Rain Drop Web Design Blackpool Blog

Should You Pay Monthly Or Pay Upfront For A Website?

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Not sure whether to pay monthly or upfront for a business website? Here is a plain-English guide to the pros, trade-offs, and questions worth asking before you choose.

Why AI Website Builders Fall Short for Business Websites

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

AI website builders can look impressive at first, but business websites need strategy, testing, experience, and human judgement. Here is why a proper web designer still matters.

What Pages Should a Small Business Website Include?

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:30:00 GMT

Planning a small business website? Here are the core pages most local businesses need, what each page should do, and when extra pages are worth adding.

How to Make Your Website More Useful in AI Search Results

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

AI search is changing how people find local businesses. Here is how to make your website clearer, more useful and easier for search engines to understand without chasing gimmicks.

What Content Do You Need Before a Web Designer Can Start?

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Not sure what to prepare before speaking to a web designer? This practical checklist covers the words, photos, branding and business details that help a website project get moving.

How to Tell If Your Website Is Out of Date

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Not sure whether your website needs a refresh? Here are the common signs that a business website is starting to feel outdated, from slow loading and poor mobile usability to old content and weak trust signals.

Are Websites Still Needed in the Era of AI?

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT

AI search is changing how people find local businesses, but websites still matter. Here is why your site now needs to work as a trusted source for AI answers.

Banana 4 Scale: The Website for Measuring Ridiculous Things in Bananas

Wed, 27 May 2026 11:30:00 GMT

We recently built Banana 4 Scale, a very silly but surprisingly fast website for measuring places, planets, dinosaurs, sea creatures and more in bananas.

Introducing Lighthouse Sites: Affordable Monthly Static Websites for Small Businesses

Tue, 19 May 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Lighthouse Sites are affordable monthly static websites for small businesses that want a fast, professional online presence without a large upfront web design cost.

Website Trends That Need to Disappear

Fri, 15 May 2026 11:45:00 GMT

Some web design trends look flashy but hurt speed, usability, trust, and enquiries. Here are the website trends local businesses should leave behind.

Why Your Competitor Is Ranking Above You on Google

Fri, 15 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Wondering why a competitor appears above your business on Google? Here are the common reasons, from website speed and mobile usability to local SEO, content, trust signals, and Google Business Profile activity.

5 Reasons Your Website Is Losing You Customers

Mon, 11 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Your website could be costing you enquiries without you realising. Here are five common reasons local business websites lose customers, from slow loading times to weak trust signals.

Static vs WordPress Websites: Which Is Better for Local Businesses?

Thu, 07 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Static websites and WordPress websites both have their place. Here is a simple, honest guide for local businesses in Blackpool and across the Fylde Coast.

Our Website Redesign and Why Speed Matters for Fylde Coast Businesses

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:55:00 GMT

We have redesigned the Rain Drop website with speed, clarity, and local SEO in mind. Here is why fast websites matter for Fylde Coast businesses.

Our Data Centre Accreditations: Why They Matter for Your Website

Tue, 20 May 2025 15:14:44 GMT

At Rain Drop, we prioritize the security, reliability, and sustainability of your hosting services. Our commitment is reflected in the certifications and accreditations our data centres hold. These industry-recognized standards ensure that your data is managed with the highest levels of protection and efficiency. Key Data Centre Certifications ISO 27001 – Information Security Management This [...]

How Rain Drop Web Design Helps Fylde Coast Businesses Get Online

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 17:51:36 GMT

From Blackpool’s bustling Promenade to the quieter corners of Lytham and St Annes, the Fylde Coast is bursting with entrepreneurial energy. Independent cafés, builders, hair salons, electricians, B&Bs—you name it—are all working hard to grow their customer base, deliver quality services, and make a name for themselves in the community. But here’s the reality: in [...]

Affordable, Stress-Free Websites: Pay Monthly Web Design by Rain Drop

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 16:24:49 GMT

If you’re a small business owner, startup, or freelancer, you already know how important a great website is. But let’s be honest—traditional web design can be expensive. Paying hundreds or even thousands of pounds upfront for a website, plus ongoing hosting and maintenance costs, can feel like a huge financial burden. That’s where we come [...]

The Cost of a Website in 2025: What Should You Expect?

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 16:22:38 GMT

Thinking about getting a website for your business but not sure how much it’s going to cost? You’re not alone! The cost of web design varies widely, from DIY website builders that promise a site for pennies to fully custom-built websites that can cost thousands. So, what should you expect to pay for a website [...]

The Importance of Responsive Web Design for Small Businesses

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 13:25:00 GMT

In today’s digital world, having an online presence is no longer optional—it’s a must. But here’s the kicker: just having a website isn’t enough. If your website isn’t responsive, you could be losing a huge chunk of potential customers! So, what exactly is responsive web design, and why does it matter for small businesses? Grab [...]

Affordable Web Design Solutions for Start-Ups

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 12:56:26 GMT

Starting a business is an exciting adventure, but let’s be real—budgets can be tight! One of the biggest hurdles new businesses face is creating a professional online presence without spending a fortune. That’s where affordable web design comes in! In this blog, we’ll explore how start-ups can get a sleek, user-friendly, and effective website without [...]

Leveraging Local SEO to Attract Customers in Blackpool

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 12:49:22 GMT

If you run a business in Blackpool, you’re already part of a thriving local community. Known for its stunning coastline, vibrant tourism, and friendly locals, Blackpool offers endless opportunities for businesses to grow and succeed. But with so many businesses competing for attention, how can you stand out? The answer lies in local SEO (Search [...]

Common Web Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 12:43:18 GMT

Creating a website is an exciting process that combines creativity and functionality to deliver an engaging user experience. However, even the most well-meaning web design projects can go awry if common mistakes are overlooked. These pitfalls can affect everything from the look and feel of the site to its usability and performance. If you’re a [...]

Building a Successful eCommerce Store: Essential Features

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 13:28:56 GMT

In today's digital age, having a robust eCommerce store is not just a luxury but a necessity for any business aiming to thrive online. An effective eCommerce website does more than just display products; it provides a seamless shopping experience, builds trust with customers, and drives sales growth. At Rain Drop Web Design, we understand [...]

Top 10 Features Your Business Website Must Have in 2024

Mon, 20 May 2024 15:09:54 GMT

Hey there, digital trailblazers! If you're reading this, you’re probably on a mission to turn your business website into a sleek, traffic-driving machine. Well, buckle up, because we’re about to dive into the top 10 features your business website absolutely, unequivocally, and without a doubt needs in 2024. And yes, we’re doing it with a [...]

Sustainable Web Hosting: How Green Is Your Website?

Mon, 20 May 2024 15:01:40 GMT

As the world becomes more conscious of environmental issues, businesses are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. One area often overlooked is web hosting. Websites, while virtual, have a very real environmental impact. The servers that host websites consume significant amounts of electricity, much of which comes from non-renewable sources. This post explores [...]

The Importance of Fast Web Hosting for Your Business Success

Sun, 05 May 2024 12:49:36 GMT

In today's digital age, having a fast-loading website is not just a nice-to-have; it's a crucial component of your business success. Here's why speedy web hosting is vital and how it can dramatically boost your business. Speed Sells: Why Faster Hosting Wins 1. First Impressions Matter Imagine walking into a store and waiting several minutes [...]

Why Regular Website Maintenance is Crucial for Your Business

Sun, 05 May 2024 12:31:17 GMT

Maintaining a website is crucial for any business aiming to stay competitive in the digital space. Here’s why regular upkeep is essential: 1. Enhancing User Experience Updating your website’s design, speed, and content regularly ensures a seamless user experience, which can increase engagement and conversion rates. 2. Boosting SEO Rankings Search engines favor sites that [...]

New Website Launch: Global Daily Marketplace

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 23:00:00 GMT

Global Daily Marketplace has been in development for quite some time – and it has taken us many, many months to get to this final stage and launch the website, it has been worth the wait though – and it has been a truely exciting project to work on. To give you some idea of [...]

New Website Launch: fahrbeyond.org

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Fahr Beyond are a UK registered charity dedicated to finding and cure, and helping to support people affected by Fahr's Disease. Fahr's Disease is a rare, genetically inherited neurological disorder characterised by calcium deposits in areas of the brain that control movement. The website needed to be modern looking with numerous pages for all the [...]

New website launched for a local choir

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

We've had fun designing and building the new Capricorn Singers website, in case you don't know "The Capricorn Singers" are an amazing local ladies choir based in Cleveleys (just north of Blackpool) they have helped raise a lot of money for local charities over the years and if you have never heard them sing then [...]

New website launched for local Blackpool Guest Houses

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 23:00:00 GMT

We were contacted by a local Blackpool guest house owner to create them a website for their 2 self catering guest houses... Stratford Apartments and Alexandra Holiday Flats (both local in Blackpool). The website we built for them has a clean / fresh look and allows potential guests to browse what each guest house has [...]

New Website Launched for a local Lytham St Annes Builder

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Our latest "local" project – Lytham Joinery & Construction We love working with local Fylde Coast business so when we heard from the guys at Lytham Joinery & Construction asking us for a price for a simple but stylish website we gave them an excellent local business discount! The site features a clean, fresh and [...]

FREE web hosting migrations to our amazing cloud hosting

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

If you current web hosting isn't performing – maybe it's slow or unreliable or just plain expensive and you want to migrate to our UK cloud then we have made it even easier! If you run your own business you probably don't want the hassle of trying to migrate your website hosting or the expense [...]

Our web hosting uses 100% renewable energy

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

We are very pleased to announce that our UK cloud hosting platform is now Powered by 100% renewable energy! Did you know that the internet uses a lot of power? An individual website only uses a very small amount of energy over a year but with millions of websites online this all add's up... and [...]

New Website Launched for a local Blackpool Guest House

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

We are pleased to announce the launch of the brand new Fox Lodge Guest House website. The website is fully mobile responsive meaning that it looks great on any screen size it is viewed on, the website shows off the guest house's newly renovated rooms as well as allowing customers to quickly contact Fox Lodge [...]

How to change Shipping to Delivery in Woocommerce

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 23:00:00 GMT

Woocommerce is an excellent ecommerce plugin for the WordPress CMS, it allows you to setup and run your own ecommerce store without too much fuss. Woocommerce though has been developed by a team of mainly US based developers and as such has many "americanisms" (is that even a word?) which include using American words and [...]

Been ripped off by a web design company? Your not alone

Sat, 24 Apr 2021 23:00:00 GMT

If you've been ripped off we feel bad for you son, you've got 99 problems but we ain't one... Now I've got the Jay-Z lyrics out of my head the serious topic of this post is people being totally ripped off by bogus web design companies. It goes on in this industry all the time [...]

How often should you redesign your website?

Sat, 24 Apr 2021 23:00:00 GMT

If your website is starting to look a bit tired and outdated – should you look at redesigning it? If you do a bit of research the average time between website designs is around 2-3 years, after that it is advised that you revamp or totally re-design your website… But should you? There isn't a [...]

SSL – What is it and why you need it

Sat, 24 Apr 2021 23:00:00 GMT

You may (or may not) have heard about SSL encryption and how it is becoming more of a "must have" for websites, but what is SSL and why should you have it on your website? SSL – the basics. Normally when a person views a website page their browser requests the page and the web [...]

10 Title Tag Tweaks that work from Neil Patel

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 23:00:00 GMT

SEO or Search Engine Optimisation can be a confusing topic, every "SEO Expert" you speak to has their own ideas and "systems" to attempt to rank websites higher in search engines like Google, we read a lot of these "experts" blogs and watch their videos and to be honest the majority of it is just [...]

Should you use a "free" website builder?

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 23:00:00 GMT

Because we are professional web designers I expect that you would think that our answer to the question "Should I use a free website builder" would be a massive "NO!" but you would be wrong… It all boils down to what you want your website for and what you want it to do for you [...]

New Website Launch: Anna Bandana

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 23:00:00 GMT

We are pleased to announce the launch of the brand new www.annabandana.co.uk eCommerce website. Anna Bandana is an amazing business selling headwear for hair loss sufferers (chemotheraphy patients etc). They approached us as their current website was having issues and after a long discussion it was decided that the current website was old and they [...]

Choosing the right domain name

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Choosing the right domain name for your business is crucial – not only for branding but also for SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) If you have your "keywords" in your domain name then Google will consider your website more relevent for a search containing those keywords – but stuffing keywords into your domain name can also [...]

The importance of web hosting on WordPress page speed

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Page speed is now an important factor when it comes to SEO and ranking in Google, the faster your pages load the better the experience for the user – and Google wants to promote websites with a good user experience. WordPress is a hugely popular CMS (Content Mangement System) and powers a insane number of [...]

Put your Blackpool business on the (Google) map

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Google is now showing Google Maps results in general search results when you search for a business in a local area – this is known as a local search. So if you search for + you will not only get the usual results but above those results you get a local map [...]

Google My Business & SEO

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

If your business is local – and by that I mean that you target local customers in your area then you may find the following quite useful when it comes to gaining more customers via Google. If you search Google for a local search term for example "web design blackpool" then Google will not only [...]

✏️New Website Launch: A Personalised Memory

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

We are pleased to announce the launch of the website for a new personalised gifts business A Personalised Memory The website allows customers to add custom text and upload images to be added to their products before ordering, the products are then hand made before being shipped to the customer. We built A Personalised Memory [...]

The best value web design in Blackpool

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

How much does web design cost anyway? It's impossible to give an exact figure (or even a rough figure) as each website design project is different – the price you pay your web designer / web developer is generally down to the amount of time it takes them to complete your project. Then you need [...]

Web Design for Start-Up Businesses

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

As an entrepreneur building a start-up business, a website will help you build your brand, promote your products/services, grow a strong reputation, and promote the values of your business. Having a startup website is key to the success of your business. When you have a well built startup website, it will create not only a [...]

✏️New Website for talented North West Photographer

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

We are pleased to announce the launch of a brand new website for a very talented North West based Photographer Ross Tetlow Photography has a fully mobile responsive design with online ordering. The website has an easy to use admin panel where Ross can easily add / edit his photographs plus allows him to quickly [...]

New Websites for a Manchester EPC provider

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

We built 5 websites for a North Manchester based EPC (Energy Perfomance Certificate) provider, each website covers a specific area in North Manchester.The websites are hosting on our resilient UK cloud hosting and we will be handling the SEO for the websites going forward.The websites include: https://www.ashtonepc.co.uk – Low cost EPCs in Ashton https://www.oldhamepc.co.uk – [...]

Free Web Design for UK Charities

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Rain Drop Web Design are pleased to announce that registered UK charities can now get 100% totally FREE web design, hosting & emails! This offer is available to any small / local registered UK charity (subject to terms and conditions) – you can read more about the offer here and see if your charity qualifies. [...]

Monthly Website Plans Explained for Small Businesses

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A plain-English guide to monthly website plans, what they usually include, and when Rain Drop's Lighthouse Sites are the right fit.

December 2020 Domain Name SALE now on

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

We offer a huge range of domain names from simple .com domains to catchy domains like .dance or .fun – and we have some of the very best prices ANYWHERE. FAQ's Why are we so cheap? Basically we are a web design company and we also provide rock solid web hosting but we have no [...]

December Offer – 50% off UK Cloud Web Hosting

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

We are running some great promostions during December 2020 and to kick things off we are offering 50% off our UK Cloud Hosting plans! For new clients wanting to pay monthly for their web hosting we are offering 50% off the 1st month – just use code ‘XMAS2020‘ when signing up for any of our [...]

Add Realistic Snow to your website

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

If you are reading this in December then you will see a very realistic snow fall effect on our website – this Javascript powered snow effect is lightweight and highly configurable. In order to spread a little Christmas cheer in 2020 we are offering to add this script to any website for just £35. We [...]

Our Website has got the Christmas treatment

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

We had the Christmas bug today so decided to put up some Xmas decorations on our website! We have a very realistic snowfall script, a small snow scene and a funky dancing Santa! We know it's been a terrible 2020 for a lot of people and businesses but we hope our funky Santa brings a [...]

PHP8 now available

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Here at Rain Drop Web Design we are always up to date with the latest hosting technologies and software, all websites we host are located on our super fast UK cloud with all the latest software ready to go. Today we are pleased to announce that PHP v8 is now available on our cloud platform [...]

New Website Launch: Build-Slots.com

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new website – www.build-slots.com Build-Slots.com is a new high end / luxury / sports car sales business. We built them a polished, mobile friendly website to showcase their stock – the website allows them to quickly add new vehicles and list important statistics about each one. [...]

Don't buy Google Reviews – It's really not worth it

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

I think we all know by now (and if you don't you should) that Google reviews are very good for your business, when people leave positive reviews of your business those reviews can be seen in Google search results along with the "star rating" and having a good star rating gives buyers confidence. You also [...]

Free Payment Methods Icon Pack

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

If you own an eCommerce website then you more than likely want to display the payment methods you accept? These amazingly detailed icons come in a huge range of sizes and include payment options such as: Visa Mastercard Amex BitCoin PayPal Direct Debit And more... In total there are 30 payment icons in 10 different [...]

Warning – DO NOT buy Facebook followers

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

If you are a small business and are trying to attract people to your social networking channels then paying for them is a way of doing it, not for the purpose of increasing sales but as a way to make your social channels and your business as a whole look bigger. Buying Facebook followers is [...]

81 FREE Social Media icons to use on any website

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A collection of 81 Social Media icons in .png format (.svg files are also included!). You can use these icons on any web project for FREE! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ICONS FOR FREE

Flags from all 256 countries – Free Icon Pack

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Did you know there are 253 Countries in the world (including Independent Nation-States)? We didn’t but that didn’t stop us collecting all 253 flags as icons that you can use for FREE! From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe – this icon pack has them all… CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD 253 COUNTRIES FLAGS ICONS PACK FREE

Social Media Image Size Guide (free download)

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

What is the ideal image size for a tweet? How big should a Facebook cover image be? We answer all these questions and a lot more in this handy free PDF download – so you can keep it and refer to it when you need it. CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE SOCIAL MEDIA IMAGE SIZE [...]

Commission Free Food Ordering System

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

If you own a food / restaurant business then online ordering & delivery is vital – as more and more people are using online food delivery services and online restaurant booking. The problem with popular ordering services like Just Eat is they charge a high commission (normally around 20%-30% of each order) But there has [...]

Fancy trying Google Ad's but don't know where to start?

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Google Adwords (Ad's) can be a very effective way of driving customers to your website, they allow you to appear at the top of Google's search results for a small fee... You pay Google PER CLICK which means that everytime someone clicks on your advert you get charged a small amount by Google. How you [...]

Discounts on web design for local Blackpool businesses

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Here at Rain Drop Web Design we like to support other local businesses, we believe that local businesses should stick together (especially during the current problems that 2020 is throwing at us). That is why we are offering up to a massive 20% off all our web design quotes for local Blackpool & Fylde Coast [...]

Current COVID-19 working

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 23:00:00 GMT

We are currently open and working normally. Blackpool is currently under Tier-3 restrictions (at the time of posting this update) but this does not stop us working with a few additional policies in place to protect both us and our clients. We will not be holding any face-to-face meetings with clients, all communications must be [...]

FREE web hosting & emails for UK charities

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 23:00:00 GMT

We are offering our scalable, secure cloud hosting and business class emails totally free for small UK registered charities. Our cloud infrastructure is tuned specifically for WordPress but we can host any website that can be hosted on Linux (if you are unsure just check with your web developer). Please note we cannot currently offer [...]

All web hosting plans now come with SSL as standard

Sat, 10 Oct 2020 23:00:00 GMT

SSL is a protocol that encrypts data between a website visitor and the website they are browsing, it provides a layer of security so that the data being sent to and from the website cannot be intercepted. This means that any personal data the visitor provides to your website – from simple contact details to [...]