Monday, May 14, 2012
More and more businesses are using QR codes for promotions, advertising and general business information. Many advertisers and marketers have taken full advantage of this technology as a new and efficient way of disseminating information that can be used to market businesses, products or services.
Businesses can use QR codes in their overall digital strategy by controlling overhead in technical support, help desk and customer service.
What are QR Codes?
QR codes consist of those tiny horizontal and vertical squares that you see in stores, magazines, etc. They can store a significant amount of information. When read by a reader, it can trigger an action as in launch a Website URL, YouTube Video, Google Maps Location, any Social Media link, Plain Text, Telephone Number, Skype Call, SMS Message, Email Address, Email Message, Contact Details (VCARD),Event (VCALENDAR), WiFi Login (Android Only), PayPal Buy Now Link.
How it Works:
Quick Response or QR codes are used for encoding information, much like a bar code. They can be read by downloading a free QR code reader to any smart phone. Once you download the reader, launch the application (app), using your phone camera. The reader will download the information to your phone or launch to the desired link or download the embedded information.
Many creative marketing specialists see the QR code as a means of connecting offline to online campaigns, by connecting the consumer without having to type or copy information. One example often used is to connect the consumer to a landing page which can be modified to meet the advertiser’s needs.
You can place QR codes in magazines, on product packaging, business cards, flyers, post cards, storefront windows and billboards.
Here are three advantages of using QR Codes for your business:
- Instantly engage in potential and existing customers on the go.
- Promote events, services and products in real time
- One simple scan captures an abundance of information (web address, email address, phone numbers, etc.)
Great QR Code Ideas for Business:
QR codes aren’t limited to posting on business cards, websites or on a window of a shop. You can post QR codes on T-shirts, mugs, posters and even bumper stickers.
The future of QR codes is yet to be determined. With image and audio recognition already in use, who’s to say if QR codes are a fad or will they be a permanent fixture. Many experts believe QR codes will continue to be a part of our visual landscape.
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
Have you ever been concerned with the amount of digital photos you have on your computer? I know my Mom has tons of pictures on her computer that she just hasn't gotten around to printing yet. She would be heartbroken if they were to suddenly disappear one day. This Mothers Day (*psst! Its THIS Sunday, May 13th!) help mom back up her precious memories.
There are new technologies available today that just did not exist even a few years ago. Dropbox, for example offers storage space for free that includes a nice amount of space. They offer paid plans if you wanted to store more, photos in this example, but data in general. For this example you simply go to their website, sign up, and you have an account. You have the choice of downloading their software, which I do suggest, or simply visiting them on the web. On the web side, you can see, download or upload whatever you would like. When you choose the download option, you simply add the photos to the "Dropbox" folder on your PC or Mac. This way the photos are still right there on your computer, but also somewhere else, in "the cloud".
Many people don't print out their photos. If this is the case with you, and say your hard drive on your computer crashes, have you thought about what you would lose? Irreplaceable memories! Dropbox gets rid of this worry. And if you have a smart phone, there is an app for that. You can sync dropbox account with it, and have access from anywhere. I used to worry about the pictures i had taken with my smartphone. What if I didn't sync it? Yes, I would have lost the photos, but now, I just add them to dropbox directly from my phone.
To get started you can go directly to www
.Dropbox.com, or follow my link at
http://db.tt/6C9Rynh. The later gave me more free space, and you can do the same to get more for free.
There are other really good ones too, like Sugar Sync @
WWW.SugarSync.com, and Mozi @
WWW.Mozi.com. I based this on Dropbox only because it is the one I use every day.
Is Mom complaining that her computer isn't as fast as it used to be? This year for Mothers Day, make her computer faster. The quickest and easiest way to speed up mom's PC is RAM, or memory, and www.crucial.com offers a free scanner that will tell you what ram is needed for that specific PC. They will of course they will try to sell you Memory, but they are decently priced - much cheaper than flowers. Next, CCleaner (Crap Cleaner) is a system-optimization tool that removes unused and temporary files from your system, allowing it to run faster and more efficiently, and giving you more hard-disk space. The application cleans traces left by Windows, Internet Explorer, and third-party applications. CCleaner is a free download that can be found at cnet.com
Then, reduce the programs that automatically launch at startup. Windows offers a few ways to do this; one easy way is to click icons for programs on the taskbar, which most people have on the bottom of the screen. If you select the icons for instant-messaging programs like AOL's AIM service, look for a chance to adjust "options" or "settings." Find the box that tells the program to automatically begin running at startup, and unclick it. And next time Mom downloads a new piece of software, tell her to check the default installation choices carefully, and make sure she really wants something to begin running at startup.
Computer's require maintenance, and you don't need to be a rocket scientist to do it. But mom will be bragging to all of her friends that you are a genius when you make her computer faster this year for Mothers Day (*Psst Its THIS Sunday, May, 13th!)
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Have you ever been at work, and needed something you were working on that is on your home pc, or vice versa? Or maybe you want to help Mom with her computer for Mothers Day (psst**THIS SUNDAY, May 13th!) but she lives in Kentucky? Well today, that is easily and inexpensively solved, and you can teach Mom, too! Two very popular options are LogMeIn.com, and TeamViewer.com.
I currently use Logmein, which offers a free version, as well as a paid version. For most general or occasional use, the free version will suit your needs. This software allows you to see the computer screen, for example your home computer, from any location that you have a computer and internet access. For all intensive purposes, you may as well be right in front of your home pc while at work. A very important side note, definitely make sure this is allowed with your employer!!
It does, however, have to be thought of in advance, meaning you will have to create an account, and download the required software onto the computer that you will want to access. Once this is done it is as easy as going to their website, signing in, follow their instructions, and after a minute or so, it is just as if you were in front of your home/work PC. LogMeIn does have some help pages with screen shots that will walk you through the process. Be patient, because it can be somewhat time consuming if you have never worked with remote software, but it is definitely worth your trouble, and Mom will rave to her friends that her child is a genius.
www.logmein.com
www.teamviewer.com
Friday, April 20, 2012
There is a huge misconception in the social media world. Many entrepreneurs believe that all they have to do is launch a Facebook page, post daily status updates and people will automatically ‘like’ your page. It's not quite that easy. There are a few steps that must be taken in order to reap good results from your social media efforts.
Here are eight ways to get more ‘likes’ on Facebook:
1. Be a Friend Not a Salesperson
Before you start promoting a product or service on Facebook, you have to first make friends. Remember, people do business with people they like. Get involved in conversations by posting meaningful comments. Make sure you ‘like’ other people’s status updates as well.
2. Describe Your Photos
When posting new photos on Facebook, make sure you include a brief description about the photo. So many entrepreneurs post random photos without descriptions. People want to know what the photo is about and where it was taken.
3. Post During the Most Active Hours
The best time to share your posts is during the busiest hours of the day. The busiest hours includes: 8:00 am, 3:00 pm and 10:00 pm.
4. Get a Customized Facebook Page
According to experts, social media users are more likely to ‘like’ and follow people with eye-catching custom designed pages. Having a well designed Facebook page shows that you take pride in your business. A professional web design team, like TracSoft, can create a customized Facebook page that will compliment your brand.
5. Create Custom Social Media Buttons for Your Website
Consider creating custom Twitter, Facebook and Google+ buttons for your website or blog. This is a great way to direct attention to your Facebook page.
6. Add Your Facebook Page URL in Your Email Signature
If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you’re probably sending out dozens of emails daily. When you include your Facebook URL in your email signature, this helps in drawing attention to your page.
7. Invest in Facebook Ads
Consider investing in a Facebook ad to help promote your page. The great thing about Facebook ads is that it allows you to target interest groups and a specific demographic.
8. Offer a Useful Incentive
Offer people an incentive when they ‘like’ your page. For example, you can offer coupons, a free gift or a discount off their next purchase.
There are many more tips on how to get more likes on your Facebook page. The eight tips above will get you started in the right direction.
Monday, April 16, 2012
The buzz surrounding the upcoming Google tablet is escalating. The Internet search engine giant Google and ASUS (the Asian tablet manufacturer) have joined forces to launch a cheaper version of the Android tablet.
A recent Wall Street Journal story, giving insight about the latest Google device, stated that the plan is to sell the tablet to its customers via Google’s own online store just as Amazon and Apple are selling Kindle and iPad.
The primary reason behind marketing directly to the customers is to eliminate the merchants, which will not only help reduce costs but also generate more revenue as there will be no commission paid to the retail stores.
Google is planning to take on Apple and Amazon with its low priced gadget, though its main competition seems to be Amazon Kindle. It was initially stated to be introduced at a low price of $149. This is $50 less than its leading competitor Amazon’s Kindle Fire.
The tablet was supposed to be launched in May. However, now the launch date has been pushed off till July as the product is still undergoing design enhancements. The latest reports suggest that the tablet will be power-driven by Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor and will run Android v4.x Ice Cream Sandwich.
Android has tasted success in the Smartphone arena but its tablets have turned out to be a dull affair as compared to Apple's iPad. The challenge for Google is to make the Android based tablets more striking to users and even more enticing for the developers.
The biggest challenge will be persuading users to buy online as they usually want to test-drive the product before making a purchase.
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Flashiness was all the rage a few years ago, but current web trends are leaning much more toward simple and clean looks that are easy on the eyes. People are busier than ever, so they want to pull up your website, quickly find the information they need and move on with their day. If your website needs a facelift but you are not ready for a big revamp, we have a few simple tips to help you improve what you’ve got.
1. Color Palette: Keep your color palette simple. Stick with your logo/identity colors, and utilize neutrals. White/light backgrounds with dark texts are the easiest to read. If you count four or more bright colors, consider consolidating. If you use more than two bright colors, keep them within the same color family.
2. Consistent Fonts: Much like colors, fonts should be consistent and easy to read. Stick with a good sans serif for the bulk of the copy. Consider one or two decorative headline fonts and use them sparingly. Keep things simple!
3. Easy Navigation: Most likely, if you have a website, it is because you want people to be able to find information on you or your company. Make sure you have a main navigation bar that includes active links to each main page on your site. If you have a secondary navigation menu, be sure it is easy to find. There should be a “home” link on every single page.
A few additional things that really help improve a website appearance:
• Correct Spelling. If in doubt, first type your copy in a word processing program and use spellcheck!
• Obvious Contact Info. Your contact info should be the easiest thing to find on your webpage. If you have a “contact form” make sure it works properly.
• Social Media Buttons. If your business has social media accounts, the links should be easy to find on your website.
If your website needs updating but you don’t know where to start or do not have the time to get it done call us at
706-568-4133. We have website refresh and updating packages that can be customized to your needs.
Tidying up your online identity isn’t just about hiding aspects of your life you don’t want to share with everyone in your network, it’s also about promoting the best version of yourself to advance your career and/or business.
Take a look at these 5 ways for you to tidy up your online identity: 1. Lock Down Your Privacy Settings • Use Facebook lists and utilize the Limited Profile feature to ensure that personal pictures and photos are for just for friends.
• Choose a profile picture that you’d be comfortable having a future employer see.
Tip: Google your name on a computer with a cleared cache to gain insight about your first impression.
2. Be Positive • Post positive news articles, comments and industry insights. Negativity can be a turnoff for prospective employers and/ or customers.
• If you want to make political or religious statements, always be respectful of others’ opinions. A good rule of thumb is to treat Facebook and Twitter like the dinner table: don't discuss religion or politics.
Tip: If a random person who has never hung out with you reads your tweets and posts, would they think you are someone they would want to employ? On the same note, if a potential customer reads your tweets and posts, would they take personal offence?
3. Stay Professional • Create a www.branchout.com profile on Facebook to separate your personal online identity and your professional online identity.
• Tag your profile with relevant skills for jobs that you want.
Tip: Get your friends on your team, make sure they aren’t abusing your Facebook wall with inappropriate pictures and posts. The same goes for a business page.
4. Build Your Brand • Become a consistent expert on topics that genuinely enjoy reading about and discussing.
• Cater your posts to your audience.
Tip: Find people with personal brands that you relate to and emulate their style.
5. Be Consistent • Once you’ve decided on your online name and brand, stick with it, otherwise it becomes difficult to build a reputation and gain followers.
• Create a dialogue with like-minded people by posting, tweeting and commenting on relevant platforms.
Tip: Use platforms that will help you schedule tweets, blog entries and posts such as HootSuite.
Friday, March 23, 2012
If you’re looking for new social networks besides your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+ accounts, try these top social networks:
This great online journal allows you to post travel updates, music you’re listening to, and photos. It allows you to share updates on Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook. It is an excellent app to stay in touch with family and friends when you’re on the go.
This new social app has been creating a lot of buzz lately. You receive instant alerts when another user is nearby. It runs a GPS to make sure you’re constantly connected to the network.
You can forecast your next sale, conference, meeting or special event and encourage other followers to join.
If you’re an impulsive social media user, Localmind is a great app to try. It gathers up information from local users about current events, attractions and restaurant specials. Plus, you can earn extra karma points for helping other users with location advice.
With this new app, you can “fancy” products and file them into a digital wish list. This app is very similar to Pinterest. The only difference is that you can purchase products directly on the network.
Receive instant updates whenever there are new activities in your area. It also sends out alerts when your Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or Foursquare connections are nearby.
Sonar is very similar to Highlight. It reviews your Foursquare, Twitter and Facebook accounts and determines your most relevant connections. This is the perfect app for networking.
There you have it - the top social network sites for your business!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Businesses too often make the mistake of overlooking the importance of their logo. A logo is often the first thing that new potential customers see upon being introduced to a company and this plays a large part in a first impression being formed. A business logo is often omnipresent, finding spots on company's websites, business cards, stationery and more. This is the exact reason why maintaining a fresh, up-to-date logo is so important.
If your business already has a logo, it is important to regularly ask one question:"Does my current logo present the image that I need it to?" If your logo no longer makes you answer an enthusiastic "Yes!" to this question, it's time for a fresh new look.The need to update or dust off your logo design does not mean that your previous logo was poorly done or inadequate. It's just that a new, more modern look shows your customers, clients, and partners that you and your company are serious about keeping up with modern trends. In this case, you're keeping up with trends in style and design. After all, you wouldn't wear the same clothes that you wore in the 1980's, would you? It's a different time with different style and sensibility.
For example of this concept, look no further than marketing giant Pepsi. While over the years, their logo has maintained common themes, consistent redesigns in logo have allowed them to maintain a fresh look and stay relevant. In 2009, Pepsi's logo underwent a massive design overhaul in order to appeal to a younger target demographic. Market research has shown that this was incredibly successful and responsible for a large growth in Pepsi's market share.
How Will I Know if my Logo Needs to be Dusted off?If you do not know whether or not your logo could use some sprucing up, here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Does my logo look professional?
- Is it eye-catching?
- How does it reflect on my brand positioning and personality of my business?
- Is my logo unique?
- Has the focus of my business changed since my previous logo was designed? Could a redesigned logo reflect the new direction of my business more effectively?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you might want to begin looking for a logo designer. At
TracSoft, our professional graphic designer, Christy Leonard, understands exactly how to update a logo while remaining faithful to your brand and the image that you need to portray. We offer revamp logo design packages for any size business.
Logo Design Pitfalls to Watch out forOne important consideration when creating a new logo or updating your current one is to make sure to avoid a look that is too trendy. It may sound like a bit of a contradiction in a blog about updating a logo, but a logo that is designed using fads ends up looking dated extremely quickly. There is a difference between a logo that is intentionally designed to look old-fashioned and a poor design choice that just looks dated.
Also, if you have been using the same logo for a long time, then you should realize that your customers already have made an association between the look of your logo and your company, and hopefully, associating the look of that logo with an excellent product or service. Because of these positive associations, unless you are taking your business in an entirely new direction, it is almost always more beneficial to revamp the current look of your logo rather than starting from scratch. A new spin on your current logo will booth keep the goodwill and brand awareness you've already built while conveying an exciting new look.
After carefully considering changing your logo, call
TracSoft at
706-568-4133. Christy, our experienced logo designer can help you with creating, updating, or re-branding your company's logo.