Blog
Google+ Redesign: Big Fat Belly Flop
Google+ was already kind of a mess. Then they redesigned it and made it even worse. The Roundpeg team has some pretty strong opinions on the redesign. Allison Why is every website now trying to Pinterest? Mashable, Etsy and now Google+ are all jumping onto a layout with big pictures arranged three or four abreast. That layout, with stories and pictures in individual pods arranged in rows, works great for Pinterest. But not every freaking site is Pinterest! Google used to be a leader, but lately all it seems to be doing is following. Copying...
read moreBlog Comments and Pingbacks Explained
A pingback is very similar to a wombat. Both are tiny and mostly harmless. And should you run across one, you may not know what to do with it. Same thing with blog comments. Unless your blog is wildly popular, you may not get even one comment in a month of posts. If you’re getting started blogging, you should know the basics of comment (and pingback) moderation for when you do see one in the wild. Here’s a quick primer on these two related kinds of blog post feedback. Pingbacks and comments are similar in principle. They’re...
read moreGetting the Right Kind of Twitter Followers
Let’s play Twitter fact or fiction for minute: you need 15,000 followers to be successful on Twitter. It’s fiction. There are social media “experts” out there who would have you believe that is a fact. Then they’ll take your money and give you 15,000 followers in return overnight! Those new 15,000 followers you got overnight aren’t following you because they’re interested in your business. Empty numbers are like empty calories – they look good and taste good, but they hurt way more than they...
read moreStop Worrying About The Fold
There’s an old rule says all website content should be placed above a mysterious, invisible line. Never to be crossed, this line marks the zone below which nobody scrolls. If you’ve done web design, you’re familiar with this dreaded territory and clients’ requests to keep it all “above the fold.” Designers sometimes fear that calls-to-action and content located below the fold will go unseen on small screens. And clients ask for calls-to-action placed high up on the page, pushed right to the top. As if users...
read moreFiguring Out AdWords
When you buy an app for your phone, you’re usually presented with a couple of options. The free version typically contains ads and fewer bells and whistles than the paid version. I always go for the free version first to make sure it’s an app I’ll use. The free version of Angry Birds is a perfect example. I got the free version thinking I’d play it once and delete it. Boy was I wrong. The game was so much fun and addictive, I blew through the levels available and got hooked enough I had to have the paid version. In the...
read moreRecipe for Success
Think of your five favorite foods. Now imagine pouring them all into a bowl and mixing them up. Unless your favorite foods are ice cream, chocolate syrup and ice cream toppings, (or you happen to be Buddy the elf) this combination probably doesn’t sound appetizing anymore, does it? That’s because all those ingredients, while delicious on their own, don’t necessarily complement each other. This same idea can be applied to design. There are many different ingredients or styles and techniques to choose from, but trying to use...
read moreConfessions of a Social Networking Junkie
My addiction to social networks started like many addictions with casual use. I created profiles on Plaxo and LinkedIn and started connecting with friends. I slowly moved on to creating my own content on Squidoo and Blogger and sharing images on Flickr. I enjoyed the interaction, and with a profile on SmallerIndiana, I discovered how social and face-to-face networking worked together. I was hooked. Profiles on FriendFeed, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube followed in rapid succession. Just a few minutes a day to update or check in on each of...
read moreThere Is Always a Community
Rule 34 states that if a thing exists anywhere in the universe, there is a porn version of that thing. The necessary corollary, which we’ll call Rule 35 because why not, is that if a thing exists, there must be a community that is built around that thing. If you can find a way to tap into that community, you can make great marketing happen. Not sure what I’m talking about? Let me give you an example. I have a friend of a friend who is obsessed with multitools. While these tools are useful, I’ve never given them much...
read moreAt the Front of the Pack
It’s May, my favorite month in Indy. The temperature is perfect, the rain has stopped, the flowers are in bloom, and the cars are on the track. Yes, it is true, I am a race geek. I love the cars, the drivers, the back story and the history. I have a favorite spot high in turn one for qualifications, and there is nothing quite like the feeling when you hear Mari Hulman George squeak out, “ladies and gentleman start your engines!” Watching the race each year, one thing is obvious: winning teams can’t sit on their...
read moreHow Does Print Fit in a Social World?
Today’s guest post is from Katherine Tattersfield, social media manager for PrintFirm.com. I have a confession to make. When I first started working as the online marketing director for a commercial printing company, I felt a strong sense of irony. Since my background is strictly digital, I spent the early days of career trying to convince small business owners to abandon the printing ship for good. I wrote articles mocking print ads for their high costs and antiquated approach to outreach. My marketing game plan revolved around...
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