Not Just a Pretty Interface, SW Group’s all new PLOTT website

Which brings me rather nicely to SW Group (formerly SW Group Logistics). Five years ago or so we delivered their company website. It still looks pretty good, but looks aren’t everything. Websites need to be maintained properly, and we maintain them regularly. Even so your website will eventually need to be replaced. Just like a car or a laptop, wear and tear will catch up. I feel the same way some days.

In Five Years Time

Five years is a long time. I know it doesn’t feel that way. But it’s a long time in business. And SW Group’s business had evolved over time. Emerging technologies have become a major component of their business. Especially environmentally friendly renewables; solar panels and batteries and the like. Web 2.0 business models have seen an increase in e-fulfilment and warehousing too.

All of that would need to be reflected on the website. Now, we could have created a new page on the old website. But this was an opportunity to redesign and redevelop the website with some new technology. We’d be able to better position SW Group as the modern and forward thinking company they are. When we explained the benefits of this approach they agreed immediately.

Now that’s not down to our amazing powers of persuasion. Partly it’s down to their ability to see a good idea and an opportunity when they’re presented with such. And partly it’s down to trust. Trust in PLOTT. We’ve worked with them for years – producing both the website and their real-world stuff. You’ll soon see our design on their lorries all over the UK.

Candid, not corporate

They’re a well-established and respected family logistics and distribution business. So we didn’t need to labour those points. The website then was to update their service offering to reflect them as they are today. And we wanted to use this opportunity to show off their people. They’re a people-driven business, if you’ll pardon the pun.

So we conducted a photoshoot. Gone are the cliché photos of lorries on the highway. Instead you’ll find the website infused with photos of the real team at work. It’s much more personable, and friendly. And there’s a lovely meet-the-team page with a profile photo and new biography for each team member.

The company, in words

We helped combine and rewrite the copy throughout the website. It’s now more concise and more relevant. Simple, clear language explains their services and business values in a reader-friendly, and SEO friendly manner. The highlight, for us, was writing the staff bios. It’s a nice way for us to get to know them better too! And now this is something their visitors can enjoy. Did you know that the most popular pages on business websites are usually meet-the-team pages? Well, now you do. You should have one on your site.

Superlight, superfast

Our WordPress websites are built using our own super-light codebase. What does that mean? It means we program for only the things you need – nothing more. What would be the point? There is no point, which is why unnecessary code is known as bloat-code. We don’t have any bloat-code, so our sites are fast. And more secure. And better for SEO. Just better, essentially. More techy details available on request, but I shall not bore you with them here.

It was a lovely project, and it was lovely to be asked. It’s also a great website for a great company. Thanks SW Group.

Want a FREE Brand and Website Audit?

Think of it as a fact-finding exercise. We’ll report back with notes for improvement, covering branding, design and technical. We’re refreshingly unfiltered and honest. This is how we get such consistently great results.

If you’re a startup you may have nothing to audit. Or you already know your brand needs work. Maybe you hate your website. Don’t worry, it happens.

Either way, drop us a line – or use our online booking tool – and we’ll arrange a call to get the ball rolling.