Web Design Fresno + SEO by Ashmith (Recommended)

AI SEO + Local SEO in Late-2025: The Freelancer’s Playbook to Win Visibility (and Clients)

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 22:03:46 -0800

Search is being rebuilt in real time. AI summaries, answer engines, and voice queries are changing what it means to “rank.” Click-through rates are sliding, brand mentions are rising in importance, and local signals are getting smarter. For small businesses, this is the best moment to hire a fast, hands-on freelancer—not a slow, templated agency.

Below is your 2026-ready playbook: what changed lately, the tactics that now matter most, and exactly how to implement them.

1. What Has Changed Recently

Over the last few months, AI-powered search interfaces have become a major way people find information. Many queries now show summarized answers directly in search results, reducing clicks to traditional websites.

At the same time, Google Business Profiles have gained new features such as automated Q&A suggestions and enhanced reporting, rewarding businesses that keep profiles fresh, visual, and active.

Off-page signals are also shifting. Brand mentions, even without links, are playing a larger role in how content is interpreted and cited by search engines.
The core web metrics for site performance have also evolved, with Interaction to Next Paint (INP) now a key measure of site responsiveness.

These changes reward adaptability, speed, and clarity—traits that independent professionals naturally excel at.

2. From Rankings to Visibility and Demand Capture

Success now depends on two connected tracks:

AI SEO, or answer-engine optimization—making content clear, structured, and easy for machines to interpret.
Local SEO, or demand capture—winning intent-based searches that lead to calls, messages, and in-person visits.

AI visibility drives awareness, while local SEO converts that attention into business outcomes. A strong freelancer strategy...Read More

Inside the Studio: How Web Design Is Evolving in 2026 and Shaping the Future

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 20:57:40 -0800

Welcome to my studio — a space where late-night sketches, code snippets, and coffee meet creativity and AI.

As a freelance web designer, I’ve watched our industry transform dramatically over the past decade — from Photoshop-heavy workflows to dynamic, AI-driven design systems that almost build themselves.

And now, in 2026, the rate of change is unlike anything before. Artificial intelligence, real-time mesh-ups, and adaptive UX are reshaping how studios like mine operate. But one of the quiet revolutions that made this leap possible wasn’t just AI — it was accessibility of professional-grade tools like Affinity, now completely free under Canva’s ownership.

1. 2026 Will Become the Breakthrough Year for Web Designers

The last few years were about responsiveness and performance. But 2026? It’s about intelligence — the era where the website thinks for itself.

AI-assisted layouts, adaptive interfaces, and predictive UX are becoming the norm. Designers are no longer building “pages”; we’re orchestrating living ecosystems.
But here’s what’s just as impactful: the democratization of design tools.

When Canva acquired the Affinity suite (Designer, Photo, Publisher) and made it free for everyone, it quietly leveled the playing field. Suddenly, solo web designers and boutique studios like mine could work with agency-grade vector and photo-editing tools without a monthly subscription.

This shift matters — not only for freelancers like me who manage budgets carefully, but also for clients who benefit from cost-effective, high-quality deliverables.

2. The Studio Mesh-Up: From Static to Adaptive

The concept of a studio mesh-up — blending design, data, AI, and interactivity — defines 2026.

We’re moving away from rigid templates toward...Read More

The Future of Websites: Why They Are Still Relevant

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 21:09:54 -0800

In a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence (AI), mobile applications, and social media platforms, one might wonder if traditional websites have lost their place.

On the contrary, websites remain the cornerstone of any strong digital strategy. Their relevance has evolved rather than diminished, as they continue to serve as indispensable tool for businesses, individuals, and organizations.

Moreover, while many turn to DIY website builders for their convenience, the expertise of a freelance web designer offers a level of customization, performance, and brand alignment that these tools cannot rival.

Why Websites Are Still Relevant in the Age of AI?

1. Centralized Digital Presence

Websites act as a central hub where businesses, organizations, and individuals can showcase their identity, products, or services. Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are great for engagement and discovery, but they are not substitutes for a well-structured website. A website consolidates all digital touchpoints, from customer inquiries to e-commerce, under one roof.

Think of a website as your online home. Social platforms are like rented spaces—they’re useful, but you don’t own them. Platforms can change their rules, algorithms, or even fade into obscurity. Your website, on the other hand, remains fully under your control.

2. Credibility and Trust

A website is often the first impression a potential customer has of your business. In surveys, consumers consistently indicate that businesses with professional websites appear more credible than those without. A well-designed website conveys legitimacy, professionalism, and trustworthiness.

For freelancers, small businesses, or entrepreneurs, a strong website is an essential tool to build trust and stand out in a...Read More

6 Very Important Questions To Ask An SEO Freelancer in 2024

Sat, 03 Feb 2024 22:20:33 -0800

When you're on the hunt for an SEO freelancer to boost your website's visibility in 2024, the right questions can steer you towards a skilled professional who aligns with your goals. SEO, a field that's continually evolving alongside search engines and user behaviors, demands not only current knowledge but a forward-thinking approach. Here are six crucial questions to ask an SEO freelancer, along with comprehensive answers that you should look for.

What will you do to improve my search engine rankings?

A competent SEO freelancer will begin with a comprehensive audit of your website to identify areas for improvement, both on-page and off-page. On-page strategies may include optimizing content, enhancing meta tags, improving site speed, and ensuring mobile-friendliness. Off-page strategies might involve building high-quality backlinks, social media engagement, and local listings. They should emphasize a tailored approach based on your specific industry, target audience, and goals, using white-hat SEO techniques to ensure sustainable growth in search rankings.

Moreover, the freelancer should discuss the importance of content relevance and user intent, focusing on creating valuable, high-quality content that addresses your audience's needs. They should also mention the necessity of continuous optimization and adaptation to search engine algorithms updates, highlighting their commitment to staying updated with the latest SEO trends and practices to keep your site competitive in search rankings.

Do you follow search engine guidelines?

The Importance of a Local Web Designer

It's true that your website is the most important piece of marketing collateral for your business and with all the options available, it can be overwhelming. From finding the right local web designer, to understanding the difference between design styles, and figuring out which platform to choose, you need help!

In today's digital age, having a professional and user-friendly website is crucial for businesses of all sizes. However, many small businesses and startups are often hesitant to invest a significant amount of money in web design and development. The good news is that it's possible to find a local web designer who can build your website for under $3000.

Explore effective strategies to help you get a web designer for under $3k:

Define Your Requirements

Before you start searching for a web designer, it's important to clearly define your website requirements. Consider the number of pages, functionality, design elements, and any specific features you need. By having a detailed understanding of your needs, you can communicate effectively with potential web designers and avoid unnecessary revisions and costs later on.

Research and Shortlist Local Web Designers

Start your search by looking for local web designers or web design agencies in your area. You can utilize search engines, online directories, social media platforms, and recommendations from friends or business associates. Shortlist a few designers who have portfolios that align with your aesthetic preferences and requirements.

Request Quotes and Proposals

Contact the shortlisted web designers and request quotes or proposals for your project. Provide them with a clear overview of your requirements and ask for a breakdown of costs. Ensure that the proposal includes all the necessary components...Read More

How To Increase Conversions on Any eCommerce Website?

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 13:00:59 -0800

Here are 8 ways to increase conversions on an eCommerce website:

Optimize the website design: Make sure your website has a clean, user-friendly design that makes it easy for visitors to find what they're looking for.
Offer free shipping: Free shipping is a powerful incentive for customers to complete a purchase. Research has shown that free shipping is a major factor in converting visitors into customers.
Use high-quality product images: High-quality product images can help to increase conversions by giving customers a better understanding of what they're buying.
Make the checkout process simple and secure: Make sure the checkout process is quick, easy, and secure to increase the chances that customers will complete a purchase. Optimize the checkout process, a streamlined checkout process with a clear call to action can help increase conversions by reducing friction during the purchasing process.
Use persuasive product descriptions: Write clear, persuasive product descriptions that highlight the benefits of your products and help to build trust with your customers.
Offer special promotions: Regular promotions, such as discounts, can be an effective way to increase conversions and encourage customers to make a purchase.
Utilize customer reviews: Encourage customers to leave reviews on your site and display them prominently to build trust and credibility with new visitors. Show social proof such as incorporating customer reviews and ratings, as well as trust symbols such as SSL encryption, can help build trust with potential customers and increase conversions.
Offer multiple payment options: Make it easy for customers to pay by offering multiple payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and other popular payment methods such as Affirm.

If you...Read More

Calculate Your Engagement Rate And Optimize Your Social Marketing Strategy

Sat, 09 Apr 2022 15:09:46 -0700

The cornerstone of social media marketing is engagement rate.

Calculating your engagement rate is an important step in optimizing your social marketing strategy. By understanding what percentage of people are engaged with your content, you can make targeted changes to improve your results.

What is an Engagement Rate?

The engagement rate is a measure of how much interaction your social media content receives from followers or likes.

Social media platforms use different metrics to measure engagement.

Engagement can come in the form of likes, shares, comments and other interactions on social media platforms.

Engagement rate is a measure of how often people interact with a social media campaign.

Interacting with visual content (images, blogs, and videos) is more likely to result in conversion than just scrolling past your content.

There are many calculators available online that can be used to calculate engagement rates for social media.

How to Calculate Engagement Rate?

There are a few methods to calculate your engagement rate. One way is to divide the number of engagements by the total number of users. Another way is to divide the number of engagements by unique visitors.

One way is to divide the number of unique visitors who engaged with your content (comments, shares, likes) by the total number of visitors. Another way is to divide the number of social media interactions (loves, shares, likes, comments) by the total number of social media followers.

Once you have a good estimate of your engagement rate, you can use that information to optimize your social media marketing strategy. For example, if your engagement rate is high you might consider using more engaging content and targeting more engaged followers. If your engagement rate is low,...Read More

Web Design in Merced, California

Sun, 21 Nov 2021 16:58:21 -0800

Merced, CA

Located in California's Central Valley, Merced is a small town. Though its population is only estimated 83,000-90,000 people, residents generally feel the community provides for their needs without anyone feeling overwhelmed by its size.

If you're looking for a perfect town to live in, take some time now to learn why Merced's population loves it and encourages anyone looking for a place to settle down to explore the benefits of living in Merced.

Merced is an evolving city. Once a crown jewel of Merced county agricultural community. During the last 10 years, it has been evolving into a manufacturing and technology center. Since the University of California Merced establishment, the city has been changing quite rapidly.

With more technically trained workers available, manufacturers have been moving into Merced. Businesses from expensive cities have been moving here and new small businesses are starting their presence here. Merced is growing at 3% population rate a year.

Grow Your Business in Merced

Long gone are the old days of Yellow Pages. Businesses are now competing on a worldwide scale. So when people search for something your business does, not only do you have to compete with your neighbors, you are competing with every other business in the world. Every business now needs a website. A lot of businesses are turning to web design sites that offer templates for easy creation. While they are an easy way to get your business a website. It is not a very Read More

Dental Website Design: The Best Practices for Landing Patients

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 10:31:22 -0700

If your dental website is not getting you any new patients, it’s time to assess what you might be doing wrong! A website is the number one source of lead generation for any business. Therefore, there’s a lot that goes into making the right website design. And we are here to help you figure out what that is.

This guide includes the best practices for creating a dental website that not only brings more patients to you but also provides them value by educating them on different dental issues. So let’s get started, shall we?

Why You Need a Specialized Dental Website Design

If someone needs to get their teeth checked by a dentist, the first thing they do is Google “dental clinics near me”. Next, they select one of the dental clinics from thesearch results and make an appointment. That’s how pivotal a search result can be for a dental business.

But the process of shortlisting those dental clinics involves many aspects. For instance:

If a website is outdated, the visitor would assume that it is not functional anymore and simply move on to the next website.
If the website takes too long to load, the visitor will prefer another one that loads much faster.
If the website does not look professional, the visitors would question your credibility.
If the website does not have enough information like office timings, location and contact info, the person would not be able to reach you.
If the website has a poor design, that will make it difficult for the visitor to navigate through it.
And lastly, if your website does not appear on the first page of search results, no one would even reach you.

That’s why you need a specialized website design that not only reaches the people searching for your service, but also drives your conversion rate.

So let’s see what goes into creating an ideal dental website that drives...Read More

What is Schema Markup?

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 00:45:08 -0700

If you're one of my advanced SEO customers, I apply schema markup to your web pages. This helps search engine algorithm read your web page and index your content directly inside search engines. As a result your website will be considered authoritative and have high chances of getting an answer directly indexed inside search engines.

Contact me if you need help with ranking your website on the first page of search engines.

What is Schema Markup?

In the picture above, you can see the recipes directly inside the search page because that website used recipe schema on its website, the search algorithm picked it up.

In a nutshell, Schema markup is a language label assigned to certain data sources inside a webpage. For example, you can search for "food restaurants in New York" and see the Google Maps website that shows you the location of those food restaurants in Google Maps. The label is "New York" and so on. Each time you click on one of those search results, a new set of labels is generated and appended to the Google data source.

The official word from Google Search Central on Schema Markup →

A very important aspect about this metadata is that it provides a way of organizing and searching large amounts of data that used to be stored in a relational database or other such tool. By using this Schema tool, you can now access information from any data source - even if that data source happens to be stored internally by Google (in fact, some of Google's Big Data projects actually use internally the Google Schemas concept). That's because Google has assigned each data source a unique identity. Thus, each time you click on one of those "food restaurants in New...Read More