WEBINARS, ONLINE GUIDES, ARTICLES AND TUTORIALS
INDEX
ARTICLES
4-6
GUIDES
7-12
DIGITALBOOST BITES (PODCASTS)
WEBINARS
13 14-17
ARTICLES A guide to SEO for small businesses Search engine optimiation, 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. A guide to SEO for small businesses
An intro to sustainable web design We'll talk about how your website affects your carbon footpint, what contributes to it, and what you can do to reduce it. An intro to sustainable web design
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. Auditing your Digital Presence: A ‘How-To’ Guide
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! Build your Own Website
Business blogging in a nutshell Find out how blogging can help your business connect with your audience and keep them engaged. Business blogging in a nutshell
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, Facebook page, an email address or more. This checklist covers the things you are most likely to need. Checklist for start-ups – setting up your digital presence
Designing & building a sustainable website There are many ways you can reduce your website's carbon footprint Designing & building a sustainable website
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. Digital upskilling: what, why and how
Five top tips for retaining customers after lockdown 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. Five top tips for retaining customers after lockdown
How to make a podcast for your business in 11 simple steps With many companies turning to digital tools to stay connected with customers and to stay visible within communities during the coronavirus, podcasts are a fantastic way of opening a natural dialogue between business and customers. But where do you start? How to make a podcast for your business in 11 simple steps
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. How to use influencer marketing to boost your business
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, which is a real risk at present. Make sure to regularly review your customer communications. Keeping your customers up to date – a fortnightly checklist
Keeping your SEO and PPC up to date As your business operations and service levels change amid COVID-19, it’s important to update your SEO and PPC activities. Keeping your SEO and PPC up to date
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! Making your current website more sustainable
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. Objectives and results
Popular web builder tools A guide to explore which web builder software out of Shopify, Wix, Wordpress, Squarespace and Webflow might be right for your business, skills and needs. Popular Website Building Tools
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. Quick Fixes to Up Your Instagram Game
Responding to customers online Customers are increasingly turning to social media and digital channels to feedback to businesses about their good - or bad - experiences. Responding to Customers Online
Should my business be on Instagram? There are over 25 million businesses using Instagram. But, it the right platform for your business? Take a look... Should my business be on Instagram?
Upgrading your website – A checklist of what to consider Find out what key elements you need to consider when upgrading your website on a website building platform such as Squarespace, WordPress, and Wix. Upgrading your website – A checklist of what to consider
5 ways you can use email to communicate with your customers during the coronavirus During the COVID-19 crisis, digital channels are especially valuable for helping businesses react quickly and keep their customers up-to-date. Here is a run down on how you can use email to improve communication with customers. 5 ways you can use email to communicate with your customers during the coronavirus
7 tips to getting your tone right in business communications during the coronavirus During the pandemic, customer communication through your digital channels is essential. Whether you are updating customers of changes to your business, products or services, the words that you use and the tone that you take are incredibly important to your ongoing customer relationships. Getting your tone right in business communications during COVID-19
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. 8 aims and goals for your business launch
GUIDES 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 could work well for your business and help you deliver the best service. An introduction to customer service channels for ecommerce businesses
An introduction to Google Data Studio for small businesses If you have an online presence or are looking to grow your online presence, then after a bit of time invested in setting it up, Data 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 Google Data Studio for small businesses
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. An introduction to Google Tag Manager and collecting data
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. An introduction to digital business models for your new business idea
An introduction to online marketplaces Explore the 4 main online marketplaces and the key considerations for each to help you determine whether they would be a good fit for your business. An introduction to online marketplaces
Action plan for managing your new online platform At the start of the pandemic, many businesses rushed to create a new online presence to sell their products and services. Here are some tips for managing new platforms. Action plan for managing your new online platform
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. Claim it or leave it – could Google My Business boost your marketing?
Coronavirus advice for SMEs - using digital to reach your customers Coronavirus is forcing everyone to work differently. If you customers can’t come to you, embracing digital should now be top of your list. If you don’t have an in-house IT expert, here are some easy-to-use tools that are free or low cost that will help support your business. Using digital to reach your customers quickly
Creating engaging content Find out about high quality, relevant content can boost your business profile. Create-Engaging-Content.pdf
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. Cyber Resilience Guide Cyber Resilience Guide
Cyber resilience toolkit Learn how to make your business more cyber resilient. Cyber resilience toolkit
DigitalBoost glossary Use our handy glossary of frequently used terms to help bring you up to speed across a wide range of digital topics. Digital Boost Glossary
Digital tools and techniques to identify consumer trends Keeping an eye on customer trends in your sector can inspire innovation, identify growth markets, emerging products and even spot untapped demand. We outline some digital tools and techniques that can help you. Digital tools and techniques to identify consumer trends
Digitise your business processes Back office systems are a key part of running an effective modern business. Digitise your business processes: Entry Level Digitise Your Business Processes: Intermediate Level
Digital marketing strategy Learn more in-depth steps you can take to develop your digital strategy. Digital_Marketing_Strategy_Guide_Entry_Level.pdf Digital_Marketing_Strategy_Guide_Intermediate_Level.pdf
Email marketing – overview Learn about the best practices of email marketing and the tools you can use to stay in touch with your customers. Email_Marketing.pdf
Facebook for business Learn how to promote and manage your business Facebook page to attract new customers. Facebook-for-Business.pdf
Finding new customers with digital marketing - a route map Within the current climate, a key concern for many small businesses is how to find new customers. Find out which digital channels are the best fit for you. Finding new customers with digital marketing - a route map
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. First steps to setting up Google Analytics for your ecommerce business First steps to setting up Google Analytics for your ecommerce business
GDPR for business Prepare your business for GDPR with our comprehensive guide for businesses. GDPR_Guide.pdf
Guide to selecting an online booking system Government regulations around Covid-19 mean that many more businesses now need formal booking systems to manage social distancing between customers. Here we outline some key considerations to help you determine which is the best fit for you. Guide to selecting an online booking system
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. How to choose an email marketing platform
Identifying the digital marketing skills your business needs - Part 1 Find out how to access the knowledge and skills you need to approach the set-up of your website and social media presence - considering what you can do yourself, and where you might need some help. Identifying the digital marketing skills your business needs - Part 1
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. Identifying the digital marketing skills your business needs - Part 2
LinkedIn for business Learn how to optimise your LinkedIn profile to make the most of this business-orientated social network. LinkedIn-For-Business.pdf
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. Managing and optimising your Google My Business profile
Next steps once you’ve started selling online In the early days of lockdown, many small businesses had to rush to create a short-term online offering to get through the first few weeks. Here we detail some next steps for managing this. Next steps once you’ve started selling online
Paid advertising guide Learn how you can successfully use Paid Advertising platforms within your marketing mix. Paid_Advertising_Guide.pdf
Q & A - Selecting the right platforms to run online classes During COVID-19, many instructors have rushed to switch their face-to-face class into online formats. We spoke to Sonia Rutherford and Sarah Johnson from data-driven marketing agency, IndigoLeap, about what’s involved when moving physical classes online. Selecting the right platforms to run online classes Q&A
Q&A - What is Google Analytics 4 and what are my next steps? If you use Google Analytics, or if you are setting up a new website, you’ve probably heard of Google Analytics 4. In this guide we take you through what Google Analytics 4 actually is, and what you need to do about it. Q&A – What is Google Analytics 4 and what are my next steps?
Social media content calendar template Use this content calendar template to plan and manage your on-going communications effectively. https://www.bgateway.com/assets/templates/Social_Content_Calendar_Template.xlsx
Social media strategy Learn how to build a social marketing strategy that is appropriate to your audience and achieves your business goals. Social_Media_Strategy_Guide.pdf
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. Step-by-step guide - claiming and populating your Google My Business profile
Twitter and Hootsuite for business Discover how Twitter and popular tools like Hootsuite can help you build your online presence. Twitter-Hootsuite-For-Business.pdf
Understanding ecommerce – overview Learn how to set up, manage and optimise an online store or trade in online marketplaces. eCommerce.pdf
Using & reviewing digital channels during coronavirus/COVID-19 Find out how businesses can use digital tools and channels to respond quickly and support their communications with customers, staff and suppliers during this Coronavirus pandemic. Digital channels during Coronavirus
Video for business guide Tips, strategies, and advice on creating video content for business. DigitalBoost_Video_guide.pdf
Website data analytics Understanding your website through analytics. Website_Data_Analytics_Entry_Level.pdf Website_Data_Analytics_Intermediate_Level.pdf
4 ways customer feedback can help you right now To minimise the risk of wasted resources, it’s important to regularly gather data and feedback from customers and make best use of your digital platforms to help with this. Here’s four ways this can help you adapt. 4 ways customer feedback can help you right now
5-point plan to stay connected with customers during coronavirus During COVID-19 it’s worth proactively maintaining a relationship with your customers wherever you can. Here are some tips on how to use digital to stay in touch. How to stay connected with customers when your business is closed
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. 5 ways you can gain insights from online competitor analysis
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. 6 key Google Analytics metrics for ecommerce businesses
DIGITALBOOST BITES All our DigitalBoost Bite podcasts can be accessed at https://anchor.fm/digitalboost-bites Podcasts available to listen to are: Analyse and Improve My Digital Presence Boost Your Business Instagram Account Boost Your Business Facebook Page Boost Your Twitter Game Cyber security: Tips to keep your business safe online Digital sustainability: How to have a greener website Digital Upskilling for your business How Digital Marketing Can Make a Difference How to guarantee long term social media success How to Protect Against Hackers by Business Gateway Respond To Customers Online How to Use Twitter Lists Effectively For Your Business Protect Against Hackers Simple Ways to Improve Your Website Tips for Selling Online (part 1) Tips for Selling Online (part 2)
TUTORIALS Apps for business Using apps to interact with brands and services has become second nature to customers. Find out if an app is the right next step for your business. Apps for business
Coronavirus response – What to say to your customers and how Clear, concise, frequent and transparent communication with your customers throughout the current pandemic is crucial to managing expectations and your business reputation. This video tutorial provides guidance on what to say, what channels to use and how to find the appropriate tone for your messaging. Coronavirus response – What to say to your customers and how
Digital marketing strategy – More important than ever When travel is much more restricted than before, it’s even more important for you to have a coherent and effective digital marketing strategy. Here, we run you through the key factors to consider and sources of really useful information that can focus your activities on exactly where your customers are. Digital marketing strategy – More important than ever
Email marketing This tutorial will take you through the fundamentals of email communication. You’ll learn how to plan and deliver email campaigns, and how to monitor the data to make them even better in future. Email marketing
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Get ready for new legislation regarding the collecting, use and storage of data. This tutorial on GDPR will help guide you and your business on how to easily and efficiently ensure you’re compliant. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
How to build a digital marketing plan Digital marketing can deliver real business results and this webinar will show you a practical strategy to help your business. Digital marketing strategy
Paid advertising Advertising is a great way to increase awareness of your business and boost sales. Our tutorial will help you strategise, create and monitor your paid advertising. Paid advertising
Keeping your business safe online So much of your business is now being carried out online, so it’s even more important that you stay safe and avoid a cyber attack that puts your business (and/or your customers’ data) in jeopardy. The fact you are a small business does not mean you are invulnerable, on the contrary, the consequences for small businesses are potentially all the more significant. Keeping your business safe online
Producing engaging digital content Our online tutorial on Producing Engaging Digital Content will help you create an online offering that will attract the customers you want, and get them to interact with your brand in measurable ways Producing engaging digital content
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) – Getting your website found now it's going (or is already) online There’s no point in having a website if it isn’t being found when people search for your business name, products and services. We explain what you need to do to raise your website up search rankings. Even more relevant during the Coronavirus outbreak. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) – Getting your website found now it's going (or is already) online
Switching to trading online – What you need to know In these difficult times, trading online may be the only, or most efficient way for you to sell your products and services. This tutorial explains what’s involved in getting into online trading and, once you are set up, how to make a success of it. Switching to Trading Online – What you need to know
Video for business Video content is the marketing tool of the moment. It is a really engaging way of showcasing your business to both existing customers and potential new ones. Video for business
Webinars, live streams and video conferences – Running a business remotely While we are all dealing with coronavirus restrictions, it’s even more important to know how to interact with colleagues, clients and customers online. This tutorial gives you an insight into what’s possible and how you set about doing it. Webinars, live streams and video conferences: Running a business remotely
WEBINARS VISIT BGATEWAY.COM/EVENTS TO BOOK An introduction to business websites & what you need to consider Do you want to set up a website for your business but don’t know where to start? This webinar will guide you including whether to build your own website or outsource it.
Email marketing Being able to engage your customers in conversation is a key way to create sales. This webinar is ideal for people currently using email but not to its full potential.
Enhance your business with digital If you are new to all things digital, or need help getting started with it, this webinar will help you make that step with practical advice and knowledge sharing.
Facebook for business Discover the opportunities that Facebook may open up and the things to consider when deciding whether it’s the best platform for your business.
Get impact & engagement with social media analytics From Facebook Insights to Twitter Analytics, this webinar will show you how to access each platforms metrics and reporting, and how to use them to improve the potential of your social media.
How to build a digital marketing plan Digital marketing can deliver real business results and this webinar will show you a practical strategy to help your business.
How to improve your Google search rankings Get your business website higher up the search engine rankings, increasing visibility, web traffic, and sales with this free webinar.
Instagram for business It’s not all selfies and airbrushed influencers - find out how to use the world’s most popular image sharing app, Instagram, for your business benefit.
LinkedIn for business Want to boost your business with LinkedIn? We’ll take you beyond networking by showing you how it can market your products and promote your brand.
Paid for advertising Ideal for those who have experience of paid advertising and have a digital marketing strategy in place but want to attract and retain more customers.
Photography for online business An image is everything. Learn how to shoot, edit and upload photos for use online and to showcase your business.
Online Sales: Improve, develop & make more money Want to improve how you currently sell your products and services online? This 90minute session is for you.
Online user experience: How to analyse it and improve it Learn how to analyse your current digital platforms and assess, test, and ultimately improve your customers’ experience.
Pinterest for business Find out how to use the content sharing app Pinterest in your business.
Producing engaging online content Learn how to produce quality content to develop customer relationships and build your business.
Protect your business and data from hackers Don’t let your focus on other business objectives be the reason you get hacked. Use this webinar to protect your business and customer data.
Twitter for business A webinar for businesses considering, or already using Twitter as part of their digital marketing strategy and wanting to produce more engaging content, reach a wider audience and maximise impact.
Video production for social media Discover why the use of video helps people find your brand or website and how this kind of content has become a powerful way to engage with your audience.
Webinars, live streams, and video conferences: Running a business remotely Using online platforms to communicate and stream services is now key for all businesses. Join us to learn how to maximise this new trend and get results.
Website & social media analytics This webinar explains the analytics available from Google and major social media platforms so you can see where your website traffic is coming from and why, transforming your website’s effectiveness
Website analytics to improve your business and sales
Discover the benefits of website analytics tools including Google Analytics, Search Console & Heat Mapping, and better understand where your website visitors come from & how they behave!
What to think about when creating a new website Do you want to set up a website for your business but don’t know where to start? This webinar will guide you including whether to build your own website or outsource it.
For further help and advice please contact the Argyll and Bute Business Gateway team on: 01546 604555 business.gateway@argyll-bute.gov.uk bgateway.com/argyll