About

Who is Geoffrey Multimedia?

Geoffrey Multimedia is owned and operated by myself, Edwin James Lynch. I went into this field because I found it incredibly creative. Websites are also quite mathematical – especially when it comes to Search Engine Optimisation. As a “mathematical artist” it was my perfect career path.

I’ve been building websites for clients since 1997.

I originally worked for Dow Digital, then developed WA Government websites privately such as the Conservation Commission and Forest Products Commission. I taught web design, programming, copywriting, SEO and new technologies at Curtin University (WA) where I originally completed a Communications Degree (English, Writing Major) ten years earlier (1987). I also have a Diploma in Multimedia and a Certificate in Search Engine Marketing.

History

1997-1999

Designed and built government web sites including the Conservation Commission WA, Forest Products Commission WA and The Education Department. I started Geoffrey Multimedia during my time at TAFE (I went to TAFE after Uni to obtain a real-world skill) and when graduating with a Diploma in Multimedia, I also took Iinet’s Best Web Design award.

2000-2010

University Lecturer : writing, journalism, acting, web design, film and sound production, graphics and web marketing. I’ve taught undergraduate and post-grad students at ECU and Curtin University and sometimes guest lecture to UWA Alumni.

2012 …

I finished teaching last year so I could concentrate on this unclean love affair with programming, CSS, best practice design and white hat (legitimate) SEO marketing. I now build user-friendly web sites full time for clients across Australia (some of whom I have yet to physically meet).

Who is Geoffrey?

Geoffrey is my business mascot.

Sometime during the last millenium, I had a professional cartoonist (Jeremy Reston) design “Geoffrey”. The brief was that Geoffrey is all work and no play. He spends all his days coding and writing. While he is over-worked, he loves it. He also rides a bicycle and enjoys writing.

The original Company motto was “Geoffrey Multimedia – the multimedia company with a man’s name.”

Little did I know then, like Victor Frankenstein, I was breathing life into an entity that would keep me alive for most of my life.

To effectively service fewer clients.

In an industry beleaguered by poor communication, I prefer one-on-one service, clarity and total business transparency. I hack code at home, mostly developing sites myself, but sometimes working alongside other web programmers for more complex database programming. My main aim is to provide a solid service in a timely manner.

Larger companies take on hundreds of clients just in an effort to make ends meet. I can only imagine that’s the reason why so many offer such poor service. I have fewer clients that I can service on a regular basis because I care about professional web design. Allow 8 weeks for a website to be up and fully functional.

Clear Communication

By choosing one person to work on your site, communication is clear. All fees are communicated in writing (usually by email) before work begins. You may have someone else take over the running of your site after I’ve built it, but the site will be yours, sitting on your own server. I have no problem with handing over administrative passwords should you wish to continue in-house. Unlike other companies, your site is yours and I will lay no claim to it. Even in cases where I do hand sites to in-house Webmasters, I’m usually always called in to do minor code or graphical updates because my prices are competitive. There are no wages or marketing people here and I mostly ride a bicycle, so you don’t even pay for my petrol.

Content Management Systems

Sites are usually maintained by yourself using a CMS. WordPress, Drupal and Joomla are the most common systems. They enable you to update your site yourself via a password protected back end. Sometimes people leave the updating to us – sending us news articles and attached photos via email. I can work with a CMS of your choice (eg. Joomla or Drupal) or even design a CMS to suit your specific need. Sites without a Content Management System also be updated.

We do not ask clients to sign or commit to website update contracts, although version software can be kept up to date and checked regularly for a nominal monthly fee.

Big Tip: Keep your web site relevant

Frequent updating is the single most important thing you can do to maintain your site and help it get found in a Google search. News items, newsletters, videos, events or a Business BLOG need to be kept relevant. A lot of people don’t update their web site. Because I send all my clients weekly Web Audience statistics (in PDF form), it’s clear that maintaining your site regularly reflects on search rank position. Search aside, an out of date site more often than not means an out of date business.

Having a successful website is similar to running a second business. You need to update, maintain and invest time in your website. Spending just one hour per week should be enough to see a steady rise in search engine result position because most people don’t update.

My pseudonym is objectman on twitter. Why don’t you follow me and find out more about my interests?

Download CV (150Kb PDF) (or right-click “Save as..”)