The Village Websmith helps small
businesses to promote themselves, primarily on the internet, but also through
printed matter, helping them with sales campaigns and organising business
networking groups. The differentiator is our use of language and images
that sell, then placing information where it will be seen and understanding
markets and search engines.
Trading in Wales since 2003, the
brand is now franchised to Village Websmiths in other parts of the UK, creating
web presences for their customers using Webinthebox®, our registered trademark
CMS. This allows franchisees to concentrate on the content and promotion
rather than the technology. Llandegley was the birthplace of our business
and our products, but we are now based in Tintern.
Our success comes mostly through word
of mouth recommendations from the many small businesses that we have helped to
gain customers in a highly competitive market place. Doing a great job is
only the beginning and referrals must be actively sought, then acted
upon. We are currently preparing tender responses to opportunities found
through Sell2Wales, which could increase our annual turnover by some 30% in the
coming year.
To help small businesses like our
own, we would recommend networking on every level and every platform available,
scouring opportunities like those advertised on Sell2Wales. When I see an
opportunity listed there that isn't appropriate to what we do, I invite a
customer who is in that industry to register and pursue it. In this way,
we help the people who have bought from us and encourage them to do the same
for us.
Having a strong local focus is also
a huge help. We are members of the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Tourism
Association and I have booked on a training course to become an Ambassador for
Monmouthshire, both of these associations should help strengthen relationships
with local customers.