If you have a new idea or thought, use it. If you have an innovative design idea, give it a shot. If you want to try something new, don’t hesitate.

Your interactive website should convey a personality; it should be current, changing, and responsive, utilizing a user-friendly content management system (CMS) that enables the site administrator to easily edit content, add links, and update graphics. It must engage visitors and encourage a reaction. Much like a conversation between friends, the truly interactive website will be fluid and ever changing.

Too many websites are designed as virtual billboards–they look good, but they’re not really interactive. Sort of like a good-looking date with zero personality. Substance will trump appearance every time (a good balance is key). Do your best to understand the characteristics and desires of people you want visiting your site, and create an interactive environment that reaches out to them. Above all else, don’t be afraid to take a chance.

The best thing about your website is that you can make changes almost immediately. If you learn that something’s not working, change it; if you’re not getting the response or feedback you want, try another approach; if the design is difficult for visitors to navigate, then redesign. It’s not a billboard or a magazine ad. You can make changes.

Above all else, pay attention to your visitor statistics. Try new and different approaches to reach your audience. Develop a Rambo-like approach: shoot now, ask questions later. Successful web strategies come from trial and error. Your biggest mistakes will happen when you don’t allow yourself the freedom to make mistakes.

Don’t be afraid to make changes using your CMS. It’s the mechanism for bringing personality and new information to your site. BE FEARLESS.

If you need help with suggestions or ideas for improving the interactivity of your site, give us a call at 423-509-6637.

sidenote – any post where we can insert Rambo, we are all over.

Being interactive requires new and ever-changing dialogue. It’s always a pleasure to be around an interesting person, especially someone that fascinates you with new information.

Imagine how boring and uninteresting it would be to have a conversation with someone that gives you the same exact information as in the previous conversation. No dialogue; nothing new; just the same boring information. What is the likelihood you will return for yet another conversation?

Now think about your reaction when you visit a website that never changes. Are you likely to make repeat visits? Do you think the site has any chance of receiving consistently high recognition among search engines? Is the site doing anything to cultivate your interest?

Change is critical: new information, new graphics, updated products, additional interesting links, valuable tips, updated comments from other visitors, thought-provoking articles, etc. If your website does not change regularly, you’re missing a great opportunity to build and strengthen relationships, and encourage repeat visits to your website. As well as missing a major component of Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

Being interactive requires constant change and innovation. Keep it interesting and you’ll see great results.

I’d like to share some ideas about what it means to have an interactive website. I frequently hear people emphasize the benefits of interactive sites, yet very seldom do I hear anyone explain what it means. What are the characteristics of an interactive site, and how does it differ from a site that is not interactive?

Let me begin with a silly, yet applicable analogy. Have you ever met someone for the first time, only to be bored stupid with a one-sided conversation? How does it feel when the new acquaintance shows absolutely no interest in you, yet proceeds with a lengthy monolog about his or her accomplishments, kids, education, etc? How long does it take you to tune-out and look for a quick escape?

You get the point? There’s not much interaction happening, and your natural reaction is to escape, get away, feign an injury, fabricate a cell-phone call.

On the other hand, the best way to engage another person is to show mutual interest, ask questions, seek information. We all want to be heard. The best communicator is someone that knows how to listen.

It’s worth considering how this same interactivity relates to your website. Don’t expect website visitors to be impressed by your self-proclaimed expertise, your awards, pictures of your office and staff, etc. Instead, consider ways to encourage the visitor to respond, ask questions, and seek additional information. Most likely the visitor came to your site because he’s seeking specific information. Give him a chance to tell you what he’s looking for, and provide him with a response that demonstrates your interest in him. Be interactive.

I’ll provide additional tips in upcoming posts.

“What does a website cost?  Can we get a ballpark estimate?”

We get these questions frequently, but a more appropriate question would be “Is it really worth my time and money to develop a website?”

Most people don’t understand the critical importance of keeping a website updated and fresh.  If you want a website to pay off, you have to invest time and effort; your work really begins when the website is launched. Your weekly (or daily) website updates will eventually pay big dividends and you’ll see major returns on your initial investment.  Failing to keep your site current and updated will likely lead to disappointment and lost opportunity.

Search engines love new content.  You’ll stay ahead of your competitors and near the top of search engine rankings by constantly updating and adding new content.  Your web presence is often your best and only opportunity to influence potential customers.  If you do it well, your website can be the most effective, and least expensive way to attract new business.

On the other hand, a poorly constructed, unattractive, difficult-to-navigate website can cost you dearly in lost business.  So instead of asking, “What does a website cost?” first consider how much it’s worth to attract new customers.

We have often said that you control your own destiny when it comes to how your website ranks on Search Engines. If you have a dynamic website, this is especially true. Also, for the majority of companies, updating your website is the best way of communicating with your most important clients – current clients. Part of updating your site is knowing how to update it effectively. Below are 11 tips that will help you when you think about updating your site.

1. Schedule Your Updates – If you just assume you will do it, you won’t. The only way to maintain regularity in regards to website updates is to put them on a calendar, and follow through. I know for myself, if it isn’t written down, it doesn’t happen.

2. Know Your Audience – If you know who you’re talking to, you will know what they want to hear. Remember, you are the expert in your field (or good at acting like it) and people trust you.

3. Don’t be Afraid to Duplicate – There is a wealth of information online, and chances are, someone has already said what you are saying, but that doesn’t mean your target audience has found it there first. If you say it, they might find it on your website first.

4. Keyword Density – When writing your updates, try to have the keywords you want your page to be ranked for in the text around 5 times per 250 words. Too many more, and Search Engines will think your stuffing, and too fewer they might not index your page for what it is intended.

5. Get to the Point – In this information age, attention spans are getting shorter every day, and on the internet that is multiplied. Say what you need to say quickly and succinctly.

6. Relative Titles – Just because you have a clever title for your news brief about your trip or a conference you attended, doesn’t mean you should use it on your site. This is another SEO tip – Search engines like titles, and the better they are at describing the content of the news article or blog post, the more effective they will be. If you can be clever AND relevant with your titles, by all means.

7. Include Pictures – This goes along with #5. Since people are ADD on the web, what grabs their attention… pictures of course. If you have to make a lengthy text update to your site, placing pictures throughout helps guide the viewers eye and hold their attention.

8. Be Confident – Don’t be afraid to say something controversial. Don’t be a sensationalist, but don’t hesitate to say state your opinion. Honesty is endearing and helps drive conversation.

9. Frequency – Repeat visitors are first, Search Engines are second. Accommodate to visitors by providing them up to date information catered to specifically to them. Your subject and audience will dictate how often you update, but once a week is a good rule. You can always schedule at least 30 minutes a week to update your website for your visitors.

10. Balance – Updates should be on a variety of different topics surrounding your core message. It’s okay to write occasional updates about a new child, or fantastic product your visitors would be interested in, just limit them. It probably isn’t a good idea to insult them with pretentious updates about your new yacht.

11. Timeliness – Keep your website up to date with information that is relevant to the surroundings. For Example – a lawn care service should update their website visitors on when they should plant grass, trim trees, grow a garden, and other seasonally relevant information.

We’ve all been in personal relationships that are going along just fine when one party decides they need to ‘define’ the relationship. You know how that can go especially if you are the one seeking the definition. Either you arrive with a well rehearsed set of questions and reasoned responses (rare result) and your relationships advances and flourishes…or you drive home kicking yourself for sounding vague, never making your point or being just plain incoherent (likely result).

Well the same is true when you think about engaging a design firm to help present your product, service or company to a potential global audience. You may think deciding about a website will be less emotional than that of a personal relationship but don’t be too sure. Remember, in today’s competitive marketplace your website serves as your business card, billboard, chief marketing tool and branding image to the public. In other words, it says everything about you so you want to get it right.

After reading that chances are your temperature is now rising, your heart may be pounding and a headache is coming on as you search for just the right words to communicate to the world what you are all about. Instead, be cam, smile and realize that’s why a creative team is here to help you. But keep in mind it’s important to be clear about what you desire because that will make the web development process a whole lot easier for you and the firm you select.

Here’s a good tip: Try to summarize what you want to communicate in sets of 3’s. Marketers will tell you that’s the best way to communicate the value of a product or of an idea. Even three words alone can sometimes be the best. Can anyone argue with: COKE IS IT. I LIKE IKE or I LOVE YOU?

Once you begin thinking in these summarized terms about your website it helps the design and programming team immensely. Remember, everyone wants the greatest website in the history of mankind…even though this tenure of mankind has only been around since the 1990’s. And, it is our desire to build you the most creative website possible but this can best be done when you are clear about what you want to say.
Try this: What is my product? What makes me (or my company) unique? What do I want to communicate to every visitor to my website?

Once this is clear you are ready to contact a web design company and we sure hope it’s ours. Because not only do we create with tremendous ingenuity…we also work with clients with a healthy dose of good humor and wit. We find this helps keeps the creative juices flowing for all involved with development of your website…of which you are the most important part. We hope you will let us help you!

To sum up:

• What is my product?
• What Makes my product unique?
• Be clear, concise, and think in 3’s

(see what we did there?)

Completing a job correctly requires selecting the right tool.  Sometimes you need a simple hammer, while other times a nail gun is a must.  Similarly, you have options in the tools you select to maximize your effectiveness on the web.  We’d like to briefly discuss two different website tools available to help you achieve the best results:  (1) dynamic website, and (2) static website.   The better you understand your goals, the better you’ll be able to select the right website tool. Here are three very important questions that will help you select the right website tool:

What are the basic differences between dynamic and static websites?

The differences are pretty simple.  When building a static site, the web developer will construct the pages as they will be retrieved by the browser, usually in basic HTML and CSS.  With dynamic sites, the pages are constructed “on the fly” by scripts ran by the web server.  As a result it’s much easier to add additional pages and functionality to the site.  A correctly programmed dynamic site will enable the website administrator to easily edit or change content through a Content Management System (CMS).  On the other hand, changing or updating a static website requires building a file transfer protocol (FTP) process, downloading pages, making changes to the pages, then uploading to the static site.

Which is the best tool for me, dynamic or static?

Static website: A static website is simple.  It is best when you never (or seldom) desire to change content or functionality.  Search engine optimization (SEO) should not be your goal with a static site.  It’s primary purpose is to provide information on your business or service (often referred to as an online business card).

Dynamic website:  Your desire is to add or update information; the site can be managed and edited by one or several people.  You can add new and different functions, while improving search engine recognition.  A dynamic site is essential when seeking to sell products and acquire new customers.

What should I do to receive a high rank from Google, and increase visits to my website?

Frequently updating your website is extremely important to achieve sustained recognition from Google, but more is required. Having well placed words is crucial, whether you have a dynamic or static website; well placed keywords in your content will definitely help to improve your Google ranking. Generating additional traffic to your site is also very important for improving your Google rank, and one of the best ways to increase visitors is to keep updating and changing content.  A dynamic website provides a great advantage because you can keep visitors coming back for updated information, and you’ll have others wanting to link to your site.

Most importantly, be persistent.  Your success will increase as you learn to interact with your website visitors.  Understand your goals, then select the appropriate tool.

There are many things that your site designer can do to help your site be as optimized as possible. But AT LEAST 50% of your search engine optimization is up to you, I think it’s more like 75%. Here are some of the basic things we do to make sure your site is optimized:
- build sites in DIVs with CSS
- include a keyword relevant, reasonable title for each page
- include text links to all main pages of the site
- include a site map
- place ALT tags on all images
You don’t have to understand what the heck we just said.  There are many more that we do but won’t go into here. Those are just some of the basics.

Honestly, that paragraph is far less important than this one. Here are some of the things that YOU can do to improve your SEO that will outweigh the things mentioned above:
- UPDATE YOUR SITE FREQUENTLY
- Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, whatever Social Network you use – post updates there about your site and provide links
- UPDATE YOUR SITE FREQUENTLY
- Ask friends with sites, or companies that provide complimentary but not competing services to link to you
- UPDATE YOUR SITE FREQUENTLY

All of this stuff is explained further in the Blog Post – Committing to Your Website, take a look at it.