CASE STUDY: Hive Corporate Video

Category: Web development/ Internet Marketing
Vertical: Corporate Video
Project Type: Interface Design, SEO, Internet marketing

About

Hive Corporate Video offers complete video production solutions, for a range of industries. Hive produces video solutions for marketing, advertising, music video’s, TV, film and digital media, and web sites.
Hive are a Sydney based agency with a young vibrant team producing excellent and very creative video works.

Hive are not just a conventional client to BlueRoo, over the course of the project they became our joint venture partners, an opportunity that both parties are incredibly excited about. This unique partnership focuses on business development, lead generation in the Australian video production market, and a sharing of skills, experience and knowledge. Together we aim to offer SME business wider expertise and services, we could not offer as sole entities. We aim to use this partnership to enhance both our portfolio’s, and enrich the work that we produce together.

Challenge

Hive approached us, requiring a corporate web presence, to gain more growth and to generate targeted leads in the Australian Video production market. Having produced portfolio site showcasing their more creative works, they required a fresh take on their brand and online strategy.

The core project centred around a new website, complete CMS systems with CRM capabilities and blog, 100% search engine friendly code-base, full site SEO optimization, lead capture centred interface-design, and an extensive link building campaign to build rankings and traffic.

This multi faceted project allowed us, for the first time to combine our range of expertise into one website.

Solution

The website centers around the concept of light, in particular how light moves. We have tried to capture the kinaesthetic qualities of refracted and distorted light. Developing the dark feel around your brand and making it assessable to a more corporate market. You will note the filmic picture distortion on the header, relaying the imaginary of the screen to the user.

The top navigation links have a light glow mouse roll over, and include additional mouse interaction, a type of light play movement.

The top panel is presented in the browser ‘above the fold’ so acts as a sales graphic, compelling the user to either make contact or learn more, through the two prominent buttons.  (This strategy is the most effective way to turn a prospect into a lead)

The TV screen immediately greets the user, once clicked on will show the cinema panel. This displays the Hive show reel.

The centre panel ‘below the fold’ features four content preview box’s, displaying sample text from each page that links to it. The icons and text are designed to compel the user to read more, and explore the deeper pages. We have tried to make the icons fun. We feel they will have a high click through rate.

Below this section you will note the ‘latest news headline’ news flash panel, this will cycle through blog, news or social networking headlines linking to each, respectively once click upon. This panel will feature slick transitions between each post, as well as providing movement on the page.

Below, are two testimonial sections; we feel that this relays quality and professionalism to the prospect.

The large footer navigation, contains short cuts and dynamic content. Large footers have proved to be a powerful addition to a modern site. Footers allow users to navigate and explore less important content. The blog panel dynamically updates once a new blog post is added in the CMS. All of the links in the footer will dynamically update once a change is made in the CMS.

The simple blog design displays the content clearly and effectively whilst appearing slick and modern. The blog engine features all as aspects found in any current blog site; a full comments section with user avatars, (all comments authenticated through CMS system prior to display), dynamic date and comments counter, full category capabilities allowing posts to be ordered and easy to access, social media integration if required.

The portfolio page can feature an unlimited number of projects in thumb nail form. Once clicked, they will display the respective video (or image) in the same way as the show reel on the home page. Each thumb nail image will display an animated roll over if hovered over by mouse. Each sub page on the site will feature a dynamically generated cooker crumb panel, (the see-through strip above the content) showing the user where they are on the site.

We are excited to see how our massive link building campaigns effect the SERPS for the keyword we have optimized for. I will update this post once we have stable results.

Clearly large companies see the usefulness of social media, many companies are trying only one thing at a time, dipping a toe, not jumping feet first. At least it’s a move in the right direction, has the landslide finally happened?
What do you think? let us know your thoughts?

While large amounts of similar is data available, we found this visual representation, informative and easy to use. We also liked specific parts of the data set, such as the fact that more than 3 in 5 Americans (63%) use the net to influence others’ oppositional views, opinions or expression of contrasting or oppositional views.

Intent-driven Social Media

What do you think of this visual look at user trends? Are thier any more visulisations like these that you know of? Please drop us a comment and share our stuff!

This is all fine, untill your data grows in size to petabyte scale, then old way simply isn’t feasible. Tagging, sorting, and categorizing, would take an emmence amount of time. A single computer, no matter how large, just can’t crunch that many numbers at once.

Google Data Structure

Google use a very different approach, when sifting and ordering the world wide web. Thier solution for working with colossal data sets, is an approach called MapReduce.

It works like this:

1. Collect

MapReduce does not depend on traditional databases, where information is collected then categorized. We’ll just gather up the full text of every book Google has scanned.

2. Map

You then write a function to map the data: “Count every use of every word in Google Books.” The request then splits among all the computers within your army, each is assigned a chunk of data to work with.

3. Save

Each PC doing a map, writes the results to its local hard drive, cutting down on data transfer time. Then the computers that have been assigned a “reduce” function grab the lists from the mappers.

4. Reduce

Then the Reduce computers correlate the lists of words. Now you would know the frequency of a particular word that is used, and in which books.

5. Solve

The system finally creates a data set about your data! In my example, the final list of words is stored as separate sets, so it can be quickly referenced or queried. So then you don’t have to plow through unrelated data to get your answer.

Please drop us a comment, and share our lovely and insightfull post…thanks!

Its All in the Stats

1. 40% of SEO campaigns aware of their ROI achieve returns in excess of 500%, while only 22% of PPC campaigns were able to achieve this value.

2. When two top-ranking links are artificially switched, the click-through ratio of 42-8% drops to 34-12%, demonstrating the importance of engaging copy in addition to rank position.

3. 23% of searches progress to the second page. Presumably the difference between 62% and 23% stems from searchers trying either another keyword or another engine, or giving up.

4. 41% of searches unsuccessful after the first page choose to refine their keyword search phrase or their chosen search engine.

5. 77% of search users choose organic over paid listing when searching, 67% choose organic search when purchasing.

6. When the searcher is purchasing, organic click-through generates 25% higher conversion rates than equivalent Pay-Per-Click (PPC) click-through.

7. 80% of unsuccessful searches are followed with keyword refinement. Meaning if unsuccessful the searcher inputs an altered query.

8. 62% of search users click a link on the first page of search results

9. 42% of search users click the top-ranking link. 8% click the second-ranking link, and the click-through rate (CTR) continues to drop after.

So there you have it, stats proving the value and importance of SEO. Use these yourself to show the facts. Share and pass on this articles and check back soon for more fabulous SEO tips.

Without getting too sentimental, a new favourite of mine, and hopefully yours too, so be sure to check her out soon.

Great eye tones, and shading

Cool uses of pink here, urban looking!

CASE STUDY: Cuppa Casino

Category: Interface Design/Branding
Vertical: Casino Website
Project Type: Interface Design, Graphic Design, Flash Development

About

Cuppa Casino is a UK based gaming portal, specialising in a large range of betting and Casino gaming, both online and on mobile phone. The fun and dynamic brand aim to approach the market from a different perspective by keeping their gaming and user experience fun and light hearted.

Cuppa Casino approached us, with the view in designing and building them a compelling and exciting flash header, to attract a young a trendy audience, to register for the service. Cuppa had a very specific vision and aesthetic in mind, they felt that the right graphics the themes would attract the current and niche user base. The piece had to relay the boutique, high-end and trendy brand equity they had cultivated over time.

Challenge

The challenge throughout this project was to develop a flash animation and theme that would seamlessly integrate with the current site and colour scheme. We had a very specific colour palette to work to, and any deviation would of resulted in an inconsistent look and feel. We overcame this with a range of safeguards, at every level of the design and development process.

A further challenge within this project was the character illustrations and dress. The client wanted a very specific character style; skin tone and dress that increased the production time somewhat. After several redesigns we struck gold, with an aesthetic that we were both pleased with.

Solution

The solution is a great little piece of flash design, development and animation that really sells the style of the brand and gaming services. The look and feel is modern, trendy and fun. The seamless animation style coupled with a confident colour scheme relays a clear and contemporary message.

CASE STUDY: City Of Dreams Casino

Category: Interface Design/Branding
Vertical: Mobile Casino Games
Project Type: Interface Design & Graphic Design

About

City of Dreams is an international Casino and gaming brand, based in the Grand Hyatt, Macau. BlueRoo was commissioned to design and produce a range of brands for 11 high-end casino games for mobile devices, as a digital component to their Casino. We produced a complete set including; blackjack, roulette, poker, baccarat, horse racing and more. City of Dreams wanted to relay movement and kinetic energy through the static graphics; we developed this idea by using motion video as inspiration. We utilized a number of particle, smoke, and lighting effects to give the elusion of motion.

Challenge

The challenge throughout this project was to develop a set of brands that didn’t stray to far from the City of Dreams brand equity. We used their existing colour palette as the foundation of our bright colour scheme; we broadened and embellished the colours to improve vibrancy. During the development stage of the project it became clear the using extreme high and low tones on the composition would make the logo text jump out of the screen at the user. BlueRoo are used to designing and developing digital content for desktop screen sizes so altering our production methods for small screen design catalyzed some issues. Our solution was to create bulky graphics viewable at any screen dimensions.

Solution

The results are an exciting and kinetic range of small screen, casino brands that are both unique and emotive. They relay the vibe and atmosphere of the physical casino through the mobile game medium. Each piece works both individually, and in a set, the user enjoys a seamless gaming experience, as the graphics contains complementary elements and styles.

CASE STUDY: UpYoursMagazine.com

Category: Web Design
Vertical: Online Art Gallery
Project Type: Web Design/ SEO & Web Development

About

Up Yours Magazine is a cheeky and tenacious UK based art and mixed media online publication.  UpYours is much more than just a magazine, it’s a place to showcase and view some of the best talent out there, from students to graduates and anyone with a genuine love of media. It features the very best of urban art, photography, graphic design, music, film, creative writing and fashion. The site is far less commercial than our usual mandate, but it gave us a chance to spread our creative wings and develop something very special.

Challenge

The main challenge was integration all the mixed media elements to work with the CMS seamlessly. The sites various galleries are built in flash an and are powered by their own CMS system. We outsourced the 3D flash gallery front end, due to the budget constraints of the client, the solution works well with the rest of the site.

Our biggest challenge was the SEO, as the competition for the client-desired terms was huge, 50 million competing pages. We overcame this through a unique link building strategy, and now a few months later Up Yours Magazine has an impressive SERPS rank for their brand and core keyword phrases. We have also accrued a strong page rank by Google, which we are both pleased with.

Results

The solution is a unique and stylised mixed media gallery, a showcase of talent; and a space for artists to meet and share. We have succeeded in displaying the works in an easy too use and effect manor, making the user experience rich and enjoyable. Print media heavily influences the style and design of the site and the vibrancy of colours is effect. The blog and forum have been filled with great and relevant content, improving site ranking hugely, its a testament to the founders for encouraging so much user participation and rich user generated content.

This also applies to many other areas, say, recipes, fitness programs, diet programs, definitions, explanations and many others.

Search engines can penalize a sites ranking if it looks as though content has been taken from another site. However, these sites do sit in index and even rank very well. How can this be? Does it mean there are no filters?

Filters exist, but they are in a primitive form

Search Engine’s need lots of resources to check the entire internet. Therefore, engines use simple forms to uncover duplicate content.

How?

The most common pattern is links. In general engines check between two linked sites for duplicate pages/content. If they exist, then engines try to get rid of the duplicate – usually the one who links to the source site.

How does this work?

If website B (healthy news) republished an article from site A (health research institute) and puts a link from B to A for reference, search engines understands that site A is the original source and the site B has copied it. Site B is seen as dupe content website.

How do search engines penalize?

One or two articles like this won’t harm your site much for example, if website B has lots of original content. However, if duplicate content fills a significant number of pages, websites can be penalized by being moved down in the search result pages, moved to supplemental index or even unlisted from search index.

Test Conducted

Website X has 5 pages of original content and ranked #1 for very uncommon search term. This website has 100+ links pointing to it and Google PageRank of PR4. After few weeks 30 pages of content from another site that required a link back to it were added. In results, after Google indexed the website, it went from #1 position down to about #67 – #100. The test was continued by adding even more links – but even an extra 100 links
(now site has over 200 links) didn’t help to move it back of even above these #67 – #100 low positions.

After 3 months – duplicate pages were removed.  After search engines updated the website – it slowly moved back to position #2.

What does it mean to you?

The idea is simple – don’t link to websites that have the same content as yours – especially if it is in huge amounts compared to total number of pages.

What you should do?

You may not link to websites with duplicate content but your website may have lots of popular articles like from MoreNiche Content Connection, it is useful to follow few rules of thumb which are based on the fact that engines evaluates the whole page’s code not just the article itself.

To put it simply  – engines see all page as code, that probably includes site specific menu, HTML tags, layouts, title, descriptions etc. so it mix it up and articles aren’t considered  as duplicate since it is part of some bigger code. That’s the secret.

Some useful tips for Content Connection users

To ensure even more security from search engines it is recommended to use one or more of these tips:

1) Use articles on pages that have a solid size menu
2) Try to have a unique intro and closing for used articles, change titles
3) Use synonyms to replace words
4) Insert comments in the middle of an article or links to detailed info
5) Insert contextual short product reviews (1 picture plus one paragraph and link to full review will be just fine)
6) Split longer articles into 2 pages or more as long there stays 150 – 200 words on each page
7) Rewrite articles into your own words
Combine two or more articles into one
9) If there are bullet points – mix their order if possible
10)Think outside the box…

Last tip

Don’t try to host a DMOZ directory or part of it for making more pages on your website. Google can easily ban you for that and remove your entire site as happened to a website about coffee that hosted 10000 pages from DMOZ to drive extra 500 visitors a day.  Sad but a fact. Duplicate content is evil. Be aware.