Archive for the ‘Website Design’ Category

Custom Design vs Template

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

We keep hearing the pros and cons of each often. Here, we attempt to simplify the concepts and the benefits associated with each.

For some, templates seem like the most convenient and economical answer, especially when launching a website for a new business. In the last few years, designers have created templates that are more appealing and more functional. Templates seem to be a quick fix when you need an event site, module or a small company site. They are so affordable. Using a pre-determined design takes away the pain of describing the needs to a designer. There is something visually available as a base to begin with. A major drawback in the case of templates is the exclusivity issue - you’re not the only website using that design. The same “smiling, energetic, enthusiastic businesspeople giving the high-five” can be seen in a bunch of business websites, and who knows, in your rival’s too!

The case of a custom site: it has an attitude of abundance as it is designed around a company’s existing brand image or spun around an overall branding strategy which is intended to make your company stand out from the crowd. The site is designed with your corporate flight plan in mind to increase the likelihood that you will reach your destination on schedule. It is always easy to integrate new phases and features into the site without losing the integrity and groundwork that you have worked hard putting together for your site. As a customer, you should consider what you require your site to do for you today, as well as have the flexibility to make continual course corrections to accelerate your progress. Where do you see your business in the future? How do you see your website transitioning? The ability of a site to meet your needs along each step is essential for every growing business, and that’s a consideration that is far more valuable than any quick-fix solution. The biggest drawback of a custom site is the time and cost associated with it.

Our verdict – go for a hybrid model. Select a template and then customize it royally.

Posted in Website Design | 1 Comment »

Mind-mapping the new age user

Saturday, January 31st, 2009

Studying the mind patterns of today’s web user has become very complex. The inherent contradictions are far too many. However a modern marketer has no choice but to follow the demands of this new-gen, new-psyche user.
 
Here is what I could see when I peeped into one such mind:
 
1.       The world is shrinking

  • Distances are becoming shorter – connections are becoming virtual and ‘now’.
  • Cultures are morphing into a new ’one world culture’ – googles and facebooks are leading this.
  • Languages are becoming one – age of SMS dialect; smileys are the new punctuations and grammar.
  • Computing is turning palm – my mobile is my new computer.
  • And the sleep time is shrinking too. What’s my time zone?

 
2.       Experience is everything

  • Large corporations spend billions of dollars in giving me an experience that is surreal. I soak in that experience.
  • I don’t care whether you are small or big. Are you willing to match or better that? Only then I am willing to share my ‘shrunk’ time with you.
  • Build interfaces that are smart and don’t make me think. I have no time.
  • Do everything to enhance that experience for me when I spend those moments with you. Please. Please.
  • Creative cheating is ok with me.
  • Provide me all help at every step. I want to do everything myself but you got to make it easy.

 
3.       I am impatient

  • I have choices. Tons of them.
  • Get to the point.
  • Deliver me when I want, what I want, where I want, how I want.
  • I don’t have time to come to you. You need to come to me.

 
4.       I am confused

  • Being confused is ok. It’s hip.
  • Everything is a tag cloud in my mind.
  • I like structure but I don’t like being structured.
  • Can you break through this confusion?

 
5.       What’s my Style Quotient?

  • Classic yet Contemporary
  • Distinctive yet Universal
  • Atmospheric yet Soulful
  • Harmonious yet Impulsive
  • Elegant yet Simple
  • Didn’t I say, I am confused and I don’t like structure?
  • One who follows me gets me.

 
6.       I leave my imprints everywhere. Privacy is hogwash.

  • Everyone talks about privacy policy. There are laws around it. But thou art collect all my imprints, every move, every click. And then you speak of privacy. That’s complete hogwash.
  • Did I not talk about all my exs on the facebook profile? This is exactly how private I want to get.
  • You even track where I am having dinner right now. Isn’t this the best privacy I could get ?
  • Study all my prints and make sense out of it if you want to make money. That’s all I can give you for making the billions that you want.

 
7.       Engage me to Connect with me

  • Ever wondered why you never succeeded like facebook?
  • You never made ‘ME the center of your universe’!
  • When did you last talk to me or ask me for my opinion? That would have spawned the opinions of all the communities that I make or break.
  • Did you collaborate with me for your new product?
  • Did you try to be part of my community?
  • So why the heck are you sad that you lost out. I am simple yet demanding.
  • It’s all about ‘ME’….

 
8.       I set up my own multiple communities

  • My dad made friends when he jogged in the morning or went to clubs.
  • I make friends and join communities where people share my likes and dislikes. And they are spread across the world.
  • I have an orchestrated presence in several such communities and I make or break them on facebook and orkut.
  • I do business on linkedin far more than what I do in my so-called office.

 
9.       Local Search is my new concierge

  • I forgot the number of my plumber. Never mind. Local Search is my new concierge.
  • My concierge is with me 24X7. It never sleeps. And it is on my palm.

 
10.   Are you Listening?

  • Check me out on the Social Media circuit.
  • Did you analyze the imprints that I left behind everywhere?
  • Did you analyze the user reviews and ratings?
  • Did you pay homage to the psyche of the users?
  • Did you listen to your sales agent who punctured some time of mine?
  • Did you make sense out of my attitudes? I have loads of it.

 
The new age user is screaming - Listen. Talk. Engage. Communicate. Build. Generate. Help.
 
Companies that pay attention to these details will truly taste the flavor of success. Tune in!

Posted in User Analysis, Website Design | 2 Comments »

The 10 Commandments of Web Design

Saturday, January 31st, 2009

In this article, Business Week has presented 10 cardinal rules that top web designers followed to the letter T in 2008.
These 10 commandments are:
 
1.        Thou shalt not abuse Flash.
2.        Thou shalt not hide content.
3.        Thou shalt not clutter.
4.        Thou shalt not overuse glassy reflections.
5.        Thou shalt not name your Web 2.0 company with an unnecessary surplus or dearth of vowels.
6.        Thou shalt worship at the altar of typography.
7.        Thou shalt create immersive experiences.
8.        Thou shalt be social.
9.        Thou shalt embrace proven technologies.
10.     Thou shalt make content king.
 
If you want to read the full article, click on the link below.
 
The 10 Commandments of Web Design

Posted in Social Media, Website Design | No Comments »

Social media marketing for small businesses

Saturday, January 31st, 2009

Social Media Marketing is ideally designed for small businesses. At the core of social media is something called ‘relationships’. For relationships, you need to invest time and not money really. While small businesses are in short supply of money, they can afford time.
 
So in effect, in traditional marketing (which is what large companies do), the exposure is directly related to the amount of money spent. In social media marketing, exposure is directly related to the time spent at it and the ability to build a network (‘relationships’).
 
Business owners benefit from the social network websites by being able to update their business’ profile and coupons whenever they want, communicate via the social network’s internal messaging system with the fans of their business.

Social media is thus bringing about a fundamental paradigm shift in the marketing world.
 
But then, what is social media?
 
Social media, I would say, is a confluence of technology, interaction and networking through words, pictures, videos and audios. It is used for a whole lot of different things on the web.
 
And what is social media marketing then?
 
Social media marketing (SMM) can be best described as a method of using social media to create awareness and credibility leading to profits for the business.
 
So what are the benefits of SMM?
1. A lot more online conversations about your brand
2. Quick turnaround in traffic when you hit a major social network
3. Partial or full replacement of traditional marketing at a fraction of the cost
4. Major impact on search engine rankings through huge quantities of backlinks
5. The power of recommendation is huge and one can reach influencers with SMM
6. Online advertising (read banner ads) blindness is increasing and SMM has the potential to send visitors to your website
 
How do I start using SMM for my business?
1. Blogs - The first step is blogging. Read blogs, comment on them and start your own blogs. Of course on subjects that you really like to talk about.
2. Social Search – See what people are talking about your business and get active on this circuit. Manage your reputation here.
3. Social Bookmarking – Participate in social bookmarking communities and keep tagging. Contribute to the community.
4. Participate in Yahoo Answers! and other such sites.
5. Social Networking – there are tons of sites where you can build your ‘business case’ but ensure that you have a good case. Site examples: facebook, myspace, linkedin etc.
6. Don’t forget micros like Twitter, Thwirl, Friendfeed.
7. Take photos and videos and share them on youtube, flickr.
8. Join groups and mailing lists.
9. Be on the search for other interesting sites where people network. Contribute where you can. Once you get active on the social media circuit, you will keep coming across a 1000 such new opportunities.
 
Summary —–

Investment: Time and small amounts of money
 

Return: Relationships, Traffic, Links

Posted in Social Media, Website Design | No Comments »