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What is the best website builder for ecommerce?

Closeup side portrait of woman using cellphone with laptop to choose website builder Go Sitebuilder for their online ecommerce store

Building a website for an ecommerce store from scratch can take a lot of money and time, and is very difficult to do unless you have all the necessary coding knowledge. Luckily, there are numerous different website builders out there, which make building a website an easy, hassle-free process. 

But how do you know what the best website builder is? In order for your online store to be successful, there are certain must-haves that your ecommerce site should include. But these can be expensive, as some website builders don’t include these features in their package. When looking for the best website builder for ecommerce, look at what each individual package offers: if it is easy to use, and includes all the necessary features of an ecommerce store, then it might just be right for you!

Easy to use ecommerce store 

When visiting your online store, a site user is going to expect to be able to navigate themselves around your ecommerce site. Not only does this mean that they can easily find the products that you’re advertising, but it also means that they will stay on your website for longer. 

As studies show that 76% of customers saying the most important component of a website is ease of use, you don’t want to overcomplicate things. This could cause users to give up and click off your site, meaning they won’t even see the goods you have to offer.

This can also have a negative impact on your search engine ranking: If Google’s algorithms detect that your site has a high bounce rate, then this suggests to Google that your site is of low quality or not relevant to users and thus shouldn’t be ranked highly on its search engine results page. Picking a website builder that lets you set up your ecommerce store in a way that isn’t overly complicated for the site visitor means people are more likely to stay on your site for longer. 

Find a website builder that includes an SSL certificate 

An SSL certificate is paramount when building a website with an ecommerce store: just as you wouldn’t deposit money into a dodgy-looking bank, you wouldn’t put your card details into a website that isn’t protected. If the site user can see your site has an SSL certificate, they know that their details are protected from potential hackers who could steal their personal information. 

Having an SSL certificate also tells Google that your site can be trusted: if it thinks its users are at risk of having their details stolen, it can block visitors from accessing your site. This dramatically reduces your visibility online – the longer users are prevented from accessing your ecommerce store, the longer Google stops indexing your site, pushing you further down its search engine. 

Purchasing an SSL certificate if you’re starting a website from scratch can be pricey, and most website builders will charge extra for this feature. However, Go Sitebuilder believes that it is essential for all ecommerce sites to have an SSL certificate, which is why we include it in our package. 

Is the website builder mobile-friendly?

Nowadays, people can access the internet anywhere, at any time, straight from their mobile phones. In fact, mobile shopping accounts for 50% of online transactions on ecommerce sites. Using a website builder which allows users to access your online store on any device is key: if people can only access your website on a computer, you are essentially limiting your number of potential sales, as many people will now use their phones to make a purchase. 

Not only do you need a website builder that allows users to access your site from any device; you also need to be able to update and edit your site from multiple different devices, whether it be mobile, tablet or laptop. With Go Sitebuilder this is incredibly easy, making us one of the best website builders for those who need the flexibility to access their website builder on the go. 

Special offers

One of the best ways to encourage people to return to your website is by advertising any special offers or discounts via social media. Linking your social media to your website means that people can find a way to stay connected to your website in a way that is slightly more personal than just subscribing to an email list. With sites such as Instagram, you can get creative with your offers: thinking of new ways to advertise any special deals is more likely to generate interest around your website. Find a website builder that lets you link social media to your website, so that you can stay connected to your customers. 

Although the amount of website builders out there might seem daunting, try and pick one that suits your ecommerce site needs the most. At Go Sitebuilder, we believe simplicity is key: we deliver ready to go site designs for you to customise. We’re one of the cheapest website builders for ecommerce, as we don’t charge any extra if you want to sell products online. Try our sitebuilder today – our 14-day free trial gives you all the freedom you could possibly need to create your dream website!

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What kind of photography is most in demand?

Photographer taking photographs of a model to upload to Go Sitebuilder

Being a professional freelance photographer is the dream for many people. You can turn your hobby into a profession without being tied to an office or a specific industry. If you’ve been thinking about ways to supplement your income with photography or even start up your own freelance photography business, you need to see what photography services are most in demand. 

Family and portrait photography

This could be one of the most common forms of freelance photography. Before you start, think of a niche to help you stand out from the crowd; are you a lighting whiz that specialises in more posed, professional-looking photos, or do you have the people skills to make people laugh and feel at ease for more candid images? Capitalise on your skills and you’ll find yourself getting busy very quickly!

 As this type of photography is very area-based, you will rely heavily on word of mouth to build clients, so make sure that your clients leave your photoshoot having had a positive experience. 

Event photography

You might just be thinking of wedding photography, but freelance photographers are often hired to cover a plethora of different events, including birthdays, christenings, corporate meals and charity events. 

The hardest thing with event photography is working out a price for your work; a beginner wedding photographer could charge around £1000, for example, whereas an experienced one is likely to charge a minimum of £5000. Remember events are often poorly managed, overrun and you might have to deal with the occasional stressed-out event organiser, so make sure it is worth your time. 

Headshots

Corporate headshots can be a very lucrative job once you’ve broken into the market and have a couple of high-quality examples in your portfolio. And it can be fun; many companies are moving away from the stiff, suited-up pained smile and are going for more dynamic images. You’ll need to be adaptable, easy-going and a good people person to make sure your clients feel comfortable in front of the camera. Once they’ve had one good experience with you, businesses are more likely to hire you for more gigs such as events, meetings and team photos!

Taking professional acting headshots is another niche that can make you some money; you can charge upwards of £400 for a session. This is a good option if you are skilled at lighting and like the artistic side of portraiture, but make sure you have some decent experience and are confident in this style; they’re likely to have high standards!

School photography

If you like to be busy, why not approach the schools in your area and offer to do photography for them? Most schools aim to have pictures taken not only of individual students, but also of year groups, sports teams and the whole school once a year. This could end up being thousands of images per school, and another good way of getting income from your photography. 

This will require a lot of planning, and it’s a good idea to hire an assistant if you’re going to be taking photos for a large school.

Product photography

If someone has a fantastic product, they’re going to need a beautiful photo of it to make sure it sells. Product photography is a huge part of digital marketing, and could be a great way to make money. Do you know anybody that is just starting out with a new product? Offer to take their photos for a small charge, and use their images in your portfolio; once you’ve got examples of your work, people are much more likely to hire you for their own products. 

Social media photography

Instagram is one of the most popular social media sites, and it relies almost entirely on beautiful images. Around 71% of businesses use Instagram to promote their company, which means you can capitalise on this by offering to take photos for them. You can contact local businesses and offer “social media packages” where you edit the photos and crop them to the perfect size for Instagram or Facebook. They can then use these photos for advertising on social media sites, which is an important part of any business.

Real Estate photography

If you like nosing around other people’s houses and you’ve got a wide-angle lens, then real estate photography is a great option. Try approaching your local estate agent and compare their amateur photography with some examples of your own well lit, perfectly composed interior photos. When looking for a house to buy or rent, the images are hands down the most important part for house hunters and will be the deciding factor as to whether they get in contact with the estate agent or not. 

There are many ways that you can turn your photography hobby into a profitable business, you just need to decide which route to take. Once you’ve done this, it’s time to make a website to show off your skills! Our website builder gives you beautiful ready made web designs with one-click image galleries so that you can highlight your best work at the touch of a button – read our blog on how to create the best photography website for some more ideas. Try our 14-day free trial today and see where your photography skills can get you.

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What are the most common operating expenses of an online business?

business owners expenses of an online business

Whether you’re taking your business to the next level by building a website, or making your first steps onto the e-commerce world, it’s important to get the foundations of building a website right. Considering that, by 2040, it’s been estimated that 90% of purchases will be through e-commerce, it’s key that you have a smoothly running website, with a beautiful website design. 

If there are cracks in your website – maybe it takes too long to load, or maybe the website design is slightly off – then people are less likely to stay on your website, meaning a lower number of users are going to purchase your products or services. To prevent this from happening you’ll need to make sure your e-commerce business is set up correctly – but how can you do this, and how costly is it all?

SEO strategy 

SEO – search engine optimisation – is paramount if you want your online business to be visible on the internet. The benefits of SEO are fairly simple: the higher Google ranks you on its search engine, the more likely it is that you will see a higher flow of traffic to your site. In fact, Moz has calculated that the top ranking site alone will receive 30% – 40% of traffic. 

What is slightly confusing about SEO is the strategy behind it. Some people will therefore employ SEO specialists to help boost their rankings, but this is a very expensive option. However, you don’t need to spend thousands a month to increase your SEO rating. High quality content and link building are one of the key things that Google looks for when indexing sites: by writing blogs which answer popular queries, containing keywords that are commonly searched for, you’re telling Google that your content is relevant and therefore should be listed highly on its search engine. 

SSL certificate 

An SSL certificate is a must when building an e-commerce website, as it shows the site user that your website is protected, and therefore the visitor’s personal information is safe. For e-commerce purposes, this is incredibly important: no one will want to hand over their card details if they think hackers can infiltrate the site and steal their details. 

From an SEO perspective, having an SSL certificate is also essential: Google won’t want to index a site which isn’t secure and therefore poses a risk to its users. It will sometimes even block visitors from accessing your site, meaning it is almost impossible to have a steady flow of traffic to your site. 

Although it is essential to have an SSL certificate for your online business to be visible, it can be expensive. If you’re coding your website from scratch then you will have to purchase one through a third party, and most website builders charge an extra fee for an SSL certificate, on top of site builder costs. However, at Go Sitebuilder we include this within our package completely free of charge!

Website design fees 

Of course, you will want a stunning website design to not only advertise your services or e-commerce section, but also to advertise your brand. A professional site design means site users are much more likely to view your online store as one that can be trusted. If you don’t have any knowledge of  website design, then you may consider hiring a graphic designer. 

However, this is a pricey option – the typical website design prices range from £2,000 – £6,000. Using a website builder that offers ready to go site designs can be a much more economical option: not only does it give a high-quality finish, but you can also customise your design, making your website personal to you. 

E-commerce section 

Undoubtedly, you need an e-commerce section for your online store: if you want to sell your products online, then you need a safe and secure checkout for people to easily access. The software service prices of having an e-commerce platform can vary from £20 a month to thousands of pounds. Most website builders also charge you extra on top of your standard monthly fee if you need an e-commerce platform, eating into your budget for your online store further. However, Go Sitebuilder offers this all as part of your package, meaning there are no hidden costs anywhere!

Building your website takes a lot of time and knowledge, and can be very expensive. Our website builder takes away the stress, and the potentially extortionate costs of starting a website by yourself, making us one of the best cheap website builders, without compromising on quality. Our free 14-day trial lets you test this for yourself – give it a go today!

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How can I protect my photos from being stolen by strangers?

If you have your own online business or blogging platform, photos are a great way to market your services and add some visual aesthetic into your site. It’s important to make these images individual to you: people are much more likely to remember your name or brand if they have a certain image relating to your website stuck in their mind. 

However, it is incredibly easy for strangers to steal photos that you upload. This type of thievery doesn’t involve a masked fiend with a bag ready to swipe up your images – anyone can do it from anywhere in the world, safely hidden behind a computer screen. 

Protecting your photos prevents other people from taking your photo credit: if you’ve invested time or money into the perfect image for your website, then you don’t want anyone else taking advantage of all your hard work. In the online world, individuality is key, and protecting your photos ensures your pictures remain unique to you. 

Make it difficult to steal your photos 

Unfortunately, it is incredibly easy to steal photos: Stolen image finder Copytrack has reported that over 2.5 billion online images are taken illegally every day. However, if you make life more difficult for a stranger trying to steal your photos, you could deter them and prompt them to look for another image somewhere else. 

One of the ways that you can do this is by disabling the ‘right-click’ option when building your website. Although the image can still be screenshotted, this reduces the overall resolution of the image, leaving the photo thief with a low quality photo. This means it is a lot harder for people to recycle your images for their own commercial use: no one is going to want to buy a product with a low quality image on it. 

Add a copyright notice 

Considering you legally own any image that you’ve created, it isn’t mandatory for you to give a copyright notice to protect your images. Nevertheless, posting a copyright notice might act as a deterrent, especially if the person stealing the photo doesn’t realise they are actually doing anything wrong. Reminding people that you are the owner of the image might just be the thing that prompts someone to reconsider screenshotting your image for their own use. 

Adding a copyright notice is pretty easy: WordPress have suggested posting the following into the sidebar so that it is visible at all times.

“© [Full Name] and [Blog Name], [Current Year or Year Range]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [Your Name] and [Your Blog Name] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.”

The trick is to ensure that this warning is big enough to see, but also not so in your face that it might distract visitors to your site, putting them off viewing what content you have to offer. 

Watermark your images 

Watermarking – which is where you print your details onto the image – is probably the safest bet when it comes to protecting your photos. Depending on where you position the watermark, you can keep your image protected even from crafty editors. Be aware that if you decide to insert your name in the bottom of the picture then it could be easily cropped out. 

However, if you put a semi-transparent watermark all over your image then your photo is less likely to be stolen by a stranger: even if the pic is pinched, you still receive the credit that you deserve. And, whilst it might detract from the beauty of the original image, you are giving people the information that they need to discover its original form.

If you opt to use stock images then you don’t have to worry about copyrighting your photos: these ready to go aesthetic pictures are great to use if you don’t have the time to source your own photos, but want to make your site as visually appealing as possible. As they are created by someone else who then allows third parties to use them, you aren’t the owner of the image, and therefore don’t have to worry about someone else stealing your images.

Where to upload your photos 

If you want to upload your own photos then it is important to have a smooth-running, easy to use website to post them onto. Go Sitebuilder is one of the best site builders in the UK, delivering ready to go websites at your fingertips. If you find yourself stretched for time, we offer a huge range of free stock images, allowing you to create the perfect website for you in a few clicks.

Our 14-day free trial means you can discover just how easy it is to build your dream site, completely free of charge!

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What should be considered when designing a financial website?

small business owner looking at laptop designing her of a financial website on Go Sitebuilder

A financial website may seem more challenging than websites for other, more creative industries. This is because you need to balance style with stability, and show authority in your field while still being approachable. Sound daunting? Don’t worry, we’ve put together some ideas that will help you design the best financial website for your company! 

Colour theme

A good colour theme is paramount when designing your financial website. Often, website builders will have built-in colour palettes that you can use, which makes life easier because you already know that these colours will complement each other. However, even though a pink-and-yellow colour theme might be a good idea for an events website or a clothing brand, it might not evoke the right response from your target audience.

The most common colour scheme for a financial website is blue and white. To stand out from the crowd while maintaining a refined and modern look, a monochrome colour scheme is also a good design choice, but make sure it isn’t dull by adding high quality images, or even adding a pop of colour in the navigation bar or logo. 

Blue indicates serenity and security, whereas black offers more authority and solidity. Adding a warm colour like rust or muted orange evokes the idea of home, stability and being down to earth. If your logo has a specific colour that fits into one of these themes, you can create a colour palette around it using a colour palette tool such as Coolors. When choosing a colour scheme, remember less is more; it’s best to have two complementing colours than adding four or five clashing ones, resulting in a mismatched and unprofessional-looking website.

Appeal to your target audience

Making sure your services appeal to your target audience is key to any successful financial company, and this is something you can easily show when building your website. Create an audience persona, thinking about their age, financial position and life goals and tailor your services towards them. A great way to instantly reach out to your target audience is to have an image of people that fit your buyer persona on the homepage; if people arrive on your site and immediately relate with the image, then they are more likely to explore the website further. 

If you are targeting people who have no previous experience in financial matters and may find approaching a financial company daunting, then why not present your services in the clearest way possible? Creating infographics or flow charts that visually explain what you do and how you do it will help your potential customer feel secure, as they know exactly what to expect. 

Is there a ready to go template for a financial website?

If you don’t want to get bogged down in website design, then you can find a website builder that has ready to go website design templates. This means you can just choose a template and input information about your company, letting the website builder take care of the images and the colour scheme. Go Sitebuilder has templates ready designed for a host of industries, including the financial sector, so you can have a website up and running in a few minutes. If you’re not 100% happy with the template, you can move things around, change colours and add new images until you have a website you love.

How important is website design for financial businesses?

A website isn’t just a pretty face – it’s also a supremely important online marketing tool. A good financial website design will incite your visitors to stay on your site and do more research on the services you provide, hopefully converting into paying customers. The more professional and eye-catching your website is, the more likely this is to happen. 

It is also a great way to prove to your customers that you are a leader in your field. Many financial companies have newsletters or information on general financial queries that potential customers can access for free or by signing up with their email. 

According to a survey by marketing solutions company Blue Corona, 83% of consumers said that website user experience is important when choosing a financial services company. Having your own website both makes you more visible to customers – most of whom carry out initial research online – and makes it more likely for them to stay on your site and request your services. 

If you think your financial services company could benefit from a website but you don’t have the time to curate one from scratch, then try Go Sitebuilder. Our website builder is designed to be as simple and time-efficient as possible, so you don’t have to spend hours designing before you start to see the results. Try our 14-day free trial today, and see what your financial business could look like on the web. 

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Do I need a business licence to sell online?

Website building entrepreneur

Ecommerce sales are increasing steadily, and now consist of almost half of all retail sales in the UK. Are you thinking that setting up a small online shop could be a good way to make some extra money, but not sure about whether you will need a licence to do so? We take a look at the necessary licences you’ll need for general sales, selling alcohol or restricted goods, and selling products abroad. 

If you’re new to ecommerce, you’ll need a website builder that has ecommerce capability; Go Sitebuilder is one of the few that has an online shop platform within its software, so it’s easy and simple to set up without getting bogged down in unnecessary details.

General selling online

In many cases you can trade without a business licence in the UK, but you must make sure that you are properly registered with HMRC; you can follow the steps to set up your business here. This is a compulsory step in owning a business, and should be done no more than three months after you start trading. 

For selling general goods online within the UK, then you don’t need a licence but you do need to follow a certain set of rules. These rules include listing the steps involved in placing an order and giving the total delivery cost. There are multiple rules that need to be considered though, which are available on the government’s Online and Distance Selling page.

Selling restricted goods

If you are looking to sell restricted goods such as alcohol, however, you will have to apply for and get multiple licences to do so. 

  1. Personal licence. This requires taking the BIIAB Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders from an accredited provider, and then applying for a personal licence on the government website. The award training only lasts one day and costs around £100, whereas the personal licence application can take up to three weeks and costs £37. 
  2. Premises licence. You’ll need to apply for this licence from your local authority or council. It can be fixed to any commercial property, like a warehouse or a shop floor, but it is unlikely that you will be granted a premises licence for your home, as it is a domestic dwelling. A small building on your land that is separate from your house, however, could be given a licence, but you’ll have to get planning permission that allows it to operate as a commercial premises. The cost of this licence is based on the value of your business premises, and will be charged annually.

The other thing to bear in mind is that it is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under 18. This is almost impossible to check over the internet however, but all you need to do is show that you took “all reasonable steps” to verify the person’s age. Make sure you put adequate age verification measures in place to ensure your customers are under 18.

Selling online to other countries

Opening up your online commerce website to an international audience may seem daunting. However, US customers spend £12.5 billion on UK goods and services online every year, so your small company could grow sales and revenue by exporting your products across the pond. 

There are complications to this though. Your products will require documentation and will be subject to both customs duty and sales tax when they arrive in the US. This Trade Commission Database will help you work out the duty rates you’ll need to pay, and speak to a customs agent at the place where your products will arrive for more information.

Tax is also complex in the US. There is no VAT in the US, but many states have their own sales tax that apply to out-of-state businesses. The government’s page on exporting products to the US explains what state uses which sales tax. 

If you’re exporting goods to the EU, you might need a special licence depending on what sector your product falls in. Then you need to fill in a proforma invoice, where you only need to charge VAT if you’d do the same for customers in the UK. The invoice and any other necessary paperwork must travel with the product when you send it. Don’t forget to keep copies of commercial invoices and customs paperwork! 

It may seem like there are countless hoops to jump through and licences to get if you are selling products online, but this is only really true if you are selling restricted goods or exporting your products to another country. The most important step for any small business owner is to make sure your business is correctly registered with the government so you don’t accidentally end up flouting the law!

Start selling your products online now with a new website. Go Sitebuilder has a super-simple ecommerce platform that allows you to upload, price, and publish products to sell in seconds! We have a 14-day free trial so you can see how to make a stylish and professional-looking website in moments, so try us out today!

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What features do you want in your photography website

You might think that creating an effective and unique photography website is difficult when there is so much competition. But if you find a simple website builder with ready-made professional templates, you will only need a short time to showcase your business and work in the best light. There are some key elements that you should consider including into your website to make sure it stands out, and we’ve outlined some of them here. 

Key Information

Having up-to-date information regarding your business is key in gaining new customers and expanding your business. Without core information visitors to your website will find getting to know your brand and services difficult and may decide to go elsewhere. There are a few pieces of information you should include, and when building your website, make sure that they are easy to find!

Type of Photography: visitors to your website may be looking for a specific type of photography, for example, wedding photography. By advertising what kind of photographic services you can provide potential customers can instantly see whether your business would be right for them. When providing this information ensure to include photographs of your work. If you’re not sure which is right for you, have a look at this list of professional photography genres to give you some inspiration.

About You: in a customer facing job such as photography new customers will often want to know about you and your experience in the field. This should not be a long essay about your life. Keep this section short and informative, if you are comfortable maybe add a photograph of you working. 

Contact Details: in order to turn visitors into customers having contact details is incredibly important; according to Ko Marketing, 44% of visitors will leave your site if there are no contact details. These should be displayed clearly on your website and you must ensure you check the email you provide regularly for potential clients. Generally you should include an email address, phone number and work address (if applicable). 

Range of Services: providing information on the range of services you offer allows visitors to your website to discover more about your business without having to call. This may be more applicable to photographers who offer many different kinds of photography. If this is the case arranging your website by type of photography can be effective. For example, one section on wedding photography, one on commercial, one for industrial etc. 

If you specialise in one type of photography you may have a narrower range of services. Therefore, the way you present your services will affect your business. You may choose to arrange service by time, for example a day session or half day. Alternatively, you may arrange by the number of prints ordered, for example offering a photoshoot for an hour with 30 prints included. These types of offers can help bring more customers to your business. 

A Page Showing Your Portfolio

A photography website without a gallery or portfolio will not gain any new customers. Without a portfolio visitors to your website cannot see the best aspects of your work. A portfolio page should be organised by category if your work spans multiple photographic disciplines. Images in your portfolio must be high quality and edited professionally. Consider including captions to your photographs, describing the scene or the service that links to the image. Some photography websites also watermark their photographs so that they cannot be stolen and used by other people. 

Reviews and Testimonials

Another key aspect you may consider for your photography website are reviews and testimonials. These can help legitimise your work and show visitors the standard that you are working at. Be sure to include reviews that mention a range of skills such as:

  • Your attitude on the job
  • The satisfaction of the customer 
  • Communication 
  • Quality of photographs 
  • Quality of prints/photo books you produce 

These kinds of reviews will show you in a highly positive light and allow you to showcase your skills to new visitors. Reviews and testimonials can also show the variety of events you have worked at or the different types of jobs you undertake. 

Simple Design and Layout

A major pitfall of many websites is overcomplicating the design, which leads to a messy crowded website. Good website design should be aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate. Ensure your photographs are well spaced in the website and text is clear and concise. Often a neutral colour scheme or accents of colour are the best way to create a photography website as they do not distract from the images.  

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 built-in features such as image galleries, a professional photography website is quick and easy to design. Try our 14-day free trial today.

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What are the most successful local businesses?

Couple partnership the bakehouse with how to make their e-business online successful using Go Sitebuilder

Starting a business can be a daunting prospect. But if you’re ready to take the leap, starting a local business could be a great idea, especially if you already have a good set of contacts and a good reputation – that’s the hardest part!

You might already have a useful skill that could easily transfer into a business setting, but even if you’re just looking for ideas, we’ve got you covered. We’ve compiled a list of the most successful businesses that work in a local setting – but don’t rely on word of mouth, you’ll need to find a good website builder to make the most out of each business. 

Pet grooming, boarding and walking

According to Pets Business World, the value of UK pet products and services is forecast to reach £2.1 billion by 2023, which would be a 25% increase from 2018. 

Across the country, owners are treating their pets with more care and attention, meaning they are ready to spend money on accessories as well as high quality dog food and treats – did you know that dog beer existed? By becoming a one-stop-shop for everything pet-related, you’ll stop pet owners having to drive to the speciality shop further away. 

If you have the space, having pets boarding at your home can be incredibly lucrative; many owners baulk at the idea of sending their precious pet to kennels and would rather they stayed in a comfortable domestic home. 

Another low-risk way to capitalise on this industry is to start off walking dogs. As many people work all day, they don’t have time to walk their dogs in the day, opening up a market for a dog walker. Once you’ve gained a reputation as a knowledgeable dog walker, people are more likely to trust you if you start selling other pet-related products. For all these services, convenience and distance are both factors for potential customers, making this a great idea for a local business. 

Speciality food shop

Even in mid-sized towns in the UK, speciality products can be difficult to find as smaller supermarkets only offer a limited selection. The rising demand of alternative, free-from products is on the rise; according to a survey by Compare the Market, in 2016 there were 542,000 vegans in the UK, and by 2018 this number had skyrocketed to 3.5 million. The market for organic food has been steadily rising for nearly a decade, with the UK market set to be worth £2.5 million this year. 

By opening a local business that sells allergen free, vegan friendly and organic food, you can capitalise on the change in eating habits currently sweeping the UK. The good part is that it’s not a fad, as increasing awareness of the negative environmental consequence of eating meat has seen a rise in long-term flexitarianism, where people eat a mostly plant-based diet but occasionally eat meat or fish. This means they will also be looking for vegan options for their everyday meals. 

If you live in an area where people could be daunted by the prospect of meat alternatives like tempeh and seitan, do some local marketing by making recipe cards or organising a small cooking class to show them how to cook with it.

Coffee shop 

Every area needs a local coffee shop! If you don’t want to commit to a full shop straight away, start with a small coffee van and set it up in an area with a lot of foot traffic. This is the best way to do some local marketing; you can grow your reputation and gauge the demand in your area. 

Once you do start having your own space, it’s a good idea to get an alcohol licence. There’s no need to invest in beer taps, but as coffee consumption begins to tail off in the afternoon, offering an alternative like wine or craft beers could keep people in your cafe until the sun goes down. 

The most important part of creating a coffee shop is to find a gap in the market. Does your area need a cafe that is comfortable for people to work and study with their laptop? Or are people prepared to spend a little extra for speciality coffee and home-baked treats? Do some market research to find out. 

Capitalise on your skills and tools

If you’ve got skills and tools then use them! If you’re great at DIY, have no problem fixing some broken pipes and can help fix a door hanging morosely off its hinges, then you’ve got a skill that many others don’t. And, if you also have the tools – or you’re ready to make a small investment to get them – you just need to market your services to make sure people know where to find you. 

The same goes for sewing and alteration services. If you’re a dab hand with a sewing machine and can hem a pair of trousers with your eyes shut, this is a great avenue to go down. The rise of slow fashion and second-hand clothing means that there is a growing demand for clothes alterations, but many people lack the skills to do it and the resources to buy a sewing machine. 

There are many other good local business ideas that might require a qualification, like becoming a personal trainer or a massage therapist, but the most important part is making sure that there is demand for the services you want to sell. Once you’ve decided on your niche, then you’ll need to create a website to market your skills!

Although local businesses can use word-of-mouth to gain traction, those new to the area or those in a different social group are likely to search for services on the internet as their first port of call. Try a website builder like Go Sitebuilder to make your first website – it’s easy, fast, and with our ready-made templates, you can have a professional-looking website up in no time! Try out our 14-day free trial today.

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What Are the Best Ways to Promote a New Law Firm Online

Young lawyer woman showing information on laptop to businessman. Lawyer explaining Best Ways to Promote a New Law Firm Online together in modern office.

The internet is an invaluable tool when it comes to promoting your services. However, it is important to know exactly how to utilise what the online world offers to ensure you don’t sink under numerous other websites. Promoting your law firm online is a fantastic way to increase visibility for your business: considering that word of mouth isn’t so reliable nowadays, having a strong website which entices potential clients can be key to your success. 

Appealing web design 

Whilst image isn’t everything, it certainly makes an impression on whoever visits your site. Even if you have the most knowledge in the field, or have an impressive list of past achievements, most people are likely to disregard any information and click off the site if it is cluttered and unclear. An aesthetic web design is key in making site visitors want to stay on, enabling them to read more into what your law firm offers. GoodFirms’ research revealed that the biggest mistake most make when designing a website is to overcrowd it, so keep your design fairly minimal, but in a way which is sleek and attractive. 

Having a visually appealing web design also tells the site user that you’re a professional. As your design should emulate what kind of service you’re providing, having a sophisticated website means the site user can see that you’re serious about providing quality results. If your design is all over the place with font sizes, colours and images then a site user is much more likely going to be put off, as they may think your business is a bit amateur. 

Accessibility 

You want people to be able to access your site without any hassle. Considering most people have a very low threshold when it comes to being patient on the internet (47% expect a website to load in under 3 seconds), it is key that you make the experience on your site as smooth as possible. A slow website isn’t appealing to anyone: if your site takes too long to load then traffic could simply click off before they’ve even seen what you have to offer. 

Having a website which people can access on any device is also paramount. Considering that 57% of site traffic is from a mobile, it is highly likely that people will be viewing your website from on a handheld device. If your website is difficult to navigate on certain devices then you won’t be able to effectively promote your law firm online. As many will be searching for information about your firm whilst they’re on the go, having a site that can be accessed anywhere is extremely beneficial. Go Sitebuilder has made sure compatibility is a key component of our website builder, and you can see what the website will look like on mobile and tablet just with the click of a button.

Set aside time for blogging

Blogging isn’t that hobby that only 14 year old wanna-be influencers do; it can actually be a valuable addition to your website. Blogging improves SEO – search engine optimisation – results: by including commonly googled keywords within your blogs, Google is much more likely to find that your content is of value. It then ranks you higher on search engine results, meaning that people are more likely to click onto your blog, and then explore what else you have to offer. 

You can also include internal links within your blogs, either to other relevant pages of your website, or another blogpost which provides even more information with regards to the topic in discussion. Internal links are important for SEO as it spreadings ranking power throughout your site, meaning that other parts of your website can also gain a better ranking on search engine results. 

Although it might push you outside your comfort zone slightly, blogging is a fantastic way to promote your services, completely free of charge. If you manage to keep up with writing posts, then every time you publish a blog Google will reindex your page – in other words, every blog post written prompts Google to look back over your content and, as long as your content is useful, it will rank you higher on its search engine.

Don’t ignore social media 

As probably one of the best ways to promote your new law firm, social media lets you advertise your services for free. Linking your social media to your website leads site users to a more personal aspect of your business. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: all are great ways to connect with your customers. It can also be an easier way for potential clients to approach you, should they have any questions that they want a swift answer to. 

By utilising your social media accounts effectively, you can visually market yourself and your services to others. For example, say you want to post a video explaining what you have to offer, then Instagram is a great platform to use to reach out to others. Or, if you want to generate some conversation, sharing one of your blogs to your Facebook page is an easy way to spark interest amongst others. 

Although building a website might seem like a daunting prospect, Go Sitebuilder is one of the best site builders in the UK for those who don’t have hours to spare on coding a new website from scratch. It is incredibly easy to use, compatible with mobiles and and tables, and has ready to go tools available so that you can have a fully optimised website available in hours. Their 14-day free trial gives you all the flexibility you need to promote your new law firm online.

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What are 10 things I should know before I open an online store

Happy woman doing online shopping at home using an online shop

Your fingers hover above your mouse, ready to make that final click so that you can start your online business. However, before you rush to start up your online store, there are a few things that need to be considered first. Just like everything, having some form of plan or method behind your website building can make the process a lot smoother and easy to manage. Luckily, the level of planning you need to do isn’t rocket science: we’ve put together 10 things that you should know before you start up your online store.   

Blog, blog, and blog some more

Blogging is an incredibly useful way for you to become visible on the internet: if done correctly, it can increase your Google rankings by 434%! By using keywords in your blog, Google’s algorithms can index your site highly on its search engines, as it can see that your content is useful. 

By writing new blogs each week, Google repeatedly reindexes your site: it’s a bit like always reminding Google that your content is of high value, and that it should be ranked highly on its search engines. 

Focus on the customer 

Really consider what your audience wants. Of course, you will have built your business with a service in mind, but really think about who you want to target. For example, if you’re setting up a website for your yoga classes consider ways to appeal to your target audience. Is there an age range which is more likely to attend your classes? Is there a certain niche that your online business can fall into? Considering these factors will help you tailor both your website design and the services you offer, so that you can reach out to your target audience online. 

Less is more 

You don’t need to be a professional website designer to build your own site with a visually appealing look – keeping the simple mantra of ‘less is more’ in mind can ensure you end up with an aesthetic site which anyone would want to stay on. Considering that 38% of people will be put off your website if it is unattractive, focusing on your website design is incredibly important. 

However, this doesn’t mean you should cram your site with countless different fonts or images: having a simple, sleek design is the best way for you to appear professional, and attract the user to your online store. Luckily. Go Sitebuilder makes the design process extremely easy: our ready to go website designs allow you to create your dream website within a few clicks. 

Navigation is key

Once a user clicks on your website, they want to be able to find all the necessary information within a few minutes. By making your headers easy to read, and increasing the font size of the key bits of information, the user can navigate themselves easily around the website. When building your website, try to include an FAQ section – this provides quick answers to common questions, and stops your inbox from being inundated with unnecessary questions.

Choose your domain name wisely

Having a unique domain name is the only way that people can find you. It’s important to get creative here – using a domain name that’s individual to you means that people are much more likely to identify with your brand and your website. Our website builder makes creating a domain name incredibly simple or, if you already have an existing domain name, you can easily transfer this over to our site builder. 

Don’t ignore social media

Considering that 90% of Instagram users follow a business, not utilising social media could be damaging to your company. Linking your social media platforms to your website means that you can create a personal, direct way to reach out to your current customers, as frequent posting of deals or latest updates constantly refreshes your image within their minds. 

Sort an email list

Being able to put together an email list is another personal way to reach out to your customers. You can encourage them to sign up to your email list by offering them high value content in return, such as first updates on special deals, or a free ebook. By emailing your customers each week, you keep them conscious of your website, and capture their interest, making them more likely to return to your site. 

Be active

Constantly updating your site so that it fits in with the latest trends, or has the most recent information is key, as it tells Google that your content is still relevant, meaning it is important for SEO (search engine optimisation) purposes. 

Actively working to fix any bugs or issues within your site is also key: if your site takes too long to load, then people are more likely to click off. This can be damaging for your online store: considering that 40% of people abandon a website entirely if it takes longer than three seconds to load, you want to stay active on your website to ensure any problems are ironed out straight away.

Product descriptions are important

Just like blogs, product descriptions are another way to include keywords within your site, which is great for SEO purposes. By including the keywords within product description, your product is more likely to be highly indexed by Google, as you’re essentially telling Google that your product is relevant to whatever is being searched.

Prioritise your landing page 

Your landing page is the first page that everyone sees, which is why it must be strong. Not only does it need a striking website design, but it also needs to include most of the keywords that your business can rank on. This ensures your homepage is more likely to come up in Google’s search engine when someone searches the type of service you provide.

Although it is key that you consider these steps, you don’t have to start from complete scratch if you want to build your own website: our website builder has everything you need, and more, to create an online store perfect for you. And, with our free 14-day trial, you have all the freedom you could need to start designing your own site today!