Help and suggestions for running an online business including websites, marketing and advertising.
The digital age has changed a lot of things in our lives – and the way we shop is one of them. Technology has made it easier than ever for people to shop and buy with brands from all over the world, making competition tough. There’s just so much noise online that breaking through can … Read more
My mate Dave runs a small plumbing business in Chelmsford. Good bloke. Excellent with a stopcock. Absolutely terrified of anything with the word “optimisation” in it. When I told him last month that not only did he need to understand SEO, but that there was now something called Generative Engine Optimisation he should probably know … Read more
Customer reviews are a powerful tool for your business. Building up a strong profile of good reviews will build trust and convince potential customers that your business will live up to your promises, which in turn will boost sales and help your business grow. There are other benefits to reviews, but the long and short … Read more
Picture this. It’s early 2024. I’m sitting at my desk, smugly watching my SEO-optimised articles climbing the Google rankings. Years of keyword research, backlink building, and meticulously structured content – finally paying off. I crack open a celebratory biscuit. Then someone messages me: “Have you tried just asking ChatGPT instead of Googling?” I had not. … Read more
Business reviews may seem like a modern, online business tactic. But the fact is, we’ve always relied on others’ recommendations when making a purchasing decision. Think about how many times you’ve gone to a family member for business advice, or brought a product because a friend swears by it. Online reviews make these recommendations much … Read more
Let me paint you a picture. It’s 2022. I’ve just spent a month writing what I was convinced was the definitive guide to “wireless earbuds.” Lovingly crafted. Meticulously researched. Beautifully formatted. Interviews with experts. I hit publish, leaned back in my chair, and waited for the traffic to roll in. It did not roll in. … Read more
Last month we talked about how to do search engine optimisation. This time we’re zooming in on one of the parts that tends to confuse small business owners the most: how to find the right keywords for SEO. Because here’s the thing. Most small businesses approach keyword research in roughly the same way: You sit … Read more
Reviews are an amazing tool for your business. They are real proof that customers have brought with them and trust your brand, ultimately helping establish you as a reputable business, helping more customers find you, and proving that you are trustworthy. We recently wrote about how to get more customers to write reviews for your … Read more
Last month, we tackled the awkward-but-necessary question: is SEO still relevant for small businesses? Short answer: yes. Long answer: very yes, but not in the way it was in 2012 when keyword stuffing and praying to Google still worked. This article is the practical follow-up. Not “7 quick hacks”. Not “SEO secrets Google doesn’t want … Read more
If you run a small business right now, chances are you’ve had this moment. You Google your own business name.You don’t immediately see your website.Instead, you see a box at the top of the page answering the question for you. Cue mild panic. Between Google’s endless updates, AI Overviews popping up everywhere, and people asking … Read more