Member Blog

The state of the car industry can be summed up in two words: fiercely competitive. In 2016, 44 automotive brands offered over 400 different model types to UK customers. Keeping up with consumer expectations in a crowded market can be difficult, especially when the industry in question is plagued by long production cycles. A vehicle that looked perfect two years ago might be a market dud once it comes off the production line. Not just that, but the mistake can last years as manufacturers can’t roll back production as other industries can.

Despite this, the automotive industry has enjoyed growth over the decade, and so far remains immune to disruption experienced by other sectors like the hotel industry with Airbnb, or Blockbuster and Netflix. The biggest change however, is the way consumers choose to go about purchasing and using cars.

For example, the growth of online car marketplaces like Autovolo, WeBuyAnyCar and WeWantAnyCar are empowering the consumer by letting them choose and streamline the process of selling cars. The Autovolo website takes you step by step in this process, and offers to pick up your vehicle and take it to their warehouse.

Social media and technology have given the customer more freedom. With just a few taps on their smartphones, customers can get all the information they need from a vehicle. Gone are the days of the salesman knowing what’s best for you, the consumer can now decide what they want, when and how.

More informed customers mean more factors that come into a purchase decision. Aligning product positioning, marketing messages and the needs of the consumer are apparent and visible online. Customers now prefer a relationship with what they’re buying, and with so many competing car companies on the market being informed on a significant choice, like a vehicle, is more crucial than ever.

By 2020, 40% of new car owners will be millennials, 88% of which use the internet to research a car purchase. It’s evident at this point that a robust online presence is necessary to connect with the next generation of buyers. Knowing your buyer beforehand will set up the UK car industry up for success in the next coming years, but it goes beyond being visible during the buyers’ research process.

Monitoring online conversation about the competition will help the industry understand what influences future purchase decisions. Although certain brands have a positive association that makes them stand out from the rest, (Honda is reliable, Volvos are safe, Jaguar and luxury) car manufacturers will need to also be approachable in the years to come.

The biggest threat to the automotive industry remains to be themselves; if they don’t change to the current trends, they could fail and become a thing of the past. Technology-driven trends like self-driving cars, electric cars, and rideshare apps are giving us a glimpse of how the UK car industry will look like. It will be automatic, and it will be fast. Listening to the new generation of consumers will drive the UK car industry into the future.

Yesterday I went on a trip with the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce. It was a backstage tour of the Theatre Royal in Norwich. It was absolutely fascinating.

It’s great to see the auditorium and look it out from the stage and see what the actors see. But the most fascinating part of the visit was going backstage.

It was extraordinary how big the theater was behind the scenes. The stage is actually a tiny part of it, and the auditorium is not much bigger. But backstage is absolutely massive. It is a rabbit warren of dressing rooms, star dressing rooms, wardrobe rooms, props rooms, a long line of pulleys that make all the scenery and the curtains work, everything. It was enormous.

This got me thinking about us at LiveLink. We are the backstage of the theater. We’re pulling up the curtains, moving the props, making sure everything is ready for the actors to do their job. Our clients may be the star, they may be working in the clinic, or running their hotel. They are the ones that are showing off at the front. They’re the star. They’re the person in the spotlight. Whereas, we’re the people pulling on the pulleys behind them. Getting all their bits to work so that they can do their job.

We’re answering the telephone calls; we’re speaking to the clients. We’re listening to all their woes and worries and concerns when they’re calling, so that our client can just be this very big smiley person at the front with the big arms open wide, saying “Welcome”.

Everyone needs someone to shift the scenery. Who moves yours?

For a long time prepaid cards had a bad reputation. They were the sign that you weren’t good with money. It doesn’t necessarily reflect the truth. They can actually be a great way to budget, especially for business expenses. You can give these cards to specific employees and use them yourself for certain costs. They are a nice way to know what’s happening as far as spending goes and as a way to avoid overdraft, overspending, and financial negligence. There are many ways to use prepaid cards to your advantage as a business owner, take these ones into account.

Use Specific Cards for Specific Things

Since there are a wide variety of prepaid cards, you should understand the differences between them and how each can be used to your advantage. Using pre-loaded cars with a set amount is good for lower-level employees who you may not yet trust with larger amounts of money. They will be able to use the funds you give them for the things you need, and they won’t be able to go over.

Open-loop cards with a Visa or MasterCard logo are popular for paying wages and spending on expenses that have to do with payment. Some employers deposit wages directly to a prepaid card. Another popular way to use prepaid debit is to utilize them as travel cards. Some of these pre-loaded options have some of the best international rates and allow the user to take out money from ATMs around the world. According to the specialists at MoneyPug, a site used to look for UK prepaid cards, they are available in various currencies, including the Pound, Euro, and US dollar.

Different cards have different fees, after all, and you should be careful to find the ones that are the lowest. Determining what cards are good for your business can be difficult, but it will be worth it in the long-run. Since these cards are not linked to existing accounts, you will usually have to pay to activate them. Sometimes there are insurance, management, transaction, and ATM fees. Figure out which ones apply to which cards and find the one best suited to your business.

Allocate Funds

Prepaid debit cards are also a method for separating funds. If you have complicated expenses and need to know how much money you have for specific things, you can use prepaid cards to keep money sequestered. You can also give them to different people who handle those expenses, all while monitoring the spending, balance, and fees on each one. If you need to delegate certain amounts of money, prepaid cards can help you out.

Expand your Business

Some prepaid cards are designed with scalability. This can help you imagine how the company will grow and what will happen to the expenses when it does. If your business is growing, you can look into cards that will have this feature. You can also use them for remote employees and off-site contractors. Whether or not you need more than ten cards, some options cater to small businesses and are designed with expansion in mind.

Utilise Spending Limits

Normally spending limits on debit and credit cards of all kinds are not preferable, but prepaid cards can actually help you keep spending down. For example, if you are struggling to keep spending low, utilize the spending limits to help employees, the business, and yourself be more careful with funds. Some have daily limits and others have limits every month. There are also limits on withdrawals, which will help managers know how much money people are taking out. With caps on spending, everyone in the business will be more careful how they spend, when they spend, and why.

When you are a business-person, controlling spending and allocating funds is much of the job. Like every business owner, you probably want to expand. You can do so by utilizing spending limits and using the safety features that don’t allow for overdraft, excessive withdrawal, or overspending.

Spending doesn’t have to be a headache. Understand what these prepaid cards offer and you will get to use them to your advantage. Whatever field you are in, prepaid debit can help every business pay for expenses, save for specific needs, and allocate the funds in the right places.

New research, led by the University of East Anglia (‘UEA’), reveals how being the target of workplace bullying can cause victims to behave badly themselves.

The study has confirmed that “the greater the intensity of bullying and the more the exposure to different types of bullying, the higher the likelihood of engaging in counterproductive workplace behaviour”.

In addition, the results show that “health-related symptoms are not always associated with experiences of bullying” and therefore misbehaviour may result from health problems even where bullying has not occurred.

Full investigation

This highlights that employers should always fully investigate apparent conduct or performance issues in the workplace, as it may be that these are a product of the employee’s health and/or the fact that they are experiencing bullying by colleagues.

Whilst employers sometimes decline to follow a formal disciplinary procedure in relation to employees that have less than two years’ service (as the risk of an unfair dismissal claim is much reduced), there are significant benefits in doing so. Not only does it perpetuate a more positive workplace culture, by ‘doing the right thing’, it could enable employers to uncover the real problem in a situation and also reduce the potential for alternative claims arising, such as disability discrimination.

Bullying characterisation

ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) characterises bullying as “offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means that undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient”. This can include seemingly trivial behaviour such as eye rolling and sarcasm, to more serious actions such as ostracism. Unfortunately, it is often the case that employees feel that they are being bullied by a colleague in a more senior position, which can prevent the victim from reporting concerns, for fear of reprisals.

Workplace culture

In view of the potentially critical effects that bullying can have on an individual’s own conduct, performance, health and well-being, plus the impact on business from days lost due to absence as a result, it is crucial that employers foster a workplace culture in which any form of bullying is unacceptable and addressed appropriately.

For advice relating to all aspects of Employment Law, contact Solicitor Carla Gowing at carlagowing@hatchbrenner.co.uk or call 01603 660 811.

There are a plethora of blogs and articles on the internet about working from home.  Whether that’s occasionally or, from a home office.  Self-employed, employed or consultant.  This is my personal story of employing remote workers.

Some people think having their team working from home is great, others are much more sceptical.  The one thing that comes up time and time again is productivity.  People hand-wringing that their employees won’t be productive as they’ll be lured away by something interesting on the TV, cooking their dinner or even dusting (whatever dusting is!).

My question would be – is the work being done?  If it is, does it matter if they’ve sloped off to watch Homes Under the Hammer (you can see what my guilty pleasure is).  Does it matter when it was done if it was done well and the deadline was met?

I’ve called this the Productivity Myth, as that’s exactly what it is – a myth.  When the right team is working together with the same shared vision, what happens?  Productivity soars.  It doesn’t matter if they are warming the seat in the swanky office or bent over their desk at home. 

If you have a team member that’s going to sit back and not care, they’ll do that in your expensive office too.  All that’s happening is you’re adding to your business cost and your blood pressure is rising to stratospheric levels trying to manage them.

How do I know that lack of productivity is a myth? 

Because I have done both.  Previously, all my team were based in that (expensive) office.  Buses were ‘late’, lots of ‘headaches and tummy pains’ and I was paying for that.  Not just in money, but in time, stress and frustration.

A little over two years ago, I saw the light and hired my first two home workers.  They are still with me today. Today, every member of the team works from their home office.  I keep a small serviced office in Norwich and I’m the only person that uses it.

What have been the pitfalls?

There is one pitfall and it’s probably not what you think it will be.  It’s getting the right person.  Our hiring process is long and in depth.  Applicants think they want to work from home, and it will be great (or easy), but soon find out it’s neither.  Some find the isolation hard. 

What’s great?

Almost everything! 

• Communication is better than when we were office-based.  We have regular scheduled group Skype meetings and other Skype channels, including a water-cooler one and a Whale Done group (Whale Done by Kenneth H Blanchard) which is full of positivity and client praise.
• We have the pick of very experienced people as we’re not limited by geography
• Some of my colleagues are carers/have a chronic illness and are not limited by having to access the traditional office.  They bring incredible knowledge and experience with them and are key to growing LiveLink.
• The obvious, no expensive office costs
• Happy colleagues – no sitting in traffic, no polluting the environment, no commute!

Would I go back to having an office-based team. Never – it wouldn’t enter my head.

One of the biggest problems that many gamblers face is the ability to do business with a casino company for many years. Longevity is not a thing that gambling companies are known for, especially in the age of the online casino. In this environment, however, there are still some innovative and strong companies that have stood up to the test of time, becoming better as they go. Here are some casino companies with great longevity that you can definitely trust if you are a gambler who is looking for a homebase.

There are many other brands like Casumo.com that are showcasing the same properties as these long-standing icons in the industry. Newer brands are also making their way into the online space, so you can expect to see some of the big names in the industry follow suit. However, the new and expanded world of online gambling allows for many new brands to take market share without necessarily stepping on the toes of the big boys. We can probably expect to see many more casino companies with great longevity in the near future, as new technology allows innovative people within those companies to create unique experiences for their clients.

MGM Resorts

Many people know MGM as the movie studio, but it is actually a brand that owns many iconic casinos around the world. Its flagship in Las Vegas is one of the most highly trafficked gambling centers on the planet. Its portfolio also includes the Bellagio in Las Vegas, the Mirage in Las Vegas and many other huge performers in Springfield, Macau and other international cities.

Caesars Entertainment

Caesars Entertainment definitely has longevity. As one of the oldest company brands in the casino industry, gamblers can expect a great time from its more than seven decades of experience. Under the Caesars umbrella resides the Horseshoe and Harrah’s brand of casinos. Its portfolio also includes Caesars Atlantic City, Ballys Atlantic City and many casinos in the international market such as its holdings in Vietnam and Egypt.

Crown Resorts

As the biggest casino company in Australia, Crown Resorts is a huge holder of many brands in the land down under. Australian billionaire James Packer was the fuel in the fire behind this brand for many years, and he was actually the catalyst for the brand launching in many new markets outside of Australia. Crown Resorts recently opened its new building in Macau after it teamed up with Melco International. The brand was actually blocked in Sri Lanka, but it is building in Las Vegas.

SJM Holdings

This company is based in Hong Kong and serves as a holding company for many brands that come out of that area. Stanley Ho, Hong Kong billionaire, is the wind in the sales of this company. Its portfolio includes the Casa Real, Lisboa Casino Hotel and Ponte 16 Resort Macau.

Wynn Resorts

Steve Wynn, billionaire and chairman, is responsible for some of the most luxurious casino properties in the world. This is a brand that has survived many eras of the casino industry. Its portfolio now includes incredible properties in Las Vegas and Macau. They are also building a new location in Boston Harbor.

Galaxy Entertainment

Coming out of Hong Kong, this brand has concentrated itself strictly on the Macau market. However, it will soon begin construction on a location in Boracay of the Philippines in 2019. The family owned company comes out of the Lui family of Hong Kong. Its portfolio includes the Waldo Casino Hotel, the Broadway Macau, the Starworld Casino and Hotel, the Galaxy Macau Casino and the President Casino and Hotel.

Live Chat! The MOST preferred channel for communication – who knew?   Perhaps you haven’t really thought about Live Chat as it’s something else that needs managing.  Or if you think it’s not for you evidence says it’s not the case.  There is a lot of evidence that not having Live Chat enabled on your website is losing you business.  How many times have you messaged Amazon or similar as sometimes, it’s easier than hunting for a phone number on the website and, you don’t always want to have to speak to someone.  Apparently, many people absolutely hate picking up the phone and actually have to speak to someone.   Advantages of having Live Chat on your site  

• It’s quick and convenient for your clients that want their questions answered right now
• Customers are not prepared to wait and will find someone else that does have the answers they’re looking for
• It’s cost effective to run and manage
• Improves customer service and loyalty
• Reduce your costs and increase sales

  If you’re thinking ‘it won’t work in my industry’, then you might need to think again.  I bet there are people in your industry already gaining new customers via Live Chat.  In fact, I would put money on it.   There are many different Apps for Live Chat, some are even free.  It’s quick and simple to pop onto your website.  The one thing that you will need to do though is manage it – either yourself, or get someone else to manage it for you.  It’s probably more damaging to your business if you have the Live Chat open on your website, but when someone asks a question, there’s no one there to answer it.  It’s said people and to some extent, businesses have one chance to make a good impression and leaving the potential customer hanging blows that one chance.  There will be lots of other companies doing what you do that will be open and take their money.   “63% of millennials prefer to have their basic customer support queries answered by live chat, versus traditional channels”

63%!!  That’s an awfully big statistic and a lot of business lost – it’s the rock-star of communication.

If you think this is a great idea for you, call us and we’ll support you all the way 01603 513111 or email me at wendy@livelinkresource.co.uk

You may already be involved in philanthropy, even if it’s not something you’ve really thought about in those terms before, as it’s about having a genuine concern for humankind and being motivated to do something to help others. This could be your family, friends, neighbours or the communities you are part of – acting in ways that makes life better for others. Philanthropy and good causes go together, because helping others by giving to charities has a long tradition. Family trusts, foundations and legacy gifts have well-proven traditions in philanthropy and will always have their place, but there are new ways to giving too that can suit some peoples’ needs better. Giving circles bring like-minded people together to boost the impact of their individual gifts and can be a really good starting point for philanthropy too if you are not sure about where to begin. As there are so many ways to give, your independent financial advisor can make sure you are able to do so in the most tax-efficient way to meets your needs and the future plans you have. There are more opportunities now for people to get more closely involved with the causes they choose to support, perhaps by offering their skills and expertise as well as financial help. But it can be daunting to navigate your own way through the more than 160,000 registered charities in the UK – knowing which ones are the most effective, or where your support will make the most difference. And it’s equally difficult for the excellent small, local charities to get their name and work known when they just don’t have the teams of people employed to market and promote themselves in the way that the big national charities can. This is where Norfolk Community Foundation can help. We connect the people who want to make a difference with the causes that matter to them and their families. We know the local charities, their strengths and what they are capable of achieving if they get the support they need – support that you may well be best placed to give. We do all the due diligence to give you the assurance that your gift will hit the mark and pride ourselves on reaching right down into those local communities. You will know that the impact you are making will stay with local people and local places. So, if you want to think about making your giving really impactful, we would be delighted to talk to you about the opportunities that are ready and waiting for you. Contact us on 01603 623958 or info@norfolkfoundation.com   *A version of this article originally appeared in SG Wealth Management’s Vision Magazine (Winter 2018 issue)

Whilst employers are continuing to increase the number of benefits they offer in a bid to retain staff, there is no denying that salary is one of the key reasons that many of us go to work every day.

However, money isn’t just about being able to pay your bills; it can also be an indication of how valuable you are to the business. When you work hard, perform well and add value to the business, it’s only natural to want to be paid accordingly.

But that’s not always the case.

In a recent study conducted by CV-Library, a shocking 74.9% of respondents haven’t had a formal pay review in the past 12 months, with only 13.6% of the people surveyed receiving a pay rise, despite not having a formal meeting.

Furthermore, 52.2% of respondents felt like their employer avoided the topic of pay altogether, while almost three quarters (74.9%) believe that they are currently underpaid.

Speaking about the outcome of the study, Lee Biggins, CEO for CV-Library, said: “Feeling like you’re underpaid and aren’t properly financially rewarded for your efforts at work can be demoralising. Pay is a huge motivator for professionals at work, so it is alarming to see so few Brits have been offered a formal pay review meeting in the past year.

“In order to keep on track with inflation, all workers are entitled to a pay rise if they have met their targets and are performing well in the role. If you believe your efforts aren’t being recognised and you deserve an increase in your wage, it’s time to broach the subject with your employer.”

We know that asking for a raise can seem daunting, so here are some top tips to help you prepare to negotiate a pay rise:

• Time since your last pay review: If you’re long overdue a pay review meeting, it’s only natural to want some guidance regarding your salary. However, if you have had a pay rise within the past 12 months, can you justify requesting another one so soon?

• Do your homework: Research the market value for your role so that your expectations are realistic. Are you underpaid, or is your salary average for what you do? Take into consideration the demand and skills required for your position. Would it be difficult for your employer to replace you? If the answer is no, can you demonstrate why you should be paid more?

• Ask for a meeting: Before asking your manager for a pay rise, make sure to send an email in advance detailing the purpose of the meeting. That way your manager can come prepared, and you can both set some time aside free from interruptions.

• Know what you want: If you’re going to ask for a pay rise, make sure you go into the meeting with a clear figure in mind and build up a business case to justify your request. Focus on your achievements and experienced gained to sell yourself, but also be mindful on seeing things from the company’s perspective. Remember to leave some room to negotiate!

• Take your time: Unfortunately, just because you have asked for a pay rise doesn’t always mean you will always get what you asked for. If you are made an offer lower than expected, take your time to consider the reasons and what has been discussed before you decide. You can also work together with your manager to put a plan or targets in place to help you work towards your ideal salary.

Online safety is a huge issue today and while our privacy, data and security currently rests as one of the highest priorities on the World Wide Web. Cyber attacks can be devastating, leading to loss of money, data and trust from your customers. We’re taking a look at some of the worst cyber attacks to have broken businesses, and how you can take steps to protecting yours.

The Worst Cyber Attacks

It’s predicted that one cyber attack takes place every 40 seconds, if not more frequently, and this is only set to increase by the end of 2019. In the past, there have been a number of huge attacks that have left consumers and businesses out of pocket or at risk.

In 1999, a 15 year old by the name of Jonathan James did something no one thought was possible – he hacked into not just the US Department of Defense (USDOD), but NASA too. After managing to work his way into the computers of the USDOD, he installed what was essentially a back door, which allowed him access to millions and millions of emails, data and other communications. Using this data, he went on to steal from NASA, a move which cost the agency $41,000 due to the shutdown of their systems.

Mt Gox was another case of hacking – Mt. Gox was one of the largest Bitcoin exchanges on the web but on the 7th February, the company appeared to stop all withdrawals and later on the 24th February, stopped all trading completely. The website went offline that very same day, and in that same week, it was revealed that the company has been raided by hackers, and over 844,000 Bitcoins were stolen. They belonged to both the company and to the customers, leaving thousands of users out of pocket by a considerable amount.

The biggest issue with this case was that Mt Gox was found to have been trading while insolvent for up to two years, as the hacking process began in 2011. All of this only came to highlight the importance of utilising trusted brokers when trading anything online, though it was certainly too late for those that had lost out in 2014.

Protecting Your Business

With the above in mind, protecting your customers and your business from hackers is a must and thankfully, there are a number of technologies available to do so.

1. Firewall – While simple in nature, a firewall acts as your first defence against unauthorised access to your systems. A good firewall should be a staple for your business.
2. Antivirus Software – If a firewall is your first defence, antivirus software is the backup. This kind of software will alert you of any potentially malicious parties, ensuring that you can take action before it becomes a problem.
3. Penetration Testing – Once your security systems are in place, you can run a penetration test to check whether they are working, and enable you to improve any potential weaknesses.

While this is by no means the only technology available, it’s a starting point that every business should follow. The software or hardware that works best for your business will depend on your sector, how big your business is, the technology you have at hand and more but regardless, protecting your business is a must.

You will be familiar with the standard recorded message at the start of call center conversations that informs you that the call is being recorded, but have you thought about why they do it? If your business relies on customer calls during business, you need to understand the benefits that this action can bring to your business.

It is an opportunity for you to improve how your business works; the efficiency of the call handlers, but also how you can improve on your customer’s experience of your business. When customers are in conversation, they express a huge amount of information that cannot be conveyed through a box-ticking exercise on standard feedback forms. Call and voice recording give you a deeper understanding of the merits and flaws of your business from a client’s perspective and what the customer values.

Still, need convincing? Here are 3 reasons why you should record your customer calls:

Revisit Information

Call center agents are skilled in their ability to engage in conversation while noting details and information onto the system. However, even the most proficient employee can sometimes miss crucial information. Call recording allows information to be revisited so that no data is lost. This can be critical in calls where mistakes have been made. If professional advice has been given that is incorrect, there can be serious consequences, and you may have to defend your position. A Hiscox indemnity policy for example, will cover your costs to settle any claim, but a recorded call will help to clarify your position.

Improve Call Outcome

There is little more frustrating than dealing with a call center agent who doesn’t seem to have the information that you require or know how to deal with the issue. Recording calls enables businesses to identify any challenges that agents may have. They can be resolved by further training for individuals or whole teams. Conversely, if an agent has worked particularly well with a client, the recording can be used as a benchmark standard to showcase to other agents. By addressing training needs, you are better able to control and improve the outcome of the calls.

Collate Data

We live in a digital age, and typically the only prior experience your customers have of your business is via the internet. When they pick up the phone to speak to a representative of your business it will more than likely be the first time of speaking to a real person. People like talking to real people, and

In years gone by, we judged the quality of a business based on their storefront. Things like signage and window displays would determine whether we stepped in for a browse or moved along to find a more suitable alternative.

Nowadays, we judge the quality of a business based on their website. Things like functionality and loading times determine whether we make a purchase or head back to Google to find a better fit.

We’re also greatly influenced by the way that websites look- a great layout and some nice animations go a long way when we’re sizing up the quality of a business online.

Still not convinced that web design is super important for your business? Hopefully the following 3 points will do the job:

1: It creates the first impression of your business

It’s worth remembering that your website is effectively your sales pitch. Its job is to convince users that they’ve arrived at the best place for what they need.

With this in mind, it’s vital that it reflects a professional image and is easy to interact with. You also need to ensure that your brand identity is clearly communicated on the page- simple things like incorporating your logo and company colour scheme will help              

Your site is also responsible for establishing trust. If it’s glitchy and poorly designed, there’s a good chance that users will take their business elsewhere.       

Really, your web design should reassure users that they can purchase your products and book your services with confidence.

2: It helps to convert visitors into customers

Well, it does if it’s functional.

Indeed, all good web designs begin with a consideration for the user experience and the aims of the business behind it.    

Take our client Toilets+, for example. They’re the go-to experts for portable toilet hire across the South of England. The purpose of their website is simple, it’s there to acquire new business.

As their agency of choice, it was the responsibility of our designers and developers to create a site that achieved this goal.  

After a lengthy brainstorm and a few cups of coffee, they decided that the following features would help to improve the number of booking enquires which come through the site:

·         A straightforward navigation that makes accessing information nice and easy

·         Simple graphics that help to clearly communicate this information

·         Helpful calls to action that help guide the user through the booking process

Our guys also integrated the branding of Toilets+ in the styling of the site to make sure it has a solid identity and makes a lasting impression.

Altogether, these decisions meant that we optimized the user journey and created (we think) the best platform for hiring out portable toilets.

3: It helps improve your SEO

Solid website design isn’t just about making things look impressive on the surface- it takes care of the stuff which goes on behind the scenes too.

Specifically, your web design needs to function on mobile, it needs to be linked together properly, and it needs to conform to a range of other best practices set out by Google.    

The reason all of this is important is that Google looks closely at these things when it comes to ranking websites.

Obviously, there’s no point having a great looking website if the almighty search engine isn’t sending users to it.   

If you’re looking to improve your web design or SEO, be sure to get in touch with a member of our team at Nu Image to find out how they can help.