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Merry Christmas

It’s that time of year again. The cold, dark nights have taken hold and Christmas is upon us. It’s almost time for us to shut down our computers, lock up the studio and head home for a well deserved break.

This week the ADOsquad have been diligently working away to ensure that all work is wrapped up and that our clients and their businesses are prepared for the festive break.

It’s been busy. We’ve worked our way through a fair few mince pies and the studio has been filled with festive music. Some of which was provided by our good friend, the Manchester based artist Kamal Arafa, who, along with some talented musician friends, has written and recorded a fantastically festive song “It’s Christmas Time Again”! We were lucky enough to be one of only 50 recipients to receive a free copy (ours was #11). You can have a listen to it here.

Kamal and Friends - It's Christmas Time Again

Kamal also designed the cover artwork. Do you like his style? He also designs t-shirts, have a look and buy one of them here via his online store. So thanks to Kamal (and said mince pies) we are feeling well and truly in the festive mood.

We will be in the studio until Friday afternoon and we will be locking the doors until our return to work on the 7th January 2013. However, Steve will be available via email (steve@adomedia.co.uk) for any problems or enquiries you may have over the holidays. But do remember, poor Steve needs a holiday too, so please keep it only to urgent enquiries where possible!

It’s been a very busy year for us, and the new year looks set to be our busiest yet! We are all looking forward to a fresh start in January when we will be rolling out some exciting new plans.

We would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a fantastic new year.

A Volkanic Evening…

When a person is truly enthused by what they do, it emanates. When they can articulate that enthusiasm with well-researched facts and a genuine passion, it is simply infectious.

Last night we were lucky enough to be treated to a talk by one such person, in a very intimate setting with a decent coffee and a quality Sauvignon, surrounded by a handful of like-minded creative folk. It was fantastic.

As Global Head of Business Development – Games at Research In Motion, or BlackBerry as you may know it, Volker Hirsch is used to a slightly larger stage than the floor of the Inca Café in Macclesfield, and watching him speak, you imagine that he could certainly fill it. His genuine in-depth knowledge, understanding and passion is truly inspiring, not only because of the subject matter, which was certainly an eye opener, but because of his palpable energy and conviction.

So often in this industry, it is easy to be caught up in your own work bubble, to deal only with your clients and colleagues and spend little time with the other creative, passionate and hard working people who surround you and share your line of work. It is all too easy for people offering digital services (and in all industries, I imagine) to fall into that trap of seeing your work simply as a way to make a quick buck. Get a job in, churn it out as quickly as possible for maximum profit, get paid, go home.

Last night’s meeting, and the fact that talented people, who could have been at home having made their day’s wage, came together to listen to what Volker had to share and to meet and share their own knowledge, was inspiring to say the least. Being creative is what it is all about, being passionate and genuine. Doing your absolute best with every job, not because it makes you more money, but because you love what you do and take unquestionable pride in your work. Because your work is who you are.

Later, over a few drinks, Volker talked earnestly of the importance of doing what you love, not simply for financial gain, not for recognition, but because it is the only way to truly live. Do you know what? He’s right.

Team ADO would like to say a big thank you to Volker for giving up his evening, inspiring us, and being a genuinely great chap. And to Chris @ Abstraktion, another genuinely great chap, for using his valuable time to organise the Digital Edge meet ups, getting us out of the studio and amongst like-minded and inspiring individuals who have given us a feeling of renewed vigour and excitement.

We love what we do, we take true pride in our work and we will never compromise on this. Changes happen and sometimes the proverbial dung hits the fan, but last nights meet up reminded us that we are on the right track. We are lucky to be surrounded by like minded people who just want to share their passion, who do take pride in their work and a genuine interest in yours. We will move forward, inspired, and continue to do what we love with pride and enthusiasm. Can you say this much about your work? If not, get on with it! It feels great.

Is your website getting the right results?

It is now well understood by almost all business owners that a website is no longer just an option, but a necessity. From a simple contact page to a full blown e-commerce shop, whether you are a local butchers or a blue chip corporation, no question about it, having a web presence (and a decent one at that) is absolutely imperative.

However, what is not always understood is how to drive the relevant clients towards that website. Now we do understand that not everyone is as interested in these things as the geek squad here at ADOtowers, but let me put it this way, would you open a shop in the middle of nowhere and then sit back and hope that the right people found it? You could be selling the finest, juiciest produce known to man but if you didn’t put any signs up to point people towards it then who would know? Its just bad business. The same goes for your website. Cyberspace is a big old place and without the right advertising how on earth are your customers and potential clients going to find you?

It’s a complicated old business pushing your way past your competition and getting your website where it needs to be. It requires a lot of work and know-how and can be a bit daunting but hey, don’t panic… we can help. After several queries from our clients about getting their shiny new websites up the search engines, we decided to clear out the west wing of ADOtowers and set up a brand spanking new department solely dedicated to SEO (that’s search engine optimisation to those of you who don’t speak geek). We have done our homework and called in the experts… and, as with all of our services, we are absolutely confident in offering the very best optimisation around. No rock bottom priced cowboy packages or unrealistic empty promises, just good quality, well researched, effective marketing.

We have devised three different packages aimed at marketing your website through various channels. We can guide you step by step through all the best ways to begin your web marketing campaign and set realistic goals and time frames. We will help you to devise the best strategy for your business and manage your promotions to achieve the results you want.

Your website is probably your most powerful marketing tool and we are here to help you utilise it! The right website combined with the most effective web marketing campaign can truly take your business to the next level. The potential to contact the world and tell them what you can offer is something that businesses are still in the relatively early stages of grasping. Get your business in on that action and see what you can do. The web is your oyster.

For more information, please take a look here. Alternatively if you would like pop in for a chat and find out a bit more about it, we will be more than happy to explain it to you in more detail. Just give us a bell on 01625 612 198.

As a small business ourselves, we know how hard it is out there. We are passionate about providing our clients with the best possible services to help them succeed. Why not let us help your business get where you want it to be?

First and Only Airsoft

Well our blogs are becoming a bit like busses, nothing for ages then two in the space of a week! We will endevour to keep em’ coming on a more regular basis from now on. It’s still busy here at ADOtowers, we launched another exciting website this week and we thought you might like to check it out…

Calling all adrenalin junkies!

Are you in search of some combative fun?  bored of laser quest? done with paintball? then check out our freshest website fodder for First and Only Airsoft.

And what in the name of warfare is Airsoft I hear you cry? Well let me tell you… First and Only Airsoft is the latest and (in our opinion) greatest way to don your combat gear, learn some tactical skills, burn some energy and have some serious fun.  Stuff magazine readers will soon be seeing a bit more about it when we launch our monthly ad campaign. We are pretty sure it will catch your eye.

First and Only Airsoft web site screen shot

Whether you and your friends or colleagues want to rescue a hostage from an asylum, gain experience as a sniper (practical!) or even avoid some zombies in an abandoned shopping mall then First and Only Airsoft is just the ticket!

Check out the new website here where you can read more about the exciting venues and take a look at the built-in forum to get more information from the First and Only community.

Why not have a bash? What better way is there to have fun and get fit? If you do want to make a booking then you will shortly be able to do so through our online booking system due to be launched over the next month. You might also want to stock up on some combat gear which will be available from the full e-commerce store also launching later in the month. Line up your viewfinder and watch this space!

Finally, you may or may not have noticed but we are currently advertising for a front end web developer to assist us with the increasing amount of work we are undertaking. If you think you have the skills and the ability you can find out more about the position here. We look forward to hearing from you!

Cotesfield Farm B&B

ADOmedia have just launched the website for the newly refurbished B&B Cotesfield Farm. The beautiful working farm was recently taken over by the Morrison family and offers a warm countryside welcome to all who stay. They approached us after seeing the great work that we have undertaken in the past with 20 Albany Street and Harrop Fold Farm and the end result has been received very well by their prospective clients.

From the logo design, the external signage, the website and the printed literature and stationery, and the photography shoot ADOmedia carried out the full caboodle!

Cotesfield Farm B&B website screen shot

To view our latest offering you can visit the site here – www.cotesfieldfarm.co.uk

MCTC Events

ADOmedia have just launched the new website for Macclesfield Counselling and Training Centre. The new site focuses on the events wing of their business and allows visitors to easily view and book places on the many courses, training seminars and conferences that they organise. Using a content management system the client is easily able to create events and set multiple pricing levels and attendance limits. The end result is a very clean and easy to navigate website that the client just loves – it has drastically reduced their admin time and this allows them to get on with the work they do best!

MCTC Events website screen shot

To view the latest produce from ADOmedia visit the site here – www.mctcevents.co.uk

Bathrooms and More Store

ADOmedia have just launched a brand new e-commerce website selling all manner of home furniture but with a particular focus on bathroom units. Bathrooms and More Store is packed full of fantastic ceramic, stone and solid oak goodies that will brighten up any home! The end result is a clean and very easy to navigate online shop.

Bathrooms and More Store website screen shot

To view ADOmedia’s latest website here – www.bathroomsandmorestore.co.uk

Google’s beginners guide to the web

Twenty years ago this month, Tim Berners-Lee published his proposal for the World Wide Web. Twenty years later Google have decided to produce an online book called “20 Things I Learned About The Web”. This informative and entertaining electronic book covers topics as general as “What is the Internet” to more in depth subjects like “Plug-ins”, “IP addresses & DNS” and “Evolving to a Faster Web”. Head on over to take a look at it’s interesting concept of simplistic design fused with easy to understand technical content.

Google's Beginners Guide To The Web

Take a view of Google’s guide here.