by Sali Earls
Cardiff based IT3.com are at the forefront on internet business, specialising in products and services to optimise websites for search engines. These range from a Content Management System, to web accessibility services and online marketing.
The company have recently won a wide selection of awards recognising their expertise in e-commerce, their fast growth and their promise as a business, and clearly have the expertise and willpower to be a Welsh success story.
Sali Earls found out more from Marketing Director, Rachel Weybourne.
What's the history of your company?
IT3 Internet Application Solutions Ltd was set up in October 2004 by Adam Price, Managing Director. Adam Price has been in the IT industry for 25 years and has been developing software from the
beginning having written Security software for Pirelli Cables, The Lord Chancellors Department plus many others including the RAF unmanned Internet Cafe and the Health & Safety Risk Assessment
Solution for the UK Police force.
Adam started off writing computer games with his ZX81, then at college and university, he moved onto writing security software. Adam had 15 people working for him selling his security software within the first year of university. The university itself used his products within his first 6 months of enrolment.
Adam brings a background of Internet entrepreneurial and management experience to IT3.com. Writing software and creating exciting new Internet applications is something that Adam is extremely passionate about and finds immensely self satisfying. He is also praised by many companies and members of industry about his products and services. Whilst the business originally evolved from a hobby, the company has developed into an enterprise which has a suite of products that has satisfied a wealth of clients across many diverse industry sectors. Within recent years and the increasing competitiveness of the online world, Adam has become extremely interested in Search Engine Optimisation.
I joined IT3.com in Summer 2005 - until this point IT3.com has always specialised in creating technologically advanced products but it has never had the strategies in place to tell anybody about them. I brought my marketing skills and effective ideas to promote the SEO Site Builder product, and for the last 12 months the company is seeing a huge success from the marketing strategies that I have been putting in place.
IT3.com's rapid expansion and growth meant the company needed more talented people to join the team.
Steve Parsons joined in June 2006 as an Application developer to assist with developing new desktop products. Tim Denton joined in August 2006 as a Graphic designer to create bespoke search engine friendly designs for our clients. Leticia Korin has recently joined IT3.com as a marketing assistant.
What unique products/services does your company provide?
Our award winning product SEO Site Builder combines the best of search engine Optimisation techniques and a feature packed content management system.
The SEO Site Builder not only allows clients to be in full control of
both their website content and design; it also automatically improves the website ranking in search engines. It has been developed so that no technical knowledge is needed to use it and as a result it is
a flexible, easy to use and a cost effective option to businesses that want to stand out in a very competitive market.
The SEO Site Builder standard is perfect for any organisation in any industry due to its flexibility. However, certain industries have additional requirements that are very specific to their industry.
Visit Cardiff needed an area on their website to include accommodation, attractions, events and conferences not only for the potential tourist but also trade visitors. As you can see this would not have been required by another company who were selling bathrooms for example. So this is where the Industry specific modules began. IT3.com worked very closely with the team at Visit Cardiff to ensure that their module incorporated every detail they needed it to, creating SEO Site Builder Tourism.
IT3.com were then introduced to James and Jenkins in Cardiff. They loved the idea of the SEO Site Builder getting them the same results as it did for Visit Cardiff but they had requirements that were slightly different. They were selling cars rather than providing information about the City of Cardiff. So work began to develop the new Industry specific module the SEO Site Builder Automotive.
As we have written the software in house, it can be continually updated to take into consideration the ever changing search engine algorithms and customer demands. All clients will receive these updated benefits automatically.
What's been the key to your success?
We are very proud to be able to achieve fantastic results for our clients. We aim to exceed their expectations and
provide an excellent customer service. We can make it straightforward for businesses to do extremely well online by removing the technical barriers, thus enabling them to be in control of their websites
and still get fantastic results in search engines.
Adam's technological experience and knowledge to develop and maintain the award winning SEO Site Builder, combined with my effective marketing skills to make the public aware of its outstanding benefits have been central to the huge success IT3.com. This has resulted in the company being named 'The most promising small business in Wales 2005' from the British Chamber of Commerce and recently the 'Welsh Regional Winners of the British Chamber of Commerce Microsoft Innovation through Technology Award 2006'.
Our great team are also key in providing our clients with a friendly and high quality service to ensure they achieve the best results online.
What one piece of advice would you give to start-up companies in your field?
Be focused and be prepared to work hard!!! Business should always be fun so if you're not enjoying it you're doing the wrong thing...
Networking is vitally important! People buy from people but more importantly, people buy from people they like. Word of mouth has to be one of the most effective forms of advertising and the more you can get people talking about your products and services the better!
Where do you see your company going in the future?
Global domination!
Find out more about IT3.com at it3.com.
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