How to create a hit website for your small business

It’s tougher than ever for small businesses right now as costs rise and consumer confidence bottoms.

The tough trading environment means companies have to do more to stand out. Many have turned to social media, especially TikTok, in an effort to go viral and attract new customers — but this isn’t always a surefire way to build a loyal customer base.

While social media can grab attention in the short term, your website is the digital property that really counts when it comes to doing business and turning your business into a long-term success story.

One of the first things many potential clients, suppliers and customers will do is look up your business online, making a website an essential business card for a business, but it is also your showcase to the world and a way to create new customers. , increase your customer base and sell more.

Below, we speak with two companies that have successfully turned their small local businesses into thriving businesses during the pandemic, thanks in large part to their own website.

Magpye’s Online Cake Shop

In 2018, Chris and Sarah Fryer were tired of their careers as full-time teachers and medical secretary, respectively.

The husband and wife team, based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, longed for change and saw a gap in the vegan and vegetarian food market.

“We were out at events in the Northeast and it was hard to get good – or – vegan street food. And we thought, wouldn’t it be a nice idea to start our own street food company?’ says Chris.

“We started thinking about what to do and Sarah came up with the idea that pies would have mass appeal and be a good way down.”

Both were foodies but neither had worked in a professional kitchen so before launch Magpie the couple developed their products at home.

‘Then we got a horse trailer that we converted to sell pie and mash. We both worked part-time until the pandemic started and tried to build up: 2020 was going to be our first big year with street food events.”

From street food to delivery when lockdown struck

What started as a street food venture quickly turned into a delivery service when lockdown hit and the couple began exploring the idea of ​​an online pie shop.

Chris says the couple were at a crossroads but decided to make the decision to dedicate themselves full-time to the business.

Their suspicion was correct. Vegan food has become increasingly popular, with fast food chains now offering plant-based options and the range of products offered by supermarkets increasing by the month.

In March 2020, Chris and Sarah created their website using GoDaddy’s web building tools. Magpye has gone from strength to strength and has been selling pies on a national scale ever since.

The couple had seen the market long before the rise of meat alternatives and so at some point began making their own ingredients, including their own chicken and bacon substitutes.

“We used to have to make our own vegan butter because there just wasn’t anything on the market that was suitable,” Chris says. “Several things have come on the market now and we could use more of the shelf.”

Magpye has successfully recreated popular pies such as steak and beer and chicken, leeks and bacon using plant-based ingredients, as well as sweet treats such as apple pie.

“It was actually what we liked. Fortunately, many people seem to have the same taste as us!’

They have even started making match cakes for eco-friendly football club Forest Green Rovers.

“Developing our website was essential for our customers to be able to see what we do, order cakes and pay for everything in one place,” says Chris.

“GoDaddy’s email communication and order fulfillment tools were a huge time-saver and also helped us organize the new systems we needed for our delivery service more easily. We were soon able to ship cakes all over the UK, greatly increasing our potential customer base.”

I was booked for DJ in Dubai and then the lockdown hit?

Omar Meho taught himself DJ while studying corporate marketing and has since built a successful career in the music world.

The 26-year-old has played at some of the UK’s biggest clubs, such as London’s Egg and Fabric, and at festivals. He also has his own record label and is a mastering engineer.

Although he lives in Chester, his career has taken him all over the world, splitting his time between Ibiza, France, the UK and Dubai.

He was due to be flown in to DJ at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai when the lockdown hit. Overnight, events and travel, and with it Omar’s income, ground to a halt.

It was then that the idea for Music Workflow Academy came to be. Omar’s friend suggested that he try to learn what he knows about DJing – so the seeds for the company were sown from the spare room of his girlfriend’s family home, which contained a drum kit, piano and washing machine.

Shift to Music Workflow Academy’s Online DJ Tutorials

His girlfriend’s mother gave him his first student, who is still with Omar today, and the next day he got a message from a student in New York: “At this point I knew I had a good idea,” he says. .

Music Workflow Academy offers lessons on DJing, mixing and mastering, as well as sample packs, placements and playlist placement.

“The pandemic actually fueled the growth of the company. Spending my spare time performing and spending most of my time and money in clubs allowed me to focus and create a runway to start the business.

“Being online has allowed me to duplicate myself and scale the business to a global level.”

Two years later, he has gathered 47,000 students in 170 countries and expanded the offering to include music production.

“Setting up a website through GoDaddy has been critical to the success of Music Workflow Academy,” adds Omar. “It has enabled me to create an online base and brand that is reliable, fast and reliable.”