Please, please can we please stop calling mobile web sites – designed for particular devices –’responsive web design’. They’re not.

— Mark Boulton (@markboulton) March 30, 2012

Mobile sites that are optimised for devices (native behaviours, tech etc) is something else. ‘RWD’ is responsive layouts. We need a new name

— Mark Boulton (@markboulton) March 30, 2012

Mark Boulton is a well respected web designer, author and speaker.

Primarily the conversation revolves around what Responsive Web Design (RWD) is and is not. But before we examine that let me explain the concept of RWD as simply as possible.

What is Responsive Web Design?

If you are old enough to remember the “browser wars” between Internet Explorer and Netscape you will know about styling issues across the browsers led to “best viewed in” … indeed some websites apparently still carry such messages. Eventually the web browsers hit upon standards, though not all the same standards, and has steadily progressed to todays modern browsers which are pretty decent. However, there are now mobile browsers, tablet devices, CRT monitors, widescreen monitors, projectors – all running different browsers and rendering engines, but they don’t all show the same code in the same way and they don’t all have the same functionality.

It is at this point that Responsive Web Design comes in to play. Responsive Web Design is not about making your website look 100% the same across devices, it’s not about making your website work the same across browsers and it’s not about creating a new website for each device.

Responsive web design is, however, a particular way of coding such that the website works well (if not perfectly) across all devices and browsers.

It will never be perfect and it will never work in all browsers, this is a natural limitation of the web and the modern world.

Explaining Responsive Web Design

RWD is important to the web because it means without needing a complete recoding for each device and browser, without needing a mobile app or a native interface the web can continue to work openly and freely.

RWD uses what are known as “media queries” to check things such as device width. From this information the site will change style accordingly. This does not mean the site will function differently but change appearance. For example SEOAndy is responsive, if you shrink your browser tab it will begin to change, view it on your mobile and your tablet device and its different again. The essence of the site remains but the style changes a little.

Such changes are usually things such as content area width, font-face usage, font size, image size, using a grid layout etc.

Another thing media queries can do, which is NOT, responsive web design (technically, though in reality for many is) is functionality and device checking. This means functions and styling can be changed based on the device and browser viewing it. For example choosing options on forms can be styled differently on each device and browser, but this is not RWD, this is simply device optimisation.

Device Optimisation means that the site would work without such changes, but looks nicer with those changes made.

Reading More About RWD

There is plenty around the web talking about this new web trend that is Responsive Web Design. A few great sources are: (@beep) Ethan Marcotte’s Responsive Web Design (a-book apart), a marketing land article, also a BBC Internet Blog article, also a @boagworld interview with Ethan Marcotte, an interview on the web ahead with Mark Boulton oh and don’t forget google is your friend – go on search “responsive web design“.

Colour’s evoke emotions, most of them you will know consciously, some not so. The graphic below shows some of these ideas but lets start with a few simple ideas about colour. Blue for example says cool, calm and fresh. Green for example evokes freshness, floral and get going. Red on the other hand can mean stop, emergency or danger.

Once you have finished looking at this wonderful infographic there is a little task for you to do with your new found knowledge.

Task: With you new found brilliance in design using colours, revisit this infographic and analyse the colours which they have used for text, backgrounds etc … think about whether the colour entices you to believe the message or feel something in particular. Once you’ve done this exercise you are ready to move on to the next step, look at your own design and use of colour, from your twitter background to images around your home or office. Let colour take over your life, Love colour, Love Design.

Below are some examples of logo redesigns, which do you think have mad the service and company appear improved or better in some way? leave a comment and let us know.

So which were the best, which failed, which impress and which don’t? You tell me?

Also if you have a logo redesign to share, tweet @andykinsey

It is a common problem that not many blog posts have lots of comments. It is even more common to find if there are comments they are spam! So how to combat the spam whilst encouraging REAL comments?

Here are my top 10 tips to getting blog comments

1. Concise and Clear
   Most bloggers miss the notion that actually people generally skim read a blog post. Unless you are say in the chemical industry talking about some formula that you have to go into great detail about. Keep you points clear and concise – don’t beat around the bush (too much).
2. ASK!
   It’s quite simple, if you are aiming to get comments (and it’s not every bloggers aim!) then don’t make them find a reason. Simply ask a question or for their views.
3. Make it Easy
   So many blogs require 7 or 8 fields, or even pre-registration to comment. This whilst meaning people maybe subscribed to your blog means they can’t engage. It is plain dumb to put road blocks in the way. Remember to keep it simple – maybe like us try Disqus, users can sign in as a guest, using facebook, google or twitter – there is no registration on this site!
4. Formatting
   allowing users some way of formatting can really help encourage comments. But it can also have the converse effect of allowing more spam into your system – I found that out the hard way!
5. Allow Links
   Allowing links into your comments may seem like an open door to spam – and if you don’t have spam control in place it can be. But get it right and others in your niche or outside your niche with an interest are almost 4 times as likely to leave a comment (i will one day find the report i read that in).
6. Recognise Hurdles
   Linked to some of the above will be a requirement to prevent spam. Akismet is great at doing this automatically, but there are other systems such as ReCaptcha that do a “human check” – this means not letting bots post. But checks like this can cause problems – take Googles Captcha it is often so hard to read I get told to go away 7 or 8 times! do you really want to use that hurdle or will Akismet do the job?
7. Join in the Conversation
   If you notice one or two comments on a blog, actively join in and encourage people to talk. Be aware you can stagnate the conversation but it is likely they will have wrote something you can reply to and add further depth to your post. do it.
8. It’s not only your site
   One thing you notice as a website content owner and controller is other sites will use your content. Don’t worry as long as they link back, don’t pass it off as their own its fine – but remember if you do kick up a fuss that they could be gaining comments for you on that site or say on facebook – these are valuable too, don’t make them disappear.
9. Getting More Replies
   One thing I’ve played with is the idea of “let me know of future response” on individual blogs. It’s a great idea that if one person comments they may want to know if there is a reply, so let them sign up for email alerts. It also means they will likely come back to comment in reply again. But beware if you are open to spam your readers may get annoyed at hundreds of reply emails with spam in them!
10. Outside the box
    It’s all very well looking outside the box, on the top rung of a ladder, thinking it looks nice out there, but never doing anything about it. But take those steps into the outside world, make comments on other blogs, do guest posts, use social media – be known as a person, a blog and a brand … market and they shall come. otherwise you are just another store for people to walk on by!

When you first start out online as an “artist” it can be quite daunting thinking about how to be seen through the crowd of other artists, in the same niche. But alas success is within reach, in 3 steps, you can ensure your portfolio is seen, admired and drives business.

Design, Develop & Deploy

Step 1 – Design a Killer Portfolio

As an artist you will naturally want to create the best portfolio around. Not just in your little niche but the best overall. This was certainly one of my aims when I redesigned my Website and Graphic Design portfolio earlier this year. So what are the minimum requirements for a “killer portfolio” website?

• Examples Your Work (with case studies if applicable)
• Your Skills (tell them what you can do, plain and simple)
• Your Personality (don’t make the mistake of being bland, show your passion)
• Your Style (the design itself should reflect your work and style)

Notice I say examples of your work. As a designer I’ve working with far to many companies to name or show my work. Show only your best work, things you are proud of – writing a case study should be simple – if its a painting explain what it shows and means to you, if its a website explain what work went into it etc. Creating a portfolio isn’t expensive or hard work – if money is an issue use a system like behance or deviantart they are free though not quite as professional, if you want higher quality use a professional web designer (like me)

Step 2 – Develop your arena

This section I will keep short and sweet, a subsequent post will list some ideas of places to do this. Basically this is about blatant self promotion. You have a high quality professional website, it’s time to back it up – join other artist based websites like deviant or folksy or coroflot show off your work on there but make sure each image you upload has your web address in a comment (and watermark the work). This is the development of your brand so again show only your best work, if you’ve other work you can show this too here but don’t show the same 50 pieces of work on 50 websites, show your best plus maybe a few other pieces of random work.

Note though that although these sites may offer you a chance to create a portfolio, such as behance, you dont want to do this – you simply want to show some of your work and point them to your real portfolio. This is why you should join lots of them, you dont have to do them all at this stage, but over a few months or a year maybe.

Step 3 – Deploy in a big way!

Now comes the bit that is likely the hard work for you – more so than creating the perfect portfolio website, promoting that website. But you’ve done a fair bit already by joining the creative communities online (like deviant) but now you need to engage with them, offer to write guest blog posts, comment on blogs about your niche, engage with users on social media (create a facebook page use twitter).

If you are wanting to gain work via your portfolio (not everyone does) then you could link to your LinkedIn profile, join other communities such as forums, read up about internet marketing (you already are by reading this blog), put it on your great business card – but most of all have fun doing it. Don’t be a stickler for detail just go out have fun and tell people they should take a look at your work.

Remember though – you never “complete” your portfolio polish it and polish it, add to it, take from it update it love it be it. your portfolio is your existence - never let it go.

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If you know of any amazing portfolios let me know, in the next few weeks I’ll be publishing my top 10 inspirational portfolios from across the creative niches. If you have a great portfolio or know of one let me know! Leave a comment! 

Some great examples of having fun with second guesses come on April Fools day, one of the best this year was by outdoor sports company CheapTents who have an audience of outdoor enthusiasts – so what did they write for a blog post on April fools? Take a look for yourself, its here, pretty well matched and thought out.

Second Guessing happens when you are pushed to write a post, pushed for time or pushed because you don’t know what to write. Which ever it is, think twice and Reflect!

Reflection is a lovely word. It can mean what you see in the mirror or how you see that thing. Reflection in these sense I mean is more akin to the later, and the spiritual sense of finding ones self. When writing content reflection for most is just skim reading it again or proof reading, but that isn’t what you should be doing. You should be taking a look at your posts, its tone, its topic and then look at other blogs in your niche … are you really doing your blog justice with this post, is the question. Take a deeper look and see what you can add or detract from the post … quantity isn’t everything.

So reflect on your current writing, and then reflect with Feedback on your older works.

Feedback is a vital tool to any website designer, copy writter, blogger, journalist, web editor or otherwise (the list could go on and on). Listening to your users means you don’t always have to second guess what they want, you reflect on your content with the help of your users – this is how you can continue to improve your website, your blog, your forum posting, commenting, tweeting and generally being webby.

Go on – Second Guess, Reflect, and Listen.

So here are my 10 Top Tips to e-commerce conversion success

1. Guarantees
   Offering a meaningful guarantee, which is easy to understand will help form a trusting relation ship with users. If it is a physical product the user will expect the same rights and guarantees they would receive from the high street. But remember don’t include 25 exclusions means that actually no one could ever figure out how to use it, let alone actually make use of it. Keep It Simple Stupid!
2. “Trusted” Logos
   Whether you are selling clothes or cd’s one of the most important things to do is to inspire trust. It sound’s odd but it’s easy to do and really effective. Take for example SafeBuy or the ISIS scheme or verified by visa, such schemes all have logos that are easy to get hold off when you sign up. If you are rated well buy these guys you’ll inspire trust. But go further, add a review box to your website from an independant source, show that your customers trust you (take a peek at the cheap tents, trustpilot, review box below their sidebar).
3. Vouchers and Coupons
   Offering regular voucher codes to buyers is a sure way to get them to come back looking for more, as well as showing you are a company that cares about it’s customers back pockets. If you are going to put these offers into the public domain, such as 10% off using this code, maybe you could get them to sign up to a mailing list to get the code … it sounds cheeky but this way you can send them even more savings and your latest news – it’s a win win situation.
4. Promotions
   I know of very few people that ever want to, or are even happy to, pay full price for an item. Most markets are saturated with special offers, and whilst you can’t always beat the offer you should at least give some kind of offer – even if its say 10% off your next purchase or something along these lines. One fact often over looked is that promoting things in public will drive people to your site / landing page, but more often than not they will buy something else from the same range instead of the promoted product.
5. Perks of Membership
   Creating a newsletter is a fantastic way of getting into the homes and offices of possible customers. In essence they sign up to receive your special offers and latest news, then maybe once or twice a month you send them a newsletter containing just that, and an exclusive gift sometimes … maybe they get a free pump with every 2 bike tires purchased.
   Something else overlooked about membership lists is that people usually sign up because they are interested in buying from you, but maybe not right now. So giving them something such as a 10% off code to sign up is a great idea and may help get that sale a little quicker.
6. Payment Options
   Different types of sites call for different types of payment method. You should try to keep everything neat and tidy and not offer too many methods. Maybe by default you use PayPal but also offer an ability to pay by another gateway … why this way around? well PayPal is a “trusted” system, people know how to use it and almost everyone will have heard of it. In addition to this maybe you could offer to take order over the phone, because some people are sceptical of security on the web. Or for more elderly based website offer payment on delivery, this is what Wiltshire Farm Foods do.
7. Personality
   Adding a touch of personality, that human touch, to a website can be hugely effective in increasing conversions. Everyone knows most website use manufacturers descriptions – they are all the same – but why not add a little humanity to it by maybe saying “this waterproof jacket is perfect for keeping you warm and dry this winter” it’s not much hard work and it’s enough to beat your competitors in most cases.
8. Clear Terms
   There is nothing like a page full of jargonised crap text to make me cringe and decide not to read it. Think about it, with any software you install you “agree” to the terms and conditions but have you ever read them? No, at least not until it’s too late! So why make your customers go through the same thing, keep everything simple and categorised, there is no need for 15 pages of terms … ever!
9. Present Benefits, Not Features
   Most websites will sell based on features of a product. But again it’s a little boring and none engaging, so again add some personality and say something like “this waterproof jacket has a gore-tex outershell designed to keep you warm and protect you from the rain” – it tells you the feature but also about the benefit and how it can help the customer. Engaging the customers mind is often the key to conversion.
10. Plenty of Photos
    Imagery is an often over looked part of the web, each website has its own image and theme … thats great. But so does each product and it’s you job to bring that image out and to show the world. So for example with a waterproof jacket you may show a full view, zip view, vent views and views of other features of interest. The better the image the more engaging and the more likely someone will click “add to cart”.

If you want to submit a business card to be featured here tweet it to @andykinsey

In the interests of fairness and honesty I’ve not posted my own designs here, but you can view my business card designs here.

If you would like to be included in this list of business cards, or you know of a card that should be here – tweet @andykinsey

1. Focus on Customer Service
   By providing a world class customer service you can stand out from your competitors.  You can give the ultimate in customer service by understand their needs, wants, desires and of course by always always being friendly.
2. Be Customer Focused
   It isn’t enough to give the best customer service, you have to have a team which eats, sleeps and breathes an ethos of putting the customer first. The team should never be about profit or time keeping (though someone should be responsible for this) they should always be driven by the customers – after all without customers you have no business.
3. In Retail, the key is Detail
   Oh, so corny. But you will probably remember it for that reason. What I am trying to say is dot your i’s and cross your t’s. Make sure product details and specifications are correct and upto date, the same with your images and any feeds you have. Detail will enhance your websites rankings naturally (it’s great content), put you above your competitors (better descriptions than them) and ultimately increase revenue (GOAL!!!).
4. Establish your Brand and your company Values
   Sounds a little odd to mention values, but it really isn’t. Most companies have a natural ethos, some have a mission statement, others just float on by with values in their heads – either way they all have a set way of working and idea of what they want to achieve, these are their values. In E-commerce your first value should be “the customer comes first” then maybe “quality of products” is second etc … make a list of your 10 key values. By clearly defining them you are defining your business and how it operates, this can make you stand out from the crowd.
5. Put Quality in everything you do
   Make sure everything that you do, your team does and you supply is the best it possibly can be. Do testing on everything your team does and you supply. You and your company should always strive to provide the best service everyday and each & every time your team interacts with a person (your website counts as part of your team).
6. Get the best from your team
   You should now begin to understand that you need to get the best out of everything, and this could mean lots more training of staff to ensure they give their best. But what else can you do to ensure they always give their best? One of the best ways to incentivise a team is to reward them with a bonus for reaching a target or a commission on each sale. But be careful this kind of thing can lead to pressure sales tactics and this is a big “no no!”.
7. Do Not Procrastinate!
   Sitting on your hands humming and ahh-ing gives your competitors an advantage because you are not moving forward, you become a spectator sat on the fence. So get down before you give your backside some splinters, make a decision and go with it – if it doesn’t work try another way. What ever you do, the world is moving fast, so don’t stop moving!
8. It isn’t quantum physics
   Selling things has been happening since the dawn of man, well it started with bartering as we see it today. Anyway to be blunt, people buy an item from you, you are selling it at cost+margin make sure you do the maths and you are making a profit. There is nothing like a business loosing money to bring team spirit down with a bump.
9. Get and Use, Facts and Information.
   Basically this means analyse any data about your site you can get your hands on, and your competitors if you can. Use the information to define and refine the shopping experience for the user. By analysing the information you can diagnose potential problems and fix them before it becomes a problem. You can also see “hotspots” and replicate them to make the most of your site’s real estate.
10. Enjoy Yourself!
    The journey that is SEO is one that means you have to work hard, but you should also play hard. Take yourself and your team out whenever you can, there is nothing like a few drinks down the local (pub) to get colleagues nattering and increase team spirit and it will help your team to bond and grow together. It also means you will end up with a team that is well rounded and loves their boss, because they respect their staff and treat them well.

Still wanting more tips for increasing your online revenue?
click here to see 40 great ways to improve your online sales.

We also recently posted 10 great ways to boost your online sales.

Designing a business card is about more than putting a little text on a small piece of card that fits in a wallet. It is about making you and your business stand out from the crowd, making you stick in someones memory and being the first person they recall when they want a job doing. There are four key aspects to the perfect business card design; being top of the pile, standing out, enhancement and implementation. These may sound quite confusing and it may take you some time to get your head around the almost endless possibilities for business card design – but when you do, it will be worth it.

A Simple Business Card

Being Top of the Pile

Think back to the last networking meeting, conference or trade show you went too – I am sure you gave out lots and lots of business cards right? Good. When you passed them over what was the reaction of the majority of people? Did they compliment the design, did they shove it in their pocket, did they show your business card to someone else or maybe well erm they ripped it up? Regardless of what they did it will explain how good or bad your card is. Great stuff if the compliment the design and ask for another one or two, pitting it in their pocket is ok, showing it around is good stuff – ripping it up well I hope for that rudeness you walked away!

Top of the Pile in business card design means that you will be literal top of the pile when it comes to them saying “hello” following an event, stay in their collection of cards (or better still their wallet) and it also means you will never be forgotten.

To be top of the pile though you need to have an amazing card, to do this you need all of the below ideas and then some awesome content!

Standing Out from the crown

To give you an idea of what stands out with business cards, I want you to try something for me. Take a selection of anywhere between 20 and 50 business cards, lay them out on a table and then go and grab a coffee. When you come back the idea is you won’t remember most of the cards, now look over the cards briefly spend no more than 30 seconds in total and pick out maybe 5 to 10 cards that stand out to you. Hide the rest of the cards. With those cards think about them for a minute each, why does that card stand out and does it in some way relate to their business? or is it just a gimmick? maybe it’s actually their brand?

Some things that may stand out to you are:

• Colour
  Colour is a fantastic tool in any designers arsenal, the colour of a business card doesn’t have to respect guidelines (oops did I really say that?). What I mean is there is no reason why your business card can’t be bright red or bright yellow. It’s attention grabbing and even when at the back of someones wallet will stand out from other business cards and well debit cards.
• Use of Imagery
  An eye catching graphic (maybe in the logo) made to stand out, or a great photo of a person means that a brand or that person will be instantly recognised next time you see them. Add to this there are VERY few business cards with the picture of a person on them and it adds to a business card which stand out from the crowd. An example of this is Councillor Kevin Peel’s business card (check my design site to see this).
• Horizontal vs Vertical vs Other!
  I could spend a whole post talking about these virtues in design, but suffice to say business cards which stand out maybe be vertical (not many are) others may be an awesome trifold design!
• Simplicity in design
  It speaks for itself, but above you can see an example of a business card for Councillor Jake Morrison, the business card is very simple but for this reason alone stands out from others.

Now you’ve done this exercise you may have some more ideas of what should be on your own business cards, but now lets take a look at how you can go even further with your business card design.

Ways to Enhance Your Business Card

Now you’ve seen other business cards, hopefully, in a  new light you will want to go further with your own business card design. Why not think about the following ideas, some will be more expensive than others, some more effective than others, and some will just (well) be out of your idea of “good” and ignored! I don’t blame you but here are some suggestions.

• Funny Shape Business Cards (a bite out of a card?)
• Something On or In your business card (seeds for a flower business?)
• Chocolate Business Cards (mmm expensive and may melt)
• Trading (or playing cards)
• Information Business Cards (hair dressers with prices on reverse)
• Pop-up Business Cards (offer a unique perspective on your business)
• Credibility Additions (logos of accreditation)
• Rubber Stamps (instead or as well as business cards)
• Unique Material (use felt or metal business cards)
• Multiple Language Business Cards (why reserve yourself to just english?)

Implementation of Business Card Design

Some cards I designed

Someone once told me “great ideas are a penny a dozen, but great implementation is priceless” and it is very much true. In a world with some many people out networking continually, yes your card has to stand out, give that something extra but it also has to be implemented amazingly well to make that special difference.

There are many companies out there that will print your card amazingly well, there are also just as many not to trust. If you are working with a designer who has come up with a unique shape or a card that requires die cutting – then always go with the suggestion of the designer when it comes to printing (because not many places will do these jobs complete justice). If your card is a normal rectangular shape my advice is to try somewhere like Moo.com or UK FastPrint or VistaPrint.

Once your business card is complete, send me a picture so I can post it and show it off for you!
Simply email it to me – contact*at*andykinsey.co.uk
You can also do the above if you already have a pretty awesome business card.

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We recently also posted 25 amazing business card designs – take a look at them and send us yours today.