RE: UKNM: Arse = head

[Ben Thompson]

Jon,


Actually having picked up today's copy of Clickz, there is a point worth

mentioning. Most companies that need a WWW site now have one!!!


This somewhat changes the marketplace as there is no longer as much work to

go around. What work that is there, is coming from firms that understand the

market a bit better or want to do something specific (and clearly any

enhancement to a site has a defined purpose, or reason, behind it). Hence

they are going to specialised firms, not production houses.


The old brochureware sites are going to die. One reason for this is the easy

with which they can be transferred to Digital TV (oh and with setup costs of

£30,000+ before decent programmers and with a knowledge of TV required, I

cannot see many Web companies entering the field).


Of course, I'm doing the opposite of Jon, moving from London, North. With

this in mind, I am no longer looking at the Web, rather at content (fantasy

football, personalised TV listings) and Digital TV (although as I came from

Interactive TV to the Web this is probably not much of a surprise).


Yours,


Ben Thompson

0976 768221



-----Original Message-----

From:

ownerchinwag [dot] com

 [

ownerchinwag [dot] com (mailto:ownerchinwag [dot] com)

] On Behalf Of

jbeverleyupstart [dot] co [dot] uk

Sent:	20 May 1998 16:34

To:

uk-netmarketingchinwag [dot] com

Subject:	Re: UKNM: Arse = head


I can offer Mike a unique insight here. Not only have I worked for

provincial outfits and London ones, my own company was based in Leeds

then moved to London, then went under! I work fast...


> A. Do many non-London agencies have many London based clients

Upstart did. About 80% of the client list was London-based. Otherwise,

my experience is 'not really'. At least I don't see many London-based

clients rushing out of the smog in an attempt to find non-Londoner

outfits. The exceptions are within commuting distance (forgive me,

Robin, but I suspect places like Brann Interactive and Mousepower fit

into this group).


> B. Do many London agencies have many clients outside London

On moving down here, Upstart promptly signed several major clients from

Leeds and Manchester. They wanted the view from 'inside London',

assuming this would put them ahead of the game somehow.



> C. DO many agencies outside London feel that they get the press coverage

> they deserve?

Again, mixed experiences. I think 'yes' largely, though it depends on

the pro-activity of their PR function. What you lack in national trade

rags, you make up for in local media, often bringing in much better

coverage (no offence to any regional press barons in the group, but they

understand less, so will repeat parrot-fashion more) and better leads.


> D. Have we, in London, all got our head up our arses.

Absolutely! As a Lancastrian/adopted Yorkshireman who has to battle his

way through Soho every day, I've found that style over substance,

in-fighting and intrigue to be both bizarre and dangerously seductive.

Or something. Oh, and your beer's crap.


Jon Beverley