RawkMedia Web Design | Saskatoon Web Design » website marketing

You’ve got questions, Quora’s got answers!

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:05:56 +0000

Filed under: Hosting, saskatoon marketing, Saskatoon web design, saskatoon website design, Saskatoon website hosting, Social Media Marketing, website marketing

We’re a web design company and as such, we have a lot of answers… but not all the answers. We often turn to Quora when we have questions… not necessarily Web Design questions, any questions in general. What is Quora? Founded in 2009, by two former Facebook employees, Quora launched on June 21, 2010. Quora is a lot like yahoo answers except it’s a community for questions and answers, rather than a visit, answer, leave type of environment. Answering questions is turned into more of a competition and, with the introduction of game mechanics, is the root of the motivation factor for answering questions.

How Do you get started?

Quora maintains a pretty comprehensive Help section with official guidelines for using the website. The most important thing to do in the beginning is to determine your interests (what you’d like to learn about) and set up a good feed based on your interests. Once you’ve done so, your activity feed will appear each time you visit the home page and your learning experience/site interaction will begin to be tailored to your interests. Quora suggests following and searching for topics, people and questions when starting out. When you follow a particular topic, any questions and answers tagged with that topic will appear in your feed; the same also applies to people. Quora also has an iOS app for your IPhone, which helps you follow your Q&A sessions from anywhere!

You’ve got questions, Quora’s got answers! is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

Beyond Web Design.. Your visitors want something to read!

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:31:47 +0000

Filed under: saskatoon marketing, saskatoon SEO, Saskatoon web design, saskatoon website design, search engine optimization, Social Media Marketing, website marketing

Your brand is extremely important and an effective web design that reaches your audience and compels them to stay is likewise as important. That said, however, the primary goal of your website should always be to not only inform your visitors and potential customers what your company does, but how it does it, where it does it, and most importantly that your company is the industry expert in what it is that you do.

Ever heard the expression, “content is king”? When it comes to a business website, content truly is the king of all web design elements. The more the better… okay, get the spam prospect out of mind for now, you do not want to push out spam. What you want to do is generate informative, market focused, content. The easiest and most professional way to do this is via a company blog or news page that allows for weekly / daily posts describing your market, your industry, and your products & services.

By posting periodic content to your blog or news page, you not only inform your website visitors and potential customers, you likewise inform Google that your company is an expert in your industry. Google will in turn favour your website in google search results for the products and services that your business provides.

Below are a few examples of what type of content is common, acceptable, and easy to generate.

Content that builds trust - Inform your website visitors and potential customers. Talk about your industry and how your products & services serve your industry and your customers. Talk about the benefits and new developments in your industry in general. As an expert in your industry, this should be easy. In doing so, potential customers will not only recognize your company’s expertise, but its devotion to your industry.

Customer generated content – Admittedly, getting your audience to engage is difficult, however, with new developments in social media it’s getting easier. Create a social media page or profile via Twitter or Facebook and pose questions to your audience, request feedback, heck hold a contest, do anything that warrants a response! In doing so, you’re building an audience and a solid community around your content and your online profile that can be referenced by future visitors and potential customers.

Other people’s content – It’s not stealing or plagiarism to reference to content of others. Find White Papers on your products, services, or industry material that you feel is valuable to your potential audience. Do so on a regular basis, in doing so, you’re proving your commitment to your industry and your commitment to building trust and educating your audience.

As always, we’re here to help if you have any questions on how to ensure that your website is more than just a website. Contact a RawkMedia Creative Consultant today to learn how you can build and engage an audience around your online brand.

Beyond Web Design.. Your visitors want something to read! is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

What Is Google Plus?

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 03:36:47 +0000

Filed under: design, Hosting, Saskatchewan web design, Saskatoon web design, saskatoon website design, Social Media Marketing, website marketing

Google+ is the google’s most recent attempt at creating a social network A La Facebook. Launched June 28, 2011 with a private beta, Google has yet to open it to the public, however all current members have the ability to invite users so you more than likely have a hookup somewhere.

Google plus is a collection of different social products, either existing or new to Google, including Profile Stream, Sparks (a recommendation engine), Circles (a friend management service), Hangouts (a video chat service), Huddle (a group texting service) and Photos, with more features such as Games and Questions expected in the near future.

Google+ was clearly designed to compete directly with Facebook however, it does seem to have already taken a few steps in a somewhat different direction in the way they’ve allowed their users to interact and connect with one-another. Unlike Facebook, a Google+ user can create their network outside of familiar relationships. Think Twitter meets Facebook, that’s Google+.

Here’s a video released by Google that offers a brief overview of the new Social Network.

What Is Google Plus? is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

Designing for Smaller Screen Sizes

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Mon, 16 May 2011 17:04:52 +0000

Filed under: design, saskatoon marketing, Saskatoon web design, saskatoon website design, website marketing

It’s obvious, the biggest difference between a mobile device and a desktop / laptop is the screen size. Although Smartphone screen sizes have been increasing, even the iPhone is still small compared to a standard 1024×768 screen. This gets more complicated when you factor in the range of screen sizes used by your mobile users. Also don’t forget that some smartphones change size based on orientation (think IPhone). The obvious result is that the user experience is often broken (but getting better) based on the resize experience. So what’s the solution.. There are several plugins and backend functions that can resize, re-orient, deliver appropriate template, or design as if your user would be using a smartphone and ensure the appearance is appropriate for a desktop as well. Floating properties are key, there are some CSS3 / html5 utilities out there as well. Whatever you do, know that your website is being accessed by smartphones, and will become to be more so, so a smartphone strategy is key to your online brand and identity.

Designing for Smaller Screen Sizes is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

A little bit of humour in the Web Designer – Customer relationship

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Sat, 14 May 2011 21:06:51 +0000

Filed under: design, Hosting, Saskatchewan web design, Saskatoon web design, Saskatoon website hosting, website marketing

Here’s a little comedic relief in the relationship between a customer a web developer… Perhaps other Saskatoon Website Design companies can relate better

A little bit of humour in the Web Designer – Customer relationship is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

Stoked For the Deep Dark Woods Return to the SK!

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Sat, 14 May 2011 01:08:35 +0000

Filed under: Deep Dark Woods, Hosting, saskatoon SEO, Saskatoon web design, saskatoon website design, Social Media Marketing, website marketing

We’re pretty excited for the June show for one of our favorite local exports, the Deep Dark Woods, as they swing through Saskatoon as part of their tour. For those of you who love genuine, warm, and melodically perfect music the Deep Dark Woods are for you… trust us . Click play and have a listen.. recorded live.. flawlessly.

Stoked For the Deep Dark Woods Return to the SK! is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

New Website Design Complete for One Bad Son

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Thu, 12 May 2011 02:10:45 +0000

Filed under: design, Hosting, saskatoon SEO, Saskatoon web design, saskatoon website design, Social Branding, Social Media Marketing, website marketing

SK export Rock Band “One Bad Son” requested a reinvention of their website that would include several new elements such as a music player, more dynamic homepage, a more integrated social experience, and a brand new aesthetic. Give us your thoughts on our follow through

New Website Design Complete for One Bad Son is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

The New Facebook Business Page Design

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:47:21 +0000

Filed under: saskatoon marketing, saskatoon SEO, saskatoon website design, Social Media Marketing, website marketing

We often get questions around how Facebook can be used for business and what impact the platform can have on a Small Business Marketing Campaign.. the answer is always to point to Facebook’s Business Pages. With the new Facebook Business Page layout and functionality changes, released yesterday, we thought it’d be a good time to put pen-to-paper and offer a list of 5 ways your can improve your Marketing efforts via Facebook and the new page layout.

1) Upload and even tag photos. Facebook has moved business page images to the top of the page, similar to the layout you see in your personal profile. This is cool for one specific reason, visual exposure to your products, services, and/or portfolio. Take some time and put some thought into what images are best suited for the top of your business page to maximize exposure to your products and services. Here’s a few examples of clever use of the image-top layout for profiles.

2) Optimize your home image. The default size for Facebook images is now 180 by 540 pixels, which means that any image you upload as your “avatar” image will be resized to match those dimensions. First take some time to consider what your business page’s profile image is going to be (most likely your logo or marketing material that includes your logo) and then make sure it’s optimized for the aforementioned dimensions.

3) Create a custom landing page. Facebook has offered the ability to create a custom HTML page on your facebook business page. This is huge! as you can now customize at least a page to be more consistent with your website’s design. Furthermore, you can specify this page as your “landing page” or first page your facebook business page visitors will see when visiting your business profile. See here for some examples of innovative uses of the customizable facebook business page.

4) interact with your business page as yourself. Because Facebook has taken a step in the direction to untie your personal facebook profile from your business page profile, you can now interact with your business page as yourself (without visitors knowing you’re infact the owner of that business page). Interaction on your page is huge and very important in stimulating further conversation between your business page, your business, and your community.

5) Grow your community through business interaction. This last point is huge! As mentioned earlier, Facebook has now given you the opportunity to interact with other facebook profiles and pages as your business profile (not your personal profile). What this means is that you can now interact with other facebook pages and their community as your business. Engage on other business’ profile pages and maximize your business name’s exposure. This is a key way to growing your community.

As always, if you have any questions as to how you can grow your business through Social Media engagement, feel free to contact a RawkMeda Web Design Consultant today!

The New Facebook Business Page Design is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

Your Saskatoon Web Design Company Should Provide…

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:19:56 +0000

Filed under: saskatoon design, Saskatoon web design, saskatoon website design, Social Branding, Social Media Marketing, website marketing

Communication with our customers and prospective customers inevitably turns to one key question, “what are they key components I need in my website?”. obviously, your website’s design should best showcase whatever information you’re trying to convey to your website’s visitors like products, services, information, etc. there are, however, some staples that every website design should include that add both its functionality and presentation of your business. The following is a quick’n dirty list of those core components that every web designer should include:

A Contact Page

Obviously However, your contact information should definitely include a ubiquitous contact form rather than just your phone number and email address. Your website contact form should include the visitor’s name, company name, email address, and description (the nature of the inquiry) fields. You could go further to categorize the nature of contacts into options like “to request a quote”, “support inquiry”, and so forth. Also, don’t forget to provide links (everywhere you can) to your social network. If you don’t have an established social network for your business, see here for information about its importance.

An About Page

People want to know who you are, what you are, and what you can do for them. An about page is the perfect way to convey company / team member information, business goals, track record, to your potential customers. Your about page should be concise and professional.

A Products / Services Gallery

The most important component of any business website design is the categorization and presentation of your company’s products and services. Don’t get too specific, present your products and services in categories… be more general than you think you should be. Your visitors’ patience is valuable but short.

Social Media Integration

A Social Media Network is quickly becoming your most cost effective (it’s free) option in raising awareness about your business and your products / services. Ask your web designer whether or not they have a strategy for integrating your social media network with your website. This should include links to your social media networks in your website, automatic updates from your website to your various social networks, and vice-versa.

Aesthetics

It’s become obvious to any business owner that a website is not a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have. Given that fact, competition for your target audience and potential customers is fierce. How do you differentiate? One of the best ways to differentiate is in the aesthetic appeal of your web design. Make sure that your website is concise and coherent but also ensure that your web designer can provide a web design that differentiates your business from your competitors. Feel Free to contact a RawkMedia Web Design Consultant today to discuss your how you can get your website online properly.

Your Saskatoon Web Design Company Should Provide… is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

Search Engine Optimization & Search Engine Marketing

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 06:05:53 +0000

Filed under: saskatoon marketing, Saskatoon Search Engine Marketing, saskatoon search engine optimization, website marketing

The internet is rife with competition and getting your website infront of the potential customers searching for your products and services has moved from merely ensuring that the search engines know you, to ensuring that the search engines recognize you as a dominant provider of your products and services. Enter the fields of search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), and the introduction of the Search Engine Optimization Company. Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing campaigns involve the practice of ensuring that your website not only communicates effectively with your customers, but likewise communicates your products and services properly with search engines. A successful search engine optimization company will develop a search marketing campaign that will instruct the search engines to give emphasis to those marketing keywords that your business wants to rank highly for in search engine search results.

Sounds easy.. no problem right? Well, the strategy is obvious, the means to achieving the desired results of your search engine marketing campaign is just that, a campaign. As is the case with any worth while campaign (in the face of competition anyway), a search engine optimization campaign requires patience, time, and a lot of work.

1) Make sure that the Saskatoon Search Engine Optimization Company that you hire provides you with a strategy before hand. Ensure that they discuss keyword or search term options that best fit your company’s products & services. Also ensure that they provide a competition report and set appropriate expectations with regards to beating the competition. Discuss a timeline within which your search engine marketing campaign will begin to produce results. This timeline can be loose but should include metrics by which you want to measure your website’s marketing results.

2) Ensure that your website marketing campaign includes a social media marketing strategy. Search engines are beginning to take notice of the migration from search to social media platforms in the way people discover information. If your website marketing strategy is including a distribution strategy among a variety of social media profiles associated with your company, your search engine marketing campaign will bare fruit much quicker and more effectively. Talk to you search engine marketing company about their social media marketing strategy.

3) Speak to your website marketing company about ways to create, post, and distribute content related to your company’s products and services. Do they have an article distribution service, are they incorporated RSS feed submission strategies, will they design and distribute to social media profiles on facebook, twitter, linkedin, etc showcasing your company? Will the distribution process be automated at the click of a button?

If you’re a Saskatoon based business looking to tap into those potential customers searching for your products and services right now, talk to a Saskatoon search engine optimization company today about your website marketing strategy.

Search Engine Optimization & Search Engine Marketing is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group