Hi everyone.  Need to keep this light for a Friday since I have had one helluva week.  So what better way then to play movie critic....well not really.

Yellow Flag on the Track
I promised my son that I would take him to see Speed Racer today.  As a father, I so enjoy taking him to movies that he is really looking forward to.  However, given that this wasn't Monsters Inc., or Garfield...I was somewhat concerned if in fact he would enjoy it.  Strangely enough, I was pretty concerned for myself being that I grew up watching Speed Racer cartoons and as strange as they were, I really liked them.  However, making it into a live action move....definitely needed a yellow flag on the track.

Green Flag
The good news...we both loved it.  Even at 2 hours and 15 minutes, he was on the edge of his seat the whole time.  So by now you're wondering what Speed Racer has anything to do with web development and design, so I'll let you off the hook.  The marketing job of a web designer is to cater to their client's target market.  However, when the audience ranges from young to old, our jobs become very tough and we need to take cues from the Wachowski Brothers as to how to do it well.

Designing for the Masses
Even though this movie has been getting blasted in the movie reviews (which is not surprising considering Underdog got blasted even worse and is one of mine and my kids favorite films) it is a great example of how to take a wide audience range and piece together a presentation to keep all parties interested.

Speed Racer catered to boys obviously because of the cars and some pretty intense racing scenes, however it also catered to girls because of some great humor by Speed's younger brother, Spritle and his pet chimp, Chim Chim.  I also think the bright colors appealed to both as well.

For the adults, the wives/mothers/girlfriends who may have gotten dragged to this film by their husbands/boyfriends/kids seemed to really enjoy the storyline.  It actually surprisingly had a very good one, and I don't think the CGI graphics hurt either.

For the guys, who doesn't love a lot of action, fast cars, and some pretty nice eye candy courtesy of some scantily clad female airline attendants, vegas showgirl looking grand prix driver escorts, and yes....a very nice outfit worn by Christina Ricci.

Websites are Much Like Movies
So if you approach web design from the same thought pattern, you essentially can design websites that can cater to a wide array of audience members.  Therefore potentially reaching a wider customer base.  Even if the members themselves viewing the site aren't potential buyers, if they like the site, they will probably mention it to someone who does. 

And don't rule out putting in some things for kids.  Let's say you are designing a site for a pest control company.  Creating a nicely organized, informative website with good monthly prices will probably get the attention of the adult homeowners you are looking for. 

How Kids Can Be Helpful in Reaching Your Buyers
But let's say you throw in a flash ant farm game, or something like pick up the food before the cockroaches get it (I know I need help).  And one family who is looking at pest control companies finds it on the internet...sees the game....has their child play it....who then tells their friends at school about it...they all go home...ask permission to play it (we hope) and then the parents of those ten kids see it....viola'....you've just reached another 10 homes through young adults who probably think bugs are a lot cooler than you do!

So if you get a chance, go see Speed Racer and see how you can appeal to a very wide audience range, and at the same time...see what changes you can make to your own website to appeal to a wider range as well.

Happy Coding!

Doug.