Making the Switch from Activity to Strategy

Instead of just doing a lot of things, I wanted to discuss why we should shift to a more strategic operational framework. Sure, being extremely active can lead to quick wins, but it frequently lacks direction and will not last in the long term.

To make this switch, take the following steps:

1. Examine Current Activities: Consider what we are doing now and how it aligns with our goals.

2. Set Clear Goals: Define some measurable targets that match our vision, so everyone knows their part in hitting these goals.

3. Resource Allocation: Focus our resources on the projects that can make the biggest impact instead of spreading ourselves too thin.

4. Monitor and Evaluate: Set up a way to regularly check our progress against our goals, so we can tweak things as needed.

5. Promote a Strategic Mindset: Encourage the team to consider how their work fits into the big picture.

By using this strategic approach, we can increase our effectiveness and make sure our efforts lead to the actual growth and success.

Questions / Enquires - hello@RadkaAdvertising.com

The Only UX Reading List Ever

This recommended reading list is for anyone who wants to learn or deepen their knowledge in the disciplines of User Research, Usability, Information Architecture, User-Interface Design, Interaction Design, and Content Strategy experience Strategy.

The list is broad and includes books that exemplify design thinking, processes, methods, principles and best practices. Many of the books on this list are over 20 years old and yet they are still relevant more than ever.

Each book has influenced my perspective, made an impression and helped us to advance our craft. They have shaped the designers we are today and inspired the designer we will be tomorrow.

There’s not a day when we don’t find ourselves thinking and applying the ideas from these books. We hope that you too can extract the same value.

Our Top Ten

The Design of Everyday Things, Donald Norman
About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design, Alan Cooper
The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond, Jesse James Garrett
Subject To Change: Creating Great Products & Services for an Uncertain World, Peter Merholz, Todd Wilkens, Brandon Schauer, David Verba
A Practical Guide to Information Architecture, Donna Spencer
Communicating Design: Developing Web Site Documentation for Design and Planning, Dan M. Brown
Designing Together: The collaboration and conflict management handbook for creative professionals, Dan M. Brown
Seductive Interaction Design: Creating Playful, Fun, and Effective User Experiences, Stephen Anderson
100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People, Susan Weinschenk
The Shape of Design, Frank Chimero

50 More Must-Reads On Thinking, Methods, Principles and Best Practices

We find it helpful to choose what to read based on what’s relevant at the time. Applying what you’re reading, as you’re thinking and making is a great way to solidify concepts, reflect and learn.

Some old, some new. All important reading, in no particular order.

Designing Web Interfaces: Principles and Patterns for Rich Interactions, Bill Scott, Theresa Neil
The Laws of Simplicity (Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life), John Maeda
Information Architecture for the World Wide Web: Designing for the Web and Beyond, Peter Morville, Louis Rosenfeld, Jorge Arango
Sketching User Experiences: Getting the Design Right and the Right Design, Bill Buxton
Well Designed: How to Use Empathy to Create Products People Love, Jon Kolko
Thoughts on Interaction Design by Jon Kolko
Manage Your Day-to-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus, and Sharpen Your Creative Mind, Jocelyn K. Glei, 99u
Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?, Seth Godin
Don’t Make Me Think AND Rocket Surgery Made Easy, Steve Krug
Designing Interfaces, Jennifer Tidwell
Handbook of Usability Testing: How to Plan, Design, and Conduct Effective Tests, Jeffrey Rubin, Dana Chisnell
Designing Interactions, Bill Moggridge
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information AND Envisioning Information, Edward R. Tufte
A Project Guide to UX Design: For user experience designers in the field or in the making, Russ Unger & Carolyn Chandler
Gamestorming: A Playbook for Innovators, Rulebreakers, and Changemakers, Dave Gray, Sunni Brown, James Macanufo
Mental Models: Aligning Design Strategy with Human Behavior, Indi Young
Practical Empathy: For Collaboration and Creativity in Your Work, Indi Young
Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights, Steve Portigal
The Mobile Frontier: A Guide for Designing Mobile Experiences, Rachel Hinman
Design Is the Problem: The Future of Design Must be Sustainable, Nathan Shedroff
The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide, Leah Buley
Prototyping: A Practitioner’s Guide, Todd Zaki Warfel
Making Meaning: How Successful Businesses Deliver Meaningful Customer Experiences, Steve Diller, Nathan Shedroff, Darrel Rhea
Content Strategy for the Web, by Kristina Halvorson, Melissa Rach
Responsive Web Design, Ethan Marcotte
Just Enough Research, Erika Hall
Design Is A Job, Mike Monteiro
Designing for Emotion, Aaron Walter
Measuring the User Experience: Collecting, Analyzing, and Presenting Usability Metrics, by William Albert, Thomas Tullis
Creative Workshop: 80 Challenges to Sharpen Your Design Skills, David Sherwin
Letting Go of The Words: Writing Web Content that Works, Janice (Ginny) Redish
Designing the Obvious: A Common Sense Approach to Web Application Design, Robert Hoekman Jr
Designing the Moment: Web Interface Design Concepts in Action, Robert Hoekman Jr
Designing for the Social Web, Joshua Porter
Undercover User Experience Design, Cennydd Bowles, James Box
Product Design for the Web: Principles of Designing and Releasing Web Products, Randy Hunt
Designing the User Interface: Strategies for Effective Human-Computer Interaction, by Ben Shneiderman, Catherine Plaisant, Maxine Cohen, Steven Jacobs
This is Service Design Thinking: Basics, Tools, Cases, Marc Stickdorn, Jakob Schneider
Resonate: Present Visual Stories That Transform Audiences, Nancy Duarte
Metaskills: 5 Talents for the Robotic Age, Marty Neumeier
The Brand Gap: How to Bridge the Distance Between Business Strategy and Design, Marty Neumeier
Getting Real AND Rework, 37 Signals, Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson
Glut: Mastering Information through the Ages, Alex Wright
The Humane Interface: New Directions for Designing Interactive Systems, Jef Raskin
Designing with Web Standards, Jeffrey Zeldman, Ethan Marcotte
Simple and Usable Web, Mobile, and Interaction Design, Giles Colborne
Search Patterns: Design for Discovery, Peter Morville, Jeffery Callender
Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things, Don Norman
Neuro Web Design: What Makes Them Click? Susan Weinschenk
Designing for the Digital Age: How to Create Human-Centered Products and Services, Kim Goodwin
A Web For Everyone, Sarah Horton, Whitney Quesenbery

Questions / Enquires - hello@RadkaAdvertising.com

Advertising agency - can it really help your business?

Are you wondering if hiring an advertising agency is a good solution? Or maybe you know it is, but you just seek some reassurance? Whatever your reasons, below you will find out why is it worth hiring an advertising agency and how can it benefit your business. Do not doubt it, it truly can. See what a good advertising agency can do for you.

What does it do? Good advertising agency in action..

For smaller businesses, especially new ones on the market, hiring an accountant is an obvious choice. But a marketing agency? Who needs that? Well, it turns out, you. Every business needs an advertising strategy, and if you are new in the business, or not-so-new but inexperienced in the field of marketing and advertising, such an agency is there to help. It can not only take care of your advertising strategy but also create brand identity, improve content and website optimisation. In other words, a good advertising agency will help your brand to be seen, noticed, and remembered. It will make your business stand out and earn for itself.

A marketing strategy expert - when it’s not you

As we like to point out, a marketing strategy is vital, and so is an advertising strategy. If you do not know how to create one, an expert from a successful agency will give you a helping hand. Such a strategy requires thorough research and thinking through the goals and operations of a company. It takes not only knowledge and understanding of marketing and advertising, but also time. Quite a lot of it. You can’t possibly spare enough time to do it right, especially if your business is on the verge of rapid growth, and that’s what you need to take care of. A good advertising agency will help you save this time by doing all the work for you.

An expert will share his knowledge with you, and you will, no doubt, benefit from it. They have years of experience, they follow the trends on the market and among the customers, and they truly understand their job. Is there still any doubt as to why hire an advertising agency? Here are other benefits - they take care of every detail, of social media ads, display ads, commercial and printed advertisements, PR, budget management, and whatnot. It is saving time and making money by expanding a brand at the same time. So, should you hire an expert from an advertising agency? Oh, you know well the answer now.

Questions / Enquires - hello@radkaadvertising.com

Why should you have a good marketing strategy?

You’ve probably already come across the idea of marketing strategy multiple times, but if you haven’t thought of creating it yet, now is the time. More like a wake-up call. A marketing plan is essential to establish financial stability and flow of income and the customers. Advertising a bit here and a bit there is no marketing at all. A consistent, long-term plan is what you need.

When having ideas is not enough

Having and implementing good ideas concerning marketing and advertising is crucial, no marketer can doubt it. But what’s more important is that this implementation is going according to the PLAN. A long-term one, preferably. A marketing strategy allows you to target the right group and spend money on advertising that can actually be beneficial. There are a few elements that can be included in such a plan — brand values and the company’s vision, goals, target audience, channels of advertising activity and implementation time. Systematising all those aspects will prove to be more helpful than you could expect. What’s important is that you revise the plan once in a while as the industry and the market constantly expand.

Benefits of a marketing strategy

Even though you know, at least in theory, how to make a marketing strategy, you might wonder whether do you really need it? Can’t you just try something different every month and see what suits you? Seems like a plan. Except, it’s ridiculous. That way, you spend more money that is necessary on a marketing channel that might not benefit you. Instead, it’s better to think over your aims and target audience and find THE channel. Different groups of customers require different measures. A marketing strategy allows you to focus on your business and stay ahead of the competition. A well-made plan is also a point of reference when expanding business and means of communication with your audience. As you see, creating a relevant, achievable marketing strategy brings clarity, consistency, and transparency to your business. Even the potential investors and banks want to know a marketing plan before entrusting you with their money, as it helps them understand your vision and whether you’re really going places with the idea.

Questions / Enquires - hello@radkaadvertising.com

Key elements of a successful brand

You have an eye-catching logo, a memorable slogan, and the right combination of colors. Does it mean you have a strong, successful brand? Not exactly, as the brand is much more than just these components. Your logo and graphic layout are just a surface of an ocean. What are the core, essential elements that constitute a brand, distinguishes it, and ensures constant trust and interest of the customers?

Make a statement, give a promise

When you’ve already established the vital elements of your business, including its purpose, logo, target audience, and all that, it’s time to make a promise. Make a statement, be heard, believed, and trusted. A successful brand needs to encourage its potential customers by simply explaining what they can gain and how would they benefit. Simple as that. What can you offer them that no one else can? Think it through and express it as straightforward as possible. Making a statement, presenting the brand’s values, and what you and your employees stand for is also noteworthy. Advocate for something, and the right audience will come to you.

How can you help?

Make your customers believe that the promises your brand makes will be kept. Tell them, or even better, instead of telling them, show it. That’s where the brand’s image plays a vital role. The right logo, slogans, website — they all convey a message; is your brand a first-class, premium service or a second-rate at best? Establishing a coherent image and making sure that every element supports the claim you made is a way to differentiate the brand from the dozens of others.

A successful brand keeps its promise

You made a promise, made a customer believe you, so now what? Keep that promise, live up to that statement. The reputation of your brand depends on the customer’s experience at every stage of the purchase. Browsing your website, visiting a store, buying and paying must be pleasant at least, if not memorable. A top-class brand brings the best possible experience. It pays off, as the customers return to you, give their recommendations, and mention your services to others. Word-of-mouth marketing is worth its weight in gold.

Questions / Enquires - hello@radkaadvertising.com

Websites built to sell

A website is to your online business is as physical shop front is to your offline business. It is one of the most essential parts of your online success. The key is to leave a lasting impression on the visitors who land on your page. If your website doesn't demonstrate professionalism, credibility and attention to the smallest details like high end memorable branding or thoughtful font selection, clients might be scared away. You don’t want to create an impression that your website is one of those sites created hurriedly for scam purposes, do you? Not to mention that 75% of your web visitors will judge your credibility based on web design. Apart from the products or services you offer, a professionally designed website can be one of the differential areas of the business. Remember that the online world is immersed with a huge number of sites. While the majority of these sites are bogus, there are a huge number of others which are marvellous; therefore, you are up against a very stiff competition. If you can get a moderately priced web design that looks professional and which is of high quality, then you would have conquered one obstacle to competing online.

Professional website will make your advertising effort much simpler in light of the fact that you won't be disappointed with high bouncing rates—since Google uses your bouncing rates statistsics against your with regards to search engine ranking. This is because professionally designed site generates confidence and interest. It also assures the potential clients that you are serious with your business, and you are there to stay-who wants to deal with a scam website that can disappear overnight?

Thus, a professional, quality, and credible website forms a basis of your longevity. It also ensures that your brand identity is noted.

Questions / Enquires - hello@radkaadvertising.com

The more I advertise the more successful I become

Uncertain times makes individuals careful, particularly with money. Clients decrease their spending, businesses have less, so they consider reducing expenses. So what then to cut? Numerous companies decide to cut the Advertising budget first. They consider Advertising to be an optional expenditure, when in certainty it should be considered as essential. Here are a few reasons why:

Strengthen Your Reputation
What are you telling your clients concerning your business and what do you represent, and how are you letting them know? Eliminating your communication can convey a negative message. In the event that your Brand Image lessens in the marketplace what impression will that leave in the minds of your clients? In the midst of vulnerability you have to keep your Brand Image noticeable and bolster its strength. If people are more inclined to shop around for deals because they are feeling cautious about spending, then it’s not the time to reduce your visibility in the marketplace. Your clients watching out for bargains, and you most ensure they discover you through your #Advertising

Continue Moving Forwards
Positive thinking can be difficult to maintain in uncertain times, yet business relies upon forward movement. For a business to develop it needs to generate new business, and Advertising is a key method for doing this. You need to guarantee that your Brand Image is still out there and in if you cut back on your Advertising, you are less likely to be able to do this.

Hold onto the Initiative
Each activity can offer ascent to a response, and with vulnerability comes opportunity. You can step up to the plate with your Advertising to increase a competitive advantage. Be prepared, in light of the fact that putting resources into a downturn is an Advertising major – this is key and it's tied in with remaining ahead and winning a bigger share.

Business experiences cycles, yet in the event that you've kept up your Advertising during a downturn, you're better situated to receive the rewards toward the beginning of the recovery or upswing. You're as of now ahead of the race, before the starting pistol sounds.

Questions / Enquires - hello@radkaadvertising.com

Know that advertising is key ingredient in business strategy

Businesses use advertising to accomplish varied goals, and companies place those ads in diverse media to further business goals.

1. Product Introduction and Awareness - when a business introduces a new product, advertising provides a means to make a large market aware of the product. Ads often focus on the product's solution to a common problem, such as a new cell phone's touted ability to solve the "dropped call" problem.

2. Product Sale Events - advertising provides an effective way to inform the market about limited-time product sale events. Sale-based ads can be generated by local retail outlets, or can originate from the product's national manufacturer. In many cases, the national manufacturer shares the cost of the ad with the local retailer. This type of advertising is called co-op advertising, and commonly uses manufacturer-supplied graphics and ad templates. The local retailer's name appears as the local product outlet.

3. Product Differentiation from Competitors - businesses frequently use advertising to show how their product has more benefits, or is more effective, than similar competitors' products. In some cases, the retailer feels it's necessary to advertise because the competition is blanketing newspaper pages or television airwaves with its own ads. Unless other market retailers that aggressively highlight their own products, they are likely to be overlooked in the minds of consumers.

4. Product Breakthroughs and Advancements - advertising is used to communicate dramatic product breakthroughs. Institutional Advertising to Promote a Good Image - type of advertising isn't really designed to increase sales, but is structured to promote a good image of the company or product. This perception will hopefully translate into future sales. even if the consumer doesn't buy the product right now, the company will have kept its name in front of its consumer market.

Questions / Enquires - hello@RadkaAdvertising.com