Design Concepts for Web and Social Media

I was asked to speak to a small networking group for my Chamber of Commerce about the design business. I reviewed basic concepts of design work in relation to social media and web design.

I reviewed blogs from www.hubspot.com for research.

Some points which I stressed for design related social media marketing for business on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google Plus:

• Make content creative, relevant and aesthetically pleasing
• Encourage user-generated content
• Use hashtags
• Link to other sites
• Have a content strategy
• Schedule time to dedicate to social media
• Track performance
• Have clear goals, do not waste your time and money
• Be consistent with current marketing campaigns
• Make sure results coming in are relevant to your business

These are tips which I discussed for website design for business:

• 3 second rule, you have 3 seconds to get the user's attention
• Your web design has to be responsive to all screens
• Have white space around and within your design for easier reading and focus
• Use easy to understand action words
• Link to other sites
• Track performance
• Bulleted copy is good for delivering specific information
• Content should show how you can solve problems
• Content should include features of your products and services
• Use original professional photography, overviewed stock can degrade your brand
• Make a connection with the user and your brand
• Headings should be relevant to searchable items by the customer
• Consider that headings are picked up more than content by search engines
• Use consistency in heading sizes, font choices, color schemes, spacing, design elements, illustration and photography styles for a coherent theme throughout you website and all of your marketing pieces