- Bespoke designs or off-the-peg designs suitable for rural businesses
- Search-engine friendly
- Easy-to-use content management system
- Free technical support and troubleshooting
- Inexpensive web hosting with secure daily back-ups
- Content writing, editing and updating service
- Specialists in websites for community-run shops ... Advice given on content
- Free unlimited email accounts
Community shops
FIND A SPONSOR!
One of the best ways of funding your website is to look for a
local sponsor(s) who would be prepared to help in return for
- Displaying their logo
- Featuring a link to their website, or
- Giving them a full page on your website
Community shops in the UK are increasing in number dramatically
and this has been helped by the growing amount of information that
is available online. Whenever members of a community decide to save
or build their village shop, what do they do? They look
online.
Why do you need a website?
- Fundraising: Every grant application
form will ask you for your website address. This is where you can
tell the world you are competent, professional and serious about
your project. This will help you raise funds.
- Information: There will be many
people in your village who will want to know about your project -
and, once it's open, your shop - but rather than contact you
directly they will look on the internet first. Inform them ... and
involve them.
- Trade: Your website will advertise
your shop's wares, services and local suppliers. This will increase
the footfall to the shop.
- Cooperation: Shops learn from each
other's websites. In the spirit of cooperation that prevails among
those involved in community enterprises, it is important that your
website carries all sorts of information that will help others who
follow.
What does Rural Shops Online offer that other web design
companies don't?
With several years' experience of setting up and working with
community shops we offer a unique service - not only can we build a
website with a visual design appropriate for your village and
community, but we can advise on the content. And with 30
years' editorial and writing experience we can even write it
for you! If required we can turn your ideas (from a telephone
interview or even rough jottings by email/letter) into the
sort of copy you will be proud to see on your website.
Once the website is up and running, you need hassle-free
maintenance and good support. Your community shop will be
run partly or wholly by volunteers. Their time is precious.
Quite often the age range is in the more mature band. Your website
will come with a content management system that is clear,
instinctive and easy to use by non-technical people. We are always
on hand to help with technical difficulties, and if you don't fancy
doing any necessary updating, we can do it for you!
