What can I say, I am a nerd. I click where I am not supposed to. I spend all day looking at websites every websites html and CSS. In my time off I code things for fun (yes it has put strains on my love life). It makes reading an article take an extra 10 minutes. I would not suggest it…

How did they do that here?

Why did they do that there?

Why am I not doing that in my stuff?….

Luckily for me the other day I broke MailChimp. Not really really break it. Just broken enough so that I got a well deserved laugh.

I have built plenty of 404 error pages. I even spend some time looking them up to be more creative with my mine. Life is about pushing the limits of creativity in all aspects of your work, but I digress.

If you are bored and want more 404 error pages I suggest you read 33 brilliantly designed 404 error pages. That article did nothing less than inspire me.

What is so brilliant about the MailChimp graphic highlighted above you ask?

Well do not you fret, I have all the answers.

To begin with, it focuses on the current branding of the company. Who uses MailChimp and does not love that little monkey? Mixing him or her (we are not sexist here) with a well known historical figure Sherlock Holmes you now have thoroughly connected with your audience. The branding team has evoked a well known historical figure and the light bulb has popped on above your head.

If you just observe the image you would be confused. A monkey blowing bubbles = no bueno (no good). By adding the clever language below the image. Boom! The creative humor of Sherlock Holmes is evoked.

The smartest aspect of this piece is the theme. The idea that you are searching for something that is missing. It makes perfect sense. You are clicking away and bam! The page you clicked on is missing.

MailChimp’s word play is just brilliant and eases the pain of not ending up where you wished to be.

The thing you should take away from this, that brilliant idea that will change your life — details are everything. Dot your t’s and cross your i’s. Wait, wait, I may have that wrong…

Anyways, it is those little details your customers remember. No matter what business you are in, it may be a smile, a “how are you today”, a hand written thank you note and the list goes on. The devil is in the details and the details are in all your future successes.

Photo by stockmonkeys.com

Follow me on twitter @zacweiner or connect with me at zacweiner.com.