by davidlecours | Jun 20, 2016 | Web & Digital
Unlike yogurt containers, AEC websites don’t have an expiration date. But they should. Every single new client, employee, or teaming partner will pass through your website. You can’t allow the first impression of your firm to be spoiled. So, it’s critical to keep your site fresh. Web years are like dog years (you have to multiply by seven) because web technology is constantly evolving.
How do you know when it’s time to redesign your site? Here are the top 5 symptoms LecoursDesign sees when A/E/C firms hire us to update their site. A properly designed site will eliminate these maladies to help your firm attract great clients and talent.
1) Your Site Lacks a Content Management System (CMS)
You may have a new project, person or press release that you want to add to your site. You know how easy it is to make these simple updates on your personal blog (or so you’ve heard). So, it’s frustrating that making simple content updates on your firm’s website requires you to hire your web designer to make these changes. Your web designer is busy so it takes a couple weeks and costs you more than it should. There has got to be a better way.
Solution: There is a better way. Develop your site to be built on a Content Management System (CMS). A CMS is an easy-to-use back end to your site that allows you to make content updates without having to know code. Some of the most popular CMS platforms are WordPress, Drupal and Joomla.
2) No Blog
Your site may have a News category because it sounded good at the time, but nobody in your firm is responsible for updating this section. As a result, the latest news item is dated 2009. This communicates that your firm hasn’t accomplished anything noteworthy since the previous decade. Or, maybe you have Thought Leaders in your firm who are speaking at conferences or writing articles or white papers but that content dies after being delivered. You never recoup a return on the investment of preparing the article or presentation.
Solution: Your thought leadership content should live indefinitely on your website in a blog. This will boost the likelihood that a prospective client will find your firm when Googling for topics covered in your blog posts. Experts call this Content Marketing, an effective way to move a prospective client from getting to know, to like, to trust your firm.
3) Small and Crowded Above The Fold
An early web myth was that all content on a web page needed to be visible within the browser window. This was the equivalent of the newsstand days when top stories had to be “above the fold” of a newspaper to be noticed. Websites aren’t newspapers, they should be interactive. Today, with finger swiping and mouse track-wheels, users expect content to be presented in a generously spaced, vertical orientation for a pleasant viewing experience. With great writing and compelling imagery, users will scroll to engage with your content.
A site crammed in the upper left corner, or a site that features only small type and photography is a dated site. Websites used to be no more than 800 pixels wide to ensure fast loading for those on dial-up modems and with small screens. Your clients now use broadband and have bigger monitors and browser windows so it’s time to grow the size of your site.
Before (below: small and crowded into the upper left corner)
After (below: pleasant scrolling experience)
murraysmith.us designed by LecoursDesign.
Solution: Redesign your site to be from 960 pixels wide to full-width. It should re-center, or scale, as you increase the size of your browser window. Better yet, it should utilize responsive technology to respond to the screen size.
4) A Dated Vision
If your site communicates where your firm was three years ago, not where it’s going to be in three years, it’s time to update your site. There is a good chance that the strategic direction of your firm has evolved since you created the last version of your site. You may be pursuing new markets, have new leaders or projects, or offer new services. An effective site is a beacon that transmits your strategic plan three years into the future.
Solution: Great clients and talent are attracted to firms that have a clear vision of where they are headed. Update the copywriting and design of your site to look forward, not backward.
5) Mobile and Tablet Unfriendly
Our experience is that 20″“30% of your web traffic will come from mobile and tablet users. Theses are nice people and deserve a great user experience. So, don’t force them to pinch in and out to view your site on their smartphone. Or, if your current site is uses Flash, it isn’t even viewable on iOS devices (iPhone and iPads) unless the designer created an alternate iOS friendly site. Another issue with your current site may be that the navigation or design elements depend on rollovers or clicks of a mouse. This creates a problem with phones and tablets, where the primary user interface is touch, not a mouse.
Solution: Your new site should feature responsive design. In the olden days (five years ago), firms would create three separate versions of their site: desktop, tablet, and mobile. This was a pain to manage three separate URLs while making site updates in triplicate. Today, you can have one URL and one site that responds to provide a great experience regardless of viewport size. As seen in the Bergelectric site above, the type and imagery will fluidly respond for mobile, tablet and desktop viewing.
Websites should be considered a living entity. As such, they have a lifecycle. If any of the above symptoms are present in your site, then your site is in decline. It’s time to speak with your
friendly web consultant to audit your site for a recommendation on how to proceed.
by davidlecours | Aug 18, 2015 | Presentations, Web & Digital
Your Game Show Hosts: David Lecours and Josh Miles
You can click through our slide deck below. To download slides, click on the “view on slideshare” button lower left.
Best Practice A/E/C Websites
http://www.psomas.com
http://www.bergelectric.com
http://www.randalllamb.com
http://www.ktua.com
http://www.mwalleng.com
http://www.moonmayoras.com
http://www.array-architects.com
http://www.tylin.com
http://populous.com
http://www.dpr.com
http://www.arup.com
http://www.stantec.com
http://www.clarkconstruction.com
http://www.kpf.com
http://coarchitects.com
http://hok.com
Other Sites Shown in Session
http://www.davidlecours.com
http://milwaukeepolicenews.com
http://www.smpssd.org
http://www.nurun.com/en/
http://www.carrierjohnson.com
Content Marketing Articles For A/E/C Firms
Why AEC Firms Must Use Content Marketing
AEC Content Marketing: How To Get Started
A/E/C Firm Website Articles
5 Symptoms of an Expired Website
Why Your Next AEC Firm Website Will Use Responsive Design
I’m No Longer Scared of Google Analytics
4 Functions AEC Websites Must Serve
SEO for AEC Firms
The Website Development Process
Should You Include People On Your AEC Website?
Other Website Resources
http://moz.com
http://www.smashingmagazine.com
https://typekit.com
http://www.typography.com
For more about LecoursDesign web & digital services, click here.
by davidlecours | Oct 22, 2014 | Web & Digital
Surfing Instructors: David Lecours and Josh Miles
You can click through our slide deck below. To download slides, click on the “view on slideshare” button lower left.
Best Practice AEC Websites
http://www.psomas.com
http://www.randalllamb.com
http://www.ktua.com
http://www.mwalleng.com
http://www.geoconinc.com
http://www.moonmayoras.com
http://www.array-architects.com
http://www.tylin.com
http://populous.com
http://www.dpr.com
http://www.arup.com
http://www.sellen.com
http://www.stantec.com
http://www.clarkconstruction.com
http://www.kpf.com
http://coarchitects.com
http://hok.com
Other Sites Shown in Session
http://www.davidlecours.com
http://www.teehanlax.com
http://milwaukeepolicenews.com
http://www.smpssd.org
http://www.nurun.com/en/
http://www.carrierjohnson.com
Content Marketing Articles For AEC Firms
Why AEC Firms Must Use Content Marketing
AEC Content Marketing: How To Get Started
AEC Firm Website Articles
5 Symptoms of an Expired Website
Why Your Next AEC Firm Website Will Use Responsive Design
I’m No Longer Scared of Google Analytics
4 Functions AEC Websites Must Serve
SEO for AEC Firms
The Website Development Process
Should You Include People On Your AEC Website?
Other Website Resources
http://moz.com
http://www.smashingmagazine.com
https://typekit.com
http://www.typography.com
Resources at Miles Design
http://milesdesign.com/surf
To purchase an extended training video of David and Josh presenting Surfing Lessons: The Next Wave of AEC Websites, click here.
For more about LecoursDesign web & digital services, click here.
Reward for Scrolling This Far: embarrassing photo of David Lecours at 15
by davidlecours | Feb 22, 2014 | Web & Digital
Having a “People” section on your website is essential. People do business with people they know. So it continues to surprise me that there is any question about including your people on your website. AEC marketing is built on relationships. While client prospects can have a relationship with your brand, this best occurs after an introduction by your people. In this digital age, prospects want a human connection before considering hiring your firm.
Including People on your website inspirers a lot of questions. In this post, I’ll answer those I’m asked most frequently.
Who should we include in our People section?
Those in your firm with client contact. Typically this means Project Managers and above, plus everyone in Marketing and Business Development.
What if these people leave our firm?
Then you take them off your website using your content management system. This is trickier if you have group photos. If the group photo is of 4 or more people, and one of them leaves, then keep the photo. After all, the person leaving did work at the firm at the time of the photo.
Won’t our competitors steal our best employees?
Your competitors already know who your best employees are. Seeing your staff on your website isn’t going to make them any more desirable. Your employees are already on LinkedIn. They should also be visible in the industry by developing relationships. Keeping employees off your website to prevent them from leaving the firm is a myth. Trying to hide staff from competitive predatory poaching does more harm than good.
Should we include people’s photos?
Yes. Human beings like to look people in the eyes to get to know them. Adding a face to a biography makes that person real, more authentic and approachable when a prospective client sees that person at a networking event. Nobody expects your staff to be supermodels, so don’t worry about people being them photogenic enough.
Corporate headshot or casual friday photos?
Both. Provide several photos to communicate a person’s diversity. Ultimately, photo style depends on the culture of your firm. Or even more importantly, the culture of your target clients.
What about video?
If a photo is a thousand words, then video is 10,000. Video is a powerful way to communicate what someone will be like to work with. It provides a great opportunity to tell that person’s story. Not everyone is comfortable speaking on camera like Ron Burgundy. But there are other options. Try voice-over with project photos or favorite things combined as a slideshow. Stalwart PR, cleverly used video of employees talking about the strengths of their co-workers. Think video testimonial, but instead of coming from a client (which isn’t bad either), the praise comes from co-workers.
Should we include a bio?
I prefer a short introduction to the person with the ability to “Read More” or download a PDF Bio. The download can be helpful for teaming scenarios. Simply listing a person’s achievements like a resume is dull. I recommend a story with more of a narrative arc to make an emotional connection. Another technique I’ve used effectively is an interview format like you’d see in a magazine. You include custom questions per person, and feature their best answers (as seen below in the Randall Lamb site we designed).
What should we call this section?
Call it something consistent with the culture of your firm. You can be clever, but not cryptic. It should be easy for visitors to find this section as part of your top-level navigation. I’ve seen this section titled as People, Team, Staff, Leaders, About Us (I’d reserve this title for about the firm), Leadership, Talent, Management, etc.
Having a People section on your website is another great tool for prospects to get to know, like, and trust your people, and thus, your firm.
by davidlecours | Jan 7, 2014 | Experience Marketing, Web & Digital
Pro Surfing Tips: What the New Wave of Websites Means for AEC Marketers
Surfing Instructors: David Lecours and Josh Miles
SESSION OUTLINE
Intro
- Introducing today’s surf instructors
- Social Handles & Hashtags
- CTA ““ where to get the slides, links, downloads, and handouts
Why – Why Have a Website?, Why This Session?
- A brief perspective of AEC websites
- Why this session? Why have a website?
- 4 Functions: Attract, Demonstrate, Connect, Convert
- Wipeout: The gnarliest mistakes online today.
What – What Is The New Wave Of Websites?
- A new wave is on its way””are you ready to ride?
- What’s NEW for AEC websites?
Examples, and case studies of some of the hottest trends:
Content Management Systems
Responsive Design
Simplified Navigation
Going Vert (Scrolling), Parallax Scrolling
CTAs & Lead Generation
Graphic Design Trends
- Marketing Automation
Cross-channel marketing
- Beyond text and photos: content that scores big with prospects, SEO
- Respect the environment: Today’s digital ecosystem
- Q&A, Comments
How – How To Create Your Next Website
- Ding Repair (fix it up) or New Board (whole new website)?
- Lifecycle of a website
- Assembling your surf team:
Getting the right team on board
Selling a new website to your team
Leading the content charge
- Assembling the right surf instructors
When to go outside for help
- Process: Planning, prototyping, design, content, & coding
- Measurement: How long? How much $?
What To Budget, Calculating ROI
- After the Surf Session
Zen and the art of maintenance
- Q&A, Comments
Review & Conclusion
Resources at Miles Design
http://milesdesign.com/surf
Best Practice AEC Websites
http://www.psomas.com
http://www.randalllamb.com
http://www.ktua.com
http://www.mwalleng.com
http://www.geoconinc.com
http://www.moonmayoras.com
http://www.array-architects.com
http://www.tylin.com
http://populous.com
http://www.dpr.com
http://www.arup.com
http://www.sellen.com
Other Sites Shown in Session
http://www.davidlecours.com
http://www.teehanlax.com
http://www.kpf.com
http://coarchitects.com
http://hok.com
http://milwaukeepolicenews.com
http://www.smpssd.org
Content Marketing Articles For AEC Firms
Why AEC Firms Must Use Content Marketing
AEC Content Marketing: How To Get Started
AEC Firm Website Articles
5 Symptoms of an Expired Website
Why Your Next AEC Firm Website Will Use Responsive Design
I’m No Longer Scared of Google Analytics
4 Functions AEC Websites Must Serve
SEO for AEC Firms
The Website Development Process
Other Website Resources
http://moz.com
http://www.smashingmagazine.com
https://typekit.com
http://www.typography.com
Reward for Scrolling This Far: embarrassing photo of David Lecours at 15
by davidlecours | Jul 3, 2013 | Web & Digital
Most A/E/C firms tout proficiency with the latest technology and excellence in user experience (a.k.a. client service) written on their websites. But if those websites are only designed for viewing on a desktop computer, then they are contradicting any claims of technology or user experience prowess. The medium must match the message.
Have you had the painful experience of navigating a website on your smart phone by pinching in and out to touch one button without accidentally hitting the adjacent button? It reminds me of the childhood board game Operation where you test your dexterity by tweezing out body parts without getting zapped. Responsive Design prevents your website users/visitors from getting “zapped.”
Your next A/E/C firm website must incorporate Responsive Design because it provides an optimal user experience on all screen sizes. In this post, I’ll share the following:
- What is Responsive Design?
- How Does Responsive Design Work?
- Why Do You Need a Responsive Design Site?
- Who is Using Responsive Design?
What is Responsive Design?
Responsive Design is a new design and coding approach to provide an optimal user experience based on the user’s screen size and orientation. The content of the site “responds” to fit a smart phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer.
“Instead of building alternate versions of your website for mobile devices or platforms, responsive design is a method that allows you to build one site that adapts to the context in which it is viewed” explains Chris Butler, author of The Strategic Web Designer.
If you are into etymology, the term “responsive design” originated from a 2010 blog post from Ethan Marcotte.
How Does Responsive Design Work?
You don’t want to hear technical nerdspeak about code, so I’ll focus on what the user experiences when viewing a responsive design site. Responsive design is based on a fluid grid that adjusts the layout of the site based on the size of the visitor’s screen. Here are 3 screen sizes and what happens to the content.
Why Do You Need a Responsive Design Site?
1. Mobile
By summer 2013, there will 7.1 billion mobile subscriptions. This equals the number of humans on the planet. Since we look at our mobile phones, on average, 150x per day, there’s a good chance that your website will be viewed on a mobile phone. Responsive design helps to ensure the user experience on your website is favorable regardless of screen size. At best, the technology is transparent and the user simply finds what she needs. At worst, the user notices the responsive design and makes a mental note of your firm’s technical savvy.
If your website is not optimized for mobile, users may hate your website . A 2012 survey of mobile users by Sterling Research and SmithGeiger show that nearly half of all mobile users say they feel “frustrated and annoyed” when visiting poorly mobile optimized sites. And 36% say they feel like “they’ve wasted their time” when they visit those sites. Responsive design can fix this.
2. Content Marketing
If your firm engages a content marketing strategy, and it should, responsive design supports users engaging with your content regardless of their device. User’s often begin consuming content on one device, only to finish on another. I often browse my twitter stream in Hootsuite on my phone, and send longer blog post links via Evernote to read later on my iPad. I may get an email on my desktop computer about a firm I’d like to research, then send it to Evernote to read later on my iPhone while waiting at the airport. Your website, and it’s content need to live and work like you do (everywhere).
3. Single Site, Single Web Address
The old model was to create a separate website for each device: desktop, tablet and phone. This tripled the amount of design and coding required. It often resulted in dumb-downed versions of your site for phones. It also potentially created 3 different URLs: desktop.you.com, tablet.you.com, and phone.you.com. Which URL do you use, or do others use, when virally sharing your brilliant content? Responsive design let’s you update and share one URL: you.com.
Successful Examples of Responsive Design
Time magazine recently upgraded Time.com to a responsive site. Their pages viewed per visit, mobile, tablet and desktop usage, are all up considerably:
Mobile is up 23%
Home Page uniques are up 15% and time spent is up 7.5%
Mobile bounce rate decreased by 26%
time.com
davidlecours.com
lecoursdesign.com (this site)
psomas.com
moonmayoras.com
Conclusion
Is Responsive Design simply a website trend that will become obsolete 5 years from now? I doubt it. But the web is always evolving. I can guarantee you there will be something new down the road. If you want to back up your project delivery claims of using the latest technology, plan to update your website every 3″“5 years. If you are planning a a new website now, call David Lecours 760-632-7619. We’re very responsive.
