Feelingpeaky

While it’s by no means the only important page, the home page is where visitors often enter your site.  And, if it’s not doing its job, it’s where they exit.  The online environment is constantly evolving. Here are a few home page tips to help businesses achieve their online goals.

Say clearly what your company does, who it’s relevant for and
how it’s different

On www.pebble.uk.com, the box at the top explains that Pebble works for entrepreneurs and small businesses, dealing with the tasks normally allocated to the office manager or PA in a large company.  We added links to Pebble’s big benefits – that clients can pay by the hour/day/month and that the standards of service are exceptionally high.

Make sure the homepage focuses on user goals as well as
business goals

Whilst the business focus for www.chamonixallyear.com is on selling accommodation, information on ski lessons and airport transfers are equally important to the user – we made sure they could access this information easily on the home page.

Help the user towards their purchase decision

Take a look at www.longleat.co.uk.  “Buy Tickets” is 1 of 3 choices in the navigation, we added an extra link to the area, emphasised the online discount, and directed users – via a “Find it Fast” section – to other information (like ticket prices) that might help them make their purchase decision.  Online tickets sales were up within weeks of launch and the site is showing a clear return on investment.

Show with examples rather than telling through a description

On the site we designed for Louis Kennedy www.louiskennedy.com, we chose familiar examples of campaigns created by Louis Kennedy (like Pudsey Bear for Children in Need) to raise money for good causes.  If your site sells products, this might translate into showing an example from each product group.

Make sure the most important tasks/messages are visible
without scrolling

On www.realcoachingco.com the key message is that the company offers a free coaching session.  This is backed up by a softer sell; signing up to the newsletter.  Both these messages are clearly visible at the top of the page.

Have you got a home page tip?  Why not share it?

Is it really May already! Here at Feelingpeaky we’ve had our heads down for awhile working busily on loads of fascinating client projects. One new client we’ve had the pleasure of working with is Longleat Safari & Adventure Park.

Longleat Safari & Adventure Park has been one of the UK’s best-loved attractions for over 60 years. It features an extensive Safari Park, is home to BBC Animal Park and CBBC Roar and also has over 15 fabulous attractions, including the new multi million pound Jungle Kingdom and Longleat House, one of the most stunning stately homes in Britain.

Feelingpeaky have helped re-launch Longleat to the World through a number of design project including new brand identity, tourist brochure and e-commerce website.

Online ticket sales are well improved on the previous incarnation already and the design projects are delivering a clear return on investment.

For further information on Longleat and to buy tickets for fabulous days out visit their new website at www.longleat.co.uk.

DIY copywriting; it seems like a good idea at the time. But many of our clients find themselves baffled by what to write. And when they do write it, they often find it doesn’t bring in the results they hoped for. A good copywriter will…..

1. Quickly get to grips with your brand, your brief and your organisation and write the words you want, while you get on with your day job.

2. Write words that tap into your customers’ needs and persuade them to buy your product or service.

3. Create a verbal identity that reflects your brand and brings consistency to your marketing material.

4. Work seamlessly with your design agency so that it all comes together without you spending time coordinating it.

5. Complete the work fast so that your project goes live when you want it to go live.

6. Contribute specialist knowledge about the best way to write for each medium, e.g. writing web copy so that it works for both readers and search engines.

7. Be scarily pedantic about making sure your copy is grammatically correct.

Want to find out more? Contact cathy@feelingpeaky.com

According to Hitwise figures (4 weeks ending 04/09/2010.) Google maintains its complete stranglehold on the UK search market with 91.85% share of volume of searches. Therefore, like me you probably think it’s fairly important for your site to feature (hopefully prominently) in Google’s listings. But how dammit?! …. 10 points to consider…

1. Relevance

Google is looking to present back to searchers relevant search results and broadly speaking this is done by focusing on three main factors – content, code and links into your site.

2. Content is king

It should reflect your target search phrases – but remember it will ultimately be read by a human. Generally they don’t like to see an endless stream of repeated phrases, repeated phrases, repeated phrases, repeated phrases – Get it – rather annoying.

3. Think of your content like the front page of a newspaper

More importance is paid to the headlines, sub heads and bullets – these are often much larger than the body copy to draw your attention. Google works on a similar way – and whilst it doesn’t matter about the size of the font it’s important to ensure for example headlines are coded as headlines <H1>, < H2>. Eek! … sorry that’s a bit of code!

4. What are your target customers searching for

First brainstorm within your team, ask your current customers, ask suppliers but best of all ask Google or Wordtracker . The key phrases that you think are right for your site may not be the ones that they are searching. These services provide you insight in to search phrases – the reality and what you should be targeting. But don’t get too generic. Everyone wants to be top of Google – your better off targeting two or three niche but valid phrases per page. Eg. NOT THIS – ‘Travel’ …TRY THIS – ‘self catering cottages in cornwall’

5. Content, content and more content

It’s one thing having a website up but are you generating fresh, engaging and interesting content on a regular basis? The more relevant content you generate, the more times Google returns to your site, the more pages that get indexed, the more phrases you target, and ultimately the more leads they’ll potentially generate. Remember to write at least 200 – 250 words on your target phrases. Google needs to “read” what your page is all about.

6. More quality content the more quality links

Create interesting and thought provoking content and links will naturally come your way. Whether it’s from Tweets, blogs or referenced from articles on others sites. The more quality themed links into your site the more important Google will perceive your site. Notice the word “quality” – ie. links coming from relevant sites, with relevant content.

7. Linking in your site

When Google moves through your site it wants to know where it’s going. So links like “click here” and “more” are bad as they give no clues. Your much better off placing the key phrase in the link eg. “mens watches” or “black umbrellas”. Note – the blue texts aren’t real links in this case !

8. Create a top TITLE tag

You what? This is a bit of HTML code that is critical as it’s given a high relevance by Google. It appears in the browser right at the top of your screen above the tool bars. Think of it as a “Key Phrase Title Tag” and write accordingly. Therefore, for example,  “home page – business x” – IS BAD, “Wedding Florist London, Wedding Flowers London” – IS GOOD

9. Meaningful Meta tags

Completing these careful is valuable but they aren’t the nirvana they were say 10 years ago. Write a meta description that reflects your target phrases and the content of the site. This will often appear in Google’s search listings and could therefore potentially influence how a searcher might click. Worth considering carefully therefore. Keywords on the other hand aren’t used by Google to influence its results. Use it though, but don’t obsess about it.

10. Time

Getting listings in Google can take time, be patient. The longer your site has been online the more trusted it will be. By focusing your site consistently over the long term the trust, importance and relevance Google places on your site will increase.

Plus one for luck….

11. Your link popularity

I detailed the importance of content to drive links but you can also be proactive in obtaining inbound links – eg. by submitting your site to directories, reciprocal linking, article distribution, blogging, forums and social bookmarking.

London based Feelingpeaky is a dynamic and growing design and marketing agency. We’re dedicated to helping clients develop their businesses through successful communications. One of our areas of expertise is online marketing and we’re looking grow the Feelingpeaky team by recruiting a new and talented PHP developer.

Essential Skills:

- 3-5 years PHP/MySQL experience covering diverse projects including CMS sites, e-commerce sites and bespoke development solutions
- Ideally demonstrate experience with systems like ….Magento, Drupal, CMS Made Simple, and WordPress
- Front end development – XHTML/CSS

Bonus Skills/ Knowledge Areas:

- Linux hosting environment
- Online Strategy
- Accessibility
- Usability
- SEO, PPC, Email, Social Marketing
- XML
- JQuery
- Understand Macs and PCs

Personal Profile:

- Positive, friendly, caring, dynamic, intelligent
- Excellent standard of written and spoken English
- Love open source
- As happy to help with a query about an email account as building bespoke e-commerce solutions
- Motivated, self starter
- Ability to take responsibility
- Good communicator
- Team player
- Attention to detail
- Enquiring mind

Term of Employment:

Full time, with 3 month trial period.

Package:

- Salary dependant on skills, experience and value you bring to the team
- 24 days holiday per annum + bank holidays
- Generous commission on any new clients you bring to the business

How to Apply:

Email your application to info(at)feelingpeaky.com.

No agencies please.

Closing date for applications:

Ongoing – looking to build additional weight in this area – send in your application!

What is CMS Made Simple?

CMS Made Simple (CMSMS) does what it says on the tin – It is a content management system or CMS that is extremely simple for clients to use. It enables them to take control of their websites ensuring they remain up to date, relevant and constantly engaging. There is nothing worse in my view than seeing a website that says “NEWS – Feb 2002!” – It simply says this site / business is unloved. It also suggests that the business really doesn’t understand the importance of the Internet in driving new leads, prospects and customers to their business. Often though this is the result of the web design agency delivering a “static site” ie. A site that cannot be updated practically without further assistance from the website design agency (usually at extra expense). With a content management system the client controls their content and keeps things fresh.

CMS Made Simple is often all you need…

Feelingpeaky have provided many different CMS solutions for clients over the years. From bespoke CMS to recognised open source solutions like Drupal, WordPress and CushyCMS.  However, in our experience CMS Made Simple will generally provide all a client needs on a day to day basis.

- Ability to add, edit, delete pages and content within.
- Rearrange structure as the site develops, manage news and events
- Edit multi placed content blocks
- The CMS also allows us to set up forms to receive enquiries
- Ability to upload file eg. PDF press releases and attach to pages

Visit: http://www.cmsmadesimple.org/ for further information on features and benefits.

CMS Made Simple Advantages

CMS Made Simple has a number of advantages – It is open source – We are therefore able to use the base code freely, there are no proprietary fees and therefore all development fees go on the project itself; It has a large developer community behind it; and is extremely robust and well featured for a CMS program. Yet it is extremely simple for non technical people to use and administrate their website.

So do you have much experience in CMSMS?

Do we eck! … Lots and lots and lots of sites both designed and developed for CMS Made Simple. Here are a few examples of the many sites completed…

1. Chamonix All Year

2. Soccer Suckers

3. Louis Kennedy

4. The Safety Business

5. Vilensky Event Music

Contact Feelingpeaky to get your content managed website

We’d be happy to discuss your CMS needs – whether your looking at CMS Made Simple, Drupal, WordPress or had a bespoke solution in mind. Contact us with your brief on info@feelingpeaky.com or call 020 8997 4700.

In today’s world, it is becoming apparent that ecommerce is simply more popular than traditional shopping for many products and services.  People around the world have fully adopted the notion of making purchases online, and most companies have learned that offering ecommerce is a great way to boost business.

IMRG / Capgemini, predict that the e-commerce market in the UK will grow by 110% over the next decade, reaching £123bn by 2020.

If you are looking to add online shopping to your website, we believe Magento ecommerce is by far the most comprehensive and successful platform available.  There’s an open source community edition that packs so much punch Rocky’s knees would tremble. Feelingpeaky love Magento ecommerce as it is so flexible and is something that can be truly tailored to meet all of your online business needs.

5 reasons why our Magento designers and Magento developers love it!

1. Because Magento is fully modular the layout, structure and content can be fully themed to meet your needs.

2. It accommodates a whole plethora of client needs out of the box and can be set up and adapted to meet your specific trading needs.

3. Wow – a massive community around the ecommerce platform that is supportive and growing – providing a large and diverse range of add on modules to extend the functionality even further.

4. The platform offers comprehensive features for marketing, analytics, SEO, and more. It offers you the ability to really make your site your own, adding a catalog of products, the ability to include multiple images for each product, and even the ability to provide your customers with mobile shopping options.

5. Did we mention that it has a community version – open source ie. Free for us (and therefore you) to use as we please, customise and develop. Therefore, all your budget goes into the design and development of your ecommerce site, without big chunks of money passing over to software vendors.

Finding a Magento designer

By working hand in hand with a talented Magento partner (that would be us – here at Feelingpeaky) who understands your company goals, you can get an affordable ecommerce website that really sets your company up for growth online.

A strong online presence and a great site developed with the Magento ecommerce platform can help your company move well beyond your normal group of customers and can bring you business from around the country or around the world.

Here is one we made earlier: http://store.thepowderpuffgirls.com

For Magento ecommerce design and development contact Feelingpeaky on
020 8997 4700 or email info@feelingpeaky.com with your brief.

Why is permission based email marketing so effective?

In terms of return on investment email marketing out performs any other form of direct marketing. But why is email marketing (done right) so effective?

- It’s cost effective – pennies not pounds per person you communicate with

- Targeted and data driven – you can be very specific, filter and easily personalise your communications

- And ultimately it’s completely measurable – track all actions from your campaign through to your website – who opened, what they clicked on and get a real understanding of the return on your investment

You can use email marketing to drive direct sales, build customer loyalty, trust and credibility, and make customers aware of other products and services you offer.

Five ways to improve the effectiveness of email marketing

1. Get permission – The only people succeeding with non-permission based email marketing are living alone in dark rooms hoping the authorities don’t find them.Getting the initial permission to add someone to your email list is just the start. How do we get this? Well… They should have opted in from your website; or completed an offline form and indicated that they wanted to be emailed; or given you their business card; or they have purchased from you in the last two years.

Good relationships are based on mutual respect, and permission is about respecting the time and privacy of the recipient.

2. Make it relevant – The idea of respect leads us to relevancy. Ensuring that we send relevant information says that we don’t want to waste your time with stuff you don’t want or need.

3. Offer Value – Provide information, articles or ideas that are useful and timely. You are trying to build loyalty and credibility with your customers so every article should be worth reading.

4. Get the basics right – For example the subject line is probably the single most important in-email element that drives open rates. Bad subject lines, poor open rates. Good subject lines, good open rates.When you’re exploring the potential of subject lines, don’t forget the other elements that appear in the headers of an email and get displayed in a reader’s inbox. The “from” line in particular needs your attention, as people are most likely to open email from senders they recognise.

- Include call to actions in every email – driving people to your site, getting customers to download discount vouchers, or complete an online survey or agree to attend an event for example.

- Clear links to your site – so that the recipient can find out more about the offer, service or event that you’re promoting. It is often better to do the selling on the website rather than in the email. There you will have more room to detail features and benefits.

5. Measurement – Make sure you track your results as this will be the key to future success. By finding out about delivery rates, open rates and click through rates you can look to refine and improve future campaigns.

Oh!… There is one more way to improve the effectiveness of your email marketing… That would be to choose Feelingpeaky – to help you plan out your email marketing campaigns, engage with your customers and drive repeat business.

Find out more about permission email marketing »

How to get started with Permission email marketing

Many people are new to email marketing and Feelingpeaky can provide support all the way through the process:

- Email marketing strategy
- Email design, development and testing
- Subscriber list building and cleaning
- Campaign management and reporting in real time the results
- Or train you to use and manage the email marketing software yourself

Feelingpeaky have a permission based email marketing service called
Engaging Mailing.

This exciting new service is a beautifully simple, yet extremely powerful, ‘pay as you go’ email marketing system, backed up by the Feelingpeaky design studio.

Find out more about permission email marketing »

Thanks to their fantastic website Redcup coffee are getting loads of office coffee enquiries. We therefore went on to looking at how we could improve conversion rates and ensure that every point of contact from prospect to customer had consistency in terms of brand values for Redcup Coffee. This led us to corporate brochure design.

How to make corporate brochure design a little more tasty than the norm…

- Prepare the finest ingredients including copy, illustration, graphic design, and photography
- mix until 100% engaging
- serve on fantastic stock, printed with passion

Delivered: 1 x corporate brochure that develops the desire to do business with Redcup Coffee.

How refreshing. Hmmm …Tastes great!

It’s a mug not a mug’s game…

Sometimes creating a bit of loyalty and keeping your brand front of mind is as simple as a mug. Well… if you provide fantastic office coffee vending like Redcup Coffee that is.  Below is the mug design we completed for Redcup as a giveaway to their clients / prospective clients. It underlines their core message that Redcup are revolutionising the serving of coffee in our offices. Very simple but in this case effective.

Now shall I have a cappuccino or latte? …Contact Redcup for great office coffee. Contact Feelingpeaky for great promotional design.