Respond and recover from cyber attacks
This guide from Police Scotland highlights rising cyber threats and stresses the need for awareness and preparedness. It directs individuals and organisations to the National Cyber Security Centre, and additional resources, for practical tools, early warning alerts, and step-by-step support to respond to and recover from cyber incidents.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) – the basics
Discover how AI, particularly Generative AI like ChatGPT, can revolutionise small business operations, from marketing strategies to content creation. Explore its basics, applications, ethical considerations, and practical tips for leveraging its potential.
Pre-launching a new product or business
Many business owners work for months or even years to reach the point they’re finally ready to launch their new business or product, and then suddenly realise they have no clear plan on how to reach people who are ready to hear about it. This is where a pre-launch comes in!
An introduction to social commerce
Social commerce enables businesses to use social platforms to showcase and sell their products and services. Find out what options are available and how to get started.
How to run an SEO Audit on your website
If you're looking to improve your website's search rankings, then your first step should be to carry out an SEO audit.
Managing online reviews
Word of mouth recommendation has always been one of the most powerful ways to drive new customers to your business. Find out about the review marketplace, how to build and manage your presence, and when it might be right to use review management software.
An intro to sustainable web design
We’ll talk about how your website affects your carbon footprint, what contributes to it, and what you can do to reduce it.
Making your current website more sustainable
If you already have a website and want to know how you can make it greener, this is the article for you!
Designing and building a sustainable website
There are many ways you can reduce your website’s carbon footprint.
6 key Google Analytics metrics for ecommerce businesses
Google Analytics can be a hugely beneficial tool for ecommerce businesses, providing a wealth of actionable data and insights. To get the most from the tool, it is vital that you understand some of the key metrics for ecommerce businesses.
An introduction to customer service channels for ecommerce businesses
The support you offer your customers both during and after purchase is a vital part of your ecommerce business. In this guide we outline the role of different customer service channels to help you determine which one could deliver the best service.
How to choose an email marketing platform
Email marketing is a channel that has stood the test of time and is one of the most effective ways for small businesses to communicate directly with their customers and prospects. This guide will help you choose the right platform for your business.
Identifying the digital marketing skills your business needs - Part 2
Find out how to build your digital marketing activity with email, search engine optimisation and pay-per-click advertising.
First steps to setting up Google Analytics for your ecommerce business
Google Analytics is an invaluable tool for ecommerce businesses. The data it provides can give you critical insight into which marketing channels are driving sales and even how you could improve online conversions in your shop.
An introduction to Google Tag Manager and collecting data
If you run Google Analytics or any kind of online advertising that requires multiple tracking tags to be added to your site (such as Google Ads or Facebook ads), then Google Tag Manager could be a useful way of implementing your tracking.
Upgrading your website – a checklist of what to consider
Find out what you need to consider when switching your website to a different website building platform such as Squarespace, WordPress, and Wix.
An introduction to Looker Studio for small businesses
If you have an online presence or are looking to grow your online presence, you may benefit from using Looker Studio (formerly Data Studio) to create bespoke reports for your key digital data. After a bit of time invested in setting it up, Looker Studio can help you access and analyse critical data for your business, saving you time and helping you to make the best decisions.
An introduction to online marketplaces
Explore the four main online marketplaces and the key considerations for each to help you determine whether they would be a good fit for your business.
Popular Web Builder Tools
Use this guide to explore which web builder software out of shopify, Wix, Wordpress, Squarespace and Webflow might be right for your business, skills and needs.
Build your own website
Top tips and advice on getting started with building your own website from tools, content, domain, security, social and some essential do's and don'ts!
8 aims and goals for your business launch
Whether you’ve been planning to set up a business for weeks, months or even years, for most people, launching is a big step - always exciting and sometimes a bit nerve wracking! Here we outline some key aims and goals to consider pre-launch.
What is Google Analytics 4 and should I set it up for my website?
If you use Google Analytics, or if you are setting up a new website, you will have heard of Google Analytics 4. In this guide we take you through what Google Analytics 4 is, and what you need to do about it.
Identifying the digital marketing skills your business needs - Part 1
Find out how to access the knowledge and skills you need to set-up your website and social media presence - considering what you can do yourself and where you might need some help.
5 ways you can gain insights from online competitor analysis
Whatever stage your business is at, analysing your competitors can help you find opportunities and keep on top of industry trends. Here we take a look at what information you should look for and how to make the best use of free digital tools.
Digital tools and techniques to identify consumer trends
Keeping an eye on customer trends in your sector can inspire innovation and help you to identify growth markets and emerging products or even spot untapped demand. Here we outline some useful digital tools and techniques to track trends.
Checklist for start-ups – setting up your digital presence
For most startups, setting up a digital presence is a key step in getting a new business ready for launch, whether that’s a website, social pages, an email address or more. This checklist covers the things you are most likely to need.
An introduction to digital business models for your new business idea
This guide outlines some common digital business models to help you come up with ideas and choose the best option to fit your circumstances and ambition.
Managing and optimising your Google My Business profile
To provide a strong user experience for visitors, ensure your profile is correctly populated, optimised and make use of some of the additional features.
Five top tips for retaining customers
Winning new customers is hard work which means retaining them is critical. Here’s five tips to help you put customer retention at the heart of your business.
Finding new customers with digital marketing - a route map
A key concern for many small businesses is how to find new customers. Find out which digital channels are the best fit to help your business.
Guide to selecting an online booking system
Many businesses find online booking systems help them to deliver a better experience for their customers, and a number of businesses that adopted online booking to support social distancing during the pandemic have continued with their new systems. Here we outline some key considerations to help you determine which is the best fit for you.
Claim it or leave it – could Google My Business boost your marketing?
Often overlooked in marketing, Google My Business is a straightforward, easy and free tool that helps small businesses raise their local profile in Google’s search results.
Step-by-step guide - claiming and populating your Google My Business profile
If your business serves customers face-to-face and in a specific local area, then a Business Profile within Google My Business can be particularly useful.
Keeping your SEO and PPC up to date after business change
If your business operations, products or services have changed, you will probably need to update your SEO and PPC activities.
How to make a podcast for your business in 11 simple steps
Each year, more and more people in the UK are regularly listening to podcasts. For small businesses with something to say, podcasts can raise your profile helping you to reach new customers.
Keeping your customers up to date – a checklist
It’s easy to get distracted by the day-to-day running of your business, and not notice that your digital content is out of date. Make sure you regularly review your customer communications.
Next steps once you have started trading online
Once you've been trading online for a few months, it's worth reviewing how everything is working.
Action plan for managing your new online platform
Many businesses have recently launched an online presence to sell their products and services. Here are some tips for managing online platforms in the longer term, including website builders, eCommerce functionality, learning management platforms and third party marketplaces.
5 ways you can use email to communicate with your customers
Here is a quick run down on when email is the ideal channel to improve communication with your customers.
Selecting a platform to run online classes
Many instructors now realise the value of offering online formats as well as face-to-face classes. Here we answer some questions that many people have when they are moving physical classes online.
7 tips to getting your tone right in communications during a community crisis
During a crisis impacting your community, the words that you use and the tone that you take are incredibly important to your ongoing customer relationships.
4 ways customer feedback can help you right now
If you're considering changing how your business operates, including launching new products or services or using different ways of selling, feedback from customers will be very useful. Your digital platforms can help you to gather this feedback. Here’s four types of questions you could answer.
5-point plan to stay connected with customers during temporary closure
If you have to close your business temporarily for any reason, it’s worth proactively maintaining a relationship with your customers if you can. Here are some tips on how to use digital to stay in touch.
Using digital platforms to sell and deliver your services
Digital channels and platforms offer huge opportunities for small business. Here we introduce some easy-to-use free or low cost tools that will help your business reach, engage with, and sell to customers.
Using digital channels to communicate during a business crisis
Find out how businesses can use digital tools and channels to respond quickly and support communications with customers, staff and suppliers during a business crisis.
Digital Skills Toolkit
Download this handy pack with some of our most popular digital guides and resources.
Business blogging in a nutshell
Find out how blogging can help your business connect with your audience and keep them engaged.
Quick Fixes to Up Your Instagram Game
Top tips which you can use as a small business to boost your Instagram following, presence and engagement rates.
Should my business be on Instagram?
There are over 25 million businesses using Instagram. But, is it the right platform for your business? Let's take a look...
Objectives & results – top 5 tips from an expert
Sarah Johnson, director of growth-marketing agency IndigoLeap, discusses the top 5 rules to setting the right objectives for your digital marketing activity.
Website data analytics
Understanding your website through analytics.
Understanding ecommerce – overview
Learn how to set up, manage and optimise an online store or trade in online marketplaces.
LinkedIn for business
Learn how to optimise your LinkedIn profile to make the most of this business-orientated social network.
Creating engaging content
Find out about high quality, relevant content can boost your business profile.
Twitter and Hootsuite for business
Discover how Twitter and popular tools like Hootsuite can help you build your online presence.
Facebook for business
Learn how to promote and manage your business Facebook page to attract new customers.
Email marketing – overview
Learn about the best practices of email marketing and the tools you can use to stay in touch with your customers.
Paid advertising guide
Learn how you can successfully use Paid Advertising platforms within your marketing mix.
Cyber resilience toolkit
Learn how to make your business more cyber resilient.
Social media content calendar template
Use this content calendar template to plan and manage your on-going communications effectively.
Digital marketing strategy
Learn more in-depth steps you can take to develop your digital strategy.
Social media strategy
Learn how to build a social marketing strategy that is appropriate to your audience and achieves your business goals.
GDPR for business
Prepare your business for GDPR with our comprehensive guide for businesses.
Video for business guide
Tips, strategies, and advice on creating video content for business.
App development guide
Find out more about app development and how an app can help your business.
Digitise your business processes: intermediate level
Back office systems are a key part of running an effective modern business.
Digitise your business processes: entry level
Back office systems are a key part of running an effective modern business.
Digital Skills glossary
Use our handy glossary of frequently used terms to help bring you up to speed across a wide range of digital topics.
Cyber resilience guide
Cyber resilience is the process of how a business responds to cyber threats. In today’s modern landscape, businesses not only need to defend from attacks – they must also plan responses to successful security breaches.
Auditing your digital presence: a ‘how-to’ guide
Making sure your business’s various profiles are consistent across all the digital touch points where your current or future customers can find you is really important.
Responding to customers online
Customers are increasingly turning to social media and digital channels to feedback to businesses about their good - or bad - experiences.
How to use influencer marketing to boost your business
Influencer marketing isn’t an activity exclusive to big, ‘on-trend’ organisations – it can benefit many businesses when the time is right.
Digital upskilling: what, why and how
Angela Prentner-Smith, co-founder of digital transformation agency This is Milk, discusses the key steps to digital success.
A guide to SEO for small businesses
Search engine optimisation, or SEO as it’s commonly known, can go a long way towards making sure a small business is seen and heard above the competition.
Online tutorials
Free and available 24/7, our online tutorial series offers you advice & tips on the likes of paid advertising, cyber resilience & digital marketing.
Watch now