It’s official: we’ve entered the age of UX for robots. Earlier this year, OpenAI launched its “agents” feature—autonomous AI assistants that can browse websites, fill out forms, click buttons, buy things and get tasks done with minimal guidance.

Celebrating three finalists in the Stoke Design Co Professional Services Business Award at the 2025 Federation University Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Awards.

Every week someone asks us, “How do I optimise for AI search?” And honestly? You don’t. Not in the way people are making it sound. There’s a lot of hype flying around—new tools, bold claims, and a whole lot of noise. But right now, most of what’s being sold as AI SEO is just traditional SEO with a fresh coat of paint. If you’re already creating quality content, using Schema, and structuring things properly, you’re more prepared for AI than you think.

Pope Francis chose simplicity in life and death — but the type on his tomb missed the mark.

Imagine walking into a store where the cashier asks for your name, phone number, and email address before you even start shopping. You’d probably hesitate, right? The same principle applies to websites. When visitors land on your site and are prompted to share personal information, they want assurance that their data is in safe hands. This is where a well-crafted privacy policy becomes essential.

Leigh Ericksen, Creative Director at Stoke Design Co., explores how brand equity transforms simple products into premium experiences.

Imagine this: you’ve built a thriving community of followers on TikTok. Your videos are getting thousands, maybe even millions, of views. Business is booming—until suddenly, the platform is no longer accessible.

As the year draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on another dynamic and creative chapter here at Stoke. It’s been a rewarding journey, and we want to take this opportunity to thank those who have made this year as impactful as it’s been.

It dawned on me today: Is search as we know it on the way out? Let me explain how I got here.

We’re excited to support OLIVIA, an upcoming Australian film by Genna Chanelle Hayes tackling domestic violence and femicide. We played a small part by creating the logo, and now we’re helping spread the word to bring this important project to life.

Using Linktree and similar bio-link tools may seem like an easy way to share multiple links in one place, but they can harm your website’s SEO and backlink strategy.

SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Just like running a marathon, ranking on Google takes consistent effort over time. It’s easy to feel discouraged when your website doesn’t rank right away, but remember that success comes from steady, ongoing work. Each step, whether it’s creating high-quality content, building backlinks, or improving the user experience, contributes to your site’s long-term SEO performance.

A few weeks back, we at Stoke Design Co decided it was time for a little refresh. After sprucing up our studio and polishing the floors to a shine, we were excited to tidy ourselves up for a new round of studio photos.

Ballarat’s local businesses are the heart of our community, and Commerce Ballarat’s Business Assistance Program is helping them thrive. Keep reading as, we highlight how the program transformed the online presence of local artist Amanda Western, showcasing the power of professional guidance.

Chelsea – The Studio’s new social media star revisits her insider top tips and tricks that she spoke about on the panel at the recent ‘Its Time For TikTok’ event held in Ballarat. Read on to discover what she had to say…

Honouring, celebrating, and fostering business excellence, the 2024 Federation University Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Awards aim to shine a light on the achievements and contributions of our local businesses.

Leigh Ericksen, the creative mind behind Stoke Design Co., shares insights on his journey, the challenges faced, and the innovative processes that drive his success in a recent interview with Website Planet.

Managing a website’s SEO and performance analytics is essential for online success, and Google Search Console plays a crucial role in providing insights and tools to enhance your site’s visibility. If you’re working with a team or agency, adding an admin to your Google Search Console property can help streamline SEO tasks. This guide walks you through every step of the process, ensuring you set up admin access smoothly and securely.

If your website is not performing well in search results, you’re missing out on potential business. Improving your website’s SEO can help bring more visitors to your site without breaking the bank.

If you’re managing a website or collaborating with a team, there may come a time when you need to grant access to Google Analytics and its not as hard as you think.

In the ever-evolving landscape of marketing and consumer engagement, the concept of brand personas has emerged as a powerful tool for businesses to connect with their audiences.

As the sun sets on 2023, we find ourselves marveling at how quick the year had passed. 

Explore defining your website’s role for enhanced performance, as we delve into unique perspectives and practical examples in this guide.

In times of challenge, the human spirit never ceases to amaze. Whether it’s in the form of a rally across the vast Australian terrain or a can of delightful coffee, we all have the power to make a difference. Here’s to ‘Didyabringyagrogalong’, and every participant of the Shitbox Rally 2023 Spring – driving with purpose and passion, one kilometre at a time.

Managing a Facebook page can feel like steering a ship in the vast ocean of social media. As the captain of your digital vessel, you might find yourself in need of a trusty co-captain. If the seas are getting rough, or you just need someone to manage the deck while you’re having a coffee break, here’s how to add an admin to your Facebook page. No sailor’s hat required!

As part of our continued support and partnership with 15Trees, we have recently contributed an additional 50 trees to the Scotchmans Lead, VIC planting site.

If you’re a frequent Internet user, you might have noticed this peculiar symbol making an unwelcome appearance on some websites.

Follow Leigh as he steps out of his comfort zone on this episode of 20 Square Blocks.

Acacia Landscaping and Design’s website design has been recognised with an honourable mention from Awwwards, showcasing their exceptional creativity, user-friendly interface, and stunning visual appeal.

Get ready to join the excitement in Ballarat as it hosts a world-class road running festival in late April 2024.

Are you stuck in the rut of using “click here” for your hyperlinks? Fear not, we’re here to help you break free from this old-fashioned practice.

Navigating the digital ocean can be daunting. To stand out, it’s crucial to understand and optimize your website’s performance. Domain Authority (DA) is here to save the day as your website’s superhero!

A logo is the visual representation of your brand and plays a crucial role in creating a strong identity. Choosing the right file type for your logo ensures it maintains its quality across various platforms and mediums.

Are you tired of feeling like you’re the only one who doesn’t understand the latest buzzwords and trends? Fear not, because informational intent is here to save the day!

The recently developed Body Freedom Day Spa website has been nominated for an Awwward.

Want to keep your website visitors happy? Give them the visual feedback they crave – it’s like pressing the elevator button and seeing the light turn on!

Browser cache is there to make our lives easier, but sometimes it can be a right pain. Here’s how to fix that.

The world of digital analytics is constantly evolving, and Google has recently announced the retirement of Universal Analytics in favour of their new platform, Google Analytics 4 (GA4).

Is AI here to save the day or to steal our jobs. AI has come leaps and bounds recently but is it up to the task?

We recently celebrated the launch of the book ‘Coley’s Champs’ the story of the Essendon 1962 & 1965 premierships’