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Creative Workspaces: The Office Isn’t Just for Working Anymore

Posted on by Phil

Whether you work from a home office or have the luxury of working in an office, it is essential to have a creative workspace. This is to encourage and foster creativity and collaboration. By having an inviting physical workspace, your employees will be able to stay energized and engaged with their tasks. Here’s how you can use your workspace to improve company culture.

Fostering Creativity

Creativity should be encouraged in any workspace, so make sure that your office design reflects that. Try adding some plants or colorful furniture to brighten up the space. If you don’t have room for plants in the office, try hanging some posters or artwork on the walls to make it feel less sterile and more creative. You can also add small items like figurines or magnets to spruce up any boring desk spaces. Whatever you choose, make sure it fits with the aesthetic of your company brand!

Encouraging Collaboration

It is important for your team members to interact and collaborate with each other on projects and ideas. To encourage collaboration, make sure that there are comfortable seating areas around the office. These create great spaces where teams can come together to discuss their ideas. Additionally, create an open floor plan so that employees don’t feel closed off from each other. This will also make it easier for them to communicate without having to shout across cubicles or over walls! Lastly, add some fun elements like a ping-pong table or video games. That will give the team something fun to do during breaks or when they need a break from work.

Boosting Employee Morale

Having a positive physical workspace is key for boosting employee morale. After all, if people don’t enjoy spending time at their desks then they won’t be motivated to get their work done! To help keep spirits high throughout the day, make sure everyone has access to natural light and fresh air by opening windows when possible (and not too cold!). Additionally, you could provide snacks and drinks in communal areas. This way employees won’t have to worry about going out of their way just for food! Finally, don’t forget about music! Play some tunes throughout the day (at an appropriate volume!)—it will help keep energy levels up while ensuring no one gets too distracted.

 

Creating a creative physical workspace is essential for improving company culture as it encourages creativity and collaboration among team members while boosting morale and making everyone feel comfortable being in the office environment. With just a few simple changes—like adding plants, artwork or playful furniture pieces—you can easily transform any dull office into an inspiring place where great ideas flourish! With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way towards creating an ideal space where everyone will thrive!  ​

Agile Development: Faster, Smarter, Better

Posted on by Phil

When it comes to developing software or growth-driven website design, the agile development methodology is revolutionizing the way companies tackle tech projects. With its focus on speed and efficiency, this methodology has become the go-to system for many developers and business owners. But what exactly is agile development and why is it better? Let’s take a look.

What Is Agile Development?

Agile development isn’t just about doing things faster; it’s about doing them smarter. This method of software development focuses on delivering value as quickly as possible. And responding to feedback from customers in real time. In other words, instead of waiting until the end of a project to get customer feedback, agile development allows teams to adjust their approach at any stage in the process. This makes it much easier to make sure that your software is meeting customer needs. And all while minimising wasted time and resources.

Why Is Agile Better?

The traditional model of software and website development relies heavily on planning ahead and laying out all of your steps before you start working. However, this approach can often be inefficient. This is because customer feedback often requires changes or adjustments that weren’t part of the original plan. The agile methodology helps minimize these inefficiencies by allowing teams to adjust their workflow more easily based on customer feedback or market changes. As a result, teams can save time—and money—by avoiding costly mistakes or delays caused by last-minute changes.

Another benefit of agile development is that it encourages collaboration between teams and stakeholders throughout the process. By having everyone involved from day one, teams can ensure that customer needs are being met. All while also making sure that everyone is on the same page throughout the project’s life cycle. This level of collaboration can help reduce confusion and ensure that your project stays on track from start to finish.

Respond and Adapt Quickly

Agile development has quickly become one of the most popular approaches to software development due to its focus on speed and efficiency. By allowing teams to respond quickly to customer feedback or market shifts without major disruptions in their workflow, agile development methodologies are helping organizations create higher-quality products with fewer mistakes—all while saving time and money along the way! If you’re looking for an efficient way to develop software projects, then agile might just be right for you!

Why a Studio Space is Vital for Agency Credibility

Posted on by Phil

Agency Reputation Matters

When it comes to Agency Credibility, this article is not about being ‘wanky’ or pretentious. And whether we agree with it or not, reputation is key when it comes to any business. Especially for agencies like design firms or marketing companies. Customers need to know that they can trust the work being done by these agencies. And that they will get their money’s worth in terms of results. Having a physical space where customers can visit helps build trust. And make them feel comfortable working with an agency. It also demonstrates that the agency is serious about providing quality services. That’s because they have invested in setting up a permanent office space rather than working out of someone’s bedroom or garage.

In this day and age, anyone with access to a computer can call themselves an expert in design, marketing, or SEO. But having a professional office says much more than words ever could. It shows potential customers that you are dedicated to your craft and willing to invest time and money into creating something great. Something they can buy into without hesitation because they know you aren’t just here today, gone tomorrow. On top of that, having an inviting office space makes any customer experience so much better. It not only makes customers feel welcome but also allows them an opportunity to learn more about what you do!

Agency Credibility and Professionalism

Having a dedicated studio space will add credibility to your Agency and make it appear more professional. Your clients will view you as a legitimate company with dedicated resources and processes. Being seen that way is much more credible rather than just another freelancer working out of their bedroom. It shows that you are serious about what you do and willing to invest in your client’s success. Plus, nothing beats having an inviting meeting area when onboarding new clients!

Collaboration and Creativity

Another great benefit of having a dedicated office space is that it makes collaboration easier. When everyone is located in the same room (or at least the same building!), ideas flow more freely and productivity increases exponentially. Working together in close proximity allows for real-time brainstorming sessions and creative solutions to problems on the spot—all things that are not easily accomplished through video conferencing alone.
Plus, having an office space allows you to create a branded environment that reflects your company culture. Having fun décor items can help foster creativity and make team members feel comfortable expressing themselves within the workplace too. That’s because Super-cool design offices stir the senses!

Cost Efficiency

Finally, investing in an office space can actually save you money when done correctly! Instead of renting out multiple conference rooms for each meeting or struggling with poor wifi connections while remote-working from home offices or coffee shops, you have one central place where all of your meetings can take place—saving you time and money spent on transportation costs as well as rental fees for conference rooms.

 

Maybe it’s not the be-all and end-all. And we’re not saying it’s solely how a client should choose the right marketing agency for their business. But all in all, investing in a studio space has many benefits for businesses of all shapes and sizes! From increasing agency credibility to fostering creativity and culture amongst a team. Establishing a permanent workspace should be an integral part of any company’s growth plan. Whether you run a small digital marketing agency or manage dozens of employees across multiple locations—investing in a nice studio space is always worth considering if you want to stand out from the competition!

Best Web Designers in New Zealand… Who are they?

Posted on by Phil

Narrowing down the best business in an industry can be difficult. It’s easy to ask who is the best web design company in Invercargill. But it becomes harder when it comes to the best Web Designers in New Zealand.

With web design and development, aesthetics, price, ongoing service, and other factors all play different roles. One aspect can stand out among the rest for you and something else for your neighbour. So how do we define who is the best?

Business is not a finite thing, in fact, if the business were a sporting match, it would be a draw with endless overtime. There is no official way to measure who is better. Or is there? We have business awards, Best design awards, and a number of other ways to measure who is best, but these are still finite and somewhat subjective things within the infinite.

The best way to decide is by reframing the question – or adding to the end of it – Ask not “Who are the best web designers in New Zealand” but “Who is the best web designer in New Zealand for my business?”

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Who are the Best Web Designers in New Zealand?

Which company will be the best for you depends on your needs and circumstances. What are your criteria for partnering with a web designer? What do you want them to do for you?

One of the most important parts of teaming up with a company is working with people who believe what you believe! You can usually feel that in your gut. And from my experience, I would say trust your instinct! It’s easy in an online world to bend the truth or manipulate Google’s Search Engine Results Pages (or SERP). But it is getting harder to do. Consumers want trust from their providers, whether that be from their mechanic, their power company, or theor website design team.

Below are six of the most popular design and digital marketing companies that do business in Invercargill, New Zealand.

KWD

KWD also features in our article The 10 Best SEO Companies in New Zealand. They are an Auckland-based Agency that started out back in 2011, KWD or Kiwi Web Design began with the purpose of turning good ideas into great results. They say they have developed a proven formula for growth that has generated thousands of clients and millions in revenue..

White Rabbit

White Rabbit is a design agency based in Newmarket, Auckland. They believe A beautiful, engaging, and user-friendly website can play a huge role in winning new business. They deliver website designs in NZ that make a real impact. Their developers create seamless digital experiences optimised for desktop, mobile, and tablet devices.

At White Rabbit, they develop all of their sites using the latest practices in responsive website design in NZ. So, you can rest assured your website will look great no matter what screen size your customer is using. They also say “Your website needs to stand out in an ever-growing digital world.” White Rabbit is here to provide a compelling digital presence that your audience won’t forget.

The Web Guys

The Web Guys is a fast-growing digital creative agency in Parnell, Auckland.

They develop strategies, create content, build products, launch campaigns, design systems, and then some, all to inspire the people our brands care about most.

After years of evolution in the digital space, they’ve produced cutting-edge creative for startups and well-established companies spanning tech, eCommerce, hospitality, trade, and beyond.

AMG website design NZ

AMG’s web design agency in Auckland is ready to market your business through a wide range of design and marketing tools like custom web design, branding, graphic design, digital marketing and great in-house photography.

They claim to be the Best web designers in New Zealand and affordable. 

AMG website design specialise in designing responsive custom websites that look stunning across all devices and help you achieve your business goals with a great ROI (return on investment).

Back9 Creative

Oh wait… Well, this is embarrassing… That’s us. Does that make this article seem biased? Possibly… But when you look at all the work the best web designers in New Zealand are doing, we are absolutely on par with them. Whether that be the best web design in Christchurch, Invercargill or wherever… So yep possibly the only biased article we’ve ever written, and at the same time completely impartial. Our team is made of of an amazingly talented team of designers, developers and marketers, who can stand alongside the best web designers in New Zealand. And the world.

So, who are the best Web Designers in New Zealand for your business?

So who’s the best Web designers or digital marketing company based in New Zealand, is the best for you and your business? Well… That still depends on what you’re looking for.

KWD, The Webs Guys, White Rabbit and AMG website design are all high perfoming website designers in New Zelaand. They are also all based in Auckland. The question then is are all the best web designers in Auckland? Or are there other talented web design companies based elsewhere in NZ?

We believe there are many talented web design companies in New Zealand, including ourselves. (Ofcourse)

If you’re looking to partner with a Web Designer, it’s worth taking the time to research. And in this day and age you’re  not limited to your postcode. Ultimately a website should work for your business. And if a company in Invercargill, Christchurch, Wellington, or even Nelson seems the best fit for you, then you should be prepared to give it a go.

A great website should deliver on the following 3 things:

  1. Marketing – attracting and engaging the right people and telling your story.
  2. Education – Educating the buyer on what you do, what you offer, your industry and more…
  3. Sales – If you’re selling online of course, but also, converting visitors into leads or contacts.

When you’re deciding who to contact, look over their website. If their site seems easy to use, and it answers most of your questions, chances are they could be a good fit. One tip is to check right at the bottom of their website and looks for the “Copyright ©” info. If it says 2014, chances are they may be a bit out of touch. Read up on their services, and testimonials. Ultimately if their style and tone match what you want for your own business, they may be worth talking to. Taking time to find that right fit and work with credible, reliable businesses can save time and trouble later on. So it’s worth the effort!

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Building a Strong Website Structure for Success

Posted on by Phil

When it comes to online business, website structure is like the foundation of a house. It’s the framework that holds everything together and ensures that your website can be easily navigated by visitors. It is a key component of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) too. But what exactly is site structure and why is it so important? Let’s break it down.

What Is Website Structure?

In the simplest terms, website structure is the way in which information on your website is organized. This includes how pages are linked together, how text and images are arranged, and how navigation menus are created. A good site structure makes sure that all areas of your website can be accessed quickly and easily by visitors, which helps improve user experience (UX).

Why Is Site Structure Important?

It’s easy for businesses to get caught up in design elements when creating their websites but overlooking the importance of site structure can be a big mistake. Poorly structured websites often result in visitors having difficulty finding what they need, leading to higher bounce rates, lower conversion rates, and decreased customer satisfaction. Basically, if your website sucks, it won’t convert! On the other hand, a well-structured website ensures that visitors can find exactly what they need quickly and easily, helping to keep them engaged with your brand longer.

How Can You Improve Your Website Structure?

If you want to ensure that your website has strong site architecture, there are several things you should consider:

  • Make sure all pages are linked together properly – this will help users find related content quickly and easily;
  • Optimize page titles – make sure each page title accurately describes its contents;
  • Utilize breadcrumbs – these provide helpful links back to previous pages;
  • Create an intuitive navigation menu – make sure categories are clearly labeled so users can navigate quickly;
  • Structure content logically – arrange text and images into sections so users can find specific info without too much effort;
  • Use search functions – this allows users to locate specific items within larger collections of data; and
  • Ensure page load times are fast – make sure large images or videos don’t slow loading times too much.

Website structure should always be top-of-mind when designing, revamping or migrating a website for any business. A good site structure allows users to find what they need quickly without any frustration which helps improve customer satisfaction and leads to higher conversion rates. With effective planning and forethought, you can create an optimized website that provides visitors with an enjoyable user experience while still meeting all of your business needs. So don’t ignore the importance of building a strong foundation for success! Get started on finding an SEO or Web Design agency that can help optimise your site architecture today!

Ship It! A Guide to Choosing the Best Shipping Software for Your Ecommerce Business

Posted on by Phil

So you’ve chosen an e-commerce platform, and got your e-commerce business up and running and now you’re looking for a way to make shipping smoother, easier, and more efficient. So how do you find the best shipping software for Ecommerce? If you’re like most business owners, you’re probably on the hunt for the best shipping solution out there. Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered! In this guide, we will break down what makes a great shipping software. That way you can find one that fits your business needs.

What to Look For in Shipping Software for Ecommerce

When it comes to choosing shipping software, there are a few key factors that make a great program stand out. Here are some of the must-haves when shopping around for the best shipping software:

  • Integration – Look for programs that can connect with your existing e-commerce website. This will allow you to streamline processes across platforms and save time when it comes to order fulfillment.
    • Shipping Options – Make sure the software offer multiple shipping options so that customers have plenty of choices when it comes to getting their orders shipped quickly and affordably. Many customers value fast delivery times, so having multiple carriers available is essential for keeping customers happy.
  • Insurance – Good shipping solution should also offer insurance options in case something goes wrong during transit. You want to ensure that customers get their money back if a package is lost or damaged in transit.
  • Cost Efficiency – Finally, make sure that whatever program you choose is cost-efficient; look at different plans offered by different companies and compare them to ensure that you’re not paying too much for services that could be cheaper elsewhere.

 

Finding the perfect shipping solution can be overwhelming, but with these tips in mind, you’ll be able to find one that fits all of your needs perfectly. Take some time to shop around and compare different programs before making a final decision—it could save your business time and money in the long run! With the right shipping software on board, your Online business can keep sailing calmly into success. Take a look at our complete guide to selling products online. Good luck!