SEO, SEM, web design, coding, iPhone, iPad, Android 

Below are the notes from the Graduate Coaching Session held Sept. 15, 2008 by Monty Cassel:

The Process of Creating Your Brand

Creating a brand is like creating your identity for your business. This is who you are in the marketplace. First and foremost you need to know what you are promising to your customers. To do this you need to Create your brand and message. We do this through a series of steps. The first is

1. SWOT Analysis
2. USP
3. USP Analysis

These are the first three steps we are going to address in creating a brand. (more…)

The internet would never have become the phenomenon it is today without the web browser; the simplicity of the browser concept allowed the Web to grow rapidly. Developers just had to write basic text documents using a simple markup language (HTML) and the browser took care of everything. As websites became web applications developers still did not have to deal with the complex task of building client applications in the traditional sense: make it work in a browser and anyone can access it without having to install any new software, no matter what device (or OS) they are using.

While the browser makes life easy in many ways for developers it also throws up certain challenges. Major software companies such as Microsoft, Adobe and Google are now trying to address these challenges, albeit in different ways. This article will focus primarily on the option of building desktop applications, what the key drivers and considerations are, and how this may affect the future of the web browser.

What are the Challenges?

The recent launch of Google’s web browser is the latest shakeup in the browser wars that have raged for over a decade. Of course, competition has been good for the evolution of the Web, by bringing us new technologies such as CSS and Ajax and driving adoption of web standards, but there has been some negatives.

The inconsistencies between browsers have always been a major headache for developers. What works in one browser doesn’t always work in another or, worse yet, works differently. Many of the latest web applications now utilise Ajax for a superior user experience, but unfortunately Ajax libraries are so bloated to handle cross-browser quirks that they can cause performance problems. Even with the latest “standards compliant” browsers a lot of time has to be invested in making web apps work and look the same across IE, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and so on.

Today’s web apps are complex and, perhaps, pushing the browser to its limit. Other technologies are emerging to try and help developers build the next generation of Rich Internet Applications (RIAs): Flash has been around for many years, but now Adobe offers Flex and Microsoft have given us Silverlight. In the context of the web browser these are great options and will certainly challenge the traditional mix of HTML, JavaScript and CSS as the standard way of building web apps.

These new technologies are still running up against one of the age-old challenges: the more browsers do to protect the user from viruses, spyware and the like the more these security barriers limit a web app’s interaction with the user’s PC. Uploading your latest holiday snaps to Flickr is a painful process, primarily because anything running inside a browser is abstracted from the user’s desktop.

In addition, a number of social networks and services have run into the other major challenge with browsers: if the user does not have the browser open with the site loaded and are looking at it they have no idea what’s going on in their network. This creates a level of separation between the app and the user which is problematic if part of the application’s benefit is live data.

What’s the answer?

The problem of keeping users up-to-date when the browser is not running (or the app is not loaded in the browser) has seen a raft of third party desktop applications pop-up. For example, just look at the array of desktop applicationss for Twitter (Twhirl, Twitterific, Snitter, Tweetr, Twitteroo), FriendFeed (AlertThingy, Sobees, Feedalizr) or Facebook (FizzBoost, Facebook Desktop Client). These are just a small selection from the vast number out there.

These have been made possible by, firstly, the growth in web apps providing developers access to their functionality via APIs and, secondly, by the increased ease of building desktop applications. While developers have been focused on the Web (browser) as the main app platform the major vendors have been working on ways to make traditional desktop application development faster and more accessible. The latest and most popular of these is Adobe’s AIR technology which allows developers to use the knowledge and skills acquired from building web apps to develop cross-platform desktop applications. Using HTML, JavaScript, and CSS you can now build a fully-functional desktop application with AIR that runs on PC, Mac and Linux.

Desktop applications have a number of advantages over those that run in the web browser. They provide an “always on” method of communicating with the user. AlertThingy, for example, can hide in the system tray, but pops up an alert in the bottom right corner of the screen whenever a new notification comes in. They also have far greater access to the users’ system than anything running within a browser: uploading files suddenly becomes as easy as drag’n’drop; user data can be saved on the user’s machine; and the app can continue to work without an internet connection. These benefits can be put to incredibly powerful use in building feature-rich apps that provide a great user experience.

Providing users with a web-based interface and a desktop version with additional functionality is not a new idea, nor is it the preserve of Web 2.0 start-ups. Microsoft Outlook, with its companion web app version, Outlook Web Access, is a well-known example of this, having been around since 1997. Fortunately, the technology available to developers has come a long way since 1997: a benefit of Adobe Flex is that the exact-same app can be hosted within AIR or the browser; you just have to disable certain features in the browser. That’s both options covered with very little extra work.

The traditional difficulties associated with building desktop applications are done away with with technologies such as AIR. Not only can you use web development skills to build a desktop application, but the runtime also takes care of features like the ability to have the application automatically update to new versions. By building within a runtime, the developer does not have to worry about the awkward plumbing of desktop apps, such as minimizing to the system tray. Plus, Dreamweaver suddenly becomes a desktop development IDE!

Important considerations

There are some important questions to answer when deciding to build a desktop application. The first is whether it is really necessary. Many web apps work perfectly well within a browser and would not add any benefit for the user by having a desktop version. Building a desktop application just because you can is not a valid reason.

Next, however easy it is for a user to install an application there is still the question of whether they will. Some are put off by the idea of installing something on their machine and will choose not to. You are adding one more barrier to entry that does not exist with traditional browser-based web apps. Will the user see the benefits and that they outweigh any reservations they may have?

Finally, it is important that as an industry we do not go crazy building desktop apps. The swelling numbers of Twitter, FriendFeed, Jaiku, etc. desktop clients is already creating problems for users who do not want (or have space on their screen for) so many apps. When we released AlertThingy, we received a lot of feedback from users asking us to add certain features just so they could stop using one of their existing desktop apps and use AlertThingy instead. This takes us back to the issue above: will users want to install the app? The more apps they have the more challenging this becomes.

One area in which this can be addressed is that there are different types of desktop app. If your potential app is providing basic information requiring little user interaction or a small amount of screen space then Mac Dashboard widgets or Vista Sidebar gadgets are a great option. They are easy to develop (again utilising web technologies), lightweight and easy to install.

Is the browser a dead man walking?

I mentioned earlier Google’s latest browser, Chrome, which comes bundled with Gears. It is an attempt by Google to increase the install base of Gears and drive development of Gears-based apps. They are certainly highlighting other features of Chrome but Gears is most likely to be Google’s motivation for investing in their own browser, especially as it will benefit their own applications, such as Google Docs.

This situation is interesting because Gears attempts to overcome the issues discussed above, like Adobe AIR, but using the browser instead. This strategy could mark a new dawn for the web browser, which some believe will lead to it replacing the desktop OS (or at least rendering it redundant) but consider this: the Web is more than the browser, so much more, and with the growth of APIs and web-enabled platforms should we not look beyond the browser as the only client in future?

The first generation iPhone used the Safari browser as its application platform for third-party developers. This had limits and developers were desperate to be able to build native iPhone apps. Apple has now given developers that ability through the iPhone SDK. Many of these iPhone applications will be web apps (communicating with server-based applications) but not browser-based apps. We have seen a much more rapid growth in these types of applications compared to the previous Safari-based ones. And it’s not just the iPhone, surely a Java app on a Nokia phone is more powerful than anything running with the phone’s web browser?

As our TVs, cars and even fridge-freezers become internet-enabled the reach of the web app grows, but many of these devices will never have a browser. I have always found it strange that people think of what they see in the browser as the internet but not their email. As we move forward developers will be focusing on building internet applications, rather than browser-based apps, which can be accessed by a multitude of more powerful native clients on different platforms.

With Chrome joining IE, Firefox, Safari and others the browser war is set to rage on but the glory days of the web browser itself may be past.

In part I of this series we looked at why the use of open-source software is now gaining momentum. Here, we take a look at some of the most-recognized open-source alternatives to Microsoft Office “Light” desktop MS Office alternatives KOffice is one “light” answer to Microsoft Office from KDE, a Minneapolis-hatched open-source software community. With KOffice, “the main benefit is that it’s incredibly light weight,” says KDE spokesperson Wade Olson. “It takes up less space, starts faster, may respond faster, and it integrates with—benefits from the—KDE desktop.” “We have applications that typically match up with Microsoft Office and Open Office as expected, with Excel and Word expectations,” Olson says. “With ours, we also bind in Kri...

A New Type of Gorilla is Born

Clearleft is comprised of skilled professionals who have a passion for the processes used to create usable websites. It was that passion that led to the birth of Silverback, a usability testing application for the Mac. Usability testing is something that is often overlooked for an array of different reasons:

• The cost and time is perceived as too high, and therefore left out of the scope of projects.
• Not enough staff to administer and process the tests.
• Lack of the proper equipment or tools.

So, assuming you don’t have thousands of dollars, usability experts, and testing labs at your disposal, what are you to do? Enter Silverback.

What is Silverback?

Simply put, Silverback is beautifully simple usability testing software that utilizes your Mac’s built-in iSight webcam and microphone. With its simplicity and its affordable price point ($49.95), Silverback allows anyone to perform usability testing with little or no budget. The best part about Silverback is that it comes ready-to-use right out of the box. There are no large configuration files or settings, it just works. Jonathan Christopher of Monday by Noon says it best when he states:

My favorite applications do one thing and do it well. Silverback will be one of those applications.

Clearleft are known for their elegant interfaces, and it is immediately apparent that they paid close attention to the interface of the application itself. The interface eliminates the cruft and gets out of the way, allowing you to run the tests and parse the results without sifting through an intense interface. It is this attention to the little details that allow you to keep your usability tests simple and focus on the user interaction, versus setting up the application and learning the interface.

How Does it Work?

Setting up projects is a quick and painless process, and setting up the profiles is just as easy. Silverback utilizes the iSight camera of your Mac, which can turn your laptop into a portable usability lab. Once you create a project and a profile, you can start recording the session. While the test is in progress, Silverback is completely transparent to the user. It records the video and audio of the user, as well as highlighting the clicks of the user. You can control the recording process via the Apple remote, setting chapter markers while the test is in progress. The participants of the test only see what they need to see, and nothing more.

Once the session is completed, you can make notes on the session and then export the test. Once you are ready to export the test, there are options that allow you to place the video in any corner of the screen. Along with the placement of the video you can change its transparency. I see this as one of the greatest features, as you can see the video and watch the user interacting with the interface or website, and make it semi-transparent so that you can still easily see all possible clickable areas. Depending on the time of the session and your exporting options, you may want to go make yourself a cup of coffee while you wait for the test to finish exporting as it can take some time. The final exported video can then be stored for later review, and you can use the interface to make notes about the test.

Is it For Me?

In the beginning we looked at some of the different reasons that developers overlook usability testing. Silverback addresses those barriers with:

• Cost. The cost of the application is $49.95, with 10% of the profits made on the software going to save the gorillas. This makes the application affordable no matter what the size of your organization.
• Staff. The simplicity of the application makes it easy for anyone to use. While it may take a more skilled individual to process the results, it is very simple for anyone to setup and administer.
• Equipment. The only hardware you need is an Apple computer equipped with an internal or external iSight camera and a microphone (if you choose to record the audio and video).

Many developers are familiar with the different analytics tools available to them. Analytics are a vital part to understanding a website. They allow you to see the quantitative data associated with your website. However, analytics fail to show you some of the qualitative data associated with your website. Performing usability tests give you a glimpse of that qualitative aspect, as you can setup and execute tests and see how a user responds. You are seeing first-hand how a user navigates and performs different tasks on your website.

It is important to note that, just as with anything else, it takes professionals to analyze the results and then plan for a proper course of action. This does not replace usability experts. Silverback is just another tool in a web developer’s toolbox. When used properly, it is a very powerful and lightweight application. Silverback comes with a free 30 day trial, but I will admit that it only took minutes for me to realize that this is a must-have tool. If you are looking for a tool to help you perform usability tests on a smaller budget and minimal staff, then look no further than Silverback.

Software Name: Silverback

Maker: Clearleft

URL: http://silverbackapp.com/

Price: $49.95

Rating out of 5: 4

Ten years ago, a tiny software community launched free Microsoft-like programs for those with UNIX or Linux computer operating systems. A few months ago, this software community—known as KDE—rolled out its first free Office-style software for Windows users. It’s a competitive first for KDE, and indicative of an industry shift. The shift is toward software that works on cross-platform computers and provides a free or low-cost alternative to the long-standing monopoly held by Seattle-based Microsoft. “This recent development is to make sure that all of our applications are cross-platform, working even on Windows and Mac platforms,” says Wade Olson, spokesperson for KDE, makers of the free KOffice version of Microsoft-like writing, sprea...

The transition from using tables to create a page layout to using Cascading Style Sheets can be difficult to grasp at first, particularly when it comes to positioning elements correctly on the screen. In this video tutorial by Practical eCommerce's chief architect Brian Getting, we will take a look at the various methods that CSS provides for positioning page elements, and how they work. The CSS float and position properties allow designers to fine-tune where they want particular page elements to appear. However, they can be confusing to understand at first, and in this tutorial we will examine what each property does. By showing how to take advantage of these positioning properties, designers will be able to make more informed decisio...

Getting Started

• EBay registration- Before you can start selling or buying on eBay you must first become a registered eBay user.
• When registering on eBay you must register as a buyer and as a seller. Both of these registrations are free just take a bit of time to complete. You will need to go to www.ebay.com and click on the register link at the top of the page and follow instructions from there.

PayPal Registration

• To register on pay pal go to www.paypal.com. Click on the sign up link at the top of the page. From there you will asked what kind of account you want to have on Pay Pal. Make sure to select “Business account” From there they will ask you for a bank account. You will need to provide an account that they can have on file. Pay Pal will then need to “Verify” you account and to do this they will put two small deposits in your account. What you are required to do is go back to Pay Pal and tell them what those deposits are. Once they have the deposit amounts you will become verified. (more…)

Website traffic is up. Your pay-per-click (PPC) ads are receiving traffic, and you’re reaching your monthly budget. Sounds like your paid search campaign is working well, right? Well, not necessarily. If you’re like most Internet advertisers, you’re not investing in a paid search campaign simply to get hits to your website. You want those visitors to convert, or take some desired action. To get your paid search visitors to convert, you must hold their hands, telling them what to click, where to go, and how to proceed. Optimizing your landing pages to boost conversions can be a manageable process, and here are five pointers to help. Be Clear, Concise, and Precise Get rid of any page element that distracts from the task at hand. Elimina...

I admit it. I'm a Google Analytics junkie. I try to stay away, but every now and then I hear it calling my name and I break down and log in. I feel the familiar rush of excitement running through my veins almost instantly. And I know anything else I may have planned to do that day won't get done because I'll be in my own world for hours. My analytics world. Just me and my stats. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh

The folks at Search Marketing Expo have graciously provided us with a free pass to SMX East to give away to one lucky Advisor subscriber. The conference is being held in NYC October 68.