Social Media Saves the Day for Boring Websites

So tonight I was doing a little bit of what I call “pre-shopping” shopping where I scope out what’s new at all of my favorite stores ONLINE the day before I go shopping so I already know what I’m interesting in seeing when i hit the stores the next day.  (Yeah, it’s a little shopping secret I picked up when time began to be a precious commodity.) And today’s pre-shopping led me to the Marshall’s website.

Now, for all of you shopaholics out there this won’t come as a surprise, but Marshall’s doesn’t actually post it’s clothing online because, like other overstock-type stores, inventory is dependent on boutique and department store mess-ups.  Knowing this ahead of time, I was visiting the site only to check store locations when the company’s new savvy online marketing campaign hit me square in the heart.

Instead of marketing products directly like most retailers, Marshall’s is now using their web site to market the Marshall’s shopping experience.  Clever, I thought, since their former website was nothing more than a  store directory.  So instead of staying on their website for 30 seconds to get the map for the D’Iberville store location, I actually poked around a bit longer, viewed a few “shopportunity” comments like “I just scored 1000 thread count sheets” and “Another Fabulous Michael Kors find” and thought about how social media has saved the day for a company that wouldn’t have otherwise had much of a web presence.

My favorite little tool is the twitter “tweet” box at the bottom on the right hand side of the screen.  Twitter boxes aren’t new (I’ve had one on my website for almost a year now), but the way the designer has it displayed permanently at the bottom no matter the size of the user’s monitor is what caught my eye.  It’s static-ness makes it almost impossible to miss and like your browser tool bar, it follows you no matter where you go on the web page and changes with each new tweet giving the user the unconscious feeling that they are part of some alive social network of equally excited shoppers!

Ok, so maybe that’s a little too much analyzing of a twitter tweet box, but I can’t help my utter fascination for new ways of displaying content online.  If you didn’t know this already, I love web design.  I’m passionate about layouts, placement, colors, lines, and font.  And through the inspiration of others….  Jaimee Designs continues to grow.

So stay tuned.  I just may turn my next brochure website with zero “stickiness” into a social media haven complete with it’s own stationary tweet box in the corner!

Am I inspiring you?  If you have a favorite website, tell me about it.  I love to get new ideas.

If you see this billboard, you have seen Jaimee Designs’ work.

Jaimee Designs donated over 20 hours to the Jackson County Court Appointed Special Advocates or CASA and designed two billboards.  Not only am I on the board of directors, but I truly believe in what this organization is about.  CASA volunteers advocate for abused and neglected children in the court system.  They are the eyes and ears for these kids and help the youth court judge make the best possible decision regarding their welfare and whether or not he or she will return to the family.  It takes a special person to get into the thick of things with these children and see them through to better days, and we are fortunate to have over 40 volunteers in Jackson County.

You can help CASA continue its mission by becoming a volunteer or just donating to the cause. Visit their website (yes, another Jaimee Designs’ creation) to learn how you too can change a life:  www.jccasa.net

Online Coupons… It’s So Easy, My Mom Can Do It!

After viewing my coupon video blog, my mom told me that she wanted to check out the coupons.com website for herself and save some money. I did a quick run through with her then hit the record button on my video camera to let her try it for herself. My mom is still learning computer basics, but she is a great sport. I hopes this video inspires anyone with an older parent to help them him or her enjoy the online world. They can do it if you are patient!