Website Design Archives - Award-Winning Writer and Graphic Designer

Social Media: Harvard Business Review Found Most Companies Use Social Media Inffectively and They Need Help

dorriolds — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:19:02 +0000

Although 79% of the 2,100 companies surveyed are either using or planning to use social media channels, a measly 12% of those firms feel that they are using them effectively.

According to research from a Harvard Business Review Analytics report, 58% of companies are engaged in social media networks like Facebook, microblogs like Twitter, and sharing multimedia on platforms such as YouTube but much of the investment in social media is future-oriented.
Business are opening accounts but not sure how to put together successful social media campaigns. They want to build their brand online and increase sales but they don’t seem to be using all of the analytics tools available and all of the social media strategies that are out there.
Social media “all-stars” engage beyond the tired method of “shout marketing,” by using social media more often to promote their brand, monitor what’s going on with potential customers, esearch new product ideas and keeping up with the everchanging technology landscape.
I can tell you from years of experience, businesses that succeed don’t say things like, “I don’t have time for social media,” or “I just don’t get Twitter.” They hire someone who knows the ins and outs of social media marketing and branding online.
If you are at a stand still and unsure of how best to use social media to market your business online, you can benefit greatly by learning tips and tricks from a marketing consultant. I’m here. Let me know if I can help!
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The Psychology of Color

dorriolds — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:38:10 +0000

It is not news that color evokes powerful emotions. Countless studies have deduced that people react to specific colors in certain ways but every brain is different hence everyone’s reaction to a color is subjective. One person may say Matisse is the greatest artist that ever lived, another may say Picasso — you say tomato, I say…

Portrait of Sir Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton color chart dates back to the 1600s.

We Have Seen the Light

Sir Isaac Newton developed a theory of color based on studying how white light breaks into colors when viewed through a prism. The Ancient Egyptians used color for cures to ailments. Some of the earliest studies of light were by Aristotle who discovered that two colors, when mixed together, can form another color. Okay, so what does all of this have to do with web design? A lot.

Color and Website Design

Smart marketing takes color perceptions seriously.

White is seen as purity, the absence of color, sterile.

Black, though it can symbolize evil, also communications power and sophistication.

Blue is the favorite color for a large majority. It is also the considered the favorite of men.

Red is loud — it grabs attention, it conveys excitement, intensity, even anger, but it is also the color of love; just think of Valentine’s Day.

Pink varies — depending on the hue and shade (hot pink, pastel pink, fuchsia, etc.). Light pink is usually associated with love (hearts), innocence and sweetness (baby girls) so, depending on who you’re trying to attract to your website and services, it can be a good choice. A great example is the pink ribbon associated with fighting breast cancer. Pink can also be a very poor choice when you want to attract business clients and project an image of power and strength. Pink can look weak, childish and frilly which does the opposite of inspiring consumer confidence.

Green has a calming effect and relieves stress (nature). Of course depending on how it is used it can also convey power and money or jealousy.

Brown is another symbol of nature and tranquility (wood, soil) and can imply safety, security.

Purple may strike people as exotic, spiritual, or it can imply great wealth. I would be remiss if I didn’t caution designers that purple is a very slippery slope. It can come across as arty-fartsy and unprofessional, especially to corporate clients.

Yellow is cheery and positive like the sun but it also can be overwhelming and should only be used sparingly in web design.

Orange can work wonderfully as a highlight color. Keep in mind though that color combinations that include orange can evoke very different emotions. Orange and brown can convey sophistication, orange with red and yellow is great for websites to attract children, parents of young children and/or industries that provide services for elementary-school aged children. Orange with blue is another tricky combo. They are complementary colors and can look electric, as if they’re vibrating, which can be dizzying and make the text difficult to read. Orange and blue, if chosen correctly, can look strong and stylish.

The bottom line is this: when you choose a web designer it makes a huge difference if they have a strong background in the psychology of colors, eye tracking (see article “Eye Tracking: How the Eye Scans Your Web Pages“) and experience with search engine optimization (SEO), keywords, trending topics, and a strong understanding and success rate with social media accounts. At the very least they should understand that YouTube has become the second most popular search engine — Google, of course, is number one. For a website to look current and professional it must include icon links to, at the very least, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. Pinterest is growing at a rapid rate in popularity. Depending on the crowd you want to attract, your website designer should consider all of the additional socialmedia options too, i.e., Reddit, Stumbleupon, Google+.

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Eye Tracking: How the Eye Scans Your Web Pages

dorriolds — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:32:39 +0000

Eye tracking determines the eye movements when a visitor first sees your website. Researchers have determined that these are the most common patterns of where the eye first goes to on a web page and then where it moves. This happens in a second as soon as the viewer clicks on your page. The graphs below shows the most common theories (for additional website design tips and tricks see article “The Psychology of Color“).

In this first graph, the circle represents where the eye first goes and then it tracks the way the eye scans the rest of the page and the arrow is where the eye ends up last on their first view.

This graph from Google shows how the eye travels. The colors are “heat spots” — i.e. the most intense and darkest color in this image is where the eye is drawn to the fastest and has the strongest pull. The lightest shade of color represents the worst “real estate” of the page.

The next graph shows the visitor’s eye beginning at the top left of the page, then scanning across the top, where the navigation links are usually placed on websites then the eyes move down. This is basically the way an eye moves as you read a book: left to right, down, left to right, down, etc. The pattern looks like an “F.”

The bottom graph is the same pattern you would use when writing the letter “Z.”

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The Curse of Having a Cute Dog

dorriolds — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:33:40 +0000

This essay was originally published on NBC Petside
I reached for my iPhone right-handed while holding Buddy’s leash in my left. It was my best friend, Maddy. I launched into a tirade. “If one more person asks me what kind of dog Buddy is I’m going to scream.”
“Why?”
“I’ve walked one block and four people…”
“It’s because he’s so cute.”
I imitated passersby in falsetto, “‘Oooh, what’s his name? How old is he? Where did you get him?’ When they ask what breed he is I have to say, ‘Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.’ It’s a mouthful and they never get it. ‘What kind?’ After three or four times I get so sick of chewing my cabbage twice I start barking, ‘He’s a MUTT!'”
“I think they’re just being friendly.”
“I don’t want friendly. I want to be left alone. For Pete’s sake, I work twelve-hour days. When I take a break I need peace and quiet.”
“Peace and quiet? You live in New York City! Maybe you need to work less so you won’t be so cranky.”
“Cranky? CRANKY?”
* * *
Buddy came into my life seven years ago, right after a devastating split. I’d found out the guy was married and the breakup nearly broke me. I felt splintered, defective, and out-of-order. Depression yanked me down and that’s where I stayed, wallowing.
One day, still telling everyone who’d listen how doomed I was, I ran into a neighbor who said. “You need a puppy. It’ll change everything.” I looked down at her dog. “He’s a Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel,” she said proudly.”
He had soft white fur with cow-like patches of auburn brown. His ears flopped like a beagle. He looked about the size of a cocker spaniel, but shrunken like a T-shirt in a dryer. His long lashes and dark eyes made him look like Bambi. When I smiled at him his tail wagged frantically and rhythmically like a windshield wiper.
I mulled over my neighbor’s suggestion. I called Maddy to discuss. “Puppies are a huge responsibility. You have to be home all the time.” I said.
“You’re home all the time anyway!”
Hmm, she had a point. I work at my Mac in my living room. My only commute is to trek to the kitchen for snacks. I began to weigh the pros and cons of getting a dog. I thought about my ex and how much I’d wanted a baby with him. I ruminated. Pets are expensive—con. The cost of a dog pales in comparison to raising a kid. There’d be no braces—pro. No college tuition—Pro. He’d never wreck a car—Pro! Pro!

Photo by Paul Wesley

The next time I ran into my neighbor I asked her where she’d gotten her dog. She raved about a high quality breeder.
Instead of What to Expect When You’re Expecting, I read How to Raise Your Cavalier and The Owner’s Guide to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I read both books in two days and decided to name the dog after my Uncle Buddy. I was nervous and excited and hopeful, like I’d felt before my first date with my no-good ex.
Preparing for this new pup made life joyful. Sort of—when any couple walked by I still seethed with envy.
My big day arrived. I went to pick up my doggie. The gates were down. I peered in the window and saw a teeny-tiny Cavalier the size of a Beanie Baby. The second our eyes met I knew he was mine. He looked scared and vulnerable and all I wanted to do was keep him safe. The owner pulled up the gate and I bee-lined to the crate. Buddy was placed in my arms. I held him to my chest cradling his itty-bitty head.
I carted him around in my purse and smuggled him into movies. This warm bundle challenged my sulking. On Saturday nights, when loneliness descended like a shroud over my living room, I played with my pup, reconciled to becoming one of those single old ladies who “married” her pet.
Buddy became a balm that soothed. He slept pressed against me and I’d lie awake to listen to his puppy snores.
Sharing him with someone even for an instant, especially a stranger in the street, felt like a band-aid yanked off a burn.
I was accosted when I walked him, like stars and their paparazzi.
“Oh, he’s so cute.”
“Can I pet him?”
“Where did you get him?”
“What kind of dog is that?”
I couldn’t stand all the questions. Sometimes I spoke Russian-sounding gibberish, ‘I g’no shpeak Eenglish.’
Other times I pointed to my mouth like I couldn’t talk because I was eating. People ogled. I snapped, “Move, can’t you see I’m walking here?”
Then one day, for the millionth time, somebody tried to pet my dog. I didn’t even look up. Just yanked Buddy closer to me and grumbled, “Leave us alone, we’re busy.”
As I was walking away I heard the guy mutter, “Geez, I’m busy too. I just wanted to say hello.”
I stopped. Suddenly I saw who I’d become and felt ashamed. I turned to apologize to the man but he was already crossing the street. I watched this handsome man walk away in his tasteful suit and could’ve kicked myself. I’d whined to my friend, Maddy, the day before, “I’ll never meet a man.” Her response now reverberated in my head. “It would be much easier to meet a guy if you weren’t walking around pissed off and in a hurry.”
Buddy and I strolled to Madison Square Park and a breeze went through my hair. I decided that I didn’t want to end up a bitter, irascible, curmudgeon. As we walked toward the dog-run Buddy tugged excitedly toward a nice looking dude with a pooch. My anger and disappointment with the world lifted for a moment. I smiled and found myself saying, “Excuse me, what kind of dog is that?

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I’m a Strong Believer in Making Lists

dorriolds — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 20:34:05 +0000

Right now I am working on so many projects I need to create a list to sort them out and stay on deadline with all of them. So here goes.

Finishing up my August cover story for the New York Resident magazine about Oscar-nominated actress, Vera Farmiga and her directorial debut, Higher Ground.

Turn my attention to a new assignment from Petside.com (Buddy will of course make a cameo).

Write up a proposal for another star interview (I won’t say who yet… just to build suspend and to save face in case it falls thru).

Continue work on websites. One for beautiful miniature animal art by Melody Lea Lamb.

Melody Lea Lamb

Finalize copy on my review of Magic Trip, a new movie about the famed Ken Kesey bus trip immortalized in Tom Wolfe’s Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.

Continue to interview all people involved in my author profile/book review for Face to Face about a mother whose son shot off his face with a rifle in a failed suicide attempt and about the extensive expensive plastic reconstructive surgery he had to endure.

A brochure for Ann Woodfield and St. Bart’s church.

Social media for Dr. Thomas Romo.

Social media for Little Baby Face Foundation.

Feed my neighbor’s cat (she’s away).

Begin to compile all of my notes for my travel piece about Cancun, Mexico.

Make a phone call to receive instruction for my new brochure(s) project for a real estate company.

Follow up on PPGGNY (Philanthropic Planning Group of Greater New York) conference photos project (I am awaiting their captions).

Begin 2 more book reviews

Follow up on pitches to magazines, especially one on a personal essay that is probably the best thing I ever wrote (to date).

Watch Law & Order reruns while I do my 3 loads of laundry.

Count my blessings and exude gratitude that i have work.

Take a nap.

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Welcome Back from the Holiday Weekend!

dorriolds — Tue, 31 May 2011 17:47:57 +0000

Hope everybody got a chance to chill and have fun. Things are exciting here. Just signed another contract to redesign a website. I must say, a lot of people have experienced terrible trauma with unreliable web “designers” that don’t do what they promise and many of them disappear on the clients. Don’t return emails, calls, facebook messages and tweets. So strange, you’d think in this economy people would be thrilled to have the work. I’ve been very lucky with work and I never take it for granted. Not for one single second. I know I may be a tad twisted because I love working almost more than anything else, but that’s a conversation for another day. Today I must finish an oversized 16-page print newsletter, an organization’s 100-page membership directory, a book cover, blogs, facebooks and tweets for clients, put in a proposal for another website redesign gig. And write a few articles. Tonight I’m meeting with a few fellow writers to critique each other’s work and play with my dog. I’d love it if people told me what’s going on in their lives. Oh, and this week 4 of my articles will appear in the NY Resident magazine and one in the brand new magazine, “Resident Health.” Life is very good. Ciao4now.

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Population and Online Statistics

dorriolds — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 08:38:33 +0000

According to Wikipedia, as of October 22, 2010, the world’s population—the population of humans on planet Earth— is currently estimated to be 6,876,600,000. Spelled out that number is six billion eight hundred seventy-six million six hundred thousand. That is one heckuva lot of people. Hard to wrap my head around it. This figure comes from the U.S. Census Bureau. According to the International Telecommunication Union’s October 19,2010 newsroom press release, the number of people online by end of 2010 is estimated at 2 billion. The number of internet users has doubled in the past 5 years. The number of people having access to the Internet at home has increased from 1.4 billion in 2009 to almost 1.6 billion in 2010. According to New Media Trend Watch, the number of people online around the world will grow more than 45% to 2.2 billion users over the next five years, according to a report by Forrester Research, Inc. with the global online population expected to reach 2.2 billion by 2013. Asia remains the biggest global internet growth market where 43% of the world’s online population will reside by 2013 with 17% of the global online population in China alone. Growth rates in the US, Western Europe and the major industrialised nations in Asia Pacific such as Australia, Japan and South Korea will slow to between 1% and 3%.

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10 Tips for Website Design Basics

dorriolds — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:43:37 +0000

Every successful designer knows how to balance space and study color systems. These are graphic design basics. Pantone talks about web safe colors. You’ll need to understand RGB versus CMYK colors. There is a psychology of colors and design. Colors create moods. Design guides you through a space and shows what the designer wants the viewer to see.

1. Number one in the area of basic design is o know what you want to say.

2. Know your target audience. What is your demographic?

3. Tailor your text to appeal to that audience.

4. Keep blurbs of text short. Web users have no attention span.

5. PROOFREAD! Nothing screams incompetent like typos and lousy grammar.

6. Put your name and contact info on every page. Don’t make potential clients hunt. You want them to find you easily.

7. Keep your design simple. If too much is going on it confuses the user. Crowded pages are dizzying and don’t lead the viewer to click on anything. When that happens, they will most likely click off your site.

8. Make sure that navigation of your site is obvious immediately. Who are you? What do you do? It’s important to think about how they might have landed on your page. What are the google search terms they used? If they arrive on your page and see something they didn’t expect to see, they’ll click off.

9. Use browser safe colors. Get familiar with Pantone web safe color suggestions.

10. Test your links to be sure they all work.

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