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Mother's Day Internet Marketing Tips INFOGRAPHIC

Make sure your business is ready to market online this Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and you should be thinking of something nice to get the women in your life for Mother’s Day.  Even if it’s just a card.

Now that the mushy stuff is out of the way, let’s talk business.

Consumers are expected to spend an average of $152.52 on Mother's Day gifts, up about 8 percent from $140.73 last year. That will make Mother’s Day the second biggest gifting holiday after Christmas, according to CNBC.

Mother's Day spending at a glance in this Mother's Day Infographic:

I innocently navigated to Google Plus today to update ApogeeINVENT’s page, when I stumbled into a scene of destruction.  Ok, that is an exaggeration. Really, I just discovered that Google has made some significant (in my opinion) updates to the platform.

After two crashes of Google Plus, which also took down my other Google Apps, I finally made it in to explore the crime scene. You can see my crime scene photos below. Viewer discretion is advised.

New home. The new home now has larger photos, and LOTS of white space. My theory – Google is leaving space for ads that they will no doubt be rolling out sometime in the near future. Lots of available real estate in the new Google Plus.  

New profile. Google came up with this really nifty idea they are calling Cover Photos that go with profile photos. What? It isn’t their idea? Oh, that’s right, that OTHER social network already has something called cover photos. I do like how you can choose a long cover photo, or a series of smaller photos. 

Navigation. The navigation is now horizontal on the left side.  Instead of static icons at the top, there’s a dynamic ribbon of applications on the left. According to Google, this approach comes with lots of perks, but some favorites include:

• You can drag apps up or down to create the order you want
• You can hover over certain apps to reveal a set of quick actions
• You can show or hide apps by moving them in and out of “More”

Other changes include bigger photos, an entire page for Hangouts, and there's a new Explore page that shows what's interesting and trending across the network. And a new profile with much bigger photos. And a new chat list that puts your friends front and center. And (according to Google) a whole lot more. 

Could the new Google Plus be the precursor to ads that will be on the social network sometime soon? The company will also be adding Google Analytics to the platform, which could attract more business use.

Today is the day all business pages must convert to Facebook Timeline.  The traditional page view will now be the timeline that was available much earlier for individual profile pages. 

There is always some grumbling with any new change, but there are ways for businesses to take advantage of Timeline and some of the other recent features Facebook has released.

8 Ways for Businesses to use Facebook Timeline:

1. Pick a great cover photo. Dimensions for the large cover image is 851 x 315 pixels.  If you upload an image that’s smaller than these dimensions, it will get stretched to this larger size. The image you upload must be at least 399 pixels wide. One rule to keep in mind: No calls to action are allowed in cover photos.
2. Facebook Ads. With its updates, Facebook is also updating its advertising platform. There are new Premium Ads and a Reach Generator. And, the one that could be very exciting: Offers (that one is actually free to set up, though currently only available to large brands).
3. Messaging. Fans can now directly message a business page.  Pages cannot message individuals, but can respond to messages. Make sure to check your page often for new messages. 
   
4. Posts. Posts now appear in a timeline format (hence the name), and you can pin certain posts to the top of your timeline for 7 days if you want to be sure they can be viewed over and over again.  You can also star a post to make it stay in a wide format that spans both of the timeline columns, another way to highlight something important.
5. Tabs and Apps. In the top right of your page, you can choose to feature different apps or tabs. Photos tab is not optional, but you can choose between videos, likes, events, notes, or other tabs.  The best part of this feature is that you can customize these tabs, like Coca-cola does:
   

   
   
   The dimensions are 111 x 74 pixels. These are great areas to get creative and add seamless branding, calls to action, and specials. To add/change a custom thumbnail, first expand all apps by clicking the small down arrow to the right of the four app display. Then hover over any app > click the edit pencil > click Edit Settings > click Change next to Custom Tab Image (opens in a new window) > click Change > upload an image. The image loads and saves right away.
6. Timeline your Milestones. Fill in your company’s timeline by adding important milestones, like when you company was founded, your first product, new employees, etc. This will build trust with your fans. Coca-cola is again a good example:
   
7. Custom Landing Tab. This is a really neat feature. While landing tabs (fan gates) do not still work for people organically landing on your timeline , you can still drive traffic to a custom landing tab. Each tab/app still has a unique URL so you can drive traffic from inside or outside Facebook to any ‘landing page’ you wish.
8. Interest Lists. Users can add your page to an Interest List.  Encourage them to choose a list that is applicable to your content, like Business News, Web Tips, Great Products, etc. 

Google Play was released for Android earlier this month as the rebranded Marketplace. It appeared yesterday as a new option on the Google navigation bar when logged into any Google account (Gmail, Google+, etc.).

Google Play replaces the Android Marketplace that Android users were formally familiar with for finding Apps. Users can now buy or download free apps, find books and rent movies, and many other things from the Google Play for phones or on the Web. 

The Android rebranding won't be consistent on a worldwide basis, however. For example, in Canada and the U.K., Google said it will offer movies, books and Android apps; in Australia, books and apps; and in Japan, movies and apps. Everywhere else, Google Play will be the new home for just Android apps, the company said.

Play was released for many people yesterday on the Google navigation bar, and the interface looks very similar to the Android phone’s interface. This is likely because the two are intended to be a ‘one-stop-shop’ for users.  You can access your content, such as stored music, on the Web or on your phone.  Google is also considering adding movie sales to their repertoire (it currently only offers rentals).

The Google Play feature is also being promoted on the Google homepage. (Why not? They don’t need to compete for ranking.)

Web design in 7 simple steps. We Design ‘Til You Love It™!

One of our core values is being transparent as a Web design and web development company. It can be a scary thing to trust a business to deliver when you aren’t sure exactly what it is that they are doing to get to the end result. 

While many people are becoming more Internet savvy, web design and web development are still somewhat of an enigma.

To help allay the fears of our clients, we created the Design ‘Til You It web design packages, which essentially means we keep designing until you (the client) loves it. Period. 

This includes our logo designs, landing page designs, and full website designs. We charge one flat rate, regardless of how many hours we spend perfecting your design.

Here is the step- by- step process we take you through:

STEP 1 Creative Meeting: We conference with your team to learn about your business and your vision for the design. 

STEP 2 Wireframes: We create very basic wireframe options to determine the best layout for the site to maximize conversions. 

 

STEP 3 Color Palette: We share what we believe are the best color palette choices, based on industry, demographic, and site theme. 

STEP 4 Mock-up: Once a wireframe and color scheme has been selected, we create a ‘mock-up’ image of the site or logo.

 

 

 

STEP 6 Coding: Once you approve a final mockup, we slice and code the site into a functioning site for final approval and testing. Any content or interior pages are added.(For logo designs, we create the final, polished logo.) 

 

The importance of choosing a domain name (URL) for your website.

It would be pointless to inundate you with facts about online advertising, or the fact that having a website in today’s market will increase a businesses’ sales and bottom line. By now you are aware that having a website is a must.

But just in case you have been living under a rock for the past 10 years, here are some statistics you might want to take one more look at.

• 83% of North Americans have shopped online.
• Consumers spent $194 billion online in 2011, says the U.S. Commerce Department
• 78% of Internet users conduct product research online.

What all that means is more consumers are using the Internet than any other advertising source; consumers are researching businesses, products, and services online; and consumers are spending money online – massive amounts of money.

Are you still on the fence, or did you finally just fall off?

If you’re ready, here’s a look at the first step to getting your business started on the web:

Selecting a URL

When deciding to purchase a URL (also called a domain name), most companies look for an available domain name (URL) that matches the name of the business. That allows the customers you already do business with to easily remember the site’s domain name. What many business owners do not understand is the importance and value that search engines attach to a domain name.

[For this post, let’s say your business is a Used Car Dealership]

Choose a key term for a domain

If, for example, the name of your business is “ABC Dealership” and your domain name is www.ABCDealership.com, it is very likely that when a potential customer types that information into a search engine such as Google, Bing or Yahoo!, that your website will be included on the first page of search results, probably even in the top position.

That’s great if the consumer already knows the name of your company, but it doesn’t do you any good if you’re trying to showcase your business to potential customers who have never heard of your business before. The chances that a potential customer who has never heard of you is going to type in your exact website address is about as unlikely as randomly meeting a person on the street for the first time and guessing his or her phone number.

If you can think like the consumer and select a domain name that would match what the potential consumer is looking for, it will in effect allow your domain name to drive online traffic to your website by showcasing your business under the results for general searches a consumer is most likely to conduct.

Let’s just say ABC Dealership is located in Anywhere, USA. You might want to select a domain name of www.UsedCarsAnywhereUSA.com. That’s a domain name that includes what potential customers will be searching for within your area, rather than just the name of your dealership.

Consider multiple domain names

It is still a good idea to own a URL with the name of your company – you can have multiple domain names pointing to the same website, just as you can forward your office line to your cellphone.

But remember that the additional domain names will not have the same effect on search engines. To Google and the others, the only URL that matters in the search is the one the website is actually published on. So purchasing a variety of domain names containing strong search keywords won’t help your site show up in searches.
           
Instead, publish the site on a URL that will show up in a common search and set up an additional domain name using your actual business name. That will allow consumers who don’t know you to find your website with ease in an online search while your regular customers can get to you by simply typing your store’s name into the address bar – and you can use that URL in your advertising.

 This is a guest post by Mike Jackson, CEO of Auto Search Technologies (AST). The full article will appear in the March issue of Used Car Dealer Magazine, published by the NIADA. Mike is an expert in SEO, and has been published in several auto industry magazines and journals. He also is frequently invited to speak at independent auto dealer associations and other industry conventions. AST, a former subsidiary and current partner of ApogeeINVENT, is the industry leader in providing dealer SEO websites.

Your brand is important. The colors you choose, the images, and words will give consumers the first impression of your business.  That is why so many businesses spend time and money in creating a professional, memorable logo that represents their business.

A logo can be complex, like the Helping Hands logo or it can be as simple as the colors and lettering in the name, like Google’s famous logo:

 

Here are the characteristics of top brands to keep in mind when having a logo designed to represent your company:

1. Logo color matters. There is an entire science behind the color choice for your logo design, as this infographic illustrates. Red can be stimulating, passionate, exciting – inciting action. Orange, while still retaining the energy and excitement of red, is more friendly and inviting. Be sure to carefully consider color choices. What mood do you want your consumers to be in when they think of your company and its products or services?
2. Logo font. The Font in which your logo is created is just as important as color. There is just as much psychology behind font choice as color choice. Not to mention that consumers need to be able to actually read the logo. How can font sway consumer ideas? One study had readers claiming a story was more humorous when written in Times New Roman than readers who read the story in Arial.  Certain fonts have been shown to appeal more to certain demographics. Men are more drawn to rectilinear fonts, while women prefer a curvier font with a more prominent tail. In summary: Choose your fonts carefully. 
   
   
   
3. Keep it simple. The world's top logos are simple and easy to recognize. Think Apple, Google, Pepsi, or McDonald’s. Simple, few colors, short names. You want a consumer to immediately recognize your logo and make the connection to your company or what you are selling. 
   
   
   
4. What’s your name? Should you include your company name in your logo? Not necessarily. Your company’s branding should all follow the same theme – colors, fonts, images – but let’s consider the logo examples above. Of these top influential brands, only Google includes its full name with its logo branding. Apple, Pepsi, and McDonalds all stand alone without the company’s name. Nike is another perfect example of a company doing a very good job with just a simple, elegant symbol. No name necessary. 
   
   
   
5. Make the connection. Obviously, just having the world’s best logo isn’t going to be enough. You need to pair that with great marketing. Help your consumers make the connection between your excellent logo and your even more excellent product. Build your brand by offering a good product, creating a personality for your company through a social media presence and / or blog, and by being obsessed with customer service.

These tips are just the 'tip' of the iceberg. Creating a perfect logo is just the first step in building a memorable brand. Need more logo design ideas? Check out just a few of the logos we have designed for our clients to see how we combined the science and art of custom logo design.

   

 

I’ve been hearing a lot about Pinterest lately: How they are growing like gangbusters, and a major player in driving traffic to retailers . So as a good Social Media Marketer, I needed to check the site out for myself.

I signed up. You need to be invited, but it is simple to just request an invite from the site if you don’t have any friends. (Any friends on the site, I mean.)

You need to sign up using your Twitter or Facebook account. I usually prefer not to do this, as it just leaves you that much more vulnerable to social identity theft.  But I can see the advantages of this for Pinterest – not only do they get access to all that valuable personal information, it also creates thousands of links that increases their SEO value (not that they need SEO anymore, with all the press they have been getting lately). And they can bring in new users from Facebook and Twitter, leveraging the trust and value of those platforms for their service.

Once signed up, they created pin boards for me, and then encouraged me to create my own, as well. The ones they picked were fine, and probably have more clever titles than I would have given them.  

Then they politely told me to pick my favorite topics; I quickly selected Technology, Humor, Travel & Places, Food & Drink, Design.

When I was finished, Pinterest selected people for me to follow. How they selected the people I would follow, I am not entirely certain.  I would imagine they selected the most popular people in my categories. For example,  Rachel is obviously a prolific pinner. 

The value of Pinterest for users is in the ability to quickly see images of things that interest you, and click on the ones you like, and perhaps repin them on your own boards to further review later. Designing a baby room? Save the ideas you like for a cohesive design idea – paint colors, products to buy, how to make curtains. You can choose ideas from the site, or find them in other places and pin them.  Here is one example of a Pinterest user combining social media (and using the ApogeeINVENT free tool, ScreenCap.It, to screenshot an image): 

The value of Pinterest for businesses is obvious for retailers whose products are being posted. What about B2B businesses? Posting a really great site design, or an article about marketing, could increase the exposure of a web development company like mine. Sites like Pinterest require a little creativity and time for businesses, but it is important for you to follow the online marketing trends while still using proven long-term techniques. 

I, so far, have only used Pinterest to save some articles and ideas for work (yes, how boring, I know).  But I think by choosing the right people to follow (not the ladybug lover), and creating the right kind of boards, Pinterest could be both entertainment and have a value to everyday life. The hallmark of a successful social site  – addicting, user-friendly interface, and serves a useful purpose.

So is Pinterest just a passing fancy or here to stay? That remains to be seen, but I’d love to hear your opinions!

What is SOPA and PIPA?

SOPA is the acronym for Stop Online Piracy Act, the bill proposed in the House of Representatives to (you guessed it) stop online piracy.  PIPA is the Protect Intellectual Property Act, the parallel bill proposed in the Senate.

The legislation’s main intent is to stop illegal copies of films, music, or other media hosted on foreign servers.

The penalty proposed by the bills for anyone found guilty of streaming copyrighted content without permission 10 or more times within six months is five years in jail. (So 9 times in 6 months, or 10+ times over the course of a year are ok, I guess.)

Sounds pretty reasonable, doesn’t it? But here is where it gets a little dicey.

What will SOPA / PIPA do?

The US government and rights holders would have the right to seek court orders against any site accused of "enabling or facilitating" piracy. This could theoretically involve an entire website being shut down because it contains a link to a suspect site (YouTube come to mind?).

US-based internet service providers, payment processors and advertisers would be outlawed from doing business with alleged copyright infringers. SOPA also calls for search engines to remove infringing sites from their results - PIPA does not include this provision.

The bills would also outlaw sites from containing information about how to access blocked sites.

The bills originally demanded that internet service providers block users from being able to access suspect sites using a technique called Domain Name System (DNS) blocking.

What could SOPA / PIPA mean for the Internet?

This would effectively make them "disappear" from the internet - and is a process already used in China and Iran. However, after opponents claimed this could disrupt the internet's underlying architecture, the chief sponsor of each bill agreed to ditch the measure.

Guilty Until Proven Innocent

To protect sites against false claims of illegal activity SOPA proposes penalizing copyright holders who knowingly misrepresent a site's activity - however, PIPA does not contain this safeguard.

Both bills offer immunity to ISPs that block access to websites if they have "credible evidence" that the third party's pages contain unsanctioned copyright material. Critics claim this could create a conflict of interest as it may encourage firms to block access to competitors' sites.

It could also encourage firms to take a "safety first" approach resulting in users being prevented from viewing legal material. That sounds exactly like what our legal system is all about – guilty until proven innocent. Right?

What is the current status of SOPA / PIPA?

SOPA's supporters are trying to reach consensus on the bill before putting it to a vote in the House of Representatives, which suggests that any vote may be some way off.

Senate majority leader Harry Reid plans to put PIPA up for a vote in the upper house on January 24.

Supporters of the bills include television networks, music publishers, movie industry bodies, book publishers and manufacturers.

Critics include Google, Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia, Yahoo, eBay, LinkedIn, AOL and Zynga.

A blackout by several major Internet companies, including Wikipedia, is planned in protest of SOPA / PIPA for January 18.

Sources: BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16596577

Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/16/wikipedia-blackout-jimmy-wales-sopa_n_1208947.html

Telecommuting is on the rise.  How one internet marketing and web development company enjoys the benefits and handles the challenges of working from a home office.

The Internet is everywhere, and there is no doubt that it is changing the way we live, the way we socialize, and the way we work.  And many companies, ApogeeINVENT included, exist BECAUSE of the Internet.  Not just because our products are Web-based products, but also because of our web-based team.

ApogeeInvent is a virtual company, building products for the virtual world, and run by a virtual office.   How do we operate successfully from 15 different states, 5 different time zones, and 20+ different cities? 

A self-motivated team, good communication, and excellent (in-house built) software is the answer.

Without any physical locations, the ApogeeINVENT team logs in every day from our custom project management system called Radius-360. Hours are meticulously logged, with careful notes for each task. Projects each have their own page, containing details covering everything from client contact information to work logs, tasking system, and project assets (like documents, notes, etc.).

Task numbers and projects are tracked and coordinated by Account Managers, who meet each morning with accounting and the Project Manager so priorities can be adjusted daily and itemized billing is possible.

Daily conference calls for all teams, Development, Design, and Project Management, are a must. Though these meetings can get tedious, it is how the teams collaborate, stay on task, and keep one another motivated.

Each team member is also required to be logged into instant messaging while they are on the clock, so they can be reached by any other team member instantly. Group chats are set up for specific topics or teams. 

ApogeeINVENT also builds its own software to solve other issues, such as ScreenCap.It, which is a simple screen capture software that makes sharing easy for the team.  1ty.me, self-destructing, highly encrypted note sharing software, was built to allow the secure sharing of passwords and other confidential information between team members and clients.

So what are the pros and cons of working on and managing a team that all work from home? I thought I’d let the team speak for itself:

ApogeeINVENT: Saving the environment, one commuter at a time! No costly commute or office energy bills.

Cindy, Account Manager:  I Love working from home! I don't worry about the weather or traffic going to and from work anymore. The only drawback is I tend to eat, breathe and sleep work now. lol

Kevin, Account Manager: Working from home is the best thing since sliced bread.  I avoid commute, I am in a comfortable and personalized environment.  I am able to focus well because I do not have a bunch of people bugging me all day (I have been the go to guy in every job I have ever worked, so very nice in that regard.)  In short, I love it.   

ApogeeINVENT: Work / Life balance – Work is an important part of everyone’s life, they don’t have to be at odds! Working from home may require you to ‘take work home with you’, but it also lets you incorporate work into your daily life, and life into your work.  We WANT our people to make work an important and enriching part of their lives!

Jason, Developer: I have a love hate relationship with working at home.  The flexible hours are great when I need it, which is usually quite often.  It saves money with commuting time, and keeps my family’s expenses down to one car.  However, not having an office to go to does change the dynamic of the home space to one of a business too.  Which means I always take work home with me.

Ben, Developer: It's so much more efficient. I don't have the time or cost of a commute. Lunch breaks can be ten or fifteen minutes instead of an hour. If I'm not in the right mindset to write code, I can go do something productive rather than be stuck playing solitaire in an office. If I'm working on a conceptual task, I can think it over in the shower or while raking leaves. I don't have to iron a shirt every morning. All of that time saved really adds up and lets me spend more time with friends and family.

Phillip, Senior Developer: I really love working from home. I am able to be here for my kids whenever and wherever I want.

Dwight Calwhite, President: I have been working from home for 6.5 years now and I feel like it is an area where I am constantly improving my habits. Working from home isn't easy. It requires mental fortitude to get up every day and be efficient and productive when nobody is looking over your shoulder. I find that the keys to successfully working from home are: setting a strict schedule, having a morning routine, coffee, and dressing like you would at an office.

ApogeeINVENT:  Not a morning person? Not a problem! Work in your pajamas, and you don’t even have to brush your teeth (although we recommend doing it for your own health).

Shannon, Designer:  I love working at home, and actually prefer it. Having no defined work hours, per se, is something I also prefer, especially since I am not a morning person and prefer to work at night a lot when possible.

ApogeeINVENT:  Space can be an issue, but not an insurmountable obstacle. After all, it couldn’t be worse than a claustrophobic cubicle.

Nelson, Developer:  I really like being able to work from home, though my kids get a bit confused at times. My current home is not arranged in such a way that I can have a separate office, but I've made it work so far.

ApogeeINVENT: Live where you want, the office is always just a few steps away. And the virtual office, just a phone call. We can recruit, and retain, the best of the best!

Kimberly, Designer:  I love it! It's especially helpful now that I have a son, but still need to help provide income for my family. There aren't many viable options to work outside the home where I live, so this arrangement has saved my life (and bank account!)

Lindsey, Vice President: Perfect fit for my lifestyle. I have a daughter that I can spend extra time with, and a husband whose job takes us all over the country. I can keep working, through each move, seamlessly.

Andrew, Lead Developer: I enjoy the flexible work schedule that we have but with a family it's not easy to stay on task when working from home. Thankfully, I have the option to work with Joe (the CEO) every weekday in his home in American Falls.

We want to be a place where people enjoy working. That is one of our core company values.  Allowing our people to work from home (or share an office, as some do) means we can be flexible with work times, accommodate different geographical locations, and not be stingy with vacation or time off requests.

As a result, our people can make their vocation a meaningful part of their lives, NOT something they suffer through day after day. And rather than being abused, this freedom and flexibility fosters creativity, loyalty, and enjoyment that can’t be bought.

Compilation of what was the Most, the Best, and Worst of 2011. 

It is the end of the year, and time for all the ‘Best of 2011’ lists.  Apple, unsurprisingly, claimed top spot for many of the Best lists for 2011. Between Steve Jobs’ death, the release of Siri and the iPhone4s, and iPad 2 proliferation, we nominate Apple as the most influential tech company of 2011 (sorry Google).

Here are the extended top lists for the virtual world:

World’s Most Admired Companies for 2011 

1.       Apple

2.       Google

3.       Berkshire Hathaway

4.       Southwest Airlines

5.       Proctor & Gamble

6.       Coca-Cola

7.       Amazon.com

8.       FedEx

9.     Microsoft

10.   McDonald’s

Top Internet Searches

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, eating lots of good food and spending time with friends and family.  Thanksgiving has always been about getting together with family and friends to enjoy good food and reflect on what we have to be thankful for.  At least, I thought that was what Thanksgiving was about. I think the days of thankfulness have passed, and Thanksgiving is all about something new.

SALES.  Record sales for Black Friday 2011. 

I was surprised to see the number of people who spent Thanksgiving camped outside of their favorite store, or actually shopping in one of the many stores that opened early on Thanksgiving, or at Midnight of Black Friday.

Would the Pilgrims would be shocked to see what their holiday has become? They themselves set the groundwork for this frenzy of shopping with the propagation of a democratic Capitalism.

Back to the point – Why shop Cyber Monday? 

1. I got to enjoy a sit-down, Thanksgiving dinner with my family.  And I was free to sleep off my Turkey hangover Friday morning, rather than getting pepper-sprayed at Walmart , or trampled at Target. 
2. I don’t have to stand in line for hours. Even though some sites (like Amazon) put you on the waiting list for popular items, you can continue shopping while you wait.
3. Good deals. It might not be a $10 iPhone (Did anyone get a deal THAT good?), but most sites have 50-75% off items, with certain items even better priced. In addition, most sites offer additional incentives, like free shipping, Best Buy offers a $10 gift card, and other specials for buying online today.
4. It is much easier to find what you want and compare prices.  Have you ever bought that great priced Kindle for $70 for your mother, brother, sister, three friends, and five in-laws, only to find it for $55.99 at the next store? Online shopping makes it easier and faster to hunt for the product you want and compare to other store prices.
5. Virtual fights over merchandise are much less painful than physical fights.  It is sad but true that some people value a deal over their fellow human.  Why get trampled, pepper-sprayed, shoved, shot, or otherwise maimed and battered just to get something for $5 cheaper than it will be tomorrow? Fighting over an item online (ie tapping forcefully on the BUY button) is much less damaging to your health than fighting the crowds at the stores.

I realize for some people shopping Black Friday is a tradition, an adrenaline rush, and their daily workout all rolled into one.  But for me, I will make Cyber Monday my favorite ‘shopoliday’.  Happy Shopolidays, to you and yours.

by Dwight Calwhite, ApogeeInvent President

Google released Google Music at an event in LA last week. Portions of the service had been in beta since the spring, but now they have pulled back the entire curtain. But how does it stack up against well situated competitors in the digital music space?

Consumers will benefit greatly because the Google Music service will make a strong connection between Google's music storage (Google Music), music store (Android Market), social network (Google+), music videos (YouTube), and their mobile platform (Android).

Many people, including myself and my friends currently use YouTube in a pinch when needing to play a song. The option is already there for consumers to purchase via AmazonMP3, Apple iTunes and Android Market directly on the YouTube video. However, now that Google Music allows you to store up to 20,000 songs for free in an online "music locker". This locker is intended to serve as a central location for your music and Google is quickly building deep connections to this locker in its other properties such as Android OS and Google+.

In one respect they are playing catch up to iTunes which has been selling and storing (locally) your music since 2003, however just like with the late release of their social network, Google has such a wide breadth of online destinations it is easier for them to fill in the gaps late in the game. I expect Google Music to be very popular with consumers mostly because it is free and because of the strong integration with the wildly popular Android mobile OS. 

I also find the user interfaces that Google has been releasing lately to be simple and clean. They are perhaps a bit too childish at times, with primary colors and square buttons adorning all non-empty space, but overall that will help the new service to be approachable and therefore gain early adopters. iTunes on the other hand is starting to feel a bit cluttered and aged in comparison.

Enough consumer talk, let's get down to business. Google Music is charging artists a $25 one time fee to host the artist's music, and taking 30% of the purchase price of each song. No additional fees. This low barrier to entry puts them squarely in front of independent artists, many of whom are using services like SoundCloud or makeshift websites with PayPal purchase/download options.

Amazon and iTunes have a much higher barrier to entry for independent artists. Both require you to have digital distribution representation through such services as CDBaby for Amazon.com or a 20 album minimum label for iTunes.

The low barrier to entry coupled with revenue sharing is a proven business model which allowed Apple's App Store to achieve unparalleled success in its industry. I expect the same for Google Music in the independent music industry.

Google also signed 3 of the 4 major labels (not Warner Music) so it will be able to sell music from most big name acts as well.

I'm excited to see Google diving head first into markets where it's playing catch up. In the end competition is good for all of us because it spurs innovation. Even though it may be confusing as to which service is best, I would say sit back and watch the music wars heat up for a year. After the dust settles a little bit I think you will find a clear winner out of the bunch - it just may be the colorful caboose Google, playing catch up again.

Google Music for Artists – Google

Go direct to fans on Google Music to distribute your albums. Build your artist page, set your retail prices, sell your original songs.

  Email Marketing Tips

Email Marketing can be a powerful tool, if used correctly. When used poorly? It can be a quick way to turn people off from your brand forever!

Not convinced? We’ve gathered a few statistics to illustrate our point. Here are a few email marketing tips from our own Postal Parrot:

1.     Keep your email campaigns interesting, to the point, and useful to the subscriber or you may lose them! 91% of email users have unsubscribed from a company email they previously opted-in to.

2.   Get Mobile-friendly! 78% of business people use their mobile device to check email.  Too many images, complex layouts, or poor color / font choices can make reading an email difficult for mobile users. This is a trend that is only going to grow, so start thinking about ways to optimize your campaigns for mobile users.  For example, the iPhone has a viewable space of 320 x 356 pixels. That’s not much compared a computer (probably above 1024 x 768). This means you should condense the width so they can read the email without resizing the message.    

3.    30 billion pieces of content is shared on Facebook each month. Americans spend more time on Facebook than on any other US Website.  Are your emails easy to share? Make sure you encourage sharing, and also share any campaigns on your company’s Facebook page.

4.    Make sure your email marketing campaigns are combined with your company’s social media efforts. Social media has grown rapidly-- today nearly 4 in 5 active internet users visit social networks and blogs. Spread the word even further by using these channels.

5.    Headers and Pre-headers: Draw a reader in by offering something enticing in the header or subject of the email, and also in the ‘pre-header’, or the first sentence that Gmail and other email providers grab and include in the inbox email list.

6.  Email is not dead, contrary to some opinions.  25% of consumers said they were using email more often. Only 6% said they were using it less often. Combined, these statistics suggest a net of 19% of consumers who are using email more often.  Don’t neglect email campaigns or newsletters just because you have social media marketing. Research suggests a combination of methods is most effective in researching your audience.

Like these tips? Follow PostalParrot on Twitter to keep the tips coming!

US Unlocked recently released a new website design, created by (you guessed it) the ApogeeInvent design team. The new design includes not only the front end updates, but a new user interface, built by our developers. The new interface is easier to use and includes some great features, like individual user Suites.

BEFORE

AFTER

A little bit about the company:

US Unlocked is privately owned and was founded in 2008 with the express purpose of unlocking those US websites that make shopping on them impossible for the international online shopper. It is US Unlocked's mission to not be just a 'box pusher’, but the key to online shopping in America by providing a total solution, full service and top notch customer service. US Unlocked officially launched in September 2009 and has since grown rapidly, actively shipping to over 100 countries on a daily basis and adding new countries every week.

We are thrilled to be a technology provider to such a progressive, innovative, and successful company. Learn more about the opportunities offered by US Unlocked by visiting their website www.usunlocked.com.

Linda Hemerick, Founder and CEO of US Unlocked, is also a social media guru.  She is continually bringing great new concepts to our developers to better utilize social media through her website. Check out her latest updates:

Like US Unlocked on Facebook  /  Find US Unlocked on Twitter 

Follow the US Unlocked Blog

Mobile websites are here to stay, find out if one is right for your business.

Did you know that 1 in 13 Americans have pretended to talk on their phone to avoid acknowledging or talking to someone nearby?  Cell phones (and other mobile devices) are becoming a central part of people’s daily routines. What do you grab when you leave the house? Keys, wallet, and phone.  What is everyone doing on the bus, during lunch, during a meeting…checking email, looking up a restaurant for dinner? Can all these people using their phones to browse the web find YOUR business online? Once they find it, do they like what they see?

Are you Mobile Website Ready?

ApogeeInvent has recently released the first of its mobile-friendly software through its subsidiary Auto Search Technologies.  The mobile version loads faster, is easy to navigate and view in a small window, and includes only the most necessary parts of the website.

Users can select to view the full website, but initially loading a very simple App version of the site has several advantages. Users won’t leave because of a slow load time, and the most important parts of the site (inventory and contact form) is easily accessible, even for people using phones with limited web capabilities.

Interested in having a mobile-friendly website? Here are some facts to help you determine if it would be an advantage for your business:

6 Reasons to Have a Mobile Website for your Business

1.    Mobile web browsing is on the rise. More than 40% of all cell owners entertain themselves with their phone when bored. (For users 18-29, that's 70%.).  That is a lot of potential web browsing that could be on YOUR website!

2.    More people than ever use cell phones. There are 234 million U.S. cell-phone subscribers 13 and older, and about 33% of these are smartphone owners. That is millions of mobile browsers. 

3.    It’s all about the Apps.  Whether on the web or through a mobile device, people like the concept of simplified applications to perform specific tasks. Over 6 million people use Mobile Apps regularly. (Yes, most feature phones can run simple apps based on the Javascript programming language.)  As the line between feature phones and smartphones continues to blur, apps and the mobile web on feature phones may become a more important part of the mobile landscape. Since feature phones tend to cost much less than smartphones, and since in the U.S., it's harder to get smartphones that don't require a pricey two-year carrier contract, it's unlikely that feature phones will vanish entirely anytime soon. Get a mobile site that acts as a simple app and capture those users. 

4.    With mobile websites, simple is better. As stated above, people with both Smartphones and ‘feature phones’ will use apps more regularly, and since the majority of people still use simple feature phones (around 67%), very simple apps and mobile-friendly websites will be increasingly important for businesses.

5.    Load times are less on mobile friendly websites. Mobile websites take less time to load because they are designed specifically for mobile browsing.  They strip out all the extras so the site is simple to view and quick to load, making your website much more appealing for people using a small screen and limited navigation.

6.    Things are only going to get more mobile.  Using mobile devices for research, entertainment, shopping for a last minute gift, finding a restaurant, or buying a car, is only going to become more prevalent. Get in early and establish yourself now - Give your customers what they want and make it easy for them to find you. Trust me, they are looking.

Yes, blogging has been around for several years. And yes, in the Internet world, that means it is antique.  But just because it is old, doesn’t mean it isn’t still valuable!  Here are some blog tips to help you make the most of your time.

     

1. Personalize your blog.  The internet trend, brought on by social media interaction, is to get personal.  Your web users want to know who YOU are, not just see the faceless, nameless company blog you maintain. So don’t be afraid to talk directly to your audience, and use personal names, experiences, and even photos to get your message across.
2. Is your blog useful?  People don’t have time to read everything out there. So make your blog useful by providing facts and information in an appealing format.
3. Keep the blog simple.  Make sure your blog is easy to read. That means big, bold headlines, simple images, charts, or graphs, and short paragraphs. After all, if they want to read a book about your topic, they will just download the e-book on their Kindle ;)
4. Blog SEO.  SEO (search engine optimization, if you’ve been living under a rock for several years) has kind of become a four letter word in the industry, but everyone knows that it is important.  How can you optimize your blog for search engines? Make sure each blog contains good key phrases. You can even research the key phrases most commonly used (Google has a good tool for this).  Then use those key phrases in your title, headings, and throughout the blog.
5. Use Multi Media.  Videos and images are more commonly shared than text. So make sure your blog contains lots of good media, not just a bunch of boring text. And it can save you time – I know its cliché, but isn’t a picture worth a thousand words?
6. Blog and Share, Share, Share.  Be sure to make it easy for readers to share your blog – through Facebook, Twitter, and StumbleUpon (which now surpasses all other media for most shares), Email, and other venues. (www.addthis.com has a share bar you can install for free).
7. Blog analytics.  Keep track of your visitors. Google Analytics is probably the easiest blog analytics to install. You can then see what posts are the most popular, and how people are finding these posts (through Facebook sharing, through specific search terms, etc.).  Then use that information to guide your choice in content. 
    

Apog.co: Shorter IS better!      

Why?  Think Twitter post. Facebook update. YouTube clip.  Short and to the point is best, right? So you want to make sure that article, blog post, or video url you are sharing doesn't take up all your posting space.   

Use apog.co to shorten the url to a more manageable link.  Its free and easy to use!  

     becomes  

http://apog.co/10X

Better yet, get your OWN branded url shortener.  Create shortened urls for any site on the internet that you can post and share that carry your company’s branding. For example, JohnSmith’s Company could become j.smi or jo.hn, or any variation you select (that is still available).   A great way to increase brand awareness!  Contact us for more information!

Apog.co is just one of several free software services ApogeeInvent has created in the past few months. Sneak Peak: We are almost ready to release a new free service, so check back soon to find out what we have been brewing in the ApogeeInvent lab!