We Are Direct Mail is a hugely successful business originally set up in 1998 under the name of KJS Print to Mail Services. Wanting to expand their reach with a more targeted approach to high level agencies, a new name, brand identity and focus was born to work alongside their original and existing brand. From their base in Peterborough, they offer the most efficient, economical direct mail services around.
Their main aim has always been that of providing a technologically advanced, personal and professional service for all printing and direct mail needs of a client and irrespective of whether they are a well known blue-chip company or an ambitious private sector company.
As well as the main website design, we were asked to look at a couple of other areas, which included brand design / logo design, and Photography Direction. Let's discuss the Website Design:
Website Design
After we completed the logo design and art directed the photography of their printed material, we were tasked with a complete design of the website. The Site needed to attract and engage with London Agencies especially as this audience was integral to the main strategy. As with all our design projects, we initially conduct a detailed analysis of all of the competitors in the market, looking at any positive points not so positive points. This gives us a foundation to work on and also ensures we fully understand the industry for which the website is sitting in - we had to deliver a professional website that promoted respect and authority.
The site leans towards a fresh and modern look with a simplistic navigation which is able to gain control by use of sub navigation dropdowns. SEO (search engine optimsation) elements were all delivered without compromising any of the design or typography – just take a look at the OPEN ME sitemap slide down feature at the top. This gives the user a fast way to view all the areas of the site in one go, but also essential for the way in which google crawls websites – we ensure its easy for google.
Since We Are Direct Mail are all about delivering material which is mostly based on high impact Marketing , then they needed a homepage with impact. With the use of some clever navigational slideshow scripts, the header made way for an exciting transition of images, giving the user a sneak preview of all of the varied types of services they deliver; Print Services, Litho Print, Inkjet/Laser Printing, Variable Colour Digital Print, Exhibition Badge Printing, Data Processing, Data Acquisition, Envelope Inserting, Polywrapping, manual Fulfilment, Postal Discounts and Subscription Mailings.
Switching Design Themes with CSS
One piece of really interesting functionality, was the ability for the website to change its complete colour theme with a single click. The client has a strong Green Policy which incorporates such credentials as FSC and PEFC – both of which are highly respected and makes them an Environmentally Accredited Company. We gave users a sudden change of them from blue/black, to green, giving you a much more powerful underlined message, take a look here : http://www.wearedirectmail.com/fsc-certified-printers
SEO Services
The website features an SEO rich bespoke CMS (content management system) which allows our SEO Consultant to update content and imagery instantly without any prior technical HTML knowledge or ability. We believe that foundation SEO services, such as the one we include as part of our website design services are vital to all online projects.
Social Media Services
Social Media is such a buzz word at the moment and we have fully integrated various platforms with most websites we design now. Twitter is integrated and embedded into the site’s home page adding to the sense of change that the main blog gives as well. Blogs are now an integral part of all progressive thinking businesses that want to engage with their audiences instantly.
All of Brave Creative’s website designs conform to W3C standards, which validate for XHTML and CSS; this gives an all round high level of competency in website development and performance.
Website Key Functionality (for user experience)
- Ease of Navigation
- Call to action simple and obvious
- Sitemap slide down content makes it easier for google and users
- Huge image header slideshow for impact
- Instilling credibility - Client brand logos displayed in carousel widget
- Fresh content delivered to home page regularly
- Wordpress customised Blog Design
- Captcha sums Anti-spam contact form
Result
The website starting to achieve its objective, the site is gaining good google ranking, credibility from potential new customers and providing a good fantastic platform to display all the services on offer.
