NM Consulting (UK) Ltd

Q: What's your name and position in the company?
A: My name is Niki Molnar and I'm the Managing Director

Q: Describe your company in 5 words.
A: Design, Hosting, Programming, Consulting, Marketing

Q: What's your business philosophy?
A: We start from the bottom upwards, specifying what is likely to be the first Internet Marketing plan they will have had. We get clients to define goals. We don't leave them with a website and not care about the future: We will work with them to make their new strategy a success. We also encourage clients to keep their website fresh, so easily managed content is a driver or any design.

Q: Describe your office environment.
A: Monitors, PCs, mugs with steaming tea, packets of biscuits, leads everywhere, radiated heat that can roast a chicken... normal working environment!

Q: Describe how your team interact and work together.
A: The team is spread out around the country, so Skype is our best friend!

Q: What makes you different from other web design companies?
A: You generally find that a website looks fantastic but no thought has been given to user interaction or marketing - or a website is marketed really well, but it looks and works terribly. I've been designing websites since 1995 - before that I was in hardware and software marketing for some pretty large companies. What NM Consulting does is combine both marketing experience with technical know how, so that a client gets a complete solution.

Q: How do you get the majority of your business?
A: Since 2001, 95% of business has been by word of mouth alone.

Q: Describe how you manage projects from the initial client contact to completion and handover.
A: Listen, learn, plan, check, design, develop, check, launch - then onwards!

Q: What do you think is the most crucial element of creating a good client relationship?
A: Trust (and patience!). Building a website for a company is like designing a dress for a red carpet event - it's very personal, even if it's for a large company. A client needs someone who won't be scared to say no and suggest improvements, while the designer needs to take creative criticism on the chin!

Q: How do you manage demanding clients?
A: There's only been one in 10 years who constantly wanted to delay launching by changing everything. There comes a time that it's worth walking away from and losing invested time. Also a good contract usually avoids problems to start with.

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: Ask them how they would market the website and what features are included in their draft design to help facilitate that.

Q: Where do you see your company in 10 years time?
A: 10 years ago I foresaw plush offices with a zillion developers and salesmen but to keep client costs down, the plush offices never saw the light of day - neither did the coffee machines and the air conditioning! I'd like to think it will all be there at our 20th anniversary though.

Q: Where do you see the web design industry in the future?
A: I don't think it will be long before things like 3D content will become available on the web, so design will likely take a back seat to programming and development. Content Management will always be king as with applications like WordPress being used for major corporate websites now, the user will want more and more control over their site.

Q: What computers do you have use in your offices, PCs or Macs?
A: PC

Q: How was your company name chosen?
A: Badly! I went to the bank to open the company account and they asked me the name of the company. I had thought I was going to be taking away information - not opening the account, so I just used my initials, thinking I would change it later. I never got around to it (although it's still planned as soon as I come up with something better!)

Q: If you were to give your clients one tip on how to get the most from their website what would it be?
A: Link it into social networking and keep updating content - every day if possible. Publish at least one press release a month to help with incoming links and keywords. Write a blog and become known as an industry opinion maker.