ImageWorksBlog

My friend Jody gets it. Some of our clients get it. But there are still a lot of people who don't realize that once your new site is launched, the work promoting it is just beginning.

What will you do to keep the site top of mind so that when people need your product or service, they think to visit your site?

There are the obvious things, if you are a restauranteur, you could make sure you put the web site on your to go menus, bumper stickers, email blasts with daily specials, etc.,. But, what if you do something less obvious? what if you have nothing to say on a daily basis?

Advertising specialties to the rescue! Coasters, Mugs, and other imprinted desk accessories with your website's URL right in front of future client can be extremely helpful. Something useful is not only helpful, but helps keep your branding top of mind.

We practice what we preach, so if you are looking for something to take up some desk space, drop us a line and we'll send you something!

CT Web design Quick Tips

Here's is a quick tip list for getting the most out of your web design project. Stick to these rules and you will be well on your way to launching a successful online marketing campaign.

1) Navigation that makes sense, and is well placed on the site. The two standards are across the top, and down the left side. Don't make people guess where to find things.

2) Less is More. A clean layout and simple yet effective design that incorporates white space makes a site easy to read, and intuitive.

3) Make sure your site is cross browser compatible. Test it on a Mac as well as a PC, and make sure it looks and acts the way it was designed to.

4) Make sure your site technology is scalable. There's nothing worse than having to rebuild your site or start your web project from scratch because you want to add some functionality that won't integrate into your platform.

5) If you are not doing the work yourself and outsource the project, INSIST on real world examples from your developer, and get a hands on demonstration so that you understand exactly what you are getting.

For even more tips, visit our white papers page at http://www.imageworksllc.com/white-papers.cfm

Jeffrey Cohen is the director of New Business Development at ImageWorks, LLC in Vernon, CT. ImageWorks has been providing state of the art web development solutions for 10 years. ImageWorks can provide web solutions for both large and small companies. Visit our portfolio on our website. For maximum ROI with your web design, development, hosting or internet marketing needs including myspace design, on-line marketing, Social Media and Blog design, or for help with web issues, contact Jeffrey at JCohen@imageworksllc.com.

Friend and colleague Chris Amorosino recently dug up some statistics and sent them out in his e-news blast. And I Quote "People spend twice as much time looking at the left side of your web page as they spend looking at the right. According to "the king of usability," Jakob Nielsen in an April 2010 study, web visitors spend 69% of their time viewing the left half of the page and 30% viewing the right half. Nielsen recommends keeping navigation to the far left; placing the main content a tad further from the far left; and showcasing your most important content between one third and halfway across the page. That's where users focus their attention the most.

Here's an area where it doesn't pay to be creative. We train people to pay attention to certain spots on the page because most sites place their key information there. Break with the conventional layout and you risk breaking down your readership."

Chris (and the Nielsen folks) clearly "get" what's going on here. Conformity where appropriate, ease of use, and making use of what naturally works will help get your message read.

For the details on Nielsen's study, go to www.useit.com/alertbox/horizontal-attention.html.

Jeffrey Cohen is the director of New Business Development at ImageWorks, LLC in Vernon, CT. ImageWorks has been providing state of the art web development solutions for 10 years. ImageWorks can provide web solutions for both large and small companies. Visit our portfolio on our website. For maximum ROI with your web design, development, hosting or internet marketing needs including myspace design, on-line marketing, Social Media and Blog design, or for help with web issues, contact Jeffrey at JCohen@imageworksllc.com.

I've read a tremendous amount of business books. Here's everything I've ever learned, boiled down so that you do not have to read the volumes that I have already digested: Constant and vigilant measuring, evaluation, and action accordingly. Understand the competitive landscape. Know your team's strengths and weaknesses. Love what you do, and surround yourself with people who share your goals.

The pieces that help us achieve success for our clients are twofold: Scalability, and the ability to genuinely listen to our customers marketing problems and then offer them an array of solutions that can actually solve these problems. Before embarking on your web design project, ask yourself: Do I know what my marketing problems are? How will I measure success?

Jeffrey

Jeffrey Cohen is the director of New Business Development at ImageWorks, LLC in Vernon, CT. ImageWorks has been providing state of the art web development solutions for 10 years. ImageWorks can provide web solutions for both large and small companies. Visit our portfolio on our website. For maximum ROI with your web design, development, hosting or internet marketing needs including myspace design, on-line marketing, Social Media and Blog design, or for help with web issues, contact Jeffrey at JCohen@imageworksllc.com.

OK, Ok, I know I preach a lot about continuity in blog posts, and how you should stick to a central theme when blogging, but every once in a while, there need to be exceptions. And today's exception is breathtaking. Here's Hubble, looking at nothing. http://www.flixxy.com/hubble-ultra-deep-field-3d.htm

Jeffrey

Jeffrey Cohen is the director of New Business Development at ImageWorks, LLC in Vernon, CT. ImageWorks has been providing state of the art web development solutions for 10 years. ImageWorks can provide web solutions for both large and small companies. Visit our portfolio on our website. For maximum ROI with your web design, development, hosting or internet marketing needs including myspace design, on-line marketing, Social Media and Blog design, or for help with web issues, contact Jeffrey at JCohen@imageworksllc.com.

Google has recently indicated that it will start using the speed at which a site loads as a priority in page ranking. An article published in issue 168 of Web Designer magazine states that "searches will now factor in how fast a page loads which will directly relate to how a site ranks in Google". Based on our experience as a web design firm, this is the first time that a fast Web site will actually be rewarded by a search engine. The general consensus among other CT web design companies we have spoken to? It appears to be a good thing for keeping the web relevant, and quick.

Jeffrey.

Jeffrey Cohen is the director of New Business Development at ImageWorks, LLC in Vernon, CT. ImageWorks has been providing state of the art web development solutions for 10 years. ImageWorks can provide web solutions for both large and small companies. Visit our portfolio on our website. For maximum ROI with your web design, development, hosting or internet marketing needs including myspace design, on-line marketing, Social Media and Blog design, or for help with web issues, contact Jeffrey at JCohen@imageworksllc.com.

Many clients come to us for help in re-designing their Web site. Typically, the conversation starts with the client asking us questions. In response, I hand them a sheet with questions that are best answered before they start peppering us with questions that are, in some cases, not relevant. This list of questions is a fantastic guide to help people get back on track with their web development projects.

1) What is the goal of the site? If it's to support your product or service, great. Then let's make the documentation front and center, and easy to find. If it's to make the phone ring, then lets make sure the phone number is big and bright and well placed.

2) How will you measure success? Is it number of visitors? Is it spreading your message? Or, is it having the right kind of person pick up the phone and call you?

3) How many people on your team have to be involved? At what level?

4) Who will be writing the content? And, what will the content say about you? this relates directly back to item number 1 on this list. Are you trying to close sales? Are you telling a story?

5) Are you earning permission to follow up? Allowing appropriate people to opt in is a very powerful tool for gaining permission to "touch" you clients.

6) How will people find your site? Google? From your URL printed on Billboards? Does showing up in the search engines matter? What about Viral Marketing?

7) Who needs to update this site? How often? Do your news and sections need frequent updating? Will your developer support ongoing maintenance, or supply you a toolset to update your content, or both?

8) How are you integrating your other marketing efforts with your Web site? Do you have coupons that are emailed out that can be redeemed in your online store? Can people request coupons from your site that can be used in your brick and mortar establishment?

9) How often will you overhaul your site? What are the dollar and time constraints on the project?

And finally, my personal favirite:

10) Do your team members understand that 'everything' is not an option?

Jeffrey

Jeffrey Cohen is the director of New Business Development at ImageWorks, LLC in Vernon, CT. ImageWorks has been providing state of the art web development solutions for 10 years. ImageWorks can provide web solutions for both large and small companies. Visit our portfolio on our website. For maximum ROI with your web design, development, hosting or internet marketing needs including myspace design, on-line marketing, Social Media and Blog design, or for help with web issues, contact Jeffrey at JCohen@imageworksllc.com.

Many of our clients approach us for guidance, and often we find that some of what they are looking for us to provide is really something they should be providing to us. As they say, "Failing to plan is planning to fail." So then, what can you do to become a better client to your creative service vendors?

Have realistic expectations, and know your limits (resources such as time, money, etc.,) before beginning the project.

Simplify the problem!

Don't be afraid of paying for the work. Friends and family typically can only take you so far.

Stay away from glitz for glitz's sake. It may look pretty, but often stifles functionality.

Jeffrey

Jeffrey Cohen is the director of New Business Development at ImageWorks, LLC in Vernon, CT. ImageWorks has been providing state of the art web development solutions for 10 years. ImageWorks can provide web solutions for both large and small companies. Visit our portfolio on our website. For maximum ROI with your web design, development, hosting or internet marketing needs including myspace design, on-line marketing, Social Media and Blog design, or for help with web issues, contact Jeffrey at JCohen@imageworksllc.com.

Customers really don’t become customers until they have bought from you at least twice. The first time they buy, they are merely visitors looking for the value in what you offer.

Getting customers in the door is one thing. Getting them to come back is something quite different. Single visit customers are the most expensive and therefore least profitable to work with. (What exactly did you spend to get them to come to your website or store in the first place?)

And now that they are here, what can you do to keep them? What can you do to build the Holy Grail of Marketing, Customer Loyalty?

Well, outstanding customer service is certainly a great start. Under promising and over delivering are the staples of a great consumer experience. But how about a great rewards program? Something of real value that keeps them coming back? And how much would you spend on someone that you have already spent a fortune on in the first place, if it means keeping them coming back?

Using your Web site as a means to capture customer loyalty is a great, cost effective way to offer your client base a way to redeem coupons, offers, and receive the benefits of being a customer. See what creative ways you can think of to keep 'em coming back.

Jeffrey

Jeffrey Cohen is the director of New Business Development at ImageWorks, LLC in Vernon, CT. ImageWorks has been providing state of the art web development solutions for 10 years. ImageWorks can provide web solutions for both large and small companies. Visit our portfolio on our website. For maximum ROI with your web design, development, hosting or internet marketing needs including myspace design, on-line marketing, Social Media and Blog design, or for help with web issues, contact Jeffrey at JCohen@imageworksllc.com.

Halt the "revolving door" on your Web site.
Have you taken a look at your Web site statistics lately?

Have you taken a look at your Web site statistics lately? As Web users get increasingly surfing-savvy, they are spending less and less time perusing sites they come across. Their initial visit may last as little as 10 seconds. If your site doesn't immediately rivet a visitor's interest, he or she is gone -- possibly never to return.

You have as little time to lock-in interest as does a highway billboard. And, once you gain that interest, you need mechanisms to guide a visitor to action: purchase your product, generate a lead, inquire about your services -- whatever you deem a successful outcome of a Web visit.

Statistics show that it is not uncommon for only one Web visitor in 500 to take action on a Web site. For some reason, most Web site owners find this an acceptable ratio. As a comparison, say you operated a traditional retail store on Main Street U.S.A. If 499 persons out of every 500 who walked into your store immediately left -- without even a glance at your merchandise -- would you find that acceptable? Of course not. You'd go out of business rather quickly.

So how do you halt the "revolving door" on the Web?

A critical step is to give your Web visitors an alluring and easy way to interact with you. And we're not talking about your site's "Contact Us" link.

The vast majority of Web sites rely on their site's "Contact Us" page for inbound inquiries. This is one of the biggest mistakes a company can make.

Statistically, the "Contact Us" page is one of the least visited pages on a Web site. Why? When a person is making an initial evaluation of a company's products or services, the last thing he or she will do is pick up the phone or send an e-mail. Consciously or unconsciously, he or she doesn't want to be bombarded with a sales pitch or get on another "spam" e-mail list.

So, if not via the "Contact Us" page, how do you encourage someone to engage your services? It's easier than you might think...

Even in today's high-tech interconnected world, still the most powerful word in all of marketing is "free". Give your Web visitors a taste of your services. An easy way is to create a couple-page PDF with some tips or insights about your industry -- and offer it as a free download on your Web site.

One of our clients is a company called Hayward Turnstiles, Inc. Visit www.haywardturnstiles.com and notice the small button in the upper right that says "Download our FREE Turnstile Guide". Simple techniques like this can be hugely successful at bringing the "revolving door" to a rapid stop. They jump-start the interaction, generate leads, create fertile and fresh databases for permission marketing e-mails and e-newsletters -- you name it.

Instead of a 1-in-500 interaction ratio, maybe it becomes 200-in-500. Now isn't that much more reasonable?

This is just one of many business-building techniques we offer our clients. ImageWorks specializes in making sites work for companies -- not just be pretty pictures on the screen.

So stop the revolving door. Lock in business. With a few small techniques, it's easy.

Jeffrey Cohen is the director of New Business Development at ImageWorks, LLC in Vernon, CT. ImageWorks has been providing state of the art web development solutions for 10 years. ImageWorks can provide web solutions for both large and small companies. Visit our portfolio on our website. If you have any web design, development, hosting or internet marketing needs including myspace design, marketing and Blog design, we can assist. For help with web issues or to leave a reply to this blog post, contact Jeffrey at JCohen@imageworksllc.com.