Honest and pragmatic advice for how authors, consultants, and speakers can leverage your website to build authority and trust with your audience. Squarespace specialist. Introvert, British-born, cake loving, contented California resident.
Are you showing your values on your website?
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Hello Reader, It's not often I see "website designer" near the top of my BBC News feed. But this was what I found while eating my breakfast, one morning earlier this month: US Supreme Court rules website designer can refuse to serve same-sex couples That day, I realized there was nothing in any of my public messaging that overtly states the value I place on respect, inclusivity, and diversity. Sure, my portfolio shows a representation of the clients I've served, but you have to look pretty closely at that, to infer anything. And my conscience told me, it's time to be clear. From a young age, probably before I could pronounce the word conflict, I've avoided it. I don't seek out controversy, I steer around difficult conversations, and I'm way too much of a people pleaser. Still, it's no longer OK for me to say nothing about where my business stands on certain issues. Today's action suggestion #1 for you:
Instead of agonizing over the exact wording to use, I decided that an imperfect statement was better than silence. I've now added this to my website: I stand against inequality, injustice, hate, discrimination, and racism. I work with people from all backgrounds, beliefs and experiences. Not only will stating your values help your "right people" to decide to buy from you, but you might also find it's a useful prompt for additional actions you'd like to take, so that you do business in accordance with your beliefs. (This might be your cue to say goodbye?)My gut feel is, if you're reading this, there's a good chance that you share my values. If you don't, and if you choose now to unsubscribe at the bottom of this note, I wish you peace. Today's action suggestion #2
If one of your personal or business values is inclusivity, your website is part of that. Even with great design in place, some of your website visitors may struggle to interact with your pages. Recently, I installed a widget to nudge my site toward being more accessible, and I suggest you do the same. I'm a little behind the curve on this, because I'd hate to recommend anything that causes more headaches than it solves. However, the UserWay widget has been running happily now on my own website for several weeks, and I'm noticing it on an increasing number of other sites, too. (I'm not an affiliate.) As a professional web designer, I always aim to create accessible pages: good text contrast, clear navigation, and alternate text for images. Useful info from Squarespace on accessibility is here. But some visitors need more than this. The free version of UserWay gives options to control the cursor size, text spacing, animation behavior, images, and much more. I found it easy to install, and they provide instructions for Squarespace, WordPress, Wix, and other platforms. (Pro tip: Squarespace is about to make a small tweak that will change where you find "code injection". If you're a Squarespace user and have any difficulties, just reply to this note and I'll send extra guidance.) If you decide to give UserWay a try, be sure to check the "Button" tab, as you're setting it up. Here, you can match the widget color to your overall website branding, and also position it on your page so it doesn't clash with other elements, like a CTA button, or cookie banner. I provide strategic website design for authors, speakers, and consultantsThere are a multitude of ingredients for a strong website that serves your audience, communicates your message, and gets business results. I've spent many years building my web design expertise so that I can guide your strategy, and build your professional, effective site. You can explore my services here, then schedule a conversation to see if we're a fit to work together.
Welcome!
Warm wishes, Pauline #TLDR: Your website shows what's important to you - put your values there
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Websites for Authors, Consultants. and Speakers
Honest and pragmatic advice for how authors, consultants, and speakers can leverage your website to build authority and trust with your audience. Squarespace specialist. Introvert, British-born, cake loving, contented California resident.
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