Nutcracker Blog

Google Webmaster Tools Bug

2015-07-22T06:45:00.003-07:00

Google Webmaster Tools is a software package that allows website developers to check indexing status of websites within the Google search engine and is used in optimisation for checking the visibility and performance.

Google are openly reporting that the Webmaster Tool bug may falsely report a sharp decline in indexed pages and website performance.

Webmasters and marketers have noted a bug in the new “Google Search Console” (Webmaster Tools) that shows huge declines in the number of indexed pages displayed in its Google sitemaps reports.

Don’t worry this is not just your site - there has been a noticeable decline in in reported traffic and globally hundreds of thousands of websites have been affected since early July 2015.

Google is actively working on a fix for the bug, so no need to panic if you’ve seen a recent decline in your index count in this month.

It is just a Google reporting glitch and does not affect your traffic or rankings within Google.

Google-Friendly Mobile Responsive Websites - Are They Essential?

2015-05-07T06:58:00.004-07:00

Back in 2012, online searches from Smart Phones and Tablets exceeded those of Desktop devices, therefore more business owners deployed mobile devices where traditionally they would have used PCs and Laptops. Many Internet Marketers automatically came to the conclusion that they needed to present to a changing audience who are always on the move.

This may not be the complete picture as many of us utilise the device that is the most convenient at the specific time of the search, no matter if, at home, work or incognito. Additionally the devices available at that specific time and their ability to rapidly connect and complete effective online searches is another important factor. Our confidence in newly developed technology, (for example iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 smart phone plus iPad air and Google Nexus 7 tablets) and the ever increasing stream of Apps specifically developed for rapid mobile deployment has helped to accelerate mobile use - that's providing a good Wi-Fi or data connection can be accessed.

It is important to understand where and what users are looking for on mobile devices and how this relates to business opportunities. There’s no question that mobile and local go hand in hand. According to Google, ninety four percent of smartphone users search for location information. Furthermore, people are increasingly using their devices while in a store to do research about the product they are considering purchasing.

We know that it’s no longer the case that people are merely searching on smartphones and tablets. In 2013, seventeen percent were purchasing from a mobile device, according to a Google compiled mobile search study.

Additionally, smartphone conversions in the retail sector grew by over twenty six percent in the third quarter of 2014, according to research conducted that year.

Mobile Responsive websites are now regarded by Google as 'Best Practice' and from 22nd April 2015 Google is restricting access to non-compliant websites that are searched from mobile devices, by removing them from its search results. Therefore Google is dictating the search requirements within its search engine, both from the content of a website plus the software used to build the website. Non-compliance will inevitably mean exclusion, thus mobile traffic will be blocked.

In order to avoid 'Google Mobilegeddon' businesses need to make their websites fully mobile responsive as failure to comply will not only have a negative effect on an average of 20% of mobile device users, but will affect their overall Google Ranking. This will make their website less visible and less visited.

Companies that seek to understand how Google friendly mobile responsive websites benefit their business sector will rapidly invest in an online strategy that embraces mobile responsive and adaptive technology, thus gain a competitive advantage over their competition. After all Google primary purpose is to help you find what you are searching for, no matter what device is employed.

Call Rob Hupperdine on 01384 455141 or Contact Us for more information

Why it’s Important to have a Mobile Friendly Responsive Website

2015-04-01T02:18:00.001-07:00

As Smart Phone and tablet use rapidly increases, so does the importance of mobile friendly websites. Smart Phones and Tablets have changed not only the approach to the look and functionality of current website design, it has changed the approach to online marketing. The fact that a responsive website can display very different targeted content on a Smart Phone or Tablet as opposed to the content displayed on a PC or Laptop. This ensures a greater level of sophistication will be applied to content as the user experience is not only targeted to a market sector, it will be profiled to the habits of the device user.

In the past, web designers had only one design layout to consider. Interacting with websites on Smart Phones and Tablets requires a very different approach to website design. Additionally, what we use each device for is changing, in fact many of us utilise more than one device, as each device has core strengths either for business use, out of office use or for rapid access to information. The ever expanding mobile market must be considered in any online marketing strategy, therefore, websites that embrace this technology by enhancing the user experience, are essential to any successful campaign. Responsive websites provide an affordable, single source solution that enables all devices to view the same website without compromising the user experience.

Mobile Search Engine Optimisation

Search Engine Optimisation is essential to any online business marketing strategy (including mobile devices), having a website that is mobile responsive is now advantageous to its rankings within the search engines. Google now penalises websites that are not mobile friendly. In fact many of Google's recent 500 algorithm changes have been created with mobile use in mind. As mobile sales over take desktop sales, the importance of employing a mobile strategy within your SEO campaign becomes even more apparent in fact essential.

When we talk about websites and content from a design and marketing perspective it is important to consider the user experience. Getting traffic to a responsive website no matter what device the viewer is using, is only part of the equation. Converting that traffic into a purchase or enquiry is essential, therefore, with the limited viewing area and touch screen functionality of mobile devices, it is important to consider the user experience for all devices independently before we commence with the design. Good 'Conversion Rate Optimisation' (traffic into orders or enquiries) is essential for all viewing platforms, mobile responsive websites have made this process more difficult, but if designed correctly, more effective!

What is a Responsive Website?

Responsive website design entails coding and designing a website so that the website scales up or down in size as it profiles the content to match the device it is viewed on. This ensures no lateral scrolling is required and that the website is touch screen friendly. The website can then be viewed across a wide range of mobile devices and screen sizes. When designing a responsive website, the web designer must ensure that:

The website content looks good on all devices.
Navigation & functionality work on all devices.
The website can be managed in one CMS area for all devices. This includes text, images, videos, pricing and general functionality of menus, forms and other interactive plugins used on the website.
The website is designed with mobile Search Engine Optimisation in mind.
The marketing strategy for each device.

It is Recommended by Google

Google has nearly 90% share of the UK's search engine market, therefore, to ignore Google is to commit online suicide. Google states that responsive web design is the recommended mobile configuration, and even goes so far as to refer to responsive web design as the industry best practice.

Additionally, Google prefers responsive web design because content that is available on one website and one domain name (URL) is much easier for users to view, share, interact with, and link to, than content that is available on separate mobile and desktop websites. As Google is now placing greater emphasis on mobile compatibility, the quality and volume of content and user experience as key ranking factors, it is essential to take this into account when businesses update their website.

Searches from Mobile Devices

When businesses target potential customers it is important that they consider the ever increasing number of mobile users. Currently, an average of approximately 20% of websites are viewed on mobile devices and for certain domestic markets this can be over 65% of online visits.

If businesses ignore these figures and fail to utilise mobile responsive website design, they are turning their back a large and expanding group of people. This can only have a long term negative effect on their businesses.

What's the new Facebook 'Promote' Feature all about?

2012-07-10T07:45:00.002-07:00

If you are a Page admin then you may have noticed that there are new icons on you business Facebook Page when you are writing a post that weren’t there before..? Does the word promote ring a bell as shown in Figure 1?

Figure 1

So what does this new 'promote' feature do?

Well, promoted posts are a simple way to reach more of the people who like your Page and their friends. Visit your Page to try promoting a post. Promoted posts are available to Pages with 400 to 100,000 likes.

When you promote a post, it will be shown in the news feeds of more of the people who like your Page than you would reach normally. Friends of the people who have interacted with your post will also be more likely to see the story in their news feeds for up to 3 days from when the post was first created.

What to know how it's done? Well here you go!

1. Go to the sharing tool to create a post and enter your post details.

2. Click on the Promote drop-down button and set your desired budget. Note: the budget you set is a lifetime budget and not a daily budget as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

3. Click save and away you go, it's that simple!

So you may be thinking, if I don’t promote my post, will the people who like my Page still see it?

Nothing has changed about how your posts are shared with the people who like your Page.

A lot of activity happens on Facebook and most people only see some of it in their news feeds. They may miss things when they’re not on Facebook, or they may have a lot of friends and Pages, which results in too much activity to show all of it in their news feed.

If you don’t promote your post, many of the people connected to your Page will still see it. However, by promoting a post, you’re increasing its potential reach so an even larger percentage of your Page audience and the friends of those interacting with your post will see it.

All of the above information has been taken from the Facebook Help Page so if you get stuck please click here for more information or give Nutcracker a call on 01384 455 141 today.

Top 10 tips on how to get in Google’s good books!

2012-07-10T07:45:00.001-07:00

Google Panda's updates are designed to penalise sites with weak content and favour those with quality content. So here is what you need to do to stay ahead of the game:

1. Produce high quality unique content
2. Get rid of low quality pages
3. Avoid duplicate content and scrapped pages
4. Become an authority
5. Promote content over social media
6. Improve bounce rate
7. Improve user experience
8. Avoid keyword flooding – use language that sounds natural
9. Vary anchor text- use 10-15 different key words and alternate between them
10. Focus on high quality back links, especially if you only have low quality ones.

However be patient when making these changes…results don’t happen overnight.

(Source: Search Engine Journal)

So you may wonder why it is so important to rank favourable amongst Google searches. Well that’s because worldwide we conduct 88 million searches per month on Google. Along with Google analytics been used on 57% of the top 10,000 websites.

Don’t forget about the Penguin update that happened on 24th April 2012, which evaluates your websites incoming links to see if your site involves link schemes intending to improve rankings.

Is your business being talked about on the web?

2012-06-29T02:50:00.001-07:00

If your company manufactures or supplies a specialist product, then the chances are someone is talking about your company across the web!

How can this be?

Well, millions of people interact daily through a number of mediums, social networks, forums and blogs, and they could be talking about your brand or service. Questions on all sorts of topics are asked daily. People asking where they can source a product from, or have a technical question which requires someone with technical knowledge to help them.

You can pretty much guarantee that there is some kind of forum or blog that is dedicated to your field, from manufacturing, engineering, services etc.

How does this benefit your company?

We all know that word of mouth is the best advertising anyone can get. So if someone is recommending your company through these mediums, wouldn’t you like to know about it? Follow up on a lead? Help out with any technical queries?

Nutcracker can help you identify these hidden leads, and alert you when anyone is discussing your brand or company on the web.

email info@nutcrackerdesign.co.uk

‘Worfe Looking At’ charity calendar in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer’

2012-06-01T08:08:00.002-07:00

An image taken from the 'Worfe Looking At' Charity Calendar 2012

Nutcracker has recently contributed both time and expertise towards another project on behalf of Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Since completion of the project the Breakthrough Breast Cancer team have been in contact with our Sales Director, Rob Hupperdine to personally thank him for all of his ‘wonderful support for the ‘Worfe Looking At’ charity calendar in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer’.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer stated that ‘the time and resources you (Rob and Nutcracker) kindly gave towards the project have been instrumental in its success’. They went on to say that our final fundraising total of £3710 could help fund a specialist incubator that is vital for growing delicate cells at the correct temperature and humidity within laboratories.

Without the support of people like Rob and companies such as Nutcracker, vital funds would not be raised and discoveries into new treatments simply could not happen.

Nutcracker continues to support Breakthrough Breast Cancer so that vital improvements in breast cancer prevention, treatment and services can continue.

If you would like any information about Breakthrough Breast Cancer and the work that they do then please visit www.breakthrough.org.uk or email: info@breakthrough.org.uk

Coming Soon to Facebook – Find and Share Offers!

2012-05-02T01:11:00.002-07:00

Facebook will soon be allowing its users to get discounts from businesses when they post an offer onto their Facebook Page. In order for users to claim an offer, all they will need to do is click ‘Get Offer’ from the story anywhere that it appears on Facebook.

Pretty soon you will start to see offers by Pages that you like within your news feed. Upon clicking ‘Get Offer’, Facebook will send you an email that you can either print off or show on your mobile phone at the business to redeem your discount.

It sounds exciting doesn’t it?

These offers are a great way for organisations to engage with customers and to drive new people to their business. In creating offers suitable for the target audience of you business you are encouraging people to talk about your Page and share the offers between friends.

Offers are FREE for Page Admins to create! However currently they are only available to a small number of business Pages. Facebook do however plan to launch offers more broadly soon (Facebook, 2012).

Watch the below video for a greater insight into the future of Facebook Offers.

So how can Nutcracker help when offers are available?

To ensure that your offer is claimed and shared its value should be carefully considered along with the headline and imagery used. If people don’t notice or understand your offer or if it looks like spam then they may hide it from their news feed and unlike your Page – which would be disastrous!

We advise that your Page Admin and organisation track how many people claim, like, share, comment and bring each offer into your business. This will allow you to get a better understanding of what works and what doesn’t for your customers (Facebook, 2012).

The Latest Google Algorithm Update.

2012-05-02T01:11:00.001-07:00

We've had the panda, and now for the penguin!

Googles latest algorithm update which occurred on the 24th April 2012, is reportedly termed the ‘penguin update’. This follows a recent tweet from Matt Cutts (@mattcutts) who is the head of the webspam team at Google showing a cuddly panda and a cuddly penguin. See picture to the left.

The details of this update are still quite sketchy, but here at Nutcracker we think it’s fair to say that it will be targeting webspam. Webspam is classed as ‘black hat’ techniques which some companies still employ to try and cheat the system!

We at Nutcracker believe in doing it the hard way, and insist on using ethical (white hat) techniques. We adopt a holistic approach and strategise from A-Z. Through using these white hat techniques all of our clients successfully sailed through the Panda update and we are confident that the penguin will be equally as successful.

Bring on the Panther we say!!

Welcome to the team Russ!

2012-04-25T03:36:00.000-07:00

Nutcracker would like to give a warm welcome to the newest member of our team, Russ!

Hi, I'm Russ - web designer, graphic designer, nerd, musician and general big, friendly type. I'm one of the company's techie go-to people, and (apart from a short absence) part of the purple furniture. Out-of-hours I can mostly be found plucking a large, stringed-wardrobe (double bass) and writing/performing original music.

I'm 44, married to Jayne and live in Dudley - a stone's throw from Nutcracker. I originally hail from Wolverhampton but moved to Dudley when I got married, almost 20 years ago.

In my spare time I'm a musician (bassist and multi-instrumentalist). I often use live looping and effects to create layered music - sometimes with multiple instruments but mostly only using a bass guitar. My music has been described as, "subtle layers of sound that emerge gracefully like cinematic soundtracks". Visit my website to listen - http://www.russsargeant.co.uk

I'm currently involved in lots of different musical projects ranging from forming a jazz duo with a local saxophonist to writing and recording with ambient and progressive artists in the USA.

Right... back to work... ttfn.

Russ

Nutcracker Sponsor Miss Birmingham Hopeful

2012-04-17T01:28:00.000-07:00

Nutcracker were proud to be the official sponsor of Miss Emily Wilson who recently competed in the Miss Birmingham 2012 final, which was a direct heat into the Miss England 2012 final.

Here is a bit of background information about Emily;

“It is fabulous that nutcracker design and marketing have chosen to sponsor me in my venture to become Miss Birmingham 2012. I won a local beauty pageant and am the face of Miss Full Length and Fabulous.

I am currently studying for my A levels and have future aspirations to become a doctor. I like to stay in top shape by using the gym and competing as a top British amateur in classical sequence ballroom dancing.

I would like to enter the promotional model world to help fund my way through university. I have entered Miss Birmingham 2012 to prove to people that in the beauty world there is intelligence and not just pretty faces.
I believe we get out of life what we put in and it is also important to me that I use my talents for the benefit of others whether it be my future work or fundraising for charity.”

With the support of Nutcracker, friends, family and voters Emily came within the top 10 finalists for Miss Birmingham 2012. All at Nutcracker would like to congratulate Emily and wish her every success for the future. And we are sure that you will all agree it looks very bright. Well done Emily!

Top Tips - Things you really MUST know about your Facebook Business Page Timeline

2012-04-16T04:16:00.002-07:00

If you have just logged onto your Facebook Business Page you may have had a bit of a shock. It's not quite as you remembered it is it?

Don't panic! Below are a few things you really MUST know about the new features available to you and the huge benefits and opportunities that are now available for your brand.

1. You now have a 'cover photo'. The cover photo dimensions are 851 x 315 pixels. The image that you choose for this section must represent your brand and be attractive to your target audience. You may be thinking that this is a little bit more complicated than you first imagined. So let us do the hard work for you. We can design a cover photo in line with your corporate identity and create a page truly representative of your brand. See our cover photo below or click here to visit our Page.

REMEMBER: Facebook's new policies state that a cover photo must not include price or purchase information, your company contact details, calls to action or references to Facebook features or actions. If you get stuck at any point or would like more information then give Nutcracker a call on 01384 455 141 or to send us an email click HERE.

2. Set your 'profile picture'. This picture is the image that will get shown next to each of your status updates on your wall and within other users' news feeds. The image that you use should be 180 x 180 pixels but remember that this image scales down to a thumbnail size of 32 x 32 pixels. Using a logo here really is a great choice! Below is our new profile picture.

3. Organise your 'Apps and Views' Facebook's new Timeline design features your photos, likes and apps at the top of the page just below the cover photo. Photos are set by Facebook to automatically feature as the first element. However page administrators can rearrange the following apps to feature as they please. A total of 12 apps can be shown on your page. Here is how ours appears below.

HINT: there are some amazing apps that can be created for organisations to showcase their services and expertise. To take a look at Nutcracker's click here or if you would like more information give us a call 01384 455 141

4. New icons...'star, hide and pin'. You will notice that when you place the cursor over individual stories that you can make them wider or use the pencil icon to hide things from your Timeline. Important posts can be highlighted using the star icon - great for pointing out special offers or company successes. To 'pin' a specific story means that a chosen post can be placed at the top of your Timeline for up to 7 days. Specific posts which you feel are important wont therefore get lost amongst more recent updates.

5. Displaying your company 'Milestones'. This new feature allows page administrators to display some of their organisations biggest accomplishments such as the year their company began, acquisitions, awards, product releases, etc. The milestone images are 843 x430 pixels. Milestones are created by using the status update box where you are prompted for information.

For more information on what packages are available from Nutcracker for the customisation of you Facebook Page click HERE.

Facebook Page Update - Introduction of the Timeline

2012-03-13T08:41:00.052-07:00

Facebook Pages allow businesses to build connections with people. They also allow organisations the opportunity to tell their story on Facebook.

There are several reasons for businesses to engage with and maintain a presence on Facebook. Below are just a few:

To get found by individuals who may be searching for your companies products or services
Interact with current and potential customers
Create a on line community and awareness for your business
To promote other content that you create, such as webinars, blog articles, or other resources
Encourage and stimulate leads for your business

You may have noticed that Facebook recently introduced a new Timeline feature for personal profiles. This has also now been rolled out for businesses. Companies now have endless opportunities to refresh their social media strategy. Sounds overwhelming, doesn’t it? Let’s break it down.

Some of the prominent changes include a new layout with cover photo, highlighting features and the ability to edit and update without navigating to a separate page. Timeline will automatically go live for all brand pages Mar. 30

Cover Photo

One of the most exciting features of timeline is the large image featured at the top of the page. Facebook has given a lot of real estate to this image, and businesses should use it as an opportunity to feature something powerful and captivating. Businesses can leverage the image by changing it frequently and giving people a reason to like your page. The possibilities are endless, so start thinking of what you want people to see when they visit your Page.

There are certain restrictions regarding what you can put on your Cover Photo. In a nutshell these restrictions are that cover images must be at least 399 pixels wide and may not contain:

Price or purchase information, such as "40% off" or "Download it at our website"
Contact information, such as web address, email, mailing address or other information intended for your Page's About section
References to user interface elements, such as Like or Share, or any other Facebook site features
Calls to action, such as "Get it now" or "Tell your friends"

All cover images are public, which means anyone visiting your Page will be able to see the image you choose. Covers must not be false, deceptive or misleading, and must not infringe on third parties' intellectual property. You may not encourage or incentivize people to upload your cover image to their personal timelines.

Star Posts/Highlight

Once you have posted an update, you have the option to highlight this particular post. This will make the update into a widescreen format and the post will be treated with a higher importance.

'Pinning' a Post

If you have a post that you would like prioritized you can “pin” this post so that it is displayed at the top of your newsfeed. pinning a post to the top of Timeline allows it to precede any other content. A pinned post is distinguished by a small, orange flag. Brands can pin only one item at a time, and the pinned item then exists in two locations — as the top item on the Timeline itself, as well as within its chronological place. Once unpinned (which happens automatically when a new item gets pinned, or the item has been pinned for more than seven days), the post remains in the chronology of Timeline posts, but there is no visual history that it was pinned in the past.

Recommendation:

Since you can no longer create a default landing Page, pinning items to the top of the Timeline will become every marketer’s go-to strategy for highlighting new and interesting content. We will begin to see savvy brands design posts specifically to be pinned, whether images, a well-designed call-to-action, a statement about brand value, or a message calling for the user to click one of the tab panels under the cover photo

Admin Panel

The admin panel is a fantastic feature that lets you view all of the recent traffic and notifications through your Facebook page, you can even respond to messages. It’s also really easy to close by clicking the ‘hide’ button in the top right corner. Another key point to note is that this channel will only be visible to the Page admins, non-admins won’t even see the channel.

The admin panel is broken down into 5 sections

Notifications
Messages
New Likes
Insights
Page Tips

No Default Landing Page

With the new Timeline Page format, you will no longer be able to set a default landing Page, a favoured feature for many savvy brands. The option was one of the primary ways to control the first (branded) impression a user encountered. Since there are no more tab Pages, there is no way to set one as a default. This will drastically change user impressions when they first visit a brand’s Timeline Page.

You will now need to pay particular attention to all the top messages in the Timeline, as they will be the first objects seen by visiting users. Likewise, Facebook ads for brands will become ever important, as ads will be one of the major ways brands on Facebook can control a user’s experience. Setting up an advertising campaign for a Facebook promotion or new application will be the only way to guide new and clicking users directly to that application (as landing on this Page cannot be achieved by default).

However if you already have a customised 'Welcome Page' or 'Tab' you can still directly link to this from your website icons.

Tab Visibility

The new Timeline format does not have the left-side panel of links, which could include hundreds of different tabs. While applications still exist, they’ll display differently, in rectangular panels underneath the cover photo (please see below image). Photos are set by Facebook to automatically feature as the first element. The width of the Timeline and the space allocated for native apps like Photos means that only three tab panels are viewable at any given time. To see more, users must expand the tab panel by clicking a drop-down box as shown in the image below.

For marketers, this major change means that the three above-fold tab apps need to be considered carefully — this will be one of the first things users see when interacting with your brand on Facebook. Brands will want to switch up which tabs are visible “above the fold,” according to current company objectives or project popularity. A good Page analytics tool will be useful for determining which tab to promote on a day-to-day basis.

If you are still bit unsure how this works then please watch the above 'Introducing Timeline - A new kind of profile' video.

Private Messages Between Brands and Users

Finally, brands will be able to send and receive private messages with users. This allows for much deeper consumer interaction, and will also enable Page managers to take extended customer enquiries off the Timeline and into a private message.

Well now it's time for your to check out your Facebook Page! Have fun exploring all of its new features and if you get stuck at any point or would like some more information then give Nutcracker a call on 01384 455 141 or send us an email by clicking HERE.

Source: Facebook, Hubspot, Mashable

Support Emily Wilson for Miss Birmingham 2012

2012-02-28T02:22:00.001-08:00

Nutcracker are proud to be the official sponsor of Miss Emily Wilson who is competing in the Miss Birmingham 2012 final, which is a direct heat into the Miss England 2012 final. I'm sure you will agree how stunning Emily is, and we would encourage you to share the information and make Emily the winner!

Here is a bit of background information about Emily;

“It is fabulous that nutcracker design and marketing have chosen to sponsor me in my venture to become Miss Birmingham 2012. I won a local beauty pageant and am the face of Miss Full Length and Fabulous.
I am currently studying for my A levels and have future aspirations to become a doctor. I like to stay in top shape by using the gym and competing as a top British amateur in classical sequence ballroom dancing.
I would like to enter the promotional model world to help fund my way through university. I have entered Miss Birmingham 2012 to prove to people that in the beauty world there is intelligence and not just pretty faces.
I believe we get out of life what we put in and it is also important to me that I use my talents for the benefit of others whether it be my future work or fundraising for charity.”

We need your help for Emily to win Miss Birmingham 2012. Please can you text for Emily to win Miss Birmingham 2012 text... 'MISS BIRMINGHAM28' to 63333. Texts costs 50p plus 1 standard network text! Thanks everyone would be great if you could.

Valentine's Day Google Doodle

2012-02-14T07:04:00.000-08:00

Whether you or single or in loved up bliss it is that time of year again when hearts and flowers in abundance. One thing you can count on for Valentine’s Day is a love themed Google Doodle.

It was in 2000 that Google introduced its first Valentine’s Day inspired Google Doodle and since then other classic designs have followed.

Take a look at some of the romantic themed logos that Google has shared with us over the past 12 years.

http://mashable.com/2012/02/14/valentines-google-doodles/

Source: Mashable, 2012

What have you done for me lately..?

2012-02-03T04:07:00.000-08:00

Are you one of the thousands of companies who have invested in a website for your company and after it’s been built paid it very little attention, yet still expect it to generate interest and income?

Here is a simple test that you can do to measure the effectiveness of your website:

Take a step outside of the box for a second. If you were searching for your product or service what ‘keywords’ and phrases would you type into a search engine such as Google?

Now go onto Google and type in one of those phrases-

1. Where do you appear?
2. Are you on the first page?
3. How many of your competitors are above you?
4. Which link would you click?

If your product or service is not showing on the first few pages of any search engine, the chances are that you have just lost a potential customer to your competitor.

Gone are the days when people search through the yellow pages to find what they are looking for.
It’s all about the internet whether it be from a PC or through a Smartphone.

Give us a call today to arrange a meeting and we will sit down with you and discuss what the search engines are looking for and the ways in which you can help your website get the best position possible for relevant key words. Or simply ask us a question and enquire here.

Take Flight in 2012!

2012-01-23T06:26:00.001-08:00

Twitter have introduced Enhanced Profile Pages to help increase your brands engagement and help drive your business goals.
An enhanced profile page increases your brand’s Twitter presence by prominently featuring your most important content and visually branding your page. Your enhanced profile page is completely public — users can view it without joining or logging into Twitter. Enhanced profile pages are currently available to a small selection of brands; they will be rolled out more broadly in the coming weeks and months.

Enhancing your profile page

Header image: Add a logo, image, tagline or any other visual branding to the new 835x90 header to create a lasting impression on your audience.

Feature your content: Promote a Tweet to the top of your profile page’s timeline at no extra cost to highlight your most engaging and important content. If your Promoted Tweet contains a link to a video or photo from a partner provider*, it automatically expands to show that media within the timeline.

Mobile devices: Users will have a more consistent experience across platforms, including mobile devices.

Delivering results with your profile page

Communicate with more users: In addition to hashtags, use your @ handle in your other marketing activities to guide users to a richer brand experience on your profile page.
Offer exclusive content: Twitter users love exclusives! Promote a Tweet on your profile page with exclusive content such as product launches, breaking news or promotions to deliver relevant, real-time messaging.

Refresh your page frequently: Twitter users also love new content. Update your enhanced profile page with new Promoted Tweets or new header images to keep your messaging fresh and to keep users coming back to your page.

http://business.twitter.com/advertise/enhanced-profile/

Add some character to your QR code, Brand it, make it stand out!

2012-01-23T06:26:00.000-08:00

Everyone seems to be talking about QR codes. They seem to be popping up everywhere, on media adverts, in newspapers and magazines, so what are they and what can they do for your business?

Lets start off by showing you a few stats and figures

56% of QR codes appear on product packaging 
QR code uptake has increased 4589% from early 2010 to early 2011 
The majority of users expect to receive a voucher or deal from scanning a QR code 
11 out of 50 Fortune companies are incorporating QR codes into their marketing strategy 
68% of QR codes are scanned via an Iphone 
Response rate increases by 2.4% with a custom QR code over a standard one 

What can you use a QR code for?

Your contact details
Company website 
Facebook/twitter page
LinkedIn Profile
Events 
Promotions 
Discounts/Vouchers 
Youtube Videos 
Maps 
Advertising mobile apps 

By using a QR code, you are giving your customers the opportunity to quickly and easily view and store your details.

This is why QR codes are commonly used on product packaging, promotional items, leaflets, flyers etc., they eliminate the hassle of hunting for a pen and a piece of paper to write down the details, most people have their phones to hand.

QR codes are the quickest way for brands to make the transition between paper and the web.
Here are a few examples on how you can use a QR code and grab more customers.

Rise Of The Mobile

2012-01-23T06:21:00.000-08:00

Mobile Web:

Do you have a robust mobile strategy?

 Currently only 21% of companies have a mobile strategy.  Smart phones are definitely here to stay, mobile internet usage has grown exponentially and it is predicted in 2013 that it will overtake desktop internet usage. In 2011 consumers spent more time on mobile devices then they did on desktop devices.

Don’t panic if you are one of the 79% of companies that have no mobile strategy, if you have a website then it can be viewed on a mobile device, whats your point then? I hear you ask.   

Well two things:

1: it takes much longer to load a website on a mobile, and not all of your content may be viewable or compatible, for instance if you have flash, this won’t work on an iPhone, due to incompatible software.

2: It will appear much smaller and will involve a lot of zooming and pinching the screen and copy can be almost impossible to read. This is before your consumer is anywhere near the content they want, which contributes towards a bad user experience and research has shown that 40% of consumers turn to a competitor if they experience a bad mobile experience.  

The solution is to have a mobile specific site or WAP site (Wireless Application Protocol), which is tailored to meet all the mobile requirements, with regards to differing handset and screen sizes and capabilities. A mobile website is much easier to access anywhere and anytime, as a result of this it allows you to engage with your consumers anywhere they are.

Mobile websites can also have unique capabilities and offer a convenience that standard websites cannot. For instance the ability for a consumer to click a button and call the company directly from the companies mobile site.

Mobile Applications:

Mobile applications are simple to use, economical to develop, portable information that is at your customers finger tips and allows them to engage with your product and brand instantly anywhere they go.

An app is a mini application or software program that is customised to your business and increasingly to your customers needs. There are two types of apps, Native apps and Web based apps.

Native app – runs off the handheld device via a smart operating system which allows stand alone software to run via wifi internet connection or wireless. Native apps are native to one type of mobile operating system ie: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Symbian, Windows Phone. These are mostly downloaded via app markets like iTunes, Android Market, Blackberry World etc.

Web based mobile apps are becoming increasingly popular, these run off Html 5 and Javascript and does not sit on the consumers handheld device but is accessed through the devices mobile internet browser.

Which is best for my business?

 The answer wholly depends on your business, your customers, your mobile strategy, there is no right or wrong answer.

What can a Mobile App do for my business?

There are a number of reasons businesses develop a mobile application, but mostly for the following two:

1. Generate income
2. Marketing / Brand awareness

Mobile apps can be used to generate income through a number of ways, by charging for consumers to download the app via the app markets, subscriptions, third party advertising and through revenue received from a sponsor for their brand/product to appear on the app.

Mobile apps can also be used to enhance your brand and marketing, it can also be used as a customer service tool. With a customised application tailored to you customers needs you can engage with them on a new level, as if you are on the mobile device you will always be on their mind....

So what does this mean to our clients?

So at Nutcracker you are in safe hands dealing with experts. Our new Digital lead Mark has extensive experience of user experience and interface, designing mobile websites and applications for companies such as Tesco Mobile, Orange, T-Mobile, Liverpool FC, Arsenal FC, Manchester United, Everything Everywhere, Virgin Media and Carte Blanche.

Grab Your Free 2012 Wall Planner

2011-12-09T06:23:00.000-08:00

Nutcracker do the Olympics

This year Nutcracker only had one theme on our minds for wall planner ideas. Yes, it had to be the Olympics.

Our original thoughts were going to be based around Office Olympics, The 100m chair race, the furthest you could flick a rubber band, the fastest you could sharpen a pencil, you get the idea! However, we decided to keep it corporate (cough) and sensible (cough cough) and represent a proper sport with a twist.

Complete the contact form to receive your 2012 complimentary wall planner.

Have fun guessing the sport!

Merry Christmas From Nutcracker Design & Marketing

2011-12-09T02:25:00.000-08:00

Closing for Christmas

2011-12-08T07:51:00.000-08:00

To our customers and friends, we at Nutcracker Design& Marketing extend our best wishes for a joyous holiday season and prosperous New Year.

We close for business on:

Friday 23^rd December 2011

and re-open on:

Tuesday 3^rd January 2012

refreshed and ready for a new and exciting year!

Did your website get ‘Fresh’ with Google?

2011-11-18T02:19:00.001-08:00

On Wednesday 2nd November, Google got ‘Fresh’. Yet another algorithm update commonly known as ‘Fresh’ is one of ten updates that have been implemented within the last 2 weeks.

Since this search has impacted upon 35% of all searches, it’s significance is worth talking about!

This update is a tweak to Google’s earlier ‘Caffeine’ algorithm. The Caffeine update provided 50% fresher results for searches than the previous Google index. This symbolise that individuals now have higher expectations for search engines than in the past as they expect to have access to relevant instantaneous content.

In other words, for your rankings to stay consistent or to increase, you will need to update your content on a regular basis. This can include social media content, blogging and news articles.

So, if you were to do a search on Google at present for ‘Olympics’ the chances are that you are after information relating to the 2012 Olympics and not the 1900 Olympics. This ‘Fresh’ algorithm update will take this into account (think for you!) and provide you with the results relating to the latest information available.

Google+ For Business

2011-11-18T02:19:00.000-08:00

In June this year Google launched its social media offering Google+ which went head to head with other social media platforms like Facebook. Google+ boasts a whole host of features and specifically promotes its privacy features on who its users share their information with, an issue that Facebook are yet to resolve!

Google have trialled Google+ for a few months and have now introduced Google+ for businesses. These pages will allow brands and organisations a presence on this latest growing social media network.

The business pages are similar to the personal profiles and allow photos/videos and content to be posted and shared.

To Subscribe to our newsletter click here and keep up to date with the latest in social media and read a more detailed post on how Google+ can work for your business.

Click here to view our Google+ business page and look our for the below button to add other organisations to your Google+ circles.

2011-11-04T04:22:00.000-07:00

HOW TO MAKE THE HUNT FOR YOUR BUSINESS MORE EFFECTIVE

Why is search engine optimisation so important..?

Imagine what may happen if your clients couldn’t easily find your telephone number or even your address.

Yep, bet you couldn’t survive for very long in that situation could you?

Well, the same thing can be said for your website. If it cannot be easily located (ie at the top/front of any search engine) then it will be overlooked in favour of competitor’s sites that get there first!!

If your website can’t be found easily then it will not get visited, which means that ‘traffic’ numbers will fall, which in turn lowers your sites rating on the search engine algorithm – Catch 22! The more people visit your website - the more the more people will see it in the first place.

It is therefore essential that you make the hunt for your website as simple and as straight forward as possible. You may say ‘I have a URL, so people can find us that way’, well yes that may be so, but that only applies to your current customers or to those who can remember exactly what you company URL is.

If your customer's want to find your website then they will. Other potential customers are lost unless you rank effectively within a search engine. Effective SEO could put you in front of the competition.

For more information on how we can enhance your SEO or for a free online marketing appraisal click here.