What Content to Put in Your Browser Theme by Kevin Dwinnell

Image via Wikipedia

A browser theme is more than a pretty picture, or it should be. That’s why we call ours “interactive browser themes” and we’ve seen browser themes deliver 6 – 12x more clicks than the average visits to our partner sites. You get this return traffic by utilizing the content you’ve already created for your web site. It’s a simple matter of exposing it and directing users back to your site through the browser theme.

Here are some tips to help you get started.

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Posted in How-to Tutorials | Tags: brand thunder, browser theme, Feedburner, NASA, RSS, Web browser, Wordpress | No Comments »

Create a Huffington Post, CNN, or Fox News Browser Theme by Kevin Dwinnell

Image via Wikipedia

I talk a lot about using BT:Engage for helping sites and communities deepen their engagement with their online audience. It’s also extremely easy (and fun!) to create browser themes for your own use and pleasure.

In the following post and accompanying video tutorial, I’m going to show you how to spin a browser theme that includes news from your favorite news site.

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Posted in How-to Tutorials | Tags: brand thunder, browser theme, CNN, Fox News Channel, Huffington Post, MSNBC, RSS, Uniform Resource Locator | No Comments »

BT:Engage How To – Browser Dimensions and Design by Kevin Dwinnell

Image by brandthunder via Flickr

The most frequent comment we hear from users new to browser design is “it doesn’t look like it did in the preview” and that’s because 60% of the time it doesn’t. This post will explain why and what to do about it.

Key Definitions

I’ll admit, we’ve got a long way to go in terms of UI with our free browse theme creator, and some of the descriptors we use are based on our own history with the product. That may not be so helpful to you. We’ll get better. For now, here’s what you need to know.

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Posted in BT:Engage, How-to Tutorials | Tags: brand thunder, browser theme, engage, Google Analytics, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, RSS, Web browser | No Comments »

How to Write Better Headlines and Multiply Your Traffic by Kevin Dwinnell

I wish I could offer all the advice you need in this one post. Fortunately, the “How to” portion is only a click away. Copyblogger has a great series titled “How to Write Magnetic Headlines” and it’s worth your time to study. If you’re really feeling time pressed, then check out Stuart Brown’s “How to Write Great Headlines.”

I’m having you start with the headlines because I’m making the assumption you’re already producing some kind of content. I’m also assuming that if you’re one of our clients, or want to be, you have an audience you’re trying to engage with your content. If you’re not using well-crafted headlines, you’re missing a big opportunity.

Whether you’re using one of our browser Booms!, a toolbar, widget or simply an RSS feed, your news and content is the everyday reminder for your audience to return to your site. A great headline can be the difference between curiosity and a click. We’ve seen it with the click-through in our Booms!. When the news ticker is used, it captures a good percentage of overall clicks from the browser. For the clients who have compelling headlines, the traffic volume can be significant.

I’m just using our product as a reference point. Regardless of the vehicle being used by the consumer, if they’ve downloaded an app or subscribed to your RSS feed, they’ve demonstrated their commitment to what you provide. It’s to your mutual benefit to entice them with well-written headlines.

Fortunately for you, if you’re not doing this today, RSS is the common delivery mechanism. It is not a major development effort, but it can be leveraged across multiple apps and feed readers making it a major driver of traffic. If you’re already using RSS, then make sure your headline-writing skills are polished. You can improve your results several times by moving the quality of your headlines from mediocre to good.

Posted in Commentary | Tags: brand thunder, Brand Thunder Boom, Branded Browser, Copyblogger, custom browser, Feed Readers, RSS, Syndication and Feeds | No Comments »

Elaboration on Earning Customer Loyalty by Kevin Dwinnell

Customer Loyalty: How to Earn It is a commentary over at MediaPost. Guy Maser gives some simple and straightforward ideas to help you better serve your existing customer. The fundamentals often aren’t that complex. His suggestions are geared for a certain type of business, but his premise is applicable anywhere – do something for the benefit of your current customers.

I’d take it a step or two farther. What can you do for your customer today? How much of your time was spent working on tasks focused on revenue for you as opposed to experience for them? When was the last time you focused on figuring out what would “wow” your customer? Do you have a daily “to-do” task that focuses specifically on the customer?

Questions like these drive a set of behaviors that can benefit your customer and ultimately your business. Just picking up the phone and calling a customer can have a very positive impact as well as offering a chance to get first hand feedback. Reviewing message boards and comments, on your sites and sites related to your product can be very insightful, but also give you an opportunity to respond and learn. I found a comment in Mozilla’s Add-ons that warranted a reply, but Add-ons doesn’t offer a reply option. Fortunately, this member had an email address in his profile and I was able to reach him. I can’t vouch for this instance, but in the past, these extra steps have gone a long way.

Think of all the other touch points available through the Internet. What if some of the viral-video energy went into service videos? Pictures and text also works. I completely disassembled my laptop to fix a cracked solder joint and couldn’t believe the number of parts. I found a step-by-step guide, however, that allowed me to do it myself in about the amount of time it would have taken just to drive it to a repair shop. It was awesome.

We mention frequently the items we often include in our browser Booms! News feeds, RSS, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and more. These are all easy to implement touch points with your consumer. Some of these elements get the news to your customers as effectively and more timely than any email campaign can. You don’t even have to do the bulk of the communicating at sites that offer a dialogue. Listening goes a long way, but you will have to say something, just so your customers know you’re there.

The list can go on and on. There’s no one path to earning your customer’s loyalty, but it clearly requires pursuing some path.

Posted in Commentary | Tags: brand thunder, Branded Browser, browser boom, custom browser, Facebook, Internet forum, Mozilla, MySpace, RSS, Social media, Twitter, Viral video | 1 Comment »