7 Ways To Use Word Clouds In Your Marketing

I Use Wordle 
The 'architecture' word cloud that you see here was created using Wordle. Wordle is a free Java app that works on any computer using Java - pretty much every computer. There are several other sources that you can use, just search for 'word cloud'. Wordle does what I am looking for. Here's a little background on Word Clouds before I explain how I made this one and give you my ideas for how you can use Word Clouds.

What They Are - Same Idea As Map Names 
As you can see from the example above, word clouds are an arrangement of words where the frequency of use is designated by the relative size of the word. Maps use this same idea when they show cities with larger populations with larger names. 

10 Years Old In Present Form 
Using the size of a word or name to represent relative size has been around for several hundred years; but word clouds like this one are only ten years old or so. When word clouds, or tag clouds as they are also known, appeared about 2004, they represented the frequency that a word or tag appeared in a document, website, blog, etc. This took some serious programming to pull off. Now you can do it with an app using almost anything as your input.

How I Made This Word Cloud
I used to illustrate the complex knowledge that an architect must have by a "Post-Up" that I created with BugMe! on my iPad. [right] During some 'remodeling' of Architekwiki, that graphic was set aside. A couple of months ago I had the idea of reprising the idea using a Word Cloud. I found Wordle; read the instructions; and after these simple steps I had the Word Cloud you see above.

• transcribed the old graphic into a text document
  
• added a few more phrases
  
• duplicated each word or phrase two - 10 times to give them a relative weight
  
• uploaded to Wordle
  
• tried different combinations of the Wordle settings until I like what I saw
  
• export as JPEG
  
• Insert into a Canva background and add title
  

Start to finish I spent about two hours, which included the research and learning curve. If you already have the text file to upload, the Wordle process takes five minutes. But you are a designer, so add another fifteen minutes for adding awesomeness. 

The Seven Ways 
Word Clouds are fascinating graphics that go a long way toward engaging your audience on your Website, Facebook Page, Newsletter, Blog, Business Card Backside, Pamphlets, and Proposals, among other possibilities. Here are some of the ways you might want to use word clouds in your marketing. 
Topics:

• Names of your projects / project types / specialties
  
• Services you offer
  
• Your client list with repeat clients shown larger
  
• Your capabilities. Similar to services, but shows attributes that may not be services, like, 3D walk-thru, fast track design, zoning changes, LEED, special knowledge, etc. 
  
• Project locations (neighborhood or city or state)
  
• Your firm’s growth by year (list year repeatedly to represent: constr cost designed, number of projects, or number of staff, etc.) 
  
• Environmental design accomplishments
  

One bonus way that occurred to me - since Christmas is getting dangerously close - a Seasons's Greetings Word Cloud!

If you like my architecture Word Cloud, subscribe to Architekwiki,  download the WordCloudKit from the archives, and make your own version by editing the text file and trying other settings in Wordle. 

When you create a Word Cloud, send it to me; and I will add it to this post with a link back to your website! Linkback juice!

---

###