The Winery Web Site Report

The iPhone as a Model for Winery Web Site Navigation

I've written before about how most websites are way too noisy, and could perhaps take a lesson from mobile websites, which are severely constrained about how much they can display.

This came back to me when I saw the website for the upcoming Facebook movie, The Social Network.  It looks like this:

 

And, as you may be able to see, the site navigation (at the right of the screen) looks just like an iPhone.

It's an interesting design.

There's Nothing Like The Personal Touch...

Want ideas for how to sell an extra 40 or 50 cases of your wine? Take a look at this article from Wines & Vines

Thomas explained that Donelan’s unique marketing program is based on the personal touch: “When you sign up for the mailing list, Joe (Donelan) makes a phone call,” he said. “When you buy a bottle, you get a handwritten note. These people become our continuing ambassadors.”

Even when people buy online, the personal touch can't be beaten.  This is one thing that small wineries can do that sets them apart.  Technology can help (e.g. giving you that list of people who get a handwritten note), but it's all in support of making that personal connection with someone who is interested in your wines.

A Teaser For Your Wine?

 

This is a great teaser for a book called All My Friends Are Dead.

This sort of simple (but not easy) lots-of-white-space-cute-graphics-tell-a-story kind of thing could be done for a wine.

The key to the appeal of this teaser is (a) simple and attractive, and (b) you want to find out what happens.

Anyway, just some grist for your creative wine marketing mill...

When People Call About Your Winery Website...

If the person who answers your phone isn't completely familiar with your winery website, they should be.

Otherwise, how are they going to help someone who needs help with the website?

For example, today I called a business because the event schedule on their website was out of date.  When I mentioned that fact to them, they said "Gosh, it is?  I'll let someone know."  I'm not real confident of a fix, because the person I mentioned it to on the phone clearly has no way to see if the problem gets fixed (assuming that they are interested in such things to begin with).

I don't expect anyone in a small winery to be sitting at a desk waiting for the phone to ring, but when it does, they should have a computer with access to the Web sitting in front of them.

As a manager or owner, you should be visiting your Web site on a weekly or monthly basis, at the very least, to make sure you're happy with what your visitors are experiencing.  It's easy -- just add a repeating event to your calendar.