The internet has always been a place where two very different mindsets exists. These mindsets have been at war with each other since the beginning of website development and this has purely been because they do not understand each other.
Difference in opinion
Marketing/Advertising and Web Development are seemingly two opposing internet thought patterns. Marketing/Advertising is always concerned with the look and feel of a website. They are very concerned about the end user and how the website builds the brand of the company it represents. Web Developers have the tough job of making all of this happen online. They are continually looking to create bigger and better websites with more and more functionality. This functionality allows more to happen on the internet but is not neccessarily easy-to-use or even understood by the end user.
Getting the best of both worlds
I saw a need to provide a platform for both the web developer and the advertising agency to jointly create websites that have all the neccessary systems, search engine compatibility to enhance the user experience online. Essentially there needed to be a mediator between the two partners. Someone who was willing to sit and educate each party on the importance of each players role in the internet marketing world. Someone whose primary aim was to marry these two mindsets to create the best possible finla product.
I saw a gap to blend the two mindsets completely, after months of research and conversations with advertising agencies, marketing people and web developers I presented a new product and service to my MD. Ths service would complete the Sesalos service offering on the internet, as Sesalos already has a strong software development department.
Virtuoso is born
The concept for Virtuoso was then approved and I teamed up with ex-Ogilvy Account Executive and Copywriter Caroline Hastings-brown to complete the final touches on the Internet Marketing Product.
The final outcome is a research product and consultation service. Essentially Virtuoso does extensive research on a website and internet target market. Every aspect of the internet marketing objective is scrutinised and the potential target markets are identified. Much of the time is spent developing a comprehensive list of keywords that the website needs high rankings for in search engines. The copy of the website is also analysed where we try to assess where the copy is leading the consumer. Ultimately we are looking to see what the website is currently asking the consumer to do.
Once the research product has been completed and presented to the client a comprehensive strategy is presented to the client outline the actions neccessary to achieve their internet marketing objectives. New web development opportunities are explored, social networking and PR opportunities are presented and a full digital PR campaign is created. The Virtuoso team have since started offering training to clients on how to run their own Adwords advertising campaigns.
I am not going to give away all the trade secrets here because that just wouldn’t be fair to Sesalos. I will say though, that since it inception in November 2008 we have secured the account for a great small business Tourism Portfolio ‘City of Choice’ and Grindrod Limited.
This is a product I am very proud to be a part of. It has grown into a very valuable asset to any internet marketing campaign and to Sesalos.
The best part is… I believe in it!!
