There are opportunities to build your tone and image where you may least expect it. Going the extra mile in these spaces could elevate your brand from “just there” to memorable.
We’ll be writing a lot about how to craft a polished and professional website. When we saw this fun piece over at Fast Company, it seemed like a great place to start. Check out the 404 error pages they’ve collected there.
These Legos really want to find your page for you.
The best of these error pages call back to the overall character of each company. Lego’s frustrated minifigures fit the sense of humor running through the company’s animations and games. IMDB tells users a page couldn’t be found using a movie reference. NPR uses the error page to crack a joke and to reroute users to other NPR reporting.
NPR’s error page
These sites could have just posted a generic and forgettable 404 page, but instead they used these “gaps” in the normal browsing experience to give their users an amusing surprise. Stumbling across these pages isn’t a drag — it feels more like finding a hidden Easter egg. That Fast Company and others have shared these pages proves that people enjoy their creativity and want to pass on the experience.
These companies used customized error messages to build their brands and enhance users’ experiences. There are other often-overlooked pages on every company website that may provide you an opportunity to add some personality. For example, instead of writing generic FAQs, make sure they fit the tone of the rest of your messaging.
Brand messaging isn’t just about whitepapers and advertising. It’s not just your media coverage that affects how the public thinks about your products or services. Details in your website’s design, ranging from functionality, look, and tone to yes, error messages, affect the overall feel of your business’ online presence.
Where are some other places on your site that you can add these bits of messaging?
