WAIT, YOU MEAN YOU’RE ALSO A WEATHERMAN? 7 WEBSITE NO-NOs.

We’ve had the privilege of redoing some…shall we say “not so good?” websites. In fact, we’re continually surprised by the out-of-date additions still being tacked on to what could be great sites. Sure the mainstream web has only been around for just over a decade, but nothing has changed more in 10 years than the online space. And if a website was made in 2001 – and hasn’t had any updates – it’s probably time for a refresh. Hell, we’ve seen sites made in 2012 that still hark of web 1.0. Don’t get stuck in the muck. Below is our list of 7 website No-Nos. Yes, there will be sarcasm.

1) A WEATHER APP – So let me get this straight: you’re a car dealer AND a weather man? Talent. These clunky and oddly placed third-party apps are reminiscent of the early 2000′s when sites were concerned with simply “having content”. Today, relevancy trumps information. Unless you’re in an industry that depends on the weather (like skiing) it’s time to ditch the sunshine icons. It’s 45 degrees and cloudy in Greenville today. (I checked my iPhone).

weather app

2) CLIPART - Oh. My. Gosh. No excuses for clipart. Thank you, Microsoft for Windows 7, but otherwise, your clipart continues to devalue even the most important pieces of literature. With millions of free photos at your disposal, please don’t revert to the kindergarten of photo-land. In fact, here’s a link to a great site for free stock images: http://www.sxc.hu/. It’s not all epic, but hey, it’s a thousand levels up from the barrel of clipart. For more on this topic, you can check out our previous post WHY GOOD PHOTOS ARE ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA.

microsoft clip art fail

3) ANIMATED BACKGROUNDS – I’m not making this stuff up…we’re still seeing these dizzying backgrounds – especially around the holidays. What am I talking about ? Backgrounds with floating snow just because it’s December. Your background should speak to your brand, not to the season.

animated_snow_flakes

4) VISITOR COUNT – Whoa! Look at you! 112,342 visitors…since 2005. Ok, and that helps me why? Exactly. Another archaic symbol, these little dudes have been left behind by Google Analytics and a host of other web traffic tools. Seeing a visitor count is like staring at a pair of parachute pants. Sure, they were cool for five minutes. And then people came to their senses. (I’ve included both pics below.)

visitor countparachute pants

5) GUESTBOOK – Sign our guestbook! No.

6) MUSIC – Mute, mute, mute, mute…! And the theme from Titanic, really?!

7) ANIMATED GIF BANNERS – I would have included an example, but the thought of placing an animated gif on the page just irked me too much. Take ‘em off, people! (…the banners).

Remember, a  website shouldn’t grab your attention through gimmicks and props. Simple menus, clean aesthetics, and relevant. These are the marks of a great website.

Have some things on websites that annoy you? Feel free to expound!

REMEMBER CONTENT BEFORE BEAUTY: TIPS FOR POPULATING YOUR WEBSITE

In an age of heightened aesthetic awareness, this topic may seem counter-intuitive. But we need to be careful not to neglect sound business in lieu of flashy branding.

Working with small businesses, we’ve realized that the appearance of their website is often the first item on their minds. And when it comes time for a rebrand, the question arises immediately: “What will our new site look like?”. While this question is valid, necessary, and important, companies should remember that the content of their website is just as important as the appearance. If your website looks amazing, but has clunky text and misinformation, consumers will immediately leave your page.

Here are some items to keep in mind when designing your website. Already have a site? It’s never too late to update your content!

1) Are menus easy to navigate and information easily accessible?

2) Is my information relevant to my target audience?

3) Am I offering information that people are searching for?

4) Does my content offer a fresh perspective or unique approach?

5) Are there misspellings?

6) Do thoughts flow seamlessly from one paragraph or menu to the next?

The last question is one we’ve frequently encountered. Some businesses may have flawless text, but the flow of content from one page to the next may need some rearranging. Remember, you’re telling a story with your website; and just like a story, the easier it is to follow, the longer people will give you their attention.

What are some other items to keep in mind when building a website?

BUSY! NEW e-magazine LAUNCHED

Apologies on the dormancy. When you run a small business, it’s often difficult to separate work from your personal life. Such has been the case at page1. I recently moved to a new condo to prep for my spring wedding, and in the midst of it all, decided to launch a new small business magazine called brand greenville.

I’ll be back to regular posts soon, but in the meantime, feel free to check out the inaugural edition of brand greenville. Each month we’ll highlight a different small business and focus on their story of success.

www.brandgreenville.com 

Image

GOOD BUSINESS: FOCUS ON RELATIONSHIPS, NOT ROI

There are some hardliners that believe ROI rules the world. They are able to isolate the world of business from all other aspects of life. For them, good ROI means good business. But I am not one of these people. Am I a pushover? No. But I believe business is an aspect of life, and anything that intertwines with life – with how we live – with whom we live – does not always fall into succinct, business categories.

I was talking with my dad the other day about page1 Branding, and he said, “You know what you are? You’re an old couch. You make people feel comfortable.” The more I thought about this, the more I liked it. And the more I liked it, the more I smiled. BOOM. That was the moment. That was the moment I felt good about my work.

We have a philosophy at page1 – “Listening is more important than fixing.” For us, it’s not as important to fix clients’ issues, as it is to understand their concerns. Understanding goes much farther in a relationship than always trying to come up with solutions. ROI is solutions based business – and there IS a time for such business. But when your desire to solve trumps your desire to understand, you have bypassed the human element and merely become a business machine. Machines wear out and can be replaced, but wisdom will always be needed.

Regardless of your tweets, your likes on facebook, or your sales results, eventually clients return to THEIR comfort level. At this time, the focus shifts from “Who is bringing in the most business?” to “Who will I want to do business with in the future?” Again, the first is based on ROI, while the latter is based on relationships.

It’s great to be a sledgehammer – breaking down client barriers and forging a new path. But at some point it’s wise to put down the hammer and listen.  It’s difficult to hear over a construction site.  Don’t be afraid to lose a sale in lieu of a lasting relationship.

If you find yourself always with a hammer in hand, perhaps it’s time for a reassessment. Do you need a break? Does the client? Maybe it’s time you both got comfortable and found a couch.

WHY (most) MEETINGS SHOULD BE CANCELED

Meetings kill the flow of any day. We try to rationalize the meeting and say that it’s productive, but when you look at the math, there’s a different story. Let’s say 10 people are called for a meeting and the meeting is scheduled for one hour. Don’t be fooled, this is NOT a one hour meeting. How many people are in the room? 10. Math time. 10 people x 1 hour = 10 man hours. If that same group has three, one hour meetings during the week, there’s a collective loss of 30 working hours!

In his book, Damn Good Advice (For People with Talent!), George Lois refers to such time loss as “group grope” and “analysis paralysis.” When so many people are called together for group discussions, Lois believes that this mass thinking can lead to “group grope,” with too many ideas floating around the room. The more ideas that surface, the harder it is to make a decision, hence “analysis paralysis.”

If meetings must be scheduled, here are some tips to keep them on point.

1) Keep high level discussions to only a few key decision makers. Agree on a decision and implement. Opening the floor to discussion can lead to rabbit trails and confusion.

2) Group “status updates” should be limited to 15 minutes. Remember, this is a status update, not a conversation. If further action is needed, discussion can take place after the meeting. Too often the group is held back on account of the one. Open the gates and let the people free!

3) Stay on topic. This seems like a given, but it’s  not. Meetings are not the same as “brainstorming sessions.” Meetings should be about attention and action. (Note attention. If you’ve lost the attention of the group, there’s no point in continuing. The onus to keep attention is on the speaker, not the group.)

4) No PowerPoint presentations. (Look for another post on this later.)

Have more tips or a good story? How about the longest meeting ever? Anyone crossed the four hour mark?

SHAPE UP YOUR SPEECH! 8 BUSINESS PHRASES GET THE BOOT!

With such an overwhelming response to our first post, “7 Fonts No One Should Ever Use. Ever.” we decided to continue the theme. After logging countless hours in meetings across the country, we’ve determined that a few key phrases spill across our lips (yes, we’re guilty too) and need to be retired. The problem with these phrases is not that we don’t understand them, but that they’re universal cop-outs for more eloquent speech.  We’re taking a pledge to do a mental pause before saying another one of these off-the-cuff idioms. Sure, it may be hard at first, but we guarantee you’ll feel a tinge of pride when you’re able to circumvent one of these hollow phrases.

Let’s begin:

1) APPLES TO APPLES - A phrase. A game. A lie. No one who ever says this phrase is actually comparing apples. There’s only one place this phrase is even remotely safe…an apple orchard (no one likes bruised apples). So unless you work for a fruit company, keep this one out of the meeting.  

THE ALTERNATIVE: Let’s be sure we’re doing a fair comparison. (Sounds so much nicer, no?)

2) CIRCLE BACK AROUND - I would LOVE this phrase if it meant we got to take a break and actually circle around something! A quick walk around the building, a trip to the water cooler, heck, a bathroom break would be nice sometimes. So yeah, if we were “circling back around” that’d be awesome. But we’re not.

THE ALTERNATIVE: We’ll come back to this.

3) LET’S TABLE THAT – This is typically said with the speaker’s hands motioning to the table in front of him or her. Anymore tabled conversations and the table is going to snap.

THE ALTERNATIVE: Let’s schedule another meeting to discuss that topic.

4) SOONER RATHER THAN LATER - …so you mean right now? Because let’s be honest, anytime we’ve heard this phrase, the person means immediately.

THE ALTERNATIVE: Right now. (Wow, that was simple! No more ambiguity!)

5) SOUP TO NUTS - I had never heard this phrase until a few years ago. The first time I heard it, I simply nodded my head. After the meeting, I was informed it meant “everything.” My thought? Wait…since when did soup and nuts become so important? Soup and nuts represent everything? Are we squirrels…wait…squirrels that like soup? No. This is dumb. Don’t say this.

THE ALTERNATIVE: Everything. OR  We can do it all. 

6) FLESH OUT - Nope. We’re not going to say this one anymore. Okay? It has the word “flesh” in it. That is all.

THE ALTERNATIVE:  Could you expound?

7) GIVE ME A BALLPARK – frank. They want a Ballpark frank. No, they want an estimate, but they like baseball. Well, where are all the tennis references? Let’s be aggressive! Let’s “play the net!” No? Fine. Then let’s just speak English.

THE ALTERNATIVE: Estimate. (Come on. No excuse to not use this.)

8) WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD – Ugh. This sentence provides no additional direction or clarification during conversation. It’s a pointless phrase – a filler. We have enough fillers in our food; there’s no reason to add them to our speech, too.

THE ALTERNATIVE: Shhh…don’t say anything.

I’ve been informed that a list of 8 is woefully inadequate. But these are my top 8. How does your list compare?

WHY GOOD PHOTOS ARE ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA.

A question we’ve been asked a lot is, “Do we really need to take new pictures?” Another variation has been, “Can’t we just use the pictures we have on file – or perhaps some stock images?” If you find yourself at the crossroads of pulling from the stock archives or shooting fresh images, our advice is this: new images are NEVER a bad idea. New and original photos can not only help freshen a website, but the process of mapping out shots can often help further define your brand. You gain new insight into how you want your brand to appear, and can also gain a new perspective. And sometimes, a simple change in perspective can do wonders. If a new photo shoot is not in the budget, don’t worry, stock images are still acceptable, but make SURE you choose the best stock images available. A good photo strengthens your brand. A bad photo calls into question your credibility. 

Whether original or stock, a good rule for images is that the image should be of good quality, relatable, and not leave viewers feeling confused or awkward. Below we’ve included some original page1 images, as well as some great stock examples. We’ve also tossed in a couple of the worst stock photos we’ve ever seen. Please, never, ever, ever use these images. Your brand deserves better. Heck, the world deserves better.

THE GOOD:

page1 Branding: AbsorbaTherapy (Transdermal Supplements)

page1 Branding: Red Clay Soap (Goat Milk Soap Products)

Classic Stock Images:

THE BAD (THE REALLY, REALLY BAD):

His face? Her face? Why does he look so evil? Why is everything in black? Was this shot in a basement? There are just too many questions.

The blonde hair is simply amazing. Never mind that fact that these look like creepy dolls, let’s focus on the good hair. 

“Hey, I’m not studying. I’m balancing a book.” Wait…that actually IS the best quote for this picture. How sad.

Don’t. Don’t even try. Nope…there’s nothing to say. 

7 FONTS NO ONE SHOULD EVER USE. EVER.

We love talking about fonts. Not only are they ubiquitous to life, but they’re the unsung heroes of a good brand. Fonts alone can often define a brand or even a company – think Barbie, Firestone, and KitchenAid. With that said, here’s a list of fonts that should never be used. Forget about them. Don’t underline them. Don’t italicize them. And especially don’t bold them.

1) Papyrus – I’ve seen papyrus in everything from invitations to spas. I’m not sure what the fascination is with italicized ancient handwriting, but last I checked, Egyptians used papyrus to write ON…it wasn’t a font. In fact, hieroglyphs has more appeal than this overused standby. 

2) Comic Sans – The joke is up. This font sucks. Let’s go one step further. All computers after 1999 should have a program to automatically remove this font. If you see Comic Sans, it’s safe to assume the user used Windows 95. Sure, they probably used a new laptop…but can we really be sure? 

3) Zapfino –  Zapfino is a distant cousin of Papyrus but overdressed and with too much makeup. Reading a sentence written in Zapfino is like reading a letter from Alexander Hamilton. Anymore 18th century flair, and we all might as well be saying “‘Ello gov’nuh,” and powdering our wigs. 

4) Broadway – Oklahoma was a great play, but the font of Broadway should stay on Broadway. Don’t try to sing your way out of this one. If you’re typing in Broadway, just go ahead and stop.  

5) Curlz – Though it may be fun, unless you’re marketing to 6 year old girls, please avoid at all costs. 

6) Copperplate Gothic – I actually love this font. Or I did until EVERYONE started using it. I’m hoping that someday…maybe not tomorrow or even 10 years from now…I’ll be able to once again type in Copperplate Gothic. Could everyone just stop using it? Thanks!

7) Times New Roman – First, let’s clear the confusion. It’s Times New Roman, NOT RomanS. Secondly, don’t worry, we’re not asking you to toss this one. Just keep its use limited to professional papers and reports. Need a catchy headline or banner text? Just because it’s bolded, underlined, and colored, it’s still Times New Roman. 

Have a font we missed? List them below. We can all have a hand in helping to clean up the text space!