At the kickoff meeting for every website development project, we ask the business owner where their domain is registered, and their DNS lives. I usually get a lot of blank looks, but we need that information to bring their website live. So in this article, I will share what every business owner should know about their domain and DNS settings, along with a drawing to make it all easier to understand.  

Your domain is not the same thing as your website.

Your domain, also known as your website address or URL, is how people find your website (www.myawesomecompany.com), but it is not the same thing as your actual website. Your actual website is made up of many different files that live on a website server, and that website server could be anywhere.

Your DNS is not the same thing as your domain.

DNS stands for Domain Name Servers, often referred to as just Name Servers for short. Name Servers are basically giant digital directories that tell the internet where to find stuff. For every domain, there must be entries on a Name Server somewhere that says, “Hey world! The website files for myawesomecompany.com can be found on this server over here!”

Name servers have names like ns1.awesomeserver.com and ns2.awesomeserver.com. The individual entries are called DNS records, and you may have other records telling the world where other things associated with your domain live, such as your email. For example, website servers use A records, and email servers use MX records.

DNS records are often located at the same place where the domain is registered. This is why many people think of them as the same thing. But they don’t have to be at the same place, and in some cases, you won’t want them to be at the same place. In other cases, you will need to move some of these pieces to support your growing business needs.

Why should I care?

As a business owner, you can and should hire people to do things you don’t want to do or don’t have time to do. However, your domain and DNS are essential digital assets, and knowing where they live and how to access them is very important to protect the longevity of your digital footprint.

Often, business owners have tech-savvy employees or outside agencies register domains for them. Unfortunately, when you do this, you risk losing access to your domain if your relationship with them sours. 

Additionally, many DIY website platforms offer domain registration services. It’s easy to say, “Cool! I can just get my awesome domain here!” You don’t even have to hear the word DNS because when you register your domain through these platforms, they will automatically create the DNS entries that point your domain to your website files. 

That works fine until you graduate from a DIY website and want to build a new website that lives somewhere else. You must then go through the process of moving your domain and your DNS records.

So what is the best way to set all this up?

Ideally, you should register your domain under your own business name and address. However, you will want to use a separate email address that you will always have access to, regardless of what happens to your business and employment. Keep a detailed record of where this domain is registered and file it with other essential business documents. 

Suppose your domain is currently registered by someone else, such as a website platform like WIX or Squarespace, or is controlled by a website development company, freelance website designer, or ex-employee. In that case, you’ll want to transfer the domain to your own domain registrar account. 

There are many pros and cons of various domain registrars. You can certainly ask a professional in the industry for recommendations on where to register your domain or for help setting it up. Just make sure to keep a record of where the domain is registered and how to access it.

What is the domain transfer process like?

Transferring a domain is a multi-step process. 

1. First, the domain must be unlocked at the current registrar, and then an EPP transfer key is requested and sent to the email address associated with the domain owner. This is why you want to use a separate email address; if you lose access to your domain’s email address, it is difficult to get the transfer key. 
2. The new account receiving the domain enters the transfer key on their side. 
3. Then, an email is sent to both parties to approve the transfer. 
4. Once the transfer is approved, the domain is in the new account, and you can then set Name Servers or enter DNS Records. 
5. When transferring a domain, it is best to change only one variable at a time. So when the domain is transferred, you should utilize the previous Name Servers and keep all the existing DNS records in place for at least a week. 
6. After everything is humming along nicely, you can change the Name Servers.  

I know where my domain is, but not my DNS.

Often we meet with a business owner who knows where their domain is registered but doesn’t know anything about their DNS. Since all your DNS records are public (remember, they are the directory telling the internet where to find things), you can use directory tools to look up the Name Servers for a domain. 

If your domain uses the default Name Servers, moving from one website to another or one email solution to another is a relatively straightforward process. The proper DNS records just need to be updated. 

Changing Name Servers

If your domain uses Name Servers of another service that you no longer wish to keep, you will need to change Name Servers. This process is more straightforward than transferring a domain since both parties do not need to approve the transfer. The trick here, though, is to make sure that you move over all the records associated with your domain. For example, if you have MX records for your email, you’ll want to be sure to transfer those records. Some domain registrars allow you to preconfigure all the DNS records ahead of time so that all the records are already in place when you switch Name Servers. 

Is this article over yet?

If this all sounds complex and overwhelming, that’s okay. It takes years and years to fully understand DNS. You should certainly enlist a professional to make domain transfers or DNS updates on your behalf. Just make sure that they keep in mind what’s best for the longevity of your business and not what is quickest and easiest at the moment. Did I mention you should also be sure to keep accurate records of domain registration details?

Reach out to the team at Iceberg if you have any questions about the next steps for your domain or DNS during your new website development project.

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Is my Website Impacted By The log4j Vulnerability?

You may have seen news about the recent log4j vulnerability issue that is currently circulating. We’re hoping to provide some short insight, and help you ensure that your website is safe and secure.

log4j is a component for Java servlets. If your website is using WordPress, it is using PHP as its server side language (not Java). Most smaller WordPress websites themselves will not be affected by this vulnerability, however websites with third party integrations and plugins may be using software that relies on Java programming.

The best way to protect your website from any vulnerabilities is to ensure that your website software and all plugins are up-to-date. If you are concerned about this vulnerability, or future potential ones, our recommendation is to update your website software to the most recent, stable versions.

At Iceberg, we take security vulnerabilities very seriously, and have maintenance plans in place to ensure our customers websites remain secure.

If you need website help, or have questions about your website’s security, you can always contact our team online or give us a call at 763-350-8762.

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New e-commerce sites are launching every day. Shopify and WooCommerce are two of the biggest e-commerce platforms powering millions of websites around the world. If you are considering starting a new site yourself or are making changes to your current site, you might be wondering what the difference is between Shopify and WooCommerce. Since each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, we will break down some of the key differences between them and help you decide which platform is best for your business.

Hosting

The biggest difference between Shopify and WooCommerce is that Shopify is a hosted e-commerce solution while WooCommerce is a self-hosted solution that requires a separate hosting account. 

Maintenance

Shopify manages all the core updates and security of e-commerce sites on their platform. WooCommerce on the other hand requires a much more hands-on approach to maintenance, updates and security monitoring. 

Cost

The cost of a Shopify site typically runs between $30-300 per month depending on plan. Custom themes and apps are additional one-time or subscription-based fees in addition to the monthly Shopify fees. WooCommerce is built on WordPress and is free to install but you will need to pay for hosting which typically runs between $150-500 a month depending on your resources and maintenance requirements. 

Payment Processing

Both platforms also require some form of payment processing. Shopify has its own payment processing plan but also supports other major payment processors such as PayPal and Authorize.net. WooCommerce also supports many of the major payment processors. Payment processing for both platforms typically costs between 2-3% per sale.

Features & Apps

You can add features to your site via apps in Shopify and plugins in WooCommerce. Each platform has its own repository of apps/plugins and you can also find free and paid apps/plugins on third-party party websites. 

Most of Shopify’s apps are provided by third-party app developers and are hosted on the developer’s servers. Shopify app developers are responsible for maintenance and updates of the app and have different levels of access to your store’s data. 

WooCommerce plugins are also primarily offered by third-party developers but the plugins are installed directly on the server or hosting platform running WordPress. WooCommerce plugins options include free, one-time fee or subscription based. 

You have a lot more flexibility with how your store is set up and it’s easier to add custom features to WooCommerce.

So, which platform should you use for your e-commerce website? 

The platform you choose depends on 

• What type of site you are building
• How many custom features you will be adding to the site 
• How you plan to support the site

Shopify is a great choice for standard e-commerce sites with high volume and not a lot of static pages. 

We recommend WooCommerce for sites with a lot of custom features, when clients are already familiar with WordPress or plan to have a lot of non-product pages and/or a blog alongside their e-commerce site. 

Iceberg Can Help

The e-commerce experts at Iceberg Web Design can look at how you plan to use your e-commerce site, which products you want to sell, and any requirements for custom features or 3rd party integrations. Based on this information, we can help you to decide which platform will work best for your e-commerce website. 

And when you are ready to build your e-commerce site, our specialists can work with you through every step of the process to ensure your site is exactly what your business needs.

Contact us today!

The post Shopify Vs. WooCommerce – Which Platform is Right for You? appeared first on Iceberg Web Design.

Thankful At Iceberg Web Design

We are Thankful For  Iceberg Web Design, as 2021 is coming to a close, we wanted to take a moment to reflect.  Like any other year, there have been a lot of ups and downs. We like to focus on the positives here at Iceberg, and I’m glad we can share some of the things we are thankful for with you today! 

We are sharing a conversation from our Company Slack, we love being able to have a hybrid environment!

hattie  

Hey! It’s that time of year again where we want to know what you are thankful for this year? Is there anything you learned that you are thankful for? Maybe let us know why you are thankful for Iceberg ( if you are).

jessi   

Oh I LOVE THIS!!

jessie   

I am Thankful for my husband Jim, my 2 grown children, who are 2 of my very best friends, our dogs Charlie and Earl, and my best guy ever… my cat Ted!! I am also so Thankful to work for a FUN company that has amazing core values that we all really believe in and all of the cool things I learn every day! 

mariann 

This year my husband and I bought a new house, I am thankful for that, and Iceberg, of course!

shane 

hattie  

I had a baby and bought a house this year, it is still a little hard to believe. I am thankful that I have a healthy family, a roof over my head, and a great job! Everything only seems to be getting better all the time!  I am still learning how to be a working mom that comes with trials, and I’m sure even more down the road. I have learned (and still learning) to ask for help when I need it, and I am thankful to have the team support at Iceberg!

cece  

I’ve learned to be more grateful/mindful for the little things every day. To remind yourself that you can be somewhere completely different in a year’s time, so never stop looking forward. Thankful for every blue sky, happy moments with my family, having an amazing place to work at Iceberg, and thankful to see where this next year takes me.

josh

I am thankful that I joined the Iceberg team this year and had the opportunity to work with some really great clients. I am thankful for a healthy family and all the positive changes that we’ve experienced in 2021.

kyle  

I am thankful for the family God has given me and for being able to enjoy so many outdoor activities very close to our home. I am also very grateful that I get to work in such a great company with so many talented people where we get to be a part of helping our clients grow their businesses.

kari   

I am incredibly thankful that my family survived the past year with our wits in tact and a with plenty of laughter. When the road gets bumpy my favorite thing to do is make people laugh and I am lucky to be surrounded by people who share this joy. I am so thankful for my job, for the consistency of great work we’ve been able to produce, and for all the ways that we support each other.

heather

I am thankful that during the past year, my family has remained healthy. I’m so grateful for a job that I love, and coworkers I respect and learn from every day. It’s a privilege to be able to do what I love every day.

jessi   

Y’all are making me  here!! I’m so very incredibly thankful for an incredible, talented, passionate team. We wouldn’t be where we are as a company today without the dedication of each and every one of you. And hand in hand with that, thankful for our customers who trust us with their businesses every day. I’m thankful to have two happy, healthy children, and a home that keeps us comfortable.

Thankful for You!

We wouldn’t be here without our customers and community, and it is our joy to work with you all. If there is anything we can do for you to make your business grow in 2022, we are here for all of your web design, web development, and digital marketing needs, the best part is that we also answer the phone! Contact us!

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Adam Toporek, author of “Be Your Customer’s Hero: Real-World Tips & Techniques for the Service Front Lines,” has created a great infographic on this topic. [1]

Here are some of the things that are known to drive customers up a wall

1.       Being ignored
2.       Being abandoned (broken connection)
3.       Being hassled
4.       Incompetence (Perceived or real)
5.       Being shuffled from one department to the next
6.       Being powerless when trying to talk with a large organization
7.       Being disrespected

Customer Service Representative, Jessie Gutzwiller, Shares Her Thoughts

Jessie has been working in the customer service industry for the past 30 years. She has also been a customer. Having experience on both sides of the phone line has made her the ideal CSR (Customer Service Representative) for Iceberg Web Design as well as the perfect person to ask about Customer Service “Triggers.”

Being Ignored

This happens a lot more in person than on the phone. For example, if you are at a restaurant and the wait staff seems to breeze by without a word. You probably feel ignored. Likewise, if you are in a store and need assistance, but no one seems to notice you. You wonder if anyone knows you’re there. This can be frustrating.

Customers need to feel heard. As a CSR, even if you are busy, it’s imperative that you acknowledge the customer. If you are in person, rather than over the phone, look them in the eyes so that they know you see them. Tell them, “I’m running a bit behind, but I will be right there.”

The telephone equivalent is when you are sitting on hold for an eternity. Again, let the customer know why they are on hold and how long they can expect to wait. It is much easier to be patient when you see the end is in sight.

Being Abandoned

Being abandoned can happen when a phone connection gets dropped after you’ve just waited on hold for a long time. It can also occur when you expect a follow-up email from CSR, but it never arrives.

Being abandoned can also happen in person. Examples of this include asking someone if an item is in stock. They disappear for 20 minutes, leaving you to wonder if they have forgotten about you. We can again look at the example of a waitress. This time, they seem to forget that you are waiting for refills or even the check.

A good CSR will read back the email and a phone number you have given them to ensure they have the right one. This way, if you get disconnected, they can get ahold of you, and you don’t have to go through the often arduous process of dialing back in. They will also reply to each message or email you leave to assure you that they are looking into the issue. If you are in-person, a good CSR will check back if they are gone for a while.

Being Hassled

When you talk to a customer service representative, whether in person or over the phone, you want to be heard. Even if they can’t do anything about the problem, the last thing you want is to have things turned around on you. No one wants that. That is “being hassled.” Anytime a customer is treated like they are the problem, it is being hassled.

A good CSR will let the customer vent their frustrations and listen with understanding. The customer is never wrong. That’s an important axiom to remember in customer service. Jessie Gutzwiller, the CSR at Iceberg, told me that people would rather have the best waitress and bad food than the best food and a bad waitress.

Incompetence (Perceived or real)

Another customer trigger is incompetence. It doesn’t even have to be real incompetence, but if a customer believes that you don’t know how to do your job, they will be disappointed and perhaps even irate. It’s okay not to have the solution to the problem or the answer to their question, but at least try to find it.

Customers will often perceive that a CSR is incompetent not because they are, but because they are lazy, unmotivated, or even hung-over. You need to be on the customer’s side and try to find a solution to their problem as if the problem was your own.

Being shuffled from one department to the next

Sometimes this can’t be helped. They may have called the wrong store or the wrong department. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t help. Maybe they have a general question that you can answer without pushing them off onto someone else. If you must transfer them, apologize and explain why you need to transfer their call.

Like in the second customer trigger, “Being Abandoned,” you will want to give them a direct number to the person they should talk to if their call gets dropped. Offer a choice between being transferred or getting a return call. By being patient and willing to help, you will show your customers that you are more than competent.

Being powerless when trying to talk with a large organization

Large organizations became successful for a reason, so they must have something going well for them. It’s essential that you avoid ever telling a customer what you can’t do for them. Instead, let them know what you can do.

One example is when someone calls asking for help with their Wix site. We only work with WordPress, so what is our CSR to do? She can ask around for someone who works with Wix and get back to them. This is going the extra mile, considering they aren’t a customer of ours. But it’s important to treat everyone who calls with the same blue-ribbon service.

Being Disrespected

This final customer service trigger may be the most important one. Everyone you encounter deserves respect. It can be difficult, though, when they are rude and disrespectful to you. When that happens, it is time to put up clear boundaries.

For example, if you have a customer who is swearing at you over the phone, the temptation will be to either dish it back to them or hanging up. Instead, muster all your self-control and say, “I need you to stop swear at me, or I will have to hang up.” At that point, the ball is in the customer’s corner. They can calm down, or they can continue their tirade. You have told them the consequences, so you are now obligated to follow through.

The Joy of Customer Service

Thankfully, most customers are great. They share stories with us that make us laugh, and they are usually very appreciative of the efforts we make to help them out. We would love to help you out with all of your business needs. Our customer service representative, Jessie, handles our support and maintenance plans and customers love her. If you aren’t already a customer and would like to experience the Iceberg difference, contact us today! Read more about customer’s experiences!

[1] Toporek, Adam. “Customer Service Infographic: What Are the 7 Service Triggers?” Adam Toporek Keynote Speaker of Customers That Stick®, 14 June 2019, customersthatstick.com/blog/customer-service-infographic-what-are-the-7-service-triggers/.

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Happy Holidays from Iceberg Web Design

Everyone knows 2020 has been challenging. This year, more than any, it is so important that we hold tight to the little things that bring us moments of joy. Here at Iceberg, we decided to share some of the holiday traditions that we are keeping alive for ourselves and our families on our company slack. We hope everyone is finding ways to celebrate as we close out the year!

Our Holiday Traditions :

hattie  

Hey Iceberg Penguins,  I would like to finish the month with a small discussion. What holiday traditions are you keeping alive even through the struggles of 2020?

jessi   

I’ve been keeping the magic of the season alive for the kids – though the lack of snow does make that a bit more difficult this year. A new tradition, which I expect to carry on each year now, is hanging cheerful lights outside on the house. Also, at my house in December, elves visit in the night and leave trinkets in little bags for the kids. It’s usually a small ornament, a gadget, or a treat. And while I haven’t talked with him personally, I’m sure that Santa will be making an appearance on Christmas morning.

heather   

We have certain cookies that we make every single year. Today we are going to try to get them done. One is called come drop peppernuts. It’s a German recipe for teeny tiny little cookies. The other is for the most wonderful cookie in the world. It doesn’t really have a name, I like to call it peanut butter patties. You just take two Ritz crackers and smear some peanut butter between them. Then, you dip the little peanut butter sandwich into chocolate or chocolate almond bark. Then you set the coated cookie on wax paper until it hardens. Finally, you try not to eat all of them at once.

mariann 

Day drinking?
Seriously though, when we chatted about Christmas and what our traditions are, neither of us had anything big we could think of.  Although both of our families are big on mimosas on holidays and I did plan to buy some stuff for that.

hattie  

I have to admit that this year, it was a little harder to put up the Christmas decorations and want to do some of the normal holiday traditions, it just didn’t feel like the holidays. I’m glad that I did, and we did take time to wrap gifts and have them sent to our families. We have also frosted cookies and we are going to try a new activity and tye die some onesies for our baby and a couple of shirts for us on Christmas. Here is a picture of some of the cookies we decorated:

jessie   

Even though I struggled with putting up my indoor decorations ( just kind of seemed like there was no point in it, although, I did manage to do it) I always, always decorate outside! Even this year, I did not hesitate even a little bit! I love to send joy to passersby, by decorating the house and yard.

shane 

Last-minute Christmas shopping, we put up a real tree and are having Christmas on Christmas Eve with one side of the family and Christmas Day with the other side although mostly virtual this year.

kari   

Usually, we light advent candles starting on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and adding one candle each week. We also have a song we sing and we add on one verse to it each week. It is my favorite family tradition. I measure how many family dinners we have in the month by how small the candles get. This year we have been in a time warp. Every day is the same and time is moving in super speed so it is very hard to figure out what day or month it is. With everything going on we didn’t get the Christmas decorations out until the fourth Sunday had actually passed, but I’ve decided that since this is a favorite tradition we are going to have one nice meal where we do a speeded-up version of the candle lighting and song. It seems fitting for this crazy year.

heather

That was a great idea! And it was so fun to hear everyone’s traditions. I might have to join Mariann’s family for Christmas. Day drinking lol! Seriously, all of them were so heartwarming.

mariann 

LOL yeah Alex’s god mom makes the best mimosas with Tequila and Champagne!

hattie  

great holiday traditions all around!

Let’s talk in 2021

Our passion is to solve your business problems with unique web application development. Whether your goal is increasing leads or helping internal operations we want to work with you. We don’t stop with your website. In addition to custom website development and design, we offer a range of search engine optimization, content marketing, branding, and related services.

Contact us today! 

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Most people would agree that 2020 has been a year, unlike any other. There have been a lot of ups and downs. The good news is that means there have been some ups. Those ups are the focus of today’s post as we look at what us here at Iceberg are thankful for.

We are sharing a conversation from our Company Slack about what we are each thankful for.

heather   

This is a little last minute, but is there ever a deadline on thankfulness? In this year of ups and downs, I would like to write a short post about what we are thankful for here at Iceberg. Could everyone share a few things? Thank you!

jessie   

I am thankful we are in an industry that we are able to work from home. 

heather    

Me too! What else? Ted’s got to be on that list. 

jessie 

I am VERY thankful for Ted, and that he is feeling better, I am thankful for my family and my home and for Charlie! I am thankful my mom is feeling better.

hattie  

It’s been a weird year to move to a new state, but I think it’s all worked out for the best. I couldn’t be happier with a new job here and my new community. Also, thankful for my growing family  Mike Gimli and new baby on the way! 

shane 

I’m thankful we are all safe and able to work effectively from home.   I’m Thankful that Lenny gets so much time with us since we are home.

jessi   

I am SUPER thankful for all of you, sticking with it and adapting to this new crazy work/life combination schedule. And for being patient with each other, as we all deal with our individual struggles during the pandemic.  And thankful that our customers have been supportive and understanding. And very thankful that people still need help with their websites.

kyle  

Company-wise, I am really thankful to work with such a cool team. I always learn a lot from you all, and you all even let me break things and learn, which is pretty fun. Also, really grateful we started EOS before the pandemic. I feel like it has really helped us be able to deal with all the changes and issues that have come up.

kari   

I am really thankful we have all stayed healthy through this! And I am very thankful for all of your grace and patience, and understanding as I work with the kid’s home distance learning.

mariann 

I’m thankful we all have been able to keep our jobs and this company running during this pandemic.
I’m thankful all of us are fortunate enough to be worrying about groceries or ordering food from restaurants this thanksgiving instead of waiting in food lines with the 50+ million Americans. I’m thankful that everyone I know who has had COVID has survived.  I’m thankful that MN is leading in vaccination planning, and our nursing home staff and residents will receive the first doses of the vaccine within 48 hours of FDA approval.

heather

I’m thankful that my family has stayed healthy so far. And I am especially grateful to work with such a fantastic team, doing what I love. There is always something to be thankful for, no matter what time of year it is or what pandemic we are living through. At Iceberg Web Design, we are especially thankful for our clients. We wish everyone a happy, healthy Thanksgiving, even if it doesn’t look like those we have celebrated in the past.

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As of June 2020, 42% of the US labor force is working from home, 33% are not working, and 26% are essential service workers.[1]

Now that most of the pre-COVID-19 stigma surrounding remote working is gone, many employers and their workforce have discovered many benefits to working remotely.

According to recent surveys, with many companies deciding how to approach work from home options beyond the pandemic, working remotely is here to stay for 20% of the workforce. That is four-fold the pre-COVID-19 level of 5% of employees working from home.

How Iceberg Web Design Works Remotely

We at Iceberg Web Design continue to work remotely. In this post, we are pulling back the curtain to share some of the ups and downs we have experienced working from home. We will also share a few of the things we’ve done to overcome the challenges of working separately as a team.

At Iceberg, we have always had the option of working from home on a snow day or other such events, so the concept wasn’t a completely foreign concept to us. Still, there is a big difference between working from home for a day and working from home for months. It wouldn’t have been possible without the fantastic technology available to businesses. We have the advantage of being a tech-savvy group of people.

Technology Tips for Working Remotely!

For teams learning this new technology for the first time, there is a learning curve to be aware of. Start with the essential tools for running your business remotely and be flexible as everyone gets up to speed. And don’t be afraid to ask for help from someone who can walk you through the steps of using a new piece of software or some other tool. For that reason, finding the best way to communicate with customers and team members will likely be your number one priority in the beginning.

Our Favorite Remote Communication Tools

Zoom and Slack have become indispensable tools for keeping the lines of communication open. While we were comfortable with these modes of communication, over the past few months, we have learned to embrace them, which has enabled us to open up new ways of communicating with one another and our clients. We also use Teamwork, a project management app. This keeps us all on track and prevents anything from falling through the cracks.

We still have had to adjust to some changes in communication. It can be challenging to make sarcasm and humor translate from the spoken word to Slack messages. This is something for people to keep in mind whether they are emailing or sending a text or slack message. While not recommended in email correspondence, emojis are great for this purpose. Our team has found that they also are a way to add personality to our responses.

Also, to keep work and family life separate, it can help to turn off notifications from work when you have finished your workday.

Staying Social

Our team is a close-knit group, so to keep our connection to one another strong, we each write a morning update into Slack’s “Standuply” feature. We celebrate our wins and think about how to overcome any obstacles we encounter.

We also have a social hour every few weeks when we jump on a Zoom call and catch up. Morale needs to be aware of our need for connection. Simultaneously, less water cooler talk, because we are no longer in the office, means we have more focus and are getting more done in less time!

Flexibility at a Time When We Need It Most

One significant benefit of working remotely is the flexibility it allows us to have. This helps us to balance our professional responsibilities with the needs of our families. This has been particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic as parents help their children navigate distance learning for the first time. This balance between work and family life is one of Iceberg’s core values.

Finding that Balance Can be Tricky at First

We feel guilty when we take some time out from our workday to care for our children and pets. It can be difficult for family members to understand that even though we are home, we are still engaged in our work duties. We also feel guilty when family members return at the end of the day, and we haven’t done any household chores or meal preparation. This guilt is usually something that originates in our mind and is rarely heaped upon us by others. Employees with experience working from home in the past or who’ve had a partner work from home adjust more quickly.

It can help to have a designated workspace that you use for work only. This signals to your family—and yourself that you are on the clock. Keeping the same work schedule every day will also help you fall into a routine. Some of us use separate laptops for work and personal life.

Sometimes We Forget to Take Breaks

We can get so focused on a project that we lose track of time. Before you realize it, your shoulders and neck are tight, and your eyes are dry because you’ve been staring at your computer screen with an intensity that renders you unable to blink.

Set a timer, either on Slack through Slackbot, another app, your phone, or an analog timer. Stand up and stretch, get a drink of water, and move around for a few minutes. If you have a job where you have to sit for long periods, moving around every 30 minutes can cut your risk of death from “sitting disease.”[2] Two relatively simple apps are the Tomato Timer and Awareness.

Customer Service During the COVID-19 Pandemic

How we interact with customers has also changed in the past six months. We talk longer with them, and these conversations seem to always shift from the project at hand to non-work-related topics. This may be a side effect of customers—and us—missing the time we used to spend talking with other adults.

It’s unfortunate that for a while, at least, our customers aren’t able to meet with us in the office. Something is reassuring about the buzz of a busy office. It lets customers know that their project is backed by an entire team of website developers and digital marketing gurus. The value of that is hard to explain, but it is worth a lot.

Today and Tomorrow

Thankfully, that team still exists—more efficient than ever. Right now, we are just connected via Zoom and Slack, rather than the same office space. This has meant making some changes, even to our website. We used to encourage people to come and visit us in the office for a beer and a game of pool.

We look forward to the day when we can do that again. Until then, we are still answering the phone, offering you excellent customer service, and working to bring visibility to your business. In the future, our team would like to work part of the week from home and part of it from the office. It’s exciting to be able to tap into the benefits of both. Are you working remotely? What benefits have you discovered to work from home? What challenges have you encountered, and how can they be overcome?

We would love to talk to you about how we can help your business continue to thrive. Contact us today for marketing solutions (and a great conversation).

[1] Wong, May. “A Snapshot of a New Working-from-Home Economy.” Stanford News, 26 June 2020, news.stanford.edu/2020/06/29/snapshot-new-working-home-economy/.

[2]Chai, Carmen. “Sitting All Day at Work? Get up Every 30 Minutes to Cut Your Risk of Death.” Global News, Global News, 13 Sept. 2017, globalnews.ca/news/3740438/sitting-all-day-at-work-get-up-every-30-minutes-to-cut-your-risk-of-death/.  

The post Working Remotely During COVID-19 appeared first on Iceberg Web Design.

The internet has grown in popularity and usage since its conception in 1990. It has transformed the way we buy goods and services, stay informed, interact with each other, and, most of all, how we do business. With almost 4.54 billion people utilizing the internet daily, it has become a non stop flow of consumerism, communication, and the gathering of information, which all begins with websites. And like all industries, web design and development, undergo changing trends that can improve or reduce your business’s ability to funnel some of this traffic for yourself. Below is a list of 5 outdated web design practices that need to be fixed now, if you don’t want to repel visitors.

Auto-Play Video & Music

If you have music or video that immediately starts playing once a visitor sets their digital footprint on digital space, DISABLE IT! Not only are you annoying them, but are likely causing people to leave your site much faster than they would otherwise.

Auto-play video and music can be disruptive and even embarrassing for those browsing at work (especially when they are supposed to working), in a café, library, or even a waiting room. Often instead of startled users pausing or muting the source of the noise, many will take the quicker route of merely closing the entire window.

You may think that someone genuinely interested in your site may opt to simply turn the volume down and return to your site, which a small percentage may do. Still, by then, you’ve already lost some viewers and given others a negative user experience.

Aside from this, auto-play video and music can slow down your page load times, which is a well-known hindrance to SEO optimization. Furthermore, you may get a more accurate idea of people who are interested in your content when they actually have to play it than those who simply stumble across your page.

Flash Banners

For many website owners, flash banners seem to be an easy way to grab the viewer’s attention. In the early days of the internet, there weren’t many sites you could visit without some form of them. However, if you are still using them today, they can easily make your site appear outdated as they have fallen by the wayside of web design and development best practices.

One primary reason for this is because, at the height of their popularity, many people were still viewing websites on desktops. Now that viewing options include various devices, they don’t have the same visual appeal and may not even work. Unless HTML5/flash is utilized when creating them, they won’t appear on Google ad words. And other browsers such as Firefox and Safari don’t make them easy to use.

Furthermore, with the typical scanning behavior of most web site visitors, only a small few will stick around to see what’s next. Google’s display benchmark has even flagged them for having a significantly lower click-through rate(CTR) than static banners.

Replacing your flash banners with static banners and GIF’s have not only been proven more effective with potential customers, but they also require less time and programming to create.

Unresponsive Design

As briefly mentioned earlier, one of the contributing factors in the changing trends in website development and design are the various devices webpages can now be viewed on as opposed to the only desktop option that was available 30 years ago. As of 2016, mobile web usage has surpassed laptops and desktops. As a result, having a site that does not adjust to the different sized screens it will very likely be viewed on which is known as responsive design, can alone cause your site to look outdated and reduce overall user experience.

Additionally, Google not only penalizes these sites by lowering their ranking on search engine results but as of 2018, they now use mobile platforms to index websites. Other benefits to having a responsive design include faster loading times and cheaper development costs. Overall, if you want to have a competitive, respectable, and appealing presence online, your site MUST HAVE a responsive design.

Pop-Ups

No, I don’t mean those annoying pop-ups from the early days of the internet that were non stop and sometimes carrying viruses. I am referring to those modal pop-ups on individual pages that can’t be blocked and don’t require your permission to open.

Although these sorts of pop-ups are often used to promote a product or sale and can be useful in grabbing visitors’ email, it’s good to keep in mind that they can also be just as annoying as traditional pop-ups. The primary reason is similar to that of old pop-ups, which is that they take visitors’ attention away from the content that they actually visited the site for.

Using a prompt in the corners of a page, a small button, or banner at the top is generally received much better by viewers. Not only that, Google can lower your rankings if you misuse them on your site.

Above the Fold

Above the fold is an idea that came from traditional newspapers and made its way into early website design practices. For newspapers, they needed to put the best and most attention-getting stories and ads above the fold to encourage and increase sales. In website design, above the fold refers to the top half of the page that visitors view before scrolling.

With this in mind, many older websites crammed the top half of their sites with info that would entice viewers to scroll. Although this seems to make basic sense, it is merely unnecessary. Due to the increase in mobile users, most people are accustomed to scrolling. In fact, the very typical scanning behavior of most viewers actually requires them to.

Furthermore, there are several ways visitors can enter a site without necessarily coming from the home page, let alone viewing it at all. An above the fold approach can also make a website look cluttered, which again gives off an outdated feel.

If you are concerned about grabbing and keeping your visitor’s attention, it would be a much better use of your time to focus on producing great content and attractive designs.

Don’t Short Change Your Business

In a nutshell, outdated sites can sabotage a business’s attempts to impress current customers or gain new ones. Some website owners may not feel it’s necessary to follow every changing trend. However, many outdated features are the results of public feedback and visitor behavior patterns that enhance user experience. Updating them encourages the kind of engagement that leads to purchases, supporting a cause, or simply getting you essential data and feedback. So, not keeping up with current trends does any business with a website presence more harm than good.

The undeniable fact is that user behavior will continue to evolve, and as a result, so will website trends. To keep up with the times, it’s a good idea to update your site every year or two. If you need your site updated by a developer who knows the business, Iceberg Web Design can give you a fresh look that will keep you from falling behind the times.

The post 5 Website Design Practices That Repel Visitors appeared first on Iceberg Web Design.

Are you ignoring the benefits of blogging due to thinking you’re no good at writing?

Do you think blogging takes too much time?

By understanding their basic anatomy, you can write blog posts the right way, simply.

Understanding Simple Blog Post Structure

Although many factors go into creating a great blog post, you must grasp the importance of proper structure first. Most blog posts follow a simple structure that includes:

• A headline: The initial headline is an attention-grabbing title that explains what your blog post is about and what your readers can expect.
• An introduction: The introduction is typically the first few sentences or the first paragraph that entices visitors to keep reading.
• Body copy: This where the magic happens. Complete with sub-headings, the body copy is the place to deliver the information you promised in your headline.
• A call to action: A call to action (CTA) inspires your readers to act. For example, you may ask your readers to give you a call, download a freebie or something else.

Put It All Together to Write the Perfect Blog Post

Each separate component includes its own best practices to follow to create high-quality content for your website. Let’s jump right in.

Headline

The headlines you create for your blog posts should compel your audience to click. After all, 8 out of 10 people will read headline copy without reading the rest. When writing headlines:

• Stay informative: Make sure your headline describes exactly what information your reader will gain after reading the blog. Don’t be vague.
• Keep it simple: Keep your headlines simple and on the shorter side. Consider where your blog post will appear and write headlines accordingly. For example, headlines between 8-12 words get the most shares on Twitter and headlines under 70 characters aren’t cut off in search engine results.
• Optimize for search: If you can, try to optimize your headline by adding in a focus keyword your audience might search for to find your blog post.
• Make it pop: Use your power words to evoke curiosity. Or, use your headline to ask a question. Experiment to see what works when it comes to your specific audience.

Introduction

After the headline, your introduction will make or break your blog post. Here, it’s important that you “hook” the reader into wanting to learn more. This doesn’t mean that you give away all the value in the first few sentences. Instead, hit your reader with an interesting statistic, a quick story or a question that inspires them to move forward.

Body Copy

Your body copy is the meat of your blog post, the place where your reader receives the most information and value. When writing the body copy for your blog post:

• Add in sub-headings: Most readers tend to skim blog posts for the information they need most. Use sub-headings to break up your copy into easy-to-skim sections.
• Use padded bulleted lists: For lists, use padded bullets to break up blocks of text.
• Use short paragraphs and sentences: Write paragraphs that are no longer than 3-4 sentences and sentences no longer than 20 words. If the sentence is too long, split it in half.
• Write until your thought is complete: Many experts argue over the perfect blog post length. Make it your goal to write until the thought is complete and until you’ve given your readers everything they need to understand the topic at hand.

Call to Action

Finally, a call to action inspires your readers to interact with you even more. Some websites ask readers to leave comments while others ask them to reach out for more information. You can also use a call to action to ask readers to download a lead magnet that requires their email address.

Remember to only use one call to action on your blog post so you don’t inflict your audience with decision fatigue. Make your CTA stand out by giving it a separate heading.

Don’t Forget Your Images & Links

Your blog post should include a featured image that includes the title of your blog post as well as a visual that goes well with your topic. Don’t forget to add internal links (to pages on your website) and external links (to outside content) to relevant content in your body copy. This will give your audience a chance to gather even more information for added value.

Quality Blog Posts Generate Important Traffic for Your Website

Don’t sweep blogging under the rug. After all, quality content generates important traffic for your website.

Although writing a blog post may seem difficult at first, it becomes easier with practice. To learn more about blogging and best practices, send us a message.

The post The Basic Anatomy of a Blog Post appeared first on Iceberg Web Design.