The Role Your Website Plays in Getting You Sales
Chris Shirley MA FRGS Chris Shirley MA FRGS

The Role Your Website Plays in Getting You Sales

Your website isn’t just a digital shopfront, it’s your best salesperson.

It works 24/7, never takes a holiday, and shapes your customer’s first impression long before they speak to you.

When attention spans are short and options are endless, your site has just a few seconds to make someone feel they’ve come to the right place.

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If You Want More Engagement, Stop Ignoring Your Hero Tagline
Chris Shirley MA FRGS Chris Shirley MA FRGS

If You Want More Engagement, Stop Ignoring Your Hero Tagline

When visitors land on your website, you have less than five seconds to make a good impression. 
 
In that tiny window, they’ll decide whether to stay or go.
 
 And the first thing they read, is your hero tagline, that tells people who you are, what you do, and why they should care. If it’s vague, full of jargon, or simply missing, you’re wasting prime digital real estate.

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What is Metcalfe’s Law and How Does It Affect Your Website's Success?
Chris Shirley MA FRGS Chris Shirley MA FRGS

What is Metcalfe’s Law and How Does It Affect Your Website's Success?

Originally formulated by Robert Metcalfe to describe the impact of networking in telecommunications, Metcalfe’s Law states that the value of a network is proportional to the square of the number of connected users. But in the 21st century, the principle has since been applied to social media, digital platforms, and even websites.

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How Design Systems Improve Your Website and Brand Experiences
Chris Shirley MA FRGS Chris Shirley MA FRGS

How Design Systems Improve Your Website and Brand Experiences

You may not realise it, but at the core of your website and brand is a 'design system,' a method of understanding that helps to harness principles like the Aesthetic-Usability Effect, Jakob's Law, Law of Least Mental Effort, Law of Similarity, Serial Position Effect, and the Von Restorff Effect.

In this article, we’ll delve deeper into how these psychological and neurological phenomena intersect with design systems, reshaping the landscape of your website and brand experiences.

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What is ‘Chunking’ and How Can It Help Improve User Experience for Your Website?
Chris Shirley MA FRGS Chris Shirley MA FRGS

What is ‘Chunking’ and How Can It Help Improve User Experience for Your Website?

In cognitive psychology, "chunking" refers to the process of breaking down information into smaller, more manageable units – so that they can be recalled quicker.

This concept has significant implications for website design and user experience (UX), as it directly impacts how visitors perceive and interact with your online content.

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Our Advice: Don't Let Lazy or Inexperienced Marketers Anywhere Near Your Website (They'll Make It Worse!)
Chris Shirley MA FRGS Chris Shirley MA FRGS

Our Advice: Don't Let Lazy or Inexperienced Marketers Anywhere Near Your Website (They'll Make It Worse!)

“One of the most common pitfalls we've observed is the indiscriminate dumping of text onto the website without proper consideration for its relevance or impact.”

If you didn’t realise, your website is the digital storefront of your brand, the virtual gateway through which potential customers interact with your business.

It's a powerful tool for conveying your brand message, generating leads, and driving conversions. However, entrusting the user experience design of your website to lazy or inexperienced marketers can have disastrous consequences.

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What is ‘choice architecture’ and how does it affect user behaviour on your website?
Chris Shirley MA FRGS Chris Shirley MA FRGS

What is ‘choice architecture’ and how does it affect user behaviour on your website?

At its core, choice architecture uses principles from behavioural economics and social psychology to nudge users towards making decisions that align with their goals and preferences.

By strategically structuring options and information, we can guide users towards desired actions and outcomes, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness and usability of your website.

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Unsure what colours to use on your website? Use the 60/30/10 rule
Chris Shirley MA FRGS Chris Shirley MA FRGS

Unsure what colours to use on your website? Use the 60/30/10 rule

Designing a colour palette for a website is a crucial aspect of creating a visually appealing and cohesive brand experience.

One effective approach to achieving balance and harmony in colour selection is the 60/30/10 rule. This rule dictates that 60% of the colour scheme should be the main colour, 30% the secondary colour, and 10% the accent colour. Here's a detailed guide on how to implement this rule effectively:

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What is the Von Restorff effect (aka the isolation effect) and how should you incorporate it in to your brand design?

What is the Von Restorff effect (aka the isolation effect) and how should you incorporate it in to your brand design?

In the world of branding and design, making your product or message stand out is a perpetual challenge.

The Von Restorff Effect, also known as the Isolation Effect, is a psychological principle that can be a game-changer for brands seeking to capture the attention of their audience. This intriguing phenomenon offers insights into human cognition and memory, making it a powerful tool for marketers and designers alike.

But how does it help develop your brand? Here’s our thoughts:

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Why your staff are your best brand ambassadors.

Why your staff are your best brand ambassadors.

Traditionally, brand ambassadors were often high-profile celebrities or influencers, but a new paradigm has emerged. Your own staff, the people who work behind the scenes, are now recognised as some of the most powerful and authentic brand ambassadors a company can have.

When you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Your employees are the heart and soul of your organisation. They interact with customers, collaborate with partners, and shape the culture of your company.

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How to make a website for an ocean rowing expedition

How to make a website for an ocean rowing expedition

Building a compelling website is crucial for an ocean rowing team embarking on a 3000-mile journey across the Atlantic. By choosing a memorable domain name, selecting a suitable platform like Squarespace, customising the design, creating essential pages, sharing expedition information, maintaining an active blog, integrating social media, implementing donation options, optimising for SEO, testing and refining, promoting the website, and tracking analytics, the team can engage their audience, attract sponsors, and provide a central hub for updates and information. Ultimately, a well-managed website reflects the spirit and goals of the expedition, ensuring its success and impact.

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