Anthology Creative Feeds By: Category: Anthology Creative

You may know what SEO is, but do you know what SSA is...?

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

You may know what SEO is, but do you know what SSA is...? ... and why it matters to you and your website? With SEO, you’re learning from the web queries that direct users to your site. What users type into Google, Bing, or other search engines to get to your website. But what about once they are there? Does your website have a search box? Do you know what users are entering in that field? Would you even know what to do with that information if you had it? Users of our websites give us massive amounts of information; What pages they go to most often, are they linked in to a page other than the homepage, what is most important to your website visitors, what would they like to see more of (less of), and are there pages that never get seen... and why not? Knowing how and why users get to your site is only half of the battle. Putting together, or updating, a site that meets the needs of the users of the site can be the difference in having a site that people go to, and a site that people use. If you view your website as a tool, is it a tool that your target audience wants to use?

The Rise of the Recommendation Web

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The web is an organism. It is constantly evolving. It is constantly morphing and changing its shape. It is continually adapting to current trends, new information, and progressive innovation. In it’s infantry, it was the static web. Then, it became the dynamic web and we began to interact. About ten years ago, it morphed again - this time into the social web. In this era, we have seen the rise and fall of sites like Friendster and MySpace, we have seen services like Facebook and Twitter grow from experiments into online empires. And, we started to see the first glimpses of the recommendation web with sites like Digg and Reddit. We are now fully entering into the era of the recommendation web - where virtually everything can be viewed, consumed, or purchased can also have a recommendation attached. This begins to shift how we find new information, how we search on the web, and how our decisions are influenced - decisions that we previously were forced to make alone. So, where does this take us? Facebook and Google each have launched their own “recommendation networks.” Facebook has the now-iconic “Like” button, and Google recently launched +1.These giants will begin to take a stronghold onto the recommendation web. Facebook will utilize it to connect people further and increase revenue by serving up increasingly targeted ads. Google will utilize it to organize and catalog information on the web and respond to requests accordingly. Both will leverage our existing social networks and what those people recommend to gain insight into our potential likes, dislikes, and behavior. With the recommendation web, search engine optimization (SEO) as we know it today will be flipped on its head. It will become more important for companies and products to receive recommendations online than it will be to write strategic copy containing certain buzzwords. Search results will be heavily influenced by our social recommendations, and thus, will be catered to fit each individual. It makes sense that this is the next logical step in the evolution of the web. Companies and organizations should recognize this early and adapt accordingly so they are not left behind in the new era of the web.

Anthology Is Hiring

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Anthology Creative is looking to hire a full time web designer to assist in slicing designs, creating layouts derived from existing designs, designing interface elements, and bringing additional overall awesomeness to our team. If you are interested, please see details on the Jobs page.

Communication Is Vital, Context Is Key

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Communication is vital. However, when considering effective communication, context is frequently overlooked. If communication is a process, then context is a key building block of that process. The video below is one of the most creative and artistic displays of contextual communication I have ever seen. Every scene in the video communicates a single word. If we were to take each of these quick scenes and separate them, they would communicate something entirely different… or nothing at all. Even rearranging the scenes would break the communicative process. The brilliance of this video is that every scene fits within the context of the scene preceding it. The video begins to communicate words despite the lack of visible text. Even the dialogue is sparse. There are only a few spoken words sprinkled throughout the film to assist in the flow. Every day, we project and decipher context constantly. Tone, mood, and body language give context to the words we are hearing and saying during conversations. Camera cuts, scores, and editing effects give context to the films we watch. Tempo, pitch, and even instruments give context to the music we hear. In the same way, context is what makes a design communicate effectively. Differences in color schemes, placement, and even font selections can communicate different concepts. It is imperative that a design communicates the intended message correctly. Context guides this process.

What Is Strategy Really Worth?

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

One of the things we practice at Anthology on a daily basis is strategy. Every decision that we make is intentionally executed to help our clients meet their goals. Websites are no longer just websites; they are marketing tools. Designs are no longer just designs; they are a conduit for effective communication. It never ceases to amaze me how some companies and organizations think that having a website that was created using a “Website Wizard” will suffice for an online presence. Even when these groups hire a web company, many times, they go for the cheapest option and end up with a horrible template-based design with a logo thrown in the header. These solutions, though cheap, lack the thought and strategy that are crucial to a successful website. When planning, designing, building, and implementing websites we usually ask two questions with every decision we make: 1. Why are we doing this? 2. What is best for the user and the client’s goals? The answer to the first question, “Why are we doing this?” forces us to make intentional decisions to benefit the project as a whole. Many times, this also cuts out much of the “fat” that tends to weigh down many websites. If there is no point in having it, we remove it. The second question, “What is best for the user and the client’s goals?” forces us to act in the best interest of the user and the client. This question arises frequently when we discuss how an interface should flow or what elements we can utilize to strategically draw the users’ attention. The result is an extremely usable website that meets the client’s goals. However, strategy usually comes at a price. Cheaper solutions that are not driven by strategy are not the best fit for a successful web presence. Everything, from the navigation scheme to the design, needs to be done in an intentional manner to optimize impact and to make your website work for you. Otherwise, it is just wasted web space.

Forget The Competition, They Are Worthless To You

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

There is a skewed philosophy in the marketing world today – that in order to beat your competition, you must know your competition inside and out. However, this philosophy tends to yield mediocrity, not innovation. I keep running across phone manufacturers that are promoting their upcoming “iPhone killers.” And with each one, I have the same reaction: “really?!” (in a slightly skeptical and sarcastic tone). The problem with these new phones is that the manufacturers are focusing too much on the competition. It is apparent that they began the initiative by analyzing everything about the iPhone and then building a device that mimics it, but with more features. In contrast, I imagine the development of the iPhone was much different, and it probably started with one question: how can we make the best phone in the world? Sure, I bet they studied other devices, but probably for insight on what they did not want to do as opposed to stealing features. These are two entirely different mindsets. One says, “How innovative can we be?” and the other says, “How can we beat product X?” If you practice the first philosophy, you are really limitless in what you can produce, and you customers will respond positively. However, the second philosophy can only position you in relation to whatever product you are trying to beat. At the end of the day, you just look like a copycat. Now, is it possible for a company to produce an “iPhone killer?” Sure it is. But it will happen by innovating, not trying to mimic the iPhone. Are you paying too much attention to your competition, or are you simply producing the best work possible with excellence? Put some blinders on and do what you do best.

Congrats to Tenth Avenue North!

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

When our clients celebrate, we celebrate too. So, we are thrilled to congratulate Tenth Avenue North for winning a Dove Award for New Artist of the Year last night. It's quite an accomplishment. Our team enjoyed working on designing and developing the band's website earlier this year (TenthAvenueNorth.com). Way to go, guys! Keep up the great work. Check out Tenth Ave on iTunes.

Potential, Productivity, and Refining the Work Process

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600

While I lived in New York, I participated in a leadership exercise that illustrated the potential of productivity under pressure. Our group was divided into two teams and given the task to create an actual product, build a website, and provide a way for someone to purchase the product online. Now, this process could take as much as three months or even more to complete. However, we were given a mere three hours. Both teams kicked into high gear as soon as the clock began, and three hours later, both teams had a product, a functioning website, and an online purchase option. Granted, the products did not look that great, the websites were extremely bare, and the payment option was done through PayPal, but - both teams had completed the almost-impossible objective. Many times, we do not really push ourselves. We find a nice steady pace and stick to that. It’s comfortable. However, by not pushing ourselves, we are not meeting new challenges. If we are not challenging ourselves, we are not growing. And, if we are not growing, we are not reaching our potential. Part of our philosophy at Anthology is to push things to the max. Most of our deadlines are aggressive. Our time budgets are aggressive. And we demand excellence. However, by pushing hard and creating difficult objectives, we are constantly refining our process and growing as a team. Our tiny successes become big successes and our tiny failures becoming huge learning experiences.

Life Optimization and Efficiency

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

I have always been a freak about efficiency - I guess it is a combination of having an appreciation for aspects of engineering and having the tendency to be slightly obsessive-compulsive from time to time. Optimization yields efficiency. In my day-to-day life, I try to optimize whenever possible - from lines of code in a long web app to simple things like how many loads of laundry I do in a given month. I always try to find the fastest way to get from point A to point B without affecting the quality of the end product. Optimization is really key to progressing and evolving as an individual. As you optimize aspects in your life, you can begin to take on new things, bigger responsibilities, and explore different options. Programmers always boast about optimization of code, but I think the principle can apply to all areas of our life - even design. Some of the best designs I have seen have been optimized for simplicity and communication. It is all about getting the core functionality of something and removing the clutter.

LeelandOnline.com: The Opposite Way Splash for Leeland

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Anthology recently had the opportunity to develop a custom spash page for the band Leeland. The project consisted of time-released videos of each band member on the splash page. These videos were humorous and received great response from fans. A secondary page was created to communicate the band's "Opposite Way" movement - living the opposite way of the world. This page carried a more serious tone and allowed people to leave stories about how they were living the opposite way. The stories shared here were inspirational to other fans. LeelandOnline.com
The Opposite Way Movement
Leeland on iTunes

5 Annoying Ways Websites Hijack User Experience (And Lose Users)

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Some web developers tend to believe that the more control they maintain over the user's experience on a website, the better the experience will be. On the other hand, sometimes, it is the client that insists on certain gimmicky "features" in order to make what, in their minds, is a better website. The more control, the better - right? Ugh. Websites should gently guide the user experience. It is the job of the web developer to keep the experience from being hijacked and explain these reasons to the client. It is the job of the client to understand why it is essential to guide the user experience instead of commandeering it. Here are 5 annoying ways that websites spit in the face of this mentality by hijacking the user experience: 1. Automatically Resizing the Browser This is one of the most annoying ways to hijack the user experience. Anytime I visit a site and find that my browser has been resized by some sort of Javascript code, I immediately leave that site. Usually, this "feature" is requested by clients that want their users to be engulfed by the entire site - usually clients that are too proud of their work. The problem today is that users normally have several sites open in tabs and by hijacking the browser and resizing it to what you think is best, it screams that you are more important than anything else on their computer. Leave the browser size alone. 2. Automatically Playing Music Nothing is worse than enjoying the new Coldplay album in iTunes and then visiting a website that automatically starts playing music that you never asked for. Now I have Coldplay and some cheesy trance music mixed together, polluting the musical atmosphere. I equate this to pulling up next to someone at a stop light that has music blaring, windows down, with no regard to anyone else in earshot. Unless you are a band or a record label (in which case I would still not recommend it, but at least it makes sense), do not automatically play any music even if you have a way for the user to stop it. A nice opt-in music player is the way to go. Let the user choose what comes through their speakers. 3. Automatically Playing Video This goes hand-in-hand with automatically playing music. Unless the user expects to see a video that automatically plays, do not hijack the experience. For example, if the user clicks a link reading, "See a funny video," and this link takes them to another page with the video, it would be okay to autoplay the video. Other than that, allow the user to choose when to play the video. 4. Making Links Open in New Windows This is one hijacking technique that can be debatable. Users are very familiar with the back button on the browser - Heck, even Firefox now has an enlarged back button to signify hierarchy over the other buttons in the top interface. However, many times, clients feel that if a user clicks on a link to another site, they have essentially lost that user. Solution? Open all external links in a new window. However, this usually does more harm than good. More advanced users know how to use a back button, so if they wish to go back to the site, they can simply use this knowledge and hit the back button. Similarly, these users are also accustomed to having links open in new windows. Therefore, they know how to close a window to get back to the site if the link opened in that fashion. On the other hand, a user without much experience may not realize that a new window has opened when a link is clicked. Thus, when they want to go back to the original site, they may click on the disabled back button - becoming frustrated with this unexpected turn of events. Play it safe. Just allow links to work the way links were meant to work. Don't force a link to open in a new window. 5. Popover Ads These are becoming more and more popular. I am sure that most users are familiar with them - they are the ads that pop over the rest of the content on the page until you click the (often hidden) close button/link. Again, this is hijacking the user experience because the user expects one thing and receives another. When clicking to read an article, users want to read the article (novel concept, I know). Users don't want to play the "betcha can't figure out how to close this ad" game in order to get to the content. Banner ads are bad enough - don't cover the content with annoying popover ads. All in all, just be mindful of and respect your users. Keep away from things that force an experience. Always give the user a choice and strategically guide them through an experience. Your website will be better for it and your users will stick around longer. Subscribe to the Anthology blog to get future posts or check out Building Websites With Effective Communication.

Warner Bros. Records Nashville MySpace Layout

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Anthology Creative just revamped Warner Bros. Records Nashville's MySpace page with a layout design based on their newly-relaunched wbrnashville.com. If you have a MySpace profile - whether you are a band, a music label, or a business - branding it with a custom layout can create better brand awareness - and let's face it... the default MySpace design is not much to look at.

Anthology Creative Has New Offices

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

After spending almost a year in Cool Springs, Anthology Creative has made the move to Nashville. I am super excited about the move - We found an outstanding office space in West Nashville. The building is an historic home that has been converted into office space. We currently share the second floor with a couple other small companies. This suits Anthology better than an office park. Be sure to update your address book. Anthology Creative 346 21st Ave. Nashville, TN 37203 Download an updated vCard

Building Websites with Effective Communication

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

“The problem with communication... is the illusion that it has been accomplished.” -George Bernard Shaw Communication is essentially what Anthology does. Sure, at the surface, we create some really nice designs and we develop functional websites - but websites function as communicative devices - and as I explored in The Anatomy of Great Design Part 01, great design starts with effective communication. So, the goal at the core of all of this is to communicate to your audience. As simple as this concept may seem, it is overlooked far too often. Let’s take websites for example. As companies explore building a website, the natural tendency is to make an attempt to impress potential customers. Too many times, the requests are filled with desires to hijack the user experience (not intentionally), create menus that move and sparkle, and bring attention to non-important items. These requests have the same goal as an executive that purchases a flashy sports car just to “show off” when meeting clients. At the end of the day, the car may be impressive, but whether the job is done effectively is what ultimately matters to the client. When this tendency to impress is extended into web development, it cripples the ability to communicate effectively. Flashy design, gimmicky features, and unnecessary copy cloud the ultimate goals of the site. And, unfortunately, too many times, the web developer has to lay down and submit to the clients requests - and when that happens, the job is not being completed with excellence. The problem is that when the site is finished and everyone has gone home, the company may be thrilled with the impressive new website, but if it does not communicate effectively and meet the needs of the users, it is ultimately a failure - it is the illusion that communication has been accomplished. The next time you are building a new site for your company, keep these things in mind: 1. Deny The Desire To Impress - Users will only be impressed the first time they visit your site. After that, the only thing that keeps them coming back is functionality and ease of use. If you can say "that is coooooool," it probably is doing more harm than good. 2. Develop A Site For Your Client, Not Yourself - Keep the user in mind when determining how you site will look and how it will function. The site may be about you, but it is more about your user. 3. Determine The Key Goals - And do not add anything to the site that does not directly or indirectly encourage the success of these goals. Stay focused. Agree? Disagree? Feel free to be heard in the comments section. And as always, remember to subscribe to the RSS for future posts on design, web development, and online marketing.

Compass Cinema Launches Modern Parables Digital Store

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Yesterday, Compass Cinema launched the Modern Parables Digital Store. Acclaimed as "Bible Studies For People Who Like Movies," Modern Parables is a set of six short films based on modernize versions of Jesus' parables from the Bible. These six films are now available for individual digital download in Quicktime or Windows Media format. Video quality options range from free iPod versions of the films to full HD ready-for-your-massive-home-theater versions ($26.99). In full disclosure, Anthology Creative designed and implemented the online digital store.

So Why Blog?

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0600

So, now that I have started a blog (for real this time, I promise), why is it worth it? Why should I blog? My reasons come down to these three things: 1. Content Is a Promotion Strategy Time to promote - There is no denying that in this new blog/podcast/online video age, content can serve as promotion for just about anything - and for much less than one would spend on newspaper ads, billboards, chess tournament sponsorships, etc. There is absolutely no reason for a company to not be constantly producing content, even if it is micro-content such as tweets. 2. I Need to Give Back Time to get all sentimental - I would honestly not be where I am today if it were not for the tools, articles, tutorials, etc. that I have found on the internet (thank you, Google). And frankly, until now, I have pretty much been a take-take-take type of information consumer. It is time for me to start producing content for other people that are just as curious as I have been and are looking for new information, interesting approaches to problems, and the like. 3. Blogging Pushes Me Further Time to be effective - In order to blog effectively, I will need to research. I will need to keep up with what is going on in new media and the internet world. Blogging about these topics will more-or-less force me to become an expert in these topics and to stay relevant. But, don't get me wrong - you do not need to do these things in order to start a blog - I just feel that I need to stay on top of these things in order to blog effectively. If you wish to follow this blog and all its goodness, make sure you subscribe via RSS (imagine a little orange icon here).

The Anthology Blog

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Yes, I have been the person that recommends blogging to just about everyone I know. However, my attempt to blog previously has been halted on every occasion due to a variety of reasons - mostly me and my lack of focus on any one topic. But, nevertheless, here is the Anthology Creative blog - a blog about design, web development, and just about anything else related to the new media sector.