B4 NETWORK
“Without content, even the best sites are meaningless”
THE NEW B4 WEBSITE
Over the next few pages, we dig deeper into the origins of the new B4 website, find out more about the new partnership programme, and see behind the scenes at the recent B4Tv video shoots. The Background We have been planning the new B4 site for almost two years now. The project began with detailed discussions between B4 and Iain Lewis of Torpedo and Rob Jones of Surefire Digital, both B4 Ambassadors and experts in their respective fields.
business community who can show, through their effective endorsement of the site, that the site is worth supporting. This is bearing fruit, with over fifty new members signing up to the site before launch without any real knowledge as to what they were buying in to.
The brief was to come up with an overall structure which would enable B4 to become the signpost for business in Oxfordshire with regards to press releases, events, jobs and much more. These early meetings were invaluable, and both Iain and Rob deserve much credit in helping the new site come to life.
Site Content and Optimisation We have spent a considerable amount of time cutting and pasting almost five hundred archived B4 articles onto the site. A tortuous but ultimately rewarding exercise which has given us excellent content for search engine optimization which is not only good for us but also good for the businesses on our site.
The Build Without clear ideas and a vision, it is very difficult for a web developer to build a site. Prior to handing over our ideas to Chris Fulton (who gives us his take on the new site on page 74), the site developer, senior designer Keith Simpson drew up detailed plans of each page we were looking to create. This made Chris’s job infinitely more straightforward, and gave us all clarity in our thought process. The Ambassador Concept Without content, even the best sites are meaningless. Over the past year, we have been introducing the Ambassador concept to B4 readers. Individuals who have supported our publications over the past ten years, from a wide range of Oxfordshire businesses, have been promoted as our spine, customers respected in the www.b4-business.com
Ongoing, the site content will change daily as B4 members have the ability to update their pages, issue press releases, post jobs, events and offers to the site without our involvement. This will give the site a life of its own and ensure the site is always worth coming back to for the latest business news in Oxfordshire. The Target Our first year target is to have three hundred members on the site, and we are almost half way there. Beyond that, the intention is not to have a comprehensive directory of businesses in Oxfordshire, but a good quality directory. This will only be possible with recommendations for new members and potential members approaching us on the recommendation of existing members and Ambassadors.
New Ideas We have tried to develop more than just a business directory on line. B4Tv (see Page 78) has brought some Ambassadors to life through interviews conducted at Studio 8, and the proposed Partnership Programme (see page 77), will enable charitable and arts organizations to get involved in the new site without having to pay for a membership. The Future There is already a long wish list for Phase 2, but key functions which we will be introducing include a social networking bolt on and the ability for businesses to visibly recommend and refer other members on their pages. This will be in the form of B4 member logos alongside quotes about that business or quotes from them about your business. Feedback The site is not going to mature and improve without constructive feedback. We like to think that we do things properly at B4, but there is always room for improvement, and your constructive feedback is most welcome. It’s always good to hear where we are getting it right, but if you think the site lacks something or an aspect of functionality is not quite there, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Please help us to grow the new B4 site and ensure business in Oxfordshire has a strong web profile. www.b4-business.com
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