Eight Don'ts Of Web Design
We all appreciate how a website's design can help or hinder its effectiveness. Is your site guilty of one or more of these common web design don'ts?
Choosing The Right Business Software
SMEs - even with a smaller budget, limited resources and smaller IT department - can implement 'big-business' tools to help them automate business and financial processes more effectively.
Effective Search Engine Marketing
It is quite easy to bring hundreds or thousands of visitors to your website; you can simply purchase ads and write enticing copy and people start clicking to your site. It is an entirely different matter to convert these visitors into customers.
It's Not All Function - Don't Forget About Your Web Site's Looks
Many people are worried about their search engine ranking, without necessarily being concerned about what the user sees when they click to the site. Sure, a search engine can match up the key terms with your site, but what impression are you making to the visitors once they click to your homepage?
Search Engine Submission - 5 Mistakes To Avoid
Search engines are an effective way to bring targeted visitors to your website. With almost 75% of visitors use search engines to locate new websites, search engines are a prime channel to attract potential customers. However, for your search engine submission to be effective, it must be done right.
About To Redesign Your Website? Read This Before You Do
Changing to a new website design can be fraught with danger - if you are not careful.
If It Isn't On Your Website Today, It Doesn't Exist!
It doesn't matter if you know you're good. Why would anyone believe you if you don't bother to accentuate it in the most visible place for prospects to see - the Internet!
What Is SEO And Why Should I Care?
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the process of altering a web site to increase the page rank in organic crawler-based search engines. So, what does that mean? Well, let's break it down into a few fast and easy steps!
How Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Works
Being easily found using Google and other search engines can impact the success of your business. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is a way of increasing traffic to your website and ensuring your business ranks high in internet search results.
Mastering Google AdWords
Many people think that Google AdWords is simple: you create ads, your ads appear on Google (and content sites), and you attract customers to your website or affiliate link. It's not that simple. It is my goal in this article, to teach you to master this difficult task, so you can prevent making the same mistakes 99% of internet marketers make when they start out.
Mighty Fine Online!
It's worth getting your website right because as a marketing tool, a well designed and functional online presence is definitely a marketing must!
Get Your Lazy Web Site Working Hard!
Turning your web site into a powerful marketing machine involves more than just reciting facts. Convert those facts to meaningful benefits by understanding what your customer needs. Then you will be turning lead into gold!
Ten Simple Tech Tips For Anyone Who Trades Off Their Name
My name has always been one of my biggest assets. If you're in a profession where your name is of huge importance, consider the following tips to make sure you're getting the most out of it.
Meetings: Time Wasted Or Well Spent?
Productivity is essential to business success. It's time to break those bad habits and embrace a faster, easier and environmentally responsible way to manage our time and our business.
11 Tips For Pay-Per-Click Success
This list details some very important points to keep in mind when creating or managing any pay-per-click campaign.
Is Blogging Good For Business?
If you have an existing website and are prepared to add something at least every week or two, then adding a blog to your site is probably a good idea.
Top 7 Online Legal Issues
Just because you may be a small business, once you are online, you are under scrutiny from a world-wide audience, so being aware of some of the legal issues involved with marketing on the Internet is very important.
Some Things To Consider When Evaluating Your Website
You have either put a lot of effort into your website or you have paid someone else a lot of money to put the effort in for you. Either way, whatever the purpose of the website, you want to get the most out of it. The question now becomes, how you can tell if your website is likely to succeed?
Busting Network Video Abuse
Recreational video use at work is crashing company networks and starving business critical applications of the bandwidth they need.
Jump-Starting Your Data Migration
The benefits of a Migration Readiness Assessment (MRA) framework resonate throughout the migration process: improved planning and budgeting, better resource utilisation, and enhanced risk mitigation.
Search Optimisation - Are You Up To Speed?
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is all about improving how your site ranks in the natural/organic listings on a search results page. Getting an improved position with search results is important, because apparently more than 80% of all online transactions begin with a keyword search.
Does Your Website Sell?
I speak with a lot of business owners about marketing. When the topic turns to websites, a common conversation emerges. "A website? Yeah, we've got one of those" says the business owner. Tick... next question! But alarm bells sound in my mind. This website may be wasting sales opportunities.
Choosing A Mobile Solution To Boost Your Company's Competitiveness
As the business world evolves, the way people work together - whether in the office or in the field - is very different today from even a couple of years ago. Today, there is even greater emphasis for companies to enhance the efficiency and productivity of its staff to boost its advantage over its competitors.
Network Security - There Are No Grey Areas
Millions of applications are installed on company networks each day without the permission of the company. These pieces of software are known as 'Greynets'. They are multiplying constantly and, with many remaining unknown and difficult to locate, they are damaging network performance, distracting staff, and creating a hole in network defences.
Why You Need A Migration Readiness Assessment
Sooner or later, many organisations will be involved in a major data migration project, either because of a system upgrade, a new application implementation, or perhaps a merger, acquisition or divestiture/spin-off. It is well understood that data migrations are difficult and risky undertakings. This article provides a framework to mitigate this risk.
SMEs Can Compete With The Big Players And Be No. 1 On Google
In the online world, size isn't a disadvantage, what counts is how well you can be found and how you present yourself.
Top Usability Design Flaws
We thought we would look back over the last couple of years to review the most common design flaws we've encountered across a range of industry websites. The good news is that many of the design principles that organisations regularly fail to address can easily be fixed with minimal cost and effort.
Will New Software Really Add Value To Your Business?
If you are looking for ways to improve your business, there is a vast array of software available which can apparently cure every business woe. According to the software vendors' marketing departments, every system will transform your business in so many ways it makes your head spin - so how do you work through the hype to see what effect a new system will really have on your business?
Would You Like Free IP With That Erroneously Sent Email?
What do you do when an email has been accidentally sent to the wrong person? Immediately panic followed by "recalling" the message which only highlights your mistake? We may not even notice we've sent it to the wrong person, and the information transmitted can have huge implications on your business.
Growing Your Business Online
How important is your company's website to its bottom line? It's no secret, we know that it's important, but how important? As the saying goes, you only get one chance to make a first impression. Improve the rate in which you convert visitors to customers on your site and improve your bottom line.
Click Fraud - Prevention Better Than Cure
In online advertising, click fraud is purposely clicking web site advertisments (whilst having no intention to buy from the cost-per-click (CPC) advertiser, for the purpose of debiting their accounts or increasing network partner/affiliate commission review. If you want to prevent your campaigns being subject to click fraud, you can employ these simple strategies to dramatically reduce the risk.
Danger - Website Linking
Did you know that website links can be very dangerous for both you and the operator of the linked website?
Realising The Internet's Potential
With competition driving the strategic direction of business in today's economy one of the greatest innovations of our time, the internet, is being overlooked in the race to find the competitive edge.
USB Control: How Do I Protect My Network?
Employees and their gadgets are now the biggest threat to IT security.
Ten Secrets For Successful Internet Marketing
Recently, an Internet research group reported that there are now over 100 million web sites on the Internet. Things that used to work even a few years ago no longer work now. That's why I've decided to list these "secrets" for successfully marketing yourself on the Internet NOW.
Accessibility Goes Hand In Hand With Usability
More often than not accessibility is overlooked and put in the ‘low priority' basket when it comes to designing a website. Many do not understand just how beneficial an accessible site can be. Not only does it allow users with disabilities to have access, but also improves the overall usability, and increases search optimisation.
Website Strategies That Will Take Your Business To The Next Level
Many companies agree that a website is a very strong sales vehicle resulting in increased sales. However, after investing a substantial amount of money in building an elaborate website, the disappointment settles in when they begin to realise that their website does not produce the results they hoped for, and that it does not match their needs and expectations.
Is Your Accounting Software Keeping Up With Your Business?
For new businesses, choosing accounting software is relatively easy. However, once your business outgrows these products, finding a replacement is far more complex.
Taming Technology
Few small business CEOs, principals, owners and managers feel that they have their technology entirely under control. The convergence of IT, communications and business has created whole new sets of challenges for the small business technology function.
Matching Your Data Systems To The Business Growth Needs Of Tomorrow
Fuelling the high growth rate for retailers, manufacturers and distributors is a flurry of mergers and acquisitions. In today’s world of mergers and acquisitions and heavy usage of the Web, companies are facing a new reality. Software that meets the company’s needs now will not be effective after a new acquisition takes place, or if sales substantially increase as a result of using the Web.
How To Implement Your New Computer Software Successfully
The first step that should be taken immediately after the software contracts are signed is to define who will assume “ownership” of the new software installation.
How To Control Your Company's Hidden Costs
One of the major factors that contribute to hidden costs lies in the warehouse. A warehouse that is not automated can create hidden losses.
How To Choose The Right Software For Your Company
When I speak with CEOs and CFOs about buying new computer software, they often respond by saying “Our software works fine. We’ve had it for 20 years and never had any problems with it”. In other words, if it’s not broken, why fix it? But their system may be broken in ways they don’t realise.
Web Analytics And Usability
This article looks at how you can start approaching the use of your website statistics to add greater value to your organisation as a whole (which never hurts when you’re looking for budget).
7 Tips To Multiply Your Online Sales
The Internet is a great marketplace, yet your chances of success increase dramatically when you understand, and take advantage of, the unique opportunities the online arena offers.
Taming The Email Monster
How much is email costing your business? It is a wonderful and incredibly powerful tool, but in high volumes it can be stressful and debilitating.
Manage Your Daily Email Deluge!
Tame your e-mail beast by mastering the art of e-mail management.
Virus, Spyware, Grayware, Malware
If a process or change to your PC setup causes lost time, loss of functionality, obscene displays or frustrating unsolicited advertising then who cares what category the problem fits into. We need preventative action and on occasions a cure.
How To Gain Optimum Value From Your Website
Welcome to the online world! Owning a website is one thing. However, keeping it looking fresh and professional is another. This guide has been developed to provide you with the basics of keeping your website looking great and remaining relevant to your customers and other stakeholders.
Is Your Web Site Helping Prospects Move Forward?
Use this checklist to see if your web site converts visitors to sales.
Is Your Web Site Optimised For Search Engines?
Use this checklist to see if your web site needs a tune-up for search engines.
IT Outsourcing - Selecting The 'Best' Infrastructure Model
Figuratively at least, CEOs are lying awake at night asking, "Is my IT infrastructure delivering what it needs to? In essence, are we doing IT right?" It is an age-old and important issue that causes CEOs considerable angst: "What is the best way to manage IT infrastructure?"
IT Infrastructure Outsourcing Options
There are different approaches to outsourcing IT services, depending on the types of services required.
Function Over Design - Developing Web Sites That Work
There are a number of common mistakes made when creating a web site which can turn the process into a very costly and time-consuming one. One of the biggest mistakes is to start off by planning what the site will look like.
In-house Software: The Dangers
While many businesses venture successfully into in-house software development at some stage, more often than not the costs and risks associated with doing so leave the business with an element of regret.
Is Your Site A Rich Feast Or A Dogs Breakfast?
A good search engine strategy is a feast of multiple courses and a blend of numerous ingredients.
Play Your Trumps
Always play your trumps. That's what my dear old Aunty used to say. "How the hell do you expect to win if you lead off suit?" Words usually followed by a sharp kick under the table to remind you not to do it again.
Sure she was talking about Eucre but she could well have been commenting on web sites. The logic is the same. If you don't play to your strengths you won't take many tricks. Why is it then that this principle is overlooked so often on the web?
The Cooking And The Eating, The Proof Of The Pudding After All
In the article Is Your Site A Rich Feast Or A Dogs Breakfast? I discussed the ingredients of a good search engine strategy and encouraged you to be honest in your initial review and goal setting. Basically, to enter the metaphorical hall of mirrors and have a good hard look at yourself, your website and the organization. Hopefully this has now taken place and now suitably armed with this information we can start to cook.
Protect Your Business From Internet Fraud
Criminal activity on the Internet has changed. No longer are Internet crimes being undertaken by bored university students looking for notoriety. Today, money and organized crime is increasingly behind computer security problems that we all face.
Websites: How To Make Yours Really Work For You
Would you consider your website a good one? Does it work for you? Do you really know?
Website Search Engine Optimisation – Tips For Maximising Online Success
Your business’ website success is determined by effective Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). SEO involves fine-tuning your website to achieve the highest possible position in the search results when a person searches for information using a search engine.
Does Your Web Site Say You Can't Cope?
By not keeping their web site up to date, many organisations are making the unwanted statement that they aren't able to cope.
Is Latest Technology An Advance Or A Hindrance?
The rapid advances in technology can present challenges to organisations that aim to be at the ‘cutting edge’. Many feel compelled to incorporate the latest technology into their activities or services – for example, on their web sites in order to be seen as leaders, instead of making the changes because they have assessed the need for such updates, and identified benefits for users.
The Rational Approach To Web Sites And Online Services
This paper is written for all those business owners who don’t have a web site or online services, but think maybe they should, or those that do have these services, but would like to do more with them. It also attempts to answer the most frequently asked question of “How much will it cost”.
Business Technology Planning - The Executive View
So you think your IT just costs you money and doesn’t deliver much. So what have you invested in planning.
Choosing Business Applications - The CEO View
Choosing and implementing a new business application can be risky, with many organisations making catastrophic, costly and very public mistakes. However there is plenty of proven experience on the best approaches, to draw on. Learn how to select and implement a new system and avoid risk.
Back To Basics
Into service or Internet. Some choice. An increasing number of entities whose business is centred on satisfying and servicing consumers are concluding that the Internet is a distraction and are returning to the fundamentals of personal interaction with customers and clients.
Building An Intranet That Delivers
In recent years, corporate intranets have moved from "nice to have" to "must have" status in virtually all industries. In many cases, they have evolved into information and knowledge sharing platforms that companies rely on to survive in a knowledge-driven economy. Designing, developing and deploying an intranet that is highly valued by the organisation can be a challenge. Nevertheless, certain strategies, when carefully executed, can simplify this process.
Getting Value From Web Sites
While most organisations claim to recognise that web site strategies have an important role to play in generating business opportunities, keeping in touch with target audiences, and sales development, the implementation of such strategies by many businesses is still lacking.
Why Your Passwords Don't Protect You
Passwords are one of the many lines of defense against intruders. Your castle guards -- the login programs and the like -- believe that you are who you say you are because you have your password. Therefore, it is important to strengthen the passwords and safeguard them.
Emails: Do The Benefits Outweigh The Costs To Business?
There is little doubt that emails have revolutionised the way businesses now communicate. The email is the most frequently used daily communication tool for most businesses. Yet it was only a matter of a few years ago that many businesses didn't have an email address. Today a business could not survive without one.
Your Network’s Basic Needs
If you have 5 PCs or less in your organisation you may not have a well-built network, as some businesses think that a solid network for such a ‘small’ office is a luxury. It depends on the type of business you have and how much you are able to spend. However, if you have any more than 10 PCs, the following are a must. They are not luxury anymore – they are necessities.
Fostering A Culture Of Innovation
No more, please! The persistent, seemingly increasing flow of technology is overwhelming entities, managers and staff members, as well as impinging on productivity and stifling the spirit of innovation in the public sector.
How To Safeguard Your Company Against SPAM
While the juggernauts of the IT industry are contemplating on how to eradicate spam in the next few years, you and I can do a few things, to reduce spam in our organisations.
How Intranets Can Change The Way You Work
Does your business have an intranet? If not what are you, your staff and the business missing out on?
Link Building
Why conducting link-building campaigns are so important to website success.
Converting Visitors
What information every website should contain to improve conversion ratios - to convert more visitors to your web site into customers.
Internet Fraud Getting More Sophisticated
Be aware that scammers are getting more sophisticated in tricking people to give them account names and passwords.
Which Search Engine Strategy Is Right For Your Business?
The rate of change in the Internet, like any industry still in relative infancy, occurs at a rapid rate. The last 12 months has seen large alterations in the popularity of various search engines.
8 Methods For Marketing Your Website
Many website owners invest large sums of money into the development of their site. They ensure they avail themselves of all the latest technology, including Customer Relationship Management (CRM), ecommerce systems and integrating online and offline databases. Then, they sit back and wait for the money to roll in.
The Trouble With Emails
The sanctity of emails is of real concern to businesses. Messages can be easily forged or misinterpreted, not received by the intended recipient, forwarded and used inappropriately. And legally there are a number of grey areas.
How To Choose An Accounting System
Learn the six steps required to correctly choose an accounting system for your organisation. Learn five common mistakes people make during this process.
Building Trust On The Internet For Electronic Commerce Purposes
Electronic commerce can be defined as the process of conducting business between entities (organisations, persons) using appropriate electronic procedures. In other words, e-commerce is a means of exchanging products, services and information over electronic networks that make up the Internet. It offers significant advantages particularly to small and medium sized organisations.
Information And Resource Protection
Computer technology in the workplace can improve productivity as well as increase access to information. At the same time, it has the potential for decreasing productivity, increasing liability, and increasing costs.
Information Technology And Telecommuting
Information technology (IT), which includes computing and telecommunications technology, has revolutionized the way people communicate and work. Although IT is but one of the components in a telecommuting system, it is the enabling force of the telecommuting movement.
e-Learning And The e-Workforce
Small business owners, entrepreneurs, executives and managers face the challenge of not only recognizing when change is coming, but where it's coming from, and how it will affect their business operations.
Making The Right Decisions In Technology And Telecommunications
The decisions for information technology (IT) & telecommunications in today’s market place cannot be made in isolation without considering the strategic business direction of the company. This skill set of combining IT and telecommunications knowledge with business thinking to achieve the best outcome is not very common.
Protect Your CRM Initiative
CRM - or Customer Relationship Management - is the art of knowing the lifecycle value of your customer. It is as simple as that.
You've Got Em@il
Email solutions for busy professionals.
How To Organise Your Computer Files
Every time Mary had to find a file on her computer, she always had great difficulty...