the blog

It’s been a busy few months and as 2008 draws to a close we still have a few more projects to tie up. In the meantime though, we have recently launched these sites (for more, feel free to browse our portfolio):

RLM PR is a full service PR firm serving clients in a wide range of industries. RLM PR approached us to update their web presence to reflect their professionalism, bold ideas and creative approach. WordPress is used to power the blog and act as the site’s CMS.

James Patterson’s Maximum Read website is targeted at teachers and educators and aimed at helping them encourage children to read. Working with Little, Brown & Company, we developed a fun, easy-to-use website for educators including a message board where they can chat amongst themselves.

Outcasts Unlimited by Warren St. John. A quick micro-site completed for Random House to promote this powerful and inspiring tale.

We work with a lot of publishers and authors so we are pretty well versed in what goes into making a good, and successful, author or book website. One of the standard elements is a link to buy the book(s). Obviously, this is a rather important element too. One thing I’ve noticed on a large number of author sites, however, is a link only to Amazon.com. Now, personally, Amazon is my preference for buying books, DVD’s and CD’s (and come Christmas time, it’s my one-stop shopping spot), but that doesn’t mean an author should ignore the other major players such as Barnes & Noble, Borders (teamed with Amazon), Powells, Waterstones (in the UK) and Booksense - just to name a few.

As an author, it’s a good idea to provide your visitors with various options on where they can purchase your latest bestseller. Make it as easy for them as possible. What we do for our author clients, and what I’d suggest to all authors, is create a page within the site which lists various outlets for purchasing the book. Be sure to include Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Borders, and Waterstones if you are in the UK. An extra call-out on your homepage to this section may be a good idea as well. It doesn’t have to be a loud or obnoxious, but a nicely designed, and well placed button will make it even easier for visitors to get straight to this section, purchase your book and indulge in some quality reading.

It’s amazing how simple communication can make such a great difference. We like to keep in touch with all our clients on a regular basis. We may have multiple projects going on, but we strive to email our clients each week even if it’s just to touch base with them on their project. It really does make all the difference. If I have one word of advice for any new designer or design firm, it’s this: keep communicating with your clients. Whether you have made huge strides on a project, or only had a chance to do something small, let your client know. I find that too many designers and design firms like to shut themselves into their design void and want to just “wow” their client with the final outcome. Although your client may be “wowed” (and that is a “may be”) they will appreciate regular communications with you far more. You may be pleasantly surprised at how open clients are to new ideas and ways to handle their project. Often, once the lines of communication are opened and maintained, better ideas start flowing and as you develop a stronger relationship, you’ll start communicating better and easier with each other.

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