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Website backgrounds often do not get enough attention. This is a shame, because a website background has the potential to make or break the entire design. An ideal website background sets the mood and atmosphere you wish to convey, whether you use parallax scrolling or a still image. It catches the visitor’s eye but never distracts from the actual site content. It raises curiosity and demonstrates originality and sophistication. It can be a photograph used as a fullscreen background, a color gradient , or maybe some cute illustrations that decorate the frame. When you decide how to make a website , take some time to think about which background is right for you. Whether you choose to use your own photos or Wix images , your background should make a powerful statement. Here we have a list of websites – all created by Wix users – that boast a really great background. These will give you a good idea of the different types of backgrounds you can choose from. Get inspired! Charlotte Campbell Daza Cultural Jarow Joram Letwory Ken Riley Jr. Ah Yo Open Up Festival Sitzmuster Des Todes Oceanu HH Photo Graphix Melanie Bellemare Steven Weathers Pro tip:  Use background elements like images, patterns, colors, videos, or even interactive features such as custom cursors  and hover effects  to bring your brand’s story and purpose to life.

Are you one of the 65 million people with a Facebook page for your business? The perfect counterpart to your business website , it’s clearly no secret that a strong social media presence is an essential part of your online marketing efforts. Unfortunately, for many small businesses, managing a social media page can feel like a daunting task. What do you post? When’s the best time to publish content? And worse of all, what if nobody “likes” you? Well, put those worries to rest – because we have a not-so-secret for you. Social media marketers everywhere use a handful of resources that help with everything from page monitoring, to staying on top of the latest internet trends. And the best part? Most of them are totally free and easy to use. Read on to find out which social media tools seasoned community managers can’t live without, and which can help build engagement and make it easier for you to monetize your platform - from making money on TikTok to others. Tools to find trending topics: You know what we love about social media? The fact that it’s like one big water cooler for everyone to share their thoughts on the most popular conversations of the day. In marketing terms, a subject that many people are talking about at the same time is called a “trending topic.” Trending topics can range from anything such as political banter, pop culture, to national holidays and even fun made-up internet holidays . Finding trending hashtags on Twitter and Instagram is as easy as taking advantage of the tools already built-in within the platform. For example, on Twitter, you can clearly see trending topics (often shown as Hashtags) listed on the left side of your screen, and Instagram displays much of its trending content in the search page. But there are also a ton of external programs to help you find fresh new content to cover. Here are just some of our favorites: Twitter Map An interactive map that shows you what topics are trending in any given location in real time. Google Trends See what people are looking up on the world’s most popular search engine in real time. If something is being searched on Google, odds are it’s reached the social-sphere too. Muzli A favorite for finding design inspiration, this website serves fresh content about the latest in technology and design daily. Reddit The self-proclaimed front page of the Internet, every social media manager knows that the best memes and online content are posted here before anywhere else. Tools to schedule your content: Having a well-kept social media account doesn’t mean that you need to spend all day posting content. In fact, much of the content for your social media page can be set and scheduled ahead of time using a social media calendar ! Facebook, for example, has a built-in scheduler within your business page account. If you have a business profile on Twitter , you can schedule any tweet that includes an image, video or GIF in your Media Studio. Naturally, not every social media site is so savvy when it comes to scheduling. For social media pages that don’t have a scheduling function, or if you’re looking to organize all of your content in one convenient spot, a tool called Buffer is a big help! Buffer is a social media scheduling app that can connect to all major social media platforms (like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn and G+) to set and publish your content while you’re off doing other things. One of our favorite features on Buffer is that it analyzes your page audience and suggests the best time of day to post your content based on when your fans will likely see it. Tools to analyze your success: As a small business owner, you have a number of ways to track your success. Whether it’s the amount of stock sold or the number of people that stepped through your store’s front door – every business has their own metrics. When it comes to your social media marketing, there’s no shortage of metrics that you can use to analyze your content’s performance. Every major social platform has an integrated social media analytics tool. Facebook , Instagram and LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest are equipped with built-in insights right within the business account. In each case, you’ll find metrics on everything from the reach of your posts, to how many people viewed and engaged with your page. Of course, the Internet is filled with external programs that allow you to truly dig deep into your social media insights, here are just a few of our favorites: Buzzsumo Buzzsumo is a powerhouse tool that’s used to analyze the success of the content you share. One of our favorite features of this website is that it looks into key components of your publications, like headlines or source and suggests new content topics that your audience might be interested in. Commun.it Communit.it is an expert tool to help grow your Twitter page. One of our favorite things about this platform? It analyzes the quality of your Twitter followers to highlight your brand’s newest online evangelists. Google Analytics The holy grail for looking into your website’s traffic, Google Analytics is most commonly used to analyze traffic from your websites and blog. While not a typical social analytics tool, using Google Analytics to assess the traffic to your website from social media sites is one of its most crucial functions. Don’t know a thing about the platform? Here’s a full guide for beginners on Google Analytics. Tools to monitor your pages: Social media is anything but static. A successful social media manager relishes in the back and forth on any content that they publish, however, replying to users can be a bit confusing and overwhelming on some platforms. Thankfully, there are a ton of social media monitoring tools to help simplify the process. Hootsuite (free and paid plans) and Sprout social (free for the first 30 days only) amalgamate any chatter directed at your social media pages into a much more manageable set-up. Take advantage of these sites to ensure that you don’t miss a beat when communicating with your audience online. With Hopp , creating breathtaking and lightning-fast bio pages has never been easier. Its unparalleled customization options allow you to personalize your page to your heart's content, and its innovative search feature makes it simple for your followers to quickly and effortlessly find your links like never before. Tools to design beautiful social images: Most people know that social media channels come with their own rule book when it comes to posting images. With specific size requirements set in place, social media managers need to be sure that they post the correct image on each platform. There they go saving our social lives once again, these tools are totally devoted to creating beautiful images in the exact pixel-perfect size needed, depending on the channel. Here are some of our favorites: Relay This design asset for dummies gives social media managers the ability to create professional looking images without the Photoshop skills you thought you needed. With social sizes in mind, this platform will auto-resize any of your creations for the specific channel you’ll be posting on. Animoto A recent survey suggests that this year, video content will make up 74% of all internet traffic. For those of us who skipped out on film school, Animoto is an easy tool to create video content with photo and images that we already have at our disposal. However, unlike many of the other platforms we mention above, Animoto comes with a small price tag after the free trial. Of course, there are a ton of other social media tools out there depending on your needs. Did we miss your favorite? Tell us about it in the comments! NB: https://www.medianama.com/2017/02/223-facebook-earnings-december-2016/ https://vivipins.com/internet-trends/

Improving your social media presence comes with plenty of benefits. If you’re going to make a website for your business, you’ll want to optimize your social media channels to drive traffic to your site. Not only that, but an increased social presence helps create brand awareness and reach new clients. Instead of posting randomly on your social channels, look for specific ways to improve your social media presence. Here, we’ll introduce you to 13 different methods that any business can use to start increasing its presence. What is social media presence? Social media presence refers to how present your brand is on social media platforms. Beyond just how visible your brand is on social media channels, it also refers to how a company portrays itself through social media. This type of presence is important to the growth of your brand since it helps you establish your company’s identity and makes your brand appear more trustworthy and credible. It's an integral part of your social networking efforts . With more trust, you can better develop a lasting relationship with your audience as a social media influencer or business owner. Why is social media presence important? Social media presence is crucial for businesses, organizations, and individuals in today's digital landscape. It offers a powerful platform for connecting with audiences, building brand awareness, and achieving marketing goals. Here are some key reasons why social media presence matters: Brand awareness: Social media provides a direct channel to reach a wide audience, increasing brand visibility and recognition. Consistent engagement helps establish a strong brand identity and keeps your brand top-of-mind among potential customers. Customer engagement: Social media allows for direct interaction with customers, fostering relationships, addressing concerns and gathering valuable feedback. It creates a two-way communication channel that strengthens customer loyalty and builds a sense of community. Targeted marketing: Social media platforms offer sophisticated targeting options, enabling businesses to reach specific demographics, interests and behaviors. This allows for personalized messaging and effective ad campaigns that drive conversions. Content marketing: Social media provides a platform for sharing engaging content, including blog posts, videos, images and infographics. It's an opportunity to tell your brand's story, showcase expertise and attract a wider audience. Reputation management: Social media plays a significant role in reputation management. It allows for proactive communication, addressing issues promptly and responding to feedback. Positive interactions enhance brand reputation and build trust. Competitor analysis: Social media provides a wealth of information about competitors, industry trends and consumer preferences. Monitoring social conversations offers valuable insights for strategic decision-making and product development. Lead generation: Social media can be a powerful tool for generating leads and driving sales. Targeted campaigns, engaging content and strategic partnerships can convert followers into customers. Customer service: Social media offers an additional channel for providing customer service and support. Addressing inquiries, resolving issues and offering assistance can enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. Community building: Social media fosters a sense of community among customers and brand advocates. Building relationships with influencers can amplify brand messaging and reach new audiences. Real-time communication: Social media allows for real-time communication, responding to trends and engaging with current events. It's an opportunity to demonstrate brand relevance and connect with audiences on a timely basis. Social media presence is essential for businesses and individuals to thrive in today's connected world. By leveraging social media effectively, you can build a strong brand, engage with customers, achieve marketing goals and gain a competitive edge. 13 ways to build your social media presence Identify your social media goals Get to know your audience Learn how to engage your audience Stay on brand Be authentic Create a social media posting calendar Branch out to new platforms Stay relevant with current events Make sure not all posts are promotional Strive for relationships, not followers Highlight user-generated content Take advantage of new features Post consistently 01. Identify your social media goals Before you begin putting any of your social media marketing plans into action, it’s important that you establish your goals. A good way to do this is to set SMART goals for specific milestones you’d like to accomplish. Let’s take a look at how you might apply SMART goals to increasing your social media presence. As an example of a goal you might have, you might say you want to drive 20% more traffic to your website through your social channels. Setting your goal will look something like this: Specific: Increase traffic to our website with targeted ads on Instagram. Measurable: We’ll monitor metrics on Google Analytics to see the sources of traffic coming to our website. Achievable: Our goal of 20% is realistic based on our budget and timeline. Relevant: This goal will not only bring more traffic to our site but make our brand more visible on social media. Time-bound: We’re setting ourselves a deadline to reach this goal by the end of the next quarter. Setting your goals early on in your social media strategy will help guide you moving forward and gives purpose to each post that you upload. 02. Get to know your audience As a brand, one of your objectives should be getting to know your audience well since this will allow you to create tailored content that’s more likely to grab their attention and gain their trust. You want to know your end user’s interests, what social platforms they use most regularly and what problems they’re facing that your brand can help solve. An excellent way to start getting to know your clients is to create a buyer persona, which is a profile of your ideal target customer that encompasses all of these elements. To help you get audience insights, pay attention to the metrics provided by social media channels as well as social media analytics dashboards, such as Google Analytics. Look at demographics, age, interests, and the platforms they use to see if there are any trends you can pick up on to fine-tune your target audience. You can also deploy social listening , buzz monitoring and online reputation management , which will help you understand how users are talking about and engaging with your brand on social media. 03. Learn how to engage your audience Pay attention to your audience’s reactions, or lack thereof, anytime you post something on social media. Regardless of the platform it’s on, every post should have a goal of engaging your audience by having them take action. Whether that’s liking an image, watching a video, leaving a comment, or clicking on a link, you want your audience to be as engaged as possible. Pay attention to the type of content your audience finds most engaging and the content that elicits less of a response so that you learn where to focus your efforts. A good way to increase social media engagement is to provide your audience with an easy action to complete. That could be responding to a poll in an Instagram story or leaving their questions for a Q&A session. Here’s how home design brand, Modsy, gets its audience to comment on its Instagram posts by asking them to leave a comment on which design they like best. This engagement method is easy to recreate and it’s a great way to get your audience used to commenting on your social media posts. As a bonus, by analyzing their responses to a question like “Which do you like best,” you’re learning more about your audience’s tastes and preferences, which helps you create social media content and products they’ll love in the future. Learn more: What is Brat? 04. Stay on brand We’ve talked a lot about catering to your audience’s preferences on social media, but the key is finding a way to do this while still being true to your brand. Your brand’s voice and aesthetic are very important on social media, so you want to ensure that each piece of content you release is in line with your branding. Make sure that your social media branding , such as your writing voice, aesthetic, image, and messaging, is uniform across all of your channels. Learn more about social media image sizes to get started. 05. Be authentic Your followers want to interact with a brand that’s human and authentic. There are a lot of ways you can come across as authentic on social media. You can speak to your clients like they’re friends, you can present your employees on your social pages to give a face to your brand, talk about your brand’s beginnings and history, and admit when your company did something wrong or apologize for mistakes. A mix of these things will allow your customers to see you as human instead of just a brand, allowing them to deepen their connection with your company. Skylar Grace, a clothing brand built on Wix, exemplifies this on its Instagram profile. The opening line, “Hey bestie! So glad ur here,” is anything but dry and stuffy and makes customers feel like they’re friends with the brand. The company’s owner, Skylar, also appears in a lot of the company’s posts in the clothes, which helps customers put a face to the brand. 06. Create a social media posting calendar Create a social media calendar that encompasses posts across all the social platforms that you’re using. This will help you stay consistent with your posts, pre-plan any content in advance that’s seasonal or holiday-themed, and it will help you avoid posting repetitive or last-minute content. Having a posting schedule is also a good way to map out your strategy and create and schedule content that’s aligned with your goals. Especially if you’re posting to multiple social channels, you want to make sure your content is coordinated on each platform and that you don’t have any large posting gaps. 07. Branch out to new platforms You might start with the usual suspects like Facebook and Instagram marketing because they’re the most popular social media platforms, but once you get going, you should consider branching out to other social networks. Once you know your audience better, you might find out they prefer long-form video content over images, so it would be in your best interest to start creating content on YouTube. Or, maybe your audience is made up of more business professionals that aren’t on apps like Tik Tok or Instagram, so you want to reach them on LinkedIn. There are a number of social media networks you might consider using, like: Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn (learn more about LinkedIn marketing ) Snapchat Tik Tok YouTube Instagram Facebook Depending on your industry, the type of content you create and your audience’s preferences, try and choose a few new platforms to test out engagement. Pro tip: You can use a link in bio tool like Hopp by Wix to generate engagement towards all of your social media channels by linking to them from one designated URL. 08. Stay relevant with current events Audiences want to know that brands are aware of the world around them. In a study, 66% of respondents said that they want brands to take a public stand on social issues. Many brands are hesitant to take a stance when it comes to controversial political and social issues as they don’t want to alienate any portion of their customers. Sometimes, staying relevant with current events has nothing to do with promoting your own brand but rather showing solidarity with a movement. Nike’s “For Once, Just Don’t Do It” anti-racism video is a good example of this and shows how a brand can still stay authentic to its voice, engage its audience, and partake in a social conversation. You can also post on social media about any commitments you’ve made to external organizations or within your own company when it comes to things like becoming more sustainable, hiring more diverse employees, or donating to a cause that’s important to your company. 09. Make sure not all posts are promotional To help you come across more authentic, mix your promotional posts with other types of content. You want to intersperse more “salesy” posts with other social media ideas such as user-generated content or light-hearted videos or photos that don’t have a promotional angle. Additionally, you want to create posts or engage with customers on social media in a way that focuses on helping them, not necessarily selling to them. This can look like answering their comments on social media, showing how to use your product or service in a specific way, or encouraging your audience to reach out on social media with their questions. Learn more: How to design social media graphics . 10. Strive for relationships, not followers Having a lot of followers might get you access to extra features on platforms like clickable links on Instagram Stories, but getting more Instagram followers shouldn’t be your only goal. Instead, double down on fostering relationships with the followers you have and creating new ones. Social media is your venue to communicate with your customers. This is where you’ll convert followers into brand ambassadors, connect with your audience in a way that instills trust, and talk to them directly. It’s better to have a smaller following with highly engaged followers than to have a larger number of followers that don’t interact with you. So, by focusing on growing your relationship with your audience, you’ll be able to increase your brand’s engagement on social media. 11. Highlight user-generated content Whether it’s through influencers or just clients who were happy with their purchase and shared it online, these are the types of posts you should be highlighting to the rest of your audience. As we saw earlier, user-generated content helps you change the pace from self promotional content, but aside from that, it also makes your brand look more trustworthy and authentic. When other clients see positive experiences from your customers on social media, they’ll be more likely to trust your brand. Since this is also very engaging for your followers and helps you make connections with clients who have posted about your brand online, they’ll also become more loyal. Wix user Timber & Jack , regularly reposts photos on its Instagram feed that were posted or taken by customers or influencers. These photos are still aesthetically fitting to the brand’s page. They also showcase how real customers wear the brand’s products in a way that fits with the company’s image. 12. Take advantage of new features Social media platforms are always evolving in order to stay fresh and exciting. A best practice is to embrace new features on each platform and stay ahead of the curb. Sometimes, the new features may be tricky to get comfortable with, but you can make your brand stand out online if you find creative ways to use them. Instagram is a great example of a channel that constantly releases new features. To most, this platform is viewed as a photo-sharing app, but recently, the app has added many new tools, like Instagram Reels and Shopping, that make it more of a video-sharing app. When it comes to new features, social channels algorithms often favor accounts using them over older ones, so it’s in your best interest to get on board with the trends as early as possible. Dogs of Charm City , a community for pet owners, has embraced many of Instagram’s newer features on its profile. By using a mix of post types like images, carousels, Reels, IGTV videos, and even shoppable items, the company is staying relevant to both the platform and its audience. More than that, it also breaks up the monotony of posting the same type of content all the time. 13. Post consistently Finally, for any of these social media marketing tips to work and help you improve your social media presence, you need to be posting consistently on any platform your brand is active on. Find a posting frequency that you and your audience are both happy with and make sure you release new content according to that schedule. That might mean posting every day around the same time or even having specialized posts for different days of the week, such as posting user-generated content on Fridays or new product launches on Mondays. Reaching your goals for increasing your social media presence won’t happen overnight, but if you’re consistent with your posting and remain active on all your channels, you’ll find that you’ll steadily inch closer to your objectives. Companies with the best social media presence Numerous companies have established a remarkable social media presence, captivating audiences and achieving impressive results. Here are a few examples of brands excelling in the social media realm: Nike: Nike has mastered the art of storytelling and emotional connection through social media. Their campaigns celebrate athletes, promote inclusivity and inspire people to push their limits. Their consistent engagement and powerful messaging have earned them a massive following and brand loyalty. Spotify: Spotify has revolutionized music streaming and leveraged social media to connect with music lovers worldwide. Their personalized playlists, curated content and interactive campaigns have made them a cultural phenomenon. They effectively engage with fans, artists and influencers, fostering a vibrant community. National Geographic: National Geographic has harnessed social media to showcase breathtaking photography, captivating stories and thought-provoking content about our planet. Their stunning visuals and educational posts have captivated millions of followers, inspiring curiosity and environmental awareness. Wendy's: Wendy's has become a social media sensation with its witty humor, sassy comebacks and playful interactions with customers. Their unconventional approach has garnered them a loyal fan base and earned them a reputation for being a fun and relatable brand. Airbnb: Airbnb has embraced social media to promote unique travel experiences and foster a sense of community among hosts and travelers. Their inspiring stories, stunning visuals and user-generated content have positioned them as a leader in the travel industry. These examples demonstrate the power of social media when used strategically and creatively. By understanding their audience, producing engaging content and building meaningful connections, companies can elevate their brand and achieve remarkable success in the digital landscape.

Social media marketing is a key element in the workflow of every professional nowadays – whether small business owner, service provider, freelance creative or artist. No online presence is complete without it. Just as it is crucial to create a website , learn SEO skills and collect email subscribers, it is absolutely necessary to establish a dynamic social media presence and to devise a social marketing strategy. Part and parcel of a successful social marketing strategy is maintaining a powerful social media schedule. This calendar combines big holidays, interesting cultural events and internet holidays. But why do you need a social media content calendar? Because it can be challenging to create original social content on a regular basis, and special events offer a great opportunity to post excellent content and keep your social channels active. Because these time-sensitive events have a strong sharable effect on social media, and tapping into that can help extend your reach to larger interested audiences. Now that the advantages are all clear, let’s move on to the practical aspect and explore how to create a powerful social media calendar with massive viral potential. It only requires some strategizing, a solid organizational skill and following these steps. Understand what makes your target audience tick Different events matter for different audiences. You won’t find the same level of enthusiasm for the World Series finals among a community of graphic designers as you would among a community of sports fans. Make a list of people your brand wants to engage and chart their interests, passions and subcultures: They could be techies, working moms, foodies or fashionistas. Find out what they do: are they into spending their free time going to movies, clubbing, gardening or exercising? Are they college-aged youngsters, Gen Xers with nostalgia for the 90s, or did they experience the disco era in real-time? Figuring out the answers to such questions helps you define your target audience better, which will, in turn, help you choose the most appropriate and effective dates to include in your social media calendar. Determine your social media strategy goals Generally speaking, every social media action you take on behalf of your brand should be guided by a clear objective. When you know what the desired outcome is, you strategize better, and a social media calendar is no exception. Before you start building your social calendar, clarify what are the broad goals that you hope to achieve in posting this social content: Are you hoping to energize your followers in a lively discussion? Do you want them to share your content with their own communities? Are you building a brand identity by associating yourself with specific events? Are you selling products directly through social media and want to see sales go up? Once you have the larger goals in mind, you can break them down into smaller tasks, like increasing social media followers , generate more leads or creating viral posts. After you have the social calendar more or less ready, and you’re starting to create specific content for individual events, we recommend that you go through this process once again. Ask yourself: What is the goal of this Earth Day post (for example)? Do you want followers to share it, or to comment on it? Are they supposed to click on a link to continue to your online store, or subscribe to your newsletter? Are you promoting some kind of time-sensitive deal? When you know the answer to this, you’ll be able to create a much better post. Tip: Choose from one of these url shorteners to get your links just right for your viral content. Go find those dates! Now, this is the fun part: Put on your research hat and get to work on finding useful, fun and quirky dates to add to your social media calendar. To streamline this process, you can do it in phases: Start with the basics and make a list of important national and local holidays you’d like to include. Do you represent a particular community? Make sure you include meaningful dates that your audience would appreciate: Pride Week, Black History Month, Ramadan or Chinese New Year’s are all great examples. Following the strategizing you completed in steps 1 and 2, think about major cultural events, entertainment happenings or significant dates you can add: The annual Grammy Awards, the Super Bowl, the release of a new Star Wars film, or any similar event that you believe will both be the focus of public attention and is of interest to your audience. Go over lists of online holidays and choose the ones that work best for your brand identity. These things can be silly but also very charming. If you find ones that really resonate with your target audience, you’ll do great. You can also maximize the time around a holiday. For example, posting in anticipation of a holiday or doing a round up post after the holiday has passed. Sample social media pages of brands, organizations and public figures and see what sort of dates they find worthy of mention on their feed (Wix’s Twitter , Facebook and Instagram pages are always a good place to start :) ) Check out the Google Doodle archive for excellent ideas for unique dates. Stay organized! Prepare an actual calendar Unless you have supernatural memory capabilities, you’ll need an actual calendar to keep track of all the dates you gathered. Trust us, the slight effort of entering the dates into a calendar is actually saving you a lot of time and effort in the long run. Plus, working with an actual calendar has multiple advantages: It allows you to make sure that your chosen dates are not too densely centered around the same timeframe. You want your “event” posts to mixed with your regular social content, not focused all at once. It gives you the opportunity to schedule alerts and reminders and set your mind at ease. Seeing the social media calendar in conjunction with your other day-to-day tasks will give you a good idea of how long in advance you need to prepare and work on your posts’ content (we’ll get to that in a minute). In technical terms, creating the calendar should be a breeze. You can either enter the dates into whatever digital calendar you already work with, or you could use a social media calendar template. Plan ahead with copywriting and images You went through all the research and prep work – excellent job! At the end of the day, it’s the content of your social posts that will determine just how successful your social media calendar is. Planning ahead can give you the time and the creative space for generating spectacular social media ideas (another good reason to stay organized and keep track of dates in advance). Take every detail into consideration which can include researching popular hashtags ahead of time, and making sure you're aware of social media image sizes to optimize all your content. Some posts require more real-time response than others. You probably don’t want to create posts about the World Cup Finals before you know which teams advanced to that stage, but you can definitely work on your Mother’s Day post a few of weeks in advance. One of your responsibilities is to determine which posts can be prepared ahead of time, and which require more spontaneity. Match the social content to the event As you create your posts, it’s important that you find the right angle to approach specific dates. A post celebrating Thanksgiving Day should look and sound different from one that celebrates “May the Fourth.” You want to take the essence of each event and find a way to talk about it that will excite your followers and benefit your brand. A helpful step in finding the right content is considering the genre of content that would be the most appropriate. You have many options to choose from: Images, videos, live broadcasts, blog posts, polls, gifs, posts that encourage users to share their own content, games (like image captions or sentence completion posts), and more. While posting photos from your office on Wear Pajamas to Work Day is an awesome idea, for an event like Human Rights Day you may prefer a video or a blog post, explaining in greater detail what this day means to you. Use scheduling tools to never miss a date After all this hard work, the last thing you want is to forget a date and miss out on an opportunity to post terrific content. Fortunately, technology is more reliable than our human capacity to remember everything and multitask perfectly. Scheduling tools, like Buffer , are your friendly little helpers that publish your posts for you. All you need to do is insert the content in advance and pick the exact time you want your posts to go live.

Unless you’ve avoided newspapers, magazines, television, radio, podcasts, and the internet for the last few weeks, chances are you know Super Bowl season is upon us. American football might not be everyone’s favorite, but you don’t have to be a huge fan to appreciate the excitement that surrounds any major sporting event. No matter whether your allegiance lies on a tennis court or a soccer field, the Wix template collection has tons of options that will help you create the perfect site for your passion. So if you’re thinking about creating a sport site for your coaching, hobby, favorite team, little league or even sporting goods store, these just might be the inspiration you’re looking for. In the spirit of all things sporty, we’ve found some really impressive websites that we felt deserved the spotlight. Ready? Set… GO! Learn more: How to make a sports website Adelaide Motorsport Festival >> Tennis for Chances >> Pr Golf Online >> Fantasy Squads >> From the Couch >> Cdc JD Maringa >> Just Premier >> Mes Q Sport >> Oxford Parkour >> Parent Soccer Coach >> Poza Rica Deportes >> Ricardinho >> Shaolin Shi Xing Mi >> Derby Darlins >> Sunshine Coast Referees >> Joern Pollex >>

Having spent years as a Wix Blog editor, I know that learning how to make a website  can be intimidating, even when using a website creator  that’s as intuitive as ours. I’m still discovering new and exciting ways to use it. That's why I think it's so valuable that Wix's YouTube  offers up so many step-by-step, expert-led Wix tutorials to elevate your understanding of our platform. So without further ado, here are the 10 most essential Wix tutorials. Set up your site: “Get to know the editor” Customize the layout: "Work with sections & strips" Make it your own: "How to customize your site themes" Add and edit media: "Add & customize media" Optimize your design for mobile: "Design your mobile site" Open an online store: "How to add products" Promote your site: "​​Get your website marketing-ready" Add some pizzazz: "Use images for navigation" Get strategic: "How to utilize Reports & Insights" Add your own code: "About Velo" 01. Set up your site: “ Get to know the editor ” Getting started is typically the hardest part of any creative endeavor—but that’s not necessarily the case with Wix . As Wix Editor Specialist Ali Flood explains in this lesson, you can choose to start with the AI website builder , a website template or a blank slate. “This video is going to take you through what templates are, how they work and how to choose the right one for you,” says Learning Designer Allison Shelton. “Then, it’ll show you around the Editor and explain what you can do.” In seven short minutes, you’ll get a comprehensive overview of the workspace. You’ll get a sense of the foundational design elements, including sections, site themes, layers, the media manager and the mobile editor. If you’re looking to go into detail, you can watch the full course that this lesson belongs to here: build your website with the Wix Editor . Read also: I built a Wix website for my mom—here's how it went 02. Customize the layout: " Work with sections & strips " When you’re working with the Wix Editor, understanding the functionality of sections and strips is paramount. Ali returns in this video to explain the difference between the two and how to take full advantage of the tools. Sections in the Wix Editor function as containers, ensuring that you can easily move, make quick edits or reorganize related content without affecting the rest of the webpage . “Things in the Editor are made in sections,” explains Allison. “Ali goes into what sections are, how to change the backgrounds of the sections and how to put things into your sections.” She also shows you neat aspects of this tool, including how to get AI-generated layout suggestions. Strips help you get creative with layouts without losing the structure that is so important for ensuring a user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing design. It’s also essential for creating a responsive layout (one that always looks good, regardless of the size of the screen it appears on), as the strip will scale proportionally and adapt the layout so that it still looks nice. 03. Make it your own: " How to customize your site themes " Because your site functions as a digital avatar, it’s the best opportunity to communicate your branding to the masses. Keeping the colors and typography in alignment with your style guide helps to reinforce that branding. Wix’s Site Theme feature makes this easy, in that you can update every single element on your site in a couple of clicks. In two and a half minutes, this video will teach you how this website feature works and how to take advantage of it. If you haven’t picked your brand colors or fonts yet, the Site Theme feature has matching colors and fonts to help you find the right match for your business. For example, if you’re starting an accounting business, the “technical” theme will likely be a better fit than the “retro-vibrant” theme. 04. Add and edit media: " Add & customize media " While pretty colors and cool layouts can draw your visitors in, informative images and video will make them want to stay. Therefore, deciding which to feature and learning how to edit them is a necessary skill. This video walks you through your options for uploading, editing and even creating media for your Wix site. “It also gives you best practices in terms of things like image size and site speed,” says Allison. “Then it takes you through cool features like how to mask your video or put in some vector art.” These features are among the many reasons Wix is one of the best website builders for photographers on the market today. Besides allowing you to upload imagery and video from your computer and your social channels, the media manager gives you access to free media libraries from Wix, Unsplash and Shutterstock. 05. Optimize your design for mobile: " Design your mobile site " Designing a mobile site is a vital, yet often overlooked, step in the website launch checklist . “It’s so important these days that all the function and design [of your site] is optimized for everyone on their phone,” says Allison. That’s why this tutorial is a must-see. It explains how to make the mobile version of your site leaner and simpler than the desktop version. This is vital because mobile users want to get things done fast—faster, even, than desktop users. Wix's AI capabilities automatically optimize your desktop design for mobile, but you can always use the mobile editor to make extensive customizations. Ali demonstrates how to hide sections that aren’t as relevant to mobile users and add elements that only appear on mobile, such as a welcome screen that’ll give your site a bit of extra time to load. She also offers some tips for designing for mobile: Optimize for readability: I don’t have to tell you that mobile screens don’t make reading easy. These tiny screens aren’t accommodating to large fonts, and they can make long paragraphs seem never-ending. Ali shows you how to reduce the size of your text or even change the typeface. Make navigation even simpler: Mobile users want everything at their fingertips—literally. Ali recommends either "freezing" your header menu so it always remains at the top of the screen or adding a "back to top" button so that navigating to a different page is nearly instantaneous. She also suggests making buttons larger to accommodate thumb clicks. Minimize scroll: A repeater on Wix is a list of items that have the same design and layout, but different content in each. This feature makes it easy to display and manage large amounts of content on a single page. In terms of mobile design, this is especially handy, because you can make tweaks (such as adjusting the vertical spacing) that apply to the whole layout, ensuring a cohesive and user-friendly mobile experience. 06. Open an online store: " How to add products " The Wix eCommerce system is pretty intuitive, so you don’t really need to watch this video to learn how to add products, but Learning Designer Henry Collie ups the ante by sharing tips he gathered from building his own shop. To start, he introduces you to a few integrations that can help you make your online business a success, such as the dropshipping builder and other Wix apps that will make migrating your existing store to Wix eCommerce a breeze. Finally, Henry shows you how to manage your inventory so that your product availability is always up-to-date. If you found this lesson insightful or already know how to add products to your shop, you can check out the entire course here: Get started with Wix eCommerce . Don’t waste any time— build your store with Wix today. 07. Promote your site: "​​ Get your website marketing-ready " In this lesson, Content Lead Kendall Breitman will guide you through the art of optimizing websites for conversions. You’ll learn how to make a good first impression—and encourage conversions right on the spot. “I would definitely recommend going through the whole course (" Promote and grow your business with Wix ") if you’re a business that needs to get going on getting found,” says Allison. “There are a lot of different ins and outs of promoting your site, whether you’re going to blast announcements on social media, add a blog or focus on SEO.” 08. Add some pizzazz: " Use images for navigation " If you want to make a website that leaves a lasting impression, this course—"Design your website with advanced features"—is for you. Led by UX Designer Robbie Sims, you'll learn how to use customized animations, interactive galleries, sticky videos, mobile welcome screens and more to deliver a truly unforgettable experience. While each lesson zeroes in on specific features, the real takeaway of this course is how limitless the Wix Editor is when you get creative with it. You’ll discover how you can leverage features originally designed for one purpose to create an element with an entirely different purpose. For instance, this lesson shows you how you can use the Subscribe Lightbox to create a drawer-like navigation menu and how to use the Grid Gallery to turn ordinary images into dynamic page links. 09. Get strategic: " How to utilize Reports & Insights " If your eyes glaze over when you’re faced with large amounts of data, you’re not alone. But you’re missing out if you let that stop you from capitalizing on the valuable reports and insights that you’ll find on the Wix Analytics dashboard. In this four-minute video, Henry gives you tips and tricks for using them to their full potential. He demonstrates how to customize the reports to your needs and how to interpret the data. It's worth noting that since the publication of this video last year, we've introduced an AI-powered Benchmarks report. This report can help you assess your site's strengths and weaknesses, offering insights to enhance your performance. Hungry for data? Explore Wix Analytics today. 10. Add your own code: " About Velo " Yet again demonstrating the boundless potential of Wix, this lesson introduces you to Velo , a full-stack web development solution that allows you to add your own code to your Wix website. Developer Advocate Joshua Alphonse takes you on a guided tour of the environment, highlighting its various features and potential. “Velo is a JavaScript-based language that is specific to Wix, but it’s really accessible to anyone with coding knowledge,” says Allison. Although Wix designed this tool with seasoned coders in mind, this lesson illuminates how useful it is for getting started on your coding journey. Joshua's demonstration reveals Velo's seamless integration with the drag-and-drop editor, allowing you to harness the power of both tools concurrently. Check out the entire Velo course here . Check out this explanation of the difference between web designers vs. web developers to find out whether web development would be a good path for you. Ready to put these lessons into practice? Sign up for Wix today.

Bring your inspiration to life with a Wix website →   “Animation offers a medium of story telling and visual entertainment which can bring pleasure and information to people of all ages everywhere in the world” ~ Walt Disney Before you create a website , take a look at some of the best website design examples for inspiration. For this week’s showcase, we put together a collection of animation portfolio websites . They're international, colorful, and bring together the best Wix websites have to offer: great web design that interacts with the new wave of web creativity and self-expression. These young and talented animators have customized a variety of Wix templates to display their animated creativity. Need inspiration for your website? With Wix, building a standout site is easier than ever. Choose from hundreds of customizable templates and use Wix’s easy drag-and-drop website builder  tools to make your vision come to life. Turn your ideas into reality and see just how simple it is to create a unique, professional website. Here are some of those art and design portfolio examples: Andrew wilson Assafsuf Animation FishBoy Animation/Illustration Terry Liang CG Artist + Animator Lam Ho’s Animation Eva Restad Animator & Artist AVPEA Project VideoArt Valerio Ventura Director/Art director/Designer The Pond Studio Learn more about how to make a website with our guide.

Get started by: Creating a website →  | Getting a domain → Podcasts have the power to capture millions of listeners' attention, quickly becoming the modern-day radio. But why have podcasts become so influential? One of the main reasons is the combination of creators who enjoy having their voice heard and listeners who want to get inspired with new ideas and solutions to their problems. In order for these two sides of the coin to meet, the content needs to be accessible on a podcast hosting site. This, paired with a professional free website , is all you need to ensure the world hears what you have to say. Because the internet is filled with many places to store and broadcast your work, it’s important to know from the start what you can expect to get out of the podcast hosting site you choose. With this in mind, we’ve rounded up a list of the 15 best podcast hosts on the market and reviewed each platform’s unique features, so you can select a host that truly shows off your storytelling skills. Starting a podcast? Use this podcast name generator to name it. What is podcast hosting and why you need it Podcast hosting platforms store and broadcast your content. They also ensure your site does not face any slowdown or overload due to its large audio files and make your work easily accessible. After uploading your content to one of these hosts, your podcast is immediately available for listeners on your site through their embedded web app. Podcast hosts also make it possible to quickly share your audio to third-party streaming services such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Furthermore, hosting platforms often come with advanced features such as podcast analytics, automatic transcription and tools for monetizing a podcast . These integrations can be very beneficial when starting a podcast . Best podcast hosting sites Wix Podcast Player Podbean Buzzsprout Libsyn Spreaker Simplecast Transistor Blubrry Captivate Castos Audioboom SoundCloud Anchor Megaphone Podcast Websites 01. Wix Podcast Player While the Wix Podcast Player isn’t a traditional hosting platform, it’s certainly one of the easiest and most stylish ways to showcase your podcast on your website, no matter where your host is. There are ready-made podcast website templates designed for you to easily launch. The best part is that the initial setup just requires your podcast’s RSS feed URL. From there, the Wix Podcast Player will do the rest for you. Like magic, the player will begin populating the page with your logo, all of your episodes, and their accompanying photos and descriptions. Plus, it will produce a set of dynamic pages, meaning it instantly creates a page for each episode using a uniform format. Therefore, each episode will open on its own page, yet the design will remain consistent throughout – all with zero work on your end. After it’s set up, you can go ahead and customize the player’s style and design, so it merges well with the rest of your site. Plans: Wix Podcast Player is free and all features are available, without limits, at no cost. Key features: Feature and stream your podcasts, all in one place Easily connect your site to hosts using RSS feeds Instantly create show feeds and episode pages Free web hosting for all your content 02. PodBean PodBean’s user-friendly interface allows you to upload, publish, manage and promote your podcasts with just a few clicks of your mouse. But what really sets them apart from the crowd is its crowdfunding options for those more serious creators looking to make money from loyal listeners. In terms of capabilities, the platform is simple and intuitive. One major advantage of casting your lot with PodBean is that your podcast is included in their network, adding another layer of discoverability for you. Plans: PodBean comes with four different plans to choose from. Its free option is a no-frills, straightforward five hours of audio uploaded a month, with 100GB of bandwidth. It also comes with basic stats, customizable players to embed, and your own podcast landing page site. The first paid tier, Unlimited Audio, introduces paid monetization, increased upload hours and bandwidth to unlimited, plus a few more services. If you’re a beginner, you will most likely find what you’re looking for between the first two paid options. However, if you’ve got some exemplary podcasting skills under your belt and are looking for ways to grow your podcast or need free business tools , PodBeans’s latter two paid options will be more fitting. Key features: Monetization capabilities Alexa integration Free plans 03. Buzzsprout Buzzsprout's name is usually found on top podcast hosts' lists and is credited for its ease of use. It’s a modern service designed to keep things simple. The platform brings exactly what a podcast needs to the table. It includes all the good stuff like stats, easy migration and embedded podcast players. Their well-designed dashboard makes it easy to upload and publish your episodes. On the flip side, you can also schedule shows in advance. That way, your listeners are never neglected. If you’re the obsessive type about stats, then you’ll love the mobile dashboard which includes the option to manage promotions and keep a close eye on your numbers no matter where you are. Plans: Just like the platform itself, Buzzsprout offers simplified paid plans. There is a free podcast hosting plan that allows for two hours of upload a month, and three paid plans that offer increased storage ranging from three to 12 hours a month. The most expensive of those paid plans still only reaches $24 a month. However, instead of having a hard cap of audio hours, Buzzsprout will simply charge you for additional hours. The exact amount you are charged per extra hour is dependent on the existing paid plan you have. It’s a nifty feature to have just in case one of your podcast episodes runs longer than expected. Key features: Free for 90 days Mobile friendly dashboard Easy migration from other hosting platforms 04. Libsyn You’ll see Libsyn at the top of most best podcast hosting lists online, and for good reason: It’s pretty great. It’s been around since podcasting first broke onto the scene, it provides a fantastic set of features, and it is competitively priced. While there are other hosts out there that offer a similar feature set or even better pricing, the combination of a longstanding (positive) track record and multiple plans to choose from, depending on your needs, make Libsyn a good first stop in your podcast hosting search. Plans: Libsyn offers a handful of different plans, each increasing in features as you go up. Plans range from $5 a month to $150 a month and the primary change between plans being storage options (with caps from 50MB to 3000MB). Key features: Custom mobile app YouTube publishing Advanced analytics 05. Spreaker From its website, description of its features and the layout of its plans, literally everything about Spreaker feels professional. One thing that sets them apart from most of the other hosts on this list is that it gives you unlimited daily sessions, allowing you to start a live stream as many times as you want per day. The length of time you can keep the live stream going is indicated by the plan you’re on. While this isn’t something everyone is going to use or even care for, it’s a pretty neat and unique feature to have (freely) available to you. Outside of its unique ‘live’ feature, Spreaker offers up the expected features any budding or expert podcaster could want, with a focus on marketing and other professional services. Plans: Spreaker has a free podcast hosting plan cleverly called “Free Speech” and goes up to a $50 per month “Anchorman Plan.” The value per plan increases significantly as you go up. The more expensive plans all increase daily session limit, storage, and improved analytics, marketing and monetization tools. Key features: Chat while streaming live iHeartRadio distribution Ad-free pages 06. Simplecast As you might have guessed by its name, Simplecast is known for being an incredibly easy-to-use podcast hosting site. In spite of this simplicity-focused approach, this podcast hosting site offers a professional service packed with powerful tools for every stage of your podcast’s life. The platform’s long list of features includes unlimited storage, one-click publishing, analytics tools, and a customizable site. A quick glance at Simplecast’s website makes it clear that the platform boasts a modern and bold brand identity, which translates into aesthetic players that can be embedded into your site. Another key differentiating element that has put Simplecast among the best podcast hosting sites is Recast. This unique tool allows podcasters and listeners to seamlessly share clips to social channels, which is an effective social media marketing strategy, allowing you to reach a wider audience. Plans: Simplecast offers three different podcast hosting plans for independent creators, as well as two high-end tailored plans for professional podcasters and enterprises. You can get unlimited storage and uploads plus features such as distribution and multiple shows management for $15 a month. If you need to add more than two members or use advanced features such as curated audience reports and website analytics tools, you’ll need to upgrade your plan. Key features: Unlimited storage and uploads Integrated social media sharing tools Custom domain name for your site 07. Transistor Transistor launched just a couple years ago, but has quickly grown to become one of the most well-known podcast hosting sites in the market. With a wide array of powerful and easy-to-use features, this platform is meant for both large brands and creators who have just decided to record a podcast . One of Transistor's defining characteristics is the fact that it offers unlimited storage for an unlimited number of podcasts for all users. Other notable features include embedded code, professional websites, distribution tools, and customizable domains. But what truly makes Transistor stand out from the crowd is its advanced analytics dashboard. Users can track stats such as average downloads per episode, what apps people use to listen, trends and historical performance. Plans: Transistor offers three different plans ranging from $19 to $99 per month. Subscriptions can be paid on a monthly or yearly basis. Those choosing a yearly plan will get two months of usage for free. All plans include unlimited podcasts, live customer support, in-depth analytics, and a customizable website. The main differences between plans are the monthly downloads available, additional users per podcast, and the number of private subscribers. Key features: Advanced analytics Multi-platform distribution Unlimited podcasts 08. Blubrry Blubrry prides itself on making it extremely easy to start your own podcast . On top of their hosting and plugin powers, the platform offers a variety of rich statistics that users love. Their analytics makes it effortless to always be on top of your numbers and gaining insights into factors beyond the number of listeners. For example, you’ll be able to see where your listeners are located and what platforms they are using to access your podcast. This podcasting hosting site is not only used for the traditional B2C (business to consumer) experience. Blubrry also offers private podcasting that allows you to use their secure audio and video for corporate communications, training, interviews, and even for guest speakers. Plans: Blubrry offers a series of tiered plans based on monthly storage requirements, starting at $12 per month for 100MB monthly storage and scaling up to $100 for unlimited storage. All of their plans come with professional statistics, unlimited bandwidth, a custom embedded player and free file migration. Key features: Powerful analytics to track your progress Private podcasting Easy to use plugins 09. Captivate Captivate was developed by a team with a long, successful trajectory in the podcast industry, which becomes instantly apparent upon seeing the platform’s unique approach. This podcast hosting site is focused on growth, offering a long list of unique features aimed to empower creators and provide them with everything they need to build a successful online business. Among Captivate’s growth-oriented features you’ll find a mobile-friendly website you can customize with your brand colors, mailing list integrations to power your email marketing campaigns, trackable attribution links, editable web player CTAs, a single subscribe promotion link, educational resources in their growth labs and a downloadable PDF report with your latest stats that can be used as part of a press kit or to show potential sponsors. Captivate also has features that simplify work flows for podcasters such as their guest booking tool, dynamic show notes builder, dynamic ad and content insertion tool, episode planning section and more. These groundbreaking tools are, of course, offered in addition to traditional podcast features such as cross-platform distribution, in-depth industry recognized IAB certified analytics, custom plugins, and more. Plans: Captivate has three pricing tiers ranging between $19 and $99 per month (which is discounted if you pay annually). Unlike other podcast hosting sites, monthly downloads are the only element linked to these tiers. The Personal podcaster plan supports up to 30,000 downloads, while Professional and Business set the cut at 150,000 and 300,000 downloads respectively. All features on Captivate's catalog are available in all plans. Key features: Unlimited podcasts and team members, plus network features Marketing tools such as built-in calls-to-action, attribution links, sponsor kit etc. Simplified workflow tools eg guest booking, dynamic show notes, research and planning tools User-friendly analytical dashboard & industry trusted IAB certified analytics Customizable web player & search engine friendly podcast website Dynamic ad & content insertion tool (AMIE), with four bulk editing features to manage pre, mid and post rolls across your entire episode library Highly-rated customer service team accessible 24/7 10. Castos What’s remarkable about Castos is that no matter which plan you choose you will never run out of storage or bandwidth space, as they don't have any caps or limits on those capabilities. Their unlimited storage space makes Castors very appealing for users who want to record longer episodes, test new styles or launch a second channel, as they don't have to be conservative with their recording time. When it comes to advanced features, Casto’s ability to republish your content to YouTube and create automatic podcast transcriptions makes it one of the best podcast hosting sites for cross-platform publication. These abilities are also known to help boost SEO and increase the visibility of your content, which is essential for reaching new audiences. Plans: Castos' plans are split into three main buckets: Starter, Growth and Pro. Even the names of the packages alone can help you find the category that suits you best. Remember that all of them come with an unlimited number of podcasts, episode uploads and downloads. The main difference between the $19/month Starter plan all the way up to the $99/month option is the limit of how many private subscribers you can have. The lowest price plan allows you up to 100 subscribers, while the highest gives you up to 500 subscribers. If you are not sure how quickly you will grow, you can always start with their free 14-day trial and upgrade at any time. Key features: Unlimited number of podcasts, episodes and downloads regardless of the plan Automated YouTube republishing and transcriptions Data from multiple listening platforms into one dashboard 11. Audioboom If you're looking to make money online with your podcast, Audioboom might just be the place for you. This platform prides itself on being the best podcast hosting site for content monetization, operating under the slogan "Host, distribute and monetize your audio." The platform divides its offering into two tiers: Podcasters and Podcaster Pros. The first plan is aimed at content creators with less than 10,000 listeners per podcast episode, providing them with unlimited episode hosting, cross-platform distribution tools, embeddable players, and advanced analytics. Once your podcast surpasses the 10,000 listeners per episode barrier, you'll get access to Podcaster Pros and all the monetization tools that come with it. Audioboom provides established podcasters with sponsorship opportunities, a proprietary targeted ad network, branded content partnership opportunities, premium sales services, live stream collaborations, and more. Plans: Audioboom offers a series of tiered plans based on the number of plays per month your podcast gets. The basic Podcasters plan starts at $9.99 per month for up to 10K monthly plays, and can be upgraded to a Podcast Pros plan for unlimited plays per episode. Both of these plans include unlimited episode hosting, cross-platform distribution, analytics, and embeddable players. The platform's professional plan, aimed at podcasters with over 10K listeners per episode, offers numerous monetization tools for an undisclosed subscription cost. Key features: Monetization tools Multi-platform distribution Embeddable player and social media integration 12. SoundCloud You've probably heard of SoundCloud before, but it wouldn't be at all surprising if you didn't know it's a popular podcasting host as well. In reality, it's not a surprising move for the company. While its primary focus is music, it has positioned itself to be a podcast hosting company without ever really intending to be. SoundCloud's popularity for music gives it a "mindshare" advantage that many names on this list simply can't compete with. This platform already has access to millions of listeners, which lets you kick off with a community around you. Another reason users choose to go with SoundCloud is that they allow you to interact with fans and get immediate feedback. Furthermore, with their Pro Unlimited plan, you can schedule releases, pin your most popular episodes into the spotlight and get access to sophisticated stats. Plans: SoundCloud keeps things simple with only three types of plans: A free podcast hosting plan with a three-hour upload limit per month. On their $135 per year plan you can have unlimited uploading, scheduled releases and more. Key features: Free podcast hosting plans Interact with fans Scheduled releases 13. Anchor Anchor is a free podcast hosting site for creating, distributing and monetizing your podcast, whose goal is to allow everyone's stories to be heard around the world. The platform is owned by the popular audio streaming app, Spotify, which already puts you in great hands if you go this route. This free podcast hosting site has very convenient creation tools that let you capture audio straight from your phone, tablet, or computer, as well as easily edit the content with building blocks that are wonderful for visualizing your editing process. After creating your podcast, the distribution is also made simple. By clicking to a dedicated section on their site, you can easily manage your RSS feed and distribute your podcast among the app directory and beyond. The best part of Anchor is that it empowers users to get paid to podcast, giving you the option to add a donation button so listeners can support your work. Additionally, you can earn money every time people listen to ads that you can even read and record with your own voice. Lastly, in April 2021, Anchor announced they are introducing paid subscriptions which is an easy way for you as a creator to offer paid exclusive content to your listeners. Plans: Using Anchor to host your podcast is completely free. Keep in mind that there is a limit of the file size you can upload, which is capped at 250MB. This size typically applies to files longer than 15 min. Key features: Built-in uploading, recording and editing tools Easy distribute to all major listening apps Monetization features such as sponsorships and listener donations 14. Megaphone Megaphone is not just known for podcast hosting but also for working with advertisers. Their technology is a place where both worlds come beautifully together—allowing both sides of the spectrum to be successful, especially tailoring to enterprises and larger podcasters. The platform’s offering covers the entire podcasting ecosystem, so you can not only publish on their site but also make money and measure your success. Their monetization options use industry-leading targeting so that ads and content can be highly relevant. You also get full control over where, when and in what order ads and promos appear in your show so you can maximize revenue. Plans: There is no price disclosure currently on their website, but you can request a quote on their contact page . It has been reported by other experts that there is a minimum threshold to be part of their network and that Megaphone is geared towards larger publishers. Key features: Dynamic ad insertion and audience targeting Quick and helpful live chat customer support Simple workflows 15. Podcast Websites Podcast Websites was founded by a group of podcasters who wanted to make sure others had all the tools they needed to succeed. You can view this option as a one-stop-shop that handles everything from website creation to the podcast hosting itself. Their services come with website hosting, 24/7 support and many learning tools to help you grow in the podcast industry. For example, if you choose their hosting platform, you will be granted access to a well-stocked video tutorials library, a support community, and monthly Academy education sessions. Plans: There are two podcast hosting plans available to you, one is $97 per month, paid monthly, and the second one is $77 per month, paid annually. The latter includes your first RSS feed for free and both allow for unlimited visits per month, free domain name, and their video tutorial library. Key features: Learning tools 24/7 support Drag and drop page design Features you should look for in podcast hosting sites Choosing the right podcast hosting site is crucial for the success of your podcast. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Here are some key features you should look for to ensure your podcast thrives: Storage and bandwidth Ample storage space: Your podcast episodes will consume storage space, so ensure the platform offers enough to accommodate your current and future needs. Look for plans with at least 10GB of storage, ideally with the option to upgrade as your podcast grows. Sufficient bandwidth: Bandwidth determines how many people can listen to your episodes simultaneously. Choose a plan with enough bandwidth to handle your expected audience size. Unlimited bandwidth is ideal, but pay-as-you-go options can be budget-friendly for new podcasts. Audio quality and features High-quality audio: Listeners expect good audio quality. Choose a host that supports high bitrate encoding (at least 128 kbps) for clear and professional-sounding episodes. ID3 tag editing: Edit ID3 tags like title, artist and episode number to ensure your podcast displays correctly on podcast directories and players. Chapter markers: Allow listeners to easily navigate through long episodes by adding chapter markers. Podcast distribution and analytics Automatic submission to directories: Choose a host that automatically submits your podcast to major directories like Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Detailed analytics: Track your podcast's performance with in-depth analytics, including downloads, listener demographics and playback locations. This data helps you understand your audience and refine your content strategy. Embeddable podcast player: Easily share your podcast episodes on your website or blog with an embeddable player. Additional features Monetization options: Some platforms offer built-in monetization tools like podcast ads, subscriptions or listener donations. If monetization is your goal, ensure the platform you choose supports your chosen method. Website builder: Some hosts offer website builder tools to create a simple landing page for your podcast. This can be helpful for promoting your episodes and connecting with listeners. Mobile app: A mobile app for managing your podcast and interacting with listeners can be a valuable asset, especially for on-the-go creators. Podcast hosting FAQ How do I choose the best podcast hosting site? There are several key factors that should be considered when choosing the best podcast hosting site. Even though price will likely play a strong part in the decision it should not be the only point of consideration. Here are other critical components to consider: tracking analytics, compatibility with a landing page or website, embeddable media player, audio quality and monetization options. Furthermore, you should take into account the storage space, upload bandwidth and download limits. Depending on the scale of your podcast, you can prioritize these different factors to find the best host for your needs. Can you host a podcast for free? Of course, there are several free podcast hosting options available. However, free options often have more limitations on features such as analytics and storage space which you should consider. Many free podcast hosting sites don’t have the same revenue stream from subscriptions so they often serve advertisements to listeners. Be aware that this could negatively impact the experience for your audience, and deter them from coming back in the future to consume more content. Can you make money podcasting? Yes. If your podcast becomes successful and grows to a decent number of listeners there are opportunities to make money, such as through a podcast ad network and podcast advertising . You can also make money by asking for donations or charging a membership. Depending on the podcast topics  you cover, you can also get sponsorships from brands. The key to making money from your work is having high quality engaging content and exquisite digital marketing skills. Promoting your podcast after you launch plays a big part in your success. Does podcast hosting handle distribution? Podcast hosting platforms do not always automatically handle distribution for you. However, some platforms such as Captivate and Buzzsprout allow you to submit your files through a built-in podcast distribution page and directories. This makes the process much easier and faster. Where should I publish my podcast? The most popular podcast directories to publish your show and get more listeners are Apple Podcasts,   Spotify , Google Podcasts,   Midroll  (formerly Stitcher), TuneIn , SoundCloud , Podbay  and Podtail . You can also publish your podcast on your own website, just like we did with our new podcast Now What?  on Wix.com. How do I promote my podcast? Beyond publishing and sharing your podcast to the popular directories such as those mentioned above, there are other marketing and promotional efforts you can take to help promote your show, including prompting listeners to share your podcast to their social networks and write positive reviews. Also community networking and word-of-mouth recommendations are highly effective in this space. Lastly, try guest hosting or appearing as a guest on someone else’s podcast that has a similar audience you’re looking to reach. What is the best podcast equipment and software for my show? You do not have to purchase equipment to get started with podcasting. But depending on the budget you're willing to dedicate to your efforts there are a variety of options to choose from that can help take your podcast to a more advanced level. The most common equipment purchased is a high quality microphone, which you can often plug into your computer using a USB port. Other podcast equipment to consider is buying soundproofing material like foam panels for a recording space that is soundproof. Lastly, you can consider getting a sound mixer, professional recording software and noise-canceling headphones. If you need a little more inspiration before getting started, tune into one of these motivational podcasts to boost your confidence . Where can I host podcasts for free? You can host podcasts for free on platforms like Spotify for Podcasters, Podbean, RedCircle and even Wix. Spotify and the others take care of getting your episodes on major directories, while Wix is perfect if you want a website to build your brand around your podcast. Free plans usually include the basics, but upgrading can unlock extras like detailed analytics or monetization tools.

Podcasting has exploded in popularity over the last decade and has quickly become an effective medium for advertising. Two million podcasts live on the web, and U.S. podcast ad spending is rising at double-digit percentage rates yearly and will top $2 billion next year. "Audio ads have evolved over time, and it's quickly changing in recent years to become more of a two-way street, more of a conversation,” Leonardo De La Rocha, head of design for Spotify Ads said on an episode of Wix's Now What? podcast. “We want brands to speak to audiences, but we also want it to feel authentic." Authenticity hasn't always been easy to achieve in advertising, but the podcasting format allows you to reach listeners more intimately. So, after you launch your business and create a website , it's critical to find new and creative types of marketing to get in front of your target audience (and find free places to promote your website ), and podcasts advertising can be a promising method. Starting a podcast? Use this podcast name generator to name it. Why is podcast advertising effective? Before we dive in, it’s important to understand why people enjoy podcasts and the reasons behind their growth in popularity. For starters, unlike watching a video or reading an article, you can listen to a podcast anywhere. Whether it’s at home, during your commute or at the gym, this type of content is extremely versatile. On top of that, there are podcasts about almost anything: health, fitness, entrepreneurship, personal development, creativity, you name it. But it’s the nature of podcasts themselves that makes them ideal for marketers who want to connect with their audiences. Unlike other types of advertising , such as billboard ads and print ads, people who listen to podcasts tend to have an affinity for the hosts - its contextual advertising at its finest. This makes podcasts unique when it comes to advertising since the audience already sees the person delivering the message as captivating and trustworthy. Not only that, but podcast listeners are usually engaged in each episode and listen with intent. Unlike online advertising , such as pop-up ads or videos, podcasts offer advertisers an opportunity to speak to an audience that is much more interested in listening. In fact, 80% of podcast listeners say they’re able to recall a brand mentioned in a podcast. De La Rocha agrees. “We know that the most engaged audiences are those on platforms like Spotify, listening to podcasts, listening to music,” he says. “Just think about how intimate that is. We are literally in your body, through your headphones, through your earbuds. We're physically connected to you the way that other brands really aren't.” You don’t need to be an expert marketer to know that the more engaged your audience is, the better your ad conversion rates will be. If you haven’t yet started advertising on podcasts, now’s a good time to begin. Advertisers have already seen the potential in podcast ads, with the projected global ad spend expected to reach $1.6B by next year. So, how can you take advantage of this colossal source of revenue? Let’s look at some of the ways that brands are advertising on podcasts already with these advertisement examples . How brands should select podcasts to advertise with It can be difficult to know which podcast(s) to spend your ad budget on. Thankfully, there are marketing strategies that brands can use to narrow down their choice of shows to find podcast topics that will fit their messaging and help them reach the right audiences. Here are some points to consider when shopping around for podcasts to advertise with: 01. Your target audience Know who you’re trying to target and research their interests to get a better understanding of which podcasts they’re listening to. Some bigger podcasts, such as those by NPR , publish their podcast demographics so you can see if they’re a good fit. 02. The podcast’s content The reason this works so well is that the product being advertised usually fits with the overall theme of the podcast. If a podcast discusses women’s issues or feminism, then it would make sense to run ads that are relevant to that demographic. 03. The podcast host(s) Finally, a podcast is nothing without its host. Having a good understanding of a host’s background and interests can help you forge an authentic connection with them as well as a genuine interest in your brand. If your host is a fan of your product or company, chances are they’re going to be more effective at promoting it. Key elements of a successful podcast advertising campaign Before you start your search for the right podcast, you’ll want to set up your campaign so that it’s as successful as possible. Podcast ads work a little differently than other types of digital marketing ads, so it’s crucial to have a well-rounded understanding before you jump in. Let’s take a closer look at some podcast advertising tips and strategies you should know. Understand your audience It’s imperative to know which podcasts your target market listens to. But it’s also important to familiarize yourself with the audience so that you know how to best advertise to them. Start by creating a buyer persona. To do so, you need to establish: Your customers’ demographics, including age, location, interests and stage of life Identify customer pain points Their goals How you can help them resolve their pain points and achieve their goals You might already have a solid understanding of your ideal customer from previous marketing campaigns, but it may need to be adjusted for podcast advertising because you need to understand their expectations surrounding a specific podcast. Meaning, are they hoping to stay up-to-date on current events? Are they trying to learn about a topic for personal or professional growth? Knowing their reasons for listening to a podcast will help you create ads that resonate with them. “I think that goes into audio. That goes into video. That goes into any medium that you're using to tell a story of your product. Be thoughtful and authentic with the people you're trying to reach by retaining that customer obsession,” says De La Rocha. Optimize your ad placement Similar to TV or radio ads, podcasts have designated time slots for running advertisements. Hosts will schedule a pause in their conversation to run an ad in the middle, beginning or end of an episode. In general, there are three types of podcast advertisements: 01. Pre-roll Pre-roll ads are within the first 15 seconds of a podcast, before or immediately after the title is introduced. They typically last between 15 and 30 seconds. 02. Mid-roll Mid-roll ads play in the middle of an episode. Usually, there will be a predetermined break in the podcast content and the host will run an ad. Mid-roll ads tend to be longer than pre or post-roll ads, lasting 60-90 seconds long. 03. Post-roll Lastly, post-roll ads run at the end of a podcast before the credits, if they’re listed. A post-roll ad usually runs around 20-30 seconds long. You might need to test out different placements for your banner ads since each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. Pre and post-roll ads are much more likely to be skipped over, but some brands prefer being the first or last thing mentioned on a podcast episode. Mid-roll ads tend to be the most expensive because they’re both the longest and least likely to be skipped. There really is no “best” option. Take a look at your budget and the audience you want to reach to determine what’s best for your brand. Know the cost per ad How much will it actually cost you to run podcast ads? Well, that depends. First, it depends on the placement within the episode. Second, it depends on the popularity of the podcast. It stands to reason that the more listeners a podcast has, the more expensive an ad will cost. Typically, this is how the cost is broken down: According to AdvertiseCast , podcast advertising rates in 2021 are set at $18 for a 30-second ad and $25 for a 60-second ad. This cost is broken down by CPM , or cost by mille, which means the cost is for 1000 listeners. If a podcast lists its listener reach, you can easily calculate how much your ad might cost. In general, you can budget between $20-$30 for a 30-60 second ad per 1000 listeners. Of course, everyone wants to advertise on the most popular podcasts, but your ad budget might dictate otherwise. It’s also important to remember that since you want to target your ads to the podcasts your audience listens to, you might not always need to go after the podcast with the highest number of listeners. Pre-recorded vs. host-read ads It’s generally accepted that host-read ads convert better than pre-recorded ones. This goes back to the fact that listeners trust podcast hosts, so having them read your ads tends to produce better engagement. “A trusted voice in front of a brand is so much better than the brand speaking directly at people,” explains De La Rocha. “There is an authentic connection being made that leads to trust from those who listen.” More than that, a host-read ad is typically longer than a pre-recorded ad, meaning you get even more bang for your buck. Host-read ads last on average for 48 seconds, compared to just 27 seconds for pre-recorded ads. Another thing to consider is how your ad might age, especially if you’re using pre-recorded ads. If you’re promoting a time-sensitive event or special, then it might not be relevant at all when someone listens to an episode weeks or months after it’s aired. Host-read ads tend to be more organic and follow the logical pattern of the episode and seem less out of place, even when listened to at a later date. Continuously test your ads Just like any form of affiliate marketing , you’re going to want to test your ad over time and perhaps even in a few variations to see what’s the most effective. Think of it as A/B testing your podcast ads. It’s impossible to see whether or not your ad was successful after just one episode. You’ll need to advertise on multiple episodes to see whether or not it’s converting listeners. If a certain podcast episode happens to be less popular or engaging, it doesn’t mean your ad won’t work on future episodes. Plus, running your ads on multiple episodes fosters a relationship with the audience and creates continued brand awareness. Take the popular podcast, Serial, as an example. In its early days, MailChimp ran ads at the beginning of each episode, and as the podcast became popular, so did MailChimp. Listeners began expecting to hear the MailChimp ad before each episode, making the brand much more recognizable. Measure your ad’s success A simple way to determine the success of your ad is to use promo codes. That way, you can track your codes to see how many are being used, by who, and when. The more people who use your promo code, the higher your rate of success. You should also be monitoring user engagement and what people are saying about your brand on social media. As listeners become more accustomed to hearing your ads in their favorite podcasts, you’ll want to see if they are talking about you on social media. Are they engaging with your brand more? This is another important metric for judging the success of your ads. Also be sure to track the traffic to your website. As listeners hear your brand more, check your website analytics tool to see if there’s an uptick in traffic. Podcast advertising networks Instead of working directly with brands and managing ads, many podcast hosts decide to go through an advertising network. This allows them to gain access to a wider variety of brands. As an advertiser, it often makes your job easier to search for podcasts and pay for ads all in one place. Here are a few of the more popular podcast advertising networks we recommend using. Midroll Midroll is one of the more popular podcast advertising networks out there. They specialize in placing host-read ads that sound natural and convert well. You’ll find tons of world-class podcasts here, such as My Favorite Murder, Office Ladies run by The Office co-stars Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, and Oprah's SuperSoul Conversations. Many large brands have worked with Midroll and seen results, such as HBO, Toyota, FedEx, and more. There’s a dashboard where you can track your campaign 24/7 and gain insightful metrics on your ads. AdvertiseCast With AdvertiseCast , you’ll have access to over 1,700 different podcasts to advertise on. This platform allows you to search for different podcasts based on factors like reach, cost, and listener demographics. You’ll find a lot of popular podcasts here, such as Dr. Phil’s Phil in the Blanks, The Jordan B Peterson Podcast, Darknet Diaries, and a lot more. There’s a wide range of brands already working with AdvertiseCast, such as Nike, Amazon, NordVPN, and more. PodcastOne PodcastOne allows advertisers to connect with and discover podcasts. There are a few hundred podcasts here to choose from, such as Gals on the Go, Court Junkie, and Off the Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe. PodcastOne sees more than 2.1 million episode downloads each year with 350 weekly episodes. Authentic Shows Authentic Shows is a podcast advertising network that caters to the most popular shows. You can expect to see some big podcast names here, such as This American Life, Stuff You Should Know, and The Daily by The New York Times. The podcasts on Authentic Shows tend to have very engaged listeners, which allows this network to attract many high-end advertisers, like Netflix, Visa, and Dell. Spotify Spotify advertising allows you to scale your podcast campaign with audience-based buying across the Spotify Audience Network. The easiest way to start running podcast ads on Spotify is with its self-serve advertising channel, Ad Studio. Streaming Ad Insertion (SAI) provides campaign metrics and audience insights based on confirmed ad impressions. The future of podcast advertising Podcasts are the present and future of advertising because they allow brands to connect with their target audiences in authentic, engaging ways, through a host they trust. There are multiple strategies that will help you reach this market of dedicated listeners, so experiment with different podcasts and advertising approaches until you find one that works for you.

Privacy is a more important issue than ever for designers. With recent regulations on data protection and privacy — such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) with its recent expansion via the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) — there’s a growing need for digital products that respect users’ data. For designers using a website creator , this means creating work that empowers people to make more informed decisions about their privacy, and giving them easier, more accessible ways to control their data. Let’s look at some of the key legislative requirements and explore how designers and web creators can advocate for better protection of their users’ data, activity and personal information through their website design . How to prioritize online privacy design Design for transparency in data collection Receiving clear consent to automated data tracking Creating user-friendly and accessible privacy policies Giving users full control of their data 01. Design for transparency in data collection Data minimization is one of the major requirements set forth by the GDPR and CCPA. It includes explaining why you’re collecting certain data, and asking for no more than is necessary for that purpose. For designers when designing a website , there’s opportunity here for creating forms that clearly explain why you’re collecting certain information. Generally, the more sensitive or private the information is, the more effort should be put into explaining why it’s needed. These explanations can include why you need the data, its benefit to the user, and the security measures that will be taken to handle the data. Here’s a great example from Mailchimp . During the onboarding process, they clearly explain why, according to international laws, they need a physical address when setting up your account. Here’s another great example from Dropbox . This part of the sign-up user flow asks for a preferred email if a user has signed up using Apple’s “Hide My Email” feature (which creates a randomly-generated email). The prompt explains the benefits of using an email address that your collaborators can recognize. Designing or redesigning products with user privacy in mind allows you to question existing UX practices, and to explore whether there are better alternatives for getting the same information. For example, if you need to ask for someone’s age, having them provide their date of birth would be considered asking for more information than you need. Not only are people more likely to provide false information when asked for data that seems too personal, it could also be unnecessarily risky if the data is not securely stored and protected. 02. Receiving clear consent to automated data tracking Another method for sites to collect data on users is through the use of cookies. Cookies are tracking scripts that record our site visits and activity. Under the GDPR, users have to provide active consent, such as opting in, to being tracked by most cookies. For designers, empowering users to opt in (or stay opted out) to cookie tracking and allowing them to revoke access at any time is crucial. Users’ consent should be given as a conscious choice, rather than as something that they may not be aware of (such as with pre-checked boxes), and it should be just as easily withdrawn if users change their minds at any time. Designers should also provide information about the types of cookies used by the site, so that users can make informed decisions about their preferences. A great example can be found on Slack ’s site. The cookie consent form clearly explains each category of cookies (strictly necessary, functional, performance, and targeting), and allows users to opt in or out using a toggle switch. The CCPA doesn’t require users to consent to cookie tracking, but it does ask that sites include a link labeled: “Do Not Sell Or Share My Personal Information.” Despite the laws around this, users are struggling to opt out of the sale of their personal information , from not being able to find the link to not receiving confirmation that the opt out was honored, at times through the use of deceiving dark patterns. There are opportunities to design a more straightforward experience around cookie tracking. Some groups want to bypass individual opt-outs completely by creating a Global Privacy Control. This initiative, which would be built either into a browser or as a browser extension, would notify sites on behalf of users as to whether or not they want their personal information to be sold or shared. 03. Creating user-friendly and accessible privacy policies Privacy policies inform users about what a company plans to do with their information. Both the GDPR and CCPA require that when learning how to make a website , creators provide a privacy policy with clear and accessible information. Privacy policies should encourage people to read them, so that they’re informed about how their data is being used. This means avoiding long pages of text that use complex legal terminology and small lettering, which users usually give up on trying to understand. Many sites stick to clear and straightforward language, with clearly-labeled sections that are easy to scan. Some privacy policies also give contextual examples related to how they collect data across their site. The New York Times ’ privacy policy is inviting and easy to understand. You can easily navigate between sections using the sidebar, and learn about their data practices with examples taken from their different digital platforms. Broken up into bite-sized sections and accompanied by illustrations and icons, Google’s privacy policy even includes explainer videos that help present the content in different ways. Tip: How to write a privacy policy for a website 04. Giving users full control of their data Under both the GDPR and CCPA, users have the right to access their personal data, receive it in a readable format, and request that it be deleted. This allows designers to create user-friendly experiences that give users full control of their data — including being able to browse, change, and delete any of the data that a site holds. Many tech companies, including Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Twitter, offer automated systems where people can download a copy of their personal data. It’s important that once users download this data, that they’re able to understand what exactly a company has collected about them. This means designing the information to be accessible and intelligible. And finally, part of having full control over your data is being able to delete it entirely. There are opportunities here to reassure users that their data is in fact deleted after they close their account.

When planning how to make a website , understanding how your users behave on your site offers a great opportunity to optimize how they experience your brand. To take advantage of this, though, you need to gather behavioral analytics, or data points about your audience’s behavior. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into your site's behavioral data, as well as answer some common questions on the topic so you can focus on the right metrics and make effective changes after you make a website. What is behavioral analytics? Behavioral analytics is a type of web analytics tracking how a user behaves on a website. For example, many websites use bounce rate as a key metric within their behavioral analytics practice. Measuring how fast or often users leave your site without engaging on your page can help you understand how effective your on-page content is to your target audience. It can also help flag if you have structural site issues that prevent users from engaging. Addressing these two insights can help you improve other business goals, like increasing conversions or retaining customers, and monetizing your website . What is behavioral data? You can gather behavioral data by observing a user’s interaction with a company’s website. A user can interact in many different ways on your website. For example, you can study how often a user clicks on a product or CTA or after how long they typically leave a page. Behavioral analytics makes sense of the interactions comprising behavioral data. What are examples of behavioral data? To illustrate how companies use behavioral data, let’s look at some examples of commonly-used metrics. Ad clicks : Gathering data about which display ads users click on third-party websites can help you understand what advertising most resonates with their audience. Purchase history : You can use purchasing behavior to suggest additional products and retain your customers. Time on page : Understanding how long users typically spend on a webpage can indicate if the page is functioning properly, either in terms of content or user experience. If your average time on page metric is lower than expected, you may want to rethink how to improve the page’s content to match user intent. Customer service requests : Support requests can improve your website experience. If you see a pattern among frequency and type of support requests indicating a problem with how your site or product works, you can easily prioritize and fix it. Types of behavioral analytics metrics You can categorize behavioral data into three main categories throughout your user’s journey from landing on your site to making a purchase. 01. Website behavioral analytics Analyzing website behavioral data can help you understand how users interact with your content and experience your website. You might look at metrics such as page views, bounce rate, CTA clicks and navigational behavior. 02. Event behavioral analytics In behavioral metrics, “events” refer to the actions your users take. While website behavioral analytics determine the overall user experience using data on how a user interacts with a website, event tracking looks at whether users engage with your content—and how they do it. Common event behavioral analytics metrics include starting a video, downloads, playing a song or signing up for a newsletter. 03. Conversion tracking To understand conversion behavior, focus on data that shows whether your users click on your CTAs. If they don’t, you might need to reassess whether your CTAs are visible or actionable enough. If they garner a good amount of clicks but still don’t convert, you may want to reassess your purchase process. How can you track the different types of behavioral analytics? The market offers many website analytics tools to track behavioral analytics and events. To get more robust behavioral data throughout your entire user journey, you can find tools that can record user sessions, create heat maps, determine your high-value customers and highlight drop-off points in conversion. Tip : Wix Analytics helps all Wix website users make informed decisions about their website and business. It lets you track traffic, gather visitor behavior and revenue reports as well as mobile analytics. Who should use behavioral analytics? Most website owners can use real-time data to analyze their user’s behavior across their customer journey: Marketing : Make campaigns more targeted or segment ads for personalization to better acquire new clients or retain existing ones. Sales : Highlight ways to best upsell a customer, based on their previous purchases. Customer support : Offer actionable solutions to frequent issues that may arise. Product : Improve the product quickly and accurately based upon customer feedback to increase retention. Why is behavioral analytics important? Behavioral data can provide significant benefits to companies. According to Google , “data-driven” decision-making organizations are three times more likely to report improvements in their processes. Additionally, establishing a process for reporting certain behavioral data points can translate into more efficient and accurate decisions made across a business’s functions. 7 tips to get you started with behavioral analytics 01. Set clear goals Include targets for metrics you want to track and KPIs you’d like to reach. Remember that you should focus your goal on accurately tracking and measuring behavior rather than increasing conversions by a certain percentage. 02. Define your ideal user journey Map out the paths users can take to arrive at your desired outcome. For example, an eCommerce company might map out their ideal user journey from a landing page all the way to checkout. 03. Determine a tracking plan Don’t track as many metrics as possible when just starting out. Instead, create a tracking plan that takes your desired user journey into account and highlights the events and actions you’d like users to take. Focus on tracking those initially, then grow your tracking process. 04. Assign unique identifiers To get an accurate picture of a user’s journey, assign unique identifiers (such as an email capture or user ID) in a behavioral analytics software to track a specific user’s behavior across multiple devices. The unique identifier won’t change over time and can be traced between different digital platforms, connecting touch points along the user journey. 05. Set up cross-platform tracking You’ll probably want to view behavior across multiple platforms to understand how your users move from your website to apps or social media channels. Use a tool like Smartlook to help you collect and analyze cross-platform user journeys between website browsers and native mobile apps. 06. Keep tracking consistent Make sure you’re tracking the same metrics at regular intervals so that you can identify patterns in your user’s behavior and easily spot inconsistencies. Both patterns can help identify which area of your product or website needs attention. 07. Regularly test for accuracy Before you begin tracking data, run some tests to make sure you collect accurate real-time reports. Once you’ve established a regular practice, be sure to regularly test to ensure there are no bugs in your analytics tools or tracking process.

In general, a brand will create a website that caters to different users, with different goals—but a landing page is different. Landing pages are built to attract qualified leads to a single offer, weed out those who aren’t interested and turn the rest into potential leads or customers. A landing page can draw customers into your marketing funnel—where the long-term relationship with them begins. To do this, you need to know what elements to include and how these can facilitate your goals. Below we’ll look at the anatomy of a landing page, review what a landing page is , survey what elements to include and exemplify the optimal structure for making this marketing asset convert. What is a landing page? A landing page is a standalone page built with the purpose of generating leads or sales from a valuable offer. It’s sometimes referred to as a post-click page, lead capture page, splash page , static page or squeeze page. The landing page is usually just one piece in a much larger marketing campaign, which starts with an offer preview. Users may arrive to the landing page after they encounter a promotion via external marketing strategies like: Email marketing Social media post or ad Search engine result (advertised or organic) Pro tip: You can also use a link in bio tool in order to easily direct users to your landing page from your social media channels. They might also encounter it on your website itself—for example, through a pop-up, homepage banner or blog post. Regardless of where they first see the offer, all users land on the same page. You can build many types of landing pages to fit your offers. No matter what, you'll always entice users with a compelling offer, explain the benefits they’ll reap and remove any doubts before they reach the page's end. When they click the button, fill out the form or make a purchase, they will automatically enter into your marketing funnel . Ready to create a landing page that converts? Sign up and start today. What is the benefit in building a landing page? The benefits of landing pages include: Opportunity for reengagement: A landing page is not a one-time transaction. If it is the first interaction with your brand, it should make a positive impression on users and encourage them to subscribe and ultimately purchase more. Landing pages are built around user value—whether visitors receive an asset for free or they pay for it. Direct entry into your marketing funnel. You’ll use the email addresses (and other user information) you gather from this page to begin a meaningful and profitable relationship with these customers. The anatomy of a landing page To get users into your marketing funnel, you'll need to earn their trust. The anatomy of your landing page design is crucial for this reason: Which elements and content you include will impact how visitors take action. In terms of how to create a landing page , it requires a slightly different approach than making a regular website. If you want to keep user engagement high, reduce page abandonment and maximize conversions, you'll need to include certain elements in your landing page design . Here’s what you need to know about landing page anatomy and how to optimize each of the main building blocks: Stripped-down header design An enticing hero section Compelling, benefits-driven content Great-looking, supporting imagery A single CTA repeated throughout Add an intuitive form Supportive social proof Doubt-busting FAQs Minimalist footer Start with a landing page template or one of the best AI landing page builders to ensure your landing page has all the required elements. 01. Stripped-down header design A landing page should convince visitors to act. To do this, you must devote the entire to a single purpose and strip any distractions from it. This starts at the top with the header. Let’s use the coming soon landing page template below as an example. After users follow a promotional link to this page, they encounter a minimalist header. The transparent header contains space for two single elements: a logo and small hamburger menu—both of which can link to your homepage. By removing competing links and calls-to-action from the header, the user can immediately direct their attention to the content. This allows you to control where the user goes and what they focus on from the very moment they open the page. Coming Soon landing page template example 02. An enticing hero section The hero section must capture a user's attention and convince them to either take immediate action or keep reading. Some of the best landing page builders incorporate a strong hero section in their existing templates. As such, you need to include certain elements in the hero section. Let’s break down the product landing page template below: Product landing page template example Headline Sum up your unique value proposition, keeping it brief and to the point. You can use a combination of a sub-headline and headline or just a single headline to accomplish this. Design your headline for maximal impact. The typography should be larger than everything else in the section. Description Your supporting description should summarize the benefits of acting on the page. You want to keep this as short as possible too, since you have the rest of the landing page to explain the benefits and features. Imagery Choose imagery that will support your offer. For this promotional page, the image of the TrackMate product stands out. The gradient background behind it not only looks cool, but it provides a dramatic setting for the messaging. While photos and illustrations are commonly used in hero images, videos can have a great impact. A HubSpot report on video marketing, for instance, found that 39% of marketers reported that short-form videos generated ROI. Call-to-action The same call-to-action button should appear throughout the landing page, starting with the hero section. This example calls visitors to “Buy Now.” 03. Compelling, benefits-driven content Every landing page will have different amounts and types of content. For example, if you're a new brand and visitors are unfamiliar with your product, your landing page should include sections for social proof, FAQs or a feature list. Regardless of how much content you need, keep the following in mind as you create your page: Be clear and concise. Free your page of industry jargon or colloquialisms. In addition, the shorter you can make each statement—from the headline to the description—the better. Answer "What's in it for me?" Every word needs to convince the visitor that they’re in the right place and that the offer is right for them. To do this, your content needs to focus on the benefits. Guide the user. Your design should make the users’ journey down the page feel effortless. Typographical hierarchy, animated effects, white space and your website layout all contribute to the scrolling experience. 04. Great-looking, supporting imagery Ultimately, every image on the page should support the surrounding text or provide additional context about your story. If it doesn’t, then you don't need it on your landing page. When creating your own landing page, carefully consider how to best convey your offer through imagery. The fitness studio landing page below promotes services for those seeking workout classes and training sessions. Instead of using abstract imagery, for example, the landing page includes a photo of a fit woman in the midst of a workout—an encouraging, appropriate image for the offer. Fitness studio landing page template example 05. A single CTA repeated throughout Unlike a website where you might ask visitors to take multiple actions (e.g. subscribe to the blog, fill out a contact form or buy a product)—a landing page has just one call-to-action . Check out landing page examples from leading brands and you’ll see how this works. Brands design landing pages for conversion. By presenting users with a single action, you increase the likelihood that they will fill out your form, subscribe or buy something before they leave. The call-to-action button needs to appear more than once for maximum effect. For instance, in the event landing page template below, the “Buy Tickets” CTA appears numerous times throughout this design. Event landing page template example 06. Add an intuitive form When creating a lead generating form for your landing page, be sure to: Include only required form fields Clearly label each field Mark the required fields Make each field large enough to click into Add a short, descriptive header that explains the form's purpose Include a description elaborating on next steps or alternative options Display an error message in-line when a mistake has been made You don't need a lead generation or purchase form directly on your landing page—but this is an effective strategy. In the real estate landing page template below, the form is strategically placed for a visitor who’s ready to sell or buy a home but might be overwhelmed by the process. By placing a sign-up page right at top, you can quell some of those anxieties and help them take action. That said, not everyone who shows up on your landing page will be ready to convert. For those who fall into this category, they’ll want to keep scrolling to learn more. In this case, consider linking the form to a separate page or adding it to the bottom of your landing page. Real Estate landing page template example 07. Supportive social proof Social proof and word-of-mouth marketing is a powerful tool to support a product or brand. But for social proof to convince users to convert, it needs to come from real customers. Many landing pages will include relevant testimonials or reviews from recognizable influencers. Providing someone’s name after a quote and adding a photo of the customer using the product can add credibility to testimonials. You can also use user-generated content (UGC) as social proof. 08. Doubt-busting FAQs Provide a Frequently Asked Questions section to make your argument and remove any remaining doubts before any on-the-fence visitors reach the end of the page. In addition to putting users’ minds at ease, the FAQs can demonstrate brand empathy. By listening to your users’ concerns, you can proactively address them while they're making a decision. 09. Minimalist footer Just as with the header, the best landing pages include only essential information and links in the footer. Some comment elements to include are: Link to Privacy Policy page Link to Terms of Use page Brand logo Copyright statement Anything more than that on your landing page’s footer and you risk distracting your visitors with other calls-to-action. Remember, the goal of a landing page is to convert as many users as possible.