Beacon Technologies is very excited to be hosting an upcoming webinar in collaboration with Hannon Hill, makers of the award winning Cascade Server CMS (Content Management Software).

Are you considering a Site Redesign in 2011 or 2012?  If so, please join us March 8, 2011 from 2 to 3 pm EST.

Redesign projects can be a very challenging and an extremely vital project to the success of your organization.

Beacon has the expertise to support your project from start to finish.  We can help you with the consulting & analysis, requirements gathering & documentation, project management, steering committee engagement, site structure & layout, graphical design, development, content migration, testing, implementation, hosting, support, maintenance, marketing, analytics and upgrades.

We have been managing these types of Cascade Server Redesign projects for the past 6 years.

Beacon knows how to get the job done on-schedule and on-budget.

So please join us for a 30 minute presentation followed up with 30 minutes of Q&A.

To register, please visit: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/794321048

Hannon Hill press release: http://www.hannonhill.com/news/blog/2011/Webinar-Hosted-By-Beacon-Technologies.html

Please contact me with any questions regarding the webinar.

Patrick Flanagan, 336-232-5668

pflanagan@beacontec.com

I just got back from a meeting in New Jersey with one of our long-term client (going on 11 years).  We launched their site in 2000, and did a full redesign and Cascade Server implementation for them in 2006. Now, in addition to online billing and account management enhancements, they want to do a redesign of their five Web sites.

One of my tasks was to present ideas for improvements to their sites in order to bring them into this decade. Admittedly, I had a hard time finding things that needed fixing since in 2006, Beacon did really great job on the redesign, and this client has done a fantastic job of keeping the site looking very professional and modern. While they’re not looking for a start-from-scratch redesign (just a “face lift”), it got me thinking about ways that the Web has evolved in the last five years. Below is a comparison chart that, in my opinion, is what Web development was like “back then”, and the way it is now.

Again, this is my perception of how it was, and how it is. Your opinion may differ. But the one thing I’m certain of is that Web sites need a refresh every so often to keep up with rapidly-changing browsers and standards, user demands, and the ever-evolving mobile world. And if you have a beautiful site now, it doesn’t have to take a complete re-do…just a face lift can fast forward your site to today.

I have been in the information technology world since 1981 when I wrote my first programs as a student at Wake Forest, then later as an intern at the NC Dept of Agriculture and throughout my career with RJ Reynolds, AT&T, as a student at Kansas State and now with Beacon.  In 1998 when we started Beacon, there were a few web development companies out there, but now they are EVERYWHERE!  All of them claim to be the best.  I know, I know.  That’s just business.  I have talked with hundreds of business leaders with respect to web initiatives over the years.  To no one’s surprise, the four main factors that drive the decision to select a web development/consulting firm are (1) Price, (2) Experience/Capability, (3) Delivery Time, and (4) Relationship / Support.  I believe we are very good at what we do, but by no means are we perfect as there is always room for improvement.  But having been in this profession for over half my life, I thought it might be worthwhile to share some of my experience-based thoughts on what good web development entails.  Of course, this isn’t all inclusive, but a solid foundation.

Website Development Facts:

1. For business purposes, it is NOT so simple that “a caveman can do it”.
2. Every website is a custom website.  Cost increases with the level of customization and volume of content/products.
3. You get what you pay for.  Cutting corners, having your nephew build the site, trying to build it yourself when you have time usually produces poor results.  Take the time to do it right.  Prioritize all your requirements and desired features.  Establish a realistic budget and share it with your vendor.  Ask them to provide as much as they can with that budget without sacrificing quality.  Push lower priority requirements to a future release.
4. Every website has a “Blueprint” Phase and a “Construction” Phase (most expensive of the two).  A good blueprint keeps the construction costs down and prevents re-work, so take the time to do it right.  Breaking these two phases into separate projects (contracts) works best.
5. Web development, hosting and marketing depend on each other.  It is a BIG advantage to have a single vendor that is strong in all 3 areas with good customer support.  One number to call for any web-related issues.

 Website Types:

1. Marketing (Informational, lead-generation)
2. Storefront (Ecommerce, online revenue generation)
3. Activity-Based (Custom Applications, Blogs)
4. Mix of the above

 Website Development Differentiators:  Good firms will not only discuss your specific needs, but will also share current trends, brainstorm new ideas and proactively cover the following (at a minimum), while constantly providing ideas and consultation.  If your web development company is sitting there waiting for you to tell them what to do, find another firm.

1. Cross Browser Compatibility:  Will your website operate in ALL the most current popular browser versions?
2. Updates to the website:  I’ve NEVER seen a website that didn’t need updates from time to time.  How will updates be handled and priced?
3. Content Management:  There are many, many content management systems on the market.  Of course, they vary in price based on features and functionality.  One size doesn’t fit all.  No reason to put a monster engine in a VW bug, nor a 4-cylinder into a Corvette. 
4. Coding for search engine visibility (SEO):  It’s one thing to create content for a web page, but a whole different thing to make the site search engine friendly, using meta tags effectively, the right keyword density, SEO landing pages, internal linking and much more.  You can’t just build a website and expect the world to find it.  You have to know how to construct it so the search engines “like” it…and I’m not talking about a Facebook “Like”!
5. Professional/Creative Web Design:  The old saying is quite true… You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.  Your website represents your business.  People don’t read content as much anymore.  This is why using the right imagery with easy navigation is important.
6. Calls to Action:  Ask yourself, “What do I want people to do when they come to my website?”  Is there a strong call to action that facilitates this?  And how will it be tracked?
7. Analytics:  I frequently say, “you can’t manage what can’t measure”.  MAKE SURE you have some sort of analytics tool (preferably Google Analytics) to track visitors, conversions and much more.  Your website is another Sales Rep – make sure it is performing well.
8. Site Search:  Is a site search tool included and is it appropriate for your site?  It is vitally important.
9. Hosting & support:  If your vendor also hosts your website, can they also host your email and provide spam filtering?  Are redirects being used appropriately?  What happens if a page isn’t found?  Do they check for broken links regularly?
10. Local web marketing:  Will your vendor help with optimizing your listings in Google Local, Places, Maps…and other standard local venues?
11. Integration:  Does your website need to integrate with 3^rd party or back office software?  Accounting?  Shipping?  Order Management?  CRM?  Will experienced engineers be available to discuss critical requirements.

 Choosing a Website Development Partner:  When you select a website development firm, there is always somewhat of a leap of faith.  Like any profession, there are good firms and bad firms. Minimize this leap by considering the following:

1. How many years have they been in business?  Demonstrates financial stability, success and peace of mind that they have not only been providing these services, but will be around when you need them in the future.
2. Look at their portfolio.  There are so many firms out there that showcase relatively unknown clients.  There’s a reason for this – especially if they have been around for a long time.
3. Read their blog and Facebook page.  It will tell you a lot about their breadth and depth of skills, their people and their personality.
4. Do they outsource or do everything in house?  Nothing against outsourcing, but I’m a big believer in minimizing the number of costly middle-men.
5. Ask about who’s doing the work.  Does one person handle project management, creative design, development, testing, SEO and implementation?  I have yet to meet a person who is an expert in all of these areas.
6. Ask for example deliverables.  Can they provide examples of a project plan and any other deliverables that are created prior to development?  The website is NOT the only deliverable.  Houses aren’t built without a blueprint, neither should your website.
7. Ask about communication.  Will your primary point of contact be a Project Manager or a Developer?  Can you meet this person?
8. Ask about the creative design process.  How many design-and-review iterations do they provide with respect to the website design – so that you can see the creative design(s) and request modifications?
9. Ask about the CMS and eCommerce software options.  Are they locked into only one of each or do they have more breadth of experience and alternative options to meet your price and functional requirements?
10. Ask how they test the website before it is launched.  Do they have a formal “User Acceptance Testing” process – so you can check everything out before it gets launched?
11. Is the firm a good fit for your business culture?  Does the relationship “feel” good & honest like the firm cares about the success of your website?  Or do you feel like you are just part of an assembly line.
12. Ask about post-launch support.  Who to call?  Pricing?  Expected response time?  After hours?  Ticketing system to insure your request is logged and monitored to completion?
13. Do they really provide their own hosting services or do they use a 3^rd party?  Ask this 3-part question:  Where is the web server located that houses my website?  How often is server maintenance performed and who performs it?  I’ve seen a lot of finger pointing between hosting firms and development firms over the years.

 Website Development Budget:  For us, every project is quoted separately  There’s always exceptions, but here’s a “Rule of Thumb” table that I have put together based on several hundred projects we’ve performed over the years.  I hope this helps to some degree with your approach to web development firms.

*Small:  option to pay monthly
**X-Large: businesses w/ large product catalogs, universities, etc (thousands of pages) that require careful planning and coordination with internal decision-making groups. Many times these projects require integration with existing legacy systems and/or 3^rd party software.
***Duration is dependent on the availability of resources, number of resources working concurrently and the client’s availability & delivery of content.

I’ve been with Beacon for almost 11 years.  That makes me feel really old (or dedicated, one of the two).  Thus, it’s really hard for me to fathom that Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 has been with me almost my entire career.  IE6 was released on August 27, 2001.  That was a glorious day back then.  Think about how much IE6 revolutionized how we experience the Web, and how us coders could now start that revolution.  Who knew almost 9 years later, IE6 would be defying our death wishes.

Whenever I think about IE6 and how it should have been long gone from our minds years ago (like Netscape), I think about that scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.  You know, the scene where the “Dead Collector” encounters someone trying to put a man onto the dead cart.  Problem is, the man isn’t dead.  He pleads not to be cast off with the forgotten, but his carrier insists that he’s pretty much a goner.  Eventually after a lot of pleading, the man is hit over the head and wheeled away. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check out the video below.)

I can’t believe IE6 is still around. And whenever I try to admit that it has to be dead, someone calls and says, “This site doesn’t look right in IE6.”  In fact, according to the W3C Schools browser statistics, 7.9% of users are still on IE6 (April 2010).

Why haven’t those 7.9% users upgraded yet?  I have a few theories, one of which I came up with all on my own, the other I’m quoting from one of our university clients:

• Many home users don’t know how to upgrade, so they leave well enough alone and continue to use IE6.  I always wondered why we move along so quickly in dropping all other browsers (Netscape, for example).  My theory is that all other browsers do not come pre-installed with Windows,  so it takes know-how and desire to go out and download that browser.  Those users are more apt to keep up with browser versions.
• At many institutions (such as universities), desktop support personnel lock down machines so that people can’t install other software.  Even if this doesn’t include disabling Windows Update, this feature only downloads & installs critical patches…IE upgrades are considered optional.  Thus, the machine never gets upgraded to the next version of IE.

So what’s a Web Designer to do?  The way I see it, we have two options:

1. Drop IE6 support altogether.  Give IE6 users a message stating that this site will not work properly in IE6, and they should upgrade.  (Translation:  Join us in this decade.)
2. Live with it.  Continue to code for IE6, and enjoy the daily challenge.

The good news?  IE6′s market share has been dropping about 1% every month.  If this trend continues, by the end of 2010, IE6 will be gone!  We developers will get to do all of that fancy XHTML/DHTML/CSS 2.0/JavaScript programming without having to worry about IE6′s attitude.

IE6 isn’t dead yet.  But IE6, enjoy your time left:  “You’ll be stone dead in a moment.”

Will we have this same discussion in a few years for IE7?

For the third year, Hannon Hill will be holding its annual Cascade Server User’s Conference in Atlanta, GA, September 22-23.  During this conference, Cascade Server users from around the country gather for this two-day event to collaborate, meet the Hannon Hill staff, learn tips & tricks, and in general, learn more about Cascade Server.I was able to attend the first conference in 2006, and was asked to participate in a roundtable discussion with two other users.  It was a great opportunity to share how Beacon uses Cascade Server as an Application Service Provider (ASP), and share some tips & strategies that we use.  I met a lot of great people, and still collaborate with many of them today.

In 2007, I was asked by Hannon Hill to speak during a technical session on how Beacon, as an ASP, uses Cascade Server.  However, I was unable to attend, as my wife and I were moving into our first house that day, so I had to respectfully decline.  I had to think about my decision for a while:  go to Atlanta, stay in a nice hotel, eat great food, and have some fun, or lift heavy furniture, paint rooms, clean, and get no sleep?  I guess I made the right choice by choosing the latter!  Members of Beacon’s team did attend the conference and said that it was a great experience, and I caught up with everything that happened by watching the session videos.

This year, since I’m definitely not buying a house again, I’ll not only be attending the conference with other members of the Beacon staff, but I’ll also be a speaker during one of the business user sessions.  I’ll be doing a “Tips & Tricks for End Users” session, where I’ll be covering:

• Smart implementations for large sites
• Content re-use
• Using structured content (Data Definitions)
• Integrate Cascade Server with eCommerce and other database applications (scripting languages)
• Manage Search Engine Marketing efforts
• Control full Flash websites and Flash applications
• Integration of advanced JavaScript applications
• Tips on training end users and providing documentation

I won’t lie and say that I’m not nervous about speaking in front of a crowd, but it’s something that I’m eager to do.  In Hannon Hill’s “Call for Speakers”, they asked, “Are you proud of your implementation?”.  I thought about that, and answered “yes!”.  I’m proud of how much Beacon has invested in this software in order to offer CMS solutions to our customers.  I’m proud of how my team implements Cascade Server sites that are tailored to the customer’s individual needs.

Check back here after September 23rd, and I’ll give you an update on how it went.  Wish me luck!

As I’ve written in the past, a Content Management System (CMS) is a valuable tool to your business’ online presence.  They enable anyone to maintain their Web site, with no Web development skills required.  As I tell potential and current customers when demonstrating our CMS of choice, “With Cascade Server, if you know Microsoft Word®, you can maintain your Web site”.  This powerful statement is the difference between hiring an expensive Web development staff and having your accountant maintain your Web site (instead of writing big salary checks).  Your Web site “contributor” (a user whose job it is to maintain the content of your site) now has the ability to keep the site up-to-date.

Of course, the “anyone” part does introduce a big problem:  how do you keep control over what your contributors are putting out there?  Chances are they’re not publishing inappropriate content:  anti-government, anti-(insert-your-favorite-sports-team-here), etc.  But what about spelling errors, inaccurate content, general formatting issues, and anything that you just don’t approve of?

Enter CMS workflows.  What is a CMS workflow?  Hannon Hill, the manufacturer of Cascade Server, states that a workflow “ensures that content entered into the system is quality checked by mandating that the entered content go through a series of approval steps.”  In short, it’s a way for a Web site manager to control what’s added to their Web site.

How does a workflow work?  Let’s take a look at a simple workflow.

The first step is to set permission levels for your users.  A contributor in your system should only have the ability to edit content, and not be able to publish that content to your live Web site.  Furthermore, a user can be locked down to a specific section, folder, or even page of your site.  Here, they can make any edits to an existing page, create pages, or if given permission, delete pages.

Once their edits are done, they submit the page into the workflow.  The manager is notified via email that the contributor has submitted content for approval.  The manager then logs into the CMS and reviews the content.  From here, the manager can either reject the content back to the contributor with personalized comments (which notifies the contributor via email as well), or the manager can “approve” the changes, which then publishes the page and associated files to their live site.

Pretty simple, yet effective, right?  By implementing this easy workflow, you maintain control over your Web site, while your contributor does all of the work!  Of course, workflows can be much more robust than our example, and can be tailored to fit your organization’s specific quality assurance practices.  You can have the contributor submit to a manager, that manager can submit to Legal, Legal can submit to Marketing, Marketing can reject back to the manger or submit to IT for publishing, and…well, you get the idea:  it’s completely flexible!

Below is an example of a workflow that we have implemented for a large Cascade Server implementation.

What kind of quality assurance program do you have for your Web site right now, whether it’s in a CMS or not?  Is it robust with several review checkpoints and processes?  Or do you not have one at all?  Whatever the case may be, my team and I can bring your entire Web site into Cascade Server, and apply a custom workflow that fits your needs.  Contact us to find out more.

In my first blog, I went over some essential features that you need to look for when selecting your hosting company.  So, the next step is to look at several tools and services that will enhance both your web site and your hosting experience.

One of the most important tools for your hoster to have is a Content Management System (CMS) which allows you to manage your site’s content any time you need to change content on your site.  A good CMS tool can allow for collaboration and site management as well.  It’s very important to continually market your company well and having a CMS tool makes that task easier.  A good CMS tool has an easy-to-use interface and requires only that you have skills in using any basic word processing software.

Since a good CMS tool makes managing your site a much easier task, I want to go over a few features to look for when selecting a CMS tool.  Here are some of the essentials to look for:

Creating & Editing

• Browser-based access
• WYSIWYG Editing – Just like a standard word-processor
• Spell Checker
• Site Preview
• Easy-to-use Interface

Collaboration, & Approvals, Security

• Flexible Users and Groups
• Content Access Rights
• Check-in/Check-out Content
• Workflow Management
• Audits & Reporting
• Version Control
• CMS Training

Publishing

• Scheduled and Manual Publishing – publishing options offer full control and ease of use.

• Automatic Archiving lets you set expiration dates for time sensitive content.
• Friendly URLs improve search rankings with legible URLs.

There are many more features that CMS tools can offer but those are some of the important features that you want included when choosing your CMS tool.  So, when considering hosting options don’t forget these handy tips, and if you need help just gives us a call.

One of the most interesting and rewarding aspects about my job here at Beacon Technologies is the fact that we are constantly looking for ways to integrate technologies together.  As a CMS Specialist, I’m always looking for ways to use our Content Management System, Hannon Hill’s Cascade Server, to further allow our customers to manage their sites on their own…completely on their own.

We all know about Flash:  a widely-used, extremely popular Web technology that allows site owners to jazz up their site with quick-loading animation.  But how would a site owner even think about maintaining that Flash application?  Have you ever seen the code that Flash is written in?  It’s complicated to say the least.  So we needed a way to allow our customers to have Flash applications on their site, but also allow them an easy way to maintain their images and content.

Enter Cascade Server.  With our innovative solution, customers can use Cascade’s Microsoft Word-based editor and intuitive interface to edit content and images within a Flash player that Beacon custom-built for them.  Since Cascade Server is based on XML, and Flash is a pro at reading XML files, you have your integration of technologies.  Cascade Server can take the content that you put into it, publish it out in XML-format, and the Flash application reads that XML and displays the changes.

We took this solution even further, and built an all-Flash site.  Instead of an HTML-based site calling a few Flash applications here and there, this site is completely built with Flash, and managed by Cascade.  Using Cascade, our customer can add, remove, and delete pages, edit content using the Word-based editor, and insert images and tables.

It’s just another way that we create innovative Web technologies for our customers.  To learn more, visit our Web site at http://www.beacontechnologies.com/.