Small Business Marketing Resources

When formulating your marketing strategy, an essential first step is identifying your target audience. While this may appear obvious, it is common to make the mistake of marketing or selling multiple very divergent customer segments simultaneously. For instance, take the approaches required for marketing to the government, businesses, and individual consumers. These are very different approaches indeed.

To illustrate this point, let’s discuss the marketing role of a website. Many individuals perceive websites as uniform entities with the primary goals of aesthetics, fast loading times, and attracting more customers. While this holds true from a broad perspective, it is important to examine the nuances. Different potential customers have distinct expectations and requirements from a website, necessitating a more granular approach.

Here is a simple table illustrating some of the differences in the B2G (Business-to-Government), B2B (Business-to-Business), and B2C (Business-to-Consumer) customer journeys.

The table shared is a simplified model, yet it underscores the pivotal role of pinpointing your main customer base and strategically coordinating your marketing initiatives and resources.

At Small Business LIFT, we encourage business owners to THINK before DOING. If you believe that Small Business LIFT could be beneficial for your company, we invite you to get in touch with us. Our standard Digital Marketing Package (DMP) has shown to be highly effective for clients aiming to increase their visibility amongst new customers. Once the foundational marketing strategy and website are established, our more advanced email marketing and additional options can serve as powerful tools for expansion.

Looking for the best email system for your business? Compare and choose from a collection of top-ranked email marketing systems from sources we reviewed.

Note: For those viewing this on a desktop without a widescreen, if you view this on mobile, you’ll be able to see the rankings of any one source at a time.

Last updated: June 2023

In the ever-evolving world of website creation and management, it’s essential to choose the right domain registrar. If you’re with Google Domains, you probably heard that on June 15, 2023, all domains and customer accounts registered with Google Domains were put into a definitive agreement to be sold to Squarespace. This transition opens up new opportunities and challenges for website owners.

Amidst these changes, Namecheap emerges as a top contender for those seeking a reliable and feature-rich domain registrar. Here are five compelling reasons why transitioning to NameCheap now is a wise decision.

1. Domains Registration is what Namecheap Does

As stated on their story and mission page, “Namecheap began in 2000 with a mission to deliver the best domains at the best prices with the best service. Since then we’ve added hosting, security, managed WordPress, and a whole range of innovations to our platform. The online plans, ideas, and ambitions of people just like you have grown too.”

In other words, Namecheap started twenty-three years ago with the goal of being a great domain registrar — i.e., this is what they do. I am a digital marketer who has registered dozens of domains for clients over the years. After trial and error with many companies, I’ve come to realize that Namecheap is still one of (if not) the best in the business of domain registration.

2. Competitive Pricing and Value

When it comes to cost-effectiveness, Namecheap stands out as an industry leader. They offer competitive pricing for domain registrations, transfers, and renewals, making it an attractive choice for budget-conscious individuals and businesses. Squarespace, on the other hand, is a website builder rather than a domain registrar. With the transition of Google Domains to Squarespace, there might be a potential increase in pricing or changes in the service offerings – especially as being a domain registrar is not a core business for Squarespace.

NameCheap’s commitment to providing excellent value ensures that you get the most out of your investment without compromising on quality or features.

3. Robust Security Features

Website security is of utmost importance in today’s digital landscape. Namecheap recognizes this and has implemented robust security measures to protect your domain and online assets. They provide free WhoisGuard protection, shielding your personal information from prying eyes. Additionally, they offer SSL certificates to secure your website’s communication and protect sensitive data. By transitioning to NameCheap, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your online presence is safeguarded.

4. User-Friendly Interface and Management Tools

Transitioning to a new domain registrar may raise concerns about the learning curve and adaptability. However, Namecheap‘s user-friendly interface and intuitive management tools make the process seamless. Their control panel is designed with simplicity and functionality in mind, allowing even novice users to navigate and manage their domains effortlessly. Whether you need to update DNS records, set up email forwarding, or configure domain redirects, NameCheap provides a hassle-free experience.

5. Stellar Customer Support

When managing your website and domain, having reliable customer support can make a world of difference. Namecheap is renowned for its exceptional customer support team, which they advertise as being the first and largest team at Namecheap. They are available 24/7, 365 days a year, ready to assist you with any queries or issues you may encounter.

Whether you prefer live chat, email, or phone support, NameCheap ensures that help is always just a few clicks away — and unlike the experience of many of my clients with other domain registrars (e.g., GoDaddy seems to be among the worst), Namecheap does not continually upsell you and try to keep you trapped into their ecosphere.

Yes, from my experience, I’ve found NameCheap’s customer support to be among the best.

Conclusion

As Google Domains transitions to Squarespace, website owners, and individuals must carefully consider their options. Namecheap emerges as a top choice for those seeking a reliable, cost-effective, and feature-rich domain registrar. With competitive pricing, robust security features, a user-friendly interface, extensive domain extension options, and stellar customer support, Namecheap offers everything you need to establish and maintain your online presence successfully.

Transition to Namecheap now to secure your domain’s future and unlock a world of possibilities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

FAQ 1: What will happen to my domain if I don’t transition from Google Domains to Squarespace?

If you choose not to transition from Google Domains to Squarespace, your domain will automatically transfer to Squarespace once an unclear transition period is completed. As stated by Google on Google Domains Help:

“Once regulatory approvals are obtained and the transaction closes, you will become a customer of Squarespace, and your domain will be owned and, after a transition period, managed by Squarespace.”  – Google Domains

As Squarespace has never been known for its domain registrar depth, it’s worth considering transitioning to NameCheap now — especially for the benefits it offers, such as competitive pricing, robust security, and exceptional customer support.

FAQ 2: Can I transfer my domain from Squarespace to NameCheap?

Yes, you can transfer your domain from Squarespace to NameCheap. NameCheap provides a straightforward domain transfer process, allowing you to seamlessly transition your domain registration while retaining its expiration date and remaining time.

FAQ 3: Will transitioning to NameCheap affect my website’s search engine rankings?

Transitioning your domain registrar from Google Domains to NameCheap should not have a direct impact on your website’s search engine rankings. However, it’s essential to ensure that you properly update your DNS records and maintain other SEO best practices to ensure uninterrupted online visibility.

FAQ 4: What additional services does NameCheap offer apart from domain registration?

In addition to domain registration, NameCheap offers a wide range of services to enhance your online presence. These services include web hosting, email hosting, SSL certificates, website builders, and more. NameCheap aims to be a comprehensive solution for all your online needs.

FAQ 5: How long does it take to transfer a domain to NameCheap?

The domain transfer process typically takes around five to seven days to complete. However, the duration may vary depending on the domain extension, the current registrar, and other factors. NameCheap provides detailed instructions and guidance to ensure a smooth and efficient transfer process.

Note: NameCheap is the one registrar we opened an affiliate account with. Ironically, the other one was Google Workspace / Google Domains.

Have you received an email from Google Search Console saying, “New Mobile Usability issues detected for site”? If so, there’s a good chance your website is actually fine. 

In this article, we will review what the email notification looks like, explain how to check whether it is valid or due to a bug in Google’s program, and recommend what to do if there actually is or isn’t a mobile website usability problem.

A. What Does the Google Search Console Mobility Usability Issues Detected Email Notification Look Like?

The email notification from Google Search Console looks like this:

So, in this example, there are three ‘issues’ that are making this site a problem for mobile devices:-

• Clickable elements too close together
• Text too small to read
• Content wider than screen

B. How To Check Whether It Is Valid Or Due To A Bug In Google’s Program

First, click the big blue ‘Fix Mobile Usability Issues’ button in the email you received from Google. You’ll be taken to Google Search Console, where you can view your website’s “Mobile Usability” report.

You can also view those three warning messages (from the email) again, as well as Google’s estimate of how many pages have this issue.

Click on one of the error rows in the report’s “Details” section (either does). This will take you to a new page with additional information, as shown below:

The ‘Examples’ section is where you should focus your attention since it tells you exactly which page(s) Google identifies as an issue.

When you click on a row in the ‘Examples’ section, a sidebar will appear, with the option to “TEST LIVE PAGE”. Click this option to let Google test this page.

Once Google has tested the page, it will provide you with a ‘red’ or ‘green’ report stating whether your page is mobile-friendly or not.

Here is an example of what you are hoping to see:

C. What To Do If There Isn’t A Real Mobile Website Usability Issue

If your page is in the ‘green’, just close the ‘mobile-friendly test’ window to get back to Google Search Console. After that, click the “Validate Fix” button at the top of the previous screen:

Google will display a notice that says, ‘performing quick initial validation’ (for around a minute), and will then say, ‘Validation started.’

In about a day or so, Google will typically send you an email to confirm the problem is fixed even though nothing has actually changed. Yes, you have discovered and experienced a Google bug. If you receive an email saying the fix failed, simply follow the same steps above 1-2x again to give Google the chance to correct itself.

D. What To Do If There Is A Real Mobile Website Usability Problem

If your website actually fails Google’s “Mobile-friendly test,” you definitely want to have a web developer look at your website and make any necessary changes. 

At the same time, be sure to ask any web developer you reach out to whether a single web page of your website is failing this test or your entire website is. 

We also recommend receiving at least two independent quotes or assessments of this mobile device usability issue. 

Fixing this issue could be fairly simple or quite complex, and so you want to make sure whichever web developer you’ve hired to analyze and fix it knows what they are doing and can get it done at a price (money and timewise) that fits your situation. You also want to make sure they are familiar with broadly supported web technologies, test their solution using multiple mobile browsers, etc.

Lastly, you yourself and a few friends of yours who are mobile users will want to get on your mobile devices to review your website. You will want to confirm that any web pages you have gotten fixed are fixed and that any actual mobile usability issue (e.g., if you actually did have clickable elements too close together, fixed-width viewport property issues, etc.) that needed resolution has been resolved.

E. Why Is Passing Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test Important?

Although the above is a Google bug that many can just dismiss, we want to make one thing clear. If your website actually is not mobile-friendly, you will receive these same warnings as well – so please don’t just brush them off if you’re not sure! 

As Google’s algorithms are “mobile-first” and as most websites visitors are on mobile devices (60%+ depending on the industry) these days, having your website mobile friendly is absolutely worth getting right.

​What: Make your professional profile easier to find online.
Why: People search online and you want search engines (“Google”) to list your preferred professional online identity first so people can easily find you.

Evidence/Example: Search “Dave Sue” to see where I rank, even compared to a published Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Western Washington University who has a number of academic journal entries and a book on Amazon.

Key Questions:

1. Who do you want to find you? Who is your desired primary audience(s) or DPAs?
2. Where online besides Google and Linked-in do they look? What sources do they trust?
3. When you search for your name online and in the places defined in #2 above, what do you find?
4. What (i.e., info, photo, etc.) about yourself do you want to share professionally online?

Use the inputs from #4 and put them into all the places defined in #2; share the same information (and photo if possible) consistently across different platforms. Also, diffuse any negative listings found in #3.

Level One (i.e., basic places to start):

1. Update your Linked-in profile (or create one if you don’t have one; it’s free).
2. Use a custom Linked-in address or URL (http://www.linkedin.com/in/yourname).
3. Follow basic Linked-in tips (e.g., make sure you have solid recommendations from people who you are not giving a Linked-in recommendation to, etc.).

Update it and make sure you’re OK with anyone reading it. Assume nothing on Facebook is private.

1. Get a Twitter account and name it @firstname+lastname or @initials.
   [If you have one already, switch your Twitter account to @firstname+lastname or @initials]
2. Add a short bio to your profile: a brief, high level overview.
3. Start following people and subjects relevant to your industry.
4. Be active! Tweet daily news articles you find interesting. Reply to people who share interesting things. Be part of the conversation and the community!

Standardize your profile on all the channels you have defined that your DPA might visit (Step #2 above). Search engines will give you credit for the work you’ve put into participating in these online communities and channels.

​Level Two (i.e., strengthen your online presence by getting listed on other places online through ideas such as):

1. Resume – Migrate to an online resume.
2. About Me – Sign up for a free profile.
3. Website – Register a domain in your name and start a personal website. [See note below].
4. Blog – Demonstrate your expertise in the field by writing on industry trends, showing your confidence, industry knowledge and skills.

Search engines rank listings and websites primarily based on their relevancy and trustworthiness. As there are over 200 different factors Google uses to determine its rankings for any search, getting discovered online can feel like a complicated process. Nonetheless, having your professional profile listed on more websites that are considered trustworthy and then having those websites link back to a professional profile page you manage (e.g., your linked-in profile, website, etc.) is a strategy for professional profile visibility success.

Given the limited number of persons with your name who are intentionally working to rank their profiles, there is a good chance that following just the above will get you ranked first when someone searches for your name.

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