You may have heard HTML5 being banded about some tech programs or read about it as the future for the web but why all the hype about HTML5 and is it really the future for web design Wales?

All web design companies have to keep moving with the times and what is new in web design one moment is quickly updated with something else. For instance changes in web technologies keep designers on their toes never able to fully settle knowing there is always something new around the corner.

When changes come to the actual code itself then it becomes big news among web developers and that’s what is happening with HTML5. HTML5 is the new language that will present content to users on the Internet and through mobile devices. This will replace HTML4 and languages such as Javascript.

What are some of the advantages that HTML5 will bring for the normal web browser? HTML5 will make using websites smoother as web developers will be able to embed video and audio without the need to use plugins that you have to install such as flash. Apple has flatly refused to use flash on their devices with security risks being mentioned as one viable reason why they won’t use it.

HTML5 is already being used with most of the browsers already able to implement it and it will be backward compatible with HTML4 so your current website will probably meet the standard needed. Integration in to social media such as Facebook and Twitter will be seamless as well. There are advantages for both the web designer and the end user of the sites built in HTML5.

One of the ways HTML5’s use will rocket will be on mobile devices. As visitors with smartphones visit a site the site will recognize that they are on a mobile device much as they do now but it will ask you whether you want to use their app. The app will be in HTML5 so from an app developer’s point of view this means that rather than having to develop several different apps to function on different platforms you will only have to develop it in HTML5 and all devices running this will be able to use the app. This method has longevity as companies such as Apple and Google have decided to back this technology openly advocating and supporting its use and will definitely be used in app development Wales.

This is only a brief look at HTML5. We will continue to write about this new technology and keep you up to date with the latest developments. It certainly will be something that all web design Wales companies will be implementing in months and years to come.

If you would like to discuss how your website can be brought up to date or whether you would like to have a mobile app developed for your business please do not hesitate to contact us.

Choosing a web designer is a very important decision to make, as the success your business has on the Internet will very often indicate how successful your business will be full stop. Having an online presence for your business is very important in the modern world, as the Internet is the medium most people use now to locate products and services they wish to purchase.

Many times although it is possible to choose a web design company from anywhere around the world many choose a company that is closer to home. This allows you to keep a tighter rein on your project. Also meeting your web designer face to face and explaining to them what you want stops any ambiguity that may occur by corresponding by telephone or e-mail.

We have number of customers that love coming to visit us to discuss their site and to talk about new ideas that they have and that we have for their site. You can do no better than to choose a company that can produce web design Wales.

Website Designers are very much like all other designers in that they need to know how to build something that is attractive to the eye, so that it appeals to the visitors of the site, and the technical knowledge of how to build a website so that works.

The very first impression a visitor to your website gets depends upon what the visitor sees and hears. These things depend largely upon what the web designer does. So if you want your website to stand out from the crowd then you as the site owner need to make sure your web design company grasp what you want from your website.

Of course you may want to achieve the opposite effect. You may be a relatively new company in a very professional field and you may wish to make it look as though you are and have been a major player in this area. Professional web designers in Wales should be able to produce this feel to your website.

Having a website that looks good but is very hard to navigate is a real shame as very often this is enough to make a visitor to your site click away. I have mentioned this often before but I make no apology for making it again. This is one of the responsibilities of the company you choose to build your website. They should advise you on the layout and navigation of your site if it looks like moving around it is cumbersome.

Along with producing a site where it is easy to find what you are looking for is by having a site that is built well enough to rank well in the search engines. Many web design Wales companies think that this work should be done after the web site is built. Nothing could be further from the truth. Optimizing your site for the search engines should be an intrinsic part of the build from the very beginning.

I will write a brief post about this in the future, as this is so important that this should be something that should be checked if you already have an existing site and should definitely be implemented if you are considering a new one. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding search engine optimisation or Web Design Wales.

Web Design Wales

One of the questions we get here at Storm10media is ‘should I have an entirely new website or can I save some money and get one of those out of the box websites’?

This is a worthwhile question to ask especially as most businesses have cut back on all their outgoing expenses in order to survive the recent financial crisis. Saying this though business owners have realized that in order to continue to grow as a business and not get left behind it is extremely important to increase their presence online.

Many have already invested in having a website designed and built but have now looked again at their site and have realised that it looks tired and old compared to the all singing all dancing sites available today. Many companies in Wales still only have a one-page site that has the basics such as the business name and address with a few contact details present.

For some small to medium sized businesses the thought of having to organise the development of a brand new site sends them scurrying off to a dark corner hoping that the internet would just go away. On the other hand if you are excited by the prospect of launching your business in a modern way to a modern audience then you are already on your way to making your business more successful.

If you were a large company then you would have whole departments dedicated to the building and maintenance of your website. You would have a large budget to spend on clever ways to engage your audience. Just because you are not such a large company does not mean that you have to be relegated to having a cheesy second rate website. With a little forethought you could have a website that is interesting and engaging and will leave your customers with a fantastic impression of your business.

Try not to re-invent the wheel. Look at what other businesses are doing on the web in your chosen area of business. If you are an online shop for instance we have tried and tested platforms on which you can build your individual site around. These web platforms have had years of research and tweeks, which has resulted in the software being very stable and easy to use. So in answer to our question at the outset you can have both. A reliable software platform which is tried and tested and elements that make your website stand out from the crowd.

Storm10media undertake all kinds of Web Design Wales and content management systems and would only be too pleased to answer any questions about possible projects that you may have. Why not have a look at our products page to see if there is something there that gives you an idea!

Marketing Pembrokeshire

Marketing

With the strong communal business spirit and the rural locality of Pembrokeshire, one of the strongest forms of marketing is good old ‘word of mouth’ but there are many other forms that businesses need to be kept up to date with, especially the new forms of digital methods available as well as the more traditional roots.

Not that long ago it was easy to decide on which marketing methods to use with direct mail, telesales and display advertising pretty much all you needed to be successful. The introduction of Radio Pembrokeshire in July 2002 and it’s success brought the community closer together and if you would like information on advertising on Radio Pembrokeshire please contact Allison on 01834 862012,

Storm10media was Pembrokeshire’s first dedicated Search Engine Optimisation company and has developed a range of packages to promote Welsh businesses not just locally but on the Global reach of the Search Engines, Pair this alongside the Social Media Marketing on community sites and your starting to reach large numbers of potential customers.

More recently Storm10media have launched App Development to produce mobile applications for businesses to market themselves on the growing mobile media devices currently available from Apple, Google, Microsoft and Blackberry.

Storm10media offer the full solution from ecommerce websites with integrated mobile phone/apps and a marketing presence to get your business generating high volume sales.

App Development Wales

App Development

In conjunction with Apple releasing the updated iPad 2, Local internet marketing company Storm10media have created an interactive iPad/iPhone catalogue application for Local businesses.

Businesses can have their own catalogue/brochures downloaded from iTunes and displayed on apple mobile devices with android to follow shortly; the interactive brochure with its own web viewer allows it to link to online shopping, videos and other media.

Marketing in the growing mobile application industry gives Businesses the opportunity to showcase their products and services on the latest hand held devices.

Businesses with their own branded iTunes App allow their customers and sales staff to benefit by having an environmentally friendly catalogues, reducing printing costs, which is easily up-dated remotely ensuring users have the latest information and prices at their finger tips!

For more information on App Development and Apps Pembrokeshire, Wales or a demonstration please contact storm10media.com on 01646 200 9 10

Search Engine Optimisation Wales

Search Engine Optimisation Wales

Having a business can be an exciting adventure especially if you have nurtured it from an idea into a fully functioning business. During these difficult financial times more and more businesses are required to think and act smart in order to survive. Using search engine optimisation techniques have helped rural businesses in Wales move their businesses from somewhere in the back of beyond on to the busiest high street in the world, the internet.

Whereas some companies have been able to see the benefits of using search engine optimisation as part of a Search Engine Marketing campaign straight away, many smaller companies are lagging behind a bit. This is because of the pace at which things change. If you were to take notice of every little offer that was being handed out to you, to make your business better then, you would hardly have enough time to actually run your business. What little businesses can do is take notice of what the ‘big boys’ do and follow suit.

This is what happens all the way down the chain. Campaigns that have been thought of and executed in America have filtered through to European counterparts. For instance Pepsi in 2009 decided to pull all advertising that it had on the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl was one of the most watched events in the USA. What was going to replace what had previously been such a large part of Pepsi’s advertising campaign? A social media campaign!

This was called ‘The Pepsi Refresh Project’. The idea is that the money spent on advertising would be put to use by funding projects that were of benefit to the community. Using portals like social media sites etc, Pepsi would allow followers of their campaigns to get involved with voting for who they would like to see win the place of having their project funded. This would be good for Pepsi in that those who bought their products thought that they were actively getting involved in helping people. Very clever! A spokesman for the company said that he wanted the campaign to be ‘less about a singular event, less about a moment, more about a movement’.

As previously mentioned this idea has now filtered down to companies within Europe. For example ‘Quaker Oats’ have launched their ‘Thank You Campaign’. Members of the public who help others in the morning are enjoying makeovers of their premises and fans of this campaign follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

The point of this meandering is, if you want to stay ahead of other companies in how you can use search engine optimisation, then look to what the big companies are doing and try to copy them in a small way. You will be surprised at what a difference in can make when you have been slowly plugging away for a few months. You at first may think that the work needed is insurmountable but remember the adage ‘a journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step’.

Online Marketing Wales

I remember the first time my friend asked me ‘have you heard of a blog’? I had to admit that I hadn’t. The word ‘Blog’ comes from an abbreviation of ‘web log’ and literally millions of people have them. It’s a sort of journal that you publish online which can include your thoughts, likes, dislikes how you feel about a certain subject etc. This is a way of expressing to the world things that are happening in your life and are growing at a fantastic rate.

With this established craze come with it many Online Marketing benefits. For example your blog may become popular with many visitors choosing to visit your page every time you publish. These visitors can be steered elsewhere on your site. They may click on an advert that you have. Whatever it is that you want them to do when they visit your site you can very often get them there by means of your blog.

If you have an online business that you are promoting then attaching a blog site to your main site is a great way of getting visitors to your site. Every time you post an article it also attracts the search engine spiders that help in ranking your site in the organic search results.

Online Marketers take any opportunity they can to attract unique visitors to their websites. Blogging is an invaluable tool to enable you to do this. Make your blog interesting and more people will return to read what you have to say. Give them information that they can use for their benefit and they will be more likely to return.

Announce your latest post to the world using social networking such as Twitter etc. Allow visitors to comment on your blog for a time to get some feedback on what people think. Beware though there are a lot of people spamming comments in order to get a link from your site so filter these out. The feedback can be invaluable information especially from more experienced bloggers who can very often give you tips and perhaps even link from their site to yours.

For more information on how to get started blogging please visit www.blogspot.com or http://wordpress.org.

Then please come back to us for Search Engine Optimisation Wales

Getting to the Top

Everyone wants to get their websites to the top of the search engines. Hiring a SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) company will put you ahead of many others who have not yet realised the benefits of SEO. Of course if you are in competition with a major company or online player then this will drastically increase the effort you and your SEO company need to put in to achieve top position.

Large companies have whole departments involved in marketing their company on the internet, so if you are up against such a large company, expect the goal of achieving first position to take some time. This is not to say it’s impossible. I just may take longer.

One of the questions that make SEO companies cringe is ‘when will I be at the top?’ or ‘how long will it take to get to the top?’ These are questions that can never be answered accurately. Of course these questions stem from the customer spending money and wanting to see results now. Although some results can be achieved quickly, effective SEO should and will be a long process. This is because search engines rank sites well that are long lasting, reliable and that have built up a good online reputation.

Be a Good Customer

Being a good customer can go a long way to helping your SEO company achieve their goal. What does that mean? SEO companies and their clients should be working together as a team to achieve the goal of a quality online presence. Be up front about what you want to achieve and do not hold information back that could be relevant.

Sometimes when there are a few companies involved with working on one website this can cause friction between companies which can be detrimental to your over all service from all involved. Web site designers and site builders can all get their feathers ruffled over the idea of another company coming in and working on the website. Your advance preparation by smoothing the way can make all the difference in this regard.

Being prepared to help with the availability of marketing material is also a valuable way you can assist in preparing for your SEO campaign. Shouting about your site online is one of the ways used be an SEO company to increase awareness of your site. So having subjects that you can shout about readily available will avoid any delay in this process.

As mentioned above being realistic about timing is also an advantage. Over the years we have seen many customers who have run around like a chicken with its head cut off. They appoint a company to optimise for certain keywords and if they are not always rising or at the top of the rankings they change to another company and start the process all over again.

If you take only one thing away from this post its appoint the right company at the outset and settle down for the long haul. That’s the long and short of it. Well actually there is no ‘short of it’. Its only long. Short campaigns produce results quickly that will soon drop if not kept up with. Long campaigns are steadier but longer lasting.

Make them understand

A good SEO company will take the time to understand how exactly your business works. This will give them a lot of needed information when making small but important decisions on optimising your site. No one grasps the basics and the day to day issues of your business better than you. Remember that it’s not just a matter of chucking a ball at someone and walking away so to speak but a team effort to achieve the overall goal.
There is more to the symbiotic relationship of SEO company and client but these are just a few pointers to consider before hiring a SEO company. If you would like some more information about SEO or Web Design, Storm10media can help you so please contact us.

Clearly looks sell. But if you are selling a product or service your website needs to have other elements than just looking good. A website that is effective all round will also show clearly what you are offering, be easy to navigate, be simple and easy to use and be search engine friendly.

Our website design team are able to give attention to all these features individually. Today an online business owner has to cleverly marry design with effective marketing. Money can be spent in one area but without an overall marketing plan that money can be easily wasted.

Effective web design does not have to cost the earth but it does require professional forethought. Why not give one of our design team a call for some free advice.

Can you remember the last time either yourself or a member of your family suffered from a cold? You normally rack your brains trying to think of the last person you came into contact with who had the cold, all so you can firmly place the blame on someone. We do that because we realise that the virus we caught had to be passed on by someone. Normally this happens because germs are spread by touch and through the air resulting in you being infected with the virus.

When we talk about viral marketing as part of a SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) strategy we are in no way talking of infecting someone’s computer with a malicious code. Rather we are talking about marketing that self replicates itself by being passed on and on. We all have received those funny emails that are passed on to us by friends and family which of course we pass on to our friends. Imagine the marketing power when you attach a company name or product to that!

Ok so how do you start? Firstly you need to find a group of individuals with a high social networking potential. This could be those who have a lot of people following them on social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter. These individuals are those who love to pass on anything of interest to friends and this is how our virus starts.

Next provide them with something which is going to get them fired up using video, games, email anything which you can attach your businesses name to. This gets your company name out there. After watching a really interesting video with your website name on many viewers want to find out more about the maker.

A recent example of this was with a TV advert for BT. A recent example of this was with a TV advert for BT. Bt advert characters Adam and Jane who have appeared in quite a few of BT’s adverts and who are well known announce that they are going to have a baby. This was after BT asked viewers to vote on whether the couple should announce it or not and received over 1.6 million votes.

BT marketing director Matthew Dearden explained that “The strand of ads we are doing at the moment are all about human interaction and human relationships [facilitated by BT products] and we thought about building the connection by getting people involved in the story of the campaign itself.”

Although BT has a massive marketing budget the same principles apply to any viral campaign. Engage your audience and let them put it out there. There are of course many more aspects to this kind of marketing which we will cover in future posts. In the mean time Happy Marketing Wales!