6 success tips for business from your websites

[caption id="attachment_813" align="aligncenter" width="432"] 6 success tips for business from your websites[/caption]

The first thing is – a happy birthday to Internet. Yes, today is the 30^th birthday for Internet.

Internet Websites are an essential element for modern business days. It can be a personal, organization, product specific or sometimes service specific. A website is not just HTML information on internet, but it is a brand value of you / your company or your product / service. Many websites even act as online sales points through its e-commerce channels. A strategic report from investornews, pcworld and hubspot says that approx 571 new websites are created every minute throughout the world around us.

Well, do you have your website for personal brand promotion or to promote the brand value of your organization?  How do you reach international customers to create an awareness of your product /service? In my study, many non-IT Smallbiz and enterprises are having websites but those are just HTML pages. I see this scenario in many IT startups too.  The point is the website is live, but it is not active to its audience. It always provides some static information from their business catalogs, and images from their photo gallery.

4^th Week of Dec 2012 - I participated in a group discussion with Smallbiz owners. Some of them are from IT startups too. I presented a strategy model for them to create / improve their websites and active information management. The goal of the strategy is to increase the brand value and improve the business transactions through their website. I would like to share some of the important points from our discussion here.

#1: Simple Website: The website should be simple. It means it should be understandable to any kind of visitor. Simple navigations, and easily understandable icons / photos / information diagrams can increase the readability of content. Use Color wheel theories to understand the minimal usage of colors, and site-map model to build navigations. The content should be updated regularly.

#2: Fast Loading: The fast loading website gets more attention from users. I always suggest avoiding flash and shockwave content in business websites. It is required only in specific sections for example:  a workflow demo of your ERP product. JQuery is good for simple web slideshows, photo galleries and UI designs. JQuery loads fast, provides impressive results with its new versions now days. Similarly HTML5, AJAX and other JavaScript frameworks helps improving performance of websites.

#3: Understand your visitors: Analytics is the best way, to do a reach on visitors and their actions. Google Analytics is the free one available, but there are many paid analytics systems to help us – some of them are not costly. Every website should be connected with an analytics engine to capture visitor activities. It required very less programming knowledge to integrate an analytics engine, but to evaluate the results from analytics engine, you need a strategist. A strategist can guide you about content planning, goal setting, bounce rate management and visitor count management.

#4: Connect with World: Social Media is an active marketing space in India from 2010 – but very fewer companies are utilizing it for business brand promotions. Facebook, YouTube and Blogs should be connected with your website to create more visibility. The URL of the website should be promoted though Social Media channels with every post and campaign.  Create engagement programs through social media and guide the users to website for more details: for example – to download an eBook or watch a video. Search Engine Promotions are also required – you can use free plug-ins available to download. A strategist can help you to build promotion strategies and insights analytics.

#5: Think about Mobile: Approx 30%* of visitors use their mobile devices/smartphone to browse internet now days. If your website is not responsive, it may not show content in expected way. Make sure, the website works for all required mobile device resolutions, and changes its shape accordingly. There are many free validation tools available to test the website with various resolutions. The alternative idea is to create a sub-domain for mobile users [m.yoursite.com] and redirect them to it via a small code script. Mobile website development needs some frameworks to build fast loading and content delivery – for example Wordpress for Mobile-sites. A strategist can help you to build technically qualified mobile version of website.

#6: Build a small web-store: E-commerce is for selling products / services online. But a web store can provide something even for free [for example: EBooks, PPT, PDF files etc]. Let the content be relevant to your products / services [example: manuals, learning books etc]. It creates a reason for visitors to increase their frequency every time. Talk about your updates in social channels to improve awareness. Take the suggestions from a strategist for more ideas.

I hope the above mentioned points are useful to you too. If you have questions and suggestions – please communicate with me.

How to be a Specialist in Technology

[caption id="attachment_781" align="aligncenter" width="432" caption="Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist"][/caption]

The Indian Information Technology (IT) industry always respects the professional certificates – even though the candidate is having experience and knowledge in his respective technical domain.  There are many professionals I see around me, are having brilliant knowledge in technical domains, especially in Microsoft technologies. There are designers, programmers, administrators and many – while discussing with them, I found that, they have very good knowledge to become a professional and improve their career values, but not having an idea about it.

So, what should be the next step – from a career strategist point of view? Well, go for a certification in your technical sphere of influence – right, but what to choose! I suggest starting with Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist Certificate.

If the candidate is having one or more years of experience, and knowledge in implementing, troubleshooting, and debugging a specific technology – the small medium size enterprise owners should push the candidates to go for a certification – because, it not only improves the career value of candidate, but also the business value of SME.

Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist certifications are for Windows Operating System, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Project and Project Server, Microsoft Windows Mobile, Microsoft Visual Studio .NET and even for Microsoft Biztalk and Microsoft Dynamics.

“Earning a Microsoft Certification validates your proven experience and knowledge in using Microsoft products and solutions. Designed to be relevant in today's rapidly changing IT marketplace, Microsoft Certifications help you utilize evolving technologies, fine-tune your troubleshooting skills, and improve your job satisfaction” – says Microsoft.

So, what makes you waiting? Start your career in right path with an industry standard certification to prove your knowledge values to the world around you.

All the best dear friends

HTML5 Frameworks for Mobile Apps – What you need?

[caption id="attachment_684" align="aligncenter" width="432" caption="Mobile HTML5 Frameworks"][/caption]

HTML5 is definitely a winner for Mobile Apps Development. It gives you the power of simple App programming and efficient device compatible app standards. Recently I started to explore few HTML5 Frameworks for Mobile apps developments, because we wanted to try something more efficient then native apps. Unlike Native apps, HTML5 gives an extraordinary advantage of ‘Create once and Deploy for all devices” and that’s the important reason for our search for a suitable framework. Here, I am sharing few experiences of the explored HTML5 mobile frameworks with my readers.

When I checked with Google, the first HTML5 Mobile framework captured me is ‘JO’. It is a very simple application framework for HTML5 and it supports almost all the mobile device browsers. iOS, Android, WebOS (Surprise..!! It is still working) and Blackberry. Yes, we didn’t tested it with Symbian – coz now days, the primary crowd is with Android and iOS only. JavaScript plays a major role here, and a little knowledge in CSS3 makes things perfect.

‘JQuery’ Mobile is the next option suggested by many friends – it is a touch-optimized Web Framework for Smartphones and Tablets. It is a unified user interface system across all popular mobile device platforms, built on the rock-solid jQuery and jQuery UI foundation. [I am learning JQuery UI with UX standards for few client works] - Its lightweight code, built with progressive enhancement, and has a flexible, easily theme able design [It makes life easy with colors].

I explored ‘The-M-Project’ last weekend with one of my friends – he is a HTML5 Guru. It is another JavaScript based mobile framework for writing cross-platform mobile apps. Ok – this M-Project contains all UI and Core files to build jQuery Mobile based mobile HTML5 Apps – so If you know JQuery – you’ve got another weapon to hit.

Yes, Of course, we tested the basics only for Proof of concept development – but still working on it for more new things. I am sure, this HTML5, JavaScript, JQuery, UI and CSS3 will be an excellent combo against Native apps – but for people like us – It is another way to make new business. Happy… !!

How to Promote HR in Social Media Marketing

[caption id="attachment_677" align="aligncenter" width="432" caption="HR in Social Media Networks"][/caption]

Human Resource is a business area, which always needs continuities interactions with individual candidates, groups, communities and Small/Medium/Corporate groups. The style of communication in various channels decides the greatest number in its business growth. Recently, I met a Client, who works for a renowned HR unit at Bangalore, for HR Portal Development and Social Media Strategy support services. Our meeting touched various success points as goals and strategy plans, in-fact I learned few ideas from him. I am sharing few simple ideas here, for any Human resource development businesses – which are into hiring, training, resource development, placements and management.

• Publish the available opportunities as small text notes in facebook, twitter, likedin and other common social networks. People need information about opportunities to get prepared for the same.


• Publish small notes about the current and future opportunity market trends, required technologies, knowledge base for opportunities. For example: Candidates should know that Java is still a major requirement for Mobile apps, and PHP plays a major role in Mobi Web Development. HTML5 is emerging as a next generation trend technology.


• Write and Post Human resource related articles in Social Networks with your Brand name. Educate the users about ethics, work cultures, Work – Life Balance and even personal finance management. These support areas are required for a healthy human resource management


• Create discussions on common interview questions and monitor how the attitude is changing with current scenarios.


• Ask Questions, Create Polls and Share them – let people participate and it helps for create a knowledge-base community

Our team of professionals, work for the above mentioned activities in content development and content presentations. The core idea is to create a community, where knowledge and professional values are connected together as growth.

Project Management for .Mobi Website Development

Project Management for mobile websites is a special kind of approach based on its various requirements and limitations. In my experience I handled Mobile websites for Social Media, Business Functional Applications, Online Product Purchase, News and Media presentations, Entertainment Content downloads, and Travel and location based services. For every single project, we faced a small change in our process, basically learned from experiences. We followed agile approach for almost all our projects in simple way to make the project management painless.

I am planning to write more about project management for this platform, but as a start, let me share some key points.

• Organize a basic requirements analysis meeting with all stakeholders and document the requirements in easy functional stories


• Build a product Backlog from the requirement analysis and consider it as first level defined scope


• Present the overall project goals – the overall solution model , as a guide for priority setting


• Build a team & assign key roles – the team should include stakeholders, quality assurance and implementation team members. Key roles and responsibilities should be assigned for scrum master, product owner, designers, developers, quality assurance and stakeholders. Document it for future benefits


• Define and publish a communication plan for the community of stakeholders


• Define backlog stories derived from basic analysis and user stories


• Prioritize backlog and communicate sprint release goals with stakeholders


• Plan your sprint – a scrum master is responsible for ensuring tasks are completed
  
  
  
  • Define sprint length – we plan for 10 days
  
  
  • The product owner should present stories to lead the team through the project proposal document, and define acceptance test criteria
  
  
  • Scrum master and QA should sit with the developer to confirm scope, expectations, and technical implementation details – including the QA level and documentation details.
  
  
  • Estimate the time – Scrum master, Developer and Product owner should decide based on discussions
  
  
  • Scrum master prepares a Scrum Board for tracking project activities
  
  
  • Daily scrum meetings should be planned – everyone should attend without fail
  
  
  • In Daily Scrum meetings – we normally take one story for the development, and design its solution. We also get updates of stories in progress, and identify-track-resolve blockers. We review the burn down chart and calculate time still required
  
  
  •  In sprint presentation stage – we review sprint status – basically health, discuss about areas need improvement, and changes required. We come to a agreement on how the next sprint will be run
  
  
  • The Demo normally goes through product owner – and we review the feedbacks received. The comments – improvement suggestions – and additional requirements will be added in backlog after an impact analysis
  
  
  
  

As you can see, the agile way of project management is almost same as website or any web application development – but the best thing is … it keeps us happy in developing … some kind of good professional way.

3 Quick tips to create secured Smartphone access

Are you using a Smartphone? Yes..? Oh Good. !! I am sure you are using your phone not just as a device to talk to your friends, send and receive messages – but also to store email messages, personal and office documents, presentations, audio, video files etc. When I discussed about their usage of smartphone devices, many friends accepted that they are using it as a mass storage device too – Just like a personal USB drive.

Security becomes an essential point, when your device is used as an information storage gadget. Smartphone device can be protected by using passwords / PINs.  Strong passwords are vital for maximum security. I propose these quick tips to create secured smartphone passwords / PINs.

1. Use folder security settings always. Nokia, Samsung devices are having inbuilt folder management tools with encryption options. Android devices, Windows Phones and Iphone devices are having operating system level file / folder security settings with encryption, and password protected.

2. Create passwords with combination Text and Numbers. Change your passwords often. Never keep text passwords related to you, your work or family member names. Secure your memory card, Bluetooth access with PIN password. This will be usually numbers only. Don’t use continues numbers, same numbers, birthdays / anniversary dates etc.

3. Create multiple profiles and use a profile with less information visibility while traveling. Create un-usual gestures, while using Android point based locking system or similar.

Share your tips to secured smartphone access – and follow me in twitter for more ideas.

How to create awareness on securing smart phones?

Smartphone is not just a next generation fancy device anymore. It is becoming an unavoidable gadget for most of the IT and non-IT employees. Just check around you – How many friends in your office are using Smartphone? Based on my experiences, I see almost 40% to 60% of IT staffs are using Smartphone. Yes, the non-IT industry is also having Smartphone impact – I see at-least 30% to 45% users.

The challenge is – most of the Smartphone users are unaware of its security risks. So, my question is – are you taking any steps to create an awareness on securing smart phones! Yes, it is required – not only for personal security purposes, but also for corporate IT information security purposes too.

I recommend the following simple activities to create a basic awareness on securing Smartphone devices.

1. Create Simple Posters about known smartphone security challenges and stick them around work places

2. Educate about secured Bluetooth usage and keeping Bluetooth off – while not in use.

3. Create small Case-Stories and publish them in official emails / Official social networks.

4. Guide a session on insecure Wi-Fi networks, and security challenges in using such networks.

5. Call for a Security weekend Day – to make them present their security tips for public interest.

I suggested these activities to my clients – many are following it and seeing some good improvements. I would like to listen in your experiences.

Have a nice day.

What are the customer needs?

How do you meet the customer’s expectation? How to understand the needs of a customer clearly before producing project definition to them? Well, this is an important activity in any mobile application development project, but it is easy if you follow these simple steps.

• Understand your customer and business


• Understand the customer’s environment – technical & business beliefs


• Demonstrate your awareness of the customer’s technical and business needs


• Ensure Customer and End-user needs are aligned – see from different views


• Expose and hidden expectations – technical mostly

How to satisfy your customer?

Recognize that customer expectations directly relate to customer satisfaction. Ensure that you are following these simple instructions.

• Serve them with professional competence


• Behave in a cooperative and friendly manner


• Understand the customer business and technical environment


• Understand the difficulties and constraints your customer face in real time business


• Always avoid springing negative surprises


• Always provide positive results, not excuse for poor performance