In an effort to help you get to know us better, YDM will be posting a Q&A with each of our associates. First up is Laura Wyatt, our Digital Marketing Manager. A Southern belle at heart, Laura is a self-proclaimed “web geek” who builds our clients’ websites and has a penchant for user experience design, all things WordPress and email marketing. She earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing management from Virginia Tech.

Q: How do you go about finding inspiration for your web design projects?

A: In real life, I find that I’m naturally more inspired and creative when I’m exercising my mind and developing new skills. When I make time for it, I like taking classes – whether it’s a SkillPop class on abstract art or a Tech Talent South class on JavaScript. Stretching my creative abilities makes me feel more inspired and energized in my web design projects. Online or day-to-day, I love perusing designer share platforms like Dribble, Pinterest and Instagram.

Q: What are a few trends in web design that you’re excited to start implementing for YDM’s clients?

A: One is Google Earth Studio and finding a way to integrate those awesome videos into our websites. It gives a new perspective on real estate and adds an additional layer of interactive design to your site. Another is content marketing and strategy. This has been a major focus in 2019, and I can’t wait to see the ways that we can tell a brand’s story through web. I’m excited to up the creativity for our clients and create an online presence for them that’s more than just a brochure site.

Q: How do you manage to maintain work-life balance as the mom of a young son?

A: The flexibility of being able to do my job from anywhere really helps. My husband and I both make it a priority to be home at a certain time every day for the dinner/bath/bed routine, and if that means picking up the laptop once our son goes to sleep, then that’s fine. I love what I do, and that helps the time spent working from home to not feel so much like work. Also, I’ve found that it’s really important to take time for myself –dinners out with girlfriends, a weekend away with my husband, or just taking the afternoon off for myself really helps to recharge my batteries, so I can come back to my daily routine refreshed and be my best self.

Q: What’s one thing you wish other people understood about how the Internet really works?

A: You can’t launch a brand-new website and be #1 on Google the same day – at least not without the right amount of investment.

Q: Tell me more about the project you’re most proud of working on at YDM.

A: Creatively, I’ve loved working on the Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail websites – the imagery and branding is so fun and beautiful. Right now, I’m working on a full website design for Revolve Residential’s Atlas, and the site is looking really fun! It’s even better than our previous web project for Revolve, Domain, which won Best Website of the Year.

Q: You’ve been known to do karaoke from time to time. What are the latest beats keeping you energized during the workday?

A: My music vibes change with the weather – literally. With the sunshine finally out, I’m listening to a lot of light, feel good music like Kacey Musgraves’s Golden Hour and Maren Morris’s GIRL. In the fall/winter, I’m really into Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, War on Drugs – music that’s a little more moody.

Q: In your opinion, what are a few of the top bells and whistles that constitute a great website?

A: Honestly, I prefer to keep it simple. You want to be sensitive to your user and building up a website with all these bells and whistles, while that’s cool, can dilute your message and sometimes confuse your users. Great websites are simply easy to use and effective. Some of the best “bells and whistles” aren’t obvious ones. Digging deep into your website’s data with A/B testing, tracking and analytics can tell you a lot about your users.

Q: If you were a snack, what would you be and why?
A: Kettle corn – mostly sweet but sometimes a little salty.