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.
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...
Iowa Web Design That Delivers Results Without the Fluff
Iowa Web Design That Doesn’t Waste Your Time (or Budget) Let’s get one thing straight: your website should work for you, not against you. If you're an Iowa business or nonprofit leader tired of overpriced agencies, vague timelines, and sites that look good but don’t...
Web Design for Carpet & Flooring Contractors | Team 218
Web Design for Carpet & Flooring Contractors in Iowa City That Drives Leads If you're a carpet or flooring contractor in Iowa City, let’s be honest — your website might be holding you back. Or worse, it doesn’t exist. You're busy installing premium floors, not...
Why Are New Commercial Buildings Going Up While Others Sit Empty?
Empty Buildings, Busy Bulldozers: Why We Keep Building When Offices Sit Empty The Paradox You Can’t Ignore You’ve seen it. You’ve probably muttered something under your breath about it. There’s a sparkling new commercial building going up on the edge of town... right...
Why Iowa Pet Groomers Need a Great Website in 2025
In Iowa, where pet ownership is a way of life—from Cedar Rapids to Waterloo—pet groomers have a unique opportunity to connect with local pet owners. A professional, well-designed website is no longer just a luxury; it’s a must-have for standing out in a competitive...
Team 218 Featured in Duplicator’s WordPress Case Study
Team 218 Featured in Duplicator's Case Study: Here's How We Make WordPress Migrations Look Easy We’ve got some exciting news: Team 218 Web Services was recently featured in a case study by Duplicator, the creators of one of the best WordPress migration tools in the...
Why Appliance Repair Businesses in Eastern Iowa Need a Website in 2025
Why Your Appliance Repair Business in Eastern Iowa Needs a Website (and What It Should Include) If you're running an appliance repair business in 2025 and still relying on word of mouth, Facebook posts, or hope and duct tape to keep the phone ringing—it's time for a...
High School Graduation: Ultimate Guide to Unforgettable Graduation Day
Graduating from high school marks a pivotal moment in every student's life—a time filled with excitement, nostalgia, and the anticipation of new beginnings. As you prepare to don that cap and gown, every detail of your graduation day should be nothing short of...
Maximize Local SEO with GBP Features: Iowa Case Study
Maximizing Local SEO with GBP Features: Iowa Case Study Introduction Did you know 46% of Google searches are for local businesses? Optimizing your Google Business Profile (GBP) with advanced features can make your Iowa business stand out in local search results. Why...
March 2025 Google Core Update: Boost Your Iowa Business Rankings
March 2025 Google Core Update: What Iowa Businesses Need to Know to Thrive Online Google’s March 2025 Core Update has just dropped, rattling the digital world like a thunderstorm over Iowa’s rolling hills. For local businesses, this isn’t just another tech blip—it’s a...