Businesses today are bombarded with hip jargon lingo as ASP, SaaS, RIA, ‘BI/CRM Strategy’ to name a few. Such waterfall of words apparently is the typical sales-pitch for many representatives in the industry and it takes some effort for the unfortunate layman to extract a meaningful message from this mistreatment of language. It’s probably one of the main reasons why companies hire brigades of consultants to setup a common dictionary presented in fancy reports to management.One thing that is clear however is that executives do want to know if their software and processes are on par with the latest developments and are aligned with their business needs. In addition companies want to eliminate the continuous aggravation within their IT infrastructure such as viruses, licenses concerns, OS upgrades, dealing with different program versions, installations and maintenance, etc. Can solutions be offered that do away with these monstrosities? Enter the world of browser-based applications.

Browser based applications run anywhere, anytime on any system. Maintenance and updates are done centrally without the hassle for upgrades on local workstations. True, a general perception is that such applications offer a degraded user-experience especially compared to regular desktop software but nowadays functions are on hand that provide virtually the same bells and whistles common to desktop applications. Such flexibility and independence is making traditional business applications seem like coal powered machinery. In addition, browser based application tend to be lightweight that do not require hardware renewals over time. It always baffles me how customary software upgrades tend to grow into bloated atrocities, constantly adding superfluous features and moreover risking incompatibilities thus rendering new versions nothing more than lipstick on a pig.

Web based solutions, for businesses that is, are adequate to handle most functions and requirements: managing client-details, articles, stock, orders, documents, invoices, contracts, subscriptions and correspondence. Of course desktop software is here to stay; who in their right mind is going to shoe-horn huge complex spreadsheets into a browser? The essence however is that core business data, -methods and -logic are easily accessible and maintained centrally regardless of IT infrastructure and environment, basically recycling the thin-client approach (you know those old desk-aquariums).

The benefits boil down mainly in two categories: access and costs.

1. access

Access, connectivity, web 2.0 (whatever that means) basically relates to the ease with which internet applications can communicate and be employed. Things that come in mind are linkage with other websites (e.g. web based ordering), outsourcing customer-services, facilitating home employment, email listings, merger of business units and online payments. I’m sure the list goes on a bit but once management starts to realize and appreciate the potential it will unleash ideas of possibilities. The acquainted trendy internet terminology will by then make more sense and proudly be espoused during office meetings.

A nice showcase example I participated in was to merge various (international) branches into one database system, where the server was (and still is) physically located in one place. All methodologies and procedures are shared by employees and management, websites have their ordering directly linked to the database, external call-centers is are used for contacting clients and prospects and third party partners can access real-time information online like billing details, order statuses, stock insights etc.

2. costs

The second benefit is the cost aspect. Web based solutions are durable meaning they do not tend to require a lot of maintenance once they are up and running. Fossilized websites from 15 year ago still work fine and are not subjected to change in operating system, updated hardware or reliance on deprecated software. If a company has in-house developers to manage applications, tools and technologies for web-development are available in a various forms, both proprietary and open-source, so costs can be allocated to line up proposed budgets.

Interface, data and business logic are maintained and backed up centrally and help solve bugs and other defects should they occur. This way the end-user will always have an up to date application available without the need to deploy or distribute these adjustments. Also online documentation and manuals remain well supervised.

Moving over?

Moving to new technologies requires planning and there certainly must be a compelling business case to do so. Many companies upgrade their software just to join a bandwagon of techie enthusiasts and as such it performs a nice window dressing tool towards others. If you think that’s farfetched try urging a client if they can resend you an attached document in a WP5.1-format because you couldn’t open it. You can always defend it by stating you’re currently involved in a migration to Windows 3.11 to add more ridicule to the experiment.

For start-ups or companies that require updated software, for more adapted integration, choosing browser-based solutions seem the most fitting and strategic approach that makes businesses in the long run more independent and unconstrained. Such applications and services are available out-of-the-box, both for free and licensed, or can be developed custom-made of course.

They say you need a website these days to be taken seriously on the internet. There is no doubt a professional looking website establishes your credibility online for your home based business ideas website. But how can you get that done if you don’t know anything about web design? There are plenty of alternatives and choices that will help you with a good looking website design.

It can cost you hundreds of dollars to have a custom built website designed by a professional designer these days. Depending on your needs, that may be the only choice you have. However, if you don’t need all the bells and whistles, you have choices you can make that will give you a website design you can be proud of for your home based business ideas website. Here is a guide to making that choice:

First, look for local designers in your area by opening you phone book, doing a Google search or reading your newspaper. I found someone in my area that specialized in website design to design my blog. Make sure you shop around. Don’t pay $500 for a website design from a large company. Try to find a local person that runs their business out of their home office. The won’t have the overhead expenses that larger design companies would have, and would be more flexible to work with.

Choose freelancers for your home based business ideas website carefully by going to elance.com. You’ll be able to post an outline of your project, and thousands of freelancers will have the opportunity to bid on it. That way, you should be able to get a great deal. You will also have the ability to chose that designer based on ratings, past projects, and experience which will give you your best bang for your buck when it’s all said and done.

Be sure to check out GoDaddy.com. They offer a website design service you can do yourself called Website Tonight. You can chose from a simple template of 5 pages, all the way up to a template of 999 pages, hosted with GoDaddy.com. You would also be able to chose your domain name with them too. It’s a ‘one stop shopping’ site for everything you would need.

You can also design your own home based business ideas website. It doesn’t take much to learn the basics of website design. If all you need is 5 simple pages, go to the library or search online for the basics of designing a website. Look for programs like Microsoft Frontpage, or Macromedia Dreamweaver to help you out. Soon, you might have a side business to help others with a good website design.

Here are some quick tips on how to make life easier for people visiting your web site. This will help keep them on the page and within your web site longer and more likely to take the action you want them to take such sign up for your newsletter or purchase from your online store.

Before we get to the top 11 tips, the key is that they all boil down to… “Use your common sense and keep it simple”

Put yourself in their shoes, they want to easily find what they are looking for. If they are new to your site it is even more important to follow these tips if you want your business to be successful online. Here are the top 11 tips from Web Gurus to make it easier for your site visitor:

1. Make sure images are not over powering and take away all the focus.
2. Ensure your headlines are enticing, interesting, and get people to read more of the page.
3. Make the text colour and size easy to read, usually this means black text on a white background.
4. Minimise the number of clicks to navigate around your site and include a common menu throughout your web site.
5. Use captions on images, just like they do in the newspapers, people love and expect captions.
6. Use text rather than images that contain text, search engines cannot read text embedded in images.
7. Include interactive features (more recently known as Web 2.0 features) such as a feedback or sign up form, blog, forum, survey, or glossary, etc.
8. Include a sitemap to make it easy for Google and other search engines to find the pages of your web site.
9. Use colours and that portray your image and the feeling your want your visitors to have when on your site. Check this out yourself, visit different sites and notice your emotional response.
10. Keep multimedia, movement to a minimum and keep their file size small, plus avoid flashing images, to most people these are a real turn off.
11. Proof read and spell check the content of your site. If you use a content management system like we do at Web Gurus, then after making lots of tweaks make sure you copy and paste the content into Microsoft Word and check the spelling.

Talk to your web designer or call ask Web Gurus if you’d like help implementing these top 11 tips on your web site.