Liverpool F.C. Smashes Web Records

July saw some huge successes for the Liverpool F.C. website, with fans from all over the world logging in to keep up with the latest news, which included a new manager and a new number 10.

By the close of the month, LiverpoolFC.tv had smashed all previous web records, welcoming more than 4m unique visitors to the site, who enjoyed more than 85m pages - what a July! Previous records hadn't even come close to this astounding performance, with past top performance levels for a single month at 65m pages views (in 2005) and 3.4m uniques (in 2009).

The site, which was designed and built by Bluhalo in partnership with Liverpool F.C.'s internal development team, is one of the most popular sports websites on the planet. The news article which reports this huge achievement also notes the importance of its fans in achieving this success; "Thanks to all of you who visited Liverpoolfc.tv during July for continuing to make the official website of LFC one of the most visited football sites on the internet."

Jocelyn Kirby
Marketing & Business Development Manager
Twitter @JocelynKirby

Bluhalo's Spurs site gets NMA site of the week

We love working on the Spurs website (http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/) - it's a great site, with a wealth of top quality content.

NMA landed on my desk this morning, and to my (and the Bluhalo team's) delight, the Spurs site has been awarded site of the week.

With an impressive 88/100, scoring 22/25 for content, 22/25 for usability, 21/25 for branding and 23/25 for monetisation, we're delighted, to say the least. A lot of dedication and passion went into the redesign of the latest version of the Spurs website and we're really pleased to see our expertise and efforts rewarded!

To view the full article, visit the NMA website.



Jocelyn Kirby
Marketing & Business Development Manager
@jocelynkirby

Familiarity Breeds Content

The troubles last month with snow and ice that caused chaos for many, if not all of us. An experience that I had brought home a few truths about how the familiar, when changed to be almost unrecognisable, worries us, unsettles us and even has us running for the door!

As I sat for two hours on a roundabout that normally takes me five minutes to cross, the snow falling heavily and piling high on the road, I had a thought... What seems so familiar that we don’t even consciously notice it, can change beyond all recognition when covered in a soft, shiny white layer of snow.

Think of your current website. Chances are a lot of blood sweat and tears went into its creation. This site says you are the best at what you do, you sell the best product or that you have really cool customers. Whatever it says about you, many of your core clients recognise it, feel comfortable with it and can be adverse to radical, or even small changes.

So you need a new digital presence, not just the site but your whole approach needs to be upgraded, needs more ‘nowness’, more features, more bang – the list goes on. Many agencies will want to offer you all the newest features; they will tell you that the current market demands it even!

But as with all new technological advances, they may not necessarily be the right ‘fit’ for you. The saying ‘Content is King’ still holds true, but it has to be relevant and useful for your clients and target market.

When considering a ‘new’ website, a refresh of your old one, or embarking on new channels of digital communications, keep in mind what your clients like, how they engage online, what currently works, what gets the most traffic - build on that. Make it better, more user-friendly and don't forget to keep what works - most importantly, don’t scare away your users!

Paul Windust
Project Manager

Space Exploration Network Launches New Website

Bluhalo is pleased to announce the launch of SEN.com, the website of the Space Exploration Network.

SEN is a space television news network whose purpose is to gather and distribute news and information on space. The website provides a central location for current news, features, content and space-related resources.

The website, designed and built by Bluhalo aims to engage a diverse audience and features latest news, SEN TV video area, a wiki, forums and a photo gallery – with focus placed on user engagement and user contributions to the wealth of highly focused and original content. The website aims to achieve 1 million users within the next 2 years.

The vision of SEN is to promote interest in space; raise awareness of the reality of humankind and Earth in the universe and through raising awareness provide a different perspective to human conduct and the government of life on this planet; educate and encourage consideration of the physics, economics, laws and government of space and to create a community in which people can learn, debate and share information about space.

Charles Black, Founder of SEN commented “Bluhalo have done a fantastic job creating an innovative site that is very contemporary in terms of both design and technology. The site encompasses a range of leading technologies for video, pictures and user generated content. Bluhalo have also developed a highly effective Content Management System that enables SEN to manage the site content and subscriptions. I am already discussing future developments for the site for phase 2 of SEN's business plan which will include e-commerce capability for online subscriptions. We are looking forward to continuing our relationship with the Bluhalo team.”

Paul Windust, Project Manager at Bluhalo for the SEN project added “Charles Black has a passion and knowledge of space that is impressive and contagious. Working on this site has been a pleasure for the whole team and we’ll enjoy watching it grow and be proud that we had a hand in this exciting project.”

Jocelyn Kirby
Marketing & Business Development Manager
Twitter @JocelynKirby

Cancer Research UK Re-Launches Microsite

Cancer Research UK yesterday re-launched its microsite, JoinTheFight.org.uk in support of its ‘Join the fight for women’s survival’ breast cancer awareness campaign.

The microsite is the result of a collaboration between Bluhalo and Cancer Research UK’s internal development team, with Bluhalo providing the planning, design and Flash expertise.

The site aims to increase funds raised by focusing on increased traffic levels, improved user experience and enhanced user engagement, and supports a variety of on and offline promotional activity, encouraging visitors to ‘join the fight for women’s survival and help beat breast cancer’.

‘Join the fight for women’s survival’ is the new title name and theme for Cancer Research UK’s 2009 Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) campaign, which focuses on raising awareness of breast cancer and funds for research into the disease.

Bluhalo, appointed by Cancer Research UK in January 2009, has worked on a number of other projects for the charity including the production of a microsite and digital advertising assets for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life campaign.

Jocelyn Kirby
Marketing & Business Development Manager

Headline Launches Book Promo Site

We’re pleased to announce the launch of a new website for Headline Publishing Ltd, one of the UK’s largest publishing companies, http://www.the-b-word.co.uk/, to promote its range of books aimed at the teen market.

The books, which include The Gossip Girl series, the first of which formed the basis for the well-known TV series, bring a racy, mature feel to teen reading. The site, aimed at engaging its teen audience and encouraging interaction through reader reviews, forum discussions and commenting on books, has a young, dynamic feel.

Bluhalo Digital Account Manager for the B-Word project, Simon Evans, commented; “It’s been really refreshing to work on the development of such a young and vibrant brand site, embracing social media features for the promotion of what is traditionally a very ‘offline’ media. I am in no doubt that the site will be a great success with Headline’s target audience.”

Ruth Jeffery, leading the B-Word project for Headline commented; “We wanted to create a site where all of the users could take ownership and really feel involved. One of the main aims was to push the opportunity for young adults to exercise the creativity that reading inspires, whether that’s through discussion with other readers, by taking part in creative challenges or by being part of the review team. It’s something that we haven’t done before and Bluhalo have designed such a striking site, we hope that our readers are motivated by it as much as we are.”

Surf's Up: The olympics are over so where can you get your sports fix now?

Like many people I watched parts of the Olympics, but not all. I mainly heard news of medal wins via news sites and the BBC had great coverage of the opening ceremony. For the sports fan, no matter what sport you enjoy, I am sure the Olympics were a great sports fix, but now it's all over what do they do?

Well if you love sport you probably already know that there are some great sites out there for fans. They cover a variety of sports. Some are news sites while others try and get you into shape.

Well I’ve searched and here are some interesting websites I’ve come across and some I have used. Enjoy your sports fix:



http://www.sportingo.com/
"Sportingo, the home for fan-generated articles, opinions and news from the world of sport. Whether you are after the latest online banter from the Premiership or you are looking for in-depth analysis of the latest test match, you have come to the right place."



http://www.ballhype.com/
"Too many sports blogs, too little time ...BallHype makes it easy for all of the sports fans out there who want to keep up but don't have all day to goof off online."



http://www.sportsnipe.com/
"Sports Snipe now finding your favorite sports news from 3976 sources and climbing. Enjoy."



http://www.sportsfanlive.com/
"Sports Fan Live is a social network for sports fan centered around what a fan wants to see."



http://www.youcastr.com/
"YouCastr is creating an interactive sports network where fans interact with each other before, during and after a game, making the experience of following their favorite sports more fun and social."



http://www.teamsnap.com/
"TeamSnap is a unique way to manage your sports team. TeamSnap takes the headache out of team sports by making it simple to manage your sports team online."



http://www.runnerplus.com/
"RunnerPlus® provides a thriving forums area, groups, challenges, run mapping, member tips & advice, videos, and more. If you use running systems such as the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit or Garmin Forerunner*, then you will benefit even more."



http://istats.com.au/
"iStats - FREE online fitness, exercise and weights journal, helps keep you motivated by viewing your progress & sharing with others."



http://www.traineo.com/
"traineo is a free and simple website that gives you the motivation and support to reach your weight loss and fitness goals."

I hope you've enjoyed looking through these great sites. Look out for future Surf's Up features where I'll be looking at other areas of the internet and what it has to offer. If you want to keep track of sites I find follow me on twitter @kunji.

Kunji

Bluhalo Nominated for Dadi Awards

The nomination results were released at 5pm today, and after a few tense moments of breath-holding whilst scrolling down the nominations page, I was delighted to discover that we have been nominated for the Dadi Awards in the Best In-House Website or Campaign category!

Entries to the Dadi Awards are up 50% on last year's entries, so to be nominated is a huge achievement. Our website has shown some impressive stats since launch including 75% increase in website visits, 194% increase in time on site and 1005% increase in revenue generated directly from our website - well we have to practice what we preach don't we?!

The final category winners will be announced on 'Dadi's Day', 31st October 2008.

To view the final nominations for all categories, visit the Dadi Awards website.

Why Bluhalo is brilliant!

At Bluhalo, we’re happy to admit that we don’t get everything right all the time! What we do is try our best every time and we always try to be brilliant!

We have a great team here at Bluhalo (we think the best!) and as a team, we came up with a definitive list of why we love (yes love) working at Bluhalo. It’s no PR stunt and the list came from each and every member of our team. So here it is, why Bluhalo is brilliant…

Symfony, the PHP framework. We all seem to love it and although it seems odd that we should feel for one piece of technology so much, working with Symfony has proven to be a great learning curve for our developers, as well as injecting a huge leap forward in the way and efficiency with which we develop our websites. We concluded that alongside Symfony, we have a lot of great technology in the business.

The office. For years we were in 500 year old Tudor Barns. Ok, it was a cool place to work, on the farm with the sound of the horses in the background… but, today, our offices are much slicker, very minimalistic and most importantly they are modern and something to be proud of.
The work. It’s challenging, interesting, we have some impressive client names and most importantly, there is a great variety!

The openness. We have regular team meetings and everyone knows almost everything that goes on at Bluhalo. As a result people feel secure and valued.

The people. It comes up every time we conduct this exercise! The people at Bluhalo are fun, friendly and welcoming. There is a great mix of skills and abilities and the variety of personalities is fantastic. There are always people you can rely on and there are a number of key team members that are always supportive. Everyone is passionate about the internet – you’d expect that right?!

Fun. We have great parties, regular team outings (last month it was go-karting), fresh fruit delivered every week and we have a Wii – this week it’s Wii Wimbledon!

Food. People did joke that they love the leftover meeting food – not sure about that one, but our Friday late afternoon get-togethers are good – we take a little bit of time out at the end of the day to have a drink (non-alcoholic if we’re driving of course!) and spend some social time with our colleagues.

Better than the rest. A lot of our team have experienced working in a variety of agencies and it was concluded that we are just as good, if not better than any of the top London agencies. Our working environment, technology, job satisfaction and ethics (to name a few) are streets ahead of any agency any of our team has worked at – including some top London agencies!

Our website. Everyone is very proud of our website and blog – how many companies can say that! We practice what we preach when it comes to digital – what better way to show that it works than with our own site?!

Team problem solving. If there are issues – client or internally, the majority of the time they are solved quickly and successfully by the team.

Spencer. OK, so it sounds cheesy but not everyone loves their boss right? Everyone at Bluhalo agreed that we thrive on Spencer’s drive and enthusiasm.

Career. Bluhalo does not just give people jobs, it gives them a career. We have loads of opportunity for career development, and with our new parent company, Gyro International, there should be even more potential to develop exciting and potentially international careers!

So that’s all from our list for now. Hopefully it goes some way to show that we’re not just a logo and a turnover figure and our list of likes has come from real team members, not a PR agency!

If you like what you’ve read and you fancy joining the team, visit the work with us section of our website.

If you like what you’ve read and would like to talk to us about your new website, get in touch.

Open Source vs Library vs Ad Hoc

Depending on your requirements, there are different approaches that may be taken in creating a website. What are they (lets pretend you haven’t already read the title)? What advantages do they bring? What do we at Bluhalo advocate?

The first one we will consider is open source software. Although there are a number of different licence flavours, at its most basic open source software can be thought of as free code. What this code does depends entirely on the type of software. For example, there are entire ecommerce solutions available that can be installed and simply require customisation to use. At the other end of the open source spectrum (that we are interested in) would be simple components, intended to achieve a very specific purpose. Somewhere in the middle is the concept of frameworks – varying quantities of code designed to facilitate ad hoc development (more on that later).

So why would you go the open source route? Assuming you can find something that meets your needs, speed of development is greatly increased. Also, if the community for the project is active, it has likely been well tested, meaning there should be very few bugs. The flip side of this is that if there is little community interest or input, projects can stagnate and die - what may initially appear to be a great solution ends up requiring far more time to correct than anticipated, and since it requires working on existing code it potentially forces the developer to work in a way that might not best match their work flow.

To get over the last point, you come to the possibility of building and maintaining a library of your own code. While it can take time to accumulate a meaningful library, it will be code that you know intimately so should be fully aware of what it is capable of. Rigorous testing would also allow you to overcome the lack of a community in ensuring that it is stable and reliable. Precisely what you maintain is very much down to personal preference – some prefer it to be a number of often used functions, while others may prefer to create extensive frameworks for different types of project that can easily be rolled out at need.

The problem with the latter (and with the larger open source solutions) is that they don’t always precisely match requirements – there may be redundant code or features, or they simply may not provide functionality required by the client. Here we come to ad hoc development – crafting a web application precisely according to the needs of the client. While this is more time consuming, it does mean that the final solution will more exactly match what was requested.

As with everything in life, there are advantages and disadvantages to each. If only we could pick and choose! So how is it done at Bluhalo? Here we can give a knowing and reassuring smile. :) We aren’t locked into any one practise.

For example, a smaller business in need of an ecommerce solution with a limited budget will be pointed toward our Dreams division. In this case, they will carefully customise an open source solution with which they are intimately familiar (i.e. tried and tested!) to give the client the best possible balance for their needs.

We also use an open source framework, Symfony, that is gaining a large following around the world. As I mentioned earlier, a framework is designed to aid development – it prevents the programmers from having to re-invent the wheel on every site and instead allows them to concentrate on the nuts and bolts of what makes the clients’ site unique. This has a hugely positive affect on the time it takes to develop a proprietary site.

We also maintain a code library - if a client wanted a simple mp3 player (yay, finally a multimedia example!), we would start with our library player. This is an existing basic player that I wrote previously, and then adjust it functionally and visually to precisely meet the clients requirements. Why waste their valuable studio time unnecessarily?

Basically then, we don’t fall into the trap of relying on a single practice and forcing it around the requirements we are given. The needs for each site will be unique, so we adjust our methodology according to what will give you the best result.

Nick

ShortList site launch

Following the successful launch of ShortList.com, the website for ShortList, the free men's magazine that launched last year, we are pleased to bring you press coverage of the site launch in NMA. The site focuses on interactivity and building traffic levels.




Click image for a larger view of the article.

To view the site visit www.shortlist.com.

Digital Planning Explained

Why Digital Planning?

Digital planning is the difference between a good website and a great website!

Digital planning is an essential process to online business success. The scope of digital planning required varies from business to business, needs to be entirely bespoke (within a framework) and is carried out prior to an online communications project such as a new website or an online marketing campaign.

As with all marketing, planning is the key to a successful campaign and often forms a large part of the time and financial investment in a project. With the prominence and complexity of digital marketing increasing, the need for comprehensive and quality planning is all the more essential.

Your digital plan should include professional analysis of your objectives, indentifying target audiences and understanding their motivations - often including psychology, reading market trends and keeping abreast of new media developments. From this detailed research, the perfect solution for maximising your ROI and gaining a competitive edge can be formed. A digital planner assesses the plethora of digital communication channels and provides recommendations tailored to your business objectives which will be identified during the research stages of the planning process.

This does not encapsulate all that a digital plan provides, but highlights the significance of digital planning in the fast-moving digital world.

We believe that preparation is key, and planning is at the heart of a successful online business.

Speak to Bluhalo about how digital planning can help strengthen your success!

AndyMurray.com Launches

Bluhalo is delighted to announce the launch of a new website for world-class tennis player Andy Murray.

The new website, which will include a full content management system, a video section and a blog, will also allow Andy to update fans on what he’s up to anytime of day and night via a Twitter integration.

Bluhalo, who is also redesigning Jamie Murray’s website, has designed the new website to give an engaging fan experience as well as focusing on increasing website traffic and monetisation of the website.

The new website, will sit alongside a number of other high profile sporting websites from Bluhalo’s portfolio including Tottenham Hotspur F.C., Hi-Tec, Subaru World Rally Team, The Premier League, and Prodrive.

Vimal Patel, Business Development Director at Bluhalo comments; “It’s great to be working for one of the UK’s top sportsmen on a site that embraces the best of social media to truly engage the fans and enhance the user experience.”

Rob Stewart, Editor of Andymurray.com comments; “Because Andy's a busy guy, it was important that we found a way he could keep his fans up-to-date without needing to be tied to a laptop.

With so much based around his mobile phone, it's going to be dead simple for him to update the site wherever he is, and with the minimum amount of hassle."

For more on AndyMurray.com view the client case study or visit AndyMurray.com.

Press Coverage

New Media Age recently covered a story discussing the online strategies for some of the UK's leading football clubs. Liverpool F.C. has recently appointed Bluhalo to redesign and redevelop its website and plans to incorporate user generated content and social networking into the site. Tottenham Hotspur, a client of Bluhalo is also mentioned in the story.



Article in NMA. (click image for a larger view)

Hi-Tec ion-mask website launches

Bluhalo is pleased to announce the launch of a new website for Hi-Tec, www.hi-tec.com/ion-mask - promoting the new groundbreaking technology of ion-mask™.

The website, designed to deliver a dynamic and enticing experience and providing a stylish and innovative platform from which to communicate the revolutionary nature of the ion-mask technology, will form the core of an online campaign launching the Hi-Tec ion-mask™ footwear range.

The Hi-Tec ion-mask™ footwear range represents a quantum leap in footwear technology and has already created a stir within the industry. A breakthrough in surface enhancement, the ion-mask™ process - developed by P2i Ltd - works at a molecular level binding invisibly to the surface of the shoes giving them an extraordinary ability to repel most liquids. With the technology allowing for a lighter, cleaner, more breathable and environmentally friendly product, Hi-Tec is already taking the outdoor market by storm with record orders.

Representing possibly one of the biggest technology launches the industry has seen, the website will present visitors with animated information on the benefits of ion-mask™ and includes a show reel, press stories and a blog written by Hi-Tec, which will communicate latest news, personal opinion and brand messages, whilst encouraging consumer interaction and brand engagement.

Michael Brandreth, Senior Account Director at Bluhalo, says ‘Hi Tec briefed us to produce a site that not only communicates the fantastic consumer benefits of ion-mask™ but that also helps self-generate its own traffic. As part of a phased launch, we will introduce social media techniques to the site that will compliment the existing content and help drive awareness levels’.

Jason Larke, Group Brand Communications Manager at HI-TEC, says ‘ion-mask™ is a truly revolutionary technology in every sense and HI-TEC has been at the forefront of its development. The applications of the technology are immense matched only in its ability to capture attention. It’s just that cool! After a lengthy process we felt that Bluhalo was best equipped to not only deliver a dynamic and functional site but also to provide the backbone for communicating to a wider audience through a fully integrated social media strategy.’

5 simple ways to increase your website traffic

The mantra of a website owner is that increased website traffic should equate to a more successful website. However, remember that it’s not just about how much traffic you receive, it’s also about converting that traffic into leads and sales. There is no point investing in getting people to your site, only to find when they get there they don’t know what to do! So, before you dive head first into your online marketing campaign, make sure you get your website right! If you are not sure, speak to one of us at Bluhalo and we will be happy to conduct a free review of your website.

1. Tell people about it

This sounds like an obvious thing to do but many companies don’t! Make sure that all of your outgoing communications contain your website address – that includes business cards, letterheads, advertising and press releases! The more people who are subject to it, the more people are likely to visit your website. It’s an easy thing to implement and can make a big difference!

2. Pay Per Click (PPC)

PPC has been around for years, it’s no secret! So why include PPC? The reason that PPC has been around for years is that it works! If you are thinking about doing it yourself, don’t! It is possible to do your own PPC, but you risk wasting valuable resources for little return. PPC is an art form, therefore getting the right strategy and the right people to implement it, is vital for maximising ROI potential!

3. Online directories

There are thousands of online directories, some of which are great, some that are not so great! Find the ones that are relevant to your business and get listed! There are lots of free directories available so it needn’t cost anything more than your time. If you want to find out whether a directory is worth your time, browse the other companies that are listed and see if there’s an affinity with your own. Check out the Alexa ranking of the directory (a ranking of 300,000 or less could mean it’s worthwhile). Not only will you benefit from traffic that comes directly from the directories, but you’ll also get SEO benefits from the directory sites linking to your site – Google likes sites that are well connected.

4. Email marketing

Another marketing tool that’s been around for a while, email marketing can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. From a simple text email to a nice looking HTML email newsletter, regular communications with your customer base will build a relationship with your clients, encouraging repeat business and raising brand awareness. Email also provides a channel for you to promote special offers, new products and your latest news.

5. Social media

Social Media is covered in more detail in a few of our other blog articles, but the long and short of it is Social Media is fuelling online growth. If you are not sure what Social Media is read our article – What is Social Media? For more ideas on how to get involved in social media read our article – Top 5 ways to make social media work for you. Ideally you’d approach it with a full social media strategy – if you want to find out more about this, get in touch.


To continue with our marathon of web tips, click on one of the following articles:

Make social media work for you
Hot 5 design trends
Blog successfully
Must-have website features

The 6 must-have website features for 2008

1. Blog

They’re quick and easy to update, can be informal if appropriate and can develop a large user base if the right content and appropriate sharing mechanisms are used. A blog can also be a way of encouraging two-way communications, engaging the user by giving them the ability to comment on posts and providing pre-purchase research resources for consumers. All of this of course providing sound commercial benefits which may include an increase in website transactions, more enquiries or more sign-ups – it depends upon your objectives.

2. Customer reviews

Taking the communication one step further and enabling customers to review you, your products and your service can open a valuable communications channel, whilst increasing customer confidence. Don’t be scared of bad reviews, they give you the chance to react and the opportunity to improve service, prove you are a reputable company and increase customer loyalty.

3. Regularly updated content

One key factor in SEO is frequent updates to your site’s content – search engines will love you for it and this will certainly help your overall SEO strategy and natural listings. Of course, content has to be relevant, but in turn this will build your presence as an authoritative figure in your field. Don’t worry about the time it takes to write your news everyday – Bluhalo can arrange that for you!

4. RSS and Atom feeds

Allowing users of your website to subscribe to your news and blog feeds not only helps to establish you as an authority in your area of business, but also encourages repeat visits and increased brand awareness and loyalty – all contributing to increased levels of sales.

5. Functional footer

A functional footer is often seen as just another way of increasing clicks within your website. But it’s more than that. A functional footer improves usability, is simple to build, is very en vogue and provides a high density of key words to contribute to your SEO.

6. Digital planning

Digital planning is the difference between a good website and a great website! Professional analysis of your objectives, target market and competitors will give you the perfect solution for maximising your ROI and gaining a competitive edge, providing recommendations tailored to your exact requirements and budget. Everyone needs digital planning, so speak to Bluhalo about how it can help you!

To continue with our marathon of web tips, click on one of the article titles below:

Make social media work for you
Hot 5 design trends
Blog successfully
Increase your website traffic

Cut Spend - Damage the Brand

It's one of the most talked about areas in the marketing world this week - the debate about whether cutting marketing spend during an economic slowdown can damage the brand. Fuelling the debate is a recently released report from the IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) which warned that cutting budgets during a downturn could damage the brand in a number of ways including loss of market share, a long term effect on sales and a decline in brand image.

So, how does this apply to your website? At a time when budgets are being carefully monitored, if not reduced, there arises an opportunity to gain some ground on your competitors and even extend your lead in your marketplace. When the majority cut budgets, keep on spending, even increase spending if you can get away with it! Invest in a **** hot website, take two leaps ahead in terms of style and technology - then use it!

It's all part of the bigger picture, but with internet usage continuing to grow and the social media phenomenon making even the most tech-shy marketers sit up and take note, a time when your competitors are being over-cautious is the perfect time to stand out from the crowd!

A great website can create increased brand loyalty, encourage interaction between your brand and its public and most importantly help to drive sales - whether they're online or offline. Strengthening your offering at a time when caution is the norm will give you the stability to ride out the hard times and more importantly, will give you a long term competitive advantage. In addition to these marketing benefits, clever use of technology within your website can also help to streamline internal processes, actually saving you money!

Whether you are B2B or B2C, if you want to find out more about how a new / updated website can help your business get ahead of the game, start by speaking to Bluhalo.

Entering the Den

In its second series, named e-Den.2, Spencer Gallagher, Founder and Managing Director of Bluhalo, a top UK digital agency and Hampshire’s largest agency, joins the other panel members in providing the candidates with valuable feedback and advice.

The E-Den series, organised by BowShot, an active community of high-performance entrepreneurs, takes on a ‘Dragons’ Den’ style format, with four active e-traders presenting their ‘top-plate’ e-business issue to the audience and the panel of experts.

The forums have been described as highly effective, unique and enjoyable events, with candidates and the audience benefiting hugely from the raft of experience of the panellists.

In addition to sitting on the panel of web experts, Spencer has also agreed for Bluhalo to offer a prize of £2500 of website design work to the winning candidate to give their online business a valuable make over.

The first in the series will be held on 3rd April, 2008. If you’re interested in going along or taking part, you can find out more information on the Bowshot website.

Paddy Power's Live!

We're pleased to announce the launch of Paddy Power’s investor relations website, www.paddypowerplc.com.

Paddy Power is the largest provider of fixed odds sports betting in Ireland and is well known for its daring and humorous advertising campaigns.

The new website targets a range of stakeholders including investors, employees, customers and the media and communicates the distinct brand personality, whilst ensuring information is easy to find and the site intuitive to navigate.

Michael Brandreth, Account Director at Bluhalo, says “our brief was to produce a site that is intuitive to use, appeals to a wide ranging user base, but that also reflects the unique nature of the Paddy Power brand. We noticed that most Investor Relations sites fail to introduce any kind of brand personality, which we felt was a mistake. Paddy Power’s brand positioning offers a fantastic competitive advantage and we feel we have been successful at conveying this within the site.”