Plan Ahead

The most important step in website development is planning it out beforehand. We recommend scouring the internet for website inspiration. Look for color schemes, formatting styles, design elements, or interactive features that you like and would work well for your website. Once you have your inspiration, start mood boarding! Organize your ideas into a visual representation of what you want your website to look AND feel like. This step will help you later on as a creative guide towards your end goal. 

Think About The Customer Journey

Proper organization is essential to a quality website. When customers visit your website, you want to provide a friction-free experience in which they can quickly and easily find the information they’re looking for. One way to do this is by having clear descriptive headlines, most likely at the top of the page. UX design is a skill, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to do on your own. When organizing your website, a good question to keep in mind is, “If I were a customer visiting this website for the first time, where would I look for x, y, and z.” 

You should also consider what device the customer will be using to view your website: desktop or mobile phone. The view will be slightly different for each device, so when formatting your page, ensure information is optimized so it is as accessible from a cell phone as it is a desktop. 

Simplify Your Visual Elements 

Our biggest piece of advice when it comes to website visuals is to keep it simple! Clean, modern designs are in right now, but even if modern isn’t your style, a simple, streamlined website design should always be the goal. Thinking back to user experience, when customers visit your website they don’t want to be overwhelmed. Pop-ups, animations, and moving elements can add excitement to your page, but they can also be distractions, so use them sparingly and only when they serve a purpose. The same idea applies to color schemes as well. Color and contrast are amazing tools for branding, but too many bright or contrasting colors can do more harm than good in terms of visual appeal (not to mention site readability), so keep those to a minimum as well. 

Add Calls To Action

Now that people are on your page, what do you want them to do? Adding, and emphasizing, a call to action like “learn more,” “schedule an appointment,” or “sign up” can be just the motivation your customers need to take that next step. Whatever your goal is, whether you’re trying to sell products, garner volunteers, collect donations, or simply raise awareness about your company, encourage your audience to interact with the website through a clickable call to action. 

Prove Yourself 

This one is more simple than it sounds. Prove you’re an established company by adding links to your social media pages. Nowadays, people look up a business’s social media pages almost as much as they look up their website when seeking information. Social media serves as an extension of your website, adding another layer of visuals and allowing your customers to gather information about your business that may not have been included on your website. 

When it comes to building your website there are numerous factors to consider and decisions to make, but keeping these five tips in mind will set you on the right path to creating an effective website. At Paperkite, we have experience in web development and know just how to design an innovative, eye-catching, and easy-to-use website that can help convert your audience into customers. Let’s talk about how we can take your website to the next level. 

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Common Mistake #1 – Not Incorporating Data

Instagram and Facebook provide all business accounts with a wealth of data about their posts, called insights. Some of this data includes audience demographics, reach, impressions, and individual post metrics. This information is incredibly valuable and should be taken into consideration when planning your content. Audience demographics can tell you the age and location of your followers, giving you the opportunity to tailor your messaging. Insights even tell you what time your audience is most active, and when your content is most likely to be seen. Engagement metrics help identify which types of posts have performed well in the past, showcasing the types of posts you should consider publishing more of in the future. Reviewing the data and making adjustments accordingly is the first place to start if you’re trying to increase engagement.

Common Mistake #2 – Not Utilizing All of the Features Offered

To stay ahead of their competitors, social apps are adding new features constantly. On Facebook and Instagram, you are able to tag other accounts, geotag your location, and even add product information as part of the shopping feature. Beyond feed posts, Instagram and Facebook also have a video tab and options for posting stories. Social media platforms want their users to use all available features, so they tend to reward those who do. Try posting a variety of content types like feed posts, stories, and videos, and utilize some or all of the in-post features. The platform may begin placing your content in front of the right audiences, increasing your engagement.

Common Mistake #3 – Not Interacting With Other Accounts

Pleasing the algorithm is everything when it comes to improving your post-performance. Above all else, Facebook and Instagram algorithms favor accounts with high engagement.You need engagement to increase engagement; sounds redundant but it’s true. We recommend being active on your page by liking, commenting, saving, and sharing others’ posts. You might even consider private messaging other accounts. This demonstrates to the algorithm that you’re an active user, and in return, it may begin to show your posts to those you’re trying to interact with.

While these are the biggest mistakes we see users making, there are a number of other ways to improve your post performance. Try implementing posts that your followers can interact with: post a poll on your story, include a CTA in your caption asking for opinions in the comments, create a hashtag unique to your business and encourage followers to use it in their posts. The frequency with which you post could also impact post-performance. Posting every day or multiple times a week further proves to the algorithm that you’re active on their site. Additionally, you might consider removing inactive followers so that your active followers have a better chance of seeing your content and interacting with it. One thing we know for sure is that algorithms are always changing, so we recommend keeping tabs on current trends to ensure you’re giving your posts the best chance for success.

A final note we want users to keep in mind: reach and impressions are a much better metric of measuring post success than likes. Reach is the number of unique people who saw your content, while impressions is the total number of times your post was displayed. Just because your post only got 18 likes, doesn’t mean only 18 people saw it; in fact, your reach may have been much higher. When evaluating post performance, the best indicator of success is reach or impressions, so don’t dwell on the number of likes.

Social media best practices are constantly being revamped, and our social media team is dedicated to ensuring we’re at the forefront of emerging trends. At Paperkite, we know just how to create content that will perform well and increase your business’s online presence. Let’s talk about the ways our team can help your business reach a new audience and increase sales using the powerful tool that is social media marketing.

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Everyone loves a good party, especially during the holiday season. At the end of a hard year of work, the best gift you can give to your employees is a chance to relax and spend time with their coworkers, and maybe win a few prizes! Here are our tips for planning the best office Christmas party this year. 

Set The Scene

Decorating your space is the first step towards hosting a memorable party. The goal of all events is to create a comprehensive experience for your guests. This includes creating an environment that excites your attendees and enhances the event itself. Splurge on some lights, garland, maybe even a Christmas tree. It’s worth it to get your employees in the holiday spirit. (Bonus points if you can puton a holiday-themed playlist.) 

Plan Activities

We’d be lying if we said that parties are always fun. The best way to avoid a monotonous party is to give your guests something to do. Incorporating games is the easiest way to entertain your attendees. At Paperkite, we keep it fun (and competitive!) with card games like Spoons, as well as sharing our love of baking with a cookie exchange. It’s important to have a few options that will cater to all your employee’s personalities, so be sure to include more low-key activities like a cookie decorating contest or a holiday scavenger hunt. 

You might also consider including some form of entertainment. Live music is always a good option, or take things in a different direction with a hypnotist, a bartender giving a holiday cocktail demo, or a comedian to bring the laughs. 

Whatever activities you decide to include, hosting a raffle or giveaway is essential. After all, the point of an office party is to give back to your employees for all of their hard work and dedication. Paperkite holiday raffles often include delicious items from our clients, like Fly Creek Cider Mill. Your team will appreciate the effort of showing them your appreciation!

Collect Charity Donations

The holidays are a time of giving, and studies have shown that people feel good when they give back. Boost employee spirits by providing an easy avenue to do something meaningful. Encourage employees to arrive at the party with a donation (non-perishable food, clothing, toiletries, etc.) that you can later bring to a charitable organization on their behalf. Not only does it make your employees feel good, but more importantly, you’re supporting those who need it most this time of year. 

Commemorate the Day 

Capture memories and give your employees something to look back on with a fun photo booth! A photo booth complete with fun props and dress-up items gives your employees something to do and serves as a party favor. We often don’t take pictures with our coworkers, so a photo booth is a great way to commemorate friendships and savor the excitement of the day. It doesn’t even have to be expensive. With some intentional decor and a smartphone or iPad, you can set up a functioning “photo booth” and upload the photos to a shareable Google folder. 

Ask Your Employees

If you’re totally stuck for ideas, ask your employees for suggestions. Above all else, you want to make sure your guests have fun, so if you don’t know what kind of activities they’d like- ask them! It’s also worth noting that some employees might not be comfortable attending an in-person event. You want your team to be comfortable, so if you do opt for in-person, be sure to incorporate COVID-safety measures, and if most prefer to not gather, host a virtual event! Games and performances can all be conducted via Zoom, so bring the party online! 

Whatever you decide to do, make it meaningful. Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season!

-The Paperkite Team 

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Getting Into the Game

Squid Game – Netflix’s new show skyrocketed in popularity immediately after its release, and remains the most-watched series to date. Add in the characters’ simple and easy-to-replicate outfits, and we’re sure that Squid Game-themed costumes will make an appearance on the Halloween costume circuit this year. 

Among Us – Another immensely popular game that had a hold on younger generations is the online game Among Us. Kids and teens everywhere were glued to their screens, trying to identify the “imposter” among them. This leads us to predict that Among Us characters are another simple costume idea we will be seeing quite a bit of while out trick or treating. 

The Classics

Harry Potter – What’s Halloween without a few wizards! Harry Potter remains a beloved book (and movie) series that has proven to be a very popular costume choice for both kids and adults. An incredibly devoted fan base that only continues to grow ensures that this trend is here to stay in 2021. 

Zombie Everything – Though already a popular Halloween costume choice, the semi-recent explosion of Zombie-themed tv and cinema cements zombie costumes as a must-have on our list of predictions. Zombie bride, zombie doctor, zombie teacher: with a little makeup the possibilities are endless! 

Superheroes – Whether you’re a Marvel or DC fan, Superhero costumes have been and probably always will be a staple when it comes to Halloween. This year, our team predicts seeing quite a few costumes from the latest superhero movies like Wanda Vision, Black Widow, and Wonder Woman to name a few. 

Celebrity Influence

Kim K at the Met Gala – Every year, pop culture has a huge influence on Halloween costume choice. This year, we’re predicting that Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala outfit, an all-black morph suit featuring a flowing train, will be a hit at Halloween parties everywhere.  

Jojo Siwa – The dancer, singer, and actress, who recently appeared on Dancing With the Stars and experienced a huge growth in popularity on TikTok, has been thrust into the spotlight more than ever before. Jojo’s wildly unique style, complete with huge hair bows, bright colors, and sequins galore offers an easily recognizable look that we foresee being a popular Halloween costume choice this season.  

Britney Spears – #FreeBritney was all over social media in recent months as a result of her ongoing battle against her conservatorship. Though her former looks (Baby One More Time, Toxic, and the iconic Jean dress) have been popular costume choices in the past, the drama surrounding her personal life puts her at the forefront of people’s minds, leading us to predict an explosion of Britney-inspired costumes in 2021.

Bernie Sanders – If you were online at the beginning of this year, then you’re familiar with the Bernie Sanders meme. His knit mittens and crossed legs at the Biden Inauguration delighted internet audiences and quickly became a popular meme format that is still making appearances today. An easily replicated and especially comfortable outfit, we believe the Bernie meme will definitely make an appearance at a few Halloween parties this year. 

These are just a few categories that our team predicts will be taking center stage when it comes to Halloween costumes in 2021. Did you see your costume on this list? If not, what are you dressing up as this year? 

We’re excited to see how we did with our predictions and to witness the awe-inspiring creativity that accompanies this spooky holiday. 

Happy Halloween from the Paperkite Team!

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What’s New

Introducing a new product via live video is a terrific way to generate buzz and draw customers to your website. Use your social media accounts in the weeks before the big rollout to build anticipation.

Winner, Winner

What could be more dramatic than a live unveiling of your latest contest winner? Instead of waiting for a phone call or email, participants will be on your site actively engaging with content and be able to put a face to your brand.

Live Tour

A live tour of your business is an effective way to pull back the curtain and allow customers a glimpse of the people working behind-the-scenes to make your company a success. Offering a less scripted view into your company’s process builds upon the human connection and lets people see in real time how your products are made or how ideas are generated.

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Take a quick peek at what we created!

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