Articles from December 2018

Websites are an essential tool for any business and if you want to treat your site to a Christmas present this year, here are 12 things you can do for your site on each of the 12 days of Christmas:

1. Headline – This only needs to consist of a few words but make sure they are carefully chosen as you only have about 3 seconds to make an impression. Try to concisely capture the essence of your service or product.
2. Sub-headline – This needs to supplement your headline and should be a brief description of what services you offer. It helps to focus on what problem can be solved by using your product or service. Use a large mobile-optimised font.
3. Calls to Action – Your homepage is a gateway to entice visitors to delve deeper into your site. Make sure you have easily accessible call to action in places easy to spot that are visually striking yet concise and still fit in with the surrounding design of your site.

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4. Images – Most of us are visual creatures so use of an image or even an explainer video can help get the message across about what it is you do. Avoid the use of stock images and try to tap into your visitors’ emotions.
5. Benefits – It’s not enough to explain what you do but you need to state why this matters so much. There must be a reason for customers to buy from you, so target the benefits of doing so on your site. Your content should be easy to read and in the kind of language that your target audience would use.
6. Testimonials – It’s no good stating you are the best at what you do. It might well be true, but people will generally not believe you unless they hear it from others too. Place some of your shortest but best quotes on your homepage and a link to further case studies for maximum credibility.
7. Navigation – The navigation of your site could mean the difference between converting to a sale or a visitor bouncing away. There must be a clear path from your homepage for visitors to follow with a clear navigation bar at the top of the page. User tests can help to identify any issues and how intuitive your site is. For help with this and any other website needs, contact a Cardiff web designer at ambercouch.co.uk
8. Downloadable Content – Consider offering a downloadable guide or e-book for those customers who might not be ready to buy but still interested. They can read it at their leisure and most likely return to purchase when they’re ready.

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9. Secondary Call to Action – Consider those who might not be interested in your primary objective and offer them a path too. Place these CTAs at the bottom of the page and they can act as a back-up plan for any customer not yet ready to make that full commitment.
10. Features List – As well as highlighting the benefits of using your business, a features list is a great way to offer an easy read and details of what’s provided with your products and services.
11. Resources – Consider again those who might not be ready to buy. Offer them links to resources where they can find relevant information related to your industry. This has two benefits – it keeps them on your site longer and improves your credibility as a leader in your field.

• Success Stories – As well as your testimonials, don’t be afraid to share any awards or official recognition your business has received. Place these on your homepage and it will improve your credibility.

When you run a business that involves driving or repairing other people’s cars, you need to have some form of trade insurance in effect.

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This applies even if you operate a part-time vehicle repair service from home; in fact, if you ever have cause to work on or drive other people’s cars, you should always check that your insurance cover will provide you with the necessary support if something should go wrong.

Undertake an annual review

Running your own business takes up a lot of your time, so you are probably happy enough to sign up automatically for another year when your motor trade policy comes up for renewal. Lots of traders are guilty of doing exactly this; however, you could end up paying more than you need to. Worse still, you might discover that your cover is not sufficient when you need to make a claim.

Perhaps you have taken on some extra members of staff recently, or perhaps you have increased the size of your business premises? Even something as simple as investing in new equipment could affect your premiums, so keep your insurer informed about any alterations to your circumstances.

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Shop around

If you have been with the same insurer for a year or more, it is worth shopping around for a more competitive quote. You will find plenty of motor trade insurance companies vying for your business, but make sure you choose a reputable company such as https://www.quotemetoday.co.uk/motor-trade-insurance/ that can tailor a policy to your exact requirements.

It also pays to keep an eye on your family members. A recent report from the City of London Police revealed that a convicted fraudster has been jailed for his part in a motor insurance scam. Having signed several unwitting members of the public up to non-existent ‘ghost’ policies, he added one of his ‘customers’ to a family member’s trade policy, resulting in a successful claim that the policy owner felt he was not liable for. No doubt this claim will force his premiums up in subsequent years.

It only takes a little while to sort out a competitive policy that covers you for all eventualities, so why not set aside some time to go over your current policy? You will be very glad you did when you need to make a claim.