Web Savvy Marketers

2-D Animation

General Cable solar image

Our client had a process that they wanted to show but could not accomplish through straight video. We were able to combine video, photos and 2-D animation to fulfill their need. Adding copy and voice over allowed them to highlight the points and products most pertinent to their customers. Although the piece was created to use at meetings and sales presentations, the addition of music allowed them to use it at trade shows as well. View the presentation

10-Minute WordPress Tutorial #2


This tutorial is for beginners just learning how to add pages to their WordPress website. Topics include adding a page, copying text into the page, adding a text widget to the sidebar, and adding a menu item using the custom menu feature. The demonstration site in this tutorial has the Enterprise /Gensis Theme by Studiopress installed.

SEO is Not a Silver Bullet to Sales

This morning I came across a post offering the top things not to do when optimizing your site for Google search.  See “Search engine optimization Elite Review On Google Prime ten NoNo’s”  The points are all valid and a well optimized site should follow all the rules if they want to have their site rank as high as possible.  The problem I see with many customers is their laser-sharp focus on getting a good search engine rank  while neglecting other marketing and possibly even the website itself.

This hyper-focus may have been enhanced by the glut of SEO experts telling people how vital SEO is to their success.  But, web site owners would be wise to remember that the only thing good SEO will do is have your site show up in a site search.  It’s not a silver bullet to sales.  It will only improve the odds or bringing customers to your website.  After that it’s up to you and your website to impress potential customers with amazing content–content that’s current, clear, accurate, informative, and attractively designed.

So while you’re reviewing SEO strategies (because I’m not discounting the effectiveness of a well-optimized site at getting people to the door) don’t forget to review your website.  The stuff that customer’s actually see is as important as a good SEO strategy.   Here’s a brief checklist of things you should be looking at:

  1. Is it clear (to the layperson) within seconds of landing on any page in your website what you’re selling?
  2. Is your phone number visible? On every page?
  3. Do you give people a reason to call you?  Do you clearly state benefits of doing business with you?
  4. Is your navigation easy to follow?
  5. Are your markets clearing defined.  Do you provide market specific content for different market segments?
  6. Do you update your content with current information?
  7. Does your site design look professional?  Does it look current or dated?  Does it show well on mobile devices?
  8. Is your site design (colors, typography, logos, images)  consistent with your brand?
  9. If you have a shopping cart, is the cart secure? Are products clearly displayed and identified?
  10. Are customer service policies, shipping methods, return policies, privacy policies in place.
  11. Do you provide a physical location and multiple ways for people to contact you?
  12. Are you using social media sites, like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and others that are appropriate for your markets?

Always focus on building a website that benefits your clients and potential clients.  If you keep that in mind as you optimize your site and your content you may find that customers are not only finding you, but they’re also buying from you.  And that’s really the ultimate goal isn’t it?

Event CD

Our client was hosting a large event that had more than 30 different presenters. Although each attendee could choose which break-out session they wanted to go to, the client wanted to provide them with information on all the sessions and the presenters. Since the theme was “Going Green” the paper route was not an option. We created an interactive CD that allowed them to view all the information at their leisure. Note: the image used was provided by the client.

Trade Show & Sales CD

Scott Electrokrafts Inc

The client wanted a presentation that could be used as both a trade show presentation and also as a sales CD. We created an interactive CD with a high-end intro. The CD could be given out on sales calls and at shows. We also provided the client with a show master that would loop the introduction until used to walk a customer/prospect through the rest of the CD. After a minute, if the presentation wasn’t used, it would go back to the looping introduction. View the presentation introduction

What I learned from Twitter this morning

It’s 6:49 am and I’ve been scanning my Twitter feed with CNN on the TV in the background.

I use Twitter to primarily follow web designers, application developers and SEO experts, with a small dose of news sources and random other hobbies and interests.  By scanning through my Twitter feed I learn of new tools and techniques in my industry.

Here’s what I’ve learned from Twitter:

  1. From @smashingmag: How other digital designers are using Fireworks – (one of my favorite tools).  In reviewing this post I realize there are techniques I can try that will make me more efficient in my daily workflow.  The post also made me want to upgrade to CS5.
  2. 10 reasons why business card size matters.  Some interesting design samples — it’s always inspirational to look at other designer’s work.
  3. From @1stwebdesigner: 10 tips for designing better infographics.  Insights into making a better bar graphes, pie charts, etc.  Some good pointers.
  4. From @catswhocode a Black Cat Rescue Shelter in the Boston area.  Black cats are less likely to be adopted.  People are weird.  Beautiful black cat featured available for adoption. Hope he finds a good home.
  5. From @ZarkoCompare – Link building guide from the Bliss SEO blog.  (Found the color scheme of the website hard to read)
  6. From @Biz: Large, slow moving plane video. (okay this one was a waste of time)
  7. From @CNN: Senate blocks vote on jobs bill
  8. From @CNNMoney: Foreign buyers scooping up US homes.

Here’s what been on TV this morning:

Gadhafi’s dead, Gadhafi’s Dead, Gadhafi’s dead… Jackson’s doc on trial.  7 billionth baby

Who do you follow?  What’s in your Twitter feed?

Do a Little House Cleaning Before You Invite Guests

Most of us wouldn’t invite people into our homes unless it was clean. Well the same can be said for a social media campaign. If you’re planning on a campaign to get fans, communicate to your customers/prospects or announce a special promotion, be sure that all the tools you’re using are up to par.

I recently had a customer who wanted to get more fans on their FaceBook page and then drive them to their website. The problem was that they hadn’t finished creating a FaceBook profile and their site was sorely in need of an update.  We worked with them to update these tools before the social media campaign to ensure the impression they wanted to leave was consistent wherever the viewer went.

Here are some pointers when planning your on-line campaign…

Website

  • Make sure it’s easy to contact you – a phone number up front would be ideal
  • Provide good content that your “audience” would be interested in
  • Make sure the navigation is clear and information can be easily found
  • Use imagery that gives the impression you’re going for – this applies to design and photos
  • Update, update, update – give people a reason to return to your site

Social Media Page (Facebook, Linked-In, etc.)

  • Create a company page to separate your personal page from your business
  • Make sure your page reflects the rest of your branding
  • Keep communications professional
  • Don’t sell at people – establish yourself as an expert or give them an incentive to try out your product or service
  • Update, update, update – give them a reason to become a fan or follower

The bottom line…before you invite people to “like you” make sure there’s something to like.

Blithering passwords

I imagine when the dementia starts to set in a few years down the road, I’ll just start blithering passwords. It seems everything I do is password related. Email, Twitter, Facebook, online accounts, pin numbers. Sometimes it gets to be too much, and like most people, I occasionally get a little lazy and use a weak password.

Earlier this week, I realized that someone was posting as me on my Twitter account. Unfortunately, instead of posting valuable information, they were posting links to material I didn’t want to promote, so I deleted their posts and changed my password. And hopefully anyone who follows my Twitter account didn’t really think I was promoting get-rich work-at-home schemes. The incident forced me to re-evaluate my password strategy. So now, my passwords are longer and have more *&%^ characters and will be changed more often.  Below are some other practices I will follow and recommend.

Five best password practices

  1. Change your passwords often.
  2. Make them hard to guess.  Use at least 8 characters in your password.  Don’t use words or names, use a nonsensical set of characters
  3. Make them hard to find.  If you must record them (and you will unless you have a better memory than most)  put them in a secure location — not on a sticky note on your computer monitor.  If you store them electronically on your computer — make sure they are not accessible.  Lock them up whether paper or electronic based.
  4. Don’t use the same password on all your accounts.
  5. Don’t share your password with other people.  Don’t email your password.  If you must have your password emailed to you because you forgot it, change it as soon as you log in.

 

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