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rickryan.com

rickryan.com

DJ Extraordinaire
ODJT Supporter
Dec 9, 2009
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Hendersonville, TN
www.rickryan.com
I've been using Wix for several years. Been wanting to change over to Wordpress but always avoided the learning curve. I finally bit the bullet and am in the process of building out a Wordpress site. Instead of using the same domain name (www.RyanAcres.com) (Wix) I decided to setup a 2nd site (www.RyanAcresWeddings.com) (Wordpress). Just wondering what hosting you guys were using and whether or not there's anybody here who might have multiple domains setup. I chose BlueHost for my WP site. I'm thinking I might just leave both of them active for a while and watch what becomes of google rankings for each. RyanAcres.com is currently ranking at #7 on the first page. Not bad but not great, especially considering the location I'm in.

So what are you guys doing?
 
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Wordpress site hosted by Overhaulics (without question the best web hosting service I've ever used, and I've probably used at least 6 of them in the past 20 years).

Having two sites will work against you and will result in Google punishing you in search results. Stick with one. Also, hire a web designer. Not saying you aren't capable of putting together a site, but the amount of money you'll spend on a good, complete site is much less than the amount you'll lose out on by not investing in one.
 
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B-Sharp said:
Wordpress site hosted by Overhaulics (without question the best web hosting service I've ever used, and I've probably used at least 6 of them in the past 20 years).

Having two sites will work against you and will result in Google punishing you in search results. Stick with one. Also, hire a web designer. Not saying you aren't capable of putting together a site, but the amount of money you'll spend on a good, complete site is much less than the amount you'll lose out on by not investing in one.
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Thanks Brendan. Good point on it hurting google rankings. I think I may end up keeping the new name and re-directing the old one (after all of this is done). Right now, I'm still waiting on the SSL cert to propagate. I hired an SEO guy from fiverr to do SEO optimization on Wordpress. He just finished last night.
 
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rickryan.com said:
I think I may end up keeping the new name and re-directing the old one (after all of this is done).
Click to expand...

Don't do that. The age of your domain factors in Google's rankings and you'll lose that history by moving to the new domain. You should also renew your domain for longer period than a year. At least do five years, maybe ten. It's a small thing but it lends credibility to your site rankings.

Ultimately, the best domain name to own is your business name. Adding "weddings" to the end of it isn't going to give you any type of lift in search results... it may also work against you in attracting non-wedding customers. What's the real reason for the switch? Your current site (on Wix) looks much better than the new one.
 
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B-Sharp said:
Don't do that. The age of your domain factors in Google's rankings and you'll lose that history by moving to the new domain. You should also renew your domain for longer period than a year. At least do five years, maybe ten. It's a small thing but it lends credibility to your site rankings.

Ultimately, the best domain name to own is your business name. Adding "weddings" to the end of it isn't going to give you any type of lift in search results... it may also work against you in attracting non-wedding customers. What's the real reason for the switch? Your current site (on Wix) looks much better than the new one.
Click to expand...

It was my understanding (although I could be wrong) that "weddings" in the domain name would be a lift (for weddings). For now, weddings are the only thing I'm interested in promoting. Your comment on the wix site interests me. I was thinking how clunky/ugly the wix site is in comparison to the Wordpress site. Keep in mind, I'm still in the build-out phase. Plans are to take it as far as my (very) limited design skills are then go over to fiverr to hire someone to give it some "zing". I've just gotten tired of Wix and its limitations. I'm also tired of their now $32/mth hosting fee. I've also been running some speed tests and it looks like Wordpress is a much more efficient load time. I'm open for suggestions though.

BTW, I'm currently hot and heavy on blog writing. Have started using Grammarly to write the copy. Much better than my male, "nuts & bolts" writings.
 
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I don't think adding "weddings" to your domain name is going to give you any lift. It's just too broad of a term.

What WILL give you better results in search is having copy with strategically-placed keywords for things that people ARE likely to be searching for when they're looking for what you offer. Weddings... Venue... Reception... Oneonta... Blount County. What you have right now is very generic and honestly, unfocused. Basically, you've built a DJ website for a wedding venue.

I liked the Wix site because it's brighter, has a better logo and fonts, and a much better homepage image. The new site is dark and the logo looks like it was made in 2002 with CorelDraw. It's not appealing to today's bride at all. Additionally, you've got a lot of info on your new site that should be given out after you get the initial inquiry (packages with price tags, rules that threaten to forfeit security deposits, stuff that gets covered in a contract) but nothing that mentions the space itself, the well-maintained grounds, or the magical ability to celebrate your Alabama wedding day with a beautiful ceremony and perfectly-coordinated reception at one of the newest and most authentic venues in Blount County... Oneonta's Ryan Acres.

See what I did there? Do that. :)
 
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B-Sharp said:
I don't think adding "weddings" to your domain name is going to give you any lift. It's just too broad of a term.

What WILL give you better results in search is having copy with strategically-placed keywords for things that people ARE likely to be searching for when they're looking for what you offer. Weddings... Venue... Reception... Oneonta... Blount County. What you have right now is very generic and honestly, unfocused. Basically, you've built a DJ website for a wedding venue.

I liked the Wix site because it's brighter, has a better logo and fonts, and a much better homepage image. The new site is dark and the logo looks like it was made in 2002 with CorelDraw. It's not appealing to today's bride at all. Additionally, you've got a lot of info on your new site that should be given out after you get the initial inquiry (packages with price tags, rules that threaten to forfeit security deposits, stuff that gets covered in a contract) but nothing that mentions the space itself, the well-maintained grounds, or the magical ability to celebrate your Alabama wedding day with a beautiful ceremony and perfectly-coordinated reception at one of the newest and most authentic venues in Blount County... Oneonta's Ryan Acres.

See what I did there? Do that. :)
Click to expand...
I have a new logo that should be here tomorrow. I'm still kinda waffling on whether to go dark-based or light-based. I may flip that. I do have to work on keyword density and to tweak some of the taglines. Today's main push is in creating blogs. I'm completely digging this AI thing (Grammarly) to write the blogs. It's using all that foo-foo, flowerdy wording that just eludes me.
 
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rickryan.com said:
I have a new logo that should be here tomorrow. I'm still kinda waffling on whether to go dark-based or light-based. I may flip that. I do have to work on keyword density and to tweak some of the taglines. Today's main push is in creating blogs. I'm completely digging this AI thing (Grammarly) to write the blogs. It's using all that foo-foo, flowerdy wording that just eludes me.
Click to expand...
Why don't you just look at sites of prominent venues whether in your area or elsewhere do. For example, here's a venue in a small town in PA, that follows the same concept as you with venue only barn/property rentals. I've been there... very cool experience. They actually have a full pricing guide on their website, and take a look at how they break things down. It's so simple and easy to follow. They have two barns, one larger, one smaller... look at the ironstone ranch pricing as thats similar to yours in size. They don't rely on extras like photography and such, but rather focus on what they do well... provide a great venue and grounds for events. They also do plenty of weekday events for corporations and community events.

Venue Site - https://www.stonegablesestate.com/

Pricing guide - https://irp.cdn-website.com/29132199/files/uploaded/Stone Gables Estate Price Sheet-2023-24.pdf

If you just want inspriration for how a site should look in terms of design... again, just look around. Here are some that I've been to that have a similar barn/rustic environment.

www.bearbrookvalley.com

Bear Brook Valley

Bear Brook Valley NJ wedding venue is set on a vineyard alongside the water and is located just 60 miles away from NYC, yet feels like a world away. Our team will handle everything from planning to day-of coordination, ensuring that your special day is stress-free and seamless.
www.bearbrookvalley.com www.bearbrookvalley.com

The Grove at Centerton | Private Event Space NJ | Wedding & Corporate Meeting Venues in South Jersey | Casual Dining Restaurants Near Me

Located in Pittsgrove NJ, The Grove at Centerton is a preferred private event space for wedding, corporate meetings, private parties, and more. Our venue in South Jersey also includes a relaxed-casual local’s lounge and restaurant. For reservations call 856-358-3325.
groveatcenterton.com groveatcenterton.com
www.peronafarms.com

New Jersey Barn Wedding - The Barn at Perona Farms

The perfect location for a rustic, unique New Jersey barn wedding. The historic barn at Perona Farms is the ideal venue for your New Jersey barn wedding.
www.peronafarms.com www.peronafarms.com
www.theriverviewbarn.com

Riverview Barn

www.theriverviewbarn.com www.theriverviewbarn.com
www.lauxmontweddings.com

Wedding and Reception Venue | Lauxmont Farms Weddings | United States

High atop Pennsylvania's rolling hills and overlooking the Susquehanna River, Lauxmont Farms Weddings has four beautiful wedding venues to choose from for your wedding ceremony and reception!
www.lauxmontweddings.com www.lauxmontweddings.com
 
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djtaso said:
Why don't you just look at sites of prominent venues whether in your area or elsewhere do. For example, here's a venue in a small town in PA, that follows the same concept as you with venue only barn/property rentals. I've been there... very cool experience. They actually have a full pricing guide on their website, and take a look at how they break things down. It's so simple and easy to follow. They have two barns, one larger, one smaller... look at the ironstone ranch pricing as thats similar to yours in size. They don't rely on extras like photography and such, but rather focus on what they do well... provide a great venue and grounds for events. They also do plenty of weekday events for corporations and community events.

Venue Site - https://www.stonegablesestate.com/

Pricing guide - https://irp.cdn-website.com/29132199/files/uploaded/Stone Gables Estate Price Sheet-2023-24.pdf

If you just want inspriration for how a site should look in terms of design... again, just look around. Here are some that I've been to that have a similar barn/rustic environment.

www.bearbrookvalley.com

Bear Brook Valley

Bear Brook Valley NJ wedding venue is set on a vineyard alongside the water and is located just 60 miles away from NYC, yet feels like a world away. Our team will handle everything from planning to day-of coordination, ensuring that your special day is stress-free and seamless.
www.bearbrookvalley.com www.bearbrookvalley.com

The Grove at Centerton | Private Event Space NJ | Wedding & Corporate Meeting Venues in South Jersey | Casual Dining Restaurants Near Me

Located in Pittsgrove NJ, The Grove at Centerton is a preferred private event space for wedding, corporate meetings, private parties, and more. Our venue in South Jersey also includes a relaxed-casual local’s lounge and restaurant. For reservations call 856-358-3325.
groveatcenterton.com groveatcenterton.com
www.peronafarms.com

New Jersey Barn Wedding - The Barn at Perona Farms

The perfect location for a rustic, unique New Jersey barn wedding. The historic barn at Perona Farms is the ideal venue for your New Jersey barn wedding.
www.peronafarms.com www.peronafarms.com
www.theriverviewbarn.com

Riverview Barn

www.theriverviewbarn.com www.theriverviewbarn.com
www.lauxmontweddings.com

Wedding and Reception Venue | Lauxmont Farms Weddings | United States

High atop Pennsylvania's rolling hills and overlooking the Susquehanna River, Lauxmont Farms Weddings has four beautiful wedding venues to choose from for your wedding ceremony and reception!
www.lauxmontweddings.com www.lauxmontweddings.com
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Thanks for sharing those. There are certainly some fabulous venues in your area and you're right, they have a clear message, simple pricing and the presentation is stunning. I've gone thru and reviewed a lot of my competitors. Frankly, I'm pretty well on par with most of them, but also realize I have LOTS of room for improvement. I do think my web presentation and pricing model are better than most in this area, although there are some stand-outs. Think I'll go back and review some more to see what else I can glean. Thanks again for your input.
 
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rickryan.com said:
Thanks for sharing those. There are certainly some fabulous venues in your area and you're right, they have a clear message, simple pricing and the presentation is stunning. I've gone thru and reviewed a lot of my competitors. Frankly, I'm pretty well on par with most of them, but also realize I have LOTS of room for improvement. I do think my web presentation and pricing model are better than most in this area, although there are some stand-outs. Think I'll go back and review some more to see what else I can glean. Thanks again for your input.
Click to expand...
I'd really pay attention to the star gable venue... they're literally what you do... minus all the dj/photo/catering stuff. Their pricing and everything is what you should be aiming to mimic. By them including all the weekday and off season pricing, the peak season pricing makes more sense. Their very popular and are honestly in the middle of nowhere lol (almost 3 hrs from me).

The other sites I gave were more for design purposes and layout... as they're sought after barn/rustic venues... so they could really provide good insight as to what appeals most to perspective brides.
 
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djtaso said:
I'd really pay attention to the star gable venue... they're literally what you do... minus all the dj/photo/catering stuff. Their pricing and everything is what you should be aiming to mimic. By them including all the weekday and off season pricing, the peak season pricing makes more sense. Their very popular and are honestly in the middle of nowhere lol (almost 3 hrs from me).

The other sites I gave were more for design purposes and layout... as they're sought after barn/rustic venues... so they could really provide good insight as to what appeals most to perspective brides.
Click to expand...

Good Lord, I'm having a hard time even wrapping my head around being in the same league with those guys. It would be much the same as if I were trying to put my own mobile DJ presentations on par with yours. I'll take your advice and keep working on it but man, it's hard for this country bumpkin. All the best.
 
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I don't wait to steal this thread, but this is a DJ website/email question. I have had the same personal and business email address for as long as I can remember, 20+ years. My provider was Spectrum cable. Well I will soon be moving into the country and spectrum does not provide internet or cable service at my new residence. Therefore, I will be having to find new internet provider options as well as satellite tv options.
Once I cancel my tv/internet service I will lose access to my email accounts 60 days later apparently. So I guess now is the time to switch.
Do I get a generic gmail email and use it? Or since I own the domain for my website (which is not up and running yet) do I get an email for that?
for instance I own the domain owensborodj.com until 2028 for now through whois. I have no idea how to get an email with that domain.
 
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BlueLineDJ said:
I don't wait to steal this thread, but this is a DJ website/email question. I have had the same personal and business email address for as long as I can remember, 20+ years. My provider was Spectrum cable. Well I will soon be moving into the country and spectrum does not provide internet or cable service at my new residence. Therefore, I will be having to find new internet provider options as well as satellite tv options.
Once I cancel my tv/internet service I will lose access to my email accounts 60 days later apparently. So I guess now is the time to switch.
Do I get a generic gmail email and use it? Or since I own the domain for my website (which is not up and running yet) do I get an email for that?
for instance I own the domain owensborodj.com until 2028 for now through whois. I have no idea how to get an email with that domain.
Click to expand...

I moved to gmail. It just works well, and other vendors sometimes share stuff through google. Go Daddy started charging for the email though them as well. It used to be included for free.
 
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rickryan.com said:
Good Lord, I'm having a hard time even wrapping my head around being in the same league with those guys. It would be much the same as if I were trying to put my own mobile DJ presentations on par with yours. I'll take your advice and keep working on it but man, it's hard for this country bumpkin. All the best.
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I'm not quite sure what I shared that was intimidating... I'm not trying to tell you to remodel your venue to imitate these venues... I just mean focus on the websites and how they're laid out and use it to transform yours... the use and size of photos... the information and descriptors that are used... etc. A lot of the venues I see talk about the history of the venue for example, whereas you talk about yourself and say that you were a dj. Remove that first paragraph in the about section. Add more higher quality images throughout the site, not just the endless gallery page (cut that down in half and organize them... the grounds, the ceremony space, the reception space, the getting ready area, activities, the party, formal moments, etc). Incorporate a 3d tour with a professional camera or matterport floorplan... not a handheld shaky camera with terrible lighting that is more dizzy than helpful with how fast it moves. Get rid of the song suggestions (again you're a venue not a dj)... if someone needs em, suggest them. Again... not saying anything crazy
 
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Google is looking for correct onsite SEO but that's like having a baseball and a bat and calling yourself a major league baseball player... just because you have a ball and a bat. There is nothing wrong with the second domain; however, don't link between both of your sites to one another. Hosting on separate servers would be of benefit, too. Focus on getting your site in order, working on offsite white hat backlinks, google business profile (along with apple and bing) and watch those rankings improve in 2 months. Also, be of service, write for your ideal client first and SEO second. Good luck!
 
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