Just wanted to give a quick apology for being absent from the blog for a while. Unfortunately our team has been quite busy and have been unable to keep up with their posts…

For that reason we are opening the blog up to anyone who would like to submit a post about copywriting, SEO, design, PPC or development. Simply send us a query through our contact form and we’ll let you know if your post is successful.

Thanks

Rowena xx

Here are some I quickly mocked up for some popular websites you can easily find on the web:

This second one in particular, I originally copied the logo and header shape. However after introducing it to Photoshop I was able to make the curves consistent on the top and botton of the header and introduce new text.

The first header on the other hand was created from scratch. Using the pen tool and my mouse I was able to establish the curves exactly how I wanted them, as well as use them to shape the head of the keys. One of the clever things about photoshop is that when you use the pen tool, you can easily correct/modify the shape using the Direction Selection Tool and change the shape of the curves.

Now getting these curves to look smooth will take practice and a lot of zooming in to help smooth out the lines, but it is definitely worth the effort once you finally achieve the end result.

So give it a try and see how you get on.

Michelle

Today we thought we could mix it up abit, by offering you the opportunity to ask you what you would like us to write about. Copywriting, PPC, SEO, development, email marketing, web design… if you have got a question about any of these areas that you are just dying to find out more about, then please feel free to leave us a comment here and we’ll look into it.

We know from experience how frustrating searching the web from marketing tips can be, so we want to make this search easier.

Simply leave us a comment below detailing what you would like to know more about and we’ll write a dedicated post just for it.

It can be about anything: producing killer headlines, choosing the right graphics, where to find affordable imagery, tricks to ranking first on top search engines… give us a shout and we’ll get onto it.

Rowena xx

Just found this great link for a design glossary if anyone is interested. It is a bit basic, but it gets the job done in explaining design jargon.

Come take a look and tell me what you think: http://webdesign.about.com/od/webdesignhtmlatoz/a/blglossary.htm.

For example would you like us to do our own design glossary?

Michelle xx

A part from saving us from having to sit through gruelling photograph sessions, we chose to use Manga Characters as they are a great way to showcase your creativity and keep your blog looking fun and inviting.

They are great as you can make yourseld look as silly as you want or as beautiful as your want in a few simple clicks of the button.

We used a website called http://www.faceyourmanga.com/welcome.htm to do ours and it is incredibly easy to use. Eyes, face shapes, earrings and clothes, you have got the freedom to experiment with your character and make them as close to life as you want.

The other great thing about this website is that it is free to create your Manga, meaning you can do as many as you want for no cost at all.

Give it a go, and try them on your blogs. They will only take a few minutes.

If you are still not sure, take a look at ours and make the decision for yourself:

The first step is to organise your copy. Work out how you want it displayed on the sceen; where you want to add images or position forms and then – and only then – begin thinking about your colour scheme.

You could say in many ways that the purpose of your layout is to emphasise the copy contained there. It frames the words. So whatever you plan to add, it has got to matter.

I can’t count how many websites I have been on that throw in random imagery in the wrong places. I once saw a picture of a dog on a website selling clothes – it made sense at all and in truth was only there for their own personal benefit, not their businesses.

With your actual layout it is good to put yourself in the position of the surfer – what do you need to see first to achieve your websites desired objective?

1. Contact number - depending on your business/product offering, it is a good idea to display your number in the top header, with a contact form or quick link that will enable surfers to contact you.
2. Your Brand – your brand needs to be made clear from the off, so display it on the left of your header where surfers can see, spot it and most importantly remember it
3. Top navigation – I know this is obvious, but within this navigation is your opportunity to clearly display everything your website has got to offer. Just be careful here though that you don’t overcrowd it
4. Left navigation – here is your opportunity to show your accreditations, media attention and CTA’s. For the most part, this left navigation will be heavily dependant on the type of website you are. If you are a weight loss product, here is your chance to get surfers to sign up to a newsletter, read press releases or ‘tip of the day’ or see shortened case studies.
5. Your main content – more than likely on your index page you are providing an overall summation of who you how, what you do and how your product/service can be of a benefit to the consumer. For this reason it is vital that you choose the right imagery. A weight loss product – the product itself, a slim individual, someone working out. A property course – image of a seminar, the interior of a beautiful home… these images need to represent everything the consumer is looking for.

Finally just be careful to offer the right balance of content and imagery. A good technique is ensuring you have got at least 1 image to every section.

And that on a basic level is it.

Of course split testing is another great way to learn what is or isn’t working within your layout, but that will come once your site is completed.

Michelle

Writing strong, powerful web copy is essential . It the selling point of your website and where surfers go to gain an overview of your product/service.

So what do you do to keep them hooked and begging for more? Use the following top ten tips, that’s what!

1. Know your product If you think the product you are writing about is rubbish, then surfers reading your copy will be able to gain the same impression. The key to good copy is to write about products/services that you believe in. Products you have tried and that you genuinely believe will make a difference to consumers.
2. Know your customerThink outside the box, put your own opinions aside and instead think about who you are writing for: age, sex, income… are they in a hurry?Write a character profile of your potential audience. Get to know all their in’s and out’s,then begin writing.
3. Stress your product/services benefitsWhen it comes down to it, surfers don’t care about all the frills, spills and history of your product. They want to know exactly what benefits they are going to receieve when they purchase.Only after they have learnt all the positives of your product, will they then want to check out the credibility and backing.Remember… the average surfer spends only 7 seconds on a site before making the decision to either stay or go. So make their decision easier – tell them what they want to know straight away.
4. Create trust Okay you have won them over with the benefits – what’s next? Putting the icing on the cake.No matter the product/service it is important for you to establish trust with consumers. They need to believe you are the real deal and that everything you are offering is genuine. This is where the use of case studies, clinical trials and customer profiles make the difference. They are the proof surfers need to feel satisfied towards moving onto the next step – investing.
5. Use short headers Keep them short, punchy and to the point. In this one header, you need to surmise everything a surfer needs to know about the benefits of reading the following paragraph.
6. Language The rule is simple: use the good words and avoid the bad.Here’s a quick overview -  Good Words: free; proven; discover; breakthrough; learn; you/your; benefit; first; complete; exclusive…Bad Words: If; but; should; could…The occasional ‘bad’ word is okay, but try not to incorporate them too much into your web copy.
7. Cater to your Consumer The majority of consumers hate reading long streams of content – especially if your paragraphs our 10 sentences long. So forget what you learned at school and try to break up your paragraphs to make digesting your copy easier.Also don’t get carried away with explaining every minute detail. Keep your pages short – no more than 2 A4 sheets.
8. Create urgencyIf your goal is to sell a product or service offering, you need to create a sense of urgency within your content that makes your surfer want to take action now. Special or limited time offers are a great way to hook surfers, and get them to make the decision vital.
9. Necessitate a responseYou’ve done the sell and your surfer has reached the end of the page – what’s next? Ultimately you would like them to buy then and there, but sometimes even though you have hooked them, they still want to think it over.The problem here though, is if they haven’t already bookmarked your website, they are unlikely to find you again. To prevent losing a lead, try to give them something to remember you by. A newsletter subscription or a downloadable eBook is an effective way to get them to remember you positively and most importantly tempt them to come back.
10. Grammar, grammar, grammar… You’ll remember me mentioning this before, but if your website is poorly spell-checked, punctuated or grammatically correct then the only impression you’ll be leaving on consumers is unprofessionalism.They will read your copy, see these mistakes and will instantly think : ‘If they can’t even take care of their website, how on earth can they take care of me.’Simply set aside the time to properly check all your webpages, copy and spelling, and only then add them to your website. It will make a difference.
    

Hey guys,

Found this video on the web, and thought it was good, so if you are interested in increasing your web design knowledge, take a look at this video.

Admittedly it is a bit long, but it does the job of explaining how to improve your web design.

Good luck

Michelle