Two new client web sites launched this week – both what I’d call “postcard” web sites- a single page with a brief description of what they do, where they do it and how to contact them: “We’re having fun, see the picture, wish you were here!”

One is KDF Driving of Belton near Loughborough. Keith runs a driving school and wants a simple way of showing clients his qualifications and affiliations and how to make contact with him. Once the prospective client is talking on the phone Keith can assess their needs and make the sale. He advertises in local directories and on his cars (picture on the web site). A web address is easier to remember than a phone number and conveys a lot more. See KDF Driving at www.kdfdriving.co.uk

The second one-page postcard is The MDC a bar and disco in Moseley, Birmingham. This market is extremely competitive and working on small margins so marketing costs have to be kept low. But the message only needs to be simple – the name of the bar, the location, the type of music and opening times – so a single page and a link to a map is all that’s needed. See www.themdc.co.uk

Once you have a web site you can use it in many ways as part of your marketing strategy. You don’t need to spend so much on large box ads or expensive brochures. Keep the message short and simple with a link to a web site that explains all.

The next step is to do some internet marketing, get listed in on-line local directories, Google, Bing and Yahoo of course. Customers won’t beat a path to your door – unless you beat a path to them first.

I received a couple of emails from an American outfit demanding immediate payment to renew .org domains. Since I manage the domains of all the Realcom sites and the sites of most of my clients I knew very well that these domains are not due and in any case I use 123-reg (part of Pipex) to manage and renew domains. So beware! Don’t take any notice of any emails or letters that don’t come from your hosting provider or web site company. Your web site company should let you know when your domain is due and will likely renew as part of your annual hosting and support contract (you do have a support contract don’t you?).

One of our oldest clients asked us to redesign their web site. Charles Rowley and Co Ltd are one of those diminishing number of companies that still manufacture most of their products on site in Birmingham. Charles Rowley is a curtain accessory and drapery hardware manufacturer and distributor – they make made-to-measure curtain poles and tracks and all kinds of matching accessories.
They have had a web site for a number of years but it was static and difficult to update with new products and services. The new design and the tools I use to build and maintain their site will allow them to add new products and news easily and quickly and keep them ahead of the competition. It is not complete – but no site ever is. There is room for pages and sections to be updated and added with new marketing campains and as their business grows.
See the site at www.charlesrowley.co.uk

Well I haven’t really been away from here – just away from the blogging. One of the big problems with working from home is that there is just so much to do around the house, garden, family, neighbours and more that gets in the way of getting worky things done. Because you’re at home people expect you to be available, and it’s difficult to resist a neighbour dropping in for a chat, to ask for help or borrow a tool. The garden is a big pull. We are lucky enough to have a large garden with an orchard, greenhouse and ready-dug vegetable plots – courtesy of the previous owners (Thank you Hilary and Pat!). At this time of year the harvest bounty doesn’t wait. Plums and crab-apples are dropping off the branches and waiting to become jam and jelly. It’s quite a feat to keep up with clients’ schedules for web site updates, marketing and new database functionality and so our own blogs and newsletters get lower priority. Not good – but what can one do but enjoy the summer while it’s here! The cold winds of autumn are already starting to blow. Neighbours, friends and clients who visit will get a pot of crab apple jelly or plum chutney.

John Kelly writes:
“Just a quick note to say a big “thank you” to all those who donated to our charity bike ride. To date we reckon we have raised nearly £30,000! – the funds raised will be equally split to support the PICU Ward Fund, The Kidney Kids Appeal, The Keyhole Surgery Fund & Ward 15 (Oncology) Fund. The hospital have asked us to pass on their sincere gratitude to everyone.
If you would like to see any details of the trip (funds raised / comments / photos / video, etc), have a look at the link to our blog at www.justgiving.com/earlswoodend2end. “
Well done John and the team!

Recent web site projects include:

A web site for Admin Plus UK. Admin Plus UK was set up after Jayne and her team of six were made redundant from the same company just over a year ago. The team included experienced accounts managers, book keepers, health and safety executives and IT support staff. Not wanting to put their knowledge and experience to waste, Admin Plus UK was born. The web site has been crucial to their marketing efforts and with their publicity campaign with various Midlands magazines. see www.adminplusuk.co.uk

Gerry Kearns is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist practising in the East Midlands. He wanted a basic web site to explain what Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is and how it can empower clients to cope with their difficulties.www.cbttherapist.co.uk

The Guild of Pychotherapists have launched an on-line “search for a psychotherapist” service. Realcom built a web based members database which enables Guild members to update their own details. They are able to select the publicity level of each item on the database. For example, they can elect to make public their practice address and phone number but keep their home address and email private to the Guild and other members. www.guildofpsychotherapists.org.uk

One of our good customers John Kelly is joining with some friends to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.  This is what he wrote to us:

“Earlswood End 2 Enders  are cycling from Lands End to John O’ Groats in 10 days on May 15th 2009 – 24th May 2009 approx 90 miles per day to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Myself & a few mates have all had pretty bad experiences of our kids ending up in hospital with some really horrendous problems. We are trying to give something back & raise some much needed cash for the hospital. Birmingham Children’s Hospital is an amazing institution staffed by outstanding specialists in all fields, without whose help, expertise and commitment the outcome for our children and countless others would be unthinkable. So please give whatever you can to support this fantastic hospital, so that it can move forward and improve its facilities and carry on doing what they do best which is saving children’s lives. The easiest way to contribute is via the Just Giving Website link – http://www.justgiving.com/earlswoodend2end. 

Thanks a million & I’ll look forward to seeing your generous donations listed on the website!”

Please support John & his team and the Birmingham Children’s Hospital!

I received – completely out of the blue – an invitation to join someone’s network on LinkedIn. I resisted for a while and was then sent a reminder. The guy runs a search engine optimisation business, which is related to my work with web site marketing, so I thought I’d give it a try and see what it’s all about. It’s very easy to join the group and update my profile, although I had to choose between “Internet” and “Marketing and Advertising” as my business description – “Business development” or just “Marketing” might be preferable.

The idea is to make connections by inviting people or being invited to join your network. People put up requests for information, jobs, etc and you can reply or not. Being home-based it might be an opportunity to do that much heralded networking without having to eat nasty breakfasts and talk to a lot of people with nothing better to do. I’ll keep you posted.

We’ve been in the cottage for 2 years now.  To get involved with the community and for an excuse to dig around and find out more about the area I volunteered to design and manage a web site for the parish.

It’s a work in progress – with a mini-launch taking place in the next couple of weeks when the Parish Plan is distributed around the village.

www.coleorton.org.uk

“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.”