Archive for August, 2009


Social Media Marketing Segment on TV

Monday, August 31st, 2009

QuickTime PlayerScreenSnapz001 Last week I appeared on TV talking about how local businesses, non-profits and other organizations were using social media to market their businesses. Rob Caldwell, the interviewer, asked me about examples of companies using social media, as well as where a business should start in social media, if they haven't yet begun.

I also had the opportunity to talk for a minute about our upcoming social media conference on 9/23/2009 here in Maine: The Social Media FTW Fall Conference. I realize, having finally watched the segment, that it comes off as flyte new media's conference, which is not the case.

The FTW conference is equal parts Chrystie Corns, Jaica Kinsman and me; you can learn more about us FTW founders here.

To watch the segment, you can check out the video below or watch it in large format at the 207 Web site.

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Posted in Social Media | 2 Comments »


Is Gmail Right For Your Small Business?

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

I started using Gmail regularly for business back in March. It happened right after a series of frequent, productivity-killing crashes of my Entourage mail client (what Microsoft calls Outlook on the Mac.)

I'll be honest; it took some getting used to. First off, no folders? Really? Google, you think your mail search is all that? (Actually, it is all that and a bag of chips.)

However, since I'm often checking email from my iPhone, I fell in love with the automatic sync that Gmail (as a Web mail app) provided. I'd check my email while waiting in line somewhere, reply, and the original message would be archived and my message in my sent folder, even when I returned to my work computer. Or my home computer. Or an Internet café computer, if I went there.

I also love the way Gmail threads messages, collapsing previously read messages automatically, and even telling me while I'm reading an email if a new, updated response has come in. Sometimes it gets a little too aggressive with threading messages, however, and I wish there was an easy way to unthread certain threads.

And for years I joked about writing a script that would check for attachments if the word "attachment" was in the email, so I wouldn't keep forgetting. And lo and behold, Gmail has that feature as well.

Of course, there are drawbacks, too. The lack of folders, recent downtime and the Web-based nature of the application makes it not for everyone.

I wrote up a pro and con list of making the switch to Gmail and entitled it Gmail: Is Free Email Right for Your Small Business. It's this month's issue of flyte log. Enjoy.

Rich Brooks
Web Tools for Small Business

Posted in Entrepreneur & Small Business, flyte news | 18 Comments »


Reliable Networks: A Flash to WordPress Conversion

Monday, August 10th, 2009

Reliable-networks flyte recently worked with Reliable Networks, a Portland, Maine based technology company servicing businesses of all sizes.

Reliable Networks offers hosted services, technology consulting, hipaa compliance and proactive maintenance, as well as being experts in Zimbra Groupware.

RN had a beautiful, clean Web site when we began working with them. They had received lots of compliments on how easy it was to use and find the information once you were there.

The problem was that it was built entirely in Flash. The images, the content, the navigation, all Flash. While there's nothing wrong with using Flash (the current Web site still uses Flash banners), using it for the entire site rendered the site nearly invisible to search engines.

Flyte rebuilt the site on WordPress, using some neat javascript tricks to mimic some of the, well, flash of Flash, without hurting the site's search engine visibility. Now all of their keyword-rich content can be indexed by Google, Bing and the other search engines, delivering more qualified leads through their Web site.

Now that the site is running on WordPress, RN is able to update the site, adding new content, uploading images and embedding videos as necessary. With flyte's help RN's also added a blog, tackling such topics as "strong passwords" and password rotation.

If your business is located in southern Maine and you need support for your emails, network and/or help with other technological issues, be sure to visit Reliable Networks.

If you're looking to build a world-class Web site that can grow with your business, be sure to talk to flyte new media today.

Rich Brooks
Maine WordPress Design

Posted in Web Site Launches | 2 Comments »


Designer Sale Rack: WordPress + E-Commerce = Success

Friday, August 7th, 2009

Designersalerack Flyte recently launched a new fashion e-commerce blog at DesignerSaleRack.com with the tag line "Still in Style. Now on Sale."

DesignerSaleRack offers contemporary women's and men's clothing and denim at extremely discounted prices.

Using WordPress's categories and tags, it's easy to find men's denim or women's jackets or any sweater that's on sale. (Wow! $43.20 marked down from $160!)

We implemented a PayPal & e-junkie solution for handling e-commerce in an extremely cost effective way; no startup fees, and only $5/month for e-junkie. (Terrible name, great shopping cart solution. I find myself apologizing for the name as I continue to sell people on the slick interface and easy-to-use features.)

You can also follow DesignerSaleRack on Twitter at @dsignersalerack.

If you're a fashion diva with an eye for value, be sure to visit DesignerSaleRack.com. If you need a blog or e-commerce for your growing business, be sure to talk to flyte.

Rich Brooks
WordPress Design & Development

Posted in Web Site Launches | 6 Comments »


Healthcare Jobs in Midcoast Maine – WordPress Delivers

Friday, August 7th, 2009

Lchc Last week flyte launched a Web site for Lincoln County Healthcare called LCH Careers.

The new Web site is the go-to place for people looking for healthcare positions in and around the coastal communities of Boothbay Harbor and Damariscotta.

Visitors to the site can learn more about working in midcoast Maine, living in midcoast Maine, and current, available healthcare positions. 

The site was built in WordPress, so that LCH could have multiple people continually updating the site, adding content, uploading photos and embedding videos…all without any HTML knowledge.

If you're looking for a healthcare job in one of the most beautiful spots in the world, be sure to visit LCH Careers. If you're looking to build a Web site that you can manage yourself, and that will grow with you, be sure to talk to flyte new media.

Rich Brooks
Maine Web Design

Posted in Web Site Launches | No Comments »


The Elms: Greater Portland Bed & Breakfast

Friday, August 7th, 2009

The-elms Flyte recently worked with The Elms, a historic B&B located in Greater Portland on their Web presence and visibility.

We started with a keyword analysis to help Scott, the innkeeper, get a better understanding of what people were searching for when they needed Portland, Maine lodging. We also identified some link building opportunities to help further increase the site's search engine rankings.

Next, we rebuilt the current Web site on WordPress, and added a blog. WordPress–an open-source content management system–allows Scott to add, edit and delete content to his heart's desire. Also, as we continue to work with him to uncover trending topics and new keyword opportunities, he can update the site himself, keeping his costs down.

The blog is a natural fit for bed & breakfasts; we all expect our innkeepers to know the local area, and a blog is a way to establish this expertise before the guest even arrives at the inn. It also increases the chances that the site will come up for different searches.

If you're looking to stay at a historic bed & breakfast in Greater Portland, be sure to check out The Elms. If you want to increase your search engine visibility and Web site conversions, contact flyte today.

Rich Brooks
Maine Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Posted in Web Site Launches | 2 Comments »


The Calm Eye of the Social Media Storm? Your Blog, ‘Natch.

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

As more small businesses come around to the idea that social media can help them grow their business, the number of options seem overwhelming: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr, FriendFeed, the list goes on….

The other concern many small business owners have is that if they invest their time in one of these social media sites and build an audience, what happens if Facebook goes the way of Friendster, or Twitter loses the media buzz the way Second Life did? Things are moving too fast for many entrepreneurs and they're not sure where to begin.

My recommendation? Your blog! You may already have one, and if you don't, I'd strongly recommend you get one! A business blog is the perfect, calm eye to the social media storm that whips around us.

Some benefits for having a blog?

  • Search engine visibility
  • Inbound link building (read more on this at The Maine SEO Blog)
  • Ability to generate more links to your Web site and other online properties
  • Establish your credibility
  • PR
  • A home for your intellectual property (I stole this line from Denise Wakeman)
  • A place where your audience can interact with you through comments and trackbacks
  • A place to put breaking news and events

The list goes on.

If you're going to be in Maine next Wednesday and would like to learn more on How to Plan, Build and Promote a Business Blog, I have just the event for you.

I'll be putting on a session on blogging (10:30a – 12:30p), as well as one on social media marketing (8a – 10a) and another on search engine optimization for the Southern Midcoast Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, August 12th.

You can learn more and register for any or all of the seminars by clicking on the links above.

Rich Brooks
Your Blogging, Social Media & SEO Guy

All this talking about hurricanes makes me want to listen to some Neil Young. Oh, look, here's some now!

Posted in Business Blogs and Blog Marketing, Entrepreneur & Small Business, Web Marketing | No Comments »