Author Archives: Chris Ware

5 ways to make your website a ‘tool’ not a brochure.

Of late (and I suspect it’s due to burgeoning financial problems) I have experienced a large number of clients coming to me for suggestions on how to improve their website and make it do ‘more’ for them. This is great because for ages I’ve been encouraging them to use it as more than just a pretty picture telling people what they do, so I’ve put together a Smashing Mag style 5 point list on what I have been advising. Continue reading →

Three hour workshop on Search Engine Optimisation

David and Steve will be presenting the latest edition of their Search Engine Optimisation workshop for Connecting Somerset on the 18 June. The venue will likely be the Monks Yard, just outside Ilminster – easily accessed from the A303 or M5.

There is a nominal fee levied by Somerset County Council to cover the cost of hiring the venue and the buffet lunch. This is normally about £20.

To register your interest or book your place, please call Matt Ballard of the Economy and Europe Group at Somerset County Council on 01823 355867, or call David at HigherSites on 01935 426958.

Some interesting SPAM statistics…

SPAM is the scourge of the Internet, and for those that don’t know, we’re talking about unsolicited emails here not meat in a can. Anyone who has held an email account for any length of time and is active on the Internet will no doubt be batting off solicitations to buy Viagra, extend one’s manhood, or help deposed African dictators launder their money. Most of us simply delete these messages as soon as they arrive, which begs the question, why do the spammers do it? What is their rate of return?

Continue reading →

The HigherSites web app – Monkey Timer!

Today sees the launch of the mighty Monkey Timer! (www.monkeytimer.co.uk).

Rob and myself have been developing the Monkey Timer after we thought it’d be nice to find out how long we spend messing about with clients speaking on the phone, emailing and so on, and seldon remember to count the hours – and so monkey timer was born!

Not a lot else to say, other than it’s free, its easy and it’s now live so go on over to www.monkeytimer.co.uk and set up an account to begin timing anything you spend time on!

New site launches!

Due to a complete lack of time to update our own website, (as usual) I’ve decided to drop in a quick entry here to announce the launch of a few new exciting developments from the HigherSites camp.

First up is Classic Planes over at www.classicplanestv.com which is an exciting holding site in advance of the full site launching within the next few months that offers fans of Classic aeroplanes to relive marvelous moments throughout aeronautical history. Focussing primarily on WW2 the site offers spectacular mixes of 3D renders and live video to create short films on specific stories. Continue reading →

HigherSites at Business South – win an iPod Touch!

HigherSites will be exhibiting at Business South this week on the 4th & 5th March. The exhibition is at St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton, so if you’re in the vicinity or planning to visit yourself, why not come and say hello to us at stand 78. You can also enter our free prize draw to win an iPod Touch!

Two Beards and a Barnet – the HigherSites podcast is coming…!

Today we are recording the inaugural HigherSites podcast, which will be called “Two Beards and a Barnet”. The podcast is our opportunity to discuss important issues arising in the world of web development, not to mention plenty of irreverent chat and, dare we say, comedy. The success of this venture, and its business generation ability, remains to be seen, but we hope you’ll tune in for episode one, coming shortly to www.highersites.co.uk and iTunes.

You can send in your questions and comments to podcast @ highersites.co.uk.