But, don’t worry because we’ll provide you with some helpful tips and key qualities to look for that will guide you in choosing a web design expert who can transform your vision into a vibrant, effective online presence.

Define Your Website Goals and Requirements

Before diving into the sea of web design talent, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of what you need. Are you looking to build an e-commerce platform, an informational site, or perhaps a portfolio? Perhaps you need features like membership portals, integration with third-party tools, or a mobile-first design.

Defining your goals not only helps you communicate your needs but also filters your options to experts who specialize in the type of project you are undertaking. You can check out more info here https://www.rswebsols.com/tips-2019-improving-web-design/.

Search for Specialists

We can all agree that web design is a vast field with specialists in different areas. Some designers excel at creating visually stunning portfolio sites; others are wizards in the e-commerce space. Once you’ve defined your site’s purpose, look for designers or agencies that specialize in that niche.

Checking their portfolios and case studies can give you a sense of their expertise and style, ensuring they align with your vision and industry standards.

Check Reviews and Testimonials

You should also know that a reputable web designer or agency will have feedback from previous clients. This could be on their website, or on third-party review sites.

Don’t just skim the ratings but read the comments to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the designer or agency. Pay special attention to how they handled challenges and their process of engaging with clients. Follow this page for more.

Evaluate Their Portfolio

A web designer’s portfolio is a window into their professional soul. It showcases not just their technical skills and design style but also their experience with various industries and challenges.

When browsing portfolios, consider how effectively the designer’s work meets their clients’ objectives, and whether their style matches what you envision for your own site. It’s also worth noting the responsiveness of their designs across different devices.

Understand Their SEO Competence

In today’s competitive market, a beautiful website isn’t enough—it needs to be visible. SEO is crucial, and your web designer should have a solid understanding of SEO principles and how to implement them in their designs.

This includes clean coding, fast loading times, mobile optimization, and user-friendly navigation. Ask potential candidates about their approach to SEO and examples of past projects where they’ve successfully integrated SEO best practices.

Communication Skills

Throughout the web design process, you’ll need ongoing communication with your designer. The ability to articulate ideas, provide clear feedback, and troubleshoot issues together is paramount. During initial discussions, note how well the designer or agency communicates.

Are they prompt and clear in their responses? Do they understand your needs and offer insights? Effective communication can make or break a project.

Pricing and Contracts

Understanding pricing structures is crucial when selecting a web designer. Some work on a project basis, others charge by the hour. Ensure you get a detailed quote that outlines what the price covers, including the number of revisions, ongoing maintenance, and what happens if the project scope changes.

Also, a clear contract will protect both parties, so insist on one—it should outline deliverables, timelines, payment schedules, and how to handle additional requests.

Post-Launch Support

A website is not a one-time build but a living, evolving digital entity that requires ongoing attention. Before finalizing a web designer, discuss their post-launch support services. Do they offer maintenance, security updates, and content updates? What are their charges for ongoing support? A designer who provides comprehensive post-launch services can be a valuable long-term partner for your digital presence.

Look for Creativity and Problem-Solving Skills

Creativity is not just about making things pretty but solving problems in innovative ways. A good website design company should offer creative solutions that not only enhance aesthetics but also improve user experience and functionality. During your initial meetings, present a problem and ask how they would solve it. This can give you insight into their creative thinking and problem-solving skills.

Proactive About Trends and Ongoing Education

The digital landscape is always evolving, and so are web design trends and technologies. The best web designers stay on top of these changes and continuously educate themselves on new tools, technologies, and design philosophies.

When interviewing potential designers, ask about recent projects that incorporate new trends or technologies and how they stay informed and skilled in their field. A designer who is committed to learning and growth will be able to keep your website up-to-date with the latest in design, functionality, and security.

Look for a Comprehensive Strategy Approach

Web design isn’t just about the initial build—it’s about the broader strategy that includes user experience, interface design, content strategy, and future scalability. A top-notch web designer or agency will not only design your website but will think about how your website will serve your business in the long term.

They should be able to articulate a clear strategy that includes not only the launch but also how the site will evolve as your business grows. Ask potential designers how they plan for scalability and future content or functionality needs. Learn why here https://www.entrepreneur.com/science-technology/diy-web-design-doesnt-cut-it-heres-why/354395.

Future-Proof Design

Finally, consider whether the web design experts are focused on creating a future-proof design. This means building a website that not only meets current web standards but is also adaptable for future needs.

This could involve simple content management systems for easy updates, flexible frameworks that support new functionalities, or designs that are easily adjustable to meet future trends. A forward-thinking designer will ensure your website continues to serve your business effectively as it grows.

The post How to Choose the Right Website Design Company? appeared first on Web Digital.

Why Create a Custom 404 Page?

Any website that wants to improve user experience and keep visitors who have reached a broken link should have a personalised 404 page. Users may find the default WordPress 404 page uninspiring because it is plain and offers no more information. You can enhance user interaction and lower bounce rates by designing a unique 404 page.

As crucial as having a person land on a functional website is ensuring that they have a nice experience on the 404 page. Resist the temptation to use your homepage as the 404 error instance link – use a custom 404 page instead. The user may not realise they were on the wrong page due to this as they still wind up there, which can be confusing.

A custom 404 page eliminates confusion, tells the user where to go next and retains the interest in your brand.

Setting Up A Custom 404 Page

WordPress themes can enable the use of custom 404 pages in a number of ways. Plugins and WordPress go hand-in-hand and even exist to make this process easier. Should you choose to do it without a plugin, this is possible with editing the php files. Here are the options you have:

Classic Themes Using Block Editors

Option 1: Use A Theme’s 404.php

Editing PHP files on your website can be tricky. However, do not feel intimidated as it is relatively easy. Many classic themes include a template for a 404 page.

• You will need to navigate to Appearance > Theme File Editor from your WordPress dashboard after logging in.
• With multiple themes installed, only select one theme for editing. Subsequently, find the 404.php file of the selected theme.
• The 404.php file will have to be copied to the child theme thereafter.
• You can now start editing the page with text or visual elements you want displayed on the page for the user to see.
• Once you’re satisfied and have completed your edits, click “Update File” to save your changes. Make sure to view the changes after editing to ensure the changes are reflecting correctly.

Option 2: Copy A 404.php File

A 404.php file might not be present in some WordPress themes. If so, you can transfer the 404.php file from another theme if it has one.

Source: Twenty Twenty theme 404.php file

You can edit the 404.php file and save it in your theme folder, though it may require some tweaking to match your theme.

• You should find a theme with a 404 page that you would like to use.
• The next step is to navigate into the theme folder of the chosen theme and make a copy of the 404.php file.
• After this, moving it into their site’s active theme or child-theme folder is essential, making sure it is named ‘404.php’.
• It is important that you check how the new 404 page looks on your website’s front-end in order to ensure everything appears as expected. 
• Finally, changes can be made by using the Theme File Editor and hitting Update File when done so that all alterations are saved correctly.

Option 3: Copy The Index.php File

Is your theme missing a 404.php file? We’ve got the answer to creating one!

• The first step is to duplicate the index.php file.
• The second step requires renaming the duplicate 404.php. 
• Thirdly, code used for displaying posts must be removed from the file. 
• Fourthly, add the text and media elements you want to make your page stand out and unique . 
• Finally, clicking Update File will save all changes made in this process.

The 404 page will match your current theme with this option, so it is a little cleaner than utilising a 404 page from a separate theme. However, you will need some knowledge of PHP and HTML if you will be using these options.

Using A Page Builder To Create The 404 Page

If you’re using a WordPress page builder like Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder, or Oxygen, you can add a 404 page from the builder’s interface.

For additional information on how to modify the settings to direct any incorrect URLs to your own 404 page, refer to the instructions for your favourite builder.

Use A 404 Page WordPress Plugin

Plugins are a quick and easy way for those without technical knowledge or looking for an easy way to create a custom 404 page.

Source: WordPress plugin registry

Though many WordPress plugins exist, there are some that work better than others. What is important is to find a plugin that is compatible with your theme. Additionally, look at the reviews of top rated plugins to find the ideal one. 

There may be a stage of trial-and-error to test and see which plugin will be best. Many plugins also offer basic capabilities that come free with installation and more premium features that are generally part of a paid tier. 

Site-Wide Editing

WordPress has many themes that offer the option of site-wide editing, effectively known as WordPress Full-Site Editing. With these themes, you’re able to use a visual editor for making changes, including a custom 404 page. Use the following steps below.

• You will need to navigate to Appearance > Theme File Editor from your WordPress dashboard after logging in.
• Under Editor, select Templates and then choose the 404 template.
• Use the block editor to create a custom 404 page and hit Save twice – once for changes made in editor and again for saving of template.

Conclusion

You can now see the advantages of a custom 404 page and why you need one. Instead of having the user land on a dead page, engage them with your custom 404 that can be as creative and specific as you want it to be. Maximise this opportunity and keep the user on site.

The post The Perfect Guide on Custom 404 Pages in WordPress appeared first on Web Digital.

What is an eCommerce platform?

It is a software application that allows businesses to create and manage an online store. With an eCommerce platform, companies can sell products and services to customers over the internet, manage inventory and orders, process payments, and handle shipping and taxes.

What eCommerce platforms are available to make websites?

Apart from WooCommerce, many eCommerce platforms are available, with new ones emerging often. Some popular ones include:

• Shopify (Shopify Plus is good for enterprise businesses)
• BigCommerce
• Magento
• Wix eCommerce (best for small businesses and individuals)
• OpenCart
• Big Cartel
• Squarespace eCommerce
• Weebly eCommerce

What Is WooCommerce for WordPress?

If you are using WordPress, WooCommerce is the way to go; it is the premier eCommerce plugin for the website. It is a free, open-source extension that allows you to sell products and services on your WordPress website easily.

WordPress is the most popular content management system in the world – it powers over 40% of all websites on the internet. WooCommerce is completely integrated with WordPress. Therefore, by using it, you can take advantage of the powerful and user-friendly features of WordPress while also adding eCommerce functionality to your site.

The benefits of WooCommerce

There are many advantages to using WooCommerce, such as the wide variety of high-quality themes you can use for free. If you want niche themes, it is also a great place to find them, as this is where advanced functionality and niche designs are available for use by business owners.

Additionally, WooCommerce, like WordPress, is affordable because it is free to use. This is fantastic, given how efficient it is to use. Since WooCommerce was created by the company that made WordPress, it is handled by experts on the platform that can help you with any problem.

Another advantage of WooCommerce is its scalability. Whether you are just starting or have a large and growing business, WooCommerce can handle it. It can manage thousands of products and handle high traffic and sales volumes. Because of its wide range of payment gateway integration, it allows you to accept payments from customers all around the world.

Another attractive aspect of this plugin is that it is highly customisable and offers a wide range of features and extensions. Apart from using it to create and manage an online store and sell physical and digital products and services, you can:

1. Accept payments through various payment gateways
2. Customise store design and layout using templates and themes
3. Manage inventory and shipping options
4. Create and manage discounts and promotions
5. Generate and track sales reports
6. Integrate with various shipping and tax calculators
7. Allow customers to create an account and track their orders
8. Add extensions and plugins to add additional functionality, such as social media integration, email marketing, and more.

How to set up WooCommerce

Creating an eCommerce website with WooCommerce is easy. Once you have a WordPress website set up, you can install the WooCommerce plugin. From here, you can start creating your products, and you can set up your payment and shipping options.

WooCommerce hosting options

To use WordPress and WooCommerce, you will need a hosting plan. A hosting plan stores all of your files and makes them visible to site visitors. You’ll also need a domain name, which is the URL of your site.

Selecting a hosting provider that fits your website’s needs is crucial. With a plethora of options available, it is essential to research providers and their respective features and pricing before making a decision. This will ensure that you choose one that offers the necessary support and fits within your budget.

Some hosting providers offer specialized plans that are optimized for WooCommerce websites, which can include features like automatic updates, backups, and performance enhancements.

Here are some available options:

Shared Hosting 

This is the most affordable option and is precisely what it sounds like: a website is hosted on a server shared with other websites. Apart from being cheap, it is easy to use, and you do not need any prior technical knowledge.

Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting

A VPS is a virtualized server that provides more resources and flexibility than shared hosting. It gives you better performance and reliability, more control, and a higher level of security.

Dedicated Hosting 

A dedicated server is a physical server dedicated to a single website. It is the most expensive option but also the most powerful.

Managed Hosting 

Managed hosting is a type of hosting where the host handles and maintains the server for you. This is a good option for those who want to avoid managing the technical aspects of hosting.

Cloud hosting

This newer form of hosting allows a website to be hosted on multiple servers in a network, providing more flexibility and scalability.

Conclusion

Given the flexibility, ease of use, and the large community of users and developers who offer support and resources, using WooCommerce for your WordPress website is your best option. Also, since WooCommerce is built on WordPress, it is easy to integrate with other plugins and themes, and it is highly customisable to fit the specific needs of your business.

If you need further help with this topic, you can contact Web Digital. We are a  well-established web design agency in Auckland, and we can help you with any website design needs, as well as help you set up an eCommerce website for your business.

The post How To Create A WordPress eCommerce Website? appeared first on Web Digital.

Why is Hacker Protection so Important?

Did you know the number of websites that contain malware is well over 10 million? Though this threat’s prevalence is lower compared to statistics relating to email hacking, malware removal for websites is still essential. You don’t want your brand or online reputation tarnished by being associated with a malware attack.

Also, know that all types of WordPress sites get hacked from time to time. Even if you’re only a blogger or a small business hosting a website, hackers could target you. In fact, small businesses are prime targets when it comes to cyber crime. Therefore, all WordPress users need to stay vigilant.

Finally, you have a responsibility towards your visitors to offer safe pages to browse.

What is Malware—The Ugly Truth

Firstly, malware is a type of software. The goal of this software can be any of the following:

• Causing disruption to a computer system
• Damaging a system
• Gaining access to information, without authorisation to do so

This kind of impact can affect you but also create challenges for your website users. The latter can happen if your website is the source from which malware reaches them, or if the software accesses your visitors’ private information via your website.

How Malware Affects Your Website

A hack can take place by taking advantage of vulnerable code or acquiring account access if you don’t follow password best practices. In some instances, a hosting account gets hacked and then affects your website.

If the malware gains access to your website, there are multiple ways it can disrupt or damage it. Perhaps it simply disrupts the availability of pages. Unfortunately, if can also redirect your web traffic to spam pages. As mentioned above, some of the worst outcomes involve accessing and stealing people’s private data stored on your website, or transmitting malware onto your visitors’ systems.

Signs Your Website Has Been Hacked

No need to live in perpetual fear of whether your site has been hacked. There are clear signs of the problem, which you can look out for:

• You notice website traffic drops suddenly
• Pages of the website are unresponsive or load slower than usual
• You got locked out of your WordPress account and can no longer use the service for email sending or receiving
• Hackers added spammy links—usually to footnotes of a page
• Occasionally a hacker defaces a homepage to announce a hack, though this isn’t common
• Seeing new user accounts you haven’t authorised
• When you review server logs you’ll see unusual activity, such as attempts to block suspicious IP addresses
• Popup ads that aren’t created by you
• Your security certificate is compromised
• When Googling your site, you get redirected to other pages

If you notice a problem, implement our tips below or partner with us for a malware removal service Auckland locals can use. As a web hosting vendor, we can also monitor Auckland customers’ sites on their behalf.

Protection for WordPress Websites—7 Easy Tips that Anyone can Implement

Be proactive in safeguarding your WordPress site and you’ll minimise the risk of falling prey to hackers.

Start with a Secure WordPress Theme

Thanks to many talented designers, the market is filled with attractive WordPress themes. Unfortunately, not all of them are safe, since some may come with vulnerabilities. Rather stick to the WordPress theme directory, or at least check a theme’s validity and acceptability first. There are online resources to easily do this by simply using the theme’s URL.

Keep Your WordPress Version Up to Date

Each WordPress software update comes with new security features, such as fixes for past security vulnerabilities. Therefore, after creating your website, regularly update to utilise the latest WP version. You should receive notifications whenever a new version is available.

Have an SSL Certificate

If you’re using a quality hosting agency, they can easily provide you with an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate. The benefit to you is that it enables encryption of data. Also, this certificate proves to your users that you have an authenticated site, which sparks trust as they feel safe viewing your pages.

Use Login Best Practices

A stronger password makes it more difficult for hackers to guess or hack it. Rather pick a complicated one that incorporates special characters too. You can use password managers to help you keep track of different platforms’ strong passwords.

Take login security to a next level by using two-factor authentication and even deleting the default admin account for your WordPress site. In many cases, it’s this account that hackers target first.

Use Security Plugins

Software developers provide you with many tools to help safeguard and monitor your website. This is especially helpful if you’re not tech savvy. The plugin will scan your site to pick up on malware or vulnerable source files. Also, they block problems such as hotlinking.

Always Have Your Website Backed Up

Even with various security measures in place, a site can still get hacked. But with a recent backup on hand, a malware attack’s impact is much less destructive. For one thing, even if the attack results in data loss, you can simply use your backed up information to reactive your website and continue. This is especially important for businesses that have WordPress sites which contains information you need to use for business purposes.

Block Attacks with Firewalls

Firewalls are barriers that separate your website from other networks. It also helps block traffic that is not authorised, from gaining access to your site.

Conclusion

You can see that creating a more secure website isn’t that difficult. Still, hackers are getting more innovative all the time. So, do partner with experts in the field if you want peace of mind that your website doesn’t put you or your visitors at risk.

The post How To Protect Your WordPress Website from Hackers appeared first on Web Digital.

This article will help you better understand the different options for website design and explore in-depth what parallax website design is and its potential benefits.

What is parallax scrolling?

The parallax effect is a method that generates a 3D scrolling effect as a website user scrolls down the web page. With this effect, your site visitors are visually stimulated. But how?

Keep in mind that parallax is an optical illusion that draws attention to momentum. It’s an excellent scrolling pattern whenever the background moves at a much gentler speed than the foreground.

Using the difference between the pace of objects and the distance creates an illusion of depth. Interesting, isn’t it?

Still, parallax design has become an increasingly popular online trend. It all began in the game industry nearly twenty years ago.

Do you still recall several layers in the background of a video game being in motion at different speeds? Of course, that was nothing but a parallax effect.

Eventually, in 2011, it was first applied in a web design niche.

How do I make a parallax website design?

After understanding what parallax scrolling is, you are probably thinking about how you can use that style in your next website design.

Lucky for you, applying this style is not that challenging. In fact, there are simple-to-understand strategies you can use to make a parallax website design. These includes:

• The Raster Method – Lines of pixels in an illustration are refreshed and composited in top-to-bottom order. It has a slight lag between drawing one line and drawing the following line.
• The Repeating Pattern Method – This design method is composed of scrolling displays built up of individual tiles. These can be made to float over a repeating background layer.
• The Sprite Method – This method uses one large image consisting of numerous images that display parts of that said image when at various positions. A typically used effect is navigation menus.
• The Layered Method – It uses different backgrounds that can move vertically and horizontally based on your preference. They can also be composited on each other.

Why should I use parallax graphics?

Parallax makes an illusion of depth when scrolling, an everlasting effect that still has a big significance in the web design world. It may have some issues, but it’s a fascinating way to make a site stand out when done properly.

Here are some of the reasons you should use parallax scrolling this time:

1. It tells a story

One of the most efficient methods to use parallax scrolling is to tell a story. Modern consumers wish to connect emotionally with the brands they purchase from.

Five years ago, eighty per cent of customers wished brands to tell stories. That trend remains consistent to this day.

In the age of digital consumerism, where people cannot get to know a business in person through personal interactions, brands need ways to connect with their audience. Telling brand-driven stories is an excellent way to showcase your brand is more than a faceless entity.

With parallax scrolling, the animation is not there to create a visual difference in the page. Instead, it shows you something more about the people behind the website and what they could do.

2. It builds credibility

With its great storytelling capacities, Parallax scrolling is excellent for showing your credibility as a digital specialist. It is a version of showing and not telling consumers about your skills.

You can tell somebody that you know how to correctly utilize tricky methods such as parallax animation. However, they are less likely to believe you that way. If you can demonstrate you can make something cool, that is more engaging.

3. It imitates another medium

Parallax scrolling is all about making your site feel like a slideshow or video presentation without the extra components of implementing video players into the back end.

It also has another benefit over an average video-based website. The video plays automatically on a website that utilizes a video for a background. That indicates your visitors cannot control how fast the video plays.

Meanwhile, parallax design driven by scrolling action enables your audience to collect data at a pace that suits them.

4. It makes information a lot more fun

People are considered visual learners. We want to consume information in a way that is attractive and eye-catching. Visual content earns more attention and social shares than written content.

Parallax scrolling enables brands who want to provide educational content and valuable information to their audience.

Instead of simply scrolling through a page and seeing a huge amount of text, a customer can see graphs or images come to life with the blocks of text they are reading.

You see, it is like adding a video presentation next to a textbook to help them better understand what they are reading about. How cool is that?

5. It helps increase site visit times

If a site tells a story with a parallax website design, you can also bet it can keep readers or customers on a page for longer. Lowering bounce rates by improving engagement is a major goal of any web designer.

Some people think that parallax scrolling can hurt your SEO rankings when they slow down your website. However, there’s also the argument that the lack of visually appealing pages can ruin SEO.

Bounce rates drag down your current ranking and make it difficult to attract audience attention.

A thoroughly well-delivered parallax scrolling animation that tells a story and engages your audience thoroughly is an excellent way to keep your audience around—even for a little longer than normal.

6. It’s a lot more memorable

Any web designer aims to make a website stand out. After all, web design is about communicating the unique essence of a brand, entity, or business in a way that will make that client unforgettable.

Parallax is not as novel as it once was, but it can still be a good way to make your website stand out, especially if used properly.

The key to a memorable parallax scrolling design is making it smart. The layout should feel intuitive and simple. Everything must work well together, from the different parallax effects to the lightly shifting front to draw the viewers’ eyes.

How can I integrate scrolling parallax navigation into my website?

Are you planning to use parallax scrolling? It may be challenging to get the effect right the first time. But there’s no need to worry.

If you wish to improve your website with parallax design and get the best possible result, here are some tips for you to keep in mind:

• Simple is always better – Minimize the number of visual elements and content on your page as much as possible. The less information there is to capture your audience’s attention, the less likely you will end up with an issue.
• Check the responsiveness – Ensure the parallax animation work well on your tablet or smartphone device as it would on a desktop. You cannot afford to ignore responsiveness as more people move their browsing experience into their hands.
• Compress file sizes – Ensure you are now reducing your website’s speed by making a single big page with many quality images. You will need to utilize the smallest possible file sizes.
• Always find the “wow” factor – Some of the best examples of parallax websites stand out because it does something unique with the scrolling effect. You need to ensure it’s worth the effort. Don’t simply follow the same guidelines as everybody else. Look for the idea that will make people take notice.
• Consider older browsers – Parallax scrolling will likely use HTML5, which isn’t supported by older browsers. If your design should support older browsers, it will help if you forego using parallax or make another design that is targeted at browsers that don’t support HTML5.

To sum up, parallax is like any other web design strategy. There are different ways you can do it amazingly, which delight and engage your audience. Nonetheless, there are also different areas where you can go wrong. When using a design element, always remember that the focus must be your user’s experiences.

Parallax should not be the only way to highlight your design expertise. It is only another feature you can utilize to make a wonderful website.

Note that visual appeal and user experience should work flawlessly together for parallax design. What’s more, if scrolling through the web page is nearly impossible for users on a mobile device, you won’t get the results you desire.

If it is too challenging to take in the message you are trying to convey because the content is moving too fast, your users will only suffer.

So, are you ready to start your brand’s unique website design? Whether you are searching for a parallax website design or traditional WordPress websites, our team of web designers in Auckland is always ready to bring their creative flair to your brand’s website.

The post What is Parallax Website Design? appeared first on Web Digital.

Its management is similar to WordPress functionality, but various tricks will help you turn it into an intuitive and effortless process.

This article will talk about WordPress multisite and how it works. It will also cover how a Multisite network stores media and data compared to a standard WordPress site.

What is WordPress Multisite?

WordPress Multisite enables the creation of numerous websites under one WordPress installation. Enabling it indicates a user can arrange a network of individual sites from one dashboard. You see, WordPress Multisite is a popular solution for most organizations and businesses running numerous websites. That’s because it enables you to make a network of subdirectories and subdomains.

Universities and schools can utilize Multisite to make numerous websites for various departments. Likewise, a corporation can make websites for different offices or branches.

How Does WordPress Multisite Works?

Would you like to know how Multisite works? Then you must understand the various roles of a website admin and a super admin.

A super admin (also called a network admin) has control over an entire network of websites. That admin is the one who enabled Multisite in the first place. Super admins have access to the settings of the Network Admin and the dashboard of each site within the network. Also, they can permit users to make new websites or accounts.

The super admin of a Multisite network manages the installation of themes and plugins on its websites and can control uploads across all websites on the network. On top of that, super admins can map custom domains.

On the other hand, a website admin has administrative access to one website within a Multisite network. Nonetheless, website administrators may have access to more than one site, depending on the permissions granted by their super admin.

Further, website admins could add users, but only to sites where they’re the admin. They can pick which one to activate or deactivate, even though site administrators cannot install themes or plugins.

When Should You Use WordPress Multisite and When Not To?

WordPress Multisite is a great strategy for some, but it might not be the ideal approach for most users.

Remember that WordPress Multisite is an excellent solution for those who run numerous similar WordPress sites. It is also an effective way to handle them from one place and makes it simpler to guarantee all sites on a network are updated.

Activating Multisite is advantageous for sites that share code, such as websites sharing similar WordPress core files or the same themes or plugins. A network admin can enable one WordPress Multisite installation and perform backups or updates simultaneously.

A few examples of types of sites that could profit from a WordPress Multisite network are the following:

• Community websites: Non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and charities with multiple projects or divisions.
• Business websites: Companies with different projects or departments wish to run separate websites for each.
• Personal websites: Networks of online resumes, digital portfolios, or personal blogs sharing the same plugins and content.

The most typical example of a WordPress Multisite network is WordPress.com. That’s because it runs millions of websites sharing the .wordpress.com subdomain.

Another good example is the Harvard Blogs of Harvard University. It uses a WordPress Multisite network, allowing faculty members and students to make a blog with a Harvard.edu email address.

On the contrary, you must not install or use WordPress Multisite if you only run a single website or if it’s your first time making a site. Likewise, Multisite might not be the ideal answer if you run various unrelated websites.

For instance, a website designer handles different client projects. In that case, you may find Multisite limiting as the functions and features should be shared and enabled by the network admin.

How to Make the Most Out of Multisite

Multisite in WordPress provides different ways to handle all aspects of the network, like updates, themes, and user permissions. Aside from that, most of the functions could be simplified and automated through plugins.

That’s convenient as plugins can be installed on every site in one action. Here is the process, which can be optimized thanks to WP multisite:

• User management

Administrators can authorize other users to switch accounts quickly and easily by installing added plugins. That offers everyone a simple way to check the page’s appearance as other users see.

• Posting

The core functionality of WordPress enables scheduled post publishing. Nonetheless, that scales poorly and may become challenging to use for networks with an extensive content strategy. That’s because every item must be handled separately. Luckily, that limitation can be lifted with an auto-post plugin.

Many of these enable you to handle multiple sites, support WordPress, work well with multisite networks and a series of social networks.

• System maintenance and stability

A variation of backup solutions backs up Multisite functionality. It’s recommended to configure the automated backups based on the network’s activity to guarantee nothing is lost. Keeping the websites updated is another challenge, which can be solved through multisite functionality.

Infrastructural considerations deserve mention too. Creating and setting up individual sites on a multisite environment is simple, but each will still create a separate load on system servers.

Thus, estimating the anticipated traffic requirements and the need to scale the network in the long term is essential.

Pros and Cons of Using WordPress Multisite

After you have explored the various use cases of WordPress Multisite, it’s time you consider its pros and cons. Ensure you consider all these factors before you consider using them.

Pros

Some of the advantages of running a WordPress Multisite includes:

• Better control

Enabling WordPress Multisite allows you to control the use of themes sites and plugins, especially if you run multiple sites. That lessens the risk of bad themes or plugins compromising the performance or security of an entire network.

• Easier delegation

WordPress Multisite enables you to assign lower-level admins to various sites within the network. That makes it simpler to share site management tasks.

• Efficient management

You can easily perform updates, backups and install performance and security-optimizing plugins as a network admin from a single WordPress dashboard. How amazing is that?

Cons

You see, enabling WordPress Multisite has its drawbacks as well. Some of these include:

• Limited choice of hosting providers

Unfortunately, not all web hosts support WordPress Multisite.

• Limited themes and plugins

Not all themes or plugins support a Multisite network. How unfortunate is that?

• Interdependent performance

Every site’s performance is extremely dependent on the amount of traffic other websites on the same network get. Thus, if one site experiences an abrupt increase in traffic volume, the speed and performance of other sites may suffer too.

• Higher risk

Websites share the same server resources. That’s why all sites will crash when the shared network is down. On top of that, others may be compromised if a cyberattack happens on one website.

• More restrictions

Websites on a Multisite network have the same database. Hence, updates and backups can only be done network-wide.

Is It Okay to Set Up Multisite on an Existing Website?

Yes, of course. Just make sure you make a backup of your existing site before activating Multisite.

However, enabling Multisite in an existing website has some disadvantages. It can also be a more difficult process, so expect to experience some inconveniences or limitations.

For example, enabling a Multisite on a WordPress site, which has been up and running for over a month, indicates you cannot use subdirectories for new websites. As an alternative, the websites on your Multisite network should use subdomains.

Another drawback is that you might face hurdles while editing the code. For instance, you may need to add the new Multisite code to every site on the network rather than the .htaccessfile in the root directory.

Such reasons are why we suggest you activate WordPress Multisite on a new WordPress installation.

Final Thoughts

This guide has discussed WordPress Multisite and the types of users and sites that benefit most. We suggest it for organizations or people who run numerous similar websites at once.

When it comes to management, take note that a Multisite network facilitates different user accounts simultaneously. A user with access to the entire network of sites is referred to as network admin or super admin. Meanwhile, someone with access to a few websites is a website admin.

Thus, if you have two or more sites that need to share design, users, or content, then WordPress Multisite is a good option you need to consider. Having related sites living under the same installation and a simple way to roll out updates across them and a guaranteed feel and look consistency between them can be a big advantage.

Do you need help with your WordPress Multisite installation in New Zealand? Web Digital Auckland might help. Visit our website today at https://www.webdigitalauckland.co.nz to learn more!

The post A Complete Guide to WordPress Multisite appeared first on Web Digital.

However, the more you learn about it, the more you discover. More specifically, you come across different tools to help your website rank higher, respond much better to various devices, and improve user experience.

Ideas begin playing inside your head about what you can accomplish, leading to looking for better and bigger things to make all your ideas real. Are you thinking about using a WordPress Jetpack alternative? Then we encourage you to think again.

Consider this post as a Jetpack review. It is a plugin covering a great array of bases, and it is something each website owner must have in their arsenal.

What is Jetpack?

Jetpack is a free WordPress plugin made by Automatic—the organization behind WordPress.com. It is composed of countless modules that can be considered plugins. You can use those modules to improve, manage, or track your self-hosted website.

The plugin improves and adds your site capability with new functions. Every plugin is utilized for separate and specific reasons. Jetpack is also more than a plain and single plugin. Remember that it’s a bundle of some of the most utilized plugins together, as they claim.

All the features that a plugin and Jetpack have are completely packed with different modules. Others may find useful modules while others may not.

The Many Features of Jetpack

The features of Jetpack are presented in the form of thirty-five modules, each having a certain function. For instance, different modules belong to the Writing section:

• Shortcode embeds – it helps embed videos and other content on the website via shortcodes
• Comment likes – it activates an upvote feature on the comment section, which is like that of Facebook’s
• Business hours block – it can highlight business opening hours on the website
• Copy post – it makes it possible to make a new post based on the current content
• Markdown– it allows content formatting through the markdown syntax
• Proofreading – checks for grammatical errors, style, and spelling errors

Other modules you can activate through Jetpack are the following:

Monitor

You want your website to be accessible to visitors 24/7, right? That is why this module is essential as it tracks your website’s status. The downtime monitoring module will oversee whether your website is up every five minutes.

When it is down, the module will deliver an alert to your email informing you about the problem. That lets you rest easy. When your website faces problems, you will immediately know about it.

Related Posts

Have you ever read a blog and noticed a section full of related posts under it? You can now have that section by enabling the related posts module. That feature motivates site visitors on your site to stay a little longer.

Further, this module puts much less strain on your site’s resources than other stand-alone related post plugins.

Contact Forms

As the name suggests, activating this module means you make a contact form on a post or page. The interface is quite simple, helping ease new users who wish to engage their audience.

Regardless of the limited customization options, the module makes up for the flaw in how simple it makes to review and respond to messages.

Protect

This module allows you to protect your website from any brute force attacks. It’s solely based on BruteProtect that was obtained by Automatic.

The module also protects the website by overseeing IP addresses, which fail to log in to Jetpack-connected WP sites numerous times, blocking them for a set time. You can also discover how many times brute force attacks. In short, the protection module will keep your website from any attacks on the website’s stats page.

Jetpack Premium

Apart from the free version, Jetpack also provides paid options. Every plan offers numerous features to improve site security, improve performance, and increase traffic. The three available paid options are the following:

1. The Personal Plan

This plan costs $3.50 every month or $39 if you plan on buying it for a whole year. In addition, this plan offers added features such as priority support, automated spam filtering, and daily automated backups.

2. The Premium Plan

This plan costs $9 per month or $99 per year. It provides enhanced security through automated security fixes and automated malware scanning. It also offers tools to bring in more revenue and traffic through SEO preview tools and integrated PayPal payments.

3. The Professional Plan

This plan will cost you $29 every month or $299 every year. It will bring you the best that this plugin can provide. Apart from the above features, you can also receive real-time automated backups, more than 200 premium WP themes, and an enhanced search widget.

You see, all those features are helpful. Nonetheless, using all of them simultaneously may not be a good thing for your website. For instance, are you a prolific blogger with a higher traffic site? Then the Premium or Personal Plan will suit you best. That’s because both of them offer downtime monitoring and priority support.

If you feel like you need automated spam filtering, then don’t hesitate to opt for premium. We suggest choosing the Professional or Premium plan if you have an online business. That’s because PayPal payment integration will come in helpful, not to mention the automatic site backups are a must-have feature you should not miss.

Would you like your website to be secure as possible? Then we suggest opting for a Professional or Premium plan as well. The provided automatic security fixes and automated malware scanning feature will keep you better defended.

Should You Use Jetpack for Your WordPress Website?

The main benefit of using Jetpack is how easily you can enable the modules your website needs. The list of choices is significant. Nonetheless, before concluding if this plugin suits you, assess each pro and cons. Let’s check them out below:

The Pros

• Ease of use – You can effortlessly activate and deactivate the modules without any problem on a single page. Jetpack covers more than any other single plugin could offer.
• Scalable plans – The abundance of projects enables you to scale based on your needs. Thus, it suits both long-running and freshly designed WordPress sites.
• Comprehensive modules – Jetpack offers many modules that give various features. They range from improving performance or site security to tools that help improve website traffic.

The Cons

• It can slow down your website – Often, user reviews warn about lowered site performance when using the plugin. Power users that may like many modules enabled might run into those concerns.
• Connection to WordPress.com – The plugin needs you to connect with WordPress.com. That only means it makes for one added account to be secure and taken care of.

Who Can Use Jetpack for WordPress?

Anybody with a self-hosted WP site can utilize this plugin. Just ensure that your version of WP is updated before you try to install the plugin. Also, ensure you have a website backup before making any necessary installations.

Keep in mind that the Jetpack installation will need you to either use or create a WordPress.com.

Are you using Jetpack to replace a plugin? Make sure you thoroughly assess the functions that you’re changing. Ensure the feature you’re using in Jetpack meets your WP site requirements. The plugin offers a broad spectrum of parts (most are free). It’s worth mentioning that it was made by WordPress developers, making compatibility not a problem.

Ultimately, technical support is only accessible with a paid license. That’s why you need to ensure you get the premium plan, especially if you like to get help when using the plugin.

Great Alternatives

Here are good alternatives if you still hesitate to choose Jetpack:

• Wix is one of the top website builders offering cloud-based web development services.
• A2 Hosting is famous for its turbo servers. Their service is simple to use and has high-powered functions.

Final Thoughts

To sum up, you certainly cannot afford to utilize the Jetpack WordPress plugin. It covers everything you should know about and other things you do not. In short, it is like having an intelligent buddy keep an eye on your website 24 hours a day.

Keep in mind that only you can decide whether Jetpack is an excellent investment for you and your business. Ask yourself how many of the modules you would prefer to use before starting to plug it into your self-hosted WP site.

Are you planning on using one or two features only? Then you might be able to obtain the same functionality from specific plugins without the added bloat. Meanwhile, are you searching for different ways to update your WP experience with better speed, new security solutions, and ways to connect with customers? Then this plugin could be an excellent all-in-one solution.

Do you need help with boosting your WordPress website? Don’t worry. Web Digital can help you with a well-established web design agency in Auckland. Our web design services will help you get a results-focused customized website that converts more of your visitors into customers and leads. Get a free quote today to get started.

The post Is The WordPress Jetpack Plugin Worth the Convenience? appeared first on Web Digital.

However, it should be noted that this ranking criterion only affects “less than 1% of global queries” and bears “less weight than other signals like high-quality content.”

According to Matt, WordPress’ future with SSL starts with only partnering with web hosts that provide SSL certificates as a default for their WordPress hosting services. The team will also determine which features “would benefit the most from SSL and only enable them when SSL is available.” As an example, Matt uses API authentication.

As you can see, influencers are promoting this security protocol, but what is it, and how does it work with WordPress? Let’s have a conversation about it.

What is an SSL Certificate?

First and foremost, you must comprehend what SSL is before you can comprehend what an SSL certificate is. The acronym SSL stands for “secure sockets layer,” but you don’t need to know that. Consider an SSL connection on an eCommerce site’s checkout page, like driving from the store to your house during a bad storm. The personal data (shipping and payment information) you’re giving to the website is represented by your body. Rain, hail, and flying debris represent hackers, while the store represents your browser and your home represents the site’s server.

The SSL connection, on the other hand, is represented by your car. It shields you from rain, hail, and flying debris, much like an SSL connection shields your sensitive information from hackers.

To establish this connection, you’ll need an SSL certificate. A hacker could potentially steal or “intercept” your data before it reaches the server if you don’t use this security. This is why every website that handles any form of personal data from users, such as eCommerce sites that collect payments from customers, must employ SSL and HTTPS.

As a user, you can identify if a page is SSL-encrypted by looking at the URL in the address, which should begin with “https.” In the next section, we’ll go over the different sorts of certificates in greater detail. However, there is one type of certificate that provides you the green text and padlock. You can discover where the certificate comes from by clicking on this padlock. You can also take a look at the Certificate Information button to view its expiration date.

In Chrome, a site that is not SSL-encrypted will show a plain paper icon next to it. In Firefox, this field will be empty. If you use one of these browsers and click the paper or I icon, you’ll get a notice saying your connection to the site isn’t secure. Firefox will display a yellow warning indicator or a red diagonal line in front of the lock symbol if a page that the browser believes should be encrypted is not secured. This may lead uninformed Internet users to believe that your website has been hacked or contains spam/malicious data designed to steal their personal information.

How to acquire an SSL Certificate?

An SSL Certificate can be obtained through (1) your host and (2) a certificate authority. Below are the web hosts that include SSL certificates in their services and hosting plans:

• Cloudways
• WPX Hosting
• Kinsta
• WP Engine
• InMotion Hosting
• SiteGround
• BlueHost
• DreamHost
• Flywheel

If you’re looking for affordable web hosts with SSL certificates, then you can go with the following:

• NameCheap
• GeoTrust
• DigiCert

Moving on, let’s move forward to the different SSL Certificate types that you need to know.

Types of SSL Certificates

When you try to install or visit SSL certificate websites from your host, a lot of names can possibly pop up. There can be EV Certificates, Wildcard Certificates, DV Certificates, and other else. To prevent misconceptions, here are the types of SSL Certificates to help you out.

Domain Validation DV

First, on the list, we have these cheap SSL certificates, which are considered to be ideal for websites and blogs that do not process any personal information from their visitors and users. It only has basic encryption and requires validated domain ownerships that can take hours at most.

Organization Validation OV

OV SSL certificates are elevated compared to DV certificates. It has an elevated premium quality favored by most of the eCommerce websites and others that process users’ personal data with only a minimum level of protection. Also, OV certificates are validated certificate authorities which has DigiCert as the best example. Another best thing here is that it takes a shorter time to be validated compared to the DV Certificate.

Extended Validation EV

Next, we have the EV certificate, which is also another type of SSL certificate wherein a padlock icon and green text are provided as stated before. Compared to the previous two, this type is better and premium. It is dubbed to be the most popular and highly-recommended SSL certificate. Also, this type takes the fastest time of being validated and less strict agreements when processing.

SAN

SAN SSL certificates are the type wherein you are allowed to encrypt different domains through one certificate. However, SAN is availed at a high price compared to the DV, OV, and EV certificates.

Wildcard

Next, Wildcard SSL certificates are the type in which you can encrypt unlimited subdomain numbers under a single domain. This is highly recommended for users who usually have multiple platforms and want to handle it on a single domain for an organization.

Importance of SSL Certificates

Not many people may be familiar with SSL certificates. But for their audience, it serves an important role in the realm of web hosting, domains, and other online transactions.

SSL is a method of securing data exchanged between your website and a user’s device, as we mentioned at the start of this essay.

This does not make your website safer, but it is still crucial in terms of security.

SSL is designed to prevent information from being intercepted, for example, if a user is accessing the internet via public wi-fi or a hijacked router. It’s a crucial step in safeguarding our users and enhancing trust.

Then there are website performance technologies (http/2 and Brotli compression, for example). Isn’t it true that we all desire our websites to load faster?

Chrome will now mark all websites that do not use SSL as “not secure.”

With how simple and inexpensive it is to obtain an SSL certificate these days (thanks to Let’s Encrypt!), there’s no need to delay transitioning to https.

However, if you can obtain a better SSL certificate than Let’s Encrypt, it’s certainly worth the effort.

Setting up an SSL certificate

Things start to get a little confusing and maybe even a little hazy at this point. Obtaining and installing an SSL certificate on your server differs depending on the host. For example, SiteGround’s cPanel allows you to install an SSL certificate on your website. To install Let’s Encrypt, go to your cPanel dashboard, scroll down to the security section, and select Let’s Encrypt.

Benefits of SSL Certificate for Website Security

Web Security as Seen Through the Eyes of Browsers

For major web browsers like Google Chrome and Firefox, an SSL certificate is required. Anyone who uses the internet wishes to feel safe.

After Google released a new version of Chrome in October 2017, the browser would display a “Not Secure” warning if a page did not have an SSL certificate. This was true for websites that handled sensitive client information like credit card numbers.

Another method to tell if a website is safe is if the URL begins with “HTTPS” rather than “HTTP.”

Webforms are safeguarded

Websites that request comprehensive client information in a contact form, such as a client’s name, email address, and phone number, must take robust security precautions.

So, why do you need SSL for your website? The presence of an SSL certificate and HTTPS in your URL will inspire clients to sign up without fear of data loss.

On membership websites, it protects user information

In the online age, data theft is a reality. Even if only a tiny amount of data is stolen by a hacker, your entire company could be jeopardized.

Your brand will be protected if the data of your users is encrypted. Encryption will improve your company’s legitimacy and assist you in acquiring your clients’ trust. With SSL certificates, your clients’ necessary data are ensured safe.

Earn Customers’ Trust

Most of today’s eCommerce websites are planning to jump over credit card usage as it will require merchant accounts for transactions. To own and open a merchant account, an SSL certificate is needed as it will help to guard your clients’ personal and credit card information when visiting your website. Also, an SSL certificate helps your customers to be confident when checking their logins and browser history. Hence, if your website doesn’t have an SSL certificate, your customers might likely abandon and never revisit your website.

Conclusion

Indeed, SSL certificates are essential as they play huge roles in domains, websites, and hosting. The variety of information provided above will help you upgrade and embrace the advancements and benefits that an SSL certificate can give you.

If you need further help with this topic, you can contact Web Digital. Web Digital is a  well-established web design agency in Auckland, and we can help you with your website design needs.

The post What Is SSL? A Beginner’s Guide to SSL Certificates appeared first on Web Digital.

Defining WooCommerce and BigCommerce

WooCommerce is an open-source and free eCommerce plugin for WordPress, recognized as the leading and biggest content management system. Here, you are allowed to choose your host provider and install software with just a click.

On the other hand, BigCommerce is a pain, closed-source, and independent eCommerce platform. Whatever plan you choose will include everything such as hosting and other commerce functionalities. Now, let us take a look at the benefits guaranteed by WooCommerce, making it above BigCommerce.

Benefits of WooCommerce as an Alternative and over BigCommerce 

Themes 

The design of your website, such as the colours, elements, layout, and more, are impacted by the website theme. WooCommerce and WordPress have a wide array of high-quality themes that can be used for free. One example is the Storefront which is an intuitive, customizable, and powerful theme for your brand.

If you are looking for niche themes, you can look no further, especially in the WooCommerce marketplace. This is a place where advanced functionality and niche designs are available to be used by business owners. Some third-party sellers are rare to join the marketplace. Moreover, this marketplace is considered as the best open-source of WordPress, and the premium ranges start from NZ $20 to NZ $100 per year. On the other hand, BigCommerce has a limited library of free and paid themes offered even by third-party sites. NZ $150 is the minimum cost of premium plans, and it can reach up to NZ $300 per year.

Affordable Deals and Prices 

If you are just a starter in business and selling a variety of products, then every sale counts. And so, if you choose WooCommerce over BigCommerce, you will be guaranteed more savings and sales without sacrificing the quality of your products and services.

Base Price

Both WordPress and WooCommerce are open source programs that are entirely free to use. They are dedicated to making publishing and the internet accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation or skill level. Whether you have five goods or NZ $5,000, make NZ $500 a month, or NZ $5 million, you will not have to pay anything.

However, you will need to acquire a hosting plan — which stores all of your files and makes them visible to site visitors — as well as a domain name, which is the URL of your site. Hosting costs around $120 per year, and a domain name costs around NZ $15 per year, depending on your options.

BigCommerce is a paid platform of eCommerce. The offered prices of the plans start fromNZ $30 and can reach up to NZ $299. The prices are dependent on the business size and the amount of functionality used to reach the daily sale quota. These are great; however,a plan to host even needs a domain name, which you must purchase.

WordPress Efficient 

WordPress is a content management system that started as a blog platform and has now grown to run 41% of the internet. Its emphasis on content production is one of the reasons that it is used by everyone from hobby blogs to eCommerce stores, major news networks, and service providers.

BigCommerce is focused on eCommerce stores, but it is not focused on blogging or website administration, which are two critical parts of a successful online store. Although BigCommerce may be integrated with an existing WordPress site via a plugin, there is still a significant gap. Instead of modifying them directly in WordPress, you will need to connect to your BigCommerce account to add products and manage your business (known as your dashboard). This adds a lot of extra steps to the process.

WooCommerce, on the other hand, was created expressly for WordPress by Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com. Their service is handled by experts that are well-versed in the platform and can guide you through any circumstance or problem. The combination of WordPress’ content and design capabilities and WooCommerce’s flexible eCommerce features creates a strong, all-in-one solution for online stores of any size.

You can also add goods, handle orders, update store settings, and more in the same area you compose blog posts, build pages, and respond to comments with WooCommerce. You can also monitor charges, settle complaints, and track deposits immediately on your site if you use the free WooCommerce Payments extension. There is no need to log in and out of various accounts or switch between dashboards because the procedure is fully seamless.

Advanced Functionality 

Starting your business ad store is not an easy task. You must start from the bottom with the basics. However, growth will be seen upon the journey; the important thing only is always to look forward and adapt to advanced functionalities.

WooCommerce can help your core functionalities to be upgraded properly and efficiently. However, BigCommerce may have top-tier functionalities, yet the payment also equates. Also, both charge additional fees for specialized features and premium extensions. Below are some comparisons:

• NZ $299 monthly plan is the minimum amount if you want to have good product filtering options in your store. This helps your customers to look for their needs easily and quickly. This is for BigCommerce, while WooCommerce has nothing yet.
• If you are looking forward to an automatic email sending to your customers who have abandoned their shopping carts, a monthly plan amounting to $80 NZ is needed from BigCommerce. On the other hand, WooCommerce has extensions that can be availed or free or at least $59 NZ per year.
• If you want your customers to check out quickly, you must avail of the NZ $80 plan per month from BigCommerce but for WooCommerce, this functionality is served for free.

Hence, the difference between BigCommerce and WooCommerce is the price of customization. WooCommerce can help you customize your store without spending too much,but with BigCommerce, it just cannot. As customization puts out additional functionality, this will benefit your store a lot.

Easy scaling with WooCommerce 

Scaling is a necessary thing to do when you have a business that involves commerce. With scaling, you adjust certain features and settings with your hosting provider to better accommodate your daily customers. After all, you do not want your website to crash or process slowly.

With WooCommerce, this vision can become a reality. Upgrading the hosting plans, switching to a new hosting provider, adding more features for speed and load balancing, incorporating CDN, and purchasing hosting plans – all of these can be done and reached for your business.

With BigCommerce, the scaling includes hosting, switching to new providers, upgrading the plans, and making independent decisions for the business. However, all of these require payments to be made. If not, then your business will not be able to achieve the upgrades. Also, BigCommerce limits the sale amount every year within your chosen plan. Once you have reached the limit, then you will be directed to upgrading your store features. Hence, as you and your business grow, so as the payments for the plans. Hence, WooCommerce is better with its free and unlimited features to apply to your store and businesses.

Payment Gateways 

Choosing the best payment gateways will let you accept website payments and money transfers right into your bank accounts effectively. It also secures the credit card and other necessary personal information of your customers. This is an important component of an online business as conversion rates, and security can help save reputation and guaranteed success.

Both WooCommerce and BigCommerce offer the same integrations through PayPal and Stripe, twoleading global payment providers. Alongside it is the digital wallets and international options that include Amazon Pay and Apple Pay. However, WooCommerce stands out as it has this exemplary extension.

WooCommerce Payments are free tools used by the customers and business owners when managing monetary exchanges, charges, recurring revenues, deposits, disputes, and a lot more within the WordPress dashboard. Here, logging into a third-party gateway is not needed as there are improved conversion rates to help keep the customers from checking out and using other alternatives for payments. Additionally, there are benefits to gather from instant payment options so that money will easily appear in your bank accounts within few minutes, not days or weeks. All it needs is to consider additional NZ $0.30 and 2.9% fees per transaction, which are considered the standard rates for a payment gateway.

Ease of Control and Flexibility 

WooCommerce is quite well-known for its flexible offers and services that helped several online businesses and stores. With its pricing and growth, business owners were able to reach greater heights of success. Also, the mixture of these features made the functionality even better. With this, your business will be well-managed and taken care of all the time.

Hence, WooCommerce is the best alternative for BigCommerce!

If you need further help with this topic, you can contact Web Digital. Web Digital is a  well-established web design agency in Auckland, and we can help you with your website design needs.

The post Why WooCommerce is the Best BigCommerce Alternative? appeared first on Web Digital.

This beginner’s guide will answer all those questions for you.

What is Dropshipping, by the way?

In its simplest terms, dropshipping is the process of shipping products directly to your customers from a third-party vendor or supplier, without any intermediary step, such as storing the goods at a physical business location.

After you get an order, your supplier will deliver the items from their warehouse to your customer. You don’t need to think about packaging, storing, or delivering. You can use websites such as AliExpress to find such products.

The supplier will have their products listed. The more sell means it will become a lot cheaper for you. You then set a markup on that figure to identify the selling price for your products. You make an earning on what you sell after taking out product cost and advertising cost.

When a dropshipper is involved, the process looks a bit different:

• A customer orders products from your business
• You then pass the order details to your dropshipper
• The dropshipper charges you a fee for the product sold on the order’s receipt, normally wholesale, and a dropshipping cost. They then package the items and ship them straight to your customer. You don’t need to pack or store the goods on your own.

In short, dropshipping is the act of selling goods on your website without handling fulfillment and shipping. One crucial advantage of this is you don’t need to pay for the goods until the customer pays for them, which makes dropshipping a great option for people who don’t like to spend more on initial inventory or don’t want to risk buying products that won’t sell.

That low barrier to entry enables beginners and professionals alike to choose a niche and run their dropshipping-based eCommerce store.

Does that suggest the dropshipping model is the ideal fit for you? Well, the answer will differ based on your goals and where your skills lie. To begin, let’s consider the pros and cons of dropshipping.

The Pros and Cons of Dropshipping

Dropshipping is excellent, but what makes it so great? Here are the benefits of using the model:

• Low cost of inventory

The cost of inventory is a high cost you will have if you have a warehouse facility. You may end up with an obsolete one or with too little inventory. Dropshipping enables you to prevent those concerns and concentrate on growing your customer base and creating your brand.

• Sell and test more goods with less risk

Dropshipping also lets you update your inventory cheaply, easily, and quickly without the limitations of a physical inventory and the costs associated with it. Further, it lets you test new items without the risk of bringing obsolete inventory. Thus, you only pay for what you sell.

• Low startup costs

It needs a huge amount of capital to stock a warehouse. You can remove the risk of going into debt to begin your business through dropshipping. Rather than buying an extensive inventory and wishing it sells, you can begin a dropshipping business with zero inventory and start making money right away.

Just like everything in life, there are also drawbacks to dropshipping. These includes:

• Less profit

The hidden “cost” of dropshipping is the lack of bulk pricing. You tend to pay more for every item you sell than paying less for a huge inventory of items, which results in less profit.

• Depending on other people’s stock

The ability to provide new goods right away or stop selling slow-moving goods is a huge advantage of dropshipping. However, the drawback to that is you don’t have control over your supplier’s inventory. When they run out of stock, you also run out of stock. That will lead to longer lead teams and lost clients.

• Less control over lead times and order fulfillment

You’ll pay for dissatisfied customers even though you don’t carry the cost of warehousing stock. The wholesalers and manufacturers you do business with are accountable for handling and shipping your stock.

Once the screw-up, the customer complains to you or purchases from your competitor. Make sure you work with high-quality partners if you start your dropshipping business.

How Do You Start a Dropshipping Business?

Here are the steps you need to take if you want to start your dropshipping business.

1. Choose a dropshipping niche

A niche is a segment of a market. For instance, Bluetooth speakers are a great niche in the home audio market. If you want to target the outdoors, waterproof Bluetooth speakers are good sub-niche. The more specific your niche is, the better.

2. Find a dropshipping supplier

Finding a trustworthy and dependable supplier is the most challenging part of starting a dropshipping business for most aspiring online business owners. You depend on suppliers to keep your product in stock, sustain product quality, and guarantee that orders are shipped promptly to your customers.

As a dropshipper, your supplier is your crucial business partner. Remember that a good dropship supplier should be a dropshipper, have the experience, not charge massive order fees, offer fast shipping, have excellent products, present referrals on request, and have a return policy.

3. Get a tax ID

If you are setting up your business in New Zealand, you most likely need a tax ID. It is standard for businesses to pass that expense on to consumers by adding it to the retail price. Applying for one is simple and cheap. You can do it by visiting your clerk’s office or online.

To get a tax ID, you may need a business entity, a sole proprietor, or a company. It’s crucial to collect the exact sales tax amount, but not all eBay sellers require a tax ID. Other wholesale suppliers need you to have one before they’ll do business with you.

4. Select a selling platform

So, you have picked a product and have lined up a supplier. At this point, you need a place to start selling and earning money. Picking the perfect selling platform or online marketplace is essential to your business’s success. However, which platform is suitable for you?

Choose between selling on a known platform or starting your independent online store. The good thing about selling on online marketplaces is it’s simple to set up an account and start selling. They also have attracted massive amounts of traffic, and consumers trust such platforms. However, you’ll be charged fees for each sale, not to mention the competition is extremely fierce.

Some of the common online marketplaces for dropshipping are Amazon, eBay, and Etsy.

Meanwhile, many drop shippers take the route of starting their online stores. It needs more investment upfront, but that’s the long-term option for making money and establishing a business online.

You have total control over layout, design, and branding. There are also no higher profit margins or fees. Nonetheless, it costs a lot to set up and design your store. You also miss out on the guaranteed traffic from established platforms.

Whatever your decision, consider the pros and cons of each.

5. Implement a customer acquisition strategy

For the last and final step, you must attract customers to your page or store. That’s where a customer acquisition strategy comes to the rescue. A few options you can consider are the following:

• Google Ads – If you have an online store, you like it to rank on Google’s first page. You can accomplish that organically, or you can buy ads for your store to show the keywords you wish to rank for on the top page.
• Facebook Ads – Facebook is the world’s biggest social media app. It’s an excellent place to market your goods as you tap into a massive audience.
• Blog – It involves finding forums or blogs connected to your niche or product. Actively participate in the discussions. Position yourself as an authority in your niche and add a link to your website. That can help boost traffic and get new customers.

Frequently Asked Questions on Dropshipping

Q: How much does it cost to begin a dropshipping business?

There’s no exact answer to that question—nonetheless, a rough estimate of between NZ$100 to NZ$1,000.

Q: How much can you make in dropshipping?

Everyone’s experience and skills are unique. If you’re a novice, there’s no reason why you could not make an extra NZ$1,000 to NZ$2,000 per month. However, there is also no reason why you could not make six to seven figures.

Still, it depends on your marketing, product selection, supplier, and how much money and time you’ve invested into growing your business.

Final Thoughts

By now, you must be well on your way to starting an online dropshipping business from scratch. Take note that the work is far from over. Now you have to efficiently run your business. But don’t worry. As long as you follow the steps above, you will have a successful dropshipping business for many years to come.

If you need further help with this topic, you can contact Web Digital. Web Digital is a  well-established web design agency in Auckland, and we can help you with your website design needs.

We wish you the best of luck!

The post How to Start Dropshipping Beginner’s Guide? appeared first on Web Digital.