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  • The no BS guide to freelance design rates

    Let’s be honest: Freelance design rates are confusing. After all, every project is different. Every freelancer is different. And every client is different. That means rates vary from project to project, and from designer to designer. However, there are a few good systems to help find yours when freelancing —and we’ll cover them in this article. Looking to create a freelance website ? Learn more about how to do it with Wix. TL;DR: freelance design rates Figuring out the right freelance design rates can feel overwhelming, whether you’re new or ready to adjust your pricing. This guide walks you through pricing models, factors that impact your rates and tips to confidently charge what you’re worth. You’ll learn how to price projects fairly while attracting the right clients and building a sustainable freelance business. It also explains how to adjust your rates based on experience, project size and market demand so you can stay competitive and grow your income without undervaluing your skills. Feature Why it matters Pricing models Learn hourly, project-based and value-based pricing to find what works best for you and your clients Experience level Your skills and portfolio set the stage for when and how to raise rates Project scope Bigger or more complex jobs usually mean higher fees Market demand Knowing industry standards helps keep your pricing competitive Clear communication Setting expectations upfront builds trust and prevents confusion The no BS truth about freelance graphic design rates There is no hard-and-set formula for finding your freelance design rates. We can spend all day throwing around different suggestions and survey statistics—but the fact is, your rate will be entirely unique to you. After all, there are many different elements that go into a freelancer’s rates. Here are a few of the most crucial deciding factors: Location Where you live plays a big role in how much you decide to charge. After all, a freelancer in San Francisco will have more of an incentive to charge a higher rate than a freelancer in cities with lower overhead expenses, such as Boise, Idaho. And it’s not just your location, it’s your client’s location as well. If your client lives in a major city, they might actually expect to pay a premium fee for your services. Whereas, a client in a small, rural community might be more inclined to charge less. Pro tip: Consider benchmarking your rate to a specific city. For example, many freelance designers charge their rates by the standard for New York City. To learn more about how to start a business across the US, check our our guides: How to start a business in New York How to start a business in California How to start a business in Arizona How to start a business in Florida Experience Your level of experience matters—to a degree. The more experienced you are, the more clients will be willing to pay for your work. At the same time, experience isn’t everything when it comes to freelancing. Beginners who create extraordinary work can still charge a premium fee for their services. As a rule of thumb, though, you can expect your rates to reflect on your level of experience. Type of work The type of projects your client requires also determines how much you charge. After all, a complete website redesign shouldn’t cost the same as a single hero image. So it’s only natural that your rate should change when faced with two very different types of work. In addition, the type of project can affect not only the total fee that you end up charging, but also the type of rate itself (more on that later). For a one-time logo design , for example, you might decide to charge a flat fee. But for a more large-scale, ongoing project like a website redesign, you might want to go with an hourly rate. Value for client Another factor going into freelance design rates is the prospect of the project potentially bringing in a lot of money for your client. For example, if you know that the product you’re designing is expected to earn the client millions of dollars, you should absolutely charge more for it . There are a few good ways to charge for high-value projects too, which we’ll get into below. Personal budget needs The last element to take into account is your personal monthly and yearly expenses. Things like mortgage, rent, utility bills and other major spendings that you anticipate, should be added up to create your monthly and annual budget. In addition, freelancers need to pay close attention to elements like insurance, taxes, savings, sick days, and long-term investments (a.k.a. the things that come with a full-time job). As a freelancer, you’re in charge of your own benefits package, so it’s up to you to make sure that those things are built into your rate. Pro tip: To start, it’s helpful to figure out your annual goal salary. How much do you want to be earning each year as a freelancer? From there, you can break down your hourly rate or project rate. While all types of rates have their pros and cons, project-based or retainers do have an obvious advantage. The 3 types of freelance graphic design rates There are three main types of freelance design rates. Here’s how to find the one that works for you: Hourly rate This rate is the most common amongst beginner freelance designers or people who've recently transitioned into freelance design—and for good reason. First, it’s incredibly simple: You charge a set amount for each hour of work. That’s it. Coming up with your hourly rate is fairly simple, too. Here’s a handy back-of-a-napkin formula to help you figure it out: Step 1: Add up all of your monthly expenses (utilities, rent, taxes, insurance, etc.), with what you’d like to save up on the side (savings, a pension fund, etc.). Step 2: Divide that number by 52, for the number of weeks in a year. Step 3: Divide that number by 40, for the number of hours in a work week. Let’s say your goal salary number is $50,000 per year. Your calculations should look something like this: 50,000 / 52 = 961.53 961.53 / 40 = 24.0 Which means that your hourly rate should be around $24 an hour. Note: This is only a rough estimate. It does not take into account taxes and other factors which are unique to each country, state, and individual. Still don’t know how much to charge? Here are a few good rates to start off with: Beginner freelance designer (<1 year - 3 years): $20 - $35 / hour Intermediate freelance designer (3 years - 5 years): $35 - $50 / hour Advanced freelancer (5+ years): $50 - $150 / hour It’s worth noting that most advanced freelance designers tend to move away from hourly rate. That’s because they don’t effectively capture the amount of work that goes into a project. Time isn’t the only resource after all. There’s also mental energy, sweat equity, and more. Project-based This rate is most commonly used by experienced freelancers. Instead of giving the client an hourly estimate, they charge a flat-fee based on the scope of the project. Unlike hourly rates, this rate takes into account not just the amount of time a project takes, but also the energy and resources . Pro tip: Double your resentment fee. Your resentment fee is the absolute lowest amount that you’d perform this project for. It’s so low that you resent it. Take that amount and double it. That’s your freelance design rate for the project. Another good way to look at project fees is by taking into account the value for the client. Are you designing a splashy landing page for a client's product? Estimate roughly how much that product will generate them, and make sure to reflect that in your rate. Better yet, you can always ask your client how much they anticipate to earn with this product. They might be willing to divulge some numbers, which can give you a better idea of how much to charge. Retainer This is the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow for freelance designers. A retainer is when a client pays you a set amount each month your design services. Think of it as somewhere between freelancing and full-time employment. Retainers offer the consistent work stream of a full-time job, with the flexibility of freelancing. To find your retainer fee, you need to discuss the finer details of the client’s expectations of your work each month. Ask them for an estimate of how many hours they want you to be on call for work each month. From there, you can use your hourly fee to come up with a good monthly retainer rate. Which rate is the best? When it comes to the best type of freelance design rate, the answer is simple: It depends. While all types of rates have their pros and cons, project-based or retainers do have an obvious advantage. Why? Let’s look at an example. Imagine you’re an experienced freelance designer who charges $70 per hour for graphic design work. A client approaches you asking for you to design a landing page for a product. Awesome! You agree and get to work… ...for 3 hours. In less than half a work day, you just finished making a great landing page that’ll make the client hundreds of thousands of dollars in leads, and you only made $210 . That’s a problem. Instead, you could charge a project fee for it based on the value of the work. This would allow you to charge anywhere between $1,000 - $4,000 for that one landing page. There are still a lot of reasons you might want to go with an hourly rate instead. You might even simply prefer it. But for the majority of experienced freelance designers, project-based rates or retainers are their best bet. The most important thing about freelance graphic design rates There’s one simple truth when it comes to your freelance rates: You’re probably overthinking it. Too many freelance designers sweat over their rate, when they can just pick one and start working. Freelance rates are dynamic, so you can start to adjust yours over time. Ultimately, your rate is going to be entirely unique to you. So stop stressing. Pick a rate. And earn money as a freelance designer. Freelance design rates FAQ What if the client disagrees with my rate? That’s okay. A little haggling is actually good, and it’s an indicator that you’re in the right direction. Why? You want to try and earn the most that you can with your work. This is your livelihood after all. If your client agrees to your rate immediately, it’s a good sign that you likely charged yourself too low. The important thing to keep in mind is that you don’t want to end up charging way below your worth - and that’s something that’s entirely unique to you. What if I end up charging too little? Here’s another honest truth: You’re likely going to end up charging too little more than once in your freelance career—and that’s totally fine. Why? There’s always going to be work out there. The client you just got won’t be the last, and there will be plenty of opportunities to charge the rate you feel is right in the future. What if I want to change my rate with a client? Then you should do that—but strategically. Don’t just change your rate in the middle of a project or early on in a relationship with a client. Instead, raise your rate after you’ve already done great work. Did you just create an amazing new website for a client? Did the logo you create absolutely blow them away? Strike when the iron is hot and raise your rates just when you do great work. Clients will be much more susceptible to the new rate then, because they’ll know you’re worth it. Another great time to raise your rate is whenever you get a referral. That’s when a client refers you to another client for work. The psychology behind it is simple: The new client trusts your old client. That means you can charge more for your work because you already have the social proof to show for it.

  • How to format your blog: tips & examples

    Ready to share your ideas with the world? Start your blog → All blogs, business or personal—face the same dilemma: People will likely skim the content rather than read it word for word. However, you can implement blog post formatting tips to keep your readers engaged and persuade them to follow through on each call-to-action, such as clicking on a link or filling out a form. Before you start figuring out how to make a website and start a blog with a blog maker , learn these formatting basics to craft a blog post that readers want to read: Starting a blog should feel exciting, not overwhelming, right? With the Wix Blog Maker, you get everything you need to create, design and grow your blog from scratch–without needing a tech degree. Use Wix’s intuitive tools to share your ideas with the world.  How to format your blog posts Start with a strong title Make your blog post skimmable Include a table of contents Add strong visuals Stick to readable fonts Include relevant links Highlight your CTA 01. Start with a strong title A catchy blog title should pique readers’ attention and quickly communicate the information they need. The more original your title, the more likely people will click on your blog post on organic search results and social media. And take note: According to Optinmonster , blog titles with 6-13 words attract the highest traffic. If you want your article to rank for a specific keyword on Google, include it in the title. For example, if you want to rank for how to write a blog , you could consider titles such as: How to Write a Blog: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know The Beginner’s Guide on How to Write a Blog How to Write a Blog That People Actually Want to Read: Your 10 Step Guide Once you’ve settled on a title, make sure it stands out at the top of the page in large, easy-to-read font. Your articles have margins to balance the page and so should your title: Incorporating white space on either side of your title and written copy helps readers’ eyes more easily focus on written text. Fortunately, website builders like Wix have preset margins so you don’t need to worry about setting these yourself. 02. Make your blog post skimmable Readers want to arrive at an article and immediately find the solution to their problem or steps to complete a task. To keep text from overwhelming your visitors, make your blog post skimmable by breaking up sentences and paragraphs to increase white space on the page. Break up your content with these best practices: Use bullet points Bullet points help readers easily see bits of information at a glance. You should use at least one bulleted list in each blog post for the following reasons: Adds more white space Stands out from the rest of the text Makes concepts more digestible Is easy to read through quickly See what we mean? The same thing could have been put into a longer paragraph, but bullets can quickly convey information. Aside from bulleted lists, you can also use numbered lists for sequential items. 2. Use headers and subheaders Headers help guide readers’ through a blog post and also provide structure so a reader can quickly grasp the content without having to read it all. In SEO lingo, headers are called H tags, which refer to the HTML tag that dictate title order. So, your H1 is the page title, H2s are your headers, H3s are your subheaders and so on. Use a mix of headers in each post; aside from helping readers skim an article, they also help search engines understand and rank your post. For that reason, keep headers short, clear and to the point. You definitely don’t want to confuse Google (or your readers). 3. Bold or italicize key information If you really want the reader to remember a fact or take away from your blog post, bold it. Bolding a sentence allows readers to find key information quickly when skimming a text. However, practice this technique sparingly as not every sentence is critical to your blog post. Don’t bold too many sentences close together, and don’t bold full paragraphs. Simply bold the primary information that makes sense on its own and solidifies the message. You can also emphasize text using italics, but only do this for specific words or quotations. You don’t want to italicize an entire sentence or paragraph, as this can make it difficult to read. 03. Include a table of contents A table of contents shows the reader what to expect as soon as they click on your article. Essentially, a table of contents collects your headers and subheaders to show how you organized your post. The reader can get a good idea of your piece’s length and detail just by looking at the table of contents. If you hyperlink your table of contents to each corresponding section, even better. Visitors can then easily jump to the content they want to read. 04. Add strong visuals Adding images to a blog post increases views by 94% . Well-designed images, infographics, videos or helpful charts and graphs not only break up text but can also make the content more digestible. What is a blog meant to be, if not easy to read. In fact, 32% of marketers say images are the most important form of content for their business. Start your article with a captivating featured image. Then, add photos throughout the text, either centered in your post or aligned with the text. You can take it a step further and include embedded videos, too. Video content is 50 times more likely to drive organic traffic than plain text alone. Only 19% of bloggers incorporate videos, so add yours to help make your post stand out from the rest. 04. Stick to readable fonts Using a non-standard or difficult-to-read font can distract from your content. Try to stick to the sans-serif font family (fonts without the little feet on the ends of the letters, like Helvetica, Arial or Geneva). You can change up the font for your title to make it pop out, but don’t switch fonts too often on a single page. Your font size matters, too. If your font is too small, readers will click away to avoid straining their eyes. A too large font can seem like yelling. You might have to adjust the size depending on your chosen font, blogging platform, and whether the page is viewed on mobile or desktop. 06. Include relevant links Internal and external links not only help with your blog's SEO , but they also show your reader where they can find more information on a topic mentioned in a post. Like bolded or italicized text, hyperlinks also stand out since they usually appear in a color different than your main body copy. You can also add links to promote other blog posts or products. 07. Highlight your CTA Calls-to-action should be easy to spot within your blog post. Whether a call to subscribe to your blog’s mailing list or complete a contact form, make what you want the reader to do as clear as possible. Use different fonts, contrasting colors, forms or buttons to help your CTA pop out to readers. You can place it at the post’s end, in the opening paragraph or even as a pop-up as the reader scrolls toward the end of the page. Don’t make it too “in your face.” Again, you don’t want to annoy the reader, but you do want them to know that this blog post comes with an action item if they choose to take it. Ready to get blogging? Get started with Wix  today . 10 types of blog post formats You can write a blog post in more than one way, and each type of blog has its own expected format. We won’t get into the nitty-gritty details of each post type here—for that, you can check out these blog post templates as examples. But, we will introduce you to the main blog post formats so you can see all the different directions you can take with your next post. The listicle How-to post Comparison post What-is post Case study Product showcase Thought leadership post What not to do post The beginner’s guide Interviews 01. The listicle You’ve certainly come across these trendy list-style posts. In general, bloggers format these posts as a numbered list that feels organized and easy-to-read, like this list of blog ideas . Examples: All The Food, a restaurant review blog, shares 5 Things We Want to Eat in Dublin This Week —a mouthwatering, visually-rich roundup of standout dishes from local restaurants. Bella & Bloom, a web design studio, publishes 5 Signs Your Website Might Be Due for a Redesign —a clear, actionable guide that helps clients spot when their site is overdue for a refresh. "Consistent content creation fuels growth and reader loyalty, so make sure to establish a predictable publishing rhythm. Plan your content ahead and alternate different types of content in order to ensure you have enough time to ensure high quality in each piece." Judit Ruiz Ricart, Blogs Strategy Expert at Wix 02. How-to post This blog format teaches your readers how to do something, such as how to make money blogging . You want to make sure you answer the reader’s main query when they land on the page. 03. Comparison post This post compares two things, usually products, side by side. Many companies use this post to compare their product to a competitor’s, such as this article on Wix vs Squarespace. 04. What is post These definitional posts answer questions like “ What is a blog? ” Use your blog platform to provide a detailed definition including examples, uses and commonly asked questions. 05. Case study This post looks in depth at a topic, like how a client succeeded with your product. Case studies usually employ testimonials and highlight the product or service’s value. 06. Product showcase Your blog is a good place to highlight a new product and demonstrate how a customer can use it. These blog examples , for instance, highlight Wix blogging tools and provide valuable inspiration for fellow bloggers. Example: Mom Boss Life, a lifestyle blog for busy moms, shares Doona Car Seat: Why I Chose It for Baby #3 —a personal, product-focused post that blends storytelling with practical insights, making it a relatable and effective showcase for lifestyle and parenting essentials. 07. Thought-leadership post These posts include original ideas expressed by an industry expert. They aim to shape opinion and make your readers think differently about a topic . These posts can spark a discussion and help readers think outside the box about a certain issue, making them highly engaging and shareable on social media. For example, our blog article on bridging the digital divide explains why small businesses should play a part in making the internet more accessible. 08. What not to do post In this post, you’ll highlight the common pitfalls people experience when undertaking something new. For example, our post on blogging mistakes points out common errors and highlights what you should do instead. Example : Seasons in Colour, a home and lifestyle blog, shares 6 Signs You’re Using Too Much (or Too Little) Cleaning Product —a “what not to do” style post that highlights common mistakes and offers practical corrections. 09. The beginner’s guide A beginner's guide gives a complete overview to someone unfamiliar with a topic. This article about blogging for beginners , for instance, gives a run down for people who likely don’t have a blog yet or just started one. Example : Dogs of Charm City, a community-focused pet lifestyle blog, features The Ultimate Checklist for New Dog Owners in Baltimore —a location-specific guide that combines helpful tips with local resources, making it both informative and highly shareable for new pet parents. 10. Interviews Interviewing someone in your field can spice up your blog and offer a different perspective. The format here can be a list of questions and answers or a piece with a selection of quotes, like our article with branding expert Jackie Treitz . Learn more: Why start a blog anyway? How to format a blog FAQ What's the correct format for a blog? There's no one correct format for a blog. However, there are some general guidelines that you can follow to create a well-formatted blog post: Start with a strong title: Your title should be clear, concise and attention-grabbing. It should accurately reflect the content of your blog post. Use a clear and concise writing style: Avoid using jargon and technical language. Write in a way that is easy for your readers to understand. Break up your text into paragraphs: Paragraphs should be no more than 3-4 sentences long. This will make your text easier to read and scan. Use subheadings and bullet points to organize your content: Subheadings and bullet points can make your text easier to read and understand. They can also help you to break up long sections of text. Use images and videos to break up your text and make your blog post more visually appealing: Make sure that your images and videos are relevant to your content and that they are high quality. Proofread your blog post before publishing it: Make sure that there are no errors in grammar or spelling. What's the most popular blog format? The most popular blog format is the list post. List posts are easy to read and scan, and they provide readers with valuable information in a concise way. Other popular blog formats include: How-to posts: How-to posts teach readers how to do something. Review posts: Review posts share your thoughts and opinions on products, services or experiences. Storytelling posts: Storytelling posts share personal stories or experiences with your readers. Thought leadership posts: Thought leadership posts share your expertise and insights on a particular topic. What are the five parts of a blog? The five parts of a blog are: Header: The header is the top section of your blog. It typically includes your blog's name, logo and navigation menu. Main content area: The main content area is where you will publish your blog posts. Sidebar: The sidebar is a column on the right or left side of your blog. It's typically where you will place widgets, such as social media buttons, email sign-up forms and recent posts lists. Footer: The footer is the bottom section of your blog. It's usually where you will place copyright information, links to important pages and social media buttons. Comments section: The comments section is where your readers can leave comments on your blog posts. What blogging formats are there? There are many different blogging formats that you can use. Some of the most popular formats include: Traditional blog format: This is the most common blogging format. It involves publishing individual blog posts on a regular basis. Microblogging: Microblogging is a type of blogging that involves publishing short, frequent posts. Examples of microblogging platforms include Twitter and Tumblr. Visual blogging: Visual blogging is a type of blogging that focuses on using images and videos to tell a story. Examples of visual blogging platforms include Instagram and Pinterest. Audio blogging: Audio blogging, also known as podcasting, is a type of blogging that involves publishing audio recordings. Video blogging: Video blogging, also known as vlogging, is a type of blogging that involves publishing video recordings. What's the best structure for a blog? A successful blog structure begins with a compelling headline and introduction, followed by clear and concise paragraphs. Use subheadings, bullet points and visuals for readability. Always include a call to action, either to move reader through to another blog post, or to get them to signup for a newsletter. What's the best layout for a blog? The best blog layout is clean, with a simple navigation menu, readable fonts and ample white space. Prioritize a mobile friendly design for various devices. Use authentic and engaging headlines, visuals and easy-to-read paragraphs. Use a logical flow with relevant subheadings, ensuring a seamless reading experience for your audience. Why is my blog format so important? How you format your blog can impact how engaged readers are with your content. This in turn encourages them to become regular readers. You need to build these community of readers to grow and maintain your blog. Blogging is important. While blogging started as a way for anyone to share their ideas online, the last decade has proven that this type of website  also works as an effective content marketing tool. Blogs can help establish immediate trust between brands and their consumers and positively influence sales. In fact, business websites  that publish regularly on their company blog produce an average of 67% more monthly leads  than companies that don't blog. Once you get people to your blog, make sure they enjoy it and your formatting is one part of that. How do I make my blog post easy to skim? To make your blog post skimmable, break up your content with headers and subheaders to highlight key sections. Use bullet points or numbered lists to clearly present important information, and bold key phrases to draw attention to critical points. Short paragraphs and adequate white space also make your text less intimidating and easier to read. Incorporating visuals, like images or infographics, further enhances scannability by breaking up large blocks of text. What font and font size should I use for my blog? Font choice is a common concern when it comes to formatting a blog, as it affects readability and your overall blog design and feel. Generally, simple, sans-serif fonts (like Arial or Helvetica) in sizes ranging from 16 to 18 px are recommended for body text and so work well for blogs too.

  • Top 10 entrepreneurship skills to thrive in business

    In the Hollywood movie version of a success story, an entrepreneur has a sudden spark of inspiration and then—after a montage of office scenes set to peppy music—they debut their company on the NASDAQ, their fortune assured. In real life, a lot of less-than-glamorous work goes into creating and growing a company. Launching a business website or opening a store is often the end result of a long process that requires much more from entrepreneurs than a single idea. Entrepreneurship skills are the mechanisms that help transform those ideas into a fulfilling, prosperous and successful reality. There are 10 key skills that everyone should strive to master in learning how to become an entrepreneur . We’ll help you narrow down the list and send you on your way to self-made success. Why entrepreneurial skills are important Accomplished entrepreneurs come from all kinds of backgrounds, so there isn’t one singular path you must take in order to reach success. These diverse life experiences inspire the creation of companies that meet the changing needs of society. Regardless of formal education or training, having a core set of entrepreneurship skills is essential for making sound decisions, inspiring employees to do their best work, overcoming challenges and capitalizing on opportunities for business growth. Entrepreneurship skills don’t solely benefit your own bottom line, either. By transforming your ideas into reality, you can create products or services that improve consumers’ lives. And, as your company flourishes, you can create jobs and drive economic growth. 10 entrepreneur skills you need to succeed in business Basic finance Marketing Leadership Communication Critical thinking Organization Time management Networking Teamworking Reception to feedback 01. Basic finance Financial skills are an essential part of knowing how to start a business , let alone run one. At minimum, building and growing a business requires an understanding of smart spending, appropriate budgeting and tax compliance. While you can recruit help in this area, financial skills can’t be fully outsourced. You can hire accountants and bookkeepers to manage day-to-day expenditures, but you’ll need to interpret their reports, answer questions and make decisions based on their findings. Required financial skills include: Business planning: If you need a bank loan or additional outside funding, you’ll be required to create a business plan that quantifies the market opportunity and projects your income and expenses. This exercise is useful even if you don’t require financing— it’s a way to plan a solid financial foundation for your business. Cost analysis and pricing: At the most fundamental level, you need to understand the expenses that go into your product or service, and how much to charge so you can strike a lucrative profit margin. Revenue reporting and projections: Tracking sales is essential, and using those results to forecast future growth helps you plan ahead so that you can reinvest your earnings appropriately. 02. Marketing Even the greatest business ideas need a way to attract and maintain customers. That’s where marketing comes in. Entrepreneurship requires an understanding of what marketing channels are appropriate for your business and how to leverage a blend of paid advertising and organic content to achieve growth. Specific skills include: Customer-centric research: Knowing how to capture consumer preferences and apply findings to business decisions is a critical skill. Cultivate curiosity and ask plenty of questions in assessing your audience’s needs. This research isn’t just an item for your pre-launch to-do list; you should tap into your existing customer base to respond to input and foster loyalty. Brand articulation: To stand out in a crowded marketplace, you need to define what’s unique about your brand. While you may collaborate with others to develop the overall brand aesthetic and voice, you’ll need to maintain ultimate control to ensure that your brand identity stays strong over time. Digital savvy: According to HubSpot, many Gen-Xers, Millennials and Gen-Zers prefer to discover new products through social media ads, sponsored content or short-form videos (such as TikToks or Instagram Reels). Even if you plan to sell physical products exclusively in stores, you’ll need a digital presence and the means to monitor online brand visibility and campaign performance. Case in point: Founder and CEO of the viral Kangaroo hanger, Angus Willows, took his invention to TikTok. By appealing to TikTok's young, sustainably minded audience, he was able to secure preorder sales to pay for Kangaroo's first production run. Read more about the story behind the Kangaroo hanger . Pro tip: Wix can help you manage online campaigns with fully integrated Facebook and Instagram Ads or Google Ads , right from your website dashboard. 03. Leadership To generate momentum for their vision, entrepreneurs need to inspire and motivate others, from funders to employees, and from vendors to partners. Even “solo-preneurs” need the vision and gumption to lay claim to clients. While these qualities can seem innate, there are many styles and types of entrepreneurship —and there’s much more to leadership than a charismatic personality. Specific skills and behaviors support strong leadership and help entrepreneurs realize their vision. Among them are: Goal-setting: You must develop methods for clearly defining and articulating goals to ensure that your team stays on track. Consider using tools such as the SMART framework, setting mini goals within larger objectives and regularly updating goals to make sure that they align with changing conditions. Decision-making: “The buck stops here,” as the old saying goes, and entrepreneurs need to find the courage to make decisions large and small. That doesn’t mean shooting from the hip—you must learn how to use data and evaluate the potential repercussions. Making reversible, low-stakes decisions quickly not only helps keep business moving forward, but instills confidence in your capabilities among team members. Ethical actions: Ethical business practices start at the top, and by codifying and promoting expectations for the company, you can create a culture that fosters respect, honesty and fairness both internally and in customer interactions. 04. Communication An entrepreneur starts communicating their vision well before the first product or service is created. Convincing others to join your venture takes persistent and dynamic communication. Once you’ve launched your business, strong internal communication will help keep operations running smoothly, while communications with prospective and existing customers are core to winning business. Among the skills to develop: Active listening: Thoughtful conversation helps to develop a rapport with individuals and groups. Give speakers your undivided attention and fully take in what they’re saying before you give your response. This shows respect and openness. Writing: Fluent writing is more important than ever, especially with email and live chat being such prominent business tools. Don’t take shortcuts; while new artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT and Bard are grammatically correct, you’ll want to check that the tone, facts and voice are right. Speaking: Whether on the phone, in a meeting or giving a TED Talk, you’ll need to feel comfortable engaging listeners and reading non-verbal cues, such as body language and eye contact. If you need to brush up on these skills, practice with friends or consider hiring a coach. 05. Critical thinking Entrepreneurs are usually at the nexus of a web of information, concepts and experiences from different sources, which they need to apply within the framework of their business. The ability to synthesize this input helps solve complex problems when they arise and spot new opportunities for growth. Critical thinking skills include: Observation: When you’re able to notice behaviors and spot trends, you can proactively identify problems and new opportunities for growth. Cut out distractions and take careful, clear notes during meetings and conversations. Analysis: Understanding, comparing and interpreting information is essential in order to determine whether it’s relevant to your business. As one example, by spotting gaps in plans or faulty assumptions for financial projections, you can proactively address potential issues. Problem solving: To address problems efficiently, entrepreneurs need to be able to gather and sort through relevant information, communicate with the relevant parties and collaborate creatively with peers. You should engage in diverse experiences, foster a growth mindset and practice critical thinking to develop better problem-solving skills. "Do your research," reminds Arkady Kovalev, founder of Heroes INN , a comic and trading card shop. "[Many people] just have an idea and are trying to achieve it somehow…[and] a lot of advice will say, ‘Hey, just do it. You can do it.’ But [in reality,] you have to do the calculations and research first and find out how to do it.” 06. Organization It’s hard to achieve bold goals if the details aren’t aligned. Entrepreneurs need systems in place so that their personal environments are organized for maximum efficiency and their projects stay on track. The internet is full of organization tips and planning tools. To avoid wasting time cycling through unworkable solutions, consult with mentors, other businesses in the same industry or trusted partners to see what works for them. Skills include: Digital hygiene: You don’t want to waste time digging for items on your computer. Develop classification and naming conventions so that you can reliably keyword search for files you can’t quickly find. Make full use of email filters to automatically sort through incoming messages, and establish procedures for archiving old projects and files. Project management: This skillset is so wide-ranging that professional certification is available. At a minimum, tracking long, multi-stage initiatives through to completion requires proactive communication and strong interpersonal skills—along with a detail-oriented disposition and a consistent documentation process to keep teams in sync. Prioritizing: To stay on track, establish priorities for which projects to tackle as a company as well as for your own day-to-day tasks. Identifying the most important needs to address will help maintain focus. Execution: This skill, simply put, involves completing the task at hand. It's important to follow through on promises and tasks on time in order to execute things efficiently and on time. Eliminating distractions and setting time deadlines can help you push through challenges. 07. Time management There are so many demands on an entrepreneur’s time that the workload can quickly become overwhelming. It’s essential to avoid projects piling up on your desk; not only do bottlenecks slow your company’s progress, but they raise your stress level, which ultimately impacts your performance. Maximizing productivity while setting healthy boundaries on your time are essential for long-term business health. To help manage time effectively, develop these skills: Delegation: Entrust employees with tasks that aren’t necessary for you to complete yourself. If you struggle with letting go, try building in plenty of lead time and check-in milestones so that you have opportunities to lend support before the deadline. Time blocking: Manifest your priorities as time on the calendar by scheduling them into your work day. Create time periods for focused work when nothing else may be scheduled. Leave other blocks open or even designate specific days of the week for meetings. Automation: Use your technical savvy to streamline and automate short or routine processes. For instance, you can prepare multiple social media posts at once and then publish them automatically on a schedule. Wix users can take advantage of the powerful Wix Automations tool, which lets you send automated emails, remind clients about invoices, create tasks for your team and more. Work-life balance: While entrepreneurs often embrace “hustle culture” and tout 80-hour work weeks, the truth is that having a life outside business is important for mental and physical health. Build a culture of sustainable work by modeling work-life balance for yourself. 08. Networking They say “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” This may not be 100% true—knowledge and skills are valuable, after all. But there’s no denying that your network of professional colleagues, mentors and other connections can be helpful as you launch and grow your business. Not only can these individuals serve as sounding boards for your ideas, but they can help you stay abreast of trends and even connect you with potential hires. As noted by Noah Rosen, founder of Forge to Table , "When you start talking to someone about wanting to start a business, you're going to inevitably meet someone that's in a business network or has a group that they work with…and they're going to say, ‘Hey, let me connect you with so and so’ and this is going to take you to the next level. This is going to help you get started.” Read more: How Forge to Table became Noah Rosen’s culinary calling To make the most of your network, build these skills: Relationship-building: Building rapport with others involves communication, openness and emotional intelligence. Establishing positive relationships helps build confidence and support for your endeavors. Personal branding: Self-promotion can feel awkward, but expertise and innovation are why entrepreneurs make good thought leaders . Establishing a reputation as an authority or innovator in your field can attract more relationships that help your business, so in addition to maintaining an active presence on LinkedIn, seek out appearances at industry events or contribute articles to trade publications. Mentoring: By offering to serve as a resource for others in your industry, you can build your network—and maybe even meet future employees. 09. Teamworking While your business idea is all your own, you’ll likely need help to make your vision a reality. The ability to harness collective efforts to achieve business goals requires you to inspire others, communicate clearly and provide timely constructive feedback. Crowdsourcing projects brings fresh ideas to the table, giving your company an advantage and empowering employees to contribute to the company’s overall success. Teamwork can even improve employee morale and prevent costly employee churn. Businesses with effective internal communication are 50% less likely to experience turnover , according to Bit.AI, and 37% of employees say “working with a great team” motivates them to stay at a company. Skills to enhance teamwork include: Motivating others: Positive energy isn’t the only way to inspire employees. Setting clear expectations and providing incentives can also provide motivation. And, of course, expressing appreciation for work well done is a great motivator, too. Collaboration: Employees who are empowered to contribute their own ideas and manage tasks feel greater investment in the business, so find opportunities to step back and let them take the lead. Brainstorming sessions, open communication and shared project documentation can help stoke collaboration. Conflict management: When disagreements inevitably arise, respectful communication and a clear framework for opposition can help teams resolve conflict productively. Whether you adopt the “ disagree and commit ” mantra of Amazon or another process, it’s important to be consistent and accept the final compromise or solution wholeheartedly. 10. Reception to feedback No product or service idea is perfect from the moment of conception. Entrepreneurs need to not only collaborate internally, but actively seek feedback and criticism, especially in early testing stages. The ability to calmly receive suggestions and adapt is crucial to improvement and, ultimately, to success. Skills that support responsiveness: Growth mindset: To put criticism in perspective, view setbacks as opportunities for learning and improvement. Seek support and expertise from your network and other industry leaders to remedy problems and learn new practices. Customer service: Model patience, empathy and resourcefulness to resolve customer complaints. You should also develop consistent standards and empower other team members to provide customers with make-good offers and discounts. These strategies can help build business: for example, 97% of consumers say a positive experience when returning retail merchandise would prompt them to buy again, according to RetailDive. Related reading: The story behind Fork n' Film’s unique cinematic experience that’s going global

  • What is a social media influencer and how to become one

    An influencer is a user on social media who has established credibility in a specific industry. Social media influencers have access to a large audience and can persuade others by virtue of their authenticity and reach. Since the rise of social media marketing , influencers have become a major trend. These are ‘ordinary’ people who have earned a substantial following due to their expertise and transparency. They are being used more and more by companies to grab the attention of millennials as this group is less receptive to traditional marketing techniques . Brands purposely seek out up and coming influencers who create content that subtly pushes a product or service. The partnership between the brand and influencer is mutually beneficial. The company successfully reaches their target audience while the influencer is paid and continues to grow their following. Now, trying to become a social media influencer is an even more onerous venture. Creating a website is an important part of validating your online presence, but you still have some work to do before you’ll be able to get 9.2 million views on a video of you reading mean comments about your dog like the aforementioned Miss Marbles or even the 11 million views on how to make “galaxy slime” from DIY channel, Threadbanger. The road to those number of views is a long one, but it’s not impossible to be an influencer in your industry with the right approach. Using the steps below, you’ll be on your way to growing your following, attracting the attention of brands and successfully becoming a social media influencer. How to become a social media influencer Find your topic (and get obsessed) Make a plan Get social Remember: content is king Build your community Don’t buy your followers Network IRL (In real life) Further your reach with a stunning website Get active on forums Collaborate with other influencers and brands 01. Find your topic (and get obsessed) The first thing you want to do is find the subject that you’ll be covering across your social channels. The more specific, the better, as there will be less competition. However, try not to choose a subject that is too niche, as you may end up tweeting yourself into a corner. Find something that you’re genuinely interested in that has a following of its own and dive into it. It can be a passion from childhood, a hobby in which you’ve developed outstanding skills, or your professional expertise: the important factor is to be passionate about what you’re going to talk about. Bringing the passion has two major benefits: first, you won’t get bored, and it will tell in your videos, tweets or other outlets. Secondly, passion is a strong engine for quality: the more adamant you are about your topic, the more convincing you are. If you need a little help to get started, you can always check out these social media ideas. Once you know what you’re going to cover, consume everything about the subject you possibly can. Stay on top of your chosen topic by following related news and blogs as much as you’re able to. If there’s something new in the industry, you want to know about it and you want to be able to give your two cents on your social channels. Assess your perspective by getting the story from many outlets and see how your opinion or view differs. Highlighting this difference allows you to stand out and provide valuable information to your audience. 02. Make a plan Once you’ve chosen a topic and are well seasoned in the subject, it’s time to strategize. This includes making a plan with your content strategy and answering questions like: what is your persona? Your message? The tone that resonates with your target audience? This is also the time to get all of your ducks in a row to organize how and when you will produce, edit, and publish your content. Making a schedule, or a social media calendar at least a month into the future will allow you to easily maneuver choppy waters if you run into hiccups at the beginning of your journey. Do your research on what’s the acceptable number of times to post per day on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat. Dig even further to find out what days and times are most popular (for your audience) to post as well. Knowing these things ahead of time will help you define your schedule going forward. 03. Get social If you really go all-in to become a social media influencer, you will need to find the networks that fit within your industry and target audience in order to get your influencer marketing off on the right foot. It may be best to start with one or two major channels (like YouTube and Instagram) in the beginning. The idea is to stay consistent, so it’s important to not take on more than you can bear. Still, it’s recommended to sign up to all networks in order to secure your user handle. For each network that you sign up for, write up a solid biography with relevant links to your other social channels or website so your audience can easily find you. It should feel like you are EVERYWHERE. Keep the same tone and description across all the platforms that you open. Also, when signing up to social networks be sure to go for the “business” account if available. These types of accounts provide much better metrics to track your posts and allow you to create paid promotions when you’re ready. 04. Remember: content is king Hope you like creating content, because that’s really what being a social media influencer is all about, and it will be around 90% of what you’re doing. Here are some key factors to keep in mind when planning your content: Consistently produce content : Social media moves fast and if you think you can go a week or two without posting and expect the same following when you return, you might want to reassess your goals. Your content should also remain fresh and relevant. This means identifying trends you see on social media with others in your industry and responding accordingly with content of your own. It will likely take some time, but you’ll need to find a balance of trending content and content that is uniquely yours to share on your channel. Keeping up with trends is one thing, but your biggest challenge may actually be to know the trends before they are labeled as “trends”. Mind your hashtags : Hashtags (represented by the symbol #) allow you to further your reach to people also following that hashtag – they’re essentially a universal language that allow you to pop up in places you might not, normally. Researching trending and relevant hashtags is important, which will require you to do some digging within posts that cover your chosen subject. Hashtags on both Twitter and Instagram are very much worth your time to get right, but surprisingly, they don’t matter on Facebook and YouTube for the success of your posts. Also, note that depending on the network you’re posting to, the number of hashtags is also important. Experiment with all types of formats : Social networks are always evolving, coming up with new revolutionary ways to post your content. Instagram is no longer just for photos but also for posting Stories – which are photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours but have amazing exposure potential. Another example: almost all social networks have some sort of “live” option that will stream what you’re doing in real-time (something you should be taking advantage of). The “live” craze looks like it won’t be stopping anytime soon and for good reason. Influencers can use live streams to give their audience a glimpse of what goes on “behind the scenes,” which can help build trust between them and their customers. For a budding social media influencer or micro-influencer like yourself, a live video can show your followers a more personal, off the cuff presentation. Even if hosting live streams or other less traditional posting methods don’t become your primary method, a social media influencer should be well rehearsed with the tools they are given. Meaning, you should at least know what they do and how to use them. Knowing the tools of the social media landscape is what sets you apart from an everyday user and an influencer. Learn more: How to design social media graphics . 05. Build your community An important part of building a following is engaging with them. There are a couple of ways to do this, for example: responding every time someone comments on one of your posts is simple but shows your audience that you’re a “real person.” You’ll also want to invite your audience to engage with you and let them know that you would like to hear from them by telling them to leave a comment or ask a question. Going back to the “live” way of doing things, it provides an opportunity for your audience to reach out to you in the most direct way possible. Host a Q&A or even ask your audience for advice on something to let them know they are being heard. If you’re producing video content, end a video by posing a question and start your next video with some of the answers you received. A community heard is a community that feels loved. 06. Don’t buy your followers Hey, you know what’s a terrible idea? Buying your followers, that’s what! The road to whatever success you’re seeking is likely a long one, but buying followers to give the illusion that people like what you’re doing not only sets you up for failure, but it’s also just lame. Don’t do it, as it will only hurt you in the long run. It’s important to stay open and honest with your following. Even if that means starting small, it will only be a matter of time till your following grows and blossoms into a loyal and trusting community. 07. Network IRL (In real life) A long time ago, there was this old-fashioned concept where people would gather in the same location and talk to each other face to face. On purpose. In fact, if you look for them, you can still find these “analog” social gatherings. Attending networking events is a great way to get to know others in your industry, which could help spawn a future collaboration. 08. Further your reach with a stunning website Just because you’re aiming to be an influencer in social media doesn’t mean your presence should stop there. Having a website or blog (or a website with a blog) gives you yet another place for people to find you. Having a blog dedicated to the happenings in your industry will only further solidify your place as an influencer. Plus, you can easily share your blog posts to your social channels. Creating a website is easier than ever thanks to all the available ready-made templates . If you have unique content shared across multiple social channels, your website can be a great place to showcase it all together. For example, take food blogger and Instagram influencer, Jeremy Jacobowitz from Brunch Boys – his website is home to his blog posts, YouTube feed, links to his social media and press coverage. Now that’s the way to do it! Rhett & Link 09. Get active on forums If there’s a dedicated forum(s) to the industry or subject you cover, make your presence known there. Not only can you help share your knowledge (and links to your social channels), you may end up learning a thing or two from other industry experts while you’re at it. While being active on other forums is great don’t let that stop you from creating your own. You can keep the conversation going by adding Wix Community to your website. 10. Collaborate with other influencers and brands While your primary focus, in the beginning, should be to create and release great content and slowly but surely bud out your community, you will eventually want to look into collaborating with others. Whether it’s another influencer in the same (or different) industry, or a business looking to tackle your target audience’s demographics, partnering up can be a fun and mutually beneficial endeavor. If you already have an idea of who you’d like to collaborate with, be sure that they align with your values and have a similar following (you want to appeal to their audience and vice versa). Before jumping off the deep end, be sure you’ve waded the water first. Follow them on their social channels and engage accordingly. Be tactful and not tacky. Don’t come off as super “extra” to your potential collab partner. You’re trying to show genuine interest and respect, so don’t go overboard with comments and emojis. Pitch them with a proper email or DM. Be upfront, state your intentions, show enthusiasm, and be as personable as possible. Did you know that Wix has it’s own partnership program? For more info and how to apply check out how to become a Wix influencer , you can also read up on up and coming influencers in the industry.

  • 19 ways to optimize your eCommerce checkout process

    Picture this: Your eCommerce website  has taken off. People are pouring into your site—many are even adding your products to their carts. The money is practically in the bank, right? Not so fast. In reality, over 70% of shoppers  abandon their carts without completing their purchase. And among those with serious intent to buy, the eCommerce checkout process is largely to blame. Far from being a mere formality for collecting payment and delivery details, your online checkout experience is an opportunity to shine. By investing in a thoughtful, streamlined and customer-centric checkout process, you can win more sales and stand out from the competition. Check out higher conversion potential with an online store  from Wix. 19 ways to optimize your eCommerce checkout process Offer multiple payment options Streamline your forms and navigation Boost checkout processing speed Optimize for mobile Ensure accessibility for all Localize the checkout experience Offer guest checkout Make login easy Provide real-time cost calculations Enable promo code redemption, subtly Show exactly what shoppers are buying Spell out fulfillment costs and timeframes Curate cross-sells and upsells Signal security and trust Put your thank you page to work Set up one-click checkout options Implement progress indicators Auto-save cart contents Add reviews and edit order feature 01. Offer multiple payment options Digital wallets  (think: PayPal, Google Pay and Apple Pay) have overtaken credit and debit cards as the top eCommerce payment method, both in North America and globally, according to the FIS Global Payments Report . By 2026, digital wallets are forecast to account for 54% of all eCommerce transactions. These “alternative” payments are especially efficient for mobile shoppers who can skip entering payment information manually, and with just a few taps, authorize using stored digital wallet information. In addition, these methods offer an added layer of security, as sensitive financial information is shared only with the digital wallet, not with each individual retailer. Your checkout process should reflect this shift by enabling consumers to pay via PayPal and other digital wallet connectors, as well as new credit options like Buy Now, Pay Later . Wix merchants can use Wix Payments to provide a range of options for both in-store and online transactions to collect payments online. 02. Streamline your payment forms and navigation When you start an eCommerce business , try to streamline your checkout form fields whenever possible. For example, if your customer’s billing and shipping addresses are the same, enable auto-filling; once shoppers provide a ZIP code, automatically supply the city and state. Wix eCommerce does this automatically for you. You can also consider using a validation service to check shipping addresses and auto-fill the correct spelling and abbreviations for carriers to recognize. 03. Boost checkout processing speed Regardless of your type of business , shoppers might prefer to buy online from your brand for convenience and efficiency. Your checkout experience should respect those priorities, starting with the speed at which checkout screens load. In a survey from Digital Commerce 360 , 32% of shoppers said checkout speed influenced their decision to buy, while another 21% said overall site speed was a purchase factor. Glitches, dead-ends and screens that “hang” can also make shoppers nervous about site security; the logic goes, if the checkout form doesn’t work, the rest of the system—including storage of payment data—could be unstable. Avoid these doubts by testing checkout functions regularly. Wix offers industry-leading website performance  with reliable infrastructure and real-time monitoring. You can test your online store regularly from your Site Speed dashboard . Give your customers a fast-loading shopping experience with free eCommerce hosting  on Wix. 04. Optimize for mobile When you learn how to build a website , you’ll quickly note the importance of mobile traffic. Mobile commerce continues to grow, with nearly 40% of all eCommerce transactions now occurring on mobile devices, according to Comscore . To accommodate shoppers on the go, checkout pages should be optimized for small screens without full-fledged keyboards. Organize forms into sections short enough to fit on a single mobile screen, and use accordion-style collapsible menus when extra text or sidebars are needed. Integrate mobile features such as tap-to-call for customer service to help shoppers connect with help quickly. 05. Ensure accessibility for all Make your checkout process welcoming for all shoppers by optimizing your page for those with visual, motor or other disabilities. Make sure you use alt text for screen readers, and enable text size modification and speech-to-text translation. If you need further guidance, Wix has tools in place that allow you to optimize your website for accessibility . 06. Localize the checkout experience If you start a business  and want to build a global following, your checkout process needs to accommodate a global clientele. While shoppers may already have switched languages while browsing the site, your checkout needs to be able to handle currency conversion —which you can enable in your Wix online store—as well as variations in billing and shipping address fields. 07. Offer guest checkout The second-most common reason why shoppers abandon their purchases online is that brands force them to create an account, according to the Baymard Institute . Avoid this hurdle by offering guest checkout by default so shoppers can finish their order without needing to create a username and password. Incentivize returning shoppers to create an account to make future checkout easier—or by offering other rewards, such as access to your loyalty program and extra discounts. See it in action : Wix user Jule Dancewear sells non-distracting dancewear, aiming to boost the self-love and confidence in professional dancers all around the world. When you add one of Jule's leotards, meshies, skirts or shorties to your cart, you are immediately sent to a simple guest checkout form—with the option to log in for future orders. 08. Make login easy If shoppers do decide to create an account, make it easy for them. Let them create an account using their existing social media or email logins so they don’t have to invent new usernames and passwords each time. If they opt to register directly on your site, make subsequent logins easy by providing alternatives to remembering a password, such as sending a verification code by them or email. Let them skip login altogether if registered shoppers are in a rush; you can always connect new orders to purchase histories on the back end. If you want to offer an incentive to sign in, flag potential loyalty rewards they’ve earned, such as a coupon or a freebie they can claim. 09. Provide real-time cost calculations The Baymard Institute study cited above found that 47% of consumers who’ve abandoned online purchases did so because the added costs at checkout (shipping, taxes, fees) were too high. Avoid surprising shoppers by stating all added costs as early as possible in the checkout process, like on the cart page. Include any add-ons like gift wrap or customization surcharges, too. 10. Enable promo code redemption, subtly Many checkout pages feature an input field where shoppers can add a discount code and see the amount immediately deducted from their order total. But if shoppers don’t already have their promo code in hand, many may leave the site to find one—and end up failing to return. The key is to strike a balance. Rather than offering a promo code field up front near the call to action, consider incorporating it toward the end of the checkout process when entering payment information. See it in action : Wix user Maple House Collective  is a Snohomish, Washington-based shop offering housewares, handcrafted collectibles, antiques and more. On their final checkout page, you have the option to expand dropdown fields for a promo code. It’s a streamlined design that doesn’t take up too much real estate on an otherwise straightforward page. 11. Show exactly what shoppers are buying The shopping cart and checkout should show the SKU options that the shopper picked, including accurate images of the size and color choices. Include a link to the full product detail page that opens in another window if shoppers want to revisit the details to confirm that their selection fits their needs. In addition, communicate clearly whether items are in stock. If inventory is low, add a flag or icon to draw shoppers’ attention and add an incentive to finalize their purchases quickly. 12. Spell out fulfillment costs and timeframes Free shipping is online shoppers’ most sought-after discount. In fact, Shippo  reports that 62% of consumers  won’t purchase from a retailer online unless delivery is free. At the same time, most independent merchants struggle to maintain profit margins while offering free shipping. Even larger retailers are raising the minimum threshold shoppers must spend to qualify for the service, according to the Wall Street Journal . To manage expectations and avoid abandoned sales, make sure costs are transparent at the start of checkout. If you offer alternatives to freight carriers, such as free in-store pickup or local delivery, be sure to highlight them. And for all fulfillment options, include an estimated delivery date alongside the costs so shoppers can select the method that’s right for them. During the peak holiday season (and other date-sensitive periods), use banners and other website design  elements to flag cutoff dates for packages to arrive in time. Don't miss out on maximizing your seasonal sales: Check out the ultimate eCommerce holiday readiness checklist  and get your business holiday-ready today. 13. Curate upsells and cross-sells Ever been to a Marshalls and found yourself grabbing a few extra items off the shelf while waiting in line to check out? That's suggestive selling in action. You can mimic this experience online by offering a few last-minute extras. For example, if your shopper has added an item that qualifies for a “buy two, get one free” offer, flag it for them at checkout. Or, show off compatible accessories that they may want to purchase with their items. You can also call out savings opportunities exclusively for loyalty club members to encourage more signups. If you sell replenishment products, highlight any recurring purchase programs you offer as a way to reduce the current total order cost. And of course, if you offer free shipping above a threshold, use a progress meter or other visuals to highlight how much shoppers need to add to their carts to qualify. See it in action : When you create your online store with Wix, you can use an app like ReConvert  to add an upsell block to your checkout page. For example, Forge to Table , which sells hand-forged kitchen knives and accessories, prompts shoppers to check out other best-selling items before finalizing their purchase. 14. Signal security and trust Data breaches are commonplace these days, making it no surprise that consumers rightfully worry about having sensitive information stolen. As shoppers begin checkout in your online store, reassure them about the safety and privacy of their information. As a Wix user, you can rest easy knowing that your eCommerce site is equipped with enterprise-level security features that use threat prevention and real-time detection. Use microcopy to explain that data won’t be shared or sold, and display badges or icons for any third-party security or encryption tools you use. Design choices can also build trust: while you should streamline navigation options, keep the color scheme and look and feel similar to the rest of your eCommerce  site for continuity. Your checkout shouldn’t require jumping to a different browser tab or window, and should be hosted under your main website domain. 15. Put your thank you page to work The post-order thank you page is often an afterthought, but it shouldn’t be. Now that shoppers have gone through the purchase process, the thank you page is your first opportunity to begin building a long-term relationship. You can make additional product recommendations here, but don’t be too pushy: especially if they’ve just bought big-ticket items, customers may not be in the mood to consider spending more right away. Balance relevant suggestions with content that will help them make the most of what they’ve already ordered. The thank you page is also a ripe opportunity to invite signups to your loyalty club or create an account to save their payment and shipping information. Highlight key benefits related to the product that your shoppers just bought. Make sure to feature social media highlights and customer service links prominently on the thank you page to encourage people to stay engaged. 16. Set up one-click checkout options Enhance your checkout experience by offering one-click options for your customers. This feature allows them to save payment and shipping information for future purchases, making transactions quick and easy with just a click. By providing such convenient options, you boost customer satisfaction and loyalty while simplifying the checkout process. Focus on creating an effortless shopping experience that keeps your customers coming back. 17. Implement progress indicators One common frustration for online shoppers is uncertainty about how long the checkout process will take. To enhance the experience, implement a progress indicator during checkout. This feature shows customers their current steps and how many steps remain. A progress indicator empowers shoppers by managing expectations and reducing cart abandonment. It gives them a sense of control over the process, allowing them to plan their time effectively, especially when multiple steps are involved in completing their purchase. 18. Auto-save cart contents Imagine your customer has spent a lot of time adding items to their cart, only to lose everything due to accidentally closing the tab or a dropped internet connection. This is frustrating and can lead to cart abandonment. To avoid this, implement an auto-save feature that saves the cart contents as shoppers add items. This way, if something unexpected happens, they can easily resume their checkout process without starting over. Empower your customers to enjoy a seamless shopping experience. 19. Add review and edit order feature Mistakes are inevitable, and shoppers often realize they've added the wrong item or quantity to their cart during checkout. To alleviate potential frustration, consider implementing a review and edit order feature. This allows customers to double-check their selections before finalizing the purchase. Such a feature can also benefit those who wish to make last-minute changes or additions without navigating back through previous steps in the checkout process. By offering this option, you can enhance customer satisfaction and minimize the risk of abandoned carts due to errors. Why your eCommerce checkout process matters Your online checkout is more than a means to take payment; it’s the culmination of your efforts to entice shoppers along the buyer journey, and an opportunity to demonstrate your brand’s technical prowess and credibility. Following the best practices of eCommerce checkout is an investment in the success of your business. A good checkout experience can help to: Boost conversion : A whopping 70% of shoppers leave retail  websites after adding items to shopping carts, the Baymard Institute cited earlier found. Among those who start checkout but don’t finish it, eight of the top 10 reasons for leaving relate to the checkout process. This includes everything from distrusting the site’s security to overly complex forms to lacking preferred payment methods. Remedying these problems helps keep shoppers committed to completing their purchases. If you have an eCommerce store with Wix, you can intervene in these potential missed sales by setting up abandoned cart emails  nudging shoppers to complete their purchases. Communicate your brand values : A good checkout experience shows that you value your customers' time, while providing clear and concise explanations of fulfillment and payment options shows that you know your stuff. Your brand's commitment to customer service shines through with links to relevant information, live chat and phone help. Growing average order value : By highlighting curated options for cross-sells, upsells, product subscriptions and gift options, your checkout process can nudge order totals upward. You can also sell memberships online . Laying the groundwork for loyalty : Don’t think of checkout as the end of the purchase process; think of it as the first step toward a return visit and repeat purchase. Two-thirds of respondents in a PYMNTS  survey said a smooth checkout was very or extremely influential in deciding whether to buy from a brand again. You can further amp up re-engagement with post-purchase messaging on the thank you page, in follow-up emails that list upcoming flash sales  and provide coupons and via mobile messaging. Ready to rock your online store? Learn how to start an online store  and take Wix’s free website builder  for a spin. Ecommerce checkout FAQ Why is a seamless checkout process vital for my online store? A seamless checkout process is essential because it directly impacts your conversion rates. By creating a user-friendly experience, you can lower cart abandonment rates and motivate customers to finalize their purchases. How can I boost the security of my eCommerce site? Boost your website security  by using encryption protocols like SSL, displaying security badges, and clearly communicating your website privacy  policies. Show customers how their data is protected. Can I personalize my thank you page for better engagement? Yes. Add product recommendations, invite them to join your loyalty club, and include social media links to keep them connected to your brand. What are abandoned cart emails, and how do they work? Abandoned cart emails serve as gentle reminders for customers who added items to their cart but didn’t complete their purchase. These emails encourage shoppers to return and finish their transactions, helping you recover lost sales. How can I evaluate the effectiveness of my checkout process? Evaluate effectiveness by analyzing metrics such as conversion rates, cart abandonment rates and customer feedback. This data helps you identify pain points and areas for improvement in your checkout experience. How do you upsell at checkout? To upsell during checkout, suggest additional items that customers might want to add to their carts. Wix AppMarket  offers apps like AppSell to customize upsell funnels and unique offers on your checkout page.

  • 6 marketing shortcuts you can master with Gemini for Google Workspace

    I’ve lost count of how many business owners have told me that marketing felt more like a chore than a creative exercise. One of those “need to do” items on their checklists that never seems to go away. But when marketing starts to feel like a never-ending task, it’s hard to see the opportunities hiding in plain sight. The truth is, there are some powerful tools on the market that can simplify your work—and, perhaps, bring the excitement back to it. Gemini for Google Workspace is one of them. As a proud Google partner, Wix recently hosted a workshop with several Wix users who were all eager to explore ways to use Gemini to amp up their marketing strategies .  We walked away with plenty to talk about. Discover six examples from the workshop of how to use Gemini when you’ve hit a creative rut.  Set your business up for success with the right tools—try Wix's website builder today. 01. Brainstorm a game plan from scratch  Whether you’re starting a business or expanding an existing one, sometimes the hardest part of marketing is just knowing where to start. With Gemini, you can create a game plan that points you in the right direction—be it a content strategy , email strategy or any other type of marketing  plan.  Simply open up the web app, Google Doc or other workspace and start a chat with Gemini. At this stage, Wix Customer Success Manager David Burt recommends to “think of a prompt as a conversation starter.” To get the conversation rolling, you should expect to write multiple prompts and give the AI assistant all the context it needs to follow your line of thinking. In particular, you’ll want to feed it a:  Persona (“I am eCommerce business owner”) Context (“I provide fitness and wellness services to women between the ages 20-60”) Task (“Create a go-to-market strategy for the holiday selling season that includes four weeks worth of blog posts…”) Goal (“...designed to increase traffic to my website and drive more sales”)  Using this type of prompt, Gemini can help form a plan that’s specific to your business. “Sometimes I just get stuck on like what to post or where to direct things,” says Justina Ercole , a strength and conditioning coach based out of New York who offers both in-person and virtual services. “[With Gemini,] I got like 30 ideas for posts through the end of the year, which was awesome.” Meanwhile, Joshua Christie, founder of Purpose Portraits , uses Gemini to brainstorm ideas for photo shoots, video shoots—and, more recently, an internship program. “My dream is to have an internship program because I really want to help upcoming photographers get into the world [of professional photography],” he says. Gemini has been useful for planning out the program and writing job descriptions to attract potential interns.  02. Draft long-form content from existing research Perhaps one of the most popular and well-known aspects of GenAI is its ability to speed up and enhance content production. “I'm a writer, [so I used to think that AI was] taking over my job,” muses Kisha Edwards-Gandsy , co-founder and CEO of World Explorers . “But, you know, I choose my time over my pride. Sometimes [AI] doesn't create anything new, but it's like an assistant. It's like having a copywriter that works for me.”  Kisha is one of many at the workshop who practiced using Gemini to create a new blog post. After asking Gemini to create a content calendar  for her, she could ask it to start writing the blogs it proposed, directly within Google Docs. She could then transfer that copy into Wix, where she manages the World Explorers blog and can further prep the blog for publishing.  Gemini is also built into Slides, Sheets and other Google workspaces, allowing anyone to create content from existing notes or data. Rather than having to manually feed the AI new information each time, you can simply ask it to build upon any content or research that you’ve already started.  “[It has me] thinking about how do I mass-produce content,” says Danielle Hughes, chief personality officer of More Than Words Marketing . “I [can create] a strategy—multiple blog posts—in half an hour, and all I need to do now is go back and ‘zhuzh’ them."  Related reading: What is content marketing? Content marketing examples Content marketing tips   03. Write customer-facing emails that actually sound good To say that email marketing is easy would be to ignore how difficult it is to write copy that clicks with different audiences. Not to mention, there’s an art to timing your emails and switching up your messaging so that your emails don’t become monotonous.  “The salesy copywriting part of things is not what I'm good at, so Gemini was a really nice tool to at least get the framework of [what I want to say] and make it sound a little more like me,” says Justina. “I usually drop a new workout program every three months. Just pitching that and understanding how to make [each email] special in its own way—so it doesn't just like, ‘Oh, here's another thing, here's another thing’—[was helpful].”  Gemini is accessible directly from Gmail. You can ask the AI to draft a new email from scratch or refine an email that you already started. According to Joshua Christie, Gemini is particularly helpful because it provides several drafts right off the bat.  “I kind of look through those different ones and then decide ‘OK, I'll use this,’ and then tweak it further,” says Joshua.  “It’s been helpful with a lot of email summarizing too,” he adds, referring to the ability to automatically summarize a long chain of emails, in addition to any reports and proposal he receives. You can see key points of a conversation within seconds before crafting your response.  04. Create dashboards for easy project management  A successful marketing campaign isn’t just contingent on having creative ideas; it relies on good project management throughout the course of the campaign.  Gemini in Google Sheets can be helpful on this front, notes Carmen Barakat, head of global digital partner marketing for Google Cloud. “It helps create detailed, customizable templates, so you can spend less time on building the basics and quickly adapt them to fit any project.”  As an example, Gemini can create a project tracker, complete with color-coding and drop-down menus. This saves you the hassle of inputting the right formulas and creating visualizations by hand—things that would normally take a good chunk of time to produce.  The resulting dashboard can be used as a personal to-do list, or as a dynamic tracker used by multiple team members.  05. Build attractive decks with zero design experience  Decks have become a staple in marketing. Whether used for pitching ideas, presenting strategies or sharing results with stakeholders, they’re versatile and easy to digest. That being said, a disorganized or unprofessional-looking deck can do more harm than good.  Gemini in Google Slides is designed to save you time building presentations. It can generate entire slides from a simple prompt, or refine an existing deck with new text or images. Carmen points out that the AI can draw from existing slides when recommending new content. For example, Gemini can design an agenda based on the slides that are already built out.  You can chat with the AI as needed to perfect the layout or tweak the content within the slide.   06. Create videos and podcasts without a production team Videos and podcasts have always been tough to keep up with, requiring tons of time and specialized skills to create something professional. But with tools like NotebookLM  and Google Vids (which is dropping soon), they're becoming much more accessible for everyday creators.  For psychic medium and life coach, Kimara Himchak , this is a moment she's been longing for: “I feel like [AI] has mentally eliminated a lot of the roadblocks that got me stuck from progressing into expanding into social media, more podcasting—all the things that I've wanted to do,” she says. “[In the past,] I felt like I had to hire this person and that person…and now I'm like, well, wait a second, I could really work with AI to help do that easily.” Kimara describes wanting to expand her YouTube channel to include vlogs and a steady stream of content that can help her reach more clients. She looks forward to using the tools at her disposal to create these videos without breaking the bank. Using Gemini in Vids, she (and anyone else for that matter) can create a storyboard of suggested scenes, or edit a full video with adaptable templates and royalty-free media assets. In the same vein, NotebookLM  includes the ability to generate a podcast episode from virtually any information you give it. Feed it a website URL, presentation or document—and listen as two AI podcasters discuss the topic at length.  Want to try Gemini for Google Workspace yourself?  Gemini is available as an extra subscription service for Wix users who have a connected domain and an active Google Workspace business email. If you're eligible, you can try it out for free for 30 days.

  • The complete guide to guest blogging

    Ready to share your ideas with the world? Start your blog → Wouldn’t it be great if all you had to do was create a website for your business and then kick back and watch traffic come pouring into it day after day? Unless you’re Beyonce, that’s not likely to happen without some work. For most of us, promoting your website is just as integral to establishing your online presence as deciding how to make the website itself. This includes taking advantage of a wide range of digital marketing strategies , from blogging to SEO to social media promotion. In this article, we’ll focus on one special type of marketing in particular - guest blogging (aka guest posting). As part of a broader content marketing strategy, guest posting can effectively drive traffic to your website and build awareness of your brand, regardless of your site type . Whether you're still learning how to write a blog post or are already a blog aficionado, here’s what guest blogging is all about - and how to write and submit guest posts of your own. Starting a blog should feel exciting, not overwhelming, right? With the Wix Blog Maker, you get everything you need to create, design and grow your blog from scratch–without needing a tech degree. Use Wix’s intuitive tools to share your ideas with the world.  What is a guest post? If you want to make money blogging , guest posting might be for you. A guest post is a blog post or article that’s written by someone from outside the website. So, unlike a journalist or contributor that regularly writes content if they're starting a blog or for any other publication, a guest blogger has no official ties to the website or blog. Ready to start guest blogging now? Sign up with Wix today. Why is guest blogging important? First things first: You don’t get paid for guest blogging (most of the time). So, why do it? Well, the publication isn’t the only one that’s going to benefit from the great piece of content you write. When you write a guest post, you often get a byline in return. Here’s an example from the Business 2 Community blog: This post was contributed by Vikas Kalwani. At the bottom of the post is his byline and bio which contains a number of links—to his website, LinkedIn page, and Twitter account. This helps establish his authority in the field, lets readers learn more about his background and experience, and, of course, drives traffic to his website and social pages. In addition, Kalwani now has an entire page on the B2C website dedicated to his guest blogger bio. This might not seem like a big deal, but author bylines are a very important part of growing your online presence. They establish your authority in the field, generate brand awareness, help readers learn more about your background and experience, and, of course, drive traffic to your site. Expert tip for why guest blogging Guest blogging allows you to step outside your own channels and put your expertise in front of new eyes. Dor Cohen, Content Distribution & Growth Specialist Writing for industry publications or other blogs gets your voice and knowledge in front of relevant audiences who may not yet be aware of your work. It's a chance to establish your authority on a topic beyond just your owned platforms, organically connecting you with new communities who can benefit from your perspective. A content collaboration with a high quality brand or website could also open the door to mutual content creation and distribution opportunities. Benefits of guest blogging Here’s a bit more about the advantages of guest blogging: 01. Boost brand awareness Without brand name recognition, it can be tough getting people to take notice of your new business or website. And if they do, it’s going to take even more work on your part to convince them that yours is a worthwhile offering to spend time or money on. Guest blogging for a website that people already trust, however, can be a real game changer. By writing something that’s insightful and authoritative, you’ll get people to take notice that might never have otherwise discovered you or your brand. 02 Make a name for yourself as an expert In order to be successful as a guest blogger, you have to create unique and enlightening content. That means you can’t just churn out content or ideas that your audience has seen before. This is about bringing something new to the table and demonstrating your authority on the subject matter. If you can do this well and do it consistently within your space, you can make a name for yourself and your brand. 03. Increase meaningful traffic to your site If you write something that really knocks readers’ socks off, they’ll go looking for your bio to see who you are and what your experience is. If they’re interested in reading more of your content or hearing more of your insights, they’re likely to navigate to your site. That means you won’t just be driving more traffic to your site - you’ll also be getting more meaningful traffic. This will help you gain exposure among people within your industry, and can also help improve the rank of your website on search engines. It can really help your Blog SEO . 04. Improve your domain authority Google’s algorithm is very smart. And if it starts to notice that you’re guest posting like crazy simply to increase backlinks (links pointing to your site from other sites), you’re going to get penalized for it . So, don’t make it your goal to build links. Instead, focus on writing high-quality content that will offer genuine value to your readers. If your guest posting strategy focuses on writing for a very small handful of high-quality and authoritative sites within your space, it can do some good for your search rankings. This is because of something called domain authority . Essentially, your website’s authority in search will be better if it has high-quality links pointing back to it. So, don’t aim for links from a hodgepodge of different websites just because they’re willing to say “yes” to you. Focus on quality content instead. 05. Open the door to new business opportunities If your guest posts offer value - for instance, if they address a key pain point among your audience or approach an idea from a new perspective - you may start to see your inbox filling up with messages from readers. They might be companies or publications that want you to write something just as great for them as you did for the website they found you on. Or they might be intrigued by what your company does and want to inquire about partnership opportunities. They might even just be readers who want to thank you or ask a question about your post. If you do get emails or comments, use them as a networking opportunity to engage with people in your industry. How to find guest blogging opportunities Just as you’ve chosen a specific niche for your website or brand, you’ll want to do the same thing when it comes to guest blogging. Why? Well, it’s much easier to get blogs and other publications to accept your guest posts if you’re an expert in something as opposed to a jack of all trades who dabbles in a little bit of everything. Plus, if you want guest blogging to have a direct impact on your business, what you write about needs to be relevant and useful for your audience. So, once you’ve decided what your area of expertise will be, it’s time to start looking for guest blogging opportunities. Here’s how to start digging: 01. Look into your favorite blogs If you’re an avid reader of a blog or publication within your industry or specialty, that should be the first place you look. You’re already super familiar with the kind of content it publishes, so that’s going to make writing for them much easier. To find out if they accept guest posts, look in the following places: Footer There’ll be a link to Write for Us , Contributors , or Guest Blogging Guidelines . Here’s an example from mindbodygreen : Contact or information page If the contact form doesn’t ask for guest post submissions, look for the contact information of the editor. It may take a little searching, especially on bigger sites like Fast Company , but you’ll eventually find it: Keep in mind that if you find a note anywhere on the site that says “we do not accept guest posts,” then don’t waste your energy on it. 02. Do a Google search Google has the answers to everything, so why not ask the search engine which sites accept guest posts? Here are some queries you can use to find what you’re looking for: Write for us Guest bloggers wanted Guest blogging guidelines 03. Analyze your competitors It’s also a good idea to find out where your competition is getting its most popular and valuable backlinks from. That will give you a clue about the sites you might be able to contribute to. To do this, you’ll need to use SEO or blogging tools , such as SEMrush or Moz. Moz Pro has a free tool called Link Explorer . When you run a competitor’s website through it, it’ll provide you with lots of SEO information about it. For your purposes, you’ll want to focus on the list of Top Followed Links, like this example for neilpatel.com : According to this, Patel’s Entrepreneur guest posts are the biggest driver of traffic to his website. That gives you an idea that, first, Entrepreneur accepts guest posts . And second, that Entrepreneur could be a valuable place for you to post. Once you have an idea of which competitors’ guest posts are bringing them backlinks, you can reach out to those publications for guest blogging opportunities. as you already know that they’re looking for experts like yourself. 04. Check domain authority Not all guest blogging opportunities are made equal. While it’s important to find ones that fit your niche and will get you in front of your target audience, you also need to know if it’s going to be worth your time. One thing to consider is the site’s domain authority, which you can also find in the Moz Link Explorer tool: A score on the lower end of the spectrum isn’t always a reason to rule out a website, but it’s one factor to consider as you want your content to appear on trustworthy and highly trafficked websites whenever possible. Another thing to check is how much visibility and engagement you’ll get on social media. You can use BuzzSumo for this: In this example, you can see how the top three posts of the food blog Cookie and Kate have done in terms of: Facebook engagement Twitter shares Pinterest shares Reddit engagements Number of backlinks Based on this information, you can determine which websites are more worthwhile to contribute to than others. Expert tip for finding guest blogging opportunities When looking for the best guest blogging sites to work with, it’s important to think about the level of relevancy to your niche and value that this guest post can provide to your users. Ophyr Hanan, Blog Growth & SEO Outreach Strategist Try asking your users who they feel are authoritative figures they gain insights from, or look in the spaces or communities they're actively engaged in for the sake of acquiring valuable information about what they're interested in. When scouting out people for thought leadership pieces, you should consider potential opportunities that could arise from building relationships that will increase your level of EEAT and expertise. How to pitch a guest blog or post Once you know which sites you want to write for, it’s time to get to work on that first pitch. Here’s what you’ll need to do: 01. Keep track with a spreadsheet It can take awhile for these websites to get back to you, so it’s easy to lose track of them if you don’t have the information stored somewhere. For that reason, it’s a good idea to create a spreadsheet with information about the publication, editor, pitch details and guidelines, and date of your last email. You can also use this spreadsheet to keep tabs on websites you eventually want to write for, but aren’t ready to pitch to yet. 02. Familiarize yourself with the website’s content Work on each guest blogging opportunity one at a time so you can give each your full attention. The first thing to do is familiarize yourself with the kinds of posts they publish as well as the ones that perform the best. Use SEO tools (mentioned above) to find out which of their articles get the most social media shares, and use their most recently published posts to point you in the direction of their preferred topics. Once you understand what kind of content they want to see, it’ll be much easier to craft your pitch. 03. Review the guest post guidelines Next, turn your attention to the guest blogging guidelines. The editor is going to tell you exactly what they want from you, including details about: Word count Style and voice Recommended blog formats Topics they’re looking for (or not looking for) Examples of popular posts on their site Image specifications (when relevant) Rules for linking Publication standards They’ll also tell you if they want you to submit a pitch with a few bullet points before writing. Other times, they’ll ask you to write the post right away so that they can review the draft. Here’s an example of a guest blogging guidelines page from HubSpot : For each publication you want to submit to, make sure you read the guidelines very carefully. One misstep in your submission could lead the editor to pass over your pitch entirely. 03. Come up with a unique pitch Whether you’re brainstorming a bulleted pitch or writing a full post, you’ll want to do a website search for your topics first. If they’ve been tackled on the website already (even if it was a few years ago), don’t pitch them to the editor. They want to see that you have a new and unique idea to bring to the site. This is what will make you valuable to them as well as to their readers. 04. Write and send your pitch email In some cases, you’ll simply have to fill out a form on the website with details about who you are and what you’re pitching. However, most websites (such as MarketingProfs), will give you an email address to send your pitch to along with specific instructions. Make sure you read the guidelines page to find out what information to include in the message. You don’t want to send anything more or less than they ask for. Like MarketingProfs clearly states on its Write for Us page: “If you haven’t followed the above guidelines, you likely won’t hear back.” So, it’s very important to re-read everything and make sure you dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s before you hit the Send button. SEO Consultant Debbie Chew, in a segment on the SERP's Up SEO Podc ast, r ecommends looking for "those needle in the haystack" websites to discover new opportunities. Try to find the industry blogs that are relevant to you and then send them personalized outreach even if they are not advertising that they do guest posts. SEO Consultant Debbie Chew. Guest blogging best practices Here are just a few more tips we want to leave you with before you start guest posting for your brand: 01. Write a strong bio Most websites will ask you to write a bio. While you’ll want it to be uniquely worded from site to site, the core summary of who you are and why you’re an expert on the subject matter will more or less be the same. To save yourself time, create a bio template to start from. You can then adapt it based on the website, its audience, and what kinds of topics you’ve covered for them. Choose from a range of blog templates . 02. Spend extra time on your headlines The mere presence of an article on a high-authority website or blog cannot guarantee that people will click on it. To encourage readers to take note of your guest post, make sure you write a catchy headline for it. For more information, take a look at this article on how to write a headline that hooks readers. 03. Proofread several times As we’ve mentioned before, guest blogging isn’t about building up a repository of backlinks. That’s a poor practice for SEO, and you’re more likely to be penalized than rewarded for it. So, you really need to take the time to create a high-quality post when someone gives you the chance to write for them. In addition, make sure you spend extra time at the end proofreading your work. Online editing tools like Grammarly and Hemingway will be a big help with this. 04. Write with intention Never write a guest post and then try to find a home for it. There’s a reason why the ideal blog post length for guest articles is often 1,000 words or more. They want to make sure that contributors are serious about creating high-quality content for the blog and aren’t just looking for anywhere to place something they wrote a few months ago. So, custom pitches and content are a must if you want to have any success in guest posting. 05. Follow up after the blog goes live Want to show the website you wrote for that you meant every word you said? After the post goes live: Share a link to it on your social media accounts (remember to include the website’s handle). Check the comments section of the post and respond to anyone who takes the time to ask a question or debate one of your points. Write a short promotional post for it on your blog and let your readers know about it. 06. Make time for guest blogging every month Getting something published on a high-profile site once is fine. However, making a name for yourself as someone who knows everything about this one specific subject will be huge for your business over the long run. If you can, try to write for the same publications. It’s much easier to maintain a guest blogging partnership than to always have to be looking for new opportunities and navigating new sets of guidelines. 07. Review your analytics Your Google Analytics account has an entire section dedicated to acquisition. Use the information there to see if your guest posts are actually driving traffic to your website. (You’ll find referral information under “All Traffic.”) You can also use Google Search Console to keep tabs on your “Top Linking Sites” as well as how your guest blogging work has affected the search traffic levels to your website. 08. Be patient and build relationships Guest blogging is not just about getting a backlink, it's also an opportunity to build relationships with other bloggers and website owners in your industry. This networking can lead to more opportunities down the road, whether for more guest blogging or other collaborations. It's important to be patient as not every guest post submission will be accepted, and not every post will result in massive traffic. Be patient and continue refining your approach based on feedback and results, both in terms of the type of content you pitch and who you pitch it to. Looking to create a blog? Get started with the Wix Blog Maker.

  • 14 brand identity examples to inspire your own

    Picture any successful brand that you know and love. What’s the first thing that comes to mind? Is it their logo, their latest Instagram post or the last item you purchased from them? Whatever you’re envisioning, it’s all connected to how it made you feel. Strong brands know how to effectively communicate the right message to their audience. How do they do this? Enter brand identity—the way a brand presents itself to the world. Brand identity refers to both visual and non-visual aspects from how you create a logo and design a business card to how you communicate with customers. Without a unified, consistent vision of all brand elements—your work is not complete. In this article, we’ve compiled the best brand identity examples to get your creative juices flowing. TL;DR: brand identity examples Your brand identity is more than just a logo—it’s how your business looks, sounds and feels across every touchpoint. In this post, we highlight brand identity examples that stand out for their clarity, creativity and consistency. From color palettes and typography to voice and visual storytelling, each example offers practical takeaways you can apply to your own brand. These examples show how a strong brand identity can help you build trust, stand out in your market and connect with the right audience. Top features of a great brand identity Feature Why it matters Visual consistency Builds recognition and reinforces your brand across all channels Clear brand voice Helps you communicate in a way that feels authentic and aligned Distinctive logo Makes your brand memorable and instantly identifiable Thoughtful typography Sets the tone and supports readability across materials Strategic color use Evokes emotion and strengthens brand association Cohesive imagery Tells a visual story that supports your mission and message What is a brand identity? Brand identity is the overarching writing style and visual language your business uses to communicate with the world. Through meticulous and thoughtful design choices paired with clearly outlined mission and vision statements, your identity serves as the core of all branding decisions. This includes (but is not limited to): Logo Tone of voice Colors Typography Imagery Brand name Each of these tangible elements contributes to the greater sum and directly influences your brand perception. Ultimately your brand identity is established and represented mainly through your visual identity and all of the different elements that represent it. Learn how to edit photos to make sure your brand's imagery always looks professional. The purpose of your brand identity Your brand identity makes your business recognizable to your customers and helps you stand out in the marketplace. This brand positioning can be the deciding factor between competitors for new customers as well as returning ones. A strong brand identity leads to brand trust, consistency, loyalty and ultimately determines your customers’ relationship with your business. Still, your brand identity must be built with your customers in mind. Consider setting up buyer personas —visual representations of your ideal customers. This helps you better understand your target audience and how you can craft a brand identity that resonates with it.  Inspiring brand identity examples Glossier Hydro Flask Jungalow United Sodas of America Boy Smells Coca-Cola Patagonia McDonald's Spotify Fatso Wix Air Bnb Lego Bumble 01. Glossier Back in 2010, CEO and founder Emily Weiss started Into The Gloss , a blog that eventually turned into a beauty powerhouse built on the belief that " beauty isn’t built in a boardroom—it happens when you’re a part of the process ." Glossier changed the rules of the beauty game when it created a brand based on transparency and honesty. According to Glossier, “We believe in thoughtful design, and enabling conversation (which is where it all starts). But most of all, we believe that beauty is about having fun, wherever you are in your journey.” Glossier’s simplistic approach to both their products and branding makes them unique. They offer high-end products stripped of all the bells and whistles to reach a wider audience. Unlike many competitive brands, Glossier also steers clear of artificial ingredients and promotes a clean approach to beauty. They maintain ethical production processes, never test on animals and offer select vegan products, too. Glossier uses minimal packaging and is committed to other sustainable business practices. With a soft pink and white color palette and minimalistic typeface, Glossier communicates an effortlessly cool visual language. Their website, packaging and social media all speak the same visual language, promoting the brand’s simplicity. Not only has the brand marked the beauty scene, they’ve extended their product line into hoodies, mugs and even a collector’s cookie cutter—launching themselves even further into the heart of the beauty community they’ve worked so hard to build. 02. Hydro Flask The Gen Z must-have water bottle brand Hydro Flask is another brand identity example done right. The Pacific Northwest-based company knows the value of natural beauty, and uses it at every touchpoint of their branding identity. As they put it, “Mother Nature is the best designer there is. There’s never anything extra—every choice is made for a reason. That's our inspiration behind every product we design. Keep it strikingly simple. From product innovation to color leadership—simplicity drives all.” Hydroflask’s logo has gone through just a handful of iterations, which today appears as a jumping, smiling person whose body shape resembles the letter H. Their minimal black and white palette stands out against their brightly-colored metal bottles. Part of what makes the Hydro Flask brand identity so appealing is the option to customize the bottles. From custom colors and straps, to engraving, customers can personalize their bottles to suit their style. However, regardless of the color, a Hydro flask owner can always spot another out in the wild. This is a testament to the cultivated brand loyalty and ever-growing community. 03. Jungalow Another blog-turned-business model, Jungalow is a brand identity example worthy of praise. Curated and created by Justina Blakeney, Jungalow is both a lifestyle brand and a design inspiration source. The female-run business sells bold wallpapers, indoor and outdoor decor, rugs and art prints designed to "bring good vibes home.” Jungalow’s brand identity reinforces their values at every level. From their social and sustainability efforts and inclusion of international artists, they commit to community building. As part of their ethical mission, they’ve partnered with Trees for the Future and donate two planted trees after every purchase. The brand’s visual identity is unmistakably their own, featuring an earthy green and warm gold color palette and a logo that conveys a playful mood. Their dreamy website and Instagram feed further supports their creative and positive feeling. Create a standout brand identity with the Wixel color palette generator today. Best of all, their products holistically embody the brand. Customers can easily replicate the Jungalow’s visionary aesthetic in their own homes with the brand’s decor. From rattan and macramé pieces to natural fiber rugs and bright accent walls, the beauty is in the details. Customers feel proud purchasing Jungalow pieces as their commitments to sustainability and community show they practice what they preach. 04. United Sodas of America Bold, colorful and deliciously playful, United Sodas of America’s visual identity is love at first sight. They splashed their modest cans with bright colors and refined typography, highlighting their flavors. These minimalist cans simply, yet powerfully, entice thirst-quenching customers. Founder Marisa Zupan created the company to shake up the soda industry and its relationship with Americans. Zupan reimagined soda from a new perspective, eliminating ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup and replacing it with organic, plant-based ingredients. Beyond the ingredients and unique flavors, Zupan wanted to visually appeal to customers, too. In a Fortune interview, Zupan explains her strategy behind including color. “We wanted the can’s design to capture consumers’ attention and then let them get even more excited about the flavor. In an age when aesthetics are everything, and people are always looking for their next Instagrammable moment, we knew United Sodas had to stand out on the shelf. We put design first by using a matte finish, bright colors, and bold fonts that come in sleek packaging for a beverage that will taste as good as it looks.” Look at their variety pack or their curated theme packs: Both feature a minimal white box that reveals the kaleidoscope of colors when opened. With flavors like Toasted Coconut, Strawberry Basil and Pear Elderflower, United Sodas totally changed the soda game. Each brand identity touchstone maintains the same visual language, effectively communicating their approachable vibe (and delicious flavor). 05. Boy Smells What began as an experimental passion project of business and real-life partners, Matthew Herman and David Kien, evolved into a full-scale lifestyle brand selling candles, fragrances and undergarments that break traditional gender norms. Packaged in pale, pink boxes juxtaposed with bold, black text, the co-founders refer to Boy Smells’ brand identity as “genderful.” As they outline on their website , “We wanted to have products that were embracing masculine and feminine simultaneously in a simple and straight-forward way that wasn’t overtly targeted to one gender. It’s a permission to harness your power from wherever you want it.” The founders created enticing, unique scents like Cinderose —a combo of rose and smoke or Purple Kush— a pairing of cannabis flower and suede. Through their clever and intentional tone, imagery and package details, Boy Smells’ brand identity perfectly encapsulates their message. While self-care’s importance can often go overlooked, this lifestyle brand wants to create inclusive products that redefine identity, especially in a rigidly masculine/feminine industry. Their visual and non-visual branding details grant permission for anyone to enjoy their fragrances without any rules. 06. Coca-Cola Reading “Coca-Cola,” probably evokes the pleasing sound of opening a refreshingly cold can (or trademarked bottle). The Coca-Cola brand, or as many of us refer to it, Coke, is one of the most recognizable brands on the planet, and many associate it with happiness. And this is no coincidence. Coca-Cola leads the industry branding and product sales because they appeal to their audience and leave a lasting impression. For example, did you know that while Coca-Cola did not create the legend of Santa Claus, the brand’s advertising helped shape the beloved and jovial character we all know and love. Based on a 1931 painting that Coca-Cola commissioned, the brand “established Santa as a warm, happy character with human features such as rosy cheeks, a white beard, twinkling eyes and laughter lines.” That image endures today, and the positive feeling many associate with the holiday season is inherently linked to Coke. Coca-Cola doesn’t base their brand identity solely on holiday cheer. Every aspect of Coca-Cola’s branding plays on emotion, connection and a sense of belonging. The brand’s many successful campaigns include “Share A Coke,” “Open Happiness” and “Taste the Feeling.” While each campaign has its own voice, each links back to the Coca-Cola’s Company purpose: To refresh the world and make a difference. Even their iconic red and white logo has stood the test of time. It uses a classic serif-script font to evoke a hand-drawn quality, making the brand feel approachable. Through consistency, their unmistakable brand colors and logo design, Coca-Cola continues to develop brand loyalty from die-hard Coke fans. 07. Patagonia Patagonia is a worthwhile contender on our list for best brand identity examples. Their mission is clear: “We're in business to save our home planet.” Like a thread weaving through every detail of their brand strategy and marketing efforts, the company successfully upholds their values of sustainability, leadership and inclusion and is the epitome of a purpose-driven brand. The brand has a highly recognizable logo, depicting Monte Fitz Roy in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Their logo perfectly encapsulates the brand’s heart and origin. Fans easily recognize the brand’s logo without the name or even the colors. In addition, the public commends the company's high-quality products and commitment to slow fashion. Perhaps the most noteworthy of Patagonia’s branding efforts is their commitment to giving back—like in 2021 when they donated every cent of their record-breaking $10 million in Black Friday sales . “100 percent of our global retail and online Black Friday sales [go] directly to grassroots nonprofits working on the frontlines to protect our air, water and soil for future generations, we heard from many of our customers calling it a “fundraiser for the earth.” Patagonia not only commits to their customers, but they focus on their employees too: The company closed all their stores , offices and warehouses in both the U.S. and Canada from December 25 through January 2 to give their employees a much-needed break. Patagonia as a brand identity example truly shows the value of transparency and the power of consistency. 08. Spotify As 2021 recently came to a (much-needed) end, many of us were delighted to share our Spotify Wrapped with our nearest and dearest. The amazing marketing strategy rode the wave of connection, making Spotify’s listeners feel part of their community while also highlighting their unique preferences. For a brand that puts music front and center, Spotify’s has a rather subdued visual identity. A modest color palette of green, black and white takes a backseat to the colorful album covers played on the streaming platform. The minimalist logo , which includes three horizontally curved lines in a circle, represents sound’s flow and movement. Look closely, and you’ll notice it’s crooked, bringing a humanistic feel to the brand. Since global listeners use Spotify on both mobile and desktop devices, the brand successfully maintains consistency across platforms. Spotify's brand style guide allows external businesses to create branded playlists that show off their own identity, but visually they feel inclusive to Spotify's brand. In addition, these playlists become a branded asset unto themselves. For example, the fashion label The Row, has monthly playlists created by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, the brand’s stylish founders. Originally, the playlists were launched to engage with their audience during quarantine, but they were so successful that the Olsen twins continue to release monthly music to engage with their audience. You can explore other style guide examples to see brands that have done it right. 09. McDonald's The American food chain associated with hamburgers, fries and the iconic golden arches, McDonald’s is a must in our list of brand identity examples. Arguably one of the most recognizable brands in the world, simplicity is the key to McDonald’s brand identity. Their no-muss-no-fuss red and yellow color palette is warm, friendly and accessible. McDonald’s tailoring to their target audience makes their brand strategy particularly noteworthy. Each aspect of their brand identity—from their logo and packaging to their overall brand message and tone—considers their target customer. Think of Happy Meals or the playful characters like Ronald McDonald and the Hamburglar: Instantly you know McDonald's created these products for children. Their offering doesn’t stop there, their menu is accessible to a much wider audience, inclusive of diverse dietary restrictions and budgets. Regardless of your age, or geographical location, step into any McDonald’s and you’ll experience the brand in the same way. Both their consistent visual identity and their dependable products make them a trustworthy brand. You can instantly recognize a McDonald's in almost every country. The brand successfully implemented cultural cuisine and localized marketing strategies to ensure that they are always aligned with their customers, no matter where they are. 10. Fatso Sometimes peanut butter gets a bad rap, but Fatso isn’t your average peanut butter. Offering a wide range of creative flavors like Maple Almond Seed Butter or blended mixes of organic coconut oil, MCT oil, or chia and flax seeds, founder and CEO Jill Van Gyn created the Canadian brand to highlight the good fats and ingredients in nut butters. The brand's quirky and approachable visual language uses a muted-yet-bold color palette of millennial pink, mint green and nutty brown paired with a friendly peanut character who appears on every container, and even on the company’s website favicon. The Fatso logo contrasts this with a dark and heavy typeface, not only drawing attention to the brand name, but also playfully evoking the brand’s spirit. Learn more: Typesfaces vs fonts What makes Fatso a particularly good brand identity example? The brand looks just as good on the inside as it does on the outside. The company supports a range of social justice efforts and has a commitment to inclusion. Even the product itself is non-GMO, vegan, kosher and gluten-free certified, making it accessible to a range of communities. And you may not think of a nut butter business as a place for social change, but Van Gyn uses her brand’s influence and voice for many important causes. For example, the brand provides their product to underserved communities within Canada and the US, recently donating over $200k of product to food organizations. According to Fatso’s website , “Fatso has donated to and supported a wide range of charities and organizations that focus on harm reduction, housing issues, food security, LGBTQ+ communities, Black Lives Matter (both Canada and US), and First Nations communities.” 11. Wix For the last brand identity example, Wix is in the mix. The website builder has found its place as a go-to platform for business professionals, entrepreneurs and self-creators through consistent branding assets and a reliable product. Wix’s visual identity has a minimalist black and white logo designed to be instantly recognizable in all sizes and contexts. It pairs well with a diverse color palette, showcasing the bright and dynamic creativity of Wix’s users. Wix even created its own custom typeface MadeFor to highlight the brand’s spirit. “Wix Madefor is our custom typeface. A versatile and adaptable typography toolkit with a distinct personality, Madefor finds harmony between freedom and structure. Designed for your vision–made for you.” With a strong foundation and a clear identity, Wix allows others to build their own brands from the ground up, at every level. In addition to creating websites, products like the Wix Logo Maker to The Branded App by Wix enable business owners to develop their own online presence and identities. 12. Airbnb Whether it’s their lovable logo, user-friendly interface or honest brand messaging, Airbnb is a great example of a brand identity done right. Founded in 2008, Airbnb started out with a simple idea: to let people open their homes and couches to travelers. The idea, which has obviously evolved along with the brand, led Airbnb to totally change the game in the hospitality industry. The company underwent a rebrand in 2017 when they realized that the true core of their business was much more than hospitality: it’s a total sense of belonging. They created their iconic Belo logo symbol and as they eloquently explain on their blog: “Of course, an identity is about more than symbols. So we’ve redesigned the entire Airbnb experience to better reflect the people who make up this community. Our shared vision of belonging is the thread that weaves through every touchpoint on Airbnb. We have redesigned every single page of the user experience across the web and mobile to bring our new identity to life. Now we have a platform that reflects your feedback, and that can continue growing as we keep listening.” The key takeaway from this example is the way Airbnb truly listens to their users. This was the catalyst for their evolution, which in turn made their brand more relatable, authentic and, of course—successful. 13. LEGO Founded in 1932 on the premise of imagination, fun, creativity and learning, LEGO is an example of a brand that has stood the test of time. From their brand name (created with two Danish words “leg godt”, meaning “play well”) to their mission: “Inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow”—the LEGO brand totally embodies their values, down to each individual block. It’s not just the familiarity and dependability of their product, or the personal connection so many of us have to this nostalgic-yet-modern toy, that keeps the momentum going. The company has developed a strong sense of brand trust and, in turn, brand loyalty. Each detail of their marketing efforts reinforces the core values at every level, which is palpable to any LEGO user, regardless of age. LEGO’s brand identity is cross generational, appealing to both youngsters and adults, perpetuating their brand mission. 14. Bumble Launched in 2014, Bumble is a female-focused dating app that has dominated the market since it came onto the scene. Built on values like respect and accountability, Bumble’s mission is to “create empowering connections in love, life, and work. We promote accountability, equality, and kindness in an effort to end misogyny and re-write archaic gender roles. On Bumble, women always make the first move.” From their optimistic color scheme to their onboarding process and user experience, Bumble’s brand identity is strong in every touchstone. They continuously reinforce their brand values and empower women to be decisive and unapologetic in their dating endeavors. To further manifest the importance of their brand, they also have Bumble brand ambassadors , a collective “hive” and community-based initiative that holistically embodies female change-seekers to spread the brand mission on a global scale. How to create a brand identity Creating a brand identity is like shaping your business’s personality. It’s what people see, feel and remember about your brand. From designing packaging to launching a website, these building blocks will help guide every visual and verbal decision. Define your brand’s core purpose and values Start by getting clear on why your brand exists. It’s not just about what you sell—it’s about what you stand for. Your mission and values act as your brand’s compass. What problem are you solving? What principles guide your choices? A fitness brand, for instance, might focus on more than just workout gear, promoting confidence, strength and inclusion for every body type. Your purpose and values should influence everything, from your products to your messaging. To put this into action, write a short statement for each: your mission (what you do), vision (where you’re headed) and values (how you behave). Keep them concise but meaningful and test them to see if they connect with your audience and reflect your internal culture. Know your audience like a friend Creating a brand identity without understanding your audience is like picking a gift without knowing who it’s for. Build detailed personas: what do your ideal customers do for fun? What’s keeping them up at night? Where do they spend their time, both online and offline? Once you know who you’re talking to, adjust your tone, visuals and product experience to match their needs—and surprise them with things they didn’t even know they wanted. For example, a skincare brand targeting Gen Z could use bold colors, playful copy and TikTok tutorials. A brand for eco-conscious parents might focus on earth tones, minimalist design and stories about sustainability. Develop a distinct visual identity Your visual identity is your brand’s first impression and a great way to make it stick. This includes your logo, color palette, typography, imagery style and even the smaller details like icon design. Every piece should reflect the personality and values you’ve already defined. Choose visuals with purpose. Color psychology plays a big role in how people see your brand—blue suggests trust, red brings energy, green hints at growth or nature. Fonts matter too. A custom serif says “premium and timeless,” while a clean sans serif screams “modern and approachable.” Keep things consistent. From packaging and posters to your website, every element should work together and feel unmistakably you. Craft your brand voice and messaging A strong brand identity isn’t just how it looks—it’s also how it sounds. Define your brand voice and tone: playful, formal, quirky, confident or caring. Think about how your brand would talk to a customer if it were a person. Your messaging should always be clear, consistent and focused on what your audience needs. Create phrases or taglines that reflect your value and personality. For example, Mailchimp’s voice is casual but knowledgeable—like a smart friend who gets it. Want to practice? Write social media captions, email subject lines or product descriptions using your voice guidelines and test them with real users. Apply your identity across every touchpoint A brand identity works when it’s applied consistently. Your visuals, tone and message should appear across all parts of your business—from your website banner to customer service responses, business cards, packaging and even internal documents. Small moments matter too: a label on a freebie, a custom email footer or a branded workshop giveaway. Hosting events or creating print campaigns? Use poster ideas that reflect who you are. Launching a new product or marketing effort? Ask yourself, “Does this feel like us?” Learn more about website builders: Best AI website builder  Best website builder for small business Best one-page website builders Personal website builders  Free website builders  Cheap website builder  Best mobile website builders   Best sports website builders Brand identity FAQ What's the essence of a brand identity? A brand identity, whether yours or someone else's, is made up of all of the different characteristics, values, attributes and even background gradients that define a brand and distinguish it from others. It should convey a unique and memorable brand image, through a variety of visual and textual elements. In turn all of these should resonate with your target audience and create a lasting, positive impression. How much does it cost to develop a brand identity? The cost of developing a brand identity can vary tremendously, depending on how much you plan to rely on external experts to help you build it. Each step of the process, from research to creation, and implementation could cost from several hundreds of dollars, to several hundred thousand. What's the ROI of brand identity? The ROI of brand identity can be difficult to quantify, but it can have a significant impact on your bottom line. A strong brand identity can help you: Increase brand awareness and recognition Build customer loyalty Attract and retain top talent Increase sales and profitability Charge premium prices What's an example of a brand identifier? A brand identifier is any element that helps people identify your brand. This could include your logo, tagline, color palette, typography, imagery or even your brand name. What's the brand identity, behind a huge brand like Coca Cola? Coca-Cola's brand identity is centered around the concepts of happiness and togetherness. They also often involve the feeling of refreshment and quenching thirst. This huge, global brand employs a consistent color palette, predominantly red and white to evoke the energy, excitement and positivity behind its brand. Coca-Cola's messaging focuses on the joy of sharing moments, via campaigns like it's iconic "Taste the Feeling." What are some of the best ways to represent brand identity? Consistent visual identity : Use a cohesive color palette, typography and logo across all platforms to create a recognizable visual identity. The best brand identity examples all do this. Clear messaging: Develop a compelling tagline and brand story that reflect your values and mission. Unique voice and tone: Maintain a consistent voice and tone in all communications, whether formal, friendly or humorous. There's no right or wrong voice, each brand voice is different. Quality content: Produce high-quality, relevant content that aligns with your brand’s values. Customer experience : Provide a seamless and positive customer experience that reflects your brand's promises.

  • How to start a subscription box business that sells in 6 steps

    Get started by:  Creating an online store →  |  Getting a domain → Subscription businesses have come a long way. These days, weekly subscription boxes are more likely to arrive on your front porch than a newspaper—and during the pandemic, subscriptions became one of the Internet’s most profitable eCommerce business ideas . Sales from subscription eCommerce according to the Business Research are expected to grow another 65% by 2025. The success of the subscription model is due, in part, to a win-win formula: subscribers enjoy fun finds, convenience, and savings. Meanwhile, they spend up to 2.5 times more than regular customers, according to McKinsey —a boon for businesses. Read on to learn more about the different types of subscription boxes you can offer, how to decide whether a subscription service is the right business idea  for you and how to get started. Read Also: How to start a business Subscription box business basics By now, you’re probably very familiar with subscription services—maybe you even use one (or several) yourself. But it’s worth a closer look at how they work to determine whether they’re a good fit for your business. What are subscription boxes? Subscription boxes are a type of recurring order that automatically gets shipped out to customers on a set schedule. Subscriptions are available in a wide range of product categories and prices. As a type of business , subscription boxes are especially popular among younger shoppers: around 34% of millennials and 22% of Gen Z shoppers are currently trying and are likely to continue using subscription services, according to GfK’s FutureBuy report. While some brands are built solely on a subscription model, plenty of retailers have leveraged subscription services to encourage repeat business. How to start a subscription box business in 6 steps If you’ve determined a subscription box business is right for you, then it’s time to start planning. A successful launch depends on careful planning, goal-setting and advance coordination. Find your subscription box niche Align subscription price, product and frequency Develop a prototype subscription box Supercharge your customer service Launch and promote with strategic marketing Monitor and adjust your business strategies 01. Find your subscription box niche Start by defining a specific niche for your subscription box service. Are you going to target your top spenders, buyers of a specific product category or a particular demographic? If you’re not sure, start by looking at your most popular or frequently bought products. Who’s buying them? How often do they repurchase your products? What can you simulate via a subscription program? Alternatively, you can take a look at the competitors in your industry. Conduct a competitive analysis of others who are selling subscriptions, and identify any market potential that they’ve left open. You’ll want to get as detailed about your ideal subscriber as possible, understanding their needs, motivations, spending habits, values, and more. After all, an 85-year-old resident in Wyoming will likely want a different snack box than a 23-year-old hipster in New York. Use your persona’s desires and needs to determine your subscription frequency, box contents, and branding. Other ways to hone in on your ideal customer: Survey your customers Look at customer reviews for other subscription services—what do people love or dislike about them? Identify trending products via social media or tools like Google Trends Perform keyword research around top products or subscription services in your industry 02. Align subscription price, products and frequency Create the parameters for your subscription service itself. Of course, you can adjust your goals and offerings over time, but it’s essential to have concrete metrics in place so you can measure your progress. To start, decide: What is the overall business goal? Are you trying to capture a new market, or better retain existing customers? Are you looking to generate the highest possible revenue upfront, or perhaps drive more sales in the off-peak season? By prioritizing your goals, you’ll likely have an easier time deciding on the right pricing, product selection, marketing plan, and more. For example, if your goal is to elevate your brand, you might opt for a curated quarterly assortment of premium products, targeted to your high-value customers. For each shipment you could choose deluxe packaging and include a hand-written note on fine stationery. By contrast, if your aim is to acquire new customers and raise overall brand awareness, you could offer a small assortment of fun low-cost finds, with splashy but inexpensive packaging, marketed primarily on social media. How often will you ship subscription boxes? Do you want to offer your subscription box on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis? This can depend on: Products : How often do your customers need your products? How long will your products last? For replenishment subscriptions, calculate intervals between orders from existing customers, if available, to determine what intervals to offer. Budget : How often can you afford to ship your products, considering the resources involved in logistics, the shipping costs, and the price of your product packaging? Buzz : To maintain customer enthusiasm, you’ll need to strike the balance between regularity and exclusivity. How often should you ship to remain top-of-mind, while still maintaining anticipation? What’s included with a subscription? If you’re launching a curated subscription service, design shipments to give customers a sense of quality, value, and essence of your brand. A mix of top sellers and lesser-known products in a variety of sizes, colors, or flavors can give your box an “eye candy” appeal. If you’re offering a replenishment box, focus on providing the right amount of items to tie your customers over until your next shipment. How long will a shaving kit last? How many ounces of tea do customers need per week? For membership subscriptions, consider what perks you can offer that are both practical and luxurious. In addition to free shipping or discounted prices, you could offer VIP consultations, invitation-only classes, or birthday treats. How much does a subscription cost? Develop a product pricing strategy that aligns with your goals, customer expectations, and your chosen subscription model. Curated assortments tend to command a premium, while replenishment subscriptions are often value-driven. Prices may also depend on subscription length. You might offer a slight discount for subscribers who commit to an annual subscription versus a month-to-month plan. Remember to think through how perks align with existing discounts and loyalty rewards you may offer. For example, if members get 20% off merchandise with every purchase, will you apply that discount to already-slashed prices on Black Friday? It goes without saying that whatever price you land on, you must ensure that you’re turning a profit. Make sure that you’ve factored in the cost of marketing, packaging, storage, fulfillment, and other fees associated with your program. 03. Develop a prototype subscription box Once your parameters are set, create a prototype to use for marketing purposes and to serve as an introduction to your subscription service. Prototyping goes beyond finding the ideal product assortment; you need to build and test every aspect of the customer experience. This includes: Suppliers : If you’re outsourcing products for your subscriptions, thoroughly research suppliers and negotiate a price that works for your budget. If you haven’t used a supplier’s products yet, order samples to ensure quality and understand what you’re sending your customers. When you can personally vouch for the products you sell, you can provide better customer service and marketing. Packaging : When customers open your subscription boxes, you want them to feel delighted. Emotion is a powerful driver for purchase, and a unique unboxing experience also begs to be shared. Consider what type of Ccommerce packaging fits your budget and your audience, whether that involves minimalist eco-friendly materials or bright colors and confetti. The eCommerce site experience : Whether you’re building a new website or adding to your existing one, check that your eCommerce website templates  are capable of hosting a subscription service. This goes well beyond attractive site templates—rather, your platform should support product subscription options, recurring payments/auto-renewal, and easy subscription management. Wix eCommerce , for instance, includes subscription box features to simplify everything from fulfillment to self-service subscription tools for your customers.   Behind-the-scenes logistics: Put your fulfillment center to the test, and establish processes to ensure prompt, reliable subscription fulfillment. Flesh out your plan for dealing with voluntary or involuntary cancellations and customer queries. Consider running a test with friends and family to ensure that these systems interoperate as smoothly as possible prior to offering your subscription publicly. 04. Supercharge your customer service When you launch a subscription business, your customer service teams need to deliver on a whole new level. Get ahead of customer questions by building out self-service content, subscription-related information, and various customer service options, backed by well-trained professionals. Clarify your rules for shipping and returns, and include prominent links throughout the subscription onboarding experience. What are your shipping fees? Do you ship internationally? How long after purchasing can a customer return a box? Do you refund subscriptions, and under what circumstances? In addition, prepare for inevitable cancellations with an “offboarding” process (e.g., asking why a subscriber is leaving and/or suggesting options to keep them around). A thoughtful approach can even recoup 15% to 30% of would-be cancellations, according to ProfitWell . 05. Launch and promote with strategic marketing When your subscription box is ready to see, promote it prominently across your site, emails, search ads, and social media. While you should tailor the specific marketing mix to your subscription service’s target persona, consider these tactics to help your program take off: Cross-promote and coordinate messaging across your own marketing channels: Include your brands’ social handles on your product packaging and encourage customers to tag your business in their posts. This will help new customers find you and encourage engagement online. Encourage reviews on your online store and product pages: This creates a bank of word-of-mouth marketing and testimonials you can re-use in promotional campaigns, plus provide actionable feedback. Consider reaching out to bloggers and influencers to promote your subscriptions: By partnering with content creators, you can build your brand credibility and expand your commercial reach. View a list of 14 eCommerce marketing  strategies for more inspiration. 06. Monitor and adjust your business strategies Now that your subscription business is up and running, revisit the goals and metrics you established prior to launch. Track performance carefully. Analyze sales performance, customer feedback, product reviews and social posts to optimize your offering. Don’t be afraid to adjust your subscription service—just be transparent with existing customers about what changes are coming, with ample lead time to allow them to cancel or change their subscriptions as needed. If you’re making changes in direct response to subscriber feedback, let them know this; you may earn plaudits and trust for responding to customers' needs. 3 types of subscription box business models Here are three popular ways to structure your subscription service, with examples of how Wix merchants are leveraging them. 01. Curation Under this model, shipments contain a selection of one or more items based on a theme, style, or customer preference. The purpose is usually to introduce subscribers to expert-picked goods and/or new products and brands. Apparel brands like Stitch Fix pioneered the curation concept. But curated boxes are now prevalent in various categories, ranging from wine to wellness to beauty. House of Suppliez  is one such beauty supplier that offers several types of monthly subscriptions that makes it easy for customers to discover the latest nail business  trends. 02. Replenishment The replenishment model offers a way for customers to conveniently restock on their most-used items, such as toiletries, food, or household supplies. For example, online food marketplace Napa Wild  offers weekly shipments of fresh produce boxes, with the option to choose a “100% organic” or “organic/conventional mix” of goods. Since Napa Wild boxes contain perishable food, subscription boxes are limited to areas located by the company’s headquarters in Napa County, California. 03. Membership (a.k.a. access) A membership model focuses on giving subscribers access to exclusive pricing and other perks with their subscriptions. Amazon Prime and Walmart Plus are two of the most well-known examples of this, but retailers of all sizes offer paid memberships to boost brand loyalty, beef up AOV, and subsidize the cost of free shipping. For instance, home and wellness retailer MightyNest  combines its subscription box services with membership perks. MightNest members can enjoy free shipping on all items across its online store, plus up to 35% off everything every day. Pros and cons of subscription business models A subscription service may sound like a no-brainer. However, there are various benefits and challenges to be aware of. The upside: more cash. The challenge: higher costs. With a subscription offering, you can charge a membership fee right away or incentivize upfront prepayment, resulting in a healthy boost to your bottom line with every signup. Even better, subscription services offer predictable, recurring income. However, running a subscription business also requires thorough planning and investment. It can add an extra layer of complexity to your operations between managing virtual subscriptions (including new signups, late payments, renewals, and cancellations) and managing the eCommerce logistics behind it. Moreover, you’ll need to plan out your marketing strategies and packaging plan. The upside: built-in loyalty. The challenge: customer churn. Subscription boxes inherently generate repeat customers and recurring revenue. And by including products that customers may not have tried on their own, subscription boxes can help to build up interest in new and/or higher value items—thereby increasing a customer’s lifetime value. With that said, the key to generating momentum is keeping subscribers enrolled—and therein lies the challenge. More than a third of consumers cancel their subscriptions in less than three months, and over half cancel within six months, according to McKinsey . Higher churn rates make it harder for you to recoup acquisition costs, so you’ll have to effectively differentiate your box and price competitively. Note: involuntary churn caused by glitches like expired credit cards is another potential headache, accounting for over half of all subscription cancellations, according to billing vendor Chargebee . The upside: less excess inventory. The challenge: personalization rules. Overstock items that haven’t caught on can be more appealing if packaged with other curated items, or if thrown in as an extra thank-you treat for subscribers. In this way, a subscription service can provide an avenue to keep inventory moving. However, the potential challenge comes with balancing these practical considerations with customers’ expectations for personalized assortments. More than seven in 10 consumers expect personalization whenever they shop online, McKinsey found. That expectation may be heightened when it comes to subscription products, which aim to align shipments with customers’ personal tastes. Undercutting that promise with random inventory can breach trust, leading to cancellations and a tarnished reputation. Ready to create a steady cash flow and spark a loyal customer base? Start your own business and sell subscriptions  with Wix today. How to start a subscription box business FAQ Is a subscription business profitable? A subscription business can be highly profitable due to its recurring revenue model and the potential for strong customer retention. By providing consistent value, businesses can encourage long-term subscriptions, which ensures steady income. Profitability, however, depends on factors like pricing strategies, customer acquisition costs and keeping churn rates low. How much does it cost to start a subscription box business? Starting a subscription box business typically involves costs like product sourcing, packaging and shipping. You’ll also need to budget for marketing and potentially a website or platform to manage subscriptions. Depending on the scale and niche, startup costs can range anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. How profitable are monthly subscription boxes? Monthly subscription boxes can be profitable, but success depends on securing loyal subscribers and controlling costs. High customer acquisition costs or frequent cancellations can cut into profits. Strong branding and providing quality products that align with the customer’s expectations are key to boosting profitability. What is an example of a subscription model? Streaming platforms, like Netflix or Spotify, are classic examples of subscription models. Customers pay a recurring fee, often monthly, in exchange for access to content or services. This model works well because it provides ongoing value to users while ensuring predictable income for the company. How does a subscription business make money? A subscription business earns revenue through recurring payments from customers who sign up for its services or products. By delivering consistent value, such as exclusive products, convenience or entertainment, the business retains subscribers. This steady income stream allows for longer-term financial planning and growth opportunities.

  • How to sell on Facebook Marketplace for beginners

    In the U.S., more than one in three people  use Facebook Marketplace to buy and sell things every month. The prominent social media platform offers a plethora of opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to add an additional eCommerce avenue to their repertoire. Wix users can take even further advantage of Facebook with Wix multichannel campaigns . Simply connect your eCommerce store to your Facebook business page or Facebook Shop (where you can add Marketplace as a sales channel), and manage everything seamlessly from one place—including ads. To help you succeed, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know about how to sell on Facebook Marketplace for beginners. From choosing what to sell to creating listings and offering tips for successful selling, we've got you covered. Learn more:  eCommerce vs marketplaces , eCommerce vs social commerce Looking to get started with selling on Facebook fast? If your aim is to get yourself setup and selling as fast as possible you can go straight to these steps: Login to your Facebook account Choose the Marketplace button, you'll find it in the left side menu Click Create New Listing  Select Item for Sale  Fill out all of the required listing information:  A high-quality photo A description  Price  Condition Additional details, such as SKU numbers or product tags (if any) Click Next  Preview the listing and join groups you think might be relevant Click Publish to post the listing  How does Facebook Marketplace work? Facebook Marketplace is quite easy to use, even for those who are brand new to starting a business . Just like posting a status or photo, you can post an item that you want to sell on the marketplace as either a private Facebook user or business account. You just need to provide details like what the item is, its price and your location. When you're done, Facebook will show your listing to consumers in your area. People can browse your items and send you a direct message for more information. Once you agree on terms, you can arrange for pick-up or delivery. Is Facebook Marketplace right for you? For many beginner entrepreneurs, selling on Facebook Marketplace is an attractive, simple way to start multichannel selling . Before you invest time and resources into the platform, consider these factors to see if, as an online selling site , it’s also a good fit for your eCommerce business growth strategy: Audience:  If you're looking to target local customers, Facebook Marketplace is an excellent choice. However, you’ll want to make sure your target audience is actually active on Facebook. Facebook is the preferred social media platform  for people ages 35 to 44, with waning popularity among Gen-Z users. If your customer base is largely comprised of young people, Facebook may not be the best option. Product category: Facebook Marketplace caters to a wide range of physical items, including clothing, electronics, furniture and more. Some categories may perform better than others. If you're selling unique or vintage items, or niche products that don't fit into other online marketplaces , then Facebook Marketplace might be a good choice. Seller requirements:  To sell on Facebook Marketplace, you just need a personal Facebook account, though U.S.-based business accounts with a Facebook Shop can also manage Marketplace listings through their Commerce Manager dashboard. To avoid having your account suspended while selling on Facebook Marketplace, it's essential to adhere to Facebook’s commerce policies  to maintain a positive selling experience. Costs:  Meta recently changed its fee structure on Facebook Marketplace. Local sales used to have zero charges, while shipped orders incurred a 5% fee of the sale price. Now, all orders will only be subject to payment processing fees  ranging from 2.9% to 3.49%. If Facebook Marketplace sounds like the right fit for you, let’s dive into how to list and sell items on the platform. How to sell items on Facebook Marketplace Set up a Facebook Marketplace account   Create a compelling listing Set your delivery method Promote your listings   Communicate with buyers and finalize the sale   01. Set up a Facebook Marketplace account To set up your Facebook Marketplace account, simply log into your personal Facebook account and click on the Marketplace  icon. If you don't see it immediately, try clicking on the “See More” option from the menu bar to find it. From there, you’re ready to create a listing. Alternatively, if you feel you need a more comprehensive eCommerce experience, create a Facebook Shop. You’ll need a business Facebook page to create a Shop account, which provides a dedicated online storefront that you can customize to your liking. Facebook Shops can also utilize Facebook Marketplace as a sales channel through the platform’s Commerce Manager tool. This gives your customers the option to purchase from your business in three different ways: through Facebook Marketplace, your Facebook Shop or your online store. If you’re a Wix user, you can create and manage a Facebook Shop  directly from your Wix dashboard. Wix simplifies the process by letting you build listings and manage orders simultaneously across multiple eCommerce platforms. This is an easy way to organize and streamline your overall strategy, as managing multiple sales channels individually can be a huge time sink. 02. Create a compelling listing When you sell on Facebook Marketplace, it’s crucial that you capture the attention of your potential buyers with a compelling listing. To get started, first click on “Marketplace” from the left-hand sidebar. Then, click “Create new listing.” You’ll need to select from one of three types of listings: Item for Sale Vehicle for Sale Property for Sale or Rent From here, you’ll be prompted to fill in the details of your Marketplace listing. Your listing should include a clear, concise title and description. You should also use relevant keywords in your copy to improve your chances of getting seen. To gather intel here, put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and mimic their search behaviors. Take note of the listings that appear first in relevant search results, including the keywords used in the titles and descriptions. In addition, post high-quality photos and/or videos of the item for sale. Potential buyers are more likely to click on listings with clear, detailed images. 03. Set your delivery method Before you can publish your listing, you’ll need to choose from one of several delivery methods: Shipping only: You, the seller, will be responsible for shipping items directly to your buyers within 10 business names of receiving the order. Note that many purchases that are completed with checkout on Facebook are covered by Purchase Protection . Local pick-up only: You will need to arrange an in-person pick-up with your buyer, though you can use an existing store location as a drop-off/pick-up location. Shipping and local pick-up:  Buyers can choose between pick-up or shipping; whichever is most convenient for them. 04. Promote your listings Posting something on Facebook Marketplace does not guarantee that it will be seen by potential customers. Therefore, you’ll want to invest some energy (and potentially some money) into promoting your listings. There are several ways to reach more potential buyers on Facebook Marketplace. Tap the locals:  Join local buying and selling groups by using the groups feature on Facebook. You’ll find many customers looking for a good deal or other sellers wanting to make money through arbitrage, so it’s worth joining a few groups related to your niche. Cross-promote your listings: Post your listings on your other social media channels, like Instagram. Learn how to sell on Instagram  to explore further. Leverage Facebook Ads:  Create ads that put your listings front and center when people are scrolling through Marketplace or other Meta-owned channels (like Instagram, Messenger and the Meta Audience network). Wix users can take advantage of fully integrated Facebook and Instagram ads  directly from their site dashboard. 05. Communicate with buyers and finalize the sale Effective communication with potential buyers is key to ensuring a smooth transaction and finalizing the sale. The Facebook Messenger tool is an easy way to do this right from the Facebook app; use it to answer any questions customers may have about your listing, negotiate prices and arrange pick-up or delivery details. Payment methods vary on Facebook Marketplace. You can arrange for local transactions for in-person deliveries, or enable online checkout to accept credit cards, debit cards, PayPal or Meta Pay. Tips for selling on Facebook Marketplace For any eCommerce endeavor, building your online presence and consumer trust is crucial. There are a few key things you can do to ensure a successful experience selling on Facebook Marketplace. Build consumer trust To gain the trust of potential buyers on Facebook Marketplace, it's important to treat your listings like a storefront. Here are three things you can do to build consumer trust: Complete your profile: Fill out the details in your personal profile, like having a bio, profile picture and cover photo. A fleshed out profile will help you seem like an actual human user on the platform. If you’re selling in a more professional capacity, you’ll want to make sure your profile, business page or Shop looks the part and is in good standing. Be responsive and communicative: Respond promptly to questions from potential buyers, be honest about any flaws or issues with your items and keep buyers updated throughout the sales process. If you can’t answer questions immediately, let buyers know what the expected turnaround time is with automated messaging or in your bio. Be honest in the item’s description:  It’s important to accurately describe your products’ features and attributes. This prevents disputes and an overall negative customer experience. As you continue to sell products on Facebook Marketplace, remember that building consumer trust is an ongoing process. Treat every transaction with the same level of care and dedication to excellent customer support. This will help you build a strong reputation on the platform. Choose the right time to post your listing Timing is key if you want to increase your chances of selling your items on Facebook Marketplace. While it may be difficult to pinpoint exactly when your audience is most active, a recent survey showed that the best time to post on Facebook  is between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. Use that as a starting point, and adjust as you see fit. Encourage positive reviews and ratings Research has shown that potential customers spend more time reading negative reviews  compared to positive reviews. That’s why you should spend time managing your reputation as a seller. One way to do that is by reaching out to previous customers and asking them to leave a review. While it might seem like there’s a low chance of success, surveys by BrightLocal indicate that 65% of customers would leave a review  if prompted by a business. You can increase your chances of earning positive ratings by providing excellent customer service and responding quickly to inquiries—bonus points if you manage to turn negative experiences into positive ones. BrightLocal also found that 79% of customers were more likely to leave a positive review when a business resolved an issue. Research your competitors Researching your competitors when selling on Facebook Marketplace is helpful for a few reasons. Gain insider insight:  Researching your competition’s pricing and product offerings helps you identify gaps in the market and differentiate your own offerings. Gauge customer preferences: Taking note of customer experiences and expectations will help you to tailor your products and services accordingly. Inspire your marketing efforts:  Looking at competitor marketing tactics and promotional campaigns can provide ideas for improving your own sales approach. Understand Facebook Marketplace algorithms To increase your visibility and reach potential buyers on Facebook Marketplace, you'll need to understand how the platform's algorithms work. The algorithm considers various factors when determining which listings to display, including relevance, engagement and seller reputation. Relevance: This is determined by the information included in the listing, such as product details and keywords. Engagement : This refers to how many users interact with the listing through likes, comments and shares. Seller reputation: This takes into account feedback from previous transactions and overall activity on Marketplace. Boost your listings with Facebook Ads Finally, one of the most effective ways to increase your online visibility is to use Facebook Ads to drive website traffic, or traffic to your Marketplace listing. If you know who your target audience is, you can target those potential customers with ads based on their interest. You’ll need to set specific ad parameters to increase the chances of your listings appearing in front of the right people, such as location, interests and demographics. Facebook Ads are a highly cost-effective advertising method and yield the highest ROI compared to other social media platforms. They’re also easily managed with online commerce platforms, such as those offered within Facebook Ads by Wix . That being said, poorly optimized ads could lead to a lower conversion rate and fewer sales. Understanding the best practices of Facebook Ads  could turn Facebook Marketplace into a significant sales channel. Here are some effective ways to increase the chances of customers clicking on your ads: Include a call-to-action (CTA): Let customers know what you want them to do after seeing the ad. CTAs  create a sense of urgency and direct customers where to go to learn more about your product. Share what you’re selling: The description must provide enough information on what you’re selling and why it’s better than similar products on the marketplace. Ensure it’s error-free: To encourage potential customers to engage with your ads, the copy should have no typos and proper grammar. Consider using a free grammar checker like Grammarly to double check your copy before launching your ad. The benefits of selling on Facebook Marketplace Facebook Marketplace offers numerous benefits for sellers, making it a popular platform for decluttering, earning extra income and reaching a wide audience. Here are some key advantages of selling on Facebook Marketplace: Vast audience:  With over 2.91 billion monthly active users, Facebook provides an extensive potential customer base for your items. Local reach:  Marketplace prioritizes listings based on proximity, allowing you to target buyers within your local community. Free listings:  Posting items for sale on Marketplace is free, eliminating upfront costs and maximizing your profit margin. Direct communication:  Connect directly with potential buyers through Facebook Messenger, facilitating negotiations and arrangements. Simplified transactions:  Marketplace streamlines the selling process, allowing you to arrange meetups and handle payments directly with buyers. Variety of products:  Sell a wide range of items, from furniture and electronics to clothing and vehicles, catering to diverse interests. Explore the vast possibilities, from selling a video game console, desktop computer or camera to vintage clothing flipping, to build a thriving customer base. Brand recognition:  Facebook's brand recognition and reputation add a layer of trust and familiarity for buyers. Mobile accessibility:  Manage your listings and communicate with buyers on the go using the Facebook mobile app. Community engagement:  Connect with buyers in your local community, fostering a sense of connection and trust. Sustainable practices:  Contribute to a circular economy by giving new life to pre-owned items and reducing waste. Rules for selling on Facebook marketplace Facebook Marketplace has established guidelines to ensure a safe and compliant experience for both buyers and sellers. Here are some key rules to follow when selling on Facebook Marketplace: Prohibited items:  Avoid listing items that are illegal, dangerous or violate Facebook's Community Standards. This includes items like drugs, weapons, counterfeit goods and regulated products. Accurate representation:  Provide accurate and truthful descriptions of your items, including their condition, features and any flaws. Use clear and high-quality photos that accurately represent the items. Responsible pricing:  Set fair and competitive prices for your items. Avoid misleading pricing tactics or price gouging. Respectful communication:  Communicate politely and professionally with potential buyers. Avoid discriminatory or offensive language. Safe transactions:  Arrange meetups in public places with good lighting and visibility. Consider bringing a friend or family member along for added safety. Payment methods:  Decide on acceptable payment methods, such as cash or electronic transfers. While conducting transactions, be cautious of payment methods like cashier's checks or money orders to maintain a secure and transparent process. Protect personal information:  Avoid sharing personal information like your home address or phone number with strangers. Use Facebook Messenger for communication. Report suspicious activity:  If you encounter suspicious behavior or potential scams, report them to Facebook and avoid engaging with those individuals. Stay vigilant:  Be aware of potential scams and avoid unrealistic offers or requests for personal information. Trust your instincts and don't hesitate to walk away from a deal if it feels unsafe. Community guidelines:  Adhere to Facebook's Community Guidelines and avoid engaging in prohibited activities, such as harassment, bullying or hate speech. Privacy policies: Facebook Marketplace operates within a framework that demands adherence to privacy policies, ensuring transparency in user profiles and behavior. Be attentive to compliance requirements, especially in areas related to surveillance, online advertising, and internet privacy. It's crucial to understand the importance of regulatory compliance and compliance requirements. By following these rules you can minimize risks and ensure a positive selling experience on Facebook Marketplace. Learn more: Amazon alternatives , Can I sell products on Wix? How to sell on Facebook Marketplace FAQ Is it worth selling on Facebook marketplace? Whether or not it's worth selling on Facebook Marketplace depends on various factors, including the type of products you are selling, your target audience and your overall business goals. Selling on Facebook can be a good choice if your target audience is active on Facebook as using Facebook Marketplace can be a valuable way to reach potential customers directly. It is also particularly beneficial for selling to a local audience, as it prioritizes nearby buyers. Unlike some other online marketplaces, Facebook Marketplace generally does not charge listing fees, making it cost-effective for sellers. At the same time listing products on Facebook Marketplace is relatively straightforward, making it accessible for sellers without extensive e-commerce experience. What are the disadvantages of selling on Facebook? Facebook Marketplace offers several benefits for sellers, but there are also some disadvantages to consider. Unlike dedicated e-Commerce platforms, Facebook Marketplace has limited targeting capabilities. Sellers may find it challenging to reach specific or niche audiences. At the same time due to the vast number of users and sellers on Facebook Marketplace, competition can be high, making it challenging to stand out and gain visibility for your products. Facebook Marketplace does not provide structured buyer protection or dispute resolution processes. This can lead to potential issues with fraudulent buyers or disputes over transactions. The user experience on Facebook Marketplace can vary significantly based on individual users' preferences and interactions. Some buyers may be less comfortable purchasing through this platform, affecting conversion rates and brand trust. How much does it cost to sell on Facebook? Selling on Facebook is generally free. The platform allows users to create personal profiles, business pages, and groups where they can list and sell items without incurring listing fees. However, if you choose to boost your posts or create targeted ads to reach a broader audience, Facebook offers paid advertising options. The cost of advertising on Facebook varies based on factors such as audience targeting, ad format, and ad duration. How do you get paid for selling items on Facebook? Payment for items sold on Facebook is typically arranged directly between the buyer and the seller. Facebook itself does not handle financial transactions for most person-to-person sales. Sellers often specify accepted payment methods in their listings, such as cash, bank transfers, or popular payment apps. For businesses using Facebook Shops, there may be integrated payment options where customers can make secure payments through credit cards or other payment methods. Facebook may facilitate transactions, and businesses may receive payments directly through their chosen payment gateway. How to sell things quickly on Facebook Marketplace? For those aiming to sell items quickly on Facebook Marketplace, several effective strategies can be employed. First, setting a competitive and reasonable price is essential, with research into similar listings aiding in determining market value. High-quality and detailed photos, showcasing items from various angles, enhance the appeal to potential buyers. Urgency can be promoted through language indicating limited availability or time-sensitive offers. Being responsive to messages and inquiries, regularly updating listings, and offering flexible meeting options, such as contactless pickup or convenient public locations, contribute to a faster selling process. Utilizing social proof, such as positive customer reviews from satisfied buyers, can also build trust and attract a broader customer base. How do I sell on Facebook Marketplace locally? Selling on Facebook Marketplace locally is a user-friendly process that begins by accessing the "Marketplace" tab on your Facebook account. To create a listing, click on "Create New Listing" and provide essential details about the item, including a title, description, price, and category. Indicate your preference for local transactions and set your location and delivery preferences. Once the listing is complete, review it for accuracy and post it to make it visible to potential buyers. What are some best practices for creating compelling listings on Facebook Marketplace? Prioritize high-quality images and videos that catch attention first of. Craft concise and engaging descriptions that highlight key benefits. Use strong calls to action that encourage engagement. Target your audience with relevant keywords and demographics and schedule your posts strategically for optimal reach - at the weekends when more people are on social media, for example. What's the best way to price items on Facebook Marketplace? You should research comparable items already listed on Facebook Marketplace to understand market value. Consider your item's condition, age, and brand before setting a price. Be realistic with your pricing and offer competitive pricing while factoring in your desired profit margin. How to handle low ball offers on Facebook Marketplace? Respond politely and professionally, acknowledging the offer but explaining your reasoning for the current price. Highlight the item's condition, unique features or market value. If the offer is significantly low, decline gracefully and offer a counteroffer if you're willing to negotiate. If you're not willing to budge, politely decline and move on.

  • Transportation websites to inspire your next business move

    Build your website in minutes, try Wix for free today → Looking to create a business website  for your transport services? You’ve come to the right place. Choosing the best website builder  matters, especially when showcasing a fleet, communicating logistics and building trust. Did you know that by 2035, U.S. truck tonnage is projected to hit nearly 14 billion tons, with industry revenues soaring to $1.46 trillion, according to the American Trucking Assocation ? That’s massive. Your website needs to scale just as impressively, whether you're building portfolio websites  for carriers or looking to craft a free landing pag e for a logistics startup. Wix’s drag and drop website builder  and AI website builder  options make it easy to learn how to make a website  that fits your vision. From selecting website templates  to leveraging built‑in SEO features , you can confidently build a site that reflects your professionalism and service quality. By the end of this post, you’ll have a curated list of the best websites , understand what distinguishes top-tier transportation websites, learn step-by-step how to make a trucking website  (or any transport‑related site) and explore why Wix is perfect for businesses on the move. When choosing a website builder, you want one that’s flexible, powerful and easy-to-use. Wix is the go-to platform for millions of users looking to create a stunning website effortlessly. See what makes Wix stand out from the crowd and why it’s the right fit for you.  TL;DR: transportation websites If you're here to figure out how to make a transportation website or just to gather inspiration before you dive into your own website creation, this blog will give you everything you need. We handpicked 20+ real websites from Wix users across the transportation industry—from auto haulers to freight specialists—to show you what works in the wild. Along the way, we’ll c over key tips like how to start a trucking business , how to choose standout trucking business names and even walk you through basics like how to make a trucking logo  that builds trust at a glance. This guide also covers essential trucking marketing  strategies built right into your website. These examples aren’t just good-looking, they’re packed with smart features that support bookings, SEO, mobile access and branding. So, if you're ready to turn your transportation service into a high-performance business online, keep reading. “The best transportation websites do more than look good, they answer key questions instantly, build trust through branding and make it easy for clients to take action. Whether you're showcasing your fleet or setting up online bookings, your site should work as hard as your business does.” – Sharon Hafuta, SEO blog editor at Wix How did we decide what makes a great transportation website example? Criterion Why it matters Visual clarity Fleet images, route maps and logo build trust instantly Website functionality Booking forms, navigation and on-site tools need to work seamlessly on any device Built-in booking/tools Enables quote requests and scheduling without external apps Performance & SEO Clear headings and fast load speeds for discoverability Brand consistency Cohesive use of logos, color scheme and messaging Best transportation websites These real-world Wix-built transport sites offer powerful lessons. We scouted examples from across the web—from car carriers to specialty logistics—to pull together insights that go beyond aesthetics. You'll see how each website integrates crucial workflows, clear service breakdowns, branding consistency and mobile-first design. “Functionality isn’t just about being interactive, it’s about anticipating what users need before they ask, with tools and flows that feel reliable as your fleet.” - Sharon Hafuta, SEO blog editor at Wix Reliable Carriers, Inc. E&O Solutions Inc. Top Dog Transportation Smart Roads Transportation & Logistics Rands Trucking Inc. Go2Transportation Simon Transport State to State Logistics Adkins Specialized Carriers Boss & Boujee Trucking W. Krup Trucking LLC AA Truck Lanes LLC Rush Transport Pagan Towing Services Timberline Trucking LLC Turbo Time Transportation My Auto Carrier All State Enterprise Inc. Yates Transportation Nationwide Transport Mid-Atlantic Transport 01. Reliable Carriers, Inc. Reliable Carriers, Inc. stands out as North America’s largest enclosed auto transport company. Their website is visually stunning, with high-quality images and a clear layout. They highlight their 60+ years of experience and offer unique services like climate-controlled trailers and $5 million insurance coverage per load. The site also features testimonials from high-profile clients like Rick Hendrick, adding credibility. A "Meet the Fleet" section provides a closer look at their state-of-the-art equipment. What makes it unique: $5 million insurance coverage on every load Testimonials from high-profile clients Detailed service descriptions, including prototypes and clay models GPS tracking for real-time updates Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Moving company website template Pro tip: Don’t stress about the template name—what matters is the design. A template labeled for a moving company can be easily transformed into a sleek transportation website. With drag-and-drop tools and customizable layouts, all you need to do is focus on finding the look and feel that matches your brand. Whether it’s bold and modern or clean and minimal, it’s the aesthetic that sets the tone, not the category label. 02. E&O Solutions Inc. E&O Solutions Inc. ’s website exudes reliability and efficiency. The homepage highlights their modern fleet of over 200 trucks and trailers, emphasizing safety and maintenance. The About Us page is compelling, showcasing their commitment to timely and secure deliveries. They also feature glowing reviews from drivers, which adds a personal touch and builds trust. The site is straightforward, with easy website navigation to learn about their team, equipment and repair shop. What makes it unique: Focus on driver safety and fleet maintenance Positive testimonials from employees, fostering trust Simple, user-friendly navigation Emphasis on modern, well-maintained equipment Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Taxi company website template 03. Top Dog Transportation Top Dog Transportation ' s homepage features a prominent logo and "Get a Free Quote" form, making it easy for users to start their journey. Their branding is clean and professional, an example for businesses exploring how to design a logo  that feels trustworthy and approachable. If you're building a similar site, using a logo maker  can help you quickly create a strong first impression. They offer a variety of services, including enclosed and open carriers, as well as door-to-door transport. The "How It Works" section simplifies the process into three easy steps, ensuring clarity for first-time users. Testimonials from satisfied customers add a personal touch, showcasing their commitment to excellent service. What makes it unique: Logo elements and consistent branding give a friendly identity Clear and simple "How It Works" section Multiple transport options (enclosed, open, door-to-door) Prominent customer testimonials for trust-building Licensed and insured for peace of mind Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: One page layout website template 04. Smart Roads Transportation & Logistics Smart Roads Transportation & Logistics ' website is sleek and professional, emphasizing their commitment to timely delivery and superior customer service. They cater to a wide range of clients, from individuals to manufacturers and dealers. The site highlights their licensed, bonded and insured status, ensuring reliability. A dedicated "Get an Auto Transport Quote" section makes it easy for users to request services. Their focus on building strong customer relationships is evident through their emphasis on repeat customers and referrals. What makes it unique: Services tailored for individuals, dealers and manufacturers Licensed, bonded and insured for reliability Easy-to-use quote request feature Emphasis on customer relationships and referrals Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Mechanic website template 05. Rands Trucking Inc. Rands Trucking Inc. ’s website exudes a family-oriented vibe, emphasizing their commitment to treating drivers as individuals, not numbers. The site also highlights their 40+ years of experience in trucking and logistics, specializing in hauling windows and furniture. Testimonials from happy drivers reinforce their reputation as a supportive and rewarding workplace. What makes it unique: Strong focus on driver satisfaction and benefits 40+ years of trucking and logistics experience Specialization in hauling windows and furniture Family-oriented approach to business Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Home improvement company website template 06. Go2Transportation Go2Transportation ’s website is sleek and professional, catering to both individual and corporate clients. They emphasize their expertise in specialized automotive transportation, with services tailored for high-end vehicles, prototypes and private car owners. The site features impressive stats, such as 600,000+ cars transported and partnerships with major brands like Tesla and Porsche. Their "White Glove" service and real-time GPS tracking highlight their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. What makes it unique: Specialized services for high-end and custom vehicles Real-time GPS tracking for all shipments Partnerships with major automotive brands 24/7 operational support for seamless logistics Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Construction company website template 07. Simon Transport Simon Transport ’s website reflects their rich history and dedication to excellence in freight shipping. They offer a variety of services, including refrigerated, flatbed and dry van divisions, catering to diverse shipping needs. The site highlights their family-owned values, military-friendly policies and commitment to safety. Their SmartWay certification and excellent CSA scores further establish their credibility. A dedicated "Drive for Simon" section showcases their focus on driver satisfaction. What makes it unique: Diverse shipping options, including refrigerated and flatbed SmartWay certification for eco-friendly practices Strong focus on driver satisfaction and military-friendly policies Family-owned with a history dating back to 1955 Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Tech company website template 08. State to State Logistics State to State Logistics ’ website is clean and straightforward, offering reliable nationwide car transport services. They provide both enclosed and open car hauling options, catering to luxury and everyday vehicles. Their versatile hauling services for motorcycles, ATVs and golf carts set them apart. The site emphasizes their commitment to safety, efficiency and customer satisfaction, with a user-friendly "Get a Quote" feature for easy service access. What makes it unique: Versatile hauling services for motorcycles, ATVs and more Enclosed car hauling for luxury and high-value vehicles Nationwide coverage with a focus on safety and efficiency User-friendly interface with a prominent "Get a Quote" feature Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Vintage car garage website template 09. Adkins Specialized Carriers Adkins Specialized Carriers ’ website is a testament to their expertise in heavy-haul and oversized trucking. Based in Iowa, they serve all 48 continental states, specializing in transporting construction, military and agricultural equipment. The site features a "Truck Showcase" section, highlighting their award-winning fleet and a parts shop for vehicle maintenance. Their emphasis on team-driven success and client satisfaction is evident throughout. What makes it unique: Specialization in heavy-haul and oversized trucking Award-winning fleet showcased on the site Parts and equipment shop for added convenience Strong focus on team-driven success and client relationships Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Trucking company website template 10. Boss & Boujee Logistics, Trucking and Towing Boss & Boujee Logistics, Trucking and Towing ’s website immediately stands out with a fun unique logo. They offer a wide range of services, including freight auto transport and towing. They cater to motorcycles, cars, trucks and RVs, with 24/7 dispatch for emergencies. The site emphasizes their enclosed transport options and competitive pricing, ensuring peace of mind for customers. Their focus on personalized service and open communication sets them apart, making them a great example for anyone researching how to start a tow truck business . What makes it unique: 24/7 dispatch for emergencies and roadside assistance Enclosed transport options for added vehicle protection Services tailored for motorcycles, RVs and more Competitive pricing with a focus on customer satisfaction Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Minimal layout website template 11. W. Krup Trucking LLC W. Krup Trucking LLC ’s website highlights their commitment to ultra-reliable auto transport. Serving Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, they specialize in dealership trades, door-to-door transport and specialty shipments. The site emphasizes their use of Super Dispatch for geotagged photos and detailed records, ensuring transparency and trust. Their personalized approach, including direct communication with the owner, adds a unique touch. What makes it unique: Use of Super Dispatch for geotagged photos and detailed records Direct communication with the owner for issue resolution Focus on dealership trades and door-to-door transport Personalized service with a strong emphasis on transparency Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Solar panels installers website 12. AA Truck Lanes LLC AA Truck Lanes LLC ’s website is professional and customer-focused, offering nationwide vehicle transport services. They emphasize transparency with a price lock guarantee and provide 24/7 live tracking for peace of mind. Their services cater to individuals, dealerships, businesses and auctions, ensuring flexibility. The site also features glowing customer testimonials and a blog with helpful tips for auto transport, including insights that could help aspiring entrepreneurs learn how to create a trucking business plan of their own. What makes it unique: Price lock guarantee for transparent pricing 24/7 live tracking with pick-up and delivery photos Comprehensive insurance coverage for all transports Dedicated agents for personalized customer support Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Classic layout website template 13. Rush Transport Rush Transport ' s website highlights their commitment to customer service and innovation. They offer 24/7 phone support, real-time GPS tracking and paperless billing for convenience. Their fleet of newer model Peterbilt car carriers ensures safe and efficient transport. The site also lists their diverse clientele, including auto auctions, rental car companies and government agencies. What makes it unique: Real-time GPS tracking and electronic proof of delivery 24/7 phone support for customer convenience Fleet of modern Peterbilt car carriers with soft tie systems Paperless billing for eco-friendly operations Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Business consulting company website template 14. Pagan Towing Services Pagan Towing Services ’s website is straightforward and emphasizes their expertise in towing and transport services. They cater to light, medium and heavy-duty towing, as well as luxury auto transport. The site features testimonials from satisfied customers and a gallery showcasing their previous jobs. Their focus on reliability and customer satisfaction is evident throughout. What makes it unique: Services for light, medium and heavy-duty towing Luxury auto transport for high-end vehicles Testimonials highlighting prompt and friendly service Gallery showcasing successful past jobs Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Taxi company website template 15. Timberline Trucking LLC Timberline Trucking LLC ' s website reflects their family-oriented values and dedication to reliable freight transportation. They emphasize exceptional customer service and timely deliveries. The site features a "Request a Quote" option and highlights their service and repair offerings. Testimonials from long-term partners add credibility, showcasing their commitment to building strong relationships. What makes it unique: Family-oriented company with a focus on reliability Service and repair offerings for added convenience Testimonials from long-term partners Emphasis on timely deliveries and exceptional service. Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Adventure tour company website 16. Turbo Time Transportation Turbo Time Transporation 's website highlights their expertise in RV, marine and heavy equipment transport. Based in Houston, they offer 24/7 customer service and competitive rates. The site features glowing reviews from clients and partners, emphasizing their dependability and superior customer service. Discounts for seniors, veterans and active-duty military add a personal touch. What makes it unique: Specialization in RV, marine, and heavy equipment transport 24/7 customer service for convenience Discounts for seniors, veterans and active-duty military Trusted partnerships with top RV dealerships Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Mechanic garage website template 17. My Auto Carrier My Auto Carrier ’s website is clean and professional, catering to the Southeast region of the U.S. They specialize in dealer-to-driveway and door-to-door transport, making car relocation stress-free. The site emphasizes their family-oriented values and commitment to treating every car with care. Testimonials from satisfied customers highlight their excellent communication and friendly service. What makes it unique: Dealer-to-driveway and door-to-door transport services Family-oriented company with a personal touch Focus on excellent communication and customer care Specialization in serving the Southeast U.S. region Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: One page layout website template 18. All State Enterprise Inc. All State Enterprise Inc. emphasizes their commitment to safety and reliability with a fleet of modern Freightliners and Volvos. Their website highlights their dedication to maintaining top-notch equipment in their own repair shop. ASE’s motto, "Power of Promises Kept," reflects their focus on customer satisfaction. They also showcase their community involvement through charitable donations. What makes it unique: Fleet of modern, well-maintained trucks In-house repair shop for safety and reliability Strong community involvement through charitable donations Emphasis on customer satisfaction with their "Power of Promises Kept" motto Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Freight company website template 19. Yates Transportation Yates Transportation 's website reflects their long-standing reputation for reliability and trust, serving Texas since 1985. They emphasize their T.R.U.S.T. values—Timely, Reliable, Understanding, Straightforward and Thankful. The site highlights their commitment to exceptional service, reasonable rates and safe delivery. They also offer comprehensive employee benefits, showcasing their dedication to their team. What makes it unique: T.R.U.S.T. values guiding their operations Serving Texas with a strong reputation since 1985 Comprehensive employee benefits, including health and retirement plans Focus on exceptional service and safe delivery Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Car repair services website template 20. Nationwide Transport Nationwide Transport ’s website showcases their commitment to "Excellence in Every Direction." They offer customized transportation solutions, including temperature-controlled and hazmat shipping. Their use of advanced technology, such as GPS tracking and electronic documentation, ensures efficiency and reliability. The site also highlights their sustainable practices and investment in the community. What makes it unique: Customized solutions for unique transportation needs Advanced technology for tracking and documentation Commitment to sustainability with fuel-efficient vehicles Strong community investment and job creation Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Freighting company website template 21. Mid-Atlantic Transport Mid-Atlantic Transport ’s website highlights their commitment to safe, reliable and professional freight shipping solutions. Founded in 2018, they offer temperature-controlled and one-way truckload services. The site emphasizes their use of advanced technology, such as temperature monitoring and modern fleet upgrades, ensuring efficiency and safety. Their family-like culture and focus on driver satisfaction make them a standout in the industry. What makes it unique: Temperature-controlled shipping with advanced monitoring Modern fleet with the latest technology for efficiency Family-like culture with a focus on driver satisfaction Strong emphasis on safety, reliability and professionalism Inspired? Here’s the exact Wix template behind this transportation website: Template name: Plant store website template Key features every transport website needs No matter what kind of transportation service you run—freight, auto shipping, logistics or local delivery—your website needs to do more than look good. It should clearly communicate your services, build trust with potential clients and make it easy for people to get in touch or request a quote. Transport website feature checklist Feature Benefit Service descriptions Clarifies your offerings at a glance Online quote/booking forms Boosts lead generation and convenience Testimonials and reviews Builds trust and social proof Live tracking or updates Offers real-time transparency and reliability Visual branding Enhances professionalism and brand recall Below are the must-have features every high-performing transport website should include: 01. Strong visual branding Professional branding sets you apart. It builds credibility and helps your business feel established from the moment someone lands on your site. Visuals also help communicate what kind of transportation services you offer and who you serve. Before you even dive into design, make sure you’ve secured a domain name  that reflects your brand and services. (Not sure where to start? Learn more about how to register a domain  and what is hosting  to get your site online seamlessly.) Many platforms offer free website hosting  options to get you started. Visual assets to consider: A custom logo and color palette Vehicle or fleet photos Route maps or animated graphics Uniform iconography across pages As part of your broader marketing strategies , consistent branding—across your website, emails and social media—helps customers remember and trust your transport business. 02. Clear service descriptions Visitors should immediately understand what you offer. Whether you specialize in cross-country shipping or last-mile delivery, make your services front and center with clear, scannable sections. Include: A list of core services (e.g., vehicle transport, logistics coordination, expedited shipping) Service area maps or coverage zones Industry-specific offerings (e.g., dealer-to-dealer, auction transport) 03. Online quote request or booking Today’s customers expect convenience. A quick quote tool or booking form helps reduce friction and can boost conversion rates. Look for: A simple contact or quote form with key fields (pickup/drop-off, vehicle type, etc.) Optional price estimator or calculator Mobile-friendly functionality 04. Trust signals and testimonials Transporting goods (or vehicles) requires trust. Use your website to show you're reliable and experienced. Trust-building features: Customer testimonials or video reviews Industry certifications and licenses Insurance and safety info Logos of partners or clients 05. Live tracking or real-time updates Many transportation websites now include tracking tools that offer customers peace of mind throughout the delivery process. This can include: GPS shipment tracking integrations Email or SMS updates An easy-to-access tracking portal Transportation websites FAQ What should a transportation website include? A strong transport site should clearly outline your services, help customers get quotes or book jobs easily and build trust through testimonials and visuals. Must-have features include: Service descriptions with pricing or coverage areas Online quote request or booking form Customer reviews and trust badges Live tracking or update tools Strong branding with mobile optimization and SEO features Where can I find more website inspiration? If you’re exploring designs or looking for ideas beyond transportation, here are some helpful examples of high-performing websites across different industries: Wix websites Vintage websites Minimalist websites Corporate websites Ecommerce website examples Best construction websites Health and wellness websites Weird websites Landscaping websites Coaching websites Best AI website examples Conference website examples Best membership websites Tutoring website examples Gaming website examples Plumbing websites Startup websites Best one-page website Freelance websites Food truck website examples Consulting websites Use these for inspiration when creating your own transport site—or just to spark ideas for future business projects. Can I build a transportation website without any experience? Absolutely. Website builders like Wix make it easy to start from customizable templates—no coding needed. You can even use AI website builders to generate layouts and copy based on your industry and services.

  • What is a URL? A complete guide

    The perfect domain is just a click away: claim your domain→  A URL, which stands for Universal Resource Locator, is the unique web address  of a website, image, document or any other resource on the web. While URLs are specific types of Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI) most commonly used to reference webpages, they're also use in email communications, file transferring processes and database  accessing. The URL of any webpage  can be found in the address bar at the top of the screen of most web browsers (such as Chrome, Safari or Firefox). If you take a look at the address bar of this webpage, for example, you’ll see that its URL is https://www.wix.com/blog/what-is-a-url . To see the full-form URL of an image or document within a broader webpage, right-click to copy the element’s address and paste it into a new tab or page. It’s important to keep in mind that while the terms are often used interchangeably, domain names are not the same as URL addresses. While purchasing a domain name  allows webpage owners to customize their online address, it's only one component of a URL. Learn more: Domain vs website , Domain vs URL How to use a URL URLs can be accessed in several ways. You can type the URL directly into your browser's address bar to navigate to a specific webpage. Alternatively, you can click on hyperlinks found on webpages, bookmark lists, emails or various applications. These methods offer easy access to online content, ensuring you can quickly find the information you need. Different parts of a URL The parts of a URL  each of which plays a crucial role in the performance of a site: Protocol Otherwise known as “scheme”, the first part of a URL indicates which protocol must be used by the browser to access the resources. The most common protocols include HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) for web elements and FTP (File Transfer Protocol) to download files. Subdomain Sitting at the beginning of the domain, subdomains  help navigate and organize the different sections of large sites. They’re most commonly used in websites with a significant amount of content and pages, such as online stores, support platforms and blogs. Domain Also referred to as second-level domain or host, this is the actual name of your website and thus the most customizable part of your URL. Together with subdomains and top-level domain extensions , this section completes the definition of domain name . Learn more: How to transfer a domain name Top-level domain Top-level domains  (TLD) are one of the highest levels in the web’s hierarchical Domain Name System (DNS) . The most popular TLD is .com , which is intended for commercial entities in the United States (hence .com). Other popular TLDs include . co.uk , .tech , .store , .info , .org , .co , .net , .biz , .tv , and country-specific extensions such as .mx , .ch , .de , .be , .nl or . co.uk . Path The final part of a URL is the path, sitting after a slash and used to designate specific pages. This section is often broken down into smaller elements such as subdirectory, file name and parameters. For example, ‘/encyclopedia/definition/__url’ is the path for this webpage’s URL. Parameter Parameters in a URL provide additional information to the server about what is being requested, often used to filter or sort data, track sessions or perform other specific functions. They are appended to the end of a URL after a question mark and are usually structured as key-value pairs, separated by an ampersand if there’s more than one. Anchor Anchors, also known as fragments, are used in URLs to direct the user to a specific part of a single page. They are introduced by the hash symbol (#) and follow the main part of the URL. Anchors are particularly helpful for navigating long webpages or documents by jumping directly to a relevant section, providing users a more streamlined experience. What is the difference between an absolute URL and a relative URL? Choosing between absolute and relative URLs for your website comes down to understanding their purpose and strengths. An absolute URL includes the full web address, ensuring a complete path to a specific page. For instance, a blog post built on Wix might use an absolute URL like  https://www.wix.com/blog/what-is-a-url . This is the complete address, starting with the protocol (https://), followed by the domain ( www.wix.com ), and the path to the page (/blog/what-is-a-url). Absolute URLs are great for SEO and external links because they give clear direct paths that search engines and users can easily follow. However, they can be harder to manage for internal links, especially during domain changes or updates. A relative URL omits the protocol and domain, focusing only on the path to the resource within the website. For example, instead of linking to the absolute URL above you could use /what-is-a-url when internally connecting pages on your Wix website. Relative URLs are shorter and often easier to manage because they adapt automatically if you update your domain. Just be cautious—using them for external links can create broken links if accessed outside your site. How does a URL work? URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) identify resources on the internet. A web browser uses the URL given to locate and retrieve the requested web page from the server, displaying it to the user. Why are URLs important? URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) are crucial for navigating the internet. They provide a standardized way to access resources, such as web pages, images and videos. URLs specify the exact location of a resource, enabling browsers to retrieve and display content accurately. They are essential for linking between web pages, facilitating seamless user experiences. Additionally, URLs play a key role in SEO, helping search engines index and rank content. They also enhance usability by allowing users to share and bookmark specific pages easily. Overall, URLs are fundamental to the structure and functionality of the web, ensuring efficient information retrieval and sharing. Learn more about how to make a website .   The importance of a semantic URL Also known as friendly URLs, semantic URLs are composed of logical parts that allow visitors to easily understand which webpage they’re in and where it falls within the site hierarchy. Just like when choosing a domain name , there are a few crucial areas that can be severely impacted by whether or not a site uses semantic URLs: Usability Users should be able to navigate a site solely through the address bar, or at the very least, be capable of easily retracing their steps from within it. Complex URLs might deter visitors from extending their stay on the page in favor of alternatives with a better user experience. SEO Clear URLs allow search engine crawlers to have a better understanding of the type of page they’re indexing and how it relates to others on the site. As a result, they’re most likely to rank and build stronger site authority. Think of a semantic URL as a way to properly organize your pages in a labeled drawer, rather than throwing all of them into a closet and hoping for the best. Accessibility Visitors using screen readers must be able to understand where links are leading to and what kind of information they contain without having to decipher a URL packed with complex strings. Learn more about website infrastructure in our complete guide.   What is a URL? FAQ What's the maximum length a URL can be? The de facto standard safe limit is 2,000 characters for URLs to work across most browsers and servers. Browser-specific limits Internet Explorer: 2,083 characters (with a path length limit of 2,048 characters) Google Chrome: Up to 32,767 characters (approximately 2MB or 2,097,152 characters in some sources) Mozilla Firefox : Also supports up to 32,767 characters While modern browsers can handle longer URLs, it's recommended to keep URLs shorter for compatibility. Server configurations, proxies and other infrastructure may impose their own limits. Very long URLs can cause issues with: Server processing User experience SEO performance Caching Mobile devices What happens when a URL contains special characters from different languages, like Chinese or Arabic? When URLs contain special characters from different languages like Chinese or Arabic, they go through a process called URL encoding or percent-encoding. Here's what happens: Encoding process Non-ASCII characters are converted to UTF-8 encoding first Then they're converted to percent-encoded format (e.g., 你好 becomes %E4%BD%A0%E5%A5%BD) Modern browsers automatically handle the encoding/decoding Unicode characters are supported through Punycode for domain names Most current web servers can process international characters properly Use UTF-8 encoding for non-ASCII characters Consider using readable words when possible Test URLs across different browsers and systems Some platforms may require additional handling for special characters How to figure out if your domain name is available? Another business may have already taken your desired domain name, so the first step is to do a domain name search . If your first choice isn’t available, pop it into a domain name generator , which can help you find a similar domain name. You can also f ind the domain owner and registration details for a website with a Whois domain lookup .

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