Ride the Storm: Navigating Through Unstable Periods / Katerina Rudko (Belka G...
Top things to know about business
1. LOCAL MEDIA KINGS
TOP 3 TIPS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
WHICH ARE MUST KNOW TO
SUCCED!
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2. Layout represents what you communicate
To tell you the truth, I am shocked how many webmasters don’t understand basic concept of
the layout. They make extra cool website, but fail to deliver on layout. This section is must have
read for any webmaster, designer or just person who owns website with some purpose. If you
own website, which is only visited by you, then please don’t read this section, however if you
own website, which receives other visitors than yourself, this is must read section.
Here is basic concept how website layout works.
There are two key things: eye movement and attraction points.
What is Eye movement?
Eye movement is how move your customer eyes, when receiving information. People are used
reading from left to right, from up to down. Taking in account that, you must adjust your
website layout for them to interpret information easier. By statistics people find website
attractive or not in first 10 seconds. Question is what you want to communicate to them in
these 10 seconds?
Eye movement layout map:
Yes its simple like 1…2…3…4.
Now let’s talk about another key element Attraction points.
On 1st you want to put your main attraction point, which could be main message, some graphic
element (like image or video) which represents your service or product. There shouldn`t be no
buy now button or something like that, as customer will not understand what are you selling if
you put by now button on there.
On 2nd you should look to put more information about your product or service, which really
explains what 1st really represents.
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3. On 3rd you put your “Buy now”, “Take a lead” or some other call-to-action button.
On 4th goes other information about your products, services or general information about your
industry.
Let’s look at examples again. Say you have Pizza shop.
Layout will be something like this:
1) Image of tasty pizza
2) Tagline: “Most satisfying pizza you ever taste” Benefits like extra cheese, 50% off etc.
3) Call to order now (phone number)
4) Other pizzas
We can look at example Pizza Hut (http://www.pizzahut.com/) website and keep see how colors
are used to extract main message from price. Here they switched 1 and 2 around, which is fine
too, as longest you know what your main attraction point, here image does explanation part.
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4. Why colors are important for website?
Color is a very important element of your website. Have you ever been to a page that had a
yellow background and bold red text?How long did you stay there for......
When color is used correctly, it can add impact and clarity to your message and highlight
important points. When color is used incorrectly, it can compromise your message and confuse
your target audience - to the point that they click their way out of your site as quickly as they
can, usually screaming and cursing as they do so!
Color can make visiting your website a more pleasant experience in 2 very important ways
- Color emphasizes, highlights, and leads the eye to important points or links.
- Color symbolizes and triggers emotions and memories.
The interpretation of a color depends on age, nationality, profession, current trends and
personal preference. In general, the colors red, orange, and yellow are "exciting" colors and the
colors purple, blue, and green are "calming" colors.
Bear in mind that current trends will also play a big role in color schemes - the offline fashion
world plays a very big role in influencing the online world. A good strategy is to create your site
in such a way that if a color change has to be carried out, it can be done so easily.
For any color that you are considering utilizing, give some thought as to the reasons for doing
so. For example, I would strongly recommend against using black backgrounds with pink to
purple text - these colors are strongly associated with umm, undesirable sites.
Here is bit history of web design dominating colors by year:
Details of the colors for each year
Color of the Year 2000: Cerulean Blue – Chosen for the millennium for its calming Zen
state of mind
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5. Color of the Year 2001: Fuchsia Rose – A reversal from the previous year, more exciting,
more feminine color.
Color of the Year 2002: True Red – Recognizes the impact of 9/11 with a patriotic hue.
Color of the Year 2003: Aqua Sky – A cool blue meant to restore hope and serenity.
Color of the Year 2004: Tiger Lily – Acknowledges the hipness of orange with a touch of
exoticism.
Color of the Year 2005: Blue Turquoise – Reversal to a more calming shade
Color of the Year 2006: Sand Dollar – A neutral color expresses concern about the
economy
Color of the Year 2007: Chili Pepper – Chosen for its pizzazz and sophistication.
Color of the Year 2008: Blue Iris - Mix of blue and purple, suggests dependability and
magic.
Color of the Year 2009: Mimosa – Warm, cheerful shade, sparks imagination and
innovation.
Color of the Year 2010: Turquoise – Inviting, luminous hue inspiring soothing thoughts
and tropical water.
Color of the Year 2011: Honeysuckle – Uplifting and optimistic.
2012 dominating colors
In year 2012 dominating colors are:
9 Pantone color palettes for visual inspiration for 2012 are: Nonchalance, Subtleties, Resilience,
Indigo Effects, Transcending Time, Back to the Fuchsia, Reflections, Nouveau Neon and The
Comics.
Nonchalance: a feeling of tranquility and relaxation with no suggestion of anxiety in the
surroundings. The comforting pastel pinks, ethereal blues and soft egret white wrap us in
carefree baby blanket colors, harmoniously blending with the more mature taupe, gray and
grape tones.
Subtleties: a connectivity between the color families, sliding effortlessly into a seamless
collection of hues. Effortless and compatible: hazy coral, soft yellow green, faded rose,
stonewashed blue and tinges of gray and green set against a tasteful brown earthy red.
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6. Resilience: sustenance and solidity in a range of natural, outdoor shades. There are nuances of
the deepest browns, varietal mushroom tones, foliage green and greenish yellow. A dash of
flamingo orange adds an exotic touch to this otherwise organic grouping.
Indigo Effects : evokes depth – enveloping and protective, yet mysterious. The colors are
variations on a blue theme – celestial and majestic blues, purpled and deep blue indigos – all
deftly brushed with contrasting strokes of maroon, mauve and moody gray.
Transcending Time: represents continuity – inspirations from the past, both style and color-
wise, which continue well into the future – containing hues that heirlooms are made of,
including elegant wine and plum, warm beige and wood tones, as well as classic rose.
Back to the Fuchsia energizing, provocative mix of dancing reds, purples and pink, all highlighted
by a variety of fuchsias. Accentuates and complements the hotter hues.
Reflections:tones and tints that spark the imagination: Turkish sea, blue moon, garnet, beluga,
cloud dancer as well as the classic silver and gold.
Nouveau Neon: collection of exuberant shades that bring a fresh new perspective to
combinations. Asian-inspired bamboo yellow-green plays with orange Popsicle® and berry
purples, while citrus colors toy with pink and raspberry.
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7. The Comics: whimsical, which brings a smile and creates the need to take some time to play.
Ominous phantom black provides the backdrop for sulphuric yellow and fiery red. A flash of
green provokes a strong blue while an inky cyan plays up to honeysuckle and primrose. It’s
quirky joy and spontaneity.
If however you want some advantage, check what colors are used by most successful sites in
your industry, as well you can check what color combinations use big companies, like Nike
(http://www.nike.com/), LOUIS VUITTON (http://www.louisvuitton.com), Coca Cola
(http://www.coca-cola.com/).
Nike Example
For example let’s take a look at Nike. Nike for me is more associated with cool dark boots,
however their website is in light colors this year. From what I can tell, they use Reflections color
palette. Take a look how they use almost white for background, menu is in bit grey color, which
suggest it is not too highlighted, but all highlight goes to boots in the middle, which Nike wants
to represent. On navigation menu, when user moves his cursor on it, you should use something
vivid; like in this case is used red letters, which makes it look more professional and
entertaining. In pictures dominate blue color, which represents trust and that way slogan “Join
the Nike revolution” goes together with blue color.
By analyzing examples, you can use same color designs for your business websites or even
packages, customer facing documents or other elements in your business. Customers will see
you as up-to-date business, which really cares about design. Quoting Steve Jobs: Design is not
just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.
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8. Importance of Social Networks
If you have come here, then you probably realize that today internet is not the same as it was in
2005 or even in 2008. Now world is dominated by social networks.
Just look at Top 12 visited websites in internet today. They receive millions of visitors daily.
1. Google.com www.google.com
2. Facebook.com www.facebook.com
3. Youtube.com www.youtube.com
4. Yahoo.com www.yahoo.com
5. Baidu.com www.baidu.com
6. Wikipedia.org www.wikipedia.org
7. Live.com www.live.com
8. Qq.com www.qq.com
9. Amazon.com www.amazon.com
10. Twitter.com www.twitter.com
11. Linkedin.com www.linkedin.com
12. Blogspot.com www.blogspot.com
You see currently Facebook is number #2 most visited website and Google is so worried that
Facebook will dominate over them, that they even made their own social network Google +.
Sources in Google say that Facebook domination in year 2011 was so large, that they had to
change strategy and go more to social networks. So now we have top 3, which take about 70%
of all traffic online are dominated by 3 social networks.
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9. Let’s take a look at Facebook vs. Google visitors for U.S.:
As you see Facebook out dominates Google by more than 100 million visitors. So if you are
working in USA, you must be on Facebook. It is top source for traffic.
Here is simple suggestion which will turn your business around in seconds.
Add Like button to your website, so anyone who enters your website can Like it and information
about your website will show on their Facebook wall. That way word about your service or
product will be spread around and you can get visitors from Facebook by not being on Facebook
yet. It can`t be easier.
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10. Getting on Facebook without Facebook business page
Go to: http://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/plugins/like/
Important: You must be logged in Facebook as user.
Scroll down. Here enter following information.
Now press button “Get Code”
You get Facebook HTML5 code:
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11. Now go to your main website page and after <body> tag copy/paste code from first square and
then copy/paste code from bellow square in place where you want Like button to appear. Now
you can see nice Like button on your website and anyone can recommend your page to their
friends on Facebook.
Of course much more profitable is that if you have business page for your business, that way
you can become more popular on Facebook and outshine your competitors. Please check our
service section for more information on this.
LOCAL MEDIA KINGS Social media service for local businesses around the world.
12. Social Turnover Start Kit
Professionally developed Facebook page for local business with your company logo,
custom company images, texts, tagline and integrated company website, if there is
one.
You get exposure to targeted customers
You get Facebook exposure (1 billion users daily)
You get professionally looking Facebook page
You get leverage over competitors
LOCAL MEDIA KINGS Social media service for local businesses around the world.