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In this newsletter:
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CU Village recently redesigned and redeveloped the Foothill FCU Web site using our Content Management System. Take a look by clicking on the image above!
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Convey Your Message Professionally Using Fonts and Color
No matter who designs and develops your Web site, you want to make sure that the look of your site represents the professionalism of your credit union. The correct use of fonts and color can enhance the message that you want to convey.
Using Fonts
Have you ever visited a Web site on which the fonts were different on almost every page? Did you think that you might have accidentally left the site you wanted to be on? Or perhaps you just thought something seemed a little “off.” Using fonts incorrectly can make your site appear unprofessional, no matter how up-to-date and accurate the information is.
Selecting the correct font for your Web site should be relatively easy; after all the fonts recommend for use on Web sites are few. Use san serif fonts such as Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, or MS San Serif. San serif refers to a letter or typeface with no serifs. A serif is any of the short lines stemming from and at an angle to the upper and lower ends of the strokes of a letter. (Fonts such as Times New Roman and Garamond are considered serif fonts.) A general rule is that san serif fonts are best for Web sites, and serif fonts are best for print.
Using Color
Because our eyes are drawn to certain colors, such as yellow, those colors are used often in advertising. However, those bright colors on a computer screen can strain people’s eyes after a certain length of time.
What this means to you, is that certain colors should be used sparingly and for effect. Reserve the bright, attention-grabbing colors for those times when you really want to attract people to something, such as “New Low Auto Rates!”
Think of all of the areas where color can be used on your site, including background, headlines, logo, borders and accents, text, and buttons. To help provide a unified, professional look for your site, be sure to select colors that complement each other. These tips can help you use color well on your site:
- Background - Use a calm, neutral color such as cream or white for your background. You can add color in other areas such as your borders and buttons.
- Headlines – While headlines are meant to capture attention, each headline does not need to be a different color. Black is an acceptable color for headlines. If you want to use a different color, though, use one that complements the other colors on your site. This will help provide continuity to your site and enhance your site’s professional appeal.
- Logo - What works in print can often work well on your Web site, but bear in mind that the colors will not look exactly the same. Why? The short answer is that printed materials and Web sites use different color systems.
- Borders and accent - Shades of blues, purples, and greens are usually pleasing to the eye. Of course, we’re referring to the calmer or royal shades here, not the bold fluorescent colors.
- Text - Generally this should be black. However dark blue or dark green can be used if they do not clash with the other colors on your site. After all, the text is what people will be reading, so you want to make reading as easy as possible
Some final thoughts
- Use margins. It’s difficult to read text that butts up to the edge of the screen.
- Keep movement or animation to a minimum
- White space is a good thing. Don’t overload a small space with an abundance of information. Make it easy for the visitors to your site to find what they’re looking for.
- Use only the necessary available tools. If you’re using an online editor (such as the one that comes with our Content Management System), you’ll have access to several tools. For instance, your text editor might offer the capability to highlight text. But how professional does that really look?
The bottom line is that the fonts and colors that you use should attract people to your site—not detract from your message.
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Make a Podcast Your Own with Customized Openings and Closings
You want to reach your members with information about auto loans or buying a home. But your members are busy. This includes members of Generation X who are busy with work, shuttling children to school and activities, and their own social lives. They want products and services that offer convenience. Of course, your Gen Y members are busy, too; they want to save time and enjoy the traditional services that you offer. (Source: CUNA News Now, 8-20-07 and 10-22-07)
Fortunately, many of your members are also tech savvy. You can reach them on your Web site, via e-mail, or with a podcast. All of these delivery methods offer convenience. Members can still get the information that you want to share with them…when they’re ready for it.
Of the three methods, podcasts offer the freshest way to deliver information to members. However, producing an entire series of custom podcasts can be time-consuming. And you don’t want your podcast to be seen as merely advertising for your products and services. You want to provide information that will help your members make financial decisions that will help them reach their goals.
You can achieve both goals—providing valuable financial tips and customizing the message—by adding a custom introduction and closing message to a pre-recorded podcast.
Adding a custom introduction allows you present the podcast as something that you’re offering—and give a more personal touch to the presentation. Adding a custom closing is a good way to tie the message to your credit union’s product and service offerings. For example, if the podcast topic is “Financing Your New Car,” then your closing message might be. Call our credit union today and ask about our low auto rates. Call 555-0231.
Both methods of customization help you to brand the podcasts as something that your credit union is offering. Also, several introductions and closings can be recorded in one session, saving time and money.
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Growing Members Now Features Checking!
How much to kids and teens really know about checks and checking accounts? Now, with the updated Growing Members sites, they can learn the basics as a young child, learn a little bit more as teens, and then learn how to reconcile their accounts as young adults.
As we mentioned last month, we’ve updated our Growing Members youth sites. In addition to redesigning them, we’ve added some new information—including information about using checks.
Kids can watch and listen to our interactive demonstration of what a check is, how to complete a check, and how to endorse a check.
By listening and watching the interactive demonstration, teens can review what a check is, how to complete a check, and how to endorse a check. Then they’ll be introduced to the concept of keeping track of the checks that they’ve written by using a check register.
Young adults can review what a check is and how to complete a check. The information about endorsing a check goes a step further by illustrating regular, special, and restrictive endorsement. Also, we introduce the steps needed to reconcile a checking account manually. Then your young adult members can take our multiple-choice quiz to test their knowledge!
For information about our products and services, contact your CU Village.com business consultant.
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November 2007