The Escape Blog...

Big news for us this week. We’ve just signed up as the event sponsors of our local music festival - Basingstoke Live. Hence the photo for the local press with Councillor Keith Chapman.

A website is currently being created, which included a crash course for Steve to create a Flash-based MP3 player module - not something we get asked for a lot. Needless to say, we have had fun with the forums, Google Maps and YouTube integration.

The event is new to Basingstoke and we are keen to promote some local talent. More news will be forthcoming as it happens but if you are into MySpace - why not become a friend to Basingstoke Live and help us get some good exposure?

Meanwhile, back in the commercial world - we launched two new websites for Aquivo and Your Health Screening.

We also ran the fifth of our free seminars about Online Marketing, which went down well with the audience. Only one to go on Pay Per Click if you are ineterested.

Long weekend in the UK this weekend - except for Jacqui, who is off to The Escape Cyprus office for a week. If you fancy a week there, let us know and we may do you a special friends and family deal!

It’s the end of another week and in the spirit of sharing, here is what we have been up to.

We welcomed Louise into the Account Management team who shared her first impressions of us:

Well, here I am, having survived my first week at The Escape. Impressed by the database and processes - this is the first agency I have worked for in a while (maybe ever) where this is the case - congratulations guys. And love the new CMS - that is something really special with so much potential - and just to top it all, everyone seems to like a laugh and have made me feel very welcome - in short, wahey! - can’t wait to get really stuck in!!

Louise mentioned a new CMS system there - it’s all hush hush but nearly ready and…. it is bloody amazing. Watch this space.

Rob and Simon kicked some London competition into touch (go go Basingstoke) as we won a pitch for the front end design of a new search engine and research tool for MarketClusters.

As for some of the rest of us well let’s see… Debs kicked off a project for MPI for a new feeder site for their Marine Diplomas. We also started our Canadian project for Advanced Presentation Products website. Lisa is cracking into two new web projects for Two Guys Kitchens. Jo presented some initial concepts for an Annual report for the First Wessex Group, which were well received.

Last but not least there’s Rob, returned from Cyprus looking sun-kissed and…………heavy.

“It’s only 2 pounds” he told us but we know how these things start. We think he needs the support and motivation from (not just his colleagues) but everyone that knows him for the London to Paris cycle ride in aid of Action Medical Research: http://www.action.org.uk/~robj

As an added incentive whichever one of you sponsors the largest amount can have a signed photo of him in his Lycra - nice!

Sorry the blog has been light this week, we have a redesign happening and change of platform… watch this space.