Month: February 2017

Web Design Trends for 2017 (Part 2 of 2)

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2017 is leaving us with no shortage of new web design trends to take for a spin and see how they work. I always stress that you should NEVER view your website as static. You need to regularly look at it with fresh eyes and see what needs to be eliminated or added. By keeping your website fresh and interesting, you are keeping visitors interested.

Last week I shared six trends in web design for you to consider using on your own site. Today I’m sharing five more.

    1. Duotone

    In the minimalist family, the duotone is a good option when you’re looking to keep things simple while still adding a pop of interest with a monochromatic palette.

2. Horizontal and Vertical Text

Add dimension by breaking the standard text rules. Shake up your text and run it vertically and horizontally. The page can still be simple, but it will be anything but boring.

3. Mix Geometric Shapes and Patterns

This is a great way to add dimension and texture to your website – not to mention visual appeal.

4. Modular

If you are looking for a clean design option that organizes everything into separate modules, then this one is for you. It works well to compartmentalize different categories of information.

5. Text and Image Overlap

Stacking your text over an image adds visual appeal. Just make sure the text can ALWAYS be easily read. Never sacrifice readability for design.

 

That does it. I hope this two-part blog gave you some ideas you can implement on your own website in 2017. Have fun!

 

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Web Design Trends for 2017 (Part 1 of 2)

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imagesThe trends in web design are always evolving. To stay relevant, you must direct ongoing attention to the design of your website. Sometimes that means doing a complete redesign, and sometimes it just means making some tweaks to freshen the look.

Today I’m sharing six trends in web design that you will want to look at and consider for your own site.

  1. Ultra-Minimal

This year I think we’re going to see more companies pushing the envelope on what a website needs to look like and what it needs to say. Obviously, this option doesn’t work for everyone. Here’s a good example of the ultra-minimal look.

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  1. Bold Typography

A growing number of companies are choosing to anchor their home page with bold typography. When you go with this option, make sure you keep the rest of the design minimal so the typography gets the spotlight.

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  1. Cinemagraphs

You may not be as familiar with this option. Cinemagraph is a technique of blending the effects of images and videos. Cinemagraphs are typically created as animated .gif files, which makes them easy to use on a web page.

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  1. Experimental Compositions

Who says your website has to look like all the others? Some companies are creating websites that are anything but ordinary. While different is good, functionality is always key.

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  1. Vivid Layers of Color

Bright colors beautifully layered or presented in kaleidoscope are becoming increasingly popular. You can’t beat the visual appeal.

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  1. Illustration

This hot new trend feels more like a refreshing blast from the past. Custom or stock illustrations can be a dynamic addition to your website, adding visual interest that also lends personality to your brand.

 

 

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In my next blog, I’ll share some more web design trends for you to consider for 2017.

 

Eight Ways to Use Your E-mail Signature to Reinforce Your Marketing Campaigns

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Many marketers don’t take advantage of their e-mail signature real estate, opting to leave it blank. Some use this space to give more information on themselves like phone number, website, etc. But, what if I told you that you both are missing a big opportunity…and it’s free? I bet I have your attention now. Here are eight ways you can use your e-mail signature space to reinforce your marketing campaigns.

  1. Share More Information

If you have a blog, let them know by including a link to it. This is a great way to share the most up-to-date information with your e-mail recipients. However, make sure you use your blog wisely. Incorporate calls to action throughout your blog to turn visitors into leads.

  1. Promote Your Best Offers

If you’ve had a look at your data and see that some offers are pulling better than others, use the ones that are working the best for you as mini ads in your e-mail signature area.

  1. Lead Them Home

You should always have a link to the home page of your website. Once you send them to your home page, make sure you have an offer or a call to action waiting for them there.

  1. Get Social

Make it easy for your e-mail recipients to connect with you on your social media platforms. Provide links to Facebook, Twitter, LinkeIn, etc., for all of your business accounts.

  1. Promote Yourself

If you have a book, e-book, article you wrote, video interview, etc., let your recipients know. Give them a link to watch, read, download or purchase.

  1. Promote Upcoming Events

If you have a conference or tradeshow coming up, include that information in your signature area.

  1. Promote the Facts

White papers, research studies, and case studies all have the ability to tell a really good story. Share them when you have them.

  1. Offer Something for Nothing

Promote a free consultation or a free demo. This works to help drive leads.

Some of these ideas work together while others are best used alone. Use your best judgment. The last thing you want to do is overcrowd your signature area and miss an opportunity to further connect with prospects.

 

Business Lessons We Can Learn From the 2017 Super Bowl

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The 2017 Super Bowl between my beloved Patriots and the Falcons has been billed as the greatest Super Bowl in history. I, of course, agree! I knew they had it in them to make a record-breaking comeback. To witness it was amazing. It got me thinking about what made this victory possible. There are a lot of factors at play, but I believe it’s the same as with most other victories. True success comes down to the preparation. And for the Patriots, I think a lot of the preparation has to do with how their coach, Bill Belichick, manages the team. Here’s what business lessons we can learn from his approach.

Lesson #1 – Show Up Ready To Play

Belichick doesn’t care how long you’ve been with the team. If you’re not the best person for the job, he’s not going to play you. In business it’s tempting to feel entitled because of tenure, but we should fight that and be open to continuing to learn and push ourselves to be better performers.

Lesson #2 – Out Organize The Competition

Whether it’s on the football field or in business, when you are better organized it shows, and it looks like a winner. The more preparation and research you do about your prospects and the competition, the better organized your game plan will be, and the more success you’ll have.

Lesson #3 – Push The Status Quo

Belichick has done an amazing job transforming the Patriots into a sophisticated team that looks at the game a little differently. He has brought market efficiencies to the game and given players new metrics by which to judge their performance. Perhaps it’s time to apply this thinking to your standard ways of doing business and see where a positive shakeup is warranted.

Lesson #4 – Never Underestimate The Power Of Management

There’s no denying the role professional athletes play in winning games. However, most would agree that to take a team to the top, you have to also have smart management to lead the way. Is your management team leading the way?

Lesson #5 – All For One And One For All

Ego has no place on Belichick’s team, and it has no place on your team. Check the egos at the door and make sure everyone on your team is working toward a winning game plan.

Lesson #6 – The Numbers Don’t Lie

Analytics is used on the playing field and in business. Take full advantage of the data you gather and use it to drive your decisions.