Let's Slow It Down

Everything’s really fast right now, information flies through fingers and phones as text, images and video, there’s never nothing new.

And while there are huge benefits to the speed at which we live, there are clearly many downsides too.

Is more really better?

The rush to keep people’s attention has led to page design typified by complex menu navigation, multiple sections, moving imagery and dynamic plugins.

Even though data indicates that increased choice makes it harder for the visitor, on some pages, particularly the home page, we still try to offer everything.

Slow web pages

The idea of a slow web page is to strip away the choices, remove distractions, present one thing and make it as easy as possible for the visitor to know what to look at.

If you’re using a content strategy to bring people to your business, if you’re taking the time to craft quality information that will increase your visitor’s knowledge - why would you want to distract them from what you created?

What does it mean for you?

Look at  the design of your blog posts and your newsletter.  Are you distracting your reader away from the content that you worked hard to produce?  

What is it you want people to do when they arrive at the web page or read your newsletter?

If you are offering multiple calls to action, try and bring it down to just one and try placing it underneath your content.

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Written while listening to: Decani Theme by music2work2

Image Credit: Slow down....you clown by Luc B on Flickr

Logos - How to Get the Right One for Your Business

A logo is a brilliant thing - literally.  The idea that the essence of your business can be represented in a concise visual format and sent luminous and radiant into the world is one hell of a construct.  Which is why you can't afford to get it wrong.

Here's how to get it right

Step 1

Think about how much time you would need to explain to a designer what your business is really about, who you are, what you stand for, who your customers are, where you've come from and where you're going (If you haven't gone through a branding process this might take a while!)

Now imagine being the designer, sitting at the workstation, playing with shapes and colors and fonts in order to find several distinct concepts that encapsulate the ideas behind the business.  How much time before you have something that is good enough to show the client?

Now imagine the discussions during the review process as ideas are evaluated, concepts explained and expanded upon.  Imagine returning to the workstation and revising and honing and then repeating the review process until finally an idea stands above everything else, complete and beautiful and representative of your future.  How much time would that take?

Add everything up and what do you have, 10 hours, 15 hours, 20 hours, more?

Step 2

Now Imagine that the designer is you, with the same amount of experience and competency as you have running your own business. 

Think about how much you might charge an hour for your time: $50, $100, $250, more?

Step 3

Multiply the estimated hours by your hourly rate and you'll have a ballpark figure of what you should be spending on getting your logo created.

For me and my business that figure is around $3,000.

Now here's the kicker

If you don't have that in your budget right now, DON"T get a logo produced.

Most people on this list don't have a logo, they use their business name where a logo would typically be, I do too.  In a world experienced through a screen, no logo is infinitely preferable to a bad logo.

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Written while listening to:  Session 3 - 191 bpm playlist by music2work2

Image credit: Fire kills children by Olivier on Flickr

2014 reflections oh, and about that Unicorn...

So that was 2014!  Pretty good year if you ask me.  I know some of you struggled, particularly in the retail sector but others thrived and there seems to be a general optimism for 2015.  About bloody time!

When I look back at the businesses I worked with this year a number of things stand out:

Web Platform

All sites this year were built on the Squarespace platform , I haven't built a new WordPress site since 2013. Not only are they great to look at, scale beautifully on Mobile and are easy for the business owner to update and use, not one of you has had to deal with an outage or a hack - this is huge!

New websites  from Simply Friday in 2014

The whole "managed" website idea, which can initially turn people off because they don't have full control is actually perfect for small business owners who don't have in-house tech resource.  If you're still futzing with servers, updating plugins and responding to ever more prevalent security alerts - you might want to think about changing.

Content Production

So we're all pretty familiar with blogging nowadays, but what I'm thoroughly enjoying is how everybody has their head around the use of Imagery.   Whether you're sourcing from the creative commons or getting creative yourself with iPhones and digital cameras, content is looking better than ever and of course that helps spread your message through your social networks.

What I'm perhaps most excited about is the development of video.  I know a few of you have it on your Q1 Ed. cal for next year but I've got to give a shout out to Keith at Greenstate Insurance and Winky at Schatan Optical Gallery for buckling down and learning how to do this.  Like everything, video is not difficult, but it takes time to learn and to find your voice.  For pure ease of information delivery and SEO value, you can't beat it - just watch this short video on who is covered to drive your car - and watch out for the rooster!

Outsourcing the boring but essential bits

We all know how hard it can be to actually create good content in the first place, but the whole image sourcing, adding of alt tags, proper meta descriptions, correct formatting and then sharing etc can be a pain in the butt.   Fortunately there are resources like Nicole Paulus over at Nico New Media who has been doing this for years and is great at her job.  She's now working with several people on this list and I know she makes their lives so much easier.

If you'd like to focus on the creative aspect and leave the formatting and delivery to Nicole get in touch with her.  Also, she's a fantastic writer, if you're not a natural wordsmith Nicole is a great resource for getting your ideas into well written SEO copy - check out this latest newsletter she wrote for Casa Victoria

Finally - about the Unicorn

It's the classic cobbler's children have no shoes thing, but for three years I have been growing this business without a defined brand or logo.  However, next year I will be developing my visual identity and defining my product offer on the website.  I had had an idea for a logo and sent it out to the list for feedback and while the younger online crowd loved it, the more traditional physical location business owners thought it was lame!

As I explained to a few of you - the color palette comes from the Scottish flag - The Saltire - which represents my background and heritage.  Blue is also a great color for a consulting business as it is seen as a very trustworthy color (and it's pretty masculine too!)

I like the circle approach as I think it will work well as a 50 by 50 pixel icon plus I like how the text works around the central image.  Below is a second iteration from a designer friend of mine in Berlin, Maja.  I like where it's going and I think a few more tweaks of the font and actual wording and we'll be pretty close.

As for the Unicorn, well, the Unicorn is the national animal of Scotland - bizarre but true - but in addition to that, amongst the digital marketing community a Unicorn is someone who possesses both Marketing and Technology skill sets, which would sum up my business pretty well.

But perhaps more importantly - it's a frickin' Unicorn!  And I think that's cool.

So - that's it for 2014, I wish you and your families  a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.  I will see you all in January and we'll continue to build on the great work you have done in the last 12 months.

;-)

Written while listening to: Stampy's Lovely World 1 - Keys YouTube by music2work2

Just How Scary Is Your Website...

On a Mobile Device?
 

Zombie Walk (052) - Philippe Leroyer on Flickr

Here's a great way to find out:
 

Cell phone Zombies - Matthew Hurst on Flickr

Go here: http://mobiletest.me/

Put the url of your website in and select which device you want to view it on
 

Halloween parade, Oct 2014 - Ed Yourdon on Flickr

Not happy with the results?
 

Zombie Texter - Lynn Friedman on Flickr

Call me on 310 980 2499 and let's chat
 

The Coroner pronounced himself dead then lived another day. by Steve Baker on Flickr

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Written while listening to: Scary Movie Music - music2work2

Your Help With My New Logo - Please

In the digital world where everything is driven by what it looks like, a bad logo does more harm than not having one at all. 

Until you have done the work and produced on paper a real strategic plan for your business, built on a clear forward vision, you probably don't need one.

Time to Get Dressed

Simply Friday is now three years old and looks a lot different from when it started.  I'm no longer focused on websites but am drawing on a far wider range of skills including strategy development and business management alongside analysis, resource allocation and training.  

While I still "do websites," I spend way more time defining "what should be there" rather than "what should be where."

I know what the business is and where it's going and am ready to represent that visually.  I would love your feedback on a rough early version:

Simply Friday - Idea 1

There is a structured thought process behind this design which I'm happy to share, but for now, I'm super interested in your first impression.

If you've got a few minutes I'd really appreciate it if you could let me know what you think.

Just drop me an email here.

Thanks!

Andrew

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Written while listening to: Most popular playlist by music2work2

Trust

You don't ever want to be in a position where you're asking someone to trust you.

Trust me,

I know.

;-p

Trust is not something you can ask for, it is something earned, it is something freely given.

If you earn your living from people  who find you on the internet, you'd better make damn sure that your digital marketing is a true reflection of who you are.

From your web address to the image on your about page, from your latest blog post to your most recent tweet, these are not just opportunities to earn trust, they're  huge opportunities to lose it.

An example

Here's an example of well written copy combined with great imagery that is designed to build trust in the visitor from the moment they arrive on the website.

http://www.elizabethmarshall.me

Do you trust yourself?

Take a look at your digital  footprint, do you believe it?  Would you go on a metaphorical magic carpet ride with your business?

Let's talk

If you'd like some help winning the trust of your online Princes and Princesses,  call me on 310 980 2499 or use the form below.

Contact Andrew

Trust

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Written while listening to: Trust by music2work2

Image Credit: Do you Trust Me - Giphy