Forward Web – Forward Web

Be Intuitive with your website

Posted on July 17, 2021May 18, 2022 by Forward_Web

Everything about your website should be centered around how easy your website is to use, because well… the easier your website is to use, the more people will use it. This is especially important if you are wanting to leverage your website to reduce the amount of time you or your employees are spending handling certain tasks (processing orders, answering basic questions..ect)

So how do you make your website more intuitive?

Think about what your visitors are wanting to accomplish while on your website (making a call, buying a product, paying a bill, getting a quote..ect). Then, think about how you can make that process as simple and thoughtless as possible (from any device, from any point on your website). An essential part of “easy to use” is intuitiveness. Meaning, when a website user sees it, they know exactly what to do. As long as your website visitors can complete the tasks they want without interruption or thought, your on the right track to higher conversions and better performing website.

Need our help? Feel free to reach out to us anytime via our contact form or chat bar, we’d love to hear from you.

How much should you pay for a website?

Posted on August 24, 2019 by Forward_Web

$10, $100, $1000, $10,000??

If you’ve tried to find an answer to this question and have found your-self confused by the wide variety of price points. You are not alone. So how do you muddle through the noise? Unfortunately there is no short answer to this, however we can provide some basic guidelines to help you navigate through the Internet of answers.

1. As a client, understand there is no such thing as a free website. Domain names, web hosting, templates, programming, general labor, time (on both sides) are some of the services and components needed to deploy a website, none of which are free. However this does not necessarily mean you have to pay X amount of dollars, there are many scenarios where paying $250 per year is a very viable solution. however there are other scenarios where paying $1250 or $12,500, even $25,000 are all very well justified. Much like a building a house, costs will vary depending on the scope of your project.

2. Avoid asking your tech savvy friend, colleague, family member or anyone else who builds websites on their spare time for pricing information. They are either going to give you a low-ball offer or grossly over-charge, because although they might be experienced enough to put together a few websites, they likely do not build enough websites to understand the market, or the scope of your project.

3. Talk to companies (at least 3) that specialize in building and deploying websites and ask for quotes. Once you get your quotes ask questions so you fully understand the basis behind the price you have been given. Don’t just settle for a price, make sure you get a thorough explanation on the costs and time frames associated with the build and maintenance of your website.

Still have questions? We have answers. Contact us for Free Web Consultation at: https://forwardweb.net/web-consultation/

3 Reasons to Set-Up a Web Hosting Account with Forward Web

Posted on June 21, 2018 by Forward_Web

1.You have an idea you want to share with the world. Whether its a blog you want to publish (for fun, profit or both), a new business you are starting (to display or sell your products and services) or to display your portfolio (photographer, designer..ect). In order to accomplish these tasks, you’ll need the tools to build your website that come standard with every web hosting account (domain name, website builder, internet space, security) .

2. You want to start communicating with your clients in a more professional manner. First impressions are everything and if you are still giving clients or potential clients a email that includes @gmail, @hotmail..ect. Chances are, you are not making the best first impression. With a web hosting account you’ll be able to set-up your email@yourprofessionaldomainname.com

3.You’re simply tired of your existing web host. Lets face it, all web hosts are not created equal. If you’re experiencing poor website support, downtime or maybe you are finding your current web host lacking in tools and availability, its time to switch.

But Wait… What Exactly is Web Hosting?

If you have never heard of web hosting prior to reading this post, its ok, your not alone. Web hosting is the driving force behind every website. Without web hosting, you can not have a website. Therefore here are the typical components you should expect with any web hosting account you plan on setting up (as these are all essential to the success of your website).

1. File storage:

The image, text, and design files that make your website look like it does are stored on a server – a computer maintained by your web hosting service. Think of this like a computer you are renting for the sole purpose of storing and accessing your website from anywhere in the world.

2. Software and Tools:

Website stats, email, website builders. Every web hosting account should come equipped with everything you need to manage, build or maintain an already existing website.

3. Uptime and Speed:

The amount of time when your site files are available to visitors is what we refer to as “uptime.” Uptime of 99.9% is the industry standard for web hosts. You don’t want guests to drop by and find that your website is unavailable or moving slower than molasses, expect and demand consistent up-times and availability from your web host.

4. Support and Security:

On the internet, pranksters and criminals are always trying to break into servers, files, and sites to cause mayhem or steal data. Your web host’s security measures protect your site from break-ins, just like your home security system keeps people from breaking into your house. A great web host will ensure the server your website is hosted is well protected, while also providing support for any issues related to your website.

FernGullyGraphics changes name to Forward Web

Posted on July 11, 2017 by Forward_Web

Hi everyone,

Today we are pleased to announce the launch of our new company name Forward Web (which replaces our previous name FernGullyGraphics). So why the name change?

As we have grown over the past years, our core business has gone far beyond Graphics and more into the categories of Web Hosting, Web Development and Marketing. Although graphics and printing is still very much a part of our business, we wanted to update our name into something that was a little more synonymous with what we do. Since we have always seen ourselves as a forward thinking company, we thought Forward Web was a more appropriate name for our company.

With that being said, we do want to make note that the only part of our business that has changed is our name. The Staff, ownership and level of service you have come to expect are all going to remain the same. Some Important Notes:

* As we slowly update merchant accounts..ect you will start to see Forward Web showing up on your statements.

* If you have any payments in the mail that were made out to FernGullyGraphics (you do NOT need to resend these payments), we will be able to process as is. Just make a note that all future payments should be made out to Forward Web.

* Any email sent to @FernGullyGraphics.com is still going to be actively checked.

* If your domain name is currently using ns23.FernGullyGraphics.com nameservers, these nameservers will remain active for the foreseeable future.

* We have not updated the URLs for the client portal yet, however we will do so within the coming week. Once we update the client portal url’s, your login credentials will remain the same and the old url’s will forward to the new ones. So ideally, you wont have to do much on your end.

That should cover everything, if you have any questions about the name change, please do not hesitate to ask. We look forward to continue serving you under the new brand for many more years to come.

Reasons you may need to upgrade to a Virtual Private Server

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Forward_Web

For many businesses, growth means upgrades. Virtual private servers (VPS hosting) are great solutions for businesses in between having outgrown their standard shared web hosting and needing a full dedicated server. So how do you know if an upgrade is the right move for your business or website? Here are a few signs and or reasons you may need to upgrade to a VPS.

Your site is slow: A slow website means your visitors are not getting the information they need in a timely manner (major negative). In addition, a slow website means your website is being negatively effected on Local and Organic search rankings (double negative). Regardless of the negative effects of having a slow website, the reasons why your website is loading slow could be related to your website having outgrown it’s shared web hosting enviroment. Since every shared web hosting account has limits in relation to the amount of traffic the website can handle. At some point (if your website grows in popularity) your website will outgrow your shared web hosting account (requiring more dedicated resources).

You want or need more control over your web hosting environment: One of the primary reasons (outside of needing more dedicated resources), is to be able to install your own operating system, software or web server. Although you don’t necessarily need to have system administration knowledge (you can acquire a fully managed VPS if you don’t), with more control, will come more responsibility.

You’re worried about security: There’s no way to guarantee total safety with web hosting. However, staying along the same lines of having more control. Having a VPS (if managed correctly) will give you a greater level of security vs your standard shared web hosting account. This can be especially true if you are running an e-commerce website that requires PCI compliance or the storage of sensitive information.

Still not sure if you need to upgrade to a VPS? Do not hesitate to have Forward Web analyze your current website/web hosting environment to determine whether or not an upgraded is required.

3 Reasons Why Social Media Matters For Your Business

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Forward_Web

In today’s day and age, marketing your business on social media is imperative in order to succeed in this competitive market. A large percentage of marketers agree that social media is important for successful business growth but, if you are not sure why, keep reading because Forward Web shares 3 reasons why social medial matters for your business in this article!

Reason #1: Increased Traffic to Your Website

One of the greatest struggles for a digital marketer is getting people to your site and keeping them there. The advantage of using social media is that it has the benefit of directing people straight to your site. For instance, Forward Web writes blogs regularly which are then shared across a selection of social sites and all links lead back to our website. Each interaction pushes that content in front of more people and this results in more opportunities for people to find our website.

You too can accomplish the same results by implementing this process. A lot of the social profiles now have the option to adding a link back to your website too. For example, Facebook and Instagram now encourages this connection with the implementation of the call-to-action button that links people directly to your app or website. Bottom line, the goal is to increase traffic to your website.

Reason #2: Increase Your Brand’s Exposure And Authority

For people to be more aware of your company, it is important to have a strong social presence and to constantly be engaging. Social media makes it possible to demonstrate not only that you exist but also that your business is functional and responsive, with current, interesting and relevant things going on. A simple share or retweet from your followers can change the way the message is delivered. This helps increase your brand’s exposure and authority tremendously as it amplifies your message, thus exposing you to more people.

Reason #3: Social Media Provides An Avenue For Contact and Feedback

As a business, social media is a fantastic and effective avenue for contact and feedback, it really opens up some doors of opportunity that might not have otherwise been available. This is a real opportunity to not only understand your customers’ experiences and quickly respond to their concerns or complaints, but it also helps you understand how your business is perceived. This information is a essential to make any necessary adjustments for constant and regular growth.

One of the reasons why so many people rely on social media nowadays is because users know they will get a speedy response through social media. It is pretty standard for customers to expect a reply within an hour and with that in mind it is important to monitor your accounts regularly. Feedback is highly useful and welcomed (even if it’s not always what you want to hear). In fact, unhappy customers could be considered a great opportunity for improvement and growth, after all, wouldn’t you want to know if a customer is unhappy or if your business has a problem? Think about it, if you can turn an unhappy customer around, they will be completely satisfied with the experience and be more inclined to spread the word.

As you can see, social medial can play a major role in the success of your business. Not because it can be used to push your way to the top of the results page but because it allows you to engage with your audience and build strong, long-term relationships, listen and respond to trends and feedback, and make and share amazing content. It takes some patience but the process is well worth the investment because over time, your influence will increase as people will find value in what your business offers. Would you like more information on this topic? Contact Forward Web today!

3 Reasons Why Having Business Cards Matter

Posted on August 14, 2016 by Forward_Web

Technology is a big part of our every day lives and just about everything we do in business is digital; we sign contracts online, send countless emails back and forth, attend meetings and even our networking is now done digitally! But, even though our technology is constantly evolving, there is one thing that will not be replaced any time soon, the business card. In this article, Forward Web provides 3 reasons why having a business card matter:

Having a Business Card Shows You Are Prepared

Imagine this: you are having a great conversation with someone and they ask you for your business information but for one reason or another, you have no business cards with you. What do you do? Do you write your contact information on a napkin and hand it over to them? Or perhaps you suggest they save your information in their phone but their phone happens to be dead? Either way, none of those approaches are professional.

Instead, if can simply pull out a business card and hand it over to the person who wants to do business with you will demonstrate that you are prepared and a great indicator that you are professional. Ending conversations with “let me give you my business card” is still very effective.

A Professional Business Card Is The First Impression Of Your Brand

Anytime you make contact with someone, you want to make a great first impression (especially when they could potentially be a great prospect or connection). What better way to make a great impression than with a professional business card! A memorable business card does a lot more than just pass on an email address or phone number.

Investing in a professionally designed business card is extremely valuable. The last thing you want your new connection to do is associate your business brand with the word cheap. An professionally designed business card not only makes a great first impression but they can also serve as an effective icebreaker. Conversations don’t always have to end after handing over your card, in fact, oftentimes a unique business card will fuel a conversation even further!

Business Cards Are The Most Effective Direct Marketing Tool

When it comes to marketing tools, there are many options available; from email marketing to effective search engine optimization and paid media, they all do a fantastic job of attracting leads and prospects however, they will never be AS effective as an face to face meeting sealed with a handshake and a business card exchange.

You could potentially run into lead or prospect opportunities every time you walk through your front door. Whether your day consists of a going to a conference, an airport, lunch, doctor appointment, grocery store even happy hour, opportunities are all around you. For this reason, it is important to make sure you have business cards with you at all times to ensure you will never miss an opportunity to make a valuable connection.

Business cards are not outdated yet, and as you can see, there are many great reasons why you should invest in professionally designed business cards. True, it is an expense but it is an expense well worth investing in because the fact of the matter is that you can never have too many business cards and they are an fundamental part of your business! For more information or if you are interested in our professional and custom business card design service, make sure to contact Forward Web.

Tips For Networking At a Business Networking Event

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Forward_Web

Networking events offer fantastic opportunities for your business. For this reason, you don’t want to take the chance to just show up to a conference and wing it. Instead, you want to make sure you take a dedicated approach and be prepared to gain the greatest benefits for the growth of your business. The following are tips Forward Web recommends for effective networking at a networking event:

Tip #1: Have A Plan

You want to go to a networking event with a plan. Know what your main goal is, what you want to accomplish and also determine what you want to learn and gain from each conference you attend. In fact, write a few points down; give yourself measurable guidelines to help you stay on track. Set specific goals which can include: collecting a specific amount (set a number) of emails or phone numbers, finding a specific amount of promising business leads or handing out a specific amount of business cards.

Tip #2: Use The Internet To Connect

The internet is a fantastic tool and especially useful when preparing for such an event. It is wise to become familiar with all of the online resources available to you about a conference you are thinking of attending and use them to your advantage. For instance, you can search for information about the presenters and attendees and connect with them on social media beforehand. Do extensive research and get familiarized with companies and people before you attend. Doing so will prepare you with talking points and keep you consistently engaged.

Keep in mind that nowadays everyone uses hashtags on social media. Most conferences have related hashtags you can search to find other attendees. Also, some conferences sometimes have their own social platforms so keep an eye out for those because they offer exclusive opportunities to connect.

Tip #3: Make Your Attendance Known

Make a public announcement! Use the tools you have such as your website and social media accounts to let everyone know you are attending a conference. For example, you can make a free survey available on your website to ask your customers what they would like to learn if they were going to a conference themselves or use twitter polls for the same purpose. Set out to be your audience’s advocate and use this information to create content and publicity around your attendance.

Tip #4: Mix and Mingle

Do not, we repeat, do not go to a conference just to quietly isolate yourself from everyone, stand off to the side or hide behind your phone. This is not the time to check your email or Facebook notifications. Be alive, engage, be active, be present and interact. Remember, you are there to network! Don’t waste an opportunity for growth.

Tip #5: Branding with Style

Stand out by bringing some great stuff to give to people you connect with. For example, you can offer branded key chains, pens, stickers, magnets, notebooks, pencils, t-shirts which are all easy to carry and any person you meet can use. Make sure to add your business info to all your promo items and remember that a little company style goes a long way!

Tip #6: Offer Exclusive Discounts

Everyone loves a discount therefore, offering an exclusive discount to conference attendees is a great opportunity to extend your services to those you connect with. For instance, you can have a sign-up form available on your website that offers other conference attendees a discount code in exchange for their email address. Remember that the people you connect with are potential customers, referrals (or referrers) and/or investors.

You now have some really good and effective tips, with some great examples for you to succeed at your next networking opportunity. Don’t forget to have plenty of business cards with you at all times. Your business cards should be professionally designed and they should have relevant and updated information (that includes phone number, business email address and website) and make sure you have plenty of them, you can never have too many business cards. You have all the tools necessary to get out there and make amazing connections and if you need help with any of these things, Forward Web is more than happy to be of assistance!

Website Page Speed 101: Facts You Should Know

Posted on July 24, 2016 by Forward_Web

Have you ever experienced slow page speed while on a website? Whether it is your own website or someone else’s, this can be a frustrating experience. Most people believe their internet service provider is the culprit, never really considering their page speed as an internal issue and although download speed and your internet package certainly plays a part in how quickly your website loads, there are also many other factors that determine the speed in which content appears in the browser. Forward Web has put together this list of facts as a guide to help you understand what you should know about page speed, consider this page speed 101!

Speed is such an important part of a person’s website experience that Google decided to include this aspect in their ranking process. This process greatly affects how your website appears in the search engine results page. At least half of all internet consumers expect a webpage to load in 2 seconds or less but, the Google experts expect an optimized website that is worthy of their top rankings to load in under half a second. The fact of the matter is that the internet world is a very competitive market and page speed can lead to serious losses in transactions solely due to the extra time in which people become frustrated and quickly move on to the next option.

With all this in mind, let’s explore what factors determine page speed:

Code

Coding is the true back-end of each website and if your CSS or HTML is too heavy, it will overpower your page speed.

Your Web Host

Where you host your site pays massive dividends when it comes to customer experience.

Your Theme

The theme you choose may have complex coding which adds to your load times.

External Media

YouTube videos and other content is a great idea, however, make sure it is only as large as you need it to appear (in terms of frame size).

Widgets

Widgets are another thing that can be coded densely and requires serious processing power.

Large Images

There is a significant difference between the necessary resolution for screen based imagery and print. Keep in mind that larger file sizes can be compressed to strip unnecessary data.

Too Many Ads

Too many ads can make your speed drag therefore, only use them if they are worth the extra processing.

Un-Optimization For Certain Browsers and Devices

With so many device and browser options available nowadays, your website will respond differently on each of them. This isn’t a huge issue most of the time but, for example, if your website is working great on Google but isn’t formatting correctly on Firefox then your ranking will be penalized.

It is typically impossible for the average website owner to know what is preventing their pages from loading efficiently, however, each of the facts above can contribute to overall speed. If you have already considered the above facts and are still experiencing slow page speed, fortunately, there are several accredited web tools that can assist you in determining if your website is loading slowly and where the weak points in your website are occurring (making it much easier to adjust or make the necessary corrections). We recommend Google’s PageSpeed Insights since the purpose of page optimization is to rank well with Google and knowing what they recommend for better page ranking is essential. Forward Web is always happy to answer any questions or provide you with further assistance when it comes to your page speed, so don’t hesitate to contact us.

How To Build a Website Yourself

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Forward_Web

Are you considering building a website yourself? The process can seem overwhelming, especially when you are in the beginning stages. Many people choose to hire a professional web designer to take on this task instead but unfortunately, not everyone has the budget to hire out from the very beginning. However, there are a lot of tools, information and tutorials available which allow anyone to build a quality website within a reasonable amount of time and Forward Web provides some helpful tips in this article to build your very own website yourself:

The first thing you will need to do is set up your hosting and domain name. Of course there are many sources online where you can do this but with Forward Web, this step is fast, easy and simple! You can purchase your domain name (or transfer an existing one) and set up your hosting within minutes and if you need assistance, just let us know and we are happy to help. Once you have obtained your website and hosting, you now have the basic framework set up and you can begin building your new website.

Next, install a CMS (Content Management System). Forward Web recommends WordPress because it is an open source project that gives people the opportunity to build and manage their own website without having to learn code. However, if you want to learn code, WordPress still allows for you to work with the code for your website (as WordPress is Open Source), so it offers the best of both worlds.

In addition, building your website with WordPress means you are you able to host your website with any web hosting company that supports PHP/MySQL (which includes most web host’s). Being able to move your website to the web host of your choice is a great advantage over other site builders. Once your website is launched, you will want to have the freedom/option to change web hosts (if needed) vs being stuck with the same web hosting company you are building your website with.

WordPress has over 2,000 free and attractive themes (templates) for you to start building your website with. However, if you do not find any themes that you would like to use, you can go into the open market and purchase a WordPress theme of your liking (usually for around $30-$80.00). Either way, you have plenty of options in regards to the design of your website. Feel free to browse the latest free themes by WordPress here.

Creating a website from scratch takes patience and a lot of experimentation and trial and error. At the same time, it can be a truly worthwhile process if you are up to the challenge/learning experience. Luckily, there are a lot of tools and information available (such as this article). If you are just starting your business and you have a very limited budget, learning to develop the website yourself might be the best solution. However, if you do have the budget (or want to save time), you might want to consider leaving the development of your website to the professionals (Forward Web). Another factor to consider is the complexity of your website. Are you planning to sell any items via your website? If so, we highly recommend contacting Forward Web first, so you can explore both options before committing to your approach.