John Lawley

A website is a complex thing. It requires a number of specialisms to make it work effectively for your business. The first stages of a website are the design.

Websites are complex things, and it takes a team of specialised professionals to create an effective one.

You may not realise it, but the design of your website can have a big impact on your SEO (search engine optimisation).

Creating an engaging user experience is essential for attracting buyers and building an effective digital footprint

Are you looking to maximise your property investment by capturing the attention of potential investors? Professional web design services can help you create an impressive online presence that will make a lasting impression.

Have you ever given thought to how well your content marketing is performing?

The UK has the fourth largest eCommerce market in the world worth an estimated £120 billion in 2021 and the first quarter of 2022.

First party cookies and data may now become very important.

In March 2022, Google finally announced that Universal Analytics will be coming to an end – with the launch of GA4 set for some time in early 2023.

So, you’ve decided to put together a podcast, but what do you need to do to get things underway?

Sonic audio (or social audio) presents a big opportunity for brands to collaborate with experts, influencers and celebrities.

Starting your new podcast may seem a daunting task but the technology to create audio programmes and publish them is well developed.

Given the rise of texting, WhatsApp and social media over the past 10 years, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the art of real conversation was dead and buried.

We’ve recently been working on developing and designing a number of eCommerce websites.

Successful branding is far from an easy task, and for organisations of a certain size that rely heavily on their branding, it is vitally important to remain relevainsnt to fend off the threat posed by competitors.

Does website hosting affect page loading speed? Your business can’t afford to have pages that take an age to reveal the content to customers.

3rd party scripts can be extremely beneficial for your website, making it more interactive and dynamic for visitors. However,

The time it takes for your website has a direct impact on how Google ranking, with user experience and mobile friendly sites now given priority.

In today’s increasingly digitised world it would be fair to assume every business has a website and that they use the search engine to advertise their services or products.

A lot has happened over the past 16 months or so, with first Brexit and then the COVID pandemic adding a considerable amount of stress and worry to all our lives and now there's Google's Page Experience update.

One of the key targets for all businesses in 2021 and beyond is to adopt sustainable practises that reduce harm to the environment.

There are many sub-sections of SEO marketing and one of the most important for any business is focusing on attracting local customers.

Video content is becoming more important than ever and no matter how small or large your business it’s something you should consider adding to your website.

Google Maps is a great tool that can be used to help new local customers find your business.

While website SEO is important to your business there are some other free tools you can use to support the visibility of your brand.

Now that Google prioritise the indexing of mobile sites ahead of desktop versions, you need to ensure your company doesn’t suffer in the search rankings.

Web design trends come and go, influenced by the changing world around us in the same way fashion, music, art and other creative industries respond to cultural shifts.

As mobile usage continues to surge it is changing the way Google is indexing websites and ranking search engine results.

Great mobile web design will make all the difference to how customers use your site.

There are lots of eCommerce payment options but which types are best for your web store?

Once you understand why customers buy your products you are in a greater position to serve their needs and increase sales for your business.

Redesigning a website is no small job and it takes a lot of preparation and detailed work to ensure it looks great and performs well on search engines.

Since the end of 2016 Google have been slowly shifting towards mobile-first indexing and the search engine giant recently revealed that by March 2021 mobile-first indexing will be used for every site in their index.

If you are not experienced with using code, Shopify page builders are your best option.

Anyone thinking of setting up an eCommerce website usually whittles their options down to Shopify vs WooCommerce.

Shopify website design is made easy thanks to its simple layout and the tools that are available from the start.

You may have seen Google and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) companies talking about Core Web Vitals over the past few months.

Web design and SEO go hand-in-hand, so it’s important not only to have an attractive looking website, but also one that can help produce strong search engine results.

There are a variety of factors that go into deciding your ranking on Google. One that is hotly debated is domain age, with some saying it doesn’t matter at all.

Secure websites are more important than ever in today’s online world, with an ever-increasing number of hackers and bots roaming the net causing disruption.

Image Optimisation can be a quick win for your website. While written content is, of course, important, images play just as an important role in selling your products and services.

One element of the SEO process you may not have come across is something called structured data, or schema mark-up.

When Google crawls your website to measure engagement metrics, user experience (UX) is one of the main factors taken into account.

Social signals can help your website rank so it’s now important to have a good presence on relevant social media platforms used by your target audience.

Page Speed, Load Time or Page Loading Speed – all essentially mean very similar things. If your website pages are not loading fast enough, it is likely having a negative effect.

With over 50% of visits to your website likely coming from a phone mobile usability is now a huge factor.

Content length may not be the first thing you think about but a lot of time and energy goes into creating content for your website.

It’s not only keywords that pay an important role in SEO, but backlinks are just as crucial.

Which is the best website hosting service available? Well, even if you have the best website in the world, without a reliable web host service you are far more likely to experience technical issues that can lead to lost sales and a long-term drop in website visitors.

WordPress is the most popular CMS in the world, with around 455 million websites using it to power their content, which accounts for almost 20% of the total 1.3 billion active websites currently found on the internet (as of 2020).

Here we discuss your website hosting service and if you're new to it provide some background as setting up a new website can seem like a daunting task from the outset.

Customer reviews are a great way to back up your authority and nothing helps sell your product or service better than the feedback of happy customers.

If you are looking to transfer web hosting to a new provider then read on! If you are unsure whether you can transfer your website hosting, the simple answer would be yes.

Easily add messaging apps to your website. Communication is everything when it comes to keeping customers happy and if you can find ways to make it more convenient for them they are more likely to spend money as a result.

An Instagram feed can be a great visual way of displaying content on your website. Finding ways to connect your social media marketing with your website can bring a number of benefits to your business.

Time is of the essence when it comes to keeping visitors and potential customers engaged on your website.

A How To widget can be especially useful for your website. Web pages featuring tutorials or guides need to be easy to read and follow.

For the vast majority of businesses there are a number of common questions asked by customers that can be easily answered without having to handle each one personally.

Written content on your website is the most common method used to get your message across to customers.

There are a number of different ways you can boost your presence on Google to produce more leads and increase conversions.

It pays to make the most out of the organic content you post on social media – be it in video, photographic or written form.

Your website strategy will now be key to growth in the coming weeks, months and years.

Do you know who your ideal clients are, or are you unaware of the type of customer who spends money with you?

The importance of creating and maintaining a client database cannot be overstated. It provides a crucial information resource for your business not only in terms of contacts, but also in building sustainable revenue.

The dizzy world of online advertising has been shaken up quite a bit by the Covid-19 pandemic but as with all major changes this can lead to opportunities arising.

With likes of TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube all offering huge audiences to connect, how do you know which one is best for your business?

How do you re-establish your business during a pandemic? Even during the current period businesses need to find ways to grow and expand.

As most people have been on lockdown at home, there has been an increased focus on social media marketing.

COVD-19 has changed the way everyone conducts business, but even as the commercial world prepares to reopen, thoughts have already shifted towards preparing for a potential second or even third wave of the coronavirus.

A little while back I spoke on the Simplified Marketing Podcast giving a number of ideas and website tips on how to use your site effectively during these difficult times.

During the Covid-19 outbreak times are exceptionally hard for businesses all around the World and there's the prospect of a 35% fall in UK GDP as a result of the Coronavirus crisis.

We are SproutSocial agency partners and absolutely LOVE the software. If you manage social media accounts then the first thing you need to find is a reliable piece of software to help you take the leg-work out of scheduling posts, replying to enquiries and gaining insights and analytics.

This post on Video Meetings was written at the start of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown in the UK. We've since revisited it and added more...

If you want to improve your photography skills for your brand there here are some helpful tips to get you started on the road to taking great Instagram photos.

Your website is supposed to be a reflection of your brand and its unique offering. You want every element to stand out from the competition and to speak with clarity to each and every visitor that arrives there and one way to do this is with custom icons.

Maximising social media for your brand is more than just posting content every day. It needs to be concise and targeted to the ever changing needs of your customer base.

As the Brexit deadline approaches once again, the battle across party political lines continues to intensify. Controlling the conversation on social media plays a big role in trying to retain and win over new voters ahead of a general election.

The digital landscape is forever changing, both in terms of technology and the regulatory standards businesses have to meet while using it.

If you are designing and building websites using WordPress it's difficult not to have heard about Elementor, the visual builder that allows you to create eye catching websites quickly and, in the more simple types of build, without any coding knowledge.

Monitoring and tracking user information at every stage of the sales funnel is vitally important for your business. It gives you the insight you need to understand behavioural patterns and buying motivations, making it easier to convert users into long-term customers.

The very idea of a chatbot can be quite intimidating for some people. A computer giving responses, how will it be received by your customers?

When smartphones first became popular, people realised that traditional ‘desktop’ websites didn't work very well on the smaller displays.

Unless you have a business where someone buys your product on impulse (or in an emergency), most of your customers will go through a decision-making process that may take anywhere from a couple of weeks through to several months or even a year to complete. So how can your website work to generate sales?

Call it what you like, a blog, a news section, articles, they’re all essentially the same thing – posts, a type of page within your website where you can add your thoughts on life, the Universe, everything.

A recent tweet from actor and writer Paul Scheer (The League and Human Giant) picked up on a clever piece of marketing by a retail store in America.

Branding has more of an effect on us than many of us realise. It’s not just the logo, font choice and words that influence the way we engage with them, but just as importantly, the use of colour.

In today’s e-commerce driven world, every business needs a website to sustain and grow their customer base.

So which website platform is the best? In this article we will explore a number of different platforms you can use to build a new website.

Social media is more than just an advertising or customer service channel for brands. It should be used as a building block to support and inform almost every aspect of your business.

Achieve Your Goals – a guest post by Andrew Black – find out more about Andrew and his work at Heroes on Hand.

Following the criticism thrown towards Facebook for the way some adverts have been used by various organisations on their platform in the political arena, they have now created an exciting new free tool called Facebook Ads Library.

Google leads the way when it comes to online searches. It’s the first place almost everyone goes to when looking for whatever it is they have in mind.

Leave your DIY to the experts – a guest post by Georgia Stylianou – find out more about Georgia and her work at Marshmallow Design and for more FREE brand and marketing advice.

As a business constantly on the lookout for ways to grow your customer base and engagement with potential new clients, you want to use the most cost effective tools available to you to make that all important first impression.

There isn’t anything more frustrating than having ownership of a website you cannot fully control.

It’s estimated that visitors to your website will make a snap judgement in as little as 10-20 seconds about whether or not to investigate further or to go to a competitor.

Facebook connects people globally, enabling social interaction, content sharing, and community building online

A tool designed to identify and mitigate misinformation on its platform

LinkedIn for Business boosts professional networking, brand visibility, and market insight through corporate profiles

Instagram for Business enhances brand engagement through visual storytelling and targeted advertising features

Pinterest for Businesses drives brand visibility and sales through visual discovery and inspiration

In this quick fire guide we run through some of the most pertinent questions you need to ask yourself

Well hello! I’d like to introduce you to my new monthly newsletter, which is in written and audio form.

In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is more than just a luxury; it's a necessity. For businesses across the UK, from the bustling streets of Central London to the quaint corners of Barnet, making your mark online can be the difference between thriving and merely surviving.

The integration of AI with web design techniques is quickly changing the way websites are developed and maintained. A lot has changed in recent years, with processes being streamlined and creativity elevated to allow for greater levels of customisation.

Web design templates can be an easy go-to option for many design projects because they suggest enhanced simplicity and efficiency.

As website personalisation changes the way businesses sell their products and services, the customer experience is being transformed into something just as unique and individual.

Whether you’re an experienced website designer or a relative newcomer, it’s important to keep up to date with the latest tools and tech that can support your projects.

If you are planning to set up a new website or intend to refresh an existing design, you will be faced with two main options: should you build every element from scratch to ensure it is fully customised to your brand or do you rely on AI to get things up and running quickly?

It is now the norm for designers and developers to incorporate AI into their work, although how you navigate these important ethical considerations is not so clear cut.

One of the most accessible aspects of the AI revolution has been the ability to create complex, high-quality images in a short space of time. AI-generated art offers several benefits for small businesses – and some drawbacks – so deciding when to use it can be tricky.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just changing the way websites are designed and built. The technology is also influencing fundamental SEO practices, with new innovative tools now available that can further bolster your search engine rankings.

The arrival of AI technology has allowed web designers to transform the way they approach website creation. This has also helped to improve accessibility tools, which is a particular area of importance when you consider that there are an estimated 16 million people[GS1] in the UK who have a disability.

The ultimate goal of any website is to provide a smooth and engaging experience for the user, with the design element playing a pivotal role.

Ecommerce, or electronic commerce, refers to the buying and selling of goods or services using the internet, and the transfer of money and data to execute these transactions.

This post explores what a website content writer does, and why their role is indispensable in the digital landscape.

Website optimisation services are critical for any business looking to enhance its online presence. At Webshape Design, we understand the vital role that a finely tuned website plays in the digital landscape.

This guide will help you understand how to find a website content writer who can meet your specific business needs and enhance your digital marketing strategy.

In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for businesses aiming to maintain a competitive edge.

Here we look at some of the main optimisation issues faced by business and what can be done to resolve them.

Website optimisation services for mobile devices are indispensable in today's mobile-first world.

This article will explore how UK-based content writers can significantly enhance your website’s performance and visitor engagement.

Website optimisation services are vital to achieving peak performance in today's digital arena.

Website optimisation services are essential for any business aiming to enhance its online performance.

Explore why WordPress is a top choice for web design and how Webshape Design expertly crafts bespoke WordPress websites to meet your business needs.

Discover how free WordPress plugins like Yoast SEO and Duplicate Page can enhance your site's functionality and user experience.

Explore whether free WordPress themes are viable for your website and how they can offer cost-effective design solutions.

Learn how to enhance WordPress security with plugins like WordFence, Loginizer, and Limit Login Attempts in our latest blog post.

Explore how WordPress can effectively support eCommerce with WooCommerce, and learn the steps to setting up your online store.

Discover how WordPress can be optimised to create dynamic websites, featuring real-time updates and interactive user experiences.

Explore how WordPress functions step-by-step, from installation to advanced usage, and unlock its full potential for your website.

Discover which WordPress themes are best for Elementor and learn how to create a custom theme with a basic template.

Explore why choosing a professional web developer to host your WordPress site ensures optimal performance and tailored solutions.

When it comes to finding the best UK hosting for WordPress website, what is the best way to start your search?

Discover Webshape Design, the top WordPress web design agency in the UK, with over 10 years of expert experience.

Explore premier WordPress website designs with Webshape Design, where innovation meets functionality for optimal online presence.

Discover essential WordPress plugins for optimal site functionality, security, and SEO with our expert guide at Webshape Design.

Explore whether WordPress is the ideal platform for your website with expert insights from Webshape Design.

Explore why WordPress offers superior flexibility and scalability over Wix, making it the better choice for serious website development.

Discover why WordPress offers superior customisation and scalability over Squarespace, making it the ideal choice for growing websites.

Explore why WordPress enhances but won't replace web developers, ensuring custom, secure, and efficient websites at Webshape Design.

Explore the benefits and considerations of converting your WordPress site to Shopify with expert guidance from Webshape Design.

Explore how Webshape Design can seamlessly transition or integrate your WordPress site with Webflow for optimal web performance.

Unlock the power of e-commerce with WordPress and WooCommerce, offering unmatched customisation and scalability for your online store.

Leverage the best of both worlds by integrating WordPress's robust content management with Shopify's powerful e-commerce capabilities.

Unlock creative web design potential with WordPress and Elementor, offering unmatched flexibility and ease of use for stunning websites.

Explore the key differences between WordPress and Webflow to determine which platform suits your web development needs best.

Explore the differences between WordPress and Wix to determine which platform best suits your website needs and long-term goals.

Explore the distinct features of WordPress and Squarespace to determine which platform best suits your website's needs and goals.

Explore whether WordPress with WooCommerce or Shopify best suits your e-commerce needs in our detailed comparison.

In an era where technology infiltrates every aspect of our lives, the menace of cyber attacks looms larger than ever.

In the digital age, cyberattacks have become a daily ordeal, not just for large corporations and governments but for individuals as well.

In today’s digital landscape, the significance of website security cannot be overstated. Cyber threats are evolving at an unprecedented pace, and website owners must be proactive in safeguarding their online presence.

In our digital age, the importance of web security cannot be overstated. With cyber threats growing in number and sophistication, ensuring the safety of websites and online services is essential.

This post explores whether Webflow is the right fit for e-commerce businesses looking to build or redesign their online stores.

This blog examines why Webflow is an excellent option for entrepreneurs and businesses looking to build or improve their e-commerce sites.

This blog explores the unique benefits Shopify offers, making it an attractive choice for anyone looking to start or grow their online store.

This blog explores the synergy between these platforms and how integrating them can elevate your online store.

This guide will walk you through the process of transferring your online presence from Webflow to Shopify, ensuring a smooth transition that leverages the best of both platforms.

This blog delves into the advantages of Webflow, focusing on its impact on e-commerce and website design, and why it might be the perfect tool for your online strategy.

This blog explores these benefits, delving deep into why Webflow might be the superior choice over WordPress for designing cutting-edge, efficient, and customisable websites.

In this blog post, we will focus on two popular platforms: Shopify and WebFlow.

Regular website maintenance is a cornerstone of our service, ensuring that websites not only perform optimally but also maintain high security and functionality standards. Here are ten practical ways that diligent website maintenance can safeguard your website and enhance its overall functionality.

To optimise your website for ChatGPT and other AI Language Models (LLMs), it's essential to ensure your content is structured, accessible, and rich in relevant information. Here’s how you can do it:

Migrating a website can seem daunting, but with the right preparation and strategies, it's a task that can lead to greater performance, enhanced user experience, and better SEO results.

In the ever-evolving landscape of web design, one critical challenge is ensuring your website provides a seamless and engaging user experience across all devices, regardless of screen size.

In the dynamic realm of web development, the choice of platform can significantly influence the functionality, user experience, and scalability of your website.

In today's digital landscape, the first few seconds a visitor spends on your website are crucial. At Webshape Design, we have mastered the art of capturing and retaining user attention.

In today’s digital landscape, intuitive and interactive features significantly enhance user experience. We are thrilled to introduce a dynamic map feature on our website that allows users to explore property locations with ease.

At Webshape Design, we're constantly exploring innovative ways to enhance the functionality and user experience of our clients' websites. Our latest updates are designed not only to meet the unique needs of our clients but also to ensure that their customers enjoy a seamless and interactive online experience.

FAQ sections have become an essential part of websites, helping users find answers quickly while also improving search engine rankings.

At Webshape Design, we continuously strive to improve user experience and make online shopping as seamless as possible. One of our latest additions to our website is the Product Enquiry Form, a feature designed to provide customers with direct and detailed product information before they make a purchase decision.

At Webshape Design, we are committed to enhancing digital experiences by developing intuitive and effective solutions. Our latest innovation, the Document Filter System, is designed to streamline document searches, ensuring that users can quickly locate the most relevant and up-to-date files with ease.

The Interactive Global Map is designed to enrich the user experience by merging visual engagement with practical functionality.

Discover how optimising your website forms can increase enquiries, improve security, and boost conversions. Learn how to make your forms easier to use, more engaging, and more effective at turning visitors into customers.

In the age of generative AI, your website isn’t just for human eyes anymore – it’s also a resource for AI systems.

Instagram is great for showcasing your work—but it’s not enough on its own. A website builds trust, captures leads, and helps you appear in Google searches. In this blog, we explain why every tradesperson needs a website to grow their business and stay competitive—even if you're active on Instagram.

Having a strong social media presence is great but it’s not enough. To truly succeed online, you need both social media and a professional website. This blog explores how each platform plays a vital role in building trust, attracting leads, and creating a well-rounded digital presence for your business.

WordPress is the world’s most popular website platform – and with that popularity comes a lot of opinions about its security.