Believe It, or Not?
Have New Website Resolution?
If you've already decided that your website needs a fresh, dynamic appeal, you should also consider whether a facelift will deliver new sales leads or help you maintain adequate growth and exposure? As with many marketing pursuits, websites are generally born out of necessity and often developed with limited resources or lacking the potential to integrate with new technologies. If your site is approaching the threshold of obsolescence and your clients can't find you in the search engines, it's time for an update!
As social technologies move rapidly beyond what many dreamed possible in the last decade, it's also important to evaluate which online services will support your sustainability. We regularly audit websites which are the product of early generation web standards. What we find is often aesthetically pleasing but incapable of obtaining worthwhile search engine rankings and the ability to integrate with forward moving technologies. Even a brand new site that is built with the 'instant website services' can be subject to significant limitations and inadequate code. While these might be economical or easy to launch, the depreciation to your brand is inevitable and can quickly hinder your online market potential.
At 9x9x9, we understand that successful online marketing solutions demonstrate mastery over new technologies and provide cost efficient solutions. We prefer to implement and customize solutions that permit you (or your staff) to add, update, and modify your website without having to know HTML and other coding languages. We make it simple enough to manage your site from any computer with internet access, but capable of online services that grow with your business goals.
The websites we engineer can transform your brand or online marketing goals with: clean design and intelligent architecture; rich interactive media; integration with social platforms and SEO solutions that boost visibility without it becoming a full-time job. If you're a viable business in need of a polished visual identity or a strategic online presence, we're available to simplify the planning, execute the production and accelerate the development cycle within a reasonable budget. Get started now!
got design?
In our sphere of influence, body art might seem off topic for graphic designers and media developers, but there is a relevant correlation. For instance, if you're in the process of recruiting or selecting a design professional to produce print collaterals, advertising design, or web visuals, it's possible that your "criteria" could negatively impact the quality of the design professionals you attract. Here are some basic guidelines to consider when recruiting, contracting, or attempting to hire a design or new media professional (which includes web and video producers.)
Already understood by most talented professionals, are the long-standing ethical standards promoted by AIGA™, the nation's largest and oldest association for design & media professionals. For instance, AIGA strongly discourages the practice of requesting that design work be produced on a speculative (unpaid) basis. Similarly, would you agree to receive a tatoo on a speculative basis? Probably not! Therefore, if your project (or design) solicitation includes speculative criteria, you're already excluding a high percentage of designers who adhere to acceptable industry standards and would take offense to such a condition for employment or contractual collaboration. The following details several other key points that if considered, will ultimately enhance the effectiveness of your talent search.
You Already Have A Website?
"That's great. Oh, you're nephew made it . . . and you saved thousands of dollars, but now you're having problems and, you're clients can't find you in the search engines!"
Believe it or not, this is not uncommon. We recently audited a site which was the product of a similar arrangement. What we found was aesthetically pleasing but incapable of obtaining any worthwhile search engine rankings. While certainly economical, this approach is a recipe for "designed failure." At 9x9x9, we have nothing against the apprentice or aspiring developer, but when it comes to those key elements that support a successful marketing campaign, we strongly believe that professional guidance and expertise can be far more effective at reducing your costs.
If you're a viable business in need of a polished visual identity or a strategic online presence, we don't recommend trading a Nintendo Wii to get effective results. To learn more about our strategies, request a consultation or a free site audit.
Content Management - The What?
A content management system (or CMS) is used to simplify the development of dynamic websites, allowing all content to be added, updated and deleted by non-technical staff. The CMS separates content and site services from design, maintains visual consistency, preserves online brand identity and makes it easier to repurpose content. Most CMS use a datadase to store content (articles, blog posts, etc.) in a central location while also controlling user access, member privileges, and collaboration. It permits a greater number of people to participate in the development of the website thereby increasing the site's dynamic potential.
