2011 is most definitely the year of the tablet, and mobile internet usage is set to overtake desktop internet by 2014. Here at Lightbulb we’ve been researching into mobile internet trends and how this will effect our client’s online presence.
There’s been a rapid worldwide adoption and innovation of mobile devices, and the market is recognising the shift in consumer usage. Now’s the time to seriously consider developing your website into a mobile friendly format, to focus on user-experience and functionality.
As a starting point, here’s three things to consider for mobile websites;
1. Simplify: Figure out what your mobile users will be most likely looking for when they arrive at your mobile website. What’s the key information?
2. Divide and Conquer: Figure out how to divide your standard content and features into smaller pieces.
3. Limit: Dedicated pages for easy navigation, a simple header, and context that isn’t too lengthy.
The travel and hospitality sector is one area where growth in mobile internet is increasing at a rapid pace. Stats from ebooker.com find that 70% of mobile hotel bookings were same-day check in – this clearly shows an immediate-requirement trend in mobile usage.
Whatever market sector you operate in, it’s essential that your website maintains its functionality when viewed on mobile devices, with focus remaining on user-experience and your product / service. Contact us today to see how your existing website can be converted in a mobile-friendly site.
Here at Lightbulb we do love Social Media, and we love telling people all about it. This year, we’ve seen lots of our clients embrace Social Media as part of their business marketing strategy – and they’re already seeing results.
The popularity of Social Media has seen a huge increase, as it’s now the number one activity on the internet. Facebook generated over 200 millions users in one year, and You Tube is now the 2nd largest search engine in the world. Basically, we could talk about the power of Social Media all day. But we’ve found a much more effective way of communicating this – in the form of video, of course…
“We don’t have a choice on whether we DO social media, the questions is how WELL we do it.” Erik Qualman
Why not start 2012 with a Social Media marketing strategy? Contact us today to see how it can be used to help your business, and to see how are clients are already using social media click here.
Did you ever stop to wonder what the internet will look like in 2015? Well, being the technology fans that we are, we did!
The internet has come a long way since it’s birth in the 1980′s, we’re now more aware of its potential, and the way we use it is continually changing and evolving. So, when we reach 2015 the way we use the internet will be very different to the way we use it now. “Most internet traffic in 2015 will be video”
The use of video is already proving to be the most effective form of communication, especially online, with YouTube being the second largest search engine after Google. Today, 46 years worth of video footage is viewed on Facebook everyday. Can you imagine how this will increase by 2015?
So, we got to thinking about how video can be beneficial for our lovely clients:
● It can increase and enhance your customer’s expectations.
● A simple way to share technical information about your products, services or expertise.
● Allows you to be more visible online.
● A clever way to increase traffic to your website.
A professionally produced video will become an integral component of your marketing strategy now and for the future. Explore the potential of video with Lightbulb – we would love to hear from you. If you would like to see examples of our previous video projects click here.
Last week at Lightbulb we were busy Art Directing and shooting promotional videos for two of our lovely hotel clients in the peak District.. The aim of the videos is to capture the guest experience of these luxury hotels, by including stunning footage of the cosy lounges, the lush guest rooms, the delicious food and exquisite wine. We were even allowed in the kitchen to capture the award winning chefs in action. Big thanks to everyone at the hotels who were fetching props for us all day – and we were very well fed too (lucky us!)
The videos will feature primarily on the hotel’s website, it will also be posted on YouTube to contribute to their SEO. And we will also shout about it in their quarterly email campaigns and on their Social Media sites. So keep a look out for them!
The use of video is already proving to be the most effective form of communication, especially online, with YouTube being the second largest search engine after Google. Today, 46 years worth of video footage is viewed on Facebook everyday.
Is video something you would like to know more about? How might your business benefit from video? Click here to read more about our video services, and why not get in touch with Lightbulb so we can discuss ideas together! 01484 665 707 or email us on ideas@lightbulb-moment.com
We sat down with a coffee and our copy of The Drum this afternoon, and came across this article: a London based agency have found that many consumers ‘give up’ trying to shop online if they are faced with a poor website.
Well what makes a ‘poor website’ you say? According to the research, those with a confusing navigation structure, lacking in good visuals and those with ‘clunky code.’
Online retail expert Joshua March told The Independant: “Companies need to realise that it is not like the high street: people who are not sure do not have to walk 100 yards down the road to go to someone else’s store; they just have to click ‘back’.”
We often advise our clients to think of their website as a shop window: it needs to be dressed properly, presented well, communicate your brand successfully and invite people in – ultimately resulting in sales. Whether or not your website is for e-commerce purposes, or to promote your products and services, you need to ensure it’s working hard for your business. View it as an innovative marketing tool.
If you think your website could do with some TLC, you’re in the right place. We’re here to develop real business benefits through proactive design, online innovation, outstanding creativity and an approach that puts you firmly in the spotlight.
Is your website working hard for your business? Let’s find out. Call 01484 665 707 to speak to one of the team, or drop us an email to ideas@lightbulb-moment.com
We were super excited to get a retweet from The Hairy Bikers on Twitter as we showed our support for the work by Meals on Wheels in Slaithwaite.
Slaithwaite Meals on Wheels was set up by the local business women of Slaithwaite, otherwise known as ‘The Colendar Girls.’ After our success with the ‘How to look good naked’ Calendar and the money it had raised for local charities ‘Waves’ and ‘Kirkwood Hospice’ we believed there was always more that we could do to help. And so with a proposition from the BBC and a couple of well known Hairy Bikers, ‘Meals on Wheels’ were born once again- but this time with a new concept!
Their voluntary work is doing an amazing job providing fresh, home cooked food to people in the community who really need it. They also take the time to TALK to the people they deliver to, in an effort to stop people sitting in silent homes, eating frozen meals. We think this is fab and hope they continue their work for as long as possible.
The moral of this story is – you just never know who’s reading your tweets!
Join in the conversation with Lightbulb on Twitter – find us @LightbulbDesign.
Did you know, that your average computer, smartphone and tablet can display 16.7 million colours? That’s a lot of colours!
Dulux has partnered with the children’s charity UNICEF to launch the ‘Own a Colour’ campaign. Their aim is to name each and every one of these colours for at least £1 to raise money for this amazing charity.
UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation, currently present in 190 countries, protecting children’s right to be educated, healthy, protected and treated fairly. Many celebrities have already got involved and made a donation – the blues seem very popular. And, of course, Lightbulb have bought the ‘Lightbulb Yellow’ too! (Sorry guys, but colour #F7CA1F is taken.)
Social Media is playing a huge role in spreading the word about this colourful campaign. Lightbulb stumbled across it via twitter, after @DuncanBannatyne made his donation and bought Scottish Saltire Blue.
The campaign has already raised a fantastic £63,840 for UNICEF, and there are still plenty of colours left to go at. You can name a colour for no less than £1, but dig deep if you can. There are SO many colours to choose from – which one will you pick?
If you do name a colour, why not tell us about it on Twitter. Get involved – it’s all for a good cause.
The lovely Brendan who takes care of all our accounts here at Lightbulb, is running his first marathon this weekend in Berlin. He has been putting in many hours of training in preparation for the event and we are very proud of him indeed.
But what does running a marathon have to do with our game?
Well, we got to thinking about how marketing is in fact much like a marathon, in that it takes time, training and ongoing effort. Devising a marketing strategy takes careful consideration, you must identify your business goals and then implement methods of reaching your goals. There will be many options open to you about how to market your business, and we just happen to be experts in that field.
Whether you’re interested in Social Media, Branding, Email Marketing, Public Relations, having an interactive website, optimising your website on Google, and even portraying your business in the right light with professional Business Photography – look no further than Lightbulb. We can advise on the most suited marketing methods to reach your business goals.
Let’s train for your marathon together.
Marketing is a marathon, not a sprint.
Contact Lightbulb today and we can chat about the marketing potential for your business. Why not call us on 01484 665 707 or drop an email to ideas@lightbulb-moment.com
We do tend to harp on about how amazing Social Media is – but we have good reason to.
The amazing (but slightly crazy) Colleen Wainwright decided that for her 50th birthday she didn’t want lavish presents, instead she wanted to do something amazing and raise lots of money for her favourite LA based charity ‘WriteGirl’. WriteGirl is a non-profit organisation for high school girls centered on the craft of creative writing and empowerment through self-expression. We like that!
And so, ’50 for 50′ was launched. The aim was to raise $50,000 in 50 days for WriteGirl through the power of Social Media marketing, and video. The slogan: “Help an old broad help some amazing girls.”
So I decided that I would use what I did have to do what I could do, and then some. I could write. I could employ all of my old marketing and design and advertising tricks in the service of good. Colleen
Take a look at the video below to see how amazing this project was!
It was amazing to see how the power of social media played such a huge role in this project. No sheets of paper passed hands, yet the word spread globally. Lightbulb proudly donated to the project which raised a whopping total of $109,052 in 50 days! More than Colleen dreamed of.
Social media got some bad press after the recent riots around the country, so we are fighting their corner and demonstrating that the power of social media is endless. If all this is possible, just think about what Social Media could be doing for your business. Why not contact Lightbulb today and we can conjure up ideas together.
Lightbulb’s longest standing client breaks America!
We’re both delighted and a little bit sad today. Our longest standing client, Elite Team Fitness are crossing the pond and deserting dear old Blighty.
Dean, Tracey and the girls – we love you to bits and whilst we know we’ll still be working together – Skyping just isn’t the same!
We hope that the lovely people at Nike in Portland Oregon will look after you but don’t forget – we’re always available for house calls!
Good luck!
Here at Lightbulb HQ we have been looking at ways to brighten up our client’s 404 error pages. They are pretty annoying, but sometimes they do happen.
So, we thought, here is another opportunity to communicate our client’s brand, and make sure that the website visitor feels in safe hands.
We found some really funny examples of 404 pages, this one is the office favourite, and we are now coming up with creative ideas for our very own personalised 404 page.
We hope you never have to see it – but it will be there just in case!
Today we received our gorgeous new letterpress business cards from Blush°°. We were nervous and excited to see our new logo printed on beautiful card and letterpressed to perfection. Now we’re looking forward to attending our up and coming networking events, and handing them out to everyone we meet! What do you think of our new cards? Why not tell us on Twitter?
Are you perhaps thinking about new business cards for your company…well, you’re in the right place. We are passionate about combining creativity with business strategy, and would love the opportunity to deliver effective design for your business. Whether that’s business cards, letterheads, a bespoke marketing piece, or something else you have in mind. Get in touch with Lightbulb today and see how we can contribute to your business with effective design and quality print.
Cyanotype Workshop at National Trust Hardcastle Crags
May 20, 2013
Work experience
February 22, 2013
The Henzell Press
February 4, 2013
Instagram woes and some ways around them.
December 19, 2012
