The Southern Advantage: How Businesses in the South Are Using Websites to Compete and Win in Today’s Digital Market

November 5, 2024/in Business, Drone, Software, Student, Technology/by Ukela

Analytics_on_computer_screen_Luke_Chesser_Photography

Hello, friends! Now, when we talk about small businesses in America, we often think of bustling cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago—the places that seem to set the trends, right? But let me tell you, there’s a quiet revolution happening in the southern United States, where businesses from Nashville to Miami are leveraging the power of websites to connect with their communities, reach broader markets, and grow in ways that we haven’t seen before.

Let’s dig in and see how small businesses across southern states are catching up and, in many ways, leading the pack in the digital age. We’ll look at some stats, explore the growing momentum of digital tools in cities like Huntsville and Tampa, and uncover how businesses down South are using their websites to capture a slice of the national market.

The Southern States Online: Stats You Need to Know

When it comes to businesses and websites, there are some surprising numbers. According to a recent survey by the U.S. Small Business Administration, only about 64% of small businesses nationwide have a website. Now, here’s where it gets interesting: small businesses in southern states are actually leading when it comes to recent growth in website adoption.

In the South, cities like Dallas, Atlanta, and Tampa are seeing a boom in small businesses getting online for the first time or investing in significant website updates. A report by the National Federation of Independent Business showed that between 2021 and 2023, website adoption rates for small businesses in the South grew by 14%, outpacing every other region of the United States. Compare that with the Midwest, which saw a growth rate of only 7% in the same period, and you can see how the South is really embracing the power of online marketing.

But let’s not stop at just numbers. Businesses in southern cities like Huntsville and Nashville are also leading the way with creative and innovative website strategies. For example, many are adding features like online appointment booking, e-commerce platforms, and virtual customer service tools. A report by GoDaddy found that small businesses with e-commerce options on their websites increased sales by up to 30% in the last two years alone. And in cities with thriving tourism, like Miami and New Orleans, a solid website is critical for engaging visitors who plan their trips online.

Southern Cities Embracing the Digital Shift

Let’s take a look at a few cities making digital waves. In Nashville, known for its thriving music scene and hospitality, small businesses are taking inspiration from their city’s creative roots. From boutiques to recording studios, websites are increasingly being used to promote unique, local brands to customers across the country.

In Atlanta, a powerhouse city for business and media, websites have become a must-have. The city’s vibrant startup culture, coupled with major corporations, has fostered a competitive digital landscape. Small businesses there are investing in high-quality web designs, mobile responsiveness, and e-commerce to attract the growing population of tech-savvy locals.

Dallas is another city to watch. Known for its entrepreneurial spirit, Dallas is home to countless small businesses that use websites to connect with both local customers and out-of-state clients. In fact, in Texas, it’s reported that nearly 75% of small businesses have a website, which is well above the national average. Dallas-based businesses often use their websites to showcase their Texas pride while making it easy for customers to explore products, book services, and get a feel for that distinct Dallas flair.

And let’s not forget Tampa! This city is seeing a huge boost in tourism, and its small businesses are taking advantage by creating websites that cater to both tourists and locals. In Tampa, 68% of small businesses report that their website is a key factor in their business strategy, helping them capture the attention of the millions of visitors who pour into the city every year.

How Does the South Stack Up Against the Nation?

Now, I know you might be wondering how the South compares to other regions. Well, here’s what we’re seeing: the South may not have been first to the digital party, but it’s catching up fast, with small businesses growing their online presence at an impressive rate. According to the Pew Research Center, businesses in the Northeast, particularly in tech-heavy cities like Boston and New York, led website adoption early on, with over 80% of small businesses having a web presence by 2020.

But here’s what’s interesting—southern businesses are closing that gap by creating websites that are uniquely suited to their needs. Rather than just following trends, businesses in the South are innovating to meet the demands of their local and regional markets. In many ways, they’re taking what’s worked in places like Seattle or Denver and adding their own spin.

The Future of Southern Small Business Websites

Looking ahead, the future for small businesses in the South is bright. With more people shopping and booking services online, southern businesses are recognizing that a strong website isn’t just an add-on—it’s a lifeline.

In the next 10 years, we can expect even more southern businesses to jump into the digital game with websites that go beyond basic functionality. Imagine a salon in Richmond or a restaurant in New Orleans using drones to give customers a virtual tour of their location or a boutique in Nashville showcasing its latest collection in high-definition video. This kind of technology isn’t reserved for the big players anymore. It’s accessible, it’s affordable, and it’s making a huge difference for small businesses trying to stand out in a crowded market.

Staying Competitive on a National Scale

To stay competitive, businesses in the South will need to keep investing in technology. One of the best ways to do this? By using websites that tell a story, bring value to customers, and showcase their unique southern charm. As the saying goes, you can’t just build it and hope they come—you have to bring people in with a great experience. And a modern, user-friendly website does just that.

We’re already seeing that in places like Miami and Huntsville, where small businesses with an active online presence report seeing 20% more traffic compared to their competitors. Nationwide, southern businesses are starting to gain attention as they use social media, email marketing, and mobile-friendly websites to reach a broader audience.

Tech-ke: Building Websites for Southern Businesses

So, are you ready to take your business to the next level? That’s where Tech-ke comes in! Based in Tennessee, Tech-ke specializes in helping small businesses across the South create dynamic, effective websites. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in business for years, Tech-ke can help with everything from new website builds to redesigns that bring your site into the modern age.

And here’s what’s special about Tech-ke: we don’t just build websites; we use cutting-edge technology, including video content, drone footage, and interactive features, to make your business stand out. So if you’re a small business in Nashville, Atlanta, Dallas, or anywhere else in the South, let’s build something great together and show the world just what southern businesses have to offer!

With the help of Tech-ke, southern businesses can have a beautiful, functional website that serves as a digital storefront, a communication hub, and a marketing powerhouse. Let’s capture that southern spirit and share it with customers near and far!

10 Places to Learn JavaScript for Free (2021)

January 5, 2020/in Business, Software, Student, Technology/by Ukela

javascript1

10 Places to Learn JavaScript for Free (2021)

Welcome to 2020! If this is the year that you have chosen to learn to code, then you are not alone. Javascript is the next best place to start after you have learned HTML and CSS. Some of the best advice that I have received is to start with the basics and learn the fundamentals. The more of the fundamentals that you have under your belt, the better you will be at programming and developing the newer skills and languages that are sure to come afterward.

Each of these ten places have a unique style of teaching. And if you have the time, going through more than one course could be a good idea. It will strengthen your skills and deepen your knowledge.

The List of Ten

JavaScript.com: When the page opens up, browse around and then click on “Learn” and go to work. The site has several examples, a tab for resources and a tab that allows you to try JavaScript and gives feedback.

Codeacademy: This channel on YT adds a touch a charm by getting people nationwide to talk about their coding experience in a short 5- or 6-minute clip to lure you in on the home page. My first time on the channel gave me the story of a young women from Georgia that had been coding for ten years. After making you feel at home, they help you to begin your path to learn the skill of JavaScript or any other skill you choose.

FreeCodeCamp: Though most of their programming tutorials are cookie cutter, short and straight to the point, they provide an excellent overview. I have found that when you go through their course, it’s best to go through it a second time and don’t be afraid to hit the pause button.

General Assembly Dash: Unlike some of the other resources, you will have to sign in to gain access to their program. However, when you get inside, you will be able to learn JavaScript with multiple projects. You will build projects real time and get feedback in the duration.

W3schools: W3schools started it all. They are the foundation of programming. In these tutorials you will receive examples, exercises, quizzes or tests, references and at the end, a certification. This site has “world’s largest web developer site” as the subheading and it is true. The site has covered every question that you may have or will have on JavaScript. They also update it often, so the information is always accurate and up to date. It is a good reference even after you are proficient in that particular coding skill.

javascript puzzle

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com: LinkedIn Learning has become an absolute behemoth when it comes to learning about programming and giving insight into different programming careers. LinkedIn Learning can still be accessed by your public library card. This is how I learned about the resource and I used it extensively. When you finish a course, you will get a notification on the screen asking if you want to publish the certification to LinkedIn.

Team Treehouse: There is a free seven-day trial. Afterward, there are tiers of membership from “Basic” to “Techdegree” ranging from twenty-five dollars to one hundred ninety-nine dollars.

Udemy: Udemy gives a few free courses but are certainly known for their paid courses. You can choose a popular instructor in JavaScript, sign up for their class and get going. I actually took a couple of the classes by Udemy instructors on YouTube, unknowingly, and found that they were on Udemy teaching a more in-depth version of that course.

Your Library (books on CSS): There are so many books at the library on JavaScript that it could be hard to decide which one to pick when standing in front of them all. What I usually do in this situation is take out my phone and check Google for the ratings on each. I check out the one with the highest rating, take it home and get started.

Stephan Mischook on YT has an excellent free series on JavaScript. His channel is filled with technology and business advice. He backs everything that he says up with decades of experience. Also, using his degree in psychology, he is educated to teach in the way that people learn best. This works. Most of all, he gives the kind of wisdom in the programming and small business world that some professors can’t or don’t share when you’re paying thousands of dollars per year in tuition. He’s rare.

A Final Note

Keep in mind that the best place to learn, in my opinion, is college. The college classroom gives you the instructor and the “certification” (a grade at the end) whereas, when you finish an online course or YT video, you may or may not test and may or may not have to seek out your own certification. I also found value in college by collaborating with other students. As an introvert, I do not mind working alone. I usually prefer it. However, when it comes to learning to code, having a computer science major, who is a senior, in the CS lab across from you to ask a question is invaluable. Or there may be someone sitting right next to you that may not be a senior and may be majoring in another computer field, yet had to take a couple of programming courses, that you can talk to take some of the anxiety away. I also cannot stress enough how valuable the ability to email your instructor or TA a specific question and get help with it will be. That may not be the case online, depending on which route you choose.

In conclusion, this is a great way to learn or get started. Generally, most of these ten courses will offer a deeper dive into JavaScript for a fee. They will then teach you more advanced skills, and they will offer testing and/or offer a certification at the conclusion.

So, in summary, the 10 best places to learn JavaScript are:

JavaScript.com

Codeacademy

FreeCodeCamp

General assembly dash

W3schools

LinkedIn Learning

Team Treehouse

Udemy

The Library (books on HTML)

Stephan Mischook

If you are just getting started and are wondering what the best hardware is to use when coding, please see my advice here.

Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Always use a good, solid computer for your programming journey!

Image by Alltechbuzz from Pixabay

Image by Nikin from Pixabay

Image by tsmr from Pixabay

10 Places to Learn CSS for Free in (2021)

January 5, 2020/in Business, Student, Technology/by Ukela

main css pic

10 Places to Learn CSS for Free ( 2021)

Welcome to 2021! If this is the year that you have chosen to learn to code, then you are not alone. HTML and CSS are the best places to start. If you have completed a good HTML program, then CSS is the next logical stop. Some of the best advice that I have received is to start with the basics and learn the fundamentals. The more of the fundamentals that you have under your belt, the better you will be at programming and developing the newer skills and languages that are sure to come afterward.

Each of these ten places have a unique style of teaching. And if you have the time, going through more than one course could be a good idea. It will strengthen your skills and deepen your knowledge.

css pic1

The List of Ten

CSSTutorial.net: This website announces on the home page that they have been teaching CSS for over ten years and they seem to have the content to back it up. There are six instructive tabs on the site. Each has several examples on the page.

Codeacademy: This channel on YT adds a touch a charm by getting people nationwide to talk about their coding experience in a short 5- or 6-minute clip to lure you in on the home page. My first time on the channel gave me the story of a young women from Georgia that had been coding for ten years. After making you feel at home, they help you to begin your path to learn the skill of CSS or any other skill you choose.

FreeCodeCamp: Though most of their programming tutorials are cookie cutter, short and straight to the point, they provide an excellent overview. I have found that when you go through their course, it’s best to go through it a second time and don’t be afraid to hit the pause button.

General Assembly Dash: Unlike some of the other resources, you will have to sign in to gain access to their program. However, when you get inside, you will be able to learn CSS with projects. You will build projects real time and get feedback in the duration.

W3schools: W3schools started it all. They are the foundation of programming. In these tutorials you will receive examples, exercises, quizzes or tests, references and at the end, a certification. This site has “world’s largest web developer site” as the subheading and it is true. The site has covered every question that you may have or will have on CSS. They also update it often, so the information is always accurate and up to date.

css pic2

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com: LinkedIn Learning has become an absolute behemoth when it comes to learning about programming and giving insight into different programming careers. LinkedIn Learning can still be accessed by your public library card. This is how I learned about the resource and I used it extensively. When you finish a course, you will get a notification on the screen asking if you want to publish the certification to LinkedIn.

Team Treehouse: There is a free seven-day trial. Afterward, there are tiers of membership from “Basic” to “Techdegree” ranging from twenty-five dollars to one hundred ninety-nine dollars.

Udemy: Udemy gives a few free courses but are certainly known for their paid courses. You can choose a popular instructor in CSS, sign up for their class and get going. I actually took a couple of the classes by Udemy instructors on YouTube and found that they were on Udemy teaching a more in-depth version of that course.

Your Library (books on CSS): There are so many books at the library on CSS that it could be hard to decide which one to pick when standing in front of them all. What I usually do in this situation is take out my phone and check Google for the ratings on each. I check out the one with the highest rating, take it home and get started.

Stephan Mischook on YT has an excellent free series on CSS. His channel is filled with technology and business advice. He backs everything that he says up with decades of experience. Also, using his degree in psychology, he is educated to teach in the way that people learn best. This works. Most of all, he gives the kind of wisdom in the programming and small business world that some professors can’t or don’t share when you’re paying thousands of dollars per year in tuition. He’s rare.

A Final Note

Keep in mind that the best place to learn, in my opinion, is college. The college classroom gives you the instructor and the “certification” (a grade at the end) whereas, when you finish an online course or YT video, you may or may not test and may or may not have to seek out your own certification. I also found value in college by collaborating with other students. As an introvert, I do not mind working alone. I usually prefer it. However, when it comes to learning to code, having a computer science major, who is a senior, in the CS lab across from you to ask a question is invaluable. Or there may be someone sitting right next to you that may not be a senior and may be majoring in another computer field, yet had to take a couple of programming courses, that you can talk to takes some of the anxiety away. I also cannot stress enough how valuable the ability to email your instructor or TA a specific question and get help with it will be. That may not be the case online, depending on which route you choose.

In conclusion, this is a great way to learn or get started. Generally, most of these ten courses will offer a deeper dive into CSS for a fee. They will then teach you more advanced skills, and they will offer testing and/or offer a certification at the conclusion.

So, in summary, the 10 best places to learn CSS are: