Archive for the ‘Online Marketing’ Category

Nashville Interactive Now Using Feedburner

Dec 14 2009

In an effort to better aggregate fresh Nashville Interactive content (and stay on top of the latest technologies for content feeds), We're now using Feedburner to handle all RSS content. This Google-provided service allows website owners access great data on their site's feed usage. Also, feedburner now updates your twitter page with your latest posts and integrates effortlessly with Google Analytics and AdWords too. Exciting stuff for content people.

Please enjoy, let us know if you love it or hate it and SUBSCRIBE TO THE RSS FEED of course.

If you're interested in using feedburner for your site's feed here's a few good links:
- http://feedburner.google.com/ (obviously!)
- http://adsenseforfeeds.blogspot.com/

Custom Flash Design and Development Completed for Gaylord Entertainment

Oct 3 2009

Nashville Interactive recently completed a custom Flash design project for the world-renown Gaylord Entertainment. The client wanted a Flash-based landing page that was tied in with email marketing campaigns. The end product was a completely customizable experience that included a photo slideshow with accompanying text for each image. The all-Flash landing pages are easily "re-skinned" with xml and image replacement making them extremely flexible and quickly edited. While I've become an advocate of more "traditional" methods for web development, I always enjoy diving into some custom Flash Design.

Why You Should Treat Your Clients Like Dirt

Aug 6 2009

Because I want your clients basically. Good customer service in web design seems to be some sort of elusive creature that few people get to see in their lives. A majority of people who contact me about web development or design, often tell stories of how their last guy took forever and the final website wasn't what they were expecting and he or she wasn't very professional etc. Well I'm here to let all of you non-web people out there know that it's not always like that and you don't have to put up with slack, unresponsive designers.

I've worked a lot of different jobs over the years: caddie, mason's assitant, shoe salesman, waiter and so so many others. One thing you learn from all that "real-world" experience is that you need to treat the customer with respect or they'll go else where. (except for the masonry job. There, you just watch out for falling bricks and try not to die of heat stroke) Website design should be no different. Although you need to have a good, open dialog with your designer, in the end, the client is always right (as long as the check clears).

On the other side of the coin is the fact that most of the time you're hiring a professional for his or her experience and that experience should not be taken for granted. Hopefully your website designer and developer is professionally trained and has at least several years of experience dealing with and acheiving client needs and goals. I've often argued my design choices until I'm blue in the face but to no avail. So the bottom line is, if the logo needs to be bigger, then the logo needs to be bigger ;)

Online Marketing and Advertising During Tough Times

Jun 27 2009

Everyone has been hit hard by the economy lately. With lean budgets, people want to get more out of their advertising and marketing dollars. What better way to do this than with online advertising and a great web presence. I don't have to tell you that the Internet is really hot these days. (this website uses the Internet as a matter of fact). Although online advertising and marketing efforts overall have pulled back a bit, the web is still a great place to sell your brand. With resources like Google it's very easy to thoroughly track your efforts and perform A – B testing to see what's working and what's not. When used in the proper manner, Search Engine Marketing and Search Engine Optimization will help achieve your goals and are very cost effective.

Having a strong web presence coupled with your online marketing efforts is also a key to successful advertising in a recession. Getting people to read your ad is only half the battle. Potential customers need a comfortable place to land when they click through. A well architectured and designed landing page is the part of the equation that really seals the deal. Having a savvy website designer who knows the turf, is well worth the money. Mostly because you can tell exactly how effective your advertising efforts are.

So what I'm trying to say is, don't pass up the opportunity to monetize your web presence in these tough times through quality web design and online marketing.