In my Intro to Communications class, I was asked to produce a website that professionally represents myself. Prior to the class I have already obtained a website for my wedding videography business. However, these past couple of months I have wanted to redesign my website. Therefore, I found this to be a great opportunity to release my new website, with its new design. You can find the new website posted on:
http://www.stevenson-productions.com/
Also, here are some links to the old website design, although they are unconnected and not formatted to web standards now:
Home: http://stevensonproduction.ipage.com/Old%20Web%20Site/index.html
Gallery: http://stevensonproduction.ipage.com/Old%20Web%20Site/Gallery.htm
Weddings: http://stevensonproduction.ipage.com/Old%20Web%20Site/Weddings.htm
Contacts: http://stevensonproduction.ipage.com/Old%20Web%20Site/Contact%20Us.htm
If you take a look at the differences in the new and old website, you will find that the new website sends a very different message than the old website. This is because of these factors:
Design – The design is cleaner and more organized making it easier for potential clients to navigate. This could communicate that doing business with me is easy and simple.
Testimonials – This new addition will give a potential client the “word of mouth” feeling when he or she is viewing my site.
Simplicity – There are less links and words, which I believe simplifies the website and makes communicating easier.
More facebook links – This encourages the visitor to stay connected and continue communication.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Facebook Usefulness
As a business owner, I rely on the word of mouth very heavily. Yes, I do participate in online advertising in various areas and I often spend a little more than I should on advertising. However, there is nothing more valuable than word of mouth. For one, it is free. Also, word of mouth is effective. For example, a bride may be looking for a wedding videographer. She will look online and find dozens of wedding professionals in her area. Often, the bride will become confused because each potential vendor will claim to be “the best”.
However, If the bride asks a friend or family member that had been recently married which wedding videographer the bride should choose, the friend will most likely recommend the vendor he or she had at their wedding, that is if he or she enjoyed the vendor. Therefore, it is important to not only do a good job when working for a client, but to establish an identity and to remind the client that you are still there for him or her. I have found that the greatest way to sustain this relationship with previous clients is to establish a facebook page much like the Communications Department does with their facebook page in relation to their students.
Currently, almost everyone has a facebook, particularly those of age of marriage, in which is, of course, is the target audience of my business advertising. After almost every wedding booked, I have a habit of friend requesting the client and suggesting my facebook page to them. This is useful for two reasons: quick feedback and communication with the client (which usually ends up in a friendship), and, more significantly, to keep my company’s name in the back of the clients mind. This is so the client will not forget about my business when another potential client asks about me. Also, my facebook page is a quick reference to information and contacts for my business to clients.
Similarly, the Shepherd University Department of Communications does the same. Their facebook page updates their students on the upcoming events that the department or students are involved in. For example, the department had a student film festival earlier this semester. Although my professor had already told my class about this event, facebook was the first place I heard about the event. Also, many potential employers are joined on the facebook page which gives students opportunities for jobs and internships. Consequently, facebook has connected their students to the department even more and established a much stronger identity.
Overall, facebook is a huge opportunity for all organizations and businesses. Facebook allows people and peers to connect easily and quickly. Many business owners like me take advantage of facebook with previous and potential clients. Also, to establish my business to my friends and family. On the other side, organizations like the Shepherd Communications Department utilize facebook to announce and organize events and to connect the department together.
However, If the bride asks a friend or family member that had been recently married which wedding videographer the bride should choose, the friend will most likely recommend the vendor he or she had at their wedding, that is if he or she enjoyed the vendor. Therefore, it is important to not only do a good job when working for a client, but to establish an identity and to remind the client that you are still there for him or her. I have found that the greatest way to sustain this relationship with previous clients is to establish a facebook page much like the Communications Department does with their facebook page in relation to their students.
Currently, almost everyone has a facebook, particularly those of age of marriage, in which is, of course, is the target audience of my business advertising. After almost every wedding booked, I have a habit of friend requesting the client and suggesting my facebook page to them. This is useful for two reasons: quick feedback and communication with the client (which usually ends up in a friendship), and, more significantly, to keep my company’s name in the back of the clients mind. This is so the client will not forget about my business when another potential client asks about me. Also, my facebook page is a quick reference to information and contacts for my business to clients.
Similarly, the Shepherd University Department of Communications does the same. Their facebook page updates their students on the upcoming events that the department or students are involved in. For example, the department had a student film festival earlier this semester. Although my professor had already told my class about this event, facebook was the first place I heard about the event. Also, many potential employers are joined on the facebook page which gives students opportunities for jobs and internships. Consequently, facebook has connected their students to the department even more and established a much stronger identity.
Overall, facebook is a huge opportunity for all organizations and businesses. Facebook allows people and peers to connect easily and quickly. Many business owners like me take advantage of facebook with previous and potential clients. Also, to establish my business to my friends and family. On the other side, organizations like the Shepherd Communications Department utilize facebook to announce and organize events and to connect the department together.
VALS Test - My Consumer Behaviors
In my Intro to Communications class, I was asked to complete the VALS survey. In this survey I was asked particular questions about my personality and my look on how life should be lived. Specifically, the test looks at my attributes in relation to the Survey of the American Consumer to determine what VALS type I am. After completing the test, I discovered that my primary VALS type was an experiencer, with a secondary VALS type as an achiever.
The test explains that experiencers are “motivated by self-expression. Young, enthusiastic, and impulsive consumers, Experiencers quickly become enthusiastic about new possibilities but are equally quick to cool.” Because I own a wedding video business, I can agree with these characteristics that my purchases are often impulsive, especially with business expenses when I find myself purchasing the newest and greatest video equipment or accessories just because a larger, national video company did the same. In fact, the site’s description of “experiencers” go on to say that “Their purchases reflect the emphasis that they place on looking good and having "cool" stuff.” Which I can also admit describes me.
However, I believe that one can grow out of these attributes. Perhaps my impulsivity of a young and enthusiastic consumer may grow out of me when I graduate; additionally, because of a larger budget where I may have to pay more bills. Arguably, age plays a large role in the VALS type. Perhaps most students will receive an “experiencer” rating.
Moving on, the site describes my secondary VALS type, which is an achiever. The site describes an achiever as “Motivated by the desire for achievement, Achievers have goal-oriented lifestyles and a deep commitment to career and family. Their social lives reflect this focus and are structured around family, their place of worship, and work. Achievers live conventional lives, are politically conservative, and respect authority and the status quo. They value consensus, predictability, and stability over risk, intimacy, and self-discovery.” For the most part, this well describes me. First of all, most activities are based around goals that I wish to achieve for future jobs and business. For example, I hope to become a national wedding filmmaker. In response, I look to make every one of my local wedding videos superior, in hopes to spread my business further. The VALS description goes on to describe attributes that repeat those of “experiencers”. Also, the site states that I am likely to buy time-saving products. Which is very true, for my business takes up a lot of my time. For example, this year I purchased a CD/DVD duplicator, which saved me a lot of time on large projects.
Overall, The VALS test accurately describes the consumer needs and behaviors. As a business person and wedding professional, I find this very interesting and useful. For example, I find that many brides and grooms, although not financially stable, are very young and therefore, may be in the “experiencer” category. I believe this because lots of their friends and family will be at the wedding and they may want to newest and best things to impress their peers. Therefore, flashy and new items may be in the market for the wedding business. I only wish that I could receive test results of potential clients so that I may find what they need.
The test explains that experiencers are “motivated by self-expression. Young, enthusiastic, and impulsive consumers, Experiencers quickly become enthusiastic about new possibilities but are equally quick to cool.” Because I own a wedding video business, I can agree with these characteristics that my purchases are often impulsive, especially with business expenses when I find myself purchasing the newest and greatest video equipment or accessories just because a larger, national video company did the same. In fact, the site’s description of “experiencers” go on to say that “Their purchases reflect the emphasis that they place on looking good and having "cool" stuff.” Which I can also admit describes me.
However, I believe that one can grow out of these attributes. Perhaps my impulsivity of a young and enthusiastic consumer may grow out of me when I graduate; additionally, because of a larger budget where I may have to pay more bills. Arguably, age plays a large role in the VALS type. Perhaps most students will receive an “experiencer” rating.
Moving on, the site describes my secondary VALS type, which is an achiever. The site describes an achiever as “Motivated by the desire for achievement, Achievers have goal-oriented lifestyles and a deep commitment to career and family. Their social lives reflect this focus and are structured around family, their place of worship, and work. Achievers live conventional lives, are politically conservative, and respect authority and the status quo. They value consensus, predictability, and stability over risk, intimacy, and self-discovery.” For the most part, this well describes me. First of all, most activities are based around goals that I wish to achieve for future jobs and business. For example, I hope to become a national wedding filmmaker. In response, I look to make every one of my local wedding videos superior, in hopes to spread my business further. The VALS description goes on to describe attributes that repeat those of “experiencers”. Also, the site states that I am likely to buy time-saving products. Which is very true, for my business takes up a lot of my time. For example, this year I purchased a CD/DVD duplicator, which saved me a lot of time on large projects.
Overall, The VALS test accurately describes the consumer needs and behaviors. As a business person and wedding professional, I find this very interesting and useful. For example, I find that many brides and grooms, although not financially stable, are very young and therefore, may be in the “experiencer” category. I believe this because lots of their friends and family will be at the wedding and they may want to newest and best things to impress their peers. Therefore, flashy and new items may be in the market for the wedding business. I only wish that I could receive test results of potential clients so that I may find what they need.
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