The Problem With Experts

Experts Are Everywhere

#expert #webdesign #Team218 "You know, I really don't like the term expert. It's just a word that people throw around to make themselves sound more important than they are." -Author unknown Quite frankly I am not at all enamored with the term Expert either. Experts it seems, are everywhere these days. If you have the opportunity to look around my website you are more than likely run across the term Expert a few times. Sorry about that - I'm working on changing that terminology. When you're trying to describe yourself to people who don't know you or what your capabilities are, it's pretty easy to just go with expert as a descriptor. Experts it seems have become a bit of an endangered species in recent years (or even decades). It's almost impossible these days to find anyone who will simply offer their opinion on something without trying to tell you that they are an expert. Everyone is so obsessed with being right and proving themselves superior over everyone else that one has to wonder what happened to the simple act of sharing your experience and expertise for the sake of helping others? I like to think I know quite a bit about websites - more than most people, but to me an expert is someone who is damn near perfect and that's not me. I make lots of mistakes and that's how I learn. I also fix a lot of mistakes. Some made by me and some made by others. If I was truly an expert wouldn't I be expected to be Mr. Perfect? Well this whole subject of experts got me thinking and I'm going to using the term expert. I'm experienced, knowledgable, imaginative, ethical and fully equipped & able to deliver on my promises, but I don't want to be referred to as an expert. Instead I prefer to use terms like skillful, adept or proficient when referring to myself.

What's Your Experience With Experts?

Doesn't matter what field of endeavor, what is your experience when working with a so-called expert? Good, not quite what you thought it should be? I've seen some people who are often thought of as experts. They may have an abundance of technical knowledge and skills but they are not very good at customer relations for example. It's really tough to find someone with the total package. Smarts, savvy, social graces, the ability to understand business and be able to "put it all together". I don't need a fancy title to stroke my ego. I'm happy with the satisfaction that comes from helping someone solve a problem. Call me what you want - just call me! You can reach me via my Contact Form.

Original post here: The Problem With Experts

Is Your Website a Slacker

What Say You? Is Your Website a Slacker?

A majority of small businesses use their website to do three things: Sell, educate and engage. But how well is your website doing these tasks? Your website could be a slacker if it's not performing at the level you need it to. Is your site attracting potential customers or are they leaving without buying anything? Do people find what they're looking for when they come to your site or does it take too much time searching through content? Are visitors being engaged by interesting content that keeps them on the page longer than usual? If so, then congratulations! You have a great functioning web page.

Is your website a slacker? How would you answer?

Many small businesses neglect their website and don't spend the time to edit or update it. But over time, that can have a negative effect on your business. With so many websites available today, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. If you're not paying attention to details like design updates or content additions, then you could find yourself lost on a page full of competitors vying for attention. It's time to get serious about your digital presence! Get in touch with us and let's get your website back to work for your business. After all, your website should be your best employee, not a slacker! You can learn more about our Website Management services.  

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Your Nonprofit Needs a Website

Here's Why Your Nonprofit Needs a Website

If you have a nonprofit organization and don't already have a website, it's time to get one. Websites are not just for big companies or corporations anymore—they're important to any business looking to make connections with their customers, create awareness of their product or service, and establish credibility. Nonprofits can benefit from websites in many ways. They help nonprofits connect with potential donors by providing information about the mission and programs that they offer. They also provide an opportunity for people who care about your cause to donate online. And when you need volunteers, having a site is essential—because the first place people go these days is Google! You are here. I am here. But you can't get to me without a website, and I cannot come to you without one either. It is the only way for us to meet each other in this new world of digital communications created by mankind's most impressive invention: The Internet. Yes, your nonprofit needs a website! A website is a key tool to help nonprofits connect with supporters, raise funds, and share their stories with the world. It's an investment that will pay off in ways you never imagined! We all know that websites are not just for big companies or corporations anymore - they're important to any business (especially nonprofits) looking to make connections with their customers, create awareness of their product or service, and establish credibility. In today's world, in order to be taken seriously as an organization you need a website. A nonprofit’s website is the first impression they make on potential donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders. It needs to be professional, easy-to-navigate, and showcase their mission in an engaging way. A professionally designed website can:

• Help your nonprofit establish credibility
• Reduce bounce rates and increase sales online
• Create a connection with your customers
• Customers will find you more easily through search engines

Not An Expense, An Investment

Your nonprofit needs a website. Don't let this investment be an expense, but rather something that can generate revenue and impact your bottom line in the long run. We make it easy to have a functional and well-designed site for any nonprofit organization with our custom web design services. We have discounted pricing available for registered nonprofits and always do our best to work within your budget. Don't think a great website is out of reach. Learn more about our work with nonprofits.  Get in touch today to schedule a free consultation to discuss how we can help you!

Original post here: Your Nonprofit Needs a Website

Summer Vacation 2021

We wrapped up a great summer vacation with a couple days at Adventureland in Des Moines. We drove around 2300 miles on our road trip of the "Villes". After a couple of days at Big Surf Waterpark and Margaritaville at Lake Of The Ozarks, we kicked off the Villes part of the trip by driving to Louisville and taking a fantastic "Behind The Scenes" tour of Churchill Downs. If you get a chance, take this tour. We had no idea about everything behind the scenes there. 47 horse barns and 1200 horses on the property. We got to see places the general public seldom sees. Next stop was Asheville, NC where we toured the Biltmore Estate. Incredible place and another piece of American history. Amazing architecture, and a pretty fascinating history. The next day we headed downtown Asheville for the Grove Arcade, another piece of history. Next we headed to Nashville for an overnight stay at the Gaylord Opryland resort. We were blown away by this place. We had stayed at the Gaylord in Washington, DC before so we had high expectations and we were not disappointed. The resort is vast and the tropical feeling is evident as soon as you walk into the lobby. Waterfalls, tropical plants and trees are everywhere and you would swear you were somewhere in a rain forrest. It seemed like each destination outdid the previous. Now it was time to head back home to Iowa and after a quick Saturday rest at home we headed for Adventureland. We really lucked out on weather for the entire trip and we had a great, memorable vacation! Time to start planning the next Road Trip.

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Road Trip

Who's Ready For a Road Trip?

We are! We're packing up our laptops and throwing a couple of suitcases together and heading off to do some exploring. We're planning on visiting some of the 'Villes - Louisville, Asheville, Nashville - you know, the cities that end in ville. The Summertime tradition of vacation by car has been around for over 100 years. We're looking forward to seeing some Americana. We'll keep you posted and share some pics of our adventures.  

Original post here: Road Trip

The Best We Can Be

Best We Can Be - Come On Man!

We recently saw this sign and couldn't help sharing it. Is this the new norm? What happened to the passion for excellence? Are we going to adapt the motto of "We're no worse than anyone else" or that's good enough? Come on man! It seem like everywhere you look there is mediocrity. Do just enough to get by. I don't understand what happened to quality or the desire to do your very best. That's definitely not the way we conduct business. How about we get back to the concept of doing a good job - making an effort - taking a little pride in what you're doing. Doesn't matter what you do - just do it well!

Original post here: The Best We Can Be