Redesign for Recycling
One of the things I enjoy about my job is the chance to stretch my skills to achieve ideal results for my clients. Recently, I had another an opportunity to do just that, as I constructed a web site for Karle Enviro Organic Recycling, an industry leader in bio solids management.
The majority of our clients are comprised of companies offering consumer products and business services. As an industrial company, Karle Enviro presented some interesting challenges. We couldn’t fall back on the same sources for stock photography since IStock doesn’t have a wide assortment of images of industrial waste so Taylor stepped up to the challenge by building attractive banners which brought a bit of life to each page.
Karle Enviro has locations in both Indiana and Florida. While they are part of the same parent, the two units operate independently, with slightly different service offerings. They wanted to be able to benefit from a single primary domain to improve their search visibility, while still presenting distinct faces to their clients. Our solution was to create essentially three sites in one. The primary URL drives visitors to a landing page with a brief overview of the company and two large buttons driving visitors to either the Indiana or Florida sub domain. All three sites have a similar look and feel as visitors move seamlessly from one to the other. However the banners have been modified to feature local phone numbers and contact information.
Beyond the look of any site, are the words. Karle Enviro’s work requires such a high-level of expertise and we needed to support that image with intelligent, factual copy. Luckily, the client was patient as we worked together to formulate strong, engaging copy. I was lucky to have Allison around in this regard.
Karle Enviro is proud of their new robust, functional site, and so are we. This project gave me the opportunity the think in new ways and discover new tricks in web design. I couldn’t be happier about that (or my newly-acquired organic recycling knowledge).
To see the new site, simply visit the Karle Enviro Main Page.
Is Your Storefront Customer Friendly?
I started my professional career in a retail environment; first on the sales floor, then as a buyer. I learned all phases of the sales cycle. How to”
- Create advertising which drove people in the door
- Arrange displays and signs to capture the attention of shoppers and lead them deeper into the department
- Approach shoppers, offer suggestions, upsell,and get the sale
- Manage returns and customer satisfaction issues.
Thirty years later (yes it really has been thirty years) I apply all those same skills to web design .
- Instead of print and radio I help clients create internet advertising to drive people to the site. Targeted messages, intriguing offers and attractive graphics still move people to action.
- Instead of paying attention to displays, I focus on navigation, and page features. Where to place graphics, and how large the graphics should be is an integral part of site design. As a sales manager, I carefully placed items which might sell together next to each other. I use related links to other parts of the site, which bring visitors deeper and deeper into the content
- Special offers and conversion forms allow you to connect with customers, identifying specific interests to you can ” find a belt to match their dress” .
- Today it is easier then ever to monitor customer opinion, through surveys and feedback forms.
Same skills, different applications, so when I am stumped for an idea to finish out a web project, I simply walk the aisles in a retail shop. Of course, I usually have to buy something too.
Roundpeg Radio is Old Hat…
This week our “Oldies Theme” was inspired by several completely unrelated events.
- @BgKahuna and @ChuckGose discussing the reunion concert tour of boy bands : New Kids on the Block and Back Street Boys. An event Chuck thought perhaps was the sign of the apocalypse: http://ow.ly/2rXPp
- A humorous video link sent from @aballstudio of how songs should be rewritten as rock stars age http://biggeekdad.com/2010/06/old-rock-stars
- And @allisonlcarter’s link to the Beloit College Mindset List – which just really made me feel old.
So this week we are looking for your favorite “Oldies” songs. What classifies as Oldies? You decide! We’ll start off at 10 am with a few really old style rock and roll to get the day going, but the rest of the day is up to you.
As always we will be live until 3 PM today. Then play list will be up all week. So send your song requests to @roundpegradio.
NOTE: The widget takes a minute to load, and you’ll have to refresh to see the new songs. Make sure your speakers are on!
Are You Attractive?
As I get ready to head out to BlogIndiana, where I will get to hang out with some of Indy’s top bloggers, (and some of my favorite people) I can’t help but think about why I like these folks on and off line.
When it comes to attraction on or off-line, what makes someone attractive? The next time you go to a party look around the room. Interesting, confident people are usually the center of attention.
How does this translate to your on-line presence? Write interesting content and share it with confidence. Get the conversation started with a simple post on Twitter, Facebook or Linked in to let your followers know you have something new to share. Then let your readers find you.
It is frustrating when you write a good post and no one comes to read it. (I have written hundreds of unread posts.) How do you deal with the lack of response? Hint: Don’t email a link to everyone you know. Simply write another good post. With enough good content on your website, the readers will come.
And one final thought, in addition to interesting people, the other very popular folks at any party are the good listeners. So spend some time listening as well by asking good questions.
Who are the most attractive people you know?
Social Media Survey: Final Results
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been revealing the results of our social media survey. We had a great response and lots of interesting insight into how small businesses are making use of social media in their businesses. Now, we’ve compiled all of the results into one in-depth white paper.
Fill out the form below to download your FREE copy, and we’ll also enroll you in Social Media 101. (You can opt out of the online course at any time.)
Thanks to everyone who participated in this survey–there are more on the way, so stay tuned!
It takes a few minutes for the PDF to load after you hit the submit button, so please be patient.
Techno Salute!
Roundpeg Radio is possible because of advances in technology. Today, the ability to “be a DJ” isn’t limited to a few people in a radio station, anyone can be one. Especially if they have a great group of listeners like ours who are always sending us their suggestions!
So this week, we are looking for your favorite “tech” songs. Techno music and tech themes are terrific.
We will be kicking off at 10 am with with “Blinded by Science” What should we play next?
As always we will be live until 3 PM today. Then play list will be up all week. So send your song requests to @roundpegradio. And although our interns will be gone, Roundpeg Radio will live on. So be sure to come back next Friday too, when our musical theme is technology.
NOTE: The widget takes a minute to load, and you’ll have to refresh to see the new songs. Make sure your speakers are on!
Roundpeg Radio – Time to Say Goodbye!
As the summer starts to wind down ( I know it is stil well into the 90′s) but it is time for kids to head back to school. And the back-to-school crowd includes three of our interns.
As Jay mentioned in his post earlier this week, these extremely talented individuals will leave their mark on Roundpeg, and I hope we will leave a mark with them as well.
So in honor of their departure, this this week Roundpeg Radio is dedicated to Kelly, Dan and Emily. Our theme is songs of greetings and fairwell.
We will kick off the day with American Pie, and Hello/Goodbye by the Beatles. What would you like to have us add to the list?
We will be live until 3 PM today. Then play list will be up all week. So send your song requests to @roundpegradio. And although our interns will be gone, Roundpeg Radio will live on. So be sure to come back next Friday too, when our musical theme is technology.
NOTE: The widget takes a minute to load, and you’ll have to refresh to see the new songs. Make sure your speakers are on!
All Things Marketing: Engage Visitors
When someone walks into a store, a good salesperson greets the visitor and offers to help. The same is true for a good website. While you don’t often have a person, you should have a process to “greet” and direct visitors to the right place on your site.
This process should include a way to engage visitors, collect their name and email address so you can convert them from a random stranger into a prospect.
This topic of conversion was part of the discussion at the All Things Marketing event last spring. Here is a short excerpt of that discussion.
Sweet Dreams from Roundpeg Radio
This has been a crazy week at Roundpeg. We have had to deal with trying to wrap up lots of projects before the end of the month, technical glitches which slowed us down, changes in equipment to run the office, and lots of interesting new assignments. After a long week, we all need a rest coming in to the weekend
So this week we thought we would look for songs about rest, vacations and dreams. Ok so some of us also saw Inception, so weird dreams are in the back of our minds .
We are going to kick off with Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics to get us in the mood. Then we will be live until 3 PM today , and the play list will be up all week. Send send your song requests to @roundpegradio.
NOTE: The widget takes a minute to load, and you’ll have to refresh to see the new songs. Make sure your speakers are on!
Driving Roundpeg Radio
This is the eighth installment of Roundpeg Radio. What started as a fun experiment is now a regular part of our Friday routine.
So here we go again! We will be live till 3 PM today, and the play list will be up all week so send your song requests to @roundpegradio.
With the Brickyard 400 this weekend it seems fitting to dedicate today to songs about cars, speed and motion. Do you have something you would like to hear? Just tweet your song request to @roundpegradio, or to any of the Roundpeg crew, and we’ll add your song to the list.
NOTE: The widget takes a minute to load, and you’ll have to refresh to see the new songs. Make sure your speakers are on!
