Code For Web

Google Analytics

Posted on by Josh

Nice post by Ali Sefati (here) about Google Analytics (GA) and how it is the perfect tool for small businesses.

Google offers a wide range of tools and resources to companies of all sizes (at a price). GA is, like Ali said, a perfect tool for any small to medium size company to utilize since it is free and offers a wide range of reporting tools to allow for an organization to make online marketing decisions.

Other tools are out there that to offer a similar set of analytics.

Piwik is a free open source analytics tool that aims to be just as good as GA. I use it for a few websites to get live statistics (since GA has a 4-6 hour delay). Piwik works just like GA, include a javascript on your website and your good to go.

Mint (Have a Mint) is an alternative that really gives insight to the end users who visit your website. $30 per site, one major issue; requires PHP.

While there are many enterprise offerings in the market, many companies cannot afford or justify the cost. GA continues to be a solid and reputable option, and its hard to beat that price point.

Finding the Balance in Once Work

Posted on by Josh

How to find that balance between programming and talking with clients. It is tough since you have a ton of programming work to be completed, yet you have several clients you must follow up with through out the week. Meetings to attend, connections to make and deals to finalize. Were does one find the time to keep up on all the on going tasks and discussions.

In the busy world we work and live in it have become overwhelmingly difficult to manage and balance one’s work life. There seems to be a constant pull for once attention to a various array of subjects and demands. As a programmer we thrive by having time to solve problems without interruption. We demand a level of concentration and focus in order to solve issues and provide acceptable solutions for the applications that we are currently creating.

But on the flip side, we are running a business that survives by the demands, wants, needs, request and pleas from our clients to have their application, software, website, etc.. updated, created and/or launched. As an owner we must give our clients undivided attention in order to fully understand their request, otherwise the client will leave with the impression that they are being blown off.

Its a tough balance, do I work or field request from the clients.

As a small company, we do not have the resources that larger firms have. Some have a “traffic” person or a project manager that will field the request from clients and then distribute accordingly. While that would be great to have, I currently canot justify the cost, it happens so you find ways. Currently I am blocking out time each day to answer emails, take and return phone calls, attent to clients’ needs and wants. Which is working out great so far, I take care of the clients for a few hours, they all are very happy and then i stop answering email and phone calls for programming, planning architecting and team meetings/discussions in order to get projects moving forward. Simple, yes; effectiveness = HUGE!

For each person the balance is different. Some thrive with distractions (not sure how they do, does anything ever get done?) some like to have some structure and know they can control the workflow and keep things moving forward. Goal is to find what works best for your team and you, that way  you can be productive and your team can keep working and move forward on projects.

Why Should You Care About Mobile Design

Posted on by Josh

Seriously! How many people do you know that walk around with smartphones; iPhone, Android based phones, Blackberries. Just about everybody now days have an Internet capable phone. Therefore in the web design and development world we must care about MOBILE DESIGN. Do we have a choice, no, not really. You can not care, and see what happens in a few years, OR you can care today and be ahead of the cure.

Few items to consider when it comes to mobile design.

Do we render different HTML for mobile devices?

So we use media queries (in CSS) to target screen size?

Two very valid questions that impact the way and manner in which a web application will be designed. Mobile is here to stay and its only just beginning to really impact how web applications are viewed. If your firm or company is not learning today how to create mobile enabled websites and applications you could potentially see a loss in business and clients in the near future.

Today mobile is the “buzz” word, but tomorrow it will be the new “desktop browser”.

From Zeldman’s website:

Shift in Usage

Let’s look at Gmail:

  • Visitors to web-based emails sites declined 7%.
  • Visitors accessing email on mobile devices increased 36%.

But what about mobile web usage?

Twitter Usage

40% of tweets sent via mobile.

16% of new users start on mobile.

Mobile web usage

  • Mobile phones will overtake PCs as the most common web access devices worldwide by 2013.
  • 600% growth in traffic to mobile websites in 2010.
  • Facebook and Twitter access via mobile browser grows by triple digits in 2010.
  • Average smartphone user visits up to 24 websites per day.
  • Top 50 websites constitute only 40% of mobile visits.
  • Opera Mini traffic up 200% year/year.

 

 

This is eye opening information!

 

Firefox 4

Posted on by Josh

Great release from the Firefox team! The browser does appear to be faster, smoother and just rock as usual. Only time will tell how successful this launch is of the latest and greatest.

The initial view of the browser is cleaner, updated interface and a new add-one management interface. I am using FF4 on the mac, and the previous version I ran into a lot of issues with the browser slowing down which seemed like memory issues.

My main browsers I use are Firefox and Chrome, and yes I mainly use MAC OS (surprised I don’t use Safari a ton?).

Get yours today!

Good to Great

Posted on by Josh

Currently reading “Good to Great“, it is a perfect book for any business owner to read or upper level management. It really explains the difference between good managers to great managers. The book is loaded with examples of great companies and what the managements (CEO or Owner’s) focus was to get the company to where it needed to be.

So far I am about 50% through the book and enjoying it.

Next up, Thank You Economy.

RDFa its the new kid on the block or is it?

Posted on by Josh

So, we are all fighting for a chunk of that search engine pie, changing content, modifying items like crazy! Implementing sitemap.xml files left and right and submitting those to Google and Bing webmaster tools and passing them off to who ever else will accept them!

RDFa can greatly help, yes it can! By implementing RDFa in your web pages, Google is able to understand the website’s content and purpose better. For example, e-commerce sites that take advantage of RDFa can improve product search results. You will notice that Amazon.com search results in Google even contain overall user rating information.

Is RDFa Web 3.0? Is there even a Web 3.0. My good friend Ali Sefati (SEO Specialist) says there is and RDFa is a major component to Web 3.0. Content is becoming a huge focus for the web, Google, Bing and other search engines have realized that META TAGS are not the answer, and those can easily be fooled, tweaked and modified to boost and alter research results. What is important is the content of the website, and adding the RDFa spec will only enhance that content.

Part of your web implementations should look at included the basics of RDFa, to improve the customer’s page indexing and “searchability”.

Resources:

RDFa Primer

RDFa Wiki

The Sweet Spot

Posted on by Josh

Currently planning out a restaurant system for many of my clients. Trying to find that sweet spot where clients go, “thats a great price and fair” and I go, “I am making some money”. At times its like an unnatural balance.

Its a fine line between overpriced and underpriced. It really depends on the industry and the clientele. Some industries expect a high price for the work that is to be completed. While other industries have little knowledge of what work is involved in creating an outstanding website to promote the business and think any $500.00 package will get them going!

I have talked with clients who expect a six figure price for their project because that is what they have been accustomed to. Even if their project is simple, can be done for way less, they have been “trained” that all project cost six figures.

Then there is the client who wants it all for $500.00. Not sure where this value emerged from but it seems to be the “package price” on the market. EBay clone for 500, Yelp clone 500 and so on. These clients are a challenge to work with since the amount of work required to make their vision a reality, honestly is a lot.

So the fine line to find the sweet spot. Its a complex mathematical equation of client’s understanding, client’s expectations, your teams ability to get the work done (how fast, quality), and industry. How that equation looks: complex.

As a company you can make a better profit is you have a solid team, fill each of the roles your company requires for design and development properly with the right staff (yes, I know thats a trick), the people with the right attitude and before you know it, sites are being launched left and right, clients are excited and your company is doing well.

Crush It!

Posted on by Josh

Finished! Yes and I crushed it!

I just finished ready Gary Vaynerchuk’s “Crush It!“. Great book, filled with insightful information about marketing oneself and promoting your passion. Making your passion into a business and thriving/surviving off the success (you must keep trying, failure is an acceptable part/path of success, that is how we learn).

Gary reflects on how he used social media to expand and promote himself and his business ventures. Taking advantage of all the different social media applications on the web today, you can expand your business, your “fan club” and your ability to attract new business and opportunities.

For any business or even marketing person, this is a must read!

Buy it today!

Wow Where Did 2010 Go?

Posted on by Josh

Wow – 2010 came and went already. What happened in 2010 in the world of the web?

HTML5 hit the development/design communities – this is looking to run right into 2011 and continue to shake things up. I love it, personally – its a great move forward for technology and the capabilities it brings.

CSS3 keeps making browsers smarter for the UI and making designers heads spin. Good stuff.

Web Fonts – yes we are tired of Verdana, Arial, Comic Sans and the other dozen or so web “safe” fonts. We now have options with the massive selection of fonts to choose from thanks to web font services such as Google, Font Squirrel, Webtype, Typekit and so on.

Mobile device market has heated up. The competition for 2011 looks like it will be an exciting race to the top. Apple to be releasing iPad2? Mobile Flash anyone? Android based phones continue to flood the market, which cell phone manufacture doesn’t have an Android based phone, oh wait Apple doesn’t. But this is the future, soon everyone will have a mobile phone that is powered by the internet, we will be connected 24/7 and everywhere we go.

Social Media, with Twitter, Facebook and the rest ramping up new features, services and integration points, look at 2011 to be filled with social media craziness. We will yet again see a new kid on the block? Niche social media outlets? Or massive social media conglomerates? Marketing strategies have been redefined thanks to social media.

Design trends, I think 2010 started out organic with earth tones feel, now where are we at? Not sure, its a mixed bag of good, great and OMG what where you thinking!!!!

What to look for in 2011

  • Mobile Design and Apps
  • HTML5/CSS3 goodness
  • Explosion of the e-book market – publish it yourself! Amazon, Apple, BN now have made it easier for you to become an author.

Happy & Good Health to all for 2011