Numbers and Sounds: by Javier Rincon.

                            

You want to see some amazing interactive content created with Prezi? Then just check Scale of the Universe by Cary and Michael Huang (link is at the bottom of this blog post). It will blow you away! I´m thinking to myself, wow, this could really go viral. But with so much awesome content created nowadays, you´ve got to make it easy for users and for yourself to receive some of that interwebs love. Here´s how.

Clearly a some time has gone to create this piece of content, actually it´s pretty obvious that a lot of time. So I´m guessing that whoever created it, would like to enjoy some benefits from all the effort gone to create it: be it attention, leads for client work or ad revenue.

In this case I initially see 3 objectives:

1) Make it go viral and gain some recognition; also ad revenue.

2) Have users refer back to their website for more cool content.

3) Maybe get some client leads? 

Let´s check all of these out and see how they could achieve them better:

1) HEY, USER! MAKE MY CONTENT GO VIRAL NOW!

In order to achieve virality you need two things: amazing content and have it spread like a virus throughout all possible channels. The most difficult one, amazing content, they already have. So now they just need to make it easy for users to share this content with their networks. But…

…First, is the content share format attractive, easy to distribute, and pre-viewable?

If it isn´t, you better make it!

Nowadays the web is just plagued with people sharing content through links, especially ones with deceitful descriptions. Say hello to previews. Facebook and twitter for example, always preview links into their real format. Now users can quickly see and access content without exiting their user experience. Brilliant!

Let´s take advantage of this. Let´s create attractive previews for users to click on, that will increase motivation and at the same time lower friction. They must be beautiful yet initially not have them exit their current experience. Give them that option.

Here´s an example, make a video with epic music. Then place links at the end for them go access the real 100% playable content. I created in 3 minutes an example of what I mean. (Yes, the quality is “awesome”: quicktime + iphone). But think about it, what would you rather click through, an epic mini-video or an ugly link. Exactly!

…Second, is it easy for people to share your content? As in 1-click easy?

Not only that, you need to carefully choose the time and place where users will have the lowest friction and the highest motivation to share with their friends.

Here there are 3 clear areas:

a) The first page just below the start button add social media sharing buttons. In addition to making it easy to share, make sure to include the counter, it gives social proof to new visitors that let´s them know how cool this content already is.

                                            

b) Already in the second page, again include the same buttons. They will always be visible no matter what the user does. And when he´s finished with the content high-up on motivation, he´ll probably share it (images for this is further at the bottom).

c) There are 2 more places that are more strategic where the buttons could be placed. These are at the end of both sides of the graphic. Curiosity will definitely bring most users to either side, so when there is no more to scroll, bam! It´s an ideal place to have users share it.

        

2) SO THAT WAS COOL! YOU GOT ANY OTHER COOL STUFF I CAN CHECK OUT?

One of the most sad practices in content marketing is seeing users come, consume content and go without doing anything else. If they liked your content, then why not make it easy for them to go back to your web, where you can have them enjoy more content, register with your newsletter, buy in item..etc?  

In this case there is just an email and website with no hyperlink. Taking into account how lazy WE users are, I´m guessing only me and Bob actually took the time to check out their website. So then what? Just make it easy for visitors to follow-through and access your website, full of more goodies and rainbows.

        

3) HEY BUSINESS, YOU DIGG? THEN GIVE ME SOME PLATA.

I have no idea what these guys do for a living but hey, great wowing content like this is difficult and time consuming to create. Maybe some professional company sees this and thinks, I would really pay these guys for something similar. And for this reason, I would most definitely include an area that addressees this. ie. “See what you like? Want to hire our services? Then drop us an email” or something of the sorts.

HERE ARE THE KEY TAKEAWAYS or concentrated knowledge yummies.

1 - If your content is not easily shareable and  attractively pre-viewable. Then make it so! It increases motivation and lowers friction.

2 - Happy visitors want to share your content. Make it really easy for them to do so.

3 - It´s no only about getting visitors, it´s about what you do with them afterwards. Create paths for them that lead back to your website, where they can convert into value for you.

4 - Let yourself be loved. Don´t be shy to promote your services. 

PS. Here´s the link to “Scale of the Universe” by Cary and Michael Huang - check it out

PSS: Liked this post? Then show me some love.

FOLLOW me on twitter: @javierrincon

Want more? SUSCRIBE to my RSS.

Questions? DROP me an email.

                                                 

The flash sales in the design and decour are the most talked about thing nowadays. With young yet rapidly growing companies such as Fab and One Kings Lane, many competitors are rallying to copy them.

OneKingsLane was founded on 2009 and has around 3 Million users. On the other hand Fab.com was found only about 8 months ago and it´s already at the 2 Million mark, having achieved 1 Million users in only 5 months. Pretty amazing.

So apart from the great products they offer at amazing prices, what are the key marketing/design qualities that have made them some successful? Are there any similarities? Who is better at them? And more importantly, what lessons can we take away from them and apply to our own business? 

During the next posts I´ll be analyzing some key aspects of these websites:

1 - The sign-up (coming soon)

2 - First use (coming soon)

3 - Constant Engagement (coming soon)

4 - Virality (coming soon)

5 - Revenue (coming soon)

FOLLOW ME on twitter: @javierrincon

Forget theory. Life makes us who we are through practical lessons. Bad news though. Most of these lessons are hard felt. Like a brick wall falling on your head or getting kicked by this guy. That´s how they stick with you and make you remember. 

The bigger the impact, the faster we want to forget.

But don´t make that mistake. With falling comes the lesson on how not to trip again. When you feel like blaming people, know that valuable learning is close by. Grab the opportunity. Don´t miss out.

Turn off your computer. Sit down. Grab a pen and a blank piece of paper.  Start asking yourself questions of why you fell to the floor. Avoid pointing the finger. Don´t take the easy way. You don´t want to be one of those.

Now write down what happened. Let if flow. Describe the situation closely, but don´t give your opinion. This is not a diary. Let the paper be your mirror. See yourself and what surrounds you with a naked eye.

Painting the picture is the hardest part.

It involves accepting hard facts. And nobody likes that, however necessary. Now just sit back and observe the paper. Stare at all the details. Especially the ugly ones. That´s where the gold is!

First thing that comes to mind, blaming people. Don´t fool yourself. Learning will pass you by if you do. Blaming is the enemy of learning. Instead concentrate on what you can control. That´s where you will get better. Where you can excel, no matter what others do or say.

Use the most powerful word ever. Find the root cause. Ask, why? Repeatedly.  Go past the surface and dive deep into the situation. Don´t forget your oxygen mask. Valuable answers are normally 5 levels deep down.

Get those answers, put them into your learning plan and get better. Next time, things will be different. I assure you.

Here´s the link to my previous blog:

javierrincon.posterous.com