Posts Tagged ‘Web Site Trends’

I recently read a story about the demise of PR firms in our local Sunday paper. The article discussed how PR firms need to keep up with times and are slowly closing shop, due in large part because they can’t keep up with new technology and the ever changing marketing world.

We get the “has YOUR business changed?” question a lot and the obvious answer is “yes.”

In fact, to showcase how our business has changed since we started back in 1985 as a PR firm, (and I should note that we are now a marketing communication firm) below are ten marketing tools I have discussed with various clients in various industries in the past 24 hours.

1) SMS Marketing — Remember when you wouldn’t give out your email to any company wishing to sign up for their service? Fast forward ten years and welcome to the world of SMS marketing. Giving out your cell number to any company, giving that company permission to text your phone is a tough call.  Companies engaging in SMS marketing need to make sure your content is relevant, timely and usable to the end user.

2) QR Codes — Are we really that lazy? Yes! When it comes to marketing, automating “calls to action” and saving your potential or existing target audience time can be the difference between gaining and losing a long-term customer.

3) Blogs — SEO. That’s really all there is to say. If you aren’t blogging, start. Content is still king.

4) Video on websites — Yes, the world has changed. We no longer have the time to read 1999 websites with loads of text. Sure content is still king for SEO, but video can be dual- effect of telling your story visually and enhancing SEO.

5) Media Relations  — The Indianapolis Home Show will be kicking off their 90th edition at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in 2012. The show will be bigger and better than before. Stay tuned for more details.

6) Printed Brochures — Printed brochures still can have a powerful effect on potential customers. Sure we live in a digital world, but the sense of touch is still alive and kicking.

7) Customized Demographic Online Banner Advertising — No longer do you have to place a banner on a specific site, hoping the ad will have some impact on your target audience. Are you targeting mothers with babies, making over 75k and living in Zip Code 46220? The solution is customized demographic online banner advertising.

Word of Mouth Marketing — It happens everyday, but how should companies track it.? And what are evangelists and how do companies identify this group? Coles Marketing is one of the only firms in Indiana trained in effective Word of Mouth Marketing. It’s a proven method that yields results for our clients and companies around the world.

9) An On-Hold Greeting — Call it old fashion, but a recorded phone greeting can be the first impression of your company. Whether your recording your message or answering the phone; be polite, informative and enthusiastic.

10) Billboard Advertising — A proven method of branding your company. Be short and grab their attention. Remember the average driver has 3 seconds to take in your message. There is nothing worse than driving by a billboard crammed with information. Save it for a print ad!

As a marketing firm, we have more tools in our toolbox than ever before. I wouldn’t call that “demise,” I  call it “opportunity.” And we certainly couldn’t keep up with these changing times without having a dedicated and talented staff ,working together to keep our clients top of mind.

Wait…. 2010 is already here.  But it is not too late to incorporate some of these trends into your web site.

Click on the link below to find out web design trends for 2010.

http://www.graphicdesignpro.net/2009/11/web-design-trends-for-2010/