I regularly compete against a company called Write Image (now Metia) and we share some clients, including Microsoft. I am the small furry mammal to their brontosaurus. Anyhow, I was just checking out their new website.
I thought regular readers might enjoy their positioning statement:
Metia is a global provider of integrated marketing services and technology-based marketing solutions. We deliver services, programs and solutions that are relevant, smart and repeatable – and that generate measurable value for our customers.
For what it’s worth, the positioning statement on my company’s website reads:
Our passion is communication. We help businesses talk about technology.
In the immortal words of Francis Urqhart, “you might think so, I couldn’t possibly comment.” 
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Damn. I had been enjoying your blog for a month or two now – and then you had to go and spoil it
I’ll take a look at the web site, always open to listen to opinions.
Hi Matthew. While the copy on your company’s site is much more clear and to the point than Metia’s, I think the design is probably turning potential customers away. You ought to invest in a new design that is both simple and professional-looking, just like your copy.
I agree. I invest a lot more time and effort in my blog which is more of a showcase than the ‘official’ site but it is time I updated it.
Not considering all the other jargon, whenever I see the word ‘solutions’ on a website, I switch off.
Steve – now I feel really bad. Still, if you need a hand rewriting it
I agree with Bel’s comment, though for me it’s that increasingly overused word ‘integrated’ that really gets me riled. Does anyone actually know what it means?
Love the site, btw.
Love your blog. Love your positioning statement. And absolutely adore you for quoting Francis Urqhart!
Er, and I agree with Steve that the content of your company’s website is terrific but the style lets down the side.
Here’s hoping you can better align the website’s style with the quality of its content. And thereby attract more clients. Because I like the idea of anyone who can quote Francis Urqhurt becoming wildly successful.
Oops, can you correct my comment? I wrote “agree with Steve” but should have written “agree with Katti” – it’s early here and I don’t have enough caffeine on board. Well, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Thanks.
I’m not sure what the previous comments are about, but what I see is day and night. And a bright sunny day, versus a dark and cloudy night.
Out of interest, my blog gets 3-4,000 visits a day and my corporate website gets about 20. But these comments have got me thinking – I really do need to get a professional to design it. I built the site myself and took nearly all of the photos and perhaps a less self-reliant approach might make a better site and increase traffic.
Dammit, my first post and I’m going to look like a troll. But I was just putting together a piece about how everyone claims to have “passion” as a core value these days, and you go and tell me it’s one of yours too!
So, er, sorry about that.
For what it’s worth: I viewed the Metia website and just clicked back to your website after less than 10 secs – your competitor’s site just looked so boooor…ing! In my view your website is fine as it is – if it was more professional / corporate I think it would deter casual visitors and your existing long-term visitors /subscribers. And yes, the Urquhart quote was totally spot-on!
Hi Jonathan, Great to hear from you again! Hope things are going well. Thanks for the kind words. I suspect that you are slightly biased because you know me but it’s nice to know the website isn’t a complete dud.
Hi Owen, go ahead and have a go at ‘Passion’. You’re so right. It is a cliche. I shouldn’t sit in a glass house and throw stones. I think even I’ve blogged about it – certainly Away With Words, a blog I deeply respect, has. Maybe I’ll revise again.
Good debate going on here Matthew. You are always a good read. Thanks for sticking your neck out.
Most mission statements are not. Vision, principles? Yes, but not mission statements. “Positioning statements?” Bafflegab. If you take a mission statement and compare it to the firm’s competitors and they say much the same thing – then “SO WHAT?” Might as well not have one. Bottom line question: How does your’s separate you from the herd?
Jim – I agree with you up to a point. However, I think that a mission statement for a communications company should be clear and understandable. Only once you get to that point does *what* you try to say become more important than *how* you say it. Interestingly, though, Metia is hugely successful and growing fast. I wonder whether a very corporate tone of voice actually works better for them given the nature of their work and their client base. It’s just a thought.
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