Signalfire Internet Services Ltd

Q: What's your name and position in the company?
A: Robert Coster

Q: Describe your company in 5 words.
A: Young energetic drupal web developers

Q: What's your business philosophy?
A: To do the best for customers, to help solve their problems to go the extra mile.

Q: Describe your office environment.
A: Currently home office, however setting up office in Carlisle shortly.

Q: Describe how your team interact and work together.
A: We interact by meeting when required, emailing and skyping each other, being honest where there are issues and ensuring the client is kept informed and involved.

Q: What makes you different from other web design companies?
A: Honest, good value. Technical experience.

Q: How do you get the majority of your business?
A: Most of the work comes by referral

Q: Describe how you manage projects from the initial client contact to completion and handover.
A: Usually a meeting with the client attended by myself and graphic designer if possible. Thrash out the design and development ideas. Provide a quote to the client. On acceptance of quote designer starts design work in consultation with customer. Once design is signed off development work commences and asap customers are provided a demo site link. Finish first development prototype. Once complete iterate and take feedback from customers. As soon as signed off launch sites.

Q: What do you think is the most crucial element of creating a good client relationship?
A: Don't over promise, help clients to set realistic expectations, exceed them.

Q: How do you manage demanding clients?
A: See above. If you set deadlines try your damnedest to hit them.

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: Meet them personally. Don't choose based solely on price.

Q: Where do you see your company in 10 years time?
A: A larger number of developers and designers and becoming a leader in both the local and national market. Hopefully offices in different locations throughout the UK.

Q: Where do you see the web design industry in the future?
A: Taking over from alot of traditional media (newspapers, printers etc)

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

Q: How was your company name chosen?
A: I've done some mobile app development and I had a vivid idea of the name being displayed on the app splash screen. It is nothing to do with a dodgy song from Snow Patrol :)

Q: If you were to give your clients one tip on how to get the most from their website what would it be?
A: Have realistic expectations and realise that the finishing of development is just the beginning. Your site, especially if its e-commerce needs to be marketed and you must have a good plan for the next steps.