Guides & Tips

Build a solid customer base online May 13 2008
All great brands are built on the three pillars of success: professionalism, an expert service, and productive after-sales care. SmallBusiness.co.uk speaks to Microsoft about the free online tools that can help you build a thriving customer base. Read Can VoIP really reduce business telephony costs? May 12 2008
Small businesses are constantly seeking to cut costs and become more efficient. This guide to VoIP from SmallBusiness.co.uk and purchasing adviser Indirectchannel explain how using voice over internet protocol (VoIP) can save money. Read Untangling the web for a better business Apr 29 2008
This beginners' guide from SmallBusness.co.uk and Chris Stenning, managing director of UK Online, can help you get started on the road to being a smart online operator. Read How to build a website for free Feb 05 2008
For small business owners the cost of having a site designed and maintained is often too large a hurdle. Yet in today's market, an online presence will greatly increase the likelihood of reaching your target customers. SmallBusiness.co.uk compares two examples of free services that enable you to get your business online and speaks to the entrepreneurs that use them. Read Setting up card payments for retail and online selling Dec 11 2007
Nowadays, we all take card payments for granted, both in the high street and online. For most businesses, being able to accept card payments is a necessity. The following checklist provided by SmallBusiness.co.uk covers the main things to consider when setting up card payments. Read Building your business through links Nov 13 2007
A key aspect of search engine optimisation (SEO) is link building; establishing links to your site on other websites so that search engines pick them up. While it can be a laborious process, the potential impact on your search engine rankings if you do it effectively is second to none. Read Guide to identity theft protection Nov 12 2007
The outcry over identity theft on social networking sites like FaceBook and MySpace serves as a reminder of how the openness of the internet can mean rich pickings for fraudsters. Educating your staff about the dangers is key to protecting your business. Read Top tips for WEEE compliance Oct 29 2007
Are you aware that your old PCs could be breaking the law? The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive finally became UK law in 2007. Read Get ready for the Xmas rush Oct 16 2007
It may seem early to start talking about Christmas with summer only just behind us  but many small businesses are already getting ready and gearing up for the biggest sales opportunity of the year. You may want to start thinking now about getting your website ready for the rush. Read Search engine marketing explained Sep 14 2007
What can you do to ensure your website is reaching your target audience and isn’t lost among millions of others? This introduction to search engine marketing from Smallbusiness.co.uk and Seamus Ryan of Optimease will point you in the right direction. Read The Pros and Cons of business blogging Jul 18 2007
Blogs make up part of a new era of Internet growth and are rapidly becoming essential to any marketing or PR strategy. Read this guide to business blogging and its benefits from SmallBusness.co.uk and Hayden Allen-Vercoe from blog network Orbital Media. Read Make your website search engine friendly Jun 21 2007
In a competitive business climate an online presence is increasingly important for small businesses. One way to drive traffic to your site is to boost your ranking on the top search engines â“ Google, Yahoo and MSN. This guide from SmallBusiness.co.uk provides some techniques you can use to improve the chances of your site appearing in a prominent and relevant position in search results. Read Coping with data loss May 22 2007
According to data recovery firm Ontrack, 89 per cent of companies fail to allocate budget for data recovery and 78 per cent have experienced data loss in the past 12 months. SmallBusiness.co.uk offers the following tips on handling data. Read Top blog content tips Feb 07 2007

There are now more than 66 million ‘weblogs’ or online diaries published on the internet, with an additional 175,000 estimated to be created every day. For small businesses, these ‘blogs’ are a largely untapped resource that can provide your company with a competitive edge.
Click to read a guide to business blogging...

Read Maximise your website’s potential Jan 19 2007
A website can be the key to business growth and unlock markets across the globe, but the wrong website will be overlooked almost as soon as it’s been visited. Visitors make up their mind about the quality of a website in seconds so if you don’t do it right you’ll miss vital opportunities, giving the edge to your competition.
Click to read on... Read Top IT tips from the geeks Nov 20 2006
As we become more and more dependent on computers for business, it is important to keep up to date with changes in technology and to protect our private information. Read our top IT tips, written in conjunction with the folk at Geeks-on-wheels, to find out how to protect yourself and save money on IT spending. Click read… Read Making a transactional website Sep 13 2006
There are two considerations to take into account when looking at making a site transactional: how are clients going to place orders and how are you going to receive payments? Read Top 10 ecommerce tips Jun 02 2006
Online auction websites such as eBay and Amazon have spawned a generation of online entrepreneurs setting up their own ecommerce sites. These top ten tips may help you follow in their footsteps. Read Beginner’s guide to backing up data Oct 19 2005
What would you do if you lost your computer hard drive or company server due to age, catastrophic events or even a nasty virus? Make sure your company is covered for all eventualities by following these simple steps on how to back up data. Read Setting up a computer server Oct 05 2005
As your small business grows, the time will come when you’ll need to install a computer server or upgrade your existing unit to handle the number of terminals, printers and other technical wizardry you now use. Read What VoIP can do for you Sep 07 2005
One of the buzzwords in technology circles of late has been VoIP or Voice-over Internet Protocol, something that could revolutionise small businesses' telecoms systems and save them money. Read Internet Security for small businesses Sep 07 2005
Many growing businesses benefit from the ability to focus and execute at a fast pace, but often suffer from a lack IT resources. This can pose a serious challenge for smaller businesses that need to broaden their security strategy. Read Guide to beating spyware Aug 15 2005
Spyware is the name given to unwanted software that performs certain tasks on your computer without your consent and it can wreak havoc with your business. Read Guide to mobile working Aug 15 2005
One of the key benefits of a mobile office environment is increased productivity, as you can work at home, on the move, or even at client premises. Mobile devices also enable you to spend more time with your clients, customers and suppliers. Read Guide to website accessibility Jun 16 2005
Most businesses are aware of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), which aims to stop discrimination faced by disabled people in accessing a company's goods or services, but many don't realise that accessibility also applies to their websites. Read