Positive

Fantastic results for Lessons from Africa

Four months on from the launch of the Lessons from Africa website we created for Send a Cow, we’re seeing fantastic results in terms of traffic, resource downloads and positive feedback from teachers using the site, indicating it’s on the way to achieving its goal of becoming the main online destination for African primary school teaching resources.

The early year-on-year results show that site visits are up by 100%, bounce rates are down from 65% to 54% and downloads are up by 78% (from 2,800 to 5,000 per month).

The site is perfect for busy teachers who need to find the resources they need quickly. Some helpful features include an overlaid guide to the site, clearly marked file information so users can preview what they are downloading, voting systems to allow them to rate the resources they find useful and the ability to email themselves their chosen resources from their mobile.

A simple interface, which can be accessed on a range of devices, and a host of detailed search and filter functions, make it quick to navigate and find relevant resources. Teachers can filter results by age, theme, country or topic – making inspiration for lesson plans easy to find.

In the period since launch, 13% of all signups to the main Send a Cow newsletter have originated from the LFA site, proving that as well as a useful tool for teachers, Lessons from Africa is also proving to be a useful channel to raise brand awareness and recruit new supporters for Send a Cow.

Getting the detail right

I've been moving away from the visual side of things recently and working closely with two of our clients on getting the detail right – with their content and their strategy for producing content.

Firstly I ran a workshop with the Alumni department at Oxford University's Saïd Business School on 'Writing for the web' where we discussed how to make their online tone accessible and engaging without diluting their prestigious brand. I then conducted a seminar with the Executive Education department talking about how to get the best from the social media strategy we created for the School last year, and the practicalities around maintaining (and resourcing) an active and effective social media presence across so many departments.

I have also been working closely with esteemed International language school OISE on an internal writing guide. This is aimed at streamlining the range of writing styles and types of communication that their schools produce, whilst promoting the personalities of the individual schools and the enthusiasm of the staff involved. 

It has been really interesting for me to work with these clients on their content strategies and tone. It is challenging for organisations to find their brand voice online, let alone maintain it once multiple contributors are assigned responsibility for different marketing channels. Sometimes an objective view is needed to help internal teams crystallise their tone of voice and decide which channels will be most effective for them.

If you would like to know more about what we have been working on for Saïd Business School or OISE, or want to speak to me about a similar project, don't hesitate to give me a call.

A glittering evening for Positive!

A few of the team went up to London on Thursday for the prestigious DBA 2013 Design Effectiveness Awards... and what a fantastic night it was!

We knew we had won two awards when the results were announced last October but we didn't expect to be awarded a GOLD and a SILVER in the digital category, especially as this was the first year we had decided to enter!

The Design Business Association is the UK's most vocal champion of the role of effective design in the creation of business growth and their annual awards are both prestigious and authoritative, the only award scheme that uses commercial data as a key judging criteria. 

We take the effectiveness of our work extremely seriously, so we are honoured to have now earned a place in the coveted Design Effectiveness League Tables and delighted that the work we do (which we are incredibly proud of) has earned recognition for making a difference to our clients and their businesses.

Read more about the Design Effectiveness Awards

View our Bath Rugby entry (Gold)

View our Hope and Homes for Children entry (Silver)

Double DBA win for Positive!

We're absolutely thrilled to have won two DBA Design Effectiveness Awards for the Bath Rugby and Hope and Homes for Children websites.

Both of these projects have generated fantastic results for our clients since launching last year, so we're delighted to have been recognised by the DBA for our achievements!

Here’s a brief taste of the work:

Bath Rugby
We initially undertook in-depth research into fans’ and stakeholders’ requirements. The insight we gained was crucial, and ensured the success of the entire project. In fact the research is now used to inform every element of communication from the club to the fans. Following the launch of Bath Rugby’s new website, online shop and mobile site, at the beginning of last season, the figures have been impressive.

The club has experienced 100% uplift in mobile visits from the first to the second half of the season, a 28% increase in online ticket sales per match, shop sales up 35% within the first three months alone, newsletter sign ups increasing 337% year-on-year and the Community pages now viewed as the best in the Premiership.

Hope and Homes for Children
Since the site was launched last November, website visits have gone up 69% and newsletter subscriptions have increased by 342%. Regular giving is up 165% year-on-year and individual donations have increased by 122%. Twitter followers have increased by 27%, Facebook likes by 39%, and with higher traffic to the site and a team fully confident in using the new system, video content has proved hugely popular – YouTube views as of July stood at 10,189 (up 1,043%).

Within three months of the new site going live, Hope and Homes for Children were approached by a philanthropy advisor who was representing a family trust. This contact resulted in the charity being awarded a substantial grant – in their eighteen year history this was the first proactive approach to offer a grant tendering opportunity that they had ever received via the website.

Read more about the DBA Awards

Read about our work for Bath Rugby

Read more about our work for Hope and Homes for Children

Send a Cow re-appoint Positive as their digital partner

Following a supplier-led review and in line with the charity’s ambitious plans for growth, Send a Cow has reappointed us as their digital partner. 

Lorraine Finnigan, Head of Communications at Send a Cow commented “Mike and his team continue to demonstrate real passion and enthusiasm for Send a Cow. This commitment to our brand, along with solid strategic thinking and a results-led approach gave them real stand-out at the pitch and secured them the win. As Send a Cow enters an exciting period of growth and investment, we’re delighted that Positive are still on board and we are looking forward to developing some exciting plans together.”

We were over the moon with the news! It can sometimes be harder to retain a client than win a new one, so the fact that we continue to excite Send a Cow with our ideas three years in, reflects the quality of our work and the strength of our partnership with them. 

Our work will begin with a full digital strategy, before aligning and strengthening their digital channels, and moving on to specific integrated digital campaigns and new platforms, delivering an effective, sector-leading presence.

We’ve got loads of ideas and can’t wait to get started…. Watch this space!”

Desk spaces available (£225 p/m all in)

We’ve got a couple of desks available in our lovely friendly studio and we’re looking for freelancers to fill them. You might be a fellow digital designer or developer, or a copywriter/illustrator/UX specialist looking to share space with some likeminded creatives.

It's a great place to work – a bright, modern office with a high spec desk, plenty of storage and a Herman Miller chair to park yourself on. There's a kitchen, meeting room and breakout space that you can use, plus a receptionist to welcome your clients. Included is broadband/WiFi, the option of a phone line, and as much tea and coffee as you can drink!

Paintworks is on the Bath Road and can be easily reached on foot, by train, car or bike. There’s bike storage, on-site showers, visitor parking and a diner... plus the Bocabar is just a stone's throw away. What's not to like?

We're working on loads of exciting projects at the moment so if the brief fits then there's also the option of working together. There are two desks free – so come alone or bring a friend!

To find out more please call Kate Tanner on 0117 972 8852 or email kate@positivestudio.co.uk

Tweet a Cow!

Send a Cow already have an established following on Facebook and Twitter but wanted to connect with more of their supporters through social media to keep them up to date with latest news and encourage discussion.

The email we've created encourages supporters to follow Send a Cow to get more regular info, but also intends to help the charity by exposing it to followers friends within their networks.

A single click can make a big difference…

West of England Design Forum new website is launched

When the West of England Design Forum asked us to redesign their website you could sense the excitement in the studio. The WEDF are a passionate bunch of designers who put on inspirational events, which promote design and bring designers together to inspire and build on our already thriving local design community.

The combination of the fantastic brand work by Mytton Williams, and some nifty design features courtesy of our dynamic layout means we’ve designed a great site for designers and WEDF members. It is bold, current and works easily and effortlessly on any size screen.

There is a real buzz in the air about the launch today and if that’s not enough we’re all off to the latest WEDF lecture tomorrow night at the Arnolfini. Paul Belford is speaking and they are screening the film “Art and Copy” revealing the work and vision of some of the most influential advertising creatives of all time. If you can’t make it along check out their new website for up and coming events. They say good things come in threes here’s hoping it's curry for tea!