Archive for January 2010

25 Jan

QR-Codes May Change Your Life.

qrcode

Download a QR-Code reader app on your mobile phone and read the secret message.

Bar codes are so yesterday. Now we have these new, two dimensional QR-codes. QR means Quick Response, termed by Denso Wave, because these codes are designed to be scanned electronically at a high speed. They originated in Japan and are spreading throughout Europe and now the US.

This is perfect for mobile phone applications. Just place the code on a printed ad, business card, your website, a T-shirt, sign, bus stop, or just about anyplace. Then point your phone, scan instantly and get the message. If you have an iPhone I recommend inigma for reading QR-codes. It’s free and works rather well for me.

The idea is to get people to visit your website. You can promote a sale or special event. Highlight a new service. Start a contest. Create buzz.

What can you place in a QR code? Your website’s URL, a special landing page to promote a new service, telephone numbers, text messages, Vcard, or e-mail.

Create your own QR-code by following the link below. Or read more about this new phenomenon at Mobile-Barcodes.

QR-Code Generator by Mobile-Barcodes.com

Business Practices iPhone Technology
12 Jan

10 Simple Ways to Increase Your Website’s Ranking

There are several ways to make your website more search engine friendly. Here are some of the simple ones:

  1. Add a Title (Heading) Tag to each page, also known as a Page Title. This should relate to what is on each individual page.
  2. Add a Meta Description to each page (no more than 150 characters).
  3. Research and and add Keywords to all the pages. Again, should relate to the copy.
  4. Register your site with the major search engines (Google, Yahoo!, Bing).
  5. Set up a site map which should include all your pages.
  6. Make sure you are listed on the major online local directories in your field.
  7. Create a blog on your site, or link to it and write regular, remarkable copy (such as this). This let’s your customers interact with your company on a regular basis instead of just having a brochure online. We recommend using WordPress.org.
  8. Create a Twitter account and contribute to it regularly. Give helpful information and links as well as tell about yourself.
  9. Create a Facebook Fan page for your company and create content regularly.
  10. Get as many links to your site from other high ranking sites. This can be the result of having great content on your site.

This is just the beginning. Search Engine Optimization is a great way to get your website known. Being listed high up on the search engine results pages can be quite a complex and ever changing challenge. Enjoy. Or hire the professional.

Business Practices Helpful Hints Marketing 101 Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
07 Jan

Creative Juices 29th Anniversary

Today marks the 29th anniversary of Creative Juices. We have seen many changes in the graphic arts industry. We have lived through the days of typesetting, paste up, hand inking, negs and veloxes. Then came the Mac and desktop publishing. Remember Pagemaker? Then came e-mail, the World Wide Web, Quark, Adobe and AOL. Now we have Twitter, Facebook, WordPress, Joomla, Drupal and of course the iPhone.

As technology changes Creative Juices changes too. We have many new services, including designing WordPress templates, Twitter backdrops, search engine optimization, marketing and blog copywriting. Of course we still do logo designs, brochures, websites, ads and printing. Don’t forget we can also host your blog or website and set up your domain name. I am in the process of converting my website and blog into a WordPress format. I will be adding new and exciting features which I will soon introduce. Look for more updates here.

As always, we are dedicated to giving our clients personalized, one on one service and free advice on how to improve your business image and online presence.

Feel free to call any time or stop by and visit (appointment required). Lucy the Chihuahua is always eager to greet you. Keep up on her latest musings at AllMyChihuahuas.com.

I thank all my past, present and future clients for their patronage and friendship and look forward to working with you all again in 2010 and beyond.

Creative Juices News
04 Jan

How to Cope with New FTC Affiliate Compensation Guidelines

As of December 1st, 2009, you must disclose on your website or blog if you are being compensated for endorsing a product or service. Also if you are an affiliate of the company selling the product. That’s the gist of what I’ve uncovered by doing a little research.

There’s a lot of information to be had online, from penalties to legal documents sold to post on your site. I am not a lawyer, but I doubt you will get penalized if you have a link to an Amazon product on your blog and you neglect to mention that you are an affiliate of Amazon.

As with graphic design and copywriting, if you use someone else’s stuff (images or text), that’s a no-no and you would probably get a “cease and desist” order to stop using it if caught. So please don’t steal someone’s hard work. Create your own instead. It’s much more fun and rewarding.

So if you promote a product or service that you are going to benefit from, it would be nice if you mentioned that. If you’re not being compensate, you could mention that too.

For instance, if you click on this link for ProBlogger, a very helpful and informative book on blogging, and then buy the book, I get a little change. I actually have bought the book and am reading it. And I do recommend it. It has been very helpful in setting up my WordPress blog and when I start earning a six figure income, you will be among the first to know.

Business Practices Helpful Hints

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