This is a far-fetched idea of course. The internet isn’t a car engine that can just be switched off with a key. It is a flexible network of networks of more networks. Even if a section of the internet were to go offline in the wake of a natural disaster, other sections would remain functional.

But for posterity’s sake let’s consider the idea of a world completely without internet for a day.
There is no doubt that as the internet has grown, so has our dependence upon it. How many of you used the internet in some capacity this morning? To place an online lunch order, RSVP to an event tonight posted on Facebook, play music on Pandora, or pay for your Starbucks coffee with a credit card?

The internet is more far reaching than just personal use. Businesses use websites and online advertising to sell their products and services. They also depend on the internet for internal communication: email, instant messaging, voice over IP services (conference calls), and credit card processing.

So what would happen if the internet stopped working?

Companies that would be obsolete without internet access:

• Amazon
• Craigslist
• Ebay
• Facebook
• Foursquare
• Flickr
• Google
• Hulu
• PayPal
• Xbox Live
• YouTube

Many services that we take for granted on a daily basis would be disrupted for a while until we reverted back to pre-internet methods of performing tasks.

Services that would be disrupted:

• Banking
• Credit and debit card purchases
• FedEx (tracking packages)
• Monitoring systems (from oil drills, to nanny cams)
• Netflix online streaming
• Online bill pay
• Web-based educational courses

This is by no means a comprehensive list. Our modern lives are more entwined and dependent on the internet than we can possibly count. What are some other key services and daily activities you can think of that would be disrupted in a world without internet?

Steve Jobs managed a huge company and international brand, and was the father of so many fascinating ideas that it’s impossible not to pay attention to him. There are many lessons that can be learned from Steve Jobs and how to apply them in effective web design.

Design is Decisive.

Apple is a design-led company. The hardware is lovely, but it’s also deeper than that. From both a hardware and software perspective, Apple products are well thought through, and designers by nature really like this attention to detail.

A solid marketing plan can help convince people to buy a product or require the services of somebody but once they are disappointed by these, they won’t ever come back. Steve Jobs took this into account and insisted on manufacturing the best quality on the market.

From iPads, iPhones and iPods any designer understands that, in the competitive global economic market, a product is appreciated only if it has a great design. The same can be said about a website. It should not only be attractive but also top quality. A misshaped logo or a bad color combination repels website visitors like the plague. Just one neglected detail will send customers looking elsewhere.

It’s Not Luck. It’s Marketing.

Marketing isn’t optional. The notion “if you build it, they will come” is ill-conceived. This is one reason why most startup companies fail within their first four years of operation. We are an information led society. Customers need to be informed on where you are located, how to reach you, and what products or services you offer.

In order to be noticed by your potential customers, a strategy is required to be recognized. This aspect is one of the strongest facets of the Apple brand and is a good example for any business, large or small. You might be the best doctor/seamstress/baker/etc. in the world, but if you aren’t known by your target audience or found on the internet, you don’t exist.

Offer the best services and products to your clients BUT make sure your search engine ranking is in the top for Google, Yahoo and Bing searches.

The first thing to know is that when we perform a search, we aren’t actually searching the internet; we are searching the engine’s index of pages on the internet. Google is the largest search engine with over a trillion pages in its index.

Pages are indexed by software programs called spiders. Spiders crawl the web, following links on pages and logging the pages they point to. Then they continue by following the links on those pages, logging those, and so on, until they have an index of over a trillion pages in the search engine.

So, when you go to search for a certain set of keywords, Google’s software searches every indexed page for those words, returning the most relevant results first, based on many different things, such as how many times the keyword shows up in the page, where the keywords are within the text, where the website is from, and the page rank of the website. Page Rank is a patented algorithm invented by Google’s founders, which rates a webpage based on the number and quality of outside links that point to that site. After you search, all of these things are combined to return results that are most relevant to what you are looking for, hence millions of results in half of a second.

It is important to understand how search works so that you can successfully optimize your site to show up in results. At TheeDesign Studio, we build our websites with search engines in mind, creating a custom WordPress content management system (CMS) that is easily indexed by search engines. Then, our internet marketing team helps build incoming links specific for your keywords, so that you show up at the top of the results for your industry.

If you are looking for help getting noticed online, call 919-341-8901 for a free consultation or fill out our inquiry form and one of our marketing specialists will be in contact with you soon.

Today’s website can be used for many purposes, such as commerce, sharing information, connection, branding, etc. But to ensure a positive user interaction all websites must display information clearly and in an interesting way. In this age of immediate gratification, it’s essential that your website be up to date, not only in its look and feel, but also in its functionality.

Keeping a modern look and feel is important. If your website is out of date, you are sending a negative message to your visitors and you may even drive long-time customers away. A website that was designed many years ago and has not been updated is like an empty, dusty, old house – no one will want to visit or to stay long if they happen to knock on your door. And because it is an entirely web-based experience, you want to make sure that your UI is clear, functional and easy to use. By having a website where information is clearly displayed and all pages easy to navigate, you improve the overall customer experience.

Outdated information is a clear indicator that your website needs a redesign. Displaying content or images that’s outdated can affect your credibility. Additionally, internet browsers such as Safari, Explorer, Chrome and Firefox, are constantly updating. By not taking the time to redesign your website to support these changes, your pages may experience a noticeable delay in loading or not display properly. If a user attempts to enter your site and is refused or it takes too long, then he is likely not to return. Don’t lose potential and current customers simply because you have not taken the time to update your site.

Your website’s visibility and traffic is an important part of web-based marketing, but what happens when someone arrives on your website?

Does your content encourage visitors to take a specific action that supports your marketing and sales goals? Do you want your visitors to try, buy, learn more, submit or share? Is your offer clearly visible and placed above the fold, with a call to action? Take the opportunity to ask visitors to sign up for your newsletter, to request more information, or to register. By including calls to action clearly on the page, you further engage the visitor and can create repeat customers. Consistent redesign will also let repeat visitors know that you take an interest in your site, that you are probably personally involved and where one ‘call to action’ may not get the hoped for response, a new and fresh approach may appeal to someone who has not before this time been amenable to your product or service.

Is your website entirely flash based? If so, all the content on your site and its valuable keywords cannot be read by search engines (like Google) and it will most likely not appear in search results for relevant search terms. This means that unless someone specifically types in your url, or your exact name or brand, that your website will be invisible to any potential visitors. If this is the case, then a redesign of your website is absolutely necessary. If you can’t drive traffic, you will not be successful.

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. Be SEO-friendly. If you want to update your site’s content or add new pages to your website, be SEO-conscious. Add new pages with SEO considerations in mind to improve your site’s ranking for specific keywords and phrases. There are many resources for you to become aware of what search terms are being used most often and research on your part will make sure that you are doing everything necessary to not only redesign your website in a user-friendly fashion, but to drive traffic to your site in order to be successful.

There are a lot of elements to a properly functioning website and the designers and internet marketing specialists at TheeDesign Studio can ensure you are getting the most out of your web presence. Call 919-341-8901 for a free consultation or just fill out fill out our inquiry form and one of our web design specialists will be in contact with you in the near future.

A QR code is capable of holding up to 7,089 characters in a single symbol, several hundred times more than a traditional barcode. Because of its square shape, which is read both horizontally and vertically, the QR code features a small print size, holding a lot of data. QR codes can hold the same amount of data as a traditional barcode in less than one tenth of the space. Even better, the QR code is able to be scanned even if it is dirty or slightly damaged. Up to 30% of the characters can be recovered from a damaged QR code.

Who Used The First QR Code?

First developed by Toyota in 1994 to categorize car parts manufactured at high speeds, the QR code has evolved into a widely accepted way to code information. Nearly every type of mobile device/smart phone is equipped with a scanner to decipher QR codes. Android, Blackberry and Nokia all provide native applications to scan QR codes, already installed on the devices. The Apple iPhone features numerous free applications, such as RedLaser, that also scans QR codes quickly and accurately. When scanned, smart phones are prompted to perform an action, such as linking to a mobile website, displaying a video, or even sending an SMS text message from your phone.

Because of the ease, availability, and convenience of QR scanners, this type of code is being used far more in recent marketing. Just last year, Dick’s Sporting Goods kicked off its new mobile site by broadcasting a QR code on the world’s largest HDTV video board at the new Cowboy’s stadium in Dallas TX, during the third quarter of the Dicks Sporting Goods Cowboy’s Classic (University of Oklahoma vs. Brigham Young University). When scanned, the code directed fans to Dick’s new mobile site, with an exclusive coupon for $10 off any $50 purchase.

Marketers have reacted positively to the use of QR codes because of how accurately and easily it is to measure response rates. For example, including a QR code in a printed brochure or other print marketing, the company is able to measure how many times the code was scanned, thus returning accurate data on how well the campaign is reaching its audience. The scanned code can link the consumer to the company’s Facebook page, Twitter account, or specific landing pages on their website encouraging the audience to interact with the company, creating more opportunity for exposure, leads, and sales. In addition, the data from scanned QR codes provides a basis for an accurate ROI calculation, or return on investment, which can help justify marketing costs and increase business.

If your business is looking for creative ways to integrate QR codes into your marketing campaign, let us help. Our internet marketing specialists will help you maximize your response rates with interactive technologies and get you noticed. Call us today at 919-341-8901 or click here to fill out our inquiry form and get started.

The Daily has enlisted the help of big names in mainstream news and news media and, rumor has it, will incorporate content from News Corporation publications as well as video from Fox Sports. The majority of its content, however, will be exclusive to Apple iPad users.

One thing that remains unclear is how The Daily will provide regular, original content with only 100 staff members. Another unanswered question is how much The Daily will cost users. News Corporation appears to be relying on the iPad to increase revenue, although the decision to invest in The Daily may be due in part to News Corporation’s close relationship with iPad manufacturer Apple Inc. Readers of The Daily can opt to receive the publication by downloading an iPad app. Therefore, publishers will not have to resort to relying on the sales of single issues.

However, due to the primarily public nature of the web, internet users are currently used to receiving news content for free. When consumers are required to pay for a service that they have been used to receiving free of charge, will the majority of them simply go elsewhere? News Corporation needs to set itself apart from its competitors by providing an original product. The only way to acquire The Daily will be through the Apple App Store, where the deal becomes lucrative. When browsing the Apple App Store, users find themselves in a commercial haven without realizing it. For many users, downloading apps has become second nature to such an extent that people are likely not to think twice about purchasing The Daily if it intrigues them.

The Daily, which will be produced each evening for release the next morning, is likely to feature updates similar to those of a news website. However, these updates are unlikely to be considered of the same urgency or importance as those produced on popular news sites. Unlike many traditional news websites, The Daily will not be connected to other publication’s content through hyperlinks.

iPad users are accustomed to using a Web browser to seek news, and this has left many analysts wondering whether users will be willing to adapt to a new platform. News Corporation executives hope that half a million iPad users will subscribe to The Daily within the first five years following its debut. That number represents approximately five percent of all tablet users. The number of iPad users is set to increase in the foreseeable future, making News Corps estimates realistic.

The separation between print journalism and online media is becoming smaller by the second. Nearly every printed news source has an online version that is more dynamic, informative, and interactive, pushing users to bypass print in favor of online media. In addition, online media is easy to update, cheap to produce, and requires little materials and time, a clear advantage over print media. With more and more audiences turning towards mobile and wireless devices for news and entertainment, it is vital that business take advantage of the cost effective, interactive way of marketing their brand.

If your business is looking for a way to capture the attention of online audiences, call TheeDesign Studio today. We specialize in creating custom web pages featuring effective content management systems so you can be in control of your site. We also have an in house green screen and production team ready to make compelling and professional videos for your site. Finally, our internet marketing specialists can optimize your web page to make your online presence known. Call us today at 919-341-8901 or click here to fill out our inquiry form and get started.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is a combination of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol with the SSL/TLS protocol to provide encryption and secure identification of the server.

So… in other words, that means when you go to a bank website or online store, you are in a secure session and that it’s safe to proceed. Many times you will see the “S” when you are submitting a payment online.

If your goal is to open an internet store, you need to familiarize yourself with HTTPS and how to go about getting one. There are three simple steps to follow to get your website secured.

First, you need a web server that supports SSL (which means Secure Sockets Layer a protocol that provides secure communications on the internet) encryption… I would recommend a server like Apache that comes with “mod_ssl” which provides SSL support. Next, you need a unique IP address for each domain that will have HTTPS.  Finally, you need an SSL certificate from a certified provider… I would suggest TheeRegister.com. Once you have that you are ready to start creating secured pages, and utilizing the web to generate revenue.

If you have questions about HTTPS – or anything else web related – just give TheeDesign Studio a call at 919-341-8901 or fill out the inquiry form.

So is commerce all that Magento is good at? Not so much. Going through the demo product on their website taught me that much. The CMS is easy to understand and code from very basic to more advanced coding options (and watching the programming guys work with it, it made me appreciate how complicated of a programming script it can understand). But this is even good at SEO. No more do you have to set up a tool or a plug-in, just hit the Meta Data tab and put in your description and keywords and save it.

The other nice thing about Magento that I’ve found is its willingness to work with PHP. This is a programming script near and dear to my heart as after an annoying year in college trying to make C++ functions work, my first PHP function ran without a stutter. Sure, I was guided through creating it by our senior programmer, but the point is that we can communicate. Magento and Zend are working together to try to make it more friendly to the equally friendly PHP.

Now, we need to look at the downfalls before you go out, download it to your machine, and proceed to sell your own possessions. First off, it can be very slow. In fact, speed is the most common complaint about Magento. This may possibly be resolved by some optimized PHP coding, but I have yet to set it in front of aforementioned senior programmer to see if he could coax a little more speed from it. The second issue is that as it’s written to work with programming scripts more easily, it can be a bit more complicated to use than WordPress. It comes with default settings, which can be easily used, but if you want something a little more flashy, those default settings will need someone with a firm understanding of programming to adjust your site.

But with any program, it has its strengths and weaknesses that can make it better or worse for your site based on what you want your CMS to do. If a pretty, non-sales centered website is what you want for your blog, Magento likely isn’t for you. If a high-speed eCommerce site is more down your alley, Magento’s definitely on the rise, and it seems to be only a matter of time before it’s friendly enough to make up for any current shortcomings it has.

Have questions about what CMS is right for you? Call the web design experts at TheeDesign Studio at 919-341-8901 or visit our website at www.TheeDesign.com.

So, here is what I uncovered.

Magento

The newest CMS among the big boys is Magento. It is one of most search engine friendly ecommerce systems and is very robust. While it still needs work, it has many advantages including a high-end shopping cart that provides an extremely professional looking interface. The biggest knock against Magento was that it wasn’t content management friendly, but their 1.4 update has an editor. However, the opinions were mixed on just how good the editor is.

Drupal

Drupal lovers love Drupal… it’s really as simple as that. It seems they have so much love for it, that they just can’t bring themselves to like anything else. They love the way it supports SSL, multimedia, document management, user management, permission features and much more. The documentation is second-to-none and the add-ons make using it a no-brainer. Possibly the most important aspect – according to one programmer – is that the product manager is easy to use and update. I am not sure if I agree with that, however.

Joomla

Joomla was also mentioned as a solid CMS for ecommerce websites. Ease of use was one of the key benefits, which should make life easier for non-technical individuals. Extensions are always being improved and Joomla sites generally upload faster than some of their competitors. The big drawback was that it wasn’t as robust as the others, but that was a minor complaint.

Now for the million dollar question… which one is the best for ecommerce? Honestly, it sounds like all of them have their strengths and weaknesses, so it really depends on the client and project. Our in-house computer nerds (ahem, programmers) are experts at developing the above CMS sites along with ExpressionEngine, WordPress and X-Cart. If you want to learn more, just give us a call at 919-341-8901 for a free consultation or fill out our inquiry form and one of our ecommerce experts will be in contact with you soon.

PHP Programming Language

PHP is a server-side language. What does this mean? It means that PHP talks to a database on the server, usually MySQL, and does all its work before delivering the final product to you at the other end of the internet connection. But it’s not an exclusive dater. Due to its open-source nature, programmers have adapted it and helped it evolve into a leaner, meaner language than it originally started as. Therefore, it speaks to a wider range of servers. MySQL is often preferred because it, like PHP, is free.

It also has a good support base. www.php.net is a wealth of information where new updates and coding ideas are shared, and problems are solved. It can go just about anywhere and doesn’t need a special system build to host it.

ASP Programming Language

ASP is Microsoft’s cousin to PHP. It is also server-side, but it’s a bit more exclusive in its tastes. It tends to like MSSQL, another Microsoft product. It also requires a Microsoft / Windows host and is more limited in its capabilities. www.asp.net is its own hub of programming information. Now, ASP isn’t dysfunctional by any means. It has the ability to speak other languages like Java, VBScript and C# (pronounced C-sharp).

Sadly, though related, PHP and ASP do not work well together, so what do you choose in developing your websites? That debate is hot and heavy between programmers, almost as heated as the debate between Mac and PC users, so I won’t get into that. But choosing the right language and interface for your business is as easy as picking up the phone and calling your friends at TheeDesign Studio.

In business since 2004, our in-house web developers and programmers have the talent and experience to help you sift through the confusing alphabet soup to design a complete web presence to fit your needs, from logo creation to internet marketing with everything in between.

Want to speak to one of our web developers? Just call 919-341-8901 for a free consultation or schedule a free consultation and one of our web design experts will be in contact with you soon.