Consilium Design Blog

Facebooks new content sharing button will not track users history

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The Telegraph - "Facebook is denying claims that its new content-sharing button will allow it to serve advertising based on its users’ web history.

Win FREE website copywriting

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The key to a successful website is rarely simply a matter of flashy design, sharp layout and slick images (though admittedly, those things can help). You can have the glossiest looking website in the world, but if your copy lacks sparkle, chances are your message isn't going to get across – and that could mean fewer sales and lack of interest in your product or services.

Here at Consilium Design, we believe clever, lively, marketing-savvy copy offers huge benefits to every website, no matter how small.

We're so convinced any website can be far more effective if the copy is professionally crafted, we're offering readers one of two chances to win our website copywriting service for free – all they have to do is take part in our online competition, which closes on February 14, 2010.

"Using our professional copywriting services can make all the difference to the success of your website," says Consilium Design head, Carrie Watts. "And when you think about it, the cost completely justifies the end result. In fact, where Consilium Design is concerned, it's an absolute bargain, since our copywriting services start at around £500."

The copywriters at Consilium Design understand that people don't read website content in the same way they read books, newspapers and magazines. They recognise the fact that short, simple and straight-to-the-point messages, written in the perfect tone of voice for your particular target audience and – where relevant – accompanied by the right image, speak volumes.

Consilium Design copywriters know how to grab the attention of your customer without being obvious or heavy-handed. And they realise the importance of using just the right amount of key words to improve your search engine ranking too.

Online advertising overtakes TV

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Online advertising spending in the UK has overtaken television expenditure for the first time, a report has said.

Online spending grew 4.6% to £1.752bn in the first half of 2009, while TV spending shrank 16.1% to £1.639bn.

Overall advertising fell 16% compared with the same period in 2008, said the study by the Internet Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

E-mail campaigns, classified adverts, display ads and search marketing are all classed as online advertising.

The body representing UK commercial television broadcasters said that the comparison was unfair.

'Huge milestone'

The recession had accelerated the migration of advertising spending to digital technology - from more traditional media such as print, radio and television advertising to online, according to the report.

Justin Pearse, editor of industry website New Media Age, said the tough economic times had led to a significant fall in TV advertising spending, which saw it being overtaken about a year earlier than most had expected.

"It had to happen eventually, but online advertising has been seen as the poor cousin to TV for so long that it's still a huge milestone."

Technology firms were the biggest spenders on online adverts, making up about 19% of the market, the report said, followed by telecoms firms, the finance sector and entertainment and media.

DRIVING ONLINE ADVERTS

Is your business or website failing to get the media coverage it deserves?

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Have you thought about employing a PR company to help get your message across but are put off by the high costs? Then why not let us help?

How to be a successful marketer (marketing director) Part 7. Creative problem solving

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In the seventh of this occasional series, Guy Tomlinson and Tim Arnold, marketing consultants, directors and authors of The Marketing Director’s Handbook outline some of the prerequisites to be a successful marketing director.

How to be a successful marketer (marketing director) Part 6. Marketing technical excellence

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In the sixth of this series, Guy Tomlinson and Tim Arnold, marketing consultants, directors and authors of The Marketing Director’s Handbook outline some of the prerequisites to be a successful marketing director.

In highly competitive markets, finely tuned marketing strategies and executional ideas can make a difference. A misplaced or poorly articulated word in a strategy could be misinterpreted and cause confusion within your business. There is also a need for excellence in execution in those markets where companies follow similar strategies. A misplaced or poorly articulated word in an advertisement could inhibit response and waste a lot of money. Conversely, a well-placed or well-chosen word could help cut-through and connect, thereby accelerating demand. Attention to both strategic and executional detail are vital. You will need to establish processes, tools and techniques to ensure that both your decisions in both areas are of the highest order.

Overcoming perceptions that marketing is ‘fluffy’ is another key challenge that you may have to address. Mastering and using a few analytical tools and techniques can help you marshal and present your arguments in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. Not only can these distil complexity into simple messages but also give added rigor and impact to your arguments. A spreadsheet model will also be helpful. A number of useful tools and techniques are described in our book.

Your own motivation, drive and rigor in seeking and enforcing marketing excellence will help overcome any negative attitudes. One way of seeking such excellence is in embracing new technology for in itself this will create new opportunities. However bear in mind that embracing new technology may mean even shorter planning cycles so clever anticipation and preplanning becomes more vital. For example, while using digital technology can reduce promotion origination and reproduction costs you will need to be more vigilant in maintaining and using a database to ensure effective targeting.

The Marketing Director’s Handbook has been acclaimed as a book that all directors should read and that all marketing directors should keep close to hand. To find our more and order a copy follow this link to The Marketing Directors’ consultancy website. (link to www.themarketingdirectors.co.uk/the_marketing_directors_handbook.htm)

How to be a successful marketer (marketing director) Part 5. Brand competence building and delivery

Sun, 31 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In the fifth of this series, Guy Tomlinson and Tim Arnold, marketing consultants, directors and authors of The Marketing Director’s Handbook outline some of the prerequisites to be a successful marketing director.

How to be a successful marketer (marketing director) Part 4. Profit Management and Metrics

Thu, 07 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In the fourth of our series, Guy Tomlinson and Tim Arnold, marketing consultants, directors and authors of The Marketing Director’s Handbook outline some of the prerequisites to be a successful marketing director.

How to be a successful marketer (marketing director) Part 3 � Knowledge bank and early warning radar

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Social Networking: Can Your Business Afford To Miss Out?

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

How to be a successful marketer (marketing director)

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Part 2. Customer Understanding and Focus

A bit of www magic...

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Facebook Sending More Traffic Than Google to Some Sites

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000

According to AdvertisingAge Facebook is sending more traffic than google to some sites, more reason for businesses to start taking social networking more seriously! Read article: http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=135112

How do you stand out from the competition?

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

With more and more people doing business online, a well designed website is proving to be such an essential, cost-effective tool - every business should have one.

How to be a successful marketer (marketing director)

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Part 1 Explaining, influencing, managing and leading

In the first of this new series, Guy Tomlinson and Tim Arnold, marketing consultants, directors and authors of The Marketing Director’s Handbook explain how to be a successful marketing director.

Consilium Design featured in .net magazine!

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

"The Coopers Flooring website (www.coopersflooring.co.uk) is a prime example of a three-dimensional element used to focus the users' attention. The large visual of the end product pops out of the page and helps to communicate the site's purpose."
.net magazine March 2009

Thriving in a recession...

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

It’s official. Today The Guardian announced we’ve: “officially entered recession for the first time since 1991.”

How to kill your business in a recession...

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

How to kill your business in a recession...

" Statistics show that businesses who consistently spent money on marketing during every major recession in the last century dramatically increased their market share and retained a dominant position at the end of that time" Source: Scott Dawson Advertising

New year - New blog!

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to our new blog...

Over the months we will be sharing our thoughts, news and ideas within the world of web design, design and website marketing.