The projects I have worked on have been as varied as complex ecommerce sites to small business developments, you can read more about this on my about us page here and my Linked In Profile is here http://www.linkedin.com/in/alistairg

“…Alistair enables us to put our ideas into reality on the website by his forward and innovative thinking. He is down to earth and very easy to work with. He has the natural ability to explain the most technical point, relating to websites or social media, in an easy to understand way”

Sarah Burden, PR Manager, Devon Air Ambulance

So how does the service I offer work and why should you use me?

Well to START with my service begins with a free no obligation chat and review of what you are looking to accomplish and why, seeing what your budgets and aspirations are both for the website and the promoting and online marketing of it when it is built. This initial meeting is free, I am based in Exeter so if geography plays a part then we can always use Skype.

Following this I can then put together a draft of what I see you are trying to achieve and how I can help you achieve this.  This will include cost outlines both of my service and target budgets for the web development and online marketing.

The key difference between an Independent Internet Project Manager (myself) and a web company’s own account manager is how they prioritise your business needs. I work exclusively for the YOU the customer, whereas a web company’s own account manager works for that Internet Development Company.

When I am hired to work for YOU I follow a 3 stage process. FIRST this sees a full web specification created that uses all my experience of web development and your knowledge of your business. This ensures that any web company called on to quote will have all the information they need. This is agreed and signed off with you.

As touched on already, the Full Build & Development service is my speciality. As your adviser, carrying out full due diligence and negotiating the best possible terms for YOU is my primary interest.

SECOND I then visit up to three web companies using my experience who I feel have the best skills to complete the work required of them and invite them to quote. These are then summarised in my comprehensive report.

When you are happy to go ahead I’ll negotiate on your behalf, using my expertise to ensure YOU are getting the best solution. I then continue to monitor every step to your successful website build, working closely with your chosen providers and any other advisers to help resolve any issues that may arise.

The final part for YOU is getting a website built that is delivered on time, within budget and exceeding your expectation, removing all the pain and hassle from dealing with technology company’s covering stuff you may not understand or being sold stuff you just dont need or even simply have time to deal with – I remove the hassle, manage the trouble and deliver what you want.

To contact me to discuss further either email me at alistair@gleavemedia.co.uk or complete my contact form on this site.

Please watch the video below and leave your thoughts in the comments;

Sir Richard told the BBC: “People are suspicious of banks and they have good reason to be after the last few years. “The Virgin brand is well trusted and has always offered good products in a range of different businesses..We think we can come in and shake up the industry.”

Virgin purchased the Northern Rock from the Government at the end of 2011 and will be turning the 75 branches into Virgin Money branches during 2012.

The feature for me though is the advert, a full 3D spectacular typical of the Virgin brand – big and spectacular. Please watch the video and let me know what you think in the comments below;

I continue to develop the collaborative working relationship with GrowMyCharity.com even appearing on Exeter FM and we have a had a great year supporting numerous charities across the South West with some great reviews of seminars we’ve run, you can read a few on LinkedIN or Speakermix. 2012 promises to have more seminars and more develop in the sector and I hope to be collaborating with new companies as the year develops (if you could add anything please get in touch).

This year we have seen the launch of Google +, is it any good, still I’m not sure to be honest, for me the engagement levels are no where near what they are on Facebook or Twitter BUT it has the might of Google behind it – so what, Buzz and Wave have both fallen by the wayside and is Google + currently any different, we shall wait and see??

So turning to this blog I run, what have been my top posts of this year, well lets begin.

Number 3 – Super Yacht Aviva

Why is this number 3?Well mainly as the Super Yacht Aviva was a very impressive sight at Tower Bridge over the summer, and a nice owner and crew.

Number 2 - Sainsburys in Dawlish opens

This issue of who opens a supermarket in Dawlish has raged for quite a few years and when Sainsburys won the battle I was keen to see what a new eco store looked like, this post has been highly commented on!!!

Number 1 – starting GleaveMedia

Having worked in the Internet industry since 1999 and helped two small Exeter web companies to grow it was no small feat to start on my own in the spring, I have to say the response and great comments i have received have truly vindicated this decision of wanting to put the customer at the heart of all I do, thank you once again.

So there you go, short and sweet 2011 a year on this blog in review, thank you to my friends and colleagues who continue to support and engage I look forward to working with you all in 2012.

GleaveMedia – http://www.gleavemedia.co.uk

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/gleavemedia

We are delighted to be able to confirm a new GrowMyCharity.com is on the way in early 2012, as you can see from the YouTube video we made below.

If you want to know more then please add you email details to our newsletter signup and we’ll let you know more about it in early 2012.

A common problem is pulling all of this information together to build a single on-line identity.  This can be for either personal use, or to create a professional on-line profile. Well help is at hand with a site called about.me which allows you to bring everything onto one page – you can see mine here http://about.me/alistairgleave.

Is it any good and worthwhile signing up for, well it look good and certainly allows a synopsis of who/what you are, but doesn’t the likes of LinkedIn allow that, so for me the jury is out!

With over a decade of Internet and web development experience I know the tricks of the trade, I have worked with clients as varied as Big Brother 2 to a small Exeter Hotel, a National Franchise and a ecommerce site turning over a £1million pounds – a fair bit of experience I am sure you agree?

So what does this mean for you? Well why approach a web company and not clearly understanding what you need and then be sold what they want to sell you – as they dont clearly understand your business requirements.  

Wouldnt it be better to know what your business needs and requirements are first?  We can then approach web companies that can best meet those needs and offer your business the best solution – surely this is a better way?

I see the service I offer as a win/win – let me explain, you get the best site that works as a tool for your business, all for the best budget AND the web company can work with a client that has a clear understanding of what they envisage as the outcome and the confidence in that client/businesses expectations.

To enquire how i can bring your web needs to fruition why not contact me for a free no obligation chat – click to visit the contact form on my site.

If this is you, then the chances are you already need someone who knows the ropes surely engaging a web professional for your company’s website build and development surely is just good common sense?

First a little about me – i have been in the web industry since 1999 I pretty much know all the tricks of the trade having working for two leading Exeter Web Design Companies, KMS Internet and Optix Solutions. I have worked with all sorts of projects; from complex ecommerce sites to small business developments, you can read more about this on my about us page here and my Linked In Profile is here http://www.linkedin.com/in/alistairg

“…Alistair enables us to put our ideas into reality on the website by his forward and innovative thinking. He is down to earth and very easy to work with. He has the natural ability to explain the most technical point, relating to websites or social media, in an easy to understand way”

Sarah Burden, PR Manager, Devon Air Ambulance

The key difference between an Website Project Manager (myself) and an in house web account manager is who they represent. I work exclusively for the YOU the customer, whereas the web companies own account manager works for that web company.

To contact me to discuss further either email me at me at alistairgleave.co.uk or complete my contact form on this site.

Friday 13th May the launch of GrowMyCharity, yes we chose the date well!

The launch of GrowMyCharity.com a collaboration between myself (Alistair Gleave) and Jackie Dawkins. Why you may ask?  Well we have both been working with charity clients for a number of years and wanted to find a way to support charities of all shapes and sizes to grow and flourish by providing them with resources, ideas and tools.

Our opening event was at TTS in Bideford, the picture shows me in full flow….  The event saw a number of charities come along for an opening presentation and group discussion on online marketing for their charities, something close to our hearts, and where we believe we can offer real value and support to charities.

The site and events will grow significantly over the coming months with more resources, information and guests posts etc, please come and join us on our new Facebook page here.

We’d love to see you at the next event at the wonderful Seale Hayne on June 22nd and you can book a FREE place for your charity here http://growmycharitysh.eventbrite.com/

Well think again – whether you want to communicate with your beneficiaries, your community or corporate supporters, volunteers or the general public at large, you will no doubt find the most of them have a presence on at least one social media site.

Find out where they might be and how you can engage with them and develop their support for your organisation.

Friday 13^th marks a new chapter in my life as an online marketing consultant with a presentation to a number of charity delegates in North Devon.  The venue of the keystone centre is owned by Torridge Training Services, an innovative and entrepreneurial charity keen to encourage other organisations to make use of this fantastic space.

This is being run with Jackie Dawkins on Shine Charity Recruitment and there are a few places left, further details and booking can be made here http://www.shinecharityrecruitment.co.uk/events.php

Website statistics are very important to continually review regularly, you need to see what is happening on your web stats and when, if you send an email out or snail mail shot has this had any effect on incoming traffic for example.  My top three things to look out for with your web stats are;

1. Number of website visitors both new and repeat.

This total number shows who is new and who is coming back to your website for another look and this is important as you can see the number of visitors from which you are trying to get leads.  It should go without saying that the bigger the number of visitors, the bigger the number of leads you could get from your website.

2. Enquiries

This is the number of visitors to your site who carry out an action, maybe its downloading a PDF or signing up for a newsletter or even filling in the contact form.  In simple terms this is where you get an email address or even telephone number, basically something to follow up on.

3. Website Conversions

Here is where you calculate the number of visitors who become enquiries, so if you had 1000 unique visitors last month and 12 enquires you have a conversion rate of 1.2%.  This conversion rate is important as it tells you how efficient your website is in converting traffic into enquiries.

There are of course numerous other factors to bear in mind, these are only my top three, i haven’t even touched on split testing or goal funnels!

And your thoughts?

What is a good conversion rate; I have heard 1 – 2 % and have seen far higher?

Do you measure you conversions, are you able to positively increase them?