DogFish Design

26/06/2026

A neglected website is a leaky business.

It might not seem urgent, but every day your WordPress site goes without updates, backups, or security checks is a day something could go wrong. Outdated plugins, slow load times, vulnerabilities left open, it all adds up, and often at the worst possible moment.

The good news? It doesn't have to be your problem to solve.

We've put together a practical guide on how to keep your WordPress site secure, fast, and up to date, covering everything from plugin updates and regular backups to security scans and performance optimisation. Whether you're a hands-on type who wants to know the ropes, or you'd simply rather hand it over to someone you trust, it's a great place to start.

And if you'd rather not think about it at all, that's exactly what our hosting and maintenance service is here for. Regular backups, 24/7 security monitoring, plugin and core updates, super-fast WordPress hosting, and content management, all taken care of, so you can focus on running your business.

Head to the blog for the full how-to guide.

https://www.dogfishdesign.co.uk/services/digital/web-hosting-and-maintenance/

26/06/2026

Is your WordPress website as secure and up to date as it should be? 🔒

Most business owners know they should be keeping on top of updates, backups, and security scans. Most of them just don't have the time, and that's completely understandable.

We've pulled together our top practical tips for keeping your WordPress site secure, fast, and running smoothly, including why regular backups matter, what to look for in a security scan, and how image optimisation can quietly transform your page speed.

And if you'd rather just hand it over to someone who's got it covered? That's what DogFish WP Maintain is for. 👌

Read the full blog via the link in bio.

Practical tips to keep your WordPress website secure, fast and running smoothly, plus how DogFish Design's WP Maintain service takes care of it all for you.

25/06/2026

We hear it all the time from businesses who come to us after a frustrating experience elsewhere.

The freelancer who disappeared mid-project. The agency that stopped picking up the phone. The developer who took weeks to reply to a simple question. Sound familiar?

It is one of the most common pain points we hear from new clients, and honestly, it is one of the reasons we built DogFish Design the way we did.

We are known for being highly responsive to calls and messages, something that is not always a given with other design and web companies. Every client gets one dedicated point of contact, clear communication throughout, and a team that genuinely cares about getting it right.

Take Blok-74, a boutique hotel right here in Brighton and Hove. We built them a website that fused their industrial aesthetic with a seamless digital experience, complete with an integrated booking system, responsive design, and local area promotion to help guests make the most of their stay. The kind of project that needs trust, collaboration, and a team that shows up.

That is what we are here for. No ghosting, no jargon, no nasty surprises. Just smart, reliable design work from a team that picks up the phone.

If you have been let down before and are ready for something different, we would love to chat.

www.dogfishdesign.co.uk

24/06/2026

First impressions stick. And in financial services, they really stick.

When Alchemist Financial Services came to us, they were a brand new business stepping into a competitive sector. They needed more than just a logo, they needed a complete identity that would earn trust from day one.

We built them a brand and a mobile-first WordPress website from the ground up. Custom vector illustrations, subtle animations, FCA-compliant messaging, and clear enquiry routes, every detail was considered to balance financial authority with a warm, approachable feel.

The result? A brand and website they were genuinely proud to put in front of clients.

As Keith Carr, Director at Alchemist FS, put it:

"As a new business, it was vital that our website and branding gave the right impression from day one. DogFish Design helped us define our look, feel, and voice, and created a site that we're proud to share with clients."

If you're launching a new business and want to get it right from the start, we'd love to help.

Read the full case study here: https://www.dogfishdesign.co.uk/project/alchemist-financial-services/

24/06/2026

First impressions stick, especially in financial services.

When Keith Carr launched Alchemist Financial Services, he needed a brand and website that could earn trust before a single conversation had taken place. No existing identity, no website, just a clear vision and a determination to get it right from day one.

We built the whole thing from scratch, brand identity, mobile-first WordPress website, custom vector illustrations, and FCA-compliant content, all working together to create something Keith was genuinely proud to put in front of clients.

As Keith put it: "DogFish Design helped us define our look, feel, and voice, and created a site that we are proud to share with clients."

Read the full case study on the blog.

https://www.dogfishdesign.co.uk/project/alchemist-financial-services/

Discover how DogFish Design helped Alchemist Financial Services launch with a professional brand identity and mobile-first WordPress website that made the right impression from day one.

23/06/2026

Let's talk digital marketing. It's one of those umbrella terms that gets thrown around a lot, but what does it actually mean for your business?

At its core, digital marketing is about getting your business seen online, and keeping people engaged once they find you. But it's made up of several different channels, each with its own job to do.

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) helps your website show up when people are searching for what you offer. It's the long game, but when it works, it really works.

Content marketing is about sharing useful, interesting stuff that builds trust over time. Blog posts, guides, videos, social media, it all counts.

Social media keeps you visible and builds a community around your brand. It's where personality shines and conversations happen.

Email marketing lets you speak directly to people who've already shown an interest. Done well, it's one of the highest-converting channels out there.

Paid advertising (think Google Ads or social ads) puts you in front of the right people quickly, great for launches, promotions, or filling a pipeline fast.

Here's the thing though. All of these channels work best when they point back to one place: a strong, well-designed website. Your website is the hub. Everything else drives traffic to it, so if the hub isn't working, the whole wheel wobbles.

That's why we always look at the full picture. Great digital marketing starts with a website that's built to convert, and a brand that's consistent across every channel.

Curious about how it all fits together for your business? Drop us a message and let's have a chat.

22/06/2026

You can't shake hands with a PDF.

In a world where so much business happens on screens, it's easy to forget the power of something you can actually hold. A beautifully designed business card handed across a table. A crisp letterhead on a proposal that lands on someone's desk. A compliments slip tucked inside a package that makes a client smile.

These things matter. They say something about who you are before you've even said a word.

Our Company Stationery Design service covers everything your business needs to make that impression count, from business cards and letterheads to compliments slips, envelopes, invoices, and company folders. Every piece is designed to work together, so your brand feels consistent and considered at every touchpoint.

And if you're having a new logo designed at the same time, we offer discounts when you bundle stationery with your logo package, making it even easier to launch with everything looking sharp from day one.

If you're ready to give your brand a physical presence that's as strong as your digital one, we'd love to help. Drop us a message and let's talk stationery.

www.dogfishdesign.co.uk/services/branding/company-stationery-design/

22/06/2026

In a world of inboxes and notifications, a beautifully designed business card still does something a PDF never quite can.

It gets handed over, kept, noticed. It travels to places you don't. And when it looks the part , consistent with your letterhead, your brand, your whole identity , it quietly builds trust before you've even said a word.

We design the full stationery suite for businesses that want every touchpoint to count: business cards, letterheads, compliments slips, envelopes, invoices, company folders , all crafted to reflect your brand properly.

And if you're having a logo designed at the same time, we offer discounts when you bundle the two together.

We've just written a blog on why company stationery still matters in a digital world. Worth a read if you're thinking about levelling up your brand.

👉 Read it here: https://www.dogfishdesign.co.uk/services/branding/company-stationery-design/

Think stationery is old news? Think again. Discover why beautifully designed business cards, letterheads and compliments slips still pack a powerful punch for your brand.

20/06/2026

Your advert has three seconds. Maybe less.

In a world of scrolling thumbs and busy high streets, attention is the most valuable thing you can earn. And whether your advert is appearing in a magazine, a newspaper, on a billboard, or across a digital screen, the rules are the same: one clear message, one strong visual, one call to action.

That's it. That's the tip.

It sounds simple, but you'd be surprised how often adverts try to do too much. Too many offers, too much text, too many fonts, too many ideas crammed into one space. The result? The reader moves on before they've taken anything in.

The best adverts make an instant impression. They stop you. They say one thing, clearly and confidently, and they tell you exactly what to do next.

We design adverts for magazines, newspapers, digital platforms, and outdoor spaces, and every single one starts with the same question: what is the one thing we want someone to walk away knowing?

Get that right, and the rest follows.

If your adverts aren't working as hard as they should be, let's have a chat.

19/06/2026

The better the brief, the better the work. It really is that simple.

We've lost count of the number of times a project has flown because the client came to us with a clear idea of what they needed. Not a 40-page document, not a mood board the size of a small country, just a clear sense of the goal, the audience, and what success looks like.

On the flip side, the projects that start with 'we'll know it when we see it' tend to take a little longer to land.

That's not a dig, it's genuinely one of the most common challenges in creative work, and it's exactly why we've written a practical guide to help you put together a design brief that gets results.

Whether you're commissioning a logo, a website, a brochure, or a full rebrand, the principles are the same. Give your designer the right information, and they can do their best work for you.

We've packed the guide with the things we actually need to know before we start, no jargon, no fluff, just honest, practical advice from people who've been doing this since 2011.

Head to the blog to read it, link in bio.