Embarking on the digital journey, Jude Wharton of Ready Steady Websites graces us with the story of her and Chris's 14-year-strong partnership, a beacon for solopreneurs seeking to carve their own space online. Together, they've evolved from a boutique agency into a powerhouse that equips clients with self-manageable, high-quality websites. In this episode, Jude unravels the tapestry of website significance in today's social media-saturated landscape and debates the enduring need for a dedicated online presence.
Our discussion takes a turn through the maze of business website design, highlighting the metamorphosis from early online chaos to the current clean and user-friendly interfaces we've grown to love—and sometimes find too bare. We dissect the importance of striking the perfect balance in design to captivate potential clients without overwhelming them with unnecessary fluff or leaving them craving more substance. Jude and I analyse the art of structuring content that resonates, the magnetic pull of an engaging 'about page,' and the subtle choreography of call-to-action placements that guide visitors through the virtual corridors of your online domain.
As we close, we don't shy away from the nitty-gritty of website speed and why optimising for those precious loading seconds can make or break the user experience. Jude shares invaluable insights on creating content that not only engages but establishes you as the go-to sage in your field. I leave you with a reminder to connect with Jude for more wisdom, and to stay tuned for the upcoming jolt of inspiration in next week's Mini Mindset Monday with the fabulous Viv. So, listeners, brace yourselves for the actionable insights that could revolutionize your online presence.
My recommendations: Want to get booked more and get more out of your guest appearances? Join fabulous podcaster & Podcast Guest trainer Kelly Mosser for her signature Program Hell Yes Guest get 10% off the program with my link plus some extra bonuses from me check it out HERE FEA Create Simple all-in-one web, CRM, email system For graphics Canva For Email Convert Kit
Want to Guest? Apply here >>FORM Edited and produced by Donna Eade
Embarking on the digital journey, Jude Wharton of Ready Steady Websites graces us with the story of her and Chris's 14-year-strong partnership, a beacon for solopreneurs seeking to carve their own space online. Together, they've evolved from a boutique agency into a powerhouse that equips clients with self-manageable, high-quality websites. In this episode, Jude unravels the tapestry of website significance in today's social media-saturated landscape and debates the enduring need for a dedicated online presence.
Our discussion takes a turn through the maze of business website design, highlighting the metamorphosis from early online chaos to the current clean and user-friendly interfaces we've grown to love—and sometimes find too bare. We dissect the importance of striking the perfect balance in design to captivate potential clients without overwhelming them with unnecessary fluff or leaving them craving more substance. Jude and I analyse the art of structuring content that resonates, the magnetic pull of an engaging 'about page,' and the subtle choreography of call-to-action placements that guide visitors through the virtual corridors of your online domain.
As we close, we don't shy away from the nitty-gritty of website speed and why optimising for those precious loading seconds can make or break the user experience. Jude shares invaluable insights on creating content that not only engages but establishes you as the go-to sage in your field. I leave you with a reminder to connect with Jude for more wisdom, and to stay tuned for the upcoming jolt of inspiration in next week's Mini Mindset Monday with the fabulous Viv. So, listeners, brace yourselves for the actionable insights that could revolutionize your online presence.
My recommendations: Want to get booked more and get more out of your guest appearances? Join fabulous podcaster & Podcast Guest trainer Kelly Mosser for her signature Program Hell Yes Guest get 10% off the program with my link plus some extra bonuses from me check it out HERE FEA Create Simple all-in-one web, CRM, email system For graphics Canva For Email Convert Kit
Want to Guest? Apply here >>FORM Edited and produced by Donna Eade
Thank you for your support:)
Until next week...
Speaker 1:
You're listening to the Mindset in Action podcast, the place to be to grow and streamline your business. I'm your host, donna Eade. Let's jump into the show. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Leonardo da Vinci, welcome back to the podcast. Everybody, I'm so glad to have you here today and I am so glad to be bringing back Leonardo da Vinci. Know how funny Jude's going to be on her own, to be honest with you, but her and Chris together are quite comical.
Speaker 2:
So the pressure is now on the pressure's on, I feel like I've got to turn this into like some kind of stand-up routine, but you know, no, do you know what?
Speaker 1:
what we need from you is the good information about websites, so that that's what we're here for. Um? So, if you are not aware of my original episode with Jude, jude and Chris own a website development company. They do some fantastic things, but Jude can say it a lot better than me. So, jude, introduce yourself to the listeners.
Speaker 2:
So, yeah, I am Jude Wharton. I am one half of Ready Steady Websites. The other half is my husband and business partner, chris, and apparently together we are a comedy duo. Um, so, yeah, we've been in business for 14 years. This month we will be celebrating our 14th business birthday. Um, when we originally went into business, we had a small digital agency. Essentially, we did bespoke websites and branding. We still have that business. Second floor designs limited, but about five years ago we launched ready steady websites to provide really good, high quality websites, but in a way that people could understand them, could be in charge of them themselves and could get them for a better budget range for those solopreneurs and people who are brand new to business.
Speaker 1:
I love that and you're still married we are.
Speaker 2:
Yes, I mean we've been together for over 24 years now and yeah, 14 of them in business together and we still talk to each other which I think is amazing.
Speaker 1:
It's like seriously hats off to you, because there is not many people that could work with their other halves and work so closely as well, because it's not like you're in different sort of areas, like you're literally in the same room 24 7. I'm just like I don't know if I could do it with my other half.
Speaker 2:
I have to say I think and recently I did a little bit of a kind of a social post out there and a couple of business groups I was in just sort of how many other people in here are in like couples in business husband and wife teams and there was such a like divide of some people there's a lot more than I thought there would be. And then the hell, no comments.
Speaker 1:
It's just like, yeah, you either can or you can't yeah, yeah, exactly, and my other half does work with, like he's, he's a tech person, so, um, he can code and he works for a college and he does all of the system stuff that makes sure that rooms are allocated to the right students and the exams and you know enrollments, and he does all the back-end technology for that. So he's got a very good understanding of the tech side of things. Whenever I'm stuck on tech, I'm like babe and who, but sometimes I'm just like are you serious? Like, and like I get.
Speaker 1:
I just couldn't imagine doing it as a permanent thing, but I am very grateful for his help when I need it. So, yeah, I think that is that is to be commended, and I think you should definitely start doing like a podcast tour of how to like survive marriage and working with your other half, because I think it's amazing. It's just an amazing thing. I just like it. Yeah, it's, it's incredible, and I think the communication that you have to have in a marriage and the communication that you have to have in business, like the two key things, and I just think you two must have very good communication skills to be able to survive both together at the same time yeah, and I think that does help, and when we I mean, we talked about this on the previous podcast- but, like when we started working together those first couple of months it was hard like we both come from different roles where we were the boss, and so it was then like just getting the dynamic and everything.
Speaker 2:
But once you get it, once I think you've got those the right, the right roles, the right communication and working out how each other works, it like it worked for us yeah, yeah, and I love that.
Speaker 1:
I love that for you because it gives you both the time to actually be really great present parents to your boys, and I think that is a real great gift that you've been able to give them. So congratulations, well done, thank you?
Speaker 2:
yeah, it was the reason we did it, so yeah. I'm glad it worked yeah, absolutely, absolutely right.
Speaker 1:
So that's a little bit of a background um check and a bit of a bit of a congratulations well-deserved congratulations there for you on your years in business, marriage and life in general.
Speaker 1:
But we're here to talk about websites, and one of the things that I wanted to sort of talk to you about was something that I've been seeing quite a bit recently, which is like people saying, oh, you know, I've got my social media, I don't need a website. And I do have a friend who has been planning to do a website for herself for since I've known four years at least, um, I don't know, and she's just got a landing page that says like website coming soon, and it's been up for four years. And I mean technically, she gets a lot of her business through word of mouth and you know she's somebody who works one-on-one with people, so she does have limited capacity and it works for her absolutely great, but I always feel like she could really just do with with something. Um. So I would love to hear your opinion on people who think that they don't need a website, and why, why, why? That's possibly the wrong answer.
Speaker 2:
I mean, I think anyone who is running a business who doesn't have a website is missing out on work. Because I speak to so many people from so many different areas of life, different areas of business, who have nothing to do with websites, who say that the first thing they do when they hear about someone through word of mouth or they see someone on social media or someone's in a networking group with them and they're interested in what they do, is they go to find their website. That is their first thing that they do after that initial contact and obviously you hope that sometimes you're going to get that work directly through your website. But more often than not people are visiting your website once they've already had some kind of knowledge of you from some point of contact. And so if you haven't got a website there, that is already putting off quite a few people.
Speaker 2:
And I think, especially if you have got a landing page there saying your website's coming soon and maybe someone's heard about her once and gone and had a look and gone OK, well, the website's coming soon.
Speaker 2:
And maybe someone's heard about her once and gone and had a look and gone okay, well, the website's coming soon. I'll check back in a few months and then they check back in a few months and the same landing page is there. The reflection that is having on a business isn't a positive one. It doesn't look like they've got their business in hand, it doesn't look like they're investing in their business, and so I really think that if you want your business to look like you're taking it seriously, to look like that it is actually your main income, your main focus, you need to have a website there, and so I think that is incredibly important, and I wrote a blog post recently um, or social media post, I think it was on LinkedIn um about the stats around people visiting websites and especially now, like the younger generations the millennials and younger they they will not consider working with a business, buying from a business, until they've been and seen the website.
Speaker 1:
Um, so, yeah, I think it's incredibly important yeah, oh, that's interesting actually because, yeah, I'm somebody who will go and look at your website. Um, when I've sort of first met you and and I think it does it, to me it's like a red flag. If they haven't got a website. It's like, are you legit? And if I saw something that was like website coming soon, my assumption if I didn't know the person very well would be that they haven't been in business very long either and that they perhaps are just starting out and perhaps that's not the level of business owner I want to be working with, depending on what it is, obviously. But, yeah, I think there is a lot of, a lot of mixed messages that having a landing page or not having anything at all is actually giving to potential clients that you could be losing.
Speaker 1:
I mean, to me, I've always been taught that your website is your shop window. You know, if you haven't got a physical brick and mortar, it's your shop window and it's a way for people to find out about you without the pressure of being sold to or the feeling that they're going to be. Because obviously, you know, if you're a solo entrepreneur, I'm sure you're not somebody who's necessarily a hard seller or whatever, but people often feel that if they come and speak to you, that they're going to get sold to and the website's a nice, easy way of, like looking around, seeing who, who you are, working out whether they like your vibe, seeing what you actually offer. It's that pre-qualifying stage. Almost they're pre-qualifying themselves before they get to you. So, uh, yeah, really important. I think it's very important. I'm I'm glad you agree, not that you wouldn't?
Speaker 2:
I mean it'd be strange if it would be shown you don't need a website.
Speaker 1:
So looking at websites now, because I'm like I know when we spoke last time I was sort of talking about how in the wedding industry, there were still some people that have got websites that look like they were made in the early 90s and I bet you they're still around. But websites have moved on, so so much. And you know, technology is one of those things I think moves at kind of a quicker pace than anything else. It just absolutely five years can make the most immense difference. Even a year can sometimes, depending on what it is, make such a huge difference. Look, this time last year I don't know whether that's true, I can't remember how long it's been now, but didn't have chat, gpt, you know, and now everybody's got this extra AI assistant that they can work with, whether they like it or not. So what is it that you're seeing with websites now versus then? What? What are the sort of big changes that you've seen in the last sort of few years with how websites are working for people?
Speaker 2:
I think websites work best now when they're really nice and simple, clear, easy to find what people want to find on them. I think when work best now when they're really nice and simple, clear, easy to find what people want to find on them. I think when we had the introduction of things like Elementor and Divi you know the big WordPress page builders, the sort of the themes that could do everything people were trying to do the parallaxes where you had the images going behind the text. They were having all of their lines going this way and that down the website, all because they could, and it was like, oh, this is cool, we can throw every kind of design element into one page. That is possible. And oh, good, god, um, and people have got over that now. Yeah, okay, we can do that.
Speaker 2:
We look back now and go perhaps we shouldn't have done. And it's keeping it really clean and fresh and simple and really keeping the website visitor in mind, thinking about what it is they're coming to the website for, what it is they're going to want to find, making it really easy for them to find that. So they're much more likely to buy or get in contact or become a lead through your website, and I think that is what is really key. I am seeing some people taking that to an extreme and they're being.
Speaker 2:
I mean, I've, when I go to these websites, I feel like they feel like very arrogant websites. They've got so little information on them. It's almost like, well, if you come to my website, you should already know everything about me. I'm not. I'm not going to tell you anything. I'm literally going to put my business name, two lines, and then you can get in contact and that's all you need to know. That's too far and that really annoys me.
Speaker 2:
When I see that, I'm just like, oh, I don't want to work with you because I already feel I've got a sense of your personality through your website and I will walk away. So things are getting simpler, but don't go too simple, because I do think that is off-putting. That like people go there to get a sense, like you said, of what the business is, what they do get a feel about you know, are they the right person to contact before they make that contact and feel like they have to sort of jump in and make that next step? So, um, so yeah, getting the balance between not throwing all the design elements at it but giving a good amount of information is, uh, is is the way to go at the moment yeah, so just sort of getting your personality across in a concise, simple way.
Speaker 1:
Um, great love that. So what are kind of you know, because I know you look at websites all day long. What are the biggest mistakes you're seeing people make on their websites right now?
Speaker 2:
there's a couple and I think it depends on the industry that you're in small businesses that have perhaps been established for a little while, maybe they've got a family history behind them. I'm still seeing far too many of them launch into essentially their autobiography on their homepage rather than actually giving the website visitor information that's useful to them to help them decide whether they want to work with the business and whether that business is going to fulfill their needs or wants. So that's a big mistake. Leave you a little bit about your granddad founded the business and whatever thought you about page and keep it all about the services you offer, how you can help people on your homepage. Another mistake I'm seeing, especially in the wellness industries, is lots of lovely, fluffy, wonderful words on the home page that really don't say anything, um, and so, again, it's not very useful.
Speaker 2:
It's great that you're empowering and allowing people to reflect and engaging people and making them, you know, feel wonderful about themselves. But how are you doing that? What kind of things do you do with these people? Um? Do you do this online? Are you doing that? What kind of things do you do with these people? Um, do you do this online? Are you doing it in person. You all the things that people are going there to find out and not being answered through this yeah, just string of yeah, like waffly words, um, and I did a reel about that, actually about yeah, sort of oh. So what do you do like if your website was you in networking, someone saying to you what do you do in your business? Well, you know, I empower and engage people to feel empowered and engaged and you know, just generally empower them to feel like and you don't want that. You're not going to sit there in networking saying that, so don't do it on your website home page.
Speaker 2:
Um so yeah, that's, that is like a big mistake I'm saying. And the third one is no calls to action, like you're not giving, you're not there with an obvious kind of get in touch book, a call, get my free, useful checklist. All of these things are really important to have on your website to actually get people to go. Okay, yeah, perhaps I will do that and take that step to get to know you a bit better. And I spoke to somebody recently and she is going to redo her website because her current one literally the whole home page there is nothing to click on to get in contact with her. And when in the text it really small she did have her email address, it wasn't clickable so I'd have had to have copied and pasted it to actually email her. So not having those very obvious, easy to take call to actions is a really big mistake love that, love that.
Speaker 1:
And I said to you before we started recording that I actually have had a bit of a website day today because I'm taking part in a program. We spoke about websites this morning and so I was. There's some things that I've realized that I haven't got on my website that I need to sort of add in. But one of the things that she was talking about was somebody whose website she had had a look at and they've got a Maya Angelou quote as like in that sort of headline space, the above the fold space, and she was just like that doesn't tell people what you do. And she goes well, I thought it was empowering and you know it offers strength. It's like, yeah, but what do you do? It's not even your quote.
Speaker 1:
And I almost gave myself a little pat on the back there because, like on my homepage, the top line says hi, I'm Donna, a podcast mentor. You, you know podcast a mentor and would be author. I will get that book out one day. There's a little bit of a personality thing as well and that's kind of my headline, with a picture of myself and then further down I have got these little quotes, but they're all mine, yeah, so I was just like pat on the back.
Speaker 1:
Yes, well, I think there is. There's definitely a lot of areas that I could improve on, and I think that maybe it's a bit busy, I don't know. But I've definitely got calls to action. There's a banner across the top at the moment that's saying come and join my program. Before you get to the fold, that very bottom part of the fold is also applied start to to join my program, and those change depending on whether my program's available or not to freebies and whatnot. So I've got two calls to action before you even scroll anywhere on my website so yeah, I'm getting brownie points there.
Speaker 1:
One of the things that was actually interesting that I was going to mention when you talked about the family firms that kind of have their.
Speaker 1:
You know, granddad started this in 1849 and all of those kinds of things is that I said to the group this morning when I was talking that actually my about page and I don't know whether you're seeing this as something that is universal or maybe I'm just a special snowflake, but my about page is not my second most viewed page, which you know, for a long time I was hearing from website gurus and stuff it's your homepage, then it's your about page. Those are your top two viewed and mine's not. Mine's like my homepage, and then it's my blog or my podcast, and those two are my top most viewed pages. So how important is an about page these days and is it? Is it not not necessary? Cause I know it is you need to have it there. But is it better to kind of be sort of dripping in little things about yourself throughout your website rather than hoping that people are going to get that sense of who you are from your about page if they don't click on it?
Speaker 2:
You need an about page, because I think there's some people who really do want to get to know the person before they'll buy. But our about page is in our footer menu, not in our main menu. So for us, we don't feel that the about page is as important. We think it's much more important that people who come to our website understand what we offer, how we offer it, the pricing for that, the process of working with us, and then, yeah, we have our blog, which gives them useful information but also showcases our knowledge and expertise, to again make them feel confident to work with us. Yeah, we think all of that is much more important than them knowing that we're a husband and wife team and how long we've run the business for and why we created Ready Study websites and so. But it's there if they want to go and have a look. And so I'd say for you as well, like, because what you're doing is being a podcast mentor, obviously, people, the second thing they're going to want to do is go and check out your own podcast, yeah, to prove that you can do what you say you can do. Yeah, um, so so, yeah, I think that an up out page is still important to have. Um, you can.
Speaker 2:
I think you know if you are running a service-based business and you know it's really relevant to say that you have been doing this for a certain amount of time, within, kind, of your service pages and things like that, you can put in those little bits of information about yourself. Um, but I would, however you're writing your content and structuring your website, you just need to keep thinking what does my website visitor want to know? What's the most important information to get them to want to work with me or buy from me? And then that is going to guide your page structure, that's going to guide your content and put in the stuff that's relevant for you, your business, your service, and I think you know, for us, people don't care that much about us as people because we're just creating them a website. But if you're, if somebody is working with you to be a business coach, then actually your own experience and how successful you have been in business yourself is possibly more important to people. So therefore, your about information is going to be more important.
Speaker 2:
So I really think it depends on business to business um but yeah, so, but yeah, I'm not surprised that your podcast is your second most like looked at thing, because it proves what you and it makes total sense.
Speaker 1:
When you said it there, I'm like, oh yeah, I was just like my poor about page, it's like gathering cobwebs up there, but I didn't think about moving it to my footer actually, because I know I learned from you, know I, I do learn when I have my guests on. I listen, I learn, I implement. So I've got less less than six menu tabs at the top and my about one is one of them. So it's potentially one that I don't actually need to have up there. I could put it in the footer and make way for, you know, a book, a call with me button instead of a menu tab.
Speaker 2:
So, um, interesting, interesting one of the things I was going to say. We lost ours to the footer when we wrote our book and we then wanted our book to be more front and center. We were like, well, we have too many menu items. What's going on about page is no longer as important as the others.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, yeah. And one of the other things I took away from our last conversation was how people read a page. So do you want to go over that quickly for those that haven't listened to that, how people actually sort of navigate a page when they land on it yeah.
Speaker 2:
So if you're looking on a on a computer screen which not everyone will be most people will be looking on a mobile or start off with a computer screen. So if someone comes to the computer screen, they tend to look top left first, so they'll see your logo probably most websites have got the logo top left and then they go oh yeah, that's what their business is, that's what they do Brilliant. Then they'll scan across the first couple of menu items in your main navigation and so that's where you want to have, like your, those two pages that you most want to attract people's attention to, that you want them to go there. Then they tend to jump and look far right. So that's where it's really good to have your contact button, your book, a call button For us. We've got our join now button. So, yeah, that call to action is really good to have top right. Then they'll tend to glance diagonally down across that top hero area.
Speaker 2:
So if you've got an engaging statement that really says, boom, this is what my business is, this is what it does, this is how I'm going to help you. Having that central in that area is great, and having two ideally call to action buttons underneath that centrally as well, that they'll see as their eye goes down. It's really good as well. One of those will be like the join my program join now, buy now, book a call, something that's a real commitment. And then the one next to it should be something else, that it gets them to engage with you more, perhaps gets them onto your email list.
Speaker 2:
I would always advocate that. So getting a free resource or something like that, so that they can if they're not ready to jump in, they can take a little step towards working with you. And it's kind of similar on a mobile for the navigation order, because they'll click on the drop down mobile, the hamburger icon as it's referred to, the three lines um, and again they'll sort of see the top two and then they'll probably just quickly scan down the rest of them and their eyes will hit the bottom again um, so that's why it's good to have that menu navigation order. So, um, so yeah, that's brilliant tend to glance around.
Speaker 2:
A site start off with fabulous.
Speaker 1:
I think it's a really useful piece of knowledge to know, because I think then you actually start doing that, like thinking about it, when you go and look at a website like oh god, yeah, I just did that. But you don't know until somebody points it out to you that it's actually almost like a universal like I watch um a lot of body language analysis on youtube from a guy called spidey who lives in canada. He's a magician, mentalist guy and he's done interrogations and stuff and he does a lot on body behavior and he will talk about the universal emotions and expressions that we have on our face and how, in almost every country in the world, putting your hand up face front means stop or don't come any closer, move away. I've had enough. You know it's almost universal, but the way we rotate our hands is different. In in France they do a lot of hands up, whereas in other countries it tends to be hands down when we're talking and I find it absolutely fascinating. So it's another one of those things that could almost be put into that body language analysis.
Speaker 1:
It's like how do you scan a page? Well, actually, almost universally, you know, unless you like countries that um have their dialect differently, like read right to left instead of left to right and whatnot will be different, but for the majority of us that read left to right, that's how we will navigate a website, so I find it all fascinating. Um, so, looking at our websites, we're going simple now. So there's a lot of people that are going to go oh my gosh, I need to completely redo my website now because it is far too full of funny bells and whistles. But if we were to all simplify our websites, then that would make it very hard for us necessarily stand out, because we're not necessarily competing with other websites that people are looking at, unless they've got multiple screens, like me, and I've got websites on both of them. Um, but to, to help people stay on the page and stop clicking away, like, how can we entice people to? To give us more, more of their time with our website?
Speaker 2:
well, the images are key. So straight away as soon as someone hits your website, it is the visual impact that is going to keep them there initially. So making sure that you've got really good professional photography for the images on your website is really important. So if you're a personal brand, having really good personal branding shoots, headshots, that kind of thing, um or. But if you've got products, having really lovely product photography so of your products on a nice white background in their box or whatever, but also photos of your products in action. So if they are a beauty product, actually seeing someone applying it to their face, just getting people kind of to feel like they're experiencing it, will get people staying there. So, yeah, images are definitely the first thing.
Speaker 2:
The second thing, then, is to have that content really talk into your website visitor so that you, in that first engaging statement about what you do and that they are in the right place, you've really got to show them that you understand them, that you have thought about the things that they're thinking about before they've thought about them almost, thought about the things that they're thinking about before they've thought about them almost, and then, as you go down talking about services or whatever your products or whatever it is you do.
Speaker 2:
You're answering questions that they've got in their mind. If you about, if that you are the right person for them to work with or buy from, and that's just key. That is what you really need these days, and I think feeling people feeling like they're understood is is the most important thing, and feeling like they are the most important thing to the business rather than yourself, which is why you shouldn't be launching into your autobiography. It doesn't, it doesn't matter. Like they don't care about you at this moment. They care about if you understand them, um, and so I think that's the most important thing. That, like it just shows that you get your website visitor and that will keep them there and make them want to keep clicking and looking at the services and hopefully eventually take an action to buy from you or work with you.
Speaker 1:
Fingers crossed love that. Yeah, I think that's so important. Now, one thing about images that I want to sort of bring up, because I I'm doing quite a lot at the moment and, weirdly enough, I'm doing the small business Britain um six-week program that they're offering at the moment, and on Monday our session was on or not? What was it? Last week? I think it might have been. Last week, our session was on websites and they got us to go and look at the and I can't remember the website. We used to look at the speed of our website.
Speaker 1:
So how good is your SEO? How good is your loading on mobile and desktop? And, as for most people, mobile was lower than the web browser. But one of the things that it flashed up for me was that I got a very large image on my home page and it was slowing the rope, which was weird, because I even had it on like lazy load, because I was told you know that like it'll load it differently, whatever, and that was saying it was a negative, but that was having a negative impact on the speed as well. So so I changed the photo. But one of the things I think is important for us to know is that we can't just upload 20 gig images. So what is kind of a rule of thumb when it comes to photos, because I know some people do have like banner images that go across the whole website and to me that feels like that's going to be quite a big image how do we get that to load quickly but still look good, without it looking like a pixelated mess?
Speaker 2:
you can put your big image, your original big file size image, into a website called tiny png and that will smush it down to the right size to use on a website, and that is the simplest way to do it. And another rule of thumb is make sure that you've got your photos, um, using jpegs, and your things like logos, using pngs, um, and so they should come out looking nice quality. But yeah, tiny png is a great website for um for sorting out that kind of thing. I mean, if you're using WordPress, there's things like WP Smush. Just use the word smush as many times as possible in this little bit.
Speaker 2:
It's like smush your images down. Smush those images down. So yeah, there are other things out there that do it. But yeah, like image file size is one of the biggest culprits. That and poor hosting are the two biggest culprits when it comes to page speeds. And yeah, you do want good page speeds because people make decisions very quickly these days and if they're sitting there waiting for a website to chug along and load, they're just gonna go. Do you know what? I'll go and look at another website that's the same.
Speaker 2:
So yes, I did it the other day. I was waiting for a website loan. It was someone I was having a call with and I was like, well, I've clearly got to sit here and wait for it to load before I have the call with this person. But if I wasn't having a call with them, I would be done by now yes, gone.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, oh my goodness. Yeah, very important. So we want images because they are good for engagement, but they need to be fast loading images so that people actually get to see them before they've got bored and clicked away.
Speaker 2:
Especially as, like you said, like mobile speeds tend to come back worse. But most browsing is done on a mobile and you know, if you're out and about and you're trying to find something, you're going to be on your 4G and it's not going to be particularly fast. So yeah, it's got to be, it's got to be good yeah, yeah, absolutely okay.
Speaker 1:
So fabulous, fabulous, um input from you there. Can you give us three little tips to take away of things that we could do to to improve our websites? Um, obviously, you know if, if there there's a lot that needs doing, we should definitely come and talk to you and Chris and and get them sorted out. But if we just need to tweak a little bit, what are the three things that you think we should be doing?
Speaker 2:
I mean, first of all, I'd say get really clear on the purpose of your website. What is the actual action that you want somebody to take when they're coming to your website? Is it you want them to book a call? Is it you want to buy one of your products? Is it that you want them to actually join a program now? And make sure, then, that your whole website is pointing your website visitors to take that action. That's your copy, that's your call to actions and everything like that.
Speaker 2:
The second thing I would say is to review your content and make sure it really is speaking to that website visitor. It's showing your website visitor that you understand why they've landed on your website, what it is that they want and that you can offer them that. And then the third thing I would say is make sure that you are actually using and maintaining your website regularly, that you haven't had a website created or created yourself and just gone tick, I've done that. I'll just leave that there for three years now and do nothing with it. Actually actively add new content to your website. Use your blog to demonstrate your expertise and to demonstrate again that you really get what your website visitor is looking for. If you've got new testimonials, put them on there so that people can see how fantastic what you do is. Actually use that website as a really good marketing tool and, I would say, be adding something new to it at least once a month.
Speaker 1:
Fabulous. I love those tips. Thank you so much. So where can people find you if they want to find out more about ready, steady websites?
Speaker 2:
I've got a feeling I know what's coming I think, I think they should go to our website. I think that'd be the best place to go. Which is ready? Steady websitescom um.
Speaker 1:
You can find us on facebook and instagram oh, tell us your instagram handle, because you do do some great reels. I love your reels.
Speaker 2:
We haven't done any for a while. I feel like we've got to get back on it again. We're ready steady websites on Instagram and on Facebook and on YouTube. We have some helpful videos on YouTube and I am on LinkedIn as well. If anyone wants to come and connect and ask me to help by giving them a free website review, happy to do that.
Speaker 1:
I am Jude Wharton on LinkedIn, so um so yeah, quite easy to find fabulous so I have a quick fire round, which we didn't do last time, um, because this is something that came new to to the podcast a while back, but I absolutely love doing it. So if you are up for it, I've got three little questions for you. Go for it. I don't know where that accent came from.
Speaker 1:
I was like went into a completely different and I was like surprise, surprise, it's still all right with a game show host. Uh, accent. Um, so what is the book that you feel has made the biggest impact on your life so far?
Speaker 2:
almost like I knew you were going to ask me this because I brought the books. Oh no, no. Building a story brand by Donald Miller is a fantastic business book for all kinds of marketing, but his messaging around websites is absolutely on point as well, so thoroughly recommend that book for any business owner. And then casper craven, where the magic happens, from a more personal point of view, talks about his journey. He just he traveled the world with his family. I mean, he might be slightly mad to travel the world on a boat with children as young as his were at the time, but it really did inspire us to just do many adventures. We have not traveled the world, but we bought our camper van and we just wanted to get out there more. And we love our van, even if it's just a day at the beach rather than a full-on camping trip. It's just so nice to escape and get that time.
Speaker 1:
So yeah, those two brilliant, I'm gonna have to look at that one. So he's almost like so did he live? The boat was their vehicle of choice for moving around yeah, well, they lived on that.
Speaker 2:
So they did a full world sailing tour on their boat. They rented out their house for the year while they were on the boat, like homeschooled their children on a boat.
Speaker 1:
Like an original van lifer, but he did it by sea.
Speaker 2:
I love it Absolutely and, just you know, incredible it was just. I mean, I think there were challenging moments, but on the whole, an incredible experience.
Speaker 1:
There were challenging moments, but, on the whole, an incredible experience. Yeah, wow, amazing, okay. So next one. What is your go-to? Snack if you're in a hurry, cashew nuts. Oh, nice and easy, nice and easy cashew nuts, just yep yeah, I'm not a big fan of cashews. I don't think I prefer my peanuts. Love my peanut butter and almonds love my almonds, but cashews.
Speaker 2:
I don't know. I'll have to try. I have to try good love that.
Speaker 1:
And what is your ultimate me time thing to do? Because I mean, we've we've already heard you spend pretty much 24 7 with your husband, 365 days of the year, and you've got two young boys. What do you do for you? Where, where do you go? What's your favorite thing to just like? No, just me for a moment it's swimming.
Speaker 2:
Or we have recently created a gym in our garage, which I mean that sounds a bit posh for what it actually is. We put some mats on the floor, there's a punch bag in there and one bench with some weights. We got free from somewhere. Brilliant. But yes, swimming. I love going half an hour swimming, just powered, just doing lengths back, up and down, or going out into the garage and kicking and punching the punch bag. I actually recently put a post on LinkedIn of me kicking and punching the punch bag, so it's great for social media content.
Speaker 1:
Great to get that energy out Love it yes definitely.
Speaker 2:
So yeah, fitness basically is my me time.
Speaker 1:
Love that, love that. Well, thank you so much for your time today, jude. It's been an absolutely fantastic conversation and everybody all of Jude's links will be in the show notes, so please do go ahead and connect with her and see what Ready Steady Websites is up to, and I'll be back next week with another podcast for you. So we'll see you then. So I hope you enjoyed that episode with Jude. Join me next week where I will be having the lovely Viv with me on the Mini Mindset Monday, and I'll be back on Thursday with another episode. See you then. Bye for now, you Thank you.
