Member News

Enjoy fun-filled family days out and exciting adventures in Norfolk this summer with the National Trust’s Summer of Play, sponsored by Starling Bank. With different activities at each location, there’s something new to discover and enjoy at every National Trust place you visit throughout the school holidays. Try your hand at archery, badminton, sports day races, and croquet. Put your skills to the test with fun outdoor games of hoola hoops, giant Jenga, and noughts and crosses. Explore the great outdoors, go bug-hunting, and see what other wildlife you can spot. Or relax with cloud spotting and wild nature art. Step onto the stage to have a go at performance play and dress-up games, make music, or let your imagination run wild with storytelling sessions. All of the Summer of Play activities have been specifically designed with families in mind to make each visit special. There’ll be plenty of space to enjoy games and activities, as well as picnic spots, shady rest areas and of course, toilets, cafes and pop-up kiosks offering refreshing food and drink. Here are some of the National Trust places in Norfolk where you can get stuck into activities and exciting adventures for the whole family this summer.  

Blickling Estate  

Summer of Play, Saturday 20 July – 3 September, 10am – 4.30pm  

Blickling Estate is the perfect setting for action-packed days out full of fun and adventure. Explore, move, play games, get crafty and create lasting memories. Head into the house to see games from the collection on display, including a chess set, backgammon and mahjong. Head outside to discover stacks of possibilities to play all day – who can’t resist a family badminton match or a traditional game of croquet? Dress up and perform on the parade stage and test your balancing skills playing giant Jenga. Take a pause to watch the Living History team bring stories from Blickling’s past to life on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and check the website for details of when balance bikes, archery, craft activities and storytelling sessions will be available – all included within standard admission prices, no booking required. Free entry for National Trust members.  

With cycle hire options and walk routes throughout the wider estate, there’s plenty to entertain all ages over multiple days this summer.  

After oodles of play and adventure, enjoy a picnic under the shaded canopy of the stretch tent or head to The Stables or Muddy Boots cafés for ice-creams, refreshing drinks and light meals. For all of this and more, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/blickling-estate. 

Horsey Windpump 

Summer of Play | 20 July to 3 September | 10am – 4pm 

Enjoy summer games[1] against the backdrop of a Norfolk Broads landmark. Try your hand at badminton or challenge each other to a hoola hoop competition. Feeling competitive? Take part in an egg-and-spoon race or test your skills with a game of giant Jenga. Don’t forget to explore the wildlife garden and see what adventures await. Keep your eyes peeled for the amazing wildlife in the area. If you are lucky, you might even see a swallowtail butterfly. Refuel your energy levels with a tasty ice cream or a delicious snack from the café, take a moment to relax on a deck chair, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of The Broads. 

For all this and more, visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/horsey-windpump   

Morston Quay 

Summer of Play | 20 July to 3 September | 10am – 4pm  Meet the Ranger | Wed 24 July & Wed 21 Aug | 9.30am-11.30am  Head to Morston Quay for a summer packed full of games and activities [2]. Which member of your family has the most accurate aim, the steadiest hand, and the best balance?  Find out with throwing games, giant Jenga and balancing beams. Challenge each other to a hoola hoop competition or have a go at more traditional games like hopscotch and noughts and crosses. Work together in harmony and make music with woodland instruments. Round off all that play with an ice cream or a delicious snack from the café, take a moment to relax, and immerse yourself in the beautiful coastal landscape. There’s lots of wildlife to see too, which you can learn more about at one of our Meet the Ranger events.   

For all this and more, visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/morston-quay   

Oxburgh Estate  

Summer of Play | 20 July to 3 September | 10am – 4:30pm   Garden games, picnic hotspots and Hidden Treasures!  

 Explore Oxburgh Estate this summer! You’ll find an action-packed day of fun for the whole family including kick croquet, sports day races, traditional lawn games, badminton, an obstacle course and a ‘hook-a-swan’ game too! Activities are spread across the gardens and into the parkland so there’s lots of ways to experience the great outdoors.   

When you are done exploring, there are lots of fabulous picnic spots with plenty of picnic blankets available to borrow and the Servants Hall tearoom and Pantry Cafe will be open serving a mixture of hot and cold food, drinks, and ice-creams. Inside the Hall visitors can see the items featured in the recent BBC series ‘Hidden Treasures’ and children can also take part in the Hidden Rat trail too.  

Find out more about events this summer here: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburgh-estate    

Sheringham Park   

Summer of Play | 20 July to 3 September | 10am – 4:30pm  

Games galore, ice cream parlour and tower views   

 Summer of Play returns to Sheringham Park with free activities and equipment galore. Have fun as a family among nature and find a range of sporting-inspired games and challenges, from sack races to swingball, filling the events field opposite the visitor barn. Bring a picnic, visit the Courtyard Cafè, or choose a scoop or two at the ice cream parlour before delving further into the park.    

The dog-free Bower Garden is a’buzz with life at this time of year, as the wildflower meadow, pond and insect hotel teem with tiny creatures. Guided soft archery sessions take place here on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am-3pm. Intrepid explorers can climb two viewing towers nestled in the Wild Garden or venture further along the Repton Route and tackle the 115 hillside steps and 60 steps up the Gazebo tower. Breathtaking views await of the oak tree canopy, Poppy Line steam trains chuntering through the landscape, and to the coast beyond.      

Find out more about events at Sheringham Park this summer, including sunset bat-spotting walks: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheringham-park  

Summer is the perfect time for lazy strolls and gentle walks in National Trust gardens that are bursting with colourful planting.  Spend sunny days meandering along tree-lined paths, through formal gardens and historic parterres to admire fragrant displays of roses alongside impressive herbaceous borders filled to the brim with vibrant flowers.  Discover weird and wonderful tropical plants being cared for in greenhouses and orangeries. Explore shady orchards, home to heritage varieties of fruit trees, and stroll through informal wildflower meadows buzzing with insect life and supporting wildlife habitats.  Espalier trees bask in the warmth of walled kitchen gardens, which are bursting with seasonal produce. Everything from salads to squashes are often harvested and used in the on-site cafes, where you can also find refreshments from ice creams to tea and scones! Soak up the tranquillity of summer gardens as you relax on grassy lawns and reflect by ponds and lakes with a picnic or a good book. Each garden is looked after by a team of National Trust staff and volunteers and is planted to not only add colour and interest for visitors, but to support wildlife. The conservation charity is also doing more in these green spaces to adapt to the impacts of climate change. To celebrate the quiet, relaxing days of early summer, the National Trust has pulled together a list of the best places for a serene stroll in some of the most beautiful gardens in Norfolk: Blickling Estate, Norfolk The gardens at Blickling are stunning over the summer months. The Parterre was redesigned in the 1930s by Norah Lindsay, a renowned gardener and socialite, and the look and feel she created is still visible today. Norah was attentive to colour, using it as a painter uses a palette. She established a magnificent display of herbaceous plants in graduated colours in the four large beds – from pink, blue, mauve and white nearer the house, to a concentration of yellows and oranges towards the east. Norah loved roses, and each of the main beds is encircled with colourful scented roses, a real seasonal highlight. In the shelter of the Parterre’s southern wall, the long border features more subtlety-coloured plants, providing a quieter backdrop to the main beds from June to September. If you’re looking for welcome shade on sunny days, head up into the wilderness. This area of the garden is more structured than its name suggests, with a geometric layout of trees, wild grasses and sheltered pathways to wander through. Look out for the garden team as they begin the annual task of trimming the ancient yew hedges, starting on the main drive in August before moving on to trim the acorns on the Parterre in September The Walled Garden, as featured on ITV’s Ainsley’s National Trust Cook Off, really comes to life in July and August. A huge range of soft fruits and vegetables can be seen growing using the ‘no dig’ method of gardening – from strawberries and raspberries to onions, peas, beans, tomatoes, aubergines, cucumbers, chillies, squashes, kale and potatoes. Flowers such as cat mint, sunflowers, oregano and verbena attract a range of pollinators, including bees from the hives in the orchard. With their bright, bold blooms in a range of colours, sizes and shapes, the dramatic collection of dahlias lights up the Walled Garden borders from August into the autumn. After a walk around the gardens, head to the Stables café for refreshing drinks and light bites or to the shop, where plants inspired by Norah Lindsay can be purchased. nationaltrust.org.uk/blickling-estate Felbrigg Hall, Gardens and Estate Step into the Walled Garden at Felbrigg this summer and be transported to an oasis, bursting at the seams with heady colour, fragrance and textures. As well as the double borders and trained fruit trees that it is renowned for, there are surprises around every corner, from resident animals to sculptures of all sizes. Arranged in three parts, it is the Bacchus Garden that greets you with its climate resilient plantings including fan palms and jewel-toned flowers edging the gravel paths. Step through elegant brick arches into another slice of gardener’s paradise, with a lily pad studded pond at its centre. The Octagonal Dovecote is one of the few working dovecotes in the country, dating from the early 1750s and still sheltering a flight of cooing doves. The Kitchen Garden bulges with produce as vibrant vegetables including kale, leeks and rhubarb grow in neat rows, alongside abundant tangles of squashes and gourds. Fluffy-legged bantam chickens happily scratch about on pest control duty while bees buzz from their hives in The Nuttery beyond, with its winding paths mown through tall grasses among the nut trees. Beavering away in both the Walled Garden and the West Garden surrounding the hall, you’ll find the garden team weeding, dead-heading, tidying borders, grass cutting, cropping, re-sowing, planting and hedge trimming – but always happy to answer a question or offer a green fingered-tip. Experience Felbrigg’s Walled Garden in a new light this summer with a series of after-hours Bio-sonification Live events, featuring real-time collaborations between musician and gardener Martin Noble-James and plants from the garden. nationaltrust.org.uk/felbrigg Oxburgh Estate Come and connect with the great outdoors and get up close to nature as you explore the gardens at Oxburgh Estate this summer. Full to the brim with pollinator friendly perennials including scented heritage roses, and beautiful delphiniums, the Herbaceous Border is the perfect space for a quiet moment of contemplation whilst you indulge the senses in the sounds and smells of the season. This year, the Kitchen Garden has been planted with seasonal produce mirroring its Victorian heyday as well as demonstrating the wonder of vertical growing in smaller spaces – chat to one of the garden team whilst you are visiting, and they will be delighted to share more about the ongoing restoration of this beautiful space. The heritage fruit trees in the Orchard also mirror those grown at Oxburgh in Tudor and Victorian times and provide a perfect spot for relaxation as the breeze ripples through the branches. The project to restore the ancient French inspired Parterre is ongoing and it provides the perfect settling to take in the views of the swans and their cygnets swimming across the moat.  Picnic blankets are available to borrow, deck chairs adorn the lawns, and both the Pantry Café and Servants Hall tearoom are open so you can grab an icy cold drink or an ice-cream to enjoy too! nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburgh

Regional rail travel transformed with more comfortable journeys and industry-leading performance

Greater Anglia (GA) has marked the 5^th anniversary of its first new train entering passenger service today.

Monday 29th July 2019 saw the first of GA’s brand new, Stadler-built, bi-mode trains in operation on the 07.47 from Lowestoft to Norwich. It marked the start of a new era for rail travel in East Anglia and the beginning of a positive transformation in the service provided for customers and communities across the GA network, which now sees all GA services in the region operated by new trains.

Passengers are benefitting from greater comfort, increased seating capacity, better accessibility, and other features, such as plug/USB points and fast, free wi-fi. They’ve also helped GA deliver record-breaking punctuality and reliability, with Greater Anglia consistently the best-performing train operator in the UK, and timetable improvements on a number of its routes.

5th Anniversary Event Attendees at Lowestoft Station. Credit: Greater Anglia

To celebrate the anniversary of the beginning of this major upgrade for train services in the region, GA invited stakeholders and media representatives to an event which started at Norwich station and included a special trip to Lowestoft and back on one of its high-quality bi-mode trains (in fact the specific train that operated the first service – 4 carriage Class 755 bi-mode train, number 755410).

At Lowestoft there were speeches from representatives from Greater Anglia, Stadler, who built and maintain the bi-mode trains, and Rock Rail who own them, along with refreshments and photographs. The special trip then returned from Lowestoft to Norwich.

Key achievements linked to the introduction of new trains on Greater Anglia services across East Anglia include:

• All Greater Anglia services now operated by new trains
• Greater Anglia consistently the best-performing train operator in the UK with annual performance over 94.3% on both the Public Performance Measure (arrival at destination within 5 minutes of time) and the Time to 3 (arrival at every station served within 3 minutes of time) and 86% on the On Time measure – the best results of any UK operator in each case.
• A number of regional routes – specifically the lines from Norwich to Sheringham, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft and Marks Tey to Sudbury – have annual punctuality of over 96.5%
• Customer numbers recovering well across the region, as passengers see the benefits of new trains
• Major accessibility improvements – especially on regional, Intercity and Stansted Express routes, where the “level boarding” option provided by Stadler-built trains with low floors and retractable steps have set a new benchmark for accessible rail travel in the UK
• More comfortable journeys with nice seats, bright, air-conditioned interiors, plug/USB points and fast free wi-fi
• Increased seating capacity on all routes, including on 3 and 4 carriage trains on regional routes which were mostly operated with 1 or 2 carriage trains before
• Journey times on some routes reduced – especially intercity services which are now mostly 6 or 7 minutes quicker
• Timetable improvements, such as Norwich to Stansted Airport direct services, more frequent Sunday services on many regional routes and some later last evening trains
• Greater Anglia’s fleet of bi-mode, intercity and Stansted Express trains have now collectively travelled over 33 million miles

Jamie Burles, Managing Director, Greater Anglia said:

“Five years on from our first bi-mode train entering passenger service, train services in East Anglia have been successfully and positively transformed, with state-of-the-art, comfortable trains, excellent performance, better services, and new journey opportunities. Passengers and stakeholders alike have welcomed the step change in service quality and customer numbers are rising as a result.

“Looking ahead, we can reassure customers and communities across our network that our plans are not just to maintain the high standards of rail travel and performance we have now set, but to keep on improving services in line with local needs, as rail plays an ever more crucial role in the region’s sustainable development.”

Urs Bikle, Business Development Director at Stadler, added:

“The fifth anniversary of the first bi-mode entering commercial service is a highly significant landmark and cause for celebration. Designed with the 21^st century passenger in mind, these trains have taken rail travel in East Anglia to a new level. They have transformed the customer experience, improved performance, increased seating capacity, delivered ground-breaking accessibility benefits and enabled the delivery of other service improvements. Industry surveys and performance measures show Greater Anglia excelling in a range of measures, including reliability and punctuality as well as passenger satisfaction. We are thrilled to have been part of this journey with partners Greater Anglia and Rock Rail and look forward to working with them in future, as we continue to enhance the services we provide.”

Matthew Allen, Chief Investment Officer at Rock Rail, added:

“We are delighted to see first-hand the transformation of rail services in East Anglia which has been achieved as a direct result of the Stadler FLIRT trains introduced by Greater Anglia and Rock Rail.  We look forward to working with Stadler and Greater Anglia to build on the successful introduction of these trains, continuing to grow the industry leading performance, and further enhancing the customer experience throughout the life of the fleet.

“These fantastic state-of-the-art trains for Greater Anglia are financed through public sector and private sector pension funds and insurance companies. This long term investment has already delivered significant benefits for passengers and the environment over the first 5 years of the trains being in operation.”

Lowestoft Station. Credit: Greater Anglia

Ed, a Caterham road car enthusiast, has taken his passion for driving and motorsport to the next level by joining Alpha 7 for personalised driver training. His journey began a few months ago when he decided to explore the thrill of a track day in a Caterham race car. After his first exhilarating experience at the Snetterton Circuit, Ed was hooked! He completed several more track days, including a day at the challenging Cadwell Park in mixed weather conditions. Last week, Ed returned to Snetterton with a new goal, to earn his racing license through the Association of Racing Drivers Schools (ARDS) test. The ARDS test is a critical stepping stone for aspiring racing drivers, consisting of both a theory and a practical examination. It ensures that candidates possess the necessary knowledge and skills for safe and competitive participation in motor racing events. The theory portion of the ARDS test covers essential topics such as flag signals, racing etiquette, and the fundamental principles of racing safety. After successfully passing this portion, Ed proceeded to the practical test. This involved a session in an MSV pace car with a professional race instructor who assessed his driving skills. Key areas of focus included mastering racing lines, cornering techniques, and demonstrating an awareness of safety protocols on the track. Ed’s performance impressed the instructor, who was thoroughly satisfied that he had gained the required competence and confidence. With the successful completion of both the theory and practical components of the ARDS test, Ed officially earned his racing license. Now, Ed is eagerly preparing for his first competitive race, scheduled for August at Snetterton with the Alpha 7 racing team. This marks a significant milestone in his journey from a road car enthusiast to a budding racing driver. For those inspired by Ed’s story and interested in pursuing motorsport, Alpha 7 offers a range of tailored programmes to help newcomers experience the thrill of driving on a track. Whether you’re looking to test the waters or aim for a racing career, Alpha 7 provides personalised driver training programmes, including race car hire for those without their own vehicle. Congratulations to Ed on his achievements and best of luck as he embarks on his racing journey! If you’re interested in joining the world of motorsport or simply want to enjoy a track day experience, Alpha 7 can help. Get in touch to learn more about our personalised training programmes and services.  

“Our award is for Best Residential & Commercial Window Film Company 2024 East Anglia.

Awarded by SME News

To celebrate our award we would like to offer all current members of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce a 10% discount.

SSAF Window Films Ltd., we offer an extensive selection of window films tailored to enhance the appearance and performance of glass surfaces. Our product range includes:

• Solar Control Films: Reduce heat and glare while maintaining natural light and clear views.

• Privacy Films: Provide privacy without sacrificing daylight or aesthetics, ideal for office partitions and bathroom windows.

• Energy Saving Films: Improve energy efficiency by reducing heating and cooling costs.

• Safety and Security Films: Strengthen glass to protect against breakage and deter potential intruders.

• Decorative Films: Enhance interior design with custom patterns, textures, and colours.

• Bespoke films: Speak to our inhouse design team about having your brand printed onto window film.”

The Norfolk ProHelp Scheme is part of our Good for Good initiative (created by The Norfolk Community Foundation) and comprises of a wide range of businesses that are based or operating in Norfolk and are committed to making a difference in our local community. The ProHelp members do this by providing free advice and support to the voluntary and not-for-profit sector. Businesses can get involved in ProHelp in whatever way works best for them – through one-to-one matches with charity projects where their expertise makes things happen, or group learning and information sessions that can reach several of groups across the county helping them to overcome common challenges. Once they join, they will be awarded a Good for Good kite mark and become part of a growing network of like-minded businesses.

There are some areas we currently need support in, which include:

• Websites – building basic websites for charities and community groups that they can own and update themselves.
• Business Planning – helping to create business plans which enables organisations to apply for grants.
• Accountancy – VAT advice, general accountancy support.
• Surveying – Condition surveys are needed to apply for grants to make improvements to community buildings.
• Architect – Plans/drawings enable local VCSEs to apply for grants to change or improve their space.
• Legal support – particularly around commercial leases.

More information can be found on our website here.

At the time of an individual passing, there are processes of administration of the individual’s estate which should be followed. This could be administered as per the Will of the deceased, or if the individual dies intestate (without a will), an executor will need to administer the estate as per the intestacy rules. If you are administering an estate, you may be quite sure you have identified those who should inherit from the estate. But what if someone is missed from inheriting? This could cause a great deal of problems further down the line, even long after the estate has been administered. This is why Genealogy research is so very important when administering an estate. We have seen first-hand from our legal clients where estates are believed to be quite straight forward but thankfully, they have verified this with genealogy research. A case study for you; Our solicitor client requested we verify the family tree of a deceased individual Mrs C. Our client was certain there was just one beneficiary of a cousin to Mrs C, as that was also their client. We began our research, assuming we would be verifying the information provided by the client. Mrs C had no children, no living parents and no living siblings. We looked at the aunts and uncles of the deceased, and Mrs C had many aunts and uncles all who had died before her. From these aunts and uncles, it became clear that Mrs C had a number of cousins, all living in the UK. In total there were 67 beneficiaries identified. Not 1 as our client initially suspected. A full tree and report was provided to the client along with the relevant certificates of birth, death and marriage to support the findings. We also traced addresses for each beneficiary for our client to make contact with them. The case of Mrs C was a large estate and it was all inherited correctly as the genealogy research and beneficiary tracing was completed. If you need assistance for any of our genealogy or tracing services, get in touch!

• Genealogy Research
• Family Tree Construction
• Identify Missing Beneficiaries
• Tracing of Missing Beneficiaries and Person Tracing
• Verifying Family Trees
• International Bankruptcy Searches

www.taylorinvestigations.co.uk | [email protected] | 01603 904031

To help influence driver behaviour and enable more people to drive to their destinations safely; Norfolk County Council Public Health’s Road Safety team are launching a campaign offering businesses and drivers free online training and resources to improve focus whilst driving.

With more than 1 in 3 traffic collisions in Norfolk being caused by distracted drivers the new campaign will feature a ‘Stay Focused’ toolkit supporting individuals and businesses to encourage safe driving habits amongst those who: drive for work, commute to and from work or drive for leisure.

The tool kit includes a series of free road safety tools to improve driver focus:

• Free access to online driver training modules Autopilot, distracted driving and  fatigue with Drive iQ
• A stay focused podcast to help train your brain to keep focused when driving
• An interactive driver quiz to assess how distracted you are as a driver
• Tips and guidance to make you a safer more focused driver

All tools and information can be accessed here Staying focused at the wheel – driver guide

Engaging in creative activities is known to be therapeutic and enjoyable for children and young people, gaining new experiences and forming meaningful interactions. Our workshops are suitable for complete beginners, with a focus on creating a welcoming environment where everyone can learn to have fun together. The subject of creative activities can vary hugely and so there is bound to be something suitable to each child’s unique tastes. Not only that, but the format of the workshop can var for individual expression through to collaborative projects, all of which help with emotional and social development, as well as fine-tuning motor skills. They give participants an opportunity for interactive hands-on learning, skills, development and self-expression, offering therapeutic healing and improving mental health and wellbeing. Participating in workshops can help build confidence and reduce stress! With school holidays around the corner, you may be wondering how much time in front of a screen is too much and what alternatives are out there that they really will enjoy. One solution, which can really engage, and benefit children is participation in creative activities. View all workshops here  

Have you ever wondered how to increase visibility on Google or how Google decides which websites to show you when you type a question or are looking for a product or service Google? Google uses a set of rules known as ‘ranking factors’ to find which websites have the best results based on what you typed in. These ranking factors are what Google considers important when deciding which websites deserve the spotlight and which should stay in the background. But what makes Google choose one website over another? It boils down to a few key points:

• Relevance: How closely a website’s content matches your search. Does your website’s content provide an answer to the query put into Google’s search?
• Distance: Especially important for local searches. If you’re looking for a coffee shop, Google wants to show you ones nearby, not one across the country.
• Prominence: How well-known or reputable the website is. Websites that more people talk about or visit often appear higher in your search results.

Pick and Implement Appropriate Keywords

Selecting the right keywords is critical in improving your website’s visibility on search engines like Google. Keywords, or search terms, are what users enter into search engines when they’re looking for information. While it might seem straightforward, the process involves a deeper understanding of user intent and relevance to your target audience.

Understanding user intent is key. When someone types “shoes” into Google, their intent could vary from finding information to looking for a store to make a purchase. However, a search like “red shoes for dancing” indicates a more precise intent: the user is not just looking for any shoes but specifically red ones suitable for dancing. Being specific and understanding their intent can significantly increase the likelihood of turning visitors into customers because your content directly addresses their needs.

To effectively use keywords, it’s essential to include them naturally throughout your website content, including meta titles, meta descriptions, and page text. This placement helps Google understand that your site is relevant to those particular search terms. Ensuring these keywords reflect what your potential audience is searching for is equally important. Using “shoes” might bring a lot of traffic, but it may not be targeted. On the other hand, including keywords like “red shoes for dancing” could attract highly targeted visitors who are more likely to convert into customers.

In summary, if you want to learn how to increase visibility on Google, you need to ensure that you:

1. Understand the specific needs and intents of your target users.
2. Strategically place these keywords throughout your site to signal relevance to search engines.
3. Enrich your content with related terms to cast a wider net and capture more search-related traffic.

Turn On Page Indexing When setting up a website, it is crucial to ensure that search engines like Google can find your pages. However, sometimes web pages are set to ‘do not index’ mode. This setting tells search engines to ignore the page, meaning it won’t appear in search results no matter how relevant it might be to someone’s search query. This setting is often enabled by default when websites are still under development to prevent visitors from seeing unfinished content. Once your website is ready for the public, switching off the ‘do not index’ setting is essential to allow Google and other search engines to include your pages in their search results. Why is this important? Indexing is the process search engines use to collect and store information about your web pages to quickly present them as results when someone searches for related topics. If a page is indexed, it is eligible for display by search engines in their search outcomes, increasing your visibility to potential clients. Here’s how to ensure your pages are indexed:

• Navigate to the settings in your website’s content management system (CMS).
• Look for a section on search engine visibility or indexing.
• You should find a checkbox there noting whether pages should be hidden from search engines. Unchecking this box will allow search engines to index these pages, making them ‘searchable’ and visible to people looking for the goods or services you offer.

Make Sure Your Sitemap is Submitted One of the steps often missed but very crucial for your website to get noticed is submitting your sitemap.xml file to Google Search Console. You might wonder, “What is a sitemap, and why is it important?” A sitemap tells Google about all the pages on your site, making it easier for Google to find and index them. Indexing is just a technical term for when Google visits your pages, understands what content is on them, and stores this information. So, when people search for something related to your business, Google knows you have relevant pages to show them. Here’s how you can submit your sitemap to Google Search Console in a few easy steps:

1. First things first: You need a Google Search Console account. Setting up if you don’t have one is quick and straightforward. Just go to Google Search Console’s website and follow the prompts.
2. Locate your sitemap: Your sitemap is usually located at yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml. If you don’t have one yet, many free tools online can generate one for you, or your website builder might have an option to create one.
3. Submit your sitemap: Once logged into Google Search Console, look for a section labeled “Sitemaps.” Here, add the URL of your sitemap and hit submit.

Submitting your sitemap doesn’t guarantee instant visibility, but it makes it much easier for Google to notice you.

Improve Your Website Health and Speed When someone visits a website that’s slow to load or full of errors, they’ll probably get frustrated and move on. Google ranks these pages lower, so they don’t appear at the top of search results. That’s because Google wants to provide its users with the smoothest, most efficient experience when looking for answers or services. To avoid this, do a monthly check-up for your website; this check-up is what Smash Marketing call a ‘website audit’. It helps to spot any problems, like broken links, slow loading times, or any other issues that make your site less user-friendly. By fixing these, you’re showing Google that you are a trusted website that keeps on top of any potential errors. Performing this audit doesn’t have to be a headache. Many free tools online will crawl your website, looking for issues that could harm your site’s performance—and, by extension, its reputation with search engines. Once you identify the problems, you can take steps to correct them, like optimising images so they load faster or fixing broken links. Backlinks Building A backlink is a link from someone else’s site to yours. When a trusted site links to your site, it shows Google that your website can be trusted. But why are backlinks crucial for your website’s SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)? It’s because Google sees backlinks as “votes” as endorsements of your content’s quality. The more votes you have, especially from relevant and respected sites, the more likely Google is to think of your site as important and worth showing to people searching for related topics. Getting backlinks from reputable websites is key. Google is smart; it can distinguish between genuine endorsements and those that aren’t. That’s why it’s not just about having lots of backlinks but the right kind. So, how do you get these valuable links? You can contact related businesses, bloggers, and sites to share your content, hoping they’ll find it link-worthy. It’s also about building relationships within your industry, as these connections can lead to more natural backlink opportunities over time. Make Sure Your Website Is Mobile Optimised When your website is mobile optimised, everything loads fast, text is easy to read, and buttons are big enough to be tapped with a fingertip. Without this optimisation, people might struggle to navigate your site on their phones, which can be frustrating. Most importantly, Google knows the percentage of people using phones vs their computers. That’s why it prefers websites that cater to mobile users and will rank them higher in search results. This is where the term “mobile-first indexing” comes into play. It means Google primarily uses the mobile version of your site to decide where it should appear in search results. So, if you want more people to find your site through Google, make sure it’s ready to impress not just on desktops but also on smartphones. Google Business and Maps Setting up a Google Business Profile is a straightforward way to show you’re an actual local business. Google will ask you to confirm your address. This step makes your business look more trustworthy and makes it easier for people nearby to find you. Once your business is verified, it shows up better in searches and Google Maps. Imagine someone looking for what you offer; your business can pop up, complete with directions, hours, and even pictures! It helps your business catch the eye of potential customers exactly when they’re looking for what you provide. Also, keeping your Google Business Profile updated, like changing hours or adding new photos, and answering customer reviews shows you’re actively involved. Because of this, Google likes this and might show your business to more people. In Conclusion If you want to know how to increase visibility on Google, using strategies like Search Engine Optimisation and tools like Google Business can really give your business the boost it needs. SEO helps people find you when they search online, and keeping your business info updated on Google makes it easier for customers to discover you. Staying active with updating your website’s copy and health will also put you higher in search results. Start using these strategies now, and watch your business smash its way to the top! It’s simple: the right online moves can bring more people right to your door.

If this sounds like a lot to manage on your own, we totally get it. You’re a business owner. You’ve got more pressing things to handle. That’s why Smash Marketing is your go-to SEO experts. Smash Marketing offer affordable monthly SEO packages for small businesses that cover all the essentials you need to get found online. Contact us today to find out how Smash Marketing can help you increase your visibility on Google!

We are thrilled to announce that Lucas & Wyllys Solicitors has been highly commended in the Wills & Probate Team category at the Modern Law Private Client Awards 2024! This recognition means a lot to us, highlighting our commitment to excellence, innovation, and taking great care of our clients. Why This Matters These awards celebrate the best in the legal profession, and being recognised in the Wills & Probate Team category is a big deal. It shows that we are doing a great job in several important areas:

• Efficient Operations: Our team runs like a well-oiled machine, making sure everything is handled smoothly and efficiently.
• Outstanding Client Care: We always put our clients first, providing personalised care and support.
• Innovation: We are not afraid to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to tough problems.
• Achieving Results: Our hard work leads to significant, tangible results for our clients and our firm.
• Team Collaboration: By working together and utilising everyone’s unique skills, we achieve outstanding outcomes.
• Contributing to the Sector: We are committed to making a positive impact in the legal field and helping to develop future generations of lawyers.

Our Journey Getting to this point has been a journey of continuous improvement. We are always looking for ways to refine our processes and stay ahead in the legal world. Embracing new technologies and innovative approaches has been key to our success. Client Care at the Heart Our clients are at the heart of everything we do. We know that dealing with Wills and probate can be tough and emotional, so we approach each case with empathy and personalised support. One client shared, “I was very happy with the work my solicitor did for me on my father’s estate. Everything was explained to me, and the process was as painless as it could be, under the circumstances. Losing a parent is horrible, but my solicitor was able to take a major weight off my shoulders, so I could take a step back and grieve.” Find more verified client reviews on Review Solicitors. Innovation and Initiative In a constantly changing legal landscape, we have shown we can adapt and innovate. Whether it’s using new digital tools, like our client App, or developing unique strategies, we are always looking for ways to improve and solve problems effectively. Results Through Collaboration By working together and leveraging the unique strengths of our team members, we’ve achieved significant, positive results. This teamwork has helped our clients and strengthened our firm’s reputation. Looking to the Future While we’re celebrating this commendation, we’re also focused on the future. We want to keep improving, embracing new innovations, and maintaining the highest standards of client care. Thank you to the Modern Law Private Client Awards for this recognition, and a huge thank you to our clients for their trust and support. We are excited about what the future holds and look forward to continuing to serve you with dedication, expertise, and compassion. Get in Touch If you need help with wills, probate, or estate planning, do not hesitate to reach out to us. Our award-winning team is here to provide the support and expertise you need.

At Zip Water, we are proud of the employee benefits we offer our colleagues. Accessed through a portal, colleagues can view all available employee benefits in one central location and then select their preferred options. We believe there is something for everyone, from active discounts on gym memberships, nutrition, and sports clothing, to adventure days, spa breaks, and travel. We also offer significant savings on entry prices to many of the UK’s top attractions through the Merlin Entertainments group. Moreover, we prioritise health and wellbeing with options to join a cycle-to-work scheme and even a health cash plan offering individual or family membership plans.  We have a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme available 24/7, 365 days a year to support colleagues to deal with personal and professional problems affecting their home or work life, health, and general wellbeing.  This is complemented by access to a health and fitness app that connects colleagues to trusted information and real-life human experts for free, personalised, and confidential support. Colleagues can also take advantage of over 30,000 local and national discounts through an employee-only platform.  Savings and discounts are spread across over 20 different categories from Electronics, Home & Garden, to Fashion, and even Groceries.  Colleagues can save on everything from their weekly food shop to their next foreign holiday, with options to have a discount at the time of purchase or to save reward points to use on future purchases or even as cash back! We have enhanced family-friendly policies and even offer the option to purchase additional holiday on top of our generous standard holiday entitlement. Our people are our biggest asset, and we hope these benefits not only support our colleagues every day but also show that we care and are here to help when they need it most. To join our team and to see what it’s like to work for Zip Water, have a look at our current opportunities: Zipwater – Current Openings (workable.com)