6 Things Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Dogs

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Published on August 31, 2021

You can forget about investing thousands of dollars in a business coach. Here’s a fun fact: your dog might be the best business coach around. We have learned a lot from our canine buddies over the years.

Here at SiteSwan, we're all dog lovers, and we believe there are several things everyone can learn from dogs and apply to their day-to-day activities as entrepreneurs in the web design industry. Even if you prefer cats over dogs, there are still a few lessons that man’s/woman’s best friend can teach you about success in business and in life.

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SCAM ALERT: Beware of this Fake Email Claiming Copyright Image Infringement on Your Website

Phishing scam email alert
Published on April 14, 2021. Updated on August 11, 2021

Reports are continuing to come in from all across the internet about scammers who are sending malicious messages to website owners via the contact forms on their website. This phishing email scam aggressively accuses the website owner of using copyrighted images, and encourages them to click a link that supposedly leads to a list of the images that are in violation.

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The Biggest Mistakes Web Designers Make (And How to Avoid Them)

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Published on August 9, 2021

As a freelance web designer, you can enjoy the excitement of being paid and appreciated for your tech savvy skills. You also have the freedom to set your own hours and work from anywhere that has a reliable Internet connection. There are a lot of perks that come with starting your own web design business, but like any business, it also has its struggles.

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been doing this for a while, you are bound to run into some issues sooner or later. Many of these issues, however, can be avoided.

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How to Supplement Your Income with the SiteSwan Website Reseller Program

Ways to supplement your income
Published on August 5, 2021

There's a good reason why so many individuals are getting into the business of building websites, and it boils down to the simple notion that every business on the planet needs a website.

It doesn’t matter what type of business it is, what industry it’s in, where it’s located, or how small it might be – having a website is no longer an exception, it’s an expectation. If a business doesn't have a website, it puts them at a clear disadvantage from the competition.

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3 Tips for Writing Search-Friendly Website Content

How to write search friendly content
Published on August 3, 2021

Every business wants to be found when their potential clients conduct a local search online. Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is what allows small business websites to be found at or near the top of search results. And one of the most important aspects of SEO is high quality written content that’s optimized for search.

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9 Reasons Why the SiteSwan Website Reseller Program is a Pandemic-Proof Business

Web design pandemic proof business
Published on May 4, 2021. Updated on July 20, 2021

There’s no getting around the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected just about every industry and business to some extent or another. Nearly 30% of all small businesses across America have experienced a decrease in sales since the start of the pandemic. Many businesses have closed permanently, while others are still struggling to recover from the fallout of the past year. Entire industries were turned upside down – the restaurant and hospitality industries, for example, have had no choice but to completely revamp their entire business models in order to survive.

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5 Tips for Finding Web Design Clients Using SiteSwan's Local Prospecting Tool

Finding web design clients
Published on July 14, 2021

Most web designers make the mistake of sitting back and waiting for clients to come to them. While referrals and inbound leads are great, they are often not enough to scale your business. This often results in periods of highs and lows or a feeling of “feast or famine” - you’re either overwhelmed with work or starving for business.  If you want to run a successful web design business with predictable growth, you need a way to consistently generate leads and take on new clients.

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3 Ways to Make Money as SiteSwan Website Reseller

How you make money with siteswan
Published on July 8, 2021
 
If you're going to get into an industry, it's best that you choose one where you can bring in revenue in several different ways. Whether it’s part-time or full-time, building and selling websites to small businesses with SiteSwan can be a great business opportunity and can provide a steady stream of income that you can count on for years to come. If you're thinking about starting your own web design business, here are the 3 primary ways you can make money as a SiteSwan Website Reseller...

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Top website builders
Published on July 7, 2021

We’re pleased to announce that SiteSwan Website Builder has been recognized as one of the top website building softwares in 2021 by Capterra, a free online service that helps organizations find the right software.

With nearly a perfect 5-star rating and dozens of glowing reviews from real, verified users, SiteSwan has ranked in the top 20 website builders from all over the globe. This is the second year in a row that SiteSwan has received this honor. Capterra's Shortlist identifies the top software companies based on a proprietary blend of user ratings and popularity.

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Understanding the Basics of Local SEO

Understanding the basics of local seo
Published on July 1, 2021

With nearly 2 billion websites on the internet, it’s always been a challenge for small businesses to stand out online. There is competition everywhere, from other local mom and pop shops in your area to big box stores to online-only retailers. On top of that, tens of thousands of new websites are launched every single day, adding to this ever-growing list.

Oftentimes it can feel impossible for a small, local business to compete online. However, thanks to changes in search algorithms, small businesses now have a better chance of coming up in local search results by implementing some basic SEO techniques.

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8 Reasons Why Websites are Essential to All Small Businesses

Why you need a website
Published on June 21, 2021

Last year COVID drastically changed the way we do business. Lockdowns hurt the profitability of many struggling small businesses, and, to survive, many of them took to the internet to see if they could reach their customers online.

Businesses have been transitioning to digital to reach new markets and boost sales for years, but the lockdowns of 2020 and the challenges of the past year increased this focus significantly. Now that more businesses are looking to establish themselves online due to the pandemic, it makes sense that the old way of doing business just isn't coming back.

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SiteSwan Website Builder Celebrates its 10 Year Anniversary

Siteswan 10 year anniversary
Published on June 16, 2021

This month SiteSwan is celebrating 10 years of success as a white label website builder and web design business-in-a-box. This is a milestone that very few software companies can brag about. SiteSwan was launched in 2011 as a way for web designers to easily create and sell websites to their small business clients without any code. Over the past decade, SiteSwan has grown rapidly, establishing one of the most successful website reseller programs in the country, powering over 15,000 small business websites and used by thousands of agencies, designers and entrepreneurs all over the globe.

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Looking for a Franchise Opportunity? SiteSwan's Website Builder Reseller Program Could Be a Better Option

Best web design franchise opportunity
Looking for a franchise? The SiteSwan Website Reseller Program might be a better option.
Published in June 7, 2021

If you’ve been thinking about starting your own business, you’ve probably considered investing in a franchise. Do a quick search on Google, and you’ll find plenty of franchise opportunities, with hundreds of companies touting how their product is special, their concept is unique and how you can build your own successful business around their brand. But like anything, there is no guarantee you will be successful even with a franchise, nor is it the best option to starting a business.

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5 Myths about Becoming a Web Designer

5 myths about becoming a web designer
Published on March 3, 2021. Updated on June 2, 2021.

Web design can be an exciting and rewarding career. It offers the freedom and flexibility to work from home, set your own hours, and generate passive income. But for some entrepreneurs, especially those who might be less tech savvy, the thought of starting your own web design business can be intimidating.

Here are 5 myths about becoming a web designer and why they shouldn’t scare you away!

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Webinar: How to Design Websites for Small Businesses in 4 Easy Steps

How to design websites for small businesses
Published on May 26, 2021

RECORDED WEBINAR

First impressions matter. That's why it's so important to design websites that look great. Our simple 4-step approach will show you how to create beautiful small business websites that will WOW your clients and sell fast.

In this webinar, we show you exactly how it's done and offer some tips to help you create great looking sites every time.
 

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How to Design Websites for Small Businesses in 4 Easy Steps

How to design websites in 4 easy steps
Published on May 13, 2021

It’s estimated that the majority of new site visitors will spend less than 15 seconds on a website unless you’re able to capture their attention and make them want to stay longer. This is just one of the many reasons why website design is so important. You only have a short period of time to make a good first impression, engage visitors and keep them on your site. As a web designer, your small business clients are depending on you to create a site that looks great and appeals to their customers.
 

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How to Land Your First Reputation Management Client on Facebook

How to land your first reputation management client on facebook
Published on April 26, 2021

In today’s highly competitive market, online customer reviews are more important than ever for businesses large and small. What customers are saying about a business has a direct impact on sales. In fact, the majority of consumers will read online reviews before making a purchase decision and most customers will only choose a business that has 4 or more stars. Maintaining a positive online reputation on sites like Google, Yelp and Facebook is something businesses can’t afford to ignore. 
 

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Webinar: 12 Ways to Get Web Design Clients with SiteSwan

Webinar 12 ways to get web design clients
Published on April 21, 2021

RECORDED WEBINAR

Getting clients is key to any business. Without clients, you don't have much of a business at all. Whether you’ve been building websites for years, or just starting out with the SiteSwan Website Reseller Program, finding new customers is the key to growing a successful web design business and generating a steady stream of passive income.
 

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Introduction to Adding Live Chat and Chatbots to Your Website

Adding live chat and chatbots to a website
April 8, 2021

In the fast paced digital world we now live, customers demand multiple channels of communication and immediate answers to their questions online. For businesses looking to take their marketing and customer support to new heights, live chat and chatbots are two very popular solutions.

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12 Ways to Get Web Design Clients

Finding web design clients
Getting clients is key to any business. Without clients, you don't have much of a business at all. Whether you’ve been building websites for years, or just starting out with the SiteSwan Website Reseller Program, finding new customers is the key to growing a successful web design business and generating a steady stream of passive income.

Let us help you take the guesswork out of finding clients in your area with these 12 ways to get web design clients.

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How to Add Online Food Ordering to a Restaurant Website with SiteSwan

Add online ordering to restaurant website
March 30, 2021

Online food ordering has exploded over recent years. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has fueled this growth even more. With social distancing and restrictions on indoor dining in place, more and more restaurants are looking to expand their takeout and delivery service by offering online ordering to their customers. Customers are also enjoying the added benefits and convenience of online ordering including flexible scheduling and more dining options to choose from. It's safe to say that the demand for online food ordering will continue to rise even after the pandemic subsides.

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4 Ways to Market Your Web Design Agency During a Pandemic

Web design marketing ideas
February 9, 2021


If there’s one thing that we can all agree on about COVID-19, it’s that the pandemic has been an immense learning experience for the vast majority of people across the world. Many have had no choice but to completely upend their daily approach to living, and this is especially true for business owners. Running a business during a global pandemic of this scale is something no one could have expected or adequately planned for, and all of a sudden, it has become the task du jour for millions of individuals and entrepreneurs. 

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10 Common Traits of Successful Leaders that Entrepreneurs Can Learn From

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10 Common Traits of Successful Leaders that Entrepreneurs Can Learn From
February 2, 2021

The recent inauguration of the 46th United States President Joseph Biden has brought to the public sphere a renewed interest in the conversation about what makes a true leader. Many people believe that leadership skills are possessed only by a small sub-sect of 'special' individuals, however the truth is that all of us have access to the same traits as the successful leaders we look up to. One thing is for sure: taking a closer look at the traits and characteristics of leaders you respect can help move you closer to running a successful web design company with SiteSwan. 

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5 COVID-Ready Website Features Every Business Needs

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January 26, 2021
 
As we continue to face the challenges of COVID-19, many small businesses are being forced to temporarily close or move their entire operations online. A professional website is no longer an exception, but rather an essential tool that every business needs in order to survive the pandemic. As a result, affordable web design is in high demand with millions of businesses scrambling to get online. At SiteSwan, we’ve welcomed a record number of new resellers onboard, and witnessed thousands of new sites launched over the past 10 months.

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3 Ways to Make More Money as a Web Designer

3ways to make more money as a web designer
January 19, 2021

Running your own web design business can be an extremely financially rewarding career. Selling websites to small businesses comes with both upfront and recurring income, that most times can be sustained for many years. And because frequent updates are usually not requested by your clients, lots of web designers enjoy what they call "hands-off recurring income" that they can rely on month after month.

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7 Direct Sales Tips for Web Designers

7 direct sales tips for web designers
January 12, 2021

Building a successful web design business requires more than just the right software and an “eye for design." In fact, a large portion of your time and efforts will be spent on marketing and business development. Direct sales in particular can play a key role in the success of any web design business, and the more you can do to streamline your efforts, the more likely it is that they'll pay off for you.

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4 Benefits of Starting a Web Design Business During Covid-19

4 benefits of starting a web design business during covid 19
December 9, 2020

Launching a new business in the midst of a pandemic can be a scary thought. But it also presents a compelling opportunity. When most new entrepreneurs are reluctant or fearful, it’s an opportunity for you to step up your game, launch your own business and grab market share. Starting your own web design business during Covid-19 has a few other hidden benefits as well.

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Tough Times Create New Opportunities for Web Designers

New opportunities for web designers
December 1, 2020

The COVID-19 crisis has wreaked unprecedented havoc on businesses and the economy, and virtually no industry has been spared. Layoffs and downsizing are inevitable as many companies are struggling to stay afloat.

In this uncertain environment, where jobs and financial security are at risk, many individuals are choosing self-employment instead. Entrepreneurs who invest in themselves and in digital businesses are set to not only survive, but thrive during and after this pandemic.

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Why is Reputation Management Important For Small Businesses?

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November 10, 2020

Traditionally, referrals and word of mouth were the engines driving the growth for small businesses. Recommendations from family and friends built up trust for small businesses catering to local communities. This traditional form of reputation building, which was of paramount importance for small businesses at one time, has now gone digital, giving millions of customers the power to make or break any business with the click of a button.


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The Importance of a Good Website For Any Small Business

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November 6, 2020

The world is going digital at a rapid pace, and it's more important than ever for businesses to position themselves to take advantage of this trend. According to the data published by the Search Engine Journal, more than nine out of 10 online experiences start at a search engine. In simple words, if a business does not have a professionally designed website, they can be losing out on 90% of the market opportunities for their business.


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5 reasons to start a web design business before another spike
October 23, 2020

A fall COVID-19 spike could be coming. We’re already seeing a rise in COVID cases across the country and experts are predicting the coming months will be the worst spike we’ve seen in months. Will the economy be able to withstand another devastating hit? Will you have a job? Running your own web design business offers you job security that an employer can’t. Don’t put your faith or future in someone else’s hands; take control and be prepared for the worst by starting your own business today. Here are 5 reasons why you should start your own web design business before another COVID-19 spike...



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8 Tips for Running a Web Design Business Part Time with SiteSwan
8 Tips for Running a Web Design Business Part Time with SiteSwan
October 7, 2020

One of the things that makes web design such an attractive industry to be in, and such an intriguing business to start, is that it does not need to be run with a full-time commitment. Many people who offer web design do it on the side as a source of supplemental income. You don’t have to devote 40 hours a week to bring in substantial revenue when you can earn $500 - $1,000+ from each site you sell, plus residual monthly income. If you are running it efficiently, a web design business can be profitably maintained with part-time hours. Here are 8 tips to help you do that:


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September 23, 2020

If you’re a web designer or run a digital marketing agency, or thinking about getting into this field, offering Reputation Management to your clients can be an easy up-sell opportunity and a great way to expand your services, improve client retention, and increase your revenue. Understanding the basics of Reputation Management and why online reviews are important will help you successfully integrate it into your product offerings and sell it to your clients. In this webinar we discuss the important of Reputation Management and how you can sell this lucrative service to local businesses in your area.


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Start your own web design business
September 17, 2020

With everything going on in the world from the global coronavirus pandemic to wildfires to economic uncertainty, it’s never been more important to have a financial safety net that you can rely on. A financial safety net is meant to protect you and your family, at least in part, if something unexpected happens - such as losing a job or falling ill. Whether it's full-time or part-time, building and selling websites can provide a reliable and steady source of income to keep you financially stable in any economic climate.


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Sell reputation management
SiteSwan's Reputation Management feature is proving to be a valuable tool for many SiteSwan Resellers. It's the first true expansion of SiteSwan's services beyond web design, and it's ideal for anyone interested in selling digital marketing services to small businesses. But what exactly is it?  It's a new tool that helps small businesses easily manage and respond to online reviews while also helping them increase their average star rating across the major review sites.


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If you’re a web designer or run a digital marketing agency, offering Reputation Management to your clients can be an easy up-sell opportunity and a great way to expand your services, improve client retention, and increase your revenue. Understanding the basics of Reputation Management and why online reviews are important, will help you be able to successfully integrate it into your product offerings and sell it to your clients.

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6 Back to School Marketing Ideas for Web Designers

Back to school marketing ideas web designers
All across the U.S., school is back in session. That means kids are heading back to class, traffic is heavier, commutes are longer and schedules are busier. For many web designers, especially those that are parents, September seems to fly by in a blink of an eye. That doesn't mean your web design business needs to suffer, though. Here are 6 back to school marketing ideas to promote your web design business and make the most of the upcoming school year.

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6 Businesses that Need a Website Now

Business that need a website
The COVID-19 crisis has a had a huge impact on small businesses everywhere. For some, a website has become their only chance for survival. For others, a website is allowing them to keep up with increased demand due to the pandemic. Whether you are looking to start or grow your web design agency, consider focusing your sales efforts on these 6 businesses that need a website now more than ever.

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7 Steps to Launching a Successful Web Design Business with SiteSwan

How to start a web design business
One of the biggest questions entrepreneurs struggle with when starting a new business is what to do first? Kicking off a new business, especially one in an industry you've never worked in before, can leave you curious about which steps you need to take to get the business off the ground.

Starting a web design business is fun and rewarding, but like anything, it takes time, hard work, and dedication to find success. As a future business owner in this space, you should have the beginning stages of ownership planned out. Use these steps as a guideline to show you the simple path to a successful launch.
 

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6 Reasons to Start a Web Design Business During COVID-19

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Have you been thinking about starting your own web design business? Don't put your entrepreneurial dreams on hold. Despite COVID-19's impact on the global economy, many industries are flourishing and businesses everywhere still need a website. In fact, this is a great time to build and sell websites to local businesses in your area. Here are 6 reasons why you should start a web design business during COVID-19.

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How to Sell Websites to Small Businesses in 5 Easy Steps

Sell websites to small businesses
If you're looking to grow a successful web design business, you need a scalable website building platform like SiteSwan. You also need an effective and scalable sales process that will allow you to consistently and quickly take on new clients. Below we outlined the 5 exact steps we used to successfully grow our own web design agency using the SiteSwan platform.

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Create Your Own Economic Stimulus Package Building Websites for Small Businesses

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The coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted many people’s lives both physically and financially. Millions of Americans are without jobs and unemployment rates are at record highs. Not knowing if and when you’ll be back to work is a very scary feeling. Sure, an extra check from the government is nice, but it's not nearly enough for most people.  For those who want to take control of their own financial future, self-employment is a great option.

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Covid 19 53e0d0424d 1920
It feels like the world is shutting down. With the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), we are facing new challenges everyday. It’s easy to just accept our losses, hunker down and wait for better times. But many web designers are taking different approach; continuing their sales efforts, building sites, finding new opportunities, and experiencing record-breaking growth and in these unprecedented times. You can too.

Here are 8 tips to help you sell websites despite the COVID-19 pandemic...

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With everything going on in this country surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, you might be wondering  “Which businesses actually need a website now?”. The truth is, over the last few weeks, we’ve seen record numbers for new sites launched on the SiteSwan platform. With social distancing and stay-at-home orders in effect, small businesses are depending on their online presence now more than ever. The demand for affordable web design is on the rise and many SiteSwan resellers are reaping the benefits. Businesses need a website and they need it fast. For some it’s a matter of survival.
 

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With the recent global developments surrounding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small businesses everywhere are being forced to think outside the box in order to survive. For many, who cannot conduct business as usual by being in the office, at the store, or seeing customers, relying on their website is their only hope. Here are 5 ways small businesses can use their website to make it through these challenging times.

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Addressing Client Concerns in Uncertain Times

Covid 19
How Agencies can Respond to the COVID-19 Crisis

I recently got an email from one of our SiteSwan Resellers who wanted to know the best way to address her client's concerns about investing in a new website in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. While her client knew they needed a new website, they were hesitant to move forward with everything going on in the country. She wanted to know how to respond?

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5 Healthy Reasons to Work from Home

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Starting a home based web design business is not only be a great business opportunity, it might even be beneficial for your health. Here are 5 reasons to start your own web design business and work from home.
 
1. Avoid germs
Working from home can help you avoid harmful germs that you might otherwise come in contact with on a daily basis commuting to and from work. Mass transportation, crowded office buildings, closed door meetings, public bathrooms and elevators all expose you to other peoples’ germs and increase your risk of getting sick...

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How to Sell Reputation Management to Local Businesses

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SiteSwan's new Reputation Management feature allows you to white label and sell review monitoring and reputation management services to your existing web design clients and other local businesses. Selling reputation management is a great way to add value to the services you are already offering, differentiate yourself from the competition and generate a new stream of recurring revenue. Below  we outline some of the main steps and tips for effectively selling Reputation Management as a service.

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8 Ways to Improve Website Accessibility and ADA Compliance

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The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) protects the rights of individuals with disabilities and helps ensure that "places of public accommodation," including websites, are accessible to anyone including people with disabilities. While there are currently no exact prescriptions for making your website 100% ADA compliant there are several things you can do to help protect yourself from legal liability and improve your website's accessibility by following these best website practices. 


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Back-to-School Means Back-to-Business: It's Prime Time for Web Design

Back to business
September is here and that means it’s back-to-school season. For students, it’s a new beginning and a fresh start to the coming year. For parents, it means getting back into the hectic school routine. For local business owners, many of which are also parents, they can now re-focus on their business because the kids are back to school. And now is the time to act for web designers. Everyone is in the mindset of making a fresh start, and this is the time when small businesses are ready to launch their new sites and other new marketing initiatives.

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