Posted on 19/04/12, filed under General | No Comments
You might have heard on the news recently, or read in the national press, about new legislation concerning online privacy, specifically referring to “cookies”.
The legislation is part of an amendment to the European e-privacy directive and is targeted at the use of behavioural advertising which involves tracking users across websites, using their behaviour to dictate the type of adverts they see.
Websites often use cookies – small files that are downloaded onto users’ computers – to track, amongst other things, whether the user has visited before and what their preferences are. In short, they can enhance the user experience but they can also be seen as a form of surveillance. All browsers currently give users the option to globally block cookies, effectively opting out.
Basically, the amendment to the e-privacy bill requires websites to ask users to opt-in to accept cookies, but fails to make it clear whether this can be done globally or on a site-by-site basis. It is also unclear whether this would apply to Google Analytics which is widely used by websites to analyse visitor demographics and behaviour.
This appears to be another example of un-enforceable legislation. Estimates suggest that the vast majority of government websites don’t comply with the legislation and it is inconceivable that all websites using Google Analytics will ever be prosecuted. Although by no means certain at this stage, it is likely that common sense will prevail and that the browsers (IE, Firefox, Chrome etc) will be adapted to allow global opt-in to cookies for the European market.
LWS websites do not use cookies, but we do install Google Analytics tracking on our sites, so we will keep an eye on how the legislation is implemented and keep you informed.
Posted on 18/04/12, filed under What's going on at Local Web & LWS Creative | No Comments
As a regular reader of this blog, you might think that life here at our beautiful LWS HQ is all fun and games – and you may have a point. The noble art of golf always seems to figure large around here, which probably explains why we are sponsors and media partners of the South Coast Golf Business Networking Tour and the South Coast Golf Business Networking Club.
Launched in 2011 with the aim of bringing business networking and competitive golf together, the tour held events at six of the best courses across the South East and inspired business people from all across the region in their love of both golf and doing great business!
For 2012, several key business owners have joined the Tour and the Business Networking Club has been added to allow non-golfers to benefit from the networking opportunities without necessarily having to actually play golf or wear silly trousers.
This year’s Tour was launched at a reception at Mannings Heath last month and the first Golf event is at the East Sussex National in Uckfield on Thursday 19th April.
Tempted? Fancy challenging yourself in friendly competition against like-minded business people or simply networking in fabulous surroundings?
Places on both the Tour and the Networking events are still available to contact us today to find out more.
Posted on 03/04/12, filed under General | No Comments
Ahh, that’s better. Spring is here and LWS’s beautiful HQ in Arundel is looking its best once more. But we haven’t spent the whole time shivering by the fire, oh no, most definitely not. We’ve been busy producing lovely new websites for our clients:
We love our pets, and if any of them could master a mouse and keyboard, they’d all be ordering cures for their ailments from the wonderful e-commerce Pet Vet Medical site.
By contrast, we’ve also produced two e-commerce sites for Favour Fairy which specialises in “favours” – small gifts for wedding guests – and other gift items.
We’ve also been “up on the roof” with new sites for solar PV providers Eco Innovation’s commercial business and for roofing company Cobsen Davis.
Very much back to earth is the new site for garden designer Louisa Bell, appropriately called “The Lovely Garden”.
And finally, how to link roofing to gardens to… finance and investments.
Never mind, I give up. We’ve also made a great site for stockbrockers MC Peat and Son and an investment site for our friends at Paladin Wealth.
If you’d like to talk to us about websites, social media training or SEO, why not email us at info@lwscreative.co.uk or call on 01903 790100?
