When we launch a business, we can either do it haphazardly or we can carefully consider whom we would like as our clients - in other words, who is our target market??
My company, Integrative Waves, is a wellness practice that integrates the holistic therapies of skin care, manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) and clinical aromatherapy, to help clients achieve their full health potential. I am a holistic RN, esthetician, certified Vodder lymphatic therapist, and clinical aromatherapist. My clinic is located in San Diego. Hmm, a bit dry but you get the gist of my business...
However, it is all well and good to have a business but you need to have an audience who wants what your business is offering AND who is willing to pay money for it, to remain in business longer than 5 minutes!
Ah, now we have got to the tough part.....
So I contemplated and reflected and contemplated some more on my ideal target market.... And this is what I decided. Now this is not completely set in stone, you realize - I am a Gemini with all my different sides having a say!
My ideal customer is a woman between the age of 35 and 70 with an income of $60,000+, living in San Diego. She will have attended college and may either be employed or be a homemaker. She may or may not have children. Leading an active lifestyle, she still takes time out regularly to read a good book and enjoy stillness.Her interests include organic gardening, cooking, and an appreciation of good food and wine. Believing in regular self-care for stress relief and health maintenance, she has a strong interest in integrative therapies. She likes to take care of her skin, using professional skin care products and having regular facials. She appreciates the need for western medicine but prefers to use essential oils and lymphatic drainage to maintain a healthy body. She is passionate about learning and will be a life-long learner. Her belief that a person should be fully involved in life carries over to all her decisions - she wants to participate fully in all that concern her!
Now, I can hear men saying that I am being sexist and they feel like I am excluding them! Am I? Not at all, but my main market is women, just by the nature of what I do! Just a numbers thing - sorry, boys! However you are always welcome....
So what's that saying? Seek and ye shall find? Put it out to the universe and you shall be rewarded??
Hmm, I wonder....
On that note, I will leave you with our awe-inspiring (tongue-in-cheek) mission statement -
'Integrative Waves is dedicated to improving the well-being of the whole person by providing individualized, innovative, holistic therapies in a highly professional, knowledgeable and caring environment. Integrative Waves integrates different therapies to realize the full potential of each person's health through the combination of hands-on and education. A priority is to have people allow themselves to enjoy their skin and feel good about themselves.'
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Surfing on the Web...
Where do I go when I go into the land of websites? Who do I visit? I have to admit that I tend to favor websites that involve some kind of booking for travel whether it be an airline or hotel site. I do not tend to surf much on the web; I like my surfing to be done on water! I usually go to websites for a reason.
Some of the websites that I visit I usually access via links in their newsletter. This is how I often view the news articles on the Huffington Post and the specials for the flights to Australia on Qantas. This time I went directly to the websites of both these companies in order to review them. Their urls are: www.huffpost.com or www.huffingtonpost.com to access the Huffington Post and www.qantas.com for Qantas.
1. The effectiveness of the websites -
Huffington Post - makes it easy to look at news related to what a person is interested in
Qantas - makes it easy to book a flight to different destinations. People can also book hotels, cars, and vacation packages.
2. What specific principles of good design do they include and why
Concept -
Huffington Post - to disseminate news on different topics
Qantas - to sell flights
Both these websites definitely show what their purpose is.
Contrast
Huffington Post - the home page has a big image and large headline to attract attention
Qantas - the colors of red and white provide contrast to allow visitors to see the important areas.
Repetition
On both websites the top section with the logo and the navigation never disappears when a different page is opened. This makes it easy for visitors to explore these sites.
Alignment
Huffington Post - there is enough white space around the images so they can breathe. The text is not too close
Qantas - things are aligned to the left.
Both website layouts have been designed to attract rather than distract the reader.
Proximity
Both sites allow the reader to see how things relate on the page by keeping the appropriate text near the images and the headlines.
Hierarchy
Huffington Post - has a bigger photo at the beginning of the page with the story that the editors consider most important
Qantas - the first thing you see is the box to book flights.
The reader does not need to guess what is the most important content and where to begin.
Typography -
Both websites are easy to read - there is no concern with not being able to read any content. Headlines stand out and grab attention.
Ease of Use -
Qantas has its logo on the top left.
Huffington Post- their title/logo spans across the top. They have links back to the top on their pages that are content-dense.
As soon as the reader sees the home page on both websites, there is brand recognition .The navigation bar is very obvious on both sites and both are situated at the top.
Depth of Content
Both these sites have numerous pages making up their website. They also both have their social media icons prominently displayed to link to their social media sites where they can have dialogue with their customers.
3. What makes you come back?
Qantas - I use this airline to fly back to Australia to visit family about twice a year. I am also a member of their frequent flyer program.
Huffington Post - the articles are well written and there is always something to interest me.
4. What could be improved?
The home page of Qantas is beginning to look dated. However it is still user friendly
The ads on Huffington Post are very annoying however they are there to bring in revenue for this company. If there were no ads, the access would be subscriber-based.
Both these websites are user-friendly for me - they provide the information I need without making me work too hard for it. I very much appreciate that!
Some of the websites that I visit I usually access via links in their newsletter. This is how I often view the news articles on the Huffington Post and the specials for the flights to Australia on Qantas. This time I went directly to the websites of both these companies in order to review them. Their urls are: www.huffpost.com or www.huffingtonpost.com to access the Huffington Post and www.qantas.com for Qantas.
1. The effectiveness of the websites -
Huffington Post - makes it easy to look at news related to what a person is interested in
Qantas - makes it easy to book a flight to different destinations. People can also book hotels, cars, and vacation packages.
2. What specific principles of good design do they include and why
Concept -
Huffington Post - to disseminate news on different topics
Qantas - to sell flights
Both these websites definitely show what their purpose is.
Contrast
Huffington Post - the home page has a big image and large headline to attract attention
Qantas - the colors of red and white provide contrast to allow visitors to see the important areas.
Repetition
On both websites the top section with the logo and the navigation never disappears when a different page is opened. This makes it easy for visitors to explore these sites.
Alignment
Huffington Post - there is enough white space around the images so they can breathe. The text is not too close
Qantas - things are aligned to the left.
Both website layouts have been designed to attract rather than distract the reader.
Proximity
Both sites allow the reader to see how things relate on the page by keeping the appropriate text near the images and the headlines.
Hierarchy
Huffington Post - has a bigger photo at the beginning of the page with the story that the editors consider most important
Qantas - the first thing you see is the box to book flights.
The reader does not need to guess what is the most important content and where to begin.
Typography -
Both websites are easy to read - there is no concern with not being able to read any content. Headlines stand out and grab attention.
Ease of Use -
Qantas has its logo on the top left.
Huffington Post- their title/logo spans across the top. They have links back to the top on their pages that are content-dense.
As soon as the reader sees the home page on both websites, there is brand recognition .The navigation bar is very obvious on both sites and both are situated at the top.
Depth of Content
Both these sites have numerous pages making up their website. They also both have their social media icons prominently displayed to link to their social media sites where they can have dialogue with their customers.
3. What makes you come back?
Qantas - I use this airline to fly back to Australia to visit family about twice a year. I am also a member of their frequent flyer program.
Huffington Post - the articles are well written and there is always something to interest me.
4. What could be improved?
The home page of Qantas is beginning to look dated. However it is still user friendly
The ads on Huffington Post are very annoying however they are there to bring in revenue for this company. If there were no ads, the access would be subscriber-based.
Both these websites are user-friendly for me - they provide the information I need without making me work too hard for it. I very much appreciate that!
Thursday, September 19, 2013
The Good, the Bad and the Really Ugly.....
Isn't it amazing how some websites are absolutely fascinating and captivating - they are well-designed, appealing to the eye, inviting and welcoming.... They draw you in and you never want to leave...
While others - oh dear, you just want to leave IMMEDIATELY and never go back! The problem arises when a consumer has to remain on a bad website because it is the only show in town for that particular product.
So let's discuss the Bad and the Ugly first ......
1) http://www.tectorch.com, the website for TEC Welding Products, Inc.
This is one website that has BIG problems, really too many to count. This website has the feeling of having been around for a long time, a very lo-o-o-ng time.......!
Four of the most obvious problems for visitors are-
1) the Home page - really, did this business have to put literally everything AND then the figurative kitchen sink as well on the home page??? and, actually, the whole website in general. Very confusing.
2) very small font - a person needs a magnifying lens to read the content - if you really wanted to!
3) contact details at the bottom of the page - nowhere else. Why not at the top? Do they not want people to call or email them- maybe THAT is why they have everything on their website!
4) home page button only at bottom at the different pages - this website gives a person a workout! You can't even go back to the home page without having to go to the bottom....
What needs to be improved? - Everything - probably the best thing would be to start over again. However, this is a website selling welding products. Maybe it does not need to be aesthetically pleasing for welding guys (and girls) but I am sure that they would want a more user-friendly website! I think that at least the users would like the contact details up at the top of the page so they don't have to scroll all the way down to the bottom for them. Just my opinion...
2) http://www.apple.com, the website for Apple.
OMG, you gasp, not Apple, not our god...! Oh yes, I was quite frankly disappointed when I went to the website. Yes, it is clean and glitzy but, to me, it is boring. And, by the way, I own an IPhone so I am not anti-Apple. I may be a bit controversial with this, and yes, I definitely can hear the hyperventilating of some of the readers as they are perusing this section of my screed for this week! I found that the different pages sometimes took time to load due to the graphics. (Hey, don't tell me my server is slow and it is the reason for this - please tell it directly to AT&T). Maybe the site was a little too sterile for my tastes. Or maybe I have become jaded and everything Apple looks the same now - the brand has lost its unique edgy look because it is ubiquitous. What could help this website? Apple, please release something that does not look rehashed - a different color and plastic (really?) doth not make an exciting new product!
Now for the Good.....
1) http://www.swagelok.com, the website for Swagelok.
Even though it is an industry website that I would not normally visit, this website was attractive to me. Very well laid out with good use and mixture of text and photos. The graphics aid the text, they don't interfere. The website is easy to navigate, with clear headings. On every page a visitor knows how to contact the company. The pages load quickly. It is easy to bookmark and share about this company on many social media sites. The logo is simple but aesthetically pleasing. This was a website that I wanted to remain on and investigate. The good design and pleasing aesthetics definitely helped. Swagelok, please, please, please give the name of your web designer to TEC Welding....
2) http://www.apple.com
What - this website in both categories??? How can that be?? Because.... (normally I do not begin with a subordinating conjunction but Apple is a special case!) I must admit that for most people this website would be really appealing - very clean, visually stimulating, and very easy to be directed to the right place. The site map is very user-friendly for all things Apple! The site gives the visitor lots of information about the different products. Most visitors to this website are expecting to see exactly what it gives them - the Brand that is Apple!
So design and aesthetics play a very important role in attracting visitors and making them want to stay on a website, especially if they do not know the brand.
Oh, by the way, when I looked at the Apple site a second time a day later, the pages loaded faster - interesting, huh? Must have been the Harvest Moon having some fun with technology on Wednesday night...
While others - oh dear, you just want to leave IMMEDIATELY and never go back! The problem arises when a consumer has to remain on a bad website because it is the only show in town for that particular product.
So let's discuss the Bad and the Ugly first ......
1) http://www.tectorch.com, the website for TEC Welding Products, Inc.
This is one website that has BIG problems, really too many to count. This website has the feeling of having been around for a long time, a very lo-o-o-ng time.......!
Four of the most obvious problems for visitors are-
1) the Home page - really, did this business have to put literally everything AND then the figurative kitchen sink as well on the home page??? and, actually, the whole website in general. Very confusing.
2) very small font - a person needs a magnifying lens to read the content - if you really wanted to!
3) contact details at the bottom of the page - nowhere else. Why not at the top? Do they not want people to call or email them- maybe THAT is why they have everything on their website!
4) home page button only at bottom at the different pages - this website gives a person a workout! You can't even go back to the home page without having to go to the bottom....
What needs to be improved? - Everything - probably the best thing would be to start over again. However, this is a website selling welding products. Maybe it does not need to be aesthetically pleasing for welding guys (and girls) but I am sure that they would want a more user-friendly website! I think that at least the users would like the contact details up at the top of the page so they don't have to scroll all the way down to the bottom for them. Just my opinion...
2) http://www.apple.com, the website for Apple.
OMG, you gasp, not Apple, not our god...! Oh yes, I was quite frankly disappointed when I went to the website. Yes, it is clean and glitzy but, to me, it is boring. And, by the way, I own an IPhone so I am not anti-Apple. I may be a bit controversial with this, and yes, I definitely can hear the hyperventilating of some of the readers as they are perusing this section of my screed for this week! I found that the different pages sometimes took time to load due to the graphics. (Hey, don't tell me my server is slow and it is the reason for this - please tell it directly to AT&T). Maybe the site was a little too sterile for my tastes. Or maybe I have become jaded and everything Apple looks the same now - the brand has lost its unique edgy look because it is ubiquitous. What could help this website? Apple, please release something that does not look rehashed - a different color and plastic (really?) doth not make an exciting new product!
Now for the Good.....
1) http://www.swagelok.com, the website for Swagelok.
Even though it is an industry website that I would not normally visit, this website was attractive to me. Very well laid out with good use and mixture of text and photos. The graphics aid the text, they don't interfere. The website is easy to navigate, with clear headings. On every page a visitor knows how to contact the company. The pages load quickly. It is easy to bookmark and share about this company on many social media sites. The logo is simple but aesthetically pleasing. This was a website that I wanted to remain on and investigate. The good design and pleasing aesthetics definitely helped. Swagelok, please, please, please give the name of your web designer to TEC Welding....
2) http://www.apple.com
What - this website in both categories??? How can that be?? Because.... (normally I do not begin with a subordinating conjunction but Apple is a special case!) I must admit that for most people this website would be really appealing - very clean, visually stimulating, and very easy to be directed to the right place. The site map is very user-friendly for all things Apple! The site gives the visitor lots of information about the different products. Most visitors to this website are expecting to see exactly what it gives them - the Brand that is Apple!
So design and aesthetics play a very important role in attracting visitors and making them want to stay on a website, especially if they do not know the brand.
Oh, by the way, when I looked at the Apple site a second time a day later, the pages loaded faster - interesting, huh? Must have been the Harvest Moon having some fun with technology on Wednesday night...
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Businesses and how they are talking socially
1. Qantas: www.qantas.com
I use this airline when I fly back to Australia to visit family.
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, RSS feeds, mobile app, email newsletter.
2. Starwood Hotels: www.spg.com
I prefer to stay at this brand of hotels.
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Foursquare, RSS feeds, mobile app, email newsletter.
3. Huffington Post: www.huffingtonpost.com
Facebook, Twitter, Google+, RSS feeds, mobile app, email newsletter.
4. Skin Inc magazine: www.skininc.com
One of the professional skin care industry publications that I follow.
Facebook, email newsletter.
5. Beauty Kliniek Day Spa: www.beautykliniek.com
One of my competitors.
Facebook, email newsletter, Twitter.
I use this airline when I fly back to Australia to visit family.
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, RSS feeds, mobile app, email newsletter.
2. Starwood Hotels: www.spg.com
I prefer to stay at this brand of hotels.
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Foursquare, RSS feeds, mobile app, email newsletter.
3. Huffington Post: www.huffingtonpost.com
Facebook, Twitter, Google+, RSS feeds, mobile app, email newsletter.
4. Skin Inc magazine: www.skininc.com
One of the professional skin care industry publications that I follow.
Facebook, email newsletter.
5. Beauty Kliniek Day Spa: www.beautykliniek.com
One of my competitors.
Facebook, email newsletter, Twitter.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Not Being Wined by Business
Doesn't it annoy you when you patronize a business and give them your hard earned money and all they give you in return is a bad experience?
A few months ago on a Saturday evening, a group of friends and I went to Fish Public, a restaurant in Kensington. It was about 2 weeks after the restaurant had opened. We had all heard good reports and were eagerly anticipating the experience. We are a bunch of Foodies - we like to eat and drink good food and wine. We were seated and served by a waiter who was very knowledgeable about the food selection. He offered good recommendations. The food was fairly tasty. So far so good - no problems.
Unfortunately, the wine service was another world. There appeared to be a separate wine staff. Problems began early and never ceased....
Firstly, a couple of us had brought bottles of wine. When our first wine waiter, a young woman, opened the bottle that I had brought (which was in front of me) she offered the taste of the wine to the man sitting next to me. Not a big mistake but ... I corrected her, and tasted the wine. No big deal.
Secondly, when we ordered bottles of wine from the wine list, we found that the wine staff did not know the wine list very well. The wine list was not long or complicated. Why have a designated wine staff if they are not trained?
However, the biggest mistake occurred with the last bottle ordered for the evening - a Italian red wine, a Barbera, not that expensive. One of the guys at the table had tasted it and said it was OK, that there were no flaws. The wine was poured. However, when I tasted the wine, I noted that it was 'corked', affected by TCA. I called the wine waiter over and told him this.He disappeared, ostensibly to get another bottle....
Alas, that was not the case. A gentleman in a suit appeared at the table ( we had never seen this person before) and proceeded to tell me, without smelling or tasting the wine, that I was wrong! that there was nothing wrong with the wine, it was just a cheaper Italian wine, and a new bottle would taste exactly the same, that I just did not know what to expect! (I am very surprised that he did not add "since you are a woman"). The problem with that statement was 1) the wine WAS corked, very evident of TCA 2) he never smelled nor tasted the wine to assess it himself, and 3) THIS woman IS trained in the sensory evaluation of wine and its defects (I studied winemaking at UC Davis). I had the very strong impression that this gentleman saw a middle-aged, glasses-wearing woman and made the very old-fashioned assumption that women do not know anything about wine! Bizarre! He also never introduced himself - I gather he was the wine manager. He strongly suggested that we should choose another wine, that he knew that the 'defect' was just a property of that wine. I was adamant in asking him to bring the same wine again. Not once did he taste the wine. Incredible! Finally he gave in and huffily brought another bottle of the same wine. Quel surprise! This bottle was TOTALLY DIFFERENT in taste and smell! and not corked. He never apologized or did anything to help make up for the bad experience.
So what does a person do these days with bad service but Yelp their displeasure..... However, I was a social media novice then.... so no Yelping, no Facebook comments, no tweeting, nada!
What DID I do? I did the old-fashioned thing - I bitched and moaned in person to all the friends I could reach about my bad experience!
This dated approach was not as effective perhaps as social media because it did not reach so many people and it also did not allow the restaurant owner to address the problem. But it still allowed me to vent and feel better.
So what if I had Yelped? What would their response have been? Would they have responded at all? Hopefully they would have addressed the issue and resolved it in some positive way.
However, I am not at all sure because my husband had previously experienced problems with wine knowledge and rude, untrained wine staff at their sister restaurant, Cucina Urbana.
So who knows, would using social media have made someone listen?? Maybe I should write a review now and see what happens?? What do you think??
A few months ago on a Saturday evening, a group of friends and I went to Fish Public, a restaurant in Kensington. It was about 2 weeks after the restaurant had opened. We had all heard good reports and were eagerly anticipating the experience. We are a bunch of Foodies - we like to eat and drink good food and wine. We were seated and served by a waiter who was very knowledgeable about the food selection. He offered good recommendations. The food was fairly tasty. So far so good - no problems.
Unfortunately, the wine service was another world. There appeared to be a separate wine staff. Problems began early and never ceased....
Firstly, a couple of us had brought bottles of wine. When our first wine waiter, a young woman, opened the bottle that I had brought (which was in front of me) she offered the taste of the wine to the man sitting next to me. Not a big mistake but ... I corrected her, and tasted the wine. No big deal.
Secondly, when we ordered bottles of wine from the wine list, we found that the wine staff did not know the wine list very well. The wine list was not long or complicated. Why have a designated wine staff if they are not trained?
However, the biggest mistake occurred with the last bottle ordered for the evening - a Italian red wine, a Barbera, not that expensive. One of the guys at the table had tasted it and said it was OK, that there were no flaws. The wine was poured. However, when I tasted the wine, I noted that it was 'corked', affected by TCA. I called the wine waiter over and told him this.He disappeared, ostensibly to get another bottle....
Alas, that was not the case. A gentleman in a suit appeared at the table ( we had never seen this person before) and proceeded to tell me, without smelling or tasting the wine, that I was wrong! that there was nothing wrong with the wine, it was just a cheaper Italian wine, and a new bottle would taste exactly the same, that I just did not know what to expect! (I am very surprised that he did not add "since you are a woman"). The problem with that statement was 1) the wine WAS corked, very evident of TCA 2) he never smelled nor tasted the wine to assess it himself, and 3) THIS woman IS trained in the sensory evaluation of wine and its defects (I studied winemaking at UC Davis). I had the very strong impression that this gentleman saw a middle-aged, glasses-wearing woman and made the very old-fashioned assumption that women do not know anything about wine! Bizarre! He also never introduced himself - I gather he was the wine manager. He strongly suggested that we should choose another wine, that he knew that the 'defect' was just a property of that wine. I was adamant in asking him to bring the same wine again. Not once did he taste the wine. Incredible! Finally he gave in and huffily brought another bottle of the same wine. Quel surprise! This bottle was TOTALLY DIFFERENT in taste and smell! and not corked. He never apologized or did anything to help make up for the bad experience.
So what does a person do these days with bad service but Yelp their displeasure..... However, I was a social media novice then.... so no Yelping, no Facebook comments, no tweeting, nada!
What DID I do? I did the old-fashioned thing - I bitched and moaned in person to all the friends I could reach about my bad experience!
This dated approach was not as effective perhaps as social media because it did not reach so many people and it also did not allow the restaurant owner to address the problem. But it still allowed me to vent and feel better.
So what if I had Yelped? What would their response have been? Would they have responded at all? Hopefully they would have addressed the issue and resolved it in some positive way.
However, I am not at all sure because my husband had previously experienced problems with wine knowledge and rude, untrained wine staff at their sister restaurant, Cucina Urbana.
So who knows, would using social media have made someone listen?? Maybe I should write a review now and see what happens?? What do you think??
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Social Media Chitchat
The world is a busy place and a person does not want to waste time on the wrong social media site for their message. Which to use for what? Is my message personal or is it business related? Who do I want to have a conversation with? Friends, family or potential customers?
I am still a social media newbie but I would like to give you my impression of some of the different sites. Are they suited more for business or personal use?
Facebook - the grand-daddy of them all but one of the most recent for me. Wonderful for personal conversations and communication. Businesses are using it with good results - in the form of pages. I still believe that it is more for personal use but I may change my mind the more I use it....
Twitter - this has been taken over by businesses, large and small, to demonstrate their expertise in 140 characters or less. Celebrities use it to enhance their brand or in some cases show why they shouldn't be a celebrity (by their not-so-smart tweets!).
LinkedIn - this is the first site I experienced. It is definitely business-oriented. It has a more formal, business -like tone to it - no chitchat allowed.
Google+ - trying to become Facebook - undecided where it is heading yet. More personal at present? Hmmm...
YouTube - for videos - a mixture of business and personal. Great for businesses to demonstrate their expertise visually - a very useful tool. So many people are visual these days. For personal, well, everyone has heard of a personal video that has gone viral.
Yelp - this site gives consumers a voice to talk about businesses. This site is suited for personal use but businesses better be listening!
Well, those are my opinions. I have no or little experience with the many other sites but look forward to learning about them.
Last night a friend told me to look into Pinterest. Off I go to explore........
I am still a social media newbie but I would like to give you my impression of some of the different sites. Are they suited more for business or personal use?
Facebook - the grand-daddy of them all but one of the most recent for me. Wonderful for personal conversations and communication. Businesses are using it with good results - in the form of pages. I still believe that it is more for personal use but I may change my mind the more I use it....
Twitter - this has been taken over by businesses, large and small, to demonstrate their expertise in 140 characters or less. Celebrities use it to enhance their brand or in some cases show why they shouldn't be a celebrity (by their not-so-smart tweets!).
LinkedIn - this is the first site I experienced. It is definitely business-oriented. It has a more formal, business -like tone to it - no chitchat allowed.
Google+ - trying to become Facebook - undecided where it is heading yet. More personal at present? Hmmm...
YouTube - for videos - a mixture of business and personal. Great for businesses to demonstrate their expertise visually - a very useful tool. So many people are visual these days. For personal, well, everyone has heard of a personal video that has gone viral.
Yelp - this site gives consumers a voice to talk about businesses. This site is suited for personal use but businesses better be listening!
Well, those are my opinions. I have no or little experience with the many other sites but look forward to learning about them.
Last night a friend told me to look into Pinterest. Off I go to explore........
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Template Decisions
I thought that this would be a fast and easy decision! Little did I know where it was going to lead me - into the world of template decisions....
The decision for the choice of a template for a blog must involve many different facets. Decidedly, it must be very attractive to people so they will want to remain on to read your blog. To that end, it must be user-friendly and easy to read. It must also reflect the personality of the blogger and represent the message that they are conveying. It should not conflict with their brand.
I like black and grey for a background. Am I depressed? I don't think so. However I can be very dramatic! These colors (is black a color or a non-color or all colors combined? Hmm, I should have studied harder in art class....!) provide a dramatic backdrop for the white, lighter grey, and orange script. This stark contrast provides the easy readability for the viewer and will hopefully entice them to peruse my blog.
The white and dark blue around the edges prevent the page from being too dark.The blue allows the tags at the top to be easily read.
The hazy, unfocused mountains in the background (they also remind me of clouds) and the in-focus closer impression of raindrops on a window give me a feeling of being warm and cozy, lying on a couch inside on a cold winter's day. It also gives me a feeling of having traveled somewhere. And traveling is always good....
Template decisions - an interesting world.....
The decision for the choice of a template for a blog must involve many different facets. Decidedly, it must be very attractive to people so they will want to remain on to read your blog. To that end, it must be user-friendly and easy to read. It must also reflect the personality of the blogger and represent the message that they are conveying. It should not conflict with their brand.
I like black and grey for a background. Am I depressed? I don't think so. However I can be very dramatic! These colors (is black a color or a non-color or all colors combined? Hmm, I should have studied harder in art class....!) provide a dramatic backdrop for the white, lighter grey, and orange script. This stark contrast provides the easy readability for the viewer and will hopefully entice them to peruse my blog.
The white and dark blue around the edges prevent the page from being too dark.The blue allows the tags at the top to be easily read.
The hazy, unfocused mountains in the background (they also remind me of clouds) and the in-focus closer impression of raindrops on a window give me a feeling of being warm and cozy, lying on a couch inside on a cold winter's day. It also gives me a feeling of having traveled somewhere. And traveling is always good....
Template decisions - an interesting world.....
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