- Getting the Message
- Getting the Message Across
- Breaking Down the Message
- A Checklist
- Some Design Elements to Consider
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Like this article? We recommend
Like this article? We recommend
Getting the Message Across
A message's elements on the home page of a web site could consist of a number of different parts. But generally speaking, they have certain things in common:
A tagline that quickly describes the benefits of the product, service, or organization. This may sound easy, but this tagline comes only after many hours of work by your marketing department (and your IT staff should be part of those discussions). The tagline must describe in just a few words or a short sentence the benefits—not features—of your product, service, or organization. A good example is the Federal Express tagline. When FedEx was first started, their tagline was "We have our own planes." They wanted to get the point across that, unlike the regular scheduled airlines of that day, their planes only carried packages, and the delivery of those packages was their first priority.
That message didn't fly with the public, whose response was, "So you have your own planes. What's it to me?" FedEx was promoting the features of their service—not the benefits. So they changed their tagline to the familiar "When you absolutely, positively have to have it overnight." That message worked. The public didn't care whether FedEx delivered packages by plane, train, automobile, or donkey—as long as they got it there overnight.
A "What's in it for me?" description of the product, service, or organization with—and this is important—a "call to action" right on the home page.
A way to acquire a visitor's email address in order to build a house list for future promotional mailings. The visitor should be able to enter his or her email address directly from the home page.
A third-party endorsement of your product, service, or organization —especially if what's offered is new, different, or better than that of the competition.
An ease-of use example (if applicable) of your product or service—especially if it's something new or difficult to understand.
Consider an example of getting the message across from one of my recent clients. They sell a marketing communications product—a customizable four-color laminated postcard—that can be used by direct marketers as direct mail pieces. The postcards can be created online, merged with a prospect or customer list, and then dropped directly into the U.S. postal system for mailing to the recipients—postage included.
Pretty slick.
The client has a very tight, concise, and compelling business-to-business message: Their product is easy to use; flexible (no minimum amount); premium quality; and, best of all, less expensive than the traditional alternatives.
As you can see, there are many parts to their message, and these parts represent the elements that needed to be written and designed into the company home page and site navigation.