Originally written by Marion Kennedy on Small Business
Many small businesses are pivoting to an online business to stay relevant and retain customers during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Having a strong presence online will of course continue to be useful after the lockdown restrictions are lifted, as it builds brand awareness and improves accessibility for customers.
However, when pivoting to an online business, there are a number of legal mistakes to avoid.
>See also: What’s the best website builder for my small business?
In a recent news story, Joe Wicks, aka The Body Coach, had trouble trying to use copyrighted music for his online fitness classes. Like Joe, if you are setting up online you will need to take care not to use copyrighted material online like music, pictures or writing, without permission. This is just one example of a legal issue that might arise when you are pivoting to an online business – read on to avoid eight common legal mistakes.
#1 – Not making the most of your website build
Various online website builders are available that let you create and run your website yourself. Alternatively, you could commission a bespoke website from a website designer, if your budget allows. To help ensure your website is
Tag Archive for setting up a website
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How to get your small business online within an hour
by Anna Jordan • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
There’s no doubt that coronavirus is causing problems for small businesses, especially those who are based in a physical shop with no website.
Fortunately, creating a website from nothing is easier than ever.
Speed is key in the current climate. Start with a skeleton website so that it can get established and begin gaining traffic, then you can build on it once you have more time.
The most compelling reason to be online right now is to reach your customers, most of whom will be at home. Plus, you can take orders around the clock rather than being limited to opening hours.
We’ll show you how to put together your business website – fast.
Register your small business website’s domain name
The first step is to pin down your domain name.
How do I choose a domain name?
The name should be a true representation of yourself and your business. Web domain registration services tend to have domain name checkers – like this one – that let you see whether a domain name is already in use.
The price you pay is dependent on the provider you go with and which domain name extension (.uk, .co.uk, .me) you choose. Websites ending with .co.uk are
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GoDaddy offers free websites to start-ups that complete 12-day challenge
by Partner Content • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Partner Content on Small Business
GoDaddy will offer new entrepreneurs a free website for one year for those taking part in its 12-day challenge.
Website builder GoDaddy will reward each new business owner that accepts its challenge, completing a daily step-by-step guide to setting up their own business with a custom website.
Its new online tool will help guide aspiring entrepreneurs through the process of turning their business ideas into reality in just 12 steps.
Irana Wasti, GoDaddy regional president for EMEA said: “People across the UK have amazing business ideas, yet many are often deterred from making their ideas a reality because they don’t know where to start. The scale of the task can appear too daunting and time-consuming.”
>See also: Registering a company name – a Small Business guide
Each day a new simple task with guidance will be revealed, empowering would-be entrepreneurs by guiding them through the process one step at a time, helping to bring their idea online.
Steps include naming your business, writing a business plan and setting up an online payments .
If they complete the process of all 12 steps, aspiring founders will have a registered business with a functioning GoDaddy website.
Wasti said: “That’s why we are challenging
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HTTPS: why your small business website needs to be HTTPS ASAP
by Partner Content • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Partner Content on Small Business
The ultimate aim for any business website is to attract new customers or clients. So imagine if your website actually turned them away… This could happen if your website does not have HTTPS enabled, as it’s essential for every business website to have this. If not, all the time, effort and money you’ve invested on your website may be wasted. And that risk greatly increased from July 2018 due to some major changes that Google brought into force.
The current key benefits to switching your website to the secure HTTPS standard already include:
1. Better security
2. Greater customer trust and sales
3. More accurate Google Analytics data
4. A boost to your search engine visibility
You can read more about these in detail here: Should you switch to an HTTPS website?.
But the bottom line is that the negative impact for not making this reasonably simple security improvement will only get bigger. Here’s why…
Why non-HTTPS website will struggle
When you visit a website which has a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) Certificate installed, you’ll see a padlock icon in the address bar at the top, and the web address will begin with https rather than http. This
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How to establish an online presence for new businesses
by Partner Content • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Partner Content on Small Business
So you’re starting a brand new business – congratulations! Embarking on a new business venture is always an exciting time.
Even if you’re not a particularly online business, it’s imperative that your company establishes a strong web presence.
However almost two million UK small businesses don’t have a website according to Approved Index, potentially costing them over £343bn each year. Thankfully that’s in total – not each.
So without further ado, let’s get your brand new biz found online…
1. Have a website
Many small business owners make the mistake of thinking “why go to the trouble and cost of creating a website when social media presence is free?” Though it’s important to put effort into your social visibility, a website gives you an online base of operations – a shopfront that’s uniquely your own.
Through distinct copy, design, and branding you can paint an individual picture of your business that sets you apart from your competition. Having your own website gives you control over what prospects see about you and how they get in touch with you. It also makes you seem more established, and therefore reliable.
Using social media may be free, but if the companies behind Facebook
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A guide to planning content for your new website or blog
by Partner Content • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Partner Content on Small Business
An important part of setting up a website for your new business, alongside the SEO, domain name and design, is ensuring you have a content marketing strategy and plan.
You’ve probably heard the popular phrase ‘content is king’, and it certainly holds as much relevancy now as it did nearly two decades ago when Bill Gates first declared it.
For this article, we’re going to focus on sharing some top tips on how you can create a scheduled plan for your content. You can find out more about content marketing strategy in this online guide.
Why does my new website or blog even need content?
If you’ve just started a new business and have launched a new website, it’s time to start planning your content marketing. Content marketing could be anything from a blog post to a video series and everything in-between including whitepapers, email marketing and more.
It may sound like a lot of additional hard work, especially if you’ve just finished building a website, but producing content is a big part of getting online. Publishing and sharing content will help you reach and engage with potential customers, build your reputation and increase sales, not to mention help
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What’s the best website builder for my small business?
by Timothy Adler • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
Nearly two million small and medium-sized businesses do not even have a website. Yet it has been estimated that the cost to any business that doesn’t have a website averages at £173,769 per year in lost revenue, despite the average monthly running cost of a website being less than £18.
If creating a website for your business can boost your profits by nearly £200,000 a year, the only question left to ask is…
What’s the best website builder for my small business?
Site 123Wix Business UnlimitedWeebly*GoDaddy online storeSquareSpace online store basic*Basic Shopify
Accept online payments☑☑☑☑☑☑
No transaction fee☑☑☑2.2% + 20p online credit card / 1.7% in person
Unlimited bandwidth5GB☑☑☑
Storage10GB35GBUnlimitedUnlimited
Connect your domain☑☑☑☑☑
Ad free☑☑☑☑
10 video hours☑
Analytics☑☑☑☑☑
Free domain for one year☑☑☑
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Site searchProduct onlyProduct only
Product badges☑☑
Inventory management☑☑☑
Shipping calculator☑☑
Integrated shipping labels☑☑☑
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SEO☑☑☑☑☑☑
Lead capture and contact forms☑☑☑
Support☑☑☑☑
Mobile optimized websites☑☑☑☑
Products on Instagram☑☑☑
Integrated accounting with digital accounting☑☑
Staff accounts2☑☑
Sales channels☑☑☑
Discount codes☑☑☑
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PayPal button☑☑☑☑
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Pricing plan pm£10£16£18£19.99£20£23
Source: company websites
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Below are capsule reviews of six of the most popular off-the-shelf e-commerce platforms in Britain to help you choose the best website builder.
Until a few years ago, you had to hire a website designer if you wanted to sell off the internet.
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Building and designing your perfect website
by Partner Content • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Partner Content on Small Business
With so many templates, themes and options out there when it comes to building and designing a website, it can be overwhelming to know where to start and what exactly your new business website needs to do.
Similarly, it can be easy to get carried away and add all sorts of funky features that could potentially impact your website speed and confuse your customers.
Here are some of the main points to consider when you begin thinking about designing your website, with links to handy articles and guides.
Who will design and build your website?
There are a couple of options for you to consider when it comes to the actual building and designing of your new website.
Many online web builders allow you to create your own website using simple drag-and-drop functions and themes. You can investigate some of the top options to use here. When you buy a domain name from a registrar, occasionally they will offer web builders as part of a package, so keep an eye out to explore that option too. These options allow you to have more control over how your website looks and functions, as well as being the more cost-effective
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Building a business website: what key steps are involved?
by Anna Jordan • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
Some entrepreneurs feel excited about launching their business website while others dread it.
This guide answers the top questions you may be asking when it comes to building a website for your business and some things that you might not have even considered yet.
1. Do I need to hire a website designer, or can I use a website building package?
There is value in hiring a skilled designer as they can save you a lot of time – vital when you’re busy running a business and are keen to launch your website.
Be aware that building your site can be broken down into two parts: designing and developing. Graphic designers create images for websites, ads, icons, logos and prints. Some only create graphics but others can design websites too.
Make sure you check this when you contact them.
With the all-rounders, try and get a sense of where their weaknesses are and whether that clashes with something important on your site.
Next, you’ll need a developer to make the website function by coding the designs.
Whoever you’re hiring for your design and development needs, it helps to know exactly what you want from your website before you choose anyone. It’ll
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Your first website – a 6-step guide
by Partner Content • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Partner Content on Small Business
You know you need to be online, but it’s more complicated than it sounds. This six-step guide will walk you through all the decisions so you will have a functioning and attractive website next week.
1. Domain name
Your home on the Internet needs an address. This is called your domain name or URL (uniform resource locator). You can get a free web address as an add-on to another domain name, but it looks amateurish. You will need to pay for your own .com web address, and the payment is an annual one. Special offers abound, from free for the first year to a full price of around £14 a year.
Buy from a UK domain reselling company to avoid the hassle of currency fluctuations and managing foreign currency in your accounts.
Your domain should be short, memorable and easy to pronounce. Ideally, it should not be in a dictionary, making it brandable. You may not be able to buy the domain name that exactly matches your existing business name, so be flexible.
If you run a high street hardware shop called Green’s in Croydon, then look at greenshardware.com, greensofcroyden.com, and greenshardwarecroyden.com.
2. Design
If you are in a hurry,