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DaBrian Marketing Group Designs Local Coffee Shop’s Website

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DaBrian Marketing Group Designs Local Coffee Shop, American Coffee House, Ecommerce Website

Reading, PA-based American Coffee House has selected full-service digital marketing agency DaBrian Marketing Group, LLC to design and develop its company’s ecommerce website.

american-coffee-house-logo

American Coffee House is situated in the heart of downtown Reading, PA. They provide their café menu items with the freshest ingredients hand-picked from our talented local vendors. They have over 29 years of coffee experience, and they work to bring a smile to their customers and provide a warm environment to share with your family and ours.

Jennifer Kovacs, from American Coffee House stated, that “DaBrian Marketing Group is a wonderful company to do business with, they kept us informed of every step and created a fantastic website for our company.”

The new American Coffee House website can be found at americancoffeehouse.org

Outdated Hardware and/or Software Affect Internet Browsing

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Your Outdated Device Will Affect Internet Browsing

There are a lot of factors that will affect internet browsing and assist in allowing a website to show correctly. Two factors that people tend to overlook are outdated devices and software updates. These two factors don’t stop your device from working, however, they can affect your browsing experience in negative ways. What might seem like a small, or not needed update might be a critical factor affecting your browsing experience whether it be on your Android Smartphone, iPhone or your computer.

During testing one of our client’s website, there were issues with how the site rendered on their iPhone. They were having issues with how some elements on the page were appearing. As most of our clients would do, they turned to us for answers. After hours of thorough mission critical updates that were directly related to their poor browsing experience, we advised them to update their device’s software and that resolved the issues for most. Others weren’t so fortunate however, they had to upgrade or purchase a new device because of outdated hardware.

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Image from the following blog: Browser usage between March 2014 – March 2015

According to Circle Studio, Internet Explorer is the 3rd, 4th, and 5th most popular browser being used today. The problem with this is that 2 of the 3 Internet Explorer browsers (versions 8 & 9) are no longer supported because of their inability to render HTML5 code which is the new standard for creating websites. Now do you see the problem with using outdated browsers?

outdated browser
Fig 1. A website in Internet Explorer 8. Not what you thought. Everything else is updated. To view the correct display of this website, see figure 2 below.

Why it matters to you?

Have you ever browsed the internet and stumbled onto a site that had jumbled text or graphics? Did it look anything like Figure 1? If not, congratulations your device’s hardware and software are most likely up to date. If you did see something like Figure 1, then the hardware or software of your device might be outdated and needs to be updated. This can be an issue not only for your company when you are trying to market your website but it can also be an issue if people are trying to get to your site. If these potential customers do need to update their device’s hardware or software, they might find your website hard to use if they are on an outdated browser. Another reason this is an issue is because most people surfing the web are using outdated browsers; about 14.5% of those are using a previous version of their current browser, and 8.5% are using, even more, outdated versions. So let’s resolve this issue.

updated browser
Fig 2. Same site as Figure 1. On IE11, the latest software and updated hardware.

How to resolve the issue

One way (highly recommended) is to take your device to a professional like your IT tech or a local computer shop and they will update the software on your device. If your device is utilizing Microsoft XP or Vista operating systems then it is time to get a new device as they are no longer supported. Below are some general guidelines to assure your internet poor browsing experience is rectified:
  1. Schedule regular operating system and software updates.
  2. Make sure you’re using the latest browser versions
  3. When a new Windows Operating System is released, your hardware is out of date. Time to get a new computer.
Do you have any questions regarding updating your computer? Leave a comment below or Contact Us today!

DaBrian Marketing Designs A Local Holiday Tradition’s Website

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DaBrian Marketing Group Designs Website for Reading's Christmas On The Mountain

Digital Marketing Agency, DaBrian Marketing Group, has donated their time to construct a new website for the popular Reading holiday tradition, Christmas on the Mountain.

For 24 years, the Hillside Playground Association has transformed Hillside Playground (located on North 14th street in the city of Reading) into a Christmas attraction for all. It has become affectionately known as Reading’s “Christmas on the Mountain”.

This summer the Association disbanded and announced the end of their operations. When Savage 61 General Manager Tim Profit, saw the news, he knew he wanted to do something and was going to try and keep the tradition alive. He contacted local businesses, and DaBrian Marketing Group’s, CEO and President, Daniel Laws, to help Reading’s Christmas on the Mountain reach its 25th year.

DaBrian Marketing Group, along with the local community, the Reading High School Marine Corps JROTC, and a list of other companies have donated their support to the cause. Reading’s Christmas on the Mountain is set to open on November 29th, 2015 and will continue until January 1, 2016.

Tim Profit was overjoyed with the website and said, “It’s almost hard to believe DaBrian Marketing is a small business in our community. You think you are working with a fortune 500 company when dealing with them.”

The new Reading’s Christmas On The Mountain website can be found at readingchristmas.com

About DaBrian Marketing Group, LLC

Founded in 2008, DaBrian Marketing Group, LLC is a full-service digital marketing agency focused on providing marketing solutions to businesses that want to obtain digital awareness, cultivate meaningful customer relationships, and develop innovative strategies. DaBrian Marketing Group’s services include email marketing, search engine optimization, website design, web analytics, social media marketing and more. Company headquarters are centrally located at 500 Penn Street, Suite 201, Reading, Pennsylvania 19602. For more information about DaBrian Marketing Group, visit dabrianmarketing.com or call 610.743.5602.

How Mobile Friendly Design Impacts Your Website

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Why Should Your Site Be Mobile Friendly?

It is no secret that mobile usage has grown in recent years. Over 20% of Google searches are done on mobile devices, and 25% of internet users conduct their online search on only mobile devices. If your site isn’t mobile, do you think it will still show up in the search results? Google updated their search algorithm back in April. Mobile users that use Google, with Google being the most popular search engine, will only see mobile friendly sites. If your site is not mobile, you will not appear in theses results. To read more about the Google algorithm change, check out our blog on it.

Why Mobile Design Matters

So what does all that mean for your business? If your site is not mobile-friendly, you’re completely missing at least 1/4th of potential customers. According to Think with Google, 94% of Americans with smartphones search for local information on mobile. Meaning you’re missing even more potential customers as well as your current customers are having a bad user experience by not being able to find you.

Users will look at products on mobile devices and revisit later on their desktop hoping their shopping cart is synced. The longer it takes for them to check out the more likely they will not complete the sale. In a study by MediaPost, 48% of shoppers that use their phone said that “ease of use” is the most important quality they look for on a mobile site.

bad mobile
Horizontal scrolling, mismatch of colors, forms too small. What not to do.
mobile friendly
Only need to scroll down. Menu stays at the top as you scroll. This is all good.

What To Consider When Designing For Mobile

You want to go mobile friendly now but not sure what to consider. For starters, any buttons and links should be big enough for anyone’s thumb to click and not have issues. Meaning, it needs to be fairly big. Your “Contact Us” form is the same way as the user needs to interact with it. If it is too small, when they click on one thing they will get a different option making them frustrated and have them potentially leave your site.

If a user is on their mobile phone, chances are they are hunting for something specific and your site can only be 1 column. Get rid of excess and unneeded info / elements. For example, if you have a sidebar on every page with info like a form for them to fill out, blog options, register options, it’s best practice to get rid of them for mobile. You don’t need to shorten your content at all, you’re just making all the useful information easier to find.

Got questions about mobile first design? Ask away in the comments below!

Commercial vs Open Source CMS

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What is a Content Management System (CMS)?

A content management system (CMS) is an interface that a user can log into and allows publishing, editing and modifying content, organizing, and deleting as well as maintenance from a central interface. Such systems of content management provide procedures to manage workflow in a collaborative environment. It also allows you to do all of that in an environment that does not require you to know code. Open Source Content Management Systems account for roughly 50% of all websites that exist. There are lots of different kinds of Content Management Systems, but we will be talking about 2 different kinds that most, if not, all Content Management Systems fall under.

What is a Commercial Content Management System?

Commercial refers to being the opposite of free to use, meaning you must pay to use the software. For example, when you buy “Microsoft Office Word” you can’t edit the code to modify it. Depending on how you look at it, it can be a good or bad thing. Using commercial software always means you must use their software and use what they provide and that nothing else is compatible with it other than what they offer. For example, if you wanted to integrate Salesforce with your site, chances are you wouldn’t be able to because the features most likely would not be there.

What is Open Source Content Management System?

Open source refers to that anyone can use it for free. Most times you are able to literally open it up and edit their code and modify it as you like. Depending how extensive the changes are, you could release those changes as an attachment / plugin for free or paid. The big factor in using an open source Content Management System is that it has the backing of a community, and if you want something, chances are you can find a plugin / attachment that is already made and tested and that gives you the functionality that you want. Now that we know what they are, let’s get down to what the differences actually are.

Advantages of Using Open Source CMS

Let’s start off with the advantages of open source Content Management Systems (CMS). There are a lot of advantages, but we are going to focus on some of the main topics on why users usually choose to use open source. Since open source is free to use, that is probably the biggest reason anyone uses it. Another reason is that it is backed by a community of users that regularly provide support / updates / help on the software to achieve your end goal. Another advantage of open source it that anyone can make changes to it so that means you can customize it to fit your different needs making it more flexible.

A big reason why users usually use open source is because they have a lot of other software they want to work with their site. Security is usually a big concern and often a misconception that open source does not mean secure. If your site is in the right hands, than it can be made as secure as commercial software.

popular open source CMS’s (wordpress, drupal)
Popular open source CMS (WordPress, Drupal)

Advantages of Using Commercial CMS

The main reason a company wants to use commercial software is because they are worried about security, which is a good concern. Commercial definitely has you secure from the start. That is something you don’t need to worry about. Since it is developed by only 1 company and not a community it often has a  clearer path of where the software is going and what it will include next. Since the software is developed by one company that means they have a definite line of support for you to reach.

Conclusion

That was a brief overview of the differences of commercial Content Management Systems (CMS) and open source Content Management Systems (CMS). Commercial Content Management System usually is the choice if you want assurance of security and support. If you are looking for a cheaper option, you can go with Open Source Content Management System (CMS). It can be as secure as a Commercial CMS, plenty of integrations, community support and best of all it’s free!

Which Content Management System do you prefer to use if you use one? Fire in the comments below!

5 Best Practices for Better B2B Website User Experience

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It’s generally a good idea to start your web design project using best practices, especially if you haven’t accumulated any data to support a specific design change, or direction. Remember that you shouldn’t end your design solely implementing best practice solutions; however, you should use the data feedback, by use of analytics, to optimize and improve user experience. Here are five effective best practices that can help you get started.

1. Make Your Navigation and Visitors Location on the Site Highly Visible

Users should know where they were, and where they are on your site. This can be accomplished using elements like breadcrumbs, page-headers, highlighted menu options, progress bars, thank you and confirmation pages. Not using these elements can cause an unhappy user experience when they try to navigate deeper into your website or try to navigate through a purchasing process.  Always remember that creating a smooth and comfortable user experience is your ultimate goal when designing your B2B website.

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Showing active navigation links, page header, and breadcrumb implementation.

2. Match Your Content to Real World Language by Eliminating Jargon

The language used on B2B websites should be familiar to the visitor rather than using industry specific terms or jargon. Using jargon, or language that is too technical to comprehend can create a disconnect with the visitor. To find out what words and phrases your website visitors are using it’s best to do a little keyword research. This will help you define how you go after potential customers or leads using language they are comfortable with.

3. Allow Total User Control and Freedom From Automated Processes

Simply put, eliminate anything that takes control out of the user’s hands. If not implemented correctly, elements such as popups, auto-play videos, and automatic carousels can cause lack of user control and freedom, hence creating a bad user experience. If the user doesn’t want to subscribe to a newsletter popup, or watch a demo video they should have a way of exiting or navigating away from that element without any complications.

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Showing a popup giving the user a way to exit without complications.

4. Create Your B2B Website Using a Minimalistic Design Approach

For the past several years, taking a minimalist approach seems to be the most effective way to create a B2B website. In a study conducted by Google, it was scientifically proven that minimalist design are more appealing to buyers. In addition, an effective use of white space can clearly guide buyers to the important sections of information. Cluttered websites don’t effectively allow this to happen and that’s why it is best to focus on the important information visitors are looking for.

5. Offer Solutions and Help Documentation

If designed correctly, your website shouldn’t need much of this best practice solution. However, offering help solutions is a big plus. Help solutions such as live chat pop-ups, FAQ’s, pricing tables, and microcopy, which are little words or phrases that enhance the subscription or buying process that helps to reduce friction and get people taking action. Usually, if you submit a form without the required information being entered, you may receive a prompt in the form of microcopy letting you know that the information for that field is needed to submit the form request.

Conclusion

Whether you are creating a new website, redesigning, or just optimizing an existing one, utilizing best practices will offer a great peace of mind. Although the best practices mentioned aren’t actual principles or laws of web design, they provide a good starting point in most cases. Also, remember that these best practices are backed by data which support their effectiveness.

What other B2B website best practices do you recommend not mentioned in the blog? Please provide your comments below.