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Author: Christophe

  • Making a Difference with Sheffield Shop Signs

    The Shop Signs Manufacturer with a Difference - Our Most Popular Business, Shop Signs, and Letter Types Image Sign Studio design and manufacturer the highest quality shop signs here in their Sheffield workshop. They manufacture a huge range of type of shop signs & business signs to suit every business from high-street shops to warehouses – in fact They’re still to find a job they can’t do! However, it’s always useful to have a list of our their popular shop sign types – you never know when you’ll be in the market

    Image Sign Studio’s Most Popular Business, Shop Signs, and Letter Types

    • Fret cut signage – fret cut signage, also sometimes known as fret cut lettering or computer cut lettering, is where the letters and images are cut from a sheet of material usually using a CNC router or laser cutting machine
    • Aluminium tray sign – aluminium tray signage is where the business or shop sign is cut from or attached to an aluminium tray. The fixings are usually hidden, and the sign stands proud from the wall
    • Backlit sign – our signs can be easily backlit, usually using LEDs, to create a slick and modern looking sign. In other words, the sign is placed in front of a light-source. The light can either create a ‘floating’ effect or can shine through translucent areas to make the sign more visible at night.
    • Fret cut illuminated signs – fret cut illuminated signs are often made from aluminium panels. They often comprise of front and back trays which can be any colour and usually used when illumination is required. Great to create a lit 3D effect
    • Acrylic letters, flat cut letters, sign letters, acrylic cut out letters and aluminium letters – these letter types are created in our workshop and used for many purposes including in conjunction with the other types of signs
    • Perspex letters signage – letters cut in our workshop usually using a CNC router are used to create this popular and cost-effective signage. Good for back-lit or internally lit signage such as aluminium composite tray or aluminium tray sign
    • CNC signs – CNC signs are cut from material using a CNC router which is computer controlled. As such, these signs can be intricate and use images as well as standard letters
    • Light box sign – a lightbox sign is a type of illuminated sign using a frame and lighting source
    • Directional signage – this type of signage is used everywhere from shops and warehouses to schools and hospitals. It’s designed to be practical and clear giving people instructions and showing the way
    • Sign tray – a sign tray is used very commonly in shop signs and business signage and can be made from a wide range of materials. Often backlit or internally lit, this type of sign is a very popular choice for many businesses
    • Aluminium composite sign tray – similar to the aluminium tray sign, this sign is made from composite material and can be used for many purposes
    • Dibond signs – dibond signs are most commonly used when strength is an important factor. These signs provide resistance to physical impact and heat and are most commonly used for shop signs, wall signs, information and directional signage.

    Find Out More About Our Different Types of Business Signage and Shop Signs

    Get in touch with image Sign Studio today through their contact page or call them directly on 0114 261 7617 for more information on their range of shop signs, business signage and manufacturing workshop

  • Sheffield Sign Manufacturer Stands Out with Fret Cut Lettering

    Promotion and marketing are incredible powerful when done properly but when corners are cut and things are skimped on it quickly becomes costly and ineffective. To avoid you throwing your money down the drain we want to take you back to basics for a second. It’s all well and good having your team working off the latest cloud technology but if your business signage is old, worn or damaged you are guaranteed to be losing out on potential customers on a daily basis. To help you, we’ve outlined some key ways you can enhance your business using signage. If you’re in the Sheffield or Rotherham areas and anything from want tailor-made signs to Fret Cut Lettering signage designing and manufacturing to enhance your business, contact Image Sign Studio on 0114261 7617.

    Read on to discover how good quality signage enhances your business:

    Increased visibility

    Signs allow you to reach potential customers no matter what time of day. If your customer has seen your sign they will become familiar with your logo and your business making them more likely to use your services when they need something. Signs help to boost your brand so make sure your signs are easy to read and reflect your message/ product.

    Signs bring people to you

    A great sign will attract passersby to your shop, people you’ve never met but are interested in your product. Just simply seeing a sign for your business could lead to someone who’s never heard of your business before to come and make an impulse purchase. Without the sign to grab the persons attention in the first place, you could miss out on a lot of potential customers.

    Around the clock advertising

    By purchasing a good quality sign, you have invested in 24/7 advertising for your business. A sign does its job regardless of opening times, weather conditions or the time of day. Your sign has an ongoing impact as it is always advertising for you. You can choose to invest in backlit, illuminated or light box signage to make your sign stand out at night too. There are many different styles and types of sign available, so you’re bound to find one that suits your business image.

    Gives you an edge over the competition

    A great sign helps to draw people’s attention to your business. It makes you stand out over your competitors and people will remember your sign which will cause your business to seem more familiar. Great looking business signage such as fret cut lettering will raise awareness of your brand, bridge the gap between your online and physical presence and bring people to your door with clever and strategic marketing.

    As you can see, there are many different reasons your business may want to invest in new, tailor made signage and Image Sign Studio offer a range of options, materials and designs to ensure they create the most effective and eye-catching sign for your business. They offer signs for every situation and have everything from fret cut signage to aluminium tray signs, from directional to CNC and dibond signs, whatever you need they have it so don’t hesitate to contact them today on 0114 261 7617

  • Aluminium Tray Cut to Fret Cut Signage – 4 Ways Your Business Can Make a Great First Impression

    Read on to discover 4 key ways your business can make a great first impression:

    Have an outdoor sign that is easy to read and can be seen from a distance

    This allows you to attract customers who are passing by and lets them know that your business is close, however there is more to attracting customers than just ‘putting up a sign’. In order for the potential customer to want to use your business the sign needs to be aesthetically pleasing, easy to see from a distance and easy to read such as aluminium tray sign Stylish simplicity is often most effective.

    Use lighting to give your business 24-hour advertising

    By lighting up your business signage you attract peoples eye no matter what time of day it is. This complete visibility gives you a huge advantage over your competitors, but it is very important you keep your signs well maintained. There is nothing more off putting for a potential customer than seeing an old, broken or half lit business sign. In order to reap the rewards, you need to keep your signs looking smart. Lit sign options include a backlit sign, lightbox sign, LED sign and using fret cut illuminated letters.

    Be welcoming

    A customer’s experience begins as soon as they hear about your business. Maybe they have been online and visited your website, maybe they were driving in the area and saw one of your signs – whatever way they found you, you need to make sure the experience is top notch from the start… Is your website clear? Are the contact details easy to find? Is your business sign clear and easy to read? Does the customer feel welcome at the door? Think about these things. What does your customer see when they are about to enter your business? Your customer doesn’t want to walk into a shop with big stickers on the door saying “NO” maybe you have door signs saying “NO DOGS” or “NO FOOD OR DRINK ALLOWED”, this can give off a negative vibe early on so you may try to make the first impression better by simply changing the signs. Maybe you could use signs that say, “Come in, we’re open!” or “Yes we accept credit cards” to make customers feel welcome.

    Make sure the entrance is obvious

    By having a well-designed sign at your entrance, you can not only give clear direction to your shop but you also make a fantastic first impression. Your sales revenue could increase by close to 5% just from the use of one powerful sign. Your signs are all about first impressions and guiding potential customers to your door. By using signs to their full potential, you allow a customer to feel confident in your business and product before they’ve even stepped in the door. Always make sure your sign is easy to read for the best impact – there are many different material and lettering options available so find one that makes your message pop: your sign letters could be acrylic, flat cut, aluminium tray sign or perspex.

    Get in touch with Image Sign Studio today to get a quote for your Aluminium Tray Cut Signs on 0114 261 7617

  • 3D Virtual Tours, 360-Degree Photography, and VR Experiences for your business

    3D Virtual Tours, 360-Degree Photography, and VR Experiences for your business

    Virtual tours are an amazing asset to many businesses and organisations including:

    • tourist attractions
    • stately homes
    • estate agents
    • letting agents
    • renters
    • cultural spaces
    • restaurants
    • hotels
    • and more!

    However, in the current economic climate, getting the competitive advantage over your competitors is vital.

    Below are 4 Ways a Virtual Tour Can Benefit Your Business

    Press ‘play’ then press the ‘view in full screen’ link

    A virtual tour is an immersive & interactive experience that allows on-line visitors to see inside your property without taking a single step outside of their home. Your potential customers can see inside your business in a virtual reality environment giving them a detailed look at the quality of your establishment and increasing the likelihood they will visit – it really is the next best thing to actually being there!

    Here are 4 ways a virtual tour can benefit your business:

    Generate more interest & excitement

    Your potential customers get a glimpse into your business, it’s a new level of interaction that shows impressive effectiveness. The majority of people check out a business on-line before deciding whether or not to visit in person – you do it, I do it, almost all of us do it so let’s benefit from it!

    Traditional photographs make it very difficult to see the real size and appearance of your property, it can appear very underwhelming even when your establishment is spectacular. That’s where the virtual tour comes in – people get to feel as though they’ve been in and seen how great it is for themselves before actually committing to physically going. A recent Google study found customers are considerably more likely to book a reservation if they see a virtual tour of the place first. This increased online activity and engagement generates more interest and brings more footfall traffic to your business.

    Get the edge over your competitors

    For some potential customers, a virtual tour is the deciding factor when choosing between competing businesses. People enjoy the experience of taking a virtual tour, it keeps them on your website for a lot longer than usual (an average of 40% longer), increases interactions as the customer will be clicking through products and photos on your site and it gives your potential customer the confidence to decide which business to choose. You can also incorporate your tour into your website, social media platforms and Google Business View too so you are likely to experience increased online traffic which will help to organically boost your Google rankings.

    Increases business revenue

    A virtual tour can increase your business revenue in multiple ways, the best thing about it is once it’s online you don’t have to think about it again. Time after time new customers will take your virtual tour, so while you focus on other things:

    • Your website will be viewed more frequently
    • Visitors will spend more time browsing your site
    • Your business is available to ‘see’ 24/7
    • Increased sales in less time
    • Potential customers are well informed on your services & more confident in decision making

    Businesses in every industry are realizing the untapped potential that a virtual tour brings. Whether you have a beautiful stately home or a bustling restaurant the modern, dynamic visuals of a virtual tour could be your answer for increased interaction, interest and sales.

    Get your business on Google Street View

    Ever wondered how those other businesses get on Google Street View? Now you know! With every virtual tour that 360 Virtual View provide, and as a Google partner, 360 Virtual View can also put you onto Google Street view. Here’s how that will benefit you:

    • Trust – build trust with your potential customers by putting a ‘face’ to your business name. These days, anyone can go on the internet and say virtually ‘anything’ they want so adding a virtual tour to Street View will demonstrate you are who you say you are
    • Influence the research – according to Forbes, retailers state that 82% of new customers research online before visiting a physical premises. By allowing these potential customers to see inside before they decide, you’re influencing their decision – not to mention helping them to pre-qualify themselves first saving everyone time!
    • Humanise to connect – humanising your business puts a ‘human’ face to your name, showing your potential customers something they ‘recognise’ which will allow them to relate to you in advance. A virtual tour is a great way to do this!
    • Help customers make informed decisions – customers have a lot of questions before they visit – for example about parking or what the area looks like – so you’ll be helping them find the answers they need
    • Passive marketing – help your customers come and find you.
    • convenience – Google’s Street View works on any platform, even on the go, so your potential customers can find you and ‘check you out’ when it’s convenient for them, whether that’s at the bus stop, in bed, on holiday, or even over a cup of tea in the morning before work

    However, timing is important!

    There are many factors influencing your virtual tour so get in touch today to find out more and get prices. Call 360 Virtual View today on 0114 383 0711 or email info@360virtualview.co.uk

  • When Was the News Page on Your Website Last Updated?

    Does your website have a news section? If so, then answer me this – when was it last updated? If you can’t remember when you last put an article or news bulletin on it, you need to act fast! You may have been meaning to rewrite it, but it keeps getting put to the bottom of the list. Sound familiar? Read on..

    copywriting-company-sheffieldAs a professional content writers in Sheffield, we love having a good nose around the news pages of websites that we come across during our research and general reading. Some are fantastic at posting regular articles that inform customers and reader of their latest news, products, services, event etc.

    It is obvious that they set aside a block of time during the week to make sure this all important task is carried out, and they are benefiting from it too. Not only do potential customers see interesting, relevant content; search engines love fresh content too.

    The importance of updating your news page

    However, we find it really discouraging when we check out a company’s news page only to find that it hasn’t been updated for months. It really doesn’t make a good impression and you may find potential customers asking themselves a few questions. Are they not very busy? Have they gone out of business?

    You might not think that you have anything to talk about, but there are lots of things you could write a short article about. Sharing testimonials is a great idea, as is sharing and commenting on industry news, welcoming a new member of staff – you get the idea!

    Keeping visitors coming back to your website is also something to consider. Your regular customers may be very familiar with your site, but why not give them something new to read on their next visit? Loyal customers will be genuinely interested in your news, so adding fresh material to your site on a regular basis means that will come back to see what’s going on.

    What if I don’t have a news page on my website?

    If you don’t have a news page on your website, have a quick think about your other content. Has the text on it been the same since it was built 3 years ago? If so, you need to think about refreshing it. After all, businesses naturally progress, change and grow, and your website needs to reflect this. The chances are, you’ve developed your services, expanded your product range or gained the experience needed to specialise in a particular area. And it’s not just your business that may have developed, changes in your industry are inevitable, and keeping up to date with them is important when it comes to establishing trust between you and your customers.

    Is your website text interesting enough?

    Unfortunately, even the most brilliant content can become stale over time. The attention of online readers is incredibly short, you literally have a few seconds to grab them and make them want to keep reading. Your website copy may describe exactly what you do accurately, but is it lively enough to capture the attention of a reader and to keep them there?

    Content needs to be concise and captivating, getting to the point quickly, and providing the option for readers to find out more. Text should be in bite sized sections, making it easy to scan and process the information with little effort. Text heavy paragraphs that aren’t broken up by images or bullet points are a real put off too!

    If you’ve been meaning to update your website copy but never quite got round to it, we can help. We can even write regular news articles on your behalf, ensuring that you’ve always got fresh content. Call us on 0114 383 0711 

  • 5 Ways Google’s Hummingbird Algorithm Will Change Your SEO Copywriting

    Hummingbird – Google’s new algorithm

    In the wake of the new Google algorithm, ‘Hummingbird’, SEO copywriters have had to consider the impact of the update on the way that they write. Google isn’t interested in blindly matching keywords any more, it wants to understand what the searcher is trying to achieve so that it can deliver the most accurate results.

    google's hummingbird algorithmIf you’re not familiar with Hummingbird, here’s what Danny Sullivan from Search Engine Land said about the new algorithm:

    “Google said that Hummingbird is paying more attention to each word in a query, ensuring that the whole query — the whole sentence or conversation or meaning — is taken into account, rather than particular words. The goal is that pages matching the meaning do better, rather than pages matching just a few words.”

    Blogging for business

    If you are trying to write an article for your business blog, or wanting to revamp the text on your website, taking these 5 tips into consideration will help to improve your search rankings.

    1. Use exact-match key phrases sparingly
    2. Use individual key words
    3. Write naturally with a sprinkling of key words
    4. Only place key words and phrases where they make sense to the reader, not where you think that Google will most like to see them
    5. As well as using your chosen key phrases, incorporate synonyms into your writing

    SEO copywriter in Sheffield

    If you’re struggling to write your business blog, whether you don’t have the time or you’d like someone to take care of your SEO copywriting so you don’t have to, I can help. I have tons of experience writing SEO copy for a variety of business blogs, and can offer you an article writing package at a reasonable price. To find out more about my SEO copywriting services, call me on 0114 383 0711 

  • 5 Tips for Writing Good SEO Copy

    With Google’s recent algorithm updates, search engine optimised content is more important than ever for your website or blog. Google is putting more emphasis than ever on original, quality content. With that in mind, I’ve decided to share 5 tips that will help you get to grips with SEO copywriting.

    Man writing search engine optimised copy for his websiteWrite for Humans

    Even search engines themselves prefer natural content to copy that’s obviously for SEO purposes. Focus on creating good content for human readers, including keywords that will help search engines to find your content.

    Use Keywords Naturally

    Using relevant key words in your copy is a must. But don’t worry too much about keyword density; the important thing to do is use your keywords NATURALLY. Cramming keywords in where they don’t belong will do more harm than good!

    Title Tags and Snippets

    Your title tag is one of the first things that Google looks at when it goes about categorising a web page. Also, the title tag and the ‘snippet’ or meta description are the things that your potential customers will see in the SERPs. It’s important to include keywords within them, but to make your titles and snippets sound natural and concentrate on motivating them to click.

    Social Sharing

    The more your content is shared, the more links and traffic it will receive. Therefore, the more popular and relevant it seems to Google. Use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and Pinterest to promote your content, and get it shared by other users. Do your best to promote your content on relevant forums, blogs and newsletters too.

    Answer Questions

    People use the web every day to find answers to questions and solutions to problems. A great way to get your content found and read is to answer these questions with credible, informative content. So when people type these questions into Google, they’ll find your answer. They may even go on to visit your site. And if your answers are better than your competitors, the chances are they’ll buy from you.

    If you’re struggling with SEO copywriting and need some help, or know you should be doing it but cant find the time, I can help. My SEO copywriting service is efficient and affordable. Call me on 0114 383 0711 

  • Writing for the Web – 10 Top Tips

    content-writer-sheffieldWhen internet users browse the web, they want to find the information they are looking for quickly. Readers tend to scan copy rather than ponder every word. You don’t want them to get bored, press the back button and look for another page that gives them what they are looking for more succinctly or in a more digestible way.

    There are some techniques that you can use to make sure this doesn’t happen, and I’m going to share them with you. Here are my top 10!

    1. Titles Matter

    Your title can make or break your article. Even a fantastic article can be lost behind a mediocre or dull title. Make sure your title is eye catching and descriptive. For example, ask a question that your reader is dying to know the answer to, and deliver the answer in the article. Make sure your reader knows what they’ll be getting out of the post. It’s also a good idea to use keywords and make them bold.

    2. One Idea Per Paragraph

    Only include one key idea in each paragraph, and keep them short.  This will help readers to absorb the information easily and maintain the structure of your article. Generally, if readers are not captured by the first sentence, they will tend to skip the rest of the paragraph and move on to the next one.

    3.  Sub-headings

    Sub-headings break up the text into bite size chunks. They make it easy for readers to scan over the page, and digest the information without being swamped or put off by text heavy web pages.

    4. Highlight Keywords

    Highlighting a keyword in bold or adding a hyperlink makes the information easier to scan and digest. Readers are naturally drawn to the highlighted words and phrases, which should be integral to the understanding of the article.

    5. Word Count

    Opinions differ on the correct length of an online article or blog post. My personal preference is around 400 words, and never more than 600. This might not sound like a lot, but if you consider the attention span of readers and their preference for bite sized chunks of information, you can actually fit a fair few ideas into an article of this length.

    6. Bullet Points

    Bulleted lists are easy to read and can deliver a great deal of information in just a few lines. They also force you to keep your writing brief and to the point.

    7. Proofreading

    Before you hit publish, take the time to read over your writing. Look for spelling, punctuation and grammar errors. Make sure you’ve done everything you can to make sure there are no typos or mistakes, they will only undermine your credibility and put readers off.

    8. Keep Your Reader In Mind

    Before you begin to write, put yourself in your readers’ shoes. Do they need to know about this particular subject? Would they be interested in it? Keep your reader in mind throughout the writing process.

    9. Keep It Simple

    This is a classic tip from none other than George Orwell. He may never have written for the web but this still applies – never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday equivalent. Long sentences and large technical words just won’t cut it, you have to keep your language plain and simple.

    10. Keep Your Writing Conversational

    When writing for the web, you should come across as if you’re talking to someone. Try not to be formal, get your point across in a conversational way.

    If you’ve written a blog post or article, and need a hand editing or proofreading to make sure it’s perfect for the web, I can help. Whether you need a full blog or article writing service, or you would just like an expert to check through your grammar, punctuation and style, call Content Writer Extraordinaire on 0114 383 0711, or get in touch by email through my contact form.

  • 5 Tips on Blogging for Your Business

    Blogging is a fantastic way to get your business noticed. You can present yourself as an expert in your field, be a thought leader in your industry, and turn readers into customers. As a professional content writer in Sheffield, my job is to create this sort of content every day, so I thought i’d put together my top 5 tips on blogging for business.

    copy-writing-for-blogsCheck Out Your Competition

    Before you start, it’s a good idea to have a look at what your competitors are up to. Do they have blogs? If they do, what topics are they writing about?

    If you have a look at the categories on their blog, you’ll be able to identify the key topics they are talking about and assess whether they would be relevant to you too. Take a look at which posts have had the most comments and try to figure out why this is. For example, does the post answer a question that you are faced with regularly in your line of work? Does it address a topic that has recently received media attention?

    I’m not suggesting at all that you should be a copycat, just that it is important that you make yourself aware of what your competition are doing, what they are doing well, and what they are doing not so well. That way, you can strive to be better in the areas that they are falling short on, and also identify ways the ways in which you can be unique.

    Make a Schedule and Stick to It!

    Making an editorial calendar is a great way to keep focused. You’ll have a set schedule and know exactly when you are going to publish blog posts, and on what topic. You can plan as far ahead in advance as you like; often it’s nice to know that you have a few topics penciled in in advance.

    Be realistic about your editorial calendar. Don’t schedule in that you’ll write 3 blog posts a week unless you are absolutely sure you can find the time and stick to it. Give yourself a target of one a week, for example. You’re much more likely to succeed if you have a realistic expectation of yourself.

    It’s also a good idea to have a schedule if there is more than one person in your business contributing to the blog. A schedule of topics will make sure that your ideas aren’t duplicated in any way, and you can assign topics to the person most equipped to talk about a particular subject.

    Keep an Idea Note Book

    If you’re feeling daunted by the thought of coming up with a new idea for a blog post every week, don’t despair. Inspiration may come to you when you least expect it, which is why it’s a good idea to write down any ideas that come to you, wherever you are.

    If you’ve got a relatively fancy phone you can always keep a record of your ideas in the note section, or even send yourself a reminder email. Don’t forget there’s nothing wrong with a good old fashioned notepad, or a sticky note stuck on your desk!

    Research Your Key Words and Phrases

    Good content is well researched and informative, that not only reads well for a page viewer, but also features selected keywords and phrases that will help a website rank highly in search engines.

    By researching and identifying which words and phrases are being searched for, you can then include them in your blog posts. This means that people searching for those terms are more likely to come across your blog. By concentrating your efforts on key words that are likely to be used by potential customers, your business is more likely to be found in search engine results pages for those terms!

    Publish to Your Social Networks

    When you write a blog post for your business, you’re really only doing half a job if you don’t share it. By sharing your content on social networks, you are broadening its reach, and more people are likely to click, like and share.

    So if you have a Facebook page for your business, why not post a little teaser sentence to your page, including a link to the blog post itself, for your fans to see?

    If you would like a blog for your business, but don’t have the time to dedicate to writing articles and replying to comments, I can help. If you would like to find out more about my blog and article writing services, please contact me in the office on 0114 383 0711 

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