Agency Archives | Above Digital | Web Design Agency in Reading and London

pages displaying aerocomponents bespoke website design

Aerocomponents, a Reading-based precision engineering company, has been providing top-tier CNC engineering services to the motorsport, military, and aerospace sectors for nearly 70 years. They approached us to create a new brand and bespoke website design.

As you would think, clients of this calibre demand an impeccably high standard of quality, delivered with cutting-edge technology. Whilst Aerocomponents was well known for delivering an extremely high level of service this was not accurately reflected through the company’s brand design or website so a rebranding project was in order.

As a Reading-based web agency we love to work with local businesses, so were thrilled to be asked to work with Aerocomponents. Our brief was to look at the business’ brand delivery and think about how we could redesign it to reflect the modern, cutting-edge positioning of Aerocomponents’ service offering with a focus on its website design.

Motor parts and plans used by aerocomponents to provide CNC engineering services to the motorsport, military, and aerospace sectors

The current website and brand design felt out of date and really didn’t represent the amazing level of work that Aerocomponents delivered. So we started by putting together a set of visual mood boards and keywords to strategise an approach to modernise the brand and website design.

Looking at the kind of industries that Aerocomponents worked with there was potential to create a brand that was more along those lines. With that in mind, we began some initial design concepts, taking influence from the themes of precision and movement.

Through a series of development stages, we refined the overall brand design, the colour palette and logo to align better with the key values of the Aerocomponenets, and its high level of service.

With the core brand in place, our next task was to use what we had created with the branding to start the website design. Before any visual web design work was underway, we needed to create the site map and wireframes. We began by following our tried and tested scoping process, leaving no stone unturned in understanding key user journeys, user types and site goals. From there we developed an extensive site map, detailing all pages and the overall site structure.

We produced a detailed set of page wireframes, showing the structure of every page, where the content would sit, and how the brand messaging would be communicated through the careful balance of text and imagery. We assessed how we could achieve key goals around the user journey, with the aim to inspire clients to get in touch through the page structures and interface.

To really set Aerocomponents apart it was decided that an on-site photoshoot was needed at their Reading-based workshop. It was one thing to show off exciting imagery of aeroplanes, and cool cars but to really get a sense of what made the business unique, we felt that showing the team at work would give a better feel of the business. After all, it’s the expertise and passion of the team that makes Aerocomponents an industry leader.

multiple devices displaying arecomponents website

The final website design brought all elements of the branding, messaging and photoshoot together into a set of beautiful, high-impact pages and interface design that shows off all elements of the business, its legacy, amazing services, client base and expertise. The site is sure to encourage any potential new client to get in touch.

The outcome of the project is an exciting new brand that feels more in line with its client base, making it more appealing to potential new clients looking for the best CNC machining in the business.

“I am thrilled with the results! Our fresh new look represents our commitment to growth and innovation. We couldn’t have done it without the amazing team at Above. Thank you, Above Digital, for helping us achieve our vision!”

-Simon Rose, Director Aerocomponents

If you would like to see what we did in detail then view the case study here or check out Aerocomponents,

For more information on how we can help freshen your business’ brand design and get your own bespoke website then contact the team

graphic of a man with a computer for a head, standing in a mug of tea

Investing time and money into a website only to see it underdeliver can be disheartening. If you’re feeling frustrated because your website isn’t getting enough traffic, or your site isn’t converting visitors in the way you hoped then we may be able to help.

We’ve put together a handy, five-point checklist to help your site perform better.

When clients come to us for a website redesign it’s usually because their current website is underperforming, in that case it is usual for us to encounter a common set of problems.

When it comes to the overall user journey and design then a bigger website design project is required, however, there are some quick things to check first if you feel your website is underperforming. If you are worried about how your site is performing this handy checklist below is a good place to start.

What do we mean when we say your site is underperforming?

There are a few ways to assess a website’s performance, but ultimately it all comes down to one question: Are you getting the results you expected from your site?

The key aims of sites vary and could be people buying products, downloading information, signing up to a mailing list, making a new business enquiry or simply engaging with your content. No matter what your site is aiming to achieve, there are some areas that are worth checking that we have listed below…

hands typing on laptop keypad

1. Your content isn’t relevant to searchers

Sites use keywords to be found in search engines, these keywords need to be relevant to your content.

It might sound obvious but it’s worth checking. If a user lands on your site from a specific search term then they need to see instantly that they’re where they need to be. So build your content around those search terms and make sure the visitors you get are there for the right reasons.

Put yourself in a new user’s shoes. Does the website’s content make sense in relation to your search terms?

a phone displaying a loading screen

2. You’re taking too long to load

Whilst speed isn’t the be all and end all, and the quality of the website design shouldn’t be sacrificed for speed, a website that keeps the user waiting excessively risks losing them.

It’s well worth keeping an eye on things, particularly if you run an eCommerce site. According to research from digital performance measurement firm Dynatrace, just a half second difference in page load times can make a 10% difference in sales for an online retailer.

There are tools online such as Googles’ Page Speed Insights that can help you identify if your website is taking too long to load. If it is there are ways to speed it, from ensuring your site is built well with no excess code slowing things down, to making sure images are properly compressed to ensuring you are on a good server.

google app in appstore

3. You’re not search engine optimised

If you aren’t sure if your website is primed and ready to be found on Google, then head to Google Search Console to see if there are any issues that may be affecting your website and stopping the search engines from crawling your webpages.

It will also let you know which pages have been picked up and indexed by Google and what search queries people are using to find your website. This information is invaluable and can help massively in ongoing SEO

a couple looking at content on a phone

4. You’re not mobile friendly

In general the average website is more likely to be viewed on a mobile device than a desktop computer. People expect websites to work well on their phone.

If they don’t work well, are hard to navigate due to a bad interface design, are fiddly and annoying to use, or are hard to read on a mobile device people will be far less likely to engage.

A site may be able to be tweaked to work better on mobile or it may need a fundamental overhaul, it’s worth consulting an expert digital agency to find out the best solution for optimising your website for mobile users.

someone plans user journey of website using printed wireframes and string

5. Your user journey is not defined well

If your website is getting lots of hits then you’re being found and your SEO is probably in good shape. However, if it’s not converting those visits into the leads or sales you expected then it’s probably the case that the overall user journey needs some attention.

Unlike the previous 4 reasons, this is not a straightforward issue and isn’t always easily fixed. In principle your site needs to provide a clear path from the user searching and finding you from a search engine, through to landing on the page, to the final call to action.

A good digital agency can identify weaknesses in your site’s user journey, and provide solutions to fix the issues. It may be that your website requires a redesign, or could be as simple as changing the key areas of copy, tweaking your SEO and call to action placements.

We hope that these tips help you if you are struggling with your current site’s under performance. There are always ways to improve a website. If you would like to know more get in touch with the Above Digital team.

If you would like to know more than please make sure to contact our team to see how we can help transform the fortunes of your website.

graphic of a man with celebratory fists waving from out of his head

In this article we deep dive into the journey we take when working with a startup to produce their startup website, looking at the step by step process we take, from their initial brief through the finished product.

This extensive look at the process gives a useful overview of what it takes to launch a successful startup website.

a team working together on one computer

Just your average start-up website….

There really isn’t such a thing as a ‘typical start-up’. From highly funded disruptive tech products to small cottage industry eCommerce businesses, startups come in all shapes and sizes.

Often clients who come to us will be in the early stages of development, be it just starting out or after a funding round. In some cases, they will have already launched and are now looking to refine their proposition to make their website and brand delivery work a bit harder. Whatever stage they are at one thing that is common with startups; infectious energy of the teams behind them.

We love working with startups, no matter what stage they are at. We get huge satisfaction out of delivering well-executed website designs and brand projects for our clients, breathing life into their ideas. There’s nothing quite like delivering a first set of designs and watching a client’s reaction as they see their idea come to life through a brand design or website.

Although the types of businesses we work with vary, our approach, at its essence, remains the same. We are invested in doing everything in our power to help our clients achieve success, embedding ourselves as an integral part of the team.

Although there is no cookie-cutter approach, the methodology we employ comes from years of experience, our process is adaptable to fit our clients’ specific requirements.

lightbox with the text, 'turn ideas into reality'

Why a startup needs a creative agency…

When launching a startup it’s very easy to spend all your energy on the concept itself, burying yourself deep into the mechanics of the project, ensuring the product is going to deliver on its promise.

It’s often the case that our clients are so focused on their brilliant idea that they almost forget about the audience at the other end of the process.

No matter how great your product is, you still have to deliver it to an audience that may be new to it, which is where branding and a website, if done right, can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you.

Rushing ahead to plan your product, get it tested, create the MVP or obtain vital seed investment can seem far more important than the brand and website, but often it doesn’t matter how good your product is if it’s falling short on delivery.

Our role as a digital agency can be boiled down very simply. We deliver your product to an appropriate audience through the medium of the internet in a way that encourages engagement.

Or put more simply; we help your product connect with its audience.

man studying mind-map covered in sticky notes and keywords

Fail to plan… Plan to fail…

The scoping phase is arguably the most important stage in the entire process and covers everything from identifying the key goals and objectives of the website design project, the technical requirements, functionality, site structures and user journeys through to the nitty-gritty of things like hosting solutions and site security.

Before we get anywhere near the design stage of a website project, we like to meet with our clients and discuss in detail their goals, aims and objectives.

More often than not a client will come with an idea that they want a good looking website and leave our first meeting with more questions than answers, but that’s all part of the process.

Through a series of early-stage meetings we get to understand your business, what makes you and your team tick, and your brand values. We make a concerted effort to get inside the heart and soul of your business. If we can understand your mission, if we can feel the passion behind what you do then we can make your audience feel it too.

We want to identify any holes that may exist in your current delivery, raising these questions in order to understand all of our challenges. We lay them out in front of us, in the cold light of day and with that done we can look to solve them through the stages of our process.

By understanding the challenges we face we can be sure to deliver a project that exceeds expectations and doesn’t leave any nasty surprises down the road.

neon sign with text, 'do something great'

Defining your Direction…

It is at this stage we sometimes identify areas of a client’s brand that may be lacking and potentially negatively affect the website design.

If a client has had to rush their branding in order to get a product to an early investment stage or get it to market quickly it is not uncommon for brands to have areas we can improve on. These may be around the visual identity, messaging or both.

A website is an extension of your brand, so if your brand isn’t working as well as it could or has aspects missing then we need to address this and either work with you to develop the brand or plan how to improve this during the website design phase.

Examples of the kind of things clients often overlook in an early stage brand are things like; brand imagery, photography styling, messaging, and tone of voice. If this is the case we will plan to schedule in time to get these addressed during the process. The focus is always on delivering the proposition in the best and most engaging way possible.

When working with clients such as media agency Formative Content we were able to address the brand through the work we did with them to establish a design style. We looked deeply at the core values and their mission objectives and boiled this down into a set of keywords. We used these keywords to build a clear set of objectives, and a framework in which we can construct a visual identity that fed into all aspects of the interface design and beyond.

Whether we are working on the brand or website design for startups, we will produce a series of mood boards at this stage where we detail your competitors, work out where your proposition sits against them currently and what we can learn from our research to position you ahead of the competition.

These mood boards will cover things like site designs, keywords, brand elements and additional interface design elements we feel can benefit the design.

wireframes showcasing developmental stages of website design

User experience at the core of everything…

With a design style beginning to reveal itself through the mood boards we start to look at site structure, moving to the user experience portion of the project. This is the science behind your website design. Through a process of wireframing (creating a blueprint of the site) we iron out and perfect an entire structure of your site, leaving no stone unturned.

This covers everything from the mapping of key user journeys, to the position of interactive elements, animations, buttons and forms. The aim being by the end of the process we have an extensive map of the site, a blueprint of each page, a full understanding of how every element will work and its purpose in achieving the goals we set out at the start.

Our aim is always to fulfil these objectives.

The wireframes of your startup website will go through multiple stages of amends, refining and perfecting the user journey process. The whole time we are keeping in mind everything learnt so far through our meetings, and research, religiously keeping our eye on the best ways to achieve the goals set out in those early stages.

Whilst working on the wireframes for The Financial Services Forum, we were able to map out multiple user journeys, through different tiers of membership. Understanding in detail the requirements and potential; pitfalls of each type. We used this information to inform the page layouts and later the interface design.

By the end of the process, we will have a full set of wireframes, fully annotated to give us a very clear picture of what every element on each page does, what its purpose is and how it functions.

By now we have gone through the process of understanding your objectives, identifying all challenges and have established a rough direction for design. On top of this, we now have a complete set of wireframes so know exactly how the site will function to bring everything together.

pages showcasing 'Martha and friends' dog wellness website design

Bringing it all together…

Usually, during the wireframing stage, we would have also begun working on some designs. It is useful to begin this process early as this may feed into the wireframing process in various ways.

The design is the exciting part, this is where things really start to come together. We will refer to our mood boards and brand work, using that as a foundation to construct an engaging interface design. Our aim is to create a design that feels like an extension of your brand, whilst employing the brand in creative and effective ways to enhance user engagement and achieve the goals we set out.

Very often we will bring elements of your brand to life through animation within the site, using interesting transitions to reveal imagery or direct a user to key content. This is all planned out during the design phase.

We will produce a set of mockups for key pages, and again like the wireframes, will go back and forth with our clients to present, refine and assess. After a few stages of this, we will have a pretty extensive set of web page designs for us to develop.

Depending on the nature of the startup business we usually begin with the desktop version of the website design and once approved will create sample mobile pages to express how the site will function on a mobile device.

By the end of this process, we will have a full set of designs to start the build and bring it all to life.

code for a website

Building the site…

The build process is usually where our interaction with the client temporarily stops, other than regular status updates and content issues we will be off on our own putting the site together. If we have done our job properly (which of course we have!) there is no need for client feedback until the site is built. We have by now gone through every last detail of the site’s function and design. So it’s just down to our amazing developers to work their magic and bring it all to life.

During the build phase, we will go through the content we have been supplied. Usually, we would have set up our client with an online content spreadsheet for the client to fill out with key content for every area within the site.

We would have by now sourced imagery and depending on what we have done as far as brand development goes will have a set of polished-looking images to fill the site pages.

The length of the build depends on the complexity and size of the site. We will build and test every element of the site, making sure we are on track with any third-party integrations such as membership pages, sign-ups, plugins or forms.

As always, we are constantly assessing and validating the project during this phase to make sure what we set out to achieve is being achieved in the build. We will test the site across devices and ensure that it is working at the highest standard and make adjustments if necessary. Very occasionally the build will reveal that an element in the interface design isn’t working as well as we had planned within the user journey, so we will make sure we take action to change it.

The site will have a customised content management system (CMS) in the back-end and depending on the website’s requirements will allow the site manager to edit and change text and image content ongoing. This gives the site flexibility and allows content to evolve within the site, keeping the site fresh.

team of two people working on laptop together

Sign off and launch…

Once we have tested the site internally we will send a link on a development server for the client to check over at their end. This is an opportunity to fix any snags, last-minute bugs or make content changes if an image isn’t quite right, or copy needs to be changed in places.

We will do a final run-through to check everything in detail, ticking off a pre-flight checklist as we go. At this stage, we will implement SEO elements such as meta tags, Google tracking, 301 redirects as detailed in the scope and set everything up so when your site goes live it doesn’t lose any traction with its SEO value.

If there has been any branding work done we will package all assets up, and get them over to you with your new shiny new brand guidelines document, ensuring your brand is used correctly and consistently moving forward.

Finally, depending on what was set out for hosting and security in the scope, we take a day to get everything in line for launch, setting everything up to go live.

Once the green light is given we repoint the DNS to the live URL and it’s live!

team of people working on laptop together

Our work doesn’t end there…

A good startup website should grow with you as your company develops.

With the fast-moving and agile environment, startups exist in, it’s important to have flexibility and evolution in mind when creating a startup website. There is no point in creating a website that will require scrapping and rebuilding every year or two.

It can be hugely detrimental not only to cash flow but also to your brand and ongoing user engagement.

During the scoping phase, we will often sketch out a phase two and/or phase three stage to the project. Developing web functionality or content as the business grows. Examples of this may be the development of membership commerce functionality, online booking systems, additional product lines, marketing campaigns or content feeds.

We can also build into the site the ability to have adaptable campaign landing pages to be filled with content that aligns with your ongoing marketing objectives. These pages work as mini home pages, directing users from said campaigns through to the site, literally a place for users to land on from an external campaign link, such as social media advertising.

At Above Digital we pride ourselves in forming ongoing working relationships with our clients and one of the joys of working with startups is watching them grow, and develop with us being on hand to service their requirements as they grow.

To be an integral part of a startup’s success, and help them realise their ambitions through the work we do is hugely rewarding.

If you are looking for a spark of inspiration to push your startup to the next level, then be sure to check out our online portfolio

lime peel, behind the text, 'fresh web dev talent required' in advertisment of a new full-stack web developer role

Description

Above Digital is looking for a skilled and passionate Full Stack Web Developer, with at least 5 years commercial development experience within a web agency to join the team. We are a creative digital design agency based in central Reading that specialise in bespoke website design and build, branding, and digital marketing projects. Our focus is on delivering excellent digital design and online user experiences. We are a small but passionate team of designers and developers working with brands and new business startups. Our clients range from Eco products, Fintech through to some of the UK’s biggest independent London Media Agencies.

We are based in the heart of Reading in Spaces which is a vibrant and creative place to work, surrounded by other digital agencies. We are right by the main Reading railway station, so only 24 mins from London Paddington. Working from home is also fine as we are typically only in the office 2-3 days per week (max). We are offering competitive rates, a positive place to work, learn and grow your skills on exciting new projects.

You would work as a core part of an experienced team, on bespoke website builds and online application development, across a range of new business start-ups and existing clients. Starting in the next 4 weeks (if possible). We will consider a remote (work from home) position for the right person, but you will need to be able to attend the office on occasion.

Important Skills required:

WordPress. Creating and Maintaining bespoke website builds
HTML, CSS, JavaScript and jQuery
Experience creating front end animations using CSS and JavaScript libraries such as PixiJS, GSAP and ScrollMagic
Responsive Design and Build
Basic understanding of PHP
Experience using Google’s Lighthouse auditing tools to optimise website performance and follow best working practices

Will need to either build or maintain websites using:

Experience with ASP.NET, C#
SQL
Experience with REST APIs
Vue.js

Experience required:

5+ years in a web design agency
Problem-solving and debugging skills
Regular contact with clients and providing support
Good communication skills
Will work closely with Designers to discuss build requirements and UI, UX

Typical roles/tasks:

Website development – front and backend build
Server setup and management
Responsive web design
Technical Scoping and Specification
Ecommerce setup and payments integration
3rd Party systems integration
Setup of SSL Certificates\
CMS build and content population

Interested?:

Please send your CV for immediate consideration to [email protected]

In this article we look at the effects lockdown has had on eCommerce shopping trends, how online buying trends may continue post lockdown, and how businesses are making the most of the opportunity.

Woman in anti-covid mask, using her phone, behind the text, 'Lockdown and the future of e commerce. Part 1: From the hight street to the web'

I write this article as we approach the end of the nation’s third, and hopefully final lockdown. When the news came back in late 2020 that we would yet again be facing the harsh restrictions as we saw back in March and November it was as expected as it was unsettling. At long last we finally see lockdown start to come to an end, and look forward to hanging out and hugging friends and family again. With the idea of normality seeming so close, it would be naive to assume everything will go back exactly as it was. Lockdown’s effects will be felt for a very long time, and some changes may even become permanent.

The global pandemic has had a huge impact on our day-to-day lives, from the sacrificing of our personal freedoms we had taken for granted, to widespread furloughing, and the accepted normality of queues at supermarkets, our lives have been altered dramatically. We’ve seen big changes in our working lives too. Industries across the board have had to rethink their longer-term strategies as well as day-to-day operations.

Many sectors have been forced to quickly adapt to survive, doing their best to stay afloat and keep revenue coming in. A few areas have seen growth, particularly those based in or near to the digital space. Brands like Netflix, Slack, Zoom, and Tiktok have seen incredible increases in users and share prices, with Zoom becoming so much a part of everyday life that its name, like Google before it, has evolved, from noun to verb.

There is no doubt that the COVID-19 crisis and subsequent lockdowns have been a huge blow to our economy, with businesses of all sizes having to shut up shop for the duration, some sadly never to reopen.

The high street, already in trouble prior to COVID, has been delivered what comes close to a death blow, with consumers looking to online outlets as an alternative to traditional shopping, leaving high-streets and shopping centers eerily empty. This ‘twilight of the high street’ has been on the cards for some time, with many economists citing the current, rather bleak situation shops face as inevitable, with COVID having only accelerated what was already written in the stars.⁷

Lots of industries have been hit incredibly hard by the crisis, less agile sectors like hospitality or travel, unable to move their business practices to the internet have suffered the most. Whilst the media paints a pretty bleak picture, it is good to bear in mind the other side of the situation and the opportunities this new landscape presents to those willing to think differently.

Many businesses have already successfully adapted to this brave new world, changing their sales, marketing and working practices in ways that have had positive effects on business and staff alike. Some of these changes, such as remote working, increased focus on eCommerce sales, or more digitally focussed marketing strategies, are things that have proved to be highly beneficial and will likely carry on afterlife goes back to normal.

At Above Digital we have seen a huge uptake in clients looking at eCommerce in more serious ways. Quick adaptation to a more digitally weighted eCommerce Strategy has saved many businesses from disaster. From restaurants offering superb ‘cook at home’ menus to pet shops delivering pet food to your door, lockdown buying habits have accelerated and widened the use of eCommerce across the board.

Based on a survey of 2,000 U.K. consumers by PFS, an eCommerce order fulfillment solutions provider, 39% of respondents reported that they had been encouraged by the crisis to shop online for everyday products such as pet food, which they had previously bought only in person.¹

Girl on a sofa, using her phone, behind the text, 'Lockdown and the future of e commerce. Part 2: Lockdown online buying trends'

Buying products online, even those that traditionally would have involved a quick trip to the local supermarket has become easier than ever. The average consumer is far more comfortable with using the internet to shop, being more familiar now with online payment gateways such as Stripe.

The overall experience has become much more casual. You can sit on your phone and order Christmas presents, top-up on washing powder, or go clothes shopping whilst you watch Netflix. Whilst this isn’t anything new, after all we’ve been shopping online for years, it feels that the distance between the high street and our couch is smaller than ever.

It’s not all just about traditional eCommerce website design. An increasing number of consumers choose to use eCommerce apps such as Amazon or Asos to order products as opposed to using websites. We have the high street on our phone and a personalised shopping experience is a mere icon click away. In the UK alone 63% of mobile web users are regularly shopping with native and progressive web apps. This compares with 83% using chat apps and 82% on social media apps.²

It is clear that the smartphone is evermore the weapon of choice and thus well designed mobile-first websites and effective eCommerce web apps are going to become even more important. An ever-wider cross-section of businesses looking to apps as well as their websites to help them stay connected with shoppers.

People have moved from desktops and now the mobile phone is king. Before COVID, back in 2019, 58.9% of eCommerce was attributable to smartphones. By 2023, that proportion will swell to 71.2%.3 with COVID only speeding things up³. This trend is set to level out after lockdown, but will ultimately see a steady increase over the next few years.

When you mention eCommerce the first retailer that comes to mind is of course Amazon. ‘The big A’ is seen by many as the enemy of small businesses, with its website and app claiming a huge portion of online sales. However, when it comes to online consumer buying habits the game is far from over!

Despite the online giant taking a huge portion of the market share, there is still plenty of space for smaller independents to stake their claim. Those willing to create their own online shopping experience through great web and app designs and make the effort to connect with their customer base online in a much more targeted, personal way are set to benefit.

Many shoppers choose to deliberately browse interesting independent websites instead of the far less interesting pages of Amazon. Discovering intriguing eCommerce websites that speak to them through great design and brand execution, creates a similar enjoyment and ‘buyer buzz’ one would experience browsing the equivalent ‘real world’ shops.

Through great apps, exciting user experience website design, engaging content, a strong social strategy, and the integration of platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, Magneto and Big Cartel, it’s possible to create highly engaging shopping experiences online. Shopping experiences that are memorable, exciting, rewarding, and inspire brand loyalty. At Above Digital we have helped numerous clients refine their online proposition, expand eCommerce operations and evolve their brand through exciting web design and user experience.

Man on laptop, behind the text, 'Lockdown and the future of e commerce. Part 3: The e commerce opportunity'

The opportunity that eCommerce presents the small business owner, means that businesses are thriving online. The Fashion and Apparel sector alone has seen the largest number of businesses opening eCommerce sites in 2019, with 8,665 clothing companies adding online payment methods and new eCommerce technology⁴

The online opportunity presented to retailers by the continued adoption of eCommerce that has been accelerated by lockdown is clear. It is important for any business to seriously consider ways they can use eCommerce to their advantage, not just to avoid being left behind, but to positively grow.

The eCommerce market is expanding all the time, UK consumers estimated to have spent £141.33 billion online in 2020, up a massive 34.7% from 2019. This significant increase will see eCommerce account for more than 30% of total retail sales in the UK for the first time. In 2019, that share stood at just 21.8%.⁵

The rise in popularity of eCommerce means that whilst more people are spending more online, the marketplace is becoming increasingly busy with lots of companies vying for the same pool of attention. It’s more important than ever to ensure your website not only reaches the right audience but also engages with them and through a wider strategy, promotes brand loyalty.

Whilst there are numerous DIY options out there to help you start your online enterprise, it’s valuable to have experts (like us at Above Digital) to help you get up and running the right way. Creating a unique shopping experience, one that people will talk about, share, and come back to is as important online as it is on the high street.

Mockup, sketch and wireframe examples of website design for mobile, behind the text, 'Lockdown and the future of e commerce. Part 4: The future and how we can help you'

The near future will see further, rapid developments. 5G will mean technologies like augmented reality, and virtual reality will be available to anyone via their smartphone, allowing the shopper to visualise exactly what that new couch they wanted is going to look like in their home. Suddenly the online shopping experience begins to not only rival that of the real world but becomes more exciting. For example, Ikea has integrated artificial reality with their app named Place.

Shoppers can now use the camera of their smartphone to virtually place different home furnishings into their surroundings. The program allows users to interact with the projected images and envisions how they would look in various spaces. This helps customers find the perfect piece of furniture without having to return items that they imagined would fit. Initial adoption of AR and VR by certain forward-thinking companies has already seen very positive reactions from consumers, with 71% of consumers saying they would shop more regularly with an online retailer if they adopted AR⁶.

Now is the perfect time to strategise ways to reach customers who may not even be aware of what it is you offer. The internet after all is global, meaning your products or services can reach an almost unlimited audience, there really is no better time to start. As with any online venture it’s important to not only consider the look and feel of your website and branding but also the user journey and overall experience, ensuring customers engage, remain loyal, and come back time and time again.

Moving your business online and adopting eCommerce can be a daunting task. A good agency can help you identify the best way to adapt your business for eCommerce and help you plan, design and build your website design. From Coffee roaster Kingdom Coffee, to eco Jewelry retailer Salvari, and online insurance provider OneClickCover, we have helped many of our clients create beautiful, very successful online shopping experiences, tailored perfectly to their audience.

At Above Digital, we would love to show you how the opportunities current eCommerce buying trends present for your business. To find out how we can help you make the most of this opportunity get in touch with our team.

Check out some of our eCommerce projects here:

Kingdom Coffee
Salvari Eco Jewellery
OneClickCover

Written by Rich Lock
Head of Design
[email protected]

References

laptop displaying new Love Sugar Science website

Another delicious new website designed and built by Above Digital!

We’re excited to announce our latest website is live. Love Sugar Science are an exciting Manchester based Media Agency working on media campaigns for clients including Love Island and Channel 4’s The Circle.

Their new responsive website has a clean and colourful design, with lovely animated roll-overs and transitions throughout. The site is bespoke built using WordPress, and is fully optimised for fast page loads and includes a custom-built CMS that allows the Love Sugar Science team to make content updates the site at a moments notice.

Read a little more about the project and it’s process or check out the website here. Have a similar project of your own? Get in touch to see how we can help.

laptop displaying new kingdom coffee website

We may not be connoisseurs, but we do love our coffee, so we were thrilled to be involved in redesigning Kingdom Coffee’s Magento 2 eCommerce website.

As a fellow Reading-based business, Kingdom Coffee are the sector’s leaders with Fairtrade certifications and ethical credentials that are second-to-none. Kingdom Coffee came to Above Digital looking to improve their online shopper experience, as well as the brand messaging that surrounded their fairtrade and ethical values. A major part of the project included the backend product database migration from their old site, built in Magento 1, to Magento 2 so they could benefit from all the latest updates, improvements and new features.

Working alongside their systems team Aptania, Above Digital helped scope out, designed and built a new Magento 2 responsive front-end that now provides Kingdom Coffee with a much-improved eCommerce website that will attract more customers, help convert more sales, and help their business grow.

Read a little more about the project and it’s process or check out the website here. Have a similar project of your own? Get in touch to see how we can help.

lime peel, behind the text, 'fresh digital talent required' in advertisment of a new designer role

About Above Digital:

We are a creative digital design agency based in central Reading. Our focus is on delivering excellent design and user experiences. We specialise in website design, branding and ongoing digital marketing. We are a small but passionate team of designers and developers working with brands and new business startups that range from smaller Fintech start-ups through to bigger London Media Agencies, so we’re looking for someone who has a broad range of design experience. We are based in the heart of Reading in Spaces which is a vibrant and creative place to work surrounded by other design agencies. We are also right by the main Reading station, so only 24 mins from London Paddington.

You will need:

– A minimum of 3 to 5 years digital design experience (preferably website design and working within a digital design agency)
– A strong portfolio of your work that demonstrates multiple examples of your creative thinking, design ability and exceptional attention to detail
– Experience with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and XD
– A strong understanding of responsive website design
– A passion for typography, composition and branding
– Experience using CMS platforms including WordPress (Umbraco would be helpful)
– A can-do attitude and great communication skills. We want someone that gives us energy
– A desire to stay up to date with digital design and current marketing trends!

A bonus if you have:

– An understanding of user-centred design (UX/UI)
– Experience in creating Wireframes, Prototypes and Visual Mockups
– An understanding of marketing and ecommerce websites including within social media
– Experience with email marketing platforms (such as Mailchimp)
– Experience with XD, Premiere Pro and After Effects

What we offer:

– Competitive salary (dependant on experience)
– 25 days holiday per annum
– Rewarding work and the scope to grow creatively and professionally

Start Date:

– September 2019

We’ll need from you:

– Your CV and examples of previous design work.
– Any work submitted must clearly demonstrate your creative/design abilities.

Note: Example work needs to include website design, branding, interface design, and marketing materials (supply as a PDF or link to online portfolio)

Inside of spaces, where above digital is based in reading

I’ve been designing and building websites for many, many years, and over that time I’ve learned a thing or two about what makes a good environment and location for a web design agency. During the last 20 years, I’ve run both large and small agencies and one thing that’s common for both, is that in order to attract the right staff and win the best clients, the location of your agency is key.

Back in the ’90s, I ran a big web design and build agency with over 85 staff and huge clients like Pepsi, Bacardi, Sony Music, BBC and many more. Although we weren’t based in London, as we grew, we wanted to be close enough to tap into the huge London talent pool but without incurring the London overheads. The M4 corridor was our preferred location back then and it still is now, but for very different reasons.

I sold the bigger agency in 2010 and after a short break, I decided to start another smaller agency working on web design projects that really interested and excited me. Initially, I focused on the music industry which quickly expanded to include startups and emerging smaller businesses as my target clients. These companies were dynamic, energetic, fun and I felt that with my experience, I could really make a difference to their brand, online presence and growth, very quickly.

I initially set up the new agency in West London with a small, highly experienced team but eventually, the draw to move back west, nearer my old stomping ground, was too strong.

Why Reading you might ask, I’ll tell you why…

Why locate a web design agency in Reading?

Reading is a great location for smaller businesses. It feels young yet established and has an active and lively business community. It’s a location that has embraced the culture of startups and growing companies and Reading itself has been going through lots of change and development. New innovative office environments such as Spaces, Fora and WeWork have been built and designed around young, dynamic, developing entrepreneurial businesses, which is perfect for a web design agency like ours. These creative spaces are right in the centre of Reading with modern interpretations of the traditional office, including funky interiors, open meeting areas, quiet booths, roof terraces, great coffee lounges, collaborative co-working spaces, free wi-fi and showers etc. We chose to locate our web design business in the Spaces building which is right by the Reading train station and only 24 minutes by train to London. This makes it easy to visit our London clients and also provides great recruitment opportunities as we grow.

Reading is a really vibrant community with lots going on for new businesses networking such as the Biscotti and First Friday clubs which help smaller businesses connect and socialise. This helps to not only attract the right type of talent, it also helps to motivate and retain staff because it’s such a great place to work. There are lots of like-minded companies around Reading, ranging from creative web design and development agencies like us, through to App developers and software startups. Even huge, dynamic global organisations like Microsoft and Oracle have their headquarters in Reading!

We are really happy with our new home in Reading and if you are passing or want pop in to talk about your next branding, web design project or digital marketing, then please get in touch and come and look around our new place.

We are excited to officially welcome our new front-end web developer, George Launchbury to the Above Digital team.