Online Advertising

Tips to start advertising online

1. Define your target audience: Identify who your ideal customers are and what their interests and needs are. This will help you to create relevant advertisements that will attract them.
   
   

2. Choose the right platform: Determine the best platforms for your target audience. For example, if you are targeting a younger demographic, social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok may be a good option.
   
   

3. Create compelling content: Make sure your advertisements are visually appealing and include a clear call-to-action. Use high-quality images and videos, and make sure your content is well-written and easy to understand.
   
   

4. Utilise search engine optimisation (SEO): Optimise your website and online content to make it easier for potential customers to find you through search engines like Google.
   
   

5. Utilise social proof: Share customer reviews, testimonials, and success stories to build trust and credibility with your target audience.
   
   

6. Test and measure: Try different ad formats and messages, and track the results to see what works best. Use this information to refine your advertising strategy over time.
   
   

7. Stay consistent: Consistently post new content and advertisements to keep your business top-of-mind for potential customers.
   
   

8. Stay within budget: Determine a budget for your advertising campaign, and stick to it. You may want to start small and increase your budget as you see results.
   
   

9. Partner with influencers or bloggers: Partner with influencers or bloggers in your niche to reach a wider audience and gain credibility.
   
   

10. Monitor your results: Regularly check your advertising results, including website traffic and conversions, to see what is working and what needs improvement.

Search Engine Optimisation

1. Conduct keyword research: Identify relevant keywords and phrases that your target audience is searching for and use them in your website's content and meta tags.
   
   

2. Optimise your website structure: Ensure that your website is well-organized and easy to navigate, with clear headings and descriptive URLs.
   
   

3. Create high-quality content: Provide valuable, relevant and unique content that engages and informs your target audience.
   
   

4. Use meta descriptions: Write concise, compelling meta descriptions (a short summary) that accurately reflect the content of each page and include your target keywords.
   
   

5. Build high-quality backlinks: Acquire backlinks from reputable websites in your industry to show search engines that your website is a valuable resource.
   
   

6. Make your website mobile-friendly: Ensure that your website is easily accessible and readable on mobile devices, as mobile optimisation is a key ranking factor for search engines.
   
   

7. Use header tags: Use header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) to structure your content and make it easier for search engines to understand the hierarchy of your content.
   
   

8. Make use of social media: Promote your content on social media and engage with your followers to build your online presence and drive traffic to your website.
   
   

9. Monitor your results: Use tools like Google Analytics to track your website's performance and identify areas for improvement.

10. Stay up-to-date with industry developments: Stay informed about changes in search engine algorithms and best practices, and make sure to implement them in your optimisation strategy.

Pay-per-click

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is a form of digital marketing where advertisers pay each time a user clicks on one of their ads. In the UK, PPC advertising is commonly used on search engines like Google, Edge, & Yahoo, as well as on social media platforms like Facebook & LinkedIn.

In a PPC advertising campaign, the advertiser creates ads and chooses specific keywords related to their product or service. When a user searches for those keywords, the advertiser's ads will appear in the search engine results or on the social media platform. When a user clicks on one of the ads, the advertiser pays the search engine or social media platform a predetermined fee.

A Guide to Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising:

1. Define your target audience: Before launching a PPC campaign, it's important to identify your target audience. This will help you determine the best keywords to target and the type of ad content that will resonate with your audience.
   
   

2. Choose your platform: There are several platforms that offer PPC advertising in the UK, including Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, & Facebook Ads. Consider your target audience and the type of product or service you are offering when choosing a platform.
   
   

3. Choose your keywords: Keywords are the phrases that users type into a search engine to find what they're looking for. Choose keywords that are relevant to your product or service and that have a high search volume. You can use tools like the Google Keyword Planner to help you identify the best keywords for your campaign. The cost will be high for common words associated with your industry or trade.
   
   

4. Create your ads: Your ads should be well-written, visually appealing, and clearly communicate the benefits of your product or service. Consider including a call-to-action (CTA) to encourage users to take a specific action, such as making a purchase or filling out a form.
   
   

5. Set your budget: PPC advertising operates on a bidding system, where you set a maximum bid for each click. Consider your budget and the cost per click (CPC) of your chosen keywords when setting your bid.
   
   

6. Launch your campaign: Once your ads are created and your budget is set, it's time to launch your PPC campaign. Keep a close eye on your campaign's performance and make adjustments as needed to optimise its effectiveness.
   
   

7. Track and measure results: Use tools like Google Analytics to track the performance of your PPC campaign. Look at metrics such as click-through rate (CTR), conversion rate, and cost per conversion to determine the success of your campaign.
   
   

8. Continuously optimise: PPC advertising is an ongoing process and it's important to continuously optimise your campaign to maximise its effectiveness. Make changes to your ad copy, target audience, and budget as needed to achieve your desired results.
   
   

PPC advertising can be an effective way for businesses to reach a targeted audience and drive leads or sales. By following these guidelines, you can launch a successful PPC campaign and achieve your marketing goals.

Free Websites

There are several free website builders available for small businesses, but some of the most popular options include:

1. Wix: Wix is a user-friendly website builder that offers a range of templates, customisable designs, and easy-to-use drag-and-drop tools.
   
   

2. Weebly: Weebly is another popular website builder that offers a range of templates, e-commerce tools, and integrations with third-party apps.
   
   

3. WordPress.com: WordPress is a popular open-source platform that offers a free version (WordPress.com) for building websites. It's a great option for small businesses who want a customisable website with a large community of users and developers.
   
   

4. Squarespace: Squarespace is a beautifully designed website builder that offers a range of templates and a simple drag-and-drop interface.
   
   

5. GoDaddy: GoDaddy offers a free domain name, a web hosting plan and an intuitive website builder. It has everything you need to start a small business website or online store.
   
   

6. Google Site: Google Sites offers a free website drop & drag builder. You may need to pay a monthly fee if you want to specify your web address.
   
   

All of these website builders offer free plans with limited features and storage, but allow users to upgrade to paid plans for more advanced features & support. It's important to consider your business's needs and the type of website you want to build before selecting a website builder.