An 80’s Looking Website Isn’t so Groovy!

An 80’s Looking Website Isn’t so Groovy!

By Yetta Blair

You may be asking yourself, can I run a business and not have an updated looking website?  The answer is yes.  It’s obvious that you can run a business without an updated website. Some companies run their business without having any website. But investing in a well designed, well thought out website can definitely help your business generate more leads, increase sales and be more successful.

An up to date, modern looking web presence is good for any business.  It reflects your brand. It shows your customers you care about details and you care about staying up to date in the market.  Updating your website creates a buzz and can bring fresh energy to your business. Just as you would make an investment in traditional advertising, the company phone and your printed brochure, the investment in a website will bring you tangible and intangible benefits.

Having a professional web presence on the Internet is good for your existing customers, potential customers, employees and partners. An attractive looking website will encourage visitors to stay longer on your website giving them an opportunity to know more about your products or services – potentially increasing sales.  Another reason a successful business needs to update their website is the growing number of mobile users. If your website is not set up to be mobile friendly, it needs to be. Being mobile friendly and up to date will give you a better chance of capturing the attention of mobile customers and improve your SEO and rankings on Google.

Whether a quality website helps you make a good first impression with a new visitor or makes it easier for existing visitors to do business with you, having an effective, up to date, web presence can make your business more successful.  More people than ever are online and the numbers continue to grow exponentially so make sure your business is out there and looking its best.

Mobile-Friendly: Data, Thoughts and Updates

Mobile-Friendly: Data, Thoughts and Updates
By Amber Hyde, Creative Coordinator

Being mobile these days is more than just a fad, it is a trend. It is part of everyday life. According to GlobalWebIndex, “80% of online adults now own a smartphone, while almost 50% have a tablet.” And out of that 80%, 75% use the device to search online. These are huge numbers. Mobile device users will continue and increasingly want access to the web anytime, anywhere. Businesses need to be prepared and adjust their online web presence to meet the changes that come with growing trends, including a big one- Google mobile rankings.

If you’re not one that needs to keep up with new technology trends or the ever-changing Google algorithms, that’s all right, I’m here to fill you in. Google has just recently updated their algorithms and have “made it easier for users to find mobile-friendly web pages” and will be using “mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal.” Google says “ this change will affect mobile searches in all languages worldwide and will have a significant impact in our search results. Consequently, users will find it easier to get relevant, high quality search results that are optimized for their devices.”

So what does this mean for your business and your web presence? This means that when a person is searching on Google for items or your company on their mobile device, if your website is not mobile-friendly, Google will begin to rank it lower in the search results. This will ultimately result in fewer views/clicks on your website. Why would you want that to happen, with 75% of smartphone users searching online on their mobile devices! I say that it is a necessity to go mobile with your website. This can involve simply adding a mobile friendly version to your current website, or going for a full update on your entire website to keep everything fresh, innovative, consistent and to increase your web presence to produce top ranking results in Google, to continually grow your business.

Check here if your site is mobile-friendly!

Ink Publishing and Design 2.0

Last Spring we rolled out a much needed update to our Ink Publishing and Design website. It featured more contemporary design, better functionality and ease of use for our viewers. But, just as fast as technology and business changes, our concepts were changing and we were already thinking about how we could take our website to the next level. This is where we introduce IPD 2.0, which incorporates many of the same design elements and aesthetics, but presents a more polished and refined website than the previous year.

Our main concept for the update was to now present viewers with what they want/need to see, our work. Not only can a potential customer read about what all we have to offer, but they are first and foremost presented with the quality of our design and how we execute those services. 

With IPD 2.0 we also moved to a new building platform, allowing use to control more of the design elements to ultimately provide the look and functionality that we knew we needed! This new platform is not only unique from other platforms that the majority of website designers use, but it is very user friendly and can be used to maximize mobile and tablet design.

We are firm believers that your website is "your marketing director, top sales rep and PR all in one". We encourage everyone to check out the new site, www.inkmagazines.com, and all the marketing and design services we are providing to our clients. And if you have any questions or would like to talk to use about updating your website, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 502.271.1166.

Color Personality Chart

Color Personality Chart|By Amber Hyde 

When working on a design project, whether it be graphic design, website design, or even interior spaces, color is the unifying feature. Color creates an instant subconscious judgment. Every color and every shade creates associations and has a unique personality surrounding it. Created below is a color chart to help you better understand colors and the personalities they associate with. 

For example, take a look at the medical field, they tend to stick with shades of blue, and this is because of its personality of evoking cleanliness and a sense of protection and intelligence! So keep this in mind the next time you are working on a project, and even trying different colors just to see how that affects the overall feel of the work.

Web Design Sticker Shock: Adobe Muse is the Answer

Web design sticker shock: Adobe Muse is the answer 

By Yetta Blair 

You know your business website needs to be updated.  It looks like something built during the 70’s.  Photos, design and colors are all outdated.  You have added new services and products that aren’t represented on your website and staff members who have moved on are still listed as active employees.  But, after contacting a few web design firms you are stuck in sticker shock.  You want your updated site to be professionally designed, creative, cool and fresh, but do not want to spend an arm and a leg doing it. There is a solution.

Find a design firm that offers web sites developed with Adobe Muse.  

Adobe Muse is a very good option for small businesses, medical groups, churches, non-profits, musicians and more, yet few Louisville design firms are offering this option to their clients. 

Adobe Muse is a graphic designer’s web tool.   It is focused on allowing graphic designers to create websites without having to write any code. This saves time and money without sacrificing creativity, and sites being developed with Muse are fresh and unique looking. 

Many small businesses have past experiences with tools that make Web design simple enough for those who aren’t developers. Disgotech and GoDaddy are two that come to mind. These products put Web design in the hands of the masses, but it has quickly become easy to identify a site that is developed using one of these services and by someone without graphic design skills.  One thing about Adobe Muse that stands out to me is that sites designed with Muse are not immediately obvious. 

I do believe there is a time and place for everything and Adobe Muse is not the best option for all website developments.  Some websites may require a developer to use HTML/CSS.  I get that.  The parameters of the project support this type of development. But, there are some projects where the requirements can be met or exceeded using Muse and at a cost savings to the client.  I see that as just smart business.

Muse is the new cool kid on the block and if you are looking for a professionally designed, high quality website at a reasonable price, consider talking to a firm that offers sites designed in Muse.