Blog - Buxton Web Design

The best way to grow your business… I’m really fortunate that my career allows me to engage with so many interesting contacts, from young people starting out in business for the first time to directors of well-established companies looking to increase their online visibility . One benefit of dealing with so many business owners is the amount of valuable business advice that I manage to glean and I love sharing knowledge and ideas, so here’s my advice (based around my own experiences) on the best way to grow your business.

If a jobs worth doing it’s worth doing well

One of the best pieces of business advice I was even given was by my Dad who used to say ‘If a jobs worth doing it’s worth doing well”.

He built up a successful business installing TV Aerials and in my early teens I often used to help him during school holidays and at weekends.

Sometimes we had to repair or replace some incredibly ‘botched’ systems previously installed by competitors; old aerials sprayed to look like new, masts and brackets tied with string or insulation tape and cables left to flap loosely across the slates (which would soon wear away and eventually fill with water which went straight into the back of the customers TV or Video) such poor quality worksmanship inspired Dad to offer a much better service than that of his local competitors.

Dad’s logic was simple, do the best job that you can to make your customers happy and they will have no hesitation in recommending you to friends, family and colleagues.

He really did go that extra mile with every job that he did. He’d never cut corners and used only the best quality products or materials, making sure that each installation was built to last and backed by a comprehensive guarantee.

Dad was never the cheapest but he didn’t need to be, his business was built on word of mouth recommendations, on trust and credibility gained by doing a good job.

Nowadays it is even more important to go that extra mile and work hard to to make your customers or clients happy, do this and you really will start to grow your business.

Be completely transparent when dealing with clients and avoid cutting corners. Practice this and you’ll start to build trust and credibility. Be good at what you do, serve your customers well and you’ll soon see the benefits come round full circle.

Grow Your Business – Your Top Tips

We asked some followers on Twitter their top tips for helping grow your business…

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want – your limits are set by yourself. Take criticism on the chin and get involved! @coconutblush

My top tip is get a business coach. SMEs wanting to develop and grow can get funding towards coaching and training @KarenKCcoaching

Join twitter and interact! @PeggyCollection

 
Please feel free to contribute to this post by adding your own top tip using the form below.

Why hire a bookkeeper? An interesting article from Kirsty Jackson of Abacus Belper, an independent company who offer Bookkeeping, Credit Control, Payroll and Telephone Answering Services.

“Why would I hire you instead of taking on a member of staff?” was a question posed by a potential client yesterday. He actually answered his own question in the end. This particular client (we’ll call him Bob) was interested in Credit Control as well as our Bookkeeping service.

Bob has just bought a business that he has worked in as an Employee for many years and knows the business and sector inside out, but has no idea how to do the books. This said, how would he know if his member of staff was doing a good job? He’d been referred to us by one of our clients, so was confident in our abilities.

Bob has been so busy, that he’s not had time to chase for the outstanding invoices on his ledger and as such, his cash flow is tight to say the least. He realises that he needs to get the money in, but can he afford to take on a member of staff?

As well as the employee’s salary, there will be Employers NI, sick days, holiday pay and then there’s the desk, PC etc etc. With us, there are none of those things to pay, just a small percentage of the amount we collect.

If we don’t collect, Bob has nothing to pay. We are a full time service that costs a fraction of the price of a full time member of staff. Bob estimated that he would save more than £10,000.00 per year by using us.

We’re very much looking forward to working with Bob.

Think that your business could benefit from our service?

Why not give us a call on 01773 297005 to find out how we can help you. Remember, We are a confidential service and although the scenario is factual, names have been changed.

Learn how to build a business website with WordPress

Buxton Web Design create stylish WordPress websites and blogs for businesses of all sizes, but did you know that we also offer individual and group WordPress training too?

Our affordable WordPress training packages provide a quick and easy way for businesses to create and publish stylish, modern websites which work beautifully on desktop and mobile devices, without you having to learn any complicated code.

What will I learn?

We’ll teach you all you need to know about creating, managing and marketing your own website using WordPress, from installation and set-up, applying an attractive design, writing pages and posts through to making your website appeal to visitors and search engines.

In most cases people learn how to install, build a business website with WordPress in under 6 hours.

Your training will include…

• An introduction to WordPress
• Settings and basic configuration
• Posts and pages
• Menus and navigation
• Installing plugins
• Using premium themes and frameworks
• Adding media and creating photo galleries
• Integrating social media
• Basic search engine optimisation
• Monitoring traffic, visitors and statistics
 

How much will it cost?

You’ll need a domain name, WordPress web hosting and might want to choose a pre-developed platform/theme for your business. All of which can be provided by Buxton Web Design as a discounted package, or we can use an existing domain name and web host provider of your choice.

Individual WordPress training is charged at £35 per hour, discounts are available for groups. The WordPress Training Courses can be structured around your specific requirements and can take place either at our office in Buxton, your home, office or a suitable venue.

What tools will I need?

You’ll need your own laptop with WiFi and a decent understanding of using computers and the Interent – although no HTML or coding skills are required. WordPress is really easy to pick up and you can work at your own pace.

Interested?

If you want to build a business website with WordPress and Buxton Web Design then please feel free to contact us or call Andrew Wearden on 07794 743057

Buxton Web Design are looking for a freelance web designer and developer to work in-house with one of our leading clients.  This is a fantastic opportunity for a talented individual to collaborate with a successful, energetic company based in the Manchester area.

Do you:

• Have a good understanding of web design and online marketing?
• Love WordPress, HTML5, CSS3 and PHP?
• Share a real passion for SEO, content marketing and social media?
• Have a natural tendency towards technology and innovation?

Are you:

• Diligent, efficient and punctual?
• Able to meet tight deadlines?
• Willing to work from our clients office on the outskirts of Manchester?

Is this you?

If you are interested and would like to find out more about this opportunity, please complete the form below, attach any supporting documentation (please ZIP multiple files), and click the SUBMIT button.

Please DO NOT telephone or email us directly – you will be contacted by our client.

Name *

First

Last *

Last

Email *

Website / Portfolio URL

Mobile Phone

Address *

Address Line 2

Town/City *

Post Code

Attach any supporting documentation

Uploading Files. Please Wait.

We’re delighted to be celebrating our first anniversary since the formal incorporation of Buxton Web Design Ltd in March 2012. Over the past 12 months we’ve managed to steadily grow our business and now have a collaborative network of very talented professionals, offering a complete range of website design and development services to clients throughout the UK.

We are also really pleased (and quietly proud) to have just launched one of our most ambitious projects to date; a new website for Holdsworth Chocolates who are based in Bakewell, Derbyshire.

So we got together with Holdsworths and decided to celebrate both these achievements by giving away a fantastic box of chocolates (worth £15.95) to one lucky winner!

Win a box of Handmade Chocolates

If you would like the chance to win this Classical Theobroma Tree Gift Box from Holdsworth Chocolates, simply enter your details below. The iconic cube shaped box, in a baby blue Theobroma design, is filled with 16 of their classic chocolates. One lucky winner will be picked at random on Monday 29th April.

Please note that Entries for this competiton are now closed and the winner will be drawn on Monday 29th April, 2013

We will not accept any entries which have been sent from the following websites or email addresses: @freemailstore.com; @bestmailforyou.co.uk; @easybusinessmail.info; @yourmail4you.com; wonandron.co.uk; shortsmail.co.uk; freggnet.co.uk; wormail.co.uk; prainnet.org.uk; kreahnet.org.uk; rackernet.org.uk; runracemail.org.uk: @freemailstore.com; @bestmailforyou.co.uk; @easybusinessmail.info; @yourmail4you.com; wonandron.co.uk; shortsmail.co.uk; freggnet.co.uk; wormail.co.uk; prainnet.org.uk; kreahnet.org.uk; rackernet.org.uk; runracemail.org.uk

About Holdsworth Chocolates

All Holdsworth Chocolates are entirely handmade, using only the finest natural ingredients. They have been doing this the same way for 25 years, and will continue doing so for the next 25!

Barbara Holdsworth started making chocolates in the heart of the Peak District in 1988.

Spurred on by a passionate belief in a hand made approach, she crafted the most delicious centres from the best quality, ethically sourced ingredients, to her own unique recipes. She set about recruiting locally and gathered a team of enthusiastic staff who trained to become expert chocolatiers, and with a modicum of space and lots of enthusiasm, Holdsworth Chocolates took off.

Barbara’s daughter, Genevieve, has worked along side her Mother for nearly twenty years and in 2002 Barbara passed the company over to her.

At our unit in Bakewell, we still employ a dedicated team of skilled, local chocolatiers to make our chocolates. To create our exquisite chocolates, we whip together sweet cream butter and the finest Belgium couverture. We then add either liqueurs, spirits, fruit purees or praline paste to produce more than 70 delicately flavoured creamy centres. Each individual chocolate is a masterpiece in itself made with great care and attention to detail and because we only use cacao beans from the finest origins the results are award-winning chocolates rated amongst the finest in the UK.

A well-designed website is probably the single most important aspect of your business marketing these days. It’s a crucial first impression which helps determine whether people will use your services or buy your products.

It’s essential to have a website that turns visitors into paying customers. Do you have a website that does this? How can you ensure your online marketing is a real success? With trust and credibility; You have to make people trust you, otherwise they’ll simply go elsewhere.

But how can you make sure people trust you and your website? Here’s some advice to help you boost your online credibility…

A Professional Website
The look and feel of your website is probably the first thing you should consider.  If your website has a poor design, people will think you sell ‘naff’ products or services. Frankly, a cheap website will make you look… well… cheap. So invest some decent money into getting a quality website designed.

Get the Copy Right!
If your website copy has poor spelling and grammar then people will question the quality of your services or product that you offer. If in doubt, hire a professional copywriter to draft your website’s copy. It will be money well spent.

Use a Professional Photographer
One of the biggest mistakes people make with their websites is to include poor photography. Hire a professional photographer and get some superb shots of your company and/or your products. It will instantly build credibility.

Get Some Testimonials
Nothing beats word-of-mouth recommendation to boost credibility and trust on your website. Add customer testimonials on your home page and include a testimonials page if you can.

Get Blogging!
Maintaining a blog for your business offers massive search engine benefits, helps you to position yourself as an authority within your industry or field, works well with social media, encourages links to your site and boosts online visibility and credibility.

Add Team or Individual Photo
Adding a face to your company’s name is very powerful. By including a photograph of yourself or your team, you help to build a connection or rapport between you and your potential customers.

Get Tweeting!
If you’re not on Twitter or Facebook where have you been? The Web 2.0 world has had a huge impact on the way we shop, find love and do business – it’s all online these days. Because of the Internet, people expect trusted brands to move with the times and be available online, especially on platforms like Twitter. Create an account if you haven’t already and start talking directly to potential customers. Include social media icon buttons on your website to show people that you’re active on social media. You could even include a live Twitter feed somewhere on your home page to build further trust.

Make a great First Impression!

If trust and credibility are important to you then let Buxton Web Design help you make a great first impression. We offer a complete range of website design and development services, creating stylish, functional websites and WordPress blogs for businesses of all sizes – helping to boost your online visibility and credibility.

Interested?

Please feel free to get in touch or call Andrew Wearden on 07794 743057

For more ideas, tips and advice on developing trust online please read this article by Katy Cowan on the Creative Boom website: Top 2o tips on how to build trust online.

New website for Cheshire Bakery. Buxton Web Design were recently appointed to deliver a new responsive website for Bramhall Bakery, an artisan bakery based in the village of Bramhall, Stockport, Cheshire.

Bramhall Bakery opened in May 2012. It is an independent family owned business combining artisan baking skills with business and finance expertise. Scott is an artisan baker from Melbourne, Australia with over 20 years experience in the industry and Jo has spent over 10 years working as a management consultant for a global professional services firm.

Together they set up the bakery to share their passion for great bread, bringing excellent quality, fresh baked bread to people across Cheshire everyday.

Coded to the very latest standards, this new WordPress website is fully responsive and features a unique eCommerce section which makes it easier for people to get hold of their great tasting bread.

Visitors to the Bramhall Bakery website are able order bread online for collection from the bakery between 4 and 7pm on Wednesdays. All they need to do is select their products, check out and then choose the collection date.

Visit the Bramhall Bakery website

Bramhall Bakery is an independent family owned business combining artisan baking skills with business and finance expertise

New eCommerce Website for Exquisite Chocolatier. Buxton Web Design are delighted to have been appointed to deliver a new eCommerce website for Holdsworth Chocolates, who have been creating delicious chocolates in the heart of the Peak District since 1988.

Spurred on by a passionate belief in a hand made approach, Holdsworth craft the most delicious centres from the best quality, ethically sourced ingredients.

Prestigious stockists of their exquisite chocolates include Harrods, Selfridges, John Lewis and Waitrose.

Emma Baldwin, Sales and Marketing Manager at Holdsworth Chocolates explains, “We are delighted with the new website and digital marketing proposal delivered by Buxton Web Design. Andrew really understood our needs and we are keen to get started with the project”.

Coded to the very latest web standards, the new website will include a versatile WordPress-powered shop and have lots of stunning features, making it naturally appeal to both visitors and search engines alike.

Small Business Blogging Tips Buxton Web Design are on a mission to help more small businesses discover the benefits of blogging in 2013. As a company we love creating stylish websites and WordPress blogs for businesses of all sizes but blogging often ends up at the bottom of a client’s to do list, especially when they don’t have much time on their hands.

However, 2012 saw a steady increase in customers utilising blogs for the first time and they have proved a fantastic way of injecting personality and fresh content into many of their business websites.

Maintaining a blog for your business offers massive search engine benefits, helps you to position yourself as an authority within your industry or field, works well with social media, encourages links to your site and boosts online visibility and credibility.

With this in mind we have put together some small business blogging tips with the aim of encouraging more clients and website visitors discover the benefits of blogging for business.

What is a blog?

You’ve probably heard people go on about blogging but might not really be sure what one is or how to get started. Blogs have been around for more than a decade now and blogs or ‘web logs’ are effectively online diaries.

Anyone can set one up using a free service, that’s the easy part. But having one integrated into your existing business website and thinking of something interesting and effective to write each time you blog is a little more difficult.

How do I set a blog up?

Naturally, we’d love to provide that service for you using the self-hosted version of WordPress, installing and customising it to your specific requirements. However, if you don’t want to pay a professional web design company or learn about writing websites in code yourself, you’re probably better off looking at one of the sites that offers free blogging. A couple of the more popular ones are WordPress.com, LiveJournal and Blogger.

What should I blog about?

There are numerous websites (and blogs) that offer top tips on business blogging such as write fresh content, get links and use keywords and key phrases, but without any detail or specifics on the “why” or the” how”. So, with a little help and inspiration from Matthew Telfer of Heart Internet, here’s some valuable information on how to write a blog…

The key to a successful business blog is writing about what you know. By writing about what you know, your blog posts are easier to write, and you can go in to a lot more depth. As a result they will have a sense of “truth” about them readers will appreciate.

Readers of your blog will not read superficial, quickly cobbled together blog posts that don’t feel “true”. For example, if you have never used Pinterest, don’t attempt a “Top X tips for using Pinterest” style blog post. You can’t cover it in the level of detail needed to be a satisfying read.

Writing about topics you don’t fully understand also has a negative branding effect on your business. When it comes to marketing a business, I’m a firm believer in either doing it well, or not at all. Accepting anything else creates what can be described as “negative value”. The action actually makes things worse that if you had done nothing.

When you’re thinking about what to write about, consider what you’re interested in if you’re having difficulty coming up with ideas. Websites you’ve bookmarked recently, industry articles that have interested you, and projects you’re working on can all provide inspiration, as can blogs you find interesting and visit regularly.

Small Business Blogging Tips

Further links and resources to business blogging tips and tools.

Article Creation Template

Ready to write your first blog article? Start here by capturing the essence and have your content laid out and organised to be user friendly:

http://bestpracticehub.com/article-creation-template/

How to write a great blog post that ranks well

Writing great blog posts that rank highly in search engines can be a time consuming affair. Planning a post is crucial if it is to rank well and bring your website tons of free traffic.

http://www.affiliatetuts.com/seo/how-to-write-a-great-blog-post-that-ranks-well/

Want to learn more about blogging?

If you want to learn more about how blogging can help boost your online credibility and visibility call Andrew on 07794 743057 or feel free to pop in for a coffee and a chat during normal office hours!

Magento Hosting and eCommerce Websites. Buxton Web Design now offer fully-functional eCommerce websites with powerful Magento hosting.

Our affordable virtual private servers (VPS) come with Magento ready to be installed in one click, so we can provide optimised UK hosting and a complete online store in no time at all – without any hassle or huge development fees.

Often cited as having the same scalability as the world’s biggest shopping websites, Magento is a very powerful application with unlimited potential. We can style it exactly how you want and have as many products, categories, special offers, discount codes and bespoke landing pages as you like.

Magento provides businesses and online traders with an extensive range of features including full shopping cart functionality, support for numerous payment gateways, unlimited products and categories, and much more. Whether you have an established business or you’re just starting out, you can benefit from all the features included as standard with our Magento hosting and eCommerce websites.

Features of Magento Hosting and eCommerce Websites;

• Control every aspect of your store, from products to design to informative content
• Feature-rich customer relationship management tools and customer account dashboard
• Extensive billing, shipping, invoicing and fulfilment options.
• Supports customer review functionality, product comparison tools and multiple zooming images for each product.
• Built-in search engine optimisation tools such as automated sitemaps and rewritable URLs.
• Smartphone optimised to take advantage of the increasing mobile shopping market.

To learn more about Magento Hosting and eCommerce Websites from Buxton Web Design please contact us or call Andrew Wearden on 07794 743057