https://coremediadesign.co.uk Core Media Design Ltd en https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/google-mobile-friendly https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/google-mobile-friendly April 21st 2015 will herald what is being dubbed the biggest Google update yet. From this date, Google will start penalising websites that are not 'mobile friendly'. Mon, 30 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/effective-email-subject https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/effective-email-subject With so many emails flooding our inboxes these days, it's getting more difficult to make sure your email is the one that is opened and read. Wed, 12 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/poorly-designed-websites https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/poorly-designed-websites Poorly designed websites can lead to high abandonment rates, low conversion rates and poor rankings in the search engines. There are so many design issues that web visitors hate, yet businesses still continue to use. Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/customer-online-registration https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/customer-online-registration Most of us are used to having to go through a sign up procedure when we buy from a website for the first time, but we get annoyed with sites that ask for too much information or put us through an overly long process. Sun, 01 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/website-navigation https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/website-navigation Easy and comprehensive navigation within your website is essential. If a website is too complicated to get around, visitors will be put off and go elsewhere. Mon, 04 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/icons-web-design https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/icons-web-design Using icons within website design can be an effective way to communicate with users. When a visitor first arrives at your website, they will scan the page and quickly decide whether to continue reading. Tue, 01 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/website-contact-page https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/website-contact-page On your website, your contact us page is often the very point at which a visitor will decide whether to go ahead and get in touch - it's where they go to get your contact details once they've spent some time getting to know what you do. Mon, 02 Sep 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/mobile-website https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/mobile-website Fact: people are increasingly using tablets and smartphones to browse the internet. Indeed, in just one year - from 2012 to 2013 - usage on these devices almost doubled according to one report, and there are plenty of others to back up this trend. Thu, 01 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/website-design-factors https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/website-design-factors A website which is poorly designed or has irritating elements can quickly cause users to abandon the site and go to a competitor. Mon, 01 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/customer-service-online https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/customer-service-online With the explosion of social networking sites, there are now far more opportunities online for customers to let you and potentially hundreds of others know if they approve or disapprove of your service, so it's now even more important to deliver. Sat, 01 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/abandon-basket https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/abandon-basket Whilst traditional high street sales may be suffering a decline, online sales are booming. An E-commerce website allows you to sell your products online. Sat, 04 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/website-domain-name https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/website-domain-name A lot of care and consideration needs to be given when choosing a name for your website. If your new web address is particularly long or contains punctuation, it will be hard for your customers to remember. Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/ecommerce-website https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/ecommerce-website We've all witnessed the sad decline of many high street stores such as HMV, Jessops, Comet and Blockbuster. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/static-brochure-website https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/static-brochure-website If you are just starting out in business and do not have a website in place, a static brochure website could be the perfect place to start. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/mobile-apps https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/mobile-apps With more consumers now using their mobile phones or tablet devices to conduct research and make purchases online, it makes sense to have your own mobile app for your business. Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/copywriting-online https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/copywriting-online Your website may look attractive and professionally designed, but it needs clear compelling messages to sell your products or services. Copywriting for the web requires a different approach to writing for print. Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/training-video https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/training-video Whilst traditional personalised training courses are often expensive and time consuming, training manuals are sometimes rejected because they are so impersonal. Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/corporate-identity https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/corporate-identity Corporate identity is what makes up the physical look of your brand. It usually includes your logo and the supporting devices such as your website, letterhead and business card as well as your social media platforms. Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/email-marketing https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/email-marketing A well-developed email marketing campaign can bring great results, however it's a good idea to make sure you have all the bases covered before you begin. Here is some advice on ensuring good communications for your email campaigns. Sat, 01 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/cookie-regulations https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/cookie-regulations New regulations for website owners regarding the use of cookies came into effect on the 26th May 2012 (see our previous post about Cookie laws for more information). Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/new-google-analytics https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/new-google-analytics In Version Five of Google Analytics, website owners can find an array of new features designed to analyse their traffic. It's very important to make sure you have updated to the new reports as soon as possible, as the old ones stopped in June 2012. Sun, 01 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/seasonal-sales https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/seasonal-sales Part of having an effective business website is learning how to use it as a proactive marketing tool. While you may not have important news to announce every week, each season brings with it new opportunities to create offers and promotions. Sat, 02 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/website-goals https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/website-goals Planning a new website for your business is a great start, but have you considered the aims and objectives of the site? A website that looks impressive may entice visitors, but it won't serve you well if you haven't thought about what you want it to do. Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/blog-business https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/blog-business If you've been blogging for a while now, you will probably have built up a good following: a loyal audience. Hopefully you'll also be ranking well in the search engines too. Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/cross-browser-compatibility https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/cross-browser-compatibility Whether your visitors are using Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari (as well as other mobile or non-mobile browsers), they'll need to be able to gain the same information and experience from your site. Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/promote-your-blog https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/promote-your-blog So you've started your blog, created a striking design, written some clever and engaging content... but how do you get people to read it and subscribe? Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/blogging-benefits https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/blogging-benefits Everyone is on the blogging scene so it seems nowadays, but why? What benefits is blogging bringing the business owner? And is it worthwhile writing a blog for your own company? Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/regular-website-review https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/regular-website-review It's easy to think that once your website's up and running, that's it; it will work for you, job done, and you can sit back and relax. But times and trends change and therefore it's vital you keep your website fresh and up to date. Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/online-marketing https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/online-marketing In this digital age, marketing budgets are increasingly being re-focused by high-profile companies towards online campaigns, and it's easy to see why: digital technologies offer such a wide range of possibilities for promoting your business. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/web-stats https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/web-stats You've invested in setting up a good quality website and you are doing the right thing by blogging, publishing articles and backing up your online strategy with a social media campaign to help boost your online presence. Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/mobile-friendly-website https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/mobile-friendly-website It is very likely that you, like countless others, access the internet on your mobile phone on a regular basis. And so this means that your customers must be doing the very same thing. Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/google-panda https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/google-panda Some people make it their life's work to get their website to the top of Google. If that's you, and you were, up until recently, winning the battle, but then all of a sudden disappeared off the search engine radar, you could have been downgraded. Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/cookie-law https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/cookie-law The latest round of web related legislation changes are all about 'cookies' - the small files placed in on a computer that track visitor behaviour. Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/ready-made-websites https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/ready-made-websites In any area of business, finding something that is affordable yet effective can be difficult. Websites are no different - not everybody can afford a large outlay at early stage in their business. Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/email-communication-regulations https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/email-communication-regulations Keeping in touch with customers is a vital part of any promotional campaign and using email marketing has become the preferred method thanks to it being economical and traceable. However, embarking on an email marketing campaign is not as straightforward. Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/online-expert https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/online-expert For most people in business, being recognised as a leading authority and voice in a particular sector is a major goal. To become that person who people turn to for advice and guidance will mean business and interest in you will pick up: significantly. Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/online-remit https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/online-remit Changes are afoot to the scope of the remit covered by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). These changes affect any business that has a website, blog or utilises social media platforms as part of their marketing strategy. Sun, 06 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/setting-up-website https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/setting-up-website To gain the edge over competitors, an online presence is an essential step forward. But as with anything in the online world, if you are a novice, things can seem very complicated indeed. Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/corporate-website-design https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/corporate-website-design Whilst all corporate organisations differ, if they have an online presence then one thing remains the same: the need for consistent and tailor made solutions to online issues and problems. Sun, 09 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/flash-animation https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/flash-animation Have you ever visited a website and been blown away by its visual effects? If so, the chances are Flash animation has been used to make the site more visually stimulating and interactive. Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/internet-copyright https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/internet-copyright Copyright is a complicated area and riddled with misunderstandings, especially in the case of internet copyright where strangely, many people tend to believe that if it's on the web, anyone can use it. Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/cheap-web-design https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/cheap-web-design If you are going down the DIY route, or a friend who knows a friend has said they'll do it for you, or you have Googled 'cheap web design' and made your selection, then read on for some worthwhile advice because you could run into problems otherwise. Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/web-design-processes https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/web-design-processes Web designers are numerous in amount and most make some sort of claim as to why you should choose their services. From offering the lowest cost website package to presenting a long list of past clients, web design teams all will have something on offer. Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/medium-sized-business https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/medium-sized-business Do you sometimes feel that your business is stuck between a rock and a hard place? Is your business too large for small business solutions that are increasingly on offer but also out of the budget range of large corporate packages? Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/database-benefits https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/database-benefits The shift from performing tasks manually to placing the strain on IT systems in business continues to advance. Whether it is the introduction of chip and PIN machines in small High Street shops or the introduction of e-commerce websites. Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/static-brochure-websites https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/static-brochure-websites Static brochure websites from Core Media Design; quality website design on a budget especially designed for start ups and small businesses. Get an online presence: a small business website without a large business investment. Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/premium-website https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/premium-website A poorly designed and hard to navigate website that does not showcase a company's services and products can become an expensive mistake. When it comes to online business, going for the cheaper option nearly always works out more expensive. Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/social-networking https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/social-networking Are you on Facebook? Do you Tweet, or blog? If you answer 'No' because you think you're too busy running your business to bother with online social networking, perhaps you should reconsider. Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/search-engine-copy-writing https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/search-engine-copy-writing You've set up an attractive website. You've done your research and compiled a list of keywords that should ensure it gets top search engine ranking. All you have to do now is insert those keywords into your web content wherever possible, right? Wrong! Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/corporate-branding https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/corporate-branding Does image matter? In the competitive world of corporate business the answer is a definite Yes! Having a strong and instantly recognisable identity shows the world a reliable company that is serious about itself. Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/online-pr https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/online-pr Designing a fantastic website is just the beginning. To attract the maximum number of potential customers, your website needs to not only show up in the search engines but also appear at the top of the results. Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/keyword-analysis https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/keyword-analysis According to new research from Hitwise, there has been a noticeable change in the way web users are inputting keywords into search engines. Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/accessibility https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/accessibility Website accessibility: boost your chances of online success by making sure your website is accessible to the widest audience possible. Your web designer must make your site accessible to everyone, even those with physical disabilities. Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/competitors https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/competitors How often do you contact your customers? Do you keep in touch with them regularly? Do you remind them of your products or services, tell them about your special offers or keep them up to date with your news? Or not? Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/get-website https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/get-website If you are starting a new business or running a small company and don't have a website, you could be seriously losing out on increased turnover! Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/link-building https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/link-building The more websites you have linking to your website, the more highly the search engines rate the importance of your site. The more important they rate it, the more highly they rank it. Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/web-syndication https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/web-syndication Web syndication explained: why RSS feeds and Podcasts are important online promotion tools that every website should use. If you have regularly updated written or media content, ask your web designer to incorporate web syndication into your website. Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/web-statistics https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/web-statistics Web statistics show lots of site visitors but few sales? Improve your visitor to customer conversion rate by tailoring your website to the specific needs of your customers; think about accessibility, internet experience and language. Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/organic-search-listings https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/organic-search-listings Starting out on the road to online promotion? Then you will no doubt be facing the same dilemma that every website owner faces: how best to achieve good results in the search engines. Sun, 31 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/search-engine-optimisation https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/search-engine-optimisation Search engine optimisation is complex and should be left to the experts where possible. However, website owners should remember above all that Google rewards sites that earn naturally good rankings through relevant links and good quality content. Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/website-speed https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/website-speed Google research says slower websites receive less traffic and is penalising advertisers with slow loading pages. Ensuring website pages load quickly is vital; images, external video, widgets, Flash and shared hosting can all make a website slow. Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/online-sales https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/online-sales According to Experian, in comparison with December 2007 there was a 2.3% drop in people visiting shopping centres and city centre shops in December 2008 - the month labelled by the British Retail Consortium as the worst December on record. Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/ecommerce-law https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/ecommerce-law If you trade online you must take steps to ensure you comply with the Ecommerce Directive, Distance Selling Regulations and Data Protection Act. Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/search-engine-users https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/search-engine-users The words and phrases used to search for products or services are of vital importance to an online marketing campaign. Research shows that internet users are becoming more intelligent about the way they use search engines. Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/staff-training-programme https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/staff-training-programme Cutting back on staff training to save money during the credit crunch could have long-term negative consequences. Instead of cutting out training altogether, businesses should look for ways of cutting the costs. Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/website https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/website Businesses looking to save money should put their website at the top of their problem solving list. Providing it is backed by a well-designed database, a website can streamline manual administration and marketing processes. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/multimedia https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/multimedia Multimedia uses images, animation, video and audio to make an impressionable impact, far advanced from the effects of static imagery and words. Anyone with an educational role to play will find great benefits from using multimedia. Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/website-accessibility https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/website-accessibility A website can make a significant difference to business turnover; providing it works. Just because you can browse your website pages easily doesn't necessarily mean everyone is having a similar online experience. Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/free-website-warranty https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/free-website-warranty What do you do if the website you've paid good money for doesn't work properly? And what if it's got lots of useful features but you haven't been shown how to use them? Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000 https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/online-shopping https://coremediadesign.co.uk/blog/id/online-shopping Retailers should never assume that as long as they have an online shop, customers will find it and buy from it. They simply must offer shoppers a secure and straightforward experience with plenty of product information and innovative ways of showcasing. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000