What’s the difference between a blog and a Web site?
In the beginning was HTML, and while it was rather ugly, it was good overall. It allowed anyone with a modicum of skill to create Web sites, producing both good content and attractive presentation of that content. Toss in a few <A HREF> links and you could even weave pages together into a comprehensive site.
The problem was that it was darn tedious, and to this day, it’s still fairly tedious to create Web sites, to take the skeleton or template of a page and customize it for a specific page of content, to update the navigational subsystem to ensure that the new page is known, and to maintain now-necessary features like a sitemap.
It’s no surprise that more and more sophisticated tools appeared on the scene, starting with FrontPage and self-referential Web-based Web page editors (think homepage builders) and evolving into the powerful Dreamweaver and GoLive expensive commercial solutions for managing Web content.
These tools allow you to create beautiful sites with compelling content, but they don’t allow neophytes or non-technical people to maintain content or add new content. And so even with these sophisticated tools, most Web sites are static creations, and most companies view their Web sites as digital brochures. Sure, it might be more sophisticated with a Flash navigational system, or might feature a discussion board or other community involvement element, but it’s very rare for a traditional Web site to be updated more frequently than once every month or two.
And if I had a dollar for each person who told me that he doesn’t update his Web site because he has to send his requests to a Webmaster, who then queues it up for weeks or months before actually making the change, I’d be a wealthy writer!

NOW call FSM 954-239-9733

I just organized my 1,011 business cards. I realized that is my most valuable asset from my career so far. The people I’ve met. The cards really don’t matter much anymore in the age of Google, but they do serve a purpose of reminding you about memories of meeting people.

Anyway, I realized that many business cards really sucked, so here’s best practices for making your next business card.

1) A good business card starts a conversation. My last ones at Microsoft, for instance, were imprinted with my info in braille. Now, I’ve actually handed my card to one person who was blind, but I found that always started a conversation when I handed my card to someone. Why? It felt different than any other card. Out of the 1,011 cards, by the way only two were imprinted in Braille (both were from Microsoft which offers that as an option on business cards). Another way to start a conversation? Make your card feel different. One of mine were made out of a rubbery material. I remember that made so much of an impression on people that some asked for two so they could show their boss.

2) Make sure your card can be scanned. I bought a business card scanner so that I could get my computers into computer form. This is probably the most important rule, if you want geeks to get ahold of you sometime in the future.

3) Don’t make non-standard sizes or shapes. Why? They can’t fit into binders. I bought Avery’s Business Card Pages and a binder to hold them all, that makes it easier to look through them and find cards. It’s amazing how many business cards can’t fit into those pages (I folded about 100 and couldn’t use about 10 at all).

4) Make sure the basics are on there. You know, your name, title, company, address, phone and fax numbers, email, URL of both your company’s Web site and your blog. A logo.

5) Include a line about what you do. So many cards don’t have any information about what either the company or you, personally, do. Now, Google can get away with that (its cards are among the worst of the big company cards, by the way, cause many of its employees’ titles don’t tell you a thing about what that person does. At least one Google card, from Jenifer Austin, doesn’t have any title. I guess Jenifer has a really secret job that no one is supposed to figure out) but your small company can’t get away with that. If you want, think about me. How will I remember you two years after meeting you at a geek dinner? Why would I write or call you? If you tell me your business and what you do, that’ll really help.

Here’s an interesting statistic for the day: eBay launched their iPhone app a couple years ago and it has generated a staggering $400 million (USD)… last week alone someone bought a $350,000 Lamborghini and a $150,000 boat from their iPhone.

At the Shop.org annual summit in Las Vegas, John Donahoe President & CEO, said “Mobile devices will play a role and the notion of mobility will have a huge impact on ecommerce”. Donahoe said that iPhones currently account for 8% of the market, but makes up 40% of Internet usage.

Donahoe stated that devices such as the iPhone and BlackBerry (not the Pre) are already changing consumers’ shopping habits and believes that in a couple years 40% of Internet access will happen on your mobile device.

Donahoe also believes that mobile payments are the future, “people are just not comfortable providing their credit card information over the Internet. The online payments world will soon mirror the offline. It is all about convenience and speed and mobile payments and micro payments will help bring that 5 percent to 10 percent.”

Extra-hot venti with whip white chocolate mocha?

Yeah, there’s an app for that.

Starbucks has introduced two new applications for the iPhone and iPod touch that will allow users to order and pay for coffee beverages directly from the device.

The myStarbucks application allows you to customize your favorite drink, remember friends’ or coworkers’ preferred drinks and locate nearby Starbucks stores to order them. The app allows you to share your concoction with others (hey, intern!).

For the uninitiated, a flavor selector helps you choose a coffee based on flavors like earthy, balanced or nutty.

For horror lovers, you can also look up nutritional information.

The other app, the Starbucks Card Mobile App, is in a limited run and will allow people in select West Coast stores to pay for beverages using a bar code on a phone’s screen.

(If you’re in Seattle; Cupertino, Calif.; Mountain View, Calif.; Sunnyvale, Calif.; and San Jose, Calif., check your local store for more info.)

The app is essentially a digitized Starbucks card: you buy credit, then use it against purchases. The store can scan the barcode and the dollar value of the drink will be subtracted from your credit repository.

Is the barcode the wave of the future? It’s unclear. But either way, it’s the easiest method invented to date on spending $5 on a cup of coffee.

iPhone app

Get ready for the first and only iPhone / mobile app. that will encompass FIVE board sports.  You will be able to find spots to shred, shops to blow dough, inform your peeps and check conditions.  The 5boards app is also your mobile profile allowing you to upload pics, videos and itching that spot that needs itchin.

The actual 5boards site

5boards.com come along way in the last five years and we have HUGE plans for the future to include functions and features that will rock and slide the board industry into the next ionosphere.  The 5boards guys are also talking with NASA to build a spacship to go moon surfing…. more about that later.

The application design and development was created by FSM (Full Spectrum Media) a design / development / online marketing company in Ft. Lauderdale FL.  954-239-9733

Pressfish.com is making headlines with their new approach to online marketing.

“All your online marketing tools in one pond that feeds the ocean”, states president Randy Schneider.

Below is just a sample of some features of Pressfish.  They are unique and turning head of the competition.

Free, Built-In Spam Checking

Your email is analyzed for known spam keywords and the spam report shows you exactly what needs to be changed, ensuring your email is delivered to as many of your subscriber’s inboxes (and not junk mail folder) as possible.

Forward to a Friend Link

Encourage subscribers to share your email by including a “forward to a friend” link in your email. You can even see a report on who forwarded your email to a friend and when!

No Duplicate Emails – Ever

You never have to worry about duplicate emails with PRESSfish . We guarantee you’ll never find a duplicate email address in your list.

Tips for driving sales with budget-conscious consumers

The following tips can help retailers enhance their email marketing campaigns and drive sales with consumers looking for value and savings.

1. Strengthen your customer connection in this challenging economy - In every email communication your top objective should be to get closer to your customers. We’re all living through challenging economic times. Find a way to acknowledge that everyone is tightening their belts and surprise your customers with a special deep discount or give away. Taking that extra step will strengthen customer loyalty, which will benefit you now and in the long run when customers are again able and ready to spend more freely.

2. Offer ideas on what are the must-have back-to-school items – Since many consumers will be reducing their spending, they’ll be focused on back-to-school essentials. Offer them ideas as to what are the must-haves for the upcoming school year. You could also accent your offers with attractive images enticing shoppers to make a quick purchase.

3. Promote special offers up front – Your subject line is the perfect opportunity to make sure your customers know up front that you are offering back-to-school specials. Since it is the first thing read, and often the decision factor as to whether or not your email is deleted, it’s important to show your subscribers what you have to offer. Provide them a deal they can’t refuse and that’s a guaranteed way to get your email opened!

For FREE e-mail templates and distribution try Pressfish

Recently Kazore LLC launched their iphonestand.com site to sell the most stylish and inovative product yet for iphone users.

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iphonestand.com was designed by Full Spectrum Media