Advantage Web Designs

Advantage Web Designs If you've got a website problem, I've got the fix. I help businesses improve their websites, increase their visibility in Google and generate more enquiries.

Based in Scarborough, helping businesses across North Yorkshire and beyond.

Have you ever thought about the smallest version of your branding?A favicon is that tiny image you see next to a website...
31/08/2026

Have you ever thought about the smallest version of your branding?

A favicon is that tiny image you see next to a website name in your browser tabs.

The problem is, simply shrinking your logo down often doesn't work. If your logo relies on your business name, the words quickly become illegible.

So when I'm creating a favicon, I look at it the other way around:

What's the ONE element worth keeping?

LinkedIn has its 'in'. Google Photos has its pinwheel. YouTube has the play button. They're simple, distinctive and instantly recognisable.

I used the same thinking with my own Advantage Web Designs branding.

Full logo? Far too much detail.

'AWD'? Not particularly distinctive.

The 'A'? Obvious winner. 👍

Have a look at your own website in a browser tab. Would you recognise yours? 👀

“Your mailbox is full.”If you run a business, that's not a message you particularly want to see.You delete some old emai...
16/08/2026

“Your mailbox is full.”

If you run a business, that's not a message you particularly want to see.

You delete some old emails, free up a bit of space and carry on.

Until it happens again.

I've been helping several clients move from traditional IMAP email to Microsoft 365 recently, and it's reminded me why changing business email can feel so daunting.

Will you keep the same email address?

What happens to all your old emails?

Will everything still work on your phone?

And could customers' emails disappear while you're changing over?

The good news is that a properly planned move doesn't need to be as scary as it sounds.

I've written a new article looking at when the email included with your website hosting may still be perfectly adequate, when Microsoft 365 might be worth considering, and what's actually involved in changing.

If your inbox is starting to nag you, have a read:

https://www.advantagewebdesigns.co.uk/is-it-time-to-upgrade-your-business-email/

How often do you update your WordPress website?It's a question that often comes up after a security vulnerability hits t...
30/07/2026

How often do you update your WordPress website?

It's a question that often comes up after a security vulnerability hits the headlines.

Some people update everything immediately. Others avoid updates altogether because they're worried something might break.

The reality is that good website maintenance isn't about choosing between security and stability. It's about balancing both.

In my latest blog post, I explain:
✔️ Why keeping WordPress up to date is so important.
✔️ Why updates can sometimes cause unexpected problems.
✔️ Why I automatically install plugin updates and minor WordPress releases, but delay major releases for 24 hours.
✔️ How daily backups provide a safety net if something doesn't go to plan.

For most small business websites, it's the combination of sensible updates and reliable backups that provides the best protection.

If you're responsible for a WordPress website, I hope you'll find it useful.

👉 Read the full article here:
https://www.advantagewebdesigns.co.uk/should-you-enable-automatic-wordpress-updates/

None of these photos are perfect. But they're real.Over the last few months, I've seen several businesses receive unexpe...
22/07/2026

None of these photos are perfect. But they're real.

Over the last few months, I've seen several businesses receive unexpected emails about photographs on their websites. It reminded me how easy it is to overlook where the images we use actually come from.

But I don't think the biggest reason for using your own photographs is to avoid copyright headaches.

I think it's because they tell a far better story.

Whether it's your team, your customers (with permission), your premises or the work you're proud of, those are the images that help people connect with your business.

They bring your website to life. They make your social media feel more personal. They show customers the people behind the business.

Sometimes the best marketing images aren't hidden away in a stock image library.

They're already sitting on your phone.

Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference.A few months after launching a website for a holiday cottage ...
09/07/2026

Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference.

A few months after launching a website for a holiday cottage business, we noticed guests were still calling with the same questions.

Rather than asking people to search through old emails or revisit the website, we updated the pre-arrival email with the information they needed most before travelling.

📞 Fewer phone calls.
⏱ Less admin.
😊 Happier guests.

The best website improvements don't always happen on launch day. They often come from listening to your customers.

What's one question your business gets asked again and again?

🥩 What's a beautiful steak without the peppercorn sauce?This one really was as good as it looked! We found it in a wonde...
07/07/2026

🥩 What's a beautiful steak without the peppercorn sauce?

This one really was as good as it looked! We found it in a wonderful old mill restaurant while travelling through France a few years ago, and it's a meal I've never forgotten.

It also got me thinking...

The strongest businesses I've worked with rarely rely on just one source of enquiries.

Instead, they build a combination that works together.

🌐 A website that builds trust.

🔍 Google helping new customers find them.

📧 Email newsletters keeping in touch with previous customers.

🛒 Online marketplaces reaching new audiences.

🤝 Referrals from happy customers.

Each one has a different role to play, and together they create something much stronger than any single channel could achieve on its own.

That simple observation inspired my latest blog article, where I explore how businesses can build their own "recipe" for long-term success.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Where do most of your enquiries come from? Has that changed over the years?

👉 Read the full article here: https://www.advantagewebdesigns.co.uk/why-the-strongest-businesses-dont-rely-on-one-thing/

P.S. Yes... the steak really was every bit as good as it looked! 😄

🛠️ Most business owners know their website could be better. They just don't know where to start.Over the years, I've spo...
01/07/2026

🛠️ Most business owners know their website could be better. They just don't know where to start.

Over the years, I've spoken to hundreds of business owners, and many tell me things like:

• "We're embarrassed by our website."

• "We're not getting enough enquiries."

• "We don't appear in Google."

• "We know it could be better, but we're not sure what to change."

The good news is that most website problems can be fixed.

Sometimes it's improving the wording. Sometimes it's making the website easier to use. Sometimes it's helping more people find you in Google. Often, it's a combination of several small improvements rather than one big change.

If you're wondering whether your website is helping your business or holding it back, I'd be happy to carry out a Website Review.

I'll look at your website, explain what I find in plain English, and suggest practical improvements you could make. There's no obligation and no hard sell—just honest advice.

You'll also find plenty of free guidance on my website, including articles about:

✅ Avoiding online scams

✅ Removing fake Google reviews

✅ Using AI without losing your business personality

👇 Find out more or request your Website Review here: https://www.advantagewebdesigns.co.uk/website-review/

One thing that came up repeatedly during a recent website workshop I ran surprised me.We weren't talking about search ra...
01/07/2026

One thing that came up repeatedly during a recent website workshop I ran surprised me.

We weren't talking about search rankings or website speed.

We were talking about trust.

The business owners taking part all valued seeing the real people behind a business. Genuine photos, honest writing and a website that felt authentic were far more important than polished stock photography or obvious AI-generated images.

Don't get me wrong—I use AI every day and think it's a fantastic tool.

But the best websites use AI to support their message, not replace their personality.

I've written a new article exploring how you can use AI without losing what makes your business unique.

I'd love to know what you think.

👉 https://www.advantagewebdesigns.co.uk/how-to-use-ai-on-your-website-without-losing-your-business-personality/

This morning I had the pleasure of running a workshop for Yorkshire in Business called "Getting Your Business Website Ri...
17/06/2026

This morning I had the pleasure of running a workshop for Yorkshire in Business called "Getting Your Business Website Right."

With a small group of business owners around the table, it quickly became more of a discussion than a presentation, which is often where the best ideas come from.

One of the first questions I asked was:

💬 "What do you love and hate in a website?"

The answers were surprisingly consistent.

People loved websites that were:
✔ Easy to use
✔ Fast to load
✔ Clear about what the business does
✔ Simple to navigate
✔ Full of genuine photos

And they disliked websites that were:
✖ Slow
✖ Cluttered
✖ Difficult to navigate
✖ Full of jargon
✖ Unclear about what to do next

What I found interesting was that nobody talked about flashy features or complicated technology.

People simply want websites that are clear, trustworthy and easy to use.

A big thank you to Jenn Crowther and Yorkshire in Business for the opportunity, and to everyone who attended and joined in with the discussion.

If you're a business owner, what's the biggest thing that frustrates you when you visit a website?

Are you using the same words as your customers?One of the biggest mistakes I see businesses make with their website cont...
07/06/2026

Are you using the same words as your customers?

One of the biggest mistakes I see businesses make with their website content is using the language they use internally rather than the language their customers actually type into Google.

For example:

🏡 A holiday cottage owner might describe their property as "self-catering accommodation"

🔍 Potential guests might be searching for "dog friendly cottage with hot tub"

The difference matters.

A simple keyword search can reveal how people are really looking for your products and services, often uncovering opportunities you hadn't considered.

I've put together a practical guide showing how to use Google's free Keyword Planner tool to:

✅ Discover keyword opportunities
✅ Understand search volumes
✅ Identify growing trends
✅ Find content ideas for your website
✅ Understand what your customers are actually searching for

Read the full article here:

https://www.advantagewebdesigns.co.uk/how-to-use-google-keyword-planner/

Have you ever discovered that your customers describe your products or services differently from the way you do?

Address

Cayley Court, Hopper Hill Road
Scarborough
YO113YJ

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 8pm
Saturday 8am - 8pm
Sunday 8am - 8pm

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