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The importance of Custom Photography in Website Design

January 29th, 2018 Will Amey

Your website is one of the most important things to get right for your business. Not only is it the place that potential customers will head to when they want information on what you can do, but also it is a showcase of your business as a whole.

This means that you need to think carefully about how your website is seen. We all know the saying that images speak louder than words, and when it comes to the imagery on your website, this is even more important.

The two main choices when it comes to images on your website is stock or custom photographs. It is no secret that using stock images is going to be cheaper and less time consuming than custom images. However, this isn’t always the best approach to take.

What makes custom photography the better option and an investment that is worthwhile taking?

It makes sure that you are unique

Imagine how a customer would feel if they saw a variety of websites in the same industry, all using the exact same imagery? They are likely to struggle differentiating between all of their choices and seeing which ones are unique and stand out. If you make the effort to use custom photography, then you are likely to find that you are going to stand out from the crowd.

It shows that you value quality

As a consumer, our main focus is always finding a company that it is going to provide us with the quality that we are looking for. If you use custom photography, then the visitors to your website are likely to see that you are invested into making an effort with your quality and in return that you are likely to provide them with the best service possible.

It allows you to showcase your brand

Do you want to make sure that you communicate your brand identity effectively to your customers? Chances are that you do, after all, this is the way that your customers will recognise you against the others, as well as understand your tone of voice and approach to business. By using custom photography and images on your website, you can make sure that what you are saying is exactly how you want your customers to see you.

As you can see, there are a number of reasons why it pays to invest in custom photography for your business. So why not get in touch with us here at Amey and Co and see what we can do to help you on your quest for the perfect website.

Video Content is King: The Importance of Video Marketing

January 29th, 2018 Will Amey

If you are making an effort to market your business, then you are going to want to make sure that you are moving with the times and making sure that you are keeping in line with your competitors. Digital marketing never stands still, it is always moving and shifting.

This is particularly true when it comes to content. We all know that content is important, not only the quality of what you put together, but also the way that it is delivered.

One of the newest kids on the marketing block is video marketing. So, with this in mind, here at Amey and Co, we have put together our guide to all things video marketing.

Just how popular is video marketing?

Before you start to consider the best ways to try out video marketing, you are going to need to consider just how popular a medium it is. Some of these recent statistics shared by marketing giants Hubspot are likely to help you understand the power of video marketing.

It is thought that by 2019, video content is going to make up as much as 80% of web traffic, which is a considerable amount of people that you can target, not only this, but 90% of customers also state that seeing a product video is likely to help them make a purchasing decision.

Another way that video marketing can help with your online presence is increase the SEO of your site. It will drive people towards your homepage and also enhance your conversion rates too.

As you can see, video marketing is not only popular but it is useful too, so how can you make the most of it?

How to make the most of video marketing

In order to get the best from video marketing, you need to try your best. As a highly visual and audio medium, but of these aspects of your videos needs to be the best it can be. You also need to make sure that your video is as memorable as possible, as a forgettable video is never going to hit the spot. Not only this, but it really pays to keep in with the rest of your brand strategy. Keep your colours, fonts, logos and voice the same in all of your video marketing efforts, as this will ensure that your audience can recognise exactly who you are and what you are able to offer.

One of the best things about video marketing is that it works across all devices, something that you simply cannot achieve as easily with other forms of advertisement and marketing.

So, what are you waiting for? Are you thinking about branching out and trying something different for your business? Alongside your current content marketing efforts, why not try video marketing too? You may be surprised by just what this combination can achieve.

The power of silence; why we work in our shed of solitude

January 29th, 2018 Will Amey

Here at Amey and Co we take great pride in our working environment. Based in Faringdon, Oxfordshire we are around 2 miles away from anything that could be deemed as civilisation. Whilst some companies may think that this is a terrible idea, we love it.

But why, what makes our shed of solitude the most wonderful place in the world to us?

Why we love our shed of solitude

Here at Amey and Co, our creativity is the driving force behind our business. We want to make sure that we deliver to our clients, the very best in all things design. Which means that we need to focus ourselves on exactly what they are looking for.

So, why a shed in the middle of no-where?

It is often though that in order to create, you need to collaborate, but this really isn’t always the case. In fact, sometimes the very best creative minds need to work alone. Rather than feeling alone and lonely, being able to shut out the outside world, and all the distractions that come with it, can help those minds to focus intensely on their chosen craft.

We like to think that working within the shed, means that our valued clients and customers are getting the very best from us. There is no popping out for lunch, no chatting at the water filter, just us with our tools, concentrating on what we need to do.

We know that interaction is also key

Now, we know that from time to time that even we have to leave our space and enter into the realm of the rest of the world. That is why you will find us appearing from our shed, eyes blinking as they look into the light.

Sometimes it is to network, sometimes it is to get a break away from our computer screens and sometimes it is simply to forage for food.

Having the option to retreat back into our shed means that we can have the best of both worlds, which means that we can be social, but we can also hone in on the business that we have worked so hard to create over the years.

Want to see what an old shed by a lake can do for you? Why not get in touch with us and discuss exactly what you need? You may be surprised by what you can achieve.

How to drive more traffic to your website via social media

January 19th, 2018 Will Amey

Social media is great for personal use, it allows you to communicate with your friends and family, sharing some of your adventures. Not only this, but social media is also great for business too. It is the perfect tool to engage with your customers and potential customers, allowing you to promote your brand awareness and online visibility.

There are also other ways that social media can help with your business, including driving more traffic to your website.

But how can it do this? Let’s take a look at the ways that you can drive more traffic to your website from your social media profiles.

Post good quality content

Content marketing is important to any marketing campaign. It not only showcases that you are an expert in what you can offer, but also gives your followers a snippet of information that they can then follow to your site and learn more. It is important that the content that you post is not only eye-catching, particularly if you are short on space, but that you also want it to be relevant and interesting to them too.

Keep it varied

Not only do you want to post lots of content to keep the traffic flowing, but it also makes sense to try and mix it up as a much as you can. There are a variety of different post styles that you can choose from. This includes infographics, videos, photos and maybe even customer testimonials too.

Post the right amount of times

Depending on the social media platform that you use, it can be a hard balancing act to make sure that you post enough, but that you don’t bombard your followers. The amount that you should aim to post depends on the platform that you choose. As Pinterest is a heavily visual platform it is fine to post as many as 5 times a day as this will keep your views up. For Twitter this should be taken down to 3 tweets a day before you lose engagement. For Facebook you should aim for only twice a day, any more than this and you will find that your number of comments decreases and that you see less engagement with your posts.

Keep up multiple channels but change your posts

Working across all the social media platforms is important if you really want to have an impact on the traffic that follow to your website. This will expand your reach and really get your message out there. The trouble is, you may find that the post you make for Twitter, isn’t going to work on Facebook. You need to ensure that your message is consistent, however, that it works for each of the platforms that you plan on using.

Don’t forget the hashtags

Hashtags are a great tool for social media engagement. Which means that you shouldn’t forget to use them. They highlight keywords, they create trends and they give you a bit of exposure too. All things that are achieved simply by popping a symbol in front of your target words.

As you can see, there are a variety of ways that you can use social media to increase your website traffic. Make sure that social media works for you and in no time at all, you will find that you have a good level of traffic coming into your website.

 

Why it is important to have a unique website

April 5th, 2017 Will Amey

A website is your chance to showcase your business. It is a window to what you can offer your customers, and a place that they can gain valuable information about your services, products or core values.

The chances are, no matter the industry that you are in, there is plenty of competition out there. This means that you will want to stand out from the crowd.

One of the best ways to do this is to have a unique website. In fact, here are the reasons why it is important to have a unique website.

People are used to seeing the same old templates

Whilst it is great to have the option to easily create a website with one of the off the shelf templates, your website will look the same as lots of other websites out there. In fact, customers are so used to seeing these templates that they can often pick one out of the crowd.

If you create a website that is unique, then it is going to stand out. This can make sure that your potential customers are more likely to follow through and use your services or buy your products.

A unique website will fit your needs

Do you have a particular target audience in mind that you want to appeal to? If you do, then a unique website is a good way to ensure that you appeal to them. A template website offers much less customisation then a uniquely designed one, which means that you can make sure it appeals to those who you want to attract.

It will perfectly convey your vision and brand identity

Chances are that you have worked hard to create the perfect brand identity for your business. If you have, then the last thing you will want is to lose that vision on your website. By having a website that is unique to your business, you will be able to communicate exactly what you need to. Making sure that your brand identity is forefront of the website.

So, now you know a little more about having a unique website design for your business, perhaps it is time to ditch that template and go it alone? With a little help from a professional website design company, you can soon be on the way to having a website that is just perfect for what you need, and we can’t think of anything that is better than that.

 

Why you should hire a professional web design company

April 4th, 2017 Will Amey

If you want to have a successful business, then you are going to need to create a website. The internet has become a place that many people turn to when they need to find information, buy a product or simply to find out what is in their local area. It is a competitive market and a professional website could be the difference between a customer picking you and picking one of your competitors.

Whilst a recognisable brand and some clever marketing is the right way to bring visitors to your site, it is a great looking and functioning website that is going to get them to stay and make a purchase.

Of course you can make your website yourself, there are plenty of providers that can help you, but to really make your mark then you will need a professional website instead.

Here are some of the reasons why you should be hiring a professional web design company.

You get a website that suits your needs

The idea behind an off the shelf approach to website design is great, but chances are that it simply won’t meet the exact needs of your business, let alone your customers. A web designer will be able to assess what you need, give you advice on the right approach and then create a website that is everything that you need.

It will look awesome

There is no doubt about it, a website that is created by a professional web design company is going to look amazing. After all, they are experts in putting together websites. They will know the right balance of graphics and text, as well as the type of fonts and colours that are easier to read. Exactly what you need.

You get the latest tech

With the internet changing on a daily basis, there is always a new technology or method to use when making a website. You may not be up on your tech news, but they will be. That means you can be sure to be getting the latest offering, exactly what you will need when you want to be up to the minute.

 A touch of SEO

SEO, a magical phrase that every business will recognise. By hiring a professional website design company you will be getting some help with your SEO. SEO is the key that will unlock all of the customers being guided towards your site over others.

You keep their support

Using a professional website company means that you get long term support as you need it. They will be on hand to help if any problems arise, as well as making sure that your website is completely up to date and working the best that it can.

These are just some of the main reasons why it pays to use a professional website design company. It is definitely something that will have a huge bonus to your business and take you even closer to the success that you deserve.

 

Why Is It Important To Have A Blog On Your Website?

March 16th, 2017 Will Amey

Any business knows that an online presence is vital if you want to grow and succeed. Which means that a website is key. The trouble is that a large amount of businesses are not harnessing the true power of their website.

This power comes in the form of blogs. It doesn’t matter if you are small company or a start-up, a blog is a platform that will allow you to share content with your customers and promote your business.

So, with this in mind, we have put together some of the reasons why it is important to ensure that you have a blog on your website.

It drives traffic to your site

Want to increase the number of visitors that your site attracts? Why not see if blogging is the push that you need? Not only are blogs great for boosting your SEO keywords, which we all know is vital for driving traffic, but they are also ideal for sharing on social media.

This means that your content is not only visible when people search for the related keywords on Google, but also to a much wider network when those customers share the blog posts on their own social media pages.

It sets you up as an expert

Creating content that is relevant to your brand is a sure fire way to impress your customers. Not only this, but it portrays you as an expert in the industry, and somewhere that people will want to come to for the latest product or service.

Having a good quality variety of articles on your blog is also likely to draw attention of other companies, giving you the opportunity to post guest blogs, and attract even more customers!

It encourages communication

Have you noticed that the bottom of blogs have a space for comments to be left by the readers? These comments are your customers chance to engage and communicate with you. Encouraging conversations, allowing them to ask questions and for you to answer them. This is important not only to build trust, but also to build a valuable relationship with your customers too.

It showcases your personality

Whilst your website is a great reflection of your brand identity, if you really want to show off the personality of your business, then you may want to step up a blog. This is your chance to show off what your core values and approaches are as a business. You can promote a sense of trust with your customers, and trust is vital for your business to succeed.

So, now you know just why a blog is a great approach to take for your business, perhaps the time has come to see if it could work for you. If you are worried that your writing style isn’t the best, then there are plenty of professional bloggers out there that can take your topic ideas and transform them into a readable blog that your readers will love!

Get your point across quickly with short video advertisements

February 20th, 2017 Will Amey

When it comes to business, social media is a great way to advertise the products and services that you can offer. You can do this a variety of ways, however, recently there has definitely been an explosion in visual marketing.

It is no secret that a video is one of the best way to grab attention, but what you may not realise is that these videos don’t have to be epic creations. In fact, they could simply be short and snappy snippets!

Best of all, it isn’t only YouTube that you can now upload videos to. A number of social media platforms are now suitable for uploading videos to.

Here at Amey & Co we have put together our guide to creating the ultimate short videos to boost your business marketing methods on social media!

Create a how to

One of the easiest types of short videos to create is one that showcases how to use your product. Not only does it solve a problem that they may face, but it also draws attention to what you have to offer your customers.

Show off what you can do

Are you a one man band with a bit of a talent? Singer, actress, even a voice over artist? Why not use a short video snippet to show off just what you are capable of? You never know whose attention you might grab!

Advertise an event

Do you have a big event coming up that you want to promote? Why not create a short video that tells people just what to expect? You can give some brief details of the event (such as that rather important date and time) and draw people into agreeing to come!

Unveil a new product

Have you spent time designing and producing a new product? If you have then chances are that you will want to unveil it to the world with a flourish. Why not create a little video that tells the world all about what you are just about to release? It will create a buzz and a bit of excitement about your new release.

Let people see behind the scenes

A customer loves to see what happens behind the scenes in a business. So why not make a little video that lets them have an insight into what happens on a day to day basis? Having this personal touch may just be the extra push that some of your prospective clients need to become a fully fledged customer!

There are a number of ways that you can use a short video to create a buzz about your business on social media. If you are not sure where to start, or what to have in your video, why not get in touch today and let us help you find the way of the video!

The many uses of Aerial photography

February 13th, 2017 Will Amey

Having the right image can be incredibly powerful. After all a picture, can say a thousand words. As you can expect, here at Amey and Co we are big fans of powerful pictures, which means that we have fully embraced the world of aerial photography.

But what makes aerial photography so awesome and is it more than just a way to get some aerial shots of a landscape?

Capture footage that would otherwise be difficult

One of the biggest benefits to using a drone for aerial photography is that it allows you to capture footage that you simply wouldn’t be able to do on foot. For many years, if this out of bounds video or photo footage needed to be taken, then it would cost a considerable amount of money to send out a helicopter or plane to do so.

In comparison, not only are drones great for videoing or photographing aerial footage, but they are also available at a fraction of the price too.

Ideal for estate agents

Are you an estate agent looking for a way to appeal to prospective sellers over your competitors? If you are then why not see if providing aerial shots of your properties is the USP that you are searching for.

By using aerial photography, you can give prospective buyers a better idea of the size and layout of the property, as well as how big the garden, drive or any other outdoor spaces are.

It isn’t just domestic properties that can benefit from aerial photography, drones can also be used for commercial agents too. They are ideal for big commercial buildings, in particular those that have loading bays or other large spaces that need to be considered prior to being rented or bought.

Perfect for travel brochures

Want to tempt people to come to stay at your resort? Think your hotel will look even more beautiful from up above? Why not use a drone to capture footage that you can use on your website, or as stills in a brochure?

Think of it as a virtual tour of the premises, but one that has received a bit of a 360 upgrade!

Film large outdoor events

If people are not able to get tickets to an event, then aerial photography gives them a chance to really feel like they are there. Drones can be used to fly above open air concerts or sporting events, capturing all of the best moments and replaying them to an audience, who didn’t get the chance to be there in person!

As you can see, there are a number of ways that you can use aerial photography, both in business and in your personal life. Drones are fast becoming a great technological addition to a number of industries and as more and more people realise just how useful they can be, we are sure that they will take off even further!

A website is your “shop window”, so make sure that it is the best display possible

February 13th, 2017 Will Amey

How often have you been drawn into a shop simply down to the window display? The chances are that this has happened plenty of times to you, just showing the power of first impressions.

This is great for high street stores, but what about those who are online? Ecommerce sites should always think of their website as a virtual shop window, these pages, in particular your home page, are responsible for creating a great first impression and attracting customer to see what you have in stock.

So, just like a window display, it is important to make sure that your website looks its best and attracts as many people as possible to see what you have to offer.

To help you to make the most of your virtual display, we have put together our tips for making the most of your website.

Update your website regularly

One of the biggest mistakes that a business can make with their window displays is not changing the stock regularly. This stops the display becoming static and stale. This is true for websites too.

The main aim is to attract new customers of course, but you will also want to make sure that your repeat customers don’t get bored of the content and visuals that you have.

By updating and changing both your images and text on a regular basis, you can make sure that people see you as a dynamic business, that has plenty to say. Not only this but you may also find that your ranking on Google improves too.

Have a timely display

The best way to think about this is by how window displays are themed by particular events and seasons. Valentines Day, Easter, even things such as the Olympics. By embracing what is timely, you can create a window display that is relevant and more likely to appeal.

You can adopt the same approach for your website. By making some small, cosmetic changes to your website during particular time of the year, you can change up the way it looks and maybe even draw in some new visitors too.

Always think about your own market

Any good marketing campaign should be tailored to meet the needs and interests of your target market. The same is true for your virtual window display. The type of homepage that you have will really depend on your business, and who you want to appeal.

When deciding how your website will appear, think not only about your own values, but also those of your customers too. Are they looking for something elegant and beautiful, or do they want a website that can simply deliver? By keeping this in mind, you can make sure that your site appeals.

Stand out from the crowd

Whilst it is vital that you appeal to your target market, this doesn’t mean that you have to blend in with all the other companies out there offering the same as you. In fact, why don’t you instead be brave and stand out from the crowd.

Embrace what it is that makes you different to the rest, and make sure that your customers can tell the difference too. That way, they are more likely to pick your display, over other companies.

Want to create a website to rival some of the best window displays out there? Come to us here at Amey and Co and find out how an experienced graphic design company can help to make the most of your website, and attract some brand new customers into your online store.

The importance of graphic design at the early stages of a new business

January 29th, 2017 root

Here at Amey and Co we are proud to offer our clients a complete graphic design service. We will work with you to make sure that you have everything you need in your graphic and can present and promote your brand perfectly.

But some businesses simply don’t understand just how much great graphic design can help them. Which is why we have put together our expert guide on the importance of graphic design, especially during the early stages of a new business.

Get your brand recognised

The beginnings of any brand identity have to come from a great logo. It should not only be attractive, but professional too, and represent your business as a whole. The best way to make sure you have a recognisable and powerful brand logo is to get a graphic designer to do it for you.

First impressions count

There is a good chance that any potential clients or customers will form their opinions of your business instantly. In fact, when it comes to business, first impressions really count. A cheap and unimpressive looking design is never going to paint you in the best light, so invest in having something created that is professional and bound to impress.

See it as an investment not a cost

When you are first setting up a business there is a good chance that you will want to save as much money as possible, whilst it is great to try and budget where you can, sometimes you need to make an investment.

Graphic design is definitely something that should be invested in. Not only will you see a return on your investment by attracting clients, but it means that you will have a design that is ready to go. Trying to cut corners could mean that you end up with a poor quality logo that is just not ready to go to print, or even worse, comes out looking bad after printing. This could cost you even more money in the long run.

So, now you know that graphic design is something that every new business, or even those that have already been established, can benefit from. The time has come to see what a good graphic designer can not only do for your logo, but for your business as a whole.

Based in Faringdon near Oxford, we are there for business both big and small. Offering our dedicated graphic design service and helping them achieve the look that they are searching for. So, why not get in touch with us here at Amey and Co and see if we can help you with your graphic design needs.