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8+ Google Sites Examples for Inspiration

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So you’re considering Google Sites as your website builder, and you’re looking for Google Sites website examples for inspiration and confirmation that you’re making the right choice.

Google Sites is Google’s free website builder software that it offers as part of the G Suite of Drive, Email, Hangouts, etc. It’s a template-based website builder, which means you have a set of templates that you can customize to a certain extent.

It makes nice designs incredibly accessible for DIY-ers while leaving the heavy-lifting (AKA hosting, functionality, coding) to someone else.

I wrote a full review of Google Sites here. It’s free, even for everyday users. If you are logged into your Google Account, you can start a Google Site here.

But before we dive into examples of what Google Sites look like in the wild, there is one thing to keep in mind when you’re evaluating a website platform: it’s not just about how the websites look. The functionality matters too.

Think of it like buying a car. You have a make / model in mind, and you’re probably looking to see them drive by on the road to see how they actually look. However, you also care about how they operate. Does it accelerate well? Does it have the hauling capabilities you need? How is the gas mileage?

Looking at a website platform should be done in the same way. We collected the following Google Sites examples not just to show you how they look, but how they can function so you can be sure you have a website that fits both the style you want and the functionality you need.

[Read more…] about 8+ Google Sites Examples for Inspiration

Namesilo Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

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Namesilo is an ICANN-accredited domain registrar who boasts cheap, easy, and secure domain registration and management. They have been around since 2009.

See Namesilo’s Current Plans & Pricing.

Does Namesilo hold up to their mission of being a cheap and easy-to-use domain registrar? We recently tried them out. Here’s our full Namesilo review with pros, cons, and alternatives.

[Read more…] about Namesilo Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

Bluehost vs. GoDaddy: Who To Choose For Web Hosting?

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GoDaddy has the brand, pricing, and mind-share in the website industry. Bluehost is one of the oldest and most reputable shared hosting companies on the Internet. Here’s my comparison of Bluehost vs. GoDaddy for best choice in web hosting – with a specific focus on WordPress hosting.

A few quick notes before diving in (or skip to conclusion).

First, this entire Bluehost / GoDaddy review (originally published July 16, 2013) has been updated several times (now for July 2019) to account for both GoDaddy’s and Bluehost’s rebrand, new tiers and various other changes. Also, a disclosure: although everything here is based on my experience as a paying customer or consultant to a paying customer, I do receive referral fees from any companies mentioned in this post.

View Bluehost’s Current Hosting Promo.

View GoDaddy’s Current Hosting Promo.

Second, GoDaddy provides a ton of services beyond hosting. They were originally founded as a domain registrar, but now provide a huge range of business services including accounting, email and more. I’ve also written how their domain services compare to NameCheap and how their hosting compares to InMotion and SiteGround. But it’s important to “weight” your desire for convenience across a range of business products in addition to your desire for the best web hosting choice.

I’ve also had some questions about whether I recommend Bluehost overall – especially because I recommend their sister brand HostGator elsewhere on the site. So, point of clarification: HostGator and BlueHost are different brands of the same holding company. They are kind of like Coke and Sprite.

I use HostGator for many of my small projects mainly because of how they structure their pricing & features. You’ll want to check out HostGator with a 60% off discount here as well. I’ve written a focused Bluehost review here. I have clients who love them – and use their email and domain services as well. I’ve found that every brand has tradeoffs – there is no overall “best” – there is only the best for you based on your goals & preferences. For example, this site specifically uses InMotion VPS Hosting – which has a big emphasis on customer service & performance.

But for now, we’ll compare Bluehost vs. GoDaddy specifically on price, usability, support, hosting features, and extra features based on my experience and their own guides.

So let’s dive in and compare GoDaddy vs. Bluehost for best web hosting company for anyone just starting out or running their own website.

[Read more…] about Bluehost vs. GoDaddy: Who To Choose For Web Hosting?

Subdomains Explained

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A subdomain is a domain that is attached to a root (or main domain) that can direct browser requests to specific files on a specific server.

You are currently looking at files on shivarweb.com – but more specifically, you are looking at files on the www.shivarweb.com subdomain, since I also use subdomains like app.shivarweb.com and other for experiments.

As an analogy, if a domain is like a physical address, but on the Internet, then a subdomain is like a Suite or Apartment number. Like a Suite number, they only make sense as part of the larger address, but they allow visitors to access a more more specific (and usually different) location. [Read more…] about Subdomains Explained

Porkbun Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

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Porkbun is an ICANN-accredited domain registrar based out of Portland, Oregon. Their primary pitch is making the domain registration process easy, enjoyable, and affordable.

See Porkbun’s Current Plans & Pricing.

They are one of the myriad smaller domain registrars that have a dedicated but smaller following than the big brands like GoDaddy.

Does Porkbun hold up to their mission of being an “amazingly awesome” domain registrar? We recently tried them out. Here’s our full PorkBun review with pros, cons, and alternatives.

[Read more…] about Porkbun Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

Domain.com Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

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Domain.com is an ICANN-accredited domain registrar founded in 2000 that also provides web hosting, email, website builders, SSL certificates, and other web solutions. They’re part of Endurance International Group, who owns some of the biggest names in web hosting like Bluehost, HostGator, and Constant Contact.

See Domain.com’s Current Plans & Pricing.

While their focus is on domains, Domain.com has started positioning themselves as more than just domains — but that the process starts with a great domain name.

I’ve gotten some questions about Domain.com as a domain registrar, so I decided to give them a try. Here’s our Domain.com review with pros and cons.

[Read more…] about Domain.com Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

Cloudways Hosting Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

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So you’re looking into using Cloudways as your hosting provider, and you’re wondering how they stack up against the competition.

But hold on one second.

I tested out Cloudways for a client project because they have gotten really good press for creating a truly unique product in a pretty staid industry.

As with any unique product, they’ll need a bit of background on the web hosting spectrum.

Let’s talk about the difference between cloud hosting and traditional shared hosting.

Usually your website files live on a part of a server that you rent from a hosting company (hence “shared” hosting). A cloud is an entire network of data centers that host website files in a distributed & decentralized fashion. Your files are deployed “everywhere” in a way of speaking. You just rent the resources on the network needed to host & deliver your files.

Imagine real-world housing for a second. Traditional hosting is like buying a house, townhouse or condominium. You buy it and you can do whatever you want. It’s cheap and predictable. But if your entire extended family shows up one day – you might have some issues hosting everyone. Cloud hosting is like having access to any house anywhere in the world whenever and wherever – you just have to pay per night for whatever house you use. It’s more expensive day to day, but when your entire extended family shows up one day – it’s a pretty simple, quick fix. You just get the 12 bedroom house for the night and no one is the wiser.

The actual cloud is built by the biggest tech companies in the world. There are not that many. Amazon is the biggest. They are closely followed by Google, Microsoft, Oracle, and IBM along with a few smaller ones like Digital Ocean.

With cloud hosting, you have more access to guaranteed resources than on shared hosting.

On shared hosting, you have a set amount of resources on a specific server that also has a set amount of resources. For example, you might have 1GB of Memory dedicated to you on a server that has 10GB of memory in total.

But suppose there are 10 customers on that shared server, each with 1GB of memory. 9 of those customers start using a full 1GB of their allocation – sometimes a little bit over. Well, now, you can’t actually use your 1GB of memory without bringing the server done. In that case, you might get throttled or one customer’s site might get taken down. Now, a good shared hosting will have network engineers who have built out ways of balancing, but it’s the core tradeoff with the setup.

On cloud hosting, you pay per use of resources on a distributed network of servers that has basically infinite resources. Your data doesn’t live on a single server. Instead, it’s copied on a whole network all around the world. If a single server gets overloaded, another server starts returning the the data.

This is the reason why NetFlix runs on Amazon’s cloud and why Twitter runs on Google’s Cloud. Those are extreme but illustrative examples. They see huge spikes at random times during the day that only a cloud can handle.

This makes cloud hosting a great option for websites that have spiky traffic (like viral news sites or a site that goes through regular launches) and doesn’t want to commit to a set amount of resources that may or may not be guaranteed.

But cloud hosting is traditionally expensive and very technical to set up, which can make it not make sense for a lot of DIYers and small businesses. The time & money to get it configured *just* right is out of reach for most businesses.

And that’s where Cloudways comes in.

[Read more…] about Cloudways Hosting Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

How To Use 11+ Free Tools To Find Prequalified Content Ideas for SEO

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Creating content for your website requires a ton of time, money & resources to do well. But when it doesn’t generate visitors or sales – it’s a huge waste.

There are a lot of reasons why a piece of content might not perform well, but you can dramatically increase your odds of success by prequalifying your content idea.

In the offline world, companies use focus groups or sampling to prequalify the market. They use resumes and cover letters to prequalify candidates before committing to an interview (or much less a hire). And the incredible beauty of the Internet is that you can prequalify your content ideas as well with the right tools and a bit of research.

Here’s how to use a range of tactics from keyword research to mining platforms to exploring past successes to find, inform & guide your content marketing ideas.

*Note – if you are interested in finding trending topics for social-optimized posts, also check out my Trending Topics guide here.

[Read more…] about How To Use 11+ Free Tools To Find Prequalified Content Ideas for SEO

Shopify vs. Volusion Ecommerce Platform Comparison

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Shopify and Volusion are two of the most well-known “hosted” eCommerce platforms on the Internet.

See Shopify’s Current Plans & Pricing

See Volusion’s Current Plans & Pricing

Ecommerce options exist on a spectrum of convenience and control. Both Shopify and Volusion are right in the middle of the spectrum because they bundle all the technical parts of an online store – hosting, speed, security, inventory, shopping cart and payment processing – and bundle it into a single monthly price. This contrasts with solutions like WordPress + Woocommerce where you buy, operate, and maintain each piece of the store but also have true 100% control over your website.

Ecommerce Real Estate Tradeoffs

But like a self-hosted eCommerce website, Shopify and Volusion also bundle as part of your website on your domain where you have full control of products, pricing, and customer experience. So unlike running a store on Etsy, eBay or Amazon – you control the build, design, and content of your store.

Even though this part of the spectrum has plenty of tradeoffs – services like Shopify and Volusion are an excellent option for many store owners. So the question becomes – Shopify vs. Volusion?

I’ve reviewed Shopify here and Volusion here. I’ve used both as a customer and as a consultant to customers of both.

They are both excellent companies with an excellent product. And like all my other eCommerce and hosting reviews, there is no such thing as an absolute “best” – there’s only the best option for you based on your situation, goals, and resources.

Here’s how Shopify compares to Volusion across 6 different variables that most customers look at – and what you should consider with Shopify vs. Volusion.

Skip to the conclusion here.

Aside – I built a Buzzfeed style quiz for eCommerce platforms that grades the factors with your goals. You can check out the quiz here. [Read more…] about Shopify vs. Volusion Ecommerce Platform Comparison

Volusion Review: Pros & Cons of Using Volusion for Ecommerce

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Volusion is one of the most popular hosted ecommerce platforms. They focus on providing a full toolkit for ecommerce owners who want a hosted solutions. They have historically been a go-to solution for mid-size ecommerce companies who valued their operations & inventory features.

Get Volusion’s free trial here.

But, as of July 2018, Volusion launched V2 of their platform. With Volusion V2, they are trying to become the go-to solution for entry-level and intermediate ecommerce sellers with a heavy focus on simplified pricing and simplified onboarding.

I originally used Volusion back with their V1 platform for this review, but recently tried out their V2 platform for a research project. I’ve re-written this post to reflect V2 only – even though there are plenty of stores out there using Volusion V1.

There are a lot of Volusion reviews online – usually with user-generated reviews based on anecdotes and personal experience. That’s fine but I take a different approach. Like any option, it’s going to have some pros and some cons and will really come down to if it’s a good fit for your specific business. In this Volusion review, I’ll focus on 6 pros and 6 cons that will probably most affect your choice.

Skip to the Conclusion & Next Steps

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Hostwinds Hosting Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

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Hostwinds is an independent, US-based web hosting company who’s been around since 2010. They boast inexpensive pricing and excellent customer service, and like most hosting companies, also provide email, website builders, and domain services in addition to basic web hosting.

You can check out Hostwinds plans and current pricing here.

I’ve had several readers email to ask my opinion about Hostwinds, so I decided to give them a shot for a small project.

Here’s my Hostwinds review — structured with pros & cons based on my experience as a customer.

[Read more…] about Hostwinds Hosting Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

BigCommerce vs. WooCommerce & WordPress: Differences & Using Them Together

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BigCommerce and WooCommerce + WordPress are two of the most well-known online store platforms. But if you’re considering BigCommerce vs. WooCommerce + WordPress, how do you decide which one is the best fit for you and your project?

Explore More of BigCommerce Features

Explore More of WooCommerce Features

I’ve been able to consult with clients who use both BigCommerce and WooCommerce as well as running my own stores with both BigCommerce and WooCommerce. They are both excellent platforms with a full suite of options to run a successful online store.

However, they are both very different, and different businesses will certainly do better with one or the other.

I’ve written extensively on both, including a BigCommerce review, a WooCommerce setup guide, and a roundup of WooCommerce themes. But in this comparison, I’ll look at the core definitions of WooCommerce and BigCommerce, some of the differences in the areas of largest consideration for eCommerce owners, and how to use them together.

Additionally, this comparison will be very similar to my Shopify vs. WooCommerce + WordPress review. As hosted eCommerce platforms, Shopify and BigCommerce are direct competitors with each other and they both indirectly compete with WooCommerce. We’ll talk a bit more about that in the Definitions section – but it is something to keep in mind.

In most situations, it’s better to choose the type of platform you want before choosing the exact software. But since BigCommerce & WooCommerce are leading solutions – it’s just as helpful to look at them head to head (in addition to ways that you can use them together).

Make sense? Awesome.

If you want to jump right to a condensed recommendation, I’ll outline which one is likely a better fit for different types of eCommerce store owners in Next Steps.

Let’s dive into this comparison of BigCommerce vs. WooCommerce & WordPress.

Skip to the Conclusion & Next Steps

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HostMonster Hosting Review: Pros, Cons & Comparisons

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HostMonster is a web hosting brand owned by Endurance International. They offer shared Linux hosting (what nearly all starter website owners need) in three plans in addition to VPS and Managed servers. Like most hosting companies, HostMonster also provides email, a website builder, and various complementary services to web hosting.

Their datacenter is located in Provo, Utah within (what appears to be) the same facilities as their sister brand Bluehost. In fact, a large part of their brand is a replica of Bluehost and JustHost.

Check out HostMonster’s plan and current pricing here.

One of my oldest clients uses HostMonster, but until now I’ve never written anything about them. Here’s my HostMonster Hosting review – structured with pros & cons based on my experience both as a customer and consultant to a customer.

Skip to direct comparisons or skip to the conclusion. [Read more…] about HostMonster Hosting Review: Pros, Cons & Comparisons

Hostinger Hosting Review: Pros, Cons, & Alternatives

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Hostinger is an independent, European web hosting company who has grown rapidly in just over a decade. They are also the parent company of the 000Webhost, Niagahoster and Weblink brands. In 2017, Hostinger reported 29 million users.

Like most hosting companies, Hostinger also provides email, a website builder, and various complementary services with 24-hour support and a 30-day money back guarantee.

You can check out Hostinger’s plans and current pricing here.

I’ve had several readers email to ask my opinion about Hostinger, so I decided to give them a shot for a small project.

Here’s my Hostinger review — structured with pros & cons based on my experience as a customer.

Skip to direct comparisons or skip to the conclusion.

[Read more…] about Hostinger Hosting Review: Pros, Cons, & Alternatives

Just Host Hosting Review: Pros, Cons & Comparisons

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Just Host is a web hosting brand owned by Endurance International. They offer a standard selection of Linux-based web hosting solutions from shared hosting to VPS to dedicated servers, though they focus on marketing their shared hosting solution (which is what most website owners need/want).

You can check out Just Host’s plans and pricing here.

Their datacenter is located in Provo, Utah within (what appears to be) the same facilities as their sister brand Bluehost. Like most shared hosting companies, Just Host also provides email and various complementary services to web hosting.

I have a marketing client who uses Just Host, and also gave them a try myself while shopping for a discount home for a WordPress-based side project.

Here’s my Just Host Hosting review – structured with pros & cons based on my experience as a customer (and consultant to a customer of Just Host).

Skip to direct comparisons or skip to the conclusion. [Read more…] about Just Host Hosting Review: Pros, Cons & Comparisons

Shopify vs. WooCommerce + WordPress: Differences & Using Them Together

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Shopify and WooCommerce + WordPress are two of the most well-known online store platforms. But if you’re considering Shopify vs. WooCommerce + WordPress, how do you decide which one is the best fit for you and your project?

View Shopify’s Current Plans & Pricing

View WooCommerce’s Current Feature Set

I’ve been able to consult with clients who use both Shopify and WooCommerce as well as running my own stores with both Shopify and WooCommerce. They are both excellent platforms with a full suite of options to run a successful store.

However, they are both very different, and different businesses will certainly do better with one or the other.

I’ve written extensively on both, including a Shopify review, a WooCommerce setup guide, and a roundup of WooCommerce themes. But in this comparison, I’ll look at the core definitions of WooCommerce and Shopify, some of the differences in the areas of largest consideration for ecommerce owners, and how to use them together.

And lastly, in Next Steps, I’ll outline which one is likely a better fit for different types of eCommerce store owners.

Let’s dive into this comparison of Shopify vs. WooCommerce & WordPress.

Skip to the Conclusion & Next Steps

[Read more…] about Shopify vs. WooCommerce + WordPress: Differences & Using Them Together

DreamHost Hosting Review: Pros, Cons & Comparisons

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DreamHost is one of the largest and most established hosting companies online. They have been operating since 1997 (positively ancient by digital standards) and have grown to serve more than 1.5 million websites and 400,000 customers across the globe.

Check out DreamHost’s current plans & pricing here.

They are independent and employee owned (ie, they aren’t another Endurance International or GoDaddy brand). They are also one of the longest supporters of open source and community built software (ie, WordPress, etc).

DreamHost offers a full-spectrum of hosting solutions from Shared (most common) to VPS to Cloud – and even a specialized WordPress offering along with complementary services like email and domain management.

But older and employee-owned doesn’t mean they are a best fit for everyone. While moving one of my side projects off an old HostGator VPS, I took the opportunity to give DreamHost’s shared hosting plan a try.

Here’s my DreamHost Hosting review – structured with the pros, cons and direct comparisons to competitors based on my experience as a customer.

Skip to direct comparisons or skip to the conclusion. [Read more…] about DreamHost Hosting Review: Pros, Cons & Comparisons

Namecheap or GoDaddy? Where To Get Your Website Domain Names

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Namecheap or GoDaddy? Where’s the best place to buy your domain name? And once you buy your domain…who has the best hosting, email, and services? I get asked those type of questions a lot. I’m a customer of both GoDaddy and Namecheap. So this review is based 100% on my experience with both companies as far as domains go.

Notes: If you are just looking for discounts, coupons, or promo codes – here’s what I’ve got for you. I’ve got links with promo codes built in from both GoDaddy & Namecheap. I get referral fees from any companies mentioned in this post, but any opinions are based on my experience as a paying customer.

If you click this link for GoDaddy – you can get a .com for $0.99 for the first year.

If you click this link to Namecheap, you’ll access their current flash sale.

Quick Aside on Domain Registration & Hosting

GoDaddy & Namecheap both started life as domain name registrars, which allows them to sell & manage domain names. It is also the service that they are well-known for. But they also offer a ton of complementary services. I’ll actually cover that below. But – it’s important to keep in mind that you can buy web services such as domains, hosting & email separately. If you aren’t quite sure how they all interact, I’ve written posts on Domain Names Explained; Web Hosting Explained; Website Builders Explained; and Domain Registration vs. Web Hosting.

I’ve also specifically covered Namecheap’s hosting services here and GoDaddy’s hosting services here.

Still with me? Great! Let’s dive into the full Namecheap vs. GoDaddy review! Because you’re already the type of person who knows that your domain name is your name on the Internet – and that it matters who provides it – I’ll break the review down into 6 categories that actually matter – price, user experience, interface, extras, upsells, and principles based on my experience as a consultant & owner of (way too many) domains. [Read more…] about Namecheap or GoDaddy? Where To Get Your Website Domain Names

Wix Review: 6 Pros & 6 Cons of Using Wix For Websites

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There are seemingly thousands of different ways to build a website now. Wix is one of the best-known brands in the website builder product type. They’ve been around for quite a while (circa 2006), and have built a large word-of-mouth brand. I recently had a small project, and a reason to try out several drag and drop website builders. I gave Wix a try to see how they fit. Here are my 6 pros and 6 cons and full Wix review.

See Wix’s Current Plans & Pricing here.

But first, a bit of an overview of general website builder considerations. There really are more than a thousand ways to get what you want in the end (aka someone to type in a website address and see your information in their browser). Technically to create a website, you just need a text editor to hand code an HTML file.

But most people choose a solution on a spectrum based on their skill, time, and goals. The spectrum ranges from all-inclusive (ie, “we do everything for you, but also control everything) to 100% DIY (ie, “you do everything, but it’s quite complicated”).

Whether you are building a simple personal website or running a business, the way you build your site has a lot of consequences.

In the long-term, it affects your versatility, functionality, and, of course, your brand. In the short term, it can certainly add/take away a lot of headaches. That said, just like choosing a physical house or office, there is no such thing as an absolute “best” or “top” choice. There’s only the right choice relative to your goals, experience, and circumstances.

Skip to: What is Wix?, Advantages, Disadvantages, Ecommerce & Conclusion & Next Steps

What Is Wix?

On the wide spectrum of website building solutions, Wix lives on the website builder end that is all-inclusive. You build your site on their software with their tools. Your website lives on their servers. You can only access your site via the Wix admin panel. It’s in contrast to solutions where you buy, install, and manage all the “pieces” of your website separately.

Like other website builders, using Wix is sort of like leasing and customizing an apartment in a gated development instead of buying and owning your own house. You’re still in control of decor, cleaning, and everything living-wise – but you leave the construction, plumbing, security, and infrastructure to the property owner. That point is key because there’s usually a direct tradeoff between convenience and control.

As far as direct competitors, Wix competes directly with all-inclusive website builders like Weebly, Squarespace, GoDaddy GoCentral, and WordPress.com.

Those all-inclusive options as a group compete with options like self-hosted WordPress (which provides the free software to build a website that you own & control on your own hosting – see my WordPress setup guide) all the way to options like typing actual HTML code into a text file.

Is Wix Safe?

Yes – Wix is safe to use. Wix is a publicly-traded company that operates globally with well-established legal, privacy, payments, and product standards. There are plenty of fly-by-night or amateur-ly run website builders. But Wix is not one of them. They have downsides, but a solid upside is their safety & reputation.

Is Wix Free?

Wix has a free plan, but only if you use a Wix subdomain (e.g., yourwebsite.wix.com). You also have to display Wix ads and have limited functionality. To use a custom domain and have full functionality, you have to pay for a premium plan. It’s great for a short-term or temporary project…or to simply try Wix out before upgrading.

If you are looking for a free website builder option, you could also explore these free website options. This review will explore Wix’s full product suite with a focus on anyone building a full, public-facing website.

Make sense? Awesome, let’s dive into the Wix review.

[Read more…] about Wix Review: 6 Pros & 6 Cons of Using Wix For Websites

Essential Guide To Choosing An Ecommerce Platform

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Overwhelmed trying to choose exactly how to launch your online store?

Wish someone would explain in plain English what all the choices to actually run your online store?

I wrote this original guide to choosing an ecommerce platforms in 2012. But a lot has changed in the past 7 years. Online storeowners have better options in nearly every respect.

But that doesn’t make the choice any less daunting. Most ecommerce companies sell with features and price. But like buying a house – price and features do not tell the whole story.

They don’t tell you if this software is a good choice for your store. There is no such thing as the “best ecommerce platform” or the “best ecommerce software.” There’s only the best choice based on your goals, resources and preferences.

And in some ways, the spectrum of choices is the same is it ever was. The names might be different, but the positions on the spectrum are the same.

Here’s my guide – updated for 2019 – to what you need to know to make an informed choice when choosing a ecommerce software for your online store – so that you can make the best choice for your store.

[Read more…] about Essential Guide To Choosing An Ecommerce Platform

InMotion Hosting Review: 6 Pros & 4 Cons of InMotion Hosting

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InMotion Hosting is one of the largest independent web hosting companies in the world. They’ve been around since 2001, and have tried to develop a brand around being the “nerd’s choice” that businesses also love.

View InMotion’s current plans & pricing here.

InMotion Hosting positions themselves as one of the few large, stable hosting companies that is not owned by Endurance International – a holding corporation for many well-known hosting brands (including a few that I use for sites like HostGator, Bluehost, and iPage) that has the breadth, resources, and expertise to serve websites for businesses, organizations, and long-term projects.

There are a lot of InMotion Hosting reviews online – usually with user-generated reviews based on anecdotes, complaints, and personal experience. That’s fine, but I take a different approach with pros and cons to highlight whether a particular company is a good “fit” given resources, priorities, and experience.

Since 2013, I’ve done several side-projects on InMotion in addition to consulting for clients who run projects on a range of competitor hosting companies. In August 2015, I actually moved ShivarWeb.com to an InMotion VPS server, though several projects remain with other hosting companies such as HostGator and InMotion’s sister brand Web Hosting Hub – both of which have more “unmetered” plans and a support focus on beginner / small sites.

Here’s what I’ve found to be the pros and cons & full InMotion Hosting review with next steps based on my experience there and at other providers as a customer & consultant. [Read more…] about InMotion Hosting Review: 6 Pros & 4 Cons of InMotion Hosting

Shopify vs. Squarespace: Online Store Options Compared

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Shopify vs. Squarespace – they are two of the most well-known brands in the online store / website builder industry. I’ve written a Shopify review here and Squarespace review here. But how do they compare directly to each other?

View Shopify’s Current Plans & Pricing

View Shopify’s Current Plans & Pricing

First, a bit of background. Over the past few years, online store software costs have plummeted, and the technology to get a website from idea to reality has blossomed.

Whether you’re using a text editor and uploading to the Amazon cloud, hosting your own site powered by WordPress + WooCommerce or using a drag and drop website builder, there’s never been an easier time to create an online store. It’s no longer 2002 where every store owner had to know PHP, HTML, CSS and a bit of Javascript.

All-inclusive eCommerce builders have been particularly interesting. Companies like Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Shopify, and BigCommerce – not to mention platforms like Etsy, eBay, and Amazon – have brought eCommerce to everyone regardless of their coding skills.

On the wide spectrum of eCommerce store building solutions, they all live on the end that is all-inclusive and provides everything you need to get started and grow your website. [Read more…] about Shopify vs. Squarespace: Online Store Options Compared

Network Solutions Review: Pros & Cons of Network Solutions As Domain Registrar

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Network Solutions is one of the oldest consumer Internet companies still operating. They are most well-known as a domain registrar, though they offer a full suite of business Internet solutions.

In fact, from 1993 to 1999, they were the only company authorized to register domains. If you wanted a domain in the ‘90s – you had to buy it from Network Solutions. Because of that, they’ve built a brand around being “the Internet’s domain provider.”

Network Solutions is not my primary domain registrar (which is NameCheap). But I’ve had enough clients purchase their domains with Network Solutions that I wanted to try them myself to see if there was something to their branding.

Here’s my experience and my Network Solutions review with a focus on their domain registration service. [Read more…] about Network Solutions Review: Pros & Cons of Network Solutions As Domain Registrar

FatCow Hosting Review: Pros & Cons of Using FatCow

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FatCow is a web hosting brand owned by Endurance International. They offer a full spectrum of web hosting services from shared hosting to VPS servers to domains with unique branding.

You can check out FatCow’s plans & pricing here.

FatCow has been around for quite a while. They started in 1998 and run out Burlington, MA – in possibly the same datacenter as their sister brand iPage.

FatCow has made their name with a specific focus on beginner and DIY website owners, and a fun, friendly brand – both of which stand out in an industry traditionally focused on developers and technical server jargon.

Like most shared hosting companies, FatCow also provides email, a website builder, and various complementary services to web hosting with 24 hour support and a 30 day money back guarantee.

I’ve had several readers email to ask my opinion about FatCow, so I decided to give them a shot in my recent shopping tour of entry-level web hosts.

Here’s my FatCow Hosting review – structured with pros & cons based on my experience as a customer. [Read more…] about FatCow Hosting Review: Pros & Cons of Using FatCow

GoDaddy WordPress Hosting Review: Pros & Cons of Using GoDaddy

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GoDaddy is one of the world’s largest “web services” companies. Although they were founded as a domain registrar, they provide a whole range of services from web hosting to website builders accounting to email to digital storage to online security and much more.

See GoDaddy’s Current Plans & Pricing…

Over the years, you’ve probably seen GoDaddy’s Super Bowl commercials, GoDaddy girls all around the Internet, and most recently their “Helping Small Business” commercials. They have brand recognition if nothing else.

With the popularity of using WordPress for setting up websites, GoDaddy has made a big product push for their “WordPress Hosting” product.

Like any product, there will be tradeoffs, advantages and disadvantages – depending on your particular goals, preferences, and resources. However, this product not only competes with other competitors but also with GoDaddy’s own regular web hosting product.

So. Here are GoDaddy’s WordPress Hosting pros, cons, how it compares to “regular” web hosting, and next steps.

[Read more…] about GoDaddy WordPress Hosting Review: Pros & Cons of Using GoDaddy

13+ More Effective Ways To Use Keyword Planner for SEO

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Google Keyword Planner is a fundamental tool for planning SEO and content marketing campaigns. It’s the only place to get search data such as keyword ideas, trends and search volume directly from Google.

And for most non-professional SEOs, it’s the beginning and end of keyword research efforts. There are plenty of beginner guides for Keyword Planner, but this post will focus on ways to use Keyword Planner more effectively with advanced techniques.

Since Keyword Planner replaced the old Keyword Tool in 2013, well-known SEOs have criticized it for hiding keywords and having a laundry list of “dirty secrets.” The general sentiment is that it’s flawed, but it’s the best we have right now.

Some of the criticism is justified, but like criticism of Search Console, it covers up some useful functionality that is much better than Keyword Tool ever could have been.

Before looking at specific ways to use Keyword Planner better, keep in mind two principles –

1. Keyword Planner is not meant for SEOs and Content Marketers. It is meant for PPC professionals looking to spend money on search & display ads. You have to be able to correct that bias with complementary tools, techniques and filters.

2. Keyword Planner is a tool – not a consultant. It’s only as good as how you use it. You have to coach and coax it to provide the information you need based on your objectives.

With that in mind – here are a few ways to make Keyword Planner work for you. [Read more…] about 13+ More Effective Ways To Use Keyword Planner for SEO

Google Domains vs. GoDaddy: Domain Name Providers Compared

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Google Domains and GoDaddy are two of the most well-known domain name registrars on the Internet. I’ve written about both Google Domains and compared GoDaddy to Namecheap (their other big competitor). But how do they compare to each other?

Visit GoDaddy’s Current Domain Pricing

Visit Google Domain’s Current Selection

Domain Registrars are a unique industry. Since ICANN issues all domain names, leaving Registrars mainly as bookkeepers, there is not a ton of scope to offer completely different products. At the end of the day, you simply need a domain name that you can associate with a server where your data lives.

And yet, not all domain registrars are the same (which is why you are reading this post, I’m guessing). I’ve tried dozens and have had every problem imaginable. There is no such thing as a “best” domain registrar. Everybody has tradeoffs. And Google and GoDaddy are actually a good example of very different approaches to domain registration.

I was a Day One customer of Google Domains back at their launch, and I’ve been a customer (and consultant to customers) of GoDaddy for 10+ years.

Here are my thoughts on Google Domains vs. GoDaddy based on company structure, pricing structure, domain selection, usability, customer support, and complementary products.

You can also Skip to Conclusion.

[Read more…] about Google Domains vs. GoDaddy: Domain Name Providers Compared

How To Plan An Inbound Marketing Strategy For Ecommerce

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I get a lot of hyper-specific ecommerce marketing questions, e.g. “should I advertise on Reddit?” or “how do I hire someone to do link building?” or “I just chose my ecommerce store platform and want to try OutBrain or maybe Snapchat or Instagram to get started.” They are great in a way – I’m a huge fan of experimentation and improvement.

But most online store owners haven’t developed an effective inbound* marketing strategy at all. It’s all ad hoc and “shooting from the hip”. They miss the forest (how everything works) for the trees (tactics) so to speak.

*Inbound = the industry jargon for marketing that focuses on being where your customers are so that they buy from you “naturally.” Inbound contrasts with outbound marketing, which focuses on finding, interrupting and cold pitching potential customers.

Here’s the exact inbound marketing strategy for ecommerce that I recommend to every reader and client I’ve ever worked with. The specific details vary, but it’s a pretty tried and true path for nearly every online store. I’m focusing on ecommerce but 80% of this applies to every business. [Read more…] about How To Plan An Inbound Marketing Strategy For Ecommerce

Hacking Google Display Planner for SEO & Content Marketing

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Google built both the Keyword Planner and Display Planner for Pay-Per-Click (PPC) research – not for SEO & Content Marketing

And yet, Keyword Planner is a fundamental tool for all SEOs. Keyword Planner provides a wealth of data directly from Google that you cannot get anywhere else. In a way SEOs love Keyword Planner as much as PPCers.

But what about Display Planner – the other research tool in Google Ads?

If you are building an organic / SEO campaign – you probably think of Display Planner like it’s a desolate, uninteresting land of PPC terms like “viewable CPM, “impressions” and “IAB ad sizes” – all meant for PPCers who run those awful banner ads.

In fact, it’s so focused on PPC campaigns, that you can no longer access it directly. You have to launch a “campaign” to access the data.

That’s all true. But like Keyword Planner, Display Planner has a ton of useful data when you hack it for SEO & content campaigns. Here’s how. [Read more…] about Hacking Google Display Planner for SEO & Content Marketing