I recently moved into a new home and haven’t had cable television hooked up yet; and you know what I decided?  I’m not going to get it because everything I need is right on the Internet.  Case and point:  One of my favorite shows comes on on Sunday nights.  Thanks go the magic of YouTube, the episode is downloaded within mere minutes of being on the air.  And what’s even better is that there aren’t any commercials in the version that I watch.  I guess the only downside is the fact that you have to have patience to wait a little later to watch it, but its worth it.  I compare it to bargain shopping.  If you wait just long enough, there are fabulous deals to be had!

All of this being said, when it comes down to using the Internet and trying to obtain information, what is it that we look for?  For instance, earlier today, I was trying to find information for research on a topic that I was writing about.  However, when I clicked on the first website that came up, I quickly clicked right off because there was WAY TOO MUCH information being presented to me at one time, in one space.

Think about how big your computer screen is.  Now think about how much information you would ideally like to see on that page.  It’s no wonder people who use computers often have headaches.  Web users use the Internet for a variety of everyday functions such as:

• Watching television shows
• Shopping
• News
• Information

That being said, what we want is very simple- so simple, in fact, that it is downright laughable: easy-to-find, clearly stated information that will help us make a judgment as to whether or not the website is credible or not.  Additionally, most often, I find myself curious to know who the “brains” behind the operation is- you know, the person who is actually running the website.  This simply helps to build trust between me knowing that there is an actual person running things- someone whom I can reach in case I have a question or complaint.  What are some things that you look for on a website?

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You own a business.  Congratulations.  Now, as a business owner, you can sit back as the money just rolls on in, right? Wrong.

If you own a web-based business or even if you have a physical location for your business endeavors but have a website connected with it, you have to figure out a number of things:

1. How your customers are finding out about you…
2. What sorts of questions they’re asking you via your website…
3. What content has peaked their interest…
4. What products or services they are purchasing from you off of your website…

That being said, how on earth do you go about then trying to figure out how to resolve these issues?

Know Your Fan Base

Ok, so maybe customers and fans aren’t exactly the same thing; but if you think about it, they’re similar.  After all, someone who is a repeat customer of your product or service could be referred to as someone who is a “fan” of what you are able to provide them.  Therefore, it is essential to know how your customers operate and think.  For example, if you run a light bulb business and you know for a fact that, based on inventory, no one has purchased red light bulbs in over two years, why would you then want to continue producing red light bulbs?  Similarly, if you know that your customers do or do not like certain aspects of your business, then you don’t have to completely give it up, but you can at least begin to direct your attention and efforts towards some other aspect of marketing your products.

Web Tools & How They Help

On the web, one helpful way to figure out what to start focusing your attentions on begins with the use of web tools.  One particular tool that I will mention is Stat Counter. Stat Counter is a free yet reliable invisible web tracker, highly configurable hit counter and real-time detailed web stats. Additionally, by inserting a simple piece of our code on your web page or blog and you will be able to analyse and monitor all the visitors to your website in real-time!

The really neat thing about stat counter is that it can give you maps, charts, numbers and more- tons of statistical data to help you figure out where  your website needs a little push as well as where you can relax.  Have you ever tried it out before?  What did you think, and how did it help you?

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According to Google Blogoscoped, the following are 5 common web misunderstandings.  To see the full article, click here.

Misunderstanding #1: We Need Separate Print Pages- This idea fails because bloggers link to print pages due to how much easier they are to read.  The right way to go about doing this is to create a separate style sheet for medium print, and if the browser does it correctly, it will display a print preview.

Misunderstanding #2: We Need an Alternative Mobile Web.. WML, the WAP’s Wireless Markup Language, is dead today. The fact that the same document can be used in a variety of circumstances, and that the browser simply requests the stylesheet needed – or uses its own, by default – is not an intuitive one to grasp. Most real world objects don’t behave that way, changing their shape and behavior depending on what is needed. So today, you’ll see many companies creating an alternative mobile web when, in fact, it is really not necessary.

Misunderstanding #3: Accessibility Means to Always Use Alt Text- The meaning of alt text serves as a replacement when the HTML image cannot be seen.  Some of the reasons that images may not be accessible include any one of the following: the user is blind, the medium doesn’t support images, the user disabled images on purpose so she can browse on low-bandwidth. However, if the image is only being used to illustrate a point that is later repeated in the text, then there really isn’t a need to use alt text to begin with.

To see more of this article in detail, visit: Blogoscoped.com.

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