7 reasons why you need a retainer from digital agency In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses are increasingly relying on digital agencies for their expertise in marketing, SEO, web development, technical support and more. However, the nature of this partnership is very important to highlight as it impacts both sides. That’s where a retainer agreement comes into play. Moving beyond project-based engagements, a retainer ensures that your business has ongoing access to professional digital services. Here are seven reasons why securing a retainer with a digital agency is not just benefici ..read more

Technical SEO’s vital role in online success As the digital marketplace continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, the significance of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is paramount for any entity looking to thrive online. While many are familiar with the surface elements of SEO such as content creation and keyword optimisation, there’s a foundational aspect that undergirds these efforts – Technical SEO. This critical component of search engine optimisation ensures that a website meets the technical requirements of modern search engines with the aim of improved organic rankings. Let’s delve deepe ..read more

WordPress Gutenberg Editor vs. Page Builders: Which is Best for You? When WordPress introduced its Gutenberg editor in version 5.0, it changed the way content is created on the platform. The new block editor was a departure from the traditional WYSIWYG editor and was met with mixed reactions. On the other side of the fence, several page builder plugins had already been offering advanced layout and design capabilities for years. This post seeks to compare the Gutenberg block editor with typical WordPress page builder plugins to help you make an informed decision about which is best for your nee ..read more

Benefits of B2B ecommerce B2B ecommerce, also known as business-to-business ecommerce, has revolutionized the way companies conduct their transactions and interact with customers. In today’s digital era, it is essential for businesses to understand the advantages that B2B ecommerce offers. With its rising popularity and numerous benefits, B2B ecommerce is shaping the future of the business landscape. In this article, we will delve into the seven key benefits of B2B ecommerce and explore how it can transform your business.## Understanding B2B Ecommerce In order to fully grasp the benefits of B2 ..read more

Should you upgrade to PHP8? PHP7 recently marked it’s end of life (EOL) milestone last November after 5 years of powering some of the worlds largest websites. Once software is reaches EOL, it no longer receives any updates, both security and performance based. PHP8 is the successor to PHP7 and features an impressive security and performance boost to all applications with key features as: Improved Performance: Your website will load faster, which can lead to better user experience, higher search engine rankings, and ultimately, increased traffic and revenue. Increased Security: Your website w ..read more

Digital Growth for School Food Handler: Scaling with Precision and Speed When School Food Handler approached us to design their website, they had grand aspirations. However, these were curtailed by their existing, outdated system. Their vision? A website that could accommodate hundreds of subsites (via WordPress Multisite) and serve tens of thousands of users. Our task was to revolutionise the technological aspect to bring this vision to life. Collaboration at its Best Creating a website isn’t just about coding; it involves understanding a myriad of functionalities. In this project, each subsi ..read more

Why WordPress is a strong start to your digital project in 2023 The range of content creation, management, service integrations and artificial intelligence services available for curating your digital presence are plentiful these days. The phrase “there’s an app for that” is replaced by “there’s an API, or service for that” is all too commonplace. We wanted to share 7 reasons why WordPress provides the best starting point for digital projects in 2023. We say starting point on purpose, as the delivery of a digital platform or website is only one piece of a digital strategy – it is no longer en ..read more

Christmas opening hours and availability It’s that time of year in New Zealand for reflection, celebration and recharging has fast approached and at FutureLab Digital our team are observing the following closure dates: 26 December – 9 January: Limited team availability – emergency and SLA responses as normal. 9 January: Team operating at normal. During the limited team availability dates, we will be available for emergency support via our help centre support@futurelab.co.nz. If you don’t have an SLA contract in place with us, have a chat with Bernard or Gregor beforehand to set one up. A y ..read more

As an e-commerce specialist, you would have experienced a high online website bounce rate. A good website design is critical. Needless to say the attention span of visitors, today, is growing dim; therefore, it’s critical to address this ecommerce website issue In this pervasive online world of innumerable products, packaged and marketed with much zeal, customers have an upper hand. Your customers can be likened to the king on the chessboard. An army of retailers or manufacturers may promote their products, yet customers won’t budge an inch unless they “need to” or “want to”. If your ecommer ..read more

We, at FutureLab Digital, believe in community development and actively support several charitable initiatives across New Zealand. In keeping with our passion for digital technology, we made a donation to Whanua Centre recently. The organisation supports a Kaumatua (elderly) group who are learning to use computer technology. Kainga Connect, the programme, was successfully rolled out. It’s in Week 3 of implementation. This training, held at a local library, boasts of 15 elderly participants eager to learn how to use a computer.  Furthermore, they also use this time to connect socially. T ..read more