Free digital expertise for small businesses
Argyll and Bute Council is encouraging local businesses to make the most of the digital support available through its Business Gateway service.
Businesses based in Argyll and Bute can benefit from a free one-hour virtual surgery with a digital expert to help improve their digital marketing techniques, by contacting the Business Gateway team.
Every small business, no matter how new or established, can use digital channels to increase their reach, generating interest and converting that interest into customers. Digital marketing can help a business reach new customers and build trust in a way that is cost-effective, scalable, and measurable.
The Business Gateway team use specialist advisers, each with a background in helping businesses, to provide the help business owners need to improve their digital capabilities. From social media and artificial intelligence, websites and branding, to cyber security, digital strategy and website analytics, they cover all the topics that matter most, offering practical advice and ongoing support.
So far in 2024, 50 local businesses have taken advantage of a digital surgery, with a wide range of topics covered, each relevant to the needs of that particular business.
Feedback from businesses using the service shows how helpful the digital experts have been in cutting through jargon and pinpointing the tasks that will be of most benefit.
“They explained everything in a language that I could understand. I’m not very switched on with the tech side of business” said Gemma MacLean of Spirited Soaps, an Islay-based business making small batch natural soaps using whisky, gin and rum from Islay and Jura.
“They took the time to talk through, and show me examples, of how to improve our SEO rank higher on Google and improve the user experience on our website.”
Following a digital surgery, the support can be extended to a full digital review for businesses with an established online presence. During a digital review, which is fully funded, the digital expert will audit a business’s online presence and give them recommendations to improve digital activity, aligned to their business goals.
One of the businesses benefiting from a digital review is The Lomond Clinic. Based in Helensburgh, the business offers a range of health, medical, beauty, complementary and holistic therapies from qualified therapists, including massage, physiotherapy, acupuncture, counselling, exercise and nutrition services.
Jill du Toit explained that the session had a “huge impact on our web design, making more use of analytics and how to improve social media content specific for our business. All explained simply, clearly and positively. Superb service, over a couple of meetings that tied in with our work hours and a great report that we can continue referring to.”
“Their expertise and thorough view of my website and online presence are very useful, in the ever-changing environment of online commerce and social media” added Aska Marzec of Scottish Island Art, a Mull-based business offering paintings of Scotland and the Isle of Mull landscape and limited edition prints by Ronnie Leckie and Aska Marzec.
Rosemary Fletcher, of Persabus Farm Accommodation and Pottery on the Isle of Islay agreed.
She said: “I put a lot of time and effort into my website and social media with a strong emphasis on branding. This review has been incredibly useful and informative as I was still missing a few tricks. I was impressed at how detailed and thorough it was and now I have plenty of action points to improve things further.”
To request a digital surgery or review, contact the local Business Gateway team on 01546 604555 or email business.gateway@argyll-bute.gov.uk
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Childcare and Education Worker - ARB15733 - Argyll and Bute Council
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JOBS
Childcare and Education Worker - ARB15733 - Argyll and Bute Council
Sign up to our daily Newsletters
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