When was the last time you updated your website? Despite the popularity and traction of social media sites, having a stand-alone website to promote your work and build your brand is key to connecting with your given audience. In this week's podcast, we explore the dynamics of building and maintaining a professional caliber website with insights from both sides of the coin. We start by chatting with website designer Alex Vita, who shares pet peeves as well as the best practices he's honed over more than 13 years of work with photo industry clients. All will benefit from Alex's insights on building a client-focused website as a way to build trust. After a break we get the artist's perspective from the illustrious photographer, environmental activist, and creative whirlwind Benjamin Von Wong, who also happens to be one of Alex's clients. Listen in as Ben and Alex discuss his web strategy and take a deep dive into the challenges of staying relevant and getting noticed in an oversaturated creative climate. We also dip into thoughts about how the evolution of AI is likely to change the future of the visual world, to make photographs the starting point for a conversation rather than its final purpose. Guests: Alex Vita and Benjamin Von Wong Top shot © Benjamin Von Wong For more information on our guests and the gear they use, click here. Episode Timeline 3:55: What role do stand-alone photography websites play in a world of viral social media sites? 12:16: Alex's pet peeves in photography websites. Two general categories: poor content and poor user experience. 20:55: Bounce rates, Google analytics reports, and how to determine the success of your website. 26:17: What are the most important considerations for good SEO and how have best practices for SEO changed over time? 31:59: Alex's recommendations for image size and compression for fast performance and readability on a wide range of devices—from mobile to retina screens. 35:55: Episode break 36:56: The varied roles that Ben Von Wong's websites and web presence play in communicating his environmental message. 41:40: How Ben's various microsites and social media presence helps with virality in marketing his work. 47:25: Ben's position as an environmentalist in a world full of advertising and boosted content—Ethics and principals come first. 52:30: How the evolution of AI and integration with Chat GPT is about to change the future of the visual world. 1:02:33: Ben's recommendations for what to look for when seeking to work with a web designer. Guest Bios: Alex Vita is a professional website designer, specialized in crafting sites for photographers and photo agencies. Working from his home base in Bucharest, Romania, Alex's super-power is thinking outside the box to grasp the big picture, helping photographers to structure their web presence by prioritizing maximum impact. Ben Von Wong is a Canadian artist, photographer, social influencer, and activist, best known for his hyper-realistic style, bridging photography and fantasy. His storytelling targets environmental issues such as ocean plastics, fashion pollution, and electronic waste, fueled by an extensive viral component that has generated more than 100 million views to date. Stay Connected: Alex Vita's Website: https://www.foregroundweb.com/ Alex Vita's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foregroundweb Alex Vita's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foregroundweb/ Alex Vita's Twitter: https://twitter.com/foregroundweb Alex Vita's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@foregroundweb Benjamin Von Wong's Website: https://www.vonwong.com Benjamin Von Wong's Blog: https://blog.vonwong.com Benjamin Von Wong's Case Studies: https://unforgettablelabs.com Benjamin Von Wong's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevonwong Benjamin Von Wong's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vonwong Benjamin Von Wong's Twitter: https://twitter.com/thevonwong Alex Vita's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Vonwong%20

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