Category: Business Advice

Business advice is guidance and direction for business owners or executives to help them make informed decisions and improve their business operations. It covers topics ranging from marketing and financial strategies to hiring and training personnel to legal matters and more.

Transferring Your Website to a New Web Designer: A Step-by-Step Guide
Switching to a new web designer can be a significant step in ensuring your website remains up-to-date, user-friendly, and aligned with your evolving business goals. However, the process of transferring a website is more complex than simply handing over a login. It involves careful coordination, clear communication, and understanding what to expect throughout the process. This guide will walk you through the essential steps and key considerations when transitioning your website to a new web designer.

Step 1: Clarify the Scope of the Transfer

Before initiating the transfer, it’s crucial to clarify the scope of the transition. Define which aspects of your website will be handled by the new designer. Will they take over all aspects of your site, such as design, development, and ongoing maintenance? Or will they focus solely on specific updates or a redesign? A clear understanding of these details helps set the right expectations for both parties and minimizes potential misunderstandings.

Step 2: Gather Essential Website Information

To ensure a smooth transition, gather and organize all the essential information about your website. This may include:
- Domain Name Access: Ensure you have access to your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap) where your domain is registered. If you don’t have this access, work with your previous designer to regain control.
- Hosting Information: Provide your new designer with access to your web hosting account. This includes login credentials, control panel information (e.g., cPanel), and any details about your hosting plan.
- CMS and Website Login: If your website runs on a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal, make sure to provide the admin login details. It’s wise to change the password after the transfer is complete.
- FTP/SFTP Access: This is necessary for file transfer and access to your website’s files on the server. Ensure your new designer has secure access to your FTP/SFTP credentials.
- Backups: Create a backup of your current website before initiating any transfer. This includes both the website files and the database (if applicable). A backup acts as a safety net in case anything goes wrong during the transition.
Step 3: Review Your Contracts and Ownership Rights

Before the transfer, review any existing contracts you have with your previous web designer or developer. Clarify who owns the website’s design, content, and codebase. Most clients own their website content, but it’s possible that the designer may retain rights to custom code or design elements they created. Understanding these aspects will help avoid disputes later.

If you’ve purchased stock photos, fonts, or other media for your website, ensure that you have the appropriate licenses to use these materials even after the designer changes. This can prevent legal issues related to content usage down the road.

Step 4: Communicate with the Previous Designer

If possible, maintain a collaborative approach with your previous designer. Inform them of your intention to switch to a new designer and ask for their help in providing necessary access and information. This can ensure a smoother transition and reduce the likelihood of technical issues.

Many designers include a clause in their contracts about providing a smooth handover. If there’s any friction or unresponsiveness, refer to the terms in your contract and, if necessary, involve a mediator to facilitate the process.

Step 5: Transfer of Domain and Hosting

This is a critical part of the transition process and involves a few key steps:
- Change Domain Name System (DNS) Settings: If you are switching to a new host, your new web designer will need to update the DNS settings to point to the new hosting server. It typically takes 24-48 hours for these changes to propagate globally.
- Migrate Website Files and Database: The new designer will transfer the files and database (if your website uses one) to the new host. They may use a migration plugin or do it manually through FTP and phpMyAdmin. This step requires careful handling to avoid data loss or broken links.
- Update SSL Certificate: If your website has an SSL certificate (which it should for security), the new designer may need to reissue or update the certificate on the new host to maintain secure HTTPS connections.
Step 6: Testing the Website

Once the migration is complete, thorough testing is essential to ensure that everything works as expected. The new web designer should check:
- Functionality: Test all interactive elements, forms, buttons, and links to ensure they function properly.
- Performance: Verify that the website’s speed and loading times remain consistent. Hosting changes can sometimes impact performance.
- Mobile Responsiveness: Ensure that the website displays correctly on mobile devices and across various browsers.
- SEO: Check that SEO settings, such as meta tags, permalinks, and any specific SEO plugins, are correctly transferred. You don’t want to lose valuable search engine rankings during a transition.
Step 7: Updating Website Access and Security

After a successful transfer, update all access credentials, including passwords for the CMS, hosting, and any other associated accounts. This is an important step to maintain security, especially if third-party vendors had temporary access during the transfer.

Additionally, consider implementing security measures like two-factor authentication (2FA) on your hosting and CMS accounts. Your new designer can also review security settings to ensure that your website is protected against potential threats.

What to Expect During the Transfer Process
1. Downtime May Occur: While most designers strive to minimize downtime, some website transfers may result in a short period of downtime. Planning the transfer during non-peak hours can help minimize the impact on your users.
2. Adjustments Post-Transfer: Even with careful planning, there may be small adjustments needed after the transfer. These could include reformatting content, fixing broken links, or adjusting styles to ensure everything looks as expected on the new hosting setup.
3. Open Communication: Expect to be in close communication with your new designer throughout the process. A collaborative approach ensures that both parties understand each step, reducing the risk of misalignment or delays.
Final Thoughts: Ensuring a Smooth Transition

Switching web designers can be a valuable opportunity to refresh your online presence and align your website with your current business goals. By preparing all necessary information, maintaining clear communication, and understanding the technical steps involved, you can ensure a smooth and successful transition. A professional web designer will guide you through each phase, helping you retain control of your online assets while providing a fresh perspective to enhance your website’s performance.

If you’re considering a change and need expert guidance on transferring your website, don’t hesitate to reach out. A seamless transition can be the first step toward a website that better serves your business and your customers.
October 28, 2024
Elevate Your Business Visibility with Local Business Listings on Google, Bing, & Yahoo
In today’s fast-paced digital world, having your business information accurately listed on various online platforms is not just a necessity; it’s a game-changer. At David Martin Design, we’re excited to announce our latest offering – Local Business Listing Management. This service is tailored to help business owners like you gain better visibility and ensure your business details are always up-to-date across key platforms, including Google, Bing, and more.

The Importance of Accurate Business Listings: Accurate business listings are critical for two main reasons. First, they ensure that your potential customers can find you easily. Second, they provide reliable information, building trust and credibility in your brand. Inaccurate or outdated information can lead to lost opportunities and a negative impression.

For a small business in Bloomington, Indiana, beyond the major search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo, there are several other platforms where you can submit your business listing to increase visibility and reach potential customers:
1. Local Directories and Review Sites:
  - TripAdvisor: Ideal if your business is related to hospitality, tourism, or dining.
  - Angie’s List: Great for service-oriented businesses.
2. Social Media Platforms:
  - Facebook: Creating a business page on Facebook can help you reach a wide audience.
  - Instagram: This is especially useful if your business can showcase visually appealing products or services.
  - LinkedIn: Ideal for B2B businesses and professional networking.
3. Local Bloomington, Indiana Resources:
  - Bloomington Chamber of Commerce: Listing your business here can increase local business-to-business connections.
  - Visit Bloomington: If your business caters to tourists or is part of the hospitality industry, this is a great place to be listed.
  - BloomingtonOnline: Shop Local isn’t just a trendy slogan. It’s a call to action.
  - Local Bloomington Newspapers and Magazines: Many local publications have business directories.
4. Industry-Specific Directories:
  - If your business falls into a specific niche (like healthcare, legal services, or home improvement), look for directories specific to that industry.
5. Better Business Bureau (BBB):
  - Listing your business here can add credibility, as consumers often check BBB ratings.
6. Google Business and Bing Places:
  - Businesses can verify and edit their business information, respond to reviews, post photos and offers, and see insights on how customers are interacting with their business.
7. Community Bulletin Boards and Forums:
  - Local community centers, libraries, or online community forums specific to Bloomington can be valuable for word-of-mouth referrals.
How Our Service Works: Our Local Business Listing Management service is designed to be simple yet effective. We take the burden off your shoulders by:
1. Claiming Your Listings: We ensure your business is accurately listed on platforms like Google, Bing, & other important local platforms.
2. Regular Updates: From changing business hours, and updating posts, to updating contact information, we keep your listings current.
In a world where online presence is crucial, let David Martin Design be your partner in ensuring that your business stands out. Claim your listing today with our Local Business Listing Management service and take the first step towards enhanced visibility and success.

Ready to enhance your business’s online presence? Contact David Martin Design today to learn more about our Local Business Listing Management service and how we can help your business grow.
December 1, 2023
Manage Important Business Information with Google Business

Most business owners will find that it’s quite easy to jump into the Google Business platform and get started connecting your important business information with potential valuable customers. Keep reading below for a breakdown of what you can do with the updated Google My Business platform.

The Basics of Google Business

Start with the name of your business, determine the categories your business falls under, where your service location is, what your hours (& special hours) are, your business phone #, add a link to your website, and add interesting business photos (Interior, Exterior, At Work, Your Team, & Identity).

Completely filling out the basics of your Google Business profile is very important and will help potential customers searching at various times of day, in different locations, and for various reasons to reach your business if it matches what they are expecting.

I’d recommend starting with the basics and you will be ahead of most of your competition. Once you have that complete, then you can focus on some of the more advanced features that Google offers.

Create a post on Google Business

Visiting the Posts link on the side of your Google Business will bring up a news-feed status update input box where you can post important updates. I have not posted anything yet, but as soon as I am done writing this on my blog, I will post a link. I clicked on the LEARN MORE link and got an overview of what I should be doing:

Posting through Google Business lets you publish your events, products, and services directly to Google Search and Maps. By creating posts, you can place your timely content in front of customers when they find your business listing on Google.

This is great that Google is now allowing business owners to post directly through this business portal. As long as the business owner has claimed their profile and linked everything together including Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Google Adwords, and other properties, they should all play very well together.

Understand Import Insights About Your Business

Where do your customers come from? Do they find your local listing on the right side of the page, do they find your organic listing? Perhaps you are paying for traffic by using Google Adwords? With the Insights tab in Google My Business you can discover how your customers search for your business. You will understand if they have viewed your information directly through Search of via Maps. Important business information including whether a customer visited your website, asked for directions, viewed your photos, and how many customers called are all available at a quick glance.

Manage Your Google Business Reviews

“Digital Word of Mouth” is one of the most important local search ranking factors and will likely influence whether a potential customer will contact you or your competition. Google makes it easy for business owners to discover what their customers have written about them.

Your customers will rate your business on a 1-5 star scale and they may also leave written comments. You will receive a notification when a customer writes a review and the Google My Business platform makes it very easy to respond.

Google reviews are increasingly important and it’s very important for you to incorporate a strategy that includes asking your customers for feedback and providing an easy means to do so.

Message with Your Customers

Directly communicate with potential customers. Providing real-time access to the business owner will likely allow the business owners who are able to respond quickly an advantage over those who haven’t activated this feature and must use traditional methods.

I’m excited to be able to manage my Google business information in one easy place. Google Business has evolved in the past few years into a platform for businesses to easily manage their vital business information and understand key performance indicators that will help them succeed.

December 16, 2022
The Power of Responding to Negative Reviews on Google Business: Why It’s Vital and How to Do It Right
Bryan Meadows, Owner of Bloomington Creative Solutions (this is a fake name) had been running his small business for 10 years, proudly providing services to his loyal customers. He often heard compliments from them, but one day he received a shock—someone had left a scathing one-star review on his Google Business page.

Bryan was understandably worried. How would this affect his business? How could he fix this? He decided to take a deep breath and figure out the best way to respond to this negative review. He went online to learn more about responding to reviews and soon realized that he had to take a proactive approach to address the customer’s issues. He crafted a response that addressed the customer’s concerns and apologized for the bad experience. After posting his response, he was relieved when the customer replied back and thanked him for taking the time to fix the issue.

Bryan’s swift response had a positive effect on his business: not only did it demonstrate to other potential customers that he was attentive to customer service, but he also received positive reviews from other customers that were impressed by his commitment to responding to each and every review.

How to Respond to Reviews with No Comments

Thank you for your rating! We appreciate you taking the time to provide feedback. If there’s anything we can do to try and improve your experience, please let us know.

3 reasons why it’s vital to respond to your reviews
1. To demonstrate your commitment to customer service and responsiveness.
2. To build credibility with potential customers and build trust with your current customers.
3. To give you a chance to fix any issues that customers have experienced.
Responding to negative reviews is a necessary strategy for businesses seeking to provide excellent customer service.

Not only does it demonstrate to potential customers your commitment to responsiveness, but it also provides a chance to identify and fix issues that customers have faced. It is essential to respond to reviews in a timely manner, show empathy to customers, and be professional in your responses. By following these steps and responding to negative reviews promptly and professionally, businesses can turn a negative experience into a positive one.
December 16, 2022