There’s Something About Stephen! | Your Local It’seeze Watford Website Consultant
When you decide to hire a web design company, you are entrusting someone to accurately understand and capture what your business does and portray that understanding to the outside world. Naturally, you are trusting this person with a lot and so at It’seeze Watford we believe in complete transparency.
If you were to enlist the help of our team of experts, we can guarantee that you and your business will be in safe hands. One of It’seeze Watford’s pioneers and top website consultants is Stephen Sibbit, an expert in website design and commercial management. Below, we talk to Stephen to find out more about him, which will allow you to understand the high calibre of people that you would be going into business with.
Q: What initially got you into web design?
A: Well, before I worked in web design I had a long career in commercial management, both in business to consumer and business to business with companies such as Dairy Crest, Staples, Brakes Food Service, and McDougalls. However, I’d always been fascinated by websites and how they are designed to help businesses project their personality in order to succeed commercially.
Q: What made you want to start It’seeze Watford?
A: I’d always had the ambition to run my own business and because of how interested I was in websites, I decided to carve out a new career in that sector. I really enjoyed working with them and I strongly believe that both enjoyment and motivation are driven by doing something you enjoy.
It was important for me that I worked alongside like-minded and experienced individuals, so I joined the It’seeze Website franchise. I knew that they were incredibly innovative and had a team of experts in design, coding and technical development that I wanted to work with.
When I started working with them I began targeting businesses in my local area and just like that, It’seeze Watford was born! It’s hard to believe it’s been five years…
Q: What does your role as a local website consultant entail?
A: My job is to understand the needs of any client using It’seeze Watford, including what their business does and what they want to achieve with their website. I use this knowledge to ensure the service we provide is catered specifically to them, meaning they don’t have to worry about their website or its design and can simply get on with managing their business.
Q: Describe a typical day for you at It’seeze Watford
A: I get to deal with new enquiries, speak with clients and write tailored proposals. I also handle queries from existing clients, whether this relates to account administration, making changes to their website or reviewing aspects that could be done better.
My job is great because I get to meet all kinds of different people who run different businesses. It’s really interesting how aspects that work in some industries can be easily transferred to others.
Q: What’s been one of your favourite websites to work on?
A: It’s funny, I get asked this question a lot and can honestly say that I have lots of different favourites. I couldn’t even narrow it down to my favourite sector because one of the things I love about my job so much is the variety of clients that come with it. One morning I might be dealing with a trades site and in the afternoon I’ll be working with a charity, and they’re both great!
The way that I work is that I want every site launched to be my new favourite. I like to make sure it is completely ready with a design that fits the initial brief perfectly. It’s easily done by It’seeze because all our sites are custom built. We don’t work off any kind of set template and so we don’t struggle to really cater sites towards a client’s brief.
Q: What is your top tip for a successful website?
A: I think the two most important things are experience and sustainability. You really want to employ web designers with 10+ years of experience and who are in it for the long term, this means your site will look great, cater to your needs and you’re assured continuity of service.
You should also understand the value and potential return of the proposition. Granted, sometimes the cheapest type of site is all people might need, but oftentimes, a cheaper website can mean that something is missing.
Q: What do you think It’seeze Watford’s greatest accomplishment to date is?
A: Definitely our client retention. We have lots of loyal clients and whilst I can’t say I’m surprised because of the standard of service we offer; it doesn’t stop me from being extremely proud.
Q: What is your favourite thing about working in web design?
A: I’ll never get bored of hearing all about people’s businesses. Not just what they do but the history behind them, how they were inspired and their plans moving forward. Everyone’s story is different, so I’m faced with something new every day.
This is also an integral part of the work we do as if we don’t have a clear understanding of a business, the quality of their work, and their ethos, we can’t deliver on their concept. The output is incredibly dependent on the input, and the input is always fascinating.
Q: What is the most challenging thing about working in web design?
A: It’s always frustrating seeing what other suppliers say to customers in order to get business. Setting up your business’s website is an absolute must, yet doing so can be daunting for some, so much so that they get sucked into deals by people who overpromise and underdeliver. What’s even more frustrating is that once this is discovered, it’s often too late as money has already been spent. It can leave clients in an unfortunate position where they need to simply hope that not too much damage has been done.
Q: What do you wish more people knew about websites?
A: Websites should always be viewed as an investment to support the business, not a cost that is required out of necessity. The website is there to graft for the business, generate clients, sales and spread awareness, not to just be a pretty window dressing.
Q: What is one of the most common questions you get asked by clients?
A: I get asked where I’m based a lot, to which the answer is I’m local to the area. This is really beneficial as it means I am able to meet up with business owners, see their business and have a face-to-face conversation about what they would like to achieve. This is a much more effective way to understand a business’s ethos as opposed to a hasty conversation over the phone.
Q: What are your goals for It’seeze Web Design Watford?
A: I really want to continue to grow our client base through the design and building of websites for small and medium-sized businesses. Also, I’d like to continue offering the same standard of service and support that I do to current clients.
As it’s clear to see, thanks to Stephen’s extensive knowledge in web design and his experience building beautiful, unique, and responsive websites for clients, that your business will be in safe hands with It’seeze Watford!
If you would like to talk about your project or have any other burning questions that were not addressed above, then please do not hesitate to get in touch and we would be happy to speak to you.
Tagged as: It'seeze Websites
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