User centred design increases competitiveness

Published | 14.05, 7th of September 2009, by Chris van Aurich | Design

Company reputations and customer loyalty are built by positive user experiences. In web-based services, in particular, it is very easy for people to 'click' to an alternative website if a service seems difficult to use or doesn't meet their needs.

A user-centred approach broadens the scope of inputs to designers' thinking. Design teams are often physically and culturally removed from the people they design for. Over the course of product and service development, designers, planners and marketeers can grow so close to the concepts and technologies they are developing that their expectations don't match those of everyday end-users.

Those who take pains to understand the context they are designing for and who include users' perspectives in the evaluation of their work have a greater chance of business success.

No comments | Make a comment (Average rating | 4.33 / 5)

How do I look? | Websites on your mobile device

Published | 16.08, 4th of August 2009, by Chris van Aurich | Design

With over 61 million mobile handsets, 300,000 more than the current population in use, it might be worth checking your site via your phone. I know I have.

No comments | Make a comment (Average rating | 4.50 / 5)

Template Websites from BT | Cheap and not so cheerful..

Published | 16.17, 24th of July 2009, by Paul Butler | Design

Many moons ago the website industry tried to swamp the market with basic, quick-fix commercial websites. A number of pre-designed templates provide an initial presence. They incorporated a logo upload facility and a wizard driven content writer. Many used an extended domain name string such as www.websitetemplateprovider/yourcompanyname, and none of them took into consideration any optimisation what-so-ever.

That was then, this is now. Most serious business owners have already wasted money or at least learnt from the mistakes of others by investing both money and time in a website which is more of a virtual employee then a second thought marketing tool. Websites and Internet marketing is much smarter these days. This is why the SEO industry is so large, and profitable.

Recently BT have launched their own website service. However it returns to the old template days. To differentiate between a Creative Agency such as Artlines Media and the new BT service, we offer a professional consultancy service. We do not expect our clients to know everything there is about website design, development, colour, web-fonts, layout, navigation, SEO, SMM, Content Management, Branding, Web Marketing or any of the other associated topics. We expect our clients to understand their own business and then delegate such an important task to someone in the know. A team with the experience, knowledge and expertise, to maximise on the investment made and offer measurable results over the short and long term.

We offer much more than just a free 15 minute telephone call. If your business is worth the investment call us now..

No comments | Make a comment (Average rating | 5.00 / 5)

Website revamp | 5 good reasons why you should update

Published | 12.23, 15th of July 2009, by Paul Butler | Design

Things change
If the message you are trying to communicate alters your website needs to reflect this. You would expect an employer to respond to change so why not your website?

It's not working as it should
Your audience is influenced in different ways and this is usually portrayed in any marketing activity you do. However in some cases we forget that a website should provide good results. When it doesn't we need to change it so that it does what it is supposed to.

Sometimes we need to cut down
Occasionally, especially with websites that are content heavy, we need to revised and concise. Adding new blogs and news items can be good for SEO but at some point we need to review the overall content so that our message is sharp and clear. An new accurate message represented both in word form and design.

Product Launch
News about new products should be broadcast from the roof tops. They should certainly have a prominent position on your company's website. Then existing clients have a reason to check your website on a more regular basis and new visitors can see your latest offer. Buying trends might suggest that one product is selling more than another. Your website can help push slower products or create a more even spread across the range if required.

Outdated
A website that has a dated design speaks volumes about the company itself. Technology moves on both with website development as well as Search Engine marketing. Your website needs to take advantage of up-to-date technology to master competitiveness. It also needs to appeal to both new and returning visitors. Influences change our perception of a company. Your website needs to reflect your business correctly and offer a today's brand not yesterday's memory. Statistics show that a website needs to be reviewed every two years. If your website is looking tired or your business model has changed and your website doesn't now reflect this, then call Artlines Media for a free consultation.

No comments | Make a comment (Average rating | 4.60 / 5)

Artlines Media | a brand should be influential

Published | 16.36, 11th of June 2009, by Paul Butler | Design

A brand should mean something. Like people, the most influential have always stood for something and let their feelings guide them in everything they do. A brand should also do remarkable things. Quiet, grey, boring brands appear almost invisible. At Artlines Media we prefer a brand to stand out, get noticed and be remembered. Buying trends have also changed. We can no longer herd the buying public like sheep. Instead we have to influence them in an intelligent way.

The Internet has made the world a much smaller place. Whole communities communicate via the web and people are far more informed than ever before. Because of this a brand has to adapt because of its accountability. It also means that a brand can offer greater opportunities and become even more influential. Top brands understand how to capitalise on the collective wisdom of their followers, to maximise the effects of their influences.

A brand is a series of promises that do not change over time. So while a brand is making promises that do not change (avoiding what is known as a flickering brand), the product and the way it articulates its core offer is still able to change, as the world around it changes.

No comments | Make a comment (Average rating | 4.60 / 5)

Showing blog entries 11-15 of 20.

Page | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5