We recently had the challenge of creating landing page within a WordPress install for a client. We completed the task to the letter and we’d like to tell you more about it, full write up to follow.

As a sneak peak – here is the landing page in question:

Simply Overseas are international property agents based in Shrewsbury Shropshire we have property for sale in Cyprus, Spain, Italy and Crete

Client:

When the phone rings and the number on the display isn’t one you recognise the thought always flashes through my mind “Is this going to be a time waster wanting to sell me something?”  I always answer regardless and this time I was pleasantly surprised to find it was Andrew Homer from Studio 72 Photography in Telford. After a long chat about his current website, what he wanted to achieve and the timescale it needed to be done in, I was able to give a Andrew a ball-park figure for a new logo and new website development. I followed up as I always do with a proposal and a firm quote, the price fitted into his budgeted figure and so he instructed me to start designing.

Logo Design

The first thing on the agenda was the logo. Andrew had said he was thinking of a re-brand and so I presented him with 4 new logos each a development on from his existing logo. As you can see there is a developmental theme running through the logos, starting with the 7 and 2 in a typeface close to his existing logo and similarly fused together, the fused numbers continuing till they break apart in logo 4 which emulates a stylised lense and the focusing split that you see through the viewfinder.

I was able to give a Andrew a ball-park figure for a new logo and new website development. I followed up as I always do with a proposal and a firm quote, the price fitted into his budgeted figure and so he instructed me to start designing

Re-brand Corporate ID

Re-branding a company can have strange effects on your existing client base, sometimes it can even be perceived as a negative thing. Sometimes your existing clients can loose faith in you because they mistakenly believe your attempts at furthering your business with new graphics is sign of a take over – or worse. All changes to a business need to be taken step by step and only executed when you are 100% happy. Andrew liked the new logo designs but with all things considered he decided that sticking with his existing logo would be safer.

You might not think it but when a client turns down a design it’s still a positive thing, because even though the design has been rejected, a decision has been made and a starting point has been agreed which means you can move forward knowing that you are heading in the right direction.

WordPress Website Design

Andrew produced excellent quality graphics which I combined with the page code to produce a website that I can say is now one of the best photographic studio websites in the Shropshire region

Once we had the direction and some idea of the kind of style that Andrew wanted, I was able to present a first draft website. Andrew, being a creative professional, knows exactly what he wants and between us we were able to craft the layout, colour ways and navigation of the site until it was just right. Having superb photoshop skills which he has perfected in his photography day job, Andrew was able to supply me with a header graphic which was exactly to his liking. Once I told him the size, shape and pixel resolution Andrew produced excellent quality graphics which I combined with the page code to produce a website that I can say is now one of the best photographic studio websites in the Shropshire region. I was able to give the website the tools needed to create the features that Andrew wanted, such as photo galleries that can be grouped as Albums, and a paypal shopping cart, but it is Andrews talent as a photographer and his stunning images that really bring the site to life.

It was a joy to work with Andrew on this project because he wasn’t afraid to push the development that little bit further, he knew what he wanted and pushed until he got it. Andrew understands the importance of grabbing attention with an image and then holding the attention with good copy. Studio 72 was built on a web platform that gives Andrew full control over the content, and while many of my clients say they want to be able to update or admin their site, very few of them actually do, Andrew on the other hand has seen the relevancy of keeping the content fresh and up-to-date. All of the content on Studio 72 is now produced by Andrew, that means he writes his own copy, uploads his own photos and makes his own pages to suit his needs.

SEO – WordPress and Google

Andrew and I talk regularly on the phone and he has taken on board many of the website marketing principles I recommend. This has resulted in over 40 pages of his site being absorbed into the Google index and rising search engine positions all the time. For instance a UK search in Google for ‘model photography telford’ sees the Studio 72 site positioned 5th and 6th on the first page. This proves that being prepared to focus on your website will bring home the results.

Before I started the website development on Studio 72 Andrew had never had much success with his website or had been involved in making it grow. My solution for him which is a custom designed theme powered by WordPress and a carefully selected set of plugins allows Andrew all the control over his site that he could possibly want. Andrew has expressed his delight with his website to me many times, to the point where he was more than happy to write a review at WWDC. As you can see this isn’t a one off and many of my clients who I have converted to this method of website creation are very happy with the results.

There is no reason why you can’t benefit from this successful website development too, just email or call Ian Blackford on 0845 370 3459 and discuss your requirements. You will be surprised at how cost effective it can be and very pleased with the results.

Not every website project can fit into a ‘package’ and if your website project is like that we are more than happy to discuss it with you.

We don’t make a fuss because we like to keep it simple, we take the brief from you, ask you a few questions, suggest some things you might not have thought of, then we send you a email with a firm no obligation price. Once you approve the price, we take a deposit and start work. When the job is approved we make it live and stand by to support you when you need it.

It really is that simple.

Why not let us show you how?

Simply fill in the form below and request a quote, you will be glad you did because we think we are the most cost effective website design and development company in Telford Shropshire.

Well, now it can.

If your website needs regular updates but you don’t have the time to do it yourself, then for a fixed monthly all inclusive fee we can take over running your site for you.

All inclusive really means ‘All Inclusive’

To be able to offer you the very best service this offer includes everything, we will administer your domain name and handle your renewals so you don’t get conned or forget to renew, we will supply hosting and email forwarding so your site runs smoothly and your emails get delivered and we will update your site as often as you need it.

Can any more be included?

Yup! It’s difficult to take on a website that is written in a different format, so as part of the this deal you get a brand new website design at no extra cost. You benefit from an up to date website overhaul and a fresh new design along with a sitemap which is registered direct with Google. Existing pages that are in the Google index can easily be mapped to the new pages on your site so nothing is lost in the transition.

Kitchen Sink NOT included when it comes to costs

You might think that an ‘all inclusive’ option is expensive, after all we are including: domain handling, web hosting, email forwarding, site update and a new design, but it’s not expensive at all. At prices starting at just £77 per month it’s amazingly affordable. Spread over a year you can actively use your website to market your company, keep it bang up to date and have it re-designed from the ground up and you have an exact figure of what it will all cost payable in easy monthly installments.

Give Ian Blackford a call on 0845 370 3459 and discuss your requirements with him and get a written website proposal. Please Note: website proposal not included (It’s FREE!)

Having a website is one thing but if it’s not working for you in the search engines it’s pretty pointless. It’s like having a van and not painting your logo on the side, or a mobile and not having it switched on. Every piece of equipment you have need to pay for itself and generate income or interest.

This is why your website has to give you a return on your investment. It has to be search engine friendly and it has to rank well for your keywords. Just looking pretty isn’t going to cut it, the fact is if no one can find it, no one will use it and you will have wasted your money.

Website MOT

Just like a car your site can have its online health checked and a report generated telling you where it’s failing and what to do about it. For as little as £25 we can help you start to turn your website around and begin to get a return on your investment. We might suggest that only a few adjustments are needed or we might suggest that a new site written with the latest web standards is what’s required, but either way you have a starting point that you can work from at your own pace and at your own budget. We realise that money is tight at the moment and a website overhaul might not be the first thing you want to spend your money on, this is why we are offering the MOT as a base point, a cost effective report that shows you how to improve and turn the corner on all the doom and gloom.

For further information contact Ian Blackford direct on 0845 370 3459 for a no obligation chat.

Order your PDF report now and turn your site around

Only £25.00 for your Website MOT Report emailed to you in PDF format

[wp_cart:Website MOT Report:price:25.00:end]

1. Your site is developed with SEO built in

At Design Conscious we don’t believe you should design a website – THEN – think about SEO, so we build it in from the very beginning.

2. You will have full access and control over your website content

Upon completion you will be given access to update your site yourself. Please note: We don’t supply support as an optional extra… it’s inclusive as standard.

3. Your website is future proofed and scaleable to include the latest social media

The platform your site will be built from is under constant update and is therefore almost 100% future proof. All current social media can be accessed and driven from your new website.

The list above could have been much longer but we didn’t want to labour the point.

You need a return on your website investment, and we have crafted ways of achieving that for you. All you have to do is ask us how you can benefit from this right now, just call Ian Blackford on 0845 370 3459 for a quick no obligation chat.

It seems that some people don’t know the difference and often come to hifix.co.uk (who are a UK Hi Fi and Audio retailer) expecting to find out about money exchange.

Now while the two companies have very similar names and web addresses, neither are connected to each other in any way. It’s most important and I have to stress this, please check your URL’s when you link to hifx that you don’t add another ‘i’ and make it hifix

Translations done using bablefish please forgive any inaccuracies

Vous avez su que hifix.co.uk (notez cet URL a deux i’ ; s, comme dans : h i f i x) n’est pas la même compagnie que hifx.co.uk ? Il semble que certains don’ ; t savent la différence et viennent souvent à hifix.co.uk (qui sont salut un fi BRITANNIQUE et un détaillant audio) comptant découvrir au sujet de l’échange d’argent. Maintenant tandis que les deux compagnies ont les noms et les adresses très semblables de Web, ni l’un ni l’autre ne sont reliés entre eux de quelque façon. It’ ; s le plus important et moi doivent soumettre à une contrainte ceci, vérifient svp votre URL’ ; s quand vous vous liez au hifx ce don’ ; t ajoutent un autre ‘ ; i’ ; et faites-lui le hifix.

Wussten Sie dass hifix.co.uk (merken Sie dieses URL hat zwei i’ s, wie in: h I f I x) ist nicht die gleiche Firma wie hifx.co.uk? Es scheint dass einige Leute don’ t kennen den Unterschied und kommen häufig zu hifix.co.uk (wer eine BRITISCHE hallo FI und ein Audioeinzelhändler sind), erwartend, über Geldwechsel herauszufinden. Jetzt, während die zwei Firmen sehr ähnliche Namen und Netzadressen haben, werden keine miteinander in jeder Hinsicht angeschlossen. It’ wichtigstes s und ich müssen dieses betonen, überprüfen bitte Ihr URL’ s, wenn Sie mit dem diesem hifx Sie don’ verbinden; t addieren ein anderes ‘ i’ und bilden Sie es hifix.

Usted sabía que hifix.co.uk (observe este URL tiene dos i’ s, como en: ¿h i f i x) no es la misma compañía que hifx.co.uk? Parece que alguna gente don’ t sabe la diferencia y viene a menudo a hifix.co.uk (quién es hola un Fi BRITÁNICO y un minorista audio) que espera descubrir sobre intercambio de dinero. Ahora mientras que las dos compañías tienen nombres y direcciones muy similares de la tela, ni unos ni otros están conectados el uno al otro de cualquier manera. It’ s más importante y yo tenemos que tensionar esto, comprobamos por favor su URL’ s cuando usted le liga al hifx ese don’ t agrega otro ‘ i’ y hágale el hifix.

Design Conscious .com eMarketing Newsletter

Issue: 5.2 – January 2009

8 WAYS TO DRIVE TRAFFIC TO YOUR SITE – PART 2

————————————————————————

This weeks newsletter is in two parts, and it covers ways to drive
traffic to your site. The first part gave you tips 1-4 now it’s time
for tips 5-8.

Part one is available here:

I hope you find the tips useful, please contact me on 0845 370 3459
should you need any further help or advice, and don’t forget the
Design Conscious Voucher Codes email is still waiting for all those of
you who haven’t opted to receive it yet.

Vouchers for: Tesco, Thomson, Currys, Dell, Weight Watchers etc.

8 WAYS TO DRIVE TRAFFIC TO YOUR SITE – PART 2 (tips 5-8)

(continued fram part 1)

5. Build a sitemap

How?
Google has a facility for you to add your websites sitemap to a
Google account. There are scripts you can install on your site to
automatically create a Google valid sitemap – so it’s easy to tell
Google and the other search engine spiders exactly where your pages are.

—————————

6. Make words in your links meaningful

How?
If you make ‘Blue Widgets’ and the link to the widgets page says
‘Click here for our products’ then the search engine has no keywords in
the link to match up with the product page. Change the words in your
links to something like ‘The Blue Widget range’ – then the link and the
product page have keywords in common (Blue and Widget) thus increasing
your keyword relevancy.

—————————

7. Look at your webstats and track your links

How?
Ask your web developer to show you the stats for your site and see where
your traffic is coming from. If your traffic is mainly referals from other
sites think about increasing your visability on those pages. Look at the
top 10 keywords that are being used to find your site and improve their
denisty and relevancy in your website (Don’t over do it – Google will
delist you for keyword stuffing if you repeat your words unnecessarily).
If you advertise in a newspaper or magazine add a tracking code to the
URL in the advert and then see how much traffic is generated. Doing this
will help you identify which advertising is really working for you -
allowing you to drop any area of advertising that isnt performing and to
increase the advertising that is.

—————————

8. Google Adwords

How?
Google adwords is a briliant way of driving highly targeted traffic
to your site. It’s targeted because you bid on a keyword relating to
your business – say ‘Blue Widgets’ and your link is only shown when
someone searches and matches your keyword. When they click you get
charged and they are sent to your site. It’s a good way of getting
traffic but it can be a costly excercise if you don’t manage your
account, before you do this make sure your site is good enough to
convert any possible new leads to sales.

You now have eight of the best tips around for improving your online
presence. If you wish to implement any of these cost effective tips
call me for a quick quote or health check report on 0845 370 3459.

Make 2009 eventful not regretful!

Looking forward to speaking to you soon.

Ian Blackford
Owner / Manager
Design Conscious .com
Tel: 0845 370 3459

Saturday, January 31, 2009

————————————————————————

This email is being sent to you as a follow up from a paper letter we
have sent to you in the post previously.

Please make sure you add this email address to your address book or
white list this email address to prevent you from missing other issues
of the newsletter. Should you wish to un-subscribe from future mailings
please click here:

Please call or email ian@designconscious.com if you have any questions
about this email.

Design Conscious .com
Head Office, 40 Glendale Gardens, Lawley Village
Telford, Shropshire. TF4 2RG Tel: 0845 370 3459

—————————

Design Conscious Voucher Codes email is still waiting for all those
of you who haven’t opted to receive it yet.

Vouchers for: Tesco, Thomson, Currys, Dell, Weight Watchers etc.

Design Conscious .com eMarketing Newsletter

Issue: 5.1 – January 2009

8 WAYS TO DRIVE TRAFFIC TO YOUR SITE – PART 1

————————————————————————

This weeks newsletter is in two parts, and it covers ways to drive
traffic to your site. The first part gives you tips 1-4 the second
part will be tips 5-8.

I hope you find the tips useful, please contact me on 0845 370 3459
should you need any further help or advice, and don’t forget the
Design Conscious Voucher Codes email is still waiting for all those of
you who haven’t opted to receive it yet.

Vouchers for: Tesco, Thomson, Currys, Dell, Weight Watchers etc.

8 WAYS TO DRIVE TRAFFIC TO YOUR SITE – PART 1 (tips 1-4)

1. Make it easy for your website visitors to recommend you to others

How?
Add a Share button to your pages so your visitors can instantly
submit you to social network sites like Digg and StumbleUpon.

—————————

2. Write more pages

How?
Look at your industry and work out what is the latest hot news (or
what’s going to be hot) then write a page of info about it on your site.
Do this at least once a month. The more content you have the more chance
the search engines will find you.

—————————

3. Update your website structure

How?
Have a health check report done on your site. Any site that is a
couple of years old will have legacy code that the search engines now
ignores or worse can’t use. Search engine technology has moved on a lot
- your site needs to move on with.

—————————

4. Tell people about yourself

How?
Get marketing. As I have said in previous mailshots the best way to
drive traffic and therefore sales is to tell people about your
services or products. One of the most effective ways of doing this is
with email mailshots (an example of which you are currently reading).

(continued in part 2)

Look out for part two later this week, you will then have eight of the
best tips around for improving your online presence. Call me for any
help or advice on 0845 370 3459.

Make 2009 eventful not regretful!

Looking forward to speaking to you soon.

Ian Blackford
Owner / Manager Design Conscious .com
Tel: 0845 370 3459

————————————————————————

This email is being sent to you as a follow up from a paper letter we
have sent to you in the post previously.

Please make sure you add this email address to your address book or
white list this email address to prevent you from missing other issues
of the newsletter. Should you wish to un-subscribe from future mailings
please click here:

Please call or email ian@designconscious.com if you have any questions
about this email.

Design Conscious .com
Head Office, 40 Glendale Gardens, Lawley Village
Telford, Shropshire. TF4 2RG Tel: 0845 370 3459

—————————

Design Conscious Voucher Codes email is still waiting for all those
of you who haven’t opted to receive it yet.

Vouchers for: Tesco, Thomson, Currys, Dell, Weight Watchers etc.

Design Conscious .com eMarketing Newsletter

Issue: 4 – January 2990

BUYING POWER VOUCHER CODES:
Tesco, Wieght Watchers, Thomson, Dell, Currys, Design Conscious .com

Voucher Codes Newsletter

————————————————————————

Being cautious and saving money is key at the moment, we all need to
keep an eye on what we are spending so we don’t come financially
unstuck. There are two problems with this however, the first is: life
goes on and there are things that we need in order to continue our
businesses and home life. The second issue is: the less we spend, the
less the companies we buy from sell, the more likely they are to go
bust. Putting this second point the other way round, the less people
spend, the less we sell, the more likely it is that WE can go bust.

Balancing spending is a very fine art and in these times it’s about the
only thing that you can really control. You can’t control the amount of
sales you make because the decision is out of your hands. You can’t
control the current business climate because it’s too big to influence,
but you can control how much money leaves the bank because you choose
to spend or not.

Ultimately buying power is in your hands, it’s in everybodies hands. At
the moment businesses are cutting spending to try and protect
themselves – this is always a sensible move – but what happens when
we need or want to buy something? When purchasing there is only one
thing to do and that is to buy wisely, buy where you can get discount
or the best value deal. At Design Conscious we understand this and so
we have pleasure in offering you some money saving deals.

We have obtained voucher codes from big names such as:

+ Tesco
+ Currys
+ Weight Watchers
+ Thomson Holidays
+ Dell Computers

With these offers you can benefit from up to £200 off a holiday (many
with free child places), £10 of your shopping at Tesco when you shop
online, 15% off a new Dell computer for your office, not to mention we
are also offering £150 off your first website or marketing campaign of
£400 or over with us at Design Conscious .com

Spending wisely helps everyone because: you get a great money saving deal,
the company you buy from gets a sale and slowly the economy gets up off
its knees. We all have a responsibility to get through this in one piece
and help each other do the same. Times are hard but we needn’t be hard
on ourselves. There is plenty of scope to get what we want and at the
price we want.

To get started all you have to do is follow this link and request the
Design Conscious Voucher Codes Newsletter:

Voucher Codes Newsletter

Once you have requested the newsletter you will get your voucher codes
in your welcome email this will be the second email you get, the first
requires you to click a confirmation link – make sure you confirm or
you won’t get your voucher email!

Make 2009 eventful not regretful!

Looking forward to speaking to you soon.

Ian Blackford
Owner / Manager Design Conscious .com
Tel: 0845 370 3459

————————————————————————

This email is being sent to you as a follow up from a paper letter we
have sent to you in the post previously.

Please make sure you add this email address to your address book or
white list this email address to prevent you from missing other issues
of the newsletter. Should you wish to un-subscribe from future mailings
please click here:

Please call or email ian@designconscious.com if you have any questions
about this email.

Design Conscious .com
Head Office, 40 Glendale Gardens, Lawley Village
Telford, Shropshire. TF4 2RG Tel: 0845 370 3459