Our Blog & Web Design Ideas

Our Blog & Web Design Ideas

Creative ideas showcasing what’s new and what’s possible in the constantly moving world of web design, branding and social media. Plus a healthy dose of how to DIY your own site with our video tutorials.

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The Difference Between Web Design and Development
Website Ideas

The Difference Between Web Design and Development

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.
How Web Design and Development Work Together to Create Effective Websites
Website Hosting

How Web Design and Development Work Together to Create Effective Websites

Websites are complex things, and it takes a team of specialised professionals to create an effective one.
Did you know that your web design affects your SEO?
Search Engine Optimisation

Did you know that your web design affects your SEO?

You may not realise it, but the design of your website can have a big impact on your SEO (search engine optimisation).
Property Development Creative Design: Creating an Engaging Experience
Property Marketing Ideas

Property Development Creative Design: Creating an Engaging Experience

Creating an engaging user experience is essential for attracting buyers and building an effective digital footprint
Property Marketing Strategies: Capturing the Attention of Potential Investors with Professional Web Design Services
Property Marketing Ideas

Property Marketing Strategies: Capturing the Attention of Potential Investors with Professional Web Design Services

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.
Content Marketing And How Web Design Impacts It's effectiveness
Website Ideas

Content Marketing And How Web Design Impacts It's effectiveness

Have you ever given thought to how well your content marketing is performing?
The Dos and Don'ts of Starting up an eCommerce Store
Woocommerce

The Dos and Don'ts of Starting up an eCommerce Store

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 are now more important than ever
Website Ideas

First party cookies are now more important than ever

First party cookies and data may now become very important.
What does a world without cookies and pixels look like?
Website Ideas

What does a world without cookies and pixels look like?

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.
10 top tips to get your podcast started
Social Media Ideas

10 top tips to get your podcast started

So, you’ve decided to put together a podcast, but what do you need to do to get things underway?
Why is social and sonic audio so important for your business?
Social Media Ideas

Why is social and sonic audio so important for your business?

Sonic audio (or social audio) presents a big opportunity for brands to collaborate with experts, influencers and celebrities.
What to think about when starting your new podcast
Website Ideas

What to think about when starting your new podcast

Starting your new podcast may seem a daunting task but the technology to create audio programmes and publish them is well developed.
What is Social Audio?
Longer Read

What is Social Audio?

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.
How eCommerce companies can make the most of Google PageSpeed Insights
Woocommerce

How eCommerce companies can make the most of Google PageSpeed Insights

We’ve recently been working on developing and designing a number of eCommerce websites.
Is it the end of Instagram as we know it?
Branding Ideas

Is it the end of Instagram as we know it?

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.
How does website hosting affect page loading speed?
Search Engine Optimisation

How does website hosting affect page loading speed?

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.
Review your 3rd party scripts and improve your website loading speed
Website Ideas

Review your 3rd party scripts and improve your website loading speed

3rd party scripts can be extremely beneficial for your website, making it more interactive and dynamic for visitors. However,
How to speed up your website
Website Ideas

How to speed up your website

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.
The key to optimising your online presence
Branding Ideas

The key to optimising your online presence

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.
How to manage Google’s Page Experience Update
Longer Read

How to manage Google’s Page Experience Update

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.
Making the change to eco-friendly web hosting
Website Ideas

Making the change to eco-friendly web hosting

One of the key targets for all businesses in 2021 and beyond is to adopt sustainable practises that reduce harm to the environment.
Website Location Pages - why you should focus on your local area
Search Engine Optimisation

Website Location Pages - why you should focus on your local area

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 on your website - the best way to use it for maximum effect
Branding Ideas

Video content on your website - the best way to use it for maximum effect

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 - How to start ranking
Longer Read

Google Maps - How to start ranking

Google Maps is a great tool that can be used to help new local customers find your business.
Using Google My Business Posts to your advantage
Search Engine Optimisation

Using Google My Business Posts to your advantage

While website SEO is important to your business there are some other free tools you can use to support the visibility of your brand.
Mobile First Indexing: Our Top Tips
Website Ideas

Mobile First Indexing: Our Top Tips

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.
This Years Web Design Trends
Website Ideas

This Years Web Design Trends

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.
Mobile First Indexing
Website Ideas

Mobile First Indexing

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

Mobile Web Design

Great mobile web design will make all the difference to how customers use your site.
eCommerce Payment Options discussed
Website Ideas

eCommerce Payment Options discussed

There are lots of eCommerce payment options but which types are best for your web store?
Your Website Conversion Rate Optimisation
Website Ideas

Your Website Conversion Rate Optimisation

Once you understand why customers buy your products you are in a greater position to serve their needs and increase sales for your business.
What to think about when redesigning a website
Website Ideas

What to think about when redesigning a website

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.
Google indexing changes from desktop to mobile-first
Longer Read

Google indexing changes from desktop to mobile-first

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.
Shopify Page Builders Ranked
Shopify

Shopify Page Builders Ranked

If you are not experienced with using code, Shopify page builders are your best option.
Which is best for your online store: Shopify vs WooCommerce
Shopify

Which is best for your online store: Shopify vs WooCommerce

Anyone thinking of setting up an eCommerce website usually whittles their options down to Shopify vs WooCommerce.
Shopify Website Design: What to think about before creating your new store
Shopify

Shopify Website Design: What to think about before creating your new store

Shopify website design is made easy thanks to its simple layout and the tools that are available from the start.
Google’s Core Web Vitals and what it means for your website
Longer Read

Google’s Core Web Vitals and what it means for your website

You may have seen Google and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) companies talking about Core Web Vitals over the past few months.
6 key SEO tips that will improve your web design
Search Engine Optimisation

6 key SEO tips that will improve your web design

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.
Domain Age
Search Engine Optimisation

Domain Age

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.
HTTPS vs HTTP - Secure Websites
Search Engine Optimisation

HTTPS vs HTTP - Secure Websites

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.
Images and Image Optimisation
Search Engine Optimisation

Images and Image Optimisation

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.
Structured Data
Search Engine Optimisation

Structured Data

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

User Experience

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

Social Signals

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
Search Engine Optimisation

Page Speed

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.
Mobile Usability
Search Engine Optimisation

Mobile Usability

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

Content Length

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.
The importance of backlinks
Search Engine Optimisation

The importance of backlinks

It’s not only keywords that pay an important role in SEO, but backlinks are just as crucial.
The Best Website Hosting Service: Which one is it?
Website Hosting

The Best Website Hosting Service: Which one is it?

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 Hosting: Which hosting service is the best for your website?
Website Hosting

WordPress Hosting: Which hosting service is the best for your website?

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).
Which website hosting service is the best for beginners?
Website Hosting

Which website hosting service is the best for beginners?

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.
How to display Reviews - from Facebook, Google and Yelp

How to display Reviews - from Facebook, Google and Yelp

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.
Can you transfer web hosting?
Website Hosting

Can you transfer web hosting?

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.
Messaging Apps: Easily integrate WhatsApp and Messenger

Messaging Apps: Easily integrate WhatsApp and Messenger

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.
Instagram Feed: More visual content for your website
Social Media Ideas

Instagram Feed: More visual content for your website

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.
Table of Contents and how to configure
Website Ideas

Table of Contents and how to configure

Time is of the essence when it comes to keeping visitors and potential customers engaged on your website.
How To Widget: Easily add tutorials or guides to web pages

How To Widget: Easily add tutorials or guides to web pages

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.
Frequently Asked Questions and how to make them a feature

Frequently Asked Questions and how to make them a feature

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.
Using Charts On Your Site

Using Charts On Your Site

Written content on your website is the most common method used to get your message across to customers.
Google My Business - why you need to set it up

Google My Business - why you need to set it up

There are a number of different ways you can boost your presence on Google to produce more leads and increase conversions.
Boosting Organic Content On Social Media
Social Media Ideas

Boosting Organic Content On Social Media

It pays to make the most out of the organic content you post on social media – be it in video, photographic or written form.
Website Strategy: Updating it during the Covid-19 uncertainty

Website Strategy: Updating it during the Covid-19 uncertainty

Your website strategy will now be key to growth in the coming weeks, months and years.
Your Ideal Clients: why it's important you get to know them
Branding Ideas

Your Ideal Clients: why it's important you get to know them

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 Maintaining a Client Database
Branding Ideas

The Importance of Maintaining a Client Database

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.
Facebook Ads - what's working right now
Social Media Ideas

Facebook Ads - what's working right now

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.
Which Social Media platform works best for your business?
Social Media Ideas

Which Social Media platform works best for your business?

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?
Re-establish Your Business with these 5 Top Tips

Re-establish Your Business with these 5 Top Tips

How do you re-establish your business during a pandemic? Even during the current period businesses need to find ways to grow and expand.
Effective Marketing Branding in 5 Great Tips
Branding Ideas

Effective Marketing Branding in 5 Great Tips

As most people have been on lockdown at home, there has been an increased focus on social media marketing.
Business Tips to Survive and Prosper
Branding Ideas

Business Tips to Survive and Prosper

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.
Website Tips to grow your Business: Our Top 5 Tips
Website Hosting

Website Tips to grow your Business: Our Top 5 Tips

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.
Covid-19 Outbreak: How thinking local can help your business
Branding Ideas

Covid-19 Outbreak: How thinking local can help your business

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.
What is SproutSocial
Social Media Ideas

What is SproutSocial

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.
Video Meetings - Is it time to switch?
Branding Ideas

Video Meetings - Is it time to switch?

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...
5 tips to take great Instagram photos
Social Media Ideas

5 tips to take great Instagram photos

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.
Design custom icons for your website

Design custom icons for your website

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.
Get the most from your Social ROI
Social Media Ideas

Get the most from your Social ROI

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.
How NOT to use Social Media for Marketing
Social Media Ideas

How NOT to use Social Media for Marketing

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.
Making sure your business is GDPR compliant

Making sure your business is GDPR compliant

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

What is Elementor?

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.
Using Request Parameters to increase customer engagement

Using Request Parameters to increase customer engagement

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.
Your Guide to Chatbots

Your Guide to Chatbots

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?
Should you upgrade to a responsive website?

Should you upgrade to a responsive website?

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

How websites really generate sales

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?
Why is a blog so important?

Why is a blog so important?

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.
Why simple ideas often work best
Branding Ideas

Why simple ideas often work best

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.
Personal Branding and careful choice of colours
Branding Ideas

Personal Branding and careful choice of colours

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.
Why is online security SO important?
Website Hosting

Why is online security SO important?

In today’s e-commerce driven world, every business needs a website to sustain and grow their customer base.
Which website platform should I use for my new website?
Website Hosting

Which website platform should I use for my new website?

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.
The Three R's to measure your social impact
Social Media Ideas

The Three R's to measure your social impact

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.
Why sadness is inevitable when you achieve your goals
Branding Ideas

Why sadness is inevitable when you achieve your goals

Achieve Your Goals – a guest post by Andrew Black – find out more about Andrew and his work at Heroes on Hand.
Facebook Ads Library - how to spy on your rival's ads
Social Media Ideas

Facebook Ads Library - how to spy on your rival's ads

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.
Facebook vs Google in Local Search
Social Media Ideas

Facebook vs Google in Local Search

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.
Jon Peterman, and how he develops businesses

Jon Peterman, and how he develops businesses

In this episode we speak to Jon Peterman. Jon advises businesses on all sorts of matters having experience working both in the UK and abroad with Internationally based companies.
Andrew Black and Your Vision

Andrew Black and Your Vision

As a sole trader or entrepreneur how do you make it past that boundary of just you in the business without losing out on work?
Trades: Leave your DIY to the experts
Branding Ideas

Trades: Leave your DIY to the experts

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.
Making an impression from the very first view

Making an impression from the very first view

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.
Custom made widgets for your website

Custom made widgets for your website

There isn’t anything more frustrating than having ownership of a website you cannot fully control.
John speaks to Lorenzo Lusio about Local Search

John speaks to Lorenzo Lusio about Local Search

Regular contributor Lorenzo from Brick Digital is back to talk about the power of concentrating on local search.
Introducing Motion Effects to enhance your brand message

Introducing Motion Effects to enhance your brand message

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
Social Media Ideas

Facebook

Facebook connects people globally, enabling social interaction, content sharing, and community building online
Facebook Fact Find
Social Media Ideas

Facebook Fact Find

A tool designed to identify and mitigate misinformation on its platform
LinkedIn for Business
Social Media Ideas

LinkedIn for Business

LinkedIn for Business boosts professional networking, brand visibility, and market insight through corporate profiles
Instagram for Business
Social Media Ideas

Instagram for Business

Instagram for Business enhances brand engagement through visual storytelling and targeted advertising features
Pinterest for Businesses
Social Media Ideas

Pinterest for Businesses

Pinterest for Businesses drives brand visibility and sales through visual discovery and inspiration
Getting ahead in 2020
Social Media Ideas

Getting ahead in 2020

In this quick fire guide we run through some of the most pertinent questions you need to ask yourself
Harnessing AI for Creative Web Design: Transforming Aesthetics and Functionality
AI Ideas

Harnessing AI for Creative Web Design: Transforming Aesthetics and Functionality

In an era where the digital landscape is perpetually evolving, the fusion of artificial intelligence (AI) with web design is revolutionising the way businesses establish their online presence.
The Future of Web Design: How AI is Revolutionizing User Experience
AI Ideas

The Future of Web Design: How AI is Revolutionizing User Experience

As Webshape Design approaches a decade of delivering expert web design and secure web hosting, we stand at the forefront of a significant shift in the digital domain.
Is AI a Useful Tool For Website Personalisation?
AI Ideas

Is AI a Useful Tool For Website Personalisation?

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.
From Concept to Creation: Integrating AI into Your Web Design Workflow
AI Ideas

From Concept to Creation: Integrating AI into Your Web Design Workflow

As Webshape Design, a pioneer in the field of web design and development in the vibrant locales of Kings Cross, Central London, and Barnet in North London, approaches its 10th anniversary, we're reflecting on the transformative journey of web design.
Personalization at Scale: How AI is Tailoring Web Design to Individual Users
AI Ideas

Personalization at Scale: How AI is Tailoring Web Design to Individual Users

In the bustling heart of Kings Cross, Central London, and the serene expanse of Barnet in North London, Webshape Design stands at the vanguard of a digital revolution.
Navigating the AI Revolution: Ethical Considerations in AI-Enhanced Web Design
AI Ideas

Navigating the AI Revolution: Ethical Considerations in AI-Enhanced Web Design

As Webshape Design, a premier web design and development agency rooted in the heart of London, stands on the brink of its 10th anniversary, we reflect on the transformative journey of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into web design.
Beyond Templates: Using AI to Generate Unique Web Design Elements
AI Ideas

Beyond Templates: Using AI to Generate Unique Web Design Elements

In an era where the digital facade of a business significantly contributes to its success, standing out in the vast sea of online presences is not just an advantage—it's a necessity.
The Impact of AI on SEO: Strategies for Designing AI-Friendly Websites
AI Ideas

The Impact of AI on SEO: Strategies for Designing AI-Friendly Websites

As we edge closer to the two-decade mark in the 21st century, Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to reshape the digital landscape in ways that were once relegated to the realms of science fiction.
AI and Accessibility: Creating Inclusive Web Designs with Intelligent Solutions
AI Ideas

AI and Accessibility: Creating Inclusive Web Designs with Intelligent Solutions

In the heart of our digital era, where the boundary between the physical and online worlds blurs more each day, the importance of accessible web design has never been more pronounced.
How Can AI be Used to Improve Responsive Design?
AI Ideas

How Can AI be Used to Improve Responsive Design?

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.