Contributed by Mike Fenton - mfenton@suburbanbuzz.com
Well thought-out design is often overlooked and often leads to poor execution in marketing concepts. This article will take you through the pros and cons of professional design in Web marketing, direct mail and large media advertising.
Coming from a strong design background, I understand the value in rich graphical interfaces and breathtaking imagery to portray a message. Many marketing strategies overlook this in small to medium businesses. It is easy to blame this on budget restrictions; this can even be looked upon as a cop out. Effective design is out there, but you must search for it through networking. Do not settle on the first studio you meet, unless you are referred by a well-known business or person.
Building a Web site does not revolve around the design alone. Design is not limited to the images and “decoration”. Design foundations are built to organize content on a page in order for the user to find it easily. Styles come and go, so the structure and planning should always be consistent. Following industry standards is important for user familiarity. Add stylistic, well executed graphic design and your site will be a hit!
Rich Media
The introduction of Web 2.0 gave web designers the opportunity to bulk up content and deliver content quicker. The infrastructure has now grown to support rich media such as video and audio. Streaming media is around and will be around for a long time. The introduction of all these new media types can pose a problem in certain demographics. Our aim is to allow an 8 year old child to navigate the site no differently than how a 98 year old would. Adding the ability for clients and site owners to manage their content in Content Management Systems (CMS) is a huge step forward.
What does this mean to your online marketing bottom dollar?
While the initial costs for CMS may be much higher, the time and money saved in long-term maintenance is substantial.
Set an atmosphere online as you would with your interior decorator for your store. Make your customer comfortable, supply them with many options, and make their checkout effortless. Users will return when there is value in your site. Keep shoppers and clients coming back and they will end up being life-long customers.
Increase the customers experience - increase your revenue.
Need help designing your online marketing? Email us at info@suburbanbuzz.com today!
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