A lot of planning and strategy is involved in achieving the right balance of information and visuals as well as a logical and friendly structure of navigation. While it’s easy to slap together a bunch of informative pages and be done with it, your visitors probably wont be willing to drudge through tedious copy to get to the information they need. This, of course, will probably result in them leaving your website, and may just turn them off to your company or organization altogether.

So, how do you know if visitors are getting the most out of your website?

Analytics refer to the collection and analysis of web traffic data for the purpose of understanding how visitors use and navigate your website. As you can imagine, such insights are highly valuable for improving and maintaining an effective website.  

There are various tools out there today that provide you with detailed analytics for your site, from the duration of a page to the actual location of the visitor, and many of them are free. Two free tools that we are currently and recommend to our clients are Google Analytics and Mouse Flow.

Google Analytics

We recommend that anyone with a website register with Google Analytics, as it is an excellent free resource that offers insightful data on your website’s visitors. Although to fully understand and take advantage of the service some learning is required, here are a few key uses and benefits:

• Content Analytics – A breakdown of how often users visit each page on your website, how long each visit is, and how they get from page to page.
• Social Media Reports – This helps monitor how visitors access your site through social media sites as well as your overall social impact.
• Conversion Tracking – This is used with ecommerce sites to find out how shoppers enter and leave your site and at what point in the checkout process.
• Real-Time Tracking – A new feature (still in beta), that allows your to see visitor information in real-time.

Google Analytics Dashboard

Mouse Flow

Although we’ve only been using this service for a little over a month now, it seems to offer some unique data that Google Analytics doesn’t. They have tiered plans as well as a free version, which we are currently using, that offers a limited amount of information but is still very useful. Some of Mouse Flow’s key features include:

• Website Statistics – A lot of the same data that Google Analytics provides (Google’s service is a lot more extensive though).
• Recordings – This lets you actually see mouse movements, clicks, mouse scrolls, and form interaction. This is a great resource to see if your visitors are interacting with your site’s features the way that you intended.
• Click and Movement Heat-maps – This gives you a visual of your visitor’s movements on each page, allows you to see where your website’s “hot spots” are and which sections you can improve on your site.

Mouse Flow "Hover" Heat-map

Overview

• In order to keep ahead of the curve and to make sure that your website is doing its job, you need to monitor website traffic in one way or another.
• There are various tools available, many of them free, such as Google Analyics or Mouse Flow, that can provide you with valuable analytics.
• Take the information gathered from analytic tools and use it to improve your website visitor’s experiences.

So, what do you think: Are you doing enough to monitor your website’s traffic?

• Craft an internet campaign with Facebook Ads or Google Adwords to precisely target and communicate with your market.
• Create a professional and effective Facebook business page, Twitter profile, Google + page etc. that meets the unique needs of your business and brand.
• Convert your current Facebook business page and show you the ins and outs of the new Timeline.
• Develop custom applications for your website or Facebook page, such as menus, calendars, contests and giveaways…the possibilities are endless…that you can easily edit and monitor.

Social media is a great (and in most cases free) resource, so why not start taking advantage of these tools today! A cleverly crafted campaign has the potential to reach thousands. Contact us for more information, we’d love to help!

More Visual Features
Just like with personal profiles, business will be able to add a large cover image to their page. This is a great opportunity for businesses as it allows for more brand real estate. Additionally, page photos, likes and apps will be prominently featured below the cover image.

More Content Control and Organization
With the new platform, page owners will be able to “pin” important posts that they want to ensure that fans see, to the top of their page each week. Admins will also be able to see and respond to recent posts, messages and other activity more easily with it appearing at the top of the page.  

More Personal Interaction
Page owners will now be able to activate the messaging feature, which will allow their fans to contact them privately and vice versa. Alternately, page owners will have able to turn this feature off if they wish, as well. 

The End of Default Landing Pages
One of the biggest downfalls, in our opinion, of the new Timeline platform for pages is the inability to create default landing pages. This means that pages with a landing tab or app that prompts visitors to ‘like’ the page before revealing exclusive content, will either have to provide users with a direct link or persuade them to click on that app on the Timeline view.

Overall, the new Timeliine for business pages will take some getting used to for both page owners and fans. Like all Facebook changes and updates, there are bound to be some unhappy users, so if you are the owner of a business page, make sure you help your fans through the transition as best you can.  Take the opportunity to test out the Timeline on your page now so that you will be able to make the most of it when all pages are required to switch over for good by March 30.

Don’t forget to check out our timelineand post your opinion the new facebook layout. 

The BRAINS Foundation, a collaboration between volunteer board members and the local community, works to “increase the accessibility for services in the areas of Psychological and Neuropsychological Assessment.” The group works along side renowned area hospitals and medical institutions such as Helen Devos Children’s Hospital and Community Mental Health of Ottawa County to serve children and their families.

The main objective in the redesign process was to establish a new online home for the BRAINS Foundation, separate from its parent organization, BRAINS; a network of Behavioral and Neuropsychological specialists providing care to individuals of all ages. This was accomplished through the development of a fresh new look and by promoting the foundation’s commitment to assisting those in need of their services.

The new BRAINS Foundation website also includes a donation feature as well as a newsletter signup to help connect and engage the target audience in a call to action.

To see and learn more about the new BRAINS Foundation site, please visit our portfolio, or click here to launch the full site.

Don’t lose track of your purpose. What do you want to get out of your website? Will you be using it mainly as an online portfolio that you can refer your clients to, or is your goal to more effectively engage your client base with a blog? Perhaps you’d like an online store where you can sell your work. Many professional photographers also have some sort of login system where clients can go to view their images and order prints. Regardless of what you decide, it’s important to communicate your website’s purpose to the designer or developer if you are working with one.

Functionality is as important as creativity. Yes, you want your website to help distinguish you and your brand from your competition – but not for the wrong reasons. Photographers often choose to incorporate Flash video, an often unreliable platform for those with out of date versions or mobile devices such as the popular iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. What many don’t know is that achieving a striking and dynamic website is possible using jQuery and other types of viewer-friendly coding techniques.

Less is usually more. As a photographer, you don’t want your work and your brand’s value overpowered by the design of your website. Just as an art gallery ops for a muted color scheme and cohesive layout, you want your website to complement your work. This doesn’t mean that you have to go the boring route, though. Work with a designer to create a visual atmosphere that both grabs your viewer’s attention and complements your images.

Keep your viewers in mind. Another important aspect of your website to consider, both in terms of functionality and aesthetics, is the gallery. There are many options out there, some dynamic and interactive and others more static and typical. The key is to choose one that you like that will also work well (both technically and design-wise) and is appropriate for your target market. If your clientele is younger and technologically inclined you might want to opt for a more fun and unique gallery, while an older audience might appreciate something more classic and easier to browse.

More than just a makeover, the WLGC redesign also included developing more user-friendly features in order to better engage current members as well as appeal potential members. The site now includes a member log in area where administrators can add or edit members via a custom member form, and members can update their profile, view a member directory and even find a game to join using the forum.

Additional features include a notification system for course closings and delays, and a calendar of events that allows members to register online. Golfers that are new to the course are also able to take a tour, which includes images as well as key information on each hole.

Now the only thing that WLGC needs is warm weather and blue skies!

To see the website for yourself, click here.

What is a brand? 

A brand is more than a logo, a font, a color, or a style – it’s all of those and much more. It’s a message of value that only your business offers to its clientele.

As we tell our branding clients, a brand will create a lasting impression in the consumer’s mind and it should be based on the unique, proverbial “image” of your business, which includes the features, benefits and overall value that you have to offer.

Some might say, “I’ll just let my work speak for itself,” but the problem with that is that your image is visible to your clients in several ways, and many times your actual work might be one of the last things that they see. For example, if a photographer were to hand me a business card I would have to make assumptions, having not yet viewed their work, of their style and quality based on the way they present themselves in print.

Another important thing to consider, especially for those specializing in custom contemporary and lifestyle photography, is that clients care about more than just getting good pictures taken; they care about the experience as a whole. Brides are looking for someone who is able to take charge and alleviate some of their stress on the big day, while mothers are looking for someone who easy-going and puts their children at ease. How does a photographer communicate that he or she offers these sorts of experiences? 

Through their brand.

After carefully reviewing all of the great promotion entries from Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce members, we have chosen GMI Composites as the winning applicant. GMI Composites is a composite manufacturing company based in Muskegon and has been in operation for around 85 years.

As part of the promotional package, GMI Composites will be working together with Envigor to develop a custom CMS based website that meets their unique business needs. Simply Marketing will also be offering the company 10 hours of marketing consultation to help develop or refine their marketing strategy.

The Envigorate the Lakeshore promotion was launched on Small Business Saturday, November 26^th, as a way to show support to Lakeshore area businesses and organizations that have been instrumental in both Envigor’s and Simply Marketing’s growth.

Be sure to check back for more information on the development process of GMI Composites website!

As defined by the creators, a small startup from Palo Alto, California, “Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web.” Think of it as having multiple bulletin boards on your wall at home; when you come across an image or article in a book or magazine, you can save it for future reference by pinning it on your board. Pinterest uses the same concept but virtually, with images and short descriptions and links back to the original source.

How does Pinterest work?

Many people use Pinterest, from industry professionals to stay at home moms. Some use it to catalog inspiration and ideas, others use it identify trends and even promote their own products. Whatever the case, you begin by creating ‘boards’ based on the type of images or ‘pins’ that you’d like to populate it with. For example, you might want to have a board for DIY projects, a board for recipes, a board for decorating and so on.

The next step is to find images to pin. You can do this by browsing what other users have pinned based on category, or by installing the Pin It button to your browser’s bookmark bar so that you can pin images while searching the web. You can also upload your own images.

When you find other users who have similar tastes and interests, you can keep track of their pin discoveries by following their boards. 

Helpful Hints

- Be sure to leave a description of the image that you’re pinning for both your own reference and for others who might repin it. This will also make it easier for other users to find your pins when searching by keyword on Pinterest. You should also categorize your boards based on subject matter (you will be prompted to do this when you click on your individual boards) for the same reason.

- Don’t be afraid to pin images of your own work! If you’re an artist, photographer, designer etc. and want to share a project that you are particularly proud of, go for it, just don’t over-promote. This is especially useful when you pin images directly from your website or blog – that way there is more of a chance that other users will follow the link back to your site.

-If you have friends that use Pinterest and want to make sure that they see an image that you pinned, you can tag them in the description using ‘@’ followed by their user name (just like on Facebook and Twitter).

- If you are tagging a picture of something that is for sale in an online store, you can add a price banner to the image by simply typing $ followed by the amount (ex. $10). This is very helpful for the many people that find items on Pinterest that they would like to purchase. 

How do I sign up?

Currently, Pinterest is by invitation only, similar to Google+ earlier last year. When we signed up a few months ago by requesting an invitation, we didn’t have to wait very long before we received it. Once you have received your invitation, you are able to login using your Facebook or Twitter account, which is nice and convenient.

If you are already on Pinterest, you can follow Envigor’s discoveries here.