BB Creative Blog

Search engines just got fatter, richer and sexier, thanks to the teaming up of the Big 3, Adobe, Google and Yahoo. Fat meaning Google and Yahoo search engines can now access content currently out of their reach. Rich because they can deliver more of dynamic Web content and rich Internet applications (RIAs). They are sexier because Web designers, developers, Web content producers, RIA developers and end-users won’t need to amend existing and future content to make it searchable.

Adobe’s latest Flash ® technology dramatically improves search results and enhances the search engine indexing of the Flash file format (Shock Wave Flash, SWF) in Google (presently) and Yahoo (shortly) search engines. This will provide more relevant automatic search rankings of the millions of RIAs and other dynamic content that run in Adobe Flash Player.

With Adobe’s help, Google can now better read the content on sites that use Adobe Flash technology, helping users find more relevant information when conducting searches. As a result, millions of pre-existing RIAs and dynamic Web experiences that utilize Adobe Flash technology, including content that loads at runtime, are immediately searchable without the need for companies and developers to alter them.
Yahoo! also expects to deliver improved Web search capabilities for SWF applications in a future update to Yahoo! Search.

Designers and Web developers have long been frustrated that search engines couldn’t better access the information within their content created with Flash technology. Now, it would be possible to unlock information that was previously invisible.

I was sitting a Marketing Committee meeting a few weeks ago for one my favorite non-profits and suggested we setup a Cafe Press store for them (girlventures.org).  The Executive Director exclaimed “Yes, I’m big on gear!”  What is Cafe Press?  It’s a great way to generate passive income through your website while getting your name out there.  Creative a couple of stylish designs, and upload them to your custom store.  Then decide what style tshirts, hats, mugs, canvas bags, etc. you want them on.  Here are two examples:

• http://www.cafepress.com/sfpcds

• http://www.cafepress.com/savingrhinos

Not only are you earning passive income, but folks will be out there wearing you gear and drinking from your mugs.  Advertising for you!  Cafe Press handles all the fulfillment and order management.  If you are interested in adding a Cafe Press to your website, let us know: info@bbcreativesf.com.

We are happy to announce are Marketing Partner, Deb Siegle, has been featured in the below podcase!

The Market & Customer Voice: How Research Can Reveal New Insights into Your Customers, Your Product, & Your Brand

Are you hearing all that your customers are saying? Research can hear and translate what your customers and prospects and saying into meaningful action.

Deb Siegle, Principal of Strategic Marketing Solutions, discusses how the appropriate research can reveal new marketing and strategic insights into your customers, products and brand!  Deb Siegle’s company is a marketing and service consulting company that specializes in effective marketing, research, customer loyalty experiences, and product development and management.

http://marketingmatterswithm7.podOmatic.com/entry/2008-06-06T13_21_17-07_00

We are so happy to announce and help promote a charity event being put on by one of our clients: Marian Nelson of Riverside Ranch. Marian is a long time client and you can see why we adore her. For her birthday, she is throwing a fund raising Gala for an Orphanage in Kenya (yes Africa, not Kenya, Ohio)! She has been a long term pen pal of a lovely African Boy. Last year she visited him and saw how much more we extremely fortunate American’s can help. Here’s the 411 on the event. We hope you will consider attending:

To benefit Kenya’s “By Grace Disable & Orphans Centre”

Thursday, August 7, 2008
Bentley Reserve Building
301 Battery Street, San Francisco

Click to Download the Invitation
Click To Download the RSVP Card

Food - Live Auction - Music - Dancing

For More Information,
Contact Marian Nelson: (415) 710 - 1116

We know that this is not related to web design, but many of you have read “Three Cups of Tea.” It’s one of my favorite books. Anyways here’s an interesting Article updating up us on Greg Mortenson’s and the Central Asia Institutes’s progress since the book has been published:

NY Times

Is the Wizard of Oz Hiding Behind Your Website?

Another great article from Karrie Kohlhaas who wrote the article we commented on 6/14/06.

One problem we see when working with clients to create websites, is they are scared to discuss their organizations size and use “We.” Often they portray themselves as less substantial then they are. In a way the below discusses the opposite problem: when a business discusses itself is much bigger then it is in an discreditable way. No matter the organization’s site a company or person must discuss themselves and their experience on the website. Potential customers have to have a way to identify with the PEOPLE behind the site and feel like there is a real legitimate company behind the website as well as specific people who you feel deliver will deliver great service. You will be out of the woods if you:

1. Easy to find contact info. List an email, address, and PHONE NUMBER! If you don’t have a brick and mortar location list a PO Box or at least the city and state you are in.
2. Have bios of the principals and all employees if possible. Pictures are a great addition. Our clients are often resistant to adding photos because they are self conscious. You have to let this go, as the objective of a website is for people to connect with you (and feel that they can trust you) and get in touch or buy something directly from the website.
3. Have some combination of the following … company history, overview, mission and/or vision.
4. Testimonials are probably the best way to can web customer trust!

Click to read the article on this topic!

Long time client, Hunter and Equitation trainer, Beverly Jovais and her business, Chestnut Hill, have been profiled in the July issue of Sidelines Magazine. Sidelines Magazine is well-known hunter jumper magazine that is “devoted to the people and personalities that make the horse world exciting.”  Each issue, the magazine features prominent trainers in different equestrian sports in a “Five Questions” column.  Among the items discussed, Beverly shares the story of her move West from the East Coast.  In addition to being a trainer, Beverly is a “r” judges license. To read the article, click here!

One of the easiest thing we all can do to” Go GREEN!” at home or in the office is to replaced existing light bulbs with compact fluorescent.  It seems that nothing is easy and we thought we would post this notice.  Please still replace those blubs (just be careful when they break!).  Article from snopes.com.

Claim:   When broken, energy-saving light bulbs (CFLs) loose dangerous amounts of mercury into a home.

Status:   Multiple:

• CFLs contain mercury, a dangerous substance:   True.
• While mercury stays safely contained in intact CFLs, it escapes from broken CFLs into the immediate surroundings:   True.
• The amount of mercury contained in one CFL bulb poses a grave danger to a home’s inhabitants:   False.
• But folks do need to handle the breakage of a CFL bulb with a great deal of care and follow certain procedures in removing the broken bulb and its contents from the home:   True.
• An environmental clean-up crew needs be called in to deal with the mercury dispersed by one broken CFL bulb:   False.

Just a quick note to check out the updates on Alder Lane Farm’s sale page, click here!  All the photos are by a professional photographers (mostly at horse shows).   Can’t you see the tremendous difference and sense these horses are high quality?  Excellent photos are essential when selling “quality imported show horses.” This is our favorite photo.

Mail Washer Pro

It seems like one of the biggest battles in Business is Spam.  We all spend too much time sorting through Spam.  Here is a tool for Windows based computers.  I used to have it and dearly miss it.  Unfortunately it doesn’t work Microsoft Exchange Servers but does work with all standard pop boxes (and comcast, etc.).  It’s only $40 and you can try free for 30 days.  Click here for more info.