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A Most Curative New Website

Make those aches and pains go away, visit Hazel Williams the registered osteopath in Stansted. You can find out more about the services offered by Hazel and the success she routinely has for her clients by visiting her new website developed by Toucan Internet LLP

http://hazel-williams.co.uk/ Osteopath in Stansted

Toucan Internet LLP worked in conjunction with Hazel’s creative partner to produce a search engine optimised website with an original creative design that clearly explains how she works and how she achieves results for her patients of all ages and from all walks of life. “At Toucan we’re always pleased to work with other professionals in the creative process as this increases the creative pool of ideas and engenders diversity” explains Simon Thomas Principal Partner @ Toucan Internet

If you think this website will be of interest to your friends and associates please link to it and spread the word.


To find out more about how Toucan Internet LLP can improve your online success, please feel free to contact Simon at the contact points below.

t: 01279 871 694
e: simon@toucanweb.co.uk
w: www.toucanweb.co.uk

Copyright Toucan Internet LLP 2012©. All rights reserved.

Harry’s Bar, Splendid London Restaurants with an advanced website.

The decision to choose between a routine website and one that ups the game to run business processes and online marketing is a big one, however the ongoing benefits of automating routine procedures saves time and money.

We were delighted to be commissioned to redevelop the website at Harrys.co.uk as Toucan Internet LLP started as Harry’s Bar’s web partner with their very first website that was developed in 1999.

The creative design was critical in capturing the essence of these two quite different Harry’s Bar restaurants. This exciting design involved considerable liaison with the team at Harry’s Bar and the photographers who shot some stunning images that project exactly what Harry’s Bar is about.

The technical specification was extensive and it affords the team at Harry’s Bar extensive control over the whole website through a friendly control panel:

  • Add and delete pages
  • Schedule pages to be available during certain periods, ideal for seasonal menus
  • Upload, crop and scale images automatically; no image preparation is required before upload
  • Mailing list function automatically handles opt-ins and corporate mail outs are managed directly on server affording easy mailings and avoidance of being seen as Spam
  • Place rotating onsite advertising panels
  • Manage the on-page search engine optimisation
  • ……… more

Since a greater amount of decision making will be done through mobile web than is done on conventional pc’s over the next few years, Harry’s Bar’s new website also supports a responsive design that is automatically used in favour of a wider screen rendition if viewed on smartphones.

All menus have a dedicated print version that emulates the real restaurant menus such that they can be printed and reviewed before visiting the restaurants.

Finally when you’re in town next and fancy a bite to eat away from the madding crowd, we wholly recommend Harry’s Bar for a warm welcome, exquisite food and great atmosphere – you will not be disappointed. Furthermore on presentation of a printout of this article before the end of November 2012 you can get 10% discount on the a la carte menu at the Ironmonger Lane venue. Many thousands of visitors to the website every month have already discovered Harry’s Bar, now it’s your turn.

http://harrys.co.uk/

 

For more information and a chat about affordable professional website development for restaurants please feel free to contact Simon at Toucan Internet LLP and improve your online success.

t: 01279 871 694

e: simon@toucanweb.co.uk

w: www.toucanweb.co.uk

Copyright Toucan Internet LLP 2012©. All rights reserved.

Harry’s Bar, Splendid London Restaurants with an advanced website.

New website ten years later

When Lattenbury Services required a professional website in 2002 Toucan Internet  were recommended by their professional advisors and we designed and built a website that met the requirements and lasted ten years with a few  modifications along the way. Since Lattenbury Services were pleased with the consistent service offered by Toucan over the years, despite keen local competition, we were asked to redevelop this simple but important site that we’re now pleased to publish.

www.lattenburyservices.co.uk

The work also required some branding work to define more strict control of the logo and the strapline.

Lattenbury Services offer construction services for the countryside.  The bridges, footpaths, water courses and environmental and archaeological works are all best demonstrated with clear pictures. The site’s original creative design therefore includes many quality images rotating on the pages with information splashes, making for an interesting and captivating visitor experience.

Whilst Lattenbury Services do not run a social media program at the moment, we included popular social shares so that visitors can promote this website out through their social channels.

Let’s see this website stand the test of time like the original one produced in 2002.

For more information and a chat about affordable professional website development  and how Toucan Internet LLP can improve your online success, please feel free to contact Simon at the contact points below.

t: 01279 871 694

e: simon@toucanweb.co.uk

w: www.toucanweb.co.uk

Copyright Toucan Internet LLP 2012©. All rights reserved.

Community Focussed Website for North Weald Bassett Parish Council

nwpc-webgrab-blogWe were delighted to be commissioned by North Weald Bassett Parish Council to develop their website into something that would help the PC engage with the community and be a conduit for information flow in both directions. Having provided the council Internet services for a number of years prior, the council knew Toucan and were impressed with the level of support they had received.

The website had a tight budget and after a review of available options, it was decided to produce it on a WordPress platform giving affordability and flexibility. After the final training the council are editing the whole site themselves including the calendars, images, text and pages.

Adriana Jones, Finance and Administrative Officer for North Weald Bassett Parish Council said “I have found the service received by Toucan both with design of the website and support at all levels nothing less than first class. The process from start to finish has been seamless, and I look forward to working with Toucan in future.”


If you are looking for a reliable provider of business email facilities with a human interface, please have a chat with Simon @ Toucan Internet LLP, details below.

To find out more about how Toucan Internet LLP can improve your online success with an affordable web developemnt that will give a return on investment, please feel free to contact Simon at the contact points below.

t: 01279 871 694

e: simon@toucanweb.co.uk

w: www.toucanweb.co.uk

Copyright Toucan Internet LLP 2012©. All rights reserved.

WordPress expert joins team at Toucan Internet

helenWe’re pleased to welcome Helen to our website development team as our WordPress developer.

Whilst Toucan has the top-end development and programming requirements well supported we needed someone who was more than just proficient with WordPress.

Helen has been working with WordPress for over 6 years when it was still a little known blogging platform.

Converting an existing website to WordPress, adding a contemporary twist, or working from a bespoke design, virtually any website can be placed on this versatile and open source platform.

Helen comes from an engineering background and enjoys working with clients. As part of the training delivered to our clients she ensures they can develop their own knowledge enabling them to update their own website whilst keeping within SEO goals, adding new pages and posts.

When any spare time falls into her day she likes to have a game of tennis.


To find out more about how Toucan Internet LLP can influence your online success please feel free to contact Simon at the contact points below.

t: 01279 871 694
e: simon@toucanweb.co.uk
w: www.toucanweb.co.uk

Copyright Toucan Internet LLP 2012©. All rights reserved.

Sketch Video – Dare to stand out from the crowd.

Hand drawn bespoke videos with captivating sound and voice

over for websites, YouTube and presentations.


You can’t help but to take notice of messages delivered in this way.

See more at http://www.sketchvideo.co.uk

For more information of how Toucan can help further your online success please contact us:

Tel: 01279 871 694
Email: simon@toucanweb.co.uk

Web: www.toucanweb.co.uk

Copyright Toucan Internet LLP 2012©. All rights reserved.

What a lovely box – new website release.

Presentation packaging manufacturer GWD Ltd. of Harlow commissioned Toucan Internet LLP to redevelop their website to clearly display the company’s skills in making bespoke presentation packaging.

Heart shaped box

The new GWD website complies with all the necessary web construction standards for wide acceptance and the big sequencing display images are rendered using a technology that is functional on iPads and iPhones too as well as conventional PC screens. Don’t underestimate the growing number of users of these i-devices making buying decisions by browsing websites; so make certain your next website is as good on these mobile devices as it is on a desktop computer screen.

Noel Greenwood, Managing Director of GWD Ltd. said “Being able to clearly display our novel and innovative presentation packaging designs to customers is so important and the new website from Toucan does this so well.”

See www.gwd.ltd.uk


If you are looking for a reliable business class website development, please have a chat with Simon @ Toucan Internet LLP, details below.

To find out more about how Toucan Internet LLP can influence your online success please feel free to contact Simon at the contact points below.

t: 01279 871 694

e: simon@toucanweb.co.uk

w: www.toucanweb.co.uk

Copyright Toucan Internet LLP 2011©. All rights reserved.

What is the difference between budget web hosting and business class web hosting?

Many of the points detailed below are on a scale rather than being black or white when comparing one provider with another.

Support
For websites to work properly they have to have an adequate level of technical support at the time when it is needed by the developer and the business. Delays will hinder development and inevitably increase other operational costs.
Toucan Internet’s quality standard is that you will be able to contact a human being who can understand and correct the issue you have or be just one step back from that person. You will always get a human being to talk to during normal UK office hours. We do not use automated call handling, just real people who care and invariable know you as a customer. We also have the patience to take the time to explain the details you need in plain English.

This best summed up by one council who transferred all their hosting to Toucan Internet LLP from a budget web host provider because of the lost hours spent waiting in call queues and alike when technical support was required. They now simply call us and the matter is in hand.

Out of hours we have a Support Request system in place http://toucanweb.co.uk/ti_status_request.php and a notification service for bigger issues at http://toucanweb.co.uk/ti_status.php.

Website Performance
For businesses that require the best possible advantage with Google it is worth bearing in mind that one of the many criteria that Google uses to rank a website is speed of delivery of the web pages and their content. There are two parts to the speed of delivery, one is the quality of the website code and the second is the speed of the server and the supporting network. Our servers are right on the UK’s Internet backbone in a datacentre in London’s Docklands, affording our clients excellent connectivity.

A number of our websites are in the top 5% of the world’s fastest websites as independently reported by Google.

Economy hosting gives the provider a lower revenue and as such they have to max the servers to generate adequate return by putting as many customers websites on a server as possible. At Toucan Internet LLP our competitive business class rate means that we can balance the loads on our servers and keep significant resources in reserve. This is turn gives impeccable reliability and up time plus fast delivery of websites.

 

Email Services
Invariably the web host provider will be the email provider. With the same level of care and customer support, Toucan Internet LLP provides email services for practically all requirements:

·         POP3

·         IMAP

·         Cloud – Hosted Microsoft Exchange

·         SMTP

Plus Toucan Internet LLP supports this with world class email security that screens inbound mail for Spam and viruses including providing an online quarantine box, white & black listing and a daily digest of your quarantine box.
The need to configure your email accounts on your local business servers and devices is accommodated as Toucan Internet LLP has good working relationships with many local IT support companies and liaises with any IT professionals you may already have in support.

 

Bespoke Services
If your web developer requires additional services, modules or configurations specific to a special requirement, then we accommodate this too, subject to a security audit of the solution.

 

 

Comprehensive business class services with personal support

We care about your business.

About the Author

Simon Thomas of Toucan Internet LLP has 18 years direct marketing experience prior to embracing the new Internet marketing channels that emerged in 1995. He heads the multiple disciplinary team of professionals at Toucan Internet LLP supporting clients of all sizes and markets where the client is looking for a professional Internet marketing partner with a long proven track record.

To find out more about Toucan Internet LLP please feel free to contact Simon at the contact points
below.

t: +44 1279 871 694
e:
simon@toucanweb.co.uk
w: www.toucanweb.co.uk

Things to consider when redeveloping your website.

There comes a time when the corporate website that once met all your criteria starts looking a little like yesterday’s offerings design-wise and is now missing the mark from a marketing perspective. Tell-tale signs may be subtle such as the visitors bounce* rate increasing as the website fails to convince visitors that you are a worthy offering or the signs may be more obvious in that the website is just not up to date with expected content such as social media integration, compliance with popular browsers and standards or being ready for the mobile market place.

From experience the following is a consolidation of some of the points you may need to consider when undertaking the rework of your website.

Your Objectives

Define the objectives of having a website as once you’ve done this all the subsequent decisions you have to make fall in place as they are either in line with these objectives or they are not.

Your Blueprint

On large projects there can be much detail that really must be concluded before the project starts. Once concluded the entire web development team will understand exactly what has to be delivered and when, and as the website owner you will also know that it will meet your defined objectives.

The blueprinting process often opens up the minds to further specification improvements and content as it encourages all involved to review the finer detail of the website facilities.

Websites that are properly blueprinted have always turned out to be good performers and the relationship between the development team and the customer has been excellent.

Cost-wise; as the project runs to a mutually agreed plan there is far less scope for budget irregularities.

Your Current Website

When you put together your initial website, there would likely have been great thought and deliberation as to what was included and how. Despite the old website now looking dismal beside the competition’s new feature rich website, so many companies will totally disregard the good that is present in their old website. Be very careful not to “throw the baby out with the bathwater”. Apart from quality content that may need to transfer to the new website after reworking, the search engines and other referrers will have linked to the pages in your website.

Your Development Team.

In the past your website may well have required the basic skills of a developer and maybe a designer. Consider the content and your aspirations and ask yourself if your current incumbent team is complete and can offer you:

  • Web development that brings commercial return
  • A team of people with whom you are comfortable working
  • The resources you’ll need to grow your website including:
    • Web coding so the fundamental HTML code is right
    • Programming so the website facilities function to your specifications including Mobile standards and general fall back solutions where Flash and other resources are not supported on the visitor’s browser
    • Copywriting that both fits your industry style and finds favour with the search engines
    • Photography so you avoid poor images that so often degrade what could be a quality website; afford professional or quality photography
    • Video as a powerful and effective way to engage the visitor and also finds favour with the search engines
    • Search engine optimisation
    • Search engine marketing
    • Social media

The Internet marketing team you choose for the next part of your journey needs to have a lot more bases covered than was the case a few years ago if you are to rise above the bland mediocrity of basic websites and have a true commercial success.

The Creative Design

This is the most subjective of all the components. Having a professional creative team that understands both design for web and the norms of your market places will undoubtedly make for a professional result that wins business. So many creatives are stuck in the “design for print world” and do not engage with the dynamic medium of a website. With dynamic new technologies such as jQuery and AJAX, webpages are written to dynamically change according to input giving more efficient pages and a much improved customer experience.

The creative team will work with you and your developers to conclude the navigation tree so that your information is presented in the most effective fashion and in such a way that we lead the visitor through the punchy introduction via the convincers to the call to action. If that simple process is not instinctively engrained in the team’s approach then find someone else.

The Platform and Programming

Do not be wooed by a web development team that wants to build your website with some obscure technology. Stay mainstream with all your resources unless there is a very good reason why not to. If you go “off piste” then you’ll find that there are fewer developers prepared to take your website on with a technology that they do not support and fewer pre-developed resources online so you’ll be paying for bespoke development from scratch for new modules. Examples of mainstream solutions include Linux with PHP & MySQL or Microsoft with ASP & SQL.

Your Online Marketing

The possible routes to market online are now extensive and affordable to all. Have a sound plan in mind that will accommodate all channels including social media, newsletters/mailings, website news, blogging, article publication and other avenues that fit comfortably in your marketing mix. Importantly remember that your website and online marketing are not to be done in isolation and absolutely must seamlessly integrate with your internal systems and traditional marketing. Choose a web development team that understands the benefits of combining multiple channels of communication and better still offers them.

The opt-in newsletter/mailings can be extended further by adding an autoresponder series so that your worthy pre-prepared messages are delivered periodically to your schedule.

Once a website is launched the online marketing offered by your web development team should monitor performance in line with the client’s objectives and the Internet norms and in turn make website changes according to the feedback received. Continuous improvement and following marketing opportunities are key to keeping your website commercially successful for years to come. Keep testing, measuring and improving.

Your Website Hosting

Budget hosting should be avoided; slow servers that are maxed out for profit will cost you dearly. Slow delivery of website content not only turns visitors away but also has an effect on your Google ranking. Your web development marketing company should be monitoring this as one part of your search engine marketing they do for you.

These are just some of the key elements from 16 years of experience and worth considering when redeveloping your website.

 

 

 

About the Author

Simon Thomas of Toucan Internet LLP has 18 years direct marketing experience prior to embracing the new Internet marketing channels that emerged in 1995. He heads the multiple disciplinary team of professionals at Toucan Internet LLP supporting clients of all sizes and markets where the client is looking for a professional Internet marketing partner with a long proven track record.

To find out more about Toucan Internet LLP please feel free to contact Simon at the contact points

below.

t: +44 1279 871 694

e: simon@toucanweb.co.uk

w: www.toucanweb.co.uk

iPhone and POP3 Accounts

iphone4As providers of email facilities to business, Toucan Internet LLP is called upon to offer additional support for the many mobile devices that hang on the end of our services. Most of these have their own little foibles that, if you’re unaware of, can cost hours of lost time, raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels and leave you wondering why you ever upgraded in the first place. Don’t worry you’re not alone.

Some clients have issues connecting the iPhone to POP3 accounts, not because of the product itself, but rather the lack of configuration advice available to users. Having helped clients recently, this basic information may well be helpful to many.

If you have another device such as a main PC that is also collecting your email, then there can be clashes as the POP3 protocol that handles your mail can only service one device at one time, therefore if one is connected and the other one polls the mail box it will return an error as it cannot get access.

These are typical log errors that show the issue and your sysadmin people will be able to spot this:

May 19 12:54:35 toucan ipop3d[32387]: Login user=mrmail host=[212.183.140.122] nmsgs=10/10
May 19 12:58:56 toucan ipop3d[725]: Error opening or locking INBOX user=mrmail host=yourco.co.uk [83.104.167.229]

Here we see the iPhone log in at 12:54:35 from IP address 212.183.140.122 and before that mail session has closed the office PC log has attempted a connection to the same account from 83.104.167.229. The office pc would report a connection error.

To avoid this being a continual issue one solution would be to only have the office PC collecting when you are there. There are countless other ways email accounts can be configured that we’ll not debate them all here, but rather flag up this iPhone/Mobile device and POP3 issue.

Particularly with the iPhone and the above configuration with an office PC on the same account it is important to set the iPhone push facility to “off”. From our experience if this is set to “on” the iPhone doesn’t close the session after polling the POP3 account therefore locking the mail box from access by other devices, such as the office PC.

Specific to Toucan Internet LLP POP3 accounts in the advanced settings set “SSL” to off. The SMTP authentication should be set to “password”.

Hi Simon

Thank you for your help and assistance with the iPhone4 queries, you have achieved in 5 minutes what Vodafone have taken over 2 hours to not resolve! I have discussed with them just now about Outlook needing to be closed to get emails on the iPhone and they have advised altering the Outlook settings to ‘keep the mail on the server’ which I have done and it appears to be working OK but goodness knows what else it will put out of sync!

Thanks,
Alistair
FORBES ASSOCIATES
Saffron Walden
19-5-11

If you are looking for a reliable provider of business email facilities with a human interface, please have a chat with Simon @ Toucan Internet LLP, details below.

t: 01279 871 694
e: simon@toucanweb.co.ukToucan Internet LLP
w: www.toucanweb.co.uk

Copyright Toucan Internet LLP 2011©. All rights reserved.