Friday 16 January 2009
The top 5 Recession busting must-have website features for 2009
1. Blog - with RSS/Atom feeds
They’re quick and easy to update, can be informal and can develop a large user base if the right content and appropriate sharing mechanisms are used. A blog can also be a way of encouraging two-way communications, engaging the user by giving them the ability to comment on posts and providing a research resource for consumers. All of this of course providing sound commercial benefits which may include an increase in website transactions and enquiries – and remember it is search engine friendly. You can also allow users to subscribe to your news and blog feeds via RSS/Atom, which not only helps to establish you as an authority in your area of business, but also encourages repeat visits and increased brand awareness and loyalty – all contributing to increased levels of sales.
2. Regularly updated content
One key factor in SEO is frequent updates to your site’s content – search engines will love you for it and this will certainly help your overall SEO strategy and rankings.
3. Customer reviews/testimonials
Taking the communication one step further and enabling customers to review you, your products and your service can open a valuable communications channel, whilst increasing customer confidence. Don’t be scared of bad reviews, they give you the chance to react and the opportunity to improve your service.
4. Offer something for free
Letting users access useful and interesting content will increase visits and may even encourage a viral buzz about your website on forums and other social networking sites. Informative articles, glossaries, help guides, downloadable PDF print-outs and so on can help to build brand loyalty with customers.
5. Newsletter sign up area
Your website could offer the functionality to allow visitors to sign-up for email newsletters quickly and simply. Users who have signed up can then be targeted about new products and services, which will increase repeat visits. By including deals and offers in these newsletters, it may also encourage users to forward them on to friends and family, promoting awareness of your brand.
They’re quick and easy to update, can be informal and can develop a large user base if the right content and appropriate sharing mechanisms are used. A blog can also be a way of encouraging two-way communications, engaging the user by giving them the ability to comment on posts and providing a research resource for consumers. All of this of course providing sound commercial benefits which may include an increase in website transactions and enquiries – and remember it is search engine friendly. You can also allow users to subscribe to your news and blog feeds via RSS/Atom, which not only helps to establish you as an authority in your area of business, but also encourages repeat visits and increased brand awareness and loyalty – all contributing to increased levels of sales.
2. Regularly updated content
One key factor in SEO is frequent updates to your site’s content – search engines will love you for it and this will certainly help your overall SEO strategy and rankings.
3. Customer reviews/testimonials
Taking the communication one step further and enabling customers to review you, your products and your service can open a valuable communications channel, whilst increasing customer confidence. Don’t be scared of bad reviews, they give you the chance to react and the opportunity to improve your service.
4. Offer something for free
Letting users access useful and interesting content will increase visits and may even encourage a viral buzz about your website on forums and other social networking sites. Informative articles, glossaries, help guides, downloadable PDF print-outs and so on can help to build brand loyalty with customers.
5. Newsletter sign up area
Your website could offer the functionality to allow visitors to sign-up for email newsletters quickly and simply. Users who have signed up can then be targeted about new products and services, which will increase repeat visits. By including deals and offers in these newsletters, it may also encourage users to forward them on to friends and family, promoting awareness of your brand.
Labels: blog, blogging, newsletters, RSS, SEO
Tuesday 13 January 2009
What will 2009 bring?
In the latest edition of Design Week it made interesting reading as journalists predict how our industry will fair in this recession. Plenty of advice but there was an article that caught me eye which was a ‘Vox – pop’ of opinion from our industry leaders. The question was ‘What do you hope 2009 will bring?’ I am inspired by the following responses.
“There is a great line by Woody Allen that goes ‘I’ve got my principles and if you don’t like them there are plenty more where they came from’ This coming year will need self belief and an absolute focus on which opportunities are the right ones, belief in what we do best, why we are doing it and who we should do it for”
My favourite was from one of my ex bosses – “2009 is going to be extremely tough, but I hope it will bring braver designers and even braver clients”
We hope 2009 will be a profitable and focused year. We will continue to deliver strategic quality brand marketing, good strong clean creative solutions for our clients to help them compete their way through the recession.
“There is a great line by Woody Allen that goes ‘I’ve got my principles and if you don’t like them there are plenty more where they came from’ This coming year will need self belief and an absolute focus on which opportunities are the right ones, belief in what we do best, why we are doing it and who we should do it for”
My favourite was from one of my ex bosses – “2009 is going to be extremely tough, but I hope it will bring braver designers and even braver clients”
We hope 2009 will be a profitable and focused year. We will continue to deliver strategic quality brand marketing, good strong clean creative solutions for our clients to help them compete their way through the recession.
Labels: design strategy, effectiveness, insight