Web Users and the Future

(This was posted 6 months, 6 days, 17 hours, 54 minutes's ago.)

It’s an interesting to think ‘what is coming next’, for me I can’t see a time where Google didn’t dominate the internet but now I’m starting to think again...

In the Past

Typically we have Google or MSN or Yahoo (or the like) as our home page. The internet was filled with HTML sites that offered us the ability to book holidays, buy clothes, find out about the world we live in and get expert opinions.

This is still the case but there may be a change on the horizon...

In the Future

How do past browsing trends comparing to current browsing trends? How could social networking have affected the way people use the internet?

For me it is interesting to think that more and more we are using Facebook, Twitter or Youtube. So more and more we are possibly not using Google, Yahoo and MSN...

Could this change the way companies get their message to us? Who gets to benefit from the social networking revolution?

I’m a big fan of Facebook (and many are). I use it to keep in contact with large groups of friends that are not always connected by a common theme. I got to the gym so there are people I like to keep up to date with from there, I also do Karate, talk with old school friends that are no longer in my area and much, much more.

Twitter allows me to follow the thoughts of people and organisations I like – I don’t need to search for news anymore; it is delivered to me in 140 character snippets.

When I want to find out how to do something I am more inclined to use YouTube to see if somebody has uploaded a video demo rather than search through reams of text based articles on how to do it!

So how is this or could this effect you? Those with big budgets are always going to be able to take advantage of new marketing opportunities, but I think the biggest opportunity is actually for local organisations.

Is the Big Bang Contracting?

The internet boom made the world our market place for everything we need, I can see a trend that suggests people will start to look in their local area for what they need – and to me there is the opportunity.

I have a rule of trying not to go over a single A4 page for my posts (knowing that I can procrastinate) so I’m going to leave it there. The next couple of entries I make will explore my thoughts on the internet and what to think about next!

Track Emails with Google Analytics

(This was posted 6 months, 1 week, 15 hours, 36 minutes's ago.)

Here is a thought, if you use Google Analytics do you know the number of people that click on a website link from places like your email signature?

Chances are you can’t or rather don’t.

Let’s think about your emails... How many do you send? In a given week how many emails are sent to existing clients, to prospects or to service providers?

Wouldn’t it be nice if the link to your website in your email signature could identify where it came from?

I like to think that the better I understand how and where the visitors to my website have come from the better placed I am to understand my website.

So here is what I do...

My email signature contains a link to the Thinking Virtually website. When somebody follows that link I know that it came from my email signature as Google Analytics records the Source, Media and Campaign.

Here are the things you need to decide on:

Name for Source – for me that is ‘davidemailsig’

Type of Media – in this case we identify it as ‘email

Name of Campaign – we kind of cheat here as we simply call is ‘davidemailsig’

So my signature shows www.thinkingvirtually.co.uk but when you click on it you are sent to www.thinkingvirtually.co.uk/?utm_source=davidemailsig&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=davidemailsig.

Right, so now do one for yourself.

Source: ?utm_source=your-source

&utm_medium=your-media

&utm_campaign=your-campaign

To make life even easier Google have provided a page that will create the link! Click here to get started.

What if I don’t do this?

Then nothing will change. However Google Analytics records email click though vists as ‘Direct Traffic’ (unless clicked on through Google Mail).

Suppose 90% of your direct traffic is from your email signature, would this make you think differently about your email signature? Would you consider what is said and the possibility of adding offers there as well?

If you don’t do it you won’t lose as you’ll never know. Spend 10 mins and do it and you’ll start capturing data and you will know – even better is now you can start playing with it!

I know if somebody has visited my site because of links in my emails – do you?

Chigwell Golf Club – One of our first Content Managed Websites

(This was posted 6 months, 1 week, 16 hours, 15 minutes's ago.)

Chigwell Golf Club, in Chigwell Essex is a beautiful course. The management team respect and uphold the history of a course that has been open since 1925.

The main reason for the new website back in 2008 was to ensure that the members could access all the information they would need. There is a strong emphasis on the members section of the website, providing Chigwell Golf Club members with course information, upcoming events, news and different blogs.

For me the website conveys the spirit of the club. The images taken by a member of staff capture the course, really showing it off in its full spender.

Chigwell Golf Course is respected throughout Essex as a top golfing venue; click below to find out more about:

• Corporate and Society Golf Days
• The Chigwell Golf Club Opens
• Their Pro Shop
• Course Info

Or to just find our more about Chigwell Golf Club click here.

Belmont Laundry are doing well on Google

(This was posted 6 months, 1 week, 16 hours, 27 minutes's ago.)

Belmont Laundry have been providing a great linen hire service to London and the home counties since 1984.

The website that we built for them was designed to win them searches such as ‘hotel linen hire essex’ as this is their primary business.

The Belmont Laundry site is a simple design that we feel really works well with their existing branding.

We’d like to thank the Team at Belmont Laundry and wish the all the best of luck at their new premises.

A Lovely Restaurant - The Baytree, Melbourne, Derby

(This was posted 6 months, 1 week, 16 hours, 39 minutes's ago.)

The Baytree Restaurant, Melbourne, Derby

The Baytree is a lovely restaurant in Melbourne, Derbyshire. The owners and staff are passionate about everything they do; and it really shows.

Some time ago we were asked to look at a website for them by Baseline Creative. Baseline had come up with an exquisite design and had arranged some delightful photography; all that was needed was the development.

The site is fully content managed and benefits from a really nice slideshow on the home page.

If you are ever in the area and want somewhere friendly and good to eat – get yourself to the Baytree.