Hope

What an emotional week. Have you ever experienced so many highs and lows at once, you get the feeling that you can’t breathe?

Stress can be very overwhelming and when you have a history of anxiety, some situations should be avoided; yet they can’t always be.

I have so many things on my plate this week that it took me until Monday night to even hear about the fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral, but when I did, I felt a rush of emotions.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Of course, my immediate response was sadness, but then I felt a rush of gratefulness for all of the travels I experienced almost twenty years ago. Having a passion for landscape photography, I believe I photographed (with film) every church I passed through all 8 countries I traveled. (Maybe I'll try to dig some of those images out of their albums and scan them in to share with you soon.)

I never made it to France, thus not having the pleasure of visiting Notre Dame, but it’s been on my bucket list and I have sought out photographs of this cathedral for years. Here are a few of my favorites from this week for you to enjoy!

Photo Credit to Instagram User: @miiiladzzz

Photo Credit to Instagram User: @sahika_banu_karakaslar

Photo Credit to Instagram User: @pannafox

Photo Credit to Instagram User: @vilumbrales

Witnessing the unity from this fire makes me hopeful that we (the people of this world) can love each other as much as we love a place, a building. It makes me hopeful that we can recognize the little things, needs and even the history in our own backyards.

What need will you recognize and move on? Today, I’m getting out of my comfort zone, asking the hard questions, and collecting resources for those who feel there is no hope. There are so many victims of domestic violence who feel there are no resources to help. Let's bring those resources to the forefront and give back hope.

If you have resources for Georgia Victims of Domestic Violence, please drop them below.

Web Designer & SEO Copy Writer

Today, there are a ton of tools on the market for building your own website. Doing it yourself is a great low-cost-solution for an entrepreneur, non-profit or startup company who does not have the funds in their budget to outsource the project.

WEBSITE DESIGN TOOLS

Let's talk about Design Tools. First, you'll find a few tools that are free to use with a friendly user interface. Typically, these free tool offer an upgraded plan that comes with more features. Last, you'll find a list of tools that are only available at a cost. While I'm not going to review each tool today, let me at least provide you my list.

Free Design Tools: Google Sites (though I will warn you, this is not designed to create small business websites) Ucraft, Weebly, Wix and WordPress.com. All of these tools will display an ad on your site in exchange for free use, some will limit your bandwidth (how many users can visit your site each month), but most of them offer free upgraded plans which come with better features.

Paid Design Tools: GoDaddy.com - GoCentral Website Designer, Wix, Squarespace, WordPress (click here to choose between WordPress .com and .org) and there is also a web design tool called Zenfolio for photographers. I haven't built a site using Zenfolio yet, but it seems like a good all-around-option for the photographer who wants to build their own site and pay for multiple features in one monthly payment.

Currently, my preference is Wix. But why? As an affordable web designer, Wix allows me to start with a client approved template, but gives me the freedom to be as creative as I want. Wix offers collection of tools such a customer management system including contact lists and an automated email system, online store, members only area and so many more features which allow for and support growth.

WHY HIRE AN EXPERT?

So with all of these tools available, why should you consider hiring an expert Web Designer and/or SEO Copy writer?

The top reason to hire an expert is to get it right the first time and time management, of course. Rather than spending your time learning a new skillset and the functionality of tools that do not benefit your business beyond the design of your website, hire it out.

Product choice. Do you know which web design tool offers all the feature you need to create your final product? Can you choose a tool that will grow with your business, or will you end having to redesign and relaunch as after your business outgrows your initial website? 

Time to market. Even if you're not open for business yet, I bet you have a start date in mind. Have an expert complete your website for you, in order to launch on time.

Expert launches make the biggest impact. Are you capable of creating the right amount of buzz about your website launch before you launch? Do you know how much bandwidth is necessary to keep the site live during a launch?

Those are all great reasons to work with an expert Web Designer, but don't forget the most valuable asset of SEO knowledge. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and is arguably the most valuable asset of a website.

While social media and ads can target your audience, ads have a cost associated to them, but a website with good search engine optimization will target your ideal audience without the demand for recurring, costly ads.

SEO STRATEGY TIPS FOR THE DIY-ER

If you are still unsure about whether you want to tackle your own web design or hire an expert, download my FREE Guide. At least these tips will help you consider the different aspects of SEO.

Comment below with your experience about building your own website or hiring an expert.

@Tiffanie Teel | Facebook: @TiffanieTeel.TT | Instagram: @TiffanieTeel

A NEW WEBSITE LAUNCH THAT WILL KNOCK OFF YOUR SOCKS

Today is an exciting day. I get to launch the most beautiful website that I've ever designed, and even better, it markets a friend and her business. Kayla Duffey is such a talented photographer, and I feel so lucky that she asked me to design her very first website. I'm so honored and thrilled to share it with you because I'm so happy with the final result!

The Design Process

I've been waiting a long time to work with someone who was deserving of the look and feel this website brings. Don't get me wrong, any client deserves the best, but you gotta stay in your lane. Not just any industry website can be as pretty as one of a photographer. Once Kayla decided she wanted to move forward, I interviewed her. It is important for me to understand the vision my clients have for the final result. Otherwise, how can I deliver a satisfactory product?

Kayla's photography is light and airy, so it was important to portray that same look in her website. First things first, filter through all the images. And let me tell you, that part didn't suck! Her work had me longing for photos of my own. Besides identifying the right images for her site, we had to find the perfect script font, identify the topics that needed to be covered and sections of the website that would draw future clients in so that there would be no other choice in photographers.

I can't tell you how laid back Kayla was to work with. She is a super busy mom of two in school, and she's already booked out into 2019. I was constantly surprised at how fast she was able to get me all the things, like her bio and so many other things that a designer depends on her clients for. With behavior like this, we were bound to produce a beautiful thing!

What You Get

The result is stunning! The entire site is desktop and mobile friendly, allowing both audiences to navigate the sticky menu with ease. Kayla's Instagram feed is to die for, so this is an aspect I had to feature throughout the site which will give site visitors a new look each time they land anywhere within kayladuffeyphotography.com.

My Favorite

I think my very favorite aspect of this website is how each page scrolls on a desktop. It feels modern, but yet looks so classic!

I also love how Kayla detailed and what each of her packages include and the price. As a shopper, I want to know if I like the style of the photographer and can I afford her. And Kayla answers these questions for her audience.

The Detail

Did you know Kayla Duffey is a 15 time published photographer? And there are new publications up for review right now. Whether you're looking for engagement photos, a warm wedding venue or just want to know who your photographer is, you'll find it here when searching for the Top Newnan Wedding Photographer.

Please take the time to visit and look around the site. I would love to hear your feedback, so leave a comment below. I certainly hope you love it as much as I do - so be sure to check it out from your mobile and a desktop! If you are already to book a session for 2019, click here, and mention my name! Did I mention she will travel? Now, it's time for Kayla and I to pop the champagne and celebrate!

A Year of Change

I entered one of the biggest transitions of my life, recently. And with it came heartache and tears, joy and happiness, laughter and friendship, and so many more adjectives. Honestly, I don't know how I am already reflecting on the past four amazing years that I was given! But the days of parenting at home with my boy all day, day after day have passed. Now, we're a few months into our new normal.

It's funny. I had all these plans for how I would spend my mornings while he is in PreK, but it seems those dreams need to wait a little longer. God threw a few blessings my way which are blossoming into these beautiful projects that make me feel accomplished and even a little giddy. I didn't realize a little techy project could fulfill my inner soul so.

If you know me well, you know that before parenthood, I designed a few websites here and there, managed a few small businesses social media, and dabbled in a few other marketing strategies, but did you know I've been doing it again?

Yeah, so get this. A sweet client from my past called and wanted to run a few web solutions by me. He said that he'd been approached by several companies trying to convince him he needed to update his website, but,note, they all said the same thing. While your site doesn't have a current design, it's doing its job, well. The funny thing about this one is that we new when we put that site to work over 5 years ago, it wasn't a savvy design then, but to keep cost down, we worked within the parameters that we were given. In other words, he had a small business that needed a solution to fit his budget. I made that happen then, and he called me back.

I seriously told myself that I didn't want to do this kind of work again. But as we sat discussing what these companies were selling, I couldn't stop myself from getting back in the game. So it seems, I should stop saying, "no, God!" Because He's gonna keep saying, "yes, Tiffanie!"

Back to when I mentioned "reflection". Wow! God, once again, knew what we needed. A little extra income, new friends, a community of people who need the solutions I can provide and even a confidence boost for a mom who has self-doubted herself since the moment her smarter-than-she-is boy began to walk and talk. (Read between the lines. Parenting an infant was sweet and beautiful, but as soon as infant became toddler... life got messy and harder than ever.)

"It's all messy, the hair, the bed, the words, the heart, life."

I'm so proud to say that we are settling into our new season. The new Newnan Routine feels pretty good, and I sure adore witnessing my boy come home talking about all the things he's learned with all the friends he has made. The website that started all this was published, and I can proudly say that it's shuffling all the daily traffic and it meets today's design standards too.

If you want to hear more about my next few projects coming down the pipe very soon, stay tuned. As it turns out, affordable small business solutions are scarce. I, however, can help! Newnan Small Business Solutions are just a phone call away from me.