On Friday, January 16, 2015, the ParadoxLabs team sat in awe as they became part of something much bigger than a launch of a new site - they became part of a dream coming true for the Guarnere family, our Greatest Generation, and our veterans.
On Friday night over 200 people filled the banquet room of Popi’s Italian Restaurant. There was a sense of patriotism, hope, and excitement as the crowd prepared to enjoy the kick-off fundraising project for the Wild Bill Guarnere Memorial Fund, which coincided with the launch of their website, designed by the ParadoxLabs team.
For both the family and our team, the night was a great success. Over $10,000 was raised, and watching the phones pop out as the web address was announced was quite an awe inspiring moment. Within fifteen minutes, we were flooded with guests offering positive feedback, requests to be guest bloggers, and congratulations on a job well done. To say we were proud just does not seem to touch on the emotions felt.
At the end of the evening, we found ourselves reminded of the idea of a dream and were taken back fifty two years. When Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered that 17-minute speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., he redefined and shaped the course of U.S. History.
The title of the speech, “I Have a Dream” had the power, the ability, and the capacity to inspire not only the 200,000 people in attendance, but also unborn generations to come. The passionate and poetic words delivered by King still resonate in the hearts of Americans and is a testament to the transformative power of content and delivery.
There is a great lesson in this speech for those of you in the world of ecommerce - the spirit of optimism, vivid imagery, and rich content communicates and connects to an audience while conveying a sense of urgency.
Spirit of Optimism
We have come to realize that behind each and every successful ecommerce site there lies a person with a dream, a determination, and a belief that anything is possible. These people look the prospect of failure head-on, set an idea in motion, and keep sailing through the highs and lows; they never lose sight of their modest beginnings as they reach ultimate success.
Like Dr. King, these people always know they still have work to do and they never stop dreaming of the possibilities the world possesses.
Vivid Imagery
Dr. King used words to create vivid imagery that left a lasting impression, and, in today’s technology driven world, vivid imagery can be the difference between success and failure; however, in the case of ecommerce sites this imagery needs to be seen rather than just heard.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words and when designing an ecommerce sight, these words are true. Julia May at Smashing Magazine writes that a site that is unique and eye catching can draw in a customer. DesignerMag adds that vivid imagery communicates in way text cannot. Offers with vivid imagery can achieve ultimate success for your site as it draws visitors ‘attention, communicates your message effectively, and leaves guests with a memorable first impression.
Words can communicate on their own; photos can often communicate quicker and in different ways than text. Vivid images used in combination with the right words can be incredibly powerful. These images do more than just play a mere complementary role in the design - they invoke emotion and draw visitors in.
Rich Content
When analyzing Dr. King’s speech, it becomes apparent as to why it has become one of the most memorable speeches in American history – it’s all about the content. Andrew Dlugan points out that the content uses five key elements to achieve success and they are:
- Placing emphasis by repeating phrases at the beginning of sentences
- Repeating key “theme” words throughout your speech
- Utilizing appropriate quotations or allusions
- Specific examples to “ground” your arguments
- Using metaphors to highlight contrasting concepts
You may read this and wonder how this pertains to the content on your ecommerce site, but there is no way to have an optimized website without having powerful, original content. It is the content that search engines and consumers recognize and, using the five key elements listed above, offers a way to help ensure your words have an impact. These elements can help get you started and perhaps inspire you to follow your dream.
It should also be pointed out that, when writing your content, there is nothing wrong with seeking some help and advice. Dr. King’s content was enhanced by the help of Stanley Levinson, a New York businessman and political activist, and Clarence Jones, a close friend and adviser of Dr. King.
ParadoxLabs would like to thank the Wild Bill Guarnere Memorial Fund for allowing us to be part of their dream and we encourage everyone out there to follow their dreams as well.