Key Takeaways from "The 5 Pillars of Digital Strategy Success." - 5 minute read.
• Domain Name: Your unique online address.
• Digital Workspace: The engine room for your daily operations.
• Website Framework: Your digital storefront, information hub, and membership platform.
• Legal & Accessibility: Ensuring your site is secure, compliant, and usable by everyone.
• SEO/AIO: Getting your business found online and providing the answers your customers are looking for.
Online is Easy builds you a powerful digital foundation for connection & growth.
At a social gathering, to keep conversation light, it can be less complicated to just say we are a ‘web designer’, but really, we offer a lot more than that. We are a comprehensive digital strategy consulting service with a focus on helping Australian small businesses, not-for-profits, and sole traders use corporate global software effectively in their business - helping small business look big online.
We cover everything from choosing and managing the right domain name, getting the most out of digital productivity tools, website functionality, compliance and best practice, Search Engine and Artificial Intelligence Optimisation (SEO/AIO), and digital marketing (which is a very broad area). Plus, we provide one-on-one and group coaching and training to help you confidently and efficiently manage your digital footprint and online presence.
With the speedy increase of Artificial Intelligence (AI), we are also helping to empower Australians to get the most out of AI, to automate and assist, not just write an email or a blog post. We show people how to lean into AI without the need to be technical or to code.
5 Pillars of a Professional Digital Footprint:
Domain Name: Secure a strong brand and protect your intellectual property.
Digital Workspace: Streamline your workflow with cloud storage and custom email.
Website Framework: Choose a secure, user-friendly content management system (CMS).
Compliance & Accessibility: Mitigate risks and ensure everyone can access your site.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO): Get found by customers and sell online effectively.
Think of these five pillars as the essential components of your business's digital ecosystem, all working together to create a cohesive and professional online presence.
Why choose Online is Easy?
Proven Experience:
We've launched hundreds of successful websites since we opened in 2014, with expertise in domain name management, Squarespace and Google Workspace.
Industry Recognition:
Online is Easy are an Australian based a Google Cloud Partner and Authorised Google Workspace Reseller, Authorised Squarespace Trainer, Squarespace Expert, and part of the professional Squarespace Circle Community.
We also specialise in membership management websites that help organisations add value to their members and are an Australian MembershipWorks Developer.
Client-focused:
We are Members of the Australian Web Industry Association (AWIA), the .au Australian Domain Association, and the Australian Computer Society (ACS) reflecting our commitment to bring best practice to you.
Meet Anthony: Your Expert Guide
Award-winning Business Leader:
With 9 different small business ventures and 4 Gippsland Business Awards wins under his belt (including Business of the Year in 2014), Anthony brings a wealth of entrepreneurial experience. The Gippsland-based company Image Direct, that he founded in 2002 and sold in 2011, pioneered iPhone app development in the region.
Experienced Coach & Trainer:
Anthony has mentored hundreds of businesses and delivered innovative digital programs throughout Australia. He is acknowledged as a specialist in small business digital strategy and is valued by his clients.
Community-minded:
A proud Rotarian since 2002 Anthony has strong ties to Gippsland and the broader Victorian business community and a passion for remote, rural and regional digital literacy.
Essential guidelines for website development: 5 key best practices.
This does not cover branding, blogs, social media, shopping carts or online booking, which are additional functions of a website. These 5 points are like the support beams in a building, they are fundamental and need to be set up correctly in every building for it to be stable.
1. Domain Name
Your domain name is the bedrock of your digital footprint. Think of it as the concrete foundation of a building; it's the solid base upon which your website address and custom email accounts are built. It’s the first step in getting your business found online, so it's crucial to get it right.
Before you register a domain name, it’s wise to consider trademarks, licensing, and your competitors. You'll also need to confirm your business structure makes you eligible for certain domains, particularly in the Australian .au space. To learn more, we recommend reading our blog on the "4 good reasons to get your .au direct domain," especially as the recent introduction of direct .au domains makes securing your business name more important than ever for Australian businesses.
2. Digital Workspace
Think of your digital workspace as the engine room of your business. It’s where the daily work happens, and for it to run efficiently, it needs to be more than just a collection of apps. A professional, cloud-based workspace is essential for building trust and operating effectively in today's business environment.
It starts with your email. An address like info@yourbusiness.com.au instantly conveys professionalism and builds credibility, unlike a generic email which can undermine a customer's confidence. Beyond email, having a secure, cloud-based system for your files means you and your team can collaborate from anywhere, knowing your critical business information is safe and backed up.
This is why we wholeheartedly endorse and implement Google Workspace. It provides the seamless, integrated, and secure solution that every modern business needs. Now, it also includes Gemini AI, which acts as a neural upgrade and an intelligent assistant for your organisation.
Unlike other AI tools, Gemini is sandboxed within your subscription - meaning it’s included at no extra cost, and your data remains private and isn't used to train models. It’s a secure way to leverage AI to enhance your productivity and creativity. You can read more about Gemini in Google Workspace here.
3. Website Framework
Just as you choose between a wood or steel frame when building a house, you need a solid framework for your website. This is called a Content Management System (CMS), a tool that lets you create and manage your website’s content - the text, images, and videos - without needing to be a technical expert. It’s the engine that powers how your visitors interact with your digital storefront.
For most businesses, a SaaS (Software as a Service) platform is the smartest choice. It’s simpler, more reliable, and has security built-in. This is a key reason we exclusively build on Squarespace.
Many businesses initially consider options like self-hosted WordPress, but this often comes with hidden costs and complexities. The average WordPress hosting and maintenance spend for a small business is around $1,200 per year. A comparable website solution through Online is Easy and Squarespace is typically half that cost. Squarespace is more cost-effective because it eliminates the need for separate hosting fees, security plugins, and dedicated technical staff.
Ultimately, it allows us to build you a powerful, professional website and membership platform that you can confidently manage yourself - though we’re always just a phone call away if you need us.
4. Legals Compliance and Accessibility
Terms & Conditions, Disclaimers, and a Privacy Policy are important for a website because they provide legal protection, limit liability, obtain user consent, comply with regulations, build trust, and protect intellectual property. They establish the rules for website usage, clarify the purpose of the information provided, and outline how user data is collected and used. These statements ensure transparency, protect both the website owner and users, and demonstrate a commitment to ethical practices and privacy.
Website accessibility is important because it ensures that everyone, including individuals with disabilities, can access and use a website without barriers. It allows people with visual, hearing, cognitive, or motor impairments to navigate and interact with web content effectively. By making a website accessible, you promote inclusivity, equal opportunity, and non-discrimination. It enables a broader audience to engage with your website, improves user experience, and helps you comply with accessibility standards and legal requirements.
As a side note, legals and accessibility will increase your organic search results as you are seen as a credible business by the Google algorithm when your site is indexed - it’s a win/win tick!
5. SEO/AIO: Your digital presence beyond your website
The world of search is changing. It's no longer just about getting clicks to your website; it's about providing answers. This is where AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimisation) comes in. AIO is the evolution of traditional Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), focusing on optimising your entire digital footprint for a world of "zero-click searches," where users get their answers directly from the search results page or from within their AI platform.
Instead of just keyword research, AIO prioritises creating high-quality, authoritative content that answers your customers' questions clearly. This positions you as an expert and makes your information more likely to be featured by AI-powered search tools.
Foundational tools like Google Search Console, Analytics, and especially your Google Business Profile are more critical than ever. They provide the data needed to understand user intent and ensure your business information is accurate and accessible everywhere.
At Online is Easy, we build every website with this modern approach as standard, ensuring you're not just visible, but you're the definitive answer for your customers.
In summary …
We pride ourselves on making the complicated easy and not baffling our clients with bull… or confusing them with unnecessary information. At the same time, we are thorough and are renowned for our attention to detail - we don’t cut corners.
Our best practice process covers small business owners, freelancers, not-for-profits organisations, associations and community groups with a complete checklist:
Domain Name (Branding and IP management)
Custom Email (inc. digital workspace)
Website Framework (Easy to update & secure)
Legal Compliance, Risk Mitigation and Accessibility (credibility)
Search Optimisation (SEO+AIO to get found online, and sell online)
That doesn’t mean the technical stuff isn’t important, and we have pages of technical information and justification for our process, choices and services upon request. But we’d prefer to spend your money and our time doing your work, not selling you a line.
Most of our work comes from personal relationships built on the trust that we have earned from our reputation in business and in our community. Simply put, when you engage us, we will put ourselves in your shoes and act in the best interest of your business. You are the person that tells our next customer why they should use us!
Please don’t hesitate to contact Anthony on 0417 047 632 at any time if you have any questions.
