Hello and welcome back to The Digital Brew Podcast! In this episode, we dive into why getting too fancy with your website's user experience can actually hurt your business more than help it.

We're talking about websites that break away from what users expect - unusual navigation placement, strange scrolling behaviour, creative image and video usage that leaves visitors thinking "that looks cool, but how do I actually use this thing?"

Two main culprits here that drive us absolutely mental:

• Forced smooth scroll - when your page swooshes down instead of moving normally
• Snapping sections - where one scroll wheel movement jumps you to an entirely different section, often before you've finished reading

We're not anti-animation, but not every element needs an entrance animation! Use them sparingly and tastefully, and always respect users' reduced motion preferences for accessibility.

Unless you're showcasing a massive portfolio with tens of megabytes of content, there's no excuse for a loading screen on a business website. If your site loads that slowly, fix the performance issues instead of slapping a preloader on top.

Just don't. No autoplay video, no autoplay audio, and definitely no background music (especially if users can't pause it). It's not the MySpace days anymore!

All these issues share one problem - they take control away from users. When people feel uncomfortable or confused on your website, they're more likely to leave.

Keep it simple and within standard expectations. Menu and logo at the top, easy-to-scan headings, plenty of breathing space, and straightforward navigation. You don't have to make it ugly - just make it normal and user-friendly.

Remember: function first, creativity second. Always ask yourself if your fancy ideas will negatively impact what you're trying to achieve with your website.

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Welcome back to another episode! Today we're exploring domains and web hosting - because choosing the right provider can be a confusing and frustrating experience.

Pricing Traps to Avoid: Those tempting $1-3 first-year deals? They're designed to hook you in. Always check renewal pricing first! We share a sneaky way to take advantage of cheap first-year prices indefinitely.

DNS Hosting: We explain what DNS hosting actually is (those A records and MX records) and why we recommend keeping your domain and DNS separate. It makes switching providers much easier down the track.

ID Protection: Essential for stopping spammers from accessing your contact details through WHOIS lookups. Worth getting if it's available for your domain type.

1. Venture IP - Our Aussie favourite with solid support and no dodgy upsells
2. Cloudflare - They charge exactly what ICANN charges (zero profit!) hoping you'll use their premium services later
3. Namecheap - Decent experience with competitive pricing
4. Pork Bun - Silly name, solid service with good ongoing rates

Shared Hosting: We're honest - we don't really recommend this anymore. Your site shares resources with hundreds of others, which can cause performance issues.

Cloud Hosting: The sweet spot between shared hosting and managed WordPress. Better performance, less hand-holding. Cloudways is our pick for beginners.

Managed WordPress: Premium option that focuses solely on WordPress sites. More expensive but includes security management, updates, and even malware cleanup.

• Shared: SiteGround (reputation a bit tarnished lately) or Venture IP
• VPS/Cloud: Cloudways for beginners, or try RunCloud/ServerAvatar/xCloud for more control
• Managed WordPress: Kinsta or WP Engine are the big names

Don't forget - you can always work with a designer/developer who manages hosting for you! It's part of our care plans, so you can sleep easy knowing we'll handle all the technical stuff.

Bottom Line: There's no one-size-fits-all solution. Consider your technical comfort level, budget, and support needs when choosing.

Thanks for listening to our podcast where we talk about websites and digital marketing for small businesses. Visit thedigitalbrew.com.au/podcast for more episodes, detailed show notes, resources, and our newsletter.

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n this episode of The Digital Brew Podcast, we dive into the reality of AI's impact on website copywriting and content creation. We're not here to sugarcoat it – we'll give you the honest truth about what's happening in our industry.

We talk about our preferred AI tools (spoiler: we both like Claude) and how we use them in our daily work. Angela shares her approach of treating AI like an enthusiastic intern – helpful, but you've got to check their work carefully.

We discuss how the industry has changed, especially for entry-level writers. The work has slowed down, but highly skilled writers are still in demand. We explore whether this is temporary or a permanent shift.

Angela explains why she only gives AI small, specific tasks instead of entire projects. We talk about the importance of maintaining quality standards and why straight AI content can damage brands.

We draw parallels between AI writing tools and design tools like Canva – they make things more accessible, but professional expertise is still irreplaceable.

Our predictions for the next few years include an explosion of written content, the growing importance of "proof of humanity," and why storytelling will become even more crucial.

• AI is unavoidable but not a replacement for professional writing
• Quality content will stand out more as AI-generated content floods the market
• Brands need unique data, stories, and human perspectives to differentiate themselves
• If you can't be bothered to write your content, why should your audience bother reading it?

The landscape is shifting quickly, so whether you're a writer or a business owner, staying informed about AI developments is essential. But remember – being cautious is just as important as staying current.

Thanks for listening to our podcast where we talk about websites and digital marketing for small businesses. Visit thedigitalbrew.com.au/podcast for more episodes, detailed show notes, resources, and our newsletter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.