How To

How to deal with bad reviews on Google

September 25, 2023 | Comments Off on How to deal with bad reviews on Google

I got a call from a client the other day. He got a couple of bad reviews on Google from people he’d never worked with and asked what to do about the situation. Here’s the advice I gave him, which I’m including here as I’m sure he’s not the only one who’s faced this issue: […]

A handy, no-nonsense guide to website accessibility

June 13, 2023 | Comments Off on A handy, no-nonsense guide to website accessibility
An image of a path through a forest.

Many of our awesome clients have been asking about website accessibility recently. Accessibility is now a mainstream essential in any website, and more people want to ensure that their website is accessible for all. At Spacious, we love where this is going. But many people still don’t quite understand what accessibility is. They know they […]

Time to do a January Audit!

January 12, 2023 | Comments Off on Time to do a January Audit!

It’s that time of year! Time to set yourself up for success by making sure you start with a solid foundation. January is when we recommend an annual audit—including your password management and other accounts, such as hosting and domains—for all of our clients, both nonprofits and small businesses. However, this can be done at […]

How to run a successful year-end giving campaign

November 18, 2022 | Comments Off on How to run a successful year-end giving campaign

This year, use your year-end giving campaign to tell a story that connects with your audience and makes them feel important. Try stepping outside the box, being bold, and closing this year’s fundraising out with a splash.

We’ve made some performance improvements!

November 15, 2022 | Comments Off on We’ve made some performance improvements!

We want to make sure our Care Plan clients have the tools to be successful with their websites. That’s why we’ve gone through the process of optimizing all of our Care Plan clients’ websites to ensure they load as fast as possible. Why it matters: A faster website delivers a better user experience. No one […]

How to write quality content for your website

November 15, 2022 | Comments Off on How to write quality content for your website

On a website, content is king. Good content is clear, concise, and conversational, leading the user through a compelling narrative. In web design, typography, colors, and images prime the user’s emotional expectations for the content. You can’t design your way out of mediocre content. Whether you’re building a new website or looking to improve your […]

Confused about domain names? Here are 10 quick tips to get you started…

October 25, 2022 | Comments Off on Confused about domain names? Here are 10 quick tips to get you started…

Before you even have a website design, you’ll need a domain. This is the gateway to your site–the first thing a visitor sees before your page even loads. It’s important! I get a handful of questions on domain best practices when working with clients and potential clients after I ask them about their domain – […]

Tapping the power of social proof

April 28, 2022 | Comments Off on Tapping the power of social proof

Social proof is the “I’ll have what he’s having” of marketing. When people are talking about your organization outside of your marketing, unsolicited–be it with friends, with family, or on social media–these are all forms of social proof.  Social proof is also the most important form of marketing while also being the most difficult to […]

How to stand out in your industry

August 24, 2021 | Comments Off on How to stand out in your industry

Excellent customer service, trustworthiness, and quality products/services are NOT differentiators. They’re expected. They’re the bare minimum. If you’re an architect, your drawings should be detailed. An accountant? Let me guess: you’re good with numbers. If you’re a restaurant, we can assume the food tastes good. A digital marketer? I assume you’ll get me “results,” as […]

The art of gathering useful feedback

July 5, 2021 | Comments Off on The art of gathering useful feedback

Getting effective feedback is the key to a successful project. Whether it’s a client, boss, employees, etc. a good feedback process makes a project stronger. When done poorly, however, it can unravel into a never-ending nightmare. A solid feedback process is more than just sending a draft and saying “Let me know if you have […]

27 things I learned from 5 years in business

May 21, 2021 | Comments Off on 27 things I learned from 5 years in business

This April marked five years since I left my last “real job” at a nonprofit and dove full-time into starting a business. I had just spent about a year self-learning code and basic design in my free time. I felt far from ready but realized I’d never get things off the ground while working full-time […]

How to unlearn boring

March 16, 2021 | Comments Off on How to unlearn boring

We internalize this belief that in order to be successful in business, in running an organization, or in our careers we need to be professional. In this case, “professional” is really just another way of saying boring. It’s the opposite of having a personality, of being unique, of being memorable. Not only is this advice […]

How to pick the right image type + size for your website

February 4, 2021 | Comments Off on How to pick the right image type + size for your website

One of the most common questions people ask me as a web designer is: “How do I choose the right image type for my website?” This is a great question because the size and file type of images can greatly affect a website’s speed and overall appearance. There are many different options to choose from […]

The key to creating worthwhile content

December 11, 2020 | Comments Off on The key to creating worthwhile content

What’s the key to creating worthwhile content as a business owner? Simple, start by answering the questions your clients are already asking you! But how do you know what questions they have? Should you go and post a survey? Not necessary. Here’s a better idea: Keep a Log of Questions Your Clients Are Asking You […]

How to consistently come up with new ideas for your blog

May 29, 2020 | Comments Off on How to consistently come up with new ideas for your blog

We’ve all been there before, staring at a blank Word doc and not knowing where to start. When it comes to writing blog posts, it doesn’t have to be a chore. A good process makes it much easier. Here’s my approach.

How to write a good about page for your small business

May 15, 2020 | Comments Off on How to write a good about page for your small business

The most common mistake I see on About pages is believing it’s all about you, the business. It’s not. Even if it’s literally titled “About Us,” it’s really all about your customers—specifically making a genuine connection and making them feel good about being the kind of person who purchases from your business.

How to market without feeling slimy

April 20, 2020 | Comments Off on How to market without feeling slimy

On the other hand, most sleazy slimeballs in business have no hesitation marketing themselves. Does your business or nonprofit result in making people happier? Yes? Then it’s your OBLIGATION TO HUMANITY to put it out there so other people can find it and benefit from it. Here’s 5 tips for marketing without feeling slimy: Understand […]

Building your audience with Gary Vee’s Jab Jab Hook Strategy

April 15, 2020 | Comments Off on Building your audience with Gary Vee’s Jab Jab Hook Strategy

Building your audience and inspiring action via social media has never been more critical. As our audiences are all stuck at home, organizations and small businesses are realizing that a strong online presence is no longer a “one day maybe” sort of project. It needs to happen now. But where to begin? One of my […]

Five easy tips for effective video conferencing

April 9, 2020 | Comments Off on Five easy tips for effective video conferencing

If you’ve found yourself working from home over the past few weeks due to coronavirus, you’re not alone. And if you’re working remotely, you are probably diving headfirst into video conferencing whether you like it or not! You may be used to video conferencing already, but many people are new to this. So if you […]

Working from home with kids during a global pandemic

April 5, 2020 | Comments Off on Working from home with kids during a global pandemic

My kids’ school closed down on Friday the 13th and it’s been JOURNEY since then. I want to talk to all you other working-from-home parents out there. Your kids have interrupted video calls, torn up the house and tested your patience. You almost find your focus before you need to stop to go wipe somebody. […]

How to stay motivated when working from home

March 29, 2020 | Comments Off on How to stay motivated when working from home

It’s hard to find motivation when stuck at home all day. But motivation is overrated. Let’s talk about how we can shrug off the need for motivation and get to work anyway during this uncertain time. The first thing to realize is that motivation isn’t a strategy. Some days you don’t feel motivated, does that […]

Seven steps for remaining productive while working from home

March 25, 2020 | Comments Off on Seven steps for remaining productive while working from home

I’ve been working from home for chunks of every week since I opened my business four years ago. And I love it! Sometimes. If you’d asked me my best advice for working from home a couple of weeks ago, it would have been: Don’t do it all the time. I’d found a great rhythm of […]

Finding your voice in the Coronavirus crisis

March 18, 2020 | Comments Off on Finding your voice in the Coronavirus crisis

Everybody is thinking all day long about COVID-19. How can you enter that conversation without following the mainstream narrative everyone else is following? How can you meaningfully add to the conversation?

How to find images for your nonprofit’s website and social media

March 10, 2020 | Comments Off on How to find images for your nonprofit’s website and social media

You don’t need a large budget to make your nonprofit shine with quality images. Invest some times (and maybe a bit of money) and reap the rewards of a more engaged audience and a better image.