Connie Cermak, Author at Social Nectar Marketing

What Are Alt-Tags and How To Create Them to Optimize Your Website

by Connie Cermak | Dec 7, 2024 | Images, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Web Design and User Experience (UX)

Alt-Tags: The History, Importance, and How-To for Optimized Website Images

Welcome to the vibrant world of digital storytelling! If you’re managing a website or thinking about one, you’ve probably heard the term “alt-tags” tossed around. They might sound like a techy afterthought, but these little snippets of text pack a powerful punch for accessibility, SEO, and user experience. So, let’s dive into the story of alt-tags—where they came from, why they’re important, and how to use them to make your website shine.

What Are Alt-Tags?

Alt-tags (or alternative text) are descriptive text snippets that tell the story of an image on a webpage. When your browser doesn’t display an image—whether due to slow internet, a broken link, or accessibility needs—alt-tags step in to describe what should be there. They’re like the narrator of a digital novel, helping visually impaired users and search engines understand your content.

A Brief History These Powerful Little Tags

Alt-tags were born in the early days of the internet when websites began to recognize the importance of accessibility. In 1995, the HTML 2.0 specification introduced the <img> tag, allowing web designers to include images in their pages. Alt attributes came along as a companion to these images, ensuring that users with screen readers or text-only browsers could still experience the essence of the image.

Fast-forward to today, and alt-tags have become an essential part of the web. From improving accessibility to boosting your site’s SEO, these tiny text tags are digital superheroes!

Why Alt-Tagging Matters

Accessibility: Alt-tags make your website inclusive for visually impaired users relying on screen readers. They transform visuals into words, leveling the playing field for everyone.
SEO Boost: Search engines love alt-tags. By including relevant keywords, you give search engines more context to index your images, improving your site’s ranking.
Backup Plan: If an image fails to load, the alt-tag ensures your message isn’t lost. It keeps your website functional and professional, even under technical hiccups.

Naming Your Images: Start Smart

Before we even get to alt-tags, let’s talk about naming your image files. Forget the lazy “IMG1234.jpg.” Instead, opt for descriptive, keyword-rich file names that clearly represent the image.

For example:

Instead of: IMG5678.jpg
Use: organic-honey-jars-on-wooden-table.jpg

This small change makes a big difference for both users and search engines. It’s like putting a label on a drawer—you’ll always know what’s inside!

How to Alt-Tag Your Images

Adding alt-tags is simple, but there are a few best practices to keep in mind. Let’s break it down:

Be Descriptive and Specific

Your alt-tag should explain what’s in the image as clearly as possible.

Example: For an image of a golden retriever playing fetch in a park, use:
“Golden retriever chasing a red ball on green grass in a sunny park.”

Keep It Short and Sweet

While it’s important to be descriptive, you don’t need a novel. Aim for 8–10 words.

Include Keywords Naturally

If it makes sense, incorporate relevant keywords. But don’t overdo it—nobody likes keyword stuffing (especially search engines).

Skip “Image of” or “Picture of”

Screen readers already announce it’s an image, so jump straight to the description.

Avoid Redundancy

If the image is purely decorative, you can leave the alt-tag blank (alt=""). This tells screen readers to skip it, keeping the focus on meaningful content.

Bringing It All Together

Alt-tags may seem small, but they’re mighty when it comes to optimizing your website. From their historical roots in accessibility to their modern-day role in SEO, they help bridge the gap between visuals and words, making the web a better place for everyone.

So, as you’re preparing to upload your next batch of images, remember:

Name your files descriptively.
Write clear, concise alt-tags.
Think of your audience—both people and search engines.

Need help tackling your website images? At Social Nectar, we’re buzzing with creative solutions to make your site both beautiful and functional. Whether you’re ready to DIY or want our team to handle the details, we’ve got you covered. Let’s make your digital space as sweet as honey! 🐝

Alt-tags aren’t just for the pros—they’re for anyone who wants their website to stand out. So, go ahead, give your images a voice, and let them speak volumes!

🐝 Up Next: Need to learn about resizing your images for desktop and mobile website design? Read all about that right here.

Website Image Sizes: A Guide for DIYers and Budget-Conscious Brands

by Connie Cermak | Dec 3, 2024 | Images, Web Design and User Experience (UX)

The Importance of Having Correct Image Sizes for Your Desktop and Mobile Website

Your website’s visuals are your storefront to the digital world, and having the right image sizes is essential for a polished, professional appearance. Whether you’re managing your website yourself, working with a photographer, or outsourcing design to a team like Social Nectar, knowing the correct image dimensions can save you time, money, and frustration.

Below, we’ll break down the essential image sizes you need for a stunning, functional website. Plus, we’ll share tips to help you decide when to DIY, hire a professional, or let our team take the reins.

Why Website Image Sizes Matter

Using properly sized images ensures your website looks sharp and loads quickly. Oversized files can slow down your site’s performance, while undersized or incorrectly cropped images can appear pixelated or distorted. Both scenarios can leave a less-than-favorable impression on visitors.

By knowing your ideal website image dimensions upfront, you can:

Optimize loading times to improve user experience.
Maintain high-quality visuals across devices.
Reduce costs by avoiding unnecessary photo edits.

Key Website Image Dimensions

Here’s a handy reference for common website image dimensions to keep your site looking sharp.

Website Headers: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Hero Images: 1600 x 900 pixels
Blog Featured Images: 1200 x 628 pixels
Square Images (e.g., Product Thumbnails): 1080 x 1080 pixels
Social Media Thumbnails: 150 x 150 pixels
Full-Width Background Images: 1920 x 1280 pixels

Note: For a deeper dive into these recommendations, check out Oberlo’s original website image size guide, which is where I got this great chart:

Image type	Mobile (W x H)	Desktop (W x H)	Aspect ratio
Hero image	360 x 200 pxl	1280 x 720 pxl	16:9
Square logo	60 x 60 pxl	100 x 100 pxl	1:1
Thumbnail image	90 x 90 pxl	300 x 300 pxl	1:1
Background image	360 x 640 pxl	2560 x 1400 pxl	16:9
Social media icons	48 x 48 pxl	32 x 32 pxl	1:1
Favicon	16 x 16 pxl	16 x 16 pxl	1:1
Rectangle logo	160 x 40 pxl	400 x 100 pxl	4:1
Website banner	360 x 120 pxl	1200 x 400 pxl	3:1
Lightbox images	360 x 640 pxl	1600 x 500 pxl	16:9
Blog post image	360 x 240 pxl	1200 x 800 pxl	3:2

When to DIY Image Sizing

If you’re looking to save on costs or want to experiment with visuals, resizing images can often be done with free tools like Canva, Adobe Express, or even built-in photo editors. Here are some scenarios where DIY makes sense:

You Have the Originals: If your photographer has provided high-resolution files, resizing them to fit your website’s needs is a straightforward task.
Simple Adjustments Needed: Cropping or resizing doesn’t always require professional expertise.

Tip: If you have budget constraints, I highly recommend using Canva to crop and compress your photos. Here’s a great video tutorial.

When to Hire a Photographer or Editor

For businesses that prioritize flawless visuals or don’t have the time to resize and prepare images, outsourcing might be the better choice. Here’s when to consider professional help:

Complex Editing: Tasks like background removal, color grading, or retouching often require specialized skills.
High-Stakes Pages: Your homepage, product pages, or landing pages are worth the extra polish to make a strong first impression.

How Social Nectar Can Help

If you’d rather skip the DIY route altogether, Social Nectar offers tailored photo-editing and resizing services. We work with your team—or your photographer—to ensure your visuals are perfectly optimized for your site’s needs.

Need help managing your website visuals? Reach out to us for expert assistance! Whether you’re resizing images yourself or looking for a professional touch, we’re here to make your website shine.

🐝 Next up: What are Alt-Tags? Learn what they are and how to alt-tag your images to maximize SEO and make your website stand out! Read the article here.

Email Marketing in 2024: The Inbox Goldmine You’re Probably Ignoring

by Connie Cermak | Dec 2, 2024 | Email Marketing, Funnel Marketing

Email Marketing: The Inbox Goldmine You’re Probably Ignoring

I know, I know… we spend more time hitting “delete” on emails than we do reading the newsletters we subscribed to. But here’s the thing—despite our inbox fatigue, the money is STILL in the newsletter!

This phrase traces back to early direct marketing legends like Frank Kern, who popularized the idea that email lists are the most reliable revenue stream for businesses. And guess what? It’s still true today. If you’re not using email marketing to its full potential, you’re leaving money (and customer loyalty) on the table.

Why Email Marketing Matters

Email isn’t just a communication tool; it’s one of the highest-performing digital marketing channels out there. According to industry data, for every $1 spent on email marketing, the average return is $36. That’s insane ROI. And yet, so many businesses let their newsletters languish—or worse, flood inboxes with uninspired daily emails.

When done right, a well-crafted email:

Keeps your brand top of mind.
Builds relationships with your audience.
Drives traffic, sales, and engagement consistently.

Newsletters Don’t Have to Be a Chore (or Boring)

Let’s bust the myth that email marketing has to be complicated. The best newsletters are simple, engaging, and purposeful.

What Makes a Great Newsletter?

Brevity: Nobody has time for a novel in their inbox. Keep it short and sweet unless you’re sharing valuable long-form content.

Clarity: What’s your message? A sale? A product launch? A blog post? Make the focus crystal clear.

Visual Appeal: Use images strategically—whether it’s one bold photo or a gallery of visuals, make it on-brand and eye-catching.

Examples of Stellar Newsletters

Marie Forleo: Her emails are upbeat, clear, and action-oriented. I learned everything I know about emails from her class, The Copy Cure which I highly recommend if you love to write, like me. She makes it easy to absorb her message and always includes a compelling call-to-action (CTA).

Seth Godin: His daily newsletters are short and thought-provoking. On occasion, he mentions a new book launch or special product release which in my opinion bring tremendous value.

Domino’s Pizza: Their emails are longer but cleverly segmented into bite-sized nuggets of info—think clickable deals, mouth-watering visuals, and timely promotions.

The Skimm: Short, punchy, and informative. They’ve mastered the art of consistent, easily digestible content. I’ve been a subscriber for a decade and I highly recommend that you subscribe too. Check them out here.

The Psychology Behind a Consistent Newsletter Campaign

A consistent presence in someone’s inbox creates memory muscle. When your audience sees your name pop up regularly, they’re reminded of your value. Even if they don’t open every email, they’ll remember you when they need your product or service.

Play by the Rules: Permission is Key

Whatever you do, don’t add people to your email list without their consent. It’s not just annoying—it’s bad for your reputation and could get your account flagged by email providers.

Thankfully, tools like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and Flodesk make it easy to manage permissions. For example, if you collect emails at an event, these platforms allow you to import those contacts and send them a welcome email to opt-in before you start sending regular campaigns. But be careful!

IMPORTANT: Don’t send emails to people who haven’t subscribed or you could get some pretty hefty fines depending on the size of your distribution list. To avoid big fines for spamming people’s inboxes, take one minute to learn about the CAN-SPAM Act right here.

Why You Shouldn’t Email Every Day—Unless You’re Seth Godin

Sending daily emails is a fast track to your audience’s unsubscribe button—unless you’re delivering exceptional value every single day. Ask yourself:

Is this entertaining or educational?
Is this part of a limited-time countdown?
Does my audience actually want daily content?

If not, stick to a more strategic schedule. Weekly or bi-weekly emails give your audience breathing room while keeping your brand top of mind.

Worthy of note, here: In addition to The Skimm, If there’s one daily email I actually look forward to, it’s Seth Godin’s. Why? Because he’s not selling anything. Instead, his emails deliver short, sweet, and often profound insights that challenge the way you think. His consistency isn’t about pushing a product—it’s about building trust and offering value. That’s the gold standard for daily email content: something your audience will want to open daily.

When planning your email marketing strategy, ask yourself: What kind of value can I deliver that’s worth opening daily? If you’re not Seth Godin, that might mean focusing on quality over quantity.

The Critical Role of the CTA

Every email should have a clear call-to-action. What do you want your audience to do next? Click a link? Buy a product? Register for an event? Marie Forleo’s newsletters are perfect examples—her CTAs are direct, encouraging, and impossible to miss.

Big or Small, You Can Do This

You don’t need a massive budget to create impactful emails. Platforms like Canva offer beautifully designed templates, while tools like MailerLite and ActiveCampaign provide robust features for automating your campaigns. Even with a smartphone, you can whip up visuals that rival those of big brands.

Not Sure What the Voice of Your Brand in Your Newsletters Should Be?

I wrote this article to help you! And you can download the questions, too!

Ready to Transform Your Email Marketing?

At Social Nectar, I help businesses of all sizes craft email strategies that engage, inform, and convert. Let’s create emails your audience actually wants to read—and take your marketing game to the next level.

Interested in learning how a sales funnel can improve your email ROI? Read my article here.

The Power of Analytics: How Data Helps Shape Your Marketing Strategy

by Connie Cermak | Nov 16, 2024 | Analytics and Reporting

Gathering Data Analytics is the Key to Understanding Your What your Audience is Interested in

I’m a stats geek. Why? Because analytics and data is the ultimate storyteller. Knowing your data shapes your entire strategy and tells you when you need to wash and repeat your strategic steps. Whether it’s Google Analytics, social media insights, or tools like DashThis, HubSpot, Klavayo or Linktree, gathering marketing statistics is the key to understanding your audience’s experience and journey. At Social Nectar, we know that the numbers don’t just tell you what’s happening—they tell you why.

By evaluating analytics, we can determine what’s working, and what’s not, and how to pivot strategies to align with your goals. Let’s explore how analyzing marketing data helps shape your business growth and why collaboration with you, our valued client, makes all the difference.

Analytics and Data is Used in Evaluating User Experience

Google Analytics, social media stats, (or any of many other data platforms) are more than just numbers—they’re the roadmap to understanding your audience. These tools help us:

Analyze Traffic Sources: Discover where your visitors are coming from, whether its organic search, social media or referral links.

Track User Behavior: See how users interact with your website, from the pages they visit to the time they spend exploring and even how much time they spend on a particular page.

Evaluate Engagement: Metrics like click-through rates, likes, shares, and comments reveal how well your content resonates with your audience.

🐝 Why It Matters: These insights allow us to see your user journey through their eyes, identifying pain points and opportunities to create a successful customer journey and a seamless experience. If you’re interested in learning more about the customer journey, you can read about it here.

Using Analytics and Data to Pivot Strategically

Not every strategy works perfectly out of the gate, and that’s okay! By analyzing the data, we can pivot to get back on track. These are examples of when you may need to adapt:

Spot Trends Early: If a particular ad or social post is gaining traction, we can amplify it. If a new product is getting tons of web traffic but nobody’s buying it—it’s time to evaluate and and adjust.

Course-Correct Inefficiencies: If something isn’t working—like a low-performing blog post or ad—we can adjust the approach of the copywriting, the images, or the entire messaging.

Test and Refine: Different audiences live on different platforms. A/B testing and experimentation are essential to finding the right tone, format, and platform for your audience.

🐝 Example: If Google Analytics shows high bounce rates on a landing page (meaning they leave quickly), we might tweak the copy, improve load speed, or refine the call-to-action.

What’s Included in a Marketing Report

To keep you informed and aligned with your goals, we compile monthly reports that include:

Website Analytics: Traffic, bounce rates, time on page, and conversion metrics.

Social Media Performance: Growth in followers, engagement rates, and top-performing content.

Campaign Results: ROI, click-through rates, and ad performance insights.

Recommendations: Clear, actionable steps for the coming month based on our findings.

These reports are designed to be easy to understand, giving you confidence in every decision we make together.

Why Data-Driven Marketing Matters

Unexpected surprises in your data enable us to take a deeper look at what your audience actually wants and values most. For example, if a blog article, video or web page is getting far more traffic than you’d anticipated, it’s a great opportunity to give your audience more information on that topic or another product offering in that category. It might even be a good time to send out a poll to determine what they like about the content, service or product.

We believe in the power of numbers paired with creative strategy. By leveraging tools that gather data, we can ensure your marketing efforts are always aligned with your company goals and moving in the right direction.

Ready to let your data do the talking? Let’s work together to create buzz-worthy strategies that keep your brand growing. We’re here to help every step of the way. 🐝

Why Knowing Your Budget is Key to Marketing Success

by Connie Cermak | Nov 15, 2024 | Content Marketing, Marketing Costs, Small Business and DIY Marketing

When it comes to marketing, understanding your budget isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.

A clear financial plan allows us to build strategies that align with your goals, prioritize tasks effectively, and ensure your project is completed seamlessly. Whether you’re aiming for a one-time campaign or consistent, ongoing support, knowing your budget upfront can make all the difference. Let’s explore the benefits of budget clarity and how it impacts your marketing journey.

The Benefits of Knowing Your Maximum Marketing Budget

Having a maximum budget in place allows our team to:

Develop a Comprehensive Timeline

A defined budget helps us plan the entire project from start to finish. Whether it’s designing a new website, managing ad campaigns, or producing social media content, we can allocate resources effectively to deliver on time and within budget.

Prioritize Strategically

We focus on the initiatives that bring the most value, ensuring your investment generates measurable returns. Knowing your budget allows for flexibility within the project scope while keeping us laser-focused on the final outcome. Let’s say you decide you won’t have the bandwidth to take on the web-copy (writing all of the content for your site). We can take that on, and pass the Photo editing and optimizing on to you or your team, or we can move something one of them to phase 2 with a new budget.

Balancing Budgets and Progress

Not everyone has a large budget, and that’s okay. We can work within your financial constraints while still making meaningful progress. Here’s how:

Phased Approaches

Instead of tackling everything at once, we break projects into manageable phases that fit your budget.

Aligned Expectations

By understanding your financial comfort zone, we tailor solutions that meet your needs without compromising quality. This approach ensures you’re investing wisely without overextending, giving you peace of mind while still achieving long-term goals.

Monthly Retainers: Top Priority Access

For clients who want consistent, ongoing support, a monthly retainer offers immense benefits. Retainer clients are at the top of our to-do list. We always know what they need and we widdle away at our task list without pestering them for content.

Predictable Deliverables

Retainers typically include a set number of tasks, such as:

Writing blog articles.
Optimizing web pages
Photo SEO
Videography
Updating your website.
Maintaining the backend of your website.
Creating and scheduling newsletters.
Posting and engaging on social media.
Reporting and analytics
Monthly Meetings

Determining What’s Included in a Retainer

The cost of collaborating with you to define the scope of services, ensuring your most pressing needs are met each month and posting to social accounts three to five times per week typically starts at $2500 a month and goes up to $6000 a month depending on the frequency of posts, the level of engagement you want, the amount of copywriting, graphic design, photos and video necessary to maintain brand consistency, keyword research, optimization, data analysis, and reporting you want. We’ll put together the perfect team for your brand. And in some cases—it might just be me! We’ll figure that out together.

Knowing Your Social Marketing Budget

Social media plays a vital role in growing your business. Posting consistently helps you gain traction and maintain momentum. But how often should you post? And how much does it cost to pay someone to do it for you?

Planning Your Yearly Marketing Budget

A yearly marketing budget is the foundation for long-term success. It should include:

Website Costs: Your domain name is where it all begins. Knowing the initial (and annual) costs for your domain and hosting is essential to your overall budget.

Website Updates: Your website is often the first impression—keep it modern, fast, and user-friendly.

For a small business, here’s a suggested budget allocation based on 2024 industry trends:

Digital Marketing Trends: Allocate 10–15% of your marketing budget to emerging trends, SEO updates, and exploring new platforms. Staying adaptive ensures relevance. (subscribe to my newsletter and I’ll do my best to keep you up to date on trends)

Ad Spend: Dedicate 20–30% of your marketing budget for Google Ads, social media campaigns, or other paid promotions. Test campaigns to optimize ROI.

A Team to Support You: Plan for 30–40% of your marketing budget for hiring experts in content creation, social media management, and strategic planning. If you don’t have the team or the time, this investment saves time and boosts results.

Why Budget Clarity Matters

When you provide your marketing agency with clear budget parameters, you empower us to:

Build realistic timelines.
Maximize your investment.
Deliver exceptional results without surprises or setbacks.

Whether you’re planning for a comprehensive campaign or want steady progress within a smaller budget, our team at Social Nectar thrives on creating tailored strategies that work for you.

Ready to Map Out Your Marketing Budget?

Let’s work together to build a plan that aligns with your goals, keeps your brand buzzing, and makes your investment count! Reach out today, and let’s create some buzz! 🐝

Need Website and Logo Budget Help? We’ve got numbers for you here:

How much should I budget for my website? Read this article.

How much should I budget for my logo? Read this article.

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