May 2012
10 posts
4 tags
6 tags
Does social interaction improve website ranking?
Being in the industry – in fact growing up in today’s world of Smartphone’s and tablets, it’s not hard to realise that the Internet, and more specifically, social interaction influences us heavily in everyday life.
From tweeting on the fly, to checking-in at fascinating venues around the world, to liking a video or image that has gone viral, social interaction in here to stay in a big way, and is...
2 tags
9 tags
Cookie Compliance Confusion
As of Sunday 27th May 2012 The ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office, UK) have enacted a EU Mandate nicknamed “Cookie Law”. You can find out more on their website from their recent blog post with updated guidance; http://www.ico.gov.uk/news/blog/2012/updated-ico-advice-guidance-e-privacy-directive-eu-cookie-law.aspx
There has been a lot of confusion over what methods of...
5 tags
6 tags
March of the (Google) Penguin...
At the back-end of last month, Google announced it’s latest update - Google Penguin.
Google Penguin is the latest algorithm (mathematical code that is used in helping Google rank websites) that specialises in targeting artificial link acquisition - i.e. link spam.
Without getting too technical, link spam manipulates link-based ranking algorithms, giving websites higher rankings the more...
6 tags
Feedback Confirms AsOne Innovation Club members...
I am not sure if it was the over load on cakes or the volume of questions that pushed the event beyond 5PM but despite running over a little on our agenda, yesterdays seminar was a sucess. We trust our members found the event informative and useful, providing practical guidance on further developing their websites and marketing.
For those Innovation Club Members who were unable to attend on...
2 tags
5 tags
Innovation Club Members Seminar
Looking forward to welcoming our guests for our Innovation Club Seminar at the Tameside Centre For Enterprise today. Expect an afternoon of facts and information to guide you on your way to a more productive online presence.
April 2012
3 posts
10 tags
London's 2012 Olympic Social Network Farce
The London 2012 Olympic Organisers are preparing to bring London and the UK’s reputation back to Dickensian times with a ban on being social.
Have you bought tickets for the London 2012 Games? If you have - have you read the Terms and Conditions? Probably not. Who does?
Take a look at the following extract from the ticket terms and conditions:
19.6.3 Images, video and sound recordings of...
6 tags
TweetDeck – is it something worth using?
Some of you may have businesses to run, and hopefully a successful website to go along with it. You also may, or may not, understand how integral social media has become in today’s technological world, but if you are constantly active with the likes of Facebook and Twitter you will be aware, with everything else going on around you in business, it can be a drag and sometimes time consuming...
2 tags
Four ways to acquire new customers via social...
We all know social media is an important tool for brand awareness and customer acquisition — but how exactly are you supposed to convert random Twitter and Facebook users into real-life customers?
Get your search on — There are 340 million tweets sent per day and odds are that a few of them are referencing your brand, though you may not realise it. One tip for finding new customers is to see...
March 2012
5 posts
7 tags
Pinterest – a new social interaction?
Being connected socially with either Facebook or twitter has now become second nature to us, and is as regular as brushing your teeth or putting your shoes on. And when you think, I wonder how social interaction can go further – welcome Pinterest!
Pinterest is the latest fad in social interaction and is one of the fastest growing social services in the world, connecting millions of people through...
11 tags
Engaging Customers with Trigger Events
To make blogging or any social media interaction second nature the key is to devise a trigger event. This trigger event will help you to create content regularly, with good reason and usually results in more relevant and interesting content too.
There is no single rule for what a trigger event may be, it is different for every business because of the nature of a companies services and the way...
12 tags
Key words – now what's all that about?
Making use of keywords is one of the most important and high return activities in the search-marketing field. Whether this is a hot topic of yours or something that is relatively new, keywords (or key terms) is a must, and is really important in helping you optimise your website either with PPC campaigns or updating webpage content.
Keyword research can help you predict shifts in demand, respond...
4 tags
3 tags
Congratulations Darkblade!
Darkblade have been awarded best online retailer at the 2012 UK LARP Awards!! A massive congratulations to all the team – and keep up the good work!
For those that are unaware of what Darkblade are about, then what better opportunity to check them out at their open day workshop on the 10th March!!
February 2012
3 posts
6 tags
Intracom VAT Registry Scam
Starting a new business?
More and more people are incorporating their own businesses with companies house online when previously it was the role of your accountant. If you register your business at your own address (not your accountant’s as is the usual practice) you might find some interesting scam letters through your door.
If you receive a very convincing letter from Intracom VAT...
7 tags
Intracom VAT Registry Scam
Starting a new business?
More and more people are incorporating their own businesses with companies house online when previously it was the role of your accountant. If you register your business at your own address (not your accountant’s as is the usual practice) you might find some interesting scam letters through your door.
If you receive a very convincing letter from Intracom VAT...
6 tags
Domain scam from codero.com?
If you receive an email claiming to be an “important notice” regarding your domain name renewal, a domain service notice or a search engine submission notice don’t be fooled. Read the small print at the bottom. It is a solicitation (phishing) email designed to make domain owners panic and sign up to something they don’t need.
Do not reply to them just add them to your...
January 2012
4 posts
3 tags
Google Search, Plus Your World
Google have now published a new initiative called “Search, Plus Your World”, which aims to bring you more personalised search results. Now, when you search for anything in particular, you have the option to include related data from your Google+ profile as well as those privately shared with you.
The change will also provide auto complete results from your contacts, so if you begin typing their...
7 tags
Five Reasons to Use Social Media for Business
Social Media is where you want to be when it comes to helping your business expand, as it is a priceless asset in the marketing world. Social media channels like Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin attract so much continual attention from Internet users, it has become a phenomenal and powerful venue for advertisers to create interest and traffic. Here are five reasons to use social media for...
1 tag
Revitalise your business for 2012
Assess your website: Websites are a fantastic way in drumming up business, and with the continuous ways of being able to advertise, it’s a great opportunity to obtain customers. But like anything, first impressions count, so make sure your website is impactful and accurately represents your business.It doesn’t matter what product or service you are selling, if someone takes a disliking to it –...
5 tags
Do you plan on Google+ing?
Google+ (Google Plus), Googles answer to Facebook, may not have the massive membership numbers that Facebook now enjoys, but it has just recorded its strongest-month ever and, according to Experian Hitwise, should reach 400million users by the end of the year.
Hitwise tweeted: “Google+ total US visits reach more than 49 million in Dec-11, biggest month to date & up 55% compared to Nov-11...
December 2011
6 posts
5 tags
AsOne Christmas Party
Look out Birdcage Manchester, we’re off on our works do tonight! Dinner and dancing, just like the good olde days!
5 tags
8 tags
Do you Check-in?
Do you check in on Foursquare, Facebook or another location-based app at least once a week? If so, you’re among just 2% of the adult population, according to a new US report.
Forrester Research surveyed 37,000 people with mobile phones and discovered that 70% no only didn’t regularly use location based check-in apps but didn’t even know what they were. On the bright side thats better...
6 tags
Selling online for an additional revenue stream
Think, what can you do in your sleep to earn you money?
Well if you have a ‘real world’ shop, if you make something, import something or in any way have items you can pop in the post; you could be selling online while you lie in your bed.
AsOne can build a fully featured eCommerce solution integrated into your existing social network for under £4000? Be up and running in weeks and...
13 tags
Commerce brought to you by the letters E, M & S
To complete the Commerce week today is all about the letter ‘S’ as in sCommerce. We have talked about eCommerce (electronic commerce) and mCommerce (mobile commerce, also electronic) and no it is the turn of sCommerce or social commerce.
It is to be expected that sCommerce is becoming more popular as the social media platforms it is driven by gain influence. Bit is sCommerce simply...
November 2011
11 posts
10 tags
Have you used your phone to get a better deal?
Have you ever used your smartphone to check prices before making a purchase? Its quick and easy and ensures you are getting the best price. Because of this ‘quick check’ mCommerce is becoming big news.
While checking prices it is easy simply complete the purchase on your phone. In the Christmas shopping rush you might even complete the process before you get served. Its part of the...
8 tags
Online Sales Soar while High Street Suffers
Over the last few weeks the news has been occupied with the downturn in sales for high street stores. The Arcadia Group, which runs many of the well known high street chains such as Topshop, Wallis, BhS, Burtons, Evans and Dorothy Perkins, has announced that it will close 250 to 260 stores over the next few years when their leases expire, mostly on the UK’s high streets.
Retailers are...
7 tags
Ofcom recognises AsOne's Contribution to Radio...
The following is taken from the Latest Ofcom report for Community radio and reports the positive impact the AsOne designed and built Website and iPhone app has had on the station as well as how it compares favourably to the more wealthy commercial stations.
The launch of the new Tameside Radio website has been instrumental in driving traffic to the site. The site contains news and presenter...
7 tags
British Baker's Groupon Mistake
A Reading (UK) cake baker potentially lost up to £25,500 from its profits this year because of a poorly conceived collaboration with a discount voucher website Groupon.
Need a Cake in Woodley is run by Rachel Brown and has made a loss on over 100,000 cupcakes they made to fulfil a Groupon voucher deal. The US based Groupon is a ‘crowd deal’ website offering vouchers to subscribers on...
“”Money is like muck - not good unless it be spread” well said by...”
1 tag
Sweet Innovation Club
AsOne would like to thank the support of Higgins Miller Solicitors, Stockport as the 1st Innovation Club member and all the early adopters of our newly launched Innovation Club. Already we have welcomed a number of clients into our membership, which provides bespoke reports and guidance on digital and social media and marketing.
After the launch of their new website, practice partners Sarah...
Are you writing a worthy blog post for SEO?
If you are writing a blog post to capture the interest of new readers in the hope of them becoming customers at some point, then there are a few things you need to think about other than simply writing an article to assist in search engine optimisation (SEO).
Here are a few basic pointers to help you on your way:
Think of a keyword relevant to your product or service that you wish to write...
5 tags
Have you thought about having an online Shop?
Contemporary Clutter had that very question when they talked to us here at AsOne Design.
Taking the decision to have an ecommerce website opens up a whole new market place, a great opportunity to increase your reach whatever your product.
We are pleased to announce that newly created Contemporary Clutter’s website has been launched this week enabling customers to start buying their...
3 tags
New Innovation Club website launched →
Following the success of our Innovation Club membership launched in July, our new Innovation Club website has gone live today. Members of Innovation Club benefit from a host of services aimed at improving online performance to ultimately increase sales for those businesses registered.
3 tags
More Social Media Hype
Isn’t it funny how every man and his dog is offering seminars on social media in business? How many events must one endure to realise its not for the faint hearted. Yes, in theory everyone is capable of investing such time into engaging in it and yes, most people after sitting through the first event on the benefits come out with an understanding of how to do it. But let’s not kid...
October 2011
1 post
1 tag
Is Networking Becoming Clouded?
I believe I have earned the right to have an opinion on this given I have been networking in one way or another for the benefit of business growth for the best part of 25 years. I have experienced all kinds of networking environments and in the main have thoroughly enjoyed it but of late I just feel its becoming tiresome. At first I thought it was just me, that fact that I had been doing it...
September 2011
5 posts
5 Ways Facebook's New Features Will Fuel Social... →
Christian Taylor is founder and CEO of Payvment and developer of the number-one Facebook ecommerce platform for brands, agencies and merchants, and the world’s only Facebook Shopping Mall. Many of the new features introduced at Facebook’s f8 Developer Conference last Thursday, such as a cu…
5 tags
What can I do to increase business on the run up...
With Christmas here before you can say Jack Robinson, here are ten things you can do to increase your sales potential and boost your figures for a Merry Christmas.
Remember Your Customers
Reward Loyalty
Incentivise
Up Sell
Samples
Social Networking
Newsletters
eCommerce
Delivery
Understanding Your Numbers
1. Remember Your Customers
Many businesses think that a sure way of increasing...
2 tags
Join the Innovation Club
Let AsOne look after you with [link innovationclub site] Innovation Club [/link], our proactive members only club that gives you confidence and support for your business and your website.
What is Innovation Club?
Innovation Club is piece of mind. Piece of mind that your website, product or service is in good hands with the attention and expertise only 10 years of success can bring. Innovation...
4 tags
Social Media, who’s Online?
With so much focus on social media and the need to embrace it to improve and increase business the same hesitation continues to raise its head; “my customers don’t use Facebook”.
You know what? They are probably right, because those potential customers who do use Facebook are shopping somewhere else, Somewhere that does embrace social media. Lets look into who is using social media.
The Office...
5 tags
Build your own Business Website?
You have seen the adverts, had the emails and will probably have been told that you can get cheaper websites online than going to a website design agency … well its all true, with one big BUT!
You will no doubt want to appear in the search results on Google? You probably want the best chance of a high position? Well if you go down the template route from the large suppliers your website...
July 2011
3 posts
Showing support to culture in Tameside!
Last summer’s proms in the park in Tameside was a huge success, not to mention a great evening of entertainment for all the family. As hundreds of others found their spot, we staked our claim on a little area on the hillside facing the stage and set out our picnic of goodies. Its that time again - you can offer your support and join us in buying tickets to this years fab event; view full...
7 tags
Google Panda Update
There has been a lot of talk about the ‘new’ Google Panda update. This is a change to the Google filtering used to rank sites. The update is designed to hurt the sites that try to cheat or use what is called ‘black hat’ techniques to get to the top. The people it is affecting badly are the sites with traditionally high traffic and rankings. If they have used sneaky methods to inflate...