How Bluebird Construction went digital with Business Link Pacific

Civil engineer by trade, General Manager of Bluebird Construction Zan Westerlund finally has a website that accurately reflects his business. His willingness to change that mindset is an example of the adaptable attitude needed to survive these tough times. 

Bluebird was started by Zan’s grandfather, taken over by his parents, and now there are five family members in the humble Apia office – his parents, brother, sister, and Zan. Having battled “management” to get into the 21st century with a URL and associated email addresses with the expertise of Mats Loefkvist from local business Miracle Marketing, the next logical step was a website. 

With no online presence, business came to Bluebird through word of mouth. Zan trained at Canterbury University and has some years of industry experience in New Zealand; this, combined with Zan’s ability to network and communicate has been enough to maintain the business to date. But the writing was on the wall – clients want to google “construction companies in Samoa” and find an answer, so with no website Bluebird was missing out. Making it easy for potential clients to see the type of projects Bluebird undertakes has two benefits. Only businesses who need those specific services will get in touch, and it reduces the time customers take to find Bluebird. 

It was Mats who suggested Zan take advantage of Business Link Pacific’s subsidy service to get the website project up and running. Zan is a busy man – and the only one in the business interested in progressing this project. To keep things moving, Mats would allocate small tasks to Zan and followed up regularly, offering help and encouragement at every step. Despite being something of a perfectionist, Zan is delighted with the results of BLP’s subsidy service, and notes:

It has absolutely met – even exceeded – my needs”. 

Undertaking this project has increased Zan’s awareness of other business matters which need attention. The first on the list is to increase Bluebird’s ranking on organic searches, and he will be discussing this with Mats. Email security has been a primary concern with email hacking scares proliferating in Samoa, again handled by Mats. Documenting projects is also on the list, and Zan has a drone and a new phone to take better images which will find their way to the website. 

With their new professional online image, Zan is keen to see the effect internationally – post COVID that is. At the moment there’s little international development, so it’s even more important to have a competitive edge. Zan believes

The website opens Bluebird Construction up to electronic ‘walk ins’ with its professional and clear content”. This is business which may not have found Bluebird previously. 

While they have not seen the full benefit of the website yet, they are now ready, and in the right century, for when the borders reopen.

We are so grateful to BLP for the funding to allow this to happen. And Mats is a good man with the right attitude to get the job done.”

Quality approved Business Link Pacific business advisors can offer advisory services at a discounted rate through the BLP subsidy service. Subsidies range from size based on the scale of the business and the services provided. An eligible company can apply for the BLP subsidy through an approved business advisor. 

BLP supports an extensive network of advisory partners across the pacific islands, who offer services in 15 different areas, including accounting, marketing, human resources, diversity and inclusion and business strategy. 

To get in contact with a BLP business advisor, businesses that employ 5 to 50 employees can use the free self-assessment online tools, such as the Business Health Check and the Continuity planner. Also, companies can book a free face-to-face consultation in the countries where BLP operates to go through the business diagnostic, a comprehensive assessment of business needs and opportunities. Based on the assessment results, a business is provided with a list of Business Advisory Service Providers that can help address relevant business needs.  

Visit Business Link Pacific Portal to use our free self-assessment online tools or book a local consultation in your country. Country contacts.