18 May 2010

Easy site updates

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Google Tip #6 - Fill in the blanks (*)

The *, or wildcard,  tells Google to try to treat the star as a placeholder for any unknown term(s) and then find the best matches. For example, the query [ Obama voted * on the * bill ] will give you stories about different votes on different bills.

Note that the * operator works only on whole words, not parts of words.

Website Software

From the getgo we have been software developers. We develop our software for "the cloud" or software that runs as part of a website - software to

- update websites

- send email newsletters

- manage databases

- provide safe secure private spaces on the web

 The software we develop is designed & built to run in the cloud (on the web) and that means there's no software to install.

Please pass the cloud computing message on to anyone you think could benefit from our services.

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Hi

Last week our new server went into operation. We now have 2 servers, and the capacity for the new server to grow and meet demand is astounding. The transfer has taken months of planning, and a few late nighters for Cain, to make sure everything went as seamlessly as possible for our customers and their website visitors. The new server is called "Pounamu" for strength and love (yeah we love our computers and give them all names!) .

As if that wasn't enough, the previous month, our upgraded website was made live. We did this without moving or copying the content of the site - a bit like doing major renovations to your house while living in it! We've done a few renovations like this, both for us and for clients, resulting in a huge amount of expertise within the team for this kind of upgrade. If you know anyone with a large website, that they frustratingly can't update, needing a renovation, please pass on my name to them or give me a call. I can usually assess whether we can help them in less than 15 minutes.

And to top it all off we completed the upgrade of Nautilus, our content management software. The big news is it eliminates the two-step cut and paste. All our new websites are being built with the new software and I am hoping to be in a position to offer upgrades to people by the end of the month.

Good Health,

New server - it's cloud computing

How to create links in Nautilus

Links are the backbone of the web. When you are writing for your website you are likely to include lots of them within your copy. Links to other parts of your website to draw customers into your story and links to pages outside your website to enhance and support your story. We've just added a page to our website to help you include links in your content.  Read more »

Ask an Expert Answer

What are the most important considerations when planning on revamping an old, tired business website?

FINDABILITY: Before someone becomes a customer they must find you and your business, so being found, especially on Google is the top priority.

LOOK: People asses your website in less than 1 second and the most effective way to get a quick message to them is with a visual design that conveys your brand and lets them know they are in the right place.

CONTENT: Content is what will keep them on your website and eventually convince them to buy your product or to contact you. This is real guts of your website and where you will spend most time during the revamp.

Sustainability Update

Spiral has been part of the Sustainable Business Network for over 3 years. One of the items of feedback we got, when we undertook the Get Sustainable Challenge in 2007, was the need to communicate our sustainable related practices to our clients, suppliers and the general public. This feels a bit like blowing our own trumpet to me - something I need practice at doing. Maureen and I attended a workshop on energy management this morning and I have come away committed to publishing whatever we do in the interests of spreading the word and maybe helping others meet the challenge.

For starters, here is a link to the Sustainable Business Network website where you can get all kinds of information and join up to take the challenge.

Nautilus Note

If you want another copy of the Nautilus manual or a refresher training session, contact Maxine on 586 2686 or maxine@spiral.co.nz.

The web is an increasingly complex place, both the manual and the training in our office are free as part of our commitment to make the web a simpler place for you.