|
Cristina : Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 4:40 PM
It was very difficult for our team to
pick just one Website We Love,
but our winner this week is Prime
Example Events & Wedding Planning, from Durham, North Carolina,
submitted by Elaine Cole Primus! According to Elaine, her site is
special because it helps her highlight her business. “My website is special
because Vistaprint made it easy and affordable for me to showcase and grow my
business,” she says. We think this website is special because of its educational value. With a detailed blog, services list, examples of real weddings and more, it's a great resource for anyone who is planning an event or wedding!
What about you — what makes your website special? Tell us in the comments section!
|
|
|
Cristina: Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2012 11:42 AM
When it comes to your Website, adding simple features that translate to big
benefits is always smart…and contact forms are pretty high on the list of
valuable add-ons. These handy tools gather pertinent info from your visitors,
are super-versatile, and can vary based on your specific needs. Typical fields
can include “name,” “address,” “phone number” and “comments,” but again, they
can vary depending on the form’s functionality. Although there are a number of
reasons these forms are useful, keep reading to see our top three.
1. Feedback
If you’re a business owner, it’s no secret that customer opinion is essential;
contact forms are a perfect means for gathering this vital feedback in a
non-obtrusive manner. For instance, if you were interested in soliciting
specific comments about a new service or product, you could use the contact
form to ask pertinent questions, and receive reactions directly via email.
2. Customer Connections
Beyond asking for feedback, contact forms are a good way for customers to not
only reach you, but also establish a relationship with you. Whether it’s a
quick question about a specific product, or a more detailed inquiry about a new
service or biz feature, a simple form can provide customers with an easy way to
reach out.
3. Contacts
It might seem obvious, but one of the most vital reasons to consider adding a
contact form is so you can build — what else — your contact list! A form is an
easy way to ask visitors for basic information, such as their name and email
address. With all the contacts you gather, you’ll be able to send targeted
emails to stay in touch, announce new products or sales, and much more.
Do you have a contact form on YOUR site? If so, do you think
it’s important? Tell us in the comments section!
|
|
|
Cristina: Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 5:34 PM
 We had a record number of submissions (over 70 and counting at press time!) for Websites We Love on our Facebook page this week, and it was, as usual, very difficult for us to choose just one winner. We asked our Internet Marketing Community on Facebook to sum up their site in just one word. The winner, Wave Acoustic Duo, said that their site could be described with the word "musicians"--and with good reason. Their site is dedicated to featuring the duo's music and performances. We're big fans of the cool intro video, which showcases the duo performing in front of an audience, and the great demos of new music, also featured on the home page. In addition, the handy contact/bookings form, and prominent social media widgets make it simple for potential customers to get in touch. Congrats, Wave Acoustic Duo! What about you? What do you highlight on your site to set yourself apart from the competition? Tell us in the comments section. |
|
|
Cristina: Posted on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 5:15 PM
It’s
Wednesday, so that means yet another edition of Websites We Love! As usual, we received a number
of great Website submissions to choose from on our Facebook page…but we had to
pick just one to feature! Our newest Websites We Love winner is Karen Froggatt, who posted a link to her
site www.tigaliliflowers.com. This week, we asked our Facebook community what the most useful part of their site was, and Froggatt chose
the contact form. Although there are a number of great answers to this question, we agree that a well-placed contact form can
definitely help secure customers, and is a valuable addition to any site! (On Froggatt's site, the contact form is highly visible, and placed directly on her homepage.) We
were also a big fan of her site’s image galleries, which showcase the available
product options nicely.
Do you have a contact form on your
site? If so, do you find it useful? Tell us in the comments section! And don't
forget to keep any eye on our Facebook page for our next Websites We Love
Wednesday! |
|
|
Cristina: Posted on Thursday, March 08, 2012 6:01 PM
You might have read our blog about how, when it comes to
your website, 80% of eye traffic is “above the fold.” Here, we’ll provide you
with quick tips on the three aspects of your site to focus on for optimal
ocular attention:
Star of the Show
Your page’s headline is crucial — and is likely the first thing someone will see
when they land on your page. It might sound obvious, but it’s incredibly
important to include your business name and logo in this space, so it’s always
top of mind for your site’s visitors. And remember: Design choice also factors
into your headline space! For one, check that this space isn’t cluttered. Too
much information can detract from your name. Also make sure the colors you pick
for your logo and website complement each other, are easy to read, and make
your headline visible.
Call to Action
Take a few moments to think about WHY you have a Website. Is there
something that you want to make sure people do once they’re on your site? Maybe
it’s to order a product. Or read your blog. Or even to get directions to your
storefront. Whatever the action is, ensuring that it’s in a prominent location,
with easy-to-read text can do wonders for follow-through. You’ll also need to
think of what this call to action says. Our hint? Keep it simple! If your goal
is for people to contact you for more information, a quick “Contact Us!” is
perfect.
Get Social
If you’re hoping to connect with your visitors (and you should be!) one of the
best ways to do so is through Social Media. Make sure your buttons to Like,
Follow and more are placed prominently enough for anyone who visits your site
to see.
These are just a few tips we think will help! Do you have
any to add? Tell us in the comments section! |
|
|
Cristina: Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2012 5:47 PM
 It's Wednesday, so that means it's time for Websites We Love! This week, we received so many great responses it was very difficult to narrow down our options to just one! Our choice? Andrea Bodenberg Hoffman's photography site Red Barn Gallery.
According to Hoffman, the main reason she loves her site is its ease of use: "I love that I can update it whenever I want to! [It's] easily manageable and updates quickly," she says. She also mentions an important aspect of site maintenance that can often be overlooked--stats. "I also love being able to see who checks out my site through the statistics."
Do you track your stats? Tell us in the comments section! And don't forget to keep any eye on our Facebook page for our next Websites We Love Wednesday!
|
|
