Website analysis – Freud Communications

Freud Communication is a strategic marketing and communications consultancy for consumer brands, public sector bodies and global corporations. Their clients include Warner Brothers, Universal Studios and the 2012 Olympics. But how successful is their website in communicating with the public?

Searchability:

• Freud’s main website (www.freud.com) is very easy to find. When typed into search engines such as Google and Ask Jeeves, it is the first result that is shown at the top of the page out of a possible 700,000.

Usability:

• Freud is very successful in making their website easy to use. All of the relevant information is presented in categories, which the audience can use to easily find their way around the site.
• All link and pages opened successfully without any problems, such as freezing or slow download speed.

Navigation:

• Navigation on Freud’s website is aided through structural navigation links, outlining the structure of the website and allowing users to go to other parts of the site; subordinating to the current page.
• There is a choice of five navigation links, which include such things as ‘Our Services’ and ‘Our People’. Once the user has clicked onto their desired link, a further list of options appears in a cascading menu. The cascading menu allows more options to be displayed at the side of the original link, giving the user a more specific area to which they want to focus on. 
• The ‘Contact us’ link on the Freud communication also allows the audience to get in contact with the company if they have any further enquiries.
• The navigation links are located in the centre of the screen, next to the company logo, making them easily accessible.

Design:

• The background colour for the website is black; which is complemented by the high contrast colours of the text e.g. white and blue. This makes it easy for the audience to read.
• Freud’s choice of typography is simple and modern, making it easy for the audience to read.
• Overall, the design compliments Freud Communications as a company, making it appear to be a very modern and appealing company.

Interactivity and UGC:

• Despite the success of the website in portraying who and what the company do, there is little User generated content (UGC) or ways of interacting with the audience.
• In the clients section, Freud could introduce videos or more detailed pictures to show the audience the exact work that they have produced for their clients, rather than just the clients logo. The audience could be given the opportunity to click on the clients logo and a seperate PDF file or HTML opens to allow them to view an online gallery of their work.
• However, it could be argued that Freud are not a news website, so don’t need a lot of UGC.

Overall, I believe that Freud do have a successful website in the way that they present themselves as a successful PR consultancy. However, they could improve by having more UGC, such as pictures, videos and opportunities for links to social networking sites; which makes it less hard work for the audience to gain a further insight into the company.

Travelling with Joel

Four months ago, Joel Keith, a good friend of mine, decided he was going to go travelling. A spur of the moment decision lead to one of the best experiences of Joel’s life. Joel arrived back in England late Sunday night and I was eager to hear all about it.

1)   What made you decide to go travelling?

Travelling has always been a big interest of mine. I had always wanted to visit different places in the world and get an understanding of other lifestyles. I had recently been made redundant, so this was a perfect opportunity for me. I knew if I had decided not to go, I would have looked back in regret.

2)   How did you organise your trip and decide where you wanted to go?

I had spoken to friends and family who had previously been travelling and got a lot of ideas and knowledge on where to go. I organised my whole trip through travel agency STA. I gave them a brief summary on where I wanted to go, and they organised my flights, some accommodation and my transportation throughout the trip. I had decided on Australia simply for the hot weather and endless amount of beaches. I also knew this was a popular destination for backpackers therefore I was guaranteed to meet people there and share the experience. I knew I wanted to go some where as well as Australia. I knew Malaysia and Thailand was also a popular choice for backpackers to go. I knew this would be a totally different lifestyle to Australia and wanted to discover the history and background of it.

3)  What has been the best place you have been to and why?

For me, the best place I went to was Koh Samui in Thailand. Koh Samui is a small island just off the mainland of Thailand. This was definitely my favourite place for a number of reasons. Firstly, Thailand is very cheap, which made transportation, accommodation, food and drink very affordable. In Koh Samui, I stayed in a 5 star hotel just 100 yards from the beach. The weather was fantastic everyday, which allowed me to spend a lot of time relaxing on the beach, dining by the sea and also enjoying Thai massages. I enjoyed the local cuisine and the friendliness of the people there. During my stay here I relaxed on a boat journey around the local islands. This included some swimming, snorkelling and kayaking.

4)  What places would you have liked to have gone to if you had the time/money and why?

If I had the time and money, I would have definitely made sure I visited New Zealand and Fiji. New Zealand appealed to me a lot, I would have loved to see the differences and similarities between there and Australia. Also the main reason I would have liked to go there would be to enjoy the adrenaline sports that they are famous for! Fiji also appealed to me a lot. The reviews I heard were amazing. I imagine it to be very similar to the islands of Thailand. People described it to me as “paradise”. Just pure white sandy beaches miles away from civilisation.

5)  What 3 pieces of advice would you give to anyone considering going travelling?

Firstly I would advise to spend approximately 6 weeks travelling the east coast of Australia. I had scheduled to be in Australia for 10 weeks. I soon discovered that I didn’t need all that time and found myself travelling back down some of the coast to kill time. Secondly I would suggest making sure you have enough money! Australia is generally very expensive. Accommodation isn’t cheap, neither is food and drink. That’s just the basics, as part of your trip most people decide to do some sort of extreme sport – skydive, bungee jump or white water rafting etc. The cost for this on top is huge! Finally, I would recommend travelling to anyone, especially if you’re considering going alone. I didn’t spend one day alone, and met some of the most amazing people on the way and developed some very strong friendships. Everyone is doing the same thing, and it’s best to do it whilst you’re young.

Abercrombie and Me

I love Abercrombie and Fitch and after visiting the London store yesterday, my love has been refreshed. I was first introduced to A&F when I was 12. I was in Florida and my mum kept going on about a store called Abercrombie that she wanted to visit. Ever since then I have taken over her love.

A&F Store in London

A&F has over 300 stores open in the USA, with only 3 open outside of the UK, one of which is located in London’s Saville Row. To me, A&F is so successful because of its sense of exclusiveness and brand acknowledgement. When I was in the store yesterday, countless amount of foreigners where purchasing their A&F goodies, emphasising on the fact that it is such a globally recognised brand.

A&F host a variety of clothing including Polo shirts, tracksuit bottoms, Flip Flops, Bags and my favourite Hoodies. There hoodies are expensive, ranging from £60 to £140, but in my eyes they are worth every penny. They will keep you warm through even the coldest of weathers and the nice big hood is so snug. A&F hoodies come in a rainbow of different colours, so you can choose whichever one suits you best. When I went to the A&F store in New York in 2008, I managed to spend $500 dollars. Now this is either me being very sad or me just making the most of the exchange rate at the time.

The perfumes and Cologne’s in Abercrombie are amazing. The mens cologne, Fierce, is actually in the air conditioning of the stores, so all of the clothes are made to smell of this scent. The stores themselves are one of a kind and if you like shops with a lot of lighting, avoid Abercrombie. The shops are in complete darkness and only the clothes are lit up. Loud, club music is played at a very high volume and some staff can even be seen dancing on the upper tier of the shop; and apparently they get paid to do this. Every single person working in the store is beautiful and in order to work at Abercrombie, you actually have to go through an audition stage and have a modelling contract – madness! However, lets just say the man who greets you at the front of the store, with lets just say a rather lovely toned body, does go down very nicely!

Here is how A&F became the brand we all know and love:

1892: David Abercrombie establishes the company as Abercrombie Co. in New York city. 

1904: Ezra Fitch became a partner in the business and the brand was renamed Abercrombie and Fitch

1910: A&F becomes first store in New York to provide for both men and women

1939:  A&F adopted the slogan ‘The greatest sporting goods store in the world’

1976: A&F announces it is bankrupt and closes its doors

1990: Limited Brands purchased A&F and was reestablished as a youthful upscale fashion retailer

2000: A&F sister brand, Hollister Co. is launched

2005: International expansion begins with new flagship stores opening in New York, Los Angeles and London

2009: Milan and Tokyo stores are opened

VIVA GLAM

M.A.C cosmetics charity, ‘ M.A.C aids fund’ was Established in 1994 to support men, women and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS globally. VIVA GLAM I, II, III, IV, V and VI, were launched as continuous shades of lipsticks and lipgloss and have achieved tremendous success over the years.

 The lipsticks cost £12.50 and the lipgloss costs £12 – with 100% of the proceeds going towards the charity. M.A.C’s charity is a huge success throughout the world, with many people buying the products to do their bit for the charity. One lipstick can buy 1 months worth of public transport to ensure a woman can get to her doctors appointments, 1 rapid oral HIV tests and 23 female condoms or 233 male condoms – and there’s many more benefits. Wha’ts more, you the consumer not only benefits by having an exclusive, limited edition lipstick designed by one of your favourite pop stars or roll models, but people all around the world are also benefiting.

 The idea of ‘VIVA GLAM’ was to celebrate life and the outspoken attitude of M.A.C as a company. It was a connective idea that encompassed the diversity of M.A.C and its products, aiming them at all ages, sexes and races. It was, and still continues to be the ‘signature and the heart and soul of the company’. VIVA GLAM’s spokespeople are provocative, alternative and influential and reflect the diverse communities that M.A.C are trying to help come face to face with the epidemic. They are heroes we look up to for not only their personal triumphs, but people who have invented themselves and their created movements.

 Past campaigns have been fronted by Mary J Blige and Lil Kim, Sir Elton John and Christina Aguilera.  Spring 2010 sees two new VIVA GLAM shades introduced as limited life for 12 months on counter. These two new shades are fronted by Cyndi Lauper and the sensational Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga is  A legend in her own time whose shock value now comes with a couture tag, she jokes about “changing the world one sequin at a time.” With the launch of VIVA GLAM Gaga, that could be one shade at a time. Her take on HIV/AIDS prevention: Be selective about those you love.

Urban Photography

With summer almost upon us, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to make the most of the weather and take along my two friends for a photo shoot.  Summer has to be my favourite season, what with the beach, BBQ’s, light evenings and of course, who could forget, summer fashion.

I decided to take these photos at a deserted warehouse just a few miles from my home. As you will see from the photos, the warehouse is covered with graffiti and is a really eery and dark place to go. However, I thought that this would be a good contrast with the summer weather and clothing, so took advantage of both the weather and the setting.

 

 

 

 

 

Who will get your vote?

Yesterday, Gordon Brown announced that the General Election will take place on May 6th 2010. For many, this is a stressful and confusing time, as many are unsure about who to vote for and who they feel would be most suitable to run the country. 

Brown Vs Cameron

This year will be my first time being able to vote and I have to admit I am amongst the majority who are undecided about who to vote for.At the moment I am at University, so don’t have to worry about tax, mortgages, paying bills ect. But, with only having one year left, I will soon have to consider this and so my vote will be going towards the party which provide me with the best start after University. For me, there are only two parties which are the most popular ones and are likely to win the election; Labour and Conservative. 

For the past 15 years the country has been living under the power of the Labour Government, after taking over from the Conservatives in 1995. In 1995, Tony Blair was the leader of the Labour Government, promising a bright new future for the British Public. 

The Labour Party won the 2005 UK general election with 35.3% of the popular British vote. The Conservative Party was just a few points behind with 32.3% of the votes, but because of the first past the post voting system, the Labour Party had a significant majority with 356 parliamentary seats (MPs) compared to 198 seats for The Conservative Party. 

Just over 4 years on with political scandal after scandal – and a new face in the form of Gordon Brown, all political polls point to a Conservative win at the 2010 general election with speculation of a possible Hung Parliament (rare in British politics). 

Gordon Brown, of the Labour Party, is pledging that he will continue to get Britain out of the economic recession and if the public opt out now, then all the work will be undone and could see Britain heading into another recession. 

David Cameron, of the Conservative party, is pledging that he will help to improve the economic situation that Britain is currently in and has proposed cuts in national insurance and discussions over tuition fees. The conservatives slogan says it all; ‘Now for Change’. 

The Guardian Online are running a daily poll and are asking their readers to vote for who they believe is going to get their vote when it comes to May 6th 2010. Today, Conservatives have 40% of the vote, 32% goes to Labour, 17% to Liberal Democrats and 11% other. In yesterday’s vote, the Conservatives won again with a total of 37% of the vote, so could this be the start of things to come? 

It’s hard to tell whether these things will indeed happen until the selected party is in charge and living at Number 10. But if your old enough, then use your vote. If your in a position like me and think that the vote won’t affect you at the moment, think about where you want to be in 3 years time, when the current party will still be in power and take the time to listen to the pledges which the parties are making and use your vote wisely. 

Lady gone Gaga?

Lady Gaga is by far the most controversial artist of the moment. With her extravagant wardrobe choices, to her x- rated videos, Gaga is never away from the public eye. 

Lady Gaga was born on 28th March 1983 by her real name of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, in New York City. She got her famous name from the Queen song ‘Radio Gaga’. Instead of entering her recording studios saying hello, Gaga would start singing the lyrics to Radio Gaga, and from then on has been known to us all as Lady Gaga. 

Gaga first shot to fame in 2008 with her debut single ‘Just Dance’ featuring Akon, became a number one international hit. By just looking at the video, you can see the contrast to what she looked like then, and how different she looks a year and a half down the line. I remember watching an interview with her at the time ‘Just Dance’ was released and she said that she wanted to make the video more x rated and controversial but her record company said it wouldn’t be a good idea for the first single. But she has more than made up for it! 

Following the success of ‘Just Dance’ and ‘Pokerface‘, her debut album ‘The Fame’ was released. It featured collaborations with Flo Rida and when it was rereleased boosted a duet with the fantastic Beyonce Knowles. 

I went to see the Pussycat Dolls in January 2009 and Lady Gaga was their support act. At that time, she was still relatively unknown and her quirky sense of style had yet to be revealed. Despite this, she still put on a fantastic show, with holograms and graphics aiding her individual style and electrifying performance. She was wearing her famous hologram glasses, which can be seen in her ‘Pokerface’ video. Her performance was individual and got all the crowd dancing . . Gaga had arrived! 

 

Lady Gaga performing when I saw her in concert

Since shooting to fame, Gaga has made her name as being quirky and care free. She gets slated all of the time in the press about what she wears and her controversial videos, but nothing seems to affect her and to be honest, I think the music industry needs someone like her to fill the gap, she shows that you don’t have to follow a specific image to fit in to the industry. 

In Lady Gaga’s recent video with Beyonce, titled ‘Telephone‘,Gaga and Beyonce can be seen wearing very little clothing and yet again Gaga has caused controversy. At the beginning of the video, Gaga can be seen dancing around in a prison in just a thong and bra with other cell mates. Later on in the video, she is seen with just ‘crime scene investigation’ tape covering her modesty – one of her more controversial outfits it seems. There is also a scene in the video where Beyonce is in the diner, manipulating a man to drink her poison, when the camera zooms in on her boobs. 

Gaga in her 'Telephone' video

I was watching MTV the other day and they had an interview with 50 Cent and he commented on the video. He said, and quite rightly so, that if he featured women in this way in his videos, dressed in just thongs and zooming in on boobs, then his videos would be banned or he would be accused of demoralising females. But yet again it seems as if Gaga has got away with it. All I can say is . .Go Gaga!