Geek Speak – “TAG” happy – connecting print to web

Between the print world and the digital world there has been a great chasm. Imagine this, you are sitting down in your recliner, drinking a nice cup of coffee reading the Valley Bugler Newspaper. Life is good, reading positive stories and LOL over the hilarious jokes. You are enjoying a good balance of stories and ads. You see an offer that interests you from a local business. It invites you to go to their web site.
Now is the digital disconnect. No matter how many times you click (or tap or touch) the web address it’s still just a piece of paper…
So how do we cross the digital divide? (Go from print to digital?) You might circle or cut out the ad to look at it later. If you are geeky you might go to your computer or grab your laptop and type in the web address to take a look. If you are extra geeky you might type in the url into your smart phone. Unfortunately, the above ways are cumbersome. In our world of instant gratification, your interest may be redirected back to your coffee or to your favorite Newspaper.
Enter the Quick Response QR Codes.
These 3-D bar codes (see below) are the bridge that can drive people from print to digital! >I think of them as paper based hyperlinks.
What does that mean?
You scan (take a picture of) the code on your smart phone and it links you directly to a web site. And you aren’t limited to just web sites.
The code can contain a phone number, social media link, an SMS message, a google map, V-Card data or just plain alphanumeric text, and the scanning device will respond by opening up the correct application to handle the encoded data. The codes were originally created in Japan in 1994, they’ve been in Europe for years and now we are seeing them in the US.  QR Codes use the ISO-18004 standard. This means they are the same across the globe. They simply differ in the content the contain.
If you’ve read this months Bugler you’ve already seen a handful of these codes. To read the codes you need to first get a scanner app for your smart phone. I’ve created a mobile web site that you can use to find a free QR code reader for your phone. Note: Your phone needs to have a digital camera in order to scan codes. With your phone in hand, open up your web browser and go to http://m.omoriginals.com
You can select your phone Manufacturer (Brand) and get setup. Here are three codes for your scanning enjoyment.

Now you can scan the code, check out a web site and even call the business or buy something on their website without getting out of your chair or spilling your coffee. Now that’s geeky.
Word to the wise (for businesses): Keep in mind that these paper hyperlinks send people to websites on mobile devises. Your web site may not be ready for the mobile world. You will likely need to make some significant changes to your website to make it mobile friendly before sending people there.
This is just a glimpse into the future of these codes. If you want to be a digital bridge builder, I invite you to contact my office to request a QR Code consultation. Scan the code in this article to connect. ~:-)
Or for those of you who WANT this type of technology but don’t have a clue what the above article is all about, you can call our office @ (360)575-9839 or go online to:
omOriginals.com

Making a better “About Us” page

Hello Geeks, and many thanks for the great feedback about last months article concerning BLOGS. I know a few of you are jumping in and making your web site a better place. This month we are going to tackle another page of importance on your site.
The “About Us” page.  Sorry for the let down, it’s not a buzz word like BLOG, Facebook, Social Plug-in, eMail Marketing, etc. Most every web site has one, but many webmasters overlook the importance of this page.  How important is the “About Us” page?
You will know this answer if you’ve been checking your web stats.
You see that after the Home page (for many) the most popular page on a site is the “About Us” page. By popular I mean pages with the most page views. This is a page that most people and search engines go to. Let’s consider why.
People
Before people invest time and/or money in your services, they want to learn about the company behind the offering. Your new visitors often know little if anything about your company before they find their way to your site.
Search Engines
Oh the search engines love a well written “About Us” page. It includes all of the W’s:
Who, What, When, Where & Why.
Make sure all your Ws are covered because this is what would be customers will search for to find. I challenge you to update your “About Us” page. I’m confident it will improve your web site and web site traffic. ~:-)
Here is list of content you should include.

What
• What does your company do or offer?
• What is important to your company?
• What makes your company different?
• What makes your company trustworthy?
Examples could include memberships, testimonials, articles, awards, guarantees, etc
Where
• Where is your business located?
• Where is your area of service?
• Where can people purchase your offer?
• Where is your BLOG?
• Where can we connect to your Social Media?
Why
• Why did you create your company?
• Why would someone like to buy from your company?
• Why would someone want to join your team?
Who
• Who is behind your company?
• Who are some key team members?
• Who do you serve?
• Who are you looking to hire?
When
• When was your company founded?
• When are you open?
• When were major milestones reached?
How (The W is the in wrong place, but you get the idea)
• How do you deliver value?
• How do you serve your customers?
• How do you create your products?
• How can you be reached?

If you update your “About Us” page to include the Ws you will help your new visitors and the search engines to get a good picture of your business. Speaking of pictures, I also encourage you to add photos and/or video to this page. Make your business shine.
That’s About it. ~:-) I’d love to hear your results if you take me up on this challenge!
Oscar is the owner and creative director @ omOriginals Marketing! Check out their work and request a free initial consultation @ omOriginals.com or call them at (360)575-9839

To Blog or Not to Blog; That's No Longer the Question

I wish you a prosperous New Year. Many of our clients asked for help setting up BLOGS last year. BLOGS are a buzz word you should know.

First off, what is a BLOG?

The term is a blend of web and log. You see, geeks (& mathematicians) think it is cool to simplify things (often at the risk of making them more complicated). A BLOG is basically a journal on a web site. For many it is the “News” section. Much of a web site remains fairly static, but a BLOG is edited whenever news breaks.

A BLOG can also be interactive, where it can be open to comments. A word to the wise, be sure to moderate your comments. With my business, we send all comments to review by a human before they go live. ~:-)

4 reasons why you should have a BLOG on your company’s web site.

1. BLOGS are fresh, people know to look to the BLOG for the latest info about your company.
2. BLOGS are loved by search engines. What makes a search engine happiest? Fresh relevant content. A properly created BLOG is written as much for search engine rankings as it is for people.
3. BLOGS are archive-able: As soon as new articles are posted the old ones are archived. This allows visitors to get some history on past projects from your company.
4. BLOGS are social. BLOGs play nice with social media, and smart ones can automagically update your facebook, linkedin and twitter.

Warning: I hear some of you running off to Blogger.com to setup a BLOG right now. STOP!! I said above that the BLOG should be on YOUR Website. If you post it @ Blogger (or any other blogging site) THEY will reap much of the benefit for your hard work. Be sure your BLOG lives at your company’s website, not theirs.

What should you ‘post in your BLOG and how often?
This article is not a substitute to sitting down for some serious consulting with your favorite marketing geek, but I will share some general thoughts on content. We always work to deliver value. Most of our clients have a wealth of knowledge that they can share with their customers. By sharing your company as a resource, you become viewed as an expert in your area of business. Consider this an investment in your customers, current and future.

For omOriginals we post 2 articles a month with marketing tips [like this one ~:-)]. We also post brief articles on recently completed projects. This is valuable for our customers (promotion) and for visitors to see interesting marketing ideas, are to show real world examples of our work. We also share articles from others on occasion to change things up a bit.

How often? This will vary for each business. I often recommend 1 or 2 posts per month for companies new to BLOGGING. I’ve seen a fair amount of people start out strong with 1 or 2 a week for a few weeks and them drop off the map. It is best to make your plan sustainable. This is a balance of quality and quantity.

Here is a bonus: After you create these articles you can broadcast them in lots of places (Social sites, eMail marketing, newspapers, newsletters, mailers, etc.)

Do you have to do this alone?

Not unless you are a crazy micro-manager. Your company is likely a collection of uniquely talented individuals. Each of you has your own unique voice. By sharing the work of the BLOG with others in your organization you will have a richer experience for your users.

Side note: I enjoy reading Summer’s tips on our BLOG, they offer fresh marketing insight.

Outside help
There is a wealth of industry specific content available for purchase. This can save a lot of time, but be very certain that you agree with the articles. You can also hire a company to help administer your BLOG. < This could be an article in itself.

What is the point, Oscar?
A BLOG is a great way offer value to your clients while remaining at the top of their mindshare. Today’s competition is tough and cutting edge! You need to use today’s tools to position yourself for success.

Happy BLOGGING.
Work Smart + Play Hard!
Oscar Myre IV, ~:-)
Bright Lovable Original Geek!

2011 It's Time for a Web Site Review!

Hello Friends,

With a new year just around a corner it’s time to review your website.

In October, we discussed the web site statistics that are available from your web hosting provider. This information told you how many people have been visiting your site and which pages they checked out. I invite you to dust off your web site statistics and take a look. If you are content with the quantity and quality of visits then read no more – we can talk in January.

Any of you left?

Let’s make the most out of the visitors that are already coming to your site and then you will be ready to improve your online marketing. Ready?

Let’s go to Google and find your web site. I want you to start @ Google (any search engine would work) to make sure you could be found if people don’t know your web site address. Enter “your company name” in the search box and click “search”. Find your business and click on it. If you aren’t there, we need to talk!! Side note: Google has a new “Instant Preview” You can click on the magnifying glass to take a peek at your website. You can learn more about this @ http://omoriginals.com/2010/11/google-is-it-again/.

As soon as a visitor clicks on your homepage you have 30 seconds or less to catch their attention. That’s because the average web site visit is less than 30 seconds…..Tick. Tock.

Here is a quick checklist to make the most of the visits you are getting:

1) Professionalism: Is your Logo/Company name professionally and prominently displayed? Are you impressed with your site?

2) What you Do: Are you clearly outlining what you do (your services) with links to learn more? Be sure to also include the regional area you service. This is VERY important for visitors and the search engines.

3) Who you Are: Assume that visitors have never heard of your company. Make sure you are putting your best foot forward. Educate them.

4) Call to action – Do you have a compelling offer or invitation for your visitor to do something? For example, Buy Something, Sign-up for eMail newsletter, Contact you, download a free report or any other value you can offer. > Check up on this page. Is it working? Are people clicking on this (check those web stats). Why or Why not? Is your offer still a good value? Consider changing your offer.

5) Fresh News – Here is a multiple choice test for you. If you have news to share should you publish it on; A) Your BLOG, B) Facebook, C) Twitter, D) LinkedIn, or in an E) eMail newsletter? If you know me, the answer is easy – “YES!, all of the above. ~:-) It takes a lot of work to create content so be sure to publish it efficiently and to as many eyes as possible.

6) Don’t make them scroll. All of your important stuff should be visible above “the fold”. Meaning they should be able to see it without scrolling. Scrolling vertically is ok, but make sure the 4 things aren’t buried. If they have to scroll to find stuff, they will won’t.

7) The death of Flash. Flash is a cool technology from Adobe. You can create beautiful slideshows and add some interesting interactivity to your site, but flash has two major issues that may lead to its demise.
a) Most mobile users can’t view Flash.
b) Search engines don’t really know what to do with Flash content (they are still working on this).

Ask your web site developer about alternatives to flash. Speaking of flash and mobile devices. How does your site look on a mobile phone? Note to omOriginals clients: We have a dynamic and affordable way to create a mobile version of your existing site. Contact us for the geeky details and pricing. ~:-)

WOW: We just made your site better to serve your visitors (and you). I encourage you to get on the line with your favorite webmaster and/or online marketer and to plan for a more prosperous new year. Work Smart and Play Hard in 2011!

Oscar Myre IV is the owner and Creativity Director at omOriginals Marketing in Longview, WA. He spends his free time playing with his family, running the lake or checking out new and splendiferously geeky toys. If you have questions regarding your web site, please call him @ 360-575-9839 or online: omOriginals.com

Unveiling the NEW CowlitzToday.com

Let’s jump into this months GeekSpeak. If you’ve been tuning in for long you likely have a professional web site, a blog, a facebook page and you are probably doing a little twitter. Wow you are such a geek. ~:-)

But, are your events listed at CowlitzToday.com?

Is your business listed in the Cowlitz County directory?

We originally created this site to help people connect locally.

CowlitzToday.com is a free, one-stop community calendar and web directory of businesses.

We’ve partnered with many organizations that have events in our area. Every day, more and more events are being listed. If you know of events and don’t see them on the calendar, we invite you to tell the event holder how they can add their events for free! (Or you can add them yourself!)

CowlitzToday also has a helpful directory of local business and organizations. You can find virtually anything from Accountants to Food & Dining to Movies to Real Estate!

With this article we are announcing the launch of the NEW and improved business directory!

We created the new directory to help make more connections:

1. SEO Findability: Our first goal is improving local organizations search engine rankings in the search engines. Having a great web site or business is only great if you can be found. We’ve built the new directory with some new and old school SEO (Search Engine Optimization) tricks, which have skyrocketed viewership.
2. Social Browsing: Our second mission is to help harness the social networks. More specifically – Facebook. You see, Facebook is great at helping you share and even find what you are looking for, but it doesn’t work well like good old fashioned browsing.

We’ve improved the directory to make it easy to browse the directory. Similar to those phonebooks of yesteryear. Our new directory is a great way to learn and link. Listings include helpful info and now links to their websites, facebook & twitter. Facebook “like” buttons are built into every listing. ~:-)

It’s where all the cool kids hang-out.

Want another reason to add your stuff?

CowlitzToday.com is being visited by 20,000 people per month!

By the time you read this we will have nearly 1,000 local listings. You can share a listing on facebook with a click. I invite you to get your organization listed for free today. Cowlitztoday.com. Wherever you work, play or worship can be listed as it’s own entity.

And don’t forget the Cowlitz County Online Event Calendar. We’ve streamlined the adding of events. If you’ve haven’t added an event in awhile (forever is still awhile)

Click on the new “Submit Event” button to learn how to add your event (also for free!!). If your organization has multiple events per/year please consider partnering with Cowlitztoday. If you are eligible we will give you a free calendar that you can post on your site AND then all of your events will appear in the community calendar!!!!!

Our community has posted over 6300 events to date! You simply can’t say there is nothing to do around here!

So what’s next?

I double dog dare you to search CowlitzToday.com for your favorite local business. If you find their listing, I’m sure they love for you to “give Kudos” for them. If they aren’t listed please call, eMail or facebook them the link. They’d appreciate the help and we’d appreciate your helping in spreading the word to help even more people connect.

Smart Phone users there is a new way to visit web sites on your phone. Simply install a free scanner app and start scanning. Think of it as Bar Codes 2.0 Ready? Grab your phone and visit http://m.omoriginals.com We will hook you up to get you started. If you already have a scanner – Scan now. “Tag” is above at top of page, looks like a square ink blot!

Oscar wrote this article on his iPhone. ~:-) Oscar is the owner and operator of omOriginals Marketing in Longview, WA and holds the title of award winning developer for the CowlitzToday.com web site. Questions about geeky stuff, call them @ 360-575-9839

Can you put a visitor counter on the web site?

Many of these geek speak articles are directly from my bag ‘o FAQs (frequently asked questions. So here is a question I was asked at least 2x last month…. “When you build my new site can you put a visitor counter on the web site?”

My answers goes a little something like this.

Yes, we can….but, there is an even better idea.

A web site visitor counter IS a visual way to show you the popularity or your web site. Unfortunately, they are terribly inaccurate AND everyone sees the results. A more modern approach is to have web site statistics. Here is what I like about website stats.

1. They are private. Only people with your account password can view your stats. Your visitors and your competitors don’t need to know your sites popularity.
2. Stats can show very detailed and specific information (more on this later)
3. Stats are archived over time so you can compare results chronologically. Let’s talk about stats. In order to view stats you first need to have a stats program or two installed. Ask your web host what they provide, if they don’t already have some installed I recommend you take a look at Google Analytics. For the sake of this article I’m not going to focus on any one stats program, but on the basics of what they record and what it all means.

When I hear people bragging out the web stats the will often talk about hits. They might say, “My site had 100,000 hits last month!”.

It sounds impressive, but what does it mean? The short answer is hits are just big numbers to impress people who don’t know what numbers really matter. But, this number won’t impress you because YOU are more interested in “Unique Visitors”, “Number of Visits”, Page Views, Hits & Bandwidth.

Unique Visitors: is a computer that goes to your site during a current time period. So if I visit your site, I will be tracked as a Unique Visitor. (Who are you calling unique, ha ha). If I like your site and return an hour later to your site, my “Visits” will be tracked and your stat software will recognize me as the same unique visitor as before. So your stats have recorded 1 Unique Visitor and 2 Visits. It will further tell you that while I was at your site I visited the following pages, home, about us, services & contact. Each Page view was tracked. Page view = 4.

If you are new to stats then just focus on the big 3. Unique Visitors, Visits & Page views – you will learn a ton about your web site. If you’re feeling geeky read on about more stats.

Skipping hits, we move on to Bandwidth. Bandwidth is total number of bytes for pages, images and files downloaded by web browsing. So a graphical rich page with PDFs to download and video to steam uses more bandwidth that a mostly text page.

Two sites with similar Unique Visitors, Visits & Page Views can have drastically different bandwidth based on the sites content. Here are a few more things you can learn. Entry Page is the first page people view when coming to your site, often it is the home page, but when people link directly to a certain page or when the your found in the search engines, you will have a variety of Entry Pages. You can also track the Exit Page which is the last page viewed before the left you site. Session Duration tells how long a person spent on your site site.

Most stats will show you if they (visitors) came there direct or if they can from a bookmark. Graphs can so what days of the week and even hours of the day are most visited. Pages outline how many views each page received, Referrers shows the addresses that people came from to get to your site, Search even shows the keywords and keyphrases people used to find you in the various search engines. Those are the highlights.

My 4 cents is to get a copy of your stats for last month and sit down with your favorite beverage and learn how many people are visiting your site and what they are doing during their visit. Compare to previous months and years. Do you like the progress? The stats can give you wisdom to connecting with more people. Want to learn more? Let’s us know.

So now if I tell you that CowlitzToday.com (or any site) has 500,000 hits this month, you will say cool, but how many unique visitors are you getting? And I will tell you…. hey wait, you didn’t ask. ~:-)

Businesses “Like” Facebook.

Love or Hate Facebook, it is great way for businesses to connect with people.

I’m asked a lot of questions about Facebook. Here is one I asked myself, “How can we put a Facebook Like button on our web sites?” Read more >>

Top 10 Reasons for Entrepreneurial Success

Here is a list for Successful Businesses from the New York Times.
Did they miss any?
We’d love to hear your thoughts here or on Facebook.

1. Look for opportunities to do something better than just about everyone else.
2. Accept risk as a necessary evil. It makes for much less competition.
3. Act responsibly to customers, employees and vendors.
4. Goals aren’t enough. You need a plan. You need to execute the plan.
5. You need to fix the plan as you go. Learn from your mistakes. Most people don’t.
6. Do not reinvent the wheel. Learn from others — join a business group.
7. Make sure the math works. I know plenty of people who work hard and follow their passion but the math doesn’t work. If the math doesn’t work, neither does the business.
8. Make sure that every employee understands and works toward the mission.
9. There are going to difficult times and you need to be resilient; whining is a waste of time.
10. There will be sacrifices. Work to find a balance so that you don’t become a financially successful loser. It’s not about the income, it’s about the outcome.

You can check out the full article @

http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/top-10-reasons-for-entrepreneurial-success

Facebook Unveiled

This month I’d like to give you a peek into Facebook’s user data.. Facebook is doing an amazing job of collecting tons of personal data about it’s users. With over 400 million users the amount of data is mind boggling. First off how are they getting this info?
Read more >>

Facebook Status Update

Another day.

Another pixel.

~:-)