WordPress is one of the most influential and customizable website builders. Whether you’re working for a nonprofit attempting to modernize or a solopreneur passionate about social good, you can integrate WordPress plugins to accept donations.

With countless resources and programs out there to collect gifts, why not explore these options from WordPress for seamless integration to minimize the labor for your campaign?

GiveWP

GiveWP is one of the biggest donation plugins in WordPress and has a number of customizable options, such as tributes and goal incentives. Plus, they are adding new features such as Donation Form Blocks for Stripe, creating more variety in the types of donations it accepts.

There’s also an option to manage donations offline and online, allowing every donation channel to come together efficiently.

The interface is a little more complex – this balances out with how many forms of payment it can accept. It takes standard payment methods and some that are lesser known, including Mollie, Paytm, Paymill, and more. On top of payment options, it provides opportunities for different donation types.

WP Crowdfunding

If you’re looking for a plugin akin to Kickstarter or Indiegogo, WP Crowdfunding is the plugin for you. It is highly customizable. You can set it to include multiple charities, or just focus on one you really love.

Accepting most payment platforms, it also offers a wallet to help manage incoming donations to disperse accordingly based on your goals. You could also aggregate gifts with a crowdfunding site for additional commission fees.

Seamless Donations

Collect PayPal and credit card donations all within your WordPress dashboard with Seamless Donations. If you’re running multiple donations, you can customize it so donors can choose which campaign they want to fund, whether  they want to be one-time givers or recurring givers, and more.

Seamless does not have as many purchasable additions, despite using add-ons to generate its profit instead of transaction fees. However, the Thank You Enhanced add-on could add the personal touch you need to express your gratitude adequately. Customize thank-you pages so givers understand every donation is equally appreciated. It supports plenty of currencies and languages, making it accessible globally.

WPForms

WPForms has a beginner-friendly interface that is great for less-technical site owners. It has an easy-to-use drag and drop interface. Though it isn’t as customizable as other offerings, but it provides necessary functionality if you want to collect simple one-time or recurring donations.

You could even use WPForms to gauge volunteer interest. It allows you to create forms and collect donor information for newsletters or other analytics to help understand the causes you support.

For accepted payment platforms, it permits PayPal, Stripe, and Square.

Charitable

For a free option, the Charitable plugin is incredibly easy to use and comes with no transaction fees. Utilizing PayPal, it offers an easy, low-maintenance financial experience where you can easily manage donations and issue receipts. Saving you bookkeeping time.

Its premium features allow anonymous donations and crowdfunding options. You also have the option to embed videos. Most of Charitable’s unique features involve integration with Google Maps. Geotargeting a campaign will allow the donation prompt to appear to those in a localized area.

Donorbox

Donorbox is a versatile donation plugin that also has compatibility with non-WordPress platforms. It accepts more payment methods than most, taking Apple Pay, ACH bank payments, and foreign currencies, on top of widely accepted platforms. It allows a range of donation options, from annual to weekly, and it can also support company matching.

One of the most enticing features of Donorbox is its Goal Meter, allowing you to visualize your progress toward positive change. With its other features, such as popup forms and tax receipts, it is more expensive than other options. This makes it more accessible to businesses than nonprofits with a smaller budget.

However, with its suite – including Salesforce integration – it may be considered a worthwhile investment to provide a more personalized and accessible experience for donors, despite its 1.5% platform fee after capping out on free donations.

Conclusion

All of these plugins will help you reach your goal and make a difference. Start giving back today!

For more about GiveWP, check out the podcast we did with co-founder Matt Cromwell.

The post Give Back with These WordPress Fundraising Plugins appeared first on Torque.

Luckily, strengthening your WordPress site’s cybersecurity starts with a few easy steps that anyone can use. Here’s an overview of the key risks facing WordPress sites and what you can do to defend against them.

Common WordPress Cybersecurity Risks

Cyber threats have been on the rise across the board over the past few years. For instance, ransomware attacks rose an estimated 92.7% in 2021. Ransomware is arguably the most severe threat facing WordPress sites. If a hacker gets into your system, they could potentially take down your site or hold it, or your data, for ransom.

In addition to ransomware, WordPress sites can also be weaponized by hackers to attack site visitors. A hacker could plant malicious ads on your site or force your site to redirect visitors to another, untrustworthy site. Search engines will pick up on this suspicious activity and mark your site as untrustworthy, hurting your reputation while your visitors are also put in danger of cyber crime.

The most common gateways for WordPress cybersecurity breaches are plugins and themes. Both of these can be great tools for improving your site. Unfortunately, not all plugins and themes are built with security in mind. In 2021, as many as 13.7 million WordPress sites were exposed to security breaches through vulnerabilities in the same set of four plugins and 15 themes, all of which had critical vulnerabilities that hackers took advantage of.

Tips for Securing Your WordPress Site

These threats are serious, but there are actions you can take to protect your WordPress site and your visitors. These tips will help you get started boosting your WordPress cybersecurity.

1. Use Multi-Factor Authentication

One of the easiest ways to secure your WordPress website is using multi-factor authentication. This is a login technology you’ve probably already used on other websites. It consists of verifying every login attempt using an external identity verification method, such as a text message, email, or one-time access code. This way, even if a hacker manages to get your login credentials, they still can’t log in to your site because they don’t have access to your email account or phone.

Think of multi-factor authentication as a secure digital signature for your site – only you can sign off on login attempts, even if someone else knows your username or password. There are even WordPress plugins you can install that allow you to use an e-signature on your site. If you have a unique signature, it could prove extremely effective as a mode of multi-factor authentication.

2. Scan for Backdoors

Backdoors are secret entrances into your site that a hacker can use without being detected. This is one way in which hackers can exploit vulnerable plugins and themes. These tools sometimes create new access points into administrator privileges on WordPress sites. Through an admin account, whether real and hacked or simply fake, hackers can create a backdoor for themselves.

With the backdoor, they can come and go from your site and tamper with whatever they want. So, it’s important to regularly scan your site for backdoors, which are often hidden in PHP files and the code for plugins and themes. You can do this manually by looking over every line of code for anything out of order or using a trusted WordPress security scanner plugin.

3. Install Secure Plugins Only (And Add a Security Plugin)

The easiest way to avoid many WordPress cybersecurity risks is by practicing diligence when choosing your plugins and themes. Most plugins and themes aren’t created to be malicious. The problem is more that some add-ons for your WordPress site haven’t been designed with maximum security in mind. The developer may unintentionally leave holes and vulnerabilities in their code.

So, do plenty of research before installing any plugins or themes on your site. If you have plugins or themes installed that you aren’t using anymore, it’s a good idea to remove them. Additionally, make sure to install at least one trusted security plugin. There are many trustworthy WordPress security plugins out there, some of which are even free.

4. Keep WordPress, Plugins, and Themes Updated

Another simple way to strengthen your WordPress cybersecurity is to keep your site, plugins, and themes updated. It might seem inconvenient to put your site in maintenance mode for updates, but it’s crucial to protect your visitors and yourself. Updates frequently include new security features, ensuring that your site is prepared for the most up-to-date cyber threats.

Hackers will not hesitate to take advantage of out-of-date plugins, themes, or WordPress variants. It can be all too easy for a hacker to exploit an old bug that an update would have resolved. So, check for updates often and set aside time to let them install.

5. Monitor Login and User Activity

One of the keys to strengthening cybersecurity is increasing visibility. If you can see everything going on within your site, you will be better able to spot anything unusual. This is particularly important when it comes to user and login activity. Monitoring login attempts and user activity on your site will help you spot any unauthorized activity and catch a hacker in their tracks.

For instance, you might realize that an “admin” changed one of the outbound links on your homepage, though you did no such thing. This could be a hint to check for a fake admin account on your site – a backdoor a hacker is using to meddle with your WordPress site. The same goes for unauthorized login attempts, logins from users you did not create, and an unusually high number of login attempts.

There are a couple of ways you can monitor login and user activity on your site. For example, you can use the simple history feature built into WordPress. Similarly, plugins are also an option. Just make sure you do your research before installing any new plugins on your site.

Keep Your Site and Visitors Safe

Protecting your WordPress site and visitors is all about staying ahead of hackers. Simple tasks like updating your site, researching plugins, and strengthening your login methods can go a long way. The extra effort you put into securing your site will save you time and money spent recovering from a cyberattack.

Most importantly, you’ll be able to rest assured your visitors are having a safe, positive experience thanks to your WordPress cybersecurity measures.

The post Improving Security for Your WordPress Sites (And Your Visitors) appeared first on Torque.

Data visualization can be a long and tedious process of coding for clear and appealing graphics in the correct specs. If you use WordPress, many plugins make the job much easier and quicker, allowing you to focus on producing more content promptly. 

Here are five easy data visualization WordPress plugins that make a difference for you and your readers. 

Visualizer 

Visualizer allows you to import your data from a Google Spreadsheet or CSV in the free version and from WordPress in the pro version. This tool lets you transform the information into an interactive chart or graph. 

There are nine graphic options in the free version and 14 in the pro version, so you will likely find the customizable data visualization option you were looking for. Once you complete your design, you can upload it using Gutenberg or the old editor. 

These charts are cross-browser and cross-platform compatible to work on computers and mobile devices.

Snowball

Snowball is a plugin developed by Drexel University’s open HTML research team based on their own data visualization designs. 

The plugin is free and uses content blocks to create maps and tables based on the data you enter. Each content block is separately customizable, making the process of using more than one data visualization graphic per post easier. 

wpDataTables 

The wpDataTables plugin is compatible with several data entry options, including Excel, JSON, XML and CSV. You can use it to create tables without any coding required. 

A plus of this plugin is that it works with WPBakery, a popular page-building template. It also allows you to reorder your data, merge cells and add media to the table to create a good user experience. 

The plugin has a free version, but to access various options, you’ll need to upgrade to the premium option for $69. 

Formidable Forms

Formidable Forms is a popular data visualization plugin with a drag-and-drop style builder that allows you to import from various sources. It works with Gutenberg and Elementor editors. 

The plugin also allows users to add fully customizable and scrollable graphics to their pages, with the ability to incorporate integrated views in the upgraded version. 

There are four pricing options starting at $79. 

Inline Google Spreadsheet Viewer

The Inline Google Spreadsheet viewer allows users to copy and paste their spreadsheet link into WordPress to transform it into a customizable and interactive table or chart. It also works with CSV and MySQL Database. 

The plugin is free, which means you could use it along with other types of graphics builders without breaking the bank.

Data Tables Generator

Data Tables Generator allows you to import information from Google Sheets, Excel, CSV and even PDFs. You can transform your data into responsive tables, charts and graphs. 

A plus that comes with this plugin is that it works with WooCommerce, making it easy for you to create product tables. 

The free version of the plugin allows you to create tables, but you’ll need to purchase the pro version to get the most out of it. 

Easy Charts 

As the name suggests, the Easy Charts plugin focuses on letting users create charts easily. 

The plugin is free and allows you to enter your data to create almost any chart you need.

A great feature of this plugin is that once you enter the data, you can switch back and forth between different chart formats until you find the one that works best for your post. 

Data Visualization for a Better User Experience

Data visualization plugins allow you to easily display complex information to create a smooth and engaging user experience, which will help drive traffic to your site and retain your readers. 

These tools are excellent for producing customized graphics to present engaging information.

The post Tell a Story With Your Data: 7 Data Visualization Plugins for WordPress appeared first on Torque.

Whether you’re a new user or a WordPress veteran, AI plugins might be something you haven’t considered utilizing. Here are eight WordPress plugins that can improve your website!

Why Are AI Plugins Useful?

While AI seems like a futuristic computing model, it’s already in use to develop the internet. Music apps give us personalized recommendations based on what songs we’ve been listening to and search engines customize the ads we see based on our search habits.

As the international workplace grows, businesses rely more on technological improvements to manage their global teams. Artificial intelligence is one such development that allows machines to make certain decisions humans would usually make. It saves time by using computers to perform small tasks and operations while people do the more intricate work.

AI plugins help a website perform better by doing routine jobs so creators don’t have to. As your WordPress site grows, performing those little tasks might become too much to handle. These plugins keep learning about the internet and your site, making them able to keep up with it all more effectively than regular plugins.

AI Plugins to Improve Your WordPress Site

1. Akismet

Akismet is one of the most popular WordPress plugins because it comes pre-installed into every site made on the platform. It catches spam comments and blocks them from your website. Akismet has caught over 5 billion instances of spam, saving a lot of time on moderation and blog maintenance.

2. WordLift

SEO is crucial to getting your blog seen in the Google search results. WordLift helps you stand out by giving you SEO tips. This plugin browses your content and tells you what to improve so you can rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). It makes your site Google-friendly and shows you what kind of content will boost your result-page placement.

3. MyCurator Content Creation

Research can often be the lengthiest part of your content creation process, but this plugin will help you cut that time down. When writing, MyCurator Content Creation will show you relevant articles related to your topic. You can train this AI plugin by upvoting or downvoting its results, allowing it to deliver the information you need more reliably.

4. WatsonFinds

Need to know if your content is making enough of an emotional appeal? WatsonFinds is based on IBM Watson, a program that analyzes natural language to answer questions. Now, it’s expanded to identify the emotions in your writing and help you understand how it may be perceived. By adjusting your writing based on the score it gives you, WatsonFinds will help you swiftly create more impactful content.

5. After the Deadline

If you want help proofreading your writing, After The Deadline is exactly what you’re looking for! It combines AI and NLP (natural language processing) to improve the readability of your site. Even if you just need something to check your grammar and spelling quickly, this plugin will help you get it done fast. It’s also available for English, British, and Canadian English with some support for French and German.

6. WP Chatbot by MobileMonkey

If you want to quickly and easily interact with your readers, try out WP Chatbot by MobileMonkey. This plugin links directly to Facebook Marketplace, allowing you to send updates to subscribers automatically instead of manually sending out messages. You can also use it to customize the Messenger chat, giving a personal touch to your message.

7. Google Language Translator

To create content that international viewers can read, use this plugin instead of creating a multilingual WordPress site. Google Language Translator uses Google’s Translate feature and lets you customize what languages you would like to offer. Adding a sidebar widget automatically allows readers to translate your writing to their language.

8. Quttera Web Malware Scanner

One of the scariest things that can happen to your site is hacking. Quttera Web Malware Scanner can put your worries to rest by scanning your website if you think someone has hacked it. The plugin will not protect your site, but it can quickly detect if there is any malware, malicious code, or possible blacklisting from search engines.

Up Your Efficiency With WordPress AI Plugins

WordPress has many available AI plugins that can improve your writing process and website management. Be sure to take advantage of the examples provided and explore what else WordPress has to offer. Even those who think they know everything about the platform might find a few new things to learn!

The post 8 WordPress Plugins That Use AI to Improve Efficiency appeared first on Torque.

According to Search Engine Journal, WordPress makes up 64.1% of the content management system (CMS) market. The platform powers 39.5% of all websites. Although various sites use the CMS software, business owners can also use it for eCommerce and wind up with a breathtaking design that perfectly meets their users’ needs.

There are some limitations with using a CMS rather than HTML, but designers can work around them. These tips make sites stand out.

1. Design a Scannable Page

Most people are busy. They may pick up their smartphone when they have an extra minute and browse a site. Keeping product descriptions scannable helps them absorb information without spending a lot of time.

Think headlines, bolded text and bullet points. The images one chooses can even tell part of the story. The product page for NestCam breaks the benefits down with icons, headlines and short body text. The user skims down the page and gathers a lot of info. 

2. Create Calls to Action (CTAs)

Adding CTAs in pertinent spots allows the user to understand their next step. Think about the goal for the page and tie it to a CTA button. If one wants the user to add the product to a shopping cart, then place a CTA that says “add to cart” above the fold. 

One example of a site using CTAs effectively is Now Linens. Note how each product page has multiple CTA buttons to help learn more or take action. 

3. Put Contact Info up Front

When people stumble on a business’s eCommerce page, they have no reason to trust the brand. They don’t know what the customer service is like or if it follows through on promises. One way to enhance trust is by placing contact information in a noticeable spot. 

For example, add a toll-free number to the site header. Make sure to include a contact button in the navigation. Brands can also feature live chat on the page. 

Green Pasture does an excellent job placing its phone number near the top of its landing page. No matter where users navigate on their site, it appears in an oval button at the top of every page. 

4. Include Video

Video is a popular form of content online. People can understand how a product works and its benefits by viewing a short clip. Videos can share information, educate and convince. Testimonials are also a powerful way to show what others think about a brand. 

Genki Instruments utilizes a video on its landing page to show how technology teaches music. Highlighting the product in action allows people to see how it works before investing in it. 

5. Ensure Mobile Responsiveness

Around 73% of customers will leave a site that isn’t mobile-friendly for one that is. Make sure product pages adjust to different screen sizes. What does the image look like on a smaller screen? Does the text run off the page or adapt to mobile? 

Design for mobile and desktop and test thoroughly on both. If there’s a lot of bounces, see if they’re related to device type and make any necessary adjustments. Academy Sports + Outdoors works well on mobile devices. Images size down to the smaller screen and details condense. The information is highly skimmable without having to go to multiple pages. 

6. Feature Discounts and Financing

Sites offering higher ticket items should provide upfront information about how people can get a discount or finance it by making smaller payments. Users on the fence about whether or not to buy may be convinced with a financing offer.

Place this information near the top. Customers should see the options almost immediately upon landing on the product page. Note how UGG adds info about the possibility of Afterpay option immediately under the list price. 

7. Show Pairings

Brands selling fashion and other collections should offer a page featuring how items work together. An assortment of images of models wearing multiple pieces or showing how they pair makeup or jewelry can sell numerous items.

Note how Shopbop shows a full collection so people can either pick and choose or buy the items that go together. Lookbooks create upsells without doing additional work. 

8. Collect Visitor Info

People will sometimes visit a site to gather information and not return. One way to stay in the front of the target audience’s minds is by collecting info on leads and staying in touch. Throw up a popup that offers a discount in exchange for their email, for example.

Lenovo uses popups throughout its site and on product pages to offer deals and gather user data. 

9. Use Zoom

Looking at an image online doesn’t quite have the same impact as seeing something in person. However, store owners can help online browsers by allowing them to zoom in on a product. 360-degree zoomable views are the next best thing to seeing the item up close. 

Lowe’s includes zoom options in nearly every product photo on its site. Users can look at just a specific area or view the item from a distance. 

10. Tap Into Bullet Points

Getting back to creating skimmable product descriptions means using bullet points to point out a product’s features and benefits. Only include items the user cares about. A brand might have great company culture, but the customer only cares about the impact on them.

Lindt Chocolate does a great job of breaking benefits into bullet points on its product pages. 

Get Feedback

Ask customers for input on how well product pages work for them. Try new techniques, split test them and keep what works for a particular audience. Over time, the site will improve and so will revenue.

The post 10 Product Page Design Tips for WordPress appeared first on Torque.

Website builders make constructing a viable site easy. One of the most popular builders is WordPress, which is used by thousands of companies to establish an online presence. WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) where just about anyone can create an appealing site.

One of the most significant advantages of using WordPress is that it does not require extensive coding knowledge. Its interface is best for beginners, and as you learn the ins and outs of WordPress, you can use some of the more advanced features to really wow your site visitors.

For example, there may come a time when you want to dive into the coding of your WordPress site but feel intimidated by working with HTML, the programming language. While your first time may be challenging, it’s well worth the effort — you gain more control over your website when you feel confident editing HTML.

What Is HTML and Why Should You Edit it?

HTML is an essential part of any website and is sometimes referred to as the backbone of the internet. The acronym stands for HyperText Markup Language. 

It’s considered the basic scripting language that browsers use to render webpages on the internet. The language is fairly easy to understand and learn. As time goes on, practicing with HTML will allow you to create more functional sites. 

At its core, HTML is a series of codes typed into an HTML file that eventually displays on a website. You can add images, graphics and tables to websites when using HTML. 

How to Edit HTML for Beginners

Editing HTML does not have to be difficult. However, it can take your website to the next level if you have basic HTML knowledge. 

Here are five ways you can edit HTML.

1. Use a WYSIWYG Editor to Edit HTML

WYSIWYG stands for “what you see is what you get” and makes editing your website or emails a breeze. Many website builders use a WYSIWYG model to make them user-friendly. Almost anyone with an internet browser can create their website using these sites.

When you edit HTML on a WYSIWYG builder, you can see how the text will appear in real-time. It may take a while to get used to the interface, but it’s well worth the effort. 

2. Use a Plain Text Editor

No matter what operating system (OS) you use, whether macOS or Windows, you likely have a plain text editor available that will help you edit HTML. Any text-based file can be edited in applications like Microsoft Word or Google Docs. 

Here are the steps you should follow when editing a webpage in a word-processing application:

• Save the webpage you want to edit — do not save it as a web archive
• Go to Word and click Open, and select the file you wish to edit
• Make the necessary changes to your file using HTML 
• Click on View and choose HTML source to see the webpage in HTML code
• Click File and choose Save As
• Save the file type as Web Page.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll be able to upload your edited HTML file to your web host, and you should be able to see the changes.

3. Find a Free HTML Editor Online

There are plenty of free HTML editors available to download and assist you with all your HTML needs. They can be downloaded and used regardless of your OS. For example, some HTML editors work best for Windows, and others work well for Mac.

Many marketers and bloggers use free HTML editors to avoid spending resources on software, especially if they don’t need advanced code to get the job done. For example, nontechnical marketers may need to edit their email campaigns to reach potential customers. Without coding knowledge, HTML editors come in handy and make the process much easier. 

4. Install WordPress Plugins

Plugins are extremely useful for those operating on WordPress. They are essentially pieces of software that contain a group of functions. You can use them to gain control over your site and make edits. 

For example, WP Coder is a WordPress plugin that edits HTML and allows you to play with your website’s code and works well for users at all levels. WP Coder boasts that users can make websites more dynamic and visually appealing by using advanced plugin features.

5. Download an HTML Software

You may not have the extra cash to spend on HTML software, but the benefits are well worth the investment. While there are free options, paying for software may help you learn the basics of coding more easily.

Two of the most popular HTML software you can download are Sublime Text and Adobe Dreamweaver. Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor to edit HTML that can be used for coding, markup and prose. 

Adobe Dreamweaver is one of many Adobe products that make web development easier for you. You can start a seven-day free trial to test the product and see if it will suit your HTML needs. Dreamweaver also comes with plenty of tutorials that can help you build your knowledge base.

Make Editing HTML Simple 

Launching and managing a website comes with its benefits and drawbacks. While coding experience is always helpful for development and management, plenty of online resources can help you build your site.

The post 5 Ways to Edit HTML Without Being an Expert Coder appeared first on Torque.

Some startups and nascent businesses believe that operating online means there’s no need to purchase office space. It may even be a driving factor when deciding to open an eCommerce company. 

Here are some reasons why physical location matters for your online business.

Why Have a Physical Location?

Regardless of what industry you serve, having a physical location can make or break your business. Finding a place that fits your brand image and company culture is crucial when achieving your business goals. Otherwise, it may be challenging to get customers to buy your products or reap the benefits of your services. 

Our buying behavior may be moving online, but many external, offline factors influence our purchasing decisions. Technology plays a major role, and it’s critical for businesses to keep up with the latest tech trends.

According to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where we live affects our online buying behavior. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that offline behavior can impact online purchases — our world is becoming more digitized and interconnected than ever before. 

What takes place offline, such as customer interactions and referrals, can heavily influence whether or not someone will purchase your products or services.

Benefits of Having a Physical Presence

It may seem daunting for businesses that operate primarily online to venture out and find a physical location to host their operations. However, the benefits of having an offline presence will be well worth the investment.

Here are a few examples of benefits you’ll be able to gain from establishing a brick-and-mortar business location.

Improved Brand Visibility

It’s no secret that more consumers are making the digital transition and taking most of their shopping online. However, if you want your brand to stand out from the crowd, consider having a physical presence in the local community. 

When more people are exposed to your brand, they are more likely to turn into potential customers. Online businesses that utilize basic digital marketing strategies may be missing out on reaching those potential shoppers. 

Take a company like Warby Parker, for instance. It started as an online business but found it could benefit from having brick-and-mortar stores in various locations. Now, Warby Parker is opening 35 more shops to help recoup some losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Better Local Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is becoming a crucial part of operating an online business. While it focuses on improving the online presence of your company, your physical location also plays a critical role in the process. 

This is where local SEO comes into play. It assists businesses in ranking on Google’s local search results. Google searches help customers find out more information about your business, and having a physical presence helps authenticate your operation. 

Suppose you were a digital marketing agency primarily operating online but had one small office in your city. In that case, if someone in your area searched “digital marketing agencies near me,” the goal would be to have your business rank first on the search engine results page (SERP). This would hopefully increase your exposure and bring in more potential clients. 

More Professional Branding

It comes down to a simple question: Would you trust a business with an online and offline presence more than one that’s just virtual? While the answer may vary, it’s more likely to be the former. 

Businesses with a physical presence tend to garner the trust of the local community. These days, anyone can start an online business with a laptop and Wi-Fi connection. You need to set your company apart by appearing credible and reliable.

It’s much easier to sell products online than to establish a brick-and-mortar store, but building a good reputation for your business should remain paramount. Establishing a level of trust between your company and customers is crucial in increasing sales and revenue. A physical location suggests a certain level of professionalism and motivation to expand.

These are only a few of the benefits you can expect from establishing an offline presence in your community. You must review your local business permit laws, regulations and ordinances when you’re looking for a physical space to lease or purchase. 

Establishing a Physical Presence

While it’s easier said than done, consider opening up a physical location or headquarters for your online business venture. Although customers can buy products from practically anywhere, operating a company in a specific area can positively impact your success and help you thrive in a competitive environment.

The post Why Physical Location Matters, Even When Starting an Online Business appeared first on Torque.

Of course, updating your website so it looks great and works well isn’t always easy. These are eight ways to hire top-notch WordPress design and development freelancers in 2021 and strengthen your digital presence.

1. List Your Priorities

What does top-notch mean for your business? List the priorities you want in every new hire to make your job listing clear. Identify every skill your design and development teams should have, along with years of experience and certifications. Applicants can also include examples of past jobs in their portfolio or link to an active website to showcase their skills.

Referrals are another way to double-check that applicants have the skills you need. Contact former employers to learn if someone has the expertise you’re looking for in each application.

2. Review Your Hiring Budget

Hiring top-notch team members will require a bigger budget than if you opened an entry-level position. You’ll pay for their experience and ideas, so it’s a worthwhile investment. Review your hiring budget to see if your salary estimates match what professionals will want.

The average freelance WordPress developer charges $15-28 per hour, but they can look for more than that if they’ve been in the field for over a decade. More freelancers will apply if they know they’ll receive fair compensation for their skills.

3. Hire International Staff

Hiring freelancers means you can open your team rosters to international opportunities. Build a robust global talent strategy for long-term talent acquisition. Team leaders can create an international mobility model that supports global employees and encourages their professional growth. If new hires feel professionally supported, they’ll stick with an international company for their permanent employment.

4. Upgrade Your Network Security

Expert freelancers won’t take you seriously if your network remains vulnerable. Digital security is the same thing as their job security. Upgrade your virtual presence by managing user access privileges and creating stronger passwords.

Locking down your network gives freelancers more control over their design and development plans without worrying about unauthorized usage.

5. Use Exclusive Hiring Sites

Anyone can post their freelancing availability online, but they won’t always have the experience you need. Use exclusive hiring sites that vet each freelance user before connecting them with potential employers. You won’t have to wonder if you’re meeting talented applicants before going through the costly and time-consuming process of hiring someone.

6. Look for Soft Skills

Industry-specific skills are crucial, but so are soft skills. Clearly communicating, meeting deadlines, and remaining productive while working independently will make freelancers merge effortlessly into your existing team. There won’t be any hiccups in your workflow because your new team members know how to work together remotely.

7. Offer Benefits Retainers

Freelancers don’t get employer-provided health insurance because they’re 1099 employees. It’s one of the most significant challenges of freelancing, but you’ll hire happier team members by offering a retainer to cover their health insurance costs.

This is an extra investment for their skills and time, making you a more appealing employer to people who may have become tired of paying for their health care out of pocket.

8. Schedule Personal Meetings

Freelancers often feel cut off from their teams. Design and development experts may continue their freelancing career with your company if you offer a different experience. Include scheduled face-to-face meetings in your job listing so they can look forward to an employer who wants to know them personally. They’ll feel valued and likely stay with you long-term.

Hire Top-Notch Freelancers in 2021

Top-notch WordPress design and development freelancers want more from contract gigs. They need support, professional development opportunities, and an employer who cares about their digital presence. Use these tips to hire the best candidates for your team and improve your website with little to no turnover.

The post 8 Tips to Hire Top-Notch WordPress Design and Development Freelancers appeared first on Torque.

However, health insurance can be tricky to navigate as a business, especially when your employees are contractors. Should you give your blogging staff medical coverage? Here are some things to consider.

Coverage Requirements for Small Businesses

First, you’ll want to know whether you’re required to offer health care. If you employ more than 50 full-time workers, you’re subject to specific provisions that say you’re obligated to give employees insurance. That’s not the case when you have less than 50 employees or they are contractors.

This expectation means you have to give your workers and their dependents health insurance until their dependents turn 26 years old. There’s no need to offer coverage for their spouses unless you want to make that another benefit. If you don’t comply, you could face penalties.

What Options Should You Consider?

There are two types of health insurance: individual and group. Because you’re a business owner, you’ll want to explore group coverage possibilities since individual refers to plans you’d purchase for yourself or your family. These are options only organizations can buy for their employees on their behalf.

If you take a look at the health care marketplace, you’ll notice endless choices. There are alternatives like self-insurance, which tends to work best for small to mid-level businesses that don’t have large workforces. You’ll want to look at your choices, including preferred provider organization and point-of-service plans.

How much does employer health care cost on average? Last year, employers paid $7,470 and $21,342 for single and family coverage, respectively. That’s why you should shop around before deciding on a plan for your team. Browse through various options to know which one best suits your needs.

After you decide on a plan, you’ll want to work with the insurer and your bloggers to activate it during an enrollment period.

Advantages of Health Care for Employees

Both you and your blogging staff can enjoy various benefits when you offer them health care. Coverage can be a significant expense, but you may determine that the advantages outweigh the downsides when you look at the entire picture.

Your employees will feel less stressed because they’ll have coverage, and you can even use the fact that you offer health care as a way to attract new hires. It can impact employee retention, too. When surveyed, 56% of adult workers said their job’s insurance options mattered in their decision to stay.

Additionally, you can enjoy tax benefits and reductions that make health care more affordable. There are even specific credits small businesses can use to offset costs further. Altogether, your business may be able to benefit financially when you offer insurance to your blogging staff.

The Verdict: Health Insurance Can Be an Effective Benefit, but It’s Not Mandatory

Health insurance can seem like a burden to many small companies. It’s a tricky landscape to navigate, especially when you have employees like bloggers that may not be considered full time. Still, you should also note that health care can be a dealbreaker for workers, as costs are steep in the United States.

While you’re not obligated to give your blogging staff health insurance unless you employ more than 50, you may still want to consider it as a beneficial addition for everyone involved.

The post Do You Need to Offer Health Insurance for Your Blogging Staff? It Depends appeared first on Torque.

Podcasting is a relatively new industry that continues to boom. Listeners tune in on all devices to hear from their favorite experts and public figures. Thanks to these tips that even new bloggers can implement, you’re about to become the next best podcast in the market.

1. Pick a Topic

Podcasts are easy to access and cover various topics, leading to an industry boom that has bloggers and business owners scrambling to create their own. The number of podcast listeners grew by 32% in 2020 — adding up to 104 million monthly users. They want to learn something new, listen to an entertaining conversation, or hear a well-crafted story.

Your podcast should center around your industry’s topic and appeal to listeners who press play for those reasons. If you operate a virtual tech store, you could publish tech-oriented podcast episodes that show why you’re an expert in your field. Tips and tricks could become your new weekly podcast theme if your blog teaches readers how to improve their lives.

The goal is to get listeners to check out your blog and find more relevant content. Link what you post with what your podcast will discuss so your audience gets more of what they’re looking for either way.

2. Investigate Platform and Hosting Options

WordPress is a popular blogging platform because it has so many unique features. It also includes multiple podcast plugins that make it easier to reach new listeners. Even if you have to pay for the plugins, it’s cheaper than paying monthly for another web-hosting service just to connect to your podcast.

These plugins will store your podcast files outside of your blog so it doesn’t slow down. You can also upload new episodes of your podcast to hosting sites through your WordPress blog with plugins. Play around with various plugins to decide which have your preferred look and features.

You’ll also have to consider various podcast hosting platforms that offer different features. Some apps are automatically installed on devices, like Apple Podcasts. Others, like Spotify or Stitcher, require a separate download and monthly subscriptions.

See which platforms work with your preferred WordPress plugin to get a better idea of which ones your listeners can most easily use.

3. Make a Schedule

Every blogger should have two schedules for podcast creation and publication. Think about how long you’ll need to research each podcast and write it if you choose a narrative structure. You might need to coordinate interviews and work around your guests’ schedules if you interview experts for your audience.

Don’t forget how long it takes to edit your podcast into a timely product. Your audience doesn’t want to hear someone rambling into the mic or stumbling through a story. Finding this balance helps determine if you’ll publish your podcast daily, weekly, or monthly.

4. Consider Your Current Team

Do you already have a team helping run your blog? Your writing staff may not know how to write interview questions or a podcast script. You could get a better finished product by hiring one or two new team members to handle all things podcast.

Even if you do everything by yourself, getting extra help with this new branch of your blog could make your new endeavor sustainable with your current work demands.

5. Create a Logo

Your readers might find out about your podcast through your blog, but what about listeners who tune in after browsing for something new?

Your podcast’s logo is your first impression. Base it on your blog’s theme or make it something new. It depends on your brand and personal preferences. Play around with colors, text, pictures, and themes to find something that speaks to your content and personality.

6. Play With Editing Tools

Before publishing your podcast, you’ll need to run it through editing software. You’ll refine the audio, splice segments, and pull it all together for your first episode. Some programs do everything and others offer only a few specialized tools.

Read reviews to find your preferred software for your skillset and needs. You could dive into the finer details of editing or only need a few tools to finish each episode.

Create a Podcast for Your WordPress Blog

Now that you know how to create a podcast for your WordPress blog, start exploring your options. Play around with plugins to find something that opens the world of podcasting for you. Name a theme and create a logo. You’ll have a great product after using these tips to piece everything together.

The post How to Create a Podcast for Your WordPress Blog appeared first on Torque.