Posts in category: Web design

How do I conduct a SWOT analysis for my business, and why is it important?

Much more than a study, the SWOT analysis is directly linked to the evaluation of your organization and assists in the decision-making process.

Founded by the American Albert Humphrey (1926-2005), a business and administration consultant, SWOT analysis is among the main concepts and techniques when thinking about marketing. It was developed to analyze organizational scenarios and support the decision-making process.

When is the SWOT analysis done?

As a rule, the SWOT analysis is usually carried out before implementing new projects in the organization so that it is possible to measure the impact and viability of such tasks. Furthermore, it is also essential to understand your strategic positioning in the market and to implement possible improvements in services and products, among other functions.

It is worth mentioning that the SWOT analysis provides a simple and introductory diagnosis: it is usually a good starting point, but more is needed to cover all the topics for decision-making and research of the company’s organizational context.

What does the SWOT analysis acronym mean?

The acronym SWOT comes from the English Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, which, in literal translation, means Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. It is expected to find some websites and studies that refer to them in a Brazilian manner, referring to them as SWOT analysis (Strengths, Opportunities, Weaknesses and Threats).

Regardless of whether it is written as a SWOT or SWOT analysis, both have the same meaning and the same objectives, so avoid getting too attached to the vocabulary. When carrying out the SWOT analysis, it is essential to remember that the elements that compose it can be subdivided into two groups: the aspects of internal variables and those of external variables.

Internal variables (Strengths and Weaknesses):

Internal variables are those concentrated within the organization, covering the strengths and weaknesses of the business. As the name already implies, if the variables are internal, the company controls them. Understand better with the examples listed below:

1. Time in the market;
2. Company location;
3. Your reputation;
4. Financial resources and human resources;
5. Management and marketing;
6. Access to raw materials, materials and equipment;
7. Operation capacity.

“A picture is worth a thousand words” is a very popular saying in the world of SEO because it undoubtedly has a lot of truth. Images attract more attention from users, have a better response from them and have more reach. In short, all advantages… Or not?

Populating your web page with images is only possible if the potential reader gets to enjoy them, and this is something that can happen if the web page has an acceptable loading time. No SEO positioning is worth it on a website where no one stays. So, remember: “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

Welcome to another post about how to improve the.

Today, we will see how to generate a sitemap of your Prestashop store for Google. We have several options, although the two most common are to do it via modules. In this case, we have chosen the following:

• Google sitemap: It is the default Prestashop sitemap module. It’s free. In some initial versions of Prestashop 1.7, you will even have to download it since it is not installed. You can do it, and we recommend downloading the .zip file and uploading it manually from Modules.
• The configuration options of this module are limited but sufficient for small stores. It generates a single .xml file that, depending on the volume of URLs in your online store, may not be very accurate for the SEO technician since the Search Console will not allow you to differentiate coverage problems correctly.
• LGSitemap: This Graphic Line module is much more complete when it comes to generating the sitemap since it allows you to create different sitemaps for both products and categories, thus facilitating what we mentioned before, being able to differentiate in Search Console in case there are coverage problems.
• It is one that we recommend to clients since it also allows you to configure the image’s priority, frequency, and size and allows the possibility of including or excluding hidden products.
• Sitemap by DevBlinders: This module from the Prestashop DevBlinders development agency is a FREE and complete alternative; it even works for multi-language stores since it separates the different sitemaps according to language. You can choose what type of sitemaps to generate. It is undoubtedly our recommendation to use. Excellent work from these colleagues who are improving daily the range of modules focused on SEO at no cost.

There is also the option of creating the sitemap manually using an external program such as Screaming Frog, which, if your website is small, the free version should work. Here is your manual on how to do it, although it is in English: 

Wondering how much a WooCommerce online store costs is essential before setting out to create a business. In this article, I tell you how much it costs to create an online store with WooCommerce, but I go beyond the economic field. I will highlight some aspects that should be considered when considering the price of setting up e-commerce. However, it still needs to be paid, and if you’re planning to sell online, understanding how much an eCommerce website costs is essential so that you stay within your budget before you even launch it. It is not advisable to download many plugins or use a complicated design with javascript code,
Webasyst Shop-Script – an online store with a closed source contains several modules, downloaded plugins, and three design examples for your web page, costing 1,700 dollars. The average price of an essential website ranges from 350 to 800 dollars, corresponding to an online store (online or virtual store) of 750-4000 dollars. If you want to have a secure, stable electronic store with a “clean (functional) code and high-quality technical support, your virtual store will function properly and with high web traffic, perfectly withstanding any type of invasion (an attack cyber computing) – so the best option is a “licensed or paid” CMS (Webasyst Shop-Script). The second is given by the price of the online store, which is cheaper financially, but in the end,

Suppose you want users to find your store when they search for products like yours on Google. In that case, you will need the design and implementation in your store’s product sheets of the most appropriate keywords by search volume and level of competition after an exhaustive study of your sector on the internet. WooCommerce (read our WooCommerce review) is a plugin that allows you to run a professional-looking online store with WordPress. Then, I’ll share how much more you can expect to pay if you want to hire someone to do it. If the design of your e-commerce store matters to you (and you should), it may be worth looking into a specialist WooCommerce Theme.

Why is it essential to update PHP in your Hosting?

1. Security: Each new version of PHP includes security improvements, bug fixes and known vulnerabilities. Keeping PHP updated ensures you have the latest protections against potential attacks and security vulnerabilities.
2. Performance: New versions of PHP usually include performance improvements and optimizations. By updating to a newer version, you will notice faster speeds on your website.
3. Compatibility: PHP is widely used on the web, and many projects and libraries are based on specific versions of PHP. By keeping your PHP version up to date, you ensure compatibility with the latest technologies and tools.

What PHP has to do with your website

At SerpRisers, we like to think about this type of “problem” with a layer system to understand the different functioning of all the gears (server, technology and cms); in this case, we are facing the second layer. PHP is a programming language that runs directly on your Hosting, and WordPress is “made” on top of PHP.

Logically, the PHP version directly impacts your website’s work since it affects performance and incompatibilities. The main problems that your WordPress can have relative to the PHP version are that there are plugins or themes optimized for a particular understanding, and when you update said version, they stop working. That is why it is essential to have your plugins and articles updated.

How the WordPress version affects your website

The WordPress version is essential since it is the “base” of the web. Usually, the plugins that you install respect the internal functions of WordPress. Logically, when developers update their plugins, they do so following the official WordPress documentation.

In some new branches of WordPress (changes, for example, from 6.1 to 6.2), they usually “undo” old functions and add new ones, change their functionality, improve them…

If you don’t update WordPress, these new features won’t exist; if new plugins DO use them, they will fail. There will be incompatibilities if these functions change regarding names and performance, and they must be updated in the database.

What to keep in mind when updating the version of PHP and WordPress

First of all, it’s time to make a backup. Updating PHP and WordPress is not a “little feat”; there is usually some complication, mainly due to outdated plugins.

You must set up a test environment with the same current PHP version and install the backup (this process will depend almost exclusively on the database size but can take up to 1 hour ). You can then proceed to perform the update.

From experience, we usually find everything. From websites that update everything, there is no problem to websites that as soon as the PHP version is updated, the website stops working.

The more version jumps you have to update, the more problems there usually are. Updating from PHP 7.4 to 8.0 or WordPress 6.1 to 6.2 differs from upgrading from WordPress 5.8 to 6.2. You can see the “time” difference between the versions on the WordPress releases page.

How long does it take to update PHP/WordPress?

The correct answer is “it depends “. Each project and Hosting is different, and there is no standard. Generally, our PHP/WordPress updates usually take between 1 and 4 hours. But as we say, in some cases, we have encountered more problematic hostings since they did not allow downgrading the PHP version or did not allow changing the PHP configuration file (php.ini).

The breakdown of activities:

• Perform the backup: Between 10 – 60 minutes (depending on the website size).
• Create test environment: Approx 10 – 20 min.
• Import a copy to the test environment: 5 – 20 min (depending on the website size).
• Update WordPress: 5 min.
• Update PHP: 5 min
• Check that everything is correct and fix errors: 5min – x min (this is the complicated step; if it goes well, you don’t have to do anything. If there are errors, you have to debug and see possible solutions).
• Replicate in development: 10min – x min.

Who should be in charge of these tasks?

The development agency is usually responsible for the technical management and maintenance of the website. This includes updating WordPress, installing new versions of PHP, and implementing security best practices.

The SEO agency is not responsible for updating WordPress or PHP. However, it is recommended that they are informed about the updates and understand their impact on the performance and security of the website.

At SerpRisers, we have technical knowledge from our past as developers, so we usually take care of these tasks (billing as a separate service).

The importance of hosting in the PHP version

The choice of hosting when hiring a hosting service for your website is more important than you may believe since some hostings charge you an additional monthly cost if you have an old version of PHP, even if it does not imply an added cost for them. Still, it is another way to earn a few more euros.

Hosting should NOT charge more for using old versions, just as it should NOT charge for installing free security certificates (Let’s Encrypt).

As we mentioned, not all Hosting allows you to freely choose which version of PHP you run on their servers, so although it is not normal, we have found cases where the client has had to migrate hosting to have everything updated.

Why is it essential to update WordPress plugins?

Updating plugins on a WordPress site is essential for several reasons:

1. Security: Plugins are third-party software that integrates into your WordPress site. Over time, vulnerabilities may be discovered in these plugins. Developers often release updates to fix these security issues. If you update, your site may be protected from attacks.
2. Compatibility – WordPress is also updated regularly. Keeping your plugins outdated can cause compatibility issues with the latest version of WordPress. This can cause errors or even cause parts of your site not to work correctly.
3. Improved Features: Plugin developers often add new features or improve existing ones. By updating, you ensure you have access to the latest features and the best version of the plugin.
4. Optimization and Performance: Plugin updates often include code improvements that can make the plugin work faster or more efficiently. This can have a positive impact on the speed and performance of your website.
5. Bug Fixes: Besides security vulnerabilities, plugins may have errors or bugs. Updates often fix these issues to provide a smoother user experience.
6. Support and Assistance: If you experience problems with a plugin and seek help, the developer will likely ask you to ensure you have the most recent version before offering support.

Migrating a WordPress website can be a complex task, but with the right tools and knowledge, it is a process that can be done without problems. This article will explore different ways to migrate a WordPress site to another server or domain. We will learn about best practices and tools available to facilitate this process.

Things to keep in mind before doing a migration

When facing a hosting/WordPress provider migration, you must be clear about what needs to be migrated, namely:

• Files: This is what makes your CMS (WordPress/Prestashop) work correctly. Transferring all the files to avoid possible incidents in the new hosting is essential. Typically, it is downloaded via SSH (hosting is in charge in 99% of cases) or with a script that connects the different panels (cpanel-cpanel / cpanel-plesk).
• Databases: Just as important as files. There are not always databases (in the case of flat HTML websites), but in 98% of cases, there are. And they must be migrated, respecting, of course, the users of these databases and their passwords.
• Email: If you do not have a service dedicated to this topic (such as Google Workspace), email is usually managed within your hosting provider. In this case, most hosting uses the cPanel panel, which saves the emails as files, so although this part usually goes under” Files “, you have to be clear about how the client has it set up to know how to proceed with this section.

In most hosting, if you contract an annual plan with them, they migrate you for free; in any case, confirming it with the new hosting before contracting is good. We recommend sending them a ticket/email telling them the total size your website occupies (or rather, the entire space you occupy in the hosting) and the server panel you have (cPanel/Plesk are the most used).

Ways to migrate a WordPress

If you have to migrate your website, there are several ways to migrate your WordPress website to your new hosting. Let’s see what they are:

Manual migration via zip

The first option is to compress all the files on your current hosting and export them to the new one. In this case, we will make the guide for the cPanel panel, which is the most used.

1. We will enter the file manager, which is still like FTP access from a web page (not precisely, but for practical purposes, it is the same).
2. Next, we go to the root folder of our web page. Usually, it will be public_html.
3. We select all the files and click to compress.
4. We select zip format and compress the files.

This process generates a .zip file with all our files on the old hosting, but we still have to remove the database. To do this, we have to go to phpmyadmin.

1. We access phpMyAdmin from cpanel.
2. We select the database where our WordPress is hosted (we pixelate the actual name of our databases for security).
3. We go to the Export section, leave the Quick option (no need to customize) and click Export.

It will generate a .sql format file containing what is necessary to create the tables and insert all the data into the future new database.

Migration via All-in-One Import

As an “alternative” (be careful, we put it in quotes because although it can also be done, we must be clear about the peculiarities of this method), we can also use the All-in-One Migration plugin, which you can download from here: Link.

This program works so that it makes a backup copy of all the “non-common” elements between WordPress. To explain a little better:

WordPress, in terms of files, is made up of three main folders:

• Wp-admin: All the files that make your administration panel (back office) work.
• Wp-content: All the files that “the user uploads”, including the theme, plugins, images, etc. This is the important one that we want to “migrate.”
• Wp-includes: All files that include WordPress functionalities.

Both wp-admin and wp-includes are familiar to all WordPress, as long as they are the same version. The only thing that changes are two things: the database and the wp-content folder. Knowing that the plugin we mentioned only makes a copy of these two things, you must be careful about installing the same version of WordPress that you had before on the new hosting.

Follow this recommendation and install a new version of WordPress to avoid problems and incompatibilities with some themes/plugins.

Let’s get down to business:

1. Once the plugin is installed, we go to Export.
2. We leave the advanced options without touching anything and directly click Export to -> File.
3. The process may take a few minutes, depending on the files’ size and the database. It generates a file with its .wpress extension that contains, as we have said, files and a database. Once it has finished, it will ask you to save the file. Now, it would be:

• • Install a WordPress on the new hosting.
  • Install the All-in-one Migration plugin again on the latest WordPress.
  • Import the .wpress file.

Once the process is finished, you can enter the administration panel with the old accesses. We strongly recommend that you regenerate the .htaccess file. The easiest way is to change the Permalinks settings. Remember to leave the settings you had. This is done so WordPress restores the file and leaves it as default.

Migration via hosting

As we have mentioned before, in most hosting, they give you the migration for free, although it depends on the amount of the hosting. They commonly provide a “minimum” to qualify for that free migration. If your hosting takes care of this, you must provide them with the following information:

• Access to cPanel: So they can migrate files/databases.
• List of emails and passwords: It depends on where you have the emails managed. They need the users and emails to replicate them in the new hosting and migrate the emails. This step is optional if you use an external email service like Google Workspace.

Remember that you would also have to manage the domain transfer, which, although it is not mandatory, it is common for the domain to be registered at the same registrar where you have the hosting. For .com domains, the auth code is required to request this transfer.