The Real Bruce

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The Top Ten Ways to Know You Need to Redo Your Website

March 24th, 2010

I get asked all the time, “How do I know when it’s time to redo my web site?”  This is a very good question, and it differs for everyone. I did, however, put together a Top Ten list of when you know for sure it is time to make some changes. If you have any more to add feel free to comment below. Enjoy.

Top Ten Ways You Know It’s Time to Redo Your Web Site

10.) Your home page has so much copy visitors’ scroll wheels break before they reach the bottom.

9.) You seem to have titled every page with the clever, search engine friendly word, “Untitled.”

8.) You currently have more than one animated .Gif on your site. Wait a minute; make that if you currently have ANY animated .Gifs on your site.

7.) You are using the new cool technology called, “Frames.”

6.) You decided it would be best to just upload all your pictures at the original 300 dpi setting.

5.) You are using comic sans, as your cool, hip font.

4.) You have a midi file of “Imma Be” by the Black Eyed Peas playing the entire time anyone is on your site.

3.) Your page background is a giant repeating image that makes visitors go into a seizure if they stare to long.

2.) When measuring your analytics, you immediately go to the hit counter on your home page.

1.) You have the “Best Viewed on Netscape 3” badge prominently displayed on your site.

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Blogging with Doug Karr

March 23rd, 2010

A few months ago I had the opportunity to interview Doug Karr, Owner of DK New Media and also one of the founders of Smaller Indiana.

Doug has a ton of good ideas and loads of experience in the internet world. I thought I would repost the video here on my blog since the interview was mostly talking about blogging. I hope you enjoy it.

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Is Instant Messaging Dead?

March 22nd, 2010

With all the ways we have to communicate with each other today, has instant messaging become obsolete? I tried to think the other day about the last time I sent an instant message and really couldn’t remember. I think it may have been when I was trying to send a file to a co-worker. I am not even sure that would qualify as a instant message, it would be more of a file transfer using the instant message platform.

I think that is what instant messaging has become, more of a platform than a action. People now use it to video chat, play games, and remotely connect to someone’s desktop. How many of us actually use it to send a message? After all we now have Twitter, Facebook, and texting for that. It seems that  rarely do we need to send a message where we can’t use one of those platforms to do it.

I remember just a few years ago when it was not uncommon to have five or six chat windows open at a time in my MSN Messenger. I would be typing as quick as humanly possible trying to keep up with all the conversations. Now I have so many other avenues to communicate I don’t even really need to have a messenger client installed. I can now chat through Facebook or Gmail just as I used to do on a stand alone application. Now chat is built right in to other tools I use, and available through the browser on any computer I am using.

Are the days of stand alone messenger client over? I am curious as to what you think. I believe they will continue to be used as communicating tools using voice and pictures, however the days of typing for hours on hours to friends or co-workers are a thing of the past.

Leave a comment. When is the last time you used instant messenger to just send a typed message? What is the number one way you communicate today?

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iPod, iPhone, iPad – What’s Next?

March 20th, 2010

I found a interesting video today about the future of the digital world. Ironically enough it is from Microsoft and not Apple. After watching it, I realized we are approaching a time when all of this will be a reality. Take a look. It is really fascinating. What do you want to see in technology next? Leave a comment, I would like to read them.

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Pay Attention: Using Social Media For a Personal Touch

March 19th, 2010

I like to go back through my files and look at old posts. This is one I wrote a long time ago, but I still find it useful.

In this world of social media, communication can become very impersonal. Instead of picking up the phone, you can just send a message on Facebook saying, “Hi.” Rather than taking the time to let someone personally know your exciting news, you can just post it on Twitter and let all your followers know at once.

However, as impersonal as social media allows you to be, it can also be your greatest tool for connecting with your clients in a one on one way. If you just take the time to pay attention to various social media tools right in front of you, you can find out when someone’s birthday is. You can learn what books they like to read or even what motivates them at work.

Never before have we had such a database of information about our clients available at our fingertips! Yet most of the time, I see clients using their Facebook or Twitter accounts to bombard their followers with marketing messages about what they are doing. (I won’t lie. I have been guilty of this as well.)

Why not take a minute to listen to your followers or friends and make it personal again? Send them a card when Facebook tells you their birthday is approaching. Take them to lunch at a place that serves their favorite food. Give them a call when you see their son won the championship game. All this information can be found if you are paying attention to your social media tools.

Personal relationships drive business. Use your social media tools to complement your customer interactions. Simply take a moment to make communication personal again.

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The Real Bruce

If you don't like what's being said, change the conversation.

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