Archive for category business tips
Is it necessary to test Web sites using Internet Explorer 6.0?
Posted by jason in business tips on August 20, 2010
At Curvine, we’re always keeping an eye on trends in Web site browser software. We’ve noticed an important trend that will speed up Web site development in the months and years to come that we wanted to share: Internet Explorer 6.0 usage is on the way down.
First, some background: All Web sites are developed using a mix of HTML and CSS — many also use Javascript. All three are standards, which means there’s a document available that says exactly how it is supposed to function. In theory world, that would mean every Web site would look the same in every Web browser. In reality, many Web browsers don’t render things the way the standards say they should, and they often add extra items that aren’t even in the standard in the first place.
This means we have to test all of our work in each Browser that people use. Currently, Curvine tests in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0, 7,0 and 8.0, Mozilla Firefox 3.6, Chrome 5.x, and Safari 4.x. That’s a lot of testing. Of all of those, Internet Explorer 6 is the oldest by far and has the most challenges. It is the least consistent with the standards that Web developers follow and because of its age, doesn’t support many of the items that newer browsers do. One example would be “rounded corners” — which are snap in most modern browsers, but are more difficult in IE6.
We’re constantly watching usage of each Web browser, so we know what most people use and we know what needs to be tested. International use of IE6 is still high, but US use of IE6 is dropping fast. Several sites we track show IE6 usage below 4% of all Internet users, which has dropped from 7% – 8% at the end of last year. Soon, IE6 usage will be below 3% and we will stop testing for most new sites.
Web site developers everywhere will rejoice! 
Checking back in with Dr. Sears
Posted by jason in business tips on May 12, 2010
I posted several months ago about an some negative feedback that was posted on a Facebook page of a prominent parenting expert. Today, I checked back in with Dr. Sears’ Facebook Fan page to see how things were going.
I’m happy to say that things are better. It looks like the Facebook Fan Page’s administrators got the message and changed their social media approach. Rather than aggressively marketing their products, the Fan page is now being used mostly to solicit input, feedback and suggestions from interested users. Some recent posts:
Moms, Dr Sears is working with some big retailers to design a kids health and nutrition section. We have some ideas of our own, but to assist us shaping the section, we would value your input/suggestions. Click on the NOTES tab below and tell us what you think.
Only one more day left in Allergy Week and we’re on to next weeks Dr. Sears Tips Topic Outdoor Fun & Safety. Let us know what you would like to see us cover. The Dr. Sears Online Support Team
We’ve received a bunch of great stories from you for out Mothers Day Housecalls Email. It’s going to be very difficult to decide who to publish. If you haven’s sent in your story and want to there’s still time. Tell us your favorite mother story. We pick our favorites and publish them in the next Housecalls Newsletter. Share your story today! Cheers, the Dr. Sears Online Support Team
Bravo to the Dr. Sears Online support team for changing approaches and making their social media strategy more successful!
How to Select a Web site designer
Posted by jason in business tips on May 11, 2010
I was talking to a potential client yesterday. After discussing the details of the project, the client described his process for selecting a vendor for his project. It became clear to me that his process wasn’t ideal, and would likely end in hurt feelings, an unhappy client and even a possible lawsuit. All that because there was a serious flaw in his selection process.
The process of selecting a Web site developer is one of the keys to a successful project. Here are some tips successful clients use in choosing a Web site designer:
1. Know what you want: The first step to selecting a Web site developer is knowing what type of work you need done. Many clients call us asking for help with a Web site, but don’t know what they are looking for. Do you need help writing copy? Do you need a shopping cart? Do you need a logo? It is often helpful to write down what you want and share it with folks who are bidding on the project.
2. Know your budget: Your budget will dictate the type of developer you can afford. A low budget might mean you’ll need to use a college student who is just getting started. A higher budget might open up higher quality options, such a Web site development professionals and firms. Check out our full article on how to price Web site development projects.
3. Interview: When talking to different Web site developers, determine whether the developer understands what you want. If you are asking for one thing, but the Web site designer is talking about something different, consider that a sign of how the project will proceed. It is our job as Web site developers to offer good advice, but ultimately it is your project, not ours. Does their proposal match what you are looking for? Do you get the impression that the firm or individual understands what you want? Just like in a job interview, it is helpful for both the potential client and the developer to ask questions and to make the conversation more of a dialog.
4. Portfolio & References: Like in most other creative fields, a Web site designer’s portfolio should speak volumes about their talents. But don’t just look for pretty sites or sites that match your style — look to see if the Web site designer did what their client needed. For example, let’s say you are looking to create a Web site for non-technical people — one that is simple and lacks technical jargon. You visit a Web site developer’s portfolio and see a technical Web site full of acronyms and design elements aimed at technical people. At first, you may say that’s not what I want, but if you put yourself in the technical Web site owner’s shoes, you’ll realize did exactly what that client needed. You should feel more confidant that the Web site developer will do what you need too. Don’t forget to ask for and call references. Don’t just ask the reference whether they would recommend them though — ask them about the process, timeline and what they didn’t like about the process.
Following these steps will help your Web site development project be completed successfully. Those are our thoughts, we welcome your ideas below.
Do Cold Calls Work?
Posted by jason in business tips on April 9, 2010
A little off-topic from our usual Web site development focus, but we are bombarded with cold calls on a daily basis. They are usually selling credit card acceptance, search engine optimization and outsourcing various IT tasks to India. They are usually aggressive and don’t really listen to what you say.
I’ve never made a purchase for my Web site development business based on a cold call. Do other business owners?
How a Great Logo Helps Make a Great Web site
Posted by jason in business tips on March 22, 2010
One of the first things most Web site developers ask for is a high quality version of the company’s logo. Many people wonder: why is this?
A logo is the first building block to a brand’s identity. It can tell you if you are trendy, fun, hi-tech, or corporate. A Web site developer will want to know this because they will want to carry through that image across the entire Web site. For example, if your logo was Wal-mart‘s, you wouldn’t want a Web site that looks like Flikr. Likewise, if your brand was young and hip, the AARP logo wouldn’t be for you.
Another good reason is a logo uses certain colors, and most Web sites should use colors that match your logo. A good example of this is Dollar Tree which uses complementary colors throughout the site that match the logo. Could you imagine what this would look like if the logo was green, but the Web site was yellow or purple? Dollar Tree also carries the logo’s theme to the background which is a nice touch.
A great logo helps make a great Web site. Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?
How To Find an Investor For Your Web site Project
Posted by jason in business tips on March 15, 2010
Last week’s post talked about why its necessary to find a separate investors and Web site developers. It talked about why the best Web site developers don’t take projects in exchange for “equity” and why it is a bad thing for Business owners too. Today we address how to find an investor.
Finding an investor for any business is hard. You have two jobs to do. First, convince a potential investor that you have a great idea that can be successful. Then, convince them that you are the right person to shepherd this great idea and make it successful.
It is helpful to put yourself in the shoes of a potential investor — would you help fund this project? Keep in mind that at least 1/2 of all businesses fail within 4 years. A popular outcome would be losing 100% of the investment. Would you like this to happen to you? What attributes would you look for in funding an enterprise?
One easy way to make your job much easier is to start your search for an investor with friends and family. No one likes to do this, but it is the easiest way to raise money for a project. It is much easier because you don’t have to convince your Aunt, father or friend that you are the right person to shepherd the idea. All you need to do is to convince them that the idea is good. Half of your job is done! Even though your investors are friends or family, you still need to document the loan or investment and treat them fairly.
Contrast this with Angel investors and Venture Capital companies which are the other directions you can go — convincing one of those to invest money with your firm will be much harder and they will ask for more say in how your business runs.
What ways have you received investment in your business?
Social Media Gone Wrong
Posted by jason in business tips on March 11, 2010
My wife and I have a young child and we are always on the prowl for advice. I recently was reading online about a popular source of advice (Dr. Sears) and ended up at his Facebook page. That’s where I found this thread:
http://www.facebook.com/askdrsears/posts/366941752240
I’m hoping it stays up and isn’t deleted by the forum manager, as it is a must read for anyone engaging in social media of any type. Just in case it disappears, the link has a seemingly innocuous announcement about some changes coming to the Facebook page for Dr. Sears. In response, about 30 people echoed a complaint that one person wrote: “It seems like this page has become more about the products/selling stuff than answering the mamas”
This is a classic piece of trying to blend old methods (aggressive selling and promotion) with new methods (social media) and failing miserably. The old way involved blasting a bunch of marketing materials out to potential customers, in the way that Bed Bath & Beyond does with its coupons. The new way involves having a conversation with your customers. Trying aggressive marketing and having a conversation at the same time and you will get complaints. With social media, the complaints are shared with others instantly. That is much worse than not engaging in social media at all, because the complaints can travel faster than you can!
What’s the lesson? Make sure that if you engage in social media, you are reading and not just writing. Make sure to listen to what your customers are saying. It will make them better customers and your product or service better as well.
What I’m Reading
Posted by jason in business tips on March 8, 2010
In an effort to become better as a business owner and Web site developer, I’ve taken to reading other blogs. Here are some posts that have caught my eye recently:
You Rock — Seth Godin’s blog is popular and a great inspiration. His post about how we all rock for 5 minutes a day is inspiring me to blog more.
It is Make a Referral Week — Duct Tape Marketing is running a week long theme where they talk about referring business to others.
Interesting Web Books – About.com Web design blog has a lot of useful information about my field, including this post on some new books that are helpful.
How 11th Grade Math Helped A Web site Development Project
Posted by jason in business tips on March 5, 2010
Most people graduate high school and/or college wondering when they will ever use all of the knowledge they have accumulate during school days. After all, the War of 1812 doesn’t come up much in everyday conversation. But every so often, there’s a nugget of something obscure from school that helps in an everyday problem. This week, I had one of those experiences.
This is an example of a Pie Chart we were trying to make.
We’re working on a project that called for laying out a bunch of names in the correct or a Pie Chart. For example, the pie chart might have 6 wedges and we need to put name #1 in wedge #2, and name #2 in wedge #3. Of course, that’s easy — but it is much harder to place lots of names in the right part of the pie chart in an automated manner. We needed an easy, mathematical way to put the names in the right places.
I’ll spare the average reader the details, but the solution involved those trigonometric functions cosine and sine. Using these functions, we were able to come up with a way to plot the names in the right locations (for those interested: cosine of the angle on the circle yields the x coordinate, sine of the angle on the circle yields the y coordinate). We added another fun math function modulus and some random numbers and we found a solution that works for our project.
I admit it. I didn’t like 11th Grade Math much. Our teacher’s “Happy Parabolas” and “Sad Parabolas” only brought me sadness. But today, Pre-Calculus class was very useful in solving a Web site development problem.
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About Curvine
Every company has a Web site. But most business owners don't know how to make their Web site generate leads and sales. Our firm, Curvine Web Solutions -- a Web site development firm located in Bellevue, WA, creates strategies, designs and writes code to make your Web site make money for your business.
Please contact us at 425-818-9096 to ask for a free proposal. You can also visit our Web site at www.curvine.com