FET’s New Website Design ties Multiple Brands into One
Posted by admin in Web Design on November 1, 2011
FET Website
Forum Energy Technologies (FET) is rapidly expanding its oilfield related products and technical services. This activity has led to a few growing pains, so FET called on Marion-the experts in Interactive Marketing-to pull all of those new acquisitions into one seamless and consistent online presence.
The process didn’t come without challenges. First, Marion had to create a logical structure for the site. Starting with the development of a new sitemap, Marion began hammering out a strategy by which customers could quickly access relevant information while maintaining a consistent brand message throughout the site. Right from their home page, you’ll find an intuitive slide show and easy-to-navigate graphic presentation of FET’s products and technologies, and the ability to quickly search their extensive content. Marion has created over 500 pages for FET, and as new brands are acquired, they will be brought into the fold.
Just as Marion prides itself on being a full-service agency, FET is set to become the full service onshore and offshore oilfield services company. From their subsea technologies like the ROV, to drilling, to production, FET’s lengthy list of capabilities continues to grow.
Also, see our portfolio of Custom Web Designs.
To view the full website Marion has created for FET, visit http://www.f-e-t.com.
Gulf Craft Launches New Web Design
Posted by admin in Web Design on October 21, 2011
Marion has just helped Gulf Craft, LLC launch their newly re-designed website. Established in 1965, Gulf Craft is a leading provider of custom built aluminum boats.
They wanted to showcase three main boat types: Crew/Supply Boats, Passenger Boats, and Catamarans. Marion has delivered a clean and well organized website that does just that, and more.
Marion completely reorganized Gulf Craft’s descriptions, photos, drawings, and videos into a quick and easy-to-use system. With the addition of a dedicated YouTube channel, Gulf Craft can now demonstrate their custom boats and advanced technologies in a more engaging and interesting way.
Visit Gulf Craft, LLC at http://www.gulfcraft.com to view their website.
Also, see our portfolio of Custom Web Designs.
Google’s Changes May Affect SEO
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on October 19, 2011
If Google was a celebrity, it would be Joan Rivers – Obviously enhanced, possibly money-hungry, but fabulous nonetheless.
Let’s review the latest nip/tucks from Google…
Google Places: Now Infused with Hotpot
Introduced in November 2010, Google Hotpot offers recommendation to Google Search results. So when you’re looking for spicy Indian cuisine or the a the best place to get Precious Moments figurines, Hotpot displays a list of local places along with inline user reviews. Now this service is dropping its name and has been added to Google Places, which only makes sense. That’s probably where it should have started. Now through Google, you can rate businesses, be rated and make and receive recommendations, all while using the same profile. I too have grown tired of creating so many derivatives of my name. I draw the line at mizzIHEARTthaBIEBER97.
What this means for you? Well, Google isn’t saying. But what we do know is that you can never have too many positive reviews. Click here to find out how to encourage fawning fan feedback.
Google Ads Become More Transparent
I’m sure you’ve noticed changes to Google Search with “Google Instant” and “Google Instant Previews,” where Google returns results as you type with a graphic overview of each result. (Just click that little magnified glass.) Google has now applied the same technology to pay per click ads (PPC). Read Google Instant Previews for Ads.
What this means for you? Now would be a good time to review (and revise if need be) your SEO strategy, at least for your landing page. Not sure how to tell if your site is optimized? Marion’s SEO Checker will help.
Although Google affirmed previews will not be considered in their decision-making algorithm, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Since the search process has been condensed, it’s more important than ever to ensure you’re using the right keywords and messaging to grab the attention of users.
Also, insist that your homepage is preview-friendly. In other words, you want it to be appealing because an unprofessional or dare-I-say flat out ugly landing page will probably repel more users than it attracts. Give your site a facelift with a custom web design.
Google Offers Google Offers
After Google’s unprecedented six billion dollar bid to acquire Groupon was rejected, Google found a new love to partner with…itself. Google introduced, Google Offers, their answer to daily deals, which is slowly hitting the mainstream.
What does this mean for you? Nothing…for now. Google is testing the service in Portland, Oregon with no word when they’re going to branch out to the rest of us.
Dinner +1
Google is rolling out +1, a feature similar to Facebook’s Like button…in fact it’s exactly like Facebook’s Like Button. The +1 button allows users to recommended different venues, recipes or even shoe repair stores for your friends to see as soon as they search for the related keywords. It’s available through Google Search at the moment, but the plan is for publishers to start adding the +1 button to their websites, and there’s no telling where Google is going to go from there.
What does this mean for you? It’s not clear that getting someone to +1 your site counts as a positive review. I would say so. While it’s still in the testing phase, Google has yet to integrate the results from this service into their complex algorithm, however we know Google and we can bet it’s not going to be too long, granted enough people choose to +1, +1. (Word of advice, get on the +1 bandwagon now. You don’t want to be the last.)
Buzz-ectomy
And finally, in non-Google related news, Marion gives our condolences to Yahoo for its shutdown of Yahoo! Buzz. Launched in 2008, the sun set on Yahoo! Buzz, the community-based news site. In its two year life span, the site never really gripped the public and thus it ends. O, Yahoo! Buzz, we hardly knew thee.
Apple Announces the iPhone 4S?
Posted by admin in Mobile Marketing, Mobile Web Design, Technology on October 7, 2011
Apple announced on Tuesday, October 4th the newest phone being added to their family, the iPhone 4S. There was a lot of backlash after their presentation because there was no mention of the long awaited iPhone 5. However, even though there was no unveiling of the iPhone 5, there were some improvements and a great addition that Apple believes will won-over 
people who purchased the not-so-old iPhone 4.
The new iPhone 4S will have the updated iOS software, a better and faster camera, a more powerful processor and gaming capabilities, and the device supports both GSM and CDMA and an antenna that reportedly competes with 4G. Those changes only seem incremental from the iPhone 4. Apple hopes people will break contract for the Siri application that will be included with the iPhone 4S.
Siri started out as a standalone, speech-recognition app. Apple bought Siri and it will now be the heart of a new iPhone interface that aims to provide a completely frictionless user experience: Tell your phone to do something and it will follow your command.
If Siri works as well as it did during the demonstration, it could possibly change the way we perceive what a phone is. Here is what happened on Tuesday when senior VP of iPhone software Scott Forstall did a four-step vocal show-and-tell with an iPhone 4S (paraphrased here):
- Forstall told Siri to, “Read my messages,” and the phone read back a SMS (from Phil Schiller) that asked if he wanted to do lunch on Friday.
- Forstall asked Siri if he had any appointments Friday at noon, and Siri brought up the calendar and said something like, “Your schedule looks empty Friday at noon.”
- Forstall asked Siri to text back to Schiller, “I can do Friday…”
- Forstall says, “Schedule a lunch Friday at noon with Phil Schiller,” and Siri responds in the affirmative to these commands.
Siri has the potential to change the way we use our phones forever. With its intuitive nature, forgetting/missing appointments, scrolling through your playlist for the perfect traveling music and texting at red lights will be a thing of the past.
After using Siri, it would be a shame to dilute the user experience with the absence of a mobile site. Have you made your site mobile friendly?
Marion can help. We will transform your current site into a fully functional mobile friendly version that people can access anywhere and with any smart phone.
On behalf of all the “Macs,” our condolences go out to the friends, family and fans of Steve Jobs. May he rest in peace.
A Texas Size Brochure for a Texas Grown Company
Posted by Sheryl Sargent in Brochure Design on September 30, 2011
Rounding off the month, we’d like to shine the light on another welcomed addition to the Marion portfolio – a new brochure design
The Marion team helped Flatrock Compression, Ltd. – a natural gas compression rental and contract services company in Houston – describe what’s best about themselves in a nutshell, and we turned it into a wonderful piece of collateral.
Featuring many images of Flatrock’s spacious site, you get the hometown company has larger than local capabilities. With a 9” x 12” spread with pocket, the brochure itself says they’re big players in their field.
From the Flatrock logo amply applied on every page of the 8-panel brochure, to the blue theme borrowed from the logo design, to the abstract industrial background behind the custom on-site photography, this marketing piece is saturated in brand consistency.
Take a look and tell us what you think.
Collaborate with Marion to create collateral for your firm.
Follow Us!