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If there’s one place first impressions are absolutely critical, it’s your website—and we’re not just talking about design and content. On top of that, speed optimization is one of the most important determinants to its success. A slow-loading website can damage your reputation and cause you to lose out on traffic and conversions, ultimately costing you money. Conversely, a high performing website will have a domino positive effect on your business’s success. It will attract more visitors, in turn increasing sales, leads and bringing in more customers. One of the crucial steps in learning how to make a website is ensuring you have a fast loading site using a robust website builder , which provides optimized technology from the get-go. However, your job isn’t over after this, it’s in your hands to make sure the content on your site doesn’t get in the way of its performance. There are many factors to consider, but you’ve come to the right place. This article will provide you with everything you need to know about website speed optimization and how to improve your site’s page speed. What is page speed Page speed refers to how fast content on your webpage takes to load. There are many ways to measure this (for example, from first contentful paint, to speed index, to large contentful paint)—but one of the most meaningful ways to define page speed is by time to interactive.* Time to interactive is how long it takes a page to load to the point where a user can interact with it. This might mean clicking on a CTA , choosing to play a video, or any number of actions a user can take on a given page. Your next question is probably, “what is considered good website speed?” While the answer to that is industry specific, it’s highly recommended that, on average, your pages load in under three seconds . It’s also important to remember that page speed times can vary across different pages of the same site, as well as across mobile and desktop. *Since Lighthouse 10, the time to interactive metric has been removed as a page load metric. It was removed because LCP, Speed Index and Total Blocking Time are considered to be better indicators of the user experience. Why page speed matters There are four main reasons why page speed matters when it comes to website speed optimization and you're site's infrastructure : Usability It may seem obvious, but the faster your pages load, the sooner a website becomes interactive. We’re referring to loading items such as the website menu, visual content, buttons and more— which help visitors take action on your site. Allowing these features to be visible and usable faster by optimizing for page speed will create happier, returning visitors. It’s as simple as that. User experience Users are more likely to engage with your website when they can move through processes quicker. For example, if you have an online store and each step of the checkout process takes more than a couple of seconds to load, it’s understandable when potential buyers abandon the process altogether. The same goes for any action a user tries to take, such as filling out forms or jumping between pages. Website speed issues that limit user engagement will have a knock-on effect on conversion rates, and the number of visitors who will return to your site. Conversions One specific goal most site owners have in common is conversions. Studies show that even an 0.1 second improvement in your website speed can have a positive impact on your conversion rate, funnel progression and customer engagement. If visitors can’t utilize your features fast enough, they’ll move on to the next one. Search engines Google takes into account website speed, and user experience, when ranking sites (known as SEO, Search Engine Optimization). Therefore, if you want yours to appear higher in specific keyword search results, you’ll have a better chance for every millisecond faster your pages are visible to the eye. How to measure page speed There are a number of ways to measure page speed on your website. One of the most reliable and popular methods is using Google PageSpeed Insights , where you can simply submit your site url and wait for Google to deliver a report on your site's performance. The report contains a number of metrics, or Core Web Vitals , which Google includes as another potential ranking factor when determining how high to rank a page in its search results.* A good (green) score may benefit your sites overall rankings, and individual page rankings in search. A low or warning (red) score may impact negatively on your site’s overall and individual page rankings. * In April 2023, Google clarified that page experience, page speed, mobile-friendliness and site security are ranking "signals"—not to be confused with ranking "systems." The statement came after Google updated its help documentation, removing page experience as a system. While the above signals are still important, John Mueller notes that the changes were because "We've seen people hyper-focus on these numbers, that's not a good use of time & energy." Google PageSpeed Insights will rate your site’s overall speed performance using a score out of 100. A score between 90-100 is considered optimal, while anything lower than a score of 59 is considered a warning, and should push you to prioritize your website speed optimization. Creating a site with Wix? Even Google agrees, we put performance first. “Wix always makes performance their priority and it definitely shows, both in monitoring tools and in their user's experience,” says Yoav Weiss, Senior Software Engineer and Developer Advocate at Google. With a Wix site, page speed insights and current loading speeds can be found in the Site Speed dashboard within Wix Analytics . This data is pulled from your site users and Google PageSpeed Insights, giving you an easily accessible way to measure page speed. Learn more about Wix Performance here . Using different performance testing tools to measure page speed will invariably lead to different scores. Each platform gathers their analytics and data in different ways, and this can impact your page speed score at any given time. What is most important, however, are the steps you can take to improve your score, which we will address below. How to improve page speed (and your user experience) Generally speaking, if you choose the right website builder, many of the steps necessary to improve page speed and website performance will be built-in. All you will need to do is focus on measuring your page speed from time to time, while understanding the impact of your design and content on the performance of your website. Below, you’ll learn how you can boost a website's performance and page speed to make sure that both your customers and Google are satisfied. We have also included some handy tips that you can use to give your website speed optimization the very best chance. Here are the foundations of how website speed optimization happens: 1. Optimizing media 2. Simplifying code 3. Employing a CDN 4. Utilizing lazy load 5. Avoiding plugins 6. Mobile first 7. Deploying caching 8. Optimizing content 01. Optimizing media Large images can be a huge block to improving page speed. Image quality is important—but it has to be balanced with performance. To do this, there are a number of ways you can compress images . By far the best option is to opt for a website builder, like Wix , which automatically optimizes media on its servers by resizing, cropping and transforming it. This optimization delivers the best quality, across a range of devices. When learning how to make a Wix website , changing your approach to saving images can have a positive impact on your site’s page load speed. Some best practices you can deploy on your site include: saving images as JPG instead of PNG (JPG files are smaller and consequently load faster), using SVG files when possible (which are even smaller and work well for shapes or logos), and finally, placing larger images further down the page so they have time to load while users focus on your above the fold content. Nothing makes a page pop more than animated GIFs—we get it, we love them too—but there is also nothing that slows a page down more. Therefore think very carefully before using them, and if you must, place them lower down on your page. Limiting the number of frames your animation has and keeping the dimension size small can also stop design features impacting on your page speed scores. Another great website speed optimization tip (if you really can’t live without some form of animation on your site) is to opt for video, since it uses smaller file sizes than animations. Sometimes simple is better, and experts agree. One of the easiest ways to improve your website performance is to reduce your site’s complexity.” reveals Dan Shappir, Performance Tech Lead at Wix.com . This starts with your design and content—specifically your images—and extends into the setup and functionality of your website. 02. Simplifying code Complex code, or code that has not been formatted properly, can slow down page speed. Using simplified code makes it easier for Google to crawl your site, which also makes it easier for pages to load fast (anything that makes Google’s life easier is a win for your website). Choose a website builder that utilizes simplified code on all of its pages so you won’t need to worry about checking it or cleaning it up, and can rest assured your pages are optimized for performance. 03. Employing a CDN A CDN (content distribution network) refers to servers and data centers placed in different geographical locations, which then deliver content to websites in their region. This speeds up content delivery times and consequently reduces load times. Wix’s network of global CDNs means your site's pages are optimized for performance, regardless of where in the world your site is located. 04. Utilizing lazy load Lazy load means delaying the loading of website content or media which is outside of the user's initial view. This happens automatically with many website builders, which often deploy lazy loading on all of their page. You can also do your part by placing larger or higher resolution elements lower down your page, giving them time to load before users scroll down. Think carefully about what loads first on any given page of your website. Prioritize above-the-fold content, as this is what users see when they first hit your site. You should aim to keep it simple, but impactful, and use it as a way to hold onto visitors while the rest of the page is loading. 05. Avoiding plugins Adding third party analytics, tracking codes and plugins to your site can really put a real damper on page speed. This makes it important to choose a website builder which has all of this built in. This way you avoid that delicate—often complex—dance between gathering as much user behavior data as possible, while still optimizing for speed. Still need more data on your users and site performance? We recommend prioritizing the use of plugins and tracking codes that focus on analyzing how users interact with your site, as they will give you more meaningful feedback on its functionality. It is also possible to assess your site’s page speed and performance, both with and without added tracking plugins and pixels, to fully understand if they are hampering page speed. 06. Mobile first Making sure users and search engines have the best possible mobile experience is crucial to optimizing your website's performance, and it should be an integral part of your website launch checklist . We know Google crawls for mobile first, and that users are increasingly browsing on mobile devices. So when it comes to page speed optimization, your mobile website should be a priority. 07. Deploying caching Automatic caching means that part of your site's content is saved as initially seen by a user, and displayed exactly the same way when they visit again. This is an important aspect to consider for improving page speed, and user experience, because it reduces load time by delivering saved content for repeat users to a site. Wix deploys automatic caching to all of its pages, allowing you to focus on launching your new website like a pro without thinking about the specifics of how it is optimized for page speed. 08. Optimizing content Content optimization can mean many things. Here, we refer to it in the context of how you display content on your page in a way that the page speed is not affected. A great example of content optimization in the name of improving website speed is Wix’s built-in video player . This allows you to display videos on your pages without relying on an external source, such as embedding a YouTube video, which can have a real and detrimental impact on your page speed. Built-in features like these make designing a performance driven site easier. Also be conscious of the number of fonts on your website, and their sizing. The more typefaces you use, and the more variety of color and size you have, the slower your page will load. Opt for a few options that will make an impact, and stick with them. This is something to be aware of, whether you are building a website from scratch , or simply optimizing a current one to improve its page speed. Website speed optimization FAQ How do I optimize my website speed? There are a number of things you can do, depending on how your site is built and what website builder it's built on. General website speed optimization tips include compressing images, using a CDN, minimizing code, reducing HTTP requests, using browser caching and fast, reliable hosting. If you use a website builder like Wix for your site, many of these optimization efforts are in-built. Wix uses CDNs, it automatically compresses images, it's a low code solution and it deploys browser caching. Why is website speed optimization important? Website speed optimization is important to ensure your website loads fast for users. It improves the user experience, making them more likely to convert on your site and to return to it. Improved website speed also improves the mobile performance of your site. In a competitive online landscape, a faster website can make all the difference in how users perceive your brand and offerings. How does page speed affect SEO? In 2018 Google announced that page speed could be considered a ranking factor. However in 2023 this has changed - and it is just part of a wider ranking signal known as page experience. Your page speed can affect the health of your site, and this can also impact on your SEO efforts.

Ready to share your ideas with the world? Start your blog → You’ve probably heard the rumors: Pinterest is a gamechanger for bloggers. From personal experience, we can testify that the rumors are true. When you start a new blog , you don’t want to ignore Pinterest. Just like Google, Pinterest in and of itself is a search engine—garnering as many as 465 million users a month. Nearly half of all U.S. Pinners (45%) have an income exceeding $100,000, and 80% of weekly Pinners have discovered a new brand or product on the platform. So, whether you run an eCommerce blog, personal blog and any other type of blog , you’ll want to use Pinterest to promote your content and help you make money with blogging . Here are step-by-step instructions on how to achieve this, as well as learnings from our own experience. Starting a blog should feel exciting, not overwhelming, right? With the Wix Blog Maker, you get everything you need to create, design and grow your blog from scratch–without needing a tech degree. Use Wix’s intuitive tools to share your ideas with the world.  But first, get familiar with Pinterest lingo Before we dive into the world of Pinterest, you’ll want to get familiar with these terms. Word Definition Pin An image, video or any other piece of content that you post or save on Pinterest Board A collection of pins; you can freely create and organize your boards, plus keep them public, private or shared among a group Repin When you save someone else's pin to one of your own board Like An action that shows you appreciate a pin without repinning it; any ‘liked’ Pins are saved under "Your Likes" Pinner A Pinterest user Follower A user who subscribes to your boards and pins, and sees your content in their feed Rich Pins A type of pin that includes additional information, like recipe ingredients, product prices or map locations Promoted Pins Paid pins that businesses can promote to a larger audience on Pinterest Buyable Pins Pins that have a "Buy It" button, allowing users to make purchases directly from the pin without leaving Pinterest Idea Pins Multi-page Pins that can include images, videos and text; this format lends itself well to blogging directly on Pinterest (versus linking to a blog post on your website) Feed The home screen where you see a stream of pins from users and boards you follow Home feed The default view when you log into Pinterest, showing a mix of pins from accounts and boards you follow How to use Pinterest for blogging Set up a Pinterest Business Account Optimize your Pinterest business profile Create boards that are aligned with your blog Create Pins from your blog posts Optimize your Pins Take advantage of Pinterest business features Proactively drive traffic to your Pins Measure performance and optimize 01. Set up a Pinterest Business Account Before you can promote your blog on Pinterest, you’ll need to create a Pinterest Business Account. A business account allows you to access features that support blogging for business —such as the Pinterest Business Hub and Pinterest Analytics , where you can keep track of Pin performance and audience interactions. A business account also gives you access to Pinterest ads and rich Pins, including article rich Pins that allow you to sync information from your blog to Pinterest. Create a new business account for free, or convert your personal account into a business one. Note: you can always convert a business account back into a personal account, or link up to four business accounts to your personal one. 02. Optimize your Pinterest business profile As a first step, make sure that your business profile is detailed and on-brand. By enriching your Pinterest business profile with the right details, you not only help Pinterest users find you, but help users on Google, too (Pinterest gets about 40% of its traffic from Google’s organic search results, so optimizing for one means you’re optimizing for both). Include relevant keywords in your bio, while clearly communicating the purpose of your brand and content. Use your logo—or other relevant, professional and recognizable image—as your profile picture to represent your brand. 03. Create boards that are aligned with your blog Just like building a website from scratch , creating your Pinterest boards from scratch offers a lot of flexibility and creative freedom. A good place to start is by creating a board that’s named after your blog. For example, on Wix’s Pinterest , you’ll find a board titled “Wix Blog,” making it easy for Pinners to discover our articles, whether they’re searching Pinterest or googling “Wix Blog pinterest.” In addition to this, you’ll want to consider creating other boards that align with your blog categories or audience interests. Think of each board as a new entry point to your content. Just like how site visitors may use your main menu to navigate through your website, Pinners may use your boards to find content that’s most relevant to them. The Wix Pinterest account contains boards categorized by website- or small business-related topics (e.g., Photography, Website Templates, SEO Learning Hub). Each of these are targeted to readers with different interests and goals, while remaining true to Wix’s core audience. They’re also aptly named to include keywords that users might be entering into Pinterest or Google. Read also: how to make a Wix website 04. Create Pins from your blog posts There are two main ways to create pins from your blogs: Upload images or videos from the mobile Pinterest app or site Use an RSS feed The former arguably gives you the most control, alongside the option to create multiple pins from one post. Let’s say that you post a blog on how to train a puppy. Some readers may be specifically interested in learning to crate train their puppies, while others may be interested in potty training. From this one post, you could create multiple headlines catered to these two types of readers: Headline 1: Potty training tips for new dog owners Headline 2: How to crate train your puppy in 7 days In addition to having multiple headlines to test, you can pull from multiple images within your blog or spin up new images using the text-to-image creator in Wix . So, your puppy training post could end up having two headline variations and five different image options—yielding as many as 10 unique Pins. As you test out different combinations, make sure to do so methodically. Note which images and headlines trigger the most engagement. Most importantly, make sure that any headline or image variations remain relevant to your article; the last thing you want is for someone to click on your Pin, only to be disappointed by the blog post they land on because it’s not what they expected to see. Pro tip: As you think about which blogs to share on Pinterest, consider prioritizing the blogs that you already know work well. Use your Top Blog Posts report in Wix to identify your most viewed or liked posts. Check that these articles are optimized for conversion (i.e., include relevant CTAs and subscription forms), then see how Pinterest can increase blog traffic and/or sales. 05. Optimize your Pins As with any distribution channel or search engine, there are several factors that impact the performance of your Pins. Your Pins may appear in multiple places: users’ home feeds, Pinterest search, “Related Pins” sections and Shopping features. Pinterest itself states that a “winning” organic Pin is: Inspiring and visually compelling: Keep in mind that most people enter Pinterest on their mobile devices. Worth sharing: The more that your posts are saved or followed, the higher your chance of getting seen on Pinterest. Well-written: Make sure that your Pins always have a strong and relevant description, title, thumbnail and link. Incorporate the best blog titles that compel people to click. Timely and fresh: Pinterest recommends publishing content on a weekly basis, and to offer something unique in your Pins. “Posting consistently is key,” notes Rebecca Tomasis, SEO expert at Wix. “Pay attention to your visuals—especially your cover image—and headline. From what we’ve seen, these have had the most impact on click-through-rates on Pinterest.” Keep an eye on Pinterest Trends , a free tool that shows top keyword trends for a specified time frame and region. Back this research up with the Pinterest search bar, i.e., type in a keyword to see a list of frequently searched phrases. Take these keywords into account when writing your Pin title and Pin description, as well as your alternative text . "If you're already optimizing your blogs for SEO, make sure that your efforts are reflected on Pinterest," says Tomasis. "You don't need to reinvent the wheel each time—rather, the same logic you apply to optimizing blogs on your site can be applied to your posts on Pinterest. For example, even if you adjust a headline for Pinterest, that headline should feature your primary keyword." "You don't need to reinvent the wheel each time—rather, the same logic you apply to optimizing blogs on your site can be applied to your posts on Pinterest." Additionally, spend some time browsing Pins in categories you want to target and taking note of popular Pins. You may find that certain audience segments favor certain types of content over others. 06. Take advantage of Pinterest business features As noted earlier, a Pinterest business account lets you access special Pin formats, as well as advertising tools. Rich Pins are intended to support different type of websites . They include: Product rich Pins: Lets you include pricing, product information and availability right on your Pin. Recipe rich Pins: Lets you add title, serving size, cook times, ratings, diet preferences and ingredient lists to your Pin. Article rich Pins: Lets you add headlines, descriptions and author names to your Pins. Rich Pins automatically sync information from your site and can be a good way to streamline content creation, while providing more informative Pins. (However, it’s worth noting that with a business account, you can always schedule pins up to 30 days in advance from iOS and Android, or up to 14 days in advance from the desktop interface. Pinterest lets business users schedule up to 100 pins in advance.) Furthermore, Pinterest offers several different ad types that can complement your organic strategy. You can refine targeting by different criteria (e.g., keywords, interests, location, etc.) and/or retarget former website visitors or people who've engaged with your Pins in the past. 07. Proactively drive traffic to your Pins If you play your cards right, Pinterest can become a consistent traffic generator for your blog. That said, building the momentum can take time—especially if you’re brand new to Pinterest. Your best bet at gaining traffic is to take the initiative and drive traffic yourself. To that end, make sure to: Engage with followers and fellow Pinners: As with any social media platform, engagement is a two-way street. If you want other Pinners to follow and repin your content, you should expect to do the same and build more authentic relationships. Tap your team: Invite your team members to help generate activity around your Pinterest boards through their personal profiles. You may even want to consider spotlighting your employees on your business account, helping to show the human side of your brand. Grow your personal brand: While you have your business account to host your content, it never hurts to spend some time growing your own Pinterest presence. Build your own following and community, and use your platform as another place to share and further elevate your business’ content. Promote your Pinterest presence: Use your other social accounts or website to drum up attention around your Pinterest profile. Add Save to Pinterest to your blog posts and/or Pinterest Follow buttons to make it easy for your readers to engage with your brand wherever they want. As your articles get more traffic, shares and pins, you'll see greater visibility of your content, which is essential for learning how to grow your blog effectively. 08. Measure performance and optimize Pinterest Analytics is a powerful tool for understanding the impact of your pinning. Here’s an overview of the key metrics tracked and how to glean some meaning from them: Impressions measure the number of times your Pins were displayed on a user's screen. High impression rates mean people are seeing your content and can indicate that a Pin is trending on the platform and/or aligns well with Pinterest’s algorithm. Total audience is the number of unique users who saw your Pin for a specified interval of time (e.g., day, week, month). When impressions are higher than total audience, it means some people saw your Pin more than once. Saves track how many times your Pin was saved to a user’s board. High save rates mean your content is a hit since people are taking the time to add it to one of their Boards. Engagements count when a Pinterest user clicks on or saves your Pin. Pin clicks represent the total number of clicks on your Pin, including clicks that lead to content on and off Pinterest. Outbound clicks measure the total clicks to the destination URL in your Pin. Video views are the number of video views that last longer than two seconds. . Analyzing things like impressions, saves and engagements can help you understand your top content—the Pins that resonate most with your audience—as well as low-performing content. “The most important thing is that you spend time with your data,” says Tomasis. “Once you’ve posted enough on Pinterest to have enough data to look at, look at what pins users save and which pages they click through to. Then, try and post similar content.” Other metrics like affinity, conversion insights and demographics can indicate audience preference, or provide more context to the engagement that you’re seeing. To get even more information about how Pinterest users engage with your website, you can use tools like Wix Analytics to better understand your Pinterest performance from another perspective. You can track website visits and eCommerce revenue generated by your Pins to understand the true ROI of your efforts. How use Pinterest for blogging FAQs How do I grow blog traffic on Pinterest? While every Pinterest strategy may look a little different, you’ll want to follow some general best practices: Do your research: The best way to maximize Pinterest's potential is to conduct keyword research that’s specific to Pinterest. Identify popular search terms related to your blog niche and strategically incorporate them into your content including Pin titles, descriptions and alt text. Spend some time browsing Pinterest and exploring popular content or use Pinterest Ads to get keyword suggestions. Add intrigue: Take some time to create intriguing and compelling Pin titles that encourage curiosity (and clicks). Pair good titles with great images so that your Pins tell a story. Pins are more narrative than, say, a Tweet or an Instagram post. All the elements work together to create a vibe. Leverage Rich Pins: Rich Pins are designed to automatically pull data from your website into your Pins. They display your profile name, image, title and description directly on the Pin image. They work by using metadata to populate Pins with additional details about your business. A huge benefit of using Rich Pins is that they update automatically based on changes on your website, ensuring information displayed in the Pin is current. Be consistent: Remember, consistency is key. Pinning weekly with high-quality, fresh content is recommended. Using a scheduler can help automate this process and ensure you're consistently active on the platform. How long does it take to get blog traffic from Pinterest? Like on any other social platform, some Pins may gain traction and go viral quickly—whereas others may take months. While there’s no guaranteed timeline for when you’ll get traffic, you can increase your odds of getting seen by proactively promoting your Pins, following Pinterest best practices and testing multiple Pins from one piece of content.

Ready to share your ideas with the world? Start your blog → Aside from being a passion or a hobby, creating a blog helps you improve your site visibility, position yourself as an expert in your field and get in touch with your clients. So the light bulb above your head went off, the required research was made and you're ready to start creating a blog . But wait. There are common mistakes we’re all a bit guilty of when it comes to blogging. If you don’t pay close attention, your article might pay the price. Fortunately, we’ve compiled some frequently-seen blogging blunders and some helpful ways to avoid them, when learning how to make a website , or when figuring out how to make money blogging . So, whether you're a beginner blogger, or a little more experiences—we have 8 mistakes to avoid. Starting a blog should feel exciting, not overwhelming, right? With the Wix Blog Maker, you get everything you need to create, design and grow your blog from scratch–without needing a tech degree. Use Wix’s intuitive tools to share your ideas with the world.  Blogging mistakes not to make 1. Provide valuable content not the opposite 2. Don't settle for an OK title 3. Don't neglect your blog intro 4. Don't underestimate or overestimate your reader 5. Don't forget your internal and external linking 6. Don't publish without editing your text 7. Don't overlook your article structure 8. Don't forget to share your blog articles 01. Provide valuable content not the opposite Getting paid per word is the standard payment method for many column writers, but when it comes to your own blog, longer isn’t always better. It’s important to remember that one of the main goals of your blog is to provide valuable information for your readers. Don’t write like you’re blowing a balloon, write like you’re a chef cooking a 5 course dinner. One of the main goals of your blog is to provide valuable information for your readers. A quality blog article should be precise. If your ideas are clearly explained in 200 words, there’s no need to stretch it out to a short novel. Additionally, most of us have an inherent tendency to talk (or on the web, to write) about ourselves. Sprinkling some personal touch is great, going on and on about your life – isn’t. Keep the reader in mind. In other words: Thou shalt love thy reader as thyself – and more. 02. Don’t settle for an OK title The title is the gateway to your article. You want it to be sure you're writing catchy blog titles that are short, mobile-friendly and attention grabbing. As you know, the competition is tough: your content will probably have to compete with cats dancing on pianos and pandas sneezing rainbows for the attention of your potential readers. Don’t devalue your article with a boring title that will remind them of their last tax review. But careful! You don’t want to turn it into an online equivalent of a Vegas billboard, either. The title is the gateway to your article. You want it to be a short, mobile-friendly attention grabber. The title needs to kill it. It should be explanatory, attractive and short while keeping in mind Google. An easy way to create that golden title time after time is by using the magic formula: Number or Question + Adjective + Keywords + Promise For instance, if you run a food blog and you just wrote the War and Peace of Pizza recipes, don’t name it “Pizza recipe for everyone.” Go for, “How to easily make a pizza that your guests will never forget.” If you're stuck on coming up with ideas, take a look at this article on how to write a powerful headline. You can also use this blog title generator for guidance. 03. Don’t neglect your blog intro Remember that Kylie Minogue song, “Love at First Sight?” It’s one of the pillars of early millennium pop music. Besides the catchy tune that’s now going to stick with you for days, you can actually take away an important tip from her smash hit. Make your readers fall in love with your text right from the start. The intro, the very first words you write, holds the first and only opportunity to set the tone and reveal your approach for the whole article. Make your readers fall in love with your text right from the start. Web readers won’t give you second chances – they read quickly and decide even faster if the content in front of them is worth their time. 04. Don’t underestimate or overestimate your reader Ready to start your blog now? Sign up with Wix  today. Unless your blog reviews academic research about quantum physics, it’s probably better if you keep the content light. Additionally, even if you just learned about a shooting technique used by left-handed photographers in Romania, please spare us the name dropping. Only ultra-niche blogs can get away with using highbrow language and professional terms without warding off half of the subscribers. Keep your content light. On the other hand, your readers aren’t looking for content that will go well with a bottle of warm milk and a huggable teddy bear. They chose to read your blog, so you know they are bright, intelligent and knowledgeable human beings. Treat them with respect. The most important and easiest rule to follow? Write like a regular person. Imagine you’re talking to a colleague, a friend or family member (except your nephew. Wait until he’s at least 4 years old). 05. Don’t forget your internal and external linking Imagine that your blog post is a new community situated on an island. Every hyperlink implemented in the text is like another bridge, a new shipping route, or even a semi-reliable low cost airline that departs from the island at horrible hours. Hyperlinks are your connection to the outside world. They help you boost your SEO ranking, improve your usability and allow you to credit other sources for their contribution to your rich, magically crafted post. They're an important part of making a website, specifically a type of website such as a blog. Hyperlinks are your connection to the outside world. Web readers are used to interactive reading – jumping between pages and following interesting side notes. The user experience your blog post provides shouldn’t be different. Learn how to make a Wix website today. 06. Don’t publish without editing your text Spelling mistakes are a great way to let your readers know you don’t take them seriously. To err is human; to use spell checker, divine. With modern blogging tools , publishing content containing spelling mistakes is just unprofessional. Don’t let them kill your post. Oh, and illogical sentences that were cut in the middle aren’t welcome either. To err is human; to use spell checker, divine. Can’t stand to look at the screen for one more second? No problem. Send the text to family members and friends to have another look at it. Fresh eyes will provide new insights and are always sharper when it comes to spelling errors. Get your blog template content right before hitting publish. 07. Don’t overlook your article structure and text appearance When people visit your blog, their decision to read an article deeply depends on the appearance of the text. But don’t Google “how to make your articles do a duck face” just yet. We are talking about spacing, sub headers, etc - your blog format . When people review a page, they take a quick glance first (most of the time they will scan the page in an “F” shape). They won’t start reading your work if they’ll discover they have to cross a 400 word paragraph. Dividing the text, placing titles and providing non-verbal information will help readers know if your article will be the perfect companion for the next 15 minutes on the train. When people visit your blog, their decision to read an article deeply depends on the appearance of the text. To conclude, make it easy for your audience to read by: Breaking the text into different paragraphs Adding sub headers Adding tables, charts and graphs Including photos and illustrations Bolding or italicizing to emphasize parts of your text 08. Don't forget to share your blog articles Sharing is caring. People didn’t set an alarm clock for your weekly publishing hour and they won’t search your name on the web in order to find your new post. Even if you have a small group of followers who like your writing, promoting yourself is a must. The few social buttons at the bottom of the page, aren’t there for decoration. Use them to promote your blog . Share on social media Share your blog on every channel you’re operating while avoiding the common destructive social media mistakes. Maybe it’s time to open accounts on LinkedIn and other social platforms that will help you attract new and loyal readers. Start email marketing Simultaneously, send your friends and colleagues an enticing email with Wix email marketing to announce your new creation. You could also consider starting a newsletter to distribute your content. Oh, and there’s nothing wrong with asking your parents to share your posts, it’s not so different from hanging your drawings on the fridge. Share your blog on every channel you’re operating.

When you’re learning how to make a website, half the battle is learning how to make sure it functions as well as it looks. After all, nothing’s a bigger buzzkill than launching your site—only to find out that most people are leaving it because your page won’t load. In today's fast-paced digital world, time is a commodity, and no one wants to waste it waiting for your website to load. That’s why you’ll want to know how to test your website speed and know how to improve it to avoid losing customers to a slow-loading website . Multiple factors impact your site speed, including (but not limited to) your web hosting provider, the quality of your backend code, your plugins and more. It's easy to lose track of everything—but before we dive into mistakes, let’s go over how websites work behind the scenes. Think of the internet like a restaurant: A website acts as a menu, displaying all the food available to be made in the kitchen. When you order something off the menu, your server is asked to retrieve it from the kitchen and send it back to your table. The more complicated your order, the longer it takes for the kitchen to serve it up your meal and the longer it will take for the server to return to your table. Keep this metaphor in mind as we jump deeper into common site speed mistakes. Looking to create a website on a reliable platform? Create a website on Wix today. 01. Using too many custom fonts When working on your website design, it’s easy to get carried away enthusiastically experimenting with elements like fonts. While there’s a whole design explanation for why you should stick to typography principles—such as contrast, hierarchy and balance—you really just need to know why having too many fonts can affect your page’s performance . Browsers can easily comprehend system fonts, because most computers already have those downloaded (think the fonts you see most often, like Times New Roman and Arial). However, those who use “custom fonts,” or special stylistic fonts outside of these common fonts, require the file to be downloaded in order for text to be visible. While this will always take more time than system fonts, the more you use on a single page, the longer it will take to load. For example, asking your server to make one special request at a restaurant will usually go faster than if every patron is asking for meals that need to be specially made. For the speediest user experience for your visitors, try not to have more than three to four custom fonts or opt for system fonts instead. 02. Using non-optimal image formats File formats seem like a persnickety thing to deal with when creating your website, and for the most part, they are. For example, when you learn how to make a Wix website , Wix automatically makes sure that the pictures you add to your site look great and load as quickly as possible. It does this by converting images to a “WebP” file, which maintains image quality but requires a smaller file size. But for this to work the best way for your website, you need to ensure the original file you’re uploading is not only the highest quality it can be, but also that that high quality file doesn’t create too many problems in uploading or downloading it. You can start by choosing the right image formats. Stick to common image formats like JPGs , PNGs or SVGs —you can think of these as the equivalent of ordering the most common drinks at a restaurant. If you order a Coke anywhere in the world, it’s likely they’ll have it on tap and can serve it to you in minutes. Additionally, use JPGs instead of PNGs when possible. JPG images can be up to 10 times smaller than PNGs and, as a result, can load much faster. While PNGs and JPGs work well for photos, SVGs usually work better for shapes and illustration-style elements like logos. SVGs files are usually much smaller than PNGs and JPGs, and they load on the page faster because the images are directly embedded in the website code. Since the website doesn’t have to go find the image somewhere else on the internet, it helps the image load faster. 03. Overdoing it with lightboxes If you’re building a website and want to make sure your visitors see an important message or announcement, you may choose to add a lightbox, or a popup window, that appears on top of the main page’s content. While it’s okay to have one advertising a sale pop-up a few moments after the visitor has entered the site, having something pop up every few seconds would not only be annoying for your visitor, but also slow down your site. Think of it like how a server interacts with a table. While it’s okay for them to stop by and announce the specials after you’re seated and looking at the menu, it would be annoying if they popped by every few moments—and would simultaneously keep them from going back into the kitchen and serving you the meal you came for. 04. Going wild with third-party features A fun thing about today’s websites is that you don’t have to use all of your own content—you can often embed third-party content onto a web page, essentially borrowing another website’s content to appear on your page. While this can increase the amount of things visitors can do on your website, it can slow down your website. Essentially, you’re asking a server to run to another restaurant for a special part of the meal and bring it back to the restaurant. Best practice is to reserve third-party apps and iframes (small windows for other websites) on parts of your website that are not the homepage—and to limit the number of third-party scripts on your site. Only keep the apps that you’re actively using. Moreover, add any essential third-party apps in a non-blocking manner. You can do this by manipulating the body of HTML code with a special script called “defer” or “async,” as well as placing the code at the end of the main content. Both options will tell the website to load these resources only after all the main content has loaded. Essentially, this is like telling your waiter not to wait on a special dish before bringing out all the other food to your table. Better yet, avoid using any custom code at all by using Wix’s integrated marketing tools as opposed to third-party apps when possible. 05. Top-loading your homepage design A common culprit to slow website speed is top-loading a homepage with heavy visual content, like galleries, videos and custom fonts. To avoid this, focus on simplifying the above-the-fold section of your homepage. Try to limit this content to text in system fonts and static images, since they load faster. Wix also automatically lazy-loads images in most scenarios, meaning that images that live below the fold are first downloaded as very small, low-resolution placeholder images. As the user scrolls the page, these stand-in images are then replaced with the original high-resolution images. 06. Using GIFs GIFs have completely changed modern communication. Tempting as they may be, GIFs are actually a higher lift for computers to handle than video. Reason being, you can’t control their playback and they will only start playing once all of its content frames are loaded. Since these are multiple speed bumps for page loads, you’ll want to consider using videos instead of GIFs to showcase animated content. (As a bonus, modern video encoding formats have both better quality and smaller file sizes.) If you’re looking for a GIF-like effect, you can use Wix VideoBoxes to showcase your own videos. You can customize them to show a border around your box, or to add an overlay or video mask (among other customizations). Wix also features Transparent Videos, which allow you to add or upload your own videos and place them anywhere on your site with a transparent background. 07. Not attending to your site’s DOM order While the Wix Editor is a simple drag-and-drop interface that does most of the work for you, there is room for user error. In fact, a common error in first websites is not matching the order of elements—like images, texts and videos—on your site (also known as a DOM) with the order in the Editor’s Layers panel. DOM stands for document object model, and is how the computer reads the importance and order of your website elements. With Wix, DOM determines the sequence in which elements load on your site. Automatic DOM order is enabled via the Editor, but it is communicated via the Layers panel where you control each layer of your website elements. So, if your Layers do not mirror the importance of your site’s elements, your website will load out of order. Think of it like ordering a meal with an incompetent waiter: if you don’t specify that you’d like your food to come out in the order of drink, appetizer, entrée then dessert, don’t be surprised if the first thing that comes out of the kitchen is a bowl of ice cream. 08. Automatically caching This one isn’t so much of a mistake as it is a flip that just needs to be switched. Wix uses Content Delivery Networks (aka CDNs) to cache (or store) and serve responses as fast as possible for most visitors. In our restaurant metaphor, you can think of them as condiments and water stands. Since servers know these are the things visitors want most often, they strategically store them throughout the restaurant so they don’t always have to walk back to the kitchen. However, if you’re an experienced web developer using Wix and Velo , and you notice that your web page still takes too long to load, you may need to manually enable caching for your site to ensure that it stores your most-used content on the CDN servers (if you brought your own sauce to the restaurant, you’ll just need to tell the waiter to keep it on hand for you). 09. Not designing for mobile Lastly, to provide a tailored experience for mobile users, all Wix websites are adaptive, meaning that the platform automatically optimizes them for each of the most common devices. However, a common mistake that website owners make is not checking to see that the mobile version looks and functions exactly how they want it to. Some elements may not look as good on a mobile device as they do on a desktop, and others may be unnecessary. By optimizing your mobile site’s layout and hiding unnecessary elements, you can pare down your mobile site to the basics and give the server fewer things to serve. Think of it as a takeout window that only serves the best of your website’s content for on-the-go consumption.

Talking about AI is almost as common as talking about your favorite ice cream flavor these days. Everyone seems to know what AI is —but few actually know how it works or all of its different flavors. In this blog, we’ll introduce you to the full spectrum of artificial intelligence. While AI is a rapidly evolving field and is only getting more advanced by the day, familiarizing yourself with these seven main types of AI can help you better discern fact from fiction and to make your own informed predictions about the future. AI is already transforming website development , marketing and many other facets of business. But AI’s full potential has yet to be seen. “Based on the previous six months of how fast this technology grew, I can only imagine that the next six months will go even faster,” says Wix’s Head of Product Yaara Asaf. “We’re trying to collect the fruits that technology gives us as fast as we can.” Try AI features and tools for copywriting, web design and more in Wix’s free website builder . Keep reading to leave the seven main types of AI: Artificial narrow intelligence Artificial general intelligence Artificial super intelligence Reactive AI Limited memory AI Theory of mind AI Self-aware AI Types of AI (by capability) Perhaps the best way to understand AI today is by viewing it from two different lenses. The first entails classifying AI by capability, i.e., the degree to which it can mimic human thought processes. Pioneering AI researchers developed a hierarchy of AI for describing and testing their projects. 01. Artificial narrow intelligence (a.k.a. “narrow AI” or “weak AI”) This is the type of AI that today’s technology is based on. It encompasses AI that can complete a specific set of predetermined tasks. For example, Siri on your iPhone can respond to voice commands and questions, based on a focused set of functions. If you ask Siri to direct you to the airport, an AI algorithm combines roadmap data and current traffic conditions to calculate the best route. But straying too far from conventional topics leads to a dead end; if you’ve ever asked Siri an offbeat or complicated question, then you’re probably familiar with the phrase “I’m not sure I understand.” Narrow AI needs a large pool of reference data in order to develop its intelligence, and it can’t learn, expand upon or interpret this information and apply it to new tasks. Today’s AI-powered tools are more sophisticated than we could have dreamed of even five years ago; they’ve fundamentally changed how to make a website and how manufacturing facilities operate (as examples). But they’re all still based on narrow AI. 02. Artificial general intelligence (a.k.a. “general AI” or “strong AI”) Artificial general intelligence (AGI) describes AI that’s capable of mimicking human decision-making and incorporating logic, emotion and learning. Although researchers initially thought AGI would be widespread before the beginning of the 21st century, human intelligence has turned out to be hard to recreate. Developers have devised a number of tests to determine whether their creations meet the standard for AGI. The most famous of them is the Turing test , which compares responses to questions given by a computer and a human to see if the tester can tell the difference. Some types of generative AI like ChatGPT, can, according to some, now meet the Turing threshold. For example, when a small group of ad executives tried comparing machine- versus human-generated digital ads , they could only guess which were written by AI with 57% accuracy. But AI is still unable to pass other AGI tests (which involve mundane but complex tasks, like making a cup of coffee in an unfamiliar kitchen) and some claim the Turing test to be outdated . By and large, AGI is still considered a goal rather than reality. 03. Artificial super intelligence (a.k.a. “super AI”) Currently the stuff of science fiction, super AI surpasses human intelligence and consciousness, giving machines the upper hand. While robots taking over the world sounds far-fetched, some researchers believe that once technology meets the AGI threshold, AI tools will quickly be able to learn, adapt and perfect their functions, ultimately surpassing human skills. Types of AI (by functionality) Another way to classify AI tools is to consider the type of work it can perform. Researcher Arend Hintze defined four types of AI, including two that are still aspirational at this stage. 04. Reactive AI Reactive, or reactional, AI functions within narrow parameters, without referencing past interactions, responses or results. The data used to train reactive AI is all-important, since it’s the sole source of the algorithm’s knowledge. Despite its limited focus, reactive AI can beat humans at specific tasks, thanks to its high-powered processing speed. The most famous examples of reactive AI are IBM’s Deep Blue , which beat a chess champion, and Watson, which won the TV game show “Jeopardy!”. Many everyday tasks now rely on reactive AI for simple decision-making based on pattern recognition, such as automated spam filters for email, credit scoring mechanisms in finance and simple eCommerce product recommendations. 05. Limited memory AI Limited memory AI uses stored data to inform current behavior, making its performance more sophisticated than reactive AI. Limited memory AI can process sequences of input and react accordingly. Additionally, it can use the results of its interactions as new training data, “learning” and refining its actions over time. Limited memory AI improves digital experiences by using past interaction data to predict what current website visitors or app users want to do or see next. It picks the right dynamic content for the situation in real time, recommending products you didn’t know you needed or generating the correct chatbot responses to customer service questions. Self-driving cars are testing the cutting edge of limited memory AI. They’re trained to process data from sensors and recognize objects like traffic lights and buses. When a pedestrian steps into a crosswalk, the car uses limited memory AI to perceive, react and apply the brakes. There are constraints, though: Vast amounts of data are still required to train limited memory AI to perform straightforward tasks. Its knowledge expands when results are fed back to itself. The dataset grows, but the processing mechanism stays the same—unless humans reprogram it. That’s why self-driving cars have been flummoxed by seemingly-minor but unanticipated obstacles, such as San Francisco’s ever-present fog or protestors armed with traffic cones . 06. Theory of mind AI In psychology, the term “theory of mind” refers to the understanding that other beings have thoughts and emotions that affect their actions. In order to approach human intelligence, AI needs to develop this awareness of others, and be able to interact in ways that take into account others’ knowledge and experiences. AI with a theory of mind doesn’t yet exist. 07. Self-aware AI Another as-yet hypothetical version of AI, self-aware AI can (in theory) recognize its own mental states, emotions and memories. In addition, self-aware AI would be able to apply its own emotional intelligence to interpret and guess at others’ unstated motivations and internal states. Top applications of AI: how you can use AI today or in the near future The road ahead for AI is still long and uncertain, but AI is already reshaping how work gets done. Tasks that were previously repetitive, time-consuming and impractical to implement at scale are now within reach, thanks to AI’s processing speed and predictive capabilities. For example, by combining AI with its decades’ worth of knowledge in web design, Wix has been redefining the way websites and digital experiences are created. Wix’s AI-powered tools let you build an entire website from scratch, in addition to simplifying tedious tasks like writing site copy, designing images and more. Lean more about how to make a Wix website today. Sign up for Wix today to see its AI tools in action. Check out the other cool applications of AI across a variety of industries. AI in retail and eCommerce For years, stores and eCommerce sites have been high-profile users of intelligent algorithms to perfect shopping experiences, and as AI evolves, merchants are eager to implement new technologies. Six in 10 retailers globally are using or plan to adopt AI in the coming year, according to a survey by Honeywell. Primary uses include: Personalization: Limited memory AI can process digital interactions in real time and predict which products are most relevant to recommend and which offers will resonate with individual shoppers, scaling up the experience of having a personal shopper. Javascript in the website code enables personalized product recommendations that adapt to behavior in real time. Inventory management: Guessing how much of which items to stock can be a headache for store owners, but AI can analyze purchasing patterns and accurately predict when to place orders with manufacturers. Customer service: Reactive AI can power order lookups to resolve questions about the status of eCommerce shipments, while AI applications using natural language processing can respond to more complex online customer service queries via chatbots, email and social messaging apps, meeting consumer expectations for swift response times. AI in travel, restaurants and hospitality Premier service is the hallmark of standout travel and dining experiences, and AI helps power administrative tools and digital interfaces to offer individualized experiences to every customer while maximizing efficiency behind the scenes. Applications include: Personalized journeys: AI can leverage purchase histories to recommend destinations, travel packages or flights that align with individual preferences. Restaurant services can surface offers from local spots and highlight top-rated properties that offer the exact ambience or cuisine that a diner is looking for. Seasonal demand predictions: By analyzing historical usage and purchase data, AI algorithms can help determine peak pricing periods, blackout dates, hours of operation, staffing levels and route schedules. AI in healthcare and wellness Already, 94% of healthcare organizations use AI or ML in some form , according to research from Morgan Stanley, and there are dozens of potential applications. Most automate routines and administrative work so that human caregivers can focus on diagnosis, treatment and connection with patients. Top healthcare uses for AI include: Synthesizing research: AI tools can scan medical literature and surface the latest best practices and clinical trials for care providers to consider. Interpreting scans and test results: AI can process imaging scans quickly and spot anomalies, and can combine test findings with historic data patterns to suggest potential diagnoses. Proactive monitoring and recommendations: Wearable devices that monitor health indicators such as blood pressure can connect with AI tools that process the live data and make timely recommendations about diet, sleep, exercise and medications. AI in design and technology development Programmers, engineers and designers can leverage AI to automate routine tasks and run tests at scale, allowing them to quickly optimize digital assets. Uses include: A/B testing: AI tools can track performance of multiple variations of website pages or app experiences and fine-tune elements based on live results, enabling businesses to run test cycles more quickly. Error checking: AI tools can scan code, spot defects and predict incompatibilities with existing systems. Automation of routines: Whether they’re looking to resolve coding errors or resize batches of images, digital creatives and programmers can outsource manual tasks to AI. Automation can even be applied to the task of building a static website with just a few initial design and content inputs. AI in finance, legal and professional services Business and legal offices stand to make huge gains in productivity thanks to AI. Machines can be tasked with many administrative details, while predictive modeling can guide forecasting. Four in five CFOs predict they’ll increase spending on AI through 2024 , according to Gartner, which found that two-thirds of finance leaders believe autonomous AI will perform their functions within this decade. Among the ways AI can boost back-office efficiencies: Fraud detection and security: Using pattern detection to spot anomalies, AI-powered tools can flag potentially fraudulent transactions, scam insurance claims and data breaches. IBM found that AI helps speed containment of data breaches by as many as 100 days. Automation of templated documents, filings and reports: AI can assemble text and charts for reports and pro forma documents, and generate insurance claims paperwork. Just don’t expect AI to write complex briefs; attorneys who tried found that ChatGPT “hallucinated” imaginary cases to support its argument . Real-time quotes and pricing: Insurance policies and property rental contracts can adapt to changing conditions, such as a surge in market demand or changes in customers’ usage. Forecasting: Using past transactions and data about current conditions, AI can forecast trends and predict budget needs and earnings. AI in manufacturing “Smart” manufacturing is widespread already, and AI is poised to make even more gains in efficiency in the coming years as robots, “internet of things”-equipped machinery and digital tools collaborate to optimize production. Advances include: Robots and cobots: Robotic machinery equipped with AI-powered computational strength can handle repetitive, rules-based tasks. Cobots, or collaborative robots, work alongside humans, with the capability to sense motion and avoid obstacles as well as complete physically-taxing chores. Predictive maintenance: Machinery equipped with sensors can transmit its operational status, which AI-powered tools can monitor for signs of wear and tear. Predictive forecasting can help manufacturers budget for upgrades, repairs and replacements. Quality control: Sensors can monitor manufacturing output and flag inconsistencies and defects. Sustainable supply chain: Consumer demand is growing for sustainable products, and AI can help companies meet expectations by monitoring carbon emissions and wastewater usage and surfacing high-performing sustainable suppliers around the globe. Demand forecasting: Based on prior purchase patterns and current economic conditions, AI models can predict when manufacturers need to step up production, helping them align staffing and materials costs with anticipated orders. AI in logistics and transportation AI’s ability to analyze the movement of goods around the globe, sense patterns and predict demand can improve efficiency by 15% and service levels by 65% , McKinsey found. AI helps companies streamline operations on several fronts: 24/7 automation: Robots and autonomous forklifts can keep warehouse operations running around the clock. On the roads, companies are experimenting with self-driving technology for freight trucking to help keep goods moving overnight. Staffing and operational forecasting: AI can forecast peak periods of demand so that transportation and logistics companies can staff and supply warehouses appropriately, aligning expenditures with anticipated income. Reducing environmental impact: Using AI, transport and logistics companies can analyze trip data and optimize routes to reduce miles traveled and overall carbon emissions. AI in entertainment, sports and culture As the recent Hollywood writers’ strike showed, there are unresolved ethical questions about the use of AI to generate scripts, songs and visuals—especially when mimicking well-known artists’ existing work. But entertainment and sports brands are already putting AI to use in less controversial ways to better serve their audiences and professionals. Among them: Bespoke experiences for fans: In response to a query, AI can parse, select and assemble highlight reels showing a season’s worth of standout touchdowns or ovation-worthy performances, giving audiences a tailored view on demand. Training and performance monitoring: Using “smart” sensors in athletic equipment and apparel in tandem with health monitors, AI can help teams train better and prevent injuries. Enhanced officiating: Major League Baseball is experimenting with using AI to help call balls and strikes based on pattern recognition. In the future, officials will be able to not only consult instant replay, but also consult instant AI analysis about whether a play was fair or foul. Production automation: Video and audio editing tasks and engineering of soundtrack scores can be performed and optimized by AI, cutting production time. Automated translation can draft subtitles for videos and films.

A website audit aims to review your site’s overall performance and functionality, as well as its ability to be found by both search engines and users. The more visible a site is in search engines, the greater its traffic and exposure to potential users. A website audit should also focus on key performance metrics, including page speed, and user experience scores. A checklist can help you focus on what's most important. Thinking of l earning how to create a website ? You should factor in running a full website audit once it’s complete. A website audit is also a must after making changes to your site. Updates are great for a website, but since changes (however minor) can have an impact on traffic and search engine visibility—a website audit can make sure nothing has gone wrong or is missing. A website audit can be a straightforward process, easily integrated into any website management and website maintenance schedule. Thinking of how to plan a website ? Believe it or not, a website audit should be part of that process to. With this in mind, we are going to explain what a website audit is, why it’s important, and how you can implement one regularly. What is a website audit? A website audit is a comprehensive analysis of a site in terms of its performance (including page speed, technical issues and user experience), and its ability to be found on search engines. A full site audit enables you to understand how your website scores according to these metrics. It also pinpoints glaring technical and site maintenance issues that need to be addressed. Once you have moved on from how to make a Wix website , and into the realms of how to manage one, a website audit should become a priority. This will help you have a clear understanding of your site's functionality and performance. Types of website audits General SEO audit: Addresses how well your site is optimized for SEO. Content SEO audit: Focuses specifically on content quality and gaps. Technical SEO audit : Isolates backend and technological issues with your site. Performance audit: Looks at page speed, load times and Core Web Vitals. UX audit: Deals with user experience and the functionality of your site, including navigation and design. Why run a website audit? From ensuring your ability to be found in search, to providing an optimal user experience and more—there are many reasons why a website audit is important whether your site is new or recently updated. The success of your website relies on your understanding of its performance both in search and for a user—and on being able to identify how to improve this. Now that you understand its importance, you’re probably wondering how often you should run a website audit. The general recommendation is to run a full audit on small websites at least once a year. Larger websites (both in terms of the amount of traffic and the number of webpages ) may require a more frequent check—potentially up to two to three times a year. We also recommend mini audits of your site as often as you can. A mini audit might include checking your site's functionality yourself and making sure navigation and click-through actions are working as they should. It can also include checking coverage issues affecting your site through Google Search Console, or as recommended by other SEO audit tools. A mini-audit allows you to stay on top of your site's health and allows you to deal with issues as and when they arise. How to run a website audit We are now going to look at the main ways in which you can audit your website: 1. Assess website performance and page speed 2. Check SEO on-page optimizations 3. Understand content quality and gaps 4. Isolate technical SEO issues 5. Test user experience 6. Monitor website accessibility 01. Assess website performance and page speed All website audits should begin with a review of your site's page speed scores. Since 2010 Google has prioritized page speed when deciding what to make visible in search. It became even more important following the June-August 2021 Google Page Experience Update. What does this mean in terms of a website audit? Assessing website performance and page speed, with website analytics tools , should be an essential part of your auditing process. Pages that are slow to load can bring down the authority of your entire site, and these issues should not be ignored. With Wix, you can access both Google PageSpeed Insights and insights from your Wix Analytics in your editor. Once you identify problems with page speed or other relevant Core Web Vitals, you’ll decide how to improve their performance. This might mean design or content changes—or both. Just bear in mind that when conducting a website audit, it’s common to see different web analytics and performance scores for your site’s mobile and desktop versions. Prioritizing performance on mobile may require specific mobile-focused design and website speed optimization changes to push up your score. Google leads with mobile-first indexing, so ensuring your website audit covers your mobile performance as well should be a priority. 02. Check SEO on-page optimizations For your website to have a greater chance of being found on search engines, it has to be SEO optimized. An SEO-focused website audit will help identify if your website is visible to search engines and what you can do to improve this. There are a number of ways to run a simple SEO website audit. We recommend using tools such as Screaming Frog or Deepcrawl . They’re easy to use and can let you know—within minutes—what your site is lacking SEO-wise and how to fix it. Missing optimization data is one of the most easily identifiable, and fixable, discoveries from an SEO website audit. This includes meta tags to canonicals, to alt tags, and everything in between. With Wix SEO tools, you can easily customize SEO optimizations, including meta tags, which will boost your chances of being found on search. You can even use AI to create meta tags at scale. Wix also offers an SEO setup checklist that ensures you have covered the SEO essentials before getting your site up and running. This is a great place to begin your SEO journey and a great foundation for the longer-term SEO optimization and auditing plan you should build. 03. Understand content quality and gaps Ranking well on search is not just about being fully optimized for search engines, it’s also about making sure your site has good quality, relevant content for your users. To make sure you’re achieving this, you’ll need to understand if you have content gaps. Content gaps happen when you’re missing topics your target audience is looking for. These content gaps , when they exist, prevent you from ranking in search where your competitors are visible. If you’re not there, you could be losing out on important traffic and leads. To understand more about potential content gaps we suggest plugging your website into Ahrefs . This platform will show you how your content ranks for specific keywords against your main competitors. Then you can understand how to bridge the gap with new material, or if you need an entirely new content strategy. There are many ways to check the quality and impact of your content, but to understand this better you should delve deeper into the behavioral analytics data within your Google Analytics Universal account ( Google Analytics 4 is a whole new ballgame, for all of us, and we look forward to tackling that in a different article). Within a Wix site, head to Wix Analytics , and then check out the traffic overview and people overview for a closer look at how users are interacting with your site. Your behavioral analytics data can show you: If users stay on your page after reaching it from search (this is known as bounce rate ) How long users are spending on any given page If users are moving onto other pages within your site This data can help you understand if your site and, specifically, your site’s content is hitting the mark with users. If you discover it’s not, you probably have areas to improve on, and should consider reviewing the content, the design, and the UX of your website. All of which are crucial to help you make better and more accurate data-driven decisions. 04. Isolate technical SEO issues Website audits are important to identify technical-related SEO problems. Some of the most commonly identified SEO roadblocks include 404 errors (page not found) and non-indexed pages. Within Wix Analytics you can easily identify 404 pages and then take action to address them, with redirects. A page that is no-indexed won’t appear in search results. You can check for these issues from the “Coverage” section of your Google Search Console account. Better yet, opt for a website builder that integrates SEO tools within its editor. Wix SEO allows you to identify and fix all of these issues—from bulk google of out-of-date pages, to instant Google indexing. Looking to take your technical SEO audit further? With Deepcrawl you can perform a comprehensive audit of your site's technical SEO health, and then fix issues that arise. 05. Test user experience Understanding how your website works behind the scenes is an important part of a website audit—but don’t neglect your front end. If users are struggling to navigate your site, you may have issues that affect website performance, including load times and overall usability. A bad user experience decreases user engagement, which in the long term can impact on your site’s overall authority. This can have an impact on how well your site ranks in search and cloud its visibility. In the short term, a low engagement rate also means the loss of potential conversions. A user experience website audit can take many forms. Start by having someone else use your site, and ask them for feedback. Remember to evaluate their experience of your site’s navigation, the quality of your content and their ability to see and respond to calls-to-action. A UX website audit will also help you understand the impact of your website design on the user experience as well. You will need feedback from several users to get a clear picture of your site’s usability, but if the same roadblocks come up repeatedly, it’s time to run a UX website audit. 06. Monitor website accessibility Every user who arrives on your site must be able to access all of your content and features. An accessibility audit can help you make sure that your site is usable for everyone, including those with disabilities. Wix user? The Wix Accessibility Wizard allows you to scan your site for issues that might be hindering access for all users. It identifies these and then supports you with clear, implementable solutions to resolve them. That way everyone gets to interact with your site. To learn how to build your own accessible website visit our Accessibility 101: Build your accessible website online course. How much does a website audit cost? The cost of a website audit can vary depending on how extensive it is and the tools you use to conduct it. On average an audit could cost anywhere from several hundred dollars, to a few thousand but this can and will vary. Even if you choose to run your own website audit, you may need access to paid apps or tools to perform it comprehensively. Before starting an audit, or hiring someone to run one for you, think about your priorities to be checked and your budget. Website audit apps If you've decided to run your own website audit or are doing it for someone else, there are a number of popular website audit apps to run you through from start to finish. Here are just a selection of some of the most popular and how they can help with your site audit. Google Analytics 4: This popular and free, with limitations, Google tool is a great way to understand more about your website traffic, and where it comes from. Understand if your high-priority pages are getting the most traffic. Semrush: This well-known SEO tool allows you to run a full SEO audit of your site, from on-page optimizations to backlinks. You can also audit your competitors to see how you compare or where you could do better. Ahrefs: Another well-used and loved SEO tool, that can help identify health and technical issues with your site from missing meta titles and descriptions, to 404s. Wix Analytics: Understand more about every part of your site, including website traffic and performance. Other popular site audit tools include Moz, Woorank and Sitebulb. Website audit checklist To help you visualize the big picture of a website audit, here is a simple checklist you can refer back to any time: Website performance : Check your page speed and Core Web Vitals SEO optimization : Isolate and update missing information Content SEO optimization : Prioritize quality and fill in the gaps Technical SEO issues : Pinpoint and fix User experience : Check functionality and navigation Website accessibility : Identify and resolve barriers to accessibility Website audit FAQ Can I run a website audit for free? Many of the tools that can be used for a website audit have free versions. However, a free subscription may limit the features and options you have access to which may limit the depth and scale of your audit. Also with the right website builder , in-built audit tools are often free to use. What are the best website audit tools? This really depends on what type of audit you want to run and the size of your site, as well as your budget. We're big fans of SEO audit tools, such as Ahrefs and Semrush. Most of Google's tools for auditing a site are easy to use and free, to a point—Google Search Console and PageSpeed Insights specifically. What is a technical audit of a website? A technical audit of a website involves a comprehensive examination of its backend infrastructure, code and performance to identify and address issues affecting its functionality, speed and search engine optimization. It assesses factors such as server configuration and its website architecture to ensure optimal performance, security and user experience. What is a content audit of a website? A content audit of a website is an organized analysis of its existing content to evaluate its quality, relevance and effectiveness. It involves reviewing all content assets, assessing their alignment with business goals and identifying areas for improvement. The goal is to optimize content strategy, improve the user experience and enhance the site's overall performance in search engines or social media channels.

Like anything in life, you only get out what you put in - websites not excluded. You can quickly learn how to make a Wix website with no thought or you can put in the time and effort to create a substantial online tool. Guess which one will yield better results? There are many ways to enhance a website such as adding engaging features, using noteworthy graphics, and telling a story. Holding triumphant though is something that can easily be overlooked: designing the website around the visitor. You can add as much in-depth info about the client as you’d like, but if the visitor isn’t compelled or guided in the right direction they’ll call it quits and hit the dreaded ‘x’ to close the tab. You can remedy this by creating a strong user interface that keeps the visitor engaged. The next five tips are some of the best website design practices that you can use today to create a solid foundation for a strong user interface on your websites: Keep it simple Guide the visitor Stay consistent High quality = High results Optimize for mobile 01. Keep it simple This first point is the most important, because if you have too many bells and whistles on your site or too many pages, you may confuse your visitors by creating a “sensory overload.” Especially in the modern age of the internet, simple websites are ever increasing in popularity. This is because simple website aren’t too overbearing with information and they help keep the visitor on track with the journey of the website. No doubt, some websites need a plethora of pages and a complex structure. However, most sites really don’t need much to become a powerful marketing tool. It’s important to be able to get straight to the point without confusing or distracting the visitor. 02. Guide the visitor You want to be able to point the visitor in the right direction so they view the important content that will help guide their actions. The top two ways to do this are: 1. Creating a page hierarchy 2. Using strong call to actions (CTAs) A page hierarchy is simply the way pages are set up and listed on the site - i.e. Main pages (the first pages you see on a menu) and subpages (the pages you typically see in the dropdown menus once you hover over the main pages). Page hierarchies are typically structured within the navigation menu. In our analogy, think of the navigation as the signs in a theme park pointing you in the right direction. The navigation menu is important because it’s one of the most used elements on a website and it’s where visitors look to view the main pages of a site. If you fail to add key pages to the navigation, you are failing to guide your visitors in the right direction. A call-to-action is an element on a website prompting the user to perform an action; typically a button leading to a prominent page. Strong CTA’s are very useful in reiterating where to guide your visitors throughout the site and they also create an urgency to perform the action. A simple, yet effective, CTA is a button in a frozen header because it is one of the first things a visitor will see and it follows them around while they’re browsing your website. 03. Stay consistent Style consistency is important to reinforce a strong brand image. A good place to start is the color scheme of the brand. You’ll usually see two or three colors being used by a company in their logo, website, ads, and prints. That’s because those core colors define the brand’s identity . Once you identify the core primary and secondary colors, start thinking about the different shades of each of those colors that can be used around the site. A good idea is to create a stylesheet to layout the brand’s colors to reference when designing th e website. Although you can use different shades of the core colors, the last thing you want to do is have the core colors being red and blue while using pink, orange, yellow, and purple scattered across the website. In addition to colors, the practice of being consistent also applies to graphics, font styles, logo files, and page layouts. 04. High-quality = High results As you’re all very familiar with, a lot of clients want the world for a few hundred bucks. While some requests are irrational, you can’t fault a company for trying to save money. There might be ways to shave off a few dollars, but you don’t want to skimp on what goes into your website; after all, it’s usually the strongest digital asset of a company. In fact, 75% of consumers admit to making judgements on a company’s credibility based on the company’s website design. How can you gain the trust of the majority of your website visitors? Use high-definition images that aren’t stretched or pixelated Keep elements appropriately spaced out from each other and don’t cram too much on a single page Hire a professional videographer to shoot a killer video, rather than using a laggy webcam in a poorly lit room Use visuals to explain the brand and to add to expand on the copy Even if there are budget limitations, there are some amazing resources out there, such as Unsplash (free, high-quality, commercial-use stock images) and Graphic River (low-cost icons and graphics). Don’t publish a site just because “it’ll do,” take the time to build something that you’re proud of and launch the website when you’re thrilled to show it to the world. 05. Optimize for mobile 85% of adults think that a company’s website, when viewed on a mobile device, should be as good or better than its desktop website. This is due to the constant and consistent growth of mobile web page views . Luckily for you, Wix has a super easy to use editor for both the desktop version and the mobile version of a website where you can modify one version without affecting the other. The layout of the mobile version of a website is equally as important as the desktop version, so be sure to give it your full attention.

Marketers and entrepreneurs often tout the expression, “Data is King.” It is—and it’s an oppressive king at that. With so much data at our fingertips, it can be difficult and tedious to navigate and interpret. You may be asking yourself, “What does this all really mean for my business? Am I looking at it the wrong way?” Enough people have these questions, that, these days, we’ve got AI doing the work. Artificial intelligence analytics (a.k.a., AI analytics) tools have become the go-to solution for a wide range of tasks, from figuring out how to make a Wix website meet its goals to wrapping your head around your customer behavior data. But the concept of AI analytics is still nebulous enough that it can be difficult to grasp. In this article, we're going to demystify AI analytics. We'll break down what it is, how you can put it to work for your business and the best AI data analytics tools available in the market right now. So, get ready to dive into the world of AI analytics and see how it can be a game-changer for your business. Want a website builder with some of the best AI capabilities on the market? Get started today with Wix. What is AI analytics? AI analytics is a type of business intelligence that blends the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning to extract insights from data that can help businesses make better decisions. It can help you see your operations, customers, competitors and market dynamics in a whole new light. AI analytics automates many of the tasks that data analysts traditionally perform, such as data cleaning, feature engineering and model building. This frees up data analysts to focus on more strategic tasks, such as developing new insights and using AI analytics to drive business decisions. AI in analytics can also help to streamline data analysis by funneling all data into one solution. This gives you a single view of your data, which makes it easier to identify patterns, trends and anomalies. How is AI analytics different from traditional analytics? Business tools that collect, summarize and visualize data have been on the market for years now, but until recently, the ability to pull insights from this information has depended on human analysis. Because AI analytics are machine-led, they deliver insights at a speed, accuracy and scale beyond what is possible with traditional methods. Other key differences between AI analytics and traditional analytics include: Data types: Whereas traditional analytic methods are limited in that they require structured data such as spreadsheets and databases, AI analytics can interpret semi-structured and unstructured data as well. Automation: Traditional analytics involve a significant amount of work, much of which is repetitive and tedious. AI analytics differ in that they automate data analysis tasks—like data cleaning, feature engineering and model building—and so require less manpower. Insights: Because traditional data analytics tools rely on human interpretation, they’re susceptible to guesswork, error and bias. AI analytics tools, on the other hand, rely on machine learning algorithms that are designed to process data objectively and consistently. How can AI analytics help my business? AI analytics provides actionable insights that can help you optimize operations, enhance customer experiences, reduce costs and ultimately drive growth and profitability. Let’s discuss a few common AI analytics use cases to give you a sense of how it can support your business. Customer insights Leveraging AI for customer analytics offers a comprehensive understanding of your customer base. This means it can unveil what products pique their interest, the timing of their purchasing tendencies and even their willingness to spend. Moreover, AI can expertly segment customers based on demographics and purchase history, giving you an intricate map of your clientele. But the power of AI analytics doesn't stop there. It can also detect potential customer churn by recognizing behavioral patterns. For example, AI may pick up on the fact that a customer is engaging less frequently, letting you know that you should take proactive steps to re-engage them, such as offering personalized incentives or targeted communication. Website management When it comes to website management , AI takes on the role of a vigilant overseer. It delves into behavioral analytics , tracking user actions on your site. From tracking bounce rates to time spent on pages to interactions with ads and CTAs, it leaves no stone unturned. This data can pinpoint structural issues like speed optimization problems that deter user engagement. Inventory management In retail and eCommerce, AI analytics can quickly and accurately interpret historical sales data, the seasonality of your business and market trends. With this information, you can better predict demand and avoid over- or understocking. Cost reduction In the cost-reduction vein, AI analytics can function like a team of financial experts that works tirelessly to ensure that your business operates efficiently and cost-effectively. It can help you identify areas where you can cut expenses, predict maintenance needs to prevent costly breakdowns, optimize your supply chain to reduce carrying costs and safeguard your financial transactions from potential fraud. Marketing campaign optimization AI analytics excels in real-time campaign performance analysis. It can meticulously track crucial metrics like click-through rates, conversion rates and customer engagement to keep your marketing campaigns on the right track. Moreover, AI brings a smart approach to resource allocation. It can identify the channels, platforms or ad types that deliver the best return on investment (ROI). This insight is like a compass, guiding you to distribute your budget effectively, maximizing the impact of your campaigns. But AI goes beyond conventional analysis; it’s a driver of innovation. Through A/B testing, it empowers you to experiment with different campaign elements. Subsequently, AI evaluates the results, highlighting which variations are outperforming the rest. 4 best AI tools for data analytics Take a look at four AI tools that are transforming data analysis and decision-making across industries. 01. Wix’s benchmarking tool Wix Analytics tracks things like website traffic , sales data and visitor behavior to help you identify opportunities to improve your website and achieve your business goals. One of the most powerful features of Wix Analytics is the AI-powered Benchmarks report. This tool compares your website's performance to other websites in your industry and of similar size. It synthesizes the information into digestible graphs and charts to help you understand your essential web analytics . It also provides tips for improving on areas in which your site is underperforming. Build a website with AI with Wix. 02. RapidMiner RapidMiner is a data analysis tool that can read many forms of data, including texts, photos and audio files. Insights and predictive models help you understand and solve your business issues. RapidMiner offers an intuitive user experience with a drag-and-drop framework, making it an accessible AI option for users of any skill set. 03. Tableau Tableau is an analytics and data visualization platform that helps you easily see and understand your data. Tableau’s Ask Data feature allows you to ask questions and receive answers in the form of quick graphic responses. Tableau doesn’t require any knowledge of coding and makes it easy to create reports and share desktop and mobile analytics . 04. Qlik Sense Qlik Sense is an associative data model with a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, ensuring that even beginners can effortlessly establish connections among vast sets of data. Leveraging machine learning, it continuously enhances visualizations and analytics, tailoring them to your specific requirements. Qlik Sense acts as a data-indexing wizard, comprehensively mapping out relationships within your data, facilitating seamless exploration and search capabilities. With smart data preparation, you're equipped to establish an array of data connections from multiple sources with limitless possibilities.

Web design is a nuanced blend of creativity and functionality, where every pixel matters. To create a website that seamlessly merges visual allure with user-friendly navigation requires a delicate balance. To help you strike it, we’ve put together a list of 10 web design best practices for you to keep in mind while you learn how to make a Wix website . Ready to put your website design skills to action? Start designing your site now. Web design best practices Maintain visual consistency Develop a clear visual hierarchy Design with ample white space Make the navigation intuitive Avoid burdening pages with lots of text Create call-to-action buttons that stand out Use a mobile-friendly design Focus on website speed Design with accessibility in mind Leave a lasting impression 01. Maintain visual consistency Maintaining consistency in your layout, color scheme, font usage and imagery helps users feel comfortable and focused on the reason they came to your website in the first place. Because it helps to define your brand identity, visual consistency can even foster feelings of familiarity and trust in visitors. The Site Design panel in the Wix Editor makes it easy to maintain visual consistency, because the AI designer will automatically adjust the entire site to accommodate your choices (learn more about how to design a website with AI ). In the site theme section, you can either choose preset color palettes and text themes, or build one to fit your existing brand guidelines. In the page background section, you can apply a color, image or video to every page background in your site. Finally, the page transition section enables you to choose how your site transitions as visitors click from page to page. Stick to a color palette: Limit your color choices to a cohesive palette of three to five colors that complement each other and reflect your brand's personality. Consistently use these colors throughout your website, marketing materials and social media. Limit your font variety: Choose one or two fonts for your website and stick to them across all pages. Ensure that the selected fonts are legible and align with your brand's tone and style. Align imagery with brand style: Use images that resonate with your brand's personality and style. Consider using consistent filters, visual themes or image types to maintain a cohesive look and feel. 02. Develop a clear hierarchy In the context of web design , hierarchy plays a vital role in guiding users through a website and ensuring that they can quickly gather the most critical information. By strategically arranging content based on their importance and significance, you can create a visual flow that aligns with typical reading behavior. This ensures that even those who don’t read every word or don’t scroll to the end of your page will capture the important details. Once you’ve determined what is most important, use these website design tips to make the hierarchy clear: Define your objectives: To determine the hierarchy of a webpage, you need to clearly define its objectives and rank them in terms of importance. The hierarchy of the page should align with that ranking, and the dominant elements of the hierarchy should help you meet the most important objectives. Put the most important content at the top of the page: The top area of the page (a.k.a., the above-the-fold area) sets the expectations for the rest of the page. Visitors understand what the page is all about by scanning the content at the top. As a result, the content at the top of the page has a much better chance of being noticed by the user than content that is available on scroll. Use headers, color, element size and visual cues: In addition to layout and positioning, designers use various visual elements to make a site’s hierarchy apparent. Headers help to structure and label content, while color and element size can be used to create focal points. Utilize visual design tools like color contrast and white space to guide users' attention to the most important elements on the page. Learn more: What is web design? 03. Design with ample white space Think of what happens when you enter a cluttered room—you might feel stressed, distracted and overwhelmed. Several studies have shown that that's true for many of us. A cluttered website can have an equally unpleasant effect. Ensuring that each fold has ample white space (a.k.a., negative space, or the empty or unmarked areas between design elements) can help to reduce visual noise and offer users a more comfortable browsing experience. These tips can help you follow this web design best practice: Group content strategically: White space serves as a valuable tool in grouping content and distinguishing between related and unrelated elements. The principle of proximity reinforces this concept, stating that people perceive things that are close to each other as related. By strategically placing elements near each other, designers create visual associations, making it easier for users to comprehend relationships and navigate the content seamlessly. Utilize grid-based layouts: Grids are a foundational element of modern web design , as they help designers distribute elements (including white space) on a webpage. Wix’s Strips and Columns can be helpful in building a grid for your site. Set margins and padding: Properly sized margins and padding contribute to a balanced and visually pleasing design. Define appropriate margins and padding around your content, ensuring that important elements have enough space to breathe. 04. Make the navigation intuitive According to Jakob’s Law of Internet User Experience , users develop mental models of how websites function based on their past experience. Deviating too much from those models can confuse them and hinder their ability to find what they need. Therefore, your navigation system—the elements that enable users to move around a website—isn’t the place to get creative. It should be as familiar and predictable as possible to avoid confusing visitors and hindering their ability to find what they need. Here are a few examples of conventions you should stick to in order to adhere to this web design best practice: Follow the three-click rule: An intuitive navigation system is tailored to the needs of its users. For that reason, you need to define the end goals of your visitors before designing your website . Once you do that, use the three-click rule to make sure that visitors can achieve each goal without unnecessary complication. This rule states that visitors should be able to find desired information in less than three mouse clicks. If you’re struggling to make this work, consider building a mega menu , which accommodates more sections and subsections than a regular menu. Incorporate breadcrumbs: If your site has a lot of layers to it, breadcrumbs can prevent users from getting lost. This navigation aid shows the path a user took to get to their position within a website’s structure. By displaying the navigation path, you make it easy for them to get a sense of your site structure. Use a hamburger menu for mobile navigation: To optimize mobile sites, consider reducing your website header to your logo and a hamburger menu button (three stacked horizontal lines). This is a commonly used tool to hide menus and save valuable screen space while providing easy access to navigation options. Use clear link labels: Make sure links and category labels are descriptive and straightforward, conveying their purpose without ambiguity. Avoid using jargon or confusing terms. 05. Avoid burdening pages with lots of text When browsing online, people tend to scan rather than read in-depth . For that reason, browsers often have a low tolerance for text-heavy content. That doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t include a lot of text on your site (though you definitely should limit it to the necessities). What it does mean is you have to optimize text for skim-readers so they can easily find the content that is aligned with their goals. Here are a few practical recommendations on how to achieve that: Chunk long blocks of text: Large, continuous blocks of text hinder easy scanning. Breaking them into smaller, more digestible sections, such as paragraphs with 100 to 200 words and 50 to 75 characters per line , helps users quickly find the information they need. Pair text with visuals: Pairing text with relevant visuals is a standard best practice for web design because countless studies have demonstrated the picture superiority effect , which says that people understand and remember pictures better than words. This means that visuals can actually make it easier for people to process, understand and even remember your content. Use clear, descriptive subheadings: You’ll notice that almost all of the articles on the Wix Blog make frequent use of subheadings. We don’t just do that for the SEO benefits; we also do it because our articles tend to be quite long. By implementing clear and descriptive subheadings, we aim to enhance the readability and organization of our posts. 06. Make your calls to action prominent Calls to action, or CTAs, are vital for encouraging website visitors to convert, as they help to guide users toward your desired end goal. For maximum impact, make sure your CTAs are prominently displayed and clearly distinguishable from the surrounding content. Position them strategically throughout your page, placing them in areas where users are most likely to take action. For instance, product landing pages often feature a CTA button multiple times so that visitors can make a purchase the second they’re convinced. Here are a few more tips to take into account: Write actionable labels for CTAs: The label you use for CTAs should motivate your customers to convert. Instead of using vague labels like "More" labels, use verbs like “Buy,” “Subscribe” or “Sign Up.” Design them with contrasting colors: Make sure the CTA button color stands out from the background and surrounding elements. Use animation: Consider adding subtle animations or hover effects to make the CTA more engaging. 07. Use a mobile-friendly design In 2022, over 60% of the global internet population used a mobile device to go online. Because of that, Google actually prioritizes sites with quality mobile versions. With those factors in mind, it’s important to optimize your site for the small screen. Tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test and Wix’s Mobile Editor are helpful for optimizing a website, but you need to know the following in order to make the most of those tools: Thumb-friendly design: Thumb-based interactions are much less precise than a cursor. Therefore, buttons and other interactive elements should be large enough ( around 44 x 44 px ) that they can be tapped with a thumb. Use fonts that can easily be read on a small screen: Ensure that the font you choose to use for the body copy of your website looks good on a small mobile device screen. Scale it to the size of 14px (minimum recommended size of body text) and see if you can read the text comfortably. If you cannot, consider changing the typeface to a more readable one. Remove unnecessary visual details: Try to hide elements that could negatively impact site performance. For example, it's recommended to avoid fancy animated effects on mobile devices because they require more computational power and don’t work well for mobile devices. 08. Focus on website speed Slow-loading websites frustrate users and increase bounce rates, leading to potential loss of traffic and customers. According to Kissmetrics , about half of users expect a website to load in two seconds or less and will leave if it takes longer. Google also considers site speed when determining site rank in search results, so making yours faster can help to increase its visibility. Here are a few practical recommendations for increasing site speed: Compress file sizes: Using modern file formats like WebP and AVIF or compressing images with tools like TinyPNG both help to reduce load times without compromising image quality. Implement lazy loading: Lazy loading delays the loading of images and other non-essential elements until the user scrolls down to view them. This reduces the initial page load time and improves the user experience, especially on long pages with many images. Use a content delivery network (CDN): A CDN takes your static files (images, CSS, JavaScript, etc.) and serves them on the servers closest to the user's physical location. This reduces latency and speeds up page loading, resulting in a smoother user experience. Note: Wix constantly updates its infrastructure so your site loads as quickly as possible. This guide to website optimization can help you improve your site performance even further. 09. Design with accessibility in mind Website accessibility is not just a nice-to-have feature; it's an ethical and practical necessity that benefits both users and businesses. According to the CDC , about 27% of Americans have a disability. That means you could be preventing a quarter of consumers from engaging with your site if you don’t make it accessible. Here are some practical recommendations to ensure accessible design: Ensure a strong color contrast: Color contrast is the difference in brightness between foreground and background colors. The contrast ratio is the difference in contrast between foreground and background. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) says that a contrast ratio between text and its of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text is necessary for it to be visible to low-visibility users. You can use tools like Webaim Contrast Checker to check color contrast compliance. Use alternative text: People with vision impairments use screen readers to process the information on a website. These tools rely on alternative text, or alt text , to translate images and videos to their users. Therefore, adding captions and alt text to images is vital. Additionally, captions as well as video transcripts or close captioning are necessary for people with hearing impairments. Enable keyboard navigation: Some users may have difficulty using a mouse due to motor impairments, so ensuring that all interactive elements can be accessed and controlled using the "Tab" key on a keyboard is essential. 10. Leave a lasting impression While visual consistency and intuitive navigation are crucial for creating a seamless user experience, it’s important to find opportunities for unconventional design choices. Injecting creativity and uniqueness into your site can be a powerful way to set yourself apart from competitors and establish a distinct brand identity. Check out these ideas for leaving a lasting impression: Try out asymmetrical layouts: Experiment with non-traditional, asymmetrical layouts to add visual interest and make your website feel dynamic and engaging. Implement microinteractions: Subtle, interactive elements throughout your website—such as hover effects, animated buttons or playful loading animations—can make the user experience a bit more fun without distracting the user. Make your own graphics: Use custom illustrations that reflect your brand's personality and story. These illustrations can be hand-drawn or digitally created in a distinctive style that sets your website apart from others.

Let’s say that a good friend tells you about a website with great prices for a product you use regularly. But when you visit the site, there’s no way in. You can’t read the headings, find contact info—or read the content because there isn’t enough site contrast. These barriers to website accessibility keep people with disabilities from using your clients’ services, making purchases or simply enjoying a website. And it’s all in how the site content is written and organized. In addition to compliance with international regulations, building accessible sites for your clients can be an important way for them to develop their business. Many website designers aren’t aware of the diversity of user abilities online, and the breadth of their disabilities. In fact, 17% of the population needs some assistance. This article will help you follow the best practices for website accessibility so you meet this widespread demand. Then, consider learning more about how to make a website accessible or how to make a Wix website . 11 steps to help your website meet accessibility best practices 1. Prepare your website for screen readers 2. Create your site structure 3. Write alt text for images and galleries 4. Use the right color palette 5. Choose clear fonts 6. Reduce unnecessary motion 7. Enable visual indicators 8. Make videos and audio accessible 9. Set the site language 10. Make documents accessible 11. Add a website accessibility statement 01. Prepare websites for screen readers Screen readers transform text into speech and help those who are visually impaired by allowing them to navigate websites with a keyboard. There are several ways you can prepare websites for screen readers , including defining the site's language, changing the site’s order to be more logical and adding alt text to images. Wix is optimized for the most common readers including NVDA, Voiceover and Talkback. 02. Create the site structure The hierarchy of your clients’ sites, meaning the content structure, helps web browsers and screen readers understand how the site is organized, and how to present the content. You can organize the site structure by adding tags to the different content elements on your client’s site including headings (H1), second-level headings (H2), paragraphs, lists, quotes, images and so on. You can add descriptive heading tags to each text element, which is also important for SEO. If you're not sure where to start, learn how to design a website with AI , which can serve as a second pair of eyes. 03. Write alt text for images and galleries It’s important to write alt text for visitors who use screen readers to browse websites. Alt text describes the appearance and function of an image or gallery on the screen. For example, if your client has an image of a house on the website, you should write “White house with blue shutters,” for your alt text. This text helps screen readers describe images to visitors who are unable to see them. Adding alt text to site images is also great for SEO. 0 4. Use the right color palette Visitors with limited vision might find it difficult to tell the difference between the foreground and background of your clients’ pages. To increase website accessibility we recommend using specific color contrast ratios between text and background, graphics and user interface components and other contrast ratios to conform to Level AAA regulations . Use a color palette generator to help you. Learn more about the best color palette generator tools . 05. Choose clear fonts Choosing clear fonts for your client sites can make all the difference. Fonts that are easier to read and larger are better for website accessibility. There’s no perfect font for website accessibility, but the US Department of Health and Human Services suggests using familiar fonts like Times New Roman, Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica and Calibri. In addition, use text elements to write content rather than images, reduce formatting and use a font color that has a high contrast with the background. 06. Reduce unnecessary motion It’s confusing for most of us when websites have elements that move at different speeds. And it’s even worse for those with motion-related disorders, such as motion sickness, epilepsy and ADHD. For website accessibility, we recommend reducing unnecessary motion. You can do this by limiting autoplay, avoiding parallax scrolling and enabling visitors to disable motion if they want . 07. Enable visual indicators Visual indicators or “focus” are blue rectangles that appear when visitors use a keyboard to navigate your client sites. This tool allows visitors to see their location on the page and guides them through the site’s navigation. When building a site with code, you’ll need to manually code “focus” with the right color contrast. But if you’re using Wix, you can enable visual indicators to add focus to your client sites automatically. 08. Make videos and audio accessible If you’ve added audio and video to your client’s site, you can make them accessible by adding subtitles and a transcript . You can also add an audio description of the visuals on the screen. 09. Set the site language Website visitors with disabilities often have their own preferences for assistive technology, such as alternative keyboards, switches or scanning software. You don’t have to create special pages to be accessible for them. But it’s important to set the site’s language in “Settings”, for example, “English - United States,” so that assistive technologies can interpret your site correctly. These technologies then adjust the accent, pitch and speaking rate of the content to suit the defined language. 10. Make documents accessible If your clients have documents on their websites, make them accessible so more visitors can use them. Whether the document is in HTML, Word or a PDF, you can make it more accessible by using headings, lists, useful hyperlinks, alt text and indicating the document’s language. For PDFs, a predefined action automates many tasks, checks accessibility, and provides instructions for items that require manual fixes. Make your PDF files and Word documents accessible with these step-by-step guides. 11. Add a website accessibility statement Feature an accessibility statement on your client websites that describes your clients’ policy, goals and accomplishments related to accessibility.* Make the website accessibility statement easy to find on their sites by linking it to a visible button. You may want to create a separate page for it, or add it to a lightbox that pops up when visitors arrive on site. *These guidelines about accessibility statements should not be taken as legal advice; they are only recommendations. We advise that you seek legal advice to help you understand and to assist you in the creation of your accessibility statement.

For years, Wix has been working on solutions and tools to help businesses enjoy creative freedom online. Whether you owned a restaurant and needed a sophisticated way to collect reservations, or you were a brand owner looking to launch your first eCommerce store—Wix had something for you. Now, you can access any of Wix’s tools from anywhere on the web with Wix Headless , a cutting-edge API and convenience SDK(node), backed by enterprise-grade performance, security and reliable infrastructure. True to our mission, Wix Headless lets you freely access the same business management platform and services that power businesses on Wix, from any app or website that you’re building. For example, consider the Wix and Netlify integration. Netlify was our first design partner, making use of Wix Headless to give their users access to Wix’s powerful scheduling and booking services. Keep reading to discover how Wix Headless works. How can Wix Headless benefit you? While helpful for learning how to make a Wix website , an all-in-one, no-code site-builder often comes with limitations that can hinder your business's growth. Wix Headless addresses these common pain points in the following ways: Future-proofing : Wix Headless offers a flexible and scalable solution that grows with your business, supported by Wix's comprehensive range of commerce, business and marketing tools. This ensures that as your business evolves or expands to new platforms, you won't need to spend time and money rebuilding critical infrastructure from scratch. Optimized frontend design : Traditional no-code or low-code site generators often limit your design choices, forcing you to conform to the decisions made by their developers. However, front-ends should not be "one-size-fits-all," as tailored optimizations may be necessary for specific use cases. Wix Headless empowers you to craft your unique frontend design, resulting in a cleaner and more optimized user experience, while still benefiting from the convenience of Wix's Business Services and robust management dashboard. Comprehensive business management dashboard : Wix Headless provides an all-inclusive back office system that enables businesses to manage and monitor their operations efficiently. The intuitive dashboard offers a centralized location for tracking key performance indicators, managing customer data and overseeing sales and marketing efforts. This powerful tool ensures that you have complete control over your business, allowing you to make data-driven decisions and streamline processes. Streamlined API integration : Wix Headless consolidates a wide range of backend services into a single, holistic API, simplifying the process of managing your business. This eliminates the need to rely on multiple APIs with varying billing cycles and integration complexities. The Wix Headless API includes powerful modules for essential business functions, such as eCommerce , Bookings , Events and Pricing Plans . By offering a comprehensive suite of services within a single API, Wix Headless simplifies your development process and streamlines your business operations. And, if your project requires additional APIs, you are free to integrate them as needed. Wix Headless in action: WhatsApp chatbot integration Wix Headless can be used in a multitude of ways, from creating more engaging shopping experiences across multiple devices, to delivering different types of content to diverse user groups. Here’s a more specific scenario: Imagine you own an online store and want to provide a unique shopping experience for your customers through a popular messaging platform like WhatsApp. Wix Headless allows you to build a chatbot that seamlessly integrates with your Wix store, enabling customers to browse products and add items to their cart directly within the WhatsApp platform. To achieve this chatbot integration, you can refer to this code as an example. Here’s a brief overview of the key components of this chatbot integration: wix_client.mjs : Sets up the Wix API client and handles OAuth authentication, enabling the chatbot to communicate with the Wix store through the Headless API. message_handler.mjs : Handles incoming WhatsApp messages and user interactions, managing the chat flow. products_api.mjs : Retrieves the available products from the Wix store. token_management.mjs : Manages user tokens and authentication for the Wix API, allowing the chatbot to interact with the Wix store on behalf of individual users. The chatbot guides customers through the entire shopping process, providing a product catalog view, individual product information (including images) and options to add items to the cart or proceed to the checkout. Here’s a breakdown of the WhatsApp chatbot’s flow, demonstrating how the Wix Headless API is utilized: The chatbot displays the product catalog, allowing users to browse available products. This is made possible through the Wix Headless API, which retrieves the product information from the Wix store. Users can select a product by sending the corresponding number. The chatbot then displays detailed information and an image of the selected product. Users can add the selected product to their cart. This action uses the Wix Headless API to manage the user's cart within the Wix store. The chatbot confirms the product has been added to the cart and displays the current cart items. Customers can either proceed to checkout or return to the product list to continue shopping. When users are ready to check out, the chatbot provides a link to complete the payment process on the store's website. The Wix Headless API is used to create a checkout session and generate the corresponding payment URL. Here's a bit more technical detail on how this all works: The Wix Headless API is used to fetch the list of available products in the store. This is done using the getAvailableProducts() function in the products_api.mjs file, which calls the wixClient.products.queryProducts().find() method. The chatbot maintains the state of each user's interaction with the store, such as their current stage in the shopping flow, the products they have viewed and the items they have added to their cart. This state management is implemented using the getUserState() , setUserState() and removeUserState() functions in the state_manager.mjs file. The handleMessage() function in the message_handler.mjs file is the main entry point for processing incoming messages from WhatsApp users . It uses the user's current state to determine how to respond to their input, such as displaying a list of products, showing details about a specific product or adding an item to their cart. To add items to the user's cart, the handleAddToCart() function calls the wixClient.currentCart.addToCurrentCart() method. When the user is ready to check out, the handleCheckout() function creates a checkout session using the wixClient.currentCart.createCheckoutFromCurrentCart() method and provides the user with a link to complete their purchase on the Wix store's website. This example showcases the limitless potential of Wix's Business Solutions when combined with popular messaging platforms like WhatsApp. By allowing customers to complete the entire shopping experience within the familiar interface of WhatsApp, you could better drive user engagement and increase conversions. Empower your business with Wix Headless This innovative platform empowers you to craft exceptional, captivating experiences across diverse channels, leveraging the comprehensive capabilities, robustness and user-friendliness of Wix's Business Services. Simultaneously, Wix Headless ensures you retain complete authority over your brand identity, data management and customer relationships. To get started with Wix Headless, check that you have a Wix premium plan and follow our guide for getting set up .

Turn your ideas into a website you love with Wix →   Bookkeeping websites are essential tools for both business owners and bookkeepers. If you're running a business or offering bookkeeping services, having a bookkeeping website can significantly enhance your bookkeeping business . Why is a bookkeeping website important? For business owners, it simplifies the process of managing finances by providing real-time insights into cash flow and profitability. For bookkeepers, it's a space to showcase expertise, attract clients and offer services efficiently. Get started creating your website with a website builder like Wix today.   Building a website for your business, passion project or side hustle should be easy and exciting. With Wix, you can customize and launch a professional website in minutes, no coding needed. Wix is all about simplifying the process so you can focus on what matters most–bringing your ideas to life. So why wait? Let’s get started on creating the website you’ve always wanted. Why every business needs a bookkeeping website A dedicated bookkeeping website is a necessity for small businesses looking to stay competitive and efficient. Some of the main reasons for creating this type of website  include:  Streamlined operations A bookkeeping website can automate many of the tedious tasks associated with financial management. From invoicing clients to tracking expenses, these processes can be managed more efficiently online.  Use a free invoice generator  for your business.  Real-time insights With a bookkeeping website, you have access to up-to-date analytics at your fingertips. This means you can make informed decisions quickly, without having to wait for monthly reports or manual updates. Use Wix analytics  to understand how your website performs.  Improved customer service By providing clients with access to their financial information through a secure portal on your website, you enhance transparency and trust. Clients appreciate the ability to view their transaction history and account status whenever they need to. Accessibility A website means that your financial data is accessible from anywhere, at any time. This is particularly beneficial for business owners who travel frequently or have multiple locations. Learn more: What is a website? , Benefits of a website Essential components of a bookkeeping website A bookkeeping website must be well-organized and feature certain key components so that it meets the needs of both the owner and clients. Here are some of the main elements that should be included: Service listings:  Clearly outline the bookkeeping services you offer. This could include financial reporting, tax preparation, payroll processing or any other relevant services. Customer testimonials:  Positive reviews from satisfied clients can greatly enhance your credibility. Displaying testimonials prominently on your website can help potential clients feel more confident in choosing your services. Contact information:  Make it easy for visitors to get in touch with you. Include an email address, phone number, and a contact form directly on your site. Privacy policy:  Trust is paramount when dealing with financial information. A clear privacy policy reassures clients that their data is protected. Secure data handling : Ensure that your website has SSL encryption to secure the transmission of sensitive data like credit card details and personal information. This means you’ll need to create a bookkeeping website with enterprise-grade website security .  Bookkeeping website design and user experience When it comes to bookkeeping websites, design and user experience (UX) are pivotal for engaging visitors and converting them into clients. Here's how you can design your website  for optimum user engagement: Intuitive navigation : Your website should be easy to navigate, with a clear menu structure that allows users to find information quickly. Mobile friendly design : With more people using mobile devices to access the internet, your bookkeeping website must look good and function well on smartphones and tablets. Learn more about how to make a website mobile-friendly . Fast loading times:  A slow website can frustrate users and lead them to leave. Optimize images (when you create a site with Wix, images are auto compressed to Webp for better performance) and streamline code to ensure quick load times. Professional look:  Use a clean, professional design that reflects the reliability of your bookkeeping services. Avoid cluttered layouts and overwhelming color schemes. Use templates:  Free bookkeeping website templates  can provide a good starting point. Choose one that is clean, professional and easy to customize. Bookkeeping website content and SEO  To attract the right audience to your bookkeeping website, you need a solid content and SEO strategy. Here's how to approach it: Keyword research:  Identify keywords related to your services like "best online bookkeeping services" or "virtual bookkeeping jobs" and incorporate them into your content. Quality content:  Write informative articles and blog posts that answer common questions and provide value to your readers. Use a blog maker  to start creating a blog .  Learn more: Website vs blog Regular updates:  Keep your content fresh with regular updates, which can help improve your search engine rankings. How to create a bookkeeping website Creating a bookkeeping website doesn't have to be difficult. Some of the main steps involved in the process include: Choose a domain name :  Select a domain that is easy to remember and reflects your brand. Select a hosting provider : Look for reliable web hosting  with good customer support and uptime . Pick a website builder : Platforms like Wix offer user-friendly tools to build your website without needing to code. You can also learn how to design a website with AI  by usi ng an   AI website builder . Learn more about some of the best AI website builders . Choose a website builder that allows you to make fast pivots with your business needs. If one day to the next, you need to add events or an online store, make sure your website builder makes that possible for you. - Esin D. Habif, Product Marketing Lead Outbound at Wix Customize your design : Use the website templates  available on your chosen platform to start shaping the look of your site. Add your content:  Incorporate the essential components we discussed earlier, such as service listings and contact information. Learn more: How to create a website  from scratch Selecting the right bookkeeping software integrations for your website Integrating the right bookkeeping software into your website is crucial for efficient financial management. Here's what to consider when choosing what to use: Compatibility:  Ensure the software integrates seamlessly with your website platform. Features:  Look for software that offers comprehensive features tailored to your business needs. Security:  Choose software with robust security measures to protect sensitive financial data. User-friendly interface : The software should be easy for both you and your clients to use. Explore the Wix App market  for bookkeeping solutions for your site.