DotTrend's Blog

Don’t Get Scroogled Around The Holidays!

2012-12-12T08:32:00.000-08:00

Another rivalry Microsoft versus Google around the holidays, this is what we all need right? You see it advertised for quite a while now and it’s perfect especially Christmas is coming up.

So what is Scroogled?

A little history:

In the beginning, Google invented a product search mechanism called Froogle in 2002. You can upload your own store products into their query database. This allows shoppers to search of any items quickly without having to visit one website at a time. You can sort by relevance or by price (low to high). The options were endless! The whole idea means exactly how it sounds and for those retailers, it’s not always pleasant to hear when you have higher ticket items. So why end the great invention? They didn’t…they just removed the name Froogle to simply just Google Shopping.

Google Stated:

“We were a really young company, and I don’t think we really understood the burden of a new brand,” said Marissa Mayer, vice president of search products and user experience at Google. “I also think it was very hard to build awareness. Our product offering was very robust, but it will fare better with a Google Product Search name.”

The great part is that anyone or anybody can list their products on Google!

With this, Microsoft saw a marketing scheme to screw over Google thus named Scroogled! Basically, you’ve been duped by a bad product search on Google based on “Paid Ads.”

So have you’ve been Scroogled?

Wayne M Bui
DotTrend, Inc

What is a Cloud?

2012-08-22T08:16:00.002-07:00

Many people still wonder; what does Cloud computing means in technology? Unfortunately it’s not the puffy white things you’d see in the sky. Although, that’s not too far away from what Cloud computing is. It has the same concept. In case you did not realize, we use Cloud technology every day! If you are on any Social Media such as Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn then you have been using it! This is just the surface, so let’s dig deeper!

Cloud computing is basically the use of many devices that would deliver information over the network. In this case, I am talking about over the Internet. It helps the workload upon information being delivered without any downtime. So what’s the difference of what we are currently doing like Web 2.0, Websites, or Extranet? Cloud technology allows it to go further than that! Cloud can even open up for remote services of user’s data and software streamlined live. For example, Google offer the user to create online documents, presentations or even spreadsheets over the Internet. The Cloud gives the user the opportunity to do stuff without having to download any software because it’s in a shared environment.

Josie L.
DotTrend, Inc.

Is it possible to stay SPAM-FREE?

2012-04-24T06:28:00.001-07:00

It is “still” the most common question people would ask to this day. There really isn’t a perfect answer, but there are best practices you can do to limit yourself from having spam emails in your inbox.

As technology devices grow, the same thing goes for spamming. Spam emails now exist on your mobile phone, website forms, streaming videos, tablets or any where there’s Internet connection. Although, it’s virtually impossible to stay 100% spam free, below are some helpful tips that can get you spam-less.

Trusted Websites - Subscribe to websites that are most trusted or well known such as CNN, HGTV, Yahoo, etc.
Stay Away From Checkboxes – Often times, we are in the process of registering for an account and there’s an opt-in option for “Yes, please allow 3^rd party advertiser to send me great deals!” Uncheck it!
Hide Your Email – When posting an ad, make sure to use disguise your email option rather than using your actual email.
Obvious Emails – Try not to use info@, sales@, support@, etc. emails. Many spammers use these as their starting point to send spam emails.
No Unsubscribing – Leave spam emails alone, just delete it! Do NOT unsubscribe as you basically just confirmed your email as being valid.
No Replies! – Resist in replying back asking the spammer to remove from the list. Again, you just confirmed your email.

Lastly, if you have the time and want to contribute in helping others to protect spam emails from hitting their inbox, then I recommend reporting these spammers to the Anti-Spam Organization such as SpamCop, Cauceor Stop Spam.

Jimmy C.
DotTrend, Inc.

Do I Need An App For My Business?

2012-01-04T14:51:00.000-08:00

After reading the title, some of you reading this may be wondering, “What is an app?” App is really just an informal way to say “computer application.” An app can be a phone or tablet application, such as Facebook, which many of us are addicted to these days. An app can also be an application that resides on your laptop or desktop computer, such as Microsoft Word. I feel mobile apps are a great way to expand a business and provide convenience for an end-user. Paying my cell phone bill through my cell phone provider’s mobile app has provided me a convenience I really appreciate. I not only can pay my bill, but I can also change the services I want (texting, different minutes plan, etc.). Convenience makes me happy and I’m sure it does the same for many of you too. Now that you know what an app is, why might you need one for your business?

Many businesses these days are looking to, if they haven’t already, get into the mobile app market. This is a great marketing tactic for your business, but you don’t want to build an app just so you can say that your business has one. You need to make sure that the app is built around the goals of your business. The key to mobile marketing is communicating with consumers in an organized way. You should look to focus on content, utility, or entertainment, but not all three. If you don’t feel you can decide on one of these three areas, then a mobile app probably isn’t the best way to achieve your business goals.

One piece of information you should be aware of is that mobile apps only work on the devices they are designed for. So they work best when targeting a niche market. If you’re looking to target a mass market, then you may be better off building a mobile website. Mobile websites will work on any device with a web browser. From an end-user perspective, mobile apps do provide more feature-rich functionality then a mobile website. The reason behind this is because the mobile app works in connection with the native applications on the mobile device, such as GPS navigation. A mobile website is best when you’re trying to provide search-based content.

You also need to consider costs when deciding whether or not your business needs an app. With a mobile app you could turn into an ATM, constantly dishing out money. Since a mobile app is only compatible with the device you build it for, more development would be required in order to make the app compatible with other devices you wish to target. You would also deal with additional app store approval. If your goal is to mass market, then building a mobile website may be the cheaper route since your costs get offset by the lower cost it takes to maintain the site.

In the end, you need to answer a few simple (or not so simple) questions about your business. What is the focus of your business? Who are you trying to reach (niche market or mass market)? What content and/or information are you trying to relay the consumer? These are just a few questions to answer and consider when deciding on a mobile app or mobile website.

Good luck!
Joshua W.
DotTrend, Inc.

Online? But not really!

2011-05-18T19:12:00.000-07:00

I’m sure this has happened to you or to some one you know. Judging by the anxiety of people these days wanting to have their business online is not that easy as they think it is.

So, you have successfully spent hours upon hours building and creating your business website on the easy tools such as Microsoft Live or Godaddy Website Tonight. It’s fairly simple and it only took days out of your time. You figure its sweat equity and part of making your business being online successful.

Unfortunately you’re only half way there. Having your website being completed is not necessary is available or be viewed by people who doesn’t know about your business. At this point, your business website is just as good as you would mentioned it to the people you already knew. Which it doesn’t do you any good for your business because they most likely offer you only praises. This is not the kind of investment you would like in return.

There are so many avenues these days that you can get the word out on your website without having to break your wallet. Social Media has made it possible along with a little bit of Search Engine Marketing. If you are brave, try to attend local business network functions and start networking your business. For the shy, Social Media is the best way to go. Although, you still need to be constantly engaging in conversation with others online. It’s not all that bad since you are behind the computer versus seeing them face to face.

Offline is a little bit rougher and it does drain a lot of your time and energy. You can do this by start printing flyers or create signage from your printer. You then go to the busiest location you feel that fit your demographics and start handing them out. I called this Marketing 101 or back to basics.

In the end, you should pursue what’s comfortable for you to make your business website successful. There are no easy or right answers. I tend to live by this saying, “Action creates motion, and motion create results.”

Josephine
DotTrend, Inc.

Web Trends for Websites in 2011

2011-01-20T07:43:00.000-08:00

We’re so used to beautiful website designs for the past decade that we almost forgot why websites were developed in the first place. We now expect more! These days, people are seeking into more functionality which means greater value than just looks. Just almost 5 years ago, the transition started when Social Media websites has already arrived. If you are a web designer and looking to impress your clients on just your creative design, you might want to brush yourself up with some development skill. Please keep in mind that “Design” and “Development” are 2 different things when we are approaching a new era.

There are many elements come into play when having a website. Of course the main goal is to be most compatible to all of the devices being used today. Now, there’s mobile, netbooks, tablets & even more platforms you can even image.

Below are some of the trends you will be seeing in 2011:

Compact Designs, but still can fill up your “Wide” screen.
This allows thumbnail previewing in search engines such as Google & Bing.
Eye-Easy Color Scheme
The colors are light and easy to view on any monitors or devices. Gradient shades are very popular.
More Function Development
This means more CSS3 and HTML 5! HTML 5 is on the rising!
Touch Screen Friendly
You can NOT use drop down menus or even have your link lights up when hovering. These shall not sit well with touch screens.
Design Depth
As 3-D movies are becoming more popular, so should your website. Need to create some sort of gradient depth perception so in part, it looks 3-D.
Secured Websites
If you are selling, make sure to display your SSL certificate where it’s visible. This gives the consumer a safe comfort feeling of shopping on your website.
Background Image
Yep, this was popular in the 90’s. Although, there’s no background looping! Just a simple but elegant background photo would be sufficed.
Social Media Connections
Show visitors how popular or evolving your website is. Display social media widgets such as Facebook, Twitter and among other popular social websites.

Hope these tips help you in the process of re-designing/developing your website for the year 2011.

Andrew
DotTrend, Inc.

What is Google Instant?

2010-09-10T07:19:00.000-07:00

Apparently, we need to search the web much faster than ever! Google decided to increase speed of the search results by 20%. Basically it saves you 2-5 seconds per search query. So what exactly is Google Instant and how it can truly benefit you in productivity?

According to Google website, Google Instant is a new enhancement that shows the results as you type in the search box. Unfortunately, it only works on the latest browser. For some of you who did not see this in action, Newsflash! You’re not crazy! You may have the old browser and that’s why it is not working.

Is it that beneficial to be this much faster?

Well honestly, I believe it’s not the speed we’re after. As you are typing the words in the search box, Google Instant shows the preview of what the search results are. This is a very good tool to have. We don’t always know exactly what to search for when doing research however; we don’t mind peeping through the curtain every now and then. For other Googlers, they just like it due to the simple fact that it saves them time. It’s faster because Google Instant almost does the thinking for them.

With all these advancements in modern technology; there’s always the age-old question we all ask, “Will Google Instant slow my Internet connection”? Google replied, we anticipated not doing so and it would automatically turn off for slow connections.

You decide!

Jenny
DotTrend, Inc.

Recharge Yourself Offline from Social Medias

2010-07-20T07:39:00.000-07:00

We often easily get hooked by these popular Social Media websites such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube & LinkedIn. Mainly because, it seems like everyone you talked to is doing it! Just when you think you’re done from signing up for these popular Social websites, there’s more! Let’s not forget Meetup, Plaxo, Digg, Wordpress, Bebo, Friendster, MySpace, Faves and the list goes on.

It can be addicting and it can consume most of your day. You’re going into it for the right reasons, to get more leads and free advertising for your business! In the economy like this, you tend to be where marketing for your company is free. It’s not a bad thing however the old saying, “Too much of some thing, can hurt you” is true in this case. You should always do things in moderation to give the fullest effect of marketing yourself. I have met people that have Twitter & Facebook synced into their Blackberry or iPhone. They are so attached that they would have to stop their conversation with me and read their Facebook updates because someone had posted on their wall. Or they have to text on their Twitter that they are at the networking group talking to me.

This is nuts! Reboot! & Recharge! When you have reached this point, please ask yourself if it’s worth it?

I recommend recharging yourself offline from Social Media websites. Remember, the goal is to get more sales and leads not taking up time. By recharging yourself; you can visit local community functions, networking groups or even contact your existing clients. Contacting your existing clients is a very good thing and you would be surprised how much of a sales increased by doing this. Local community functions and networking groups are the traditional marketing strategy that still works till this day. Some are free to attend and its fun meeting people at these events. There’s nothing more than selling yourself and gain possible business alliance for your company.

As always, it’s best to allocate your time with the Social Media world and offline traditional marketing.

Enjoy!

Jenny
DotTrend, Inc.

Cheap Shots in Business

2010-06-01T11:39:00.000-07:00

Do you think the economy is getting better? No, Not really and especially you hear job layoff every day on the news. It’s the time to cut cost and have better money management when cash flow is low. With that being said, there are some things you can not let go during this economy. Marketing and Advertisements is the last thing you should cut out of your monthly budgets. Why? It’s important to continue to showcase that your business is alive and well.

That’s why here at DotTrend; we believed it should not be a big overhead on your business budget when it comes to your website and Internet marketing. It should be seamless and affordable.

Starting immediately, we are the only technology company in Louisville, Kentucky offering monthly financing for website design and development, online marketing, & print design. With zero percent interests being added to your monthly bill, your business can rest easy and this will allow you to survive and stay up float during this bad economy.

How does this come about? It all started when a brand new church in Los Angeles, California wanted to have a web presence so that the church members could attend Wednesday and Sunday services. Along with that, they can give church updates and upcoming events. Of course the price tag was affordable compared to the competitions, the client wanted to finance it for 6 months.

Needless to say, the client landed up completing the payments faster than agreed upon because we’ve allows them to grow and build.

We call these Cheap Shots in Business! Offering affordable payments over a period of time, we believe it’s great for those who need to build and grow their business.

Jenny
DotTrend, Inc.

Just a Sales Pitch!

2010-05-07T09:04:00.000-07:00

Recently, we were asked to speak at a local networking group to discuss a topic that basically would help many business website owners. We talked about Internet marketing companies that would do the classic sales pitch on Search Engine Optimization/Search Engine Top Ranking.

Here are a few popular pitches:

“We guarantee your website will be on the first page!”
“Improve sales by getting top rankings in major search engines within weeks!”

I’m sure there are other pitches, but here’s the truth; like any advertising venue; there are no guarantees! Most internet companies would charge you great amount of money and many promises that comes with it, but in the end; they usually cheat by placing you on the Sponsored Links area (which is Pay per Clicks) in the search engines. Oh yes! They did get you on the first page alright. They are banking on the bid of clicks owed don’t out weigh what they had already charged you.

Remember, they are pitching you a guaranteed on behalf of Google, Bing, or even Yahoo! As always, try to be aware of what you are buying into. Ask questions such as “Can you give me references on the performance of your SEO program?” Or even ask “What search engine(s) are you submitting my website to?” These are good main questions to ask simply because when dealing with variety of search engines, they all have different search criteria.

I am not trying to say Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a useless program, in fact I believe it is a much needed service as part of the online marketing for your business website. It is very vital to have a constant online marketing venue if you are interested in having your business exposed to the world.

In a nutshell, Search Engine Optimization is great for regional advertising or even certain event that’s vastly popular. If you’re starting out and you would like to have a national campaign with somewhat of immediate results, I highly recommend the Pay per Click (PPC) program. Although it can get costly, but it might be worth your while.

Wayne
DotTrend, Inc.

Website Design on a Budget

2010-03-04T09:50:00.000-08:00

So you need a website for your business that fits your budget. You may begin by calling around for quotes from various website design companies. You find yourself that these quotes are far beyond your budget. This incurs you to move to an alternative direction to seek a college grad or someone who is majoring in Website Design. Lastly, if that doesn’t work then you struggle to find a family member that’s willing to do the website at your price.

Sounds like a lot of work huh?

Here are my recommendations, DO NOT go with a family member. I’ve seen it many times and it never works out. Always remember to separate business from personal. Yes, it just that black and white!

What about a college grad or someone who is still in college majoring in Website Design? Well, my experience when talking to college grads, they are most likely looking for a permanent job with a salary that they were told to be expected. Unless you can meet these requirements, I say you should give them a chance. It could benefit the both of you. And for someone who is still in college getting a degree in Website Design, I think this line sort of answered in itself. Not that I have anything against college students, but in this case you would have to refer to experiences or knowledge skills. If you do decide to go this route, be expecting to have a website that is simple and less functionality. That may not be a bad thing, some time simple is good.

Now, that you have gone through the circuits and decided that none of these worked out, but only a professional website design company can meet your demands. Again, remember the quotes may have exceeded your budget, so the best to do is to re-think of the website design that you had in mind, re-structure the website model to have less functionalities and combine content information to save cost.

Once this has been done, go back to the website design companies and again ask for another quote. I highly recommend going with a Website Design Company that would come closest to your budget. Don’t forget, the Website Design Company’s personality plays a big role in your decision as well. Why? Because the both of you will be working together until the website is done. If you can’t connect or get along with the design company, it could land up costing you more in the end.

Wayne
DotTrend, Inc.

New Year…New Start

2010-01-06T07:27:00.000-08:00

It’s always this time of year when people create New Year resolutions and try to make changes from last year mistake. In business, we look forward to these times simply because it’s part of our nature to shift gear when you have to.

How do I shift gear for my business?

Well, you can start shifting by changing your advertisement venue. Try to advertise again in areas that have been working for you in the past. Don’t forget, some time an advertisement piece may have not worked before, but it gives you brand identity. We all know it’s important to have brand identity for online and offline to your business. It’s called, “Stay constantly in front of the potential customers”.

Another would be finding a niche in the market that you can hit. Just recently, I got a chance to catch up with one of my business friends. She is in the business of public relation for major corporations. Of course, the economy made her business almost to a stand-still. She had to shift gear otherwise; her business is dead in the water before last year Thanksgiving. She moved her target audience from major corporations to the local businesses. Not just any local business, she had found a niche to offer her public relation services to the medical industry. This year she is planning to branch out to other industries as well. Again, it’s finding a niche market to gain revenue for your business.

With all these shifting gears, don’t forget to make changes to the most important advertising piece of all; your WEBSITE!

As mentioned, it’s important to re-design the look on your website for the market you are trying to hit. It could be as simple as changing the real estate layout on your website and re-wording a few words catering to that industry. And if your business website look hasn’t changed for a few years, then I highly recommend doing so. Believe it or not, I still see business websites that hasn’t been changed in design or content since the year 2000! Now a decade later with tremendous changes in technology, you could imagine what kind of impression it gives off when potential customers are visiting their business website.

So in closing, it is vital to make the appropriate changes to your business website look and information.

For the New Year…I say give yourself a New Start!

Wayne
DotTrend, Inc.

Customer Support in Today’s Economy

2009-12-07T13:21:00.000-08:00

As always, customer support should continued to be great or even top notched!

For today’s economy, customers are considered “GOLD” for all business owners. This should be a no brainer and especially when we need all the business we can get.

You’d asked why blog about something like this when this should’ve been done already. Well, it’s amazing that I am still seeing technology companies are giving unreliable and bad support to their existing customers. I have heard in some cases where they are not returning the phone calls or respond to technical support emails.

It’s rather strange!

Although, I’ve noticed a declining rate in customer service for the past few years. Blame it on the holidays or that we’re just in a bad economy? I think not. Just recently, we got a phone call from a potential customer wondering if they can transfer their website to us. I said sure, not a problem and somewhere along the line I had asked, “May I ask why you are leaving your current provider?” The customer responded, “My email hasn’t worked for 2 months and the website has been down on and off from time to time. I had called my website provider and left many urgent messages. The only thing I got in response was an email stating that we are working on the problem.”

Needless to say, we got the business and the new customer is enjoying a reliable service from DotTrend.

Another example (non technology related), I went shopping at a local department store. I had asked for a price on the particular item since there’s no price shown on the shelves. So, I tracked down a store employee for pricings. Found one and he responded, “Well, what does it say the cost on the shelves?” I looked at him with pure amazement on his response. He sighed and said, “I guess I go find out the price for you.”

Gee, seriously?

I don’t get it, it’s terrible and many of my friends have noticed it as well. It makes you wonder why businesses are complaining about the economy is bad and wants the government to do something about it.

Wayne
DotTrend, Inc.

Reliable Windows Hosting

2009-11-02T14:05:00.000-08:00

DotTrend just launched a new Windows Hosting company called AdvantageCity.net. It’s extremely affordable and perfect for those who seek Windows hosting. AdvantageCity website hosting support ASP/ASPX, SSI, Flash Multimedia, & even PHP! With 24 hours FTP access, you’ll get the up most customer satisfaction in help and support.

AdvantageCity offer web space for any sizes, whether you’re a small business owner or wanting to host large files, now you can do it and did we mention that it’s cheap?

Our servers are housed in a concrete reinforced, cement block colocation facility with redundant local power feeds, Generator and UPS power backup, FM-200 Fike Cheetah fire suppression system, and Liebert Air Handlers. The facility is protected by multiple stage entry points, as well as video, and security personnel.

Come by and visit us for all the plans that might fit your needs.

http://www.advantagecity.net/

30 Days Money Back Guaranteed!

Your Website Provider; Friend or Foe?

2009-10-13T11:30:00.000-07:00

Having your own business is important and valuable to you, so should your website. Try not to shortcut yourself in this venture. Whether you’ve hired a website developing company or just a freelancer, it’s important that you make the right decision. It’s like hiring the right employee for your company.

There are pros and cons when it comes to both side of the spectrum. It all depends on how you would look at it but in my opinion, there are a lot of cons when it comes to using freelancers.

Here’s why:

Most freelancers doesn’t have major overhead, therefore there’s not a lot of control on their end besides developing the project. So hidden charges may occur.
Freelancers do it on the side (that’s why they are freelancers) as a supplement income.
Freelancers maybe cheap or even affordable, but in the long run it isn’t.
Freelancers aren’t always available since they don’t have normal business hours.
Most likely a freelancer leaves you, not the other way around.
Most freelancers doesn’t have contracts therefore, you don’t know what you’re buying.
Freelancers are not as dependable as a website company would be.
You may be limited to the freelancers developing abilities, if you don’t fully interview the candidate.
If your freelancer is an old friend or even a relative, chances are your relationship is no longer business and this could cause you a lot of headaches since it is someone you know.
Your freelancer can’t grow with you or even help your business grow.

Now, I understand there are exceptions to everything. If you happen to find a good freelancer, by all means…congrats! Obviously, the freelancer understands the importance to your business website and fulfilling your needs. Trust me; it’s a rarity so hang on to this freelancer!

I know I’ve talked a lot of cons when it comes to hiring a freelancer, but a lot of it, is the opposite when you go with a website developing company. It’s always better going with a website company that has an office, dedicated servers, and a group of people managing your website. Much like how you want to take your car into an auto service repair center. The same rules apply.

The truth is, I am not saying its perfect when you’re using a website design company however, the likely-hood of you going through what’s been mentioned above is very unlikely.

Wayne
DotTrend, Inc

Starting an eCommerce Website

2009-09-11T08:26:00.000-07:00

Starting an eCommerce/Shopping Cart website is very easy and especially when there are so many resources on the Internet to utilize. Of course like everything you would do in business, it takes carefully planning and choosing the right tools to make your website user friendly to shop.

First, you would need to find an eCommerce software or hire a website developing company like DotTrend to supply your shopping needs. It’s important to have a shopping cart that’s user friendly and scaleable to future business growth. But, be careful not to just use any software that’s free or selecting a developer that’s doing website development on the side. It can be very risky and there’s a potential you can jeopardize your company in the long run.

In the finding of software searching, you would need website security (SSL). It means Secured Socket Layer for securing transactions when processing credit cards. You only need this if you are using a private 3rd Merchant Gateway. For free services like PayPal or 2Checkout, you really don’t need to have SSL on your website since you’re using their SSL link to process transactions. For this approach, it can be very cost effective when starting out.

Once you have found the proper ingredient to start your online store; begin adding your products. Make sure to be price competitive and have great photos! Along with great photos, be as descriptive as you can when describing each product. Remember, your website is your salesman, so make the product enticing to buy!

Along with the description, don’t forget to add your Cancellation and Return Policies. It’s vital and allows your customers to have some sort of understanding when purchasing on your website.

Lastly, you would need to let the World Wide Web to know about your awesome new store!

START ADVERTISING!

So let’s review:

Find eCommerce Shopping Software
(Recommended using a website developing company
Add Secured Socket Layer (SSL)
Find a Merchant Service such as AuthorizedNet or First Data
Add your products
Start advertising!

Wayne
DotTrend, Inc.

Full Flash Vs Regular Website Design

2009-08-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

First, what is a full Flash website design? It means your entire website is constructed in multimedia Flash format. Now days, Flash plugin comes standard on all computers so you don’t have to worry about your website not showing up. This approach can be a positive avenue however; it all depends on your target audience. Compared to regular website design, it is still limited to its boundaries.

Limited boundaries? Yep…you got it, website functionalities such as shopping carts, form calculations, stamped cookies, database queries, etc. But, how’s this possible when a high-tech Flash multimedia technology was suppose to be more advanced than just a regular website design? Well originally, the Flash website design era was basically to entertain us until people wanted more than just that.

People now want more interactions, which is why Social Media websites are popular.

Besides the fact that you can’t add those web functionalities, it can get very costly when purchasing a Flash website design. If you want to do the Flash design yourself, Macromedia Flash program starts around $300 where as regular website development software can be downloaded for free.

Another is (SEO) search engine optimization for your website; you can’t really be productive or ranked well with Flash websites. Reason being is because most popular search engines grab text from your website for relevancy to the user’s query. Although, you can go the Pay-Per-Click (PPC) route which is effective only if you know what keyword phrases you want your website to show up. But, this topic is to be discussed at another time.

So, is it wrong to have your website be developed in full Flash? No, not really, even when there are many negative things that I’ve mentioned. Believe it or not, there are some positives to it. I think full Flash website design is good for main corporate websites or any websites that are used to display the company information or photos. As mentioned, it’s used for entertaining; well what better way to display your website?

Full Flash website design!

Below are some good examples:

http://www.trump.com/
http://www.chick-fil-a.com/
http://www.diddy.com/

Wayne
DotTrend, Inc.

Web Developer Holding Your Website Hostage???

2009-08-11T08:45:00.000-07:00

Time and time again, I’ve seen it done to a lot of companies. Sole/Self Web Developers seems to unable to grab the concept of business. They hooked you in for the price of basically “free”. You soon realized that it was too good to be true.

Sounds familiar?

Suddenly, the service you were expecting is no longer there. It’s always; your web developer is unavailable, unable to reach or even takes too long to update your website. Now that you’ve figured out how the service is going to be, some time the web developer will talk down to you and make you feel stupid. That’s one way of them gaining control of the situation. Trust me, this is very common and I hear it all the time.

This is what we called, “Web Developer Holding My Site Hostage”. You are bind to your web developer’s watch. Your business website is on hold until the new updates have applied. You’re wondering when is he or she going to do what you’ve asked. Let’s not forget, you get the invoices in the mail. That is definitely will always be on time.

May we suggest having the option of updating your website using (CMS) Content Management System? The CMS software will give you the freedom of updating your website at any given time. Not to mention, it will saves you a lot of money. You can upload photos, insert website content & even create multiple pages within. The best part is that you don’t have to download software files in order to operate.

DotTrend, Inc has a (CMS) Content Management System software called DotWebby™. It’s easy to use and fully functional to your every website needs. You can integrate it to any website design layout and even Flash header ones too.

It’s an affordable investment that will offer you the freedom of live updates.

Wayne
DotTrend, Inc.

Are You Backed Up?

2009-07-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

More recently than every, we have been experiencing people with major concerns with having important emails and/or data in some type of “back up” protection. We have a solution that will put everyone’s worries to rest.

Without having to go through the trouble of trying to prevent this potential issue, DotTrend, Inc. is now offering our current clients a “worry-free” data back-up system that will managed and maintained solely by DotTrend, so all confidential information can stay confidential.

Many back-up database’s that offer these type’s of features can end up costing what some people have said to be, “more than their worth”. We are aware of this and that’s why DotTrend is now offering this back-up system to our clients for just $50 per month. With this fee, all worries of loosing emails and website data can finally put to rest. There is no need to purchase additional data recovery software or equipment on your end.

For the convenience of our clients, we can include the cost of this feature within an upcoming monthly hosting bill, receive payment over phone by credit card or just apply the fee to a payment source that DotTrend currently has in position.

If you have questions or concerns to this matter, please feel free to contact us through our website http://www.dottrend.com/ or email sales@dottrend.com.

Diahanna
DotTrend, Inc.

Don't Vent! Reinvent Yourself!

2009-07-24T07:06:00.000-07:00

Business is slow? Stopped all marketing advertisements and updates on your business website? Do you start blaming the economy is bad therefore it’s affecting your business?

Don’t!!! Rather putting your business on a stand-still, “Reinvent Yourself!” You need to make changes in your business, update or recreate your website, and start marketing in other areas. You have got to utilize what is in today’s market.

Look at how online technologies have been changing over the years. It’s amazing how today’s popular social networking websites such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and many other blog websites are a huge part of people’s every day lives. These tools have definitely defined the connection between the Internet and Consumers. This is what I mean by marketing in other areas.

Why reinvent? Technology is always changing, why not your business?

Not too long ago, it was the Live Journal tool that allows people to place their daily activities online for people to read, it’s much like Twitter. Unlike Twitter, you don’t have 250 characters of constraint. Let’s not forget the Guestbook, which does the same thing. Except it was meant for people to comment about the website they are on. It’s the other end of the spectrum for people to get involve.

Another is Message Boards/Forums, which I think they are still a little popular. When I think of message boards, I would match it up with the Blog. The blog, you would write about certain things or a topic so people can place comments or replies. The same for message boards, but the message boards has more fun features and functionalities.

I remember in the 90(s), getting your own free website was the hype! It was a must have just like MySpace. Although, MySpace only have 1 page of the user versus your own free website has many pages. The only dilemma is the big ads being placed on every web page. I guess it doesn’t say much because MySpace does it too. Recently, I’d got an email from Yahoo that they are closing down Geocities (free website). I guess it’s not that popular anymore.

Did I forget Facebook? Well, it’s nothing more like having a Photo Gallery tool that Kodak and other online photo companies been doing for years. From the looks of the online market, it’s getting very popular.

To sum it up, the technology market is constantly changing as so should your business and your website. You don’t have to make dramatic changes, as you can see all of the tools mentioned. They are all the same or similar in ways of using.

Here are the things you can do:

Update Content on Your Website: If you don’t have the time, update one or two things on your website every month or so.
Color Changes: You will be amazed if you add or change colors on your website would make a difference.
Re-Design Your Website: It’s important to re-design your website every couple of years. Believe me, it’s worth the investment.

Wayne
DotTrend, Inc.

Cold Calling, Is It Worth It?

2009-07-08T16:53:00.000-07:00

Cold Calling or Telemarketing has been around for a long time. During my teen years, I remembered working as a Telemarketer at a local company. At the time, they gave us a booklet on phone call introductions, rebuttals & persuasions when talking to the potential customers. In my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with this position, I do feel that it’s one way of marketing your company to get more sales.

However, the problem is the leads that were provided by managements. These lead generating companies would sell to these managements with guaranteed sales on ratio or that they have collected these leads properly catering to your company industry. Chances are these leads are pulled by the local phone book or prize winning sweepstakes.

For example during our office hours, we would received about 2-5 sales call in a week. These cold callers or telemarketers would be asking if we be interested in having a website to be done or know someone who is in need of a website. Typically I’d asked, do you know what we do or what our company is about? As always, the answer would be no and continue to proceed with their questions.

Seriously, come on? My competition is calling me if they can provide the same service as I do. I understand if there are only 2-3 calls that come in a month for me to rant and rave like this. Instead, it’s more like 10-20 calls selling the same thing.

Unfortunately cold calling/telemarketing is a thing of the past. The leads need to be more properly examined or have been researched by these leads generating companies. There are other avenues to market your company to get more sales such as advertising online.

It’s one way of keeping up with the times.

Advertising online would include Search Engine Optimizations (SEO), Paid per Click (PPC), or Banner Advertisements on various popular visited websites. You would be surprised how affordable these advertisements are and plus, you can set your own marketing budgets.

Wayne
DotTrend, Inc.

Developing A Website With Results

2009-06-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

Design is important. You need a style that fits your brand and that creative look that is going to out beat your competition. If you develop a website without researching your online competitors, then there is no point. You can do the research yourself or your can have your website company do it for you. Although if you have your website company do this for you then it will cost money. But it is a necessary thing if you are going to create a website that generates a innovative result.

So once you have the design aspect clear, you can move onto the practicality of your website. This is the machine that will make your website bring in calls to your company or purchase your products. For example, what is the point of having an informational website if it doesn’t make your phone ring. It ultimately needs to generate money for you. So if you are not selling products online, then you want your website to bring new clients.

You can do this by many lead-generating features. One way of doing this is by offering something valuable to the prospect that they want to have to hear about. The lead comes in by getting that client to fill out a form or call you in order to have or hear more about that product/service.

Diahanna
DotTrend, Inc.

The Economy Is Bad, Now What?

2009-05-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

Everybody knows that the economy is bad. You hear it every day on the news. People are being laid off left and right. Job opportunities are slim. You find yourself in an unfamiliar position, what is called doing nothing.

Suddenly you loose your lifestyle, now what?

I say you should take control of your life again. Start fresh! Do you remember the time when moving from place to place is an adventure? I know I did. People tend to get too comfortable with their plate. They soon blame the economy rather than themselves when the news hit home.

First, I’d start with what are the job opportunities with your current career. Do you suddenly find your career requires more or less experiences with much less salary? You have a choice, take what you can or move on to your next option.

What is your next option? Some would say, start a new career at entry level with a potential large salary once you’ve stayed in it long enough. Others would suggest going ahead and taking what you can to peel through these rough times.

If you ask me, this is the perfect time to start your own business. Did you know that statistically America is made up of 65 percent of small businesses? It maybe more! Don’t know what to start up? The Internet is still the best tool to use believe it or not. Do some research, however it could be as simple as starting a consulting firm on your career. Why not? You’ve been at it for so many years and who to know more about your skill than yourself?

If you do decide to start your new business adventure, here are the few basic steps;

Get or make some business cards
Get or make a brochure about your services or products
Build or hire a company to start your website
Develop a income goal
Put out some good words (in other words – ADVERTISE YOURSELF)

If you do decide not to go this route, it’s okay. Everyone is different. All I am saying is that you should always give yourself some options. Especially the way it is in today’s economy.

Good Luck!

Wayne
DotTrend, Inc.

Spammers and Your Online Form

2009-04-24T10:28:00.000-07:00

They are so talented? Don’t you think? Each week, I continue to find new things that Spammers are doing. For example, spammers are now using online forms to send spam. How’s it possible? Well, what they do is; first, find an online form and input some useless information. Second, if they get an auto-response from filling out the form, it’s gold! Third? Well…the rest is history. The spammer would then input your website form (URL) into their software.

From there, the software would continuously send out what we call is, “junk”. Why do we call it junk? It’s not because we receive unsolicited emails; really…it’s junk! You would agree if you got a chance to just take a glimpse at it. Why not use this tool and sell something for profits? They would go as far as finding an online form, build the software to send emails & not make any use out of it?

Some would say, “Spammers does it out of spite, that’s why they're called Spammers”. I call it, “Out of Stupidity” and got nothing else to do.

How to fix the issue? One way is to install a security coding system onto your online form. You may have seen it. It’s the annoying mis-shaped image of letters and numbers you input before pressing the submit button. Another way is to block the IP address that is using your online form to send these junk emails.

Who knows, I’m sure some day they will find a way to get around it.

Wayne
DotTrend, Inc.