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If your website is not optimized for search engines, then you should not expect a steady stream of orders for your products or services. There are general requirements for portals that are supposed to rank high, but there are also regional specifics. Therefore, the checklist for SEO optimization of NL pages differs from that compiled for other EU countries, and this needs to be understood. It is worth figuring out in advance what a website should be like in order to reach the top, so that you are not surprised later why you are unable to develop a profitable business.

The main requirements for bringing a resource to the top positions in the ranking

To climb higher in Google Netherlands, you need to carefully work on:

• headings and subheadings, which should be meaningful and reflect the essence of the text;
• titles and descriptions – they should be unique and attract the target audience, contain local identifiers;
• content structure — texts should be understandable, informative, interesting, and contain elements of the semantic core in such quantities that they can be identified by the search engine without overwhelming readers. Particular attention should be paid to the use of local vocabulary;
• Technical settings, including submitting an XML sitemap via Google Search Console, setting up robots.txt, ensuring page loading speed in accordance with Google PageSpeed Insights recommendations.
• linking to Google Bedrijfsprofiel.
• placing cookies and privacy policy in accordance with AVG.
• image optimization – use WebP and compress images while maintaining quality, and don’t forget about the correct dimensions;
• ensuring internal linking;
• structuring information;
• presence of the company name, number (NAP), and address on each page;
• presence of a blog with articles on relevant topics;
• installing Google Analytics and indexing pages in Google.nl;
• ease of navigation and interface in general.

Conducting an SEO audit is the best solution for creating a checklist

No SEO optimization guide will help you conduct an in-depth analysis, so you shouldn’t limit yourself to a general checklist. It is better to turn to specialists who will conduct a comprehensive audit and compile a list of what your website should have for successful promotion on Google. By turning to professionals, you will significantly save time and spare yourself stress, because after launch, you won’t have to worry about increasing your customer base.

What exactly do experts do during an audit:

1. They study the content and evaluate its compliance with Google’s search engine requirements.
2. They find technical issues that interfere with ranking, such as errors with redirects or indexing.
3. They determine how well the content matches the intentions of the target audience in the Netherlands and whether keywords and phrases are used correctly.
4. Analyze the UX and structural features of the portal, identifying illogical links and pages that are not useful from an SEO perspective.
5. Compare with leaders in the selected industry in the Dutch market.
6. Create a personalized checklist that takes all nuances into account.

The duration of the audit may vary depending on the scale of the project and the focus of the portal, but in general, the process takes from 1-3 days for a basic analysis to 10-20 days for a comprehensive study that includes On-Page and Off-Page, as well as strategy and local SEO.

Once they have an idea for a business, all entrepreneurs want to get started as soon as possible and launch their project. But to achieve long-term success, you need to set aside some time for the preparatory stage, part of which involves creating a virtual presence. The optimal option is to launch a website with control questions, when the customer can evaluate the quality of the contractors’ work and make sure that the resource meets all requirements.

Why do you need a checklist?

Usually, the process of ordering a website involves creating technical specifications, agreeing on terms, and evaluating the results. But there is a risk of non-compliance with the agreements, which can be reduced by using a checklist. In fact, it is a list of all the tasks that must be completed while working on the project. If you compile it correctly, then you can:

• avoid critical technical problems after launch — there will be no errors or failures if you use a checklist;
• objectively evaluate the quality of the web studio’s work;
• reduce time and money spent because you won’t need to invest resources in rework;
• check how competent and responsible the contractors are — companies with a lot of experience always fulfill their obligations, and a checklist lets you confirm this;
• minimize the risk of ranking problems by pre-checking the content;
• build trusting relationships with the target audience, who will appreciate the stability of the work, multifunctionality, high level of security, and trouble-free loading of the resource on any device.

The main items on the checklist

Website preparation takes place in a specific sequence, but the customer must always monitor it and, after completion, ensure that the tasks have been completed. A checklist will help with this, as it allows you to check:

• the correctness of page loading on devices with different displays and operating systems;
• the functioning of internal and external links;
• the speed of resource display;
• the connection of analytical systems and SEO adaptation — the site must rank well, because only then will customers choose your company over many competitors;
• the uniqueness of the content — this refers not only to the texts, their compliance with spelling rules and content, but also to meta tags;
• availability of up-to-date contact information and functioning feedback forms;
• compliance with GDPR standards;
• analytics and legal issues, in particular the display of cookies taking into account regional requirements;
• usability;
• availability of backup options, connection of firewalls and other security system elements;
• readiness for promotion through search engines;
• evaluation of navigation convenience through a test run.

When working with WebStork, you can be sure of the professionalism of the team and the result. For complete confidence, we suggest downloading the PDF checklist and using it to check the finished project.

Developing a business exclusively offline in today’s reality is unprofitable, since most people order goods and services via the Internet. Therefore, if your goal is to develop a profitable business in a particular industry, you should immediately take care of presenting yourself on the Internet. This is both easy and difficult at the same time, because there are many companies offering web development services, but how do you find a reliable partner among them? Only by finding the answer to this question can entrepreneurs count on the implementation of their business plan.

Why is finding a contractor so important?

When web development is needed, a company must clearly understand its own requirements and take the time to evaluate the quality of service, the attitude of potential contractors to financial issues and the fulfillment of agreements, etc. This is not a question that should be decided in a hurry, because if a mistake is made, there is a risk of:

• losing money due to additional expenses or untimely launch of the project;
• increase the time required to create the resource;
• encounter problems during promotion through search engines — if the content does not meet the requirements of Google and other platforms, then it will not be possible to get to the top positions in the search results;
• increase maintenance costs due to the complexity of administration;
• lack of a stable influx of customers due to ill-conceived design;
• technical problems during order placement, money transfers, or other operations, which negatively affects reputation;
• constant conflicts while working on the project — if the contractor does not meet the customer’s requirements, then sooner or later there will be a confrontation, which is undesirable for both parties.

A responsible approach to searching: what to look for

With the goal of creating a website that will generate income and fit your business development strategy, it is important to carefully analyze the proposals, as not all contractors meet the criteria. Here are the 10 most important questions to ask when choosing a web studio:

1. How long has the studio been operating? Experience is important not only in terms of developing skills, but also in terms of reflecting the company’s demand.
2. How good is their reputation? In addition to reviews directly on the studio’s website, it is worth finding out more on independent websites and forums.
3. Are the employees experienced and professional? You need to be 100% sure that the team is made up of specialists.
4. How are the obligations of the customer and client regulated?
5. Can you count on a service quality guarantee?
6. How does payment work?
7. How are additional costs handled?
8. What security standards does the web studio adhere to?
9. What services and features can be connected?
10.  How much does the type of website you need cost on average?

Ordering a website from an agency is easy, but the more carefully you approach the search for a contractor, the better the result will be. You can learn more about WebStork’s service packages and evaluate the benefits of cooperation right now.

For small and medium-sized businesses in the Netherlands, a website is an important prerequisite for promotion in any field. It is through the website that customers place orders, share important events in the life of the company, announce promotions, and receive feedback. At the same time, every entrepreneur has to worry about the financial aspects, so the question arises: how not to overpay and get a website that meets all criteria and does not require overly complex maintenance. How much can a website cost? What factors influence its cost? What should be done to achieve the optimal cost-benefit ratio? Find out right now.

Types of websites and their impact on project cost

The first and key parameter that determines the price of a website is its type. There are the following types:

1. Business card website – consists of 1-5 pages, provides information about services or products, ordering methods, and motivational blocks. Such projects do not require much time and effort, are designed to attract the target audience and obtain data for feedback.
2. Corporate portal – involves basic SEO optimization, use of the company’s logo and colors, more in-depth disclosure of advantages, detailed description of goods and services, integration with chats and CRM. Many organizations also order several language versions, depending on the location of their customers.
3. Online store – has a wide range of functions, allows not only ordering but also online payment, contains detailed product specifications, requires lengthy preparation for launch, taking into account SEO goals.

WebStork offers the opportunity to order websites at promotional prices – from €1,125 for a landing page, from €2,250 for a multi-page website, and from €3,750 for an e-commerce platform. 

Other factors to consider

The cost of a website is influenced not only by the type of site, but also by many other factors:

• the contractor – there are freelancers who offer more favorable rates, but working with a web studio is a more reliable option, since all the terms are specified in the contract, so you know exactly what you will get for your money;
• the scale of the project – the more pages, the higher the cost, because more time is needed to develop the design and fill it with content;
• options available to users;
• data synchronization with applications for Android and iOS devices;
• requirements for integration with marketplaces;
• number of connected social networks and chatbots;
• list of payment systems;
• legal support for e-commerce enterprises;
• type of hosting and duration of website address provision;
• provision of additional services, including resource promotion and administration.

The best approach for SMEs planning to do business in the Netherlands is to abandon templates in favor of personalized development that takes individual characteristics into account. It makes no sense to use ready-made schemes in a highly competitive environment, especially when there is an opportunity to create something unique, and WebStork specialists can help with this. Sign up for a free consultation by calling +31 685 24 00 98 or online to talk to real web development experts!

By 2025, social media have become the main tool for brand promotion, and platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube remain essential tools for reaching audiences. But popularity has its price: attention from regulators in the form of improper labeling of ads, breaking legal rules, or deceptive content can cost a lot of money. In this article, we will examine the main requirements for advertising content on social media and give tips on how to avoid sanctions.

Basic requirements for advertisement of content on social networks

In most states, including Ukraine, advertisement of content on social networks is addressed by general law of advertisement and extra platform requirements. The focal requirement is indicating the content as advertising or of commercial character.

Labelling is the most important tool of transparency. In Ukraine, advertising in social networks must be marked with the term “advertisement,” “sponsored,” etc. The same applies in the EU and USA. As an example, in the US, influencers will have to use the #ad tag or make use of the collaboration marking facilities that are provided within the tools (Instagram’s Branded Content Tool).

Ignoring the rules of labeling can be interpreted as misleading the consumer, and in this case, fines or blocking of content are imposed.

It is also important to consider the specifics of each platform:

• Instagram requires commercial publications to be marked through the inherent “Sponsored” label. Failure to do so may result in an account being warned or losing access to advertisement features.
• TikTok requests tagging with the “Paid partnership” label and requires users to be notified beforehand of any form of payment (even gifts) if they decide on the content of the video.
• YouTube requests tagging embedded ads (product placement) with an option in the video settings, in addition to notifying the viewer verbally of the promotional nature of the content.

What to look out for when marketing on social media?

• Proper labeling of advertisement – use the hashtags #advertisement, #ad, #sponsored.
• Compliance with local laws – laws of the nation where your target audience is greater than where the content creator lives.
• Compliance with a platform’s rules – every network has various guidelines for labeling advertisement content.
• Transparency towards the consumer – any gift, discount or free product mentioned within a video or post must be declared.
• Ban on manipulation – it is forbidden to manipulate product characteristics, declare pseudo-scientific facts or hide risks.
• Extra care when advertising to children – you may not mislead, provide “miracle effects” or take children’s faces without permission.

Conclusion

Social networks are a powerful advertising tool, but they only work if the rules are obeyed. Mislabeling or ignoring the law can lead to not only monetary loss but the loss of audience trust, too. To prevent trouble, it’s worth keeping your knowledge of platform requirements and domestic legislation up to date regularly, particularly when working for an international client base.

Advertising children is a highly sensitive issue and requires special legislative consideration. Children’s audiences are less resistant to manipulation, have poor identification of advertising messages, and tend to believe what they see on the media or on the Internet. That is why advertising children’s products is banned in most countries. Here, we will explain how this kind of advertising is regulated in Ukraine, the European Union, and the United States — and where there are most severe restrictions.

Ukraine

Advertising in Ukraine related to children or communicated to a children’s audience in 2025 will be regulated by the Law “On Advertising.” The most important obligations are prevention of manipulation, encouragement to purchase, and false advertising. The legislation prohibits the advertising of products that may be harmful to the health or well-being of a child, and does not allow direct appeal to children with an appeal to buy or request their parents to buy a product.

Particular care is given to advertising on children’s programs and on children’s platforms – advertisement during broadcast is prohibited. It is also forbidden to use the images of children in advertising dangerous or harmful commodities.

European Union

The EU places particular consideration on protecting the rights of children. The Audiovisual Media Services Directive prohibits advertisement from harming children’s physical and moral growth. Particular attention is devoted to food advertisement: many EU countries have banned or restricted advertisements promoting products with high levels of sugar, salt and fat among children.

In addition, most nations have national advertising codes (such as the ASA in the UK or the ARPP in France) permitting strict liability for infringement. Clear labelling of advertising material so that children can recognize it is also necessary.

United States

In the United States, children’s advertising is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Particularly, these laws prohibit the collection of personal information from children under 13 years of age without their parents’ consent, which greatly limits the possibilities of digital advertising.

Also, there are specific limitations on TV: for instance, commercials can’t be longer than 10.5 minutes an hour during weekdays and 12 minutes an hour on weekends during children’s shows. “Integrated advertising” – when a character or a toy in a show promotes the same product in breaks – is also banned.

Where is the tightest regulation?

These jurisdictions have the most stringent ban on advertising to children:

• USA – by virtue of the COPPA law and prohibition on television advertising to children.
• Sweden and Norway – blanket prohibition of advertising directly at children up to and including age 12.
• Great Britain – strong self-regulatory code (CAP Code) with prohibition of sweets, toys, video games.
• France – mandatory labeling of food advertising to children and ban on promoting unhealthy foods. 
• Ukraine – a relatively moderate level, which is gradually being harmonized with EU law.

Creating a website for your business is half the battle. But have you ever wondered if you can use someone else’s photos without permission? What data of website visitors can be collected and what cannot? How to avoid getting a fine of several thousand dollars for an innocent violation? And most importantly, does your online platform comply with all legal regulations?

The answers to these questions depend on the country in which you operate or the territory in which your resource is active. Laws in different countries regulate the creation and promotion of websites in different ways, and to avoid problems, you should know the basic requirements. Let’s find out what laws regulate online business in Europe, the USA, and Ukraine, and how to comply with them.

Legal requirements for websites in the EU

Europe takes online business issues very seriously. If your website interacts with European users in any way, congratulations, you are subject to the GDPR. General Data Protection Regulation is a general data protection regulation that has been in effect since 2018. It requires websites to obtain user consent to collect data, provide an opportunity to delete information, and report data breaches.

What you need to know about GDPR:

1. Privacy policy. Your website must inform users what data is collected, how it is used, and who has access to it.
2. Consent to data processing. The “I agree” button in the cookie banner must be voluntary. No “You automatically agree if you use the site”.
3. The right to be forgotten. Users can request deletion of their data, and you are obliged to do so.

Fines for violating the GDPR are up to 20 million euros or 4% of the company’s annual turnover (whichever is greater). In 2021, Amazon received a fine of 746 million euros, and Meta (Facebook) — 1.2 billion euros in 2023.

Peculiarities of regulation in the USA

Everything is more chaotic in America because there is no single federal law like the GDPR. It all depends on the state.

• The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is the California analogue of the GDPR. If your website has more than 50,000 users per year or annual revenue exceeds $25 million, you need to comply with the CCPA.
• Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a law that regulates the collection of data about children under 13.
• CAN-SPAM Act — regulates email marketing and newsletters, requiring that users can easily unsubscribe from emails and companies provide their real address.
• Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) — copyright protection in the digital space.

It is worth noting that the US actively regulates copyright. Using someone else’s images, texts, or videos without permission is a direct path to DMCA complaints and possible lawsuits.

Another feature of the United States is patent law. If you have a unique feature on your website (for example, a non-standard ordering technology), it can be patented by competitors.

How Ukrainian legislation protects personal data

Ukraine has a Law on Personal Data Protection that regulates the operation of websites that collect visitor data. It is not as strict as the GDPR, but still has its own requirements:

1. Website owners must notify users about the collection of personal data.
2. Data must be stored securely and access to it must be limited.
3. Users can request the deletion of their data.

In 2023, the law on electronic communications came into force, which tightens the requirements for the processing of personal data. Violators face fines of up to UAH 34,000. It is also worth remembering the ban on the use of Russian software, which may pose a risk to data security.

If you want to launch a website or online business, you should immediately think about its legal protection. Make sure that your privacy policy complies with the law and that your website has all the necessary information about the company. Remember: fines can be huge, and user trust is priceless. If you need advice on legal issues or website development that meets all the requirements, contact Web Stork for expertise.

Entry to the market in Poland implies that Ukrainian businessmen see great opportunities here, but in the meantime, they will have to comply with local rules, primarily legislative regulation in advertising. Being the European Union territory, it has developed as a highly stable legal environment when it comes to advertisement procedures as such aimed at the protection of customers and the combating of unfair business practices, the protection of commercial transparency, etc.

Key legislative acts

Advertising activities in Poland are regulated by a variety of most significant normative documents. First, among them are the Act “On Combating Unfair Competition” (Ustawa o zwalczaniu nieuczciwej konkurencji), the Act “On Radio and Television”, and provisions of the Civil Code and other industrial regulations. Also, Poland has an obligation to apply EU directives that directly affect the advertising legislation on the Internet, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), medication advertising, etc.

Conditions of a basic nature for advertising

Polish advertising must be honest, reliable and not deceptive to the consumer. Misleading or false information regarding a product or service, particularly regarding the price, quality or origin of the product, is not permitted. Comparative advertising denigrating the competitor is not permitted either.

Extra focus is put on advertisements of medical products, alcoholic beverages and tobacco. As an example, advertising of medications is permitted only if it was authorized by the respective bodies and does not create a false impression of efficiency of the product. When it comes to alcoholic beverages, advertising of beer is permitted, but under a range of restrictions (it is not allowed to connect with success, sexuality, sport). Advertising of hard liquor is mostly prohibited.

What is important for Ukrainian business to know

Foreign entrepreneurs planning to advertise their goods or services in Poland must take into account not only language, but also legal and cultural factors. All ads must be presented in Polish or at least contain an easily accessible translation. In addition, according to GDPR regulations, before using personal data for advertising campaigns (e.g., in mailings or targeted advertising), the user’s explicit consent must be obtained.

It should also be mentioned that Polish consumers are quite demanding in terms of advertising quality. Over-aggressiveness, intrusiveness or unethical content could be a reason for complaint, which will cause inspections and fines.

Conclusion

Ukrainian businesses that enter the Polish market need to be responsible in following advertising law. This will not only lower the risk of legal problems, but also increase the trust of Polish consumers. Proper knowledge of legal standards will help in the development of effective, ethical and legal advertising strategy in Poland.

Ukrainian law on advertising is still in the stage of perfection in 2025, and companies and marketers have to stay updated with the key changes and provisions so as not to be fined or insulted. The shaping of Ukrainian law on advertising is directed by a framework of regulatory and legislative documents that focus on consumer rights protection, the provision of conditions for honest competition, and safeguarding morality. There is a need to understand which laws are to be followed while advertising.

Overall principles of advertising

The most important legal document regulating advertisement in Ukraine is the Law of Ukraine “On Advertising” which determines general principles of advertising activities. The law stipulates that advertising must be honest, not misleading for consumers, and adhere to ethical and moral standards. That is, advertising must not contain offensive, discriminatory or obscene content.

Most specifically, advertising of specific products and services is restricted by the law. For example, advertisement of alcoholic and tobacco products (in particular beer and light alcoholic beverages) is prohibited on mass media, the Internet, and street media. Some exceptions apply to alcohol, though: advertisement is possible on TV channels, but only during particular times of the day and subject to audience restriction.

Features of advertising for children

Another feature is advertising to children, which is strictly regulated. In 2025, Ukraine continues to have legislation that prohibits advertising of products which have the potential to harm the physical or psychological development of a child. Specifically, this applies to advertising of confectionery, toys, and products creating an idea of unrealistic or dangerous opportunities. Also, advertising to children should not manipulate their feelings and use unstable influence methods.

Internet advertising and social media

With the growth of digital technologies, the role of online advertising has increased significantly. Online advertising in Ukraine, as in most developed countries, is more elaborately regulated. Specifically, it must take into account the rules for processing personal data, which is especially relevant for companies that engage in targeted marketing on social media networks and sites. It is prohibited to utilize users’ data for marketing purposes without consent.

Fines and penalties

Non-observance of advertising legislation requirements may lead to hefty fines. They can be from several thousand to hundreds of thousands of hryvnias, depending on the severity of the violation. For example, fines may be imposed for false information, violation of rules on advertising prohibited goods, or violation of consumer protection standards.

What to remember

Ukrainian modifications of advertising law in 2025 require businesses to be careful with the law and regulations not to incur breaches and penalties. The advertisements must be ethical, transparent and honest. In addition, limitations taking into consideration different product categories, more so advertising to children and online advertising, must be taken into consideration. Knowledge of the basic regulation principles of advertising law will help you come up with efficient but compliant advertisements.