7 top tips to boost your business online for less than a tenner

In the digital age, your website is your shop front, your salesperson, and your brand ambassador all rolled into one. A professional, well-crafted online presence can attract new customers, build trust (and reputation), and drive sales. But who says you need a big business budget to make a blockbuster website? Here are seven savvy tips to boost your business online for less than a tenner!

1. Reliable web hosting: Your secret sub-ten-pound weapon

Web hosting is the bedrock of your business website. It’s not the most glamorous thing in the world, but it’s absolutely essential. A good hosting service ensures your site is always up and running, loads quickly, and is protected from cyber threats. Zen’s Bronze hosting package is the perfect starting point for small businesses, offering everything you need for a basic website for just £6.49 (plus VAT) per month. And we’ll even throw in a free domain for the first year. That’s less than a tenner to give your business a professional online home!

Remember that your custom domain can also help with branding. If you’re running a ‘free’ website, it might be branded with the details of your provider, often not a pretty sight. But your website, with your name front and centre? Not to mention that you can also apply that same branding to your business emails for no extra cost… now we’re talking!

Check out our business web hosting deals here.

2. Content is king (and doesn’t cost a king’s ransom)

High-quality, relevant content is the heart and soul of any good website. It’s what keeps visitors engaged, encourages them to explore, and convinces them to choose your business over your competition. To keep content compelling, regularly update your blog with informative articles, showcase customer testimonials, and create product descriptions that practically sell themselves. Remember, content that educates, entertains or inspires is worth its weight in gold, even if it doesn’t cost you a penny.

3. Make it mobile friendly (because that’s what your customers want)

The internet isn’t the domain of desktop computers anymore. Most of your customers and prospects are browsing on their phones, so if your website doesn’t look good on a mobile device, they’ll notice. Luckily, there are many free tools and templates (like WordPress themes) that can help you create a mobile-responsive design that adapts to any screen size.

4. Social media: Your free marketing megaphone

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter/X, and LinkedIn are powerful tools for promoting your website and connecting with your audience. Share links to your latest blog posts, announce flash sales or special offers, run contests or giveaways, and interact with followers by responding to comments and messages. The more active and engaging you are on social media, the more likely you are to drive traffic to your website and build a loyal following.

If you’re into all the bells and whistles, you can pay a fortune for software that helps to create and schedule posts and interact with customers. But you can also easily run your social media channels for free using the tools provided by the platforms themselves.

5. SEO: Stand out in the digital crowd

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the art of making your website more visible on search engines like Google. By strategically using relevant keywords and phrases throughout your website’s content, meta descriptions (the short snippets of text that appear under your website’s title in search results), and image tags, you can improve your search engine rankings and attract more organic traffic. There are plenty of free SEO resources and tools available online to help you get started. So what have you got to lose?

6. Email marketing: Nurture leads and build loyalty

Email marketing is a tried-and-tested method for staying in touch with your customers and prospects. Build an email list by offering incentives like discounts or free downloads, and send out regular newsletters with company updates, special offers, and valuable content. You could personalise your emails by addressing recipients by name and segmenting your list to send targeted messages to different customer groups. It’s a cost-effective way to nurture leads and turn them into loyal customers.

7. Track your progress: Make data-driven decisions

Want to see how you’re doing? What can be improved or built on? Use free website analytics tools like Google Analytics to track your website’s performance. See where your visitors are coming from, which pages are most popular, and how long people stay on your site. This valuable strategy can help you identify areas for improvement and fine-tune your online strategy.

Running a successful website is cheaper than you think

By following these tips, you can create a website that shines, attracts customers, and grows your business, all without emptying your wallet. A little investment in your online presence can go a long way.

Ready to take the first step? Check out Zen’s affordable web hosting packages and give your business the online boost it deserves!