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Regardless of your industry or niche—whether you have a blog, an online store or an eCommerce website —designing with a mobile-first approach will ensure your site meets the expectations of your mobile users when it comes to speed, appearance, ease of navigation and overall user experience. With over 80% of internet users surfing the web on mobile devices and up to 70% of web traffic coming from mobile devices, you must optimize your website for mobile use. If you’re wondering why designing a mobile website is important, consider the fact that nearly half of Americans consider themselves “addicted” to cell phones. We scan QR codes , navigate GPS, take photos, track steps, sleep next to, and, of course, browse the internet on our phones every day. You’re probably reading this on your mobile phone right now. In this article, we’ll cover what mobile-first design is, why it matters and how to make a website mobile-friendly . What is mobile-first design? As the name suggests, mobile-first design refers to the philosophy of designing your website around mobile users’ needs. Mobile-first website design considers smaller screens’ limits right from the start for a better mobile user experience. This mobile-first approach is rooted in progressive advancement, when a designer creates a website layout specifically for mobile and adapts to bigger screens later on. This method opposes graceful degradation, or designing for a larger screen and working backwards to the smallest. A user can obtain only so much content from a device’s dimensions. For example, a visitor has ample space to view and consume a website’s content on a 27-inch Mac monitor. However, another user viewing your site on their iPhone 11 or Galaxy 12 screen will have an entirely different experience. Mobile-first design streamlines your UX design efforts by optimizing the most essential features for users. Tip: When you create a website with a mobile website creator like the Wix Editor, it automatically creates a mobile-friendly site from your desktop version by resizing your content and layout for smaller screens. You can edit your mobile site from the mobile Editor . Adaptive and responsive design Designers use two main approaches when it comes to mobile website design: responsive and adaptive. We have an in-depth article covering responsive vs adaptive design , but let’s quickly go over how they differ: Adaptive web design (AWD): Uses fixed layouts and chooses the best option for the user's screen size. Adaptations are limited to what the web designer has created. Adaptive web designs fit into these standard viewports; 320 px, 480 px, 760 px, 960 px, 1200 px and 1600 px. Responsive web design (RWD): Automatically hides, shrinks or enlarges a site to improve display on any device (mobile or desktop). Responsive design fluidly adjusts a website’s appearance according to the browser window’s size. Why is mobile-first design important? Mobile technology continuously evolves—with ever-enhancing speed, higher quality video streaming capabilities and advances in wireless connectivity—changing the very way we manage our day-to-day lives. In fact, Sony predicts phones will soon overtake DSLR cameras , proving that technological advances can impact any industry. Many companies have also shifted to hybrid work models and adopted new mobile communications strategies . Mobile-first design matters for the following reasons: 01. Improved user experience with UX design Mobile device trends reveal both challenges and opportunities for UX and web designers. However, at its core, mobile-first design puts user experience front and center. As the Interaction Design Foundation states, “[UX designers] tailor experiences to match mobile environments. Attention spans are short in mobile UX. Users want results fast, with minimal effort and zero friction. They’re often distracted.” With this in mind, mobile-formatted websites inherently offer an optimized and more well-thought-out user experience. 02. Accessibility Mobile-first design provides users with greater control over when and where they can access a website. As The Drum reports, “Perhaps the best approach is to think of the internet experience as a fluid thing which should not depend on what browser or OS or device you use. The precedent here is web accessibility – making websites easy to use by people with disabilities, primarily sight impairment.” By designing or even redesigning a website for mobile accessibility, you’ll include users who your content may have otherwise excluded. As the same article shares, “in the same way that not considering a mobile user excludes them from your desktop site.” For example, mobile-first design makes e-learning accessible and usable , since mobile users can use voice commands or listen to content while driving or exercising, turning otherwise unproductive time into learning opportunities. Tip: Want to make your website more accessible? Check out Wix’s Accessibility Wizard . 03. Better website performance Mobile optimization is a core principle of website performance . In fact, research shows that when mobile retail site speed improves by 0.1 second, conversion improves by 8.4%. Not to mention that Google has used mobile-first indexing for over a decade, primarily crawling and indexing the pages that adhere to a mobile-first design. Basically, the better you design a site for mobile use, the easier the use—and the better the performance. Following mobile website best practices like a strategic content hierarchy and optimizing images, can help ensure your site is living its best/strongest mobile life. 04. Scalability A mobile-first approach will help you scale your design across different devices. When you conceptualize an idea on mobile, you’ll find it easier to adjust your content to meet desktop needs. For example, it’s easier to add website elements to a desktop version (which has bigger screen real estate) than take them away to fit your mobile site. Tip: Consider upgrading your mobile presence and enhancing your mobile experience with a mobile app. You can use Wix’s app builder to create a branded mobile app that aligns with your business needs. Mobile-first = content first Always remember that content is key when designing with a mobile-first mindset. Users viewing your site on mobile have way less space than a desktop monitor, so you’ll have to strategically decide what content to include. As Khalil Habashi, technical and UX designer for Wix, explains, “Any piece of content that we can make available for users to see on their mobile device, is a choice—by design. Showing content in different ways matters. For example, using a carousel instead of scrolling, or vertical scrolling vs. horizontal can all impact the user experience on mobile.” Since mobile users don’t view content with a mouse or a keyboard, Habashi adds that web designers must make the content easily browsable. For example, when using tap and scroll gestures on mobile, hover effects are not optimal on these devices. He also adds that collapsible tabs or menus can maximize the space and make content available to mobile users. Tip: In the Wix Mobile Editor , your mobile view reflects your desktop view, which means it displays all the same elements and content. The Editor automatically resizes your fonts, images and elements for optimal view, which gives you time to make the mobile experience truly unique. Mobile-first design principles Consider these key elements when designing a website with a mobile-first approach. Content first. Always consider your content first and strategically choose what is most important. Visitors will see your header content on both your mobile and desktop site, so ensure it instantly conveys your brand identity. For example, your desktop version might include extra decorative imagery for viewers, but with less space on a mobile version you'll want to ensure the imagery you display best conveys your brand identity, such as your logo and product images. Navigation. Help users move around on your mobile site and meaningfully consume your content by following strategic website navigation tips like adding clear CTAs and choosing the right menus. Many designers will opt for a hamburger menu to make the most out of the usable space on a mobile screen. Hierarchy. Consider website hierarchy when designing your website layout for mobile users. Carefully plot out your website content by adding ​​headers and subheaders, utilizing white space, creating image blocks and optimizing navigation tools. User-friendly interface. Beyond content and visuals, ensure your mobile-first design is user-friendly. For example, mobile users have direct access to their camera, touch screens, finger and face recognition as well as autocomplete fields. This means that you must attend to your website buttons, as a mobile site user will have higher chances of clicking the wrong button. Test on real devices. Before you publish, test your mobile site on real devices to understand how your user will experience your site. Try it on different screen sizes and devices to catch any variances between them. Tip: Use Wix’s Mobile Editor to easily optimize your pages' layout, change the background, hide desktop content or replace it with mobile-only elements. Here, you can optimize your user’s experience with elements like a “Back to Top” button and a “Quick Action” bar. Ready to create your mobile site? Get inspired with these mobile website examples.

Since the start of COVID-19, many workplaces have had to move online and get used to working remotely. This has posed a challenge for many employees and managers alike as everyone has had to learn to navigate new work norms. But remote work is here to stay even after the pandemic ends, so it’s worth getting comfortable with managing remote teams. Read Also: How to start a business Whether you’re new to leading remote teams or it’s something you’ve become familiar with, there are always ways to improve your workflow and make you and your team’s jobs easier. For example, we encourage you to consider using task management tools, or to build a website that all employees can refer to for updates and information. This article will dive into more tips like these as well as some of the common challenges faced by remote teams and what you can do to better manage your remote employees. For even more HR tips, check out our human resource guidebook . Common challenges of remote work As a manager, remote work may seem like a much bigger headache than it’s worth, especially if you’re used to working with a tight-knit team. While it’s true that there are some significant challenges to overcome, that doesn’t make remote work impossible. Let’s take a closer look at some of the challenges that arise from remote work so that we can have a better sense of how to tackle them. 01. Difficult to manage face-to-face Many small business owners and managers think that their employees won’t work as well if they’re not there to visually supervise them. It’s a lot easier to track an employee’s work when they’re working next to you as opposed to at home where they might be slacking off. However, while you may have the odd employee who takes advantage of a work-from-home model, that’s certainly not the case for all of your workers and there are ways you can make sure to stay on top of what your employees are accomplishing. 02. Tricky to onboard new employees Perhaps it’s easier for you to trust your existing employees with remote work as you’re already familiar with their work style and know what kind of output to expect. But, when it comes to onboarding new employees, there’s a lot that’s lost when you do that remotely. New employees likely need extra attention and closer supervision to help them learn the ropes, and oftentimes jumping straight into remote work can feel unnerving and confusing. 03. Hard to maintain company culture It’s not only the work and productivity aspect of your team that you need to worry about but also your company culture. If your team is used to weekly happy hours, regular outings, or having lunch with their co-workers, then the lack of socializing when working remotely can have a negative impact on their job satisfaction. 04. Working remotely can be distracting Many employees prefer the freedom and flexibility of working from home, but for others, the potential distractions might be a nightmare. This can mean getting distracted by those that live with you, not having the right work-from-home setup, or employees easily losing focus because of their surroundings. It can also be difficult to know how to motivate employees to work well within these difficult environments. 05. Lack of communication There’s no doubt that getting clear and instantaneous answers is easier when all your employees are under one roof. Remote work might lead to some communication breakdowns where your team isn’t aware of what to prioritize or what others are currently working on. It’s easy to miss an email with a quick question from your co-worker, but much more difficult if they come up to your desk in an office. 8 tips for managing remote employees The challenges might seem insurmountable, and while it’s true that you’re likely always going to face some distraction or miscommunication, that doesn’t mean remote work needs to be difficult. With the right mindset, a few useful tools and these tips, you can get your remote team to operate as smoothly as they would from the office. 01. Set expectations and review them frequently Take the time to sit down with your team to set out clear expectations and guidelines on how they can effectively work from home. These guidelines can include instructions like letting others know when they are stepping away from their workstation or being consistent in their use of collaborative tools. You may have an open-door policy in the office, or you’re used to speaking with your co-workers regularly throughout the day, but you won’t have this opportunity for in-person discussions anymore in a remote work setting. That’s why it’s important to take time to regularly check in with your employees and get feedback, especially if you’re just transitioning to remote work. Collect feedback on what has worked and what hasn’t. From there, you can amend your remote policies and guidelines to make them more comfortable for everyone involved. 02. Communicate with your team often Whether it’s a quick 5-minute call in the morning to plan out tasks for the day, a weekly or monthly meeting, or texts to check on the progress of a project, make sure you’re regularly engaging with each employee. A good way to do this is to schedule video meetings at regular intervals and at the same time each day or week. This will allow your team members to get used to communicating on a regular basis so they don’t feel like they’re working on their own. 03. Don’t over-communicate While communicating with remote teams is essential, make sure you’re not over-communicating. Since the start of the pandemic when many teams shifted to a remote work model, many employees reported “Zoom fatigue,” where they felt exhausted by the excessive use of virtual platforms and the constant need to be available. Emailing, calling, texting, or holding a business meeting too often can have the adverse effect and leave your employees feeling burnt out, uninspired and irritated. To avoid this, make sure you define what communications are essential or time-sensitive, and which are less urgent. By striking the right balance between video calls, meetings and other types of less immediate messages, your employees won’t feel overloaded. 04. Schedule remote social events While many people will love the shift to working remotely and the benefits it affords them, others may miss certain aspects of working in an office, particularly the social ones. Set aside time to continue with your office traditions, or make time for new ones. Here are a few ideas: Schedule a virtual happy hour. Send your employees a nice lunch to their homes. Hold occasional in-person training events. Plan a company outing or retreat once or twice a year where all your employees can get together in one place. Celebrate company success, accomplishments, or personal and professional milestones of individual employees with things like email shoutouts or virtual hangouts. Encourage team members to have one-on-one chats when a new hire joins your company. A common difficulty with remote work is that employees feel like they’re “out of sight, out of mind.” By maintaining your company’s social culture, you’ll be able to keep your employees happy and ensure that they continue to feel appreciated even when you’re not always together. 05. Give your team the resources they need You can’t send your employees home with a laptop and expect that everything will run smoothly. In order to ensure remote teams function at their peak, you need to provide them with the right tools and resources. Of course every remote worker will need to ensure they have reliable WiFi and a comfortable working environment, but you also need to be sure they have access to tools that help guarantee a good workflow. When it comes to software, if you weren’t already using any project management, time management, or collaborative communication tools in your office before, now’s the time to start. Try out tools like Slack, Salesforce, Zoom, Trello, or Asana to see what your team works best with and be sure everyone can access these platforms remotely. 05. Focus on project outcomes, not individual productivity Stay goal-oriented instead of micromanaging your employees’ productivity every day. It’s easier to be focused when working from an office than at home where you might have unavoidable distractions. Sometimes your employees may seem unproductive on certain days, but that doesn’t mean they’re slacking or that they won’t complete a project on time. Instead of focusing mainly on your team’s day-to-day production and work activity, check-in with employees to see what the status is on a goal, task or overall project. 06. Stay flexible and understanding When working from home, your team isn’t only managing your expectations, but also their own struggles that you might not be aware of. That can be a sick kid that they need to care for, ongoing repairs in their home, or anything else that impedes their ability to be 100% focused on their work. The best thing you can do for your remote team is to offer flexibility and understanding. You might have set work hours, but sometimes life gets in the way and an employee needs to finish up their tasks on their own schedule. Each employee is likely handling remote work differently, so be sure to be flexible with your employees who need it most, while also reiterating your expectations so that certain exceptions don’t become habits. 07. Encourage new ideas Some people feel most creative when they’re around others and are able to draw inspiration from multiple sources. Others feel more innovative when they’re on their own and able to reflect. Don’t assume that just because your team isn’t together to regularly brainstorm that innovation should take a backseat. Once you and your team start to get more comfortable with working remotely, encourage them to explore new ideas or projects. That might mean asking them to share new processes or programs they’ve used while working on their own, or diving deeper into mistakes, either their own or the team’s, to see what can be improved. This type of self-reflection promoted an environment in which employees explore their own entrepreneurship and aren’t afraid to take risks. It’s a lot more engaging for employees to feel like they have the freedom and trust to be creative and take risks, especially if they’re not around to ask for your permission or feedback every step of the way. 08. Provide recognition Recognizing your employees’ accomplishments isn’t only for remote teams and should be done regularly regardless of where your team works from. However, it’s especially important when you’re not around your team often. Workers want to feel like they’re still contributing to the team and company, and they want to know that their managers are happy with the work they’re doing. In other words, they want to feel seen, even if you’re not seeing them do the work in person. Aside from recognition for their accomplishments, it’s equally important that you give your employees the space to voice their concerns or stresses about remote work. If they’re feeling anxious about balancing their personal responsibilities while working from home, make sure to ask how you can help. Sometimes simply airing their concerns so that you’re aware of their circumstances is enough to make an employee feel more at ease.

Dear Matt, I just finished reading your post, and I see that there is a lot of anger and many half-truths that you said. Wow. I guess that we touched a sore point there. Why are you so angry? Don’t you agree with the shortcomings of WordPress that we raised? We really tried to be fair and only speak about what we know to be a consensus. Considering you started talking negatively about Wix from the beginning, I find it to be a bit hypocritical. I believe in friendly competition. Competitors push each other by competing. When you guys wrote about issues with Wix, like SEO and performance, we didn’t complain, we owned it and worked hard to fix it. Now we have great SEO, and performance is almost where it should be - so thank you WordPress for pushing us to be better. We only wrote about valid issues with WordPress: high maintenance , issues with plugins , memory issues and security (adding the links for anyone who doesn’t know what we are talking about). So, why don’t you do what we did? Admit it, Own it, Fix it. Even you guys at WordPress have things you need to fix and improve. Instead of writing nasty blog posts, fix those problems. And yes, I really care about these things. I mostly care about WordPress' security. WordPress is so popular, I’m sure my credit card details are on many WordPress websites. It’ll be great if you fix security so we can all feel safer. If you don’t think these are real issues, I’d be happy to hear why. And if we agree, I promise to publish a public apology. I’d like to talk about some of the things you published about Wix because I think that people deserve the full picture. You wrote a post that blamed Wix for stealing WordPress code. I’d like to remind you that the code wasn’t developed by WordPress - it was General Public License (GPL). We didn’t steal it, and we gave it back according to GPL (JavaScript is not linked). As a reminder, here’s my reply to you about it from 5 years ago. You also blamed Wix for stealing your brand. Your brand was all about blogs, not websites. Our homepage was never a copy of yours. If anything, it was the other way around. A quick search on the internet shows that WordPress also has pages that compare Wix and WordPress, with a very negative sentiment towards Wix. https://WordPress.com/compare/wix/ So, as your competitor, I thought it would be fair that Wix talks about WordPress issues, just as WordPress talks about Wix issues. We even tried to make it funny and lighthearted (yes, I’m aware that not everyone found it funny, but we tried). Yet, you seem to be so angry about it. In your recent post, you wrote that Wix makes it “difficult to leave” for customers, but this isn’t true. If someone wants to cancel the subscription, all they need to do is click the button, “Cancel Subscription”. If a customer cancels within 14 days of a purchase, getting a refund is automatic, so I’m not sure what you meant. Then, you wrote that Wix locks users’ content, or steals it. Wix Terms of Use clearly state that: “As between Wix and you, you shall own all intellectual property pertaining to your User Content and to any other materials created by you, including to any designs, images, animations, videos, audio files, fonts, logos, illustrations, compositions, artworks, code, interfaces, text and literary works. Wix does not claim ownership rights on your content.” Here’s the link if you’d like to check it: https://www.wix.com/about/terms-of-use You also claimed that we don’t allow customers to export their content. There are many tools that make it easy for our users to take their content and move to other services - we never block them nor have we prevented anyone from using other services. One way that users can export content from Wix was even developed by WordPress: https://WordPress.com/support/import/import-from-wix/ Do you remember this? So why did you write that we lock our users in the basement? You also wrote that other platforms allow you to take your site and use different hosts. Shopify is an eCom platform, but you can’t take the eCommerce functionality to another host - you always have to run the eCommerce from Shopify servers and pay them a monthly fee. In fact, it’s very hard to export your full Shopify site, with the databases, transactions and plugins data. With Squarespace, you can’t export your designs, templates, applications inside the website, databases for the applications, and as for the eCommerce, you can only export your static content, so to move from Squarespace, you have to start from zero on another platform. Shopify, Squarespace and Wix offer software as a service (SaaS). This architecture means it’s not possible to take the software as it is running from the company server - that’s the downside. But it also has many advantages - easy software upgrades, a better security model, and less maintenance issues. Does this sound familiar? Like every architecture, it has benefits and drawbacks. I’m a strong believer in SaaS and I think the benefits for users are bigger than the drawbacks. Our campaign about WordPress didn’t twist the truth. We published what many in the WordPress community will agree to be the valid shortcomings of WordPress. But I’m pretty sure you already know all of that. What I’m not so sure is, why are you twisting the truth? And let me say it again, I believe in friendly competition. I really do believe that it makes us both better. We tried to make the ads funny, and I think you can also admit that the problems we talk about are real. However, if it offended you, I’m sorry. I am really tempted to say here, if you guys stop writing bad things about us, we won’t publish the bad truth about you, but that sounds kind of childish, don’t you agree? And let’s face it, talking about each other's flaws pushes us both to be better and we both have that obligation to our customers. Finally, during the last few years, I reached out a couple of times to try to meet with you but you declined, so I guess it’s our fate to continue the fun that is chatting over the internet, instead of over a cup of coffee. Yours, Avishai

The inventory management process can sometimes feel like a game of Tetris . Every piece must fit in perfectly for the whole thing to work. Stocking the right amount of products to meet customer demand is a delicate balancing act for even the largest of ecommerce business owners. And it has become even trickier in recent years, with U.S. retailers reporting an estimated $740 billion in unsold inventory  in 2022 alone. In this guide, we’ll explore the ABCs of inventory management and give you a step-by-step process that you can use to manage your inventory with confidence. Create a free online store  with Wix today. What is inventory management? Inventory management is the process of tracking, ordering, storing and selling stock. It covers the entire process, from how you source your products to how you get finished products off of your shelves. The main purpose of inventory management is to have the right amount of stock in the right locations at the right time, all while controlling costs so you can make a profit. Why inventory management is important Today, given the many small business challenges  retailers face, successful inventory management may be even more vital than ever. According to BDO’s 2023 retail outlook survey, 82% of retail executives  expected supply chain disruptions to be a serious threat to their businesses heading into 2023. What’s more, 34% of retailers expected to face extensive excess inventory. With a winning inventory management process in place, you can help plan for or outright avoid these snags. Plus, you’ll gain multiple benefits as a small business owner , including: Reduced costs : When you monitor and track inventory correctly and forecast accurately, you’ll order the exact amount of stock. This helps you avoid the expenses associated with carrying excess inventory. It’s also more cost-effective than blindly ordering stock at set intervals, such as every 30, 60 or 90 days. Happy customers : Out-of-stocks leave customers unhappy, encouraging them to choose a different store. And this happens more often than not. The odds of shoppers seeing an out-of-stock message have increased by 235% from pre-pandemic levels . With optimized inventory management, your customers’ favorite products will always be ready-to-buy, allowing you to meet their expectations and keep them loyal to your brand. Less waste and/or theft : When you know exactly how much stock you have in your warehouses and storage spaces, you have a better chance of selling products before they expire. Plus, keeping a close eye on your inventory helps you quickly identify any shrinkage due to theft. Greater efficiency : Proper inventory management allows you to spot bottlenecks in how your products are received, stocked, packed, picked and shipped. Improved cash flow : By spending the proper amount of cash on inventory, you’ll have more funds to devote to marketing campaigns and/or staffing. How does software help with inventory management? Achieving proper inventory management takes great precision. It’s tempting to use spreadsheets to manage your inventory, especially when you’re first starting out and operating on a limited budget. But trying to do so is often difficult and fraught with errors, especially as your business grows. A better option is to use software to automate parts of the inventory management process. In fact, according to the BDO survey linked earlier, nearly half (46%) of all retail CFOs said they expected to boost their investments in supply chain technology in 2023 alone. When you choose Wix to build your eCommerce website , you have access to a variety of ready-made inventory management features, including: Multichannel inventory sync : Wix’s multichannel sales  capabilities automatically update your inventory each time you make a sale on your online store, eBay, Amazon or other channels. Out-of-stock capabilities : From the “Store Products” menu in your website dashboard, you can automatically track how many items you have left in stock, or manually assign products as “In Stock” or “Out of Stock.” Pre-order options : You can enable pre-orders  for new, anticipated or out-of-stock products to capture more sales and reduce your customers’ wait times. This can also be a smart way to gauge demand for an unavailable or soon-to-launch item. Mobile business management : Manage your inventory, take payments, fulfill orders and more from the Wix app . Many retailers also choose to invest in other inventory-focused technologies, including order management systems (OMS), warehouse management systems (WMS) and/or enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. If you're a larger seller, you may choose to install these more specialized programs to handle other key parts of the supply chain. As you evaluate your options, ask yourself: What are your current inventory-related challenges and goals? What channels do you sell on? What types of inventory do you need to track? Who will be using your software? What other apps and systems does the platform need to integrate with? What is your budget? 4 types of inventory Inventory can be grouped into four categories: Raw materials and/or components These are materials you need to create your product. For example, this could be leather to make handbags or screws to fasten parts of your product together. Works-in-progress (WIP) As the name implies, these are items that are still in production. WIP includes any raw materials, components, labor costs and packing materials being used to create your product. Finished goods These are items that are fully produced and ready to be sold to customers. Maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) goods This refers to supplies, materials and parts used for routine maintenance, repair and operations. MRO goods are not part of the product itself. If one type of inventory is held up, most of the other types will likely be impacted as well. So, your inventory management strategy should account for all four categories. This will help you know where you’re spending your time, money and resources and guide you in identifying any potential bottlenecks. Inventory management process: 7 steps The success of your inventory management directly affects your business’s cash flow. That’s why it’s crucial to know every stage of the inventory management process, even if you’re just starting a business . While all eCommerce businesses are different, most will follow these seven steps: Receive the products at your facility   Inspect the products for defects   Sort and store the products   Accept orders   Fulfill orders   Reorder new stock   Monitor and review   01. Receive the products at your facility The first step happens when items travel from your suppliers and arrive at your warehouse. If you manufacture your own products, then this step happens as soon as you receive the raw materials you need to start creating. If you work with wholesalers, then the process begins once you receive finished goods that are ready to sell. 02. Inspect the products for defects As soon as your inventory arrives, you should dive into an inspection. Make sure that the number of materials or products you receive matches the amount you ordered. Check all raw materials and products to make sure they’re defect-free. If you’re in the food-and-beverage sector or sell other fresh goods (such as flowers), make sure your shipment arrived at the correct temperature. 03. Sort and store the products Small businesses may store their products on site or at a warehouse. In either case, it’s wise to set up your storage space for maximum efficiency. Arrange items by stock keeping unit (SKU) number or product type so they’re easy to find. Keep your best-selling products in easy-to-reach locations so you can expedite those orders. 04. Accept orders Once your products are received and sorted, it’s time to sell. Customers can place orders on your website, a third-party marketplace or, if you have a brick-and-mortar location, inside your store. Each time an order is received, the products ordered get removed from your inventory. In-store technologies like Wix’s point-of-sale system  can automatically update your inventory data with each order placed. 05. Fulfill orders Fulfillment refers to the physical process of picking the item out of your storage room or warehouse, packaging it and sending it to the end customer. The speed with which you can do this will depend on how well you’ve organized your storage space. 06. Reorder new stock To keep customers satisfied, you’ll need to continually replenish your inventory by reordering products. This is where accurate demand forecasting  comes into play. By estimating sales trends before they happen, you can reduce your risks for overstocks and dead stock and ensure optimal inventory turnover . 07. Monitor and review The last step in the process isn’t the end. Rather, you should monitor and review your inventory levels on a regular basis. This includes reviewing the inventory metrics in whatever software platform you choose to use. It also should involve regularly scheduled physical inventory counts to make sure that what you see on your computer screen matches what’s actually in your warehouse. Inventory management process for dropshippers The exception to this process is for retailers who choose a dropshipping business model. In dropshipping, a supplier handles the storage and fulfillment of all products. But dropshipping doesn’t mean you don’t need to handle inventory. Instead, if you run a dropshipping business, you should sync data from your dropshipping partners with your online store, which you can do with Wix’s dropshipping website builder . This will let you know where your inventory is located and how much inventory your dropshipping partners have in stock. See more : How to create a website  with Wix. Inventory management techniques When it comes to managing your inventory, it's not a one-size-fits-all situation. Different techniques can be employed, each with its own perks. Let's explore some of the most common: First-in, first-out (FIFO) : This classic method is as straightforward as it sounds. The first items you add to your inventory should be the first ones out the door. It's especially useful for perishable goods or products with an expiration date. Last-in, first-out (LIFO) : Consider this the inverse of FIFO—the most recently acquired items get sold first. This technique works best for non-perishable items or products where style doesn't matter as much. ABC analysis : Picture your inventory as a high school class. Some items are the straight-A students that drive the bulk of your sales. These are your “A” items. Then you have your “B” and “C” items. They're important, but not your all-star sellers. ABC analysis helps you focus on stocking and maintaining “A” items while not forgetting about “B” and “C.” Just-in-time (JIT) : This technique involves only ordering inventory as needed, minimizing storage costs. However, it requires meticulous planning and trustworthy suppliers. Dropshipping : As we’ve already outlined, dropshippers don’t hold any inventory. Instead, when you make a sale, you purchase the item from a third party who ships it directly to the customer.

As you know, being able to create a website for your business or blog is the most crucial milestone to your online success. But there's still a lot left to do after publishing your site, such as bringing in traffic and targeting the right people. To reach your audience, you'll want to get in front of users where they're already spending a lot of their time - social media. One of the most popular social media channels is Instagram, which has over a billion active monthly users. There, people come to get inspired, discover new content and learn about new businesses and brands like yours. Wix users reported that sharing content on social media platforms, including Instagram, increased their website traffic by over 2X. But Instagram isn't just beneficial for driving clicks. With the help of tools only available to business accounts, Instagram marketing efforts also enable businesses to achieve brand awareness, promote their products and services and drive sales. In this Instagram marketing guide, we'll discuss all the ways you can use the channel to meet your marketing goals, including setting up an optimized Instagram business account, creating solid content pillars, knowing the best times to post, partnering with influencers and more. If you'd like to learn more about Instagram's new Twitter competitor, check out our guide on what is Threads . Instagram marketing in 5 steps Create an Instagram business account Develop a strategy Strategically use all of Instagram’s formats Build robust content pillars Instagram marketing tips 01. Create an Instagram business account “The secret of getting ahead [on Instagram] is getting started,” said Mark Twain. If you don't have one yet, the first thing you need to do is to create an Instagram account through the mobile app or website. Once your account is set up, you'll need to convert your profile to a professional Instagram business account . This will grant you access to premium features such as advertising, analytics and shopping posts. Here is how to get a professional Instagram account: Sign up. Go to Settings > Account > Switch to a professional account. Connect to Facebook: You will be asked if you’d like to link your account to your Facebook business page. This is recommended because it will allow you to easily share posts on both channels and find relevant people to follow. Update your settings: Set your profile to public so that non-followers can see your posts and interact with your brand. Allow for comments and messages from users in order to open more channels of communication. Turn on notifications to stay up to date with activity on your account. 02. Develop a strategy Instagram's funny memes and "Throwback Thursday" (# TBT) photos sure are entertaining. But to turn Instagram into an instrumental marketing channel for your business, you'll first need to work on developing a solid strategy. Set clear Instagram marketing goals The most critical part of any marketing strategy is setting clear goals. Understanding why you’re on Instagram will help you better measure success. Begin by outlining a primary and secondary goal that defines what you’re hoping to accomplish with your efforts. Also, give some thought to how much time and budget you are willing to invest to meet those goals realistically. Some of the most common Instagram marketing goals include: Showcasing your products or services Building brand awareness Increasing sales Sharing important company news and updates Driving brand loyalty and trust among users Fostering an engaging community Identify your Instagram target audience If your audience is everyone, your audience is no one, so make sure you're in tune with whom you'd like to be reaching and what’s important to your target group. Decide on an ideal customer persona across different categories: Demographic : Age, gender, location Persona : Interests, pain points, motivations Instagram behavior: Hashtags they use, what they care about/post about, which brands they follow etc. An excellent place to locate an ideal target audience is your competitors’ followers list. Because these users have already shown interest in your product category, they will likely be interested in your offerings too. Conduct a competitive analysis When marketing on Instagram, remember to "keep your friends close and your enemies closer." You can do so by running an audit on what has or hasn't been working well in your space. You should also follow your favorite brands, visit your competitors and companies you look up to, and take note of these patterns: Hashtags : Which hashtags are they using? Are there repeating hashtags in your industry? Captions : What type of language is used to communicate with your audience? Content and visuals: Which images and type of content seem to resonate most with your target market based on competition posts' likes and engagement? While you shouldn't copy their same Instagram marketing strategy, noticing patterns happening in your industry will provide you with direction for getting started. After your competitive analysis, you’ll have seen plenty of relevant Instagram business profiles that you can use as inspiration. Now it's time to craft your own. Learn more: Best time to post on Instagram Build a solid optimized profile and bio Just like you’d look your best and wear business casual at your job interview, your company’s Instagram should also look professional and presentable. From deciding what you write in your bio to selecting the image colors in your Stories, your profile should represent the look and feel of your brand. Write an insightful bio As much as we’d like to think of ourselves as not quick to judge people, first impressions are inevitable. Therefore, you should have a catchy, on-brand Instagram bio , as this is the first section people see when they land on your page. In this space, you have 150 characters to showcase your brand’s personality and the value of your service or product. Include these details in your bio for an optimized profile: Name: This can be the same or different than your username. Since your name is searchable, consider adding keywords that describe your service to increase your chances of being found by users. For example, Wix user Kaekoo added the keyword “pillows” to her Instagram name to help users identify her product. Category: Choose which type of industry your brand falls into to help visitors quickly understand which services you offer. Description: In just a few words, describe what your business does. Follow the example of Kaekoo, who clearly outlines that her company provides handmade textiles and shelves for the home. You can add emojis, as they often speak for themselves, or even include a hashtag related to your content. CTA: Add a call to action (CTA) that you’d like visitors to take. It can be as simple as “shop.” Contact info: Provide the information users need to get in touch with you. By adding a phone number or email, potential customers will be able to reach out to you immediately, rather than having to visit your site just to find this information. Website link in bio : On Instagram, your bio is one of the only places you can include a clickable link, so make sure to add one. If you wish to direct your clicks to more than one destination, you can do so using a social bio link. Apps such as Hopp , Elink.io , Shorby , and Linktree (and Linktree alternatives ) allow you to bundle several links in a single webpage to navigate between key landing pages of your choice, such as your online store , blog or other social channels. Choose an on-brand profile photo To be easily identified on Instagram, you should use your logo as your profile photo. With a logo maker 's help, you can design a clean and powerful image for your business and social channels. Just make sure your image is at least 320 x 320 pixels, and keep in mind that Instagram will crop it into a round shape. To help you get the dimensions you want, you can use an image resizer tool. Stay on-brand by using the same logo on your social media platforms as on your website. We’ve followed our own advice and use our logo to ensure we are easily recognizable. By now, you’ve hopefully caught the attention of your Instagram visitors with your bio and profile photo. The next step is to make sure you keep them visually engaged with a beautifully designed feed. Decide on a consistent Instagram aesthetic Designing an Instagram feed is a lot like learning how to design a website . There are numerous colors, fonts, images and layouts that go into successfully sharing your brand message. To combine all these moving pieces, you can use the Wix's social post maker to easily choose a stunning template and customize it to stand out on Instagram. Here are some ideas on how to beautify your Instagram: Feed composition Each row on an Instagram profile’s feed consists of three images. It’s popular to use this tiled layout to alternate between the types of images you publish. For instance, you can create a “checkered” feed rotating dark and light photos. Or you can follow Ray-Ban ’s lead and use a different color scheme in each row. Sure, some planning ahead goes into yielding such a composition, but Instagram tools like Feed Previewer , Planoly and Plann let you see how your feed will look before posting. Color palette in images, text and stories Show your true (brand) colors by picking 3-5 shades that will appear consistently in your photos and text. Honing in on a specific family of shades will create a visually appealing and professional look. In Lexylicious Ice Cream's case, the pink color repeats across the feed for consistency. To help you keep color shades consistent, consider using filters and presets. Filters on images Filters are to photos what makeup is to models: it’s not always needed, but it sure helps create a glamorous effect. You can achieve such a transformation on your photos by using photo editing software such as Wix Photo Studio, the built-in Instagram filters, or Lightroom presets. Below you can see how the organic tea company, The Tea Story , used filters to achieve consistency in all the orange and red colors across their images to create a stunning business page feed. Font on images or stories The fonts you use are part of your brand's language, so make sure it represents you. Fashion legend Chanel has created a signature font that has stayed the same for decades, even on Instagram. If you also want similar branding success, be consistent with the fonts displayed in your stories, images and videos. Templates To help you create compelling visual content, you can customize pre-made Instagram templates . They look very professional and are easy to edit to fit your brand and Instagram goals. Templates can save you creation time and assist with achieving a consistent feel to your Instagram account. Wix offers Instagram templates for social posts about sales, app downloads, new product alerts, reminders, quotes and more. To find the templates for your feed, sign in to Wix.com and navigate to Marketing & SEO, then click on Social Posts. 03. Strategically use all of Instagram’s formats Instagram is far from being a one-trick pony. Starting with only still images, the app now offers a handful of formats and Instagram features such as Stories, IGTV, Instagram Live, Shopping and its newest Instagram Reels format. Being captivating isn't the only benefit of using more than one Instagram format. The algorithm has been said to reward accounts that use many of Instagram's different products. Let's explore each format type and how you can leverage it for your business. Standard image Standard image posts are still photographs that live on your feed. Since Instagram is such a visual place, many businesses upload high-resolution, gorgeous "Instagramable" pictures. It is good practice to alternate between the types of content you publish, which we will discuss later on as we dive into content pillars. Carousel While real-life carousels rotate in circles for amusement, Instagram Carousel posts rotate horizontally across our feed for engagement. This type of post can include up to 10 images and videos, all of which are presented in a single post with a horizontal scrolling feature. In the image below, you can see how fashion designer Zimmermann perfectly used the Carousel format to showcase a dress from the front, the back and, lastly, in motion through a short runway video. Talk about a 360-degree experience of a product. Showing products might not be the only benefit of the Carousel format. It’s been said that the algorithm prioritizes content that gets a lot of engagement time. Naturally, scrolling through multiple images rather than one takes longer and can help your post’s performance. Videos In the past, TV commercials used to be the primary way to reach consumers with video content. Today, instead of spending thousands of dollars on TV, businesses can use Instagram videos to tell their brand story, show products and new releases. Instagram has seen a lot of success with the video format and reported an 80% Increase in time spent watching videos on Instagram. To help create a powerful video, you can use Wix’s Video Maker for video editing, sound insertion and overlaying text. Stories The idea that something interesting can go away at any moment is quite a nail-biter. This is a feeling Instagram Stories thrive on and has compelled 500M people to interact with stories every day . After 24 short hours, the content shown in the shapes of circles at the top of your screen disappears. Although 15 seconds seems like a short-lasting post, this format is a powerful Instagram marketing strategy, as 50% of people surveyed say they have visited a website to buy a product or service as a result of seeing it in Stories . Unlike other Instagram formats, Stories show a raw, authentic side of your brand. Instead of a picture-perfect feed photo, you post about the business's day-to-day, the company culture, and behind the scenes. With Wix Social Posts or apps like Ash you have custom templates and layouts that help you create quick and engaging visual Stories. You can keep users lingering longer on each post by not just showing product images and promotions but including informative text, videos and engaging stickers. When it comes to stickers, there are many ways brands used them effectively for their Instagram marketing approach: Polls Polls let viewers vote between two customizable options. Use this feature in your Story to let users choose between their favorite product or image to engage in a gamified way. Countdown and product launch stickers Countdown stickers allow you to set an end date and time for any upcoming milestone for your business, such as a giveaway, new line release or sale. Users have the option to get alerted once the timeline has finished remembering to come back to your account and take action. See how Summers Snugglies used a countdown sticker for an upcoming product launch. Question stickers Who doesn't like being asked their opinion? Question stickers do just that. They can let you have an interactive Q&A with viewers. You can even take it a step further and use Question stickers for market research. Quiz stickers Quiz stickers are multiple-choice questions that, after clicking one, reveal the correct answer. Come up with some witty trivia questions about your industry, product or service. GIFs GIFs are moving images that can help bring your Story to life and show your brand personality. There is a search bar on Instagram Stories that lets you find GIFs based on keywords. In addition to using stickers to make your stories more engaging, you can use "new post" GIFs to promote new content on your feed. Location stickers No surprise here, location stickers show your location. You can use it to tell customers your business's physical location, make it easier for them to find you, or highlight an event or special venue you're currently attending. But they're not just informational; according to Omnicore, posts with a location get 79% more engagement. Hashtags Use the hashtag sticker to highlight words related to what you're posting about or your brand. Doing so can help your Story get discovered by people who are interested in the given topic. Clickable link stickers Link stickers are a valuable Instagram tool available for accounts with over 10,000 followers. This clickable button added to a Story sends customers directly to any landing page you choose, such as your website, an affiliate link or your Instagram Shop. In the following image, you can see how printmaker, illustrator and designer Lili Arnold Studios used this feature to send viewers to buy her book. Mention stickers Mention stickers allow you to tag accounts in a Story, who are then notified and given the option to share it on their own Stories. You can mention your customers, your employees or even other brands. Shopping stickers Use Shopping stickers to tag merchandise in your Story and direct people to your Instagram Shop. In addition to promoting your store, it's also a great way to help identify the items shown in the photo. For instance, H&M used a shoppable sticker to highlight their activewear jacket. Story Highlights Some Instagram stories are just too good to disappear forever. Instead of letting them expire after 24 hours, you can save past stories into a permanent location called Story Highlights. These saved stories live below your bio and are viewable by any visitor. While consumers use them to highlight big events like weddings or vacations, brands leverage them to introduce themselves, their products and their offerings. For example, the wheelchair cover maker Izzy Wheels uses Story Highlights to help visitors easily find different collections such as their Hello Kitty, Barbie and Wedding wheel covers. All Story Highlight cover photos can be customized with images to represent their categories. To create Story covers, upload an image from your camera roll or choose from a previously published Story. Alternatively, you can use a Story Highlight Cover Maker app or buy them from Etsy designers. IGTV Clips between one minute to 60 minutes in length are perfect for the IGTV format that lets you publish vertical video content. These videos can be used for product reviews, interviews or show the behind-the-scenes of product creation. If you have video content from other channels, you can easily convert your video content to Instagram TV. It can be worth creating such content for exposure since Instagram states that IGTV videos appear 4X larger than photos on Explore. Same as with feed posts and Reels, you can drive people to watch your IGTV content by sharing the video to your Story. For example, Vivi et Margot , a traditional French homeware shop owner, has a robust IGTV channel with behind-the-scenes shopping videos, home design inspiration and table decorating tips. Reels Reels is comparable to the famous dance, comedy and education app called TikTok. Users record and edit up to 30 seconds of multi-clip videos with interactive filters and popular sounds. The trick is that you can start filming, stop and start again and layer on special effects. If your page is public, these entertaining videos can be found in Explore and help your brand reach new followers. Plantable gifts store Nurturing Nature Cards wrote that Reels helps for exposure and encouraged other entrepreneurs to "do your business a favor and start making reels!" Live and Live Rooms Time to get authentic with “real-time” videos called Instagram Live. As a business, you can think of Live as a virtual event. Who's invited to your event? Any followers currently on the app (or have notifications turned on for Live) will receive a message that you’re live and offer an option to watch. If you're planning to host other users, you can do so with Live Rooms. This feature allows you to live broadcast with up to three people, similar to a webinar where several people interact and the audience listens. In this format, real-time comments and questions come up on the screen that you can address on the spot. Brands use this format as part of their Instagram marketing strategy in the following ways: Create a live shopping experience where you expose your products and direct viewers to a shopping link to purchase the items you’re showcasing. Host an interview with a customer or influencer. Run a Q&A session by answering common questions. Show behind the scenes of an event currently taking place for your business. Host a tutorial or workshop. Shopping With the massive popularity of online shopping, Instagram has jumped onto the opportunity to bring the eCommerce experience to social media. Already seeing huge success, studies show that 130 million accounts tap on shopping posts to learn more about products every month . Instagram Shopping gives your business a storefront to reach new people through your organic posts, stories, search and Explore. Additionally, on the new Shop platform, consumers can discover products for sale from the brands they follow and other related stores recommended to them. There, you will want to set up your company Shop to display all your products in the form of a catalog. If you qualify as a “Checkout Business,” users can even directly purchase products through the app. This can be a wonderful solution for how to make money on Instagram . You can also use Instagram Shopping in your Stories and feed. After someone taps your Shopping product tag, they will see the image, price, description and a link to purchase it. For example, gourmet granola brand Les Granolas de Jenny has an Instagram Shop, which users can get to by tapping on “View Products.” 04. Build robust content pillars As beautiful as your product photos are, you cannot only rely on them for your full Instagram marketing strategy. To truly be successful, you should also include material that educates, informs, inspires or entertains. We recommend building content pillars that fall into these different categories. User-generated content User-generated content (UGC) includes images, videos or text that have been made and posted by your users online. This type of content is not only a big timer saver because you don’t have to create it, but also an extremely trustworthy and valuable asset. Social Media Today reports user-generated content has a 4.5% higher conversion rate. To tap into this content potential, encourage customers to tag you on their photos and reviews and share them regularly on your Story or feed. Behind-the-scenes (BTS) content Behind every successful brand, there is a lot of heavy lifting to keep the business afloat. Let users see what it takes to maintain a company like yours, whether it's photoshoots, packaging or making the product. You will connect with users as it shows a more personal, real and exciting side of you. Quotes Quotes don't only work well because they allow for a fresh voice to be heard on your page, but also because quotes can often be moving and inspiring. A recommended practice is to try and keep your quotes related to your audience and field. For instance, we shared a quote by Adele Goldberg, a computer scientist, which fits our web building audience. Employees A company is only as good as its employees. Show the world the talent your company is made of by featuring yourself and your staff in your posts. Employee photos can also help with putting a face to the brand. According to a study by Backlinko, Instagram posts that include faces receive 38% more likes than those without faces. Promote your products 83% of users say Instagram has helped them discover new products and services , so it's a no-brainer that one of your content pillars will revolve around marketing your offerings. As long as you balance promotions with your other posts, they won’t come across too aggressively. You can feature new releases (teaser campaigns), best sellers or promotions. For instance, see how Marc Jacobs features one of their limited edition fragrances in one of their posts. Learn more: How to sell on Instagram Educational posts You don't know what you don't know. Allowing visitors to learn about the purpose or problem you solve can help them better understand what's in it for them. As a result of creating informational content, users can get educated, gain value and trust your business. You can see how natural candle company Fontana Candle Co. created a post that breaks down all the ingredients in their product in the image below. Their caption elaborates on the difference between using a clean-candle from natural ingredients versus one filled with toxins. Seasonal posts Whether it's a seasonal holiday, national celebration or social movement happening, tap into the moment's timeliness and post relevant content around it. Take a look at how waffle company Bubblewrap used World Nutella Day to display their mouth-watering snacks. Events Nothing creates FOMO (fear of missing out) more than a hot event you’re hosting or attending. Let your followers know what you’ve been up to by showing sneak peeks from your A-List events. Testimonials No matter how good your slogan or elevator pitch is, it will always sound better coming from your customer's mouth. By embedding customer testimonials into your posts, you will help your brand's image and let true stories sell themselves. News, press and publicity You've been mentioned in the news and gotten some publicity. Now it's time to "humbly" brag about it. After all, did it really happen if no one knows about it? For example, Brown Girl Jane was featured in Elle magazine and brilliantly posted the article's snippet. Entertaining or humorous posts Are there any cliches or trending jokes circulating in popular culture at the moment? It could be a good idea to jump on the wagon and create a related post or meme to help show your brand's quirky side. After your content pillars are strong and sturdy, it will be time to focus on growing your account. 05. Instagram marketing tips While there are hundreds of tips and tricks to marketing on Instagram, we’ve narrowed it down to the top 10 most essential growth strategies: Understand the Instagram algorithm Write compelling captions Use hashtags deliberately Engage with current and potential customers Run a contest or giveaway Partner with an influencer Serve sponsored ads with Instagram Advertising Know the best time to post on Instagram Track and optimize performance Share and promote your Instagram Understand the Instagram algorithm Instagram's use of artificial intelligence and machine learning for its algorithm is still a mystery in many ways. However, some creators found patterns in the algorithm that they used in their favor and, as a result, saw a lot of Instagram marketing success. The first thing you need to keep in mind is that, rather than being in chronological order, the feed displays posts depending on the type of content Instagram thinks users would be most interested in and will spend more time viewing. To use the algorithm to your advantage, you must prove to Instagram that people find your content interesting in a short amount of time after posting. Here are some ways to get the algorithm interested in your posts - and boost them as a result: Increase the time people spend viewing your post Encourage saves Get more shares Drive post engagement (comments and likes) immediately after posting. You can leave two comments on your own post within the first few seconds of posting to trigger the engagement momentum. Write an alt text description for your images. The words you choose can help the algorithm choose whom to push your content to based on their interests. Write compelling captions Captions are a powerful way to make your brand's voice heard and get the post's message across. While you have 2,200 characters available, after 125 characters your text gets truncated, so the first two lines are key In addition to crafting informational and entertaining text, it's important to include a call to action (CTA) in some of your captions. Instagram reports there is an 89% chance that campaigns that emphasize the CTA will outperform those that do not. Some of the most common CTAs ask users to comment on something specific in your post. Other popular CTAs encourage users to check out the link in your bio. See how designer Abby Leighton announced the launch of the Wix online store and directed her followers to "check out the link in my bio." If you need some inspiration for witty lines, use the caption generator from CapGenius or Preview . Don’t forget to use some emojis and hashtags, as more than half of Instagram captions and comments contain emojis. Pay attention to how Abby Leighton used the heart emoji to thank her followers for their support. Use hashtags deliberately Times have changed, and the pound sign (#) is no longer just a button you press when speaking to an automated phone machine. Social media channels use hashtags now as a vital tool for discoverability, increasing followers and relevant engagement. It’s been reported that posts with at least one hashtag average 12.6% more engagement. It is crucial that you choose Instagram hashtags that describe your business, are specific to your niche, audience, region and purpose of the account. Let’s take a look at some of the best practices to follow for your Instagram hashtag strategy. Include different size hashtags You can use up to 30 hashtags in each post. While this number might seem large, it's still important to be strategic with your choices. Use a mix of big, medium and small hashtags in each post. Hashtags with over a million posts (such as # fitnessmotivation) and niche tags with only a few hundred thousand (such as # fitnessclothes) are equally important. They are excellent for helping your posts show up in relevant feeds and getting found when people are searching for those categories. You don't want to use just huge ones as they're more competitive than niche hashtags. Smaller hashtags help you get discovered, as your post will appear for a longer period of time in the recent post section. Rotate and change your hashtags Even if you think the hashtags you've used on the last few posts worked like magic, make sure you rotate them not to miss your chances to reach other audiences that follow slightly different tags. To keep track, make a list of six to ten distinct groups of 30 hashtags to copy and paste. Then, all you’ll need to do is alternate between them. Create a branded hashtag The difference between a regular and a branded hashtag is that the latter is crafted around your business. It can include your company name in the hashtag like # ShareACoke or mention a product like Disneyland ’s # ShareYourEars. The goal of a branded hashtag is to build buzz around your brand and also to gather user-generated content. To help kick off your branded hashtag, let your followers know about it and encourage them to use it for a chance to be featured. Follow relevant hashtags To help you stay up to date with your industry and target audience, follow specific hashtags. Instagram will then show you the top posts each week in your feed for the tags you followed. By following hashtags, you can also more easily engage with your community as the posts come to you. To assist you with these hashtag tips, you can use tools like the Hashtag Expert and Hashtagify that automate the above steps. Engage with current and potential customers There is both a science and an art to marketing on Instagram. You can be creative with your content and captions, but there is also a scientific approach to engagement. The more you engage with other people's posts, the more likely they are to go back to your profile, engage with you, follow you or maybe even come to your website to convert into a loyal customer. Apparently, two in three people surveyed say Instagram enables interaction with brands . Here are some practical ways to interact with your audience: Respond to all your comments, or at least the ones written in the first few hours after you post. Leave comments and likes in other accounts. The more meaningful and personal your comment is, the more likely the recipient will connect with your brand. Collaborate with similar accounts. Agree on mutual value exchange actions such as sharing each other's posts on your Story to allow for more engagement from new audiences. Join or start engagement groups that like, comment and save each other's posts. Consistent, immediate engagement triggers the algorithm to recognize your content as worthwhile. Lastly, let’s address your most pressing question, “How do I get more followers on Instagram?” Many marketers recommend the Dollar Eighty ($1.80) engagement method by Gary Vaynerchuk. You need to search for ten different hashtags in your niche, comment on the top 9 posts by leaving your “2 cents” on each post. The secret sauce is $0.02 x 9 x 10 = $1.80. Sometimes it takes more than a like or comment to get someone's attention, which is why you can also offer a contest or giveaway as part of your Instagram marketing tactics. Run a contest or giveaway You'd be surprised just how much people are willing to do for free gifts. Okay, we don't mean selling a kidney, but many people are eager to follow, share, tag friends and heavily promote another Instagram account for the chance of winning an appealing prize. The ideal outcome is that the cost of the giveaway will be worth the price you want to pay for more followers, reach and customers. Depending on your budget and audience, the reward can be an expensive gadget, a discount sale, or your own product giveaway. Make sure the contest period is somewhere between 2-5 days, and announce the winner afterward. To help you choose a winner, you can use a comment picker or giveaway picker . For example, Coal and Canary Candle Company ran a successful giveaway that yielded over 4,000 comments. All the people tagged in the post due to the contest were exposed to the company. Partner with an influencer Influencers are people with a lot of followers who can influence purchasing decisions. While some influencers are more like Instagram celebrities, some brands also work with micro-influencers who have a smaller following but still can be valuable brand advocates. People have become more desensitized to traditional advertising, which is why working with influencers to promote your business is a great way to achieve credibility among your customers. In fact, 55% of shoppers have purchased a fashion item after seeing a creator promote it , and 89% say ROI from influencer marketing is comparable to or better than other marketing channels. How to partner with an influencer Follow these steps to get started with influencer marketing : Identify an Influencer through research or using a marketplace such as Intellifluence or Tribe that matches you with a fitting person in your niche. Audit the influencer’s account for authenticity by looking at their engagement to follower ratio. You can do that by using a fake follower checker or manually scroll through followers to see if they look like real people instead of bots. Contact them to propose a collaboration. In an email or meeting, agree on a price, a content creation vision and a timeline. Serve sponsored ads with Instagram Advertising Ads on Instagram come in the form of promoted stories or posts that reach your selected target audience's feeds that don't currently follow you. Advertising can be of interest to you, considering 50% are more interested in a brand when they see ads for it on Instagram . To make the most of your promotional budget, read our guide on how to advertise on Instagram. Here's a quick look at some of the steps to follow: Select which asset you want to promote: In your Instagram professional account, you can tap on any post or story of yours and click “Promote.” We recommend using your Instagram Insights and promote the content that has already performed really well organically. Choose a campaign objective: Determine what your business goals are. Instagram breaks them down into three categories: awareness (reach and brand awareness), consideration (traffic, engagement) and conversion (sales, store traffic). Define your audience: Instagram can automatically target people similar to your followers, or you can manually create your own targeting by selecting their location, interest, age and gender. Set a budget and duration: Choose a daily budget you’d like to spend and for how many days you’d like to run the campaign. The Instagram advertising tool will show you an estimated reach with the budget and duration you set. Optimize for performance: Pay attention to the advertisement’s performance. Did it get any link clicks to your eCommerce website or landing page ? How many impressions did it get? The more impressions, the higher the chance you will see engagement. If you’re happy with your metrics, you can promote similar posts or if you hope to see better results try different captions, targeting or content to promote. Know the best time to post on Instagram To build a strong presence, you need to be consistent and know the best time to post on Instagram. Ideally, you want to post 1-2 times a day on your feed and publish 10+ Stories a day. What time should you post? Hootsuite analyzed over 200,000 posts that yielded performance metrics by industry. It turns out the best times and days to post for the travel industry are Friday at 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Fridays are also a good day to post for the food industry, especially around noon on that day. It makes sense noon is an excellent time to post, as people are on their lunch breaks and can scroll through Instagram guilt-free. Others see several performance peaks over the week. For instance, in the retail industry, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at noon are all good days. Another sector that sees success over multiple days a week is the professional services that peak on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10:00 AM. Trends indicate that businesses should use their most strategic posts on weekdays. Track and optimize performance Unlike TV and magazine marketing, digital marketing is much easier to track, measure and optimize. With the help of the many Instagram analytics tools and the built-in Instagram Insights, you can get information on the following areas: Your follower’s geography and age Your increase and decrease in followers Engagements per post On stories Taps forward Taps backward Next Story and exits Replies Sort your top posts by most followers gained, likes, comments, and more Use all your data to help you make informed and educated decisions on which type of content to prioritize or replicate moving forward. Share and promote your Instagram You’ve done the hard work of learning how to market on Instagram. Now comes the fun part: letting the world see it. First, include Instagram as one of your social media icon buttons on your site to encourage your loyal customers and visitors to stay up to date and follow you. Then, wow your website visitors by adding your Instagram images to your site with the Instagram Feed tool. This way, your website will automatically sync and show your most recent Instagram posts.

A press release is essential as a part of your marketing strategies - as a business owner, marketer or public relations specialist. Similar to how you create a website for promoting your brand overall, you can create a press release to get coverage for special announcements or business updates. This can be a product launch or new partnership. It’s possible for you to do this yourself. Writing your own press release can save you money as well as make sure that the information you want to share about your business is being expressed accurately. In this guide, we’ll show you how to write a press release that gets the attention you deserve, the best practices to follow, and some top examples for your inspiration. What is a press release? A press release is a written announcement that gives an update about your brand regarding the latest information you want to share with your greater community. It’s usually pitched to a journalist requesting that they cover the story in their publication. Therefore, it’s written in third person. Because these writers are busy and the market is highly competitive, a press release is usually no longer than one page and follows a somewhat uniform set of guidelines that we’ll explain below. Why use a press release? Press releases serve several important purposes and can be a valuable tool for businesses, as they build brand awareness and generate hype around their offerrings. Some of the main benefits of writing and distributing press releases include: Publicity and media coverage Increased brand visibility and awareness Positive and controlled reputation management Improved investor relations Stronger relationships with news and press outlets and journalists How to write a press release The following components are necessary to include during the process of creating an eye-catching press release that checks all the boxes: Your company logo Bold headline Subtitle Release date Date and location Intro paragraph Body text Relevant quotes Boilerplate Contact information 01. Your company logo At the very top of your press release, you should draw immediate attention to your business. This is done in the form of your logo, and it allows the reader to immediately know who is reaching out to them. If you don’t have a logo, it won’t take you long to create one. Using this intuitive logo maker , you’ll just need to answer a few simple questions, and then let the machine work its magic and generate tons of professional icons for you to choose from. 02. Bold headline This is the absolute most important piece of content that your press release contains. Surely you know a thing or two about this from experience reading online content or judging a book by its title yourself, yet we must emphasize how important the title really is. The headline might be all that your readers see, so spend a lot of your time on making sure that it’s captivating and gets your point across. In other words, within this small section you should answer the question “why should anyone care what I have to say?” 03. Subtitle Complimenting your headline, your subtitle provides a bit more of the details about your press release. It’s used as a hook to grab the attention of your readers and lure them into the rest of your story. It should be short, around 10-20 words. 04. Release date The information you’re sharing is exciting and pertinent because it’s time sensitive. The press lives for receiving news and being the first to share it. This is why it’s crucial for you to include the release date and time. If that time is now, you can write “for immediate release.” 05. Date and location Begin the body paragraph with these key details that give a background of your story. The date and location let the reader know the relevancy of your press release. Immediately follow this element with a hyphen and then the content of your intro paragraph. 06. Intro paragraph At the start of your main section of text, you’ll want to write your most important information first. Unlike traditional stories, the climax should occur at the very beginning in order to grasp immediate attention. Answer the five W’s in one sentence: ‘Who?’ ‘What?’ ‘Where?’ ‘When?’ and ‘Why?’ For example, “Pal’s Organic Pet Food Company (who) donated $5M (what) to pet adoption centers in Chicago (where) last Sunday (when) to help these furry friends find warm homes for the Winter (why).” Then, in the next and last sentence of this section briefly explain what you’ll cover in the following paragraphs (the “Body Text” section). 07. Body text After the climax mentioned in the introductory paragraph, include the rest of your content in the order of importance. Assuming that your reader won’t make it to the end of the page, make sure that they actually get to the parts you want them to read as early on as possible. Give more background information on your story described in the intro paragraph here. In other words, elaborate on the 5 W’s. Do so in one or two paragraphs, including supporting details within. In this section, it’s optional to add links to any relevant media or other information when necessary in order to provide background information that’s simply too long or not possible to express in a few words. 08. Relevant quotes Quotes are information that are direct from the source. So, it’s important to include with each quote exactly who wrote them, whether that’s the CEO, CMO or someone else. Journalists sometimes copy quotes word-for-word into their articles. Use this as your opportunity to get your point across exactly the way that you want to say it. It’s worthwhile as readers will be especially interested in hearing your point of view on the topic. 09. Boilerplate A boilerplate is a standard ‘about me’ summary of a business which provides helpful background information for those that may be unfamiliar with what they do. In doing so, it gives the readers a bit more information on the “Who” and the “What” from the 5 W’s mentioned in the introduction. It should be done in just a few sentences. If you find that in yours you want to say more, you can add a link to your press kit. The boilerplate is typically put at the end of the release, and can include links to your business’s website and social channels. This allows you to use your press release as an opportunity to get people talking about your business overall (not just this story), as well as drive traffic to your site. 10. Contact information If someone comes across your release on a press site or wire and wants to learn more about you and your story, don’t make it difficult for them to do so. Clearly place your name, email, and phone number at the bottom of your press release, with a space between this and the boilerplate. This will ensure that getting in touch with you is an easy feat. Best practices for writing a press release In addition to the structure provided above, follow these helpful tips to make sure that your press release doesn’t go unnoticed: 01. Act like a journalist If you want journalists to cover your story, you’ll need to write in a manner that they are used to. Think of this as tailoring your resume to fit a specific job. This is the perfect opportunity for you to craft your press release to flow with a particular journalist’s writing style. In other words, speak their language. In general, you should also write your press release in the style of an article. This is the way that journalists think, read and write. It will make their lives much easier when it comes to reframing your story in their own tone. 02. Keep it brief It’s important that we reiterate this point. Conciseness is key to getting your press release noticed in this world of short attention spans and extremely busy people. Your press release should be no more than 300-400 words, with a maximum of one page of content. Write and rewrite it, each time cutting out the fluff and making sure that you don’t repeat any information. 03. Write in an organized manner Use the inverted pyramid method, writing the most important information first. Then, proceed with the rest of the details based on their order of importance. This is why your boilerplate comes last, as you’ll first want to dive into the story and draw attention to it before explaining who you are. Also, you should write in the same format as every other press release, leaving no surprise sections that will only confuse your readers. Follow the guidelines above in the ‘How to write a press release’ section, placing particular emphasis on putting the headline and release date first. 04. Provide exceptional value Ask yourself why your audience should and would care about the information you’re sharing. This reason should include something along the lines of how valuable it will be for them to know this. On top of just knowing who they are and why they would care, you’ll want to write in a way that targets their interests and personalities. For example, there is a big difference in the word choices used by charitable organizations versus video game developers. Images can also play a significant role in enhancing the impact and effectiveness of a press release. Beyond just visual appeal, they also enhance the storytelling of a piece and more it more likely to be shared, especially on social media. 05. Answer all of the possible questions Try your best to brainstorm ahead of time the questions that might arise based on the information you’re sharing in the headline. The text in your body paragraph should provide all the possible answers. In doing so, you’re making your readers’ lives as easy as possible so that they won’t need to contact you for further information or to clarify any confusion. 06. Give it a final check Before you send your press release out, read over it to check that everything looks the way you want it to. There is nothing less professional than grammatical errors. Make sure the links work and that your story makes sense. Then, ask a friend or colleague to give it a runthrough to get a second opinion. Refine, and refine again until you’re completely satisfied with your work. 07. Share the results Just because you’ve pressed the ‘send’ button doesn’t mean that your work is done. If publications and blogs feature your story, you’ll also want to share the news yourself. This is great promotion for your brand that should be added to your press kit and website, as well as content for your social media accounts. When you think about your online reputation and personal brand, your press releases will set you off in the right direction for success. How to distribute a press release Writing a press release is just one step in the process of getting your news out into the world. How well your content is distributed is the next crucial step in getting it seen and picked up. 01. Identify your target audience Determine who you want to reach with your press release. Consider the demographics, interests, and locations of your target audience. This will help you tailor your distribution strategy and identify relevant media outlets. This research is worth doing even before you write and craft your content. 02. Build a media list Create a list of journalists, reporters, bloggers, and influencers who cover topics related to your press release. Research publications, websites, and media outlets that align with your target audience, make a note of their contact information and then reach out. it make take a lot of knocking on doors, or unopened emails before you get a response but keep going. Craft individualized emails to introduce your press release and explain why it would be of interest to their audience. Include a personalized subject line and highlight relevant aspects of your news to capture their attention. 03. Use a press release distribution service Consider using a press release distribution service that can help you reach a wider audience. These services have established relationships with media outlets and can distribute your press release to their extensive networks. Examples of press release distribution services include PR Newswire, Business Wire, and PRWeb. 04. Leverage your network Encourage your professional network industry associations, and contacts to help spread the word about your press release. Share it on your company's website, blog, and social media channels. Encourage your colleagues, partners, and clients to share the press release with their networks as well. 05. Optimize for SEO Ensure that your press release is optimized for search engines. Include relevant keywords and phrases in the headline, subheadings, and body of the press release. This will increase the chances of your press release appearing in search engine results when people search for related topics. 06. Include multimedia content This means incorporating high-quality images, videos, infographics, or other multimedia content in your press release. Make them easily accessible by providing download links or embedding them directly within the press release. They make your content visually appealing and increase the chances of it being picked up and shared. 06. Monitor and follow up Keep track of the journalists and media outlets you've reached out to. Monitor for any coverage or responses to your press release. If you don't receive a response. follow-up after a reasonable amount of time to inquire about their interest or if they require any additional information. Remember, the success of your press release distribution depends on the quality of your content, the relevance to your target audience, and the effectiveness of your outreach strategy. Continuously evaluate and refine your approach based on the feedback and results you receive. Best time to send a press release Finding the best time to send a press release can significantly impact its visibility and chances of media coverage. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, some recommendations for when to send a press release are: Weekdays and morning hours Sending press releases on weekdays, specifically from Tuesday to Thursday, tends to be more effective. Mondays are often busy for journalists as they catch up on news from the weekend, and Fridays may be less ideal as reporters may be wrapping up their week. Aim to send your press release in the morning, ideally between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, as journalists tend to be more receptive and have higher email engagement during these hours. Avoid holidays and peak news times Avoid sending press releases during holidays, long weekends, or times when major national or international news events are dominating media attention. Your release may get lost or overlooked amidst the flood of news. Consider time zones If your press release has a regional or global focus, be mindful of the time zones of your target audience. Adjust your sending time accordingly to ensure that it arrives during regular business hours in the relevant time zones. Lead time For major announcements or events, it's generally recommended to send press releases well in advance to allow journalists enough time to plan and schedule coverage. Lead times can vary depending on the nature of the announcement, but sending the press release a week or two before the event or launch is often best practice. Consider the industry and audience Depending on the industry or audience you're targeting, it's beneficial to align your press release with specific industry events, trade shows, or periods of heightened interest. This can increase the chances of your news being noticed and covered by relevant media outlets. These are general guidelines, and it's essential to research and understand your specific target audience and their preferences. It's also worth considering any guidelines or preferences outlined by the media outlets or journalists you are targeting. Using a media distribution service can also provide insights into the optimal timing for sending press releases based on their data and analytics. Press Release examples The following examples of press releases will give you some real world insight to inspire you to create great pieces that will surely spark the interest of your audience. Wix Returns to Super Bowl LIII February 3, 2019 This is a classic example of a press release using the traditional format. First, notice how the headline and the subtitle carefully reflect different pieces of information. Furthermore, the location and date are mentioned ahead of the body text and three brief paragraphs sum up the news story. A relevant video clip is embedded to show the advertisement, the company name is linked multiple times, and a quote is included at the bottom. The only elements you don’t see are the contact details and boilerplate. As this example is directly from the company’s website, it’s not necessary to include that information. Yet, if you browse this Wix press release on the wire , you’ll find these two elements at the bottom. Apple reveals new AirPods Pro, available October 30 October 28, 2019 The headline mentions the big news: an exciting product release by the company, Apple. Following that, they strategically place the top feature in the subtitle, “active noise cancellation for immersive sound.” Also, notice how not only is the business’s website linked, but the product page too. Images show many different perspectives on the product, from the technological features to how it looks in use and the way that it connects with the iPhone. To conclude, the boilerplate provides a powerful historical background of the business in a concise fashion. Introducing Spotify Kids, A New Standalone App for the Next Generation of Listeners October 30, 2019 This press release meets the necessary guidelines in a standard way. You can see this by the use of a product video. The company is evidently aware that content is more digestible in short clip form. It also follows two of the tips we mentioned - ‘act like a journalist’ and ‘answer all of the possible questions’ - by using bolded headlines. This allows for the information about the new revealed feature to be broken up into easily readable, organized sections. Greener cups, fewer straws and tracing your coffee’s journey via app March 20, 2019 In this example, the subtitle mentions the product while the headline describes its features. This is actually the opposite of the traditional press release format, but it surely works to grab readers’ attention. Furthermore, there are multiple quotes from two different people in order to show various voices of authority regarding the mentioned topic of sustainability and Starbucks. You’ll also notice the inverted pyramid format is put to use here from the headline to the subtitle to the italicised paragraph below that. Press release FAQ What is the golden rule when it comes to writing press releases? The golden rule when it comes to writing press releases is to focus on newsworthiness. A press release should be newsworthy to capture the attention of journalists and increase the chances of it being shared by media outlets. Newsworthiness refers to the factors that make a story interesting, relevant, and valuable to an audience. What's the best format for a press release? An effective format for a press release should include the following, in this order - header, headline, potential sub-headline, dateline, introduction, body, boilerplate, CTA (call-to-action), about the company and media assets. Are press releases worth it? Press releases can be valuable for generating publicity, enhancing brand visibility and reaching a wide audience. They generally help announce important news, product launches, or milestones, attracting media attention and potential partnerships. However, their effectiveness depends on relevance, newsworthiness and their targeted distribution. Today with most media being online combining press releases with other strategies like social media can amplify impact. It's always important to set goals and to track them when writing and promoting press releases. What are some golden rules for writing press releases? Always craft concise and compelling headlines - but not click bait ones. Start with a strong lead in the first paragraph, summarizing the key information. Focus on newsworthiness, emphasizing the "who, what, when, where, and why." Maintain a professional tone always. Include quotes for authenticity, either from your own experts or external authority figures. Provide your contact details for follow-ups or interest. Proofread meticulously before promoting as it represents your brand. Tailor the release to the target audience and distribute strategically through appropriate channels.

The skincare industry is booming, with an ever-growing demand for products that cater to a variety of skin types and concerns. As you consider entering this lucrative market, it's essential to grasp the current trends and carve out a niche for your brand. Here's what you need to know when starting a business focused on skincare. How to start a skincare business Do your research and choose your skincare niche Create a business plan Estimate your startup costs and secure funding Develop your skincare product line Register and license your business Choose your sales channels and decide on your fulfillment options Brand and market your skincare business Launch your business 01. Do your research and choose your skincare niche The beauty sector is rapidly evolving, driven by both increased consumer awareness and new tech. Trends such as organic ingredients, personalized skincare and eco-friendly packaging are shaping the industry. Staying abreast of these trends can help you spot opportunities and anticipate customer needs when it comes to your own skincare business. To stand out in a crowded skincare market — in 2024 the skincare market in the US was expected to generate revenue of an estimated US$24.35 billion ), focusing on a specific niche can be advantageous. Whether it's men's skincare, products for sensitive skin or homemade remedies, identifying your target audience will guide your product development and marketing efforts. Conducting thorough market research is crucial. You'll want to understand who your competitors are, what they offer, and what gaps exist in the market. Look into growth drivers such as an aging population or increased health consciousness that could propel your business forward. While opportunities abound, so do challenges. Regulatory hurdles, fierce competition and changing consumer preferences can impact your business. By recognizing these challenges early on, you can strategize to overcome them effectively. 02. Create a business plan A well-thought-out business plan is your roadmap to success in the skincare industry. It outlines your business goals, strategies and how you plan to achieve them. Here's what to include in your skincare business plan: Your business plan should detail your company's mission statement, product offerings, market analysis, organizational structure and financial projections. It also needs to address how you'll handle operations, human resources and any legal considerations. Understanding the financial aspects of starting a business is critical. You'll need to estimate startup costs , forecast sales and profits and manage cash flow. This section should also cover pricing strategies and break-even analysis. 03 Estimate your startup costs and secure funding Before diving into the skincare market, it's important to calculate how much capital you'll need to start this type of a business . Consider related expenses such as: Product development and testing Manufacturing or production costs Packaging and branding materials Marketing and advertising expenses Rent for physical space if needed Licenses, permits and insurance Learn more: The best ways to raise money for a business Some popular ways to raise money for a small business include: Bank loans : Traditional term loans or lines of credit from banks SBA loans : Government-backed loans with favorable terms Crowdfunding : Raising small amounts from many people, often online Angel investors : Wealthy individuals who invest in early-stage businesses Venture capital : Professional firms investing in high-growth potential startups Personal savings or bootstrapping : Using your own money to fund the business 04. Develop your skincare product line Choosing the right path for your skincare product line is an important decision. Whether you opt for manufacturing or creating homemade products, each option has its own set of pros and cons. Here's how to go about approaching this crucial step in starting a skincare business: Manufacturing vs. homemade : Deciding between these two paths depends on various factors such as your budget, control over the production process and scalability. Manufacturing allows for larger quantities but requires significant investment, while homemade products offer personalization but might limit your ability to scale quickly. Finding a manufacturer or supplier : If you choose to manufacture, you'll need to find a reliable skin care line manufacturer or supplier. Look for partners who can provide quality ingredients and materials, and who adhere to industry regulations. Then you'll want to think about your product formulation — ingredients, scent, effect on the skin. You'll also want to plan the packaging and branding of your skincare products. If you plan to make homemade skincare products you'll need to do a lot of research around which ingredients to use, including their different properties and benefits for the skin. Don't neglect safety and make sure everything you use is safe to use via thorough testing. It's best to start with simple recipes, that require minimal ingredients and equipment. 05. Register and license your skincare business Registering your business is a critical step in establishing your skincare business. Compliance with laws and regulations ensures your business operates without costly interruptions. Here's what you need to consider: Permits and licenses : Depending on your location and the nature of your skincare business, you may need specific permits and licenses to operate legally. Research the requirements in your area or consult with a legal expert to ensure you have all necessary documentation. For example, if you plan to start a skincare business in New York you'll need to: Register your business with NY Department of State Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Acquire necessary licenses and permits Comply with FDA regulations for cosmetic products Follow New York State Education Department rules for estheticians Adhere to labeling requirements for cosmetics Obtain liability insurance Comply with New York business tax obligations Follow workplace safety regulations Adhere to consumer protection laws Comply with data privacy regulations if collecting customer information Product safety and labeling laws : The skincare industry is subject to stringent regulations regarding product safety and labeling. You must ensure that your products meet all safety standards and that labels provide accurate information about ingredients and usage instructions. Learn more: How to license a business 06. Choose your sales channels and decide on your fulfillment options Choosing the right sales channels and managing order fulfillment are crucial for getting your skincare products into customers' hands. Here's how to approach these final steps before launching: Compare sales channels : You have several options for selling your products, including online marketplaces , e-commerce websites or brick-and-mortar stores. Each channel has its advantages and challenges, so consider where your target customers prefer to shop and the resources you have available. Online vs in-store : Selling online can offer a broader reach and lower overhead costs, while in-store can provide a tactile experience for customers. You might also consider a combination of both to maximize exposure. Learn moire about how to create an online store. Order fulfillment options : Once you've made a sale, delivering the product is next. You can handle fulfillment in-house, or outsource to third-party logistics providers who can store inventory and ship orders for you. 07. Brand and market your skincare business Start by developing your marketing plan. It's how you'll attract customers to your brand. It should include your: Target audience : Define who your customers are and where you can reach them. Branding : Develop a strong brand identity that resonates with your target audience. PromotionsStrategies : Decide on the mix of digital marketing, social media campaigns, influencer partnerships or traditional advertising that will best reach your audience. Sales channels : Identify where you will sell your products—online through an e-commerce platform or in physical retail stores. Creating a strong brand identity and then implementing effective marketing strategies are essential for the success of your skincare business. Your brand is more than just a logo it's the entire experience you offer to customers. It includes your brand name, visual elements and the message that you communicate. Make sure your branding reflects the values and quality of your skincare line. Learn more: How to name a business . Once you've established your brand identity, it's time to market your products. Here are some popular strategies to consider: Digital marketing : Use social media, email marketing and content marketing to reach a wider audience online. Influencer partnerships : Collaborate with influencers who align with your brand values to tap into their followers and promote your skincare products. SEO : Optimize your website and content with relevant keywords to improve visibility in search engine results. Traditional marketing : Don't overlook traditional marketing methods like print ads, PR and attending industry events to network. Remember that consistency is key in branding and marketing — every touchpoint with customers should reinforce your brand identity and message. With a well-executed branding and marketing plan, you can build a loyal customer base and grow your skincare business. 08. Launch your skincare business The launch of your skincare business is a momentous event that sets the stage for your future success. Here are some steps to ensure a smooth transition from planning to operating your business. Make sure your products are ready for market, with quality and packaging that meet your brand standards. Then check you've established your operational workflow, from production to order fulfillment and that each part of the process is efficient and potentially scalable. Build a website and establish a presence on social media platforms where your target audience is active. Get started with these skin and beauty website templates: Beauty and hair website templates Natural cosmetics shop template Online beauty shop template Subscription box company template Learn more about building a website from scratch. Set up your chosen sales channels, whether it's an online store , marketplace listings or physical retail partnerships. Implement your marketing plan to create buzz around your launch. Consider special promotions or events to attract initial customers. Determine your key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of your launch and ongoing operations. This could include sales figures, customer feedback or website traffic . Skincare business examples built on Wix Sweet Holistic Skin This beauty brand, Sweet Holistic Skin , offers all natural skincare products including body butters and oils. Their products are handmade with love, care and all organic ingredients. Marie Skin Care Success Marie Skin Care Success is committed to helping its customers have healthy skin first and foremost. Their products are handmade with all natural ingredients. Choose from soap bars, moisturizers and lotions. How to start a skincare business FAQ How much does it cost to start a skincare business? The cost to start a skincare business can vary widely depending on factors such as product development, manufacturing, branding and marketing. Initial expenses can range from a few thousand dollars for a small homemade line to hundreds of thousands for a large-scale operation with extensive product lines. Is a skin care business profitable? The skincare industry can be highly profitable due to a growing demand for beauty and personal care products. However, profitability depends on various factors such as product quality, brand positioning, effective marketing and your operational efficiency. Is starting a skincare business worth it? Starting a skincare business can be worth it if you have a passion for the industry and are willing to put in the effort required to build a successful brand. It offers the potential for financial rewards as well as personal satisfaction by creating products that help people feel good about their skin.

“Be loud about the things that are important to you,” author and activist Karen Walrond once stated. And what’s a better way to voice your opinion and share your knowledge than by starting a podcast? By building trust, proving authority and entertaining listeners, a podcast is an effective way to get your name and brand out there. When you create a website , for example, displaying your show with a Podcast Player is a great way to drive more traffic to your site and attract new customers. In this complete guide, we’ll walk you through how to start a podcast. We’ll begin with helping you choose your topic and podcast format, then move into equipment, recording and the publishing process. Lastly, we’re going to dive into the best ways to market and monetize your podcast. The popularity of podcasts In the last decade podcast listeners have doubled and 57% of U.S. consumers listen to podcasts regularly. This significant increase can be explained by the podcast's convenient ability to be listened to on the go. Because of this enjoyable benefit, once people find a show they're connected to, they’re likely to become loyal listeners. Nonetheless, there's still a lot of untapped territory in this growing media outlet. While there are 600 million blogs and 37 million YouTube channels on the web, there are only about 2 million podcasts . So, if you're considering starting a podcast, now's the time to take a piece of the pie—before the competition increases. How to start a podcast Planning a podcast 1. Know what makes a good podcast 2. Set your goals 3. Choose your topic 4. Define your target audience 5. Name your podcast 6. Pick your show format 7. Determine your average episode length Preparing for podcasting 8. Script your show 9. Get equipped 10. Select your podcast music 11. Design your show’s cover art 12. Invite podcast guests Recording and editing your podcast 13. Find a place to record 14. Use the right microphone techniques 15. Record remote guests or co-hosts 16. Work with editing software Launching your podcast 17. Choose a podcast hosting site 18. Create a website for your podcast 19. Write a description for your podcast 20. Title your episodes 21. Submit your show to podcast directories Marketing and growing your podcast 22. Implement a podcast marketing strategy 23. Keep people listening 24. Monetize your podcast 25. Publish new content regularly Planning your podcast 01. Know what makes a good podcast As you begin preparing for your podcasting journey, beyond knowing the basic elements of what is a podcast it's essential to develop a podcast concept and pick a topic that will set you up for success. To do this, first take a look at what the best podcasters have in common: They are passionate about their subject They stick to a specific topic or theme They keep their listeners in mind and always aim to provide them with value They are consistent in their format and publishing schedule They add a personal touch to differentiate themselves Let’s take a look at a real life example. The Joe Rogan Experience is one of the most popular podcasts that exist today, with an estimated 11 million listeners per episode . But why is his podcast so successful? Listeners are attracted to Rogan’s advice because they believe he is extremely relatable, personable and, without a doubt, entertaining. 02. Set your goals Once you know why you want to start a podcast, the rest will be much easier. Your purpose might be to inform, persuade or entertain. For example, these motivational podcasts have the clear goal of inspiring listeners. When working with a partner or co-host, it’s essential you define your roles and expectations early on. For example, decide that one of you is in charge of editing the audio, and the other is responsible for managing the social media accounts. The earlier you set these goals for everyone involved, the better. 03. Choose your podcast topic Do you find yourself circling back and discussing the same topics at parties, dinners and other social events? Whether it's Bitcoin, Keto dieting or politics, you likely have a few subjects you’re both passionate about and have the expertise or knowledge to discuss them. Try to pinpoint something you can speak about for 50+ episodes, and ideally, you can progress in that topic with subtopics. For example, business podcasts can break up their content into subtopics like entrepreneurship, starting a business and productivity tips. If you wish to choose a podcast topic based on demand, Statista found that comedy (22%) is the leading podcast genre in the U.S. After comedy, the top podcast genres are news (21%), true crime (18%), and sports (17%). Remember, you don't need to have a Ph.D. in this area, nor do you have to be involved with it professionally. It’s more common than you think to start a podcast related to hobbies and interests. Check out these creative podcast topics to help you come up with your idea. 04. Define your target audience They say that if your audience is everyone, then your audience is no one. This is why it's critical to align an end audience with the topic you choose to start a podcast about. By outlining your ideal listener and answering the questions below, you can create relevant content that keeps people engaged in your show: Who is your demographic? Which problems do they face concerning your topic? What do they want to learn? How will your podcast help them? Where are they spending their time online? How can you keep them engaged? We encourage anyone starting a podcast to write these answers down. Castos has created this helpful template that allows you to define your ideal listener . 05. Name your podcast Your podcast name can play a significant factor in its success. With a good and descriptive podcast name, you can more easily get discovered, stand out and most importantly—be remembered. There are several ways to come up with a podcast name . One approach is to plug keywords related to your topic into a podcast name generator tool . Alternatively, you can use these same keywords and experiment with different naming formulas. Make sure you choose a name that is somewhat broader than your topic. This way, you’re not boxed in and can expand beyond your niche if you decide to. Sometimes, the best podcast names are a bit out-of-the-box, so give yourself creative freedom. Wix recently started a leadership podcast called Now What? —whose name stems from the need for entrepreneurs and creative leaders to constantly evolve and look out for what's coming next. Once you've chosen your name, check that it's not already used on podcast directories like Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Next, see if the domain name is still available, this will be important when you create a website for your podcast later on. 06. Pick your show format You can choose from varying podcast formats for your show. The important thing is to keep it consistent, so your listeners know what to expect as they continue to tune in. Here are five of the most popular formats: Interview : The host of an interview podcast will consistently invite relevant guests to their show and facilitate a conversation with them. This is the most popular podcast format and is useful for getting new listeners as guests can bring in new audiences and exposure. Not to mention, it’s also a great way to talk to interesting people you admire. However, take into account that you need to do some outreach and planning to set up your interviews. Solo show: A solo or monologue style podcast is one in which a single host speaks for the duration of the show. The benefit is that you can work independently, while the potential challenge is that you’re the only one talking for the duration of the show. Co-hosted: A conversational podcast in which two or more hosts can bounce ideas off each other. This format is excellent for debating, good banter and improv. Panel: This podcast format is a roundtable discussion in which several speakers offer their input and opinions on a subject. A benefit for the listener is that they can hear many diverse perspectives on a single episode. Scripted story-telling podcasts: These can either be fiction or nonfiction shows that have a single theme and several stories within that topic. Here you will often find documentary-style shows, including docu-dramas. Seasonal podcasting: Structure your podcast into seasons, each focusing on a specific theme or topic. This format lets you create cohesive series while taking breaks between seasons for planning or experimenting with new ideas. Just be sure to let your listeners know when to expect new episodes. Video podcasting: Add a visual element to your podcast to connect with your audience on a deeper level. Video podcasts are great for platforms like YouTube and Spotify. If you choose this format, invest in a good camera and lighting for professional-quality visuals. 07. Determine your average episode length After you’ve decided which podcast format you’re planning to work with, give some thought to your episode length. With a consistent length, you’ll have a more professional show that listeners are familiar with, and they can find the best time to fit your podcast into their schedule. Podcasts can range anywhere from five minutes to six hours. While there is no perfect podcast length, many people aim for 20-40 minute episodes to align with average commute times. In fact, Buzzsprout found that 20-40 minutes is the most common episode length, with 31% falling into this range. The second most popular podcast length is 40-60 minutes which applies to 22% of podcast episodes. Preparing for podcasting 08. Script your show With a solid show outline and general script in hand, you'll be able to record with ease and save time planning each episode. We don't mean writing a full essay and reading it word-for-word— instead, use bullet points and a consistent order for key elements such as introducing the show’s topic, the interviewer (if applicable) and having a summary at the end. Here is an example of a show outline: Intro music: Start your podcast with a theme song to kick off the episode. Episode introduction: Introduce yourself, your podcast name and what your show is about. Then give a brief summary of what listeners will get out of today’s episodes. Remember, the first 5 minutes are crucial for making a good first impression as 20-35% of listeners tend to drop off if they do not see value by then. Guest intro (if applicable): Share your guest’s name and add some context regarding their background and expertise. Make it clear to listeners why this guest is on your show and what they can learn from that individual. Episode main content: Discuss the episode's topics in detail. Whether it's an interview, story, news update or monologue—this is the episode’s meat. Feel free to include an ad slot here at the start, middle or end. Wrap up: Summarize the key takeaways from today and thank any guests you might have had on the show. Also, thank your listeners for tuning in. This can also be a great time for announcing upcoming events, episodes or seasons. Call-to-action: This is your chance to ask listeners to subscribe, review or share your podcast. Don't skip this part, as those actions can significantly improve your number of listeners. Outro music: Play an ending song to symbolize your episode has finished. 09. Get equipped with a microphone When you start a podcast, you don’t need to invest in extensive equipment, but one highly recommended item is a quality microphone. USB microphones are the most popular to use and can come in a wide range of prices. We’ve researched the market and found these are the top-recommended microphones for podcasting: Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB Microphone Samson Q2U Microphone Rode Podcaster USB Dynamic Microphone On top of your mic, you might also want to get soundproof headphones, a mic arm and a shock mount (these prevent unwanted movement of your microphone and let you place the microphone in a perfect position). 10. Select your podcast music It’s common practice to open your episodes with a theme song and end with an outro song. You can find a song that fits your show using royalty-free music on sites like Bensound , Premium Beat , and Audio Jungle. Once you’ve chosen your theme, download it to your computer. In the editing and recording stage, you will upload it into your software. 11. Design your show’s cover art Creating a visually appealing art cover is an essential step in knowing how to start a podcast. Cover art is the small square image seen next to your podcast name on places like Spotify or your website. This visual should communicate the subject of your podcast. Generally, specifications require a cover image to be a JPG or PNG file that is 3000 x 3000 pixels and has a resolution of 72 dpi. If you need help with this, you can use an image resizer tool . Try not to clutter your image since it will be relatively small. Also, consider creating a logo for the cover to make it easily recognizable. To further help with your design, you can use stock images or hire a professional from Fiverr . Check out some of the best podcast logos for inspiration to help you get started. 12. Invite podcast guests Inviting guests to your podcast can make your show more conversational, allowing an outside voice to be heard. Guests can offer unique perspectives and showcase knowledge that can be highly valuable to your podcast's subject. People to include as guests can be friends, family, co-workers or leaders in your industry. To invite guests to your show, you can reach out to them directly. Social media sites, including LinkedIn, can be a great place to find or message high-profile guests. Otherwise, check on a candidate’s resume website for a phone number or email to contact them. Recording and editing your podcast 13. Find a place to record Not all podcasting spaces are created equally. The best setting to record a podcast is a quiet place, ideally with materials that can absorb sound. Examples of such items you want nearby are: bookcases, clothes, couches and carpets. If you happen to have a walk-in closet, that could be an ideal location to record. Once you’re ready, you can work up to a recording studio with soundproofing materials like foam panels for the best quality sound. 14. Use the right microphone techniques To save time when editing your content, ensure that you record yourself in the best way possible by implementing good microphone techniques from the start. Follow these best practices when using a microphone for your podcast: Position your microphone five to six inches (or five fingers) away from your mouth. Tilt your mic at 45 degrees for your voice to get captured in the highest quality. Move away from the microphone when you’re not speaking to avoid unnecessary recording noises. 15. Record remote guests or co-hosts To record remote guests, you can use software such as Skype , Zoom , SquadCast , Alitu and Zencastr . Additionally, Anchor is a great free tool that can connect you with up to ten people so that you can record together from anywhere. With this tool, people can record themselves directly from their phones, so you won’t need to ask your guests to invest in a microphone. There is even a capability called “Anchor Co-hosts” that pairs you up with a stranger interested in discussing similar topics. Nonetheless, once you save the file from your interview, you can edit it all in one place. 16. Work with editing software Podcast recording and editing software allow you to clean up your audio from noises, cut segments, layer on music and move around different sections. Some of the best known editing software are: Alitu , Anchor , Audacity and Adobe Audition. However, there are many more to choose from. Editing tips: Create a template in which your intros, outros and ad slots are locked in, so you just need to add in your voice for that day’s episode. First edit for content, then distractions. Focusing on one at a time will make the process quicker. In your settings, add compressions to make your voice sound more soothing and let technology automate noise removal. Use sound fades between tracks for smooth-sounding transitions. When exporting, consider adding ID3 tags so that your media player has the correct information about your episode. If only your voice is recorded, set the bitrate to 96 kbps, and if you also have music, set it to 192 kbps. This will polish the sound of your voice and make it more soothing. Normalize your audio levels. This ensures consistent volume throughout your episode, so listeners don’t have to adjust their volume as they listen. Experiment with EQ (equalization) to balance frequencies—boost midtones for clearer voices and reduce low-end sounds to cut out background hums. Test your mix on different devices. Listen to your podcast on earphones, speakers and phones to ensure it sounds great everywhere. Use noise gates to automatically remove subtle background sounds like keyboard typing or a humming fan. Most software has this feature built in, and it can save time during editing. Apply crossfades when switching between clips to create smoother transitions and avoid abrupt audio jumps. Regularly save your work and create backups. Nothing kills creativity faster than losing hours of progress due to a crash. Launching your podcast 17. Choose a podcast hosting site Not everyone is aware of this, but podcast directories such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify don’t allow you to upload episodes to their platform directly. Instead, you must choose a podcast hosting site that stores and broadcasts your audio files. This site then generates an RSS feed for you that gets shared with directories. When you start a podcast, review the best podcast hosting sites to pick the platform you need. We gathered 15 platforms based on features, price, storage, podcast analytics and distribution integrations. Here are the top five: Podbean (has a free plan) Buzzsprout (free for 90 days) Libsyn Spreaker (has a free plan) Simplecast 18. Create a website for your podcast On top of showcasing your podcast episodes, creating a website allows you to share background information about yourself and the other hosts. A site also provides a seamless way to gain new business opportunities, since potential collaborators can easily get in touch. No matter which podcasting host you have, the Wix Podcast Player uploads your content onto your website by pulling its RSS feed URL. To help you launch, we’ve created free podcast website templates that already have the podcast player built-in and are designed with listening in mind. Skin the Surface is one of many podcast website examples built on Wix. The creator also used the Wix Logo Maker for the podcast icon. In addition, by adding a free blog and placing your podcast side-by-side, you can gain SEO traffic and monetize your show, which we’ll discuss later. You can also learn more about SEO for podcasts in our guide. You can also add a contact form to collect subscribers’ email addresses for future email marketing campaigns and inform them to tune in for new episodes, events and share other exciting news. 19. Write a description for your podcast Just like we read the back of a book cover before deciding to purchase it, listeners most often judge a podcast by its description. Therefore, make sure your summary is very enticing and descriptive. To do this, cover the following points: Who you are Who this podcast is for What the listener will get out of the podcast For instance, Karin Ronin’s podcast description successfully articulates that her podcast is for leaders who want to build their visibility and influence. Karin also introduces her name and lets people know that they can expect her to share strategies, insights, and Q&A episodes around leadership development each week. 20. Title your episodes Podcast directories work similarly to search engines as they display relevant shows based on keywords entered. Therefore, your episode titles should be descriptive and searchable. Do keyword research to understand which categories you want your podcast to fall under and which phrases match the searcher's intent. Moreover, aim to write titles that highlight the episode’s value and what the listeners will get from it, such as “X Tips For...” or “How to…” Take a look at how Pete Mockaitis uses an episode title format that both identifies a focus question and addresses the value of listening. Here are simple examples: “How to Make Your Point and Communicate like a Leader” and “How to Grow Your Career Faster through Reading.” 21. Submit your show to podcast directories Once you have three to five episodes recorded, edited and uploaded to your podcast hosting site, it’s time to publish and share it with the world. You will be able to submit your show with your RSS feed URL, which is found in the dashboard of your podcast hosting site. There's a high chance your podcast hosting service has a direct link to submit your podcast using their tool, so try that option before going the manual route outlined below. The most common podcast directories to start submitting to are Spotify and Apple Podcasts. However, there are over 40 podcast directories you should consider expanding to in order to maximize reach. How to submit your podcast to Spotify: Log in to Spotify for Podcasters with your Spotify account, or choose SIGN UP to create one. Click get started Paste in the link to your podcast's RSS feed. Spotify will send a verification email. Copy the code from that email and paste in the submit form. Add your podcast info like the category, language, and country and hit submit. How to submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts: In Apple Podcasts Connect , click the Add button and select New Show. Choose “Add a show with an RSS feed, enter the RSS feed URL and click Save. Review your show details on the Show Information page to ensure everything looks correct. Provide contact information for the show. Set the Content Rights and confirm that your show has rights to any third-party content it may contain and submit your show for review. Marketing and growing your podcast 22. Implement a podcast marketing strategy The average podcast gets around 27 listens per episode. In contrast, the top 1% of podcasts get around 3,200 listens per episode . Where on this spectrum do you hope to fall? If you’re looking to grow your audience to a massive scale, it’s crucial to increase the ways in which people can find your podcast. The most common ways podcasts are discovered are via charts and recommendations on listening apps and word of mouth. However, there are many other marketing strategies to include in your podcast growth strategy: Share on social media: Share your episodes across different social media channels used by your target audience. Create teaser videos, transcriptions or other strong social media graphics to give sneak peeks of your show that can generate interest. Additionally, join relevant forums and groups around your topic to become part of the podcasting community. Tip: You can use a link in bio tool like Hopp by Wix in order to direct users from your social media channels to your podcast, website and other online assets from one designated URL. Run email marketing campaigns: Build email lists and send email marketing campaigns informing users to listen to your newest episodes. You can even run promotions and ask for users to submit questions or become guests on your show. Also, this type of communication ensures you’re not forgotten and reminds your audience to check in on your show. Maximize reviews and testimonials: Let your fans talk you up. Then share their amazing reviews with others. Once people hear great feedback, they’ll be more curious to give your show a try. Remember to ask for this feedback during your episodes. Bring on guests and be a guest : Expose yourself and your show to new audiences by going onto other podcasts or bringing important people to act as guests on yours. This creates opportunities for cross-promotion, as you and your guests can share the episodes with your respective audiences, amplifying your reach. Collaborating with other podcasters through guest appearances or joint episodes is a powerful way to tap into their listener base while providing value to your own audience. Write blog posts: Summarize what your episode is about and use blogging SEO optimizations so that you’ll be found high up on search engines. Dabble with paid ads: Choose from different types of advertising campaigns that target your audience. This can be sponsored social media posts or even paid search ads. Network with other podcasters: It’s not always what you know, but who you know that matters. Go to events, build connections and befriend other podcasters who you can learn from. You can always ask them for advice on how to start a podcast. Contact brands and people you mention: If you give a shoutout to a person or a product, it’s also in their best interest for as many people as possible to hear it. Send the episode their way with a friendly note, and hopefully, they'll be glad to share it. Podcast analytics and tracking Tracking your podcast analytics is an important of understanding how well your distribution and marketing strategies are working. Analytics not only measure success but also provide actionable insights to refine your content, improve audience retention and attract sponsors. By understanding your data, you can make informed decisions to grow your podcast and better connect with your audience. To measure the success of these efforts you'll need to identify and track the following podcast metrics - Downloads : The number of times your podcast episodes have been downloaded or streamed. It's a primary indicator of overall reach and popularity. This metric is often used as a benchmark for sponsorships, as advertisers typically look at download numbers to gauge your podcast's reach. Unique listeners : The number of individual listeners who have accessed your podcast. It provides a more accurate representation of your actual audience size, as it eliminates duplicate downloads from the same listener. This metric helps you understand your true audience base and can guide your content strategy. Listener demographics: Understanding the demographics of your podcast audience is crucial for tailoring content and attracting sponsors. Demographic metrics include age, gender, location, and interests. This information can be gathered through listener surveys or through podcast hosting platforms and advertising networks. For example, if your audience skews younger, you might focus on topics or guests that resonate with that demographic. Listener engagement : Engagement metrics help gauge how actively your audience interacts with your podcast. These can include metrics like average listen-through rate (the percentage of an episode listened to), average duration of listening, or the number of episodes subscribed to. For instance, if your listen-through rate drops off at a specific point in episodes, consider reworking your format or tightening your content. Reviews and ratings: Monitoring reviews and ratings on podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts can provide insights into audience sentiment and satisfaction. Positive reviews and high ratings can indicate a strong connection with your audience. Encourage listeners to leave reviews, as they not only provide feedback but also improve your podcast's visibility on platforms. Referral sources: Tracking referral sources helps identify how listeners are discovering your podcast. This information helps optimize your promotional efforts and focus on distribution and marketing channels that yield the best results. Common referral sources include social media platforms, email newsletters and search engines. Use tools like Google Analytics or UTM codes to track where your traffic is coming from. Subscriber growth: Monitoring the growth of your subscriber base over time provides an indication of your podcast's popularity and retention rate. Consistent growth signifies that your content resonates with your audience, while declines may indicate the need to reassess your content. Episode popularity: Analyzing episode-specific data helps identify which episodes resonate most with your audience. Look at download numbers, listener engagement or social media shares to determine which topics or guests are particularly popular. Use this data to replicate successful formats or themes in future episodes. Geo reach: Understanding the geographic distribution of your listeners can inform content localization efforts or potential regional advertising opportunities. Analytics platforms may provide data on the countries or regions where your podcast has the most listeners. For example, if you notice a strong audience in a specific region, consider creating localized content or targeting ads to that area. Conversion and monetization: If you have specific conversion goals, such as driving website visits or promoting products, track metrics related to those goals. For monetization, you can measure metrics like ad impressions, click-through rates or revenue generated through sponsorships or advertisements. If you’re running ads, track their performance to ensure they’re delivering value for both you and your sponsors. To accurately track podcast metrics, consider using podcast hosting platforms lsuch Libsyn, Podbean or Blubrry. Additionally, some analytics tools, such as Chartable or Podtrac, provide more detailed insights into your podcast's performance and audience engagement. Spotify for Podcasters and Apple Podcasts Connect are also excellent tools for platform-specific analytics, while Google Analytics can help track website traffic driven by your podcast. For a more comprehensive view, consider creating a dashboard using tools like Google Sheets or Airtable to visualize trends and progress over time. 23. Keep people listening First and foremost, a proven way to keep people coming back is by asking them to subscribe to your podcast. This way, they’ll be alerted when you release new content. Secondly, focus on continually adding value and engaging with listeners. You will organically lead people to enjoy your show so much that they’ll want to hear more from you. Lastly, to build audience engagement and to create a sense of community, you can do things like take voice messages from listeners, record a segment with a lucky subscriber or simply host Q&As and take questions from your listeners. Imagine sending a question to your favorite podcast host. Wouldn't you want to listen to the next episode to find out if they answered it and what they said? 24. Monetize your podcast After your podcast is up and running, you can start thinking about how to monetize your podcast . Now you can begin to monetize it. Most people make money podcasting by running ads, charging paid subscriptions or asking for donations through platforms like Patreon or PayPal . If you want to run ads during your show, you can apply to partner with platforms such as Midroll, Ad Results Media and True Native Media . And be assured, research shows 78% of listeners do not mind podcast advertising as a means of supporting free content. Luckily, podcast ads are also very effective. Compared to traditional advertising, 10% more listeners are likely to buy after exposure to podcast ads . 25. Publish new content regularly The secret to podcast success is consistency. Make a schedule for your show and aim to release at least a few new episodes a month. If it’s easier for you to bulk record, you can record a full season at one time, buying yourself time until you record and publish the next one. As long as your listeners know when to expect more content, they'll likely come back for more. How much does it cost to start a podcast? When it comes to starting a podcast, your first initial outlay will be equipment. You should expect to pay several hundred dollars in order to set yourself up with a microphone, headphones and your recording software. This is assuming you already have the computer to start recording on. Looking for courses on how to start and make impact with a podcast? So these will probably run to another couple hundred dollars on top. Starting a podcast on an actual platform is generally free - with the Wix podcast player, you'll first need to create a website. On Spotify you can create a podcast for free, while to start one on Apple will cost from US$19.99 a year. What is the bare minimum to start a podcast? To start a podcast, you need a few essential pieces of equipment and software: Microphone: A good quality microphone is essential for capturing clear audio. You can use a USB microphone or a dedicated XLR microphone with an audio interface. Recording software: Recording software allows you to record and edit your podcast episodes. Editing software: Editing software allows you to refine your audio, remove unwanted noise and add music or sound effects. Hosting platform: A podcast hosting platform stores your podcast episodes and distributes them to podcast directories like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Learn more: Blogging vs podcasting How to start a podcast FAQ What are the most effective ways to monetize a podcast? The most effective ways to monetize a podcast will depend very much on your specific niche and audience. However some of the most common ways to make money from a podcast include - sponsorships and ads, affiliate marketing, donations, premium content and sponsorship. Can I start a podcast for free? Several platforms allow you to start a podcast for free, including Spotify. However not all features and support may be available with a free subscription. How do I start a podcast as a beginner? When it comes to starting a podcast as a beginner don't be afraid to reach out for advice and help from more seasoned podcast owners and hosts. Beyond that focus on the steps to starting a podcast which are relevant regardless of whether you're a beginner or not. Focus on your niche, define your audience, choose your equipment, write a first script, and choose a podcast hosting site. What are some tips for being a good podcast host? Being a good podcast host can make or break your show. The best podcast hosts make sure they do their prep and research on a topic before sharing about it. Effective hosts are active listeners who create a comfortable environment for their guests and audience. Time management is also crucial to managing a podcast. At the same time don't be afraid to let your personality show - this is how you build a connection with guests and audience engagement.

Starting a DJ business  is an exciting adventure, but before hitting the decks, you’ll need one key thing: the perfect name. Your DJ name isn’t just a cool nickname—it’s how you make your first impression and set the tone for your brand. Fun and edgy? Sleek and sophisticated? The right name can help you stand out in a crowded music scene. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to name your business  with tips on what makes a name unforgettable. Plus, we’ve gathered creative DJ name ideas for every vibe, from timeless to trendy. Whether you’re starting a business  or rebranding, you’ll find all the inspiration you need to nail the perfect name for your music career. Naming your DJ business just got a whole lot easier. The Wix Business Name Generator gives you custom, on-brand ideas fast—along with the tools to bring your idea to   life. DJ business name ideas Unique DJ names Catchy DJ names Funny DJ names Professional DJ names Inspirational DJ names Location-based DJ names Timeless DJ names Clever DJ names Modern DJ names Classic DJ names Minimalist DJ names Learn more: How to start a service business   Unique DJ business names Sonic Alchemy DJ RemixRealm Beats SoundSculpt Studios EchoGroove Sound SonicMosaic Mixes Rhythmic Fusion Lab PulseCraft DJs Melodic Odyssey AudioCanvas Creations GrooveHarbor DJs Harmonic Eclipse BeatLoom Innovations AudioVortex Masters SoundScenic DJs SonicSculpture Studio Catchy DJ business names BeatBoutique Entertainment GrooveCrafters Collective FunkyFusion Mixmasters RhythmRiders DJs TempoThrob Productions GrooveWave Syndicate BeatBox Bliss DJs EchoGroove Groovemasters SpinSensation Crew SonicSerendipity DJ FunkyFrequency Ensemble RhythmRapture DJs VibeVelocity Productions PulsePioneers DJ MeloGroove Maestros Funny DJ business names DJ ChuckleBeats LaughTrack Mixmasters GrooveGiggle Jams BeatBanter Brigade Rhythmic Laughter DJs FunkyFunny Spinners ChuckleChords Crew ComicGroove DJs QuirkyQuake Mixes SmileSync Spinners HahaHarmony DJs JollyJam Sessions GrooveGigglers DJ ChuckleChorus Crew ComedyCrank DJs Professional DJ business names EliteSound Crafters PrecisionPulse DJs ProGroove Productions SoundSculpture Pros MasterCraft Mixes PremierPulse Beats SonicArtistry DJ VirtuosoVibe DJs Audiophile Innovators RhythmicExcellence Crew BeatPrecision Masters SoundSymphony Pros MaestroMelody DJs ProBeatbox Studio VirtuSound Productions Inspirational DJ business names ElevateBeat DJs SonicInspire Sounds RhythmRise Productions UpliftGroove Masters PulseAscend DJs MotiveMelody Mixes SonicEmpower Crew BeatZenith Studios ElevationEcho DJs HarmonicHeights DJs SonicMomentum Masters InspireHarmony DJs RiseRadiance Productions AscendAura DJs MotivateGroove Studio Location-based DJ business names CityGroove Spinners CoastalChords DJs UrbanVibe Beats MountainSound Mixmasters LakesideMelody DJs MetroHarmonic Crew DesertGroove DJs RiversideRhythms Studio HighlandHarmony Beats BayArea Echo DJs CanyonCrest Mixes DowntownPulse Pros PrairieRhythm DJs SeaBreeze Sync Crew HilltopHarmonics Studio Timeless DJ business names ClassicGroove Productions Time-Honored Harmonics VintageVibe DJs EnduringEcho Beats LegacyMelody Mixmasters EvergreenRhythms DJ TimelessTunes Studio AntiqueAura DJs VintageVibe Harmony Time-Tested Tracks LegacyRhythm Spinners AgelessAuditory DJs EternalEchowaves ClassicChords Crew VintageVista Beats Clever DJ business names SpinGenius Beats GrooveMavericks DJ BeatCrafty Crew RhythmWhiz DJs SonicSavvy Mixmasters MindfulMelodies DJ BeatBrains Studio CleverChords DJs AudioIntellect Crew GrooveGeek Spinners BeatBoxBrain DJs SyncSmart Sounds SpinSavants Studio SonicStrategists DJ GrooveGurus Crew Modern DJ business names ElectroGroove Beats DigitalEcho DJs BeatWave Innovators NeonPulse Mixmasters TechVibe DJs SonicFusion Studio EDMMomentum DJ FuturaSound Beats ElectroPulse Crew GrooveFusion X SynthSpin Innovators BasslineBlitz DJs GrooveSync Elite TechnoHarmonix DJs RaveRhythm Studio Classic DJ business names Time-Honored Tracks ClassicRhythms DJ VintageVinyl Beats LegacyGroove Crew EnduringEcho Mixmasters GoldenEra DJs TimelessTunes Studio AntiqueAura Beats VintageVibe Spinners Time-Tested Tracks LegacyRhythm DJs AgelessAuditory Mixes EternalEcho Harmony ClassicChords DJ VintageVista Crew Minimalist DJ business names PureBeat DJs MinimalMelody Mix CleanGroove Studio BasicRhythm DJs SimpleSonic Crew BareEcho Beats ZenithPulse DJ ModestMix Masters PureHarmony Studio CleanBeat Spinners ZenSound Innovators MinimalMotion DJs SleekGroove Mixmasters PureWave Beats BasicVibe Studio DJ business real name examples Consider these service business examples  for service business ideas  and name inspiration. Oyee When working in a creative industry, unique business names often work best. They don’t always have to make sense, as long as they still convey the energy and vibrancy of your DJ business. DJ Criddy When it comes to DJ names, those with a personal yet creative slant seem to work best. What better way to capture your unique style and music, than with an equally unique name? How to choose the best DJ business name In your quest for a memorable DJ business name, follow these five steps to ensure you discover one that encapsulates your brand's identity, captures attention and leaves a lasting impression on your clients: Understand your DJ identity Compile DJ-related keywords Use a business name generator Check name and domain availability Test your DJ business name for memorability 01. Understand your DJ identity Begin by understanding your DJ identity and style. What type of music do you specialize in? Are you known for a specific genre or vibe? All of this should be answered on your DJ business plan , as it will help you (and your future customers) understand your musical persona is essential for brainstorming words and ideas for your business name. 02. Compile DJ-related keywords Create a list of keywords related to DJing, music, beats and genres that resonate with your style. For example, "groove," "mix," "vibe," "rhythm," "electro," or "dance." Consider combining these with your name or location for something creative and unique that truly represents your style. 03. Use AI DJ name generator Choosing the perfect DJ name can be tough but AI tools make it easier and more fun. By using an AI-powered DJ name generator , you can instantly explore creative ideas tailored to your style, genre and audience. These tools help you discover fresh unique names by factoring in keywords, themes and industry trends. It’s a quick way to find a name that stands out and matches your vibe, saving you hours of brainstorming. Also be inspired by: Band name ideas Small business name ideas 04. Check name and domain name availability Once you’ve chosen a name, or have a selection to choose from, it's best to check that the domain name for your DJ business name is available as your business and domain names should ideally be the same. It's also wise to check if the name is available on social media platforms and make sure it's trademarked to another business. Check the USPTO to be sure. Learn more: How to make a website How to start a music portfolio 05. Test your DJ business name for memorability Test your shortlisted names for memorability and uniqueness. Ask friends, fellow DJs or potential clients for their opinions and reactions. A memorable and unique name will help you stand out in the competitive DJ industry, so also make sure it’s one you love too. Looking for a business name for another business idea? Trucking business names Consulting business names Real estate business names Food truck business names Marketing business names Construction business name ideas Photography business names Craft business name ideas Try a business name generator for your next project DJ names FAQ How to come up with a DJ name? Start by brainstorming words that capture your music style, personality or cultural influences. Think about emotions, imagery and themes you want your name to reflect. Play around with real names, nicknames and music-related terms, combining them until something feels right. Say it out loud—make sure it’s short, memorable and easy to pronounce. Stand out by checking social media, streaming platforms and trademarks to ensure your name is truly unique. Do I really need to use my real name in my DJ business name? No, it's not necessary to include your real name in your DJ business name. Many successful DJs choose unique or stage names that reflect their style and brand. Your DJ name should resonate with your music persona. Should my DJ name reflect the genre of music I play? While it can be beneficial to have a DJ name that hints at the music genre you specialize in, it's not a strict requirement. Your name should evoke the feeling and style you want to convey to your audience. Can I change my DJ name later if I'm not satisfied with it? Yes, you can change your DJ name but it may involve rebranding efforts and notifying your audience. To avoid complications and maintain consistency, invest time upfront in selecting the right name for your DJ career.

Just created a website ? Now all you need to do is bring people to it. For your website to appear as one of the top results on search engines like Google and Bing, you need to understand a little bit about the world of Search Engine Optimization or SEO . With so many sites on the web today, and 576,000 new ones created daily, there is no guarantee that your site will rank first on Google. There are, however, plenty of things you can do to increase your site’s chances of showing up on Google and then ranking well. Leveraging SEO and integrating it into the website creation process is vital. Various studies have shown that organic search is the single greatest provider of traffic to websites. Mordy Oberstein, Head of SEO Branding at Wix.com 10 tips to improve your SEO and get you ranking: Choose the right URL Create titles and descriptions for each page Utilize anchor text Add alt text to all your images Give your site structure with the right headers Create quality content Do keyword research Prioritize proactive indexing Build impactful external links Track, report and improve 01. Choose the right URLs Before your website goes live, you need to give it a name. Also known as your domain name , this is the address that visitors will type in to find your site. Like the giant sign above a storefront window, it’s one of the first things visitors see when they come to your site. That’s why it’s also the first place Google looks to understand what your site is about and to decide how to rank it. The ideal domain will include your business name and perhaps a relevant keyword or two that are relevant to your business. For example, if you are a contractor, you might want to choose a domain name like www.yournameconstruction.com . The same is true when choosing the right URLs for all of your sites pages. Whether its a product page, or a blog page — make sure the URL you use reflects the content on the page, and the keyword or keywords you want this page to show up in search results for. If you're a contractor, offering house painting services — make sure you include this in the slug of the URL for that page. Something like, www.yournameconstruction.com/house-painting-services. Pro Website SEO tip : Make sure all your pages’ URLs are clean and clear. This means no special characters, no hashtags, no page ID. You get the point. Once you're started with your SEO you might want to think about your domain authority too. 02. Create unique titles and descriptions for each page Did you know that you can write a unique title and description for each page of your website? These are brief texts that accurately and clearly describe what your business does. Ideally, they can come with a few keywords and phrases mixed in. Ever hovered over a tab on your browser? That short phrase that pops up under your mouse is the title tag of the page. While the description is not visible on your page, it’s very important for search engines in terms of understand what your site and webpages are about. Pro website SEO tip: Once a site does show up in a search results page, web surfers will read your title and description to learn what your site is about and decide whether or not to check it out. If you're not sure where to start, Wix's AI meta tag creator can help you get started by suggesting fully optimized title tags and meta descriptions for your pages. 03. Utilize anchor text As you write the text for your website, consider where you can use anchor text within your site. Anchor text is the clickable text on a hyperlink that visitors can use to be taken directly to another web page, either within your site or anywhere on the internet. Effective anchor text should be used to help users navigate your website and find what they are looking for. It should also include keywords and phrases related to what you do. If you own a t-shirt printing business, for example, the words, "Check out our selection of print on demand products ," on your homepage can link via anchor text to your online store, built with an online store builder , that's stocked full of – you guessed it – t-shirts. Pro Website SEO tip: Anchor text is a great way to boost your SEO, but keep in mind that excessive linking or anchors that don’t really help your readers can raise some red flags with Google. 04. Add alt text to all your images To understand what’s displayed in a photo or graphic, search engines look for “alt text,” a concise written description (no longer than just a few words) about each image on a website. When writing alt text, be sure to accurately describe what is shown in the image, but also try to include the name of your business or a few keywords related to what you do. Pro Website SEO tip: You don’t need to write alt text for images that are purely functional or design related, such as a background image that is just shapes. If the image doesn’t have anything to do with the topic of your site, you can skip the alt text. 05. Give your site structure with the right headers Every page on your website should have a title, a subtitle and so on. When search engines scan your website, they’ll understand your content better if you are using the correct text hierarchy. The most relevant part is the title of your page, and you should define it as H1 (in the Text’s Editor). The H1 should be descriptive of the page’s content and you shouldn’t have more than one H1 per page. Choose your title carefully and don’t forget to include your main keywords. Following your H1 in the hierarchy of headers is H2, H3, etc. While H1 corresponds to your title, H2 and H3 correspond to your headings and subheadings, respectively. Pro Website SEO tip : The clearer your text structure is, the easier search engines will digest your site’s content. 06. Create quality content Creating great content is one way to improve your SEO and get more pages of your site ranking, for more search terms. For many businesses this might involve creating a blog as part of their SEO strategy, and wider marketing strategies , but it could also just mean making sure your homepage , product pages and other site pages adhere to Google's E-A-T. Following their Medic update in 2018, Google incorporated the concept of E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness) into their Search Quality Rater guidelines. Exactly how Google measures web pages for E-A-T is unknown and unlikely to ever be. But when creating content you want to rank make sure you know what you are talking about, can back it up and users can rely on it to make decisions. Pro Website SEO tip: Get experts to write your content, where you can - if you're writing about business topics, make sure to get someone who knows the business world to at least contribute to your article. 07. Do keyword research Your website can't rank if you aren't targeting keywords. Every SEO optimization you make on a page - whether it's the url slug you choose, or the H1 you decide on or your meta title - will need to have a target keyword or keywords to focus on. Want a page to rank? It needs a target keyword, or several. This is where keyword research tools come in really handy. From basic, free tools that show you keyword trends over time to paid, comprehensive tools that allow you to choose keywords to target based on intent, competitiveness and potential traffic - there's no excuse not to get your keyword research right. Choosing the right keyword is important, not only in terms of your brand perception and visibility but also in order to rank. When choosing a keyword to target one of the first things you'll want to understand is the intent behind the term. When users search with this keyword, what does Google think they are looking for? Someone looking for ' seo tips ', for example is looking for informational content - a blog post perhaps. So the best thing to do, when targeting that keyword is to write a blog article. On the other hand someone searching for ' seo agency ,' is, search engines assume, looking for a services or product page from an SEO agency. The intent is commercial. Don't create a blog article here - it won't rank. Keyword research can also help you understand the competitiveness of a keyword. Even if your initial research shows it has blog intent - take a closer look at the blogs ranking for it. if they're well established blogs, with a history of ranking, lots of pages of content and a big company name behind them - you can assume this is a potentially competitive SERP to rank in. Nothing is impossible in the world of SEO, and there are plenty of David and Goliath stories, but don't go chasing after SERPs where you content just might never rank based on competitiveness. Pro Website SEO tip : Choose the right keyword research tool and it will not only help with keyword research, it will also empower your competitor analysis. We love Semrush and Ahrefs if you're looking for tools to get started with. They can also be used for local SEO research too. 08. Prioritize proactive indexing Once your site can be indexed (once you've connected it to Google Search Console and submitted your sitemap to the search engine), the next step is to go about making sure priority pages on your site are indexed. The internet is awash with more websites and pages than potentially anyone could possibly count - if you want your priority pages indexed, there are things you need to do to make it clear to search engines just exactly what those important pages are. There are a number of ways to do this. For Crystal Carter, Head of SEO Communications at Wix , this means first of all excluding pages in robots.txt that you don't need Google to crawl because you don't want them to rank. This can be low value pages, landing and campaign pages, duplicate tag and category pages, or customer order pages. This takes them out of the equation and clearly signals to Google which pages they should crawl. Another part of this is utilizing your social profile links - whether it's through the automatic sharing of your website content on your social platforms, claiming local citations and registering in online directories . Getting your internal linking strategy right is another part of helping your entire site rank better. Internal linking helps search engines navigate your site - it directs them to your most important pages, and not only understands its hierarchy but also how users might move around your website. The clearer this is, the better Google, for example, understands not only your site but your strategy and the better it knows how to place and rank your content - at least that's the theory. One way of doing this, with blog content for example, is creating pillar pages which sit at the head of a topic you want to rank for - and then link out internally to other pages in your site which target different parts of the same subject. For example, a pillar page on marketing strategies will then link out to articles on many different marketing strategies. Pro Website SEO tip : Make sure you surface the right content on your site, so that both search engines and users know what it is. This can be tricky depending on the size of your site but get it right and it can be incredibly impactful for your organic growth. 09. Build impactful external links External links, matter. High quality backlinks from strong domains are a powerful signal to Google that your content is worth ranking. Think of it as a vote of confidence in your webpage, which Google sees and hopefully rewards you for. Good backlinks are not easy to come by, and will involve a great deal of outreach on your part in order to get your content shared and distributed by quality sources. You'll need to gain the trust of publications, or reputable PR sources. Pro Website SEO tip: Original content is more likely to be shareable, and more likely to be picked up and gain reputable backlinks. 10. Track, report and improve Perhaps the best SEO tip we can give is that SEO is not a sprint but a marathon. Successes are often the result of months of hard work, constant content updates and optimizations while improving internal linking and technical SEO fixes. To make sure this hard work is paying off and to show how you're reaching your KPIs, you'll need to make tracking rankings and your organic traffic an integral part of your SEO reporting workflow . To do this make key web analytics tools - Google Search Console, Google Analytics (soon to be GA4), Wix Analytics and other various keyword tracking tools your best friends. These tools will help you understand if you're ranking for your target keywords (or new ones too), and how much traffic you're gaining as a result of your rankings. You'll also be able to note and act on drops in traffic rankings, loss of SERP features and any consequent organic traffic decreases. Drops and decreases may mean you need to optimize a page better, or update its content, or address if the SERP intent for that particular target keyword has changed. Pro Website SEO tip: Be prepared to act quickly to ranking and traffic drops, be alert to Google Algorithm updates and plan accordingly. Bonus Website SEO tip: Take your strategy to the next level with Wix SEO If you’re really serious about your SEO, which you probably are since you got to the end of this article, we have just the thing for you — Wix SEO . SEO tips FAQ What is the golden rule of SEO? The golden rule of SEO is to create high-quality content that is relevant to your target audience. This means writing informative, engaging and keyword-rich content that provides value to your readers. When you create content that people want to read and share, search engines will naturally take notice and rank your website higher in search results. How can you be successful in SEO? Achieving success in SEO requires a combination of strategic planning, ongoing effort and continuous learning. Here are some key steps to increase your chances of SEO success: Define your SEO goals:  Clearly identify what you want to achieve with your SEO efforts. Are you aiming to increase website traffic, improve brand awareness or generate leads? Conduct keyword research:  Identify relevant keywords that your target audience is searching for. Use keyword research tools to find keywords with high search volume and low competition. Optimize your website for search engines:  Make sure your website is technically sound, mobile-friendly and has fast loading speeds. Implement on-page SEO techniques, such as optimizing page titles, meta descriptions, header tags and image alt text. Create high-quality content:  Produce valuable and engaging content that resonates with your target audience. Regularly publish fresh content to keep your website relevant and attract new visitors. Build backlinks:  Earn backlinks from high-quality websites to increase your website's authority and credibility. Backlinks can be acquired through guest blogging, outreach campaigns and content promotion. Promote your content:  Share your content on social media, relevant online communities and industry publications to drive traffic to your website. Monitor your results:  Track your website's SEO performance using analytics tools. Analyze data such as keyword rankings, organic traffic and conversions to identify areas for improvement. Stay up-to-date with SEO trends:  SEO is constantly evolving, so it's crucial to stay informed about the latest trends and algorithm updates. Read industry blogs, attend conferences and participate in online communities to stay ahead of the curve. What are the building blocks of SEO? The building blocks of SEO are the fundamental elements that form the foundation of a successful SEO strategy. They include: Technical SEO:  The technical aspects of your website that ensure it is search engine friendly, including website structure, mobile optimization and page loading speed. On-page SEO:  The optimization of your website's content and structure to make it search engine friendly, including keyword targeting, meta descriptions, title tags and image optimization. Off-page SEO:  The link building and reputation management efforts that improve your website's authority and credibility, including backlinks, social media engagement and industry mentions. Content marketing:  The creation and promotion of high-quality content that attracts visitors to your website and establishes you as an expert in your field. Analytics and monitoring:  The ongoing tracking and analysis of your website's SEO performance to identify areas for improvement and measure the effectiveness of your efforts.

In general, we turn to Google to find the answers to pretty much all of our questions. So it’s no wonder that business and website owners everywhere do what they can to make their information findable on Google. Which is exactly what SEO is—the practice of optimizing your content to appear higher within search results. The first step in accomplishing great SEO is creating a website on a platform that facilitates easy customization and content updates, and provides the tools you need to optimize your site elements. We suggest using a website builder like Wix, which enables simple site updating and has built-in SEO tools. Once you have the foundations of your site ready, you’ll need to pay attention to many small details such as metadata and linking, which can help improve your rankings. This article will cover what it takes to implement those details and make sure that they are meeting SEO standards and eventually SEO ROI . Once we've taken you through some of the basics of what defines SEO, we recommend you check out our Wix SEO hub - for all things SEO related, from beginner to advanced. What is SEO? SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of optimizing websites so that they rank well on search engines through organic (non paid) searches. This is one of the most crucial marketing strategies for any business. Because Google aims to provide a positive user experience for its searchers, it wants to present the best possible information available. Therefore the focus of SEO efforts should be the process of making sure search engines recognize your content as the leading information on the web for a particular search query. Read also: ASO vs. SEO How does SEO work? Search engines use robots that crawl webpages across the internet in order to determine what content they contain and, in turn, what the pages are about. These bots scan the code, picking up the written text, images, videos and more that appear on webpages to gather all information possible. Once they’ve gathered enough intel about the type of information available on each page and determined that this content will be useful to their searchers, they add these pages to their index. The index is essentially all possible web results that a search engine stores to provide to a potential searcher. Search engines assess what the best result is based on what searchers are looking for, as well as what other information already exists online. When someone searches, their algorithm matches the user’s search query to the relevant information in their index, providing searchers with an accurate answer to their query. The platforms then use hundreds of signals to determine the order in which the content will appear for each searcher. These signals are what SEO experts try to master. It’s important to note that Google does not release specifics about their algorithm or process, so it’s impossible to know exactly what factors impact indexing and rankings. SEO, therefore, isn’t a perfect science and even when it seems that all optimizations have been implemented, it often requires patience and continual tweaking to see results. On-page vs. off-page SEO Since there’s no way to know exactly what influences search engine rankings the most, experts recommend that your SEO strategy contain a variety of tactics. Those tactics can largely be broken down into two categories: on-page and off-page SEO. On-page SEO refers to the strategies that you implement on your webpages themselves, including everything from the design and written content, to your metadata, alt text, sitemap , canonical tags and more. Off-page SEO refers to the steps you take outside of your pages. This includes elements like external links, social posts and other website promotion methods. Both on-page and off-page SEO are essential in driving traffic to your site and in ultimately signaling to Google that your site is a significant player on the internet. By letting Google know that your pages are important and that people are interested in learning about what you have to offer, you can help your pages rank higher and gain more traffic. Pros and cons of SEO Pros of SEO Increased website visibility: If you're consistently appearing at the top of search results, so people are seeing your site and hopefully remembering it too. SEO can be a cost effective way to drive users to your website : It's not totally free, but can cost less than paid advertising. The benefits of SEO are often long term: Getting your pages to rank in search can help you generate traffic and conversions over years. Ranking high in search can create higher credibility and trustworthiness for your site, and in turn your business. Cons of SEO SEO is rarely a quick win: It takes time to setup and a strategy and implement it. SEO is also a case of constantly optimizing websites and content to rank or maintain search engine rankings. SEO results can be unpredictable: Your efforts are at the whim of search engines algorithms which can change and update. This may lead you to need to change strategies. Search engine results can be competitive : Depending on the search term and competitors in that space. It can be difficult for smaller brands to compete against larger brands with more brand and product authority. Some parts of SEO, like technical SEO, require specific expertise. How to implement SEO The first step in implementing SEO best practices is creating an outstanding website . Make sure that your website is easily navigable, provides a great user experience and clearly presents the information you want to convey. This ensures that you’re on the right track to providing an excellent answer to searchers’ queries. Leveraging SEO and integrating it into the website creation process is vital. Various studies have shown that organic search is the single greatest provider of traffic to websites - with that being even more pronounced within the B2B context. To that, traffic from organic search, when done correctly is essentially built to last (with proper maintenance over time, of course) and forms a crucial part of a site’s long-term growth. Mordy Oberstein, Head of SEO Branding at Wix.com However, SEO is much more than just a great website. Here are some practical steps you can take to get started with SEO: Make an SEO plan Do keyword research Optimize page speed Write your title tags and meta descriptions Implement alt text Create internal links Work on external links Check that your site is mobile friendly Analyze results 01. Make an SEO plan Search engine optimization requires work and consistency, making it essential that you have a plan in mind before diving into the specifics. Be sure to think about your SEO strategy in line with your larger goals, so that you can understand whether your efforts were successful. For example, if you’re an eCommerce website looking to utilize SEO in order to bring more traffic and make more sales, your SEO plan might look different than if you want to raise brand awareness or get more foot traffic to your brick and mortar store. Be sure to have these goals in mind ahead of time and to optimize your site accordingly. Specifically, think about details like your site’s URL, as well as larger aspects like if you'll have a dedicated employee for SEO, or if you plan to optimize your site alone. Also, be sure to plan from the get-go how and when you'll take stock of your pages’ SEO performance and optimize. Consider how you will check your rankings and what you consider a success. If you’re unsure what the best route is for various optimizations, consider trying one option and storing the others in a list for potential future use. Take note that SEO success takes time, so be sure to be patient. 02. Do keyword research Arguably one of the most important parts of understanding and implementing SEO is doing keyword research . Keyword research is the process of finding the most relevant words to use on your webpages. By doing some investigating, and using professional keyword research tools , you can understand how people around the world tend to search for things related to your product or service. Keyword research helps you understand what phrases are most searched for and therefore guides you in the creation of pages that can be optimized for those queries. Choosing to use the right words on your webpages can make a huge difference when it comes to how much traffic your site gets. We suggest thinking of a number of topics that are related to your brand and using these as driving forces in your keyword research and content creation. In recent years, Google has gotten better at understanding that beyond the specific words that pages can be optimized for, there are overarching topics that pages can provide an answer for. Instead of searching for just one keyword upon which to base your SEO strategy, consider the general group of keywords that your page could rank for based on the given topic. You can still choose a top keyword to use in your page title or URL, but think about your pages as providing complete answers to the topic, rather than focusing solely on that one keyword. So, let’s say your name is Jenny and you sell flowers. You may think the best route is to optimize your homepage for the keyword “flower shop.” While this may be a fruitful choice, it shouldn’t be the only word that you focus on. Instead, think of the various topics that you specialize in and that someone searching to buy flowers will want to know. Consider subjects like flower delivery, flower freshness or types of flowers. Including information about these topics will ultimately make your site a better resource for someone who wants to buy flowers. By providing a better user experience, you are also signaling to Google that your pages are strong contenders for anyone searching for a complete flower solution. But keyword research does not end there. Continuing with the flower shop example, you may notice that the search results page for “flower shop” is dominated by big name brands that your small store can’t compete with. In this case, you might want to focus on your geographical location ( local SEO ) or a niche that you specialize in (utilizing long tail keywords ). Including this information on your webpages will let Google know that you are a strong option when people are searching for something that you specifically provide. 03. Optimize page speed One of the factors that Google takes into consideration is page speed or loading times. How fast your website loads is an important element of user experience. A slow website will turn users away from your site before they even see what it has to offer. It’s therefore essential that you pay close attention to this and make sure to optimize your website speed. Page speed can be broken down into three main categories that are often referred to as core web vitals. These are: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): The time from a click on a URL until a user can view the most prominent content on a webpage. First Input Delay (FID): The time between a URL click and when someone can interact with your site elements. In other words, when a user can click on something on your page. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): How stable your site elements are while your page loads. This number is ideal when it is low—indicating that as your page loads, the elements are more or less in the place they will be once your page is fully loaded. Together, these elements make up what Google considers important when it comes to loading times. Some of the easiest ways to ensure that your site loads quickly include not overloading it with media or features, optimizing image sizes and sticking to one or two fonts throughout. These will make your site look cleaner and feel more professional, as well as keep your loading time down. 04. Write your title tags and meta descriptions Metadata refers to the information that you provide Google to describe what your webpage contains. Important aspects of metadata include title tags and meta descriptions . When you conduct a search on a search engine, each result is presented with a headline and description letting you know what kind of content you’ll find on the page. Providing Google with that information will help both searchers and Google understand the most important parts of your pages. Did you know? Wix's AI meta tag creator can help you scale your work by suggesting title tags and meta descriptions. Many SEO experts consider your meta titles, or title tags, and meta descriptions to be some of the strongest SEO signals that you can send Google. It is therefore critical that you try to include your most important keywords in your title tag. Title tags and meta descriptions also have an underlying SEO advantage. They give you control over the text that searchers see when they first encounter your website. Including enticing text that clearly answers the searcher’s query can lead to more clicks to your website. The more people that click on your site, the more Google notices that it is a good match for their searches and the higher they might rank you. It is essential to note, however, that Google does not commit to using the metadata that you provide. They can choose to change your headlines or descriptions as they see fit. In fact, in recent months it seems as though Google is moving increasingly towards a model of not using provided title tags and meta descriptions. That said, the titles and descriptions that you write for your page still have the potential of being used on SERPs (search engine result pages) and are worthwhile to optimize. 05. Implement alt text Alt text, or alternative text, is the small description that you give to the images on your site. It is embedded into your site’s HTML and is an important SEO asset. Bots that crawl webpages can quickly read alt text to understand what an image contains. Alt text is also an important accessibility feature, helping blind web browsers get the full picture of your pages, even without seeing them. Tools that read webpages aloud can read alt text to help explain what images contain to those who cannot see them. This alternative text also makes your images more likely to appear on Google searches, both in the Google images section, but also increasingly at the top of regular search result pages. Images are becoming more and more standard across Google searches, and the better your alt text, the more likely that your image will rank. Of course, if your site is getting exposure both from ranking for images as well as content, you are likely to gain more traffic. Google also perceives webpages that utilize alt text to be more optimized in general. This can help your site appear better in the eyes of search engines. An important thing to consider is exactly how to write alt text. When you look at an image you can likely think of various ways to describe what you see. For SEO purposes, it’s recommended to think strategically about your alt text and try to include some keywords to give your site an extra push. However, alt text cannot be only keyword focused; it should still accurately explain what the image depicts. 06. Create internal links Links are an important factor for SEO. When one page links to another it helps Google navigate your site and build a network of connections between pages and their content. This can help with the categorization of pages, and perhaps more importantly enables Google to index your pages (or add them to the list of sites Google considers when displaying search results) more efficiently. One of the best linking strategies is internal linking, or linking between pages within your own website. This is simple as you have control over all your pages and can easily add links from one to another. Internal linking also helps boost site authority. By linking lesser visited pages to stronger pages within your own site, you are sending Google a signal that both pages are important. Internal linking is also important for user experience. By connecting relevant pages to one another, you’ll make your site more navigable and ensure that your users can easily find what they are looking for. Internal linking can therefore drive traffic between your website pages, bringing attention to all of your assets. 07. Work on external links External links, or backlinks, are when other sites link to your site. This is an important SEO tactic as it drives up the authority of your site. When an important webpage references your content, it sends a signal to Google that your pages are a good source of information. External links also help your pages gain exposure, allowing more potential users to reach them and learn about your product or service. External links work best when they are genuine and natural. This happens when another platform has noticed you and has decided that your site can add value to their content. They therefore link to your page as a way to help their own readers or users. The more authoritative or important the other site, the more valuable their link is. While there’s no short-cut for gaining genuine external links, the best way is to strive to consistently create good quality content. "By enriching your content with statistical data, expert quotes and unique insights, you significantly increase the chance that other websites will link to it. More backlinks, more exposure to your brand." Asaf Or Shenhav, Outreach specialist at Wix 08. Check that your site is mobile friendly Another essential element of SEO is ensuring that all searchers can reach your site and have a positive user experience. In today’s world, over 50% of all traffic comes from mobile devices . That means that it’s well worth your while to ensure that your site is mobile friendly. Not only will this boost your business and ensure that people searching from their phones can use your site, but it is also important to Google. The search engine often employs mobile-first indexing, which essentially means that it crawls the mobile version of your site in order to determine how it should rank amongst its results. That’s why the mobile version of your site deserves your undivided attention. When you create a site with Wix, a mobile version of your site will automatically be created for you. You can find this version by toggling to the mobile icon in the editor. We recommend reviewing this mobile version to ensure that it looks the way you envisioned and that all site elements are easily findable. Specifically, look out for navigation on mobile and ensure that your site menu and buttons are clear. 09. Analyze your SEO results Since SEO is a living and breathing task, you have to be sure to consistently assess your pages’ performance and tweak accordingly. You can check your page rankings and performance with SEO tools like Ahrefs and Google Search Console in order to get a sense of the direct impact of your optimization. These tools can help you understand if your site has improved in the rankings and note which keywords your site is ranking well for. If you’re unhappy with your rankings or traffic, you can consider all of the previous items on this list and tweak your content accordingly. Other important analytics tools include Google Analytics and Wix Analytics . These can help you gain insights into your traffic and build a deeper understanding of where it is coming from. You can also assess how users interact with your pages, which can help you understand and optimize your content accordingly. Authoritativeness and SEO An important element in gaining trust from both people and Google alike is proving your authority. We tend to trust the experts and seek out advice from people who are particularly knowledgeable in their field. Google does the same thing. It determines what sites have the most information and qualifications to report on a given topic, then prioritizes them by presenting them to searchers. Google refers to this as E-A-T or Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness. Gaining authority can be done in a number of ways. The simplest way is to accurately discuss the item or service which you know the most about. Thus, if your service is an online store selling flowers, built with an online store builder , and your site has a blog , this blog should discuss topics surrounding flowers and flower care. Looking to learn how to create a blog ? Wix has got your covered with thousands of design features, built-in SEO and marketing tools, that will allow you to scale your content, your brand and your business with their blog maker. Being an authority on a given topic can also be achieved with some simple steps. For example, make sure that your site content is updated. This freshness factor isn’t always the most important SEO strategy, but it is nonetheless a best practice. Next steps with your SEO practice Now that you know what the main SEO strategies are, you might be wondering what to do next. You can start by going through the aforementioned steps and ensuring they are implemented on your site. A simple way to do this is to utilize Wix SEO tools such as the SEO Wizard. This tool will give you personalized SEO recommendations according to the needs of your site. Of course, you can also implement each of the strategies independently. We also suggest exploring a complete SEO guide that can help you understand many more SEO details and take your site to the next level. Additionally, consider these SEO tips which can help you learn how to make the necessary changes to your pages in order to give them the best chance at ranking for your desired keywords. We've also rounded some of our top SEO trends that anyone looking to optimize their site for Google should get on board with. You’re off to a great start if you have in fact added all of the tactics mentioned. However, keep in mind that SEO work does not end there. An important facet of SEO is maintenance. You will have to continuously check in on your site to make sure everything is working properly and is up-to-date. Often, slight changes on your site can break links or harm site functionality, which is why it’s essential that you check in and maintain your site. What is SEO? FAQ What is SEO for beginners? When getting started with SEO as a beginner, it's best to begin with the basics. These include making sure that your on-page optimizations are on point - your meta title, descriptions and alt text. Your page should be indexable as a priority. Next you can start to think about the topics and keywords you want to target, and then plan pages or content around it. You will also want to set up tracking for your SEO efforts, including tracking your rankings and organic clicks. What are the different types of SEO? On-page SEO (the optimization of web pages to rank in search results), Off-page SEO (efforts made to improve the authority of a page through backlinks and mentions), Technical SEO (site structure, hierarchy and website performance) are the three main types of SEO.

Business owners, self creators like artists and photographers, entrepreneurs—and everyone in between—all have a single goal when they create a website: to share their ideas, services and products with the world. The way we at Wix see it, this doesn’t just depend on your website’s traffic, but by ensuring everyone who visits can interact with your content. That’s not always the case. You might be surprised to find out that, due to disabilities, 1 billion people around the globe —that's 15% of the world’s population—can’t access most of the internet’s information or services. A percentage like this has to change, and thanks to the evolution of website accessibility, it will. Wix jumped onto this pioneering movement in 2016, setting out to ensure our users are able to create more accessible websites. Wix’s accessibility philosophy Website accessibility is the inclusive practice of removing barriers that prevent individuals from fully using a website—providing them with the same great user experience available to anyone else. As far as our accessibility team at Wix is concerned, an accessible website is an indicator of a professional website. Our goal is to help each website made with Wix be more usable to people with: Visual disabilities Motor disabilities Hearing disabilities Cognitive disabilities Situational or temporary disabilities While we can’t control the way you design your website, we can certainly help our users improve how accessible their site is overall. And in fact, we think it’s our responsibility to do so. By creating accessible templates , integrating accessibility features into our website builder and providing users with advanced tools like the Accessibility Wizard—we're laying the groundwork for the Wix community. The story of Wix's Accessibility Wizard Our team spent five years advancing accessibility on Wix’s platform as a whole, for example: fixing thousands of bugs, proactively creating accessible products, enhancing support for screen readers and more. Eventually we realized it’s not enough to advance our own product, but that we've got to encourage and support our users to create accessible content, too. Our first attempt to solve this problem was by equipping Wix users with an accessibility checklist , providing them with guidelines for checking their website’s design against basic accessibility requirements . It gave them direction on how to adjust their site’s content, such as enabling visual indicators, improving color contrast, adding headings or choosing the right font. After listening to the feedback of users and accessibility experts (most of whom found the list too heavy and time consuming), we realized this was just a start. That’s why we developed the Accessibility Wizard, a solution which helps our users find and fix accessibility issues on their sites from directly within the Wix Editor, step-by-step. How the Accessibility Wizard works Built into the Wix Editor , the Accessibility Wizard is the most sophisticated component in our multi-layer solution for accessibility. Wix’s accessibility features are designed in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) , the shared global standard of web accessibility. We are also in the process of adapting to WCAG 2.1 and 2.2. The Accessibility Wizard is a tool that will empower you, our community of users, to build more accessible websites by directly involving you in the process. In three steps, the Wizard will identify accessibility problems on your site, explain what they are, and provide actionable solutions. How to make your website accessible In this section, we’ll go over how you can create a website and make it more accessible with the help of the Accessibility Wizard. To learn how to build your own accessible website visit our Accessibility 101: Build your accessible website online course . 01. Open the Accessibility Wizard: Go to the Wix Editor on desktop From the top bar, click Settings Select Accessibility Wizard From the Accessibility Wizard, click Scan My Site to get started Here's a full step-by-step guide on how to use the Accessibility Wizard . 02. Find existing issues with automatic scanning and guidance When first opening the Accessibility Wizard, you’ll be prompted to allow it to scan your site. After scanning, the Wizard will highlight issues on your site that cause accessibility problems, such as: missing alt text, insufficient color contrast of text and icons, or use of the wrong heading structure. It will then show you exactly where these issues are, and guide you step-by-step to fix them within the Wix Editor. 03. Follow the actionable solutions provided by the Wizard Once you’ve completed the stage above, you’ll be presented with a checklist of items to help you further adjust your website. At this point, the Wizard highlights issues it may not detect itself, giving you detailed instructions on what to look out for, and how to improve these elements for accessibility. We recommend going through this section step-by-step, as it's a great opportunity to manually examine your site for complications. After making these fixes, the tool will rescan your site, checking for new problems. Once the Accessibility Wizard sees that your site has no more detectable issues, you’ll be taken to the success screen. 04. Publish your site At this point, you’ll need to publish your site, so all the fixes will update on your live site. It’s important to note that accessibility laws vary from place-to-place. You can make sure your site complies with local accessibility clients by verifying it with an accessibility expert. Pro tip: We recommend running the Wizard anytime you re-edit your site. The reality is that each new change might lead to a new accessibility issue. It’s better to be safe than sorry. 05. Modify your site with advanced accessibility settings To further improve your site's accessibility, the Wix platform is equipped with advanced accessibility features, most of which are automatically activated on your site. You can view and modify these settings directly from the Wizard: Smart focus ring: Visual indicators support keyboard users as they navigate through your website. Smart focus rings automatically appear when keyboards are used. These rings are dual-colored and always visible, regardless of a website’s background color. Skip to Main Content: This setting lets keyboard users skip directly to the main content of each page when enabled. Automatic DOM Order: You can design your website in any order you like with drag and drop elements. Activating the automatic DOM (document object model) feature of your site will arrange these elements to reflect the visual order you defined, ensuring that visitors who rely on keyboard or screen readers can navigate your website with ease. Advanced Dev Tools: For advanced users, adding aria attributes to different site elements, can enhance the user experience for people who use assistive technology such as screen readers. You can also add custom attributes to apps and components you build on your own using Velo by Wix . Why is making an accessible Wix website important? It’s in our power to design a website that’s all embracing, and making the internet a place of inclusion is a responsibility that benefits website visitors and owners alike. Whether you make an online store , run a business website or manage your online portfolio —an accessible site will strengthen your brand, improve performance, and minimize legitimate legal risks. Extend your market reach The efforts to improve your site’s accessibility and those used for SEO (search engine optimization) are not mutually exclusive. Many of the web accessibility features implemented into our web designs (such as alt text and heading tags ) will boost your site’s performance in Google’s search results. Being inclusive means your audience and customer base will grow, too. Many shoppers with disabilities have moved online, creating a market with a spending power of over $6 trillion. This means it’s critical for businesses with an online presence to provide equal access to potential customers. You can understand the needs of your specific users by creating user personas that provide informative insights. Cultivate positive brand perception Paying attention to accessibility will shed a positive light on your brand’s image, and improve user experience and satisfaction. A website and brand that makes diversity part of its mission is key to fostering positive customer relationships and brand loyalty. Plus, it will prove to visitors that you value social change and inclusivity. Be a part of the drive for innovation Accessibility tools, features and products solve unanticipated problems that benefit all site visitors. This includes full keyboard functionality, smart focus rings, formatting content for screen readers and more. At Wix we aim to set the industry standard for web accessibility, inspiring web creators, designers, developers—and even our competitors—to push forward with innovative solutions so everyone can fully experience and interact with the web. ​​It’s the law (in many places) In our case for accessibility, we’ve also got the law to think about. Numerous countries have laws mandating digital accessibility and enact fines for websites that fail to comply. These regulations are constantly evolving and vary from region to region. One notable example is Domino's Pizza, who was sued in 2016 by Guillermo Robles, a blind man who was unable to order pizza using his screen-reading software (violating the Americans with Disabilities Act). After a petition by the company, who claimed there were no set rules for applying the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) to the digital world, the U.S. Supreme Court pushed the case forward to district court—in a significant move for disability advocates. The future of website accessibility at Wix Wix is committed to making the web a better place for everyone. These are just some of the ways our dedicated accessibility team has worked to improve our products for our users, and visitors to their sites. We are enthusiastic about this global initiative, and hope our community of users are, too. If you know ways to improve our accessibility tools, or have a feature that you’d like to see, we encourage you to reach out at: accessibility@wix.com.