Chichester Design Blog» bbc

Chichester Design kicks back at the Chichester Real Ale & Jazz Festival

Chichester Design — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:12:45 +0000

The Chichester Design team enjoyed a brilliant night out last Friday with Katie Melua and guests at the Chichester Real Ale and Jazz Festival. Having designed and built the event’s website, we were kindly invited by the organisers to the headline night.

It was quite a busy night, as some of the team also had tickets for an early evening talk by the BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson, which was part of the Chichester Festivities.

He talked about how the news had been reported over the last century or so. It was particularly interesting to hear him talk about the Andrew Gilligan scandal at the BBC – he was the chap who accused the government of “sexing up” reports concerning Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction. I think it’s fair to say that Alastair Campbell will never be on John Simpson’s Christmas card list.

Back in the big tent at Priory Park, local singer-songwriter Sarah Saville kicked off the music, before Katie Melua took to the stage about 9.45. She treated the crowd to some of her hits, including “The closest thing to crazy”, and some songs from her new album, The House.

In amongst all the music, ale and food, I got to have a quick chat with some of the guys that help organise the event. They had nothing but praise for the website, which was good to hear!

All round, it was a great night. We’re already looking forward to the 2011 event!

To find out more about Chichester Design’s web design and development services, contact Michael on +44 (0)1243 787542 or info@chichesterdesign.co.uk.

Chichester Design helps over-50s get online with Silver Surfers’ Day

Chichester Design — Mon, 17 May 2010 15:56:44 +0000

I think we can all agree that technology comes and goes at a frightening pace. The Chichester Design team keep up here – it’s our job – but for most people, even for those who’ve grown up and gone to work in the age of PDAs, the internet, notebooks, wireless hotspots, iPods etc., it can be bit of a stretch.

So, imagine if you’re from a generation that grew up with shillings, O Levels and computers that took up whole rooms. Imagine how overwhelming that view must be. Changing this view is the premise behind Silver Surfers’ Day, an initiative backed by the likes of the BBC, Google, Skype, the NHS and Decca Records to get over 50s online.

Working with creators Digital Unite, we’ve helped create a new website for Silver Surfers’ Day, which takes place on 21st May this year.

The initiative is designed as a simple introduction to using the web for over 50s, so we’ve helped make the functionality of the website just as easy. Visitors can choose from a range of doors, labelled Get Started, Send Email, Online Shopping, etc., through which lies straightforward instructions and advice on the chosen subject.

It’s a great initiative and we’re hoping that it gets plenty of coverage on the radio and online. Check it out at www.silversurfersday.org.uk.

To find out more about Chichester Design’s web design and development services, contact Michael on 01243 787542 or info@chichesterdesign.co.uk.

Update:

Watch Sir Terry Wogan promoting Silver Surfers’ Day on the BBC Breakfast TV on Thursday
Listen to Sir Terry Wogan promoting Silver Surfers’ Day on Friday’s Jeremy Vine show on BBC Radio 2

Keep Twitter flying solo

Kate — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:56:33 +0000

First Facebook made a bid and then Google stuck their ore in and now it seems that Apple is giving it a shot. What am I talking about? Getting a piece of Twitter of course!

Chichester Design for one is aware of the joys that Twitter brings to the world of social networking and it’s one of our favourite marketing devices. But, when it comes to online successes such as this there has been a long history of muscling in from the big boys who want to get their fingers in all the pies. Opinions are divided on this and some might argue that the likes of YouTube has blossomed since Google’s take over but others may see it as just another fall for successful, independent businesses.

Since Twitter started tweeting its bird song all over the national media and TV celebrities like Stephen Fry and Jonathan Ross started waxing lyrical about it has gone from strength to strength. Not only has it helped these BBC stars to promote their own profiles and build on their fanbases it, has started a new craze for open and frank microblogging among the masses.

Interests in buy-outs have been shown from all the big boys in Cyberspace although the brains behind Twitter insist that they are not on the market. Recently, while on ABC’s The View as part of their current media campaign and in response to a question about rumours of an imminent purchase from one of the techy giants, Biz Stone revealed: “No. We are not for sale”.

So whether Apple pip Google to the post and fly off with the goods remains to be seen but a Twitter takeover could be continuation on a slippery slope of decreased independence and increased uniformity among the big and bright online businesses of the future.

Natural Navigator on the BBC

Chichester Design — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:06:22 +0000

Chichester Design customer Tristan Gooley AKA the Natural Navigator was on the BBC 1 Country File programme on Sunday night. Click here for his blog post about it. BBC Countryfile presenter Jules Hudson attempted to navigate through the countryside using only nature with the guidance Tristan Gooley AKA the Natural Navigator.

You can watch it on the BBC iPlayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00kc2ws/Countryfile_03_05_2009/

Also find out more on the BBC Countryfile webpage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006t0bv

Programme Info:

Broadcast on: BBC One, 7:30pm Sunday 3rd May 2009

Duration: 55 minutes

Available until: 8:29pm Sunday 10th May 2009…

Kate represents Chichester Design at TFM&A

Kate — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:36:00 +0000

This week they let me out of the office and loose in good old London Town for a spot of schmoozing, networking and spying on our competitors and associates in the world of web design. Yes, that’s right boys and girls I was at Earls Court for Technology for Marketing & Advertising on 24-25th February.
I arrived bright and early on Tuesday morning and made my way straight to the Google Seminar for an introduction to Google Analytics. Luckily I arrived half an hour before the start of the talk as the large Keynote Theatre was soon full to the brim with eager marketers and web folk who were champing at the bit to get a little more insight into the excellent tool brought to us by the Internet search engine giants.
To be frank (and Frank’s a good bloke), I didn’t learn oodles, it was more of a refresher, as I’ve been swotting for my Google Adwords Professional exam for a few weeks now. But I did come away feeling more confident about using the Analytics tool and with a few Google goodies in my swag bag.
At lunch time I grabbed an opportunity to have a nose around the exhibition area where I caught up with some fellow SEO experts, copywriters and Social Media enthusiasts. I also got myself scanned Men in Black style to have my details entered into a few prize draws (your lucky I can remember this!) I tucked into my lunch, which I took it with me as I wasn’t prepared to pay venue prices, and prepared myself for afternoon dedicated to queuing, listening and intense note taking.
I attended several of the free seminar sessions held in the Online Advertising theatre, and learnt new tricks on everything from Behavioural Targeting and Online Branding to SEO and Social Media. The first day was rounded off with another keynote session from LinkedIn, Managing Director Europe, Kevin Eyres. I was getting a bit drowsy by this time (4.45pm), having spent the day intaking muschos info but I was roused by a few tips on how to best create brand engagement with professional audiences, including an invaluable list of hot tips which I will be putting to practice right away.
Keen for even more industry knowledge, I was back again bright and early on the Wednesday (well not quite so bright and early, I managed to miss the bus and then the train connection –you know how the London commute can be). It was another morning appointment with Google for me, but this time I got an Introduction to Website Optimiser, not such an engaging session as the previous day and it was obvious that a few of the natives were getting restless but again I came away with a few gems and a rather nifty How-to Guide for Online Conversions- Ben is now hoarding this on his desk and reading psalms to us from it each morning!
Next on my agenda was a rather informative taster session from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) called SEM: Profitable Paid Search in the “Credit Crunch”, where I picked up a few tips on how we can improve PPC campaigns for our customers during these troubled times. I later attended Social Media: Six of the best (excellent) and Winners and Losers in a Troubled Economy, which for a gloomy topic was surprisingly entertaining and I even bagged myself a Credit Crunchie (i’m easily pleased by chocolate, but especially in recession related talks).
The highlight of my second day at TFM&A was most definitely the live Social Media debate, hosted by Danny Meadows-Klue from the Digital Training Academy and panelled by representatives from Facebook, YouTube, the BBC and Thomson Reuters. I was fortunate to witness this as there was an overall capacity coping problem at the venue and while many delegates were turned away from the full smaller seminars, this social media sensation was streamed from the big Keynote Theatre to smaller seminar rooms so that poor souls like me could get in on the action.
It was great to hear from the guys behind the scenes on topics such as coping with an uncontrolled world of online content, what’s driving the success of Facebook and what makes for a good YouTube entry. They finished off with what they think the changes for the future will be and as well as mentioning how ad formats are going to transform in order to be able to offer more to brands, and spotify has been tipped as the new hot spot in terms of music sharing social media.
I came back to the Chichester Design Office a new woman- informed and enthused about our future in digital marketing and, in particular, social media consultancy. One thing that TFM&A has confirmed for me is that social media is here to stay and it’s the future in marketing.

A Right Royal Day in Cyber Space

Kate — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:20:00 +0000

Yesterday the BBC revealed that the Sovereign has decided to get down with the kids (and the rest of modern society) and give Royal.gov.uk, a bit of a facelift (now, now, no Camilla jokes!)

The relaunch of the royal website, which has been online since 1997, was announced at a Buckingham Palace reception. On the guest list of this royal soirée was none other than Sir Tim Berners-Lee, esteemed inventor of the World Wide Web and the man we can be grateful to for our online bread and butter.

This regal step into New Media follows the launch of the Royal Channel on YouTube last year, which means that you now never need miss the Queen’s speech because mum’s dished up the turkey late again – feeewww!

The decision for the website revamp was to increase user-friendliness, but, don’t fear the Corgis aren’t out on their little ears just yet. It seems that presenting the new website and appearing on the occasional Youtube video are the Queen’s limit when it comes to the Internet and all that jazz. BBC royal correspondent, Peter Hunt stated:

“We can’t e-mail her and there’s little prospect of the Queen blogging, conducting a webchat or indeed twittering,”

Despite its criticisms, Royal.gov.uk has to date got as many as 250,000 visits from around the globe per week and the site had over 100 million hits in its first year. With its increase in video material and an improved navigation, this regal revelation will not only have some excellent SEO features but should also continue to rack up royalist junkies.