Should I meet your web agency face to face?

The power of the internet has meant that a large number of web agencies don’t ever actually meet their clients with all work done over the phone or even more commonly these days, by email. Is this good, bad or indifferent?

When looking for a web agency or even a web designer direct why should you meet them when you know exactly what you want? You can simply send the web agency a web design brief and ask them to proceed? I mean this will save you or the company time travelling to meet.

It is a fair point but at James Blake Internet (JBi) we believe that something is missing if you don’t meet you client face to face prior to working on the project and we will give 3 simple reasons why.

1) Web design – this is subjective and sometimes to explain your vision for your business website over the phone, is not easy and sometimes the detail can be lost in translation. What better way than explaining to you web designer direct, showing the benchmarking sites and colours you like and removing all the ambiguity?

2) Web development – Often when looking at websites for businesses the client is looking not just for building the website but also for ideas and feedback direct from their web developer. Again, a full understanding of the vision will really help the client get the best out of their web design agency. For instance with a content management system (CMS), what aspects of the site would you like to control? Why should your business not control the whole website? For ecommerce stores, what about some of the extra functionality that can make the difference between and on-line sale and a drop off.

3) Human contact – Working on a website takes time and some business websites are complex and the project can run. This means that your account manager will need constant contact with your web agency. Surely it is better to know who you are dealing with and build a relationship with them? Go for a coffee and let them know get to know you and what you tastes are, it can only help the project.

Here at James Blake Internet we try and meet as many of our clients as possible. We are based in Finchley North London so we have easy access to all clients in central London as well as in Hertfordshire, Essex, Middlesex and Berkshire. In fact if you business is located on our doorstep say in Barnet, Golders green, Hampstead, whetstone, Southgate etc then you have no excuse !! We are honestly not that bad to meet!

Social media marketing can be a phenomenal marketing channel for small businesses to exploit. It is a great example of how you can effectively communicate your message to a targeted audience.

The benefit of social media for companies is impossible to ignore and in order to help our web design business clients at James Blake Internet (JBI) achieve the best possible results through this channel; we have laid out five key important points that are essential to understand and effectively utilise this marketing angle:

1.Your brand or company should take a holistic, goal-oriented and authentic approach to social media marketing, rather than focusing on any one platform or method.

Every company, brand or product could be and should be “social”. Conversations about almost every brand and related products are happening everywhere, you just need to be a part of that conversation to gain the maximum benefit out of it. Explain your brand and approach without preaching or sounding like an instruction manual.

2.Use the tools available to reach to your target audience. One of the best ways for small businesses to leverage social media marketing is to use various social networks in combination with each other. The examples below helps us in understanding the marketing mix for a effective and efficient social marketing:

• Connect your Twitter account to Facebook ( or the other way round).This will let you leverage your time on Twitter and will also update your Facebook fans.

• Connect your LinkedIn profile to your Word Press blog. This will automatically update your LinkedIn profile with your most recent blog posts and hence reach to the desired audience.

• Integrate Twitter or Facebook tools onto your website. The use of ‘ShareThis’ tool enables readers to quickly share content on multiple social networks.

We need to keep in mind that not all social networks will make sense for every business. Learn which networks are best for your on-line business strategy and find ways to leverage combinations of those networks to make your marketing more effective.

3.Posting relevant content is important. Remaining true to your brand promise is the best way to approach social media. Utilise your brand promise as guiding principles across all your social media efforts. It should be reflected in the content created, the tone used, and the promotional programs being launched.

Though more attention is focused on social networks than on company blogs these days, however, blogs still continue to offer great value for small businesses as they help in listening, learning and engaging in conversations with your customers and as we know understanding your customers requirements is half the battle!

4.Make promotions fun. Marketing is not a campaign but a commitment. In order to build long-term relationships with your clients you need to invest in them genuinely..

A social media programme is a commitment to engage and communicate with clients when and where they want to communicate.

5.Attention to details matters since much of social media marketing is human capital it involves more thinking and execution.

The best way to start a social media campaign is by listening.Set up Google Alerts to look for conversations about your brand or product.Then participate in the conversation and just remember to be authentic, honest and transparent.

A brand which is active on social media and interacts with its clients will carry more credibility and rally more supporters in the future.

Nose reshaping surgery - also known as rhinoplasty - is the UK’s second most popular cosmetic procedure. Rhinoplasty is the single word used to describe a range of surgical steps which re-shape the nose. The results will give the patient a nose that’s more aesthetically pleasing to them and in many cases making them a happier and more confident person.

The James Blake team is proud to have built the website for www.cosmeticrhinoplasty.org. The website highlights the advantages of rhinoplasty and try to inform clients about the surgery which allows them to reach an informed decision based on realistic expectations.

An interview with Luke Durham, Principal Surgeon and Director, provides an insight into this skilled art of cosmetic surgery and reveals how the new website, designed and developed by James Blake Internet, has helped in gaining his customers confidence.

Q1. Can you tell us a little about your business?
A. Cosmetic surgery is literally a “cut throat” business! Our aim was to provide a niche market and simultaneously a platinum bespoke service based on quality and ultra-specialism. Facial Cosmetic surgery is our niche market, the Nose job, face lift, eyelid surgery, neck rejuvenation and ear reshaping are the foundation stone of our company. We are not brokers or agents BUT real surgeons who literally offer ultra specialism. The key is to provide NHS based cosmetic surgery according to our own unique training field of expertise. The “Nose Job” exemplifies this principle combining the art of the Facial plastic surgeon with the science of an ENT surgeon.

Q2.What are your objectives and plans for your new website?
A. My objectives were to develop a web presence that attracted traffic through web design, organic search engine optimization that generate sales leads. A content management system was crucial to allow content flexibility.

Q3. Will you be doing any on-line campaigns to help your business?
A. It is my aim to develop an online marketing strategy utilizing SEO, pay per click, banner ads. These are essential multilevel marketing methods that complement our off line advertising.

Q4. If our customers want to look at Plastic surgery are there any points they should consider?
A. Plastic surgery must not be confused with cosmetic surgery, the two are NOT synonymous. It is vital for clients to realize that many other surgical specialties offer excellent cosmetic service; viz, ENT, eye/ oculoplastic surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons as well as facial plastic surgeons. Our clients request ultra specialists in their respective fields. For example Ear, nose and throat surgeons perform more nose jobs (rhinoplasty) on the NHS than any other specialty combined!! A little known fact.

Q5. Have you got any tips for people who are considering setting up their own business on-line?
A. An attractive and well designed web site is essential. You need to combine the skills of graphic design and web development simultaneously. The whole idea is to generate sales. Page design, layout, navigation, optimization and communication are key. It also helps to choose an URL that describes what you sell, in my case “Cosmetic Rhinoplasty” is included in the URL. The best tip James Blake gave me was that “Content” is king. You literally have to be an expert in your field and this must be reflected in your sales copy.

Q6. How was working with the James Blake Team?
A. I must admit that this is my second and NOT last web project with the James Blake team. I found them a revelation. The ease of communication, attention to detail, expert advice and tips have resulted in a website that truly represents my brand vision and sales ethos. In fact I am hoping to add a blog to my existing website!!

Interview with gdtalent director Gordon Milne

Recently James Blake Internet completed a new website for gdtalent and we thought it would be interesting to hear his thoughts about his business, building a new website and of course online marketing.

1) Can you tell us a little about your business?
gdtalent is a consultancy specialising in recruitment solutions for international businesses and candidates. More specifically, our expertise is in assisting companies recruit the very best, internationally experienced, Chinese speaking managers and professionals. As well as recruitment/search type services we also run career briefing seminars for candidates who want to know more about the job market in China.

2) How did you get into the Chinese market?
gdtalent is owned and managed by Gordon Milne who recently worked in Shanghai for 4.5 years as an expat for major recruitment businesses. During that time clients frequently commented on the following:
a) how difficult it is/was to hire good people given the finite talent pool;
b) how difficult it is to access Chinese experienced hires whilst they are studying or working overseas and
c) how poor sister companies are at supporting China recruitment. E.g. Company X in US, UK etc rarely properly support Company X’s hiring activities in China.

Some of gdtalent’s services are designed to specifically address the above.

3) What are your objectives and plans for your new website?
The web site was designed to be a reference point where clients and candidates alike can establish what we do and evaluate/verify our service offering. We decided to try to make the web site crisp, clean, professional, un-cluttered, easy to navigate and not too “hip” so it would not date so easily.

4) Will you be doing any on-line campaigns to help your business
Probably. So far we’ve only used Google’s AdWords with very limited success. Still early days though.

5) If our customers want to enter into the Chinese market can you help recruit the right people?
Certainly hope so! We have a good understanding of the Chinese recruitment/labour market as well as a database and network of candidates. Finally, our ability to conduct a direct or “headhunt” search means that our fulfilment ratios will always be high.

6) Have you got any tips for people who are considering setting up their own business on-line?
Planning and Patience come to mind. Quite a bit of work has to go in before you engage any service providers to design your web site. If you don’t know what you want, they certainly won’t know what you mean. And no matter how fast you want things done, allow for an overrun.

7) Finally for our own records, how was working with the James Blake Team
Good. I always felt confident that I would get what I wanted and I did. I have no hesitation in recommending the James Blake Team.

James Blake went out live on Scottish Radio station L107 on Tuesday 13th October!

James Blake was invited to take part in a live discussion on the effect the internet can have for businesses in times of recession.

Some of the key areas of discussion were
a) How important is good web design really to the success of your business
b) How do you market your website to ensure that it is found
c) Do you have to spend huge amounts of money on SEO and internet marketing
d) IS the Internet safe for ecommerce?

The James Blake Director, David Gelb held discussions with the L107 radio presenter in a lively discussion.