QR codes are hard to miss. They're on the business cards we exchange, in the magazines we read and more commonly embedded in the emails we receive. But as convenient as we may (or may not) find them, QR codes might soon fall to the wayside. It's hotter, younger replacement: Near Field Communication, or NFC. Even faster and less reliant on our mobile devices' capabilities, NFC is THE technology that will eventually allow us to use our mobile devices in ways we never imagined possible! Whether we realize or not, Near Field Communication technology is all around us. In fact, some of us utilize it on a regular basis without knowing we do. If you have a credit account with a fuel company or supermarket, chances are, NFC is in your back pocket – that "Pass and Go" wand dangling from your keychain. When arriving at work or returning from your lunch break, do you have to "touch" your employee ID to an automated turnstile for entry into your building or office? If so, you use NFC every day. And to our friends in the UK, NFC resides in your Oyster Card, ready to act as soon as you enter The Tube! NFC effectively contributes to making our daily chores and tasks a little faster, more convenient, and even fun! NFC's next destination? Our mobile devices: smartphones and tablets. Though mass market offerings of NFC-ready mobile devices and corresponding applications – not necessarily "apps" – is still in its infancy, we can look forward to seeing the first wave of devices and usages much sooner than later. (At the moment, Google Android is at the NFC helm.) So aside from paying for goods, services and gaining access to otherwise restricted areas, how will NFC change the way we interface with other smartphone and tablet owners – and our environments? This question had an early answer months ago at Google's 4th Annual I/O Summit. Check out the video below. If Google is this enthused about utilizing NFC, so should we all be!
Part of Liqui-Site's success stems from having its finger on the pulse of the latest and greatest in industry-relevant technology. Whether these advances lie in the immediate or far-off future, Liqui-Site is poised to analyze and utilize only the very best technology, so long as it ensures measurable results for clients. We're currently working on two apps – one of which will utilize NFC technology – so that when NFC-enabled phones are available to the masses, we'll be ready and waiting.
by Chris Mullin Liqui-Site Designs Experience our commitment to you, from our very first conversation.™
As organic search engine optimization (SEO) has made its way onto the radar of small business owners, e-commerce site managers and marketing executives, many companies have sought the expert advice of either an SEO firm or SEO consultant. Unfortunately, because SEO is a constantly-evolving combination of art, science and math, there's a lot of confusion at the client end about what "SEO work" actually entails. That ALSO means that there are many less-than-ethical firms and consultants out there capitalizing on a client's lack of understanding in this area. At Liqui-Site, where we practice 100% "white hat" optimization strategies and implementation – which includes on-page SEO, ongoing link building (off-page SEO), minor tweaks based on algorithmic changes, and monthly reporting on all of the above – we have worked with clients who have been burned by other firms and/or consultants in the past. Since client education is paramount to combat these bad experiences, I thought it would be helpful to offer the most important four questions that clients should ask when hiring an SEO firm or consultant for their company's website – whether it's e-commerce or informational. #4: Ask for a Simple Explanation First, ask potential vendors to explain, in layman's terms, how SEO basically works. If they cannot explain what "on-page SEO" and "link building" are, how they optimize a site, that's a red flag. Ask, up front about their pricing structure as well. Is it retainer-based? Is there a contract to sign? (If so, is there a 30-day out?) Each vendor will probably have a different approach to their SEO work and their fee structure. #3: Verify Their Client List You'll want to ask the SEO firm or consultant for a list of websites (links) that they personally optimize on an ongoing basis, ask what issues the sites had prior to their work and how they were resolved – and then verify that with the website owners. Many illegitimate SEO vendors will list sites that they have either never worked on before OR sites that have since been taken over by a new SEO vendor because the company did not see results or value with the vendor. #2: Get a Complimentary SEO Evaluation Very important! Before hiring any SEO vendor, they should be able to provide you with a complimentary evaluation of your current website's optimization. A SWOT Analysis (which stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) would be ideal. You'll want to know what the issues are – not only with your website, but also how your online competitors stack up. #1: Ask for References – And Then, CALL Them! The most important part of SEO is efficacy. And the only way to truly get a read on how well each vendor performs and what kind of ROI you can expect is to talk directly to their previous and present clients. (If a client chose not to continue their SEO contract with that vendor, don't be shy about asking why.) Make sure to get reference information, including contact name, website address, email address, and phone number. Part of your responsibility as a client is to vet potential SEO firms and/or consultants, so make sure you're doing due diligence in each case. If you found these tips helpful, please let me know by leaving a comment or asking a question below. ----------------------- For a complimentary SEO evaluation, please visit www.liqui-site.com/start Visit us online at www.liqui-site.com or call 845-353-7771 to experience our commitment to you, from our very first conversation.
by Kelly Campbell Liqui-Site Designs Experience our commitment to you, from our very first conversation.™
by Chris Mullin 
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