Web Yodel News

What Is Web 2.0?

2006-02-13T14:39:00.000-08:00

What Is Web 2.0?

Lately there's a lot of hype about Web 2.0. What is it all about. I just found a good article by Tim O'Reilly. Take a look at
Design Patterns and Business Models for the Next Generation of Software
by Tim O'Reilly
09/30/2005

Free website for non-profit organization

2006-02-13T14:04:00.000-08:00

Web Yodel, LLC is offering a free website to a local non-profit organization. To apply, fill out form:

Application deadline: March 15th, 2006

Please spread the word!!!

Femme Fitale website is up and running

2006-01-27T13:17:00.000-08:00

Check out www.femmefitale.com.
Femme Fitale is Boulder's newest all-women fitness club.

TauTheta website is live!!

2006-01-27T13:14:00.000-08:00

Check out my latest website www.tautheta.com.

Web users judge sites in the blink of an eye

2006-01-17T16:11:00.000-08:00

Web users judge sites in the blink of an eye
Potential readers can make snap decisions in just 50 milliseconds

Full Article

Designing for the Web

2006-01-12T14:28:00.000-08:00

Great article about designing for the web. Within any given medium there are unique constraints that can affect the way designers make use of the principles and elements of design. These constraints can be based on a variety of different things including materials, technology, processes and standards in the industry. The Web is no different. Designing for a Web-based environment enacts a set of unique issues that need to be considered before implementation can be successful.

Full article

How Americans Search

2005-07-13T13:31:00.001-07:00

A recent study from Harris Interactive shines interesting light on the behavior and preferences of Americans when searching the web.

The study affirmed anecdotal evidence that people are turning to the internet instead of phone books or yellow pages. 54% indicated they have searched online rather than using a phone book. Most (63%) are looking for the addresses of phone numbers of people, but almost as many (58%) are looking up information on local businesses.

Full article from Search Engine Watch

How to Promote Your Local Business on the Internet

2005-07-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

In July 2004, Nielsen//NetRatings new MegaView Search service found that 24.4% of searchers on major search engines conducted searches that were local in scope, averaging 4.6 searches per searcher. In September 2004, a Kelsey Group-BizRate.com study found that more than 74% of respondents said they had conducted local searches and confirmed that 20% of all searches among respondents was local. Using the Internet to find local businesses is now mainstream and can only grow in frequency.

Why Major E-Tailers Sell on eBay

2005-06-28T11:40:00.000-07:00

Scot Wingo, president and CEO of ChannelAdvisor Corp. spoke at the Internet Retailer Conference June 7, 2005, on major brand stores that sell products on eBay. He noted that in 2004, online auction sales accounted for 23% of all online sales. Since eBay has such a huge following (147 million registered users), some online stores will acquire new customers on eBay who will turn into loyal customers on their regular websites.

Products typically go through a four-stage life cycle: (1) introduction, (2) in-season retail, (3) end-of-life, and (4) liquidation. The final stages are best for eBay, because eBay shoppers are looking for bargains. Instead of wasting valuable physical store space on end-of-life and liquidation or bargain bin items, sell them on eBay. Another use of eBay is to test products. For example, one company tested the popularity of colors by seeing how many bids there were for each color of a new product in a charity auction.

A speaker from Sears explained how Sears actively uses eBay. Sears' main website now includes an auction button on the home page. They have three distinct eBay stores at present -- all under their brand (and customer service reputation): (1) excess inventory, (2) major appliance returns available in their regional appliance outlets, and (3) open box returns in the Sears Liquidation Center.

eBay could be looked at as fourth channel: (1) physical store, (2) phone, (3) Internet online store, and (4) eBay.

Article by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson, Wilson Internet Rocklin, CA
Jun 15, 2005, 11:28 PST

Concrete Content – The Foundation for a Professional Website

2005-06-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

Deciding what content to put on your website is one of the most important, yet most overlooked aspects of creating a site. Let’s face it; no one comes to your site to ooh and ah over your pretty graphics. They come to your site because they want something. And that something is the content.

Tips about what to put on your website

Review: PayPal Website Payments Pro

2005-06-22T13:40:00.002-07:00

For years PayPal has offered merchants a way to receive credit card payments, but to do that, the purchaser was transferred to PayPal's site to complete the transaction and then transferred back to the merchant's site.

As of June 20, 2005, PayPal is now offering upgraded services to offer a payment gateway (much like Authorize.net and others) titled PayPal Website Payments Pro. For merchants who choose this service, the transaction will take place on the merchant's site for credit card payments using the Direct Payment API feature, or in three clicks for shoppers who decide to pay directly from their PayPal accounts using the Express Checkout Feature.

Full Article

U.S. states to end tax-free ride on eCommerce sites

2005-06-22T13:40:00.001-07:00

The greatest majority of US states want to end the tax-free advantage for most eCommerce shoppers, a situation that is facing a lot of opposition and complaints from the public, from many businesses and a number of federal lawmakers.

The Borders case is just a recent example of the progression towards ever expanding online taxation of e-commerce transactions. This being the case, it is quite possible that the Streamlined Sales Tax Project program will eventually become a mandatory national program with some federal oversight.

At present, 43 states have joined a states-led coalition called the Streamlined Sales Tax Project (SSTP), which is taking steps to collect sales tax on all Internet purchases, and are working to clarify their tax codes to make collection easier.

Full article

Google is developing online payment product, but not to go against PayPal

2005-06-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

Google is developing online payment product, but not to go against PayPal

Top web search engine Google.com is developing an online payment product, but not one that will compete directly with eBay Inc.’s PayPal, CEO Eric Schmidt said in a statement today.

Schmidt was responding to published reports that Google is preparing to launch an electronic payment product to compete with PayPal, the pioneering online person-to-person payment service.

“We do not intend to offer a person-to-person stored-value payments system,” he said, adding that “the payment services we are working on are a natural evolution of Google’s existing online products and advertising programs.”

Google declined to give more details. Google in March began testing a third-party electronic funds transfer service to send payments to sites that carry its ads.

Beginners Guide to Corporate Blogging

2005-06-08T13:14:00.000-07:00

Beginners Guide to Corporate Blogging

Web Yodel's June e-Newsletter

2005-06-07T15:08:00.003-07:00

Web Yodel's June e-Newsletter Boost your Search Engine Ranking by Adding a Blog to your Website, Nine Strategies for Successful Testimonials, E-Commerce Market Size to double by 2006, When to Use Animations on your Website

Your Customer Is A Search Engine

2005-06-07T15:08:00.002-07:00

While consumer confidence in advertising is at an all-time low, their confidence in search engines is growing. Why? Search engines offer consumers what advertising does not: relevance.

Today's consumers value relevance online and offline. A 2004 study of search engine user attitudes by IProspect indicated that nearly 80 percent of Internet users use search engines regularly and that more than half of users rely on search engines daily. The IProspect study showed that:

* most abandon search engine results by the third page and start over
* 23% abandon results after the first few entries
* 19% abandon results after the first page
* 26% abandon results after the second page, and
* 15% abandon results after the third page

One of the most interesting finding of the IProspect study is that many users consider the paid advertising that appears with listings to be legitimate search results.

Consumers demand marketing that's based on their needs. Saturated by thousands of advertising messages a day, marketing-savvy consumers recognize and reject the overt "brand building" tactics of traditional advertising agencies in favor of relevance. As a result, marketers that attempt to build brands based on emotion, design, and charisma are more likely to undermine their efforts and underestimate consumers than they are to succeed.

Companies need to distinguish themselves from competitors by adopting and exemplifying the keywords that have meaning to potential costomers. For example, a consumer who enters "Resort" into a search engine is looking for a different experience than someone entering "Hotel." Marketers must identify the keywords that accurately reflect a company and use them as the foundation for marketing tactics aimed at well-defined demographic target markets.

Full article

To Boost Ad Results, Improve Your Web Site

2005-06-07T15:08:00.001-07:00

Businesses that want to boost the results of traditional advertising need to dovetail their advertising strategies with Internet strategies rather than viewing them as independent channels.

Provide a consistent brand experience

Anticipate that consumers will visit the web site after viewing ads elsewhere -- even if the ad doesn't specifically mention a web site. Ensure that consumers who see your latest ads don't land on a web site that meets a lower standard.

Consider the Internet the "next step" to every ad

Web sites serve as a natural consumer destination for all outgoing advertising communications. Let your Web site take a hand-off from ads and provide consumers with a deeper level of product knowledge.

Educate consumers online - even when selling to them offline

Consumers spend less time thinking about your products, services and industry than you do. Provide them with the information they need to know about your industry, your products and your services in order to make an informed buying decision.

Use the Internet to make your case

Consumers who visit your web site are looking for meaningful information to distinguish your company's products and services from your competitors. Use the web site to highlight distinct features offered by your company. Provide side-by-side comparisons of products.

While the UW-Oshkosh study shows that the Internet is more complimentary to traditional advertising than it is competitive, some traditional methods of advertising will suffer as consumers go online. For example, the study suggests that the Internet is likely to outperform weekly and biweekly advertising media as consumers adapt to the "instant availability" of online news.

Full
article

Governing Good Web Site Design

2005-06-07T15:08:00.000-07:00

Four guidelines that score highest in both relevance and supporting evidence include:
* Use an Iterative Design Approach
Designs should be tested with site visitors before they are implemented. Use paper prototypes to test the design and make revisions to the design based on your findings.

* Provide Useful Content
While it seems common sense. It's not uncommon for sites to contain a company's sales pitch instead of the information that site visitors are looking for. Studies have reported that content is more important than navigation, visual design, functionality, and interactivity.

* Ensure Visual Consistency
Design creativity must be balanced with consistency. Studies show that tasks performed on more consistent interfaces resulted in: reduced task completion times; fewer errors; higher user satisfaction; and a shorter learning time.

* Use Black Text on Plain, High-Contrast Backgrounds
Use white text on dark backgrounds sparingly. People read black text on a white background up to 32 percent faster.

Full
article

Virus alert for Comcast subscribers

2005-06-02T13:42:00.001-07:00

If you're a Comcast subscriber, be on the lookout for an email message
from info@comcast.net saying that you've violated Comcast's web site policy
and that your account has been suspended. This is a hoax. This email
contains an attachment with a Worm-type virus.

Design Your Home Page to Motivate Prospective Buyers to Explore Your Web Site

2005-06-02T13:42:00.000-07:00

I just found a interesting article on developers.evrsoft.com about how to write a good homepage copy.

Here is a brief summary:

Step 1. Headline

Start your home page with a compelling, benefit-oriented headline, followed
by a subheadline.

Step 2. Description of your web site

Target your audience by describing your site's content in one to three sentences.
Tell what you can do for your visitors, what problem you can solve for them,
what solutions you provide, and what your qualifications are.

Step 3. Provide links

- Provide links that give visitors an overview of your site's content.
- Turn your links into headlines. Include action words and benefits to invite
and motivate people to go deeper into your site. - Write several headlines with
different hot buttons to motivate a larger number of visitors. - Link to a testimonial
page. Providing testimonials from customers or authorities in your field is
a powerful way to convey the benefits you offer. - Provide a link to your sales
letter, catalog, and order form.

Step 4. Capture your visitors' email

- Get your visitors' email address and build email lists of your prospects.
- Few people will buy from your web site on first contact. Generate leads with
your web site, stay in touch by email, and turn your visitors into customers.
Send regular email to establish trust; provide additional information and value;
offer additional products and services; and get visitors to return to your site.
Over time, they will develop confidence in you and buy from you. - Offer something
valuable to get your visitors' email address such as a free special report,
newsletter, evaluation, consultation, discount, or special offer.

Full article

E-Commerce Market Size and Trends

2005-05-31T13:24:00.000-07:00

The increase and penetration of online use in the US increases the potential market size for
E-Commerce on an annual basis. A large share of the expected growth in Internet commerce can be attributed to the increase in the online population:

U.S. online population estimated to increase nearly 50%, from 141.5 million in 2001 to 210.8 million by 2006 (CAGR of 8.2%).
U.S. online retail sales will grow from $47.8 billion in 2002 to an estimated $130.3 billion in 2006
There are 2.3 million small companies in the U.S.; with 16% of these in the retail trade and 60% of all small companies have an online presence – potential market size for our service is upwards of 200,000 companies.
Annual spending per buyer will increase from $457 in 2001 to $784 in 2006

Go to full article

Welcome!

2005-05-26T12:39:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Web Yodel's Blog. I will be posting articles, tips, quotes, pictures and whatever else I think might be interesting to you. Enjoy!