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Web Word of the Week – Content Management System

Content Management System

What is a Content Management System?

A Content Management System (CMS) is a software platform that serves as the foundation of your website. Content management systems are designed to make it easy for you to manage your own website content.

In the past, all websites were basically static or non-changing. People viewed their websites as simply an online copy of their brochure. If you wanted to make changes, you had to contact your web developer to make those changes for you. Content Management Systems put you in the driver’s seat of your website giving you the ability to manage the content on your own.

Content Management Systems

A few of the Content Management Systems available

Why Should I Ask For a CMS?

  • Reduces Cost
    Most open source content management systems are free. Using CMS platforms (such as Joomla! & WordPress) as the foundation for your website, reduces the amount of custom programming that needs to be done in order to create sophisticated features. Most CMS feature an add-on or plug-in system that allows you to extend the power of your CMS in virtually unlimited directions. Instead of building your shopping cart from scratch, we can start with premade building blocks and create a custom solution from that starting point.

  • Easy to Use
    A CMS will allow you to control your website content from any computer without the need of special computer software. Joomla! features on-page editing of your website, you never even have to leave your website to make changes! Instead of paying your web developer to make changes for you, you have the power to make these changes yourself easily.

  • Easy to Customize
    The built-in Content Management tools included with a CMS make it easy to organize your content and present it online in a consistent way. Many CMS tools use a drag and drop system or include an easy editor similar to Microsoft Word.

  • Look What’s Included!
    Look over the chart below to see some of the things that come included with a CMS out of the box. Remember, these features are included when you install the CMS which means you won’t have to hire a programmer to build these features for you.
Features included with most Content Management Systems
Easily Editable Content Access Control Scalable Expansion Document Management
User Registration Site Search Polls Template Manager
Easy Uploading Media Manager Multiple Languages Ad Banner Manager
Menu Manager RSS Feeds Blog Integrated Help System
Powerful Administration News Module Manager Search Engine Optimized

What now?

Content Management Systems are included with every website we create. Call us today at 434-882-0604 to learn more. We are here to help!

Watch for our next article: All About Joomla!

Becky Riggle
October 31, 2011
Web Word of the Week Series
3

Web Word of the Week – All About Web Hosting

WWW Series - Website Hosting

What is Web Hosting?

People ask me this question all the time. It can be a hard concept to understand so let’s compare web hosting to something simple.

Web hosting is like a storage unit. With a typical storage unit, you fill it with your personal belongings. You rent the unit from a company that promises to keep your belongings safe and secure. Website hosting is similar, it is your online storage unit. You fill it with your belongings such as your website files. Each time someone visits your domain name (www.yourname.com), the contents of your online storage unit are displayed online. A website hosting company makes it possible for your website to be accessible 24/7 online.

Self Storage Units are like Website Hosting

Web hosting is like a storage unit for your website.

How Do I Choose a Good Hosting Provider?

There are several things to look for in a good website hosting company.

  • Reliability & Uptime
    At certain times, a website hosting company may encounter problems or need to make upgrades to their servers. If handled wrong, these situations can cause your website to be unavailable online for periods of time. It is crutial to use website hosting companies that guarantee at least 99.9% uptime. Hosting companies should have backups of their servers and generators to protect against power loss.

  • Email Hosting
    Email hosting should be included in the price of your web hosting. This allows you to have email addresses with the same address as your domain name, such as yourname@yourcompany.com. Emails addresses that include your domain name help professionalize your company and advertise your website.

  • Control Panel Access
    Control Panel Access is extremely helpful. It allows you to manage parts of your hosting on your own. They eliminate the need to contact your hosting company every time you need something. Control Panels enable access to the hosting server so you can setup new email addresses and create databases.

  • FTP Access
    FTP (File Transfer Protocal) is how you transfer files back and forth to your online storage unit. After you purchase web hosting, your hosting company will give you a secure login. This FTP information gives you access to your online space. Keep this information in a secure place, web developers will need access to this information to make changes to your website.

  • Databases
    Most hosting companies should include an unlimited amount of databases. Databases are often required to build websites in Content Management Systems such as Joomla, Drupal and WordPress.

  • Backups
    Check with a potential web hosting company and find out who is responsible for backing up the files in your online storage unit. Some companies include this service in your monthly fee. Other companies make it your responsibility to backup your personal files. Backups protect against loss of your important documents and should be handled seriously. For websites that use a database to store information, it is important to backup not only the website files but also the database itself.

How Much Does Web Hosting Cost?

Prices vary widely on website hosting. Most website hosting costs between $15 to $30 per month. There are many online based nationwide companies that offer very good prices as low as $2 to $5 per month. We often recommend a very reliable online company called GreenGeeks, they charge $5 per month and include a free domain name for life. Each person should consult with their web developer and see who they recommend.

Still Have Questions?

Feel free to call us at 434-882-0604 or email us at info@bluecloudstudio.com. We are here to help!

The next topic in the Web Word of the Week Series: CMS (Content Management System)

Becky Riggle
September 8, 2011
Internet, Web Word of the Week Series
1

How Can a Blog Help Your Business?

WWW Series - Blog

What is a Blog?

The word blog is a blend of the terms web and log. A blog is a type of website that is updated frequently with new articles. These articles are listed by date and can be categorized into subjects. Blogs are interactive and encourage the reader to share their opinion. Most blogs are focused on a particular subject, other blogs are used by individuals as personal online diaries.

What are the Benefits of Starting a Blog?

  • Fresh Content for Your Website
    Blogs are one of the best ways to keep the content on your website fresh and up to date. Search engines reward websites that offer new, unique content. If you are constantly posting to your blog, it will encourage people to keep coming back which will boost your website’s traffic.

  • Establish Yourself as the Authority
    By starting a blog about your particular field, you can educate your readers on a subject, establishing yourself as an authority. When you share your knowledge on a subject, everyone benefits. You are helping the online community and you are also advertising your business indirectly. The key to good content is making sure it is of value to your readers. Just because you think it is interesting doesn’t mean your readers will. Always write articles that will benefit and educate your reader.

  • Posting Articles is Easy
    Blogs are designed to make to it easy for you to add new content. Many people don’t have a Content Management System which allows them to make changes to their website. Adding a blog can be a very affordable option for people in this situation. By adding a blog, it gives them an easy way to add fresh content to their existing website.

  • Social Networking Opportunities
    You can use a blog hand in hand with Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon and Digg to grow your online community. Each time you post a new article, you should also share it via social media. Using these tools together will send traffic back and forth between your website and your social media.

  • Build Relationships With Your Customers
    Encourage your readers to give their feedback on your blog articles. Discussions on your blog can help develop strong relationships with your customers. It is just another way to stay in touch and active with customers. A blog can positively affect your online reputation and strengthen your brand identity.

What Type of Blog Should I Use?

There are two main free options to start a blog, WordPress and Blogger. Both of these services make it extremely easy to setup a free blog. When you sign up for a free blog, the blog will be hosted on their website. The blog will not be located at your domain name.

  • Attach a Blog to Your Domain Name
    When a blog isn’t hosted on your domain name, it doesn’t directly affect your search engine rankings. When you build a blog, you should host it in the same place where your website is hosted. This ensures that the blog is viewed as part of your website by search engines. All links and content also benefit your website.

  • Setup a Subdomain
    We recommend creating a subdomain that allows visitors to easily navigate to your blog. Our main domain name is www.bluecloudstudio.com. An example of a subdomain would be blog.bluecloudstudio.com. By using this method, the blog is easy to advertise.

How Do I Start a Blog?

Call us at 434-882-0604 and we will recommend the best option to fit your needs. Blogs are extremely affordable and they are a wonderful addition to any website.

Watch for our next article: All About Website Hosting.

Becky Riggle
August 22, 2011
Internet, Web Word of the Week Series
Off

How Should I Use Facebook for My Business?

Web Word of the Week - Facebook

Why Should I Care About Facebook?

Facebook currently has over 500 million active users. These members spend over 700 billion minutes per month on Facebook. It is true that social networking isn’t for everyone. However, Facebook has become an invaluable marketing tool to connect people to your business. Facebook allows you to create a community around your business and stay involved with your clients and customers.

Facebook and other social networking sites are not just a trend that will simply fade away. They are quickly changing the way people use the internet. Using Social Media like Facebook is a long-term strategy that can create huge business advantages. Companies that engage their customers on a personal level will be more successful than companies that take a hands-off approach. It is vital that you start building a community around your company now.

Personal Accounts vs Business Pages

Each person on Facebook needs to have their own personal user account. Business Pages work differently than personal user accounts. You should never create a personal user account under the name of your business. Instead, you need to create your business a Facebook Page. User accounts are for people, Pages are for businesses. Business Pages allow further options and display information that personal user accounts do not.

  • If you are going to use Facebook for your business, first start by creating a Facebook account for yourself.
  • After you create your personal Facebook account, you can create a Facebook Page for your business. Don’t stress about the page setup details, you can always change your business page after it has been created.

Several main differences exist between personal user accounts and business pages. Users can “Like” a Business Page. Personal accounts allow you to “Friend” other users. Business Pages can have multiple Admins in order to allow several people to contribute or manage your business page.

How to Promote your Facebook Page

  1. Link Your Facebook Page from your Existing Website.
    It is vital that you make people aware of your new business page. In order to start building a community around your company, people need to know you are on Facebook. Be sure to add a Facebook icon that links to your Facebook page to your existing website. Facebook offers several widgets that can be added to your existing website that will allow people to “Like” your business directly from your website.
  2. Invite Your Existing Network.
    Be sure to invite any existing email subscribers and customers to follow you on Facebook.
  3. Include a Facebook Page Link in Your Email Signature.
    Direct links to your Business Facebook Page can quickly grow your list of followers.
  4. Create an Engaging Business Page.
    People will be more likely to follow your company if you offer them a reason to. Don’t simply use your business page as a push advertising avenue. Create engaging content that encourages your followers offer their feedback. Many companies offer coupons and other exclusive content that is only available after a person clicks the “Like” button. Try to put yourself in the customer’s shoes and create content that they would truly be interested in.
  5. Register a Username for Your Facebook Page.
    Business Page Usernames make it easy to promote your presence on Facebook using a short web address. When you first create your business page, it you will have a long web address that might look like this: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blue-Cloud-Studio/110600636547. Once you have at least 25 “Likes” on your Facebook page, you can register a unique username for your business page. After you register a username, your web address will look like this: www.facebook.com/bluecloudstudio.
  6. Use Facebook Ads.
    Facebook Ads make it possible to advertise directly to Facebook users. Facebook Ads work very similar to Google Adwords. The beauty of advertising on Facebook is that you only show ads to your target audience. You can target people by age, country, state, city, education and interests. This can be a very easy and affordable way to advertise your business.

Highly Recommended Resources

  • I highly recommend the book, The Thank You Economy, for anyone who is serious about using social media for their business.
  • Hubspot offers a great guide with further information about setting up your business page: How To Use Facebook for Business.
  • Facebook offers a very helpful Help Center for any questions you might have.

If you want to learn more about social media and how to use it for your business, please feel free to contact me at 434-882-0604 or email me.

Watch for our next article: How a Blog Can Help Your Business!

Becky Riggle
July 5, 2011
Featured, Internet, Web Word of the Week Series
2

Web Word of the Week – Google Analytics

Web Word of the Week Series - Google Analytics

Ever wonder how many visitors your website gets? Wouldn’t it be helpful if you could tell what towns/states/countries those visitors were coming from? What if you could tell how long they stayed on your website and how they navigated through it? Wouldn’t it be nice if you could tell if that link you are paying for on that paid listing website was actually generating visitors? Now you can! Google Analytics is a completely free service that makes all of this possible.

The Standard in Website Tracking

Google Analytics has become the free standard in visitor tracking. Don’t let the price fool you! Google Analytics is a full enterprise-class web analytics solution. In this case, you don’t get what you pay for…you get way more! It gives you invaluable insights into how people interact with your website and how effective your marketing efforts are. Let’s take a closer look and see how easy it is to use.

Getting Started With Google Analytics

First, you will need to create a Google account, if you don’t have one already. Once you are logged in, visit www.google.com/analytics to setup your first account. Google walks you through the entire setup process and it is as simple as adding one piece of code to each page of your website to activate the Google Analtyics tracking. It doesn’t matter who originally created your website, Google Analytics can be added to any website.

A Closer Look at the Dashboard

This is the first report you will see when you log in. This Dashboard can be customized to display the reports that you are most interested in. Each report you access can be added to the Dashboard page, by clicking the “Add to Dashboard” button at the top of each page. By default, the Dashboard displays a quick overview of how your website is performing.

The visitors graphic (see below) shows a timeline of how many visitors you have received on each day. You can adjust the period of time to display, by default it always displays the last month period. The Site Usage section (see below) shows a quick report of the number of visits, pageviews, pages per visit, current bounce rate, average time spent of the website and percentage of new visits.

Dashboard Report in Google Analytics

What is the Bounce Rate?

The Bounce Rate is the percentage of single page visits or visits in which the person left your site immediately after visiting the homepage. It shows the percentage of visitors who leave as soon as they get to your homepage, they don’t drill down into your site and visit any other pages. This percentage can help determine if visitors are finding what they are looking for on your main page.

Let’s See Some Reports!

Map Overlay Report
From the Visitors tab you can view the Map Overlay report (see below). It shows how many visitors from each city, state and country there have been to your website.

Map Overlay Report in Google Analytics

Mobile Devices Report
From the Visitors tab you can view the Mobile Devices report (see below), showing how many mobile hits you are getting to your website. These statistics can be very valuable if you are trying to decide whether or not to offer a mobile-friendly version of your website.

Mobile Devices Report in Google Analytics

Traffic Sources Report
Under the Traffic Sources tab, you can access statistics about how your visitors are finding you. It shows percentages for how much of your traffic is coming from direct traffic, referring websites and search engines. If you access the Referring Sites report under the Traffic Sources tab, it will show you which websites are sending you referral links that people are clicking on.

Traffic Sources Report in Google Analytics

You Need Google Analytics!

Do you know how your website is performing or how much traffic it gets? As you can see from this quick review, Google Analytics can prove whether or not your website is working for you. Using these free tools can help you determine how to improve your website and how to get more traffic. Contact us today at 434-882-0604 if you would like to add Google Analytics to your website. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Stay tuned for our next article: How Should I Use Facebook for My Business?

Becky Riggle
June 27, 2011
Internet, Web Word of the Week Series
1

Web Word of the Week Series – All About QR Codes

Web Word of the Week - QR Code

You see them everywhere…on business cards, cereal boxes, and magazine ads. Let’s learn all about QR codes and why they are so cool.

What is a QR Code?

QR code stands for Quick Response code. It is simply a 2-D barcode that can be read by smart phones. The code (unlike normal bar codes) is made up of black blocks arranged in a square pattern usually with a white background. QR codes were originally created in Japan by a subsidiary of Toyota called Denso-Wave in 1994. Below is an example of a QR Code.

QR Code

How Do I Scan a QR Code?

Before we learn anything about QR codes, we need to know how to use them.

First, you will need to download a QR code reader for your mobile device. If you have an Android phone, visit the Android Market and search for “Barcode Scanner” or “QR Code Scanner.” You will get a ton of results. I personally prefer an Android app called “Barcode Scanner” that is very versatile and easy to use. It will also scan normal product bar codes. If you have an iPhone or Apple Device, visit the Apple Store and search for the same phases above. Choose the app you prefer and install it.

Once the app is installed, simply launch the program and line up the QR code in the scanning area using the device’s camera. The brief video below is an example of how to scan a QR code.

What Types of QR Codes Are There?

QR codes have gained popularity with the rise of smart phones. They have become a quick, convenient way to bypass entering information manually into your phone. Granted, they still have a novelty factor because they are just becoming popular. Even after the novelty wears off, they will continue to be a convenient tool to convey information. Let’s review a few different kinds of QR codes below.

Website URL QR Code

The most common type of QR code is a Website URL code. When the QR Code is scanned, it will take you directly to a particular website or webpage. Most QR codes on product packaging will send you to a webpage where you can learn more about that product. If you do your garden shopping at Lowes, you will notice each plant you buy is equipped with its own QR code. When you scan the code, it will take you to a page on the Lowes website where you can learn how to care for that plant.

Website URL QR Code

This code links to www.bluecloudstudio.com

Business Card QR Code

A Business Card QR code, also known as Address or VCARD code, is designed to contain all of your contact information. When it is scanned, all of the contact information is automatically displayed on the person’s cell phone. It eliminates the need to manually enter all the information usually contained on a business card into your address book. It is designed to contain your Name, Company Name, Telephone Number, Address, City, State & Zip Code, Email Address, Website and one Memo field for your tagline or other information. Because these codes contain more information, they tend to look different from the above URL code. Notice how the elements making up the QR code are smaller. You can usually spot these codes very quickly.

VCard QR Code

This code contains my contact information or VCard

Text QR Code

When a text QR code is scanned, it simply displays the text embedded in the barcode. A slight variation to this code is the Text Message QR code which will send a text message to a specific phone number.

Message QR Code

This code contains a text message

Additional Types of QR Codes

Geo Location QR codes contain GPS coordinates. Calendar QR codes contain details about an event that will prompt the user to add the event to their device’s calendar. Some QR codes can contain WiFi network login information so users can quickly connect to the internet. Phone number QR codes will prompt the user to dial a telephone number.

Most QR code scanners include an initial prompt screen that requires the user to agree to the action. You don’t need to be concerned about things being programmed into your phone automatically without your permission.

Getting Fancy with QR Codes

QR codes do offer a little room for customization. It is possible to “hack” or edit the original barcode to include your own logo or brand. Once you have generated your QR code, open it in an image editing program like Adobe Photoshop and overlay your logo. You can also experiment with using different colors in your QR code.

When editing QR codes, it is important to use colors that have a strong contrast with each other. Always be sure to test your QR code before using it, editing the barcode in any way can result in a slow scan or none at all. Check out the example below where we introduced our logo into our QR code.

QR Code Customization

Get Your Own Free QR Code!

Blue Cloud Studio offers free QR codes! Feel free to use your new QR code on your business card, website or advertisements.

Click here to Create Your Own QR Code.

Don’t forget to share this article (using the Social Media shortcuts below) with your friends so they can start using QR codes too!

Coming up in our next article, all about Google Analytics!

Becky Riggle
June 2, 2011
Featured, Internet, Web Word of the Week Series
6

Web Word of the Week Series – SEO

Web Word of the Week - SEO

The Web Word of the Week is SEO. It is one of the many web acronyms you will hear.

What is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. What does that mean? It is a fancy name for the process of making a website display higher in the results of search engines. When you do a search in Google or Bing, the goal is to have your website display as high as possible in the free (unpaid or natural) search results on particular keywords.

Which Tags Matter?

You have probably heard the importance of meta tags, but not all meta tags are still neccessary. In the early days of the internet, meta tags were horribly misused and now many of them are completely ignored by search engines. We follow Google’s suggested recommendations for Search Engine Optimization.

Which Keywords Should I Use?

It is very important to research which keyword combinations people are actually using. Simply guessing your keywords is not an effective strategy. For example, let’s say you are a dentist located in Charlottesville, Virginia. You might think most people looking for a dentist will type in the keywords “dentist in charlottesville va.” Instead of guessing, we can do research to compare all the keywords variations and determine which one gets the most searches. We checked the following keyword combinations and were able to prioritize which keywords we should target based on how much they are used in an average month. Check out our results below:

Dentist Keyword Research

We originally guessed that “dentist in charlottesville va” was the best keyword to use. Our research proves that “charlottesville dentists” is used almost three times more than “dentist in charlottesville va.” Now we know our target keywords should be: charlottesville dentists, charlottesville dentist, & charlottesville dentistry because they are used the most. Further research is often needed but this basic example explains the process of determining your target keywords. Researching your competitor’s websites will usually shed light on keywords you never thought of and can be a helpful tool.

Accurate Page Titles

Your page title tells both the visitor and the search engines what the topic of that particular page is. Each page should have a unique page title that includes the keywords you want to target. Avoid using extremely long page titles or stuffing them with unneeded keywords.

Meta Description

This meta tag gives search engines a summary of what the page is about. In many cases, Google chooses to display this information as the description of your page. It essentially allows you to “write your own ad” for Google. It is important to include relevant keywords in your meta description. Your meta description needs to have a compelling message that makes people want to click on your listing. It is your chance to stand out from all the other listings on the search result page. Your meta description needs to be in sentence format so it is easy to read. Each page should have a unique meta description.

Web Design Charlottesville

ALT Tags

Search Engines can’t read images. The ALT tag allows you to display alternative text for the image in case it can’t be displayed. The ALT attribute should provide information about the picture. It helps search engines understand your images since they can’t view them like we can. Check out the example below to illustrate:

How We See Images vs. How Google Sees Images

The only important information in the image tag above that Google sees is shown in bold. Google sees everything after the alt tag as the explanation about the image. In this case, it sees “Blue Cloud Studio Logo.”

Heading Tags (H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6)

These tags are used to present different types of content to users. The most important headline text on your website should be contained in a H1 tag. Heading tags typically format text contained in them larger than regular text. They are usually used as a visual cue to users that this text is important. These tags help create a hierarchical structure for your text content. Text in the H1 tag is viewed in search engines as more important than regular text. It is helpful to include keywords in these heading tags when appropriate.

Create an XML Sitemap for Google

A site map is a simple document that displays the structure of your website. It lists links to all of the pages that make up your website. An XML Sitemap file makes it easy for Google to find all your website pages. You can create a free XML sitemap at www.xml-sitemaps.com. This sitemap should be submitted directly to Google by using the free Google Webmaster Tools.

Create fresh & unique content

The most important element to any website is the content. Websites that offer quality content and services will simply do better than sites that don’t. Fresh unique content will grow your website’s reputation with users and Google. We can’t stress this point enough: Your site needs unique, quality content in order to preform well on search engines. Adding a blog to your website is a great way of delivering this fresh content.

To learn more about Search Engine Optimization, we recommend Google’s Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide.

Stay tuned for our next article: All About QR Codes!

Becky Riggle
May 27, 2011
Featured, SEO, Web Word of the Week Series
1

Introducing the Web Word of the Week Series!

Web Word of the Week - Website

We are going to start our Web Word of the Week Series with the most basic of terms: WEBSITE. Yes, it might seem silly. You might be thinking of course I know what a website is…but do you?

A website is not an online brochure.
It is a living ever-growing marketing platform for your business. Your website should work for you. It should offer valuable content to your readers. A website is only as good as its content. Granted, it should be easy to navigate and be pleasing to the eye but it doesn’t stop there.

Every website should have a purpose.
What do you want people to do when they visit your website? It needs a CLEAR call to action, whether you are selling a product or simply trying to get someone to pick up the phone and call you. You can’t just take the “put the information online and people will find it” approach. Tell the visitor what you want them to do, either directly or indirectly through design.

A website should also make your life easier.
If you are a doctor’s office, could you make your patient forms available for download so patients can fill them out before they come to your office. If you are a restaurant, could your website take online takeout orders and reduce your call log? These are just a few suggestions, if you give it some thought, your website can become much more than a online brochure.

Follow our Web Word of the Week series! Coming up next, what is SEO?

Becky Riggle
May 2, 2011
Company News, Web Word of the Week Series
1

A New Kind of Design Studio!

Web Made Easy Maze
Web Made Easy

Charlottesville has a huge need for a new kind of website design studio. Sadly, most web design firms don’t make the website development process easy on you. We understand you run your own business. You need a website, but you don’t have time to become a web designer. Our focus is on delivering outstanding web solutions that are effective and easy to use. Questions are encouraged, and we answer them in terms that real people understand.

Let’s Demystify the Web

The focus of our blog will be to demystify the web for you. No doubt you have heard about Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Content Management Systems (CMS), Social Media and how important these tools are for a successful business….but what does that actually mean? How can you use and understand these tools to actually make more money? Where do you even start?

We want to demonstrate just how easy the internet can be. Let us share our experience and teach you how to succeed.

Please share your comments so we can learn what topics you are interested in! Thanks and keep checking back often for more Web Made Easy.

Becky Riggle
April 12, 2011
Company News, Featured