WeMakeMedia

02/01/2024

Win a meal for two at the new Creeping Thyme restaurant at Seale Hayne Creeping Thyme https://tastebudsmagazine.co.uk/competition/win-a-three-course-meal-at-creeping-thyme-restaurant/

04/12/2023

It’s been a pleasure working with you James. Thanks for choosing WeMakeMedia

Piha Plumbing and Bathroom Installations provides exceptional plumbing services and luxury bathroom solutions

29/11/2023

We Make Media is taking part in Small Business Saturday.

Small Business Saturday UK

Small Business Saturday is a campaign to celebrate the UK’s amazing small businesses. It encourages customers to shop locally and support small businesses in their communities.

This year it takes place on 2nd December.

Running for over a decade in the UK, Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign.

Many small businesses take part in the campaign by hosting events and offering promotions.

We Make Media is offering 20% off our website and print design services until 15 December.

If you like to find out more about our website or print design services visit the website: wemakemedia.co.uk, give us a call on 01626 871161 or email [email protected]

We Make Media – Devon web design company, book and magazine publisher. Experts in print and website design, content creation and digital marketing.

Family-run, approachable, friendly and down-to-earth. We’re happiest when working with like-minded, small businesses, working to improve your company with the same love and dedication as our own.

There's loads of free advice on our website too. I hope you find something useful: wemakemedia.co.uk/expert-advice

06/09/2023

Exciting News!

After listening to industry feedback we have made some changes to how our product awards are run to give you even more opportunities to win awards for your products.

We are now open for four initial phases rather than three which means you can enter as many different products as you like anytime from NOW until the end of April!

Each of the four phases will be limited to a maximum of 375 products and will be on a first come first served basis.

We have released the first 375 product judging slots and have already had entries into the first phase of our 2024 product awards so head on over via the link here: https://www.tasteofthewest.co.uk/awards/product-awards and register your products for entry now.

Don't forget: all Taste of the West producer members are entitled to at least one free product entry per year. Make sure you have logged in here on our website when registering your product entries to redeem your free entry/entries.

26/07/2023

Why is responsive web design important?

First impressions count, and responsive website design is necessary to create a great first impression online. We Make Media explains what it is and how to achieve it.

Read the blog post here: https://wemakemedia.co.uk/expert-advice/why-is-responsive-web-design-important/

18/07/2023

Can I use AI to write content instead of paying a professional writer?

I have played with ChatGPT and it’s impressive, but how does it perform in the real world? Could it be used to write content for your website, blog or social media? Could you save money by replacing a human creator with an artificial counterpart? I decided to put these questions to the test.

We Make Media is the publisher of Taste Buds, the food and drink magazine for Devon. For my experiment, I asked ChatGPT to write a 2,000-word magazine article about Michelin-starred restaurants in Devon.

There are four restaurants in Devon that hold a Michelin star: Gidleigh Park, Lympstone Manor, The Masons Arms and the Elephant Restaurant. With only four businesses to discover, I thought it would be a relatively easy task for ChatGPT to gather the correct information, but what about the finer details? Will the article pass the scrutiny of an expert with local knowledge?

Jennie Cooper, Editor of Taste Buds describes what she looks for in a well-written article. “Many writers believe they need to include a huge amount of vocabulary, sprinkling adjectives and adverbs and too many words throughout their copy. This makes for a complicated read, if not compiled by an experienced writer. Start with facts. Articles need to be factually correct and written clearly with the correct grammar and spelling. Understand what it is you are writing about - and get to the point. A general rule is to make one point per paragraph. Keep to your core message. Don’t take the reader on a journey somewhere else - it’s distracting and confusing.”

How does the article fare against the wrath of Jennie’s red pen?

Read the article to find out:

I have played with ChatGPT and it’s impressive, but how does it perform in the real world? Could you save money by replacing a human creator with an artificial counterpart?

13/07/2023

Visual storytelling: the power of great photography for your small business.

In this blog post We Make Media talks to three Devon-based photographers: Guy Harrop Photography Claire Gillo Photography Fran Minifie Photography

They discuss:
Creating a Visual Story
Establishing Brand Identity through Photography
Capturing Attention
Creating Connections

We Make Media is a Devon-based publisher and web design company and we’ve been helping small businesses grow in the West Country since 2010. We work with professional photographers who are experts in food and drink, homes and interiors and travel and tourism.

If you agree that great imagery is an important part of your website or print project, give us a call to see how we can help you. 01626 871161 or email [email protected].

Thanks to Stacey Sheppard, The Design Sheppard for writing the article.

28/06/2023

Why is quality writing so important for SEO?

Search engines prioritise well-written content that matches the search intent of users, and delivers valuable and helpful information.

According to Google’s Search Quality Rater Guidelines, one of the most important ranking factors is known as E-A-T: Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness. But what does this mean?

Expertise means that Google wants to show content from subject matter experts in its search engine results pages. Authority is about reputation and whether an individual or website is seen as the go-to source of information about a particular topic. Trustworthiness looks at how legitimate, transparent and secure a website is.

If you want potential customers coming to your site to believe you are a trustworthy, authoritative expert, then create accurate and error-free content. Not only are spelling and grammar errors unprofessional but they could also cause potential customers to lose faith in your brand, damage your credibility, and could mean you lose opportunities.

Poor-quality writing, spelling and grammar will affect the perception that users have of your business and can give the impression that your company lacks attention to detail. If you can’t ensure your own content is good quality, why would visitors believe that the products or services you sell will be good quality? A website full of spelling and grammar mistakes will undermine your marketing efforts and ultimately erode trust and could damage your reputation.

Are spelling and grammar ranking factors for SEO? Find the answer in our blog post: https://wemakemedia.co.uk/expert-advice/why-is-quality-writing-important-for-seo/

If you’re looking to redesign your website with good-quality, well-written, error-free content, we can help. We Make Media is a Devon-based web design company. We’ve been helping small businesses grow in the West Country since 2010. If you’re interested in a website design for your business, book your free discovery call to discuss what you’re looking for: https://wemakemedia.co.uk/web-design/

23/06/2023

Devon Home’s selection of local kitchen companies make, supply and install a range of quality kitchens Jurassic Kitchens and Living Spaces Treyone JWF Bespoke Carpentry and Joinery https://devonhomemagazine.co.uk/devon-kitchen-companies/

21/06/2023

Making the most of your marketing budget: tips for small businesses.

For a small business, it is imperative to make the most of your marketing budget for the best return on your investment. However, far too many businesses spend money ad-hoc, with no real strategy and no way to measure their marketing results. This results in ineffective marketing campaigns, wasted time, effort, resources, and money, which, frankly, no business can afford.

So, how do you make the most of your marketing budget? Over the years, working in the publishing industry and with countless small businesses, We Make Media has gained a great deal of insight into what works and what doesn’t. Below are some of our steps to follow.

Step 1: solidify your brand
Step 2: plan your marketing activities
Step 3: quality over quantity
Step 4: define your goals
Step 5: outsource if necessary

We expand on all of the above in our blog post: https://wemakemedia.co.uk/expert-advice/making-most-your-marketing-budget-tips-small-businesses/

If content marketing is part of your wider digital marketing strategy, perhaps we can help. We Make Media is a Devon-based web design and publishing company and we’ve been helping small businesses grow in the West Country since 2010. If you need content marketing support for your business, we would be happy to discuss what you’re looking for and how we can help. Book your free discovery call: https://wemakemedia.co.uk/content-marketing/

12/06/2023

Why measuring your marketing efforts is essential for small business growth.

Marketing results don’t just happen by chance, they happen through consistent and targeted activity. It requires a long-term strategy designed to target your ideal client, on the right platforms, at the right time, with content that interests them and eventually converts them into paying customers.

Measuring marketing effectiveness allows you to make data-driven decisions. You’re not just going with your gut and hoping for the best. Instead, you are looking at key metrics and performance indicators and using hard evidence to improve your marketing strategy.

In this post we explore some of the most important metrics you should be tracking: https://wemakemedia.co.uk/expert-advice/why-measuring-your-marketing-efforts-essential-small-business-growth/

If you’re looking to redesign your website as part of your wider digital marketing strategy, perhaps we can help. We Make Media is a Devon-based web design company. We’ve been helping small businesses grow in the West Country since 2010. If you’re interested in a website design, or need help with writing your content, we would be happy to discuss what you’re looking for and how we can help. Book your free discovery call: https://wemakemedia.co.uk/web-design/

06/06/2023

If your website is not performing as you need it to, you could be missing out on valuable traffic, leads, and sales.

In this post we show you 5 warnings signs your website is underperforming, and 9 possible reasons why: https://wemakemedia.co.uk/expert-advice/5-warning-signs-your-website-underperforming/

If you're concerned that your website is not performing as well as it could be, it might be time to call in the experts. We Make Media is a Devon-based company. We’ve been helping small businesses grow in the West Country since 2010. Book your free discovery call on 01626 871161

21/04/2023

21/04/2023

As April marks , we want to showcase members who offer effective solutions to help you unwind and manage stress. Among them is Putnams, who creates handmade products such as duvets and pillows that are specifically designed to promote relaxation and reduce stress.

Their sleep range offers comfortable support, alleviating pain and tension in the body which ultimately leads to improved sleep quality and reduced stress levels. Their British wool duvets are temperature-regulating, promoting a comfortable sleep environment, and can improve stage 4 regenerative sleep by up to 25%. The weight of the wool duvets provides a sense of comfort and security, making it easier to relax and sleep.

By offering comfortable and supportive sleep products, Putnams aims to help individuals feel more relaxed and at ease, ultimately improving overall well-being and stress management.

We had the chance to speak with Bubbles Putnam, Director of the company, about self-care and how it plays a crucial role in managing stress. As she explains: "In addition to using products to support your body during rest it's also important to prioritize self-care as a way to manage stress. Self-care involves intentionally taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental health through activities such as exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, practising mindfulness or meditation, and engaging in hobbies or activities that bring joy and relaxation. I personally found the Danish practice of hygge to be very beneficial in helping me create meaningful time alone or with my partner to escape daily stresses"

To learn more about Putnams' range of stress-reducing products, visit their website: https://putnams.co.uk/

20/04/2023

Social media is a valuable tool to promote your business. However, using only this channel for your marketing is risky.

Organic reach for Facebook business pages has declined and it's a similar story on Instagram. Unless you are willing to pay for advertising on these platforms, you will no longer get the reach you once had. You don’t own the followers you have amassed on these platforms, or even the content you created.

What should you do instead?

Take steps to be less reliant on social media. Integrate your social channels with a range of marketing activities. Build a system that gives you direct access to your customers. A system where you control what content can be seen. Protect yourself from the algorithmic whim of the social media giants.

We explore three steps to building a balanced, risk-free marketing strategy in this post: https://wemakemedia.co.uk/expert-advice/why-relying-on-social-media-marketing-is-a-bad-idea-what-do-instead/

If you’re looking to redesign your website as part of your wider digital marketing strategy, perhaps we can help. We Make Media is a Devon-based web design company. We’ve been helping small businesses grow in the West Country since 2010. If you’re interested in a website design, or need help with writing your content, we would be happy to discuss what you’re looking for and how we can help. Book your free discovery call: https://wemakemedia.co.uk/web-design/

12/04/2023

Good quality content should be your priority when it comes to website content creation.

In December 2022 Google released its Helpful Content Update which emphasised the need to avoid creating search-engine first content, but what other advantages are there to creating content for website visitors and potential customers?

Find out in our blog post: https://wemakemedia.co.uk/expert-advice/why-important-create-website-content-your-customers-not-just-google/

If you’re looking to redesign your website as part of your wider digital marketing strategy, or need help creating website content, we can help. We Make Media is a Devon-based web design company. We’ve been helping small businesses grow in the West Country since 2010. If you’re interested in a website design, copywriting of content marketing for your business, we would be happy to discuss what you’re looking for and how we can help. Book your free discovery call:https://wemakemedia.co.uk/web-design/