CSI Media Blog

Website designers beat Snowdon!

2011-04-14T10:09:00.002+01:00

A team of us climbed Snowdon at the weekend to raise money for the charity Make-A-Wish Foundation! 14 members of the CSI Media team (and Sally the dog) got their walking gear on and tackled what was probably one of the most difficult physical challenges any of us have ever done before (with the exception of Nick who is a pro at this kind of thing).

It was a scorching hot day and many of us soon realised that we were in for a hard day of walking (much of it actually climbing up some pretty big boulders), but we couldn’t give up after raising just over £900 so far for such an important children’s charity.

We managed to tackle the climb in less than 6 hours, 3 hours up and 2 hours 45 minutes down. Not bad considering the sign at the Visitor Centre states that our chosen trail up is ‘Very Challenging’! It was very relieving to see the top of the peak within a few strides, the only disappointment for many of us was that the bar at the summit was closed.

Anyway, we are all recovering quite well with a few stiff legs and blisters but nothing too severe, and some people have actually been talking about possibly climbing Scafell Pike next year for charity.

Enjoy the photos and feel free to donate to Make-A-Wish Foundation, it’s not too late and will make some very poorly children’s dreams come true :)

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2010-12-24T09:49:00.001Z

We want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are full of festive cheer here in the office, and some people have put in a little extra effort by dressing up for the day. We have a Christmas present, a stocking and even a whoopy cushion!

Take a look at some of the pics -

Redseven adds travel retail to its portfolio with launch of new website

2010-12-21T12:23:00.005Z

CSI Media are proud to announce the launch of http://www.redsevenholidays.co.uk/, a fantastic new retail holiday site, the first for the Redseven brand.

We worked closely with Redseven Managing Director Ian Lucas to provide a one-stop solution for the online travel agency. The new website includes our latest travel technology solutions - Travelberry, Tour Op and Travel Console allowing the company to offer a full and flexible range of services from tours and excursions to flights, hotels and package holidays.

Redseven Holidays are specialists in offering their customers with bespoke itineraries ranging from budget travel to luxury holidays. For more information on Redseven Holidays, please visit the website.

All Inclusive website on the way for the new year

2010-11-26T09:56:00.000Z

Here at CSI Media, we are excited to be developing a brand new website for The All Inclusive Holiday Company. The new website, http://www.allinclusive.co.uk/, will specialise in travel and holidays to destinations all over the world, all on an all inclusive basis.

Tom Warsop, the Managing Director of The All Inclusive Holiday Company, saw a gap in the market for such a website. The site will allow users to book all inclusive travel online at any time of the day, and as well as boooking package holidays, they will be able to dynamically package all inclusive deals, using CSI Media's Travelberry software.

Keep an eye out for the new website over the next few months at http://www.allinclusive.co.uk/.

There's something spooky going on in the office today

2010-10-29T17:10:00.001+01:00

As it's Halloween this weekend, the team at CSI Media have all turned into creepy creatures and scary spooks today. Take a look at the pics below - Even our home worker got into the spirit!!!

Well done Adam on completing the Great North Run!

2010-09-24T12:20:00.002+01:00

All the staff at CSI Media want to say a massive ‘well done!’ to Adam, one of the web developers, for completing the Great North Run at the weekend. As well as managing to complete the race in a great time, Adam has raised a considerable amount of money for his chosen charity, the British Red Cross.

Adam Smith - Marathon Man

New cheap travel website for 2bookaholiday.com

2010-08-19T16:38:00.001+01:00

2bookaholiday.com Limited, are looking forward to the launch of their next online bookable website, I Love Cheap Holidays. 2bookaholiday.com are part of Hays Travel and offer 100% financially secure travel. They are also covered by ABTA which means that all travel can be bought in complete confidence on the new I Love Cheap Holidays website.

The I Love Cheap Holidays website is going to specialise in bargain all-inclusive holidays all over the world; however, customers will be able to book all types of travel including beach breaks, adventure holidays, flights, short breaks and accommodation online also.

The new I Love Cheap Holidays website will also have a reviews engine, a manage booking and the recently updated Holiday Inspiration Search. The reviews engine lets travellers submit their own holiday reviews, providing I Love Cheap Holiday website users with a one-stop shop for researching and buying travel. The manage booking facility allows customers to view and pay their balance online and the newly updated Holiday Inspiration Search is CSI Media’s Inspiration tool that now incorporates an online booking facility.

The Inspirational Tool allows I Love Cheap Holidays website users to ‘be inspired’ by selecting what type of holiday they are looking for and what they want to do whilst on their travels. The tool then selects the ideal destinations either close to home, far and away or in the UK according to their preferences. The added bonus now is that the travel deals can be booked online directly from the results.

Visit 2bookaholiday.com to see some of their great holiday offers and remember to check back here regularly to find out when the new I Love Cheap Holidays website is to be launched!

New-look website for Brides and Beaches

2010-08-06T17:25:00.002+01:00

CSI Media are excited to have launched a new-look website for Brides and Beaches, part of the Avista Group. Brides and Beaches are experts in planning and booking weddings abroad and luxury honeymoons in romantic destinations. The old Brides and Beaches website has been revamped to give it a fresh look and feel, and to make it even more simple for website users to find the information they are looking for.

The new website uses CSI Media’s Travelmodule system, allowing Brides and Beaches to display lots of rich text and images so that couples can find all of the details they need for planning their wedding quickly and easily online.

Take a look at the new Brides and Beaches website.

For more information on CSI Media’s services visit the website.

S & N Pickford launch TravelYourWay.co.uk

2010-07-21T16:51:00.000+01:00

CSI Media have launched the latest new website for S & N Pickford, http://www.travelyourway.co.uk/. S & N Pickford, a specialist travel agency in tailor-made travel, launched their new site after the success of it's sister company's website http://www.ninetyeast.co.uk/. The new website uses the same system, Travelmodule, which provides the travel agency with a CMS website ideal for promoting their bespoke travel services and generating online enquiries.

S & N Pickford are experts in providing business and leisure travellers alike with tailor-made holidays and travel plans, and no matter how complex your plans are, they should be able to help plan your dream getaway.

For more information visit the CSI Media website or call Richard on 0844 873 0073.

New Tour Op site on the horizon for Regency Travel

2010-07-13T10:17:00.000+01:00

The development team here at CSI Media are excited to be working alongside Regency Travel, Isle of Man's specialist travel agency. Regency Travel, the Official Travel and Ticketing partner for the TT Races, are looking forward to having a full Tour Operator website that will enable them to sell all types of travel products online including their own charter flights, dynamically packaged holidays and hotel only deals. They will also be able to sell inbound travel as well as outbound packages, event tickets and optional extras online.

The online bookable website and tour op system will be the first for the Isle of Man and Regency Travel asked CSI Media to develop the new site to allow the Isle’s residents to have access to one of the best websites selling travel to worldwide destinations from the Isle of Man. The site is also being developed to make the Isle of Man more accessible to all.

For more information visit the CSI Media website or call 0844 873 0073.

Cheapflights advertising made simple

2010-03-25T16:29:00.000Z

Did you know that advertising on Cheapflights.co.uk can be made simple with CSI Media? We can help to integrate your website with Cheapflights to create a completely seamless sales path for your customers, provide monthly route analysis reports and let you know your exact return on investment. Your dedicated Account Manager at CSI Media will also liaise with the Cheapflights.co.uk team to help manage your presence on the different marketing streams on the travel price comparison site.

There is a host of different marketing opportunities for our clients on Cheapflights.co.uk, including flight, hotel, package and holiday extras listings and email marketing sponsorship. There’s also advertising space on the Handpicked Deals section which is great for promoting your best special offers and distressed stock, even if you don’t have a live bookable website.

Interested in advertising on Cheapflights.co.uk? Click here to find out more.

New website for Britannia Student Services

2010-03-08T16:30:00.001Z

Britannia Student Services, part of Britannia Travel Services Limited, have chosen the bespoke software team here at CSI Media to develop their new website. Britannia Student Services specialise in providing international students visiting London with a range of accommdation services such as apartments and homestays. The new website will allow them to sell their products online, at the same time as allowing them to supply students with lots of info about studying and living in London.

Our development team are creating a website that will allow Britannia Student Services to build their own information pages, sell their student accommdation online and still provide a personal service to students from all over the world.
Take a look at Britannia's current website for information on what they offer international students.

Visit the CSI Media website to learn about our bespoke software services and how we can help create your ideal online software solution.

CSI Media's technology solutions for the travel industry

2010-02-25T10:32:00.000Z

Did you know that although CSI Media offer bespoke technology for all industries, we specialise in travel technology systems? We have a team of highly skilled travel technology specialists and with years of experience in creative travel websites, dynamic packaging systems, bed bank solutions and call centre software, you are sure to find the technology solution to suit your business needs. If you're just looking for a simple travel CMS website to generate travel enquiries online, we have exactly what you're looking for.

Take a look at our case studies page to see how our customers are using our travel technology or read what our customers say about us.

Looking for creative design services?

2010-02-24T13:18:00.001Z

CSI Media offer a range of creative design services, whether you're in need of a new website design, some eye-catching banners for your site or a print design service, look no further than CSI Media. Our creative design team has excellent experience in both online and offline design services, and will work closely with you to achieve your desired objectives.

We are also holding a competition where you can win up to 25% off our services, including design! Simply click here and fill in the form and we will send you a free scratch card. Good luck! To read the terms and conditions click here.

To learn more about CSI Media's design services fill in our enquiry form or call 0844 873 0073.

CSI Media continue Thawte and Verisign SSL certificates

2010-02-24T12:40:00.002Z

CSI Media are continuing to recommend Thawte and Verisign SSL certificates for protecting shoppers on our e-commerce platforms. By purchasing your SSL certificates through CSI Media we can offer discounts compared with buying directly. We have found better conversion rates for travel websites using our technology when the SSL certificate logos have been displayed prominently.

To learn more about SSL certificates please fill in our enquiry form or call 0844 873 0073.

To see our latest developments please view our news archive.

Online marketing consultancy at CSI Media

2010-02-24T12:18:00.001Z

Need to increase your business presence online? CSI Media are offering online marketing consultancy to help you to creep up the natural listings through SEO, learn more on how to manage your PPC campaigns and increase brand awareness via email marketing. We can also introduce you to effective blog writing and web content writing. We will take a look at your website, analyse the usability of the site, listen to your needs and help to create a full online marketing strategy for your website.

CSI Media are also holding a competition where you could win your day of online marketing for free! Simply visit www.csimedia.net/competition, fill in the form and we will send you a free scratch card. To read the CSI Media competition terms and conditions click here.

To learn more about CSI Media's online marketing consultancy fill in our enquiry form or call 0844 873 0073.

Did you see us at Travel Technology Europe 2010?

2010-02-23T14:53:00.001Z

If so, thanks for visiting our stand; it was great to see you there. The CSI Media team were at the show in Earl’s Court, 9th – 10th February 2010, and were able to meet both existing and new clients whilst at the stand.

At the show we held a competition where visitors could win up to 25% off a new web project! If you were not lucky at the show, feel free to enter the competition again at www.csimedia.net/competition and we will send you a scratchcard with the chance to win big!

For more information on our products and services click here.

Travel Technology Europe - Just around the corner

2010-02-05T17:33:00.004Z

In just a few days, CSI Media are returning to Europe’s leading annual travel technology show, Travel Technology Europe 2010.

Why not come along and see what CSI Media can do for your travel website, if you don't get chance to come along and meet us in person, you can always see what our customers are saying by reading the CSI Media customer testimonials.

Come along and see us at Stand D1 for a chance to win up to 25% off a new website. Just speak to Richard Nash or Craig Stone and they will be happy to talk through your travel website requirements.

Travel Technology Europe 2010 will be held at Earl’s Court in London 9-10 February 2010, and is a free event to anyone who registers on the Travel Technology Europe website.

New Tour Op website for Emerald Travel

2010-02-03T11:19:00.003Z

Emerald Travel Group, which has been in business for over 35 years, has launched its new website www.emerald.travel. Emerald Travel who are leaders in their field, offer competitive travel and holiday packages to dream destinations worldwide, including the Far East and Australia and Europe. They also offer a range of themed holiday ideas including safaris, wedding packages and adventure breaks.

Emerald Travel has been developed using CSI Media's Tour Operator system, as it allows them to upload their own stock and merge it with third party stock to sell directly online via the website www.emerald.travel.

For more information on CSI Media's Tour Op Solution click here.

Direct Traveller launches new website

2010-01-08T12:10:00.005Z

Direct Traveller, the first and leading UK tour operator offering direct flights, accommodation and holidays to Northern Cyprus, is excited to have launched its new website http://www.directtraveller.com.

Direct Traveller has been the strongest growing specialist Northern Cyprus tour operator for 5 consecutive years, and is partly attributing its ongoing success to the Tour Operator system that was developed by CSI Media as a bespoke project. As a result, CSI Media were approached to create a new website which features a range of new functionality along with the fresh new design, that will help to streamline operations and increase productivity for the specialist travel company.

Despite the economic downturn, more passengers booked with Direct Traveller in the first half of 2009 than in all of 2008. The company also obtained 60% growth and, 40% of all reservations in 2009 were made online. Online bookings are also predicated to grow with the new website. The Online Co-ordinator at Direct Traveller stated that the system enables them to book holidays in half the time compared to offline bookings, and the updated system is hoped to improve their efficiency even further.

To see the website for yourself visit http://www.directtraveller.com.

For more information on CSI Media's products and services visit http://www.csimedia.net.

New website launched for BookThis Ltd

2009-12-31T13:31:00.002Z

CSI Media have recently launched the new online bookable website for BookThis Ltd, www.bookthistrip.co.uk. BookThis Ltd are fully ABTA bonded travel agents offering great rates on flights, holidays, accommodation and holiday extras worldwide. Plus, all travel products booked using the secure online payment system on BookThisTrip.co.uk are financially protected offering customers peace of mind.

CSI Media created the new website using its dynamic packaging software, Travelberry, which allows customers to check availability and book travel directly online. The Travelberry system also allows BookThisTrip.co.uk to add large amounts of images and content rich text onto their destination guides. This allows BookThisTrip.co.uk to provide customers with lots of useful information on where to go, things to see and what to do at some of the world’s favourite holiday destinations.

CSI Media exhibiting at Travel Technology Europe 2010

2009-12-23T13:41:00.004Z

CSI Media are excited to be attending the Travel Technology Europe Show 2010. Europe’s leading travel technology show will again be held at Earl’s Court where the CSI Media show team have exhibited for the last four years.

Travel Technology Europe 2010 has already attracted a high number of registrations from both exhibitors and visitors, and is promising to provide innovative & integral technology solutions for the travel industry.

Richard Nash, Business Director of CSI Media said “Our focus at the show will be to demonstrate how we have really tried to streamline the processes involved with our web based products. We have also started to look at systems which allow travel companies to expand into new markets.”

CSI Media will be exhibiting both days at the show, 9th – 10th February 2010, at stand D1. For more information CSI Media and the show visit the CSI Media website. So if you would like to talk to Richard Nash, the Business Director, or Craig Stone, the Marketing Director, then feel free to click here to make an appointment to talk through CSI Media’s products and services at the show.

Alternatively, feel free to email Richard on richard@csimedia.net or Craig on craig@csimedia.net.

Cadogan Travel launches TravelPatrol.co.uk

2009-12-22T09:52:00.002Z

Here at CSI Media we are thrilled to announce the launch of a new website for Cadogan Travel Limited, www.travelpatrol.co.uk. Travel Patrol is a new division of Cadogan Travel Ltd that offers cheap flights, hotels, flight and hotel deals, package holidays, car hire and other travel related products. Cadogan Travel has been offering outstanding value for money and excellent customer service for more than 60 Years, and TravelPatrol.co.uk pride themselves in offering a comprehensive travel search to assist customers in finding a great deal.

CSI Media were chosen to build the TravelPatrol.co.uk website, using our online bookable, dynamic packaging system Travelberry. The website’s search facility will check availability on low cost flight suppliers and charter flights, specialising in Spain, Greece, the Canaries and the rest of the holiday destinations in the Mediterranean.

New inspirational website for Travel Club Elite

2009-12-17T16:16:00.002Z

CSI Media are excited to announce the launch of a new website for Travel Club Elite Limited. Travel Club Elite Ltd have been trading for over 25 years and chose our development team to create the new, modern website TravelClubElite.com. Travel Club Elite act as retail agents for ATOL holders, offering holidays and travel with most tour operators, airlines and other suppliers including Kuoni, Bales, Hayes & Jarvis, Mark Warner, Club Med, Neilson, Crystal, Inghams and many more. All travel is arranged by professional travel agents and Travel Club Elite are ABTA bonded for your protection.

The new website, which uses our Travelmodule technology, was designed to reflect the varied and specialised, value for money holiday experiences that Travel Club Elite offer. The website benefits from an effective enquiry generator, areas for content rich text and the ability to display a whole range of imagery.

Click here if you would like more information regarding our Travelmodule technology or if you would like a website like TravelClubElite.com.

CSI Media wins UKFast ‘Design and Marketing Digital Entrepreneur of the Year’ Award 2009

2009-12-01T16:07:00.006Z

Here at CSI Media we are really pleased to announce that we have won an award at the UK's first annual Digital Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. The event was hosted by the Internet hosting company, UKFast and was held at the Palace Hotel in Manchester.

The awards were presented to eight of the Nation's top digital businesses and CSI Media was recognised as the Design and Marketing Digital Entrepreneur of the Year.

Lawrence Jones, the Managing Director of UKFast commented “Until now, there have been no serious awards dedicated to the UK entrepreneurs who are pushing the boundaries of the internet and challenging the norm in their respective industries."

He went on to say "The Digital Entrepreneur of the Year Awards recognise the silent heroes behind the scenes as well as those making a high profile difference. Businesses like CSI Media are changing the shape of web businesses and letting their customers reap the benefits.”

John Jackson, our Technical Director at CSI Media attended the awards ceremony to collect the award and said "It was a great honour to receive the UKFast Design and Marketing Digital Entrepreneur of the Year Award on behalf of everyone at CSI Media. All CSI Media employees can be proud of the award which is testament to their creativity, hard effort and innovative thinking. I believe it is important that other industry leaders follow UKFast's direction in recognising the talent of UK companies shaping the web".

The awards were presented to the winners by Sale Sharks rugby stars including Charlie Hodgson, Chris Jones and young up-coming star James Gaskell who can be seen giving John the award below:

Travelbeam Luxury Hotels launch new website

2009-12-01T15:59:00.002Z

CSI Media have recently launched a new website for Travelbeam Luxury Hotels. Travelbeam is a specialist tour operator based in Cheshire, and has launched its latest luxury hotels website, Travelbeam.co.uk. Established for 18 years, Travelbeam Luxury Hotels provides luxury holidays and hotel reservations in Europe and North Africa’s finest hotels. The new website uses CSI Media's Travelmodule technology, which enables Travelbeam Luxury Hotels to generate enquiries online so that the staff can then complete reservations for clients according to their specific requirements.

David Barker, of Travelbeam Luxury Hotels commented: “We had a very specific idea of what we wanted to achieve and from the outset CSI Media demonstrated the technical expertise and flexibility to meet our requirements both now and taking the company forward. They exceeded our expectations by fulfilling the brief to deadline, within budget and to our exacting standards.” The system allows Travelbeam Luxury Hotels to input a lot of content rich text and imagery, ideal for promoting its luxury property portfolio online.

Click here if you would like more information regarding our travel technology or if you would like a website like Travelbeam.co.uk.

New luxury website for Full Circle Travel

2009-11-13T12:05:00.003Z

CSI Media are pleased to announce the launch of a new luxury website for Full Circle Travel. The new Full Circle Travel website uses our Travelmodule content management system technology. Travel enquiries are generated online and the independent travel agent is then able to sell in-house packaged deals.
Full Circle Travel specialise in offering inspirational, tailor-made travel to destinations all over the world, ranging from adventure breaks and safaris to cruises and luxury holidays. Full Circle Travel is an AITO specialist travel agency and all holidays booked with them are 100% financially guaranteed.

Niall Douglas, Managing Director of Full Circle Travel said "Our website had been doing nothing for years so we decided we needed improve it dramatically and be able to use it as a powerful selling tool.
After months of research and proposals we decided to work with CSI Media for a number of reasons...a proven track record, complete understanding of our requirements, value for money, their support and advice, the easy to use content management system and the flexibility to phase the build in stages."

He went on to say "CSI have delivered everything and more. We are delighted with the look, feel and ease of use of the site and the feedback so far has been nothing but positive."

Click here if you would like more information regarding our travel technology or if you would like a website like FullCircleTravel.co.uk.

CSI Media offer full browser testing

2009-08-26T10:56:00.046+01:00

Do you know which browsers your customers are using? Have you considered full browser testing your website?

Recently Internet Explorer 8 and Firefox 3.5 have been released. When prompted, many people will automatically click to update their browsers.

Here at CSI Media, since 1st July, we have already seen a massive change in browser usage, with over 50% of all Internet Explorer users actually using the latest IE8 to view our website. Firefox is becoming increasingly popular with some online businesses reporting that more than a quarter of customers use Firefox as their primary browser.

Also, don't forget that some websites and online services are phasing out support for older browsers encouraging people to upgrade to the latest browsers such as IE8 and Firefox 3.5.

A study carried out by CSI Media on July and August 2009 visitors, concludes that Internet Explorer is still the most popular browser its visitors use, followed by Firefox. Ancillary websites also see this same pattern. (Click image to zoom)

When we drill down, we can see that a majority of the Internet Explorer users that visited CSI Media used the recently released IE8, whereas IE7 was more popular for our ancillary websites.

Firefox 3.0 was the most popular version of Firefox being used; however, the newly released Firefox 3.5 is quickly catching up. (Click image to zoom)

Did you know that CSI Media offer a full browser testing service? We can check your website in a range of browsers to ensure that your site continues to work correctly when new browsers are released. Click here to contact us or call 0844 873 0073 to arrange your website health check.

Flash banner design from £45

2009-08-06T12:19:00.001+01:00

CSI Media are offering a low-cost solution to giving your website a fresh look in a flash! Our creative design team can produce Flash banners for your website that could ultimately generate more interest and sales in your products and services from as little as £45.

Benefits of Flash banners

Deliver your marketing message with eye-catching visual graphics
Attract more eyes and clicks than a static image
Communicate your brand more effectively
You can get Flash banners from just £45!

Interested in our Flash banner design service? Click here for more information.

Fight the credit crunch with CSI Media's new initiative

2009-08-05T16:03:00.001+01:00

CSI Media are helping the travel industry to fight the credit crunch by introducing a new initiative on its travel technology products. This will allow companies to purchase travel products via manageable monthly payments.

The monthly payments initiative will apply to CSI Media’s Travelmodule websites which are content managed systems used to generate travel enquiries online, and Travelberry systems which are online bookable dynamic packaging websites. It is also available on Travelberry Tour Op, a complete solution for all travel businesses which allows them to package their own stock with third party products online. Travelberry Tour Op also has a detailed financial reporting facility and an integrated call centre solution.

The new initiative will allow companies to buy a Travelmodule website from just £6 per day*, a Travelberry system from £13 per day* and a full Travelberry Tour Op solution from £40 per day*.

* All information and prices correct at time of publication and are subject to change at any time without prior notice.

Further tour operator system developments

2009-08-05T15:57:00.002+01:00

CSI Media has introduced a number of enhancements to its tour operator software. The tour operator system already allows tour operators, low cost airlines, flight companies and bed stock companies to merge their own stock with third party products and sell them as package holidays or in any combination of components.

The latest changes to the tour operator software mean that focus is no longer just on traditional package suppliers, but is an ideal solution for providers of coach tours and also operators offering excursions and attraction tickets.

Richard Nash, Business Director of CSI Media said “We understand that tour operators need a competitive edge in order to stay ahead in a challenging marketplace, and this has driven our constant investment and development of this area of the business. We also realise that flying is not the only form of holiday travel. Our main aim with our tour operator software is to make it as accessible as possible to many different travel markets.

We are currently working with quite a few operators and expect to see a number of website launches over the next few months.”

Tour Op Success for Direct Traveller

2009-06-12T12:04:00.002+01:00

Direct Traveller is the first and leading UK tour operator offering direct flight holidays to the resorts of Kyrenia & Famagusta, Northern Cyprus. It is also the strongest growing specialist Northern Cyprus tour operator for 5 consecutive years and with a real knowledge of travellers' requirements provides personal recommendations and an excellent level of service to its customers.

Despite the economic downturn, more passengers have booked with Direct Traveller in the first 6 months of 2009 than in all of 2008. The company has also achieved 60% growth and 40% of all reservations are currently online. Direct Traveller is partly attributing this success to the Tour Operator system that was tailor-made by CSI Media, and the Online Co-ordinator has said that the system enables them to book holidays in half the time compared to offline bookings.

For more information visit the Direct Traveller Case Study page.

Front end .NET web developer (C# & VB)

2009-06-12T11:59:00.003+01:00

Looking for a new web development job?

Due to an increase in work and expansion of our business CSI Media now seek a skilled Front End .NET Web Developer to work on new and existing client websites and software.

Location: Crewe
Salary: Dependent on Experience
Benefits: Company pension scheme and flexible working hours

Essential skills required:
- NET 2.0 C# and VB
- SQL Server 2005
- SQL
- CSS
- JavaScript
- XML
- XSLT
- XHTML
- HTML

Desirable skills but not essential:
- .NET 3.5
- SQL Server 2008
- Flash
- Dreamweaver
- AJAX
- Social Networking experience / development
- Iphone Apps experience / development

The work will be varied and challenging and will include the following:
- Developing new web services
- Developing new websites
- Maintaining existing client websites
- Working on the development of internal software

You will be an excellent communicator and team player.

To apply send your CV and covering letter to craig@csimedia.net

For more information about vacancies at CSI Media visit http://www.csimedia.net/vacancies.asp

STRICTLY NO RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

Graphic / web designer job Cheshire

2009-06-12T11:53:00.004+01:00

Are you looking for a creative web design role?

If so, CSI Media are looking for a very creative Graphic Designer/Web designer, someone who is ideas lead and has the ability to work across a wide range of web and design projects.

Location: Crewe
Salary: Dependent on Experience
Benefits: Company pension scheme and flexible working hours

The role will require work on established clients that range from blue-chip and large independent companies to smaller niche businesses. The work will be a mix of expanding on current designs/websites to designing full brand identities from scratch. A strong knowledge of the web and commercial web design would be a distinct advantage. This role offers the successful applicant a great opportunity to join a fast paced web development company that has seen consistent growth throughout the last 10 years. It is essential that the candidate is a highly motivated individual with previous experience and a very strong portfolio as we are looking for a passionate designer who can hit the ground running.

Essential skills needed:
- Illustrator
- Photoshop
- Fireworks
- HTML
- CSS
- You will be an excellent communicator and team player

Desirable skills (but not essential)
- Flash
- Ajax
- JavaScript
- Dreamweaver

The work will be varied and challenging and will include the following:
- Design and development of websites
- Design of brand identity for clients
- Design of email campaigns
- Design work relating to the maintenance of existing client sites
- Working on the design and development of internal software and websites

Other information about the role:
- You will work within a team of 20+ other
- developers - Open office working environment
- Family type company
- Friendly and professional

Applicants should send a PDF of relevant work based examples accompanied with a full resume to craig@csimedia.net

For more information about vacancies at CSI Media visit http://www.csimedia.net/vacancies.asp

STRICTLY NO RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

New website for Accident Lawyers 4 U

2009-06-01T17:13:00.003+01:00

CSI Media are pleased to announce the launch of the new website for Accident Lawyers 4 U.
AccidentLawyers4U.co.uk is a claims management website specialising in accident, injury and compensation claims. The simple to navigate website incorporates an online claims form, which enables the user to easily submit their claim details and a callback facility.

Our content management systems which we used for Accident Lawyers 4 U are easy to use and ideal for generating online leads for any business.

If you need to make an accident or injury claim, visit the Accident Lawyers 4 U website at www.accidentlawyers4u.co.uk.

Make the most of your PPC

2009-05-28T14:20:00.008+01:00

The difficult economic climate probably means that you're keeping an eye on your bottom line whilst your customers probably care more than ever about pricing. With that in mind, this blog post gives some recommendations for making the most out of your PPC marketing.

1. Promote savings and low prices in your ads - Consumers are more price-conscious than before so you should update your ad copy to communicate discounts, sales and great value for money. This is especially important when a user has completed a search on a particular product because you know they are interested but this updated ad copy should catch their attention more quickly.

2. Ensure your ad groups are targeted and relevant - Your keywords each ad group should focus on a particular topic or product and the ad text should reflect the ad group's keywords. This generally makes the ads more relevant for the intended audience and performance, such as the click-through-rate (CTR) should improve.

3. Don't spend money on irrelevant clicks - The wrong type of keywords can attract the wrong type of audience so you should filter out traffic that does not relate to your offering. Therefore, you should use negative keywords where possible.

4. Use the best destination URL - you should make it easier for users to to find what they are looking for and complete the desired action, such as a purchase or an enquiry, by directing traffic to the most relevant page of your website for each product or topic.

5. Focus your money on your best performers - Identify which keywords and ad groups are giving the best return on your PPC spend and focus your resources around these areas.

Choosing an email marketing provider

2009-05-22T15:41:00.002+01:00

There are many email marketing providers available so how do you differentiate between them and find the right provider for your company?

Things to consider:

1. Is the system easy to use? You should ask for a demonstration so you know exactly how the system works.

2. Is the software provided by a UK company? As using an overseas provider often limits the support available.

3. Does the email marketing provider have its own design service? That way you can be sure that the design is not only attractive but also works with the software.

4. How many emails are you required to send each month? Ensure that you are not committed to sending thousands of emails on a regular basis.

5. Can you register for a free trial? This allows you to see how easy or difficult the system is to use on your own. You can also get colleagues to log in and give you their opinions.

6. What is the pricing plan? Some email marketing providers charge based on how many emails you send per month whilst other providers charge a set monthly fee. Be sure to choose the type of pricing structure that fits your needs.

7. What reporting facilities are available? The email marketing provider should offer a variety of user friendly reports so that you can measure the effectiveness of your email campaigns.

8. What features and functionality will you have access to? Advanced functionality such as list segmentation, dynamic content & subject line split testing can enhance the performance of your email marketing.

9. Does the provider have a high deliverability rate? Email deliverability is a complicated issue and one of the most important variables about different email marketing providers. To avoid having your email campaigns trapped by spam filters, be sure to choose a provider who can prove a high deliverability rate.

10. Do you have the option to have a custom from address? This protects your company from the threat of being black listed and also enhances your brand and your delivery rates.

Bespoke Citroen UK stock management system is now live!

2009-05-22T12:01:00.002+01:00

We are really excited to announce that the bespoke stock management system which has been created for Citroen UK is now live.

The programming team here at CSI Media were asked to create the system, and it has been designed to allow the Citroen Retail Group to manage stock more effectively across their retail sites, reserve the stock held at any of the different dealerships across the group and to add or remove stock automatically.

If you're interested in CSI Media’s bespoke software and programming please contact Richard Nash on 0844 873 0073 or email richard@csimedia.net.

I Love Travel Website Launch

2009-05-14T10:09:00.002+01:00

CSI Media are excited to announce the launch of a new inspirational website for I Love Travel.

ILoveTravel.co.uk has been built using our Travelmodule technology and features our new 'inspirational tool', which helps travellers find the perfect destinations for their dream holiday.

I Love Travel, part of the Freedom Travel Group, specialises in offering holidays and travel experiences that match a wide range of requirements, including ultimate adventure trips in South Africa, dream relaxation breaks in the Maldives, cultural breaks in Egypt and wild party holidays in Las Vegas.

Our new 'inspirational tool' allows holiday seekers to ‘be inspired’ by selecting what type of holiday they are looking for and what they want to do whilst on their travels. The tool then matches holiday destinations according to the preferences entered by the user.

Click here if you would like more information regarding our inspirational tool or if you would like a website like ILoveTravel.co.uk.

Cheap Taxi Insurance Website Launch

2009-05-08T10:35:00.005+01:00

We have recently launched a new website, CheapTaxiInsurance.co.uk, for Cheshire based insurance firm County Insurance Consultants.

The Cheap Taxi Insurance website is part of the Insure Taxi brand, which specialises in taxi insurance products.

The website allows users to submit an online taxi insurance quote or, alternatively, they can call the dedicated taxi insurance team for expert advice.

CSI Media drive forward to gain Citroen UK as a new client.

2009-04-24T15:28:00.001+01:00

The programming team here at CSI Media are currently using our strong technology platforms and bespoke software to create a commissioned stock management system for the wholly owned retail arm of Citroen UK, the Citroen Retail Group.

The bespoke system has been designed to allow the Citroen Retail Group to manage stock more effectively across their retail sites, reserve the stock held at any of the different dealerships across the group and to add or remove stock automatically. Users system will be given appropriate permission levels, which will control the data that they see and the functionality available to them.

A representative of Citroen Retail Group’s Manchester site stated "We chose CSI Media to build our central stock system for our network of dealerships across the UK. The system was fully planned and tested and we were really pleased with the end result. We are now moving onto the phase two build with CSI Media."

Richard Nash, Business Director of CSI Media said ‘This is an exciting opportunity for us to venture into a new market for an international brand, and shows confidence in large firms to use our bespoke programming services’.

The bespoke system for Citroen UK is one of many large contract wins which include work for Experian and a new ecommerce platform for a major retailer.

CSI Media Goes East

2009-04-02T11:08:00.005+01:00

We are currently developing our very first Eastern European websites. The two travel websites will be multi-lingual, offer an extensive collection of worldwide accommodation, and give customers the choice to pay using currencies from all over Europe.

Richard Nash, Business Director of CSI Media, said: “We have seen a significant increase in enquiries from companies outside of the UK in the travel sector, and are looking forward to working with clients from all over the world. We have already worked on a number of international projects outside of the travel industry and we hope our previous experience will enable us to expand our database of international travel clients.”
Click here if you are interested in having a mulit-lingual and/or multi-currency website developed.

CSI Media do something funny for money Red Nose Day 2009

2009-03-13T10:07:00.006Z

The team at CSI Media have so far raised £125, an amount which is still growing, for Comic Relief on Red Nose Day 2009. All of the staff have contributed to the fund, whilst taking part in a dress down day. However, the award for the funniest contribution has to go to Ben Jervis who has been sponsored by his work mates to dye his hair and beard bright pink.

Ten things to think about when choosing a technology company

2009-03-10T14:24:00.007Z

CSI Media have come up with ten things that you should ask yourself when trying to choose a technology company for that all important development project.

Do you feel that you can work with the staff there?
You will be working closely with the developers at the technology company and should therefore ensure that you can create a rapport with all of the staff involved.
Are they financially sound, will they still be an active company in 5 years time?
This is a concern for all parties, particularly during the credit crunch. You don’t want your technology provider to go into administration either during or after your project development.
Is the company UK based? If not, will this have an impact upon your project?
Many technology companies outsource some of their work to other companies, some of which may be in other countries. You may want to think about the impact this will have on your project as communicating with companies in other countries will have their restrictions. You may also feel that working with just one company based in one country is easier to manage.
What are the development rates and what exactly will you have to pay for?
This should not solely determine your choice of developer; however, a good developer should be able to provide you with appropriate timescales which equate to a fixed cost for a project. There will be added costs later in the process if changes are needed, but initially you will have an idea of budget.
Does the company have a proven track record and live examples of their work?
Check that they have a live portfolio that they can demonstrate to you, rather than saying that they once did something for someone. Ensure that you see plenty of examples of live bespoke software so that you can be sure that they will be able to fulfil your project requirements.
Do they use templates or offer bespoke software so that you can create your own unique selling points?
If you wish to stand out from the online crowds, you will need a bespoke website with bespoke software. Ensure that the technology company does not intend to use a template for your project if you wish to create a competitive edge.
Is the company keeping up-to-date with changes in technology?
To ensure that you stay ahead of the competition you need to ensure that you adopt the latest changes in technology and are able to upgrade your own technology accordingly.
Do they understand PCI compliancy?
You need to choose a technology company which adheres to the Payment Card Industry Security Standard requirements. Ensure that the company follows the guidelines and carry out stringent testing including cross browser and penetration testing.
Can the technology company provide add-on solutions?
Some technology companies offer products and services which complement your website development. For example, online marketing, graphic design, print services etc.
What support do they offer once your project has been completed?
Ensure that you are offered a support contract so that once your project has been completed, if you come across any errors you have a support team who will be able to help you.

Beating the Credit Crunch with Email Marketing

2009-03-06T12:41:00.009Z

We are all sick of hearing about the credit crunch; however, it is clear that in difficult times businesses need to adjust. More often than not marketing cuts are inevitable during a credit crunch; however, the marketing team at CSI Media has seen one area of marketing that has increased over the last few months, that area is email marketing.

Many of our clients are taking advantage of the low cost benefits of email marketing along with ability to track the return on investment (ROI), something that is not too easy with all marketing streams.

Businesses need to know that every pound spent on marketing is working for them and this seems to be even more prevalent in industries that work with really low margins such as our travel clients.

Sign ups on CSI Media’s eShoutz email marketing platform are up 43% year on year and current clients spend on email marketing has increased year on year by an average of 12%.

Travolution, a well know travel industry publication recently reported that a study by Epsilon International of 1,500 consumers found that 80% had purchased an air ticket as a result of receiving an email from a travel company. A further 70% purchased a hotel room, 60% booked car hire, 35% bought a package holiday and 20% opted for a cruise product.

Travolution also reported:

86% of respondents who opt to receive email from travel companies do so to learn about sales, discounts and special offers

51% subscribe to learn about existing packages and destinations
46% subscribe to hear about new packages, routes and destinations

69% want to receive personalised content based on their website activity and past purchases, rather than generic content

48% of respondents who receive permission-based email from a travel company said the email has a direct impact on offline purchases.

The research by Epsilon highlights the importance of engaging consumers via email and CSI Media’s own figures point to that fact that many of our own travel clients are using our eShoutz travel industry email marketing tools to help beat the credit crunch and generate business.

Travel Technology Show Success for CSI Media

2009-02-20T09:40:00.002Z

The CSI Media Show Team is back in the office after a couple of long and busy days at the Travel Technology Show, and are already pleased with the feedback from visitors to their stand. The launch of the new tour operator system went down well, with tour operators, travel agents and other businesses in the travel industry stating that they were impressed with the extensive features included with the system.

Visitors to the stand were impressed to find that the tour operator system features a full call centre solution, agent and consortium distribution facilities plus much more. In addition, the ability to combine stock with third party products via XML proved popular during demonstrations.

Many visitors to the stand were also keen to receive demos of the Travelberry Lite dynamic packaging solution and the new version of the popular email marketing platform, eShoutz.

CSI Media’s new financial plans also proved popular as many visitors at the Travel Technology Show were looking for cost effective solutions for their online businesses.

The CSI Media Show Team

CSI Media @ Travel Technology Show - Day 2

2009-02-11T09:16:00.006Z

Day 2 is upon us and the CSI Media Show Team have topped up on black coffee and tea ready for another busy day on the CSI Media stand.

Day 1 was a busy day for our team, with numerous new clients and suppliers coming to see our latest tour operator system along with our dynamic packaging and marketing services.

Marketing Director, Craig Stone was asked about the show so far and said -

"The first day has been a real eye opener compared to last year, customers are much more aware of the financial climate, many were looking for cost effective ways to streamline their business processes and reduce their overheads. This is great for us due to the unique way our systems optimise the day to day business processes of travel companies. Our cost effective pricing structure was also received well by the visitors to our stand."

CSI Media team are looking forward to another productive day and look forward to welcoming more visitors to our stand.

The CSI Media Show Team

CSI Media Travel Technology Show - Day 1

2009-02-10T09:38:00.004Z

Having braved the weather from Crewe to London, the CSI Media show team hit Earls Court to set up the stand for the Travel Technology Show.

An interesting mix of exhibitors are attending this year's event and it's been good to meet up with many of our suppliers during the stand build process.

The new CSI Media stand is looking great with its new black sections and modified desks, so a big thank you goes to our print suppliers Works Expo. Thanks to Mark at Works Expo too, for his last minute alterations.

The CSI Media show team are looking forward to meeting both new and existing clients and are raring to get underway....as we write this blog entry we have 20 minutes to go. So if you plan to visit us either today or tomorrow, then we look forward to greeting you on our stand (Stand C44).

Look our for more blog posts during the show.

The CSI Media Show Team.

CSI Media website gets a face lift

2009-02-06T11:44:00.000Z

CSI Media have launched the latest version of the CSI Media corporate website. The new site offers a fresh design and improved content in relation to our products and services.

The new website goes live in early February to run in parallel with CSI Media's attendance at the Travel Technology show at Earls Court in London.

CSI Media celebrate 10 years in business

2009-02-06T11:39:00.002Z

CSI Media are celebrating 10 years in business and would like to thank all of our clients and suppliers for their support to-date. All the staff at CSI Media would like to wish our clients and suppliers well for 2009.

The business has grown consistently over the last ten years and continues to go from strength to strength.Marketing Director, Craig Stone said: "Having been with the business for 6 of the 10 years, it's been great to be part of, and watch the business grow. It's always good to look back at where we were all those years ago and see just how the business has evolved. The products and services we offer has grown immensely and we have worked on some fantastic projects that all at CSI Media can be really proud of."

CSI Media @ Travel Technology Show 2009

2009-02-06T10:44:00.003Z

CSI Media will again be showcasing our latest Travel Technology at the 2009 Travel Technology Show, which takes place on the 10th and 11th of February at Earls Court 2 in London!
The Travel Technology show is Europe’s landmark event providing technology solutions for the travel industry.

CSI Media can be found on stand C44 and Richard Nash our Business Director and Craig Stone our Marketing Director will be happy to talk visitors through our products and services. We look forward to seeing you there.