The Escape Blog...

The chances are your business card will be the first physical item that you will give to a new client, customer or prospect. You’ve probably talked a few times and looked at eachothers websites but in terms of something to hold on to, it’s likely to be the card. So, what does yours say about you? What differentiates who you are from all the others doing what you do? The ReEncoded website showcases the value a little extra creative thought can bring to making ‘you’ the person, service or business everyone remembers above and beyond the competition. At the Escape we include personal details on our cards… our favourite album, movie, book and website. It helps our clients get to know us and expresses our personality. I believe there is real value in this approach and it is something I am keen to make our clients more aware of and help them embrace. Its a fact that first impressions last, why not let creativity ensure its a memorable one?

I am currently evaluating our interior decoration and on my quest to see whats new and whats happening out there, I came across the coolhunter website. Its rapidly turned into a great source of inspiration, not just for my current project, but for those times when you need a little something to trigger an idea. It showcases just about every creative medium you could imagine, from packaging to art, gadgets, fashion and much more. Definitely my ‘find of the month’…

Most website owners recognise the value of good website content yet this appreciation can often occur when they are visiting websites other than their own.

So how does your website compare? Do you think you’ve got good website content?

To find out, ask yourself the following 5 questions:

1. Is your website content relevant and meaningful to your target audience or is it mainly spin and waffle?
2. Is your website content clear and digestible to your target audience or do they just switch off and go away?
3. Is your website content engaging and informative to your target audience or does it offer little emotional or educational value?
4. Is your website content too technical or complex for your target audience resulting in uncertainty or confusion?
5. Is your website content wedged between blocks of irrelevant or unrelated information making it difficult to find or understand?

If any of these questions describe the written content on your website, then perhaps you need to look at ways to make your information more accessible and more valuable to your audience.

Bear in mind that for your website content to carry greater weight for both site visitors and Web ‘bots, it’s all down to its MERIT.

In other words, make your website content Memorable, Engaging, Relevant, Informative and Targeted.

Quick Online Tips is a portal site offering users the chance to make life on line a little simpler with all sorts of information and tool downloads. The popular page has lists and tips on web 2.0 tools, blogging, Google adsense and Firefox to name just a few.

There are two very good reasons why viral marketing can work well for businesses of any size.

Firstly, people are less trusting of ads than they are of  their family, friends or members of on-line communities. And secondly, viral marketing is cheap since the cost is in the idea, not the promotion.

The key to viral marketing success lies fundamentally in the idea so the end product must therefore be something really worth talking about in order for your brand or products to be endorsed optimally.

Use the following as a guide to establishing a concept for your campaigns and for getting your message out.

1. You’ve got to laugh! Use humour in your campaigns as it has universal appeal, spreads very quickly and leaves a positive association.
2. Know your onions! Demonstrate your knowledge by being a resource that educates and informs.
3. Start a debate! Offer a friendly challenge. Done well, this can help gain respect for your brand, services or products.
4. The best things in life! Offer free things. Use caution here by only attracting ‘key influencers’ as this may impact your budget.
5. Fish where the fish are! Find out where your target market hangs out such as social networking sites, discussion forums and blogs.
6. Shout from the rooftops! Getting the word out (seeding) can be done initially by e-mailing family, friends and colleagues or by finding websites, forums and blogs related to your topic.
7. Tools for the job! Get ad space without buying an ad. For example, insert widgets on your blog or web pages that link to your videos on YouTube or your pictures on Flickr.

And finally. Remember that ideas spread because they are important to the spreader, not the originator.

Need some inspiration? See some top quality, big brand viral marketing videos.

Came across a story today on the trusty BBC site and my eye was caught by bubble.us. It’s a very simple and totally free web application that let’s you brainstorm online. Funky.