KISS & keep your clients happy

KISS & keep your clients happy a quick guide to a good online presence

a quick word about me ✪ webdesigner happily freelancing since 2000 ✪ member of the WSG (web standards group) ✪ course leader & tutor: ‘design for the web - webstandards‘ adult course at Tower Hamlets College (Poplar)

now to you ~ curious... who is online? static website? managed website? everyone using social media? any favourites? Having fun? Seeing results? illustration: Alessandro Gottardo // alessandrogottardo.com

Why should your business be online? changing times...

Why should your business be online? changing times... the good old days... physical location letters & phone print-based promotion customer service http://www.howtobearetronaut.com/2010/01/1940s-london-in-stunning-hig-resolution-colour/

Why should your business be online? changing times... now and onwards... ✪ location & website ✪ letters / phone / email ✪ digital promotion + ✪ customer service © Bobby Pfeiffer, 3/2010 - via Flickr

What makes a good website? ✪ good content: informative ~ up to date & updated regularly ✪ ease of use: intuitive navigation ~ easy access to content ✪ inclusive design: accessible on range of device, to all users ✪ visual appeal: memorable presentation of brand

moo.com UK based, online printing business started small with unique product strong branding - cute & personal professional service & communication high quality product promotion via online communities now, international success

moo.com “ Print is simple and wonderful. We love it. We're a new kind of online printing business MOO was born out of a love of beautiful, high-quality print. [...] We're only young, but when we grow up we want to be the best printer on the internet.

clear, simple and minimal branding

effective interface with all controls in designated screen area

clear and effective prompting (call to action)

featured products

moo.com email from: Little MOO | Print Robot Hello Prisca. We've met before, I'm Little MOO, the piece of software that manages your order with moo.com. I hope you've now received - and are happy with your most recent purchase with us. If it hasn't arrived yet please don't worry, you can check-up on your order here: http://www.moo.com/account [...] Thank you for your help, Little MOO ✪ personiﬁcation of automated reply / conﬁrmation ✪ using simple & personal tone, consistent with website copy ✪ fast and clear feedback on order, inc. direct links to relevant pages

KISS it’s not what you think :)

KISS ✗ ✗

KISS Keep it simple, stupid. design principle Keep it short & simple. Keep it simple & straightforward.

photo image logo RSS IM news email SMS audio link video KISS

KISS Language ✪ write for the web ✪ write often & regularly ✪ write for your audience ✪ start with a strong opening - be direct & straight to the point ✪ short sentences & well structured text ✪ write transcripts for audio & video content illustration: One Little Bird // onelittlebird.redbubble.com

KISS Engage all visitors ✪ embrace all individuals & their differences ✪ offer alternative content as needed ✪ use images to support content ✪ keep it short, sweet & personal ✪ make it easy for people to contact you ✪ be prompt and polite in all your communication

KISS Dynamic Content ✪ present up to date content using social media portals ✪ use commenting to engage with your clients ✪ offer customer support via various channels ✪ make use of multiple media types to promote your message ✪ offer related & relevant content

KISS Keep it simple, stupid. design principle Keep it short & simple. Keep it simple & straightforward.

Getting online. What are your options? #1 - free option / open source #2 - managed option / commercial #3 - custom option / bespoke solution

What are your options? #1 free option / open source ✔ free to set up and use ➜ sites.google.com ✔ no domain name/hosting costs ✔ quick & easy ➜ blogger.com ✗ limited/restricted upload ✗ limited styling ✗ advertising shown ➜ wordpress.com

What are your options? #2 managed option / commercial ✔ custom functions available ➜ squarespace.com ✔ more control over design ✔ technical support included ➜ typepad.com ✗ control limited by package ✗ reliant on available templates ✗ certain restrictions remain ➜ wordpress.com

What are your options? #3 custom / bespoke solution ✔ complete control over design ✔ expert guidance ✔ tailored solution ✗ higher initial cost ✗ longer timescale ✗ ﬁnding the right designer

Brieﬁng your webdesigner... most understandable yet dreaded question you can ask: ??? How much for a website? most honest and correct yet dreaded answer you will get: ?!? It depends...

What exactly are you looking for? a modest hut? a majestic castle? photo from morguefile.com / bob@infinitydoctors.com photo from morguefile.com / Kevin Connors

comic by Jerry King, via webdesignerdepot.com

Questions you will be asked: ? about you and your business: how long? how big? how successful? ⚙⚙ ? about your clients: who? characteristics/personas? ? about your budget: how much? planned cost? £££ ? about your website: existing site? if yes - what works? what doesn’t? if no - main aim? who is the competition?

don’t be offended or shy ~ be open and direct ;) ✪ answering these questions will make the project work a lot more efﬁcient and produce the best end result. ✪ ask away! ask about anything you are not clear about - there are no stupid or silly questions :) ✪ only after the initial meeting ~ ask for a brieﬁng document: outlining the project details, including pricing break down. © Kirk Pearson, via Flickr

Design talk & why team work rocks. ✪ communication is key. ✪ you & your designer/s are most creative and productive as team. ✪ give feedback promptly and clearly. ✪ constructive criticism is welcome ~ silence or dismissive comments are not. ✪ trust in each other’s expertise is the best catapult for productive project progress. ✪ be clear in your direction and consider each other’s input.

Any questions? illustration: Borja Bonaque // borjabonaque.com

Thank you for listening :) Prisca Schmarsow prisca@eyedea.eu graphiceyedea.co.uk @prisca_eyedea

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KISS & keep your clients happy

by prisca schmarsow on Nov 03, 2010

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KISS & keep your clients happy — Presentation Transcript