Latest blog entries from staff at Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire web design agency Toile Design, older items are archived.
Accommodation websites
10/08/2011
been a bit quiet on the blog front last few weeks, there is a reason, weve been working hard!
Couple of major site launches and the development of our own internal products.
Late September will see the launch of SharpStay a low cost fully featured website system for bed and breakfast, self catering, villa owners and small hotels.
Using a template system (or custom design) the site will feature an easy to use, feature rich cms system allowing the site owners to easily:
• update the site
Keeping your website updated
19/07/2011
We're all guilty of it, i'll do that tomorrow is a common phrase when it comes to updating the company website.
I'll hold my hand up and say "I do it too" its often the least priority in the daily work schedule.
But when you actually do the update, like the blog im doing now, it only takes a few minutes, in fact this one is taking less time than the time to drink the tea ive got here!
Keeping your website updated regularly will help keep returning visitors interested (theres always something new to c
Multiple website sitemaps - use the sitemap index
14/06/2011
If you operate a large website producing sitemaps and submitting them to the likes of Google (via webmaster tools) is a great way to help get all your pages listed.
The XML sitemaps have a limit of 50,000 entries per file, so if you are working on a site (like the one we have been) with 43,000,000 pages, then you need lots of sitemaps.
Thankfully the sitemap index file is now here!
By using the sitemap index you can list your individual sitemaps in one file (up to 50,000) and just submit that one xml
Local searching
24/05/2011
When you are looking at the keywords for your website when performing seo, do you consider the localisation of them?
For example we have been doing some seo for a company recently that provides a service, ie they have to go and physically perform a service at the clients place of work, but their website was setup using generic terms.
This meant that although they were getting traffic, if it wasnt in the area they covered then the enquiries were not of use to them.
By adding in the area covered, count
Internet World - did you go?
11/05/2011
Middle day of the Internet World show today at Earls Court, took the team down to London for a look round at the latest industry exhibition.
This year it seemed to offer more, there were lots of companies offering the same things, managed servers, hosting etc, but lots more smaller companies offering more niche products (although some we could easily build ourselves if needed!).
The magician on the red stand was as entertaining as ever (he's really good, pay a visit!) video seemed to be making more of an impact thi
Using Twitter for site and product promotion
13/04/2011
Are you using twitter for your website / product promotion?
Ive not been that big a fan of twitter, still prefer emails myself to keep in touch, but the more you use it the more benefits you can see.
As a mass talk to your contacts tool its really easy, quick due to the limit on characters and you often get instant(ish) responses back.
By embedding the twitter rss feed into your web pages, you can then keep your website looking a bit more fresh and up to date as well.
The only word of
Internet World Coming Up
16/03/2011
Internet world is coming up at Earls Court in a few weeks, are you going?
Our industry exhibition can be similar to some, but if you look year on year at the different trends and products on offer, you can see new emerging markets.
That is what we look for when we go there, sure theres the great magician just inside the door as always on the "red" stand, very entertaining draws in a crowd, but sometimes its the smaller companies who are providing the new services ahead of time.
IPTV, advances in live
Email marketing have you tried it?
09/02/2011
Email marketing done correctly can be a very cost effective way of marketing.
Not only on that initial send out, but by using the tracking of click throughs you can see who is looking at what products and services and use that information in follow up campaigns.
Unlike a postal campaign email marketing is real-time and provides feedback, something you cannot do with a mailshot unless you ring up every one and ask them what they looked at, did they read it etc.
Email marketing provides detailed feedba
Planning your year ahead online
06/01/2011
The new year sales are in full swing, hope your business was ready for them.
Planning your year ahead online can bring big rewards, getting your seasonal items ready ahead of time, building up the search engine positioning in advance of when people will start searching is all part of your online marketing strategy.
Making sure you can pre-load the special offers and christmas items ahead of time, will make your life easier and less stressful.
Now is the time to sit down and plan the year out, once yo
Happy New Year
01/01/2011
2011 is here!
Happy new year to existing and future clients.
Hoping the economy picks up and your online marketing takes off.
Big plans here for this year, will be rolling out new services and offerings as the year goes on.
