Web site
posted by Development
One day, your boss says that the company’s Web site isn’t up to par anymore. It is out of date, doesn’t offer value to current or potential clients and should have new features.
Then the inevitable happens: The boss assigns you the project with a shoestring budget and ambitious deadline.
Before beginning this undertaking, here are three quick must-dos to save time, money and frustration and put your company on track to online success.
Step #1: Get detailed with your requirements
Begin jotting down your vision of the final product and then expand on each requirement. If you think you have been as specific as possible, look again. Give examples and benchmark what is already out there.
Be specific about the information you want to provide or acquire from your users. Do not expect hired developers or designers to interpret your definitions. Trust us, they appreciate the detail and the more specific you are, the better the designer or developer will be able to create a site that fits your unique needs.
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posted by Development
“So, you want to edit your site...”
That is the signature phrase you will see when you attempt to log in to our custom-built content management system or CMS. Those words can seem so innocent, but they raise a good question: how do I edit my Web site?
A CMS is a great tool for storing, organizing and publishing content on a Web site. These systems are Web-based and can be accessed any time, day or night, from any place that has Internet access. All of these qualities make a CMS a valuable tool if you frequently update your Web site and you don’t want to rely on a third party to do so.
Which CMS do I choose?
Before deciding on a CMS, consider your goals for your Web site. Here are some very important questions to consider:
- Do you want the ability to expand and grow as your needs grow?
- Will you want to add new features such as a blog or news ticker to your site six to 12 months down the road?
- Do you want to customize the design and layout of your site?
Another aspect of your site to consider is how often you will provide new content. Is your content updated daily, weekly or every few months? If you update your content very infrequently then you will most likely need the fundamental tool set that is provided with a base CMS system. However, if you are constantly updating your information and you are always looking for new ways to get fresh content to your viewers, then a CMS with tools such as a news feed, blog and message board is your best bet.
So if you want to edit your site and you are ready to take the leap, a CMS is a great way to get started. Just remember to consider all the factors involved. These systems may look the same on the surface but deep down they are all unique.
posted by Accounts
So you’re working on a new marketing or sales tool - maybe it’s a Web site, a brochure or a Facebook page - and your marketing agency asks you for content. You sweat about for days; unsure where the information will come from, who’s going to write it and who’s going to maintain it once it’s done.
Content is the second most important element to your online or print marketing efforts after design. After someone types in your URL or picks up your brochure and decides to spend more than a few seconds with it because your stellar design has kept their interest, they will want to see what you have to offer – it’s your very own “Where’s the beef?” moment.
Here are some tips to get your content from rare to well done:
- Rare: Your content is scattered. Multiple people are controlling or writing it and it’s in multiple voices. To keep your content cookin’, start by writing all of your thoughts and ideas down. Don’t procrastinate or wait. Think of it like brainstorming or information mapping.
- Medium-Rare: Now you’re getting somewhere. Group the thoughts and ideas together and identify your goals. Are you featuring services or products? How do they relate and how will your audiences want to see the information presented?
- Medium: You’ve got everything grouped and segmented, now pick an author or content controller. Even in small organizations there will be many voices and streams of input; make sure to control how the content is written so there is consistency across your materials. Think back to jr. high (whew!) and edit verb tenses, subject agreement, first person versus third person, etc. Consider using a style guide, such as the Associated Press Stylebook to ensure consistency.
- Medium-Well: You’re really close now and probably have more content than you have space. Start to filter it down. Think about your vehicle for content delivery – online or printed? Remember that online visitors have short attention spans. Keep your content concise and easy-to-scan. Also, how technical is your audience – do they want all the details or quick bullets and descriptions?
- Well Done: Every food critic will tell you to steer away from the well done option, but it’s your content and you want it to be just that. This is the time to proof, fact check and double check your work. Now, it’s ready to be uploaded and type set.
As with all types of meat, consuming under-cooked content can be dangerous to your health. But if you take the time to do it and do it right, your content can be the main dish. Don’t forget to go back for seconds, either. Once your content is done, listen for feedback and tweaks. Always update your content so repeat visitors don’t get bored.
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