About USdigital

Apprentice fever has hit our TV screens again and is likely to dominate office chat in the weeks to come. In this series candidates are competing for an investment in their own business rather than a 6 figure salary as Lord Sugar aims to show that despite the current economic situation there is still the opportunity to make money.

A strong online presence is key to any new or young business. USdigital have recognised this with their new start-up business website and online advertising packages. Ranging from small brochure websites to spread the reach and awareness of a business to e-commerce websites showcasing a range of products, USdigital can create the bespoke solution for all requirements.

It doesn’t just stop at websites. Here at USdigital we understand the importance of being on the first page of search engine listings for phrases key to the success of the website as well as utilising pay per click advertising opportunities.

For no obligation advice on how USdigital can help you please contact one of our team who are always happy to use their enthusiasm for all things digital to help you.

US Digital have been selected to design and build UK Stock Loans’ new website. The project will include the re-branding of the company, with this new corporate identity and stlye to be incorporated throughout the website.

The website will include a detailed but easy to use content management system to allow the website to be frequently updated in house. It will also include an RSS feed to keep clients up to date with the latest news across the finance sector, an important information tool in such a fast paced industry. 

The website is to be launched soon so watch this space for more information!

US Digital has designed and built a new company website for Mayfair-Prestige, a supplier of the latest and most sought after prestigious executive and performance cars for all occassions. The website has seen US Digital work with Mayfair-Prestige to create a new corporate identity for the company.

High profile event to attend or just simply fancy the adrenalin rush of being behind the wheel of a supercar? Take a look at the website http://www.mayfair-prestige.com/ to see the fleet available and the easy to access prices. Keep an eye out for the new microsite for Mayfair-Prestige’s chauffeur division coming soon!

The internet is by far one of the largest marketing tools open to companies of all types and sizes. The expectancy of companies and organisations to have a website is so great that it’s a shock if they don’t have one.

This large volume means that for some time it has no longer been good enough to simply have a website. With the majority of users preferring search engines to find what they want, failure to manage your online presence such as where it appears in their rankings results in losses to competitors.

Search engine optimisation (SEO) and pay per click advertising (PPC) create opportunities to stand out in crowded market places and direct traffic to your website. An effective combination of SEO and PPC creates and/or improves online brand awareness with this also being reflected on the high street and in commercial centres.

SEO is considered the more common tool for improving search engine listings but PPC allows keyword effectiveness to be analysed so the most effective combination of SEO and PPC can be selected.

Controlling your site’s online presence isn’t just about climbing the rankings to the top listings. Already a reputable leader in your market place? Social networking allows a huge scope for freedom of speech. If a site isn’t optimised there is a risk of other people’s views on your company being more visible than how you portray yourself.

Is your site doing all it can for you?  

The many forms of communication are often discussed in terms of how they can develop and generate opportunities. Little is said however of its uses when everything is going wrong and the only coverage you are getting is negative. Why is this?

When it is, it is often spoke of as being better than none at all. As Oscar Wilde once said “the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” What is meant by this is If you can ride the difficulties there is the opportunity to emerge with your rise drawing substantial attention and interest which, accompanied by that already generated by the negative coverage, can lead to further success.

How accurate though is such an assumption? Is it better to be discussed in any light than not at all or is it simply good fortune that brings future accomplishments after an unfavourable spotlight?

Media coverage of BP’s disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico can hardly be described as promotional. Huge financial costs and a drop in confidence has seen share prices plummet. The terrible loss of life in the initial disaster and features showing the effect on iconic, helpless wildlife has even led to BP Chief Executive Tony Haywood being labelled as the most hated man in the USA.

BP’s response has been to document its attempts to rectify the leak but this has been somewhat undermined by its failure to do so and the emergence of details accounting the accident to BP negligence. Its most recent attempt to null the criticisms has been to allow journalists access to the company’s crisis centre. Although showing it is working hard to fix the leak it has not come early enough and its effect will be limited amongst the allegations of cost cutting influences.  

The severity and length of the problems means there is very little for BP to attain from the situation unlike suggested by assumptions valuing all communication. It is hard not to speculate though that had the leak been swiftly stopped, it would have drawn valuable public and business interest despite the severity.

Presentation of BP as being a company which valued and put procedures in place to ensure and reflect its social responsibilities rather than being driven solely by profit margins at any cost, as commonly thought of the oil industry, would have recovered some of the reputation lost by the initial disaster if it had been done in the early stages. This could have prevented them being dragged through what can be described as a lengthy, hostile media portrayal. 

With its communication of attempted solutions being out weighted, BP’s recovery will be reliant on its previously strong identity. The extent to which its identity and reputation can be recovered however remains to be seen.   

The foundations of any company’s business model, irrespective of their size or sector, are formed by their corporate identity and brand positioning. This is somewhat common knowledge but of increasing importance as marketing budgets are tightened.

Establishing a strong, well known identity is not an easy task but the gains of successfully doing so are prosperous. Recent weeks have seen Apple overtake Microsoft as the most valuable technology producing company thanks to its extensive profits.

Effective communication of Apple’s identity and product lines means very few would fail to recognise their logo, associate them as a leader of ground breaking home and office technology or name any of its products. Mass enthusiasm surrounds Apple’s identity as consumers aim to get their hands on the technology and suppliers compete to sell it. 

The question that dominates in the current economic climate is where do you prioritise your marketing communications spending to raise the profile of your organisation? An especially tough decision when tight budgets increase the pressure for clearly visible results.  

Such budget management is even more difficult with specialised communication agencies competing for a large share. Full service agencies offer an attractive means of consolidating marketing, advertising and public relations under one roof with many also having a digital arm to coincide with the expanding opportunities offered by interactive media thus offering multi platform reach.

Using such agencies allows all areas of your marketing strategy to be easily co-ordinated to communicate consistent, clear and direct messages. These are key to any branding campaign as the profiles and values expressed build a relationship between the audience and your corporate, product and/or service identity; an awareness that encourages future business.

The communication of success stories and strong products and/or services through PR, advertising and marketing alongside an establishing identity further enhances brand strength. A strength which continues to grow as awareness of your brand does, opening more opportunities for future business and expansion.

Such growth reflects the need for the continuous management of your identity and brand positioning. Once established, they need to prosper through regular up to date communication rather than fade into the background if they are to be successful.  

This is as time consuming as it sounds but it is essential. Again a full service agency can be of great use here as they can tailor and progress communication activity across all areas with this purpose in mind.  

Although just the roots of marketing activity, it offers the foundations from which future campaigns can be built. Once established, corporate identity is further enhanced by all positive future communication increasing business opportunities and therefore providing significant returns on investments in it.