I don’t often post links to other people’s blogs as it feels a bit lazy to me, I do like to try my best to create new content for this blog, but I thought this particular blog was so useful I just have to.

So many times I find myself explaining to potential customers the different components that make up a web design project, from the actual design, to the build and to completion and onwards and I found today a blog by Simon Jones of Zako Media Web Design that sums it all up perfectly and even offers some solid advice to boot…

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You may have noticed if you have been here before, that the blog style is different. You may have also noticed you can’t post a comment because I’ve messed up the comment section in my attempts to pretend to be a web developer.

I’ve messaged my website developer asking them to bail me out asap….hopefully normal functions will be resumed soon!

Lesson learned: Stop being impatient and leave things that you don’t know barely anything about to the professionals

I’m in a funk, a funk about the state of my house, and the state of the concept of ‘customer service’.

I don’t even know where to start.

I think the funk first began about two days ago after pouring through the pages of Ideal Home, when it became quickly apparent to me that my home is far from ideal.

Why?

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I’m a supporter of the No Spec campaign and never under any circumstances work for free, and indeed without a deposit, however with the exception of registered charities.

A few weeks ago I was unduly flattered when I was approached by Cancer Research UK to design posters and more for their campaign in my local town, who advised they were looking for a creative designer (they probably asked everyone and I was probably the only half decent designer who said yes! ha ha).

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You may have heard recent speculation of an anticipated downturn over 2008 for UK business, and are possibly concerned about how to keep your head above the water this year.

BBC News have reported this month that according to Merrill Lynch, one of the worlds leading financial management and advisory companies, the US have already hit their recession, however this has been disputed by NBER (National Bureau of Economic Research) president Martin Feldstein.

In the UK only 44% of business leaders said they were ‘very confident’ about expected business performance in 2008 compared to 2007, when 50% reported confidence according to a report by Price Waterhouse Coopers.

I’m not personally one to take great stock of what one hears in the news as they so frequently get it wrong, however what will you do this year if you find your business struggling to perform?

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I feel motivated to write this post following another message, on another startup businesses forum from another graduate who thinks they can build something like Monster for a few hundred quid and has the audacity to be ‘put out’ when several web developers they contact tell them that it will in fact cost them several thousand.

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Excuse the provocative title, but I’ve just dashed out of my office to the comfort of my bed and laptop to lick the wounds of wasting the better part of around 10 hours re-designing my website to be something of beauty.

I failed.

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Some top marketing ideas to get you off the blocks ahead of your competitors for 2008!

1. Sale Fever
Sales aren’t just for retailers only, get in on January sales fever also. Sales can include general discounts and discounts for bundles. Get the word out using e-newsletters, blogging, social networking, flyers, posters, direct mailings (targeted).

2. Launch something:
Ideas can including launching a new look for your business or a new product and/or service. You could even launch a business blog or podcast. Use press releases to get the word out, include opening offers, and you could even consider a swanky launch event.

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You may be asking yourself if there is any longer a place for glossy brochures in todays ‘Internet world’.

It’s a valid question, after all why invest in the multi-page design and print of brochures when emails and downloadable PDFs can be so much cheaper to produce and quicker to update?

These methods of marketing your products and/or services your customers may be cheaper but are they as effective at;

1. Generating sales.
2. Creating the right impression of your brand.

After all, there is something about getting a nice well designed brochure through the post that speaks “high quality company” to us all.

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Yes, that’s literally what I will be wearing this evening