Interactive Buzz - April 25 '08

Word of the Week: Permalink
A permalink is a permanent link to a particular blog posting. Since blogs are organic and grow and grow and grow with multiple postings on a page, a permalink will bring you specificallly to one posting.
Video enhances an experience
This is my favorite site this week...actually, maybe one of the best sites I've seen in a long time. Houlihans is a restaurant with multiple US locations. I really (!!!) enjoy their use of video on the home page. Restaurant websites have 3 primary purposes: 1) What do you have to eat? 2) Give me a sense of the environment 3) How can I find/call you? Houlihans succeeds with an engaging home page video that has life and personality. It shows everything from the artistic details in food prep, a pan or two of the space and a group of girls out for "girls night". The video is not only well produced, but I really enjoy the "through the screen" effect they've applied vs. a simple straight-up video, which, granted, they likely did for pure navigation readability, but it's so well done.

I also really like the content. As the home page loads it says 2 different things to entertain you...1) "Oh look, now you're the waiter" and 2) "Websites are measured in bites. Ahh, the irony". How great is that?

And last but not least, they not only delivered concept, execution and all-out experience on the home page, but they had some fantastic follow-through. The brand voice lives throughout every single stinkin' page. It's awesome. One of the best content-designed sites I've ever seen. Go ahead, surf through and you'll know what I mean. The content is easy, engaging and fun to read. At least fun for a designer who appreciates good creative, copy and food. They've also built in a couple of "engagement areas", like "Coaster Creator", in which your witty coaster message may be chosen to be used in restaurants nationwide.

I've never been to Houlihan's, but I'm going soon. Hopefully their food and service is 1/2 as good as their website.

And more video
This site loads with a video, and it's well executed, as only something from Kermit the Frog would be! The video alone made me stay on the home page longer than I would have on other sites. And while the video played, I looked around at other options I had. Plus, Kermit's impressions are too fun not to watch. Who doesn't want to see Kermit's impression of a screen saver, n' Pac man, n' ahhh, it's endless. If you stay around long enough the "I'm upgrading to iKermit" made me laugh. hahaha. I love the mumpits. Well done Kermit.