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Making all the right connections with MMC

07 June 2006

Hewitt says, "From the initial consultation, through to the regular checks and explanations, to the final presentations of the competed package and the on-going support, I have been thoroughly pleased with the level of professionalism and support.

"The resultant website has proven to be visually impressive, extremely functional and highly flexible.  I am convinced the background to this success lies in careful consulting to ascertain our school's needs and purposes for the website. MMC Marketing undertook this exercise prior to development of the website.

"In fact, one reason our website appears deceptively simple is due to the extensive pre-planning that was undertaken, together with the depth of understanding that MMC Marketing personnel have about what works and what doesn't with respect to websites. 

"A further reason that our website works so effectively lies in MMC Marketing's ability to build a complex database which suits our school's current and projected needs.

"Currently, we use our website as a source of up-to-date information for our parent body - we place our fortnightly newsletter, minutes of meetings and student work on the site.

"Our website is also a promotional tool for interested community members and potential parents.  Prospective employees are directed to the website for information related to staff vacancies.  We also use the website as a contact point for emergency information for parents (parents are directed there through both e-mail and SMS).  Our student and parent database is
used to keep student records and eventually we plan that through a secure password parents will be able access their child's student records and biannual report.

"There is the opportunity for students to take responsibility for building, and adding to, their own pages," said Hewitt.

MMC has moved into dynamic database-driven sites, such as that operated by the school. "The way we have given our clients the power to maintain their own sites without needing any html knowledge is being widely acknowledged as the way to go with Internet marketing," says MMC director, Melina Caruso. "In a country like Australia the Internet marketing development work we are now undertaking from Indonesia would cost cost 5 times as much."

Another MMC client is Archipel (www.archipelonline.com), a database-driven site which produces an online catalogue and has an online quote module for its products. Archipel's Dale Hipsh said, "I felt MMC guided me to make decisions that were for my own company's best interest, not predicated on MMC's bottom line." Hipsh said MMC helped him through "the uncharted and often confusing world of websites and Internet marketing".

Bali Weddings International, one of MMC's original clients six years ago, is a good example of this. Owner Katrina Simorgankir now successfully manages the content of her own site.

George Glassick, owner of Villa Bali Gita (www.bali-paradise.com/villabaligita), says that it is vitally important to have an agile Internet business partner. "Our business depends on ever-changing Internet technologies for its competitiveness, and continued success only goes to the nimble. "Day-to-day changes are relentless and staying ahead takes commitment from all involved." Glassick says his partnership with MMC through bali-paradise.com has meant that his online marketing is successful "even before our competitors are out of bed".

Bali Dynasty Resort already had a website prior to contacting MMC Marketing. "However it sat on the web  much like an advert that went out of date very quickly and consequently generated very little business or interest," said Bali Dynasty general manager, Robert Kelsall. MMC was able to give us the benefit of added facilities and utilities, such as:

• Simple access to the site by the hotel for regular updating
• Regular detailed analysis reports of visits, hits and countries
  visiting the site
• Tracking of enquiries and reservations on line
• Online availability for travel agents to view in order to reduce
  lost sales
• Development of a client database to regularly update offers
  and news to create greater customer loyalty
• Assistance with compilation and design of regular newsletters to
  our database to enable us to market direct to our customers
• Flexibility to add and change the site according to our needs,
  and the feedback from our clients
• Training support for staff
• Analysis in order to ensure we are in the top search engines
• E-mail utility with access to web mail enabling us to receive
  e-mails worldwide

Kelsall adds, "Following the establishment of our site we have been very happy with the response and number of visitors to the site. We are now the most popular site in the MMC Marketing portfolio with the highest number of visits."

The theme that comes through most strongly from clients of MMC is that business relationships have been built on trust and clear recognition of clients' needs.

Business reputations are hard won and easily lost, but for MMC Marketing the proof of its enduring success has been the company's ability to keep pace with trends and fast-changing Internet marketing  techniques while retaining the  personal touch.

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