http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/index/ en bryan@eyeobiz.com Copyright 2010 2010-07-07T13:15:47+00:00 http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/website_design_options/ http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/website_design_options/#When:13:15:47Z For all websites that we build there is a design fee.  It covers the creation of a design and the 'coding' of that design into a website.  But we offer two different options when building your website and here's why... For all websites that we build there is a design fee.  It covers the creation of a design and the 'coding' of that design into a website.  But we offer two different options when building your website and here's why... Option 1 - Client Managed Site Higher Upfront Cost - Lower Monthly Management Cost (if any) Reasons for Option 1: The coding process takes longer as we must custom code the site to be editable by the client If e-commerce, we must customize the backend of the system to be easily navigable by the client Depending on how the client wants to host the site, there may not be a hosting fee at all (from us) Training is always needed and that cost is factored in to the upfront cost At least three months of tech support fees are factored in to the upfront cost   Option 2 - EYEOBIZ Managed Site Lower Upfront Cost - Higher Monthly Management Cost Reasons for Option 2: The coding process takes less time as we are able to edit raw code versus setting up an interface for the client If e-commerce, we handle all backend procedures and provide the client with reports Web and Email hosting and regular updates/changes are provided by EYEOBIZ Training is not needed as we manage the site for the client Tech support is not needed   Depending on the site, the client, the platform being used and a host of other factors; we always consult with our clients as to what option fits them best.  Some clients already know what they want and we simply serve that need.  Others are a little unsure or completely clueless as to what they need/want and we give our best effort to provide them with the best possible fit for their business. If you have any questions as to what might be the best for you, give us a call or drop us a line.  We provide a FREE Website Analysis. 2010-07-07T13:15:47+00:00 http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/whats_a_platform/ http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/whats_a_platform/#When:17:27:19Z What's a platform and which one do I need?  A common question we get at EYEOBIZ and it's a great one.  The best answer is: What are you trying to do well?  And that answer shouldn't be "everything".  Here's why... Platform is a relatively new term in web development because most often in the past, websites were built using raw HTML with perhaps a little JavaScript, or Flash thrown in for special effects and whatnot. Now-a-days, however, websites are more often built with (or "on") a platform of some kind.  The reason for this is because more and more business, organizations and even individuals need websites to "do" something.  Such as: store information, calculate information, retrieve information or display information.  The days of static "info sites" is really fading.  And the biggest example of that is something like Facebook.  If Facebook were a static website with just some juicy info for you to read, you'd probably visit once and most likely never go back.  At least not often.  But in reality, Facebook is an extremely dynamic website that allows it's users to "do" lots of things.  Store information, share information, display information, play games, find each other and connect with others doing the same.    Blogs and/or websites using content management systems are also very similar.  They each use a platform to deliver information stored in a database to an interface - the website.  E-commerce sites are another great example of web platforms.  Some e-commerce systems are extremely complex and are just about like using a desktop program on the web.  The difference is, programs that run over the internet are typically called web applications instead of programs. Those web applications are built and operated with a platform or more specifically a programming language. So do you need one?  Yea pretty much.  But the type of platform depends on what your focus is.  If you're going to focus on selling products, a blog platform is not the smartest choice.  Or vice versa.  If your site doesn't put out lots of information each day chances are a content management system isn't necessary.  We at EYEOBIZ.com use many different platforms as a foundations for our clients' websites.  Knowing which one to use and when is the kicker.  If you're not sure what type of platform is right for you, please drop us a line or give us a call.  We'll happy to give you free advice on which option is best for you. 2010-04-07T17:27:19+00:00 http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/how_deep_is_this_pool/ http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/how_deep_is_this_pool/#When:22:45:06Z I recently spoke with someone who said, "I'm not sure what the smartest path is to take when it comes to starting a new online business.  Should I build it myself to save money, or just jump in and go for broke with a design firm?" I recently spoke with someone who said, "I'm not sure what the smartest path is to take when it comes to starting a new online business.  Should I build it myself to save money, or just jump in and go for broke with a design firm?" Well, chances are if you don't really have a good understanding of what you're "jumping into", you might just "go for broke".    So here's what I told her.  Don't hire a web design firm just because they have a fancy website or an impressive office building or because they say they can implement all kinds of wiz-bang widgets.  And for that matter don't just hire a freelancer because they're cheap.  What you should seek out is a design firm (or freelance) who can structure and build scalability for you.  Someone or a company who knows how and when to implement the proper technologies for your best benefit. For instance let's say you're going to sell a few products online to start out with.  And when I say "a few products" I mean like less than 20 items.  You don't need to hire a firm to build an e-commerce solution that's true setup is to handle hundreds if not thousands of products.  There are far less expensive and "scalable" ways of getting you off the ground that make far more sense.  Your designer should know of, and be able to implement both types and also know how to transition from one to the other without interruption to your business. Another example: Let's say you want to launch a site for your business for the purpose of letting other  companies, investors, clients or  potential clients view your services.  Which is typically referred to as an "info site".  But lets say your true goal is to get into the mainstream spotlight with your service or invention and climb the search engine ranks.  You don't need to hire a firm to build a static site that's basically the equivalent to a business card.  You need to find a firm that will implement technologies that will help your search engine rank grow from the outset not down the road when your competition is passing you. So how deep is this pool?  Well it depends on where you jump in and where you plan to go.  At EYEOBIZ.com we base our business on providing this guidance because we come across business owners everyday who are frustrated and tight on money because they didn't know what they were hiring someone else to do for them.  They just jumped in and started swimming. To get a completely free web site analysis (for pre-existing sites and for start-ups) click here. 2010-03-18T22:45:06+00:00 http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/blogging_to_create_better_page_rank/ http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/blogging_to_create_better_page_rank/#When:02:30:22Z As you read this you'll understand clearly that I'm not a "professional" blogger. I mean, I can throw down a pretty good email from time to time, but a message to the world??? Ummm... not so much. Nevertheless, I'm compelled to write this blog entry because it's content should help us both. Here's the deal... blogging can actually help your website's search engine rank! Now it's not the magic bullet or anything, because, well, there is no magic bullet in search engine optimization. But it does do something very important. It keeps your website full of fresh content. With that said, don't think that you can simply copy something from another website, paste it to yours and call it a blog post. It doesn't work like that. Google knows the difference. No, what you must do is write fresh, original content just like this blog entry that I'm writing right now. So what do I write about you ask? Good question! My basic rule of thumb is to write about what I know. I know web design and I talk about it everyday with clients so I take that knowledge and share it just as I'm doing now. Whether you're a retailer or a consultant, simply use your experiences and share them with the world. That knowledge, especially available on the world wide web, is exactly what we use the web for in the first place. To access free content that informs us or sells us what we're looking for. Example: Being that I own a web design company based in Anderson, South Carolina, it behooves me to write blogs about that very thing. Web design. And of course it also behooves me to fill those blogs with keywords that pertain to my business such as, Anderson and South Carolina and web design. Get the picture? Those "keywords" will fall within a natural flow of content written for the benefit of the reader and of course it's a continued description of my business because I'm generally talking about what I know as it pertains to my business, which in turns helps people. (I hope) Anyway! Be warned! Blogging is not for the faint of heart, as most of us (including myself) are not authors, we're business owners. Few of us have the time to sit around and think up something clever to write about concerning our businesses. We just need it done right!? Well yes, but with search engine page rank being the sword we live and/or die by in the Information Age it might be worth "giving it a go" as they say in Australia. Perhaps you have an employee who could do it? Or maybe your spouse? Doesn't matter really. Just so long as the site has a fresh flow of (relevant) content being added to it fairly regularly. And finally who better to setup the blog for you?? Who else?! EYEOBIZ.com of course!! (I actually laughed out loud as I typed that. So see it can even be somewhat fun!) But seriously, we specialize in building blogs for our website customers here in the Anderson South Carolina area! (Just dropp'n some keywords there pardon me...) :) Until next time America!!! This is Bryan Spearman saying so long! 2010-02-03T02:30:22+00:00 http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/fresno_gazette_is_a_scam/ http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/fresno_gazette_is_a_scam/#When:17:41:00Z Ever posted something on Craig's List and got a response from someone who says: Howdy! I'm from (your town) too. Are you 100% certain you have to let go of your (product you're selling)? Take 30 seconds for this local newspaper I discovered... a few days ago that could help you out in your scenario. http://fresno-newspaper-online.com Hopefully it's of some help for you. Well just to fill you in. It's a scam. We've researched this particular "news paper" and it doesn't exist and we've also received this particular scam from other sources as well. Just a heads up in case you run across it. 2009-12-03T17:41:00+00:00 http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/opa_study_content_is_still_king/ http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/opa_study_content_is_still_king/#When:12:18:13Z A bigger proportion of Internet users are spending more time on content sites than they were six years ago, according to a new analysis by the Online Publishers Association. But that growth has come at the expense of communication and commerce sites. The study showed that people in 2009 on average spent 42% of their time online on content sites compared to 34% in 2003, when the OPA launched its Internet Activity Index, which tracks monthly Internet use across five categories: commerce, communications, community, content and search. The actual amount of time spent on content sites has nearly doubled since 2003, increasing from an average of three hours, 42 minutes to 6:58. By contrast, people are not lingering as long on communication-focused properties, which include Web sites and services such as Yahoo Mail, AOL Instant Messenger and MSN Groups. People spent only 27% of their time on communication sites in 2009, down from 46% in 2003. Time spent fell 8% from 5:20 to 4:54. The share of time spent on commerce sites fell less dramatically, from 16% to 13%, while the actual time actually increased 26% from 2:07 to 2:40. A major factor eating away at time spent on communication and commerce sites has been the rise of social networking sites in the last few years. The OPA only added the "community" category last year to reflect that phenomenon. "In 2008, we introduced the Community category based on the emergence and popularity of sites like Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn," said OPA President Pam Horan in a statement. "These new sites have had significant impact on the communications category, which saw a 41% decline, due to the fact consumers are using community sites where they can conduct these same activities more efficiently." Today, community sites account for 13% of Internet users' time, and 3:01 on average per person each month. Time spent with search, meanwhile, has doubled from 27 minutes to 54 minutes, but its share of time has grown only from 3% to 5%.   Original article by: MediaPost Publications 2009-09-18T12:18:13+00:00 http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/report_four_out_five_americans_online_visit_social_networks/ http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/report_four_out_five_americans_online_visit_social_networks/#When:14:05:42Z We'd like to officially welcome you to The Facebook Age. Now, according to a new report from Forrester Research, more than four in five U.S. online adults report using social media at least once a month, while half report participating in social networks like Facebook. And while young people continue to march toward almost universal adoption of social applications, the most rapid growth occurred among consumers 35 and older. "This means the time to build social marketing applications is now," said Forrester analyst and report author Sean Corcoran. "Interactive marketers should influence social network chatter, master social communication, and develop social assets -- even if their customers are older." Forrester's analysis of the Social Technographics Profile of online Americans over the past three years shows that "joiners" -- the group that uses social networks -- had the most explosive growth. Nearly one-quarter of U.S. online adults are new "creators" -- people who write blogs, upload original audio or video, or post stories online. "Easy-to-use blogging tools encouraged some less tech-savvy adults to create social content this year, but the majority of consumers are still consuming, not creating, content," said Corcoran. The critic group, meanwhile, did not grow in 2009. While more than one-third of online Americans still take part in activities like posting reviews and commenting on blogs, fewer now contribute to online forums. Why? "We think consumers shifted their discussions to major social networks like Facebook," Corcoran said. Collectors, those who organize online content, grew slightly. One in five online adults categorize Web content via tags, RSS feeds, and "voting" sites like Digg and Reddit. Consumers' rapid adoption of applications that use tags, like Facebook and Twitter, boosted this group's growth. Joiners swelled to one in two online adults. Half of online adults now belong to social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn, a 46% growth rate year-over-year. Both friends' encouragement and press coverage likely drew people to these sites, according to Forrester. Nearly everyone's a "spectator" as three in four online Americans now consume social content, while user-generated video viewing, blogs, and online reviews drove the growth of social content consumption. Inactives now represent less than one-fifth of online adults, as only 18% of U.S. online adults don't use social tools in 2009 -- down from 25% in 2008. Who participates socially? "Everyone," according to Forrester's research. "Adults of all ages increased their use of social tools." Adults younger than 35 approached universal social participation, while adults ages 18 to 24 and those ages 25 to 34 adopt social media similarly. Only 3% of 18- to-24-year-olds and 10% of 25- to-34-year-olds are socially inactive. What's more, a staggering 89% of the younger crowd are spectators, while nearly as many are joiners. And almost half create content -- far higher than any other age group. Adults ages 25 to 34 also grew their participation across all categories -- especially in social networks. The message here: Social applications are necessary in every marketing plan that targets young adults. Forrester encourages marketers to develop social applications, even if their audience is mature. "Social media can no longer be dismissed as a quirky habit of young adults," Corcoran said. "Nearly all online adults now participate socially, including those in their 40s and 50s." Forrester further recommends crafting a brand's social entrance quickly, as "hesitating will force you to chase competitors who've already launched their social strategies." To garner its insights, Forrester conducted the North American Technographics Interactive Marketing Online Survey in May 2009, which surveyed 4,766 U.S. individuals ages 18 to 88. Original article by: MediaPost Publications 2009-08-26T14:05:42+00:00 http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/you_get_what_you_pay_for/ http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/you_get_what_you_pay_for/#When:01:07:50Z In these tough economic times everyone is ready and willing to cut costs to make sure their businesses stay afloat. Hey, so are we! But be sure when cutting costs you don't throw the baby out with bath water. Just recently I had a potential client tell me... ...that our fees were too high and that they could get a website online for $10 a month! Far less than hiring you guys, he said. Hey, this is absolutely true, no question. BUT! Then what? So you have a website for your business out on the internet. Mission not accomplished my friend. If you want it to generate business that is. At that point you're pretty much a microbe in an ocean of websites and competition and you just won't be seen without professional optimization of your site. So here's what I said: "Yes you can do that but our fees cover hosting, optimization, monthly management and even training! We are a service to your business that works on your site every week as though we were an employee." Why? Because getting on the 1st page of a Google search ain't easy. It takes darn-near constant effort and optimization to accomplish that especially if your business is in a highly competitive field. So the moral of this little story is to be sure you know what you're getting if you go the cheap route. If you're a business owner with a laser focus on running your business successfully, going cheap on the future of your business is not the greatest idea. After all cheap is just cheap. Inexpensive is an entirely different deal. We can build starter sites that are inexpensive to launch and maintain but even then you have a team of professionals behind your online efforts. This fact turns that microbe into a lighthouse that gets seen. If you'd like a free website analysis, register on our contact page and we'll come to you. We'll comb over every aspect of your online presence and provide you with expert advice on how you can improve. If you choose to use us for the upgrades, great! If not, it's still a free service! 2009-08-22T01:07:50+00:00 http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/how_ad_position_affects_conversion_rates/ http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/how_ad_position_affects_conversion_rates/#When:13:26:51Z For marketers wondering how conversion rates change depending on where ads appear on Web pages, Google Chief Economist Hal Varian appears to have an answer. Varian calls the problem "tricky," because Google ranks ads by bid times and ad quality, so ads in higher positions tend to have higher quality. These higher-quality ads tend to have higher conversion rates. He writes in a post on the AdWords blog that this means marketers may see a correlation between auction position and conversion rates. Another fact that influences conversions: marketers increasing bids might see their average position move lower on the page. That's because when bids increase, ads appear in new auctions, and tend to work their way up from the bottom. This can push down the campaign's overall position, he writes. "We have used a statistical model to account for these effects and found that -- on average, there is very little variation in conversion rates by position for the same ad," Varian writes. "For example, for pages where 11 ads are shown the conversion rate varies by less than 5% across positions." An ad that had a 1.0% conversion rate in the best position would have about a 0.95% conversion rate in the worst position, on average, Varian writes. He explains that ads above search results convert within ±2% of right-hand side positions. Didit VP Mark Simon says the New York company sees similar conversion rates occurring with its clients. "Not all traffic is converting traffic," he says. "The trick is to offer the creative and post-click experience that draws in the right searchers and drives them to convert, while also targeting the right market segment to convert on a given term." Original article by: MediaPost Publications 2009-08-20T13:26:51+00:00 http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/bigger_isnt_necessarily_better_when_it_comes_to_online_ad_formats/ http://www.eyeobiz.com/index.php/site/bigger_isnt_necessarily_better_when_it_comes_to_online_ad_formats/#When:12:32:35Z In most media, advertisers pay more for the biggest, and theoretically most noticeable advertising formats, because they believe they work better. But when it comes to online advertising, smaller, and ostensibly less expensive, may actually work better. That is the conclusion of new research unveiled this morning by advertising effectiveness researcher Dynamic Logic. The study, which was based on 2,390 online display campaigns running over the past three years, found that so-called "half banners" (those measuring 234 x 60) and rectangles (180 x 150) were more effective than ads that frame the page such as high profile leaderboards and skyscrapers. The Dynamic Logic researchers said the reason is that the smaller format display ads are far more integrated into the content of Web pages, and consequently are more effective at "driving online ad awareness and purchase intent." Ken Mallon, senior vice president-custom solutions at Dynamic Logic added the caveat that the relative creative quality of each ad is the single most important factor, but that all things being equal, format size can be a significant determinant in campaign effectiveness. "We continue to believe that creative quality is the most important factor driving the success of online advertising," he stated, adding. "However, it will be interesting to see how the new, larger ad formats that publishers are beginning to debut will rank next to the more traditional online ad formats. Based on the current data, bigger doesn't always mean better, but these new ad formats are quite unique and we look forward to testing them." Not surprisingly, the researcher also found campaigns using rich media with video created the strongest brand impact compared with campaigns using simple flash and rich media without video formats. The worst performer was simple flash, the format used most often by agencies and advertisers. Original article by: MediaPost Publications 2009-08-20T12:32:35+00:00