Work is crazy at the moment. All good. The Glasgow International Jazz Festival website should be live today and we also launched a website for Falkirk as a tourist venue a few weeks ago.
We’re also pitching for a number of clients which is taking up a chunk of my time and the team are putting to bed a number of websites that will be launched in the next couple of weeks. All good!
steelso :: May.16.2007 :: Clients, GRP, new clients :: 1 Comment »
Well we won the pitch for Knockhill Racing Circuit which is great, I’m looking forward to getting into that and we’ve put the BeBooks website up for some awards so we’ll hold our breath, etc, etc. etc.
I’ve been down south visiting the nice people at Abacus (had a lovely chicken pate roll, magic) today and using the power of the International Web I’m posting today on a train using Wi-fi or as the French say, wee-fee. I prefer wee-fee. Lovely french.
I like train stations. I like airports too. I like places where people meet and leave either their lives, their fears, their dreams. I got some nice pics of York station and Knaresborough. I like it when you can see the emotion on people’s faces when the get off the plane and meet or. I also played with my Macro and that was cool, got some nature pics stuff. I liked playing. I have to get my flickr condom machine art group together. It annoys people I go out with. I go to the toilet and take pictures of condom machines. It amazes me.
More on that later…
On the train home someone had scratched WHORE into the back of the train seat. It also had a number that you could call. I suppose if you wanted a whore. I doubt that the person knew that their number was going up on the train. Oddly it looked as if it was put there by girls. I don’t know why I found that odd. But I did.
Sam is cool.
steelso :: Feb.27.2007 :: GRP, Pictures, Pitches Won, Thoughts, new clients :: 14 Comments »
Yes, yes, you heard right, style. It’s not something that I’m well known for but tomorrow I’m attending the Scottish Style Awards with some clients and the team at GRP. That means I have to get, emmmmm, styled up. Primark, here I come.Style of course is all very well. We recently launched a website for Ben De Lisi and his range of bathroom fittings. All very nice.
Tonight I’m off to a comedy club with some of the GRP team for some comedy. Which is useful.
Off to Primark tomorrow to buy a wee suit that will probably melt when I go in the rain. Pictures to follow of course…
steelso :: Oct.26.2006 :: Clients, Cool, GRP, Scotland, Social, biscuitmedia, new clients :: No Comments »
We’re not like the dentist, we don’t have the drill. Mostly we’re sweet and inquisitive like small curious animals. However recently I’ve been asked what a potential new client should think about before having a first meeting with their potential new web design company.
This isn’t a full list, it’s not in any order as such and I’ll probably add to it as I go but here are my initial thoughts.
1. Try and think why you’re looking for a redesign or a new website. Do you feel it is time for a change, has your business moved on but your website stayed still, do you see new ways for the website to help your business or are you just unsure if your website is working for you?
We’re not looking for the answers, we’re here to help. However any insight you can give as to why you’re talking to us that would be great.
2. Take the time to look at your competitor’s websites and see what you like or don’t like about what they are doing on-line. This can be useful in determining what’s working in your market and also help us understand where your market is heading on-line.
3. If possible talk to some of your customers to see what they would like to see on your website. This could be additional information about you or possibly placing some business processes on-line. Customer insight is something we believe strongly in and we’ll probably do some research into your customers but your views will be invaluable.
4. Bring as much of your current marketing material as you even if you are planning to change it. It’s good to see what messages you are currentl;y sending out and what values are important to you. Expect to be challenged on them. We’re not tryig to be annoying, we just want to understand as much as possible and that usually is by asking why and then asking why you didn’t do it an other way. This will help us get to know you and your market better.
5. At a first meeting please, please don’t get too hung up on the design. The design is created by understanding your business, your market and, most importantly, the people you are trying to reach with your website.It’s all about the strategy and planning at this stage. Of course you can look at our web design portfolio however at the moment we’ll focus on getting the direction of the website right rather than if it’s nice in red or blue.
Just 5 wee tips. I have a load more but I think these are the top five that I have. Have I missed anything? Anything that hindsight has taught you or any common practice that you’re using and care to pass on?
Loving it.
steelso :: Sep.18.2006 :: Clients, Hints, Questions, biscuitmedia, biscuitmedia web design, new clients :: No Comments »
Congrats on John Amabile’s new website that went up live last week. John was a pleasure to work with and we’re delighted that he’s delighted with the final results. We used some neat Flash video to highlight John’s presenting skills somethign that we’re only too happy to get involved with.
Lenny Crooks finally left GFO last week and I had the the sad task of removing his details from the GFO website. I felt cruel doig so.
Some good new client wins in the last week, Westpoint Homes are looking to us for a redesign and we won a Health Board contract for a new website to tie in with a project they are launching soon. All good.
And we won a game at the GRP bowling tourney on Friday night. My team were like tigers, tigers! I was proud of them all.
steelso :: Aug.28.2006 :: Clients, Cool, Video, biscuitmedia, new clients :: No Comments »
Was lucky enough to go and see the film, “The Flying Scotsman” on Monday night at its premire in Edinburgh. It’s great movie. A really good story acted out brilliantly by a fantastic ensemble cast. It initially scared me as I thought it may be the kind of ‘working class guy triumphs over all’ kid of film such as ‘Full Monty’ and ‘On A Clear Day’ but this is so much better as it has the passion and ideas that the main character, Grahame Obree, comes from such a dark place but are so inventive and driven.
I am not ashamed to say that I was crying at the end.
A really good Scottish film that works for all. I do’t have star ratings but I’d go see it again. Read a wee bit more info about “The Flying Scotsman” at IMDB.
Had to sidestep the free bar at the party afterwards (damn it!) as I had an early flight to London. Got up at 4am and was dreading the flight and check-in after all the security troubles but it was all good, both my flights left on time and I suffered no delays at all.
Had a good time in London. Met our friends at 7th Floor to discuss a job we’re working on together and also a quick hello and catch up with the Mauritius Tourism and Promotion Authority.
Got the flight at 4.05 and was back in my house for 6. I was indeed the flying Scotsman. Ho Ho, see what I did there! The genius switch, it’s never off!
steelso :: Aug.16.2006 :: Clients, Cool, People, Scotsman, Thoughts, Travel, biscuitmedia, new clients :: No Comments »
We’re currently pitching for a contract that needs to be easily recognised in [tag]search engines[/tag] (a whole other area of ranting for me, anyway…). When talking to the prospective client they stated that it didn’t have to look good, it just had to “do the job”.
An interesting conversation then started between myself and the client about how [tag]good web design[/tag] could help with the whole “job”, that good web design is important in creating the experience for visitors that help them feel comfortable in doing the ultimate goal, be that to enquire on a service, buy a product, etc.
That’s not to say that design is all. [tag]Content has to be king[/tag] but if the mix of design, content, purpose, clear navigation, easy to understand objectives and anything else you’d like to think of isn’t balanced then the website can’t be all that it can be. For me design only works for three pages then it must be backed up with content otherwise the [tag]design[/tag] is hollow and becomes frustrating.
It was a spirited and positive debate, the client just wanted it to “work”. We do too, it’s just that we want all the elements in place to create the best experience that we can.
What do you think? Do overly designed websites put you off? Does a design influence your thinking as to the website being good or bad? Are you looking for a website that “does the job” or are you looking for more?
Just to make clear, the client is cool with me posting this, we don’t have the job yet and it was a really interesting discussion. We both were just wondering what a wider audience would think.
steelso :: Jun.20.2006 :: Clients, Cool, Glasgow, People, Thoughts, biscuitmedia web design, new clients :: 5 Comments »
Had a bit of a biscuit night out in Glasgow’s fashionable Babbity Bowsers. It was very, very drunken and I’m feeling slightly jaded today….
Still it’s been a great week. We managed to get the contract for the redesign for Syncro, an current client. Which is all good.
John Amabile’s website is looking good and we’re at the tail end of the RTW/RTWS websites.
Marc, for it is he, is getting into the Taylor Clarke 360 project and about to dive into Flex 2 for a wee project I have in mind.
On top of all that we’re getting the objectives sorted for the next year, all good, exciting stuff.
This weekend sees the start of the Westend Festival which will be laugh. The kids and I are going to the festivities and with the weather set to be great it looks like it’ll be a great day oot. If I don’t have a bit of rubber stuck up my nose. That’s all the rage.
And I’m off to see Angel’s Share on Monday too. It’s culture.
I could really do with a wee nap, bless.
steelso :: Jun.09.2006 :: Clients, Cool, People, Social, biscuitmedia, biscuitmedia web design, new clients :: 7 Comments »
We’ve been tidying up a few things on the biscuitmedia website such as changing the home page, adding news and adding clients to the client list.
As well as that we’ve been adding blog pages to website reflecting that we’ve new members on the team. Their blogs can be viewed on my blog roll (hate that term) to the left.
And I updated my blog too. Spring in the air and all that. The weather here in Glasgow has been amazing and couldn’t ask to be in a better place.
We’re crazy here at work, we’ve been pitching for some very, very cool new work as well as working on finishing some stuff. Marc and I have been coming to creative blows in the specification of a new application for a new client. It’s all good.
Hopefully we’ll be able to show you all the cool stuff we’ve been doing soon.
Tomorrow I’m off to a networking event in Glasgow. It’s the first one I’ve been to in about a year and I’m looking forward to it. I’ve got a good wee networking lunch next week too. It’s part of my spring resolutions to get back into all that caper.
Off home.
steelso :: May.10.2006 :: Clients, People, Social, biscuitmedia, biscuitmedia web design, new clients :: No Comments »
Had a wee bit of drama yesterday with someone on-line pretending to a group of people that they were Billy Boyd, a client of ours, and talking to them. Of course it wasn’t Billy and this cruel person had raised the hopes of many wishing that they were talking to a hero of theirs. It’s happened before, it’s very hurtful and I’m pretty vigilante in making sure that both my client’s good name is not taken in vain. It’s always pretty difficult to tell those who really want to believe that they are talking to Billy that they are in fact talking to a small girl in the midwest.
Still, all’s well that ends well and at least the truth came out.
We’ve had some great news regarding clients and it looks like we’re all going to be very busy in the next wee while. I’ll drop a quick post here once things are confirmed but it’s lookig very exciting.
Last night was my first real night out with some of the people from GRP. We went to the Living Room and then off to Walkabout to celebrate Australia day. It was very funny and I have been suffering for most of the day. But we did have a laugh. I got home around 3 then made the international delicacy of a fish finger sandwich. Class.
My last post was really badly spelt and I apologise. It’s not all my fault, my ‘n’ key sticks and so sometimes it shows, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s the glamour I do this for.
Have a great weekend.
S
steelso :: Jan.27.2006 :: Bad Computer, Bad, GRP, Social, biscuitmedia web design, new clients :: 7 Comments »
