There is a wealth of health related information available to people online today. Research, facilities, tools and methods have all evolved, and the medical industry is as progressive and high tech as any field out there. Somewhere in the focus of information, it seems much of the industry has a lack of focus on the presentation of the information.

The presentation of the information is essentially the “bedside manner” of the document/ page. There are ways to deliver that information so that is it easier to understand, helpful to the user and sensitive to what may be personally traumatic or even devastating circumstances.

The big challenge is putting the user first. If you can first understand their state of mind, you can better deliver a message that communicates what they need. It is important to consider not just the situation, but how it would be as the patient or their mother, husband or son. Visually, you may want to convey a blend of emotive aspects, such as calmness, caring, authority, trustworthy, clean, focused, and helpful. It is also important to remember that anything that can help them is most important. At a confusing and shaken time in their lives, it is important to make it easy to find directions, phone numbers, documents they’ll need to download, and even tips for caregivers and support.

This thought process translates into every detail. The use of clean, calming colors is the foundation for the environment. Blended with the right photos with sensitive, understanding, yet strong faces can create a warmth and connection. Clear, simple type and consistent navigation structures and a solid hierarchy of highlights on the main page and throughout help users find things with ease. All of these aspects come together for a healthcare site for users who may be in the most need of all.

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Good design is easy to spot. In a nutshell, it is memorable, visually pleasing, the message conveys its purpose and it represents the brand well. And it is no wonder. That is what graphic designers are trained to do.

Web design follows the same principals of design and elements of design. The same tricks and solutions work aesthetically. But, there are 2 other factors that make the problem solving end a bit tricky:

And those are big. The added dimensions for web design make it a challenging medium. Knowing what will happen to your design as it is being coded, understanding why users may not “get it”, and designing with scalability in mind are things that only seasoned web designers can foresee. Companies who hire designers who are not familiar with the inner workings of the internet are often left with a beautiful but short-lived website.

Do yourself a favor. Hire specialists, experts in web design, people who know their craft and are passionate about it. There are web firms geared towards all sizes of businesses and projects. And there are firms like Zunch, who offer several service levels from start-up to enterprise. Do a bit of research and don’t sell your company short. Instead, invest in the best web presence your budget can handle.

Build a site that you can grow on. Let us know how we can help!

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Zunchers got a first glance at the first newly designed ZunchWagon today. SEO guru and Click Fraud Detective Jeff Martin is riding in style. We like how this works with our branding and how it looks on the road. Honk if you see a ZunchWagon!

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Merriam-Webster online has announced a list of new words for 2006 to be added to the popular dictionary. Technology and computer words are at the top of the list with “mouse potato”, “ringtone” and “spyware”. That’s three less words to tie up my spell checker.

Everyone has noticed computer and Internet words being used as a part of our daily language. These days, you don’t “debrief” from a meeting, you “download.” This is just another example of how we continue to reinvent our language and communication as our culture (and technology) evolves.

At Zunch, we see new terms coined daily. In the SEO world, keeping up with the latest trends is a challenge that keeps us on our toes. It takes a special person to envelope themselves into the technology. We’re passionate about what we do and strive to do it better every day. 

We should start a "Zunchionary." More on that later...

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At Zunch, we find over and over again that one of the biggest challenges of building a website is writing content. Often, our clients decide to take on that daunting task themselves, planning to use content from print. It's a good place to start, as long as it is appropriately and strategically re-purposed.

Here are some quick tips to writing Web content:

1. Avoid marketing fluff.
    Online users find it self-inflating and time-wasting.

2. Make the text scannable.
    Use short phrases and common words to help them digest it quickly, including your keywords.

3. Be concise.
    Pretend they have OADD (online A.D.D.)
    Don't make the user wade through bloated text to find the meat.

4. Break up long pages.
    If it must be long, try anchor tags at the top to help users get what they need quickly.

5. Cross-reference related pages with hyperlinks to help the user get there.
    it's great for SEO too!

6. Keep forms short.
    By asking questions that aren't necessary, you'll be less likely to get any info from the user at all.

7. Answer questions.
    As you write, think about what questions users will have and answer them.

There are more content tips and in-depth explanation in an article by Jakob Nielsen.

Of course, the best idea is to have Zunch take on that task so they can make sure all the pieces are in place and user-friendly.

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You may have seen our "Zunch Wagons" rolling around Dallas for a couple of years now.  We've decided to overhaul the design for more brand recognition and spead more rush hour cheer along DFW highways.  Over the next couple of months, you'll see a brand new face on our little fleet.

Honk if you see a Zuncher!

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I read a while back that some 60-65 percent of logos are blue or contain some form of it. That certainly rings true in my experience; maybe more. There are myths that blue is the color of success. And, with 60 percent of organizations using blue, there are going to be some successful ones to note.

Blue is one of my favorite colors. But in the design realm, I’m completely bored with it. Sure, it has it’s emotive value: cool, calming, comfortable, stable, and even “low-arousal”, as this Boston Globe writer notes. That’s why blue is a safety net.

Identity is the core element in all your marketing efforts. If you want to stand out from the crowd, and if it makes sense for your company and industry, try something new. Use colors that communicate your unique values and vision. Don’t be afraid to try shades of red, orange, green, or purple to create a bit more personality, energy and warmth and to set you apart from your competitors.

Let Zunch help with your next logo design!

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While great design is important in a website’s appeal, it is only a part of the big picture. Here are some design and marketing ideas we have used for clients that have lead their users in the right direction:

--Highlight and link to those special action areas on the main page. Example: Monitronics

--Implement functionality that supports your objectives and establishes expert status in given industries, etc. Example: Popcornopolis: They wanted to be seen as a gift resource, so we added multiple recipient shipping to their shopping cart, and pulled the ‘gift baskets’ section to the top navigation.

--Offer free services or special giveaways in exchange for a qualified ‘lead’.  Example: ConferenceCall.com

--Start a corporate blog to build links and online WOM (word of mouth) about your brand, products and services. This blog is a great example!

--Give them plenty of opportunities to contact you. Example: Big D Apartments

--Use Interactive PR and Pay-Per-Click to strengthen your SEO strategy.

--Brainstorm new features every 2-6 months to stay ahead of the industry game. 

At Zunch, interactive strategy is what we do everyday. Let us help your business become a major player!

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We are pleased to have launched the new website for the Intelligent Transportation Society of America. This new online community brings news, events and forums to the forefront for its members.

Zunch did a complete website redesign and updated their site structure and look to reflect a global leader in safety and technology related to the transportation industry.  It was a absolute pleasure working with our client--Sabrina Quirarte and her team.

Kudos to Chris Gomez, who developed most of the website. We've received some good praises on the design as well. This something we’re all proud to call our own. Thanks everyone! We’re accomplishing great things!

Check out the news release

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Using imagery online can make your site aesthetically pleasing and make a lasting impression. It gives insight into your company’s vision and personality.

When choosing photography for your business’s site, there are several things to look for that help you find a winner:

1. Mood

Lighting, overall tone, and facial expressions, among other things evoke different emotions and have connotations with them. Be sure these create a positive mood on your site.

2. Brand Cohesion

Photography tells a story. Choose images that support the brand, contextually &  visually. Match colors where possible, and place the user in a setting that feels right for the rest of the story to play out.

3. Target Audience

Make sure the message you’re sending is reaching the intended ears and eyes. A librarian may look at things differently than an engineer. Be sure you don’t pick personal favorites, but ones that will support the desired actions.

4. Budget

A stock photo can cost anywhere from $100 to $1000s. While you have to use your budget wisely, it’s most important to HAVE A IMAGERY BUDGET. Whether you have many images or one global photo, make sure your site has visual impact.

The designers at Zunch have an eye for imagery that makes an impact.  We know how to make it work with usability, branding, layout, hierarchy  and other design elements. See our portfolio for samples of Website design that gets results!

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Zunch is a gold sponsor at the upcoming "eCom Xpo" in April.  It's the first online virtual tradeshow for e-commerce Marketers, like Zunch. Visitors can browse and chat from their own office or home... no hotel rooms or lay-overs. What a cool idea! The folks that set this up are putting a new Interactive multimedia swing on an old concept. Bravo guys!

I'm pretty impressed so far. The set up is very visual and the booths will be easy to visit and use. Today I saw the showroom floor and set up our booth (complete with magazine rack and virtual plasma screen.) We'll be standing by to show off some of our services and products.

Plan now to attend and visit our booth! We'd love to find out how Zunch can help your business!

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My roommate is an Olympics junkie. I mean, she is into it… and she’s keeping up with details. She knows the athletes, their hometown and everything about them. Before Chad Hedrick's race, she went online and clicked on what appeared to be an article about him. It was actually the race results! I heard a gasp from the study, and a sad face appeared saying, “They should have warned me.”

She had forgotten that the televised events are a delayed broadcast. Preferring to watch the race unfold before her eyes, she was disappointed to know the outcome in advance. Her guy won, but the experience was tarnished.

The difference is the medium and what users expect from it. Web users are usually information and results focused. We know that, and often maintain sites with that in mind. While, broadcast viewers, like movie-goers, want to experience the emotion, the struggle, the victory. And, we (being a cross-medium species) sometimes get a bit startled by the lack of cohesion between the two.

The Internet is becoming more universal. Podcasting and the like are sure to bridge some of the gap technologically. We can post more info, turn broadcast into podcast, and feed it wherever we want at the click of a button.  But, as technology grows, we have a constant challenge ahead of us; a bigger mission (should we choose to accept it.)

We have to address the user, anticipating what and when they'll want information, and their reactions once they get it. We constantly ask how we can enhance their experience, which doesn't always mean simply throwing EVERYTHING at them. At Zunch, our strategies are more than SEO friendly and functional but also have the user in mind: names of links, where they’re located, where and how content is posted, and now more than ever, timing is a growing factor.  We know that immediate action is often important in beating competition to the punch. However, patience can be a virtue at times, even in our “instant” society. But under any circumstances, clarity is key.

We use the Internet as a tool, somewhat like the nightly news. But there’s a big difference. We forget the Internet is not in the same local bubble with the bulk of our broadcast experience.  As Internet gurus and technologists bridge the gap between the two, industry leaders like Zunch will need to continually consider the user response and our timing in the global community.

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When people meet, we instantly make judgments on certain factors. We know pretty quickly if we like the look of a car or a pair of shoes. Paintings and drawings invoke instant strong reactions.

So do websites.

You’ve got once chance to make a first impression…and on the web, that time is lighting fast. 50 Milliseconds, according to a study done at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Basically, they flashed websites in front of users for 500 milliseconds and 50 milliseconds. The outcome was virtually the same. Users determined whether a site was appealing in 50 milliseconds.

Whether you like it or not, users are quickly deciding if they want to be on your website. If you can get them to stay long enough to read some of your content, and click through a few pages, you’re off to a good start.

But, if they bounce, all your effort (and your budget) is in vein. It’s true, you need SEO to bring traffic, and if the site doesn’t function properly, it’s useless. But, those are things you can fix. A bad impression is a customer lost forever.

That quick first impression is likely based on organization (layout and hierarchy) and the use of color and or imagery--visual elements that are easily digested. Successful interface designs depend on the balance of simplicity and uniqueness to give the user that good first impression-and quick.

Design seems to be the easiest thing for companies to scrap as they're budgeting for their website. But, it is a healthy, well-rounded approach that really gets the job done right. Don’t shortchange yourself. It is important to build a solid site architecture. Design a memorable, brand-conscious look with a user-friendly layout. Write content that tells the story clearly and with a strong voice. Develop functionality that makes the site really work for you. Then, finish with a knockout SEO strategy that will help you make that great first impression many times over.

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Back in December, Jakob Neilson made some comments on his alertbox on repurposing video meant for other mediums such as TV, video, etc. for use on the Web. They did some interesting studies on where the eyes concentrated when a “talking head” news cast was played for 24 seconds online.

It appears people are constantly looking for something more. The talking head commanded some attention, but the eyes moved on to text and links on the right, a sign in the background, etc. They were looking for more info, more options… and in the eternity of 24 seconds, they got just plain bored and distracted. Part of the difference he notes is that broadcast viewers are accustomed to being sponges, while online users are usually driving their own experience. People don’t VIEW the Web, they USE it.

In this business, we often get similar requests. A company wants to post a video of their CEO welcoming people to the site, or a “host” pointing out navigation and links. So, the CEO feels important, the marketing director gets patted on the back, but the user is left wanting.

This may work for a kiosk or CD-ROM. But for the Web, it may be more distracting than beneficial.

The trick is using the video to your advantage, adding value for the user. It is a deceptive medium if not used with strategy. On the Web, video may better serve its source (and users) if it adds something to the experience that would otherwise be lost. For instance, Zunch used video testimonials from mesothelioma survivors about how an incredible mesothelioma surgery is prolonging their lives at an unprecedented rate. Now, that’s video-worthy. On another site our creative team used short “how-to-demos”  for pilates poses which may have been confusing if only described in text. Again, giving the user more.

If used correctly multimedia has the ability to create impact that text and imagery alone may not. But, even on broadband, our kbps is too valuable to waste if we’re getting nada-in-return.

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