DigitalFoto DJI RS 2 Ring Grip and Power Supply Base Plate Announced

DigitalFoto announced a new ring grip for DJI RS 2 gimbal. It is a compact ring with mounting points for accessories, rubber grips, and the PRO version comes with a power supply base plate that can power the gimbal and additionally some accessories via a D-Tap out from one V-Mount battery.

The DJI RS 2 gimbal was announced almost a year ago along with its smaller sibling, the RSC 2. Tilta was one of the first companies to announce its accessory ecosystem for the RS 2 gimbal. Other manufacturers followed after that with more accessories. Another Chinese company that offers accessories for the very popular gimbal is DigitalFoto. They announced a new ring grip for the RS 2, so let’s take a short look at it.

DigitalFoto RING-RS2 and RING-RS2PRO

As the title implies, there are two versions of the gimbal ring grip. The PRO version includes everything from the regular version plus the PB-RS2 power supply base plate with a cable. The regular version only includes a basic base plate. The V-Mount battery clamp is included with both models so that you can power the gimbal from a V-mount battery.
DJI RS 2 Ring Grip. Source: DigitalFoto
The new grip rings are designed specifically for the RS 2 – that means the overall size is more compact than the older ring grips from the company. The ring includes two rubberized handles on both sides and two detachable legs with dovetails. Additionally, there is an ARRI-style rosette adapter for mounting accessories anywhere on the ring.
DJI RS 2 Ring Grip. Source: DigitalFoto
The diameter of the tubes of the ring is 25mm and the otter dimensions are 510 x 520mm. Made out of alloy aluminum, the ring weighs 1.65kg and the PB-RS2 base plate adds another 0.35kg. The total maximum payload is 20kg.
DJI RS 2 Ring Grip – Size Comparison. Source: DigitalFoto

PB-RS2 Power Supply Base Plate

The PB-RS2 power supply base plate can be used in various applications and provide power for the DJI RS 2 gimbal plus an additional power output. It features a 13-17V Lemo 2-pin connector as a power input for the gimbal and it adds one 13-17V D-Tap as power output. One 60cm D-tap to Lemo cable is included in the package.
DJI RS 2 Power Supply Base Plate. Source: DigitalFoto
The side holder bracket for added security and rigidity is also included and the whole base plate is made out of aluminum. At the bottom, the base plate has three 1/4″-20 threads (one of which features the holes for anti-twist locating pins) and two larger 3/8″-16 threads.

WY-4D-TAP-DC Breakout Adapter

Additionally, DigitalFoto is offering a multifunction D-tap breakout adapter WY-4D-TAP-DC. This adapter converts one 10-17V D-tap input into four D-tap outputs (10-17V, 10A max), two DC Barrel outputs (8V, 3A, and 12V, 2A), and one USB-A (5V, 2.1A) output.
WY-4D-TAP-DC Breakout Adapter. Source: DigitalFoto
The good thing about the adapter is that the D-Tap outputs have three pins so that you can rotate the output connectors depending on the setup you need. The adapter also features an on/off switch and two 1/4″-20 threads. The adapter is limited to a maximum of 80W.

Price and Availability

Both DigitalFoto Ring Grips for the DJI RS2 are available for purchase now. When it comes to pricing, the RING-RS2 costs $209 and the RING-RS2PRO sells for $399. The PB-RS2 power supply base plate is priced at $130 and you can also buy the WY-4D-TAP-DC breakout adapter for $39.99.
DJI RS 2 Ring Grip – Package Content. Source: DigitalFoto
The funny thing about the pricing is that it is actually better to buy the regular model and the PB-RS2 power supply plate separately rather than together as a PRO version of the ring. Maybe the prices will get adjusted, we will see. Do you use the DJI RS 2 gimbal for your work? What do you think about the ring grips from DigitalFoto? Let us know in the comments section underneath the article

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Compare Hotel booking websites Booking.com, Hotels.com, Expedia and more

Post COVID-19, the best hotel deals can usually be found using a booking site, even if some hotels encourage you to book directly with them. Booking sites are convenient, compare hundreds of options for any city and offer, in many cases, free cancellation. 

All of the sites, be it Booking.com or Hotels.com, claim to offer the best prices. But they can’t all offer this, so there are some limitations and things to watch out for.

What is the best hotel booking site?

When it comes to ease of use and flexibility to cancel, Booking.com is likely to best the best option. However, you can, in some cases, save more by quoting the Booking.com price to the hotel directly and arranging a better deal. 

Why is Booking.com regarded as best?
International reviews by consumer institutes such as Which? (UK) and Choice (Australia) continually favour Booking.com for its positive user experience, clear pricing and cancellation policy display and easy two-step booking. While there’s no way of stating with certainty that Booking.com provides the most superior reservation experience, it does, in the majority of cases, offer the best user experience, customer support and accommodation selection options.

Alternative websites: Trivago, TripAdvisor and Google Hotels have the widest range of hotels and rooms (but may not offer the best deals)

Trivago, TripAdvisor and Google Hotels are unique in that they compare prices from other hotel booking sites. Because they compare the likes of Booking.com, ExpediaAgodaTrip.com and the hotel’s own prices, they have a wider selection of rooms and prices. If you use Trivago, TripAdvisor or Google Flights to see prices for your dates, you can then compare results, like-for-like, and sort by price, user rating on any of the sites they display.

​Warning: Be careful to check that the deals displayed all include the same core features such as breakfast (if offered), cancellation policy and room style. Some cheaper options may say ‘budget twin’ vs ‘standard twin’, which can mean you get an inferior room. 

How do hotel booking sites work, and what are the differences between the likes of Booking.com and Expedia etc?

There are two main types of hotel booking sites, known as ‘booking aggregators’ (i.e. Trivago, TripAdvisor and Google Hotels) and ‘booking services’. In summary:

  1. Booking aggregators: Just like Google is a search engine, aggregators show you the options available by different booking services. They effectively ask sites like Booking.com and Expedia for the hotels and prices for your given location and dates. Booking aggregators don’t take your money – instead, they send you to the booking service that you select. If you need to make any changes after you have booked, you must deal with the booking service you booked with.
  2. Booking services: These are sites like Booking.com or wotif, which offer rooms and prices but don’t link to any other website. If you need to change or cancel the booking, you can do it directly with the website you booked with. 

Be aware: Expedia and Booking.com own the majority of the market. Expedia purchased wotif in 2009 and since 2018 it has looked and functioned exactly like Expedia. In the interests of knowing who you’re dealing with, the following brands are owned by Booking.com and Expedia.

  • Booking.com: Agoda, HotelsCombined and Kayak.com 
  • Expedia.com: Trivago, travelocity and several more.

Are the prices all the same, or are there differences?

Every hotel booking site aggressively advertises their ‘lowest prices’ and ‘largest number of options’. We believe this is mostly accurate as hotels share their data with as many booking sites. They do this to maximise bookings by being in front of as many people as they can. This means that the price you see on one website will be the same or very similar to another. 

Our test:

  1. When we searched hotel specific hotels in Queenstown, Sydney and London, setting the currency to NZD, and found that all the deals were the same or within dollars of each other. Given the competition between the Expedia and Booking.com groups, this didn’t surprise us. 
  2. When you make a reservation, most websites either charge you upfront, or, for ‘free cancellation’ offers you won’t pay anything until you check-in. 
  3. Bonus tip: To maximise savings, you may want to book in the local currency as use a zero foreign exchange transaction fee debit card or credit card to secure the booking.

Secure the best hotel deal in four easy steps

Searching for a hotel, comparing and booking follows a set process. We reveal how to get the best deal and never overpay. 

Step 1: Use two booking sites to find a place to stay and zoom in a convenient locationWe searching by city, we suggest using Booking.com and Expedia to find a range of hotels. The best hotel booking sites let you view locations on a map – local transport is meaningless if you don’t know an area; it’s all about location.

​The best map functionality is, in our view, provided by Booking.com. A good booking site will list prices, review score, a photo and special promotion (if applicable). 

Step 2: Know how to ​order the research results while comparing pricesEach booking site has its own way of ordering results, but you can choose your preference – ‘review score’ or ‘price – lowest to highest’ are popular choices. Despite the ordering, it’s hard to know what the ‘best’ hotel is – this is not a limitation of a booking site. Hotels, like many things, are judged subjectively by reviewers which is no science.

There simply is not an answer on any website as to what the ‘best’ hotel in Brisbane for $150/night. Nor is there a ‘top’ hotel in London for $200 a night. Picking the right hotel for your needs comes down to looking at the locationroom amenities and price.

Know this: ‘Free cancellation’ can, but not always, cost more than ‘non-refundable’. In such cases, you take a risk that if you need to cancel, for whatever reason, you’ll lose the value of the booking. Think carefully about what you can afford to lose should a disaster strike.

Top tip: 
Whatever booking site you’re using, look for the sorting tool at the top – you can then compare with purpose knowing how the results are ordered. Be aware the prices may not be in NZD, so check the currency (usually displayed on the footer). 

(Optional) Step four: Make additional considerations before you bookTo make sure you’re not left disappointed about your accommodation, our list of considerations outlines what’s important when using a hotel booking website.

1. Customer support – this was tested to the extreme during COVID-19 when those with reservations found their hotel booking website fantastic or useless when it came to getting support. Those who shine: Booking.com has an extensive range of support options – phone, e-mail and contact form. It’s a similar situation for Hotels.com and Expedia. Those who may leave you in the dark: TripAdvisor, Google Hotels and Trivago are far more difficult to get in touch with – you can forget about calling them. This is because they act as aggregators, not booking sites, so any enquiry must go to the hotel website you booked with.
2. Amenities listing – booking websites that comprehensively list what each hotel provides are far more helpful. This means you are fully aware of the check-in and check-out times, pool and fitness centres, airport shuttle, onsite ATMs and money exchange facilities. Accessibility features are clearly displayed by Booking.com, making it friendly for everyone of different mobility levels.

3. Reviews – Booking.com, Hotels.com and Expedia only publishes verified reviews by people who have booked and stayed at the property. TripAdvisor, by comparison, publishes reviews posted by anyone.

Conclusion: ​Do hotel booking sites offer the best deals?

Yes and no. They are an excellent resource to give a general idea around pricing. However, tourism after COVID-19 is very much a customer’s market. With bookings so low, many hotels like to avoid paying 15% to 20% commission to the likes of Booking.com and Expedia. For this reason, if you’re prepared to make an effort to price compare and then contact the hotel directly, you can almost certainly get a better deal by way of price and/or additional inclusions like food credit, breakfasts and late check-out.

​The only risk you’ll have is if you prepay and the accommodation provider later goes out of business. With a booking site you’d be fully protected, but booking direct would force you to sort it out between your credit card company/bank for a chargeback. Travel insurance does not cover the bankruptcy of a travel service provider.

Namecheap Vs Godaddy – Reviews And Comparison

Namecheap VS Godaddy

Within the past 5 years, the number of domain registrars and website hosting companies have grown exponentially. As a result of this explosive growth, it can be challenging to select a domain registrar among the many companies that provide domain registry services.

Some registrars specialize in selling domain names. While others sell additional features such as web hosting, security, email marketing solutions and cloud services. With some domain registrars, the list of services they offer are endless.

Two of the most well known domain registrars are Namecheap and GoDaddy. Before we take a look at the features of each of these services, let’s explore some features that you should look for in a great domain registrar.

How to Select a Reliable Domain Registrar

When you are researching domain registrars, you must remember that each registrar has access to the same domain names and URLs. This means that no company can provide you with better URL names than other companies.

Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before you select a domain registrar. What features are being offered with the domain registry package? Is the price competitive with other domain registrars? If not, what features are being offered to compensate for the price difference? Has the company created processes that make it easy for you to manage your services without assistance?

This is a list of things you should pay attention to as you conduct your research.

  1. Additional or hidden fees associated with transferring your domain name
  2. History and reputation of providing quality services
  3. Reasonably-priced services
  4. Accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned of Names and Numbers(ICANN)
  5. Easy domain transfer and forwarding services
  6. 24/7 customer support
  7. Private WhoIs registration
  8. Manual and automatic renewal features

There are plenty of domain registrars that come and go. It is important to pay close attention to the terms and conditions of your service provider.

When you visit your prospective domain registrar’s websites, you should stay focused on your immediate needs. With all of the services that are provided, it can be easy for you to get distracted by the numerous specials and offerings on the website.

Competitive pricing should be a factor as you select your domain registrar, but it should not be the only factor. Make your final decision by considering all of the features that were mentioned earlier in this review.

Many experts recommend that customers use a different domain registrar and website hosting service. If you decide to change to another website hosting service, having your domain name with the same registrar can complicate the matter. You should ask the customer representative of your prospective domain registrars if switching your domain registry to another website host will cause any disruptions.

Namecheap vs GoDaddy – Which Domain Registrar is the Best?

If you have been contemplating whether to subscribe to Namecheap or GoDaddy, this review will help you sort out the details associated with each domain registrar. Our primary goal is to help you make an informed decision after you read this comparison of Namecheap and GoDaddy.

Namecheap

As a leading domain registrar that is accredited by ICANN, Namecheap has developed a strong market share since it was founded in 2000. Namecheap has provided over 4 million domain names to customers throughout the world. Although Namecheap’s core business is domain registry services, it provides additional services including web hosting, email hosting, security and cloud-based services.

Godaddy

In terms of size and market domination, GoDaddy is the largest domain registrar. In fact, GoDaddy has over 30 percent of the domain registry market share.

This company has provided more than 59 million domain names registered throughout the world. GoDaddy provides a wide array of services including email aliases, online marketing tools, search engine optimization, privacy protection and sub domains.

Price

Both Namecheap and GoDaddy offer various advertisement promotion codes that are available on several websites on the internet. Since both sites offer so many services to customers, it would be difficult to compare the prices of each service. For the purposes of this review, we will compare the prices of a 1-year renewal rate for domain names of each site.

Namecheap

$10.69 each year to purchase a .com domain
and $8.88 + ICANN fee, for new domain name registrations.

GoDaddy

$11.99 each year to purchase a .com domain

Namecheap and GoDaddy offer various prices on .net, .org, .info, .co, .biz .io and .us domains. On both sites, you can receive additional discounts if you pay in full for service for multiple years. GoDaddy and Namecheap allow you to register your domain name for up to 10 years. There are also several Godaddy alternatives.

Overall, prices are cheaper on Namecheap + they offer you Privacy Protection for FREE, where as on GoDaddy this is a premium addon.

Namecheap and GoDaddy – Pros and Cons

When you are looking for a domain registry service, you must keep in mind that the perfect domain registrar does not exist. Every domain registrar has good and bad aspects.

With that said, there are pros and cons associated with Namecheap and GoDaddy.

Pros – Namecheap

  • Good service and security features
  • ICANN Accreditation
  • Domains are simple to transfer
  • Minimal upsell tactics
  • Knowledgeable help desk
  • 24/7 customer support via help desk
  • Competitive price points for all services

Cons – Namecheap

  • Some new domain extensions can be very expensive.
  • Customer support needs improving

Pros – GoDaddy

  • Large, trusted brand in the domain name registry industry
  • Easy to purchase and select a domain name
  • Website seems easy to navigate and understand the offerings
  • 24/7 customer support
  • A wide range of services with GoDaddyPro
  • Customer support representatives are helpful and knowledgeable
  • Accredited ICANN

Cons – GoDaddy

  • Check-out process can cause confusion
  • Domain manager is not integrated into same window as other features
  • Difficult domain transfer process
  • Too many instances of upsell
  • Long customer support wait times
  • Due to promotions and upsell tactics, there are a lot of pop-up specials on the screen. This can be annoying when you are trying to navigate quickly around the site.

As you compare Namecheap and GoDaddy, be mindful that GoDaddy is a larger company. There some problems that large companies experience. For example, GoDaddy may not have as many personal touches as Namecheap.

Namecheap is a smaller company. As a result, it can provide more personalized attention and services for its customers.

Overall User Experience

Your time is limited. So your domain registrar should provide an easy-to-navigate user experience for you. Managing your domain name should not consume a large amount of your time during the day. This section of the review will explore the overall user experience including point of purchase, use and navigation.

Namecheap
The overall check-out process for this domain registrar is quick and seamless. The process is straightforward, and there are not a lot of upselling tactics to disrupt your experience.

Namecheap provides a good search engine for domain name suggestions. When you enter this site, you will notice that Namecheap does not have all of the bells and whistles like its larger competitor. Namecheap offers a quick live chat feature, but it lacks telephone support services.

GoDaddy
The GoDaddy website experience is lively and colorful. At first glance, you can the company has a lot of offerings. However, the hustle and bustle associated with this website can be confusing.

First of all, GoDaddy is the epicenter of upsells. With each click of your mouse, you will be bombarded with an advertisement for a different special. If you want to get a domain name quick, fast and in a hurry, the constant upsells can stall your progress.

GoDaddy offers both telephone and live chat support options. This feature is good for you if you need a solution to a problem that you cannot figure out on your own.

GoDaddy offers a domain management feature. However, the domain manager opens in another window. This feature makes the user experience feel segmented and disjointed.

DNS Management Interface

The DNS management window is the sections that enables you to make changes. Unless you have a technology manager, you will be making all of your DNS changes manually. You may have to reroute your DNS to your web host, configure sub domains and set up emails related to your domain. The DNS management interface needs to be user-friendly.

Namecheap’s DNS Management Interface
Namecheap offers a streamlined DNS management interface. It is free from clutter and unnecessary upsell offers. Namecheap’s layout is straightforward. It is constructed in a way that minimizes the time it takes for you to quickly make changes and leave the site.

GoDaddy’s DNS Management Interface
GoDaddy has a more cluttered DNS management interface. There are additional features on the management interface that do not add value to the customer experience.

For example, you may notice features on your DNS management interface that you did not purchase. This part of the site features extra settings for GoDaddy’s upsell subscriptions. These features get in the way of functionality and make the user experience burdensome.

Domain Name Extras

It is not uncommon for domain registrars to provide extra services that are included in the price of your subscription price. After all, there is so much competition that they need to do make an extra effort to differentiate their services from the other companies in the domain registry industry.

Namecheap Extras

  • 100 percent free email forwarding services
  • Reliable DNS (no history of company being hacked)
  • WhoIs privacy feature is bundled
  • Namecheap charges $3 for photo storage and limited hosting package
  • Free custom name servers

GoDaddy Extras

  • GoDaddy charges an additional fee for custom name servers
  • GoDaddy provides a limited hosted package and photo storage for free for 1 year
  • GoDaddy charges an additional fee for WHOIS guard
  • GoDaddy offers email as an upsell package
  • GoDaddy offers a reliable DNS, but the site has been hacked

Namecheap and GoDaddy Upsell Tactics

The internet has evolved so much during the past 20 years that it is hardly recognizable. As technology improves, the need for specialized services grow.

As a result of the internet’s continuous growth, it is not unusual for both Namecheap and GoDaddy to provide customers with the opportunity to take advantage of other offers. This tactic is actually a valuable service for customers, and a lucrative marketing opportunity for domain registrars.

When it comes to using upsell tactics, the GoDaddy website seems to be aggressive and pushy. It seems as if the annoying upsells advertisements do not give you time to make a conscious decision about whether you need to purchase the additional service. If you do not like pushy marketing strategies, visiting the GoDaddy website can frustrate you.

In terms of upsells, Namecheap and GoDaddy offer some of the same packages for hosting and storage. Some of the most common upsells for each of the domain registrars include SSL certificates.

Company Values

If you are like most people, you like to support companies that have admirable company values. When you support any company, you are providing them with the means to further their messages and position in the marketplace.

Namecheap publicly opposes the Stop Internet Piracy Act (SOPA). The purpose of this legislation was to limit the freedom of internet users. Namecheap believes that every person should have the right to use the internet as they desire in a responsible manner without legislative restraints.

GoDaddy actively supports the SOPA legislation. They also support marketing practices that attempt to lock their customers into extended agreements. Another practice they have is using sexual exploitation to market their services.

Although many of these practices may not offend you, it is good to be aware of the values of each of the companies.

Namecheap vs. GoDaddy – Conclusion

The purpose of this review is to provide you with enough information to help you select a domain registrar that meets your needs. Our goal for this review is to tell you whether Namecheap or GoDaddy is the best domain registrar, in our opinion.

Our opinion is that NameCheap is the the best.

Namecheap and GoDaddy are both good domain registrars in their own right. Both of the registrars provide domain names at reasonable prices. They have solid security features, flexible domain management services, around the clock customer support and dynamic DNS performance. Another positive feature associated with Namecheap and GoDaddy is they provide freebies when you get services.

If you like domain registrars that offer a few services, provide a user-friendly interface and minimizes upsell tactics, Namecheap might be a clear choice for you.

2020 Weebly Review: How Good Is Weebly Really?

What is Weebly?

With more than 50 million websites powered by this website builder, Weebly has become the number one choice for many. Started in 2007, Weebly claims to be the tool that takes a raw business from its infancy to its launch and later growth.

Interestingly, Weebly started out as a basic website builder, however, in recent years, as it has been acquired by Square Inc. (a payment gateway), it has fast become an e-commerce platform.

Therefore, no matter whether you are going to build a basic blog website, a portfolio website or an online store, Weebly claims to turn your business dreams into entrepreneurial realities.

Weebly’s claims aside, you need to ask yourself: is Weebly for me? Short answer – it would come down to your business requirements and personal preferences. This blog covers what you can and cannot do with Weebly and which plan you should choose.

Ease of Use

Weebly is beginner-friendly. One can find everything right in front when it comes to editing.

Weebly is based on WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) layout. Meaning whatever editing you will do in the editor it will be the same in the preview or final publishing. Moreover, you can preview your site right from the editor. You would not need to go back and forth between making changes and previewing them. You can also add the website pages right from the menu.

When it comes to ease of use, you just need to drag the elements from the left panel and drop them onto your website. Adjust the elements as you wish.

However, Weebly’s editor is structured in nature. That means you just can’t drag and drop the elements anywhere you want. You will have limited freedom to show your creativity.

Themes

Unlike some of its competitors, Weebly offers around 50 templates for its users. These templates are designed for different purposes such as:

  • Business
  • Blogging
  • Online Store
  • Portfolio
  • Personal (CV or Resume)
  • Event/Shows

You can preview the theme right at the start of choosing the template. It would better help you to visualize your website. Moreover, unlike many of its competitors, Weebly allows you to change your theme at any point in time. That means you have the freedom to give your site a fresh look whenever you feel like it.

However, when you create an online store there are some customization limitations. For example, Weebly does not offer a variety of colors in the palette. Once you choose a color, it will be applied to the whole website. However, you can make changes in the individual elements. Also, it would not let you change the footer’s color. On the other hand, you can always make limitless changes, if you know how to code.

Weebly has an amazing feature that most of its competitors do not offer. This feature would let you upload your own theme. With this facility, the Weebly templates range almost becomes limitless.

To import your theme you will need the following files:

  • A zip file containing your theme
  • Template layout data in index.html
  • Style information in main_style.css
  • Theme images file

App Center

Weebly has an extensive app store. Around 350 apps are available to complete your website. Mostly these apps are provided by third parties. However, some of the apps are provided by Weebly itself.

Moreover, these are Weebly compatible apps. Meaning you would not need to add these apps via coding. All you need to do is click the “Add Button” and you can use the app.

Some of these apps are paid while others are free, yet there is another category of apps which are free for a while and then you need to pay for them. Moreover, there are some apps which are free but offer limited features till you pay to unlock their extra features.

These apps are mostly related to:

  • E-commerce
  • Communication
  • Marketing
  • Social media
  • Accounting
  • Sales

Thus, you can add interesting features to your site using these apps such as Facebook Messenger, Facebook Chat and more.

SEO

Previously it was thought that websites built with a website builder cannot rank on Google. That was actually true. However, that is a matter of the past. Now, all you need to rank higher on Google and other search engines is to optimize your website strategically.

For this purpose, Weebly lets you edit meta titles. The meta title is the title that is shown in Google search results with every link. It should have the keyword of your page.

Moreover, you can edit the meta description as well. The meta description is the description shown in Google search under the meta title. It helps the reader know what the content is about before clicking on the link. 

You can also edit and customize the URLs and Alt images. SEO really likes clean URLs and Weebly makes it easy for you.

It also lets you create 301 redirects. These come into play when you change the URL and create a new one. 301 redirects automatically redirects the visitors to the new URL.

Moreover, all the Weebly plans include SSL security. SSL encryption makes your website safe for sensitive information such as credit/debit card information.

Marketing

Weebly Promote is specifically made for this purpose. A powerful tool, it would let you create beautiful email campaigns to boost your sales.

This tool has following features:

  • It automatically syncs with your Weebly website
  • Ready-made yet customizable layouts
  • Drag and Drop builder
  • Reports that show the email opening and click

Moreover, you can add forms to capture leads through your Weebly’s website.

E-Commerce

Weebly has worked extensively on its e-commerce. It could be because it was acquired by Square in 2018.

As mentioned earlier, you can sell digital as well as physical products with Weebly with multiple payment options. You can add interesting and engaging product videos, zooming effects, product description, etc.

You can also add filter search where users can set the filter such as filter for specific size or price range to search for the required product.

You can also add a shopping cart. Weebly’s Business Plus plan also offers abandoned cart recovery. With this you can contact a visitor who added a product in their cart but did not check out.

You can also add coupon codes and offer your visitors discounts. Unlike many website builders, Weebly also offers tax and shipping calculators. Its Business Plus plan offers a real-time shipping calculator.  

Customer Support

Weebly has worked extensively on its customer support. Here are the customer support touchpoints that Weebly offers:

  • Help Center
  • Phone Call
  • Forum
  • Live Chat
  • Social Media
  • Email
  • In-app help

You can access Weebly’s knowledgebase through its help center. Just enter the keywords and get an instant help guide.

You can use the live chat facility as well as an email to get in touch with the customer representative. However, you can use these facilities once you get logged into your Weebly’s account. You will have to click the live chat and email link to send your query.

Moreover, you can use the forum to get in touch with the other users who are currently using Weebly. Weebly also provides help through its social media platforms. However, getting help through social media platforms would be a bit slower process.

Unlike many other website builders, Weebly has an amazing feature of In-app help for customer support. That means while building your website, you don’t need to open another tab to access the knowledge base. Just click the help icon available on the bottom right of the editor. (As shown in the image below). Moreover, you can go to the help center directly from the editor by clicking the help button from the menu.

Weebly phone call facility is available for its premium account holders only. This though does not mean that there’s a direct line to a Weebly customer support representative. To get help over the phone, you will have to click the talk link. Clicking the link will generate a unique pin number. You would be required to enter that pin while making a call to Weebly support center. This pin number would be valid for 30 minutes only, so you better note it down somewhere or keep the tab open. Otherwise, you will have to regenerate the pin number. This pin number is to specify your account, so the representative could access your account in no time.

Is Weebly Free?

Unlike many other website builders in the market, Weebly offers a free plan along with four premium plans. A free plan can help you a lot with understanding the platform in detail. You will be having plenty of time to design your website as well. Once you complete your website, you can always upgrade your site according to your website needs. You can also publish your website while staying in the free version. However, Weebly will show its advertisement at the bottom of your site.

Let’s look at what Weebly has to offer in its premium plans. These plans are:

  • Connect
  • Pro
  • Business
  • Business Plus

Connect

Connect is a basic plan. It would let you connect to your custom domain only. Keep in mind it would only let you publish your site on a custom domain. The domain will not come free of cost in this plan.

Furthermore, there will be Weebly ads in this plan along with limited storage (500MB only). Though SSL security is included in this package. It would cost you around $8 per month. However, by paying yearly or 2-yearly, you will save a lot. Savings are explained below.

Pro

Pro plan is meant for professionals, entrepreneurs or small businesses. It definitely offers more than the Connect plan and costs you accordingly. In $18 per month, you can remove the Weebly’s ads from your site, list up to 25 items for sale, get SSL security, video background and much more.

In this plan, you can get a free domain for the first year only. After that, you will have to pay $19.95 yearly.

Unlike the Connect plan, it offers unlimited storage, advanced site stats, site search and HD video + audio.

Business

The business plan is specifically designed for e-commerce. That means you can sell unlimited  items online and accept payments through Paypal.

With this plan, you can sell physical as well as digital products. Moreover, you can enable product reviews, add shipping and tax calculators and offer coupons to your customers.

This plan would cost you $35 per month. Just like other plans, you can save a lot by paying yearly or 2-yearly (explained in the chart below).

Business Plus

The Business plus plan is meant for your growing online business that offers your more e-commerce features. 

Unlike the Business plan, this plan offers you abandoned cart recovery, real-time shipping rates and gift cards.

This plan costs $46 per month if you do not make yearly or 2-yearly payments. You can save by making yearly or 2-yearly payments.

Here is the detailed chart about Weebly’s pricing and its discount offers.

Conclusion

Weebly is an easy-to-use (beginner-friendly) website builder. So, if you are in a rush to build a website and/or you have a limited budget, you should seriously consider using Weebly. Furthermore, this is a great platform for those who do not know how to code.

If you are thinking of building an online store then consider Weebly as well. Weebly has almost every possible feature to offer you. In case, if Weebly does not offer a particular feature you require, you can always use Weebly’s app store.  Moreover, Weebly offers great SEO services.

However, due to its structured editor, Weebly is not recommended if you require full control of the editor. 

2020 Best Print On Demand Sites for Artists

Best print on demand websites

1. Redbubble

There are many sites like redbubble on this list, however, red bubble is by far the most popular print on demand site. To find the popularity of each site, I looked up the traffic of each website to have an overview of which site got the most traffic.

Redbubble was the clear winner (see below). This is a valid reason to choose redbubble as your main print on demand marketplace since having a large audience is an important consideration when you are planning on selling through a marketplace.

The POD marketplaces will likely be the main source of traffic for many people. It makes sense then to choose a high traffic print on demand marketplace as the mainstay of your print on demand business.

Besides traffic, Redbubble has a huge selection of products to choose from. Here are some items you can sell with Redbubble:

Products you can sell on Redbubble

  • Acrylic Blocks
  • Art Boards
  • Art Prints
  • Canvas Prints
  • Clocks
  • Drawstring Bags
  • Dresses
  • Duvet Covers
  • Framed Prints
  • Galaxy Cases & Skins
  • Greeting Cards
  • Hardcover Journals
  • iPad Cases & Skins
  • iPhone Cases & Covers
  • iPhone Wallets
  • Laptop Skins
  • Laptop Sleeves
  • Leggings
  • Metal Prints
  • Mini Skirts
  • Mugs
  • One Piece – Long Sleeve
  • One Piece – Short Sleeve
  • Pillows & Cushions
  • Postcards
  • Posters
  • Scarves
  • Spiral Notebooks
  • Stickers
  • Studio Pouches
  • Sweatshirts & Hoodies
  • T-Shirts
  • Tank Tops
  • Tote Bags
  • Wall Tapestries

Example Base Prices

  • 11 oz Mug:  $12.50
  • Classic T-Shirt: $16.25

If you are interested in seeing a full list of base prices, check out Redbubble base price list. Most other print on demand companies do not offer a comprehensive, up to date, list of products & base prices. Don’t ask me why, because this is useful information for sellers. Redbubble has gone through the trouble of creating a nice table of products.

2. CafePress

Even people who aren’t looking to use print on demand for their merchandise, have probably heard of CafePress. That’s good news for those looking to sell print on demand products. This means your items have a wider audience without as much effort on your part. It also means the prices are lower, and there are so many options when it comes to items to print.

CafePress is not only one of the oldest print on demand sites on this list, but it also has one of the biggest variety of products you can sell.

Whether you already have a booming brand or you are just starting out, the site will even help you set up your own shop. You can start right away by designing products to sell or quickly design products with your logo.

Products you can sell on CafePress

The following list may seem small, but within each of these print on demand product categories contain many products to choose from.

  • New Products (such as car magnets, dog hoodies, etc)
  • Apparel
  • Baby
  • Stickers, Buttons & Magnets
  • Housewares
  • Posters, Prints & More
  • Hats & Bags
  • Books (Bindings include Saddle Stitch, Wire or Perfect Bound

Example Base Prices

  • 11 oz Mug: $10.99
  • Men’s Classic T-Shirt: $15.99

Check out CafePress’ list of all products and base prices to see more.

3. Zazzle

Zazzle is probably one of the most well-known print on demand sites on the list, which can work to your advantage because it has a large audience. Zazzle also offers one of the largest selection of print on demand products on this list.

It also has over 1,300 items available for you to take advantage of, so there is almost no limit on how much you can create. There so many products you can choose from, you may not know where to start! The site even gives you tips on how to improve your print on demand products.

Products you can sell on Zazzle

The following list is by no means a complete list of Zazzle products. However here are some example products you can sell on Zazzle.

  • Invitations & Stationery: Invitations, Greeting Cards, Return Address Labels
  • Home: Mugs, Pillows, Magnets
  • Clothing: T-Shirts, Leggings, Baby Clothing
  • Accessories: Hats, Buttons, Tote Bags
  • Baby & Kids: Blankets, Nursery, Art Bibs
  • Weddings: Signs Favor, Tags, Wine Labels
  • Crafts & Party Supplies: Stickers, Banners, Fabric
  • Electronics: iPhone Cases, Mouse Pads, Keyboards
  • Sports & Games: Playing Cards, Skateboards, Golf Balls
  • Office: Business Cards, Small Business Supplies
  • Wall Art: Posters, Canvas Art, Wood Wall Art

Example Base Prices

  • 11 oz Mug: $14.95
  • Men’s Basic T-Shirt: $17.95
  • (or Men’s Value T-Shirt): $14.95