Applying Lean and MVPs to Web Development

Applying Lean and MVPs to Web Development

by | Jul 22, 2022 | Branding, Design Strategy, Digital, Marketing

When you are launching a new company, or product, or brand, it’s important that you like it. But it’s really really important that you have customers who like it. 


A business without sales, has a hard time sticking around. So while your idea may be great, and you have a passion and a vision for it  If you haven’t tested it you really have no idea if it will sell. Lean Startup philosophy uses a technique called Minimum Viable Product (MVP) where you create a website to sell or pre-sell an idea that doesn’t exist in physical form to gather data about how the idea or product will perform in the market place. . Here are some keys to ensuring your MVP is a success. 


Build a Website  (It should say who you are, describe the benefit, include illustrations and diagrams, videos)


Incorporate E-Commerce (It’s not enough to just track visits, you want to know who will  buy in)


Build A Marketing Strategy (SEO, Digital Advertising, Email Campaign, A/B testing)


Track Your Data (analytics, tracking, CRM)


Manage Expectations (communicate how/when your product/services will be delivered)



Setting up lean and MVPs (minimum viable product) in your website can be a great way to test new language and marketing with your audience and gather feedback, so that you can have more conclusive data before investing the big funds in your messaging and marketing.

As a design agency, we specialize in brand communications, and we get especially jazzed about digital platforms. We start by understanding who our clients are, and creating colors, logos, fonts, and styles that express this identity within a snap-judgment second of web scrolling. We also think strategically. Aside from visual strategy, we work with expert copywriters to ensure that content is relevant and engaging, and we talk about all of the tiered goals so that we know what should be built and implemented now, and what we want to build and implement in the future after some user feedback. 


Some advantages that come with leaning into a tiered web approach could be more clearly identifying your target audience and their pain points, understanding how they use the website and how they want to use the product, understanding your direct and indirect competitors, and learning what to highlight so that you are differentiated from the competition.

Ready to get started? Schedule a complimentary consultation. 


Brand Brag:


One great example of an MVP site is Groupon. When Groupon first launched, this was a brand new concept- digital coupons. They started with a simple WordPress site, and used downloadable PDFs as the groupons. Once they proved a desire and made some revenue, they stepped up their game, and now have a net worth of 0.69billion dollars. 

Raffa’s Sea Isle City

Raffa’s Sea Isle City

by | Jul 5, 2022 | Branding, Design Strategy, Marketing, Product Design, Web Design

It doesn’t get much more Jersey Shore than this. In Sea Isle City, Raffa’s is a house hold name that to locals means good times, and great food. To pay homage to the legacy of her father Jim, Owner & Operator Jeralyn Raffa along with her sister Vanessa launched a sea side charcuterie business. Known for their grab and go charcuterie cones and one of a kind tiki boards. Raffa’s is sure to be the hottest spot in Sea Isle this summer. From stickers to social and a whole lot of branded merchandise we made sure they had all the tools to maximize their visibility.

Ready to launch a new business? Send us a note.

5 things to consider when choosing the best creative agency to brand your tech start-up

5 things to consider when choosing the best creative agency to brand your tech start-up

by | Jul 2, 2022 | Branding, Digital, Marketing, Tech

You did it! You started a company. You know that you are amazing at what you do- but now you need to hire a creative agency to do the things you maybe aren’t all that knowledgeable about doing. But how do you know who to hire? When you don’t know what you don’t know, this can feel like a daunting task. You know you’re going to invest a lot of time, money, and energy, and you are ready to do so, but want to make sure it’s an investment, not a very expensive learning lesson. Here are 5 things to consider before choosing an agency:

 

  1. Do they understand you? Creatives are creative. It’s what they do. But there’s creative with ego, and there’s creative with empathy. When you’re talking to a prospective agency, pay attention to whether they ask more questions or make more promises. While many may wish that marketing was a magic button for growth, there is no such thing as magically knowing someone, or something for that matter. The only way to really know, is to ask. A good creative agency will ask you a lot of questions before giving you any answers. 
  2. Do they understand technology? This is an important question to ask if you are a tech company looking to hire a creative agency, but the answer is not as simple as yes or no. You also have to know who you’re talking to. If you are a tech company who is primarily talking to a non-techy audience, it behooves you to hire an agency that doesn’t speak technologically, because they will be able to translate what it is you are selling in laymen’s terms. If you are a tech company that is selling to a tech audience, you need to hire an agency that understands the technology industry. They need to speak the vernacular and understand the industry trends. Remember, it’s not about the agency producing creative work that you like- it’s about producing creative work that your audience will love. 
  3. Who is in their portfolio? Ask about the types of clientele an agency has served in the past. They don’t all need to look like you- but they need to resonate with you. You can find a lot of inspiration from other industries, so don’t be too quick to jump into that tunnel vision branding. But also be mindful to ask about the work process, the quality of work, and the design style. 
  4. Do they have what you need? When it comes to technology, you are probably going to utilize technology. You want to work with an agency that has the capabilities to deliver in the platforms that you need to use. 
  5. Are they easy to work with? This is one of the most important questions to ask. Think mindfully about whether you  enjoy talking to this person, or this team, because you’re going to be spending a lot of time with them. Work with someone you enjoy working with, and who reciprocates the feeling.

 

Wondering where to start? Schedule a complimentary call. We would be happy to answer any questions and help you launch your start-up, or refer you to someone who is a better fit. 

 

Brand Brag:


One of the most impressive tech startups is Quera, located in Boston, MA. Founded in 2019, they have already generated over $11 million in revenue. Possibly more impressively (at least to us, a creative design agency), they have impeccably clean design and a gift for taking super complicated concepts, and explaining them in very simple words. Check them out. {link: https://www.quera.com/}