8 SIMPLE WAYS to get more sales from your website
So you have a website but is it really working for you? Is it making you sales and allowing you to create an impact with the world online? Maybe you feel like it's just stuck out there and all a little pointless as people aren't engaging and there's no enquiries...
5 WAYS to make more money with your website
Let’s face it, you’ve probably spent ages creating your website, updating it with new images, adding different products and services, and adding fresh content, but have you stopped to think about whether it’s actually earning its keep? It should be. Your website...
5 FAB membership platforms to publish and host your online programmes
Seriously thinking about creating and selling online courses or programmes? Want to do it the easy way and keep as much techy stress out of your life as possible? Then you’re going to need a membership platform or plug-in that ticks all the boxes. But before...
A Free Website Really?
When you first start out in business your marketing budget can usually be pretty non-existent, can’t it? And this may increase your temptation to be lured in by those pop-up ads that interrupt your browsing. You know the one's that offer you a FREE WEBSITE?...
21 years in business – My Key Lessons Learned
This week I am celebrating my 21st business anniversary! My entrepreneurial journey started at the age of 24, my family was given a huge reality check when we tragically lost our lovely mum. Experiencing something so life-changing definitely puts things in...
How To Add Snowflakes To Your Website
If you would like to add a little festive fun to your WordPress website this year, it's really quite simple to do! You can add cascading presents, snowman, snowflakes, candy canes and snowballs using a plugin and it will take you less than 5 minutes to do! Here's...
Build your online presence one step at a time!
In a society where online retailers offer same-day delivery, theme parks sell fast-track passes so that visitors don’t have to wait in line and viewers abandon videos if they take more than a few seconds to load, instant gratification seems to be the default response...
How To Build a WordPress Website and Blog in One Hour
If you are looking to get a website online I recommend using WordPress! I have created a free video resource to help explain the steps you need to take to get a one page website and a blog online and you can learn how in under one hour! There are 3 steps to get...
How to Get Your Business Online – The Basics To Get You Started
If you want to work online there are lots of ways you can connect with your clients and online community. Video and live stream gives you amazing scope to do this, wether it’s a simple video or lives from your phone or more advanced edited video or multi screen...
Tools to help you switch your small business online
As a small business owner who works from home I am feeling very blessed right now! My business allows me to connect with clients worldwide using simple online technology. But I realise it's not as easy for all businesses to switch their business online and I want to...
20 years on… Self Employed life
The journey of entrepreneurship is often described as a rollercoaster ride. It's Tuesday morning - I'm sitting working in my pj's (something I don't do very often) but it's early morning New Years Eve and the kids are still sound asleep. I've seen lots of posts online...
HOW TO keep your website secure in 2020
Imagine logging into your website one morning only to find that it’s been hacked. Instead of your usual welcome page, you’re looking at a big, red Google warning which says your site is now a ‘Phishing Attack’ or, worse, is hosting ‘malware’. You may even find that...
Empowering 1 million women – Digital Women Live
I was so excited and honoured to be invited to speak at this event founded by the wonderful Lucy Hall and I knew it was going to be a great opportunity to connect with others and absorb heaps of advice and tips on how to enhance my customers’ experience.I’ve taken so...
5 SIMPLE WAYS to stop Tech Overwhelm
Feeling overwhelmed with tech from time to time is completely normal. Tech moves at such a fast pace it can be hard to keep up with it, it can all just seem like a minefield of information. I get it - at times tech can seem super overwhelming. Maybe you're sitting...
Balancing life and your small business
I'm excited to share a couple of little messages with you from my Affirmators at Work deck of cards, which I totally love. I pulled out two great cards to share with you. The first up is Collaboration. It says, "I take pride in my role as a good collaborator, and look...
7 TIPS to help you connect with your crowd online
You’ve probably heard it said that, when it comes to digital marketing, content is key, and of course great, original content should be at the heart of your online marketing efforts. BUT what good is a brilliant, perfectly written piece of content if it doesn’t get...
HOW TO use social to drive traffic to your website
Did you know that Google can tell how much you update your social media profiles, and will rank you higher for doing so regularly? So it's a good idea to update your platforms regularly but not just with any old posts. Think about what you are posting and what your...
10 SIMPLE WAYS to get your business seen in Google
So if you want to get seen in Google you need to know about SEO. What is Small Business SEO? The good news for today’s small business owners is that search-engine optimization (SEO) is no longer about who’s been around the longest, who has the biggest library...
What to do if your website gets hacked! (and HOW TO stop it)
Imagine the moment... you get a call from a client who 'can't get onto your website' - you go and take a look and it's been hacked! You will either been staring at a blank screen or even worse you are looking at someone else site - on your domain! This could even be...
Power up (your website) with Pinterest for business
If you still think that Pinterest is just for brides-to-be to coo over photos of wedding cakes, you seriously need to think again! Take a proper look around the site and you’ll soon see through the tiered cupcakes to the immense potential that this image-bookmarking...
Why using Etsy is a mistake
Ok so you are wanting to sell your products online and you've heard Etsy is a great place to 'join a creative marketplace where more than 33 million buyers around the world shop for unique items'. Well, that may be the case but is it right for you and your small...
5 REASONS WHY your business needs an Email List
Are you looking for new ways to get new business, make new contacts, communicate with your crowd and drive sales? Well take a look at what is already there. There seems to be a misconception that email marketing is dead…but it is still very much alive AND evolving,...
No control over your website? You’re being held to ransom.
As a web designer, one of my biggest bug bears is when people tell me that their previous web designer had to make all of the changes, updates, and additions to their website. They weren’t given the login details and/or password so that they could take over the...
Free Website? Really?
When you first start out in business your marketing budget can usually be pretty non-existent, can’t it? And this may increase your temptation to be lured in by those pop-up ads that interrupt your browsing. You know the one's that offer you a FREE WEBSITE?...
Wonderful WordPress themes and why I LOVE them
If you haven’t already realised, I am a huge Wordpress fan. I use it every day to create beautiful, functional and attention-grabbing websites for my clients. The flexibility of Wordpress and the fact that it’s so easy to use are probably the main reasons why I love...
10 THINGS I LOVE about WordPress
I LOVE creating websites, and I’m lucky enough to get to do it for a living! Of course each client has different requirements, expectations and visions for their site, and the end result is totally unique, but there’s one thing I always recommend, whether...
WordPress Plugins – What the heck are they?
Wondering what on earth a Wordpress plugin is? Or any kind of plugin for that matter? Let me explain – in my usual non-techie way. If you want to expand the use (or functionality) of your Wordpress website, you can usually find some sort of plugin to do it for you. A...
HOW TO choose the perfect Domain Name for your small business
A good domain name can make the difference between creating a successful web presence for your business and getting lost in cyberspace. Having a registered domain name will add credibility to your business, and choosing a name that matches your company will reinforce...
Your simple guide to Web Hosting and why you need it
It’s easy to understand that your business needs a website, but it can get confusing and bewildering to hear that every website needs a domain name and a web hosting service. What ARE these things, and what do they do? Well, like the street address that tells...
10 THINGS you need to do to get your website 2019 ready! PLUS… FREE 2019 Website Checklist
We all know that technology moves with the times and each year there are updates and changes, but it's not just the technology that moves, the way that we work with it also changes! We now have huge amount of content delivered to us on desktop, our phones and...
3 MOST COMMON website navigation mistakes and how to avoid them
Before we dive into these common website navigation mistakes, let me explain what the word ‘navigation’ actually means. The term ‘navigation’ describes how a visitor is guided around your website. If your website navigation is good - ie it’s easy to work your way...
No time to market your business online?
Can Batch Working Really Boost Your Biz? We all have the same 24 hours in a day so how come some entrepreneurs (usually the competition!) seem to churn out heaps of high quality content while you regularly have to abandon your online marketing at times when...
GDPR – What it means for your business and your website
Unless you’ve been on a different planet for the past few years, you’ll probably know that on 25th May 2018 data protection rules are a-changing. Seriously changing. GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation - comes into force and although, as with all things...
7 SPEEDY WAYS to sell more products online
Do you sell products online? Then keep reading because I have some speedy but simple ideas to help you optimise your online sales. Before we get started, however, let me just explain why the Big Guys – i.e Amazon, eBay and Etsy – may look like your safest and easiest...
HOW TO captivate your customers with content that converts
Do you dazzle your website visitors so much that they can’t resist buying from you? Do you captivate your potential social media followers with content that converts? If you’re shaking your head right now, then I’d say it’s time to take a good look at what you’re...
GUEST BLOG – Blending in is a risky strategy by Emma Holmes
I TALK ABOUT STANDING OUT A LOT! I know that it’s one that comes your radar A LOT. You feel like there’s so much noise but what’s the solutions to ACTUALLY being seen? The world is a noisy place now. Social Media marketing gets noisier by the day and there are not...
Website Help! I haven’t a Scooby Doo what to do!
Running your own business means you’ll often face these Scooby Doo dilemmas… “I need a website, but I don’t know where to start or who to turn to.” “My website is an ancient mess… it doesn’t represent me or my business any more. What the Scooby Do can I do?” “I need...
A – Z of techy terms made simple PART 2
Following on from the A-Z of techy terms part 1 today's article is going to walk you gently (in normal speak) through another 11 tech geekery terms. We’re covering everything from landing pages through to web servers and by the end of the article, you’ll be a whole...
A – Z of techy terms made simple PART 1
Learning your way around your website takes time – as does any new skill for any novice. And as your Wordpress/website building knowledge grows, so too will your confidence. But very often, all it takes is a spotting of technical terms or a jumble of jargon to put a...
Do I need a website?
I am frequently asked by small and start up businesses do I need a website? And my answer is ideally – yes! A website is your companies representation online and central to your branding. It builds a central hub and a place where customers can establish your story...
Is a happy and healthy work life balance even possible?
We live in a fast-paced world and as entrepreneurs, we’re ‘expected’ to be around 24/7. Now while this is great for our customer experience – I mean, who doesn’t want their questions or queries answering instantly via Messenger – it isn’t necessarily great for us....
18 THINGS NOT TO DO in business
If you read my previous blog: 18 Years in Business: 18 Lessons Learned you’ll know that it’s my coming of age business anniversary. This means I’ve dealt with lots of curve balls, challenges, and obstacles, as well as the exciting, goosepimply adventures, too. ...
18 years in business… 18 lessons learned
At the age of 24, my family was given a huge reality check when we tragically lost our lovely mum. Experiencing something so life-changing definitely puts things in perspective, and what was previously a high priority suddenly takes less precedence. For me,...
Want your social to be more successful?
Conjuring up content ideas for your social media platforms can be a proper pain, can’t it? Creating fabulous online content that sparks conversations, warms up the lurkers, and keeps your marketing wheel rolling like a dream, isn’t easy either. But what if you found...
A good enough website IS good enough!
Are you waiting for your website to look 100% perfect before you dare reveal it to the world? Spending hours searching for the perfect images to help you stand out from the competition? Wasting days on end playing around with words and content to try and sound clever,...
“It’s time to get a proper job.” – he said!
Has anyone ever said this to you? My lovely dad said this to me once, and at the time, I thought he was right. Yes, I thought having a ‘real’ job with a regular salary, and ‘real’ days off, is exactly what I need right now. I’ve had enough...
Is your website suited and booted?
Is your website all suited and booted? Does it look professional, in a corporate kind of way? Does it demonstrate you’re a responsible expert who knows what they’re talking about? You might think these are hallmarks of a professional business website but on...
Why Online Planning is the best tool ever
As a busy web designer, online marketer, and entrepreneur, I need to be productive. Just like you, my working day needs to be managed and planned to precision, otherwise deadlines get overlooked, targets fall by the wayside, and over time this impacts on the success...
Help! Where do I start with my online marketing?
Online marketing doesn’t have to be complicated. Honestly, it really doesn’t! But it should be something you understand and have a good handle on if you want to enjoy the huge benefits it can bring to your business. It doesn’t matter what kind of business you...
The real reason behind my rebrand
As you know my business has just gone through a very exciting transformation from ‘Branching Out’ to ‘Happy Heart Online Marketing’. And despite my initial reservations, it’s been an amazing journey. I started Branching Out from scratch, and over 6 years, I...
HOW TO get your business seen in Google
I did Google 'Should I get divorced' How to Get the Best Results From Long-Tail Keywords... Want to get your website visible and indexed on the major search engines? Then make sure you give your keywords plenty of TLC and attention. While the whole SEO/keyword thing...
Why you need 360 degree branding
If you’re a little bamboozled by the term ‘360 degree branding’ then let me explain what it is in normal speak instead of online jargon... 360 degree branding is, essentially, making sure your branding is represented at every customer touch point. From that...
HOW TO get started on your blog in 5 EASY STEPS
Does the thought of starting a blog fill you with dread? Then keep reading. I promise you it isn’t half as scary as you might think. You just need to find a blog blueprint that works for you, and you’ll be off those starting blocks in a flash. Here are a few...
What is SSL and why does my website need it?
Wondering what all the SSL fuss is about? You may have noticed a lot of recent talk about how you can improve your search engine ranking (when people look for your kind of business in Google, for instance) if your site has an SSL certificate. And it’s true. Google...
The power of a testimonial
You can’t beat a good testimonial, can you? They’re a fab confidence booster for those wobbly days. They’re a much-needed reminder when your inner chatterbox has you doubting your business acumen and whether you’re cut out for all this. And as an entrepreneur...
Why your small business needs an Email List
Do you have an email list for your business? Not just a list of customers who've bought something from you in the past, but a list of people who've opted-in to receive regular newsletters, special offers, or other updates from you? No? Well, if you don’t think...
Is the REAL you shining through? Authenticity and your online brand
The more virtual our lives get, it seems the more we cry out for something genuine. What customers really want now is not just a product or a service - it’s a brand they can believe in. We all know that people buy people, so now, more than ever before, businesses must...
Keep it simple… Make it significant!
When I set up Branching Out Online, my key objective was to keep it simple. I knew that many small business owners were confused and intimidated by the obscure “techno-talk” and jargon surrounding online marketing. It put them off, it stressed them out, and it held...
Shine online with your business branding
Some small business owners think that branding is a luxury for the big boys, but this is a serious misconception. Whether you are a therapist, a photographer or a shop, branding REALLY matters and, it matters in every area of your business, but especially in your...
Help! I don’t know where to start with social media!
Sometimes, in the midst of running a business, getting to grips with your online presence can seem like an impossible task. “I don’t know where to start!” is a common, exasperated cry from many who skirt around their social media with a wary...
3 STEPS to make Google fall in love with your business
Have you ever added your keywords into Google to see where your business ranks? If you have, and you’ve ranked, then that’s probably because you’ve put some effort into making this happen. Whether you’ve got an SEO specialist on board or you’ve discovered how to do...
But Facebook Live scares the pants off me!
You won’t be the first and you definitely won’t be the last person to feel like this. It scares everyone at first, particularly if you’re more comfortable to let your fingers do your talking. But, in the big scheme of things Facebook live is a fantastic way to reach...
What’s the difference between a blog and a newsletter?
What is a blog and what is a newsletter? A blog (or short version of the words ‘web log’) is a piece of content or article that is written and published on your website (or on a blogging platform – Blogger/Tumblr/Wordpress, for example). A newsletter is written and...
Do you really need a blog?
Do I really need a blog? In a nutshell, yes! As an entrepreneur what are your top three priorities? To attract new clients? To grow your business? To make more money? Blogging can help you achieve all three! Let me explain... How blogging can help you get new clients...
15 REASONS why Instagram is a marketing must-have for your small business
Thinking about using Instagram but not quite sure if it’s right for you and your business? It isn’t just for kids and cool hipsters. It’s actually a fab resource for businesses too. So keep reading to find out why I love it and why I think it’s a marketing must-have...
Even if you do NOTHING ELSE, do these 5 THINGS online
Marketing your business can steal huge chunks of your precious time. And whenever you’re at your busiest, it’s always the first to slip. But then it becomes that vicious of cycle of “I haven’t got time to write a blog/newsletter/post this week” to “Why has it all...
6 WAYS to spruce up your seasonal social media (and get noticed!)
The clocks have gone back and it’s dark by 4.30pm right now (boo!). But that doesn’t mean we have to go into hibernation mode. No. In fact, the change of seasons is a fab excuse to spruce up your social media and freshen up your content. It’s time for some cracklin’...
11 QUICK AND EASY WAYS to update your website
When was the last time you updated your website? In the last week/month/year? Erm... you don't really update your website? Well, if I told you that this could be costing you potential customers, would you give it priority? Your website is your company's shop window;...
5 Simple Ways To Make Your Website Work For You
One of the things that most small business owners have in common is that they would like to increase traffic to their website. Many feel that they are “missing out”, overlooked or simply lost in the scrum that makes up the battleground of today’s online marketers. ...
Online marketing – Get the bangers on your BBQ
With blue skies and soaring temperatures, I bet I’m not that only one who enjoyed a few al fresco meals this week. And the smells of ribs cooking over charcoal got me thinking about how hosting a great BBQ is like getting your small business seen online. Not only do...