WordUp v4.0
Monday, October 01, 2012
Welcome to the latest edition of WordUp! A lot has been going on at Wired Solutions over the last couple of months and we thought we would share with you some highlights. First, we would like to welcome our newest member to the Wired Solutions team! Shawna Pelletier joined us this week as our Business Development Manager. A graduate of both St. Clair College and the University of Windsor, Shawna also brings years of account management and business development experience with her. Welcome Shawna!
We’ve Moved!
In case you haven’t heard, we’ve also moved to our new office at 4520 Rhodes Drive suite 100! For all those thinking we wouldn’t be crazy enough to paint our walls bright yellow again, you were wrong! It’s always sunny here at Wired Solutions!
Go with The Flo
Over the summer, you may have noticed that we redeveloped our own website to incorporate new technology that we’ve coined as “Go with The Flo”. Quite simply, what this means is we have a system in place that will allow a website to reformat itself depending on whether you are looking at it on a laptop, tablet or smartphone. If you want to see a pretty cool demo of this, check out the screencast that we made that demos how this works: [Video]
What’s really cool about “Go with The Flo” is that it can be plugged into existing websites, as well as new ones. So, even if you are happy with your existing website, we can make it a Flo website by extending it into tablet and mobile views. Want more information about this? Contact us and we can go over this in more detail.
Successful Prototype Unveiling in Winnipeg!
As many of you know, we were selected by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, to develop a web-based language testing application for foreign trained teachers. The team worked very hard to put together a working prototype for a sub-committee meeting in Winnipeg, Manitoba. We are very happy to report that the subcommittee was very impressed with our software, and got kudos from teacher certification Registrars from all over the country, and also a thumbs up from Manitoba’s Minister of Education! The project continues and we are working diligently to meet our completion date of January 2013.
Ontario Ministry of Education
In addition to working on getting the language competency software developed, we have officially rolled out XpressLab to schools all across Ontario through a contract awarded to us by the Ministry of Education. We’ve also developed a new web based tool for teachers to publish their courses to the learning management system through a separate contract awarded to Wired Solutions by the Ministry. In all, we’ve now developed 5 major software packages for the Ministry that are used on a daily basis to either teach students, develop learning content or manage how students are assigned to courses throughout the province. We are very proud of that!
More Projects!
Aside from our larger web-based software projects for the government, we’ve also been working through some smaller but no less exciting projects for local businesses and agencies across North America. Some of the other projects we are working on include:
- New Websites for: Ducharme Fox Law Firm, Martindale Windows, Mayville Immigration, Pet Kind, Town of Amherstburg Recreation Dept, Telesearch, Corporate Comfort, Langsura, Jason Campbell - Sterling Mutuals and OnCall Computer Service.
- Software Development For: Motorsport Insurance Group, Town of Amherstburg, Windsor Essex Health Unit, Songwriters Association of Canada, Ministry of Education, and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada.
We definitely have a lot on the go, but our well oiled team likes to be busy! If you have a project in mind, don’t be shy to visit our website and click the Get a Quote! button (top right of window) so we can go over your needs.
With so much on the go, we are always looking for new team members! So, if you know someone who salivates when they see code, tell them to email their resume to sharbel@wiredsolutions.ca
Drop us a line to give us your thoughts – and thanks for reading.
Wired Solutions – since 1998 – if it’s on the web, we do it!
WordUp v3.9
Sunday, July 01, 2012
Hello again to all our loyal readers. Welcome to the latest edition of Word Up!
Right off the bat, we’d like to welcome the newest member of our team. Yes, Wired Solutions has grown again. A big welcome to Lukas Hlavacka. Originally hailing from Slovakia (Bratislava) this Canadian newcomer has a master’s degree in business informatics, and has previously worked on several projects back home, including pilot implementation of radio-frequency identification (RFID) in the Slovak National Museum. He lists his hobbies as computers, photography and traveling.
The staff made sure to give Lukas a warm welcome upon his arrival – maybe a little too warm for his liking. Turns out our air conditioning was out that day, and the office temp hit 88 degrees F in the early afternoon. Trooper that he is, Lukas was one of the last people standing before joining the rest of the staff in departing around 2 p.m. We’ve all heard of, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” We’re now applying that same adage to “cubicle” as well. Welcome again, Lukas. We’re happy to have you on the team.
In other news . . . we’re currently juggling several projects (as per usual). Among them? A website redesign and redevelopment for Request Realty; implementing our Wired Solutions content management system (CMS) for Martindale Windows; continued expansion of the site for Applied Process; and, adding enterprise grade reporting for Motorsport Insurance (as well generally making the interface easier to use).
Team Wired is also hard at work on projects involving Union Water in Kingsville; Corporate Comfort - and - a new start-up venture known as Telesearch. In addition, we’ve also been redeveloping our own in-house Wired Manager, the system the entire staff utilizes to keep track of our various projects.
We’re also keeping our fingers-crossed on what could be more big announcements ahead, hot on the heels of last month’s big federal and provincial contracts. Stay tuned.
Elsewhere, we’re inviting all within earshot to join us on all of our social media sites. You never know what will turn up next as a topic – and everyone is welcome to participate in the conversation. You can find us on Facebook http://goo.gl/s144x; LinkedIn http://goo.gl/UVxXF; Google+ http://goo.gl/ntTW3; and even Pinterest http://goo.gl/bqxUj.
Some of the recent highlights? Besides having some fun with our current and previously-mentioned, ahem, “office climate challenges,” https://www.facebook.com/159700600719024/posts/421231854565896, we also had a discussion prompted by the question - Is Facebook a passing fad? So say the half the Americans polled in a recent Associated Press-CNBC poll. This, despite the fact that 40% of those same Americans log-in at least once each and every week! So, what do you think? How do you see the future of Facebook unfolding?
Whatever the case, even if Facebook were to fall, some other social media setting would emerge to take its place – it is just a matter of what. The most-recent numbers related to social media bear this out, as its collective growth is staggering. Read all about it in this month’s feature article, “Social Media No Passing Fad,” written by Mike Michalski of Wired Solutions. http://www.wiredsolutions.ca/Article/Details/socia_media_no_passing_fad
Finally - don’t forget about our ongoing custom mobile website promotion. There’s never been a better time to join the mobile movement! Visit www.MakeItMo.com NOW or call 519-250-7786 and find out all the exciting details on how your business or organization can make more money in mobile, with packages starting at only $499.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading. See you next month for the next issue of Word Up!
Drop us a line to give us your thoughts – and thanks for reading. Wired Solutions – since 1998 – if it’s on the web, we do it!
continue readingWordUp v3.8
Friday, June 01, 2012
Welcome to another edition of the Wired Solutions newsletter, Word Up! Plenty of happenings to report so let’s get started . . .
First off, we would like to welcome a new addition to our workplace – Ryan MacVoy. A graduate of Fanshawe College, Ryan performed co-ops at both Essex Energy and Canada Revenue Agency (where, respectively, he not only worked as software developer with ASP.NET and Sharepoint applications, but later, was a team leader in providing maintenance and support for CRA Auditor software across Canada). He enjoys playing electric guitar; watching Anime; playing Magic: The Gathering and dabbling in video game development. Wired Solutions grows again - welcome aboard, Ryan!
Our expansion isn’t stopping there, however – we’re still looking for another programmer. Are you an experienced ASP. NET / C# Developer – or know someone who is? We're hiring! For full details, please visit wiredsolutions.ca/Job/Details/aspnetdeveloper.
Elsewhere . . . our “Join the mobile movement!” campaign is officially underway. Did you know that by 2013, mobile phones will overtake PCs as the most common Web device the world over? That means more people will soon be searching for your site on their phone than their computer. It’s true. Even more alarming? Many people still do not realize that websites made for desktops simply do not work the same on a phone (if they work at all).
So why hasn’t your business or organization ordered a custom mobile website from Wired Solutions yet?
There really is no better time than now, especially with our special introductory pricing package of only $799 (for full details, please call us at 519-250-7786).
For more information on the mobile movement, visit www.MakeItMo.com, and, have a peek at our newest print advertisement featured inside this month’s Biz X Magazine. In addition, we also present this month’s feature article: “Stats: Shoppers & Smartphones by Wired Solutions’ Mike Michalski. We're sure you will find some of the facts downright shocking.
Join the mobile movement! Don’t let your business get left behind.
In other Wired Solutions’ developments . . . we are proud to announce we have completed a new project for E-Learning Ontario, a learning object repository application that ties in with our course writing software. We’re also working on a new application for E-Learning Ontario that will ease migrations of courseware to their learning management system, in addition to helping Motorsport Insurance Group with their custom policy software.
Team Wired also recently completed a contest engine for the Windsor Essex Health Unit that enables marketing staff to plug-in brandable social contests into any of their websites – and – we have also launched new sites for several new clients, including The Toy Box, Moray Dive and Turf Care Property Maintenance. Welcome aboard, one and all.
Finally – did you happen to catch Wired Solutions in the news? Our recently-signed education-related contracts with the federal and provincial government earned coverage on CTV News-Windsor; AM800 and in The Windsor Star. In addition, we also were featured on the WEtech website; OurWindsor.ca and Windsorite.ca. So nice to see the media recognizing the significance of the deals for Wired Solutions. We could not be more excited to have earned the contracts and are enjoying working on each project. Education-based endeavors truly make our line of work even more rewarding.
Don't forget to click here to read this month's feature article, Shoppers and Smartphones.
Drop us a line to give us your thoughts – and thanks for reading. Wired Solutions – since 1998 – if it’s on the web, we do it!
continue readingWordUp v3.7
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Welcome again to another edition of Word Up! It’s been a period of tremendous productivity and growth here at Wired Solutions, with a number of different projects going live - and plenty of exciting announcements we can’t wait to share - but first . . .
NEW ARRIVALS
The Wired Solutions family has grown by two since our last newsletter – one here in the office, and one within our extended family. In-house, we would like to extend a very warm welcome to Sarah Smitherman (our newest designer). Sarah – a painter, furniture designer and bass player in her spare time – joined the team in January. She will be filling in for Tamara Hayes, who is responsible for our other new addition, namely, baby Adria Zophia who entered the world on January 15th. Congratulations to Tamara and husband Rob – and welcome to the world, baby Adria Zophia!
LATEST PROJECTS
Now, on to some of our work-related announcements. First up, an education-based endeavour developed by our talented team that has already gone live: XpressLab - an e-learning software package that both students and teachers agree is both fun and effective. This online platform is the brain-child of linguistics specialist Dr. Janet Flewelling, who developed it from the ground-up along with Wired Solutions. XpressLab can be tailored to fit any subject at any grade level. Visit XpressLab.com for more.
In fact, it was XpressLab's versatility that led into our latest project - news of which we are still buzzing over. Wired Solutions has recently been selected by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) to develop a National language assessment web-app to test foreign teachers. Using XpressLab, the software will help integrate newcomers trained overseas into the Canadian labour market. All of us at Wired Solutions are excited (and proud) to have landed this assignment, and look forward to getting underway in the days ahead.
Other new additions to our live client list include Home Life Apartments; Seaton Sunrooms; Martindale Windows; Clairmont Financial; Parkside Landscaping; Fratelli Pasta Grill and Reko International Group Inc.. Welcome to one and all.
Wired Solutions also conducted a 3rd party accessibility audit for the Military Police Complaints Commission, a federal agency in Ottawa. We inspected pages to make sure they comply with new accessibility standards (more on WAI in our feature article, referenced below) and helped them achieve a 100% compliance rating. Congrats to MPCC!
SOCIAL SPEAK
Elsewhere, Wired Solutions has been spreading our social butterfly wings as well, so-to-speak. We’re now on Google+. Simply search +Wired Solutions (or, click here) and join our “circle” today. Likewise, you’re also invited to follow us on Twitter @wiredtweets, and, at Facebook.com/WiredSolutions. Don’t forget to click ‘Like’ to get all our latest information. Plus, we have exclusive offers available through each different social platform!
We update all our social sites daily with various bits of industry news, views and helpful other related content - and enjoy your interaction! For those already part of our social circle, don’t be shy to comment on things we post, maybe ask a question, or, just say hello once in a while. We appreciate your participation.
CUSTOM MOBILE WEBSITES? YES, WE DO!
Last but not least – have you checked out our latest campaign at makeitmo.com? Mobile internet is changing the way the world does business. This is your chance to see firsthand how your website stacks up within this ever-evolving, on-the-go landscape. If your website is like 98% of those out there, your business is NOT ready for this brave, new world: you need a custom mobile upgrade from Wired Solutions! See for yourself at makeitmo.com today.
WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL
We leave you now with a preview of our latest feature article, “WCAG and Accessibility,” by our SMM/SEO Manager, Mike Michalski.
Web accessibility is something all users should share. The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are looking to achieve this through the adoption of specific web standards. Wired Solutions takes you beyond the acronyms for an explanation, tells you why accessibility is so important, and how your organization may be affected. Click here for the full article.
Drop us a line to give us your thoughts – and thanks for reading. Wired Solutions – since 1998 – if it’s on the web, we do it!
continue readingWordUp v3.6
Sunday, April 01, 2012
Attention! Attention! This is not a drill! Welcome to another edition to Word Up! It’s been a while since our last edition (sorry! We’ve been busy – honest!) so let’s get right to all the news that’s fit to print...
First off, we have had several projects “go live” during the last few months, including sites for Go for Health Windsor-Essex; Chapman Gordon Gardin Stewart; Expert Electrical Solutions; Lasalle Lawn Equipment and MBSP LLP – all designed and developed in-house, using our dead-simple content management system (CMS). Told you we were busy! Props to our design and development teams for their hard work.
Wired Solutions is also proud to unveil our collaborative effort with the Ontario Ministry of Education. It involves an online learning, seat reservation system for students across the province. We even got a little press out of it!
Speaking of press, we’ve added another member to our ranks – one that may even be familiar to you from his time reporting on-air with /A\ News. Wired Solutions is pleased to welcome Michael Michalski as our Social Media Marketing Manager. Michael has a diverse media and marketing background, including time spent in print, broadcast and web-based journalism. Welcome aboard, Mike!
Finally, please remember to head on over to our Facebook page and click the “Like” button. We also invite you to participate in (and share with friends) our newest feature – the question of the day. Life can get pretty serious – our questions won’t. We promise. You also never know what kind of answers people will leave, so spend a few minutes with us over on Facebook each and every day.
In the meantime, enjoy our newest article about the whole notion of being in the 'Post PC Era' where desktop and notebook computers are a thing of the past. Don’t be shy to share you thoughts with us afterwards!
WordUp v3.5
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
We would like to begin this version of WordUp! by welcoming our newest designer to join our team. Jason Erina joined our team earlier this month and we’ve been keeping him busy getting him up to speed on our work flow process as well our internal frameworks. His head didn’t explode after the first few days, so I think he just might make it! Kidding aside, Jason brings with him expertise in web-design, CSS and JQuery so he is fitting in very nicely with the entire team!
Speaking of the team... Yes, you guessed it, they are busy! The proverbial ‘calm before the storm’ happened a couple months ago just as we were wrapping up our latest release of WiredCMS. Since then, we’ve been fighting to keep up with the various projects that have been coming in. Thankfully with the help of Wired Manager, our project management software, we are able to keep track of what needs to be done and who needs to be working on what.
Please visit our Facebook page and remember to click the 'Like' button!
‘In The Cloud’ - What Does it Mean and Should I Care?
by Sharbel Lutfallah
When I was a kid, my 4th grade teacher used to always say “Get your head out of the clouds!”. True, I was daydreaming but I bet Mrs. Rinched probably never imagined that only a few years (ok 29 years) later, ‘The Cloud’ would be where every ones head should be.
What is ‘The Cloud’
The cloud can really be a few things. At it’s core, it’s some kind of hosted service that is brought to the end user via the Internet. Now, most end-users are going to think of Internet based services as software that runs from the Internet that you can run in your browser, and that is technically correct. However, in the context of cloud computing, services stretch beyond just software. Here is a quick break down of some services:
- Software As a Service (SaaS): Probably the first thing you think of when you think of a service being delivered through the Internet. Some examples would be Google Documents, Groove Shark’s music streaming, or Dropbox’s file service. All of these services run within your browser and store all files and data on their servers ‘in the cloud’.
- Infrastructure As a Service (IaaS): Now we get geeky... This is really where I first heard about cloud computing. IaaS basically allows companies to instance virtual servers to run applications or services using a ‘pay what you use’ model. I know most people’s eyes just glazed right over so I will try to explain it a little better. Let’s say you have a very busy website, and you are expecting to get some national press for a particular product you sell. Setting up your web server in a cloud environment will allow you to ‘expand’ to other servers very easily if demand on your website becomes great. Also with cloud storage, you can store your company’s files in the cloud and never worry about back-ups or data loss. Amazon is probably the best known provider of IaaS but several players are entering the market, most notably Microsoft and Google.
- Platform As a Service (PaaS): Have you ever used an online application that directly tied in with your Google Calender? Or maybe a program that ties into your Salesforce.com database? These programs utilize what is known as an API (application programming interface) that allows them to ‘talk’ to cloud services like Google Apps or Salesforce.com. As a business owner, you should pay special attention to this type of cloud service as I guarantee in the next couple years it will be an integral part of your company’s day to day operation.
So, now we know the basic services that exist in the cloud, the question is how does it affect ‘regular’ business owners? I think the answer to this is a one word answer: profoundly.
The Cloud Will Profoundly Change How Your Business Operates.
Pretty bold statement isn’t it? Believe me, I don’t throw those statements around loosely but I think we are at the cusp of a migration from local infrastructure, local software, and local storage and into an age where everything is ran and stored off-site in the cloud. I am not talking about email programs or YouTube videos, things that we are used to accessing through a web-browser, I am talking about word processing documents and even accounting software. Heck, Groove Shark and most recently Amazon, will even allow you to store your music on their servers and stream it on any device you want for free. No need to obsess about back-ups or worry about data loss, its all done for you. No need to download and install the latest version of your favorite programs, they are updated automatically from where you run them.
Google has a prototype laptop that is 100% cloud based. This slick device runs the Chrome browser as it’s operating system, and runs all the apps through it. Absolutely nothing is stored on the machine, everything is ran and stored in the cloud. As someone who grew up typing in machine language code into a TI-99 all day to play a game when I was a kid, I find it amazing that we will soon have production computers that will never need anything installed on them. Whats more, as a business owner, I am yearning for the day where I don’t have to worry about data loss and worry about if backups are happening.
But Will All This Cloud Stuff Save Me Money?
Now we are getting down to business. Lets face it, as a business owner the bottom line is probably at the top of the list of importance. Will all this cloud stuff save you money? Short answer, nobody knows yet because really this is emerging technology. I think hard costs in the long run will be about the same, however I think productivity and management savings will definitely be there. Also, because most cloud services are based on recurring monthly fees, the initial outlay of capital to buy software and servers are spread out. Of course this could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the service and it’s pricing. However, I do feel that as time goes on, competition will surely increase which, as always, will drive up feature offerings and reduce costs.
Lesson Learned!
Cloud computing is a buzz word that you will surely hear over and over for the next foreseeable future. I really do think that this is going to transform most company’s work-flows to a point where pulling out a CD or DVD to install software will be a thing of the past. I think it’s a given that the change will be gradual, but I do feel it will be inevitable. If you have any questions regarding this or anything else, feel free to send me an email at sharbel@wiredsolutions.ca or call me at 519-250-7786 ext 200 / toll free 1-877-549-4733 ext 200.
* Sharbel Lutfallah is the lead developer at Wired Solutions, and has been a web-developer since 1998.
continue reading
WordUp v3.4
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
The team at Wired Solutions would like to welcome Brandy Vaillancourt as the newest member of our team! Brandy has joined Wired Solutions as a Sales Representative, and we are all super excited to have her aboard. Welcome Brandy!
As always, we’ve been busy getting our clients’ websites completed as well as continuing our development of WiredCMS, which is now in use by several websites. We are very happy with the feedback we have gotten! People are reporting they can easily edit their website content, and are very happy with how simple it is to fully manage their website. Kudos to the team for doing such a great job!
Please visit our Facebook page and remember to click the 'Like' button!
Social Media Marketing, small business primer.
by Sharbel Lutfallah
If you own a small or medium size business, chances are you’ve heard about Social Media Marketing (SMM) but never understood what it really encompasses. In this article, I am going to break down exactly what it means, and give you some ideas on how you can leverage social media to help promote your website for very little money.
Admit it, you don’t even know what it means...
Don’t worry, a lot of people don’t know what Social Media Marketing is either, especially business owners who are busy running their company. Simply put, Social Media Marketing means using social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to generate buzz about your company. So, if your company has a Facebook page, or if you have product videos that you have on YouTube, generating discussions with people linking to it, you are already participating in a form of SMM! In fact, you’d be surprised how active your company may already be in what is considered SMM. For example, does your company have a blog? Or how about specials that you post to a mailing list or through your Facebook page? Those are all considered Social Media Marketing, and it’s something that a lot of companies are doing right now.
Where to get started.
The great thing about social media is that for the most part, getting started is free. Creating a Facebook page or a Twitter account doesn’t cost you a dime. You can start a Facebook page in minutes, start plugging in updates and begin communicating with your audience. Well, not really. The great thing about social media is that the user has control over what they see, and more importantly who sees them. So how do you get people to start seeing your page? Like everything social, you start with your friends! Invite your friends to your page, and have them invite their friends as well. That will only get you so far, so you need to actively work to get more people to ‘Like’ your page. Here are some ideas:
- Write consistent, engaging posts that people enjoy reading.
- Integrate plug-ins with your website so visitors can Like you right from your website.
- Put a link to your Facebook page in your email signature.
- Use Facebook ads to get people to become a fan.
- Put a sign at your sales counter. You’d be surprised how many customers will remember to look you up.
OK I have a following, now what?
Fortunately, this is the fun part. You now have people following your company, either on Facebook or maybe Twitter. What you need to do now is keep them interested. How? Well, that’s where your creativity comes in. Remember, you want to engage your fan-base. You don’t want to notify them, you want to facilitate a conversation with them. You want them to read/watch what you post, then comment on it as well as share with their friends, so that they in turn can share it with their friends. So think of some creative things that you can share with your audience to get them to interact with what you post, and hopefully share with their friends. Here are some ideas:
- Post something that ends with a question. For example, “I love to wake up early and workout before everyone else wakes up. It makes me feel energized, and gives me a great start to my day. What is your favorite time to work out?”
- Acknowledge your active fans. Mention them by name, it goes a long way in creating loyal audiences.
- Post ‘Fan Only’ promotions and encourage your fans to share it with their friends as well. Offer them an incentive, and encourage them to interact!
- Post casual pictures of the daily life in your company. Again, you want to engage your audience, spur discussions, make them feel like they know you!
- Offer ongoing updates on new products and services that are not yet available. Build buzz around upcoming products and service offerings to your followers. By the time you are ready to bring your product/service to market, you already have educated customers.
Next steps... going viral!.
Of course the above are real simple, cost effective ideas that everyone should be doing. Once you are doing the ‘regular’ stuff, you can then start thinking of some real interesting campaigns that will hopefully go viral. Ever watch the Coke and Mentos videos where they create fountains of exploding Coke by adding Mentos to the bottles? Or maybe the ‘Will It Blend’ series where the blender manufacturer shows videos of their blender blending things you would have never thought of! These types of campaigns do not require huge budgets to get off the ground, they just need creativity. Think of things that your company can create that will hopefully get shared, and re-shared over and over again to build brand recognition and increase your fan-base!
Lesson Learned!
Social Media Marketing is certainly a buzzword that is thrown around quite a bit. A lot of companies are already involved in some form of Social Media Marketing, so it’s just a matter of building a plan to expand your efforts then actually implement it. If you have any questions regarding this or anything else, feel free to send me an email at sharbel@wiredsolutions.ca or call me at 519-250-7786 ext 200 / toll free 1-877-549-4733 ext 200.
* Sharbel Lutfallah is the lead developer at Wired Solutions, and has been a web-developer since 1998.
continue readingWordUp v3.3
Saturday, January 01, 2011
January has been a very busy month for the team here at Wired Solutions. From the slew of brochure websites to the four custom development projects on the go, the team has been putting in overtime trying to keep things on schedule! In other breaking news, the top level of our parking garage is finally complete and we are able to park there! Now the team doesn’t have to freeze their fannies off walking to the office!
Please visit our Facebook page and remember to click the 'Like' button!
Gradually Adding Website Content
by Sharbel Lutfallah
Over the years of being a web developer, I have seen quite a few different approaches to content development when a company launches a website. Some companies do the basic brochure website content plan with your requisite 'About Us' and 'Company History' pages, while others go the extra mile with extended content pages that describe facets of their products and services. Whether they have five pages or fifty to start, a very common paradigm is to write all the website content at once, then never touch it again. Having a website with content that only changes with big updates is common, but it's a terrible approach to content development for a website!
But my products and services don't change!
Yes, I realize that most businesses do not launch new products or services often, or even ever, but that doesn't mean that content should not be added to the website often. For example, a criminal lawyer might argue (go figure!), that he only needs to have basic information about his specialty. Three or four pages describing who he is, what he has done, and how to get a hold of him. Sounds reasonable since it's really the most important information that a visitor will be looking for. However, that same lawyer might wonder why his website doesn't show up when someone searches for 'criminal lawyer in {his city}'. The answer, more often than not, is the website doesn't have enough fresh, relevant content. Notice the word fresh? Search engines give higher rankings to websites that are updated often with relevant content. The logic is that people usually want up to date content when searching, so giving higher rank to a site that is constantly adding new content makes sense.
But I don't have anything to write about
Nonsense! There is always something that can be added to your website. For example, a construction company can keep a constantly updated photo gallery. Or going back to the criminal lawyer, he can maintain an updated news page of relevant happenings within the law, as well as their prominent cases. Nobody is saying that they have to be huge articles that take up hours of your precious time. Even a few news items added a month is great! Over time, you will build a very good content base for your visitors to be engaged in. Believe me, people notice when you have a website with good content that has been added over the years. It's a great credibility builder for new clients.
But I don't know HTPL or whatever you call it
There was a time when updating websites was something only the geeks could do. Updating a page involved retrieving the file from the server, making changes to the HTML, then re-uploading it back to the server. Not the most friendly work flow for people who are not technically proficient. Things are much different now though. Updating a page is as easy as updating a Word document in Office. You don't need to know how to program HTML, fiddle with FTP or wait for your 'web guy' to make the changes for you. The actual task of adding the content is really trivial nowadays.
Lesson Learned!
Constantly adding content to your website is a great way to build an information base for your users that is up to date and relevant to your business. It will also provide a boost to your search engine rankings because your site will not be considered stale content by the engines. If your website is not equipped with a content manager, give me a call or email me to go over our Wired CMS content manager which will enable you to update your website content quickly and easily.
If you have any questions regarding this or anything else, feel free to send me an email at sharbel@wiredsolutions.ca or call me at 519-250-7786 ext 200 / toll free 1-877-549-4733 ext 200.
* Sharbel Lutfallah is the lead developer at Wired Solutions, and has been a web-developer since 1998.
continue readingWordUp v3.2
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
As the holidays approach and 2010 makes way for 2011, the staff at Wired Solutions would like to take this opportunity to say Happy Holidays! It's always interesting at Wired Solutions, and this year was no exception. From the dozens of successful websites and applications deployed this year, to our parking garage collapsing and making it on to CNN, it's been a really great year! I am sure 2011 will be just as exciting as 2010. I just hope our cars don't get crushed in all the excitement!
If you haven't already, take a look at our 2010 Holiday Card. Oh, and don't forget to 'Like' us on our Facebook page!
10 Things You Should Ask Your Web-Developer
by Sharbel Lutfallah
1. Where is your portfolio
Never, ever, hire a web-developer that does not have an online portfolio. You need to be able to see a good selection of their work to get a feel if the developer is competent, and their design/development style is a good fit for you. The portfolio should have a description of what the developer did, as well as a link to the live website. Again, be very weary of a web-developer that does not showcase their work. What are they hiding anyway?
2. Can I email/call your clients for a reference?
Hearing the opinions and comments of other companies that have developed websites with your developer is a fantastic way to gauge if the web-developer is a good fit for your company. Realistically, it might be better to just randomly contact their clients from their portfolio and ask them how the web-developer performed rather than asking the developer for a list.
3. Is the design custom or is it a template?
One of the most important questions you need to ask your developer is if the design will be custom designed or if you will simply pick a design out of a group of templates. Plugging your logo into a pre-made template very rarely results in a unified, cohesive representation of your brand. Only a custom designed website can represent your brand properly. Don't settle for anything less!
4. Can I request custom features?
Unless your needs are very basic, you are going to need some custom elements worked into your website. If your web-developer does not have a person on staff with the proper programming skills, your super-cool idea for the site will quickly turn into a clunky, error prone disaster. Make sure your developer has sufficient experience in creating custom functionality and make sure there is a proper planning and testing cycle included in any custom work.
5. Will a team work on my website?
I've seen a lot of programmers who try to be designers, and I've seen a lot of designers who try to be programmers. Most of the time, the result is sub-par, to say the least. Modern day web-development requires a designer, programmer and preferably a web-marketing specialist all working together to come up with a professional website. If someone claims they can do all of the above, refer to their portfolio, I guarantee you 'something will give'.
6. Will the pages be hand-coded?
Ask your developer if they will hand code the HTML code that marks up your web-pages. If they are not hand-coding their HTML and not using Cascading Style Sheets for their layouts, consider that an indication that they are not a professional grade developer.
7. Can I add and edit my own content?
Your web-developer should have an option for you to edit your own content through a secured Content Management System (CMS). Choosing the right CMS is out of the scope of this discussion, but if your developer does not at least offer a way for you to edit your own pages it's usually an indication that the web-developer doesn't have sufficient technical capabilities to plug-in their design to a CMS.
8. Will the site be accessible?
Ask your developer if accessibility standards and guidelines will be followed when developing the website. It won't just be people with color monitors, keyboards, and mice who will need to use your website. Alternate browsers for people with disabilities need to be part of the development consideration. If your site receives any type of government funding, this will soon be mandatory, and novice developers will just not be knowledgeable enough to ensure the site is accessible.
9. Can my site be viewed by mobile devices?
Designing a website to look good in traditional desktop browsers such as Firefox, Safari, Chrome and Internet Explorer has typically been the biggest concern when developing a website. More and more however, mobile device browsing is becoming a major consideration and it needs to be discussed before the project starts. Whether the plan is to just ensure the website looks acceptable on mobile devices, or to create full mobile version of the website, a mobile plan needs to be agreed on.
10. How will my site be found once it's developed?
Search engine optimization (SEO) shouldn't necessarily be included in the development of your website, but a plan should. You need to make sure your web-developer at least knows the basics of SEO and that the web-page coding is conducive to search engine crawlers. Ask the prospective developer how they will plan for SEO, and if they don't have a plan, be very concerned.
Lesson Learned!
Asking your web-developer these ten questions will quickly give you an idea of their competency. A website is a major investment in your company's marketing. Do your research and be sure to check out the company you are entrusting your web-development to.
If you have any questions regarding this or anything else, feel free to send me an email at sharbel@wiredsolutions.ca or call me at 519-250-7786 ext 200 / toll free 1-877-549-4733 ext 200.
* Sharbel Lutfallah is the lead developer at Wired Solutions, and has been a web-developer since 1998.
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Monday, November 01, 2010
November 2010
We are rolling up our sleeves and getting ready for the Holiday season, here at Wired Solutions. Yup, trimming the tree, hanging the stockings, and debugging web applications. You know, all the usual holiday preparations.
This month we bid a farewell to Project Manager, Stacey Hayes. Stacey has accepted a position with Chrysler and will be leaving the Wired Solutions team. She will be missed, but we wish her all the best in her career.
On a lighter note, we’d like to offer an official welcome to Shammy! He is the newest developer to join our team.
Social Media Marketing
We have a lot of clients asking us about using Social Media to market their products or business. They want to know how to make it work for them, and with good reason; over 3 million people a day login to Facebook alone.
The first thing you need to understand about social media is that it is a tool. Just like a television commercial, a newspaper ad or a flyer that you hang up. To use social media marketing to its fullest potential, you first need a great idea and then you need to use the proper tools to get your message out there. Let’s look at some social media marketing ideas that have hit the mark using this new medium to its fullest potential.
The Pepsi Refresh Project
This is a classic example of a brilliant marketing idea that uses social media as a tool to run the campaign. Pepsi chose to use a charitable giving campaign that would let the world decide where the money would go. Anybody could submit an idea that would have a positive impact on their community. Once ideas were accepted, people would vote on the ideas. There would be 4 levels of winners, in 6 different categories, and people could vote up to 10 times a day. Why was this so smart? Users would vote using Facebook, and of course every time they voted, a post would go up on the users’ wall, so all their friends would also see it. This is the epitome of viral marketing.
The Old Spice Guy
This is one of the most popular social media campaigns to have hit the net. Old Spice hired former NFL football player Isaiah Mustafa to star in a series of You Tube commercials that responded to questions from Twitter followers and Facebook fans, live. The response translated into over 30 million views on You Tube, 120,000 Twitter followers, 675,000 Facebook fans, and sky rocketing sales for Old Spice. Why was the campaign so smart? They chose the perfect guy to talk to the Old Spice audience in a frank way that made viewers laugh, and cry. They used social media as the perfect medium to get the messages out and gave users the ability to make it viral.
These are just two well known examples of using social media as a community forming, interactive platform to get a message out. There are plenty of businesses, both big and small, promoting themselves on Facebook, participating in Groupon offers, or giving their Foursquare Mayors freebies. (If the terms above make your head spin, contact us. We can help you.) They are using social media in a way that best fits their business. It’s something we recommend to all our clients that are interested in expanding their online presence.
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Lesson Learned!In most cases today, using the web’s interactivity, community-building capacity, and the ability to specialize local offers, is smart. However, it’s important to understand the media and how it works. Understand the benefits and draw backs, and remember that your social media marketing is first and foremost, marketing. You need a great idea that will hit a chord with your target audience. There are more and more options everyday for social media outlets, depending on your business, goals and budget. Choose wisely. Stay tuned to future editions of Word Up! as we explore various aspects of social media options, features and trends. |
- Cookies! - Did you ever wonder why cookies that are stored on your computer are called “cookies”? Because geeks invented them and geeks love cookies!
- Teascapes Earl Grey Vanilla Almond - Geeks like to stay up late, and love their caffeine, so they will be sure to love this tea from Teascapes. Pairs great with cookies.
- Magic Wand Programmable TV Remote - TV remote looks just like a wizard's wand!
- Wine Sock Monkey Bottle Cover - Geeks have a soft spot for sock monkeys, probably because they are such low maintenance pets!
- Abyss LED Touchscreen Watch - Come on... who wouldn't want a touchscreen watch?
- App magnets - They look like your apps, but they are magnets. For your fridge and stuff. 18 different magnets per set.
- Universal Gadget Wrist Charger - Wristband battery charger will charge your device while you use it! Great for extending the battery life of your handheld game system or cell phone while traveling.
- Best R/C Vehicle this side of the Outer Colonies - Remote control Halo car. 'Nough said
- Twist Equation Alarm Clock - Geeks are notorious sleeper-inners, probably because they have a tendancy of staying up late programming, browsing the internet, and playing WOW. Help your geek actually wake up to their alarm by getting this!
- The Kindle - Thousands of books, no book shelf needed, and enough battery life to last on a trip to the moon and back.
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WordUp v3.0
Friday, October 01, 2010
Congratulations to Wired Solutions web designer Tamara Hayes for recently tying the knot. The whole team wishes her and her family all the best in this next chapter of their lives together.
Two fantastic site launches this month just in time for Christmas. Visible Treasures allows you to browse an awesome jewelry collection and then place an order though one of the Visible Treasures consultants. Check it out at www.visibletreasures.com. Long time customer, Cindy’s Garden reinvented their website by redesigning and adding an e-commerce portion allowing visitors to shop their unique product line. Yup, the holidays are just around the corner so why not get a head start and check it out at www.cindysgarden.com.
Speaking of holiday shopping, be sure to check out next months edition for “Gifts for your Geeks”. We’ve put our heads together to come up with the ultimate gift list, sure to please the geeks in your life.
Don’t forget to like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WiredSolutions and check out our Tweets at http://twitter.com/wiredtweets.
The importance of a unified brand using brand management
by Stacey Hayes
“So what is brand management and how will it help me make more money?”
Brand management deals with controlling your company image, character and reputation. I wish I could say that creating a brand for your business was as simple as unifying your image, but even creating that image involves thought, research and a plan. Building the overall look for the company is certainly part of it, but on a higher level it deals with developing the company’s character. It takes time, planning and more importantly, direction.
Brand management isn’t a new concept, in fact it started in 1931 at Procter & Gamble when they realized that they were competing with their own products.1 By learning more about their target audiences for each brand and customizing their marketing efforts for each target audience group they we’re able to segment each product, so they weren’t competing against themselves. Brand management deals with unifying your entire business brand and in some cases the branding of the products within the business, like P & G for example.
“Can you give me an example of some modern day branding?”
Using one of the biggest brands in the world as an example, Apple wouldn’t be who they are today without strategic brand management. This is a great example of not just unifying the look of every piece of marketing on every piece of media they have out there, but creating the outward perception of the company. Controlling the reputation of the company, means controlling the companies character, and this is reflected in everything they do. So everything from the Mac vs PC commercials, to the Genius Bar, to the look of the website, and what happens when a product flops, needs to be thoughtfully planned. This takes teams of brand managers and massive communication plans that can involve getting everyone in the company on the same page.
“Good for Apple, but how does it help my business?”
Building a brand will reinforce that customer connection, if a customer connects with your business, they will be more loyal to your business, and if your customers are more loyal, your business will grow and you’ll make more money. There is nothing wrong with applying the marketing principals the big guys use, to your own business.
“Ok, so I need to manage my brand, where do I start?”
It all starts with a plan. You’ll need to decide who your target market is. Who is your typical customer? Answer the typical target market questions like, who, where, what and how. Give this person a name if you need to. Let’s make it a man, and call him Joe. Now ask yourself, “who does ‘Joe’ really want to be, and how does my product for service help him get there ?” Going back to our Apple example, Apple most likely knew the Mac guy, (the very definition of their target audience) well before they brought him to life in a commercial. Once you’ve done this, your well on your way.
Keeping ‘Joe’ in mind you’ll need to unify your look across the field. Everything from your website and Facebook page, to your business cards and store signage needs to be kept consistent. Do this by creating a branding document. A branding document, often created by professional graphic designer or marketing person, can be shared with anyone who might assist you in developing your look. Contact us if you need some help with this, because it just so happens that we have professional graphic designers and marketing professionals on staff. Then use that branding document to ensure every piece of marketing material you develop falls in line with the rules set out in it. Once you have a set of marketing guidelines developed, no matter how many people are involved, whether it’s 1 or 100, you will all be working towards the same objective.
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Lesson Learned!Set your company up for success by managing your company brand. Do this by developing a clear picture of your target market, ensure the look of the company fits that target and is consistent across the board. Brand management takes time, research and planning, but it can pay off for you in the end by reinforcing a customer connection with a brand they’ve come to know and trust. |
1. “The McElroy Memo” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_H._McElroy
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Wednesday, September 01, 2010
There has been a lot going on at Wired Solutions over the last month. Most notably, we completed the Safe Food Counts website for the Windsor Essex Health Unit. Safe Food Counts lets users look-up restaurant ratings generated by the Health Unit and view the various deficiencies, if any, found during inspections. In addition to inspection reports, the website also sports features such as Google Map integration, Facebook Share, as well as downloadable PDF inspection reports. Check the site out at www.safefoodcounts.ca
We would like to welcome back Stacey Hayes who has been off on maternity leave since November. Stacey has already returned to her duties as Project Manager, and we are glad to have her back!
Accepting Payments On Your Website
by Sharbel Lutfallah
If you have a website or are in the process of building one, and intend on selling products or services on the website, the question will no doubt arise how you will accept payments. While many things on the web have advanced greatly over the years, payment processing and online payments have pretty much stayed the same. Granted, there are more players in the game, and yes, costs are coming down. However, the concept of online payments has relatively stayed the same.
Hosted Payment Pages
A hosted payment page is a page that does not exist on your website. Instead, your website redirects your shoppers to a page on your payment gateway's website, your customer pays on your payment gateway's secure website, then is transferred back to your website once the transaction is complete. Your programmer sets your website up to 'talk' to this external service so that you know if the order went through or not. While this order flow may seem a little convoluted, it is by far the easiest to setup. With services like PayPal, you can plug in their cart and payment buttons within your website, and be accepting payments in a few hours. If integrated properly, the order flow can be fairly seamless, and most of the time the payment form on the external website can be customized to fit the general look and feel of your website. Another benefit is that the security onus is on the payment gateway, not you. Since transmission of sensitive data, such as credit card numbers, is performed on the external payment processor's website, you are pretty much absolved of having to worry about card number security, SSL certificates, or any of the other concerns when you are accepting payments right within your website.
So, with all these great things about hosted payment pages, why isn't everyone using them? I think the biggest reason why people don't use a hosted payment page is control. A very common complaint among website owners is that they get 'abandoned carts' when the user is redirected to another website. What this means is people sometimes don't complete the payment when redirected away, mainly because people get confused about the redirect. Customizing the payment page to look like your main site is a good way to minimize this but you will still find an increased cart abandonment rate with hosted payment pages.
Integrated Payment Pages
Integrated payment pages are payment pages that exist right within your website. So, in contrast to being redirected to an external website when it's time to enter your payment information, your customers pay right on your website. When the user clicks the pay button, the payment information is sent behind the scenes to your payment gateway, and the gateway sends back a message indicating if the payment was accepted or not. No redirect happens, and the order flow is totally up to you. By far, this is the most common and expected way to pay for something online, however it is not without downfalls.
While integrated payment pages are the most common, and honestly the recommended way to accept payments, there are additional costs involved. Typically there is an upfront fee that you must pay to get your merchant account setup, and often times there is a monthly fee to keep your account active. Another additional cost is your payment pages must be secured with an SSL certificate. SSL certificates encrypt the communication between your computer and the server that your website runs from. This way, hackers can't listen in and steal your credit card information when making a payment. Keeping your customer's data is your responsibility when using integrated payment forms, and it's something that cannot be taken lightly.
So, after all this information you might ask what I recommend? Personally, for professional websites, I prefer integrated payment forms over being redirected to a hosted payment form. I think you will find that the majority of non-hobby site owners will bite the bullet and pay the extra costs for integrating right within the website to maintain that professional feel as well as reduce the chance of cart abandonment.
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Lesson Learned!
Accepting payments on your website is an important decision that I have only really just touched on in this article. If you have any questions regarding this or anything else, feel free to send me an email at sharbel@wiredsolutions.ca or call me at 519-250-7786 ext 200 |
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WordUp v2.8
Thursday, July 01, 2010
July 2010
"May you live in interesting times" is an old chinese proverb (or was it a curse?!) that comes to mind when thinking of July here at Wired Solutions. Ah yes, July, the month of vacations, heat, and of course collapsing parking garages! Yes, as most of you know, that was our building's parking garage that collapsed. Thankfully none of us were injured, and none of our cars were damaged as a result of the collapse, although they were trapped for a few days. Thanks for all calls and emails from clients and friends making sure we were all ok!
In other interesting news, our new content manager WiredCMS is now being plugged in for a few test brochure websites! The new CMS is looking great, and it will be an essential tool when everything is complete.
Is having great search engine ranking enough?
by Sharbel Lutfallah
How often do you get those spam emails promising to get you top search engine rankings? I personally get a lot of them, most originating from an Indian SEO (Search Engine Optimization) company promising to get my website right at the top of Google, Bing, and Yahoo. Obviously it's an automated email, since any bit of research on their part would give them a clue that we are already at the top of all the search engines for our target keywords, but that's besides the point. Even if our rankings were poor, some may wonder if 'getting up there' is the magic bullet to drive insane traffic to your website which hopefully translates to profits for your company. The answer to this question is pretty simple, the answer is No.
Huh? Really?
Yes, really. Getting to the top of the search engines in this day of social networks and instant information is just one part of the puzzle. Now of course 5-6 years ago, the tale was different. I recall an e-commerce store that I was involved with that made 100% of it's profits as a direct result of search engine, read: Google traffic. Well, as good ol' Bob Dylan said, the times are a changing, and top ranking in the engines do not have as profound of an impact as they did before. Does that mean having great search engine ranking is useless? Heck no! All it means is that SEO should just be an integral part of your overall web marketing strategy, not your only strategy.
Holistic Internet Marketing
So, at this point you may be wondering what the other pieces to the puzzle are if SEO isn't the only thing you need to do. The answer to this can be really convoluted, and I can easily go into a tirade of important sounding marketing or geek terms that will most certainly make your eyes glaze over and bore the heck out of you. Instead, I think I will keep it simple and highlight some of the more obvious things that you should be doing in addition to SEO.
- Blogging - Maintain a well written blog for your website that contains fresh, helpful information that your users can benefit from. Educate your readers and I guarantee they will pay you back with their business.
- Facebook Page - Start a Facebook page and synch some of your blogs, current news/events on it. Make sure to have your friends and or clients 'like' your page, or better yet, offer incentives for them to do so.
- Newsletters - Reading this is proof that people still read email newsletters. Ok, I stole that from an ad on a bus-stop bench, but you get the idea... Like blogging, make your emails interesting with information that is worth reading for your users. Again, educate your readers instead of trying to sell to them.
- Linked In - Create a profile on linkedin.com and make connections with others in your industry. I find this is a pretty good avenue of leads for people who provide business to business service.
- Localized deal sites - Try using localized 'deal of the day' services like Groupon.com or LivingSocial.com. They take a hefty commission, but you can easily get an influx of 1000 new sales in one day. Although these services are targeting businesses who sell products, I have seen some pretty interesting deals for service based companies like hairstylists and spas as well.
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Lesson Learned!
The good old days of relying solely on Google to drive traffic to your site is gone. While search engine optimization is important, we need to have a diversified web-marketing plan to be truly successful in this age of the web. If you have any questions regarding this or anything else, feel free to send me an email at sharbel@wiredsolutions.ca or call me at 519-250-7786 ext 200 / toll free 1-877-549-4733 ext 200. |
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Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Wired Solutions is happy to announce that D-ICE's website is now live! We not only developed the website, we also developed the company brand from start to finish. Check them out at www.dicecanada.ca. In other news, Courtesy Accessible Transportation was launched earlier this month as well. Again, we developed the website as well as the company's logo, business cards and brochures. Visit them at www.courtesyaccessible.com
Video On Your Site
by Sharbel Lutfallah
If you've done any sort of surfing on the web lately, you're bound to have come across websites that have videos embedded in them. As a business owner, you may have paid several thousands of dollars for professional videos to be produced to spotlight your company and show it off to potential clients. Or, maybe you are an upstart with a really cool product or service, and you want to produce your own tutorial or demonstration videos. Either way, the question I get is "Can I put the videos on my website?".
Well, I am sure you guessed by now that the answer is yes, otherwise this would be a pretty short article. Seriously though, I could remember a time when when web pages were cutting edge if they had a picture on them. Now, we live in a time where we are watching TV and getting real-time GPS updates of where our friends are, all on the web! Having a video or even a video collection embedded in your website is now a trivial task with free services like YouTube. In the old days of the internet (8 years ago), we would have to do a lot of planning to have video on a website. Now, it's a matter of uploading the video and pasting in a few lines of code, and voila! your site has video.
Having video on your site is great, but don't rush to get it on there just for the sake of having it. While the implementation of the video in your website is easy as pie, the actual production of the video and the planning of it's content is nothing to rush. Worse, don't dig out your old VHS tapes with a groovy video your company produced in the 1980s! The video has to be well done, up to date, and in-line with your company's current brand and focus. You certainly don't want to have information on your video that doesn't jive with the rest of the website. Working with a professional video production company is usually the way to go to ensure all of the above doesn't happen.
Incorporating video in your website can be a really good way to add engaging content for your visitors or potential customers. That said, it shouldn't be the only engaging content. Take a look at a few examples of clients of ours who have embedded video in their website: Morton Wholesale, CANSPEP and Matrix Laser Institute. Having these professionally produced videos in their website augments the site's already informative content which yields a very well rounded content base for the end users to view.
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Lesson Learned!
Having video on your website is a great way to provide engaging content to your visitors. If you have any questions regarding this or anything else, feel free to send me an email at sharbel@wiredsolutions.ca or call me at 519-250-7786 ext 200 / toll free 1-877-549-4733 ext 200. |
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WordUp v2.6
Saturday, May 01, 2010
May 2010
Wired Solutions is happy to announce that the Songwriters Association of Canada's new website is complete and live! This project was way beyond a regular website re-design, it encompassed a lot of custom software that Wired Solutions developed from the ground up. From allowing songwriters to upload songs as part of their online profile, to giving them the ability to have their songs assessed by seasoned songwriters, there are a lot of cool new things in the site. Check them out at www.songwriters.ca!
With the Songwriters Association being our fourth major project deployment this year, along with a bunch of smaller websites, we are winding down for a nice comfy summer break... YEAH RIGHT! As usual, we have a lot on the go! From doing work for the Ministry of Education's E-learning Ontario Program, Redoe Mold, Visible Treasures, Wired CMS, Childzilla.com 3.0.. ok, you get the picture... :)
When is it time to redevelop your website?
by Sharbel Lutfallah
Any business owner, this one included, cringes at having to spend money on something they already spent money on before. Whether it's replacing a computer, or paying to re-print a business card that you later found out had a spelling mistake, paying again to get something that you already have can be concerning at best. While redeveloping your website does not necessary fall into the same category as a broken computer or reprinting a un-proofed business card, it definitely does fall into the category of something that you as a business owner will likely pay more than once to do.
Perhaps I should have prefaced the last paragraph with a disclaimer that I am not talking about websites that are ancient. In the web-world, ancient is more than 5 years old. Yes, I arbitrarily chose that number as I was typing it out, but it's a pretty good rule of thumb. If your website was developed more than 5 years ago without any major design changes, chances are the design is antiquated, content is out of date, and it probably fails any accessibility test miserably. So, if your business' website is more than 5 years old, it's time to redevelop it.
Now the real question is, what if your website was developed just a year or two ago, is it time to redevelop? The good news is, probably not. If your website was professionally developed by a web-development company who is reputable and followed web-standards, chances are you should be fine. Granted, your website content might need some updating and some pictures could use changing or freshening up, but it's very unlikely that you need a total redevelopment. Even if you wanted to have your web-developer do a redesign of the site's look and feel, it shouldn't be as much work or cost as the original web-development assuming the structure and content is the same.
Trying to work with a poorly developed, or even an ancient website is likely going to cost you as much as a completely redeveloped website. I often cringe (and say a few choice words) when I have to work with a poorly coded website that was handed off to us by another developer. Weeding through the garbage code and trying to make it work, and heaven forbid look half-decent, can be a real challenge to say the least. Often, when you factor in all the time spent trying to correct all the mistakes, it's easier and more cost effective to just start with a new design.
I realize the examples I have given are pretty cut and dry. I don't think anyone with an ancient website is going to be surprised to know they need a new one. In contrast the company that just had their website professionally developed 14 months ago is not expecting to have to redevelop it. Where judgment comes into play are those who fall somewhere in between. Working with a good (and honest doesn't hurt) web-developer can really help you determine what exactly is needed for your website. Whether it's just a freshening up, or a complete redevelopment, establishing a good relationship with a professional web-developer is key in making successful decisions about your website.
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Lesson Learned!If you have questions regarding your company's website, and would like a free analysis by us to determine if it's time to redevelop or not feel free to send me an email at sharbel@wiredsolutions.ca or call me at 519-250-7786 ext 200 / toll free 1-877-549-4733 ext 200. * Sharbel Lutfallah is the lead developer at Wired Solutions, and has been a web-developer since 1998. |
WordUp v2.5
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Well, it's been busy as usual at the world-wide headquarters of Wired Solutions. Yes, I know we only have 1 location in the world, but I've always wanted to say that... This month marked the release of Tellbob v2.0 bringing the ability to trade your rewards, a Facebook application, as well as a bunch of other really cool features. Check them out at www.tellbob.com!
In other news, our new content manager WiredCMS is now a working prototype, and we are well on our way to completing it! Stay tuned for more on this...
SEO, PPC, and SMM... acronym overload!
by Sharbel Lutfallah
If you own a website, at the very least you have probably wondered how you will get people to visit your website. If you've done any amount of research into the subject, you have no doubt seen some of these acronyms SEO, PPC and most recently SMM. Let me be anti-climactic and define these acronyms:
SEO: Search Engine Optimization
PPC: Pay Per Click (Advertising)
SMM: Social Media Marketing
Ok, so now you know what the acronyms stand for, your next question is probably what the heck do they mean and why should I care?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Getting your site to show up at the top of search engine result pages is something that most website owners want. With the amount of people turning to search engines for simple things like looking up a company's phone number, it's imperative that your website is ready to be found. I almost feel silly making that last statement. It's almost as elementary as telling business owners that they need a website. In this day and age, it's just assumed that you need a presence on the web, and I would argue that having placement within the search engines falls into the same category.
SEO is not an overnight thing, it can easily take 3-4 months to see results. Another thing to understand is there are never guarantees with SEO. That said, if you do everything right and are persistent in your SEO efforts, you should see favorable rankings over time.
Pay Per Click Advertising (PPC)
Don't want to wait for SEO efforts to kick in? Well, if you are the instant gratification type, you can utilize PPC advertising to have your website ads shown when a user types in keywords you specify for your ads. Every time someone clicks your ad, you pay a fee to the search engine that is serving your ad. The fees are based on a bid system, where generally speaking the higher you bid, the better your placement is within the search results.
PPC, which in 2009 accounted for 95% of Google's revenue, and the main catalyst for their growth, must be budgeted for. The great thing about PPC is you can spend as little or as much as you want, and you can track ad performance very nicely. You can track exactly which keywords are bringing in the most revenue, as well as determine which advertisements convert into the most sales.
Social Media Marketing (SMM)
As much as search engines are ingrained in our daily internet use, social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Linked-In are rapidly being utilized by companies as marketing tools. While SMM is quite new compared to SEO and PPC, the concept is actually quite old. Build a community, inspire collaboration among your customer base and stay connected with your customers. These principles have been in use before I was born, so why the big stink about it now? Well, for starters businesses have unprecedented access to their customers in so many different mediums. Think about how hard it would be to get a discussion going among 200 of your customers about a new product you are launching, 20 years ago. With tools like Twitter or discussions on Facebook pages, this is a trivial task.
SMM isn't about advertising, it's about connecting. If you want your customer base to stay connected with you, having active Facebook or Twitter content is a good start. Providing frequent, useful, content through your social media network keeps your customers thinking about you. The great thing about SMM is that it can be done with little to no money invested, besides your time of course.
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Lesson Learned!Website marketing may have a lot of acronyms, but they all mean something and for the most part are all important for you to understand. If you need more help with SEO, PPC or SMM feel free to send me an email at sharbel@wiredsolutions.ca or call us at 519-250-7786 / toll free 1-877-549-4733 * Sharbel Lutfallah is the lead developer at Wired Solutions,and has been a web-developer since 1998. |
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WordUp v2.4
Monday, March 01, 2010
Spring is here! The birds are chirping, the days are brighter and the Wired Solutions office temperature is a toasty 85 degrees Fahrenheit! Notwithstanding the effect of the building's screwy boiler thermostat, the office is also hot from excitement with all that's going on! With the imminent release of two large projects, the recent release of Tea Scapes, and not to mention the several other sites in progress, the team is really working up a sweat!
As already mentioned, this month we released Tea Scapes to the public. This e-commerce site, which uses our Wired Cart engine, really showcases how well our team can implement custom features and logic into our e-commerce engine. The site is not only beautiful, it also has custom fulfillment integration with the shipping warehouse for easy order fulfillment as well as custom grouping by tea regions and categories. Check the site out at www.teascapes.com.
Is your website ready for the economic turn around?
by Sharbel Lutfallah
Whether you believe the recession is over or not, it's hard to argue with the fact that public perception is that the worst is behind us. Sure, your business numbers might be down compared to 3 years ago but most business owners I've polled recently agree that compared to last year, things are looking up this year (knock wood!). This economic turn around, perceived or real, brings up a question that a lot of business owners haven't thought of.. "Is our website ready for this turn around?"
The question isn't asking you to do a quick check of your website to make sure it loads up when you type in your website address. Instead, it speaks to the fact that your client, whether its another business or a consumer, likely has a different state of mind when shopping around than they did 3 years ago. We all just went through a once in a generation economic meltdown. I think it's safe to say that people's mindset will be a little different when looking at your website to learn more about your company or products. Doing some simple housekeeping and updates can really set your company apart from the crowd when your potential clients are comparing your website to your competition's website.
Some things to consider are:
- Identifying your audience: Your target audience could have very well changed since your initial development of the website. For example, mold shops that once targeted tier 1 automotive suppliers might now be targeting medical or green energy industries. Make sure your website is speaking to your new audience!
- Do a full audit of your website text content: Make sure the content is appropriate for the current situation and weed out any out of date pages. As an extension of point 1, make sure the text will make sense to your new audience if the audience has changed. Doing an update to the text content to match your current marketing plan is a great way to make sure your website content is in line with your current target market.
- Update images: Updating images to coincide with the updated website text is essential in making sure your new marketing messages are fortified visually.
- Incorporate New Media: Show your visitors that you are cutting edge by integrating new media like company videos hosted on YouTube. You could also integrate your Facebook or Twitter feed into your website. Doing this will show your clients that you are keeping up and that you're in tune with the times.
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Lesson Learned!Ensuring that your website is ready for the economic turn around can position your company to stand out from the crowd when prospective clients are comparing your website to your competition's website. If you would like to discuss how Wired Solutions can help you make your website ready, send me an email at sharbel@wiredsolutions.ca or call us at 519-250-7786 / toll free 1-877-549-4733 * Sharbel Lutfallah is the lead developer at Wired Solutions,and has been developing e-commerce applications since 1998 |
WordUp v2.3
Monday, February 01, 2010
We are very excited to introduce the newest version of our own site at www.wiredsolutions.ca! This newest design really sets the stage for us to showcase our web-products such as Wired CMS and Wired Cart while introducing a couple new products. Notably, the new site introduces the Wired Access service to make sure your website meets accessibility standards.
While most of the team is very busy working away at our current project load, we have also begun the prototype phase of the new Wired CMS! More on this exciting project in the next couple of months!
E-commerce Fulfillment Houses
by Sharbel Lutfallah
Selling products online has gone from a neat dream of making a quick buck 'on the Internet' to a full time business for millions of people worldwide. Whether it's selling your handcrafted wares or expanding the reach of your store, selling your products online is now as normal as face to face sales inside your brick and mortar store. As a web-developer that specializes in e-commerce development since 1998, one of the most common concerns of a merchant is how they will ship their orders generated by online sales. Let's face it, boxing up orders, filling out shipping manifests, sitting around waiting for your shipping company to come around, or God forbid dropping it off yourself, can really take a lot of your valuable time. So how can you focus on selling your products, and providing fantastic customer service, while still getting your products out on time to your customers? The answer is outsourcing your fulfillment to a company that specializes in web order fulfillment!
Fulfillment houses are not really a new concept. Storing your inventory in a warehouse and sending individual orders in a list for warehouse staff to send out for you has been around for ages. What is new though is how in the last few years these services have begun to gravitate to e-commerce and how they provide slick integration right within your online store to automatically fulfill your online orders for you. The level of integration is really dependent on the fulfillment company you choose as well as the e-commerce engine you are using. That said, at the very least you should expect the ability to send the fulfillment house a list of orders, which includes products to be shipped, shipping addresses, and the level of service required (ground, over-night etc). Most fulfillment houses provide interfaces for your e-commerce engine to speak directly to their system, automatically sending approved orders to their system for fulfillment, with no manual sending required. This equates to an enormous amount of time saved for you.
So how do you find the right fulfillment company for your business? Like any service, the best way to find the right company is to research and interview potential companies to see if they are a good fit for your online store. Speaking from personal experience, I have dealt with some really awesome fulfillment houses and unfortunately some real terrible ones. An absolute must is to get in writing how their fee structure works, how much shipping rates are, as well any storage/warehouse fees per month. Fulfillment companies charge you on a per-order basis to fulfill your order. These charges include a per-order rate, a 'pick fee' that is applied to each item they are placing in the box, along with the relevant shipping charges. Be very careful to make sure the shipping costs are not marked up exorbitantly, and be sure to negotiate the other fees. That said, don't strictly focus on costs. A serious interview should take place to make sure the company is approachable, helpful, and willing to work with you to ensure your orders go out smoothly and on time.
Outsourcing your order fulfillment to a fulfillment house is a great way to relieve you and your staff from the monotony of boxing up orders and shipping them out. Spending your time building your business and focusing on providing excellent customer service instead of boxing up orders will pay off several times over the long run.
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Lesson Learned!Boxing up products yourself to fulfill your online orders can be monotonous and expensive when you factor in your valuable time. Outsourcing to a fulfillment house will likely save you money in the long run and increase your efficiency to get orders to your customer. If you need more information about e-commerce fulfillment houses or how you can integrate fulfillment processing right within your online store, contact me and I will be happy to go over your options! * Sharbel Lutfallah is the lead developer at Wired Solutions,and has been developing e-commerce applications since 1998 |
WordUp v2.2
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
December 09
Even with the holiday season upon us, we are continuing to plug away at the various projects in our queue. While working on the tail end of testing the Canadian Songwriters Association’s web-application, our development team is also knee deep in the development of Tell Bob v2.0. The new features for Tell Bob v2.0 would take a whole article to go through, but the coolest features are the ability to trade your rewards with friends and other members, Facebook integration, as well as a slick branding component for vendors to integrate their own brand right within the entire survey process. This new version of the Tell Bob service is going to really put them on the map as a serious contender in the online and kiosk based survey arena. Stay tuned for more on this project!
CMS Systems, what are they and do I need one?
If you’ve shopped around for a website in the last couple of years, undoubtedly the web-developers you talked to have mentioned the term CMS at least once. Be honest, did you have even the slightest clue about what he or she was talking about? For those who don’t know, CMS is an acronym for Content Management System. Now that you know what CMS stands for, does it bring you any closer to knowing exactly what a CMS is? Probably not! Well, hopefully after this edition of Word Up!, you will know all there is to know about Content Management Systems.
In the good old days of the web, when you wanted to update content on your website, and you were slick enough to do it yourself, you had to login to your server’s FTP (another acronym!), download the file(s) you wanted to work on, change them, then re-upload them to the server. Sounds complicated right? Well, honestly after you’ve done it a few times, it’s really not that bad. Honestly, most web-developers follow this exact work-flow for the majority of simple websites that they manage. Yes, it’s tedious, and wide open to human error, but it does work. What kind of human error? Well, let’s just say that a certain web-developer I know (ok… me!), has on more than one occasion overwritten the wrong file, or forgotten to upload a file that I changed. Yes, that’s right, you have to keep track of every file you change, and be sure to re-upload it to the server. It can easily become an exercise in futility for the average user who does not have fancy synching applications like most web-developers have. After trying this work-flow, most people ask the question “Can’t I just change the files right on the website so I don’t have to worry about all of this?” That’s exactly where a CMS comes in.
A CMS abstracts you from having to worry about HTML coding, uploading, downloading and all the fun stuff associated with editing your website manually. With a CMS, when you want to edit a page, you simply login with your user account and click the ‘Edit’ icon for the region you want to edit. From there, you work inside your browser window, changing your content with a Microsoft Word like interface. It’s all built right into your website, no need to download special software or learn new skills. To follow the cliché of pretty much every CMS developer out there: “If you can use Microsoft Word, you can use our CMS!”
While page editing is the core of content managers, the CMS’ functionality can extend way beyond simple page edits. Most content managers have modules that get plugged into the base CMS, extending the functionality to do things like website menu management, online event calendars, online job listings, member only areas, blogs and of course social networking integration. Even beyond that, most CMS packages are built with custom expansion in mind. So, having the base content manager as the engine with a series of custom developed modules that plug into it is something that is completely possible, and normal.
Ok, so now that you are a CMS expert, you should know that there are a lot of choices out there when it comes to Content Management Systems. These choices range in price from free, all the way up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. It’s not always a case of “You get what you pay for” when trying to figure out which CMS is best for you. Some of the most expensive ones are the hardest to use, and have really clunky user interfaces. Working with a good web-developer who can guide you to the best CMS for your needs is typically the best approach to avoid the trial and error of finding the right CMS for you.
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Lesson Learned!Websites can either be updated manually or through a Content Management System (CMS). Given the choice, I think most website owners would lean towards using a CMS to update their site instead of enduring the challenges of manually updating their site. If you would like more information about content managers, or a free consultation to determine if a CMS is a worthwhile investment for your website, just give us a call or send an email to sharbel@wiredsolutions.ca |
WordUp v2.1
Sunday, November 01, 2009
November 2009
Now that daylight savings time is in full effect, and dusk happens at around 4:30PM every day, our super bright yellow walls are really paying off! No seasonal affective disorder here; at the Wired Solutions’ office, it’s always sunny!
We are now in the testing phase of the Songwriters Association of Canada’s new web presence. The new web-application will not only provide a full content managed web-site, but it will also sport custom software that we developed to allow songwriters to have their songs evaluated by veteran songwriters. It will also feature a Song Pitching framework to match executives who require music with Canadian songwriters via the new Song Pitching framework we developed.
Website Usability
Have you ever thought about how your website’s visitors are using your website? Do they find it easy to navigate, or is it difficult to read and understand? Website usability testing is used to evaluate how others are using your website, and determine if they are using it the way it was intended to work. Its main goals are:
Performance
How are basic tasks completed? How many steps and how much time is involved. What mistakes are people making? Where are they getting confused?
Recall
Are people remembering things about your site? What do they remember?
Emotional Response
Are your visitors experiencing a higher stress level when they are on your site? Is the users overall experience negative, or positive?
Here are a few tips from the experts at Wired Solutions when thinking about usability on your website.
- Keep your content clear and simple. You’re not writing a thesis here. There is no reason to be wordy. Make your content easy to scan, because generally people don’t spend much time reading websites and put the important content at the top of the page.
- Navigation text is not the place to be creative and different. It needs to be obvious, tell people where they are going, where they’ve been and where they are, all in a few words! This is why navigation indicators and mouse-overs are important. Don’t forget to always have a home page link.
- If your website doesn’t match the rest of your branding, then you’re going to lose people the minute they hit your site. They will think they are at the wrong place. Keep pages within your site consistent, you don’t want people thinking they’ve left your site, when they haven’t.
So how do you do usability testing on your website? The easiest thing to do is to have people use your website who have never seen it before. Watch them, and get them to tell you anything they are thinking while going through it. Try to choose people that are within your target market as well.
Lesson Learned!
Creating a professional website is a process, and you’ve probably been involved somehow right from the beginning. This means your understanding of the website is different from a user that has never seen it. An important step in creating a website is to get people to test it and use it, learn from their experiences and make changes as needed.
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WordUp v2.0
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
September 2009
Summer has come to a close and the Wired Solutions staff is gearing up for a busy fall season. The staff has kicked off the season with the launch of the Applied Process website. Check it out at www.appliedprocess.com.
We’ve got some exciting projects happening this fall including the Song Writers Association of Canada website and we recently launched the Amherstburg Recreation Complex website, you can see it at www.arccampaign.com. In other exciting news, Wired Solutions and Tellbob, the place to go to be heard and get stuff, will be starting Version 2.0 of the software this fall.
Time to start thinking about online holiday shopping!
If you sell online, now is the time to get your website and website marketing in tip top shape for the holiday season. To get you thinking about your e-commerce website, the Wired Solutions team has put our heads together and developed a list of our top 15 e-commerce tips:
- Never leave unanswered emails for more than 24 hours.
- If you only ship to one country, tell people before they’ve taken the effort to fill their cart
- Customize each product description.
- Show professional quality, sharp images.
- Give customers a 1-800 number and/or live chat so that they can easily contact you if they have a question or concern.
- If your site looks professional, people will trust it and buy from it. If you’re thinking about redesigning your e-commerce site, click here to read more about the Wired Cart Ecommerce system.
- Use a proper SSL certificate.
- Have points of reassurance near the add to cart button, such as positive customer reviews.
- Put products in more than one category and cross sell by offering a related product suggestion.
- Market your website once it’s live.
- Make your payment processing as simple and seamless as possible.
- Don’t make customers register before shopping.
- There is no such thing as too detailed a description. Use images, weights, size and what-ever else is needed to make sure the customer understands what they are buying.
- Tell customers the cost and the amount they are saving.
- After a customer has checked out, make sure they are getting a confirmation email. This reassures them that their purchase has been made successfully.
WordUp v1.9
Saturday, August 01, 2009
August 2009
No lazy summer days for the staff at Wired Solutions. We have some exciting projects going on in our office. We recently started the new website for the Song Writers Association of Canada. The website for this national organization dedicated to Canadian composers, lyricists and songwriters is getting a complete makeover. The new website will be managed by the Song Writers Association and includes interactive features to create a community portal for its members.
The Amherstburg Recreation Complex is also gearing up for their website launch. The new website will be launched as the Community Foundation website to help generate donations for the building of the new recreation complex. Stay tuned for the announcement of the launch in September’s edition of Word up!
The Power of Good Pictures
How many times have you been in this situation? It’s Saturday morning and you sit with a fresh brewed cup of coffee and the morning newspaper to catch up on the things happening in your world. You browse the headlines, briefly scanning the articles when something catches your attention. For some reason that picture in the center of page three entices you to read the entire article and find out what it’s all about.
A picture is worth a thousand words and just as that picture caught your eye in the morning paper, the pictures on your website can do the same.
Professional images on your website tell potential customers that you are serious about your business, by giving your product or service an expert look. When you include images of people on your site, make sure they are warm and inviting. A professional photographer will be able to adjust the lighting and setting to make the people on your website look their best. The same thing goes for product shots. When potential customers can’t hold or touch the product they are interested in buying, a great product shot can make or break the deal.
If you can’t afford to hire models or a professional photographer, there are some great low cost alternatives available. Stock photography sites usually offer decent royalty free images at very reasonable prices. The pitfall is that these images are downloaded and used over and over again. The artists make a small profit each time the photo is downloaded, and they can be downloaded thousands of times, rather than selling the rights of the image to one company.
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Lesson Learned!Digital Cameras and other technologies in photography have taken us a long way, but there is more to a great shot than just pointing and shooting. Although taking your own pictures for your site may seem like a great way to save money, investing in a professional photographer can pay off in the long run by making your website look more professional and showing off the full potential of your products. |
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WordUp v1.8
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
July 2009
When it Rains, it Pours!Despite the soggy socks and wet sweatshirts, this year’s Relay for Life was an amazing event. Thanks to our friends, family and clients the Coders Against Cancer raised over $7200.00 and took home a bronze finish! A big thanks to our corporate sponsors:
The energy and passion of our team members, and everyone involved in this year’s relay was astounding. We proudly walked the muddy track at Windsor Campground, we cheered those who walked the survivor lap, and took a moment of silence as the track lit up with luminaries, remembering those who have lost the fight or are still fighting cancer. Unfortunately mother nature just wasn’t on our side, and shortly after the luminaries were lit, those of us in tents had to pack up and leave quickly due to severe weather. Although the event was dampened, our spirits were not. The team came together for a great cause and had a wonderful experience overall. |
What will the Internet look like in 10 years?
There is a good chance that you won’t turn your desktop computer on to connect to the internet in the near future. Researchers are predicting that by 2020 the mobile phone will be our main source to get online. If you haven’t caught on to “1337 speak” (leet speak) yet, or have trouble typing on the tiny key pads, don’t worry. Microsoft has started the ball rolling on surface computing and predictions are that in 10 years your cell phone will be enabled with a device that will project a full size keyboard onto any surface.
So what else might we have to look forward to: Green servers that fit in your pocket, high definition voice technology for crystal clear hearing on cell phones, controller-less video gaming, and teleportation devices that get us to work in seconds.(Okay, maybe I shouldn’t hold my breath for that last one!)
The Internet in 20 years
A Web Server That Will Fit in Your Pocket
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Lesson Learned!Don’t get left in the dark ages! Stay on top of new technologies and keep your website up to date so that it is readable and looks good no matter how people are viewing it. |
WordUp v1.7
Monday, June 01, 2009
June 2009
There is just a short time until the 2009 Cancer Society Relay for Life. The Coders Against Cancer are still fighting for a first place finish. “We’re not far behind” commented team Captain Stacey Hayes, “we’ve got a strong team and I’m confident we’ll move from 4th to 1st place.”
There is still time to pledge the Coders Against Cancer in this year’s Relay for Life. Get your pledges in by June 10th and we’ll include your company logo on our t-shirts, website and campsite decorations. And don’t forget, every dollar you pledge will be matched up to $10,000!
Using Your Website in a Down Economy
Your website is an important tool in your marketing package, but during a time when the economy is down, it becomes even more crucial. In general, people are more cautious of how they are spending their money and doing their research before buying. In fact, according to a 2008 Pew Internet & American Life Study, “When the product in question requires a large commitment by a buyer, the internet’s influence on the choice is greater.” 1
A number of studies find that the web is an important tool for people when they are researching a purchasing decision. In other words, if you don’t have a website or your website doesn’t catch potential buyers attention when they start looking, you won’t be an option when they finish.
Consumers are seeking out money saving discounts online as an easy way to save a few bucks. So you may want to think about using your website, or a mass email to offer past and potential customers a discount giving your company the edge over the competition.
1. http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2008/The-Internet-and-Consumer-Choice.aspx
Lesson Learned!
In a down economy, it is important to have a website with up to date, useful information for potential buyers. Provide potential customers the information they need and then encourage them to visit your brick and mortar store, or call you directly from your website. If your website offers a professional, welcoming feel with information that buyers are looking for, there is a good chance that those buyers will come to you when making a final decision.
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WordUp v1.6
Friday, May 01, 2009
May 2009
The Coders Against cancer are proving to be strong competitors in this years Cancer Society Relay for Life. We’ve raised over $2450.00! A great big thanks to everyone who sponsored our team.
But the fight isn’t over yet. We still have 6 weeks to raise funds that will help those battling Cancer. By pledging the Coders Against Cancer your dollar goes further. Owners, Sharbel and Susan Lutfallah have agreed to match every dollar raised up to $10,000.
And that’s not all…If your business pledges the Coders Against Cancer by June 10th, 2009 we’ll include your logo on our team t-shirts, event tent and website.
The Internet – Not just for teens anymore
Once upon a time, the internet was known as a tool used by younger generations, generally those ranging from 12 – 34 years of age. New research by the Pew Internet and American Life Project is proving that the internet isn’t just for the young, but also the young at heart.
Younger generations tend to use the internet for socializing, entertainment and games, while older generations are using resources found online for research, to visit government and religious sites and to answer health questions. According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, “Researching health information is the third most popular online activity with the most senior age group, after email and online search.”1
This is important information if your business targets a more mature audience. If you already have a website, it may mean changing your content to appeal to an older generation, and making sure that information is accessible. If you don’t have a website, because you thought your senior target audience wasn’t online, it’s time to think about getting one.
Lesson Learned!
Internet usage, once thought to be the domain of a youthful demographic, has quickly changed to an almost universal communication medium, with the fastest growing age group of internet users being ages 70-75, it’s time to take a second look at how we use our websites to sell our products, services or ideas.
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WordUp v1.5
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
April 2009
Wired Solutions has put together a team for the 2009 Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life. We’re joining the biggest cancer event to make the biggest difference! We will be walking in an all night relay to support this great cause. Your Sponsorship of Wired Solutions will go toward life saving Cancer research, and support for those fighting Cancer.
To show our deepest appreciation, your businesses logo will be featured on our website, t-shirts and team campsite the night of the event. And here is the best part, owners Sharbel and Susan Lutfallah have agreed to match your donation dollar for dollar up to $10,000, making your support count even more!
Help us in our fight by sponsoring us right now!
Happy Earth Day!
In honour of earth day the Wired Solutions team would like to offer a few ways you can use your website to go green.
- If you a have a company brochure or catalog, offer a downloadable PDF on your website, rather than a hard copy that could easily get lost, or thrown out.
- Offer email sign up as an alternative to a traditional mail out. Email is a great way to stay in touch, it’s friendly on your budget, and friendly for the environment.
- Is there a new green practice in your industry? Then tell people about it by updating your website. Consumers are always looking for ways to save money and energy.
- If you want to offer the ability to print website pages, make sure you ask your website developer to create a CSS print style sheet. This will ensure that only necessary information is printed, and not unnecessary images that can waste a lot of ink.
- Encourage website visitors to pass along a link to your website, rather than print pages for your site, by offering a “Forward to a friend” link on your website.
Lesson Learned!
Everybody is looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly. By offering a few useful and green practices on your website, you can save money, and do your part for the environment. Plus, these simple practices are user friendly and good for business.
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WordUp v1.4
Sunday, March 01, 2009
March 2009
Congratulations to the Town of Amherstburg for the ‘seal of approval’ placed on their website by council, the Mayor and independent advocacy groups for having an accessible website.
Ducharme Fox Lawyers recently launched their new website! They kicked off the launch with a call out to the community to help the Society of St.Vincent de Paul with restocking their shelves after a recent fire caused extensive damage at one of their warehouses. Find out how you can help, and check out the new look and functionality by visiting the new Ducharme Fox website today.
Coco Homes also recently launched their new website. The site has a content management system to allow Coco Group administrators to easily manage information. The Coco Group plans on launching new websites for 4 of their other divisions in the coming months. Go to www.cocohome.com to see the new site design.
What do you think?
If your website helps you sell a product or service, customer testimonials are something you should consider. According to ‘Science and Practice’ by author Robert Cialdini, testimonials provide social proof, and people determine what is correct by finding out what other people think is correct.1
The popularity of customer reviews and ratings for products sold online is evidence that the opinion of fellow shoppers, matters. But whether you are selling online or not, having customer testimonials is important when encouraging site visitors to take action.
Here are a few tips to successfully use testimonials on your website:
- Use real people, and if they let you - use their pictures as well.
- Use customer testimonials from people that fit your target market.
- Don’t put all your testimonials in one spot. By using them all over your website, more visitors will read them. Try using your best ones, right on the home page. And if you’re selling a product online, use them on the product detail pages.
1. Cialdini, Robert B., Influence: science and practice (Boston : Pearson Education, c2009).
Lesson Learned!
Testimonials are a great way to give your potential customers that extra encouragement to take action on your site. Use them well to build credibility and trust in your product or service.
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WordUp v1.3
Sunday, February 01, 2009
February 2009
Wired Solutions is elated to introduce Robert Tuomi as the newest member of our team. Rob comes to us with extensive experience in the field and will be working with us as a Business Development Manager.
It’s been a busy month around the Wired Solutions office. Myergo, the workplace health management software solutions company has launched their new website. Wired Solutions also helped Lile Design, the eco-friendly scarf company, and CANSpep, the Canadian Society of Event planners, launch their new sites this month.
In other exciting news, the Wired Solutions team has added some energy to their homepage with a slick use of JQuery, XML web-services, C#, ASP.NET and a bunch of other really geeky acronyms!
Opportunity is in the mail
Email marketing is becoming increasingly popular as a cost effective and green way to stay in touch and keep customers informed about your business. Email marketing is evolving and businesses are finding more creative ways to use it, as it becomes a critical part of their multichannel marketing plan. In fact, according to Online Retail Holiday Readiness Report, WebTrends (2006) “Online retailers ranked email marketing as the most important demand-generation activity for holiday success, with Search Engine Marketing (SEM) ranking second”1
Here’s a few quick points to make your next bulk email a success:
- Choose a subject that is short, grabs attention and doesn’t sound like spam.
- Stay “above the fold” especially with the most important messages.
- Check to see what your email looks like with no images. Often this is the first and sometimes only thing people will see.
Size doesn’t matter with your email list, but quality does. Whether you have 50 people on your email list, or 50,000, your message should be targeted and relevant to the people on your list. It is important to provide a way for people on your bulk email list to unsubscribe, and by doing this you are targeting your audience even further.
Last but not least, people are busy, so keep your email short and to the point.
Lesson Learned!
Consider email marketing as part of your next campaign. It’s a measurable way to reach a targeted market. Grab your audiences attention with a well thought out subject line and a well designed email. There is no reason to pressure people to join your email list. If they don’t want to join, they're probably not interested in what you have to say anyway.
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Thursday, January 01, 2009
January 2009
Happy New Year!
It’s sometimes difficult getting back into the swing of things after the holidays, but we’ve managed and everyone is looking forward to an exciting 2009.
The Wired Solutions Team has decided to kick off 2009 with a new website. It’s important to keep the company image fresh, and updated. The site's complex database was engineered to allow even the non-geeks to make changes to the website with ease. Check it out at www.wiredsolutions.ca
It’s already been an exciting year with the launch of the Town of Amherstburg's Website. “It was an exciting project and we look forward to a continued partnership with the town” said Project Manager, Stacey Hayes. We also launched the Valente Development site in early January. The site includes a delicate touch of Flash and a slick image display feature.
The Wired Solutions team is sad to announce that co-worker Kelly Wanklin (“The Kelly”) will be leaving the team and heading out west to live in Alberta this January. We will miss him and his superior coffee making skills, but wish him all the best.
A Word on Accessibility
When most people think of making a space accessible, they think of wheel chair ramps, handicapped bathrooms and maybe even braille signage. But, have you ever considered how accessible your website is? Or wonder how your website functions for a person who is blind? An important part of accessibility, in today’s world, is making sure your website is designed so that all users can have equal access to information and functionality.
Website accessibility aims to address needs for the visually impaired, those with motor difficulty, hearing impairments, seizures, and cognitive or intellectual disabilities. People with disabilities can use assistive technologies to help them browse the web, and read your website. These technologies include screen readers, speech recognition software, braille terminals, and screen magnification.
Web designers and developers today use a variety of techniques so that their websites meet the minimum Priority 1 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). For example, simply adding descriptive 'alt' tags to images, using colour with size and pattern to convey information, creatively using symbolic icons, and avoiding flashing images or text, are just a few simple things that all designers should be doing to meet minimum code.
Lesson Learned!
Remember that your website is seen by people from all walks of life. From the first stages of identifying your target market to testing and Quality Assurance, think about accessibility through-out the process. Whether you use a content management system, hire a web development team, or design your own website, making sure information is equally accessible should always be on your to do list.
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WordUp v1.1
Monday, December 01, 2008
December 2008
The Wired Solutions Team has been busy finishing up the website for the Town of Amherstburg. The coffee has been flowing just as much as the creativity the past few weeks and the project is coming to a close on our part. “Accessibility was a major issue with this project,” says head designer Tamara Hayes, “in the end we feel that the site meets accessibility standards while maintaining an inviting look.”
With the Holidays just around the corner, Wired Solutions recently held their staff Christmas party at Mancuso's. It was a fun night and everyone relaxed and enjoyed the amazing food. And, it wouldn't be a Wired Solutions Christmas without an office Christmas tree decorated with yellow light bulbs, and festive blue and white decorations.
Two of our team members, Susan and Stacey, recently joined the Women’s Economic Forum (W.E.F). W.E.F is a way to create opportunities for professional women to meet and interact with women who have similar goals and interests. Both are excited to be a part of W.E.F, which has been around for over 25 years.
Measuring your Websites Performance
Do you know how many people visited your website last month? Do you know where those people were from and do you know when they left your site?
Your answers aren’t that far away. Google Analytics can offer insight into where your potential customers go when they get to your site, how much time they are spending on your site, whether those visitors have been there before or not, and even tell you what city they are from. It might be useful to know that your business based in Ontario is getting more Michigan visitors than Canadian visitors to its website. All of this information can be used in your next marketing campaign, help you update your website, run a successful Google AdWord campaign, and help you make important decisions about your business.
Lesson Learned!
The technology of the 21st century has lead to some dramatic changes in the way we analyze and run our businesses. More accurate and useful information is available; all you have to do is know how to access and use it to your benefit.
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WordUp v1.0
Saturday, November 01, 2008
November 2008
Fall has arrived! The Wired Solutions Team decided to celebrate the turning of the leaves and the onset of the chilly weather with a fall inspired Feed the Geeks Day. Everyone on the team brought in their favorite fall dish for all to share. Judging by the way we all stuffed our tummies, we all agree that the day was a complete success.
Wired Solutions recently had a client appear on the hit CBC show The Dragons Den . Larry Brun, inventor of the Attitube, appeared on the show to pitch his exercise device that uses water as motion resistance. The Attitube was well received by the Dragons and Larry walked away with a investment from two of them.
In other exciting news, look for an update to the Wired Solutions website in the next few weeks. We think it is important to keep our website up to date and in style, so we’ve put our thinking caps on and came up with some creative ideas for the site.
The Power of Google
For the better part of a century, advertisers, business owners and marketers looked for ways to spend their advertising dollars on people that might actually be interested in purchasing their product or service. Then came Google, and along with it, Google Ad Words.
When potential customers jump on the information super highway of the World Wide Web, about 4.2 Billion of us start searching with Google according to a Neilson/Netratings study1. Google ad words come into play when your potential customers start looking for a particular service, product or business. Google Ad Words are the 'Sponsored Links' you see on the right hand side of the Google search results page. They are a form of 'Pay Per Click' Advertising that allow you to reach your target audience, and you only pay if people click your ads. In addition to this, campaigns can be set on a national or regional basis.
For new domain names, and new websites, Google Ad words are perfect for getting more traffic to your website. Combined with traditional marketing efforts and Natural Search Engine Optimization, you’ve got a powerful, targeted campaign aimed at getting more people to visit your site. Now all you have to do is make sure your website has the information your potential customers are looking for.
Watch for next month’s ‘Word Up! Newsletter’ to learn how Google Analytics can help your Google Ad Word campaign.
Lesson Learned!
Use the power of today’s Search Engines to your advantage by making sure your budget includes room for Google Ad words and other Search Engine Optimization techniques.
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