When most people start designing a website, their first thought is usually, "What will it look like?" And while appearance matters, looks alone don’t bring in visitors or convert them into clients. If your goal is to get found online and make your website work for your business — not just sit there — you need to think much deeper than fonts and colours.
Designing a website starts long before any layout is created. In fact, the most successful websites begin with a plan — a clear idea of who the site is for, what they’re looking for, and how the site will guide them.
Ask yourself: What is this website meant to do?
Is it selling a service? Building awareness? Providing local information? Once you answer that, you can start working backwards.
Here’s what many people get wrong: they begin by designing page layouts, picking a theme, or uploading images. Only after everything is live do they start thinking about how to bring in traffic from Google.
But by then, you’ve likely missed the opportunity to align your content with what your audience is actually searching for.
Before you even sketch out a homepage, write down a few key phrases your ideal customer might type into Google. For example, if you're a web designer in South Africa, terms like:
These are gold. Once you have your main keyword, build everything around it — your page structure, headings, images, and even colour tone. This helps Google understand your site’s theme and rank it accordingly.
For more guidance on building authority over time, read our beginner’s guide to backlinks.
We’ve seen it happen countless times: a client spends weeks (or months) designing a beautiful website, hits publish, then sends us a message:
"Hi, the site is live. How do we get it to number one on Google?"
It’s a fair question — but a tough one to answer after the fact. If you want traffic from search engines, you have to bake SEO into the site from the very beginning.
Search engines like Google scan your content looking for a theme — and that theme is based on consistent use of relevant words across titles, content, images, and metadata. If your message is scattered or overly broad, Google won’t know where to rank you. In some cases, your site might not be indexed at all.
The best websites are built around one central idea — not five. Trying to target too many unrelated keywords confuses both users and search engines.
Instead, create a structure like this:
If you're not sure where to begin, take a look at the layout of your main service pages and let your blog support those themes with consistent, related content.
Every decision you make when designing a website should ask: What will the visitor do next?
Good design supports action. Great design removes confusion.
Also — don’t forget about speed. A slow website kills your SEO. We recommend using LiteSpeed-powered hosting and proper image compression to keep load times under 3 seconds.
To understand just how important speed is, read Why Prioritizing Site Speed Is Crucial for SEO.
Designing a website isn’t something to rush. It’s a digital asset that represents your brand 24/7. When built with strategy and intention, it becomes a growth engine — not just a business card online.
So if you're starting your next project, here’s your checklist:
Want to learn more about how mobile matters in modern design? Read our guide to mobile-first web design, or make sure you're not making any of the top 5 mistakes when designing for mobile.
And if you're not sure where to start, chat to the team at IDS Hosting — we’ll walk you through it step by step.
A good-looking site is great. A well-planned site is better. But a fast, SEO-ready, user-focused site? That’s where the magic happens.
Stay Connected Wherever You Are
OX App Suite isn’t just another webmail service. It’s a powerful email and productivity platform that goes with you—on mobile, tablet, or desktop. Whether you're working from your phone, checking mail on a tablet, or managing contacts from your laptop, OX App Suite keeps everything in sync and at your fingertips.
Here’s how to access OX App Suite across all your devices:
Benefits of Anywhere Access:
Tip: If you’re working from multiple locations, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to keep your data secure, even when switching devices.
With OX App Suite, you’re never tied to one screen. Your business travels with you—securely, seamlessly, and in sync.
Email is still the heart of communication for most businesses and individuals. But not all email platforms are created equal. If you're considering switching to OX App Suite, you'll see two options available: OX App and OX Productivity.
While both share the same base platform, they’re designed for different needs. This guide explains what each one includes, who they’re best for, and how to decide which version is right for you—whether you’re a solo user, freelancer, or growing business.
OX App is the entry-level option and includes everything you need to send, receive, and organise email—without all the extras you may not need.
This is ideal for:
What you get with OX App:
It’s a massive step up from most free or bundled email solutions, but without the cost or complexity of a full productivity suite.
OX Productivity is built on top of OX App—but adds a complete set of online productivity tools. This version is designed for users and teams who want to get more done, collaborate more easily, and work across multiple devices without juggling different platforms.
This is a great fit for:
Here’s what you unlock with OX Productivity:
OX Productivity gives you the convenience of an all-in-one workspace—with the added benefit that it’s hosted locally, fully supported, and not harvesting your data.
Let’s say you’re running a small business. With OX Productivity, your team can:
If you're just looking for a clean inbox and basic email, OX App alone will meet your needs. But if you want to run your day from one place, OX Productivity becomes your business hub.
| Feature | OX App | OX Productivity |
|---|---|---|
| Professional email | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Mobile and desktop access | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Calendar and contact syncing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| OX Drive (cloud file storage) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Word, Excel, and PowerPoint tools | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Shared calendars & address books | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Task and project tracking | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Team collaboration features | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
If you're an individual, freelancer, or small office with minimal collaboration needs, OX App offers everything you need in a modern, ad-free inbox with excellent speed and usability.
If you're a business, remote worker, or someone who wants to centralise their email, documents, files, and team activity in one secure platform, OX Productivity is the smarter choice.
And since both options are managed and supported by IDS Hosting, you don’t have to worry about your data being sold or your inbox being mined for advertising.
Not sure which one suits your workflow best? Get in touch with our support team—we’ll help you decide or even let you test both.
Just signed up for OX App Suite and not sure where to begin? Whether you're migrating from cPanel webmail, Gmail, or Outlook, getting started with OX Mail is quick and easy. In just a few minutes, you can log in, personalise your inbox, and start sending professional emails.
This guide will walk you through the essentials to get up and running smoothly with OX Mail—no technical skills needed.
To access your OX Mail:
That’s it—you’re in. The layout is clean and modern, with your inbox front and centre, a navigation menu on the left, and tools for search, filtering, and composing right at the top.
Click the Compose button (usually top left). You’ll see a new message window open.
Fill in:
You can also:
When ready, click Send.
A professional email signature saves you time and adds credibility.
To set one up:
Set it to appear automatically on new messages and replies.
Folders help you keep emails sorted—just like real-life filing.
To create a new folder:
You can then drag-and-drop emails into the right folders, or set up rules (filters) to do it automatically.
OX Mail includes built-in spam protection and a smart search tool.
In just a few steps, you’ve logged in, customised your signature, and organised your inbox. OX Mail is designed to be intuitive, clutter-free, and secure—so you can focus on communication, not tech headaches.
Ready to explore more? Upgrade to the OX Productivity suite to unlock shared calendars, cloud storage, documents, and task management.
If you're new to OX App Suite or have just switched from something like cPanel webmail or Gmail, you might be wondering: What is it? How does it work? And most importantly—is it better than what I had before?
This guide will walk you through what OX App Suite is, what makes it different, and why it’s a great fit for personal use, small business, and teams of all sizes.
OX App Suite is a powerful, web-based communication and productivity platform. At its core, it's a professional email system—but it’s more than that. It’s designed to replace old-school, clunky webmail systems with something faster, more secure, and much easier to use.
Think of it as an upgrade from basic cPanel email. Instead of logging into “Webmail” and choosing between Horde or Roundcube, you now get a modern, unified inbox with useful features built in—no plugins, no configuration headaches.
If you're coming from Gmail, you’ll find many of the same features here, but without the ads or data scanning. OX App Suite puts you in control of your email and files, hosted securely by a local provider you trust.
OX App Suite is cloud-based, which means you can check your mail from just about anywhere:
Whether you're in the office, at home, or working remotely, you can rely on a consistent, fast experience.
| Feature | OX App Suite | cPanel Webmail (Horde/Roundcube) |
|---|---|---|
| Modern design | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Mobile apps | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Calendar, tasks, cloud storage | ✅ Optional | ❌ Not built in |
| Spam protection | ✅ Built-in | ✅ But limited |
| Data privacy | ✅ Local & secure | ✅ Depends on setup |
The base OX App Suite is just for email—but if you want a full Google Workspace alternative, the Productivity version includes:
This is great for small teams, entrepreneurs, or anyone wanting a single platform for both communication and collaboration.
OX App Suite is a strong upgrade from legacy webmail or even Gmail—especially if privacy, performance, and local support matter to you. With a sleek interface, mobile access, and the option to scale into full productivity tools, it’s ideal for both personal users and small teams.
If you're an IDS Hosting client, you can order OX App Suite from your client area and get started within minutes. Setup is quick, and our support team is here if you need help making the switch.
Want to build backlinks in South Africa? Backlinks are still one of the strongest ways to boost your Google rankings. Whether you run a small business website, a blog, or an online shop, building backlinks shows Google your content is trusted and worth ranking.
Here’s a clear, easy guide to help you build backlinks that actually help your SEO and grow your website traffic.
In short, backlinks help people find you and trust you online. For a technical overview, see Google Search Central guidelines.
Write guides, how-tos, and lists that your audience finds valuable. For example, if you offer hosting services, write about site speed and SEO for South African businesses. Shareable content is one of the best long-term backlink strategies, as noted by Backlinko.
Find local blogs and industry websites and offer to write guest posts. Ensure you get a backlink in your author bio or within the content and that the site is relevant and trustworthy.
Submit your website to reputable South African directories like Brabys or industry-specific listings:
People link to resources like:
Use keyword-rich file names and alt text for these resources to help your SEO while earning backlinks.
Link to your own articles and service pages to improve navigation and spread SEO value. For example:
Building backlinks is a steady process. It can take weeks to months for Google to find and index your backlinks before your rankings improve. Stay consistent and focus on creating value.
You don’t have to be an SEO expert to start seeing results. Focus on real value, clear content, and genuine connections. The backlinks will follow.
Need help with website speed, hosting, or SEO for your business? Contact us at IDS Hosting — we’re here to help you grow online.
In South Africa and globally, people use their phones for everything: checking prices, booking accommodation, reading news, and finding local services. If your website isn’t easy to view and use on a mobile device, you’re losing visitors—and potential customers.
A mobile-friendly website means your site adjusts to smaller screens, loads quickly, and remains easy to navigate. Google now uses mobile-first indexing, meaning it looks at your site’s mobile version first when deciding where to rank you. If your site doesn’t perform well on mobile, it’s unlikely to appear where your customers will find it.
Think about your own behaviour. When you search for something on your phone and the site takes too long to load, you close it. If the text is too small or the buttons are hard to tap, you leave. Your visitors do the same.
Search engines prioritise sites that deliver a good user experience on mobile. A slow, hard-to-navigate website will drop in rankings, while a fast, clean site will move up, increasing your visibility.
Fast-loading, mobile-friendly websites have lower bounce rates. Visitors stay longer, which tells Google your site is valuable, helping your SEO efforts and your ranking.
A well-designed mobile site doesn’t just look good; it helps you get more enquiries and sales. Whether you’re offering hosting services, selling products, or taking bookings, visitors are more likely to complete actions when your site is fast and easy to use.
For example:
You don’t need to rebuild your site completely. Here are practical ways to improve mobile performance:
Ignoring mobile optimisation means ignoring the majority of your potential visitors.
If your site isn’t performing on mobile, you’re leaving business on the table. At IDS Hosting, we can help you optimise your website, ensuring it’s fast, secure, and mobile-friendly, so you can attract and keep visitors while improving your Google rankings.
Contact us today to review your site’s mobile readiness and make your website work for you in 2025.
Search engine optimisation (SEO) is not a once-off project — it’s an ongoing journey that requires strategy, patience, and consistent tracking. Whether you're building your website from scratch or refining your existing strategy, staying on top of your SEO performance is key to long-term success. Here's how to do it effectively.
Before tracking anything, define what success looks like for your business. Are you aiming for more website traffic? Better keyword rankings? Increased online sales?
Here are a few common SEO goals:
Match each goal to a key performance indicator (KPI), such as bounce rate, average session duration, or conversions per page.
To measure SEO results, you need reliable tools. Here are the essentials:
For WordPress users, we recommend pairing these tools with the right SEO plugin to make on-page optimisation easier.
Track your SEO metrics regularly — not just once a month. Start with these:
Explore our guide to building quality backlinks.
Technical issues can hurt your rankings. Perform routine audits to check for:
Use tools like Screaming Frog or the audit features in SEMrush. You can also reference our guide on designing a site with SEO in mind.
Google changes its algorithm constantly. To stay ahead, follow reputable SEO blogs or communities. Learn what’s new — like AI-driven search, user experience signals, or featured snippets — and adjust accordingly.
And remember, South African websites compete differently. Local SEO strategies can vary from global tactics, especially if you’re targeting a specific province or city.
SEO is not set-it-and-forget-it. Try new ideas. Update blog posts, test different meta descriptions, or try different page titles. Even small changes can improve click-through rates and engagement.
If you’re unsure what to update, our article on website speed and SEO is a good place to start.
Track milestones, not just final results. Did you reach page one for a difficult keyword? Did your traffic increase by 20% this month? Celebrate those wins — they mean your strategy is working.
SEO is a long game, but the results are worth it. With the right tools, regular check-ins, and a commitment to improvement, your site will keep climbing the search rankings — even in a competitive market.
Need help setting up your SEO tracking strategy? Get in touch with IDS Hosting — we’ll help you build a performance-based SEO foundation that drives real business results.
