Just noted a CNET article confirming our earlier post on the demise of Adobe Flash Player. According to the article, by the end of this year, Google will switch off default support for Flash in their Chrome browser for all websites with only 10 exceptions. (Exceptions include YouTube, Facebook, Yahoo and Amazon, although even these exceptions are subject to review in the future.)
Clearly, Google is trying to wean website developers off of Flash, while promoting HTML5 as the default standard. This has been driven at least in part by the known (and recurring) security and compatibility issues surrounding Flash, especially on mobile devices.
You may recall our earlier post highlighting Apple's decision to stop supporting Flash on their iOS mobile platform; that's why we started switching our client web development work from Flash to HTML5 over four years ago. Now, Google's latest announcement may be the decisive nail in the coffin for Flash.
Here's a link the the full article: Article: Google to Block Flash on Chrome
Monday, May 16, 2016
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Exit Strategy: Helping a Client Find the Right Buyer for Her Business
We've had the pleasure of helping many company founders translate their vision into a killer website over the past dozen years. Memorable among these are the mother-daughter team behind Wear to Win, a beautiful line of women's performance sportswear. Made in America, they grew it with a combination of direct sales online and wholesale distribution though dozens of golf pro shops.
But life sometimes intrudes on the best business plan. When her daughter got married, moved and had a baby, mom told us it was time for her to pass the torch.
Based on our M&A experience we offered to take on the role of "matchmaker" to help them find a buyer to "raise their baby". Structured as an asset sale for the inventory, IP, website, (and more) we think it's a pretty compelling business opportunity. For anyone who's looking for a "turn-key" business with lots of growth potential Wear to Win could be just the ticket.
Check out the article that just ran in one of the local papers: BCR Article on Wear to Win
Questions? Call us.
But life sometimes intrudes on the best business plan. When her daughter got married, moved and had a baby, mom told us it was time for her to pass the torch.
Based on our M&A experience we offered to take on the role of "matchmaker" to help them find a buyer to "raise their baby". Structured as an asset sale for the inventory, IP, website, (and more) we think it's a pretty compelling business opportunity. For anyone who's looking for a "turn-key" business with lots of growth potential Wear to Win could be just the ticket.
Check out the article that just ran in one of the local papers: BCR Article on Wear to Win
Questions? Call us.
Friday, April 29, 2016
Next "Website Design and Optimization" Seminar Set for May 12
The next presentation of our "Growing Your Business: Website Design and Optimization" series is slated for May 12, at 9:00 am to 11:00 am at the Goshen Chamber of Commerce.
In this presentation we share a systematic, three step process (The Three Legged Stool) that can build a company's brand and grow its revenue by targeting and reaching new customers in the online channel. Whether your objective is improving communication, generating qualified leads or making direct sales, this presentation outlines a proven process tested in real-world businesses of all kinds.
This seminar is a joint presentation of Precept Partners, SCORE Elkhart and the Goshen Chamber. The cost for attending is $30 for Goshen Chamber Members; non-members are $40. Questions? Just shoot me an email: stephen@preceptpartners.com and I'll get back with you.
In this presentation we share a systematic, three step process (The Three Legged Stool) that can build a company's brand and grow its revenue by targeting and reaching new customers in the online channel. Whether your objective is improving communication, generating qualified leads or making direct sales, this presentation outlines a proven process tested in real-world businesses of all kinds.
This seminar is a joint presentation of Precept Partners, SCORE Elkhart and the Goshen Chamber. The cost for attending is $30 for Goshen Chamber Members; non-members are $40. Questions? Just shoot me an email: stephen@preceptpartners.com and I'll get back with you.
Monday, March 28, 2016
Latest Site Launch Integrates Real Time Access to Diamond Inventory and Pricing
Our latest website launch highlights the beauty (and power) of providing users with a clean, simple interface to access a huge, complex database.
The client is Images Jewelers, and the database indexes over 33,000 GIA graded diamonds, searchable, by shape, size, color, clarity and price. You can try this out for yourself; just go to www.ImagesJewelers.com and click the GIA Diamonds tab. It's pretty amazing.
It's also a great example of the collaboration process behind a successful design project. We met and spoke regularly with the management team at Images every step of the way, providing them with our insights on web design, and user experience best practices, while they educated us on the nuances of their custom jewelry design business model, customer expectations, and business objectives. The results speak for themselves.
Here's a link to the release announcement with additional details and comments from the Images team: Images Jewelers Launch Announcement
The client is Images Jewelers, and the database indexes over 33,000 GIA graded diamonds, searchable, by shape, size, color, clarity and price. You can try this out for yourself; just go to www.ImagesJewelers.com and click the GIA Diamonds tab. It's pretty amazing.
It's also a great example of the collaboration process behind a successful design project. We met and spoke regularly with the management team at Images every step of the way, providing them with our insights on web design, and user experience best practices, while they educated us on the nuances of their custom jewelry design business model, customer expectations, and business objectives. The results speak for themselves.
Here's a link to the release announcement with additional details and comments from the Images team: Images Jewelers Launch Announcement
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Taking Steam Generator Website Live Like a Rocket Launch
You often hear the term "launch" used in connection with turning on a new website and for good reason. As with launching a rocket, there's a detailed checklist of essential tasks to be completed as the clock counts down to a successful "liftoff". (Security, DNS details, email and SEO to name only a few of our "Mission Control" concerns during a launch.)
Launching a new website for ESG Corp earlier this week we ticked the check boxes and "pushed the button" to take their newly redesigned website live. Have a look: ESGcorp.com
It's an update designed to better tell their unique story and explain the significant advantages of their electrode type steam boiler/generators. ESG is 70 year old company (based here in Buchanan) that lists such diverse companies as Space X, P&G, ConAgra and Boeing among their many clients. And they've continued to innovate to serve new industries and niche applications. (Like microbreweries!)
Like a successful rocket launch, this mission will improve the company's global visibility and provide a solid marketing platform for their long-term growth. We're proud to have played a part. Here's a link to the release announcement with details: ESG Corp Launch Announcement
Launching a new website for ESG Corp earlier this week we ticked the check boxes and "pushed the button" to take their newly redesigned website live. Have a look: ESGcorp.com
It's an update designed to better tell their unique story and explain the significant advantages of their electrode type steam boiler/generators. ESG is 70 year old company (based here in Buchanan) that lists such diverse companies as Space X, P&G, ConAgra and Boeing among their many clients. And they've continued to innovate to serve new industries and niche applications. (Like microbreweries!)
Like a successful rocket launch, this mission will improve the company's global visibility and provide a solid marketing platform for their long-term growth. We're proud to have played a part. Here's a link to the release announcement with details: ESG Corp Launch Announcement
Monday, February 8, 2016
Eating Our Own Dog Food: Precept Website Redesign
Being in the website design and development business it affords us an opportunity to "eat our own dog food" every few years. It's that time again and we're proud to announce the redesign of our own PreceptPartners.com website. (By the way, for trivia buffs, there's an interesting article in Wikipedia explaining the origin of the term "eating your own dog food", apparently going back to an Alpo commercial with Lorne Greene.)
Since we launched the first Precept website back in 2003, this is our fifth significant redesign. That puts us on about a three year refresh cycle. That's not too frequent to keep the site's look and feel fresh and the messaging relevant as our client's needs have grown and evolved over time.
In any case, the latest iteration of the Precept website is indeed a case of "dogfooding" incorporating the latest techniques we're using for our client projects including a lighter, cleaner look using fully responsive design with custom menus and one-touch "contact" buttons (at page bottom when you use a smartphone to access the site).
We also reorganized the sites navigation to better segment our web design, development and marketing work from our business analysis and Internet strategy services.
Take a look and let us know what you think! www.PreceptPartners.com
Since we launched the first Precept website back in 2003, this is our fifth significant redesign. That puts us on about a three year refresh cycle. That's not too frequent to keep the site's look and feel fresh and the messaging relevant as our client's needs have grown and evolved over time.
In any case, the latest iteration of the Precept website is indeed a case of "dogfooding" incorporating the latest techniques we're using for our client projects including a lighter, cleaner look using fully responsive design with custom menus and one-touch "contact" buttons (at page bottom when you use a smartphone to access the site).
We also reorganized the sites navigation to better segment our web design, development and marketing work from our business analysis and Internet strategy services.
Take a look and let us know what you think! www.PreceptPartners.com
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Boost Your SEO in 2016 with Relevant PR
We got a running start on 2016 yesterday helping two of our clients kick off the new year with a pair of timely press releases; one for TarpsNow.com and another for PromoQuip.com. Have a look:
TarpsNow Press Release
PromoQuip Press Release
We encourage (and assist) our clients with writing and distributing well crafted, relevant press releases on a regular basis. (At different intervals depending on the market they serve.) While this requires a fair amount of effort, we see PR creation and distribution as an effective tactic in executing our "off-the-page" SEO strategy. The consistent gains in our client's Google search rank proves its effectiveness.
If you're not creating and distributing press releases and announcements on a regularly scheduled basis, you might want to consider adding this arrow to your marketing quiver in 2016. Happy to discuss if you have any questions.
TarpsNow Press Release
PromoQuip Press Release
We encourage (and assist) our clients with writing and distributing well crafted, relevant press releases on a regular basis. (At different intervals depending on the market they serve.) While this requires a fair amount of effort, we see PR creation and distribution as an effective tactic in executing our "off-the-page" SEO strategy. The consistent gains in our client's Google search rank proves its effectiveness.
If you're not creating and distributing press releases and announcements on a regularly scheduled basis, you might want to consider adding this arrow to your marketing quiver in 2016. Happy to discuss if you have any questions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)