Q: What's your name and position in the company?
A: Mike Higson
Q: Describe your company in 5 words.
A: Affordable website design and printing
Q: What's your business philosophy?
A: Highpoint Media are a one-stop-shop for all the website design and printing needs your business will ever have. We believe this approach ensures consistency of branding, quality and of service provided.
Q: Describe your office environment.
A: We are currently using International House in Manchester as our business office. We enjoy meeting our clients in the swanky meeting rooms, with all the tea and coffee you could ever hope to drink.
Q: What makes you different from other web design companies?
A: Our approach is makes us different. Our websites really are bespoke to the client\'s individuals needs. We love to capture the essence of every business we work for - and portray it in the work we produce; and this can only be done by sitting down together and talking. The same goes for our print design service too.
Q: How do you get the majority of your business?
A: Most of our work comes via word of mouth (60%), which is just about the best type of referral there is. The remainder comes via people finding our website.
Q: Describe how you manage projects from the initial client contact to completion and handover.
A: We insist on sitting down face-to-face with every client in order to discuss their needs. Email and Basecamp are wonderful inventions but they do not portray emotion, desire or passion. We need to know what makes our clients tick.
Q: What do you think is the most crucial element of creating a good client relationship?
A: Trust, consistency and competence. The client needs to know that their business is safe in our hands and that we will work as though we were loyal employees ourselves. After the opportunity to make a good first impression has passed, the rest is down to consistency and competence.
Q: How do you manage demanding clients?
A: We love demanding clients, as we regard \"being demanding\" as a manifestation of their passion for their business. However, we recognise that if timelines and strategies are discussed and agreed with clients from the outset, our clients will know exactly where everything is up to and that the job is in hand.
Q: If a client was trying to decide between a shortlist of web design companies, how would you recommend they go about selecting the right one for them?
A: You need to look at the people and the portfolios of the companies you have shortlisted. Speak to their clients and found out if they are happy with the service provided. Lastly, you need assurances about ongoing customer care after your new website is made live. This one is a biggie!
Q: Where do you see your company in 10 years time?
A: Exactly where we are now, but with many more happy customers - and many more employees to help them.
Q: Where do you see the web design industry in the future?
A: Working in the web design industry is a very exciting, fulfilling venture! Web design is now part of the National Curriculum and we are already seeing new, young blood putting their stamp on the industry. Faster internet is being rolled out internationally, and restricted data capacity is slowly becoming less of a concern - so all this means the web design industry is only going to move onward and upward.
Q: What computers do you have use in your offices, PCs or Macs?
A: PC
Q: How was your company name chosen?
A: We always want to help our clients reach the pinnacle of success in business. So we came up with \"Highpoint Media\". Well, why not?!
Q: If you were to give your clients one tip on how to get the most from their website what would it be?
A: You need to think inside the heads of your visitors and ask yourself, \"What are all these people visiting my website for?\" Once you know this, you can build your website around that expectation. Use relevant, clear content, and suitably placed call-to-actions.
Latest Work
