Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Rethink Mobile Web

What makes for an incredible mobile site and an incredible desktop site are two very different things. In fact, you’ve probably never been amazed by how wonderful a mobile site looked. Instead, you likely felt satisfied that you were able to find the information you needed quickly and without frustration. That’s because on the mobile web, usability far outweighs style. Design and Graphics may look terrific on your desktop, but on mobile, they tend to be confusing, unnecessary and somewhat overwhelming. It is still important to capture your user and maintain consistency with your branding however, with mobile, simple is best. With over ½ of all local searches preformed on a smart phone, creating a mobile website is now essential. Doing so, however, requires a different frame of mind. If you’re considering creating a mobile site, here are a few guidelines that make it as compelling as possible: Accessibility is Key Your mobile site should be designed so that your users can move quickly and freely throughout the interface, this is key to the effectiveness of your sites usability. For example allowing toggling for options rather than forcing your users to view them, hiding rarely used features and avoid having users fill out long forms is just the beginning of the things you can do to create a more accessible environment. When your customer logs on to your site it is up to you to re-focus their attention on the content you want them to view opposed to the aesthetics. This means that the content should be as equally accessible as it is legible. Keeping Everything to a Minimum KEM (Keeping Everything to a Minimum) is very much like the Keep it Simple Stupid (KISS) technique. Okay, you got me, there is no such thing as the KEM technique, but you get the idea. Since effective mobile interactions have everything to do with great usability and nothing to do with overcrowded designs, we find ourselves in a place where in order for us to reach out to a user we must keep our mobile site as simple as possible. A good place to start is to ask yourself, “What are most customers going to visit our site for?” If it’s to reach a live person, then make the phone number prominent (and use Click-to-Call.) If it’s to find your address, make that the first thing your customer will see. The most effective mobile sites keep as much of the call to action above the mobile fold, this means that your customer can find exactly what they are looking for the minute they view your site. Take it Easy on the Images Nothing slows a page down faster than a few large images. Just like I said above KEM, it holds true for images too! Don’t sacrifice your logo but think twice before transferring all of the images used on your desktop. A great alternative to images is color. As unrelated as it may seem color plays a large role in mobile website usability. When color is used within the right parameters, it gives way to a more visually compelling manner for us to communicate information on a page without having to use up any additional space. Use of background color can go a long way; however there must be a definite contrast between a background color and text. Information that is conveyed using colors should contain a clear contrast between any of the other elements within the mobile design. Remember that color is a fantastic way to communicate information effectively not just a quick fix to make the mobile site look pretty. Learn From Others Companies are just now learning how valuable a mobile site can be, while most haven’t set one up yet, there are a good number that have. That’s good news for you, since you can learn from the best ones (and the worst). Next time you have a moment, do a little surfing on your mobile phone and pick out a few of your favorite sites. By putting yourself in the position of an everyday consumer you will quickly learn how the above tips can really ease your frustration.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Powerful Marketing for Local Business

Being found online can be one of the most powerful tools for your business, but if you're like most small business owners, you’re going to benefit most from local searches. You can have the number one spot on Google for a keyword like 'pizzeria', but if you're in Denver and the searcher is in Portland, you're unlikely to make a sale as a result of that ranking. For any local business big or small, it's crucial that your marketing efforts include proper local optimization. Here are a few simple steps to get you started: Claim Your Account. If you have been around for a while, chances are there's already a profile started for your business on local directories such as Google Places, Yahoo, Bing, Yelp, Manta and Yellow Pages. Search your business and claim it! Use these local directories to your advantage. Include your contact information on every page. Ideally this should appear before the fold, meaning that it should be visible without scrolling. This ensures that customers are never wondering where you are or how to contact you. Be sure it's text, not an image, or Google can't read it. Include a location-specific keyword in the title tags on your website. (i.e.: 'Pizzeria in Denver, Colorado'). It is important to include this on the home page, but it can be beneficial on other pages as well. Have a location-specific keyword as your domain. You can use a keyword specific name such as ‘denverpizzeria.com’, or your business name plus the location like 'homeslicepizzadenver.com'. Google absolutely loves keyword rich domains, so the benefits are sure to outweigh any awkwardness caused by the longer domain. Use social media to find and contact potential local customers. Offer incentive to visit your business. Using social coupons via your mobile site or through facebook is a great way to attract local customers. You can also use the advance search options to find the keyword 'pet supplies' being tweeted near a location, and then contact that person directly responding to their question or offering a discount. If you're looking for help optimizing your website, check out our SEO page for more details or simply contact us at 303.320.4855.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Before You Hit "Print"

Before you hit “print,” consider this: The going rate on a bottle of Cristal Champagne is about $350, but if you filled that same 750ml bottle with black ink for your office inkjet printer, it would cost you roughly $1,350. Printing poses a quandary for small and mid-size businesses, which rely on both in-house and outsourced printing but are constantly watching costs. Office printing costs happen under the radar, because so much of it comes out of petty cash or cost is simply not considered when done “in house.” Think before you hit print: “Do I really need a paper copy, or will the electronic version work just as well?” For advice and assistance with any of your printing that cannot be done in-house, or to help you compare costs, we are always happy to provide advice on the best ways to create effective printed pieces while saving money. Give us a call; we’re ready to help. BC Print and Web 303.320.4855

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Order Online

BC Print and Web offers fast, convenient and easy to use online ordering. Yes that’s right, just when you thought we couldn't make you job any easier…we did! With online order tools we allow you to view the items you order most, keep track of inventory, and quickly place your order with just one click. Our online catalog features easy to view images that rapidly download, print and transfer. With a simple to use from you never have to worry about missing the details of the job. If you’re interested in building a catalog from your existing print projects or would like to build one from scratch we are here to help. To find out how easy it can be please call Kimberly at 303.320.4855

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

The Value of Print

The decline of printing has been a largely discussed topic as newspaper and magazine subscribers are dwindling; e-books are gaining popularity; online advertising is replacing print; and print products are being deemed as environmentally unsound. So does printing have a future? Does it have a present? We say YES without a doubt! Print is not dead or even dying but it is changing. At BC Print and Web we are adapting to the change and staying ahead of the curve to bring you the most relevant, powerful and effective print tools available. We have a positive outlook on print as we know that the combination of online marketing efforts along with traditional print can capture and engage your audience and provide you with the results you want. Follow the links below to find out more about the value of our services. Digital Printing Website Development Direct Mail Email Campaigns Marketing Solutions Mobile Web