regular visitors with care packages in the mail to show your appreciation. \r\n\r\n<h2>Speak at an event</h2>\r\n\r\nSometimes it’s hard to get your name out there until you do a public speaking gig. If you have an experience to share or knowledge about something to let people know about, a speaking gig can be a great way to make yourself known. Then when people hear about you, they’ll want to find out more at your website, blog, or social media account. \r\n\r\n<h2>Guest blogging</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/47348414_s-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"Guest Blogging\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-10461\" />Sometimes when people need a new spin on their website, they’ll bring in a guest blogger to drive traffic. It offers the blog a fresh take with someone else’s perspective and knowledge on the niche. It not only expands the audience for your blog, but readers of the guest bloggers’ will end up checking out your site in order to see their favorite writers work wherever it is. \r\n\r\n<h2>Contribute to someone else’s site</h2>\r\n\r\nOn the other hand, you could reverse this theory and contribute to a well-known site as a guest blogger. Their readership will now get to see your work and if they like what they read, they will end up at your site to hear more about what you have to say. See if you can get in on a site like the Huffington Post or Forbes with great content. \r\n\r\n<h2>Improve your SEO</h2>\r\n\r\nAnother great method of improving your traffic is to work on your SEO strategy. Sometimes instead of promoting a post or trying to come up with a new post, working on your SEO for your current work is more productive. Consider using your dashboard, clicking on the categories section, and filling out descriptions for the Category Descriptions. You may find yourself at the top of a search engine result for having the right keywords. \r\n\r\n<h2>Repurpose content</h2>\r\n\r\nSometimes when you run into a creativity rut, you can’t figure out a great new thing to write about. This is a great time to repurpose your existing content into something better. Whether the information has updates or a news story has come out about the topic, or if you simply know more about the subject now, it could be a great time to enhance the posts you’ve previously offered. \r\n\r\n<h2>A giveaway</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/15192567_s-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Giveaway\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10459\" />Have a little fun by offering a fun giveaway or running a contest right now. When you offer a product or service, you can award someone with a huge discount or free product for completing a call-to-action. \r\n\r\n<h2>Other ideas</h2>\r\n\r\nWhen you still haven’t found the right formula for what’s missing on your site, try a few other great ideas that may be the perfect recipe for changing your current traffic problem:\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Run a 30-day challenge that will invite your readers to follow along on your journey\r\n</li><li>Start a website forum to open the conversation up\r\n</li><li>Creating videos with YouTube with a call-to-action\r\n</li><li>Visit Quora.com where people can ask questions to anyone that may have the answer, and provide your expertise in order to attract visitors to your website \r\n</li><li>Write an ebook, especially if you have a great deal of information that is too long for a blog post\r\n</li><li>Create t-shirts, keychains, pens, or mugs to promote your website \r\n</li><li>Ask your friends and family to tell their friends and family about your blog\r\n</li></ul>\r\n\r\nUse these top 15 tips and you’ll find that your traffic will start to increase in one way or another!\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n','15 Excellent Ways to Drive Traffic to Your WordPress Website','','inherit','closed','closed','','10458-revision-v1','','','2016-05-17 19:15:52','2016-05-17 23:15:52','',10458,'https://itxdesign.com/10458-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10464,5,'2016-05-20 13:33:23','2016-05-20 17:33:23','Inbound marketing is what you\'ll need to focus on to get your website noticed by your target audience and begin converting them into customers. Start concentrating your efforts on inbound marketing from the start to ensure you don\'t waste time sending the wrong people to your website.\r\n\r\nHere\'s an inbound marketing website checklist you can use to evaluate your website\'s needs and weak areas.\r\n<h2>The Complete Inbound Marketing Website Checklist</h2>\r\n<h4>A. Understanding inbound marketing</h4>\r\nA working understanding of the goals of inbound marketing is important if you want to get it right! Inbound marketing is any marketing method you use to bring users to your website.\r\n\r\nIf customers are specks of dirt on the floor, inbound marketing is the broom you use to sweep them up and concentrate them in one area (here, the dustpan is your website). Maybe it\'s a bad metaphor, comparing customers to dirt and websites to dustpans, but it demonstrates what inbound marketing\'s job is.\r\n\r\nInbound marketing is about...\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Creating targeted, valuable content for your audience</li>\r\n 	<li>Interacting with your audience through multiple channels</li>\r\n 	<li>Generating and following up on leads</li>\r\n 	<li>Driving traffic to your website</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h4>B. Creating a plan</h4>\r\nWith a solid knowledge of the purpose and role of inbound marketing, you\'re ready to create a customized plan for your website. From what we\'ve covered so far, you know that you\'re supposed to have great content and the ability to drive traffic to your website. Now, we\'ll go into more detail on each of those website goals and how to reach them.\r\n\r\nAbove, we mentioned that inbound marketing is about creating content, generating leads, driving traffic to your website, and reaching your audience through as many channels as possible. To create a plan that accomplishes these steps, you have to break each goal down into actionable steps you can take to reach it.\r\n\r\nFor example, your inbound marketing plan will include generating leads (acquiring personal contact information from interested parties), so part of your strategy might look like this:\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">-Create monthly editorial calendar for high-value, downloadable content for lead gen [Guides, lists, eBooks, etc.]</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">-Make content available on website, include strong CTA and offer visibility from every page</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">-Compile leads into email list and begin sending interval emails with latest downloadable offers, content, news</p>\r\n\r\n<h4>C. Your inbound marketing checklist</h4>\r\nNow that you’ve mastered inbound marketing, it’s time to create a custom checklist to follow for your website. The items on your checklist should cover the following actions:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Attract visitors</li>\r\n 	<li>Convert your visitors into leads</li>\r\n 	<li>Convert your leads into customers</li>\r\n 	<li>Maintain your current customer base with content and engagement</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nUse these tips to ensure your website’s inbound marketing strategy is effective and purposeful. This checklist will help you remember all of the steps involved to utilizing inbound marketing for the best results.','The Complete Inbound Marketing Website Checklist','','publish','open','closed','','the-complete-inbound-marketing-website-checklist','','','2016-05-20 13:33:23','2016-05-20 17:33:23','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10464',0,'post','',0),(10465,5,'2016-05-20 13:32:59','2016-05-20 17:32:59','Inbound marketing is what you\'ll need to focus on to get your website noticed by your target audience and begin converting them into customers. Start concentrating your efforts on inbound marketing from the start to ensure you don\'t waste time sending the wrong people to your website.\r\n\r\nHere\'s an inbound marketing website checklist you can use to evaluate your website\'s needs and weak areas.\r\n<h2>The Complete Inbound Marketing Website Checklist</h2>\r\n<h4>A. Understanding inbound marketing</h4>\r\nA working understanding of the goals of inbound marketing is important if you want to get it right! Inbound marketing is any marketing method you use to bring users to your website.\r\n\r\nIf customers are specks of dirt on the floor, inbound marketing is the broom you use to sweep them up and concentrate them in one area (here, the dustpan is your website). Maybe it\'s a bad metaphor, comparing customers to dirt and websites to dustpans, but it demonstrates what inbound marketing\'s job is.\r\n\r\nInbound marketing is about...\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Creating targeted, valuable content for your audience</li>\r\n 	<li>Interacting with your audience through multiple channels</li>\r\n 	<li>Generating and following up on leads</li>\r\n 	<li>Driving traffic to your website</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h4>B. Creating a plan</h4>\r\nWith a solid knowledge of the purpose and role of inbound marketing, you\'re ready to create a customized plan for your website. From what we\'ve covered so far, you know that you\'re supposed to have great content and the ability to drive traffic to your website. Now, we\'ll go into more detail on each of those website goals and how to reach them.\r\n\r\nAbove, we mentioned that inbound marketing is about creating content, generating leads, driving traffic to your website, and reaching your audience through as many channels as possible. To create a plan that accomplishes these steps, you have to break each goal down into actionable steps you can take to reach it.\r\n\r\nFor example, your inbound marketing plan will include generating leads (acquiring personal contact information from interested parties), so part of your strategy might look like this:\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">-Create monthly editorial calendar for high-value, downloadable content for lead gen [Guides, lists, eBooks, etc.]</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">-Make content available on website, include strong CTA and offer visibility from every page</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">-Compile leads into email list and begin sending interval emails with latest downloadable offers, content, news</p>\r\n\r\n<h4>C. Your inbound marketing checklist</h4>\r\nNow that you’ve mastered inbound marketing, it’s time to create a custom checklist to follow for your website. The items on your checklist should cover the following actions:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Attract visitors</li>\r\n 	<li>Convert your visitors into leads</li>\r\n 	<li>Convert your leads into customers</li>\r\n 	<li>Maintain your current customer base with content and engagement</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUse these tips to ensure your website’s inbound marketing strategy is effective and purposeful. This checklist will help you remember all of the steps involved to utilizing inbound marketing for the best results.','The Complete Inbound Marketing Website Checklist','','inherit','closed','closed','','10464-revision-v1','','','2016-05-20 13:32:59','2016-05-20 17:32:59','',10464,'https://itxdesign.com/10464-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10466,5,'2016-05-20 13:33:23','2016-05-20 17:33:23','Inbound marketing is what you\'ll need to focus on to get your website noticed by your target audience and begin converting them into customers. Start concentrating your efforts on inbound marketing from the start to ensure you don\'t waste time sending the wrong people to your website.\r\n\r\nHere\'s an inbound marketing website checklist you can use to evaluate your website\'s needs and weak areas.\r\n<h2>The Complete Inbound Marketing Website Checklist</h2>\r\n<h4>A. Understanding inbound marketing</h4>\r\nA working understanding of the goals of inbound marketing is important if you want to get it right! Inbound marketing is any marketing method you use to bring users to your website.\r\n\r\nIf customers are specks of dirt on the floor, inbound marketing is the broom you use to sweep them up and concentrate them in one area (here, the dustpan is your website). Maybe it\'s a bad metaphor, comparing customers to dirt and websites to dustpans, but it demonstrates what inbound marketing\'s job is.\r\n\r\nInbound marketing is about...\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Creating targeted, valuable content for your audience</li>\r\n 	<li>Interacting with your audience through multiple channels</li>\r\n 	<li>Generating and following up on leads</li>\r\n 	<li>Driving traffic to your website</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h4>B. Creating a plan</h4>\r\nWith a solid knowledge of the purpose and role of inbound marketing, you\'re ready to create a customized plan for your website. From what we\'ve covered so far, you know that you\'re supposed to have great content and the ability to drive traffic to your website. Now, we\'ll go into more detail on each of those website goals and how to reach them.\r\n\r\nAbove, we mentioned that inbound marketing is about creating content, generating leads, driving traffic to your website, and reaching your audience through as many channels as possible. To create a plan that accomplishes these steps, you have to break each goal down into actionable steps you can take to reach it.\r\n\r\nFor example, your inbound marketing plan will include generating leads (acquiring personal contact information from interested parties), so part of your strategy might look like this:\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">-Create monthly editorial calendar for high-value, downloadable content for lead gen [Guides, lists, eBooks, etc.]</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">-Make content available on website, include strong CTA and offer visibility from every page</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">-Compile leads into email list and begin sending interval emails with latest downloadable offers, content, news</p>\r\n\r\n<h4>C. Your inbound marketing checklist</h4>\r\nNow that you’ve mastered inbound marketing, it’s time to create a custom checklist to follow for your website. The items on your checklist should cover the following actions:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Attract visitors</li>\r\n 	<li>Convert your visitors into leads</li>\r\n 	<li>Convert your leads into customers</li>\r\n 	<li>Maintain your current customer base with content and engagement</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nUse these tips to ensure your website’s inbound marketing strategy is effective and purposeful. This checklist will help you remember all of the steps involved to utilizing inbound marketing for the best results.','The Complete Inbound Marketing Website Checklist','','inherit','closed','closed','','10464-revision-v1','','','2016-05-20 13:33:23','2016-05-20 17:33:23','',10464,'https://itxdesign.com/10464-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10468,5,'2016-05-23 15:27:55','2016-05-23 19:27:55','We don\'t always know what other people are thinking, and when it comes to web design and development, you may feel even more uncertain. How do others see your website? What impression does it leave them with? And, perhaps most importantly, do they think it\'s boring?\r\n\r\nIf users are bored with your website, they won\'t stay long and they won\'t return - two important factors in getting conversions and making more sales. You can\'t afford to have a boring website when there are so many informative, interactive, and interesting sites for people to visit.\r\n<h2>5 Signs That Customers Think Your Website is Boring</h2>\r\nHere are some signs to watch for that indicate customers think your website is boring. Be vigilant!\r\n<h4>1. Images are in short supply</h4>\r\nWe are all visual creatures, so images on a website are very important in grabbing our attention and keeping us interested. Some of us learn primarily through the aid of images and video. If you don\'t have many images on your website, or if your images are too small, it\'s a sign that customers find your website boring. Additionally, if you\'re using stock images that look generic, you\'re sending a visual cue to visitors that your company is generic.\r\n<h4>2. Big chunks of unbroken text</h4>\r\nSee above - people enjoy images. Not only are images visually interesting, but they also serve to break up chunks of text and keep a webpage from seeming too homogenous. Big chunks of unbroken text are sure signs of a boring website because if you can\'t be bothered to hit Enter to create smaller paragraphs or add relevant images to break up the chunks, you\'re probably not putting much focus on providing great content and aesthetic design.\r\n<h4>3. High bounce rates</h4>\r\nThey came, they saw, they left. It\'s a sign of a boring website and it\'s one that is dangerous to ignore. After all, if most people leave your website after viewing one page, you\'re not likely to get many conversions or build a positive reputation online. Bounce rates measure the percentage of visitors that navigated away from your site after viewing one page, so high bounce rates usually mean the people visiting your site are finding it boring.\r\n<h4>4. Low average time on page</h4>\r\nJust like bounce rates can clue you into how customers feel about your website, so can the average time users spend on your page. The less time people spend on your website, the more likely it\'s boring. Unless you\'re seeing low average time on page coupled with a low bounce rate (which usually means the user is leaving the page to navigate to other content on your website, not leaving it altogether), low average time on page is a sign that customers think your website is boring.\r\n<h4>5. You only have a landing page</h4>\r\nLanding pages are an amazing tool for new businesses that want to get online quickly, but haven\'t fully hashed out the website plan or are still coming up with product or service offerings. While you\'re using a landing page, you\'re limited in the amount of content you can include. Limited content and information means customers probably think your website is boring. Don\'t assume that a landing page is a good long-term solution for your website because you\'ve seen others do it - transition to a full website as soon as you are able.','5 Signs That Customers Think Your Website is Boring','','inherit','closed','closed','','10467-revision-v1','','','2016-05-23 15:27:55','2016-05-23 19:27:55','',10467,'https://itxdesign.com/10467-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10469,5,'2016-05-24 12:22:10','2016-05-24 16:22:10','<img class=\"wp-image-10470 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/SSL.png\" alt=\"SSL\" width=\"171\" height=\"171\" />Most web hosting companies offer optional features for a low additional cost called add-ons. You can easily live without some of these offerings, undoubtedly, but there are 5 web hosting add-ons that we\'ve found are hugely beneficial to every business. With more than 10 years in the web hosting industry, we know the optional features that offer the most value to our customers.\r\n\r\nFrom offering additional security to making your website more attractive to mobile users, these 5 add-ons only add to your website\'s value for customers.\r\n<h4>5 Hugely Beneficial Web Hosting Add-Ons</h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/domain-whois-privacy/\">Domain WhoIs Privacy</a></h2>\r\nMost website owners don\'t realize that the personal information they used to register their website is listed publicly in the Whois Database. This means anyone with internet access can find your phone number, email address, name, and even your home address. Clearly, that\'s problematic for most website owners.\r\n\r\nFor $7.95/month, ITX Design offers Domain Whois Privacy. We do this by replacing your personal contact information with our own, so if anyone tries to get your personal information, they\'re met with ours instead.</li>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/ssl/\">SSL Certificates</a></h2>\r\nMost users look for the little green padlock symbol in their address bar when browsing the web. It\'s how they know the site they\'re browsing is secure. Adding an SSL certificate to your web hosting plan is a smart choice for website owners. The GeoTrust 128-bit SSL Certificate is the world\'s second largest digital security certificate provider. It\'s just $49.95/year to secure your website and give your visitors peace of mind.</li>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/gomobi-mobile-websites/\">GoMobi Mobile Websites</a></h2>\r\nWithout being optimized for mobile, most websites don\'t translate well to the smaller screens and resolutions of mobile devices. Most people use mobile devices to browse the internet, so if your website isn\'t mobile friendly, you\'re losing customers. For $5.95/month, you can add a mobile version of the website you\'ve built to ensure every visitor sees your website the way you intended.</li>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/merchant-accounts/\">Merchant Accounts</a> for eCommerce</h2>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Having a merchant account enables you to start accepting credit cards directly from your website. If you\'re running an eCommerce business, this is essential. ITX Design offers low monthly fees, no annual fees, 24/7 support, and no application fee when you sign up for a merchant account.</p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/pci-compliant-hosting/\">PCI Compliant Hosting</a></h2>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">PCI refers to the Payment Card Industry. The PCI DSS - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard - is a set of requirements and criteria all companies that process credit cards must follow. In order to comply with these requirements, you can purchase the PCI Compliant Hosting Add-On that ensures your website meets the standards for security.</p>','5 Hugely Beneficial Web Hosting Add-Ons','','publish','open','closed','','5-hugely-beneficial-web-hosting-add-ons','','','2016-05-24 12:22:10','2016-05-24 16:22:10','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10469',0,'post','',0),(10470,5,'2016-05-24 12:20:31','2016-05-24 16:20:31','','SSL','','inherit','open','closed','','ssl-2','','','2016-05-24 12:20:31','2016-05-24 16:20:31','',10469,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/SSL.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10471,5,'2016-05-24 12:20:58','2016-05-24 16:20:58','<img class=\" wp-image-10470 alignleft\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/SSL.png\" alt=\"SSL\" width=\"171\" height=\"171\" />Most web hosting companies offer optional features for a low additional cost called add-ons. You can easily live without some of these offerings, undoubtedly, but there are 5 web hosting add-ons that we\'ve found are hugely beneficial to every business. With more than 10 years in the web hosting industry, we know the optional features that offer the most value to our customers.\r\n\r\nFrom offering additional security to making your website more attractive to mobile users, these 5 add-ons only add to your website\'s value for customers.\r\n<h4>5 Hugely Beneficial Web Hosting Add-Ons</h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/domain-whois-privacy/\">Domain WhoIs Privacy</a></h2>\r\nMost website owners don\'t realize that the personal information they used to register their website is listed publicly in the Whois Database. This means anyone with internet access can find your phone number, email address, name, and even your home address. Clearly, that\'s problematic for most website owners.\r\n\r\nFor $7.95/month, ITX Design offers Domain Whois Privacy. We do this by replacing your personal contact information with our own, so if anyone tries to get your personal information, they\'re met with ours instead.</li>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/ssl/\">SSL Certificates</a></h2>\r\nMost users look for the little green padlock symbol in their address bar when browsing the web. It\'s how they know the site they\'re browsing is secure. Adding an SSL certificate to your web hosting plan is a smart choice for website owners. The GeoTrust 128-bit SSL Certificate is the world\'s second largest digital security certificate provider. It\'s just $49.95/year to secure your website and give your visitors peace of mind.</li>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/gomobi-mobile-websites/\">GoMobi Mobile Websites</a></h2>\r\nWithout being optimized for mobile, most websites don\'t translate well to the smaller screens and resolutions of mobile devices. Most people use mobile devices to browse the internet, so if your website isn\'t mobile friendly, you\'re losing customers. For $5.95/month, you can add a mobile version of the website you\'ve built to ensure every visitor sees your website the way you intended.</li>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/merchant-accounts/\">Merchant Accounts</a> for eCommerce</h2>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Having a merchant account enables you to start accepting credit cards directly from your website. If you\'re running an eCommerce business, this is essential. ITX Design offers low monthly fees, no annual fees, 24/7 support, and no application fee when you sign up for a merchant account.</p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/pci-compliant-hosting/\">PCI Compliant Hosting</a></h2>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">PCI refers to the Payment Card Industry. The PCI DSS - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard - is a set of requirements and criteria all companies that process credit cards must follow. In order to comply with these requirements, you can purchase the PCI Compliant Hosting Add-On that ensures your website meets the standards for security.</p>','5 Hugely Beneficial Web Hosting Add-Ons','','inherit','closed','closed','','10469-revision-v1','','','2016-05-24 12:20:58','2016-05-24 16:20:58','',10469,'https://itxdesign.com/10469-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10472,5,'2016-05-24 12:22:10','2016-05-24 16:22:10','<img class=\"wp-image-10470 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/SSL.png\" alt=\"SSL\" width=\"171\" height=\"171\" />Most web hosting companies offer optional features for a low additional cost called add-ons. You can easily live without some of these offerings, undoubtedly, but there are 5 web hosting add-ons that we\'ve found are hugely beneficial to every business. With more than 10 years in the web hosting industry, we know the optional features that offer the most value to our customers.\r\n\r\nFrom offering additional security to making your website more attractive to mobile users, these 5 add-ons only add to your website\'s value for customers.\r\n<h4>5 Hugely Beneficial Web Hosting Add-Ons</h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/domain-whois-privacy/\">Domain WhoIs Privacy</a></h2>\r\nMost website owners don\'t realize that the personal information they used to register their website is listed publicly in the Whois Database. This means anyone with internet access can find your phone number, email address, name, and even your home address. Clearly, that\'s problematic for most website owners.\r\n\r\nFor $7.95/month, ITX Design offers Domain Whois Privacy. We do this by replacing your personal contact information with our own, so if anyone tries to get your personal information, they\'re met with ours instead.</li>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/ssl/\">SSL Certificates</a></h2>\r\nMost users look for the little green padlock symbol in their address bar when browsing the web. It\'s how they know the site they\'re browsing is secure. Adding an SSL certificate to your web hosting plan is a smart choice for website owners. The GeoTrust 128-bit SSL Certificate is the world\'s second largest digital security certificate provider. It\'s just $49.95/year to secure your website and give your visitors peace of mind.</li>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/gomobi-mobile-websites/\">GoMobi Mobile Websites</a></h2>\r\nWithout being optimized for mobile, most websites don\'t translate well to the smaller screens and resolutions of mobile devices. Most people use mobile devices to browse the internet, so if your website isn\'t mobile friendly, you\'re losing customers. For $5.95/month, you can add a mobile version of the website you\'ve built to ensure every visitor sees your website the way you intended.</li>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/merchant-accounts/\">Merchant Accounts</a> for eCommerce</h2>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Having a merchant account enables you to start accepting credit cards directly from your website. If you\'re running an eCommerce business, this is essential. ITX Design offers low monthly fees, no annual fees, 24/7 support, and no application fee when you sign up for a merchant account.</p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/pci-compliant-hosting/\">PCI Compliant Hosting</a></h2>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">PCI refers to the Payment Card Industry. The PCI DSS - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard - is a set of requirements and criteria all companies that process credit cards must follow. In order to comply with these requirements, you can purchase the PCI Compliant Hosting Add-On that ensures your website meets the standards for security.</p>','5 Hugely Beneficial Web Hosting Add-Ons','','inherit','closed','closed','','10469-revision-v1','','','2016-05-24 12:22:10','2016-05-24 16:22:10','',10469,'https://itxdesign.com/10469-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10473,0,'2016-05-24 13:12:01','2016-05-24 17:12:01','','','','inherit','open','closed','','10473','','','2016-05-24 13:12:01','2016-05-24 17:12:01','',10458,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/22836425_s-300x203-1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10475,5,'2016-05-25 15:13:24','2016-05-25 19:13:24','In a time when shopping can take place from home, in seconds, without all the distractions and annoyances that normally accompany a shopping trip, eCommerce is a solution that many embrace enthusiastically. The internet made it possible for retailers to sell products and services online to people they\'ll never meet or even be within 3,000 miles of.\r\n\r\nBut is it killing small business?\r\n<h2>Is the Internet Killing Small Business?</h2>\r\nSelling to such large audiences makes it practical for exclusively-online retailers to sell a wide, diverse range of products (like Amazon) at almost unbeatable prices that small brick-and-mortar businesses struggle to compete with.\r\n\r\nThat solution benefits consumers, but it\'s a frightening sign for many small business owners.\r\n\r\nIt\'s clear that exclusively online businesses are finding an advantage in their methods of operation, but is the trend going to continue? Is the internet killing small business?\r\n<h3>Small business can\'t survive based on past models</h3>\r\nThe idea that what\'s worked in the past will continue to work is inaccurate. The game is different now that the internet has created an expectation of instant availability and unmatched convenience.\r\n\r\nSome small businesses try trudging along, continuing to follow their old strategies and plans in the hopes that things will return to normal and business will be better. This doesn\'t happen. Don\'t rely on outdated instructions to a new game.\r\n<h3>Internet prices are too cheap to compete with</h3>\r\nSmall businesses face the disadvantage of competing with internet companies that can order large quantities of items to have in stock for cheaper prices than they can get from the manufacturer.\r\n\r\nBecause companies that operate exclusively online serve a much wider and more diverse audience than the typical brick-and-mortar small business, they make more sales in general and earn higher profits. They can order more of the same items, getting a lower price than a small business buying smaller quantities would ever be able to get. And if small businesses try to lower their prices to compete with the online retailers, they quickly find that it\'s not a sustainable business model and will put them out of business.\r\n<h3>Pivoting can save small businesses</h3>\r\nWhile a small business may not be likely to survive in competition with an exclusively online retailer who offers the same products for a lower price, they may be able to survive and even thrive by pivoting at the right time. Owners should take stock of their current employees, decide who should be part of the new venture, and what suitable ideas for strategic changes could be implemented.\r\n\r\nMany small businesses have chosen to simply move horizontally in their industry, from offering products that they are being outsold in to offering services that appeal to the same audience, but don\'t directly compete with the internet product prices.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Is the Internet Killing Small Business?','','inherit','closed','closed','','10474-revision-v1','','','2016-05-25 15:13:24','2016-05-25 19:13:24','',10474,'https://itxdesign.com/10474-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10476,5,'2016-05-26 16:03:18','2016-05-26 20:03:18','&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe web hosting industry is easy enough to enter, but difficult to stay relevant and visible in. With new companies starting up every day and low prices being the industry standard, one of the only ways web hosting companies can truly manage to stand out is by offering customer support that goes above and beyond what the customer expects.\r\n<h3>Live chat support becomes essential</h3>\r\nLive chat support has been considered a \'bonus\' offering for customers in the past- one that was clearly enjoyed because of its convenience, but was not considered necessary for small company websites.\r\n\r\nThat\'s a big mistake, according to recent statistics on web hosting industry support and customer service that say more than half of all web hosting customers use live chat support as a criteria for whether or not they\'ll return to a website.\r\n<h3>Live chat has higher satisfaction rates</h3>\r\nThe study found that 63% of web hosting customers said they were more likely to come back to a website that offered live chat as opposed to one that did not. Amazingly, live chat beats out all other forms of customer service and support, earning a 73% satisfaction rate compared to the telephone\'s 41% and email\'s 61%.\r\n<h3>Faster and more convenient</h3>\r\nInteresting to note is the amount of time the average live chat support session takes - can you guess? On average, live chat sessions are resolved in just 42 seconds, faster than any other means of customer support. No wonder 79% of customers said they prefer live chat primarily because of the immediacy it provides.\r\n<h3>Drives more sales</h3>\r\nSeventy-seven percent of the customers surveyed said they wouldn\'t make a purchase on a website that didn\'t offer live chat support. Customers want to be able to get help with checkout issues or clear up any pre-purchase questions by quickly asking via live chat rather than drafting, sending, and waiting for a reply from an email, or finding the number and calling the business. Companies that offer live chat support gain the advantage of keeping those customers from leaving by being able to answer questions and remove any barriers to sales.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Web Hosting Customers Prefer Live Chat Support to All Other Forms','','publish','open','closed','','web-hosting-customers-prefer-live-chat-support-to-all-other-forms','','','2016-05-26 16:03:18','2016-05-26 20:03:18','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10476',0,'post','',0),(10477,5,'2016-05-26 16:02:59','2016-05-26 20:02:59','&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe web hosting industry is easy enough to enter, but difficult to stay relevant and visible in. With new companies starting up every day and low prices being the industry standard, one of the only ways web hosting companies can truly manage to stand out is by offering customer support that goes above and beyond what the customer expects.\r\n<h3>Live chat support becomes essential</h3>\r\nLive chat support has been considered a \'bonus\' offering for customers in the past- one that was clearly enjoyed because of its convenience, but was not considered necessary for small company websites.\r\n\r\nThat\'s a big mistake, according to recent statistics on web hosting industry support and customer service that say more than half of all web hosting customers use live chat support as a criteria for whether or not they\'ll return to a website.\r\n<h3>Live chat has higher satisfaction rates</h3>\r\nThe study found that 63% of web hosting customers said they were more likely to come back to a website that offered live chat as opposed to one that did not. Amazingly, live chat beats out all other forms of customer service and support, earning a 73% satisfaction rate compared to the telephone\'s 41% and email\'s 61%.\r\n<h3>Faster and more convenient</h3>\r\nInteresting to note is the amount of time the average live chat support session takes - can you guess? On average, live chat sessions are resolved in just 42 seconds, faster than any other means of customer support. No wonder 79% of customers said they prefer live chat primarily because of the immediacy it provides.\r\n<h3>Drives more sales</h3>\r\nSeventy-seven percent of the customers surveyed said they wouldn\'t make a purchase on a website that didn\'t offer live chat support. Customers want to be able to get help with checkout issues or clear up any pre-purchase questions by quickly asking via live chat rather than drafting, sending, and waiting for a reply from an email, or finding the number and calling the business. Companies that offer live chat support gain the advantage of keeping those customers from leaving by being able to answer questions and remove any barriers to sales.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Web Hosting Customers Prefer Live Chat Support to All Other Forms','','inherit','closed','closed','','10476-revision-v1','','','2016-05-26 16:02:59','2016-05-26 20:02:59','',10476,'https://itxdesign.com/10476-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10478,5,'2016-05-27 13:23:06','2016-05-27 17:23:06','Small business websites have a reputation for being outdated and not offering complete information. Don\'t let that happen to your website! Having a modern, informative website can help put your business at the forefront of your industry.\r\n\r\nA major part of having a great website is being accessible and providing convenient ways for your customers to contact you. Here\'s what you should include on a small business website contact page to ensure you\'re making your business accessible to customers.\r\n<h2>What to Include on a Small Business Website Contact Us Page</h2>\r\n<h4>1. Your phone number</h4>\r\nYour business phone number is usually the number one method that customers use to reach you. Even if your business is entirely based online, having a phone number for customers to call can be a major benefit. Companies like Conversational offer toll-free business phone numbers for businesses that don\'t have one and want to appear professional. They also offer <a href=\"http://conversational.com/pricing-plans\">call answering</a> services to ensure you never miss a call when someone tries to contact you.\r\n<h4>2. Email address</h4>\r\nSome people prefer contacting businesses using an email address. Email offers a fast and nonverbal option for customers that need to get in touch with your business. In addition to being fast to send and not requiring someone to speak on the phone, email is a 24/7 mode of contact. That means your customers can always send you an email, even if it\'s not during normal business hours.\r\n<h4>3. A contact form</h4>\r\nEven better than email? A contact form. It\'s the functionality of email coupled with the ease of sending directly from your website instead of requiring someone to open up another tab in their browser, log into an email account, copy/paste your email address, and finally type and send the message. When the contact form is right on your website, users can enter the information you designate as required - for example, Name, Email, Subject, and Message. This can help you better organize the inquiries you get, because each will be labeled with a clear subject that users select from a drop-down list.\r\n<h4>4. Physical address or mailing address</h4>\r\nYour physical or mailing address should be easily found on your contact page. Not only is it practical because it lets visitors know where your business is located, but it\'s also smart because including an address makes your business look more legitimate. In a time where many businesses are run entirely online and scams abound, it\'s refreshing for your customers to see that you\'re operating from a real place, or at least have a mailing address made publicly available.\r\n<h4>5. Your hours of operation</h4>\r\nFinally, it\'s important to include your hours of operation on your Contact Us page. While some methods of contact are available 24/7, like email, contact forms, and live chat support, others are only available for customers to use during normal business hours. They have to know what time you open and close each day so they can make the right decision on which method to use to reach you.\r\n\r\nYour Contact Us page should include all 5 of these: Your phone number, email address, a contact form, physical or mailing address, and hours of operation.\r\n<h4>Bonus: Social media channels</h4>\r\nOne thing we didn\'t mention are your social channels. While ideally links to your social channels should be visible on every page of your website (in the header, footer, or sidebar), they can be made to be even more prominent on your Contact Us page. It\'s another way to let your customers know you try your best to be available in as many channels as possible.','What to Include on a Small Business Website Contact Us Page','','publish','open','closed','','what-to-include-on-a-small-business-website-contact-us-page','','','2016-05-27 13:23:06','2016-05-27 17:23:06','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10478',0,'post','',0),(10479,5,'2016-05-27 13:22:47','2016-05-27 17:22:47','Small business websites have a reputation for being outdated and not offering complete information. Don\'t let that happen to your website! Having a modern, informative website can help put your business at the forefront of your industry.\r\n\r\nA major part of having a great website is being accessible and providing convenient ways for your customers to contact you. Here\'s what you should include on a small business website contact page to ensure you\'re making your business accessible to customers.\r\n<h2>What to Include on a Small Business Website Contact Us Page</h2>\r\n<h4>1. Your phone number</h4>\r\nYour business phone number is usually the number one method that customers use to reach you. Even if your business is entirely based online, having a phone number for customers to call can be a major benefit. Companies like Conversational offer toll-free business phone numbers for businesses that don\'t have one and want to appear professional. They also offer <a href=\"http://conversational.com/pricing-plans\">call answering</a> services to ensure you never miss a call when someone tries to contact you.\r\n<h4>2. Email address</h4>\r\nSome people prefer contacting businesses using an email address. Email offers a fast and nonverbal option for customers that need to get in touch with your business. In addition to being fast to send and not requiring someone to speak on the phone, email is a 24/7 mode of contact. That means your customers can always send you an email, even if it\'s not during normal business hours.\r\n<h4>3. A contact form</h4>\r\nEven better than email? A contact form. It\'s the functionality of email coupled with the ease of sending directly from your website instead of requiring someone to open up another tab in their browser, log into an email account, copy/paste your email address, and finally type and send the message. When the contact form is right on your website, users can enter the information you designate as required - for example, Name, Email, Subject, and Message. This can help you better organize the inquiries you get, because each will be labeled with a clear subject that users select from a drop-down list.\r\n<h4>4. Physical address or mailing address</h4>\r\nYour physical or mailing address should be easily found on your contact page. Not only is it practical because it lets visitors know where your business is located, but it\'s also smart because including an address makes your business look more legitimate. In a time where many businesses are run entirely online and scams abound, it\'s refreshing for your customers to see that you\'re operating from a real place, or at least have a mailing address made publicly available.\r\n<h4>5. Your hours of operation</h4>\r\nFinally, it\'s important to include your hours of operation on your Contact Us page. While some methods of contact are available 24/7, like email, contact forms, and live chat support, others are only available for customers to use during normal business hours. They have to know what time you open and close each day so they can make the right decision on which method to use to reach you.\r\n\r\nYour Contact Us page should include all 5 of these: Your phone number, email address, a contact form, physical or mailing address, and hours of operation.\r\n<h4>Bonus: Social media channels</h4>\r\nOne thing we didn\'t mention are your social channels. While ideally links to your social channels should be visible on every page of your website (in the header, footer, or sidebar), they can be made to be even more prominent on your Contact Us page. It\'s another way to let your customers know you try your best to be available in as many channels as possible.','What to Include on a Small Business Website Contact Us Page','','inherit','closed','closed','','10478-revision-v1','','','2016-05-27 13:22:47','2016-05-27 17:22:47','',10478,'https://itxdesign.com/10478-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10524,5,'2016-06-07 14:39:02','2016-06-07 18:39:02','<img class=\" wp-image-10525 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/aacustomerwin.jpg\" alt=\"enhance your online customer service with these 5 tips\" width=\"303\" height=\"454\" />Looking for ways to enhance your online customer service? We compiled the most helpful tips for offering the best customer service and support online and over the phone.\r\n\r\nPut these tips into action at your company to improve your customer service and win more loyal customers.\r\n<h2>5 Tips That Enhance Online Customer Service</h2>\r\nImplementing any or all of these tips will have a positive effect on your customer service.\r\n\r\nWhether you\'re handling customer service for your business on your own or have a small team of customer service representatives, these suggestions can be a game-changer.\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>Put a big smile on your face</strong>. <a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/4-ways-better-engage-customers-phone/\">Smiling helps you</a> keep a positive attitude during online interactions and adds a friendly, jovial tone to your voice if you\'ll be handling any customers over the phone. Research says that smiling when you\'re feeling stressed can actually ‘trick’ your brain into making you feel happier. Happy people give the best customer service!</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Keep a notepad or spiral notebook next to your desk</strong> to write down any reminders and notes you might need later. Examples of reminders and notes you might jot down include: Preferred nicknames, specific call scenario scripts, keeping up with average chat times, common solutions to customer problems, etc.</li>\r\n 	<li><b>Don\'t just be calm - be positive</b> during customer interactions. Acting overly calm without showing friendliness might come across as detached or uninterested. Stay positive and upbeat when interacting with customers via email, live chat, or the phone- no matter what happens. Even complaints and negative information can be responded to positively.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Learn how to bow out of long-winded conversations</strong> that are irrelevant to your job. Develop strategies for graciously ending the exchange when a customer seems to be veering into the long-winded zone via live chat or the phone. Remember not to be harsh with the customers that chat too long - some customers are dealing with issues like loneliness, depression, boredom, and personal difficulties. If you ever face any type of abuse or uncontrolled anger from a customer, refer to the <a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/5-steps-to-follow-when-a-customer-insults-you/\">5 Steps to Follow If a Customer Insults You</a>.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Don\'t gossip about your customers, ever.</strong> No matter how much you feel they deserved it, how sure you are that they\'ll never find out, or how accepting of this behavior your coworkers might be. The risk of being overheard by customers or letting typed information get into the wrong hands is too high to warrant this harmful form of ‘venting.’ Would you continue to use a business after you heard their employees talking about you or another customer? Probably not.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nOffering effective customer service online means taking these tips into consideration and implementing the ones you feel would benefit your business the most. If you\'re serious about offering the best online customer service, you have to <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/live-chat-support/\">install live chat support on your website</a> to give customers an instant communication option like the phone.','Enhance Your Online Customer Service with These Tips','','publish','open','closed','','enhance-your-online-customer-service-with-these-tips','','','2016-06-07 14:39:02','2016-06-07 18:39:02','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10524',0,'post','',0),(10481,4,'2016-06-01 12:57:56','2016-06-01 16:57:56','<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/18051801_s-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Blog Graphics\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10483\" />When you want your blog posts to stand out, you typically hear that having great images is the trick. It captures an audience and makes the content even clearer to the reader. Not everyone has a degree in design and yet everyone that maintains a regular blog is trying to offer images to their posts. If you aren’t a designer and yet still require graphics for your blog, what do you do? \r\n\r\nPosts with graphics are easier to read and are more likely to get shared and now you can create your own graphics that will look like a pro made it. You don’t have to worry about the competition beating you with their graphic designer expense that doesn’t fall into your budget. Take a look at how to create excellent graphics for your blog posts from scratch without any skills or an expensive payment needed. \r\n\r\n<h2>How to start </h2>\r\n\r\nYou don’t have to be too talented to create blog graphics and you likely only have minimal experience with Photoshop that doesn’t go beyond cropping images or adding filters. If you can learn a few additional skills then it may serve you in this process. Getting familiar with the program and learning things like resizing, selecting parts of images, how layers work, how blending works, and how to create simple shapes like circles and rectangles will make your graphic creation easy. \r\n\r\nYou’ll also want to take a look at how to use the font tool, how to use grids and guides for laying out elements, and how to important patterns, brushes, and shapes. A few hours later and you’ll know everything you need to make your graphics. \r\n\r\n<h2>Creating the graphic</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/38419631_s-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Blog Graphic Design\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-10484\" />Once you’ve learned the seven skills you need to work on this on Photoshop, you’ll begin by choosing your colors; one dominant color and some additional colors. Just like Facebook chose blue and Snapchat chose yellow, you need a dominant color to be recognized by and it should probably be what your website’s color already is. There are professional color palettes to help you learn what colors work together since even the slightest difference can work against you. Think about the psychology of colors in marketing. \r\n\r\nNext, choose your font based on what looks good and what will pair well together. You’ll pair well together with fonts of the same family, such as PT Sans-Serif with PT Sans. Check out the WhatFont extension to see what your favorite website’s fonts are used. For example, Buzzfeed uses Proxima Nova for their headings and body text. \r\n\r\nNow you’ll need to choose your images by either buying stock images, using free hero images, or paying for hero images. Then choose things like your shapes, patterns, and brushes. Your blog will stand out with strong colors and bold fonts but you can’t do this without building blocks like icons, shapes, and brushes. Choose a clean, subtle pattern to make your design pop. Visualize data with icons at places like IcoMoon.io and then check out Pixeden.com to access a graphics library. \r\n\r\n<h2>How to incorporate all of these tools into your graphic</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/14363412_s-300x283.jpg\" alt=\"Graphic Design\" width=\"300\" height=\"283\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10482\" />You’ll first start with your header image to offer a glimpse of your post’s content and have something for social media. Then create the in-post graphics to highlight key information and give structure. Limit graphics to quotes, key information, the data to be focused on, and things that could be chartable. Decide how to represent it and mix and match your design elements. Finally, make sure you keep it simple, take ideas off of what is already working, and be willing to purchase what you can’t create such as the time of a freelance designer or the license to a design. \r\n\r\nSeeing that graphics in blog posts get more views and shares, increases the likelihood of getting the information across, and allows your readers to process the information faster, it’s really important to have excellent graphics for your blog posts. Use these tips to create them yourself and make them great.  If you don’t have the time or the ability to create great graphics, consider outsourcing them to someone that can make your graphics look great on your blog.\r\n','Creating Excellent Graphics for Your Blog Posts','','publish','open','closed','','creating-excellent-graphics-for-your-blog-posts','','','2016-05-30 23:05:01','2016-05-31 03:05:01','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10481',0,'post','',0),(10482,4,'2016-05-30 23:03:03','2016-05-31 03:03:03','','Graphic Design','','inherit','open','closed','','14363412_s','','','2016-05-30 23:04:41','2016-05-31 03:04:41','',10481,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/14363412_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10483,4,'2016-05-30 23:03:19','2016-05-31 03:03:19','','Blog Graphics','','inherit','open','closed','','18051801_s','','','2016-05-30 23:04:20','2016-05-31 03:04:20','',10481,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/18051801_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10484,4,'2016-05-30 23:03:35','2016-05-31 03:03:35','','Blog Graphic Design','','inherit','open','closed','','38419631_s','','','2016-05-30 23:04:02','2016-05-31 03:04:02','',10481,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/38419631_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10485,4,'2016-05-30 23:04:46','2016-05-31 03:04:46','<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/18051801_s-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Blog Graphics\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10483\" />When you want your blog posts to stand out, you typically hear that having great images is the trick. It captures an audience and makes the content even clearer to the reader. Not everyone has a degree in design and yet everyone that maintains a regular blog is trying to offer images to their posts. If you aren’t a designer and yet still require graphics for your blog, what do you do? \r\n\r\nPosts with graphics are easier to read and are more likely to get shared and now you can create your own graphics that will look like a pro made it. You don’t have to worry about the competition beating you with their graphic designer expense that doesn’t fall into your budget. Take a look at how to create excellent graphics for your blog posts from scratch without any skills or an expensive payment needed. \r\n\r\n<h2>How to start </h2>\r\n\r\nYou don’t have to be too talented to create blog graphics and you likely only have minimal experience with Photoshop that doesn’t go beyond cropping images or adding filters. If you can learn a few additional skills then it may serve you in this process. Getting familiar with the program and learning things like resizing, selecting parts of images, how layers work, how blending works, and how to create simple shapes like circles and rectangles will make your graphic creation easy. \r\n\r\nYou’ll also want to take a look at how to use the font tool, how to use grids and guides for laying out elements, and how to important patterns, brushes, and shapes. A few hours later and you’ll know everything you need to make your graphics. \r\n\r\n<h2>Creating the graphic</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/38419631_s-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Blog Graphic Design\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-10484\" />Once you’ve learned the seven skills you need to work on this on Photoshop, you’ll begin by choosing your colors; one dominant color and some additional colors. Just like Facebook chose blue and Snapchat chose yellow, you need a dominant color to be recognized by and it should probably be what your website’s color already is. There are professional color palettes to help you learn what colors work together since even the slightest difference can work against you. Think about the psychology of colors in marketing. \r\n\r\nNext, choose your font based on what looks good and what will pair well together. You’ll pair well together with fonts of the same family, such as PT Sans-Serif with PT Sans. Check out the WhatFont extension to see what your favorite website’s fonts are used. For example, Buzzfeed uses Proxima Nova for their headings and body text. \r\n\r\nNow you’ll need to choose your images by either buying stock images, using free hero images, or paying for hero images. Then choose things like your shapes, patterns, and brushes. Your blog will stand out with strong colors and bold fonts but you can’t do this without building blocks like icons, shapes, and brushes. Choose a clean, subtle pattern to make your design pop. Visualize data with icons at places like IcoMoon.io and then check out Pixeden.com to access a graphics library. \r\n\r\n<h2>How to incorporate all of these tools into your graphic</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/14363412_s-300x283.jpg\" alt=\"Graphic Design\" width=\"300\" height=\"283\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10482\" />You’ll first start with your header image to offer a glimpse of your post’s content and have something for social media. Then create the in-post graphics to highlight key information and give structure. Limit graphics to quotes, key information, the data to be focused on, and things that could be chartable. Decide how to represent it and mix and match your design elements. Finally, make sure you keep it simple, take ideas off of what is already working, and be willing to purchase what you can’t create such as the time of a freelance designer or the license to a design. \r\n\r\nSeeing that graphics in blog posts get more views and shares, increases the likelihood of getting the information across, and allows your readers to process the information faster, it’s really important to have excellent graphics for your blog posts. Use these tips to create them yourself and make them great.  If you don’t have the time or the ability to create great graphics, consider outsourcing them to someone that can make your graphics look great on your blog.\r\n','Creating Excellent Graphics for Your Blog Posts','','inherit','closed','closed','','10481-revision-v1','','','2016-05-30 23:04:46','2016-05-31 03:04:46','',10481,'https://itxdesign.com/10481-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10486,4,'2016-06-03 13:06:09','2016-06-03 17:06:09','<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/32865228_s-300x113.jpg\" alt=\"Website Design\" width=\"300\" height=\"113\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10487\" />Did you know 2016’s hottest trend for websites is flat design? Who knew? This emerging trend is making website design a whole new ball game. You’ll want to start rethinking your own website’s strategy after seeing this. Those that had already established a website with many facets like a visual depth and 3D elements are making the switch to flat design. \r\n\r\nFlat design is more of your single-surface, flat viewing experience that people are drawn to right now. The question is: why is this so popular and will this trend stick? If it won’t stick, you’d be wasting your time trying to re-do your whole website to meet the current trend that will fade by next year. Take a further look at flat design and why it’s booming with popularity. \r\n\r\n<h2>It looks better</h2>\r\n\r\nYou may have thought that a typical website with all of the bells and whistles would be more exciting to navigate and easier to see everything. Believe it or not, the flat design is even more functional that your typical website. Some people feared it would be too boring but it’s actually more functional and less cluttered with the typical glow effects, shading, and gradient coloring. Rather than having your font pop off the page, you’ll take a more simplistic approach that removes the fluff. \r\n\r\n<h2>It’s easier to use</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/36567948_s-300x150.jpg\" alt=\"Flat Website Design\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-10488\" />Consumers that are visiting brand’s websites do enjoy the flat design because there is less thinking involved. They don’t need extra help navigating or perusing the site. They can easily find what they need and they can recognize that a brand is responsive to consumers’ interests.  Consumers feel that there is more value and function over fanciness and fluff. \r\n\r\nMost people do know how to get around a webpage now and don’t need as much guidance as when websites first started. People can typically recognize an online form and how to fill it out, what the social share buttons mean, and how a drop-down menu works. This makes the flat design popular due to functionality and the respect of a user’s intelligence. \r\n\r\n<h2>It’s futuristic </h2>\r\n\r\nWhen a new trend hits, it’s usually something that is going to give a futuristic feel to a normal way of doing something. Since history repeats itself and it’s really difficult to come up with new ideas or ways of doing things anymore, it’s nice to have something feel new and futuristic. The flat design for websites does this because it’s a fresh take on a 21st century concept and makes it work better with millennials and other generations that are constantly using their mobile devices. \r\n\r\n<h2>It’s mobile-friendly </h2>\r\n\r\nFlat design is actually becoming really mobile-friendly because of the responsive design that works well with smartphones. The mini screens people are using for web browsing make it necessary for text and images to be larger. When you have a 2D website, it can focus more on the colors and shapes rather than the 3D graphics and moving GIFs. This also means that load times are going to be quick and it will have a sleek appearance on mobile. \r\n\r\n<h2>What does flat design look like?</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/45726297_s-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Website Design\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10489\" />With the user-friendly, mobile-optimized, sleeker, simpler design, you can expect flat design to be easy to use and simpler to look at. It’s going to focus on content-headline separation, simple fonts, and grid layout, rather than texture and the need to label everything for user navigation. The simplicity means that these websites can focus on relevant content, great images, and not having to worry about a new customer finding their way around. That means any user won’t need much website browsing knowledge to find what your brand is offering. \r\n\r\nThe question is, will this trend stay or will it be just a fad? Almost 70% of web designers are saying that this trend is here to stay. The design concept will keep evolving and users make more demands and brands will have to continue to meet expectations to stay relevant. Stay competitive and make the user experience easier by switching to flat design. \r\n','Why is Flat Design for Websites So Popular?','','publish','open','closed','','why-is-flat-design-for-websites-so-popular','','','2016-05-30 23:14:51','2016-05-31 03:14:51','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10486',0,'post','',0),(10487,4,'2016-05-30 23:10:01','2016-05-31 03:10:01','','32865228_s','','inherit','open','closed','','32865228_s','','','2016-05-30 23:10:55','2016-05-31 03:10:55','',10486,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/32865228_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10488,4,'2016-05-30 23:14:05','2016-05-31 03:14:05','','Flat Website Design','','inherit','open','closed','','36567948_s','','','2016-05-30 23:14:24','2016-05-31 03:14:24','',10486,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/36567948_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10489,4,'2016-05-30 23:14:10','2016-05-31 03:14:10','','Website Design','','inherit','open','closed','','45726297_s','','','2016-05-30 23:14:43','2016-05-31 03:14:43','',10486,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/45726297_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10490,4,'2016-05-30 23:14:49','2016-05-31 03:14:49','<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/32865228_s-300x113.jpg\" alt=\"Website Design\" width=\"300\" height=\"113\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10487\" />Did you know 2016’s hottest trend for websites is flat design? Who knew? This emerging trend is making website design a whole new ball game. You’ll want to start rethinking your own website’s strategy after seeing this. Those that had already established a website with many facets like a visual depth and 3D elements are making the switch to flat design. \r\n\r\nFlat design is more of your single-surface, flat viewing experience that people are drawn to right now. The question is: why is this so popular and will this trend stick? If it won’t stick, you’d be wasting your time trying to re-do your whole website to meet the current trend that will fade by next year. Take a further look at flat design and why it’s booming with popularity. \r\n\r\n<h2>It looks better</h2>\r\n\r\nYou may have thought that a typical website with all of the bells and whistles would be more exciting to navigate and easier to see everything. Believe it or not, the flat design is even more functional that your typical website. Some people feared it would be too boring but it’s actually more functional and less cluttered with the typical glow effects, shading, and gradient coloring. Rather than having your font pop off the page, you’ll take a more simplistic approach that removes the fluff. \r\n\r\n<h2>It’s easier to use</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/36567948_s-300x150.jpg\" alt=\"Flat Website Design\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-10488\" />Consumers that are visiting brand’s websites do enjoy the flat design because there is less thinking involved. They don’t need extra help navigating or perusing the site. They can easily find what they need and they can recognize that a brand is responsive to consumers’ interests.  Consumers feel that there is more value and function over fanciness and fluff. \r\n\r\nMost people do know how to get around a webpage now and don’t need as much guidance as when websites first started. People can typically recognize an online form and how to fill it out, what the social share buttons mean, and how a drop-down menu works. This makes the flat design popular due to functionality and the respect of a user’s intelligence. \r\n\r\n<h2>It’s futuristic </h2>\r\n\r\nWhen a new trend hits, it’s usually something that is going to give a futuristic feel to a normal way of doing something. Since history repeats itself and it’s really difficult to come up with new ideas or ways of doing things anymore, it’s nice to have something feel new and futuristic. The flat design for websites does this because it’s a fresh take on a 21st century concept and makes it work better with millennials and other generations that are constantly using their mobile devices. \r\n\r\n<h2>It’s mobile-friendly </h2>\r\n\r\nFlat design is actually becoming really mobile-friendly because of the responsive design that works well with smartphones. The mini screens people are using for web browsing make it necessary for text and images to be larger. When you have a 2D website, it can focus more on the colors and shapes rather than the 3D graphics and moving GIFs. This also means that load times are going to be quick and it will have a sleek appearance on mobile. \r\n\r\n<h2>What does flat design look like?</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/45726297_s-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Website Design\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10489\" />With the user-friendly, mobile-optimized, sleeker, simpler design, you can expect flat design to be easy to use and simpler to look at. It’s going to focus on content-headline separation, simple fonts, and grid layout, rather than texture and the need to label everything for user navigation. The simplicity means that these websites can focus on relevant content, great images, and not having to worry about a new customer finding their way around. That means any user won’t need much website browsing knowledge to find what your brand is offering. \r\n\r\nThe question is, will this trend stay or will it be just a fad? Almost 70% of web designers are saying that this trend is here to stay. The design concept will keep evolving and users make more demands and brands will have to continue to meet expectations to stay relevant. Stay competitive and make the user experience easier by switching to flat design. \r\n','Why is Flat Design for Websites So Popular?','','inherit','closed','closed','','10486-revision-v1','','','2016-05-30 23:14:49','2016-05-31 03:14:49','',10486,'https://itxdesign.com/10486-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10491,0,'2016-06-01 12:58:00','2016-06-01 16:58:00','','','','inherit','open','closed','','10491','','','2016-06-01 12:58:00','2016-06-01 16:58:00','',10481,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/18051801_s-300x200.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10492,5,'2016-06-01 13:39:59','2016-06-01 17:39:59','[caption id=\"attachment_10493\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"940\"]<img class=\"wp-image-10493 size-full\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/webjoke.jpg\" alt=\"spider web hosting party\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" /> B. Recluse is hosting a party at his web.[/caption]\r\n\r\nYes, puns are the worst, we know, and we\'re sorry.\r\n\r\nAs a human being with less than 8 appendages and no silken web in sight that could hold you up, web hosting means something entirely different to you than it does to these cartoon party-going spiders.\r\n\r\nITX Design offers reliable, customizable web hosting for website and business owners. Pricing starts at just $4.95/month, so be sure to check us first for all your web hosting needs. <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/compare-hosting-plans/\">Click here for more information.</a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Web Hosting, As Spiders See It [Image]','','publish','open','closed','','web-hosting-as-spiders-see-it-image','','','2016-06-01 13:39:59','2016-06-01 17:39:59','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10492',0,'post','',0),(10493,5,'2016-06-01 13:27:34','2016-06-01 17:27:34','','webjoke','','inherit','open','closed','','webjoke','','','2016-06-01 13:27:47','2016-06-01 17:27:47','',10492,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/webjoke.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10494,5,'2016-06-01 13:33:20','2016-06-01 17:33:20','[caption id=\"attachment_10493\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"940\"]<img class=\"wp-image-10493 size-full\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/webjoke.jpg\" alt=\"spider web hosting party\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" /> B. Recluse is hosting a party at his web.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Web Hosting, As Spiders See It [Image]','','inherit','closed','closed','','10492-revision-v1','','','2016-06-01 13:33:20','2016-06-01 17:33:20','',10492,'https://itxdesign.com/10492-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10495,5,'2016-06-01 13:39:35','2016-06-01 17:39:35','[caption id=\"attachment_10493\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"940\"]<img class=\"wp-image-10493 size-full\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/webjoke.jpg\" alt=\"spider web hosting party\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" /> B. Recluse is hosting a party at his web.[/caption]\r\n\r\nYes, puns are the worst, we know, and we\'re sorry.\r\n\r\nAs a human being with less than 8 appendages and no silken web in sight that could hold you up, web hosting means something entirely different to you than it does to these cartoon party-going spiders.\r\n\r\nITX Design offers reliable, customizable web hosting for website and business owners. Pricing starts at just $4.95/month, so be sure to check us first for all your web hosting needs. <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/compare-hosting-plans/\">Click here for more information.</a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Web Hosting, As Spiders See It [Image]','','inherit','closed','closed','','10492-revision-v1','','','2016-06-01 13:39:35','2016-06-01 17:39:35','',10492,'https://itxdesign.com/10492-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10496,5,'2016-06-02 16:31:22','2016-06-02 20:31:22','<img class=\"wp-image-10497 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CANVAvs.jpg\" alt=\"what\'s the best graphic design tool canva or picmonkey\" width=\"389\" height=\"292\" />Canva and PicMonkey are two of the most popular graphic design tools available online. At first, both tools seem to offer the same general abilities and options for creating images, but in reality, there are several small differences that make one of these graphic design tools noticeably better than the other.\r\n\r\nWe\'re going to find out what the best graphic design tool is between Canva and PicMonkey. Which tool delivers the best pricing and design options?\r\n<h4>Who uses graphic design tools like Canva or PicMonkey?</h4>\r\nThese tools allow people without real graphic design experience to create images that rival a professional\'s work. That’s important because graphic design was, at one time, a skilled profession that required specific education, experience with photo and image programs like Photoshop, and a natural “eye for design.”\r\n\r\nToday, there are still lots of highly skilled and professionally trained graphic designers out there, but something has changed. The internet has made it possible to let people with zero design experience create professional-looking images and logos online in minutes. That\'s who uses graphic design tools like these.\r\n\r\nIt’s pretty amazing, especially when you’re a non-designer who needs to create your own images to use online and in print.\r\n<h4>Canva Pricing</h4>\r\nCanva pricing is pretty simple to understand. You can create any design you like for free, and they offer optional design elements you can add to your image for $1 each. This means you can create designs using only their free elements and pay nothing if you\'d like.\r\n\r\nFor anyone who is creating images for a business, Canva for Work is the better option. That pricing structure is a bit different from regular Canva, and offers a 30 day free trial as well.\r\n\r\n<strong>Canva for Work</strong>\r\n\r\n<input name=\"priceOptionPlan\" type=\"radio\" /><span class=\"priceOptionTitle\">Yearly – </span><span class=\"priceOptionPricePerBillingInterval\">$119.40 USD/year </span>\r\n\r\n<input name=\"priceOptionPlan\" type=\"radio\" /><span class=\"priceOptionTitle\">Monthly – </span><span class=\"priceOptionPricePerBillingInterval\">$12.95 USD/month or </span><span class=\"priceOptionSummary\">$155.40 USD/year</span>\r\n<h4>PicMonkey Pricing</h4>\r\nPicMonkey also offers a free or basic plan that allows you limited access to their tools. You can use PicMonkey for free and get access to the editing tools, basic touch ups, photo effects, and the ability to add textures and overlays to your images.\r\n\r\nFor advanced features and more designs, they offer PicMonkey Royale. The price is discounted if you purchase annually.\r\n\r\n<strong>PicMonkey Royale</strong>\r\n\r\n<input name=\"priceOptionPlan\" type=\"radio\" /><span class=\"priceOptionTitle\">Yearly – </span><span class=\"priceOptionPricePerBillingInterval\">$39.96 USD/year</span>\r\n\r\n<input name=\"priceOptionPlan\" type=\"radio\" /><span class=\"priceOptionTitle\">Monthly – </span><span class=\"priceOptionPricePerBillingInterval\">$4.99 USD/month or $59.88 USD/year</span>\r\n\r\nPicMonkey’s pricing is lower than Canva’s, but we’ll have to look at their features to make a better decision.\r\n<h4>Canva Design Options</h4>\r\nPersonally, I use Canva for most of my image creation and have used most of their design features and options over the last two years. For the most part, Canva offers great options – premade layouts that only require you to customize the text, free images for you to add to your designs, and plenty of font and frame options – but they are noticeably lacking a few options that I consider important.\r\n\r\nThere is no way to change the color or background of an image, unless you want to superimpose an opaque colored shape over it and adjust the transparency accordingly. This means when you want to add a logo with a white background to an image, there\'s no way to make the background transparent or blend the colors with the rest of the image - the background must be white. There’s also no way to add overlays or textures to your images with Canva.\r\n<h4>PicMonkey Design Options</h4>\r\nPicMonkey isn\'t as intuitive to use as Canva, but offers options that are more diverse than Canva. There are tons of different photo effects, image retouch options, overlays, textures, and cool text options that can perfectly contrast your text color against the background it’s on (one problem I face often when creating images).\r\n\r\nI was able to add overlays and textures that made the image stand out using PicMonkey. Canva does not offer this functionality or anything close to it, so I had to give PicMonkey the point.\r\n<h2>Overall Winner: PicMonkey</h2>','What\'s the Best Graphic Design Tool - Canva or PicMonkey?','','publish','open','closed','','whats-the-best-graphic-design-tool-canva-or-picmonkey','','','2016-06-02 16:31:22','2016-06-02 20:31:22','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10496',0,'post','',0),(10497,5,'2016-06-02 16:29:17','2016-06-02 20:29:17','','CANVAvs','','inherit','open','closed','','canvavs','','','2016-06-02 16:29:32','2016-06-02 20:29:32','',10496,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CANVAvs.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10498,5,'2016-06-02 16:30:34','2016-06-02 20:30:34','<img class=\"wp-image-10497 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CANVAvs.jpg\" alt=\"what\'s the best graphic design tool canva or picmonkey\" width=\"466\" height=\"350\" />Canva and PicMonkey are two of the most popular graphic design tools available online. At first, both tools seem to offer the same general abilities and options for creating images, but in reality, there are several small differences that make one of these graphic design tools noticeably better than the other.\r\n\r\nWe\'re going to find out what the best graphic design tool is between Canva and PicMonkey. Which tool delivers the best pricing and design options?\r\n<h4>Who uses graphic design tools like Canva or PicMonkey?</h4>\r\nThese tools allow people without real graphic design experience to create images that rival a professional\'s work. That’s important because graphic design was, at one time, a skilled profession that required specific education, experience with photo and image programs like Photoshop, and a natural “eye for design.”\r\n\r\nToday, there are still lots of highly skilled and professionally trained graphic designers out there, but something has changed. The internet has made it possible to let people with zero design experience create professional-looking images and logos online in minutes. That\'s who uses graphic design tools like these.\r\n\r\nIt’s pretty amazing, especially when you’re a non-designer who needs to create your own images to use online and in print.\r\n<h4>Canva Pricing</h4>\r\nCanva pricing is pretty simple to understand. You can create any design you like for free, and they offer optional design elements you can add to your image for $1 each. This means you can create designs using only their free elements and pay nothing if you\'d like.\r\n\r\nFor anyone who is creating images for a business, Canva for Work is the better option. That pricing structure is a bit different from regular Canva, and offers a 30 day free trial as well.\r\n\r\nCanva for Work\r\n\r\n<input name=\"priceOptionPlan\" type=\"radio\" /><span class=\"priceOptionTitle\">Yearly – </span><span class=\"priceOptionPricePerBillingInterval\">$119.40 USD/year </span>\r\n\r\n<input name=\"priceOptionPlan\" type=\"radio\" /><span class=\"priceOptionTitle\">Monthly – </span><span class=\"priceOptionPricePerBillingInterval\">$12.95 USD/month or </span><span class=\"priceOptionSummary\">$155.40 USD/year</span>\r\n<h4>PicMonkey Pricing</h4>\r\nPicMonkey also offers a free or basic plan that allows you limited access to their tools. You can use PicMonkey for free and get access to the editing tools, basic touch ups, photo effects, and the ability to add textures and overlays to your images.\r\n\r\nFor advanced features and more designs, they offer PicMonkey Royale. The price is discounted if you purchase annually.\r\n\r\nPicMonkey Royale\r\n\r\n<input name=\"priceOptionPlan\" type=\"radio\" /><span class=\"priceOptionTitle\">Yearly – </span><span class=\"priceOptionPricePerBillingInterval\">$39.96 USD/year</span>\r\n\r\n<input name=\"priceOptionPlan\" type=\"radio\" /><span class=\"priceOptionTitle\">Monthly – </span><span class=\"priceOptionPricePerBillingInterval\">$4.99 USD/month or $59.88 USD/year</span>\r\n\r\nPicMonkey’s pricing is lower than Canva’s, but we’ll have to look at their features to make a better decision.\r\n<h4>Canva Design Options</h4>\r\nPersonally, I use Canva for most of my image creation and have used most of their design features and options over the last two years. For the most part, Canva offers great options – premade layouts that only require you to customize the text, free images for you to add to your designs, and plenty of font and frame options – but they are noticeably lacking a few options that I consider important.\r\n\r\nThere is no way to change the color or background of an image, unless you want to superimpose an opaque colored shape over it and adjust the transparency accordingly. This means when you want to add a logo with a white background to an image, there\'s no way to make the background transparent or blend the colors with the rest of the image - the background must be white. There’s also no way to add overlays or textures to your images with Canva.\r\n<h4>PicMonkey Design Options</h4>\r\nPicMonkey isn\'t as intuitive to use as Canva, but offers options that are more diverse than Canva. There are tons of different photo effects, image retouch options, overlays, textures, and cool text options that can perfectly contrast your text color against the background it’s on (one problem I face often when creating images).\r\n\r\nI was able to add overlays and textures that made the image stand out using PicMonkey. Canva does not offer this functionality or anything close to it, so I had to give PicMonkey the point.\r\n<h2>Overall Winner: PicMonkey</h2>','What\'s the Best Graphic Design Tool - Canva or PicMonkey?','','inherit','closed','closed','','10496-revision-v1','','','2016-06-02 16:30:34','2016-06-02 20:30:34','',10496,'https://itxdesign.com/10496-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10499,5,'2016-06-02 16:31:22','2016-06-02 20:31:22','<img class=\"wp-image-10497 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CANVAvs.jpg\" alt=\"what\'s the best graphic design tool canva or picmonkey\" width=\"389\" height=\"292\" />Canva and PicMonkey are two of the most popular graphic design tools available online. At first, both tools seem to offer the same general abilities and options for creating images, but in reality, there are several small differences that make one of these graphic design tools noticeably better than the other.\r\n\r\nWe\'re going to find out what the best graphic design tool is between Canva and PicMonkey. Which tool delivers the best pricing and design options?\r\n<h4>Who uses graphic design tools like Canva or PicMonkey?</h4>\r\nThese tools allow people without real graphic design experience to create images that rival a professional\'s work. That’s important because graphic design was, at one time, a skilled profession that required specific education, experience with photo and image programs like Photoshop, and a natural “eye for design.”\r\n\r\nToday, there are still lots of highly skilled and professionally trained graphic designers out there, but something has changed. The internet has made it possible to let people with zero design experience create professional-looking images and logos online in minutes. That\'s who uses graphic design tools like these.\r\n\r\nIt’s pretty amazing, especially when you’re a non-designer who needs to create your own images to use online and in print.\r\n<h4>Canva Pricing</h4>\r\nCanva pricing is pretty simple to understand. You can create any design you like for free, and they offer optional design elements you can add to your image for $1 each. This means you can create designs using only their free elements and pay nothing if you\'d like.\r\n\r\nFor anyone who is creating images for a business, Canva for Work is the better option. That pricing structure is a bit different from regular Canva, and offers a 30 day free trial as well.\r\n\r\n<strong>Canva for Work</strong>\r\n\r\n<input name=\"priceOptionPlan\" type=\"radio\" /><span class=\"priceOptionTitle\">Yearly – </span><span class=\"priceOptionPricePerBillingInterval\">$119.40 USD/year </span>\r\n\r\n<input name=\"priceOptionPlan\" type=\"radio\" /><span class=\"priceOptionTitle\">Monthly – </span><span class=\"priceOptionPricePerBillingInterval\">$12.95 USD/month or </span><span class=\"priceOptionSummary\">$155.40 USD/year</span>\r\n<h4>PicMonkey Pricing</h4>\r\nPicMonkey also offers a free or basic plan that allows you limited access to their tools. You can use PicMonkey for free and get access to the editing tools, basic touch ups, photo effects, and the ability to add textures and overlays to your images.\r\n\r\nFor advanced features and more designs, they offer PicMonkey Royale. The price is discounted if you purchase annually.\r\n\r\n<strong>PicMonkey Royale</strong>\r\n\r\n<input name=\"priceOptionPlan\" type=\"radio\" /><span class=\"priceOptionTitle\">Yearly – </span><span class=\"priceOptionPricePerBillingInterval\">$39.96 USD/year</span>\r\n\r\n<input name=\"priceOptionPlan\" type=\"radio\" /><span class=\"priceOptionTitle\">Monthly – </span><span class=\"priceOptionPricePerBillingInterval\">$4.99 USD/month or $59.88 USD/year</span>\r\n\r\nPicMonkey’s pricing is lower than Canva’s, but we’ll have to look at their features to make a better decision.\r\n<h4>Canva Design Options</h4>\r\nPersonally, I use Canva for most of my image creation and have used most of their design features and options over the last two years. For the most part, Canva offers great options – premade layouts that only require you to customize the text, free images for you to add to your designs, and plenty of font and frame options – but they are noticeably lacking a few options that I consider important.\r\n\r\nThere is no way to change the color or background of an image, unless you want to superimpose an opaque colored shape over it and adjust the transparency accordingly. This means when you want to add a logo with a white background to an image, there\'s no way to make the background transparent or blend the colors with the rest of the image - the background must be white. There’s also no way to add overlays or textures to your images with Canva.\r\n<h4>PicMonkey Design Options</h4>\r\nPicMonkey isn\'t as intuitive to use as Canva, but offers options that are more diverse than Canva. There are tons of different photo effects, image retouch options, overlays, textures, and cool text options that can perfectly contrast your text color against the background it’s on (one problem I face often when creating images).\r\n\r\nI was able to add overlays and textures that made the image stand out using PicMonkey. Canva does not offer this functionality or anything close to it, so I had to give PicMonkey the point.\r\n<h2>Overall Winner: PicMonkey</h2>','What\'s the Best Graphic Design Tool - Canva or PicMonkey?','','inherit','closed','closed','','10496-revision-v1','','','2016-06-02 16:31:22','2016-06-02 20:31:22','',10496,'https://itxdesign.com/10496-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10500,5,'2016-06-02 16:31:31','2016-06-02 20:31:31','<img class=\"wp-image-10497 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CANVAvs.jpg\" alt=\"what\'s the best graphic design tool canva or picmonkey\" width=\"389\" height=\"292\" />Canva and PicMonkey are two of the most popular graphic design tools available online. At first, both tools seem to offer the same general abilities and options for creating images, but in reality, there are several small differences that make one of these graphic design tools noticeably better than the other.\n\nWe\'re going to find out what the best graphic design tool is between Canva and PicMonkey. Which tool delivers the best pricing and design options?\n<h4>Who uses graphic design tools like Canva or PicMonkey?</h4>\nThese tools allow people without real graphic design experience to create images that rival a professional\'s work. That’s important because graphic design was, at one time, a skilled profession that required specific education, experience with photo and image programs like Photoshop, and a natural “eye for design.”\n\nToday, there are still lots of highly skilled and professionally trained graphic designers out there, but something has changed. The internet has made it possible to let people with zero design experience create professional-looking images and logos online in minutes. That\'s who uses graphic design tools like these.\n\nIt’s pretty amazing, especially when you’re a non-designer who needs to create your own images to use online and in print.\n<h4>Canva Pricing</h4>\nCanva pricing is pretty simple to understand. You can create any design you like for free, and they offer optional design elements you can add to your image for $1 each. This means you can create designs using only their free elements and pay nothing if you\'d like.\n\nFor anyone who is creating images for a business, Canva for Work is the better option. That pricing structure is a bit different from regular Canva, and offers a 30 day free trial as well.\n\n<strong>Canva for Work</strong>\n\n<input name=\"priceOptionPlan\" type=\"radio\" /><span class=\"priceOptionTitle\">Yearly – </span><span class=\"priceOptionPricePerBillingInterval\">$119.40 USD/year </span>\n\n<input name=\"priceOptionPlan\" type=\"radio\" /><span class=\"priceOptionTitle\">Monthly – </span><span class=\"priceOptionPricePerBillingInterval\">$12.95 USD/month or </span><span class=\"priceOptionSummary\">$155.40 USD/year</span>\n<h4>PicMonkey Pricing</h4>\nPicMonkey also offers a free or basic plan that allows you limited access to their tools. You can use PicMonkey for free and get access to the editing tools, basic touch ups, photo effects, and the ability to add textures and overlays to your images.\n\nFor advanced features and more designs, they offer PicMonkey Royale. The price is discounted if you purchase annually.\n\n<strong>PicMonkey Royale</strong>\n\n<input name=\"priceOptionPlan\" type=\"radio\" /><span class=\"priceOptionTitle\">Yearly – </span><span class=\"priceOptionPricePerBillingInterval\">$39.96 USD/year</span>\n\n<input name=\"priceOptionPlan\" type=\"radio\" /><span class=\"priceOptionTitle\">Monthly – </span><span class=\"priceOptionPricePerBillingInterval\">$4.99 USD/month or $59.88 USD/year</span>\n\nPicMonkey’s pricing is lower than Canva’s, but we’ll have to look at their features to make a better decision.\n<h4>Canva Design Options</h4>\nPersonally, I use Canva for most of my image creation and have used most of their design features and options over the last two years. For the most part, Canva offers great options – premade layouts that only require you to customize the text, free images for you to add to your designs, and plenty of font and frame options – but they are noticeably lacking a few options that I consider important.\n\nThere is no way to change the color or background of an image, unless you want to superimpose an opaque colored shape over it and adjust the transparency accordingly. This means when you want to add a logo with a white background to an image, there\'s no way to make the background transparent or blend the colors with the rest of the image - the background must be white. There’s also no way to add overlays or textures to your images with Canva.\n<h4>PicMonkey Design Options</h4>\nPicMonkey isn\'t as intuitive to use as Canva, but offers options that are more diverse than Canva. There are tons of different photo effects, image retouch options, overlays, textures, and cool text options that can perfectly contrast your text color against the background it’s on (one problem I face often when creating images).\n\nI was able to add overlays and textures that made the image stand out using PicMonkey. Canva does not offer this functionality or anything close to it, so I had to give PicMonkey the point.\n<h2>Overall Winner: PicMonkey</h2>','What\'s the Best Graphic Design Tool - Canva or PicMonkey?','','inherit','closed','closed','','10496-autosave-v1','','','2016-06-02 16:31:31','2016-06-02 20:31:31','',10496,'https://itxdesign.com/10496-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10501,0,'2016-06-03 13:06:22','2016-06-03 17:06:22','','','','inherit','open','closed','','10501','','','2016-06-03 13:06:22','2016-06-03 17:06:22','',10486,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/32865228_s-300x113.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10502,5,'2016-06-03 14:22:22','2016-06-03 18:22:22','<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10503\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Bible.jpg\" alt=\"complete guide to christian and church website hosting\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" />If you\'re searching for information about church website hosting, you\'ve come to the right place. It\'s hard to get unbiased information from people and businesses who are trying to sell you something. While we <em>are</em> a web hosting company that provides <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/christian-web-hosting/\">discounted Christian web hosting for churches</a>, this article is not about us, what our business offers, or how bad our competitors\' prices are.\r\n\r\nInstead, we\'ve put together a really useful guide to Christian and church website hosting - how it differs from other web hosting, which churches need websites, and the purpose of creating a church website.\r\n\r\nFirst, let\'s define what church website hosting is.\r\n\r\n<strong>Church website hosting</strong> - Similar to \"regular\" website hosting, except it is offered specifically to churches, ministries, and Christian organizations. Some church website hosting companies provide special discounts to these types of organizations.\r\n<h4>Why many Christians don\'t bother with \"regular\" web hosting</h4>\r\nBut wait, let\'s back up. Why would a church need special web hosting in the first place? After all, hosting church websites isn\'t any different from hosting a non-Christian website.\r\n\r\nHere\'s the thing - with shared web hosting, your website \"lives\" on the same server (and IP address) as many other websites. You and those website owners are sharing the server, hence the term <em>shared web hosting</em>. That\'s all fine and dandy until you find out that some of those websites are pornographic or blatantly anti-Christian websites.\r\n\r\nMost Christian organizations and churches are uncomfortable with associating their ministry with topics and beliefs that directly contradict the Christian faith, and that\'s why many churches opt for Christian-specific church website hosting.\r\n<h4>Do churches really need a website?</h4>\r\nAbsolutely, churches need to have an online presence. Part of the Christian faith is spreading God\'s word to the world, and there\'s more than enough worldly information available on the web already. It\'s important to counter that downward spiral by hosting Godly or Christian-oriented websites online as well.\r\n\r\nJohn 1:5 says <strong><em>\"Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.\" </em></strong>The presence of sinful or unGodly content on the internet doesn\'t make it any less important for you to maintain a presence there. If anything, it makes it more important for churches to create and maintain a website.\r\n<h4>The purpose of church websites</h4>\r\nChurches are in a unique position. They want to encourage people to come to Christ, but they\'re also somewhat limited in doing so because the same people attend church each Sunday, they live in a small area, their congregation is complacent, etc.\r\n\r\n1. By creating a church website, you\'re creating an online platform where you can communicate with not only your church members, but the rest of the world about the most important thing in life: Finding salvation.\r\n\r\n2. Once you\'ve got a website, you can host a blog where you add weekly or biweekly entries, devotionals, testimonies, and more. By using your church website to create and promote Christian content, you increase your chances of exposing a non-Christian to God\'s word and possibly encourage others to seek salvation. What could be better than that?\r\n\r\n3. Your church website can also be a great tool for ministering or reaching out to homebound, sick, traveling, or disabled church members that enjoy keeping up with the sermons and bible studies, but can\'t attend in person.\r\n\r\n4. A final purpose of running a church website is to find and draw in new members. People usually start their search for a church online, so if your church isn\'t represented when they search, they have a much lower chance of finding you.','A Complete Guide to Christian and Church Website Hosting','','publish','open','closed','','complete-guide-christian-church-website-hosting','','','2016-06-03 14:22:22','2016-06-03 18:22:22','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10502',0,'post','',0),(10503,5,'2016-06-03 14:19:58','2016-06-03 18:19:58','','Bible','','inherit','open','closed','','bible-2','','','2016-06-03 14:20:13','2016-06-03 18:20:13','',10502,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Bible.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10504,5,'2016-06-03 14:20:31','2016-06-03 18:20:31','<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10503\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Bible.jpg\" alt=\"complete guide to christian and church website hosting\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" />If you\'re searching for information about church website hosting, you\'ve come to the right place. It\'s hard to get unbiased information from people and businesses who are trying to sell you something. While we <em>are</em> a web hosting company that provides <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/christian-web-hosting/\">discounted Christian web hosting for churches</a>, this article is not about us, what our business offers, or how bad our competitors\' prices are.\r\n\r\nInstead, we\'ve put together a really useful guide to Christian and church website hosting - how it differs from other web hosting, which churches need websites, and the purpose of creating a church website.\r\n\r\nFirst, let\'s define what church website hosting is.\r\n\r\n<strong>Church website hosting</strong> - Similar to \"regular\" website hosting, except it is offered specifically to churches, ministries, and Christian organizations. Some church website hosting companies provide special discounts to these types of organizations.\r\n<h4>Why many Christians don\'t bother with \"regular\" web hosting</h4>\r\nBut wait, let\'s back up. Why would a church need special web hosting in the first place? After all, hosting church websites isn\'t any different from hosting a non-Christian website.\r\n\r\nHere\'s the thing - with shared web hosting, your website \"lives\" on the same server (and IP address) as many other websites. You and those website owners are sharing the server, hence the term <em>shared web hosting</em>. That\'s all fine and dandy until you find out that some of those websites are pornographic or blatantly anti-Christian websites.\r\n\r\nMost Christian organizations and churches are uncomfortable with associating their ministry with topics and beliefs that directly contradict the Christian faith, and that\'s why many churches opt for Christian-specific church website hosting.\r\n<h4>Do churches really need a website?</h4>\r\nAbsolutely, churches need to have an online presence. Part of the Christian faith is spreading God\'s word to the world, and there\'s more than enough worldly information available on the web already. It\'s important to counter that downward spiral by hosting Godly or Christian-oriented websites online as well.\r\n\r\nJohn 1:5 says <strong><em>\"Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.\" </em></strong>The presence of sinful or unGodly content on the internet doesn\'t make it any less important for you to maintain a presence there. If anything, it makes it more important for churches to create and maintain a website.\r\n<h4>The purpose of church websites</h4>\r\nChurches are in a unique position. They want to encourage people to come to Christ, but they\'re also somewhat limited in doing so because the same people attend church each Sunday, they live in a small area, their congregation is complacent, etc.\r\n\r\n1. By creating a church website, you\'re creating an online platform where you can communicate with not only your church members, but the rest of the world about the most important thing in life: Finding salvation.\r\n\r\n2. Once you\'ve got a website, you can host a blog where you add weekly or biweekly entries, devotionals, testimonies, and more. By using your church website to create and promote Christian content, you increase your chances of exposing a non-Christian to God\'s word and possibly encourage others to seek salvation. What could be better than that?\r\n\r\n3. Your church website can also be a great tool for ministering or reaching out to homebound, sick, traveling, or disabled church members that enjoy keeping up with the sermons and bible studies, but can\'t attend in person.\r\n\r\n4. A final purpose of running a church website is to find and draw in new members. People usually start their search for a church online, so if your church isn\'t represented when they search, they have a much lower chance of finding you.','A Complete Guide to Christian and Church Website Hosting','','inherit','closed','closed','','10502-revision-v1','','','2016-06-03 14:20:31','2016-06-03 18:20:31','',10502,'https://itxdesign.com/10502-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10505,4,'2016-06-07 16:21:48','2016-06-07 20:21:48','When you are trying to build a business as a blogger, it’s important that you are utilizing all of the best resources at your disposal. With the world of influence marketing constantly changing and evolving, you need to stay current on the trends. \r\n\r\nYou can do this by keeping up with top influencers in your niche as well as those that are savvy about the current market for influencers. This is because they can help you keep up to speed on the latest trends and what could be of use for you professionally. \r\n\r\nIn order to stay competitive as a blogger, make sure you are aware of the latest news on the trends in social media and influencer marketing. Here are top 5 resources for this that bloggers will want to know about when building their business. \r\n\r\n<h2>Blog and Podcast by Jonathan Milligan</h2>\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/JonathanMilligan.png\" alt=\"Jonathan Milligan\" width=\"515\" height=\"155\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10507\" />\r\n\r\nIf you haven’t seen the blog “Blogging Your Passion” by Jonathan Milligan, you’ll want to check that out. You’ll get to learn about how to improve your productivity and start a business from your blog which is perfect for the beginner or intermediate blogger that is starting a business. \r\n\r\nJonathan writes the blog and hosts guest entrepreneurs that share what they’ve done right and what they’ve done wrong. Check out the weekly blogger template for your productivity and listen to his advice on creating webinars, publishing ebooks, and more. \r\n\r\n<h2>Bryan Harris Blog</h2>\r\n\r\nHave you see the blog by Bryan Harris? This is a great way to get advice on getting out of your comfort zone. He offers online courses and webinars, like one on how to build an email list, and you’ll find great tools such as a template to building a custom landing page or marketing formulas. It’s great for any level of blogger that wants to build their email list quickly and marketing a blog into a business. \r\n\r\n<h2>Blog and Newsletter by SITS Girls</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/SITSGirls.png\" alt=\"SITS Girls\" width=\"351\" height=\"164\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10508\" />\r\n\r\nRegardless of your blogging level of experience, you’ll love learning from the SITS Girl website which teaches you everything from how to blog to how to monetize it. You’ll find regular posts about blogging education and they are the force behind the blogger community who offers sponsored post opportunities known as Massive Sway. You’ll love the free email training like a 5-day course on photography basics they put out recently. \r\n\r\n<h2>Kirsten Oliphant’s Blog and Podcast on Createlf Writing</h2>\r\n\r\nIf you need to learn more about growing past your blog, earning money writing, and how to market, you’ll want to check out the blog, podcast, and monthly training offered by Createlf Writing. With her MFA in creative writing, she has great information on how to sell to people, tips for building an audience, and how to write quality ebooks to expand your blog. Any level of experience can find this useful. \r\n\r\n<h2>Newsletter and Group on the Courage to Earn</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CourageToEarn-300x288.png\" alt=\"Courage To Earn\" width=\"300\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10506\" />\r\n\r\nLastly, be sure to check out the newsletter by Brandi Riley, a successful blogger and owner of Mama Knows It All blog, who uses it to coach bloggers on how to make a living blogging. It’s a great way to learn how to pitch brands and build your professionalism if you’re a blogger that needs to earn more and build an influence. She’s very encouraging and honest on her advice. Check out her pitch ebook to boost your confidence and build your income. \r\n\r\nWhen you blog as a business, you need to make sure you are doing everything you can to make it profitable. Use these resources to get the information and encouragement you need to take your blog to the next level. \r\n','5 Top Resources for Bloggers to Build a Business','','publish','open','closed','','5-top-resources-for-bloggers-to-build-a-business','','','2016-06-05 16:29:22','2016-06-05 20:29:22','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10505',0,'post','',0),(10506,4,'2016-06-05 16:27:30','2016-06-05 20:27:30','','Courage To Earn','','inherit','open','closed','','couragetoearn','','','2016-06-05 16:28:44','2016-06-05 20:28:44','',10505,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CourageToEarn.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10507,4,'2016-06-05 16:27:34','2016-06-05 20:27:34','','Jonathan Milligan','','inherit','open','closed','','jonathanmilligan','','','2016-06-05 16:27:55','2016-06-05 20:27:55','',10505,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/JonathanMilligan.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10508,4,'2016-06-05 16:27:38','2016-06-05 20:27:38','','SITS Girls','','inherit','open','closed','','sitsgirls','','','2016-06-05 16:28:27','2016-06-05 20:28:27','',10505,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/SITSGirls.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10509,4,'2016-06-05 16:28:54','2016-06-05 20:28:54','When you are trying to build a business as a blogger, it’s important that you are utilizing all of the best resources at your disposal. With the world of influence marketing constantly changing and evolving, you need to stay current on the trends. \r\n\r\nYou can do this by keeping up with top influencers in your niche as well as those that are savvy about the current market for influencers. This is because they can help you keep up to speed on the latest trends and what could be of use for you professionally. \r\n\r\nIn order to stay competitive as a blogger, make sure you are aware of the latest news on the trends in social media and influencer marketing. Here are top 5 resources for this that bloggers will want to know about when building their business. \r\n\r\n<h2>Blog and Podcast by Jonathan Milligan</h2>\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/JonathanMilligan.png\" alt=\"Jonathan Milligan\" width=\"515\" height=\"155\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10507\" />\r\n\r\nIf you haven’t seen the blog “Blogging Your Passion” by Jonathan Milligan, you’ll want to check that out. You’ll get to learn about how to improve your productivity and start a business from your blog which is perfect for the beginner or intermediate blogger that is starting a business. \r\n\r\nJonathan writes the blog and hosts guest entrepreneurs that share what they’ve done right and what they’ve done wrong. Check out the weekly blogger template for your productivity and listen to his advice on creating webinars, publishing ebooks, and more. \r\n\r\n<h2>Bryan Harris Blog</h2>\r\n\r\nHave you see the blog by Bryan Harris? This is a great way to get advice on getting out of your comfort zone. He offers online courses and webinars, like one on how to build an email list, and you’ll find great tools such as a template to building a custom landing page or marketing formulas. It’s great for any level of blogger that wants to build their email list quickly and marketing a blog into a business. \r\n\r\n<h2>Blog and Newsletter by SITS Girls</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/SITSGirls.png\" alt=\"SITS Girls\" width=\"351\" height=\"164\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10508\" />\r\n\r\nRegardless of your blogging level of experience, you’ll love learning from the SITS Girl website which teaches you everything from how to blog to how to monetize it. You’ll find regular posts about blogging education and they are the force behind the blogger community who offers sponsored post opportunities known as Massive Sway. You’ll love the free email training like a 5-day course on photography basics they put out recently. \r\n\r\n<h2>Kirsten Oliphant’s Blog and Podcast on Createlf Writing</h2>\r\n\r\nIf you need to learn more about growing past your blog, earning money writing, and how to market, you’ll want to check out the blog, podcast, and monthly training offered by Createlf Writing. With her MFA in creative writing, she has great information on how to sell to people, tips for building an audience, and how to write quality ebooks to expand your blog. Any level of experience can find this useful. \r\n\r\n<h2>Newsletter and Group on the Courage to Earn</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CourageToEarn-300x288.png\" alt=\"Courage To Earn\" width=\"300\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10506\" />\r\n\r\nLastly, be sure to check out the newsletter by Brandi Riley, a successful blogger and owner of Mama Knows It All blog, who uses it to coach bloggers on how to make a living blogging. It’s a great way to learn how to pitch brands and build your professionalism if you’re a blogger that needs to earn more and build an influence. She’s very encouraging and honest on her advice. Check out her pitch ebook to boost your confidence and build your income. \r\n\r\nWhen you blog as a business, you need to make sure you are doing everything you can to make it profitable. Use these resources to get the information and encouragement you need to take your blog to the next level. \r\n','5 Top Resources for Bloggers to Build a Business','','inherit','closed','closed','','10505-revision-v1','','','2016-06-05 16:28:54','2016-06-05 20:28:54','',10505,'https://itxdesign.com/10505-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10510,4,'2016-06-09 12:30:49','2016-06-09 16:30:49','Do you run a pet clinic or veterinarian and you’re struggling to find the right theme to use for your website? Choosing a great theme for your website is what is going to make it possible for new customers to find you online, for current customers to contact you, and for people to learn more about what you do. \r\n\r\nPet stores, vets, pet clinics, and other pet-related businesses all run into the issue of designing a great website to get their message out there and to market to their target audience. Fortunately WordPress offers some excellent themes for these types of businesses to utilize in order to best convey their pet services to the public. \r\n\r\nWhether you need to promote your pet grooming business or you run a pet hotel, you can benefit from these WordPress themes for your website. Take a look at the top 10 options you’ll want to consider. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://www.mojo-themes.com/item/pet-center-one-page-wordpress-theme-for-vets/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">PetCenter</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/PetCenter-300x169.png\" alt=\"PetCenter\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10515\" />\r\n\r\nA great place to start is PetCenter, a WordPress theme that can work with any business but is designed best for pet businesses. From animal shelters to dog trainers, this theme can really help you show off what you do for pets in the area. Customize it to your needs in the options panel and enjoy the beautiful design behind the theme. You’ll love the full screen intro slider and parallax background which makes your homepage really stand out and look professional. You can get this for just $50. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themeforest.net/item/pet-club-services-adoption-dating-community/12949703\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Pet Club</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/PetClub-300x154.png\" alt=\"PetClub\" width=\"300\" height=\"154\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10516\" />\r\n\r\nDo you run a pet adoption center? You’ll want to use Pet Club for your website. This theme is perfect for listing the pets for adoption based on certain criteria of your choosing. It’s great because it comes with an advanced demo data install tool for the ability to create an exact copy of a preview in one click. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://webnus.net/portfolio/happy-pets-a-pet-shop-services-wordpress-theme/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Happy Pets</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/HappyPets-300x160.png\" alt=\"HappyPets\" width=\"300\" height=\"160\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10513\" />\r\n\r\nWhere do you find a theme that is generic enough for any pet type of business? Check out Happy Pets, an excellent theme that helps you create beautiful websites using a free plugin called Visual Composer. Any pet business will love this theme because it’s only $59 and an easy way to start a pet blog to add more value to your website. You’ll get to use the included Google fonts and Typekit fonts to make your text big and bold. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themeforest.net/item/pet-store-wordpress-woocommerce-theme-for-pets-and-vets/1542984\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Pet Store</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/PetStore-300x153.png\" alt=\"PetStore\" width=\"300\" height=\"153\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10517\" />\r\n\r\nIf you need to sell pet products online, you’ll want to check out Pet Store. It has the shopping functionality and product presentation at your fingertips. It works well with WooCommerce to help you sell your pet products and choose from tons of custom widgets. You can get this one for just $59. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themeforest.net/item/dawg-wp-dog-breeder-theme/11812979\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Dawg</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Dawg-300x149.png\" alt=\"Dawg\" width=\"300\" height=\"149\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10512\" />\r\n\r\nCheck out Dawn, a fun theme choice for pet businesses. It’s a child theme built with the Layers page builder plugin. It performs well and doesn’t have too much code to deal with making the styling and build of your pages easy. You’ll have four homepage styles included and it’s easy to add Google Maps and Contact Form 7. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themeforest.net/item/petcare-wordpress-multipurpose-theme/13952653\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">PetCare</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/PetCare-300x171.png\" alt=\"PetCare\" width=\"300\" height=\"171\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10514\" />\r\n\r\nCheck out PetCare if you’re looking for something geared towards your pet medical center, pet store, or other pet care center. This theme is designed to work with BuddyPress in order to help you build a community of pet lovers. You’ll be able to bring your products to your audience more easily. The theme offers five different sliders and two slider plugins to help with featured products and services. Check out the six homepage layouts. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Animacare</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/AnimaCare-300x165.png\" alt=\"AnimaCare\" width=\"300\" height=\"165\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10511\" />\r\n\r\nAre you looking for a nice responsive theme for your WordPress? Vets will love Animacare because it’s responsive for users trying to find you on their smart devices. Animal clinics and hospitals can adopt the theme and add their logo to the website. Use the Shortcode Generator to build pages. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themeforest.net/item/vets-veterinary-medical-health-clinic-wp-theme/9526939\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Vets</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/VETS-300x153.png\" alt=\"VETS\" width=\"300\" height=\"153\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10519\" />\r\n\r\nVets will also love the theme simply called “Vets” for $49. This is another responsive theme that is perfect for the medical, health, or vet website. It works well with contact form 7 and ecwid shopping cart. The vet icons you would need are easily to place for your needs and you can add single vet pages. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themeforest.net/item/rescue-animal-shelter-theme-petfinder-support/4134977\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Rescue</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Rescue-300x154.png\" alt=\"Rescue\" width=\"300\" height=\"154\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10518\" />\r\n\r\nDo you need to show off great pets available for adoption? Check out the Rescue theme that comes with Petfinder already. You can sync up your site by entering your API and shelter Id with Petfinder. It’s the perfect way to find homes for animals. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://creativemarket.com/Ordasoft/364011-Zoo-Clinic-Veterinary-WP-Theme\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Zoo-Clinic Veterinary WP Theme</a></h2> \r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Zoo-Clinic-300x201.png\" alt=\"Zoo-Clinic\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10520\" />\r\n\r\nLastly, be sure to check out Zoo-Clinic Vet Theme with WordPress, where you’ll find a great blank theme full of tools to get you going. You’ll find Google Maps, Megamenu, custom gallery and more for just $39. \r\n\r\nThese are the top 10 choices for vets and pet businesses needing a great WordPress theme for their site. ','10 Top WordPress Themes for Vets and Pet Businesses','','publish','open','closed','','10-top-wordpress-themes-for-vets-and-pet-businesses','','','2019-01-14 12:17:49','2019-01-14 17:17:49','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10510',0,'post','',0),(10511,4,'2016-06-05 16:42:58','2016-06-05 20:42:58','','AnimaCare','','inherit','open','closed','','animacare','','','2016-06-05 16:51:51','2016-06-05 20:51:51','',10510,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/AnimaCare.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10512,4,'2016-06-05 16:43:33','2016-06-05 20:43:33','','Dawg','','inherit','open','closed','','dawg','','','2016-06-05 16:51:22','2016-06-05 20:51:22','',10510,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Dawg.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10513,4,'2016-06-05 16:44:26','2016-06-05 20:44:26','','HappyPets','','inherit','open','closed','','happypets','','','2016-06-05 16:50:55','2016-06-05 20:50:55','',10510,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/HappyPets.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10514,4,'2016-06-05 16:45:10','2016-06-05 20:45:10','','PetCare','','inherit','open','closed','','petcare','','','2016-06-05 16:51:38','2016-06-05 20:51:38','',10510,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/PetCare.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10515,4,'2016-06-05 16:46:15','2016-06-05 20:46:15','','PetCenter','','inherit','open','closed','','petcenter','','','2016-06-05 16:48:08','2016-06-05 20:48:08','',10510,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/PetCenter.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10516,4,'2016-06-05 16:48:07','2016-06-05 20:48:07','','PetClub','','inherit','open','closed','','petclub','','','2016-06-05 16:50:15','2016-06-05 20:50:15','',10510,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/PetClub.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10517,4,'2016-06-05 16:48:42','2016-06-05 20:48:42','','PetStore','','inherit','open','closed','','petstore','','','2016-06-05 16:51:09','2016-06-05 20:51:09','',10510,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/PetStore.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10518,4,'2016-06-05 16:49:44','2016-06-05 20:49:44','','Rescue','','inherit','open','closed','','rescue','','','2016-06-05 16:52:14','2016-06-05 20:52:14','',10510,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Rescue.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10519,4,'2016-06-05 16:50:33','2016-06-05 20:50:33','','VETS','','inherit','open','closed','','vets','','','2016-06-05 16:52:04','2016-06-05 20:52:04','',10510,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/VETS.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10520,4,'2016-06-05 16:51:03','2016-06-05 20:51:03','','Zoo-Clinic','','inherit','open','closed','','zoo-clinic','','','2016-06-05 16:52:26','2016-06-05 20:52:26','',10510,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Zoo-Clinic.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10521,4,'2016-06-05 16:52:44','2016-06-05 20:52:44','Do you run a pet clinic or veterinarian and you’re struggling to find the right theme to use for your website? Choosing a great theme for your website is what is going to make it possible for new customers to find you online, for current customers to contact you, and for people to learn more about what you do. \r\n\r\nPet stores, vets, pet clinics, and other pet-related businesses all run into the issue of designing a great website to get their message out there and to market to their target audience. Fortunately WordPress offers some excellent themes for these types of businesses to utilize in order to best convey their pet services to the public. \r\n\r\nWhether you need to promote your pet grooming business or you run a pet hotel, you can benefit from these WordPress themes for your website. Take a look at the top 10 options you’ll want to consider. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://www.mojo-themes.com/item/pet-center-one-page-wordpress-theme-for-vets/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">PetCenter</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/PetCenter-300x169.png\" alt=\"PetCenter\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10515\" />\r\n\r\nA great place to start is PetCenter, a WordPress theme that can work with any business but is designed best for pet businesses. From animal shelters to dog trainers, this theme can really help you show off what you do for pets in the area. Customize it to your needs in the options panel and enjoy the beautiful design behind the theme. You’ll love the full screen intro slider and parallax background which makes your homepage really stand out and look professional. You can get this for just $50. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themeforest.net/item/pet-club-services-adoption-dating-community/12949703\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Pet Club</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/PetClub-300x154.png\" alt=\"PetClub\" width=\"300\" height=\"154\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10516\" />\r\n\r\nDo you run a pet adoption center? You’ll want to use Pet Club for your website. This theme is perfect for listing the pets for adoption based on certain criteria of your choosing. It’s great because it comes with an advanced demo data install tool for the ability to create an exact copy of a preview in one click. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themeforest.net/item/happy-pets-a-pet-shopservices-wordpress-theme/12810590\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Happy Pets</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/HappyPets-300x160.png\" alt=\"HappyPets\" width=\"300\" height=\"160\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10513\" />\r\n\r\nWhere do you find a theme that is generic enough for any pet type of business? Check out Happy Pets, an excellent theme that helps you create beautiful websites using a free plugin called Visual Composer. Any pet business will love this theme because it’s only $59 and an easy way to start a pet blog to add more value to your website. You’ll get to use the included Google fonts and Typekit fonts to make your text big and bold. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themeforest.net/item/pet-store-wordpress-woocommerce-theme-for-pets-and-vets/1542984\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Pet Store</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/PetStore-300x153.png\" alt=\"PetStore\" width=\"300\" height=\"153\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10517\" />\r\n\r\nIf you need to sell pet products online, you’ll want to check out Pet Store. It has the shopping functionality and product presentation at your fingertips. It works well with WooCommerce to help you sell your pet products and choose from tons of custom widgets. You can get this one for just $59. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themeforest.net/item/dawg-wp-dog-breeder-theme/11812979\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Dawg</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Dawg-300x149.png\" alt=\"Dawg\" width=\"300\" height=\"149\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10512\" />\r\n\r\nCheck out Dawn, a fun theme choice for pet businesses. It’s a child theme built with the Layers page builder plugin. It performs well and doesn’t have too much code to deal with making the styling and build of your pages easy. You’ll have four homepage styles included and it’s easy to add Google Maps and Contact Form 7. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themeforest.net/item/petcare-wordpress-multipurpose-theme/13952653\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">PetCare</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/PetCare-300x171.png\" alt=\"PetCare\" width=\"300\" height=\"171\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10514\" />\r\n\r\nCheck out PetCare if you’re looking for something geared towards your pet medical center, pet store, or other pet care center. This theme is designed to work with BuddyPress in order to help you build a community of pet lovers. You’ll be able to bring your products to your audience more easily. The theme offers five different sliders and two slider plugins to help with featured products and services. Check out the six homepage layouts. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Animacare</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/AnimaCare-300x165.png\" alt=\"AnimaCare\" width=\"300\" height=\"165\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10511\" />\r\n\r\nAre you looking for a nice responsive theme for your WordPress? Vets will love Animacare because it’s responsive for users trying to find you on their smart devices. Animal clinics and hospitals can adopt the theme and add their logo to the website. Use the Shortcode Generator to build pages. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themeforest.net/item/vets-veterinary-medical-health-clinic-wp-theme/9526939\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Vets</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/VETS-300x153.png\" alt=\"VETS\" width=\"300\" height=\"153\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10519\" />\r\n\r\nVets will also love the theme simply called “Vets” for $49. This is another responsive theme that is perfect for the medical, health, or vet website. It works well with contact form 7 and ecwid shopping cart. The vet icons you would need are easily to place for your needs and you can add single vet pages. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themeforest.net/item/rescue-animal-shelter-theme-petfinder-support/4134977\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Rescue</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Rescue-300x154.png\" alt=\"Rescue\" width=\"300\" height=\"154\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10518\" />\r\n\r\nDo you need to show off great pets available for adoption? Check out the Rescue theme that comes with Petfinder already. You can sync up your site by entering your API and shelter Id with Petfinder. It’s the perfect way to find homes for animals. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://creativemarket.com/Ordasoft/364011-Zoo-Clinic-Veterinary-WP-Theme\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Zoo-Clinic Veterinary WP Theme</a></h2> \r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Zoo-Clinic-300x201.png\" alt=\"Zoo-Clinic\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10520\" />\r\n\r\nLastly, be sure to check out Zoo-Clinic Vet Theme with WordPress, where you’ll find a great blank theme full of tools to get you going. You’ll find Google Maps, Megamenu, custom gallery and more for just $39. \r\n\r\nThese are the top 10 choices for vets and pet businesses needing a great WordPress theme for their site. ','10 Top WordPress Themes for Vets and Pet Businesses','','inherit','closed','closed','','10510-revision-v1','','','2016-06-05 16:52:44','2016-06-05 20:52:44','',10510,'https://itxdesign.com/10510-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10522,5,'2016-06-06 15:53:50','2016-06-06 19:53:50','Upselling is always a good call - right? Not necessarily. There are three scenarios in business when it\'s inappropriate to try and upsell to your customers. Here\'s what you need to know about when not to upsell - and when you absolutely should.\r\n<h4>When they\'ve called customer service with a problem</h4>\r\nUndeniably, customer service interactions can be a great time to upsell services or products to customers. Shep Hyken, respected speaker and customer service expert, supplied an example of such a scenario:\r\n\r\n<em>“…If a customer is at an Ace Hardware store buying a can of paint, it is perfectly logical, and many times appreciated by the customer, to ask if he or she needs brushes or other items to complete a paint project.”</em>\r\n\r\nBut when customers call or visit your business because they have a problem and are met with a sales pitch instead of solutions, they will remember it as a bad customer service experience.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen a customer feels that their problem has been solved and that they’ve established some trust with your company representative, they’ll be more likely to respond positively to your sales pitch.\r\n<h4>When your employees aren\'t trained in sales</h4>\r\nAsking your non-sales staff to upsell without training them properly is asking for trouble. It will result in stressed-out employees and frustrated customers.\r\n\r\nThere’s a reason sales is it\'s own department– selling effectively requires special skills and adequate training.\r\n\r\nAsking your non-sales employees to sell to the people they’re supposed to be helping puts them in a bad situation when they interact with customers and makes them more likely to deliver a bad customer service experience.\r\n<h4>When you think sales matter more than customer service</h4>\r\nBe careful how you prioritize customer service and sales. If sales takes precedence over customer service in your mind, you’re sure to create a culture that breeds bad customer service experiences. At their core, sales and customer service are at odds with each other: Sales is about your company. Customer service is about your customers.\r\n\r\nBut you can balance sales and customer service in a way that appeals to your customers and results in more sales across the board.\r\n<h4>How to upsell more effectively</h4>\r\nFirst, change the way you train your employees to upsell. Don’t teach your customer service reps to pitch product features and sell solutions. Instead, teach them to listen well and ask the right questions. If your reps take the time to learn about the customer, know what problems they’re trying to solve, and only “pitch” products or services that they truly feel would benefit them, you’re on your way to providing a great customer service experience.\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>Don\'t teach non-sales employees to upsell with generic sales pitches</li>\r\n 	<li>Train non-sales employees in all your product and service offerings so they can make informed decisions</li>\r\n 	<li>Teach your employees to actively listen to customers, gathering pertinent info before suggesting an upsell</li>\r\n 	<li>\"Pitch\" additional products/services by relating them as specific solutions to the customer\'s problem</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nRemember - the more you focus on supporting your customers and the less you concentrate on upselling, the more likely they are to trust you and become customers for life.','3 Times You Shouldn\'t Upsell to Customers','','publish','open','closed','','3-times-you-shouldnt-upsell-to-customers','','','2016-06-06 15:53:50','2016-06-06 19:53:50','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10522',0,'post','',0),(10523,5,'2016-06-06 15:53:50','2016-06-06 19:53:50','Upselling is always a good call - right? Not necessarily. There are three scenarios in business when it\'s inappropriate to try and upsell to your customers. Here\'s what you need to know about when not to upsell - and when you absolutely should.\r\n<h4>When they\'ve called customer service with a problem</h4>\r\nUndeniably, customer service interactions can be a great time to upsell services or products to customers. Shep Hyken, respected speaker and customer service expert, supplied an example of such a scenario:\r\n\r\n<em>“…If a customer is at an Ace Hardware store buying a can of paint, it is perfectly logical, and many times appreciated by the customer, to ask if he or she needs brushes or other items to complete a paint project.”</em>\r\n\r\nBut when customers call or visit your business because they have a problem and are met with a sales pitch instead of solutions, they will remember it as a bad customer service experience.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen a customer feels that their problem has been solved and that they’ve established some trust with your company representative, they’ll be more likely to respond positively to your sales pitch.\r\n<h4>When your employees aren\'t trained in sales</h4>\r\nAsking your non-sales staff to upsell without training them properly is asking for trouble. It will result in stressed-out employees and frustrated customers.\r\n\r\nThere’s a reason sales is it\'s own department– selling effectively requires special skills and adequate training.\r\n\r\nAsking your non-sales employees to sell to the people they’re supposed to be helping puts them in a bad situation when they interact with customers and makes them more likely to deliver a bad customer service experience.\r\n<h4>When you think sales matter more than customer service</h4>\r\nBe careful how you prioritize customer service and sales. If sales takes precedence over customer service in your mind, you’re sure to create a culture that breeds bad customer service experiences. At their core, sales and customer service are at odds with each other: Sales is about your company. Customer service is about your customers.\r\n\r\nBut you can balance sales and customer service in a way that appeals to your customers and results in more sales across the board.\r\n<h4>How to upsell more effectively</h4>\r\nFirst, change the way you train your employees to upsell. Don’t teach your customer service reps to pitch product features and sell solutions. Instead, teach them to listen well and ask the right questions. If your reps take the time to learn about the customer, know what problems they’re trying to solve, and only “pitch” products or services that they truly feel would benefit them, you’re on your way to providing a great customer service experience.\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>Don\'t teach non-sales employees to upsell with generic sales pitches</li>\r\n 	<li>Train non-sales employees in all your product and service offerings so they can make informed decisions</li>\r\n 	<li>Teach your employees to actively listen to customers, gathering pertinent info before suggesting an upsell</li>\r\n 	<li>\"Pitch\" additional products/services by relating them as specific solutions to the customer\'s problem</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nRemember - the more you focus on supporting your customers and the less you concentrate on upselling, the more likely they are to trust you and become customers for life.','3 Times You Shouldn\'t Upsell to Customers','','inherit','closed','closed','','10522-revision-v1','','','2016-06-06 15:53:50','2016-06-06 19:53:50','',10522,'https://itxdesign.com/10522-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10525,5,'2016-06-07 14:37:24','2016-06-07 18:37:24','','aacustomerwin','','inherit','open','closed','','aacustomerwin','','','2016-06-07 14:37:41','2016-06-07 18:37:41','',10524,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/aacustomerwin.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10526,5,'2016-06-07 14:38:20','2016-06-07 18:38:20','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\" wp-image-10525 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/aacustomerwin.jpg\" alt=\"enhance your online customer service with these 5 tips\" width=\"303\" height=\"454\" />Looking for ways to enhance your online customer service? We compiled the most helpful tips for offering the best customer service and support online and over the phone.\r\n\r\nPut these tips into action at your company to improve your customer service and win more loyal customers.\r\n<h2>5 Tips That Enhance Online Customer Service</h2>\r\nImplementing any or all of these tips will have a positive effect on your customer service.\r\n\r\nWhether you\'re handling customer service for your business on your own or have a small team of customer service representatives, these suggestions can be a game-changer.\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>Put a big smile on your face</strong>. <a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/4-ways-better-engage-customers-phone/\">Smiling helps you</a> keep a positive attitude during online interactions and adds a friendly, jovial tone to your voice if you\'ll be handling any customers over the phone. Research says that smiling when you\'re feeling stressed can actually ‘trick’ your brain into making you feel happier. Happy people give the best customer service!</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Keep a notepad or spiral notebook next to your desk</strong> to write down any reminders and notes you might need later. Examples of reminders and notes you might jot down include: Preferred nicknames, specific call scenario scripts, keeping up with average chat times, common solutions to customer problems, etc.</li>\r\n 	<li><b>Don\'t just be calm - be positive</b> during customer interactions. Acting overly calm without showing friendliness might come across as detached or uninterested. Stay positive and upbeat when interacting with customers via email, live chat, or the phone- no matter what happens. Even complaints and negative information can be responded to positively.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Learn how to bow out of long-winded conversations</strong> that are irrelevant to your job. Develop strategies for graciously ending the exchange when a customer seems to be veering into the long-winded zone via live chat or the phone. Remember not to be harsh with the customers that chat too long - some customers are dealing with issues like loneliness, depression, boredom, and personal difficulties. If you ever face any type of abuse or uncontrolled anger from a customer, refer to the <a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/5-steps-to-follow-when-a-customer-insults-you/\">5 Steps to Follow If a Customer Insults You</a>.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Don\'t gossip about your customers, ever.</strong> No matter how much you feel they deserved it, how sure you are that they\'ll never find out, or how accepting of this behavior your coworkers might be. The risk of being overheard by customers or letting typed information get into the wrong hands is too high to warrant this harmful form of ‘venting.’ Would you continue to use a business after you heard their employees talking about you or another customer? Probably not.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nOffering effective customer service online means taking these tips into consideration and implementing the ones you feel would benefit your business the most. If you\'re serious about offering the best online customer service, you have to <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/live-chat-support/\">install live chat support on your website</a> to give customers an instant communication option like the phone.','Enhance Your Online Customer Service with These Tips','','inherit','closed','closed','','10524-revision-v1','','','2016-06-07 14:38:20','2016-06-07 18:38:20','',10524,'https://itxdesign.com/10524-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10527,5,'2016-06-07 14:39:02','2016-06-07 18:39:02','<img class=\" wp-image-10525 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/aacustomerwin.jpg\" alt=\"enhance your online customer service with these 5 tips\" width=\"303\" height=\"454\" />Looking for ways to enhance your online customer service? We compiled the most helpful tips for offering the best customer service and support online and over the phone.\r\n\r\nPut these tips into action at your company to improve your customer service and win more loyal customers.\r\n<h2>5 Tips That Enhance Online Customer Service</h2>\r\nImplementing any or all of these tips will have a positive effect on your customer service.\r\n\r\nWhether you\'re handling customer service for your business on your own or have a small team of customer service representatives, these suggestions can be a game-changer.\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>Put a big smile on your face</strong>. <a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/4-ways-better-engage-customers-phone/\">Smiling helps you</a> keep a positive attitude during online interactions and adds a friendly, jovial tone to your voice if you\'ll be handling any customers over the phone. Research says that smiling when you\'re feeling stressed can actually ‘trick’ your brain into making you feel happier. Happy people give the best customer service!</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Keep a notepad or spiral notebook next to your desk</strong> to write down any reminders and notes you might need later. Examples of reminders and notes you might jot down include: Preferred nicknames, specific call scenario scripts, keeping up with average chat times, common solutions to customer problems, etc.</li>\r\n 	<li><b>Don\'t just be calm - be positive</b> during customer interactions. Acting overly calm without showing friendliness might come across as detached or uninterested. Stay positive and upbeat when interacting with customers via email, live chat, or the phone- no matter what happens. Even complaints and negative information can be responded to positively.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Learn how to bow out of long-winded conversations</strong> that are irrelevant to your job. Develop strategies for graciously ending the exchange when a customer seems to be veering into the long-winded zone via live chat or the phone. Remember not to be harsh with the customers that chat too long - some customers are dealing with issues like loneliness, depression, boredom, and personal difficulties. If you ever face any type of abuse or uncontrolled anger from a customer, refer to the <a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/5-steps-to-follow-when-a-customer-insults-you/\">5 Steps to Follow If a Customer Insults You</a>.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Don\'t gossip about your customers, ever.</strong> No matter how much you feel they deserved it, how sure you are that they\'ll never find out, or how accepting of this behavior your coworkers might be. The risk of being overheard by customers or letting typed information get into the wrong hands is too high to warrant this harmful form of ‘venting.’ Would you continue to use a business after you heard their employees talking about you or another customer? Probably not.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nOffering effective customer service online means taking these tips into consideration and implementing the ones you feel would benefit your business the most. If you\'re serious about offering the best online customer service, you have to <a href=\"https://itxdesign.com/live-chat-support/\">install live chat support on your website</a> to give customers an instant communication option like the phone.','Enhance Your Online Customer Service with These Tips','','inherit','closed','closed','','10524-revision-v1','','','2016-06-07 14:39:02','2016-06-07 18:39:02','',10524,'https://itxdesign.com/10524-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10528,5,'2016-06-08 14:27:48','2016-06-08 18:27:48','<img class=\" wp-image-10529 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/growth.jpg\" alt=\"growth\" width=\"360\" height=\"245\" />As a business owner, you\'re understandably concerned with growing revenue. It can become a fruitless exercise if you\'re concentrating your efforts and resources on the wrong channels, so it\'s important to keep an updated, top-level view of your marketing channels.\r\n\r\nIf you\'re hoping to outgrow or \"wait out\" the revenue growth problem, it\'s time to shift speeds and come up with a strategy to manage the issue. The need to grow revenue doesn\'t disappear the longer a business is around or the larger it grows - if anything, it only increases. Nearly half of all companies that have between 11-100 employees say growing their revenue is the biggest challenge they face in business.\r\n\r\nWe suggest companies who are looking to grow revenue but aren\'t finding success with their current efforts look into doing a quick marketing audit.\r\n\r\nDon\'t let the term \"audit\" keep you from taking this valuable action. When we say marketing audit, we simply mean taking a closer look at the marketing channels, costs, and ROI you\'re currently seeing from those means. When you have the data from each channel, it\'s possible to do a simple comparison that can be eye-opening for companies that have been focusing their budgets and efforts on the wrong channel all along.\r\n\r\nFind the marketing channel you\'re investing the most resources in and compare it to the marketing channel that actually drives the most revenue. It\'s important not to do the audit with any kind of bias - the point is to accurately identify which channel has the most value for your company so you can make beneficial changes, not to support your current strategy so you can pat yourself on the back.\r\n\r\nDon\'t think this kind of audit can make a real change for your revenue? Consider this. Nearly 60% of business owners who identified as struggling to grow revenue said they believe their website is \"an integral part of my business.\" Now, consider that a little <em>more than half of the same business owners</em> said their website was responsible for generating less than 11% of their annual revenue. See the discrepancy?\r\n\r\nSpend a little time doing a marketing channel audit to find out how you can grow your revenue in the most effective way.','Start Growing Revenue by Doing a Quick Marketing Audit','','publish','open','closed','','start-growing-revenue-by-doing-quick-marketing-audit','','','2016-06-08 14:27:48','2016-06-08 18:27:48','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10528',0,'post','',0),(10529,5,'2016-06-08 14:27:00','2016-06-08 18:27:00','','growth','','inherit','open','closed','','growth-2','','','2016-06-08 14:27:00','2016-06-08 18:27:00','',10528,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/growth.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10530,5,'2016-06-08 14:27:36','2016-06-08 18:27:36','<img class=\" wp-image-10529 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/growth.jpg\" alt=\"growth\" width=\"360\" height=\"245\" />As a business owner, you\'re understandably concerned with growing revenue. It can become a fruitless exercise if you\'re concentrating your efforts and resources on the wrong channels, so it\'s important to keep an updated, top-level view of your marketing channels.\r\n\r\nIf you\'re hoping to outgrow or \"wait out\" the revenue growth problem, it\'s time to shift speeds and come up with a strategy to manage the issue. The need to grow revenue doesn\'t disappear the longer a business is around or the larger it grows - if anything, it only increases. Nearly half of all companies that have between 11-100 employees say growing their revenue is the biggest challenge they face in business.\r\n\r\nWe suggest companies who are looking to grow revenue but aren\'t finding success with their current efforts look into doing a quick marketing audit.\r\n\r\nDon\'t let the term \"audit\" keep you from taking this valuable action. When we say marketing audit, we simply mean taking a closer look at the marketing channels, costs, and ROI you\'re currently seeing from those means. When you have the data from each channel, it\'s possible to do a simple comparison that can be eye-opening for companies that have been focusing their budgets and efforts on the wrong channel all along.\r\n\r\nFind the marketing channel you\'re investing the most resources in and compare it to the marketing channel that actually drives the most revenue. It\'s important not to do the audit with any kind of bias - the point is to accurately identify which channel has the most value for your company so you can make beneficial changes, not to support your current strategy so you can pat yourself on the back.\r\n\r\nDon\'t think this kind of audit can make a real change for your revenue? Consider this. Nearly 60% of business owners who identified as struggling to grow revenue said they believe their website is \"an integral part of my business.\" Now, consider that a little <em>more than half of the same business owners</em> said their website was responsible for generating less than 11% of their annual revenue. See the discrepancy?\r\n\r\nSpend a little time doing a marketing channel audit to find out how you can grow your revenue in the most effective way.','Start Growing Revenue by Doing a Quick Marketing Audit','','inherit','closed','closed','','10528-revision-v1','','','2016-06-08 14:27:36','2016-06-08 18:27:36','',10528,'https://itxdesign.com/10528-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10531,0,'2016-06-09 12:30:50','2016-06-09 16:30:50','','','','inherit','open','closed','','10531','','','2016-06-09 12:30:50','2016-06-09 16:30:50','',10510,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/PetCenter-300x169-1.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10532,5,'2016-06-09 15:10:46','2016-06-09 19:10:46','<img class=\"wp-image-10534 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/blogger.jpg\" alt=\"30 website improvements you can make today\" width=\"283\" height=\"204\" />\r\n\r\nCould your website use some improvement?\r\n\r\nIf you\'re not converting enough users, if people are exiting your site at a high rate, or if your web design is just outdated, it\'s up to you to make the necessary changes.\r\n\r\nImproving your website doesn\'t have to be a massive overtaking that drags on for weeks. You can make some small but noticeable changes to your website today and enjoy the increased conversions your efforts will earn.\r\n\r\nSo, pull up a chair, get comfortable, and decide which of the following <strong>30 website improvements</strong> you want to tackle today. Your customers will thank you by making more purchases and spending more time on your website.\r\n<h2>30 Website Improvements You Can Make Today</h2>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>Increase</strong> the font size by 2 points for more easily legible text</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Clean</strong> &amp; speed up your site by removing any widgets that aren\'t necessary</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Make</strong> your contact information + phone number visible on every page</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Do</strong> a site-wide check for any broken links and remove them</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Open</strong> your highly-trafficked pages and add alt tags to the images there</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> headers, bold, italics, and otherwise formatted text where there is none</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Say</strong> <a href=\"https://blog.kissmetrics.com/101-conversion-tips-to-help-improve-your-website/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">goodbye to pop ups</a> if you\'re currently using them - they annoy users</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> a search function that is accessible from every page of your site</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Include</strong> your social networks with icons displayed in the header and footer</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Place</strong> links to your website\'s privacy policy in the footer of every page</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Embed</strong> Google Maps in your contact page to show users where you are</li>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"http://web.archive.org/web/20170415063018/https://www.conversational.com/live-chat-lead-generation-grow-your-business-faster-starting-today/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Sign up</strong> for live chat support</a> to offer users an instant way to get answers</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Include</strong> your copyright notice at the bottom of each page</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Purchase</strong> the .net and .org domain extensions and redirect them to your site</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Create</strong> or rewrite your Frequently Asked Questions section for clarity</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> a favicon to your website to show users your logo in their URL bar</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Use</strong> email addresses that are linked to your website - you@yoursite.com</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Remove</strong> barriers to conversions by not requiring users to register</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Change</strong> your call to action text and measure the differences</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Create</strong> landing pages that are specific to the path users came from</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Think</strong> of a new free offer to advertise - free trial, an eBook, etc.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Change</strong> any past-tense copy to present tense to encourage action</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> user testimonials and recommendations to the sidebar of sparse pages</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Show</strong> a progress bar for anything that takes more than 2 steps</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Reduce</strong> the required info for signups - just first name + email</li>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/complete-guide-using-stock-photos/\"><strong>Reconsider</strong> any stock photos</a> - ask for outside opinions if unsure</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Create</strong> a category or page for your most popular services/products</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> a video of someone using your product or service</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Give</strong> related product recommendations during checkout</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Always</strong> have a coupon or promo code easily visible on your site</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nThese website improvements are easy to implement, take no more than 10 minutes each, and can have big results for your website. We encourage you to try some of these tips out and measure the success you have by doing so.\r\n\r\nDo you have any additional website tips to share? We\'d love to hear your tips in the comments section!','30 Website Improvements You Can Make Today','','publish','open','closed','','30-website-improvements-you-can-make-today','','','2018-07-10 05:35:34','2018-07-10 09:35:34','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10532',0,'post','',0),(10533,5,'2016-06-09 15:03:24','2016-06-09 19:03:24','Could your website use some improvement? If you\'re not converting enough users, if people are exiting your site at a high rate, or if your web design is just outdated, it\'s up to you to make the necessary changes.\r\n\r\nImproving your website doesn\'t have to be a massive overtaking that drags on for weeks. You can make some small but noticeable changes to your website today and enjoy the increased conversions they will earn.\r\n<h2>30 Website Improvements You Can Make Today</h2>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>Increase the font size by 2 points for more easily legible text</li>\r\n 	<li>Clean &amp; speed up your site by removing any widgets that aren\'t necessary</li>\r\n 	<li>Make your contact information + phone number visible on every page</li>\r\n 	<li>Do a site-wide check for any broken links and remove them</li>\r\n 	<li>Open your highly-trafficked pages and add alt tags to the images there</li>\r\n 	<li>Add headers, bold, italics, and otherwise formatted text where there is none</li>\r\n 	<li>Say <a href=\"https://blog.kissmetrics.com/101-conversion-tips-to-help-improve-your-website/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">goodbye to pop ups</a> if you\'re currently using them - they annoy users</li>\r\n 	<li>Add a search function that is accessible from every page of your site</li>\r\n 	<li>Include your social networks with icons displayed in the header and footer</li>\r\n 	<li>Place links to your website\'s privacy policy in the footer of every page</li>\r\n 	<li>Embed Google Maps in your contact page to show users where you are</li>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/live-chat-lead-generation-grow-your-business-faster-starting-today/\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up for live chat support</a> to offer users an instant way to get answers</li>\r\n 	<li>If you haven\'t, include your copyright notice at the bottom of each page</li>\r\n 	<li>Purchase the .net and .org domain extensions and redirect them to your site</li>\r\n 	<li>Create or rewrite your Frequently Asked Questions section for clarity</li>\r\n 	<li>Add a favicon to your website to show users your logo in their URL bar</li>\r\n 	<li>Use email addresses that are linked to your website - you@yoursite.com</li>\r\n 	<li>Remove barriers to conversions by not requiring users to register</li>\r\n 	<li>Change your call to action text and measure the differences</li>\r\n 	<li>Create landing pages that are specific to the path users came from</li>\r\n 	<li>Think of a new free offer to advertise - free trial, an eBook, etc.</li>\r\n 	<li>Change any past-tense copy to present tense to encourage action</li>\r\n 	<li>Add user testimonials and recommendations to the sidebar of sparse pages</li>\r\n 	<li>Show a progress bar for anything that takes more than 2 steps</li>\r\n 	<li>Reduce the required info for signups - just first name + email</li>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/complete-guide-using-stock-photos/\">Reconsider any stock photos</a> - ask for outside opinions if unsure</li>\r\n 	<li>Create a category or page for your most popular services/products</li>\r\n 	<li>Add a video of someone using your product or service</li>\r\n 	<li>Give related product recommendations during checkout</li>\r\n 	<li>Always have a coupon or promo code easily visible on your site</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nThese website improvements are easy to implement, take no more than 10 minutes each, and can have big results for your website. We encourage you to try some of these tips out and measure the success you have by doing so. Do you have any additional website tips to share? We\'d love to hear your tips in the comments section!','30 Website Improvements You Can Make Today','','inherit','closed','closed','','10532-revision-v1','','','2016-06-09 15:03:24','2016-06-09 19:03:24','',10532,'https://itxdesign.com/10532-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10534,5,'2016-06-09 15:04:45','2016-06-09 19:04:45','','blogger','','inherit','open','closed','','blogger-3','','','2016-06-09 15:05:02','2016-06-09 19:05:02','',10532,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/blogger.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10535,5,'2016-06-09 15:06:28','2016-06-09 19:06:28','<img class=\" wp-image-10534 alignleft\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/blogger.jpg\" alt=\"30 website improvements you can make today\" width=\"400\" height=\"289\" />\r\n\r\nCould your website use some improvement? If you\'re not converting enough users, if people are exiting your site at a high rate, or if your web design is just outdated, it\'s up to you to make the necessary changes.\r\n\r\nImproving your website doesn\'t have to be a massive overtaking that drags on for weeks. You can make some small but noticeable changes to your website today and enjoy the increased conversions they will earn.\r\n\r\nSo, pull up a chair, get comfortable, and decide which of the following 30 website improvements you want to tackle today. Your customers will thank you by making more purchases and spending more time on your website.\r\n<h2>30 Website Improvements You Can Make Today</h2>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>Increase the font size by 2 points for more easily legible text</li>\r\n 	<li>Clean &amp; speed up your site by removing any widgets that aren\'t necessary</li>\r\n 	<li>Make your contact information + phone number visible on every page</li>\r\n 	<li>Do a site-wide check for any broken links and remove them</li>\r\n 	<li>Open your highly-trafficked pages and add alt tags to the images there</li>\r\n 	<li>Add headers, bold, italics, and otherwise formatted text where there is none</li>\r\n 	<li>Say <a href=\"https://blog.kissmetrics.com/101-conversion-tips-to-help-improve-your-website/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">goodbye to pop ups</a> if you\'re currently using them - they annoy users</li>\r\n 	<li>Add a search function that is accessible from every page of your site</li>\r\n 	<li>Include your social networks with icons displayed in the header and footer</li>\r\n 	<li>Place links to your website\'s privacy policy in the footer of every page</li>\r\n 	<li>Embed Google Maps in your contact page to show users where you are</li>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/live-chat-lead-generation-grow-your-business-faster-starting-today/\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up for live chat support</a> to offer users an instant way to get answers</li>\r\n 	<li>If you haven\'t, include your copyright notice at the bottom of each page</li>\r\n 	<li>Purchase the .net and .org domain extensions and redirect them to your site</li>\r\n 	<li>Create or rewrite your Frequently Asked Questions section for clarity</li>\r\n 	<li>Add a favicon to your website to show users your logo in their URL bar</li>\r\n 	<li>Use email addresses that are linked to your website - you@yoursite.com</li>\r\n 	<li>Remove barriers to conversions by not requiring users to register</li>\r\n 	<li>Change your call to action text and measure the differences</li>\r\n 	<li>Create landing pages that are specific to the path users came from</li>\r\n 	<li>Think of a new free offer to advertise - free trial, an eBook, etc.</li>\r\n 	<li>Change any past-tense copy to present tense to encourage action</li>\r\n 	<li>Add user testimonials and recommendations to the sidebar of sparse pages</li>\r\n 	<li>Show a progress bar for anything that takes more than 2 steps</li>\r\n 	<li>Reduce the required info for signups - just first name + email</li>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/complete-guide-using-stock-photos/\">Reconsider any stock photos</a> - ask for outside opinions if unsure</li>\r\n 	<li>Create a category or page for your most popular services/products</li>\r\n 	<li>Add a video of someone using your product or service</li>\r\n 	<li>Give related product recommendations during checkout</li>\r\n 	<li>Always have a coupon or promo code easily visible on your site</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nThese website improvements are easy to implement, take no more than 10 minutes each, and can have big results for your website. We encourage you to try some of these tips out and measure the success you have by doing so. Do you have any additional website tips to share? We\'d love to hear your tips in the comments section!','30 Website Improvements You Can Make Today','','inherit','closed','closed','','10532-revision-v1','','','2016-06-09 15:06:28','2016-06-09 19:06:28','',10532,'https://itxdesign.com/10532-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10536,5,'2016-06-09 15:06:48','2016-06-09 19:06:48','<img class=\" wp-image-10534 alignleft\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/blogger.jpg\" alt=\"30 website improvements you can make today\" width=\"305\" height=\"221\" />\r\n\r\nCould your website use some improvement? If you\'re not converting enough users, if people are exiting your site at a high rate, or if your web design is just outdated, it\'s up to you to make the necessary changes.\r\n\r\nImproving your website doesn\'t have to be a massive overtaking that drags on for weeks. You can make some small but noticeable changes to your website today and enjoy the increased conversions they will earn.\r\n\r\nSo, pull up a chair, get comfortable, and decide which of the following 30 website improvements you want to tackle today. Your customers will thank you by making more purchases and spending more time on your website.\r\n<h2>30 Website Improvements You Can Make Today</h2>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>Increase the font size by 2 points for more easily legible text</li>\r\n 	<li>Clean &amp; speed up your site by removing any widgets that aren\'t necessary</li>\r\n 	<li>Make your contact information + phone number visible on every page</li>\r\n 	<li>Do a site-wide check for any broken links and remove them</li>\r\n 	<li>Open your highly-trafficked pages and add alt tags to the images there</li>\r\n 	<li>Add headers, bold, italics, and otherwise formatted text where there is none</li>\r\n 	<li>Say <a href=\"https://blog.kissmetrics.com/101-conversion-tips-to-help-improve-your-website/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">goodbye to pop ups</a> if you\'re currently using them - they annoy users</li>\r\n 	<li>Add a search function that is accessible from every page of your site</li>\r\n 	<li>Include your social networks with icons displayed in the header and footer</li>\r\n 	<li>Place links to your website\'s privacy policy in the footer of every page</li>\r\n 	<li>Embed Google Maps in your contact page to show users where you are</li>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/live-chat-lead-generation-grow-your-business-faster-starting-today/\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up for live chat support</a> to offer users an instant way to get answers</li>\r\n 	<li>If you haven\'t, include your copyright notice at the bottom of each page</li>\r\n 	<li>Purchase the .net and .org domain extensions and redirect them to your site</li>\r\n 	<li>Create or rewrite your Frequently Asked Questions section for clarity</li>\r\n 	<li>Add a favicon to your website to show users your logo in their URL bar</li>\r\n 	<li>Use email addresses that are linked to your website - you@yoursite.com</li>\r\n 	<li>Remove barriers to conversions by not requiring users to register</li>\r\n 	<li>Change your call to action text and measure the differences</li>\r\n 	<li>Create landing pages that are specific to the path users came from</li>\r\n 	<li>Think of a new free offer to advertise - free trial, an eBook, etc.</li>\r\n 	<li>Change any past-tense copy to present tense to encourage action</li>\r\n 	<li>Add user testimonials and recommendations to the sidebar of sparse pages</li>\r\n 	<li>Show a progress bar for anything that takes more than 2 steps</li>\r\n 	<li>Reduce the required info for signups - just first name + email</li>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/complete-guide-using-stock-photos/\">Reconsider any stock photos</a> - ask for outside opinions if unsure</li>\r\n 	<li>Create a category or page for your most popular services/products</li>\r\n 	<li>Add a video of someone using your product or service</li>\r\n 	<li>Give related product recommendations during checkout</li>\r\n 	<li>Always have a coupon or promo code easily visible on your site</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nThese website improvements are easy to implement, take no more than 10 minutes each, and can have big results for your website. We encourage you to try some of these tips out and measure the success you have by doing so. Do you have any additional website tips to share? We\'d love to hear your tips in the comments section!','30 Website Improvements You Can Make Today','','inherit','closed','closed','','10532-revision-v1','','','2016-06-09 15:06:48','2016-06-09 19:06:48','',10532,'https://itxdesign.com/10532-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10537,5,'2016-06-09 15:09:44','2016-06-09 19:09:44','<img class=\" wp-image-10534 alignleft\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/blogger.jpg\" alt=\"30 website improvements you can make today\" width=\"305\" height=\"221\" />\r\n\r\nCould your website use some improvement?\r\n\r\nIf you\'re not converting enough users, if people are exiting your site at a high rate, or if your web design is just outdated, it\'s up to you to make the necessary changes.\r\n\r\nImproving your website doesn\'t have to be a massive overtaking that drags on for weeks. You can make some small but noticeable changes to your website today and enjoy the increased conversions your efforts will earn.\r\n\r\nSo, pull up a chair, get comfortable, and decide which of the following <strong>30 website improvements</strong> you want to tackle today. Your customers will thank you by making more purchases and spending more time on your website.\r\n<h2>30 Website Improvements You Can Make Today</h2>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>Increase</strong> the font size by 2 points for more easily legible text</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Clean</strong> &amp; speed up your site by removing any widgets that aren\'t necessary</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Make</strong> your contact information + phone number visible on every page</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Do</strong> a site-wide check for any broken links and remove them</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Open</strong> your highly-trafficked pages and add alt tags to the images there</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> headers, bold, italics, and otherwise formatted text where there is none</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Say</strong> <a href=\"https://blog.kissmetrics.com/101-conversion-tips-to-help-improve-your-website/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">goodbye to pop ups</a> if you\'re currently using them - they annoy users</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> a search function that is accessible from every page of your site</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Include</strong> your social networks with icons displayed in the header and footer</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Place</strong> links to your website\'s privacy policy in the footer of every page</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Embed</strong> Google Maps in your contact page to show users where you are</li>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/live-chat-lead-generation-grow-your-business-faster-starting-today/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Sign up</strong> for live chat support</a> to offer users an instant way to get answers</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Include</strong> your copyright notice at the bottom of each page</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Purchase</strong> the .net and .org domain extensions and redirect them to your site</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Create</strong> or rewrite your Frequently Asked Questions section for clarity</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> a favicon to your website to show users your logo in their URL bar</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Use</strong> email addresses that are linked to your website - you@yoursite.com</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Remove</strong> barriers to conversions by not requiring users to register</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Change</strong> your call to action text and measure the differences</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Create</strong> landing pages that are specific to the path users came from</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Think</strong> of a new free offer to advertise - free trial, an eBook, etc.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Change</strong> any past-tense copy to present tense to encourage action</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> user testimonials and recommendations to the sidebar of sparse pages</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Show</strong> a progress bar for anything that takes more than 2 steps</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Reduce</strong> the required info for signups - just first name + email</li>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/complete-guide-using-stock-photos/\"><strong>Reconsider</strong> any stock photos</a> - ask for outside opinions if unsure</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Create</strong> a category or page for your most popular services/products</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> a video of someone using your product or service</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Give</strong> related product recommendations during checkout</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Always</strong> have a coupon or promo code easily visible on your site</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nThese website improvements are easy to implement, take no more than 10 minutes each, and can have big results for your website. We encourage you to try some of these tips out and measure the success you have by doing so.\r\n\r\nDo you have any additional website tips to share? We\'d love to hear your tips in the comments section!','30 Website Improvements You Can Make Today','','inherit','closed','closed','','10532-revision-v1','','','2016-06-09 15:09:44','2016-06-09 19:09:44','',10532,'https://itxdesign.com/10532-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10538,5,'2016-06-09 15:10:06','2016-06-09 19:10:06','<img class=\" wp-image-10534 alignleft\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/blogger.jpg\" alt=\"30 website improvements you can make today\" width=\"283\" height=\"204\" />\r\n\r\nCould your website use some improvement?\r\n\r\nIf you\'re not converting enough users, if people are exiting your site at a high rate, or if your web design is just outdated, it\'s up to you to make the necessary changes.\r\n\r\nImproving your website doesn\'t have to be a massive overtaking that drags on for weeks. You can make some small but noticeable changes to your website today and enjoy the increased conversions your efforts will earn.\r\n\r\nSo, pull up a chair, get comfortable, and decide which of the following <strong>30 website improvements</strong> you want to tackle today. Your customers will thank you by making more purchases and spending more time on your website.\r\n<h2>30 Website Improvements You Can Make Today</h2>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>Increase</strong> the font size by 2 points for more easily legible text</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Clean</strong> &amp; speed up your site by removing any widgets that aren\'t necessary</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Make</strong> your contact information + phone number visible on every page</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Do</strong> a site-wide check for any broken links and remove them</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Open</strong> your highly-trafficked pages and add alt tags to the images there</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> headers, bold, italics, and otherwise formatted text where there is none</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Say</strong> <a href=\"https://blog.kissmetrics.com/101-conversion-tips-to-help-improve-your-website/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">goodbye to pop ups</a> if you\'re currently using them - they annoy users</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> a search function that is accessible from every page of your site</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Include</strong> your social networks with icons displayed in the header and footer</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Place</strong> links to your website\'s privacy policy in the footer of every page</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Embed</strong> Google Maps in your contact page to show users where you are</li>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/live-chat-lead-generation-grow-your-business-faster-starting-today/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Sign up</strong> for live chat support</a> to offer users an instant way to get answers</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Include</strong> your copyright notice at the bottom of each page</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Purchase</strong> the .net and .org domain extensions and redirect them to your site</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Create</strong> or rewrite your Frequently Asked Questions section for clarity</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> a favicon to your website to show users your logo in their URL bar</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Use</strong> email addresses that are linked to your website - you@yoursite.com</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Remove</strong> barriers to conversions by not requiring users to register</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Change</strong> your call to action text and measure the differences</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Create</strong> landing pages that are specific to the path users came from</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Think</strong> of a new free offer to advertise - free trial, an eBook, etc.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Change</strong> any past-tense copy to present tense to encourage action</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> user testimonials and recommendations to the sidebar of sparse pages</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Show</strong> a progress bar for anything that takes more than 2 steps</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Reduce</strong> the required info for signups - just first name + email</li>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/complete-guide-using-stock-photos/\"><strong>Reconsider</strong> any stock photos</a> - ask for outside opinions if unsure</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Create</strong> a category or page for your most popular services/products</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> a video of someone using your product or service</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Give</strong> related product recommendations during checkout</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Always</strong> have a coupon or promo code easily visible on your site</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nThese website improvements are easy to implement, take no more than 10 minutes each, and can have big results for your website. We encourage you to try some of these tips out and measure the success you have by doing so.\r\n\r\nDo you have any additional website tips to share? We\'d love to hear your tips in the comments section!','30 Website Improvements You Can Make Today','','inherit','closed','closed','','10532-revision-v1','','','2016-06-09 15:10:06','2016-06-09 19:10:06','',10532,'https://itxdesign.com/10532-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10539,5,'2016-06-09 15:10:24','2016-06-09 19:10:24','<img class=\"wp-image-10534 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/blogger.jpg\" alt=\"30 website improvements you can make today\" width=\"283\" height=\"204\" />\r\n\r\nCould your website use some improvement?\r\n\r\nIf you\'re not converting enough users, if people are exiting your site at a high rate, or if your web design is just outdated, it\'s up to you to make the necessary changes.\r\n\r\nImproving your website doesn\'t have to be a massive overtaking that drags on for weeks. You can make some small but noticeable changes to your website today and enjoy the increased conversions your efforts will earn.\r\n\r\nSo, pull up a chair, get comfortable, and decide which of the following <strong>30 website improvements</strong> you want to tackle today. Your customers will thank you by making more purchases and spending more time on your website.\r\n<h2>30 Website Improvements You Can Make Today</h2>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>Increase</strong> the font size by 2 points for more easily legible text</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Clean</strong> &amp; speed up your site by removing any widgets that aren\'t necessary</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Make</strong> your contact information + phone number visible on every page</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Do</strong> a site-wide check for any broken links and remove them</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Open</strong> your highly-trafficked pages and add alt tags to the images there</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> headers, bold, italics, and otherwise formatted text where there is none</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Say</strong> <a href=\"https://blog.kissmetrics.com/101-conversion-tips-to-help-improve-your-website/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">goodbye to pop ups</a> if you\'re currently using them - they annoy users</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> a search function that is accessible from every page of your site</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Include</strong> your social networks with icons displayed in the header and footer</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Place</strong> links to your website\'s privacy policy in the footer of every page</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Embed</strong> Google Maps in your contact page to show users where you are</li>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/live-chat-lead-generation-grow-your-business-faster-starting-today/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Sign up</strong> for live chat support</a> to offer users an instant way to get answers</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Include</strong> your copyright notice at the bottom of each page</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Purchase</strong> the .net and .org domain extensions and redirect them to your site</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Create</strong> or rewrite your Frequently Asked Questions section for clarity</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> a favicon to your website to show users your logo in their URL bar</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Use</strong> email addresses that are linked to your website - you@yoursite.com</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Remove</strong> barriers to conversions by not requiring users to register</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Change</strong> your call to action text and measure the differences</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Create</strong> landing pages that are specific to the path users came from</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Think</strong> of a new free offer to advertise - free trial, an eBook, etc.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Change</strong> any past-tense copy to present tense to encourage action</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> user testimonials and recommendations to the sidebar of sparse pages</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Show</strong> a progress bar for anything that takes more than 2 steps</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Reduce</strong> the required info for signups - just first name + email</li>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/complete-guide-using-stock-photos/\"><strong>Reconsider</strong> any stock photos</a> - ask for outside opinions if unsure</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Create</strong> a category or page for your most popular services/products</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Add</strong> a video of someone using your product or service</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Give</strong> related product recommendations during checkout</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Always</strong> have a coupon or promo code easily visible on your site</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nThese website improvements are easy to implement, take no more than 10 minutes each, and can have big results for your website. We encourage you to try some of these tips out and measure the success you have by doing so.\r\n\r\nDo you have any additional website tips to share? We\'d love to hear your tips in the comments section!','30 Website Improvements You Can Make Today','','inherit','closed','closed','','10532-revision-v1','','','2016-06-09 15:10:24','2016-06-09 19:10:24','',10532,'https://itxdesign.com/10532-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10540,5,'2016-06-10 14:11:30','2016-06-10 18:11:30','Finding the dollar value of loyal customers doesn\'t have to involve algebraic equations or your revenue information from the last 10 years. It\'s simple to calculate just how much loyal customers are worth to your business over time, and the results can be revealing for your business.\r\n\r\nThe customer lifetime value (CLTV) formula isn\'t simple, but it\'s accurate. This is what the formula looks like:\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://cdn.apptamin.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CLTV-equation.png\" />\r\n\r\nThe \'First Purchase Formula,\' on the other hand, is very simple to use and while it\'s less accurate than the CLTV above, it can land you in the right ballpark for calculating loyal customer value. We\'ll show you how to use it below.\r\n<h3>The First Purchase Rule</h3>\r\n<a href=\"https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/legacy/reports/1107usc_summit%20_harrisnteractive.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Harris Interactive partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to do a study</a> of 1,409 small business owners and with an annual company income of less than $25 million. One very important small business finding they came away with: On average, <strong>loyal customers are worth up to 10 times the dollar amount of their first purchase.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>The First Purchase Rule:</strong> COST OF 1ST PURCHASE   x  10  = EST. MAX CUSTOMER LIFETIME VALUE\r\n\r\nTo calculate a given loyal customer\'s maximum value to your business over time, just plug the amount of their first purchase in and multiply it by 10. The resulting number is your estimated maximum customer lifetime value.\r\n<h3>Exceptions to the rule</h3>\r\n1.<strong> If a loyal customer spent $80 on their 1st purchase at your hardware store, how much might the customer be worth over the customer relationship lifetime? </strong>\r\n\r\nOn average, a loyal customer is worth <em>up to</em> 10 times the dollar amount of the 1st purchase – not necessarily always reaching that amount. Your job is to find a ballpark estimate that is still useful for your calculations.\r\n\r\nIf the first purchase was $80, we multiply that number by 10 to get the estimated MAX dollar value of the loyal customer – in this case, <strong>the customer value would be up to $800</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Important:</strong> Some loyal customers will translate to their maximum calculated value, yes, but most of your loyal customers won’t, even if they do come quite close. Remember to rely on these calculations only for broad estimations and not true projections.\r\n\r\n2. <strong>A loyal customer spends a large amount on their 1st purchase – a swimming pool, filtration system, pool vacuum, steps, a variety of floats and pool toys, and a 10 year warranty. Would the ‘first purchase rule’ apply here? Why or why not?</strong>\r\n\r\nThe average above ground pool purchase costs about $3,000, so if we include all the extras, we\'d estimate this first purchase at $4,000. Using the First Purchase Rule, that would mean <strong>this customer would be worth up to $40,000</strong> over the course of the relationship. Whoa!\r\n\r\nThat’s too good to be true, right? Yes. There’s an exception to every rule, and if you were looking for the exception to this one, you found it. There’s something different about this purchase from the purchase in scenario 1 - frequency of purchase. Once this customer makes it out of the pool and spa store, they won’t have to return for a long time.\r\n\r\nWhile they may never visit a competing pool and spa store, they also may not ever visit this store again. If they do, it will likely be to purchase small items like pool toys, chemicals, or patio furniture. A large purchase like this would not be indicative of a customer’s lifetime value.\r\n\r\n<strong>Sources</strong>\r\n\r\n<em><cite><a href=\"https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/legacy/reports/1107usc_summit%20_harrisnteractive.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Customer Experience Impact Report</a> by Harris Interactive</cite></em>','This Formula Makes It Simple to Find Dollar Value of Loyal Customers','','publish','open','closed','','this-formula-makes-it-simple-to-find-dollar-value-of-loyal-customers','','','2016-06-10 14:11:30','2016-06-10 18:11:30','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10540',0,'post','',0),(10541,5,'2016-06-10 14:10:48','2016-06-10 18:10:48','Finding the dollar value of loyal customers doesn\'t have to involve algebraic equations or your revenue information from the last 10 years. It\'s simple to calculate just how much loyal customers are worth to your business over time, and the results can be revealing for your business.\r\n\r\nThe customer lifetime value (CLTV) formula isn\'t simple, but it\'s accurate. This is what the formula looks like:\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://cdn.apptamin.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CLTV-equation.png\" />\r\n\r\nThe \'First Purchase Formula,\' on the other hand, is very simple to use and while it\'s less accurate than the CLTV above, it can land you in the right ballpark for calculating loyal customer value. We\'ll show you how to use it below.\r\n<h3>The First Purchase Rule</h3>\r\n<a href=\"https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/legacy/reports/1107usc_summit%20_harrisnteractive.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Harris Interactive partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to do a study</a> of 1,409 small business owners and with an annual company income of less than $25 million. One very important small business finding they came away with: On average, <strong>loyal customers are worth up to 10 times the dollar amount of their first purchase.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>The First Purchase Rule:</strong> COST OF 1ST PURCHASE   x  10  = EST. MAX CUSTOMER LIFETIME VALUE\r\n\r\nTo calculate a given loyal customer\'s maximum value to your business over time, just plug the amount of their first purchase in and multiply it by 10. The resulting number is your estimated maximum customer lifetime value.\r\n<h3>Exceptions to the rule</h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>If a loyal customer spent $80 on their 1st purchase at your hardware store, how much might the customer be worth over the customer relationship lifetime? </strong></li>\r\n</ol>\r\nOn average, a loyal customer is worth <em>up to</em> 10 times the dollar amount of the 1st purchase – not necessarily always reaching that amount. Your job is to find a ballpark estimate that is still useful for your calculations.\r\n\r\nIf the first purchase was $80, we multiply that number by 10 to get the estimated MAX dollar value of the loyal customer – in this case, <strong>the customer value would be up to $800</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Important:</strong> Some loyal customers will translate to their maximum calculated value, yes, but most of your loyal customers won’t, even if they do come quite close. Remember to rely on these calculations only for broad estimations and not true projections.\r\n\r\n2. <strong>A loyal customer spends a large amount on their 1st purchase – a swimming pool, filtration system, pool vacuum, steps, a variety of floats and pool toys, and a 10 year warranty. Would the ‘first purchase rule’ apply here? Why or why not?</strong>\r\n\r\nThe average above ground pool purchase costs about $3,000, so if we include all the extras, we\'d estimate this first purchase at $4,000. Using the First Purchase Rule, that would mean <strong>this customer would be worth up to $40,000</strong> over the course of the relationship. Whoa!\r\n\r\nThat’s too good to be true, right? Yes. There’s an exception to every rule, and if you were looking for the exception to this one, you found it. There’s something different about this purchase from the purchase in scenario 1 - frequency of purchase. Once this customer makes it out of the pool and spa store, they won’t have to return for a long time.\r\n\r\nWhile they may never visit a competing pool and spa store, they also may not ever visit this store again. If they do, it will likely be to purchase small items like pool toys, chemicals, or patio furniture. A large purchase like this would not be indicative of a customer’s lifetime value.\r\n\r\n<strong>Sources</strong>\r\n\r\n<em><cite><a href=\"https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/legacy/reports/1107usc_summit%20_harrisnteractive.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Customer Experience Impact Report</a> by Harris Interactive</cite></em>','This Formula Makes It Simple to Find Dollar Value of Loyal Customers','','inherit','closed','closed','','10540-revision-v1','','','2016-06-10 14:10:48','2016-06-10 18:10:48','',10540,'https://itxdesign.com/10540-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10542,5,'2016-06-10 14:11:15','2016-06-10 18:11:15','Finding the dollar value of loyal customers doesn\'t have to involve algebraic equations or your revenue information from the last 10 years. It\'s simple to calculate just how much loyal customers are worth to your business over time, and the results can be revealing for your business.\r\n\r\nThe customer lifetime value (CLTV) formula isn\'t simple, but it\'s accurate. This is what the formula looks like:\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://cdn.apptamin.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CLTV-equation.png\" />\r\n\r\nThe \'First Purchase Formula,\' on the other hand, is very simple to use and while it\'s less accurate than the CLTV above, it can land you in the right ballpark for calculating loyal customer value. We\'ll show you how to use it below.\r\n<h3>The First Purchase Rule</h3>\r\n<a href=\"https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/legacy/reports/1107usc_summit%20_harrisnteractive.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Harris Interactive partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to do a study</a> of 1,409 small business owners and with an annual company income of less than $25 million. One very important small business finding they came away with: On average, <strong>loyal customers are worth up to 10 times the dollar amount of their first purchase.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>The First Purchase Rule:</strong> COST OF 1ST PURCHASE   x  10  = EST. MAX CUSTOMER LIFETIME VALUE\r\n\r\nTo calculate a given loyal customer\'s maximum value to your business over time, just plug the amount of their first purchase in and multiply it by 10. The resulting number is your estimated maximum customer lifetime value.\r\n<h3>Exceptions to the rule</h3>\r\n1.<strong> If a loyal customer spent $80 on their 1st purchase at your hardware store, how much might the customer be worth over the customer relationship lifetime? </strong>\r\n\r\nOn average, a loyal customer is worth <em>up to</em> 10 times the dollar amount of the 1st purchase – not necessarily always reaching that amount. Your job is to find a ballpark estimate that is still useful for your calculations.\r\n\r\nIf the first purchase was $80, we multiply that number by 10 to get the estimated MAX dollar value of the loyal customer – in this case, <strong>the customer value would be up to $800</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Important:</strong> Some loyal customers will translate to their maximum calculated value, yes, but most of your loyal customers won’t, even if they do come quite close. Remember to rely on these calculations only for broad estimations and not true projections.\r\n\r\n2. <strong>A loyal customer spends a large amount on their 1st purchase – a swimming pool, filtration system, pool vacuum, steps, a variety of floats and pool toys, and a 10 year warranty. Would the ‘first purchase rule’ apply here? Why or why not?</strong>\r\n\r\nThe average above ground pool purchase costs about $3,000, so if we include all the extras, we\'d estimate this first purchase at $4,000. Using the First Purchase Rule, that would mean <strong>this customer would be worth up to $40,000</strong> over the course of the relationship. Whoa!\r\n\r\nThat’s too good to be true, right? Yes. There’s an exception to every rule, and if you were looking for the exception to this one, you found it. There’s something different about this purchase from the purchase in scenario 1 - frequency of purchase. Once this customer makes it out of the pool and spa store, they won’t have to return for a long time.\r\n\r\nWhile they may never visit a competing pool and spa store, they also may not ever visit this store again. If they do, it will likely be to purchase small items like pool toys, chemicals, or patio furniture. A large purchase like this would not be indicative of a customer’s lifetime value.\r\n\r\n<strong>Sources</strong>\r\n\r\n<em><cite><a href=\"https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/legacy/reports/1107usc_summit%20_harrisnteractive.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Customer Experience Impact Report</a> by Harris Interactive</cite></em>','This Formula Makes It Simple to Find Dollar Value of Loyal Customers','','inherit','closed','closed','','10540-revision-v1','','','2016-06-10 14:11:15','2016-06-10 18:11:15','',10540,'https://itxdesign.com/10540-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10543,5,'2016-06-10 14:11:37','2016-06-10 18:11:37','','','','inherit','open','closed','','10543','','','2016-06-10 14:11:37','2016-06-10 18:11:37','',10540,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CLTV-equation.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10545,4,'2016-06-14 12:03:26','2016-06-14 16:03:26','<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/14845341_s-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Social Share Count\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10546\" />Get your content shared on social media is huge. It’s not only affirmation that you are creating good content or posting valuable things, but it shows that your customers are connecting with your message enough to want to share it with others. They want to tell their friends about your helpful blog posts, your informative infographics, your exciting videos, and your eye-catching photos. \r\n\r\nIt’s easy to get shared when you provide something useful to others, but for some, they will try to get shares in a forceful way. Since websites are sustaining themselves through the help of social media, it’s more important than ever to get shared and noticed. The challenge is to get your social shares increased organically and that means you’ll have to learn the platform in and out, learn how to attractive visitors, and provide content that is worth sharing. Take a look at how to improve your social share count organically rather than begging your friends and family to share your posts. \r\n\r\n<h2>Make sure you’re publishing to your website first</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/24906443_s-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Get More Shares\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-10547\" />Sometimes people forget that you have to publish content on your blog before you can actually offer people a chance to share it. If people can’t find your content, they won’t try to share it. The best way to make your name known is to get your name out there on your own, through publishing great content and being patient. \r\n\r\nAfter you publish something, it doesn’t automatically mean that you will be seen by new visitors, but sharing your content on social media will help you to start getting exposure. You can also share on manual link submission sites to help exposure increase.\r\n\r\n<h2>Make your presence known</h2>\r\n\r\nAlong with trying to get your content out there, it’s important that you establish yourself and make your presence known. Readers want consistency from an author, knowing that this person stands for x, y, and z, and that content is going to be related to a certain niche. \r\n\r\nMake sure people know who you are, what you stand for, and your intentions behind your content. It’s easier for a reader to start recognizing you when it comes to telling others about you. You’ll gain credibility and trust for offering that consistent experience and clear message about who you are on social media. \r\n\r\n<h2>Make your titles clearer</h2>\r\n\r\nSometimes we are neglecting to make expressive content titles that catch the eye and make people want to read more. When you use a more specific title, your reader will be more likely to understand what your content is about, want to read it, and want to share it. \r\n\r\nThe more creative or insightful your content is, the more likely to be appealing to a reader. People are always anxious to share a breaking news story that tends to use short, clear titles that are obvious to the content. Learn from those types of shares as a way to make your titles more short and sweet and more likely to want to be shared. \r\n\r\n<h2>Visual imagery and share buttons</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/35813362_l-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Social Content Sharing\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10549\" />Lastly, make sure you incorporate visuals into your content and into your social media post. It will make it more likely to be shared and more appealing to readers. Incorporate share buttons onto your blog posts so that people will be able to easily share the article which will appear with the main photo and the headline. Use visual imagery as a way to convey concepts and to boost your social share counts.\r\n\r\nUse these tips and you’ll find that your content is getting shared more organically. People love to share from someone with a clear message, understandable headline, images related to the content, and that isn’t making it obvious that they are desperate for shares. \r\n','How to Improve your Social Share Count Organically','','publish','open','closed','','how-to-improve-your-social-share-count-organically','','','2016-06-12 19:25:26','2016-06-12 23:25:26','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10545',0,'post','',0),(10546,4,'2016-06-12 19:07:58','2016-06-12 23:07:58','','Social Share Count','','inherit','open','closed','','14845341_s','','','2016-06-12 19:15:44','2016-06-12 23:15:44','',10545,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/14845341_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10547,4,'2016-06-12 19:08:08','2016-06-12 23:08:08','','24906443_s','','inherit','open','closed','','24906443_s','','','2016-06-12 19:12:07','2016-06-12 23:12:07','',10545,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/24906443_s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10548,4,'2016-06-17 13:19:44','2016-06-17 17:19:44','The year is already half way over but it’s not too late to check out some of the coolest new WordPress Themes for single page use. Business websites are turning to one page WordPress themes because it allows for their customers to have a more interactive experience without being forced to navigate from page to page.\r\n\r\nIt’s a great idea for businesses and bloggers that want to keep things simpler for themselves and their customers. You can find the top 10 of these themes offered through WordPress listed below, some for a charge and some for free. Check out the 10 for 2016 that you’ll want to consider. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://wordpress.org/themes/corporate-plus/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Corporate Plus</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CorporatePlus.png\" alt=\"CorporatePlus\" width=\"588\" height=\"299\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10553\" />\r\n\r\nConsider Corporate Plus for your one page WordPress theme of choice. This is a great option for business websites because they consider themselves the “ultimate business theme.” You’ll find everything you need for your site from a slider to a parallax. Find an “about” section, a blog, and contact sections along with being fully widgetized for easy setup. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://mythemeshop.com/themes/onepage/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">OnePage</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/OnePage.png\" alt=\"OnePage\" width=\"548\" height=\"276\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10557\" />\r\n\r\nFor Twitter users, OnePage is a great choice for your WordPress theme. This single page theme is great for business websites that need things like a client section and a pricing table. It has an animated counter to help you keep track of your visitors. \r\n\r\nThe Twitter feed is a big draw for many, where your guests can see your current Twitter feed updates and connect with you on social media. This one is optimized for better performance and speed along with offering an easy drag and drop building feature. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themeisle.com/themes/zerif-pro-one-page-wordpress-theme/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Zerif PRO</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/ZerifOne.png\" alt=\"ZerifOne\" width=\"361\" height=\"472\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10562\" />\r\n\r\nA beautiful option for corporate websites is the one page WordPress theme called “Zerif PRO.” This one is great for a business that needs to show off their team members and their customer’s testimonials. You’ll be able to easily display your portfolio and contact information for new customers to see too. It’s easy to use by supporting drag and drop page builder through WordPress. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://athemes.com/theme/moesia-pro/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Moesia Pro</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/MoesiaPro.png\" alt=\"MoesiaPro\" width=\"574\" height=\"368\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10556\" />\r\n\r\nIf you appreciate a minimalistic approach, Moesia Pro is a great option for businesses that need a beautiful one page theme. It’s easy to add and arrange blocks for building your homepage because of the drag and drop page builder option. You’ll find a slider and page templates along with the options to use Google fonts and other great premium options. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themefuse.com/wp-themes-shop/one-page-wordpress-theme/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Freelancer</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Freelancer.png\" alt=\"Freelancer\" width=\"562\" height=\"370\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10554\" />\r\n\r\nAre you a freelancer or professional that needs a responsive one page theme? WordPress offers one called Freelancer to make it clear for those in this industry that this will be perfect for them. It already has an area to show off you portfolio and to display testimonials. With the multiple color choices on each section and the easy setup, you’ll find this one to be a breeze to use. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://athemes.com/theme/sydney-pro/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Sydney Pro</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/SidneyPro.png\" alt=\"SidneyPro\" width=\"583\" height=\"324\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10561\" />\r\n\r\nSydney Pro is the choice for most because of its elegant and multi-purpose uses. It’s not too specific for one industry or another; this beautiful theme could be used by many. You’ll find that it offers a nice large slider on the top and support for large video headers. There are extra widgets for building your own layout that can be done in an easy drag-and-drop fashion. Use this single page theme as is or enjoy the option to expand to a multi-page theme if you need to add on WooCommrce or extra page options. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themify.me/themes/parallax\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Parallax </a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Parallax.png\" alt=\"Parallax\" width=\"702\" height=\"499\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10558\" />\r\n\r\nFor those that want something simple and clean, you’ll love Parallax. It’s another beautiful single page theme with room for your portfolio, team posts, parallax, and even fly in elements. You’ll find fun animated progress bars, infinite scroll, and grid layouts. Filter your images with grayscale, sepia, and blur so that your images to take away from the important content you offer but simple complement it. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://www.cssigniter.com/ignite/themes/roxima/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Roxima</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Roxima.png\" alt=\"Roxima\" width=\"716\" height=\"327\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10559\" />\r\n\r\nRoxima is another great responsive option for those that want multiple custom widgets and layouts. You’ll find room to talk about your team, clients, portfolio, and about section. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://templatic.com/portfolio-themes/multipurpose-wordpress-theme\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">ShowStopper</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/ShowStopper.png\" alt=\"ShowStopper\" width=\"920\" height=\"561\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10560\" />\r\n\r\nIf you’re looking for a single page theme that offers many features, ShowStopper is a great choice. There are many customization options and it’s an easy-to-use theme. It’s also WooCommerce ready for those that need to sell their services. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://web.archive.org/web/20180214165318/https://wordpress.org/themes/business-one/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Business One</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/BusinessOne.png\" alt=\"BusinessOne\" width=\"582\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10551\" />\r\n\r\nLastly, be sure to check out Business One, a free option for businesses needing one page WordPress themes. This one has the modern look with the built-in support. Set up your services, portfolio, about section, and display your team’s skills easily. \r\n\r\nThese are the top 10 one page WordPress themes that will blow you away this year. \r\n','Top 10 One Page WordPress Themes for This Year','','publish','open','closed','','top-10-one-page-wordpress-themes-for-this-year','','','2018-07-10 05:49:14','2018-07-10 09:49:14','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10548',0,'post','',0),(10549,4,'2016-06-12 19:21:42','2016-06-12 23:21:42','','Social Content Sharing','','inherit','open','closed','','35813362_l','','','2016-06-12 19:22:40','2016-06-12 23:22:40','',10545,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/35813362_l.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10578,5,'2016-06-20 14:02:44','2016-06-20 18:02:44','<img class=\"wp-image-10579 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/3-KEYS.jpg\" alt=\"3 KEYS\" width=\"202\" height=\"202\" />Influencer marketing is all about making strategic connections with outside parties that can influence people to purchase from you. What does your influencer marketing strategy look like currently? Even if you don\'t have a strategy in place right now, it\'s never too late to start.\r\n\r\nOptimizing your influencer marketing strategy can start right now when you implement the following 3 tactics that put your business in front of the right buyers.\r\n<h2>3 Tactics to Improve Your Influencer Marketing Strategy</h2>\r\nPut these 3 tactics into your strategy to start getting better results from influencer marketing!\r\n<h4>Target other business owners as influencers</h4>\r\n<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-6564 alignright\" src=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/influencermarketing-300x168.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" srcset=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/influencermarketing-300x168.jpg 300w, https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/influencermarketing-768x430.jpg 768w, https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/influencermarketing.jpg 850w\" alt=\"3 keys to influencer marketing for small business owners and managers\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" /><a href=\"http://smallbiztrends.com/2015/07/ceb-marketing-to-small-business-owners.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">CEB</a> looked at the influence of 10 different types of influencers – from channel partners to fellow small business owners. A few things stood out in the study.\r\n\r\n“The first thing that stood out was the degree to which other business owners influence their peers in purchase decisions…We looked at the magnitude of that influence relative to, say, channel partners or associations,” Naumi Haque, Research Director at CEB, said.\r\n\r\nThey found that other business owners hold more influential power than channel partners and professional associations - even more than the suppliers\' own sales representatives.\r\n\r\nTo implement this finding into your influencer marketing strategy, don\'t reach out to channel partners and industry professional associations for influential power. Instead, look to other business owners. Their audiences trust them and are more likely to engage with their recommendations.\r\n<h4>Steer clear of unbiased influencers</h4>\r\nAs the results above show, fellow small business owners are the most effective influencers for small businesses. Part of the reason for this is that channel partners and industry associations are more likely to recommend your business or service alongside your competition - a big strategic mistake.\r\n\r\nYes, channel partners and associations have their audiences\' trust, but they’re also committed to being unbiased and offering impartiality in their recommendations. “If every time you talk to them they’re providing three recommendations, then they’re not really great brand advocates,” Haque stated.\r\n\r\nDon\'t ask impartial influencers to recommend your brand unless you want to share the traffic driven from these recommendations with your competitors.\r\n<h4>Take to social media to connect with other owners</h4>\r\nFinally, this small business influencer marketing study found that social media is the best place to connect with other business owners. Marketers have believed in the past that owners are on social media only to promote their business. According to the research, that’s not always true.\r\n\r\nBusiness owners don\'t mind helping other owners with recommendations and influencer marketing because entrepreneurship is a kind of “exclusive” club. Members of the entrepreneur \"club\" share something in common and can potentially set up a mutually beneficial collaboration that has results for both ends. Connecting on social media makes it easy to get in touch and network with other owners.\r\n\r\nTo get the most benefit from this tactic, start reaching out to other small business owners that share a sector of your business\' audience on social media. Be genuine when you contact them and offer to reciprocate to get the best chance at a \"Yes.\"','3 Tactics to Improve Your Influencer Marketing Strategy','','publish','open','closed','','3-tactics-to-improve-your-influencer-marketing-strategy','','','2016-06-20 14:02:44','2016-06-20 18:02:44','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10578',0,'post','',0),(10551,4,'2016-06-12 19:22:40','2016-06-12 23:22:40','','BusinessOne','','inherit','open','closed','','businessone','','','2016-06-12 19:47:39','2016-06-12 23:47:39','',10548,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/BusinessOne.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10552,4,'2016-06-12 19:23:20','2016-06-12 23:23:20','<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/14845341_s-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Social Share Count\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10546\" />Get your content shared on social media is huge. It’s not only affirmation that you are creating good content or posting valuable things, but it shows that your customers are connecting with your message enough to want to share it with others. They want to tell their friends about your helpful blog posts, your informative infographics, your exciting videos, and your eye-catching photos. \r\n\r\nIt’s easy to get shared when you provide something useful to others, but for some, they will try to get shares in a forceful way. Since websites are sustaining themselves through the help of social media, it’s more important than ever to get shared and noticed. The challenge is to get your social shares increased organically and that means you’ll have to learn the platform in and out, learn how to attractive visitors, and provide content that is worth sharing. Take a look at how to improve your social share count organically rather than begging your friends and family to share your posts. \r\n\r\n<h2>Make sure you’re publishing to your website first</h2>\r\n\r\nSometimes people forget that you have to publish content on your blog before you can actually offer people a chance to share it. If people can’t find your content, they won’t try to share it. The best way to make your name known is to get your name out there on your own, through publishing great content and being patient. \r\n\r\nAfter you publish something, it doesn’t automatically mean that you will be seen by new visitors, but sharing your content on social media will help you to start getting exposure. You can also share on manual link submission sites to help exposure increase.\r\n\r\n<h2>Make your presence known</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/24906443_s-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Get More Shares\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-10547\" />Along with trying to get your content out there, it’s important that you establish yourself and make your presence known. Readers want consistency from an author, knowing that this person stands for x, y, and z, and that content is going to be related to a certain niche. \r\n\r\nMake sure people know who you are, what you stand for, and your intentions behind your content. It’s easier for a reader to start recognizing you when it comes to telling others about you. You’ll gain credibility and trust for offering that consistent experience and clear message about who you are on social media. \r\n\r\n<h2>Make your titles clearer</h2>\r\n\r\nSometimes we are neglecting to make expressive content titles that catch the eye and make people want to read more. When you use a more specific title, your reader will be more likely to understand what your content is about, want to read it, and want to share it. \r\n\r\nThe more creative or insightful your content is, the more likely to be appealing to a reader. People are always anxious to share a breaking news story that tends to use short, clear titles that are obvious to the content. Learn from those types of shares as a way to make your titles more short and sweet and more likely to want to be shared. \r\n\r\n<h2>Visual imagery and share buttons</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/35813362_l-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Social Content Sharing\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10549\" />Lastly, make sure you incorporate visuals into your content and into your social media post. It will make it more likely to be shared and more appealing to readers. Incorporate share buttons onto your blog posts so that people will be able to easily share the article which will appear with the main photo and the headline. Use visual imagery as a way to convey concepts and to boost your social share counts.\r\n\r\nUse these tips and you’ll find that your content is getting shared more organically. People love to share from someone with a clear message, understandable headline, images related to the content, and that isn’t making it obvious that they are desperate for shares. \r\n','How to Improve your Social Share Count Organically','','inherit','closed','closed','','10545-revision-v1','','','2016-06-12 19:23:20','2016-06-12 23:23:20','',10545,'https://itxdesign.com/10545-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10553,4,'2016-06-12 19:23:34','2016-06-12 23:23:34','','CorporatePlus','','inherit','open','closed','','corporateplus','','','2016-06-12 19:25:07','2016-06-12 23:25:07','',10548,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CorporatePlus.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10554,4,'2016-06-12 19:24:38','2016-06-12 23:24:38','','Freelancer','','inherit','open','closed','','freelancer','','','2016-06-12 19:37:29','2016-06-12 23:37:29','',10548,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Freelancer.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10555,4,'2016-06-12 19:25:02','2016-06-12 23:25:02','<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/14845341_s-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Social Share Count\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10546\" />Get your content shared on social media is huge. It’s not only affirmation that you are creating good content or posting valuable things, but it shows that your customers are connecting with your message enough to want to share it with others. They want to tell their friends about your helpful blog posts, your informative infographics, your exciting videos, and your eye-catching photos. \r\n\r\nIt’s easy to get shared when you provide something useful to others, but for some, they will try to get shares in a forceful way. Since websites are sustaining themselves through the help of social media, it’s more important than ever to get shared and noticed. The challenge is to get your social shares increased organically and that means you’ll have to learn the platform in and out, learn how to attractive visitors, and provide content that is worth sharing. Take a look at how to improve your social share count organically rather than begging your friends and family to share your posts. \r\n\r\n<h2>Make sure you’re publishing to your website first</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/24906443_s-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Get More Shares\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-10547\" />Sometimes people forget that you have to publish content on your blog before you can actually offer people a chance to share it. If people can’t find your content, they won’t try to share it. The best way to make your name known is to get your name out there on your own, through publishing great content and being patient. \r\n\r\nAfter you publish something, it doesn’t automatically mean that you will be seen by new visitors, but sharing your content on social media will help you to start getting exposure. You can also share on manual link submission sites to help exposure increase.\r\n\r\n<h2>Make your presence known</h2>\r\n\r\nAlong with trying to get your content out there, it’s important that you establish yourself and make your presence known. Readers want consistency from an author, knowing that this person stands for x, y, and z, and that content is going to be related to a certain niche. \r\n\r\nMake sure people know who you are, what you stand for, and your intentions behind your content. It’s easier for a reader to start recognizing you when it comes to telling others about you. You’ll gain credibility and trust for offering that consistent experience and clear message about who you are on social media. \r\n\r\n<h2>Make your titles clearer</h2>\r\n\r\nSometimes we are neglecting to make expressive content titles that catch the eye and make people want to read more. When you use a more specific title, your reader will be more likely to understand what your content is about, want to read it, and want to share it. \r\n\r\nThe more creative or insightful your content is, the more likely to be appealing to a reader. People are always anxious to share a breaking news story that tends to use short, clear titles that are obvious to the content. Learn from those types of shares as a way to make your titles more short and sweet and more likely to want to be shared. \r\n\r\n<h2>Visual imagery and share buttons</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/35813362_l-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Social Content Sharing\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10549\" />Lastly, make sure you incorporate visuals into your content and into your social media post. It will make it more likely to be shared and more appealing to readers. Incorporate share buttons onto your blog posts so that people will be able to easily share the article which will appear with the main photo and the headline. Use visual imagery as a way to convey concepts and to boost your social share counts.\r\n\r\nUse these tips and you’ll find that your content is getting shared more organically. People love to share from someone with a clear message, understandable headline, images related to the content, and that isn’t making it obvious that they are desperate for shares. \r\n','How to Improve your Social Share Count Organically','','inherit','closed','closed','','10545-revision-v1','','','2016-06-12 19:25:02','2016-06-12 23:25:02','',10545,'https://itxdesign.com/10545-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10556,4,'2016-06-12 19:25:05','2016-06-12 23:25:05','','MoesiaPro','','inherit','open','closed','','moesiapro','','','2016-06-12 19:32:00','2016-06-12 23:32:00','',10548,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/MoesiaPro.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10557,4,'2016-06-12 19:25:34','2016-06-12 23:25:34','','OnePage','','inherit','open','closed','','onepage','','','2016-06-12 19:26:09','2016-06-12 23:26:09','',10548,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/OnePage.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10558,4,'2016-06-12 19:26:21','2016-06-12 23:26:21','','Parallax','','inherit','open','closed','','parallax','','','2016-06-12 19:39:22','2016-06-12 23:39:22','',10548,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Parallax.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10559,4,'2016-06-12 19:26:52','2016-06-12 23:26:52','','Roxima','','inherit','open','closed','','roxima','','','2016-06-12 19:47:03','2016-06-12 23:47:03','',10548,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Roxima.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10560,4,'2016-06-12 19:39:52','2016-06-12 23:39:52','','ShowStopper','','inherit','open','closed','','showstopper','','','2016-06-12 19:47:21','2016-06-12 23:47:21','',10548,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/ShowStopper.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10561,4,'2016-06-12 19:40:38','2016-06-12 23:40:38','','SidneyPro','','inherit','open','closed','','sidneypro','','','2016-06-12 19:47:54','2016-06-12 23:47:54','',10548,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/SidneyPro.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10562,4,'2016-06-12 19:40:53','2016-06-12 23:40:53','','ZerifOne','','inherit','open','closed','','zerifone','','','2016-06-12 19:48:05','2016-06-12 23:48:05','',10548,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/ZerifOne.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10563,4,'2016-06-12 19:48:20','2016-06-12 23:48:20','The year is already half way over but it’s not too late to check out some of the coolest new WordPress Themes for single page use. Business websites are turning to one page WordPress themes because it allows for their customers to have a more interactive experience without being forced to navigate from page to page.\r\n\r\nIt’s a great idea for businesses and bloggers that want to keep things simpler for themselves and their customers. You can find the top 10 of these themes offered through WordPress listed below, some for a charge and some for free. Check out the 10 for 2016 that you’ll want to consider. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://wordpress.org/themes/corporate-plus/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Corporate Plus</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CorporatePlus.png\" alt=\"CorporatePlus\" width=\"588\" height=\"299\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10553\" />\r\n\r\nConsider Corporate Plus for your one page WordPress theme of choice. This is a great option for business websites because they consider themselves the “ultimate business theme.” You’ll find everything you need for your site from a slider to a parallax. Find an “about” section, a blog, and contact sections along with being fully widgetized for easy setup. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://mythemeshop.com/themes/onepage/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">OnePage</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/OnePage.png\" alt=\"OnePage\" width=\"548\" height=\"276\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10557\" />\r\n\r\nFor Twitter users, OnePage is a great choice for your WordPress theme. This single page theme is great for business websites that need things like a client section and a pricing table. It has an animated counter to help you keep track of your visitors. \r\n\r\nThe Twitter feed is a big draw for many, where your guests can see your current Twitter feed updates and connect with you on social media. This one is optimized for better performance and speed along with offering an easy drag and drop building feature. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themeisle.com/themes/zerif-pro-one-page-wordpress-theme/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Zerif PRO</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/ZerifOne.png\" alt=\"ZerifOne\" width=\"361\" height=\"472\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10562\" />\r\n\r\nA beautiful option for corporate websites is the one page WordPress theme called “Zerif PRO.” This one is great for a business that needs to show off their team members and their customer’s testimonials. You’ll be able to easily display your portfolio and contact information for new customers to see too. It’s easy to use by supporting drag and drop page builder through WordPress. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://athemes.com/theme/moesia-pro/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Moesia Pro</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/MoesiaPro.png\" alt=\"MoesiaPro\" width=\"574\" height=\"368\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10556\" />\r\n\r\nIf you appreciate a minimalistic approach, Moesia Pro is a great option for businesses that need a beautiful one page theme. It’s easy to add and arrange blocks for building your homepage because of the drag and drop page builder option. You’ll find a slider and page templates along with the options to use Google fonts and other great premium options. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themefuse.com/wp-themes-shop/one-page-wordpress-theme/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Freelancer</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Freelancer.png\" alt=\"Freelancer\" width=\"562\" height=\"370\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10554\" />\r\n\r\nAre you a freelancer or professional that needs a responsive one page theme? WordPress offers one called Freelancer to make it clear for those in this industry that this will be perfect for them. It already has an area to show off you portfolio and to display testimonials. With the multiple color choices on each section and the easy setup, you’ll find this one to be a breeze to use. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://athemes.com/theme/sydney-pro/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Sydney Pro</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/SidneyPro.png\" alt=\"SidneyPro\" width=\"583\" height=\"324\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10561\" />\r\n\r\nSydney Pro is the choice for most because of its elegant and multi-purpose uses. It’s not too specific for one industry or another; this beautiful theme could be used by many. You’ll find that it offers a nice large slider on the top and support for large video headers. There are extra widgets for building your own layout that can be done in an easy drag-and-drop fashion. Use this single page theme as is or enjoy the option to expand to a multi-page theme if you need to add on WooCommrce or extra page options. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://themify.me/themes/parallax\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Parallax </a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Parallax.png\" alt=\"Parallax\" width=\"702\" height=\"499\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10558\" />\r\n\r\nFor those that want something simple and clean, you’ll love Parallax. It’s another beautiful single page theme with room for your portfolio, team posts, parallax, and even fly in elements. You’ll find fun animated progress bars, infinite scroll, and grid layouts. Filter your images with grayscale, sepia, and blur so that your images to take away from the important content you offer but simple complement it. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"http://www.cssigniter.com/ignite/themes/roxima/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Roxima</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Roxima.png\" alt=\"Roxima\" width=\"716\" height=\"327\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10559\" />\r\n\r\nRoxima is another great responsive option for those that want multiple custom widgets and layouts. You’ll find room to talk about your team, clients, portfolio, and about section. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://templatic.com/portfolio-themes/multipurpose-wordpress-theme\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">ShowStopper</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/ShowStopper.png\" alt=\"ShowStopper\" width=\"920\" height=\"561\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10560\" />\r\n\r\nIf you’re looking for a single page theme that offers many features, ShowStopper is a great choice. There are many customization options and it’s an easy-to-use theme. It’s also WooCommerce ready for those that need to sell their services. \r\n\r\n<h2><a href=\"https://wordpress.org/themes/business-one/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Business One</a></h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/BusinessOne.png\" alt=\"BusinessOne\" width=\"582\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10551\" />\r\n\r\nLastly, be sure to check out Business One, a free option for businesses needing one page WordPress themes. This one has the modern look with the built-in support. Set up your services, portfolio, about section, and display your team’s skills easily. \r\n\r\nThese are the top 10 one page WordPress themes that will blow you away this year. \r\n','Top 10 One Page WordPress Themes for This Year','','inherit','closed','closed','','10548-revision-v1','','','2016-06-12 19:48:20','2016-06-12 23:48:20','',10548,'https://itxdesign.com/10548-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10564,5,'2016-06-13 14:06:16','2016-06-13 18:06:16','Do you listen to music while you work? Many people don\'t listen to music while working because they feel it will hamper their productivity or disturb others in the office. If you\'re not an entrepreneur and you work for an existing company, listening to music while you work can even be an issue because of office policy.\r\n\r\nBut studies have shown that listening to music while you work can help you focus better, be more productive, and make better decisions. It also improves your mood, an undeniable factor in how resilient you are and how likely you are to succeed.\r\n\r\nBut listening to just any music won\'t do the trick. You have to choose a music genre or style that is complementary to your favorite genres - complementary to, but not part of. That\'s right, your favorite music style will not help you become more productive or focused. In fact, listening to your favorite music while working can hamper your productivity and distract you from the task at hand.\r\n\r\nHow do you get around this? First, you identify your music preferences.\r\n<h3>1. Identify your music preferences</h3>\r\nWhat\'s your favorite music genre? For many, that\'s a tough question to answer. It\'s easier to identify the group of music genres you prefer over others. The Short Test Of Musical Preferences (STOMP) is helpful in determining this.\r\n\r\nSTOMP includes 4 categories of genre preferences:\r\n\r\n<strong>Reflective and complex</strong> – Classical, jazz, blues, folk\r\n\r\n<strong>Intense and rebellious</strong> – Alternative, rock, heavy metal, punk\r\n\r\n<strong>Upbeat and conventional</strong> – Country, religious, soundtracks, theme music, pop\r\n\r\n<strong>Energetic and rhythmic</strong> – Dance, electronica, funk, hip hop, rap, soul\r\n\r\nWhich of the above 4 categories contains most of your favorite genres? Now, move on to step 2.\r\n<h3>2. Find the complementary genre based on your STOMP results</h3>\r\nNow that you know the STOMP category you prefer over all others, check the list below to find the complementary category of genres that will help you boost your productivity and be more focused at work.\r\n<table style=\"width: 445px; height: 209px;\" border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"1\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 21px;\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 44.2836%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"><strong> Favorite category</strong></td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 1080.72%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> <strong>Complementary</strong> <strong>category</strong></td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 21px;\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 44.2836%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Reflective &amp; complex</td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 1080.72%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Upbeat &amp; conventional</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 21px;\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 44.2836%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Edgy &amp; aggressive</td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 1080.72%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Energetic &amp; rhythmic</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 21px;\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 44.2836%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Fun &amp; simple</td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 1080.72%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Reflective &amp; complex</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 21px;\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 44.2836%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Energetic &amp; upbeat</td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 1080.72%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Edgy &amp; aggressive</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n</tbody>\r\n</table>\r\nWhere\'s the logic in this? An example: If your preferences are mostly reflective and complex, you\'re more productive when listening to upbeat and conventional music (Country, pop, soundtracks, religious contemporary) even though it\'s not your favorite style of music.\r\n\r\nListening to non-preferred music styles is beneficial because your brain is used to the sounds you prefer, so switching things up by playing some Top 40 or your favorite movie soundtrack will help you work more efficiently.','Listen While You Work: How Entrepreneurs Can Use Music to Succeed','','publish','open','closed','','listen-while-you-work-how-entrepreneurs-can-use-music-to-succeed','','','2016-06-13 14:06:16','2016-06-13 18:06:16','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10564',0,'post','',0),(10565,5,'2016-06-13 14:05:24','2016-06-13 18:05:24','Do you listen to music while you work? Many people don\'t listen to music while working because they feel it will hamper their productivity or disturb others in the office. If you\'re not an entrepreneur and you work for an existing company, listening to music while you work can even be an issue because of office policy.\r\n\r\nBut studies have shown that listening to music while you work can help you focus better, be more productive, and make better decisions. It also improves your mood, an undeniable factor in how resilient you are and how likely you are to succeed.\r\n\r\nBut listening to just any music won\'t do the trick. You have to choose a music genre or style that is complementary to your favorite genres - complementary to, but not part of. That\'s right, your favorite music style will not help you become more productive or focused. In fact, listening to your favorite music while working can hamper your productivity and distract you from the task at hand.\r\n\r\nHow do you get around this? First, you identify your music preferences.\r\n<h3>1. Identify your music preferences</h3>\r\nWhat\'s your favorite music genre? For many, that\'s a tough question to answer. It\'s easier to identify the group of music genres you prefer over others. The Short Test Of Musical Preferences (STOMP) is helpful in determining this.\r\n\r\nSTOMP includes 4 categories of genre preferences:\r\n\r\n<strong>Reflective and complex</strong> – Classical, jazz, blues, folk\r\n\r\n<strong>Intense and rebellious</strong> – Alternative, rock, heavy metal, punk\r\n\r\n<strong>Upbeat and conventional</strong> – Country, religious, soundtracks, theme music, pop\r\n\r\n<strong>Energetic and rhythmic</strong> – Dance, electronica, funk, hip hop, rap, soul\r\n\r\nWhich of the above 4 categories contains most of your favorite genres? Now, move on to step 2.\r\n<h3>2. Find the complementary genre based on your STOMP results</h3>\r\nNow that you know the STOMP category you prefer over all others, check the list below to find the complementary category of genres that will help you boost your productivity and be more focused at work.\r\n<table style=\"width: 445px; height: 209px;\" border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"1\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 21px;\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 44.2836%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"><strong> Favorite category</strong></td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 1080.72%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> <strong>Complementary</strong> <strong>category</strong></td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 21px;\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 44.2836%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Reflective &amp; complex</td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 1080.72%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Upbeat &amp; conventional</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 21px;\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 44.2836%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Edgy &amp; aggressive</td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 1080.72%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Energetic &amp; rhythmic</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 21px;\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 44.2836%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Fun &amp; simple</td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 1080.72%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Reflective &amp; complex</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 21px;\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 44.2836%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Energetic &amp; upbeat</td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 1080.72%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Edgy &amp; aggressive</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n</tbody>\r\n</table>\r\nWhere\'s the logic in this? An example: If your preferences are mostly reflective and complex, you\'re more productive when listening to upbeat and conventional music (Country, pop, soundtracks, religious contemporary) even though it\'s not your favorite style of music.\r\n\r\nListening to non-preferred music styles is beneficial because your brain is used to the sounds you prefer, so switching things up by playing some Top 40 or your favorite movie soundtrack will help you work more efficiently.','Listen While You Work: How Entrepreneurs Can Use Music to Succeed','','inherit','closed','closed','','10564-revision-v1','','','2016-06-13 14:05:24','2016-06-13 18:05:24','',10564,'https://itxdesign.com/10564-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10566,5,'2016-06-13 14:06:23','2016-06-13 18:06:23','Do you listen to music while you work? Many people don\'t listen to music while working because they feel it will hamper their productivity or disturb others in the office. If you\'re not an entrepreneur and you work for an existing company, listening to music while you work can even be an issue because of office policy.\n\nBut studies have shown that listening to music while you work can help you focus better, be more productive, and make better decisions. It also improves your mood, an undeniable factor in how resilient you are and how likely you are to succeed.\n\nBut listening to just any music won\'t do the trick. You have to choose a music genre or style that is complementary to your favorite genres - complementary to, but not part of. That\'s right, your favorite music style will not help you become more productive or focused. In fact, listening to your favorite music while working can hamper your productivity and distract you from the task at hand.\n\nHow do you get around this? First, you identify your music preferences.\n<h3>1. Identify your music preferences</h3>\nWhat\'s your favorite music genre? For many, that\'s a tough question to answer. It\'s easier to identify the group of music genres you prefer over others. The Short Test Of Musical Preferences (STOMP) is helpful in determining this.\n\nSTOMP includes 4 categories of genre preferences:\n\n<strong>Reflective and complex</strong> – Classical, jazz, blues, folk\n\n<strong>Intense and rebellious</strong> – Alternative, rock, heavy metal, punk\n\n<strong>Upbeat and conventional</strong> – Country, religious, soundtracks, theme music, pop\n\n<strong>Energetic and rhythmic</strong> – Dance, electronica, funk, hip hop, rap, soul\n\nWhich of the above 4 categories contains most of your favorite genres? Now, move on to step 2.\n<h3>2. Find the complementary genre based on your STOMP results</h3>\nNow that you know the STOMP category you prefer over all others, check the list below to find the complementary category of genres that will help you boost your productivity and be more focused at work.\n<table style=\"width: 445px; height: 209px;\" border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 21px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.2836%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"><strong> Favorite category</strong></td>\n<td style=\"width: 1080.72%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> <strong>Complementary</strong> <strong>category</strong></td>\n</tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 21px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.2836%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Reflective &amp; complex</td>\n<td style=\"width: 1080.72%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Upbeat &amp; conventional</td>\n</tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 21px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.2836%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Edgy &amp; aggressive</td>\n<td style=\"width: 1080.72%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Energetic &amp; rhythmic</td>\n</tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 21px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.2836%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Fun &amp; simple</td>\n<td style=\"width: 1080.72%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Reflective &amp; complex</td>\n</tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 21px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.2836%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Energetic &amp; upbeat</td>\n<td style=\"width: 1080.72%; height: 21px; text-align: center;\"> Edgy &amp; aggressive</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\nWhere\'s the logic in this? An example: If your preferences are mostly reflective and complex, you\'re more productive when listening to upbeat and conventional music (Country, pop, soundtracks, religious contemporary) even though it\'s not your favorite style of music.\n\nListening to non-preferred music styles is beneficial because your brain is used to the sounds you prefer, so switching things up by playing some Top 40 or your favorite movie soundtrack will help you work more efficiently.','Listen While You Work: How Entrepreneurs Can Use Music to Succeed','','inherit','closed','closed','','10564-autosave-v1','','','2016-06-13 14:06:23','2016-06-13 18:06:23','',10564,'https://itxdesign.com/10564-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10567,0,'2016-06-14 12:03:37','2016-06-14 16:03:37','','','','inherit','open','closed','','10567','','','2016-06-14 12:03:37','2016-06-14 16:03:37','',10545,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/14845341_s-300x300-1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10568,5,'2016-06-14 18:21:06','2016-06-14 22:21:06','It takes time to earn email subscribers. When a user trusts your company enough to give over their contact information in exchange for useful information from you, it\'s important to deliver what you promised. A good email marketing campaign contains the same 5 basic parts, no matter what the purpose of the campaign may be.\r\n\r\nPay special attention to optimizing each of these 5 parts when you create your next email marketing campaign to get the best results.\r\n<h2>5 Parts of an Effective Email Marketing Campaign</h2>\r\n<h2>Subject line</h2>\r\nAn effective email marketing campaign has to be opened by a lot of people in order to be effective (i.e., result in clicks, downloads, or other action from the email). The subject line is the only part listed here that can affect <em>open rates</em>, or the number of people who open the email, is the subject line. The remaining 4 parts can affect <em>click rates</em>, but not open rates. Read this <a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/4-proven-tactics-create-compelling-email-subject-lines/\" target=\"_blank\">post about writing compelling email subject lines</a> to have the best chance at boosting your open rates.\r\n<h2>Appealing visuals</h2>\r\nOnce users click on your email subject and are taken to the body of the email, the first thing they notice are the images and visuals. Having too-small, outdated, slow-loading, or poorly designed images and visuals tips the user off immediately that the content here is not of value. They will leave the email without even noticing the rest of your content or calls to action.\r\n<h2>Interesting content</h2>\r\nIf your visuals \"pass the test,\" users may stay on the email long enough to read through your message. If the content isn\'t interesting, there\'s simply no more reason for them to spend any more time with it. They leave the message and again, don\'t notice your calls to action.\r\n\r\nFind out what interests your audience the most, whether through surveys and questionnaires (offer incentives to increase participation rates), market research, Google Analytics, and any requests or questions you get from customers. Don\'t have high hopes for an email marketing campaign unless the user, as an unbiased individual with their own best interests at heart, will truly find the content interesting. Uninteresting content kills many email marketing campaigns.\r\n<h2>Clear CTAs</h2>\r\nIf your subject line, visuals, and content have all passed muster for the reader and they\'ve reached the email\'s call to action, you\'ve done a wonderful job. At this point, it should be clear that only with the purposeful inclusion of quality images, interesting information, and an alluring subject line can a user even have the chance to read the email\'s call to action. In order to retain the interest of as many of the users that have reached this point as you can, it\'s important to write clear, concise, bold calls to action.\r\n\r\nFor example, which CTA inspires you to take action more?\r\n\r\n<strong>Get Your Exclusive Membership FREE Now</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Sign Up Today</strong>\r\n\r\nThe perceived urgency and the boldness of a claim can help indecisive users make the decision to click and sign up, learn more, make a purchase, etc. Don\'t be afraid to directly tell your readers what you want them to do as a result of seeing the email.\r\n<h2>A real benefit for subscribers</h2>\r\nFinally, an effective email marketing campaign has a real benefit for subscribers. Without a perceived benefit from reading an email, people simply won\'t take the time to do it. Not every benefit has to be a gift, download, or discount - sometimes, well-written, interesting information can provide enough value to be considered a benefit by readers. A tip or trick that is applicable in readers\' lives can be a benefit.\r\n\r\nBe creative when you come up with ways to entice your readers to check out your message and you\'ll find out what works best.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','5 Parts of an Effective Email Marketing Campaign','','publish','open','closed','','5-parts-of-an-effective-email-marketing-campaign','','','2016-06-14 18:21:06','2016-06-14 22:21:06','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10568',0,'post','',0),(10569,5,'2016-06-14 18:19:39','2016-06-14 22:19:39','It takes time to earn email subscribers. When a user trusts your company enough to give over their contact information in exchange for useful information from you, it\'s important to deliver what you promised. A good email marketing campaign contains the same 5 basic parts, no matter what the purpose of the campaign may be.\r\n\r\nPay special attention to optimizing each of these 5 parts when you create your next email marketing campaign to get the best results.\r\n<h1>5 Parts of an Effective Email Marketing Campaign</h1>\r\n<h2>Subject line</h2>\r\nAn effective email marketing campaign has to be opened by a lot of people in order to be effective (i.e., result in clicks, downloads, or other action from the email). The subject line is the only part listed here that can affect <em>open rates</em>, or the number of people who open the email, is the subject line. The remaining 4 parts can affect <em>click rates</em>, but not open rates. Read this <a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/4-proven-tactics-create-compelling-email-subject-lines/\" target=\"_blank\">post about writing compelling email subject lines</a> to have the best chance at boosting your open rates.\r\n<h2>Appealing visuals</h2>\r\nOnce users click on your email subject and are taken to the body of the email, the first thing they notice are the images and visuals. Having too-small, outdated, slow-loading, or poorly designed images and visuals tips the user off immediately that the content here is not of value. They will leave the email without even noticing the rest of your content or calls to action.\r\n<h2>Interesting content</h2>\r\nIf your visuals \"pass the test,\" users may stay on the email long enough to read through your message. If the content isn\'t interesting, there\'s simply no more reason for them to spend any more time with it. They leave the message and again, don\'t notice your calls to action.\r\n\r\nFind out what interests your audience the most, whether through surveys and questionnaires (offer incentives to increase participation rates), market research, Google Analytics, and any requests or questions you get from customers. Don\'t have high hopes for an email marketing campaign unless the user, as an unbiased individual with their own best interests at heart, will truly find the content interesting. Uninteresting content kills many email marketing campaigns.\r\n<h2>Clear CTAs</h2>\r\nIf your subject line, visuals, and content have all passed muster for the reader and they\'ve reached the email\'s call to action, you\'ve done a wonderful job. At this point, it should be clear that only with the purposeful inclusion of quality images, interesting information, and an alluring subject line can a user even have the chance to read the email\'s call to action. In order to retain the interest of as many of the users that have reached this point as you can, it\'s important to write clear, concise, bold calls to action.\r\n\r\nFor example, which CTA inspires you to take action more?\r\n\r\n<strong>Get Your Exclusive Membership FREE Now</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Sign Up Today</strong>\r\n\r\nThe perceived urgency and the boldness of a claim can help indecisive users make the decision to click and sign up, learn more, make a purchase, etc. Don\'t be afraid to directly tell your readers what you want them to do as a result of seeing the email.\r\n<h2>A real benefit for subscribers</h2>\r\nFinally, an effective email marketing campaign has a real benefit for subscribers. Without a perceived benefit from reading an email, people simply won\'t take the time to do it. Not every benefit has to be a gift, download, or discount - sometimes, well-written, interesting information can provide enough value to be considered a benefit by readers. A tip or trick that is applicable in readers\' lives can be a benefit.\r\n\r\nBe creative when you come up with ways to entice your readers to check out your message and you\'ll find out what works best.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','5 Parts of an Effective Email Marketing Campaign','','inherit','closed','closed','','10568-revision-v1','','','2016-06-14 18:19:39','2016-06-14 22:19:39','',10568,'https://itxdesign.com/10568-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10570,5,'2016-06-14 18:20:40','2016-06-14 22:20:40','It takes time to earn email subscribers. When a user trusts your company enough to give over their contact information in exchange for useful information from you, it\'s important to deliver what you promised. A good email marketing campaign contains the same 5 basic parts, no matter what the purpose of the campaign may be.\r\n\r\nPay special attention to optimizing each of these 5 parts when you create your next email marketing campaign to get the best results.\r\n<h2>5 Parts of an Effective Email Marketing Campaign</h2>\r\n<h2>Subject line</h2>\r\nAn effective email marketing campaign has to be opened by a lot of people in order to be effective (i.e., result in clicks, downloads, or other action from the email). The subject line is the only part listed here that can affect <em>open rates</em>, or the number of people who open the email, is the subject line. The remaining 4 parts can affect <em>click rates</em>, but not open rates. Read this <a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/4-proven-tactics-create-compelling-email-subject-lines/\" target=\"_blank\">post about writing compelling email subject lines</a> to have the best chance at boosting your open rates.\r\n<h2>Appealing visuals</h2>\r\nOnce users click on your email subject and are taken to the body of the email, the first thing they notice are the images and visuals. Having too-small, outdated, slow-loading, or poorly designed images and visuals tips the user off immediately that the content here is not of value. They will leave the email without even noticing the rest of your content or calls to action.\r\n<h2>Interesting content</h2>\r\nIf your visuals \"pass the test,\" users may stay on the email long enough to read through your message. If the content isn\'t interesting, there\'s simply no more reason for them to spend any more time with it. They leave the message and again, don\'t notice your calls to action.\r\n\r\nFind out what interests your audience the most, whether through surveys and questionnaires (offer incentives to increase participation rates), market research, Google Analytics, and any requests or questions you get from customers. Don\'t have high hopes for an email marketing campaign unless the user, as an unbiased individual with their own best interests at heart, will truly find the content interesting. Uninteresting content kills many email marketing campaigns.\r\n<h2>Clear CTAs</h2>\r\nIf your subject line, visuals, and content have all passed muster for the reader and they\'ve reached the email\'s call to action, you\'ve done a wonderful job. At this point, it should be clear that only with the purposeful inclusion of quality images, interesting information, and an alluring subject line can a user even have the chance to read the email\'s call to action. In order to retain the interest of as many of the users that have reached this point as you can, it\'s important to write clear, concise, bold calls to action.\r\n\r\nFor example, which CTA inspires you to take action more?\r\n\r\n<strong>Get Your Exclusive Membership FREE Now</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Sign Up Today</strong>\r\n\r\nThe perceived urgency and the boldness of a claim can help indecisive users make the decision to click and sign up, learn more, make a purchase, etc. Don\'t be afraid to directly tell your readers what you want them to do as a result of seeing the email.\r\n<h2>A real benefit for subscribers</h2>\r\nFinally, an effective email marketing campaign has a real benefit for subscribers. Without a perceived benefit from reading an email, people simply won\'t take the time to do it. Not every benefit has to be a gift, download, or discount - sometimes, well-written, interesting information can provide enough value to be considered a benefit by readers. A tip or trick that is applicable in readers\' lives can be a benefit.\r\n\r\nBe creative when you come up with ways to entice your readers to check out your message and you\'ll find out what works best.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','5 Parts of an Effective Email Marketing Campaign','','inherit','closed','closed','','10568-revision-v1','','','2016-06-14 18:20:40','2016-06-14 22:20:40','',10568,'https://itxdesign.com/10568-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10571,5,'2016-06-15 14:21:32','2016-06-15 18:21:32','Blogging for personal reasons means you can write about just about any topic under the sun, but if you\'re writing blog posts for a business blog, you don\'t have that kind of freedom. Business blogs have a defined purpose and that is to encourage visitors to convert and make a purchase from the business operating the blog.\r\n\r\nBut different types of content make different groups of buyers convert. Every business blog needs to feature content that will appeal to visitors in each of the 5 stages of the buying process in order to have the best chance at turning visitors into customers.\r\n<h2>5 Types of Blog Posts Every Business Blog Needs</h2>\r\n<h3>1. The basics: Who, what, why, how</h3>\r\nWhen a customer is aware they have a problem that could be answered by a product, they look for content that answers awareness questions, like who, what, when, where, and how. Write blog posts that answer these questions about your product or service to capture buyers in Stage 1.\r\n<h3>2. Compare and contrast, pros and cons</h3>\r\nWhen a customer is aware of their problem and some of the solutions available, they look for content that helps them easily compare and contrast products or services as well as look at possible pros and cons. Write blog posts that compare your products to others, list pros and cons of your services, or pit two similar products against each other to determine a winner.\r\n<h3>3. Detailed benefits and uses</h3>\r\nWhen a customer has compared and contrasted the options available to them, they start to look for details about the benefits and uses of the solutions they\'ve discovered so far. Write blog posts that make it clear what benefits users can expect from your product and highlight some unexpected uses for it. Post customer testimonials.\r\n<h3>4. FAQs and product usage tips</h3>\r\nWhen a customer knows the benefits and uses of the solutions available to them, they are ready to make a purchase. First, they may want to read up on the frequently asked questions about your product or any usage tips you may have. Include these on your blog to appeal to Stage 4 buyers.\r\n<h3>5. Troubleshooting and maintenance tips</h3>\r\nFinally, include troubleshooting scenarios and maintenance tips to appeal to buyers in Stage 5 - those who have made a purchase already and may need additional, follow-up information or potentially may purchase from you again.\r\n\r\nInclude each of these 5 types of blog posts on your business blog to ensure buyers in every stage of the buying process can find the information they\'re looking for when they come to your website.','5 Types of Posts Every Business Blog Needs','','publish','open','closed','','5-types-of-posts-every-business-blog-needs','','','2016-06-15 14:21:32','2016-06-15 18:21:32','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10571',0,'post','',0),(10572,5,'2016-06-15 14:21:16','2016-06-15 18:21:16','Blogging for personal reasons means you can write about just about any topic under the sun, but if you\'re writing blog posts for a business blog, you don\'t have that kind of freedom. Business blogs have a defined purpose and that is to encourage visitors to convert and make a purchase from the business operating the blog.\r\n\r\nBut different types of content make different groups of buyers convert. Every business blog needs to feature content that will appeal to visitors in each of the 5 stages of the buying process in order to have the best chance at turning visitors into customers.\r\n<h2>5 Types of Blog Posts Every Business Blog Needs</h2>\r\n<h3>1. The basics: Who, what, why, how</h3>\r\nWhen a customer is aware they have a problem that could be answered by a product, they look for content that answers awareness questions, like who, what, when, where, and how. Write blog posts that answer these questions about your product or service to capture buyers in Stage 1.\r\n<h3>2. Compare and contrast, pros and cons</h3>\r\nWhen a customer is aware of their problem and some of the solutions available, they look for content that helps them easily compare and contrast products or services as well as look at possible pros and cons. Write blog posts that compare your products to others, list pros and cons of your services, or pit two similar products against each other to determine a winner.\r\n<h3>3. Detailed benefits and uses</h3>\r\nWhen a customer has compared and contrasted the options available to them, they start to look for details about the benefits and uses of the solutions they\'ve discovered so far. Write blog posts that make it clear what benefits users can expect from your product and highlight some unexpected uses for it. Post customer testimonials.\r\n<h3>4. FAQs and product usage tips</h3>\r\nWhen a customer knows the benefits and uses of the solutions available to them, they are ready to make a purchase. First, they may want to read up on the frequently asked questions about your product or any usage tips you may have. Include these on your blog to appeal to Stage 4 buyers.\r\n<h3>5. Troubleshooting and maintenance tips</h3>\r\nFinally, include troubleshooting scenarios and maintenance tips to appeal to buyers in Stage 5 - those who have made a purchase already and may need additional, follow-up information or potentially may purchase from you again.\r\n\r\nInclude each of these 5 types of blog posts on your business blog to ensure buyers in every stage of the buying process can find the information they\'re looking for when they come to your website.','5 Types of Posts Every Business Blog Needs','','inherit','closed','closed','','10571-revision-v1','','','2016-06-15 14:21:16','2016-06-15 18:21:16','',10571,'https://itxdesign.com/10571-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10573,5,'2016-06-16 13:01:14','2016-06-16 17:01:14','Outsourcing is not about improving the quality of your work - although, as you\'ll see in just a moment, that\'s a big part of it. <strong>Outsourcing is really about improving the quality of your life as a business owner</strong> by enabling you to delegate the low-return, mundane, or flat-out irritating tasks that are part of business to a qualified, efficient person or company.\r\n\r\nAs Tim Ferriss, author of the 4-Hour Workweek, put it: <em>\"The secret to happiness is not earning a fortune - but simply replacing yourself with someone cheaper.\"</em>\r\n<h5><em>\"The secret to happiness is not earning a fortune - but simply replacing yourself with someone cheaper.\"</em> - Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek</h5>\r\nOutsourcing can help your business in the following 10 ways. Check them out below and decide for yourself if outsourcing would be the right solution for your business!\r\n<h2>10 Ways Outsourcing Can Benefit Your Business</h2>\r\n1. Improve your time investment ROI by outsourcing to someone with less experience than you and letting them handle the day-to-day minutia.\r\n\r\n2. Reduce costs by removing the need to hire a full-time employee; instead, outsourcing allows you to pay a low monthly or project rate for tasks you need completed.\r\n\r\n3.<strong> </strong>Broaden the scope of your experience and knowledge by choosing to outsource tasks to someone who possesses skills or specializations that you lack.\r\n\r\n4. Focus on the core business functions and strategies with the secure knowledge that the day-to-day mundane tasks will be taken care of.\r\n\r\n5. Learn a new process or method of doing something from those you outsource to - those that take on outsourced tasks are specialists at productivity and efficiency, so chances are, you\'ll learn a lot.\r\n\r\n6. Redirect any hiring budget you had toward other, more important expenses for your business - it\'s like finding free money!\r\n\r\n7. Strengthen your own delegation and leadership skills by managing the working relationships with the companies and/or individuals you outsource your tasks to.\r\n\r\n8. Control company risk by electing to outsource tasks rather than hire an employee full-time: Lower costs, no contracts, no federal wage or benefit requirements, etc.\r\n\r\n9. Permits your existing employees to pursue higher-ROI tasks, netting bigger returns for your business (Example: outsource social media scheduling so employee can focus on social media strategy and paid advertising).\r\n\r\n10. Expand your business sooner than you thought was fiscally possible by allowing you to take on a larger volume of work in less time.\r\n\r\nThese are just 10 of the myriad benefits outsourcing provides for small and medium businesses. While outsourcing isn\'t a cure-all, it\'s definitely a powerful tool to increase profits and ROI while reducing your costs and time spent working.\r\n\r\nCan you think of any additional benefits we forgot to mention here? Leave them in the comments section below and we\'ll take a look.','10 Ways Outsourcing Can Benefit Your Business','','publish','open','closed','','10-ways-outsourcing-can-benefit-your-business','','','2016-06-16 13:02:53','2016-06-16 17:02:53','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10573',0,'post','',0),(10574,5,'2016-06-16 12:59:25','2016-06-16 16:59:25','Outsourcing is not about improving the quality of your work - although, as you\'ll see in just a moment, that\'s a big part of it. <strong>Outsourcing is really about improving the quality of your life as a business owner</strong> by enabling you to delegate the low-return, mundane, or flat-out irritating tasks that are part of business to a qualified, efficient person or company.\r\n\r\nAs Tim Ferriss, author of the 4-Hour Workweek, put it: <em>\"The secret to happiness is not earning a fortune - but simply replacing yourself with someone cheaper.\"</em>\r\n<h4>\"The secret to happiness is not earning a fortune - but simply replacing yourself with someone cheaper.\" - Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek</h4>\r\nOutsourcing can help your business in the following 10 ways. Check them out below and decide for yourself if outsourcing would be the right solution for your business!\r\n<h2>10 Ways Outsourcing Can Benefit Your Business</h2>\r\n1. Improve your time investment ROI by outsourcing to someone with less experience than you and letting them handle the day-to-day minutia.\r\n\r\n2. Reduce costs by removing the need to hire a full-time employee; instead, outsourcing allows you to pay a low monthly or project rate for tasks you need completed.\r\n\r\n3.<strong> </strong>Broaden the scope of your experience and knowledge by choosing to outsource tasks to someone who possesses skills or specializations that you lack.\r\n\r\n4. Focus on the core business functions and strategies with the secure knowledge that the day-to-day mundane tasks will be taken care of.\r\n\r\n5. Learn a new process or method of doing something from those you outsource to - those that take on outsourced tasks are specialists at productivity and efficiency, so chances are, you\'ll learn a lot.\r\n\r\n6. Redirect any hiring budget you had toward other, more important expenses for your business - it\'s like finding free money!\r\n\r\n7. Strengthen your own delegation and leadership skills by managing the working relationships with the companies and/or individuals you outsource your tasks to.\r\n\r\n8. Control company risk by electing to outsource tasks rather than hire an employee full-time: Lower costs, no contracts, no federal wage or benefit requirements, etc.\r\n\r\n9. Permits your existing employees to pursue higher-ROI tasks, netting bigger returns for your business (Example: outsource social media scheduling so employee can focus on social media strategy and paid advertising).\r\n\r\n10. Expand your business sooner than you thought was fiscally possible by allowing you to take on a larger volume of work in less time.\r\n\r\nThese are just 10 of the myriad benefits outsourcing provides for small and medium businesses. While outsourcing isn\'t a cure-all, it\'s definitely a powerful tool to increase profits and ROI while reducing your costs and time spent working.\r\n\r\nCan you think of any additional benefits we forgot to mention here? Leave them in the comments section below and we\'ll take a look.','10 Ways Outsourcing Can Benefit Your Business','','inherit','closed','closed','','10573-revision-v1','','','2016-06-16 12:59:25','2016-06-16 16:59:25','',10573,'https://itxdesign.com/10573-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10575,5,'2016-06-16 13:01:14','2016-06-16 17:01:14','Outsourcing is not about improving the quality of your work - although, as you\'ll see in just a moment, that\'s a big part of it. <strong>Outsourcing is really about improving the quality of your life as a business owner</strong> by enabling you to delegate the low-return, mundane, or flat-out irritating tasks that are part of business to a qualified, efficient person or company.\r\n\r\nAs Tim Ferriss, author of the 4-Hour Workweek, put it: <em>\"The secret to happiness is not earning a fortune - but simply replacing yourself with someone cheaper.\"</em>\r\n<h4><em>\"The secret to happiness is not earning a fortune - but simply replacing yourself with someone cheaper.\"</em> - Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek</h4>\r\nOutsourcing can help your business in the following 10 ways. Check them out below and decide for yourself if outsourcing would be the right solution for your business!\r\n<h2>10 Ways Outsourcing Can Benefit Your Business</h2>\r\n1. Improve your time investment ROI by outsourcing to someone with less experience than you and letting them handle the day-to-day minutia.\r\n\r\n2. Reduce costs by removing the need to hire a full-time employee; instead, outsourcing allows you to pay a low monthly or project rate for tasks you need completed.\r\n\r\n3.<strong> </strong>Broaden the scope of your experience and knowledge by choosing to outsource tasks to someone who possesses skills or specializations that you lack.\r\n\r\n4. Focus on the core business functions and strategies with the secure knowledge that the day-to-day mundane tasks will be taken care of.\r\n\r\n5. Learn a new process or method of doing something from those you outsource to - those that take on outsourced tasks are specialists at productivity and efficiency, so chances are, you\'ll learn a lot.\r\n\r\n6. Redirect any hiring budget you had toward other, more important expenses for your business - it\'s like finding free money!\r\n\r\n7. Strengthen your own delegation and leadership skills by managing the working relationships with the companies and/or individuals you outsource your tasks to.\r\n\r\n8. Control company risk by electing to outsource tasks rather than hire an employee full-time: Lower costs, no contracts, no federal wage or benefit requirements, etc.\r\n\r\n9. Permits your existing employees to pursue higher-ROI tasks, netting bigger returns for your business (Example: outsource social media scheduling so employee can focus on social media strategy and paid advertising).\r\n\r\n10. Expand your business sooner than you thought was fiscally possible by allowing you to take on a larger volume of work in less time.\r\n\r\nThese are just 10 of the myriad benefits outsourcing provides for small and medium businesses. While outsourcing isn\'t a cure-all, it\'s definitely a powerful tool to increase profits and ROI while reducing your costs and time spent working.\r\n\r\nCan you think of any additional benefits we forgot to mention here? Leave them in the comments section below and we\'ll take a look.','10 Ways Outsourcing Can Benefit Your Business','','inherit','closed','closed','','10573-revision-v1','','','2016-06-16 13:01:14','2016-06-16 17:01:14','',10573,'https://itxdesign.com/10573-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10576,5,'2016-06-16 13:02:38','2016-06-16 17:02:38','Outsourcing is not about improving the quality of your work - although, as you\'ll see in just a moment, that\'s a big part of it. <strong>Outsourcing is really about improving the quality of your life as a business owner</strong> by enabling you to delegate the low-return, mundane, or flat-out irritating tasks that are part of business to a qualified, efficient person or company.\r\n\r\nAs Tim Ferriss, author of the 4-Hour Workweek, put it: <em>\"The secret to happiness is not earning a fortune - but simply replacing yourself with someone cheaper.\"</em>\r\n<h5><em>\"The secret to happiness is not earning a fortune - but simply replacing yourself with someone cheaper.\"</em> - Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek</h5>\r\nOutsourcing can help your business in the following 10 ways. Check them out below and decide for yourself if outsourcing would be the right solution for your business!\r\n<h2>10 Ways Outsourcing Can Benefit Your Business</h2>\r\n1. Improve your time investment ROI by outsourcing to someone with less experience than you and letting them handle the day-to-day minutia.\r\n\r\n2. Reduce costs by removing the need to hire a full-time employee; instead, outsourcing allows you to pay a low monthly or project rate for tasks you need completed.\r\n\r\n3.<strong> </strong>Broaden the scope of your experience and knowledge by choosing to outsource tasks to someone who possesses skills or specializations that you lack.\r\n\r\n4. Focus on the core business functions and strategies with the secure knowledge that the day-to-day mundane tasks will be taken care of.\r\n\r\n5. Learn a new process or method of doing something from those you outsource to - those that take on outsourced tasks are specialists at productivity and efficiency, so chances are, you\'ll learn a lot.\r\n\r\n6. Redirect any hiring budget you had toward other, more important expenses for your business - it\'s like finding free money!\r\n\r\n7. Strengthen your own delegation and leadership skills by managing the working relationships with the companies and/or individuals you outsource your tasks to.\r\n\r\n8. Control company risk by electing to outsource tasks rather than hire an employee full-time: Lower costs, no contracts, no federal wage or benefit requirements, etc.\r\n\r\n9. Permits your existing employees to pursue higher-ROI tasks, netting bigger returns for your business (Example: outsource social media scheduling so employee can focus on social media strategy and paid advertising).\r\n\r\n10. Expand your business sooner than you thought was fiscally possible by allowing you to take on a larger volume of work in less time.\r\n\r\nThese are just 10 of the myriad benefits outsourcing provides for small and medium businesses. While outsourcing isn\'t a cure-all, it\'s definitely a powerful tool to increase profits and ROI while reducing your costs and time spent working.\r\n\r\nCan you think of any additional benefits we forgot to mention here? Leave them in the comments section below and we\'ll take a look.','10 Ways Outsourcing Can Benefit Your Business','','inherit','closed','closed','','10573-autosave-v1','','','2016-06-16 13:02:38','2016-06-16 17:02:38','',10573,'https://itxdesign.com/10573-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10577,5,'2016-06-16 13:02:53','2016-06-16 17:02:53','Outsourcing is not about improving the quality of your work - although, as you\'ll see in just a moment, that\'s a big part of it. <strong>Outsourcing is really about improving the quality of your life as a business owner</strong> by enabling you to delegate the low-return, mundane, or flat-out irritating tasks that are part of business to a qualified, efficient person or company.\r\n\r\nAs Tim Ferriss, author of the 4-Hour Workweek, put it: <em>\"The secret to happiness is not earning a fortune - but simply replacing yourself with someone cheaper.\"</em>\r\n<h5><em>\"The secret to happiness is not earning a fortune - but simply replacing yourself with someone cheaper.\"</em> - Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek</h5>\r\nOutsourcing can help your business in the following 10 ways. Check them out below and decide for yourself if outsourcing would be the right solution for your business!\r\n<h2>10 Ways Outsourcing Can Benefit Your Business</h2>\r\n1. Improve your time investment ROI by outsourcing to someone with less experience than you and letting them handle the day-to-day minutia.\r\n\r\n2. Reduce costs by removing the need to hire a full-time employee; instead, outsourcing allows you to pay a low monthly or project rate for tasks you need completed.\r\n\r\n3.<strong> </strong>Broaden the scope of your experience and knowledge by choosing to outsource tasks to someone who possesses skills or specializations that you lack.\r\n\r\n4. Focus on the core business functions and strategies with the secure knowledge that the day-to-day mundane tasks will be taken care of.\r\n\r\n5. Learn a new process or method of doing something from those you outsource to - those that take on outsourced tasks are specialists at productivity and efficiency, so chances are, you\'ll learn a lot.\r\n\r\n6. Redirect any hiring budget you had toward other, more important expenses for your business - it\'s like finding free money!\r\n\r\n7. Strengthen your own delegation and leadership skills by managing the working relationships with the companies and/or individuals you outsource your tasks to.\r\n\r\n8. Control company risk by electing to outsource tasks rather than hire an employee full-time: Lower costs, no contracts, no federal wage or benefit requirements, etc.\r\n\r\n9. Permits your existing employees to pursue higher-ROI tasks, netting bigger returns for your business (Example: outsource social media scheduling so employee can focus on social media strategy and paid advertising).\r\n\r\n10. Expand your business sooner than you thought was fiscally possible by allowing you to take on a larger volume of work in less time.\r\n\r\nThese are just 10 of the myriad benefits outsourcing provides for small and medium businesses. While outsourcing isn\'t a cure-all, it\'s definitely a powerful tool to increase profits and ROI while reducing your costs and time spent working.\r\n\r\nCan you think of any additional benefits we forgot to mention here? Leave them in the comments section below and we\'ll take a look.','10 Ways Outsourcing Can Benefit Your Business','','inherit','closed','closed','','10573-revision-v1','','','2016-06-16 13:02:53','2016-06-16 17:02:53','',10573,'https://itxdesign.com/10573-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10579,5,'2016-06-20 14:00:48','2016-06-20 18:00:48','','3 KEYS','','inherit','open','closed','','3-keys','','','2016-06-20 14:00:48','2016-06-20 18:00:48','',10578,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/3-KEYS.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10580,5,'2016-06-20 14:02:25','2016-06-20 18:02:25','<img class=\"wp-image-10579 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/3-KEYS.jpg\" alt=\"3 KEYS\" width=\"202\" height=\"202\" />Influencer marketing is all about making strategic connections with outside parties that can influence people to purchase from you. What does your influencer marketing strategy look like currently? Even if you don\'t have a strategy in place right now, it\'s never too late to start.\r\n\r\nOptimizing your influencer marketing strategy can start right now when you implement the following 3 tactics that put your business in front of the right buyers.\r\n<h2>3 Tactics to Improve Your Influencer Marketing Strategy</h2>\r\nPut these 3 tactics into your strategy to start getting better results from influencer marketing!\r\n<h4>Target other business owners as influencers</h4>\r\n<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-6564 alignright\" src=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/influencermarketing-300x168.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" srcset=\"https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/influencermarketing-300x168.jpg 300w, https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/influencermarketing-768x430.jpg 768w, https://conversational-itxdesign.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/influencermarketing.jpg 850w\" alt=\"3 keys to influencer marketing for small business owners and managers\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" /><a href=\"http://smallbiztrends.com/2015/07/ceb-marketing-to-small-business-owners.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">CEB</a> looked at the influence of 10 different types of influencers – from channel partners to fellow small business owners. A few things stood out in the study.\r\n\r\n“The first thing that stood out was the degree to which other business owners influence their peers in purchase decisions…We looked at the magnitude of that influence relative to, say, channel partners or associations,” Naumi Haque, Research Director at CEB, said.\r\n\r\nThey found that other business owners hold more influential power than channel partners and professional associations - even more than the suppliers\' own sales representatives.\r\n\r\nTo implement this finding into your influencer marketing strategy, don\'t reach out to channel partners and industry professional associations for influential power. Instead, look to other business owners. Their audiences trust them and are more likely to engage with their recommendations.\r\n<h4>Steer clear of unbiased influencers</h4>\r\nAs the results above show, fellow small business owners are the most effective influencers for small businesses. Part of the reason for this is that channel partners and industry associations are more likely to recommend your business or service alongside your competition - a big strategic mistake.\r\n\r\nYes, channel partners and associations have their audiences\' trust, but they’re also committed to being unbiased and offering impartiality in their recommendations. “If every time you talk to them they’re providing three recommendations, then they’re not really great brand advocates,” Haque stated.\r\n\r\nDon\'t ask impartial influencers to recommend your brand unless you want to share the traffic driven from these recommendations with your competitors.\r\n<h4>Take to social media to connect with other owners</h4>\r\nFinally, this small business influencer marketing study found that social media is the best place to connect with other business owners. Marketers have believed in the past that owners are on social media only to promote their business. According to the research, that’s not always true.\r\n\r\nBusiness owners don\'t mind helping other owners with recommendations and influencer marketing because entrepreneurship is a kind of “exclusive” club. Members of the entrepreneur \"club\" share something in common and can potentially set up a mutually beneficial collaboration that has results for both ends. Connecting on social media makes it easy to get in touch and network with other owners.\r\n\r\nTo get the most benefit from this tactic, start reaching out to other small business owners that share a sector of your business\' audience on social media. Be genuine when you contact them and offer to reciprocate to get the best chance at a \"Yes.\"','3 Tactics to Improve Your Influencer Marketing Strategy','','inherit','closed','closed','','10578-revision-v1','','','2016-06-20 14:02:25','2016-06-20 18:02:25','',10578,'https://itxdesign.com/10578-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10582,5,'2016-06-21 12:44:18','2016-06-21 16:44:18','Making the decision to start outsourcing doesn\'t happen overnight. Usually, only after months or years of trudging along, doing repetitive tasks or those they\'re no good at will a business owner decide to hand over the reigns to an outside provider.\r\n\r\nThat\'s a good thing, because entering into an outsourcing agreement shouldn\'t be taken lightly. Allowing someone else to act as your business is a risky thing to do. That\'s why recommend you take special steps to protect yourself and your business before you start outsourcing. You don\'t want to end up with an outsourcing nightmare!\r\n\r\nFollow these 7 tips to make sure you\'ve got all your ducks in a row before you start outsourcing. It can make all the difference!\r\n<h2>7 Things You Should Do Before You Outsource</h2>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>Do your homework before settling</strong> on a provider. The first search result that pops up isn\'t a reliable way to gauge quality services or cost-effectiveness.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Ask outsourcing providers</strong> you\'re considering if you can develop a custom plan rather than those listed on their website. You’d be surprised how often providers don\'t mind customizing a plan just for you!</li>\r\n 	<li><b>Pay a little more to get a lot more</b>; pay a little less to get a lot less.<b> </b>Cost-effective services aren\'t usually cheap. Paying a little more will be worth it in the end.</li>\r\n 	<li><b>Start out by outsourcing just a fraction of the work </b>you\'d eventually like to outsource. This will give you a sense of how you work with the provider and the quality of their work.</li>\r\n 	<li><b>Avoid add-on services you don\'t need </b>or being talked into outsourcing other areas of your work that weren\'t part of the original deal.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Be fair but critical</strong> of every outsourcing provider you look at and try not to \"fall in love\" with one too quickly. Look at your options!</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Scale down your office space</strong> if you\'re able to outsource work that once required in-house help. This can save you more money than anything else on this list!</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nBy doing these 7 things before you start outsourcing, you will ensure that you are protecting yourself and your business from a bad outsourcing relationship. As long as you know exactly what you\'re looking for in a provider and have actively compared several different providers in the industry, you can make sure you end up with the best possible outsourcing scenario and not an outsourcing nightmare.\r\n\r\nTo learn more about outsourcing and the mistakes you should avoid at all costs, check out this post by Conversational: <a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/10-biggest-outsourcing-donts/\">The 10 Biggest Outsourcing Don\'ts</a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','7 Things You Should Do Before You Outsource','','publish','open','closed','','7-things-you-should-do-before-you-outsource','','','2016-06-21 12:44:18','2016-06-21 16:44:18','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10582',0,'post','',0),(10583,5,'2016-06-21 12:43:57','2016-06-21 16:43:57','Making the decision to start outsourcing doesn\'t happen overnight. Usually, only after months or years of trudging along, doing repetitive tasks or those they\'re no good at will a business owner decide to hand over the reigns to an outside provider.\r\n\r\nThat\'s a good thing, because entering into an outsourcing agreement shouldn\'t be taken lightly. Allowing someone else to act as your business is a risky thing to do. That\'s why recommend you take special steps to protect yourself and your business before you start outsourcing. You don\'t want to end up with an outsourcing nightmare!\r\n\r\nFollow these 7 tips to make sure you\'ve got all your ducks in a row before you start outsourcing. It can make all the difference!\r\n<h2>7 Things You Should Do Before You Outsource</h2>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>Do your homework before settling</strong> on a provider. The first search result that pops up isn\'t a reliable way to gauge quality services or cost-effectiveness.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Ask outsourcing providers</strong> you\'re considering if you can develop a custom plan rather than those listed on their website. You’d be surprised how often providers don\'t mind customizing a plan just for you!</li>\r\n 	<li><b>Pay a little more to get a lot more</b>; pay a little less to get a lot less.<b> </b>Cost-effective services aren\'t usually cheap. Paying a little more will be worth it in the end.</li>\r\n 	<li><b>Start out by outsourcing just a fraction of the work </b>you\'d eventually like to outsource. This will give you a sense of how you work with the provider and the quality of their work.</li>\r\n 	<li><b>Avoid add-on services you don\'t need </b>or being talked into outsourcing other areas of your work that weren\'t part of the original deal.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Be fair but critical</strong> of every outsourcing provider you look at and try not to \"fall in love\" with one too quickly. Look at your options!</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Scale down your office space</strong> if you\'re able to outsource work that once required in-house help. This can save you more money than anything else on this list!</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nBy doing these 7 things before you start outsourcing, you will ensure that you are protecting yourself and your business from a bad outsourcing relationship. As long as you know exactly what you\'re looking for in a provider and have actively compared several different providers in the industry, you can make sure you end up with the best possible outsourcing scenario and not an outsourcing nightmare.\r\n\r\nTo learn more about outsourcing and the mistakes you should avoid at all costs, check out this post by Conversational: <a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/10-biggest-outsourcing-donts/\">The 10 Biggest Outsourcing Don\'ts</a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','7 Things You Should Do Before You Outsource','','inherit','closed','closed','','10582-revision-v1','','','2016-06-21 12:43:57','2016-06-21 16:43:57','',10582,'https://itxdesign.com/10582-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10584,5,'2016-06-22 15:17:17','2016-06-22 19:17:17','Do you think customer testimonials matter? They\'re one of the most important influencing factors in whether or not a customer ends up buying from you. What your existing and past customers have to say about your business comes across as a lot more trustworthy than what you have to say about it - we tend to believe those we think are unbiased. Finding customer testimonials isn\'t always easy, though.\r\n\r\nWe outline the best places to find customer testimonials and reviews below. Check them out!\r\n<h2>The Best Places to Find Customer Testimonials</h2>\r\nCustomer testimonials may already be out there for you to harvest and put on your website! Here are the best places to start looking for them (and a few tips for getting more in the future).\r\n<h4>1) Dedicated review sites</h4>\r\nYelp, TripAdvisor, and the like exist for the purpose of gathering reviews about companies and destinations. Your customers can look for your business, rate the service they received, and write an in-depth review of it with photos and more. Many people are active on sites like these, reviewing almost every company they use.\r\n\r\nEncourage your existing customers to review you by including your company Yelp or TripAdvisor profile URL on your website. Send a message to your email list requesting reviews with the proper link and offer an incentive for those that review you.\r\n<h4>2) Facebook</h4>\r\nThe Facebook page associated with your business is a good spot to find and get customer testimonials. Users can post directly on your page or leave an actual review. Either can be placed on your website as social proof. Your potential customers will see that there’s an actual person on the other end of the testimonial.\r\n\r\nGo now and check your page. There may already be awesome testimonials for you to use there!\r\n<h4>3) Business directories online</h4>\r\nGoogle, Yellow Pages, Local.com, and similar websites provide information about local businesses, including reviews. Search for your business\' name on the online directory of your choice and see if there are any existing reviews or testimonials. Reply to all the reviews of your company that you see, even if they’re negative.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/best-places-list-business-online/\">Make sure there’s a page set up for your company</a> on these directories so customers can leave a review if they search for you in the future.\r\n<h4>4) Surveys through email</h4>\r\nThe saying “Ask and you shall receive” applies to reviews, too! Send a short survey to recent buyers asking about their experience with your business. Include a way for them to choose a star rating (1-5) or opt to have them rate you as Poor, Fair, Good, or Excellent instead. Use these responses on your Testimonial page.\r\n<h4>5) LinkedIn recommendations</h4>\r\nYour LinkedIn page is a great place to look for customer reviews and testimonials, even if they\'re directed at you as an individual. Tailor existing recommendations into reviews. If your employees receive recommendations from your customers, use them!\r\n\r\nIf you can acceptably connect with your customers on LinkedIn, you can ask for their recommendation which will automatically display on LI and can be copied and pasted to your Testimonial page, too.','The Best Places to Find Customer Testimonials','','publish','open','closed','','the-best-places-to-find-customer-testimonials','','','2016-06-22 15:17:17','2016-06-22 19:17:17','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10584',0,'post','',0),(10585,5,'2016-06-22 15:16:32','2016-06-22 19:16:32','Do you think customer testimonials matter? They\'re one of the most important influencing factors in whether or not a customer ends up buying from you. What your existing and past customers have to say about your business comes across as a lot more trustworthy than what you have to say about it - we tend to believe those we think are unbiased. Finding customer testimonials isn\'t always easy, though.\r\n\r\nWe outline the best places to find customer testimonials and reviews below. Check them out!\r\n<h2>The Best Places to Find Customer Testimonials</h2>\r\nCustomer testimonials may already be out there for you to harvest and put on your website! Here are the best places to start looking for them (and a few tips for getting more in the future).\r\n<h4>1) Dedicated review sites</h4>\r\nYelp, TripAdvisor, and the like exist for the purpose of gathering reviews about companies and destinations. Your customers can look for your business, rate the service they received, and write an in-depth review of it with photos and more. Many people are active on sites like these, reviewing almost every company they use.\r\n\r\nEncourage your existing customers to review you by including your company Yelp or TripAdvisor profile URL on your website. Send a message to your email list requesting reviews with the proper link and offer an incentive for those that review you.\r\n<h4>2) Facebook</h4>\r\nThe Facebook page associated with your business is a good spot to find and get customer testimonials. Users can post directly on your page or leave an actual review. Either can be placed on your website as social proof. Your potential customers will see that there’s an actual person on the other end of the testimonial.\r\n\r\nGo now and check your page. There may already be awesome testimonials for you to use there!\r\n<h4></h4>\r\n<h4>3) Business directories online</h4>\r\nGoogle, Yellow Pages, Local.com, and similar websites provide information about local businesses, including reviews. Search for your business\' name on the online directory of your choice and see if there are any existing reviews or testimonials. Reply to all the reviews of your company that you see, even if they’re negative.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/best-places-list-business-online/\">Make sure there’s a page set up for your company</a> on these directories so customers can leave a review if they search for you in the future.\r\n<h4>4) Surveys through email</h4>\r\nThe saying “Ask and you shall receive” applies to reviews, too! Send a short survey to recent buyers asking about their experience with your business. Include a way for them to choose a star rating (1-5) or opt to have them rate you as Poor, Fair, Good, or Excellent instead. Use these responses on your Testimonial page.\r\n<h4>5) LinkedIn recommendations</h4>\r\nYour LinkedIn page is a great place to look for customer reviews and testimonials, even if they\'re directed at you as an individual. Tailor existing recommendations into reviews. If your employees receive recommendations from your customers, use them!\r\n\r\nIf you can acceptably connect with your customers on LinkedIn, you can ask for their recommendation which will automatically display on LI and can be copied and pasted to your Testimonial page, too.','The Best Places to Find Customer Testimonials','','inherit','closed','closed','','10584-revision-v1','','','2016-06-22 15:16:32','2016-06-22 19:16:32','',10584,'https://itxdesign.com/10584-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10586,5,'2016-06-22 15:17:17','2016-06-22 19:17:17','Do you think customer testimonials matter? They\'re one of the most important influencing factors in whether or not a customer ends up buying from you. What your existing and past customers have to say about your business comes across as a lot more trustworthy than what you have to say about it - we tend to believe those we think are unbiased. Finding customer testimonials isn\'t always easy, though.\r\n\r\nWe outline the best places to find customer testimonials and reviews below. Check them out!\r\n<h2>The Best Places to Find Customer Testimonials</h2>\r\nCustomer testimonials may already be out there for you to harvest and put on your website! Here are the best places to start looking for them (and a few tips for getting more in the future).\r\n<h4>1) Dedicated review sites</h4>\r\nYelp, TripAdvisor, and the like exist for the purpose of gathering reviews about companies and destinations. Your customers can look for your business, rate the service they received, and write an in-depth review of it with photos and more. Many people are active on sites like these, reviewing almost every company they use.\r\n\r\nEncourage your existing customers to review you by including your company Yelp or TripAdvisor profile URL on your website. Send a message to your email list requesting reviews with the proper link and offer an incentive for those that review you.\r\n<h4>2) Facebook</h4>\r\nThe Facebook page associated with your business is a good spot to find and get customer testimonials. Users can post directly on your page or leave an actual review. Either can be placed on your website as social proof. Your potential customers will see that there’s an actual person on the other end of the testimonial.\r\n\r\nGo now and check your page. There may already be awesome testimonials for you to use there!\r\n<h4>3) Business directories online</h4>\r\nGoogle, Yellow Pages, Local.com, and similar websites provide information about local businesses, including reviews. Search for your business\' name on the online directory of your choice and see if there are any existing reviews or testimonials. Reply to all the reviews of your company that you see, even if they’re negative.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/best-places-list-business-online/\">Make sure there’s a page set up for your company</a> on these directories so customers can leave a review if they search for you in the future.\r\n<h4>4) Surveys through email</h4>\r\nThe saying “Ask and you shall receive” applies to reviews, too! Send a short survey to recent buyers asking about their experience with your business. Include a way for them to choose a star rating (1-5) or opt to have them rate you as Poor, Fair, Good, or Excellent instead. Use these responses on your Testimonial page.\r\n<h4>5) LinkedIn recommendations</h4>\r\nYour LinkedIn page is a great place to look for customer reviews and testimonials, even if they\'re directed at you as an individual. Tailor existing recommendations into reviews. If your employees receive recommendations from your customers, use them!\r\n\r\nIf you can acceptably connect with your customers on LinkedIn, you can ask for their recommendation which will automatically display on LI and can be copied and pasted to your Testimonial page, too.','The Best Places to Find Customer Testimonials','','inherit','closed','closed','','10584-revision-v1','','','2016-06-22 15:17:17','2016-06-22 19:17:17','',10584,'https://itxdesign.com/10584-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10587,5,'2016-06-23 13:19:32','2016-06-23 17:19:32','In the website design industry? Even if you\'re just a business owner interested in improving your website user experience, you should check out the following influencers for great tips, ideas, and connection opportunities.\r\n\r\nWhat are influencers and why do they matter? Influencers are already connected to the audience you\'re trying to reach. In addition to being connected to your target audience, they also have a special influence over that audience\'s decisions because of their level of trustworthiness and expertise in the industry.\r\n\r\nConnect with these influencers and reach out for a recommendation that could show your business to a whole new audience.\r\n<h2>15 Web Design and UX Influencers to Follow</h2>\r\n<strong>1. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/chriscoyier\" rel=\"nofollow\">Chris Coyier</a></strong> – CSS Tricks – <a href=\"https://css-tricks.com/\" rel=\"nofollow\">css-tricks.com</a>  &amp; <a href=\"http://chriscoyier.net/\">chriscoyier.net</a>\r\n\r\nFind Chris on Twitter, CSS-Tricks website, or his personal website and say hello!\r\n\r\n<strong>2. <a href=\"http://twitter.com/seanwes\" rel=\"nofollow\">Sean McCabe</a></strong> – SeanWes <a href=\"http://seanwes.com/business-blog\" rel=\"nofollow\">seanwes.com/business-blog</a> &amp; <a href=\"https://seanwes.com/podcast/\" rel=\"nofollow\">seanwes.com/podcast/</a>\r\n\r\nSean\'s blog and podcast are both great options for anyone looking for web design and UX tips.\r\n\r\n<strong>3. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/muledesign\" rel=\"nofollow\">Mike Monteiro</a></strong> – Mule Design <a href=\"http://muledesign.com/blog\" rel=\"nofollow\">muledesign.com/blog</a>\r\n\r\nMike\'s Mule Design website is wonderfully designed, but the blog is the real draw. Informative and regularly updated, it\'s a mecca for web designers.\r\n\r\n<strong>4. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/chrisspooner\" rel=\"nofollow\">Chris Spooner</a></strong> – Spoon Graphics – <a href=\"http://blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Spoon.Graphics</a>\r\n\r\nChris is the CEO and founder of Spoon Graphics. He has a lot of insight to share.\r\n\r\n<strong>5. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/stevensnell\" rel=\"nofollow\">Steven Snell</a></strong> – Vandelay Design – <a href=\"http://vandelaydesign.com/blog\" rel=\"nofollow\">vandelaydesign.com/blog</a>\r\n\r\nSteven is the owner of Vandelay Design (Seinfeld reference?) and is definitely worth checking out.\r\n\r\n<strong>6. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/naldzgraphics\" rel=\"nofollow\">Ronald Bien</a></strong> – Naldz Graphics  – <a href=\"http://naldzgraphics.net/\" rel=\"nofollow\">naldzgraphics.net</a>\r\n\r\nNaldz Graphics is a great destination for graphic design and web design tips and information.\r\n\r\n<strong>7. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/smashingmag\" rel=\"nofollow\">Vitaly Friedman</a></strong> – Smashing Magazine – <a href=\"http://smashingmagazine.com/\" rel=\"nofollow\">smashingmagazine.com</a>\r\n\r\nVitaly delivers user experience tips that are simply Smashing.\r\n\r\n<strong>8. <a href=\"http://twitter.com/wilreynolds\" rel=\"nofollow\">Wil Reynolds</a> – </strong><a href=\"http://wilreynolds.com/\" rel=\"nofollow\">wilreynolds.com</a> &amp; <a href=\"http://seerinteractive.com/blog\" rel=\"nofollow\">seerinteractive.com/blog </a>\r\n\r\nWil Reynolds has a personal website as well as Seer Interactive, check the blog for useful insights.\r\n\r\n<strong>9. <strong><a href=\"http://twitter.com/JoePulizzi\" rel=\"nofollow\">Joe Pulizzi</a></strong> – </strong><a href=\"http://contentmarketinginstitute.com/author/joepulizzi/\" rel=\"nofollow\">contentmarketinginstitute.com/author/joepulizzi/</a>\r\n\r\nJoe Pulizzi is a contributor at the Content Marketing Institute. He has wonderful advice for graphic design and web design. Check out his blog for information about user experience and web design.\r\n\r\n<strong>10. <a href=\"http://twitter.com/Red_Web_Design\" rel=\"nofollow\">Mark Ford</a></strong> – Red <a class=\"auto-link\" title=\"Web Design\" href=\"https://timbdesign.com/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow\">Web Design</a>  – <a href=\"http://blog.red-website-design.co.uk/\" rel=\"nofollow\">blog.red-website-design.co.uk </a>\r\n\r\nMark of Red Web Design has useful user experience and web design tips to share on his website. He\'s located in the UK, so a heads-up for anyone looking for local influencers.\r\n\r\n<strong>11. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/syedbalkhi\" rel=\"nofollow\">Syed Balkhi</a></strong>  – <a href=\"http://wpbeginner.com/\" rel=\"nofollow\">wpbeginner.com</a>  &amp; <a href=\"http://syedbalkhi.com/\" rel=\"nofollow\">syedbalkhi.com</a>\r\n\r\nSyed Balkhi is an expert on building WordPress websites from the ground up. He\'s got tons of followers and a great audience, so don\'t hesitate to reach out to Syed Balkhi!\r\n\r\n<strong>12.  <a href=\"http://twitter.com/oligardner\" rel=\"nofollow\">Oli Gardner</a></strong> – <a href=\"http://unbounce.com/blog\" rel=\"nofollow\">unbounce.com/blog</a>\r\n\r\nOli updates the blog at Unbounce.com with little-known UX and design tips you won\'t find anywhere else on the web.\r\n\r\n<strong>13. <strong><a href=\"http://twitter.com/eric_mobley\" rel=\"nofollow\">Eric W Mobley</a></strong> – </strong><a href=\"http://ericmobley.net/blog/\" rel=\"nofollow\">ericmobley.net/blog/</a>\r\n\r\n<strong>14. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/feltron\" rel=\"nofollow\">Nicolas Felton</a></strong> – <a href=\"http://feltron.tumblr.com/\" rel=\"nofollow\">feltron.tumblr.com</a> &amp; <a href=\"http://feltron.tumblr.com/\" rel=\"nofollow\">skillshare.com/classes/design/Data-Visualization-Designing-Maps-with-Processing-and-Illustrator</a>\r\n\r\n<strong>15. <a href=\"http://twitter.com/jeffbullas\" rel=\"nofollow\">Jeff Bullas</a></strong> – <a href=\"http://jeffbullas.com/\" rel=\"nofollow\">jeffbullas.com</a>\r\n\r\nA special thanks to <a href=\"https://timbdesign.com/web-design-influencers/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Tim B Design</a> for the great web design and UX influencers to follow suggestions!','15 Web Design and UX Influencers to Follow','','publish','open','closed','','15-web-design-and-ux-influencers-to-follow','','','2018-08-27 07:34:24','2018-08-27 11:34:24','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10587',0,'post','',0),(10588,5,'2016-06-23 13:19:13','2016-06-23 17:19:13','In the website design industry? Even if you\'re just a business owner interested in improving your website user experience, you should check out the following influencers for great tips, ideas, and connection opportunities.\r\n\r\nWhat are influencers and why do they matter? Influencers are already connected to the audience you\'re trying to reach. In addition to being connected to your target audience, they also have a special influence over that audience\'s decisions because of their level of trustworthiness and expertise in the industry.\r\n\r\nConnect with these influencers and reach out for a recommendation that could show your business to a whole new audience.\r\n<h2>15 Web Design and UX Influencers to Follow</h2>\r\n<strong>1. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/chriscoyier\" rel=\"nofollow\">Chris Coyier</a></strong> – CSS Tricks – <a href=\"https://css-tricks.com/\" rel=\"nofollow\">css-tricks.com</a>  &amp; <a href=\"http://chriscoyier.net/\">chriscoyier.net</a>\r\n\r\nFind Chris on Twitter, CSS-Tricks website, or his personal website and say hello!\r\n\r\n<strong>2. <a href=\"http://twitter.com/seanwes\" rel=\"nofollow\">Sean McCabe</a></strong> – SeanWes <a href=\"http://seanwes.com/business-blog\" rel=\"nofollow\">seanwes.com/business-blog</a> &amp; <a href=\"https://seanwes.com/podcast/\" rel=\"nofollow\">seanwes.com/podcast/</a>\r\n\r\nSean\'s blog and podcast are both great options for anyone looking for web design and UX tips.\r\n\r\n<strong>3. <a href=\"http://twitter.com/monteiro\" rel=\"nofollow\">Mike Monteiro</a></strong> – Mule Design <a href=\"http://muledesign.com/blog\" rel=\"nofollow\">muledesign.com/blog</a>\r\n\r\nMike\'s Mule Design website is wonderfully designed, but the blog is the real draw. Informative and regularly updated, it\'s a mecca for web designers.\r\n\r\n<strong>4. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/chrisspooner\" rel=\"nofollow\">Chris Spooner</a></strong> – Spoon Graphics – <a href=\"http://blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Spoon.Graphics</a>\r\n\r\nChris is the CEO and founder of Spoon Graphics. He has a lot of insight to share.\r\n\r\n<strong>5. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/stevensnell\" rel=\"nofollow\">Steven Snell</a></strong> – Vandelay Design – <a href=\"http://vandelaydesign.com/blog\" rel=\"nofollow\">vandelaydesign.com/blog</a>\r\n\r\nSteven is the owner of Vandelay Design (Seinfeld reference?) and is definitely worth checking out.\r\n\r\n<strong>6. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/naldzgraphics\" rel=\"nofollow\">Ronald Bien</a></strong> – Naldz Graphics  – <a href=\"http://naldzgraphics.net/\" rel=\"nofollow\">naldzgraphics.net</a>\r\n\r\nNaldz Graphics is a great destination for graphic design and web design tips and information.\r\n\r\n<strong>7. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/smashingmag\" rel=\"nofollow\">Vitaly Friedman</a></strong> – Smashing Magazine – <a href=\"http://smashingmagazine.com/\" rel=\"nofollow\">smashingmagazine.com</a>\r\n\r\nVitaly delivers user experience tips that are simply Smashing.\r\n\r\n<strong>8. <a href=\"http://twitter.com/wilreynolds\" rel=\"nofollow\">Wil Reynolds</a> – </strong><a href=\"http://wilreynolds.com/\" rel=\"nofollow\">wilreynolds.com</a> &amp; <a href=\"http://seerinteractive.com/blog\" rel=\"nofollow\">seerinteractive.com/blog </a>\r\n\r\nWil Reynolds has a personal website as well as Seer Interactive, check the blog for useful insights.\r\n\r\n<strong>9. <strong><a href=\"http://twitter.com/JoePulizzi\" rel=\"nofollow\">Joe Pulizzi</a></strong> – </strong><a href=\"http://contentmarketinginstitute.com/author/joepulizzi/\" rel=\"nofollow\">contentmarketinginstitute.com/author/joepulizzi/</a>\r\n\r\nJoe Pulizzi is a contributor at the Content Marketing Institute. He has wonderful advice for graphic design and web design. Check out his blog for information about user experience and web design.\r\n\r\n<strong>10. <a href=\"http://twitter.com/Red_Web_Design\" rel=\"nofollow\">Mark Ford</a></strong> – Red <a class=\"auto-link\" title=\"Web Design\" href=\"https://timbdesign.com/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow\">Web Design</a>  – <a href=\"http://blog.red-website-design.co.uk/\" rel=\"nofollow\">blog.red-website-design.co.uk </a>\r\n\r\nMark of Red Web Design has useful user experience and web design tips to share on his website. He\'s located in the UK, so a heads-up for anyone looking for local influencers.\r\n\r\n<strong>11. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/syedbalkhi\" rel=\"nofollow\">Syed Balkhi</a></strong>  – <a href=\"http://wpbeginner.com/\" rel=\"nofollow\">wpbeginner.com</a>  &amp; <a href=\"http://syedbalkhi.com/\" rel=\"nofollow\">syedbalkhi.com</a>\r\n\r\nSyed Balkhi is an expert on building WordPress websites from the ground up. He\'s got tons of followers and a great audience, so don\'t hesitate to reach out to Syed Balkhi!\r\n\r\n<strong>12.  <a href=\"http://twitter.com/oligardner\" rel=\"nofollow\">Oli Gardner</a></strong> – <a href=\"http://unbounce.com/blog\" rel=\"nofollow\">unbounce.com/blog</a>\r\n\r\nOli updates the blog at Unbounce.com with little-known UX and design tips you won\'t find anywhere else on the web.\r\n\r\n<strong>13. <strong><a href=\"http://twitter.com/eric_mobley\" rel=\"nofollow\">Eric W Mobley</a></strong> – </strong><a href=\"http://ericmobley.net/blog/\" rel=\"nofollow\">ericmobley.net/blog/</a>\r\n\r\n<strong>14. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/feltron\" rel=\"nofollow\">Nicolas Felton</a></strong> – <a href=\"http://feltron.tumblr.com/\" rel=\"nofollow\">feltron.tumblr.com</a> &amp; <a href=\"http://feltron.tumblr.com/\" rel=\"nofollow\">skillshare.com/classes/design/Data-Visualization-Designing-Maps-with-Processing-and-Illustrator</a>\r\n\r\n<strong>15. <a href=\"http://twitter.com/jeffbullas\" rel=\"nofollow\">Jeff Bullas</a></strong> – <a href=\"http://jeffbullas.com/\" rel=\"nofollow\">jeffbullas.com</a>\r\n\r\nA special thanks to <a href=\"https://timbdesign.com/web-design-influencers/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Tim B Design</a> for the great web design and UX influencers to follow suggestions!','15 Web Design and UX Influencers to Follow','','inherit','closed','closed','','10587-revision-v1','','','2016-06-23 13:19:13','2016-06-23 17:19:13','',10587,'https://itxdesign.com/10587-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10589,5,'2016-06-24 14:02:55','2016-06-24 18:02:55','<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Your homepage is the page most visitors come to when they arrive on your website. It\'s the living room of the website, where most people will spend their time before they get a little more comfortable or are invited further in.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Your homepage is your chance to make a great first impression and start converting leads (people visiting your website) into sales. It receives most of the traffic that comes to your website, so it\'s important to optimize it for conversions. Failing to convert users on your homepage means it\'s missing some critical elements.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">HubSpot put together a really useful infographic that outlines all the elements a conversion-optimized homepage must have. Check it out!</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">The 12 Elements Every Homepage Must Have\r\n<a href=\"http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/31097/12-Critical-Elements-Every-Homepage-Must-Have-Infographic.aspx\"><img class=\"alignCenter shadow\" src=\"http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/53/homepage-critical-elements-infographic.png\" alt=\"12 Critical Elements Every Homepage Must Have\" width=\"669px\" border=\"0\" /></a></h2>\r\nWe love the layout and presention of this infographic, but for some quick takeways, we\'ve included a summary below.\r\n\r\nYour website homepage has the greatest conversion potential, but it can never reach that potential if people are clicking away before they have a chance to buy. Including the 12 critical elements of a conversion-optimized homepage will help you retain visitors longer and make more sales.\r\n\r\nYour homepage is your one chance at making a great first impression on a visitor, so don\'t waste it! Here are the 12 critical homepage elements to include and a few details about what they are used for and how you can implement the changes.\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>Headline -</strong> Should tell what you\'re about in 3 seconds or less. Go for good stuff, no fluff!</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Subheadline -</strong> Include more details about why someone would use your product or service</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Primary Call to Action (CTA) -</strong> Include a few different CTAs for customers in different buying stages</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Supporting image -</strong> Choose big, original images or a video to highlight your product or someone using it</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Benefits -</strong> List the benefits of buying from your customers\' perspective</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Social proof -</strong> Add short quotes with a photo and name from testimonials or reviews</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Navigation -</strong> Make it easy to navigate and add a search bar to decrease bounce rates</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Content offers -</strong> Offer free downloadable whitepaper, guide, map, eBook, etc.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Secondary Call to Action -</strong> For those not interested in the primary objective, placed lower down</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Features -</strong> List key features with bullet points or icons</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Resources -</strong> Where customers can click to learn more about your product or service</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Success indicators -</strong> Testimonials, reviews, awards, recognition</li>\r\n</ol>','Every Homepage Should Have These 12 Elements [Infographic]','','publish','open','closed','','every-homepage-should-have-these-12-elements','','','2016-06-24 14:02:55','2016-06-24 18:02:55','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10589',0,'post','',0),(10590,5,'2016-06-24 14:02:32','2016-06-24 18:02:32','<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Your homepage is the page most visitors come to when they arrive on your website. It\'s the living room of the website, where most people will spend their time before they get a little more comfortable or are invited further in.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Your homepage is your chance to make a great first impression and start converting leads (people visiting your website) into sales. It receives most of the traffic that comes to your website, so it\'s important to optimize it for conversions. Failing to convert users on your homepage means it\'s missing some critical elements.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">HubSpot put together a really useful infographic that outlines all the elements a conversion-optimized homepage must have. Check it out!</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">The 12 Elements Every Homepage Must Have\r\n<a href=\"http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/31097/12-Critical-Elements-Every-Homepage-Must-Have-Infographic.aspx\"><img class=\"alignCenter shadow\" src=\"http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/53/homepage-critical-elements-infographic.png\" alt=\"12 Critical Elements Every Homepage Must Have\" width=\"669px\" border=\"0\" /></a></h2>\r\nWe love the layout and presention of this infographic, but for some quick takeways, we\'ve included a summary below.\r\n\r\nYour website homepage has the greatest conversion potential, but it can never reach that potential if people are clicking away before they have a chance to buy. Including the 12 critical elements of a conversion-optimized homepage will help you retain visitors longer and make more sales.\r\n\r\nYour homepage is your one chance at making a great first impression on a visitor, so don\'t waste it! Here are the 12 critical homepage elements to include and a few details about what they are used for and how you can implement the changes.\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>Headline -</strong> Should tell what you\'re about in 3 seconds or less. Go for good stuff, no fluff!</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Subheadline -</strong> Include more details about why someone would use your product or service</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Primary Call to Action (CTA) -</strong> Include a few different CTAs for customers in different buying stages</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Supporting image -</strong> Choose big, original images or a video to highlight your product or someone using it</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Benefits -</strong> List the benefits of buying from your customers\' perspective</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Social proof -</strong> Add short quotes with a photo and name from testimonials or reviews</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Navigation -</strong> Make it easy to navigate and add a search bar to decrease bounce rates</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Content offers -</strong> Offer free downloadable whitepaper, guide, map, eBook, etc.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Secondary Call to Action -</strong> For those not interested in the primary objective, placed lower down</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Features -</strong> List key features with bullet points or icons</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Resources -</strong> Where customers can click to learn more about your product or service</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Success indicators -</strong> Testimonials, reviews, awards, recognition</li>\r\n</ol>','Every Homepage Should Have These 12 Elements [Infographic]','','inherit','closed','closed','','10589-revision-v1','','','2016-06-24 14:02:32','2016-06-24 18:02:32','',10589,'https://itxdesign.com/10589-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10591,5,'2016-06-24 14:02:55','2016-06-24 18:02:55','','','','inherit','open','closed','','10591','','','2016-06-24 14:02:55','2016-06-24 18:02:55','',10589,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/homepage-critical-elements-infographic.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10592,5,'2016-06-28 12:53:32','0000-00-00 00:00:00','<a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/mailchimp-vs-aweber-which-is-better-for-business/\"><img class=\"wp-image-10593 alignright\" src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/mcvsaweber.jpg\" alt=\"mcvsaweber\" width=\"182\" height=\"182\" /></a>The users that subscribe to your email newsletter or list are some of your most valuable leads. Using Mailchimp or Aweber, you can access additional information about your subscribers beyond their email and name to find out who\'s generating the most value for your business.\n\nMailchimp and Aweber are competitors that offer similar features with different pricing models and costs. If you\'re still trying to decide between Mailchimp and Aweber, check out this post by Conversational on <a href=\"https://www.conversational.com/mailchimp-vs-aweber-which-is-better-for-business/\">Mailchimp vs. Aweber</a> or click on the image to the right.\n<h2>Finding subscriber details in Mailchimp</h2>\nMailchimp is famous for their in-depth subscriber and email campaign analytics. Their built-in reports keep you abreast of the success (or failure) of each of your email campaigns by telling you exactly how subscribers react to them. You can find an overview of your email campaigns, develop customized reports, and view detailed information about each subscriber\'s open rate and click rate history.\n\nTo access this reporting information, just click on Reports from the top navigation menu in Mailchimp. This view should show you all the email campaigns you\'ve sent to your subscribers. There will be a Report button next to each. Click on the report you want to view subscriber information for.\n<h4></h4>\nNow, you will be able to see the percentage of users who opened your email, the number of bounced emails, abuse reports, click rates, link clicks, and more.\n<h2>Finding subscriber details in Aweber</h2>\nAweber also has a special, built-in reports feature. Similar to Mailchimp\'s, these reports will give you better insight on your individual email campaigns and how your newsletter or mailing list is doing overall. Just login to Aweber through their website and then click on Reports in the top navigation menu.\n\nThis dashboard contains all the reports of your campaigns and an overall view of your campaign open and click rates. The navigation menu to the left allows you to focus on specific campaigns and get more detailed information that way. Click on Shortcuts to locate detailed information on click rates, subscribers, bounce rates, link clicks, and more.\n\nOne issue with Aweber in this arena is the lack of ability to import subscribers from elsewhere (Gmail, LinkedIn, Outlook, QuickBooks, etc.). However, if you start with Aweber and don\'t need to import subscribers, it\'s a perfectly fine option to use.\n<h4>Not collecting email addresses yet?</h4>\nYou absolutely have to give your website visitors an option to subscribe to your email newsletter or mailing list. Building your email list may turn out to be the most valuable marketing action you\'ve taken so far.\n\nWhen someone voluntarily gives their email address and contact information over to a company or blog, they\'re clearly quite interested in the services or information offered. These are some of the hottest leads you\'ll find online.\n\nMake sure your signup form is easily accessible and visible from every page on your website if you\'re serious about earning new subscribers. Customize your signup form to better appeal to your visitors and add some branded images to make it flow better within your website.\n\nFinding additional subscriber details is easy no matter what email marketing tool you\'re using. If you\'re looking to compare and contrast the top email marketing tools, check out the blog posts below.','How to Find Information on Your Email Subscribers in Mailchimp and Aweber','','draft','open','closed','','','','','2016-06-28 12:53:32','2016-06-28 16:53:32','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10592',0,'post','',0),(10595,4,'2016-07-07 13:03:26','2016-07-07 17:03:26','What does it take to build your first website? It’s an exciting time deciding to create a website in order to build your business, build your personal brand, or put a message out into the world. Building a website may feel intimidating but it doesn’t have to be with a few tips to get you started. \r\n\r\nIt may seem like a large undertaking with web designers to hire and coming up with a marketing strategy, but now you can do it all yourself with some easy online tools. From setting up your domain to choosing a site builder, here is a look at what you’ll need to get your first website built and started. \r\n\r\n<h2>First you’ll need hosting</h2>\r\n\r\nThe first place to start is to decide if you are going to hire someone to design your website or if you are going to take on the project yourself. While it may sound appealing to hire someone, it’s not so hard to build a website these days and most people don’t have the budget to hire someone to do the work. One way to go is to do it yourself now and hire someone later if you feel you need a website redesign. \r\n\r\nTo create your professional website, first you’ll setup hosting and your domain. You have to purchase the domain and hosting by choosing a provider from a variety of sources. You could choose hosting from a shared server in which other people are paying to use the same host and they save money by sharing. \r\n\r\nA dedicated server allows you to have your own server but it’s a more expensive way to get hosting. There are other options like VPS and the cloud that are available as well. Choose a hosting service that is easy for a beginner and easy to setup.\r\n\r\nYour domain will be how people find you and recognize you online. Make sure you choose a domain name that is easy for people to recognize and that represents your business well. \r\n\r\n<h2>Website framework</h2>\r\n\r\nAfter you’ve done that part, you’ll need to choose a website framework or a website builder to work with. This is where those online tools come in handy and save you’re the big bucks from hiring a website designer. You can work with a website builder to choose the right framework which could include a site like WordPress. \r\n\r\nSite builders help you go through each step one at a time to get your website up and running. Sometimes your hosting service will provide you with these tools for free and you just have to choose which template you want to choose. You can customize the website to your preferences and goals you had for the website while using a site builder. \r\n\r\nUsing a program like WordPress simply requires that you simply install it, customize it by choosing a free or paid theme, downloading the theme, and then uploading it. Customize it from there with using the dashboard.\r\n\r\nSome people choose to build one from scratch but it can take a lot of trial and error to do so. For those that enjoy DIY projects and don’t mind a learning curve, this may be the way to go. You’ll get to really learn the world of coding and enjoy a custom website that will be unlike any others. \r\n\r\nCheck out the CodeAcademy or W3Schools for learning how to code before attempting your own website. You’ll learn languages like CSS, HTML, and PHP to help you build a website to your exact needs. Having these basic coding skills under your belt will make it easier to customize your website anyway. \r\n\r\nConsider which route makes sense for you and remember that your website is like an online business card for your company. Do you want to build and grow your business from a reliable source like WordPress that can give you all of the website tools you could need or do you want to do it yourself by taking the time to learn the trade and then creating the perfect-for-you, unique website? Consider how much time you have to work with and what kind of budget you are working with. \r\n\r\nThese are the things that you’ll need in order to build your first website. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n','How to Build Your First Website','','publish','open','closed','','how-to-build-your-first-website','','','2016-07-05 13:05:01','2016-07-05 17:05:01','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10595',0,'post','',0),(10593,5,'2016-06-28 12:18:33','2016-06-28 16:18:33','','mcvsaweber','','inherit','open','closed','','mcvsaweber','','','2016-06-28 12:18:33','2016-06-28 16:18:33','',10592,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/mcvsaweber.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10596,4,'2016-07-05 13:04:04','2016-07-05 17:04:04','What does it take to build your first website? It’s an exciting time deciding to create a website in order to build your business, build your personal brand, or put a message out into the world. Building a website may feel intimidating but it doesn’t have to be with a few tips to get you started. \r\n\r\nIt may seem like a large undertaking with web designers to hire and coming up with a marketing strategy, but now you can do it all yourself with some easy online tools. From setting up your domain to choosing a site builder, here is a look at what you’ll need to get your first website built and started. \r\n\r\n<h2>First you’ll need hosting</h2>\r\n\r\nThe first place to start is to decide if you are going to hire someone to design your website or if you are going to take on the project yourself. While it may sound appealing to hire someone, it’s not so hard to build a website these days and most people don’t have the budget to hire someone to do the work. One way to go is to do it yourself now and hire someone later if you feel you need a website redesign. \r\n\r\nTo create your professional website, first you’ll setup hosting and your domain. You have to purchase the domain and hosting by choosing a provider from a variety of sources. You could choose hosting from a shared server in which other people are paying to use the same host and they save money by sharing. \r\n\r\nA dedicated server allows you to have your own server but it’s a more expensive way to get hosting. There are other options like VPS and the cloud that are available as well. Choose a hosting service that is easy for a beginner and easy to setup.\r\n\r\nYour domain will be how people find you and recognize you online. Make sure you choose a domain name that is easy for people to recognize and that represents your business well. \r\n\r\n<h2>Website framework</h2>\r\n\r\nAfter you’ve done that part, you’ll need to choose a website framework or a website builder to work with. This is where those online tools come in handy and save you’re the big bucks from hiring a website designer. You can work with a website builder to choose the right framework which could include a site like WordPress. \r\n\r\nSite builders help you go through each step one at a time to get your website up and running. Sometimes your hosting service will provide you with these tools for free and you just have to choose which template you want to choose. You can customize the website to your preferences and goals you had for the website while using a site builder. \r\n\r\nUsing a program like WordPress simply requires that you simply install it, customize it by choosing a free or paid theme, downloading the theme, and then uploading it. Customize it from there with using the dashboard.\r\n\r\nSome people choose to build one from scratch but it can take a lot of trial and error to do so. For those that enjoy DIY projects and don’t mind a learning curve, this may be the way to go. You’ll get to really learn the world of coding and enjoy a custom website that will be unlike any others. \r\n\r\nCheck out the CodeAcademy or W3Schools for learning how to code before attempting your own website. You’ll learn languages like CSS, HTML, and PHP to help you build a website to your exact needs. Having these basic coding skills under your belt will make it easier to customize your website anyway. \r\n\r\nConsider which route makes sense for you and remember that your website is like an online business card for your company. Do you want to build and grow your business from a reliable source like WordPress that can give you all of the website tools you could need or do you want to do it yourself by taking the time to learn the trade and then creating the perfect-for-you, unique website? Consider how much time you have to work with and what kind of budget you are working with. \r\n\r\nThese are the things that you’ll need in order to build your first website. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n','How to Build Your First Website','','inherit','closed','closed','','10595-revision-v1','','','2016-07-05 13:04:04','2016-07-05 17:04:04','',10595,'https://itxdesign.com/10595-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10597,4,'2016-07-05 13:04:12','2016-07-05 17:04:12','What does it take to build your first website? It’s an exciting time deciding to create a website in order to build your business, build your personal brand, or put a message out into the world. Building a website may feel intimidating but it doesn’t have to be with a few tips to get you started. \n\nIt may seem like a large undertaking with web designers to hire and coming up with a marketing strategy, but now you can do it all yourself with some easy online tools. From setting up your domain to choosing a site builder, here is a look at what you’ll need to get your first website built and started. \n\n<h2>First you’ll need hosting</h2>\n\nThe first place to start is to decide if you are going to hire someone to design your website or if you are going to take on the project yourself. While it may sound appealing to hire someone, it’s not so hard to build a website these days and most people don’t have the budget to hire someone to do the work. One way to go is to do it yourself now and hire someone later if you feel you need a website redesign. \n\nTo create your professional website, first you’ll setup hosting and your domain. You have to purchase the domain and hosting by choosing a provider from a variety of sources. You could choose hosting from a shared server in which other people are paying to use the same host and they save money by sharing. \n\nA dedicated server allows you to have your own server but it’s a more expensive way to get hosting. There are other options like VPS and the cloud that are available as well. Choose a hosting service that is easy for a beginner and easy to setup.\n\nYour domain will be how people find you and recognize you online. Make sure you choose a domain name that is easy for people to recognize and that represents your business well. \n\n<h2>Website framework</h2>\n\nAfter you’ve done that part, you’ll need to choose a website framework or a website builder to work with. This is where those online tools come in handy and save you’re the big bucks from hiring a website designer. You can work with a website builder to choose the right framework which could include a site like WordPress. \n\nSite builders help you go through each step one at a time to get your website up and running. Sometimes your hosting service will provide you with these tools for free and you just have to choose which template you want to choose. You can customize the website to your preferences and goals you had for the website while using a site builder. \n\nUsing a program like WordPress simply requires that you simply install it, customize it by choosing a free or paid theme, downloading the theme, and then uploading it. Customize it from there with using the dashboard.\n\nSome people choose to build one from scratch but it can take a lot of trial and error to do so. For those that enjoy DIY projects and don’t mind a learning curve, this may be the way to go. You’ll get to really learn the world of coding and enjoy a custom website that will be unlike any others. \n\nCheck out the CodeAcademy or W3Schools for learning how to code before attempting your own website. You’ll learn languages like CSS, HTML, and PHP to help you build a website to your exact needs. Having these basic coding skills under your belt will make it easier to customize your website anyway. \n\nConsider which route makes sense for you and remember that your website is like an online business card for your company. Do you want to build and grow your business from a reliable source like WordPress that can give you all of the website tools you could need or do you want to do it yourself by taking the time to learn the trade and then creating the perfect-for-you, unique website? Consider how much time you have to work with and what kind of budget you are working with. \n\nThese are the things that you’ll need in order to build your first website. \n\n\n\n','How to Build Your First Website','','inherit','closed','closed','','10595-autosave-v1','','','2016-07-05 13:04:12','2016-07-05 17:04:12','',10595,'https://itxdesign.com/10595-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10608,4,'2016-08-17 13:33:49','2016-08-17 17:33:49','<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/23757486_s-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Video Marketing\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10609\" />report done by HubSpot</a>, those visiting your website are more attracted to visual content than ever before. Marketing must cater to this by providing excellent images and videos. \r\n\r\nVideo marketing has quickly become an essential part of any blog. While writing may be easier than making a video, using a video provide body language, tone of voice, credibility, imagery and more. When the right elements of a video are combined, it becomes very powerful.\r\n\r\n<h2>How to Get Started with Videos</h2>\r\n\r\nThe hardest part of any new endeavor is getting started. If you\'re an introvert, this may be even more difficult with videos. Many people shy away from the camera, but can learn how to warm up to the camera in just a short time. The key to making videos is to just get started. \r\n\r\nJust like blogging, unless you\'re naturally a great writer, you probably weren\'t that great in the beginning. If you went back and read your first few posts, and then skipped ahead to post 100, 200, 500 and so on, you\'d probably see how you have improved as a blogger over time. The same will happen when you start with video marketing.\r\n\r\nYou want to start just by breaking the ice between you and creating videos. This is done by putting out your first video, regardless of the quality. All you are really trying to do in your first video is conquer your fears, get the basics down and get something recorded. \r\n\r\n<h2>Video Creation Checklist</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/24602455_s-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Marketing with Video\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-10610\" />There are certain things you will need to do to become proficient at creating videos. It does take some practice, unless you\'re a natural, and the more time you spend in front of the camera, the easier it will get. \r\n\r\n<strong>You Need a Camera</strong>\r\n\r\nIn today\'s world, getting a camera capable of recording videos isn\'t hard. In fact, you probably have one on your phone, your computer and any regular camera you own. Choose the camera you own with the capabilities of taking the best video for your blog videos.\r\n\r\n<strong>Practice Before Recording</strong>\r\n\r\nNot many people can hop in front of the camera and start recording videos. However, with the right amount of practice, you can get very good at it and you won\'t have to worry about feeling as uncomfortable. Before you start recording, practice what you will say and do in front of the camera.\r\n\r\n<strong>Start with a Practice Video</strong>\r\n\r\nInstead of just jumping right in front of the camera and doing a video for your blog, do one for a friend or a hobby to start. This will help you become comfortable and you can look back at it to find places to improve. The more you practice, the more confidence you will gain and before you know it, you\'ll be comfortable and confident in front of the camera.\r\n\r\n<strong>Edit Before Publishing</strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/43869506_s-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Video Advertising\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-10611\" />Once you\'re ready to create a video for your blog, you want to edit the video before you publish it. YouTube provides a built-in editor to make it easy to edit your videos. However, an offline editor, such as OpenShot is a great choice to edit things such as slides, text, lighting and more.\r\n\r\n<strong>Upload and Use Your Video</strong>\r\n\r\nIt\'s always a good idea to upload your video to YouTube, Vimeo or another video hosting site first. Then, you can simply use the link to publish it on your blog. This will keep you from using up hosting space and slowing down your website.\r\n\r\nVideo marketing isn\'t an option anymore. If you want to be a successful blogger, you need to build your blog through great written content, images and videos. Use this guide to help you get started with your first video today!\r\n','A Quick Guide to Starting with Video Marketing for a Blog','','publish','open','closed','','a-quick-guide-to-starting-with-video-marketing-for-a-blog','','','2016-08-15 17:42:57','2016-08-15 21:42:57','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10608',0,'post','',0),(10600,4,'2016-08-05 12:38:25','2016-08-05 16:38:25','<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Blog-Content.jpg\" alt=\"Blog Content\" width=\"270\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-10602\" />Maybe you haven\'t even started to build your blog and you don\'t have any content yet. Content is the easy part because you can easily outsource it so a professional writer. However, if you don\'t use that content properly, you\'ll never see the results you want from your blog posts. Here are 10 easy and fast ways you can promote your blog posts and drive new traffic to your website.\r\n\r\n<h2>Share on Twitter</h2>\r\n\r\nThe easiest thing you can do, especially if you\'re using WordPress, is share your content on Twitter. If you don\'t already have a Twitter account, you should get one set up. Then, just set up one of the many free WordPress plugins to automatically Tweet your new blog posts.\r\n\r\n<h2>Share on Facebook</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Facebook.png\" alt=\"Facebook\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-10603\" />Just like Twitter, you can rinse and repeat the process with Facebook. While there are WordPress plugins to help you automatically share blog content on Facebook, you may want to do this manually when you complete a post. By sharing manually, you can easily add a little introduction or more content to the actual post on Facebook for your readers and followers.\r\n\r\n<h2>Send a Newsletter</h2>\r\n\r\nEvery week or every two weeks, you can send a newsletter out to your subscribers. This newsletter can actually include an intro with \"read more\" links and an image for all of the blog posts you\'ve put up since the last newsletter. This is one of the fastest ways to get subscribers back to your website.\r\n\r\n<h2>Use Content Communities</h2>\r\n\r\nMany websites will allow you to submit blog posts to them, if they fit with their audience. You can check sites, such as Blog Engage or Triberr. If your content is very good, it will get seen and you can get a large amount of traffic from places like this.\r\n\r\n<h2>Share Images on Pinterest</h2>\r\n\r\nYou should be using at least one image with every blog post. If so, you can share your images on Pinterest for all of your followers to see and re-pin. This is one of the fastest growing and most popular social media sites you can use today.\r\n\r\n<h2>Share on Instagram</h2>\r\n\r\nJust like Pinterest, you can take advantage of the popularity of Instagram with every blog post. You can easily share through the app with hashtags, images and captions to make sure you get the most out of your blog posts.\r\n\r\n<h2>Share on LinkedIn</h2>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/LinkedIn.jpg\" alt=\"LinkedIn\" width=\"254\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-10604\" />LinkedIn may be a bit more specific to a professional type of user, but most blog posts still fit with the site. When you share on LinkedIn, you do want to make sure you share only what\'s relevant to the site. If you decide to share in groups, make sure the content fits well.\r\n\r\n<h2>Email People You Mention</h2>\r\n\r\nSometimes, you may have a reason to mention a person or company in your blog post. If you do, email the individual or the company executive and let them know about the content. This will allow you to potentially draw more attention to your content.\r\n\r\n<h2>Use Notifier from ContentMarketer.io</h2>\r\n\r\nContentMarketer.io allows you to use a tool they call Notifier. This tool will scan your blog posts and will Tweet any Twitter users you have mentioned in the blog. This will help you get more shares and you may end up with more followers, as well.\r\n\r\n<h2>Use Flipboard</h2>\r\n\r\nFlipboard allows you to make a blog post look like it came from a magazine. They have more than 80 million users and you can take advantage by getting your blog content on the site.\r\n\r\nIf you want to get more out of every blog post, you need a plan for sharing content across the internet. Some types of sharing can be put on autopilot and you can always pay your professional writer a little extra to share the content for you.\r\n\r\n','10 Easy & Fast Ways to Promote Blog Posts','','publish','open','closed','','10-easy-fast-ways-to-promote-blog-posts','','','2016-08-04 15:46:39','2016-08-04 19:46:39','',0,'https://itxdesign.com/?p=10600',0,'post','',0),(10601,4,'2016-08-04 15:42:25','2016-08-04 19:42:25','Maybe you haven\'t even started to build your blog and you don\'t have any content yet. Content is the easy part because you can easily outsource it so a professional writer. However, if you don\'t use that content properly, you\'ll never see the results you want from your blog posts. Here are 10 easy and fast ways you can promote your blog posts and drive new traffic to your website.\r\n\r\n<h2>Share on Twitter</h2>\r\n\r\nThe easiest thing you can do, especially if you\'re using WordPress, is share your content on Twitter. If you don\'t already have a Twitter account, you should get one set up. Then, just set up one of the many free WordPress plugins to automatically Tweet your new blog posts.\r\n\r\n<h2>Share on Facebook</h2>\r\n\r\nJust like Twitter, you can rinse and repeat the process with Facebook. While there are WordPress plugins to help you automatically share blog content on Facebook, you may want to do this manually when you complete a post. By sharing manually, you can easily add a little introduction or more content to the actual post on Facebook for your readers and followers.\r\n\r\n<h2>Send a Newsletter</h2>\r\n\r\nEvery week or every two weeks, you can send a newsletter out to your subscribers. This newsletter can actually include an intro with \"read more\" links and an image for all of the blog posts you\'ve put up since the last newsletter. This is one of the fastest ways to get subscribers back to your website.\r\n\r\n<h2>Use Content Communities</h2>\r\n\r\nMany websites will allow you to submit blog posts to them, if they fit with their audience. You can check sites, such as Blog Engage or Triberr. If your content is very good, it will get seen and you can get a large amount of traffic from places like this.\r\n\r\n<h2>Share Images on Pinterest</h2>\r\n\r\nYou should be using at least one image with every blog post. If so, you can share your images on Pinterest for all of your followers to see and re-pin. This is one of the fastest growing and most popular social media sites you can use today.\r\n\r\n<h2>Share on Instagram</h2>\r\n\r\nJust like Pinterest, you can take advantage of the popularity of Instagram with every blog post. You can easily share through the app with hashtags, images and captions to make sure you get the most out of your blog posts.\r\n\r\n<h2>Share on LinkedIn</h2>\r\n\r\nLinkedIn may be a bit more specific to a professional type of user, but most blog posts still fit with the site. When you share on LinkedIn, you do want to make sure you share only what\'s relevant to the site. If you decide to share in groups, make sure the content fits well.\r\n\r\n<h2>Email People You Mention</h2>\r\n\r\nSometimes, you may have a reason to mention a person or company in your blog post. If you do, email the individual or the company executive and let them know about the content. This will allow you to potentially draw more attention to your content.\r\n\r\n<h2>Use Notifier from ContentMarketer.io</h2>\r\n\r\nContentMarketer.io allows you to use a tool they call Notifier. This tool will scan your blog posts and will Tweet any Twitter users you have mentioned in the blog. This will help you get more shares and you may end up with more followers, as well.\r\n\r\n<h2>Use Flipboard</h2>\r\n\r\nFlipboard allows you to make a blog post look like it came from a magazine. They have more than 80 million users and you can take advantage by getting your blog content on the site.\r\n\r\nIf you want to get more out of every blog post, you need a plan for sharing content across the internet. Some types of sharing can be put on autopilot and you can always pay your professional writer a little extra to share the content for you.\r\n\r\n','10 Easy & Fast Ways to Promote Blog Posts','','inherit','closed','closed','','10600-revision-v1','','','2016-08-04 15:42:25','2016-08-04 19:42:25','',10600,'https://itxdesign.com/10600-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(10602,4,'2016-08-04 15:44:41','2016-08-04 19:44:41','','Blog Content','','inherit','open','closed','','blog-content','','','2016-08-04 15:46:06','2016-08-04 19:46:06','',10600,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Blog-Content.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10603,4,'2016-08-04 15:44:47','2016-08-04 19:44:47','','Facebook','','inherit','open','closed','','facebook-4','','','2016-08-04 15:46:19','2016-08-04 19:46:19','',10600,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Facebook.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10604,4,'2016-08-04 15:45:27','2016-08-04 19:45:27','','LinkedIn','','inherit','open','closed','','linkedin-3','','','2016-08-04 15:46:34','2016-08-04 19:46:34','',10600,'https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/LinkedIn.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),