Recently, I promised you information on the concept of permission marketing. Have you ever promised information to someone and then gotten stuck on the best way to deliver the message? Welcome to my world.
I was updating our support ticket system tonight and I noticed we had 4 clients who were migrating from their old e-mail accounts to Google Business Apps. This seems to have become a common occurrence for many of our clients in 2012. We also took the plunge to use Google Business Apps in early 2012 and like many of our clients we are very happy with the move. Learn how our clients are switching to Google Business apps.
Every blog post and, in fact, every business related communication should have a call-to-action. It can determine your success and here is why. At a basic level, you are selling. Through your business blog, you offer information, advise, and direction based on your knowledge and expertise.
I had lunch with a friend today, David Wright, who told me that his current burning desire was to find an easier way to write his blog. Of course, that was right down my alley and very lively discussion followed. By the end of lunch we had a list of 5 ideas that would make his life a little easier. So I am sharing our conversation with you in hopes that you may find a useful tip or two.
Of all the areas of web design and development that I enjoy the most – our Web Design meetings really rank highly for the part they play in ensuring a great website result for the client. The key to great web design is the success of those meetings starts with analysis & research before the meeting, which can include reviewing the client’s business and marketing models , their current website, and industry leading websites for comparison and samples. Key communication actually starts in the sales cycle and should be in full “voice” – during the design meeting. Clients should be engaged in identifying their needs, aims and outcomes and the whole team (client and designer) should establish a collaborating process to ensure a successful outcome.
Writing a great blog can be fun. That doesn’t mean that it is easy. Writing takes effort. But if you are writing about your passion and you know your subject, then process becomes the key. Though this topic is not particularly exciting, it is very important!
Over the last few years I have really become very aware of the important connection between a website owner and their website. The arrival of Content Management Systems has provided website owners with the opportunity to update their websites directly and in my opinion (and most importantly) allows the website owner to be an active participant in the process. So, is your website a part of your team?
At the start of 2012 we were requested by a client to change their Online Store login requirement from “Username” to “e-mail” so that it would be easier for the client to be able to sign in (or reset their password) without having to remember their username (no one ever forgets their e-mail!). At Bear Web Design, we understand the issue of username overload.
Most likely, no matter your interest in social media, you’ve heard of Facebook’s purchase of Instagram. The headline-grabbing reason? The jaw-dropping buying price: one billion dollars. Picture Dr. Evil saying it, right? So, Facebook spends one billion dollars on Instagram – why?
What’s In Your Color Wheel?
One of my favorite lines in the movie The Blind Side is when Sandra Bullock (referring to UT Orange) says, “But I will not wear that gaudy orange, I will not. It is not in my color wheel and I’m not gonna wear it.” And that gets me thinking about web design.
Most people have a general idea of what’s in their “color wheel.” This includes what their favorite colors are and whether they are comfortable pairing. For example: a purple blazer over emerald green slacks, or whether they are soothed by the sight of a closet full of khaki and blue. The same goes for interior decorating, the color of our cars, the television ads that catch our eye… all sorts of things. The bottom line is that, generally, we pay more attention than we know to color and style.
Defining What You Like (And What You Don’t)
But websites haven’t been around nearly as long as those other things. I’ve noticed that sometimes people can’t define exactly what it is they like about certain websites. Is it the color scheme that’s most attractive. Or, it can be the “flow” and ease of use, or the crisp-and-clean lines. Or a feeling of excitement that there’s a lot of information and interactivity going on here?
As a website designer, I ask clients to provide a few examples of websites they like. Sometimes they will supply distinct details of what sort of look they want. This includes color, type of background, location of logo and other features. I’ve also noticed that sometimes it’s hard to define what it is you love about certain sites. And, equally important, what drives you away from other sites.
A Good First Step for Your Website Project
If you are thinking about getting a new website, or upgrading an existing one, it’s a good idea to do a little analysis on the sites you visit frequently, or ones that have caught your attention. Even if one of your favorite websites is for a restaurant, and your business is something entirely different, ask yourself what it is you like about the site.
Some things to pay attention to include color, depth (a flat, clean look vs. 3-D and layered), squared or rounded corners and borders, visually vibrant or information-rich, even what kind of background is behind the site (you might prefer a colorful and interesting background – or you might not want to distract your site’s visitors from the content).
The Clearer You Are, the Better the Result
Of course, there will be many other questions to be asked and analysis to be done before we design and build your new website… but the clearer you are about what you want and don’t want, the closer we will be to creating a site you will absolutely love!
And, incidentally, if you happen to like UT orange, we have no objections at all to using it in your website.