Team 218 Web Services Blog
Web Design, SEO, and Digital Marketing Insights
Welcome to the Team 218 Web Services Blog—where expertise meets a little attitude. With years of experience in web design, SEO, and digital strategy, we’ve seen it all—the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. This blog is where we break down industry trends, debunk marketing myths, and dish out practical advice to help you navigate the ever-evolving online world.
Got a burning question or a topic you’d love us to tackle? Drop us a line—we’re always up for a good discussion (and maybe a little friendly debate). Stick around, and let’s make your website work for you, not against you.
Why Iowa Nonprofits Overpay for Web Design (And How to Fix It)
Running a nonprofit in Iowa requires a specific kind of fortitude. It takes good old-fashioned corn-fed dedication to stretch a dollar, organize volunteers, and serve the community. Every dime raised—whether it’s a pancake breakfast or a major grant—needs to go...
The 10 Best New Tech Gifts for Christmas 2025
Our Top 10 Tech Gifts on the 2025 Wish List Every year around this time, the office discussion shifts from WordPress updates to holiday shopping. I (Kim) am always on the hunt for gifts that are thoughtful, beautiful, or just plain fun. Meanwhile, Chuck is usually...
Tech Gifts That Don’t Suck: A Developer’s Guide for 2025
Stop Buying Junk: The Team 218 Tech Gift Guide (2025 Edition) My calendar might have been stuck in the past for a minute there, but let’s get this right: It is December 2025. You are panic-buying. You’re standing in the aisle of a big-box store looking at a coffee mug...
Web Design Color Schemes: The Art & Science
The Battle of the Palette: Balancing Form and Function Chuck: Let’s look at this practically. If I open your website and see neon green text on a white background, the first thing I notice isn't the content—it's the eyestrain. Color is definitely about style, but from...
Launching the Give Till It Hurts Website: A Hub for Community Impact
Building a Digital Home for a Heartfelt Mission We often talk about "Iowa nice" around here—that genuine, neighborly spirit that makes the Hawkeye State such a special place to live. But sometimes, being nice isn't enough; sometimes, you need to roll up your sleeves...
Small Business Web Design Iowa | Team 218 Web Services
Is Your Website Your Hardest-Working Employee? For small businesses and nonprofits here in Eastern Iowa, a website should be more than just an electronic brochure. It should be your most reliable, 24/7 employee. It’s the one greeting potential customers at 2 AM,...
Recent Google Algorithm Changes 2025 | SERP Impact & SEO Tips
Recent Google Algorithm Changes in 2025: How They're Shaking Up SERP and What It Means for Your Business In the fast-paced world of search engine optimization (SEO), staying ahead of Google's algorithm updates is crucial for maintaining visibility in search engine...
Technical SEO Audits & Fixes: Pro Guide + Case Study
Technical SEO Audits & Fixes: The Complete Professional Guide (with Real Case Study) Audience: SEO practitioners and technical SEOs who live in Screaming Frog, GSC, and server logs. Content and links can’t carry a site if search engines can’t efficiently...
Boost Your Eastern Iowa Business with Team 218 Web Services!
Hey, small business owners and nonprofits in Eastern Iowa! Ready to take your online presence to the next level? At Team 218 Web Services, we’re passionate about helping you succeed with professional, affordable, and results-driven digital solutions. Based in...
Website Management vs. Maintenance: What’s Included (+ Checklist)
Quick Summary (TL;DR) Website management is the ongoing care and feeding of your site: updates, backups, security monitoring, fixes, and small content tweaks—plus reporting so you actually know what changed. If you’d rather not babysit plugins and hosting quirks, a...
Managing WordPress Updates: The Ultimate Checklist for Small Sites
Managing WordPress Updates: The Ultimate Checklist for Small Sites Regularly updating your WordPress site isn’t just a “nice to do” task — it’s your first line of defense against hackers, glitches, and embarrassing downtime. Whether you’re running a small business...
Your Website: The Unsung Hero of Your Small Business
As a small business owner, you're juggling a million things. From managing inventory to serving customers, your plate is full. In the midst of all that, it's easy to view your website as just another item on the to-do list, perhaps something you’ll “get around to”...
Iowa State Fair 2025 Guide | Food, Rides & Traditions in Des Moines
Nothing Compares to the Iowa State Fair Welcome to the Hawkeye State’s biggest celebration of community, culture, and corn dogs. Every August, more than a million fair-goers stream into Des Moines for eleven jam-packed days of rides, ribbon contests, and that famous...
13 Proven Ways to Keep Hackers Out of Your WordPress Site
How Do I Keep My WordPress Site From Getting Hacked? https://www.reddit.com/user/Team218Web/ It’s 2 a.m. here in the Hawkeye State, and while you’re dreaming of tomorrow’s to-do list, a swarm of bots is busy rattling every virtual doorknob it can find. One weak...
Why Every Business Needs a Website | Web Design & SEO Benefits
Why Every Business Needs a Website: The Real Benefits If you're running a small business or nonprofit in Iowa, especially around our corn-fed corner of Eastern Iowa, here's a truth you can't ignore—you need a website. Not just any slapped-together homepage, but a...
AI Content Quality for Iowa Small Businesses & Nonprofits
AI Language Models and Web Content: A Straight-Talk Guide for Iowa Small Businesses & Nonprofits Artificial intelligence language models (LLMs) went from novelty to daily toolkit in no time. If you run a coffee roastery in Kalona or helm a 501(c)(3) in Burlington,...
Stop the Spam: How to Identify and Deal with Email Junk
Stop the Spam: How to Identify and Deal with Email Junk You’ve got mail! - but do you want it? If you’ve ever opened your inbox to find a Nigerian prince, an offer for a “miracle weight loss pill,” or a shady-sounding invoice for a service you never bought,...
Top SEO Trends for 2025: Essential Tips for Iowa Small Businesses & Nonprofits
Top SEO Trends for 2025: What Iowa Small Businesses Need to Know As a small business owner or nonprofit leader in Eastern Iowa, staying ahead in digital marketing means embracing the latest search engine optimization strategies. With Google’s algorithms constantly...
Agencies’ SEO Shortcomings: Claims vs. Reality
The Shortcomings of Web Design Agencies: Claiming SEO Expertise Without Delivering the Fundamentals As the owner of Team 218 Web Services in Williamsburg, Iowa, I've spent years helping small businesses and nonprofits across Eastern Iowa craft robust online presences....
Websites for Window and Door Contractors: Boost Your Fenestration Business in Iowa
Hey there, fellow Iowans and home improvement hustlers! I'm Chuck from Team 218 Web Services, tucked away in Williamsburg, Iowa, where the cornfields meet the digital frontier. If you're a window and door contractor knee-deep in installations, replacements, and those...
Hyperlocal Keyword Mastery: Boost Iowa Small-Town Visibility in 2025
Hey folks, Chuck here from Team 218 Web Services in Williamsburg, Iowa. As a small business owner myself, I get how tough it can be to cut through the noise online, especially in our tight-knit towns. Based on solid testing and a focus on quality content that puts...