All over IT - Topics and Trends in the Land of Technology

Tech Talk: 5 terms your IT guy should know

So you think you have the best IT guy in the whole world, don’t you? When your computer frightened you with the blue screen of death, he’s there to resuscitate it. When your blackberry won’t send emails, he fixed it. When you’re computer was attacked with a virus, his IT expertise killed it dead. That’s just great for you… (insert sarcasm here). However, we’re here to challenge his skills To test his IT knowledge and dedication to the success of your website; here’s a list of 5 terms your IT guy or gal should know. Quiz them! If he or she doesn’t know the answer, shame on them…call us

 

1. HTML5: is an extension of HTML. It’s used as the primary language for building and evolving web applications. HTML5 continues to be backwards compatible, which means, if you are familiar with HTML, then HTML5 won’t be hard to learn. Companies such as Google are already adopting HTML5 so if you don’t want be left eating their dust, you shouldn’t be far behind.

2. Cloud Computing: is computing without hardware restrictions. Webmail is an example of cloud computing. If you can access the information from any computer or any internet enabled device, that’s an example of cloud computing. Some examples of cloud computing are:  Gmail, Hotmail, Google Docs, Quickbooks Online

3. CSS: Cascading Style Sheets are used to create dynamic (moving) web pages. CSS is not bound to a specific set of rules like HTML. For example: instead of having static (not moving) images on your webpage like HTML bounds you to, CSS allows that same picture to enlarge and move around as you wish. (Your wish is its command.)

4. 301 Redirect: also called URL forwarding or URL redirecting, allows your website to be found from many different urls. Enabling URL redirecting decreases the amount of error messages your visitors may encounter. Ex. http://www.windows.com goes to http://www.microsoft.com/windows

5.   SEO: Search engine optimization is the practice of maximizing your websites presence on the web.  You want to be found? Make sure whoever is handling your website is optimizing your site as well!

 

 

Google's new SideWiki... Cool Tool or Demon Widget? IT Support Provider Weighs In

Last week Google introduced a new applet called Sidewiki that brings social networking to a whole new (and some say terrifying) new level.

In essence, this new widget allows anyone to post comments for all the world to see - right next to your website!

Yep, that means anyone - ANYONE - can heap praises or throw sticks and stones at you or your products.

If your company has been unwilling to engage in the exciting world of social media - either because you didn't think it really mattered much to you, your industry or your brand, or because out of site (pun intended) meant out of mind.....well social media has now come to you.

Almost every business today has a website. Whether your site is as simple as an electronic brochure or as sophisticated as a fully interactive site,  it is one of the keys ways you communicate with your constituents (clients, prospects, investors, regulators, etc) and market your products. 

And until now - when anyone visited your site - you were the only one talking to them.  Not anymore.

Now when someone visits your site - they can quickly and easily see what others are saying about you as well.

So, just think - it's like having a "Review Me" sign next to every page on your website.

If you have great products and happy customers - this is a wonderful thing!   It's like free advertising!!

But if you've had some bumps in the road  - a mishap with poor customer service, or an employee fired for poor performance, or a competitor who decides to knock you down a notch - then this is a scary thing!  It's like letting other people hijack your website to do you harm!! 

Well, like it or not, two things are true:

1) those people were already talking about you - good and bad, though most likely the bad ones have been more vocal.  It's just that if you haven't been participating in the social media conversations (be they on a blog, Facebook, Twitter or a dozen other social media platforms), you didn't know people were talking about you.

And you know what they say about Ignorance....

"Ignorance is innocence - stupidity comes with experience" 

2)  Your need to manage your brand image via social media has just elevated from "When I can get around to it" to "Right Now!" 

Your IT support company can do a number of things to help you stay abreast of IT technology that impacts your business - like writing articles like this one, and providing tools and managed IT services to ensure your on-line presence is up and running efficiently.  But quality tools and good support don't replace your need to actively manage your on-line image.

From entrepreneurial business owner to corporate brand manager - if you ignore social media - particularly Sidewiki - you do so at your own peril. 

For a step by step on what it is and how to use it read Brian Maka's post.

Have you tried Sidewiki yet?  Any stories to share?  Let us know how it is or isn't (yet) impacting your business.