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How to get the most out of a new website launch

Close up of a woman's hands typing on a mobile phone.

There is nothing more exciting than having a website that is ready to share with the world. With all of the design, thoughtful content and hard work you’ve put in you’ll want to start showcasing it straight away. But how do you make the most of your launch? There are a few steps you can make to get the most out of this time, and the best part is, we’ve already written it down for you!

Choose the right date

Pick your website launch day with care. You’ll want to make it a day where the most number of visitors possible will take a peek at your website, but also if there are any last-minute tweaks or changes to make that you’re on hand to remedy them.

Quick tip: avoid launching your website on a Friday, weekend, bank holiday or other major holiday dates! People are most likely enjoying the festivities and not browsing the web.

Engage with audiences

Don’t make your website launch a one-way communication process. Naturally, you’ll have a lot to say to your new site visitors, but give them the opportunity to interact with you, too! This can boost engagement and may provide you with useful information about your audiences and what they want from your business or content, which may help to steer your website towards future success.

Remember you can also use your social media pages to chat with your audiences both before, during and after launch day.

Consider your rankings

It’s important that audiences are able to find your new website easily, so using effective search engine optimisation (SEO) strategies is important to help improve your search ranking and reach more people.

Whenever you publish any information about your new website launch, utilise your content so that every piece of communication has the potential to boost your search profile. For example, include relevant keywords naturally in any news or update posts, and vary the style of content you produce to mix things up a bit. If you’re an SEO newbie, take a look at our beginner’s guide to SEO over on our blog

Use some of the same tactics that you used to create all of the content for your new website, including writing about a variety of different styles: from blog posts, videos and beautiful photos.

Add analytics

How will you know if your website launch has been successful? In particular, how many people have visited your new site, which pages they looked at and what their profiles are? It’s super simple! Just make sure you get signed up with Google Analytics before launch day.

The beauty of Google Analytics is that it will also tell you whether viewers just looked at the landing page of your site, or whether they explored further. You can use this information to your advantage, to ensure your content is enticing and leaves people wanting more. You can also use this data to see what pages are popular, what devices people are using, what time of day they’re visiting and so much more.

Having a website is crucial for every business. If you haven’t created yours yet, why don’t you check out Go Sitebuilder? Create your website from anywhere without the need for any technical skills. Try Go Sitebuilder free for 14-days to see just how easy it is to get your business online.

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How Can I Make My Website Famous?

Nine people stood in a line, leaning against a brick wall and using their mobile phones

As a business owner, you’ll want to ensure people are finding and viewing your website. A website is a powerful, essential marketing tool you can use to raise your profile and increase your sales, but if no one is actually visiting it, it’s never going to achieve the results you want. Luckily, there’s plenty you can do to change that, and while making your website famous might be a bit of a stretch, you can certainly drive more traffic with just a few simple steps. Here are three of the easiest, tried and tested methods for you to try.

1. Don’t underestimate offline marketing

While a good website will attract a new and potentially profitable audience, it should also be a place for your existing customers to visit as well. You can provide them with an opportunity to learn more about your company and even make their purchases online. But remember, they can only do this if they’re aware of your site’s existence. 

Try making an effort to increase your visibility in the places your target market lives and visits. This means that from business cards to billboards, newsletters and even simply answering your phone, it’s a good idea to include information about your website and social media platforms in these new places for your audience to see it.

2. Mention your website online (and do it on a regular basis)

Don’t be afraid to share a shameless plug here and there – it’s your website and you should be proud of it! The internet essentially functions as a giant map, pointing users in the direction of relevant information, which means it’s key to have your site featured on it. The best way to do this is by mentioning it as often as you can, whether it’s by sending your products to bloggers and having them add a link to your website or by publishing press releases. You can also join online communities, like relevant Facebook pages, and share your website when people ask for similar services or products that you provide – just remember not to spam anyone!

3. Educate yourself on SEO

Last but not least, spend some time familiarising yourself with SEO and how it works. It doesn’t have to be complicated. We’ve created a quick guide for beginners over on our blog if you don’t believe how easy it can be. Standing for ‘search engine optimisation’, SEO is the method used by companies to ensure that their website ranks as highly as possible when people run searches on search engines like Google. The idea is that consumers are most likely to click on results at the very top of the first page, so by focusing on including certain keywords in your content, you can improve your position and make yourself much more visible.

When it comes to boosting the popularity of your website, there are lots of methods you can try. If your website isn’t online yet, why not try a 14-day free trial with Go Sitebuilder and see just how easy it is to create your dream website without any technical skills!

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How do I launch a website for free?

Female working from home on a laptop and tablet device whilst drinking a hot drink. She is sat at a table with her living room in the background

Today, lots of people are creating and running their own websites, and you can do the same! There are lots of options for small businesses to get online – even without the need to hire an expensive web professional or develop a new skill yourself.

There are various free website-building services out there that allow you to build a website quickly and get published in a matter of minutes. You just need to find the right one for your needs and get stuck in. Bear in mind, however, that free sites typically mean a limited service, and there will probably be ads on your site to cover the host’s costs.

Try it for free

At Go Sitebuilder, we offer a free 14-day trial so you can see exactly what our website builder can do. The trial also lets you explore the possibilities of a paid platform with dedicated support. During the free trial, you will be able to publish your website with a Go Sitebuilder domain and enjoy the full functionality of our service. When the 14-day period is over, you will have the option to go premium and start running your website like a pro.

Keeping it free

If, however, you are determined to commit to a free service, you will need to do a bit of exploring. At the free level, hosts will put a low cap on the amount of data you can upload to your website (meaning you’ll be limited on adding things like images and videos). Different hosts will have different policies, so you should explore your options. The bandwidth limits are also low, and there could be other restrictions. Shop around to find a host that offers the best service for your needs in their free package.

If you’re a business that’s looking for sustainable success, we wouldn’t recommend a free website builder as a viable long-term option. There are millions of websites on the internet, and there will be competition in your space. This competition could have very expensive, very professional websites of their own. The limitations of a free website will mean you will almost certainly be unable to compete with this. It’s also unlikely that you’ll also be able to get a free, unique domain name – making it difficult for your customers to find you online. A free website is a good way to familiarise yourself with a platform, but you will need to invest in your site if you want it to be successful.

A simple solution

Fortunately, there are inexpensive ways for you to get your business online. Our premium plans at Go Sitebuilder are just £9.99 per month, and this will give you unlimited access to a wide array of powerful features like ecommerce, emails and a free domain name. Get started with a free 14-day trial and you’ll see just how easy it really is!

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What is a website launch checklist?

A female of dual heritage is sat in an office meeting room wearing a casual denim shirt creating a website launch checklist

Before you launch your website it’s essential that you have completed all the necessary steps ensure that everything is working properly. No one wants to go to a website and see that something is missing or that a website address is broken! Creating and using a website launch checklist will ensure that everything is up and running as it should be before you invite the rest of the world to look at your site.

Take a look at the quick checklist below to make sure your website is ready to go come launch day…

1. Proofread

When creating amazing content, you’ll need to make sure you’ve taken the time to fix any typos. Customers will notice them and it may be distracting or even impact their perception of your business. Just take a few extra moments to go through your site’s pages and proofread your content to make sure it’s accurate. You can always ask friends and family to give your copy a quick read through as well – it’s always best to have a second pair of eyes on it!

2. Optimise content for user experience

You’ll want to make sure your website is set up to be user-friendly and easily accessible by as many people as possible. Going for a standardised font and size makes the content easy to read for your site users. You’ll need to make sure your menu bar is easy to use and that people can get to where they’re going. If you want to go the extra mile, use a contrast checker to ensure that someone with vision impairments can read the copy on your website.

If your website features audio and video files, you may want to consider transcribing them, then take a quick moment to check these work properly too.

3. Optimisation for search engines

Check that everything works as intended to ensure your web conversions and overall SEO scores are high. Go through your site and click all the clickable links, including images to see if they link through to the desired pages. You’ll want to make sure you have alt-tag descriptions on any images as well, so the search engines can “see” them.

If your website accepts payments, you should also do a test payment, going through the whole process to make sure everything is working as it should do.

4. Check for mobile users

With more and more internet users accessing websites through their mobile, it’s essential that your website is compatible with phones. Grab your own mobile phone and go through every web page, ensuring the text is the correct size, that images are properly spaced, and that all buttons work as they should. It’s also handy to get your friends involved too. The more phones you test on, the better the experience will be.

This isn’t a step you need to worry about if you have a Go Sitebuilder website as all sites are instantly responsive!

5. Do compatibility testing

If your website has been built using plugins, it’s advisable that you run a compatibility test to check against any glitches or conflicts between your site builder and the plugin. It’s just another way of ensuring your website is running smoothly when it comes to launching!

Again, if you have a Go Sitebuilder website this isn’t something you need to add to your list – although we always advise you check all links and forms work before sharing your website. At Go Sitebuilder we have built-in all features and funcationality from the ground up, so you don’t have to use risky third-party plugins.

If you’re still considering the best way to get your website up and running, why not check out our 14-day free trial? No credit cards or previous website building experience needed, so, what are you waiting for?

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What is crucial for effective website design?

A man and a woman standing over a table looking at a piece of paper. The male is wearing a casual denim shirt and holding a pen. The female is wearing a white t-shirt and is standing slightly in the background

A beautiful website will leave a great impression. There are a lot of different directions you can adventure into when designing a new website. We’ve put our heads together to give you this easy to follow list that will help you create the most effective website design.

Keep it simple

You could be forgiven for thinking that the more you add to your website, the better the experience for your audiences. But, there is a fine line between being informative and causing confusion or clutter. Simplicity is the way to go.

Use your space to say what you need to say, but don’t go overboard. Keep your colour palettes, fonts and other design elements clean, minimalist and simple. Not only will this create a sleek design but it will also make it easy for the viewer to digest the information. And, don’t be afraid of the white or blank spaces on your site. These are actually important design elements in their own right.

Use logical navigation

Try to view your website like taking a journey, in that there should be a logical path to follow to get from A to B. Straightforward navigation is a vital component of any website because it enables viewers to easily find the information they’re looking for. If your site lacks cohesion, some visitors may be left wondering where they’re supposed to go.

Your menu bars and page layouts are key to providing clear navigation, but you should also include easy-to-understand calls to actions so that viewers know what to expect or do next. You can easily lead them exactly where you want them to go!

Try out visual media

Cramming your website with text could be hard for your viewers, so think carefully about how you present your written information. Ideally, your text should be easily scannable, so time-starved viewers can still easily find the information they need.

Quick tip: Use lists and bullet points, for example, to break chunks of text up.

Another essential strategy to break text up is to include visual media on your site. Images speak louder than words so they’re a really important asset to your site to promote your products or services. Ideally, use your own photos, but whether you use originals or stock images make sure they’re of good quality – you don’t want a blurry, oversized image to be representing your business.

Responsive design

Effective website design involves enabling the site to be compatible for use on a range of devices, including smartphones, tablets and desktop computers. If you’ve already got a Go Sitebuilder website you won’t need to worry about responsive design as everything you create is instantly responsive!

Responsive design, in a nutshell, means that your website will adjust in size to suit a particular device. This leaves your content clear and easy to read no matter what device it’s viewed upon. With many internet users now relying exclusively on smartphones for web viewing, this is a design element that is nowadays a necessity rather than a luxury if you don’t want to miss a potential audience!

You don’t have to be a professional designer to build a website with Go Sitebuilder. Our hand-crafted, beautiful website sections will have you online within minutes – so what are you waiting for? Get online today with a 14-day free trial!

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8 things to do before launching a new website

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If you’ve just designed your new website; congratulations! Now you must be eager to launch and share it with the world. Here at Go Sitebuilder, we know how important the time leading up to launch can be. That’s why we’ve put together these 8 steps that will help you start off on the right foot and head towards success.

1. Target audience

Before you hit the button, it is important to know exactly who your target audience is. These are the people who are likely to interact with your business. It all comes down to your industry and services. For example, a company that offers electrical works would most commonly be accessed by home-owners and landlords, which would make this their target audience.

2. Market comparison

Seeing how your competitors have designed their website could be used as a key indicator of what works within your specific industry – along with what does not. However, we wouldn’t ever recommend that you copy your competitors! Use their information as a starting point in regards to design and the content, but make sure to keep things original and unique to you.

3. Content evaluation

Being mindful of the type of content you will be posting is really important to how your website will be laid out. You’ll need to make sure everything is easy to navigate and people can find exactly what they’re looking for. The more content you have, the more that will need to be done in terms of designing your website. Having more content also means there is more for clients to read and interact with when the website is live.

4. Website security

A secure website is a must. Clients should feel safe using your site and entering their personal details. Without a secure site, hackers can access the site, and thereby access your clients’ personal information. This could even lead to a breach of GDPR, so make sure to take precautions. One of the first steps should be to ‘switch on’ or purchase an SSL cert. If you have a Go Sitebuilder subscription, SLL is completely free!

5. Launch date

Setting a date for your launch puts a timestamp on your goal – meaning it is easier to see what needs to be done, and when it needs to be done by, in order to launch on your desired date. This also gives you time to shout from the rooftops and create some buzz about what you’ve got going on.

6. Quality check

Testing your website ahead of time will alert you of any issues with the design or functionality of the site, allowing you to fix these issues before launching it to the general public. Just take a couple of minutes to go through the links, photos, and buttons. If you don’t have a Go Sitebuilder website, you may need to run tests on mobile devices too!

7. Sample testing

Select a small number of your existing clients, or even friends and family, to test the site. This gives you the opportunity to note any technical issues while you’re also receiving feedback, from which you can use to tweak and optimise your site. There’s nothing more helpful than feedback.

8. Prepare for the next few months ahead

It’s essential you put some time aside in the near future to keep content updated. It’s important to keep pages and contact details up to date but having a steady flow of new content, like blogs or new products, helps to drive more traffic to your site and keeps existing customers coming back!

If you still haven’t got your business online, now is the perfect time! Try Go Sitebuilder free for 14-days and see just how easy it is to get your website up and running.

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3 ways to find an online start-up business partner

Birds eye view of two females sat down at a table drinking tea. A doughnut is also on the table.

Starting an online business can be extremely exciting, confusing and scary at the same time. With all of these feelings along with the list of tasks you need to check off, a business partner could be exactly what you need. We know that things are always better with a friend by your side, even in the world of business. Finding another entrepreneur or sometimes even a group of entrepreneurs is always a great way of beginning your start-up. But, how do you meet them? How can you find people who share the same interests as you, along with the passion for business? It may seem hard, but we’re here to break it down. We’ve compiled a helpful list with 3 ways to assist you in finding your new online start-up business partner!

1. Make use of social media

Social media has never been bigger. There’s an estimated 3 billion of us using it each day. With so many people out there, it is highly likely that there is another person on the internet with the same business idea as you who would also be willing to look to partner up.

But how do you find them?

Hashtags! And use lots of them! Taking advantage of hashtags by using and following your interests/business ideas is a great way of connecting to people like you. You can search for other people using the hashtags along with posting them yourself. Try using some generalised ones such as #startupbusiness or #buddingentrepreneur, as well as a mix of hashtags that relate to your business idea.

Once you’ve found someone who clearly shares the same love for your business idea as you, try sending them a direct message saying you are looking to connect with other entrepreneurs – you never know where it could lead you.

2. Forums

Forums are there to connect groups of people who share the same likes and interests on large group chat-style websites. There is a forum for everything and even whole websites that focus on one specific idea.
Try searching for a forum surrounding your business approach and make a post, asking if anyone is interested in setting up an online start-up business. You could find your next business partner on the other side of the world!

3. Local listing pages

There are plenty of websites on the internet that offer a service similar to a digital AA pages book. Some of these are free to post on, allowing you to put out a search for other entrepreneurs who may be interested in starting a business with you, or who may know someone else who is looking for a business partner. And, if you’ve posted a free advert, it’s not as though you’ve lost anything in doing it!

So there you have it – 3 easy ways to start connecting with possible business partners! With the internet so vast and full of different interests and personalities, there’s never been more opportunity to find people who could help you take your start-up online business to the next level. If you still haven’t got your business online, now is a perfect time! Try Go Sitebuilder free for 14-days and see just how easy it is to get your website up and running.

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What are the 5 best electrician website designs

An electrician standing on an extended cherry picker raising his arm towards a telegraph pole in the distance

Electrician websites are all over the internet, but there are some that truly stand out from the crowd. It can pay to examine what these businesses are doing that is working so well, so that you can emulate some principles and make them your own.

Website Templates for Electricians
One of Go Sitebuilder’s easy-to-use website builder templates

Here are some of the best in the world of electrician website designs for you to take a look at:

1. Teague Electric

Despite being a large company, Teague Electric prides itself on offering a personal service to its clients. Their website stands out with its playful background image and easy access to their latest blog posts. They have also carefully cropped their header photos to match their logo, adding real power to the branding. Note the Facebook badge and Twitter Feed at the bottom, calling attention to their social media.

2. Moran Electrical Contracting

This website stands out due to the quality of the photography throughout. This looks professional and makes the website attractive. They also list their specific service pages very well, making it very clear how they can help their customers. The inclusion of testimonials is also a great credibility piece.

3. Withrow Electric

This is a small, family-owned business that offers superb customer service and will take on any job, regardless of size. The bright colour pallet of their website immediately stands out to grab the visitor’s attention. The employee photos make the team feel friendly and approachable, and the company branding is really spot-on. Additionally, the cropped circular images give a distinctly modern feel.

4. Hardt Electric Inc.

This electrician website design feels very contemporary. It utilises modern fonts to make the text work as a part of the visual design. It is full of quality pictures, neatly organised and without making the site slow or clunky. The completed project gallery is a good tool to help customers see what they can do.

5. Weifield Group

This website displays company milestones that really call attention to the high standards they achieve. The crew of the month is a nice way of further emphasising the company’s focus on doing the best they can. The introductory videos are another great draw for traffic, and the ability to roll-over zoom on the photos makes it feel up to date.

It’s a good idea to stay abreast of website trends, particularly for sites in your niche. There are a lot of resources for this online, and at Go Sitebuilder we provide a website builder designed for businesses like yours – try it for free today.

Make your brand stand out by using some of these fantastic additions that the websites listed here have executed, and share your own website with the world.

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How do I improve my electrician business?

Electrician's circuitboard full of colourful wires and tools surrounding it.

If you work as an electrician, chances are you’ll be operating in a highly competitive industry. Finding ways to improve your business is key to help you stand out from your rivals. Here are some useful tips to take on board.

Get online

If you don’t have a website for your electrical business yet, then now is the time to get one. Studies show that 97% of consumers search for local services online, so having a website helps you to stay on top of your game.

There are many factors that go into having a site that pops, such as your domain name. You’ll want this to be something that reflects what you do. For example, if you’re a 24-hour emergency electrician why not make that your domain name? You can add your city or towns name in there too. You’ll also want to have a website that is sleek and easy to navigate, so your potential customers can find exactly what they’re looking for. Here at Go Sitebuilder, we can help you achieve that!

Make your business visible

In a saturated market, it’s important that your electrical business is as visible as possible, so look for ways to promote your services. With most people searching online for an electrician, boosting your search engine ranking is an effective strategy (just like having a domain name).

Focus on getting your name on local search listings, since most people who require an electrician look for somebody near to where they live or work. Add your business name, address and website URL to local online search directories and Google Maps, so that your business pops up more often when people search for an electrician.

When you’re creating content on your website and all of its pages, incorporate local keywords into the copy to help you rank higher on listings. If you’re located in Bristol (just like us) make sure you include the word Bristol on your pages.

Boost credibility

Most people employing the services of an electrician prioritise finding someone who is reliable and professional. Use your website to boost your credibility so that viewers can see that you’re a trusted source.

One of the best ways to do this is to let satisfied customers sing your praises. Include a testimonials section on your website and add recent glowing reviews that can help win the approval of potential customers.

You can also let others know you’re a reputable electrician by including details of any relevant industry groups or trade associations that you’re a member of.

Case studies

As well as detailing the individual services that you provide, consider adding a section to your website that showcases examples of previous jobs undertaken. This can help to bring your services to life and further reinforce your credentials. Include images of the jobs, and detail what the particular issue or problem was, along with how you solved it.

Easy contact

Many electricians lose potential business by being too slow to reply to customers or to provide a quote, so make sure that you respond to queries with speed and efficiency! Make it easy for people to get in touch with you by providing clear contact details on your website. You might even wish to include a form on your web page that customers can easily fill out to contact you, or even to obtain a free, instant quote.

Make it easy for new customers to find and contact you with a website. If you haven’t got online yet, or your existing website isn’t working for you, check out our free 14-day trial with Go Sitebuilder. Sign up today and start building the website that will make your business a success. You won’t need to hire an expert and you won’t need any previous website building knowledge – you can even start building it straight from your mobile phone!

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How much does it cost to start your own electrical business?

gositebuilder

If you’re a qualified electrician who is looking for their next challenge, or you believe you can earn a better income by starting your own electrical business, understanding the costs associated with starting your own company is an important task to carry out before taking the plunge. From buying the rights to your business name to considering your business expenses, there is a lot to think about when starting up, but we’re here to give you a hand!

So, how much does it cost to start an electrical business? This depends on a number of factors:

1. Your personal finances

Starting up an electrical business can cost you some money – but it will be worth it! You’ll need to work out your current finances and determine what you’ll be spending at the beginning to get your feet off of the ground. Start small and keep investing in your business over time, or you could chuck in a lump sum to cover most things right at the start – it’s up to you! In 2016, Moneywise found that the cost of starting a utility business was approximately £17,962, but don’t let that scare you away. Starting your own business is an extremely personal experience. If you’re good at what you do and have the tools on hand, you can start your business with whatever works for you. You might already own some of the tools or know the right people who can help you get started.

2. Your location

It’s important to note that the costs associated with starting an electrical business will vary based on your location. For example, the same Moneywise report found that Manchester was the most expensive place to start a business, with average costs of £44,733, while Newcastle was the cheapest, at £17,008. A number of factors come into play here, including the cost of renting or buying property (which you may or may not need). Your location can also affect the prices you charge your clients.

3. Your potential overheads

There are a number of business expenses to consider when starting your own business, including:

  • Rent
  • Transport
  • Insurance
  • Bookkeeping
  • Tools and equipment
  • Marketing & website design
  • Employees (if you have any)

Some new companies tend to use their home or van as a business location instead of renting a separate space, and this can help you cut down costs! Whether you choose to rent a space from a landlord or to do it a bit DIY – this will have some expenses involved with it as well, so it’s a good thing to keep in mind.

Last but certainly not least, you’ll need to be marketed to head off on the road to success. While social media and word of mouth will be important here, you also need to ensure you have a high-quality website that can help you get listed on Google. Your online presence is a place to be yourself and share with your customers. So, make sure you keep everything up to date and share all of your important content here such as hours of operation, photos of your work, contact details and maybe even some blogs!

This list isn’t exhaustive, but learning about the basic costs can help you get started with your new business. We know that taking the plunge into a new business is thrilling and sometimes a little bit scary. We’re here to help you tick one thing off your list: a website. Go Sitebuilder has been designed with busy small businesses in mind. Get started with a 14-day free trial and see just how easy it is to build a professional website all by yourself – no credit card or expert skills required!