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Incorporate Interactive Tools

To engage customers and move them through the various stages of the buying process, consider using a variety of interactive tools.
A range of customer contact points can serve to gain trust and credibility by increasing communication and sharing of knowledge to move the visitor along the path toward becoming a customer.
Complementary campaigns, utilizing a combination of offline methods (print, QR Codes) and online methods (website, social networking, blog, mobile apps) that reach out to your targeted audience will help keep your business top of mind.

Community of Potential and Existing Customers

Once you have developed relationships with potential customers and built your customer detabase, the door is open to you to up-sell or cross-sell.
The idea is not to hard sell or try to immediately close a idea, but instead to Build a community of potential and existing customers with whom you interact. This relationship not only keep customers loyel, but allow you to build on your undrestanding of their wants, needs and motivations-invaluable market insight for your business.

Control website content 

Current site design have moved from a static format built by web professionals to "create your own" or at least "self-edit" once a developer has set it up.
This give much more control and ability to the site owner to provide front-end user interactivity.

Interactive Elements to create a Dynamic presence 

for back-end site editing with front-end user interactivity 

  • Content Management System (CMS)
    • Joomla, Drupal, CMS Made Simple, Business Catalyst, Word press 
  • Searchable Databases 
    • Products, Business Listings directory
  • Image Gallery Database
  • News Management System
  • Advertising Management Systems
  • FAQ System
  • Event Management
  • Private-only, Password Protected Areas

For Social, Sharing, Collaboration

  • Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Stumpleupon, etc.
    • Relationship-building through community exchange
    • widgets (e.g. "Share" or "follow") on articales/blogs to increas dissemination.
    • Icons on your website to icrease awareness of social media activity availability
  • Blogging article posts and distribution via RSS

For Calculations or Productivity Utilities

  • Mortgage tools calculators
  • Translation or Language Tools
  • Project management tools

For Lead Generation/Conversion

  • Contest Forms
  • Newsletter Subscriber Forms
  • Request For Quote Forms
  • Sign Up as Member Forms
  • Free Download Whitepaper, Articles Form

For E-Commerce

  • Interactive Transactional E-commerce interfaces (e.g. Drag & Drop products into cart)
  • Product Variation Selections

Key Interactive Elements - Searchable Databases

Searchable Databases such as site wide search functionality or even product catalogue searchable databases and business directories help visitors find things on your site more quickly.
Rather than scrolling through static text for any reference to their search query, they can easily search either by category or enter a keyword phrase. in some cases (e.g. business directories), the site may also offer visitors the ability to upload profile content for business listings.
This type of interactivity should be fine tuned to ensure that the results are relevant to visitors. assessing the search queries can help you produce the kind of content visitors are seeking.

Key Interactive Elements - Tool Calculators 

Tool calculators, such as mortgage calculators, home budget calculators, weight calculators, nutritionall calculators and translation tools, are good ways to engage viewers and receive their input.

Key Interactive Elements - Blogging and Social Networking

Blogging and social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Google +, youtube and Flickr are engagement tools that foster communication, moving you from monologue to dialogue marketing by opening opportunities to engage with your site visitors.
These dynamic tools offer comment postings, sharing of content and status updates, interactive widgets and plug-ins, ratings, ! & As, reviews and, in some cases such as Wikis, allow visitors to input content.

Key Interactive Elements - Conversion Tacticcs

Conversion tactics that foster interactivity include tools such as lead generation forms for subscriber input, free download of whitepapers, discounted products or services, quick payment options, short content forms and surveys built with skip logic that increase usability, providing a better and more fulfilling visitors experience.

Rules 

Many factors such as usability, accessibility, web architecture, consistency of brand intergration with the various media, and site optimization all play a role in the success of developing a dynamic site.
These rules also apply when integrating new tools. Be strategic, choosing only those that will help you achieve your business goals. with new tools being developed daily, part of running a dynamic website entails continuous learning, testing with your audience and then updating and upgrading new features and functionality as necessary.

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This Blog is About Technology Related , Programming Related Solution , Tricks , Computer Science Study , Software , Article , Projects, Marketing,

Select and Register a Domain Name

A domain name is your web address or URL (niform Resource Locator). this address can be purchased at a domain registrar that provides domain name search and sometimes other services like hosting, private registration and business name registration, internet protocol (IP) re-routing or forwarding, email accounts and hosting.
Some examples of domain registrars are www.networksolutions.com, www.godaddy.com.

Domain Name Considerations

  1. Make it Understandable: make it easy to understand and avoid hyphens and underscores, if possible. if not, use only one hyphen.
  2. Letter Duplication: Try to avoid duplication of letters (example: www.tuscanyyouths.com) or hard to type letters like "q" or "z".
  3. Keyword Phrases: Consider incorporating a highly effective keyword phrase of your offering, especially if your business name does not reflect what you do. For example, a better domain name for a company named ABC LTD. that sells specialty grommets via the internet would be www.grommetsolutionsonline.com rather than www.abccompany.com.
  4. Suffixes: Choose a primary domain name with a suffix like.com if you have a commercial company, or .org for an organization, .biz for businesses, .mobi for mobile, .info for information driven sites, .net for networks and .me for personal.you can also consider country codes if you plan to only do business in one country. you can purchase multiple domains with varying suffixes and then redirect them to your primary account.
  5. Purchase and Renewal: Note that most domain registrars will list alternative names if the one you have decided upon has already been taken. Domain names are sold in time allotments for annual periods. if you are satisfied with the name that you have chosen, consider purchasing a longer time period. if you forget to renew your domain name, you may lose it.
Remember that you do not own your domain name. therefore, it it important that you keep your records of access to your account and renew before the expiry date so that you don't risk losing your web address.

Purchasing other Domain Names

Even if you already have a domain name, it is sometimes wise to purchase other names that can be used for marketing purposes and also to prevent your competitors from picking up keyword-phrased domains (e.g. ABC LTD. may want to purchase www.specialtygrommets.com or www.grommetsonlinedeals.com when it is running a reduced-price promotion.

Review Hosting Requirements

  • Review your website assets like videos, images, flash and content and the required features you are considering that may add needed resources for hosting bandwidth and memory space.
  • Make sure your hosting has the necessary capabilities for dynamic features and functionalities. hosting review sites can give you a list of options and considerations when choosing a host provider.
  • Also ask associates and suppliers for recommendations and social media groups for suggestions about host providers to consider.

Review Hosting Requirements

When reviewing these hosting sites, consider bandwidth speeds and larger memory space if you have videos and images. most hosting providers offer value accounts that have ample space, but these are often shared by others.
for some features like e-commerce and other applications that contain private sensitive data, opt for a dedicated hosting service which offers speed, security and reliability.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting provides businesses a choice of hosting options. it differs from local hosting because of its ability to spread the resources to maintain your website over multiple servers, thereby managing peak load and bandwidth issues.
there are many host providers now offering cloud host computing which gives site owners flexibility and control of a dedicated server service without having to but the equipment, and with better uptime, better performance and less hassle. check with the host providers for cost and features.

Generate Content

Regularly adding new content or updating existing content will keep visitors returning to your site and improve your search engine ranking. on a static site, the maintenance costs for a designer or developer can become high with freuent updating.
To circumvent this, many sites are now being built with a content management system (CMS), allowing you, the site owner, to economically self-edit the content and keep the site updated and fresh.

How to Create Fresh Content

It is one thing to want to refresh your site with relevant, useful content, but sometimes quite another to create that content. many of your content ideas will come from your marketing initiatives and from analyzing site metrics.
You may be surprised to find that you already have lots of great content that, with some repurposing and rewriting, would work well on your interactive website and social networks.
Here are some ideas that can help you overcome a "content block."
  • Utilize customer comments and reviews for creating case studies and testimonials.
  • Creat "how to " videos to support products and services.
  • Share powerpoint presentations, via slideshares, amoung your social networks.
  • Repurpose existing content. for example, one blog post can be repackaged for different media you can extract 10 tips from a blog article and tweet each idividually, you can create a podcast using inormation from your blog and you can put content on facebook.
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This Blog is About Technology Related , Programming Related Solution , Tricks , Computer Science Study , Software , Article , Projects, Marketing,

Need for a Dynamic Web Presence

The need for a Dynamic web presence has increased dramatically as consumers on the internet become more knowledgeable and more demanding in having their needs filled.
with internet technologies continuing to evolve rapidly, small businesses can easily create more interactive sites to engage their target audiences.

Static vs. Dynamic Websites - How they Differ

A dynamic website includes elements that allow interaction with visitors, builds relationships through dialogue, and personalizes the whole web experience.

Contrast this with a static, or "read only," site where there really is no way to know who your visitors are unless they contact you. whether you are designing a site for the first time or reesigning a current site, the goal of achieving a dynamic presence on the web includes incorporating a number of key interactive elements.
These Include:

  • Driving Traffic to the Site (Reach)
  • Generating leads (Engagement)
  • Converting Leads to Sales or Action (Conversion)

Features of a Dynamic Site

  • More Engagement. Taking a site visitor from a "reader" to an "engager" whether it is to fill in a form, download a document or complete a survey-opens up opportunities for you as a site owner to build a relationship.
  • Better Access to information. Content can be delivered in a variety of ways (e.g. text, video, podcasting) to apeal to different senses and pique a visitor's interest.
  • Quick retrieval. Incorporating a search feature will help visitors find the relevant information they are seeking much faster than having them scroll through reams of content.
  • Automation of backend processes. this allows site owners to disseminate content easily and to receive user information more efficiently.

Dynamic Techniques

Here are some examples of dynamic ways to attract and engage prospects and converting them to life-time customers.


Reach 

  • Social Media 
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 
  • Link Building 
  • Integrated Marketing 
  • Mobile QR Codes 
  • Newsletter Marketing
Engagement/Generating Leads 

  • Download Forms 
  • Subscription Forms (e.g. Rss, Email) 
  • Commenting 
  • Blogs 
  • User Generated Content 
  •  Rating/Reviews
Conversion 

  • Transaction Purchase 
  • Subscription Thanks 
  • Variety of Payment Options 
  •  Full and Visible Contact Details

Research and Planing 

In setting up a successful dynamic website, it is critical that you fully understand the needs of your target audience, the scope of your website project and the best methods to get ahead of your competitors.

Research how your industry is showcased online, how your customers behave there, and what your competitors are doing.

Understanding the Traget Audience 

Define the demographics (ege, inocme), Location, internet habits (comfort level with technology, method of access, where they congregate) and any challenges and information needs of those your are targeting.

Conduct Competitive and industry Research

Examine your cometitors' website in terms of content, design/layout, features and functionalities, and keywords, what are their strenghts and weaknesses?
Industry research includes reviewing trends and best practices to ensure your are up to date with the latest developments.

Choose a Web Developer or Do it Yourself (DIY)

There are software applications that offer a "one-click" setup process for creating an interactive site, with self-editing and already designed templates (e.g. Wordpress, Drupal Garden, Joomla and CMS made simple).
But if you want more customized applications or need someone to troubleshoot existing functions, you may need to hire a web developer.
Consider your comfort level with technology, your skill set and your available time when deciding whether or not to seek soecialized help.

Consider Usability and Accessibility 

Always keep your site users in mind, taking into account their comfort level with technology and site access methods (dial up vs. high speed, mobile phones, tablets, TV).
Be sure your site structure has a clear navigation flow so users can easily find what they need. consider the accessibility needs of user with disabilities.

Budget

Dynamic sites typically require the services of a programmer or web developer to create the interactive elements.
A major consideration is the amount of interactivity you want and can afford to put on your site. Dynamic elents have differing price points.

Guidelines for choosing a web developer/Designer 

  • Do you line their style? are they able to create code from scratch or customize existing code to accommodate your needs?
  • Who does the actual work? Is it outsourced or do they do it themselves?
  • What is their customer service like? Where are they located can they be contacted by phone, or are they available only by email or by using contact forms? How quickly do they respond?
  • Does their portfolio reflect the type of work that you are seeking?
  • What is their process? How much involvement is there on their part post development?
  • Are they experinced in programming dynamic content? That is, do they have a good understanding of XHTML, Javascript< CSS, Ajax, MySQL, SQL, PHP?
  • Do they have a good team of associates who can provide extra services such as content writing, photography, videography and search engine optimization if they can't do it themselves?
  • Do they have the business acumen to clearly understand your vision and apply the necessary technologies to meet your goal?
  • What will happen to the backend of your site if you choose to go to another developer down the road?

Make sure this is written in the contract. Typically you will get your data but, in some cases, if you are not hosting your own content management system (CMS), you may lose the ability to edit your site in the way you previously did, until it is set up again in another CMKS.

Budgeting Guidelines for Dynamic Elements

Basic (less expensive):
  • Subscriber section to collect names and email addresses for a newsletter subscription or free download of some valuable content.
  • Blog set up with comment sections for visitors. Blog also offer a number of free plug-in and widget tools with interactive and engaging elements.
  • Contact Us or Request for proposal/Quote form on your site.
Advanced (More functional and customized solutions, including database driven features that will be more expensive)
  • Site search
  • Business or service directory
  • E-commerce - selling products or services online
  • Customized and complex content management systems for self-editing
  • JQuery or Ajax functional widgets like accordion menus, tab content areas, content sliders
  • Surveys, calculators

Branding and Web Development

Staying true to your visual brand, your message and they way you do business is critically important when developing your web presence. your branding should go hand in hand with any web development you do, delivering a clear and consistent message and design across all media.

All of the interactive elements you incorporate, whether blogs, forms or other materials, should have a similar "look and feel" and reflect the professionalism of your business.

In developing your website, choose the right tools to support branding. they should be easy to use, the maintain and to update. keep scalability in mind in order to keep pace with your business as it grows.

Choosing Wisely

Many site owners also fall into the trap of adding more features and functionality to their websites to keep up with their competition but without really understanding how these elements will make a difference to their bottom line. it is good to stay current but choose wisely.
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Description

Social Media is already very well known and widely used, but there is still a great deal of misunderstanding as to how it can be used effectively by business organizations. There are many claims that social media is essential to business, but understanding the hard science behind how this relatively new technology can create solid ROI can be confusing.
This eBook covers the relationship between all the useful data that social media generates and a company's marketing, product creation, CRM and business processes.
Inside: How to Get and Create Business Value on the Social Web. How to Integrate Social Media and Business Intelligence. The 8 Key Social Media Metrics and Their Actionable Responses. 9 Step Social Media Marketing Work Flow. Where to Try Social Media Marketing for Free. Essential Questions to Ask a Social Media Marketing Vendor.


Preface

Social media and Business Intelligence are now inseparable. Even the most basic user of any social media service asks himself such questions as “How many followers do I have?”, “What’s trending today?”, “How do people feel about…?”
It is the job of Business Intelligence to tease out these answers in a comprehensive and scientific way so that the information can be organized and stored in a way that provides business value. This allows for companies to gain competitive edge, cut costs and release products with a higher degree of success.
Combining social media and business intelligence for small and medium sized enterprises is even more crucial. It allows them a greater audience reach, more effective targeting and greater cost savings. Advertising and marketing campaigns can be created more efficiently.

Content

    Opening Words
  • Why Social Media and Business Intelligence?
  • Maturity
  • Cost & variety
  • User Friendly
  • Integration
  • The Time is Now
    Preface: Social Media and Business Intelligence
  1. Introduction
  2. What is ‘Out’ in Social Media and what is ‘In’
  3. The 5 Pillars Of Social Media and Business Intelligence
    1. Top CRM Vendors 2012 (via CIO Magazine):
    2. Biggest Companies in Marketing Management and Automation:
    3. Top Business Intelligence Products:
  4. The 7 Key Reasons You Need Social Media And Enterprise Marketing
  5. 8 Key Social Media Metrics and Their Actionable Responses
  6. The Nine Step Enterprise And Social Media Marketing Work Flow
  7. Linking Enterprise Marketing To Internal Business Processes
  8. 7 Social Media Metrics That Drive Industry Development
  9. Test The Social Media/Enterprise Marketing Waters For Free
  10. Available Solutions and 17 Essential Questions to ask a potential vendor
  11. Index – 5 Pillars, Top 5 White Papers on SMBI
  12. About the author




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Description

The Project, Program and Business change book in the IT Management series is a practical guide for senior managers who are looking to improve their success in delivering projects and realizing clear business benefits. The book is based on the experience of its author David McKean and the feedback from hundreds of delegates and IT Leaders network members, sharing best practice from the industry.
It is targeted for experienced managers who have probably been running projects from some time and are looking for something to take them to the next level. For this reason, the book only gives a cursory overview of the basics of project, program and business change management and instead focuses on higher level issues.

Content

  • About the author and IT Leaders
  • An introduction to IT projects, programmes & change
  • Project success guidelines 1 - Get off to a good start
    1. Choose good projects (be careful what you ask for)
    2. Choose the right time to start
    3. Choose a good team
    4. Be clear on what is being delivered
    5. Create a high level architecture
  • Project success guidelines 2 - Managing project progress
    1. Develop strong project management skills
    2. Make them sweat the small stuff
    3. Keep a high level overview for yourself
    4. Tips for managing costs, contracts and suppliers
    5. Set up good project governance
    6. Communicate clearly to all parties
    7. Keep measuring value (SPRINT)
    8. The art of managing project portfolios
  • Project success guidelines 3 - Closing the project
    1. Get ready early for the “go-live”
    2. Make the change “irreversible”
  • Risk Management - 5 things to know
    2. The basic calculation – Problems vs. Risks?
    3. The Risk Register
    4. Assumption based risk analysis
    5. A smart way of visualizing risk profiles
    6. Quality based costing and Monte Carlo
  • Change leadership
    1. The special role that IT managers play in business change
    2. Success guidelines for business change
    3. The emotional side of (business) change (DREC)
    4. The importance of a good team
  • Outline of the top project frameworks
    1. International standards
    2. PRINCE2
    3. Project Management Institute
    4. Agile Development
  • In conclusion
    1. Take time to reflect
    2. Staying ahead
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