No we aren't talking about wearing a suit, doing your makeup etc. This time we are talking about website aesthetics, and how important they are in the online market place.

Online retail is really booming at the moment and there has been a rush to get businesses online. However many businesses are ignoring the look of their site in preference for completion speed and functionality. Obviously the sooner you are online then the sooner you can look at doing business, however your website relies heavily on the look. Studies show that users will navigate away from a website if they do not like the look, and their mind is made up within 3 seconds of visiting that page. So you need to make an impression, and make it quick!

Now this doesn't necessarily mean you need to spend thousands of pounds on your website design. Many visually appealing designs will start from a template, its the customisation of this framework that really sets you apart. This is often through widgets, features and most importantly imagery.

Many problems would arise that good quality images were either under Copyright protection (as is most found through Google images), or they were expensive to license (through sites such as iStockPhoto).
We have since looked into many alternative solutions that work for small business and websites that are run on a budget, and we have found some great resources where you can find high-definition imagery for FREE.

1. Stock.XCHNG
Known as the leading source for free stock photography, this site provides over 400,000 images which are free to use for websites, blogs and even video. Many of the pictures are taken with 300 dpi which makes them ideal for print. This is typically my first point of call when looking for stock photography for any blogs.

2. Every Stock Photo
Very similar to iStockPhoto in the layout and design of the website which makes it easy to navigate around the 9.8 million photos which they currently have in their database. This expansive catalog means you will always be able to find something relevant for articles, blog posts or advertisements.

3. PhotoRee
Seen as a library of interesting images, PhotoRee is a collection of some of the most beautiful images from Flickr. PhotoRee actually uses an engine which searches Flickr for images licensed under Creative Commons which are available for distribution. Also combined with a member voting system this allows for easy to find photos which match your tastes.

Sometimes stock photos will just not be able to match a photographer, which is why we always recommend getting a quality photography company for specific shots. This may include brochure photography or even website product photography which when done right can give you a real advantage over competitors.

Every business owner and entrepreneur has made a series of mistakes, some more serious than others. These errors will teach you more about running a business than any book or lecture ever could....and its usually something you never forget.

We have collated our top 5 tips for business owners that we have learnt from our own mistakes. Heeding this advice does not mean that your business will never encounter a problem, it just may help with overcoming that problem. After all problems help build a stronger business.

1. Dont fall for your own hot air
Businesses always benefit from a good salesman, but you need to ensure you do not fall for your own sales speak. This means that no matter how good your product or service is, it will never succeed without a push. Don't sit back and think your a winner because you have a good product, you need to get out there and get your business moving.

2. KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)
Obviously I am not suggesting you are stupid, it just helps for the acronym. However it is a rule which can be applied to so many areas of the business, why not keep it for your ethos. The most important use for this is when you are a start-up, all start-ups are small businesses with a few or less members of staff. Now if you are working on your own, or a team of two...your resources are going to be stretched. You need to know what you do well, and stick to it. Scaling up and adding service come once you are established and have an income

3. Dont expect your financial forecast
Experience has taught us that a financial forecast is a good measure, but it needs flexibility for a small business. When forecasting any financial assumptions for the business, you are a world away from the marketplace and things will often change. We found that attempting to stick to a forecast can be very strenuous. We now recommend that when forecasting for an unknown marketplace, always leave lots of room for leniency and mistake.

4. Plan for growth
It is very rare that you can start a business without funding, and that funding will not typically all come at once. You therefore need to make allowances for the graduation of your business, and the associated costs. No investor or bank will ever part with a  blank cheque for you to follow your dreams. You need to make sure that your business plan allows for you to build on a shoestring budget, if you are expecting a large cash injection right off the bat then you have another thing coming.

5. Accept mistakes, then prevent them
No business is perfect, and all businesses will make a mistake. You need to make sure that any mistakes that are encountered, are minimalised. This is mush easier if you make allocations for error, and measures are introduced to ensure it does not happen again. Learning from a mistake is one of the most important factors for a business, just make sure its a controlled mistake.

You can check out the Chipp Thomas blog which has a great page on blogging tools. Alternatively if you are interested in reading around the subject then I would defintely recommend a visit to Squidoo and Hubpages.