Clarihon Web Services newsletter June 2008

Clarihon Newsletter

You're received this because we already have a business relationship or we've exchanged business cards somewhere. If you don't want to receive future editions, please use the opt-out facility at the bottom. In this issue Hints & Tips Fine tuning sign-up pages Client profile - Heritage Cookers Useful Links Latest news Constructive 'appraisal' Our Services The lighter side Useful links The Business League Actnow - Broadband for Cornwall Federation of Small Businesses Business link Devon & Cornwall Bizhelp24 for Small Businesses Businessballs Companies House HM Revenue & Customs UK Patent Office Latest News Amongst the projects we've been involved with over the last few months are a few web sites. Clarihon provided the design for Andrew Law Accountancy (www.andrew-law.co.uk) and full web sites for Heritage Cookers (see below), The Tool Supplier (www.thetoolsupplier.co.uk) and Apogee Recruitment (www.apogeemsl.com). In between we managed to completely overhaul our own web site. With a new design, new portfolio pages and more in-depth details of our services we think it provides a more helpful view of how we can help you. We've still got more improvements in mind with plans to bring back the Design gallery and more examples of interactive elements we can add to client sites. The new site is here: www.clarihon.co.uk Article - Constructive 'appraisal' I was reading a web design article recently about the negative effects of criticising a competitor when it occurred to me that the points made were applicable to all walks of business. We were asked at a recent business show to provide feedback on several web sites. I looked them over and reported back - in my usual forthright, no punches pulled style. Surprise, surprise I've not heard any more back from those enquirers yet. Reading that article made me think. Although I didn't rubbish the people who'd produced the existing web sites I didn't highlight any of the good points there and I didn't dwell enough on the benefits that a refresh/upgrade (by us) would bring. The end result is that haven't got the business (yet). It's always possible that the competition were cheaper or had a better pedigree - but it's also possible that I generated a negative perception because of the way I presented my findings and views. When you pitch for new business where they're already using a competitors's product or service do you strain to be perceived as positive and a clear improvement? Nigel Our Services Web sites - clean, attractive, easy to use web sites that rank well with the Search Engines. Search Engine Optimisation - getting existing web sites ranked better on Google etc. Web addresses/Domain names - Your own business or personal web address. E-mail - your own business or personal e-mail addresses. Web site hosting - lots of web space and plenty of features in our cheap web hosting packages. Newsletters - like this one, designed for you and sent to your clients and prospects. Logo and business stationery design - great designs but terrific value for money!	Dear Reader Welcome to our latest newsletter. We've been busy in the last few months with client web sites and revamping our own (see news below). All that activity has tired us out so we're taking a well-earned holiday. As you read this we're somewhere off the coast of Norway cruising up the fjords. I hope this finds you as well and happy as we are currently! Hints & Tips For a new web site, or an existing one substantially updated, there are two ways to encourage Google to visit and re-index it: - If you don't already use Google Analytics, sign up and add the code it provides to your web site. Apart from telling Google your site exists, it provides excellent visitor and usage statistics. - Create an XML site map and submit it. Some web site hosting packages offer tools that will do this for you (ours do). The site map makes it easy for Google to find all the pages of your web site. If you or your Webmaster doesn't know how to do this, we can help - 01579-342360 or enquiries@clarihon.co.uk. Article - fine tuning your sign-up pages For those that have a page on their web site where people can sign up for something - a newsletter, white papers, free consultations etc here are some ways that you can increase its effectiveness. Some of the more important factors are: - don't over-complicate it by asking for too much information - provide your privacy policy and explain what you'll do with the information they provide - keep it easy on the eye and easy to understand Provide examples of the material they will receive by signing up For the full article, please see here: www.wilsonweb.com/design/follansbee-signup.htm Client profile - Heritage Cookers Heritage Cookers are manufacturers and distributors of quality cooking ranges. Think Aga/Rayburn - but better. Based here in Liskeard they build a series of ranges each with options for cooking, central heating and hot water They approached us as they're existing web site was a few years old and looking dated. We worked with them, taking existing marketing material and provided a completely new site in keeping with the look and image they wanted to portray. Needless to say they were delighted with it and within weeks they were ranking highly on Google. See www.heritagecookers.co.uk If you need a refresh of your web site or would like to develop it further, we can help - 01579-342360 or enquiries@clarihon.co.uk. President Bush is rehearsing his speech for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. He begins his remarks with, "Ooo! Ooo! Ooo! Ooo! Ooo!" Immediately his speech writer rushes over to the lectern and whispers in the president's ear, "Mr. President, those are the Olympic rings. Your speech is underneath." *************************** When I was six months pregnant with my third child , my three year old came into the room when I was just getting ready to get into the shower. She said , "Mummy , you are getting fat!" I replied , "Yes , honey , remember Mummy has a baby growing in her tummy." "I know , " she replied , but what's growing in your bum?"