Posted on

How to choose the best domain name for your website

Happy satisfied man choose the best domain name for his website on his laptop computer

Choosing a domain name can seem like a daunting task; it needs to be on-brand, reflect what your company does, and, well, sound good! Don’t worry though, if you follow some tips and tricks then choosing the right domain name can be easier than it seems!

Keep your domain name simple

First of all, think of some of the most famous domain names you know; Google, Facebook, YouTube. What have they got in common? They’re all short and simple. Even if you want to make sure your customers know you sell a wide variety of products, having a domain name of pineoakmahoganyandwalnutchairs.com is clunky and difficult to remember. The simpler the name, the easier it will be for people to remember. 

Be wary of awkward spellings and using punctuation as this could confuse users and lead to them misspelling your domain name. For example, h4ppych4irs.com, happychairz.com or happy-chairs.com are more likely to get misspelt than a simple happychairs.com.

Make sure your domain name represents your brand identity

Your domain name might be the first thing a potential customer sees of your company, so it’s important it reflects your brand identity. If you already have a company name – great, you can just use that, but if it has already been taken or you’re still deciding on the perfect name, here are some ideas to help you choose. 

A good brandable name has no specific meaning (Instagram/TikTok), it’s unique, easy to memorise and importantly, it can be easily pronounced and spelt correctly without having to see it written down. 

Brainstorm some ideas of what you want your brand identity to be, and then look up those words in a thesaurus to give you some more ideas. You can also use a domain name generator like Domain Wheel for inspiration.

Optimise your domain name for SEO

Having a simple, memorable domain name means you’re already optimising your domain name for SEO, as the easier your domain is to read, the better a search engine will rank you as your domain is accessible and usable. 

Using keywords in your domain name is great, as it makes it obvious to both search engines and users what your company is all about. However, you want to make sure that you don’t sacrifice the previous points in order to stuff keywords in; best-wooden-chairs-uk.com is obviously keyword targeted and Google now associates this type of domain name with spammy and low-quality websites.

Choose a domain extension that makes sense

In an ideal world, we’d all choose our domain name and then slap a .com on it. Having a .com domain extension (also called TLDs, or top-level domains) is the best option as it is good for SEO purposes, looks professional, and is more likely to get traffic. People are more familiar with .com, and assume that all websites will end with this extension. 

Although over half of all websites do use the .com extension, there are downsides to it. First, they’re the most popular, so it’s likely that your perfect domain name has already been taken. Secondly, .com is invariably the most expensive, so if you’re strapped for cash, a .com might not be available for you. 

Thankfully, more interesting domain extensions are being used more and more, with TLDs such as .store, .co and .ly becoming popular. We’ve written more about this in a previous blog on TLDs, but one thing to bear in mind is that if your company is location specific, using a regional domain extension could work for you. This is because Google will automatically geo-target your site and make it more visible for people in that country, bringing in relevant traffic. 

Buy domain names similar to the one you’ve chosen

If you’ve got the money to do so, it’s a good idea to buy common misspellings of your domain name. This prevents competitors registering versions similar to yours and can also be a useful tool to redirect visitors to your site if they didn’t get the domain name right the first time. This also holds true for different domain extensions – if you’ve got a .co.uk extension, consider buying common alternatives like .com, .net or .org.

Check the domain name’s history

First, make sure you google the domain name you’ve chosen to make sure it doesn’t already exist – otherwise it’s back to the drawing board! It’s also a good idea to make sure that the domain hasn’t previously been used for other things that would negatively impact your site. Tools like Wayback machine give you snapshots of what the site looked like in the past, and Who.is can show you who used to own the domain, and who the domain registrar (provider) was. 

If you’ve got a domain name ready to then why not choose Go Sitebuilder to help you build your website? You can get your domain name free through our package, and our ready to go themes and website builder will give you all the tools you need to get a website that represents your company and your brand. Try our free 14-day-trial today!

Posted on

How do you make money selling handmade items?

Cheerful vigorous woman making money by selling handmade items online using Go Sitebuilder

Do you have amazing handmade gifts that are not selling as well as you hoped? No matter how unique your products are, they will not sell unless you utilise as many platforms as possible to promote your items. With 76% of UK consumers buying nearly half of their Christmas present online, there has never been a better time to market your gifts online 

There are various methods for selling products, ranging from selling on social media platforms, through a built in ecommerce service in your website builder, or using other platforms such as Etsy.

In this blog we will take you through the different ways to make money by selling handmade items. Read on to find out more! 

Have a Unique Product

When there is so much competition for selling the best handmade gifts on the market, having a unique product that you believe in can really help sales. The product you make should be easy to market and you must ensure you know everything there is to know regarding your gift. 

When devising a way to sell your product you should think through the following questions to devise the best marketing strategy:

  • What price should I sell my product at?
  • Who is the target audience?
  • Can my product be sold as part of a set? (for example a hat, scarf and gloves)
  • Can my product be personalised to increase sales and price?

Sell Direct

In order to show your amazing handmade gifts in the best light it is important to have a website where you can promote and sell your products. You can use your web design skills using website builders, creating a visually stunning and useful website for selling your gifts. Selling directly through your website also allows you to take 100% of the profits, which you can reinvest into making more handmade gifts.

However, when choosing a website builder, make sure to choose one that has an ecommerce service. This means it has a way to market and sell products on your website, using online payment. Features to look out for are:

  • Pricing of individual products and collections
  • Capacity to upload high quality product photographs
  • Ability to take payment
  • A way to take reviews of your products and display them 
  • A way to sort your products in different ways (e.g. by popularity or price)

If designed and marketed correctly this can be a highly effective way of increasing awareness about your products and creating a loyal customer base. 

Use a Third Party Site

Many businesses that sell homemade gifts use a third party site to showcase their products. Sites such as Etsy and Not on the High Street allow businesses to showcase their products on their sites. The benefits of these platforms is the reach they have. More visitors means there is a higher likelihood of sales and increased exposure of your website. 

The site you choose will depend on your product and how you want it marketed as both sights are visually different. Generally Not on the High Street is a little more expensive and often personalised, whereas Etsy has a larger selection of gifts at all prices. Often these sites take a small percentage of each sale you make, so although it’s easy to set up, it can be more expensive than setting up your own site in the long run. 

Utilise Social Media

Social media is a great way to market your handmade items, there are low costs and a large audience. With so many businesses using social media for these reasons it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. However, there are certain ways to use social media to your advantage and stay ahead of the competition. 

Having a presence across all platforms is essential in gaining followers. The most important sites for marketing goods are Instagram and Facebook. But other sites such as tumblr may also help. A persistent presence across social media platforms allows more people to interact with your business and your products. Ensure you are:

  • Posting regularly with relevant content 
  • Using high quality images 
  • Using hashtags (these should be relevant to your post and content)
  • Collaborating with others (this may include creating something together for a collection, or tagging high profile craft businesses in your photographs)
  •  A public account (so that everyone can see your photos)
  • Utilising the sale features on sites such as Instagram to promote your products 
  • Linking to your website 

So if you are ready to start promoting and selling your products online then then look no further than Go Sitebuilder, an easy and professional website builder. We have an ecommerce platform built into our website builder for no extra cost, making us the cheapest website builder in the UK with this feature. Our simple ready to go website templates mean you can have a professional looking website up and running in minutes. Try our 14-day free trial today!

Posted on

8 best beauty salon websites for design inspiration 2020

Woman choosing hair color in dye catalog in one of the best beauty salon websites for design inspiration in 2020

The most successful beauty salons have stunning websites that entice more customers to come through their doors. Given that it takes most website visitors only half a second to make a judgement on your website, making a good first impression is incredibly important. From portraying your beauty services to consolidating a brand image, a well designed website can significantly help your beauty business. 

We’ve picked out some of the best beauty salon websites for web design inspiration so you can design the best website for your salon.

Find your Brand and Stick to it

website with woman and hairdryer
Source: drybar

This homepage for drybar clearly tells the visitor what services the beauticians at this beauty salon offer. There is a simple design, incorporating only three colours: grey, yellow and white, which creates a cohesive website design and makes the site – and brand – more memorable. There is a clear call to action on the homepage, which is easily achievable with a website builder, so the visitor knows what services are offered within moments of clicking on the page.

Keep it Simple

website with woman cleaning face
Source: HEYDAY 

The website for skincare fanatics, Heyday keeps a minimalist web design, something easily achieved through a website builder. A high quality image with a plain background gives the site a professional look, and the call to action is prominent on the page without being brash. This web design shows how a simple idea executed well gives your website a sleek, stylish feel. We wrote a blog on how images enhance your website to help you make your images work for you.

Use Marketing Tools

Empty information form for toni&guy
Source: TONI&GUY

The hair and beauty salon TONI&GUY have created an incredibly effective website for many aspects of web design. One of the useful aspects of many website builders is the ability to create a pop up which can portray a message to visitors as soon as they enter the website. This is what the web designers at TONI&GUY have used, giving an opportunity for visitors to subscribe to their emails as soon as they enter the website. This means that even if your visitors don’t buy anything, you can follow up with an email to showcase your services.

Key Messages 

website homepage dark background white text
Source: NineZeroOneSalon

The beauty salon Nine Zero One has created a web design which incorporates stunning images and quotes trying to encapsulate the ethos of the salon. This quote on their homepage is large and creates high impact, it also is effective in separating this salon from others in the business.

Bright Colours

green background website screenshot
Source: BLEACH

Bleach London have come up with a unique website to draw visitors in. The use of bright colours and bold graphics represents their beauticians mission to create new and interesting hairstyles in their beauty salon. Use this as a starting point for web design inspiration, and think about what colours best represent your beauty salon. 

Create an Aesthetic

website screenshot of Naf salon
Source: NAF!Salon

Featured in Vogue’s best beauty salons in the UK, NAF! Salon’s website is a visual masterpiece. A clear aesthetic of pastel colours and bold writing, easily achievable through a website builder, matches cohesively with the photographs of the salon. There is a bold mission statement above the name which is reflected throughout the web design and website, in gorgeous nail art photographs and high quality videos. 

Link your Instagram

hands with nail art
Source: Pastille

One way to showcase your beauty services is to link your instagram to your website. This allows you to share images easily across both platforms simultaneously. The talented nail beauticians at Pastille have done exactly that by showing their best designs on their website. Obviously this means your instagram should be regularly updated so that your website stays up to date with the latest beauty trends. 

Effective Organisation

dropdown menu for Treatwell website
Source: Treatwell

Treatwell is a service which connects beauty salons with clients. There are thousands of salons and services provided at Treatwell, which means their website must be intuitive and easy to navigate. Their clear web design and use of menus and blogs makes this possible; although there is a large variety their navigation doesn’t look overcrowded as each one opens a drop down menu with more information. This allows visitors to connect with beauticians and beauty salons in their local area without getting overwhelmed with information.

So if you’re ready to start designing your beauty salon website, take a look at Go Sitebuilder’s ready to go templates. Creating a captivating website design couldn’t be more simple. Try Go Sitebuilder today; our free 14-day trial gives you the ultimate freedom to design the perfect website for your beauty salon! 

Posted on

How can a photographer make money online?

Amazed woman looking at a Go Sitebuilder photography website on a smart phone which is making money online

You’ve taken the perfect shot. The lighting is good, the angles are on point and the image has captured everything you wanted it to. But where do you display such a stunning photograph online? As a professional photographer, there is endless demand for your work online: businesses, bloggers, and social media influencers all rely on professional photographers to advertise their content. 

Considering that 75% of shoppers rely on product photographs when shopping on an e-commerce store, your work can be high in demand amongst those who sell products online. But how do you get yourself out there, and make money online?

Build your portfolio  

Before you start putting together your portfolio, it’s important to ask yourself what your style is. By working out what kind of photography you enjoy, you can build your image in a way that’s individual and unique to you. Perhaps you have a certain way of editing your photos, or enjoy taking pictures of certain things: whatever you decide, it is important to remain consistent so that the person who views your portfolio can get a good idea as to what kind of professional photographer you are. 

When building your portfolio, don’t just throw together a bunch of images and let the viewer decide for themselves which ones are the best. By crafting your portfolio so that you only include your very best pieces of work, you are proving to the viewer that your photographs are worth investing in. 

Even the order you put your images in can be crucial – Brian Dilg, the head of the New York Film Academy, advised that the first image must be the best one out of all your photographs. 

Have a beautiful site design

Just as an artist tries to make their exhibition as aesthetic as possible, you want to display your images in a way that is visually appealing. As your aim as a professional photographer is to make money online and become more visible, people will be more likely to purchase your images for e-commerce purposes if you have a stunning website design. 

Luckily, to create a beautiful site design you don’t need to be an expert in coding: website builders such as Go Sitebuilder offer a huge range of ready to go website designs, enabling you to display your photographs in a way that is attractive to anyone who visits your site. 

According to the Stanford Web Credibility Research, the credibility of a company is 75% based on their website design – by displaying your images in an appealing way, you are not only able to show off your skills as a photographer, but you’re also telling them that you’re a professional who takes their work seriously, meaning they are more likely to want to invest in your work.

Tell a story 

Whilst a picture might be worth a thousand words, actually telling your personal story, or giving the visitor some information behind a certain photograph helps build a relationship between the site visitor and yourself. The best way to do this is by writing blogs: by writing about your inspiration behind a certain image, you can convey your passion for photography, telling the site visitor that you would be completely committed to delivering them the highest quality photos. 

Blogging is also an invaluable tool for SEO – if you want to increase your visibility on the internet, then including relevant keywords within your blog that are highly searched for means that Google is more likely to index your site, ranking you highly on its search engines. This means that you’re much more likely to see a higher traffic flow to your site and, by repeatedly blogging, Google knows to reindex your site, so that you’re much more likely to stay at a high position. 

Utilise social media 

Overlooking the importance of social media is a huge mistake: it is a free way to market your photography, once you’ve built up a good following. Considering that most social media users log into their accounts at least once a day, creating a strong social media platform is a fantastic way to not only draw in existing fans of your work, but to also reach out to new potential customers. 

By having a strong social media following, you’re showing that you are not only a professional photographer, but that your work is also popular, meaning you’re high in demand. This is an attractive prospect, especially for someone who wants to use your photography for e-commerce purposes, meaning that you’re much more likely to make money online. 

As you’ll want to focus on shooting the best photographs you can, you won’t want to spend endless hours building your own website from scratch. This is why Go Sitebuilder is one of the best website builders for those who don’t have endless hours of time on their hands: we offer ready to go sites that can be crafted to suit your own image. Our free 14-day trial means you can try Go Sitebuilder today, so that you can build your own site completely hassle-free! 

Posted on

How do I create an event planning website?

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

Any successful event planning business has a professional website to present their services. Whether you are a wedding planner or party planner having a website is vital to gaining more customers and increasing awareness of your event management services.

There are a few options when designing an event planning website. Most businesses will choose a website builder that suits them and has a wide range of features and designs, allowing you to easily create a professional event management site. Find one that suits your budget and has the features you require.

In this blog we have outlined the best ways to create an event planning website and some helpful hints and tips to get you started.

Have a Strong Brand Image and Aesthetic

The best event management sites have a strong brand image and aesthetic to their website. Creating a unique brand image is important in a customer facing business such as event planning, and is vital to ensure your business stands out from the rest. When creating a brand image, ensure to keep this image across all platforms, including social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook.

There are certain features in web design that you can think through when creating a brand image, such as:

  • Colour scheme – is your wedding planning business focused on light pastel shades or a bright bold colour scheme? 
  • Font – do you want a unique artistic font for your party planning or a more simple design?
  • Logo – does your event management business have a logo to represent it? 
  • Photographs and Images – do your images fit with the brand image of your event management services? Are they high quality?

Still confused over how to create a brand image? Check out this blog on the best event planning websites!

Think about Layout and Navigation

How a visitor navigates your event management site is incredibly important in ensuring their user experience is the best it can be. Having an intuitive website means visitors are likely to spend more time exploring your website, which could lead them to contact you for your services. 

Many website builders have different options when it comes to navigation and layout. These often impact the way photographs and menus are configured on a page. Many websites opt for a header on their website to display their menu, allowing visitors to easily access different sections of their website. 

wedding marquee website homepage

Source: Bridal Bliss

This image is from a wedding planner’s website, Bridal Bliss. As you can see there is a clear header at the top of the page which gives different options to other pages on their website. Their brand image and aesthetic is cohesive and clearly presents their wedding planning in a professional way. 


Source: Wink!

Alternatively, you could opt for a layout like this wedding planner Wink! Once you click on the menu icon a drop down menu appears of their services. This can allow for a more minimalist look to your website. For more ideas checkout our navigation blog post. 

Compile a List of Services

Without a comprehensive list of your services, visitors to your website may not be clear as to what you offer, meaning they might choose another event management site over yours. However you have chosen to layout your website, having a section dedicated to services is incredibly important to show your full range of services. 

Whether this includes the kind of packages you can offer as a wedding planner, the types of venues you manage as a party planner or the different levels of services you can provide as an events coordinator, having clear information on your services can be very helpful for visitors.

Types of event management services you could think about including are:

  • Venue hire 
  • Photographer/ other vendors  
  • Organising catering 
  • Sending invitations/ promotional activities 
  • Ceremonies (e.g. weddings)
  • Coordinations between various groups involved in the event

These are only a few examples, but the more information on your website the better! Another way many websites show this information without making their website cluttered is by linking a document with the different levels of services on. This ensures visitors get all the information they need and your web design is not compromised. 

Photographs

Having high quality photographs to showcase your event management is vital in gaining more customers and spreading the word on your event planning. Photographs are the easiest way to show the kind of events you can create and how popular they are. 

When choosing photographs think through the following things:

  • Are your photos high quality?
  • Do they show a successful event?
  • Do they represent your brand image?
  • Are the people in the photos enjoying your event?

If the answer to these questions is yes then the photographs will work well on your website. Many website builders will also have different gallery functions, allowing you to show your photographs however you want.

Ready to create an event planning website? If you are looking for a good website builder for your company, then look no further than Go Sitebuilder. With built in galleries and multiple layout options, our simple website builder design means you can have a professional looking website up and running in minutes. Try our 14-day free trial today!

Posted on

Why is navigation so important on a website?

Core Features to Look For in a Site Builder

Well thought through navigation can make the difference between a visitor spending 30 seconds on your website or one hour. If your website navigation is too complex or poorly designed visitors will be put off quickly and may not decide to continue exploring your website. Therefore, by properly planning your website navigation, your visitor’s user experience will be improved significantly. This blog outlines some of the key reasons why you should keep navigation in mind when designing a website.

What is Website Navigation? 

Website navigation refers to the way a visitor will access different sections of your website. This often includes features such as links and menus embedded in your website design. 

What Different Types of Navigation are There? 

There are a few different options websites opt for in terms of navigation. One is having a header at the top of the website, this is either fixed (staying on your screen as you scroll) or stationary (moving with your screen as your scroll – thus disappearing). Below is the Manchester United website’s homepage, as you can see there is a header with various titles. This allows visitors to easily navigate to sections of the website they are interested in. 


https://www.manutd.com/

Alternatively you could opt for a drop down menu. This is often signified by three horizontal lines or simply the word menu. When visitors click on this they are given various options for different areas of the website. This can be very effective if you want a more clean and simple look to your webpage. A menu option can also be better for mobile phone viewing of your website. Clothing retailers will often use these to section their website into women and mens, as in this example of the Pull & Bear website.


https://www.pullandbear.com/gb/woman-c1030007507.html 

Some websites combine both together to create multiple navigation options. See Gourmet Burger Kitchen’s homepage below, where the top bar menu opens up into a translucent extra menu without taking you off the homepage. 


https://www.gbk.co.uk/

So Why is Navigation Important? 

Navigation that has been well thought out can be very effective in gaining more interest in your website. There are a variety of reasons for this: 

Increased Duration of Visit – navigation that is easy to understand and use, will increase the amount of time visitors spend on your website. If a visitor can access the different areas of your website they were looking for easily, there is a higher chance of them staying on your website longer.

Increased Chance of Sales –  more time spent on your website means visitors are exposed to your products/services for a longer period of time. Therefore, if your website is being used to sell products, navigation can be particularly important in increasing sales. 

Improved User Experience – an easy to use navigation system on your website makes using your website a more enjoyable experience. Therefore, visitors will be more likely to spend more time on your website and they are more likely to revisit your website. 

Good Design – navigation and website design go hand in hand. The style of navigation you choose can alter how your website is viewed by visitors. Therefore, ensuring that your choice of navigation fits in well with the rest of your website design is extremely important. 

The best websites will have thought through various factors before they decide on the type of navigation that works best for them. Some questions to ask yourself are: 

  • What kind of products/services are you selling? What is the best way to organise them?
  • Can you group your products/services/content under umbrella themes or titles?
  • How many titles do you need? 
  • If there are many titles would a drop down menu be easier?
  • Which type of navigation would fit in best with your website design?
  • Who is your target audience?
  • Does your navigation style work on a mobile phone or tablet?

If you consider these questions before creating your website you will create the best navigation for your products/services/content. When thinking about them, always try and have the fewest number of titles possible, as too many make your site look cluttered and confusing to navigate. 

Still unsure? Take a look at these examples of the best types of navigation. Many website builders will also have many different options that you can experiment with.

If you are looking for a good website builder for your company, then look no further than Go Sitebuilder! Our simple design means you can have a professional looking website up and running in minutes. With different types of navigation there are so many options for your new website, and with Go Sitebuilder you can rest assured that all our websites are fully optimised for both desktop, tablet and mobile devices, regardless of the navigation style you choose. Try our 14-day free trial today.

Posted on

What are the best designed football websites in 2020?

Group Of Children In Soccer Team Celebrating With Coach

Looking for inspiration for your football website? Have an amazing club that needs a website update? Or simply wanting to share your football commentary? Look no further than this blog post! Here are some of the best football websites in 2020. With professional designs and interesting information these websites are some of the best examples out there. 

Best Websites for Clubs:

Below are some of the best examples of football club websites. Although these examples are of professional clubs with large budgets, you will still be able to achieve a professional website with many of the same features with a website builder. Look at some of the best features of these websites and consider including them in your own. 

Manchester United

Screenshot of https://www.manutd.com/ homepage
Screenshot of https://www.manutd.com/ homepage

The most visited football club’s website in the world with a staggering 8.6 million visitors per year a list of the best football websites could not be compiled without mentioning Manchester United. With video clips, photographs and bold eye-catching design it is no wonder so many visitors are attracted to it. Even without the name of Manchester United your club can benefit from learning from their website, especially the use of contrasting colours and fonts.

FC Barcelona

Screenshot from https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/ homepage
Screenshot from https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/ homepage 

FC Barcelona has created an effective, informative website regarding their players and games. The scores for their most recent games are visible on the homepage of their website, with a feature that allows visitors to scroll through their three most recent games. 

Another great feature of this website is their meet the players section which gives statistics on different players. This allows fans to connect to individual players. If you are designing your own website for a club consider having a section to introduce different players to add a personal touch to your website. 

Best Opinion/Information Websites:

Do you aspire to be on Match of the Day? Or do you simply enjoy sharing your football knowledge with the world? The way you present your ideas and opinions on your website will make a difference in how many people keep up to date with new content. A well designed website can mean more interaction from fans which will help you keep your ideas fresh and relevant. 

101 Great Goals

Screenshot of https://www.theanfieldwrap.com/ homepage
Screenshot from https://www.101greatgoals.com/ homepage

This website updates regularly with football news and opinion pieces. The layout is simple with each story linked to a photograph, making a visually appealing website design. Another interesting feature of this website is the live streaming feature. Although this may not be feasible with your website, having video and photographic content can help more people engage with your ideas and news. 

The Anfield Wrap

Screenshot of https://www.theanfieldwrap.com/ homepage
Screenshot of https://www.theanfieldwrap.com/ homepage

The Anfield Wrap is run by avid Liverpool FC fans and keeps other Liverpool aficionados up to date on all news related to the club. Immediately upon entering the homepage you are struck by a bold red header which clearly shows the title of the page and has images relating to the content of their blog. 

Another key aspect the Anfield Wrap utilises well is the use of a bold header linking to many other different parts of their website. This header stays in place as you scroll, allowing the visitor to click to any section whenever they like. 

Caught Off Side

Screenshot of https://www.caughtoffside.com/ homepage
Screenshot of https://www.caughtoffside.com/ homepage

Caught off side is an iconic football blog informing visitors of news and gossip from the football world. The eye-catching design of cartoon versions of clubs kits is colourful and effective, and links to more information about each club. 

They keep their website updated regularly with the position of clubs in the league tables. Football news is also relevant and organised by the league so visitors can easily find the type of news they want. Remember; your target audience is a key consideration when building your website and will help you decide what content to update your site with.

If you are looking for a good website builder to create an engaging and informative football website, then look no further than Go Sitebuilder! Our simple software means you can have a professional looking website up and running in minutes, and you can try different templates to find the one that fits you – and your favourite team – best. Try our 14-day free trial today.

Posted on

What are the best payment tools for your online shop?

Be trendy. Joyful young pretty woman researching the best payment tools for her online business shop using tablet and credit card.

When you’re opening your online store, it’s easy to get sidetracked by creating a stylish web design, uploading your beautiful product photos and publicising your ecommerce business. However, it’s also important to think about the most important bit – how you get paid! There are a multitude of ways you can get customers to pay for your products, and the most popular are payment gateways. 

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is a third party service between sellers and buyers. It takes money from the buyer and sends it to the seller’s bank account in a secure way. Essentially, it’s the virtual equivalent of a till that you’d find in a physical store. 

Why do you need one?

Although it is possible to have an ecommerce store that is reliant on bank transfers and cash on delivery, most online retailers opt for a payment provider instead. They are easy to add to your website, and many website builders – like Go Sitebuilder – already have many integrated into their platform. 

From a buyer’s perspective, a payment gateway offers convenience and efficiency; often they can pay with just one click, rather than having to get up and hunt out their card details from their wallet. This is likely to drive sales as there are no boundaries to them ordering your products. Online payment gateways also allow you to reach clients from all over the world, rather than being limited to one country. 

Using a payment gateway also generally has a lower transaction cost, but most importantly they provide highly effective security and anti-fraud tools that keep both you and your customers safe. Although a bank transfer might seem easier, there are no security protections and having a PayPal or Stripe account will incite much more trust than just handing over your bank details for them to pay you.

One drawback of payment providers is that your customers will need to have an internet connection to be able to pay you, and they’ll need to input some of their personal data to be able to carry out the transaction. Read our blog on privacy policies to make sure you are protecting your and your customer’s data. 

PayPal

Paypal has over 87 million active accounts in 190 markets and 24 currencies worldwide. This makes it a great option for small businesses because it’s easy to set up and use, your clients will already be familiar with it, and they have cheap fees. You also don’t need a specialised merchant account to sell things online with PayPal, which removes another set-up hassle. 

However, due to their popularity, it can be difficult to reach their customer service department, and if you breach the terms of use they can suspend your account. Be aware that PayPal’s Seller Protection policies don’t cover digital goods, so it might not be the best option if you’re selling technology. 

Stripe

Stripe is rapidly joining PayPal as a leader in online payment gateways. The two have the same fee per transaction, and offer basic plans with no setup costs, monthly fees or contracts. Simple to set up, Stripe allows you to offer your customers discounts and coupon codes, lets you pro-rata charges and makes it easy to rebill a customer without having to store their credit card details. 

It has a seamless checkout experience, that enables the buyer to stay on your site when making a payment, rather than being redirected to a third party site. It even gives you a clear interface of graphs and charts so you can keep track of your finances. 

However, Stripe has the ability to freeze or cancel your account with little notice. If it decides your account looks risky, they can hold your funds or shut your account down completely, although this isn’t common. It also has a suite of complex tools and functionalities that you are unlikely to use.

WorldPay Online

WorldPay is the largest processing company in the United Kingdom, handling over 40% of all card transactions. It accepts 116 currencies, PayPal and all major credit and debit cards, is optimised for mobile and tablet use, and has strong security features. Unlike PayPal and Stripe, however, it does have an online setup fee of £25.

If you haven’t set up your website yet, WorldPay online does offer a pay by link option, where your customers can pay you securely just by clicking a link. They don’t have their pricing and transactional costs published online as they vary depending on your volume and business type, but you can request a quote.

There are a multitude of online payment gateways available, but if you’re just starting out with your online store, we recommend going with the simplest option, and ideally one that is already integrated with your website builder. At Go Sitebuilder, with just a few clicks you can decide whether you want PayPal, WorldPay Online, Stripe and 2Checkout, but we can add others if you need them. At £9.99 per month our package includes an integrated ecommerce platform with no restrictions on selling, meaning we are one of the cheapest website builders in the UK for ecommerce. Don’t take our word for it – try our 14-day free trial today! 

Posted on

Do I need permission to run a business from home?

Attractive young woman holding a tablet at home reading up on permissions to run a business from home

With the rise of technology, running a business from home is becoming more and more manageable. You can build your own website using a site builder to advertise your services or sell products on your ecommerce store, and with sites such as Google Hangouts or Zoom you’re only a few clicks away from talking with customers or clients. However, if you’re running a business from home, you need to have permission to do so.

This can depend on the type of business you’re running – if, for example, you’re using a website to advertise your services as a yoga instructor and you rent out a studio from a third party then you probably won’t need permission from your landlord or mortgage provider. However, if you’re planning on holding your yoga sessions at home then you may need to be granted permission before you can do this. 

Are you self employed?

If you’re not sure if you’re self employed, then there are guidelines to help you decide. You are self employed if you: 

  • take responsibility for your business’ successes or failures
  • have a number of customers at the same time
  • make decisions over how, when and where you work
  • hire staff for help
  • provide your own equipment
  • charge a fixed price for your work
  • sell goods or services to make a profit (including through websites and apps)

Who do you need permission from?

This depends on what type of residency you live in and what type of business you’re planning to run: if you rent or own a house then you’ll need to be granted permission from your landlord or mortgage provider. You might be refused permission if they think the let for your proposed business should be commercial rather than residential, meaning you’ll need to rent a corporate space instead of working from home. They may also refuse if they believe your business could damage the house, or lead to excessive noise which acts as a nuisance to neighbours.

If you’re planning on making large alterations to your home for the purposes of your business, you may need to seek planning permission from your local planning office. Or, if you’re going to get a lot of customers or deliveries to your door for your ecommerce store then you will need to contact your local council to be granted permission to do so. 

Health and safety 

If you have employees working in your home for your business then you’ll need to manage health and safety just as you would in any other business, and you may also need to pay business rates. As an employer, you will be expected to carry out all duties expected of you: this means you meet employment law requirements, write out contracts for your employees, carry out health and safety risk assessments regularly and make sure you have building insurance. 

Tax allowances

If you’re a sole trader or part of a business partnership then you can include business costs in your Self Assessment tax return. You can claim on certain additional costs such as heating, broadband and electricity so that working from home doesn’t put you at a financial disadvantage. Although this might seem tricky to record, you can use a flat rate to calculate your simplified allowable expenses so you know exactly what to claim on.  

If you’re running your business from home, you’ll need a website to advertise your services, or products if you own an ecommerce store. You’ll probably be pushed for time starting up a business from home, so don’t make life harder for yourself by trying to build a website from scratch. Go Sitebuilder has stunning ready to go site designs, and we include an ecommerce platform as part of our package, making us one of the cheapest website builders for those who need an ecommerce section on their site. Try us today – our 14-day free trial gives you all the flexibility you need to build your dream website for your business!

Posted on

Do bloggers earn money?

Young man sitting in cafeteria and using tablet computer to blog about his business on Go SItebuilder

When you think of blogging, thoughts of 16-year olds posting baking recipes or beauty product photos might spring to mind. Whilst you might want to take up blogging as a hobby, you may be surprised to hear that some people have actually made millions off their blogs. Whilst the most successful probably got on the bandwagon early and started up their blogs before 2006, this doesn’t mean you can’t make money from your blogs if you start now.

Finding a website builder with an easy to use blogging platform is key: if you seriously want to make money from blogs then it’s important to be writing multiple blogs a week, which you’ll want to access and be able to edit from any device. As there are so many different ways to make money from writing blogs, it’s hard to predict your average salary: Glassdoor revealed that bloggers can make anything from £8 to over £80 for a fairly short post. 

Don’t let this discourage you – we’ve put together some tips so that you can start making a profit from your blogs!

Write quality content 

Unfortunately, you can’t make money overnight by writing just one blog post. You have to build up a strong following of people who regularly visit your blog. This means writing multiple pieces on topics of interest, and writing them to a high standard. 

Don’t just put pen to paper – or in this case, finger to keyboard – and hope that you’ll come up with magical content that everyone wants to read. If you have specific knowledge of a certain area then writing informative or factual opinion pieces can really engage visitors, encouraging them to return to your site.

Although this might sound counterintuitive, offering quality freebies is also a good way for you to earn from your blogs. For example, if you want people to pay a small fee to access your high-quality content, then let the site user try before they buy. Think of it as giving away tasters for your restaurant: you’re letting customers sample your content, before they consider making a purchase. 

Build up a following 

You want to be able to have a strong, steady list of followers who regularly visit your blog. This is fairly easy to do: find a website builder that lets you link your social media to your blogs. This encourages site visitors to share your content on their own social media, sparking up further interest around your blog and increasing your visibility.

You might also opt to set up an email mailing list: by getting people to sign up, you can alert them to the latest blog posts you’ve written, reminding them to visit your site and hopefully share your content. 

Advertising income 

If you’re wondering what the previous steps have to do with earning money through your blogs then think of all the time spent creating quality content and building a strong following and preparation. Bloggers can earn money through adverts, but the advertiser wants to be reassured that there are enough people visiting your site for it to be worthwhile paying for a space on your blog page.

If the thought of reaching out to an advertising company is a daunting prospect, then there are ad networks such as Google Adsense which acts as a sort of middleman, enabling small publishers to advertise on their blogs. Other ad networks include Infolinks and Media.net.

Affiliate linking 

If you’ve built a website with a blog, and your intent is to simply share your love for a hobby, then affiliate linking can be a great way to earn money through your blogs. For those unsure as to what affiliate linking is, it essentially means that you link a product in your blog that an advertiser has told you they want to sell. Whenever a buyer has used your link to make a purchase, you make a certain amount of revenue. 

If you’re not sure where to start, then ad networks such as Amazon Associates is a great way to start earning money through your blogs. 

Promote your business 

If you’ve built a website with an ecommerce store, then use your blogs to make people want to buy your products or invest in your services. By internally linking the products you sell on your blog, you’re directing visitors to look at what goods you have to offer. This is also great for SEO: Google is more likely to index more of your pages on its search engine results page if you internally link. 

Writing blogs can also help you earn money via your ecommerce site by increasing traffic flow to your site. Blogs that answer commonly searched questions increases traffic to your website, showing Google that your content is of high quality and worth boosting up the search engine rankings.

If you want a website builder that offers a blogging platform which is incredibly easy to use,  Go Sitebuilder offers ready to go site templates that can be uploaded in a few clicks. We include an ecommerce and blog section in our package for no added cost, making us one of the cheapest website builders around. Of course, this doesn’t mean that we compromise on quality – try our 14-day free trial to see for yourself. Start earning money on your blogs today!