As one of the biggest business events of the year, the Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards (MKBAA) is one of those that stands out on the city’s calendar.

It’s a night when the best and brightest businesses in MK get to show off just how good they are at what they do, by winning awards that propel them into their deserved spotlight.

But few people realise that way before the glitz and glamour happens there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes – and that’s where Interdirect’s Kemi Sangowawa takes centre stage.

“The planning, in theory, starts the week after the previous event.” Said Kemi, “This is my first year working on MKBAA and so far, it’s been an incredibly enjoyable project to work on. It encompasses a lot of the skills I’ve built up throughout my career.”

2022’s event proved to be a roaring success. The first one back in person since COVID-19 destroyed the hopes of people meeting up in large groups, the night celebrated a diverse range of businesses, a theme that has been carried over into this year.

Celebrating Diversity is an important theme and organisers are keen to do exactly that, with a huge and diverse range of businesses expected to follow in the footsteps of previous winners.

So, after the wash-up meeting from last year’s event the theme is discussed and agreed before the branding is finalised (a whole project in itself). Once this is agreed, Kemi is back in the mix, and it’s time to build the website.

Kemi explains: “Once the branding was finalised, I spoke to designers who helped explore what Celebrating Diversity meant. From there we built and agreed a tone of voice, photography, and developed the different uses of colour.”

One look at the website shows you just how much work has gone into it – especially when you consider that it was built completely from scratch.

The thought process was that the team wanted the website to be easier to navigate, providing all visitors (including applicants, judges, and the general public) with everything they need to submit their entries, read about past winners and log-in to make important judging decisions.

The website provides a one-stop shop that includes everything from separate entry and judging portals, as well as a media gallery, news page, blogs, theme information and a look at the different sponsors. On top of this there is also a countdown that has changed from when entries closed to now when the event will be held.

Kemi added: “We’re happy to have received much fewer questions this year, meaning that people are finding it easy to navigate, and simple to do what they need to via the website.

“When people are asking lots of questions or finding it hard to find what they need, that’s when you need to worry.”

There have been some changes made to this year’s event, to make it more accessible and fairer for all. One of the biggest changes, aside from the new website, is the rule that if you’ve won an award in a category the previous year, you can’t enter that category again this time around.

We asked Kemi when she will get to relax. “On the night, definitely on the night.” She said, “The entries have now closed, the judges will have some time to make an initial decision and then people will find out whether they’ve been successful in getting through to the next stage. Then it’s full steam ahead for the judging day next year. It’s all very exciting, and this is a great project to be involved in.”

If you’re not entering this year, then why not? But if you are, from all at Interdirect, we wish you the very best of luck. At least you won’t need luck navigating the website!

Digital trendsetters, Interdirect, have successfully delivered two new stylish websites for Braehead and Derbion shopping centres, despite the branding for both retail sites being unknown during development.

The team tapped into Interdirect’s 27 years of digital experience to design and build websites for Braehead and Derbion shopping centres, which are both visually striking and easy to navigate. The result – two websites with their own unique identity that show off each centre as an engaging and exciting destination.

The impressive nature of these builds hinged on the team’s ability to work in an agile way, with both shopping centres navigating a change in ownership and brand redesigns during the development of their digital platforms.

Taking a logical approach, the team built two, functionally capable sites – but in black and white. Then, when the centres were rebranded, Interdirect’s digital experts were able to skin the sites to add in stunning visuals to suit their new looks. Interdirect continues to work on each site, to give visitors an experience like no other, with regular updates and fixes.

“It’s this level of detail and forward-thinking that makes Interdirect one of the digital leaders in shopping centre and retail websites. I’m proud of the team for always putting the customer first in all decision-making and for being reactive to the changing economic situation.

“Our team has vast experience working with shopping centres and tapping into our knowledge of new and emerging technologies to provide the most reliable and accessible digital experience.”

Managing director at Interdirect, Nicholas Mann

“Building our website, Interdirect showed not only the utmost professionalism and patience, but also fantastic forward thinking. They have given our stunning shopping centre an amazing digital platform that will entice people to visit and get an experience like no other.

“We’re proud of the work that’s been done, and we hope our customers appreciate the hard work that’s gone into it too.”

Mark Musgrove, Digital Marketing Manager at Derbion Shopping Centre

Thanks to Interdirect’s digital team, supporters of Willen Hospice can now purchase lottery tickets, scratch cards, wedding favours and gifts through an easy-to-use online platform, making it even simpler to fundraise for the much-loved MK charity.

The hospice provides patients with second to none palliative care and relies on the generosity of the general public to help raise millions of pounds each year to pay for their running costs. One way that people can easily raise money and awareness is by buying Willen Hospice lottery tickets and scratch cards, which can be used as gifts, wedding favours and so much more.

With more than 25 years of experience in digital marketing, Interdirect upgraded the current system to make it more vibrant and provide customers with an intuitive journey that was easier for the hospice to edit, including the ability to change the images on wedding favours. Interdirect also introduced new options for their seasonal draw, so everything can be controlled in one place.

Currently, tickets can be purchased on a pay-as-you-go or subscription service before results are then posted online. One of the newer updates to the site, provided by Interdirect, shows a sliding scale to help convert people to subscription sales, by showing them how many bonus entries they will receive when they do.

Willen Hospice has been at the heart of the community for 40 years, providing incredible support and care to around 300 patients with life-limiting illnesses every day. It needs to raise £9 every minute of the year, close to £5 million, to keep providing that service, so this upgrade provides a vital tool, helping more people to navigate exactly where they need to go to have some fun, while still supporting a worthwhile local charity.

Nigel Birch, Commercial Manager at Willen Hospice, said: “We’ve worked with Interdirect for a number of years and we’re always grateful for the work they do for us. These newest upgrades to our lottery site will encourage more people to subscribe to our service and help us to raise much needed funds for the hospice.”

Nicholas Mann, Managing Director at Interdirect, said: “We could not be prouder to work with and show our support for Willen Hospice. Our community relies on their specialist and dignified work to offer people, and their loved ones, support and love in their final days.

“We hope the improvements and additions to the site provide an increase in sales, so that Willen Hospice can continue to provide patients and their families with calm, compassionate care in a tranquil environment, helping people to really make the most of the time they have left with their loved ones.”

Celebrating 15 years of Cenex-LCV, the organisers of the leading industry event, which is co-located with Cenex-CAM, has appointed marketing agency, Interdirect to manage its PR and social media.

The event is held at UTAC Millbrook, which Interdirect has supported since 2012, including managing the communications for a biennial DVD event, delivered at the vehicle test and validation site on behalf of the MOD and Defence Equipment & Support.

The 15th anniversary marks a milestone for Cenex-LCV, while co-located Cenex-CAM reaches its 4th birthday. 2022 will also see the return of international delegates for face-to-face meetings, for the first time since 2019, which has proved a major draw for exhibitors.

As the UK’s longest established technology showcase and networking event for the low carbon vehicle community, Cenex-LCV provides a strategic platform for agenda setting for key technical, policy and infrastructure initiatives. The focus of the low carbon vehicle community is on the targets, commencing from 2030, that are accelerating the shift to electric mobility for vehicles of all types across international markets. This year, the two-day event will focus on the low carbon vehicle Transition to Net Zero and how innovation is shaping the future for Automated Connected Electric and Shared Mobility (ACES).

Interdirect is working with Cenex and its supporting partners to secure long-term media partnerships, to promote the innovative technologies and insights from exhibitors and speakers and to create new and exciting opportunities within the press, broadcast and social media, Olivia Smith, Events and Marketing Manager at Cenex explains:

“Our role as event organisers is to work with our supporting partners and innovation community to ensure the Cenex-event retains its leadership position, promoting the automotive and associated energy infrastructure transition to Net Zero via an Automated Electric Connected and Shared (ACES) future of mobility. We do this through technology showcasing and networking for exhibitors, speakers and delegates.

 

“We selected Interdirect to support us based on their appreciation of our aims, their understanding of our event through prior work with exhibitors at past Cenex-events and their forward-thinking approach.”

Emma Scott, Senior PR Manager at Interdirect says:

“We’re excited to have been appointed by Cenex to support the communications priorities for LCV and CAM. Having worked with UTAC Millbrook on a number of events and activities over the past 10 years, we have a good understanding of the requirements and we’re working with partners, exhibitors and media partners to ensure we maximise all opportunities pre, during and post the event.”

For further information about Cenex-LCV and Cenex-CAM visit https://www.cenex-lcv.co.uk/ or follow @lcv_event and if you’d like to talk to us about how we can support you, please email info@inter.direct

Like with any industry, agency life has its highs and lows, and whilst a new client is an obvious cause for celebration, we’re always looking for new and exciting ways to provide added value and increase opportunities for our long-term and much valued client base.

That’s why, many of our clients have grown their work with us over a number of years and why they continue to choose to work with our team today; for example, commencing with social media support, and adding PR, design, a website, SEO, online marketing… the list goes on.

Socius, a developer of mixed-use places, with a portfolio across major UK towns and cities including Bristol, Brighton, Cambridge, Milton Keynes and London, is one example of a client relationship that we have worked together to grow. Commencing work with the team, then operating as First Base, in January 2021, we began supporting the PR and social media activity at pre-planning stage for the MK Gateway development at Saxon Court, on an initial nine-month contract.

Impressing the team with our positive and proactive approach during that period, we picked up a couple of additional projects too, including a video to promote the engagement carried out with the local community and a photography competition in support of the IF: Milton Keynes International Festival.

When it came to the end of the initial contract, the MK Gateway project team were happy to continue with our services, in order to keep up the momentum of positive PR and social media engagement that had already been achieved and in preparation for the next phase of the development.

In December 2021, First Base separated into two independent, separately-run companies, with a new company, Socius formed to focus on mixed-use, urban regeneration developments. When it came to looking for social media support for the new company, we were more than happy to be approached for our services. Five months on and we continue to grow our relationship and commitment to Socius and MK Gateway, working together to agree strategies and new ideas that will provide the best possible results for their marketing investment.

“We are big fans of Anne, Emma and the rest of the Interdirect team. They have provided strategic advice on PR, communications and social media; significantly contributing to the success of our MK Gateway project. They are a great team to work with, always willing to get stuck in and deliver over and above whats required. We look forward to continuing to work together.”

Olaide Oboh, Director at Socius

 “Our priority is always on understanding and meeting the client’s expectations, communicating at every opportunity what our recommendations are in order to achieve the best possible results. Working with Olaide and the team at Socius is a real privilege, and in turn we are learning a lot about the future direction of development in the UK and the key opportunities and challenges within the industry.

 

“We have been inspired by the approach that Socius and the MK Gateway project team takes with their social values. A blog series that we’re currently working on is shining a light on how the team uses its allocated ‘giving back’ days to support charitable or community initiatives that are important to each member. It’s a topic that we feel has hugely significant health and wellbeing benefits for employees, not to mention the community impact and we hope, as much as Socius does, that it will inspire other businesses to think about how they can give back too.”

Anne Walsh, PR and social media Director at Interdirect

For further information about Socius visit https://socius-dev.com/ to discover more about MK Gateway it’s https://saxoncourtmk.com/ and if you’d like to talk to us about how we can support you, please email info@inter.direct

Interdirect were delighted to hear overnight that Milton Keynes has been awarded official city status as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Milton Keynes is truly unique. Created during the early years of the Queen’s reign, it was one of the most famous new towns in the post war era, playing a vital role in the history of the United Kingdom despite being only 55 years old.

It was with great honour that our Managing Director, Nicholas Mann, who is also Chair of the Milton Keynes Business Leaders Partnership, took up a vice-chair position, supporting John Moffoot MBE, MK Council, and a group of more than 50 individuals and organisations, to develop the Application for City Status. And it was of course befitting of Milton Keynes’ technological prowess that this bid commenced its journey to Her Majesty via a Starship Robot.

From all corners of communities across Milton Keynes, the wealth of public support for the bid was phenomenal. As Mayor of Milton Keynes at the time, Cllr Mohammed Khan noted, if city status was granted based on the strength of feeling that people have for their home, then Milton Keynes would be in no doubt of being named a city.

This week it was also announced that the successor of Cllr Mohammed Kahn to take up the position of Mayor of Milton Keynes was Cllr Amanda Marlow. Not only does Amanda become the 50th Mayor of Milton Keynes and the first female Mayor in the borough for a decade, but she also becomes the first Mayor of Milton Keynes as an official city. This followed the news that Debbie Brock DL, had been appointed the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire in April, and Interdirect would like to congratulate both on their appointments.

Achieving city status will of course bring international recognition and benefit the thriving economy of Milton Keynes, but it also recognises the very essence of what makes the city great – from its celebrated green spaces and heritage sites to our diversity and commitment to its people and environment.

Interdirect are extremely proud to be an organisation at the heart of such a great city and to play a role in supporting the business within Milton Keynes.

Since November 2005, Milton Keynes leading digital marketing agency, Interdirect has hosted and managed the website of one of the most loved charities in the local area, Willen Hospice. A lot of developments have been made over that time, and the website has become an increasingly vital tool in campaigning for and collecting essential donations.

Willen Hospice has been at the heart of the community for 40 years, providing incredible support and care to around 300 patients with life-limiting illnesses every day. It needs to raise £9 every minute of the year, close to £5 million, to keep providing that service. One of the biggest challenges for the charity in recent years has been the pandemic, and now more than ever, its digital presence needs to be as simple and effective as possible, in order to maintain and build on the continued volunteering, fundraising and donations it receives.

As one of the most experienced digital agencies in Milton Keynes, Interdirect has proudly supported the charity for many years, building its website on our own advanced content management system, SiteMachine, with a modern, future-proof design to position Willen Hospice as a forward thinking, modern charity. In 2016, the site was named winner of the flagship website category as well as collecting the bronze award for the education and charity category at the Milton Keynes Digital Awards.

Since then, we’ve continued to upgrade the website, with our latest updates currently going live in a phased approach. The latest changes will revolutionise the platforms that the website is built on to further enhance the user journey. This will include making it even easier to buy lottery tickets, check the results of previous draws and buy items in an online eBay shop – paying directly into the charity’s eBay account.

“We are so proud to have been the agency selected to support this wonderful charity for the past 16 years. For decades, Willen Hospice has provided people in the community with dignified care, making their final days comfortable while also caring emotionally for their loved ones too.

“Last year, events that would usually provide the Hospice with much needed funds were cancelled and we’re hoping that these new upgrades to their website will help people to get online, navigate exactly where they need to go, and keep funding their incredible work.”

Nicholas Mann, Managing Director at Interdirect

“We’re very proud of our website and we continue to work closely with Interdirect to ensure that our site keeps up with the latest digital enhancements. This is essential in order for us to offer an easy and effective way for people to find out information about Willen Hospice, how we help local families and how the community can support us in continuing this care.”

Nigel Birch, Head of Marketing at Willen Hospice

We like to give all our clients an insight into the current market trends where we can. This month, our Online Marketing Manager, Matthew Culnane, talks about some of the trends we are seeing in the world of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).

Increased focus on site speed and UX

Google values a fast web and we’re seeing more emphasis than ever put on how quickly a site loads and how easy it is to use. We’ve found that this is particularly important for the mobile version of your site, which Google looks at first. It’s important to understand how quickly your site loads and to look for ways to speed it up, and generally make it more usable by your target audience. All other things being equal, this is a useful and often inexpensive way to leapfrog your competition.

Less emphasis on individual keywords

Some businesses will always want to rank well for a limited number of highly relevant keywords but this isn’t the case for most sites. Users search in a wide variety of ways: some use whole sentences, some use individual keywords, and most are somewhere between. Google claims that up to 20% of all searches each year are brand new – no-one has ever used them before. So, the time of keyword ‘stuffing’ is well and truly over. Instead, websites should focus on creating rich content that demonstrates expertise, authoritativeness and trustworthiness. Look to focus less on a small set of specific keywords and more on using the wide variety of language used by your target audience and publish content that is of real value to them and their needs.

Are backlinks less important now?

Backlinks have been a primary aspect of Google’s ranking algorithm since it was formed in the 1990s. No-one is suggesting that they are no longer an important and fundamental part of ranking well, but with each year they become slightly less important as Google introduces many more ranking factors. Earning a great link from a reputable website is brilliant but it’s increasingly the time to see it as a by-product of good content that serves your users, rather than as an end in itself.

If you think your website could be improved by our SEO services, get in touch with the team here.

As we start a New Year, we asked some of our digital team to give us an idea of what to look out for in the digital world during 2022; here are a few ideas:

Core Web Vitals

In June last year, Google rolled out a new update called Core Web Vitals, which scores a user’s perceived interactive experience with a webpage using three metrics. The purpose of Core Web Vitals is to improve user experience across all sites and continue in their campaign on improving mobile web performance.

The way they score Core Web Vitals is using three user-centred metrics focused on how quickly a page’s content loads. These metrics are:

• Largest Contentful Paint – the page’s loading performance; how long it took for a page’s main content to load
• First Input Display – the page’s interactivity, how long it took for the user to first interact with the page
• Cumulative Layout Shift – the page’s stability, how often does the layout of the page move

The scores from these metrics can be seen in your Google Search Console under Enhancements. Google will tell you the score of the pages on your website using a traffic light system; red being poor, amber being needs improvement and green being good. Alongside the score, Google will also tell you which metric needs to be improved so it moves up the traffic light system.

Core Web Vitals is important as it gives websites more visibility, recognition and ranking in Google.

Google Analytics future in the EU

Earlier this month, there was a legal ruling by Austrian’s data protection authority that continuous use of Google Analytics violates GDPR. The reason why this has happened is because tracking data from a user’s session is sent to Google’s servers and ends up in the United States. Austrian’s data regulators said the use of Google Analytics isn’t properly protected against potential access by US intelligence agencies which causes a breach with GDPR.

Currently, there are on-going negotiations between Europe and the US on new ways for data to flow between the two which would hopefully resolve these issues.

Our digital team is always looking out for new trends, ideas and practices that can help our clients to maximise the potential of their websites. Talk to your team today to find out how we can help.

For the first time in 20 years, Milton Keynes is back on our television screens, with a commercial that encourages families, friends and colleagues to explore the leisure attractions, shopping, restaurants and bars that central MK has to offer, all thanks to the city’s Business Improvement District (BID), MyMiltonKeynes.

Working in partnership with Milton Keynes Council, whose airtime contribution enabled the screening of the ad to extend until Christmas, the BID’s well-established marketing agency, Interdirect, set out to capture the best bits of CMK, attracting more people to ‘Stay, Play and LoveMK’ in the run up to Christmas.

Representing businesses across the city centre, MyMiltonKeynes was keen to ensure they all got exposure, and as a result, the 30 seconds of airtime is crammed full of excitement, fun and family-friendly experiences, from shopping at centre:mk and Midsummer Place to leisure and dining at The Hub, Xscape MK, 12th Street and more.

“Our vision for the ad was simple, to recreate the fast-paced and fun GO:MK commercial that was last seen on our screens 20 years ago. We wanted catchy music, teamed with exciting shots of our city, both during the day and into the evening.

 

“The timing of this advert is particularly poignant, with a significant percentage of the leisure and hospitality industry remaining in recovery, following last year’s cancelled Christmas and a requirement to make up for lost revenue throughout the pandemic. The ad has received some great feedback and we’re really pleased to have been able to provide this added-value to businesses in CMK.”

Melanie Beck MBE, Chief Executive of MyMiltonKeynes

 “We were thrilled to work with our long-term client, MyMiltonKeynes to support them in delivering this exciting new TV advert, which is airing during prime-time live television slots and on demand, until mid-December.”

Nicholas Mann, Managing Director at Interdirect

For further information about MyMiltonKeynes and its ongoing work to make improvements to Central Milton Keynes visit www.mymiltonkeynes.co.uk