Answers: Short answers to the questions owners ask.
One question per page, answered in plain words. Each one links to a longer guide or to the service that does the job for you.
- What is a domain name?A domain name is your business's address on the internet, the part people type to reach your website and the part after the @ in your email. You rent it from a company called a registrar, usually year by year. Make sure it is registered in your name, not your web designer's.
- Can I update my own website after it is built?Yes, you should be able to. A good website lets you change your hours, photos, prices and everyday wording yourself, without paying for each edit. Ask before you hire anyone: which parts can I change, how do I log in, and who do I ask when I am stuck.
- Why does my website say Not secure?Your site is missing an encryption certificate, which is what puts the little lock and the letters https in the address. Without it, browsers warn visitors, and some will leave. It is a standard fix: your host or web designer turns on a certificate, often at no cost, and the warning goes away.
- How do I know if my website works on a phone?Open your site on your own phone and try to do what a customer would: find your phone number, your hours and your address, then book or send a message. If you have to pinch, zoom or hunt, it is not working. Google also uses the phone version of your site to decide where you appear.
- How do I know my website is out of date?Your website is out of date when it gets in the way of a customer, not just when it looks old. Wrong hours or services, a poor showing on a phone, a Not secure warning, no way to book or ask for a quote, and an address you are embarrassed to give out are the clearest signs.
- Will a website redesign hurt my Google ranking?It can, but it does not have to. The risk comes from changing web addresses without telling Google. If every old address is sent to its new one with a permanent redirect, and the redirects stay in place, most of your standing carries over. Expect a short wobble while Google catches up.
- What is a logo file, and which one do I need?You need a small set, not one file. Keep a vector file (SVG or PDF) for printing and signs, a PNG with a clear background for websites and documents, and versions in full color, black and white. Ask your designer for all of them in a folder, and keep a copy yourself.
- What is the difference between a logo and a brand?A logo is the mark you put on your sign, van and invoices. A brand is what people think and expect when they see it: how you look, sound and treat them. The logo is one part of the brand, and a good logo cannot make up for a business that is hard to deal with.
- What is a Google Business Profile?A Google Business Profile is the listing that shows your business in Google Search and Google Maps: your name, address, hours, photos and reviews. You can verify it and keep it right yourself. For many local businesses it is the first thing a new customer sees, before your website.
- How do I ask a customer for a review?Ask a happy customer right after the job, in person or by message, and send them a direct link to your Google review page. Make it easy and say thank you. Never offer a discount or gift in return, because Google treats that as fake and misleading and bans it.
- Should I reply to a bad review?Yes. A calm, short, public reply shows every future customer how you treat people when something goes wrong. Wait until you have cooled off, thank them, say what you can do and offer to sort it out away from the review. If the review breaks Google's rules, flag it as well.
- What is online booking?Online booking is a calendar on your website or Google listing where customers pick an open time themselves, at any hour. The booking lands in your diary and they get a confirmation. It saves phone tag and catches the customer who looks at 10 at night, when nobody is there to answer.
- How do I take a deposit for a booking?Ask for the deposit at the moment of booking, through a secure payment page linked to your booking box. You can charge the deposit right away, or place a hold on the customer's card and charge it later. Say clearly on the page what the deposit is for and when it is returned.
- How do I accept credit cards online?Sign up with a payment company, then add a pay button or payment link to your website or invoices. The customer pays on the company's secure page, and the money goes to your bank. You never see or store card numbers yourself, which is the safest way for a small business.
- Do I need an app for my business?Usually not. A website that works well on a phone, with booking and payment built in, does what most owners want from an app, and customers do not have to download anything. An app is worth it when people use your service often, or when your own staff need a tool built for the job.