The Smart Bear Websites and Content

Q: What's your name and position in the company?
A: Suzi Brown - Web Developer

Q: Describe your company in 5 words.
A: Build, Develop or Fix WordPress Websites

Q: What's your business philosophy?
A: There\'s no hard sell with Smart Bear, we use clearly defined packages based on WordPress, allowing our clients to make informed decisions and build their company online.

Q: Describe your office environment.
A: I have a dedicated office which is also my art studio so it\'s set up to be an environment I like being in and where I\'m most productive.

Q: Describe how your team interact and work together.
A: I\'m a freelancer so there\'s just me, however, I do have a fantastic \'team\' of other trusted freelancers whom I can contract to do additional work for me. We regularly meet for a catch-up over tea and cake.

Q: What makes you different from other web design companies?
A: Me. I\'m not part of other web design companies. I listen to what you need, where you want to be in the future and offer suggestions of how to get there and how to do it on your budget. I\'d rather see you thrive than to oversell a product that you don\'t need or can\'t afford. I\'ve also been told by clients that I\'m approachable and I don\'t confuse clients with technical jargon.

Q: How do you get the majority of your business?
A: Nearly all of my business comes from word of mouth either via my clients or through local networking where I give regular talks on various subjects - like social media.

Q: Describe how you manage projects from the initial client contact to completion and handover.
A: I will find out what you need and most importantly where you want to develop your company in the future. This way ensures that you have the right product from the beginning, allowing your website to grow with you. For bigger projects, I have a project manager who is trained in Marketing. Not only is she highly organised but she can also see the bigger marketing strategy picture.

Q: What do you think is the most crucial element of creating a good client relationship?
A: Being honest and ethical is the most crucial element, followed up by talking in a way clients understand, cutting out the technical jargon.

Q: How do you manage demanding clients?
A: I find \'demanding\' clients just want everything to be right, so I aim to fulfil their need. And, set out clear terms and conditions from the start so we both know what is expected of us.

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: I actually wrote a blog post about this. Many people can create websites and I\'m not saying I\'m the best for all of them. If I don\'t think I\'m the right person, I have a host of people I can refer you to who I trust and recommend. Every designer has a different style and I think it\'s important to make sure their style and the way they work fits in with your expectations.

Q: Where do you see your company in 10 years time?
A: I\'d like to be in a similar position to how I am now - I love my job and I love helping small businesses!

Q: Where do you see the web design industry in the future?
A: The web design industry is constantly evolving with new technology and trends. Who knows where it will be in the future but I\'m excited to be part of it.

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: My previous last name, Zobair, often was confused with The Bear on the phone and so my company name evolved from that. The Smart Bear is now getting his own personality.

Q: If you were to give your clients one tip on how to get the most from their website what would it be?
A: Make sure it does what you need it to do. If there\'s bits you don\'t like or that don\'t work - get them changed or fixed or it might be costing you customers. Review it regularly with client feedback/ analytics to make sure it\'s performing how it should, and make improvements or developments where you feel they would be useful. Websites should be far more than just \'looking nice\' these days.