Do you want a website that is easy for you to manage and update yourself?
Do you want a website designed quickly to help you get your business off the ground?
Heard about WordPress but don't know where to start?
The good news is we have recently helped two new businesses get noticed locally using our combined skills and in return they have given us some wonderful feedback on how their new sites and strong branding has got them off to a flying start, with hundreds of hits in the first month of a site going live. You can see them here: http://www.keithjamesentertains.com/
and http://www.theblowdrybarandgarrafishlounge.co.uk/
We love variety and we love creating the best possible solution for our customers. With the rise of new technology and web-building products such as WordPress, Joomla and Drupal we now offer our clients a more flexible, cost-effective way of managing their online presence.
Along side this we have a range of package deals to help get your business started, create a brand and link to your Social Media sites. However, if it is just a website you want, then our costs are even more competitive, it's easy to call and have a chat about your requirements.
Call 01473 410278 or 01473 728617
Or simply send us an email here
Fusion Blog
Thursday 24 November 2011
Friday 18 November 2011
Suffolk Businesses Support Athletes for Destination Gold
Across Suffolk, enlightened employers are realising that being part of the London 2012
Games is good for morale and one of the best ways to engage your staff is by sponsoring an athlete.
In Suffolk a group of leading businesses have seen the opportunity the Games presents to
engage their staff and have aligned themselves to a local 2012 hopeful through the Suffolk
SportsAid Foundation Destination Gold initiative.
'Destination Gold' is an innovative approach to use the excitement of theLondon 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to raise money to support the most talented athletes in the county, including Suffolk's brightest 2012 prospects. Read more>>
Games is good for morale and one of the best ways to engage your staff is by sponsoring an athlete.
In Suffolk a group of leading businesses have seen the opportunity the Games presents to
engage their staff and have aligned themselves to a local 2012 hopeful through the Suffolk
SportsAid Foundation Destination Gold initiative.
'Destination Gold' is an innovative approach to use the excitement of theLondon 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to raise money to support the most talented athletes in the county, including Suffolk's brightest 2012 prospects. Read more>>
Saturday 22 October 2011
Our Marketing & PR wins Award for Kitchen Showroom
LOCAL KITCHEN SHOWROOM WINS ADVERTISING GRANT AWARD FROM NEFF AT MASTERPARTNER EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2011
Ipswich Company Anglia Factors has been chosen as a runner up for the first Advertising & Marketing Grant Award presented by the UK’s leading built in kitchen appliance brand Neff at the company’s annual MasterPartner® Excellence Awards 2011.
Dan Barr, Managing Director of Neff MasterPartner® Anglia Factors of Ipswich in Suffolk accepted the prestigious £2,500 Grant on behalf of the company. The money will be used to drive the business forward by investing in a number of innovative marketing and promotional strategies.
The Advertising & Marketing Annual Grant Award was presented at a special Awards Dinner held in the Central Hall of the famous Natural History Museum in London .The glittering event was hosted by the popular presenter of ITV 1’s ‘All Star Family Fortunes’, Vernon Kay.
Anglia Factors was one of three finalists in the first Advertising & Marketing Annual Grant Award category of this year’s Neff MasterPartner® Excellence Awards.
He company was praised for their creative ideas and integrated marketing approach of the comprehensive advertising and marketing proposals submitted by Dan Barr of Anglia Factors.
The attached photo shows Dan Barr and Dave Charlton accepting their runners up cheques from Neff Brand Manager, Hannah Groves and host Vernon Kay.
Comments Neff Brand Manager, Hannah Groves: “The Neff Excellence Awards recognise those who excel at being first class in every aspect of their business. Anglia Factors personify all the values we hold dear: quality, service, professionalism, creativity and enthusiasm. We look forward to seeing how they invest the money and reap the rewards for the future of their business”
The Neff MasterPartner® Excellence Awards were set up in 2008 to recognise the successful partnership between brand leading built in kitchen appliance manufacturer, Neff and its key specialist dealers throughout the UK, known as MasterPartners®.
ENDS. Issued by Creativity PR on behalf of Neff. October 2011.
Local PR: Sonia Shelcott, Millriver Publicity on 01473 410278
Contact: sonia@millriver.co.uk
Sunday 7 August 2011
On Social Media but Website still down in the dumps?
"I am on Social Media sites but it doesn't increase traffic to my website" - people ask me this occasionally, and I find that they are failing to link Social Media posts to their websites, or don't have buttons linking their sites to Facebook and Twitter etc.
Here I will explain:
Think of your website as the "centre" of the internet - that's a big statment, but if you think in this way you will increase traffic to your website.
Button Links
So, your website it the centre of your business. If you have not placed any buttons linking your website to your Social Media sites, it would be a good idea to do that for a start. Get your Web Designer to add some classy buttons that fit with the design of your site. Or if you are thinking about rebranding or starting up a business, choose a competent designer who can create bespoke buttons and build social media areas to your website that does not clash with the design of the site. Build them in and make it work.
Google Bots and Spyders
Now you have linked your website to your Social Media sites, Google and other Search Engines will notice "traffic" flowing from your site to the Social Media sites. This is a good start, but you need to encourage visitors back to your website rather than direct people away. So your next task is to draw attention to your website in your Tweets and Posts, then traffic will flow back to your site. Please see diagram here>>
Linking from Social Media to your website
Finally, you need to get to grips with creating a link to your website when you Tweet or Post on Facebook, or other. This needs to be done carefully, if you over do it, Google, Yahoo and other Search Engines will see this as Spam, so it's best not to link to your site every time you comment. It is also wise to link to your site when you have something to expand upon that will help other people and get them interested in YOU and your business.
Out to the Internet
Once you ahve set all this up, traffic is flowing to and from your website and Google and other Search Engines will see your site as "Important" and start moving it up the rankings. You can check your rankings by downloading SEO Quake to your Mozilla Firefox browser and watch your Page Rank grow.
Saturday 14 May 2011
Sounds like a plan!
Typically, a communications campaign is only as good as its plan.
Like any other avenue, a public relations road map should be reviewed not only with overall business goals in mind, but also with an eye toward opportunities and obstacles specific to PR.
Here’s a checklist based on the most frequently overlooked or underrepresented elements. To fully evaluate your plan, ask yourself—or your PR team—the following questions.
What is PR’s role?
The PR program should have a distinct and defined role within the bigger marketing picture. Often, the best use of PR is to add depth or detail to brand messages or to lend credibility to an advertising claim. It’s rarely just “positive visibility.”
Does it include internal audiences?
Many plans don’t address employees and stakeholders. These audiences can be very powerful ambassadors for nearly any PR strategy. For a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, they are crucial. If employees and partners aren’t fully informed of a program’s goals and strategies, it can create roadblocks. Failure to do this is simply a lost opportunity.
Is it coordinated with other marketing elements?
Maybe full integration isn’t a goal, but simple coordination adds value to every piece. Very often we see newsworthy elements in other parts of the marketing plan, but we find them out too late to offer input or realize the news potential.
Does it allow for full story development?
In our haste to generate publicity or social media impact, we sometimes underestimate the time and research required for full story creation and for multiple storylines. Because this is the meat of most PR programs, it should be afforded time for fairly robust research, development, and vetting. The beauty of PR may be that we can shift tactics or change messaging without incurring production costs, but who wants to lose the time?
Does it include a back up plan?
For the publicity piece of a PR plan, you should always have a backup plan—particularly if the planned coverage hinges on a seasonal opportunity or culminates in a special event.
Is it flexible?
Similarly, any plan should be adaptable to market conditions, competitive developments, or changes in the news cycle as you go. Most PR programs operate within a very dynamic media environment, so change is the rule and not the exception. Take advantage of it with monthly plan reviews and adjustments.
Does it include a contingency or crisis plan?
It always pays to think through potentially damaging scenarios and be prepared with a defensive strategy.
Is the timing realistic?
People tend to underestimate the time required for research, tactical planning, and achieving media relations. If you want your publicity to hit in say in July you should be starting at least three months ahead, if not more!
By Sonia Shelcott
Like any other avenue, a public relations road map should be reviewed not only with overall business goals in mind, but also with an eye toward opportunities and obstacles specific to PR.
Here’s a checklist based on the most frequently overlooked or underrepresented elements. To fully evaluate your plan, ask yourself—or your PR team—the following questions.
What is PR’s role?
The PR program should have a distinct and defined role within the bigger marketing picture. Often, the best use of PR is to add depth or detail to brand messages or to lend credibility to an advertising claim. It’s rarely just “positive visibility.”
Does it include internal audiences?
Many plans don’t address employees and stakeholders. These audiences can be very powerful ambassadors for nearly any PR strategy. For a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, they are crucial. If employees and partners aren’t fully informed of a program’s goals and strategies, it can create roadblocks. Failure to do this is simply a lost opportunity.
Is it coordinated with other marketing elements?
Maybe full integration isn’t a goal, but simple coordination adds value to every piece. Very often we see newsworthy elements in other parts of the marketing plan, but we find them out too late to offer input or realize the news potential.
Does it allow for full story development?
In our haste to generate publicity or social media impact, we sometimes underestimate the time and research required for full story creation and for multiple storylines. Because this is the meat of most PR programs, it should be afforded time for fairly robust research, development, and vetting. The beauty of PR may be that we can shift tactics or change messaging without incurring production costs, but who wants to lose the time?
Does it include a back up plan?
For the publicity piece of a PR plan, you should always have a backup plan—particularly if the planned coverage hinges on a seasonal opportunity or culminates in a special event.
Is it flexible?
Similarly, any plan should be adaptable to market conditions, competitive developments, or changes in the news cycle as you go. Most PR programs operate within a very dynamic media environment, so change is the rule and not the exception. Take advantage of it with monthly plan reviews and adjustments.
Does it include a contingency or crisis plan?
It always pays to think through potentially damaging scenarios and be prepared with a defensive strategy.
Is the timing realistic?
People tend to underestimate the time required for research, tactical planning, and achieving media relations. If you want your publicity to hit in say in July you should be starting at least three months ahead, if not more!
By Sonia Shelcott
Thursday 3 March 2011
New iPad2 available in UK 25 March
I have fallen in love with the new iPad2, I've taken a look at iPad1 and this piece of kit is literally awesome. I have been deliberating on whether it is worth getting, since I have an Apple Mac, iPod and iPhone, but if you use the right apps you can use the iPad as a laptop, camera, book reader, play games and watch iPlayer.
Can't wait until 25 March.
You can also use it as a drawing pad, so the whole thing looks like an "Etcher-Sketcher" but without the rattle when you shake it!
Starting price £430 for 16GB is not an amount you want to spend on an impulse buy, so consideration is important.
Can't wait until 25 March.
You can also use it as a drawing pad, so the whole thing looks like an "Etcher-Sketcher" but without the rattle when you shake it!
Starting price £430 for 16GB is not an amount you want to spend on an impulse buy, so consideration is important.
Friday 25 February 2011
When the going gets tough
When the going gets tough, what is the first thing businesses look to do? Yes, cut costs! It’s a normal response to a downturn, indeed some would say crucial to keeping the business lean and mean. Unfortunately some of the first candidates for cutback are marketing, advertising, design and public relations. Considered as a luxury during tough times and something that can be done without – Of course professionals in these fields throw caution to this and advise businesses not to hit the panic button.
Sonia Shelcott from local marketing and PR consultants Millriver Publicity commented: “It is well documented that brands who maintain their marketing presence during a recession, when competitors are cutting back, can improve market share and deliver a return on their investments. Maintaining strong brand awareness even in a downturn can play a crucial role in helping businesses keep its head above water and keeping one step ahead of its competitors. In a downturn businesses need to show strength and stability to its customers, cutting back too much on marketing budgets in the short term can actually cost a business more money in the long term, by having to rebuild your brand when the economy picks up and falling behind your competitors. It is crucial to remain successful, it puts you in a strong position when the market does eventually improve.”
Andrew Fleming is commercial partner of Blocks Solicitors, and realises the benefit of strong brand awareness. Andrew commented: “Although the business environment may be hardening, that’s when good marketing comes into its own. All businesses need to be able to communicate their particular strengths. As a firm, we invest in focused local advertising and have a concerted marketing strategy, which we intend to follow through and even enhance through this economic downturn.”
Cementing a company’s message is also crucial in a downturn, a good PR campaign backs up the effectiveness of an advertising campaign, amplifying its message, and it can help any size company build awareness.
Sonia commented: “Unfortunately many people see PR as a luxury it shouldn’t be if used correctly and integrated with an effective marketing plan. PR enhances reputation, builds a brand, and makes your business stand out from the crowd.” She added: “If you cut PR out in tough times you leave the door open for your competitors to walk in, you are much better off maintaining a presence in the public eye, keeping in peoples minds and communicating with your customers. If you are serious about business, you have to invest in it.”
By Sonia Shelcott
Sonia Shelcott from local marketing and PR consultants Millriver Publicity commented: “It is well documented that brands who maintain their marketing presence during a recession, when competitors are cutting back, can improve market share and deliver a return on their investments. Maintaining strong brand awareness even in a downturn can play a crucial role in helping businesses keep its head above water and keeping one step ahead of its competitors. In a downturn businesses need to show strength and stability to its customers, cutting back too much on marketing budgets in the short term can actually cost a business more money in the long term, by having to rebuild your brand when the economy picks up and falling behind your competitors. It is crucial to remain successful, it puts you in a strong position when the market does eventually improve.”
Andrew Fleming is commercial partner of Blocks Solicitors, and realises the benefit of strong brand awareness. Andrew commented: “Although the business environment may be hardening, that’s when good marketing comes into its own. All businesses need to be able to communicate their particular strengths. As a firm, we invest in focused local advertising and have a concerted marketing strategy, which we intend to follow through and even enhance through this economic downturn.”
Cementing a company’s message is also crucial in a downturn, a good PR campaign backs up the effectiveness of an advertising campaign, amplifying its message, and it can help any size company build awareness.
Sonia commented: “Unfortunately many people see PR as a luxury it shouldn’t be if used correctly and integrated with an effective marketing plan. PR enhances reputation, builds a brand, and makes your business stand out from the crowd.” She added: “If you cut PR out in tough times you leave the door open for your competitors to walk in, you are much better off maintaining a presence in the public eye, keeping in peoples minds and communicating with your customers. If you are serious about business, you have to invest in it.”
By Sonia Shelcott
Monday 21 February 2011
Three new websites go live!
After three months of intensive work, Soo and Sonia have now completed the Fusion Website. It is visible here: http://www.fusion-ipswich.co.uk and is a collaboration between Marketing and PR consultant Sonia Shelcott (Mill River Publicity) and Graphic and Web Designer Soo Smart (Double S Design).
Definitely two heads are better than one, together we can offer a full marketing, PR and design service. We are a PR, marketing and design consultancy that helps your business deliver highly effective PR and marketing campaigns. We share a passion for ethical, clear-sighted and client focused project delivery.
Whether your business is new, growing or established, we can deliver expertise and ideas that will drive your business forward. We work across a range of different sectors and pride ourselves on our many long-term partnerships with our clients. Working to your budgets and deadlines, either for a specific campaign or over a longer period of time, we can help to raise the profile of your business both in the written word and through creative design.
If you are looking for a dedicated consultancy to help you, please give us a call. We would be happy to visit to discuss your plans.
Fusion - Design, Marketing and PR Specialists. We share a passion for ethical, clear-sighted and client focused project delivery.
Definitely two heads are better than one, together we can offer a full marketing, PR and design service. We are a PR, marketing and design consultancy that helps your business deliver highly effective PR and marketing campaigns. We share a passion for ethical, clear-sighted and client focused project delivery.
Whether your business is new, growing or established, we can deliver expertise and ideas that will drive your business forward. We work across a range of different sectors and pride ourselves on our many long-term partnerships with our clients. Working to your budgets and deadlines, either for a specific campaign or over a longer period of time, we can help to raise the profile of your business both in the written word and through creative design.
If you are looking for a dedicated consultancy to help you, please give us a call. We would be happy to visit to discuss your plans.
Fusion - Design, Marketing and PR Specialists. We share a passion for ethical, clear-sighted and client focused project delivery.
Saturday 19 February 2011
Social Networking -You Need Back Links
Did you know that it's no good doing social media if you don't link back to your site?
You may be very happy to communicate to your friends and business colleagues on Twitter and Facebook, but 2011 will be the year when Social Media comes into its own. If you are the only one seeing your Tweets, then your message is not getting across. If you never link your Tweets to your website, your are missing out on a vital way of driving traffic to your website. Search Engines look for links between sites, it thinks if there are links happening frequently, then your website is important.
Not only do you need to join Social Networking groups, but you also need to create a Blog and send the news from the Blog to your site via RSS feeds.
Is it all beginning to sound rather tricky and complicated? It's just a steep learning curve, but nothing you or a competent web designer cannot help you with or do for you. If you want to see what I mean, just click on these links here>> Tweets RSS Linked In Twitter News Feeds
You may be very happy to communicate to your friends and business colleagues on Twitter and Facebook, but 2011 will be the year when Social Media comes into its own. If you are the only one seeing your Tweets, then your message is not getting across. If you never link your Tweets to your website, your are missing out on a vital way of driving traffic to your website. Search Engines look for links between sites, it thinks if there are links happening frequently, then your website is important.
Not only do you need to join Social Networking groups, but you also need to create a Blog and send the news from the Blog to your site via RSS feeds.
Is it all beginning to sound rather tricky and complicated? It's just a steep learning curve, but nothing you or a competent web designer cannot help you with or do for you. If you want to see what I mean, just click on these links here>> Tweets RSS Linked In Twitter News Feeds
Is your email address professional?
If you are serious about your business you need a professional email address. This means registering a domain and buying hosting. If you only need email and don't want a website for the time being, then that's as far as you need to go. It is a small fee to pay to look professional.
OK, so we all have to start at the beginning and a hotmail or tiscali email address will do the job while you are setting things up. But if you want to look professional and don't know where to start, then simply give us a call on 01473 728617. We can set up your domain and email address without you having a Website.
OK, so we all have to start at the beginning and a hotmail or tiscali email address will do the job while you are setting things up. But if you want to look professional and don't know where to start, then simply give us a call on 01473 728617. We can set up your domain and email address without you having a Website.
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