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Want the Best Website?

April 27, 2012 Advertising / Business / Communication / ecommerce / Marketing / Online Marketing / Public Relations / Social Media / Technology / Web / Websites
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Start With the Answer!

It’s not about you. People are so busy today, they’re either surfing the net or have landed on your site via Search Engines or connection recommendations because they’re looking for answers to their questions or problems.

It may be to learn, for entertainment, to connect, to increase their business or to find help for themselves, family or friends, but basically they’re looking for answers. They’re looking for content that provides VALUE, solving their needs, essentially answering the question:

‘What’s in it for me?’
People are too busy today, have too many choices and things to do. You have 3-5 seconds for users to decide if they are in fact on the right website, the best solution that answers their quest. So, your site better give them what they want, NOW.

Who Are They?
When you start with the answer, make sure you’re addressing the right people. No matter how big or small your business or organization is, the truth of the matter is that you are ‘speaking’ with ONE person when they’re on your website. It’s just one person and their computer or other electronic device.

That one person may indeed be and likely is, part of a larger group, whether it’s business or personal connections. The one thing you can be sure of, is, when you’ve answered their questions properly, they will let others know.

Who might they be?
This is where you must know the answer to ‘Who is my target market and demographic anyway?’.  Knowing who you’re ‘talking to’, helps you to make sure you answer the right questions, for the right people.

How?
Content, design, navigation and functionality. A website strategist plans what your website will DO for users, long before the pretty colours and pictures are in place.

When we know what your website will DO for people, the answers come, in turn, answering the ‘What’s in it for me? question. This in then translated into the website structure for navigation, functionality and ultimately, the look and feel of the design.

Yikes!

One of the biggest mistakes made on websites is the failure to tell people what you want them to do with the information that you are providing. Tell them with  ‘Call to Action’ text, images, navigation and buttons.

Think About It
Here’s some questions to help you to get started with the answers:

1. What makes me so great?
This is where you turn your features and benefits into the answer to their problems. What’s your USP (unique selling point)?

2. What are my readers really looking for?
Solve their problems. Know your target market, learn their needs and give them what they want.

3. What action do I want users to take?
Do you want them to sign up, buy now, read on, learn more, contact someone, share with friends or comment? Tell them!

4. Do they need the whole enchilada?
You’ve heard the saying less is more? Way to often, websites have so much text, content, generally speaking, that it actually drives people away from websites. How much ‘So, who cares?’ info do you have on your site?

Grab users with content that matters to them. Show them you ARE the answer. You will be rewarded in spades.
Discover Engine Communications online and offline marketing solutions here. 

Funny Little Boxes

April 13, 2012 Advertising / Business / Communication / Design / Online Marketing / Print Advertising / Social Media / Websites
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QR Codes by Engine Communications

QR Codes by Engine Communications

You may have seen these funny boxes and wondered what they are or perhaps you’ve used them on your Smart Phone. They’re called QR codes and they’re everywhere!

QR is short for Quick Response. What do you need to know now?

They send Smart Phone users directly to anywhere that is online. Engine creates customized versions of these QR codes. We’ve been using them for quite awhile now on signage, auto graphics, magazine ads, posters and more.  We get to play with colours, sizes from tiny to huge and have have fun hiding cool images inside of the boxes. While these funny little boxes can be great, let’s remember to give how we use them, a great deal of thought. Used correctly, your Online Marketing World can expand substantially.

Yes, we’ve seen them used incorrectly:

An example of using QR codes incorrectly? We’ve seen QR codes placed on websites. Huh? Ummm, no, that’s not the idea. Think print. You see, the idea is to send people to your website or other online content anywhere on the web. Driving traffic to your online content, continuing your marketing message and increasing business.

QR Codes? That’s Smart!

5 Marketing Questions to Ask Yourself:

March 29, 2012 Advertising / Business / Communication / Design / ecommerce / Marketing / Non-Profit / Online Marketing / Print Advertising / Public Relations / Social Media / Technology / USP / Web / Websites
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What are you saying? After branding, a user-friendly interactive website is likely one of the most important tools that you need for your business or organization. Your online messages, along with cohesive marketing collateral, make a big difference for increasing your business. To help you get started in the thought process, here are 5 Marketing Questions you should ask yourself:

1. If I’ve never heard of my business, is it absolutely clear ‘WHAT IT IS?’ that I do?
2. Do my messages immediately identify the ‘WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?’ question?
3. Am I consistent in my branding across ALL print, logo, tagline, ad, POP item, website and Social Media?
4. Do I have a UNIQUE printed piece that I could give to my clients that encourage repeat business?
5. Does everything I do include my website ADDRESS?

Yippee for SPRING!

We thought we would take a moment to show our appreciation to you, our clients. To us, it’s all about relationships. Thank you for including Engine Communications in your marketing success. As a little thank you, we’ll be posting marketing tips on our Blog, FaceBook,  Twitter and Google+ pages. Stay Tuned!

Here’s to a great spring season! Need Help? We’re here for you. Let’s Chat!

~ The Engine Communications Team

Your Project?

March 21, 2012 Design / Marketing / Public Relations / Social Media / Web
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Only Engine Has the 7 Point Rule

We have a rule here at Engine Communications when we tackle projects. We really take our time to consider every aspect of your business or organization from a sales and marketing point of view. To make sure the magic really happens, we’ve created and follow 7 rules for every single client and every single task.

Size doesn’t matter!

Small business, large organization and everything in-between, we follow the 7 point rule. A tagline, ad copy, poster, website, multi-media or an entire campaign, the size of the project doesn’t matter. We follow our 7 point rule.

Rules. ONLY at ENGINE:

  1. Listen and understand the client’s needs.
  2. Learn about the products and/or services.
  3. Find out past and current marketing initiatives.
  4. Research competition and trends. Locally and Internationally.
  5. Be unique. Find the USP (unique selling point)
  6. Cross-connect online and offline projects.
  7. Always power the brand, empowering the client’s goals.

WHY?

Because to us, it’s about relationships and we care about your success. Your job is challenging enough. We’re here to make your life easier.

7 Rules ~ Only at Engine Communications.

A Click-Free Week!

February 10, 2012 Uncategorized
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I was very lucky to have the opportunity to escape to sunny Florida last week. Oh the sun, the sand and the sound of the waves were ever so rejuvenating! Seven days of glory, sans any and all electronic devices.

That’s right. No email, no computer, no phone, no texts, no surfing, except for the surfers on the beach! I didn’t even check my FaceBook or feel compelled to post images on my wall to prove how much fun I was having.

How enlightening it was and I didn’t miss it one bit!

Back now this week, soul-southed, brain cleared. It’s made a difference, for sure. I feel so refreshed with that little Winter reprieve, now re-fueled, full of new ideas for the many new projects we’re working on! That Click-Free Week, did just the trick. You might want to try it sometime :)

~ Laura