It’s fair to say the UK has fully embraced the benefits and convenience of e-commerce, with many of us buying products and paying for services online, on a regular basis.
The vast size of this customer base offers plentiful opportunities for entrepreneurs, and already millions of Brits are making extra money through side hustles like online tutoring and selling handmade gifts.
Even if you do not sell anything over the Internet, having an engaging, professional website has never been more important for businesses when it comes to showcasing your offering and winning new customers.
That was certainly the case for London-based entrepreneur Charlotte, whose small business – Cast and Crew Creatives – runs theatre and filmmaking workshops for children.
An estimated 60million people buy products and services online in the UK – creating plentiful opportunities for entrepreneurs
‘Having a professional website when you are working with children is so important,’ she says.
5 features of a good small business website
To ensure your business website stands the best chance of success, it’s useful to bear a few things in mind.
Below are five tips from the web design experts at GoDaddy:
1. Clear and modern visual design –
Having a site that’s easy to navigate, readable and attractive is the equivalent of making a strong first impression when you meet someone in real life. If you impress them straight away, they’ll be more likely to want to know more.
2. Prominent call-to-action –
It’s likely you’ll want to achieve something specific with your website, such as getting people to visit your online store. If so, include a link in a prominent location on your homepage to boost your chances of success.
3. Easy to find contact information –
Making it simple for customers to get your contact details will boost the chances of them getting in touch and, hopefully, starting a business relationship with you.
4. Social proof markers –
Humans don’t like to miss out, so when they see others talking up a product or service it can influence their decisions. Try to incorporate this into your site in the form of reviews or testimonies.
5. Strong and consistent content –
Keep users engaged by publishing lots of quality content – including relevant, timely and useful information in the form of blog posts and lists of upcoming events or special offers.
‘You’ve got to gain the trust of parents and guardians really quickly, so it’s good to offer them a place where they can go to get all the information they need.’
Charlotte used GoDaddy’s Website Builder for a previous business and had ‘no doubts’ about choosing it again.
The platform provides an all-in-one service where entrepreneurs can access everything they need to set up online, make sales and reach new audiences.
GoDaddy makes the process of building a website easy even for those with minimal technical knowledge, and friendly support teams are available 24/7 to help with any issues that might arise.
‘My favourite thing about the GoDaddy Website Builder is how simple it makes everything. I have dyslexia so it helps that the platform is really accessible,’ Charlotte says.
‘The same goes for the website itself. It’s so clear and easy to use, allowing users to quickly find what they want. That’s particularly important given we work with children and people with learning difficulties.’
GoDaddy is designed with flexibility in mind, so you can start with the basics before adding more features as you go – including SEO, email marketing and social media management.
You can create an online store with up to 5,000 products, multiple payment options and simplified shipping.
‘You can try GoDaddy for a year and see how you get on, which is great for small businesses that are still just getting off the ground,’ says Charlotte.
‘My business is ever changing and has to be flexible, so my website builder had to be as well.’
Charlotte uses her acting skills to host theatre and filmmaking workshops for young people through her small business, Cast and Crew Creatives
Charlotte has been thrilled with the number of people getting in touch with enquiries after visiting her website.
She recently began offering virtual workshops to help her reach more pupils, including those who would find it difficult to see her in person.
‘Taking the business online is going to help us reach more young people and work with them to realise their potential,’ says Charlotte.
‘This is a really exciting time. My aim is for Cast and Crew Creatives to be recognised as a place where young people will flourish.’
‘Acting changed my life aged six – now I want to help kids achieve their potential too’
Charlotte’s first brush with acting came at the age of six – and she instantly fell in love.
‘I was very lively and couldn’t focus, so my parents decided to send me to a week-long drama workshop where I could use my energy in a productive way,’ she says.
‘It felt like a place where I could belong, and I wasn’t conscious of standing out from other people like I was before.’
Charlotte worked in theatre and TV for several years before starting her own theatre company in London.
Charlotte’s workshops cover a wide range of areas including filmmaking, script writing, directing, producing and set preparation
In 2017, she set up Cast and Crew Creatives to help children pursue their creative talents at the same time as learning vital soft skills like confidence, leadership, teamwork and self-discipline.
Her sessions cover a wide range of areas including filmmaking, script writing, directing, producing and set preparation.
They are tailored specifically to the pupils taking part. In one recent six-week course, for example, children from military families were tasked with making a documentary for other youngsters in the same situation as them.
‘Every workshop that I build is bespoke to suit every individual and because they might have completely different needs, you need to be flexible to accommodate it,’ she says.
‘I come up with basic lesson plans, but at the same time I’ve got to be agile and spontaneous because they throw all sorts at you.’
Charlotte wants to give children a space to explore their creative talents at the same time as learning vital soft skills like confidence, leadership, teamwork and self-discipline
In addition to children from mainstream schools, Charlotte also works with pupils who are no longer in mainstream education due to special educational needs or behavioural problems.
Her ultimate aim is to help young people experience the same transformation she felt all those years ago.
She says: ‘You can have a child with ADHD who feels like they can’t stay still and has to be doing something all the time, who by week five is sat there fully focused on filming.
‘They can be proud that they’ve managed to achieve something and found a skill that they’re good at. Being able to facilitate that and feel like you are making their lives better is amazing.’
Visit GoDaddy today to discover how they can help turn your hobby into a business, or read their free tips and tricks on their blog to learn more.