We have many interesting terms in our industry. It seems every shop at least has one widget—a word we use to describe “that thingy over there.” Maybe it’s a gizmo, a whachadoozit or some other silly name until we finally agree on what “it” is actually called.

 

Online however, widgets are actually a something of their own. They are interactive elements that can be added to web pages that encourage interaction, broadcast news and announcements, show picture slide shows and more. What’s more is that a widget can benefit online marketing efforts. You can bet your favorite thingamadiddle on it!

 

As we’ve discussed in previous issues, the social networking landscape has all but taken a permanent lead in providing opportunities to reach new customers. So it stands to reason that any social networking widget would be an asset to a website, blog or other online entity. We also recently revisited the power of customer testimonials, which presents another opportunity to install effective content to any website through a simple widget. Have a few too many product images to fit on one product page? A slide show widget might be the simple fix for allowing product placement and ease of use to site visitors.

 

Widgets are easy to install and most come with plenty of customizable features that users can manipulate to complement the size, look and feel to suit the space and appearance of any website. They tend to be an eye-catching element for site visitors and, more often than not, they encourage interactivity. Detailed are a few of my favorites.

 

Widgets are easy to install and most come with plenty of customizable features that users can manipulate to complement the size, look and feel to suit the space and appearance of any website.

Facebook social plugins

http://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/ 

Facebook offers a selection of widgets that encourage users not only to interact, but make that action viral as it hits the Facebook news stream. Choose from a Like Box, Like Button, Comments Widget, Live Stream, Activity Feed, Recommendations and more—all of which have a value in terms of marketing and online exposure. 

 

For example, a simple Like Button next to each product on a website will provide users a one-click method of letting everyone on their friends list know they have discovered that product. Recommendations work much the same way. 

 

Facebook widgets and the benefits of installing them are two-fold. First, they make visitors aware of your Facebook presence and allow them to interact, like and follow you without ever leaving your website. Secondly, almost any action taken with a Facebook widget automatically gets added to the Facebook news stream; meaning exposure to everyone that user interacts with through that social network. A win-win widget if there ever was one.

 

Twitter widgets

http://twitter.com/about/resources/widgets 

Much like the Facebook widgets, Twitter offers a handful that can bring tweets to the attention of site visitors, both keeping site content fresh as well as encouraging new followers. Considering the nature of Twitter, with a little creativity, use one of their widgets for the purpose of entertainment, current events, news, or simply to add your Twitter feed to your website. Another important Twitter element goes right along with the Facebook Like Button. The Tweet Button (http://twitter.com/about/resources/tweetbutton) once again encourages users to share what they’ve discovered on your website by tweeting that discovery to their followers. While these buttons may seem mundane, the viral element they have to offer makes them essential to any website promoting products or services.

 

Google plus one button

http://www.google.com/webmasters/+1/button/ 

Another must-have for your offering of buttons is the new Plus One Button from Google. In last month’s issue, we explored Google+ and how it is gearing up to be a main competitor to Facebook and other social networking sites (see Printwear September page 36, go to http://printwearmag.com/article/marketing-techniques/review-google, or scan QR code at left). Google’s Plus One Button not only exposes that action and your website to the news stream within Google+ when pressed, but +1 icons also appear in Google’s search results pages, giving you even more of an opportunity to be seen in the fast-moving information cycles of the Internet. 

 

In addition, once you add the button Google may crawl or re-crawl that web page and store the page title and other content in response to a +1 button impression or click. And, if your motto is not “the more you communicate with Google, the better,” now is the time to make it so.

 

RSS widgets

We’ve also discussed RSS feeds in previous issues, and how RSS can be used to syndicate information you broadcast through blogs and social networking. An RSS widget can be utilized to bring the information from one or even multiple feeds to your website in an orderly fashion. Much like a Twitter widget, use an RSS widget to display just about anything site visitors would be interested in. Or, simply draw their attention to your feeds to keep them aware, provide fresh content and encourage them to subscribe. There are literally hundreds of RSS widgets available online; simply Google “RSS widgets” to find the one that suits you.

 

Exemplified

Aside from the social networking widgets and RSS syndication, there are a number of others available that could be used to improve any website and to encourage activity. Widgets offer everything from slide shows to games, quizzes to surveys. For example, a local church utilizes a “Bible quote of the day” widget that encourages their members to make a daily drop by their site. A local painter enjoys his slide show widget that keeps his portfolio of work easy to update and in one easy-to-view position on his portfolio page. I use an RSS widget on my darts blog to allow current darts news to channel there on a regular basis and keep my blog fresh with content for my visitors, in addition to all of the buttons mentioned above. 

 

Think creatively and from a marketing perspective and you’ll find that many widgets might be a great addition to your online presence. At the very least, be sure to add the Facebook, Twitter and Google+ Buttons to all web pages to encourage users to take action and get yourself flowing in the viral streams around the web. Don’t get left behind!