Question

Topic: Website Critique

What Do You Like To See In A Marketing Website?

Posted by Blaine Wilkerson on 6/30/2004 at 6:18 PM ET 4500 Points
Hello all,

I have been racking my brain for months regarding the design and content of my new website. After following all the advice I give my clients regarding web design and function, I have found I keep coming up with better and better ideas, designs, features etc. Then it dawned on me...Why don't I ask my colleagues!?!?!

After reviewing countless websites of other marketing consultants, I noticed that just about everyone summarizes their various specialties in a few paragraphs, then lead you to an email or contact form. I'd like to do something a little different and perhaps provide a more useful environment.

What do you guys and gals think? Taking into consideration the various consultant websites you may have visited, what would you like to see that is not currently being utilized...(at least by most)? More extensive portfolios? Less bragging? More bragging? Downloadable/printable business forms? Articles? Tools? Promotions? Prices?

I really have no desire to post a 4 page "brochure", I want it to be useful.

The possibilities are endless...please help me!
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by SRyan ;] on 6/30/2004 at 6:52 PM Member
    Blaine, as long as it doesn't have the very crap that is so brilliantly lampooned at www.huhcorp.com.... ! =Þ

    Seriously, I'll give it some thought and post something for you later tonight.

    Don't you just LOVE having access to the generous brainiacs around here? I do, too!

    - Shelley
  • Posted by Pepper Blue on 6/30/2004 at 7:23 PM Accepted
    Hi Blaine,

    I'm the last one that should be giving you advice on this, right?

    But, we've briefly talked about this before and aside from the newsletter signup you'll have, you are a "gotta have one" for an RSS feed and/or blog on your website.

    I mean can you imagine the audience that "Blainely Speaking" would develop?

    First thing in the morning, delivered to your subscribers feedreader/aggregator (just make life simple and install newsgator https://www.newsgator.com/

    Contact me and I'll help you set it up, little orange RSS box and all!

    Tim

  • Posted by Blaine Wilkerson on 6/30/2004 at 8:44 PM Author
    alexis- Thank you very much for the suggestions. It's nice to get feedback from a client point of view!

    David - Excellent advice! and a pretty cool site....
    I see what you mean about all that real estate being consumed byt the flash graphic, but I still think you site has a lot of informative and useful features. I'll definitely be back! (I subscibed to the white papers as well..another interesting site)

    Den E V- I have been trying to think of a way to create a networking function, but you know, I am so deeply set in the MarketingProfs family, I don't know if it is very probable or wise to try to create my own. Although, since I am a HUGE supporter of MP, I have been casually and occasionally brainstorming with Allen and Val in order to find a way for us to support each other.

    ROI calculators? Sounds great, but I'm not much of a software architect. Since the ROI function would need to be customized to my services (and branding), I assume a programmer will have to be brought on board. Great idea...if you know of any resources, please share them with me!

    Shelley - That website is money! Have you ever contacted them to see how they respond to inquiries? Anyway, I await your response...

    Tim- Yes, a newsletter and RSS feed are in my top 5 list of "must haves". I have a backend wiki program to help facilitate this function, but I still need your help. I would like to have a custom aggregator for people to download. Basically, everything that qualifies as a "tool" such as ROI calculators, aggregators, etc will be branded. I'll get in touch with you tonight or tomorrow to see what we need to do in this area.

    Thanks for all the great input! Keep it coming!
  • Posted by SRyan ;] on 6/30/2004 at 10:16 PM Accepted
    Blaine, I'm practically speechless. I've read thru everyone else's responses, and I don't think there's much I can add!

    I will say that I'm a fan of case studies and testimonials, and I think they can be especially powerful when they include quantifiable results. For example, did you help a client reach ten times the number of potential customers? Did they improve their closing rate from 3% to 15%? Did they double their revenue from existing customers?

    For your graphics talent, it would be cool to have a "Before & After" feature. Old logo vs. new logo. Drab powerpoint vs. fab flash presentation. That kind of thing!

    I accept PayPal for my $.02 consulting fee. Email me for deposit instructions. ;]

    -- Shelley

    p.s. Do you have an existing site that we can peer at?
  • Posted by Deremiah *CPE on 6/30/2004 at 11:06 PM Accepted
    Blaine,

    you've got some great advice that's been given above. Now that the marketers have spoken I'll cast a vision for you to meditate on from an artistic stand point only because I do believe this is the age of the artist. So be creative not for creativity sake but because it works for you.

    Remember more than anything else what Shakespeare said, "To thine own self be true".

    This is what makes you extremely unique. From a purely inspirational level if you're really motivated to do something different... "Just Do It".

    You're a sharp guy with great answers for everyone else. Don't forget to reserve a little for yourself this time. And even though I don't know you personally I've read your answers and have total confidence in your ability.

    Like the Isley Brothers sung "It's your thang do what you want to do".

    If it works use it... if it doesn't lose it!

    Albert Einstein believed "imagination" is the ultimate so why not choose it!

    Is there anything else I can do for you?

    Deremiah, *CPE
  • Posted by jcmedinave on 6/30/2004 at 11:42 PM Accepted
    Jett I don't think you will need so much advice, but These are my thoughts about your question:

    1. Show your expertise: Your success problems/ needs you resolved (problem, environment, solutions or recommendations).

    2. Give the opportunity to chat with you.

    3. Have a special place where we can be updated about the last trends.

    4. Develop a Search Tool, specialize in Marketing, Strategy, Business, sales.

    5. Write and advertise your own articles, not only business topics but fashion or current topics, to divulge your thought and emotions.

    6. Describe the people who work and help you, not only their expertise but their family an human life.

    7. It is important that the customers talk about their experience with you, their testimonials.

    8. Give free tools, new technology, templates.

    9. The people who enter to your site should interact, play, give their opinion, concourse, test.

    10. It is essential the permanent communication.

    Bye,

    Juan Carlos

  • Posted by Blaine Wilkerson on 7/1/2004 at 1:23 AM Author
    mbarber- Sorry for being a miser with the points...I don't want to give you too much leverage...LOL!

    Regarding your idea, it is something I have considered, but never wrote down the possible options. I toyed with the idea of letting people choose :

    1. Simple, fast loading, basic HTML
    2. Kinda cool, Flash/CSS/XML mix
    3. Full blown Flash baby!!

    But these focused more on design, as opposed to personalizing the experience. I like your idea...I like it alot. I think I am going to use it as "fuel" for my own fire. Thanks Marcus!

    Shelley- Testemonials and case studies seem to be a common denominator among the suggestions.

    It's interesting you brought up the before and after scenario. You see, I am very artistic and tend to create graphic rich environments. This is a problem from an SEO and functional point of view, but it is an advantage by allowing me to show my stuff. I see so many graphic art sites that are bland and just plain YUK! Now, graphics aren't my core focus but they are a vital element of my branding services.

    One Idea I have is to have the whole site originally appear in rough draft, B&W pencil. Then, either a mouseover or click will make the image, link, button, whatever come to life with rich, detailed graphical apps. This can be done in alomst any format, Flash would be easier, but not very user or search friendly, CSS/DHTML would take FOREVER to write, and just plain HTML with animated gif mouseovers might take as long to download as a Flash site. I haven't given up on the idea yet..

    I also considered different themes: 70's, 80's, Sci-Fi, cartoon, and so on but there I go again...concentrating on graphics more than anything else.

    I'll dig up my old site and post it to a temp page tomorrow so you can see it.


    David- Yes, I have been to Sean's site many times. IT is very interesting and perhaps I can find a way to fuse the strong psychological formatting into my design. Great idea!!

    Deremiah, *CPE - Excellent quotes! I love quotes...especially Einstein. Actually, my previous site used an alternating quote code at the top of every page. I selected the quotes and wrote the code..didn't use a free download. Thank you for the inspiration and motivation!

    virago - Thank for reminding me some of the most important elements to consder with ANY design. I look forward to more ideas from your neck of the woods. Post em' if you got em'!!

    jcmedinave - What can I say? EXACTLY the kind of functional ideas I have been looking for. Rest assured I will definately feed from your input. Great advice and thank you very much!!

    Despite all of the outstanding responses, I am still hungry....keep the ideas pumping!!! BTW- I plan on having all who answer be a part of my "site review commitee" to pick the site apart before launch (if you are willing to participate).

    Oh yeah, Shelley, I'll send your cash via Paypal in a bit!!
  • Posted by Blaine Wilkerson on 7/1/2004 at 1:34 AM Author
    Cal- Thanks for the link. Cool article. Have a safe trip!
  • Posted by Blaine Wilkerson on 7/1/2004 at 12:11 PM Author
    Michele - I know you too well...I knew you were going to say that!

    Just for the record...those of you who don't know....Michele and I are working together on a couple of projects. I designed a website for her to code and it has been a nightmare! Primarily because of the complex graphic arragement. Michele is very good at what she does, but she loathes my extensive designs! It all works out in the end.

    dcrouch - This article helped me focus on an concept I have been developing. Like DavidatHaley stated; "Why do marketers have such a hard time marketing ourselves?". My idea has been to market a specialized service/product under a different name, but identified as a Jett Enterprises production/company. Doing so allows me to step out of the "me,me,me" syndrome, and treat my website like a client. Very profound...Thanks a MILLION Dave!!
  • Posted by SRyan ;] on 7/1/2004 at 2:32 PM Member
    Here's an idea for you AND for MarketingProfs (Allen and Val, listen up!).

    Could you use your KHE Expert ranking as a credential? I visualize a "seal of authority" somewhere in a sidebar on your website, which links to the Know-How Exchange main page. It's their brand, and it says "Community Expert" or "Top 10 Expert" or "Marketing Big Dog" or something sanctioned by the powers of MP.

    (Maybe this is a topic to move offline to the Insiders, too.)

    - Shelley
  • Posted by Blaine Wilkerson on 7/1/2004 at 5:22 PM Author
    kwinters - Thanks for your input! Once again, case studies and clean home page take the lead.

    Shelley - You know, We worked on this several months ago and I designed a few rough draft graphics for MP, but they were never used. I guess they are waiting on the affiliate program or something. So far, after several requests, MP has not provided any graphics or permission to plug their site other than the RSS/Java feeds. Maybe something will happen soon.

    ConversionChronicles- Yep! That was me! I found your article to be very enlightening. Sounds like you guys were in a similar boat; you specialized in conversion but could not get conversion for your own site!

    I have managed to built a healthy business without a website, so it is not necessarily something I am depending on to put food on the table. Rather, it is a necessary element of the mix. It's funny how clients seem to use the presence of a website as some sort of comfort factor. As if having a website means you have been screened and approved legit. Not that anyone has doubted me, but everyone asks. I send them here! LOL!
  • Posted by SteveByrneMarketing on 7/1/2004 at 7:55 PM Accepted
    Hi Blaine,

    WOW, what a great response from the KHE’rs. I printed this post so I could read it at lunch – 14 pages!!!

    Hard to come up with anything not covered above, but I’ll add a few thoughts:

    - free info, yes. maybe interactive tools (verses just roi calculators) examples include a”brand check-up” or a “marketing budget decision maker”. Tools that product non-number results to stimulate thinking
    - case studies, demo of work, a reference system?
    - newspaper stuff -- crossword, trivia, graphic puzzles etc.
    - Instead of traditional newsletter, maybe an in-depth single topic writing, then offer reader feedback

    Mostly restated what’s been said. Can’t wait to see the site

    - Steve
  • Posted by Blaine Wilkerson on 7/2/2004 at 1:51 PM Author
    Cal- I will take you up on your offer as soon as I get to a starting point. Thank You!

    LJW- let's go back to the beginning, You originally stated, "I read through all the above rather quickly but my initial thought at the end was WHY?".

    Please go back and read in detail, then let me know if you change your mind. Thanks.

    The Consultant - Thanks for the links, I'm surprised I didn't get another one of your plagerized article postings! It's nice to see you writing your own posts now!
  • Posted by Blaine Wilkerson on 7/2/2004 at 8:36 PM Author
    Thanks everybody! I will call upon those who offered to help and let everyone know when it's time to preview!

    Outstanding responses!
  • Posted by Blaine Wilkerson on 7/2/2004 at 10:07 PM Author
    LJW Why do I want a website? Well, you answered it for me. I want one to give my clients and propective clients a way to know more about me, the business, how to contact me, download/print forms, needs analysis, price lists, etc.

    In addition, I would like to have a website in order to add to the mix...somewhere for "people who don't know me" to find when looking for a particular service.

    Everyone, including my clients, seem to suggest multiple websites...one for each purpose. I was hoping to have one that covers all the bases but it may be too broad.

    At any rate, thank you for responding and making me state why I want a website. I'll ask Val to send you some points.

    Thanks again!
  • Posted by Blaine Wilkerson on 7/3/2004 at 11:19 AM Author
    Yeah ,William Arruda is awesome! I subscribe to his newsletter as well.

    Thanks again!
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