Mediaura redesigns Haven Warrior Support Center Website
"Because all of us believe and understand in the fabric of the common bond of why we call ourselves American is to care for the men and women who wear the uniform; and when they take off the uniform, we care for them when they are veterans." – Steve Buyer
Mediaura has been engaged in rebranding all websites belonging to the Haven Behavioral Healthcare hospital network. With locations throughout the country, the Haven Behavioral Healthcare network includes a variety of hospital types, all falling under the main corporate brand. The focus for this project has been maintaining corporate brand standards on all of the website properities while still highlighting the speciality areas found at each location (i.e. geriatrics, disordered eating, chemical dependency, and military support). We recently launched the Haven Behavioral War Heroes website and were asked to follow that up with rebranding the Haven Warrior Support Center.
Haven Warrior Support Center
The Warrior Support Center has programs designed specifically for military personnel and their families. Therapists are specialized in addressing health care issues in relation to military trauma and its effects on family relationships, career issues, and long term wellness.
The services and personnel at the Haven Warrior Support Center are second-to-none, however the website wasn't doing a great deal to convey that level of expertise to the viewer.
As you can see above, their original homepage did not do much to grab the viewer's attention through an engaging design. The imagery used was inconsistent and the color scheme made it difficult to read (while doing little to reflect its military purpose).
We felt it was important to not only transition their website to a content-management platform, but to also redesign the visuals to make the purpose of the Warrior Support Center easily indentifiable.
The new landing page (as seen above) contains all of the necessary branding information all on one page (corporate information, individual hospital information, overview of hospital, and the ability to make a referral for service). This allows the viewer to immediately understand the purpose and type of facility that is the Warrior Support Center.
The former interior pages did not provide much detail on the particular types of services or treatments available. The imagery also did little to convey the type of client that would receive assistance from the Warrior Support Center.
Below you can see some examples from the newly redesign website. Integrated Google Maps allows users to see the exact location of the facility, along with accessing all contact information in order to utilize the maps functionality of smartphone technology.
In order to provide viewers with as much information possible, we have made all of the collateral materials (such as informational brochures) available as downloadable .pdfs on the website.
We were also able to embed videos from the Haven Warrior Support Center YouTube page, capitalizing on the SEO provided by these services.
The Warrior Support Center was created specifically to serve active duty military men and women. A referral for treatment is required from the behavioral health care case manager from the service members military treatment facility. The Warrior Support Center provides treatement to members of all military branches (Marines, Air Force, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, etc).
The "For Professionals" section provides information on how to make a referral to the program, detailed information about treatment modalities and services provided.
Detailed information about the facility, along with contact information, and hours of operation are provided so that viewers may request further information immediately from the website.
Mediaura has enjoyed the wonderful working relationship we have with all of the Haven Behavioral Healthcare team members and staff. As a company that deeply supports our Military and Veterans, Mediaura is honored to have the opportunity to work with a hospital organization such as the Haven Warrior Support Center that is doing so much fantastic work on their behalf.
To learn more about the Haven Warrior Support Center, its programs, or to view the website in its entirety, please click here.
The Brennan House
Helmed by our Creative Director, Donovan DeFerraro, Mediaura recently redesigned the website for The Brennan House.
The Brennan House serves as the home of Preservation Louisville, which has a full-time executive director and maintains the house and family collection as part of its mission to protect and promote the cultural, architectural and environmental heritage of our community. The house is available to rent for private parties, weddings and corporate events.
The Old Website
While the previous website held valuable information about the home and its functional capacity, it did little to convey its rich history and the beauty of the venue itself.
As you can see, the old design was full of unused "real estate" and empty design space that could have been utilized for more information, such as images.
The New Website Design
This custom-designed website, is full of both historic and current photos of the Historic Home, along with valuable information regarding its services (i.e. wedding venue, etc).
As a company, we are proud to call Louisville home and take a personal interest in helping to share the city's wonderful history.
If you would like to view the entire website and learn more about this beautiful Historic Home, please visit http://thebrennanhouse.org/
Advanced Panel Systems
One of our latest clients has been Advanced Panel Systems or APS and it has been an absolute pleasure working with them. They are the kind of client that every designer wishes they could come across. Clear vision, experts in their field, high quality work, and most importantly – they know what they want from their website. At the start of our initial planning meeting, the team at APS let us know the direction that they wanted to go in, how they wanted their branding and one of the most invaluable things that they were able to provide was – a knowledge of their audience.
The APS team knew who was going to be looking at/for their website. They knew who their target audience was going to be and therefore how to tailor their message and communicate effectively with potential clients. It’s always a wonderful experience when a designer is able to work with a client who has a clear idea and can articulate what they want to see reflected in their website. Another thing that we really appreciated was the trust that the APS team had in our suggestions for improvement on the design.
The Mediaura team is also pleased that we have added new terms like “OEM” and “Machine Builder” and “Thermal Transfer Wire Labels” to our vocabulary.
Our team members enjoy working with companies in industries that we haven’t yet had the opportunity to partner with. It inspires us to do our homework and learn new things, which definitely keeps our jobs interesting and our minds sharp. But the one thing we love the most, is being afforded the opportunity to work with clients who are inspiring, impressively clever, and the forward-thinkers of their industry.
Clients who are willing to push the envelope for themselves are clients that inspire us to move the whole P.O. box.
IGEAR Launches New Website
Mediaura recently teamed up with manufacturing innovation specialists, IGEAR, on re-designing their new website. We were honored to work with such a team of dedicated professionals and engineers, and we are always enthused to work with companies who are embracing (and utilizing) technology in ground-breaking new ways.
Who They Are
IGear is the industry leader in remote monitoring technology for OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). Their Pulse Always On™ technology connects to any technology and network enabling OEMs to provide proactive customer service and product differentiation.
IGear’s Data Transport Utility (DTU) is the connectivity platform for moving data from machines and equipment to our proven cloud-based data centers. This same DTU technology has served as the industrial middleware standard for thousands of end user manufacturers since their formation in 1999.
You only need to look at their partner and client list to know that IGear produces serious and quality products. Utilized by companies such as Ford, Toyota, Colgate, General Mills, UPS, Chrysler, Volvo (just to name a few), IGear is impressive technology at its finest.
We were honored to have been entrusted with their rebranding efforts, and updated their website with a content-management system and a slew of new attributes.
Visit www.igearonline.com and see the new page first hand.
How to Make Sure You Have a Good Web Design
How to Make Sure You Have a Good Web Design
Individual tastes often vary. What one person finds appealing may be appalling to the next, whether it’s colors, images, font types, etc.
This is what makes web design so deceptively difficult, because a responsible web designer is tasked with the responsibility of having to create something that pleases the client but also engages a mass audience. Additionally the design must deliver information, enhance branding and all the while remain technically sound.
Web designers must also navigate the nuances of particular industries and their requirements. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective) there is not a “one-size-fits-all” to every client. What proved successful for one business may not be marketable to the audience of another, so it’s imperative for designers to have a grasp on who the viewers will be and target to those standards.
So while some things may be subjective, there are many guiding principles that are not. Many clients often blindly trust the person(s) developing their website to always be up-to-date on the latest advancements, technical progressions, and to price their services fairly. However, in order to ensure that you are always getting the most out of your money, there are few things every client should be aware of.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT?
Information. Information. Information.
When someone lands on your page, the design should flow in such a way that it passively “leads” the viewer in the direction you want them to go. The aesthetic should be such that it assists in navigating the viewer towards valuable content and essential information; who you are, what you do, why they need your service, and how they can get it.
The way this is achieved is sometimes referred to as ‘guiding the eye’ and it is one of the most important features of any website. If your viewers cannot find the information they need quickly and efficiently, they will often “bounce” off and seek the answer somewhere else…and if that answer is easily offered by a competitor this could spell disaster for your business.
The viewer’s eye should be taken through a series of steps, introducing them to vital information at a glance. This entire process can take mere seconds to complete, so it’s crucial to make something that will instantly capture their attention without overwhelming them.
For example, you may want your user to go from your logo to a primary positioning statement, then an eye-catching image, then to the main body text, with navigation and a sidebar taking a secondary position in the sequence.
There are many ways that designers go about achieving this result:
- Position — Where an item is on a page influences in what order the user sees it.
- Color — Using bold and subtle colors is a simple way to tell the user where to look.
- Contrast — Being different makes things stand out, while being the same makes them secondary.
- Size — Big takes precedence over little, especially where font type is concerned.
- Design Elements — When there is an arrow pointing at something, guess where the user will look?
SPACE CAN BE A GOOD THING AS OFTEN AS IT CAN BE A BAD ONE
The most novice design mistake is wanting to fill up every available space on a website with stuff (images, text, graphics, etc.). The designer bombards the user with so much information that they rarely are able to process any of it, let alone retain what it was they saw.
However an experience web designer knows that empty space isn’t always wasteful, and is often in fact, necessary in order to draw attention to important talking points. It gives the website a clear and clean direction. Tools such as line spacing, padding (how much space is between design elements such as images & text), and white space can make or break a design.
Line spacing refers to how text is laid out and it directly effects how readable your content appears. Too little space and everything runs together, too much and your texts ceases to flow in a cohesive manner. As for padding, it’s safe to say that certain design elements should never overlap others. It’s never a good idea for text to run into images or borders to touch tables, because it clutters up the design. And white space is important because it gives balance, proportion and contrast to the page.
It’s also worth nothing that the term “white space” doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s white, simply that it’s blank. When white space is used effectively, it can actually come across as a more ‘expensive’ or ‘up-market’ design…when used incorrectly however, it can simply make a website look unfinished.
NAVIGATION
There is rarely anything more frustrating than being unable to navigate through a design to find the information you need. Personally, I feel that if I have to spend more than 10 seconds figuring out where I need to go to get the information I need, then I can’t be bothered with the website whatsoever. Is it a product of our “instant” culture? Possibly, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s how people now view the internet.
Remember, you want people spending time on your website because it’s thoroughly engaging, not because they’re lost and can’t find what they’re looking for in the design.
There are two things to always keep in mind in regards to navigation:
- Where am I going? – The ways in which to travel around the website should be easy to find. This means that all buttons are clearly marked and highly visible, the menu should be succinct and efficient (the viewer wants to know where you’re taking them), and most importantly – make sure it’s easy to use. Three-tiered menus are not only tedious but negatively impact your SEO return, roll-over menus that disappear at the slightest motion are terribly frustrating as well.
- How do I go back or get there? - Always make sure that your users can return quickly to a main menu or pertinent section of a website at any given moment. In design we use the term “bread crumb trails” as a way of referring to the navigational aspects of a design, letting you know where you’ve been and how to return. Site maps are also very handy in giving the user tools to find information quickly.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
The true key to successful web-design is giving information to the viewer without burdening them with a lot of unnecessary extra content. Focus on your core competency and highlight your strengths, don’t throw in a slew of other things (i.e. images, text, animation) that do little to enhance your content. Remember, you want the viewer to be focusing on what you’re saying to them. You want to provide them with information and useful content without distracting them. The more the user has to multi-task on your page, the less likely it is that they are giving your content their undivided attention.
FONT CHOICE IS IMPORTANT
Have you ever noticed the difference between the handwriting of an elementary school teacher and a busy physician? One is very clear and readable, because they want to impart wisdom and information to their students; while the other is well…chicken-scratch that you need a decade of experience in the CIA to decipher.
There is a reason that typography is a valued art, because it’s the most common (and arguably important) element of any good design. Make sure that your font is easy-to-read.
Here are just a few things to keep in mind as well:
- Font Choices — Different types of fonts say different things about a design. Some look modern, some look retro. Make sure you are using the right tool for the job.
- Font sizes —Text is meant to be read, not just looked at. Make sure the text sizes are consistent, large enough to be read, and proportioned so that headings and sub-headings stand out appropriately.
- Line Length — There is no hard and fast rule but generally your lines of text shouldn’t be too long. The longer they are, the harder they are to read. A good key is thinking about how a newspaper lays out its text. Clear, concise information.
- Color — It may look good but that doesn’t guarantee that it will read so well. Make sure your color choices are of a high-enough contrast that they are easy to read. Some people see colors differently and that needs to be taken into serious consideration as well.
ARE YOUR IMAGES RELATED?
Just yesterday someone in our office visited a website and asked, “What do these images have to do with their business?”
The visuals on your website are very important. Make sure that the pictures or images that are incorporated in the design help convey the identity of the business. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself how much of an explanation is needed. If there is no direct correlation to the images used and the business, it may be time to rethink your visuals.
IS IT USABLE?
An effective web design is more than just superficial renderings. You need to make sure that your design is actually usable. This may seem obvious, but you would be surprised at the number of businesses I’ve encountered that have a website that doesn’t work…on a multitude of levels.
We’ve already discussed some aspects of usability – navigation, priority ranking, and text. Here are three more important ones:
- Adhering to Standards – There are certain things people expect. For example, if text has an underline, they will expect it to be a link. Doing otherwise is not good usability practice. Your web site should do exactly what people expect it to do.
- Think about what users will actually do – It’s never safe to assume that two users are going to do exactly the same thing on your website. This is why it’s always helpful to solicit feedback from others about the design.
- Think about user tasks – When a user comes to your site what are they actually trying to do? List out the different types of tasks people might do on a site, how they will achieve them, and how easy you want to make it for them. This might mean having really common tasks on your homepage (e.g. ‘start shopping’, ‘learn about what we do’) or it might mean ensuring something like having a search box always easily accessible. At the end of the day, your website is a tool for people to use, and people don’t like using annoying tools.
BE CONSISTENT
Consistency means making everything match. Heading sizes, font choices, coloring, button styles, spacing, design elements, illustration styles, photo choices, etc. Everything should be themed to make your design coherent between pages and on the same page.
Keeping your design consistent is about being professional. Inconsistencies in a design are like spelling mistakes in an essay. They just lower the perception of quality. Whatever your design looks like, keeping it consistent will always bring it up a notch.
MAKE SURE YOUR WEBSITE ACTUALLY WORKS
I was recently asked by a professional to “take a look” at their website and then share with them my thoughts. Now while I couldn’t share my opinion as candidly as I would have liked, suffice to say it was a disaster.
Individuals (especially those responsible for the website of a business) are often very defensive of their decisions, even when those decisions are bad, because they’re so closely tied to them. It’s sometimes hard to be objective in this regard, and the choices can range from everything from whom they used to create the design, the design itself, etc.
It pains me to think about the number of businesses that I know do exceptional work or offer outstanding services, yet their website wouldn’t reflect those qualities in a million years.
Let me put it to you plainly, you should never compromise the quality of your branding or the strongest weapon in your marketing arsenal (i.e. your web presence) because of things like personal ties to a designer or because you feel technologically challenged and out of your comfort zone. Because while things like loyalty to an individual or company is noble, if a design is unable to produce the results you need in order to achieve the success you deserve, then it is hindering your business growth.
Your website should increase your ROI and drive traffic to your business. If links are broken, information is missing, it’s a dated design, or it’s difficult to navigate, you’re going to be missing out on valuable business opportunities.
KEEP IT UP-TO-DATE
While you should always make sure that the content of your website is up-to-date, it is also extremely important that the technology your website is built on is current as well.
A good web design will have a healthy shelf-life and won’t require any major overhauls for quite some time. However, if your website is already being built with obsolete technology, old practices, or outdated methods…then the entire website is already fighting an uphill battle, especially in the realm of search engine marketing and optimization.
Furthermore, a website that isn’t current is costly – both in terms of the financial burden and the cost your business. An outdated design can convey things about your business that may not necessarily be true, but are almost always negative. No company wants to be burdened with the cost of having to re-do a website that was just recently built, this is why it’s important to make sure it’s being done right the first time.
ASK QUESTIONS
At Mediaura, we never expect clients to be experts in Interactive Technology, because that’s our job. However, we always make sure to educate our clients throughout the process so that they have a better understanding of their own property.
We like to use this analogy with clients: if you or someone you loved were in need of a major surgical procedure would you prefer a surgeon who sat down with you and explained the process in layman’s terms; what your choices were and why they recommended a certain method, why choice A is preferable to choice B, utilized the latest technological advancements, outlined the process involved, enlightened you on what to expect, and answered any questions you may have about such an overwhelming endeavor OR would you choose the surgeon who was very friendly but vague, gave you no options, and operated with dated equipment and methods?
You would choose the first surgeon without a doubt. The same goes for website development. It’s an arcane and complex industry, full of technological jargon and advanced algorithms. Clients should always feel confident that the designer they are using is honest, open, up-to-date on the latest advancements, and as forthcoming as possible with information.
It’s also beneficial for the designer as well. An educated client is going to make better, more informed decisions about their website. The client will value the designer as a resource and become more involved in the process, yet even if they don’t, even if they still prefer a more hands-off approach – they will rest assured that their website is truly a top-notch design and in good hands.
There are many things that could be detrimental to your business, don’t allow a bad website to be one of them.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the visibility of a website or a web page in search engines via the “natural” or un-paid (“organic” or “algorithmic”) search results. In general, the earlier (or higher on the page), and more frequently a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine’s users.
As an Internet marketing strategy, SEO considers how search engines work, what people search for, the actual search terms typed into search engines and which search engines are preferred by their targeted audience.
The design of a website plays a large role in the branding of a company, as the aesthetic will affect sales and the overall image of your business. However, while most people can differentiate between a good-looking website and a bad one; relying on the superficial qualities of the design to attract traffic is no longer enough.
With so many websites competing for attention, companies have had to learn ways to break out from the pack – and SEO is key to doing just that.
While an attractive looking design will always engage viewers, a good web designer, one that is well-versed in SEO, will always make sure to build their websites with optimization in mind.
When Do You Need To Focus On SEO?
Search Engine Optimization should actually start at the very beginning.
The way that a website is programmed and designed can positively or negatively affect its SEO campaign. So while there are some individuals who can make fantastic looking websites, they may not be experts in everything needed to increase your SEO. And while there are experts in SEO, very few of them design websites themselves – they’re more or less consultants once the web page is finished. This is why making sure to work with a company, knowledgable in both realms, is imperative to really maximizing your exposure.
An SEO compatible web design will improve conversion rates, increase sales, and improve your placement in Search Engine results; long before the “legwork” of inputting keywords and meta-tags even begins.
The term “search engine friendly” is used when describing website design, menu navigation, content management systems, images, videos, shopping carts, and many other elements of a website design.
There are many designers who believe that an “SEO friendly design” means that they are restricted in regards to the creative elements they can implement with their design.
What do we say to them? Think again.
The guidelines for Search Engine Optimization are actually a set standards that help offer visitors the best possible user experience. Protocols for design elements help to not only affect SEO results, but they also contribute to streamlining the entire website experience. Essential features such as menu and navigation layout have become more intuitive, while colors and fonts are made more readable, and graphic elements have been streamlined to stop hindering load time.
Websites are now encouraged via SEO to be more concise and precise with the information offered. Some of these factors may impact minor facets of the design, while most will only be known by yourself and the designer. However, a design that is built with SEO in mind will offer a truly efficient user experience.
Where To Go For SEO
While there are many people in the search marketing and social media industries who proclaim themselves “experts” in SEO, the unfortunate truth is that not many of them actually are.
Search Engine Optimization is a new concept for most organizations, and the complex algorithms and unique verbiage can be quite overwhelming for most individuals. Unfortunately this has led to quite a few pseudo-experts trying to make a quick buck with just a very basic understanding of search engine optimization as a whole.
Within the realm of SEO, nothing can be taken for granted.
As new algorithmic updates are introduced, techniques developed, and more efficient methods discovered - it quickly becomes apparent that there is no “magic formula” for guaranteed SEO results. Be wary of anyone who tells you that SEO is as simple as merely inputting “keywords” “meta-tags” and focusing on “page rank.” While these are necessary components to effective SEO development, they are by no means the definitive end to true SEO success.
SEO is a constantly evolving process, that literally changes day-to-day.
Also worth noting, is that what is effective for one company may not be what is best for another.
Even though there are SEO basics that should be apparent in every search engine optimization campaign, there are also additional variables for almost every industry. For example, an effective SEO campaign for a hospital may need to be dramatically different from one specific to a restaurant, etc. This is due to the content and targeted audience.
Another example of an industry where SEO has been making great strides, is the field of law. Entities such as law firms, lawyers, and various other law-related practices have really benefited from embracing SEO technology.
Law firms have seen the results (and the return) on websites that integrate SEO into their design.
However, the SEO for a truly outstanding web presence within this industry often requires even greater attention to detail than most. Designers within this industry not only need to make sure that the basic building blocks of SEO are present, but they also must be aware of other requirements, such as Bar Association guidelines and/or any applicable statutes (especially those regarding advertisements).
Factors such as this are crucial, because while something such as design and SEO may be subjective, the law is not. It’s not worth potentially compromising your practice’s reputation because you trusted such an important endeavor to someone not fully educated or well-versed on the necessary guidelines.
Remember, there are many people out there touting themselves as “SEO Experts” but anyone with a true investment in your success should be able to justify such a claim. Make sure to ask questions, lots of them. Part of the measure of a true ‘expert’ in any field, is someone who can explain esoteric constructs (such as SEO) in layman’s terms. The person managing your SEO should be able to answer your questions, without being erroneously vague.
The very nature of Search Engine Optimization requires that anyone working in the field continue to research, learn and challenge themselves, because what may have worked a few months ago may not be as effective today.
A Case Study of SEO
A powerful SEO campaign will not only drive traffic to your website, but it will also help make your business more cost-effective. As we all know, the greater the awareness is for a brand, the increased likelihood there is to translate that into viable sales. However, many companies aren’t aware of the impact that SEO can have not only on sales, but the entire solvency of their own business.
Not long ago, Mediaura was contracted to help a company optimize their SEO and PPC (pay-per-click) advertising. This company already had a very solid website, so they were looking to utilize SEO and PPC to further enhance their presence in the marketplace. They had also previously contracted with one of these so-called “SEO Experts” to manage their SEO & PPC campaigns with a budget of around $45,000 per month. However, they were dissatisfied that with such a large budget they were still ranking quite low on search engine results; so they wanted to see if we would put our extensive knowledge of SEO to the test.
Naturally we were more than happy to comply.
After analyzing a multitude of aspects and variables, we were able to determine the best course of action. Although the previous consultant had put some basic SEO implements in place, many of those aspects had been proven months ago to have no real effect; or conversely the signals had been modified by the Search Engines. You see, the Search Engines themselves are constantly altering and updating the information they are looking for on a website as well. This is why it is imperative for companies involved in SEO to always remain up-to-date on new developments in the realm of optimization.
At the end of this process, much to our client’s satisfaction, we were not only able to significantly increase their search returns (which often resulted in their company monopolizing almost the entire first page of results), but we also were able to reduce the required budget by more than half – thus saving them tens-of-thousand-of-dollars per month.
Now, our client was not only benefitting from an increased awareness for their company, but they were also saving over half of their budget. They were then able to reinvest that money into new sections of their business, further enhancing growth and development for their company and making it more competitive in the marketplace.
This is just one of many examples as to why it is important to work with a company with true experience in Search Engine Optimization. Working with a company that can maximize the return on your investment will provide you with tangible results.
So Why Do You Need SEO?
There is a reason that SEO has become the phenomenon that it is today.
Simply put, when performed correctly – It works.
Driving traffic to your website is critical for any business, especially one that relies on their webpage for online sales or marketing. And while there are a lot of ways to achieve this, search engine optimization is undeniably one of the most effective.
It is a process that does require time to properly develop, so don’t be dismayed when there is not immediate overnight success. As a good rule of thumb, you typically begin seeing your median results at around 2-3 months. Although your SEO consultant should be monitoring your status on a daily basis, making changes where needed; it is around this time that a clear picture begins to emerge. At this point your SEO consultant will compile the data, evaluate the best course of action, and make any necessary recommendations. If you’re lucky enough, you will have achieved the exact results you were after, and then the process of maintaining that level of success is what is then needed.
Make no mistake about it, search engine optimization takes effort and of course know-how. While the overall concept may seem straight-forward and basic, it is a world full of arcane concepts and complex mathematical formulas.
However, a website that incorporates the principles of Search Engine Optimization into its development will be one of the most valuable weapons in your marketing and advertising arsenal.
To learn more about how SEO or PPC may benefit you, contact Mediaura today or visit us on the web at www.mediaura.com
When It's Time for an Upgrade
Recently Mark’s Feed Store decided that it was time for a website redesign.
The need for a technological upgrade was not because they were unhappy with the previous incarnation of their brand, but rather they decided it was time to begin offering more information and services online. As more companies and consumers continue to grow and do business online, this type of adjustment is often necessary.
Their previous website appeared as such:
Mark's Feed Store Old Design
Mark’s Feed Store is a bar-b-q restaurant that was established in 1988 and has several locations in multiple states. Therefore they wanted to begin utilizing the latest advancements in website design and e-commerce in order to further enhance branding and consumer awareness.
The most important starting block of the redesign process was transitioning the existing design into something that would begin offering the benefits of Search Engine Optimization straight away. We updated them to a content management system which offers enhanced SEO features, along with additional security for their online property.
In addition to the new creative design elements, we also sent our staff photographer out on-site to get updated photographs of the various locations, food, products, etc.
New Design
Along with the new layout, Mark’s Feed Store decided that they would like to have E-Commerce available on their site as well. We were happy to be able to provide this secure service for them, and their online store is set up so that people may shop safe and secure for delicious sauces and Mark’s Feed Store products within the comfort of their own home.
Mark’s Feed Store is also very involved with their community, therefore additional information has been added to the website (in-depth information and online contact forms) in order to provide further materials regarding Mark’s Feed Store’s charity involvement and fundraising policies.
This is just a sneak peek at some of what we’ve done to improve the Mark’s Feed Store user experience and branding practices.
Make sure to visit www.marksfeedstore.com and check out their new design
Business First Discusses Mediaura's Success
Mediaura was recently featured in Business First, and we have been overwhelmed at the positive response from our colleagues and peers. As a company we work hard to provide the very best for our clients – whether it’s exceptional service, cutting-edge technology, an education on modern marketing techniques, or all of the above and then some.
To be the recipients of such recognition is rewarding to say the least.
Thank you to the team at Business First Louisville for helping convey our message and share our story.
To check out the article, go here.
Mediaura Launches New E-Commerce Website For Active Ankle
Today, Mediaura launched a new E-Commerce website for Active Ankle that supports both domestic and international shipping options with complete UPS and USPS real-time rate lookups. The website also features a custom flash intro and streaming video testimonials and fitting guides. http://www.activeankle.com
Mediaura Launches 2010 KFC Pride 360 Hitmaker
We’re excited to announce the kickoff of the 2010 KFC Pride 360 Hitmaker contest, featuring celebrity judge Jazze Pha. The Hitmaker website is built on a content management system and utilizes our custom media player component for uploading, listening, and voting. The uploading tool automatically converts songs to the proper 128bit MP3 format, and it will allow users to upload, crop, and resize their own photos.
All songs are auditioned thoroughly before being eligible for the contest using our custom admin interface. In July, phase 2 of the contest will begin. This will feature our updated media browser/playback/voting tool. Users can stream songs and rank artists to help determine the 2010 Hitmaker. The promotion is capped off with a studio prize package and a physical audio compilation CD and a virtual CD release on iTunes. Mediaura, along with our friends at Creative Alliance, helped coordinate the entire promotion. This is our fourth year in a row executing the KFC Pride 360 Hitmaker contest
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