Posted by
Bonnie Landau on 10 Sep 2011 under
Online Tools,
QR Codes |
0 Comments
A QR code is a specialized type of bar code that allows you to encode information that can be read by a mobile device. The QR stands for “quick response” because they allow the end user to quickly capture information you want to share. Much like a product bar code, the QR code is unique and the pattern is created depending upon the information it contains.
To read the QR code you need to download a QR code reader to your smart phone or other mobile device. To read the code you simply activate your QR code app, and point it as the QR code square. Your device will read the code and transmit the information it contains.
What can a QR code used for?
Any information that can be typed out can be shared in a QR code. This could include:
- URL to a specific web page. Particularly useful if the URL is complex, such as a YouTube video.
- Your contact information on your business card.
- Link to auto-follow you on Twitter or other social network.
- Link to auto-like your Facebook fan page.
- Link to auto-like your business on Google Places.
Where can QR codes be published?
This is what makes the codes so unique. Anywhere you display information you can put a QR code. This can include:
- Billboards – yes, these big billboards can contain giant QR codes that mobile users can point and capture.
- Print advertising or brochures – a great way to bring somebody to a specific page on the web. A great way for entrepreneurs to ensure their contact information is easily uploaded into a person’s phone book.
- Send Out Cards – these unique greeting cards allow you to put in QR codes. So send a personalized note and so much more by embedding information into the QR code. Ideal for realtors who want the recipient to visit the online tour of a house for sale.
- Websites – users can hold their mobile device up to the computer monitor and read the device here. This is particularly helpful if they need to download information since it can insert the information directly into their mobile device.
- T-shirts – a unique way to share your information and create an unusual design for a custom t-shirt.
Posted by
Stephen Weed on 27 Apr 2011 under
Online Tools,
website management |
0 Comments
We are launching a full scale e-commerce site this weekend. One of the small details of these sites is to have the “compliance policies” in place that cover terms of use, privacy, etc. These policies are important because if something bad happens on your site e.g. a hacker adds unethical content to your site, your company could have damages without them.
However there are more important reasons to create a Privacy Policy and Terms of Use with some care. Users expect to see the policies and some actually look at them. It would be a big disservice to have them look sloppy. In addition, when most organizations create policies, it helps them understand how they do customer service now, whether they want to make changes and coordinate their online image with the rest of their activities.
So how do you get started?
There are usually 2 policies (Terms of Use and Privacy Policy) required, although some organizations have them combined into one organized statement.
Terms of Use would include:
- What is the purpose of the site>
- What can people do with the content and technology used on the site? (Typically users have a license for private personal use only.)
- What responsibility do you have for typos, broken links, and external links? (The typical answer is very little.)
Privacy Policy would include:
- Does your site set cookies?
- Does your site collect personal information?
- How is it used?
- Is information retained for later use?
- Is the information kept private?
- Is it kept internally? In printed form too?
- Is it made available to “partners”?
- Do you allow children to visit your site?
- Are safeguards and warnings in place for children?
Writing content for these pages
If you are having a hard time answering these questions, it often helps to look at examples first. Check out Why Have a Privacy Policy and Terms of Use? for ideas on where to get templates for these pages.
As you get ready to write your policies, ask for input from the marketing, legal and PR staff. Before you finalize these policies, you should review them with your legal staff or lawyer.
Compliance policies are important. If you never have a problem with online privacy or content issues, it will be well worth the time you spend getting them right from the start.
Posted by
Bonnie Landau on 02 Jul 2010 under
Online Marketing,
Online Tools |
0 Comments
We have been working to promote our SEO and social media summer school classes for Landau Design, and in the process we have gathered tools to help us get the word out. We thought we would share these tools since we are certain they would be useful in helping you promote your webinars.
General online event sites
Webinar listing sites
Social networking sites
Don’t miss our upcoming webinars:
Posted by
Bonnie Landau on 30 Jun 2010 under
Online Marketing,
Online Tools |
0 Comments
Webinars are becoming a trendy way to share knowledge and grow your business. They provide a convenient opportunity to gather individuals without travel time required by any party. The technology has come so far it literally takes minutes to set up and run a webinar right from your computer.
How can a webinar grow your business?
- It gives you the opportunity to share your expertise.
- You can have anybody with an internet connection join in, so you can reach people who may not be able to come to your office.
- It provides a chance to promote other products.
- It is very inexpensive to hold a gathering.
- It saves valuable time since it takes less time to organize and run a webinar than an in-person presentation.
- It provides an opportunity to stay in touch with your customers.
- Recorded webinars can become assets that you share at a later date.
- Free webinars provide a chance to share what you do.
- Free webinars attract more people than pay ones.
- It is easier to convert an attendee into a paying student once they have experience one of your free webinars.
- It is an opportunity to provide value-added customer service.
Landau Design has been using online meeting software to train our clients in how to use Joomla. Webinars became a natural extension of this service when our clients began requesting training in areas like search engine optimization, blogging and social media. We now schedule quarterly webinar series which clients can choose from to grow and hone their skills.
This summer we are offering the following classes:
Posted by
Bonnie Landau on 22 Feb 2010 under
Google ranking,
Online Tools,
SEO |
3 CommentsSEO (search engine optimization) is a critical part of any online strategy. While it seems like building your site was a lot of work, to be found amongst to millions of sites, a concerted SEO effort must be employed.
But SEO may seem like a deep, dark black whole of “what the heck am I suppose to do?” While there are a lot of reputable companies helping with excellent search engine optimization campaigns, many small businesses do not have the funds to hire an SEO expert.
Keywords are key
A lot can be done with search engine optimizing methods, but if you do not pay attention to your keywords, then your efforts may be for naught. Choosing keywords is the first step towards optimizing your website. Once you’ve chosen your keywords, analyzing your pages to determine if you have the right keyword density will help you make certain you are on target for SEO.
What is keyword density?
Keyword density indicates the percentage of frequency a word appears on a page and in the meta data. For example, if you have 100 words on your page, and you have the keyword “design” 10 times on that page, then the keyword density for design would be 10%. SEO experts say you shouldn’t go over 15% keyword density on a page because then it appears to be keyword stuffing. The search engines will see this as a negative, and may not index your page.
How word clouds help
Word clouds are a graphic representation of keywords on a specific site or page. Words that appear more frequently are larger within the word cloud, while words that are less frequent are smaller. A word cloud gives you a quick, visual snapshot of the keywords on your site, and dense they are in comparison to each other.
Keyword density analysis tools
The following tools we have found do an excellent job of analyzing keyword density on your site. They are all free and simple to use. You just have to input your URL, and the site does the rest. You do not have to sign up for anything, or even tell them your name, so you can use the tools anonymously and as often as you like.
What tools do you like to use?
What are you favorite keyword density tools? Have you found some commercial tools that are worth the price? We’re always open to new ideas, so let us know in the comments about the tools you like to use.
