On the Web
Is Caffeine An Improvement Over Google’s Index?
Posted by Jason Corgiat in On the Web on June 10th, 2010
Google have announced the completion of its search index, which is being called Caffeine. Evidently, we’re to believe this is search with lots of addiction. But is it an improvement over the old index?
There is some question as to whether current webmasters will like the new search index. But it’s quite likely that searchers will like it more. That is, if Google delivers on its promise to present fresher information for every search query.
One thing is for sure – the advent of video marketing, real-time search and universal search has made this type of search indexing change inevitable. Google’s old index was outdated and it did take too long to find new and fresh information when you wanted to find it. But I’m not sure that Caffeine will be the perfect solution, however, it is a step in the right direction.
What clues me in to this fact is the following paragraph in Google’s announcement:
With Caffeine, we analyze the web in small portions and update our search index on a continuous basis, globally. As we find new pages, or new information on existing pages, we can add these straight to the index. That means you can find fresher information than ever before—no matter when or where it was published.
The emphasis in bold is mine. While it’s certainly commendable that Caffeine updates Google’s search index on a “continuous basis, globally”, the fact that it does so “in small portions” has me a little concerned. The question of the day is, “how small?”
I think it would be next to impossible to analyze the entire Web continuously, but that would be nice, wouldn’t it? However, Google must choose which parts of the Web it will analyze and how often. Since the search engine hasn’t revealed its plan for that analysis we cannot say whether Caffeine does too much or too little. We can only speculate.
I am not a Google apologist, but I’m not an endless Google basher either. I believe Google’s mission to index all the information in the world is a challenging one and they’ve done a good job overall in attempting to do it. Are they perfect? Not by a long shot, but I believe that Caffeine – in it’s raw nature – is an overhaul that has long been overdue. I’m glad to see Google replacing its old indexing system with a new one. I just hope that Caffeine is enough to foot the bill.
Off-Site Web Development
Posted by Jason Corgiat in On the Web on May 28th, 2010
Web development doesn’t just end with your website. It’s an ongoing process and involves your entire marketing strategy – online and off line. You should think about your web properties as your own little web within the World Wide Web.
Now, note a little difference: Website development versus web development. It’s subtle, but bear with me.
- Website development – This should be obvious, but website development deals with your website only. That means on-page content and SEO, internal link building, your site’s architecture, shopping cart, your blog, etc.
- Web development – Web development involves the development of your piece of the World Wide Web. That goes beyond your own website and extends into content that you create off-site as well as on-site. That could be mass submit articles, guest blogging, social media, inbound link building, social bookmarking and any development you perform off-line as well such as billboards with your web address on them, flyers and brochures and even viral word-of-mouth campaigns.
So you see, when you talk about web development, consider more than just your website. Consider your entire marketing strategy. Consider building your web within the Web.
Paid Search Makes A Progressive Comeback
Posted by Jason Corgiat in On the Web on April 14th, 2010
Paid search hit a slump in 2009. In fact, online advertising as a whole didn’t do so well. But SearchIgnite reports that the first quarter of 2010 has seen an increase in paid search by 11%. That’s a pretty significant climb.
It’s especially significant when you consider that Bing also saw an increase of 22% while continuing to take search share away from Yahoo! It seems that the retail sector is driving both increases. Surprised?
Don’t be because Bing has done quite well with retail and travel, the two most important sectors for the search engine. And those are the two sectors that seem to be making the comeback on paid search. I think this means that 2010 will see an increase overall in paid search and online advertising. What do you think?
Branding Rule No. 1: Be Consistent
Posted by Jason Corgiat in On the Web on March 31st, 2010
I was reading a well known and respected blog that was offering a pretty long list of tips on the subject of branding. Most of them were very good tips, but I ran across two statements that seems a bit contradictory and it got me to thinking. If you really expect people to take you seriously as an authority, consistency is important.
In the first paragraph, the advice was NOT to do something, What not to do? Use other people’s articles. Here’s the advice from the horse’s own mouth.
16. Avoid placing others’ free articles on your site. Try to avoid using free Adsense-directed ‘niche’ articles written by others and either directly submitted to you or found in article banks. Typically, these are poorly-written pieces written for search engines, not humans. If you have to use free articles instead of writing your own content, be selective.
Then, in the very next paragraph the author advocates using article directories – aka “article banks” – to submit one’s own articles to. Here’s the horse’s mouth again (unbridled):
17. Use article marketing. Write quality articles and give them away at various article directories like EzineArticles. While this can get you some freebie links, your efforts will be even more successful if you can email bloggers directly and ask them to cover the article on their own site.
I’ve always been one to believe that if you are going to advise others not to do something then you shouldn’t do it either. So is this author advocating article marketing or not? Either way is fine. It isn’t for everyone. But if you expect people to take your brand seriously then you’ve got to speak with one voice. No forked tongues, please.
Our online billing system rocks, and yours sucks!
Posted by Jason Corgiat in On the Web, Web Based Software on August 14th, 2009
I just wanted to take a moment and tell all our visitors and readers about our online billing system. We are so happy about it we’ve decided a blog post is in order.
(PS – I read a blog post recently that was in Q&A format and loved it…so I’m trying it out here!)
Why does other online billing software (or online software in general) suck?
Over the years we’ve made a couple of migrations from one billing system to another so we’ve got some experience with different systems. I’ll tell you the main problem with most billing software, especially online billing software. It’s designed by programmers. This sounds like a good thing, right? It’s not. See, programmers for the most part are doers. They do what’s asked of them and they do it well. But would you have a programmer make your logo? Nope. Would you have a programmer design your graphic interface or “dashboard”? Lots of companies do, and that’s the problem. You can’t expect aomoen who “codes” for a living to start coming up with design ideas and pretty buttons. The second most common design problem with billing software? It was designed by graphic designers. Sure, with my comment before about programmers you probably thought we need to bring in a graphic designer! NO! Have you ever been to a website or logged into a online software that looks really cool, just to realize you’re having a tough time finding what you need?
Who should be in charge of what online software looks like?
Enter the USABILITY SPECIALIST! Here at LeapGo, when we’re designing your website administration area, or user admin, or even your website we always have a usability specialist on staff. This person makes sure that while the programmers are developing, and the designers are making it pretty, that the user can still make sense of what’s happening and easily get whatever tasks they need done. They make sure the navigation is easy to follow, the content is in the right place, the typography is done in a way that makes the eyes flow properly, and the technology is easy to use and understand. Now, we made up this title of usability specialist years ago, and I’m sure it’s got to be a real title by now. So then why don’t these million dollar companies have any on staff?
Tell us already! Who is the developer of this online billing software?
FRESHBOOKS! The more I read the name of this company, the more it makes sense. It’s fresh software, it’s refreshing, it’s a breath of fresh air, man these guys are just awesome! After spending about 15 minutes in the Freshbooks free account I had our company info set up, 2 clients with recurring billing profiles, and logged an expense onto a project I opened. Did I mention that was done IN 15 MINUTES?! Did I mention this software is web based and hosted by Freshbooks? Man that’s refreshing!
You guys are a website development company that does hosting, why would you want a 3rd party provider/host for your billing software?
Good question! For the same reason that when we’re working on our own search engine placement I’m pulling my hair out. (Those of you that know me are laughing becuase I have no hair.) Every second we’re spending working on our website is a second we’re not spending on yours. That kills me. It’s the same reason it’s tough for me to blog, post to twitter, etc. All those things we tell you that are essential to marketing your business I just hate doing. Keeping a self maintained billing software is a full time job and you don’t want to pay extra for that, right? (Did I mention I had this thing working in 15 minutes?)
Yes you mentioned the 15 minutes. What can I do in most other online software in 15 minutes?
95% of the time you will come to one of two decisions within 15 minutes of using any online software demo:
1) I should probably look at the online documentation now.
2) This sucks, I’m out of here!
Why is Freshbooks so great?
Ease of use & perfect amount of options. See, an online billing software with too many options is even worse than one with too little. The last thing you want to do is confuse a client that’s logged in to pay an invoice. Freshbooks is easy to use for both us as well as our clients. We can do everything we need to and nothing more in a matter of minutes, not hours per week. Do you realize that since we’ve been with Freshbooks we have not had 1 single phone call regarding a billing issue? That’s huge.
Freshbooks is paying you for this post, aren’t they?
Nope. This post is 100% voluntary. We really love the software, and think you would too. Freshbooks will pay us, however, if you click our report card affiliate link below and register for a free account (that you eventually convert to a paid one)!
Affiliate link?! That’s the catch hey?
No no no, don’t get me wrong. I’d rather have you go straight to freshbooks.com and register for a free account than feel like I’m trying to get you to click on our affiliate link. However who am I to decline the opportunity to make a couple bucks just for clicking on our link? Affiliate programs exist for the purpose of referring people to something you believe in and getting rewarded for it. It’s too bad the spammers have cheapened the affiliate industry and changed the image for a lot of people.
Ok, I’ll check it out, where do I go?
If you’d like to throw us a bone and use our affiliate link just go ahead and click the report card banner below:
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If for some reason you think we’re doing this just for the couple affiliate dollars, please just go straight to Freshbooks.com yourself and see that everything I love about the software is true!
A (new?) search engine emerges… BING
Posted by Jason Corgiat in On the Web on June 9th, 2009
Microsoft has recently revamped and re-branded their search engine. What was once simply msn, then live, has now become Bing. The comments are mixed, but I’m running into some forum comments that are just not giving the new brand a chance. Here are my comments -
People are saying that Microsoft just can’t compete in the search engine market. To that I say, everyone said Microsoft could never get into the gaming console market either. It was simply locked up by Sony and Nintendo. But now everyone either has an x-box or knows someone who does. Enough said.
I also love how everyone is making fun of the name, Bing. My favorite comments are those that post about the “dumb” name on sites like Twitter and Facebook. Think about it. I’m not a huge fan of the name either, but it’s no different than some of the sites we frequent every day.
We also know that Microsoft has deeper pockets than anyone in the search game and with a grudge against Yahoo! who knows what lengths they’ll go? Personally, I don’t care what the name of my search engine is. I just want it to find me what I’m looking for, and Google has always done that for me. However over the years I’ve come to find that I search differently than a lot of people. I can find what I want on google within seconds, while many of my clients & family members get frustrated after seeing me get the info so quickly. Who knows? Maybe Bing will be a big flop, but maybe not. Maybe Bing can become a major player.
There are 2 things that fuel innovation; Inconvenience & Competition. The only thing that happens if Bing gives Google a run is both companies start sprinting to be better and that’s a good thing for you and I.
FiveSecondTest.com – a simple online usability test
Posted by Jason Corgiat in On the Web on May 22nd, 2009
Just the other day I was referred to a site called Five Second Test. The way it was explained to me was that it was a great way to get feedback on the usability of your graphic interface. Being normal, that description didn’t mean much to me either! So I went and had a look for myself. What a goldmine of a find! The idea is simple, and here it is in plain English: You take a snapshot of what you want people to look at (like your website home page, or administration area page, etc). You head over to the Five Second Test website and upload your image. Within a few minutes, you get peoples feedback on your design. See, anyone can go to the website and take these “tests”. As the name suggests, you get 5 seconds to view random images uploaded by people like you looking for feedback. Then you take note of memorable areas by clicking them with your mouse. Once you click, a small text box is created so you can put your notes about that spot. We tried it by uploading an image of our home page, and here’s some of the feedback we received:
12responses
- leap go logo
- com image w/ orange people
- logo
- busy logo
- word-based logo
- LeapGo logo
- cool construction picture
- random content I didn’t get to
- Nice logo… Leap Go I think. It was bright and bold and eye catching
- This was a graphic… it looked nice and fit the site
- lgog
- Logo Graphic
- Headline
- button
- content
- navigation
- content
- sub nav
- logo
- graphic
- logo
- graphic
- main point
- Logo
- Graphic with people symbols
- people
Based on this information, I can see that we’ve done a pretty good job of branding, which is the main focus of our website. People almost always took note of our logo, and the main graphic in the middle of our page. This is exactly what we wanted. Now, if what we wanted was for people to be focusing on a registration box, or perhaps an area of text, then based on this feedback we would have an idea of where people are looking first, and what to change. Of course, this is only 12 options….but it’s 12 that we didn’t have before and most importantly, they had nothing to do with the design and development of the LeapGo website. That means their feedback is not skewed like perhaps, mine would be.
- Gadwin Printscreen (free version) – I’ve used this software for years, and will never run a computer without it. When configured the way I like it, I can hit a button on my keyboard, draw a rectangle of any size on my screen, and save it as a high quality jpeg file. Excellent for taking notes, making step by step instructions, and tons of other stuff.
- Fireshot (Mozilla Firefox Plugin) – This one is nice because it can take a screenshot of the entire page you’re on, even the part you can’t see because of scroll. That’s a real nice feature and we use it mostly to update our website design portfolio.
I love cool web applications!
Posted by Jason Corgiat in On the Web on April 5th, 2009
I’m not one for free games online but I do enjoy a fun, interactive web application. While reading the GotVmail blog I came across a post about Wordle. This cool little application takes a bunch of words, either pasted or from an RSS feed, and slams them together into a cool looking graphic representation. It’s really fun and can be addicting. Check it out!
