The potential of QR codes is huge, with their ability to blend together online and offline marketing but so many times I’ve got the feeling that during a marketing meeting someone piped up with the comment “QR codes are cool, maybe we could use them for something”, then they are shoehorned into a campaign where they don’t naturally fit. I believe this poor shoehorning method could be part of the reason for many people disliking QR codes.

The major issue behind QR codes is not their functionality, instead it’s the experience they provide after the user has scan the code and that is purely down the marketers. They are meant to provide an extra content that is otherwise unavailable in the format where the QR code is promoted.

The worst case I’ve ever seen of using QR codes in the image to the right, which has become quite a famous QR failure, where the QR code is used to provide the user with a code that they then have to write down and post to a physical address.

Other issues facing QR codes is that their designs are not the most attractive and that many Smartphone users are still unaware of what they are and what they need to do, meaning many QR campaigns still require instructions.

If you’re interested in doing some marketing with QR codes here is a brief best practise guide;

QR Code best practise guide

• Keep the design simple – Although QR codes are unattractive applying colour and other designs to them can reduce the number of scanners that can read it. You want to keep it as open and available to as many people as possible.
• Make it mobile – People scan QR codes from their mobiles, so if you’re linking to a website make sure the website is mobile optimised.
• Provide Value – You want people to engage and scan your code so provide incentives such as special offers or exclusive experiences, such as trailers/videos.
• Make it easy – Be aware of where your QR code is placed. Make it easy for the user to spot and to scan.

We would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on QR codes, so please leave a comment below or tweets us @KMPDigitata

Our clients are now displayed in what we call our “Client Wall“, which provides the user with a brief description of the work we’ve undertaken with each client. Each client logo links to a dedicated page that contains more information about the projects we’ve completed for them, case studies and links to the projects.

Websites should constantly be evolving and as such we’ve been tracking and analysing our own site in order to make some improvements and so it’s not just a new client page that has changed on the KMP Digitata website. The top navigation has been edited slightly to include links to our social media profiles and a roll out menu for our clients. We’ve also updated the home page design to focus on a key message for each client. In addition, it randomly rotates through our featured clients, meaning that visitors to the site see a different client each time they arrive at kmp.co.uk. The footer of the website has been redesigned to include our client extranet and space to promote our achievements, such as our Recommended Agency certificate.

We believe that the refreshed KMP Digitata website provides visitors with more information on our projects and now has a cleaner and easy to use interface. There are still more improvements and content on the way but with this update we’ve built the foundations. We would love to hear your thoughts about these updates, so please leave us a comment below of send us a tweet @KMPDigitata.

Here is Tim‘s (a front end developer), account of our most recent external user testing session (with a single user);

Earlier this year we launched a new website for a client. A few months down the line we felt it important to assess whether the website is achieving its set goals. Carrying out user testing is par for the course, particularly if the client isn’t getting the conversions that they were looking for. It allows us to see how their customers browse the site and brings to light any issues that they’re having which may not have been clear in our earlier testing.

The user involved in this batch of testing was an architect who had been using PCs for 23 years, browsing the internet for 18 years and had recently started to dabble in web design.

The test subject is given different actions to perform, described by a facilitator such as “find a certain product and order” or “find out information about a certain subject”. The whole process is observed throughout by a group the other side of a two way mirror who take notes about how easily the user reaches set locations or points at which they become stuck as well as other considerations.

The first thing we noticed was the user’s browsing style. He would return to the home page for every scenario instead of carrying on from the page he was on even though the navigation was the same on both pages. This isn’t uncommon. He also didn’t use the back button on the browser at all, even to return to the previous/parent page; he’d go to the home page and follow the previous path to get back.

During this round of testing we discovered that the most common issues were that call-to-actions were difficult to find and the registration process for an event needed to be simplified. There were a couple of issues with navigation and signposting where the was in the site (the active navigation state wasn’t clear – colours were too similar) which probably explains going back to the home page with every scenario.

What did we take away from this test session? Well, it made me realise just how much influence even the smallest changes in colour, size, position, etc has on the customers’ ability to find what they’re looking for. It’s also good to have a fresh set of eyes (not webby eyes) run through what you’ve become used to seeing for months during the build. They picked up on things which I expected to be simple interactions and take for granted when browsing the web. It has made me sit and put my ‘user’ hat on more than ever because if there’s a bizarre way of doing something which you wouldn’t expect, it’ll be the first thing to pop up in testing.

User testing can be carried out as part of our Creative Support retainers. Clients choose to complete user testing and take up retainers in order to continually update and improve their websites to make them as successful as possible while generating outstanding ROI.

Milligan believed that it’s old website lacked certain features, such as a “What’s New” area, a “Firsts” section that focused on innovative elements created by Milligan and an “About Us” page that contains a video which showcases Milligan’s unique approach and vision to create places where people are inspired to shop.

Milligan challenged KMP to produce an innovative design that would create an immediate positive impact on the user while still catering for a wide range of audiences. The site was to be exciting and bold with clear signposting and branding to allow users to quickly and easily navigate through their journey.

KMP Digitata has created a visually striking website that is easy for all users to navigate and fully editable thanks to its underlying CMS platform – Ackura SiteManager; a system developed by KMP Digitata as part of their Ackura product range.

The new website uses a strong visual element that focuses on using striking full screen images to convey information about Milligan and its style. The images and photos used have been specifically chosen to complement the content on the pages they are used on.

The decision was made to split the navigation into two sections, one in the in the top left containing Milligan’s services and company information, and one across the bottom containing secondary navigation information, such as T&Cs and approach. This was used in order to provide the more important information in a clear and concise manor and avoid having large navigation menus.

Milligan Retail now has an outstanding new website that embodies the company’s drive to create inspiring retail venues.

We spent weeks looking through arty print websites full of movie poster prints, black and white scenery, flowers and even babies, none of which felt right. It seemed like we would never find something that everyone in the studio agreed upon until I discovered a range of Retro game wall stickers that everyone immediately knew were perfect. So now the office walls are the home of 70s games, such as Pong, Asteroids and Space Invaders.

For the full collection of photos of the KMP Digitata office redesign go to the KMP Digitata Facebook page.

Once upon a time, a girl with a flower in her hair wondered into the woods . . .

The Tale of ROI from KMP Digitata on Vimeo.

Eh! I really don’t know what they have been putting in the tea over here at KMP or when Tim Burton slipped into our interactive department?

In-fact, this was a challenge we set ourselves, produce something creative in a day that would showcase our ability over here at KMP Towers to deliver ROI for our clients. Now, don’t get me wrong, we have plenty of work to getting on with, but sometimes it’s important just to have a bit of fun with your own brand, after all, we are a creative company and like to make cool stuff.

So hopefully you will enjoy our little mix of fairytale and business acumen, and who knows, if you do, flower girls adventures may continue . . . if our busy schedule allows once more!

Well we developed an app for that…

The free Manchester Airport iPhone application is an essential tool for those flying out, flying in and even collecting friends or family from Manchester Airport. It has been designed to save both time, money and enable the traveller to plan their journey and time in the terminals more productively, be it exploring the many retail outlets or airport lounges.

The Manchester Airport iPhone application is the perfect accompaniment for both business and leisure travellers.

The key features of the application allow you to:

• Explore each terminal through the interactive map
• Car park booking – Save money and time by pre-booking your car parking
• View a Google map of each terminal and get directions to and from the airport
• Get real time flight information for arrivals and departures.

The Manchester Airport iPhone application is available to download from the AppStore now for free and more information about the app can be found at the Manchester Airport website.

The Technique Mission

Technique provide a fresh approach to training and development for digital designers and developers by organising events that are intensive, intimate and hands-on, helping to maximise time. More intimate and in-depth than a conference, and more dynamic than traditional training, Technique is all about practical, hands-on development.

Running in Newcastle, Leeds and Manchester, Tech Days are single day intensive workshops led by renowned international developers. Tech Days give you the chance to get in-depth and hands-on with the subject of your choice, learning from experts and fellow developers in a full-day of hands-on training.

Continued support for new developments in the North

KMP Digitata is always excited to support new innovative thinking and ways to help the development of the digital sector in our region. We previously sponsored Speak the Web, which proved a great success, and we see Technique Tech days as another great opportunity for both established and new members of the industry to learn from a variety of experts in these workshops.

As a company KMP Digitata are extremely proud that Richard Clark was invited to teach at this event, strengthening both KMP’s and Richard’s position as a leading authority in web design in the North.

Rich Clark had this to say:

I’m really excited to be involved with Technique Digital. It’s a great opportunity to educate designers and developers on the possibilities of HTML5. I’ve heard really good things about the previous Technique events so hope to continue that trend.

For more information or to book tickets to the events visit Technique. KMP Digitata and Rich Clark look forward to seeing you there.

We sent our own Rob Sandbach to the events in Manchester and Liverpool, who had the following to say;

The format of each event was similar: 3 or 4 talks in a small bar with a wonderful, intimate atmosphere which fostered social interaction with other web folk whether you wanted it or not! Comfy couches were par for the course if you were an early bird, sturdy pillars and walls to lean against if not. This might sound like a complaint but in reality the pub-like atmosphere was Speak the Web’s second greatest asset. It set the tone for an informal heckle inducing melting pot of forward thinking ideas to be churned out, discussed and disagreed upon in abundance.

The greatest asset was, naturally, the people. The speakers ranged from your best mate Joe, to Andy Clarke and each brought a unique style of presentation to the party. From #macfail filled presentations to #keynoterocks professional, rehearsed talks, the speakers brought a range of ideas, advice and predictions to the room. Andy Clarke’s forward thinking “Hard Boiled” presentation in Manchester was a highlight. Andy put forward an uncompromising agenda to deliver fantastic web experiences to capable browsers before facilitating an equally presentable, but perhaps less inspired, experience on less-capable browsers. Graceful degradation is too compromising, he argued, instead we should focus on, and design for, the bleeding edge; using whatever tool each the browsers affords us.

Jake Smith’s discussion at the Liverpool event on the use of custom fonts in modern design was frank (“95% of free fonts are a bit shit”), but fascinating for a non-designer-but-still-a-geek type like myself. As one might expect, CSS3 and HTML5 were hot on the agenda, but topics varied as far as mobile, SEO, and post-modernism inspired design.

Speak The Web was driven by a sincere desire to deliver a passionate calendar of events to the northwest web scene. All profits are going to local charities, with Andy Clarke and other speakers contributing their fee to the charity pool which reflects the passion of all speakers and attendees to bring this format of event to the northwest.

Here at KMP Digitata we look forward to seeing Speak The Web develop further and will continue to support this and other events in the North West.

Digital Creative

KMP, one of the UK’s leading Digital Marketing agencies, requires a Digital Creative to expand its growing team. Clients the successful candidate will be working on include Asda, Manchester Airports Group, Trek America (TUI Group), Chester Zoo, British Gas & Makro.

The position will involve designing, developing & implementing digital marketing campaigns across a range of platforms and devices. We want you to show us something to make us go ‘WOW’.

The role is 5 days a week, based in Stockport. You will report into the Head of Interactive.

Responsibilities

• Design innovate solutions to business problems
• Leading creative concepts and producing UI mockups
• Creating campaigns
• Designing & producing interface elements and other visual assets
• Mapping visual decisions to client business goals
• Stay up-to-date on industry standards and best practices
• Communicate with product managers and developers to ensure design consistency throughout the process
• Masterful client-facing presentation skills and successful experience of working with and pitching to clients as required

Knowledge & Skills Requirements

Required

• Excellent knowledge of design theory, typography, colour and layout
• Ability to create strong grid systems for use online
• The talent to create clean, elegant, inspiring designs
• Solid understanding of design pitfalls, especially with regard to web standards and browser compatibility issues
• A tireless work ethic and a constant desire to improve
• Strong communicator; you should be able to explain & justify design concepts equally well to other designers, developers, project managers & clients
• A team player who enjoys forming challenging, groundbreaking ideas
• Ability to manage multiple projects and changing priorities effectively in a complex, fast-paced business environment with tight deadlines
• Strong time-management

Nice to haves

• Knowledge of Flash & Actionscript
• Mobile application design experience a plus
• Understanding of how to write inspiring copy
• Ability to hand code HTML/CSS
• Familiarity with creating wireframes and interactive prototypes

Get in touch

Think you’re the inspiring, energetic, creative that we’re after? Send an email with your contact details, portfolio and relevant URLs to rich@kmp.co.uk

No agencies please.