By Jessie Jo Blalock

In an age where organic products, green lifestyles, and holistic practices prevail, websites are leaning towards a more modern, Zen approach by drawing upon minimalist design. As far as the success of website goes, it is no secret that “content is king,” however, in 2010 it is about keeping the superficial layer of the website less…. superficial. Akin to Feng Shui , everything in web design should serve a purpose, placement is key, and the absence of clutter is essential. A website should feel natural while being aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly. The last thing a website’s design should create is a disruption to a user’s online chi.

Minimalist web design goes hand-in-hand with the changing tone of media communications in general. As society becomes more Internet savvy and media literate, they are less likely to surrender to noisy, manipulative marketing schemes. Like the persistent salesman in the room who is trying too hard to sell everyone everything, people are avoiding cluttered websites for ones that are less intrusive. Websites are beginning to remove all the useless bells and whistles and strip down to their bare essentials. Now more than ever, the focus of modern web design is on clear, effective communication and content. Though a trendy minimalist design might be just as calculating as it’s predecessors, it produces a more tranquil and raw experience for users while being more intuitive and efficient.

Trends

The notion that history repeats is universal. In the realm of design, to repeat history is to pay homage to its predecessors. Repetition emerges as reinvention and reinvention transpires to become a trend. “Design trends do not exist to be followed. They exist to be broken, reshaped and abolished by the spirit of creativity rippling through the design community” explains Vitaly Freidman, Editor in Chief, Smashing Magazine. The following are design “trends” have been manipulated to sustain the changing web atmosphere.

Back to Basics

Web design is shifting back to its origin, from the bad boy flash to HTML. With the spotlight back on HTML, attention is given not just to the particular content but the way it is presented. Recently, web pages are looking more and more like a page from a newspaper or magazine, relying heavily on typography (perhaps due to the growing popularity of blogs). In this case, the balance between modern web design and traditional print design aesthetics can produce a webpage that feels credible and sophisticated. In these layouts, there are fewer pictures and icons and, in some instances, just one full screen image. Simplicity like this does not equate to boring- think of it like blank walls at an art gallery, attention is paid solely to the image and its meaning.

Personalize

Many websites today are templated and impersonal. The most successful websites are those that are unique and memorable. Personalization in websites helps achieve that Indie feel, differentiating them from template abusing or mainstream, corporate websites. Trends in personalization include utilizing unconventional hand-drawn designs and hand-writing. “In our design for California Costumes, we used hand drawn fonts, photo frames and pieces of tape to add personalization and re-enforce the scrapbook theme. We also used an unconventional background image that makes it look like the entire browser window is the view from above the desk that the scrapbook is being created on,“explains Erin Tozour, Art Director, Executionists. Incorporating small personal touches throughout the website has an appealing and engaging effect on the user. Keep in mind, the main point of personalization is to be original, starting with individual writing style of the content. Distinctive writing plus personal imagery plus effortless navigation creates a formula for a successful modern webpage.

Breadcrumb Navigation

This remnant from the dawn of web is still in fashion. Simplicity and functionality are crucial, particularly with the advent of mobile web browsing. Mobile browsers often do not support high bandwidth or flash, rendering splash pages and excess content pointless. Touchscreen navigation conforms to minimalist design, as navigation elements are obvious and effortless. A navigation trend to look for in 2010 is utilizing “breadcrumb trails.” Breadcrumb trails create an easy and convenient way to navigate categories without occupying a lot of screen space. This helps limit content overload and reduces the number of clicks. From a marketing standpoint, employing breadcrumb-style navigation enhances the transparency of the website, enticing users to uncover layers after layer, which in turn, increases the page views and amount of time spent on the website.

Concluding Remarks

Design should support the content, not overwhelm or mutilate the content. Taking cues from the past, versatile page layouts and minimalistic philosophies have put a fresh perspective on the direction of modern web design. As more people become savvy web designers, imagination and ingenuity should take the front seat when creating a web page. Trends are not the rule, but rather a starting point. For a website to have staying power (think Madonna), it must undergo a timely reinvention. Creating a website is only half the battle, keeping it current and foreseeing trends results in victory.

by Diana Ratliff

Congratulations! Your new (or redesigned) Web site is done. All that time and effort you spent choosing the perfect online showcase for your product or service is finally over. Now, you can kick back, relax and wait for that flood of Web site visitors. Right?

Not so fast. I wish it were that easy, but you still have work to do!

As I mentioned in a previous column, “If you build it, they will come” is a myth when it comes to the Internet. You have to spread the word about your new site in as many ways as possible. The search engines are one method, and next time I’ll explain what they look for.

Just as important, especially for businesses that market locally, is publicizing your new Web site in offline, traditional ways.

Before you do that, however, I suggest you have a few friends or colleagues take a thorough look at your Web site. Ask them to test forms and videos and any other interactive features. Have them look for typos, misspellings, broken links and other mistakes that might have gotten past you and your Web designer.

It does happen. I just found references to a competitor in the links on a Realtor friend’s Web site. It turns out these two Realtors used the same local Web design company. Somehow, data from one site was copied to the other during the design process. Oops!

And if you’re not absolutely certain that some sort of tracking software was installed (I recommend Google Analytics), ask your Web designer to add it.

You want to know right from the start how many people visit your site, what pages they find interesting and how they find you to begin with.

Once you’ve made these checks and are certain your site is ready to go, it’s time to start telling people!

Make sure your new Web site address is on all of your promotional material, including business cards, brochures, catalogs, signs, packaging, invoices and letterhead. Add it to your e-mail signature as well. You can even mention it on your voice mail greeting, perhaps ending your message by saying “Sign up for our Preferred Customer Discount Club at our new Web site, www.MyCoolNewSite.com.”

You can create promotional items such as pens, magnets, bookmarks and other goodies to give away for the sole purpose of promoting your new site. Make these freely available at the office, or hand them out at conferences, networking events and exhibitions.

Make sure past and current clients know about your new site. Send out a special e-mail, perhaps with an offer that’s only available to people who click on your Web site’s link within that message.

If direct mail is part of your marketing strategy, send out a custom postcard, perhaps with a screenshot of your Web site’s home page and an incentive to visit the site.

Don’t forget that donors, vendors, business partners and industry associations will be interested in your new Web site, too. Update your contact information at the chamber of commerce, the Yellow Pages, alumni associations and in online directories.

If you can persuade them to do so, have owners of complementary businesses make the announcement to their clients and contacts. Ask them to link from their Web site to yours if they have not done so already.

Use social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to share the news. And again, encourage your friends to tell their friends, especially if you’re offering some sort of discount or deal for a limited time.

If your new site is a redesign of an existing site, say so on the home page. Tell people right upfront what changes you’ve made, how it’s more user-friendly and what helpful new tools are available. And put your Web site address in your print ads! It amazes me how many people spend the money to advertise in Doormail, the Tribune or Inside Columbia and fail to include their Web address in the ad.

Your Web site is an extremely valuable complement to your print advertising. You can say much more on your Web site than you ever can in a print ad. Plus, you can use audio and video to make your product more enticing and capture people’s contact information so you can market to them over and over again.

A print ad that encourages people to visit a Web site for more information or a special offer maximizes the profit potential of both advertising media.

This article is republished with permission from The Columbia Daily Tribune of Columbia, Missouri, and can be found in its original form here, and is written by Diana Ratliff, who can be contacted at diana@yourfriendontheweb.com



By Jansen Granflor

A common misconception about social networks is that you have to be on them 24 hours a day to see results for your business. The truth is, all you have to do is create a basic profile on a handful of social media networks, like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, that your clients or customers already log onto. It doesn’t have to tell your entire company history, just some basic information regarding what you do, links to your website, and solid contact information. Your goal is not to gain thousands of fans and followers on these sites, but to spread the word around to a more specific clientele. The average computer user now uses social networks like Yelp to find businesses and reviews on products and services from real people. By linking your website to your social media networks, you can leverage testimonials from actual customers to web surfers. One positive review from a happy customer can open the door for so many more.

Social media profiles and company blogs are often setup by small businesses, but never maintained. The truth is social media information is very simple to update and can be used for marketing, customer service, and feedback via comments. It can also make you, the small business owner, seem hip and trendy in the eyes of your customers. The fanbase you build with these tools will bring you more business, and if you run out of things to say, you can post updates by simply announcing limited-time promotions or discounts, or introducing new products or services. Remember to always improve your SEO (search engine optimization) by linking your business to as many online directories and websites as possible, as this will not only put you on the map in your neighborhood and field of specialty, but it might also get you some media coverage, further boosting you up in Google search results.

Placing social media links on your homepage will help you increase web traffic, but keep in mind you don’t want your potential customers to link to a social media profile that hasn’t been touched in months, so update early and often. You can also use social media to get to know potential customers, by listening to their comments, and responding to their inquiries. Sometimes, they will be upfront and ask for a product or service you don’t offer, or tell you your prices are too high. You can address and reward them directly, and get to know them by name, which leads to referrals, and more business. It’s a sales pitch that doesn’t feel like one. Use social networks to tell your customers who you are, what inspired you, where you started your business, and how you got it all started. Set up a blog as a way to speak to your customers indirectly, and they can read and comment if they choose to.

Socializing is only half of social networking – the other half is networking, so use your social hub not only to get more customers, but perhaps you can meet better vendors, and cheaper suppliers. Social networking sites increase competition, but you can embrace your competitors, and exchange tips and feedback since you both experience similar issues on a regular basis. If you have a problem you can’t solve, maybe a similar business has a solution, which you in turn can pass on to help another business owner. Social media creates buzz, helps networking, and, of course, increases business for everyone. It’s a genuine way of getting to know your customers, and it doesn’t take too much of your free time, and can actually be fun, and engaging.

Jansen can be reached at jansen@executionists.com

ICG Advisors is an independently owned investment management firm that acts as an outsourced chief investment officer for wealthy families, endowments, and foundations. ICG recently came to Executionists for a professional web presence so potential clients could learn about their services and current clients could log in and review their accounts. Executionists designed a site that conveys a feeling of trust, professionalism, and credibility. The integrated Client Manager feature elevates the site from an online marketing piece to an important business and communication tool between ICG and their valued clients.

The Executionists Crew (in matching T’s) was pleased to attend the LA’s Largest Mixer at the Shrine Auditorium on Thursday, July 23rd!  We joined Los Angeles County Chamber members and business organizations for the ultimate business networking event.  Richard (CEO and Creative Director), Temy (Project Manager and Marketing Director),  Jeanelle (Project Manager) and Erin (Art Director) attended the event.  We networked with hundreds of LA business owners, answering their questions about web design and online marketing services.  Below are our photos from the event.

Enjoy!

LivePerson is a cool concept. They claim “30,000 experts ready to chat”. The business model is that “LivePerson is an online destination, community and marketplace where individuals can chat live with experts in a broad range of categories”. Experts can get paid by users for their advice. I signed up as a “Web Design Expert” in order to see if it could help our business. This morning I got an email from LivePerson that there was a question on Web Design so I went online to provide my opinion on the issue. See the entire image of the question and the “expert” responses by clicking for “More” below. As my first experience with this system here are my thoughts:

• The expert responses (in this case) are not giving useful advice
• The experts did not spend anytime thinking about the holistic aspects of the request
• The experts did not do any research into the request
• I’m guessing the majority of the experts are offshore web development mills

The talismanclick.com website that the individual wanted to duplicate is not a good solution in my experience and it is a shame that these experts are going after a quick sale rather than promoting a better solution.  Click “More” below to see my response. This is not to say that LivePerson cannot help people with questions but in this situation I’ll let you be the judge.

Richard Parr
CEO Executionists, Inc.