Blog

Holly sitting at a desk, working on a laptop.

Blog

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Not sure where to go for information?

You can relax, I’ve got you covered.

If you’re a small business owner, you’ll have heard that blogging’s an effective way of reaching new people, pushing your website up the search engine rankings and a great way to showcase your knowledge.

But there’s more to blogging than hammering out 2000 words and hoping for the best! The blogs on this page walk you through how to make the most of your website, the best tools and strategies for marketing once your website is live. And how to run a successful small business.

You can subscribe so these blogs, and my weekly newsletter drop directly into your inbox, through the sign up form, below.

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  • Artwork for blog post - why most website briefs miss the mark and how to fix it

    Why Most Website Briefs Miss the Mark (And How to Fix Yours)

    You may already have a website which needs a refresh, or you might be commis [...]

  • When Your Web Designer Says “SEO Friendly”, What Do They Mean?

    Your web designer built you a beautiful website. It's fast. It's mobile-fri [...]

  • Holly Christie Headshot

    Why I have 2 different website design services

    When looking around my website you’ll see I offer 2 different services - Cu [...]

  • Holly Christie and a client sitting on chairs opposite each other. They're looking at each other and talking. They each have a notepad and pen on their laps.

    What you can expect in a mentoring session

    In 2023 I setup my Mentoring service. This came after years of advising sma [...]

  • Photo of a home office setting with laptop and coffee on a desk

    What you’re paying for when buying your website

    How much does a website cost? Is up there with ‘how long is a piece of stri [...]

  • How to choose between a landing page, one page and multi-page websites

    A one page website is great for businesses that only offer one service &amp [...]

  • Photo of a laptop with pop up images

    Why pop ups are slowing down your sales

    We’ve all had that experience. You know that one - you’ve been on a website [...]

  • Picture of hands at a laptop and holding a phone.

    When will my website be found on Google?

    The first time I  uploaded a blog to the internet I hit publish then immedi [...]

  • Holly Christie sitting at a desk with a podcasting mic.

    What I learned from a year of podcasting

    In January 2024 I bit the bullet and launched a podcast. It was something I [...]

  • What my website design process looks like

    When having a new website built, or an existing one redesigned, how you fee [...]

  • Image of Holly sitting on the sofa with a cup of coffee next to the words 'what the jargon are they on about? Holly's website Jargon buster

    Holly’s Website Jargon Buster

    I spend a lot of my day speaking to people about websites. I mean, a lot. I [...]

  • Image of a computer keyboard, notebook, pen, plant and clock

    Why I won’t build your website in a day

    In the last couple of years there has been a trend for websites in a day. Es [...]

  • Image of the backs of a couple, who are lying on the floor with a laptop open. On the laptop screen it says 'Get a website for £99'!

    A look inside £99 websites

    When you’re having a website built for the first time it’s natural to wa [...]

  • Photo of Holly Christie owner of This Demanding Life looking at a colour wheel with a client

    When creativity meets functionality – making your website look great and work brilliantly.

    Website trends come and go, and when you’re investing in your website you wa [...]

  • Image of Holly Christie, a white woman with pink hair, sitting in a chair next to a client, an Asian woman, both are looking at a computer screen

    Why we build small business websites, not corporate ‘solutions’

    As website designers we can build websites for anything, whether that’s a hu [...]

  • Cropped photo of a design agency at work, a table with hands and colour charts and ipads.

    How to choose between a website developer and an agency

    When you’re trusting your website to a professional for the design and build [...]

  • mixed race woman in a white dress, wearing a hat and sitting on a sidewalk with an open laptop on her legs.

    How to make money from your blog

    This year marks 30 years since blogging first came about. It was in the [...]

  • Image of a the back of a woman who is presenting to a blurred out diverse group of people in an airy room.

    How to show up when you don’t really feel like it.

    If you’ve been in business for a while you’ll know that it can be tough out [...]

  • Holly Christie, sitting in a chair, leaning forward, smiling at the camera.

    What you need to know when starting a business

    Starting out in business is equally exciting and overwhelming. It’s fantasti [...]

  • An overhead shot of a woman, with her hand on a laptop, looking at some pictures to the left, of the desk.

    Why we choose WordPress for our websites

    When Simply Sites was first thought up, we wanted to make sure we stood [...]

  • A computer on a desk in a trendy office, displaying a website, with two office workers in the background.

    Why we don’t do template websites.

    If you’re on a budget and you need a website the chances are you’ve look [...]

  • Holly in the background, working on a laptop with the focus being on a table in front with a coffee cup and a notebook.

    Is a membership website the right choice for you?

    Online membership communities have been around for over a decade and can [...]

  • A cluster of £50 notes and £1 coins.

    Stop leaving money at the door (the truth behind landing pages)

    If you have your own business and are selling a product or service onlin [...]

  • Holly and a client looking at a computer.

    What you love about your website could be killing your sales

    Creating a new website for your business is a big undertaking and one you on [...]

  • Holly sitting at a desk, working on a laptop.

    How to Prepare for your Website Build or Redesign

    Are you thinking of building a new website? Or redesigning an existing one? Wh [...]

  • hands typing on a laptop

    Signs it’s time for a new website

    Websites can start to date as soon as they’ve gone live. With new trends and t [...]

  • Image of hands holding a fan of money over a laptop keyboard.

    How much does a website cost?

    When considering a new website the first thing people ask is ‘what does it cos [...]

  • Holly Christie, sitting on the sofa with a laptop, smiling at the camera.

    How long it will take for your website to pay for itself

    When investing in your website it’s normal to wonder how long it’s going to ta [...]

  • Why I don’t put Social Links in Headers

    Just like fashions, websites tend to be trend-driven. With each year bringing [...]

  • Books and pens on a desk

    Top website trends for 2023

    Websites change often with some trends sticking around for a while (think Hero [...]

  • Headshot of Holly Christie

    Why website costs vary across the industry

    If you’re looking for a website designer for your small business website [...]

  • Holly and a client sitting on a sofa with a cup of coffee

    How to choose the right designer or developer for your website

    It’s time to build or rebuild your website and the one thing you do know [...]

  • Holly and Amy working together at a desk

    Why you’re not making sales from your website and how to fix it

    The days of thinking of your website as a shopfront are long gone. When p [...]

  • A desk with 2 people working at it, on a laptop and an ipad

    5 Things Website Designers Won’t tell you

    🧐 Want to know what Website designers would love you to know? If you want [...]

  • Sharon Hadley and Amy Newlands working together at a desk.

    Website crimes you don’t know you’re committing

    Your website is more than just a shopfront for your business, it’s the on [...]

  • Holly Christie sitting at a desk with a podcasting mic.

    How words unlock the selling power of your website

    When you land on a website one of the first things you’ll notice is the h [...]

  • Holly, working on a laptop, on the sofa with her dogs next to her.

    Website myths which aren’t true

    If you have a small business or want to sell or represent yourself online [...]

  • Holly Christie Headshot

    Fall back in love with your website & turn it into the powerhouse it was meant to be

    When you think about marketing your small business what jumps to mind first? [...]

Find out what our clients have said

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Jack Graham profile picture
Jack Graham
07/07/2026
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Working with Holly has been a 10/10 experience in every single way. Firstly, the result is exactly what I wanted and I really appreciated how she totally got my brand and what I was going for, then translated that into something that'll actually get inbound clients. She was flexible and willing to always go the extra mile which I super appreciated. The process was also super easy, stress-free, and dare I say it, fun! Cost-wise, the value is completely unmatched. Couldn't recommend Holly and This Demanding Life highly enough.
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Neal Veglio profile picture
Neal Veglio
29/06/2026
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This is the second website Holly has built for me, and to say she went over and above, is an understatement. I didn't even think I needed a new website for my podcast because I had a membership with a podcast website supplier. It didn't take long for her to show me the benefits of owning my own domain, and bringing everything in house. And let's just say, I finally have a website I can proudly share. In fact, here it is. Go check it out, and then tell me what you're waiting for because you shouldn't have any excuse but to hire her for your site as soon as possible! podmastery.co
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Andrew Gent profile picture
Andrew Gent
29/06/2026
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From the initial engagement to publishing, Holly was committed to helping us produce a replacement website. Understanding of our needs and concerns she was patient , knowledgeable, supportive and responsive - it was a real pleasure to work with her and her team and the results, we think, speak for themselves - Superb!
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Stella Da Silva profile picture
Stella Da Silva
26/04/2026
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Working with Holly on my website was an excellent experience from start to finish. Holly really took the time to understand me, my brand, and how I wanted to show up online. What impressed me most was her ability to turn ideas in my head into a website that genuinely feels like me. She combines creativity with strategic thinking, gives honest advice, and makes the whole process feel collaborative and easy. The feedback I’ve had on the website has been consistent. “This is so you.” That says everything. If you are looking for someone who listens, challenges your thinking in the right way, and delivers a website with clarity, personality and purpose, I would highly recommend Holly.
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Alicia NOBLE profile picture
Alicia NOBLE
30/12/2025
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Thank you for my new website Holly! It looks amazing and just what I asked for. This is my first website and Holly's Simply Sites process makes it all so easy. From the first discovery call, through to the submission templates and the review & feedback process, Holly has taken care to make this process as smooth and stress free as possible. Highly recommend Holly's website services - her expert knowledge, genuine client care and attention to detail makes her stand out from the competition! Thanks again, Holly!
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Paul Surridge profile picture
Paul Surridge
13/11/2025
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I thoroughly recommend Holly and her team to anyone looking to build a new website. Holly is great to work with, very responsive and has designed a great looking website for my business that is already driving new enquiries.
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Rachel Law profile picture
Rachel Law
27/08/2025
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Holly built me a fabulous website which perfectly depicts my business. She was very professional throughout and kept me in touch at every point. Any issues were quickly dealt with and Holly was very quick to respond to any questions I had or any changes I asked for. Very happy with the whole process and end result. I would recommend Holly and This Demanding Life.
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Louise Foster profile picture
Louise Foster
23/08/2025
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Not only is Holly a fantastic web designer, her knowledge also extends to marketing, sales, legal stuff, pretty much everything... I wish I'd have known about her other services when I was first starting out. Her expertise in all these other areas would have made my life so much easier and I wouldn't have wasted so long trying to figure all this stuff myself. Her advice and packs are top tier quality, just what you need if you're at the beginning of your web design business. Save yourself the headache and stress of wondering what exactly you need to "get it right". One click, one payment and it's yours. And it won't break the bank. Thanks Holly, you've made my life so much more simple!!
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Tanya Lloyd profile picture
Tanya Lloyd
25/07/2025
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Holly created a website for me through her Simply Sites service, and I couldn’t be happier with the result. I chose the Clarity theme, which I absolutely loved from the start. Since it’s gone live, I’ve had compliments on how it looks and how easy it is to navigate. Holly was able to help me with ideas for my new site before and during the process. She made everything feel straightforward, and went above and beyond to make sure I was happy with the final site. Highly recommend!
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