"If you build it... they will come." Ha, wouldn't that be nice, IF it were true. The fact is, having a website designed and out on the big wide web will produce little if any results... UNLESS your web site designer knows what they are doing with design search engine optimization , and YOU, yes you, spend some time working at getting and keeping your URL on the web map and keeping it there. What, you mean I have to be involved in all of this? Yes mam, or sir, you do! Unless you want to spend oodles of cash on paid advertising... and who really clicks on those anyway?
I can not stress the importance of you being involved in keeping your website fresh and interesting and your roll in helping lead people to it. Here are some sweet tips!
1. Update your web content regularly. No one likes to see or read the same ol' stuff. Google as well as many other update their "look" daily. Provide your web designer with new images, text, or ideas often, or do it yourself with a content management system.
2. The Blog. This has got to be the easiest way to make changes and provide interest to your website audience. I suggest having one on your website and several others.
3. Social networking. Find forums related to your web market and make posts. Write articles about your area of expertise and submit. Join groups or start one related to your market and share information.
4. Press releases to your local print media. When you have something going on with your business, release the news to the press.
5. Be sure to always cross market your web site with all other forms of marketing, print, TV, radio, you may be doing. I can't believe how many times I have seen print ads where the company did not list their website in the ad!!
Yes, marketing yourself or business is work, but the rewards will be plentiful.
Feel free to contact me if you have a question, idea or just wish to chit chat!
6/5/07
Setting the mood~
mood~ creating an emotional tone or general attitude.
With web design, creating the mood is done with color, images, sound, font type and the over all layout of the design. creating the correct feel for your audience that really relates to your business is very important. It will set the tone for the way your web presentation is viewed and reacted to.
A well versed webdesigner will have studied color theory and typography, design elements and art composition. Designing an attractive website is like painting a picture, or taking a great photograph. All the elements need to convey the right message.
Keep this in mind so your are prepared to work together with your designer to produce optimum results!
With web design, creating the mood is done with color, images, sound, font type and the over all layout of the design. creating the correct feel for your audience that really relates to your business is very important. It will set the tone for the way your web presentation is viewed and reacted to.
A well versed webdesigner will have studied color theory and typography, design elements and art composition. Designing an attractive website is like painting a picture, or taking a great photograph. All the elements need to convey the right message.
Keep this in mind so your are prepared to work together with your designer to produce optimum results!
4/20/07
Marketing for Women and Color
I have a new website design for a Sarasota business that will be marketing exclusively to woman for sports wear. All I have to go on is a black & white logo and figures of women, so I did some research. What I found was very interesting. Some generalizations are possible based on various color studies.
Female Top 3 Favorite Colors: Blue, Purple, Green (all cool colors)
Purple stands out as a feminine color because it is chosen almost exclusively by women as a favorite color and is disliked by men. Women tend to prefer cool colors over warm and soft colors over bold full tones.
When marketing to women color is one important aspect of the design.
LuLu
Female Top 3 Favorite Colors: Blue, Purple, Green (all cool colors)
Purple stands out as a feminine color because it is chosen almost exclusively by women as a favorite color and is disliked by men. Women tend to prefer cool colors over warm and soft colors over bold full tones.
When marketing to women color is one important aspect of the design.
LuLu
2/9/07
PRE-Website Design 101
Not just another pretty face/space. You need a website, or you need to "spruce up" your existing one. What should YOU do first to ensure that your website will portray the web image you want?
1. Research your competition.
Sit at your computer and type in the key words and phrases that you personally would use to find a product or service similar to your own. Study the results on the first 1 or 2 pages. This IS your competition that you will be trying to beat with search engine ranking. Click the "view source" tab from the View menu at the top of your browser. Notice the TITLE, DESCRIPTION and KEYWORDS these websites have in place. Take note of which sites you like and dislike, the style, the tone and the content.
This research is the foundation of your website presence, and must be considered prior to thinking about design.
2. Now it's time to get 'physical."
What type of designs please you? Simplistic, complex, straight forward? Modern, retro, technical? What colors best suits your image. It is best to stay with no more than 3 or 4 main colors. Do you like horizontal or vertical menu navigation. Do you like a lot of white space?
3. Words, words & more words.
In most cases you will be responsible for writing the content of your website.. it is your business after all, and you should know it best!
Do you prefer the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd person? Do you want to be more conversational or informative in your tone. What writing style best suits your image? When writing good web content, remember to answer the users question of "so what?" Remember the rules of "who, what, where and why." Involve the user.. don't go on and on yourself. The "me-me" approach is most always a turn off. What can you do for THEM? Remember those keywords and phrases noted earlier.. use them, but only in the correct context.
4. Every picture tells a story.
Photographs, graphics and images give your website "personality." Do you have good quality images? Is your logo and branding material up to date and appropriate? You can purchase affordable and quality images for your website. Be very selective in your images. I personally like Stock Exchange or DreamsTime
5. Now you've got it!
After this careful consideration defining your website marketing and presence goals, you are now ready to select a web designer that will listen and respond to YOU. I take my clients vision very seriously and then through communication we come up with a smashing result!
Give me a shout so we can talk about it!
1. Research your competition.
Sit at your computer and type in the key words and phrases that you personally would use to find a product or service similar to your own. Study the results on the first 1 or 2 pages. This IS your competition that you will be trying to beat with search engine ranking. Click the "view source" tab from the View menu at the top of your browser. Notice the TITLE, DESCRIPTION and KEYWORDS these websites have in place. Take note of which sites you like and dislike, the style, the tone and the content.
This research is the foundation of your website presence, and must be considered prior to thinking about design.
2. Now it's time to get 'physical."
What type of designs please you? Simplistic, complex, straight forward? Modern, retro, technical? What colors best suits your image. It is best to stay with no more than 3 or 4 main colors. Do you like horizontal or vertical menu navigation. Do you like a lot of white space?
3. Words, words & more words.
In most cases you will be responsible for writing the content of your website.. it is your business after all, and you should know it best!
Do you prefer the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd person? Do you want to be more conversational or informative in your tone. What writing style best suits your image? When writing good web content, remember to answer the users question of "so what?" Remember the rules of "who, what, where and why." Involve the user.. don't go on and on yourself. The "me-me" approach is most always a turn off. What can you do for THEM? Remember those keywords and phrases noted earlier.. use them, but only in the correct context.
4. Every picture tells a story.
Photographs, graphics and images give your website "personality." Do you have good quality images? Is your logo and branding material up to date and appropriate? You can purchase affordable and quality images for your website. Be very selective in your images. I personally like Stock Exchange or DreamsTime
5. Now you've got it!
After this careful consideration defining your website marketing and presence goals, you are now ready to select a web designer that will listen and respond to YOU. I take my clients vision very seriously and then through communication we come up with a smashing result!
Give me a shout so we can talk about it!
2/6/07
VISTA
I just purchased a new computer (long over due) and am getting acquainted with "her" and the new VISTA os. So far, I like VISTA... it is sleek, more convenient, even friendlier and snazzier to look at! As for my new computer? Well, the online world is a prettier place with a 19" wide screen, and FAST is always a good thing!
This will allow me to do twice the research, studying, and web productivity in half the time!
LULU on steroids... *smiles*
How did the human race function pre-computer technology? Isn't it wonderful that that will never be a concern again.
On live technology!
This will allow me to do twice the research, studying, and web productivity in half the time!
LULU on steroids... *smiles*
How did the human race function pre-computer technology? Isn't it wonderful that that will never be a concern again.
On live technology!
1/31/07
New Web site Launch!
Just launched a very nice and informative web site today for a local (manatee/sarasota) arts council. The design elements are based upon our local artist Herbie Rose. The site was a re-design project that needed a whole new look and feel to better convey the Art Council of Manatee County's vision.
Another enjoyable web site to create - great people to work with! Gathering and collaberating ideas for their new look was easy and straight forward. I feel this design will be very benificial for their web audience.
Have a look!
www.manateearts.org
Another enjoyable web site to create - great people to work with! Gathering and collaberating ideas for their new look was easy and straight forward. I feel this design will be very benificial for their web audience.
Have a look!
www.manateearts.org
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