The Nettl Academy recently opened it’s doors to welcome the first batch of Nettl Cadets onto the training programme. The Nettl Academy is a way for design graduates to gain some experience, get on-the-job coaching and real-world training.
Here, Chris Locke, one of our first cadets, speaks about his experience so far.
“At the Nettl Academy I’ve been taught how to use certain online applications such as WordPress and the company’s own Brambl to make professional looking websites in very little time.
“The intense series of tutorials have helped to show me how a studio workflow revolves around speed and reliability. Building websites quickly and to a high standard is something I didn’t think I’d be able to do two months ago, but I’m doing two or three in a day now.
“It’s allowed me to get through the swamp of setup relatively quickly and actually get down to designing things, using the skills I honed at university.
“It’s something I can put on my CV, that I’m learning from, and that easily allows me to work a part time while still being involved in the industry I really want to get into. We all know it’s a terrible time trying to find something directly out of university.
“It’s given me a reasonable example of how a studio naturally works. The change of pace is the most substantial difference, making for an invigorating experience. My colleagues and I are receiving a better experience of work than we did at university, and from professionals as well.
“What’s more, it’s free and doesn’t eat into my schedule too much. We can come and go as we please at the studio any day of the week, and Nettl have given us the ability to use web creation software at home as well – though not professionally of course.
“Our input on projects is listened to and we are given proper, harsh advice that we can actually build upon. Not to say that the staff are any less than lovely. Everyone’s friendly and willing to help you out. Simon’s an excellent tutor, down to earth and concise.
Could you cut it at Cadets?
If you’re a design student, or you know one, we are looking for applicants for next term.
Nettl now: Same day printing, delivered FREE in 4 hours
We’re pleased to announce the launch ofNettl now this week.
Our solution to your on-demand print needs.
Nettl now offers a range of popular print products, delivered direct to you for free, in as little as 4 hours. You can order anything from one poster to a few hundred flyers. The service was created in response to client demand. Our studios tell us they are constantly being asked to help with last minute jobs and get clients out of a pickle.
The rapid turnaround is the perfect tonic for when print is needed urgently. Perhaps:
You’ve been let down by another printer,
Someone forgot to order,
You’ve spotted a last minute event opportunity,
Panic not. The NEW fangled way to get printing & display, when you downright must have it today!
Clients place their order online at www.nettlnow.com, upload their print file and then choose a delivery slot, starting within 4 hours. Their order is then printed, packed and delivered that day by dedicated bike or van.
Our pilot service is available in Manchester right now, and following a successful trial period will be rolled out to a further 10 locations and beyond, with plans to offer Nettl now in all major cities across the UK.
Free delivery with Nettl Now is available in the following Manchester postcodes now: M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7, M13, M14, M15, M16, M17, M21, M27, M30, M32, M33, M41 and M50. The service covers the city centre, Ardwick, Ancoats, Blackfriars, Brooklands, Castlefield, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Clifton, Davyhulme, Deansgate, Flixton, Greengate, Hulme, Fallowfield, Ladybarn, Longsight, Manchester Science Park, Media City, Moss Side, Northern Quarter, Old Trafford, Piccadilly, Pendlebury, Rusholme, Trafford Park, Sale, Salford Quays, Stetford, Swinton, University, Urmston, Wardley and Whalley Range.
Top 6 tips to get more web enquiries and grow your client list
People are busy and easily distracted. So how do you encourage visitors to stay a bit longer on your website, find what they need, and get in touch easily? Ultimately, how can you convert your web traffic into web enquiries?
There’s no magic formula, but research has shown these simple steps can help:
When someone arrives on your site, you don’t have a lot of time. You need to make it clear who you are, what you offer, and what do I need to do to take action?
Headlines and straplines are incredibly important. That’s because, in very few words, they give you the opportunity to summarise what the company, website or page is all about.
As well as words, you can use images, icons and video to communicate your message effectively.
A great example of this is Dropbox’s homepage. The snippet of text clearly says “Get to all of your files from anywhere, on any device, and share them with anyone.”
There you go. That’s exactly what they can do for you. In one sentence. And to complete this fabulous landing page, a very simple form. You know exactly what you need to do next. Apply this simple approach to your website and you’re sure to increase web enquiries.
2. Write for the Web
People read differently on the web. They tend to scan and pick up snippets.
Typically, users read less than 30% of the page, and this is mostly the top section and headings. Attention declines dramatically as they move down the page. So it’s a good idea to put the most important information first and get your message across in the headings.
By getting a clear, unified message through to your audience, you stand a much better chance of communicating value and purpose, which will in turn encourage more web enquiries.
In general, it’s best to use simple language. Avoid jargon and complicated terms. Government advice regarding writing for web suggests people prefer to read information in plain English‘because it allows them to understand the information as quickly as possible’. Writing in CAPITAL LETTERS is more difficult to read. It also looks a bit shouty, so should be avoided anyway.
Make the text easier to read by using:
Short sentences
Sub headings
Bullet points
Highlighted keywords
3. Make it Easy to Get in Touch
This one sounds obvious but it’s often overlooked. Typically, the 2nd highest visited page, other then the main homepage, is the contact page. People are searching for your business online, just so they can get in touch.
So to boost your web enquiries, give them what they want, nice and early. Consider putting your phone number in the header. Make sure the footer has your phone number and email details.
If you have a business where the location is important, like a hotel, shop or restaurant for instance, then make a big effort to clearly show where you are and how to find you.
A clear CTA (Call To Action) should exist at the bottom of each page. There’s potential for multiple CTA’s throughout the page at different sections. The goal is to make it very clear what the visitor needs to do next. This could be anything as simple as a
Telephone number
Email Address
Contact form
Link to social media
Button to apply/register/download/read more
Consider adding a live chat feature to encourage engagement. Although we’d only advise this if you have the resources. At least one person needs to be available to monitor and respond to the enquiries. An idle chat can look understaffed and have a detrimental effect.
4. Build Trust and Credibility
Building trust is especially important for businesses that sell online. Customers will want to feel an extra level of reassurance. After all, there’s an element of the unknown about the internet. You want to feel safe handing over your payment details. You want to feel confident nan’s present is going to arrive on time.
But for websites that don’t sell, credibility is still often the primary objective. That’s the case for most brochure websites. Visitors typically arrive for the first time, usually after hearing about the company in some way.
This may have been through personal contact, recommendation, online search or a piece of marketing literature. Visitors will be looking for indications that the company is professional and able to deliver on it’s promises.
People like to do a little digging.
Here are 5 ways to help boost your credibility and increase web enquiries:
Get an SSL Certificate
Having an SSL certificate on your site means the data passed between your site and your visitor is secure. SSL helps you gain trust from potential customers and makes you look more professional. Your local studio can help you buy and setup SSL.
Look the Part
Professional design and well written copy is of paramount importance. Even subliminally, good design will go a long way towards the perception of your brand. By association, if the website is high quality, your product or service is high quality. SEO expert, Rand Fishkin of moz.com believes ‘Design isn’t just important, it’s 50% of the battle’.
Use Testimonials and Accreditations
People are far more likely to believe what someone else has said about your business than what you say yourself. It’s human nature. So combine great design with industry accreditations, and social proof.
Use testimonials as a powerful way to say how great you are. Work them into relevant case studies to demonstrate your capability. This will really cement your credibility and encourage users to take the next step with confidence.
Allow Visitors to ‘Meet the Team’
Our experience tells us that ‘meet the team’ pages are very popular destinations. Typically only falling behind the home page and contact page in terms of visits. It’s easy to see why, people like doing business with people.
Publish a Blog
Another popular hotspot for visitors are blogs or latest news sections. Not only does a fresh, relevant blog keep Google happy, it also helps position your company as experts in your field.
5. Be Mobile Friendly
Or perhaps even ‘Mobile First’. That means designing your site primarily with your phone user in mind. Sure, it has to look great on a desktop too, but with more and more people browsing on their phones these days, considering their needs first would not be a bad thing.
Think about it, if you’re checking the web on the go, you don’t want to struggle to do what you want to do. Encourage mobile web enquiries by making things quick and simple to do on a phone.
People are often ‘quickly’ doing something on their phone, while they’re doing something else. Quickly sign up for this, quickly pay that bill, quickly book a table… If your website doesn’t support ‘quickly’ then you’ll quickly be shown the door.
Things to watch out for are:
Text too small to read
Buttons too small to click
Forms too tricky to navigate
Hefty images and downloads
If you have to pinch and zoom to work your way around the site, time to change, speak to one of our Nettl Web Studios.
6. Keep Your Website Up To Date
Google likes fresh, new, relevant content, but so do real people! Sure, a lively blog will help your search engine rankings but it will also indicate that you’re an active business on top of it’s game. Frequent updates will encourage users to come back for more, it can help position you as an expert in your field, and it will create the confidence that leads to web enquiries.
We mentioned trust earlier. It’s important to keep on top of updates to maintain credibility. You don’t want your site to look like you’ve gone for lunch and not come back.
If a feature has stopped working, if the footer still says 2015, if the blog section has gathered dust and the social media feed is more #london2012 than #pyeonchang2018, a bit of tender loving care is needed to avoid putting people off.
A well maintained website is also necessary for security. If you need a hand keeping on top of things, just ask us about our concierge service.
> We Can Help
Web traffic is great but website enquiries are better. Use the advice above to convert your browsers into business opportunities.
There’s a lot to think about, but we’re here to help. Call or pop into your local studio for advice on how to make your website work harder.
https://www.nettl.com/us/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/modified-dog-FI-web-enquiries.jpg4851080Alistair Wilsonhttps://www.nettl.com/us/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/nettl-header-logo-smallest.pngAlistair Wilson2017-03-06 17:54:462017-03-20 12:35:12How to get More Web Enquiries
Nettl Academy swings open the doors for First Nettl Cadets
A warm welcome to our first Nettl Cadets who completed day one at the new Nettl Academy. The training programme, based at our Birmingham Business Store, is an initiative designed to help parachute the Cadets into a design career.
Every year, thousands of would-be designers leave university facing an uphill struggle to secure a job in the creative industry.
With over 10,000 graduates fighting for just 800 jobs, the competition is fierce and talented design hopefuls can find it tough to gain valuable experience.
The Nettl Academy
The Nettl Academy is a way for design graduates to gain some experience, get on-the-job coaching and real-world training. This approach benefits both the graduate and the employer. New starters with relevant experience under their belt can hit the ground running and be productive from day one.
Kate is one of the first Cadets. She studied Graphic Design and Multimedia at the University of Worcester. She said “I started at the Nettl Academy because it was a great opportunity to further my skills as a designer and, hopefully, help me start my career.”
The Right Fit
One of the challenges our Nettl partners face is that they don’t know what someone’s really like until they hire them. They could put them through training just to discover they’re not the right fit. We hope that the experience a Cadet gets from Nettl Academy will not only make them more employable, but create sustainable, long term positions within existing teams.
We’ve already had interest from other Nettl studios in our network of 100 locations. We’re always looking for talent and our partners are expanding and recruiting.
Built for Success
The first sessions have already been a great success with lots of energy and ideas. The Cadets have shown great potential and we plan to launch a second Academy in Manchester later this year.
If you’re a design student, or you know one, we are looking for applicants for next term.
https://www.nettl.com/us/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/nett-web-cadets-birmingham.jpg7201080Alistair Wilsonhttps://www.nettl.com/us/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/nettl-header-logo-smallest.pngAlistair Wilson2017-02-28 15:42:412017-03-08 11:36:18Nettl Cadets, Class of 2017 Take Their Seats
Want to know how we got from the photo on the left to the photo on the right in just 15 mins?
That’s right, everything out of the boot of a car and assembled in just 15 mins. Not a furrowed brow or bead of sweat in sight. OK, just one bead.
Last minute opportunity
We managed to secure a (VERY) last minute slot at Prolific North Live Today. Just last night we confirmed the booking and within 12 hours we’re exhibiting. We can grab opportunities like this because our stands make us flexible.
Your business can benefit from fantastic deals on exhibition spaces if you’re able to move quickly.
With very little planning, we are able to just turn up with our branded booth, table and footstool in the back of a car. Within minutes we’re all set up and ready to go – Instant Expo in a box. Well, a boot.
How fabric can make your life easier:
Our fabric range is:
Lightweight
Portable
Packs away neatly
Quick & easy to assemble
High impact
Seamless
Machine washable
Safe to use
To get your hands on some next generation fabric displays, contact your local Nettl studio.
Prolific North Live
Prolific North Live is taking place at Event City in Manchester today. The expo features leading exponents of digital, marketing, print, branding, content, advertising, PR, TV and film.
The show is open until 5pm so if you can get there, we recommend it. You’ll need to move quickly though (Like us).
https://www.nettl.com/us/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/nettl-fabric-booth-pnlive.jpg13332016Alistair Wilsonhttps://www.nettl.com/us/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/nettl-header-logo-smallest.pngAlistair Wilson2017-02-16 14:28:272017-02-16 14:33:33How you can Expo in an Instant
To the left of the web address there is a little security status icon. If you land on a page that doesn’t have SSL, you’ll see a little circle with an ‘i’ in it. Click on it to reveal a message that announces:
“Your connection to this site is not secure.”
“You should not enter any sensitive information on this site (for example, passwords or credit cards), because it could be stolen by attackers.”
Doesn’t sound great, does it? It gets worse. Since Chrome’s latest release (Chrome 56) in January, non-secure pages containing password and credit card input fields get marked as ‘Not Secure’ in the URL bar:
And if Chrome has major concerns about the privacy of your site’s connection, or perceives it to be “Dangerous’ you’ll get this howler:
How can I make my site secure in Google Chrome?
Have you ever noticed the extra ’s’ at the beginning of the web address? You know, some url’s start with http://www. and others https://www. Well, that little ‘s’ stands for ‘secure’.
When you go to a site that uses HTTPS, the website’s server is using an SSL Certificate. You’ll see a little locked padlock and be informed that the site is ‘Secure’. A little like this:
What is an SSL Certificate?
SSL is used to securely encrypt communication between you and a website, so it keeps your details secure from hackers. It’s highly recommended for all e-commerce websites or sites that use forms to ask for personal details you don’t want getting into the wrong hands.
Does my Website need an SSL Certificate?
If you have an e-commerce website (online shop) then yes, absolutely. In fact, most payment gateway providers will insist on it so that you can take payments securely.
However, until recently, most other websites were less likely to need one. But in a bid to improve security across the internet, Chrome’s latest update means many more businesses will want SSL. Companies will want to avoid having scary warnings broadcast to people visiting their website. After all, they can appear quite off-putting to the vast majority of web users.
You get more data in your Google Analytics report.
The data passed between you and your visitors is secure.
How do I get an SSL Certificate?
We can help you buy and setup an SSL certificate for your website. Prices start from just £29 +VAT per year. Don’t scare your customers away!Contact your local studio to take action today.
https://www.nettl.com/us/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Website-what-is-ssl-and-do-i-need-it-image.jpg524999Alistair Wilsonhttps://www.nettl.com/us/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/nettl-header-logo-smallest.pngAlistair Wilson2017-02-14 17:56:282017-09-28 15:42:49What is an SSL Certificate and Do I Need One?
Safer Internet Day is being celebrated globally today in a bid to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology. The focus for the campaign is working together to protect children and families online. However, with cyber crime cases on the rise, online security is something we should all be considering within our businesses.
Here are 5 basic tips to help your business stay on top of its e-safety game:
Protect your computer When it comes to protection against viruses, worms and trojans, every business computer should employ anti-virus technology to help prevent attacks. Install well known anti-virus software and make sure you stay on top of the updates. But remember, anti-virus scanners are only able to detect the nasties that are already listed in their database.
Be wary of email Never open or click on attachments in emails that you weren’t expecting to receive. Even if you recognise the sender’s email address, be sure to exercise caution, their email account may have been hacked. Beware ‘Phishing’: Never click on a link from an email requesting login details, no matter how official it looks.
Enable automatic updates Vulnerabilities in computer applications are a bit like open windows to a hacker. Companies are constantly updating their software to deal with new threats and prevent potential risks. It’s therefore very important to keep your version up to date. Switch on automatic update notifications to be kept up to speed and ensure your apps are as safe as possible.
Use strong passwords For a strong password tip, use a good mix of random words and special characters. Make sure it’s at least 8 characters long. Why not pick a memorable phrase, or a line from a song, and choose the first characters from each word. Don’t use the same password across multiple sites.
Use SSL on your website
Having an SSL Certificate on your website not only looks more professional and increases trust, it also secures data passed between your website and your visitor. Whether it’s a promo code, personal information, passwords or credit card details, an SSL certificate protects the information you send and receive. Learn more about SSL.
For more information on how to stay safe and prosper online, contact your local Nettl studio.
https://www.nettl.com/us/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/stock-image-91126378-1.jpg595800Alistair Wilsonhttps://www.nettl.com/us/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/nettl-header-logo-smallest.pngAlistair Wilson2017-02-07 17:47:022017-02-14 18:10:03Safer Internet Day: Cyber Safety Tips for Small Businesses
We’re already hearing businesses talking about the ‘C’ word, but there’s a bigger event to consider – Black Friday & Cyber Monday. This five-day period (24th-28th November 2016) is one of the busiest shopping periods of the year, generating £3.3bn in sales last year alone.
This year is set to be even bigger, with experts predicting shoppers spending £5bn over the cyber weekend. So here are our top five tips for getting your business ready:
1. Mobile-friendly website
Mobile devices and tablets are quickly overtaking desktops as the way that consumers browse and shop online. If users have to scale and pinch to browse your site, they’ll quickly browse elsewhere.
Make sure your site isn’t one of them. Nettl: Commerce sites intelligently adapt and scale to the device viewing.
2.Integration with Epos
There’s nothing worse from a client’s perspective than having browsed for the product they want, placed the order to then receive an email from you that the item they wanted has sold out. It doesn’t lead to great customer satisfaction. So it’s important to make sure that your customers can see if a product is in stock, but also when a product has sold out.
Do you share stock between your retail outlet and website? Then making sure you have your stock in order will be especially important. Nettl:click&collect is a powerful web shop which works seamlessly with your real shop.
3.Houston, we have a problem
Make sure your shop is running as expected. You don’t want to experience any downtime because of a site bug or a spike in traffic that’s crashed your server. Nettl:cloud is powered by an elastic cloud server, so your hosting can scale as you gain more traffic.
4.Marketing, Marketing, Marketing
You’ve made all this effort to get your site ready, make sure your customers know what you’ve got planned. Email campaigns, Social Media, Flyers, In-store Posters and Displays are all great ways to get your message out there. We talk about marketing needing to be ‘omnipresent’. Your customers are more connected than ever and across a number of different channels, you need to be connecting with your customers via these channels too.
5.Turn those deal-seekers into brand advocates
Your marketing efforts shouldn’t stop there. You should be thinking about how you can nurture these new customers and generate repeat business. Keep your customers engaged with regular emails and keep active on social media. Didn’t sign up to your mailing list? Consider retargeting so these customers are still exposed to your brand. Talk to us about our Nettl:Concierge to see how we can help you generate traffic.
Want in on the action?
If you’ve considered e-commerce in the past or are thinking of adding e-commerce to your business, then there’s still time. We design and build beautiful web shops that work seamlessly across desktop, tablet and mobile. Contact your local studio for a free consultation today.
https://www.nettl.com/us/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Black_Friday.jpg566849Alistair Wilsonhttps://www.nettl.com/us/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/nettl-header-logo-smallest.pngAlistair Wilson2016-09-28 14:53:012016-09-28 14:53:01Five tips to get your business ready for Cyber Weekend
Over the last few years Click and Collect has become a popular service for many major retailers. IMRG say that last year 73% of UK online shoppers used a Click and Collect service.
The service is normally only seen on the big boy websites, but recent development has ensured the reach of this tech has broadened. Now its affordability means it’s achievable for SME retailers. Retailers like you. As specialists in Click and Collect for SME businesses we thought we offer you some tips, we’re nice like that.
7 Tips to help you win at Click and Collect.
1. Tell people. Promote it.
Sounds obvious. If you build it will they come? Nope.
Promote it and raise awareness. In-store posters, leaflets, email campaigns, banners on your home page, a dedicated landing page…your clients need to know the benefits, so tell them.
2. Show Stock Availability
People want to know the item is in stock before they set off to visit a store. They don’t have time to browse in hope. We all know the frustration when the item isn’t in stock. This is the main consumer benefit of Click and Collect. If they know what they want is going to be there, it’s more likely that they will come and visit.
3. Ensure it works on Mobile and tablet
With M-commerce growing faster than any other purchase channel, you don’t want your customers pinching, squeezing and faffing on their phones to try and complete an order. People like easy things; they get frustrated when it’s hard.
If it’s not easy to purchase on smart phone with your business, they will find somewhere else where it is.
4. Make the service Free
Customers want to pay the lowest cost. Price determines whether they buy or not. OC&C Strategy Consultants rank ‘free click and collect’ as the main reason for clients to use it. Your competitor won’t be charging, so it’s a barrier if you do.
5. Set clear collection times
Customers like convenience, we all do. None of us like waiting around for things.
This is what annoys people about home delivery. Having to hang around, peeping through the curtains because you think that van at the end of your road is for you. Wait. Is that it, Oh, no, it’s a milk float. Give your customers a slot; better yet, let them choose it! Ensure you have it ready for them – it will make them happy. Happy people come back and buy more things.
6. Educate them on how it works
Giving your customers certainty helps them decide to buy from you. Nobody likes doing things when they don’t know the next steps. Scary, isn’t it.
Add a landing page to your site explaining the process. It manages expectations and removes any ambiguity from a user perspective.
7. Collection Points
The most successful retailers have dedicated collection points; it’s like a reward for customers for doing some of the hard work for you. Should they queue and wait while the other consumers do all the things that the Click and Collect client has already done? Show the Click and Collect client that they have done a good thing. Reward them for doing most of the work for you online; it will encourage them to do it again.
Clicking is the path to collecting. Your webshop leads to orders, orders lead to collection, and collection leads to more orders.
Your local Nettl studio can help you get started. We’ve teamed up with the UK’s leading Epos provider ‘EposNow’ to bring Click and Collect to SME retailers. Now you can be just like Amazon. Ask your local studio for a demo.
https://www.nettl.com/us/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ClickandCollect.png11623072Alistair Wilsonhttps://www.nettl.com/us/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/nettl-header-logo-smallest.pngAlistair Wilson2016-07-21 14:52:222016-07-21 14:53:44Winning at Click And Collect
It’s Friday, and the smartest way to finish the working week is to use your head, or more precisely, your Nettlheads.
We’re offering the chance to win £1,000 towards a new website by uploading a photo to Facebook or Twitter using the #nettlheads tag. We’ll pick the best photo at the close of play next Friday, so get posting.
Terms and conditions: £1,000 grant towards the cost of your website.No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice. Redeemable at participating outlets only. Winning entry picked 5pm 18th December 2015. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition without notice. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter via social media. Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions. The winner agrees to the use of his/her name and image in any publicity material. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent. The winner will be notified by email and/or letter within 28 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or do not claim the prize within 14 days of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.
https://www.nettl.com/us/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/nettl-header-logo-smallest.png00Alistair Wilsonhttps://www.nettl.com/us/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/nettl-header-logo-smallest.pngAlistair Wilson2015-10-23 16:17:432015-11-06 12:44:52Win £1,000 website using your #Nettlheads
