News Archive 2003
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
22 December 2003
Webexpectations.com would like to wish all of our customers a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!
Gazumped by Google
16 December 2003
Google has made major changes to the manner in which it ranks and lists websites creating havoc and major disruption to some sites in the run up to Christmas. As the worlds busiest search engine Google has an unrivalled ability to make or break a website simply based on how well it ranks for a given search term. Of the top four search engines in the world (Google, Yahoo, AOL and MSN) the first three all take their search engine results from Google.
The latest changes to how Google works have had a massively detrimental influence on many commercial websites, with sites that used to rank first, second or third being totally dropped from the results - causing major problems for companies in the run up to Christmas. Sites, for instance, that used to rank number one when people searched for "car insurance" are now no longer shown in Google's search results.
Google insists that it has made the changes in order to improve "user experience" but many within the industry are sceptical of Google motives commenting that it is commercial sites who have suffered most whilst non-commercial sites have been relatively unaffected.
"It is possible that Google has made these changes in order to encourage companies to use their Pay Per Click service instead which Google charges a hefty premium for."
Said Russell Sutton, Webexpectations.com New Media Director.
"Many within the industry are annoyed with Google making these changes in the run up to Christmas as so many sites will have lost a large amount of business. In light of this many experts are suggesting that Google has made these changes to force companies to use its paid for listings service instead - massively increasing Google's income."
Webexpectations.com have undertaken a complete audit of all its clients websites and have notified those clients who have been effected.
For more information on search engines, or if you think your site might have been gazumped by Google contact Russell Sutton on 0845 2450 408 for advice on what actions can be taken to get your site ranking well again.
New site for Computer Security Specialists
16 December 2003
Computer and Anti-Virus Specialists - Software Dialogue Direct, have commissioned Webexpectations.com to design and build their new corporate website.
The new site will act as the principle sales and information channel for the company providing comprehensive information on the company's full range of services and products and establishes Webexectations.com as one of the leading providers of New Media Services to the Anti-Virus industry.
"Webexpectations.com currently maintain and manage websites and e-commerce systems for a number of principle players within the UK Anti-Virus market including Panda Software UK part of Europe's largest Anti-Virus software company." Said Chris Love, Managing Director at Webexpectations.com. "This puts us in a great position to provide SDD with a wealth of knowledge and experience of what works well online within the Anti-Virus sector."
Sky Makeover
26 November 2003
Russia and CIS freight forwarding specialists Skyroute Logistics have this week launched their new corporate website www.skyroute.co.uk designed and developed by Webexpectations.com.
Skyroute's new site has seen a major overhaul in design and content in order to give the company a new, fresher image online and to provide more relevant and up-to-date information to Skyroute's clients. All of Skyroute's international shipments will now be tracked and logged within a secure area of the site allowing clients to instantly view the status of cargo shipments as they are transported around the globe.
Authorised Skyroute staff will also manage and update the sites content using CoMA, Webexpectations.com easy to use site content management system.
Going Mobile
21 November 2003
Webexpectations.com have agreed to a strategic distribution partnership with one of the UK's biggest mobile phone distributors to develop a major site for the sale of mobile phone handsets. The partnership aims to see the aggressive launch of a full e-commerce site as early as January and will be designed, promoted and run by Webexpectations.com.
Managing Director Chris Love, who has personally overseen the formation of the partnership, is confident that it has great potential
"Webexpectations.com are able to build and deliver one of the most dominant e-commerce sites within the mobile phone industry, whilst our partner is able to fulfil the demand that we create at some of the most competitive prices in the UK. It's this combination of sales power and low prices that makes the venture very, very exciting."
The new site will run some of Webexpectations.com most advanced e-commerce technology in order to minimise administration and management costs. For more information on strategic ventures and partnerships please contact us.
CIS Commision
13 November 2003
Webexpectations.com have been commissioned to develop a new Pan-European website for four European freight forwarding companies. The new site - Just2CIS.com, is being developed as a result of a new strategic alliance between Skyroute Logistics, Atran Cargo Airlines, EasternAirCargo and Miras Air Group.
Just2CIS.com will provide prospective customers with information on the services available through the alliance, information on the destinations served and will also allow customers to track shipments managed jointly by each of the four partners.
Five Stars for E-commerce
11 November 2003
Webexpectations.com have been awarded five stars for their e-commerce sites by New Media Age (NMA) magazine. In a secret shopping test the magazine reviewed the e-commerce site USB Flash Drive, built and run by Webexpectations.com, and awarded the site the maximum score of five stars.
NMA regularly publishes reviews of shopping websites in secret tests to see if they come up to scratch and assess the sites design, ease of use, quality of customer service and the time taken to deliver the product.
The site was especially commended on its simple easy to use design, a cornerstone of Webexpectations.com design process.
"E-commerce sites have to be built from the users perspective and the key to a happy customer is a simple easy to use site. We ensure that all of our sites are built with the user in mind something that sounds obvious but is often overlooked by many web design companies and e-commerce sites"
said Russell Sutton, New Media Director at Webexpectations.com.
USB-FlashDrive.co.uk is built using Webexpectations.com secure and proven shopping cart technology - CheckOut. CheckOut has been developed to offer clients a powerful, reliable and secure shopping cart environment and has been deployed across a range of sites.
For more information about CheckOut or any of Webexpectations.com e-commerce services please contact New Business Manager William Ripley on 0845 2450 408..
Helping Hand in NHS Recruitment
30 October 2003
Webexpectations.com have launched their latest recruitment website for Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust - DoctorJobFinder.com. The site will advertise doctor vacancies for a number of NHS hospitals within and around London and has been integrated to work in synchrony with the trusts existing recruitment systems.
The site uses Webexpectations.com leading recruitment system ORA which manages all of the vacancies and streamlines the recruitment process so that it is integrated within the Trusts existing recruitment applications.
The new site aims to streamline the recruitment process, reduce the recruitment cycle and lower administration costs for the Trust and is the latest in a range of targeted recruitment websites that have been developed by Webexpectations.com.
For more information please read our case study on NHS Online Recruitment or alternatively please feel free to contact us.
Co-location for Top Three Tour Operator
1 October 2003
Webexpectations.com adds to its expanding Data Centre with a contract win to co-locate the server environment for one of the UK's top three Tour Operators- Travelsphere.
Webexpectations.com are also in talks with three other well know Blue Chip Companies regarding their server co-location, VPN and bandwidth requirements.
Webexpectations.com take London Recruitment Company online
18 September 2003
Webexpectations.com win contract to build corporate website for London based recruitment company Puddle Dock ltd. Through a newly established partnership with AMI Marketing ltd, Webexpectations.com will design and build the website in accordance with existing corporate livery. The project is now underway and on track to achieve a tight deadline.
Once the site is built it will be promoted heavily in search engines on a monthly basis to help support the aggressive marketing strategy AMI are pursuing on Puddle Dock's behalf. As a serious and results driven strategic marketing agency with a solid client base AMI are considered to be an ideal partner and we look forward to working with them in the future.
For more information on partnering opportunities contact Russell Sutton, 0845 2450 408.
To find out how the Webexpectations.com Search Engine Optimisation service can benefit your website click here
Denbies - Webexpectations.com put wine online
16 September 2003
Webexpectations.com and Denbies Vineyard work together to offer Denbies customers the opportunity to buy the excellent range of English wine online.
Webexpectations.com will design and build an e-commerce section for the website that will enable visitors to browse the wine collection and purchase in a simple and very secure environment. When an order is received the system will instantly send notification e-mails to the distribution warehouse for despatch and to the marketing department to ensure the success of the project can be measured.
Denbies are now consistently attracting over 2400 unique visitors a month to their website which gives confidence that this will be an excellent new channel to take their product to market. The recent success enjoyed by Majestic Wines plc and Virgin Wine evidences the willingness of the wine consumer to buy online. The shop is expected to go live in early October and sales are forecast to swell in the build up to Christmas.
For more information on how Webexpectations.com can help you sell products online in a secure environment contact Will Ripley, 0845 2450 408.
To find out how our UK E-Commerce Solutions can benefit your business click here
Great Sounding E-commerce
10 September 2003
Webexpectations.com have successfully launched another e-commerce website this week - on time and on budget.
The site www.usb-mp3players.co.uk is an online shop selling MP3 Players and has been specifically designed to rank well in search engines such as Google and Yahoo! Customers are able to shop online in a safe and secure environment with secure payment systems provided by Protx Secure Processing Systems.
As well as offering a full secure e-commerce system to customers the site also includes a customer management and fulfilment system streamlining the fulfilment of orders and reducing administration overheads.
"The sites marketing strategy is based purely around search engines and the considerable levels of business that search engines can bring. To this end the site was designed from stage one to be search engine friendly and to rank well under a range of search engine keywords.
In the coming weeks we aim to promote the site heavily online, ensuring the site ranks well within key search engines such as Google and Yahoo."
Says Russell Sutton, New Media Director.
Webexpectations.com recruit to build strength in online branding
8 September 2003
Webexpectations.com are pleased to welcome Ben Bostock to the team. He brings with him a wealth of expertise in the design and construction of results driven websites and will be working in our newly equipped design studio.
In previous positions Ben has worked with lager giant Becks. His creative capabilities were recognised early in the music industry and he was one of the forefathers of the booming artiste microsite market at the turn of the Millennium.
Colleague William Ripley, business development manager says:
'we welcome this injection of creativity and Ben's ability to brand build through well conceived design will support the Webexpectations.com task of continuing to offer an excellent service to new and existing customers'.
Weighing In!
1 September 2003
Webexpectations.com is the proud sponsor of CD Flyer - Winner of last weeks Ladbrokes.com Handicap Stakes at Goodwood.
Managing Director Chris Love said: "Our brand received some great coverage on Channel 4 and more importantly, I had a flutter at 14/1!"
Sky High!
25 July 2003
Webexpectations.com are to redesign the Skyroute website. The new website will be aimed at advertising Skyroute Logistics as a modern provider of export services to Russia and the CIS.
The revised website will also promote new services being offered by Skyroute as well as its expansion into new markets. Skyroute Logistics are one of Webexpectations.com longest standing clients.
Managing Director Chris Love comments:
Having designed and built Skyroute's original website it is great for us to be Skyroute's selected partner for the re-development and promotion of their new site.
A New Hub
8 July 2003
Several broken desks and scratched walls later and Webexpectations.com have finally relocated to their new offices located at number 1 Grove Road in the town centre of Maidenhead, Berkshire.
As well as being more spacious, the new offices also have meeting facilities.
So if you're in the area feel free to drop in for a coffee... and a chat about Search Engine Optimisation!
Top Hat
20 August 2003
UniBox International Limited, manufactures of the UK's principle selling Ladies Hat Box has seen a dramatic increase in orders and enquiries since commissioning Webexpectations.com to promote their website
The website markets ladies hat boxes and has become a principle sales channel for UniBox since they Webexpectations.com started their search engine and directory promotional work.
UniBox International's Managing Director Nick Woolfery commented,
"The results have been exceptional, within a number of weeks of commissioning Wexpectations.com we experienced a dramatic increase in both orders and enquiries."
HatBoxDesigns.com is now ranked number one in both Google and Yahoo! Under the companies principle keywords "ladies hat boxes" and over time will expand there reach to other targeted keywords.
Heathrow T5
18 August 2003
A Webexpectations.com led partnership have won a 12 month contract to provide a co-Location, hosting and maintenance contract with Heathrow Terminal 5 procurement providers - ASITE Plc.
Drive for Automated E-commerce
17 June 2003
Webexpectations.com have developed and launched a new e-commerce website for USB Flash Drive products. The site specialises in the sale of the small device which is tipped to become the standard replacement of the Floppy Disk but can hold up-to 1GB of data on a single drive.
Orders made on the site are processed using Webexpectations.com shopping cart technology and are run through numerous automated fraud checks before being securely processed.
Leading Samsung reseller opt for Webexpectations.com
27 May 2003
Samsung resellers Waratah Business Solutions Ltd have commissioned Webexpectations.com to re-design and develop their corporate website, e-commerce and shopping cart systems in preparations for a push in internet exposure this summer.
Search Engine Optimisation will play a crucial role in the success of the project and overall strategy.
Association of British Healthcare Industries
21 May 2003
Webexpectations.com have secured a 12 month contract with The Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI). Our work with the association will range from the design of HTML E-mail templates, managing e-mail data and analysing response. The campaign will run for 12 months with the objective of creating a new and proactive form of communication with its members.
Business Link
15 May 2003
Webexpectations.com wins a 12 month contract to provide a colocation hosting facility and maintenance contract for Business Link Black Country. Webexpectations.com provide a 99.975% service level agreement and 15 Mins hands on technical support every day - as standard.
Webexpectations.com's 4th year plans
29 April 2003
Webexpectations.com is pleased to announce their plans for their 4th year as a provider of New Media Services.
Managing director Christopher Love said:
"Year by year we have continued to display a strong pattern of growth and all the signs are telling us that this year will be no different. As well as continuing to service our loyal customer base we will be investing heavily this year on deploying our Content Management(COMA), E-mail Customer Relationship Management(ESHIP) and Online Recruitment software(ORA) applications. Our software suit is already being used heavily by our end users but we are also keen to push these software applications to other Agencies to offer to their own customers. As an independent and self funded agency we have already proven our importance within New Media, it is now time for us prove the importance of New Media within each and every industry."
COMA content manager will support the visually impaired
17 April 2003
Webexpectations.com have announced the beta testing of the latest version of their Content Management System - COMA which ensures content is compatible with text based browsers for visually impaired users of websites. The latest version of COMA will help to make all textual content available in a readable format and is the first of its type on the market. The system has created much attention from the media and features in the April edition of New Media Age -
Channelbay.tv
24 March 2003
Webexpectations.com win a Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) contract with London based Interactive Television Agency Channelbay. As part of Channelbay's aim to increase worldwide exposure, our work with them will include the submission of the current site and regular optimisation for leading search engines.
Akadine Research
25 March 2003
Webexpectations.com launch the re-designed online image for full service ad-hoc research specialist's Akadine Research based in High Wycombe, Bucks. The site is design of the site is based around their new corporate image and is well poised to generate significant new business for the client.
Care Computers
15 March 2003
Webexpectations.com re-develop and launch a new online presence for IT and Network support company Care Computers. The site comprises a database of over 14,000 products and has full e-commerce functionality.
Mankoo
4 March 2003
Webexpectation.com launches a re-developed online image for internationally renowned private dental practice - Mankoo. The site aims to show a series of dental case studies and will integrate with ongoing press advertising. Webexpectations.com will also be providing the client with Search Engine Optimisation.
Stickleback Pinks
21 January 2003
Webexpectations.com has been appointed as the New Media partner to restaurant chain Stickleback Pinks. Our work will involve website design and development for each of the restaurants and development and management of the extensive online wine database.
NHS
19 January 2003
A new front page has been designed and developed by webexpectations.com to help integrate the ORA recruitment system running at Hammersmith Hospitals Trust.
Going Global
14 January 2003
Webexpectations.com win contract to design, develop and maintain a multifunctional website and extranet for Mayfair based training company Global Graduates Ltd.
The site will comprise e-commerce ordering and integrated application processing. With a combination of information, forum and gaming functionality the site aims to increase efficiency and online brand awareness.
Unibox International
12 January 2003
Webexpectations.com launch e-commerce website for packaging design company Unibox International. In particular the site aims to promote the 10 sided hatbox and will comprise animated diagrams to illustrate the box's diversity.
