Web Design Birmingham and iPhone Apps Birmingham by Swof Media

iThing Cameras

Swof Media — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:31:32 +0000

We have just been asked by a client to provide them with a run down of camera specs on iThings because they are using an app which involves taking photos. Thought it might be useful for others to see…

Device	Megapixels	Flash?
iPod Touch 4g	0.7	No
iPhone 3gs	3	No
iPhone 4	5	Yes
iPhone 4s	8	Yes
iPad 2	0.7	No
iPad 3	5	No

Something tells me there will be a new iPod Touch soon with a 5 or 8 megapixel camera and flash.

Case Study: Marwood

Swof Media — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 18:04:47 +0000

Marwood are an independent estate agent in Cannock with a good local reputation and a well known name. However, they were facing a difficult property market and had fallen behind with their IT and marketing. On 1st of November 2011 they instructed Swof Media to help them out and now, 4 months later, this is what we have achieved…

A Re-brand
Marwood has always had strong green and gold colours with an oval logo, but the font looked dated so we have updated the logo with a modern look but tried to keep the same identity. We have also introduced a door symbol which we can use on social media branding, more on this later…

New website design
The existing website was created years ago and left a lot to be desired so we quickly got to work on a new site. Marwood deal with Sales and Lettings and Commercial property so we had 3 different areas to consider. Their properties are also managed by an internal software system so we needed to setup an overnight upload to the website so that any property updates we’re shown on the site. We also built the site with on-page search engine optimisation to boost their position on Google and get more website visitors. To view the new site please go over to: www.marwoodips.com

Facebook and Twitter
It’s important for any business to be setup on these 2 social networks these days, and Marwood are now making the most of them and ‘getting social’. We have also been running some Facebook advertising campaigns for them which have been targeted to the Cannock area and have brought in some good results. You can Follow them on Twitter or Like them on Facebook.

New board with QR code
As part of the rebrand, Marwood also needed a new board design and was also keen to use a QR code so that home seekers could scan a board to find out about a property. We worked closely with Countrywide signs and have now implemented new for sale and to let boards which do just that!

Email Marketing
Marwood had built up a long list of email addresses for local applicants but had never sent them information about products and services. We have now introduced them to MailChimp and have started sending regular campaigns to help promote the brand and the business.

New server and cloud backup using MozyPro
Marwood’s internal property system was running on quite an old pc with no offsite backup and so it was a little worrying. We have now put in place a new local server to run the software and the data is being regularly backed up to the cloud using MozyPro.

Coming soon: iPhone app
One of the next jobs is to create an iPhone (and Android) app for Marwood so that property searches can be done on a smartphone. More details about this will be given on their website nearer the time: http://marwoodips.com

20% of your website visitors could be using a mobile

Swof Media — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:21:29 +0000

On Google Analytics we have noticed a growing percentage of mobile users in the last few months with the average now being around 20% for the websites we look after. So 20% of the people coming to your website could be using a mobile and by the end of the year this will no doubt be even higher.

Its never been more important to look at your website from a smartphone’s web browser and check that it looks ok on the smaller screen. If it doesn’t then you may want to consider a mobile version of your website or even an app. There are ways of detecting what device is looking at your website so if its an iPhone or Android then you could send them to the respective apps and all other mobile devices could go to a mobile website. The desktop version remains unaffected meaning that all visitors to your website get the best possible experience.

So remember, if you’re normal website doesn’t render properly on a mobile device then you may be loosing potential customers. Please let us know if we can help with any of this.

Merry Christmas from Swof Media

Swof Media — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:43:37 +0000

Well, it’s been a very eventful end to the year for Swof Media with us now becoming a LLP and having 3 new business partners; myself, Gary and Richard (more on them soon). This expansion will allow Swof Media to offer better services in 2012 for new and existing clients. This will include things like a Text messaging service, WordPress Webmaster training and lots more iPhone apps!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all clients of Swof Media a very merry Christmas and would like to thank you for all your business during 2011. I will be taking a break between 23rd of December and 3rd of January but please email me any urgent matters and I will do my best to respond.

Merry Christmas,
Steve

What are QR codes?

Swof Media — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:19:03 +0000

QR codes have actually been around for quite a while now but I think they are now becoming more noticeable and used. I’m hoping to bring them into use for my clients and have big ideas about where and how they can be used. For those of you don’t know what they are, have a look at the following image:

You may have seen these images already? Perhaps in a magazine or newspaper? This is a QR code. It’s much like a bar code but it can hold more information. The QR code above is actually for the Swof Media website.

QR codes can be read by smart phones and tablets with cameras. For example, the iPad has this free app which let’s you scan QR codes and act on there information. This information could be a website, an app or a phone number for example. Meaning that when you scan a QR code you can be taken straight to a website.

So how do I get my own QR code? It’s really easy, just visit: http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

Then you could put your QR code on your business card, leaflet, magazine advert, etc.

If you have any ideas about how you could use your QR code, I would love to hear about them in the comments…

Darren C – Marketing Consultant

Swof Media — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 16:03:33 +0000

“Above all Steve is a very fair and decent person to do business with. This is what really impressed me about Steve.”

Darren C – Marketing Consultant

Richard C – Lettings Agent

Swof Media — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 16:01:36 +0000

“Steve has designed and developed our new website with great results, I recommend him to businesses looking for professional website design services.”

Richard C – Lettings Agent

Sophie B – RICS Surveyor and Valuer

Swof Media — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 16:00:05 +0000

“Steve aka The Swof Meister is a genius within his profession! We will definately be using Steve again soon.”

Sophie B – RICS Surveyor and Valuer

Ben H – Magician

Swof Media — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 15:57:29 +0000

“Within 24 hours of my website being created, I was already getting enquiries!”

Ben H – Magician

Myrah D – Project Worker

Swof Media — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 15:55:52 +0000

“Steve is a hard working web designer who pays close attention to detail and always aims to ensure that you get exactly what you want.”

Myrah D – Project Worker