Comment posted on Emergence of Kintyre and Gigha Marketing Group completes Argyll and the Isles jigsaw by Pole Position Inernet Services Ltd
For Scots Renewables (and John Sinclair)
First of all SR, thank you for the compliment, albeit slightly back-handed by adding the ‘nonetheless….’ at the end. What you do fail to mention (and I hope it was simply an oversight on your part) is that we are infact a very local company, based in Oban, Argyll, and have been since being incorporated twelve years ago.
I also feel compelled to point out some truths and set the record straight on some of your (potentially) more misleading points.
The website that you mention is not a ‘tourist board’ website and not publicly funded. It is owned and run by the Oban & Lorn Tourism Association (OLTA) and has no direct affiliation with the Tourist Board (ie Visit Scotland/Scottish Tourist Board). The OLTA is a local marketing group headed by a committee made up of local business people with the aim of promoting Oban as a tourist destination. It is a non profit organisation which primarily earns money through membership and advertising fees which are then ploughed back into marketing strategies both offline and online (although more offline). The organisation works hard to identify mainly match funding opportunities or grants in order to increase its marketing capabilities with which to enhance the visibility of Oban through many different advertising avenues. They are a creative and innovative group that has raised the profile of the town greatly over the years.
It is true that, in the past, the OLTA has had to turn away membership applications from businesses who were not VS/STB members themselves and this restriction was enforced by VS/STB themselves due to the nature of the funding received from them. This is no longer the case and membership is now open to all. It might be an idea to talk to them again if you want to be a part of the group, now that this restriction has been lifted. Our company has never been involved in membership policies. As for using the webcam streams on your own website, again I would urge you to talk to the OLTA, as times have changed.
Our company used to sit on the committee of the OLTA (mainly in an advisory capacity for online strategy) but recently resigned as it was felt that it could be percieved that we were in in for personal gain. In all honesty, we were there mainly to give an idea of cost and practicalities regarding the website when various ideas were put forward by committee members. We had no political agenda and our aim was to assist the OLTA in the marketing of our town.
I cannot comment on the Oban Times’ stance on your advertising. All I will say is that it has been a long time since I wasted 70p on buying a copy of this poor local comic!
As for your comment about all local web design enquiries being passed to us. I strongly deny this and I resent the remark vehemently. We have to work damned hard to build our client base, as I’m sure you do, and they don’t just come rolling in on the conveyor belt of this ‘cosy network’ you seem to think that we are a part of. We go through (most likely, the same as you) a process of quoting or tendering, based completely on the needs of the individual enquiry. Some we win, some we lose. Some go elsewhere in Argyll (you should know since we share some mutual clients) and some go further afield to the cities. I won’t deny that we have been very fortunate in keeping the OLTA as a client and that it has resulted in us finding clients through the partnership but it is in no way a done deal that members of the OLTA come to us for their web design needs.
By the ‘local trough’, I am assuming that you mean the local business market. There is plenty of room for more ‘snouts’ to benefit from the needs of local businesses to market themselves online. There are many good, very good, web design companies in Argyll and we are constantly surprised at the wealth of local talent in the area and the quality of the work being produced. It is simply a case of offering a good quality, cost effective, reliable and timely service with on going support. I welcome more competition to the area, infact, I embrace it. I want to be able to get on the phone to another local company and say ‘we have a job that we can’t handle, can you help us out?’. In fact we have had to pass work on in the past that was too technically demanding, time consuming or simply outwith our skill set. Finding the right partners to work with in this scenario is critical to your business reputation. Something that we are very proud of! Competition is something that keeps you on your toes and collaboration can only strengthen the relationship between local businesses.
I would dearly love more Argyll based businesses to use the services of Argyll based web designers. It would benefit all of us who are in this field and showcase our wealth of knowledge and talent. I have no idea why some of these marketing groups go elsewhere and pay city agency prices instead of looking closer to home and keeping the business local. Perhaps the perception is that none of us can do the job?! Let’s just prove them wrong and not squabble about who’s doing what with who in the process!!
Oh, and by the way…. My corporate conscience is crystal clear too.
I apologise for this reply being ‘off topic’ but I will not sit back and let my company’s reputation be tarred with a brush when the brusher is not in possession of the full facts and makes unfounded accusations.
Second apology for misspelling our company name but I can’t seem to edit it now!! Should be Pole Position Internet Services Ltd. Embarrassing! Damn these laptop keyboards!! 
Pole Position Inernet Services Ltd also commented
- John Sinclair
Thank you for noting various parts of my post. I apologise for getting the price wrong but it shows how long ago it was that I bought it.
No, I’m sure that it isn’t fact and I’m sure plenty of people enjoy it however, it is my opinion which I am quite entitled to. And as for the rise in price? it just represents poorer value for money (IMO). It is a hard read trying to get through the poor grammar, spelling mistakes and obvious bias (again, IMO) to get to the news. News supported by expensive advertising space. But (also IMO) that is another topic for another day and one I’m not going to get drawn into, Sorry if I offended you but don’t you just love opinions?
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