Archive for the 'Web' Category

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Website maintenance – a different view

Web maintenance and updating is one of those subjects that splits clients down the middle. Some of them just say, “You do it,” and we do. Others say, “No. We’d like to have the opportunity to update some or all of our site.”

Our 'Dynamics in the Cloud' website for Tectura was built using WordPress.

Our 'Dynamics in the Cloud' website for Tectura was built using WordPress.

Those in the latter group, sometimes have a different option (if we know that is what they’re going to need from the outset!); we can build their site (or microsite) using the wonderful toolset provided by WordPress.

This blog is (of course) built in WordPress, but there are plenty of customised WordPress sites all over the world that you would be hard-pressed to spot, and because WordPress was built for bloggers, it is amazingly easy to update – even for non-specialist users like me!

WordPress gives those who want to have it, complete control over the pages that make up their site. They can add graphics, sound or video. They can provide links to other pages and other sites. Best of all, they can provide the complete information on a page that will help it to be found by search engines very easily.

Sites built in this way are ideal for a topical occasion (a product launch perhaps or a sales conference) and because they are so easy to add to or amend, marketing and PR people really like them. Especially when the new site can be shown to really add to traffic – and, yes, you get an inbuilt traffic monitor too!

If you would like to find out more about this option, please get in touch.

New Tectura ‘In the Cloud’ site goes live

Tectura's new site for its Fast Track 'Dynamics in the Cloud' service

Tectura's new site for its Fast Track 'Dynamics in the Cloud' service

Tectura is a worldwide provider of Microsoft Dynamics® based ERP, CRM and technology solutions. Its UK subsidiary  is now offering a very special option to smaller companies with big ambition – the option to use Microsoft Dynamics software for a fixed monthly price. There’s no hardware required, because this is software ‘in the cloud’ – users access it via the Internet. With ‘Microsoft Dynamics as a service’, suddenly, and very cost-effectively, all the features of a world-leading business management system are available to every company, no matter what their size. Wild West designed the site that supports this important new service for smaller and emerging companies. Find out more at: http://www.dynamics-in-the-cloud.co.uk

SEO – no silver bullets

We’re often asked about SEO – search engine optimisation – for the websites we design, build and maintain. It has the reputation of being a very special black art, almost a branch of magic, something only a very few sorcerers actually understand.

The facts of course, are different. Search engines like sites that don’t try to cheat them, sites that are built to standards, have good and consistent content (and so get visited) and have links in and out which people use.

Adding a good and content-rich blog can help, especially if you are prepared to comment on industry issues (and do a little more than to plug your own products and services).

Using social media and connectivity tools like Twitter and Linked In can help too, but are best utilised when you talk about industry topics.

Finally, improvements come by finding out what works and what doesn’t and that means using measurement tools (probably more than one!) like Google Analytics and Webalizer. Our tip would be to look at trends, not just numbers.

Getting the best out of the web means putting the best you can into it. Keep your website updated, keep the content fresh, and keep tracking what’s going on. Those are the essential components of any SEO plan.

JShop = easy and instant international trading!

Zelens sells very up-market anti-ageing preparations Zelens are one of those companies who know their target market.

If you find yourself sitting in a Ferrari today, and you’re female and concerned about the look of your skin, you probably won’t want us to tell you that Zelens products occupy the higher reaches of the scientifically-based (and expensive!) end of the market for skin care products.

The Zelens website (which WildWest designed and implemented for them) uses JShop technology to make it a true eCommerce site with all the facilities a company selling to an international market would need.

Security, shipping, credit card administration, tracking orders are all handled from within the JShop system, providing a full retail system at a very affordable price.

If you would like to know more about eCommerce possibilities for your company and its products, please do get in touch.

CCDC appoint WildWest for design project

CCDC is the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, the world-leading source of expertise on crystal structures for education and commerce. We’re very proud to be working with this influential and important scientific body, which is vital to life sciences, materials science and other development bodies around the world. Our work includes developing a short-hand ‘icon set’ for CCDC products and services, and designing a new web site.

Hatton Grange – Identity, Personality, and Capability Too

The home page from the new Hatton Grange website

The home page from the new Hatton Grange website

If you are involved with or interested in the private equity or venture capital markets, (as an investor, manager or participant) then you’ll need to take a look at WildWest Design’s latest client, Hatton Grange.


Hatton Grange is the creation of Hector Macandrew and his partner Simon Mellor. The company – a very specialist provider of services to investors and entrepreneurs in the media and technology sectors – launched last week with its bright, confident new logo, and a new website too, which you can reach at www.hattongrange.co.uk. Both were designed by WildWest.
Hatton Grange partners with entrepreneurs and investors by building networks in their chosen sectors, advising on transactions, providing executive search and consultancy services to their portfolio companies, and originating deals.

The company also supports senior managers (executive and non-executive) in their search for venture capital and private equity backed opportunities.

In a market where specific expertise, experience or knowledge can sometimes be the key to unlocking multi-million pound opportunities, we’re sure that Hatton Grange has a big future in front of it, and we look forward to supporting the company’s aspirations and growth over the coming years.

Stock Spirits – Award-winner expands

Stock Spirits, the internationally-focused manufacturer of branded drinks, now has a set of 10 websites, including national sites covering all their existing and new sales territories.

Orzel vodka. Stock's flagship brand in the USA

Orzel vodka. Stock's flagship brand in the USA

Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, USA, are all national areas covered by the set of Wild West-designed and implemented web sites. And then there are sites dedicated to the work of Stock Spirits Group, and International Sales.

For a company that has only existed for a few years, they have come a long way in a very short time.

What is possibly more remarkable is that Stock are able to maintain and update all their sites through an implementation of ModX open-source software. The software allows Stock staff in the UK and in the international territories to amend their sites as they need, adding press releases, posting new packaging or bottle shots, and of course, adding to the range of Stock cocktail recipes which are suggested throughout the Stock Spirits group site. Since all of the national sites are provided in two, and sometimes three, languages maintenance would otherwise have been a big task.

Wild West undertakes periodic ‘refresher’ training to help get new staff up to speed and to ensure that all staff who need to have up to date skills.

Find Stock Spirits at www.stockspiritsgroup.com. For international sites, follow the links.

Carrington – now blogging to contractors

Carrington Accountancy, the tax specialists who do a lot of their work with contractors of various kinds (and new start-up companies) are now blogging at www.carringtonaccountancy/blog and keeping everyone up to date with timely devlelopments in terms of UK legislation and dates.

Revamped web site for Carrington Accountancy

We’re quite often called upon to revitalise web sites after a while. After all, things change, successful companies want to add new facilities, and adding social networking links is getting more and more common. It’s not so often though, that within a year, we’re asked for a completely revised site, with a whole new look.

Such has been the development of the Carrington Accountancy business, that we’ve had to do just that.
Carrington offer accounting services, with particular emphasis on working with new companies, with individual contractors and the self-employed.

So if you are in one of those groups, or you just need accounting (or investment) advice, start by going to www.carringtonaccountancy.com