How to build social interactive websites (How and Now!)

“Interacting with your brand” Alejandro Tobon, Jeshua Zapata, Juan Gomez

> Workshop Guidelines • Sign up sheet • Turn off mobile devices • Focus attention on presenters • Questions & Answers • Enjoy

Agenda

> Agenda…What will I learn?

• Introduction • What is a SIWS? • How & Now Examples?

• Conclusion • Questions & Answers

Introductions

5

> Who are we?

Xzito Creative Solutions 2820 Hartford Ave Johnston, RI 02919 401.709.4342 support@xzito.com www.xzito.com

> Clients

What is a social interactive web-site?

> Social Interactive Web Sites…

• … are not static brochures..thats a 90’s thing!

• … have the advance functionality to interact with users.

• … connect with the users needs.

• … are continuously evolving…

• … build a community & encourage interaction.

• … people keep coming back to • = Return on Investment.

> ROI = Whoever You Define It • • • • • • • •

# site visitors # of new members/fans # in email list # new leads obtained # of presentation views # of on site product sales # of traceable phone calls # of interactions

How does it impact our numbers?

> What we are noticing?

• Over 1.5 billion users have access to internet.

• Facebook grew to over 300 million users in less then 1 year world-wide.

• Company shifting views of web-sites from static brochures to interactive machines.

• Web-sites are becoming part of our daily lives, with the spread of mobile devices.

• Web-sites are a reflection of our off-line/real world scenarios.

> Social Interactive Sites

YOUR BRAND

> Usage of Media / Hours Per Week

> What are users doing online?

> Interactive Web-Sites..Don’t Collect Dust • How can you expect a web-site to be socially interactive if it never changes?

• It never evolves?

• Doesn’t allow the user to take action?

How do I make my site more Socially Interactive? How & Now!

> Creating a social interactive website 6. Usability & Accessibility

5. User Interface

4. Platform

1. Strategy

Social Interactive Website

2. Information Architecture

3. Functionality

Strategy #1: Target Market

> “Know thy user!”

Understand what they are searching for

What would they like to do on your site?

What do they like?

Identify their needs?

How: - Focus Groups - Interviews - Surveys - Research

Who? Age? Location

> Use Niche sites to connect to your audience

http://www.allstategarage.com/

> Allstate Example

Strategy #2: User Vs. Company Needs

> Find the sweet spot Making sure your business objectives align well with your users’ needs.

Create a win/win situation

Business Goals

Your Website

Customer Goals

Strategy #3: Content Is King

> Develop a Content Strategy!!

• What needs to be created?

• What is currently in place?

• What is the competition saying?

• Video/Audio/Copy • Content should encourage communication, not 1 directional, ask questions, be personable

> Use Video to interact with users We are all becoming busier each day, adding video makes web-sites more interactive.

> Audio and Podcasts Audio on a website is also possible and increases interaction!

Functionality#1: Interact with Blogs

> Blog Features • • • • •

Ability to post information based on categories Ability to post audio/video/other content Ability for users to comment Ability for admin to approve comments Ability for users to register

> Use Blogs and Forums

Keeps the website fresh

More Dynamic

Helps increase SEO

> Allow users to participate Allow users to comment on blogs, videos, products, etc

Functionality #2: Encourage Users to Share

> Encourage sharing with social bookmarking

Allow sharing through email and across social media sites

Let users market your website!

> Sharing Ability

Sharing is caring

Functionality #3: Utilize Polls

> Users Can Vote

• Vote on issues • Allow me to share

• Show Results

> Slide

PBN usually has a poll.

So what do you think, are you curious?

> PBN Survey Results Live

Does this feel like interactivity? A sense of participant?

Functionality #4: Live Chat

> Online Chat

Many web users prefer Live Chat over e-mail when they want to contact someone quickly!

> Online Chat

Chat doesn’t have to be reactive, be proactive!

Functionality #5: Ask For Referrals

> Would you like to increase referrals?

Want them, ask for them! Reward them!

Functionality #6: Be Social

> Be With Your Target

Being more social, means being part of the different social media communities.

> Link your social media sites to your website

> Leverage Facebook & Twitter Tools • Show the world your fan base.

• Let users see on your site what people are saying about you • Others are also connected to you.

> Use synchronization tools

Participate in multiple channels

Saves Time!

Can be used for blogs, photos, and videos.

> Reply and Interact with Fans • Reply to post (+/-) • Keep people informed • Search for what people say, reply

Functionality #7: Subscription Models

> Give them a reason to comeback with Subscriptions Email has been around since 1960’s.

Allow people to join your newsletter?

Functionality #8: Search Module

> Searchable Websites

Functionality #16: Interactive Maps

> Maps & Directions

Functionality #17: Rating & Votes

> Use Ratings & Reviews Will you make a decision based on feedback? Will this impact conversion?

> Testimonials Show that others believe in you!

Functionality #18: User Feedback

> Allow users to provide you feedback

Let users submit ideas

> Ability to use surveys

Functionality #19: Point Community

> Leverage your offline marketing Online Community with Points

> Checking with Users

• Sales dropped 20% new package introduced.

• Consumers hated new packaging, hard to tell if it was Tropicana different font.

• Difficult to see if it had pulp or not.

• Tropicana brought back old packaging.

> Tropicana Blogs

Functionality #20: Utilize Question To Interact

> Use Personalization when possible Ask Questions!

Personalize your site by using their name, location, etc

http://Autohome.metlife.com

In conclusion

> In summary…We learned!

• Website are no longer, click and view, web sites are becoming social interactive • Over 20 functionality tips on how to make sites more socially interactive • People rather interact with brands, not just listen to them • How will you make your web-site more socially interactive?

Thank You!