The favicon is a small thing, literally. It is the tiny image seen in web browsers next to the URL field, page tabs, and bookmark/favorite lists. It’s an easy thing to overlook in the grand scheme of building and maintaining a web site. It is, however, worth putting in the little bit of effort required to include it.
Favicon Examples
Why fool with these little things?
- Additional brand impressions.
- A faster visual cue for visitors to find your page when multiple browser tabs are open. If they recognize your image they don’t have to read the tab text. Scan, bang, click. Nice.
- If a visitor bookmarks your site the icon will show up in the bookmarks list, helping to distinguish your site from others.
Since favicons are so pervasive, not having one may actually reduce your site’s perceived credibility. It’s another “expected thing” along with the standard logo, reasonably conventional navigation elements, and easy to find contact info. The absence of the favicon can make your site come across as “small time.”
Implementation is Eeeasy
Creating the graphic is as simple as creating a 16 x 16 pixel ICO file. Photoshop users can download a free plugin that adds an option to save an ICO file. Then the web master uploads and adds some simple HTML code to the page header.
If you need some inspiration check out Cool Favicons.
Flash CS5 has physics engine features that offer some really fun possibilities. This wibbly wobbly spring for one.
Sorry, either Adobe flash is not installed or you do not have it enabled
Published on
November 30, 2010 in
Creativity and JavaScript.
Tags: b2b, content, date, day, Flash, holiday, hour, JavaScript, marketers, marketing, php, time, time sensitive.
It being the thick of the holiday season there are time sensitive events showing up all over the place. From Black Friday, to Cyber Monday, to “two hour” sales, there is a ton of time sensitive web content being offered up. Retail marketers clearly have a handle on the frequent alteration of their sites based on the day, date, and time in their marketing efforts.
B2B or corporate marketers might take a cue from this and consider implementing date/time related content as well. Consider something as simple as a time of day related greeting.
Let’s try it out with a simple example that offers a greeting and corresponding animal doodle image based on the current time of day. Different greetings and images are displayed in the morning, afternoon, and night.
Going beyond simple greetings
It might make sense to present different content based on whether you think your visitor is just starting their work day or putting in a late night effort. Another idea is to present content variations throughout the week. Monday’s steaming coffee mug image can be automatically replaced by Tuesday’s donut image. A lunch menu can change to a dinner menu as evening approaches. Items for a contest/scavenger hunt can be presented at different times to encourage repeat visits during a special promotion. Think advent calendar.
It isn’t a big challenge technically
I used Javascript for the date, day, and time elements of this post. Major scripting platforms have date handling methods so it could easily have been done with Flash or PHP.
I tried a couple of different WordPress plugins for embedding Flash SWFs in posts. The one I settled on is swfObject Reloaded. After installation all you have to do is use the same “Add media” button that you use for adding images while editing a post. You can adjust the display height and width to suit your needs. It makes adding Flash files a piece of cake. Mmmm, caaaake…
The following example demonstrates rotating an object to point at another. In this Flash example, we’re locking the mug to the mouse coordinates and rotating the hand to point at it. There are many other ways we could adapt this technique; eyes locking on to something or a grid of objects with elements that all move in unison are a couple of thoughts.
Sorry, either Adobe flash is not installed or you do not have it enabled
Published on
October 25, 2010 in
Creativity.
Tags: art, baby, blog, born, creative, crying, first, Flash, gelucas, ideas, illustration, marketing, tips.
Blog number 3,469,971,234 has launched. My intention is to post graphic and interactive techniques, ideas, and examples that might be useful to marketing professionals, art/creative directors, and the like. Essentially, I’m looking to present a blog that sparks ideas while acting as a shill for my graphics and development services. I’ll try a bunch and see where things go. Enjoy and please feel free to post any questions, comments, or scathing criticism.
