Mobile Apps vs Mobile Website
It's a question that we are constantly asked by clients - an Application or Mobile Website? At Vivo Group, we believe that the choice is company and goal specific. It is a topic of much debate, the fact that users are increasingly choosing to turn to their mobile device (be it smartphones or tablets) as the first point of call to access information. As such, we strongly believe that all information should be converted to suit the changing landscape and host information the way that clients wish to access it. That being said, it is fundamental that a mobile application, or site be developed. Therefore, once and for all, this blog will outline the respective functions and features of each to help you make your own informed decision. First off, lets start by defining each option; Mobile Website A mobile website is similar to the normal website, however it is optimized to display on a smaller screen and interface. Mobile websites typically only display the sites most viewed information and are accessed through the devices standard web browser (i.e. Sa...
Vivo Group jumps on the iPhone 5 Bandwagon
With all of today's hype, you probably find yourself extremely confused and don't know where to start. Fret not, Apple fans amongst the Vivo Group have been able to provide a concise wrap up of all things iPhone 5. Some feel that with the absence of Jobs, the fanaticism associated with new Apple product releases has significantly declined. Fewer leaks meant new features, when unveiled, were a surprise - rather than a clarification of rumours, resulting in a rather ho-hum launch. Nonetheless, there are still some noteworthy updates and upgrades; Aesthetics New 'Lightning' charger Earphone connectivity at the bottom of the device New earphones Lighter (20%) Thinner (18%) Longer Bigger screen ...
How to Design Landing Pages That Convert
Ever clicked on a marketing offer, to be taken to the business’ homepage with no mention of the offer? Dropping users onto the homepage is essentially asking them to fend for themselves, however we know that users are time-poor and unwilling to navigate complex websites. Therefore, a more effective approach would have been to create a dedicated landing page to house the offer, giving you the exact information you require in no time at all. Now you’re a captive audience, and more likely to download/purchase/subscribe. What’s a landing page? Landing pages have been likened to a pick-up line, as they’re short, concise and focused on “closing the deal” - i.e. asking users to perform a specific task such as subscribing, downloading or purchasing. Therefore, landing pages are critical for promotion-specific marketing as they provide a focused experience designed to accomplish a singular conversion goal. Know the purpose of your page They key to effective landing page design is knowing who you’re talking to, and why the landing page exists in the first place. Firstly, developing goals for your landing page is paramount. Common landing page objectives include: Communicating brand values of the organisation; Achieving a conversion i.e. sign-up, registration, download, sale; ...
Using Social Science to Better Your Social Media
If I told you that psychology and social media go hand in hand, would you agree? Unlike the traditional Web, social media is a very emotional landscape, where people are at the centre of their own ecosystem. So, the value of social media lies not in the technology, but the people, relationships and the meaningful actions between them. In this way, those that succeed in social media do so by appealing to deeply rooted human needs, designing experiences that captivate the mind and feed emotions. And, with so many competitive forces at play, those who look to social science exert far greater influence than those that blindly deploy a set of tactical tools. To apply social science to social media, we need to shed light on human behaviour, and how people think about, influence and relate to one another. Behavioural scientists have found that when faced with information,...
Customer Service in the Digital Age
Providing poor customer service has always been dangerous for brands, but thanks to social media, the game has changed. Issues are now aired in the public arena, and the smallest whimper of discontent has the potential to spread instantly and become a full-blown disaster with an immediate and far-reaching impact. In our age of connectivity and social networking, the voice of the customer has never been more powerful. And whether you know it or not, your customers ARE talking about you online. They’re taking to their Facebook profiles, Twitter feeds and blogs to air their feedback, whether positive or negative. The question is, are you listening? Apparently not. A recent survey by evolve24 found that 71% of customer complaints remain unanswered on Twitter. Yet, consumers increasingly want to be engaged online, with 43% of consumers saying that companies should use social media to solve customer’s problems ...
#Geekish 4: What is NFC Technology?
As the number of smart phone users continues to grow at an incredible rate (Telstra reported that almost one in two Australians mobile phone users has a smart phone), a new challenge emerges: how can we use smart phone technologies to effectively connect and engage with consumers? With NFC technology, that’s how. In this version of Geekish, we give you an overview of NFC technology and how it’s changing the way mobile phone users interact with the real world. What is NFC? It stands for Near Field Communications technology, and is premised on short-range wireless connectivity technology. NFC allows users with NFC-enabled devices to collect data from another device or “smart tag” (an integrated circuit containing data) at close range. By tapping, waving or holding the mobile phone in close proximity to an NFC tag or device...
#Geekish 3: What is Flash?
Flash. Isn't that what streakers do on the cricket pitch mid-game? Well, yes, but we're referring to a vector animation software that facilities rich, interactive content including video, games, presentations and advertisements in multimedia design that just aren't possible with HTML alone. In fact, you've probably encountered it before. Ever seen an animated, online advertisement or played a game in your browser? That's Adobe Flash, and it has spawned a whole new generation of fast, interactive websites and mobile applications. Who uses Flash? Flash is predominantly used by professional website designers to create high quality and lightweight animations, images and layouts to increase the visual appeal and interactiv...
#Geekish 2: What is a CMS?
People love to abbreviate, especially by turning a series of words into acronyms. Whether it be to to simplify sayings or to just generally sound smarter, many of these acronyms leave people confused. For example: “OMG! Did you see what happened to the CEO this morning? OJ spilt all over him. I LOL’d so hard! TGIF!!” I expect most people to understand, or at least decipher that message. But how about this one? “We use a CMS to manage our website’s content.” Whilst a simpler sentence, this is probably causing you more grief! What is a CMS and how can is be used? A content management system, otherwise affectionately known as a CMS, is used to simplify the management of websit...
#Geekish 1: What is a web strategy?
Some things in the technical world of web development just don’t make sense (what is Java, can I eat it?). As a result we are undertaking geekish tutorials; where ‘geek speak’ is translated into English, so everyone can understand. Class starts now, and the first lesson is: ‘What is a web strategy?’ In a digitally dominated world, launching any online media without a strategy can be likened to walking across the street blindfolded; risky and doesn’t often end well. Web strategies are often overlooked and underestimated, but are quintessential to a successful online presence. A web strategy provides direction for a company. There is no stock-standard format for a web strategy, however creating one can be as easy or complic...
