Q: Can we use ChatGPT for writing blogs?

A: ChatGPT is a free Generative Ai tool. It is fine to use ChatGPT to write blogs and other content for your business. But you should make sure you give it the right prompt, and enough information to create a high-quality piece of writing.

Try this prompt:
You are an expert copywriter who is helping me write blogs to improve my website Search Engine Optimisation. I want to write a new blog for my website, that will lead more people to find my site organically. Ask me a few questions about the topic first, and then give me an outline for the blog, as well as keyword and structure suggestions.

Check out an example of how this prompt developed for me here: Example chat

NOTE: Generative Ai disclosure

If you are using advanced AI tools that can generate whole blogs about a certain topic without much input from a human, you should disclose that by adding a note to say that the content was created by generative Ai. The same goes with images. If you are using Ai to generate images, you should add a description along the lines: Image created using generative AI.

Q: Can I use my content and put in ChatGPT and make it more appealing and use that content on the website?

A: Yes, you can use ChatGPT to improve your content. You could feed a lot of your own writing in a chat, and ask ChatGPT to make improvements using your tone of voice. The more you give ChatGPT, the better the results will be! Make sure to specify what ‘improvements’ means.
Here is an example: Example chat – improvements

Q: Does Shopify have SEO tools?

A: Shopify has excellent built-in SEO tools. Here is some general guidance: SEO Review | Shopify

I also found these useful videos on YouTube: How To Get Your Shopify Store to RANK HIGH IN SEARCH ENGINES (SEO Checklist)

Check out more resources around SEO on Digital Boost: Improve Your Business | Websites | SEO

Q: I haven’t built my own website yet, I’m still exploring the free or cheap options. I’d like to get people to book appointments, but also give lots of free advice. Which of the usual website builders do you recommend?

A: There are a lot of free website providers. Large providers like WordPress, Squarespace and Wix offer the option to have a free site with them. 

Pros:

• Low cost investment that gives you online presence.
• Get a taste of a certain platform and see which you prefer

Cons:

• You will not have a unique domain, such as www.yourbusiness.com. It will look more like www.yourbusiness.wordpress.org.
• You will not have full control over development and control of your site. 

Select the provider that suits your skills and budget. I honestly think that this is a personal preference. Most providers will be constantly updating their platforms and copying each other, so they are all pretty much the same. 

Google Sites is a good option, especially if you have (or could use) a Google my Business page. Google Sites are free to build, host, and maintain with a Google or Gmail account. There are no web hosting fees.
Again, your website address will not be unique. It will look like this: www.sites.google.com/view/your-business-name

Eventually, you will need to pay for hosting in order to have a website with good functionality that you can control and trust. Hosting costs vary. You should find a provider that will be there for you when you have questions or when you get stuck. There are a few things to consider, so please speak to an expert via the Digital Boost platform before you buy. They can help you make an informed investment decision.

You can keep using other tools for free. For example, I pay for hosting but I use a free WordPress site. I use the free version of Calendly, which allows users to schedule appointments with me when I am free. I also use the free version of Canva. So overall, my site is running really nice and I am only paying my host for the domain. Sweet!

Q: Is Google Analytics compliant with data protection laws?

A: You can ensure that you remain compliant by adding a cookie banner on your site. What is a cookie banner? When you land on a website for the first time, you will see a pop-up asking you to consent to tracking and cookies. This is where you have the option to either accept or reject the request from tools like GA to track how you use the site. If a user does not consent to sharing their data, Google Analytics will not start tracking them.

If you have this in place, then you can safely use Google Analytics to collect data and be compliant with data protection laws. 

This can either:

• Allow users to consent to specific types of cookies
• Be a generic notice, something along the lines of: By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy.)

Read more: Do I need cookie consent for Google Analytics? – CookieYes. 

Resources and further learning

• Where do people go when they are online?
• UK search engine market share
• World Wide Web Consortium
• Google Analytics
• Google Search Console
• PageSpeed Insights
• YOAST SEO analysis