Local Information Systems Site Launched
We´ve just launched a new showcase site for Northern Ireland technology firm Fluent Technology.
The new site showcases their "Origin" product, which is a Local Information System for local government.
The terms Local Information System (LIS) and Data Observatory have emerged over the last 5 years, primarily in the UK public sector.
Origin is a tried and tested, web-based local information system and data observatory solution platform designed specifically for local government and focuses on providing all the necessary tools for maintaining, analysing, collaborating and presenting information at a local level.
The new site provides a range of screen shots and video demonstrations of how this local information system solution works.
McGimpsey Brothers Reach Google Top Spot!
One of my best clients, McGimpsey Brothers Removals, are one of the leading specialists in Removals in Northern Ireland.
We built their site a while back and have helped and watched them develop it and use it´s eZine creation feature to generate new business from across the world.
Campbell, the MD at McGimpseys, has made the web site a priority part of their advertising and marketing strategies.
And his hard works have paid off as the site has achieved #1 ranking in Google.
Congratulations to Campbell for all your hard work and for taking our advice on how to reach Google´s top rankings!
Belfast Restaurant Web Site Gets Brighter and Brighter
Brights Restaurant is one of the best loved Belfast Traditional Restaurants. Trading in the heart of Belfast City Centre for many years, the successful restaurant is very popular with locals and tourists alike.
The restaurant´s owners have just launched their first web site. The site promotes their fine traditional Irish menu - including all the favourites such as Irish Stew, The Ulster Fry and Dublin Coddle.
If you´re shopping or touring in Belfast, then make sure to call into Brights Restaurant Belfast where you´re sure of a warm welcome and superb food.
Will Your New Web Site Help You Fly High?
When I´m contacted by a new web design client, one of my first questions to them is to ask why they want a web site.
By far the most common answer is a variation on the theme of "... because every business should have one. Right?".
Quite often, many of the new clients don´t actually have an answer! That´s when I get worried about taking on the project!
What is the Goal of Your Site?
The important thing to remember is that a web site is a marketing tool and launching a web site is a marketing activity.
As with all marketing activities, you should know what your trying to achieve and how success should be measured!
Your objectives could be strategic such as transferring your bricks and mortar business to an online business completely. It could be part of your research and development, with you launching your site just to test and explore the potential of a new product or service.
It could be that you are launching the site to dip your toe in the world of online business to see if you can generate some additional cash with minimal cost.
Bike Storage Site To Help Jack´s Dream!
Take, for example, Jack Sinclair, the 16 year old son of my online mate Brendon Sinclair.
Jack´s a young lad with some real go in him! Jack´s goal last year was to complete a charity cycle ride, right across Australia! He completed the mammoth task admirably and raised tens of thousands of dollars for charity.
Jack´s new goal is to obtain his private pilot´s licence. A costly undertaking, I´m sure.
Jack Sinclair - his achievements mean he gets coverage from Australian Newspapers
So, to help generate some money, Jack has launched his very own bike storage web site. His new site sells a unique and very ingenious overhead bike storage system.
The objectives of Jacks site are to generate some additional cash to fund his dream of becoming a pilot, and to help Jack learn how to run an online business.
The site is already generating sales. Hopefully, in a few months time Jack will be flying high without an instructor at his side. Knowing how dedicated and focussed Jack can be, I´m sure he will achieve his goal and his web site will have played it´s part.
What Will Your Web Site Achieve For You?
If your considering building a web site, take some time to think about what you want it to achieve for you then contact us!
It will make the job of designing the site easier and more focussed. And it will make the job of measuring the success of the site easier too!
Success of Phil´s Galaxy Zoo "Out This World" Project
If you´ve had your web site design by us, then you´ll know Phil Murray. Phil does all of the graphic design here at Inspired and also runs his own freelance web design studio over at Fingerprint Digital Media.
Over the past couple of years, Phil has been involved in the Galaxy Zoo project which, as Wikipedia puts it, is an online astronomy project which invites members of the public to assist in classifying over a million galaxies.
Unprecendented Traffic
Their latest release of the site, Galaxy Zoo 2 has just been launched and received coverage on BBC News stating that the site has received "unprecedented traffic"
So this post is simply to say congratulations to Phil and the Galaxy Zoo team.
And, at the risk of sounding corny, why not contact us to get Phil to create you a site that´s out of this world too!
14 Simply Superb Web Site Ideas
I often come across potential new clients who believe they have a great idea for a new web site. Unfortunately, they more often raise a laugh than a profit.
But now I´ve come across the ultimate list of super web site ideas. And I couldn´t help but share it.
What we won´t do to make your web site a success!
I recently submitted a proposal to a new client, who immediately asked me to justify my quote.
It appears that I was a bit more expensive than another quote she´d received.
I was unwilling to become involved in critiquing a competitor´s offer, but the client persisted in asking me what it is that we would do to warrant our fee.
The Top 5 Things We Won´t Do For Our Clients
I thought about this for a while, and despite intense reflection, I kept coming back to the things that we wouldn´t do for a new client:
- We Won´t Build Web Pages
- We won´t get too excited about our web site programming
- We won´t complete a site in record time
- We won´t lock ourselves away until its done
- We won´t guard our expertise like gold dust
And yet, we´re confident that you´ll be delighted with what we will do!
Read More on What we won´t do to make your web site a success!
Northern Ireland Wedding Band Use Google to Boost Bookings
I wrote some time ago about The Usual Suspects Band who had us redesign and launch their new web site.
Since then, the band have become a highly sought after Wedding band in Northern Ireland. But, it was not so long ago that the band realised their agent had not been working as hard as he might and that their diary was empty!
Google Adwords To The Rescue
At Inspired, we worked with them to put in place a successful adwords campaign that has taken this great Northern Ireland Wedding Band to a much healthier looking diary for 2009 and beyond.
They now estimate that 95% of their work comes via their web site.
We´re now working on some Search Engine Optimisation for the site to try to get it that all important Google top 10 ranking.
You can check out the band at their web site here: www.weddingbandnorthernireland.co.uk.
Jack Sinclair completes his Perth To Paradise Charity Cycle Ride.
I wrote a post a while ago about a young 15 year old lad who had taken on the challenge of a lifetime.
Jack Sinclair is the son of my online mate, Brendon Sinclair of Tailored Consulting in Brisbane Australia.
On Friday past, Jack ( and Brendon ) completed their charity cycle ride of 4,500Km across Austrailia.
In doing so, Jack raised ove $19,000 AUS for Big Brothers Big Sisters Of Australia. The charity provides a caring volunteer mentor and positive role model to disadvantaged young people in need of additional support and friendship.
I followed their journey over the 30 days it took them to cycle from Perth on the west coast to Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast of Austrailia and can only sit in awe at the achievements of this plucky, gutsy inspirational young lad.
Well done Jack. Well done. Brendon.
Here´s a taster of how the ride went.
A Destination Wedding Web Site Planned To Perfection!
As someone once said, "I love it when a plan comes together!".
I´m not sure who said it originally - probably some grey haired TV star sporting a large cigar. But this week, the phrase could easily have been coined by the lovely Louise at "Weddings in Rome" - Northern Ireland´s specialist wedding planning service.
Weddings in Rome specialise in assisting Irish couples to plan their wedding in... well... in Rome of course! The site is jammed packed full of interesting information and reasons on why Irish couples should consider getting married in Rome and how Louise can help them.
Planning is one thing. Getting things done is another!
When it comes to project planning and management, I think I´m pretty good.
Whether its planning weddings or planning web sites, no matter how well structured your plan is, getting clients to stick to the plan is too often a whole different ball game!
Most start off with all the enthusiasm of a child at his 5th birthday party - only to have their interest wane and fade away like the whisps of smoke from the extinguished candles on his cake.
Its true, business priorities change, so we all have to be flexible and expect delays. Right?
Except of course in the case of Louise and the Weddings in Rome web site. The site went from Louise signing on the dotted line to completion in just under 4 weeks! That´s probably a record for us. And I´m sure it only happened because Louise stuck to the plan and diligently played her part!
Now she´s got a site that works for her!
The outcome is a great site that can start working for Louise´s business immediately and start generating some sales. That´s why we built it after all! To get some sales opportunities for Weddings in Rome as soon as possible!
p.s Louise and Weddings In Rome will be exhibiting at Ireland´s Wedding Journal Show at The Kings Hall, Belfast on the 19th - 21st September 2008. So if you´re thinking of getting married in Rome, then why not make a point of meeting Louise at the show.
Seamus Clarke , founder of Inspired, is widely known throughout Northern Ireland as an experienced Web Designer and eBusiness Consultant.