Starting a new business is an exciting time. It’s also a lot of hard work with a seemingly never ending list of jobs to do. One area that is fraught with technical jargon, confusing terms and poor advice when you need to set up your business online. This is why we have created our startup super tips for small businesses.
Starting a new business is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. There’s funding to think about, HMRC to deal with, bank accounts to open, and a seemingly endless list of decisions to make.
One of the most confusing areas for new businesses is getting online. Technical jargon, conflicting advice, and unnecessary upselling can make simple decisions feel far more complicated than they need to be.
That’s why the Hippo Helpers have put together this 7-step “Getting Your Business Online” guide — practical startup tips designed to help you make confident, informed choices.
From choosing a business name to building your website, the Hippo is here to guide you every step of the way.
Your business name plays a huge role in how customers find you online. Today, many users will type your business name followed by “.co.uk” as their first attempt to find your website.
A good business name doesn’t need to describe exactly what you do. Some of the world’s most successful brands — Amazon, Meta, eBay — let the brand do the talking.
What matters is that your name is memorable, distinctive, and works well as a domain name.
To help with this, Hipposerve offers a free Business Name Generator that creates unique name ideas and checks matching domains at the same time.
Before committing, always test your chosen name with friends and family. If they can remember it and spell it easily, you’re on the right track.
Your domain name is your digital front door. Choosing the right one early can save you money and frustration later.
Many domains are included free with hosting plans, or available with discounts of up to 90% for the first year!
Over 70% of internet users trust a domain-based email more than a generic free email address.
A professional email matches your domain, such as: sales@yourbusiness.co.uk rather than yourbusiness@gmail.com.
This instantly improves credibility, branding, and customer confidence.
Professional email doesn’t have to be expensive. Hipposerve’s Hippo Pro Email starts from just £2.49 per mailbox per month.
Your website needs to be fast, secure, and reliable. Poor hosting can undo all the effort you put into design and marketing.
Over 80% of users will leave a website if it takes more than three seconds to load.
The right hosting depends on your website type and traffic levels. Too little power causes slow performance. Too much means paying for resources you don’t need.
At Hipposerve, we offer a full range of hosting options and promise never to oversell a service.
A website is essential for credibility, even if you don’t sell online. Customers will look for you.
You have two main choices: build it yourself or hire a professional.
Website builders offer drag-and-drop tools that get you online quickly and affordably.
Hippo Builder lets you start small and upgrade later, without locking you into a platform.
Content management systems like WordPress offer greater flexibility but require more learning.
We provide WordPress-optimised hosting with WordPress preinstalled to remove technical barriers.
If budget allows, a professional designer can deliver a tailored solution. Choosing the right specialist is key.
Hipposerve works with trusted designers and can match you with the right partner without taking commission.
Websites break. Updates go wrong. Hackers exploit outdated code.
A solid backup and care plan is essential. Backups are insurance — boring until you need them, then absolutely priceless.
Hipposerve’s Hippo Care plans range from simple backups to full website management and updates.
Things will go wrong at some point. What matters is how quickly they’re fixed.
Before choosing a provider, check their Support Promise.
Will you speak to real people? Will support turn into a sales pitch? Or will issues actually get resolved?
Great support is often the difference between a minor hiccup and a business-stopping problem.
yourself up for success without the worry.The articles you’ll find here are part of Hipposerve’s growing archive, and some go back a little way. That means you may occasionally spot references to products we no longer offer, pricing that has since changed, or technologies and advice that reflected best practice at the time of writing but may not fully align with current thinking. We always aim to keep things accurate, but the web moves fast.
For the latest information on our services, features, pricing, and offers, please check the main pages of our website. And just to keep things clear — we’re unable to honour any prices or promotions mentioned in older blog posts. Thanks for reading, and happy browsing!
