Octoply vs Neuro Linguistic Programming

By: Chris Bates | October 15, 2012 | 7 Comments

For about the last 12 months I’ve been working with NLP Coach Miriam Henke, on a journey of self development and goal-smashing.

It’s been a very interesting time, with a lot of tough lessons to be learned and personal challenges to overcome. And while my self development is an ongoing thing, I feel I’ve come leaps and bounds in both my personal and business life since starting the coaching.

For those of you who don’t know Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) has been around since the 70s, and as the name suggests NLP is about programming the language that your brain uses.

From dealing with negative emotions, bad behaviours, prohibiting thoughts, etc. NLP gives us the ability to change these things, and instead focus on where we want to be.  (more…)

To Slider, Or Not To Slider…

By: Chris Bates | June 19, 2012 | 0 Comments

Sliders on a web page are an extremely popular element on web pages, often used to display a variety of content in an aesthetically pleasing way. The inclusion of a slider is probably one of the most common requests I get from clients during design revision, “can we make that slide?”

Sure, why not – they look great, right?

With the gentle animations and dreamy transitions, who wouldn’t want to sit there and admire it. But more often than not sliders are wasted real estate, done poorly, and highly unusable.

While sliders are still a very popular tool, I’m actually noticing a decline in their use on larger sites who are often leaders in modern design/layout techniques. Still, the trend decline will take a while to hit the majority of website owners – and so I aim to answer the question: To Slider, Or Not To Slider… (more…)

Melbourne Peeps: Get A Free Hug (worth $997)

By: Chris Bates | April 13, 2012 | 0 Comments

Strangely enough, I don’t get to Melbourne very often despite it being closer to me than Sydney. But lucky for Melbourne, I’ll be visiting between the 27th May and the 1st June! To celebrate this momentous occasion, I’m offering only a few lucky Melbourne people a free hug – worth $997!

This hug is open armed and gentle that lasts for approximately 2 – 3 seconds. It can be redeemed at either the beginning or end of our time together. It may also be exchanged for a free handshake (worth slightly less at $897) if you prefer. But unfortunately, I only have enough love in me for 3 or 4 hugs – so reserve your hug quickly. (more…)

Gravity Forms: Tracking a multi page form with AND without AJAX enabled

By: Chris Bates | March 15, 2012 | 11 Comments

WARNING: Geek content. (more…)

4 Tips To Salvage The Most Wasted Web Page

By: Chris Bates | February 14, 2012 | 2 Comments

Don't waste opportunities on your thank you pageThere’s a lot off different business websites out there, and nearly all of them have one common trait… A wasted opportunity!

Despite the variety of these websites, there’s some standard pages that most websites have – a home page (duh!), an about page, and a contact page. Typically on that contact page, there’s also a contact form – sitting there waiting for someone to fill it in. So where is the wasted opportunity? The ‘thank you’ page.

(more…)

A Collection Of Client Quotes That Make Me LOL

By: Chris Bates | February 1, 2012 | 2 Comments

I’m absolutely loving 2012, business is going great and I’m working with a heap of really awesome clients. I have a really no-barriers relationship with all of my clients, if you want stuck up professionalism go pay some snobby agency – I’m all about results, friendships and laughs. Here’s a sample of quotes collected over the past few weeks from the people I work with, hope you enjoy :) (more…)

Dear Yellow Pages Online Customers…

By: Chris Bates | November 24, 2011 | 12 Comments

Wasting Money On Yellow Pages?It has come to my attention that small business owners are still being lured into spending copious amounts of money with Yellow Pages Online – in particular their online listings and services.

For many years now the yellow book has been a door stop or monitor prop for our Australian households, so it’s understandable that you’ve come to trust this brand that, year after year, give you a slab of paper with so many practical uses. This year I used mine to weigh down the aged and curling cover of the previous years book (foot rest), but I digress… (more…)

Portfolios: There’s no proof in that pudding!

By: Chris Bates | November 16, 2011 | 7 Comments

One of the most common questions I get asked when talking to a prospect is: “Do you have any samples of your website design work?”

Ugh, the portfolio! Sure, I have examples of my work – great examples of my work. I’m more than happy to oblige and show them off to you, but please don’t make your decision to hire me based on pictures of other peoples investments. We’re talking about your business here, not other peoples – what their website looks like has no relevance to what yours will look like.

Don’t worry, I get it – I’m not as cynical as I sound. You like to check the ‘quality‘ of my work to make sure you ‘like‘ my ‘style‘. Hearing you loud an clear. Just one problem… (more…)

Site Review: Sally Foley-Lewis

By: Chris Bates | October 20, 2011 | 5 Comments

A big thanks to Sally from Sally Foley-Lewis, who’s a management trainer and coach, for being the first to put their hand up for a free website review.

Sally’s website, like many others, is actually not too bad – it just lacks a little clarity and polish. It does tend to be the finer details that can determine how well a website works, and it’s the common things that often get overlooked that matter.

Seeing as this is the first site review for the blog, I best explain how things are going to go from here on in. First up is the scorecard, a simple rating on various aspects of Sally’s website to give a general overview of problem areas. There’s comments tucked away, all you need to do is click on the heading you want to see.

After that I cover some suggested improvements, and have scattered some learnings for everyone to take throughout this. They’re highlighted, so even if you want to skim the blog you can take the important stuff out while leaving Sally to read all the gory details.

So let’s jump right on in! (more…)

The fold is a lie! It’s time to face the truth

By: Chris Bates | October 17, 2011 | 2 Comments

I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but the fold is a myth.

All that talk about having your call to action ‘above the fold’, putting that ‘above the fold’, putting this ‘above the fold’ – it’s all crap. For one, ‘the fold’ doesn’t exist. Secondly, shoving everything above this imaginary line has no positive effect on conversions. But let’s step back a bit.

The fold is a lie!What is the fold?

“The fold” is a design term referring to the top half of a newspaper, quite literally above the area the newspaper was folded in half. Get it, the fold? (more…)

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