Learn More.

Knowledge is power. I ask my clients and potential clients to please read each of the sections below and watch any associated videos.

If you need additional assistance or are interested in contracting with me to perform any of these services, these are billed at my standard rates as described on the Pricing page.

Check Out Some Additional Free Resources

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Google displays sites it believes are authoritative and relevant. They measure relevance by analyzing page content, the words you and I read, and they measure authority (mostly) based on the number and quality of other pages linking to the pages they show, links are like votes.

So what is Search Engine Optimization?

Search engine optimization is the process of improving the quality and volume of web traffic to a website by using a series of proven SEO techniques that help a website achieve a higher ranking with the major search engines, like Google and Bing, when certain keywords and phrases are put in the search field.

Consider your own Internet search habits. Everybody uses search engines, but not many people think about their inner workings. When you want to find information, your first instinct is to use a search engine because it is the fastest and easiest way to get it. Once the search results are posted, you’re far more likely to explore the links on the first page of results because they are the most relevant to what you are looking for and allow you to find what you’re looking for easily. That is the goal of search engine optimization.

Learn How to Manage Your SEO using Yoast SEO

What can Think Different Designs do for you?

I will work with you to help optimize your site for higher ranks. We will discuss page names, page descriptions and page keywords and then use WordPress plugins to optimize your WordPress website for search engines. In the end, good search engine optimization comes down to a few key things:

  • Content
  • On-page optimization
  • Links
  • Technical considerations

Social Media Consulting / Brand Marketing

What you should know!

From all the research that I’ve seen, I believe that social media is a key player to a small business’ online reputation management. Good things and bad things about businesses are posted everyday. Some get your attention and others don’t. In the research I did, I found that recent statistics shows that 91% of American adults who are online are using some form of social media on a daily basis and at least 25% of their time is spent on one or more social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, etc.

When it comes to the internet, it has been said that a social media consumer is the best type of consumer. The studies that I have seen show that there is ample evidence to effectively argue that social media users are far more active and influential than the average internet user. This is where social media has the ability to make good things even better and bad things even worse.

Your small business’ online reputation management is important and it is not just about protecting what you have already it is using your online reputation as part of your marketing campaign to drive new business and customer sales. With increasing numbers of people heading online as their first step to research your company, it only takes a few bad reviews or complaints to result in lost opportunities and a damaged perception of your company.

If 10 people say that they have had a positive experience in doing business with you; that you are reliable and they would recommend you to anyone, then that is something that you want all potential clients to know. Social media has the power to supersize information and share it with the world.

Managing your reputation is all about knowing and understanding what people will find when they search for information about your business. You don’t want to ignore what is being said about you! Think about it like this: The most important consideration is you should treat your social media reputation in the same manner you would your personal and public reputation. It’s time to face the fact that almost anything can get posted about your company regardless of the facts. We want to be the ones that tell the great story of your small business!

What can Think Different Designs do for you?

I pull together personal information on your business from various social media tools and outlets of where you should be actively engaged building up a positive reputation and gaining full knowledge of what information is already out there about your business. From that information, I consult with you to help you put together a game plan to actively manage your online reputation. I look forward to assisting you in getting this process started!

Google Analytics

Understanding who’s viewing your site and where they are coming from

I will assist you in learning to review your Google Analytics reports so that together we can help optimize your site.

Website Design Consultation / Vendor Selection

Think Different Designs is available to consult with you about your website. I’ll review your current site and discuss ways to better achieve your goals online. Areas of focus will include:

  • EDITING YOUR SITE YOURSELF. Can you easily edit and maintain your website without having to go back to a developer and pay for small changes?
  • DESIGN. Does your website look clean, modern, and professional? Does it provide the functionality that you need?
  • MARKETING AND SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION. Is your website bringing you new customers and helping you achieve your goals? Are people finding you online?
  • ARE YOU USING THE RIGHT PLATFORMS? I will help you in your understanding of available options and vendors available.
  • HOSTING NEEDS. I can help you to select the correct hosting provider to meet your needs

What can Think Different Designs do for you?

I can discuss your social media presence, hosting and email, and more. I will work with you to help you consider the changes your are needing to your existing website or help you determine what features should be included with your new website.

WordPress Content Management System (CMS) Training

Instead of just teaching a client one time how to do something and them having to take notes and try to remember how to perform basic functions within their new WordPress CMS Solution, I provide them with a private video channel to walk them through each type of use case.

Quality Assurance Testing

Just before we put your website “live” to the public, we will conduct in-depth testing to ensure that it is functioning correctly. All hyperlinks go to the correct page. We verify that your images appear properly and when viewing your site in various browsers both on a Mac and a PC, as well with tablets and other mobile devices, that your site appears properly.

Provided quality assurance testing for each beta of the application prior to release for the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation.

Website Usability Review

What is a usability review and how do you do one?

You can think about a usability review this way, it’s kind of the same as going to a mechanic for a vehicle check-up, your web site will be examined to find usability issues (service needed problems) and you’ll be provided with recommended optimizations for improvements.

An independent usability review is one of the quickest and most efficient investments you can make to uncover usability issues in your digital products.

A Usability Review:

  • A detailed list of issues that need to be resolved
  • Can be completed in a very short period
  • Can be conducted at any stage of the design.

Usability Reviews are somewhat subjective, because no real users are involved.

The Process.

We first get an idea of what your business is about, and what your business’s website goals are. We also establish who your typical customers are in order to understand what your website needs to do. Once identified, I will review the key tasks of a typical user to your website by navigating through your existing website and looking at each page.

What will I get in an expert review?

By commissioning a usability review of your site or app you benefit from:

  • Is cheaper to conduct than formal usability testing
  • Suggested solutions for resolving existing usability issues
  • A list of areas that are working well
  • Suggestions for new areas/functionality that will improve the user experience