Web browsers: To update, or not to update. That is the Question!
June 15, 2011As technology evolves and becomes more user friendly, updates to your current web browsers will become more frequent. Web developers and programmers are making sure security is tight and usability is at an all time high. Compatibility and performance are smoother as the web is being utilized in everyday life.
This brings me to the heart of my topic, keeping your web browsers up to date. I can’t tell you how many times people ask me if they should update their web browser. It’s almost like they are afraid. Now, I can understand being a little worried about getting used to the new set-up and the tools that are possibly added. In the past, there were times where many of us updated our browsers and became clueless as to where things were. But these days, usability is one of the main factors in updating browsers. Programmers are working their hardest so you don’t have to.
So…”Should I update my web browser?”
Yes! Plain and simple.
Here are some things to remember when teetering between clicking on the install button or not:
Baby Steps
You have to stay up-to-date or you will fall behind. Doing some general research on web browsers will help you understand what the updates include. Many, if not all updates, build-off the previous version of the browser, so making the gradual steps will be easier on you. Jumping from version two to ten may be a little more difficult to handle. It will also be hard to find other versions that were released in between the older and newest versions, so you may be forced to update to the newest web browser.
Compatibility
Web developers and designers are trying to stay on the cutting edge of technology so they will be making sure their websites and web application are compatible with the newest web browsers. What does that mean for the average user? Have you ever come to a website and for some unknown reason you cannot enter information in a text field or certain buttons have gone completely missing, leaving you frustrated and wanting to cause harm to your poor computer screen?
Been there!
So to answer the question above, keep up on your updates and you won’t find it necessary to cause any physical harm to your computer.
Security
Some browser updates will have large security enhancements. Updating your web browser keeps you secure when it comes to your personal information. Keeping those security settings up-to-date is vital in preventing your personal information from falling into the wrong hands.
Feedback
If you have issues with your browser let their customer service team know. Feedback is essential for usability. Someone else may have the same issue as you, but hasn’t reported it. You could be that one person that will make the browsing experience better for everyone if you just speak up. A lot of browsers out there today are open source. In short, open source means any one is free to use the source code to build features into the program or create third party programs to run with it. There are a plethora of freelance programmers that could take your feedback and build upon it.
You can view the entire open source definition if you are curious.
Performance
With the majority of television, movies and games being accessed online today, video performance and streaming quality needs to be at an all-time high to handle the amount of data being downloaded daily. Knowing this, programmers are making updates to the JavaScript engines that run video and gaming online. Updating your web browser will ensure that your movies are crystal clear and that your games won’t lag.
Yes, I know upgrading may seem scary, but let me hand you a scenario. Let’s say that you’ve put off updating your browser for a while even though your most frequented sites continuously remind you to upgrade for compatibility reasons. As you go through the routine of paying online bills, you have a hard time filling out your regular information because nothing seems to be in the right place anymore. Words have shifted and some aren’t visible, buttons stopped working and now the tab button won’t even do its job correctly. These situations are frustrating and can lead to bigger problems.
Be brave and take the necessary steps to keep your Web Browsers current!
Julee Peterson is an Associate Communications Developer at DDI. She can be reached here.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentEnter the Battlefield of Mobile Marketing
April 8, 2011As I was battling back waves of enemies in Gun Bros, I began wondering how many companies have really investigated the mobile marketing world.
We’re looking at a massive invasion of smartphones, so large, that I don’t think there is a weapon large enough in the Gun Bros arsenal to handle that. The Nielsen Company claims that smartphones represent over 25% of the mobile market.
Oh, and that’s just the beginning.
Look around you, marketing messages are posted on every available building, sidewalk and grandma. Yes, even grandma likes to sport some stylish name brand apparel. When we ran out of physical objects to post messages on, we took it online.
We’re branding electrons!
Five years ago, mobile marketing was merely an idea, something that seemed inevitable but wasn’t worth investing in. The time has arrived to grab your marketing messages and enter the new battlefield.
We’ve laid out some tactics for you:
Mobile Site
Users are accessing sites through mobile devices now more than ever. If your site isn’t compatible with standard cellphones, you can lose business fast.
For example, lets say I’m in Best Buy comparing digital cameras. I have two feasible options, both similarly priced with comparable features.
Which do I pick?
Five years ago I would’ve had a panic attack in the store. Today, I whip out my trusty cellphone, open up my browser and start searching for reviews. I’ll also check out the websites of the camera companies to see if they have any special deals.
By the time I’m done, I have a clear picture of which camera to go with, and I never touched my home computer.
The idea here is to have a website, or mobile site, that is easily accessible and quick to load. Always put yourself in the consumers shoes.
Mobile Ads
This directly relates to the above scenario: Through Google, it’s possible to place ads in search results, similar to Google AdWords. This is perfect for the person constantly comparing prices, looking for a local restaurant or just scouring the internet while they wait for their coffee to finish brewing.
Or, hook into iAds—Apple’s advertising network that is exclusive to iPhone, iPod Touch and now iPad devices. Instead of targeting users through their mobile browsers, iAds appear in apps (say that 10 times fast).
SMS Offers
We may not always be in front of our computers, but our cellphones are always strapped to us. For this reason, short codes (five digit phone numbers) are a great way of sending special offers to customers.
Email marketing doesn’t deliver the same results as it used to, primarily because our inboxes have been consumed by spam. Not only that, but receiving a coupon in my inbox that I then have to print out, well, that’s just way too much work.
However, having my favorite clothing store shoot me a text message that says: “Show this message to receive 10% off your next purchase.” I’m all about that!
Apps
I predict that in the near future every legitimate company will have an app. This may sound farfetched, but look at websites. What company doesn’t have a website anymore? Even crazier, some of these companies operate only through their website.
Mobile apps are a huge monetary investment for companies, and the payoff may not be great for certain industries. However, if you have the cash and a great app idea, then the ROI may be fantastic.
This is just the beginning, and man, it’s awesome. So while you’re contemplating your next mobile marketing move, I’m going to get back to the action in Gun Bros.
See ya on the battlefield.
Aaron Kaufman is a Communications Designer at DDI. He can be reached here.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentHTML5: Making the Switch
March 18, 2011If you’ve read anything about technology, or followed anything Apple in the past year or two, you will have heard the term HTML5 thrown around quite a bit. Apple CEO Steve Jobs may be its largest, most known supporter. With Apple denouncing Adobe Flash’s ability to work correctly in the mobile market, HTML5 is gaining traction. Apple and its supporters seem dead set to kill Flash and bring HTML5 to the forefront.
The most important new feature to them is HTML5′s ability to embed movies directly into the code without the use of Flash and how it relates to the mobile browsing market. Although this is a very powerful new feature, I believe that some of the new markup allowed in HTML5 is more globally beneficial to businesses, web users, and web designers alike.
In my opinion, the most useful items in the HTML update are the <nav>, <header> and <footer> tags. Using these tags correctly means more traffic, and I think everyone will agree: More traffic is a good thing. The most important to SEO is the <nav> tag. This tag tells the browser and in turn the search engines where the navigation of your site is. The ease of navigating a site ranks very high in the algorithms used to rank sites in search engines. The addition of the <nav> tag could have a significant effect on your page ranking. This should be monitored closely using site analytics and page ranking software to see the results more clearly.
While full integration of HTML5 supported browsers is still, in my opinion, somewhere around a year-off. With the addition of Internet Explorer 9 to the HTML5 browser support list, we are well on our way. All major browsers now support HTML5, but users slow to upgrade will hold up the transition.
This does not mean that planning should not start now. Slowly integrating HTML5 into your existing site is a great way to test how users react to the new technology. By keeping a close eye on your analytics, you’ll know whether the new features are creating confusion or bringing traffic to your site.
HTML5 is increasing in support. Most web developers and marketing firms are embracing its new enhancements especially in regards to SEO. Taking the time to properly plan for HTML5 should be in every business’ marketing plan.
Planning the switch
Switching to HTML5 is different for every site, and is determined by type of site, how large the site is and most importantly: who uses your site. If your site is visited by technology junkies you can probably make the switch now and be just fine. Other than that waiting to switch would be better.
Some things to consider when planning the switch:
Does your company need a face lift?
Rebranding can provide momentum for a site face lift. This is the perfect time to integrate HTML5 into a site. Most companies normally update their website during the rebranding process, so indicate the desire to incorporate HTML5 elements in your new site. This may require a little research on your part to find what new features would be successfully used in your site.
What new features will your site use? Are these beneficial?
I only touched on what I thought were the most important elements of HTML5 in regards to SEO. But there are many other features that are equally important if you are using multimedia in your site. The new <audio> and <video> tags are extremely powerful and can be used to show media on all HTML5 browsers, this includes the Apple iOS devices, along with most new Android devices. Although the new features are nice, this does not mean that using them will be right for your site. Having good content is always most important.
Is a mobile site needed?
Mobile sites are all the rage now with the huge boom of smart phones. People are surfing the web more and more from these devices. As mentioned above the <audio> and <video> tags can be used to show media to mobile platforms much better than Flash. If you believe you are going to have a lot of mobile traffic and don’t necessarily want to pay for the development of a separate mobile site, HTML5 is the way to go.
Answering “yes” to any of the questions above would be a great reason to integrate HTML5 into a website. I believe the most important and cost effective reason to use HTML5 would be if a mobile site is needed or you are wanting to see how the new tags will effect your search rankings. Using the new tags will not make your site #1 on a search if your content is not good. Content is the driving force behind most page ranking algorithms and should be the main focus of any website. HTML5 should be used to deliver that content more effectively.
Adam Smith is a Communications Developer at DDI. He can be reached here.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentCloud Computing: The Good, Bad and the Ugly
February 1, 2011“To the cloud!” These three words have become a widely known phrase lately, while the onset of Microsoft commercials break our concentration from the latest episode of 30 Rock. Cloud computing is a fancy way of saying that the data or application is neither on your computer nor your local network. Enter Google Apps and Microsoft Web Apps. These applications allow you to compose, edit, and save office documents from a website. It is Amazon virtual servers that allow your organization to store and run a line of business applications on an offsite virtual server. And there is Mozy Pro which facilitates continuous backups of unlimited amounts of critical data to offsite locations. The list goes on. It’s going to change the way we live, if it hasn’t already. But is it really the best thing; as the saying goes, “since sliced bread?”
The Good
Certainly cloud computing hasn’t received all the rage over nothing. There is much to be said about the benefits that cloud computing can offer the average home user, office user or complete multisite enterprise server infrastructure. Some instant gratification aspects of implementing cloud solutions include in no particular order:
• Decreased hardware costs
• Lower power consumption and heat index
• Software as a service (pay as you go licensing)
• Redundancy (data is offsite and usually across multiple locations)
• Lower setup costs (most of the work is done remotely)
• Frees up internal resources (employees need not worry about system updates and backups)
Cloud computing offers a lot of flexibility and options for growth; especially in the business community. We are now seeing products such as Windows Azure and Amazon EC2 that offer a variety of “pay for what you use” packages to host your critical line of business (LoB) applications on. Almost every hosting company has some sort of hosted e-mail solution. Online backup is commonplace with products such as Mozy and Carbonite which helps users feel safety that their precious data will not be lost in the event that their laptop decides to catch on fire. So what is it that could be so wrong with Cloud Computing?
The Bad
While the projected benefits of cloud computing are bright and shiny on the surface, you have to look at the flip side. One major disadvantage that so frequently gets overlooked is a very critical component to using cloud computing… the Internet! That’s right, if your Internet drops so does you cloud solution. Thus any hosted solution you are using will cease to function until your local ISP can get out and repair the cut cables down the street. Or if you are using software as a service (SaaS) and your wireless card stops working you are dead in the water. The backups that you are highly dependent and relying on become unreliable because it missed two days due to an outage and your media sets get overwritten. There are many possibilities that can arise from looking solely to a cloud based solution in regards to loss of internet.
Besides the obvious (yet overlooked) issue related to dependency on copper, there is also the “good” aspect of pay as you go. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you stack three hosted virtual machines on top of hosted Exchange with six users and online backup, you could end up paying more in three months than all of these solutions combined could have cost for an in-house installation. The proper way to handle this is to closely examine and plan your solutions in advance, before you get stuck in a contract that ends up giving you less for more as opposed to the advertised adverse. And finally, if there weren’t enough potential negatives to consider; what happens if the cloud company goes out of business? This can cause a huge potential issue of downtime as well as unexpected costs associated with migrating all hosted solutions to either another cloud company or onto a local solution. These are definitely negative aspects to consider, but didn’t I mention something about the beautifully challenged?
The Ugly
Those who know me in the IT world may already have an idea where this is going… security! That’s right, visualize all of that data that you have previously held comfortably behind your secure network and now you hand it over to some “cloud company” trusting their spat about “PCI compliant, EEE, FDIC, SEC, blah blah blah compliant secure WAN big time super computer system.” While I trust the fact that these companies surely have a good handle on their systems, the fact still remains that they actually HAVE your data. When our data is hosted in the “cloud” it is not governed by the same privacy laws that it is when it is located in our own houses or personal computers. It is much easier to gain access to data in the cloud simply because the laws were written back when Prodigy was the main ISP and 32MB was a huge hard drive! There are pushes to make changes to the privacy laws regarding search and seizure of cloud data but considering it is being met by resistance by the very people who like having easy access to your data.
This is not to mention that fact that yes, there are real people out there called hackers who can do some real damage. Many people feel that hackers rank up there right next to the Easter Bunny and non-fat Reese’s Cups. However, I can say with absolute certainty they exist (hackers that is). Without going to great detail of the methods used, it is much more likely that a hacking community is going to target a mainframe that is storing data for hundreds, thousands, or even millions of other companies and individuals.
The Bottom Line
There are some real benefits and some real scary downfalls of cloud computing that need to be taken into consideration when choosing the platform that is right for you or your company. It is wise to consider a mix of both technologies as opposed to putting all your “eggs” in one server room. Pay close attention to the costs associated with what you have now as well as what you plan on implementing down the line. You may find yourself in a costly jam if you are not careful. I personally see the influx of internet dependency as a potential catastrophic debilitation that will one day come to formation. Until that day, I will keep my data local and my applications installed.
Mat Arrington is a Technical Applications Consultant at DDI. He can be reached here.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentRebranding: When is it time?
December 9, 2010If you’re a business, large or small, trying to decide when to take that leap into a design overhaul can be really daunting. After all, there is a lot of trust involved in hiring an agency to bridge you to the next level. You may even have questions such as:
“How will they know exactly what I’m looking for?”
“Will updating the branding of my company really make a difference?”
“It was a tough year, how am I supposed to justify spending money on something like this?”
Relax! We get it. And because we understand, we have provided a list for you to know when it’s time to update your brand.
1. Negative Comments in the Marketplace
You can’t please everyone, but if you begin to notice a trend of bad gossip surrounding your company, it may be time to self-reflect.
Think of your brand as a person. Let’s call it Jamie. If Jamie isn’t the most fashion-forward person in the workplace, people may begin to talk. After all, would you really want to bring someone to a meeting that can’t even match their socks?
So how do you address Jamie’s issue?
A better question: Does Jamie realize their appearance isn’t professional?
Similar to your brand, they need to be put into place once in a while, especially when your consumers, clients or customers begin to talk.
It could be as simple as ensuring the standards of your company are in place. It is possible that being stricter about how your employees, marketing materials and office space reflect your brand standards.
Wait, do you even have brand standards?
Brand standards are the golden rulebook that your brand must adhere to no matter what. If we go back to Jamie, it’d be like their dress code when visiting clients. The way Jamie appears to the clients reflects on your company. Brand standards go way beyond that, but that should give you a general idea.
If the Jamie thing isn’t cutting it out for you, let’s talk about a real world example:
Ford Motor Co. recently went through a brand overhaul. They realized that the bad publicity was finally catching up, and in order to survive the recession they had to make dramatic changes.
If you think about the ads and press surrounding Ford before the economic slump, and then compare those to the messages being portrayed now, you’ll see two very different companies. Ford was smart enough to address the bad publicity full-on and promise to change. Their television campaigns became less about their super-powered trucks on the top of cliffs, moving ridiculous objects, and more about the individual: the average American.
Ford went back to their roots, and wow did it work. Even with a bad economy, their sales began to lift impressively.
Just like you should do in your personal life, always question how you can be better. Let your brand reflect those ideals, and hopefully your company won’t end up on the edge of a cliff, unless of course you’re a gift shop at the Grand Canyon.
2. Your Competitors Look Better
A smart business owner is constantly researching the competition. Part of that research should include how these other companies are being perceived in the marketplace. If people are gravitating toward your competition, there must be a reason.
Better product?
Excellent customer service?
Longer history?
What if it’s simply better marketing? A better-looking brand?
Your competition may better understand the value of how they look out there. Their new website may be cleaner and more modern. Their magazine and web ads carry on their established brand message.
Noticing a pattern?
Keeping a consistent updated brand, and making sure its clear through everything your company publishes, is a step toward brand-dominance.
3. Embarrassed by your Marketing Materials
Being proud of your company and its accomplishments is important. Included in that is all of your marketing, advertising and communication materials. You should never feel embarrassed to hand out a business card or tell someone your web address.
Part of the magic of branding is giving you and your employees the confidence to do their jobs better. Everyone should feel proud about what they’re selling, which is ultimately your company’s message.
4. Sales are Slumping
Sometimes, for unknown reasons, your company starts to fall into a rut. You can try to ride the slump, hoping that it’ll rebound, but what if it doesn’t?
The universal saying “you have to spend money to make money” has never been truer. Are you willing to increase your marketing budget during a slow period?
Sure, it seems risky, but a big part of owning a business is taking chances.
Often, slumps are the best time to launch a new branding campaign. What better way of getting people’s attention? Humans tend to get tired of seeing the same thing over and over.
Shake it up.
AOL used to be the face of the Internet during the 90s. So much so that their logo became unanimous with the Web. They knew they had to make a big change, so they updated their logo, bringing them back into the spotlight.
Take a Deep Breath
Hopefully a lot of your preliminary questions about branding were answered, but we also hope more questions are brewing. See, that’s the thing about branding, there should always be dialogue about how you can be better. This dialogue leads to more questions—questions that we want to answer.
Shoot us a message or give us a call. We love talking brand.
Oh, and relax already!
Aaron Kaufman is a Communications Designer at DDI. He can be reached here.
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