07/12/11 15:26
Substance over style in websites
So, here’s the dilemma... People buy things from people they trust. And from brands they trust. But you’re stuck away doing your thing and you’re not meeting those people.
What to do?
Years ago, someone like you would have been down the local market, shouting about their wares. Serving existing customers, attracting new ones. Guarding their reputation.
Now, someone like me is sitting in a converted barn, or back room or starter unit on a business park. If we shout, no-one, but the guy next door will hear.
We’ve got wares. But we’re in the service sector. Our wares are in our heads; our expertise and our experience. You can’t buy our wares on ebay.
The new market place is the world wide web in which we are all entangled. Our website is our new stall. But because we’re not selling radiators or car cleaning kits, we have to talk people round. We have to make them understand us and what we can do for them. We have to build their trust in the same basic way - by creating a relationship.
It’s simple. This is a simple plea. Write well on your website. Have good, clear writing. Make content the key. So people talk about you, trust your judgement and come visit.
Google loves content. It doesn’t recognise style. The customers may sigh if the stall is pretty... but then move on. They may buy if you strike a chord with them.
more substance, less style is needed. Read More...
So, here’s the dilemma... People buy things from people they trust. And from brands they trust. But you’re stuck away doing your thing and you’re not meeting those people.
What to do?
Years ago, someone like you would have been down the local market, shouting about their wares. Serving existing customers, attracting new ones. Guarding their reputation.
Now, someone like me is sitting in a converted barn, or back room or starter unit on a business park. If we shout, no-one, but the guy next door will hear.
We’ve got wares. But we’re in the service sector. Our wares are in our heads; our expertise and our experience. You can’t buy our wares on ebay.
The new market place is the world wide web in which we are all entangled. Our website is our new stall. But because we’re not selling radiators or car cleaning kits, we have to talk people round. We have to make them understand us and what we can do for them. We have to build their trust in the same basic way - by creating a relationship.
It’s simple. This is a simple plea. Write well on your website. Have good, clear writing. Make content the key. So people talk about you, trust your judgement and come visit.
Google loves content. It doesn’t recognise style. The customers may sigh if the stall is pretty... but then move on. They may buy if you strike a chord with them.
more substance, less style is needed. Read More...
YouTube for business
05/12/11 23:02 Filed in: YouTube
YouTube comes of age. Daddy is so proud.
YouTube has left the scruffy security and organised chaos of its early years, to try on its first business suit and some shiny shoes.
In a concerted effort to make the global video phenomenon become even more important to business, it has undergone its most important redesign to date.
Left on the bedroom floor are the garish T-shirt colours and the untidy trails of “related” but in reality all but random videos that can distract the viewer just when you have their attention.
Now we have a more business-like look. Hair combed, shirt crisp. Eyes wide open. The talented lad has grown up and wants to do business.
How does this help us in business?
Well, it means that web films will become an even more powerful sales and marketing tool. It means that customers will be able to browse moving images of your wares, rather than static pages. They’ll get what you’re about easier, even while they’ve got one eye on the TV and the other hand on their mobile phone.
By way of comparison, here’s a look at the regular, old you tube channel format.
And here’s the new channel view as of last week... (with some of the films we’ve now exported to clients’ channels.)
It’s an invitation for companies to make their video channels central to their websites. And it’s an invitation to their clients to click away at your sales messages, latest interviews or offers.
True, you can’t see as many videos at one click as in the old version, but less is more, we think. The design works. We’re pretty sure that it will be adopted by businesses who want to showcase their wares with the powerful medium of film.
And as with that teenager, who has put away his childish things, emerged from the detritus of his bedroom, and begun acting all grown-up, YouTube has come of age, too. Your video content is suddenly much more visible and attractive to look at. It’s focused. And is ready to step up to the plate.
... Don’t forget who’s the daddy, here. It’s Google. Google owns YouTube. And Google loves You Tube.
It favours YouTube and that’s why it’s good to have video content.
Your YouTube channel, more than ever, becomes an extension of your company persona. Here’s one we did earlier...
Our Channel page
(To begin customising your channel page, go to the Edit Channel tab which is to the right of the Channel name at the top of the page. Drop us a line if you need some help.)
Read More...
YouTube has left the scruffy security and organised chaos of its early years, to try on its first business suit and some shiny shoes.
In a concerted effort to make the global video phenomenon become even more important to business, it has undergone its most important redesign to date.
Left on the bedroom floor are the garish T-shirt colours and the untidy trails of “related” but in reality all but random videos that can distract the viewer just when you have their attention.
Now we have a more business-like look. Hair combed, shirt crisp. Eyes wide open. The talented lad has grown up and wants to do business.
How does this help us in business?
Well, it means that web films will become an even more powerful sales and marketing tool. It means that customers will be able to browse moving images of your wares, rather than static pages. They’ll get what you’re about easier, even while they’ve got one eye on the TV and the other hand on their mobile phone.
By way of comparison, here’s a look at the regular, old you tube channel format.
And here’s the new channel view as of last week... (with some of the films we’ve now exported to clients’ channels.)
It’s an invitation for companies to make their video channels central to their websites. And it’s an invitation to their clients to click away at your sales messages, latest interviews or offers.
True, you can’t see as many videos at one click as in the old version, but less is more, we think. The design works. We’re pretty sure that it will be adopted by businesses who want to showcase their wares with the powerful medium of film.
And as with that teenager, who has put away his childish things, emerged from the detritus of his bedroom, and begun acting all grown-up, YouTube has come of age, too. Your video content is suddenly much more visible and attractive to look at. It’s focused. And is ready to step up to the plate.
... Don’t forget who’s the daddy, here. It’s Google. Google owns YouTube. And Google loves You Tube.
It favours YouTube and that’s why it’s good to have video content.
Your YouTube channel, more than ever, becomes an extension of your company persona. Here’s one we did earlier...
Our Channel page
(To begin customising your channel page, go to the Edit Channel tab which is to the right of the Channel name at the top of the page. Drop us a line if you need some help.)
Read More...
Our Counter Terrorism film held up as "best practice" by Police
04/04/11 19:10
“Trust Your instincts” is an eight minute film produced by Edwards Creative Media Ltd in conjunction with counter terrorism police and community safety heads in the UK.
It’s unique as an Anti-Terrorism film in that it actually addresses the Health and Safety issues faced by frontline workers in relation to terrorism. It was commissioned after a housing worker stumbled across a highly volatile bomb factory in a council house.
The film is continuing to be commissioned by community safety partnerships around the UK. It is designed so that shots pertinent to different areas can be dropped in, as can interviews. It’s been seen by tens of thousands of public sector workers. And it’s now featured on the new Police National Counter Terrorism website run by the Association of Chief Police Officers. We are honoured that they link to our site and hold up “Trust Your Instincts” as Best Practice. View the Durham version of the film here.
The film is now available to the private sector, including utility companies.
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It’s unique as an Anti-Terrorism film in that it actually addresses the Health and Safety issues faced by frontline workers in relation to terrorism. It was commissioned after a housing worker stumbled across a highly volatile bomb factory in a council house.
The film is continuing to be commissioned by community safety partnerships around the UK. It is designed so that shots pertinent to different areas can be dropped in, as can interviews. It’s been seen by tens of thousands of public sector workers. And it’s now featured on the new Police National Counter Terrorism website run by the Association of Chief Police Officers. We are honoured that they link to our site and hold up “Trust Your Instincts” as Best Practice. View the Durham version of the film here.
The film is now available to the private sector, including utility companies.
s
Video Testimonials
23/03/11 19:14 Filed in: video Testimonials
Video testimonials
Video testimonials - what’s not to like about them?
They tell a lot more than written ones do, but they must be well shot, coherent, unrepetitive and believable. As former journalists we know how to interview and ask the right questions to get exactly what our clients want. Here’s one we did earlier...
Video testimonials - what’s not to like about them?
They tell a lot more than written ones do, but they must be well shot, coherent, unrepetitive and believable. As former journalists we know how to interview and ask the right questions to get exactly what our clients want. Here’s one we did earlier...
Comic Relief silent movie
23/03/11 18:35 Filed in: viral film for client
Comic Relief?
Comic Relief? - What a relief it’s over! But some of our clients did their best and really made it work for their customers. One such was Angela Spencer of Sugar Mouse Ltd in Easingwold. We dropped in and made a little film in the spirit of the day.
In the style of the silent movies...
Comic Relief? - What a relief it’s over! But some of our clients did their best and really made it work for their customers. One such was Angela Spencer of Sugar Mouse Ltd in Easingwold. We dropped in and made a little film in the spirit of the day.
In the style of the silent movies...
Instant TV results
We met Marc Dellapina last week of Turbo PACS. You may have caught him on the TV the following day after We spoke to friends at the BBC. 
Marc got two minutes on Look North. We got the cameras to go to his garage, he was shown at work and then interviewed with his logo emblazoned across his chest. Great publicity for him.
Read More...
Marc got two minutes on Look North. We got the cameras to go to his garage, he was shown at work and then interviewed with his logo emblazoned across his chest. Great publicity for him.
Read More...Sarah Hubble press release: Apprentice
New Apprentice Joseph Carpenter at Beez Business Solutions
Sarah takes on The Apprentice
Young businesswoman Sarah Hubble, who took on her first apprentice this week (Feb 7th) believes her buisness has been kick-started after she set up on the Hackworth Industrial Estate in Shildon.
Joseph Carpenter, 19, has begun work at Beez Business Solutions at Norland House on the Hackworth Industrial Estate. His sales apprenticeship is very different from the traditional trades and apprenticeships carried out at the former Shildon Wagon Works site in years gone by.
Sarah moved onto the estate in January. She said: “My move to Shildon has been brilliant. It’s great for telemarketing – the people are so friendly. We’ve got a real community of business people here and I’ve been amazed at how kind and generous people have been.
“Durham County Council’s terms for my premises here are great. For a small business just setting up, money can be tight and they’ve really done their best for me. That attitude has helped me expand. Our business is all about growing other businesses and so there really is a knock on effect.”
She said that indeed, Beez Business Solutions having taken on its first apprentice would soon be seeking more staff from the local community.
Of her new apprentice, she says: "Joseph was very impressive when I interviewed him. He's got a great manner and we really think he has potential. He came across as very confident, and full of enthusiasm and drive. He explained how he really wanted to get into sales and develop his skills and create a base for a future career in this field.
Sarah says: "Young people's welfare is very important to me. I just think that if employers can possibly give them a chance, they should. The young people need experience to get jobs and we're in a position to help them. It's difficult finding work when your CV is two lines long.
"I also believe that because of the rise in tuition fees, apprenticeships will become much more important as young people look for alternative ways of launching their careers. We should expand apprenticeships into many other sectors, more professional sectors."
And she added: "What we are offering is a very modern apprenticeship in a service-based economy. It is very relevant in the North East. The apprenticeships of the 21st Century will be very different from those 50 years ago."
Joseph says: “I think this is a great opportunity for me. I didn’t want to go to university – the fees were a factor, but really I just wanted to get stuck in to work. I’m very interested in sales and I think I will learn a lot. I’m training on the job and I think employers are more interested in experience than qualifications.”
Gerri Edwards, of Bishop Auckland College, says: “Sarah herself is very young and it’s wonderful a young person can give another young person a chance. It offers a great opportunity to progress. It’s a long hard road for young people these days.
This is a viable alternative to university.”
Sarah launched her telemarketing company, Beez Business Solutions, form her home in Darlington last July. However, it grew quickly enough for her to move to new premises in Shildon in last month. Business is booming despite the recession. She expects her workforce to have grown to eight by the summer.
Sarah, 25, undertook an apprenticeship herself, run by The North East Chamber of Commerce, after leaving school with just two C grade GCSEs. During periods of unemployment, she was a voluntary worker at the Newton Aycliffe charity DISC, which aimed to educate and find employment for young people who had with no qualifiations and were experiencing other barriers to work like handicaps or criminal records.
Joseph's apprenticeship is funded through Bishop Auckland College, where he was formerly a student.
Snowy days
Snow man
The snow is here and I thought I’d take my camera out to play. I went for a walk along the beautiful meandering stretch of the River Tees, which skirts Darlington unseen by the hustlers and bustlers just a couple of hundred yards away.
It was a serene scene... and through the trees, white laden, I noticed a trail of smoke and the crack of burning wood. I found the fire. And then found the man who made it. We got talking. His name’s Colin. About 50. He hasn’t got a job and comes down to the river to remove the dead wood and fallen timber from paths and that blocks the stream into the river. He told me the farmer says his work has stopped the adjacent field from flooding recently.
He’s an unemployed labourer. He said he’d never known it so bad as it is now. He’d been out of work a year. He asked me to warm my hands by the fire. I was in my expensive winter gear carrying my expensive video camera. His sodden gloves were next to the flames trying to dry off. His old bike was lying under a bush.
The snow is here and I thought I’d take my camera out to play. I went for a walk along the beautiful meandering stretch of the River Tees, which skirts Darlington unseen by the hustlers and bustlers just a couple of hundred yards away.
It was a serene scene... and through the trees, white laden, I noticed a trail of smoke and the crack of burning wood. I found the fire. And then found the man who made it. We got talking. His name’s Colin. About 50. He hasn’t got a job and comes down to the river to remove the dead wood and fallen timber from paths and that blocks the stream into the river. He told me the farmer says his work has stopped the adjacent field from flooding recently.
He’s an unemployed labourer. He said he’d never known it so bad as it is now. He’d been out of work a year. He asked me to warm my hands by the fire. I was in my expensive winter gear carrying my expensive video camera. His sodden gloves were next to the flames trying to dry off. His old bike was lying under a bush.
Viral ad
21/06/10 10:25 Filed in: Cliff Edwards
tweet or twit
21/06/10 10:22 Filed in: Dave Edwards
Dave Edwards is Creative Director of DaisyDM Ltd, our creative agency associate
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