Category Archives: Web Design Maitland
Focusing on Teaching WordPress
Hey there lovelies!
Over the last 16 years as a WordPress Website Developer, I’ve worked with so many amazing business owners to help them build their WordPress websites and grow their business online.
However, with the cost of living rising and the increasing need for more education around how to save money and DIY your own WordPress website. I’m changing my business focus to gear more towards teaching, rather than just offering done for you services.
Yes, I am still doing the development work, however it’s a secondary focus for my business. The shift comes after needing to create a sustainable support system for myself and my family. Passive, Recurring & Semi Passive income as necessary avenue for every online business. It’s scalable and means I can actually help more people.
If you’ve been following my journey since precovid, you’ll know that I’ve built an online WordPress Help Academy where I teach my signature WordPress Beginners Programme – NCDAcademy WordPress101® and host my WordPress Learners Lounge membership – a Live WordPress help Membership with fortnightly live Q&A calls on Zoom, monthly trainings & accountability support group for non-techies.
Since opening in 2020, I’ve helped 100s of non-techies through-out Australia, UK, Canada & USA to Build, Maintain & Improve their WordPress websites, setup their own courses and funnels, all without the tech overwhelm.
I’m now focusing in on growing my NCDAcademy online to enable me to empower more business owners like you to take the reigns of your online presence with confidence and ease.
I will continue to support my existing WordPress Website Design clients through-out Australia. Including still be offering WordPress Website Developments & One to One WordPress Training.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Or If you’d like to book a 1:1 visit my online booking calendar.
WordPress Website Designer
Setting up a new WordPress website and growing your presence online can be challenging, however it doesn’t have to be. Knowing what is going to be right for you and the complex task of having to wade through the plethora of options available can be daunting. This is where connecting with a WordPress Website Designer or WordPress Specialist can be of great benefit.
Natalie Crowe of Natalie Crowe Designs helps you take the hassle out of tackling technology.
Natalie is a WordPress Website Designer & Online Business Mentor in the Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia. She works with clients all over the world as a WordPress Specialist and offers a range of WordPress website packages to suit any budget.
With her WordPress Website Packages starting from $880 + GST ( $968) Natalie’s NCD Starter Website package includes a custom built 5 page website, 12 months website hosting and domain and includes taking care of the monthly backups and WordPress updates for your first 12 months.
To find out more about NCD Starter Website here.
Cheap WordPress Website Design doesn’t always mean value for money. However, Natalie Crowe Designs has you covered for affordable website package prices, reliability, experience and down to earth customer service.
Whether you are:
- looking to get a new WordPress Website,
- needing WordPress Website Technical Support or
- wanting WordPress Website help,
Natalie Crowe Designs is more than happy to help.
You can explore Natalie’s full range of WordPress Website Packages via her Website Prices page.
So, you can enquire directly via our Contact Us page or pop on over to our Facebook page Natalie Crowe Designs Facebook page.
WordPress is a robust content management system that you can create virtually anything.
Therefore, you are only limited by your imagination.
And with the help of Natalie Crowe Designs anything can be achieved.
COVID-19 Rapid Response Websites Packages Australia
Good Morning everyone,
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been working with clients who have been impacted severely by the Coronavirus. These businesses are all now either having to look to take ORDERS online or to start MEMBERSHIP/ONLINE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS for their clients to keep connected with them.
It’s been heart breaking to watch and hear the updates and the impacts on my own family have been immense, we’re now limited to one income and I know there are so many businesses whom aren’t sure how they are going to get through this. I wanted to try and help as many as I can.
After surveying prospects and following conversations within my social networks there appeared to be a real need to be able to accept payments online for basic ORDER FORM type scenarios ie local bakery being able to take payments for their home delivered bread, and the local cafe being able to facilitate online purchase of meals for delivery. Also those homemade product businesses at our local markets that no longer can operate due to the social distancing laws here in Australia. As well as for businesses that offer services to groups and individuals such as local Gyms and groups, specialists and those that offer face to face meetings needing to move to a more modern / online medium. Those who need an ONLINE LEARNING / MEMBERSHIP site where they can securely share content and provide to their customers.
After much spending the last two days crunching numbers and work out what would be the best option. I’m pleased to introduce our two new website packages specifically designed to help out clients who are needing to go online to continue doing business as a result of COVID-19, these packages have LONG TERM benefits, whilst they are designed to get you up and running ASAP, you will be able to grow and strength your online presence with these new packages.
I’ve put together full product pages for you for each package however here’s a quick run down on each:
NCD Quick Order + Website Package
One package focuses around an ONLINE ORDER FORM connected with STRIPE to accept payments online that go into your bank account within 2 business days. This website package contains a 5 page website, blog + 1 page custom order form with all the basic components you need to start selling online ASAP. This would be perfect for anyone selling a handful of items or have set priced items you’d like to sell online however are not wanting to worry about full blown ecommerce store with all the complications and setup.
Quick List inclusions:
- 5 page website + blog
- 1 page eCommerce order form connected to Stripe
– Payments are processed within 2 business days and deposits the money less the fees to your bank account. - Setup of your Stripe Account on your behalf in order to accept payments online.
- Setup of your custom order form.
- 12 month Hosting, Domain & needed software licenses.
- 12 months WordPress Backup & Updates Plan. usually $65 a month yours for 12 months included in the price.
- Optimisation of your content & submission to the search engines once you’re ready to launch.
I’ve offered to cover $811 off the development price to help you out.
Learn More here: COVID-19 RELIEF | NCD Quick Order+ Website Package
NCD Online Learning + Website Package.
The second package focuses on clients who want to SELL MEMBERSHIP or essentially COURSES ONLINE where you are able to create free & paid content including videos and other media to provide lessons and training for your prospective customers. This includes courses, their relevant modules, sections, lessons + quizzes in an easy to use dashboard for both Student and Teacher.
In terms of the technical site, we take all as of the hassle out of setting up the infrastructure of your online environment, we work with you to get the site up and running inclusive of up to 4 hours consultancy via Skype throughout the setup process, whether that be training, troubleshooting or working out the best form of action for you.
We also do all the setup for your VIMEO account (Video hosting account) and include 12 months subscription in the pricing.
We setup the Payment Gateways which include either PayPal or Stripe which means you won’t have to struggle trying to work out what needs to take place.
With the blog component to get you started we help you put together your first 4 blog posts during the initial setup which you can schedule to be released at your leisure.
We setup and integrate your social media platforms, including Google My Business and Facebook or preferred alternative and brand them to suit.
We offer the down to earth technical support, via Skype, Facebook Page Messenger, Phone & Email and support you through the process.
We take care of 12 months Website Backup & WordPress Updates
I’ve offered to cover $1280 off the development price to help you out.
LEARN MORE here: COVID-19 RELIEF | NCD Online Learning+ Website Package
WordPress sites being hacked by “Adsformarket” scripts
January saw so many sites attacked by automated hackers looking for websites with vulnerabilities in which they can exploit for personal information.
Some of these hackers attack websites for the purposes of siphoning personal and financial information which they can attempt to utilise as a means of financial gain.
Common activities include:
- Obtaining email address to send spam
- Installing malicious codes and software which may result in forms of payment.
- Redirecting visitors & website traffic to other websites which often they are setup as an affiliate which may create funds for them.
Whilst being one of the best content management systems out there, WordPress; like any open source content management systems, does have vulnerabilities when not correctly maintained.
In this case, a number of clients who were currently self-managing their accounts – whom had not kept up with internet security, backed up the website or completed the needed website maintenance, were the hardest hit.
But what on earth does that “correctly maintaining your WordPress website” mean??
“Self-Managed WordPress Websites” are basically WordPress websites that have been built for you, whereby you take over the responsibility of maintaining the website, ensuring the website is running the latest versions of each of it’s components and making relevant changes as need to the pages and page content.
In order to correctly maintain your WordPress websites, it means you need to keep the WordPress software and it’s relevant plugins and themes regularly updated. It means making a regular backup of the website files and the database. It means making sure you’re not using the default settings for things like login credentials or non secure settings, and using plugins that are regularly update by their developer.
You can also look to utilise more advance strategies like customising your WordPress database tables names to make then unique, changing your SALT keys regularly and if you were implementing new functionality for your website, that you’re using tested and regularly updated plugins and themes.
I think my WordPress website got hacked / How can I tell if I’ve been hacked?
There are 3 main characteristics we’ve seen of late with websites who have been hacked, some are more obvious thank others. However, Hackers have accessed the website and injected malicious code into the websites and modified files that resulted in:
- onscreen errors,
- search engines such as Google – identifying the site as containing malicious code / marked them unsafe
- or the most commonly – the website has a series of codes injected into the website that force visits to be redirected to unsafe and undesired websites.
AdsForMarket – WordPress Website Attacks
One of the primary redirects or spam codes injected into some of these websites were for a domain called “Adsformarket”.
This adsformarket is owned to a private entity and was registered through a domain provider Eranet, whom I’ve contacted to ask them to look at what their users are doing. However hackers can easily change their domains names and use the same scripts elsewhere, whilst we can try and have these creators dealt with, it’s hard to prove and it won’t entirely stop the from doing this again. So the best way to counteract this is to implement stronger security measures.
I make note here NO WEBSITE IS 100% HACK PROOF. However we can make various modifications to help strengthen the website boundaries and with regular maintenance, website backups & updates. Website owners can decrease the downtime and the cost it would take for their websites to be recovered.
Getting help – if you think your WordPress website has been hacked:
If you think you may have been hacked or you’d like some help with your website.
Natalie Crowe Designs is happy to work with you to address the issue.
Please contact us or give us a call to discuss your options: 0423285233
Reviewing my last 10 years in business | Web Design Cessnock
3650 days of life and business lessons!
Wow! Wow! Wow! As we come to the closure of a decade and 2020 rolls on in. It’s amazing to take a look back at where we’ve come from and where we’re going in business. 3650 days?! What did we do with them all?
The last 10 years have altered and changed my course tremendously. I’ve seen highs and lows in my personal life and business however the continual indicators show I’m onto a good thing here.
Business is growing, I’m busier than I’ve ever been. I’ve established myself and my brand as a strong local contender in various communities both online and offline and most importantly I’m enjoying the process and as I always intended… I’m HELPING people. Win Win!
Adapting to change – Same Great Services
Whilst technology has definitely changed and we’re more mobile or responsive device focused, the decade of instant gratification, social media and being able to find pretty much anything from the palm of your hand in a matter of seconds, has meant as a business owner we’ve needed to be adaptive and responsive to our clients needs.
- Building new websites,
- Improving existing websites,
- Specialising in WordPress Websites,
- Offering Website Help, Technical Support and Training,
- Providing Website Management and monthly update packages,
- Helping you get found through Search Engine Optimisation,
- Engagement Marketing,
- Provision of Hosting and domains,
- Social Media setup and management
- & so more.
Events that have shaped Natalie Crowe Designs
10 years is such a massive timeframe, and with the diversity of events that have occurred; some of them big, some of them small, all of them have contributed to the person I am and who I’ve become and how my business has evolved.
- From deciding I wanted to help people with their websites and shaping that into a tangible business idea as a means of supporting myself, then that need and desire growing with the birth of my daughter.
- Having to re-establish my life in the Hunter Valley, after an 8 year relation dissolving and continuing to make a living, working through Family Courts / Custody Battle that set me back $25k+ in legal fees all whilst simultaneously keeping our heads above water. My business supported us.
An old Facebook Image Also Used as a slideshow image from our website in 2015 celebrating 7 years in business.
- Through moving 7 times before eventually generating & saving enough money through my business and finding a bank that would accept me as a self employed business owner, and validate that my business was more than a hobby in order to purchase our own home in the Hunter Valley.
- To, continuing my studies getting additional qualifications and improving myself and expanding my services from not only WEB DESIGN but to BUSINESS MENTORING evolving my business into a one stop shop.
- To supporting hundreds of local businesses over the years and through the growth and trajectory of my business being able to contribute to countless causes in our local community, donating thousands of dollars to help people get back on their feet, and utilise my experience to better themselves.
- To finding the love of my life, having same sex marriage laws passed and to being able to get married which for the most part was funded by my ability to generate an income and paid outright which meant we didn’t have to go into debt to be able to bring our family together to celebrate our union. Something I was so ecstatic about in 2018.
I am so grateful and proud of each and every moment and what I’ve overcome to create a life that I love and a business that supports me and my goals. Acknowledging, not all of these things are solely business related but they were possible due to my business or have have contributed as pieces of the puzzle that’s formed the Natalie Crowe Designs of today.
2020 – A year of continuing to offer enormous value & honouring my self worth
In 2020, I’ll be working closely on my message, whilst wanting to help people hasn’t changed, I have spent a great deal of time analysing my business and one thing is clear, I always go above and beyond. My clients are the most important part of my business but at times I’ve found myself over extending, over delivering and ultimately to my own detriment burning out.
$30,000 in uncollected payments, donations, volunteer work and unpaid accounts.
‘There’s always more’ mentality and my generosity can often get the better of me. It’s been a few years now, but prior to our hourly price increase of $80/hr the tally of discounts alone given to the community in one 12 month span equated to close to $30,000!!
At the time I couldn’t even fathom that I’d discounted developments or not collected payments, volunteered a multitude of hours through that year / completed unpaid work, however it was clear, come the end of the year how burnt out and exhausted I was, how disappointed I felt not attaining the goals I’d set and how much that $30,000 would have made a difference in my life at the time if I’d only honoured my selfworth and trusted that my effort and contributions to all of these amazing causes was worth receiving payment.
Your time is worth the money & you are worthy of payment:
My aim for 2020 will be to shape my business in a way that still delivers enormous value for my beautiful clients, however values my worth, my time, my contributions and supports and nurtures healthy boundaries.
This year, will be the year that will enable me to set and reach my goals and still allows me to honour myself, avoid massive burnout that I’ve experience in the past and also enable be me carve out time to create new products and services, study further, connect with all of you and improve what I can offer you as a part of my web design and business mentoring services.
What to expect as of January 2020
In summary, 2020 will still very much be a year of service, I’m still going to offer the same amazing customer service, delivering enormous value through my products and services and doing my very best to continue to help and support your businesses in the best ways I know how.
I’ll be restructuring my pricing and packages a little to ensure that I’m honouring my boundaries, however most of the modifications will be behind the scenes and all be it that it sounds a little confronting, I am enormously excited for the factor that implementing these new strategies will mean I’m utilising my time and resources better and I essentially will be able to engage and support more business owners and causes whilst simultaneously supporting and honouring myself.
I can not wait to share the progress of 2020 with you. From works in progress, completed projects, to resources and tools, tips and insights, causes and community events we’re getting behind and so much more.
If I can be of any assistance moving forward to help you establish and grow your online presence, provide website help and support please don’t hesitate to contact me.
- Request A Quote online,
- Give me a call: 0423285233
- or instant message our Facebook page
To have a chat about your requirements and start moving forward with your goals in 2020.
I would LOVE to arrange a FREE 30 Minute discovery call with you to discuss your options and help you get your goals underway!
Send a message via the form below or feel free to give me a call on 0423285233.
Natalie Crowe Designs
Web Design & Business Mentoring
