Better Websites. SEO. Marketing. Business.
If there’s one page that’s responsible for the biggest impact on a business, it’s the product page for e-commerce shops.
As an e-commerce store, you’re only as powerful as your product pages. These pages can actually make or break a sale, and can be the difference between your store thriving online and tanking.
With that said… what makes a good product page?
Here are eight best practices to use on your product pages to ensure they’re getting the job done.
Your Product Page Should…
The biggest problem for website owners and marketers in 2017 and beyond isn’t the tools available. It’s figuring out how to use the tools they have.
Ahrefs is one of the (if not the) most powerful suites of social media & SEO tools that I’ve ever used. Most SEOs know it as a “backlink checker” that competes with Majestic and intelligence/analytics tools with smaller indices like Moz & SEMRush. But “backlink checker” grossly undersells Ahrefs as a marketing suite.
Ahrefs has so many features that you can get lost and resort to simply staring at your own links – maybe rank tracking a few keywords. Here’s the guide to how to use Ahrefs that I wish existed when I first signed up.
*Reader’s Note 1 – this guide was originally published in Oct. 2015. It’s been updated throughout for August 2017 to reflect Ahref’s new design.
*Reader’s Note 2 – all images are clickable if you want to see the full resolution.
“InMotion Hosting vs. SiteGround vs. Bluehost?” is a common question for anyone shopping for web hosting, especially for anyone planning on using WordPress.
InMotion, SiteGround and Bluehost are all –
And yet – they are very different companies with different brands and different focuses.
Unlike most reviews, I do not think there is such a thing as a “best” host. There is only the best fit for you based on your goals, expertise, resources, and preferences.
I have current clients who use (and love) Bluehost. Although this specific site runs on InMotion Hosting – I also have several projects that have run on SiteGround for years. I’ve been happy with them.
In this comparison between InMotion, SiteGround, and Bluehost, I’ll try to break down the differences that I’ve found in several different areas ranging from pricing structure to customer service and market focus so that you can decide which is the best fit for your project.
Also – you can skip to the short version in the conclusion here (or take my Buzzfeed-style shared hosting quiz here).
Let’s dive into InMotion Hosting vs. SiteGround vs. Bluehost…[Continue Reading]
I did a full review of InMotion Hosting, which you can read here. However, I wanted to specifically look at InMotion Hosting vs. HostGator. I use an InMotion VPS server to host this website, which used to be hosted on a HostGator server. I also use HostGator as my primary side-project company due to their pricing. In other words, I use both and want to compare them head to head to highlight the best fit for new customers.
HostGator has been one of the fastest growing web hosts since 2002. They’ve built their reputation on good pricing, fast servers, and great service. They were acquired by Endurance International (a holding company for several other popular hosting brands including Bluehost & Just Host) in 2012. I’ve been a HostGator customer for quite a while. I run most of my development and personal projects on a HostGator shared hosting plan.
And InMotion is a rapidly growing, but still independent hosting company out of Los Angeles that has recently generated a good bit of press and won several awards for their hosting services. ShivarWeb.com currently lives on an InMotion VPS server.
Like I’ve said in all my hosting reviews and hosting quizzes – there is no such thing as a “best overall host” – there’s only the right host for you given your priorities, resources and expertise. I’m a long time customer of both companies – and I even I use each depending on the demands of each project. I’ve decided to compare InMotion with HostGator across 6+ considerations that hopefully will help you find the right fit for you.
That said – let’s dive in and look at InMotion Hosting vs. HostGator Web Hosting.[Continue Reading]
Web Hosting Hub is a hosting company founded in 2010 by InMotion Hosting – it’s older, more well-known parent company.
According to InMotion’s comparison page, Web Hosting Hub was founded to attract “more of the start-up, and professional blogger market.” In practical language, that means Web Hosting Hub offers one product – shared linux hosting (ie, hosting that can run the most common types of websites and apps, such as WordPress without having to sustain large amounts of sustained traffic).
Check out Web Hosting Hub’s current plans & pricing here.
As many more well-known brands change pricing and get bought up by large corporations (ie, Bluehost, 1&1 and GoDaddy), there’s been an increased interest in independent companies with clear features, simple setups and affordable pricing.
Web Hosting Hub claims to be that provider. Some of my personal projects run on HostGator right now. But since this site runs on a VPS server with InMotion, I thought I’d try Web Hosting Hub with a hobby site that needed its own shared space. Since I’ve had that site there for more than a year – I decided to update this Web Hosting Hub review.[Continue Reading]
So you’ve decided to build your own website. You’ve probably already been thinking about color palettes, even if you’re not quite sure what they really are or why they’re such a big deal.
But when it comes to designing your site, choosing the proper color palette is one of the most important web design decisions you’ll make.
Color increases brand recognition by 80%, which means picking your web design color palette is essential to making your website not just enjoyable and engaging to your audience, but memorable, too.
Before we dive into how to select the right color palette for your site, let’s cover some color basics.
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?
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.
Try Shopify for Free for 14 Days
See my WooCommerce Setup Tutorial
Let’s dive into this comparison of Shopify vs. WooCommerce & WordPress.[Continue Reading]
“Bluehost vs Hostgator?” – it’s a question that’s a bit like asking “Coke or Sprite?” It’s somewhat slicing details, but it’s a choice nonetheless for something that you’ll likely be using for years.
Bluehost and HostGator are both –
And yet – they are different companies with different brands. When you are choosing a website host – you still have to end up choosing.
I have current clients who use (and like) Bluehost. Although this site runs on InMotion Hosting (which I’ll mention later) – I also have several projects that have run on HostGator for years. I’ve been happy with them.
In this comparison between Bluehost and HostGator, I’ll try to break down the differences that I’ve found in seven different areas ranging from pricing structure to customer service and market focus so that you can decide which is the best fit for your project.
Also – you can skip to the short version in the conclusion here (or take my Buzzfeed-style shared hosting quiz here).
Let’s dive into Bluehost vs. HostGator…[Continue Reading]
There are a lot of options for running an online store – BigCommerce is an all-in-one ecommerce solution that I’ve worked on for several clients’ online stores since 2012. Here’s my BigCommerce review – with 6 pros and 6 cons of using BigCommerce for your online store.
Check out BigCommerce’s current Plans & Pricing here.
But first, a bit of an overview.
There’s a lot of considerations that go into an choosing the best online store platform. There’s also a ton of options, and your choice of platform can have just as big of an impact on your online business as choosing a physical location for your physical business.
It can greatly expand or hurt your business long-term and in the short term it can certainly add/take away a lot of headaches.
That said, just like choosing a physical location, there is no such thing as an absolute “best” or “top” choice. There’s only a such thing as the right choice relative to your goals, experience, and circumstances.
There are a lot of BigCommerce reviews online – usually with user-generated reviews based on anecdotes and personal experience. That’s fine but I take a different approach – looking at not only pros & cons but also it’s place in the overall marketplace.
On the wide spectrum of ecommerce solutions, BigCommerce lives on the end that is all-inclusive and provides everything you need to get started and grow your online store. It’s in contrast to solutions where you buy, install, and manage all the “pieces” of your store separately.
Using BigCommerce is sort of like leasing and customizing a storefront in a development instead building your own store. You’re still in control of design, merchandising, and everything business-wise – but you leave the store construction, plumbing, security, and infrastructure to the property owner.
Again, there are pros and cons to this, but know that BigCommerce competes as a “hosted platform” directly with Shopify (see their site here and my Shopify review here) and Volusion (see their site here and my Volusion review here) as all-inclusive options.
Those options as a group compete with non-turn-key options like WordPress + WooCommerce, Magento, and others. Make sense?
Awesome, let’s actually dive into this BigCommerce review.
[Continue Reading]
Last month, Akismet (the anti-spam software I use) filtered 850 delicious bits of blog comment spam.
I now have 324 comments in my queue tagged spam.
And that’s just the automated stuff.
I also get lots of bewildering comments such as,
Good way of explaining, and fastidious post to obtain data regarding my presentation subject matter, which i am going to deliver in institution of higher education.
The above comment could have been from a very well-meaning reader who is trying to leave a very kind comment in a language not his own…except for certain indications that said that it was a spammy attempt for a certain British web design agency to get a free link from my website.
If you have had a blog for any amount of time – you will encounter spam. Lots of spam. In fact – here’s my spam chart that I proudly display on my WordPress Dashboard…
But what most people don’t know is what blog comment spam is…who does it? Why does it exist? And most importantly – how you can attempt to stanch the tsunami of blog comment spam so that you can treat your real commenters like royalty?
Well here’s what you need to know.[Continue Reading]
Squarespace is one of the best known brands in the website building space. They do a ton of advertising with everything from podcasts to the Super Bowl, and have a beautiful product with a long trusted history. I recently had a project that was a fit for a bundled website builder software. I gave Squarespace a try, along with several others. Here’s my 5 pros, 5 cons and full Squarespace review.
Editor’s Note – This Squarespace review was originally published in June 2015. It’s been throughly revised for August 2017. Enjoy!
But first, a bit of an overview. There’s a lot of considerations that go into an choosing a website builder. There’s also a ton of options, tons of pricing – and really 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). 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 a such thing as the right choice relative to your goals, experience, and circumstances.
On the wide spectrum of website building solutions, Squarespace lives on the end that is all-inclusive and provides everything you need to get started and grow your website. It’s in contrast to solutions where you buy, install, and manage all the “pieces” of your website separately.
Using Squarespace is sort of like leasing and customizing an apartment in a really classy development instead 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.
Everything may fit together just right with a website builder like Squarespace, but that may or may not be what you’re looking for.
As far as competition, Squarespace competes directly with all-inclusive website builders like Weebly, Wix and WordPress.com.
Compared to their direct competition, they try to allow for more customization and code access. Squarespace tries to appeal to the non-developer customer AND the developer community it’s a tough pitch to sell – but they try it.
Those options as a group compete with options like self-hosted WordPress (which provides the free software to build a website that you own & control – see my WordPress setup guide here) all the way to options like typing actual HTML code into a text file. Make sense? Awesome, let’s dive in to the Squarespace review.[Continue Reading]
How much thought did you put into your Contact Us page on your website?
If you’re like most businesses, you probably focused on the method (i.e. how people can contact you) but didn’t give much thought to the page itself (i.e. the copywriting and design).
In reality, the Contact page should be one of your most prioritized pages on your site because it’s one of the most visited pages. It’s also typically the beginning of your interactions with potential customers.
With that in mind, let’s talk about how to make a killer Contact Us page that will stand out to your visitors.
Shopify Plus is Shopify’s enterprise ecommerce platform for large and growing online stores and brands. It’s a hosted platform customized, staffed and priced for big brands. This Shopify Plus review is based on my experience doing SEO consulting with marketing directors using the platform.
Most of my incredible audience are DIYers or small business owners just starting out or working to grow their websites. But I also have a lot of readers in charge of marketing or platform development at large organizations who are looking to apply innovative marketing to their rapidly growing brands.
Both groups of readers have asked the same question: what do you do when your ecommerce store is big? How do you keep the same agile marketing infrastructure when you’re at the enterprise-level?
I’ve been able to consult with several enterprise level ecommerce brands using platforms ranging from Magento, proprietary platforms, a .NET based ecommerce solution, and Shopify Plus.
Check out Shopify Plus’ current features page here.
This review will look at my experience with Shopify Plus specifically and hosted (SaaS in the jargon) platforms more broadly for the advantages and disadvantages of enterprise ecommerce solutions.[Continue Reading]
“GoDaddy vs. iPage” is a very common question for anyone researching hosting.
GoDaddy and iPage are two of the best known budget hosts in the world. And they are owned respectively by the two of largest web services companies in the world (GoDaddy Group and Endurance International).
They are both “go-to” brands for business owners looking for simple, affordable hosting. And yet – they are different companies with different brands. When you are choosing a website host – you still have to end up choosing.
I have current clients who use (and like) GoDaddy hosting. Although this site runs on InMotion Hosting (which I’ll mention later) – I also used iPage for a couple small projects. I wrote a full iPage review here.
In this comparison between GoDaddy and iPage, I’ll try to break down the differences that I’ve found in seven different areas ranging from pricing structure to customer service and market focus so that you can decide which is the best fit for your project.
Also – you can skip to the short version in the conclusion here (or take my Buzzfeed-style hosting on a budget quiz here).
Let’s dive into GoDaddy vs. iPage…[Continue Reading]
“GoDaddy vs. HostGator” is a very common question for anyone researching hosting.
GoDaddy and HostGator are two of the largest hosting brands in the world. And they are owned respectively by the two of largest web services companies in the world (GoDaddy Group and Endurance International).
They are both “go-to” brands for business owners looking for accessible, affordable hosting. And yet – they are different companies with different brands. When you are choosing a website host – you still have to end up choosing.
I have current clients who use (and like) GoDaddy hosting. Although this site runs on InMotion Hosting (which I’ll mention later) – I also have several projects that have run on HostGator for years. I’ve been happy with them.
In this comparison between GoDaddy and HostGator, I’ll try to break down the differences that I’ve found in seven different areas ranging from pricing structure to customer service and market focus so that you can decide which is the best fit for your project.
Also – you can skip to the short version in the conclusion here (or take my Buzzfeed-style shared hosting quiz here).
Let’s dive into GoDaddy vs. HostGator…[Continue Reading]
