About Talia Whyte

Posts by Talia Whyte:

2023 Mid-Year Website Redesign Tipsheet Review

Responsive Web Design Detailed on a BlackboardWe are in the middle of the year, and you are probably looking at your website and wondering how to make it better going into the rest of the year, especially for the upcoming holiday season.  Websites play a central role in online marketing plans today and now is a good time to start the process so you can have a brand new website up and running on New Year’s Day.  How users interact with your site can make or break your business.  Before you do the redesign, create a checklist of wants and needs for the website, conduct a content audit, and answer the following questions.

Has your mission statement changed?  Usually, when the organizational goals and missions change, the website should also reflect this change as well.  Is the current mission clear to all users when they come to your website?  

Has the purpose of your website changed?  This is slightly different from the company mission as this relates to technical aspects.  For example, do you want to sell products and services online?  Then you have to redesign your website to support e-commerce.

Is your content working for you? After you do a content audit, you might realize that you need to clean up the website’s text, images, and/or video.  Like we say here all the time, it really doesn’t matter how fabulous your website looks.  If you don’t have great content on your site, most people will not only not care about your web presence, but they will also not care to learn more about you or your organization. Having high-quality content on your web presence is a top priority for establishing both your credibility and your brand.

Is your website usable? A great website is one where users can easily navigate it to find what they want and have a reason to stick around long enough to convert to or become more engaged customers.  

What is your competition doing? You need to constantly keep track of what your competition is doing, and how you can get a competitive edge.  Is there something you can do differently that would get the attention of customers?  

Is your website responsive? Google search engines are now giving higher rankings to websites that are mobile-friendly, or websites that can be viewed easily on mobile phones and tablets.  A responsive website adjusts to different browser screen sizes, rather than to different devices, without compromising the content and site design quality. A responsive website is also a better return on investment for your website and your company’s marketing strategy.

Are you thinking about your digital strategy and need some help?  Contact Global Wire Design at info(at)globalwireonline.org.

May 2023 @RozzieBound Events

Author Signing: Chuck Collins, Saturday, May 20, 2:30-4 PM, Rozzie Bound, 739 South Street

Chuck Collins will sign copies of his book, Altar to an Erupting Sun, which will be available for purchase. Collins is a campaigner and storyteller who has worked for decades on environmental and economic justice campaigns. He is the Director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies where he co-edits Inequality.org. He is co-founder of DivestInvest.org, a global movement to divest from fossil fuels and invest in climate solutions, a trustee of the Post-Carbon Institute and Resilience.org, and a founding board member of the Patriotic Millionaires. Altar to an Erupting Sun is his first novel.

Hiring A Ghostwriter?

Ghostwriting is a unique way to get your voice out there to your customers without actually using your voice, per se. With that being said, it is important to make sure you make the right hire. Here are some tips we have learned from our own ghostwriting projects over the years.

1. Type of work: It is a great idea to specify what type of ghostwriting you are looking to do. Most ghostwriters specialize in one or more types of writing. If you are looking for someone to write blog posts, e-newsletters, or social media, you need to hire a ghostwriter who specializes in online content writing, with an emphasis on search engine optimization (SEO). The same is true if you want to hire ghostwriters to work on books, reports, technical manuals, white papers, articles, and other written content.

2. The length of time: Make sure you and your hired ghostwriter understand and agree upon the length of time it will take to complete a project. If it is a finite project, make sure to set a deadline, requirements, and expectations in the contract.

3. Budget: Be upfront about what you can afford so you can find the best possible match in a ghostwriter that fits your budget.

4. Samples and References: Of course, you should read samples of the potential hire’s work and get references. Because of the confidential nature of the ghostwriting business, you might have to sign a non-disclosure agreement before seeing the samples or talking to references.

5. Voice, Style, and Tone: It is important to find a ghostwriter you have a good working relationship with, especially regarding the style and tone of the writing. When reviewing samples from potential hires, make sure their writing style and voice match yours.