Are you a dobber? Please don't refer a friend

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Written by Stephen Murphy | 15 April 2008

Before you invest another chunk of your marketing budget on a viral campaign, or refer five more friends so you can win that tropical holiday, stop and read. Stephen Murphy debunks the myths about online friend referrals.

Have you even signed up a friend's email for your own personal gain? Online referral, or more accurately, ‘dobbing in your mates', is becoming an increasingly common and, dare I say, almost an expected standard for developing of many online social sites and promotional-style campaigns.

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When the cheapest bid @ auction wins

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Written by Sue Blatchford | 29 January 2008

Everybody loves a bargain. Combine that with online bidding and surely it’s a win win situation? Perhaps not. Internet strategist Stephen Murphy exposes the real reason you can buy an iPod for $1.67…

Online auctions have become hugely popular and, personally, slightly addictive. Many businesses have tried to challenge eBay’s worldwide domination, but the original online auction house remains a commercial juggernaut. eBay’s marketplace is truly active and, unknown to most people, it now moves more cars than the conglomerate of aggregated dealer sites, newspaper owned or not.

However, one of the latest buzz marketing promotions, or online trends, to hit our shores is a pure and simple classic that’s turning traditional online auction practices upside down.

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Do you need a better website?

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Written by Sue Blatchford | 13 November 2007

Does your business need a new website, like, now? Spend 5 minutes learning the important steps of planning a better website with information architecture expert Sue Blatchford. Because failing to plan could equal planning to fail!

Jargon translator: What is website architecture?

Website architecture, or information architecture, is the structural plan or map used to build a website. It focuses on the user and user requirements, including navigation signposts and interaction points.

IF YOU ARE IN THE MARKET TO GET A WEBSITE BUILT for your business or product it pays to spend some time planning your website architecture. It can be created in a simple spreadsheet or Word document that lists the navigation and pages, or you can create a complex diagram that outlines detailed functionality requirements.

Too often people are in such a hurry to get a website live that they don't pause long enough to consider the needs of the intended audience/s or the business itself. The result is mostly disappointment and frustration. Unfortunately, making mistakes when building a website can be difficult and costly to fix.

No matter how small or large you intend your website to be, mapping out its structure - based on its purpose - is essential to success.

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