New Website Launched!
Fresno Web Design is pleased to announce the launch of a new website:
Tell us what you think!
Archive for the ‘Latest Headlines’ Category
Quality Of Design Is An Indicator Of Credibility
If you’ve ever wondered whether or not it’s worth it to have “just any website” vs. a “high quality web site built by professionals”, here are four reasons (studies) to choose the latter.
Various studies have been conducted to find out just what influences people’s perception of a website’s credibility:
- Stanford-Makovsy Web Credibility Study 2002: Investigating What Makes Web Sites Credible Today
- What Makes A Web Site Credible? A Report on a Large Quantitative Study
- The Elements of Computer Credibility
- Elements that Affect Web Credibility: Early Results from a Self-Report Study (Proceedings of ACM CHI 2000 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, v.2, New York: ACM Press)
We don’t know if Fever app is any good, but the sleek user interface and website make a great first impression.
One interesting finding of these studies is that users really do judge a book by its cover… or rather, a website by its design. Elements such as layout, consistency, typography, color and style all affect how users perceive your website and what kind of image you project. Your website should project not only a good image but also the right one for your audience.
Other factors that influence credibility are: the quality of the website’s content, amount of errors, rate of updates, ease of use and trustworthiness of authors.
3-Prong Strategy: Website, Search, Branding
Every demographic, every age group is using the internet to shop, especially in the pnw. Not just ecommerce, but any professional service can be researched and compared online. If you don’t have a professional website, you’re losing money, I promise you that.
1. SMALL BUSINESS WEBSITES
The Website is the new store front. It’s vital for a small business websites to make a powerful and lasting first impression. If you drive up to a store and it looks run-down and broken, are you going to feel good about going inside?
WE OFFER PROFESSIONAL WEB DESIGN SERVICES
Our designs are always professional and attractive. You don’t want to build a web site that makes your company look cheap or insignificant. You want to please your clients, not frustrate them. Our web sites are pure pleasure to surf, informative, and we always make it easy to find what most people are looking for.
2. SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION
How many of you prefer to use Google over the Yellow Pages.
The American Dialect Society has just recently named “Google” the word of the decade. The previous decade’s word was “web”. Did you notice the trend?
Social Media Optimization is another service that we are starting to get a lot of requests for. A recent survey of online retailers found that 86% of businesses already have a Facebook Fan Page, and 99% of businesses plan to get one this year.
It’s an immediate priority. We can help you with that.
3. STRATEGIC BRANDING AND CORPORATE IDENTITY
If you want your business to be attractive you’ve got to look sharp! Most companies understand that it’s important to promote your brand. ITS been proven to be effective countless times. Our most successful clients get a world class logo to go with their new web site
How to refer business to us:
Now giving us referrals is very easy. All you have to do is find someone who wants to be more successful in business. Any business owner who wants a raise is a good candidate. People who are truly serious about succeeding in business will have a polished and professional image online and in all their marketing.
If you meet someone who has an unprofessional email address (like hotmail or Verizon or Comcast) on their business cards, that is a serious problem. It’s likely they don’t have a website, or if they do, they are very ashamed of it. Send them to us and we will help them to grow.
2-Minute Tips: Facebook for Busy People
So, you’re a busy person. I get that. But everyone you know keeps hounding you to join Facebook and you know you just don’t have time. Well, what if I told you there are ways to make it work for you, even if you’re super busy or even a person worried about privacy?
Here’s how:
1.You’ll want to adjust your “notifications”, that way you won’t get an email notification each time something happens on facebook. That gets annoying and will control your inbox if you don’t change it. Then, bookmark facebook in your browser, so you can quickly go to it whenever YOU want.
2. You’ll also want to control your “privacy settings” to limit who can see you, talk to you, see pictures of you, etc… I limit everything to “Only Friends” so only people who you’ve accepted as Facebook friends can see your wall/status/etc…
If you want to know how to do this and more, here’s a good guide:
http://www.allfacebook.com/2009/02/facebook-privacy/
If you just want the quick links:
- search privacy settings page
- Profile Privacy page.
- Photos Privacy page
- News Feed and Wall Privacy page
Oh, and by the way, NEVER accept someone as a friend that you don’t really know!
Online Retailers: 99% Plan to Have Facebook Fan Pages
With two-thirds of marketers using social media, and retailers shifting marketing dollars towards social initiatives, it comes as no surprise that new research from the e-tailing group and PowerReviews shows that brands are more hip to social media than ever before.
What is quite remarkable, however, is the extent at which brands and retailers are adopting and implementing social media tools, and their preferred social home — Facebook. According to eMarketer, a combined 99% of surveyed online retailers currently employ (86%) or plan to employ (13%) Facebook Fan Pages.
Similar stats hold true for Twitter too. 65% are already all a-Twitter, with 26% planning to get in on the action as well. If the survey results are to be trusted, nearly all online retailers will have Facebook Fan Pages, and 91% will be using Twitter for status updates by the year 2011.
Data from the “Community and Social Media Study” was gathered between August and September of this year, and shows that retail respondents are also favorable to creating and managing their own blogs, but they’re not as keen to adopt the longer form outlet as readily as they are Facebook or Twitter. In fact, at first glance, it might be a little surprising to find that only 55% of those surveyed have blogs now, but 65% and 86% have Twitter accounts or Fan Pages respectively.
social media marketing
Marry those stats against the fact that retailers still fear losing control of their branding, and you have a bit of a oxymoron. The data shows that retailers are actively adopting social media tools on third-party sites over adding social utilities like a blog, Facebook Connect (43% use today), or forums (27%) to their own sites. But, according to the report, “One of their biggest fears was that customers would abandon their site in favor of one that was more socially engaging.”
Perhaps that conundrum can be rectified by the notion that the study also found that “the primary social media goal … was to increase customer engagement.” Social sites do offer a quick and easy way to reach and engage with a broader customer base. Just look at the New England Patriots Facebook initiatives for a prime example of a big brand opting to add social utility on Facebook instead of their own website.
Interesting enough is that this study’s social media adoption rates closely mirror a recent Mzigna/Babson Executive Education study, but that particular study also found that 84% don’t measure the ROI of their social media programs. Clearly we can expect to see adoption rates continue to rise, but what happens after the Facebook (Facebook) Fan Page, Twitter (Twitter) accounts, and blogs are created still remains somewhat of a mystery.
New Website Launched!
Fresno Web Design is pleased to announce the launch of a new website:
Tell us what you think!
Write a review about Fresno Web Design on Yelp
If you’ve been satisfied with the results you’ve achieved through the website we built for you, one great way to say “Thanks!” is to do so in the form of a Yelp review. Why not take a few minutes to write one now?
Our Yelp Profile: Fresno Web Design – Stanwood, WA.
How to use Facebook and Twitter to promote your business
When it comes to tweets (twitter posts) and status updates (FB posts)… less is more. Too many posts could be considered spam, and that is the last thing you want.
Guest Blogger
Quality is key.
You can follow/friend request as many people you want, but your actual posts should be limited to only things your followers/friends would find useful, interesting, or relevant.
For example, if you find a great article online and want to share the link, this is a great twitter post idea. When you launch a new video on the website and/or youTube, your tweet should be in the form of a thank you to the person for saying such nice things.
What about buzz?
I would suggest skipping the gimmicks mentioning buzzworthy terms like swine flu, etc. It may send a short term spike in traffic, but in the long run, it will hurt more than it helps (unless you are telling people that you are the only chiropractor in town that DOESN’T have swine flu! Then, it’s relevant AND necessary info that will build business.)
Here is an excellent list of guidelines that I found for more info: http://www.rollingout.com/v2/ro_today/082109/facebook_and_twitter_promote_business.php
Relationships Rule
The bottom line is this: It’s STILL all about relationships between people. Twitter and Facebook are merely ways that make it easier to extend your personal relationships to your online network.
Is there a connection between good morals and entrepreneurial success?
Yes, there is, at least according to this article: Entrepreneurial Character Traits and Related Moral Virtues
Maintaining ethics, morals and integrity in the modern business world
By: Sprigley Allan, SDSU ’11
Morality and ethics in business can be an interesting discussion. You should not overlook the clear connections between entrepreneurial character traits and their related moral virtues. A student interested in entrepreneurship is taught both, the practical traits of business success as well as the ethics and moral virtues they should stand for. Although most conventional wisdom suggests teaching these two topics as separate ideas, not all agree. According to The Journal of Private Enterprise these topics should not only be taught together but that they are mutually supporting. The following table itemizes both the necessary traits of a successful entrepreneur and the corresponding moral virtues.
| Entrepreneurial Character Traits | Moral Virtue |
|---|---|
| Knowledge and Creativity | Rationality |
| Ambition | Pride |
| Guts | Courage |
| Initiative | Integrity |
| Perseverance | Independence |
| Trial and Error | Objectivity |
| Productivity | Productiveness |
Together the left and right side of the above chart constitutes an entrepreneurial code for business ethics. According to The Journal of Private Enterprise, the list of virtues listed above is both very Aristotelian (Aristotle, 1984; see Aristotle’s discussions of courage in Book III, pride as the “crown” of the virtues, truthfulness, and liberality with respect to money in Book IV, justice in Book V, and phronesis or practical wisdom in Book VI of Nicomachean Ethics) and very Objectivist (Rand, 1964).
This conjunction of entrepreneurial traits and moral virtues shows the fallacy in believing that success according to business criteria and success according to ethical criteria can not be one in the same. Whether entrepreneurs are developing their business plans, dealing with investors, employees, competitors or customers it is imperative that they have a strong foundation in ethical business practices.
Ethics are a classic example of something that rests on a slippery slope. When an aspiring entrepreneur breaks any of these moral virtues or is deceitful in their business practice, the bottom line of their business ultimately reflects this. To assure the respect of their employees, investors and customers an entrepreneur must follow an entrepreneurial code for business ethics. What will you create?
Does Your Website Send the Wrong Message?
Published on May 5th, 2009 by Matthew Dandurand
Today it seems as though there is a race for businesses to get online. Sure, they’re templates that allow you to “fill in the blanks,” add a few stock photos and throw up a website real quick. This is the cheap way to do it, but what most businesses don’t realize is that when you use a template that thousands of other websites have used, you’re business is also seen as “cheap.”
Your website should be custom designed with your customer in mind. You have spent time creating a brand and image for your company. Why destroy that brand with a website design that a thousand other people are also using? By doing so, you are sending out the message that you don’t want to be unique and that you are not better than your competitors.
Choose a Website Designer that is Raising the Bar
When selecting a website design service, it’s vital that they not only fulfill your needs in the design aspect of web development, but also ensure that your website is a direct extension and reflection of your business. The right designer will assist you with:
Business Development – Your brand image, logo design, brand development and even the training of your own webmaster.
Business Consulting – Creating the color palette, icons and other nomenclature specific to your business that will create an overall professional look for your company.
Identity & Branding – Creating more than just business cards and letterhead, but also customized emails, newsletters and more.
Information Architecture – Creating a solution that allows you to create an easy to use solution for the update and management of your website.
Web & Graphic Design – Services that mesh your corporate identity with your online portrayal. Combining the components of your brand and identity into your web design creates harmony between your marketing materials and branding as a whole.
Logo Design – The creation of your logo because your logo is your business’s face. This is how customers will identify with you.
Business Collateral – Creating print material that corresponds with your website’s design and graphics. It should all work together cohesively and the right designer will help you to ensure just that.
Marketing & Sales Material – Ensuring that every aspect of your website works with your marketing and sales material as well from your letterhead to other promotional items such as press releases, fact sheets, press kits, and more.
Services Your Web Designer Should Provide
Not only should your website and business image work together cohesively, but it must appeal to the customer or client as well. A premiere website design service will ensure that your website does just that by providing you with:
An appealing header and logo that is easy for your customer to remember.
High quality photographs that show off your location, products and property.
A color scheme with aesthetic tones that convey an up-to-date view of your business.
A professional website appearance that shows you are an authority in your industry.
Browser compatibility that ensures all Internet users can view your site the way it was meant to be seen whether they use Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or Apple Safari.
Analytics that provide you with information on your traffic and the usability of your website.
Specific coding that influences on the search engines see your website and provide optimal usability.
Today’s process of web design should not be one that merely creates a cookie cutter website design. By selecting the right website designer, you should find customer service that goes beyond graphics and coding, but also ensures your business image as a whole is one of modern professionalism. Anything less means that you are sending customers to your competition.
via Does Your Website Send the Wrong Message? « Media Contour.