Archive of "Technology" Category
November 3, 2010
//
No Comments »
If you aren’t using some type of Web analytics and Web usability tool, you should be. Now we have new, free usability tools springing up that are worth checking out and running on your site, even as a test. The latest cool tool is called Youseeble, a brand-new Internet tool that lets you see your Web site the way your visitors do.
Do you have your most important content in the right place? What are your visitors (and potential customers) really looking at? What gets ignored?
Youseeable doesn’t really replace a comprehensive Web analytics tool (Google Analytics is one that you can use for free), but it does let you see how people interact with your Web site, which is really the name of the game these days. Here’s how it works:
- Youseeable records the activity of each visitor then creates three different “heat maps” that show where people go on your site
- The Interaction heat map shows where visitors go and what they ignore; the Attention heat map shows cursor movement; and the Visibility heat map shows what visitors actually see on your pages based screen resolutions and browser differences
- Just insert a couple of lines of segments of HTML code into all your pages, then create a test
- Youseeable also offers a playback function that lets you watch the actions of a real visitor
The real benefit to Youseeable is the ability to take your visitor numbers and actually understand them by looking at the behavior patterns. It’s free to try – all you need to get started is an email address and the ability to add the code onto your pages.
Today’s Web marketers must be relevant, real and responsive. Tools like Youseeable help you create and place content and design to keep visitors on the site and to give users the information and applications they are looking for in Web 3.0.
Posted in
Marketing, Resources, Small Business, Software, Technology
October 21, 2010
//
No Comments »
If you can’t get through a flight without a trip to Facebook or to check your email, then check out which fights offer in-flight Wi-Fi services with HasWiFi.com. While in-flight Wi-Fi is becoming more common, especially on longer flights, it’ not offered consistently and you may not know until you are on board or about to board whether or not you’ll be able to get connected during your flight.
So far, HasWiFi only offers fight information for six airlines:
- Airtran
- Alaska Airlines
- American
- Delta
- US Airways
- United
- Virgin America
Because airlines commonly switch out aircraft for scheduling changes, the HasWiFi system can’t be 100% accurate, but it’s still pretty helpful; and the sit even offers you the chance to give feedback on accuracy with a “You Tell Us” links to vote on whether or not the flight information was accurate.
The creator of HasWiFi, Anthony Petito, also plans to expand the listings with other carriers and also offer an Interface so that travel sites like Expedia.com can also search the database info for in-flight Wi-Fi.
Heard of SeatGuru? SeatGuru.com also provide Wi-Fi information, along with other details on particular flights like the arrangement and comfort of seats available. SeatGuru currently offers a larger database of carriers an flight information.
If you are going to get that report done while you are traveling, better make sure your boss isn’t checking up on you with HasWiFi!
Posted in
Resources, Small Business, Technology
October 8, 2010
//
No Comments »
Email is one of the quickest and least expensive ways to reach a target audience with a sales or marketing message and email marketing campaigns are more popular than ever. So why is the road map to creating a successful email marketing campaign still a secret? Many questions still need answered such as how can you stop bounce backs? What is the best time to send the email and what exactly is an opt-in form?
Professional marketing companies are reluctant to commit to the ‘formula’ for success, stating that too many variables exist to be able to give you a specific ‘how to’ guide.
Sure, there are a lot of variables, but there are some good basic guidelines you should follow as well. Here are five keys to email marketing success:
- Subject Line – It all starts (and may end) here. A good subject line should be short – 50 characters or less, and to the point. The main feature found in the body of the message should be noted in the subject line. Think about you subject line as if it is a newspaper headline. You want the reader to see it and want to read more.
- Message – The message should also be short and sweet and not full of marketing ‘spin’. Make sure that your offer is clearly spelled out and include a call to action. Use tactics to build trust rather than actually sell. The call to action could result in a direct sale, but more likely, you should try to drive the customer to go to your Web site or a campaign specific landing page, or call to set up an appointment.
- Design – Apply the basics of good marketing design first and then layer on the specific techniques for online marketing. The page should be clean and not cluttered. Check grammar and spelling. If you must use HTML code, apply it carefully and make sure it is error free. Test any links contained in the mail message.
- Understand SPAM – Use a double opt-in (users must verify information) and also allow the opt-out option. Good opt-in forms also help you gather good information, like a secondary email address, that can help cut down bounce backs. Test your content against some of the primary email platforms like Yahoo!, Hotmail, Gmail, and AOL. You may want to use an online content checker to see if your message comes across like SPAM. Also, most SPAM is sent in the early morning hours (between midnight and 4:00 AM), so don’t set your server to send messages overnight.
- Incentives – Offering an incentive is a great call to action. Try to determine what you want to accomplish from the message before determining the giveaway. Incentives are also based on the demographic – white papers and special reports are great for business people, but won’t interest teen consumers. Be careful of giving away expensive or trendy items (like an iPod or TV). If you have a high dollar gift, link it to setting and keeping a sales appointment.
Open rates (the customers who actually open the email) have improved as more and more people have transitioned into doing transactional business online. Experienced marketers can find rates of 20-25%, with lower rates attributed to direct sales message and a higher rates coming from e-newsletters or informational pieces. Following the five keys above can improve your open rate and your bounce back rate and get your message across to the people you really want to reach.
Posted in
Marketing, Small Business, Technology
September 20, 2010
//
No Comments »
Going green has surged into the computer market this past year. Hybrid computers are the “new” environmentally-friendly choice of computers, with its power-saving laptop components, use of recycled materials and minimal packaging. Dell has recently introduced The Studio Hybrid, which starts at $500 a unit (Dell Hybrid). It is a impact and Eco-friendly choice to make if you are in the market for a computer.
The many benefits of going for this type of computer is the simple fact, that when you don’t need the extra power as you would for high graphic websites, video games or editing, you can simply hit the power save button. Using minimal power, you are still able to surf the web, check email and use most office software without noticing any difference. This can be used effectively for email purposes, web surfing or using office documents. You save on power, heat and noise. Especially with a notebook, you want to preserve that battery life when you can.
Another piece of equipment to keep in mind when you are looking to cut cost on energy and to help out the environment, is the energy saving power strip. One particular model, The Smart Power Strip, offers power surge protection and line noise filtering, while being able to sense the flow of electrical current through the strip’s control outlet. So if your computer or printer has not been in use for a while, it will automatically power it down. Although a great idea, it is important to remember to save your work before leaving the computer idle.
Going green applies to much more than recycling and using re-usable bags these days. If you are in the market for a new computer, consider going green and purchasing a hybrid!
Posted in
Resources, Technology
September 3, 2010
//
No Comments »
If you host small online meetings or conferences, teach online or have any need to share content but don’t want to pay high prices, then you should check out the latest desktop sharing tool – Mikogo.
Mikago lets you share any screen content or application over the Internet with up to 10 users simultaneously. And it’s free for both commercial and private use! Here are some of the applications:
- Web conferences
- Online meetings
- Product demonstrations
- Web presentations
- Remote support
- Team projects
- Webinars
Mikogo comes from BeamYourScreen, who offers a number of Web collaboration solutions. Most of BeamYourScreen’s products are not free – they offer more sophisticated features like a greater number of participants (up to 25), an HTML viewer and live customer support. The free version is great for small, simple applications. All of Mikogo’s features work on a Windows platform – a number will also run on a MAC platform.
Here’s how Mikogo works:
- The organizer initiates a phone conference.
- The organizer starts a Mikogo session, gets a unique 9-digit session ID from the Mikogo server, and distributes the session ID to the participants.
- Participants open their Internet browser, go to www.mikogo.com, and click on “Join Session”. No installations or registrations required for the participants. They simply join the session by entering the session ID.
- A connection is instantly established, and the participants can view the organizer’s screen in real time via the Mikogo viewer window.
Download it here and give the application a try. It’s cool, it’s free and it’s available in several languages.
Posted in
Resources, Small Business, Software, Technology
July 17, 2010
//
No Comments »
Over the last few years technology has become one of the fastest evolving industries in the world. But, when you get something as popular as technology, you also have people taking advantage of it and abusing it – the wrong way. Texting and driving are one of the ways and it is very dangerous. You’ve heard it time and time again, “oh I was just answering a quick text”, or “oh that was someone important.” But, before you know it, you are in a fender bender.. or worse. If you wish there was some way around this for your own self, or if you have kids and you want them to be more safe and stop texting and driving, there is a solution!
Some people would suggest you just don’t text and drive at all, but some of you are obsessed with texting! You know who you are! If you have an smartphone you can download this free application called DriveSafe.ly. Phones that work with this app are Blackberry, iPhone, Android and Windows Mobile.
This app has a ton of features designed to keep you and your family safe car accidents. One of the main features is the ability to read and answer texts. The texts, when you receive them, will actually be read out loud to you. When you wish to reply you simply talk, send, and that’s it. This is going to cut down on accidents in a BIG way.
The activation is simple, it’s a one-step process, you can also add an optional auto-responder in case you do not want to or cannot answer the phone, and its 100% hands-free, absolutely no need to touch the phone while driving. The text and read and send to reply options are all real-time. There are other apps as well to listen to emails while driving which is superb for those of you who need to be on top of your business at all times, even in the car!
Posted in
Technology
June 10, 2010
//
No Comments »
If you have a Smartphone and you truly feel like you aren’t using it to its fullest, you are probably right! Most people that own Smartphones only use about half of what their real potential really is! In order to use your Smartphone to its fullest ability, one of the best things to do is get involved in some of the APPS available for your phone. Here are a few suggestions for your Android, Blackberry or iPhone:
- Get Free Turn-by-Turn GPS on an iPhone: When Google originally brought turn-by-turn GPS to the android phone, iPhone users were envious to say the least! In March, iPhone users gained their own app that allowed turn-by-turn GPS abilities courtesy of none other than MapQuest. You also have turn-by-turn with voice if you are an iPhone user with the MapQuest 4 Mobile app.
- Communicate with everyone using Fring: If you love Social sites like Myspace, Google Talk, AIM, and Twitter, you are going to love this app! It allows you to use the application as a hub which allows you to talk and use ONE place for all your Social sites rather than having to visit and use each one individually. HUGE time saver. Fring is available for iPhone, Android, and Nokia devices.
- Find Wi-Fi in Your Area: Apple might have cut wifi stumblers out of their own App store, but you can still turn to a variety of wifi directories, in this case JiWire’s Wi-Fi Finder. This Wifi finder has well over 280,000 hotspots in its directory!
- Compare Prices With ShopSavvy: You can find an array of APPS available that can turn your phone into a bar code scanner, but one of the best apps I have seen thus far that always allows you to do a price comparison is ShopSavvy. You can use these either at local stores or at stores online. You can also set up wish lists as well based on the prices of the scanned items. Pretty cool!
- Slip Away With Fake-A-Call: Sometimes when you are on the phone and having an awkward phone convo with someone, you just WISH someone would call in on the other line and interrupt. Well, now there is no more wishing with Fake-A-Call. This is a free app that lets you schedule or create a fake phone call. Just a fun little app to use.
Some of these apps available, besides the ones above, are for fun. Others are a little more serious – great for travel or business people. Either way, if you don’t use apps, you are definitely not getting the most out of your phone! Most all of the apps available are 100% free. Even if you find one you really like and its paid, chances are someone else offers the same thing for free so make sure you check different ones out.
Posted in
Technology
May 13, 2010
//
No Comments »
It seems that everyone is on Facebook or Twitter or someother social networking these days. Now there is something new! OnlyWire 3.0 is the latest, hottest content distribution and syndication tool on the Web. Onlywire lets you broadcast your content to top social networking sites with the click of just one button – it lets you boost traffic, save distribution time and accelerate the rate of your search engine rankings. According to OnlyWire, more than 100,000 publishers and blog sites use “The Button.”
Why we love it
OnlyWire gives you a Bookmark & Share button for your Web site or blog page that lets your visitors share your content with the world, simultaneously. You have options for both free and paid usage of Bookmark & Share. To have the Free button, all you have to do is keep the Bookmark & Share button placed prominently on the content/article sections of your website or blog. Just maintain that presence (OnlyWire checks) and make sure it is functional. That’s all that’s required!
You also have options to participate in special advertising from OnlyWire. All you have to do is visit their site and sign up.OnlyWire has developed 3.0 by getting user and client feedback through surveys and they also provide support for their users through blogs, Facebook, Twitter and email. They offer an iPhone app and they are also bringing API tools to your developers for integration into CMS environments.
If you are a blogger, developer, or manage your own fabulous Web site, take the hassle out of content distribution. Visit www.onlywire.com and get The Power of the Button™.
Posted in
Social Media, Technology
