You might already have social media pages. You might get some work through word of mouth. You might even be wondering whether Google, online directories, and AI search tools have changed the game so much that a website no longer matters.

But for most businesses, the answer is still yes. A website is still one of the most useful business assets you can have.

Not because it’s something you’re supposed to have. Because it gives your business a home online that you own, control, and can build on over time.

A social media page can help people discover you. A website helps them understand what you do, trust you, and take the next step.

Why people are asking this question

A few years ago, having a website felt like a given. Now, it feels more optional to some business owners.

That makes sense.

There are more ways to show up online than ever before. You can post on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, list your business in directories, create a Google Business Profile, send people to a booking link, or build a following on LinkedIn. If you’re already getting some attention through those channels, it’s easy to wonder whether a website is still worth the investment.

And when budgets are tight, it’s normal to question everything.

If you’re choosing carefully where your money goes, you want to know what’s actually going to help your business grow. You don’t want to invest in something just because it used to be standard.

That’s exactly why this question matters.

What a website gives you that social media can’t

The biggest difference is simple. Your website is yours.

Your social media accounts are useful, but they sit on borrowed space. The platform decides what people see, how often your content gets shown, what features matter, and what rules apply. Algorithms change. Reach drops. Platforms come and go. Accounts get restricted or hacked. Features you relied on can disappear.

Your website doesn’t work like that.

It gives you a space you control. You decide how your business is presented, what information matters most, where people click next, and how your brand comes across.

That matters more than many business owners realise.

A website lets you bring everything together in one place. Your services, your story, your FAQs, your contact details, your testimonials, your blog content, your offers. Instead of hoping someone pieces it together from a few posts and a profile bio, you can guide them clearly.

That creates a better experience for your potential clients, and usually a better outcome for your business too.

Do I still need a website if I use social media?

Yes, probably. But it helps to think of social media and your website as doing different jobs.

Social media is great for visibility, connection, and staying top of mind. It can help people discover your business, get a feel for your brand, and engage with what you share.

Your website is where people go when they want more.

When someone is thinking seriously about working with you, they usually want somewhere clear and reliable to check the details. They want to know what you do, who you help, how to contact you, and whether your business feels credible.

That’s hard to do well through social media alone.

Posts get buried. Information is scattered. Service details are limited. Important content gets lost in the feed.

A website gives people one clear place to land when they’re ready to learn more or take action.

So it’s not really a question of website or social media.

For most businesses, social media works best when it supports a strong website, not when it replaces one.

A website helps people find you in search

This is another reason websites still matter.

When people search for businesses, services, or answers online, your website helps you show up in ways that social media often can’t.

That includes traditional search engines like Google, but it also matters more now for AI-based search and answer tools.

If your website clearly explains what you do, who you help, and the kinds of questions your audience is asking, it gives search engines and AI tools better information to work with. It helps your business become easier to find and easier to understand.

Your website can also act as the main source of truth about your business online.

That’s important. Because when your information is clear and consistent in one place, it supports everything else you’re doing online as well.

Your website is the base for your marketing

A good website doesn’t sit off to the side while all your marketing happens somewhere else.

It supports everything.

When you post on social media, where do you want people to go next?

When you send an email, where should the link take them?

When someone hears about your business through a referral, where do they go to check you out?

When someone finds you through search, what will help them decide whether to contact you?

Usually, the answer is your website.

That’s why it helps to think of your website as the base for your online presence. Your other marketing channels can bring people in, but your website gives them somewhere solid to land.

Without that base, marketing can start to feel scattered. You’re putting effort into visibility, but you don’t always have a strong place to send people once they notice you.

What kind of return can a website give a small business?

Not every return is immediate or easy to measure in a simple straight line. But that doesn’t mean the value isn’t there.

A website can support your business by helping people trust you faster. It can save you time by answering common questions. It can improve the quality of enquiries by helping people understand what you offer before they get in touch.

It can help you show up in search. It can support referrals by giving people somewhere easy to send others. It can keep working for you in the background, even when you’re not actively posting.

That’s part of what makes it a business asset.

It isn’t just there to look nice. It helps your business communicate, attract, support, and convert.

Signs your current setup might not be enough

If you’re still unsure whether a website matters for your business, it can help to look at how your current setup is working.

You might need a stronger website presence if:

• people mostly contact you through DMs because there’s nowhere better to send them
• your services are hard to explain properly on social media
• your business is hard to find on Google
• your online presence feels scattered
• there’s no one clear place that reflects your brand well
• you’ve grown, but your website hasn’t kept up
• you’re relying heavily on platforms you don’t control

Sometimes the issue isn’t whether you have a website. It’s whether your current website is doing its job.

Sometimes thinking about building (or rebuilding) your website can feel overwhelming. This is an issue many of our clients feel before we work together. Here are five common barriers to getting your website built/updated that our clients have told us about and how we help you move past them.

What a good small business website should do

A good website doesn’t have to be huge or fancy.

But it should do a few important things well.

• It should clearly explain what you do.
• It should help the right people see that they’re in the right place.
• It should reflect your business professionally.
• It should make it easy to take the next step.

And it should give you a digital space that supports your wider marketing, rather than making everything harder.

That’s the real value.

A website should make your online presence feel clearer, stronger, and easier to grow from.

A simple way to review your current online presence

If you’re wondering whether your current setup is enough, start here.

Ask yourself:

• Can people easily find my business online?
• Do I have a digital space I fully control?
• Is there one clear place I send people to learn more?
• Does my online presence reflect the quality of my business?
• Is my website helping my marketing, or just existing?

You can also test the technical side of your current website using tools like Google’s Rich Results Test, https://www.seobility.net/en/seocheck/ , or the Page Speed Test, https://pagespeed.web.dev/

Those won’t tell you everything, but they can help you spot issues and start asking better questions about how well your website is supporting your business.

So, do you still need a website?

For most small businesses, yes.

You still need a website because it gives your business a home online that you own. It helps people find you, understand you, trust you, and take action. It supports your marketing instead of competing with it. And it gives you a stronger foundation than relying only on platforms you don’t control.

If your website is doing that already, great.

If it isn’t, or if you’re relying mostly on social media and hoping it’s enough, this might be a good time to step back and look at whether your current setup is really giving your business the best possible base for growth.

Ready to talk about updating (or getting) your website?

Get in touch and let’s talk https://twosparrows.co.nz/get-in-touch/

Photo by Nick Fancher, Unsplash

The post Do I still need a website? appeared first on Two Sparrows.

A business blog is a section of your website that publishes helpful, searchable articles related to your services and industry. It increases your visibility in search, builds authority, warms up potential clients, and creates more opportunities for your business to be found online.

Let’s clear something up.

A business blog is not an online diary.

It’s not a place to share random updates.

And it’s definitely not something you do just because “everyone says you should.”

A business blog is a strategic part of your website.

It’s a collection of helpful, searchable articles that answer questions, build trust, and help the right people find you online.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your business needs one, this will help you make sense of it.

So, what is a blog in a business context?

A business blog is a section of your website where you publish articles related to:

• Your services
• Your industry
• Your clients’ questions
• Common problems you solve
• Insights and expertise

Each blog post is its own individual page on your website.

It’s not separate from your site. It lives within it. Usually under a “Blog” or “Insights” section in your main navigation.

Think of it as your knowledge library.

Your services pages explain what you do. Your blog shows how you think.

And that difference matters.

Where does a blog sit on your website?

Technically, your blog sits as a section within your main website structure.

For example:

• yourwebsite.co.nz/blog
• yourwebsite.co.nz/insights

Each post then has its own URL. That matters because every blog post becomes another searchable page.

Instead of having just five core pages on your website, you might have:

• 5 service pages
• 20 blog posts

That’s 25 opportunities to be found in search.

Your blog is not a side project. It is part of your core website ecosystem.

Why do businesses have blogs?

There are a few reasons. And they’re all strategic.

1. To be found in search

When people Google specific questions, they are rarely searching for your homepage.

They’re typing things like:

• “How long does a bathroom renovation take?”
• “Does blogging help SEO?”
• “What’s included in IT managed services?”

Blog posts answer those kinds of questions. And when you answer them clearly, you give your website more chances to appear in search results.

2. To build trust before someone contacts you

Most people don’t enquire the first time they land on a website.

They browse. They read. They assess.

A blog helps potential clients understand:

• How you think
• What you value
• How you explain things
• Whether you feel like someone they’d trust

It shortens the trust-building process. It helps them get to know you better.

3. To position yourself as an expert

Anyone can say they’re experienced.

A blog demonstrates it.

When you consistently publish thoughtful, helpful content, you create a body of work that shows:

• Depth of knowledge
• Clarity of thinking
• Real-world experience

That’s powerful.

How does a blog actually bring in business?

This is the question people really want answered.

A blog brings in business in a few different ways.

It attracts the right traffic

Each blog post can rank for specific search terms.

That means people who are actively looking for information related to your services can find you.

Not random traffic. Relevant traffic.

It warms people up

If someone reads two or three of your blog posts before contacting you, they’re already half-sold.

They understand your approach. They’ve heard your voice. They trust your expertise.

That makes sales conversations easier.

It supports your wider marketing

Blogs are not just for Google or AI search.

They can be:

• Shared on LinkedIn
• Sent to your email list
• Referenced in proposals
• Linked in sales conversations

One well-written blog can support multiple marketing channels. It becomes an asset, not a one-off post.

Is a blog different from social media?

Yes. Completely.

Social media is rented space. Your blog is owned space.

If Instagram disappears tomorrow, your content disappears with it.

Your blog lives on your website. You control it. You benefit from it long term.

Social posts are short-lived. Blog posts build over time. They accumulate authority, traffic, and relevance.

How often should a business blog?

This is where people get stuck. It’s not about posting every week because someone said you should. It’s about consistency and strategy.

For most small to medium businesses, that might look like different things depending on where you are in your blogging journey:

• Once or twice a month.
• One high-quality blog per month.
• Or one every six to eight weeks.

What matters more than frequency is:

• Clear topics aligned with your services
• Answering real client questions
• Consistency over time

A neglected blog with three posts from 2021 does not do much. A steadily growing blog library does.

What makes a business blog effective?

Without getting into how to write one, an effective business blog should:

• Focus on one clear topic per post
• Answer a real question
• Be structured clearly
• Link to your services
• Reflect your actual experience

It should support your business goals, not exist for the sake of content.

If it’s not helping people move closer to working with you, it’s not doing its job.

Does every business need a blog?

Not necessarily. If your business relies entirely on referrals and you’re fully booked year-round, you might not prioritise it.

But if you want:

• More consistent enquiries
• Better visibility online
• Less reliance on social media
• A stronger authority position

Then yes. A blog is one of the most practical tools available to you.

A blog is not a hobby. It’s infrastructure.

This is the shift in thinking that changes everything.

Your blog is not “extra.” It’s part of your website infrastructure.

It:

• Expands your search visibility
• Builds authority
• Warms up leads
• Supports sales conversations
• Strengthens your brand

When done strategically, it becomes one of the hardest-working parts of your website.

And unlike paid ads, it keeps working long after it’s published.

A blog only works if it’s done properly and done consistently

If you want blog content that aligns with your services, answers real client questions, and quietly strengthens your online presence over time, we can help.

Send us a message and let’s talk about ongoing business blogging support.

This article was written by Katrina Pace from Collected Copy

The post A practical guide to blogs for business owners appeared first on Two Sparrows.

From the young age of 17, Melissa has been making a difference to families lives through cleaning. Her first job was at Ronald McDonald House® in Auckland, a “home-away-from-home” for families to retreat after a day spent in hospital. Melissa was later promoted to head housekeeper and team leader. The job was rewarding but demanding – it often meant working late nights and weekends. It was while she was on maternity leave with her youngest that Melissa made the leap to self-employment to work more family-friendly hours.

With some encouragement from her husband and great feedback from her clients – she wasn’t sure about being a business owner at first – Melissa moved from sole trader to business owner of The House Cleaning Company in 2023.

Her reputation as a reliable cleaner flourished through word of mouth. Melissa’s auntie jumped on board, she got her systems set up, and she’s now running a highly successful company helping West Auckland families – and, soon, businesses too.

For Melissa, it’s always been so much more than cleaning.

Melissa’s time at Ronald McDonald House® was meaningful because she could help provide a clean, comfortable and healthy space for families going through a stressful and vulnerable time.

Melissa says it’s the sense of relief families get from having a regular cleaner they can trust which makes cleaning such a beautiful service.

“It’s a relief coming home knowing you don’t have to worry. You can just relax and be with your family. It’s about giving you your time back.”

What business was like before working with Two Sparrows.

Although Melissa’s business grew through word of mouth, she was experiencing a major booking barrier: she wasn’t receiving enquiries from her website.

“I wasn’t getting any enquiries, phone calls, emails, nothing,” Melissa explains.

At one point, she assumed people had lost interest. But at the time her website was dark and unwelcoming, and the messaging was off. Search engine optimisation was non-existent. It didn’t reflect Melissa’s passion, personality, skill – or the value she brings.

This led Melissa to connect with Two Sparrows – and Katrina Pace at Collected Copy – to work on her website.

The results: the website ‘helps tremendously’.

Melissa has seen a sharp increase in bookings and enquiries. Where she used to have one or two bookings a day, she now has three or four.

She puts that down to, “How the website looks, how it talks to my customers and it’s easy to navigate. The information’s there and it’s clear. I think it helps tremendously.”

Melissa is also seeing great results with her Google rankings. She now appears as one of the top sites on Google for her chosen keywords.

Continuing the clean theme, her new website has a light digital footprint (it emits minimal carbon) making it cleaner page-by-page than 83% – 91% of pages tested worldwide. (Based on calculations by the website carbon calculator tool: websitecarbon.com)

Supporting families in West Auckland.

The House Cleaning Company is now officially a husband-and-wife team. Together they provide cleaning for clients in West Auckland including: Huapai, Kumeū, Whenuapai, Hobsonville, Massey, Muriwai, Swanson, Rānui and Riverhead.

You can choose from a quick refresh; a standard, premium or deep clean package; a move out or move in clean, and several add-ons.

Depending on your budget and why you need a cleaner, The House Cleaning Company can do anything from a light clean for your kitchen or bathroom to a deep clean which leaves no corner untouched. Don’t we all want someone else to take care of those jobs we keep putting off – like removing cobwebs, dusting skirting boards and cleaning windows?

If you’re not sure what you’re after, there’s a handy space on Melissa’s refreshed website which allows you to compare her cleaning packages.

What’s next for Melissa?

A year on from the launch of her new website, Melissa’s business continues to grow, allowing her to support even more families to reclaim their time, reduce their stress and live in a space that brings them peace.

Melissa now has several weekly clients. She’s taking move-out cleaning bookings up to November. And she secured her first commercial contract beginning next year.

Commercial cleaning is an area Melissa’s expanding into. She’s also keen to have enough work to hire a permanent part-timer or two (while keeping true to her small family-focused ethos) so she can step back from the tools in a few years.

With more traction, she will be in a position to hire someone and focus her time on the business. This will mean she can be flexible with her hours and spend extra time with her husband and children.

Melissa loves her new website and is confident it will support her ambitions of growing her cleaning business.

How to connect with The House Cleaning Company.

You can contact Melissa for a free quote here. You can also phone 022 584 1062 or email: thehousecleaningcompany.nz@gmail.com

Two Sparrows worked with The House Cleaning Company to design, build and host their new website.

The post A case study: The House Cleaning Company appeared first on Two Sparrows.

It’s one of those things that sits on the to-do list, but somehow never gets ticked off.

Whether it’s money, time, or bad past experiences, there are plenty of understandable reasons people delay starting a website project.

At Two Sparrows, we believe ethical, inclusive, and sustainable design starts with understanding your needs – and that includes the things getting in your way.

Here are five common barriers to getting your website built/updated that our clients have told us about, and how we help you move past them.

1. “I can’t afford it” – the cost of a website

Cost is one of the biggest hurdles when it comes to updating or building a website. Especially if you’re a solo business owner or a small organisation trying to make ends meet, the price tag on a professionally built site can feel overwhelming.

There’s often a perception that it’s a luxury – something you do later when the business has “made it.”

That’s when the $500 website trap becomes tempting.

These offers seem like a bargain, but the reality is that they often come with hidden costs like poor performance, slow loading times, no SEO strategy, and no support when things go wrong. Or the $500 fee is quickly dwarfed by expensive monthly “subscriptions”.

Often, you end up with a site that maybe looks okay but doesn’t function well, isn’t inclusive or accessible, and doesn’t help your business grow.

At Two Sparrows, we approach cost differently.

Yes, we believe in charging fairly for the value and expertise we bring. And that value and expertise is in everything we do. We also recognise the current economic climate and that many good people are doing it tough. That’s why we also offer flexible payment plans and are open to working within an achievable budget by scoping a scaled-back version of the project that still delivers on your goals. If we’re a good fit, we’ll do our best to make it work.

2. “I can do it myself with a website builder” – the DIY myth

It’s never been easier to build your own website.

With drag-and-drop platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify, you can set up a website in a weekend with a few clicks, no coding required. And for some businesses — like small hobby projects or temporary landing pages — that might be enough.

But here’s the thing: DIY website builders are built for simplicity, not strategy. They don’t ask the deep questions about your brand, your audience, your accessibility needs, your long-term vision, or how you want people to feel when they land on your site.

They’re designed to get a website up quickly and not necessarily one that’s inclusive, sustainable, or even helps to grow your business.

At Two Sparrows, we work with purpose-driven people who want their website to do more than exist, they want it to communicate clearly, feel aligned with their values, and grow with their business.

Yes, you can do it yourself. But if you want a website that reflects your unique voice and values, converts visitors into clients, and is built with accessibility, sustainability, and longevity in mind, we’re here for that.

3. “I’ve had a bad experience in the past” – and I don’t want to go through that again

This one hits close to home for many people.

We’ve heard stories of websites being half-finished, developers disappearing, passwords being withheld, and support vanishing the minute the site goes live. It’s not just frustrating, it can leave you feeling powerless, burnt out, and wary of starting again.

Trust is the foundation of any good working relationship, and we know how hard it is to rebuild that once it’s been broken.

That’s why we take a different approach. You’ll always have a direct line to the person working on your site. No offshore support desks or disappearing acts. Our designers and coders are all based in Aotearoa New Zealand, and we proudly sport the New Zealand Made badge (see it in our footer below!). We use transparent and straightforward contracts so you know exactly what to expect, and we outline what happens if anything doesn’t go to plan (for either side).

You’ll also have our ongoing support after the launch. Not just to fix bugs, but to help you continue growing.

We know the website industry hasn’t always been fair, inclusive, or transparent. We’re here to change that, one project at a time.

4. “I don’t want to be locked in” – the platform trap

Many people come to us after being burned by platforms or developers who held all the keys — domain names they didn’t control, websites they couldn’t edit, and contracts that made it near-impossible to switch providers. It’s a terrible feeling, and it’s one we never want our clients to experience.

That’s why we build websites using WordPress which is a flexible, open-source platform used by over 40% of the internet. You’ll own your website and your domain name.

You’ll have full admin access. And while we’ve developed our own unique way of building WordPress sites, any good developer could pick up what we’ve built with no need to start from scratch.

In short, we build your website to be yours, not something we keep control over to force you to stay.

Of course, we hope you’ll want to keep working with us. But if life takes you in a different direction, your website won’t hold you back.

5. “I don’t need a website – I have social media”

This is one we hear a lot, and we get it.

Social media is easy to use, free (ish), and already full of your audience. It might seem like a website is unnecessary when you’ve got an active Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok following.

But here’s the thing: you don’t own your social media platforms.

You’re building your business on rented land. Algorithms change. Accounts get hacked. Platforms lose popularity or disappear. And all that content, community, and work? Gone.

A website is your online home. It’s the one place where people can find everything they need – what you do, how you do it, who you help, and how to get in touch – all without the noise and distraction of a feed. It also gives you control over your message, your brand, your accessibility, and your data.

We believe your social media should support your website, not replace it. When the two work together, that’s when your digital presence becomes powerful, consistent, and resilient.

Ready to get started – or just want to talk it through?

You don’t have to know everything before reaching out. We’re here to guide you through the process, answer your questions, and help you feel confident moving forward.

Let’s have a no-pressure chat and see what’s possible – even if you’re still just figuring things out.

This article was written with the help of Katrina Pace of Collected Copy.
Image (top of page) credit: Deagreez, istockphoto.com

The post Common barriers to getting started with your website appeared first on Two Sparrows.

It wasn’t just about updating the design—it was about ensuring our website aligned with our core values: being eco-led, user-led, and client-led (us being the client, achieving that one was easy!).

We needed to rethink everything, from content and structure to how we use images and animations.

The result? A website that reflects our commitment to the principles we advocate for in our work: sustainability, usability, and accessibility; and built using the same techniques we apply to client projects.

How our website reflects our values

Reducing our digital footprint (being eco-led)

Why we want to be eco-led.

After seeing the impact of global change in New Zealand and around the Pacific, many businesses, like ours, and individuals are taking steps to reduce their environmental impact, but many haven’t thought about the environmental impact of their digital marketing – and a website is often the main asset they have.

We think about the ecological impact of every design and code decision when we build websites – from elements like content, images and animation, to our plugin and hosting choices.

How we did this on our own website.

When we tested our old WordPress website homepage using the Website Carbon Rating System (a Sustainable Web Design collaboration initiative), the results were sobering. It achieved a Carbon rating of D, meaning it was dirtier than 54% of all web pages globally:

So, to make our own website more eco-conscious, we

• worked with a copywriter (Katrina Pace at Collected Copy) to refine and optimise our content,
• redesigned the site, being conscious of the impact each decision could have on efficiency,
• streamlined our code and theme,
• optimised all images and animations,
• were ruthlessly selective in our plugin choices
• and removed unnecessary elements to reduce energy consumption.

The results speak for themselves: our website homepage now achieves a Carbon rating of A+, meaning it’s now cleaner than 92% of all web pages globally.

Some might ask, why does this matter? (We’ve covered this in more detail in this blog about whether building eco-conscious websites really makes a difference.) Put simply, a website with a lower carbon footprint is not only better for the environment, but also faster and more efficient.

A lighter, well-optimised site means better performance, and that directly benefits both users and search rankings.

This shift aligns with our eco-led approach, ensuring our digital footprint is as light as possible without compromising on functionality or design.

Now our website (still built in WordPress) is a good example of sustainable web design.

Designing for accessibility and ease of use (being user-led)

Why we want to be user-led.

We want everyone who visits your website to have a positive experience, so we keep them in front of our minds as we design. A good experience means that your potential customers or clients are more likely to interact with you and help you grow your business.

We strive to make our designs consciously inclusive of those who interact with them, whether through language, accessibility, or functionality.

How we did this on our own website.

Website accessibility isn’t just about ticking boxes—it’s about ensuring a seamless experience for people with diverse needs. Therefore we’ve been investing time in improving our understanding of accessibility and how our website might be used by users with diverse ways of interacting with online content.

A big thanks to Planit, who we consulted with at the beginning of this year and who helped us learn a great deal about best practices for making websites more inclusive.

We’ve made improvements across multiple areas, including:

• Thoughtful colour combinations for readability
• Improved code structure for screen readers
• Clear labeling and strict use of heading hierarchies for better navigation

This was a significant shift for Imelda as a designer, but one of the big things we’ve learned is that accessibility should never be an afterthought or tacked on to the end of a project. It needs to be integrated into the design process from the beginning if it’s going to be effective.

By prioritising usability, we’ve stayed true to our user-led value. Our new site is easier to navigate, loads faster, and provides a better overall experience for everyone.

So, what do you think of our new website?

We really want to hear from you. How easy is our new website to use? Have we missed anything? Is there something you think we’ve done particularly well?

Your feedback helps us improve—so let us know your thoughts!

And if you want the same for your website, check out what we can offer you.

The post Why we updated our website appeared first on Two Sparrows.

At Two Sparrows, we believe this same inclusivity should be extended to digital experiences, particularly in how we develop and design websites. That’s why two of our four business values are being diversity and user-led in all we do. They both neatly tie-in together, so we’re going to talk about them both as being “user-led”.

We want to stress, there’s still a lot we need to learn about this topic. We’re always keen to receive feedback from people with lived experience – this blog is what we’ve learned so far in this space.

How many people live with disabilities in New Zealand?

A quarter of New Zealand’s population (one in four), identify as having a physical, sensory, learning, mental health or other disability. That’s a lot of people who may be using a website differently.

Disabilities can be genetic, but also can be from a serious injury or accident. Accessible web design makes sure no one’s left out.

How we view disability matters

Two Sparrows views disability through a hope-based (not deficit) lens inspired by quotes like this from the Independent Living Charitable Trust blog on Enabling Good Lives:

“The new definition of disability focuses not on the impairment itself, but rather how the impairment affects the person, or overcoming barriers a person faces. It challenges us to consider how society disables or excludes someone or has designed something that assumes everyone is the same, thus disadvantaging those with a disability… the challenge now is how to adapt the system to ensure people with disabilities can live as productively as others and access services easily.”

As more and more of our lives are organised online – from finding a job to booking a service provider, paying bills to requesting prescriptions, and being educated or entertained – if websites are not built with inclusivity in mind, we’re shutting out millions of people from engaging in vital, everyday activities. Going online should be easy, welcoming and safe.

We need to do our bit.

But how do we do this?

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is a comprehensive set of standards for designers and developers to achieve different levels of accessibility, from A to AAA. It details a range of factors including text alternatives, audio descriptions, sensory characteristics, animations, colour contrasts, and much more. These guidelines are full of tips and strategies we can start learning and adopting now.

In Europe, the European Accessibility Act is enforced with hefty fines for failure to comply. At the moment, businesses turning over less than €2 million are exempt from these standards… but for how long?

As well as supporting disabled people, the European Accessibility Act is expected to benefit businesses too, as it opens new opportunities for them to create accessible products and removes barriers and inconsistencies between member states. Approved by the European Parliament on 13 March 2019, it is the EU’s first legislation in this area. By the end of June 2022, all European member states were required to adopt and publish all necessary laws, regulations and processes to be compliant with the Act.

In Aotearoa, the NZ Government Web Accessibility Standard applies to every Public Service department and Non-Public Service department in the State Services. How long until New Zealand starts to enforce these requirements across the private sector?

But rather than wait until it’s enshrined in law, we believe we have a responsibility to act now. Why wait? We care about those who have difficulties using New Zealand websites right now.

Again, it’s a constant learning process for us. We can’t say we are experts yet, but we are curious and committed to being as inclusive as possible. We’re driven to learn about how we can ensure the websites we build meet minimum, and then higher standards for accessibility.

We’re checking our bias

We’re designing and building websites for people with different physical, mental and intellectual abilities and needs – so removing assumptions that others will think, act and respond the same way as us is a good place to start. We’re interested in learning about digital experiences from people with disabilities to see what’s the most frustrating and prohibitive about their time online – and in turn, what’s the most helpful.

We treat you like a person, not just a lead, prospect or subscriber

We’re not a fan of business language that dehumanises others, reducing you to an email address or a field on prospect software. Being diversity-led and user-led is not just about accessibility. It’s about being conscious of you as a person. A person who deserves respect when you visit a website we’ve built. This goes into every aspect of the website from copywriting that’s not pushy, to what data is collected and what is done with it, to design that’s not overstimulating.

How do we represent diverse communities visually?

We are careful to choose imagery and language that carefully, sensitively and respectfully represents communities. We always ask for photos of your people first – as they’re infinitely more powerful and authentic than stock images. If we do need to use stock imagery, we’re careful to ensure it reflects different ethnicities, cultures, ages and body sizes. We’re also interested in normalising and representing the use of various aids, such as hearing aids, sensory products, and wheelchairs and service animals.

What about the language we use?

We’re committed to becoming as sensitive, culturally appropriate, psychologically safe, and inclusive as possible with our clients’ written content. This ranges from using genderless language to rejecting ableist terms and never using mental or physical health language unless it’s specifically about a mental or physical health experience.

We’re also big on plain language principles, so making sure text is easy to understand and doesn’t use jargon or acronyms (or if it must, there’s a glossary).

As avid readers, we’re sensitive to tone and the way words can have a positive and uplifting impact. This also means we don’t like focusing on pain points or making a person feel “less-than” or shame because they don’t use – or can’t afford – the product or service advertised on the website.

When we get it wrong, we’re not defensive. We do our best to take onboard feedback of where we could do better.

What do we do to respect our clients’ and website users’ privacy?

Another thing we take very seriously is your privacy including how we collect, store and use your data. We’re transitioning from Google Analytics to Matomo Analytics for this reason. Matomo is a web analytics platform that gives you full ownership of your data. If you have international clients this is great, as you’ll also be GDPR and CCPA compliant.

Do you have a story to tell?

We would love to hear your real-world stories of what has made your use of a website hard, or impossible. Please tell us – we want to do better.

• What did it stop you from achieving?
• Who have you seen that does it well?
• What would your ideal website experience look like?

We’re not waiting for New Zealand’s accessibility laws to catch up. We’re motivated to make a difference now, so we’re doing the learning so we can build better websites for all users. Watch this space as we take this journey. And we hope we’ve inspired you to join us!

Want to learn more? Here’s some extra reading.

https://www.whaikaha.govt.nz/assets/About-us/Corporate-Publications/Annual-Reports/2020-12-07-Annual-Report-2020-accessible.pdf

https://ilsnz.org/blogs/news/enabling-good-lives-principles-to-provide-equity-for-those-living-with-disabilities

https://thediversitymovement.com/say-this-not-that-a-guide-for-inclusive-language/

https://www.inclusion-europe.eu/european-accessibility-act/#easy-to-read

This article was written with the help of copywriter & editor, Katie Rickson.

The post Our promise to you: Two Sparrows is always learning how to create more accessible websites appeared first on Two Sparrows.

While it would be convenient to launch a site and leave it untouched, that approach doesn’t account for evolving technology, new security risks, and outdated functionality.

According to the Databox website age survey, around 34% of small to medium businesses noticed a drop-off in lead volume and traffic because of an outdated website. So, if your traffic is tanking, maybe it’s time for an update?

In the same survey, 49% had done a full website redesign in the past two years.

So, what’s the real lifespan of a website, particularly a website built on WordPress?

The short lifespan of an untouched website

If left alone, the typical website might last two to three years before running into significant issues. But there’s a caveat: without regular updates, your WordPress website could face problems much sooner.

Why?

WordPress, like any other platform, relies on regular updates for both the core system and plugins. These updates are not just about keeping up with the latest features; they’re critical for security. And if you have bought a theme, you’ll need to keep up with those updates too.

Old, unmaintained websites become prime targets for hackers, leading to security risks that can compromise your business.

Additionally, plugins you’ve relied on to deliver functionality can quickly become obsolete without updates.

For instance, when was the last time you tested your contact form? If you haven’t received a message in a while, it could be because the form isn’t working anymore. And, this might be because you’ve not updated your website plugins for a while.

How often should I be updating my WordPress website plugins?

You should aim to update the plugins on your WordPress website at least once a month. However, if a security update is released, it’s best to update your plugins immediately to prevent any vulnerabilities.
Here’s a general guideline:

• Critical security updates: As soon as possible after release.
• Regular plugin updates: Every month to ensure smooth functionality and compatibility.
• WordPress core updates: As soon as they are stable (often tested a few days after release to make sure they don’t introduce bugs).

It’s always a good idea to set up a regular backup schedule before running updates, so if anything goes wrong, you can easily revert to a previous version.

The lifespan of a maintained website (4-5+ years)

On the other hand, a well-maintained website can last significantly longer than 2-3 years.

With consistent updates to WordPress core and plugins, your site can last around 4-5 years, or even longer in some cases.

Technology, however, never stands still. Keeping up with advances is key to maintaining your website’s competitive edge, and that’s where regular maintenance and audits come in.

Should you update your website?

Regular updates keep your site aligned with your business and customer expectations.

Here are some things to think about when considering a website update.

• Have your business goals changed and how is your website supporting your current goals?
• Have you added new products, services, or expanded into new markets? Your website should reflect these changes.
• Do you have any new insights about your customers that can impact what content or functionality they need? If your site isn’t aligned with these changes, it may not be effectively helping you reach your business goals or serving your audience’s needs.
• What industry changes do you see happening? Are people looking for help differently or expecting to see new functions, content or information?
• How is my website performing? Are people still visiting my website? Are they navigating through my website to the right pages? Can they book online? Does everything load as it should? Have my search rankings declined?
• Are people still booking or buying?
• What are others in my industry doing?

How to maximise the lifespan of your website

To truly get the most out of your website investment, regular updates and performance checks are essential.

This is where we come in.

When we build you a website, you get to benefit from our maintained hosting service. We provide monthly updates to WordPress core and your plugins, ensuring that your website remains secure and fully functional. And because we built your website, we know it inside and out, making it easy to troubleshoot any issues and implement any upgrades.

In addition, we offer regular audits, which allow us to review your site and advise if an upgrade is needed to keep up with the latest technology and functionality—and shows what your business can do. This approach can be much more affordable than waiting until your site reaches the end of its lifespan and requires a complete overhaul.

When you actively maintain your website, you’re not just extending its life—you’re also protecting your investment, keeping your site secure, and ensuring that it continues to deliver the best possible experience for your users.

Is your website ready for a check-up?

If you’ve noticed things slowing down, plugins not working as expected, or haven’t updated your site in a while, it may be time for a refresh. Regular maintenance can add years to your site’s lifespan, keeping it performing at its best and reducing security risks.

Get in touch with us today to see how we can help keep your website running smoothly for years to come, so you can focus on growing your business.

This article was written with the help of Katrina Pace of Collected Copy.

The post How long should my website last? The expected lifespan of a WordPress website appeared first on Two Sparrows.

To be upfront, we’ve not always got the balance right. But we have listened to our clients and learnt from our mistakes. We’ve seen the difference it makes when you have access, tools and knowledge to maintain control over your website and domain.

That’s why one of Two Sparrows’ top four values is being client-led.

So, what’s in it for you?

5 benefits of working with a client-led website developer:

1. You own your website and domain.
2. You’re granted administrator-level access.
3. You’ll get personalised communication, and we’ll listen.
4. You gain video training and written documentation.
5. You’ll access ongoing support and regular check-ins.

Let’s look at why these benefits matter.

1. Do you own your domain name? Or is it listed under your website developer’s ownership?

Here’s something we’ve been guilty of in the past – owning our client’s domain names. But when we do this, it creates a power imbalance that doesn’t sit right with us.

When you work with us, you will have full ownership over your website and domain name. This is not a nice to have, but a necessity if you want to feel secure and in control of your online presence.

Your domain name and website are two of your biggest business assets. See us as a technical contact who supports you, not as the gatekeeper to one of your biggest tools for sales and credibility.

2. Can you log in to your website? Do you have administrator-level access?

If not, you are relying on someone else to look after your site. Nothing wrong with that in theory, but things happen. What if your developer goes out of business, leaves the country, or your relationship goes south?

We’ll always give you administrator-level access because, as we’ve said above, this is your business asset – you need to hold the keys that will give you complete access. This is important because there may be a time when you need to move your website somewhere else and this gives you the ability to do that. We’d love you to stay with us long-term, but we’re not about to trap you or force you to be dependent on us!

3. Does your website developer anticipate your future needs and listen to what you want beyond the build?

As a small business owner, we know you’ve got a chunky to-do list.

From handling content updates on your site to enabling you to manage your own website independently, we promise to listen, and slide in to the gaps where you need us (without taking over).

Maybe you don’t have time to load your blog posts, new photos or imagery, or create new pages after the initial build. Or maybe your time is better spent on other projects. We can take those tasks off your hands.

Or, maybe you like DIY and want to create new pages in your own time – if so, we’re here to support you with guidance or training so you can do that confidently (more on this below!).

And, as your business changes, we’re right here to add new functionality to your website or offer suggestions on ways to handle things in a way that is conscious of your website’s environmental impact.

Whether you choose to manage your updates yourself or outsource to us, you can expect personal communication from us. We’ll listen to what you need and offer more than just delivering an initial website.

4. Does your website developer show you how to use your website?

We know how much of a pain it is to have an asset and not know how to use it to its full potential. We also know you don’t want to trawl through pages of dry tech info to find the solution.

We provide training documents on how to use your website – something you can refer to again and again. Once your website’s live, you’ll receive a mixture of written processes and video walk-throughs from us, plus one-on-one training if you need extra guidance.

5. Did your website developer ghost you after they built your website?

Once we’ve built your website, we won’t abandon you. We see ourselves as a long-term partner, available for ongoing support (without being in your face about it).

We’re easy to contact and we stay in touch. If you need direction on how to do something on your website – add a plugin, adapt a page, add more functionality, change the menu, and more – we’re here to help.

If you make changes to your website, let us know and we can review and test pages to make sure everything remains optimal. The last thing you want is to accidentally add bad plugins, detract from the overall design with content that is not cohesive, or destroy some of the functionality we’ve created for you.

Expect to hear from us regularly to check how things are going with your website and be on hand to offer friendly support along the way.

Achieve all this and more with your Two Sparrows WordPress website

We’ve been building WordPress websites for years – finessing our framework to deliver sites that look great, work great, and stay great.

Some website developers favour certain aspects such as design or code, at the expense of others, leading to websites that are fussy to edit or maintain. Our framework balances design, code and ease of editing – not prioritising or limiting one over the other. This means you get a website that looks professional, is stable, and gives you freedom, flexibility and confidence to use, adapt and add to as you need.

Ready to make the move to a client-led developer?

Contact us if you’d like to talk about your website – and how we can hand you back the reins. And if you need a fresh new website, talk to us now to ensure it’s built with the above principles in mind from the get-go.

This article was written with the help of copywriter & editor, Katie Rickson.

The post How good would it feel to have full ownership of your website and domain name? appeared first on Two Sparrows.

But all these positive actions have a cumulative effect if they’re picked up by many and repeated consistently.

With that said, let’s pick up why building eco-conscious websites matter, how we do this at Two Sparrows, and end on a high with a real-life example of these principles in action.

“We have a responsibility to stop this madness”*

* Danny Van Kooten

Maya Angelou wrote: “We need much less than we think we need.” This sentiment holds as true for websites as it does for clothes, cars, furniture, and living space.

Websites are becoming super-sized (the average website quadrupled in size between 2010 and 2020) wolfing through more power, water, and physical space than ever before.

In a 2020 blog, Danny van Kooten states:

“According to httparchive.org, the average website on desktop is about four times as large as in 2010. On mobile, where data transfer is way more expensive in terms of energy usage, the numbers look even worse: from 200 kB up to a whopping 1.9 MB!”

It can be easy to shrug off the physical impact of these decisions. Later in the same blog, Danny helpfully points out the CO2 comparisons, making it harder to ignore the scale of the challenge and opportunity:

“Shaving off a single kilobyte in a file that is being loaded on 2 million websites reduces CO2 emissions by an estimated 2950 kg per month…the same amount of CO2 saved each month as:

• Five flights from Amsterdam to New York. (679 kg CO2 per flight)
• Eating 118 kg of beef (25 kg CO2 per kg of beef)”

How do we build websites with a lighter carbon footprint?

The good news is we don’t have to guess how to build and design more energy-efficient websites. There are many who have already laid out the guidelines – ranging from colour choices to animation, text and responsive design – of note, ‘Sustainable Web Design’ by Tom Greenwood and Hanna Jansson’s Figma SCOPES resource are good places to start.

As well as being inspired by these guidelines, below are five key areas we focus on with each website build.

1. Be a responsible host

Many of our websites are hosted with New Zealand company SiteHost, whose data centre is based in Auckland. Eventually, ALL our websites will be hosted here. We love their environmentally friendly approach to their infrastructure:

“Our roof is covered in solar panels, which are a big part of our energy mix. On a sunny summer’s day our 142kWp system is big enough for us to run almost entirely off-grid. On top of that, our solar installation offsets around 24,000 tonnes of carbon each year.”

2. Pay attention to detail

We know plenty of tips and tricks to shave off load size of website assets, like images and code. It’s the attention to detail that can add up to make a difference. And you don’t have to compromise on functionality. In fact, you’ll more likely experience an uptick in performance.

3. Lighter means zippier too

Lighter websites mean faster loading speeds, which is a big positive for your visitors too. They won’t need to wait as long for the website to load, they can charge their device less frequently, and they’ll navigate your website much more comfortably and smoothly.

4. Clear words. Logical flow

Strategic copywriting plays a big role in building a carbon-conscious website. We don’t agree with landing pages that go on for miles. Websites with concise text, clear page titles, headings, and subheadings guide your clients through, and eliminate any confusion on where they need to go to get what they want.

Finding information faster has several benefits including:

• Less time clicking through multiple pages
• Less resources required to serve up each page they visit
• Less power consumed on devices
• Plus, you’re more likely to engage your site visitors, seeing an increase in leads, enquiries and bookings.

5. Is this a want or a need?

It helps to be able to distinguish between a want or need. If your website performs well and meets your objectives, adding extras or customising certain features could be more of a pain than a plus.

From analytics to site generation, Two Sparrows are led by the overall decision-making ethos of: “Whenever you are adding to a website, ask yourself: is this necessary? If not, consider leaving it out.” – Danny van Kooten. We balance this with our client’s preferences, but aim to push as much as possible the “less is more” approach.

Our commitment to building all our websites from here using conscious decisions means we can reduce the carbon footprint of each.

If more and more website development agencies across Aotearoa and the world join the Sustainable Web Movement, we will see how big the impact could be on positive environmental change.

It all adds up. This is why it matters. And it’s something we can control, continuously improve on, and routinely measure which gives us optimism and momentum – we don’t always get the same visibility with our other decisions to be kinder to the planet.

Imagine what could happen if eco-conscious website development became the standard for the entire industry!

Our real-life examples

We’ve recently completed our first website built with a focus on being eco-conscious. Take a look at jondunning.com – we’ll go into more detail in another post about what we did with this one, so stay tuned. And over the coming few months we’ll be taking a look at our own website – where can we make it more eco-efficient? Watch this space.

Contact us if you’d like to talk about your website, and how we can improve it’s carbon footprint. And if you are needing a fresh new website, talk to us now to ensure it’s built from the get-go with the above principles in mind.

This article was written with the help of copywriter & editor, Katie Rickson.

The post Does building eco-conscious websites really make a difference? appeared first on Two Sparrows.

If you know me, you’ll probably know I come from Pākehā and Niuean lineage. The greeting above is “hello” in Vagahau Niue (the Niuean language) – I’m not fluent (yet)… but I’m learning.

My dad was from the village of Tuapa in Niue and this small island nation is very close to my heart. As such, I feel deeply connected to the impact of climate change on Pacific Island nations and the growing threat of displaced peoples and climate change refugees. Seeing the impact of climate change in the Pacific, and beyond, motivates me to play my part. It’s a key driver behind one of Two Sparrows’ top four values: To be eco-led – leaning into clean and green with all our design + code decisions.

Looking at the challenge of climate change, this blog argues why being eco-led matters more than ever.

Climate change: Four things we know

1. Climate change is real.
2. If the Internet was a country, it would be the fourth largest polluter.
3. Climate anxiety or eco-anxiety is real and growing – especially among our young people.
4. We can make a difference and have a responsibility to do so.

Climate change is real – Tuvalu’s story

Did you know Tuvalu is the world’s first country to become fully digitised?

In a matter of decades, rising sea levels – caused by climate change – will swallow the island nation. Because of this reality Tuvalu is migrating everything online. “Recreating its land, archiving its culture, and digitising its government” so it “can exist as a nation even after its land is no more.”

As forward-thinking as this project is, it’s a tragic wake-up call and challenge to look at our personal and business practices in light of climate change. Tuvalu has nowhere else to go but online, or they risk losing their connection to their land, culture, and self-determination forever.

But we still have a window to make a difference.

So, what can we do in the face of this overwhelming scenario?

We can make space.

In other words, other countries, including Aotearoa New Zealand, have a responsibility to free up digital “land” or resources for nations like Tuvalu, who have no choice but to go partially or completely digital.

“If the Internet was a country, it would be the 4th largest polluter.”

So much of what keeps the Internet running is hidden from us – the end-users. Even the word “cloud” suggests information happily floating around, not tied to one spot, or stored in physical assets. This way of thinking can make us complacent about the impact of our digital assets (including our website), data centres, cryptocurrency, information storage, hosting, or even spending hours on social media.

But when you consider the water and electricity used to keep data centres and telecommunication networks running – not to mention the energy used to power our devices – you start to grasp the scale of the challenge, and how the Internet needs extreme amounts of water, electricity, and land to keep going (and expanding at astronomical rates).

Used thoughtfully, the Internet can be part of the solution, as the need for paper and postage reduces, but it would be naïve of us not to see it as a climate change contributor, too.

Like we reduce, reuse, and recycle our physical resources, we need to start paying attention to our online decisions. How we use the cloud, how we store information, how much data we need, and the processes that require energy, contribute to our digital footprint.

What’s climate or eco-anxiety?

Climate or eco-anxiety is worrying about the impact of global warming on our homes, countries, and way of life. Our tamariki are especially vulnerable to climate anxiety because they often feel powerless to help.

As a mum to three boys (and mum-in-law to a daughter) I want to show the next generation we can – and should – make a difference. We can make change en masse and influence others to do better. Hope is not lost!

It starts by paying attention and being honest about the challenges ahead, not being complacent or despairing, but taking small daily actions to do better. As a business owner, I have hope that organisations can work together for good. I want to see our industry making sustainable digital decisions that become the norm, not the exception.

Change is possible. Let’s make it a reality together.

One tangible way Two Sparrows can commit to this is by making space digitally. We are committed to becoming a design agency that’s as sustainable, efficient, and environmentally friendly as possible. And we recognise this will take a lot of change, effort and intention.

We are therefore opening up all our decisions to the goal of being eco-led – from design and coding decisions, to the projects we take on (and don’t), to our processes, our choice of data servers, and how we manage and reduce physical waste and paper.

As we look at what it means to be eco-led, we will explore some of the practical solutions we use at Two Sparrows to reduce our digital footprint – and support our neighbours across the Pacific and beyond.

Want to learn more about climate change and how to be responsible digital citizens?

Read:
Hot Air: The Inside Story of the Battle Against Climate Change Denial by Peter Stott.
World Wide Waste: How digital is killing our planet – and what we can do about it by Gerry McGovern
‘Power Hungry’ by Paris Marx published in North & South magazine, April 2024 edition
Sustainable Web Design by Tom Greenwood

Subscribe to:
The Spinoff’s newsletter Future Proof on Substack.
Branch Magazine: A Just and Sustainable Internet for All

Visit:
www.sustainablewebmanifesto.com
www.tuvalu.tv

This article was written with the help of copywriter & editor, Katie Rickson.

The post The Pacific heritage that inspires Two Sparrows eco-led decisions appeared first on Two Sparrows.