A large majority of tradespeople are not getting the most out of their websites, and could be missing out on possible new business opportunities, according to a new study. IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest online and mail order supplier of ironmongery products to the trade, analysed the websites of 240 trade companies from across the UK, including those of builders, joiners, shop fitters and construction firms. The research found that 56% of the websites analysed contained content that had been duplicated across the site or had appeared elsewhere on the internet, therefore reducing the website’s search visibility. On average, construction firms were most likely to be making this mistake with 62% of this sector including copied content on their websites. The study also revealed that 33% of the websites investigated failed to include a call-to-action, which means they are reducing the opportunities for potential customers to contact them or make an enquiry. Of all the websites analysed, those in the carpentry sector (80%) were most likely to include a contact form or enquiry box, whereas construction firm websites were least likely to have one (42%). Using a quality content management system (CMS) to power a website helps businesses to manage a website and its content easily, as well as improve site maintenance. But only 45.5% of trade companies have a CMS system in place. And only 10% of the websites contained blog posts, which are useful for displaying business news and examples of their great work to customers. Wayne Lysaght-Mason, managing director at IronmongeryDirect, said: “When it comes to promoting a business and bringing in new customers, having a well designed and easy-to-use website can really help to boost visibility. “However our research reveals that the majority of tradespeople are still not investing in a quality website to help attract new or existing customers, with many not even having a call to action or using duplicated content. “Duplicated content on a website reduces its search engine visibility because the search engine does not know which version of the content is more valuable. As a result, the website will be pushed further down the search rankings, reducing the chances of customers finding the company. And if people can’t find them or can’t contact them, they are likely to take their custom elsewhere. “Websites are a valuable tool for businesses to shout about the great work they are doing so tradespeople should be reviewing their website’s content regularly, and utilising blogs and case study sections to showcase their work to potential customers. Those that invest in creating a good website or begin to do so will have a greater advantage when it comes to gaining more custom and increasing brand awareness.” To help tradespeople wanting to learn how digital marketing can grow their business, IronmongeryDirect has created a downloadable guide with some basic tips to support both novices and those already investing in promoting their business online. The guide offers advice on how to build a high quality website and making the site more search engine friendly, as well as the importance of including calls-to-action so customers can get in touch easily. It also includes information on how business owners can save hundreds of pounds on marketing activities. For more information and to access the digital marketing guides, visit http://www.IronmongeryDirect.com/toolbox

Home security technology is more advanced, complex, and widely available than ever. Many “Internet of Things” enabled security devices, notably found in “smart homes”, are making normal homes look more like futuristic security compounds. Smart home security systems now include such elaborate devices as the FakeTV—a box that generates a television-esque flickering light to trick observers into thinking you’re home watching TV when you are actually out. There are also facial recognition cameras, keyless smart padlocks, solar powered electric locks, and AI home hubs that open and close doors by voice command. As impressive as all this technology is, it is mostly a distraction for the decidedly low-tech security solutions that are actually far more important to—and effective at—keeping your home safe. If you really want to make your home safer, you’re much better off saving money on lower budget security tech that will keep you safe. Routine visits from keyholders can be more effective than any technology Involving very little technology on your end, keyholding services involve handing over a copy of your keys to a team of security experts, and relying on them to come to your aid should you experience any problems on your property. Firms like CMS Keyholding have an in-house alarm response team, who can drive straight to your property and investigate any potential incident. If it looks like there’s been a break-in, they can contact the police. If something else has triggered the alarm, such as a leak or natural disaster, they can help alleviate the situation there, too. All keyholders go through a rigorous application process before the government grants them their Security Industry Authority (SIA) license, so you can rest assured that these are people you can trust. It’s not completely low-tech—a keyholder’s job is much easier if they can monitor your property remotely via CCTV—but it’s definitely a lot less technological than AI-enabled homehub that opens and closes doors. Quality locks, doors, and windows are essential Though locks, doors, and windows can all be augmented with modern technological devices, their low-tech, analogue function is the most important factor in your home security. Whether they have to dodge face-recognising cameras, deactivate voice-activated alarms, or duck lethal laser beams (not yet on the market), ultimately burglars still must pick a lock, break down a door, or prise open a window if they want to gain unauthorised access to a property. Because of this, any safety-conscious homeowner should make sure their house’s doors, locks and windows are as strong and secure as possible. With locks, you should settle for nothing less than a 5 lever mortice deadlock on your front and back doors. This guide from Go Compare can help you check what kind of lock you currently have. If your lock doesn’t meet this standard, you should consider getting it replaced with a lock that does. Window-wise, strong locks are just as important. BBC’s Crimewatch recommends adding additional locks to your windows whenever possible. With wooden-framed windows, it is possible to fit mortice locks, but whatever your window is made of, Crimewatch says the locks that come built-in will not be enough. Join a neighbourhood watch to protect yourself and others  Like keyholders, neighbourhood watch schemes rely on your fellow human beings to keep you safe. Rather than respond to specific crimes or specific incidents, neighbourhood watches aim to help keep the local community safe in general. The Merseyside Police reports that statistics show that joining a neighbourhood watch scheme “significantly reduces the possibility of becoming a victim of crime.” Neighbourhood watches involve members of the community working together on a volunteer basis to keep the neighbourhood safe, using their own strengths in different areas, and of course putting up “Neighbourhood Watch” signs to keep criminals in line. Check the OurWatch.org website to see if there is already a neighbourhood watch scheme in your area. If there isn’t, you can set one up of your own. Protect the Exterior Being able to take steps that will help your home is really important, and there are a lot of factors that you need to keep in mind here. One of the biggest factors to think about here is to make sure you look at some of the best ways of being able to protect the exterior of your home. Safety-conscious homeowners should look to come up with ideas and tactics that are going to enhance the safety and security of the home, and this is something you’ve got to make the best of here. Try to do as much as you can to work on this, and take the best steps you can to try to focus on improving the safety of the home’s exterior.  There are a number of things you can do that will play a role in this, and one of the best low-tech ways of being able to improve upon this is to get bollards installed. These are an excellent way of helping protect your property and look after the exterior. This will prevent issues such as vehicles crashing into your property, as well as blocking cars and other vehicles from parking on the premises as well. Bollards are an excellent way of being able to look after the exterior of the home, and this is something to keep in mind right now. 

Gate Safe is proud to announce the launch of its innovative Gate Safe Visualiser, an interactive tool designed to help anyone looking to specify a safe automated gate. The Gate Safe Visualiser has been in development for 10 months and represents a pioneering move towards improving the understanding of how to install a safe powered gate. The detailed infographic takes the specifier (who could be an architect, an electrician, a home owner or anyone involved in making the decision to install this type of device) through a step by step list of questions, supported by a series of visual prompts detailing the various factors that need to be taken into consideration to enable a safe and legally compliant installation. Gate Safe has always adopted a practical ‘plain english’ approach to explaining automated gate safety and this is a further example of how the charity is striving to maximise the understanding of the complex subject matter – in an easy to follow, user friendly format. The Gate Safe Visualiser is accessible via the Gate Safe website. Initial industry feedback on the Visualiser is positive: ECA Training, Health and Safety Manager John Corcoran commented: “The ECA has been working with Gate Safe for around four years and were one of the first organisations to endorse their safety-first approach. We strongly support initiatives like this which are aimed at improving safety and security in the sector.” Commenting on the launch of the Gate Safe Visualiser, Gate Safe founder Richard Jackson says, “Gate Safe has always tried to demystify the technical jargon which, features in most of the guidance pertaining to automated gate safety. By ‘talking’ in pictures and providing a step by step guide as to how to deliver a safe gate we hope that we can put an end to the installation of hazardous gates and address the fact that currently more than 70% of gates in the field are capable of causing serious injury – or death. Five years on since our original launch in 2010 we continue to look at new ways of sharing the knowledge required to fully understand what constitutes a safe and legally compliant installation.” The Gate Safe Visualiser can be accessed via the following link: www.visualiser.gate-safe.org.