Tutorial Blog » Web 2.0

Why You Should Focus on Widgets, Gadgets and Social Nets in Tough Times

Michael Alexander — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:10:43 +0000

In these tough economic times, the smartest companies are using everything–including sticks and rocks–to get the attention of prospects and customers. The most potent weapons in their marketing arsenals include Web 2.0 tools and services, social networking, mobile apps, desktop widgets and gadgets, based on a recent Forrester Research study. Their main objectives are to improve customer service (73 percent) and acquire new customers (71 percent).

Help your boss or client tighten their relationships with existing customers and to acquire new customers is a sure way to prove your worth and to protect your own job from extinction!

Sales of smartphone applications also are going gang busters. For example, Apple reported the other day that the number of iPhone and iPod touch apps sold by the App Store went from 10 million in July to 500 million in December. Most of the apps are free or $0.99. They cover everything from restaurant reservation systems to financial apps that put access to all a user’s accounts under a single interface.

“This is a clear indication that companies facing the current economic conditions are investing in engaging customers wherever they are already spending their time online,” says David Lavenda, VP marketing and product strategy at WorkLight, a developer that designs software to help businesses reach customers using Apple iPhone app, desktop widgets, iGoogle, Windows Live, RSS readers, Facebook and more.

(...)
Read the rest of Why You Should Focus on Widgets, Gadgets and Social Nets in Tough Times

Prepare for Your Pages to Be Less Sticky and More Bouncy

Michael Alexander — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:39:02 +0000

Sales of laptop computers, especially the ultra-portables from Asus, Dell, HP and several other companies, are super hot these days and that has repercussions for Web writers and designers alike.

According to International Data Group, the sales of portable notebooks in the US–driven by several new companies in that segment of the business-outsold desktop computers for the first time in the history of computers in the third quarter of this year.

IDG says notebook computers accounted for 55 percent of computers sold in the US. That’s overall (consumers and small-medium-large companies).

(...)
Read the rest of Prepare for Your Pages to Be Less Sticky and More Bouncy

Free Chart and Graph Solutions

Oli — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:04:41 +0000

Charts and graphs help the user to visualize data in a more meaningful way than rows of text statistics. They are extensively used in reporting applications, for displaying earnings, website traffic etc – here we take a look at some pre-made scripts and frameworks available to the web designer or web application developer …

(...)
Read the rest of Free Chart and Graph Solutions

Top 10 Map Tools and Mashups

Oli — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:27:29 +0000

Since the excellent Google Maps was created there has been loads of useful tools and sites created which use their API, today we’re going to be taking a look at the best and most helpful examples …

(...)
Read the rest of Top 10 Map Tools and Mashups

Top 10 Web 2.0 and SMM Websites

Oli — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 16:06:20 +0000

Call it what you like but Web2.0 sites and applications are changing the way we use the web, to keep up with the latest developments we present you 10 of the very best sites about Social Networking, Web Applications and Social Media Marketing…

(...)
Read the rest of Top 10 Web 2.0 and SMM Websites

Web Applications for Designers

Oli — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:27:30 +0000

While working as a web designer I have come to rely on a number of web applications that make my job easier, they are simple to use, need no software installed on my machine and provide value – here I cover some of the very best tools that you should know..

(...)
Read the rest of Web Applications for Designers