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The Simple Mistake That Can Sabotage Your Sales

Author: Amanda DiSilvestro   |   December 2nd, 2011

Today I have looked at a desktop computer screen, cell phone screen, TV screen, business phone system screen, a touch screen on a printer, and, you guessed… an Ipod screen…

and I cannot wait to go home, sit back, and relax in front of my EReader screen.It may seem overbearing, but technology is moving at such a rapid pace that it becomes almost impossible to get away from some sort of digital screen. Businesses use these different mediums in order to remain successful (and therefore competitive), and consumers use these screens as a means of entertainment.

Although entertainment may be available in other forms, the world is slowly filling up with technologically savvy people. In other words, the latest wave of consumers and business workers has grown up with technology. As a recent graduate myself, I know that these many digital screens are going nowhere.

With that said, businesses now need to focus on how to get ready for this new multi-screen world. Marketing and advertising need to realize that consumers are using all of these different mediums to gather information. Although it may add to the workload, these departments need to learn how to utilize all these different digital mediums. Consider a few of the different screens consumers use each day and how a company can benefit:

Cell Phones

The world is becoming more mobile. Lugging around a laptop became too much of a hassle, so many are now paying extra to be connected to the Internet on their phones. If you want to optimize your website for this screen, consider doing the following:

• Only include content that is absolutely necessary and to the point.

• Create big links for those using a touch screen phone.

• Put your navigation bar at the bottom of the webpage so that it does not take up the entire top half of the cell phone screen.

• Utilize the built-in functionalities of a phone. Offer a button to call, get directions, and look up other locations if your business has several offices. These are features commonly used with a cell phone, so take advantage.

EReaders

EReaders have primarily been used to read novels, but businesses are quickly cashing in by creating their own Ebooks. Although this screen may be similar to a desktop, there are some things to keep in mind that will help you optimize your content on an EReader:

• Make sure the content is simple to understand, but feel free to add in a little bit of creativity. This screen is designed for consumers to look at for a long time, so you don’t want to bore your audience.

• Be sure to break up the copy with bullet points and subheadings for easy reading.

• An EReader book is not a place for a sales pitch. Use this screen as the place to tell a story and teach readers something about your specialty.

IPod Screens (Podcast)

IPods are primarily used for music, however many consumers are now beginning to download company podcasts and listen to them on their IPods. The size of an IPod screen is similar to a cell phone, so continue to keep the content brief, keep the navigation simple, and keep the “play” button large. Once consumers hit the play button on the podcast, the screen will be filled up with your video. It can be time consuming to create a podcast, but at least you don’t have to worry much about the screen!

In the end, this multi-screen world has proven to be a great tool for businesses. The more ways a company can get their information out to consumers, the better.

Amanda DiSilvestro is a writer on topics ranging from social media to employee background checks. She writes for an online resource that gives advice on topics including business credit card applications to small businesses and entrepreneurs for the leading B2B Directory, Business.com.

 


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