Will Your Website Redesign Generate Traffic and Leads?

Friday, March 19, 2010 by Brandon Coppernoll
A website redesign may be a part of your web based strategy, but is it in your strategy for the right reason? Search engine optimization, inbound marketing and lead generation should be the purpose of a website redesign. Before you employ a website design company, think to yourself, "Will the new look be able to help me generate leads?" 

Search engine optimization is one of the most cost effective ways to generate traffic and leads. A website design full of flash elements, graphics and with little to no content will not assist you in these goals. I'm not condoning ugly websites because there must be something pleasing to the eye, but when a customer goes to a search engine looking for information about a product, service or vital information on your industry, you want your business to be found.

Fusework Studios can help you form a plan structured to create leads through inbound marketing and SEO value. Give us a call, and let's talk.

Fusework Studios Launches AAFECI.org and Creates ADDY Awards Presentation

Friday, March 12, 2010 by James Hueston
AAF ECI  HomepageFusework Studios has played a major role in the new marketing for the American Advertising Federation of East Central Indiana (AAF ECI). Specifically, Fusework Studios Project Manager, Laurie Foster, recently completed a new website for AAF ECI (www.aafeci.org), which launched just before the 2010 ADDY Awards Banquet. The timing was great! The community saw not only the new face of the organization at the Awards Banquet, but also were reminded of Fusework Studios' offerings in Muncie as a website design company.

In addition, we volunteered to create the mainstage presentation for this year's ADDY Awards ceremony. This was a great opportunity to support several of the advertising agencies in Indiana, and the work they have done for their clients. We started months in advance, and I personally enjoyed working with Executive Director, Anne Condran, and Addy Chair, Christy Jones, in crafting the detailed presentation.

The presentation of the 2010 Addy Award Winners is on the new website for all to see, but I have also included it in my post below, so you can take a quick look.


A third-party service called SlideShare facilitates the display of PowerPoint presentations on any website in a very user-friendly format.

As a social media marketing company, we encouraged AAF ECI to alert their fans and followers of their new online presence, which they did on Facebook. Now the organization is setup online to further fulfill their mission to:
  • CONNECT members to other advertising industry professionals and resources;
  • Encourage, support, and recognize members in their quest to CREATE the very best in advertising; and
  • INSPIRE young professionals to enter the advertising profession.
Many thanks to the Board Members of AAF ECI for selecting Fusework Studios to partner with for their recent marketing needs. Best wishes for continued success.

Five Ways to Work in a Committee With a Website Design Company Without Compromising Design

Thursday, November 12, 2009 by Jim Switzer

Committee working with a web design company the wrong way!As a website design company, we encounter many different types of projects...from simple projects like a blog redesign all the way to a total rebranding of a company with new collateral and a new web based strategy. Each project can present its own set of challenges, but one of the most challenging approaches to a project can be working in a committee. How do we make a decision on a design? Who is responsible for what? Where do we start?!

It's simple. Follow the five simple rules below when working with a website design company to develop your next web based strategy, and your project will go a little easier.
 
1. The Odd Man Is Not Out.
When choosing a team for a committee, remember to keep the number of people odd. This way if a decision needs to be reached on an aspect of the project, a majority vote can be made. Also, try to keep the number of people as small as possible (3-5 team members).

2. Pick A Leader.
Every Committee needs a Chair. This is someone to delegate parts of the project to members, as well as a mediator for meetings. Ideally, this person will have power within your company to make final approvals on the project, so it can continue to move forward.

3. Listen To The Experts.
When working with a website design company, such as Fusework Studios, treat them as an extension of your team. Keep all of their suggestions to the forefront in the design and development phases of your project. Remember, we're the experts, and you hired us to come up with ideas that will best meet your project goals.

4. It's Not Personal.
As you and your team work through the design process, try not to let your personal preferences effect the design. Purple may not be your favorite color, but it might be the best choice for your target market. Always keep the overall goals and target audience in mind throughout the entire project.

5. Watch The Calendar.
In any project, the calendar is key. Make sure that deadlines are being met, and team members are meeting their goals. Obviously, if a deadline is missed, the schedule will need to be adjusted accordingly. It's always best to schedule a little buffer room just in case this happens. Meet weekly, if possible, and celebrate milestones when they are met.

If you keep these five steps in mind throughout your project, you and your team will have a web based strategy that won't be compromised by opinions. You'll have a great product that will help your business grow.
 


Complete Internet Marketing and the Evolution of Programming

Monday, November 9, 2009 by Derek McClain
Things are changing in the programming world, and it is no longer just about finding the right website design company. Companies are now developing a complete internet marketing strategy and seeking an internet marketing agency to produce a total web presence.  Learn more about how social media marketing tools are being used to compliment websites by viewing the video below.


 

When to Use Flash for Website Design

Thursday, October 22, 2009 by Kevin Hood
Flash for Website Design and SEOMany people want a colorful website with animated graphics, flash logos and other cool features. The Flash technology from Adobe, but created by Macromedia, has been around since 1996 and become very popular over the last ten years. Some website designs use Flash to display an animated logo, a fancy header or banner, and there are still many websites that are designed entirely with Flash. It's pretty easy to tell when a website is using Flash, but it's not so easy to determine if your website should use Flash. Before you use Flash on a website you should ask questions, learn about disadvantages and avoid possible problems.

1. Why Do You Want to Use Flash?
This is probably the most important question. Are you using Flash just to be using Flash, or is there a real need to incorporate multimedia and interactivity with your website design?

2. Search Engine Optimization
Most Flash-based websites have little to zero text on their homepage and other pages. The text is usually displayed with the use of images, so there is no text you can highlight to cut and paste. That means there's also no text for Google and other search engines to read! This is a big deal because in the world of Search Engine Optimization - content is king.

Those are probably the two most important factors, but are you still wondering when it is appropriate to use Flash?
  • Do not design a website entirely with Flash. Instead, you should use HTML pages with <div> tags that include search engine optimized content. You can call Flash objects with the swfobject Java script method to confirm if the visitor can view Flash files, which would automatically replace the content in the <div> tag.
  • If you must use Flash, make it only a small portion of your website.
  • Do not design your website navigation with Flash.
  • Avoid using a Flash header because it can be an obstacle for the search engine spiders.
  • It is important to test and confirm accessibility is addressed with Flash files in your website design.
  • Make sure your website design is focused on content first, and then, you should use Flash to draw attention to that content and conversion.
  • The best use of Flash is to display a lot of information that you cannot fit in one small area and for calls to action to get visitors to engage and convert.
Flash works wonders to get attention and keep your visitors on the page. However, remember the main reason to use Flash on a business website is to get visitors to read content, click calls to action and become another conversion in your back pocket. Make sure your Indiana website design company follows these rules when planning your website strategy.