The pen is mightier than the sword!

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True, This! –
Beneath the rule of men entirely great,
The pen is mightier than the sword. Behold
The arch-enchanters wand! – itself a nothing! –
But taking sorcery from the master-hand
To paralyse the Caesars, and to strike
The loud earth breathless! – Take away the sword –
States can be saved without it!
(Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy, by Edward Bulwer-Lytton)

When was the last time you went back and read through the writing on your website? Are the words still applicable to your company, its products and its services? More importantly was the copy written specifically for the web or was it “borrowed” from some of your other marketing materials? Too many companies invest good money to have a website built, then fall short with the wording that is added to that site.

Writing for the web is where art meets science. The art exists in the usage of words that persuade, influence, and inform your visitors. The science exists in using words that directly effect how search engines catalog and rank your website in search results.

Too many times organizations treat the wording on their website as an afterthought. We suggest turning things around one hundred and eighty degrees and focusing “first” on the wording, before the design work even begins. The pen is, and always will be, mightier than the sword; use words wisely on your website and watch your traffic and customer conversions grow exponentially!

Is your website vulnerable?

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Was your website built over 2 years ago? Have any coding changes been made to it since then? Do you allow visitors to submit information to you via your website, and/or make purchases, or send you any sort of sensitive data? Do you have an administrative area on your site?

We know, a lot of questions… But there is a very good reason. If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, your website might be in danger. Over the past year hackers have dramatically increased their attempts to break-in to both large AND small websites (In today’s business environment, not a week goes by where there isn’t some story about a security breach related to data technology).

Internet years are even greater than dog years and because of that we all need to be extra vigilant with our own security features and functionality, to insure the safety of everyone who visits our websites or uses our custom software applications.

At Emaxed we offer our clients a Security Audit and Remediation Engagement to help. While our audits are not on the level of the FBI or CIA, they do provide a good cost/benefit approach for our clients’ small to medium size websites.

If your web service provider does not offer a similar service, give us a call (856-428-8038) to discuss, we would love to help.

No matter what, do not put security off until tomorrow, it just might be too late.

 

Apple, Apps & Your Business

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“We need an iPhone app fast!”
We have heard this quite often over the past year, from current and new clients alike. The question we immediately ask is “Are you sure?” It’s not that we don’t want the business, but rather we want to make sure the client understands what is involved in designing and building a native Apple app. Putting aside the red tape and aggravation of getting an app listed in the iTunes store for a minute (it can take months to get your app approved and listed on iTunes), building a true native app isn’t a 1, 2, 3 type of project (and beware anyone who tries to sell you that it is).

Most of all, if you are not looking to charge for your app, then maybe a native Apple app is not for you. Just maybe a mobile web-app is more of what you need.  A mobile web-app runs on most smart phones and not just on a single platform (like how an Apple app only runs on Apple devices). You won’t need to get anyone’s approval to share your app, and best of all integrating a mobile web-app with your current website is often quite easy. The drawbacks to the mobile web-app approach mostly have to do with the app getting access to the higher features of the newer smartphones (like the phone’s camera or GPS chip). But that is changing as most mobile phone manufacturers are starting to allow developers to access to these features without having to write device specific apps.

As with anything “tech”, there are always alternatives. Our advice? Do your best to start all new projects with an open mind and be open to your developer’s suggestions.

Don’t Be Intimidated!

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This past Saturday I was trimming some bushes outside when I received a frantic phone call from a friend in need. The caller feared he was the victim of a computer virus. I held the phone to my ear while I went through the standard question and answer process to see if it was a virus, malware or simply a corrupted file system (he was using Vista after all).

Turns out it was in fact a corrupted boot file. For the next few minutes we ran through his options: Repair his OS… Reinstall the OS… Upgrade the OS (again, its Vista)… Purchase a new laptop… Or make the jump to an iPad or similar tablet computer.

I’m sad to say I get these sort of calls much too often. Not that I mind helping those in need, but rather I don’t like how so many get intimidated by computers and embarrassed when they hit a wall. And often the callers are VP’s, professionals, managers, and/or highly skilled tradesmen and women. So before I hung up, I tried to put it all into perspective by passing along the same thing I’ve been saying for 20 years now;

“Listen Bob, I can guarantee you that if you put me in your job starting tomorrow morning, I wouldn’t have the foggiest clue as to how to proceed… And I mean that!”

And I do. What many see as being technologically challenged, is simply them having other priorities and goals. We are each placed on this earth with a mission in life. Techno-geeks are just the same as doctors, surgeons, accountants, lawyers, plumbers, electricians and the like.

So the next time you start your computer and see some ominous message about something can’t start or a file is corrupted, don’t feel intimidated when you call your technology buddy, brother, niece and/or nephew. Remember what Emerson said; “Every man I meet is in some way my superior.” AND that includes you! I’m 100% positive that you  possess certain skills of which we tech people stand in awe, and that in your special ways you are superior to all of us, and we are better for knowing you!