NXTRO MEDIA
Darlington
Darlington
We are a digital marketing startup based in Darlington.
We offer services for all your online needs.
Our staff has over eight years of social media experience. We have graphic designers with years of experience in the field. We are happy to help you grow your brands and look forward to what the future holds!
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What makes a great website?
1. VIRTUAL REALITY AND 360-DEGREE VIDEO
Try using virtual reality and 360 videos on your website.The importance of video marketing in today's day and age is critical and the demand for video content is on the rise. One of the hottest trends in video marketing today is virtual reality and 360-degree videos, so why not integrate it into your website? More and more companies have been incorporating it into their everyday marketing, and it’s only a matter of time before it becomes a commonplace (see what we did there?) in website design across the board.
Although virtual reality and 360-degree video are similar, let's explore the differences between the two. VR, or virtual reality, requires the use of headsets, and provides an immersive experience which the user can control. A 360-degree video experience can be viewed on any device, without the use of headsets, and is typically controlled by the creator of the video. In 360-degree video, the user sits back and enjoys the experience, where with VR, the user controls the experience.
In either case, presenting website visitors with powerful introductory experiences is bound to take flight in 2017.
2. HIGH QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHY
While stock photography certainly serves a purpose in a variety of situations, viewers prefer genuine, high quality photos to the overused image of people in business suits shaking hands. If you aren’t investing in quality photography for the majority of the images displayed throughout your website, your website may suffer in the long run.
Research indicates that photos that include real people can actually increase your conversion rates. While perfectly staged photos may seem intuitively more professional than candid photos, it’s important to remember that your audience is made up of real people who can relate to real images. By telling your brand story with genuine and high quality photography, your messaging will have a more powerful reach.
3. EXTREME MINIMALISM
In 2016, minimalistic web design grew significantly in popularity. This year, the trend has evolved even further, into an even simpler design philosophy. Beyond just being concise and straightforward with all aspects of your web design, extreme minimalism (also referred to as ultra-minimal) is the idea of using the least amount of everything possible, while still conveying a powerful message.
Depending on your industry and business type, this design trend may or may not work for your audience. It’s definitely worth taking a look at how others are using it before making a decision. For example, this site by designer Mathieu Boulet is as minimalistic as they come. Whether or not it’s your cup of tea, it certainly makes a bold statement.
4. MIXING TEXT DIRECTIONS
Who said text always has to go from left-to-right? What about top-to-bottom? Who says spacing has to be left-justified or centered all the time? If you’re looking to catch your viewers’ eyes and make them notice what you have to say, this design trend provides a unique way to display your company’s message.
It may not work throughout your entire site, as it could become frustrating to the reader to constantly be tilting their head. However, it’s definitely a powerful way to introduce yourself to your audience. Here’s an example of one such site: https://takewhatyoucancarry.com/
5. BRANDED ILLUSTRATIONS
While the use of unique illustrations to reflect your brand’s individual personality and tone is nothing new, it has recently become a more popular design trend. By using cartoon-like illustrations across your site, you can make the viewing experience a little more fun for your audience.
It’s important, however, to ensure that the illustrations are relevant and appropriate to your subject matter, and don’t take away from the professionalism of your site. If you can figure out how to use branded illustrations well, they may help to increase your brand reach and attract a broader audience.
6. MODULAR WEB DESIGN
Similar to Pinterest’s card design layout, modular web design takes it a step further by using blocks of different sizes that are purposefully positioned for the viewer. Each block may contain a set amount of text, an image (or multiple), or both.
Modular web design.
By combining the use of distinct brand colors, simple blocks and concise messaging, modular design allows for an effective way to organize your website that is easy for users to view and digest. Here are two great examples of websites built using modular design: Swiss Watch Manufacturer, Corum and Native Shoes.
Not every web design technique is right for every type of business. It’s important to consider what design will resonate best with your audience, as well as what design will have the appropriate functionality based on your business needs and challenges. Knowing whether you should invest in a website redesign to better meet customer needs is a step in the right direction, no matter which trend you choose.
What questions might you ask a client when starting a new project?
1. What is the purpose, objective or goal for the project?
What is the purpose of the project and what does your client wish to achieve from the work that you are to do for them? Knowing the expectations of your client before hand is probably the most important step towards a successful project both for you and for the client. Such a question will also instill confidence in the client by showing that you are enthusiastic about the work and willing to go the extra mile in achieving the goal.
The answers to this question will also assist you and your team to remain focused on precise goals that are important. They will also ensure that you devise effective strategies to meet those goals as per the requirements of the client.
2. What time frame is provided and what’s the scope of the project?
Ask this question and ask it again so that you will know how much time, depending on the scope, you have to complete the project. The time, cost and scope of any project form an iron triangle which illustrates these three as the constraints of managing a project. The client’s answer should also help you establish milestones and a deadline for yourself and for your team which is very important and more so when your team is remote.
There are times when you can negotiate on the time frame depending on your abilities or availability for that project. Other times it would be impossible to change that time because the client has a fixed time frame for one reason or another. The answer to this question should essentially let you determine if you can handle the project or not under the provided time.
3. Who is the primary contact person for the project?
Your client may be an individual and therefore the person whom you will be in contact with throughout the project. Then again your new client may be part of a company and thus not necessarily the only one in charge of the project’s progress. It’s good to know who to contact or go to with questions and other clarifications about things to do with the project.
The answer to this question also eliminates the risk of having too many people steering the project from the client’s side which is not healthy, or having none at all which is just bad.
4. What will be the measure of completion?
This is more like asking the client to paint a picture of how they envision the project will be when done. It is important to know from their point of view, the kind of stick that will be used to measure the end result for the project. If it is a website that you are building for the client for instance, let them tell you if the website will be done once it has been completed and launched or after several weeks of operation and testing.
Payment for a project is essentially done when the work is completed. If you never had a prescribed measure of completeness, you might find yourself in the hands of a goal shifting client who may want you to do more work than you had agreed on with the pretext that your work is not yet complete.
5. Will there be a continuing assessment of the project?
Some projects require continuous assessment while others don’t. As a project manager, you know the differences well and therefore you should ask this question so as to foresee any chance for problems with the progression of the project.
This question will also give you an insight on how your new client operates; whether they are the kind of people who like to micro manage projects or not. Such insights should prepare you for situations that will probably come about as a result of your client’s character.
6. Which are the preferred channels and modes of communication about the project?
Constant communication between you and the client is essential and therefore be sure to ask this question. There are many channels of communication and not all can suit every project. From your own experience and expertise in the work that you do, you can always suggest the best modes of communication if the client has no preference.
Communication can be through email, phone, instant messaging, video chat and whatever else you’ve got going. Project management software normally contains communication mediums that would generally provide efficient channels of contact between you and the client even as you use it to manage the project.
7. What is expected after the completion of the project?
This question can mean a lot for the future of your business with that client, so ask it. Ask whether the client expects some follow up on the project after completion or whether they would want you to do some other work for them. If the client indicates that they would be interested in further engagements with you then do your best towards that goal.
Project follow up is an extremely important phase of project management. If the client tells you that a follow up on the completed project will be required, then you will know how to factor that in your costing for the whole project.
