Indianapolis Web Designer – Holiday Cheer Edition

Posted in: Blog, Tech Tips by admin on December 17, 2010

Here at the Online Architecture office we debated last week as to what subject matter we should cover in this edition of the Tech Tip. As we are only days away from Christmas, it’s easy to let off the accelerator a bit and take in all the season offers. With that in mind, what better way to enjoy than with a couple of trivial pursuits.

Ever wonder what you or your friends and family would look like dressed as dancing elves? Let the silliness ensue at ElfYourself.com. This site has been around for a while, but that doesn’t make it any less entertaining. Upload a few photos and you’re on your way.

In a similar vein, JibJab.com also offers several other lighthearted holiday-themed ecards and videos that you can personalize with photos. They offer a couple of free templates, but most require membership, including a $1 monthly fee. That’s small potatoes for a few giggles.

For those of you that enjoy games, Elf Bowling is a fun way to blow off a little steam. Try to roll a strike and prepare for the ridicule from your targets should you miss. You can download free, but limited, versions of two Elf Bowling games on the NStorm website or pay a small fee to unlock the full versions of the games.

Looking for something interactive for children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews? Visit NorthPole.com and explore all the resources and activities available to both adults and children.

Merry Christmas from the staff at Online Architecture!

Indianapolis Web Designer – Twitter Simplified

Posted in: Blog, Tech Tips by admin on November 8, 2010

Previously we discussed the merits of using Twitter in business communication and marketing. But the concept may still be a bit hazy (don’t worry, you’re not alone). This week we’re featuring a creative YouTube video created by Common Craft that goes a long way in simplifying Twitter and how it works.

Online Architecture is an Indianapolis web design company offering a full complement of services. If you are looking for a website designer or website developer for your project, contact Valerie Baten at 317-353-2900. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Indianapolis Web Design – Cool Tools: Learn How Your Website Ranks in the Search Engines with CuteRank

Posted in: Blog, Tech Tips by admin on October 28, 2010

Online Architecture recently lead a client training session and one of the topics discussed with those in attendance was website ranking and keywords. With that in mind, this week we’re focusing on CuteRank, a “Cool Tool” to help you track how your website ranks on specific keywords.

If you’ve ever searched for your company site in Google, you know it can be tedious checking search terms and logging where you rank. With CuteRank (http://cuterank.net/), you can download a free tool, add your website and the keywords you want to track, and within minutes you can generate reports on those keywords for Google, Bing, Yahoo!, Ask.com and AOL. The free tool will allow you to track only one website, but for a small fee you can upgrade to the professional version and add as many sites as you need.

One of CuteRank’s best features is that users can review trends over the period of one week, or expand to one, three or six months. You can also export the results to a pdf report. If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to track your search engine rank, CuteRank can help.

Online Architecture is an Indianapolis web design company offering a full complement of services. If you are looking for a website designer or website developer for your project, contact Valerie Baten at 317-353-2900.

Oh Synapse! Is the Web Changing the Way We Think?

Posted in: Blog, Tech Tips by admin on September 24, 2010

There is no question that the internet has greatly altered life as we know it. The information superhighway and the advancements that have come with it have delivered the world to our doorsteps. It has changed the way we obtain information, how we do business, and how we communicate with others. Now there are some that maintain this technology-driven, information-rich environment is spurring a change in the way our brains function. Read more at http://bit.ly/dABeZQ

Indianapolis Social Media – The Social Media Revolution

Posted in: Blog, Tech Tips by admin on September 17, 2010

This is a test.  Is social media

a)      A fad?
b)      Just another internet tool?
c)       The biggest shift since the industrial revolution?

We’ve spent several weeks extolling the benefits of social media tools like Facebook and Twitter and we’ve had plenty of folks ask us why they should bother to fit yet one more task into their already busy schedules.  If you think that social media just one more item in a long list of fads that will eventually fall by the wayside, you need to watch this video.  We guarantee you will see at least one thing that will make you go “wow.” (Plus it’s short and has really snappy music so make sure you turn up the volume).  Social media’s star is burning brightly, and its impact will only increase over time.  So watch the YouTube post below on the social media revolution to learn more about how social media is changing the way the world communicates.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFZ0z5Fm-Ng

Indianapolis Web Design – Cool Tools: TweetDeck

Posted in: Blog, Tech Tips by admin on September 10, 2010

A few of us from the Online Architecture staff attended the Blog Indiana conference a few weeks ago.  Sitting in the back of the auditorium we watched everyone in front of us posting to Twitter and Facebook while they were listening to the speaker on stage.  Guess what they were using to post?  The same application that we were using, TweetDeck.

If you tweet regularly, or have friends that do, TweetDeck is a fast and easy way to stay abreast of the flurry of activity via your web browser. As TweetDeck notes on their website, www.tweetdeck.com, they like to think of their product as “air traffic control for Twitter.” TweetDeck allows you to not only connect with those you follow on Twitter, but also Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn, just to name a few.

Using your browser, you can arrange your contacts into groups, or sort them into columns for easy review. TweetDeck also allows you to stay connected with your colleagues on Facebook. Using the interface you can update your Facebook status, like other users or pages, upload photos to your Facebook page and comment on other users’ posts without actually going to your page.

Last, but not least, you can use TweetDeck on multiple platforms. Do you have an iPhone? iPod Touch? iPad? You can connect to TweetDeck via each of these, and they’re currently beta testing for Android users.

Indianapolis Social Media – Do You Tweet?

Posted in: Blog, Tech Tips by admin on September 2, 2010

We’ve spent the last several weeks delving into Facebook and its benefits. And while the social networking giant boasts more than 500 million users, there is another equally popular product that has generated a great deal of interest. Twitter is a web-based tool that allows users to send small, 140 character updates to friends and followers, as well as follow the activities of other users.

Twitter users vary greatly. Some often “tweet” status updates throughout the day, pointing out items of interest or just noting what they are doing at the moment. Others post only a few times a week. The result is a quick exchange of information between individuals and groups that can be light-hearted or offer significant value.

Just how big is Twitter? In June, Twitter said that users were sending out 65 million tweets a day on average. And companies ranging from the small shop down the street to Fortune 500 titans now have Twitter accounts used for disseminating information. According to the company website, developers have created more than 50,000 Twitter-based applications that run on the web and mobile devices like your phone.

As with Facebook, Twitter is another valuable social tool that can help you stay connected with a broad audience. If you haven’t tried Twitter, now is the time to take that first step.

Indianapolis Social Media – Creating a Page for Your Business on Facebook

Posted in: Blog, Tech Tips by admin on August 26, 2010

Last week Online Architecture provided pointers on getting started with social media and the basics of Facebook. This week we’ll take the next step: turning Facebook into a marketing tool.

So you’ve built your small network of Facebook friends for your personal profile, and that’s great. But what about your business? How do we harness the power of Facebook and generate exposure and a following? The easiest way to do so is to build a page for your business (formerly known as a Fan Page). Fortunately, setting up a page is a lot like creating your Facebook profile, so it’s pretty easy.

Start by going to Facebook.com.  If you’re not logged into your account at the bottom of the page underneath the green sign up button you will see “Create a page for a celebrity, band or business.” After you click on the link, select “Local business” from the options and add the page name for your business. Make sure you check the box verifying that you are the official representative for your business and click the “Create Official Page” button.  On the next screen you’ll be asked to sign in with your personal login (all pages have to be connected to a personal profile).

Now you are ready to build out your company profile, adding as little or as much detail on your business/company as you choose. Start with the simple things. Add your company profile and contact information. Post some relevant pictures of yourself, your staff, or images related to your business. Start a discussion and encourage others to participate.

Once you’ve taken the time to build a page, build a following by getting others to “like” it. The more users you can get to like your page, the more you can utilize it as a marketing tool. Then, use the page to post interesting articles, polls/surveys, and other items to engage your followers. Keep them informed on subjects that may interest them or spur them to action. Give them content that keeps them coming back, and pushes your business through all the clutter to the front of their minds.

One important point.  Many people have contacted us asking about adding other tabs and gizmos to their page.  That’s certainly helpful, but our recommendation would be to wait until you’re putting a steady stream of posts on your page, and until you have a good base of people who have “liked” your business.  People will “like” your page because of what you post, the rest is bonus material.      

The easiest part is setting the page up. But don’t forget to promote it outside the Facebook network. Add a link to the page from your website. Include it in your email signature. Get the word out and build your following.

Indianapolis Social Media – Dipping Your Toe in the Social Media Pool

Posted in: Blog, Tech Tips by admin on August 16, 2010

When others mention social media tools like Facebook and Twitter do you feel overwhelmed? Confused? Intimidated? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Technology often improves our lives, but not without a little first-time anxiety. In July, Facebook announced that membership had exceeded 500 million users, meaning that it’s not just Generation Y that is plugged into the internet’s largest network.

So you want to plug in, but you don’t know where to start. Or you’re ready to start but you’re afraid of getting immediately bombarded by everyone you ever knew. Fair enough. The good news is that you don’t have to jump into the deep end. You can wade into the shallow end of the pool and build your confidence first.

The first step: Set up a Facebook account. You need to know your name, gender, email address and birthday, that’s it.

Once your account is set up, if you really want to keep a low profile to start, click on Account (upper right hand corner) then Privacy Settings, then Application settings uncheck the box to disable public search. Doing this removes your name from Facebook and other search engines. So you can roam around Facebook and choose who you want to connect with.

Here are some suggestions on where to go from here.

“Like” a Page. Probably one of the simplest actions you can take on Facebook, clicking the “Like” button does two things. It shows support for the organization, and any posts made by the organization will appear on your personal News Feed. “Liking” pages is a great way to track your favorite places and organizations.

Family First. When you’re ready to connect with others, start with those you know best, your family. Chances are there are children, grandchildren, siblings, even grandparents that are plugged in.

Friends/Co-workers. The next logical step is connecting with those you interact with everyday. Do you have a friend you haven’t seen in a few years? Facebook is an easy way to stay informed when time and distance don’t permit.

Destinations. Do you have a favorite restaurant or watering hole? Another local business you frequent? You’d be surprised how many businesses are now on Facebook. A great example is Schuler’s Restaurant, a family-owned establishment in Marshall, Michigan that has served the community for more than a century. Close to 900 customers and fans stay informed on upcoming Schuler’s events, activities and specials via Facebook.

Don’t be afraid to experiment. Go to your favorite website(s) and find an interesting story, “like” it and see how it is added to your Facebook wall. Post a comment that includes a url, or better yet, use your newfound knowledge of bitl.ly to post a shortened url! Practice makes perfect. Before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to turning laps in the social media pool.

Indianapolis Website Design – Cool Tools: bit.ly

Posted in: Blog, Tech Tips by admin on July 30, 2010

From time to time we at Online Architecture will share “Cool Tools” that can help improve productivity or just aid in simplifying your online experience. Today’s tool is bit.ly (http://bit.ly/) a website that takes the hassle out of sending web links to others while providing meaningful statistics.

Have you ever tried to send a friend or colleague a long url for an interesting story you read online, only to find out they could not open it because the link didn’t translate on their end? Have you received an email and experienced the same? Using bit.ly you can take that long url, shorten it, and share it with others. Let’s see it in action.

Here is the link to a CNN story titled “Rise of the renting class”.
http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/28/real_estate/housing_debate_rent-vs-buy.fortune/index.htm

Using bit.ly, here is the same link to the story, only much shorter.
http://bit.ly/apPzPH

The bit.ly link is considerably shorter, making it easier to use anywhere you choose. It is particularly ideal for Facebook and Twitter posts, where space comes at a premium.

But bit.ly doesn’t just shorten links, with a free account it also offers users a chance to archive all bit.ly links you create and mine valuable data. You can track how many times a bit.ly link that you have distributed is clicked, as well as when links are used in Twitter, and whether Facebook users “like” a link. Even more valuable, links generated in bit.ly are unique, and they never expire.

Whether you’re looking for an easy way to send long urls, or your desire is to better track how effective your communications efforts may be, bit.ly is a valuable, and cool, tool.