The DreamPix Studio

Mobile vs. Responsive

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I’m often asked about the difference between a mobile website and a responsive website. A mobile website is designed to function exclusively on a mobile device – typically a smartphone. The site runs parallel to a desktop site meaning that a business must have two sites for twice the investment. On the other hand, a responsive website adjusts itself to provide an optimal viewing experience across a wide range of devices and browsers.

I can think of a few good reasons why a business might invest in two websites, such as a restaurant site, where desktop users will likely want to see the menu and mobile users will likely want directions to the business. Mobile sites are typically offering something specific as opposed to an overall experience. For most small businesses, the one-size-fits-all mentality of responsive design is the more cost-effective and efficient approach. Regardless of whether or not a business launches two sites, it is imperative today that all websites be responsive.

Nobody does it better than Ellen

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ellenselfieEllen DeGeneres demonstrated this past Sunday at the Oscars why she’s one of the top celebrity personalities on Twitter, as she not only broke a new record with a selfie but managed to simultaneously crashTwitter itself with the post.

It was a wonderful demonstration of the power of social media and also captured all the elements of a successful post. DeGeneres vowed to set a new record with a photo of her posing with a bunch of A-list stars from the audience, including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Kevin Spacey. She had Bradley Cooper take the photo, which she captioned, “If only Bradley’s arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars”

Creating the Ultimate Logo

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What Makes a Great Logo?

There are four qualities that define a great logo.

    • Unique – A logo must be unique so that it stands out in the crowd and memorable. The graphic alone does not necessarily have to project what the company does but it can evoke a feeling which is just as powerful. The Good Year and MasterCard are examples of companies with iconic logos that are powerful and recognizable around the world.goodyearmasatercard
    • Adaptable –target A great logo must carry the same meaning across all mediums – whether it is on a business card, a billboard, or a baseball cap. Target’s logo is powerful across the board. Just as a marksman’s goal is to hit the center bulls-eye, the store aims to do much the same in terms of retail goods, services, commitment to the community, price, value, and overall experience. The company also makes great use of its bull’s eye logo using it all by itself.
    • Appropriate – bpThe designer must consider the nature of the business, the customer, and the culture. A good logo should reinforce the brand conveying the tone and feel of the business. The newly designed BP logo brings in energy with the sun as well as the colors of the “Helio’s” suggesting heat, light, and nature.
  • Timeless – pepsi cocacolaThe neutrality in a design makes it timeless. A good logo should be able to look current 25 years from now. Coca-Cola is an example of a classic logo that has withstood the test of time while Pepsi-Cola has been trendy changing its look over the years.

For more tips on great logos and logo design visit TheWebDepot.com.

So you want me to “like” your Facebook Page?

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What’s in it for me?

fb_like
Everyone is jumping on the social media bandwagon but few brands have a clear vision of how to market their brand on the various platforms. Facebook is a place where people go to hang out and catch up with what their friends are doing. They don’t want to be sold but they do want to be entertained and engaged. Unless you are a commercial giant like Coca-Cola or Starbucks with a clearly established fan base, you are going to have to build a following by bringing something valuable to the conversation.

Rather than building a shrine to their business on Facebook and broadcasting about themselves – brands need to launch a discussion that engages their audience. For example, if you are a day spa, don’t just promote specials but talk about subjects that their audience is interested in such as the difference between the various types of massages, the best skin care products, or new BOTOX® uses. It can’t be all about you. While it seems to intimate it is really quite simple.

Just ask yourself two questions:

  • Who do I want to like my page?
  • What are they interested in?

And then you just have to be a good conversationalist.

On a final note, if you are going to go out on that proverbial limb and ask people to ”Like” your Facebook page you had better put a little skin in the game. Whether it’s a discount coupon or a glass of Prosecco – don’t send your new friends away empty-handed.

New Top Level Domain Names Released

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What’s new on the Internet? On January 29 Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) delegated 100 new generic top-level domains (gTLD) and that is only the beginning. Among the extensions currently available for purchase are .singles, .coffee, .blackfriday and .beer among a multitude of others.

This move represents the biggest change to the internet since the first set of TLD’s (.com, .org, .net, and .gov) were introduced back in 1984 and the industry anticipates a bit of chaos as a result and it could initiate a return of the wild, wild, west days on the WWW!

The new extensions may well change the way businesses and consumers use the internet and the way brands are marketed. There is a lot of concern from large businesses such as Coca Cola, Microsoft, and P&G who bargaining with Icann for limited preventative registration in order to protect their trademarks.

Tweet of the Week

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arbys-pharell-hed-2014Timing and relevancy play a big role in the success of social media and every once and while a brand hits it big.  At the Grammy’s this past Sunday one brand was able to capitalize on the moment. Arby’s had their day in the sun on Twitter when the company tweeted “Hey @Pharrell, can we have our hat back?” when they noticed that Daft Punks lead singer (who won Album of the Year) was wearing a hat that resembled their logo. The fast-food chain got a nod from ADWEEK. What’s more, Pharrell gave Arby’s a leg up by later posting on Twitter “Y’all tryna start a roast beef?”

It was a win, win for Arby’s.

How Positive Reviews on Google Affect Your Local Rankings

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We all know that getting good online reviews is good for your reputation, but does a positive review help with SEO and page rankings?

For businesses who are are trying to capture their local market niche, the answer is a resounding “yes”. Search engines display reviews in several places but they also use them as a ranking factor.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Reviews are displayed when visitors search for your business by name. What a perfect way to help with the branding! So long as the good outweighs the bad you should be all set. Don’t forget to tap into the other online review sites that may affect your business such as Yelp or Urbanspoon. Getting online reviews should be a priority for every business.
  2. Reviews help you rank higher for locally searched keywords. Reviews on your Google+ business page help you rank higher when people search for relevant keywords near your business location.
  3. Did you know that visitors on Yelp can use reviews as a filter? They filter from highest to lowest in terms of review rankings. What a great way to sort and filter out the bad.
  4. It is a proven fact that reviews help people make purchasing decisions. People want to read reviews from other consumers before they buy something. Yelp, Manta, SuperPages, even websites like Foursquare are all good for local SEO.
  5. Deciphering Google Analytics – Google Analytics offers quite a bit of information. The numbers can be used to find out what review sites send you the most traffic and which keywords are the most searched locally, which cities your visitors are from, and more.

Twitter’s Defining Moment

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Twitter’s defining moment was also the moment that redefined how we received our news. With a click of a button, an innocent bystander scooped the media. You never know when it might be your opportunity to capitalize on social media. It’s a good thing.

Keeping Up with the Web’s Best

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The internet has become an ultra-competitive playing field that intimates many business owners. The idea of trying to keep up with social media superstars is overwhelming at best. Bloggers are publishing half a million posts every day, there are just as many tweets sent and e-commerce sales now surpass $200 billion annually.

Like my mother always told me, there will always be someone prettier, richer, and skinnier than you. Accept the fact that there will always be a better blog, a sleeker website, and a wittier FaceBook post than yours and carry on. Keep your head and focus on how you can use digital technology to better your business and help your customers. You do not have to be the biggest and best brand on the web you simply have to recognize who your audience is, how you can improve for the benefit of your customers, and then leverage the necessary technology in order to get their attention.

Websites Launched

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The DreamPix Studio recently launched several new websites:

AttySullivan.com

Cynthia Sullivan is a North Shore divorce attorney dedicated primarily to the practice of Family Law. She is licensed to practice before the state and federal courts of both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Ms. Sullivan brings more than 25 years of diverse experience to her practice, which focuses on matters relating to family law and litigation.

MegBlackStudio.com

Meg Black has been a practicing artist using fibrous pulp for over twenty-four years. As one of a handful of artists working in this exciting medium, she is something of a pioneer, internationally recognized by galleries and collectors alike.

EssexAdvisors.com

Essex Financial Advisors, LLC was founded in 1997 by David Bunker. Essex Financial Advisors, LLC provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management services on a fee-only basis to individuals, families, and their closely held businesses. Its mission is to create and maintain wealth for our clients through long-term, effective asset management strategies.