tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47038681710341017012024-03-06T18:53:45.839+11:00Digerati BlogDigerati Solutions is a Sutherland Shire & Northern Beaches based website design company.Tim Faasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10092946690105391474noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-18959190562969150032015-08-25T14:59:00.004+10:002015-08-25T15:07:26.030+10:00Spotted: 8 Web Trends we are using in 2015We are now half way through the year, where we are seeing some amazing trends in web design that will make you wish you had thought of it yourself! I must say, I for one am blown away with some of these trends, as they are so AWESOME that it websites are becoming more than just interactive entities, they are a piece of art.<br />
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I’ll walk you through these changes and how they are impacting us at <a href="http://www.digeratisolutions.com.au/" target="_blank">Digerati Solutions</a> on the design front.<br />
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<b>1. Cinematic Design – LET’S MAKE IT BIG</b></h4>
You want to make a splash with your website – you want to be extremely visual with people being able to see what your site is about. One of the first trends that we are seeing is a cinematic influence. Think big – like Lord of the Rings BIG. Like Harry Potter BIG, like Ed Sheeran is singing at your wedding BIG… Okay, maybe not that far but you get it.<br />
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This usually consists of either a video or an image spanning the full width of your screen. The image gives you a feel for who they are and what they do, and they might have only one or two sentances to exhance the experience.<br />
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Think a Movie Trailer. Think, being at the cinemas only - you're not! You’re on your ipad, you’re on your desktop. You’re laying in bed scrolling through your phone before you go to sleep.<br />
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The trend is both visual as well as pragmatic- this gives users the maximum impact as soon as they land on your site. It is easier to code and works really well on mobile and desktop devices. <br />
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What does this look like?<br />
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A good example of this is <b>Airbnb.</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.airbnb.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQY61u5-F2KA_6Ck2yVXYPhFJ81vWjzPMSuXVvEyi1VyxYhzTXH_U_ShWRgq9E1frkcRSTvEc5c9heIuPPvhB-2E96AhqVw9pnseYBABVnb43FPdBzBt9V34JH8pxcKVhOmmv4ncK-zk/s400/airbnb-homepage.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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But don't just rely on a screen shot - go take a look... <a href="http://www.airbnb.com/" target="_blank">www.airbnb.com</a></div>
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The slow moving videos, the simple text like "Welcome home" or "Belong Anywhere" make you feel something. I feel calm, at ease and trusting - and that's exactly what you want to feel when you're travelling to a foreign city!<br />
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2. The Parallax Effect</h4>
The Parrallax effect is a classic example of how the old can be new again. It has evolved in many different mutations but it has one thing in common – designers use page scrolling or mouse movement to animate elements or properties of the page. <br />
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Sometimes this makes websites more fun and quirky, and other times it’s used to add mood and ‘depth’ to a 2D website.<br />
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Here at Digerati we did something just like this with Blue Mountain Camp. As you scroll, it takes you through the different experiences and features, taking you on a journey. It's a site to experience and explore, not simply just get what you need in under 3 seconds. </div>
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<a href="http://www.bluemountainscamp.org.au/home" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDczw6B2UPAydSkLJ1hzu8gHZFhVblFP-ZkYIRUGz-Tn0bIfiLaIuOZjCS9Ltk_b87WpGm-kJf6BNJytqn5KP6a4H5oxF0ULYeBj3VEERAvdjBItd9bOTKdty-eE9poaoeMeKr6_FwrX4/s400/BueMountains+Screen+grab.png" width="315" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bluemountainscamp.org.au/home" target="_blank">Visit the Blue Mountains website</a><br />
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Here is some other great examples of the Parallax Effect in full swing - </div>
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<li><a href="http://shibui.me/web/scroll/index.html#top" target="_blank">shibui.me</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://us.rimmellondon.com/#44591" target="_blank">rimmellondon.com</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.sony.com/be-moved/" target="_blank">sony.com.au</a> </li>
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3. Long Scrolling sites</h4>
As more and more users are getting used to flicking up and down on their phones, websites are getting looooonger... In past days, every client asked me to ensure their website 'fit on the screen' or we discussed how the most important content had to be 'above the fold'. Now, while some of this rings true, most websites we're designing are a version of a long scroll. Still the most important message or call to action is 'above the fold' (or sitting in plain view when people first land on the site), the experience of the website happens as people scroll down the homepage. </div>
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The great thing about this 2015 trend is that you have the opportunity to communicate more and communicate it more creatively on your homepage. You can give adequate room and white-space to content that gives it a renewed level of importance and beauty. </div>
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Apple did this well when they launched the iPhone 6.</div>
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<a href="http://www.apple.com/au/iphone-6/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKXEvX54C_7bsMcO_4GLO9KskgPn3UlsBo2Xr39_unq4c_iuLTFwSCCGBmquU8W4CGihDwB3d2GodG6T09Hk9bl8N-KVzrOebiLAGysLN-0xTAGqW9drdihTziBqd0alsNBx1oPw0RvY/s400/iphone6.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Visit the iPhone 6 website to get the full experience - <a href="http://www.apple.com/au/iphone-6/" target="_blank">www.apple.com/au/iphone-6/</a></div>
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<b>4. Forget the Boxes! </b><br />
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FORGET THE BOXES. We aren’t playing a game of Tetris here people! This is your website, we want you to experience everything that we can offer VISUALLY. As all the websites above have shown, creativity across the entire screen is the new approach to web design.<br />
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Web designers love to show how they think outside the box – and World of Swiss is a great example of how designers have done this. <br />
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Their site makes you feel like you are LITERALLY flying across the Swiss Alps, your destination – who knows! I’m too busy flying through the site! This is great fun!<br />
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Actually, you are flying through all the information that SWISS has to offer. It’s fun, it’s engaging and unless you don’t like flying, it's plays off your curiosity as you explore all it has to offer visually. </div>
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<a href="http://www.world-of-swiss.com/en" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX97lk1TpMKtNuoMvFqDKT0XNbJlJ8j5EtL6kKYAzWmF8iqoz0hrTeIJQrhwJ6nkBcQNIvONUs3g76uXhTeDlu7wFhNFmAqW_OYKGGpt89_R1QSNRU3PtvmOouv-xwsg0y_6Xu8sWPOWs/s400/swisswebsite.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Visit and experience the World of Swiss - <a href="http://www.world-of-swiss.com/en" target="_blank">www.world-of-swiss.com/en</a></div>
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<b>5. Split Screens </b></h4>
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Vertical breaks are another trend we're seeing, where the full screen width is divided by two sets of content. This is ideal for companies who have two valuable products or services that they want to promote, where neither is more important than the other. </div>
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For example, an online store selling two distinct products or to two distinct target markets could utilise this technique to ensure each gets the 'screen time' it deserves. </div>
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For example, The Iconic. The first feature on their homepage is: Shop Women / Shop Men. </div>
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<a href="http://www.theiconic.com.au/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiRSD__KZNy1toSG-myullRXQjTnAUrG6rKnbxtbKPXS28yQMG2UQtRAK4BGpiHBsw8JGkaBDv8TomAvBUFn0RWOG-VZrc25JiFA4AnjMeh4P10xGcQ_puC5LFgfcQFaGAWx9TF6RRJA/s400/theiconichomepage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Or, visit the live Iconic website - <a href="http://www.theiconic.com.au/" target="_blank">www.theiconic.com.au</a></div>
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6. Hidden Menus</h4>
This is the Ghostbusters of cool. This trend that has been appearing in some of the top websites over the last 6 months.<br />
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This is where menus are not your standard list across the top of the page with drop down, now they spend their time hiding behind buttons or tabs. The menu is only revealed when the mouse hovered over the icon or clicked. This is a fun and interactive way for users to search through a website.<br />
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This is the outcome of 'mobile first' design - where the first design consideration is; 'what will this site look like on mobile and how can we maximise the user experience (UX) here?' Mobile web browsing has resulted in the birth and growth of the "Hamburger Menu" or the "Kebab Menu" as we affectionately call them (aka, the three lines and the three dots). And now, we see these on desktop websites too. <br />
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Hillsong do this across their sites, with a mega-menu that drops down when clicked. </div>
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<a href="https://hillsong.com/store/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhme2gzSqd4h8_2IheBDhqnPI2od7f0GxxUTphHJ1I6dmrsrN1M_8A1aED0wqtfhb_uwdMmFfExeNdO-MZ7n8co6o7W26m7EoBY8uh7xKGUCdzQsJVDPn6sSemLyaB6Z2awRcDZHRJQvZM/s400/hillsong.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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See the menu in action - <a href="https://hillsong.com/store/" target="_blank">hillsong.com</a></div>
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7. Very large typography</h4>
Large typography is a great way to attract your audience’s attention because it’s eye catching. It allows you to clearly communicate your key message or call to action. It also commands the audiences attention and becomes a design feature all on its own.<br />
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Tiny Giant have nailed this where they use large typography to engage you before your eye wanders anywhere else.<br />
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<a href="http://madebytinygiant.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicC7rKLk6nEGjC2dUdfl7tD3yHcNbjfEKYuiRMWZzUDrEymgB8szkNXszfYq9tBGQoERw7ciAss5fwwo8GWBJqTlu_A_LT2R_5h9JJxKV4Fq_pvyi4KiVbA1fp7zv7o_-xUFHTUDPw1jQ/s400/TinyGiants.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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See the live site - <a href="http://madebytinygiant.com/" target="_blank">madebytinygiant.com</a></div>
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SPOTTO - I see another Hamburger menu being used here too!<br />
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8. Ghost Buttons</h4>
What are ghost buttons one may ask? Ghost buttons are buttons that attract your attention but in subtle way. They are often transparent, 'flat', have a recognisable shape, are bordered with a very thin line and contain light san serif fonts. <br />
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It is a call to action button that isn't too invasive and over the top. <br />
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It is neat. <br />
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It is classy. <br />
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It’s the James bond of buttons. Not too distracting but once you see them, you want to click.<br />
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Remember the iconic homepage? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxJGBJ6lxfEAfN306nOWgrPlZXszlkOh6lbvb71BYS7V5-8jEkLWR9isQXUv7CRrKoyKKLU3O-6Ux7UkXRmLQ59hpsyDrVgPceXJD6zO7gTS3z8EeksLeODX3_18UtdRle7vv9wTcla8/s1600/theiconichomepage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxJGBJ6lxfEAfN306nOWgrPlZXszlkOh6lbvb71BYS7V5-8jEkLWR9isQXUv7CRrKoyKKLU3O-6Ux7UkXRmLQ59hpsyDrVgPceXJD6zO7gTS3z8EeksLeODX3_18UtdRle7vv9wTcla8/s400/theiconichomepage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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These are great examples of ghost buttons. </div>
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Ditto with the Hillsong Store homepage - see the 'Buy Now' button? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKhmie42jEUU-84iBEkZ9zoxKWnoztC5KKBdfy_I0wLptejluBIqIxYbUo5bGXRmLguompacKceoQW-jWe9dqGZo2JahLvZxbdG8kzlWxty3LHZliaYFl0KdeCSfcqc8RvUbbpaUf1iY/s1600/hillsong.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKhmie42jEUU-84iBEkZ9zoxKWnoztC5KKBdfy_I0wLptejluBIqIxYbUo5bGXRmLguompacKceoQW-jWe9dqGZo2JahLvZxbdG8kzlWxty3LHZliaYFl0KdeCSfcqc8RvUbbpaUf1iY/s400/hillsong.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Conclusion</h4>
So that's what we're seeing on modern and beautiful sites in 2015. No doubt these fun, sleek, interactive and user friendly features making their way onto more and more sites, and eventually onto yours!<br />
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Don’t be afraid of the bold changes, embrace them! Because in the end, the web is always changing, and next year, we'll be onto the next stage of website design.</div>
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So, until next time, Let's Make A Website!<br />
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<i>Curated and written by <a href="http://www.digeratisolutions.com.au/">www.digeratisolutions.com.au</a> </i></div>
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Digerati Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120780857051841186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-37085467902112701042015-07-23T14:05:00.001+10:002015-07-23T14:10:05.378+10:00Schools, you've heard it said, "content is king!"<div class="MsoNormal">
You've probably heard it said <b>"Content is
King!" – Bill Gates</b><br />
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<b>So let’s talk about the content strategy for your school's website!</b></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoC3X_rlGYju-GM5x9MUlKQbVRfU94mePB8STzzfDIqzQUMJ0QFWphtD4x2p4ZJlCJ3vldsdfDeiwUyyZIJj8niBSa3B-c5O5c4jX4M308MRXEXqi5nBheyPa-F5XmI2m2XwMIRpXMZQ/s1600/iStock_000040625346_Medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoC3X_rlGYju-GM5x9MUlKQbVRfU94mePB8STzzfDIqzQUMJ0QFWphtD4x2p4ZJlCJ3vldsdfDeiwUyyZIJj8niBSa3B-c5O5c4jX4M308MRXEXqi5nBheyPa-F5XmI2m2XwMIRpXMZQ/s400/iStock_000040625346_Medium.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Having a strategy in place is so important in any business
execution. When you are thinking about a school, everything is structured in a
way that allows both current parents and prospective parents to find what they
need.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Having a strategy in how you are going to engage your
audience is the most important thing that you can do when working on the content for your website.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In preparation for adding in content, it is always good to
have written ideas of how you want to convey your content to your audience
along with strategies on how you are going to convey that.</div>
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So what is a content
strategy?</h4>
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A content strategy involves planning what you want on your
website. This includes the amount of pages that you want, and how you can
introduce your information to your visitors. It not only includes your word
content but it also includes your images, and your media. This could include
your music playing on your site, other images and videos.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Your audience, especially prospective parents and children, want
to be able to find your information quickly and efficiently. Seeing your
content clearly conveyed also is dependent on your User Experience.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>User Experience (or, UX if you want to get hip and technical)</b></h4>
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What is user experience you might ask? Well, the best way to
describe your user experience is:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>User experience
focuses on having a deep understanding of users, what they need, what they
value, their abilities and their limitations.</i> (<a href="http://www.usability.gov/">usability.gov</a>)<br />
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A schools website needs to convey this in a manner that not only differentiates
themselves to their competitors but also engages their audience and helps them
solve their problem.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For example,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Where do I enrol my
child?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>How to find school
camps on offer?</i></div>
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<i>What are the fees?</i></div>
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<i>Where do I find my
school time table?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>What time is the bus timetable
that takes me to school?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>What extra curricular </i></div>
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Considering both the user experience and using a content
strategy will help you build on your ability to convey your content to your
audience in a clear and concise way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Your audience also wants to be involved in your content. In
a school environment, audiences whether it be parents, students, or other
members of the community want to feel at ease when they look to finding a
school that will offer them what they want.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is always good to have a plan of action. It allows you to
be clear, concise and enables your audience to see what you are trying to
convey.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A good content strategy depends on:</div>
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<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Good in depth research, this includes, keywords,
search volume, and checking out your competition in regards to search pages</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Differentiate your content</span></li>
<li>Ensuring that your content stands out using key phrases and
key words is also an essential part to forming your content strategy.</li>
</ul>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>You may ask, how else
can I make my content different from others?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Some good examples include:</div>
<ul>
<li>Interactive videos (don’t let your videos be too long as the audience cannot focus for very long when watching a video)</li>
<li>Images need to be clear and not pixelated. (They also need to be engaging through showing emotion)</li>
</ul>
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<h4>
<b>Building on your
reputation</b></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As an educational institution, schools pride themselves on
their knowledge and learning. Educating your audience on what your school has
to offer is the key reason you want prospective parents to come to your school.
It is all about building a reputation in a competitive market.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
According to our recent Digerati survey, 85% of respondents said that they
look at schools based on their reputation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Through showing that your school is as successful as its
reputation, conveying that to your audience is very important but also requires
key planning. Making sure that you are able to convey these points using
imagery, storytelling and testimonials as this will help in sharing that
experience.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Content Focused
Components<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Conveying this to prospective audience is why a content
strategy will assist you in building on that reputation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of these components from <i>Brain Traffic.com</i> on content strategy are:</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Substance: What kind of content are needed? </li>
<li>Structure: What is the structure of your content? Will it be formatted, organised, and displayed?</li>
<li>Workflow: What processes and tools are needed?</li>
<li>Governance: What are the key decisions about content and it's strategy?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We want you to get the MOST out of your content so that your
audience is able to see how your school can STAND OUT and be REMEMBERED. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having a content strategy is complex but it will help in the
long term in how to improve your Google ranking and SEO performance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Build on those relationships with fellow teachers, students
and current parents. Find out what makes them feel proud and inspired to attend
your school. Enable them to feel involved in your content.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Tell me and I’ll
forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I’ll understand</i> –
Chinese Proverb.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until next time!<o:p></o:p></div>
Digerati Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120780857051841186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-70018799442957641032015-06-24T16:11:00.000+10:002015-07-23T11:37:54.016+10:00A school's website – what am I looking for?<div class="MsoNormal">
When I’ve looked at a school’s website in the past, I’ve
thought to myself, what am I looking for? <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukMMN8R1_HsRJxcFbYZuyW0UjUW06Lm9DKAe1yBsrezoz5Q4rJyeC43ORNo2Ap8I9VMVfIGhOJCWG1110f3ZwTR4Te1LZiVFdpUH5zrZFiHAJXGV3xbjnvgTbcwI9gmOIHTOjUSS_-6w/s1600/iStock_000057746832_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukMMN8R1_HsRJxcFbYZuyW0UjUW06Lm9DKAe1yBsrezoz5Q4rJyeC43ORNo2Ap8I9VMVfIGhOJCWG1110f3ZwTR4Te1LZiVFdpUH5zrZFiHAJXGV3xbjnvgTbcwI9gmOIHTOjUSS_-6w/s320/iStock_000057746832_Small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Growing up, I went to two different schools. One was my local
public school and the other was a senior school. One may ask, why did you go to
a second school for only two senior years? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Firstly, I had a lot of friends from school that lived in
the area of this specific school. This I felt was a win from the start. I had the option to
change schools and still be around the people that I had grown up with. Awesome!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, my main reason that I had wanted to change schools
was that the current school I was attending didn’t offer what I had wanted to
study. My aim had been to go to university and study marketing. In doing this,
I knew I needed to get good marks and I felt that in attending a school that
had a focus specifically for the Higher School Certificate, I would be able to
get my best marks and achieve my goals.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The school that I went to offered many more subjects than my
previous school. It was the fact that they were able to show me what they had
to offer through their website that had me sold, even before I had stepped foot into the school!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In our recent survey here at Digerati, we found that <b>85% of
users are looking for what the school curriculum offers for their family</b>.
Parents want to feel they can engage with your school, and the website is their
first impression. So, you want to make it count!<br />
<br /></div>
<h3>
First impressions.</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first time that I had looked at that school’s
website, I had thought to myself:<br />
<br />
<i>Where can I find what they will offer me?</i>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>How will I benefit
from going to this school?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the end, my last thought was:<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>How do I apply?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They got me. They had won me over.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How did that happen you might ask? Well, it’s all about the
first impressions!<br />
<br /></div>
<h3>
Aesthetics.</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The aesthetic look of your website, and the user experience
needs to be smooth and easy to navigate. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In saying this, you can’t over
compensate with content for the way that a website is designed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If the site is designed to be fun and interactive, make sure
that your content mimics this. Use fun and engaging photos of students. Show
them LEARNING, show them being CREATIVE, show them being INSPIRING. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<b>It’s all about the story.</b></h3>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwl9vMbKYVRMNaNv2V5mqyANFLhuAO9isqrMp1FvoqQrcR8wKeaBSBZ_KGdOpk-kfoxHmxJVikf7EwufwjB-VZxw-tmHL8ySsRroU7TcRh4r3pyitc9XDRxo9lhCwzKUI090BYooglPiY/s1600/iStock_000041362214_XXXLarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwl9vMbKYVRMNaNv2V5mqyANFLhuAO9isqrMp1FvoqQrcR8wKeaBSBZ_KGdOpk-kfoxHmxJVikf7EwufwjB-VZxw-tmHL8ySsRroU7TcRh4r3pyitc9XDRxo9lhCwzKUI090BYooglPiY/s320/iStock_000041362214_XXXLarge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everyone loves good story. When reading a story that is
engaging, it gets you excited. It makes you want to be involved. It makes you
want to do something great.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is what schools strive for. As the saying goes, ‘Kids
are the future’. And they ARE. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Through telling a story of how your students and chasing
their dreams, building on their own skills, allows them to be able to see that
they are talented and smart. They can think about how they will be as adults,
and thinking back nostalgically to their school that they went to. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You want your content to show this.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When looking at a schools website, content is definitely one
of the most important features. The audience want to find out as much as they
can about your school, so having clear and concise content is key. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your content should tell the story of your school, its
values and its future. Storytelling is what encapsulates us into another world.
As Plato said: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>“Come then, and let us
pass a leisure hour in storytelling, and our story shall be the education of
our heroes.”<o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Remember it’s the
school’s students that tell the story.</b> Capture their
accomplishments: this could be through imagery, their writing or feedback from
parents. This will build the websites character and create an emotional
response from the audience. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<h3>
<b>The importance of clear
content.</b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When writing your content and telling your story, whether it
be the story of your school’s athletic carnival, or the charity event your
students took part in, it is important to think of the way the story flows.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Make sure that there is an Introduction, body and an ending
but also make it personable along with the facts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You want to be able to convey to your audience, whether they
be parents or students that your school can meet their needs, along with
showing that your school is a community that works together.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Using images that would help to convey your story will also
have a visual impact on your audience. It will help them to visualise the
atmosphere of your school.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Referencing back to my own experience, it’s not only the curriculum
that interested me in attending a different school for senior year, but I also
wanted to look at it from a social aspect.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Were there extra-curricular groups that I could become
involved in? What would the social scene be like if I had changed schools?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had a valuable experience in meeting different students
from my previous school. They offered international exchange programs which
allowed me to learn about the cultures of others outside of my own.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My school conveyed these experiences in the stories from
their exchange students. This is what I felt not only made my school stand out,
but it also showed me that they offer many opportunities that I didn’t think I
would have been given from my old school.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thinking back about what I remember about my school years,
was that my school offered me an opportunity to learn and grow. This is what all schools want to be able to achieve when
portraying their schools website to their audience.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Make sure that you can show what you can offer that makes
you stand out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Be visual.<br />
Be bold.<br />
Be engaging.<br />
Be motivating.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And overall show them that your school is the school for
them!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tell your schools story!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until next time.<o:p></o:p></div>
Digerati Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120780857051841186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-80137871274124551042015-03-25T13:24:00.000+11:002015-03-25T13:24:41.895+11:00A School's Website - more important than you think! At Digerati, we have spent nearly a decade building website's for all kinds of businesses and organisations. We love it! And we love to be able to lead clients in the right direction, by sharing our experience and expertise.<br />
<br />
Over the next few blog posts we are going to focus on a school's online presence.<br />
<br />
<b>Why? Because it might be more important than you think. </b><br />
<br />
I have begun looking for schools for my son. Sure he is only a toddler, but it's a really big decision, it's a new decision and it all starts with Preschools and Daycare centres. When I get a spare moment, I start my Google searching and I begin to look at the websites of all the primary schools, and centres nearby. I want to know anything and everything I can - where are you? who are you? what sort of things do you believe and do? when are you open? how do I apply? how are you different to the other one? how much does it cost? what are your facilities like? and so on...<br />
<br />
At Digerati, we have also worked with close to 50 schools and school organisations across Sydney with their website project. In order to serve them and other school's better, we also conducted some research.<br />
<br />
<b>So what have we learnt about parents looking for a new school?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>*****</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FnVYKo1OTyy1h77yttQyxOr1_mVK6-FuO9GXObHYz_6KCDP__O8dg_ROnowNb-lzUc2TvrNqRNEU2S3F1l4XoOWt8sYBmi1Y3VMnpwjJXwIVt8UZl3DP8fnQHh0zGms8unJX7y-hrH8/s1600/Stat1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FnVYKo1OTyy1h77yttQyxOr1_mVK6-FuO9GXObHYz_6KCDP__O8dg_ROnowNb-lzUc2TvrNqRNEU2S3F1l4XoOWt8sYBmi1Y3VMnpwjJXwIVt8UZl3DP8fnQHh0zGms8unJX7y-hrH8/s1600/Stat1.png" height="146" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Parents are looking up a school's website to get information. Not surprising! As is my experience, this is my first step. We know this is not only the case with schools but with all businesses now. A school's website is a <b>key part of researching and decision making</b>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The research also indicated that when searching, parents are looking for schools <b>in their local area</b>. 64% of respondents would include their suburb or their region as one of the keywords in their search.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
*****</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4rrZFKG7IhJbilxLnkImfhxSYK-TS_y0pTKr9fMS7xJPVUMDPtAp-oV02SbAiKEQK0utwCm6igTSKMPCCyuiGYTzAtPdzu0ZMtCPrsNGv3KK1fuyYNWi3mLQgMW9XvlGzLTGXu0Wt_c/s1600/stat2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4rrZFKG7IhJbilxLnkImfhxSYK-TS_y0pTKr9fMS7xJPVUMDPtAp-oV02SbAiKEQK0utwCm6igTSKMPCCyuiGYTzAtPdzu0ZMtCPrsNGv3KK1fuyYNWi3mLQgMW9XvlGzLTGXu0Wt_c/s1600/stat2.png" height="133" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And I thought I was the only one! Nothing bothers me more than comparing schools/preschools and seeing the same boring template!!! The respondents of our survey agreed. More than two thirds marked 'Good website design' as either Very Significant or Significant in their decision making process. Obviously, parents perceive that a good website reflects upon the school as it's the first impression they get. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
School's need to represent who they are and present their best through their website. After all, first impressions last! </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
*****</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhob8qxL9j3w5VYHK9ZHerNkBADLzeFyX_pjg0yHJvJZdeIxZXQtUkPBZnW71wROs2h-Ep5-EUEo6iLXhV5lblEQJsI5PfD1VVRFYxlsHeBUvBXhCM40-3_TBcavMetqeAiKv47REY60r4/s1600/stat3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhob8qxL9j3w5VYHK9ZHerNkBADLzeFyX_pjg0yHJvJZdeIxZXQtUkPBZnW71wROs2h-Ep5-EUEo6iLXhV5lblEQJsI5PfD1VVRFYxlsHeBUvBXhCM40-3_TBcavMetqeAiKv47REY60r4/s1600/stat3.png" height="142" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Parents looking for a school want as much information as possible available online. And they want to be able to find it! This means, your menu's and information architecture needs to be logical! This might require some testing - grab your friends and ask them to find specific pieces of information. Watch them use the website - is it the way you imagined? </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If you are a school or a school based organisation, ask yourself: does my website send the right message? Is it the best first impression? Does it show how we are different? </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Digerati would happily talk with you further - we'd love to share our expertise and advice about how to get your message across clearly. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Contact us - <a href="http://www.digeratisolutions.com.au/">www.digeratisolutions.com.au</a> or phone Adam on (02) 9545 2983 </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Digerati Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120780857051841186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-45350912211591236142014-12-17T17:08:00.000+11:002014-12-17T17:09:54.738+11:0015 things you need to update on your website for 2015. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4703868171034101701" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="" /></a></div>
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Here is a list of 15 things to look at editing on your website in the period just before and after the Christmas/New Year break. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSGs55Q2Jt1SmVKUpwD_LSMzasBRk7kjAqLbSX1ejF3TJ6PN3Ybqb1BWXG1QqqbquIp33EsMhvezZiillPlWITU3WxJ82GZG4x2tpL0bTSPu1BtPbpikGJHChZG3mjZJKbObW0m8FOeE/s1600/52874358_thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSGs55Q2Jt1SmVKUpwD_LSMzasBRk7kjAqLbSX1ejF3TJ6PN3Ybqb1BWXG1QqqbquIp33EsMhvezZiillPlWITU3WxJ82GZG4x2tpL0bTSPu1BtPbpikGJHChZG3mjZJKbObW0m8FOeE/s1600/52874358_thumbnail.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
1. Homepage images - might be time to source some new images to refresh your homepage.</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2. Add your opening hours over the Christmas and New Year period</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3. Then, make sure you remove the holiday opening hours! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4. The our team page. Might be time for new head shots and bios </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
5. About us page – is there any dates or ‘we’ve been around for x years’? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
6. Footer details and dates (including the copyright date) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
7. Recent projects and portfolio</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
8. Prices and promotions – are these changing for 2015?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
9. Testimonials – are there recent ones you could add?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
10. Terms and conditions, returns and privacy policy pages. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
11. Contact details of your business and staff – are these all still accurate? </div>
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12. eNewsletter template – does this need a refresh for the new year? This might be in terms of design, approach or content </div>
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13. Featured products, testimonials, or projects – change these to refresh the site's content </div>
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14. Any sort of ‘Merry Christmas’ references or images to be removed come January</div>
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15. Consider if there are any 'big' updates or changes you'll want on your site - is it mobile responsive? Does it need a redesign? </div>
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Give Digerati Solutions a ring if you need any help with your website (02) 9545 2983. We'd be happy to guide you into the New Year with a fresh looking web presence. </div>
Digerati Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120780857051841186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-10355607734538407462014-11-26T15:55:00.000+11:002014-11-26T15:55:09.969+11:0017 steps you can take to improve your websiteFollowing on from last month’s blog, we thought we’d now give you <b>17 ways that you can improve your website</b>. This might be in terms of design, usability, content or search engine optimisation. If you work through each of the below, you'll be on your way to a great website that your target market will love.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqm3zYqDqvhzh8h5meFEubv_rmTJpczPvPaYw46U5t00IF4NqD7TbqgiF2II_KM7NpRTpjro7NnPY0zId-CJeCOevswBINDV4bxPki4MeI9bWWC0GdbLgl1L0cvBZBZSAsxQUugredJI/s1600/iStock_000027232412_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqm3zYqDqvhzh8h5meFEubv_rmTJpczPvPaYw46U5t00IF4NqD7TbqgiF2II_KM7NpRTpjro7NnPY0zId-CJeCOevswBINDV4bxPki4MeI9bWWC0GdbLgl1L0cvBZBZSAsxQUugredJI/s1600/iStock_000027232412_Small.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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1. Source better images</div>
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2. Redesign your homepage or just update a few small things to give it a fresh and modern feel</div>
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3. Speak to your web developer to see if there are ways to increase the load time of your website (don’t be fooled – your website CAN be made faster)</div>
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4. Re-write the homepage copy. Or heck, go and re-write the whole website. There is nothing better than good, fresh copy!</div>
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5. Ask new visitors to your website to find certain pieces of information. Watch them use the site – is it easy? Can they find what they need? Do you need to rename menus or pages to guide them in the right direction?</div>
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6. Investigate how to make your website mobile responsive? Put this in your budget for next year and get it done! More users than ever are browsing on a mobile and it’s important that you optimise it for them (your competitors will)!</div>
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7. Ensure all your contact details are correct and can be found. Test your contact forms – do they work?</div>
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8. Is there anything that you could make available for purchase online that would make things easier?</div>
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9. Is it clear what you do? Ask someone their feedback.</div>
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10. Ask yourself: do people call you or your office asking the same questions? Could these questions be answered on your website?</div>
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11. If you’re on social media, does your website feature this?</div>
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12. Re-read your ‘about us’ page. Could you improve this?</div>
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13. Do you have your staff on your website? This would be a nice addition, especially if you’re a small business</div>
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14. Could you condense or simplify your website, menus, content and information architecture?</div>
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15. Ask yourself if your website design is consistent. If not, work it so that all the pages and information is formatted similarly.</div>
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16. Add hyperlinks between pages and to external sites, if needed but always ensure new websites open in a new window so people never leave your website</div>
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17. Add ‘calls to action’ to your website such as “get a free quote”, “contact us”, “make a booking” or “buy now”</div>
<br /><br />And if you need a hand, give us (Digerati Solutions) a buzz on (02) 9545 2983Digerati Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120780857051841186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-88746360918234003732014-10-29T15:56:00.001+11:002014-10-29T15:56:27.058+11:0017 features your customers expect when they land on your website. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you have a website or are you looking to develop a new one?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well here is a little </span>check-list<span style="font-family: inherit;"> - 17 features that your customers are going to expect when they land on your website.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsz44Iu-STt22ntgtcdiLoeZ2t-iOBdPNFZWQCFP8_TXc6u5U4oM5PGOPxx8WMQJCXMeht4JM-CJk_uvn7A8ufTDqY2teds9WE0d8xvrzzaYTdOdQ4kk01nOm3R9JSQ_peIlwEvs-rGs/s1600/iStock_000027795753_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsz44Iu-STt22ntgtcdiLoeZ2t-iOBdPNFZWQCFP8_TXc6u5U4oM5PGOPxx8WMQJCXMeht4JM-CJk_uvn7A8ufTDqY2teds9WE0d8xvrzzaYTdOdQ4kk01nOm3R9JSQ_peIlwEvs-rGs/s1600/iStock_000027795753_Small.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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1. Great images</div>
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2. Appealing design</div>
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3. Quick to load</div>
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4. Fresh and up-to-date content</div>
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5. Easy and logical navigation</div>
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6. Usable on a mobile</div>
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7. Contact details</div>
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8. Products, prices and the ability to buy (if applicable)</div>
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9. Obvious explanation of your products and services</div>
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10. All the information possible to make a decision and take action. The customers should not need to call and ask obvious questions like ‘where is your office?’ or ‘what is your returns policy?’ or ‘what are the dimensions of this product?’</div>
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11. Social media integration and participation</div>
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12. Clear and concise About Us page</div>
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13. (If you’re a small business) An ‘Our Team’ page that has great images and staff bios</div>
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14. Simplicity</div>
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15. Consistent design and layout</div>
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16. Internal and external links where needed. But, users shouldn’t be leaving your website so have links open in a new tab.</div>
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17. A call to action ‘above the fold’ </div>
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Digerati Solutions can help you achieve any of this! <a href="http://www.digeratisolutions.com.au/">Get in touch</a> if you want to chat more. </div>
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AND GOOD LUCK. </div>
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Digerati Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120780857051841186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-74962436860706823502014-09-24T16:41:00.000+10:002014-09-24T16:41:06.630+10:00Creating a website that grows with you and works for you. <br />Imagine opening a new retail store. You've paid your rent, fitted it out with amazing signs and added your products in. <br /><br />Your doors open, and the customers start to stream in. They love perusing your product ranges, and want to buy. They come up to the counter but you have no capacity to process their order. <br /><br />OR you present them with a paper form to fill in and ask that they write you a cheque. <br /><br />OR maybe your shop doesn't have any products on display at all – wouldn't that be a missed opportunity? <br /><br />These might seem like crazy scenarios, but your website could feel a little like this to your customers. Most websites act like a brochure, giving a bit of information and your contact details. This is a great start but these days, in 2014, you really need more than ‘just a website’. <br /><br />Customers like to browse, enquire and purchase online. <br /><br />In 2013, Australians spent $37.1 billion dollars online, with the average per person spend doubling since 2006. (Data from: <a href="http://www.powerretail.com.au/research-and-intelligence/infographic-australian-e-commerce/">http://www.powerretail.com.au/research-and-intelligence/infographic-australian-e-commerce/</a>) <br /><br /> People like to buy online because:<br /><ul>
<li>They get more choice, with access to shops and retailers all over Australia (and the world)</li>
<li>Most people think they are getting a good price when they buy online</li>
<li>Products are delivered straight to your door </li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMd6FNq2KkYOsmzb94i12LrAtkypOZC2kdUbC6UKhto5FuQG5bRA-jKTp4ORYwkdd0d0WlyTjnltpDfM1HzND3snAAKvALUvcm2Rd5hSDcMeaBDpcBY1SfvHYB-EILmz1yCZT_LJZFWk/s1600/digerati_image+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMd6FNq2KkYOsmzb94i12LrAtkypOZC2kdUbC6UKhto5FuQG5bRA-jKTp4ORYwkdd0d0WlyTjnltpDfM1HzND3snAAKvALUvcm2Rd5hSDcMeaBDpcBY1SfvHYB-EILmz1yCZT_LJZFWk/s1600/digerati_image+(2).jpg" height="147" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
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The amazing thing about a website, verses a bricks-and-mortar store, is that it can be easily edited, expanded, revamped, given a face-lift and process orders faster, smarter and cheaper! In short, your website can grow with your business and can be expanded to handle the growth and changes. <br /><br />So how could your website work FOR you, save you time and be expanded?<br /><ul>
<li>Adding the ability for people to order and pay online</li>
<li>Including a comprehensive enquire form, that asks exactly what you need to know</li>
<li>An instant quote feature, so people can quickly see services and prices </li>
<li>Turning PDF forms into online forms to save double handing and data entry</li>
<li>Website made mobile-ready and responsive to make for easy browsing on mobile devices </li>
<li>Member/Customer log in to see orders, re-order or to access custom pricing or confidential information?</li>
<li>Automated emails when people order online, when a product is shipped or in response to an enquiry </li>
<li>Ability to take bookings online and notify staff </li>
</ul>
<br />This is just a starter list to get you thinking… We understand business is not a static thing and that you want to grow and evolve over time. So why not consider how your website can be part of this process and create a great experience for your staff and your customers.<br /><br />We can help by giving you an obligation free quote! Contact us today on (02) 9545 2983 Digerati Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120780857051841186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-19063701701672939342014-08-27T15:31:00.001+10:002014-08-27T15:31:38.278+10:00Could your website save you time?<div class="MsoNormal">
I want you to have a think about something – what do you spend
your time doing at work? Think of all the tasks and activities that leave you at
4pm saying “where did the day go??” Do you write and reply to lots of generic
emails? Do you send forms to your customers? Do you process order forms and
take RSVPs? Do you do much data entry? Do you invoice?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5NJ8aIQN8erTpMnkRubfZDIxWKy9E4nChbr33tPMSRrm_jvp8uUWXbckyGwyPdijRuqpguKmyGiKbyU181eLLjrXFizWpCkMOOVPpDZTYNAfRkMeKVs1PQ5aMJcofkqI8ptqrbg-GB4/s1600/digerati_image+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5NJ8aIQN8erTpMnkRubfZDIxWKy9E4nChbr33tPMSRrm_jvp8uUWXbckyGwyPdijRuqpguKmyGiKbyU181eLLjrXFizWpCkMOOVPpDZTYNAfRkMeKVs1PQ5aMJcofkqI8ptqrbg-GB4/s1600/digerati_image+(2).jpg" height="147" width="400" /></a></div>
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In this day and age and era of technology, there is actually
a lot of tasks and processes that can be streamlined and simplified online. <o:p></o:p></div>
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At Digerati, we have worked with many different businesses
and organisation to take their paper flow online. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<ul>
<li>We’ve worked with schools to ensure that their information
is delivered straight to the end user. To eliminate their paper permission
slips and eliminate the need to re-enter data into a spreadsheet.</li>
<li>We’ve worked with tradesmen to ensure that when the
trade-work-day is done that they don’t need to spend their evening invoicing
for all the jobs.</li>
<li>We’ve worked with not-for-profits to make a one-stop-shop donation
form on their website, processing payments quickly and simply.</li>
<li>We’ve worked with small retail and wholesale businesses to
ensure they can sell their products online, manage customers and track orders.</li>
<li>We’ve built member layers into website for correspondence
within a business and/or organisation, with forums and easy RSVP functions.</li>
<li>We’ve enabled our clients to play more golf, surf, enjoy
their family time and rid their office of paper! This is what we love.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://www.digeratisolutions.com.au/contact-us">Get in touch with us today</a> if you’d like to save yourself
some time and rid yourself of the tedious jobs!<o:p></o:p></div>
Digerati Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120780857051841186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-9096075711155122292014-07-28T14:19:00.003+10:002014-07-28T14:19:53.266+10:00So, it's probably time we talked about Google+ ! <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you were anything like me, when Google announced they
were jumping into the social media sphere with Google+, you rolled your eyes,
groaned or felt a level of stress at the prospect of managing yet another social
account. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So 2 years ago, in walked Google+ and initially, it seemed
like a pretty empty landscape. Perhaps you were an early adopter, signed up for
an account because you had a Gmail email and then sat there as the tumble weed
rolled by. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That was me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">All I was thinking was that Google is Google, they pretty
much own the internet, and therefore, this thing is going to explode. But it didn’t
seem to. There were limited people on there, the content was uninspiring and
frankly, if I’m going to kill some time, I’d rather spend time with my friends and customers who are hanging out “over there” (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There were rumours that Google+ was going to begin to edit
and filter what you then saw when you searched on Google, but it didn’t seem
too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That was until recently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I challenge you to do an experiment: Google something. A
question, a brand or better yet, your own business and start to see what comes
up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is my example:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JOCR-bWbch_CRuDAlQzGJpu-za2yXYVu6blVVN_aoc_qzUa1z1TYz8wH6pdgjJNu4N0-ndeV2p9AHeTFA08s-qW31hq5GDAnvwjMQpZOCjEOvKIbcOx5_iJjCDmu_BP4CwOIXKg33iQ/s1600/GooglePage+-+Digerati.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JOCR-bWbch_CRuDAlQzGJpu-za2yXYVu6blVVN_aoc_qzUa1z1TYz8wH6pdgjJNu4N0-ndeV2p9AHeTFA08s-qW31hq5GDAnvwjMQpZOCjEOvKIbcOx5_iJjCDmu_BP4CwOIXKg33iQ/s1600/GooglePage+-+Digerati.JPG" height="171" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes – that big box on the right had side with the photos and
map is linked to the Digerati Google+ page. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You may also notice that Google+ posts, people and bloggers
come up in search results with an image next to them – making them stand out
over and above the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You might not want to hear this, but Google+ is in full
swing now and it’s really starting to define what you see in Google search
results. More importantly, Google+ is going to affect the way your business is
displayed and ranks in Google. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I can more than understand that people probably don’t want
to manage ANOTHER social media platform however, if you are in need of a little
google-boost (as probably 90% of our clients are) then you really need to put
this on the to do list!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, how can you go about this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Get a Google+ personal page set up – and fill in all the
sections so the profile is full and complete</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Follow as many people and businesses as you can that
relate to you, your industry or your business contacts</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Create your Google+ Business listing (</span><a href="http://www.google.com.au/business/" style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.google.com.au/business/</a>).<span style="font-family: inherit;">
Fill it in as much as possible to ensure you have links to your website, your
other social media, and add some images.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Follow relevant businesses, or people from your business Google+
page</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Begin to post from both your personal page and from your
business’ page. If you are concerned about managing multiple accounts, just commit
to post on Google+ every time you post on one of your other media. You can also
link other profiles to your Google+ and it will pull in your posts.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Think about your keywords – if you want to rank on Google
for certain keywords or content, use these in your posts and profiles.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Use hashtags. Like most other social media, Google+ uses
Hashtags and they are a great way to get noticed. If you aren’t in the habit of
using them, #startpracticing #modeloffothers #usethem #itsfun </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Keep in mind: Google+ at its best is public. Unlike your personal
Facebook page, where you can add photos of you and your cat eating dinner in
your pyjamas, we really don’t recommend this here. If people search your name,
your Google+ profile will come up and so we advise you to use your personal
Google+ Profile as an extension of your business page and keep it pretty
professional. As per Google’s help, “The only information you can’t hide is
your name, profile photo, and cover photo. Your tagline will also be public if
you add one, as well as your YouTube channel if it’s linked to your account”.
So yes, you can make aspects of your profile private, but you’ll lose some of
its capacity in regards to search results. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></li>
</ol>
<div>
Give it a go and keep and eye on it. Hopefully you'll see it helps you be profiled more comprehensively by Google in it's organic results.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And, as always, Digerati is here to help if you have questions. </div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Digerati Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120780857051841186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-57242312982504058562014-06-25T13:53:00.002+10:002014-06-25T13:53:58.712+10:00Web Design Tips - the insider word!Following on from <a href="http://blog.digeratisolutions.com.au/2014/05/modern-website-design-trends-whats.html" target="_blank">last months blog post</a> about the current trends in web design, we thought we would give some tips 'from the inside' about designing or redesigning your website.<br />
<br />
Thanks to our resident design guru '<a href="http://www.digeratisolutions.com.au/about-us" target="_blank">loz</a>' for helping us get these tips together... She's a star!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fEzlonPu_9AkD2S7IOy9lNu11d-7U7CjPYeQWoazcrhnWpYaojgc2K58sDpk-wICs2SYBqFSCRsDpI9jhenuK3OaBSYuvXH2AlYEO13otRN9YKQXPyxBOjQCLfvkoU-KIfeL_1qONciE/s1600/WebDesignTips.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fEzlonPu_9AkD2S7IOy9lNu11d-7U7CjPYeQWoazcrhnWpYaojgc2K58sDpk-wICs2SYBqFSCRsDpI9jhenuK3OaBSYuvXH2AlYEO13otRN9YKQXPyxBOjQCLfvkoU-KIfeL_1qONciE/s1600/WebDesignTips.png" height="102" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
•<b> Colour meanings</b><br />
The choice of the colour scheme you want to use in your site is important. Different colours have specific meanings and associations, and it is worthwhile doing a little research into colour effects if you really want your website to reflect what your brand represents. It is interesting to take note that colours meanings can have vastly differing associations across various cultures, so consider where your target market is based in the world and make sure your design colour schemes relate to their culture!<br />
<br />
<b>• Who is your target market?</b><br />
I can’t emphasise enough how important is it to realise early on who your target market it. If you can define what kind of people will be visiting your site, this will save you a lot of trouble in the future and also guide all other design choices along the way. Knowing your target market will help you choose imagery, colour palettes, how to organise content, whether mobile-ready versions are a major priority, the list goes on. Is your site for a doctor who caters for the elderly? This means your site needs to have bold graphics, a muted colour palette for readability yet also convey a trustworthy feeling. However, if your site is for all ages and demographics then you’ll need to define a way to ensure your design elements something universal! A good way to figure out who is your target market is to describe the traits of a typical visitor as if you were describing a well-known friend to someone.<br />
<br />
<b>• Character!</b><br />
Infusing your site with the personality of your brand can help define what your brand stands for. (like the digerati site!) How can you bring personality to a design? Through textures, colours, imagery, illustrations and the tone of voice in your content, you can start bringing a character to your site. Once you’ve established some character of your brand, you can start considering what emotions or feeling you want people to experience and therefore associate with your brand. A website is a really important point of contact with your business, so ensuring your website conveys what your brand stands for will ensure your brand is represented with more than just a logo.<br />
<br />
•<b> Think below the fold.</b><br />
Complimenting Ainsley’s last blog about the latest trends in design as being all about scrolling , I think it’s important to talk further about why websites are commonly now displaying information ‘below the fold’. The term comes from newspapers, where important headlines need to be above the fold of the newspaper to capture the attention of passers by. In website design, it has always been a tradition to keep everything you want to say for a user upon immediate arrival, ‘above the fold’ so without any scrolling needed. Keeping the key values, messages, and imagery of your business as the only elements “above the fold” can be a really effective way of immediately communicating what your business is all about. It is a good way to introduce some character to your site, by having a quirky callout about what your business offering is, and asking people to scroll down to find out more! I think the breakaway from designs that are above the fold is not just a passing trend of 2014 but an efficient and clever way to quickly get people’s attention and tell what your business is all about!<br />
<br />
• <b>Future proof your new design!</b><br />
By now everybody knows that mobile technology is a fast paced and ever growing industry! Since the introduction of tablets and smart phone, so much has already evolved, and responsive design is crucial right now in keeping up with the pack. Even if you don’t see the need for your target market using mobile devices today, there’s no telling what could happen in the coming years, and you want your design to out-stand this! It is also worthwhile to think about how easily your information is to navigate on mobile devices. Less clicking, the better in the mobile environment, so try not to have lots of complicated dropdowns and small buttons that people need to use their pinky finger to try and tap.<br />
<br />
And of course, you'll need to find yourself a great web development team to work with you to bring this all to life. Digerati Solutions has experience designing and building hundreds of websites for clients in all types of industries - big business and small!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.digeratisolutions.com.au/contact-us" target="_blank">Get in touch and start bringing those dreams to life!</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02705836042171657028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-17614978527115282162014-05-28T10:29:00.000+10:002014-05-28T10:32:04.825+10:00Modern website design trends - what's everyone doing at the moment?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">No-one wants to be stuck in the naughties – so I thought I’d
give you the TOP 3 recent web design trends strutting the internet’s catwalk.
Just like with clothes, there are the pioneers and early adopters and then
slowly the pack follows. Here are some of the trends that have been around for a
few years now but are being adopted by the vast majority at the moment. Every
website I land on at the moment that has had a re-design has adopted these
three trends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. It’s all about
being wide and long… <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Historically, web design was all about being ‘above the fold’.
The aim was to get all the information needed into the space before the bottom
of the typical screen, because “nobody likes to scroll”. Now however, with the
mass adoption of smart phones, tablets and all the ‘i’ devices, scrolling is by
far preferred over clicking. If you think about it, it is much easier to flick
your thumb up and down to see different sections of information rather than to
go on a click-journey and burrowing your way into a website’s content. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And because websites are smarter than ever, they can now dynamically ‘fill
the screen’ – and so they can go as wide as the screen they are being viewed
on. This means modern websites will be ‘full screen’, usually with a big image
taking up the majority of the viewable area. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Scrolling through
various zones…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The homepage of a modern website will scroll through various
‘zones’. This is to help you to visually see the different sections of
information and still get what you need quickly. These will usually be
distinguished by blocks of colour, and each section will likely be a summary
and link you through to the area you want to go. It means that the majority of
key information is now on the homepage without it feeling cluttered and
confusing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Like with the new Digerati website, to help visitors to
remain engaged and centre on the right pieces of information, as you scroll
down some content will dynamically load or be animated to draw you eye. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">See these well-known brands and how they have adopted points
1 and 2 above:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.paypal.com/" target="_blank">www.paypal.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/" target="_blank">http://www.etsy.com/</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.virginmobile.com.au/" target="_blank">http://www.virginmobile.com.au/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.smsbroadcast.com.au/" target="_blank">https://www.smsbroadcast.com.au/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. From mobile
versions to responsive…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We’ve harped on about this for a while at Digerati, but let
me reiterate – modern websites are responsive. This means there isn’t a separate
mobile design, instead the website design will ‘respond’ and change depending
on the screen size – from the largest desktop screen, to laptops, through the
various tablet devices, and down to the different sized mobiles. The website
design should be optimised to work on all these scales to keep the user happy.
Keep in mind, some people hold their tablet upright (as in portrait
orientation) and some hold them landscape. Some people have teeny-laptops that
they work on all day and others sit behind a screen that should really be classed as a TV.
Web designers want happy users – and the only way to please everyone is to
change the display of a website depending on the screen-size. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrmLxnWnOcd3wCJzPLSkcId0CASZ-d5YctbmVk-fwTpiZg64TXRY3PwDf7MjKOJxzkbtpck3IRdlR0x0FJsXYGx-O6L1949u05d1w3tBA2tVYLwVGQgt9SN2tHsoRDL994VxOeCnbU1SY/s1600/Moore+College+Responsive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrmLxnWnOcd3wCJzPLSkcId0CASZ-d5YctbmVk-fwTpiZg64TXRY3PwDf7MjKOJxzkbtpck3IRdlR0x0FJsXYGx-O6L1949u05d1w3tBA2tVYLwVGQgt9SN2tHsoRDL994VxOeCnbU1SY/s1600/Moore+College+Responsive.jpg" height="283" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">At Digerati, we love these new trends because they are simple,
professional and user friendly. They allow for good design and exciting new
technology to be utilised simultaneously. It brings together our love for
making things user friendly and client focused, without it needing to be ugly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u3TmRBMRTm8icln9joFUgffb30m1uZUv22kugwa-yupV1tYHJIx0knWtX1BZgfvovlYRO7E69XUkep4_VuI32OB6RywudIIIdZKjcLu3rS61v5p9rLLbx1QYrtLCqMwndFGVUMsHQEIk/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u3TmRBMRTm8icln9joFUgffb30m1uZUv22kugwa-yupV1tYHJIx0knWtX1BZgfvovlYRO7E69XUkep4_VuI32OB6RywudIIIdZKjcLu3rS61v5p9rLLbx1QYrtLCqMwndFGVUMsHQEIk/s1600/Capture.JPG" height="400" width="371" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you’d like a homepage that grabs people visually within
seconds AND keeps them because it answers their key questions, then chat to the
Digerati team about bringing your website into 2014! </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02705836042171657028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-14129399395462730262014-04-16T16:37:00.004+10:002014-04-16T16:37:53.692+10:00SOCIAL MEDIA SUCCESS PART 2 - Let's Get Practical<div class="MsoNormal">
In last month’s blog we discussed how it is you can determine the type of presence you’ll have online by first considering the ‘personality’ of your business.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So now you have a strategy and you’ve determined the platform(s) you’ll utilize – where to from here?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, put simply, post! This might seem obvious but it is very easy to forget and not prioritise social media in the midst of life in business. However, if you have determined to be online, you’ll need to be consistent and regular.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are some very practical tips on what to post, when to post and how to engage with your audience:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Use images to grab attention in the busy news feed</li>
<li>Share, like and comment on other posts and threads. This means you need to first go on the hunt and find businesses or pages that compliment what you do, and might give you some great content to share with those connected with you</li>
<li>Post things that will interest people – behind the scenes images, How To articles, advice, special offers, interesting articles</li>
<li>Grow your audience through advertising (on the platforms that allow this like Facebook)</li>
<li>Use a link to your website or to a blog/article to encourage those wanting more information to click through. This naturally brings the opportunity for more traffic to your website</li>
<li>Support other businesses or individuals</li>
<li>Use each platform as it was intended – try to avoid posting the same content across all your different accounts</li>
<li>Ask for engagement. Rather than saying ‘look, we launched a new product today!’ try saying ‘look at our amazing new products. Which is your favourite?’</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We want you to get the most out of your social media presence and we hope this is a good starting point.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will finish on this though – obviously, you want your social media to work FOR you and of course, get you more sales! BUT, we are encouraging you to have a long term view on this.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Build your presence, grow your following, give to those connected with you and we do believe that if you are consistent enough, then you will see growth in your business too. In the back of your mind should always be that all these people are potentially future clients, customers OR they might refer you to someone key. Social Media is another way of networking to increase your word of mouth marketing but it might just be slower to see results in the business bank account. We feel like that’s OK – the more people that know of you and your offerings, the better it will be!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hang in there and good luck! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02705836042171657028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-62186799180156584142014-03-26T15:13:00.000+11:002014-03-26T15:14:55.556+11:00Social Media Success Part 1 - Grab a drink and enjoy the party<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you ever thought to
yourself - how sociable is my business? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Is he the life of the
party, working the room with a drink in hand, igniting eruptions of laughter in
every group he joins. Or is she the conversationalist, giving undivided attention
to a few people making them feel heard and appreciated. Is my business the
quirky one with the bizarre facts and left field anecdotes? Or does he hide in
the kitchen, washing up and helping backstage?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you remember the Mac
versus PC ad from a while ago? Two men, dressed very differently, introducing
themselves as "Hi, I'm a Mac" and "I'm a PC". The idea for this
ad was to represent their brand as a person - how would this brand dress, act,
speak etc. Obviously, it was done to promote one brand over the other, but it
stands as a good example of brand personification. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the past, some
companies - usually with a marketing team and ample resources - would work hard
at defining their brand's personality and ensuring everything worked in line with
this. It's good practice, but for many people who are busting their gut running
their own small business, spending time doing this sort of task would seem
pointless. Especially, when you're already working 12 hour days to ensure you
can put food on the table and keep afloat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But times have changed -
we are told by everyone around us that we need to have a Facebook page, a blog,
a twitter account, hang out in Pinterest, post to Instagram and update our
Linked In profile. This is the new normal! I was looking at a food's label the
other day to get recipe information, and of course, I see the 'Like us on
Facebook' link. They are everywhere! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So the question about
your company's social life and personality is actually more relevant now than
ever before because when you start a Facebook page or a Twitter account under
the guise of your brand, you are essentially giving your business a voice. So
it's a really important question to ask - who is my business? What sort of
conversations will I be having in this social media world?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's important that you
don't end up being a salesperson who crashes a birthday party. All the guests
have come to let their hair down, have fun, relax and take their mind off
things. You really don't want to be the one that brings up the topic of 'work',
or tries to sell them something. Grab a drink, change into your party clothes
and join in on the conversations that are happening around you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Practically, this means
that when you set up a business page on Facebook or open an Instagram account
under your company's brand, you need to consider who you'll be and therefore
what sort of posts will work well for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you want to provide
people with entertainment, post funny images, memes, quotes and jokes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you want to inform,
find relevant articles, give away free tips, offer to answer people's questions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you want to help
others, share from other people's pages, profile your clients, promote good
causes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To decide on who you'll
be, start by asking yourself the following questions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- What does my business
already do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Who are my clients and
typically, why would they be on social media? If you can answer this, WHAT
social media are my clients and potential clients on?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Who am I - what sort
of posts do I like, share, re-tweet and re-gram naturally?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Other than more sales,
why would/should I use social media for my business?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">From here you should be
able to get an idea of the 'person' your business is and therefore, how you'll
socialise online. Use this then as the framework to decide which social media
platforms you'll use, how frequently you'll post, what you'll post and how you
will engage with people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Grab a drink and enjoy
the party! </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02705836042171657028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-6330481458019651552014-02-28T11:22:00.003+11:002014-02-28T11:24:08.425+11:00Get Mobile - Your Customers Are!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Whilst we avoid writing technical content we thought it was timely to share the facts about why we are so passionate about building great websites.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Did you know…</b></span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">15.5 million Australians access the internet</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">35 years and above account for 57.7% of the online population</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">On average, Australians spend nearly 24 hours per week on the internet</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">These figures speak for themselves. More and more mature aged Australians are active online, they often rely heavily on the internet to research products and services they are looking for.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">With advances in technology, people’s habits are changing. Where and how they use the internet has evolved.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Did you know…</b></span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">77% of Australians don’t leave their home without having their smart phone on them</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">78% of smart phone users access the internet from their phone</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When they access the internet on their phone, they:</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">connected with the business (64%)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">visited the business via website or in store (67%)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">made a purchase either online or in store (41%)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This shows Australians are on the move with accessing the internet. They are using their mobile to find the answer they need – on the spot.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The way a website appears on a desktop computer is very different to how it appears on a mobile phone. This is because of the reduced screen-size, meaning there’s less real-estate for the website to sit on, making parts of the website un-readable. However a responsively designed website, adapts and scales itself automatically to fit perfectly within screens of all sizes. This means collapsing menu’s to hide beneath buttons, changing the structure of pages, and moving certain buttons to prominent areas to make sure all ‘calls-to-action’ aren’t missed.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In short, responsively designed websites always display optimally depending on the device they are viewed on. Not only this, but Google shows plenty of love to websites that are built responsively, so they are a great help for SEO. It’s like the invention of the iPod compared to the cassette player. It’s only a matter of time until all websites are built responsively.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">But Adam, I have a mobile website, does this mean I’m in the clear?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It’s an ‘A’ for effort, but a B- for execution. Don’t get me wrong, having a mobile website and a standard website is better than just a standard website, or no website at all for that matter. But there are a few key differences between responsively designed websites, and mobile websites:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Mobile Website</b></span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Has a separate CMS that needs to be updated independently</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Information and features are culled to fit on a mobile screen</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Is only useful on mobile devices</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Responsive Website</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It is the one website, with the one CMS so only has to be updated the once</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Almost no features are culled, just re-arranged nicely</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Fits perfectly on mobile, desktop and tablet devices</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Ensuring your business has a website that works well in today’s rapidly changing technology environment is critical to the success of your business. If a user finds you online and change </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02705836042171657028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-8005286662866463302014-01-31T16:40:00.002+11:002014-01-31T16:40:35.167+11:00Redesigning Your Website<div class="MsoNormal">
Often your website is the first impression of your business.
This can be based exclusively on your website…therefore we know redesigning
your website isn’t a task that your take lightly. It requires a good deal of
thought, time, and potentially money, but the upside can be enormous.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s important to note here that "redesign"
doesn’t necessarily mean you need to change every single element on your
website. In fact, redesigns can just mean making functional modifications that
help your website work better and assist you in reaching your marketing and
sales goals. After all, your website is one of the foundational elements of
your business strategy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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There are a few steps in redesigning and some
considerations, but the benefits can be rewarding for your brand and business.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Dye Your Hair Colour,
or Get A Full Make-Over?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Sometimes, websites only need a few minimal changes to make
it look modern. Just a tweak here, and a tweak there and you’d be surprised the
difference it can make! But you may be looking to include some new features, or
maybe your website has aged like a sun-tanning enthusiast and needs a
transformation that would rival most Reality TV Make-Over shows. This all
really depends on what you’re trying to achieve and what shape your website is
currently in. it may just need a change in colour, and an engaging function
like a homepage rotator, and some websites will need to start from scratch as
there isn’t worth salvaging anything.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Have Your Cake and
Eat It Too<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Have a bit of a look in to your website, and think about
what features have been successful. Maybe you have been great at getting people
on to your website and browsing information, but just haven’t quite been able
to land many catches and have them leaving contact details for you to follow
them up. In this case, you want to change the design to make your call to
action (Sign up, free quote etc.) more prominent and easier for the user to
fill out. It might not have anything to do with placement at all, but merely a
dauntingly long contact form. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Once you have figured out what features have worked, and
what hasn’t you can determine what features you can keep, and what needs
tweaking to be successful on the new website. Now we combine these ingredients
with new features that are being released, as well as features that were
previously non-existent. Now we’re on to a winner! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Have Objectives<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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If your objective is ‘to make the website look nice’, you’re
doing it wrong.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s all well and good having a ‘nice’ looking website, but
it needs to be an effective website if you want to see a return on your
investment. Don’t get me wrong, a ‘nice’ looking website in most cases will
help in creating an effective website. But you need to delve further, don’t
just go skin deep. Create objectives that are specific, measurable, achievable,
relevant and time-bound (SMART), as these will help you analyse how successful
the project was. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Let’s look at an effective objective:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>“I will increase my
conversion rate on website leads to attain contact details by an average of 15%
within 6 months of launching my new website.” <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Now let’s break it down:</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Specific: this objective is concerning
increasing their conversions on leads. In this sense they want to capture more
contact details to follow up with, or use in marketing promotions.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Measurable: the results can be measured as you
can track these and use numbers to make assessments. They have also stated a
desired percentage increase to judge the results.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Achievable: 15% is a respectable increase. It’s
motivating in that it is a significant improvement, but it is not an increase
that is too difficult to attain that it is de-motivating and counter-productive
– you want to dangle the carrot far in enough in front so you think you can
reach it, but you still have to work hard to get there.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Relevant: The objective is relevant in that
achieving this, will improve the profitability of the business.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Time-bound: a time-limit has been set in which
the objective needs to be achieved, as this helps make the objective measurable
and assessable.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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It’s also important to have multiple objectives, relating to
the different parts of the business you want to improve. You could have an
objective for website hits, another for conversions, another for sales etc. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Does this Website
Help Complete the Puzzle?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Marketers often refer to your overall marketing strategy as
a puzzle. All the different channels and mediums help create a big picture of
how you are perceived and positioned in the market. Your website is obviously
one of your most important pieces of this marketing puzzle, as it is one of the
most frequently used touch-points for your customers, and is used to base many
consumer decisions, so it’s important that your website fits well into your
marketing puzzle. Does it accurately reflect your business and your branding?
Does it help you achieve your business goals? All in all, is it working
consistently and complimenting your other marketing efforts?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Consider Market Needs
and Trends<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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It’s something that business owners should constantly be
doing, but they’re particularly important in the ever-evolving world of
websites. You firstly must need to
consider the needs of your target market, to make the user experience as
comfortable and enjoyable as possible. For instance, if your target market is
young children for an educational website, you will need to factor in how easy
the website is to use and navigate. Think big, bright buttons, minimal text,
and a very easy-to-follow structure and workflow.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Now think about a business like a Marketing Firm, and what
information their customers would want. The high priority information they are
after are: Their reputation, their services and some case studies. So this
information needs to be prominent and accessible!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now let’s think about the evolving world of technology and
websites. It’s common knowledge that websites date quite quickly because of all
of the changes in technology, so it’s important you know where the world of
websites is heading, so get ahead of the curve and make sure your website is
valid for as long as possible.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Right now there are two major trends: Responsive Design and
parallax scrolling. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Responsive design is all about having the one website scale
and adjust depending on the screen being used to view the website, to make sure
it works optimally. Then there’s the parallax scrolling feature, this is all
about design. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>We’ve Rebuilt your
House, Now we Need to Furnish it!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The biggest mistake you can make, is to invest time and
money into getting a brand new website that looks amazing and has all the bells
and whistles you need on it, but the images and text just don’t add anything.
This is more obvious in terms of images, I mean it’s so easy to make a website
look nice with high-quality, relevant images, and it’s so easy to ruin a web
design with poor ones. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Take a bit of extra time to consider your content and
images, because you will see unimaginable results!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This concludes our series on rebranding; often a very
daunting task but it can also be a very rewarding one also when done correctly.
Hopefully these tips and tricks will help you along the way, and remember, we’re
always here to chat and give advice when needed!<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02705836042171657028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-24758053061903405862013-12-11T16:03:00.001+11:002013-12-11T16:07:55.579+11:00How to Do It and What to ConsiderSo by now, I’m hoping I’ve convinced you to consider doing a bit of a touch-up of your brand as the benefits can be unbelievable. But now you’re thinking, “how do I actually go about the process of rebranding, and what needs to be considered to make sure it’s effective?” Well my friends, you can stop worrying because I have your guide right here!<br />
<br />
Rebranding your business is no easy feat, and not something to be taken lightly, that’s for sure. That’s why it is important to take your time, and understand the direction you want to head.<br />
<br />
<b>Justify, Justify, Justify!</b><br />
One simple rule to consider when doing this is to justify every decision. Every decision needs to have a purpose, and must benefit the business either directly or indirectly in some-way.<br />
<br />
This could be decisions such as the colours used, fonts, what aspects you will compete on, and majorly, why are you targeting the consumers you are looking to attract?<br />
<br />
If you don’t have a good reason why you are changing your brand image to be a particular way, then you need to look deeper into your business to get an understanding of it.<br />
<br />
<b>Find an Edge</b><br />
It’s all well and good to alter your brand image to be perceived differently in the market, but it’s just as important that your business finds a unique aspect to focus on. This is the basis of your competitive advantage, and is basically the reason why consumers use your product/service as opposed to your competitors.<br />
<br />
Don’t change your branding to copy a major competitor, as this will be transparent and ineffective. Discover your competitive advantage, or even identify a new possible competitive advantage, and base your branding around this. Make it the key message in all of your marketing material, and build on it.<br />
<br />
<b>Start from the Top and Work Your Way Down</b><br />
This might sound counter-productive, but think about it this way. You don’t think of the directions you need to follow in order to get to a destination, before you decide on the destination. You choose where you need to get to, and then how you will get there.<br />
<br />
It’s the same with rebranding. You won’t know how to achieve the right look, until you determine what the right look is. Then you can engineer all the aspects that make up that perception.<br />
<br />
Let’s use an example: a brand that is considered to be in the middle price range for fashion wants to start targeting higher end consumers. Now we can pick apart each element of a brand image that encourages us to perceive this brand as being ‘high-end’ and ‘luxurious’:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Classy and elegant logo and marketing material (fonts are either elaborate or very simple, use colours such as black, gold, white, strong imagery that evokes a sense of aspiration)</li>
<li>Expensive fixtures and fit-outs for the shopfront, usually in a busy and rich area that is visited by high-powered professionals</li>
<li>Prices are much higher than average, as their business model is aimed at selling a small amount of products but at a higher profit margin to promote exclusivity.</li>
<li>The uniforms of the employees are classy and they are always well-groomed, polite and in some cases, are even encouraged to act ‘snobby and pretentious’ as this reinforces their brand image.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Let’s look at our second example. A company that has dominated its industry for as long as we can remember, but in more recent times has had to change its branding to capitalise on changing trends, and negate some potentially dangerous events.<br />
<br />
<b>This month’s example is McDonald’s. </b><br />
After virtually taking over the world one Big Mac at a time, the growing concerns surrounding obesity levels in the developed world threatened to derail the growth and sustainability of McDonald’s as the public looked for more nutritious options, and had a greater interest in the origins of their food. McDonald’s reacted positively, by offering more healthy options and recreating the way they are perceived in the market, catering to existing consumers who were looking for more alternatives, and even capturing new consumers who would have previously never considered purchasing McDonald’s because of their nutritional value.<br />
<br />
As well as this, McDonald’s introduced McCafe and high-end, boutique-styled burgers to capture a larger consumer base, as well as improve their product offering reputation in the market.<br />
<br />
Love them or hate them, they’ve got a great business model, and know how to capitalise on changing consumer trends, while turning potentially negative PR into a positive.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02705836042171657028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-64899748248775772002013-11-28T16:47:00.000+11:002013-11-28T16:47:01.417+11:00Rebranding, Why you should do it and how you should do it.<div class="MsoNormal">
Ladies and Gentlemen… Test match Cricket is here! To celebrate the next 3 months of emotional exhaustion and hopefully celebration, we at Digerati, are running our own series to be used as light-reading during lunch breaks of the Cricket. This 3 part series on effectively rebranding a business will endure the entire summer of Ashes and will be aimed at growing your business, while Mitchell Johnson grows his moustache. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Now when experts mention rebranding, most business owners immediately think of changing a logo to look ‘fresh’ and modern. But rebranding is more than a logo; it involves the product offerings, the shopping experience and marketing strategies, all to reposition a business within the market to enable the business to reach their full potential. This may be by appearing more eco-friendly, more established, higher class, or even just appearing more affordable. </div>
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<br /></div>
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If there’s one thing that small businesses do brilliantly, is that they understand their business and why they do what they do. If there’s one thing that small businesses don’t do brilliantly, it is position their brand within a market and sell themselves correctly. In order to do this, your business needs to understand not only its current consumer base, but its DESIRED consumer base. Your current consumer base may not be the right one for your product, as your offering may resonate much better with a different target audience. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a very brief nutshell, this is how you rebrand successfully: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li>Understand your product offering, and understand who would want to buy it to identify the most profitable target audience</li>
<li>Position your business and product in the market to reach, and resonate with these consumers </li>
<li>Make loads of money and take over the world!</li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Effective rebranding can basically re-create who you are, what you do, and how good you are. Don’t believe me? For this month’s example, let’s have a look at one of the best rebrands ever conducted… Apple.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Believe it or not, Apple was on the verge of bankruptcy a matter of 15 years ago. Sales were falling, and they needed a completely different edge. Their products were deemed inferior and sub-par, and they basically went from zero to hero with a few small strategic decisions. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Ask anyone who knows anything about computers, and Apple products really aren’t anything special. Ask just about anyone in the normal population, and they’ll practically lose themselves with excitement over Apple products. Why? Because they are perceived in the market as the ultimate product – prestigious, user friendly, and innovative. </div>
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<br /></div>
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To achieve this, they ‘went against the grain’, so to speak, deciding to make a very dry and technical computer industry, personable and fun by adding some colour and some sleek design. Apple separated themselves from their competitors by positioning themselves as the underdog company that is <i>for</i> the people, fighting against multi-national conglomerate companies and the message resonated with the consumer base - kind of ironic now that they are one of the most dominant brands in the world. </div>
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<br /></div>
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But in the end, it’s about designing your brand, to make sure it resonates with the right type of consumers, and finding a point of strategic advantage over your competitors. Apple decided to chase consumers who usually wouldn’t be interested in computers and technology, but by making their products LOOK simple, easy and attractive, a whole new market emerged – a market that Apple has dominated ever since. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Take nothing away from how innovative some of the Apple products are, but the core advantage they have over their competitors, is they know how to make their products desirable, driving demand. As a result, they have gone from being perceived as inferior, and ‘behind the times’, the now be seen as the leading innovator in technology and marketing. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Part 2 of the rebranding series will hopefully recap some the second Ashes Test with another comfortable win by the Aussies, as well as what to consider when rebranding for success. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02705836042171657028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-70895738495840063262013-10-30T11:56:00.000+11:002013-10-30T11:56:15.649+11:00Build a Website for a Human, Not a Computer – Exposing SEO Myths for What They Really AreToday I had two coffees instead of one so I’m feeling a bit weird. As a result, I thought I’d spice things up a bit and interview myself on the category of SEO to make it more interesting (and make me feel like an important celebrity). I call this interview, “Build a Website for a Human, Not a Computer – Exposing SEO Myths for What They Really Are”. I decided to write this blog because of all the enquiries I’ve had from clients who have received spam SEO emails, or think that being ranked first on Google will deliver a pot of gold.<br />
<br />
<b>“So Adam, thanks for taking time out to talk to us about the latest social trend on the technology scene. So in a nutshell, what is SEO?”</b><br />
<br />
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and is basically the concept of building, manipulating and strategically updating your website to ensure it has a good chance of being ranked highly by Google for certain searches. As more and more businesses go online, it’s started a whole new competitive battleground with businesses fighting for the top spot to generate more leads. And there are a lot of ‘SEO Experts’ out there looking to exploit the naivety of business owners. They offer quick-fix solutions that seem like a miracle, but you just can’t outsmart Google. If you want top rankings, you have to do it the old fashioned way with a bit of elbow grease.<br />
<br />
<b>”So just HOW smart is Google?”</b><br />
<br />
Put it this way, if Google was one of the kids you went to school with in Kindergarten, it was the kid doing algebra at the HSC level while you’re still learning how to do dot-to-dots and building things with Play-Doh. Google has one of the most complex algorithms ever created, and it is tailored to serve the mass public. After all, if it’s not catering to its users, then those users will turn to another Search Engine that is returning more relevant search results.<br />
<br />
<b>“So if you can’t trick Google, what do these ‘SEO Experts’ actually do?”</b><br />
<br />
To be honest, a lot of what these ‘Experts’ do, you can actually do yourself given the right tools. A lot of the SEO companies talk about adding in Meta Tags, Meta Data, back links, RSS Feeds etc. most of which are out-of-date as Google continually improves its system to prevent any shortcuts being used. Some of these features are still relevant, but only when used properly. But most of the time, the SEO Experts focus on building the website to attract Google, not customers, because that’s what they’re being paid for: getting you to the top of Google.<br />
<br />
<b>“But Adam, wouldn’t all that other stuff not matter as long as you’re on top of the Google Rankings?”</b><br />
<br />
Close, but no cigar my friend. Having a good ranking on Google may give you more leads, but unless done properly and organically, you won’t be capturing many of these leads. Before you ask, this is because the website will be built for Google, a computer, and not for human consumption. You may have a lot of users clicking on to your website, but if the website isn’t built for humans, you can guarantee not many users will take part in a call to action.<br />
<br />
<b>“So Adam, what should I do to make sure I get a good Google ranking, and convert the leads I generate?”</b><br />
<br />
It’s actually pretty straight forward – think of it like weight loss. You have two options: a Fad Diet that promises to help you lose 10kg in the first 2 weeks or your money back, or you can change your overall diet with the help of a nutritionist, and exercise regularly.<br />
<br />
The Fad Diet may be cheaper and deliver immediate, short-term results, but it won’t be healthy and it won’t survive the test of time. However if you do it properly, and in a healthy manner, the sky’s the limit. A few tips and tricks:<br />
Ensure your website coding is clean and high standard – if you have a Digerati website you can be rest assured that it is!<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Update your content regularly, keeping it fresh and engaging</li>
<li>Use keywords in your content that are applicable to your industry and product offering</li>
<li>Use social media integration, blog and event feeds, as well as using videos</li>
<li>Be active on social media, linking back to your website</li>
<li>Look at introducing a sitemap</li>
<li>Have REPUTABLE websites link back to your website, and in-turn linking to other reputable websites from yours.</li>
</ol>
<br />
It’s great if you can improve your SEO in a healthy and organic way, and we can help you with some ideas of how you can improve and build an SEO strategy, give us a call, and we’d be happy to take a look at your website and let you know of some improvements that can be made.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02705836042171657028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-28022630749224361782013-09-27T14:45:00.001+10:002013-09-27T14:45:18.590+10:00Get Your Business In Shape For Summer<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By now you’re probably
receiving a whole bunch of newsletters from gyms and lifestyle companies asking
the guilt-ridden question, “Are you ready for Summer?” Well it’s time for me to
pile some more guilt on to your already motivated self. It’s time to start
thinking about your Summer Campaigns people!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So while you’re following
the instructional DVD on how to get
washboard abs in seven minutes, you should also start to think about how
you can drive sales and grow your business. Making your business more
profitable sounds way more fun than rolling around on the floor in pain trying
to look good for Summer, I don’t think I’d have anyone object to that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But how can you really
nail your Summer Campaign Special? It’s pretty simple actually, and it can be
much more cost-effective than you think. Here’s a few tips:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #37404e; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Plan<br /></span></span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">People are smart, they will know when something
has been poorly planned or planned at the last minute. A poorly planned
campaign can do more harm than good to your brand, even if you have the best
intentions. So start planning nice and early and you will reap the rewards!<br /><br /></span></li>
<li><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #37404e; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Budget<br /></span></span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">Don’t try to extend yourself too much. A good
Summer Campaign doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective. It can be
something small or creative. Your customers (on the most) don’t care how
expensive the gift is, it’s the thought that counts. It’s important that the
campaign either makes you money, or builds brand recognition/positivity, just
make sure it doesn’t send you broke.<br /><br /></span></li>
<li><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #37404e; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">What can my Campaign be?<br /></span></span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">Discounts, new products, free trials or a small
gift - which one do I go for? It all depends on a few things:<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">a) Your branding<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">b) Your customer base<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">c) What you want to achieve out of the campaign<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />Branding<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">It’s a good idea to always keep any promotional products or discounts in-line
with your branding. If you have gone to extensive lengths to make sure your
brand appears down-to-earth, fun and relaxed, don’t go giving away an
expensive, executive style pen to your clients. Give them something with a bit
of humour and life (I’ll shamelessly self-promote Digerati’s last two Xmas
specials of BeachBalls and Frisbees…. they were a stroke of genius). It’s
important to keep your branding consistent in all aspects of your business and
marketing.<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />Customer Base<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">It can be difficult to nail this, especially for businesses who don’t really
have a ‘typical customer’. But it’s common sense if your business serves a very
specific market. Eg. if you sell baby clothes and equipment, don’t give out
beer coasters as promotional items… that’s just silly. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /><br />Achievements<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">Any marketer will tell you, before you start a campaign, you have to know what
you want to achieve out of it. Otherwise, you’re just blindly clutching at
straws. If you know exactly where you want to go, it’s a lot easier to get
there! If it’s simply to say thanks to your customers and build some customer
satisfaction, a small gift is the best way to go (kill two birds with one stone
and have some branding on it… FREE ADVERTISING!), but if it’s to drive sales, a
bonus offer, free trial or discounted price is the way to go!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /><br /></span></li>
<li><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #37404e; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">How do I
Make Sure it’s Successful?<br /><br /></span></span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">Again, this all ties back to what you want to
get out of the campaign. If you achieved what you wanted it will be successful,
so your implementation strategies need to be in-line with your goals. Needless
to say, no matter what campaign you decide to run, you will need awareness! You
want people to know about your new product, of how much you appreciate their
business, and you want people to sign up for that free trial! So how do you
create the awareness? Use some of the below:<br /></span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Integrate
your Social Media: This is probably the best place to advertise first and
foremost. People on Facebook LOVE to hear about free stuff or discounts,
especially if they like your business! It can not only lead to a more effective
campaign, but a stronger social media presence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Email
Campaign: Great way to reach your database of clients because it’s
cost-effective, time-efficient and you can track exactly who opened it, and
what they clicked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Advertise the
campaign on your website: your website is one of, if not the most important
marketing tools of your business, so use it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Adjust your
Email Signature: Just think about how many people see it every day. It’s
basically free and very effective. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, hopefully I haven’t
taken too much time away from your exercise routine, but if you follow these
tips, I’m sure your business will be in its best possible shape for Summer! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02705836042171657028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-4430083973311462802013-08-28T15:38:00.000+10:002013-08-28T15:38:27.823+10:00Building a relationship, not just a database! <div class="MsoNormal">
You would be hard pressed to find a website these days that
doesn’t try to capture your details and add you to their database. Maybe they
lure you with the idea of a VIP club, or promise exclusive specials. Maybe you
get a free eBook or tips sent to your inbox. Or perhaps you can’t buy anything
from their website without adding your details or even enter the website at
all?! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a user, it can be a real pain can’t it?! But what about
from the perspective of the business? Generating a database of potential
customers is incredibly valuable and being able to ‘speak’ to this clientele
regularly is a fantastic way to grow your business and generate more sales. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many people are happy to sign up to a database, if they can
see the value in it for them! This is why specials, free downloads and free
information will often work to grow this database for you… But if you don’t
deliver, after a while, many customers will inevitably unsubscribe and get more
frustrated with your business (definitely NOT what you intended to achieve,
ay?!)</div>
<h4>
<b>How can you prevent this?</b></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s give credit to our customers, they are more savvy and
in tune with motivations than perhaps we realise. Therefore, if you hook them
in by offering giveaways, and then just sell-sell-sell, they aren’t going to be
impressed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A better way to think about your database is like a list of
your business’s friends… People who have opted in to keep in touch with you.
This is a gift! So don’t focus on selling, focus on building a relationship
with these people. Tell them about what’s been happening within your business,
give them updates, specials, recent changes, staff changes and more. Make them
feel part of the family – and with the growing relationship, they will be more
inclined to buy again from you. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At <a href="http://www.digeratisolutions.com.au/" target="_blank">Digerati</a> we have a campaign system that allows you to
easily keep in contact with your clients. You can email a whole database in a
simple to use system, and see all kinds of reports and data. You can also integrate
this with your website, so your customers get added to various lists without
the need to do data entry.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
Get in touch with us if you would like to know
more about building relationships with your clients!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02705836042171657028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-69374446455208256232013-07-31T16:20:00.000+10:002013-07-31T16:20:26.106+10:00Fall In Love With Your WebsiteJust imagine your ideal partner, your perfect match that ticks all the boxes in that internal check list you assess on every date (don’t lie, you all have one and it’s nothing to be ashamed of). They’re good looking, smart (but not too smart that they make you feel inadequate), cultured, and fun aren’t they? They’re easy to get along with, and they’ll age like a fine wine… am I right?<br />
<br />
Chances are, without getting too specific and without showing any gender bias, these are the criteria just about everyone has.
Now let’s take these same criteria, and apply it to an equally interesting and romantic concept… WEBSITES!<br />
<br />
No seriously, stay with me on this one, we’ll just make a few slight adjustments to make my theory work.
So what makes a great website?<br />
<br />
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0; border: 1px solid #47a5e1; text-align: left;">
<thead>
<tr>
<th style="background: #47a5e1; color: white; padding: 5px 10px;">A Damn Good Website</th>
<th style="background: #47a5e1; color: white; padding: 5px 10px;">Your Ideal Partner</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #47a5e1; padding: 5px 10px;">Nice appealing design that captures your attention and stands out from the crowd</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #47a5e1; padding: 5px 10px;">“They’re really, really, ridiculously good looking” – Derek Zoolander</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #47a5e1; padding: 5px 10px;">The content is relative, informative, but in a casual enough language that users don’t need to start looking for a dictionary to comprehend you</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #47a5e1; padding: 5px 10px;">Smart, without being intimidatingly smart (it’s hard to love a know-it-all)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #47a5e1; padding: 5px 10px;">The website should be easy to navigate, so users can find the right information and quickly creating an enjoyable user experience</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #47a5e1; padding: 5px 10px;">Easy to get along with… it might also help if you can actually understand them and their actions (although this is pretty rare to find)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #47a5e1; padding: 5px 10px;">Something engaging and intriguing. A real wow-factor feature that sets the standard</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #47a5e1; padding: 5px 10px;">Cultured and fun. They’re a bit different, a bit quirky but in the best possible way</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #47a5e1; padding: 5px 10px;">An innovative design and construction that pushes the boundaries, but won’t look tacky or ancient in 5 years’ time</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #47a5e1; padding: 5px 10px;">They’ll age like a fine wine harvested from the best vines in the South of France</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As you can see, the same principals apply. When you think
about what you want your website to be like, think about your perfect match.
It’s a much better starting point than most would think.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
You can try and stay in denial all you like and try to separate the two, but face it, everything you want in a website, is everything you want in a partner. We might not be able to help you find your future partner, but we can make a fantastic website to keep you happy until then!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02705836042171657028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-86711336657709144102013-06-28T14:57:00.001+10:002013-06-28T14:59:01.685+10:00The Power of eCommerce - Part 3The final instalment of the ‘Power of eCommerce’ series, will be talking about which features are best for your business. There are a multitude of online stores out there, with varying complexities and features. In some cases, less is more, but in other cases, a small, additional feature can mean the world of difference. Here’s a list of the most common additional features used in online stores, how to use them, and how not to use them.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Wish Lists/Saving Orders</h3>
Built to target three types of consumers in the online world that these features are aimed towards:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>The ‘Hesitators’: your friends who take 30mins to decide if they want coke or lemonade at Macca’s Drive-thru – they get too emotionally unstable that they just need to take a break and come back to decide later.</li>
<li>The ‘Comparers’: bargain hunters who will judge products with a set list of criteria to ensure they get the best deal – they’ll grab wish lists from as many websites as they can, and assess their options with a fine-toothed comb.</li>
<li>The ‘Regulars’: that guy who orders the same subway sandwich, with the same salads and dressing, with the same bread, from the same subway, every day – sometimes, you just shouldn’t mess with a good thing.</li>
</ol>
<br />
These features are usually used exclusive of each other depending on the business and product line, but can be a huge success if used properly and in the right context.<br />
<br />
<b>Be Warned:</b> the ability to save orders might take away some of the revenue created from your impulse buyers. Give them the chance to think, and they may think saving their money is a better option.<br />
<br />
<b>Quick Tip:</b> if you’re going to have the ability to create a Wish List, the best way to approach it would be to allow the customer to email their wishlist to themselves or a friend, as this will help remind them of the products, (and if you want to be a little bit naughty, their email address can always be stored for later use in campaign efforts).<br />
<br />
<h3>
Promo Codes</h3>
Promo Codes are a great way to start a feeding frenzy, or reward customers for their loyalty. It adds extra incentive for potential customers to finally take that leap and buy the jacket they’ve been eyeing off for the past week, throws a little bit of brand loyalty their way, and it’s a great way to launch a new campaign/brand/product.<br />
<br />
The Big Questions: Should it be a fixed price, or a percentage discount? Should it only apply for purchases over $XX? Should it only apply to certain products, or product categories? Simply, there’s no one way to do them. It depends on your business model, your product line and what you’re looking to achieve.<br />
<br />
<b>Be Warned:</b> if you’re going to use a Promo Code, run some sort of Campaign to go with it. Your Profit Margins will be smaller, so your sales need to be bigger!<br />
<br />
<b>Quick Tip:</b> It might seem pointless, but the actual Promo Code to be entered to receive the discount is a great opportunity for the business. A strategically designed promo code can actually be really effective. People pay attention to the codes that need to be entered, instead of wasting an opportunity using the code to be ‘XH7dsgJ’, make it something relevant, eg. ‘SuperSummerSale’, or even have a bit of humour, and use something like ‘GiveMeFreeStuff’. It all contributes to your brand image, and the message you are trying to send through the campaign efforts.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Members vs Guest Checkout</h3>
It’s your old fashioned Catch-22 scenario. If I force them to become members in order to purchase, some may choose to purchase elsewhere. But if they do register as members, I have all the details I need to sell them more stuff!<br />
<br />
Members sections are great for products people will purchase regularly as shipping/billing details are saved, consumers are likely have a good relationship with your website, so would want to know about regular sales and promotions, and it generally streamlines the purchasing process.<br />
<br />
Guest checkout options are perfect for my rule of thumb: if people are forced to sign up to your mailing list, they probably aren’t going to read your emails anyway, but if people have the option and choose to sign up, then you’ve got the best of both worlds - you keep a good relationship with your customer, and you’ll have a mailing list full of interested contacts.<br />
<br />
Remember: 1 willing subscriber is worth 10 unwilling subscribers!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02705836042171657028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-64171432883729550372013-05-31T08:32:00.000+10:002013-05-31T08:38:13.255+10:00The Power of eCommerce - Part 2Last month, I spoke about the effect designs have on the
effectiveness of eCommerce stores, and the strategies employed to increase
sales. In this month’s issue, I’ll be revealing reasons why you should take
your business online!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
First off, I’d like to reveal a few interesting facts to
capture your attention.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<br />
<ul>
<li>77% of Consumers will visit a physical store to
research a product, knowing they will purchase this product online at another
time</li>
<li>30% of customers trust a company’s website,
compared to 22% for newspaper ads, and 21% for TV ads</li>
<li>22% of consumers learned about the last product
they purchased via the internet</li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>By the end of 2013, it is expected that mobile
commerce will account for 15% of all eCommerce</li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Global eCommerce sales are expected to reach
close to $1 Trillion USD this year</li>
</ul>
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These facts are about as convincing as it gets, in terms of
identifying a growing market, and forecasting a future trend. The risks and
costs involved are dwarfed by the potential growth and profitability at hand. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A global push towards the online world has been largely
driven by convenience, availability and price. Consumers can now shop
high-class, boutique fashion stores in Paris, from the comfort of their lounges
in their pyjamas whilst they watch Grey’s Anatomy. I don’t know about you, but
I’d much rather be shopping from the comfort of my own home, at whatever time
suits me, without having to worry about finding a parking spot, navigate my way
through crowds, only to find out they don’t have the right size or colour in
stock.<br />
<br /></div>
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Not only do physical stores have to compete with the
availability and convenience of online, global stores, but they have to worry
about overheads such as rent, floor staff, utilities etc. From a marketing
point of view, the competitive advantages that physical stores once had, are
rapidly diminishing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span>I also thought it was quite interesting to see
how often people are buying online using their mobile devices, as well as
tablets. It seems that responsive websites are becoming more and more
important, allowing users to view websites in an easy-to-navigate layout no
matter what device they are using to browse with. It’s quite clear to see, that
it seems very dangerous to ignore the rise of eCommerce in the global market,
because it could have enormous ramifications in the growth of your business.</span>Liamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01394277566316110107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703868171034101701.post-81399635695676215152013-04-30T10:07:00.000+10:002013-04-30T10:07:31.706+10:00The Power of eCommerce<br />
The retail landscape has seen dramatic changes over the past two decades. Businesses that have not been able to keep up with technology and move with the times have fallen away. There is an ever-increasing focus on the online world, which has seemingly broken down all geographical boundaries that once existed.<br />
<br />
Considering how many people are not only searching for information about products online, but actually purchasing online, it seems like pure common sense to have an online component to your physical store – especially considering how cheap they can be.<br />
<br />
But what makes a successful online store? Over the next 3 updates, we will be giving you an insight into how to create an effective eCommerce website, to provide a great return on your investments.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>Design</b></h3>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
The best eCommerce stores are the best for a reason. They know their consumer, they know what they want, and they cater to their needs. In almost all cases, it comes down to easy navigation, and a simple purchasing process.<br />
<br />
It also has to be clean, with space for the eye to navigate easily around the site and find what they are looking for as quick as possible. If there are too many steps or too much wrong navigation the consumer will leave your site very quickly – and it’s hard to re-capture a lost client (don’t believe me? Just ask Nokia).<br />
<br />
The best and clearest form or navigation is through a series or buttons, easy clicking from step to step with prominent, well labelled buttons. A logical and easy-to-follow structure, with limited steps and a streamlined process, will result in a higher conversion rate.<br />
<br />
<b>A Few Easy Tips</b><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>A sense of comfort and surety stems from creating goodwill. Great ways to do this include: Free shipping, Spend over $X and receive a gift or discount, Returns and refunds welcome. These all instil confidence and credibility. They are most definitely a worthy investment. All these things convince customers to go nowhere else.</li>
<li>Promote links to your social media. Online stores often find it much easier to get people to Like their page and share their pictures through competitions. This is largely due to consumers being more receptive to eCommerce Social Media offerings than other business sectors, as most do some sort of online shopping anyway.</li>
<li>Product reviews by peers and multiple images from different angles are a great way to boost consumer confidence and brand credibility.</li>
<li>Make Contact Numbers and Security Badges prominent to help ease any stress or hesitation from the consumer.</li>
</ol>
<br />
Just think of reasons why people would hesitate to buy online, and fix those issues. The lack of overheads and increased reach and exposure could make the world of difference for your business.<br />
Liamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01394277566316110107noreply@blogger.com