Archive
5 Simple Ways to Promote Your Website
by Emily Slack
March 4th, 2026
You’ve launched your website. Now comes the harder part, getting people to actually find it. Promotion doesn’t need a big budget. But it does need some consistency. Here are five straightforward ways to get your website in front of the right people. 1. SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) SEO (or Search Engine Optimisation)is still one of the most effective ways to drive traffic. If your site is set up properly, you’ll appear when people search for what you offer. Focus on: Clear, useful content that answers real questions Logical page structure and easy navigation Relevant keywords (without forcing them in) Image alt text for accessibility and search Earning links from other trusted websites Also, don’t ignore technical basics like page speed and mobile usability. These now play a big part in rankings. It takes time, but done properly, SEO brings in consistent, high-quality traffic. 2. Blogging Most businesses either don’t blog, or give up too early. That’s a mistake. Regular blog content helps you: Show your expertise Answer common customer questions Rank for more search terms Give people a reason to return You don’t need to overcomplicate it. Start with simple, helpful topics your audience actually cares about. If writing isn’t your thing, get support. At Gravitas Web Design, we handle everything from blog topic ideas to writing and publishing, so it actually gets done. 3. Email Marketing Email is still one of the most reliable ways to stay in touch. You’re not relying on algorithms. You’re speaking directly to people who’ve chosen to hear from you. Use it to: Share useful content Promote offers or services Bring people back to your site Keep emails simple. One clear message, one clear action. And make sure every email includes a strong call to action. 4. Social Media Social media can work well, but only if you use it properly. Posting for the sake of it won’t get you far. Focus on: Content that’s useful or interesting Starting conversations, not just broadcasting Consistency over volume You don’t need to be everywhere. Pick the platforms your audience actually uses and do them well. 5. Email Signature It sounds basic, but most people overlook it. Every email you send is a chance to promote your business. Make sure your signature includes: Your name and role Your website link Key contact details You could also include a simple call to action It takes five minutes to set up and works in the background every day. There’s no single trick that drives traffic overnight. But if you apply these consistently, you’ll start to see momentum. And if you’d rather not figure it all out yourself, Gravitas Web Design can help you put a plan in place and actually follow through on it.
Cancer Support Centre
by Emily Slack
August 27th, 2024
GT Lifting
by Emily Slack
August 27th, 2024
Sharp Bookkeeping
by Emily Slack
August 27th, 2024
Norton Hall Centre
by Emily Slack
August 27th, 2024
Elevate Your Website with 9 Proven User Experience Tips
by Emily Slack
May 20th, 2024
I have been creating websites for businesses since 1997 and if there’s one thing I’ve learnt, it’s that an effective website is crucial for attracting, convincing and converting new customers. A professionally designed website not only enhances the website visitor (aka your next big customer!) experience but also drives enquiries and, ultimately, conversions. Having reviewed and audited hundreds of websites, it’s time to share some of the essential do’s and don’ts to consider with your business’s website – if you want it to stand out and serve its purpose effectively! 1. Do: Have a Clear Value Proposition Avoid vague homepage headers that don’t clearly state what your business does. Your homepage header is your main value proposition. In this example, a header like “Putting the Care back into Healthcare” is vague and, frankly, cheesy. It’s tempting to be clever with the main homepage header and even to try to inject some personality or humour into the title. However here’s two things to remember: a) The header isn’t competing with other headers for attention – it’s not an advert on a page of adverts or a newspaper headline competing with other newspaper headlines. That stage of grabbing attention has happened before the visitor even gets to your homepage – it might be the Google search listing or Social Media post clicked on to get here that has had to compete for attention. b) Second, the most important thing we can do here is re-assure the visitor that they are on the right web page for their needs. In this example the secondary header “Medical practitioner recruitment and locum services” is a much clearer example of what the business does. So switch them around and instantly the visitor knows they are in the right place. 2. Don’t: Use Generic Call to Action Labels Change generic call-to-action (CTA) labels such as “Find out more” to something more specific and actionable like, in this example, “View Available Candidates.” Specific CTAs are more instructional and enticing, giving our visitor a clear expectation of what will happen when they click the button. Think of this way. If you were in the market for candidates for a medical job and came to this website but the page was completely blank except for a button and the button said “Find out more” would you click it? If the page was empty except for a button saying: “View Available Candidates”, you would know what would happen if you clicked it. 3. Do: Focus on a Single, Strong Message Remove homepage slideshows as they dilute your main message. Research by Notre Dame University and The University of York, shows that most users won’t see all the slides, and what happens is that crucial information, like in this example’s award-winning credentials, will get missed. Instead, stick to a single, compelling message in your homepage hero (i.e. have a clear value proposition!) that resonates with your audience and leave any additional, useful and compelling content to further into the user’s journey. 4. Don’t: Use Distracting Background Images Eliminate background noise by avoiding images that don’t add value to your message. An unclear background image can distract from your main content. Keep the design clean and focused. 5. Do: Keep Visitors on Your Site Avoid placing social media icons at the top of your page. These icons become colourful distractions, leading visitors away from your site like the Pied Piper and into their social media feeds. Keep your visitors engaged with your content by placing social media links in the footer instead, otherwise they’ll be learning the latest TikTok dance-craze instead of how wonderful it would be to work with your business! 6. Do: Make Your Navigation Clear and Purposeful Your website’s navigation should tell a story—who you are, what you do, why visitors should choose you, and what they need to do next. Avoid vague tab titles like “Clients” in this example, which do not clearly inform visitors about the content of the page they will see when they click that link – is this page about clients? For clients? They’ll never know because they won’t click it! Use descriptive titles that encourage clicks. Also void “burger menus”, I don’t mean menus for yummy burgers, I’m referring to the three horizontal line menus that all mobile-friendly websites should be using but no desktop website can justify using! This is because on a desktop there is plenty of real estate to include a well-designed navigation menu without resorting to having to hide it. From the user’s perspective, this serves to force them to take action (e.g. click the burger menu) before they can make a decision on what they’d like to do next – and if there’s one thing web users don’t like to do, it’s click on more things than they have to! 7. Don’t: Have a Dedicated Testimonials Page Testimonials and reviews are important social proof that shows how you achieve what you say you’ll achieve, and they should be distributed across your site rather than confining them to a single page. On our website, when we had a page of testimonials, we looked at the stats and the Testimonials page was the 27th most popular page. So that meant they were very well hidden, instead every page should be a testimonials page! 8. Do: Keep Blog Content Fresh Update your blog regularly to maintain engagement – that is always easier said than done. However, a blog that hasn’t been updated in a year or more can give the impression that the content is out-of-date. If you don’t write blog posts very often then remove the date from your blog posts. Afterall a blog posts is evergreen content and should be timeless, and if your old posts are out-of-date, the update them! Old posts that get a bit of attention from the author will perform better in Google searches and helps maintain their relevance. 9. Don’t: Write Long, Dense Paragraphs Break up long paragraphs to improve readability and engagement. Use short […]
Why you should reconsider using a website builder
by Emily Slack
June 30th, 2023
The audience reached by a company’s website is vast and is therefore essential for the business growth. It is super important to create a website you are proud of, a website that showcases your business in the best possible way, whilst providing the user with a pleasurable experience. Recently, website builders such as Wix and Squarespace have become more prominent, likely down to their affordability, there are however some major drawbacks which should be considered. Limited customisation and functionality: Website builders offer pre-designed templates leaving your ideas restricted. If you’re looking for a highly unique or complex design, you may find the limitations of a template to be frustrating as it may not capture your visions correctly. Also, an essential part of website building is being able to integrate third-party tools or plugins, which is unavailable in pre-made software. Less control over SEO: SEO stands for search engine optimisation, which is the process of improving your websites visibility in search engines like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. It is incredibly important as this helps guide clients to your pages about the products you might sell or services you may provide. You may not have the same level of control over meta descriptions, header tags, or other SEO elements that can impact your search engine rankings which could cause you to lose possible business. Potential performance issues: Websites built on website builders can often have slower loading times or other performance issues such as text appearing in the wrong location, images disappearing or being displayed incorrectly and navigation being wrong. This can negatively impact user experience which could drive away potential clients to alternative companies which can ultimately hurt your business. Customers will often decide between competitors based off how they are portrayed, a poorly made website could cause an end user to choose another contender. Dependence on the website builder: Using a company which purely hosts templated websites can be highly unreliable as your dependant on said platform to host and maintain your website. If you are experiencing technical issues, you will often be stuck waiting for a response as they prioritise the quantity of hosts over the quality of the websites. The company could also go out of business, leaving you stranded and at severe impact. Overall, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of using a website builder before deciding to go premade. Consider your business’ unique needs and goals and determine if a website builder could meet those needs to a full extent. If you have any questions, please contact the team here at Gravitas Web Design.
Why your business needs a website
by Emily Slack
July 28th, 2022
Having an online presence today is so important and can have huge impacts on your success as a business. Whenever looking for a service, the vast majority of people will take to a google search to find what they are looking for. If you are not visible online you are shutting yourself off from a big audience. Other reasons why your business needs a website include: 1. Increased credibility Having a great website is the perfect opportunity to set yourself apart from your competitors. A website makes your business look professional, credible and trustworthy. A website is the perfect place to shout about any certifications or awards your business has too, again solidifying a reliable brand image. Reinforce your credibility by displaying your customer reviews and testimonials. 2. Showcase yourself An online platform offers a great chance to showcase who you are as a business, your values, beliefs etc. It’s a great chance to sell yourself as a business and express some character and personality. Incorporate your contact details, and a Google map to make it easy for your viewer to find you. Brand consistency is so important so ensure your site is consistent to your current branding. 3. Escalating leads Being visible online will undoubtedly have a big impact on your sales as you are broadening your audience massively. Your site works 24/7 for you, so making yourself visible on Google is a sure way to gain yourself some new customers. Include information on your services, showcase your expertise with blog posts, and make it easy for your visiter to get in contact, and reap the benefits. 4. Spreading the word Your website should have a blog or news tab, this provides you with the opportunity to keep your visitors updated on your business news, any exciting changes within your team, new offers etc. A website is a great way to get word out there about your offerings, linking to social channels is also a great opportunity to get momentum rolling to spread the word. So there you have it, just a few reasons why your business needs a website. Whilst it can seem like a daunting and expensive task, it really does not have to be. Here at Gravitas Web Design we offer affordable solutions sure to provide you with a big return on investment. For information please contact us.
How to become a web designer
by Emily Slack
April 22nd, 2022
Web design is a career which has taken a big boom in recent years. It has become a very desired job role as more of us move online and understand the capabilities of the web. To be a web designer you need a level of creativity and flair, and you will need the technical skill to transfer your ideas into actual websites. In this blog we will discuss the steps you could take to forge yourself a career in web design. Develop the necessary skills Web design is much more than just designing a website. The job role requires a lot communication with clients. You will be required to participate in meetings with clients to discuss desired outcomes, and time lines for example. Time management skills are also important, If a client has a certain date they want their site to go live, you need to work to that, and factor in the site build time, time for any amendments and changes etc. More specialised skills are also desirable, a good knowledge of Adobe software and WordPress would be preferred. You can learn a lot from online tutorials, or develop skills on a specialise course within further education. Expand your knowledge Web design isn’t simply about creating a nice looking website. Much more needs to be considered whilst creating a functional, user friendly website. SEO is an important topic to learn about, Web designers are responsible for ensuring a website is optimised to the fullest extent in order to rank highly on search engine sites. Learn about user-experience, and how to make navigation as easy as possible for any user. Showcase your work Web design is a very visual, creative topic which is why it is essential for you to showcase your capabilities to a possible employer. Your portfolio is what will set you apart from other candidates, it showcases your capabilities and the style of which you work. Your portfolio can be real projects, or mockups you have created from your own briefs. Promote yourself A great way to promote your portfolio is through social media, not only does this showcase your work, it also demonstrates your understanding of social media, which has become vitally important. Creating an online community is a great way to network with others in the field, and get yourself some connections. Social media also provides you the chance to learn from others and to gain some feedback. If web design still sounds like the career fro you, we would advise you invest time in the right resources, expand your knowledge, gain as much feedback as possible, and promote your work. Instagram is a great visual platform to learn from others, and showcase your own work, whilst LinkedIn is a great platform to connect with experts and look for potential job roles. For further advice please feel free to contact us.
How can I get backlinks?
by Emily Slack
March 20th, 2022
Backlinks are links from another site to your own, typically found within blog posts or in the footer of a site. They drive traffic to your page and are a great way to boost your SEO. Not only are backlinks great for driving extra visitors to your site, Google will recognise the influx of visitors and will improve your ranking as a result. Sounds great, but how do you get those backlinks? Blogs Try targeting industry specific blogs, it will present you as trustworthy and knowledgable within your field. You can either write your own article and submit it to the site, or you can aim to get a mention within an article that has been written by someone else. Writing your own article could be time consuming, and you aren’t guaranteed to get that article published. While trying to get yourself mentioned within an article however could be tricky, as you have to source a publisher who is happy to link your business within their article. Obtaining these backlinks will be time consuming, but you will reap the rewards. Skyscraper Technique The skyscraper technique is where you find content which is doing well, and you top it. Essentially you obtain backlinks through your own content. If you content is informative and valuable, other sites will refer back to you. ‘Ultimate guides’ tend to do extremely well as a one stop shop of information on a topic. Broken link building This technique is where you find dead links on a page, you create your own page on this topic and ask any sites linking to the dead page to link back to your page instead. This is successful as quality sites will not want to send their visitors to a dead link, it looks bad on them. This is a great way to guarantee you are creating content guaranteed to have back links. Podcasts Consider guest appearances on specific podcasts. This will not only gain you a free backlink but also raise your profile, increase your visibility and expand your network. A quick search on Spotify can provide some options, drop them an email expressing your interest in a guest appearance and see where it takes you. Utilise memberships If you are a member of any networking groups, or communities ask if they will mention you and link to your site. It is likely that will already have a team page for example so this is definitely worth exploring. Similarly people may often mention your brand or your name, but not link to you. Ask if they would consider adding a link to your page, in turn you could link back to their site. In conclusion, obtaining backlinks may take time and money however the results can be worth this effort. Try starting with one strategy, work on that and build. If you would like any further advice, please contact us.
