A new concept in website development has been launched by IT veteran Chic McSherry to help companies spread the cost of upgrading their websites.
iPort Marketing Solutions, whose UK clients include NHS Scotland, West Coast Trains and grocery chain SPAR, has developed a new digital marketing program aimed at helping companies keep up to date with the latest technology at a time when many of them are facing tough economic challenges.
Mr McSherry, who is based in Glasgow, said companies whose digital strategies did not keep pace with the latest developments risked being disadvantaged in a highly competitive market place.
He said: “We are now moving into a new phase for the internet – one where mobile technology is generating as much traffic as the traditional desktop access. New standards are being set by search engines, operating systems, content provider and software platforms.
“There is a growing and pressing need for businesses to look closely at their existing websites and begin a planned programme to upgrade their sites in order to take advantage of these changes in technology before it is forced upon them.
“We recognise that in these difficult times many businesses are finding it difficult to free up budgets to make the necessary upgrades to their websites and so are missing out on the opportunity to increase their business right now.”
Mr McSherry said that rather than facing a large upfront bill for upgrading and redesigning websites, iPort Marketing Solutions’ new Digital Marketing Program allowed companies to spread the cost of the entire development over the lifetime of the project.
The package can also include all the Search Engine Optimisation, support, hosting and ongoing maintenance.
Mr McSherry added: “We want to make things as easy as possible. At a time when many companies are struggling to get loans from the banks, this package allows them to treat what would normally be a significant capital purchase as a monthly operational cost and therefore match the benefits to the expenditure.
“At all times companies will retain ownership and copyright of all the materials and content they provide for the website.”
The launch of the Digital Marketing Program is Mr McSherry’s third major project this year.
The entrepreneur, who founded Glasgow-based iPort Group International, recently opened an office in the tourist resort of Cabo San Lucas in Baja California in Mexico, after spotting a business opportunity while holidaying in the area.
The move into the Mexican marketplace followed his firm’s launch of the latest version of its iPort Business Platform which enables businesses to use the web in a more integrated way to generate traffic and sales.
The iPort Group is backed by Coralinn Private Equity, the investment vehicle of Scottish entrepreneur Hugh Stewart OBE.
Mr Stewart said Coralinn has worked with iPort for the past two years to develop and implement their business strategy and this launch is the latest in a line of innovative products.
He added: “The new web support package from iPort Marketing Solutions answers a need for many companies who, in the current financial climate, can’t get all the backing they require from their banks.
“Information technology is a strategic resource for all companies and those who neglect it in today’s highly competitive environment are putting their businesses at risk.”
