Name: Back9 Creative Studio
Price range: $$
Rating: 5

SEO New Zealand… How to Make it Big in SEO-land (NZ Edition)

Posted on March 10, 2023April 17, 2025 by Phil

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation, and it’s a powerful tool that can help your business get noticed by the right people. But, if you’re new to the world of SEO, it can be hard to know where to start. Fear not! We’ve put together this guide to help New Zealand business owners succeed with SEO. Or at least to know what to look for in an SEO agency, because let’s face it. It is a complicated beast SEO. And there are a lot of snake oil salesmen out there… So let’s get started!

The Basics of SEO in New Zealand

First things first – let’s talk about the basics of SEO in New Zealand. You’ll need to understand how search engines work and what they look for when ranking websites in order to make sure you’re doing all the right things from the start. Here are some basic tips for optimising your website for search engines:

Ensure your website is fast-loading and mobile-friendly;
Utilise relevant keywords throughout your website;
Use appropriate page titles and meta descriptions;
Update your content regularly;
Have an active presence on social media platforms;
Build backlinks from reputable sources; and
Keep tabs on what competitors are doing.
Work with the best SEO Agencies in NZ

Analyse Your Website Performance

The next step is to analyse how well your website is performing in terms of traffic, rankings, engagement metrics, etc. This will give you an idea of what areas you need to focus on improving or maintaining. There are lots of tools out there that can help with this process, such as Google Analytics or Moz Pro. These tools will allow you to track progress over time so that you can see which strategies are working best for your business.

Google Ads & Paid Search Strategies

Last but not least, don’t forget about paid search strategies like Google Ads and other PPC campaigns. These strategies can help boost visibility quickly and effectively – but only if done correctly! It’s important to ensure that you have a clear understanding of your target audience and objectives before launching any campaigns, as well as having realistic expectations about what results they might bring. This way, you’ll be able to maximize ROI while avoiding disappointment down the line.

All in all, succeeding with SEO in New Zealand isn’t easy – but it’s not impossible either! By following these tips or speaking to a Google Ads expert like Gus, we can help take advantage of available tools, New Zealand businesses should be able to reach their goals quickly and effectively. Good luck out there! With the right strategies in place, success with SEO is just around the corner!

Will AI Change Web Design?

Posted on March 10, 2023April 22, 2025 by Phil

How AI Is Shaping the Future of Web Design

As technology advances, so does the way we design websites. But with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, many in the tech world are wondering: Will AI transform how websites are built? Let’s dive into this growing trend and uncover what the future might hold.

AI Is Already Making Its Mark

AI is no longer a distant concept in web design—it’s already here. Many businesses now use AI-driven chatbots to handle customer queries in real time. These bots respond instantly, removing the need to wait for a human support rep.

Beyond chatbots, AI helps boost search engine optimisation (SEO) and tailor websites to users based on their behaviour and preferences. These early applications are just the beginning.

Designing Smarter, Not Harder

Looking ahead, AI could play a much bigger role. Instead of simply assisting with tasks, AI might soon design entire websites with minimal input from developers. By taking over routine elements like layout, navigation, and page structure, AI frees up human designers to focus on the creative aspects—think visuals, branding, and compelling content.

This shift could lead to more engaging and user-centric designs that stand out. Plus, it opens the door for non-coders to build websites using intuitive AI-powered tools, making web creation more accessible to everyone.

Staying Ahead of Trends—Automatically

Trends in web design change fast. AI could help businesses keep pace by identifying emerging patterns and updating their websites automatically. Imagine your site staying fresh and modern without you lifting a finger. That kind of agility could give companies a real competitive edge, helping them capture attention, boost engagement, and drive conversions.

A Revolution on the Horizon?

The potential for AI in web development is massive. From automating technical tasks to helping personalise user experiences, AI could streamline the entire process. Developers and businesses alike stand to benefit—faster builds, better performance, and improved user satisfaction.

Still, the question remains: How far will AI go? Could it reshape search engines, content creation, or even how we interact online? Maybe. What’s certain is that AI is here to stay—and its role in web design will only continue to grow.

Final Thoughts on AI in web design

AI won’t replace human creativity anytime soon, but it will become a powerful design partner. As new tools emerge and existing ones improve, expect to see more AI-powered websites that are not only smarter but also more beautiful, personalised, and effective.

So, will AI transform website design? It already is.

Website Hosting Explained

Posted on March 9, 2023March 17, 2023 by Phil

If you’ve ever wondered what website hosting is and why it’s important, here’s an example for you.

Picture Earth as the Internet.
Then imagine your website is a house in a town or city, in a country on earth.
And finally, your domain name (eg. www.back9.co.nz) is the physical Street Address.

So your domain name points people to your physical address… That’s how people know where to visit you right? Just like a website. We could get really complicated and say the more interesting your house is or the more exciting the things are that going on there then the more people will be searching for it. But now we’re talking about Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and that’s a whole other topic.

Website Hosting – Who owns what?

Just as a physical house needs a foundation, framing, plumbing, and electricity to function, so too does a website need a ‘server’ for hosting in order to exist on the internet.

When you’re living in a house you need to pay rent for that house right? Or if you buy it, you need to maintain it. You need to pay for rates and insurance etc. In most cases you can think of website hosting (using the house comparison) like you own the house but lease the land. In some cases with Proprietary systems like Shopify, Wix, or Squarespace, you are leasing the house too. Whilst you may own the things within the house (furniture etc = content) you don’t actually own the website (the house).

Hosting is the foundation of your website.

It’s what keeps your site online and accessible to visitors 24/7. And just like the physical house analogy, if any one of those essential components is missing or not up to par, your website will suffer as a result.

That’s why it’s so important to understand what you are getting in terms of website maintenance and hosting – and what are you actually paying for.

The Three Pillars of Quality Website Hosting: Speed, Security, and Support

When it comes to quality web hosting, there are three main pillars that must be taken into consideration: speed, security, and support. Let’s take a brief look at each one.

Speed

In today’s fast-paced world, people have little patience for slow websites. In fact, according to Google, 53% of mobile users will abandon a site that takes longer than 3 seconds to load. That means if your site isn’t loading quickly, you’re losing out on potential customers or leads. When choosing a web hosting provider, be sure to find one that offers fast page-loading speeds.

Security

Another important factor to consider is security. Your website is vulnerable to attack from hackers who could potentially wreak havoc on your business if they gain access to sensitive customer data like credit card numbers or social security numbers. A quality web hosting provider will offer features like malware scanning and protection, as well as firewalls and other security measures to help keep your site safe from attack.

Support & Maintenance

Finally, it’s best to ensure you get more than just hosting. Website maintenance is a key ingredient in winning online, as it ensures your website is running smoothly. On the internet, things are constantly changing. Website browsers like Google Chrome, update frequently, as do third-party systems you may integrate with – such as Mailchimp or Facebook. By investing in a proactive maintenance plan alongside your website hosting, you can rest assured your website will stay up-to-date and relevant.

Now that you know a little more about what goes into quality web hosting, you will understand the importance of paying for quality. Find out how much it costs to host a website here.

SharpSpring and Salesforce: An Honest Comparison

Posted on March 7, 2023April 3, 2023 by Phil

Are you business owner or marketing manager looking for CRM software? If so you probably want to help streamline your operations and increase efficiency. And you may be considering either SharpSpring or Salesforce. Both of these platforms offer powerful features that can help businesses succeed. So in saying that, it is important to understand the differences between them. Let’s take a closer look at both SharpSpring and Salesforce to see which one is the best fit for your business needs.

Pricing

When comparing SharpSpring and Salesforce, pricing is an important factor to consider.

SharpSpring offers 4 plans ranging from $450/mo to $1,150/mo, depending on the size and scope of your business. All plans include unlimited users and standard features such as email marketing automation and lead management.

With Salesforce, there are 3 tiers of pricing ranging from $25/user/mo to $300/user/mo. The more expensive plans include additional features such as AI-powered customer service tools and advanced analytics capabilities.

SharpSpring and Salesforce Features

In terms of features, both SharpSpring and Salesforce offer comprehensive solutions that can meet most businesses needs. Both platforms offer lead management, contact management, email and marketing automation, website tracking, reporting & analytics capabilities, customer segmentation capabilities, and more. However, one key difference between the two platforms is that SharpSpring includes a built-in webpage (landing and blogs) builder. While Salesforce does not have this feature included in their plans. This means that with SharpSpring you can easily create custom Landing pages without needing any coding expertise or technical knowledge – something that could be a major advantage for small businesses that need to quickly create professional websites without breaking the bank.

The final Choice

Ultimately when it comes down to choosing between SharpSpring and Salesforce it all depends on your business needs and budget. While both platforms offer powerful features that can help businesses succeed in the long run they do have different pricing structures with slightly different features available at each level so it’s worth doing some research before making an investment in either platform. It’s also worth noting that both companies offer free trials so you can test out each platform before committing to a plan – giving you peace of mind knowing you’re making an informed decision about which platform is right for your business needs!

SharpSpring by Constant Contact

Posted on February 28, 2023April 3, 2023 by Phil

If you’re a business owner or marketing manager, you know that standing out from the crowd is essential. To do this, you need a comprehensive platform that can help you manage your lead generation, customer relationships (CRM), and over-arching marketing/sales campaigns. Enter SharpSpring by Constant Contact—a market-leading platform that can help you maximize your ROI and optimize your customer experience. Let’s take a closer look at what this platform offers.

What is SharpSpring?

SharpSpring by Constant Contact is a comprehensive marketing automation platform designed to streamline lead generation campaigns and customer relationship management (CRM). It helps businesses analyse their data to gain greater insight into their customer’s needs and preferences. Additionally, it allows users to create an unlimited number of automated campaigns with ease. This helps them target leads more accurately while saving time on manual tasks.

SharpSpring also offers a variety of integrations with other platforms. These include; MailChimp, Salesforce, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and many more. These integrations simplify campaign setup and help users easily track performance across multiple channels so they can make informed decisions about their future campaigns.

Some SharpSpring Competitors in the Market

The main competitors of SharpSpring are:

HubSpot

HubSpot is an all-in-one customer relationship management (CRM) platform designed to help businesses of any size grow. It provides a range of features including automated workflows, personalized content, and analytics, in an effort to help companies build better relationships with customers and drive marketing ROI. See a comparison of Hubspot vs SharpSpring.
Salesforce

In 1999, the founders of Salesforce had a bold vision to create a customer relationship management system that was hosted on the internet and could be accessed via subscription. This ‘software as a service’ (SaaS) model was soon adopted across the tech industry. And has since revolutionized how companies manage their customers.
Act-On Software

Act-On marketing automation is designed to help businesses take their campaigns and lead nurturing to the next level. It provides useful features such as data analytics, integrations, and automated workflows, helping companies gain more efficiency in their marketing initiatives. With Act-On, users can explore endless possibilities in terms of creativity, testing, and launching new campaigns.
Infusionsoft (by Keap)

Infusionsoft (by Keap) is an all-in-one small business platform that streamlines and automates marketing, sales, operations, and customer service. It helps businesses save time by providing powerful tools for automation, lead management, and customer relationship management. With Infusionsoft (by Keap), users can create more personalized experiences for their customers and drive more engagement with their businesses.
ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is a powerful communication and marketing automation platform designed to help businesses reach their goals. It combines multiple features, such as email marketing, customer relationship management (CRM), and more, into one unified solution. With ActiveCampaign, users can create automated workflows, segment their contacts for targeted campaigns, and track customer journeys for improved engagement.
LeadSquared – Marketing Automation Platform (MAP)

LeadSquared is a comprehensive lead management and marketing automation platform for B2B organizations. It helps businesses acquire, nurture and convert leads into customers by providing powerful features such as lead scoring, behavioral analytics and segmentation. LeadSquared enables users to create targeted campaigns, track customer journeys and gain insights into their customers’ behavior to help them close more deals and increase conversions.
Ontraport

Ontraport is a marketing automation platform designed to help businesses increase their profits. It offers a comprehensive suite of features, such as email marketing, sales force automation, and advanced analytics, which allow users to create personalized campaigns and track customer journeys with ease. With Ontraport, businesses can segment contacts for targeted campaigns, gain insights into customer behavior and automate processes for maximum efficiency.
Autopilot

Autopilot is another marketing automation platform designed to help businesses increase their customer engagement. It provides advanced features such as email campaigns, journey mapping, and automated processes that allow users to create personalized messages for their customers and track conversations along the customer journey. With Autopilot, businesses can understand their customer base better, deliver more effective marketing campaigns and streamline customer engagement processes.
SendinBlue – Email Marketing & Transactional Solution for eCommerce Businesses & Enterprises

Sendinblue is a comprehensive marketing automation platform designed to help businesses reach their target audience and increase their sales. It offers advanced features, such as email campaigns, automation journeys, and segmentation capabilities, which allow users to create personalized communication for their customers and gain insights into customer behavior. With Sendinblue, businesses can increase conversions, analyze customer data and automate processes for maximum efficiency.
Eloqua (Oracle)

Eloqua (Oracle) is a comprehensive marketing automation platform designed to help businesses increase their revenue and engage customers. It offers powerful features such as email campaigns, journey building and analytics that enable businesses to customize messages for each customer interaction and track engagement in real-time. With Eloqua (Oracle), companies can understand their audiences better, deliver effective campaigns and improve overall customer experience.

Each of these platforms provides different features and capabilities depending on the user’s needs. For example, some offer basic contact management tools while others have advanced CRM capabilities that allow users to track customer interactions across multiple channels. Ultimately though all of them are powerful tools when it comes to managing marketing campaigns and optimizing lead-generation efforts.

The Benefits of Using SharpSpring by Constant Contact

SharpSpring is a powerful marketing automation tool designed to help businesses take their marketing efforts to the next level. This platform allows users to manage campaigns and track customer data in an effort to better understand their customers and increase their ROI. With SharpSpring, users gain access to a suite of features… These include email marketing, social media management, landing page creation, lead tracking, and more. Let’s take a look at what makes SharpSpring by Constant Contact such an effective tool for businesses.

There are plenty of benefits when it comes to signing up with Sharpspring for business owners and marketing managers such as:

Targeted Lead Generation

With Sharpspring’s detailed analytics system business owners can better understand their target audience’s buying habits. This is so that they can craft more effective campaigns in the future. This will allow them to generate more leads through targeted advertisements.

Automated Campaigns

With SharpSpring’s automated campaigns businesses can save time on a number of manual tasks. This includes such things such as creating content or sending emails which will help increase productivity levels significantly over time. Additionally, automated campaigns allow businesses to send personalized messages at scale which improves the customer experience greatly compared to generic mass emails sent out without any personalization or customization options available.

Accessibility

This is straight out the biggest benefit in our eyes. Having used a range of CRM and Marketing Automation software in the past, they all do mostly the same things. But I feel that the accessibility to almost any business is the biggest selling point here when it comes to SharpSpring…

Unlike other platforms where users have limited access unless they pay extra fees or upgrade their account, with SharpSpring all users have full access. And that’s regardless of their account type or budget size. This, therefore, makes it accessible for smaller businesses that may not have large amounts of money available for marketing expenses due to its low cost compared to other providers in the market today!

Agency Partner Support

Back9 Creative is an Agency partner of SharpSpring by Constant Contact which means our clients get access to one-on-one support from our knowledgeable team who have extensive experience in utilizing this powerful platform both strategically & tactically giving them an edge over their competition when it comes time to execute their digital strategies!

Benefits of Signing up with SharpSpring

When you sign up with SharpSpring, you’ll have access to all of these features and more. In addition to being able to design custom landing pages and track customer data in real time, you’ll be able to schedule automated emails and monitor your social media performance from one unified dashboard. All of this can be done from anywhere at any time – no need for expensive hardware or software downloads! Plus, with Back9 Creative as your Agency Partner of SharpSpring, you’ll get expert support whenever you run into issues or need advice on how best to optimize your campaigns.

SharpSpring having been recently acquired by Constant Contact, is going to become one of the most popular marketing automation solutions on the market today. This platform offers business owners and marketing managers an effective way to increase (and measure) ROI while staying ahead of the competition.

Plus when signing up with Sharpspring you get full support from Back9 Creative as your Agency partner of Sharpspring by Constant Contact which will help Amplify your business even more!

If you’re looking for a reliable marketing automation solution that’s packed with features yet still easy enough for anyone to use – then look no further than Sharpspring!

Bounce Rates Demystified: What Does It Mean for Google Ads?

Posted on February 23, 2023March 10, 2023 by Phil

If you’ve ever heard the term “bounce rate” and wondered what it meant for your business, you’re not alone. In this blog post, we’ll break down what a bounce rate is, how it affects your Google Ads campaigns, and what kind of bounce rate is considered healthy. So let’s dive in!

What is a Bounce Rate?

Simply put, a bounce rate is the percentage of visitors who land on your website and leave without taking any other action. These are people who come to your website, take one look around, and then click away to never return again. This could be due to a number of reasons; either they found what they were looking for or they didn’t find anything that interested them. Regardless of the reason, their visit resulted in no conversions or sales; hence the term “bounce”

How Does Bounce Rate Relate to Google Ads?

When you run a Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaign through Google Ads, you want to make sure that your money is being well spent and that you are seeing a good return on investment (ROI). This means ensuring that the ads are targeting the right people. Furthermore with interesting content that encourages them to stay on your website. And long enough to take some sort of action like making an inquiry or purchase. If people are bouncing from your website quickly after clicking on one of your ads, then it means 2 things.

Either they weren’t interested in what they saw or;
They weren’t finding what they were looking for.

Either way, it means those clicks are essentially wasted money since no conversion was made. So in terms of the path to conversion, is your website doing as much as it could?

What Is Considered A Good Bounce Rate?

A good bounce rate really depends on the type of website you have. And can vary greatly depending on factors such as industry and user expectations. Generally speaking though, anything below 40% can be considered good. While anything above 80% should be looked at more closely. As this may indicate there’s something wrong with how users interact with your site. Or even with how relevant and effective your ads are at targeting potential customers.

Understanding bounce rates is key when it comes to understanding how effective your PPC campaigns really are at driving sales for your business. Knowing this information can help you make changes if needed in order to ensure that each dollar spent on advertising gets as much bang for its buck as possible! Being aware of these numbers will also give you insight into areas where improvements might be needed so that you can optimize future campaigns accordingly. After all, isn’t that why we use PPC in the first place? To drive results! So keep an eye out on those bounces! They tell an important story about whether or not users like what they see when they reach your site after clicking one of those shiny new ads!