Giant Spheres Web Log » Philosophy

Wearing hats

Kristoffer Benoit — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 05:00:52 +0000

Quickie -

Since there are many SEO offers coming into most business’ email, clients are coming to me to boost their google juice, hence I have been spending a lot of time with google analytics and adwords.

One can easily spend hours pinpointing data for analysis and analyzing keywords.

Once again the web designer is asked to wear another hat.

Guerrilla Marketing on the internet – Book Review

Kristoffer Benoit — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:59:12 +0000

I wish I had the time to implement all of the ideas listed in guerilla marketing.


I found this book extremely useful, especially for creating good copy. The authors inspired me to rephrase many of the informational areas of my page to make them more exciting and enticing.  They encouraged me to write more about what my product or service can do for my customer instead of simply stating what it is that I sell and which services I offer. 
One great tip is how to snag large sales by starting with products or packages that require less financial commitment.  Then offering larger and larger packages after developing a trusting relationship.   
There are also excellent sections on how to design and build your website, and how to utilize email, rss feeds, podcasts and more to spread your message.  
They delve into social media and talk about the power of word of mouth advertising.  
There is even a section on how to build your own guerrilla marketing dream team and they even touch upon outsourcing.
I would recommend this book to any business owner no matter what their experience level with the web.  This guide touches on a great number of topics giving a well rounded base for any entrepenuer to build upon.



The webs vail
Kristoffer Benoit — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:00:55 +0000
Usually when you think of the web it seems like a cold and dark place but if you think about it the web provides quite an intimate experience.  Users are generally in their homes on their own computer, they could be wearing pajamas or be completely naked.  They can browse your web page on their time, they can flick from your page to another and back.  They can leave and search for another source of information.
As a user on the web you do not have anyone to be responsible to and are often not held accountable for the things you say. The internet is like a mask.  No one knows who you are.  No one can see you. You’re not out in the open or face-to-face.  It is not as intimidating as “real life” you can simply close the browser turn the computer off and walk away.  You can show people your best side and hide your faults if you want to.
From the designers stand point this intimacy creates one way conversations.  You are limited by the medium (although this is slowly changing as social media progress to more real time interaction).  Because of this when you present your material on the web you have to answer all of your users questions before hand.  You have to predict what your users will need and what their questions will be.  You also have to make an impression.  It is the same as in real life only the user can close their browser window if they don’t like what they see or if they do not find what they were looking for.
There are ways for your users to provide feedback but it’s not as easy as on the telephone or in person.  There are delays.  By the time you answer their question they may have moved onto another site or made their purchase elsewear.  
It is imperitive to keep your customer in mind when creating copy.  If you receive multiple questions on the same topics than it is time to add the answers to these questions to your web page.  How? try to work it organically into the copy.  Tools like frequently asked questions are not as useful as you may think.  When is the last time you checked out a frequently asked questions section on the web?
Review the copy you already have and try to reword it first.  If you can not fit

It in organically than you may need to add aditional content. 



Trust Agents – A Book Review
Kristoffer Benoit — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:28:11 +0000


If you are looking to learn about social media from the viewpoint of books like think and grow rich and the power of positive thinking then check out trust agents by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith.  The book crosses genres by putting the ideas from positive thinking books through a social media filter.  There is much more to the book than this but it is apparent what work has influenced the authors while reading.  
The authors give great tips on how to interact with people through social media in a responisble way to help you improve your business.  The main themes of the book are; when you help people you help yourself, be genuine and be responsible.
Overall this book is very refreshing.  One that any small business entrepreneur may find interesting.  
I would definitely recommend trust agents.  If you are into social media marketing, which you have to be to have a successful web presence. 



How we work with our web clients – An organic approach to web development
Kristoffer Benoit — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:04:12 +0000
The client web designer relationship is a delicate one.
How does Giant Spheres work with their clients to achieve their project goals?
My approach starts by forming a cohesive web strategy with my client.  I want to know what my clients business or service is all about, who their customers are, what their target market is, who their competitors are and what they are doing.
I like to gather any images, fonts, textures or examples from my client for inspiration.  What inspires them, who influences them and what is their taste.   Do they require to be able to manage and change aspects of their own site (content management system)?   How would they like to present their company on the web?  Do they require an innovative flash site? Will they be doing a lot of blogging?
After assessing all of this information and agreeing on a budget I will dig right in with a mock up of the page.  I will get a basic visual idea and colour scheme and will run with it.  The mock will rest online within a nook of the Giant Spheres web page.  The client is able to see changes in real time as I build their complete site in a password protected space.  From this point on the client can make suggestions usually by email, skype or online chat.  Ideas are tossed back and forth in writing conveniently providing a record of all discussion in regard to the page.
When the customer is satisfied with the design, layout, functionality and copy the site will go live.  From there we will focus on search engine optimization by analyzing how the site is performing and adjusting meta data, google adwords, ad sense and so much more.  We will take a look at the avenues of social media that the customer should explore and exploit to meet their full online presence potential.  The ball is really in the customers court with how far they want to take a site.  There are so many more aspects to having a successful web presence than the web page itself and Giant Spheres can help to facilitate those aspects.
My clients expect to be kept well informed on the entire scope of the project.  That is why I constantly keep in contact, mostly via email, to notify the client of any changes.  Usually the email will include a link to a specific page with a few questions.  If there is a deadline on the clients side focus will appropriately be shifted until that deadline is met.
My approach is very organic.  We plant a thought and nurture it until it has a giant sphere of influence.