Freelance Internet Content Creator/ Digital Marketing Consultant
Self Employed, Dornoch
August 2015 - 2022
My role with Tayside Police sadly ceased to exist due to the merger of all regional police forces on the creation of Police Scotland.
I have been working on a self-employed/freelance basis providing local businesses with digital marketing consultancy services. I have also been producing digital content for businesses, in particular 360 degree photography and virtual tours.
- Internet, digital marketing advice and consultancy services to businesses and individuals
- Specialising in 360 degree photography, creating virtual tours. (Qualified “Google Streetview Trusted” photographer.
- Further developed skills in digital video editing.
- Website development mainly using WordPress.
Many of my customers were in the hospitality / tourism sector. Due to the pandemic, a number of them were forced to close, many permanently. At around the same time, Google closed, then made many fundamental changes, to their Street View programme. Considering both these factors, as of 2022, I took the decision to return to full time employment, rather than continue self employment.
Examples
WordPress websites
Historylinks Museum Demo site.
A demonstration website for a small local museum, showing how their existing web content could be improved using a more modern site design, and the benefits of using a robust CMS such as WordPress. Plus it also demonstrates how new content such as a virtual tour could benefit the museum’s online presence.
Unfortunately, this project was never progressed due to the pandemic.
Bark Brigade.
A WordPress website for a small business specialising in dog walking & training. The business owner has found a more favourable reaction from customers and potential customers to the website compared to just having a Facebook page as the business’ online presence. We have also used the website to move some business functions, such as customer registration, online.
360 Photography & Virtual tours
Historylinks Museum.
A 5 star rated museum exploring the story of the town of Dornoch in east Sutherland.
One issue the museum had previously encountered was potential visitors assuming that it would be a small and uninteresting museum with a limited amount on display. To counter this, I suggested a virtual tour that would help to showcase the extent and range of exhibits on show, thus encouraging people to take the time to visit.
High quality 360 degree photography was undertaken. Note that care was taken to remove all traces of tripods and camera/photographer reflections/shadows from the finished photos – all common problems in low quality 360 photography. Also note that there is no heavy-handed branding or blurring of the image nadirs.
These photos were then used to construct a Google Street View Virtual Tour (embedded to the left of this page – use the full screen button to view and explore in full quality)
NC500 Pods Achmelvich.
A brand new ‘glamping’ site with 4 pods and facilities, situated on the north west coast of Sutherland on the NC500 tourist route. A virtual tour was suggested to showcase the site, its layout and the high quality of the interior of the pods.
As before – High quality 360 degree photography was undertaken. Note that care was taken to remove all traces of tripods and camera/photographer reflections/shadows from the finished photos – all common problems in low quality 360 photography. Also note that there is no heavy-handed branding or blurring of the image nadirs.
These photos were then used to construct a Google Street View Virtual Tour (embedded to the left of this page – use the full screen button to view and explore in full quality)
Wester Whinhill, Dornoch.
A high quality self catering cottage situated in the historic town of Dornoch on the east coast of Sutherland, on the NC500 tourist route.
A virtual tour was suggested to showcase the property, its layout and features.
Once again – High quality 360 degree photography was undertaken. Note that great care was taken to remove all traces of tripods and camera/photographer reflections/shadows from the finished photos – all common problems in low quality 360 photography. Also note that there is no heavy-handed branding or blurring of the image nadirs.
These photos were then used to construct a Google Street View Virtual Tour (embedded to the left of this page – use the full screen button to view and explore in full quality)