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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!

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What makes a website user friendly?

Business woman using laptop in office viewing a friendly Go Sitebuilder website

When was the last time you visited a website and had no idea what the company was offering? Maybe you clicked around to find some more information, but, failing to do so, clicked away in exasperation. This is exactly what you don’t want to happen with your website. Let’s look at how you can apply our website design tips to ensure your visitors have the best possible user experience when they visit your site. 

What is UX design?

UX design, or user experience design, is a type of website design that contemplates how a user feels when they visit a website for the first time. This can include ease of use, efficiency in performing tasks, and how useful the site is for them. When building your website with UX design in mind, you need to make sure your website answer three key questions, the why, the what and the how of your product:

Why should your customers want to use your product?

What can customers do with your product and what is its functionality and features?

How can they buy or access the product?

If your website can answer these questions quickly and efficiently, then your user will enjoy the experience they have on your site. This makes it more likely for them to convert into a customer, recommend your site to others and have a positive first impression of your company. 

Why is UX design important?

If you have good UX design, then your users are more likely to have a positive experience with your company and therefore your product. In fact, according to HubSpot research, 75% of respondents stated that they thought ease of finding information is the most important element of a website. So, when you’re using your website builder and trying to work out a good website design, you need to put functionality and ease of use at the top. 

But how are you supposed to know what your users want in your website? Sports network ESPN decided to find out by asking their users what features and functionality they wanted on the site to improve the UX. By taking the suggestions on board and altering their website accordingly, they managed to increase their revenue by a staggering 35%.

It’s clear that a good UX design can have a huge effect on how your visitors view your site and how likely they are to convert into customers. 

How can you improve your UX?

The first step in making sure that your website design is optimised for good UX is to always have your audience in mind. Remember they’re not necessarily interested in the product you sell, but rather the problem your product will solve for them and the benefits this will have in their day-to-day lives. Make this clear, but don’t over explain.

Simplicity

Simplicity is key. We know it’s easy to think that the more bells and whistles you put on your website, the better it will be, but actually it just makes it more complicated for the user. Here at Go Sitebuilder we know this; that’s why our website builder has just the right amount of tools for you to create a professional-looking website with good user experience. No more, no less. When you think of adding another feature to your website, stop and think about what it will actually provide for your user. 

If you sell complex products, or a variety of different services and you’re struggling to keep the website simple, think about creating an interactive guide, or a helpful infographic that will help them decide quickly and easily what they need. Canva and Venngage are both free-to-use online infographic makers with ready-made templates so you can easily input your company’s information. 

Compatibility

Especially now, compatibility with a variety of browsers and devices is crucial to avoid putting people off. Recent research from Visual.ly shows that 85% of adults think that a mobile website should be as good or better than their desktop website, showing how much people value looking for information on the go. 

You can check what your site looks like on mobiles with Google mobile site tester, but it’s not that fast. If you choose Go Sitebuilder as your website builder, you can instantly see what your site looks like on mobile or tablet at the click of a button – all our website templates are compatible with all devices. 

Call to Action

Did you know that 70% of small businesses don’t have a Call to Action (CTA) on their homepage? This is the section that tells the user what to do, either to buy your product, to register for a free trial, or to contact you for more information. Without this, a visitor can feel directionless when they arrive at your site – you’re not answering the why, what or how questions they have. A CTA is easy to add; just make it short and snappy and put it on your homepage – make sure it stands out!

If you’re tempted to design your own website now but are still daunted by the prospect, then try Go Sitebuilder! We make your life easy by giving you ready to go templates, colour schemes, and font choices, and with our fully mobile-compatible website builder, you can design your website on the go! Try our free 14-day trial today to see what we have to offer.

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How Can I Promote My Graphic Design Business?

Young people work in modern office discussing how to promote their graphic design business

There are many ways to promote your graphic design business to get the highest number of new customers. From social media to blog collaboration there are multiple options you can consider to increase the number of people who are aware of your business. Some of these options are more time consuming, whereas others are simple and efficient ways to increase your number of clients. Keep reading to find out more!

Social Media 

Social media can be one of the most effective ways to market your business. The volume of people you can reach easily through social media makes it one of the simplest marketing strategies for your business. However, you will not be the only graphic design firm to have an Instagram account. This means that you need to ensure that your posts are original and highly engaging. Some key aspects to think through when making social media content are: 

High Quality Images: You may want to showcase your work on social media with a post containing some of your graphic design content. This is very effective at showing the quality of your work, but you must ensure the images you post are high quality. 

The concentration of accounts on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook means that to compete you must post unique, interesting images to entice people to click on your profile and find out more. If you are new to social media check out this blog for tips for graphic designers. 

Up to Date Information: With any business having current information available is incredibly important. This should include information such as:

  • A short description of your business
  • Website link
  • Contact information
  • Address/location (if applicable)

Presence Across Platforms: A successful business will have a presence across many social media platforms. This increases the chance of more people finding your profile and therefore increases the chance of new customers. Platforms you should consider are: 

  • Instagram: a great platform for visually showing your work. Ensure to update regularly in order to get the most exposure across the site. 
  • Facebook: the most important aspect of your Facebook page should be to have up to date information and post regularly about your business.
  • Twitter: good for sharing news and photographs. Also useful for linking with other businesses and new clients. 
  • Linkedin: great for networking with new clients and other businesses.

The most important aspect across all these platforms is to have up to date information and make sure that they link back to your website.

Graphic Design Blog

A graphic design blog can allow you to showcase your best work and keep clients updated about changes or news in your business. Writing a blog can build a community around your business and allow more informal engagement with visitors to your website. Some aspects to consider are: 

  • The right website builder: one of the most important aspects in building a blog is finding the right website builder for you which allows you to create a professional blog without high costs. 
  • Creating regular content: ensure that you create content regularly so that your blog does not become detached from your business.
  • Making related content: the blogs you produce should be related to your business and have links to other sections of your website to encourage visitors to stay on your website. 

If you need more inspiration check out the best graphic design blogs for 2020.

Show Your Credentials 

A common mistake with many businesses is not showing off their achievements clearly on their website. By not clearly presenting your assets (such as awards or notable clients) you are not allowing clients to see you in the best light possible. Ensure to show these on the homepage of your website so that visitors can see them as soon as they enter your website. 

Collaborate with Others

By collaborating with others in the field you may gain more exposure through their website or social media channels. Find blogs that showcase graphic designers and contact them for interviews or guest articles – if you mention them in your work they are likely to share your content. Through collaboration with your peers and role models, your work can reach a larger audience and help spread awareness of your business and graphic design style. 

Strong Brand Image

An important aspect of any business is to have a strong brand image. In terms of promotion this relates to aspects such as a logo, colour scheme and brand ethos. These are all aspects of your business you should be absolutely certain of before trying to promote it. Once you have a strong brand image you can start to create business cards and email signatures, which can further promote your business.

Ready to promote your graphic design business? 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. Try our 14-day free trial today.

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How can I get my business on Google?

A woman's hand is touching screen on tablet computer iPad Pro at night for searching on Google search engine. Google is the most popular Internet search engine in the world to rank business higher.

To get your business on Google might seem like a struggle. However, there are ways to get around this difficulty: optimising your website is the best way for Google to get your online business to rank highly on its search engine results. And, the better you optimise your website, the more likely it is that your business will rank highly on Google’s search engine. 

Moz’s guide to search engine optimisation (SEO) has highlighted the importance of ranking highly on a search engine results page: page one of the results page receives 89.71% of click-through traffic, whereas the second page receives a click-through rate of only 4.37%. By making your online business visible on Google, you are much more likely to see a high traffic flow to your website, which emphasises the importance of having a strong SEO-focused strategy for your website. 

Optimise Google’s My Business option 

If you don’t know where to start with your marketing strategy, signing up to the Google My Business listing is a great way to ensure that you are visible on Google’s search engine results.  For those who are uncertain as to what Google My Business is, it is essentially a way for Google to list your business on its search engine in a concise way, including your contact details, opening hours, and Google reviews. Signing up is also pretty easy;

  • Create your account
  • Selected ‘start now’ in the top right-hand corner 
  • Enter your business name
  • Enter your business address
  • Select your business category, making it as accurate as possible
  • Add your business phone number and website

If you want more information as to how to navigate yourself around Google My Business then click here. 

By signing up to Google My Business, you are more likely to be visible on Google’s search engine results page: if, for example, a user has googled ‘restaurants near me’, Google’s site crawlers can pick up that your location is near to the user, and that you have good reviews, meaning you are more likely to rank highly as your details are a good match. 

You can also customise your Google My Business to make your online business seem more appealing, meaning that more people are likely to directly contact you from the results you have given, or click through to your website to see what else you have to offer. 

One way you can get creative is by adding emojis to the post section of your Google My Business. Although this might seem a bit unusual, Google is now starting to index (pick up on) emojis on its search engine results! If someone googles an emoji – such as a shoe – and writes ‘near me’, google can actually pick up on your website if you’re a shoe shop and include these emojis within your post. 

Use images as a tool

How do you feel when a Google business listing comes up that doesn’t have any images? It’s definitely not going to incite trust and might even put you off using that business altogether. According to Google research, businesses that do have photos get 35% more clicks, showing how important it is to include relevant, high quality images to your Google business listing. 

At the least, you should upload a cover photo, which shows up as the main image on the Google business listing, and a profile photo, which is what appears when you upload new information to your listing. Use images that show what your business looks like and accurately reflects the personality of your company. In fact, Google support has recommendations on which are the best business-specific photos to add to give you inspiration. 

Images are a useful tool on your website as well, as long as they are properly optimised. When you add a new image to your website, make sure you have a relevant file name and the alt tag (that should appear when you edit the image within your website builder). Alt tags should describe the image in less than 125 characters as if you were describing it to someone with a blindfold on. This means Google can “see” your image and check that it is relevant to your website; if it is, it will rank your site higher up in its search results. 

Upload blog posts 

Blogging is a fantastic way to rank highly on the search engine results page. Including keywords within a blog post tells Google’s site crawlers that your website is offering relevant and useful content which matches whatever has been typed into Google’s search engine. This means Google is more likely to index your site, ensuring that your business is visible.

On a more personal level, blog posts can really help you build a relationship between those who visit your site. By offering up free advice, or writing opinion pieces around an area relevant to your business, you are creating a platform of knowledge, telling visitors that you know your stuff and can therefore be trusted. This is also beneficial for SEO: once you’ve succeeded in drawing people to your site, keeping them on your online business for a longer amount of time tells Google that your content is relevant and should thus rank highly. 

Before you start all of this, it is paramount to have an attractive, easy to use website. Whilst building a website from scratch might be daunting, Go Sitebuilder is a fantastic website builder to use, as it doesn’t overcomplicate its services, making building a professional website a hassle-free process. Our 14-day free trial means you can access our website building services free of charge, giving you all the creative scope you need. 

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Why you should have a sports fan site

Homepage of Bayern Munich, the largest soccer club in Germany using Go Sitebuilder for sport fans.

If you are a serious sports fanatic then you might find it slightly frustrating trying to tell friends and family about the latest sporting updates. The more excited and in-depth of an explanation you go into, the more their eyes glaze over and the more disinterested they seem.

That’s why being a part of a sports fan website can be a great thing for a sport-lover: you are able to share your interests with countless numbers of like-minded people, safe in the knowledge that they will listen to your every word. Having a sports fan site creates a real sense of community within your sports area of choice, and it allows you to engage with your hobby as much or as little as you desire. In order to grow this sense of community, it is important that you include a few important functions within your site so that it can prosper. 

Social media 

If you use social media regularly then you will understand the importance of its use in the sporting world. By being able to link your social media to your sports fan website, other users will be able to see what kind of sport-related information that you’re posting. This doesn’t need to be a time-consuming essay: Twitter only lets you write 280 characters at a time, meaning all sport updates have to be kept short and sweet. 

Linking your social media to your website also shows other fans that you know what you’re talking about. For example, if you’re posting live updates of results and commentary on the latest footie game then it’s clear you’re a true fan, and are committed to ensuring that your website is useful for other sports fans.

Having live updates which are shared both on your website and your social media is also a great way to reach out to professionals on the go who might not have the time to always keep up to date with their favourite game. By keeping them in the loop, you’re more likely to build a strong sports community that includes everyone.

If you want a live chat room then linking your Facebook messenger is a great way to keep everyone connected so that you can share your love for sport with others at any time of day.

Blogs 

If you want to commit a bit more time to your fan site, then blogs are a great way to draw others to your website. By writing opinion pieces about certain matches, providing history on a certain popular player, or even offering information pieces about the importance of your sport of choice, you are bound to get more people interested in your content, thus inspiring them to become a member of your fan site. 

Writing blogs can also increase the visibility of your fan site. If people are googling questions online, and Google’s search engine picks up on the key terms from the question within your website, it is more likely to boost your website further up the search index. This is something called SEO – search engine optimisation. This is important if you want to increase your membership number: the more people who find your fan site, the more likely it is that you will generate larger numbers of interest. 

Upload photos 

Uploading photos is a great way to add some visuals to your website: whether you’re posting pictures to show support for your favourite player or want to post your own snaps from a live game, it’s a good idea to have a photo gallery to display all of this. It adds a personal touch, and allows you to share your opinions about a game/players in an authentic way.

If you want to get other site users involved then you could encourage them to send you photos of their own about the chosen sport – why not encourage them to send you their pictures through social media, and then you can upload them onto your fan site? This would encourage others to become actively involved with your fan site, ensuring that you have a steady stream of people who want to become a part of your community. 

How to set up a fan site 

Whilst setting up a website might be daunting, don’t let this stop you from building a thriving online sports community. Go Sitebuilder does all the hard stuff for you, meaning that you can start your fan site free from any hassle. Not sure if you’re ready to commit yet? Their 14-day free trial gives you all the time you need to decide whether or not you want to start your sports fan site today!

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Why I should build a website for my accounting firm

Happy African American financial advisor accountant at a meeting with a client couple

Building a website for your accounting firm can be the most effective way to showcase your services to potential clients. An accounting firm may not be the first business that comes to mind when thinking of creating an online presence. However, by setting up a website, customer numbers can increase and it is easier to show your services without setting up lengthy meetings or phone calls. In fact, 85% of people do online research before paying for services, and if your firm isn’t online, then people simply won’t find you!

There are a variety of reasons an accounting firm may want to set up a website, below are the key reasons you should consider a website for your business. 

To Show your Brand Image and Ethos

In order to attract a large customer base, you must create a website that represents your brand image and ethos. As soon as a customer visits your website they should be able to gauge the type of accounting firm you are. The client’s opinion of your business comes from a variety of elements, from the colour scheme to font they all impact how a client views your company.

Whilst it may be tempting to include every element in the website design repertoire, keeping your website professional is the most important factor. Use a website builder to create a simple, polished website that implies professional service and will help persuade customers to look further into your services. 

Increasing your Client Base 

If your accounting firm does not have a website in this increasingly online world, there is a significant client base that you are not reaching. As clients search online for accounting firms, and with many firms having established websites, the need for an online presence has never been greater. 

By creating a website, your company has a higher chance of reaching customers both at home and worldwide. A website is a gateway to allow customers who may not be able to visit your offices in person to see the services you offer. Don’t forget to make it easy to find your contact information, as then they can get in touch directly if they are interested. 

Showcasing your Services

A professional website will present your services in an accessible engaging format. By creating simple, comprehensive descriptions of what you can offer clients, there is a higher chance that they will contact you for more information on your services. 

High-quality content such as blogs, videos and case studies can also significantly increase the client’s engagement with your business. This content should be of a high standard and be related to the key values of your company. Key points to consider when creating new posts are:

  • Keep your content short and informative. By creating concise content you are more likely to engage visitors to your website and encourage them to read the whole blog and not skip ahead.
  • Include links to more information, whether this is a link in a blog to a case study or a contact link to a specialist in your team. Links motivate visitors to look further into your website, thus increasing their knowledge of your business.
  • Use visual elements such as graphs and infographics to showcase positive aspects of your accounting firm. Infographics drive engagement and are easily shareable, helping you increase your reach.

To Show your Credentials 

Potential clients visiting your website will be looking for something that shows them you are trustworthy and successful in your sector. Therefore, including any credentials you have is very important. The difference between including credentials and not can be the difference between a client choosing your company over another. 

Some credentials to include are as follows.

  • Honours or awards given to the company or personnel
  • Any mentions of the firm or members of the company in the press 
  • Links to articles written by members of the company in major publications 
  • Details of accomplishments or education of personnel
  • Information about your firm’s growth over the years 

By showing these credentials clients can connect to the people in your business and gain a level of trust with the business. 

Getting Ahead of the Competition

A successful accounting website will stand out from others in the market. Through use of effective website design and informative content, your business can get ahead of the competition. With such a crowded market ensuring that your website stands out and promotes your values is crucial. An ineffective website – or no website at all – can allow competitors to gain traction with clients that you were hoping to attract to your company.

Accounting firms need effective websites in order to increase their client base and stay relevant in this ever-changing business landscape. Websites can improve awareness of your company and bring in customers you may not have had contact with had it not been for the website. 

If you are looking to build a website 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. Try our 14-day free trial today.