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The perfect domain is just a click away: claim your domain →   When it comes to learning how to make a website , understanding the differences between a domain and a website is important in helping you choose the right domain name for your business or brand. A domain name is basically your address on the internet. It is what users type into their browser's address bar to reach your site. A website, on the other hand, is a collection of web pages that are accessible through the internet. It includes all the content, images and functionalities that users interact with when they enter the domain name or URL for that site. Buy a domain name with Wix. What is a domain? A domain is a fundamental component of your online branding and website. It serves as the unique address where users can find your website online. A domain name consists of several parts, including the top-level domain (TLD) and the second-level domain (SLD). The TLD is the suffix at the end of a domain name, such as . com, .org, or .net. The SLD is the part that comes before the TLD and usually represents your brand or business name. Learn more: TLD list What is a domain name?  For instance, if you own a business called Waggles Doggy Daycare, you might register a domain like www.wagglesdoggydaycare.com through GoDaddy or similar providers. This becomes your unique web address, allowing customers to easily find you online. When choosing a domain, prioritize one that aligns with your brand and is easy for customers to remember. A domain should reflect your business and make it simple for people to find you online. Einat Shafir, Product Manager at Wix.com Within this, the Domain Name System (DNS) plays a critical role in managing domains. It translates human-friendly domain names into IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network. This system ensures that when someone types your domain name into their browser, they are directed to your website. Buy a .com domain What is a website? A website is a collection of interconnected web pages that are accessible via the internet, providing information and services to users. Learn more: What is a website? Websites are made up of various elements, including web pages, images, videos and interactive features. Each web page is a document that can contain text, graphics and links to other pages or sites. When users enter your domain name into their browser, the browser requests the web pages from your website's server. The server then sends the requested pages back to the browser, which displays them for users to view and interact with. A website can range from a simple one-page site to complex platforms with multiple sections and functionalities. For example, an e-commerce site might include product listings, shopping carts and payment gateways. Each component works together to provide a seamless user experience. Build your site quickly with ready-made web templates or get a polished, custom look with a website designer . Domain vs website: what are the key differences? So just what are the differences between a domain and website? A domain is like the address of your house, while a website is the house itself. The domain directs users to your website, where they can access content and services. Without a domain, users would not have an easy way to find your website. A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the complete web address used to access a specific page on your website. It includes the domain name along with additional path information that directs users to particular content within your site. For example, in the URL " https://www.example.com/about ," "example.com" is the domain, while "/about" specifies a particular page on your site. Learn more: Domain vs URL Third Level Domains, often known as subdomains , are prefixes added to your main domain name. They help organize different sections of your site or create separate sites under one main domain. For instance, "blog.example.com" could be a subdomain dedicated to blog content. Do I need a domain if I have a website? Yes, you need a domain to make your website accessible on the internet. Without a domain, users would not have an easy way to find or access your site. If you create a website with a website builder like Wix, you can get a customized domain name free with a paid plan. Create a free website and you get an un-customized domain. Domain vs website FAQ: Do I need a domain to have a website? Not always. You can create a website using a free subdomain provided by a website builder, but having your own domain makes your site look professional and easier to remember. Does buying a domain mean you have a website? No. Buying a domain only gives you the web address. You still need to build and host a website to display content on that domain. What is the difference between a website URL and a domain? A domain is the main address of your site, like example.com . A URL is the full web address that includes the domain plus any specific pages, like example.com/about . Who actually owns a domain? The person or organization who registers the domain owns it, but ownership is tied to registration fees and renewal. If you stop paying, the domain can be claimed by someone else. Are domain name and website name the same? Not necessarily. A domain name is your site’s address online, while a website name is the title or brand of your site. Sometimes they match, but they can be different.

Your company name is arguably a sacred part of your business. Whether you're drafting a business plan or creating a business website , you know that your business name will need to be at the center of each of these important components. With this in mind, you’ll want to protect your business name against others potentially using and misusing it. To help you determine the best way to register a business name, this guide will walk you through the process and provide you with insight into each option. Select a business name Before you can register a business name, you’ll need to come up with a solid name, which is an essential part of starting a business . While finding the right name takes some creativity and research, the process may not begin the same way for everyone. You might already know that whichever name you come up with, it has to reflect the types of products or services you offer. For example, a nail technician will most likely highlight the word nail in their business name, especially since that’s the core of their work identity. Then there are those whose businesses may be broader or expect to grow and diversify. In both cases, it’s recommended to follow these guidelines on how to name a business from scratch so that you can come up with one that checks all the right boxes. You can also explore store names to help you land on one. Here are the main factors you’ll need to consider: Use a business name generator A company name generator lets you get a head start on the naming process by automatically generating a handful of best company names for you. You can use the options as ideas and modify them to your likening. To use this tool, just type three descriptive words about your business into the search bar. Try to focus on industry-specific descriptive terms when feeding words into the generator, such as: Fitness: Try body , mind and health . Restaurant: Think fresh , market and gourmet . Craftsperson: Emphasize artisan , folk and handmade in your search. Designer: Attribute to concepts like, modern , vintage or edgy . Be original Now that you have a long list of business name ideas, use your personal preferences and professional instincts to narrow down your options. First and foremost, your business name should be original so that it can stand out against your competitors. Ideally, people will come to recognize your unique name and instantly connect it to your brand, which can help you down the road if you choose to register your business name and trademark it. Keep it simple Whichever original name you choose, your customers will need to know how to write it down or type it into a search engine. With that in mind, use a name that is easy to remember and spell. That way there won’t be any confusion or misspellings on their part, as well as by future partners and suppliers for your branded merchandise and dealings. Once you’ve decided on a choice, you may want to operate as DBA and test out the name until you make it official. When you're ready, it’s time to move on to the next step: registering your business name. How to register a business name Now that you have a strong name for your business, it’s time to make it official. Registering your business name is key to protecting your company or brand so no one else can use it. While this guide focuses on the process in the US, if you’re in another country, check with your local government agency for more details. Depending on your business structure and the state where you operate in the U.S., there are several ways to register your company name. Each method has its own purpose, so it’s important to understand the requirements and benefits before moving forward. Choose your entity name Pick a DBA name Buy a domain name Trademark your business name Register with state and local agencies Secure your social media handles 01. Selecting an entity name One method of registering a business name is by filling out the required paperwork for becoming a business entity. The entity name you choose will be the legal name of your business. You will have to sign every official document and contract under this name as required by state rules. Once you decide on what type of business you want to form, whether that’s an unincorporated business (like an LLC) or corporation, you must file registration papers with the appropriate Secretary of State’s office, a Business Bureau or a Business Agency, along with your chosen legal name. Furthermore, state laws prohibit companies from registering a name that’s already in use by another firm and from using certain phrases or words . This is why doing an entity business name search and researching the rules and regulations per state is crucial throughout the process. With that being said, corporation suffixes such as Inc or Co don’t have to feel intimidating as you build a brand. In fact, many of us can trace back our earliest and possibly most enduring encounter with entity names in nostalgic places like the cartoon Looney Tunes and its fictional Acme Corporation. Interestingly, this has left a positive connotation in terms of brand image, showing that entity names can serve to strengthen brand authority. 02. Choosing a DBA name Alternatively, you can choose a Doing Business As name, also known as a DBA. This allows you to do business as a name other than your own or entity name. It’s a good option if you’re a sole proprietor and want to register your business under a name other than your own. In the same line, corporations and LLCs may prefer to use a name that’s different than the one they filed with their legal paperwork (i.e. Fresh Foods Inc. can register their DBA as Fresh Foods). While it doesn’t provide legal protection, most local and state governments require that you register a business name in some form or another. And with a DBA, you’d also be eligible for a federal tax ID number (EIN) and can open a business bank account under it. Registering a business name as a DBA can boost your company strategy and the ways in which you conduct business. 03. Buy your domain name For some small business owners , registering a domain name for your business name is the final step of the naming process. Even if you’re in the early stages of creating a website for your new business, you should learn how to buy a domain name as soon as possible to prevent another business from acquiring it. Keep in mind, however, that registering a domain name does not replace legal name registration or trademarking, which are crucial steps to protect your business identity. A best practice is to use your business name as your domain name so that customers can easily identify and find your business online. But first, you’ll need to conduct a domain name search to make sure that yours is available. Once you’ve got your domain name , you can register it with Wix for as long as you need it, and be ready for when you connect it to your site. 04. Trademark your business name While business names are registered at a state level, when you trademark a business name you take one step further toward protecting your company mark on a national level. Let’s take a deeper dive into what that entails. Under the Lanham Act, also known as the Trademark Act of 1946 , activities such as trademark infringement, dilution of a famous mark and false advertising are prohibited by law. Any word, phrase, logo or symbol that is identified or distinguished by a trademark, such as Betty Crocker, Google or Ford, is entitled to federal judicial protection against infringement. In order to be eligible for trademark protection, your company mark must be “in use in commerce and it must be distinctive,” according to the Act. If you meet the requirements, you may file an application to trademark your business name through the United States Patent and Trademark Office , where you will need to pay a processing fee starting from $250 per class of goods and services. Before you can officially trademark a business name, double check yours against the official database by the USPTO . 05. Register a business name with state and local agencies Registering with state and local agencies helps ensure your business meets all legal requirements beyond just entity registration. Some industries like food services, healthcare or financial services may need special licenses and permits to operate. States often require businesses to register for sales tax, employer identification numbers (EIN) and other tax-related accounts if they hire employees or sell taxable goods. Check with your state’s business office and local government to confirm what’s needed to stay compliant. Skipping these registrations can lead to fines, penalties or even business closure, so staying on top of it is key. Many states also ask for annual or biennial filings to keep your business in good standing. Keeping your documents updated ensures smooth operations and avoids surprise legal issues. If you’re planning to operate in multiple states, you might need to register as a foreign entity in each state where you do business. 06. Secure social media handles Securing social media handles means claiming your business or brand's unique username on social platforms. It’s just as important as registering a domain name because it keeps your branding consistent and stops others from using your name. Before locking in your business name, check platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and TikTok to see if the handle is available. Your social media username should match your business name to make it easier for customers to find and recognize you online. If the exact name isn’t available, try adding words like “official,” “HQ” or something relevant to your industry. Reserving your handles early helps avoid brand confusion and impersonation, keeping your reputation safe. Even if you’re not ready to use social media yet, having those accounts secured means they’ll be there when you are. Consistency across platforms also builds stronger brand trust and recognition. To make things easier, use a handle checker tool to quickly find available usernames across multiple platforms. How to register a company name FAQ Can I register my name as a business name? You can register your personal name as a business name, especially if you're a sole proprietor. If you want exclusive rights to the name or plan to brand it separately, you might need to file for a DBA or trademark it. Is business registration the same as LLC? No, business registration is a broad term that covers different structures like sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations. An LLC is a specific type of business that offers limited liability protection and needs separate registration with the state. Do I need to put LLC after my company name? If your business is registered as an LLC, you usually need to include "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company" in your official name. This keeps things transparent and lets customers and partners know your business is a legally recognized entity. Is a DBA or LLC better? A DBA is great for businesses that want to use a different name without creating a separate legal entity. An LLC offers liability protection, so it’s the better choice if you want to separate personal and business assets while still using a DBA for branding flexibility. How to create a company name? Start by brainstorming words that reflect your brand’s mission, industry and values. Keep it simple, memorable and unique—then check domain availability and trademarks to make sure it’s secure both legally and online. Find out more about how to name a business

Ready to share your ideas with the world? Start your blog → For many writers, starting a blog is a passion project. We're drawn by the idea of sharing our interests, knowledge and ideas with people all across the world. But as many of us have learned, passion alone doesn't pay the rent. The good news is that it’s possible to make money off a blog, whether you just want to make some extra spending money or turn blogging into a full-time career. Essentially, there are three ways to monetize a blog: sell a product or service, create gated content or promote external brands. This article discusses specific strategies so you can decide which are best for your blog and your monetization efforts. 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.  TL:DR: How to monetize a blog (for beginners and pros) Beginners can monetize a blog in many ways, including online ads, donations or tips, freelance writing, eBooks, affiliate marketing, sponsored posts and brand sponsorships. For long-term growth, consider paid memberships, online courses, podcasts, webinars, virtual summits, coaching or consulting, merchandise, email marketing and blog advertising. How beginners can monetize a blog How to monetize a blog over the long term Online ads Paid membership programs Donations or tips Online courses Freelance blogging or writing Podcasts Ebooks Webinars Affiliate marketing Virtual summits Sponsored posts Coaching or consulting services Brand sponsorships Merchandise Email marketing Blog advertising How beginners can monetize a blog Monetizing a blog can be a time-consuming and challenging process, and it is not something that can be achieved overnight. However, there are a few ways that you can make money off your blog, even if you're blogging as a beginner . Make money from online ads Ask for donations or tips Become a freelance blogger or writer Sell eBooks Do some affiliate marketing Write sponsored posts Get sponsored by a brand Explore ways to make money blogging with display ads, affiliate marketing, sponsored content, digital products and courses, memberships and subscriptions, freelance and consulting, physical products and guest blogging. 01. Make money from online ads One of the most reliable ways to make money blogging is to display advertisements, usually web banners and banner ads, throughout your site and collect revenue from each click. The advantage of this option is that it requires minimal effort from the blogger’s end. All you need to do is set up an account with an online ads platform and connect it to your website. This is also often referred to as digital display advertising. Using the Google AdSense advertising network, you can define which fields, industries and categories of ads should be displayed on your blog to ensure that they’re a strong fit. In addition, you can design the look of the ads to match the overall design of your blog. When you plan how to make a website and create a blog on Wix, you can add Google AdSense ads to your blog and generate income anytime those ads are viewed or clicked. For the ads on your blog to be profitable, make sure that they relate to your audience’s interests. If your blog is a type of website that deals with health and wellness, your target audience probably won’t feel tempted to click on real estate blog ads. Instead, you'd want to choose ads that promote wellness solutions or health products. You might also want to consider using pay-per-click or paid PPC ads in order to generate users to your website in the first place. The more website visitors you have, the more you can increase the number of converters on your display ads and targeted advertising efforts. 02. Ask for donations or tips You can also monetize your blog by asking for donations. While you shouldn’t be pushy, you can leave a friendly, transparent note to fans expressing your appreciation for their readership and welcoming their support. Your audience will be especially inclined to support you if you’re blogging about a good cause, whether your goal is to promote social justice or support nonprofit work. You might feel more comfortable asking for donations if you are better able to convey the learning aspect of your content. Being able to provide tangible value to readers from your content may make them more likely to donate and you more comfortable with the process. The principle behind donations is that they enable your audience to thank you for providing them with free, valuable content. For this reason, it’s not advisable to ask for donations if you already charge for access to it. 03. Become a freelance blogger or writer Another effective blog monetization strategy is to become a freelance writer for widely read online publications within your niche. Even if your own blog isn’t drawing in much traffic yet, your posts serve as a valuable portfolio of your writing that you can leverage to become a freelancer for other blogs. By using your own content to establish authority and expertise, you can get hired to write for other blogs and might even be able to make it a full-time job. Learn more: How to start a writers blog To find these opportunities, you can research dedicated freelance writing job boards, online marketplaces for freelance work or reach out to brands directly. Whichever route you take, be sure to provide a link to your own blog to highlight your writing skills and experience. 04. Sell eBooks As you build your readership, offer your fans an in-depth, comprehensive angle on your content in the form of an eBook. Your eBook can be an elaboration on topics covered on your blog, or it can introduce a new theme or question that’s highly relevant to your target audience. For instance, if you’re a photography blogger, your eBook could explore the most fascinating locations you have ever worked in and what they taught you about photography. When you create an eBook, draw lessons and stories from your own knowledge and experience. Use your book to teach readers something new, and show them how they can put this knowledge into action in their own lives. Learn more: How to start a book blog Consider using Patreon to create and market your book to your potential readers. Once created eBooks can be a good source of passive income, as you create it once and hopefully sell forever. 05. Do some affiliate marketing When considering how to monetize a blog, some people opt to engage in affiliate marketing . As an affiliate, you partner with a brand to promote their products, earning a commission for every product sale that originates from your blog. From the perspective of both bloggers and brands, affiliate marketing is a win-win situation. This performance-based revenue works best when both parties involved share the same target audience. You’ll need to find a company that your readers are actually interested in to increase the chances of driving leads and sales. Having this affinity for the brand also means that you’ll be more successful in promoting it. By finding ways to connect the product’s value with your blog’s organic content, you’ll make a stronger sales pitch to your audience. While there are a variety of affiliate programs to choose from, one of the most popular choices for beginners is Amazon Associates . As an Associate, you’ll include links to Amazon products within your blog content and receive a commission for every purchase that comes through your site. 06. Write sponsored posts Another option is to create sponsored content that highlights a specific product or service. This is often an effective form of advertising for brands, and it’s also a powerful way to monetize a blog. Your first step is to find a brand to partner with. While businesses will sometimes reach out to bloggers directly as part of their own content marketing efforts, you should also take the initiative to email brands yourself and inquire about partnership opportunities. Sponsored posts usually include a product review or demonstrate how the writer uses the product for professional or creative purposes. It’s a great way to earn reliable income through your blog, since (unlike with ads and affiliate programs) you know exactly how much you’ll be making. If you choose to write sponsored posts, keep in mind the following tips: Look for a brand partnership that enables you to create a series of sponsored posts spread across several weeks or months. This way, you have a recurring and fixed source of revenue. If you're a food blogger, reach out to the brands you use in your own kitchen, making money as a food blogger, for example, when you promote products that you love and use. When you reach out to brands, show them how sponsoring your posts would benefit their business. Tell them about your website traffic, show them how the interests of your fans align with their brand and offer ideas for how you’d include their products in your content. Don’t try to hide sponsored posts. Be honest with your audience and clarify it with a short disclaimer. Don’t compromise your integrity as a blogger. Only recommend products that you believe in and that you think would offer genuine value to your readers. 07. Get sponsored by a brand In addition to creating sponsored posts, another benefit of establishing paid partnerships is to get your blog, or even your entire online presence, sponsored by a brand. With this approach, you don’t necessarily need to devote entire posts to product reviews or recommendations. Instead, you might choose to feature the sponsoring brand in your blog’s website header, with a note in your articles and social media content thanking them for their support. This type of sponsorship can be especially helpful if you find a brand that you genuinely appreciate and is highly relevant to your niche. When you negotiate your agreement, make sure that both sides are clear about expectations so you don't end up compromising your work. Ready to monetize your blog? Start with Wix . How to monetize a blog over the long term If you’ve been blogging for a while and you’re ready to make some bigger commitments, here are a few tips for monetizing a blog over the long term: Build a paid membership program Create online courses Start a podcast Make a webinar Host a virtual summit Offer coaching or consulting services Sell merchandise Leverage email marketing Advertise on your blog 01. Build paid membership plans Your blog posts offer more than just an opinion. They’re a combination of your experience, expertise and unique perspective. People want to read them because they offer special value, whether it’s professional advice, life-hacking tips, personal empowerment or any type of training. While most of your posts should be free and readily available, consider creating a pricing plan in which you set aside exclusive content for paying members. To persuade your readers that this premium content behind a paywall is worth paying for, keep some parts available for free viewing. You can use these free samples as a way to captivate audiences and get them hooked on your blog. In order to keep your publication balanced, indicate in your content calendar which posts you’d like to reserve as premium and which ones will be available to all readers. Another approach is to allow readers to purchase subscription plans so they buy access to your content. This is a popular strategy used in publications across the web. On Wix, you can easily sell subscriptions , simply set up a plan that allows you to monetize your blog. When posts get added to the subscription plan, they’re marked as exclusive content for paying readers. 02. Create online courses Consider repurposing your most popular written content in the form of online courses. This technique for selling videos online will not only help you drive engagement, but it’s also a powerful blog monetization strategy. While you should continue to offer short-form video content for free, you can ask for payment for premium videos that are more in-depth. Using Wix Video , you can sell, rent and enable your video content for download under your own terms. This enables you to determine the pricing and even restrict the duration of the video’s availability. To make the most of your online courses, think about the types of content that your target audience would pay for. For instance, you might create a complex tutorial video that goes beyond anything your audience can find for free online. These might include educational videos such as coding tutorials or a series of fitness training videos. 03. Start a podcast If you want to get especially creative with your blog, another monetization option is to start a podcast . Rather than creating audio content from scratch, you can simply repurpose the existing content on your blog. Podcasts have skyrocketed in popularity within the past couple of years, and taking advantage of this trend can increase blog traffic . On top of that, you can make money from podcasting by selling sponsorship slots to businesses. Essentially, these will be like short radio ads that you incorporate midway through each podcast. 04. Make a webinar You can further use your knowledge to create a webinar and charge people to attend. Not only is a webinar a powerful tool for sharing your insights and teaching participants new skills, but it also helps you build deeper relationships with your audience and increase engagement on your blog. Being a part of the blogosphere is very much about building an online community, and webinars help you do just that. Webinars can take a variety of forms, whether it’s a slide presentation, tutorial, workshop or audience Q&A. Regardless of which format you choose, be sure to focus on a subject you’re especially knowledgeable about. Piggyback on your blog content, but offer additional insights that can’t already be found for free on your blog. You should also offer actionable takeaways so that your audience leaves the session feeling that they’ve learned something tangible. 05. Host a virtual summit Another type of virtual event which you can charge admission for is a virtual summit. Typically, a virtual summit or conference is a video interview of 20 or more experts about a given topic. Often, they’re free for a period of 24-72 hours, after which subscribers may choose to purchase an “all-access pass” to continue viewing. On top of helping you earn an income, virtual summits are a powerful marketing strategy using streaming media to generate new interest in your blog. By helping you expand your reach and increase website traffic, they can generate income short-term while contributing to your long-term blog monetization efforts. 06. Offer coaching or consulting services Once you build authority and trust with your readership, you’re in a position to supplement written content with one-on-one coaching sessions (see how to start a coaching blog ). Regardless of your field of expertise, there’s always more than one way to convert your knowledge into useful training for others. For example, if you use your blog to share your passion for gardening, you could offer one-on-one video sessions offering tips and advice for how someone can improve their personal home garden. Or, if you’re a digital nomad and travel blogger , you can offer customized travel itineraries to clients based on their interests and budgets. Likewise, if you’re an entrepreneur or career blogger, you can offer career or life coaching sessions to your audience. Learn more: How to start a consulting blog 07. Sell merchandise Many bloggers make money by selling products inspired by their content. While some of these bloggers are already well-known influencers, internet fame is not a prerequisite for selling merchandise. Monetize your blog by selling merchandise related to your industry or niche. You can sell specific items relevant to your industry or merchandise stamped with your custom logo . To do this on Wix, you can choose to either add a pay button to your website or open an online store . 08. Leverage email marketing Email marketing is one of the best ways to connect directly with your audience and build lasting relationships. It keeps the conversation going even after someone leaves your site. When you create an email list, you’re giving your readers a space to stay updated on your latest content, products or services. It’s a direct line to the people who care most about your work. Getting started is easier than you think. Add a sign-up form to your site where readers can easily find it—your homepage, the end of a blog post or even a subtle pop-up. Give readers a reason to join by offering something valuable like a free guide, checklist or early access to content. Focus on building real connections, not just collecting emails. When someone joins your list, share content that feels personal and valuable. A great newsletter feels like a conversation, not a sales pitch with enough personality to keep readers engaged. Once your list is set up, use it to share exclusive offers and updates. Consider offering discounts on eBooks, early access to a new course or practical tips that your audience will love. Automating your emails can make this process seamless. For example, new subscribers can receive a welcome email with links to your best content or a freebie. Track the performance of your emails to improve engagement over time. 09. Advertise on your blog   Advertising is a flexible way to monetize your blog no matter your experience level. If you’re just starting out, display ads from platforms like Google AdSense make it simple. Add a small piece of code to your blog and AdSense automatically shows ads relevant to your content. You earn a share whenever someone views or clicks. It’s a hands-off way to start generating income as your traffic grows, no direct negotiations required. This is perfect for new bloggers building their audience. For established blogs with steady traffic, ad networks can take your monetization to the next level. These networks match you with brands and optimize ad placements for better performance and higher earnings. The technical side is handled for you so you can focus on creating great content. Well-placed relevant ads also improve the user experience, striking a balance between earning and readability. If your blog has a large loyal following, consider selling ad space directly to businesses. This gives you full control—set your own rates and choose advertisers that align with your audience and values. While it takes more effort upfront, like pitching to brands or adding a “work with me” page, this approach can deliver higher payouts. Ready to create a blog and monetize it? Get started with the Wix blog maker  today. How to drive blog traffic to maximize profits In order to make a good amount of money from monetizing a blog, you need to establish your credibility, build a following and attract more readers to your blog. Here are some tips for driving blog traffic to maximize your monetization efforts: Know your niche Deliver quality content Offer value Drive engagement Establish your authority Promote your content 01. Know your niche As you set to start a blog, you'll need to define its focus and a clear target audience. Rather than writing about anything that comes to mind, create a specific type of blog with a strong, centralized focus. Use your blog to build expertise in a particular area and fulfill the specific needs of your readers. Not sure what niche to run with, consider these examples: How to start a finance blog How to start a real estate blog How to start a gaming blog How to start a health blog How to start a teaching blog How to start a music blog How to start a tech blog How to start a mom blog How to start a sports blog How to start a beauty blog How to start a lifestyle blog 02. Deliver quality content While the quantity of your blog posts is important, the quality is even more so. Aim to publish posts consistently as part of your blog strategy, but don’t let that limit your ability to create thorough, well-researched content. After all, your goal is for readers to enjoy your articles and come back for more. Read also: CRO tests that have made the biggest impact on the Wix website 03. Offer value Just as every business must offer value to its audience to succeed, so does a successful blog. People read articles in order to address a need—whether it’s to learn something new or find a solution to their problem—and your job is to satisfy it. Go beyond cookie-cutter content and aim to write posts that stand out with original insights and genuinely helpful information. This type of valuable content can also be used to generate backlinks to your blog, from other sites, who share your valuable content in their own blog and news posts. Quality backlinks and content shares send powerful signals to search engines, making your content more visible to more people. 04. Drive engagement Your blog should not only satisfy readers but make them hungry for more. Post creative forms of content such as videos and quizzes, and add community features to build a sense of community around your personal brand. Consider tapping into the potential of social media marketing strategies, such as influencer marketing in order to do this. This means not only sharing your own content on social media platforms but getting others to as well. The more you engage your readers, the more successful you’ll be at monetizing your blog down the road. 05. Establish your authority If you’re a known expert in your field, people will want to read your work. Spread the word about your expertise by building your presence across other online platforms. Guest post on company blogs and other online publications, publish articles on sites such as Medium and LinkedIn and build a strong social media following. These strategies will help you cement your reputation as a thought leader, as well as drive additional traffic to your blog. 06. Promote your content For the above methods to be effective, you’ll need to promote your blog consistently to constantly drive more traffic, engage with your audience and strengthen your readership. As you write blog posts and continue to monetize your content, implement the following digital marketing strategies so that your site stays profitable: Optimize for search engines : Search engine optimization, or SEO, is deeply intertwined with content creation. As you write, you should refine your content to rank high on Google and other search engines. This way, you’ll be able to gain exposure and drive even more traffic to your site. This SEO for bloggers guide lays out valuable steps for developing a robust SEO strategy. The best place to start is always with keyword research from which to plan blog topics and posts. Be active on social media : Blogging and social media marketing go hand in hand. Build and optimize your social channels so that you share your expertise on multiple platforms and gather followers. If you promote your blog on Facebook , YouTube, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn, you’ll be able to maintain a steady flow of traffic to your posts. Engage fans with email marketing : Newsletters are a great option to keep your audience engaged. Promote your latest blog posts with captivating emails that encourage your audience to keep coming back to your website. Work on building up your mailing list, to get more eyes on your content. Expert tip from Dor Cohen, content distribution specialist at Wix: "Even today, email marketing has proven itself as a consistent distribution channel to serve your content. With AI-powered content curation, dynamic content blocks, and hyper-segmentation capabilities, we can deliver newsletters tailored to each subscriber's preferences and behaviors at scale." An important part of promoting your blog is understanding your site analytics . Knowing where your users are coming from while pinpointing what blog posts are sparking their interest and engagement can help you plan better content and generate more traffic to your site. When to monetize a blog Now that you know how to monetize a blog, you need to consider when it actually makes sense for you to do so. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of when to monetize your blog. However, there are a few factors you should consider before making a decision. Your audience: How big and engaged is your audience? When you're considering monetizing your blog, pay attention to the people who would be making that happen. It's important to have a lot of people who are interested in your content and likely to be willing to pay for it. If you don't have a large or engaged audience, it may not be worth monetizing your blog yet. Your content: What kind of content do you create? If you create high-quality content that people are willing to pay for, then you may be able to monetize your blog sooner. Make sure that your content is well-written, informative and engaging. Your goals: What are your goals for your blog? If you're just starting out, you may want to focus on building your audience and creating great content before you start monetizing. However, if your main goal is to make money from your blog, you may want to start monetizing sooner. Having a clear monetization strategy will help you achieve this more quickly. The future of blog monetization Just as blogging changes and evolves to adapt to a changing blogosphere and audience, so too do the ways in which they can be monetized. Looking ahead, the future of blog monetization is likely to be shaped by several key trends: Blogs will become even more specialized, catering to highly targeted audiences with specific interests and needs. This will allow bloggers to offer more relevant and valuable content, attracting premium advertising and sponsorship opportunities from their audience. It will also help bloggers cut through a super competitive blog landscape. The rise of the creator economy will empower bloggers to diversify their income streams through multiple platforms and channels. This includes expanding beyond blogs to social media, podcasts and other various online communities to make money. Artificial intelligence will play a significant role in optimizing content for search engines, social media visibility and audience engagement. Bloggers can use AI tools to improve their reach, attract more qualified traffic and increase their earning potential. The specific tools and ways this will play out are evolving all the time. Monetize a blog FAQ How do I monetize my personal blog? There are many ways to monetize your personal blog, depending on your niche. Some of the most popular ways to monetize include offering content by subscription, affiliate marketing, online courses, eBooks and selling ad space on your blog alongside sponsored posts. How many views do I need in order to monetize my blog? If you want to sell ad space and use Google AdSense, you'll need at least 1,000 page views on your blog per day, to get started with it. Other types of blog monetization, such as affiliate marketing, don't necessarily require a minimum number of views. However, the more website traffic your blog generates, the easier it will be to seek out and secure monetization opportunities. Do blogs still make money? Yes, blogs can still make money. However, it is important to note that the days of making a full-time income from a single blog are long gone. Nowadays, most bloggers who make money do so by having multiple streams of income. Can you start a blog as a side hustle? Yes, you can start a blog as a side hustle. In fact, blogging is a popular side hustle for many people, as it can be a relatively low-cost and low-time commitment way to make extra money. To start a blog as a side hustle, you will need to choose a niche, create a blog and start publishing content. Once you have a following, you can monetize your blog through a variety of methods, such as advertising, affiliate marketing and selling your own products or services. Can I monetize a blog via Reddit? To monetize a blog via Reddit, engage in relevant subreddits by sharing valuable content and participating in discussions. Build a genuine following and occasionally promote your blog posts, ensuring they provide unique value. Be transparent and avoid spammy behavior to maintain your credibility on the platform. Consider offering exclusive content or promotions to Reddit users who read your blog. If you're using Reddit to try to promote and monetize your blog, it's very important that you adhere to community guidelines. How to monetize a blog on Wix? There are several main ways to monetize a blog built on Wix. You can integrate Google AdSense for display ads. Or consider creating premium content or courses with Wix's membership feature. You can also use affiliate marketing by promoting relevant products from your blog posts or collaborating with bigger brands for sponsored content. Think about setting up an online store using the Wix eCommerce website builder for selling merchandise or digital products.

The perfect domain is just a click away: claim your domain →   Choosing and owning a domain name  is an important step in in learning how to create a website . Whether you’re starting a blog , creating a personal online portfolio  or starting a business , your domain is your unique address on the web. But have you ever thought about how much that domain is worth? Understanding the value of your domain can help in selling, buying or simply managing your online assets effectively.  This guide walks you through everything you need to know—what a domain is, how its worth is determined and how to assess its value. You’ll also learn why understanding your domain’s worth is important and how you can increase its value for the future.  New to domains? Learn the basics of  what is a domain  and  how to choose a domain name . What is a domain? A domain is the unique name that represents a  web address  on the internet. It’s what people type into their browser’s search bar to visit a website, such as yourname.com. Your domain name serves as your online calling card. It reflects your brand and can significantly influence how users perceive your business—whether it’s professional, creative or credible. If you’re looking to build a website , choosing a relevant, memorable and easy-to-spell domain plays a significant role in establishing your brand’s presence. Use a  domain name generator  if you need help coming up with an idea. Already have an idea? Check the availability with a  domain name search  tool. What is domain worth? Domain worth refers to the market value of your domain name. Like a piece of real estate, its value depends on several factors, such as demand, relevance and its overall appeal to potential buyers or users. Knowing your domain's worth matters when you're considering selling or learning how to buy a domain  or when you're strategizing for your business growth.   6 domain value factors Several factors contribute to the valuation of a domain name. It’s based on structured criteria that define its desirability and usefulness. Here are the key aspects professionals and tools evaluate when determining its worth. 01. Domain age Domains that have been around longer generally hold more value. Search engines see older domains as more credible because they've had more time to establish authority. For example, a domain registered 10 years ago is often seen as more reliable than one created last month. However, age alone doesn’t guarantee high value—it often needs to work alongside the other factors below. 02. Length and brandability Shorter domains are often more valuable because they’re easier to remember and type. A shorter domain, like Coffeebeans.com , is easier to remember and type compared to something longer like Affordablecoffeebeansstore.com . Similarly, domains that are creative, unique and meaningful, such as Starbucks.com, tend to hold higher value as they effectively represent the brand.  03. Traffic and keyword relevant Domains with steady website traffic  or strong, relevant keywords hold significant value, especially for SEO benefits. For instance, a domain centered around a popular keyword like laptopdeals.com or coffeebeans.com can attract businesses and audiences due to high search demand, making it highly desirable. 04. Domain extensions Domains with popular domain extensions  like .com  generally have higher worth due to their global recognition and trust factor. Other popular TLDs include .info , .org , . co , .net , .edu, .biz  .gov and .tv . Niche extensions like .tech can hold value, but their appeal usually depends on specific industries.  Learn more: What is a TLD ? 05. Backlink profile and history High-quality backlinks from reputable websites boost a domain's value by signaling trust and relevance to search engines. However, a clean domain history  is equally important. Domains previously used for spammy or unethical practices can suffer from a damaged reputation, reducing their value. 06. Legal and trademark issues Avoid domains that could face trademark disputes. Ensuring your domain isn’t infringing on existing trademarks is key to preserving its value and usability. You can learn how to trademark a domain name to protect yourself from any issues. How to find your domain name value Understanding your domain’s worth is all about leveraging the right tools and processes.  Look at similar domains to yours Research domains similar to yours that have been sold recently. Their selling prices can provide a strong benchmark for estimating your domain’s value.  Use a domain estimation tool Online tools and appraisal services can provide instant estimates for your domain. These tools analyze elements like search volume, backlink strength and traffic data to give you a ballpark figure. While these tools offer guidance, combining their insights with market trends is crucial. Consult a professional appraiser  For a more personalized valuation, you can also consult domain name experts or professional appraisers who specialize in online assets. They often take into account not just the technical details of your domain but its broader potential in today’s online marketplace.  Why should you check your domain’s worth? Checking the worth of your domain is like taking stock of your online portfolio. By understanding its value, you can make informed decisions about whether to hold onto it, sell it or leverage it for other opportunities.  For business owners, a valuable domain can also justify higher advertising rates or partnerships. On the flip side, if you’re planning to sell your domain, knowing its worth ensures you don’t undersell an asset that could command a much higher price.  Even if you’re holding on to your domain, understanding its value can inform your business strategy. For instance, high-value domains often require additional security layers to avoid theft or misuse.   This is also important because your domain isn’t just for your website—it’s also key to learning how to create a business email address , such as info@yourname.com or contact@yourbusiness.com. Using your domain for email and exploring professional email name ideas adds credibility and trust to your communications, setting you apart from competitors who rely on generic email providers. How to increase your domain’s worth If you want to maximize your domain value, focus on strategies that enhance its relevance, strengthen its branding  and attract the right audience. By investing time and effort into these areas, you can significantly increase its worth over time. Establish quality backlinks Search engines love domains associated with credible, high-authority websites. Building backlinks improves your site’s visibility—and by extension, its perceived value. Improve SEO rankings Focus on enhancing your website’s SEO. Target relevant keywords, optimize your content and improve user experience. Higher rankings attract more traffic, which can significantly increase your domain's worth.  Secure a strong reputation Maintain a clean online presence. Ensure your domain isn’t associated with spam or shady activities and regularly monitor any external links impacting its credibility.  Focus on building trust through ethical and high-quality practices, ensuring no past penalties impact your domain. You’ve got your domain value. Now what? Once you’ve assessed your domain’s worth and worked on improving it (if necessary), it’s time to put that insight to use. If your domain’s value exceeds expectations, selling might be a smart move. Alternatively, if the value aligns with your goals, continue using it as part of your long-term strategy. For those planning to sell, connect with credible platforms and buyers to ensure a smooth transition. Whatever your plans, viewing your domain as an asset will help you make more informed decisions. Learn how to register a domain name  to get started.  Find the domain owner and registration details for a website with a  Whois domain lookup .  How to check your domain worth FAQ How often should I check my domain’s worth? It is recommended to check your domain's worth periodically, especially if you are considering selling it. Valuations can fluctuate over time due to various factors such as market trends and changes in the industry. Checking your domain's worth every 6-12 months can give you a good understanding of its value and help inform any future decisions regarding your domain. How much does it cost to check a domain name’s value? The cost of checking a domain name’s value can vary depending on the method you choose. Some online tools offer free estimations, while professional appraisers may charge a fee for their services. It is important to do thorough research and consider the reputation and methodology of any tool or service before investing in an estimate.

Get started by: Creating a website →  | Getting a domain → Before the Internet took over, a top restaurant thrived on word of mouth. Today, with online searches shaping dining decisions, having a quality restaurant website  is key to keeping your business booming. Your restaurant's website is its digital face, essential for boosting visibility and attracting more customers.  Whether you're starting a business  in the restaurant world or have been in the business for a while, learning how to create restaurant website  is essential. You might be wondering how much does a restaurant website cost. This article breaks down all the key factors to consider when setting a budget for your website design . Ready to create your restaurant website? Get started for free with the Wix website builder  today. How much does a restaurant website cost? If you are creating a website on your own, basic restaurant websites  can cost as little as $16 per month. However, if you're exploring how to create a website with advanced features or need professional assistance from photographers, copywriters, or designers, costs can exceed $10,000. Let's examine the variables that can impact the cost of building a restaurant website. Want to learn more? Check out this course about starting your restaurant site .  10 Restaurant website costs The cost of a restaurant website can vary greatly depending on the features and services you choose for your website. It's like ordering from a restaurant menu—there are different dishes with various prices, and you have the freedom to pick and choose according to your business plan  budget and preference. Every restaurant website is unique, and the services included in web design and development for your restaurant depend on your needs, goals and preferences.  Here’s a detailed breakdown of some considerations that can influence restaurant website costs. Included in each section, we've outlined the average cost ranges to help you estimate expenses. Domain name Web hosting Website security Website builder Logo and branding eCommerce integrations SEO tools Email marketing tools Social media tools Maintenance and updates 01. Domain name Average cost range: $0-$1,000+ per year Think of your domain name  as the address of your restaurant website. It's what people will type in their browsers to find you, like " www.myrestaurant.com ." If you need inspiration, a domain name generator  can help you think of creative ideas. Use a domain name search  to check availability and purchase one from a registrar like Wix. Costs can vary based on the domain extension ( .com , .net , .org), length of registration (yearly or multi-year), website privacy  protection plan and whether it's a new or previously owned domain. Tip: Wix paid plan includes a free domain for the first year, so no need to worry about upfront domain name costs. 02. Web hosting Average cost range: $0-$250 per month Website hosting ensures your restaurant website is accessible to hungry diners anytime, anywhere. Whether they're checking out your menu pricing or making reservations, reliable hosting keeps your digital doors open for business. The cost of a hosting website  varies based on the provider, package and level of service. Some providers, like Wix, include free website hosting  as part of their website builder package. Pick a provider that caters to your restaurant's needs, offering the right features to enhance customer experience and keep your site running smoothly. 03. Website security Average cost range: $0-$200+ per year Ensuring the security of your restaurant website is like securing your restaurant's front door—a must, especially if you'll be taking orders and accepting online payments . Some providers offer basic website security measures at affordable prices, while others may charge more for advanced protection against potential cyberattacks. Being proactive in protecting your restaurant website can ultimately save you money and avoid the cost of dealing with a security breach. Tip: With Wix, website security  is already included when you create a restaurant website. Enjoy 24/7 monitoring to spot vulnerabilities and safeguard your info and visitors. 04. Website builder Average cost range: $0-$70+ A drag and drop website builder  is a software platform that lets you create and manage your restaurant website even without technical knowledge. Wix's templates are ready-made layouts that help shape your site's look and feel without the need to code every detail from scratch. Templates can be handy for nailing down your brand's visual identity while effectively organizing your site's content. Using an AI website maker  can further enhance the website building experience with the help of Wix’s unique, chat-based AI experience. Check out these totally customizable and free  restaurant website templates  to help you get started.   05. Logo and branding Average cost range: $0-$10,000+ one time fee Your restaurant's logo and branding are essential for creating a recognizable and memorable brand. Your brand identity should be cohesive throughout all of your marketing channels, including your restaurant website, social media and print materials. Depending on the complexity of your brand design, creating a memorable logo can range in cost. Consider using a restaurant logo maker  tool to achieve the perfect branding look for your restaurant website atmosphere. Learn more: What is web design? 06. eCommerce integrations Average cost range: $0-$100+ per month If your restaurant offers online ordering or reservations, you'll need to integrate restaurant and eCommerce functionality into your restaurant website. This service allows guests to make transactions directly on your site, making it convenient and efficient for both parties. Consider using apps from the Wix App Marketplace , such as DoorDash Drive for delivery with a flat fee rate, or apps for building a birthday and loyalty club to grow sales and customer lists. The cost of these features can vary depending on the provider and what type of tools you need. Tip: Wix Restaurants is made up of 3 apps—Menus, Orders and Table Reservations—and additional integrations to help you best run your restaurant. Choose a restaurant template or add Wix Restaurants to another site by adding the Wix Restaurants Orders app . 07. SEO tools Average cost range: $0-$100+ per month If you want to rank high in Google searches, so potential diners can find your restaurant's website easily, you need a search engine optimized (SEO) website. Utilize a variety of SEO tools—both free and paid, to pinpoint the best keywords, generate fresh content ideas and understand your target market  better. Wix SEO  provides a comprehensive set of tools to manage your restaurant's SEO strategy. Other tools like Ahrefs, Semrush and Keyword Everywhere can assist in finding relevant keywords for your restaurant's content. Consider starting a blog  to boost your online presence and help with the SEO efforts. 08. Email marketing tools Average cost range: $0-$100+ per month Restaurant email marketing is a powerful tool for restaurants to keep in touch with customers and promote their latest deals, menu items and cocktail trends. By utilizing email marketing tools , you can easily create professional-looking newsletters and send them to targeted lists. The cost to your restaurant website budget can range depending on the number of subscribers you have and the frequency of emails you send. 09. Social media tools Average cost range: $0-$100+ per month Social media is vital for restaurants to market themselves, helping you reach new patrons and showcase your brand. By using restaurant social media marketing tools, you can streamline your online presence by scheduling posts, analyzing data and managing multiple accounts all in one spot. The cost of these tools will depend on the scale of your social media efforts. Look for tools that not only schedule content but also monitor conversations online and analyze your data effectively. 10. Maintenance and updates Average cost range: $50-$200+ per month Once your restaurant website is up and running, it's important to regularly maintain and update it. This can include adding new menu items, updating business hours or even refreshing the design. While you can choose to handle these tasks yourself, hiring a professional web developer can save you time and ensure that your site is always functioning properly. Consider setting aside a budget for regular maintenance and updates to keep your website running smoothly. Advantages of having a restaurant website A restaurant website provides a platform for your customers to learn more about your brand, explore menu options, make reservations or place orders at their convenience. Aside from these basic features, here are some additional advantages of having a business website : Enhanced online visibility: With a restaurant website, potential diners can easily discover your establishment via search engines using keywords related to your cuisine and location. Professional image boost:  A well-designed, informative website enhances a restaurant's professionalism, building credibility and customer retention. It's ideal for presenting a cohesive brand image, incorporating the restaurant logo, branding colors and overall aesthetic. Standing out in competition: In a competitive market, a restaurant website helps your business differentiate itself and compete effectively. Today's consumers expect businesses to have websites, making them more inclined to choose a restaurant that has one. Cost-effective marketing: A website is a good way to promote your restaurant compared to traditional marketing strategies , reaching a broader audience. Additionally, a restaurant website is the perfect platform to showcase essential information like the online menu, operating hours, contact details, the head chef and positive customer reviews. Insightful analytics:  By leveraging analytics tools, you can gain valuable insights into your Wix website performance  and user behavior, empowering you to make informed decisions for your business. Using a website builder vs. professional services When it comes to creating a restaurant website, you have two primary options: you can opt to hire a professional web developer who can tailor the website to your specific needs or utilize a website builder that can offer a more cost-effective solution that allows for easier updates and maintenance. Both routes have their distinct advantages and cost considerations to weigh before making a decision on how to best represent your restaurant online. Hiring a web developer Average cost range: $500-$10,000+ one-time fee If you have specific design ideas in mind for your restaurant website and want to ensure complete customization and control over every aspect, hiring a website designer  may be the best option for you. A professional web developer can bring your vision to life and incorporate any advanced features or integrations that you require. However, this option can add to how much does a website cost and ongoing maintenance costs may also apply. Using a website builder Average cost range: $0-$70+ per month A website builder is a user-friendly, cost-effective alternative to hiring a web developer. With drag-and-drop tools and pre-designed templates, you can easily create your website without any prior coding knowledge. Additionally, many website builders provide SEO tools and integrations to build an eCommerce site , making it a one-stop-shop for all your website needs. Read more for your restaurant business How to start a restaurant business How to create a restaurant business plan 33 restaurant business ideas: Your 2024 guide The story behind the rise of Modern Bread & Bagel and the restaurant website that fueled its growth How much does a restaurant website cost FAQ I already have regular customers and business is going well. Do I still need a website? Having a website can still benefit your restaurant. A website provides a platform for new diners to discover your restaurant and learn more about it, potentially bringing in more business. It also allows for easier communication with current customers, making it convenient for them to access menu options, make reservations or place orders.  My restaurant has multiple locations. Can we list them all on one website? Yes, you can list multiple locations on one website through the use of interactive maps or individual pages for each location. This is beneficial for users who may be searching for a specific location or want to see all available options in one place. It also helps with search engine optimization (SEO) and increases online visibility for your restaurant. Is a restaurant website necessary even with a Facebook page? Having a Facebook page can be beneficial for reaching and engaging with customers, but having a website provides additional benefits. A website allows for more control over your online presence and branding, as well as providing a platform for showcasing essential information like menus, operating hours and contact details. It also allows you to reach those who may not use social media or prefer to search for businesses through search engines. Having both a Facebook page and a website can complement each other and help your restaurant reach a wider target audience . Can I add new features to my restaurant website after it’s been developed? This depends on the chosen option for building your website. If you used a website builder, you can easily add new features through their platform. However, if you hired a web developer who created a fully customized website, adding new features may require additional coding and incur extra costs. It is important to discuss this with your web developer beforehand and plan for any future changes or updates you may want for your website.  Having a clear understanding of the capabilities and limitations of your restaurant website can help you make informed decisions about its development and ongoing maintenance. How long does it take to develop a restaurant website? The time it takes to develop a restaurant website can vary depending on the complexity and features required. For example, a basic website built with a website builder may only take a few days, while a fully customized website may take several weeks or even months to complete. It is essential to discuss your timeline expectations with your web developer and factor in additional time for testing and revisions before the website is launched. Market research  and proper communication between you and your web developer can help ensure that the website is developed efficiently and meets your expectations. Does a restaurant website need to be mobile friendly? Yes, having a mobile-friendly website is crucial for any business in today’s digital age. With more and more people using their smartphones to search for and access information online, having a website that is optimized for mobile devices can greatly improve user experience and increase the chances of converting visitors into customers. It also boosts SEO rankings and helps your restaurant stay competitive in an increasingly digital market.

Turn your ideas into a website you love with Wix →   Beauty marketing is a specialized type of marketin g that focuses on promoting and selling beauty products and services. It helps brands connect with their target audience, showcase their offerings and ultimately drive sales. In this article, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of what beauty marketing entails and why it's essential for the success of any beauty brand. 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. What is beauty marketing? At its core, beauty marketing involves creating a connection between beauty brands and consumers. It's about communicating the values, benefits and unique selling points of beauty products or services to entice potential customers. This can be achieved through various channels and marketing strategies  such as social media, content marketing, influencer partnerships and more. It’s also often an all-encompassing approach that includes product development, market research, branding and customer engagement. While also acting as the driving force behind brand awareness and customer loyalty in an industry that thrives on innovation and trends. Related: Discover how Natalie Lucas Studio lets website analytics guide its beauty marketing. 8 best beauty marketing strategies Over the years, beauty marketing strategies have evolved to include a variety of platforms and tactics. They include: Digital marketing Content marketing Social media marketing Influencer marketing Subscription boxes Hosting events and workshops Cause marketing Limited-edition collaborations 01. Digital marketing This can involve using online marketing channels to promote your beauty business . Popular digital marketing  channels include: Your own website Email marketing campaigns Search Engine Optimization and Paid search ads Digital marketing means finding your users online and then making sure you show up with a marketing resource where they are. This could mean having your website rank in the first page of search engine results for beauty related queries, or for paid google ad search terms.  02. Content marketing Creating valuable content like blog posts, tutorials and reviews is a great way to educate and engage potential customers. Starting a beauty blog  is one way to build up an engaged audience who return to your content for beauty tips and information. You can then include call-to-actions in your blog content to lead readers to your beauty product or service pages.  Video marketing  is another important part of content marketing  and can be particularly effective for a beauty business. Potential customers may love videos on makeup sessions using your products or services. You can share these on your website, or via Youtube as one example.   03. Social media marketing Social media marketing  has become indispensable in the beauty marketing industry. They offer a direct line to consumers and provide an interactive online space for you to engage with your audience, showcase your products and build a community around your beauty business idea . Social media channels like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok serve as powerful tools for beauty brands to: Showcase visual content: Beauty is visual by nature, and social media is the perfect showcase for high-quality images and videos. Engage with customers: Brands can interact directly with consumers through comments, messages and live streams. You can also engage your audience with contests that encourage them to post with a branded hashtag for a chance to win prizes. Launch new products: Social media is often the first place new products are introduced to the market.  Some examples of beauty marketing on social media are: A skincare brand might use Instagram stories to demonstrate the benefits of their new moisturizer. A makeup company could partner with influencers on TikTok to create viral challenges that feature their products. A hair care line might use Facebook Live sessions to educate customers on how to use their styling tools. 04. Influencer marketing Partnering with individuals who have a strong online following, usually via social media platforms, to promote beauty products in an authentic and relatable manner is a popular way to reach a large target audience in an authentic way. Influencers will usually be paid to use your products online, in a natural way. They may also do it in exchange for free products. Learn more about influencer marketing .   "Influencers need to be open to stick to the brand’s general brief that does include brand guidelines and a clear list of do's and don'ts. Additionally, they should submit to the brand’s representative a general outline for review and feedback before investing in creating the content." - Sarah Adam, head of marketing partnerships and influencer marketing at Wix Studio 05. Create subscription boxes Offer a curated selection of products on a subscription basis, giving customers the chance to explore new items regularly. This might include sending seasonally themed boxes and products.  06. Hosting beauty events and workshops Organize workshops, either online or in-person, to educate consumers about your products and create a community around your brand. You can organize these independently, or sponsor popular beauty events and networking events.  07. Cause marketing This might mean aligning with a charitable cause that resonates with your brand values and donating a portion of sales from specific products. 08. Develop limited-edition collaborations Partner with celebrities or influencers to create limited-edition products that generate excitement and exclusivity. If you’re a new or small business you might need to start with less high profile influencers to build your brand, then work your way and your budget, up to more influential celebrities.  How to a kickstart career in beauty marketing Embarking on a career in beauty marketing can be both exciting and rewarding. With the right approach, you can find your niche within this dynamic industry. Here's how to get started. Internships : Gain hands-on experience and industry knowledge by interning with beauty brands or marketing agencies. Education:  Enroll in beauty marketing courses that offer specialized training and insights into the industry. Networking:  Attend industry events and connect with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. The beauty marketing field offers a variety of roles, including: Brand manager : Oversee a brand's image, product development, and marketing strategies. Social media coordinator : Manage a brand's social media presence and create engaging content. Content creator : Produce compelling content such as blog posts, videos, and tutorials that align with the brand's voice.

A landing page is a standalone web page, that's reached, after a click, either from an email, ad or other online marketing resources. They're a crucial part of online marketing and they're designed to encouraged users to take a specific action. One of the most popular types of landing pages is the B2B lead generation landing page, whose purpose is to capture leads and contact information. They're not a part of a website's established navigation and are used for specific marketing campaigns. A critical tool for promoting your brand, landing pages have enormous power in driving conversions. By using a  landing page builder  to design and customize your landing pages, you can precisely target your audience and guide them through the sales funnel. Online marketing can be a business owner’s best friend. When you take your business online, you'll need a powerful digital marketing strategy that captures your brand message perfectly and promotes it across several channels. That's why we're taking a closer look at one of the most effective tools for doing just that—the landing page. In this article, we’ll discuss the definition of a landing page, explain how to create a landing page and offer some best practices for designing your own. Ready to create a landing page? Get started with Wix today. What is a landing page? A landing page is a standalone webpage that entices users to click on a strategic call-to-action (CTA), such as “Get Started,” “Subscribe” or “Buy Now.” It has a clear and focused call-to-action, minimal distractions and tailored content that matches the visitor's intent and interest. Landing pages focus on a single goal, typically conversion or lead generation. This precision makes them highly effective and lowers the costs of acquiring leads and making sales. They are the destination for people interested in learning more about your business after seeing your online marketing or advertising campaign. Not to be confused with a splash page  or a microsite , landing pages go by several different names including, lead capture pages, single property pages, lead gen pages or destination pages. The concept of landing pages date back to the early days of direct response marketing campaigns, where marketers drove targeted traffic to specific pages to maximize conversion. Since then, landing pages have evolved from traditional print ads to digital marketing campaigns, and now businesses use them all across their digital marketing channels. Where landing pages shine Landing pages are all about focus. Built around a single goal like collecting emails, driving sales or getting signups, they’re far better at driving conversions than a general homepage. For example, a fitness coach offering a free workout guide might use a simple page with an email form to grab leads in exchange for the download. They’re also great for paid ads. If someone clicks on a Facebook ad for a skincare product, the landing page should match the ad, highlighting the same product, using a similar tone and offering a clear call-to-action like "Buy Now" or "Get 15% Off." This consistency keeps people engaged and boosts ad performance. Ecommerce brands use landing pages for product launches, holiday sales or bundles tailored to specific customers. Service-based businesses use them to book free calls or grow waitlists while nonprofits use them to encourage donations or recruit volunteers. The key is keeping it clear—when visitors know what’s on offer and how to act, they’re much more likely to do it. What is the difference between a landing page and a homepage? To fully understand what a landing page is, you need to know the difference between landing pages vs. websites . The main distinction between a website's homepage and a landing page is that a landing page is specific and a homepage is multifaceted. A homepage's content introduces, whereas a landing page provides information tailored to its desired aim. As we’ve mentioned, a landing page only has one goal; homepages, on the other hand, have various goals. For that reason, a homepage typically contains a variety of links. Landing pages typically only provide one link to keep visitors focused on the primary CTA. Therefore, landing pages only provide visitors with two options: to convert or exit the page. Other main differences between a landing page and website page include: Navigation : landing pages tend to have none on purpose. This is because they're designed to encourage users to take a specific action - often to provide their contact information or make a purchase. By contract, webpages are designed to navigate users to other parts of the site easily and efficiently. Traffic : website users may come from multiple sources, including search engines, social media and ads. Traffic to a landing page comes from specific, planned sources - an email marketing campaign, or paid search ads, as just two main examples. To give you a better sense of the difference between the two, we've provided an example template of each below: Homepage template Landing page template What are the key features of a great landing page? Let’s go over the basic elements and anatomy of  landing page design  so that you’ll know exactly what to include: Visuals You have less than 20 seconds to convince your audience to stick around long enough to learn anything from your landing page. Design is your greatest tool for doing so. Images or videos add context and make the page more engaging. Headlines Because customers typically skim through landing pages, they may only read the headlines before decide whether to respond to your CTA. For that reason, make your headlines direct, enticing and brief. A strong and clear headline instantly grabs the user's attention and communicates the value proposition.   This will be the most challenging part of building your landing page, because you have to convince them in three to seven words that your offering provides value. Description Make sure to include a concise and clear description that explains the product or service and how it benefits the user. Calls-to-action aka CTAs Calls-to-actions (CTAs), which are the prompts you’ll use to encourage readers to take a specific action, are typically two to four words long. “Subscribe Now,” “Start Your Free Trial,” “Learn More” and “Request a Demo” are a few good examples. Summary of benefits The summary of benefits should be your landing page's most detailed section. Here, you can provide more information to interested readers who want to learn more. Remember to keep the summary simple. Rather than getting into the nitty gritty, use the space to emphasize the specific benefits they will get from hitting the CTA button. Social proof and trust signals Don’t expect readers to take your word for it. Include testimonials, reviews and awards on your landing page to prove to readers that your claims are valid and customers actually benefit from the touted features. I nclude trust signals like recognizable logos or trust badges to build credibility and reassure visitors. Mobile-friendly design Make sure your landing page delivers a smooth experience on mobile. Use responsive layouts that adjust to any screen size. Simplify forms and CTAs so they’re easy to use on smaller screens, helping you capture leads effortlessly. Closing statement The readers who make it to the bottom of your page likely want your offering, so the closing statement should give them the final push to hit that CTA button. It doesn’t have to be extensive—you can wrap everything up with a strong headline and CTA. For more insight, check out the full article: The Anatomy of a Landing Page   Types of landing pages When considering which landing page type suits your business, think about your goals. Do you want to gather contact information for leads? Are you offering a unique sale? Do you want to collect RSVPs for an event? Focusing directly on this goal will help you build a precise and highly targeted page. Let’s discuss the most common types of landing pages : 01. Lead-generation landing page Also called a “lead-gen” or a “lead-capture” page, a lead-generation landing page generates leads by collecting information about your audience. It typically includes a form where visitors can submit their contact information. Lead-gen landing pages can help you gain insight into your potential customers as well as how to reach them. To encourage users to enter their details, offer an incentive such as a coupon code, e-book, webinar or exclusive newsletter content. Create with this lead generation landing page template . Lead-generation landing page examples: Squeeze landing page:   Squeeze pages are specifically designed to collect user contact information in exchange for a valuable incentive. Coming soon landing page :  Encourages users to sign up for notifications, generating leads before a launch. Try this coming soon landing page template . Thank-you landing page:  Offers additional incentives to nurture leads after a user completes an action, helping to retain engagement. 02. Click-through landing page This type of landing page typically has a CTA that sends visitors directly into the checkout flow, nudging them to buy or subscribe. eCommerce or SaaS sites focused on making immediate sales commonly use click-through landing pages. On top of this landing pages can also be designed as dynamic landing pages  or static depending on whether the content stays the same or changes based on the user. A well-crafted click-through landing page eliminates distractions, keeping users focused on the action you want them to take. Click-through landing page examples: Product landing page:  Highlights a specific product and encourages users to click through to learn more or purchase. Use this product landing page template  to get started. Event landing page:  Promotes an event with options for RSVPs or ticket purchases, leading users to take the next step. Start with this event landing page template . Here are some more examples of landing pages: Long-form landing page:  Includes detailed information and visuals about a product or service, often designed for SEO purposes. Unsubscribe landing page:  Provides users with incentives, options to adjust email frequency or reminders of what they’ll lose if they unsubscribe. Infomercial landing page:  Uses a step-by-step, storytelling approach to detail the value of a product or service, perfect for products needing in-depth explanations. Viral landing page:  Designed to generate excitement and encourage sharing through bold visuals, humor or unique offers. What are the benefits of landing pages? Landing pages offer enormous growth potential for your company and can help your business continue to flourish. Incorporate landing pages into your  marketing strategies  for the following benefits: 01. They dramatically improve your conversion rate As mentioned earlier, landing pages focus on a single goal and compel your visitors to take action. In doing so, they move people further down the marketing funnel—from anonymous visitors to leads and finally to paying customers. 02. They tell you about your audience If you include a signup form on your landing page, you can ask for information about your audience’s demographics to gain a better understanding of your target market. On top of that, the channels that work—or don’t—for your landing page promotion say a lot about your prospective customers' interests and habits. You can use this information to holistically optimize your targeting efforts and marketing strategy. 03. They increase brand awareness An attractive, well-designed landing page conveys your brand's professionalism, value and appeal. Not only can landing pages convert leads in the moment, but they help bolster your brand simply by getting the word out. The more people that know about you, the better off your business. 04. They are measurable By analyzing landing page metrics  such as conversions, bounce rate, page views and traffic source, you can get a sense of how a particular marketing campaign perform. Take a look at where the traffic comes from—for instance, a paid post or an email marketing campaign—to determine which marketing assets prove most effective. 05. They enable targeted messaging Landing pages allow you to craft specific messages and offers aimed at a particular audience based on where they accessed the page, such as an ad, email or social media post. This targeting helps create a more tailored experience, increasing the chance of engagement and conversions. 06. They support testing and optimization Landing pages are perfect for experimenting with different elements like headlines, designs and CTAs. With A/B testing, you can see what resonates most with your audience and continually refine your page for the best results. This process helps improve your campaigns over time. How to create an effective landing page in 7 easy steps Looking to build a landing page of your own? Follow these steps to get started: Determine your goals for any landing page you want to create. Landing pages, by definition, are designed to encourage users to convert — whether it's a sale, a signup or to provide lead gen information. The goal you decide on will determine what type of landing page you choose and your CTAs, so make sure to be clear on these from the start. Use a landing page builder , like Wix, to create your page efficiently and without any technical constraints. Plan and write great copy. It should be high quality and written to encourage your landing page visitors to take a required action. If writing compelling copy isn't your thing, you might want to consider hiring a copywriter to help you. You can also use an AI writing assistant to really save time, just make sure to edit it well. Use images and visuals to improve the design and appeal of your landing page. Many landing page builders include banks of images you can use on your page. Make sure they reflect, as well as possible, your brand and message. Write attention-grabbing headlines. Headlines are crucial on a landing page, they are what makes users stay on your page and move around it. Don't let them go to waste. They should be intentional and clear. Use social proof on your landing page.  Testimonials or reviews from current or past clients and customers are good for building trust with potential customers. Leverage call-to-actions. CTAs are one of the most important parts of your landing page. So choose and position them well. You can also use forms on your page to generate leads. How to drive traffic to your landing pages Now for the fun part—bringing visitors to your landing page so they can convert. The biggest challenge businesses face with landing pages is creating an effective strategy for attracting traffic to the landing page itself. Utilizing other digital marketing practices can help to increase traffic to landing pages. Try these four avenues to grow traffic: 01. Social media As one of the most prominent platforms for engaging with your target audience, start promoting your landing page on social media. Whether it’s on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or Pinterest, create a compelling post with a link to your landing page. That way, you’ll target people already interested in your brand and bring in quality traffic. Each social media platform has its own strengths. For example, Instagram works well for visually appealing products and lifestyle brands, while LinkedIn is ideal for B2B advertisers targeting professionals in specific industries. Tailor your strategy to the platform to maximize results. Pro tip: You can also use a link in bio tool such as Hopp by Wix to direct your community towards specific social channels and simplify content sharing. 02. Email marketing Email marketing remains one of the most effective methods for attracting traffic to your landing page, with 58% of users checking their email before they check social media or the news . If you nail the email subject line, visuals, layout and copywriting, your landing page will get a noticeable boost of incoming visits. 03. SEO Optimizing your landing pages for Google search rankings ensures that the right people will be able to find it. To start, do some research into which keyword SERPs best fit your landing page using SEO tools such as Ahrefs or Semrush. Once you decide on the primary keyword you want the page to rank for, work it into the copy whenever possible, as well as your SEO title and description. Using Wix to create a website means that you can customize your on-page SEO, including meta tags, URL slugs, canonical tags and other page elements. Headers, for example, improve readability for the user, but also contribute to the HTML language that Google reads to determine website ranking. When Google scans website content, it uses headers to help analyze a website or web page's information. Headers are arranged in a hierarchy from H1 to H6, with H1 as the page title. Keep in mind that SEO isn’t a quick-and-dirty strategy that produces immediate effort—it requires sustained attention. The effort pays off because a landing page can maintain SEO authority it has accumulated over time. 04. Paid ads Social media marketing, email marketing and SEO are free ways to draw traffic to your landing page. However, if you think you could use an additional boost, consider promoting your landing page via paid ads. By targeting people based on their interests and demographics, you prompt them with the landing page designated for their specific niche. Search results ads: Based on keywords that you define, search results ads show up on search engines when people include those terms in their queries. Social media ads: When you create paid social media posts, social networks like Facebook and Instagram promote them to people who match the profile of your target audience. For example, if you're running a fitness brand, you can target users who mark themselves as “fitness enthusiasts” on Facebook. Display ads: Another option is to use third-party advertising tools to place banner ads on the websites your audience frequents. Based on your campaign goals, you may choose to diversify your advertising efforts or focus on just one of these platforms. Whichever you decide, consistently monitor your results so that you can adapt your campaign accordingly. Landing page examples To better understand how to implement these strategies, take a look at these landing page examples . (Also, test drive some of the best AI landing page builders today.) 01. SurveyMonkey As a global leader in polling and survey software, SurveyMonkey has designed a landing page that presents two options to their audience upon landing on their page: Go Premium and Sign Up For Free. A brief line accompanies the CTA, describing the product: Voting and polling features to help you capture opinions and get your results in no time. An abundance of white space throughout helps readers follow the content without distraction. As you continue to scroll, you’ll see that SurveyMonkey provides only essential information, including pricing for their three most popular plans and a contact form to receive a demo. The form requires very minimal information, including name, business email address, job title and company name. 02. Tipalti Tipalti is a B2B financial company that has designed a landing page to help them gather new leads. Visitors are immediately greeted with a form to collect contact information along with a large yellow button containing the main CTA, Get a free demo. The company maintains their branding elements, including colors, font and logo, throughout the page to remain consistent with their marketing efforts. As you scroll below the fold, you can see they highlight facts as to why you should choose their service, including testimonials with customer photos. You’ll also see CTA buttons presented several times, providing visitors multiple opportunities to schedule a demo. 03. Miro Miro is an online collaboration tool that allows teams to create visual boards to plan projects and tasks. Upon entering this landing page, a video displaying the tool’s capabilities greets you. Without clicking play, the video shows a preview of how the project boards function. This immediately engages the viewer. The CTA, "Get Started," is located to the left, surrounded by an abundance of blank space which forces your attention to these two places. Toward the bottom, you’ll notice that the site features some of Miro’s biggest clients and displays the main benefits of using the product. This simple, yet captivating design is an excellent example of a landing page done right. 04. Upwork Upwork is a leading freelancer platform that markets both to freelancers as well as businesses who want to hire them. This particular landing page targets businesses looking to hire freelancers for independent work. Get Started, the primary CTA, is located twice above the fold, making it easy for leads to click and convert. Its brand colors, green and white, adorn the page along with a list of leading clients, benefits of hiring through Upwork and a user testimonial at the bottom. The strip at the top of the page features an image of one of Upwork’s top rated freelancers, which helps establish a more personal connection to the business. Best practices for landing pages that convert As you develop your campaign, keep in mind these landing page best practices  to create the most effective one for your business: 01. Perform A/B testing Landing pages allow for experimentation, which can lead to better user experiences and higher conversion rates. With A/B testing, you can test headlines, formats, designs and CTAs to see what performs best. For example, you could use an A/B test to determine whether your CTA button should say “Buy Now” or “Get Started,” based on which has the higher conversion rate. Musatova recommends using Google Optimize or Hotjar for your A/B testing. 02. Minimize navigation To create a straight path from your landing page to the desired action, remove as many links as possible. You can even remove the navigation bar. Ideally, your CTA button will be the only link—any others that need to be on the page should take up as little real estate as possible. 03. Maximize readability Long chunks of text can bore, overwhelm and distract your visitors. On the other hand, making your text short, sweet and skimmable will grab hold of your audience’s attention right away. Every word should serve a very specific purpose and bring their eyes directly to the CTA. Don't get too creative with your content here—save that for your blog. Looking to learn how to create a blog ? Wix has got your covered with thousands of design features, built-in SEO and marketing tools, that will allow you to scale your content, your brand and your business with their blog maker.   04. Maintain consistency “What is most important in creating landing pages is consistency in messaging and design,” said Musatova. To prevent any confusion while moving from point A to point B, make sure your marketing asset's content matches that of your landing page. For example, the SEO headline for the landing page should match the one that appears above the fold. Additionally, your landing page's branding and formatting should coordinate with your site’s homepage. This will allow your audience to move seamlessly through your marketing funnel with ease and minimal distraction. 05. Make your CTA prominent Your landing page should include a CTA that stands out. To achieve this, use clear and direct language and a CTA button that contrasts visually from the background. Place the CTA button multiple times across the landing page so that visitors don’t need to hunt for it. 06. Target specific markets An effective landing page targets potential customers in a specific stage of the marketing funnel. You’ll want the page's content to keep with your audience's intent. Once you’ve segmented leads, you can even create a few versions of the same landing page to better target different groups of potential customers. 07. Simplify actions The more you simplify the action you’re expecting readers to take, the more likely they will do so. For example, Musatova recommends limiting forms to only the most essential information. “You don’t want to scare people away with long, time-consuming forms,” she explained. “People also get a bit concerned about sharing information.” You might even consider only asking for email addresses and finding out more information later. 08. Focus on the consumer Your landing page's content should focus on the reader rather than your company. Instead of talking about how great your business is and all of its achievements, focus on the ways your offer can benefit the customer. 09. Place important content above the fold Don’t depend on visitors to scroll to convert. Place at least one CTA button above the fold where it’s immediately visible. Place other key elements of your landing page, such as the image and headline, above the fold as well. 10. Make it mobile-friendly Make sure your landing page not only looks great on any device, but that it also loads quickly. A good portion of your traffic will come from mobile browsing, and these visitors will be less likely to convert if the page looks clunky on their smaller screen or if it loads too slow. Check out these mobile landing page examples  to learn more. 11. Use landing page templates Most of the best landing page builders  will offer thoughtful landing page templates  to speed up the creation process. Professional designers and marketing experts built these templates, so they’re destined to drive conversions and make sales. You can also fully customize each one to best fit your branding. You can even use the opportunity to design two different pages and see which one performs better amongst your audience. What is a landing page FAQ What are the components of a landing page? The essential components of a successful landing page include a clear headline, a concise description, a prominent CTA, engaging visuals and trust symbols boasting social proof. How do you optimize a landing page? By carefully crafting your messaging, streamlining your form and analyzing your data, you can optimize your landing page and boost conversion rates. What's the purpose of a landing page? The primary goal of a landing page is to convert visitors into leads for your business, but you can also use it to capture information about your audience, increase brand awareness and measure your results. What is the difference between a landing page and a service page? A landing page is a standalone web page designed to drive a specific action, such as signing up or making a purchase, often with a single clear call-to-action and minimal navigation. A service page, on the other hand, is part of a website and provides detailed information about a company’s services, helping users understand offerings while linking to other relevant parts of the site. The primary focus of a landing page is conversion, while a service page prioritizes informing and engaging users. Can any page be a landing page? While technically any web page can act as a landing page, true landing pages are purpose-built for a specific campaign or goal. They focus on one action, such as capturing leads or driving sales, and remove unnecessary navigation to keep users on track. Can you have a landing page without a website? Yes, you can create standalone landing pages without a full website. Many platforms allow you to build and host pages independently, making them ideal for short-term campaigns or testing new ideas. How long should a landing page be? The length of a landing page depends on its purpose. Short pages work well for simple actions like signing up, while longer pages are better for products or services that require thorough explanation. Focus on delivering only the information needed for conversion. Do you need a domain for a landing page? Every landing page needs a domain. If you don’t have a custom domain, Wix lets you publish on a free Wix subdomain (e.g., yoursite.wixsite.com), which is secure and functional. While this is great for starting out, upgrading to a custom domain can enhance your brand’s credibility and make your page more memorable. Wix makes it easy to connect a domain when you’re ready.

Build your website in minutes, try Wix for free today → This article was thoughtfully co-authored by SEO expert Adi Avraham and ASO expert Roni Bass, whose insights and expertise brought this piece to life. As your business or passion project takes off, two important terms will invariably come up—ASO and SEO. While both contribute to your online presence, they focus on different platforms and require distinct strategies. ASO is aimed at increasing your mobile app's visibility in app stores, making it easier for users to find and download. Meanwhile, SEO focuses on improving your website’s ranking in search engine results to drive organic traffic.  As a business owner, knowing the difference between ASO and SEO is essential to reaching a broader audience. This article breaks down the key differences and similarities between ASO and SEO, helping you decide which one to prioritize based on your goals. Ready to learn how to make a website ? Get started with Wix's website builder . What is app store optimization (ASO)? ASO, or app store optimization , is the process of improving your app’s visibility within app stores like Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Its primary goal is to increase the number of downloads your app receives by improving its ranking within the store’s search results. ASO involves optimizing both visible and invisible elements of your app listing, like: App title App subtitle  App description (for Android) Keyword field (for iOS) Tags (for Android) Creative assets like icons, screenshots and preview videos To truly master ASO, you must understand what app store users are searching for and with what intent—then take steps towards ensuring that your app appears for those keywords. For example, you wouldn’t want your app to rank for an unrelated keyword like “sleep app”—even though it has the highest search volume, it isn’t relevant to your business.  What is search engine optimization (SEO)? SEO is the process of making your website easier to find on search engines like Google. The aim of SEO is to drive more organic traffic to your site by getting your webpages to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs) for relevant keywords. SEO relies on two main facets: On-page SEO: Optimizing elements directly on your website, such as content, HTML structure and technical aspects like site speed. Off-page SEO: Building authority and trust for your website by acquiring backlinks, improving social signals and other external factors. SEO is key for any business that depends on its website to drive sales, gather leads or promote content. But bear in mind that search engines consider hundreds of factors, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Every keyword has its own intent, competitiveness and search volume. And more recently, AI has started playing a role too with AI overviews (AIO). Plus, it’s not just about your homepage—each page needs its own optimization to rank well. Want to dive deeper? Learn the answer to " What is SEO? " and check out the best keyword research tools .  ASO vs. SEO: similarities and key differences Here’s a breakdown of how ASO and SEO differ: Ranking factors Platforms SERP features Conversion metrics Reliance on data Optimization processes Quality monitoring Cost considerations Ranking factors Similarities  Both ASO and SEO are all about using the right keywords to improve visibility—ASO does this for app stores, while SEO focuses on search engines. It’s all about picking the terms your audience is searching for. Things like content quality, user reviews and ratings also play a role. The goal is the same: make it easy for your audience to find what they’re looking for. Differences  ASO enhances your app's presence in app stores by focusing on elements like app title, descriptions and screenshots. Meanwhile, SEO increases website visibility through site structure optimization, backlinks and content targeting relevant keywords.  ASO relies heavily on visual elements like icons and video previews for downloads, while SEO emphasizes more site-wide signals, like mobile-friendliness, internal linking, topic clustering and page load speed. Platforms Similarities  Both ASO and SEO hinge on knowing individual platforms inside and out. You need to have a good grasp of the rules, algorithms and ranking factors of each platform; just like how every search engine works a little differently, each app store has its own quirks. Differences  ASO targets app stores like Apple App Store and Google Play, which focus solely on mobile apps. SEO targets search engines like Google and Bing, covering personal or professional websites, blogs and eCommerce sites. ASO's focus is on overall app quality, app titles, descriptions, keywords and visuals, while SEO prioritizes content quality and backlinks. SERP features Similarities  Both SEO and ASO aim to stand out in search results by using features that grab attention. Think about AI Overviews (AIO), People Also Ask boxes and visual stories for SEO, or app packs and top charts for ASO. The goal is the same—make your content impossible to miss. By optimizing for these features, you’re not just increasing visibility—you’re actively encouraging users to click and engage. Both strategies let you use search results to your advantage and connect with your audience more effectively. Differences  The SERP features in app stores are very different from the ones you might find on Google. For example, on Google, you have SERP features like AIO, People Also Ask, Featured Snippets, etc., which are all features that you can’t control. While you can make changes to influence your rankings, ultimately, Google decides who will show up in these places.  In app stores, the only SERP features you’ll find are called app events (an event that you can create for your app search results or for a specific timeframe). App events are available to every app owner, but aren’t relevant to every app. You have the power to decide if you’ll use app events or not. For example, Netflix can do an in-app event for a new TV show they’re releasing. In this sense, ASO gives you more control over the SERP. Conversion metrics Similarities Both ASO and SEO focus on user actions that drive business goals. Both aim to encourage valuable interactions—whether that's getting users to download an app in ASO, or prompting purchases or sign-ups on a website via SEO. These conversion metrics also provide insights into how often users engage with an app or website and how well these platforms turn visits into meaningful actions. Differences For ASO, important metrics include app downloads, which show when someone goes from viewing your app to installing it; post-download actions, like user retention; and how long people stay in your app. This is all about the app store experience.  With SEO, the focus shifts to things like clicks, sales and website sign-ups. ”Conversions” can be defined as product purchases, lead submissions or even demo requests. It all depends on what your website aims to accomplish. Reliance on data Similarities In ASO and SEO, data is important for refining your strategy and getting more visibility. More specifically, analyzing keyword data is essential for optimizing your success, whether in app stores or search engines. You must understand search volumes and what users are interested in to choose the right keywords, and to ultimately make it easier for people to find you.  Differences The scope of data available for ASO and SEO is significantly different. App stores offer insights like volume score and downloads. You can even link a user's app download to their in-app actions, such as what they did and what they purchased from your app. However, with ASO, you lack detailed keyword performance metrics; while you can easily segment traffic data by country, language and device, you can’t see which keywords drive the most traffic and downloads. This limitation makes it harder for ASO to measure the specific impact of each keyword on app performance.  On the other hand, SEO platforms provide average monthly search volumes for every keyword, as well as detailed insights into impressions, clicks and segmented traffic. This information allows SEO specialists to precisely analyze how keywords perform and adjust their strategies to improve rankings and engagement. Optimization processes Similarities ASO and SEO are ongoing processes that need constant tweaking and testing. Adjusting things like keywords, titles and descriptions can help you keep up with changing user behaviors and algorithms—and, in turn, improve visibility, engagement and conversion. Regular updates and A/B testing are key to staying competitive in the ever-shifting digital world. Differences ASO and SEO have different approaches and timelines. ASO mainly focuses on optimizing app-specific elements like icons, screenshots and videos. Within app stores, keyword and metadata updates tend to happen every four to six weeks. It’s also common practice in ASO to A/B test textual assets like title and description, as well as creative assets like app icon and preview video screenshots. While ASO focuses on adjusting visual and metadata in shorter cycles, SEO's optimization process has a wider scope, addressing both content and technical aspects for long-term growth in web visibility. Quality monitoring Similarities ASO and SEO are pretty similar when it comes to keeping an eye on quality. Both involve regularly tracking things like keyword rankings, user engagement and conversion rates so you can tweak your strategies and stay ahead as algorithms change. Differences In ASO, app owners are expected to deliver smooth user experiences by minimizing crashes and preventing “app not responding” errors. Quality is reflected in user engagement—i.e., how long people spend in the app, how often they return daily and whether the app delivers on its promises. Downloads alone aren’t a measure of quality; just because an app is downloaded frequently doesn’t mean it’s good. True quality lies in how well the app performs and retains users. In addition, uninstall rates are a measurement of quality control.  In contrast, SEO considers the structure and quality of content, along with technical aspects like page speed and mobile-friendliness. These all play a part in search rankings.  Cost considerations When it comes to deciding where to invest your resources, think about the costs associated with both ASO and SEO: ASO: When you’re working on ASO, you’ll likely use keyword research tools like AppTweak, in addition to A/B testing platforms for creative assets (although you can perform tests directly through the consoles where you manage the app, sometimes third-party tools can also provide extra insights). You may choose to pay for app store advertising for quicker results, and don’t forget that you’ll have to make regular updates to your app listings, which will require time and expertise. SEO: SEO expenses often include investments in tools like Google Analytics, Semrush or Ahrefs for keyword tracking, as well as content creation costs. Off-page SEO efforts, like link-building campaigns, may also require a financial investment. Tip:  Check out this list of free SEO tools  to help mitigate some costs, including Wix SEO. Or, go to the Wix SEO Learning Hub  for detailed tips and processes.  Factor ASO (app store optimization) SEO (search engine optimization) Platform App stores (mainly Apple App Store and Google Play) Search engines (e.g., Google, Bing and DuckDuckGo) Search target Apps and games Websites, blogs and eCommerce stores SERP features In-app events People Also Ask, videos, discussions and forums, local pack, Things to Know, images, from sources across the web, People Also Search For, featured snippet, AI overview  Ranking factors App title  Subtitle Keyword field (iOS)  App description (Android) Tags (Android) Title tags  Meta descriptions Structured data Content quality that fulfills user intent Backlinks Conversion metrics Impressions App downloads (Side note: creative assets like icons and screenshots contribute to strong impressions and downloads) Clicks Conversions (sales, signups) Data  Volume score; limited insights on keyword performance  Cannot directly measure keyword impressions or downloads and also the amount of actual searches in a month Number of average monthly searches for every keyword Detailed data on keyword impressions Clicks and traffic by device Optimization process A/B testing of creative and/or textual assets (icons, screenshots, videos) Textual assets (title, subtitle, description)  Metadata updates every four to six weeks Content optimization (titles, descriptions, headers, paragraphs, images, videos) Internal linking optimizations, updates every six months or more frequently depending on competition Focus on user reviews User reviews can influence rankings and visibility—and as an outcome, downloads   User reviews are important for credibility and social proof, but not a direct ranking factor Quality Crashes User retention Session length Engagement Click-through rates (CTR) Dwell time Page view Purchases How ASO and SEO work together Although ASO and SEO focus on different platforms, they can, in fact, complement each other. If your business has both a website and an app, combining your ASO and SEO strategies can strengthen your overall online presence. Cross-promotion: You can drive app downloads via your website by integrating calls to action (CTAs ) that direct users to app stores. Likewise, you can link back to your website from your app’s store page. Ratings and reviews: Encourage app users to leave reviews and ratings through your website to promote your app’s visibility. Positive reviews on your app page can serve as social proof on your website. Backlinks: Build backlinks to your app page from your SEO-optimized content, and vice versa, helping your app rank higher in app store search results. Multiple web entry points for the app:  Create multiple web pages for your app. For example, if you're a gym owner and you have an app that allows users to sign up to different classes, you can build web pages for yoga classes, Pilates classes, spinning classes, aerobics classes, etc. Integrated ASO and SEO strategy:  By using consistent messaging and branding across both your app and website, you ensure that your content marketing efforts support both SEO and ASO by targeting similar keywords and themes. ASO and SEO best practices Mastering ASO and SEO means optimizing keywords, content and user experience to enhance discoverability and stay competitive. Here are some best practices to keep in mind. ASO best practices Perform keyword research: Understand what users are searching for in each app store and what they’re looking to achieve. Are users looking to be entertained when they search a specific keyword? Or, are they looking for a helpful tool they can use? Optimize all metadata fields: Include the most important keywords in your app or website’s metadata. Use the most essential keywords in the title, then subtitle and finally in the keywords list/description. Keep things fresh every four to six weeks: Regular updates show that your app is actively maintained. In addition, it’s recommended to optimize your metadata to increase your rankings. Don’t optimize iOS and Android the same way: These algorithms are unique from one another and weigh different factors. Taking a blanket approach to optimization may hurt your rankings. Design attractive icons, screenshots and videos: Take it from The Advanced App Store Optimization  book—this is what converts users the most. Keep your icon simple and memorable, and use your screenshots and videos to highlight the most important features of your app. A/B test your creative assets: Test different versions to see which one drives more installs. Localize: Localize and optimize your texts and creatives for different regions to suit local preferences and cultural nuances. Pay attention to your ratings and reviews: Prompt satisfied users to leave positive reviews and address negative feedback constructively. Keep your performance high: Monitor downloads, user engagement and crashes. A well-performed app has more chances of getting ranked in the app stores. Keep an eye for algorithm updates: Be ready to adapt your ASO strategies to align with any Google Play policy updates or algorithm changes. If your app page doesn’t match the new policy, it may hurt your app’s visibility.  Pro tip:  Check out these common ASO mistakes  to avoid. SEO best practices Try testing out some of these marketing strategies  as a part of your SEO effort, so your business can improve its visibility and climb the ranks in both app stores and search engines. Perform keyword research  Identify target keywords: Tools like Google Keyword Planner , Ahrefs  and Semrush  can help you discover what people are searching for in your industry. This includes high-volume keywords, long-tail keywords  and related terms. Understand search intent: It's not just about finding the most popular keywords but understanding the intent  behind those searches. Are users looking for information, trying to make a purchase or comparing products? Tailoring your content to this intent is essential. Using keywords in the page's content: Once your keywords are identified, naturally integrate the chosen keywords into your content while maintaining readability. They should be used throughout your pages, such as the title tags, meta descriptions, headings, URLs and body content. Use Wix’s SEO features  along with built-in blogging and text creation tools to optimize your pages content. Enhance SEO title tags: Write title tags that are concise, keyword-focused and reflective of the page's content. Remember to keep it up to 60 characters max. Write engaging meta descriptions: Craft meta tags  that are compelling, include keywords and encourage users to click through from search results. Remember to keep it up to 160 characters max. You can use Wix’s AI meta tag creator  tool to streamline your efforts. Implement structured data: Structured data is a set of HTML code that helps search engines understand your content better. By adding schema markup to your site’s code, you make it easier for search engines to categorize and display your information on search results. This can amplify visibility and click-through rates. Use tools like Merkle schema generator  to create the necessary code for your site. Focus on mobile- friendliness: The majority of internet browsing—over 61% —happens on mobile devices, outpacing desktop and tablet use. Plus, Google prioritizes the mobile version of your website, making mobile-friendliness essential. Focus on providing an intuitive user experience for visitors on mobile to stay ahead. Utilize internal linking: Internal links are the links that your visitors can click on to get to another page on your site. When crafting your page's content, think about how to insert links to other relevant pages of your site so that it’s easy for visitors (and web crawlers) to find them and spend more time on your site. Optimize anchor text: Optimize your anchor text (the clickable text in a hyperlink that directs users to another page) by including keywords related to your website’s niche. For example, using “ SEO tools ” as anchor text linking to a page about SEO tools can help improve your ranking for that keyword, while also making it clear what the linked page is about. Elevate your images: This is essential for improving your website's speed, user experience and increasing your image search visibility. Two important factors are compressing images and providing relevant alt text. Compressing images: Large image files can slow down your website, leading to poor user experience and lower rankings. Aim for 80 KB to 100 KB per image for most website use cases, like product photos, blog graphics, or thumbnails. This strikes a balance between quality and performance. Tools to try: TinyPNG or Befunky . Alt text:  Read by screen readers for visually impaired users and helps search engines understand the image content. Describe the image’s content and try including keywords naturally. For example, if your page targets "vegan cake recipes," a good alt text might be "Slice of vegan chocolate cake topped with fresh strawberries.” ASO or SEO? How to make the right choice for your business The decision to prioritize ASO, SEO—or both, depends on your business model and your specific audience. When to focus on ASO If your business primarily revolves around an app , focusing on ASO is important for  increasing visibility and downloads within app stores like Google Play or the Apple App Store. When your primary goal is to drive more app installs , use ASO to optimize for app store rankings and conversions. If you notice that your app is not ranking well for relevant keywords in the app store or that competitors are outranking you, it's time to focus on ASO. If your audience primarily engages with mobile devices and apps , invest more effort in ASO to ensure you capture those users directly within app stores. When to focus on SEO If you have a website as a core asset , like an eCommerce website  or a blog, SEO is essential for driving organic traffic from search engines like Google. When your goal is to increase website visits , generate leads or convert users online— focus on SEO to improve your rankings for relevant keywords and attract targeted audiences. If you aim to reach users across devices (desktop, mobile or tablet) and different touch points (blog, social media or search engines), prioritize SEO to cover all aspects of your digital strategy. When your focus is on creating content to educate, inform, solve audience problems or entertain users, and you're competing for rankings on search engines, SEO will be key. When to focus on both If your business operates through both an app and a website , be sure to prioritize both ASO and SEO simultaneously to make sure that users can find you through search engines and app stores. In addition, if you're launching a new app and a website together, creating a unified ASO and SEO strategy will get more eyes on your business and attract new customers. When your goal is to drive app downloads through your website or vice versa , aligning your ASO and SEO strategies sharpens your approach, improving user experiences and increasing conversions across both app stores and search engines.For example, a yoga studio owner with an app primarily used for class signups and check-ins could enhance its value by sharing additional resources. They could include a link within the app to provide more information, promote new deals, share yoga tips or offer courses. Another idea is to use member profile pages to share personalized updates or exclusive content. Match made in heaven: combining ASO and SEO for a holistic strategy As in many types of marketing , a unified strategy is often a winning strategy. When combined, ASO and SEO can offer even greater visibility and conversions by helping your business capture a broad audience across both channels. By understanding the unique and overlapping elements of ASO and SEO, you can make informed decisions that will increase your digital presence and ultimately grow your business.

Get started by: Creating a website →  | Getting a domain → Forum software platforms have been a staple of online communities since the early days of the internet. In spite of the earth-shattering growth of social media networks over the last decade, these platforms have remained a safe haven for those looking to connect with like-minded individuals on a more global, anonymous scale. Nowadays, the practice of how to make a website and an online forum is becoming increasingly popular among businesses, as online communities have proven to be an incredibly valuable asset. Regardless of whether you have a startup website , are a small business owner, or enterprise decision maker—to get started on your own, we recommend creating a website for free with a website builder like Wix that has a built-in, free forum software that can easily be added. Forums can serve as a way to simply bring your audience together, or as a source of feedback and inter-user support. Regardless of what purpose you aim for these types of websites to serve, one of the most gratifying results is always the strengthened sense of connection between users and your product or services. Take a look at this selection of the best forum software available and start planting the seeds of your future thriving online community . What is forum software? Forum software is a type of application that enables users to create and post messages, read and reply to messages posted by others and engage in discussions organized around specific topics or interests. These online discussion boards, also known as forums or message boards, serve as platforms for communities to exchange knowledge, share experiences and seek support. Best forum software Wix Groups phpBB vBulletin MyBB Vanilla Flarum Simple Machines Forum Discourse XenForo Invision Community 01. Wix Groups Price: Free Wix Groups allows you to build outstanding community sites without a single line of code. You can start from scratch or choose one of the platform’s professionally designed website templates . In both cases, you’ll be able to customize every aspect of your forum and complement it with additional apps either with a membership website or other type. This solution is focused on building vibrant online communities and providing powerful social features that encourage users to engage with each other and create meaningful relationships. Wix Groups takes a page from the popular social media book to provide users with personal profile pages where other members can see all their posts and follow them. Key Wix features : Built-in advanced SEO tools Customizable interface Social features Mobile-friendly platform Members and profile pages Reliable and secure web hosting 02. phpBB Price: Free phpBB is one of the oldest and most well-known free forum solutions out there. First launched in 2000, this platform is constantly updated to keep up with the latest industry trends including mobile-first indexing compliance and anti-spam capabilities. The forum’s user-friendly interface, paired with a solid administration panel and documentation, make it highly accessible even with little technical knowledge. It includes all the basic features needed on a forum software, such as user moderation, notifications, security and multi-language support. Additionally, there are hundreds of free extensions available. phpBB is open-source and self-hosted, which means that you won’t have to pay for its use but will need to invest in a robust website hosting platform. On a high-quality host, this forum software solution can handle a large number of message boards and thousands of users. Key features: Detailed documentation and video tutorials Robust messaging capabilities Built-in SEO tools Extensive management panel Responsive design and cross-browser support 03. vBulletin Price: Plans for vBulletin Cloud start at $14.99/month, vBulletin 5 Connect license requires a one-time $249 payment Broadly considered one of the best premium forum software, vBulletin has been around for over two decades. This platform provides powerful administration, security and SEO tools, and has an AI-powered engagement feature that encourages community growth. This forum software was created with large communities in mind. In addition to using machine learning and natural language processing to boost participation, vBulletin also allows users to create private forums and groups. Furthermore, it’s possible to create a blog within the platform in order to provide added value to members and strengthen the forum’s SEO performance. The platform offers both self-hosting (vBulletin 5 Connect) and cloud hosting (vBulletin Cloud) options, making it equally accessible for users with varying degrees of technical knowledge. Both versions can be set up in just 15 minutes and provide the same features. Key features: Mobile device optimization Highly customizable themes Powerful media capabilities Built-in SEO tools Task scheduler 04. MyBB Price: Free As its name suggests, MyBB allows users to make the platform their own. This powerful open-source, free forum software is fully customizable, providing ready-made templates and a theme editor to make it easy for users to achieve their design goals. Its customization capabilities are also available for end users, as they can easily adjust the way they view discussions. This solution provides all the basic features of a solid forum software, as well as several additional plugins available for those who want to take their boards a step further. Examples of these include anti-spam tools, gamification features, email blast support, and CDN capabilities. While the list of extensions offered by MyBB falls short of the variety other solutions in this list offer, its easy accessibility and modern style make it a feisty contender in the fight for the title of best forum software. Key features: Database management integration Multi-language support Complete design customization Broad range of plugins Email blasts 05. Vanilla Price: Free open-source version, business plans start at $689/month Vanilla offers both free and premium versions of its forum software. The former provides users with a self-hosting platform with basic features and community-built plugins, while the latter is a powerful cloud-based solution aimed at enterprise-level customers. Some of this forum software’s most renowned features include a wide array of marketing integrations, automatic content curation and gamification practices. These are not only aimed to support and increase user engagement but also to empower business effectiveness. Vanilla can also be used as a help desk software to create a robust ticket system for customer support efforts. The platform’s built-in knowledge base system also makes it possible for businesses to easily develop a self-service that relieves support demand. Key features: User-friendly set up process Mobile-friendly interface Social and data sharing integration Wide range of themes and plugins Auto-saving feature 06. Flarum Price: Free Despite being relatively new in the, Flarum has already made a name for itself as one of the best free forum software out there. The main reason for this lies on the core ethos upon which the solution has been built: simple, modern and fast. It’s fair to say that these values are more than present in Flarum’s platform. This new-gen forum software is easy to install and loads fast thanks to its lightweight JavaScript framework. Out of the box the platform’s user interface is modern and sleek, with a heavy focus on user experience. This elegant, simple design is complemented by smooth animations and large buttons which provide an overall professional look. But what truly makes Flarum stand out is its two-pane interface. This unique feature provides users with a flexible environment where they can participate in numerous discussions without opening a handful of different tabs. Other engagement-focused capabilities include a floating message composer, discussion-organized notifications, live cha t and user mentions. Key features: Easy forum set up User-friendly design tools Two-pane interface Advanced permission settings Comprehensive APIs 07. Simple Machines Forum Price: Free Also known simply as SMF, Simple Machines Forum is an open-source forum software built with large online communities in mind. Its interface stays clear of flashy decorations, opting instead for a clear and sober approach that gives the platform a professional look. In order to allow for optimal performance and scalability, this free forum software offers a broad variety of customizable features and plugins, along with structured code documentation. As a result, SMF’s module and system is among the most flexible in the space. Furthermore, SMF’s advanced package manager allows users to implement large-scale user modifications quickly. In just a couple clicks, you’ll be able to apply changes to large user databases. Long gone are the days when these modifications took endless hours and lines of code. Key features: Advanced security features Highly customizable extensions Supports 46 languages Paid user subscriptions Built-in SEO tools 08. Discourse Price: Free open-source version, business plans start at $100/month Discourse offers a modern take on the notion of forums. A quick look at the platform’s interface makes it evident that this open-source solution has little in common with the traditional forum structure. This, combined with a long list of available features and integrations and complete mobile optimization, have granted this solution a spot among the best forum software. One of Discourse’s most groundbreaking features is a unique user ranking system that provides experienced members with certain moderation capabilities. This results in a self-moderated community where users are rewarded for their engagement and meaningful collaborations. If you are interested in this open-source forum software and don’t know how to host a website or don’t have the resources to do so, Discourse offers a managed hosting solution for a monthly subscription starting at $100. Key features: Mobile device optimization Advanced moderation settings Business plugins and social media integrations Rich messaging tools Performance analytic tools 09. XenForo Price: $160/year XenForo is a self-hosted forum software created for businesses. The platform presents an elegant interface that can be easily customized to match the business’s brand identity. You’ll be able to change the forum layout, create your own typography style and implement your brand colors without a single line of code. There are more than 2,000 plugins available in the platform, ranging from enhanced search capabilities to premium area paywalls. Among these, one of the XenForum’s core defining features is the use of gamification to encourage user engagement. This includes social sharing, activity milestones, appreciation tools and a reward scheme. In addition to the basic yearly license, XenForo offers several premium services users can add to their forums such as a media gallery, enhanced SEO tools and advanced resource management. Extra additions can be purchased from third-party vendors. Key features: Built-in SEO User engagement rewards Robust content tools Customizable templates Wide range of add-ons 10. Invision Community Price: Plans start at $45/month Invision Community is deemed to be one of the best forum software solutions for businesses and enterprises. It combines a fully customizable interface with rich content creation tools and a comprehensive admin panel that makes it easy to set up and manage. The platform enables users to customize every aspect of their forums, down to the activity feed on a user basis. This flexibility extends to end-users as well, as they can create and manage their own online communities within the forum. Known as clubs, these areas get designated managers and can control private forums, galleries and calendars. Furthermore, Invision’s solution can be used beyond forum platforms to build fully functional and mobile-responsible support ticket systems, blogs, file-sharing networks, eCommerce sites, content management systems and more. Key features: Achievement rewards Premium clubs memberships Powerful business tools Advanced security settings Comprehensive content apps What are the benefits of using forum software? Forum software offers numerous benefits for individuals, organizations and businesses, making it a valuable tool for communication, collaboration and community building. Here are some of the key advantages of using forum software: Fostering community amongst your users and customers Forum software creates a platform for individuals with shared interests to connect, interact and form meaningful connections. It facilitates discussions, encourages sharing of knowledge and experiences and helps build a sense of belonging and community. Enhanced customer support Companies can u forum software to provide comprehensive customer support, allowing users to ask questions, seek solutions and share feedback. This direct interaction with customers helps improve product development, identify areas for improvement and enhance customer satisfaction. Effective knowledge management Forums serve as a repository of valuable information, capturing discussions, FAQs and solutions to common problems. This collective knowledge base can be easily searched and accessed by users, reducing the need for repetitive support requests and streamlining problem-solving. Brand building Active forum participation allows organizations to establish themselves as thought leaders in their respective industries. By engaging with users, providing valuable insights and addressing concerns, companies can build brand credibility and enhance their reputation. Market research Forum discussions provide valuable insights into user needs, preferences and pain points. Companies can analyze these conversations to gather market research, identify potential product improvements and develop features that align with user expectations. How to choose the right forum software Choosing the right forum software for your online community is crucial for ensuring a thriving and engaging online space. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you make an informed decision: Define your community's goals and needs Before diving into software options, clearly define the purpose and objectives of your online community. What do you hope to achieve? What are the specific needs of your target audience? Understanding these goals will guide your software selection. Assess your technical expertise Consider your technical capabilities or the availability of technical support. Some forum software requires more technical expertise for setup and maintenance, while others offer user-friendly interfaces and simplified management tools. Evaluate features and functionality Research and compare different forum software options based on their features and functionality. Consider essential features like user profiles, threaded discussions, moderation tools, search and navigation and integration capabilities. Consider scalability and growth Choose software that can accommodate your community's growth. Ensure the software can handle increasing user traffic, data storage requirements and potential feature expansions in the future. Review pricing and licensing options Compare pricing structures and licensing models of different software providers. Open-source software may be cost-effective but may require more technical expertise, while paid software often provides support and regular updates. Test and evaluate potential software Most forum software providers offer free trials or demo versions. Utilize these opportunities to test the software's user interface, features and compatibility with your needs. Seek community feedback Gather feedback from potential users or existing community members to understand their preferences and expectations for the forum software. Their insights can help you identify the most suitable option. Prioritize security and data protection Ensure the forum software prioritizes user data security and privacy. Check for robust security measures, data encryption and compliance with relevant data protection regulations. Consider mobile compatibility In today's mobile-first world, choose forum software that offers a responsive design and a user-friendly mobile experience. This ensures your community can access and engage with the forum on various devices. Seek support when needed Don't hesitate to seek assistance from the software provider or the online community if you encounter any technical difficulties or have questions about the software's functionality. What features should forum software offer? Forum software should offer a range of features to facilitate effective communication, collaboration and community engagement. Some essential features to look for in forum software include: Discussion threads and topics : Enable users to create and engage in discussion threads organized by topics or categories for easy navigation and focused conversations. User registration : Allow users to register accounts, create profiles and customize their information, fostering a sense of community and personalization. Moderation tools : Provide robust moderation tools for administrators and moderators to manage content, including thread locking, post deletion and user banning, ensuring a safe and respectful environment. Search functionality : Offer powerful search capabilities to help users quickly find relevant topics and posts within the forum, enhancing usability and user experience. Notification system : Implement a notification system that alerts users to new replies, mentions or updates to subscribed threads, keeping users engaged and informed about ongoing discussions. Best forum software FAQ How much does forum software cost? The cost of forum software can vary depending on the features and functionality of the software. Some forum programs are free to use, while others require a license fee. There are also many open-source forum programs available, which can be downloaded and used for free. Is it hard to create a forum website? The difficulty of creating a forum website depends on your technical expertise. If you're comfortable with coding and web development, you may be able to create a forum website yourself. However, if you're not familiar with coding, you may want to hire a professional to create the website for you. Can you make money running a forum? Yes, you can make money running a forum. There are a few different ways to monetize a forum, such as: Advertising: You can sell advertising space on your forum to businesses that want to reach your audience. Premium memberships: You can offer premium memberships that give users access to exclusive features or content. Affiliate marketing: You can promote products or services on your forum and earn a commission for each sale that is generated through your forum. The amount of money you can make from running a forum will depend on a number of factors, such as the traffic of your forum, the demographics of your audience and your ability to attract advertisers or sponsors.

You have a great idea for a new business venture. You’ve felt the bolt of inspiration, the rush of energy and you’re eager to make it work. But before you get wrapped up in those new business butterflies, you’ll need to do some careful planning to ensure you actually succeed. That’s where a business planning checklist can help. As you go from concept to company, you’ll need to answer some key questions: How much startup money will you need? Who will handle the books? How can you create a beautiful and functional website for your new brand? If you’re ready to find the answers, read on. Use this business startup checklist as your personal to-do list. Check off all of these boxes and you’ll be well on your way to kicking off a booming business. Ready to launch? Build your business website today with Wix. Your ultimate business startup checklist Flesh out your business idea Estimate your startup costs Write your business plan Find funding Choose a location Pick a business structure Select a business name Create a website Register your business with your state Get your EIN number Apply for licenses and permits Create an operational plan Get help with accounting Hire employees Obtain business insurance Spread the word 01. Flesh out your business idea The first step toward launching your company is coming up with an idea. Often, the most successful businesses are driven by a personal passion. If you're obsessed with home improvement projects, then you might start a construction or handyman business. If you spend 90% of your free time working out, then you might choose to open your own gym. Once you have your idea, you need to make sure it’s business-worthy. Find out by diving into market research. Investigate the potential market size in your niche. Research your likely competitors, and reach out to would-be customers to learn why they gravitate towards particular products or services. If you’re creating a brand-new product, develop a prototype that you can test. Then, use all of this information to determine your unique selling proposition (that is, the thing that makes your business stand out). 02. Estimate your startup costs To get your company off of the ground, you’ll need at least a little bit of startup capital. The cost to start a business will vary based on the type of company you’re opening. An online business, for example, will likely cost less than a company that requires a storefront on Main Street. When calculating your startup costs, consider your expenses for equipment, property rental (including the initial deposit), production, inventory and marketing. Add in the cost of any licenses, fees or permits you’ll need to acquire. Be sure to set aside a contingency fund for future expenses. It takes most businesses two-to-three years to turn a profit , so your savings will help you cover operational costs in the interim. 03. Write your business plan Writing a business plan is arguably the most important to-do item on your business startup checklist. It will serve as the blueprint for your company’s formation, with details about your goals, strategies and financial projections. You’ll share your business plan with investors, banks and potential partners in order to earn their trust, so it must be compelling and impactful. You can create a one-page plan that gives a quick snapshot of your business. Or, you can create a multi-page plan that dives into the details. No matter which format you choose, your business plan should include all the basics of how to start a business , including these items: Executive summary: Provide a brief overview of everything in your plan, including a summary of your business and its goals. Company description: Include your name, mission statement and goals more in detail. Products or services: Create a list of your offerings, proof of concept and pricing. Market analysis: Provide an overview of your potential market size, target audience and your competitors. Marketing and operations plan: Explain how you’ll reach your customers and grow your brand. Management and organization: Describe your company’s structure or include an organization chart. Financial projections: Outline your startup costs, sales forecasts and needed funding. Appendices: If you have anything further to add, provide materials in this section. Not sure where to begin? Use this business plan template as your guide. Your plan will be a living and breathing document, so you’ll want to review and update it regularly pre- and post-launch. 04. Find funding If you’ve followed all the steps up to this point, then you should know how much money you need to start your business. Now, it’s time to find those funds. If you already have enough money in your personal savings to get started—or if you have multiple income streams—you may not need additional startup money. No need to worry if you don’t have the cash on hand. There are plenty of ways to generate funding these days. You can explore loans and grants from organizations like the Small Business Administration , or you can secure a business loan from a local bank. Angel investors and venture capital offer two other potential funding sources, especially for startups or businesses looking to give up equity in exchange for an investment. So, too, does crowdfunding, an approach that leverages platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo to collect money from individuals who want to support your new business. 05. Choose a location Every business needs a place to call home. Even if you’re thinking about how to start an online business , your company will eventually need a mailing address. Choosing the right location for your business is an important step, because it impacts your taxes, revenue and legal requirements. Understand the rules in the jurisdiction where your business will reside. If you’re starting a business that needs a physical presence, look carefully at the location of potential office and retail sites. Consider: How accessible is it for you and your employees? How close is it to your product suppliers? Is there potential for a lot of foot traffic? If you plan to lease commercial space, hiring a commercial real estate agent is a wise move. But if you don’t have your heart set on a specific location yet, then check out this list of the best states to start a business . More resources for starting a business in your state How to start a business in Michigan How to start a business in Connecticut How to start a business in South Carolina How to start a business in Tennessee How to start a business in Minnesota How to start a business in New York How to start a business in Pennsylvania How to start a business in Virginia How to start a business in Indiana How to start a business in Washington state 06. Pick a business structure Your business structure will determine how much you’ll pay in taxes and your personal liability. Most business owners will choose one of four structures: Sole proprietorship : You own the business yourself, and you assume all of its legal responsibilities. You report profits and losses on your personal tax return, and you are liable for any debts or legal issues. Partnership : Two or more people share responsibility for the business. They also share in the legal and financial obligations, and they split the profits. Each partner reports profits and losses on their individual tax returns. Corporation : Your business is a legal entity separate from its owners. Corporations pay corporate income tax on profits, and individual shareholders are usually not held liable for the company’s debts and legal obligations. Limited liability corporation (LLC) : In an LLC, the business owners operate as “members'' of the company. As the name implies, LLCs offer the limited liability protection of a corporation. In this structure, members can choose whether to be taxed as a corporation or as a “pass-through entity” to the owners’ individual tax returns. 07. Select a business name At this stage of your small business startup checklist, it’s time to start brainstorming what you want your business to be called. Choose a name that best reflects your company’s mission, vision and values. The best company names are both memorable and unique. A smart approach is to come up with a list of a dozen or so potential names. Then, start doing some research. First, check the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database to make sure that your chosen name isn’t already trademarked by another company. You should also check with the Office of the Secretary of State for the state in which your business is located to see if another business has claimed your name. Finally, conduct some thorough online searches to ensure that you can use your company name across your web and social media platforms. You can do a domain name search to see if the domain name you want to use for your website is available. Need some instant inspiration? Try Wix’s free business name generator . 08. Create a website As you move closer to your launch date, you’ll turn your focus towards marketing. If you have an online business, your website will serve as the public face of your company. If you have a brick-and-mortar business, your website will be your top online marketing channel, spreading the word about your company and enticing customers to visit your physical location. Today, website building platforms make it easier than ever to create a beautiful website. When you build a website with Wix, you’ll have access to more than 800 professionally designed templates that reflect all types of businesses. Wix’s advanced customization options allow you to modify any template to your liking, with easy-to-use drag-and-drop editing capabilities along with AI-assisted tools. With Wix, you also get free and secure web hosting, a custom domain name and email name ideas that you can turn into your business email address. What’s more, your website dashboard can truly become the one-stop-shop for all your business management needs, including online payment systems , appointment booking , advertising , email marketing , search engine optimization (SEO) , hundreds of third-party app integrations and more. Need more help with marketing and design? Check out Wix’s free business tools . 09. Register your business with your state Let’s make this official. Registering your business with your state offers many benefits, including personal liability protection, legal and trademark protection, and tax benefits. Additionally, it allows you to hire employees and gives you more access to lending and funding options. If you’re establishing a business in the U.S., your location and business structure determine the steps you’ll need to take in order to register your business. 10. Get your EIN number You must also register your business with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS will provide you with an employer identification number , or EIN, which is essentially a Social Security number (SSN) for your business. An EIN allows your business to be recognized by the government when it comes to paying taxes on the state and federal levels. Furthermore, you’ll need a tax ID number to hire staff, open a business bank account and apply for any necessary business licenses or permits. There is one exception here: a sole proprietorship with no employees does not have to register with the IRS. 11. Apply for licenses and permits Identifying the type of licenses or permits you’ll need to start your business will require a little bit of legwork. That’s because the rules vary by industry, state and even municipality. Only a few businesses (such as investment advising, drug manufacturing and ground transport) require federal licenses. However, many types of companies will need state licenses, especially those that provide specific services to customers (such as accountants, real estate agents or hair stylists). If you’re starting an eCommerce business, you will also need a sales tax permit if your state collects sales tax. According to Sabrina Papini, marketing director of eCommerce and marketplaces at Avalara , failing to do this is a common compliance mistake made by business owners. "Neglecting to register for sales tax in states where your business has a tax obligation can lead to penalties, fines and audits," Papini says. "Businesses must identify their nexus, which is a connection between their operations and the taxing authority, and register accordingly." On a local level, most cities or counties require that you have a business license. This can even be true for at-home businesses. Your best bet is to check with state and local officials to make sure that you have all the official licenses and permits you need. 12. Create an operational plan There are many types of business plans , and one of the most important for startups is an operational plan. This will determine how you and your employees will conduct your day-to-day business. Your operational plan should include details on how your company will process orders, pay bills, pay taxes, maintain permits and manage internal workflows. Look for places where automation can help you get more efficient, such as task management, customer service and scheduling. Finally, start investigating the type of software you might need, including items like point-of-sale systems or customer relationship management (CRM) databases. 13. Get help with accounting Speaking of software, one of the biggest needs for almost all small businesses is some sort of automated system for financial accounting, tax management and budgeting. If you’re already a financial whiz, you may be able to handle this on your own. But for the vast majority of businesses, investing in accounting software is a serious value-add. Look for solutions that can help you manage and create balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and cash flow statements. Because businesses are required to keep financial documents on file for three years, you should seek a solution with documentation storage capabilities. If you don’t use accounting software, then be sure to work with a licensed business accountant who can help you balance the books, keep records and stay compliant. 14. Hire employees If you’re planning to build a team to help you run your company, then hiring employees is a must-do item on your business startup checklist. First, determine how many team members you’ll need and write out their roles and responsibilities. Next, establish pay rates and benefits. Depending on the size of your company and the needs of your business, you may not necessarily need full-time staff to start. Part-time employees or even freelance workers are an option you can consider. Finally, draft a job posting that covers the core responsibilities, required skills and benefits of the position. You can then advertise your open positions on career websites, local job boards, freelance platforms or social media. 15. Obtain business insurance You’ll do tons of hard work to get your company up and running. So, you’ll want to protect your investment by obtaining the right type of insurance. Some common options include: Workers’ compensation: Workers’ comp covers medical expenses and lost wages for staff members injured on the job. This is mandatory in most states if you have employees. General liability insurance: This provides coverage for third-party bodily injury, property damage and/or legal expenses resulting from an accident due to your products or services (or on your business premises). Professional liability insurance: This type of insurance covers any errors and omissions that may cause physical or financial harm to a client or customer. Business interruption insurance: This insurance plan will replace lost revenue in the event your business can’t operate due to a natural disaster or another covered loss. 16. Spread the word Once your business is up and running, you can start expanding your marketing reach. First, create social media channels and link them back to your website. Choose the social media platforms where your customers and clients are most likely to frequent. Then, invite people you know to follow your feeds and start building your audience. Your social presence will allow you to promote your brand and deliver customer service in real time. With Wix, you can connect your WhatsApp , Instagram and Facebook accounts directly to your inbox so you never miss a message. Depending on your business type, your marketing may also include online advertising, traditional advertising and public relations. Additionally, keep an eye out for regional and local events and conferences where you can connect with potential customers, clients and even investors.

Nowadays, you can’t grow a personal brand or run a business without an active social media presence. However, with so many people and brands on social media, it can be difficult to get noticed and expand your audience without sophisticated marketing strategies .  Growth doesn’t happen overnight, so it’s important to be patient and have a healthy mindset around this goal. Take it from Amber Vittoria—artist, author and Wix user—who has more than a quarter of a million followers across her social media accounts. “It took almost a decade [to grow my following on] Instagram and X—and a few years for TikTok,” Amber says.  But the value has paid off in spades. Her socials have helped to promote her paintings of gradient ribbons of color so that now, her designs have been featured on products from Adidas, Mastercard, L’Oreal Paris and H&M Home. In 2023, Amber even published her first book, These Are My Big Girl Pants: Poetry and Paintings on Womanhood .  While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to growing a social media presence, we picked Amber’s brain to get her advice on how to grow social media followers and why doing so is vital. Build a website with Wix to tap into the website builder’s array of marketing and social media tools. 11 tips on how to grow social media followers Get creative with video Partner with others Cross-promote your social media profiles Encourage user-generated content Invest in ads Stick to the schedule Be authentic Build relationships with your followers Focus on analytics Be selective about what you share Remember your “why” 01. Get creative with video TikTok has changed the game in social media marketing  when it comes to video content. Known for its bite-sized videos, TikTok has become the platform to mimic for social media giants like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X who’ve all adopted some type of short-form video. Nowadays, the appetite for video is huge: 66% of consumers report short-form video to be the most engaging type of social media content —yet video is the most underutilized format across multiple channels, according to SproutSocial .  Because producing videos can get time-consuming, Amber systematized her production to prevent it from distracting from her art. “With video being the priority on social, I film snippets of my process, edit them in the apps and post,” she says.  Fortunately, fewer consumers expect highly polished content than you might expect. Seventy-nine percent  of Millennials and Gen Zers prefer less refined, more authentic content. By embracing this lo-fi content trend , you can make the process of making videos for social media more manageable. 02. Partner with others Teaming up with other creators, influencers or brands can widen your sphere. By collaborating, you can tap into each other's follower base and offer complementary content. These types of collaborations can also boost your credibility, especially when partnering with well-known brands, helping to establish trust with followers, both existing and new. Amber is no stranger to these partnerships. Partnerships have helped her to reach niche audiences that may take an interest in her work. Her collaboration with Tilda & Moo, a baby accessory company, for instance, has introduced her art to new mothers who appreciate art in all forms—even in the form of bibs and blankets. Collaborating doesn't always mean launching a product line. It can be as simple as joining forces with a peer in your industry and sharing your joint activities through an Instagram Collab. (This particular Instagram feature lets you tag your collaborator so that one post conveniently appears in both your feed and your collaborator’s feed.) Whether you’re working on a product line or a marketing collab, Amber suggests taking a storytelling approach. “My artwork is very narrative-driven, so I like when my collaborations are as well,” she says. 03. Cross-promote your social media profiles You don’t need to reinvent the wheel on each platform—instead, develop a cross-promotion strategy to spread the wealth across your social media presence and make sure your followers on one know of your content on another.  For instance, you might post a snippet from a YouTube video on your Instagram story with a prompt directing viewers to the full video on YouTube. Alternatively, you could post behind-the-scenes pictures on X from an Instagram project, drawing your X followers to your Instagram for more content. This approach not only piques interest but also encourages followers to interact with your profiles on various platforms. If you’re looking for lower-hanging fruit, simply linking from profile to profile in the bio section of each account can help people find the content that most appeals to them. Amber places social media icons right in the header of her portfolio website  to ensure that they’re easily noticeable.  04. Encourage user-generated content (UGC) Your customers are your best advocates, so invite them to help you grow your social media audience. Amber has found that much of her website traffic comes from customers sharing her work online. To encourage user-generated content (UGC), consider these approaches: Send a postcard: For physical products, insert a postcard into your packaging that encourages customers to post a picture with your product and tag you on social media.  Create a photo spot: If your brand has a physical space, such as a store or pop-up, set up an attractive photo opportunity, like a vibrant mural. Include your social media handle to encourage tagging. Host a contest: Organize a social media contest asking participants to share a photo, video or story related to your brand with your account tagged as part of their entry. This not only engages your audience but also helps spread brand awareness through their networks. 05. Invest in ads If your social media growth isn't as fast as you'd like, consider using ads. While you don’t want to become over-reliant on ads, ads can give you a push in the right direction when you’re just getting started.  Social media platforms each offer their own distinctive advertising services. On some, like X, you can create follower campaigns that are specifically designed to drum up attention around your social profile. On others, you can choose between a variety of ad formats—like video, image and direct message—to get your content in front of more people.  It’s best to start with just one or two channels, where you can invest time into learning and experimenting with their ad services. Wix merchants can manage Instagram and Facebook ads  right from their dashboards. Wix offers automation to help you quickly create, monitor and optimize your ads around the clock.  06. Stick to the schedule According to Amber, there wasn’t a specific post that instigated a surge of new followers. “Consistently showing up is the key in my experience,” she explains. To that end, it's important to maintain a social media calendar  that fits comfortably into your daily routine. Amber limits her social media activity to one or two hours a day, ensuring it supports but doesn’t overshadow her art. “I try to keep it organic and not put too much pressure on myself,” she says. By planning and scheduling posts ahead of time, you can maintain a consistent online presence without disrupting your other tasks or responsibilities. Wix’s social media management tool allows you to schedule posts in advance. It additionally offers templates for image and video posts, as well as AI to help you write engaging captions when you’re in a creative rut.  07. Be authentic With the pressure to share online constantly, it’s easy to lose sight of your social media branding . You may find yourself posting something just for the sake of posting something. Avoid this trap. Doing this can lead to creating posts that aren't authentic to your brand.  Trendjacking  (in which a brand uses trending topics, events or memes to connect with its audience) can be a valuable way of reaching new audiences. That said, Amber says it’s important to trust your instincts when trying social media trends to remain true to your brand. When your content is authentic, it can interact with people who encounter your account and might make them more likely to follow you. “I'm not huge on following trends, but I do love experimenting with new platforms,” says Amber. “I'd say, trust your instincts. If hopping on a trend brings you joy and fulfillment, do it. If tinkering on new platforms feels too heavy of a lift, then don't. The beauty of social is that it is up to you [to decide] how you share and engage.” Learn more: What is Brat? 08. Build relationships with followers Engaging with followers isn’t just a rewarding way to stay connected with your supporters—it’s also an organic way to grow your audience. “My favorite is when folks DM me,” says Amber. “It feels more personal, and it aligns with how I behave in real life since I'm much better at chatting one-on-one versus in large group settings.” By developing relationships with followers, they’ll think of you positively and will be more likely to spread the word about your brand. They might share a screenshot of a conversation they had with you in their Stories or retweet your back-and-forth because they’re excited that you responded. Or, if they’re an active customer, they may be more likely to share about your products or services on social media after you’ve engaged with them. “Focus on those who are already following you. Give them love, and more folks will see that and follow along as well,” says Amber. “The smartest thing I've done regarding following is to not focus too much on how many people follow me but to connect with those who already take the time to look at my work and follow along with my art practice.” 09. Focus on analytics To verify that you’re creating content that engages your audience, check your social media analytics . Each platform has a native reporting feature that lets you track follower growth and see metrics like likes, comments, reach, impressions and more. Most social media platforms  require you to have a business account to access reports, so switch into this mode if you’re not using it already. Use analytics to determine when your accounts have experienced the most growth and to see which posts perform the best. Find patterns in your top-performing content, then use that to inform your content. You could also use this data to determine which posts to boost with ad money to attract new followers. 10. Be selective about what you share about yourself Oversharing can be inevitable when you’re trying to grow your social media following. Amber recommends keeping your personal and professional lives separate online to avoid burnout.  “I have slowed down on sharing everything about my life on social,” she says. “Sometimes we forget some of our relationships on social media are parasocial, and [we] approach a stranger online as if we are friends. Because of this, I try to keep my social media about my art and the parts of myself that are connected overtly to my art.” Another benefit: Keeping your content focused on a particular topic or theme will help attract the right kind of followers. It can help you stand out in front of the right people, rather than force you to try to be everything to everyone. 11. Remember your “why” Mastering how to grow social media followers comes with many benefits, but it isn’t everything. Keep your “why” in mind as you create content to stay true to your big-picture goals. Even though Amber has an impressive audience on social media, her objective isn’t to make a career out of social media influencing. Her art and writing career are her top priorities, she says.  Why should you learn how to grow social media followers? Mastering how to grow a social following is a strategic move that goes beyond personal popularity. By investing in the above strategies, you can look forward to the following benefits. Land professional opportunities Growing your online presence opens up doors to professional opportunities like paid partnerships, clients and even full-time work. For example, through a connection on X, Amber managed to land a commission from Mastercard and MLB  to design a limited-edition, animated digital ticket for the 2023 All Star Game in Seattle. Become a thought leader Having a substantial social media following positions you as an industry thought leader or expert and makes you an attractive candidate for speaking opportunities, media interviews, collaborations, industry events and more. By amplifying her social media presence , Amber made a name for herself in the art world and has been a guest on more than two dozen podcasts  and counting. Gain more customers A large social media following expands your reach, increasing your chances of meeting new customers. In a similar sense, by engaging with followers on social media, you can foster a sense of community around your brand. This can deepen your customers’ loyalty to you, or convince your online fans to become paying customers. Case in point: Amber’s social media accounts are more than just a place for her to share her work; they’re a place for her to sell it. On her Instagram, Amber has multiple calls to action for followers to purchase her work. In her link in bio , Amber links to her online store and has a CTA that encourages followers to shop her prints. Her Instagram Highlights (i.e., curated collections of Instagram Stories that she pinned to her profile) feature action-oriented titles like “Shop Book” and “Shop Prints.” Amber also advertises her art in her posts and links to her online store in her Stories. Learn more: link in bio tools Crowdsource A sizable following is like a free sounding board that you can use to gather opinions. Businesses, brands and organizations can leverage their follower bases to crowdsource feedback, helping to tailor products or services to customers’ needs. Make an impact A larger social media following allows you to amplify your message and make a broader impact. Whether you're promoting a cause, sharing valuable information or advocating for a specific issue, having a massive audience enables you to reach and influence more people. Amber uses her platform on Instagram to spread hope to others who are suffering from chronic illnesses. In a caption for a post about her piece “The Idle Shift,” she talks about her journey with migraines, allergies and anxiety and the various treatments she has tried. She hopes to reach more people who would benefit from hearing her message and feel less alone in their struggles. Diversify your revenue streams With a larger social media following, you have a higher chance of diversifying your income streams to include affiliate marketing, sponsored events, merchandise and even a new product line. Moreover, higher follower counts go hand in hand with higher earning potential. Brands are willing to pay more for partnerships when they know your content can reach a larger and more engaged audience. Stay top of mind Your activity online can help you stay atop consumers’ minds. Put simply: The more active followers you have, the more potential impact you can make. If you run a business, this ongoing visibility increases brand awareness and helps to keep your brand top of mind when followers are making purchasing decisions. Build your connections Business- and brand-building benefits aside, growing your social media following is a fantastic way to build connections and relationships online. Even though most of Amber’s freelance clients come from cold email outreach, investing time in social media is worth it for her. “I love connecting with people over my art, and social media is the best place to do that,” Amber says.

Internet marketing is an efficient and dynamic way to give your site the audience it deserves, but where do you start? There are many avenues available these days, be it Tiktok, Instagram Reels, email marketing and more. This guide to internet marketing will break down everything that internet marketing entails, and provide tips on how to use it strategically and effectively. It can also be designed to be true to the 4 p's of marketing . Let’s say you create a website  for your business—one that you’re pretty proud of. Even if your site’s design is perfect, it doesn’t mean that it will bring in website traffic automatically. Virtually every site needs to be backed by a strong marketing strategy to yield views and sales. What is internet marketing? Internet marketing (a.k.a. online marketing) is a type of marketing that refers to activities that a business completes online in order to boost brand awareness, get more leads and increase sales. Marketing on the internet can be broken up into the following categories: Organic vs. paid marketing Organic marketing refers to activities that are free to start in terms of a monetary investment. For example, you could: Write blog posts Publish videos to YouTube Post to social media Although it’s cost efficient, organic marketing is a long-term strategy that usually requires heavy time investment and consistent marketing management , both in terms of the time spent creating content and the time it takes for your business to see results. On the other hand, paid marketing refers to promotional activities that your business pays to engage in. For instance, your business could pay to: Run sponsored ads in Google search results Partner with an influencer to promote products Advertise on marketing channels such as Facebook or other social media platforms Paid marketing is usually the fastest way to get results from marketing and to achieve greater market penetration as a result, but it requires the right amount of financial backing and a strategic creation process to target the right audiences and gain a competitive advantage . If poorly managed, paid marketing can run up your tab. Keep in mind that to continue seeing results, you’ll have to keep injecting money into your paid campaigns. That’s why it’s often best to complement your short-term paid campaigns with ongoing organic marketing. Not sure which will work best for you? Run a marketing audit to have a better idea. Inbound vs. outbound marketing Inbound marketing is a marketing approach that seeks to naturally attract people to your brand by providing value through content and personalized experiences. For example, as part of your inbound marketing strategy, you may choose to create: Blogs Podcasts Educational videos Events Infographics The purpose of this sort of content is to engage people over time, and to ultimately nurture them into loyal customers. In order for inbound marketing to be effective, it has to offer real value to visitors—whether that’s offering educational resources, helpful tools, or other content that piques your audience’s interests. Outbound marketing refers to a more traditional advertising approach that actively puts your brand in front of customers and targets a large spectrum of consumers. The aim of outbound marketing is to spread the word about your brand as much as possible to generate sales. Some examples of internet outbound marketing include: Running retargeted ads on Facebook Cold calling or cold emailing potential buyers Publishing press releases Outbound marketing is often considered a more intrusive form of marketing. So, you’ll want to be careful not to turn people away by forcing your products on them, but rather reach out to carefully selected, qualified leads who’ll be the most receptive to your offer. Internet marketing vs. digital marketing Although the terms internet marketing and digital marketing are sometimes used interchangeably, they’re not exactly the same thing. Digital marketing refers to marketing that takes place over any digital channel. So, while internet marketing is strictly done online, digital marketing can involve, for instance, TV or digital billboards. Is internet marketing replacing traditional marketing? Traditional marketing tactics generally refer to those that take place outside of the internet. For instance: Print Direct mail Phone Broadcast Outdoor ads While the goals of internet and traditional marketing are the same, today’s consumers have demonstrated a willingness to move away from the old ways of engaging with brands. That’s most likely because, when it comes to this generation of consumers, they prefer the personalization that comes along with online preference controls. For instance, users can pick and choose what types of online advertisements they pay attention to or enable browser-based ad blockers to see fewer ads. We can also see this reflected in channels like radio or TV. Many people have switched to paid streaming services instead of traditional broadcast in order to avoid lengthy advertisements that appear in the middle of their programming. According to a Deloitte survey , 40% of people in the U.S. are willing to pay $12 a month for ad-free video streaming. Within the same survey, 45% said they’d pay for a music streaming subscription if ads were removed. These numbers are even higher for younger users. Does that mean internet marketing is completely replacing traditional marketing? Not yet. Many marketers are going back to good old-fashioned marketing , embracing the benefits of traditional channels to break through the digital noise. At the same time many traditional types of marketing, like referral marketing can be used both in print and online marketing approaches. The benefits of internet marketing There are many reasons why internet marketing has grown so popular over the last decade. So, let’s start with the facts. According to the Digital 2023 Global Overview Report , 5.16 billion users—about 64% of the global population—uses the internet. They’re spending a lot of time online, too. According to the report, the average user spends: 6.5 hours online every day 3.5 hours watching broadcast and streaming content 2.5 hours on social media A little over two hours reading online and print media Over 1.5 hours listening to streaming music One hour listening to podcasts With such a big window of opportunity comes big benefits, like the ones listed below. Save money Unlike traditional marketing, which tends to cost lots of money, internet marketing tends to be more cost-effective. One reason for this is because there are many free or inexpensive marketing channels to use, such as social media, email and your website. Another reason is because it’s far easier to automate an internet marketing strategy and ongoing campaigns, instead of having to constantly recreate the wheel. Reach more consumers Nearly two-thirds of the world’s population is online . Not only that, the average user is online for roughly a quarter of their day. That being said, you’ll probably have a far greater chance of connecting with larger audiences on the internet compared with traditional marketing. Since there are fewer geographic and demographic limitations when using internet marketing, you can reach a far more extensive, diverse crowd. Target and personalize experiences more easily With internet marketing tools, targeting the right audiences is easier when compared to traditional methods, and can be done on a much more granular level - mainly through the use and tracking of marketing analytics . For instance, when running email campaigns, you can put your marketing intelligence to work and: Send relevant offers to people who filled out one of your lead generation forms, use these to build customer segments Recommend related products or discounts based on customers’ previous purchases Send out abandoned cart emails to ​​remind shoppers about products they left in their shopping cart By doing more personalized targeting and marketing, you’ll likely see greater engagement and conversions from your efforts. This translates to a better return on your investment—even more so if you spent no money to run the campaigns in the first place. Enjoy other long-term benefits of internet marketing You have a very limited amount of time to make your pitch with traditional marketing and advertising methods. By contrast, internet marketing allows you to get in front of new and existing customers time and time again, and at different stages of each customer journey . It allows you to engage with consumers at various stages of the funnel, and continuously test new messaging, formats and targeting to boost your success. Given its flexibility, internet marketing lets you achieve a range of goals: Build brand awareness Get more website traffic Attract qualified leads Nurture those leads to conversion Establish a relationship with customers Provide extra value Offer better customer service 11 different types of internet marketing used today Before you begin any online marketing, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the different types that are used today. While each has its own value, effective internet marketing depends on choosing one that relates to your business, connects with your target audience, aligns with your goals and of course, is within your budget. Once you know what your options are, you’ll be able to mix and match methods that will work best for your brand. Below, we’ve broken out the most common types of internet marketing alongside examples and tips to help you make the most of each. Website creation Content marketing Social media marketing Email marketing SEO Paid advertising Sponsored marketing USG marketing AI marketing Affiliate marketing Mobile marketing 01. Website creation In many cases, the marketing you do online directs people back to your website with the hopes that they’ll become leads or customers. However, your website in and of itself is an online marketing tool. For example, on-page SEO and blogging are two types of marketing strategies that help improve brand awareness and visibility. Your website can also serve as the landing pad for more promotional types of marketing content and pages: Landing pages can be used to promote a high-ticket sales funnel—like a course, retreat or ebook. To kickstart the design of these lead generating designs, learn how to create a landing page  tailored to your business needs and use landing page builder . Online portfolios with detailed pages are ideal for creators. Having portfolio pages that show off your work, explain your creative process and highlight areas of expertise are a good way to attract leads. Ecommerce websites can include pages that promote upcoming sales or clearance events. This is particularly useful around big sales days like Black Friday when people are using search engines to find relevant sales offers. 02. Content marketing Content marketing refers to the creation of digital content. Typically, the purpose of this content is to educate, though it can also be used for entertainment. There are many types of content that can be incorporated into a business’s marketing strategy: Blogging: While it’s common to publish blog posts on owned channels , like your company's website or social media pages, guest blogging is another great way to contribute content to high-authority brands. This kind of collaboration can help you quickly build up a new brand’s reputation in the space. Videos: From 60-second explainer videos to 30-minute courses, there’s a lot that brands can do with this easy-to-digest content format. Infographics: Infographics often take a complex idea, process or set of statistics and break them down into an easy-to-follow and visualized format. Make sure to use infographic colors that fit your brand's complementary colors . Podcasts: Podcasts are a relatively lightweight type of content to produce. But bear in mind that the most successful podcasts have a unique concept, and are supported by a strong marketing plan of their own to get off the ground. 03. Social media marketing There are many ways to use social media to your advantage, including creating posts that showcase your products and services, using reels to promote upcoming sales, new products, or events—and more. Social media marketing can also be free or paid. While you can set up a professional account for free and start posting right away, many social platforms have the option of paying for professional features—like running ads, getting a verified check mark or selling goods. There are dozens of effective social media platforms available today, each with its own unique audience. Some of the most popular are: Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram Snapchat TikTok LinkedIn Pinterest Read also: The art of cringe marketing , when being cringey is a good thing 04. Email marketing Email marketing can be quite versatile. For example, it can be use it to: Stay connected with blog subscribers by delivering content that they love Provide leads with free information to help them convert Send personalized recommendations and reminders to customers Offer exclusive discounts to loyal users Reconnect with old customers and incentivize them to come back One of the greatest benefits of email marketing is the ability to target your communication to a subscribers’ known preferences. Tailor your emails to various customer segments and use tools like Wix’s email marketing features to automate your email sends, plus track performance over time. 05. SEO Search engine optimization (SEO) is a marketing strategy that involves making enhancements to your web pages to get them ranking for specific search terms. This is a complicated practice that involves a variety of methods. On-page SEO refers to optimizations done to the content on a website. For example: Centering a page around a rankable keyword Creating the right header structure and tags Adding alternative text to images Off-page SEO refers to optimizations done online that boost a website’s search ranking. For example: Creating a Google business page Contributing content to a high-quality blog and receiving a backlink in return Promoting your content on social media to increase views and engagement According to Asaf Or Shenhav ,Outreach Specialist at Wix, "Not only can a backlink bring more traffic to your blog, but it also builds bridges of authority and credibility that elevate your online presence." Technical SEO refers to optimizations done to improve the user experience on your page. This includes: Increasing loading speeds Enhancing website security Making each page responsive When done well, SEO can increase your site’s visibility online and ultimately attract high-quality traffic to your pages. 06. Paid advertising Unlike the marketing strategies above that come with no associated fee, advertising is a 100% paid effort. While it can take months to get decent traffic to a website or to build an audience organically, paid marketing can provide instant results. Ads can be run on a variety of channels—social media, search results pages, websites, video hosting platforms and streaming services, for example. Different platforms allow for different advertising formats, including: PPC advertising requires you to pay a fee for each click that your ads receive. With this option, you can run text ads that give you priority placement in certain search results. You can also pay to place text and image ads in specialized areas—like in local maps or product searches. Sponsored posts often refer to paid ads on social media, though they can also refer to paid positions on online marketplaces like Amazon. While your ads will be marked as “sponsored” or “promoted,” they’ll otherwise look like normal social posts, helping you attract lots of eyeballs on your ads. Search engine ads , which are displayed on platforms like Google Ads , are one of the best ways to get your ads on the top of search results pages. Search ads can help to ‘prime the pump’ when you’re just starting out with SEO and could use the extra push in getting visitors to your site. Website advertising involves running ads on other third-party websites. For example, you can use Google Ads to get your content into the Google Display Network , through which your ads will be shown to relevant audiences on some of the most popular websites in the world. Tip: Facebook Ads with Wix is a great way for Wix users to boost sales, generate leads and drive website traffic. Wix’s technology uses AI to smartly target and manage campaigns. Discover the latest trends in video marketing with these video marketings statistics . 07. Sponsored marketing Another way to leverage someone else’s marketing channels for your own benefit is through sponsored marketing. We can split this type of content into two categories: sponsorships and influencer partnerships. Both involve paying an organization or an individual a fee in exchange for promoting your brand or products to their audience. Sponsorships tend to be more passive promotions. For instance, if you pay to sponsor an event, your brand logo will likely appear amongst other sponsor logos. You can pay more for greater visibility though. Influencer partnerships, on the other hand, tend to be more active. For best results, you’ll want to invest time into building genuine relationships with influencers, versus simply sending them your product and expecting them to blindly promote it. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to sponsored content. Many brands choose to use the following methods: Publish sponsored content on someone else’s blog Run sponsored spots on podcasts Ask popular YouTube, Instagram and TikTok marketing channels to review products Connect with micro or macro influencers who can promote a brand or product on their social media channels Find big event marketing opportunities like online conferences that need sponsors 08. UGC marketing User-generated content (UGC) has grown in popularity in recent years, thanks, in part, to the effort that brands have made in improving the quality of their content, engaging with their followers online and providing top-notch customer service. As a result, users are creating tons of free marketing for the brands they love. UGC can come in the form of content such as: Rave reviews of a product or service in blog posts Unboxing videos posted to YouTube, TikTok and Instagram reels Social media posts where the brand is tagged and their products shown Brands can, in turn, take this content and add it to their websites as well and use it to bolster their own marketing campaigns. 09. AI marketing This type of marketing that’s fairly new, but it’s growing fast as artificial intelligence technologies advance. Brands are incorporating AI marketing into their business strategy in a variety of ways.One of the more common uses of AI involves a chatbot, which has the ability to provide timely and contextual customer support and offer personalized recommendations. AI marketing tools can also improve things on the backend of your website. For example, ChatGPT has recently received a ton of fanfare for how useful it is when it comes to doing research and writing. As another example, Wix’s AI text creator has helped website owners generate unique copy for product pages, About pages and more. In terms of performance, AI can also strengthen your website’s marketing strategy by delivering analytics, customized content and offers based on real customer data. 10. Affiliate marketing Affiliate marketing involves partnering with other businesses or individuals and offering a commission for every sale that they influence. Many times, this means that the affiliate will advertise your brand on their website or social media using an affiliate link, which brands can use to track the affiliate's performance and compensate them based on sales. Affiliate marketing is a great way to build relationships and reach new networks of potential customers. Affiliate marketing is additionally cost-effective and efficient, since you don’t need to invest your own time and money in building the right audience and setting up the campaign. Instead, you can lean on affiliates who are already established in the industry and know their target market well. 11. Mobile marketing Mobile marketing uses mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to deliver promotional messages and content directly to consumers. This kind of internet advertising includes website banner ads, push notifications and more (such as ASO marketing ). With the right strategy in place, mobile marketing helps to boost engagement and drive conversions quickly. Since most people spend an average of three hours on their mobile devices per day, mobile marketing is an effective way for reaching customers who are on the go. It’s also a great way to deliver more personalized content, allowing you to use data such as location and device preference to tailor your message. Tips for starting an internet marketing strategy of your own Because of how time-consuming marketing online can be (not to mention the cost of paid advertising), you should lay down your strategy first. Here are tips for getting started. 01. Set your internet marketing goals Determine what specific results you want to get from marketing. Use the SMART framework to help you effectively set goals that are: Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time-bound For example: “Increase our online store’s sales by 10% within six months of the start of our marketing campaign.” Your goals can be specific to each marketing platform.You might set a goal of reaching a certain open rate with your weekly newsletter, or achieving a certain level of engagement with a social media post. 02. Establish a budget When thinking about your budget, focus on both the money and time aspect of it. Start by figuring out how much money you can realistically spend on your marketing campaign. It’s okay if you don’t end up spending that much—this is just to help you set a limit. Next, consider how much time you and your team can devote to your marketing strategy. Can you accomplish your goals within that time frame? If not, take a look at your budget and see if you have room to outsource some of that work to a writer or marketer. 03. Research your online market Go to your main competitors’ websites. Make note of the content marketing strategies that they’re implementing there. Then, see if they have external marketing channels. If they have a newsletter, subscribe to it. If they have social media pages, follow them. By watching what the competition is doing—the good and the bad—you’ll get a better idea of where to start when fleshing out your own marketing strategy. It might inspire some content ideas, too. 04. Get to know your audience While you’ve likely done plenty of research on your audience, how well do you know their preferences and behaviors when it comes to marketing? Competitive research will shed some light on this. However, further user research is warranted. For instance, you might discover that a sustainable marketing strategy appeals to your target audience. If sustainability is something that fits with your brand’s mission and values, it’s worth exploring. The goal of marketing isn’t to speak at your audience. Rather, it’s to build a relationship and to gain your audience’s trust, which means creating a marketing campaign that resonates with them on a deeper level. 05. Make sure your branding is ready to go It’s a well-known fact that consumers use multiple devices, and hop between various websites and apps all day long. As such, they expect a fluid, omnichannel experience whenever they engage with a brand. This is why it's crucial to define your branding before launching any marketing campaign. Every aspect you showcase—your logo, color scheme, visuals, messaging, and tone—should be consistently used across all marketing platforms. Make sure to include different color psychology techniques in your upcoming campaign. While brand marketing isn’t officially one of the main types of internet marketing, it’s something that every brand must address before going down that road. Branding can make or break even the most well-planned-out strategy. 06. Prepare your website for incoming traffic Even if you’ve already created a website for your brand, you should revisit it before you begin marketing. Start by examining your web design. Is it modern? Does it follow the latest trends? Read through your copy. Fix any errors you find. Make sure the messaging aligns with your campaign and its value proposition. Next, test out all the interactive components, like links, buttons and forms. Make sure everything works. The last thing you want to do is promote something on your site or in your store, only for the conversion element to fail. 07. Create a marketing plan Now that you’ve done the research and prep, you can put together your marketing plan. Start by choosing the different types of internet marketing you want to use. You don’t need to try them all out at once. Content marketing is a good place to start. Do some research on the different types of content at your disposal and choose a couple of formats that you’re excited to create. Ideally, you and your team should already have some experience working with these formats as well. Social media marketing is another good one to try . Choose one or two channels to start with and come up with some strategies for posting. Think about the right formats, messages, times of day and frequency of posting. Once you research your target audience and make a framework for your marketing activities, stay closely committed to your roadmap and pivot if needed. You should closely monitor the result to make sure your strategy is helping you reach your goals. 08. Implement your SEO If your website isn’t fully optimized yet, now is the time to implement SEO best practices. It can take a while before you see results from this—typically between six and 12 months. So the sooner you can update your keyword strategy, build an internal link structure and improve the technical elements that Google cares about (which you can find at PageSpeed Insights ), the better. SEO might not seem as big of a deal as other kinds of internet marketing. However, without SEO, you’re going to have to do a ton of hands-on marketing work outside of your site in order to drive traffic to it. A well-executed SEO strategy will drive qualified traffic to your pages, and it will do so consistently over time. 09. Kick off your internet marketing campaign With a beautifully designed and well-optimized site ready for whomever comes its way, you can officially kick things off. Refer to the plan you put together, along with your marketing goals, and get to work on implementing it. Consider creating a schedule for pre- and post-launch tasks. Your schedule should tell you exactly when to do certain things—e.g. write a post, share something on TikTok, send out your newsletter, etc.—and take a lot of the guesswork out of getting the ball rolling. 10. Use online marketing tools to automate and optimize your results There are lots of online tools that will help you monitor, analyze and automate your marketing efforts. Look for tools that help with the following: Blog management (like Wix) Branding (like the Logo Maker ) Website templates Social media management Email marketing Website analytics (like GA4 or Wix Analytics ) Search analytics and research (like Moz ) AI marketing tools to improve content (like Grammarly ) Marketing takes a lot of work, but the payoff is huge if you do it right. By taking advantage of the kinds of tools above, you can reduce how much work you have to do while also maximizing your results. 11. Monitor your results The only way to know if your marketing efforts are working is to measure your progress against your goals as well as your progress over time. Each of the platforms you use for internet marketing will provide you with insights on what you’ve done. Make sure to reference them along with powerful website analytics tools like the ones provided in your Wix dashboard. It’s beneficial to review your marketing data regularly as it will clue you into what’s working and what isn’t. There’s no sense in devoting extra time to marketing content or channels that aren’t right for your brand. Put that time and energy into something that your audience will respond positively to. How effective is internet marketing? Internet marketing can be highly effective due to its ability to reach a global audience, target specific demographics and measure results in real-time. Social media advertising on platforms like Facebook and Instagram allows businesses to target users based on their interests, age and location — leading to more personalized and effective campaigns. Search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM) enable businesses to increase visibility on search engines like Google, driving organic and paid traffic to websites. Email marketing campaigns can nurture leads and maintain customer engagement with tailored content. While, influencer marketing relies on the power and influence of social media personalities to promote products — increasing brand awareness and credibility. For instance, a small business selling eco-friendly products might use targeted ads on Instagram and partner with eco-conscious influencers, resulting in increased brand visibility, website traffic and sales.