Agencies – Rocket.net https://rocket.net Managed WordPress Hosting Wed, 07 May 2025 13:21:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.5 https://rocket.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/cropped-favicon-32x32-1.png Agencies – Rocket.net https://rocket.net 32 32 Expand Agency Services To Retain Clients — With Admin Bar Insights https://rocket.net/blog/expand-agency-services-to-retain-clients-with-admin-bar-insights/ https://rocket.net/blog/expand-agency-services-to-retain-clients-with-admin-bar-insights/#respond Wed, 07 May 2025 13:21:05 +0000 https://rocket.net/?p=7007 Using the 2025 WordPress Survey to Grow Your Agency

If you’re running a WordPress agency or freelance business, you’re probably wondering how your operation compares to others in the industry. The good news? The Admin Bar 2025 WordPress Professionals Survey just dropped with insights from over 1,200 professionals just like you.

Let’s dive into how you can leverage these survey results to expand your services, retain more clients, and potentially attract new ones.

TL;DR I’m Between Meetings

The 2025 WordPress Professionals Survey, with insights from over 1,200 experts, highlights key strategies for agency growth.

Agencies can stand out by expanding into underserved areas like accessibility (24.8% adoption) and conversion rate optimization (14.4%), where competition is low.

Building recurring revenue through monthly care plans, aligning your tech stack with popular tools like Bricks and GeneratePress, integrating AI for content, and formalizing client referral programs are crucial.

Since most agencies grow through networking (57%) and referrals (50%), prioritizing these methods can significantly enhance client acquisition and business sustainability.

What the WordPress Survey Data Tells Us

The 2025 survey reveals some interesting trends among WordPress professionals:

  •  57% of agencies report they’re in growth mode (that’s good news!)
  • The average WordPress professional has been in business for 12 years
  •  Most agencies (77.1%) are running their business full-time
  • The median hourly rate sits at $95

But the real question is: how can you use this information to improve your business?

Service Expansion Opportunities You Might Be Missing

Looking at the services being offered by other WordPress agencies, some interesting gaps represent real opportunities:

Highly Saturated Services:

  • Website Maintenance (93.1%)
  • Website Design (90.6%)
  • Website Development (86.5%)
  • Hosting (71.6%)

Underserved Opportunities:

  • Conversion Rate Optimization (14.4%)
  • Social Media Management (20%)
  • Website Accessibility (24.8%)
  • Performance Optimization (37.1%)
  • Sustainable Website Design (not on the survey, but an important Web Design niche!)

This data suggests that expanding into less crowded service areas could help you differentiate your business while providing additional value to clients.

“WordPress accessibility will become increasingly crucial so that all websites created using it are usable by everyone. This will require better integration with disability-friendly plug-ins as well as adherence to WCAG.”

geeksforgeeks.org

Where Are Your Clients Coming From?

The survey shows that in-person networking (57%) and asking for referrals (50%) remain the top client acquisition methods. This is significant because:

  1. These methods have the lowest cost-per-acquisition.
  2. They typically produce higher-quality leads than cold outreach.
  3. They’re strategies that every agency, regardless of size, can implement immediately.

This stands in stark contrast to methods like paid advertising, which only 14% of WordPress professionals are using.

Looking for the best WordPress hosting for your agency? Impress clients with the best performance and security for your clients to make your life easier managing your business

Taking Action on the Survey Insights

Now that you understand what the data is telling us, here’s how to put it into action:

1. Audit Your Current Service Offerings

Take inventory of what you’re currently offering clients and compare it against the survey data. Are you missing opportunities in underserved areas like accessibility or software development (only 12.3%)?

For example, if you’re already handling website maintenance for clients, adding performance optimization is a natural extension that 63% of agencies aren’t offering.

2. Develop a Recurring Revenue Strategy

The survey shows a wide distribution of monthly recurring revenue (MRR), with 21.8% earning under $500 monthly and only 6.3% earning over $20,000 monthly.

To move up this ladder:

  • Package your services into monthly care plans. Don’t forget to bundle!
  • Include services clients need but might not prioritize.
  • Present options at different price points to accommodate various client budgets.

3. Evaluate Your Builder Stack

The builder landscape is fascinating with Bricks (24.4%) and Elementor (24.1%) leading the pack, followed by Divi (10.1%). The most telling item that is missing from the survey list? The Block Editor.

Fun Fact: The survey’s builder results are somewhat different than those results reported on w3techs.com.

If you’re using a less popular builder, you might either:

  • Position yourself as a specialist in that niche.
  • Consider expanding your toolkit to include more widely used options.
  • Focus on the Gutenberg Block Editor and wait for the dust to settle.

“WordPress is block-based. As WordPress continues to evolve, the Block Editor remains at the forefront of its development.”

Rocket.net – Are Agencies Using The Gutenberg Block Editor?

4. Embrace AI Integration

With 57.3% of WordPress professionals actively embracing AI and another 37.4% experimenting with it, artificial intelligence is transforming the industry.

Start by:

  • Using AI tools for the drudge work that is stealing your time: accounting, editing, video teasers etc.
  • Implement AI in your project management.
  • Exploring AI-powered image creation for design work.

Only 5.3% of professionals are avoiding AI completely—don’t be in this increasingly isolated group.

5. Create a Structured Referral Program

Since asking for referrals is the second most common marketing activity, formalize this process by:

  • Identifying your ideal referral timing (usually after a successful project completion).
  • Creating incentives for clients who refer new business.
  • Following up with past clients quarterly to stay top-of-mind.

Hot Tip: Rocket.net’s Agency Partner Program is powered by an easy-to-use commission platform, providing agencies with an impressive 15% lifetime recurring monthly referral commission. 

Bottom Line

The WordPress ecosystem continues to evolve, and staying competitive means adapting your service offerings to meet changing client needs. Two important areas to expand into are accessibility and conversion rate optimization.

By strategically expanding into underserved service areas, building recurring revenue streams, and embracing new technologies, you can position your agency for sustained growth.

Remember that 66.4% of WordPress professionals believe they’ll still be running their agency in five years—with the right strategy based on this survey data, you can ensure your business is among them.

Tip: Focus your client acquisition on networking and referrals; they outperform paid ads in cost and lead quality.

Have you identified any service areas you plan to add this year? Or have questions about implementing these strategies? We’re here for your agency!

Fast & Secure Hosting? Yes, Please!

Grow your business with lightning-fast, secure, and optimized websites that are easy to set up & manage. Top-tier agencies and online companies choose Rocket.net as their trusted managed WordPress hosting provider – why shouldn’t you, too?

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What Could $1/Day PPC Ads Do For Your Agency? https://rocket.net/blog/what-could-1-day-ppc-ads-do-for-your-agency/ https://rocket.net/blog/what-could-1-day-ppc-ads-do-for-your-agency/#respond Thu, 13 Mar 2025 13:28:27 +0000 https://rocket.net/?p=6928 Does the thought of running PPC ads on a dollar-a-day budget seem ridiculous? Probably but hold on. It’s just a dollar a day. You paid more for that latte, and how many new clients is that bringing you?

A micro-budget PPC campaign, strategically executed, can deliver some real wins. We’ve seen it. Our partners have seen it. Our clients have seen it. Anyway, it’s just a dollar. What’s the worst that can happen?

$1/Day PPC for Agencies: Worth It?

  • Yes, but don’t expect miracles.
  • Target ultra-local clients or niche keywords.
  • Use compelling ad copy and a killer landing page.
  • Think of planting seeds for future growth with micro-level marketing.
  • It’s about low-risk data gathering to refine your strategy and demonstrate PPC value to clients, not instant riches.

A dollar a day is about smart experimentation, not massive scale. Use it to learn, refine, and prove the power of your PPC ads on a smaller scale.

Why $1/Day PPC Sounds Impossible (But Actually Isn’t)

Sure, a dollar a day seems like tossing coins out the window. Except it isn’t. How do you compete with businesses dropping thousands?

The secret is you aren’t trying to dominate the search results. This is about focused testing and smart experimentation with minimal risk. We’re not trying to scale to Mars; we’re trying to get a feel for the land.

A dollar a day is about testing keywords, ad copy, impressions, and more. And yes, you can even get clicks, leads, and a customer. We’ve done it, we’ve seen it, and it’s happened more than once.

Hot Tip: a dollar a day really works for small business local ads. That’s the tip.

Reminder: Do you want to get conversions? Then stop sending people to your homepage and design a landing page that’s going to actually convert with a much better ROI!

What Can You Actually Achieve with Pocket Change?

Put a dollar a day into the bank for a year and you have a few hundred bucks. Like everything else, it takes time. But those days add up. Here’s what you can do with $365 over a year.

Local Domination (Micro-Scale): Think hyper-local. Target potential clients within a tiny radius of your agency’s physical location. A buck a day can be enough to appear for highly relevant searches like “marketing agency near me” or “[Your City] SEO expert.”

SWOT Tactics: Competitor Keyword Recon: Monitor your competitors’ keywords. Identify terms they’re bidding on, even if you only get a few impressions. Get insights without the big spend. Ride their ad spend.

Ideal Client Blueprint: Audience Refinement: Use specific demographic and interest targeting to hone in on your ideal client profile. Gather valuable data about what resonates with them.

Gentle Nudge: Low-Cost Retargeting: Retargeting campaigns, even on a shoestring budget, can keep your agency top-of-mind for website visitors who bounced. It’s a second chance to make a first impression. Won’t they be impressed by your dollar-a-day idea?

Proving Grounds: Demonstrating PPC Value: A $1/day test can double as proof of concept for potential clients. Show real metrics (impressions, clicks, costs) to convince them of PPC’s power. It’s a month-long mini-case study that only costs thirty bucks!

Looking for the best WordPress hosting for your agency? Impress clients with the best performance and security for your clients to make your life easier managing your business

The Strategy: Niche Down, Focus Up, Get Specific

The key to micro-budget PPC is nano-focused targeting on top of your compelling ad copy. You need to be laser-sharp. A dollar doesn’t stretch far. You can’t afford to be broad.

  • Useful Keywords: Long-tail keywords are your secret weapon. Think “small business social media management [Your City]” instead of “social media marketing.”
  • Geographic Lockdown: Narrow your radius – target clients within a few miles of your agency. Don’t forget the commuters.
  • Ad Copy That Converts: Every word must grab attention and be laser-relevant to your target audience. Test different calls to action.

Landing Page Perfection: Create a dedicated landing page that perfectly aligns with your ad copy and offer (free consultation, downloadable guide). Don’t forget the thank you page either.

“Niche landing pages are personalized maps and tools, specifically designed to help each client — and your agency — reach their unique digital destinations.“

Rocket.net – How Client-Focused Landing Pages Can Supercharge Your WordPress Agency

Turning Pocket Change into Tangible Benefits

This strategy isn’t about an overnight lead explosion; it’s about smart growth:

Data Mining: Use the campaign to learn about your audience, test keywords, and refine your targeting. Track Click-Through Rates (CTR), demographics, and keyword performance. If you see a 5% CTR on an ad for “SEO audits” vs. 1% for “social media management,” you’ve got a signal!

Subtle Buzz: Brand Awareness: Even a handful of daily impressions can subtly build recognition in your local market.

Lead Generation (On a Diet): Pair your ads with a killer landing page. Even with a 10% conversion rate on 30 clicks, you get three potential clients a month.

“Got WooCommerce? Put Google Shopping to work for you. Sync your WooCommerce product feed or launch a Google Ads campaign with the plugin.” Google for WooCommerce

Just Four $1 a Day PPC Examples

Web Design on a Shoestring

You offer web design services. Run a Google Ads campaign with a $1/day budget, targeting “affordable web design [your city]” at $0.80 CPC.

You get 1-2 clicks daily, driving 40 visitors to a landing page over a month. With a 6% conversion rate, that’s 2-4 inquiries for $30 – potentially $10-$15 per lead.

If just one converts into a $1,000 project, your ROAS is 33x! A small win, but it’s a thousand bucks.

Brand Awareness with Display Ads (CPC < $0.10)

  • Goal: Build awareness with low-cost clicks.
  • Strategy: Run display ads on niche blogs or forums where CPCs are low.

Ultra-Niche Keywords in Search Ads (CPC $0.50 – $1.00)

  • Goal: Drive high-quality traffic with specific long-tail keywords.
  • Strategy: Target low-competition keywords.

Retargeting Website Visitors (CPC $0.20 – $0.50)

  • Goal: Re-engage users who visited your website but didn’t sign up.
  • Strategy: Set up a remarketing campaign in Google Ads.

Realistic Expectations (Don’t Get Carried Away)

  • Scale is Limited: A dollar a day won’t transform your agency overnight.
  • Patience is Key: Results will trickle in slowly. Think long-term learning.
  • Optimization is EVERYTHING: Tight targeting and compelling ads are essential.
  • CPCs Can Vary: In competitive niches, you may not get a click a day.

The Bottom Line

A $1/day PPC campaign isn’t a replacement for a solid marketing strategy –  it’s another blade in your Swiss army knife.

A dollar a day can be a valuable tool for generating insights, boosting local visibility, and testing the waters without emptying your wallet. So, before you dismiss the idea, consider the potential power of the humble dollar.

Fast & Secure Hosting? Yes, Please!

Grow your business with lightning-fast, secure, and optimized websites that are easy to set up & manage. Top-tier agencies and online businesses choose Rocket.net as their trusted managed WordPress hosting provider – why shouldn’t you, too?

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How to Make The Shift From Freelancer to WordPress Agency https://rocket.net/blog/how-to-make-the-shift-from-freelancer-to-wordpress-agency/ https://rocket.net/blog/how-to-make-the-shift-from-freelancer-to-wordpress-agency/#respond Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:44:43 +0000 https://rocket.net/?p=6825 So you’re ready to go bigger, yes? Ready for speed? Ready to make even more money? Excellent and congratulations! We’ve been waiting for you!

TL;DR Thinking About Becoming an Agency: Do it!

As a freelancer, you enjoy a lot of freedom.

  • Flexible work hours
  • Ability to decline projects
  • Freedom to adjust schedules and take time off

However, transitioning into a WordPress agency owner drastically changes your responsibilities.

  • Your freedom becomes limited
  • You’re the ultimate responsible party
  • You serve as the backup for all roles

And don’t forget: the stakes as an agency are higher than a freelancing gig.

  • Meeting payroll becomes a constant concern
  • Client satisfaction extends beyond just your work
  • Financial risks increase substantially

The shift from freelancer to business owner is not just about scaling up—it’s a fundamental change in your lifestyle and responsibilities.

Launch an agency to grow professionally, not just financially. Consider it if you want to expand your skills and take on new challenges.

The Debate: Freelancer or Agency?

If you’ve worked successfully as a freelancer over the years, you may be considering starting a WordPress agency. Or maybe you just want to seem like an agency. Before you do, carefully weigh the pros and cons.

One of the main advantages of running an agency is the ability to handle larger projects — and more of them. You can have employees to manage marketing or accounting. This frees you up to focus on the core business of website development — and sales. 

Freelancing, on the other hand, offers more independence; you’re only accountable to your clients. And you hand pick just the good ones. As an agency owner, you have greater responsibilities — and not just for yourself. You’re responsible for the well-being and financial security of your team. As an agency owner, pursuing projects that are more fun but less profitable becomes a luxury.

Looking for the best WordPress hosting for your agency? Impress clients with the best performance and security for your clients to make your life easier managing your business

How to Scale from Freelancer to WordPress Agency

You can scale from freelancer to agency in two easy steps: Step 1: Get a million dollars. Step 2: Open your office and hire all the cool kids you know from other agencies. That’s it! Wouldn’t it be great if it were that simple? It’s going to be a bit more work, but you can do it.

Step 1: Growing Your (Own) Agency

You have probably heard this term before. It’s important. Agency is the capacity for independent action and decision-making. It is also the ability to influence your circumstances. Having agency encompasses autonomy, self-efficacy, and personal responsibility. This is where you start.

“To exercise agency is to acquire significant control over your outcomes in life’s various arenas, including school, work, sports, physical health, and psychological well-being.”

Psychology Today

Key strategies for developing agency include:

  • Cultivating self-awareness
  • Taking responsibility for actions and outcomes
  • Adopting a growth mindset

Having agency is important for growth. Agency transforms you from a passive service provider into a proactive business owner — without opening a WordPress agency. It empowers you to make strategic decisions, overcome obstacles, and continuously evolve your freelance career. Agency is your rocket fuel!

Step 2: Growing from Freelancer to Freelance Hub

There are a lot of freelancers who could do larger projects if they partnered up with one another. You might already be doing this. You and your partners might be ready for the move to opening an agency. Excellent!

If you aren’t ready for the jump, other ways allow you to scale your freelance work. Partnering with other freelancers is a good step toward the scaling process.

Freelancers collaborating in a shared office space can significantly broaden their service offerings. You can tackle larger and more complex projects, and enhance your portfolio. An increased potential customer base can also lead to greater profit opportunities. By sharing resources, freelancers can reduce overhead costs while benefiting from a rented workspace away from home.

“Instead of thinking of others in your niche as competitors, think of them as potential partners.”

Rocket.net – 10 Reasons Why Niche Marketing Can Scale Your Agency

Step 3: 8 Tips for Going from Freelancer to an Agency

Lists are great for groceries and before a trip; planning your move from freelancer to agency might need a bit more time and thought. That said, you’re probably reading this on the move or between bites. Let’s cut to the chase.

Are you a successful freelancer who is ready to move to the next level? Here we go!

  • Change your Mindset

We covered that in Step 1: Begin by shifting your mindset. There is no “I” in agency. Dress and act for the job you want. That’s the message.

“Are you ready for this multi-faceted role? it’s a steep learning curve, but one that can be mastered with patience and persistence.”

Pollen
  • Become a Project Manager

As your own boss, you’re already familiar with managing projects. As an agency owner, you’ll be responsible for managing the entire business. If this isn’t you, then you’ll need to identify someone who is.

Define clear roles, responsibilities, and communication channels within your team to improve efficiency and ensure smooth project delivery. 

  • Get ready to Manage Multiple Clients

Make sure you have a steady flow of clients before fully transitioning. A full pipeline is a sign that you’re ready to scale your operations. Ensure you have a diverse group of clients and not just one or two large ones. (See Financial Vigilance)

Implement a structured process for managing leads and onboarding clients. Focus on filtering out unqualified clients early to streamline your workflow. It really is okay to turn down work.

“Sometimes all it takes is a happy customer who gets all their expectations fulfilled.”

SmartTask
  • Shift to a Sales and Marketing Focus

As a new agency owner, shift your focus toward generating new business. While delivering quality service remains essential, growing your sales pipeline should take precedence.

Are you better at closing sales than your partners? Start being the point of contact on those leads. Call precious customers and see how you can help them. You get it.

  • Dollars and Sense: Financial Vigilance

Your business plan prepared you for working three years without profit. Keep a close watch on your financial data to maintain business health and avoid potential pitfalls — like losing your biggest client.

Job costing really is your best friend. Track your time and find out how you did. Doing post-mortems on past projects helps you more accurately price future projects. Profit is the key to agency growth. It isn’t evil. It is important.

“A small business financial plan (helps you) understand: How will the business make money? What does the business need to achieve its goals? What is the business’s operating budget?”

Oracle NetSuite
  • Rethink your Hiring Strategy

Before expanding your service team, focus on hiring positions that drive revenue, such as sales roles or billable experts. Another option is to partner with other freelancers to form an agency of sorts. It doesn’t even need to be a formal LLC, though that is a great idea. When you are ready to add yourselves to payroll, you’ll be saving money even if you don’t need to hire employees. 

  • Look at your Legal Structure

Once your business is financially stable, consider transitioning from a sole proprietorship to an LLC for better legal protection and organization.

You’ll need to have at least 6-18 months of work in the pipeline. Then again, it depends on your volume and built-in profit.

How do I change my Upwork profile from freelancer to agency? “If you like the freedom and flexibility of freelancing but the structure and collaborative environment of working at an agency, consider starting your own agency on Upwork.”

Upwork.com
  • Don’t forget to Enjoy the Journey

Celebrate Successes and Failures: Don’t forget to enjoy the process and celebrate milestones along the way!

Reflect on what went well and what didn’t. Maybe you want to choose a niche. There are plenty of agencies that only work with roofers, or dentists, or accountants. 

We’re a WordPress Hosting Company, not a Business Coach, Jim!

If you’ve already had success as a freelancer and built a strong network, an agency could be the next logical step. There are countless agencies in every industry, so it’s crucial to define what sets yours apart. 

No matter what type of agency you decide to create, you should already have mastered your craft, be hyper-organized, and have a buffer in the bank. Also, be prepared for a lot of coordination work!

This is just us talking. We host websites – you’re the expert on your situation. The decision to grow is yours to make, so weigh the opinions of others against your knowledge and instincts.

That said, we want to be a part of your journey. As a freelancer, you might already be enjoying our Affiliate Partner Program. As an agency, you can enjoy our Agency Partner Program. We offer agencies a 15% MRR stake in your client’s hosting. That’s money just for being an agency.

Listen; going from freelancer to agency can be a smart move or a misstep. One common pitfall is launching a WordPress agency solely because you’re swamped with work. While it’s tempting to expand when you’re turning down lucrative opportunities, this alone isn’t a solid foundation for an agency.

There are compelling reasons to start an agency and equally strong reasons to reconsider. The key is critically examining your motivations and long-term goals before taking the plunge.

We’d Love to Show You What The Fastest WordPress Hosting Actually Means for Your Agency!

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Are Agencies Using The Gutenberg Block Editor? https://rocket.net/blog/are-agencies-using-the-gutenberg-block-editor/ https://rocket.net/blog/are-agencies-using-the-gutenberg-block-editor/#respond Fri, 08 Nov 2024 14:29:06 +0000 https://rocket.net/?p=6672 If you’re wondering if WordPress agencies are really using the native (Gutenberg) Block Editor, the answer is yes. Yes, they’re using it. 

Let’s define terms for those of you new here.

The Gutenberg Project refers to the initiative by WordPress to modernize and simplify the content editing experience. Introduced in WordPress 5.0 (December 2018), Gutenberg aims to replace the traditional TinyMCE editor with a more user-friendly, block-based approach. This project is named after Johannes Gutenberg, the printing press inventor, to symbolize the shift in how users create and design content on WordPress.

The Gutenberg Block Editor (also referred to as the Block Editor) is the central component of the Gutenberg Project. It replaces the old editor with a block-based system for building content. Instead of writing all content in a single, monolithic text area, you create pages and posts by stacking blocks.

WordPress Full Site Editing (FSE) is an extension of the block-based approach introduced with the Gutenberg Editor, but it expands beyond posts and pages to the entire WordPress site. With FSE, you can use blocks to design and customize all aspects of your site, including the header, footer, sidebar, and more.

Before FSE, users were dependent on themes for site structure and would need custom PHP or third-party plugins for advanced layout changes. FSE changes this by allowing everything to be edited visually using blocks.

The ongoing updates and new features in the Gutenberg Block Editor are a hot topic, especially among developers and content creators. If you already use the Block Editor, please share this article with your friends and colleagues. If you’re new to it, you should check out how switching from your old page builder to the Block Editor can make your life — and your clients’ lives – so much easier.

If you’re new to WordPress, the Gutenberg Project’s Block Editor uses a block-based approach that simplifies content creation. With features like drag-and-drop functionality and real-time previews, it enables you to easily add and customize text, images, and layouts.The Block Editor is perfect for both beginners and experienced users to build great-looking websites quickly.

What that means is you can scrap that extra layer page builders add to your site. Quick win? The Block Editor helps speed up your site and make it more accessible (and less expensive).

The Rise of the Gutenberg Block Editor

WordPress is block-based. As WordPress continues to evolve, the Block Editor remains at the forefront of its development.

Gutenberg, introduced in WordPress 5.0, replaced the classic editor with a block-based visual interface. This change has significantly improved how users create web content, whether it be a simple blog post or a complex eCommerce buyer’s journey.

The Block Editor is changing the way we work in WordPress, offering a more intuitive and visual approach to content creation. It allows you to create content using modular blocks for text, headings, images, and widgets, offering a more intuitive, WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) experience.

“Who doesn’t love a WYSIWYG editor? This was always the intent for Gutenberg circa 2017 and now it’s coming to life.”

Rocket.net – What’s New in the WordPress 6.6 Update?

Understanding the Gutenberg Block Editor

Gutenberg designed the Block Editor to replace the classic TinyMCE editor with a more flexible, block-based approach. 

Each piece of content, whether it’s a paragraph, image, or video, is treated as a block that can be easily manipulated and customized. The Block Editor gives you greater flexibility and control over the layout and design of pages and posts.

Key Features of the Block Editor

Strictly speaking, the Block Editor is a visual editor that gives you page builder capabilities. The best part is that it’s a sustainable page builder. Why is that important?

Compared with the many popular third-party page builder plugins in WordPress, this is finally a basis on which you can build with confidence. Why? It’s native to WordPress Core, so it is virtually guaranteed to run for years to come. That’s important. If you are using WP Core, you’re working in a stable environment.

There is a huge advantage to keeping your work as close to WordPress Core as possible. Plugins that are not compatible with Core will eventually be dropped. Not having to deal with multiple interfaces and compatibilities means stability. System stability is crucial for businesses.

That’s the best feature. Here are some others:

  • Block-based editing – and blocks aren’t just the future of WordPress, they’re the present state of WordPress. Content is created using modular blocks for text, headings, images, and widgets, which can be easily rearranged and customized.
  • The visual interface offers a more intuitive, WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) experience compared with the classic editor.
  • We are in a full-site editing (FSE) world now, folks! The Block Editor allows for greater design flexibility without the need for custom CSS or page builder plugins. Easier for WordPress agencies and easier for their clients.
  • Gutenberg offers dynamic content handling. This enables the creation of personalized and more engaging user experiences.

Improved responsiveness: Blocks are designed to be mobile-friendly and accessible. Accessible is more than a mobile website, but a responsive website is a great place to start. It’s 2024, after all.

Looking for the best WordPress hosting for your agency? Impress clients with the best performance and security for your clients to make your life easier managing your business

Gutenberg’s Advantages and Challenges

The overall tone from businesses we’ve talked to suggests that agencies are increasingly embracing Gutenberg. And why not? The continuous improvements and added features make it an attractive option for agencies looking to streamline their workflows and offer more efficient solutions to clients.

The trend seems to be moving towards fuller adoption of Gutenberg, especially as it becomes more integrated with other aspects of WordPress site building. Like site templates!

“Site Templates? If you’re using patterns or Gutenberg blocks, those are templates.”

Rocket.net – How to Streamline Your Business With WordPress Templates

Advantages of The Block Editor for WordPress Agencies

It makes no difference if you are a full-service eCommerce agency or a niche blogger; if you’re looking to speed up your workflow, the Block Editor offers many advantages.

Enhanced Creative Flexibility: The block-based approach allows for more creative freedom in designing content. You can offer more customized solutions to your clients.

Streamlined Workflows: Features like block patterns and reusable blocks streamline the content creation process, saving you time and effort. This is crucial if you’re managing multiple projects or on a tight timeline.

Improved Client Satisfaction: This should be at the top of the list, right? With WordPress’s Full Site Editing and other user-friendly features, clients can easily make changes to their sites without extensive technical knowledge. A happy client is tomorrow’s client.

Future-Proofing: At the same time you’re ensuring clients are here to stay, you need to stay updated with Gutenberg. Ensuring that client sites remain compatible with the latest WordPress developments, means keeping ahead of the competition.

Increased Efficiency: We just said that, but it’s worth repeating. The Block Editor’s intuitive interface will improve your design and content creation efficiency. Result? Faster project turnaround times and increased productivity.

Challenges Agencies Face with The Block Editor

While Gutenberg offers many benefits, agencies may face some challenges in adoption, particularly for complex enterprise websites. Like any change, the migration process from classic editors or page builders to Gutenberg can present initial hurdles. However, the long-term benefits outweigh the challenges. 

  • Users need to get used to the Block Editor’s user interface and functionality.
  • Existing content created with a page builder may need to be manually converted.
  • The current theme may need to be customized.
  • Existing workflows may need to be customized, and clients or team members need to be trained.

Despite some challenges, agencies we’ve talked with expressed high satisfaction with their switch to Gutenberg, particularly when used in conjunction with software like Toolset and Greyd.

Agencies cited improved site-building capabilities and efficiency in handling complex projects as the most important takeaways.

You’re probably not still using the classic WordPress editor, but you may know someone who is. Our friends over at WPMarmite have you covered: 4 steps to migrate from the classic editor to the block editor (Gutenberg). 

Gutenberg vs. Page Builders: The Agency Dilemma

The comparison between WordPress and some commercial page builders is an important consideration. Gutenberg’s continued evolution is narrowing the gap between WordPress FSE and third-party page builders like Elementor, Divi, BeaverBuilder, and others.

“Do you need a WordPress Page Builder to create and launch a functional, easy-to-use, and beautiful website in WordPress? No. If you want one, that’s different.”

Rocket.net – Should I Use A WordPress Page Builder or Not?

What are some of the pros and cons of Page Builders vs the Gutenberg Block Editor?

Gutenberg is WordPress core and is, therefore, significantly faster and more lightweight than a Page Builder, which executes additional scripts and involves more source code.

Many test reports and experiments have compared the speeds of page builders and the Block Editor. But let’s take a standard WordPress website: in most cases, it will always deliver better performance using the block editor than any page builder. And the Block Editor is free.

The Block Editor Pros
Part of WordPress: Since Gutenberg is the default WordPress editor, it is seamlessly integrated, not requiring any additional plugins. Block-based design: Gutenberg uses a block-based system that makes it easy to combine different content elements such as text, images, and videos. Powerful and flexible: Gutenberg allows users to create custom layouts and reuse blocks. Compatibility: Gutenberg is compatible with most WordPress themes and plugins.

The Block Editor Cons
Limited design options: Compared to some Page Builders, Gutenberg offers fewer design and customization options out of the box. However, there already are great block plugins out there that extend the Block Editor to full design capacities, including animations. Learning curve: Users who are used to the classic editor might need some time to get used to it.

Page Builders (e.g. Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder) Pros
Visual design: Page Builders offer a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create complex layouts without coding knowledge. Advanced customization options: They offer ‘the bling’, like animations Templates: Many page builders come with a variety of pre-built templates that speed up page creation.

Page builders (e.g. Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder) Cons
Performance issues: Some Page Builders can slow down website load times, especially if many plugins are used. Cost: Many of the advanced features of page builders are only available in the paid versions.ing knowledge. Advanced customization options: They offer ‘the bling’, like animations Templates: Many page builders come with a variety of pre-built templates that speed up page creation.

Whether you opt for a Page Builder or the Gutenberg Block Editor, both tools streamline creating and organizing content, offering user-friendly interfaces and flexible design options. And in a modern, user-friendly way.

Weigh the native integration and future development of Gutenberg against the workflows and features of page builders you’re already using. Test them out in production. Let your clients test them too. Ultimately, deciding which tool to standardize for client projects means deciding what’s best for you together.

“FSE, a.k.a. Gutenberg is here to stay, and that is great news for all serious WordPress agencies. Because WordPress stability and site speed are both crucial. This is something that many companies, especially on Enterprise level already understand. Both the Site Editor and Block Editor have been widely adopted by larger organizations. Focusing on mastering a single system streamlines workflows and saves time. And when you ensure that the blocks and block themes you use, output accessibility-ready code, you’re on the winning team!”

Anne Bovelett

Wrapping Up: Embracing the Change

Despite some challenges, the overall satisfaction with Gutenberg is high. GBE’s improved site-building capabilities, efficiency in handling complex projects, and continual evolution make it an essential tool for WordPress development.

As Gutenberg continues to mature, it’s clear that it’s changing the game for digital agencies and developers. GBE offers new opportunities to create efficient, flexible, accessible, and user-friendly websites.

The future of WordPress is block-based. As Block Editor websites evolve, so should your approach to web development and content creation. Embracing change is essential to stay competitive and deliver the best possible product to your clients. 

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Comprehensive Accessibility for WordPress Agencies https://rocket.net/blog/comprehensive-accessibility-for-wordpress-agencies/ https://rocket.net/blog/comprehensive-accessibility-for-wordpress-agencies/#respond Thu, 24 Oct 2024 13:41:04 +0000 https://rocket.net/?p=6584 Remember building websites in 2003? Everyone had pretty much the same browser width. There were no smartphones to think about. Data protection and online shopping weren’t yet a vertical. You could build a website in Flash!

If you’re an agency owner or a freelancer, building websites today, you may be feeling the pinch. GPDR, CCPA, device-agnostic design, block editors, Google Web Vitals, Voice SEO, AI – it all goes into the mix.

If you have cleared all these hurdles, you may be feeling stuck figuring out how to address one that’s even more important: accessibility. Building accessible websites might not (yet) be easy. There’s a lot to think about, and, what does an accessible website even mean? Are you ready to make a website accessible? Have you made accessibility a priority in your workflow?

Web accessibility means ensuring digital content can be accessed and used by everyone. It’s a legal requirement in many places. The ADA requires many websites to be accessible. It’s ethically important, and it makes good business sense. An accessible website benefits everyone.

The WCAG provide detailed criteria for making content accessible, with three levels: A, AA, and AAA. Most websites aim for WCAG 2.1, level AA to be compliant and provide meaningful access.

A Mobile Website is Not an Accessible Website

Many people think an accessible website is a responsive website, but it encompasses much more. An accessible website includes many things: keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and clear content structure are important parts.

We know what an inaccessible website feels like when we are trying to find the contact information of a store on our phone. We have one hand free, it’s raining, dark, and we are holding a bag of groceries. Sound familiar?

If accessible websites are tripping up you or your clients, then read on. The next accessible website RFP may be yours to win!

Understanding Web Accessibility

Web accessibility means designing and developing websites – or any other digital content – so that it is usable by everyone. You may not have perfect vision or the use of one hand. You may be facing auditory, speech, or cognitive challenges. Websites still need to be accessible.

“For the uninitiated, WordPress accessibility refers to how easy it is for a wide variety of users to utilize your website. At its most basic, it covers the size of your fonts, the color contrast on your website pages, and easy navigation.”

Codeable.io

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) center around four main principles. For your website to be accessible, your content must be POUR: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. 

An accessible website covers many use cases, including:

  • Visual Impairments (blindness, low vision, color blindness)
  • Hearing Impairments (deafness, hard of hearing)
  • Motor Disabilities (limited mobility, paralysis)
  • Neurodiversity (Dyslexia, ADHD, ASD)
  • Neurological disorders

Accessible websites are crucial for inclusivity. That means building a website that anyone can use and interact with, regardless of their abilities. An accessible website allows everyone to participate in our digital world. It allows people with actual disabilities to participate where they might not have another opportunity. An accessible website empowers people.

Additionally, web accessibility is becoming a legal compliance. Many countries, and states, are making it a requisite that websites be accessible. Failing to do so can lead to fines, lawsuits, and a lot of unpleasant publicity.

Useful links to more information about web accessibility

  • Introduction to Web Accessibility | Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) | W3C w3.org
  • Guidance on Web Accessibility and the ADA | ADA.gov ada.gov
  • Digital Accessibility Blog | Accessibility Guidelines boia.org

The Bureau of Internet Accessibility (BoIA) has a blog page on “Accessibility Guidelines”. It features a collection of articles that provide insights into web accessibility best practices, guidelines, and compliance. Check it out.

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Key Areas of Accessibility Implementation in Websites

Website accessibility is a dedicated process. Creating an accessible website is an iterative process too. It requires you to learn about and remove actual barriers for people with various disabilities, which does not happen overnight.

Let us look at the key elements that form the core of web accessibility. What are the most common and impactful accessibility issues you’ll encounter with your websites?

  • Keyboard Navigation – including Focus Management
  • Screen Reader Compatibility – including Semantic HTML Structure, Alternative Text for Images, and ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) Attributes
  • Form and Media Accessibility
  • Content Readability and Structure – including Color Contrast and Use
  • Responsive Design for Accessibility

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve the accessibility of your websites. The result is reaching a wide range of users with different abilities and assistive technologies.

Keyboard Navigation

If your mouse has ever failed while using a desktop, you know how utterly exhausting a website can be. Keyboard accessibility is a critical aspect of web accessibility. An accessible website means clicking about without a mouse. It means enabling people who rely on keyboards or alternative input devices.

Keyboard navigation is essential. People with motor disabilities, visual impairments, or those who simply prefer a keyboard are counting on you.

“An alternative input device is a type of assistive technology that replaces a mouse or keyboard (or both), enabling a person with disabilities to use a computer.”

boia.org

To implement keyboard navigation in your website, you will need to do a few things, starting with:

  • Ensure all interactive elements are operable via keyboard. They should follow a logical tab order from top left to bottom right.
  • Implement “skip links” to skip over repetitive links.
  • Provide visual cues so the visitor sees where they are on your website.

Want to find out more about how you can make your website keyboard navigation friendly? Want to test your website? 

Screen Reader Compatibility

Screen reader compatibility is also crucial for an accessible website. It allows your website’s content to be accessible to anyone with visual impairments. It’s also important for a good, semantic understanding of your website by crawlers. (Sounds like it’s good for your SEO!)

How can you make your website screen reader-friendly? Here are some tips.

  • If you are into SEO, you aren’t new to screen reader compatibility. Providing descriptive alt-text for images is standard SEO practice. It stems from accessibility best practices. Alt text for images conveys the image’s purpose or content to screen readers. Alt text needs to be concise and informative.
  • Proper heading structure (H1-H6) helps people navigate and understand the structure of your page. They are also mandatory for web crawlers to understand your page.
  • Implementing ARIA labels enhances navigation by providing semantic information about the sections of your page.

Combining all three techniques means your website becomes more inclusive. Screen readers will be able to navigate and understand your content. Helping your SEO is the cherry on top.

Form and Media Accessibility

Getting forms and media to do what we expect can sometimes be an issue. Creating accessible forms, and ensuring multimedia content is accessible are a vital part of an accessible website.

Accessible Web Forms

For a form to be considered accessible, each element must be clearly labelled and include effective error handling – among other things.

  • Each form input also requires a descriptive label signed for attributes. Then, screen readers can effectively use them.
  • Placeholder labels are not sufficient. They disappear as the user begins to type.
  • Error messages must be clearly visible and linked to the relevant input fields. How? Use the aria descriptor.

Accessible Multimedia Content

Anyone requiring an alternate format for video or audio content needs your help here.

  • Multimedia content is deemed accessible when captions are provided for videos and audio content.
  • Edited Transcripts should be provided for both video and audio multimedia.

Content Readability and Structure

Accessibility aside, the readability and structure of your content are important aspects of your offer. If people can’t read your copy, they can’t do business with you.

Content readability and structure are essential for ensuring that people can easily understand and navigate your content. This begins in the design stage.

The typographical elements that determine how readable your content is are the choice of font, font size, line spacing, and line length. 

Long before any code has been written you need to think about readability. It’s been that way for generations in print content. Just look at a magazine advertisement.

Clear, Simple Language

Using straightforward language helps everyone. Avoid jargon. Keep your sentences short. Speak the language your audience speaks; in a way, they speak it. Your website’s content needs to be simple to see, simple to hear, and simple to understand.

Best practice is to use the inverted pyramid model. When content is written, the 5 Ws and 1 H are addressed in the first paragraph. Who, when, where, why, what, and how. Everything important for the reader to know is in the first paragraph. The rest is “nice to know”.

How readable is your text?

Logical Content Structure

According to a web usability and accessibility study by Yale University, content is more accessible when it’s well organized. 

If you want your content to be more accessible to your readers, you can’t ignore how the text looks. Implement a logical content structure by using clear headings, subheadings and bullet points. The hierarchical structure of your content lets readers scan easily and find relevant information quickly.

It’s easier to remember if there is consistency in your content too. Be consistent in your formatting, and spacing. This improves visual clarity which makes it easier for people to engage with your content effectively.

Responsive Design for Accessibility

If your website isn’t device agnostic, then any other accessible feature may be unnecessary. 

Responsive design plays a crucial role in web accessibility. It allows your website to adapt to various devices and user needs.

  • Flexible layouts using Grid or Flexbox ensure content flows smoothly from one screen size to another.
  • Touch-friendly targets prevent accidental activation on mobile devices.

A responsive website is good, but an accessible responsive website is better:

  • Font sizes that scale appropriately
  • Keyboard navigation working across devices
  • Screen reader compatibility across platforms
  • Alternative input methods like voice control

Test not only multiple devices but with people who will use the website. Responsive design enhances accessibility; it doesn’t mean a fully compliant website.

Leveraging WordPress for Accessibility

“With over 450 million websites built on WordPress, it’s surprising that only a fraction are ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-compliant. While WordPress strives for inclusivity, ensuring compliance with the ADA is your responsibility as a website owner.”

accessibilitychecker.org

Choosing Accessible Themes and Plugins

WordPress offers thousands of free themes and plugins. Selecting the right website design and functionality is often difficult. Selecting themes and plugins that are accessible is even more so.

When selecting a theme, ensure it meets WCAG accessibility requirements. Look for themes that have a simple, logical structure. Obviously, they must also be responsive.

The accessiBe website offers a list of accessible WordPress themes. At the top of the list: the Neve theme.

Customizing WordPress for Enhanced Accessibility

The gold standard of website accessibility involves making both your front and back end more usable. When we think of an accessible website, we are probably thinking of our clients. But people work on our website backend too. No one likes working on a difficult website, right? A slow website isn’t very accessible, so you can start there.

You can make your WordPress admin panel more accessible by improving colour contrast, enlarging fonts, and enhancing keyboard navigation within the dashboard.

Some of the WordPress plugins you can use to check your website for compatibility:

One-Click Accessibility adds an accessibility toolbar to websites. This allows users to adjust font size, contrast, and navigation, making sites more inclusive for people with disabilities.

Accessibility Widget offers AI-powered accessibility features. This enables users to customize website elements for improved navigation and readability. It includes options for spacing adjustments, animation control, dyslexia-friendly fonts, and alternative keyboard navigation methods.

WP Accessibility is a popular WordPress plugin that enhances website accessibility without theme changes. It offers easy-to-implement features like keyboard focus outlines, skip links, and form labels. While helpful, it doesn’t guarantee full accessibility compliance; configure it to meet your specific needs.

Equalize Digital’s Accessibility Checker provides a free accessibility plugin with error and warning notifications right on your post and/or page edit screen. The Accessibility Checker is perfect for countering common accessibility issues.

Testing and Maintaining Accessibility

Accessibility is a part of the development process, and it begins in the conceptual phase. Testing and maintaining accessibility checks continue throughout the development and design of a website. This is crucial for ensuring websites remain usable for everyone.

Some ways in which you can test the accessibility of your websites include:

  • Automated testing tools can help you quickly identify common accessibility issues. 
  • Manual testing evaluates accessibility through direct interaction with a person. Involve users with various disabilities to provide feedback on real-world usability and accessibility. 
  • Testing with screen readers ensures that visually impaired users can access the content.
  • Color contrast testing ensures elements are easily distinguishable from their backgrounds. 
  • Keyboard navigation testing ensures all interactive elements can be accessed with a keyboard.

There are many automated and manual testing tools available that provide either quick scans or deep dives. They cannot catch everything, however.

Manual testing with users, including keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility checks, is essential. User feedback offers the best insights into real-world usability.

Find out more about accessibility testing:

With a combination of automated tools, manual testing, and user feedback, you can create and maintain accessible websites that meet diverse user needs.

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Rocket.net Launches Agency Partner Program https://rocket.net/blog/rocket-net-launches-agency-partner-program/ https://rocket.net/blog/rocket-net-launches-agency-partner-program/#respond Tue, 08 Oct 2024 13:48:40 +0000 https://rocket.net/?p=6560 Simple yet powerful program to drive revenue and growth for agencies and freelancers working with WordPress.

West Palm Beach, FL. October 3, 2024

Rocket.net, one of the fastest-growing managed hosting platforms for WordPress, today announces the launch of its Agency Partner Program. This program is powered by an easy-to-use commission platform and provides agencies with an impressive 15% lifetime recurring monthly referral commission. 

“At Rocket.net, we help thousands of agencies and freelancers streamline their WordPress business by enabling them to resell the world’s fastest and most secure WordPress sites out of the box.” said Ben Gabler, CEO and Founder of Rocket.net. “Today, we’re taking it a step further by enabling agencies to stay completely hands-off with their end-user hosting requirements while still building recurring revenue for their business.”

In 2021, Rocket.net announced its first official reseller offering powered by WooCommerce and, shortly after that, launched support for WHMCS. This enables agencies to effortlessly resell Rocket.net hosting through their existing platforms while still leaving agencies on the hook for hosting support.

Since launching the traditional agency reseller offerings, Rocket.net realized there was an opportunity for agencies that didn’t want to deal with the hosting side of things but wanted to focus solely on creating and generating revenue.

“Agencies don’t always want to manage hosting, but as we all know, maintenance and upkeep is a critical part of every property on the web,” said Gabler. “Rather than having to put their customer on various hosting providers and track multiple logins, agencies can now refer them to Rocket.net with the Agency Partner Program and not only have a single point of management for all of the sites they maintain on Rocket.net, but they can also continue to build their recurring revenue stream with confidence.”

Program Overview

Rocket.net’s Agency Partner Program enables agencies and freelancers to seamlessly refer clients to Rocket.net for their WordPress hosting. 

By referring clients to Rocket.net under the Agency Partner Program, agencies receive a lifetime commission of 15% and maintain full access to the customer’s WordPress property through an easy-to-use control panel. 

In addition to the recurring commission and easy-to-use WordPress control panel access, agencies can build with confidence knowing their WordPress property is powered by Rocket.net’s industry-leading enterprise CDN and WAF, providing maximum speed and security. 

All agency partner customers also receive full access to Rocket.net’s 24/7/365 support, ultimately allowing the agency partner to focus on what they do best: creating. 

“At Rocket.net, we cherish our relationships with agencies and always look for ways to add real value to their day-to-day business,” said Gabler. “We feel this really bridges a necessary gap in the market to not only help agencies streamline their business but simultaneously takes a lot of pain out on the client side, resulting in a positive experience for everyone.”

Rocket.net’s Agency Partner Program is immediately available and free to sign up. Once your application is approved, you will be able to log in to your agency partner portal.

For more information, please contact hello@rocket.net

About Rocket.net
Rocket.net, based in West Palm Beach, Florida, is a SaaS Platform designed for WordPress websites of all sizes. Since its launch in early 2020, Rocket.net has taken an edge-first approach to accelerating, protecting, and delivering WordPress in 300+ locations worldwide. At Rocket.net, every WordPress site comes pre-configured with Enterprise CDN and WAF, providing ultimate performance and security with no additional configuration required.

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How to Excel at Presales Calls in 8 Easy Steps https://rocket.net/blog/how-to-excel-at-presales-calls-in-8-easy-steps/ https://rocket.net/blog/how-to-excel-at-presales-calls-in-8-easy-steps/#respond Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:06:27 +0000 https://rocket.net/?p=6473 WordPress agency? Niche blogger? Door-to-door pizza sales? It doesn’t matter what business you are in, presales calls, or discovery calls, are a make-or-break part of getting new business. We’ll show you how to excel at presales calls and convert one-off buyers into loyal clients.

TL;DR: How to Crush Presales Calls & Convert Prospects into Fans

  • Research & Prep: Know your prospect’s business and challenges.
  • Set Goals: What do you want to achieve on the call?
  • Craft a Strong Opening: Be personal, highlight value, and grab attention.
  • Ask Insightful Questions: Uncover needs and pain points.
  • Tailor Your Pitch: Make it all about how you solve their problems.
  • Provide Value: Share tips, case studies, or relevant resources.
  • Set Clear Next Steps: Outline what happens after the call.
  • Follow Up Promptly: Thank them, reiterate next steps, and keep the momentum going.

Bonus: It’s about building trust and expertise, not just making a sale. It doesn’t matter what you do, you’re selling something – even if it’s yourself. This guide will show you how to excel at presales calls and convert prospects into loyal clients.

“If you’re just starting out trying to sell a #WordPress product, then you have zero reason not to do unscalable stuff:  1. Online Chat 2. Pre-sales calls 3. Support calls 4. Customer interviews 5. Office hours Q&A“

Justin Ferriman

Why Presales Calls Matter and How to Do Them Right

It’s a competitive world; presales calls matter. But they’re not just about making a sale; they’re about building trust, understanding needs, and laying the groundwork for long-lasting partnerships. 

Presales Calls:

  • Establish Your Expertise: Showcase your knowledge – make a strong first impression.
  • Help You Understand Client Needs: Gather the necessary information to solve problems.
  • Build Rapport: Create a personal connection that sets you apart and fosters trust.
  • Help Qualify Leads: Identify if the prospect fits your services well.
  • Set the Stage for Success: Align expectations to ensure a smooth onboarding.

Ready to Sell? Here’s Your Checklist on How to Shine:

✔ Become an Expert: This might seem obvious, but understanding the intricacies of whatever you’re selling, the common pain points for users, and the latest trends is crucial. Deep product knowledge helps you tailor solutions and builds trust.

✔ Understand Your Client: Not all clients are created equal. Niche down on your ideal client (e.g., small businesses, nonprofits, eCommerce) and understand their specific needs and challenges.

✔ Focus on Value, Not Features: People don’t buy features; they buy solutions. Translate how your service solves their problems. Reference case studies and success stories from similar clients.

✔ Become a Trusted Advisor: Position yourself as someone who understands their business. Be their guide. Actively listen, ask insightful questions, and offer recommendations beyond just your products and services.

✔ Hone Your Communication Skills: Clear, concise, and helpful communication is key. Be able to explain technical concepts in plain language and tailor your message to your audience.

Remember: Preparation is Half the Battle!

“Every conversation has a clear objective and an underpinning strategy. It gives your call a sense of purpose, ensuring you and your potential client are on the same page.”

Hubspot

Selling is the Same as Building a Website or Writing Long Content

Sure, we get it. You’re building websites and writing copy – you’re not selling subscriptions. But both share a lot in common with presales calls.

Your website and its articles aim to engage potential customers, address their needs, and guide them toward a desired action. Sounds a lot like a presales call!

  • In a presales call, you need to understand your prospect’s needs and pain points. Just like when building a website or writing a blog post.
  • A successful presales call offers valuable information to the prospect. Websites and articles provide useful content that educates and informs visitors.
  • Presales calls aim to establish credibility and trust with potential customers. Websites and blog posts achieve this through well-researched content, customer testimonials, and showcasing expertise.
  • Presales calls help qualify leads by assessing their needs and fit. Websites and articles help qualify leads by attracting the right audience and encouraging them to take specific actions, such as signing up for a newsletter or requesting more information.
  • In a presales call, you can demonstrate how your product works. Websites can include interactive product demos, while blog posts can provide detailed explanations or case studies.

By approaching website building and blog post writing with a presales mindset, you can create more effective, customer-centric content that drives engagement and conversions. And have something for them to read in a follow-up email. An educated customer is a customer ready to commit to a purchase.

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How to Excel at Presales Calls in 8 Easy Steps

1.    Research and Prepare

Before the call, take the time to understand their industry landscape and the potential challenges they might be facing. This will enable you to engage in a more informed and meaningful conversation, demonstrating your genuine interest and expertise right from the start of the call.

Check out their social profiles: LinkedIn and X. What are they writing about? What are their challenges. How can you relate to them? Do you both follow the Toronto Raptors? 

Don’t Over Prepare!

“You don’t want to prepare too much … that can lead to you anticipating what your prospect’s responses are when what you should be doing is actively listening.”

Salesmate

2.    Set Clear Objectives

Before the call, clearly define your objectives. What do you want to achieve? Having a clear goal in mind will help you steer the conversation effectively, ensuring that you cover all crucial points while maintaining focus on the desired outcome.

3.    Craft a Strong Opening

When beginning the call, focus on establishing a positive connection. Outline the conversation’s structure to show you respect their time.

Hi Sarah, this is [Your Name] with [Your Company]. How are you doing today?

This is weak because it’s generic and doesn’t grab attention. It also doesn’t establish any value proposition or reason for Sarah to continue the call.

Hi Sarah, this is [Your Name] with [Your Company]. I came across your recent post on LinkedIn about the challenges of managing Yolo’s web presence. I wanted to see if you might be interested in a quick chat about how [Your Product] can help improve that process and save your team valuable time.

This is strong because it’s personalized, value-driven, and actionable.

4.    Ask Thoughtful Questions

You want to uncover your prospect’s pain points and goals, so ask open-ended questions that encourage responses. Listen and take thorough notes. This approach not only helps you gather valuable information but also demonstrates that you value their input and are committed to understanding their situation.

Take those insights back to the board room and the marketing team. Even small details that you notice will help your whole team produce the right messaging.

5.    Tailor Your Pitch

Based on the conversation, customize your pitch to address their specific needs. Highlight how your solutions can solve their problems and achieve their goals.

Leave Room for What Happens!

“While thorough preparation is essential … leaving room for spontaneity can allow the discussion to occur more naturally. … The conversation requires active participation from both parties. The buyer may have a list of inquiries to ask you as well, which can propel the conversation in a different direction.”

Indeed

6.    Provide Value

Provide immediate value. Share relevant insights or tips tailored to their situation. Are they having issues with their websites? You can recommend specific plugins that could enhance their site’s functionality. You might offer advice on improving their SEO strategy or optimizing their website’s performance based on your initial observations.

Sharing case studies of similar clients you’ve successfully assisted demonstrates your capabilities while building trust.

Have those links on hand to send during your follow up email.

7.    Set Clear Next Steps

Establish a clear action plan that outlines the next steps for both of you, before ending the call. This might involve scheduling a follow-up call or product demonstration to delve deeper into specific solutions or providing additional resources such as case studies or technical documentation to address any lingering questions.

Be precise about timelines for each action item and clearly define who is responsible for what. This approach ensures that both you and the prospect have a shared understanding of the next steps.

Is it okay if I call you at 11 am on Monday, Sarah? 

8.    Follow Up Promptly

After the call, send a follow-up email summarizing the key points discussed and reiterating the next steps. This shows you were listening and keeps the momentum going.

Let’s Wrap Up This Call

Mastering presales calls is a game-changer. You can turn initial conversations into powerful tools for growing your business and building lasting client relationships.

Remember, it’s not about the sale; it’s about building trust and expertise.

We’d Love to Show You What The Fastest WordPress Hosting Actually Means for Your Agency!

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The Key to More WordPress Agency Sales https://rocket.net/blog/key-to-more-wordpress-agency-sales/ https://rocket.net/blog/key-to-more-wordpress-agency-sales/#respond Wed, 14 Aug 2024 13:23:30 +0000 https://rocket.net/?p=6387 Consumer confidence is how optimistic you are about the economy. Specifically, it’s the confidence you have in your spending habits. How do you feel about your job security, your savings, and the direction of the economy in general? It’s a difficult concept to nail down. In a nutshell, if you are spending more, you’re a confident consumer. If you’re spending less, you’re not.

What does this have to do with your WordPress agency?

Your agency relies on businesses spending money. If your client’s consumer confidence is high and they are doing well, they’re more likely to invest in their websites, which could mean more work for you. On the other hand, if consumer confidence is low, they may cut back on discretionary spending, which could mean less work for you. Consumer confidence isn’t (obviously) the only factor affecting your agency, but it’s one you should be aware of. If you understand what drives confidence, you can get ahead of it – for the win.

The Importance of Building Consumer Confidence

As a business owner and a consumer, you understand confidence on both sides of the consumer journey. Being confident is important because it’s what drives your decision-making.

What is the biggest problem with decision-making? Right, too many choices. Walmart has 80 different ketchups, while Aldi has one or two. Are so many choices helpful? Probably not. It’s easier to shop with fewer options. 

Ease in shopping makes shoppers more confident, and offering fewer choices is an integral part of personalization.

“Personalization is crucial. Shoppers have too many choices. If you can excel at personalization, you’ll differentiate yourself. It’s better to offer unique value propositions your competitors have difficulty replicating. Stand out from the crowd.”

Rocket.net – Top 3 WooCommerce Customizations For a Memorable Shopping Experience

Be a consumer for a moment. When was the last time you made a purchase? Making the right purchase decision is much harder than it used to be. We’re bombarded with information and choices – not leaving us very confident. Learn from that experience to help your clients win customers.

A confident shopper is a shopper you have locked in over the long term.

So how do you create consumer confidence via your website or online store? 

Understanding What Drives Confidence in Your Customers

If you have the right information, you can navigate your options better. Anything from choosing the right plugin to the best car insurance can be an enjoyable experience. How? Through a feeling of confidence.

Some people actually don’t find shopping enjoyable. It happens; especially when shopping for necessities. However, resolving a complex task gives you a feeling of accomplishment. Making a decision empowers you.

Wading through a sea of information can be overwhelming and cause shoppers to postpone or abandon a decision. They can’t afford to make the wrong decision. If you can help your customers through that process, they will reward you.

Confident shoppers make decisive purchases, improving metrics and your bottom line.

So, how are you empowering your customers?

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How You Can Build Consumer Confidence

To decide, you need information. The better informed you are, the easier and better your decision will be.

This might seem obvious, but you can use that basic fact to increase your sales. Shoppers who are highly confident about their decisions are more likely to recommend your product to others. Confidence means brand loyalty.

People make confident purchase decisions when they have three things:

  • Knowledge of a product or service,
  • the relevant information obtained through reliable sources,
  • and; a relationship with your brand through a previous (good) purchase.

Your website and online store can make shoppers more confident by giving them the tools they need to make an informed decision.

  • Knowledge: Provide educational content, guides, and resources to help clients better understand web design, development, and digital marketing. It isn’t enough to talk about SEO or CDNs as a solution – clients need to know what they are and what they do. Think: results.
  • Relevant Information: Ensure clients have all the pertinent information they need to make an informed decision, such as portfolio examples, case studies, pricing details, and process explanations. They need to understand how you will solve their problem better than anyone else.
  • The importance of delivering an exceptional experience to foster long-term client relationships and repeat business for your agency might already be known to you. If not, this is your wake-up call.

“No one has time to search clunky websites. The harder it is to find technical information, product details, or purchasing information, the more frustrating the process becomes. According to a Gartner survey, 77% of B2B buyers lack confidence in a company because finding information was too difficult.”

MotleyFool

How Blogging and eCommerce Can Improve Customer Confidence

Wait before you start retooling your processes. Your blogs and online shops already offer a way to make your customer’s lives easier. How?

Blogs and eCommerce help you establish authority and trust by providing relevant information and insights related to your products/services. Both enable you to position your brand as a knowledgeable and trustworthy source in your niche. This increases customer confidence and loyalty.

Blogs and eCommerce support the customer journey; content in both can educate potential customers, address frequent questions, and guide them through the buying process for your offerings.

Your blog’s content, together with your online store has you covered. Together they build consumer confidence and increase brand awareness and authority, which drive more sales and growth. Keep publishing articles and videos. Don’t stop when it gets difficult.

How You Can Use AI to Build Customer Confidence

If you have exhausted the wins your blog and online store have given you, you can explore the opportunities of AI. AI can help build consumer confidence across online ad campaigns, online shopping, chatbots, and other online communication.

By employing AI, your agency can build credibility and confidence among potential clients, leading to improved metrics across the board.

However, it’s advisable that you slowly, and with consideration, unleash your robots on unsuspecting customers, rather than as a sudden “improvement” to your business.

According to a recent Ipsos survey, shoppers prefer AI assistants that help explain product differences and find lower-priced substitutes to save money. They are less keen on AI recommending products based on a shopper’s purchase history or summarizing reviews.Only 9% found personalized product recommendations useful where 24% preferred AI suggestions for cheaper alternatives.

Shoppers want to use AI to aid decision-making and save costs rather than having AI directly sell products to them.

“Shoppers prefer AI explain things and save them money, but not recommend products”

ipsos.com

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Agency Challenges: How to Manage Vacations and Time-Wasting Clients https://rocket.net/blog/agency-challenges-how-to-manage-vacations-and-time-wasting-clients/ https://rocket.net/blog/agency-challenges-how-to-manage-vacations-and-time-wasting-clients/#respond Wed, 24 Jul 2024 15:09:33 +0000 https://rocket.net/?p=6307 We’ve written previous posts about the trials and tribulations of managing a WordPress agency, the reality is that it’s always difficult to manage clients and still continue grow the business.

Even more challenging is during the summer months, when it should be time to get away and recharge the batteries.. but you still have an agency that seems to never sleep!

What Do You Do About Support When You Go On Vacation?

Vacation time calls! But what about that constant demand for your attention? Clients need your expertise, your team needs your guidance, and your business needs your vision. But what happens when you need a break? What do you do about support when you go on vacation?

Taking a vacation can be challenging. FOMO is real! No worries. With some proper planning and simple vacation strategies, you can enjoy your time off while ensuring your clients, and your service suppliers, receive the assistance they need.

TL;DR You Need to Catch Your Flight, Right?

Getting Ready for Your Vacation 4-Point Checklist

Checklist for Service Providers

1.    Plan ahead: Inform clients about your vacation well in advance. Address pressing issues beforehand. Make a plan for what needs to be done on your return. If you are a client, inform your service suppliers before you jet off. Be considerate.

2.    Empower your team: Train your staff and team members to handle client queries; and establish a clear decision-making hierarchy. This is the perfect chance to give trainees and students more responsibility. If you are a client, appoint someone who can take over in your absence.

3.    Use automation: Set up automated responses to acknowledge client inquiries and provide estimated response times. Out-of-office emails are important, but are you communicating over other channels, too? WhatsApp and other chat systems shouldn’t be forgotten – or do you want to be fielding messages on the beach?

4.    Designate an emergency contact: Assign someone to handle urgent issues. Enough said.

Checklist for Clients 

1.    Inform Your Agency: Inform whoever is taking care of your website well in advance of your vacation plans so they can prepare accordingly.

2.    Prioritize Your Requests: Before going on vacation, make a list of tasks that need immediate attention and inform your service provider about them.

3.    Be Patient: Even your agency needs a break, so responses might be slower than usual during peak vacation time.

4.    Use the Emergency Contact: If there’s an urgent issue, don’t hesitate to use the emergency contact provided by your provider. Peace of mind is key!

5.    Trust Your People: Trust that your staff and your service providers have you covered. They do.

Remember, vacations are a time to relax and refresh. With these checklists, you can ensure a smooth transition during vacation time Enjoy your break!

My Flight is Delayed! Give Me All the Vacation Support Details

Vacation Support Tip: Plan Ahead

The key to ensuring seamless support while you’re away is planning. Inform your clients well in advance about your vacation. This gives them ample time to bring up any pressing issues that need to be addressed before you leave.

  • Schedule vacations during slower periods. Plan time off when client demands are typically lower to minimize disruptions. 
  • Notify clients in advance. Let clients know about your planned absence and provide alternative contact information.
  • Build in buffer time. Schedule an extra day before and after your vacation to catch up on any pending issues.
  • Set clear boundaries. Educate clients on support hours and response times, even when you’re not on vacation. Manage expectations!

“Creating an action plan of important jobs ensures your website will be ready for weeks with reduced staff. It also helps your team (and your clients) have a structured action plan for when vacation is over.”

HubSpot.com

Vacation Support Tip: Empower Your Team

Your team is your greatest asset. Ensure they have the necessary training and resources to handle client queries in your absence. Mentoring and delegating throughout the year makes a vacation handoff easy on everyone. Establish a clear hierarchy for decision-making and problem-solving. This empowers your team to take ownership and reduces the likelihood of issues escalating in your absence.

  • Have a backup support person or team ready. Cross-train other team members or partner with another freelancer/agency to cover support during vacations. This allows for continuity of service.
  • If you’re an agency of one, consider partnering up with another agency of one. If y’all coordinate with one another during vacations, you’ll be able to back one another up for family emergencies, too.

“Create a culture where everyone is empowered to make decisions and mistakes without fear. Sometimes, mistakes are the best lessons, so showing grace and allowing your team to learn from mistakes helps them become confident and self-sufficient. Eliminate the fear of failure.”

Forbes.com

Vacation Support Tip: Leverage Automation

Automation can be a lifesaver when you’re on vacation. Use automated responses to acknowledge receipt of client queries and provide an estimated response time. This keeps your clients informed and builds in buffer time to address the issue.

  • Set up an automated out-of-office response. Inform clients about your absence, provide emergency contact info, and set expectations for response times.
  • Use a helpdesk, virtual assistant, or ticketing system. This allows you to triage and manage support requests even while away, delegating urgent issues to a backup.

Automation Focus: Got a Woocommerce shop? The Store Vacation extension for WooCommerce allows “online you” to temporarily pause operations while maintaining visibility. You can ensure communication with customers and preserve search engine rankings during store downtime.

Vacation Support Tip: Set Up an Emergency Contact

Despite all the planning and preparation, emergencies still arise. Set up an emergency contact protocol for your clients. This could be a senior team member who can be reached in case of urgent issues.

  • Offer limited emergency support. Define what constitutes an emergency and provide a way for clients to reach you only for critical issues.
  • Use remote access tools. Be prepared to handle urgent matters remotely if absolutely necessary. Temporary outsourcing can provide coverage during your absence.

“Give key people your phone number and tell them that if something urgent requires your participation, they have to call you. That way, you won’t worry about what’s happening in your messages and can truly turn them off for a few days.”

PCMag

Bonus Vacation Support Tip: Use a Reliable Hosting Provider

A reliable hosting provider will significantly reduce the number of support queries; you’ll also have fewer worries about things going wrong while you’re gone. You won’t have to worry about outages when your client’s marketing campaign goes viral either. With over 20+ years of experience in hosting and WordPress, our team is here to help 24 hours a day.

Rocket.net offers managed WordPress hosting, which means we take care of everything: updates, backups, and security – all while you’re on the beach! This leaves your team free to focus on client support, and you have more time to focus on relaxing.

Wrapping Up: Don’t Miss Your Flight!

Remember, every agency owner needs a vacation. By implementing these strategies, you can ensure your clients receive adequate support while you enjoy a well-deserved break – mentally and physically. 

Don’t let the fear of leaving your support unattended deter you from taking that much-needed vacation. After all, being well-rested means you are effective. Enjoy your vacation!

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Stop Feeding the Trolls – What To Do About Time-Wasting Clients

You probably remember trolls living beneath bridges, extracting a toll from anyone wanting to pass. That’s not far from the truth with today’s online variant. A troll typically refers to someone who intentionally stirs up trouble. They bait the hook, and if you pull on it you pay the price.

Are your clients trolls? It seems harsh. Though honestly if you connected with your client over WhatsApp, you may be getting what you deserve. Your time and talent are valuable, so don’t waste either. Should we fire these clients, or can we turn them around?

How We Can Begin to Untangle Our Client’s Web of Want

Let’s face it, every WordPress agency encounters clients who drain their time and zap their creativity. They come in many forms: micromanagers, indecisive waverers, and clients with an endless feedback loop. They leave you feeling burnt out and undervalued.

But hey, “the client is king – or queen” – they are paying you, and competition is stiff. It’s not like they’re trying to make your life miserable, right? Let’s assume the best in them for a moment.

Clients are a paradox. On one hand, seeking assistance and on the other, stumbling into obstacles. Like us, they are trying to navigate our ever-changing world of marketing, sales, and tech. Clients often find themselves lost in a maze of options and sometimes cause a little chaos. Remember too: our project is just one of the many things they are juggling.

Let’s not forget, that we’re also clients for someone. Are we perfect? Maybe not. Despite their occasional foibles, difficult clients can also serve as a reminder of our perseverance and our desire to learn. And they’re paying us.

“Having a client is like any relationship. There’s hope, trust, fights, even breakups. You’ll meet the client’s friends and family too.”

Rocket.net – Agency Tips: Guiding Clients from Tinkering to Trusting

Option 1: You’re Fired! Why Time-Wasting Clients Cost You More Than Money

Sometimes it’s a wise move to drop unprofitable clients. It can increase efficiency in other areas and may even improve the working atmosphere in your agency.  However, tread carefully – there may be other options, and client acquisition costs more than retention.

The Cost of Time-Wasting Clients

Micromanagers who nitpick every detail, clients who constantly change their minds, and those requesting endless revisions are a burden on your team. They not only steal your time and resources but also stifle creativity and lower team morale.

The Art of the Polite Handoff

Don’t be afraid to fire a client – but do it professionally. Explain that your agency’s workflow might not be the best fit for their needs and recommend alternative resources. Frame it as an opportunity for them to get the service they deserve, while allowing your team to focus on projects that align with your agency’s strengths.

It’s About ROI, Not Just $$$

Letting go of a client might seem counterintuitive, but the time and energy spent keeping them happy could be better invested in attracting ideal clients. Think of it this way: a time-wasting client costs you more than their retainer. It costs you morale, creativity, and the ability to take on projects that you really like. But let’s be serious, it probably costs you money, too.

“If the time spent with the client is wasted and unproductive, it might be time to move on. There is also an opportunity cost involved in working with a bad client. Investing extra time into a client that drains your energy will degrade your quality in other parts of the business.”

SearchEngineJournal

Option 2: Don’t Fire Them, Fix Them! Strategies for Dealing with Difficult Clients in Your Agency

Working with clients is a two-way street, and sometimes that road gets bumpy. While firing a client might seem like the quickest solution, there are several strategies you can employ to improve communication, manage expectations, and ultimately, save yourself precious time and resources. After all, client acquisition isn’t cheap.

“Studies suggest that depending on the industry you are in, acquiring a new customer can cost five to seven times more than retaining an old one.”

Forbes.com

Effective Tactics that Build Better Clients

Defined Goals & Expectations: Establish clear, measurable goals when outlining project timelines. This ensures everyone’s on the same page, minimizing delays and misunderstandings.

Tailored Communication: Not all clients are created equal. If they’re detail-oriented, provide in-depth reports. If they’re big-picture focused, deliver high-level summaries with key takeaways.

Proactive Strategies to Prevent Time-Wasting 

Client Screening: Implement a screening process. This helps you filter out potential time-wasters who might not be a good fit for your agency.

Protecting Your Time: Consider charging call-out fees for initial consultations or visits – or costs for tinkering. This discourages casual inquiries and prioritizes serious clients who value your time and expertise.

Bonus Tip: Delegation Done Right

Delegating tasks to clients can be a double-edged sword. Here’s how to do it effectively:

  • Clearly define the scope of work, responsibilities, deadlines, and communication channels. This prevents misunderstandings and unnecessary delays. 
  • Outline the task requirements, objectives, and desired outcomes. This ensures the client understands what’s expected, minimizing back-and-forth communication.
  • Don’t forget “The Why.” If a client can see the reason and the benefit, they become a stakeholder, not just a cog in the machine.

Remember, a little proactive planning and clear communication go a long way in saving you time and keeping your projects on track.

Agency Challenges? Grow Your Business with a Growing Platform

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How Client-Focused Landing Pages Can Supercharge Your WordPress Agency https://rocket.net/blog/how-client-focused-landing-pages-can-supercharge-your-wordpress-agency/ https://rocket.net/blog/how-client-focused-landing-pages-can-supercharge-your-wordpress-agency/#respond Wed, 19 Jun 2024 14:29:58 +0000 https://rocket.net/?p=6259 What’s the difference between you and your clients? Not much, really. You’re all navigating the vast digital landscape, planting your flags, connecting with others, and growing your customer base.

Your clients – businesses of all shapes and sizes – are just like you; they’re fellow adventurers, each carving out their own specialized corners of the market. With one difference.

As a WordPress agency owner, you’re not only looking for clients — often you’re their trusted guide. Your clients look to you to equip them with the tools they need to thrive. That’s a big responsibility; and in today’s competitive online environment, a generic one-size-fits-all product for every client just won’t cut it.

This is where the power of niche landing pages comes in. Think of them as personalized maps and tools, specifically designed to help each client — and your agency — reach their unique digital destinations.

“Landing pages are a must-have for any website. Whether you own an online store or are seeking new subscribers for your online service, these pages should help you collect leads and convert them into sales.”

codeable

Why Niche Landing Pages are the Alpha Page for Your Clients (and Your Agency)

Let’s face it, most websites are like Walmart – overwhelming and forgettable. Potential customers get lost in the noise, bombarded with irrelevant information, and all the one-size-fits-all products.

A niche landing page, on the other hand, is like a bespoke tailor; it listens, caters to a specific clientele, and delivers a curated selection of offerings.

Here are three ways niche landing pages help your clients (and your agency):

A niche landing page cuts through the chatter.

  • It speaks directly to your client’s niche audience and addresses their specific needs and pain points. It’s direct and to the point. A niche landing page eliminates confusion. The scroll is short. This goes a long way toward fostering trust and most importantly engagement.

A niche landing page builds trust.

  • It demonstrates your agency’s understanding of your client’s niche. This fosters a sense of confidence. People know they are in the right place. A niche landing page shows you understand a visitor’s unique challenges and goals.

A niche landing page is a conversion machine.

  • By removing distractions and presenting a clear and precise call to action, curious visitors become paying customers – in one to three clicks.

“Niche sites need a strategy … Your content strategy must support your niche. You can’t get too detailed. If you do that correctly, SEO is automagically included.”

Rocket.net – 3 Important Steps To Building A Profitable Niche Website

Landing Pages Exist to Convert a Problem into a Solution

While your website serves as a business card on the Internet and should represent the agency’s services and brand personality, a landing page has a very specific task. From donations to sales; from workshop registrations to memberships; each client you wish to attract has different needs.

Your website offers services – probably WordPress services – for many different types of businesses. So how do you sell your services differently to a funeral home compared with a restaurant? Fill in the blanks:

  • Messaging and Tone
  • Timing and Seasonality
  • Type of Conversion
  • Target Audience
  • Functionality

Targeting, targeting, targeting. That’s your niche landing page.

By customizing your landing pages to cater to the specific needs and concerns of each type of business, you show that you understand the industry. A niche landing page positions your services as the ideal solution for a client’s web design or marketing needs.

Would a roofer ask Siri for a WordPress developer near them? Or would they say “need new roofing website?” Remember, you need to understand that industry’s specific needs when it comes to their lead gen.

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The Landing Page Process Explained 

As a WordPress Agency owner, creating targeted landing pages for specific niche clients is a smart strategy. Let’s break down the process and explore the advantages:

Identify Your Niches:

You’ve already identified some niches (for example: coaches, funeral homes, roofers). Consider other potential niches relevant to your business. Each niche should have unique pain points and needs.

Create Dedicated Landing Pages:

Develop separate landing pages for each niche. These pages should reside within your existing website without altering the overall design. You can even use a WordPress plugin to create custom landing pages. They do not need to be in the main navigation, either.

Advantages: Targeted messaging resonates better with specific audiences. Visitors will feel understood and more likely to engage. This is great for search, Facebook Ads, and $1/day Google PPC.

Solve Niche-Specific Problems:

Focus on the challenges faced by each client. Make them your challenges and address these pain points. Specifically: peel the orange!

  • Example client coaches: focus on client acquisition, time management, or marketing strategies.
  • Example client funeral homes: emphasize streamlining arrangements and convenient online payments.
  • Example client roofers: highlight maintenance tips, 24/7 service, and emergency repairs.

Advantages: Solving real problems builds trust and positions you as a like-minded partner.

Offer Valuable Freebies

It’s all about content marketing. Create lead magnets related to each niche. 

  • Coaches: eBook on effective time management techniques.
  • Funeral Homes: Checklist PDF for organizing all the “death chores” as widows call them.
  • Roofers: Maintenance guide for extending product lifespan and home value.

Advantages: Freebies attract leads, build your email list, and establish authority. They help those clients do their job better.

Optimize for Search Engines (SEO):

  • Be niche-specific in your content, images, videos, and headings – speak to your client. 
  • Research phrases “real customers” use on Reddit, Facebook Groups, and even in Yelp reviews.
  • Optimize for user experience and three-second conversions – this is where speed matters.
  • Use subdomains and custom domains to keep your visitors locked in – make the CTA clear.

Advantages: Niche-specific SEO enables landing pages to rank higher, drive organic traffic, and convert more leads.

Connect with Google Ads:

  • Set up Google Ads campaigns targeting each niche. You can be hyper-granular here! Roofers where? Coaches when? Funeral Homes for which demographic?
  • Link your ads directly to the relevant landing pages.

Advantages: Paid ads drive targeted traffic, especially when aligned with specific landing pages. People click on ads when they are ready to act. And you can run Google ads effectively for as little as a dollar a day!

There’s your conversion.

Overall Advantages of This Approach:

  • Higher Conversion Rates: Niche-specific pages resonate better and convert more often.
  • Cost-Effective: Targeted ads are more efficient than organic ones.
  • Improved Quality Score: Relevant landing pages improve your Google Ads Quality Score.
  • Better User Experience: Visitors find what they’re looking for quickly and easily.
  • Segmented Analytics: Performance tracking is made easier so you can act smarter.

Remember, niche landing pages don’t require consistency in design (matching your existing website). Focus on the client. Your website design isn’t crucial, the conversion is.

By creating niche-specific landing pages, your clients can attract qualified leads and enhance their overall marketing strategy. So can you.

“Most business owners and WordPress beginners don’t want to spend hours learning to write code. They also don’t want to hire a developer for every marketing campaign. That’s where a WordPress landing page plugin comes in.”

WPBeginner

Wrap-Up: Why Niche Landing Pages Matter to Your Business

Attention spans are shorter than ever. Whatever is on that landing page needs to connect with visitors within seconds. 3 seconds to be exact. Making an emotional connection on you niche landing page is crucial to keep visitors on your site long enough to convert. 

Niche landing pages tap into that very human need for confidence that we are understood and among like-minded people. People who understand our problems and can offer a solution.

Landing pages speak to a specific audience, understand their unique challenges, and offer a clear path toward their desired outcome. This emotional connection fosters trust, and loyalty, which ultimately drives conversions.

By embracing the power of niche landing pages, you can become the ultimate guide for your clients. You’ll equip them with the tools they need to navigate the ever-changing digital landscape, reach their own target audience, and achieve their business goals.

So, what are you waiting for? Get your landing page on!

Grow Your Business with a Growing Platform

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