The Stables, Brampton Website Launched
October 13, 2009 by Hew
A new website that has been in development recently was launched this week. The Stables in Brampton is a coversion project by Michael and Gina Bedford, providing fantastic self catering and bed & breakfast accomodation in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
The site uses straightforward PHP to present the page and a conveniently embedded contact form. The scheme was employed to reflect the tasteful, wooden decor of the renovation and the client is pleased with the result. The layout was used as there was limited information available at the start of the project, but the additional copy that was sent through hasnt ‘drowned’ the pages in information.
Visit The-Stables-Brampton.co.uk
Contact Number change
October 8, 2009 by Hew
From 8th October, Fullscope has new offices in Kingston. The 0203 number is not currently active.
If you would like to contact me please use the 07957 166731 mobile number found on the contact page.
In the mix: Bedford Hire branding
September 28, 2009 by Hew
In a recent blog I posted images of the Shiremoor Pharmacy brand in place in the newly opened premises. It must be over 2years now, but Michael Bedford from BedfordHire sent over examples of the brand design for them on his vehicles. I had not published them before so here they are.
I had an open brief to design the brand. Led by the text, I wanted to include a graphic element into the brand, to perhaps include the URL and possibly insert sub text to apply to other parts of the service (mixer hire, liquid screen etc).
The graphic evolved into the circular design of a ‘mixer’ with cornered triangles composes to give a sense of rotation.
Bedford Hire provide mixer hire and liquid screed pump hire services in the Cambridge area.
Michael has commissioned another site for self-catering accommodation, which I hope to announce shortly.
Google booklet about making your website work
September 24, 2009 by Hew
This morning I received a useful Google email with a link to a little online presentations about websites. (A PDF is available to download too).
In order to help you increase the amount of website visitors you convert into buyers we have created a new booklet called ‘Make your website work’. The book examines common website design issues and methods to address them, in order to improve performance of your site.
View the “Make your website work” booklet (Opens a Google Page)
Shiremoor Pharmacy opens
September 24, 2009 by Hew
On the 7th September Shiremoor Pharmacy opened its doors to the public and is doing very well. A short-term site will be launched as well, in advance of the main site expected in he next month or so.
The following images present the brand designed by Fullscope in situ in the pharmacy.
Below is the temporary website for Shiremoor Pharmacy.
Julia Sweet Photography Website Launched
September 21, 2009 by Hew
The Julia Sweet Photography website was launched today. Julia is a wedding photographer in the Kent and South East London area.
Julia has a previous site with another host. She was unable to update the site herself and the charges they wanted to release her old domain was beyond belief. If anyone is looking to set up a business website, please avoid using cowboys who charge the earth for such simple tasks. Do not purchasing a domain with the same hosts! The last site was simply awful for search engines – lets hope the new site opens many more new doors!
Anyway, on a much more positive note, Julia now has a WordPress-based website that will allow her to manage portfolio’s, edit copy and update with news for features, specials and seasonal details.
Visit Julia Sweet Photography.
Testimonals Page Published
September 8, 2009 by Hew
Thanks to some very kind feedback from clients, I am pleased to publish a new Fullscope testimonials page.
I do value testomonials and opinions from websites and I do enjoy the ‘research’ part of purchasing online, looking at what people thing of a product and service. I did ask everyone who I contacted to be honest and under no obligation to reply, so thank you again to those clients who contributed. Its all very well describing projects and services in my own ‘voice’, of posting pictures of completed work, but it is great to have some perspective from the client. Especially, as I do limited marketing Fullscope myself – my focus is more on positive word of mouth and referrals.
If you would like some more information about the testimonials or any of my services, please get in touch.
Shiremoor Pharmacy opening soon!
August 17, 2009 by Hew
The Shiremoor Pharmacy, part of the Community Pharmacies brand is opening early September. Andrew Murray sent over the image below to show the ‘brand’ in action. It certainly says ‘pharmacy’ to any passerby.
The Community Pharmacies website will be online soon, using a new and exciting software platform that is being planned to be offered as part of my ‘web’ services. More information about the new site and the new software will follow soon.
Plymouth: Green Army?
August 7, 2009 by Hew
Paul Whitehouse hits the mark on the average Plymouth Argyle fan.
Help building a website: What is involved?
July 29, 2009 by Hew
Clients range from either having an existing site they want to change or update, to clients who just want a hand getting their business online. Frustrated clients do not understand whats is involved and often left at the whim of an uninterested host. Perhaps a straight forward ‘guide’ of whats involved to set up a website might be useful.
Firstly some terminology. The domain name is your website address or URL. The hosting is the place on a server where your website files site, accessible to the Internet. Email is a service that manages sending/receiving and storing emails and attachments.
The image below describes (in basic terms), the different options for ‘having a website’.
Separate Services.
It is possible to have each element of the website with different service providers. You can purchase a domain name from one company, have the site hosted with another, and use a 3rd party service to manage your emails. Perfectly viable of course and I have clients using this approach, but you have additional passwords to keep track of and differing billing cycles which could give the sense of ‘juggling’ different balls. If something goes wrong you may need to spend longer figuring out where the problem lies.
One Stop Shop.
On the surface it is a very attractive option to put all your ‘eggs in one basket’. Many home users receive a domain, hosting and email services with broadband accounts – which in terms of convenience and budget could be ideal. However, I often am asked to support clients disillusioned with these companies. ‘Off the shelf’ packages, especially from the larger companies on the Internet, means your domain and hosting are tied to one company; frequently experiencing poor service and where trying to get an answer for a question can be impossible. The ‘support’ forums were setup in 2006 and havent been touched, no phone numbers and an email can take days for an answer. Clearly these business do not care or resourced to ensure customers are happy leaving frustrated customers desperate for an ‘out’ and a way to update their stagnant site.
“Recommended” approach.
Experience of both of the previous setups leads me to recommend the third option. Purchase your domain from an established registrar that includes basic DNS management. This means that wherever you host the site, you can easily point a domain to the correct server. Should the hosting prove unreliable then by requesting an edit to the DNS records you can change hosting and email management quite painlessly.
Yes, each of these approaches rely on a core service level agreement. Even the ‘recommended’ approach may have problems but there lies the reward for researching background on a company on the Internet.
Costs for a domain are about £6-10 per year. They vary by suffix (co.uk/com/eu etc.) and by registrar. I would avoid going ‘cheap’ and choose an established company.
Hosting costs vary from £20 per year to thousands dependent on your required features. For a decent small-medium entry level site I would suggest £40-£90 per year would provide a sold hosting/email/management service for your site.
If you would like further information on how to reorganise your website setup, or would like to talk about setting up a website, but contact me.
