Page not found – WebCakes https://www.webcakes.ca Digital Media Agency Wed, 03 May 2023 18:12:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.6.1 The Impact of Page Speed on Your SEO Rankings https://www.webcakes.ca/blog/impact-of-page-speed-seo/ https://www.webcakes.ca/blog/impact-of-page-speed-seo/#respond Wed, 03 May 2023 17:46:11 +0000 https://www.webcakes.ca/?p=1142 Continued]]> Online research has become the natural approach at solving problems. We rely on the accessibility and speed of the internet; in turn, the speed at which a problem is resolved correlates to how fast a website provides the right guidance. User retention has been proven to be a fleeting thing, and if a website is slow to load, visitors are quick to cut their lost time (a few seconds!) and move on to the next website for a fix.

To account for this relatable and universal scenario, Google’s search algorithm puts a strong emphasis on page speed when evaluating the quality and accuracy of a website. In addition, Google prioritizes the value of mobile loading times over desktop/stationary devices for two reasons:

  1. There are more mobile users than stationary users.
  2. Problems aren’t convenient. They often need to be solved on the fly.

To achieve this goal, Google uses page speed as a tangible metric (known as Core Web Vitals) to rank pages. At WebCakes we put a strong emphasis on optimizing the websites we build for our clients for maximum page speed.

The importance of page speed in SEO is now undeniable. It has a direct impact on your website’s rankings, user experience, and even conversions. In this article, we’ll discuss how page speed impacts user experience and conversions, and how to use page speed to your advantage. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of the impact of page speed on SEO and the steps you can take to improve your rankings.

The impact of page speed on user experience & conversion rates

The impact of page speed on user experience can be seen in a variety of ways. Slow loading time can lead to users abandoning the website or leaving before completing a task. It also leads to an increase in bounce rate as users are less likely to stay on the website if it takes too long to load. Furthermore, slow loading time can make a website appear unreliable to users, leading them to doubt the quality of products or services being offered.

We found that the benefits of a fast page speed boil down to the following aspects:

1. Improved User Experience

People are increasingly expecting faster-loading websites and if your site is slow to load, they may simply move on and visit another site. A faster page speed can improve the user experience and keep visitors on your website longer, which can result in increased engagement, conversions, and sales.

2. Increased Traffic

Longer page loading times can lead to higher bounce rates, as visitors will quickly become frustrated and leave. Faster page loading times can help reduce the number of visitors that leave your website quickly and can help increase the amount of traffic to your site.

3. Improved Rankings

Faster page loading times can help improve your rankings in search engine results. Google has stated that page speed is a factor when it comes to ranking websites, and a faster website could result in higher rankings.

By optimizing images, compressing files, and improving server response time, businesses can make their websites load faster and improve the user experience.

Additionally, businesses can use website speed testing tools to identify areas where page speed can be improved and make the necessary changes to ensure their website is running optimally.

Test the performance of your website on Google PageSpeed Insights

Google has put up a free tool called PageSpeed Insights that you can use to test the performance of your website for both mobile and desktop devices. It is a powerful tool that helps website owners and developers to improve the both the loading speed and index quality of their websites. It provides detailed insights into website performance gives personalized advice on how to optimize it for faster loading times. This can be especially useful for businesses that rely heavily on their websites for customer acquisition and retention.

With Google PageSpeed Insights, you can quickly identify problems with your website’s loading speed and make changes to improve it. This will help you provide a better user experience for your customers, which in turn will lead to more conversions. In the next section, we’ll discuss some common issues found using PageSpeed Insights and how to resolve them.

What causes slow page speed and how to fix it

10 Causes To Slow Page Speed To Be Aware Of - WebCakes

In order to improve the experience of our users, it’s important to understand what causes slow page speed. There are several factors that can slow down a website, including:

1. Unoptimized Images and Videos

Images and other media assets can take up heavy bandwidth, so it’s important to optimize them. It’s important to make sure that they are compressed and sized correctly for your website. Videos in particular can also be a culprit for slow page speed, and they also need to be compressed and optimized properly. Using a content delivery network (CDN) is also a great way to cache assets and reduce slowdown.

2. Too Many Plugins in your CMS

Plugins are great for adding functionality to CMS-driven websites, but too many plugins can bog down your website. Try to limit the number of plugins you use and make sure they are up to date with the latest versions.

3. Poorly Coded Themes and Templates

If you are using a Content Management System, you should know that poorly coded themes and templates can cause page speed issues. Before committing to choosing a theme, doing a performance analysis of the theme will help you make an informed decision.

4. Unminified JavaScript and CSS Files

JavaScript and CSS files can slow down page speed if they are not minified. Make sure that you minify JavaScript and CSS files to reduce the file size and improve page speed. Most caching plugins offer this service, though they vary in success.

5. Slow Hosting Provider

A slow hosting provider can also cause page speed issues. Make sure you are using a reputable hosting provider that offers fast loading times. Most cheap or free shared hosting services are often slow and cause performance penalties. In our experience, it’s better to invest a little bit more in web hosting and increase user experience.

6. Too Many Redirects

Redirects can cause page speed issues if there are too many. As websites are migrated or pages are added and removed, redirections naturally build up over time. Limit the number of redirects you use and trim out the unnecessary redirects to keep only the ones you need.

7. Too Many Ads or Third Party Scripts

Ads and other third party scripts can also slow down page speed if there are too many. Depending on your business activity, you may want to use ads on your website but it’s a good practice to limit the number of ads you use and to make sure they are optimized for page speed.

8. Poorly Written Code

Poorly written code can also cause page speed issues. Make sure that your code is optimized for page speed and well-written by implementing a code review in your optimization processes. The best way to avoid this is by working with a team with modern up-to-date website design & development practices.

9. Poorly Cached Content

Content that is not properly cached can slow down page speed. Make sure that you are implementing an effective cache policy on your site. Many reputable hosting providers offer a complementary service, though these can always be configured and refined for better performance.

10. No Browser Caching at all

Browser caching is also an important part of page speed optimization. Caching files on the user’s browser helps prevent downloading them again thus increasing the overall page speed. Make sure that you are enabling browser caching to leverage this feature and reduce loading times.

By understanding what causes slow page speed, you can make sure your website is optimized for page speed which will ultimately help you improve your SEO rankings and user experience. Among all the ways to improve page speed, there is one that tends to pop up quite often, it is the AMP Project by Google.

Using Accelerated Mobile Pages & other technologies to increase page speed

The Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) Project is a Google-led initiative that seeks to make it easier for web developers to create mobile-friendly content. The goal of the project is to improve the user experience on mobile devices by reducing the loading time of web pages. AMP is designed to make pages load faster by optimizing code, caching content, and reducing the size of images and other elements. Additionally, AMP pages are indexed faster by Google, which can help boost SEO rankings.

In addition to AMP, there are other technologies that can be used to improve page speed. For example, caching can be used to store parts of a page in memory and reduce the amount of time it takes to retrieve them. Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), like mentioned above can also be used to serve content from multiple servers around the world, which can help to reduce loading times for users from different locations. Compression techniques like GZIP can also be used to reduce the size of web pages, further improving page speed.

Finally, developers can use responsive design techniques to ensure that webpages perform well across devices. This includes using media queries to adjust the layout of content depending on the device’s screen size. Using these techniques, developers can create webpages that look great and load quickly on any device.

Conclusion

From the discussion in this article it can be seen that page speed is a critical factor in improving the rankings of a website. It’s not only an important factor for search engine optimization but also for user experience. If your website takes too long to load, visitors will become frustrated and visit your competitor’s site instead. Simple as that.

As search engine algorithms prioritize real user behaviour, page speed will continue to be a major factor in determining a website’s ranking. By taking the necessary steps to optimize page loading time, website owners can ensure that their website has the best possible chance of achieving the highest ranking and conversion rate that it can.

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A Guide to Website Security and Website Maintenance https://www.webcakes.ca/blog/guide-to-website-security-and-website-maintenance/ Thu, 23 Mar 2023 20:56:00 +0000 https://www.webcakes.ca/?p=1105 Continued]]> Over the years, we’ve had many clients come to us with a website or application that was corrupted or wasn’t functioning properly. Sometimes it was some external code that caused a huge performance drop; other times some pages were giving 404 and 500 errors without obvious changes. 

In resolving these issues, we wanted to put together a list of common occurrences or mistakes that lead to an underperforming or broken website.

Needless to say, a website is an invaluable asset for any business or organization. Properly maintained and secured, it can be a powerful tool to reach customers, increase brand awareness, and drive sales. However, if a website is not properly managed, it can quickly become a liability. In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of website maintenance and website security, and provide tips and best practices on how to keep your site working for you and your business.

Most frequent issues on a website are due to a lack of website maintenance

Website maintenance is essential for a smooth and successful online experience. Without regular maintenance, websites can quickly become plagued by bugs and errors that can significantly impact user experience. It’s important to take note of these and plan your website maintenance accordingly. In this section, we will review the most common issues that occur on websites.

1. Broken Links

Broken links are one of the most common website bugs due to a lack of website maintenance. They can occur when pages are moved or deleted, or if the URL is incorrectly written. This can lead to users being unable to access the information they are looking for, as well as a decrease in user experience.

2. Outdated Content

Keeping content up-to-date is essential for website maintenance, as outdated information can lead to confusion and frustration for users. Outdated product information, blog articles, prices, or contact information can all have an impact on user experience and trust.

3. Slow Load Times

Slow loading times can be a major roadblock for website users. When an increase in website traffic or an outdated server causes a slowdown in load times, users suffer from decreased user experience and higher bounce rates. Thankfully, there are ways to identify the source of the issue and work to improve website speed and performance, ensuring that visitors have the best possible experience when navigating your site.

4. Missing Images

Poorly coded websites or incorrectly labeled image files can lead to a decrease in user experience, as images are an essential part of conveying information. Images can often be a crucial guide for visitors, helping them navigate the website or understand the context of a story. When missing images affect the overall user experience, it is important to identify and fix the problem quickly. Incorrect coding and incorrect file paths are two common causes of missing images on web pages, and understanding these issues is key to fixing them.

5. Poor Navigation

Poor navigation on a website or application can also lead to a frustrating user experience and cause users to abandon their search for the information they need. Without an intuitive user interface and clear labels, users can become easily overwhelmed or frustrated when trying to find what they are looking for. This can be caused by outdated menus, confusing labels, or incorrect links which can all lead to time wasted and an overall decrease in user satisfaction.

6. Browser Compatibility Issues

Having a website that has high browser compatibility is critical to providing an optimal user experience. Unfortunately, outdated code or incorrect coding can lead to compatibility issues that can result in decreased user engagement and potential revenue losses. To avoid this, developers must ensure all their code is up-to-date and written correctly in order to ensure maximum compatibility across all major browsers.

7. Security Vulnerabilities

Website maintenance is essential for any business that wants to ensure the security of its website. Without regular updates and patching, outdated software or plugins can become vulnerable to security attacks. This not only decreases user confidence in the website but also increases the risk of data breaches and other malicious activities. It’s important to note that website maintenance is not just a one-time task; it should be done regularly in order to reduce potential risks and keep users safe, as part of the website security strategy.

8. Poorly Written Code

Poorly written code can have a bad effect on user experience. Code that is not well-written or optimized for browser compatibility can lead to slow load times, crashes, and even complete inaccessibility of a website. This can be disastrous for businesses, as it can lead to lost customers and revenue.

9. Missing Meta Tags

Meta tags are essential for successful SEO. Search engines use these tags to identify the content and topics of a website, allowing them to accurately index it. Without meta tags, search engines may not be able to accurately categorize pages, leading to decreased visibility and reduced search engine rankings. Therefore, it is important for all websites to include meta tags in their web pages in order to optimize their SEO efforts.

10. Unresponsive Design

Unresponsive design can lead to a decrease in user experience. With the ever-increasing range of devices, from desktop computers to mobile phones, users need content that is viewable and accessible across all platforms. Outdated or incorrectly written code can lead to unresponsive design, resulting in frustrated customers being unable to access or view the content they want. This can cause a decrease in user satisfaction and ultimately lead to lost sales.

10 common website security threats to be aware of

Website security is just as important as website maintenance. They go hand in hand when it comes to keeping your business’s website functional at all times. As technology advances, cyber security threats are becoming increasingly prevalent. When it comes to websites, there is a range of security threats that can cause serious damage to your business. In this section, we will be exploring 10 of the most common website security threats that you should be aware of.

1. SQL Injection

SQL injection is a type of attack that takes advantage of weaknesses in an application’s code to inject malicious SQL commands into the database. This type of attack can be used to gain access to confidential information, modify or delete data, and even execute system commands on the server. It is one of the most common web application security vulnerabilities and can have serious consequences if left unaddressed. The best way to protect against SQL injection attacks is by implementing input validation and parameterized queries in order to prevent malicious code from being executed in the database. Additionally, it is important for organizations to stay up-to-date on security patches and ensure proper security measures are in place.

2. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

A bit similar to SQL Injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a type of attack that involves embedding malicious scripts into legitimate web pages. These scripts can then be used to execute malicious code on a user’s computer or device, allowing attackers to steal personal information and gain access to sensitive data. XSS attacks are one of the most common forms of cyberattacks and can have devastating consequences for both individuals and organizations. Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to protect against XSS attacks, such as using input validation techniques, implementing content security policies, and regularly patching vulnerable systems.

3. Malware

Malware is an ever-growing threat to computer systems and the data they contain. It can be spread in a variety of ways, such as through email attachments, malicious websites, or by taking advantage of vulnerable applications. It is designed to steal data or disrupt operations, and can have catastrophic consequences, should it land on a server with sensitive data for example.

4. DDoS Attacks

DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks are becoming increasingly common nowadays. By overloading a website’s server with traffic, it can become difficult or even impossible for users to access the website. This type of attack has become especially dangerous in recent times, as it can be easily launched by anyone with the right tools and knowledge. Businesses and organizations must take proactive measures to protect their websites from these malicious attacks.

5. Phishing

Phishing is a type of cyber-attack that can be sent through email, text messages, or social media posts. The intent is to trick people into clicking on malicious links or downloading dangerous attachments. Criminals may try to fool victims by convincing them to reveal confidential information, like usernames and passwords, and if successful, they would gain access to their accounts and systems.

The best way to protect yourself from phishing attacks is by being aware of the signs of a potential attack and taking steps to verify the source before clicking on any links or downloading any attachments. It’s also important to use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.

6. Brute Force Attacks

Brute force attacks are a common type of cyber attack wherein automated hacking tools guess passwords or credentials to get unauthorized access to a website or system. The attacker attempts to guess the correct combination of credentials until they gain access. This type of attack is particularly dangerous because it can be used against any system with weak security measures, making it difficult for organizations to protect themselves from these types of attacks. Additionally, brute force attacks can be used by attackers with limited technical knowledge and resources, making them even more dangerous.

7. Unpatched Software

Unpatched software can be a huge security risk for organizations. Hackers are constantly looking for ways to exploit outdated software, which can leave businesses vulnerable to attack. To protect against this, it’s important to ensure all software is kept up to date with the latest patches and updates. Doing so will drastically reduce the chance of successful attacks on corporate networks and systems, keeping organizations safe from malicious actors.

8. Weak Passwords

As the risk of cyberattacks continues to rise, it is becoming increasingly important to use strong passwords that cannot be easily guessed. Weak passwords can provide attackers with easy access to a website or system, potentially leading to data theft or other malicious activities. By using strong passwords that are difficult to guess and regularly changing them, users can help protect their data and systems from potential attacks.

9. Unsecured Wi-Fi Networks

An unsecured Wi-Fi network can be a dangerous tool in the hands of malicious attackers. By using unsecured Wi-Fi networks, they can easily gain access to websites, systems, and confidential data. To protect yourself from these cyber criminals, it is essential to secure wireless networks with strong encryption. This will make it difficult for attackers to gain access and prevent them from stealing sensitive information or breaching our security.

10. Unauthorized Access

Unauthorized access to sensitive data is a major security concern that must be addressed. Without proper measures in place, malicious individuals could gain access to confidential information or even manipulate it for their own gain. To protect against these risks, it’s essential to properly secure your website or system by only allowing authorized people access. With the right measures in place, you can ensure that only those with the correct credentials have access to your data and systems.

20 tips & tricks to keep your website updated and Secure

Now that we’ve covered some of the most common bugs and security threats that plague websites, we can’t let you go without proposing some solutions to these problems. As a website owner, it can be very dismaying to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of website security and website maintenance. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to stay ahead of the game. Here we have compiled 20 essential tips & tricks to help you keep your site updated and secure. By implementing these notions, you can be confident that your website is safe and running smoothly at any time.

1. Understand the Risks: It is important to understand the risks associated with online security and the potential threats that can affect a website. Research the types of attacks, such as malware, phishing, and hacking, and their potential effects on a website.

2. Scan for Vulnerabilities: Perform regular scans of your website, either internally or through a third-party security provider, to identify any potential vulnerabilities. 

3. Install a Web Application Firewall: Web application firewalls help detect and block malicious traffic and protect websites from threats.

4. Use Strong Passwords: Use strong passwords to protect sensitive information and ensure that only authorized users can access your website.

5. Encrypt Data: Encrypt sensitive data to protect it from unauthorized access.

6. Monitor Website Activity: Monitor website activity to detect any suspicious activity and take action if needed.

7. Implement Intrusion Detection: Install an intrusion detection system to detect and respond to any suspicious activity.

8. Regularly Backup Data: Perform regular backups of your website data to ensure that you can recover any lost or corrupted files.

9. Conduct Security Audits: Regularly audit your website to ensure that it remains secure and compliant with industry standards.

10. Patch Management: Ensure that all software and applications are up-to-date with the latest security patches.

11. Perform Vulnerability Assessments: Conduct vulnerability assessments to identify and fix any potential vulnerabilities.

12. Use Email Security Solutions: Implement email security solutions to detect and protect against phishing attacks.

13. Educate Employees: Educate employees on website security policies and procedures to ensure that everyone is aware of the potential risks.

14. Implement Strict Access Controls: Implement strict access controls to ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive information.

15. Use Two-Factor Authentication: Implement two-factor authentication to ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive information.

16. Monitor Third-Party Services: Monitor third-party services and ensure that they are secure and compliant with industry standards.

17. Deploy Anti-Malware Solutions: Deploy anti-malware solutions to detect and remove any malicious software.

18. Monitor Network Traffic: Monitor network traffic to detect any suspicious activity.

19. Use HTTPS: Use HTTPS to encrypt data and protect it from unauthorized access.

20. Implement a Disaster Recovery Plan: Develop a disaster recovery plan to ensure that your website is prepared for any potential threats.

Can’t do it in-house? We’ll keep your website running smooth.

When it comes to maintaining and securing your website, doing it yourself can be a daunting task. Not only could it be time-consuming and require a lot of technical expertise, but it could be risky, especially if it’s not done properly. That’s why it’s important to seek out professional assistance if you can’t implement website maintenance and website security in-house.

At WebCakes, we take the security of your website seriously and are committed to providing you with the best possible service and support. If you’re looking for professional assistance with website maintenance and website security, we’ll be happy to help!

Learn more about our website maintenance and security services.

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Pay for passion, not for age https://www.webcakes.ca/blog/pay-for-passion-not-for-age/ Tue, 14 Feb 2017 18:47:38 +0000 http://www.webcakes.ca/?p=627 Continued]]> In our last post, I briefly touched on the concept of leveraging passion over age when it comes to deciding on a web agency. Let’s expand on that.

We’ve collaborated with hundreds of clients, agencies, developers, and other industry professionals over the years. Some projects succeed, and some don’t. While there’s many reasons as to why a company can succeed or falter, James and I look for a very specific trait when we first establish contact with a potential client.

Research, trends, competition, location, demand. These are variables which play an integral role in establishing a successful business. But the most important thing is often overlooked.

Passion. Overall enthusiasm, and the passion behind the project. Generally speaking, we prefer to work with clients who are passionate about what they want to bring to life, because those are the projects that are successfully realized. These are the type of people who will get things done, who firmly believe in their mission and inspire others around them.

Therefore, I cannot stress enough that passion must beget passion for a project to be successful. To realize your project, you should work with a web agency equally passionate about your mission. A web partner needs to believe in your vision and want you to succeed.

Don’t let your passion filter out

Our concern with many agencies is that your passion, at some point, gets filtered. You meet with a sales rep that may reciprocate your passion. That rep discusses your project to a team manager, who briefs the user experience designer, who then delegates to the in-house designers and developers. This creates a disconnect between you, your vision, and the actual work done to realize your vision. While these developers may certainly have passion for their job and for the company, the importance of integrating the client’s passion into their work may be lost along the way.

That’s why James and I meet with prospective clients directly. No sales rep, no interns, no extra overhead, nada. Just us. We want to create something based off mutual passion.

Age, the great divider

Some personal backstory: I started dabbling in code at the age of six, one year after the internet began. At twelve, I created my first multi-user account website. At sixteen, I did my first paid project. Ten years later, I’ve been involved with hundreds of websites and web applications. James has a similar background.

Many other designers and developers share experiences like these as well. We’ve been fortunate enough to accrue relevant experience in the field over the years, and grow alongside the web as it evolved into what it is today.

There is a bias that exists in the business where age directly correlates to experience. There may be some truth to it, but there’s an unfortunate side effect, the idea that younger = cheaper. Someone who is younger, even if they offer the same level of quality as someone older, is expected to charge less. This concept remains consistent between agency size as well; smaller agencies are expected to operate at a fraction of the cost, while delivering the same level of service.

Our experience with both clients and developers alike is that age has no weight on quality of work or success. Passion, above all, is where it counts.

Finding success

Your project has a better chance of success if you work with a web agency who wants you to succeed in the first place. When you meet with a web agency, do they share your enthusiasm? Do they suggest options on how to better integrate your idea onto the web? If so, you may have found your perfect web partner.

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Finding the Right Web Agency https://www.webcakes.ca/blog/finding-the-right-web-agency/ Thu, 02 Feb 2017 19:43:15 +0000 http://www.webcakes.ca/?p=612 Continued]]> Find the right web agency

Following the launch of our Leap Projects, our advertising campaign placed our innovative approach to web development alongside other agencies with their own limited time offers. More often, these are low budget, flat cost deals for a website (e.g.: Website for $500!) that seem too good to be true.

When we introduced Leap Projects last week, we wanted to solve the problems that come with cheap development. Too many of our clients come to us from with horror stories of previous web developers they’ve worked with. To date, the tale often sounds something like:

“I wanted to save costs, so I went with a developer who offered to do the job for [low, low price] Everything seemed fine at first, but as time went on I realized the quality fell short of my expectations and reflected poorly on my brand.”

A few months ago, our friends at Webrunner Media published a well-written article about why paying less for website creation will cost you much more in the long run. In their words: Less Budget = Less Time = Less Effort. We generally agree. However, sometimes clients just don’t have that budget for a full-service web agency. You can only work with what you have.

So, how can you find the right agency, without breaking the bank?

1) Ditch the three digit offers

Between our own experiences and experiences shared with us, even small-tier projects under $2,000 tend to come out poorly, often resulting in an investment loss. However, we’ve seen first hand how damaging to all parties a three digit promotion can be ($100 – $999).

With the advent of DIY web builders, it’s easy to forget that web developers, and agencies whom employ them, need to make a living. It just isn’t feasible for anyone to create something worth creating with such low cost.

Even at a low rate, a $500 website translates to 1-2 days of service. Is that enough time to properly understand the client’s needs and expectations? Is that enough time to create something of quality that will encapsulate the client’s brand? Probably not.

2) Look at the shoemaker’s shoes

Many of our clients have something in common; our website inspires them. It’s a measure of our quality and capability. Clients often tell us this:

“We’re reaching out to you because I want our website to look like yours.”

That’s a pretty powerful statement. A web agency’s website doesn’t have to be a masterpiece, but it should be reflective of the services it offers. If you’ve found yourself tempted by a web agency with an offer like the one above, take the time to navigate through their website and imagine your website similar to theirs. Ask yourself the question: Will a website like this inspire my visitors to become my clients?

3) Assess their flexibility

Flexibility is a hard balance to achieve as a web agency. On one hand, an agency that’s overly rigid with handling requests is ill-desired. On the other hand, a team that’s willing to handle every request without considering the project’s scope are setting up their own failure.

When discussing scope changes or feature requests, let the agency explain why something should or should not be done. Is your request instantly dismissed, or is the agency doing their best to explain why it can’t be done? Are they suggesting alternatives? Are they requesting more budget?

Alternatively, is your agency approving every request without taking the time to discuss them with you? If an agency is not trusting its own experience and performing tasks without integrity, the quality of your website may start plummeting fast.

Find an agency who takes the time to review a request and discuss its feasibility with you. Listen to their experiences and suggestions. These are the agencies that have your best interests in mind.

4) Go for passion, not age

A challenge faced by young entrepreneurs is the expectation that they’re not as skilled as their older, more veteran counterparts. The website industry suffers from the belief that younger = cheaper.

We’ve been lucky to collaborate with many agencies – working with teams of managers, developers, designers, and other specialists of all ages. My experience is that the more passionate someone is, the better quality they deliver. Age plays a non-vital role when it comes to defining traits which make a web specialist great at what they do.

When meeting with an agency, are you meeting with a salesperson looking to seal the deal? Or are you meeting directly with a member of the team that will share your passion and work it into your website? A website built with passion, for a passionate brand, radiates excellence.

I can write plenty on this subject from personal experience (spoilers for our next article).

Wrapping up

It’s tempting to grab the cheapest price possible. Your website will be your most precious investment as a company – make sure you choose the right agency for your online needs!

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Introducing Leap Projects https://www.webcakes.ca/blog/introducing-leap-projects/ Tue, 24 Jan 2017 16:31:38 +0000 http://www.webcakes.ca/?p=602 Continued]]> Introducing Leap

The above graphic (almost) says it all. James and I are pleased to announce our Leap Projects program, an affordable, effective web services to startups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.

What are Leap Projects?

Leap Projects are visually-rewarding, high quality websites for websites which don’t require too much custom development. Leap Projects are unique in that they bridge the gap between agency-level professional services and budget-friendly options.

Why Leap Projects?

Our agency is built with a highly scaleable infrastructure not found with smaller agencies. It allows us to create and serve custom websites and applications with speed and quality rivalling that of larger web service companies.

While we pride ourselves in our capacity to handle projects of all sizes, today’s entrepreneurs face tough decisions when starting their business. Not all startups get financial aid or work with an incubator, and many don’t have a large budget to start working with. When it comes to their online web presence, a choice has to be made:

  1. Engage with a professional agency (of any size) whose costs far exceed the client’s budget
  2. Engage with a freelancer or micro-firm whose quality of work cannot be guaranteed

It’s a frustrating situation. Many of our clients come to us already having invested $1,000 – $2,000 in a web developer only to be dissatisfied with their work. That money is lost, due to the quality of service cannot be re-invested into a better performing website. It’s easy to say “You get what you pay for.”, but sometimes as a business you just don’t have that choice.

We created Leap Projects so that today’s entrepreneur doesn’t have to make that difficult decision.

What’s in a Leap Project?

Leap Projects contain one or several pre-developed features, depending on your needs. Generally speaking, a Leap Project website could be an excellent option for informative websites, one-pager websites, eCommerce websites, multilingual support, and other straightforward features.

In addition, we offer an optional, monthly support plan with its own custom scope. It could include content management, SEO management, analytical reporting, marketing, and/or hosting options. Leap Project clients also receive a reduced rate than our other client support packages.

Why is the availability limited?

At heart, WebCakes is still a provider of custom web services for larger projects. We’re a small team given big responsibilities, and we want to give every project the love and care it needs, no matter the size. Because some small businesses may under-estimate the scope of their online needs, each Leap Project request is thoroughly reviewed to ensure that it’s actually eligible for Leap Project pricing.

Questions? Interested? WebCakes is excited to work with you. Leap in today!

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Empower your online visibility with Search Engine Optimization https://www.webcakes.ca/blog/empower-your-search-engine-optimization/ Fri, 08 May 2015 14:45:54 +0000 http://www.webcakes.ca/?p=391 Continued]]> Dollarphotoclub_54879624You are probably asking yourself, what is Search Engine Optimization (SEO), why is it important and why should I care? At the helm of every Search Engine is a robot, and although they have become sophisticated, they still need help to understand the content of our websites. SEO is a way in which we help these robots understand what to do with our websites so that they are visible on Search Engines; the more we help these robots understand our websites, the more visible our websites become on Search Engines.

Why is SEO important

To understand why SEO is important, we must first understand what search engines do exactly. Search Engines work in two ways: by crawling through the internet for information and building an index of everything it comes across; once they have done this, Search Engines create a list that is ranked by relevance to a user’s search.

Search Engines are robots that don’t see websites like we humans do, they rely on our help and input to understand the websites they crawl. This is where Search Engine Optimization comes into play, SEO is a set of guidelines that webmasters can use to improve their sites rankings on search engines. It is important to be ranked the highest possible, as users generally only consider the top 5 results as relevant to their searches; if your site is among the top 5 search results, your website will be visited significantly more often.

Investing in Search Engine Optimization can only benefit your company; as your website rises in the ranks on search engines, your profits will rise exponentially. Potential clients are more likely to trust top ranked sites on Search Engines, they will feel comfortable with your company and will more likely choose you over your competitors. Ultimately, SEO is a long-term marketing strategy, and a return on investment.

Search Engine Optimization will optimize sales

When people need to search for products and information, where is the first place they search? Search Engines such as Google. With proper SEO, potential clients will be able to understand what your company is about when searching for it, and know if it is what they are searching for by pointing the client in the right direction. The better your visibility is on Search Engines and the more true to your company the Search Engine descriptions are, the more likely you are to sell your products and services online.

Easy ways to increase your Search Engine Optimization

There are several methods to increasing your brand’s SEO:

  1. Place alt text in all your images: This gives search engines a text description of the images so the search engines can find your pictures based on its alt text.
  2. Use tools such as SEO-browser and MozBar: These allow you to see which parts of the content in your website are capable of being seen and indexed by search engines.
  3. Use appropriate wording throughout your website: Make sure that words you want your company to be associated with  are part of crawlable content in your website. (ie. a cotton candy company would want their site to appear if someone types “cotton candy”)
  4. Properly name all the files in your website: If you have a picture of a panda in the website, make sure panda is in the picture name as opposed to leaving it DSC007.jpg.

How WebCakes can help

If your Search Engine Optimization is still not up to par after following the instructions or you don’t feel like doing the SEO yourself you can consult a web development agency to review your current SEO and suggest optimizations. WebCakes specializes in Web Development and Search Engine Optimization. We analyze your business’ SEO weaknesses and propose a tailor-made action plan to increase your page rank and conversions. Choose us to empower your website visibility.

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Get everyone responding to your business with Responsive Design https://www.webcakes.ca/blog/get-everyone-responding-to-your-business/ Wed, 06 May 2015 20:03:52 +0000 http://www.webcakes.ca/?p=382 Continued]]> user with different devices
There’s no denying that mobile devices have taken over as users’ device of choice for browsing the internet. With over half of users’ time on the internet being spent on mobile devices, having a fully responsive website is a must.

What is Responsive Design?

Responsive design allows websites to look good and function effectively on a variety of devices. This allows user experience to be the best possible for your clients regardless of the device they use. Interacting with websites on a mobile or tablet device is not the same as on a desktop because there’s barely any space for all the fancy extras you may have on your desktop version. Many features that look great and improve user experience on a desktop don’t even work on mobile platforms, like Adobe Flash.

The best Responsive Design practices take several factors into account:

  • Readability: font sizes on mobile devices need to be big so that the user can actually read the content. Minimum resizing, the user should not have to constantly zoom in on their hand-held device to see the content of the page.
  • Panning: the user should be able to scroll vertically and not horizontally since scrolling from side to side is more tedious.
  • Easy to use navigation: opening tabs on a mobile device is more difficult than on a computer, so the pages should be laid out in a logical manner so that the user can quickly figure out which page they are going to.
  • Optimization: loading time are also greatly considered in responsive design, as mobile platforms cannot load sites as fast as desktops.

Slow loading times slow you down

Users tend to have a shorter attention span when it comes to online activities; studies suggest that 8 seconds or more in loading time of a website is too long. Having an unresponsive, non-mobile friendly website is a sure-fire way to lose viewers and potential clients, which makes having a responsive website crucial for business in today’s world. Providing users with your content is essential for your business, you want to allow your users to view your content regardless of the device they use, by having a responsive website you are providing exceptional user experience to your clients.

Mobile usage is not a trend, it is here to stay

Having the ability to surf the internet and find valuable information in the palm of their hands is not only a luxury but also a valuable tool that no user will want to leave behind. Mobile devices give users the ability to get the information they want, whenever and wherever they want. Mobile technology is advancing every day, and will continue to prevail due to its convenience, Responsive Design is a smart investment for your business. Responsive Design gives users the best experience while on your website on mobile devices, making your company a go-to place for people on the go.

Making a Responsive website is where WebCakes can help. At WebCakes our websites are tailored to your company’s needs and are completely responsive, so your company’s website will prevail over your competitors no matter what device people use visit your site.

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Pre-packaged themes are a package full of problems: Keep it Custom https://www.webcakes.ca/blog/pre-packaged-themes-keep-it-custom/ Tue, 05 May 2015 16:03:31 +0000 http://www.webcakes.ca/?p=368 Continued]]> In today’s fast-paced world, pre-packaged themes seem like the best option for getting a website fast and cheap. This decision can be quite dangerous, while initially pre-packaged themes seem like a great deal, in the long run they will slow you down. For this reason custom themes are better for your business.

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They slow you down, driving visitors (and potential sales) away

Did you know that 40% of visitors leave if the website if not fully loaded in 3 seconds or less?

Using pre-packaged themes can slow down your website with extensive JavaScript files that come with them. Since pre-packaged themes are one-size fits all, they come with a lot of JavaScript features and all these files pile up and slow down your website. If you, any member of your company, or potential clients have a slower internet connection, your website will be a major inconvenience. Nobody likes a slow loading website, and with pre-packaged themes you should prepare for the complaints from anyone who needs to use your website. However, with a Custom Theme made specifically for your website, you get only the features you want; your site will be optimized and tailor-made just for you, and you will not have to worry about all the extras slowing down your website.

They update too often, without your needs in mind

Pre-packaged themes will require several updates throughout the year, these updates can potentially reset and changes or modification back to its default leaving you back to square one. The people who create pre-packaged themes are constantly changing and trying to improve their themes so that people will continue to purchase them. Due to this, updates have their theme in mind and not your business’ branding. With a Custom Theme, all the updates that will be required throughout the year will be made with your website in mind, they will not break your website, only improve them.

Hackers love them

Pre-packaged themes slow down your website and require heavy maintenance but they are also known to be more unsafe in terms of hacking. It is much more cost-efficient for hackers, spammers and viruses to infest themselves through a Pre-Packaged theme than a Custom Theme made for the company. Hackers will want to get more birds with one stone, if they learn to hack a theme they can hack more people. Your company needs to be extremely careful for this and will have to be sure to find good anti-spam plugins to protect the website if a pre-packaged theme is used.

They may be made for you, but they’re not made for your business

Pre-packaged themes are not made for your website only, they are made for several, they do not cater to the corporate identity of your company. The overall aesthetic and functionality of a theme can change without warning so it is not the best option for serious companies with strong corporate branding. There is only so much you can do with a theme as well, unlike building your own website you have to settle for the theme dimensions and how it looks as opposed to having everything where you want it to be and how you want it to work.

Get a fully-functioning Custom Theme today with WebCakes

Pre-packaged themes are an easy way to make a website, and are cheaper, but are they really better for your company? When you take everything into consideration, choosing a pre-packaged theme over a Custom Theme website is more trouble than it’s worth. Building a custom theme may take longer, but specialized web agencies takes your branding, target audience, and business goals into account when creating a solution custom-tailored to your needs. If you decide to take the safe option and employ a web development agency, be sure to choose WebCakes. WebCakes specializes in covering all bases when creating a custom theme fully tailored for your business.

You can contact us today for a free quote.

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Google’s new mobile friendly ranking system is nothing to fear! https://www.webcakes.ca/blog/googles-new-mobile-friendly-ranking-system/ Thu, 30 Apr 2015 19:42:47 +0000 http://www.webcakes.ca/?p=348 Continued]]> Businessman With His Smartphone

On April 21st, popular search engine Google released its new algorithm which will change the mobile searching game, in all languages. This new algorithm will cause websites to be ranked by mobile friendliness on a page by page basis. The algorithm will look at many key factors including: responsive design, usability, readability, use of Adobe Flash Player, page loading times and optimization. Another new factor being implemented is that app content for phones will now be considered in your site’s rankings after manually activating app indexing.

With technology rapidly changing, the use of mobile devices has dramatically increased; if users need to search for something on-the-go, they’re first instinct is to use their phone. Google is aware of the increase in mobile use, and therefore the new Google Mobile Algorithm was conceived.

So, what does this all mean for your business?

With this new algorithm, mobile user experience will drastically improve, based on the above factors. Your site rankings will go down on Google if your site is not mobile friendly. Sites that are mobile friendly will gain more visibility on Google, allowing searchers to find the information they’re looking for on sites that are tailored to the device they are using.

Before the new Google Mobile Algorithm was implemented, businesses lost clients because of poor mobile design. By promoting businesses to adapt to the technological upgrades of the modern world, Google is making clients and customers happier. Customers are able to view and find the information they need easier and quicker which in-turn brings more conversions for mobile friendly businesses.

What can you do about this?

If your company is worried about the Google Mobile Algorithm, don’t panic, because there are two easy steps that you can do to keep your site Google friendly:

  1. Our first step is to use Google’s Usability Report, which can test your site for mobile friendliness.
  2. If your score wasn’t up to snuff, Google has released a Mobile Friendly Guide, which you can follow to make your site more mobile friendly.

Follow these steps and you should be in good ranks on Google. Remember, this is a necessary step to growing your business and the mobile industry as a whole. If you are unsure how to do all of this yourself, don’t fret, WebCakes is here to help.

How can WebCakes help?

At WebCakes we specialize in responsive design and providing excellent user experience. All of our designs are made to look great and function on all platforms. We know how to create and use all the factors that make sites mobile friendly, and we are also able to provide your company with all the tips and tricks to keep mobile users happy on your site. By choosing WebCakes, you’re choosing to satisfy your clients with a fully functioning website that is easy to use with all their favourite devices.

Contact us today for free estimate!

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Helping a family in need https://www.webcakes.ca/blog/lin-jun-family-trust/ Mon, 15 Dec 2014 22:32:26 +0000 http://www.webcakes.ca/?p=308 Continued]]> WebCakes is proud to have been involved helping set up the Lin Jun Family Trust. In a confusing and frustrating time for the family of Lin Jun, we stepped to the plate and provided a secure space to help ease the harm caused to them.

The Lin Jun Family Trust

From a technical standpoint, we provided a small, secure donations page with a guestbook, and worked with companies such as Digital Days, Pivotal Payments, and BLG to make this happen. Of course, our combined involvement goes far beyond website development; we’ve had the privilege of creating a solution which provides at least some level of reassurance and comfort for the family. We are honoured to have worked with such a professional, diverse team and look forward in continuing our efforts to help the family of Lin Jun in any way we can.

We provided a responsive solution which featured portrait-oriented images of Lin Jun and his family. As a general rule, design favours landscape images, which are much easier to resize on different devices. This pushed us to find a unique and effective solution which satisfied our partners and the family.

Another major task worth consideration was the joint coordination between several parties within a small frame of time: Digital Days provided a secure hosting environment, while Pivotal Payments provided a robust payment gateway to integrate with. Within a tight deadline, we managed to efficiently collaborate and create a solution built with the best practices of each field in mind. We even made some friends along the way.

We urge the community to show their support and demonstrate empathy to the family, as they have little access to professional resources or financial support. Donations can be made here: www.linjunfamily.com

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