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3 Considerations to Ensure Desktop UX Doesn’t Take a Back Seat To Mobile

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We live in a world that is increasingly obsessed with touch devices ranging from smartphones and tablets to smart refrigerators. As I write this blog Apple’s Tim Cook is showing off their latest and greatest devices and iteration of iOS at their developer’s conference. It is pretty safe to say that touch devices are not only here to stay, but also account for a sizable chunk of the devices being used to browse the web. But what does this mean for user experience on the web?

Ever since we noticed the first increase in mobile traffic, the analytics industry has had the mobile web experience under a microscope.

The share of sessions on mobile and tablet devices continues to increase month over month.

Insights into mobile usage drove (and continue to drive) organizations to experiment with different strategies, ranging from mobile variations of their sites to full-blown mobile applications. These tactics all led to better user experiences on these smaller devices, with quicker load times, easier navigation, and increased levels of overall convenience.

Even with the increase in visitor share that mobile and tablet devices are demonstrating, it is important to ensure that the user experience for traditional browsing devices (desktops and laptops) is not sacrificed or fall to the wayside. Here’s 3 things to consider when weighing investments for mobile and desktop-friendly web designs:

The desktop environment isn't going anywhere for a long time

Contrary to what Microsoft and Apple are saying, the desktop environment is not dying and will never die off completely. They claim that the sales of tablets are outnumbering those of traditional laptops and desktops. It needs to be understood, however, that these numbers are not apples-to-apples (no pun intended). Touch-based devices have a much shorter useful lifespan before their hardware or software is no longer sufficient. Consumers can’t upgrade them to the level that they did desktops and laptops. A quick $30 investment in RAM for a desktop can increase its useful lifetime by over a year. With tablets, however, manufacturers found a way to eliminate the consumer’s ability to stretch the time between purchases even longer. Now consumers are purchasing new devices sooner.

I own several touch devices, including a tablet. It’s a fantastic device for checking email, basic browsing, and recreational activities. It is not as great for productivity, however. Though it is definitely better than working from a smartphone, the level of productivity from a tablet cannot match that of a desktop environment. That is why most offices and computer labs at universities will not shift most of their technology over to touch. That is also why the desktop user experience should not be ignored when it comes to web design.

Mobile vs. non-mobile ratios may differ between target audiences

The ratio of mobile vs. non-mobile devices used to interact with a website may differ between target audiences and even different segments within each audience. There is an obvious need for mobile solutions for financial service institutions that offer conveniences like mobile banking. But this need might not justify the cost for other industries.

Does a mobile app or site help accomplish your business goals?

This is single-handedly one of the most important questions to ask when determining how to approach the mobile experience. All too often we see organizations that invest so much in a mobile application or website and come to find that they do not actually serve to drive business in any significant way. Just like any other business investment, it is important to weigh it against what the organization is trying to accomplish and see how much it helps to get it there.

Before I wrap this up, I want to provide some clarification: Touch-based devices are here to stay and their usage is increasing with each month that goes by. I am not advocating that mobile should be overlooked anymore than the desktop user experience should. Both are extremely important for the long-term. Responsive web design has also helped to solve the gap that exists between the mobile and desktop experience. It is just a matter of the level of importance depending upon your organization, audience, and business goals. I’m a huge advocate of doing research and assessing situations before jumping into them.

Recognize some interesting patterns with mobile vs. desktop web designs in your industry? Share them here in the comments!

DaBrian Marketing Group, LLC Chosen by Regional Self-Storage Provider for Website Redesign

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Reading, PA, April 20, 2013 -(PR.com)- Storage World, a leading provider of self-storage units and storage supplies, has selected Reading-based digital marketing agency DaBrian Marketing Group, LLC to design its new website.

Operating out of 9 locations throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Storage World has made a name for itself by providing a variety of storage options to suit any need. Their advanced facilities include climate-controlled units as well as state-of-the-art 24/7 rental & payment kiosks. These kiosks allow customers to perform specific account actions such as renting a storage unit, reserving a space, paying their bill, purchasing a lock and more.

“We wanted to provide Storage World with an innovative solution, both to their website’s brand consistency and overall functionality,” said Daniel Laws, Principal of DaBrian Marketing Group, LLC. “It was also critical that we improved each storage facility’s local search engine optimization to reduce overall costs per acquisition while improving relevant traffic surrounding their local storage facilities. I’m confident that we’ve delivered that for Storage World.”

DaBrian Marketing Group, LLC designed and developed Storage World’s website using the open-source WordPress Content Management System, greatly improving the site’s usability, better reinforcing Storage World’s brand, and affording opportunities for custom content and more effective digital marketing campaigns.

“Storage World decided to go with DaBrian Marketing because we felt that we were under-performing against our competition from a digital standpoint,” said Annie Quinn, VP of Operations for Storage World. “Once we heard their ideas and saw how knowledgeable they were in providing solutions for our new website, SEO, and PPC campaigns, it was an easy decision. Now, we are saving money and coming out ahead of our competition in all markets. DaBrian Marketing delivered and continues to deliver quality service and innovative solutions.”

With this fresh, new website design, Storage World can begin to proactively build a substantial digital presence and further expand its marketing capabilities. Storage World’s redesigned website can be found at StorageWorldOnline.com.

About DaBrian Marketing Group, LLC

Since 2008, DaBrian Marketing Group, LLC (DMG) has been a digital agency focused on providing marketing solutions to businesses that want to obtain digital awareness, cultivate meaningful customer relationships, and develop innovative strategies. DMG’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 DMG, visit www.dabrianmarketing.com or call 610-743-5602.

DaBrian Marketing Group Selected by Green Giant Lawn & Tree Care for Website Redesign

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Green Giant Lawn, Tree & Pest Control, a Fleetwood, PA-based Company that provides residential and commercial lawn, tree, & pest control services throughout southeastern Pennsylvania, has chosen DaBrian Marketing Group, LLC, an Internet Marketing company that specializes in Search Engine Marketing & Analytics, to design its new website.

Locally-owned and operated since 1982, Green Giant prides itself on providing effective Lawn Care, Tree Care, & Pest Control services in a family- and environmentally-friendly manner. The new website works to reinforce Green Giant’s commitment to their customers, their industry expertise, as well as their long-standing focus on making life easier for every client.

“We were able to provide a solution to Green Giant Lawn Care’s website challenges and improve the backend functionality,” said Daniel Laws, principal owner of DaBrian Marketing Group, LLC. “The beauty of these solutions is that clients have access to make changes as well as with the support of our team. This new design provides a small sample of our web design capabilities and demonstrates the evolution of our service offerings.”

DaBrian Marketing Group, LLC designed and developed the Green Giant Lawn & Tree Care website using the WordPress CMS platform, greatly improving the site’s user experience, better reinforcing the Green Giant brand, and opening new doors for content customization and more effective marketing.

“Our old website was outdated and not nearly as user friendly as we wanted,” said Daniel Rothermel, owner of Green Giant Lawn & Tree Care. “We choose DaBrian primarily because they committed to providing a site that will be very user friendly and informative while also providing industry leading Search Engine Optimization.”

Green Giant’s new website can be found at GreenGiantLawnCare.com and GreenGiantPestControl.com.

“The 4 D’s of Web Design” to Help Drive Sales

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Web Design is arguably the most important aspect of internet marketing. “A recent study found that 48% of online shoppers viewed a branded website as the most trustworthy source of information.”Although Search Engine Optimization is often referred to as the foundation of it all, without a website the implementation of SEO or any other internet marketing component would be pointless. With that being said, a good web design can help businesses drive sales and increase their overall return on investment. It’s 2013 for God’s sake!!!  That means it’s time to ditch the websites that read like brochures and start creating websites that are going to attract, engage, and convert your target audience. So, what does an exceptional web design look like? Here is what I like to call “The 4 D’s of Design” to help you create the right website to meet your company’s needs and drive sales for your business:

1)    DECISION. The first thing you need to do is decide what your brand, look, and feel should look like. Collaborate with your peers and colleagues and figure out what would be best for your organization. Remember, your website is an extension of your company so make sure it reflects as such.

2)    DEFINITION. It’s also important that you define yourself as an organization. Meaning, make sure your company has a documented and unified mission, vision, and purpose. It is important that your website conveys who you are, what you do, why you do it, and how you can help your target audience.

3)    DIRECTION. The user experience is one of the most important aspects of any good web design. If the user is not comfortable with their experience on the site, then they are most likely going to bounce. Make sure that your visitors are able to navigate through your site and find exactly what they are looking for in a timely matter. The key to a good website is the right combination of fluidity, simplicity, and creativity.

4)    DIFFERENTIATION. There are many organizations out there who believe they have great websites. However, their site isn’t really saying or doing anything that their competitors haven’t already said or done. In order to attract and retain more visitors, it is important that your organization differentiates itself from the competition. What gives you that competitive edge? Understand what sets you apart from your competitors, and then make the most of it.

Once you have a solid website in place, you can then begin to explore additional internet marketing components. The “4 D’s of Design” are by no means all it takes to create a good website. However, by adhering to these four basic steps it will point you in the right direction toward helping your business drive more sales.

If you would like to learn more about how web design can help your business drive sales, please leave us a comment below or call our office at 610-743-5602.