Internet and Touch Screens

Internet and Touch Screens

2014’s new technology trends will continue to change the way we do Internet business and put user experience to the top of the list. This is a brief theory for you to read.

In the last month, I have been browsing new laptops and desktops, to replace a few office computers. I noticed that the majority of manufacturers with Windows 8 OS have gone to touch screen. Not only have they gone touch screen, but they are forcing the market on all laptops and desktops. Even Google’s Chrome books are getting into it.

So, it looks like a melding of device platforms? In my opinion, I believe we are experiencing the development of OS for a Smart Phone and Tablet being hybridized in Laptop and Desktop computers.

What does this mean? Well, let me reformat my question. What does this mean to the end user and the internet experience? The question I have asked will be the most important topic for this year and the following year!

The Technical

What will happen to HTML and XHTML? I do not think anything will happen to them. If anything, some web designers will try to solidify that it is no longer needed and will only use it to wrap their “proprietary code” and then charge you extra for this new feature.

I am not a code person, but I do know the basics and I will be the first to say, stop blowing smoke! Over the last few months, I have changed my demeanor to be more friendly, toward web designers. Yes, new code formats will have to come into play, and companies like Apple, Google, and Windows will have to agree to be more cordial in interfacing their platforms with each other.

When smart mobile devices became more common, websites had to have a separate mobile platform. I used to argue that there was no need for that theory, or if anything, it should already be included in any web-design. HTML was the deciding factor until the big players started wrapping their code in “native” and the website URLs for mobile became m.url.com rather than url.com/mobile. I see things will finally go my way now that the touch screen PCs are all that is being sold.* It will return to one website for all platforms.

Across the board we will see website platforms being updated, to be more touch responsive. Eventually we will see a blur between traditional websites and mobile websites. As it is right now, with the exception of some of the HTML platforms, the old web platforms are not very friendly to touch enabled PCs and laptops. This will affect user experience!



Written by Rustin Hawver, Director of Internet Marketing, Vision Interface

Peacock Exposed

Is Google’s new animal algorithm “Peacock” real? It seems to be the new scuttlebutt these days, just like “SEO is dead,” and “Mobile SEO is in.” I have listened to my top adviser who said that it has not really came out yet, nor is it what some say it is.

What we have learned is that it is not an algorithm to penalize horrible looking websites. It may penalize “poor functioning websites.” These are websites with broken or poorly coded formats, or slow load times. A website’s slow load time is usually because of large pictures or complex flash elements.

I will emphasize that your web page optimization should be a key element before you publish it to the market. We are starting to see data that tells us that content is slowly coming back, so your message needs to be extremely clear and easy to understand. The website has to be engaging in order to keep your bounce rate low. Images have to be the right size for the page load times to be low (I’m still seeing websites with huge images), and then make use of alt tags for those images. Google has no real way of seeing an image, nor evaluating the aesthetic value of a website. If being pretty were the case and Google could see it, flash would still be a major factor. However; thanks to HTML 5 you can get really close to a flash website and create some really engaging layers and web effects, but your opening page must have content! If your opening page or home page is all images and code with very little content, you make it hard for the web crawlers to read and index your website. I will also add that a properly coded website, with correct title tags and message, will fit the so called “Mobile Search Engine Optimization” criteria. This is only half of the game.

The best thing to have on your website is a way to track everything. To understand your ROI, you have to know that everything is trackable on the internet!

Here is a list of all of the known algorithms with a brief description.

Panda: Targeted content, which is scraped or spun.

Pirate: Targeted unauthorized usage. This is websites that illegally use content such as copy written material, music, images, and video.

Penguin: Targeted unnatural link building, over-optimized anchor text, overused link sources.

Farmer: This was just a supplement of Panda. It targeted websites with the same content. The algorithm exists but it has been absorbed by Panda.

Evolution of Panda + Penguin: Targeted on page over optimization, over optimization of anchors, exact match domains, thin sites, bounce rate.

Disavow: targeted poor quality link sources, bogus blog networks, paid links, junk links, un-natural links.

These algorithms are a good thing for honest businesses and good internet marketing companies. What the algorithms do is get rid of bad link strategies and poorly coded websites. They also penalize the ones that do not play by the rules and are trying to make a quick buck at the expense of the public or corporations.

In retrospect, your website site should have:

1.  Excellent “Code” and working “CSS.”

2.  Excellent content with proper “title tags.”

3.  Clear and consistent message.

4.  Engaging content that keeps people on the website.

5.  Internal linking and anchor tags.

6.  Correct “alt tags” for images.

7.  Proper SEO foundation that is natural and ongoing with respect to traditions and changes in search patterns. SEO is long term and will never be dead as long as there is an online market.

For more about our services check out our website at http://www.v-interface.com. If you have a question or topic you would like me to post on, send me an Email at rustin@v-interface.com

Rustin Hawver has been part of Vision Interface as Director of Internet Services for two years. His experience goes back to 1997.

Is your website an accident waiting to happen?

We were working with a client yesterday, explaining how organic Search Engine Optimization (SEO) works.  We talked about how It works with various blogs, websites and social media that start creating a buzz about your website.  As we talked, his comment was “so …. It takes the accident out of your clients finding you on-line.”  When I heard this, I knew he got it! I thought how many of us, throw something up and just hope that people find it.  We don’t plan or strategize, who we are reaching out to, or if we are even reaching out at all… nor do we calculate the return on that investment, which our websites may bring, if positioned in the right place, saying the right thing.

Attached are a few steps to take to take the accident out of reaching your potential clients:

1.        

Know who your potential clients are!

a.       Both on –line and off, 

                                                               i.      What are their ages and gender

                                                             ii.      Likes and dislikes

                                                            iii.      Their technology use (computers, smart phones, ipads, etc, )

                                                           iv.      Their time use?  -  When are they looking for you?

                                                             v.      Where do they hangout?  (Facebook? Forums? )

2.       Write your content with a few things in mind

a.       Your readers and conversion rate… does your website have a call to action?

b.      Does your website load fast?

c.       Is it easy to navigate?

d.      Are your Key words correctly placed throughout the website?

3.       What is your level of marketing?

a.       What can you realistically spend on getting your message out there?

b.      What modes do you want to use (both on and off line).

c.       Find out who you can trust to help you get your message out and heard, and at what level.

(Shameless plug) We can help you refine your message and get it out through organic SEO services!  We can make sure you reach your clients on purpose, not just by accident!

Out with Panda, in with Penguin.

 Rustin wrote this informational article for SEMA about two months ago. I was reading it and thought it was worth passing on for those who got caught in Google's algorithm changes. Sorry I am late in re-posting. Let us know what you think... feedback is always welcome!

OK SEMA Online Marketers! The new google algorithm is called Penguin. Once again this is directed at Bad SEO and over SEOed websites! Unlike Panda this one is more aggressive. If your doing things out of the normal routine, then you are in jeopardy. If you are trying to beat Google's pay per click advertising with link juicing or any means of manipulations to gain a higher ranking. WATCH OUT! None of our websites have been hit. I doubt that they ever will, because we do things on a natural level. So to re-cap on your website. 1. Have good content that is related and meant to be about you. Have plenty of content. It needs to be 45-55% of your code. 2. Title Tags are extremely important. So make sure you have the right keyword in the right title tag, and keep them short. All title tags should be less then 70 characters including spaces. 3. You don't need to be keyword rich on your home page. Spread them around. Put your main keywords on there and spread the rest around so it looks natural. 4. Stay away from generic keywords, you will loose every time! What I mean is, stay away from keywords like Ford, GM, and Chrysler. How many people are actual going to find your products or service just through those three? 5. With number 4 said, then an excellent keyword search is a must. With a good keyword search you can actually gauge what your competition is doing how many people are searching to buy or hire your services, and it shows what level of competition your going to be at. 6. Keep your anchor texts down to a minimum. you need to be below 60% 7. Have proper Branding! If you don't know who you are, chance are the search engines and your future public have no clue who you are. (you can't be found) If your trying to become number one in Google rankings with the keywords you have; you must be paying anywhere from $500 to $5,000 plus per week in pay per click adds. Google has stated they would rather give discounts to it's PPC clients if they followed the rules. So you need to really look at your website. Does your website convert traffic? SEO people get into trouble for saying that they can guarantee sales and conversions. They are wrong. Some of the Top SEO experts that I have rubbed shoulders with said this can't be done. They say we can send traffic, build cloud cover, and create high quality links that will send the right traffic ready to give you their cash. That's where the website traffic conversion comes in. I don't do website conversion, I only do SEO. I'm going to put this in military terms for what we do. If your a new website or internet business you have to send in the Marines for a full beach assault. So you need to do some reconnaissance (keyword search) Then you need to send in the Marines with the right directions. While your doing that. You have to have a good propaganda campaign to let everyone know what your doing and not get freaked out (this is where the authoritative comes in). You don't want to be perceived as the enemy by all of the locals. So you use press-releases, blogging from outside sources, ETC. This is where a good SEO technician comes in. We use all of the local and national buzz-makers on the internet to create a cloud of information around your website. And this brings quality web-traffic. If your website converts you will see a good return on investment.

Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Show

Every year we love going to the Bull and Gelding show, walking around and talking to the vendors. Or goal is to help those venders also improve their marketing and on-line presence.

This year we found that more and more have facebook and twitter icons on their cards. Others we talked to wanted to know more about it and few wanted nothing to do with it.

No one had any use of QR tags on their cards, labels or banners. These were what we focused on to share with the vendors.

You may have come to this blog from our brochure, where there is a QR code tag leading you here. You can use this same type of thing to get your potential client to your site or blog for more information or to be able to re-order product. They can be as plain or as detail as you want.

Contact us for more information to and get your QR tags working for you today!

Listen before you speak!

I was on a post of sorts where someone asked a business question and 20+ well qualified people answered with: 'check out our services", or "we can help you", or something of that sort. It kind of bugged me, cause no one asked for clarification, or exactly what that person was looking for, no one took time to listen to what the person really needed.

It’s always best to be the first responder to a question or a request for services. But, even if you are not the first, don’t just jump out there and ask for the sale. Take a bit of time and build some rapport. You have to establish trust before you can make a sale. Your reply should not be all about you and your services. Find out what your potential client needs, what are they looking for? Do your services fit their need or would they be better serviced by someone else? Even if you refer them, you will build a loyal customer for the future, because you are looking out for their best, they will remember that!

If you can fulfill their need, then move on to the sale part, quoting them a price and answering questions. The last thing is make sure your delivery is good! Over and beyond what is expected. If you do that, then they may speak highly of you on the web list or forum you first connected with them and you have a greater chance of garnering more clients of that list.

Just food for thought... In sells, it’s not all about me or my product. It’s about the client and their needs.

Creative SEO

As we grow and learn more about the ever changing world of internet marketing, we are convinced that nobody (admittedly, even us) quite nows how to use the internet correctly. Google and Facebook are still trying to define what and how they should best work with all the members searching, chatting, selling, shopping and playing games on the world wide web.

With all the noise out there, we are coming up against the age old question, how do I make my voice heard? Here is our solution: First, hire us to do your SEO... but then we will ask you who is your ideal client is...then put yourself in their shoes... what would they be typing in searching for your product or service? Intersperse these words into your content. Second focus on your links! Use the tools out there, the best one we recommend is Wikipeda and put your business on there properly, comment on relevant stuff, please read and follow their rules, and do donate to their cause. If you do it right, you have easily searchable credible link to your site.

AB 155

AB 155 (Charles Calderon)
Use Tax: Retailer engaged in business
This is the death of Amazon affiliates in CA. So rather than put in coding to charge sales tax, Amazon pulled out. This is not the first state that Amazon has pulled out of. They have also pulled out of Rhode Island, and North Carolina for the same reason. Now the playing field is even for the brick and mortar stores who have to charge sales tax within these states.

Now the question is raised, what about Google? As a California based Company, will they now be forced to tack on CA sales tax to every californian who purchases Ad Since or Ad Words or is it a tax just for the CA representatives?

What about other affiliate marketing? Is that whole income revenue going to morph or get dumped in the change? The Internet is changing once again, as the government wants their piece of the pie.

I guess on this one, we will have to stay tuned.

Is it time to check your direction?

I am listening to another business coach, talk about doing a 1 page plan. Something that is like your compass and direction for your business. But what about life? How many of us have values and goals for our life that function the same way… like our moral compass? Have we written out our life goals and plans? Does our business plans line up with our personal plans?

What is our guideline, our values, our goals? It use to be that the Bible was the foundation which our society was built on. This is what told us stealing was wrong, dishonoring another was wrong and honoring and lifting people up is right. This is what was the moral compass of our Nation. It is interesting to see those who follow God's laws, whether they profess Him as Lord or not, do walk under a blessing. Why? Because God's way works; plain and simple. And those who don't? Well they may prosper for a while, but eventually they fail.

David Allen talks about business planing using an analogy of an airplane. From the tarmac to 30,000 ft in the air. You can get his book "Getting Things Done" The idea is that you have to have the airplane built and know where your going.

Merry Christmas!!

December is rolling on fast! The holiday festivities are in full swing and many of us are trying to plan for next year. First I want to take a moment and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and blessings for the new year. Second I want to give some quick tips for the planning process.

In reviewing 2010, did you meet your goals? Did you come close or were you totally sidelined? If you were sidelined, was it something out of your control, like a family member getting sick, or was it the "bright and shiny object syndrome" or some other form of distraction? Once you review the past year, you can see what you may need to STOP doing before you START planning to do something else. For example, you may need to stop checking e-mail first thing in the morning because it sidetracks you for the next two hours, and you instead may need to start checking it after lunch, using the more productive morning hours on money making tasks.

Three quick tips in setting new goals for 2011:
1) Start where you are now, and not where you think you should be... sometimes a reality check is needed.
2) Make sure your goals are measurable. This can be in time saved, or financial income or savings, or people or products serviced.
3) Build a team - you don't have to do it all! Surround yourself with professionals to whom you can outsource.

Hope that helps, if you have any other good tips feel free to reply to this blog and share them. Take some time and enjoy your family and friends as we remember Christ's birth.
Merry Christmas!

Attitude of Gratitude

As Thanksgiving day approaches, I want to take a moment to focus on how thankfulness or gratitude effects business growth.

The first question I want to ask is, what drives you? What is your "Why" in business? Is this your family, your hobby, or something else? Is this "Why" something you are thankful for? The next question I have for you is have you expressed your thankfulness recently? Are you thankful for your clients? They are the life blood of any business, and everyone enjoys being told that they are special. One kind, encouraging word can change the world for someone. It can also help promote loyalty to your product or service.

So I want to take a moment and thank all those who read this and those who have purchased any services from me. Thank you all for trusting me and sharing your vision with me, allowing me to both grow and develop vision and applications for your business. If you think we (me or my team) did a great job, let us know and please refer us on to others who may benefit from any of our services.

As a thanksgiving gift mention this blog for 10% off any of our services!

Gwen Smith
Vision Interface
V-interface.com

Joyful Productivity...

I just listened to a call hosted by Choice Magazine, featuring George Kao. His main theme was you need "joyful productivity" to be successful in whatever you do. No matter if you are an entrepreneur or an employee. His presentation included replacing negative mindsets with positive ones and knowing your why's. But what stood out to me was planning your business or activities around events, be it blog postings, physical events or coaching calls.

So on that note, we here at Vision Interface are planning to do a Strategic planning workshop in October, focusing on planning for the next year. This call is what prompted this blog. I also listened to Eric Ries "The lean start-up" and his main premiss was "quite wasting peoples time" so give me a quick shout back if you would be interested in tools to help start the planning process for next year.

One last thing, if you are on facebook, jump on to our page and become a fan! Join in or start a discussion and use it as a tool. I'll add more stuff as I see more people jumping on.

Until next time... be joyful!

Powerful Listening

It takes work to listen! Some people are gifted with more of a people oriented bend. They tend to value what others say and some actually take the time to ask questions to get one to expound. Others act like every conversation is a challenge; they are busy defining their next argument before the other person ever finishes his/her first sentence. Have you ever worked with such people? It’s hard to get anything through to them, because they are not listening. The other type of person is so task oriented that they focus on other things as they are “listening”. This is not a good practice either, for one, it’s not listening to the other person fully, as other things are processing through the brain. And when people don’t feel like they are getting heard, they tend to shut down. They don’t express ideas, they don’t share their feelings… it basically limits their productivity. We all have had experiences with each of the above scenarios. These examples are just based on various behavior styles.

So how do we focus on becoming better listeners? First it helps to recognize your own behavior style. Are you fast and driving, and the task at hand is most important? Or are you social and love to talk and interact with people, but you tend to dominate the conversation and not let them participate much. Others run at a slower pace and tend to be either people focused or task focused. These people focused people tend to be better listeners, they go slower and ask questions and often can not focus on multiple tasks while communicating. People with the other slower style are more task and detail oriented and mainly communicate when they need to, to get the task complete.

So what is your dominate style? Are you aware of other styles, and how they function? This is not intended to be a full description of behavior styles, but just enough to alert you to different styles. To help you understand that as you work on listening to others you may have to do some self talk, to modify your dominate behavior style to listen and empower others effectively.

Vision Interface, is working with SBLO Co, and TTI to offer behavior analysis studies that focus on the key points of communication, team building, hiring, and business growth. Feel free to contact us to find out more information.

How do we communicate?

There are numerous studies out about communication, verbal and non-verbal. Books are written on both topics. Typically, in a face-to- face meeting we receive input as follows:

· 7% Words/Pace

· 38% Tone of Voice

· 55% Body Language (TTI LTD 2007)

There is a whole language out there that studies the different behaviors and how they communicate. Behavior studies have been around since 444 BC, but have evolved into DISC through some key persons:

• William M. Marston described theory used today

• Walter Clark developed first instrument

• Bill J. Bonnstetter validated communication styles and has developed a detail study or language of DISC.

Unfortunately, so many people have learned the basic DISC profile and look at someone's domineering trait and labels that person. It then becomes an excuse for behavior and it does not help anyone in how-to communication.

In Bonnstetter’s work and development of Target Training International Ltd. he and his associates have developed multiple assessments to help train people in the use of DISC and how to communicate better.

I am currently coaching with John Oaks, SBL co. on the use of these assessments and teaching others how to communicate better to each behavior style. If you want more information about TTI or coaching with us, feel free to contact us at: v-interface.com.

What’s the biggest problem businesses face, large or small?

I would say the biggest problem businesses face is the breakdown of communication.

Be it between owners, employees, customers, to potential customers. There are many ways we communicate, and many things that inhibit our communications, be it verbal, body language, or the written word.

It also depends on our behavior style, and how we process our surroundings. Some are people focused, some are task oriented. Some process really fast, other process at a much slower rate (but usually more thoroughly thought out). Once we discover how we communicate and why we function the way we do, it allow us to be aware and be able to modify our style to communicate with others in a way that they can relate. For more one this topic contact me at gwen@v-interface.com.