Serious, Fun, FusionDesign

When FusionDesign turned 10 (time flies when you are having fun!) we wanted to generate a buzz around our 10-year anniversary, plus the fact that we do more than just design, but we Build Brand Diamonds! So, the Fusionites felt it was essential that our online presence communicated this. View our Website & Portfolio on www.fusiondesign.co.za

Integrated Campaign: google ads, regular newsletters, personalised emails, a facebook page, our micro site (interactive adding a bit of fun, with the diamond metaphor). And, off course our FusionGlobe blog to drive traffic to the website.

Top 10 Most Important Elements of a Web Site:

Online, your website can go a long way in creating a good first impression about your company, it is after all your online shop/office-front, the receptionist should be helpful! A few simple tricks make the difference between an corporate website design and a great one. Here are 10 tips to consider, before you start:

1. First impressions & Purpose + Objectives > Often, this is the first point of contact for your potential customers (or just to check you out!). Establish the impact the website must have on visitors & what they will look for. Ask yourself what is the Purpose: Do you want to provide information, close a sale, generate a database for leads?

Within the first month of launching, FusionDesign received two quality leads through the website that converted to sales! They both commented on the ease of getting info and liked that it was not to flashy, but had a bit of creativity especially when looking at the About Us page.

2. Layout & Navigation > Consistency and Strategic placement of information and cross-linking, makes for a website that gives answers to any possible questions/need within 2-3 clicks!

The Fusionites spent weeeeks on on the sitemap and layout!! We decided on a theme per landing page, and a main message per page that is featured right at the top. The website contains bulleted text and descriptive headings for scan ability as well as links and cross-linking for easier navigation when a user is doing research about FusionDesign.

3. Target Market relevancy > Get out of your comfort zone and get into the heads of your current and potential clients – personalities and the way the do business and what is important to them.

In the Case of FusionDesign: We focused strongly on a look and feel, as well as copy and navigation that is to the point and meets the expectations of our target market needs – which is made up of two main personas, namely the Red Personality and Yellow Personality.

THE Fusion Client Persona

4. Content > Content is King! Does it say all you want, quickly and clearly? The Web Copywriter should work according to the sitemap and keyword research to make sure the Content & Design works together.

• Keywords in title tag, h1/h2 etc tags, alt text, URL and site links
• High keyword density in body, preferably near beginning
• Small Pages <30k
• Themed pages
• Copy in pockets in narrow paragraphs
• Internal cross linking

Fusionites decided on a certain tone for the copy, corporate but friendly – avoiding the usual jargon agencies use. We made sure all Images had their carefully crafted ALT tags, meta tags & title tags with keywords that concentrate on a call to action. The homepage offers a link to our blog, (search engine crawlers/spiders like it when you have content that changes regularly).

5. Usability and accessibility > Web accessibility is about making your website accessible to all Internet users regardless of what browsing technology they’re using or slow internet connection.

• Provide meaningful information in the title, h1/h2 and image alt tags
• Have the most useful information near the top
• Have pages that load fast
• Have meaningful link text
• Gives user control over pages, e.g. resizing text
• Include a text-based sitemap

6. The client gets what the client wants > Good corporate website design is all about avoiding customer needing to use their brainpower to find info. Do not make headings to fancy – sometimes plain and simple is what people recognise i.e. Contact Us. Stay away from irritants like music (unless you’re in that business), make sure there’s an option to turn it off.

7. Good Visual Design > Blend elements of your Corporate Identity to create an Online Identity.

Visually it is professional and uncluttered but with elements of fun and a dash of colour. Amongst the design elements it was agreed that there needs to be a consistent look throughout the website.

8. Compatibility > Before you announce your website to the world, check that it works on all browsers. Remember what it’s like not to find that newly advertised chocolate on the shelves – well, a website that doesn’t show up is a similar feeling!

9. Tie up the loose links > If you are re-doing your website remember to do the re-directs to the new site. Standard “page not found” messages is not good, alternatively make sure you have a 404 page set up, with links back to the home page.

10. Launch & Adapt > Set up Google Analytics and start Marketing your Website to see where the traffic comes from and what the searched terms are. Take into consideration feedback that you get and adapt your website accordingly.

A Website should not be done in isolation, an Integrated Strategy of

Online Marketing must be in place for Success.

Contact us on t 0861.321.777 to discuss for we can turn your brand into a Brand Diamond!