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!

While a large percentage of our clients are based in central London, one of our most important strategic aims is to become the number one choice for people looking for a web agency or any internet services in our local area, Finchley.

Finchley is a thriving community its own right especially when you add the surrounding neighbourhoods of Barnet, Whetstone, Golders Green, Mill Hill, Hampstead and Southgate. From meeting businesses in the area we understand there is a large demand for web services in North London, especially a web design agency that really does offer competitive pricing whilst maintaining that “west-end service”.

James Blake Internet’s (JBi) marketing manager Alison Harper said the following “In the past we have sought to really on focus on central London for our clients, however at the beginning of the year management took the decision to make sure that we are recognised as a key player in our own area”. This means that companie slooking for web design in Finchley or Internet services in Barnet.

“We have produced various marketing material aimed at our local market of web design services in North London and of course on our doorstep in Finchley. Our slogan for the campaign has been West End service, local pricing which is what our team strive for in every project”

“Despite being a digital agency we still value the concept of meeting face to face and have met the majority of clients at some stage!”

Those looking for web designers in Finchley or any kind of Internet service in North London we would relish the opportunity of meeting you to discuss your needs in detail.

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!!

If you are a serious Internet Entrepreneur, your website should be a direct reflection of you and your business. Creating a professional website takes a great deal of time and effort. The seven most important elements for online success, as there is much more to take into consideration than design, are:

1.Have a professional looking website:

If you are serious about creating a successful business which will stand the test of time, then you need to have your own “virtual presence”.

Your website is the most important sales tool you have. A professional website should be pleasing to the eyes, well organised, easy to navigate and load quickly.

2.Effective Content:

Your words are the entire foundation of your business. Whether it is your website, sales letters or advertisements, words play a major role in determining your success. The following details must be kept in mind while content writing:

Attention - Use a powerful headline that demands attention
Interest - Intrigue and create curiosity
Detail - Provide details about your product or service
Action - Call for action, phone, email, visit office or dynamic contact form.

3.Traffic Drivers:

Create a steady stream of traffic to your website. Give your visitors a reason to visit and continue to visit in the future. Blend your content in with the focus of your website and update it on a regular basis.

4. Search Engine Optimisation:

Design the website to rank high in the Search Engines. This involves much more than just including META tags. KEYWORDS, TITLE, IMAGE ALT tags, Text and the overall design, all play an important role in determining how your website will rank.

5.Reliance:

The visitors should know who you are. Provide complete information with respect to your company including, address, phone number and email addresses to request information and support.

Also, inform the visitors about their privacy through pages like Privacy Statement, Privacy Policy etc and let your visitors know how will their personal information collected through the website will be secured or used.

6. Gain Confidence:

Gain your visitors trust by displaying customer testimonials. This will help in boosting the potential customers’ confidence in you and your products or services.

7. Patience:

Be realistic in terms of your expectations. Online business can bring you a considerable income, but it needs investment of time and effort from you.

A professional website specifically designed to sell is one of the most important factors in determining your success. Take your time and make sure you’re looking at the complete picture before you begin as the success depends on it.

One of the key aspects of having an efficient, fast loading and search engine friendly website, is the page load speed. This should not be looked at as simply part of your website performance analysis , but part of your overall search engine optimisation plan.

One of the first things to consider when looking at both your website performance and your optimising plan is the images you use. There is always a temptation to take pictures from a state of the art digital camera, download the images and post straight onto your website.

We at James Blake Internet believe that any images should be reduced in size before you upload it. One of the questions we often get asked is “everyone going on my site has broadband, so the speed will not be an issue”.

Unfortunately that although this might be true if you have a gallery of 20 images, each of 3mb, that page has to load and it will take time and bandwidth.

Most people are very protective of their images and so are reluctant to reduce the size as feel that it will affect the quality of the image. This is especially true if the image is personal to them on highlighting their key business service.

The ideal way to reduce the image size is with a professional image editor such as Photoshop which will help prevent the reduction in quality. There is also free software on the web to help help your image sizes down and worth a search on Google to find them.

There is no easy way to achieving an efficient search engine friendly website, but taking little steps like this will definitely help your website.

For more information please speak to one of our James Blake consultants on 08004751302

One of the most annoying things when you have a website is that you think you have just received a new lead and a chance to sell and it turns out to be spam! Someone asking you to buy some search engine optimisation (SEO) service in Bulgaria or something (you would of course only use James Blake Internet!!!)

One of the easiest way to stop this is to use a CAPTCHA on your website. This is where you go to register on someone’s website and they ask you to copy the letters and numbers before you press submit. Can be annoying for the user but very important as it shows the company that a human and not a computer actually entered the details and the lead is likely (hopefully) to be genuine.

CAPTCHA is a program that protects websites against bots by generating and grading tests that humans can pass but current computer programs cannot. For example, humans can read distorted text but most computer programs can’t:

The term CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing Test To Tell Computers and Humans Apart) was coined in 2000 by Luis von Ahn, Manuel Blum, Nicholas Hopper and John Langford of Carnegie Mellon University.

CAPTCHAs have several applications such as
• Blogs - Most bloggers are familiar with blogs that have bogus comments, mainly to help them get search engine ranking. With CAPTCHA spammers are prevented and you can even avoid registration before use.
• Website Registration. All forms and sign-ups that are free should have CATCHA to keep only genuine users signing up !.
• Online Polls. Without CAPTCHA these polls can be easily manipulated. For example in this election if a poll without CAPTCHA asked the question “Who is going to win this election?” Each party could in theory build programmes to keep voting..

There are many other CAPTCHA implementations, some better than others. Please speak to us at James Blake Internet (JBI) and let us guide you

Important Tips for a fast loading web site

1. Optimise your HTML code
Make sure that your site doesn’t have any unwanted tags or broken links and that the code allows for quick load times. Errors on your web pages can slow down your website and so its essential that your website is error free!

2. Keep the use of graphics, images and Flash to a minimum.
These are the major contributors to the size of your web page so any reduction can only help, for example try using background colors and fills instead of heavy images. In editors like fireworks and flash you can see the various options in the preview panel to reduce the sizes. See how popular web sites like google and yahoo have pages that are very small in size and thus load in seconds.

3. Stick to simple designs
Most fast loading sites have very simple designs. Take the hint! Complicated designs will slow down your pages.

4. Spread out your content neatly
In case you find yourself having very long pages of content, break them down into separate logical sections and thus bring down the sizes of the individual pages.

5. Use Text Links instead of graphic buttons
Basically try to make use of text links as much as possible as they are easier to maintain. Use CSS Styles for text links to make them as attractive as buttons.

6. Use Server Side Include (SSI) files
SSI files once called from the web server reside in its cache so on subsequent requests they load faster. Use them whereever possible.

7. Use Div tags instead of Tables
Using Div tags instead of tables for your design is what you need to do for better load time and total control over your layout. It also ensures that it is scalable to allow for future design changes.

Effective Table Design: In case you must use tables use them wisely and sparingly. Design using nested tables instead of using cell merges and splits. Use separate tables where ever possible.

8. Check your W3C standard validity and Load time regularly
To maintain an excellent website you must give thought to how to improve your website on an almost daily basis! Maintain an error free website and tweek it regularly. Do remember to check your Load time and W3C code and CSS validity regularly.

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.