Time for Business Start-up

Looking to develop a website for your business venture, as you know it is absolutely essential. In fact, it is where you will focus your marketing communications initially, as it makes economic sense.

When professionals start talking about Information Technology (IT), websites and/or digital solutions, they tend to start getting all technical and stuff. This can be confusing and scary. Some of them do it intentionally in order to justify outrages costs and add-ons.
What you really want to hear is how can business benefit. How will you get more customers. How will you boost brand awareness and credibility.
The key to developing a successful website is to first and foremost understand business, and how to make the business grow using a digital solution. A web designer might design nice-looking websites, and a programmer might develop intense code, but what do they really know about business and marketing?
I know I need a website for my business
You are either a small to medium sized business, doing reasonably well, with some growth; or perhaps a brand new venture, just starting out and just exploring new opportunities.
You’re looking to build a new website for your business (or organisation), in order to enhance corporate credibility, build extra exposure in your market, and increase your sales distributions channels. Indeed, these are the main reasons anyone needs a website.
Perhaps nothing totally fancy, no E-commerce solution, and no complex IT web platform. All you really want is a website that is simply nice modern looking, efficient, effective and affordable – something like a dynamic brochure that allows existing and new potential customers to find you easily on the Internet and through search engines, like what they see, and then contact you to buy your products or services.

You just want to know the most important things to consider when building such a website for your type of business.

This scenario is the most common we come across here at Web Conceptions, in both Melbourne and Cyprus, as well as in other European markets we’ve worked in. No doubt, our existing portfolio has also built a referral network to such a client profile, i.e. start-up businesses or those relatively new to making a website for their business.
The economic situation in both Europe and Australia has further fuelled this type of demand, with many people seeking to venture out on their own, and kick-start a business for themselves; forced into it or not. Certainly it seems to be the right time to explore such opportunities.
I know I need web design/developer
Indeed, there are many website developers out there, all offering seemingly similar services, together with all of these extra add-ons that simply sound like jargon to you, such as: search engine optimisation (SEO), search engine marketing and pay per click adds, digital communications, Content Management Solution (CMS) – custom, Joomla, WordPress, Drupal, mobile applications, as well as a whole lot of other technical stuff.
Each developer claims different experiences in their marketing spill, from being a gun freelancer on the side a few years while in the music industry, to 12+ years experience at a fancy and hip web development and digital agency with coloured plastic chairs, a fluoro retro espresso machine in the lobby, and a corporate policy aligned to something like Google, working in a ‘creative’, ‘flexible’ and ‘fun’ environment.
As a business owner, you don’t care so much about the web developer’s HTML, JavaScript and other coding skills, and how fantastic they say they are. The fancy office on a popular street in Melbourne or in Paris seems nice and all, but you’re also worried that this will ultimately come out in the end price – after all, what they charge must help sustain their own business practice and costly overheads right. And Nespresso pods do not come cheap! Although it is a tasty coffee.
Sure, you know you need a robust and functional website solution, as well as a creative user-friendly web design. We are all Internet savvy now, and so we know that this must help in the business side of things. As will of course the whole marketing idea/concept behind the website.
But at the end of the day, you just know you need a website, and you want it to help drive business activity and bring in extra revenue. Especially when starting out, minimal costs are also important for long term sustainability.
What you really need is a business consultant that understands web and digital
With all web projects, Web Conceptions are fully involved with the client’s business or organisation – part of your team. We do not simply design a website for the client. We work very closely with them to understand their business and goals, thereby deploying the best possible solution. Among other aspects, this primarily includes:

• In-depth research on their business and market
• Competitive benchmark and analysis
• Target and potential clientele
• Ideas and concept phase
• Research and writing of absolutely all website content, thereby achieving true organic Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) – as content is the most important thing with this.
• Customised Content management System (CMS) to allow you to dynamically create new pages and manage some of your content
• Website design, development and functionalities for user experience (UX)
• Digital marketing communication strategy

Above all, we stand by them from the very beginning, working together to help them establish their business and get it off the ground. This includes ideas and consultation on best business practice, organisational strategy, as well as marketing communications – both on- and offline.
Offering an affordable and simple solution to get the ball rolling, bring in some customers, and then expanding the website as the business grows.
A business consultant understands business and marketing. Web Conceptions have this experience and knowhow at an international level (especially in Cyprus, Europe and Melbourne), as well as the skill and expertise in web and digital, translating and implementing all the technical IT stuff into what really matters to your business.
Web Conceptions provide the right business formula for your digital solution.

Web Conceptions Contact Details

Cyprus: +357 99 01 28 01

Melbourne: +61 452 436 456

Skype: Web-Conceptions.com
E-mail: info 'at' web-conceptions.com
Website: www.web-conceptions.com

Ethical Online Marketing

In this fast pace modern Internet world, companies are fighting with Internet marketing weapons to appear first, and in the process, can quite often tarnish their own reputation. We look at the importance of ethical Internet marketing in travel and tourism, changes over the last year and what should be the next major trends within the industry.

There is no doubt; the Internet has changed travel and tourism forever. It was one of the first industries to be transformed by the Internet, and as a channel of distribution, has become one of the most successful. From researching travel options, comparing products and prices, reading reviews, sifting through portals to purchasing. Consumer or business-to-business, all are increasingly relying on the Internet.

As to be expected, such a success rate encourages greater competition. These days, having a website is not good enough. Everyone is already trying to sell something online – product, service, advice; information overload. The Internet is flooded with websites, and new entries on a daily basis. Hence the increasing value of Internet marketing.

Try and get a good understanding of what your clients search for when looking for your product. Then adapt your internet marketing to revolve around this, consistent with an overall business philosophy, brand and concept.

The key to driving success will always be the website’s content. Quality content that will stimulate the marketing AIDA model (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action), and trigger real activity and real hits, as oppose to just being ignored. Your content should drive interaction and what I like to call internetxuality, i.e. other sites (and other media) utilising your content and sourcing your website.

Many suggest that if your website is not search engine optimised it is just like having a phone number but not being listed in the phone book. Very true. Your website and brand must be easily located. Internet presence is crucial, otherwise no traffic equates to no sales, no results. But what is always neglected is the actual value of your presence. In other words, a certain standard and quality. Keep it professional, and avoid clogging, spamming and faking – information that is annoying can easily do more harm than good. This also of course applies to e-mail marketing, where spam is more associated.

Online social coherence

Internet marketing has expanded to a multilevel campaign, following the now ‘standard’ organic Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) procedures of written content, keywords, titles, descriptions, meta tag and links, as well as search engine marketing (SEM) – the practice of buying paid search listings – such as pay per click, paid placement, contextual advertising and paid inclusions.

Over the last year we have seen the boom of interactive-type web 2.0 marketing, including wiki pages, social networking sites, review websites, blogs, forums, XML/RSS feeds and universal content, i.e. images, video, podcasts and maps. Popular sites that spring to mind include the likes of Wikipedia and Wikitravel, Facebook, TripAdvisor, Twitter, Flickr and Youtube. Again, more and more are now using these, so in reality how will you stand out and be unique? More to the point, are these a waste of time? In a busy environment, what resources do you allocate for such social marketing techniques. Well, leading companies now have specific positions that focus on these tools (together with Internet Marketers and SEO specialists), whilst new expert social website consulting firms have emerged.

Certainly, affiliation to these sites is excellent for generating exposure and primarily for linking back to your own website – SEO purposes. Many are also a point-of-research that prompt a booking, particularity the likes of TripAdvisor.

However, these tools are constantly being abused. All too often travel companies write their own reviews on Facebook, hotels on TripAdvisor. What’s worse, they write negative reviews on their competitor’s page, which then of course gets instantly rebutted – web war games. Credibility is diminished as consumers become entrapped in this somewhat falsifying channel of information.

Something to be wary of – maintain quality standards and professionalism. If you are to use such tools, obviously be authentic and ethical. But in such an uncontrollable environment, I suggest the best weapon is to be creative. Again, emphasis is on content. Focus energy and resources here, inspiring interests and creating awareness.

A changing medium

Indeed, the Internet has become the new TV of the day. The rate of change with the Internet is also remarkably faster than the rate of change with conventional media. One year with the Internet is the equivalent to ten years in conventional media. Things move quickly with this medium; new technologies, new concepts, innovations, inspirations and new approaches.

Of course travel and tourism marketers (and of all industries really) must still balance and use all media. Print for its tangibility, TV for emotional connection and radio for its mobility. But at some point over the next year or so, these will all be unravelled by the Internet. Marketers who embrace this early will remain ahead of the pack and on top of all rankings.

The future is clearly pointing towards two trends: mobile Internet marketing, which combines the benefits of all media, and Web 3.0.

Mobile technology is essentially moving the Internet everywhere. The number of web-enabled phones in Europe will rise to more than the number of PCs, whilst more time will be spent on the Internet than watching TV – this is already the case in Western Europe. Indeed, the potential of mobile applications and mobile eCommerce is vast, and soon to be very lucrative.

Take the recent Volcano chaos in Europe. Mobile Internet kept people updated with flight status and any news. Access to mobile Internet was also a good starting point for those seeking alternative travel arrangements and then even making new bookings. Business travellers are also the perfect example of requiring connectivity whilst on the move.

Meanwhile, Internet experts believe the next generation of the Web – Web 3.0 – will make searching tasks smarter (faster and easier). Instead of multiple searches, you can type a complex sentence or phrase. The Web 3.0 browser will analyse your response, search the Internet for all possible answers, and then organise results accordingly.

The browser will act like a personal assistant, learning what you are interested in. The more you use the Web, the more your browser learns about you and the less specific you'll need to be with your questions. Eventually you should be able to ask open questions like "where should I go for my summer holidays?” Your browser will consult its records of what you like and dislike, take into account your current location and price expectations and then suggest various options.

The more relevant your website's content is, or more importantly web concept is to such searches and in relation to other engine crawling factors, the more your holiday options will appear in the results.

Web Conceptions Contact Details

Cyprus: +357 99 01 28 01
Melbourne: +61 452 436 456
Skype: Web-Conceptions.com
E-mail: info 'at' web-conceptions.com
Website: www.web-conceptions.com

Website Concepts & Branding

Building a website is like building a physical structure or a piece of art; a cheesy statement I guess, but bloody true. Solid foundations, creative architecture, layer-upon-layer and selective touches. Before the entire solution can happen however, a concept must be born; an idea. This is what Web-Conceptions.com is all about. And being freelance, the idea comes form within.

Of course, many of us would say that web designing is this exactly this - a website concept & idea. However, I don't think this is always the case. Website concepts & ideas is truly understanding your client's business or organisation - working very closely with the client to achieve total creativity, uniqueness, functionality and in turn complete success. As freelance web designers, I believe we are in the best possible position to achieve this - a lot more flexible, personalised and customised.

As the Internet continues to expand at a pace never quite seen before, websites must quickly adapt and offer the best possible presence. Web designers/developers, freelance or not must offer the best possible solution.

Web surfers are now, more than ever, and of course forever evolving, a lot savvier. They know what they like, and they know what they don't like. Skim surfing, link, hit, move, go back, move forward, have a coffee, come back, log off, log on - you know, we all do it. It really is a mad house. And things are not going slow down, only get faster, crazier.

Your website must be found, (i.e. SEO and Internet marketing), attract attention (i.e. clear and concise titles and descriptions), and above all, hold the viewer and properly inform/serve its purpose (i.e. your design and written content). But just like the physical structure or art form, the concept and idea is what will truly ride the wave and win everything over.

A wining website concept and idea will achieve three key points:

1. Allow the entire building and fabrication of the website to be smooth, consistent, balanced and in line with online targets. This includes all website-building components, such as design, development, copywriting, visual elements (pictures videos, dynamics, search engine optimisation, Internet marketing, etc.
2. Captivate the imagination of your business/organisation and indeed of the web audience like no other; creativity, unique or more specifically USP (unique selling proposition), and professionalism.
3. Achieve "business art" status, whereby the website has developed its own concept and brand, consistent with an overall corporate or organisational identity.

Topic: Freelance Website Concepts & Branding - a business art

Key tip: Spend plenty of time brainstorming, on your own when you can gather your thoughts, as well as with a team when you can all share ideas. Go through the entire website and plan it well; design process, content headings and content, graphics, programming and functionalities, marketing, overall online and organisational goals, targets and purpose. Then, take a break and relax for a while. Come back to it. Being fresh-minded is the most creative and clever you can be.

Relevant websites:

Website Ideas blog dedicated to web-developers for design inspiration

101 Personal Website Ideas

Where to get ideas for a niche website

11 Undiscovered Website Ideas to Steal and Make You Rich

Bad Website Ideas

How to Create a Website - Tips and Ideas

Web Conceptions Contact Details

Cyprus: +357 99 01 28 01
Melbourne: +61 452 436 456
Skype: Web-Conceptions.com
E-mail: info 'at' web-conceptions.com
Website: www.web-conceptions.com

Freelance Web Development - Is it really so different?

Freelance Web Development - Is it really so different?
The world is always changing, with new concepts and new ways of working. Freelancing is not new. It has been around for as long as we our race has learnt the value of service; of doing something for someone else. Care, friendship and helping out.In this changing world, of new online technologies, Internet business, innovative websites, multi and mass media, how is the value of a freelancer sustained and enhanced?

In truth, freelance website developing is quite different to corporate or company-based work. It's an entirely different business philosophy; different approach to creativity, customer service, and overall attitude. Both are of course services, and offer a finished product; but then differ in so many ways. In how the service is carried out, how the customer benefits, and what overall web product/service is received.

Cost wise, freelance web developing is undoubtedly a lot more affordable, as freelancers do not have any overheads such as what companies do, thus can afford to offer clients better/cheaper deals. That's not to say that if a freelance website developer is in high demand price will not be high. Just more affordable than if this same freelance developer was part of a company.

The other major point is that freelance developers have greater flexibility – working for themselves and only for a specific client and web project in question. Again, benefiting the client, in that the freelance developer can fully adjust, fully compromise as per specific web needs and requirements. In reality, the only other person working on a website project with the freelance developer is the client themselves, acting in some sort of directing capacity, and of course only to the extent they desire. In other words, the client can choose to be fully involved or offer complete direction and trust to the freelance developer; perhaps because they don't know much (or anything at all) about websites and Internet business or because they have faith in the developer abilities.

Freelance web design and developing, or any sort of freelance for that matter is no doubt the way of the future. It brings back the community touch to a global world; to a global virtual world to be more precise. It's better for the environment, as it cuts travelling to and from work, as well as saving on common office usage and emissions.

Finally, freelance web design and development, especially in the case of Web-Conceptions.com offers something extra, something unique – exclusivity. Complete focus and attention to one project – a one client-at-a-time concept. That a freelance developer only works on one website project at any one time, and only moves on to the next when ready; whether its working on design, programming, content writing or editing, Internet marketing, Search engine optimisation (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), website consulting or online business strategies.

Topic: Freelance Web Design & Development

Key tip: As a client, try to be involved in first steering ideas and what's your business or organisation all about, as well as initial planning and brainstorming – this will help to kick-start everything properly and set off on in the right direction. But just as importantly, allow the freelancer plenty of breathing space and flexibility thereafter to show what they can do. Point-of-contact and communications is of course still vital, but let the experts achieve results. After all, isn't that why you selected them in the first place?

Sites: Some related website about freelancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freelancer
http://www.freelancersunion.org
http://www.freelanceuk.com
http://www.freelancers.net
http://www.getafreelancer.com
http://www.freelanceadvisor.co.uk

Web Conceptions Contact Details

Cyprus: +357 99 01 28 01
Melbourne: +61 452 436 456
Skype: Web-Conceptions.com
E-mail: info 'at' web-conceptions.com
Website: www.web-conceptions.com