Creative Ground are a Gold Coast Website Design, WordPress & Digital Marketing Agency.
Keep up to date with all our latest articles.
Ultimate Guide To The Best WordPress Plugins 2019. As recommended by Creative Ground. How to find a good plugin for your WordPress Website. In this article we discuss our ultimate guide for the best WordPress plugins for 2019. This is based on Creative Ground’s experience using WordPress plugins in both test and live environments. Using…
Woocommerce Flat Rate Shipping. Woocommerce shipping made easy. Woocommerce shipping is a very important and valuable tool for any online store website. It is however often very misunderstood and underappreciated. It can be extremely daunting trying to setup shipping in woocommerce if you don’t have the knowledge. In this article we will simplify the process…
Compress images for your websites. Ever wondered why it’s so important to compress your images for your website and why web developers and website designers always urge not to load images over 1MB…. When it comes to developing and designing a website, a large portion of the website content incorporates images. We cannot emphasis enough…
Black Friday / Cyber Monday 2018 Best WordPress Deals Around. Are you looking for the best WordPress deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday? These are the top 8 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Specials that we would recommend. This is the best time of year to renew your WordPress licenses and buy that expensive…
When Last did you update your version of WordPress? Getting your car serviced is extremely important to the health and longevity of your vehicle. Well the same goes with your website. Ensuring that your website remains up to date is a vital part of a successful website. Whenever WordPress does an update, we get clients…
14 Elements for a Successful Website Homepage Improving your current website or planing a website redesign. This article is based on the structure elements of a successful website’s homepage. A well crafted website homepage is a great way to generate more leads for your business. When looking at statistics… Over 80% of people don’t move…
7 Steps to Maintaining your WordPress Website Congratulations you have a WordPress website and you have started marketing it. But have you given any consideration to maintaining your website? Yes you heard me correctly, just like you would service and maintain a car, you need to ensure you are maintaining your website as well. We…
Understanding Link Building You have decided you need to do some form of online marketing and there are so many options from Google Adwords, SEO, Social Media marketing to Newsletter marketing and they can all be so confusing. But everyone you speak to keep mentioning Link Building and they are right. Link building is a…
HTML Code Cheat Sheet For WordPress. HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. HTML is the set of markup symbols or codes inserted in a file intended for display on a World Wide Web browser page. The markup tells the Web browser how to display a Web page’s words and images for the user. so…
SEO Essential Elements You Could be Missing When it comes to SEO, there is a lot of work involved in on-page and off-page SEO elements including Title Tags, H1 Headings, content, image alt attributes, link building and much more (in fact we have over 200 elements that need to be constantly worked on for SEO!…
How blogs influence your SEO. For the success of your website and SEO campaigns, you need to understand how blogs influence your SEO. Blog entries and pages are the dominant substance of your site that you make which is essential in informing your clients regarding your new item that will be released, notify them about…
How to write blog posts effectively. How to write blog posts effectively to improve your SEO rankings. When you are trying to improve your SEO rank, you will see that using the same keyword on a post will not help with this strategy. What that means is that you want to make sure that you…
Making your website searchable. Making your website searchable for SEO is essential to the success of your website. Whether you’re making your website from scratch or you’re using themes from top publishers such as WordPress, you will need to know the top tricks to optimise your website and or online shop. Here are some ways…
The Importance of SEO on your Website. The importance of SEO on your website starts with understanding how it works and what search engine Optimization or SEO means. The main goal of SEO is that it makes life easier for search engines to find your website. And if your business relies on your website, then…
Benefits of Blogging. Benefits of Blogging – Search Visibility, Leads and Conversions We’re often asked about the importance of blogging for a business, especially by smaller businesses. We are all time poor in today’s age with small businesses often suffering the most or simply just not having the skill set to blog or think of topics…
Flesch Readability Test SEO Content Writing. Нow to usе thе Flesсh Reаdabіlitу test ЅЕO cоntеnt writing. А few оf us havе been guіlty of wrіtіng соntеnt fоr algоrіthms and sеаrсh еnginеs in order to apреase the sеarсh gоds, but new algorіthms аnd bеst рrаctісes аrе stееring away from rоbot fосusеd соntеnt аnd are rewardіng…
Do you have Brand Guidelines. When we sit with new clients, one of the first things we always ask is “Do you have Brand Guidelines”. It is extremely concerning how few actually say yes, and even more concerning at how few know what it is. The primary goal of a brand guidelines is to protect…
Some tricks for Image Optimization WordPress Website. Some tricks for Image Optimization WordPress Website. One of the simplest and most effective ways to take your website from good to great is Image Optimization. Not only does it help with the appearance it also helps with SEO Rankings. With Google focusing heavily on Mobile responsive websites, images…
Reverse Panda, Google has surprised the online community with a Quality Update, or is it? Google has surprised the online community with a Quality Update, or is it? The new algorithm rolled out on the 3rd May 2015, really require our attention as many say that this is a Core Algorithm Update. You will remember…
Top Tips for SEO Top Tips for SEO – SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is one of the most important parts of creating a website that pulls in natural, targeted traffic. SEO encompasses so much about building a successful website that it can seem intimidating or impossible to really cover all the ground you want to cover.…
Networking on LinkedIn. LinkedIn.com is a very buttoned up, business-focused social media network. It’s a very important player in social media marketing for business owners. It’s important to take LinkedIn seriously, but don’t be afraid to get started even if your business isn’t as buttoned up as some of the others you will find on…
Use Instagram in your Business Use Instagram in your Business – Social networking has created a wealth of opportunities for business owners. Facebook and Twitter make it quick and easy for them to get their message out to their audience, wherever they may be. But the world of social networking is constantly evolving, so it’s…
Three Elements of a Mobile Responsive Website. Three Elements of a Mobile Responsive Website – Creating specific mobile versions of your website has been deemed a necessity, but did you know that you can create one responsive website instead? Today, the ability for your website design to adjust and adapt to the user is imperative…
Blogging on your Website. A lot of people get really confused between blogs and websites. But in reality blogs are websites and websites are blogs today. At least they should be. Some business owners will create a beautiful website, then go to Blogger or WordPress.com to create a blog. Then they put all their content…
Is your Website design driving people away? If you want to conduct business on the internet then you will need some sort of presence there. This is a place that people can access to learn about you and what you are offering them. But, there is a right way and a wrong way to present…
Achieving Maximum Results From Facebook. Achieving maximum results from Facebook then you’ll need to ensure that you’re using Facebook with focus and purpose paying attention to details. First, create a Facebook profile and a Facebook business page that has complete information with links back to your website or blog, and a good image that people will…
When Should you Outsource Work? There is a lot to be done when you own a business and most of it is to be done by you. It is easy to get overwhelmed and burned out. Outsourcing can be a way to ease the burden, but when should you consider it a viable option? Running…
Three Tips for Building Your Brand with Web Design. You’ve worked hard building your business. The image you work so hard to build up and maintain is called your “brand”. All a brand is really is a symbol that represents everything you want your business to mean to the public. Every aspect of your business…
Could Poor Testimonials Affect Sales? What do customers think of your business? If you don’t know, you might want to find out. What they are saying could be affecting your sales. The Importance of Customers Customers are the backbone of any business. This includes online enterprises. Customers look to be treated in the same fashion…
Creating and Using Infographics and Charts Pinterest has emerge as the newest development in industry branding. You should utilize placing visuals to aid achieve a following on your boards and then hyperlink again to your website. Here is the right way to create and use infographics to support with business. What Are Infographics? Consider of…
Google Ad Mistakes That Advertisers Make. In order for your business to grow, you have to reach your audience with words that will motivate them to take action. This cannot be accomplished without some sort of marketing campaign. If you use Google AdWords then you are well on your way to establishing advertising that will…
Automate Your WordPress Administrative Tasks. Do you spend a lot of time handling behind the scenes tasks on your website? Wouldn’t it be great if you could put some of them on autopilot and tend to more important matters of business? Well, maybe there is a way that you can. It can become tedious to…
How Having a Mobile Responsive Website Can Boost Sales. Mobile devices are outselling personal computers, and many believe that eventually mobile devices will completely replace desktop computing for most people. What this means is that if you sell anything or market anything online, you need to have a mobile responsible website. A mobile responsible website…
Awesome Graphics Software. Manipulating graphics is a fun pastime and can even become a profitable venture if you know where to find the right tools. Today, there are so many different software applications to choose from. You can find anything from high-end and expensive graphics software to fully functional but free graphics software. Here are…
Dos and Donts of SEO. Search engine optimization (SEO) is an important element of bringing visitors to your website. In fact, it is the most important element. It involves everything from the layout of your website, to choosing fonts, to the articles and content on your website. All of this should be organized around the…
Core Elements of Testimonials. Testimonials are, in many ways, a lot like case studies. A case study is designed to present a problem or challenge, to demonstrate how the problem was resolved, and then to highlight the results. Good testimonials also contain those three elements. Let’s take a look at them individually. #1 The Challenge…
Blogging with Integrity. Blogging with Integrity – Building an Online Business You Can Be Proud Of Blogging is a huge component to business success today. It doesn’t matter if you have a bricks and mortar business or a solely online business, blogging is essential to your success. But, much in the same way that blogging…
Webinar mistakes and How to Avoid them. Holding a webinar is an effective way to connect with your audience and present information. But if you’re not careful, you could end up boring or annoying them. Here are seven common webinar mistakes and how you can avoid them. 1. Poor audio and/or video – If you’re…
Promoting Your Instagram Profile. Instagram is an excellent tool for promoting your business and its website. But in order to get the best possible results, it’s important to promote your Instagram profile as well. Here are some of the best ways to get the word out. * Get a badge. Instagram makes it easy to…
What is Instagram? Launched in 2010, Instagram is an online photo sharing service that has taken the world by storm. By its third month of existence, it had gained its first million registered users. Today, it boasts millions of users with hundreds of millions of photos uploaded. The company was purchased by Facebook for around…
Creating a Winning Affiliate Program. If you are a person who wants to create and market your own products and services, one of the marketing methods that works well is to create an affiliate program. Today, it’s easy to create an affiliate program with services such as ClickBank and E-junkie. However, just uploading your products…
Six Steps to Build a Perfectly Branded Website. One of the best things you can do when marketing your business is to have a perfectly branded website where all your marketing efforts begin and end. Just throwing up any type of website will not do your business any favors. In fact, a poorly designed website…
Common Link-Building Mistakes. Building incoming links to your website is a common off-page search engine optimization (SEO) strategy used by most webmasters and online marketers. The point of link building is to build up your authority to the search engines so that you can get more traffic to your website. But the problem with link…
Using Twitter Effectively. With over 554 million active Twitter users, and more than 58 million tweets going out each day, Twitter is an important component of all your social media marketing campaigns. But, with that many tweets going out each day, you need to learn to use Twitter effectively to make a difference. Know the…
Does Your Website Need an Update? If you first created your website from a template just because you wanted to be “on the web” but you’ve never updated it, and your website has no real traffic, it might be time to explore the idea of updating it. After all, a website is an excellent marketing…
Benefits of Social Media, Beyond Marketing! Most business owners understand the value of using social media to market their business. They create Facebook pages, LinkedIn profiles, and dutifully fill out their Bing business listing – all in the hope of expanding their marketing efforts. However, did you know there are many more benefits of social…
Mobile Commerce. From coffee shops to book stores to personal trainers, mobile commerce is taking off. Coffee shop visitors can order and pay via text, then just pick up their orders, Retail stores are offering new ways to purchase via mobile device, and even personal trainers can get in on the game by offering in-person…
Five Reasons to Start a Membership website. Many people are creating membership websites to make extra money, and they’re doing it because it works. Membership websites are one of the best ways to make money on the internet. Think about it – even companies like Amazon.com are offering a membership to get your items shipped…
Do You Know the Purpose of Your Website? When you first start out building your website, or talking to a website designer about building your website, it’s likely you’re going to be asked “What is the purpose of your website?” If you don’t know, it’s hard to create the website because without a purpose it’s…
Components of a Complete EBook. In order to have a professional eBook, it is best to stick with conventional wisdom about what goes into a complete book rather than trying to reinvent the wheel. People are accustomed to seeing certain information in a book that they buy, and your eBook is no exception. If you…
Achieving Maximum Results from Blog Posting. Creating a blog to attract traffic to your website, products and services is a must in today’s competitive Internet marketing space. Blog postings are probably the most important part of your content marketing campaign. The content from each blog post will attract, inform, engage, and compel your readers to…
Social Media Monitoring Tools to Simplify Your Efforts It can be difficult to manage all the different social media opportunities out there for your business. There are specific tools per social media type, but there are also tools that work across different types of accounts to help you find out what the buzz is, know…
How to Use Video to Improve Your Blog With the rise in popularity of video sharing sites like YouTube.com, video is becoming more popular than ever. It’s easy today now that pretty much every smartphone is equipped with video capabilities and small high resolution digital cameras are inexpensive. Plus, editing software can even be free…
One Page Membership Website Business Plan When you start any new business you should always write a business plan. A business plan will help you determine what type of technology you need, what niche you want to target, what products and services you’ll offer your membership and exactly how you plan to deliver it and…
Boost Your Reach by Joining LinkedIn Groups Social media marketing is about expanding your connections and reaching more clients and potential clients. Even though LinkedIn.com is a more buttoned up way to participate in social media, it is still a great way to expand your connections. One way in which to do that through LinkedIn…
Why Social Media Isn’t Enough Some small business owners are tossing their websites and creating social media pages instead. They figure it’s easier, costs less, and will work just as well as having a website. The problem is, they couldn’t be more wrong. Social media isn’t enough to create real progress in a small business.…
Six Things to Consider When Choosing Email List Technology One of the most important choices you’ll make when you embark on adding email marketing to your plan is which email list technology to pick. There are many very good technologies available from which to choose. In order to find the right one for your business,…
Your Website As Your Branding Tool Branding your business helps you develop a relationship with your potential and current customers by helping them understand your business’s personality, products and/or services. By developing a brand that people feel they know and understand, you can start to compete with other businesses in a whole new way. You…
Achieving Maximum results from Twitter Twitter, with its over 200 million active users, is a force to be reckoned with if you want to be serious about marketing on the internet. It might seem like a joke to market your business in 140 characters or less, but successful Twitter markets aren’t laughing – well okay…
Optimize Your Website 7 Things You Must Know to Optimize your Website Optimization is necessary when it comes to the internet world. The fundamental rule of web world is basic search engine optimization. It is through SEO’s help you can take your website to the top of the search engine and reach to your targeted…
Tips to generate Business Using LinkedIn Success of anything depends on its foundation. If you have a strong base, the pillar of success would never go down. It is also true with social networking sites. If you have a strong profile, you will surely be noticed. LinkedIn is no exception to this. A strong LinkedIn…
Top 5 Web Design Trends to Watch In 2015 Before discussing on the upcoming trends of web design, it is important to check out the trends in 2014. By analyzing this, you can notice that the key trend that came out in 2014 was ‘simplicity’. The focus was on making the website simple and user-friendly…
Some Overlooked Benefits of Google+ For Businesses. Google+ has lot to offer for our businesses and it does so but we often overlook it. However, in this discussion, we would see how it benefits our business and takes it to a new height. Google+ being one of the platforms of Google always holds in itself…
17 Ways To Master LinkedIn’s Professional Publishing Platform When LinkedIn launched as a professional social community in 2003, it claimed a place in the social space that was not yet represented. LinkedIn is exclusively focused on professional B2C and B2B connections and activities. LinkedIn’s long form publishing, originally opened to “influencers” was opened up to 25K+…
7 Silly Hashtag Mistakes No One Should Make Hashtags were initially introduced to Twitter to make it easier for users to keep track of certain types of content on Twitter and find the people and topics most relevant to their interests. Today, hashtags have become a cultural phenomenon — they’re on almost every social network and used…
9 Ways to Improve Social Sharing on Business Videos. Creating a video is a great way to showcase your business or service. The time and effort you put into this marketing material can really pay off — if people watch it. So how do you tap into the power of social sharing online? To find…
Hot WordPress Trends The popularity of CMS-based websites has been growing constantly, and WordPress is the most used platform by far. At least 19 percent of the entire Internet is powered by the WordPress platform. This number includes nearly half (48 percent) of the top 100 Technorati blogs, as well as some of the largest…
Online Magazine Best Plugins for WordPress More than ever, now is the best time to build a magazine on WordPress. There is an abundance of feature rich plugins and tools all readily available, so you have a real opportunity now, more than ever, to create your very own Online EMag. Issue M While there are…
Building Trust on Social Media Social Media has become a part of our everyday lives, both personal and business, whether we choose to participate or not! But… if you are not participating in it, you can rest assured that your competitors are and you are losing business! But, how do you create Trust on Social…
Optimize WordPress for Better Performance WordPress is the world’s number one used CMS opensource website software. Powering over 60 million websites. WordPress has a lot of great plugins available and it’s easy to create a full-featured website with a lot of neat functionality. These plugins however, can insert additional CSS and JavaScript files into your…
6 Reasons Why YOU Shouldn’t Build Your Own Business Website. Some people consider it easy to develop their own website. Yes it is easy to use a website tool developer for you and drag and drop around pictures and insert wording. However your website is setup to templates that are not unique to your business…
5 Benefits to having a Website While you are working hard, on the road or out of town, allow potentially new clients and existing clients to find out about your company, products information and / or contact you via e-mail. Your website is your most valuable tool for advertising and generating new business. 5 Benefits to having…
12 Things to keep in mind when building a website. When deciding on a website many clients are not sure what factors to consider. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by what is required, then here are some guidelines to get your website live. Don’t stress. At Creative Ground we are here to help you…
Top 5 Business Website Mistakes Top 5 Business Websites That People Make Without Knowing It Here are 5 big website no-nos! Mistake 1: Focusing on features instead of the benefits of your service or product. Mistake 2: Not considering SEO (Search engine optimisation). Your clients good their products and an effective SEO allows them to find…