RSS and Email subscriptions are great ways to improve the traffic and brand recognition of your web site or blog. However, few site owners know of a simple UI tweak that can make a HUGE difference in your subscription rates.
Simply change “Subscribe” to “Get Updates“
It seems lately that on almost a weekly basis I get asked or overhear someone talking about how they don’t understand what the all fuss is about Twitter.
At first Glance, this is a rather obvious and understandable statement. After all, what can you REALLY do with 140 characters? Just take a look at this article on CNN Money as a perfect example of this mis-understanding.
The problem is that people are viewing Twitter at face value… a free, easy to use service that asks the simple question - ”What are you doing?” – in 140 characters or less.
But wait… did you catch that? Those four little words in the previous sentence:
Have you ever went to sign up for an email service like Gmail, Yahoo!, or Hotmail only to find that your name or desired name is taken?
It happens all the time, you type in “johndoe” for the username and to no suprise you get a message stating “This email address is already taken, but might we suggest johndoe556984?”
Not very descriptive, professional, or easy to remember, but what are the options?
Many people go the non-sensical “Web 2.0″ route and just make something up like jettbird@… or Inix@… But then again, you might as well just be another number at that point.
For years now, the publishing industry has been having problems. From Magazines to Newspapers, readers are leaving in droves to the web.
So, what is the obsession with having an newspaper delivered to your door every morning? Why does it matter if the same content is delivered via email, on a phone, or on a browser? Why are so many people so upset about having their local newspaper shut down?
As some of you may have noticed, Pepsi recently redesigned their logo with a fresh new twist on their old design.
Now, this may not be something most people would comment about, but a recently leaked document on the design process, attributed to the Arnell Group, shows the process behind the remaking of this iconic brand identity.
If you’re into design or branding, I recommend you take a look at this pdf.
Here’s a small excerpt from this document: (more…)
As I’m watching the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the second guest tonight is the lead actor in a 1 second SuperBowl commercial for Miller High Life. I had heard about this on CNN, Yahoo! News, and a few other news feeds I subscribe to and really haven’t given it much thought until now.
However, as I’m watching this, I’m starting to realize that this is actually a genius piece of marketing by Saatchi & Saatchi of New York.
Think about it… they may have only bought a one second spot during the Superbowl, but they’re getting a ridiculous amount of publicity… simply because it’s different.
After all, this guy isn’t on the tonight show because he delivered a brilliant piece of acting in less than a second. He’s there because the advertising is new, creative, and therefore causing a buzz.
For those of you following the publishing industry and it’s current growing pains (or death throws if you’re on the other side of the fence), you may have heard of the recent demise of JPG Magazine.
What’s interesting about this and makes it worth following, is it provides us with a real-life test case for the problems (and possible solutions) facing the industry today.
The Industry Problem
JPG Magazine, Issue 19
As is painfully obvious to most people born after 1975, getting your news or magazine content from an actual print magazine may be an archaic way of getting your news. Everything that is in print is currently out of date and old news on the web.
People are quickly moving towards online magazines, blogs, and other digital media outlets for their news and commentary.
Naturally, the advertisers are following in kind. Steadily moving from Print to the more less expensive, measurable, and profitable online ads.
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You know, I never understood the meaning of “The Only Thing We have To Fear is Fear Itself”. I thought I did, but not until I experienced my first real recession as a professional and as a father. Now I know.
With all this Doom and Gloom around the economy and the current state of world affairs, I came across this paragraph from a president:
“In such a spirit on my part and on yours we face our common difficulties. They concern, thank God, only material things. Values have shrunken to fantastic levels; taxes have risen; our ability to pay has fallen; government of all kinds is faced by serious curtailment of income; the means of exchange are frozen in the currents of trade; the withered leaves of industrial enterprise lie on every side; farmers find no markets for their produce; the savings of many years in thousands of families are gone…”
-Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1932
It’s funny how history sometimes repeats itself. How the challenges we faced so long ago, seem to be so close to everyone once again.
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