Archimedia Studios

Signs You Are Too Plugged In To Social Media

In our increasingly “plugged in” culture there are some who question whether it is possible to become too plugged in.

You know you are too plugged in to Social Media if…..

1. You think a water proof iPhone for the shower or tub makes sense

2. You have tweeted during sex

3. You believe the “actual physical real world” is just an accessory to your online life – When you get big news and the first thing you think of is “I can’t wait to share this on Facebook”, you might be in danger.

4. When you “laugh out loud” you actually say “LOL”

5. You believe your keyboard makes a good pillow

6. You text during a movie in theaters and actually believe no one sees the light from your phone

7. If your friends or family aren’t on Facebook or Twitter, you rarely speak to them

Another Easy Way to Manage Multiple Social Media Accounts

It’s not easy navigating a multiplicity of social media accounts for yourself and a client—sometimes multiple clients—at the same time.

But thumbs up! The super-helpful iPhone app MySocialMania doesn’t just keep you connected to all your social nets on the go, it also cross-updates messages and photos on multiple sites at once, including:

  • Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn
  • Twitter, Friendster, Google Buzz
  • Even WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr, among others.

While there are other similar apps on the market such as Ping.FM and Hootsuite, MySocialMania is certainly another entry to check out. Remember, use what is most comfortable and most efficient for your needs and social media strategy!

MySocialMania is available on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. You’ll find it in the App Store under Social Networking.

Looks like an interesting app, but our concern is that it is so focused on talking – to the nearly complete exclusion of listening.  It is important to remember that connecting is more than just pushing your own content into the cloud. However, as a tool of convenience to get your message out to as many mediums as possible at one time, this app may do the trick.

Are your Facebook posts being seen?

Not all friends are created equal. This is something that each of us inherently knows, but is a principle that social networks have struggled to properly put into practice.

Facebook actually attempted to correct this with their rollout of the “Top News” vs. “Recent News” system. “Top News” features the news and updates from your friends that Facebook’s secret Edgerank algorithm thinks you will be most interested in. And since it is the default view of a user’s Facebook page, a brand’s presence within a user’s “Top News” is as good as gold.

“Recent News,” on the other hand, is fast becoming the spam folder of Facebook. This is where you will find an overflow of updates from “friends” with whom you rarely interact or whose news simply isn’t that popular. More and more, this is where branded updates are appearing.

Facebook’s own materials surrounding sponsored stories attest to this:

“The dynamic nature and unique algorithm behind each person’s News Feed means … that some of the people who like your Page do not see your valuable Page posts … in their News Feed.”

The key word here is “valuable.” While Facebook’s marketing department may tell Starbucks that another customer’s affinity for a Double Espresso Venti Mocha holds value to its fanbase, Facebook’s Edgerank algorithm may be saying something entirely different. Otherwise, there would be no need to “ensure your fans see the content that your Page publishes” via purchasing sponsor stories ads.

More than anything, Facebook’s announcement shows that is still necessary for brands to pay for a customer’s attention.

One Point Perspective Photography

We are huge fans of  Black and White photography and one point perspective photography. One point perspective is defined as a straight on view with only one vanishing point, hence the term one point perspective. Parallel lines converge on one point in the distance known as the vanishing point. So here is an example of both combined.

Does Your Website Need a Redesign?

So many businesses out there set up a website and then think, “There, that’s done with” and never bother to re-evaluate their website’s design or position in the marketplace.

But looking at a website as a static, unchanging bit of advertising will put you at a disadvantage sooner or later.

It’s much better to look at your website as a constantly-updating and evolving part of your online presence.

Your design should be updated regularly to reflect new developments both in your business (or personal development if it’s a personal site) and should be redesigned thoroughly whenever necessary. Use our guide below to help you along the path of a redesign.

How to Know if Your Site Needs a Redesign

It Uses Outdated Technologies and Techniques

If your site uses technologies or design techniques that have become dated, it’s probably time for a redesign. While deprecated code is the most obvious of these, there are a lot of other things to watch out for, including:

  • Frames
    While the occasional iFrame might not be anything to worry about (and are often used for widgets, affiliate programs, or advertising), if your site makes use of frames for a major portion of its design, it is definitely time for a redesign. Frames have been outdated since around 2000. Get rid of them.
  • Intro Pages
    Intro pages were all the rage in the early 2000s. Most used Flash and/or audio content. While intro pages aren’t necessarily a completely outdated design technique, it’s becoming more rare to see them. If your site has a lengthy Flash intro, it’s probably time for a redesign.
  • Outdated Content
    Modern websites need to be updated on a constant basis. Even if you have a “static” site, you still need to make sure the content on it stays current. Many older sites weren’t built on a content management system and can be a pain to update, especially for people who aren’t comfortable with coding. If your site isn’t built on a CMS (like Archimedia Studios’  iCMS), it’s probably time for a redesign.
  • Your Site is Entirely Flash
    Most sites nowadays are not built entirely with Flash. Even those that appear to be, often have content pulled in from XML files, instead of being hard-coded into the Flash files. If your site was built with only Flash, it’s likely you’re suffering in the usability and SEO departments. Consider a redesign.
  • Tables
    Tables were in fashion a few years ago in website design, but tables were never really meant for laying out the design of a site; they were intended for formatting data. Designers just figured they were handy for creating complex website designs. If your current site is designed using tables, it’s time for a redesign.
  • Trendy Design Elements
    If your site was designed with trendy elements (such as Web 2.0 glossy buttons), it’s probably a good idea to redesign it as soon as those trends start to fade. Don’t wait until you’re the last site around using one trend or another. Stay ahead of the curve and redesign while it still looks at least somewhat fresh. Also, consider steering clear of trendy elements, or at least incorporate them in ways that will be easy to change in six months.

Delivering Customer Experience Excellence

Let's give em' something to talk about!

Contact Us