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15+ Inspirational Examples of Website Redesign
One of the best ways to survey the evolution of Web design over a number of years is to compare different versions of websites. In other words, by comparing redesigned websites to their earlier incarnations, we become informed about new technologies, design trends and other things that emerged in the time between the two designs and the impact of these things on Web design. In fact, the redesign process can do more than improve a website's look and feel; it might be intended to enhance functionality, make the website more user-friendly, remove deficiencies or even change underlying concepts. Redesigning websites isn't a frequently occurring process; designers usually do it when it's necessary, which is usually every two or three years. In this article I'll showcase some examples of redesigned websites that might inspire you as you work on your own redesign projects. Crazy Egg Old Design New Design Both the...
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The pros and cons of QR codes
QR codes can be a great response mechanism for mobile users, and have many potential uses for brands. Here is a rundown of the pros and cons of QR codes, as well as some examples of how to get it right... Pros Ease of use QR codes can be added to just about anything, from cereal packets to adverts on the Underground, and this versatility can be very useful for marketers. Range of uses There are hundreds of potential uses of QR codes. Here are just ten suggestions for marketers, but they can be used to extend the user experience in restaurants, museums and more. QR codes are trackable Using web analytics, and by using unique codes for different placements, marketers can gain some valuable information about how well campaigns are going, and what works and what doesn't. Easy way to send mobile users to online content The QR code...
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Top 10 Ways to Use Email Marketing Effectively
Many businesses implement the use of email marketing in tandem with their overall marketing strategy. From e-commerce sites to brick and mortar stores, large or small, business all around are engaging in email marketing to increase sales. Statistics don't lie, 88% of B2C firms currently use email marketing and another 10% are planning to use it before December 2011. This is great for business as 72% of responding companies reported 'excellent' or 'good' return of investments for email marketing plans. Therefore, whether a business has an email marketing plan in place, or are thinking about adding one to their current marketing strategy. There are some valuable tips that cannot only increase performance, but can also gain subscribers and increase the ROI. 1. Preliminary Research Even if a business has an email marketing plan already in place, a business should engage in research to determine their target markets and demographics. A...
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The five biggest benefits of a company blog
The popularity of social media has encouraged many companies to create accounts and profiles on popular services like Facebook and Twitter. However, one of the earliest components of a social media strategy, the company blog, still has the potential to provide some of the greatest value.And for good reason. While a company blog can't fix a product or service that's lacking, or send your site to the top of the SERPs overnight, it does things that may not be possible on third party services that determine the format of content and how it's distributed. The company blog can: Help you sharpen your pitch to prospective customers There are plenty of companies with great products and services that don't succeed because they can't effective sell. When employed alongside the appropriate analytics tools, a company blog can become a means to find out which sales-oriented messaging resonates. Perhaps even more importantly, it...
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Simple Ways to Attract Readers to Your Blog
Writing a blog is about getting your views and thoughts conveyed to as many people around the world as possible. Successful bloggers have worked at it for years, and it takes grit and perseverance. I have known very few people who gained popularity in the blogging world overnight. It takes a vision and a niche in which one can excel, and planning and patience must be a part of the process. Innovative techniques have been invented to pull readers to blogs from all quarters and to publicize posts. I've read articles that share tips about attracting readers to a blog, and there are far too many of them to be summarized here. Here, I'll just mention a few of the most effective ways to create buzz for your blog. Consistency Create a unique identity so that you make an impression in the minds of your readers. Followers of your...
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"But I don't LIKE Facebook and Twitter" Makes No Sense To Me...
"But I don't LIKE Facebook and Twitter" Makes No Sense To Me... To which my response is always "But do you like generating new leads and making sales?" There are still tons (tonnes for my Canadian friends) of people out there that don't use social media as a business tool because they don't like it. Yes, building your business should be fun and hopefully you'll enjoy most aspects of what you do. But if you aren't willing to do everything necessary you are limiting yourself right out of the gate. The question you should be asking yourself is this: "Did I go into business to get some results and make some money, or did I go into business looking to maximize all opportunities and create some real wealth" Either answer is OK, you have to do what is right for you. But if the answer is that you are...
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7 Things Not to Do on Twitter
When Twitter launched, critics questioned the limitation of 140 characters to make a meaningful conversation, especially for businesses. Over the years, Twitter has improved by leaps and bounds, added several business-friendly features and now ranks amongst the league of formidable social media tools for businesses. Businesses have realized the value of messages limited to 140 characters and have thronged to Twitter in large numbers. As a result of this exponential growth in the Tweetosphere, there's a strong need for a establishing a code of conduct and clearly laying out guidelines on what business should do and what they should not do on Twitter. Interestingly, a number of social media experts often focus their pep talks on what to do on Twitter. Too bad, they miss out on the important things you shouldn't be doing on Twitter. Here's my take on the 7 things you should NOT do on Twitter....
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Irritating Your Customers with Facebook, Twitter and Email
Businesses have more tools to communicate with their customers than ever before. There's email, text messaging, Twitter, Facebook, blogs and websites -- and those are just the most widely used tools. But with all those tools comes additional responsibility. Your customers should feel engaged and interested in your content and not spammed. So the challenge becomes how to best use all of these platforms without being redundant and without irritating subscribers or Fans in the process. In this article, I'll offer suggestions for the responsible use of Facebook, Twitter and email. Content Distribution Tools: Facebook, Twitter, Email First, let's outline and define the basic tools needed to spread content on the web. Social Media. Facebook and Twitter are useful ways to inform your audience, and direct traffic back to your blog or website. They can help spread your message across the web. Many businesses have several Twitter accounts, setting...
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Should You Be Facebook Friends With Your Boss?
Are you comfortable "friending" your boss on Facebook? What should you do if your boss sends you a Facebook friend request? On the contrary, should you take the initiative and send a Facebook friend request to your boss? There are no easy answers to these questions and a lot would depend on the kind of rapport you share with your boss. Robert Half Workplace Survey The recently concluded Robert Half Workplace Survey indicates 43 percent of those surveyed were not comfortable with being connected with the boss on social network sites, such as Facebook and LinkedIn, while 47 percent of managers were uncomfortable with it. Further, only 26 percent respondents said they use Facebook to connect with their colleagues. Interestingly, only 3 percent believe that friending colleagues had a direct negative impact on their workplace relationships. However, nearly one-third are critical of their colleagues being friends with their boss...
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The 7 Rules of Marketing with Facebook
Facebook is by far the world's leading social network with more than 600 million users. If Facebook were a country, it would have the world's third largest population. Therefore, it's anybody's guess as to why it's considered a marketer's paradise. Though it was conceptualized as a pure social network, it has undoubtedly taken the marketing world by storm in the last couple of years. So, what is the mantra of success for Facebook marketing? As a marketer, what do's and don'ts should you strictly follow on Facebook. I was amongst the early adopters of Facebook and I've followed it closely through last several years. Based on my experience, I hereby present to you the 7 rules of Marketing with Facebook. #1 - Profile Your Facebook profile is your identity in the world of social media. Businesses should consider various approaches on how they can improve their Facebook profiles in...
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