One clear problem I see online is that websites are starting to all look the same. Web designers are no doubt busy working on new designs all the time, but take a quick look at what is available on a site like ThemeForest and you'll see what I mean. I am frankly quite bored with the choices there.
So, “what's the solution wise guy,” you ask. Simple. Distinguish yourself from your competition by creating or having a website designed that speaks to who you are and what your specific needs are.
Here are two examples of what I am talking about – Essential Imagery and Totally Rad Actions. These websites are an extension of their fun and may quirky personalities. They both produce great work but what's that little something that's making you stick around longer? Think about it. Think very hard about it.
So customizing your website is really your only option. But how do you go about doing that? Do you simply slap together elements willy-nilly and hope that it makes visual sense? No way, right? We all have a vision for what we would like to see, but there are very few photographers who are also good at design. I am a huge believer in working with experts who have the experience and street-cred to produce web sites that stand out.
One such person is Sarah J. Bray, a web designer and strategist based in Virginia Beach.
Here's a short interview with her:
She discusses what is required to differentiate yourself online and offers a program called Hot Dates With Your Website that will guide you through making all the right changes to your website.
The “Friday” Sarah refers to in the video is TODAY. If you want in, today is your day to do it. She is closing the program for some obvious reasons – 1) the more intimate the group, more gets done and 2) everyone will be working on about the same things on their websites so people can actually have meaningful conversations about their successes and challenges.
So, click the banner you see right above this line or visit Sarah's site.
Full disclosures – I paid for this program. Because I think the first few “dates” have been useful to me, I am recommending it to you through an affiliate link. You are going to see lots of changes here on Tiffinbox and it will all be wholly due to the hot dates I am having with my website.
If you do sign up for this, please comment below and I'll connect with you through the private Facebook group Sarah has set up for all of us.
Thanks to Kristen Kalp of BrandCamp for introducing me to Sarah.
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Funny, I usually frequent Themeforest also to see what’s “new” but you’re right there are a lot of similar layouts and designs. *sigh
As for my own website, I just recently made some much needed updates and added a few pages, but never thought of it as taking it out on regular “dates.” Interesting point of view here because I do need to stop neglecting it.
And I agree with Sarah about working more strategically and with more focus on a regular basis with your site instead of spending much time daily on Facebook and Twitter.