emediates

What's in store for 2010?

2010-01-18T09:35:00.000-08:00

The papers might still be full of doom and gloom but here in our studio we're hopeful that a New Year and a New Decade will bring us happiness and prosperity.

Already on the cards for 2010 we have the launch of a new site for http://www.trafficonline.net scheduled for the end of Jan/early Feb.

We have a site in production for a new client offering a new type of service to home owners looking to sell this year. It's all very exciting and top secret so we can't tell you too much! There be lots of SEO and online marketing for this client as well as some press and PR so we'll be busy with this one. Better get our creative thinking caps on for this...

We also have the launch of a new site for current client http://www.barsport.co.uk. The new designs are certainly eye catching, some of our best work, even if we do say so ourselves.

There are a couple of new e-commerce ventures in the pipeline that use our bespoke online store management system. We're going to be adding new modules to this later this year... a product comparison section and a wish list set of tools for additional functionality.

We are also turning up the Social Networking heat under http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk with a new Blog (check it out here http://wolvescivic.blogspot.com/), Twitter integration for @Wolvescivic, event hash tags and Facebook friends.

We have to satisfy our geeky nature somehow, so, to add to all this we are looking at some iPhone Apps and a couple more Adobe Air desktop widgets for existing clients - there's no time to stand still - so we're moving fast to keep up with technological advances.

If getting through all that doesn't make us happy then we don't know what will!

Merry Twittermas!

2009-12-15T13:39:00.000-08:00

Hot off the desktop we have our 2009 eCard design.

This will be combined into a HTML email and sent to all of our clients early next week.

As well as our own Christmas eCard we always spend the last couple of weeks before the Christmas break producing eCards for several of our clients.

HTML emails are an very effect way of grabbing your customers attention so don't limit yourself to fancy emails just for the festive season.

Get in touch with us here at emediates and we can pep up your sales emails or eNewsletters.

Just how far can you cast your net on the world wide web?

2009-11-13T05:52:00.000-08:00

We've just launched our brand new website here at www.emediates.co.uk and now we are looking at the envious task of getting some serious exposure for our business.

So we asked ourselves the question, just how far can we make our content go?
It was obvious that we there are lots of platforms that we can update, share, link our content too but surely the work required to update Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Linkedin, Digg, Technorati, Blogger etc would just be too much.

We needed a way to write one piece of content and then cast our copy as far afield as possible. Seems impossible? If you're reading this post then it's not as impossible as you think.

This content was created on Blogger and automatically updates on over 30 social networking sites that includes all the big hitters above and others like Flickr and Stumbleupon. So, how did we do it?

Well, I promise that we will reveal all soon. In the meantime pop us an email to sales@emediates.co.uk and give us a good reason why we should tell you and we might let you in on the secret early. Why do we want a reason... well it's all for a new section for our new website, we want to know funny, serious or surreal the reason why we should give away anything for FREE. Call it market research.

For more SEO advice or anything web development related then choose to follow us as we update regularly.

Pre - Christmas Sort Out

2009-11-04T04:43:00.000-08:00

I know - I've mentionned the 'C' word at the beginning of November!

However, I don't believe I am the only person in the world who finds putting a delay on the festive frenzy impossible ... Am I ??

Whilst we are constantly bombarded with Christmas decorations, ancient pop tunes and suggestions for the office party from the beginning of October - there is one piece of pre-festive planning that I wholeheartedly support - 'the pre-Christmas sort out'.

Not only at home, but in the office - this satisfying activity will ensure the New Year starts out as organised and as stress free as possible. And, whilst I do recommend diving into your kids toy boxes and re-homing some of their teddies and binning those shirts that haven't seen the light of day for 3 years - I also recommend booking your FREE Marketing Health Check appointment with emediates.

Use this opportunity to reflect upon how well your current marketing has performed this year, what could you have done better, will your print be out of date next year?

Consider all these questions and more and let emediates help you to clear the way for a positive marketing strategy and action plan next year.

Email Esther at marketing@emediates.co.uk to organise a meeting.

The importance of being earnest

2009-11-02T09:50:00.000-08:00

Thought it was about time we wrote a blog about something personal... after not a lot of thought we decided to pick on our New Media Director Graham Cartwright and task him to record a typical day for him here at emediates.

7:50am Arrive to be greeted with strong black coffee (no sugar) from Anil.

8:00am I'm now awake and so is my laptop, weekend football gossip has been dispatched with and I'm onto the envious task of wading through emails. 47 this morning which is probably because I answered some Saturday afternoon.

9:00am Emails either answered or scheduled into task list and I'm ready to start planning my week.

10:00am Week long planning finished and I realise that there will be few late nights again.

10:06am Coffee.

10:30am First conference call of the week, This ones an update on a HUGE social networking development that we have on the go. Client seems happy enough, pushing for completion which is encouraging.

11:30am My turn to get the drinks. Developer Pete is constantly changing his favourite beverage but everyone else are creatures of habit.

12.00noon Need to spend an hour designing some new page layouts for new client pitch. We tend not to spend too much time on designs in pitches as clients like to change them once we get the go ahead and a full brief. However, we do like to give a little bit of creative input at the pitch stage to help balance all the technical stuff.

12:26am Coffee.

2:00pm Ploughing through some amends to our C# paging class. It draws a dynamic paging navigation that can be quickly added to any of our C# .NET modules. It writes out some nice HTML and CSS, need to add some Javascript for even more funkiness.

2:01pm Coffee.

4:00pm Taking a break from all that code with a spot of PowerPoint animation for Anils latest Sales Pitch - next week he is up in front of 60+ small business as keynote speaker for the Federation of Small Business's. I have to take his impressive talk on the 'Magic of Marketing' and make it look nice.

4:54pm Coffee.

5:30pm Home time for some, but I'm setting up some back ups to run on a new development machine. Don't want to lose all that new code, let alone the new Access and MySQL databases that are running on there.

5:31pm Coffee.

6:04pm About time I got off home. Haven't had any lunch today and drunk far too much coffee (again) but up-to-date with all my scheduled tasks.

8:00pm Kids in bed, time to crack on with emediates new website. Needs to be ready for Anils keynote speech next week. Need to nail this Google Blogger API and then get the Twitter API on multiple pages. More Visual Studio and C# for me tonight.

10:30pm Shattered and starting to get all coded out... going to see whats on BCC iPlayer and then call it a night. Toodlepip.

Shhhhhhhhhhh.... it's a secret

2009-10-01T10:10:00.000-07:00

Here at emediates we must get 100's of emails a week asking us if we 'Want to be No.1 on Google?' or 'Would like to discover how to get to the top of the Search Engines?' etc.

Most of these never get read, we prefer a short sharp shot of Ctrl + Delete to get rid of them but will occasionally 'Add to blocked senders' if we are getting really annoyed.

However, occasionally one will catch our eye, that's what happend this morning. Our New Media Director Graham had an email that just said 'Google's BIG Secret' in the subject....

Out of sheer curiosity this email earned a reprieve and was given a quick read by Graham before being forwarded on around the office for everyone to have a laugh at. The joke? The nameless sender of the email wanted £250+VAT for a half day course to tell attendees the big fat secret that Google are keeping under their hats.

Why is this so funny you may ask? Well two things, there is no secret to SEO. It is simple, create a good site, with clear navigation and desirable content, submit it properly and add some carefully chosen keywords and put in the required amount of time and you will eventually achieve some degree of success.

Secondly, *if* there was a secret, *if*, then how on earth did the nameless small business get hold of it? Do they also happen to know the blend of 11 spices that make a KFC? Could it be that Cokes secret recipe is not so secret either? Here at emediates we may be cynical but, claims like these about SEO make our work harder than it already is...

Our approach is one of careful preparation, diligent planning and meticulous execution. We spend time with our clients and offer a solution that we believe gets a website to the top spot based on merit.

We are very wary of people who claim they know 'Google's Secret', and you should be too!

If you want impartial Search Engine Optimisation advice or are looking for a partner to boost your online profile then please contact us at sales@emediates.co.uk.

What does it all mean?

2009-09-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

Here at emediates we sometimes find it difficult to talk to our clients. Not because we are awkward or unsociable or grumpy* or geeky... no, it's because we struggle with jargon.

That's right, we struggle with jargon. Even our developers hate it, we can't stand it. Jargon makes our job very difficult. Web development is an industry steeped in buzz words, you can't move for the next big thing, in the last few years we've had .net, Web 2.0, AJAX, RAILS, API's and much much more.

This is already on top of HTML, XHTML, JavaScript, C#, XML, XLST, RSS, ATOM etc. It's enough gibberish to make your head spin. And here in lies the problem, we pride ourselves on speaking our clients language. We talk to our customers in terms of how they can improve their business. We discuss websites in terms how it will benefit you and your customers.

So if you want to talk about a website project but would rather talk about selling your products online instead of AJAX posts or you would like to talk about expanding your mailing list instead of MySQL databases then email us at hotdog@emediates.co.uk.

We're polite, friendly and approachable with a mutual hatred of buzz words and jargon.

*Our New Media Director Graham can get a bit tetchy if he hasn't had a coffee in the last 10 minutes but he sits next to the kettle so is usually happy.

Emediates Director Wows the Crowds!

2009-08-07T06:46:00.000-07:00

emediates Director, Anil Varma has was met with applause after taking his turn on the mic at the Black Country Chamber of Commerce - Business Karaoke Session.

Proving that there is more than one way to get your business message across, Anil wowed the crowd with his Marketing Message.

Regular readers of this blog may already be familiar with the lyrics - but for those of you haven't seen them yet - visit our July Blogspot : http://emediates.blogspot.com/2009/07/sing-when-youre-winning.html for the full lyrics.

Nice one Anil! Round of Applause from the emediates team also!!

If you are seeking a little marketing inspiration, and would like to explore the different approaches that you could take to raise your company profile. Contact the emediates team at marketing@emediates.co.uk today.

Sing when you're winning

2009-07-09T23:58:00.000-07:00

When it comes to marketing we try and practice what we preach!

First and foremost marketing is about getting noticed. Standing out is the hardest thing to do - and is a struggle that the majority of businesses have to face. While emediates are busy dishing out hints and tips and writing up marketing strategies for our clients we also have to ensure that we do our bit to raise our profile in an overcrowded market.

Here at emediates we take every opportunity to get out 'there' and meet people. Face to face is our way of getting noticed. We like to talk, get to know other business leaders, discuss their problems and then let them know how we might help.

One of the best ways to do this is traditional networking. Organised seminars and events where everyone has an opportunity to talk about themselves and more importantly to talk to others.

The format of these events varies from different organisations but they will invariably give you an opportunity to get noticed.

In fact our MD is very good at making an impression at these events. His tactics range from dressing as a hospital consultant and offering businesses a FREE marketing health check, to grabbing the mic and singing.

Yes - that's right - he sings. Most events give you a minute or two in front of an audience to introduce yourself and your business. Instead of the usual boring, USPs and strap line speech; Anil has been known to belt out the following (to the tune of 'You To Me Are Everything)....

WE CAN HELP YOU REACH THOSE BUSINESS GOALS YOU WANTED TO
HELP YOU STOP YOUR SALES FROM FALLING IF YOU ASKED US TO
WE’D GUIDE YOU THROUGH YOUR MARKETING, YOUR WISH IS OUR COMMAND
YOU WOULD CLIMB THOSE MOUNTAINS WHEN YOUR HAND IS IN OUR HAND.

WORDS CAN NOT EXPRESS HOW MUCH GOOD MARKETING MEANS TO ME
THERE IS A WAY FOR US TO MAKE YOU SEE
APPLY FOR YOUR FREE MARKETING HEALTH CHECK
THERE IS NO PRICE TO PAY

EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR SUCCESS IS RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM TODAY!
OH MAYBE? OH MAYBE?

TO YOU I GUESS I’M JUST A CLOWN
PREYING ON BUSINESSES WHEN SALES ARE DOWN
OH MAYBE? OH MAYBE?

PLEASE GIVE US A TEST JOB TO BUILD YOUR HOPES UPON.
WE’VE GOT TOOLS IN OUR ARMS TO KEEP YOU FORGING ON.
OH CERTAINLY …OH CERTAINLY

YOU TO ME ARE EVERYTHING , THE BUSINESS'S WE WANT TO MAKE KINGS.

It certainly makes a lasting impression. People like the fact that it's different and unique. They like the boldness and confidence. In short Anil is never without someone to talk to after his 2 minutes on stage - proving you shouldn't just sing about your services when times are good - you should sing to be noticed. Shout about what you do - don't be shy!

Now we know that it's not easy looking at your own business in an objective manner, analysing strengths and weakness or assessing budgets and goals, can be time consuming and difficult. That's were emediates can help. Contact us today sales@emediates.co.uk for your FREE consultation meeting.

Perfect 10?

2009-07-01T03:25:00.001-07:00

We're not perfect! Yes, that's right... a web development studio that is happy to admit that they don't know it all. How can we know it all? The web is millions of pages wide by millions of pages high by millions of pages deep - and it is ever expanding and changing. To cope with the demand, technologies behind the Internet are also constantly changing.

So if we're not perfect why should you use us? Well, that's easy. You should use is because we want to be perfect. Our studio is constantly updating and evolving it's work processes, new languages are adopted, innovative processes implemented; on what seems like a weekly basis.

We work hard to find out what our clients want and then find a solution to fit. This often means that as clients demand more from their websites we give more. From humble HTML beginnings we can now produce bespoke website solutions using VbScript, C#, AJAX, JavaScript, PHP, XML, XLST, SQL, ActionScript and XHTML among others. We lever functionality from powerful online applications such as Google, Twitter, Yahoo, Flickr, YouTube, Blogger and Facebook. We take a web development wish list and we bend over backwards to make it happen.

So if you want your Tweets on your homepage, or your own YouTube channel in your website then we'll get stuck into the relevant API and make it happen. Maybe you want interactive Google Maps on your contact us page? Or you want to blend your Blog into your homepage? Well contact us at emediates - we don't know it all; but the first step to improving your knowledge is admitting you have something to learn.

Caught out by the cache...

2009-06-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

Every web browser stores web pages, images, cookies, and other downloaded content on the computer. This is called the browser's cache. Clearing it occasionally or regularly can protect your privacy and free up some space in your computer.

Your broswers cache is designed to speed up browsing by storing information about elements such as styles and images so that they do not need to be downloaded each time you visit a page. While this can make viewing pages quicker it can mean you often see 'stored' content instead of the most up-to-date information. When a site is changing frequently, particularily images and styles, during development - it is advisable to clear you cache to ensure you are seeing the most frequent version.

Since every browser is different, the following sections will outline the steps involved in clearing the cache for several popular web browsers.

Internet Explorer 8

Once your browser is open, click the Tools menu and select Internet Options.

Be sure the General tab is selected.

Under "Browsing history", click "Delete..."

In the new window, be sure the Temporary Internet Files box is checked. You can uncheck everything else you don't want to delete.

Click Delete.

Internet Explorer 7

Once your browser is open, click the Tools menu and select Internet Options.

Make sure the General tab is selected.

Under "Browsing History" click "Delete"

In the new window, click Delete Files in the Temporary Internet Files section. If you want, you can also opt to delete cookies and browsing history.

Alternatively, clear your cache for just the current page you're visiting. Press and hold [Ctrl] on your keyboard, then Press [F5] or click on the Refresh button (square button on the toolbar with opposite-facing arrows).

Internet Explorer 6

Once your browser is open, click the Tools menu and select Internet Options.

Make sure the General tab is selected.

Click Delete Files in the Temporary Internet Files section and click OK.

If you want the browser to automatically clear the cache whenever you close it, click the Advanced tab. Click to check the box next to the "Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed" option (in the section labeled "Security"). Click OK. This will delete everything except cookies.

Firefox 1.5 / 2.0 / 3.0 / 3.5

Below is the full method, although it is possible to simply go to Tools, and select Clear Private Data, or to just press Ctrl+Shift+Delete. Please note that these options clear what you have set the browser to clear in Tools > Options... > Privacy, which can mean the cache, although it may also include passwords, and search and browsing history, so be careful.

Go to Tools and select Options....

Go to the Privacy tab, and click Settings... (in the blue box in the image).

Select what you would like to have cleared.

Return to the Options menu. If you want your cache cleared automatically, every time you close the browser, click the appropriate checkbox (shown in red in an earlier image).

Press "Clear Now" under the Settings button.

Firefox 1.0

Once your browser is open:

Click the Tools menu and select Options....

Click the Privacy button and select the Cache tab.

Click the Clear Cache Now button.

Opera

Once your browser is open, select the tools menu and click delete private data.

Click the details button.

If you do not wish to delete cookies, saved passwords, etc., remove checks from them in the list.

Press delete.

Safari

Once your browser is open, click the Safari menu and select Empty Cache

Confirm the action by clicking Empty in the pop-up window

Konqueror

Once your browser is open, click the Settings menu and select Configure Konqueror.

Scroll down in the list of images and select Cache.

Click Clear Cache.

Browser? I just click the Internet

2009-06-17T13:22:00.001-07:00

Did you know that there is more than one way to view the internet?

The uninitiated will think that browser choice begins and ends with Microsoft Internet Explorer - is that big blue 'e' on your desktop the only way for you to see the net?

There is more choice than you think. In fact there are numerous browsers now available with each laying claim to be the best. Comparisons and evaluations of different web browsers is a rather big theme on the Internet and we will not go into it in detail here.

We believe that it is your own experience and feel of the browser that matters the most. Each person is unique and able to decide which web browser fits his or her needs the best. We think that most people would appreciate a faster, safer and more versatile web tool which can handle the ever increasing complexity and demands of Internet communication.

Of the big five browsers, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera and Google Chrome... Chrome appears to be the fastest browser for Windows. Firefox is much faster than Internet Explorer and Firefox could be a better choice when it comes to standards, support, features and safety. But, Firefox is still not as speedy as Chrome or Opera, which both offer top-notch standards support and features. Chrome and Opera, like Firefox, can claim to be the safest web browsers.

Greater choice for users means a harder time for developers like us. Each of the browsers behave slightly differently. At emediates we take this issue very seriously and aim to have our clients websites looking right for over 80% of web users. So, whether your favourite is Firefox or Chrome, Opera or Safari, or Internet Explorer, chances are your clients might be using something different.

If you want your clients to see your website in it's best possible light - then give us a call and ask for a free browser check today.

It's not easy being green

2009-06-12T01:02:00.000-07:00

You may wonder what we as a new media studio are doing blogging about the environment?

Well 'green' is fast becoming the new black - with a whole design culture springing up around ecological brands and products. So as a creative company we need to keep our finger on the pulse and observe these trends as they happen.

Invariably clients are starting to ask for 'something a bit greener' and we need to be on the ball and able to offer that. But, and here's the problem, it's not easy being green! At the moment, and in our industry, the green option is simply more expensive. Recycled paper costs more, environmentally friendly inks are more expensive. Alternatives to shrink wrap are not cheap. With the credit crunch biting hard, clients are squeezing for savings wherever they can, so without spending more money, what can we do to be greener?

What we do here at emediates is continually assess our impact on our environment. We already recycle all our waster paper, plastic bottles and cans from the office. And, our New Media Director even takes home all the used tea bags, coffee filters, apple peels and banana skins to add to his compost heap. But, we know that there is still more that we can do, and want to do.

We're looking at solar chargers for our phones and laptops. Cycling to work instead of driving and a whole host of other small measures.

So, while we will continue to offer all our clients environmentally friendly products wherever we can we also aim to make a difference in our own small way. Our thinking is simple, 'do lot's of small things that make a difference!'. Not everyone has the extra budget to buy 'green' - our specialism at emediates is saving our clients money on their marketing materials - so we know that more than most.

If you want to do a small thing to make a big difference - get in touch and we'll turn your marketing material eco-friendly at a price that you'll like. To discuss environmentally friendly printing options and turn your business stationery green then please contact us at sales@emediates.co.uk and we will be happy to help.

18 again!

2009-05-26T23:58:00.000-07:00

Our New Media Director Graham Cartwright continued his recent gig-going exploits with a trip to The Wulfrun (part of Wolverhampton Civic Hall) to see Neds Atomic Dustbin Re:united in concert this weekend.

Neds had reformed with the original line up for the first time in too long and Graham re:united some of his college friends to roll back the years.

And what a night it proved to be! Neds were, well Neds - belting out anthemic, swaggering, thrashing rock'n'roll to a sell out frenzied crowd. There are not enough adjectives to describe the buzz - brilliant, awesome, amazing, fantastic - Neds came home and everyone at the gig absolutely loved it.

The Civic? Well if it isn't the best rock venue in the country then we don't know where is. There is something about the place that is just, right. It feels right. It feels like a rock venue should feel. As if it is the blueprint for a live music venue.

Now we may well be biased, after all we do look after their website www.wolvescivic.co.uk *BUT* they must be doing something right to attract such people as Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics, Blur, Pendulum, Lenny Kravitz, Kasabian and Franz Ferdinand to name but a few.

Last week Graham was touting The Beat as the greatest thing since sliced bread. This week Neds get Graham's latest fad award - proving designers are a fickle lot. However all of us at emediates are adamant that the Wolverhampton Civic Hall will always be one of our favourite clients and *THE* best gig venue in the UK.

The Beat @ The Boat

2009-05-18T06:32:00.000-07:00

Here at emediates we often get asked what influences our creative designs?

Now it's a really hard question to answer! As designers and developers we are influenced by everything around us and sometimes it's the weirdest things that stick in our minds at other times its the thrill of something new.

This weekend our New Media Director (Graham Cartwright) got a bit of something weird and something new at the same time.

The Boat Inn at Jackfield was transformed from idyllic riverside pub with an (in)famous habit of flooding to cool gig venue as The Beat came to town. Graham got tickets and went along to see what all the fuss was about.

And it was weird. Weird but utterly brilliant. The forerunners of 2-tone ska came, saw and conquered sleepy Jackfield near Ironbridge and The Boat - and The Boat became a mini-Glastonbury just for the night. Flooded this time with infectious energy and Ranking Rogers message of peace and love. The beautiful World Heritage Site came alive to the sound of ska.

Graham discovered something new in The Beat - it seems they might just be the next big thing (again) if Graham has his way.

So I am sure there will be lots of listening to Ska and checking out 2-tone websites going on the emediates studio over the next few weeks. And we wouldn't be surprised if we see a little bit of that late 80's hip ska style slipping into some of our web designs either.

Consciously or sub-consciously magical nights like this one leave a lasting impression and are often the food that feeds a creative mind.

If you weren't there you missed something weird - (things like that just shouldn't happen in Jackfield) - but something absolutely amazing. If you get chance go and see The Beat wherever they play. And if you're in or around Ironbridge then go and have a drink at The Boat it's a gorgeous pub in such a great setting.

If it ever happens again then you *MUST* see The Beat @ The Boat.

Oldies Rare Records

2009-05-12T00:09:00.000-07:00

emediates are pleased to annnounce that one of our favourite clients is back with a brand new website and even if we do say so ourselves "it's looking good!".

Oldies Rare Records came to us after deciding to move away from high street retail and start selling Northen Soul, Motown, R&B, Jazz and Gospel vinyl online.

The website www.oldiesrarerecords.com is fast filling up with lots of 7" and 12" vinyl to satisfy the cravings of old and rare record collectors out there.

The site is fully content managed using emediates new Kronos system which boasts an advanced image uploader which re-sizes and crops taking the pain out of finding suitable images for the website.

The guys at ORR can add, amend and delete content using our WYSIWYG editor and completly control their products with our bespoke system.

We also added in an event management system because ORR promote and run various Northern Soul and Motown club nights, weekenders and all-dayers accross the UK. So if you are an avid vinyl collector looking for a rare record from the 50's or 60's or you collect record memorabilia then check out the ORR products page.

Champions!

2009-04-26T13:28:00.000-07:00

Well, our MD Anil will be unbearable for the next few days, weeks, months...

Wolves get promoted as Champions and it's all sunshine on Sunbeam Street. Anil has already promised Graham a trip to Old Trafford for Wolves vs Man Utd and optimism abounds that this time the boys in Black and Gold will stay up...

New screen savers below:

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1024 x 768

Congratulations Wolverhampton Wanderers FC...

2009-04-24T12:33:00.000-07:00

emediates office has been buzzing all week because Managing Director Anil's beloved Wolves have guaranteed themselves promotion to the Premiership.

There's nothing like a bit of good news to get the creative juices flowing. To celebrate we're giving away specially designed Wolves FC 2008/2009 desktop wallpapers.

Fresh from the studio you can download your tribute just by clicking on the images below.

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1280 x 1024

Make sure your Hired not Fired!

2009-04-23T03:59:00.000-07:00

You only had to have watched last nights episode of of The Apprentice (episode 5) to see how important it is to know your product and your potential customer BEFORE embarking on your branding.

Last night we saw how the losing team failed to really understand their product and their audience, and they were unable to give their designer clear guidelines on what was an ill concieved idea in the first place.

Take time to consider your product and/or service:

What are the benefits to potential customers?
Who might these customers be?
What would appeal to them the most?

Without a clear idea in your own mind, developing your brand or even re-branding, could become a costly and timely excercise. Not only hindering your brand development - you might also find yourself off course: not targetting or appealing to your audiences at all; throwing away even more money in potential sales.

Briefing your designer properly is essential. And although it is wise to allow your designer space to interpret your ideas (that is afterall what they are paid to do) they will do so more effectively if they have all of the details.

Information to help brief your designer will be available on the emediates website shortly.

Spring Clean your Print

2009-04-21T04:42:00.000-07:00

I have just been contemplating how lovely this time of year is. The birds are chirping, the leaves are shooting, there are buds everywhere and ... most importantly ... the veg seeds in my greenhouse are sprouting.

All around there are signs of regrowth and renewed life.

Why not breath some life back into your print and Spring Clean your marketing portfolio with the new emediates FREE Print Audit Service.

Dust off your old or exisiting print and emediates will look at it with fresh eyes. We'll provide you with FREE sensible advice and quotes upon request.

Whether you need to use your existing print more effectively, refresh your current look or require a total rebrand; emediates can help.

AND ...
If your business is just blossoming we can also help you.

Talk to us about your ideas, your products and services and we'll put together a printed marketing portfolio that will really make an impact.

Planning for Christmas in April?

2009-04-15T02:06:00.000-07:00

I have spent the morning wondering why people would want to buy a Christmas Tree online? I mean isn't picking your tree one of those 'once a year' things that you do with your son or daughter? I know that it is for me BUT I guess for a lot of people Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year. So busy, that planning for Christmas is essential.

Nigella & co tells us to prepare the Christmas dinner the week before, the whole retail sector is geared up to getting us to buy presents months before so why not get your Christmas Tree order in early as well?

I think what people have been waiting for is a supplier of good quality trees, with a proven track record and great reputation to provide a pre-order service. emediates launched a site last year for a client who matches that description.

www.premierchristmastre e s.co.uk gives all those super-organised people out there a fast, easy and guaranteed way to get a cracking Christmas Tree delivered to your door, on the day that you want, anywhere in the UK.

You pick your tree from a wide range of types and sizes, choose your preferred delivery date and then pay via the secure checkout. Easy. But why am I thinking of this in April? Well, my task for today was to start to prepare the site for an assault in the coveted Google top spot - yes www.premierchristmastrees.co.uk ambition is to be the number one online retailer for Christmas Trees in the UK. Based in Wolverhampton they are ideally placed to deliver a Nordma Fir or a Norway Spruce to doorsteps accross the country - now all I need to do is optimise their website so they are front page on all the major search engines come Christmas 2009.

Are you Planning Ahead to Get Ahead?

2009-04-14T06:28:00.000-07:00

It is more important than ever at the moment to get our finances and business in order.

One way of doing this without comprimising the promotion of your business is to carry out a Marketing Health Check.

This simple check is a quick and easy way to assess the success of your current marketing; as well as to provide a great starting point for your ongoing marketing planning.

emediates offers this service FREE of charge - all you need to do is arrange a meeting.

Furthermore ... emediates have created a simple online guide to creating a Marketing Plan, as well as offering loads of top tips to help you get the most out of your communications.

By investing time in planning ahead you will be able to manage your marketing budget more effectively, be more targetted in your approach, stay focused as well as monitor how effective your marketing has been.

Do you have any more ideas for Planning Ahead to Get Ahead? Join our Blog ...

Twitter ye not?

2009-04-08T09:51:00.000-07:00

It seems that everyone is at it.... Twittering that is.

www.Twitter.com is *the* latest social web phenomenon and here at emediates we are being asked the usual questions about integration and 'can I show my Tweets on my website?'

Well 10mins R&D is all it took to find an answer, and it's the kind of answer we like here at emediates when it comes to API's and Web 2.0 application integration. Yes.

Yes you can get your Twitter feed on your website, want to know how?

Email us @ sales@emediates.co.uk or subscribe to this Blog as I'll be explaining how in the next few days and maybe even giving away the C# code for displaying your Twitter public timeline on your website.

Even better follow me on http://twitter.com/emediatesgraham for more Twitter goodies and updates.

Social Networking for SME's

2009-04-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

emediates.co.uk are currently looking at ways to raise our company profile using social networking tools such as Blogger, Twitter and Facebook.

If you haven't already we suggest you get yourself accounts from the above and then subscribe to this blog and learn along with us.

Is the credit crunch biting?

2009-04-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

At emediates.co.uk we have always looked at reducing costs for our clients - for years we have tried to find ways to save money on our clients printed items as well as generate extra revenue for them through innovative new marketing ideas.