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SEO Health & 3 Super Simple Discover it For Your Website copy

SEO Health & 3 Super Simple Discoveries For Your Website

April 22, 2020

by Jacquelyn with 5 Comments Uncategorized

Before I jump on a call with a potential new client, I like to do a quick website check to figure out the overall SEO health of their website.

It’s nice to have some info on how much work the site will require before I get on the phone with the client. This is the website health check process that I go through for every client. The process is very straightforward and can be done in less than 10 minutes.

Step 1: Determine the number of keywords the site ranks for.

One of my very favorite SEO Tools is SEMrush. This is my go-to website ranking tool, I literally have it open all day long.

I have the paid plan, but the free version is very handy and full-featured for one person/website. The free version of SEMrush allows you to do 10 complete searches with the tool before you buy it. The goal of this first step is to determine how many keywords Google ranks a site for.

The more keywords that a site has the more opportunities to be found. So head on over to SEMrush and in the All Reports Input box, type your domain name. There is a lot on this screen to look at, but I focus on the Organic Search column on the left (look for the red square). There is a lot of fantastic info here in this little box.

I used MindBodyGreen.com as my example. Take a look and see the total number of keywords is 1.1M and the Growth is +4%. Claps for that!

Now, 1.1M keywords is quite a lot. Probably waaaaaay more than most sites. MBG has so many because they continually produce great content, they have influencers write for them and a ton of quality sites link to them. So. that said.

Please don’t be discouraged if you are ranking for 100 or 500 words. At this point, the number is interesting but not very significant. Next, I click on View Full Report under the Top Organic Keywords. At the top of the page, I focus in on the Keyword Rank Trend chart at the top of the page. The default is to display the last year of monthly keyword totals.

From this graph, I can get a very clear picture of the keyword health.

Is it consistent? Is it growing each month? Is it dipping? Was there a big decline in keywords or a huge spike?

I am looking for consistency here. If there is a big spike or dip, I want to figure out why that was (could be a new site, new host, new theme, stopped blogging, had a malware attack….) MBG keyword ranking is very healthy. The trend is positive and very consistent. So far, so good for this health check.

Step 2: Check your Backlinks (quickly)

Okay so once we have established that the keywords are growing consistently, then I hop down to Backlinks.

So just like keywords the more you have the more love ? Google will throw your way.

Now there are some nuances to backlinks, the site that is linking to your site does matter. A more authoritative site (think NY Times or The Every Girl) will provide more SEO juice than a site that has very little authority and traffic. But since we are just doing a quick SEO Health Check, I want to see if the site does in fact have backlinks and are they growing.

If this true, then that tells me that the site has authority and trust since other sites are actively linking to them.

At this point based on keywords and backlinks, my initial impression of the site is coming into focus. MBG is a very healthy site. For the final step, I go to the website.

Step 3: Oogle at Your Actual Website

The big idea here is to go to the homepage and see if I can easily figure out what the site is all about —as quickly as possible. I want to learn the purpose of the site within the first few seconds.

Pro Tip: if I can’t figure out the point of a site quickly, then Google won’t either. So make your big brand statement easy to understand and very easy to find.

Annnnd that is all folks! This simple 3 step process is one that I go through for each and every potential client. Determining the keyword rankings, the backlinks and assessing the blog content are all great indicators of the site’s overall SEO Health.

Still too confusing? Get in touch with Jacquelyn (Creative Director and SEO Guru) of Unglitch.io. What do you need help with?

Websites You’d Be Surprised — Are WordPress Websites

January 2, 2020

by Jacquelyn with 2 Comments Uncategorized

I always get aksed from clients about to start their website creation for their business; “What’s the best CMS (Content Management System) for websites.

There is soooooo many options! Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, Shopify, GoDaddy Website Builder and so much more! One I’ve missed – that is my #1 recommendation: WordPress.

It’s still the top leading way to create a website.
You can go the DIY route and pick a theme and customize it with your info and images, but WordPress is still the top one for custom websites to be built, custom themes to be built for your business and it’s the way I go about creating websites for clients.

You may even be surprised that some VERY FAMILIAR websites are actually built within WordPress. Take a peek:

Why GOOD logo design doesn’t cost $99

September 8, 2019

by Jacquelyn with No Comment Uncategorized

Most designers are pretty awesome at what they do. But not every designer can just whip up a successful logo. A great logo takes time, skill, and strategy. This highly specialized skill shouldn’t be taken lightly, or cheaply. This is why I want to tell you why a high-quality logo design project doesn’t cost $99. Nor should it ever.

We’ve all seen the price disparity between a logo design costing $99 on Fiverr or over $10,000 from a professional agency. How do we choose the right price when there is such a cost choice variation? Surely, a simple $99 logo will do, right? WRONG.

Now, I am not saying you need to spend your life savings on a logo. What I want to emphasize in this post is why paying bottom-dollar will do you and your business absolutely no good and actually end up costing you way more down the line when you realize your logo is not professional or fitting to what you wanted to represent your brand. In the end, you’ll spend more money re-doing your logo over and over again.

The Importance.

Logos are so important for your business. I can’t emphasize this fact enough. A logo emulates your company’s reputation. It is often seen as the face of a company.

Look at your logo as a business tool – you wouldn’t skimp on a tool that was vital for the success of your business, right? Apply this logic to your logo design. A logo is one of the most important branding investments a business can make and it should be Step 2 after a solid business plan.

LOGOS COMMUNICATE

Think about what aspirations you have for your business. Visualized? Ok, now. These same visualizations will be communicated through your logo design – when your logo is made by a professional logo designer. The designer that will emulate your vision through a logo won’t be cheap.

By choosing the cheap $99 option, you may be saving money on your logo now, but this could mean that you are spending more money on a logo down the road. The logo you should have invested in in the first place. Now, I don’t believe “the more you invest, the more you get out”, is always a true statement. But it IS true for logo design. So now let’s talk about what kind of prices we are looking at for quality logo designs.

The real prices of logo designs.

Logos are NOT just a five-minute design created on a whim. Only cheap logos are quick and easy. If you’ve ever been shocked by logos reaching the triple (or even quadruple) digits, then I should tell you now – quality costs.

There is a process to logo design, and it is important. Designers need to take into account a client’s values, business goals, and brand message. Once we enter the designing phase, several logo variations are made, revisions are implemented and completed by refining the logo to perfection.

CALCULATING WHAT A LOGO PROJECT SHOULD COST YOU.

If the design process is done correctly, using all elements all involved, a great logo designed by a professional can take anywhere from 30-50+ hours to complete. This entire process is relevant for factoring in the price professional logo designers will (and should) cost.

There will be a noticeable disparity between professional freelance designers and design agencies. You should also expect regional price variations to factor into your overall design costs as well as how many years of experience that the designer has.

Conclusion.

I hope this helps you in understanding why high-quality logo design should never cost you $99. Invest in your business wisely! Your investment will set you apart and be complementary to your success.

Feel free to contact me with any questions you have!

A PEEK INSIDE MY CLIENT WELCOME PACKET

August 18, 2019

by Jacquelyn with 4 Comments Uncategorized

Why a welcome packet?

Naturally, there are always tones of email back and forth to explain the little details. But I like to provide a neat digital packet that has almost all the details and info neatly in one place for a smoother client experience.

What’s Included In The Client Welcome Packet

I send in the welcome packet after the initial deposit is paid and the contract is signed. This isn’t a workbook! Because ain’t no boss have time for that!

Welcome And Thank You Note

This is just a note I include to add a little personal touch.
It is personalized for each client depending on their business and their objectives but typically this is the general template of the note –

I am truly excited to be working with each new client and can’t wait to bring about the much-needed transformation in their business We address whatever specific pain points they have in their business here as well
I mention what the welcome packet is about and how they should use/go through it.
My contact information.
I congratulate them for taking this important decision for their business and let them know that I am grateful for their business.

Setting Expectations

My goal with the welcome packet is to reduce all the email back forth and make sure the client and I are on the same page.

Majority of the problems are a result of lack of clear communication from either side.
When you set expectations up-front you ensure smoother communication and process between you and your clients.

Some of the things that I include into this page –

How we are going to communicate over the duration of the project.
Project timelines
Policies for rescheduling meetings
When the next payment is due
Due-date for submitting the branding questionnaire
Timelines for providing feedback.
How often and how I will provide updates on the project
Business hours/days
My response times

I have found, It’s a lot better to set these boundaries in the initial stages instead of trying to bring the situation under control when a “misstep” happens from either side during the project.
It sets you apart as a professional in your industry and helps to avoid all the potentially difficult situations.

Process Details

This is where I briefly outline the process details again and also describe the one concept approach.

Even though we discuss the project details over the initial discovery call, I make sure to outline it again.
When we kick off the project at the start date it’s typically 3-4 weeks after the initial discovery call as most clients need time to think over if they’d like to work with me. Understandable!
Small details discussed over the calls can easily be forgotten or missed, so outlining them here doesn’t throw any last-minute surprises to the clients during the project.

Deliverables

I mention all the deliverables that the client will receive at the end of the project for whichever package they signed up for and also any add ons if purchased.

The few things I include –

Details associated with each deliverable.
How the deliverables will be provided.

How-To Guides

I also include an FAQ page, these are the commonly asked questions from my clients ( which I note down and add them to the list as I experience them during the projects ) like –

How to book for additional services
Can you do X for me? or
Can I include an add on service when we are halfway through the project?
What if I want some work done urgently?

The final guide that I include is how to give feedback on the designs.
I include this document to help clients understand what is and what is not helpful feedback to the designer.
It helps to avoid potentially vague feedback from them and helps me understand what they are thinking.

BONUS!

I love that we’ve worked together each time. So a Thank You is a must on my part. It’s just my way of making my clients feel excited and give them a premium experience.
Usually, it’s discounts from such places as Moo, Print Peppermint, Vistaprint, 4by6, and more — but I am currently transitioning into a partner program with previous clients where future clients’ thank you’s will be products samples!