Digital Marketing

Professional Web Designer or DIY Web Design?

Hiring an experienced, professional web designer offers huge advantages over relying on DIY website builders or most cheap web design services. Yet many small businesses still cripple themselves by falling for the false economy of cost-cutting on this business-critical investment.

So, put simply, here’s how the key benefits of professional web design compare to those other options:

  1. Saving Time vs Wasting Time: Time is not free. It’s the only thing you can never buy back. Professional design is not fast, but learning to do it well enough to compete takes far longer — and you are competing with firms who hire professionals. DIY site builders may look like a shortcut, but buying a spanner won’t make you an engineer.
Read the rest “Professional Web Designer or DIY Web Design?”

Small Business Email Marketing 101

Promoting your small business can often feel challenging, with a host of strategies all claiming to be the most effective. In truth, most of these strategies work better for specific business models than for others. Despite that, small business email marketing stands out as one of the most popular, reliable and lucrative ways of building a business.

The catch is that, for those same reasons, spammers have abused email marketing. That has made it more complex and more regulated than many new small business owners suspect. Still, it remains well worth the effort for most businesses.

Why Small Business Email Marketing?

Email marketing offers several benefits to small businesses, not least of which is its high return on investment (ROI), which averages around £36 for every £1 spent.… Read the rest “Small Business Email Marketing 101”

How to Unlock the Power of Video Testimonials

Running a small business isn’t always a walk in the park. You juggle multiple roles, compete with larger players, and aim to build a loyal customer base. One strategy that can make a significant difference is leveraging video testimonials. So let’s dive into why video testimonials are powerful tools for your business and how you can effectively incorporate them.

Why Video Testimonials Matter

You might be wondering: why video? Why not stick to traditional text reviews? The answer lies in the engaging and authentic nature of video content.

Enhanced Trust and Credibility

When potential customers watch someone they can relate to share a positive experience with your product or service, it builds instant trust.… Read the rest “How to Unlock the Power of Video Testimonials”

5 Top Tips for Designing a Small Business Website

Planning to launch a new small business website? There’s a lot to consider when designing a small business website. Have you thought about how its design may affect its visibility on Google or how people perceive your business?

Gone are the days when a free DIY site or Facebook page could do the job for you.

The competition is tighter now, with 71% of small businesses already operating a website. Your site has to stand out amidst the sea of competitors. Get started the right way with these 5 top tips to create a good small business website:

1 On-Site SEO Is a Must

First and foremost, make Search Engine Optimisation a priority for everything you do on your site.… Read the rest “5 Top Tips for Designing a Small Business Website”

How to Start a Small Business Website: The Essentials

If you have a small business, or are thinking of starting one, you’ll need an effective, affordable small business website. There’s a lot to consider though — and many small businesses fail because they’ve overlooked one or more of the essentials. So here’s how to start a small business website.

Ready? Let’s begin!

What Every Small Business Needs

First, there are a few things every business needs. Hopefully you’ve considered these already, but let’s cover them briefly, just in case.

A Good Offer and a Realistic Target Market

The key words here are “good”, “realistic” and “target”.

Startups often hope to sell something they like to “everyone”.… Read the rest “How to Start a Small Business Website: The Essentials”

Small Business SEO 101: What You Need to Know

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is vital for small businesses. Yet many don’t know where to start. So here are a few things you need to know about small business SEO.

Why Small Business SEO Matters

All websites need visitors, but visitors who are searching for your services are among the most likely to convert into customers. Unfortunately, most are too busy to read past the first Search Engine Results Page (or “SERP”). So for any given search phrase, sites on the first page tend to get 75% of the traffic available for that phrase, with almost 20% going to the first result.

We all do that from time to time. As site owners, though, we need to focus on the next step in most searches.… Read the rest “Small Business SEO 101: What You Need to Know”