Villing Articles Written by Nathan DeSelm
Don't Communicate Like a Toddler
Nathan DeSelm (April 10, 2012)
My daughter is a little over 17 months old and she's already making the same communication mistakes that I see in the business and marketing world. Of course, she has a better excuse.
How Marketing Will Make or Break Our Public Library System
Nathan DeSelm (March 15, 2012)
Will our public libraries survive the shift to digital books and media? Or will publishers and other copyright holders use this opportunity to take them out?
MSRP? More Like Manufacturer's Suggested Ripoff Price!
Nathan DeSelm (February 16, 2012)
Maybe there was a time when the manufacturer's suggested retail price meant something. Those days are gone because aggressive marketers have traded long-term credibility for short-term "monkey business."
Why We're Dropping Support for IE6
Nathan DeSelm (January 18, 2012)
It's 2012, so it's time to make some changes. First on the list: we're no longer going to put much effort into supporting Internet Explorer 6. Are we crazy?
Touch Computing: Yet Another Case for Accessible Website Design
Nathan DeSelm (December 26, 2011)
Touch is positioned to become the primary method that consumers use to interact with your website within two or three years. Here's how you can prepare your website for the coming "touch" revolution.
Voice Computing: Another Case for Accessible Website Design
Nathan DeSelm (November 28, 2011)
As Siri and Xbox Kinect push voice recognition into the mainstream, here are some things you can do to make it easier to browse your website using voice commands.
The Four Biggest Threats to Ad Agencies (And Why I'm Excited for the Future)
Nathan DeSelm (October 26, 2011)
If you don't spend a lot of time reading marketing articles, you may not know this, but the advertising industry (and to a lesser degree the marketing industry as a whole) is in crisis. So why are we optimistic?
Five Tips to Create Usable Website Navigation
Nathan DeSelm (September 19, 2011)
Clear, easy-to-use navigation is probably more important than any other element of your website. Our interactive director explains how to make sure that your navigation is effective.
Marketers Need to Face the Facts: "Apps" are Mostly Games and Social Networking
Nathan DeSelm (August 15, 2011)
App usage is exploding, causing many marketers to blink dollar signs and flood the app store with "apps" that are little more than mobile-friendly versions of their website. I think this is a mistake.
Mobile Apps versus Mobile Web: The Key Statistic that Determines Which Is Best For You
Nathan DeSelm (August 9, 2011)
Should you prioritize a mobile app or mobile website? We suggest that you can answer that question by looking at a single statistic of your website.
Why I Stopped Resisting and Finally Joined Facebook
Nathan DeSelm (July 6, 2011)
Our Interactive Director reflects on the reasons he resisted joining Facebook far longer than most in the developed world, and what finally convinced him to join.
Competitive Brand Names: The Importance of Planning Ahead
Nathan DeSelm (May 27, 2011)
If we can learn anything from Apple's recent "App Store" trademark silliness, it's the importance of planning ahead when launching new products and services.
Dealing with Disaster: How to Plan for the Worst Case Scenario, in Business and Life
Nathan DeSelm (April 19, 2011)
A couple weeks ago, our website server crashed. This harrowing experience clarified a couple important things that are not only relevant to this situation, but also to the other disasters in life.
Are You a Spammer? How to Use Email Marketing Without Sending Spam
Nathan DeSelm (March 11, 2011)
As valuable as email marketing is, it's important to understand the rules and risks involved. If you're not careful with your email marketing, you could be blacklisted by ISPs or fined by the FTC.
Is Aggressive Search Engine Optimization Immoral?
Nathan DeSelm (February 7, 2011)
A high search engine ranking obviously has the potential to drive tons of visitors to a business. Some companies have decided that it's OK to do anything to cheat the system. I say, "enough is a enough!"
Don't Mention Oprah: Some Surprising Things Spam Filters Look For...And How You Can Avoid Them
Nathan DeSelm (January 14, 2011)
Email is an important part of nearly every marketing plan. However, because of the prevalence of spam, email filters sometimes enforce some pretty rigid, and often humorous, rules.
Hearsay and Statistics: Smartphone Apps May Get the Press, But a Recent Survey Suggests Many Consumers Prefer the Mobile Web
Nathan DeSelm (December 17, 2010)
Apps are great for self-contained experiences. However, it's important not to overlook the value of creating a mobile-friendly website. This may be what your customers actually prefer.
Marketing Like a Newborn: If You Keep Up That Annoying Screaming, You're Going to Be Ignored.
Nathan DeSelm (November 19, 2010)
On November 2, I became a father. After several sleepless nights, I realized that the incoherent, bloodcurdling screams of my newborn remind me of one thing: bad marketing.
Clothespin Babies: How Demos and Trial Experiences Can Reduce Your Customers' Perceived Risk
Nathan DeSelm (October 6, 2010)
Trying something new can be scary. By offering small, low-risk demos and trial experiences to your prospects, it's more likely they will become customers.
Point/Counterpoint: Are Local Marketing Clubs Doomed?
Nathan DeSelm & Thom Villing (September 10, 2010)
With online educational opportunities exploding and professional networking increasingly happening online, is there any place for local marketing clubs with their traditional meet-and-greet luncheons?
The Web is Dead? What Wired Really Meant, and Why You Should Care
Nathan DeSelm (September 1, 2010)
The cover of the September Wired magazine is bright red and loudly proclaims "The Web is dead." The truth is more subtle, but shouldn't be ignored.
Will Consumers Respond to User-Generated Advertising?
Nathan DeSelm (July 28, 2010)
We've seen the stratospheric rise of user-generated content. Is user-generated advertising the next logical step? Or will users rebel against sponsored tweets, videos and blog posts from their friends?
Unskippable DVD Previews and How You Too Can Ruin Effective Advertising
Nathan DeSelm (June 30, 2010)
Over the past couple years, I've noticed many of my DVDs contain unskippable previews and studio animations. This is a classic example of how heavy-handed, force-fed advertising can turn off otherwise engaged consumers.
Facebook Is The New AOL: How Marketing Missteps Will Destroy the World's Most Popular Social Network
Nathan DeSelm (June 2, 2010)
Facebook was originally built to help people connect and share with friends. Recently, their mission has changed, and the site is in danger of following AOL down the pit of irrelevance.
Is Augmented Reality the Future of Marketing?
Nathan DeSelm (May 4, 2010)
Augmented reality combines technologies such as GPS, cameras and wireless Internet to create some pretty incredible applications. We share the best real-world examples and what this will mean to you in the coming years.
Three Ways Gaming Culture Can Impact Your Marketing Plan
Nathan DeSelm (April 7, 2010)
Video gaming has a massive influence on your target market. This article explains three ways that marketers can use this knowledge to help promote their business and products.
Gaming Should Be On Your Marketing Radar
Nathan DeSelm (March 10, 2010)
I recently attended a marketing strategy meeting for a Fortune 500 company targeting consumers under 30. The biggest take-away: video games are mainstream and can't be ignored in your marketing efforts.
Low-down, Dirty Search Engine Tricks (And Why You Should Never Use Them)
Nathan DeSelm (February 5, 2010)
If you are responsible for a website, you've probably been approached by search engine companies making remarkable promises. This article explains why you should slam the door in their faces.
What You Need to Know About the Browser War
Nathan DeSelm (January 6, 2010)
Need to be able to speak intelligently about website browsers like Internet Explorer, Firefox or Chrome? Nathan DeSelm explains the current browser landscape and the main issues that are involved in this volatile market.
Point/Counterpoint: Are Traditional Marketing Methods Still Relevant?
Nathan DeSelm & Thom Villing (December 16, 2009)
Most people agree that marketing and the media used to disseminate marketing messages are changing. In this special "point/counterpoint" post, we debate the extent and nature of this change.
Use Google Trends to Gain Valuable Insights for Free
Nathan DeSelm (December 11, 2009)
It's important for marketers to keep their finger on the cultural pulse. One way to do that is to use Google Trends.
The Four Critical Questions Every Home Page Must Answer
Nathan DeSelm (November 2, 2009)
Your home page is one of the most important pages on your website. To be effective it must quickly provide the answers to four basic questions.
Don't Underestimate the Importance of Your Subpage Design
Nathan DeSelm (October 9, 2009)
There's something that's always bothered me about the traditional website design process. The focus is too often on the home page design, with the subpage design thrown in as an afterthought. This is dangerously misguided.
Concept to Completion - Building a High-Impact Financial Web Site: Part 2
Nathan DeSelm (September 11, 2009)
In the previous article, I discussed the planning and design stages of building the Lake City Bank website. Of course, you can have the coolest design out there, but if the site doesn't work right, or is difficult to maintain, it just won't be useful.
Concept to Completion - Building a High-Impact Financial Web Site: Part 1
Nathan DeSelm (September 9, 2009)
Villing recently launched a Web site that may be one of our most ambitious projects to date - the Lake City Bank website. This article gives a behind-the-scenes look at the project.
At 30,000 Feet, Timing is Everything
Nathan DeSelm (August 24, 2009)
I recently traveled to Europe for vacation, which obviously required several very long flights. During that time, I learned a little something about timing your marketing efforts.
Advanced Search Techniques To Help You Google Like a Pro
Nathan DeSelm (August 4, 2009)
Using special keywords and operators in Google's normal search box can greatly improve the quality of your results. You may have heard of some of these, but my guess is that some will be new.
Top Four Web Optimization Myths
Nathan DeSelm (July 6, 2009)
Myths about website optimization can often lead to unnecessary usability restrictions or inappropriate goals. These are some of the more common web optimization myths that I run across quite frequently.
If You Use Google for Everything, You're Missing Out
Nathan DeSelm (June 17, 2009)
With the recent release of Microsoft Bing and WolframAlpha, I thought I'd discuss some situations where Google isn't your best choice for finding information online.
How to Hire a Web Developer and/or Web Firm
Nathan DeSelm (May 21, 2009)
Hiring an outside web developer or firm can be very challenging. It often feels like you're wading through acronyms and certifications when all you really want to know is "Will this developer do a great job on my site?"
How To Check the Quality of Your Web Site Code
Nathan DeSelm (April 22, 2009)
Most marketing managers and coordinators don't understand HTML. So how do you know if your programmer is doing a good job?
Useful Tools for Marketing Professionals (also, they're free)
Nathan DeSelm (March 10, 2009)
Over the years, I've found quite a few useful tools that marketing people might not realize they can use for free.
So, You Want Online Animation?
Nathan DeSelm (January 28, 2009)
Website animation can greatly enhance a visitor's experience on your web site. But you need to be careful or it could do more harm than it's worth.
Four Things You Think You Want (But Really Don't) For Your Web Site
Nathan DeSelm (December 9, 2008)
Often during our early meetings for a new web site, the client begins listing some of the things they'd like to accomplish with their website. Most of the time, these objectives are reasonable, but sometimes they are not.
Personalized Search - Google is Changing the Ground Rules
Nathan DeSelm (November 22, 2008)
Do you spend a lot of money with sleazy companies who promise top search engine placement at any cost? If so, it's time to rethink your strategy.
Three Interactivity Features That Will Improve Your Web Site
Nathan DeSelm (October 29, 2008)
In the last five years, we've witnessed the beginning of a major shift in the way people use the Internet. The Internet is moving away from being a collection of separate pages and becoming a single integrated experience.
Blogging Alternatives
Nathan DeSelm (September 26, 2008)
While the traditional long-form blog might be appropriate for many companies, it’s also important to be aware of some of the alternatives for online communication.
New Home Broadband Statistics
Nathan DeSelm (July 15, 2008)
The Pew Research Center recently released their Home Broadband Adoption report for 2008. Learn about some of the key findings of this report.
Manage Your Identity on Google Maps
Nathan DeSelm (June 5, 2008)
Learn how to edit your business information on Google Maps.
Don't Waste Your Time Browsing. (Let the Web Come to You.)
Nathan DeSelm (September 20, 2007)
You may have heard of RSS or feed readers. Basically, RSS is a method of distributing website content, such as news stories, to everyone who has chosen to subscribe.