Make sure your audience knows What's on

Having worked with the Brighton Festival Fringe for over five years and now at the beginning of a new relationship with a venue owner, I decided it was time to put together a simple (by simple I mean a single page) document 'A Frank! guide to getting your What's On to work'. It was an interesting exercise just to think around why some guides work seamlessly and other don't. It isn't rocket science ... but it is a case of thinking logically through the customer journey. Thinking about their needs and understanding that people start their 'journey' from different places.
You are most welcome to e-mail me (info@frankontheweb.com) and I'll send you the guide but in summary..
- understand the readers' agenda. What is most important to them? The event itself? The venue? the date?
- ensure that no matter where the readers' journey starts the other information they need to book/attend an event is clearly and logically shown
- ensure that the guide motivates and enthuses the reader about the event
- ensure that the guide is designed with pick up appeal, and fits with your brand look/feel and tone of voice.
- make sure that the booking information (if relevant) is repeated regularly, and that the booking process is as straightforward as possible.

Do get in touch if you think we can help you with your What's on. www.frankontheweb.com

Small delights

I was sitting in the office one day and there was a hint of a knock on the front door.. and a chap came into the office looking a little uncomfortable. He asked if we did 'websites and that sort of thing' I said that we could and that we did. And we started chatting. The man was Brian Shields, he lived round the corner from the office - oh and he'd just had a painting accepted by the National Portrait Gallery as part of the BP Portrait Awards. I found out later that there were over 2,177 entrants to the 2010 awards and Brian was one of the 58 'selected works'that form part of the exhibition that is appearing at the National Portrait Gallery until September 17th 2010 after which it will begin a national tour.



Brian asked if I could help him get a website up and running to try and 'make the most' of the publicity that would surround the show. Something simple just to show his work and where people could get in touch with him. At this stage I hadn't seen his work so he suggested that he'd bring his portfolio round the next day. Which he did - and I was hooked. Brian's work is amazing - beautiful colours, amazing subjects and an incredible intensity that makes it hard to draw your eye away.
We have put together a simple site for Brian - and it went live before the launch of the opening of the NPG exhibition. You can see his work at www.brianshields-artist.co.uk.
For me, I thank the day that Brian knocked on my office door. It has been a delight to work with him - and have appreciated his kind comments about working with me
'Dear Jo,
Just a note of thanks for all the envaluable work you at Frank! have done for me over the last few weeks.The web sites up and running and looking great.....hurrah!

Your enthusiasm,imagination and clear thinking were the perfect antidote to my indecision and technophobia(!) and now with the new gallery site I feel a renewed confidence in my abilities to progress professionally in my artistic career.

It's been a steep learning curve for me Jo but you made it fun,many thanks once again'

Actually Brian, the priveledge was all mine...

Signing out

Jo Weatherall

Photograph by www.aliciaphotographics.com