Archive for category Other
Does HTML 5 have a shot at replacing Flash?
Posted by Francis in Guest Posts, Random tid-bits, Technology on April 23, 2012
Flash is undoubtedly cool, but if you’re a web designer, web developer, or even just an avid web surfer, you know that it can also be problematic. The problems with this robust multimedia platform are now more evident than ever in a digital era dominated by smartphones, tablets and other gadgets commonly grouped in the mobile device category. With HTML 5 on the horizon, the days of Flash’s usefulness may literally be numbered.
What HTML 5 Brings to the Table
HTML 5 is the fifth generation of the widely used programming language known as Hyper Text Markup Language. It offers many powerful features, including advanced 3D effects and animations as well as interactive application interfaces for taking web-based interactivity to the next level – all without the need to be implemented via browser plugins. More importantly, HTML 5 is being designed with mobile devices in mind, which is one of the main reasons it has been able to garner the support of Apple, Google and other mobile technology providers.
HTML 4, the current implementation of Hyper Text Markup Language, is still of course serviceable in many regards, but has been tweaked to the point where its foundation is unstable at best. And while applications such as Adobe’s Flash and Microsoft’s Silverlight have certainly been useful, their limitations have shown us that more reliable technology is needed to support the rapid evolution of the digital channel. If internet powerhouses like Apple and Google have their way, it will be HTML 5 that carries us into the future.
HTML 5 vs. Flash
Although some pundits have already crowned HTML 5 as the heir apparent to Flash’s thrown, there is no guarantee that it will replace Adobe’s veteran multimedia technology – at least not completely. Here are three reasons why:
1. Flash is Still Relevant – Regardless of its incompatibility issues with the typical mobile device, Flash is still widely used across the internet landscape. Disney and video streaming service Hulu are two of numerous brands that use it to create interactive experiences for their audiences.
2. Flash is Better For Certain Applications – Flash is a multipurpose technology, but one area it truly excels in is rich media applications. Despite having problems in the mobile arena, it is very efficient at creating interactive experiences through web video, games and advertising. The fact that Flash works so well in so many instances makes it unlikely that developers and brands will drop it any time soon.
3. HTML 5 Has Some Maturing to Do – Even though it appears to have a bright future ahead of it, HTML 5 is still a work in progress at this point. According to the WC3, it will not be ready to take the torch until at least 2014, which for now, is the projected official launch time.
HTML 5 may not be able to replace Flash, but it looks to be more than capable of picking up the slack. It is very possible that one will drive the mobile platform, while the other remains prevalent in the desktop environment.
Bringing a Face to Your Company: How Video Helps
Posted by ThomasStone in Guest Posts on April 13, 2012
While the web is dominated by new marketing technologies, the basic art of storytelling is still alive and well. Nothing accomplishes the two-fold goal of effective communication and customer engagement like the medium of video. Any type of business benefits from a more audiovisual approach to web marketing. Not only because video is an attractive way to digest information, but if people are able to connect with your brand through a video, and are more likely to convert to customers, subscribers or donors – depending on your specific organization. A good video can benefit any type of audience. Whether you run an online clothing boutique, or a high-tech cloud service company, there’s no better way to connect with an audience than through video.
Many leading companies have recognized this and harnessed the power of the medium to distinguish themselves from the competition. Rackspace updates the videos on their blog regularly, and Groupon uses their blog as a way to capitalize on the creative energy of their staff producing quirky, often hilarious skits about the goings-on at the company’s Chicago headquarters.
The importance of videos to brands is reflected in Youtube’s recent decision to allow brand channels on the site, designed to be a hub for a company’s visual media.
Elements of a Good Promotional Web Video
o Make Sense of it – If the end of your video leaves audiences left scratching their heads, you probably need to hire a new a web video producer. At the very least, viewers must understand your message, and be able to easily conceptualize what you’re trying to communicate. You don’t want viewers reaching for the back button, or leaving negative comments on your video feed. This requires storytelling skills.
o Tug at the Heartstrings – Every company has a unique story to tell. Whatever that special storytelling element is will also determine the level of audience engagement. In some organizations, like a bicycle delivery service, this element may be obvious. But if you’re working with a server administration firm, this may require a little more creativity. Either way, your audience must connect on an intellectual and emotional level with your product.
o Sharing is Caring – Whether you like it or not, the web is getting more social by the minute, and so must your video content. If your video doesn’t have a Facebook or Twitter share button, you’re almost better off not posting a video at all. Ensuring the “shareability” of your video content is also ensuring wider exposure and web traffic for your organization. In the realm of web video marketing, a share is like a vote for your video. If someone bothers to share your content with his or her immediate social network, you’re doing something right.
o Inspire Action – Since it’s highly likely that you’re not creating a promotional web video for your health, the video must inspire action with your viewers. As with any marketing message, your web video campaign must call the viewer to action. Whether your call to action is a sharing the video, purchasing a product, or signing up for a recurring subscription, your video’s end-goal must be to convert digital strangers into your growing family of regular customers.
Should You Use Only Dot Com Domain Names?
Posted by Blog Lady in Guest Posts on April 11, 2012
There’s a universal agreement among experts that the dot com domain is the most desirable TLD (top-level domain) to have for a website. But why is this and is this rule carved into stone? When is it possible to bend or disregard this rule, if that is possible at all?
Why a Dot Com Domain Is the Best Choice
- The dot com domain is one of the oldest TLD’s around.
- The .com is the TLD that the general public associate with websites. If they hear a domain name, they assume the extension is .com. This can confuse your visitors who may end up going to the .com version (which may be an active or parked site) instead.
- The dot com domain implies a commercial, or business, site which is what many (if not most) of us want to make.
- Most of the leading websites today have .com extensions.
Problems with Getting a Dot Com Domain
These are all very good reasons to stick with dot com domains. But of course there are difficulties to go with these.
Good dot com domains are very hard to find. You would be lucky indeed to find a two-word (that is dictionary words) domain that’s still free. And still even luckier if you can find a single-word domain that’s appealing and recognizable in your language. Most excellent, “premium” domains are either taken up or for sale– at very high prices. Unless you have the money or want a particular domain very badly, you don’t want to go that route.
Often to get a dot com domain close to what you originally wanted, you’d have to add an extra word or two or a hyphen to the name. For example, if you first wanted “word.com” but it’s already taken, you might try “my-word.com” or “myeasywordlookup.com.” Yet this results in a long and/or awkward name which can offset the benefits having a .com domain brings.
Sometimes a dot com domain may not fit what your website is about. If you’re making a website about for a non-profit organization or a government body, then .org or .gov would be more appropriate. If you are targeting a specific part of the world, it makes sense to get a country-specific TLD instead such as .co.uk or .com.ph.
When Can You Use a Non-Dot Com Domain?
Some people have a “dot com at any cost” philosophy. That is, they argue you should try and get a domain with .com TLD no matter how different it may be from your original choice, or how expensive it is to buy the domain if it is for sale. This argument is quite valid, but I don’t think it applies to everyone.
My view is this:
If you have a website that you think may become very popular one day, then get the dot com version right away, or as soon as you can afford it. This will protect you from a domain shark who may try to take advantage of your site’s popularity years down the road. (Like with ProBlogger.net whose owner had to buy the .com version of his site for several thousands of dollars.)
But if you are making a minor website such as a mini “made for AdSense” site, or a satellite of your main site, or if you simply don’t expect to be a “big dog” in the game, then it is okay to not have dot com domain. You may just end up getting the domain name you prefer– perhaps with a .net or .org TLD.
Also if you do not have a brand, product or company to promote with your website, again I think you can get away with a non-dot com name. It’d be a different story if say, you own a toy store. You’d really want to get the domain name that matches your store’s name then.
My blog does not have .com extension. It doesn’t bother me a bit, and to be honest, it works as it is. Never forget that there are other factors that can influence your site’s performance such as SEO, SEM and good old-fashioned killer content.
4 Ways to Build Your Brand on Pinterest
Posted by Molly Borter in Guest Posts, SEO, social media, Social Networks on March 12, 2012
It seems like everywhere I go these days, people are talking about the inspiration-craze that is Pinterest. Recently, the virtual pinboard site reached the 10 million U.S. monthly visitors milestone, a social landmark achieved faster than any independent site in internet history. A majority of Pinterest’s 10 million registered users are female, and over 100 brands like Gap, HGTV, and even Sesame Street are pouncing on the Pinterest bandwagon. So what’s the big fuss is about?
Pinterest goes where no other social networking site has gone before: it’s a visual masterpiece of everything brilliant— the plethora of knowledge and products seemingly go on forever and never stop. How do you make your own headboard? Check the DIY section. Fitness advice? They’ve got you covered. From a business perspective, Pinterest is generating more referral traffic to websites than Google+, LinkedIN, and YouTube combined. If done the right way, using Pinterest for your brand can help attract new customers, drive loads of traffic to your site, and circulate your brand’s content and resources.
All of this, just by pinning stuff. It doesn’t get much cooler than that.
1. Create Boards Catered to Your Niche
Pinterest is a great way to get in the mind of your customers, so create boards that cover all aspects of your brand. For example, my company sells reading glasses. Keeping in mind that most Pinterest users are women and most reading glasses wearers are over the age of 40, my brand has boards focused not solely on glasses (Pinterest frowns upon over-pinning your products), but general reading, writing, traveling, crafting, cooking, parenting, and decorating boards. Create boards that reflect what your target niche is interested in, not just what you want them to buy. This’ll help build followers and give you ideas for future content and product inspiration.
2. Follow, Follow, Follow
How do you build followers fast? Once your boards are created (and you have a decent amount of pins per board), follow others like crazy. If you’re in the home improvement business, click on Pinterest’s home decor section, and pursue the pinners in this category—they are obviously interested in your niche. I recently followed 400 people for my brand, and within 4 hours, my followers tripled. Pinteresters use the site to discover: use this to your advantage and give them the chance to discover you.
3. Promote with a Contest
Brands like Land’s End Canvas and Modcloth both held extremely successful Pinterest contests recently, and other major companies are following their lead. “Pin it to Win it” style contests are a great way to a.) engage and build followers to your Pinterest account, b.) increase traffic and conversion for your brand, and c.) get people talking on other social networks. My brand is running a Pinterest contest targeted towards our customers who wear reading glasses to craft, style, and read. By offering audiences a chance to win $100 in gift cards, we’re giving customers an incentive to pin and discover products directly from our site. Incentives + cool contests = Pinterest gold.
4. Dedicate Yourself
Pinterest brand accounts take time to build. You can’t pin a bunch one day and wait a few days, weeks, or months to do it again. You have to keep pinning to stay on the radar and build brand trust—Pinterest users and owners are on to phony brand sites, and you’ll only hurt your Pinterest potential if you spam the site with your products. Pin your products every once in a while, pin new images from your blog, resources, and site once a day, and pin interests, cool ideas, and inspirations having nothing to do with your brand all the time.
Three Reasons why Ecommerce Solutions Fail to Become Profitable
Posted by PhilipD in Guest Posts, Technology on March 7, 2012
An online store front is a great idea for businesses who do not want to operate from a brick and mortar store and want to save on the associated expenses. More importantly, they are a cost effective way of running a business solely backed by a web presence. But, the problem here is that the failure rate amongst ecommerce solutions is extremely high. There are some that do very well, but there are others who fail.
The reason for their failure can be many, but one major inadequacy that leads to the failure of the ecommerce website is problems with its design. Here are three design centric reasons why ecommerce solutions fail to become profitable.
Design is unable to talk to the Visitor
Every website visitor who comes to an ecommerce website is a prospective customer. Now, in the absence of sales people who usually man the counters of traditional shops, it’s the design that needs to take up this role. The design and its various elements should play the role of salespeople and must be able to convince the user to buy the product or services available on the site. If the design is unable to do this, the site will be unable to generate the requisite revenue, leading to losses.
Design is not engaging
When a website visitor lands up on an ecommerce solution, he/she needs to be kept engaged. /This is only possible, if the design is interactive and intuitive. The design should encourage the visitor to spend more time on the website, which means there is more time to convince the visitor to choose from the products on the site. If this does not happen, visitors are bound to leave the site before they are entirely convinced of making a positive decision regarding the products and services provided by the ecommerce solution.
Design is not User Friendly
This is the crucial differentiating factor that separates the successful designs from the rest. The difference between profitability and loss is usability of the design. Ask any reputed website development firm about that one factor that defines a profitable ecommerce website and they will tell you that it is usability. The user should be able get the information that he/she wants quickly and effectively without any problems. If that happens they do not have to spend a lot of time on the website, searching for the products and services that they want to buy. A fact that is appreciated by online shoppers, but if they are made to spend valuable time searching for information related to the products and services because of a design that is complex and not user friendly, they do not buy products from such sites.
By taking into account these three reasons, it is possible to avoid cardinal errors in the design of ecommerce solutions, which in turn ensures profitability.
How Project Management Software Could Help Your Business Grow
Posted by sandy576 in Guest Posts, Other, Tips & Advice on March 2, 2012
Why are some small businesses continuing to grow during these slow economic times while others are failing? What does it take to keep established customers returning and attract the attention of new ones? The evidence points to excellent customer service as being the key to a thriving business. This means giving current customers the time and attention that they need to feel appreciated so they will recommend the company to other people looking for the same service. For a business to experience growth, the services and products offered must be of the highest quality, and product management software can provide the means to this end.
Growth Tools Provided by Project Management Software
Small businesses do not always have the manpower to support a rapid growth in customers. This can mean that customer service issues get lost in the day to day operations. The following processes offered by project management software can keep this from happening:
• Easy scheduling procedures that can be accessed for viewing by all employees
• Reusable templates for daily tasks, such as to do lists and milestones
• Time tracking for major responsibilities so that deadlines are met
• Real time communication avenues for team discussions
• Storage of background information for easy access by all team members
• Automated response systems to give important alerts or keep customers abreast of progress
All of these tools can make a project flow more smoothly by offering excellent communication, easy ways to share information and on-time delivery of services.
Reasons to Purchase Project Management Software
When considering ways to rapidly increase growth, small business owners should think about all of the assets offered by project management software. The following benefits are proof that these programs can be a great investment:
• It can save the cost of hiring additional employees.
• It can make budgeting for each assignment easier.
• It can enhance the organizational skills of team members.
• It can keep clients feeling informed and connected.
• It can make it simple to identify and resolve problems early.
• It is easily customized to match the needs of any business.
These assets can help a company reach new heights in customer growth and satisfaction.
The price of project management software has been declining as more companies offer good programs. Systems are now available in price ranges that make them affordable to businesses of all sizes. The most difficult part of the purchasing process may be deciding which features will be most valuable to your particular industry. Many online sites now offer comparative charts that will help business owners compare project management software, and some even offer a trial period. This ensures that businesses will get software that will augment their current procedures and lead to future growth.
7 Unique Ways to Earn Money on Twitter
Posted by Nikko Marasigan in Guest Posts, Make Money Blogging, Twitter on March 1, 2012
Twitter, the immensely popular social networking site which utilizes the SMS style of messaging, has become an important communication tool in modern society since it can relay information in real time. Thanks to its “retweet” function, messages are instantly forwarded to your followers.
Some people choose to use Twitter for gossip, such as passing around celebrity scoops and other compromising details. Others have used Twitter responsibly for worthwhile causes such as spreading information about relief goods in times of calamity. For personal use, there is a wide range of topics and famous Twitter users you can subscribe to. From personal advice, zodiac, machinery, music, politics, medicine, home D-I-Y and others, there is always someone on Twitter to follow.
In 140 characters or less, Twitter can become the medium you need to make extra money online. Before venturing there, learn the few prerequisites in order to make a lucrative career on Twitter:
- Improve your online persona. First of all, develop your personal branding. Take Steve Jobs as an example. The name “Steve Jobs” is far more popular than “Apple”. Steve Jobs’ personal branding is about a man who saved the company who fired him. His insights and business steps are of value to the public. Take notes of what is interesting about you, document and present your content creatively.
- Build solid relationships with trust marketing. Brand relationship building in Twitter is absolutely possible. Companies such as Starbucks respond to their customers. A good company responds quickly to inquiries sent to them. Here, feedback and criticisms as well as contact details can be documented for overall improvement. Keeping your followers in good terms with you builds follower loyalty.
- See things through a businessman’s eye. Integrate the businessman within if you’re aiming to earn money on Twitter. Using Twitter as a business application requires that you ask the right questions and post the right promotions. Instead of casually asking what are on other people’s minds, use Twitter to search trending topics, interests and fields. This way, you can have a clear map on your competitors and potential content that will satisfy your fans.
- Monetize your brand. Making money on Twitter takes time, patience and effort. Since this application has grown popular in epic proportions, some people have transcended the use of Twitter from a conversation tool, into a money making tool.
Now here are 7 tips on how to make money on Twitter
- Create an authority account and sell sponsored Tweets. Online marketers have taken advantage of Twitter’s popularity and the celebrities who use them. In collaboration with a famous person or group, online marketers employ celebrities to pitch in their products. It was said that Kim Kardashian earns $10,000 per endorsed Tweet. Check out Sponsored Tweets and Be a Magpie for more information.
- “Sell” your profile. Allow a third party advertiser to run their sponsored Tweets using your profile. Be careful with giving your profile away as your followers might think that you are running a “bot” (robot) account. Make sure to sell your profile to a representative whose content is of interest to you, and therefore complimentary to your account. See Twittad to learn more.
- Use indirect advertising. Talk as an “unofficial” endorser of a product. Go through the good points and have a little discussion with your followers. Unlike having endorsed Tweets as previously mentioned, this is about you making recommendations to your followers.
- Use URL shorteners. Shortened URLs are used to make your links easier to Share, Tweet and email to your friends. Other than that practical function, URL shortener websites can pay you money by using their service. Let’s say you have a potential viral video link, register it to one of these websites, have the URL shortened, and share away. You can earn up to 20% of recommendations and clicks. Linkbucks, ADFly and Ityim are some examples of link shorteners.
- Learn and harness the power of affiliate marketing. This happens when a user embeds his affiliate’s links along with his Tweets. For example, a well known guitarist answers his fan’s inquiry regarding what guitar is best for a certain genre. Celebrity guitarist then embeds a guitar website along with his response.
- Run a sponsored contest. Popular Twitter users can be employed by an advertiser to start Twitter contests in order to collect valuable feedback. For example a Twitter celebrity could be solicited to Tweet: “In 140 words or less, how do you find the experience of using Product A? Best Tweet gets a prize.
- Write reviews. With a wide group of followers or if you are a specialized licensed expert (again, with a wide following), you can now seek advertisers or promoters to get you to write paid reviews to share to your followers. Write reviews about things you properly understand so you can yield constructive output. Topics can range from celebrities, sports cars, software, music, gaming, etc.
Bonus:
Before embarking on your Twitter conquest, make sure you check these must-use Twitter tools out.
- Buffer: One day you surf the net and in a span of 2 hours, you find yourself wanting to Tweet all the twenty one websites that astounded you to the point of enlightenment. Buffer is the application you need so that you won’t come across your followers as a flooder. It records and documents all what you want to Tweet about and releases them in time, evenly. You can also check out your Tweet’s statistics on it too.
- Marketmesuite: Marketmesuite positions itself as a social media marketing dashboard for business. With this application, you can create reply campaigns that can send off an amount of responses or Tweets to your followers all at the same time. You can also work with other users of this application too via its multi-project framework
- Topsy: Topsy is a search engine specializing in Tweets. Topsy aims to measure your popularity objectively on how much a person would pay attention to your Tweets and take most of what you say seriously. Statistics, retweets and clicks can also be monitored via this app.
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