The Internet's Quiet Power Tools Rocketmoney.com - app that lets you find/cancel old subscriptions automatically Remove.bg - a free background remover for images. Khan Academy - free lessons for basically everything (quality is actually amazing). Yandex Translate - translate between 118 languages instantly, get smart typing suggestions, look up words with pronunciation and real examples. ImageMeter is a powerful photo-measurement app that lets you annotate images with accurate lengths, angles, and areas. Easy Fax - Free Online Fax app. Send/Receive faxes without fax machines. Scan and fax your documents Alternative To is a free service that helps you find better alternatives to the products you love and hate. The Calculator Site - Extensive collection of free, highly-rated online calculators and converters covering finance, construction, education, health, cooking and math. Wayback Machine - Search a website and see how it looked in the past. Useful for finding removed con...

  The Rise of AI Images in Advertising: Benefits, Risks, and a Growing Youth Backlash Artificial intelligence has reshaped how businesses create visuals, offering speed, affordability, and creative freedom that traditional design methods can’t match. But as AI‑generated images become more common in advertising, they bring both opportunities and challenges—especially as younger audiences increasingly push back against AI‑driven content. The Advantages of Using AI Images Cost Efficiency — AI tools allow businesses to produce custom visuals without hiring photographers, models, or designers, dramatically lowering production costs. Creative Flexibility — AI can generate imaginative scenes, styles, and concepts that would be expensive—or impossible—to create in real life. Speed and Convenience — Need a new ad concept today? AI can produce dozens of variations in minutes, making rapid testing and iteration easy. Brand Customization — Colors, themes, and layouts can be adjusted instan...

Hey there small business owners! There are so many fairs, festivals, and summer flea markets in our area where you can promote your business. As a fellow small business owner, I love seeing businesses like yours thrive and become a part of our community. I've put together a list of websites that list vendor events in Minnesota and beyond to help you out. Minnesota County Fairs Guiding, educating, and informing county fairs https://www.mfcf.com/events Arts & Craft Shows In Minnesota Includes other states https://www.craftmasternews.com/minnesota.aspx Minnesota Festivals Includes other states https://festivalguidesandreviews.com/minnesota-festivals/ MN Listings Of Fairs & Festivals Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/838988496167757/ Minnesota Festivals Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MNFestivals/

  How Small Businesses Can Keep Customers Coming Back Again and Again For small businesses, attracting new customers is important — but keeping them is where the real growth happens. Repeat customers spend more, trust you more, and refer others without you having to ask. In a world full of choices, loyalty is the advantage that sets successful businesses apart. If you want customers to return again and again, here are the strategies that truly work. Create an Experience They Remember People don’t come back for “average.” They come back for connection . Greet customers by name Remember their preferences Offer genuine, human interaction When customers feel seen and valued, they naturally return — and they tell others about you. Stay Consistent With Quality Consistency builds trust. Whether you’re selling products, offering services, or both, customers should know exactly what to expect every time. Reliable service Consistent product quality Professional communication When customers t...

  Unconventional Ways to Find New Customers That Work If you want customer growth fast, the most effective unconventional methods are the ones that put you inside the conversations your buyers are already having — not pushing ads at them, but showing value where they naturally gather. Below is a structured, high‑impact list of unconventional customer‑finding tactics backed by real examples and expert insights. 🧭 1. Show Up in Niche Communities (Quiet but powerful) Industry leaders report that niche forums, Slack groups, and online communities are some of the most effective “hidden” customer sources. Instead of selling, you answer questions, offer insights, and build trust — and customers come to you . This works especially well for: Specialized services Local businesses Creative or technical work 🧭 2. Turn Reviews Into Lead Magnets Managing online reviews — even responding to negative ones — can unexpectedly attract new customers. People often read reviews before buying, and a ...

  Your Designs Online Has a Brand-New Look Your Designs Online (YDO) is rolling out a redesigned website — cleaner, faster, and built to match the way today’s customers browse. A website isn’t something you build once and forget. Just like storefronts, styles change, technology evolves, and customer expectations rise. A refreshed design keeps your business looking sharp and performing at its best. 💡 Why a Website Makeover Matters A redesign isn’t just about colors and layout — it’s about improving how your business works online. Research shows that outdated websites lose leads, frustrate visitors, and leave money on the table. When navigation is confusing or the design feels old, customers click away, costing you potential sales. A modern redesign improves user experience, strengthens your brand image, and increases trust — all of which help turn visitors into paying customers. 🚀 How a Redesign Helps Your Business Grow A strategic website refresh can directly boost your bottom li...

 I’m honored to be featured for the Local Business Spotlight by Voyage Minnesota Magazine for showcasing Your Designs Online. A big thank you to the individual who nominated me for the Hidden Gems Series. One of the reasons why it feels so validating is that, as a freelance small business owner, acknowledgment for website development projects usually comes through online interactions, which just isn’t the same as receiving recognition in person. I’m truly thankful for the support from my clients, friends, and community. Please take a moment to read the complete article by clicking on the following link... https://voyageminnesota.com/.../community-highlights.../ Every good and perfect gift is from above.

  Websites with keywords that cause confusion can be harmful to your website counts. Words that are often misspelled: For example… Affect vs. Effect. Affect, Accept vs, Except, Desert vs. Dessert. Words that are spelled the same but have different meanings: "lead" (to guide, pronounced /liːd/) and "lead" (the metal, pronounced /lɛd/) Many words in English have several meanings depending on the context in which they are used. Examples: "can" (to be able to, or a container), "rock" (a stone or a type of music). Technical jargon and slang. Specialized language used within particular industries or demographics can be confusing to outsiders.

  How to Attract Offline Customers How to Attract Offline Customers When your ideal customers are not online, they will often use alternative ways to find what they are looking for. Such as… Referrals. They trust a person or expert associations more than doing an internet search. Let your products and services produce word-of-mouth. Trade-shows. They like to be able to connect in-person to navigate the impression they looking for. Be proactive in the community by being available in person. Older customers. Many people aren’t savvy with technology and like to research through other methods such as TV, radio or newspaper ads. Use language that is easy to understand so you don’t discourage a cautious customer. Last minute shoppers. If you want to pick out a special pet, plant, shoes or perfume, sometimes it’s not a practical option. Having an online presence gives you an even playing-field by being included with other local businesses in your industry allowing you to at least be an...

  Did you know that on August 18th, 2025 Cambridge Dictionary added over 6,000 new words!   They only add words that they think will have staying power, that are widely used, and likely to persist in the language. This includes words from various categories, such as pop culture, technology, social trends, and even slang.   Here are some new computer-related terms that have recently been added to dictionaries. Mouse jiggler : A device or software that simulates mouse movement to keep a computer active, often used in remote work settings.  Generative AI : This refers to artificial intelligence designed to produce text, images, audio, or other outputs based on training data.  Chatbot : A computer program that simulates human conversation to provide information or assistance to users.  GPT : An abbreviation for "generative pre-trained transformer," a type of machine learning algorithm used in creating new text.  Hallucinate : In the context of AI...

Hey there, small business owners! It's fair season, and while it might be a bit last-minute this year, let's start planning ahead for next year. There are so many fairs, festivals, and summer flea markets in our area where you can promote your business. As a fellow small business owner, I love seeing businesses like yours thrive and become a part of our community. I've put together a list of websites that list vendor events in Minnesota and beyond to help you out. Let's use the rest of this season as motivation to have an even bigger success next year. Let's show our support for local small businesses and help them succeed! Minnesota County Fairs Guiding, educating, and informing county fairs https://www.mfcf.com/events Arts & Craft Shows In Minnesota Includes other states https://www.craftmasternews.com/minnesota.aspx Minnesota Festivals Includes other states https://festivalguidesandreviews.com/minnesota-festivals/ MN Listings Of Fairs & Fes...

  Let's Welcome Spring with a Vibrant Website Update! I’m always available to do updates that benefit you and your website needs. Generally, as time goes by, it is good to analyze your website content to fit your goals. In the tech world, websites generally have a lifespan of only about four years before they go stale. As your business grows and evolves, so should your website. Search engines give higher rankings for websites that are updated often, and website visitors also appreciate a website that has fresh new content. Do you have any new website additions or changes that needs attention? Or are you interested in a fresh new redesign?   If you want to learn more, click here for more ideas that may benefit you.   I want your website to be something that you can be proud of and will bring you success. If there is anything I can help you with, feel free to let me know! :)

  Don't Waste Time! Set up Automatic Facebook Posts and Make Your Life Easier! Did you know that completing similar tasks all at once saves you time in the long run? By opening links, planners, much less finding the motivation to do it, plus the distractions that send you down a rabbit hole, is better done in one setting than broken up into bite-sized chunks throughout the week or month. Think about it. If you had a tool in which you could schedule all your posts a year in advance, would take a lot of time, but if you do one every day, the getting started, booting up the necessary devices, photo management, and then having to brainstorm content every day. single. day. is a daunting plan. Not to mention all the days you don’t plan on being on your work devices on weekends and holidays. Commit to connecting with your customers or clients daily to keep reminding them that you're still around and available to provide them with products and services.   Ok, here’s the good part!...

  Email Signature Blocks     Guys! To make a good impression and show you mean business, make sure to polish up your email signature. It's a must-have for looking professional. Spending a little bit of time today will pay off later. Help your clients and customers out by providing easy access to all your important contact info, signature logo, and links to your website and social media profiles. It's the little things that count! Make your here! Email Signature Template Generator

Isn't it exciting to explore fresh strategies that help your business grow?   The Links & Resources page on the YDO website is also updated! Learn from others, explore opportunities, and use beneficial tools! Check out our Links & Resources page for a variety of inspiring ideas to help you reach your full potential. You'll find helpful topics like local services, business research, useful tools, and so much more! Click  here   to read more!  

  Hey there! Our Marketing Page has been updated with a bunch of fresh new ideas! There are so many things you can do to Self-Market Your Website! I strongly believe that “The more you put into your business, the more you will get out of it.” I have compiled a no-nonsense, practical list for non-techy people to market their own businesses with strategies that have either worked for me or in our local community. Your customers want to find you, you just need to show them where you are. The best marketing plans focus on your target customers through the channels they’re already using. Learn about what you can do to self-market your business here. https://yourdesignsonline.com/plus/Self%20Marketing%20Your%20Website.htm 

    A backup is a copy of all your important files — for example, your family photos, home videos, documents and emails. Instead of storing it all on your device, back up your files to an external storage or a cloud-based software. Losing your files is way more common than you’d think. ·        21 % of people have never made a backup ·        113 phones lost or stolen every minute ·        29% of data loss cases are caused by accident   Your Designs Online is a big believer in backing up our files! Rest assured that your website files are always backed up securely in the following three locations.   1.      Online Backup Service backups (We use Carbonate) 2.      External Hard Drive Backups (An external hard drive.) 3.      Your website hosting location.   Why do we backup to so many locations?   Let’s say you...