In Defense of the Facebook Like

It’s become popular to write articles ragging on the merits of counting Likes on Facebook.  To be perfectly honest, this post started off just that way.  And while there’s certainly a need to look beyond the Like when evaluating your success in your use of Facebook, they really aren’t as bad as we all make them out to be.

While you should be setting a variety of goals outside of purely raising a following, let’s not forget some of the ways that a user Liking your page can help your organization. Read more

Open Links in a New Window – Why and How

Wait, where’d it go?!  It was just here!

These are phrases you never want users of your website to think.  But when a user clicks a link on your site and is kicked to a third party site without opening a new window or tab, you’re setting them up for frustration.

Here are some tips on when you should open links in a new window and how to do it on your website. Read more

Website Goals: Why They Matter and How to Set ‘Em

Chances are if you have a website you want it to be a good one (at least we’ll assume that’s the case since you’re on a web design company’s website).  But what does the amorphous term “good website” really mean.  The annoying but true answer is that all depends on what you want your website to do.

But before you scoff and roll your eyes at this apparent non-answer, hold up.  While I can’t tell you without specifics what success means on your site, I can tell you setting website goals will ultimately help you measure whether or not you have an effective website that is helping your organization in a meaningful way.  But first let’s talk about why you should care. Read more

Writing Copy for Humans and Robots

Our great website company will make a great website for your company and ensure that you have a great website to meet your needs.

Uh, what?

I can already picture the blank stare and furrowed brow I’d give someone that said something like that to me.  And yet we come across content like this all the time online.  Well, maybe not quite this bad.  But close. Read more

Storytelling: An Important Part of Any Website

“What’s your story?”  This relatively simple question can be surprisingly tough to answer.

But it’s this very question that a visitor to your website thinks when they land on your site.  Sure they want you to solve their problems.  But there are likely plenty of other people that can solve their problems.  When a visitor is deciding why to hire, donate to or get in touch with you over everyone else, they’re not looking for a slick slogan or sales gimmick.  They’re looking for your story. Read more

5 Tips to Write Better Blog Titles

Just because you build it doesn’t mean anyone’s going to come.  Yeah, it worked for that farmer in Iowa, but all he did was plow under his corn and summon some dead baseball legends.  In the vastness of the internet, there’s a lot of great content that never gets seen.

While there’s no guarantee that writing better titles for your blog will lead to an influx of visitors, it definitely doesn’t hurt.  Here are five tips to help you write better titles for your blog posts. Read more

Bringing Authenticity to Web Copy

For a moment let’s revisit that age-old advice given by career counselors on college campuses all across the country just before big interviews: just be yourself.

We get it.  It’s easier said than done.  But that doesn’t mean it’s untrue.  That same sagely advice is pertinent as you approach the way you represent yourself and your organization in your web copy.  There are likely numerous other folks that do something (or at least claim to do something) similar to what you’re doing.  But there aren’t any others out there that are exactly the same as you.  And that can be a huge asset to you.

Here are a few tips to help you bring authenticity to your web copy. Read more

5 Tips to Disagree in Comments More Productively

Maybe you’ve just come across a terrible post.  Maybe you’re just in an awful mood on this particular morning.  We’ve all been there.  You’ve read something online that’s so bad it’s moved you to action.  The words of opposition pour effortlessly from your fingertips.

But before you start ripping on the author’s worthlessness, take a deep breath.  Offering a dissenting opinion is a great way to push the discourse forward, but there are a few things to keep in mind to turn that angry rant into something productive. Read more

4 Simple Ways to Write Better Headings

I’m a flighty Internet surfer.  When I read content online, I have a very short attention span.  I tend to scan through articles and open at least ten times as many webpages as I actually take the time to read in their entirety.

But I know I’m not alone.  We, the surfers of the web, are a flighty group.  And our lack of willingness to devote all of our attention can’t be stopped, it can only be contained.  That’s where headings come in. Read more

The Best Way to Be Heard? Provide Value

Here’s a cold, hard fact about the Internet: anyone can say anything.  There is no lie detector for the content you post up.  You can say you are awesome on your website and you very well may be.  But there are plenty of people, products and organizations out there that claim to be fantastic when in actuality they’re junk. Read more