Many businesses these days are looking to, if they haven’t already, get into the mobile app market.  This is a great marketing tactic for your business, but you don’t want to build an app just so you can say that your business has one.  You need to make sure that the app is built around the goals of your business.  The key to mobile marketing is communicating with consumers in an organized way.  You should look to focus on content, utility, or entertainment, but not all three.  If you don’t feel you can decide on one of these three areas, then a mobile app probably isn’t the best way to achieve your business goals.

One piece of information you should be aware of is that mobile apps only work on the devices they are designed for.  So they work best when targeting a niche market.  If you’re looking to target a mass market, then you may be better off building a mobile website.  Mobile websites will work on any device with a web browser.  From an end-user perspective, mobile apps do provide more feature-rich functionality then a mobile website.  The reason behind this is because the mobile app works in connection with the native applications on the mobile device, such as GPS navigation.  A mobile website is best when you’re trying to provide search-based content. 

You also need to consider costs when deciding whether or not your business needs an app.  With a mobile app you could turn into an ATM, constantly dishing out money.  Since a mobile app is only compatible with the device you build it for, more development would be required in order to make the app compatible with other devices you wish to target.  You would also deal with additional app store approval.  If your goal is to mass market, then building a mobile website may be the cheaper route since your costs get offset by the lower cost it takes to maintain the site.

In the end, you need to answer a few simple (or not so simple) questions about your business. What is the focus of your business?  Who are you trying to reach (niche market or mass market)?  What content and/or information are you trying to relay the consumer?  These are just a few questions to answer and consider when deciding on a mobile app or mobile website. 

Good luck!

Joshua W.
DotTrend, Inc.

So, you have successfully spent hours upon hours building and creating your business website on the easy tools such as Microsoft Live or Godaddy Website Tonight.  It’s fairly simple and it only took days out of your time.  You figure its sweat equity and part of making your business being online successful.

Unfortunately you’re only half way there.  Having your website being completed is not necessary is available or be viewed by people who doesn’t know about your business.  At this point, your business website is just as good as you would mentioned it to the people you already knew.  Which it doesn’t do you any good for your business because they most likely offer you only praises.  This is not the kind of investment you would like in return.

There are so many avenues these days that you can get the word out on your website without having to break your wallet.  Social Media has made it possible along with a little bit of Search Engine Marketing.  If you are brave, try to attend local business network functions and start networking your business.  For the shy, Social Media is the best way to go. Although, you still need to be constantly engaging in conversation with others online.  It’s not all that bad since you are behind the computer versus seeing them face to face.

Offline is a little bit rougher and it does drain a lot of your time and energy.  You can do this by start printing flyers or create signage from your printer.  You then go to the busiest location you feel that fit your demographics and start handing them out.  I called this Marketing 101 or back to basics.

In the end, you should pursue what’s comfortable for you to make your business website successful.  There are no easy or right answers.  I tend to live by this saying, “Action creates motion, and motion create results.”

Josephine
DotTrend, Inc.

There are many elements come into play when having a website.  Of course the main goal is to be most compatible to all of the devices being used today.  Now, there’s mobile, netbooks, tablets & even more platforms you can even image.  

Below are some of the trends you will be seeing in 2011:

1. Compact Designs, but still can fill up your “Wide” screen.
   This allows thumbnail previewing in search engines such as Google & Bing.
2. Eye-Easy Color Scheme
   The colors are light and easy to view on any monitors or devices. Gradient shades are very popular.
3. More Function Development
   This means more CSS3 and HTML 5!  HTML 5 is on the rising!
4. Touch screen friendly
   You can NOT use drop down menus or even have your link lights up when hovering.  These shall not sit well with touch screens.
5. Design Depth
   As 3-D movies are becoming more popular, so should your website.  Need to create some sort of gradient depth perception so in part, it looks 3-D.
6. Secured Websites
   If you are selling, make sure to display your SSL certificate where it’s visible.  This gives the consumer a safe comfort feeling of shopping on your website.
7. Background Image
   Yep, this was popular in the 90’s.  Although, there’s no background looping!  Just a simple but elegant background photo would be sufficed.
8. Social Media Connections
   Show visitors how popular or evolving your website is.  Display social media widgets such as Facebook, Twitter and among other popular social websites.

Hope these tips help you in the process of re-designing/developing your website for the year 2011.

Andrew
DotTrend, Inc.

According to Google website, Google Instant is a new enhancement that shows the results as you type in the search box.  Unfortunately, it only works on the latest browser.  For some of you who did not see this in action, Newsflash! You’re not crazy!  You may have the old browser and that’s why it is not working. 

Is it that beneficial to be this much faster?

Well honestly, I believe it’s not the speed we’re after.  As you are typing the words in the search box, Google Instant shows the preview of what the search results are.  This is a very good tool to have.  We don’t always know exactly what to search for when doing research however; we don’t mind peeping through the curtain every now and then.   For other Googlers, they just like it due to the simple fact that it saves them time. It’s faster because Google Instant almost does the thinking for them.

With all these advancements in modern technology; there’s always the age-old question we all ask, “Will Google Instant slow my Internet connection”?   Google replied, we anticipated not doing so and it would automatically turn off for slow connections.

You decide!

Jenny
DotTrend, Inc.

It can be addicting and it can consume most of your day.  You’re going into it for the right reasons, to get more leads and free advertising for your business!  In the economy like this, you tend to be where marketing for your company is free. It’s not a bad thing however the old saying, “Too much of some thing, can hurt you” is true in this case.  You should always do things in moderation to give the fullest effect of marketing yourself.  I have met people that have Twitter & Facebook synced into their Blackberry or iPhone.  They are so attached that they would have to stop their conversation with me and read their Facebook updates because someone had posted on their wall. Or they have to text on their Twitter that they are at the networking group talking to me.

This is nuts! Reboot! & Recharge! When you have reached this point, please ask yourself if it’s worth it?

I recommend recharging yourself offline from Social Media websites.  Remember, the goal is to get more sales and leads not taking up time. By recharging yourself; you can visit local community functions, networking groups or even contact your existing clients.  Contacting your existing clients is a very good thing and you would be surprised how much of a sales increased by doing this.  Local community functions and networking groups are the traditional marketing strategy that still works till this day.  Some are free to attend and its fun meeting people at these events.  There’s nothing more than selling yourself and gain possible business alliance for your company. 

As always, it’s best to allocate your time with the Social Media world and offline traditional marketing.

Enjoy!

Jenny
DotTrend, Inc.

That’s why here at DotTrend; we believed it should not be a big overhead on your business budget when it comes to your website and Internet marketing.  It should be seamless and affordable.

Starting immediately, we are the only technology company in Louisville, Kentucky offering monthly financing for website design and development, online marketing, & print design.  With zero percent interests being added to your monthly bill, your business can rest easy and this will allow you to survive and stay up float during this bad economy.

How does this come about?  It all started when a brand new church in Los Angeles, California wanted to have a web presence so that the church members could attend Wednesday and Sunday services.  Along with that, they can give church updates and upcoming events.  Of course the price tag was affordable compared to the competitions, the client wanted to finance it for 6 months. 

Needless to say, the client landed up completing the payments faster than agreed upon because we’ve allows them to grow and build.

We call these Cheap Shots in Business!  Offering affordable payments over a period of time, we believe it’s great for those who need to build and grow their business.

Jenny
DotTrend, Inc.

Here are a few popular pitches:

• “We guarantee your website will be on the first page!”

• “Improve sales by getting top rankings in major search engines within weeks!”

I’m sure there are other pitches, but here’s the truth; like any advertising venue; there are no guarantees! Most internet companies would charge you great amount of money and many promises that comes with it, but in the end; they usually cheat by placing you on the Sponsored Links area (which is Pay per Clicks) in the search engines. Oh yes! They did get you on the first page alright. They are banking on the bid of clicks owed don’t out weigh what they had already charged you.

Remember, they are pitching you a guaranteed on behalf of Google, Bing, or even Yahoo! As always, try to be aware of what you are buying into. Ask questions such as “Can you give me references on the performance of your SEO program?” Or even ask “What search engine(s) are you submitting my website to?” These are good main questions to ask simply because when dealing with variety of search engines, they all have different search criteria.

I am not trying to say Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a useless program, in fact I believe it is a much needed service as part of the online marketing for your business website. It is very vital to have a constant online marketing venue if you are interested in having your business exposed to the world.

In a nutshell, Search Engine Optimization is great for regional advertising or even certain event that’s vastly popular. If you’re starting out and you would like to have a national campaign with somewhat of immediate results, I highly recommend the Pay per Click (PPC) program. Although it can get costly, but it might be worth your while.

Wayne
DotTrend, Inc.

Sounds like a lot of work huh?

Here are my recommendations, DO NOT go with a family member. I’ve seen it many times and it never works out. Always remember to separate business from personal. Yes, it just that black and white!

What about a college grad or someone who is still in college majoring in Website Design? Well, my experience when talking to college grads, they are most likely looking for a permanent job with a salary that they were told to be expected. Unless you can meet these requirements, I say you should give them a chance. It could benefit the both of you. And for someone who is still in college getting a degree in Website Design, I think this line sort of answered in itself. Not that I have anything against college students, but in this case you would have to refer to experiences or knowledge skills. If you do decide to go this route, be expecting to have a website that is simple and less functionality. That may not be a bad thing, some time simple is good.

Now, that you have gone through the circuits and decided that none of these worked out, but only a professional website design company can meet your demands. Again, remember the quotes may have exceeded your budget, so the best to do is to re-think of the website design that you had in mind, re-structure the website model to have less functionalities and combine content information to save cost.

Once this has been done, go back to the website design companies and again ask for another quote. I highly recommend going with a Website Design Company that would come closest to your budget. Don’t forget, the Website Design Company’s personality plays a big role in your decision as well. Why? Because the both of you will be working together until the website is done. If you can’t connect or get along with the design company, it could land up costing you more in the end.

Wayne
DotTrend, Inc.

How do I shift gear for my business?

Well, you can start shifting by changing your advertisement venue.  Try to advertise again in areas that have been working for you in the past.  Don’t forget, some time an advertisement piece may have not worked before, but it gives you brand identity.  We all know it’s important to have brand identity for online and offline to your business. It’s called, “Stay constantly in front of the potential customers”.

Another would be finding a niche in the market that you can hit.  Just recently, I got a chance to catch up with one of my business friends.  She is in the business of public relation for major corporations.  Of course, the economy made her business almost to a stand-still.  She had to shift gear otherwise; her business is dead in the water before last year Thanksgiving.  She moved her target audience from major corporations to the local businesses.  Not just any local business, she had found a niche to offer her public relation services to the medical industry.  This year she is planning to branch out to other industries as well.  Again, it’s finding a niche market to gain revenue for your business.

With all these shifting gears, don’t forget to make changes to the most important advertising piece of all; your WEBSITE!

As mentioned, it’s important to re-design the look on your website for the market you are trying to hit.  It could be as simple as changing the real estate layout on your website and re-wording a few words catering to that industry.  And if your business website look hasn’t changed for a few years, then I highly recommend doing so.  Believe it or not, I still see business websites that hasn’t been changed in design or content since the year 2000! Now a decade later with tremendous changes in technology, you could imagine what kind of impression it gives off when potential customers are visiting their business website.

So in closing, it is vital to make the appropriate changes to your business website look and information. 

For the New Year…I say give yourself a New Start!

Wayne
DotTrend, Inc.

For today’s economy, customers are considered “GOLD” for all business owners. This should be a no brainer and especially when we need all the business we can get.

You’d asked why blog about something like this when this should’ve been done already. Well, it’s amazing that I am still seeing technology companies are giving unreliable and bad support to their existing customers. I have heard in some cases where they are not returning the phone calls or respond to technical support emails.

It’s rather strange!

Although, I’ve noticed a declining rate in customer service for the past few years. Blame it on the holidays or that we’re just in a bad economy? I think not. Just recently, we got a phone call from a potential customer wondering if they can transfer their website to us. I said sure, not a problem and somewhere along the line I had asked, “May I ask why you are leaving your current provider?” The customer responded, “My email hasn’t worked for 2 months and the website has been down on and off from time to time. I had called my website provider and left many urgent messages. The only thing I got in response was an email stating that we are working on the problem.”

Needless to say, we got the business and the new customer is enjoying a reliable service from DotTrend.

Another example (non technology related), I went shopping at a local department store. I had asked for a price on the particular item since there’s no price shown on the shelves. So, I tracked down a store employee for pricings. Found one and he responded, “Well, what does it say the cost on the shelves?” I looked at him with pure amazement on his response. He sighed and said, “I guess I go find out the price for you.”

Gee, seriously?

I don’t get it, it’s terrible and many of my friends have noticed it as well. It makes you wonder why businesses are complaining about the economy is bad and wants the government to do something about it.

Wayne
DotTrend, Inc.