Clue Design

Department of Humour Analysis
This website had the whole office in stiches! It is hilariously funny, check it out and let it brighten your day.
 http://www.tbshumorstudy.com/main.html

Logo Design Love
Want to know about or view anything to do with logos? From look-alike logos, to old and new logo designs, this website has it all.
www.logodesignlove.com

Pulp Pup Culture
If you’re into design, art, fashion and style, then you should check out
Pulponline, an online magazine which displays the funkiest creations of
lifestyle trends, photography and designs.
www.pulp.co.n

Mindmiester
Mindmiester allows the user to map out any thoughts, ideas or brainstorm suggestions for friends or employees to view and reflect on.
www.mindmeister.com/

White Chalk Road
www.whitechalkroad.com.au
White Chalk Road are a leading Western Australian Internet Marekting Firm specialising in SEO, web development and management services.

Energy Process Services
www.eps.com.au
Energy Process Services provides cost effective and reliable compression systems for companies with coal seam gas and conventional oil and gas production and pipeline transportation requirments.

Mines Online
www.minesonline.com.au
Mines Online provides an online platform for companies looking to buy and sell mining projects from around the world.

Oceaneering Marine Brokers
www.oceaneering.com.au
Oceaneering marine Brokers are Perth’s premier marine brokers specialising in quality seafaring vessels.

We continue our series of tips about web writing. This time we bring you three techniques professionals use to create an engaging style that customers like.

Tip No 7 – Write as if only one person reads your site

• Using the web is a personal experience. Your website might reach thousands of people, but each of them interacts with it as an individual. This means you are really writing for an audience of one.
• Think of the words on your website as a substitute for talking to someone face to face or over the telephone. It’s like having a one-sided conversation with a person you cannot see.
• This tip can also help you overcome “writer’s block”. If you are trying to write and your mind goes blank, imagine that you are talking to someone. Write down what you would say. It’s a great way to get started, although of course you will need to tidy it up later.

Tip No 8 – use “you”, “us” and “we”

• Following on from the tip above, you will connect better with your reader if you use “you”, “us” and “we” instead of a formal, corporate style.If you were explaining your services to a potential customer, you would say what “we” could do for “you”. Because your website replaces that conversation, it should use those words too.
  As another example, compare these two statements
• 1) This company welcomes enquiries from interested job seekers.
• 2) If you would like to work for us, please send us your details.

Notice how the second version is much friendlier.

Tip No 9 – Write in the active voice

• As you might remember from primary school, when you use a “subject – verb – object” sentence structure you are writing in the active voice. The subject performs the action (the verb) on the object.
• The active voice creates sentences that are shorter, snappier and livelier.
• The alternative, the passive voice, generally results in sentences that are more cumbersome.
  Although there are uses for the passive voice, the active voice is usually preferable
  Consider these examples
• Your order will be shipped by us within 24 hours. (passive voice)
• We will ship your order within 24 hours. (active voice)
• Our products are only installed by qualified technicians. (passive voice)
• Only qualified technicians install our products. (active voice)

Master the art of the active voice and see your web content become stronger and more direct.
Clue Design provides professional advice about planning and writing effective website content. Contact us now to find out how we can help you. info@cluedesign.com.au

Wealthsure
www.wealthsure.com.au
Wealthsure is one of Australia’s largest financial services dealer specialising in financial and retirement planning, self managed super, wealth protection and tax planning strategies.
 

Hanabishi
www.hanabishi.com.au
Hanabishi is Melbourne’s most renowned Japanese Restaurant specialising in authentic Japanese cuisine and traditional Japanese hospitality.
 

Carbon EMT
www.carbonemt.com.au
Carbon Energy Management Technologies delivers innovative energy management technologies which can assist in reducing your energy consumption and carbon emmissions.

Baxters Driving School
www.baxtersdrivingschool.com.au
Baxters Driving School offers safe, friendly and reliable driving tution and gives their Western Australian students the confidence, skills and knowledge required for driving.

When you purchase something, whether it be a new piece of clothing or a simple gadget, what is the main reason you have chosen to buy that particular product?

For most of us, even if you had to spend a little more you would have to know or trust the brand and its reliability. So if you’re expecting your customers to buy from your website, you have to think exactly the same way as your customer.

Why should they buy from you? What appeals to them? How do you differ from competitors?

Most web searches/visitors to your site will be thinking the same thoughts:

• How can I trust you if I don’t know who you are?
• What is going to happen to my personal information/credit card details?
• How can I contact you in case something goes wrong?
• Why should I buy from you and not another site?
• Is your business a serious business?

So how do you ensure you are fulfilling their requests?

Informative copy-You have to be absolutely precise when it comes to writing copy about a product or service on your site.
Site Security Information- Provide information about the company in About Us and allow the visitor to view company details, who are the team behind the business and provide information on how the shoppers information will remain secure.
Product Reviews- Laying out honest reviews (even negative) from past customers gives the visitor a valuable insight into the company. It also creates a sense of honesty, trust and integrity.
Risk Free Guarantees- Offering risk-free guarantees will help to ease your customer’s worries. This way they know what happens if the product they chose isn’t what they wanted, doesn’t work or just the regular “What ifs” arise.

If you are able to provide your customers with everything they wish to know and convince them that you are trustworthy, reliable and credible company, you will leave your visitors feeling comfortable and confident within not only your website, but also your product.

We continue our series of tips from Januarys Clue News to help you write content for your website.

Tip No. 4- Give every page a purpose
People often write website content that has no clear objectives. Your site will be more effective when every page exists for a purpose.
Use the answers to these three questions to help you draft and review your content.

• What are our business goals for this page?
• Who will read this page?
• How will this page help people who read it?
• Aim to strike a balance between the communication needs of your organisation and the needs of people who visit your website.

Tip No 5- Use simple words and plain English
Your potential customers may be unfamiliar with words that you frequently use in your organisation.
Avoid the following, unless you know that everybody in your target audience will understand them.

• Industry jargon
• Technical terms
• Long words that sound impressive
• People will stay on your website longer if you use simple everyday words that they understand.

Tip No 6- Check your spelling
Spelling is important. When people visit your website, they judge your entire organisation.

• One small mistake might undermine your credibility and cost you a valuable sale.
• Although spell-checker tools (such as in Microsoft Word) are very useful, never rely solely on them.
• The best practice is to have someone else proof read your work. If that is not possible, try to put it aside for a while so you can read it with fresh eyes.
• A useful technique when checking your own work is to read it backwards, because that makes you look more closely at each word.

Clue Design provides professional advice about planning and writing effective website content. Contact us now to find out how we can assist you. info@cluedesign.com.au

Mandurah Ferry Cruises
http://www.mandurahferrycruises.com.au
Mandurah Ferry Cruises offer an exciting and diverse range of crusing options in the peel region from one hour dolphin and canal cruises to half day lunch cruises.

Sea-struct
http://sea-struct.com.au
SEA-STRUCT is an Australian Incorporated Company which specialises in the manufacture and supply of products and services to the oil, gas and telecommunication and Civil enginerring industries.

GETCO
www.getco.com.au
GETCO specialises in the source and supply or parts and components for large mining and heavy civil mobile equipment.

MTI Group
www.mtigroup.com.au
MTI Group provides a range of quality Industrial supplies and Mining consumables along with acting as a solution provider to both industries

Range Equipment
www.rangeequipment.com.au                                     
Range Equipment offers a large range of new and used agriculture, earthmoving and mining equipment.        

                                                                                     
People Sense
www.peoplesense.com.au                                                
People Sense provide organisational consultancy, psychology and therapy to a range of clients who need the understanding of professionals who can assist in work related or personal situations.

Dealing with the declining economy and decreasing sales is going to be tough and businesses must take action now.

When the economy slows and sales decline, companies should be as proactive and prepared as possible and in doing this they will survive and could even thrive throughout these rough times.

There is no better or more cost effective and dependable source for sales and business opportunities than the World Wide Web. It’s the perfect channel for communication with a wide audience who are actively searching for your products and services.

Many companies have an online presence but now is the time to focus on your online marketing activities to increase the effectiveness of your website and increase online sales generation.

Online marketing gives businesses the opportunity to evaluate their Return On Investment quickly and accurately, communicate cheaply and instantly (Email Marketing) with future and existing clients, utilise a cost effective and measurable marketing channel (pay per click marketing) and sell to new markets easily and effectively (Website, Search Engine Optimisation).

So if you want to take action before the economy takes over your business, here are some tips to consider when contemplating how the online world can assist with your business sales:

• Maintaining and attracting clients
  Retain future or existing client contacts and details by getting in touch with clients regularly. Prove to them what you can offer and how they can benefit from your business. Examples include sending monthly newsletters, presenting clients with specials, new products and services, strategies and online brochures.
• Implement SEO Search Engine Optimisation for a higher Return On Investment
  SEO can offer a higher Return On Investment than nearly any other marketing strategy, online or offline. With SEO, businesses can target their specific demographics, capture new business and be found by existing customers, expose brands and stay ahead of competitors.
• Spend less on print directories Some traditional forms of advertising including the print yellow pages are on the decline with internet advertising climbing significantly. Web Marketing can be a lot cheaper and more effective than print marketing. While figures will vary across different industries and global markets, survey after survey shows that Search Engine Marketing is currently the most cost effective and measurable form of marketing for many businesses. Review your expenditure in relation to print advertising and reassess whether advertising in a directory is still performing as well as it was.
• Optimise your website content A well-optimised web page gets you much higher listing in the major search engines like Google, Yahoo! and MSN and being in the top ten listings of a search page will attract more visitors to your site. When your content is “optimised” you have more of a chance for search engines to find you and in turn endorse your business and generate greater sales.
• Communication Constant communication is the key to high-quality customer relations.Update your clients on any new products or services you may offer and explain to them how they can once again benefit from your business. Email marketing provides an excellent way of directly sending, presenting and managing messages, campaigns, strategies and newsletters to stakeholders whilst tracking who is opening the message. Communication allows a two-way flow of information, opportunities to be recognised and awareness of what the competition is up to.

By following these simple tips, you could save your business, increase sales and ride the slowing economy instead of slowly sinking.

For more information of how websites, Email Marketing, Search Engine Optimisation or Pay Per Click Advertising can benefit your business, contact Clue Design…info@cludesign.com.au or www.cluedesign.com.au

Aspen Parks

www.aspenparks.com.au
Aspen Parks are one of the largest resort park operators in Australia. With over 26 Holiday destinations, Aspen Parks are the leading providers for accommodation and tourism.

Envirocare Earth
www.envirocareearth.com.au
Envirocare Earth specialises in readily biodegradable cleaning, body, hair care and pet products which are septic safe, environmentally responsible and free of  harmful chemicals.

Rack ‘n Roll
www.racknroll.com.au
SnagMan is a small company which has designed a new, simple to use and original barbeque utensil for cooking perfect sausages or kebabs.

Indigo Personal Training
www.indigopersonaltraining.com.au
Indigo Personal Training provides high-quality personal training services and education for clients on the benefits of fitness, nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices.