Author: jenny

Like many businesses, the last couple of years have required Bellaworks to…cue the voices of Ross and Rachel from the Friends sitcom, “Piiivvoot!,” in order to continue to thrive as a company. We are proud to be a small and nimble web design agency that provides a wide variety of web design services to our clients. As our clients’ needs have evolved, Bellaworks has too. In fact, we enjoy tailoring the right solutions to fit the needs of business owners searching for a web designer in Charlotte, NC.

One change that we started to see early on in the pandemic was the number of professionals venturing out on their own to start a business. They came to us seeking high quality web design services at budget friendly prices. They understood the importance of a professional website that would establish credibility, position their years of relevant experience, and clearly explain their services as well as the value they offer clients. These business owners are passionate, focused, and driven to make their vision a reality, and it has been incredibly exciting and rewarding to partner with them on their journey. 

Bellaworks continues to offer custom website design and development. We now also have new website packages that give clients a faster and more streamlined design process, lots of flexibility for content and branding, and all for budget friendly prices. Our solo and small business clients are loving these options. They also appreciate the convenience of working with our team on related services like logo design, photography, videography, and copy writing.

Are you dreaming of starting a new business? Does your business need a better website? Read about two of our amazing new business owner clients who partnered with us to bring their visions to life.

Charlotte Vintage

Owners Katrina and Stan have been collecting mid-century modern furniture pieces for years, and in 2021, they took the leap and started Charlotte Vintage. Both Katrina and Stan have a keen eye for design, and our team worked closely with them to develop a high-quality and distinct logo to represent their business.  We created their website with a very clean, modern design that showcases their unique furniture selection.  Our copy writer worked with Katrina and Stan to craft their About Us page that tells their story, which can be hard for many people to write on their own.

Bowen Food Safety

Lindsey Bowen contacted us as she prepared to launch her business, Bowen Food Safety, and we have taken each step forward in phases. We began by developing a logo for Lindsey with the soft scroll look and fresh green color that she had envisioned.  Once this key branding element was established, we got back together and worked on her website design.  We pulled the elements of the logo through to her website design and formatted the copy, which she prepared using our content writing tips and guide, and we launched Lindsey’s site. A few months later, we added a new page so Lindsey could offer online sign-ups for classes. The Bellaworks team partnered with Lindsey to provide her just what she needed, when she needed it, in a timely manner, and at an affordable price. 

From Lindsey-

“When starting a new company, getting the right logo and website can make all the difference in the world. The team at Bellaworks made the whole process seamless! They were extremely responsive and were able to answer all my questions. The team was able to take my vision for my logo and website and make them more fabulous than I could have ever imagined!”

It has been tremendously rewarding to help all of our business owners thrive in the current environment. Thinking of starting a new business? Do you have a business and need a better website? Contact us and let us help!

In just a matter of days, we’ve all been forced to confront the reality of the current global pandemic.  The new normal for most of us involves many changes to the very basic ways we conduct business.  It’s been dramatic shift in a short time, and we are all trying to figure out how to adjust and move forward.

The good news is that your company’s website and your digital marketing tools offer fantastic opportunities to respond to our changing world.  Learning to fully utilize digital tools and resources is perhaps more important now than ever to your company’s success.  While this could feel overwhelming, please know that we are here to help.      

Our team at Bellaworks specializes in selecting and implementing digital marketing solutions that can make life easier and more productive for our clients.  It’s what we do and have been doing for over ten years. 

Below are some website changes and other tools to consider that might help your business right now.  Please take a look, and if you think we can help, let’s talk.  We’re all in this together. 

WEBSITE UPDATES TO CONSIDER NOW

Add Website Special Alert Messages

Many companies have critical messages that they need customers to see right now.  Here are a couple of options.

• Banner alerts– These typically sit close to the navigation bar on your website.  You can put information here and include a link to a page that contains more details.
• Pop up boxes- These are normally used when someone first visits a home page.  They are great for communicating key information quickly.  

CLEAN UP YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION

As companies switch to working remotely, one of the top priorities is making sure customers and clients can still reach you.  Here are some ideas that can help.

• Website contact page information– Make sure to check and update all of the contact information on your website.  Have your hours of operation have changed?  Is anyone checking the phone numbers that are listed?  Are the right people getting the right messages?   
• Website contact form– A simple contact form added to your website can help your customers reach you quickly.  When a form is filled out, it can be sent to one person or to multiple people who can help field inquiries.
• Get on my calendar­– Offer your clients the chance to immediately book a phone call with you.  Links to services such as Calendy can sit on your website and also be included on your email signature line.  They keep business moving by reducing the time spent on scheduling. 

UTILIZE YOUR DIGITAL COMMUNICATION CHANNELS

Your customers need to hear from you.  Make sure you stay in front of your customers by using digital communication channels.  These channels can be added at any time, so it’s not too late to begin using them.  Now could be the perfect time to start.

• Blogs- Writing articles and posting them to your blog is a great way to get the word out about your business.
• Email Newsletter- Digital marketing platforms like Mail Chimp and Constant Contact are excellent tools to use to send out important information to your customers. 
• Social Media- News can travel especially fast over social media channels and the interaction with existing and potential customers can be invaluable. 

ADD TOOLS FOR WORKING REMOTELY

Whether you need to meet with your internal team, host a project session with a client, or offer a yoga class online, there are digital solutions that can help.  If you are struggling to meet the needs of your clients remotely, please talk with us.  We’ve been using many of these tools for years and can help you find the best solution. Here are a couple that we love.

• Zoom– Zoom is a fantastic tool to use for hosting online meetings.  It has some very flexible features like using audio only, audio plus video and chat.  Scared for everyone to see your messy house during the call?  No worries.  Zoom even has a way for you to select a background.
• Google– If you are collaborating on a project or teaching a class and would like to share documents or spreadsheets, Google has you covered.  You can use this tool to collaborate on documents together and in real time. 

TALK WITH US – WE’D LOVE TO HELP YOU

We know that the thought of having to learn to use and rely on more technology can be daunting.  Talk with our team at Bellaworks.  Let us suggest, implement, and teach you to use tools that can make your life easier.  Contact us today, we’re here to help.          

This spring the European Union rolled out a privacy law known as the General Data Protection Regulation.  The regulation sets a new global standard for individual data collection, use, and protection.  It’s shifting the paradigm on the way personal data is handled, and all business owners should take note. If you have an employee or customer base in the EU, you must make sure you are in compliance or risk heavy fines and a legal hot mess.  Even if you don’t have contacts in the EU, GDPR signals it’s time for you to reconsider any personal data you collect and to assess its security.

What Kind of Personal Data Are We Talking About?

Most everything.  The data that is included in GDPR is very broad. According to the policies, personal data is any information that relates to an actual living individual.  This can include your name, home address, email address, phone number, or even location data from your mobile device.

A New Global Standard

It’s important to understand the driving principles of the GDPR legislation.  Whether you have customers in the EU or not, these principles are now setting the standard.  All companies can check themselves against these practices when collecting any personal data on employees, clients, or potential customers.

GDPR Guiding Principles:

Legitimate Interest

Companies may only collect personal data for a very clearly defined legitimate purpose.  They may not use personal data for a purpose that it was not intended.  A company may not collect more data than is needed for the purpose it is intended.  Example – If you are delivering pizzas, you can ask for a home address but not the marital status of your customer.

Consent

Individuals must be told when companies are collecting their data, and they should be allowed control over giving access to their data.  Example – If a company’s website uses cookies to track online activities of customers, this must be disclosed and permission must be obtained.

Individual Control

Giving individuals control of their privacy is a guiding principle of the GDPR legislation.  Along with establishing consent (above), individuals must be given the ability to access and view data and to delete it if they so choose.

Data Security

Companies must secure the personal data they are collecting and processing.  If a data breach occurs, you must notify individuals within 72 hours of being informed of the breach.  Gone are the days of notifying customers months and years after a breach.

Length of Storage

Data should only be kept as long as it is legitimately needed for its intended purpose.  Example – If you keep employee data, you must purge the information when you no longer have an employment or legal relationship with an individual.  Similarly, customer data should be purged at the end of a contractual relationship.

The GDPR was seven years in the making, and its guiding principles make good business sense.  Companies who adopt these principles stand to strengthen trust with customers.  They will be better positioned to compete in a marketplace that is being required to take more responsibility for data privacy and security.

We are currently helping Bellaworks clients comply with GDPR, and we keep up with the latest standards in security.  Talk with us about how we can help your company.

 

In recent months, we have met with several millennials who have been on a mission to get their company to build a new website.  These millennials are impressive.  They instinctively understand the power and importance of a company’s web presence and are highly motivated to grow their businesses.

Many describe their company’s owners as being hesitant to undertake a website redesign, but once they get the “green light” to “look into a new website,” we meet to discuss the possibilities.  They return to their company and face the challenge of convincing older senior managers why a new website would be a great investment.

We want to help millennials and other savvy professionals communicate to their bosses why it is time for a website refresh or redo.  You know your site’s not working, but how do you effectively explain this to people who think it’s fine?

Here are some topics to think about that can help identify the pieces that are missing and the opportunities for improvement.  These topics can help your management team see that same old company site in a different way.  We want you to get both the “yes, look into a new website” and the “yes, let’s build it.”

Once Upon a Time?

Does your website tell the story of your company at another point in time?  In today’s economy, companies can experience significant growth even in a short period of time.  If your site does not reflect your company’s current level of expertise, it’s a great time to reposition, showcase your best work, and get credit for your experience.

You Do What?

Can your visitors figure out what your company does within about 5 seconds of landing on your site?  Has your company’s tagline and elevator pitch changed?  Visitors generally have a problem to solve or something they want to buy, and they want to qualify you and find out quickly if you have what they need.

Long Overdue for a Spring Cleaning? 

Clients come to us with cluttered sites all the time.  We hear that a site has been in use for years and now “no one can find anything.”  If your site has an old design and has become cluttered with years of additions, it’s time to get back to basics.  Your visitors need to be able to scan your site on a mobile device and get what they need quickly.

Who Do I Call?

Does your site easily convert visitors?  Has your process for taking inquiries changed or does it need to?  Clear contact info and calls to action are a must for engaging with your audience.

Do We Use Any of This Anymore?

Do you have a blog that hasn’t been updated in years?  Photographs of employees who no longer work at your company?  Portfolios that are outdated?  Rest assured, you’re not alone.  Reconsider the strategy behind how you use your website.

Stuck in 2016?

In the last two years, mobile viewing of websites has overtaken viewing on personal computers.  In fact, mobile responsive sites are now industry standard, and if yours isn’t responsive, it’s time for a rebuild.  A good mobile design supports everything else – your user experience, potential conversions, and ranking within search results.

 Are You Secure?

Installing a website security certificate (SSL), which gives your site the “https” in your domain, has become a best practice.  A SSL encrypts all information that is transmitted to and from your site, protecting both your site and your users.  A side benefit of an SSL is that your site will be viewed more positively by search engines, boosting you in search results.

Another aspect of security to consider is whether or not it’s time to protect some of the information you post on your website.  Maybe you would like to put certain information on a password protected page so that it is viewable only by certain clients or vendors.  Or, maybe your users should have their own log in.

Millennials know it.  Your company’s website is a critical tool.  When you “get the green light” to pursue a new website, call Bellaworks.  We will make sure that your customers connect with your company quickly and effortlessly.

One of the best compliments we can receive for a job well done is a referral.  Just recently we launched a new website for First Presbyterian Church Concord, a project that came to us through a referral from our friends at First Presbyterian Church Uptown.  We are so proud of the way the new FPC Concord’s site turned out, and we invite you to take a look.

The website redesign was part of the church’s efforts to re-brand and attract younger members and families.  The church recognized that in order to attract new members they needed to make it easier for visitors to get information and to connect with the church community.  In addition, the church wanted to freshen its look and showcase itself as a vibrant, dynamic, and welcoming community.

FPC Concord’s new website has a clean, modern design that is very user friendly and offers easy navigation.  New photographs offer wonderful glimpses into the community.  An “I’m New” button was added to the homepage to make it easy for visitors to get the information they need.  The church also designed a beautiful new logo that was inspired by needlepoint cushions stitched by members decades ago.  All of the interior content, forms, and sermon archives were reworked to make sure that they are easy to access and to keep updated.

We are so glad for all the ways this new website will help support the FPC Concord community.