Issue 25.01

​

Hey Reader—

I was talking with a friend recently about a challenge that might sound familiar. Ever catch yourself in this loop? You launch your business website, but something doesn't feel quite right. So you make a few adjustments. Then a few more. You spot a cool feature on another site and spend countless hours figuring out how to add it to yours, even asking your designer/developer to help you out. More tweaks follow. Days turn into weeks of constant fine-tuning.

And what do you have to show for all this effort? Often, nothing at all.

The frustrating part? The problem could be any number of things. Maybe your design isn't hitting the mark. Your copy might not be connecting with your audience. Those generic stock photos might be undermining your credibility. Perhaps your value proposition isn't clear, or your market positioning needs work.

Here's the truth: when you're this close to your own website, it's nearly impossible to see it objectively.

Instead of endless DIY tweaking that's getting you nowhere, consider getting a professional perspective. Sometimes, fresh eyes can spot issues you've become blind to. Share your challenges with them. Let their expertise guide you toward actual solutions.

Your time is valuable – isn't it worth investing it in strategies that actually work?

Ready to break free from the endless cycle of tweaking? Hit reply and let's chat about how Block 81 can help transform your website into the powerful business tool it should be.

​Showcase: Payroll NW​ Our team partnered with Payroll NW to transform their website with a design that celebrates their Pacific Northwest roots. Taking cues from their logo's distinctive angles and regional imagery, we created a polished, responsive site that perfectly balances professional polish with local character. ​Read more →​

From the Blog

​Dear 2024: Bye
​2024 was tough. I aim to slow down in 2025.

​Your Website Is a Dealbreaker: How to Know When It’s Time for a Redesign​
Is your website secretly turning away potential clients? After my bookkeeper suddenly shut down, my search for a new one revealed a crucial truth: an outdated or poorly functioning website can be an instant deal-breaker for professional services, regardless of your expertise. 🤔

​Beyond the Launch: Why Smart Businesses Partner with Web Studios for Ongoing Success​
Your website is working 24/7 as your digital storefront, and just like any hard-working team member, it needs proper support. A website support retainer isn't just another monthly expense; it's about having experts in your corner, ready to handle issues before they impact your business.

​The Iron Triangle (of Web Design Project Expectations)​
Originally published a few years ago but still highly relevant today, this article explores the timeless "Good, Fast, Cheap - Pick Two" principle in web design and development, explaining how these three constraints interact and influence project outcomes while affecting overall quality.

Around the Web

​Students struggle to read a new font introduced to the UM website​
A really good example of how compliant does not necessarily mean accessible, as well as the value of conducting user research before committing to a large change to your service.

​Website pop-ups and popovers are like trying to read while strobe lights and an airhorn blast away​
This is probably the best description of businesses that insist on having modals, pop-ups, and floating thing-a-ma-bobs (totally a technical term) all over their site.

​Google’s wrong answer to the threat of AI – stop indexing content​
Google is changing how it indexes content, focusing only on unique and authoritative information. This shift comes in response to competition from AI chatbots like ChatGPT, which disrupt traditional search behavior. As a result, many creators may find their content unindexed, even if they are reputable writers.

​Start auditing and controlling the AI models accessing your content​
Cloudflare has introduced new tools for site owners to control how AI bots access their content. Users can now audit bot activity, block unwanted crawlers with one click, and make informed decisions about which bots to allow. This helps site owners protect their content and potentially negotiate compensation for its use by AI models.

​

​