Beth and I discuss branding for small businesses including misconceptions about branding, what even is a brand, what makes a good brand, brand things we want to put in the bin, and how to choose a brand designer.

If you're new to the business world and you're about to embark on creating a brand kit or brand strategy and you want to know what's involved, what you should get, how to choose the right package for you, and what to look out for, this is the episode for you!

Check out Beth for all your branding needs at www.mediaavenue.com.au

Instagram: @mediaevenuedesign

Strapped for time? Here's a summary:

• Content: It is important to ensure that the website's content is clear, concise, and error-free. Getting feedback from someone outside the business can help identify any issues.

• SEO Optimisation: Implementing a keyword strategy and optimising content for search engines is crucial. It is recommended to have a keyword strategy in place before launching the website.

• Image Optimisation: Optimising images and media files for the web is essential to improve website speed. Compressing image file sizes can prevent slow loading times.

• Design: The website's design should be visually appealing, consistent with the brand, and easy to navigate. Proper formatting, readability, and utilisation of white space are important aspects to consider.

• Functionality: Checking links, forms, and navigation is necessary to ensure that they work correctly. Internal and external links should be tested, and forms should be error-free and user-friendly.

• Technical Aspects: Optimising the website for search engines, ensuring security with an SSL certificate, and setting up analytics tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console are important technical considerations.

• Legal and Compliance: Having comprehensive policies such as privacy policy, terms of service, and copyright notice is necessary. These policies should be easily accessible on the website.

• User Experience and Accessibility: Ensuring that the website is user-friendly, accessible to people with disabilities, and meets WCAG guidelines is important.

• Marketing and Promotion: Setting up social media icons, email marketing, and having a launch plan in place are crucial for marketing and promoting the website.

If you're keen to try my favourite SEO tool, SE Ranking, click here for a free 14 day trial.

Find this episode helpful? I would love your feedback or a review!

See ya next week!

Karlie - Techno Bird

www.thetechnobird.com.au

Welcome to season 2 of Biz Bytes with Techno Bird! In this episode I share my experience and strategies for reinvigorating my business during a slow period. I discuss various actions I took, such as updating my website, creating more consistent content for social media and emails, reaching out to past clients, auditing my services and pricing, partnering with other business owners, creating a resume and looking at career options, and more.

• I experienced a slow period in my business due to financial stress and increased cost of living.
• To address this, I updated her website, including content and SEO improvements.
• I audited my services and pricing, creating more accessible offers with different packages and payment plans.
• I reached out to past clients to offer assistance and services, resulting in new clients and partnerships.
• I started this podcast and focused on creating consistent content through social media and email marketing.
• I said yes to new opportunities, including running workshops for the local shire
• I created a resume to explored other job opportunities and be prepared for potential career changes.
• I emphasised the importance of networking and collaborating with other business owners.

Happy listening!

Karlie - Techno Bird

Today's episode is all about blogging and SEO including blogging/SEO myths and misconceptions, and I talk about the main reasons why blogging can be great for your SEO.

Blogging may have its challenges, but when done right, it can provide undeniable SEO benefits. By debunking myths and focusing on creating valuable content, businesses can leverage their blogs to reach new audiences and grow their businesses. Resources are available online to help with content brainstorming, overcoming writer's block, and developing a content calendar.

I also talk about a brand new blogging service that I am launching - Blog Strategy & Management! This service includes blog strategy, blog keyword research, and management for businesses that want to blog but lack the time or confidence in their writing skills. Or who simply want to outsource their SEO.

I've teamed up with Alicia Montesano, freelance marketing guru from Marketing with A, to offer these services; I'll be doing the strategy and SEO, Alicia will be writing the content. This is a monthly, ongoing service. There are 2 package options (small and medium) to choose from.

I hope you enjoy this episode and it leaves you motivated to start blogging, or blog better, so you see the SEO benefits sooner rather than later!

Karlie - Techno Bird

www.thetechnobird.com.au

In episode 9 of Biz Bytes, I'm discussing the three main issues that come up in every SEO audit that I do for my clients. I talk about why these issues are important and how they can negatively impact a website's visibility and search engine rankings, as well as how you can spot them and fix them!

I mention in the episode a Chrome extension you can install for free that analyses and lists any/all of your broken website links - here's a link to that extension, but simply Google 'broken link checker chrome extension' and you will find heaps.

CHECK IT OUT AND BOOK HERE

An SEO audit is basically a checkup for your website to see how well it's doing in search engines. It's like going to the doctor for your website.

An SEO audit will identify areas where your website can be improved so it can rank higher in search results and get more visitors. It offers a range of options for your website, both in search engine visibility and overall user experience.

An SEO audit is a valuable tool for understanding your website's strengths and weaknesses in regards to SEO. By addressing the issues it reveals, you can create a website that attracts more visitors, converts better, and achieves your online goals.

What are the tangible goals of an SEO audit?

• Improved Google search rankings
• Increased click-through-rate (CTR)
• Improved website user-experience
• Higher conversions
• Identifying and rectifying technical SEO issues, crawlability and indexing issues
• Long-term SEO success

“If you want someone to knock your website into shape, Karlie's your woman. I love her no-nonsense approach. Plus, my inquiries have increased since I implemented her SEO advice.” - Sara Tiefenbrun

- SARA TIEFENBRU

In this episode, I'm chatting with multi award-winning insurance broker, Kate Fairley from Macedon Ranges Insurance. Here's the recap:

• We highlighted the importance of demystifying business insurance and addressing common questions and concerns.
• Kate explained the types of insurance needed for different businesses, such as work cover for employers, public liability insurance for all businesses, and professional indemnity insurance for service-based businesses.
• We discussed real-life examples of insurance claims, such as copyright infringement for web designers and product liability for businesses selling physical products.
• The importance of cyber insurance was emphasized, especially for businesses that handle sensitive client information.
• We discussed the benefits of working with an insurance broker who can provide personalized advice and find competitive insurance options.
• We encouraged business owners to prioritize insurance and seek professional advice rather than relying on online resources or social media for information.

Kate and I also spoke about the rewards of being a business owner and a parent. Kate shared that her business and employees work a four-day workweek and the importance of taking time for oneself as a mum and business owner.

I hope this episode helps to clarify any confusion or questions you might have about business insurance and if you want to get in touch with Kate to discuss the best business insurance for your business, head to www.macedonrangesinsurance.com.au

I'm chatting with Ami from Damn Write on the poddy today - Ami is an AI-obsessed copywriter and after 7 years in the biz, you can find her words on supermarket shelves, product packaging, postage boxes and painted on deli walls… as well as in inboxes and on webpages all across the internet.

Ami now enlists AI as her creative sidekick — using it to improve her own copy, her client’s copy AND even teach others how to do the same in her group program, Copy Saviour.

In short: she spends A LOT of time learning about, thinking about + testing out AI so you don't have to.

In this episode, we chat a lot about AI and how we could be using it in our businesses and everyday life, why the copywriting community is angry about AI, and the differences between ChatGPT and Google Gemini, but we also discuss Ami's recent ADHD diagnosis and how that has affected her as a mum and a business owner.

I also mention my struggles with anxiety and having a nervous breakdown in 2023 - it's a really great listen and I'm so grateful for Ami being open to discussing her mental health with me in this safe space.

Find Ami on Instagram @damnwrite or check out her website www.damnwrite.com.au

In today's episode, I'm discussing and breaking down the latest announcement from Google regarding it's newest 'core algorithm update, and why you could see a drop in your Google rankings as a result.

Google released this statement about the update:

"This is designed to improve the quality of Search by showing less content that feels like it was made to attract clicks and more content that people find useful. We also shared that we have new spam policies to better handle the practices that can negatively impact Google's search results. In this post, we'll go into more detail for creators about both the update and the spam policies."

I'm discussing what this all means, what you should do about it, how you should handle it, including what the new spam policies are.

Might sound boring but this is all very NEED-TO-KNOW information if you're a business owner who has a website and utilises SEO, and who wants clicks to their website from Google, and to be found in Google search, so you really don't have any excuse but to listen (tough love, I know!).

In the episode, I mention a couple of links:

1. Google's 'helpful content and Google search results FAQ'
2. Creating helpful, reliable, people-first content
3. SE Ranking

Need help or got questions? Send me an email to [email protected]

Yours in biz

Karlie x

Biz Bytes with Techno Bird is your go-to podcast destination if you're keen to learn more about the world of web design, the intricacies of SEO (and how to make it make sense), debunking digital marketing, banter with other brilliant business owners, and want to be part of a community where you feel seen and supported. 

Feeling overwhelmed by the digital world? Join me, Karlie Plowman - website designer and SEO specialist with 10 years of experience under my wings, who is on a mission to make it all make sense when it comes to running an online business, no matter your industry.

Forget the fluff! This podcast is all about practical, actionable advice that cuts through the jargon and makes managing your online presence simple and effective. From debunking SEO mysteries to unlocking website magic, candid chats with industry experts across social media, AI, SEO, branding, marketing, and more. I'll share fluff-free tips and tricks to help you boost your online visibility and success.

What awaits you:

• Solo episodes: I'll be diving deep into specific topics, offering clear explanations and actionable strategies.
• Candid chats: Learn from inspiring conversations with successful business owners and industry experts, sharing their real-world insights and experiences.
• Wide-ranging topics: We cover everything you need to thrive online, from SEO and website optimisation to marketing, social media, and time management.
• No filler, all value: Get straight-to-the-point advice that's easy to understand and implement.

Ready to join the Techno Bird flock and take your online business to new heights? Subscribe to Biz Bytes and get ready to fly!

Episode 4 of Biz Bytes with Techno Bird discusses the red flags you should avoid at all costs when speaking with or considering hiring an SEO agency or specialist.

Sadly, I hear all too often that people are finding themselves in a long-term contract with dodgy SEO agencies that use fear tactics, fear mongering, black-hat SEO tactics and advanced technical language as a way to convince business owners that they cannot and shouldn't do their own SEO, and that the only way they will be successful online is by working with them.

These SEO agencies show some really clear red flags, but you have to recognise those red flags in order to avoid them - this episode educates you on these red flags so you don't get trapped into a contract and pay thousands of dollars just to see no results, and a broken business.

Keen to learn more about SEO? Follow me on social media:

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Want to have a quick chat about your website and SEO needs?

Book a time here