Is your website working?

Most companies have long since launched a web site. However it’s not enough just to have a web site. In fact it has to be a first rate website, to present your brand and capture visitor attention in seconds. To achieve this you need to make sure it provides an effective and succinct presentation of your business.

You should use your website to regularly communicate and connect with customers and prospects. One of the great things about a web site is that it's accessible to an enormous volume of people from almost any location.

Don’t damage the image of your business with an amateurish site, use a professional web development company, the benefits will far out way the cost and they should provide you with an easy to use content management system, so that you can change and update the site whenever you like.

But all this value and usability evaporates if you don't get a few basic things right with your site.

• Ensure it is regularly updated
• Make it easy to use
• Present high quality content
• Capture and respond to enquiries within 24 hours
• Track and respond to visitor activity

Miss any of these points, and you're not maximising the value of your company web site. If your website isn’t performing, go back and check these five pointers to see how you rate. For more information and a free website consultation to ensure your website is working and generating business please contact www.iqmediagroup.co.uk

At times like these your brand is your most important asset

Are you looking forward to the year ahead? Or are you filled with doom and gloom?

Whatever your disposition if you really care about survival this year is going to be about being seen. By the right people. In the right places. Doing the right things.

You could bury your head in the sand and hope it all passes quickly. But the reality is that the downturn is going to be around for some time. Anywhere between 12 months to three years according to various reports. Let's just hope that it's the former.

So what are you going to do about it?

First things first. Your staff. Happy staff means a happy company so there will have to be plenty of reassurance and briefings. Keeping your people informed so they are all on message.

Next your existing customers. Make sure you service them like there is no tomorrow. Make them feel valued. Build relationships and loyalty. And above all offer them a fantastic service so they have no reason to go elsewhere.

Next you need to be seen by your prospects. You need to make more noise than your competitors as there are companies out there that do need your services - finding them is the trick. And if you don't find them then you can bet your competitors will.

Never before has your brand been so important. Why? Because the common link between all your stakeholders is your brand.

We believe that a strong brand equals a strong company. It is the umbrella behind which all your staff can unite. If used correctly it gives your customers belief and trust. And when implemented consistently it generates awareness, trust and a clear understanding of what you stand for. All this makes it easier for companies to believe, trust and buy from you. And never before has this been so important.

Interact Marketing undertakes sales and marketing overhaul for CC Electronics Europe

Interact recently undertook a complete overhaul of the sales and marketing for CC Electronics Europe, a leading manufacturer of high technology printed circuit boards, to help them strengthen their market position and pursue new developing markets.

Following a strategic review a marketing plan was developed and implemented with the creation of a new corporate identity, an information website , the production of a corporate video to convey the expertise of the in-house team and provide a tour of the production facilities, a pr campaign to raise awareness in key target markets and the design and printing of brochures, stationery and supporting marketing collateral.

David Maitland Managing Director of CC Electronics commented ‘ Our marketing has been siginificantly enhanced by the work undertaken by Interact. We needed support on a number of fronts and Interact were able to provide the expertise and support we needed, which meant we didn’t need to take up a lot of senior management time briefing and dealing with a number of different marketing and media production agencies.

They were quick to understand our business priorities this enabled them to make creative and solid recommendations. Based on our experience, I found Interact have the knowledge, resources and technical expertise to provide cohesive sales and marketing support.

Collaboration is key as Interact Marketing launches

With a firm belief that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, six like-minded businesses have come together under one banner to offer their linked marketing expertise to a wide range of Blue Chip and SME clients.

Based in Styal, Cheshire, Interact Marketing (Interact) comprises six companies with dedicated expertise in a number of marketing disciplines and services, ranging from strategic marketing advice, design and print to public relations, new media and telemarketing.

Ed Beattie, agency director with Through Creative, one of the companies involved, explains: “Having established productive working relationships with each other where business had been referred between us with great success, we decided to pool our talents and market ourselves as a collective.

“As the need for high quality, cost effective marketing services becomes increasingly apparent, many businesses are insisting on true expertise from senior marketing professionals. Indeed, a number of clients have come to us saying that their experiences with supposed ‘full-service’ agencies have been somewhat disappointing.

“With Interact the main point of difference is that anybody using our services will only deal with experienced professionals with strong track records in their respective fields. Allied to that is a commitment to offering only the most appropriate combination of services, so clients can be assured of pertinent advice and quality delivery of the appropriate services.”

The other companies making up Interact are new media specialist, iQ media, public relations agency, Croft PR, print services provider, Maincolour, strategic business advisors, FMEA and telemarketing company, Selling4Industry.

Simon Poyser, managing director at iQ media, adds: “We have all worked together over the years and have complete confidence in each other’s capabilities and the way in which we collaborate.

“Already, we have worked with several companies on projects that have seen four, five or in one instance, all six of our companies getting involved. We know how well we operate together and are committed to offering a high quality range of services to our increasing client portfolio.”

Clients benefiting from the collective services offered by Interact have so far included Winsford-based CC Electronics Europe, Gatley sport event management company, UKSEM and global hybrid mail specialists, PrintSoft.