Hot Tech Trends: How Will the iPhone 6 Affect Web Design?

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Last week, Apple fans around the planet erupted into a frenzy as the technology behemoth released its newest iPhones, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. Yes, I’ll admit, a good deal of the OpenPotion staff was glued to the live feed too, and we giddily exchanged messages back and forth about the latest features: a notably larger screen, Apple Pay, new imaging capabilities, and much more. While it was great fun to drool over the new devices and dream about getting our hands on one of the tech world’s hottest new toys, I had to ask myself, “How will the iPhone 6 change the world of web design?”

Sure, it might seem like a bit of a stretch, but remember, Apple was the company that brought smartphones to the masses, made Adobe Flash nearly obsolete, and was one of the loudest champions of HTML5. The impact of one little phone might not seem relevant, but with more than 500 million of these devices sold over the course of the past few years, savvy webmasters should certainly be asking themselves how their online destination could be impacted by the new release.

Responsive, Responsive, Responsive

For website owners who’ve opted to adopt a responsive design for their site, the good news is that the iPhone 6 should have little impact at all. That’s because responsive sites are specifically geared to “respond” to the browser of each unique visitor. How a site appears on an iPhone 6 Plus, iPad, or a desktop computer shouldn’t differ. Instead, responsive design allows the user experience to remain constant.  While this is encouraging news for some site owners, it’s undeniable that the new phones will make their mark in other ways.

Increased Local Searches

The Internet already marked a substantial milestone earlier this year, when mobile web usage officially surpassed traditional desktop browsing. For local business owners, this metric isn’t merely interesting to note—it’s essential. The majority of all local searches take place on smartphones like the iPhone 6, and research has shown that web users rely heavily on the reviews a site has amassed to determine its legitimacy and value. With faster LTE browsing and a longer battery life, Apple’s new phones will likely boost mobile browsing further than ever before.

If you’re still struggling to get over the impact of negative reviews on your Yelp, Google Plus, or Yahoo! Local account, consider investing in a solution like GatherKudos. This innovative tool makes it easy to filter bad reviews before they ever make it to your site—and best of all, you can easily funnel the right kind of reviews to the places that matter.

Developing Fully-Functional Websites

Earlier in this millennium, mobile websites were seen as an afterthought. Many sites didn’t offer the same dynamic features as their desktop counterparts, and some destinations weren’t accessible at all on the small screen. If the insatiable appetite for the new iPhone 6 Plus reveals anything, it’s that modern consumers are eager to purchase large devices that can take the place of their computer in many applications. For web designers and business owners, never has it been more important to create a site that caters to the users of such devices.

While the full impact of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus remains yet to be seen, there’s little question Apple has another winner on its hands. If you’re a site owner wondering if your online destination can keep up with the influx of mobile users, get in touch with us today to learn more about our comprehensive design packages. We’re industry leaders in developing responsive, attractive sites that accomplish real results.

Adam Zetterlund

– Adam, Content Wizard

Content is King . . . How is Your Kingdom?

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Content-is-King

Is your Content working for you?

Content is King. But why is it so important? Content serves to engage your clients, tell your story, and sell your brand.

Content marketing is the key to promoting your business. The internet is a crowded market, but with the right content marketing strategy in place, your business will stand out.

If you’re having any doubts about the importance of content here’s three reasons why Content is King:

Relationships & Trust

Relationships are built on trust, and having great content on your website creates the foundation for trust. By being open about what your company offers, you’re opening the doors to building relationships with your clients. But it doesn’t stop there!

Content allows you to continue to keep in touch with clients, assuring that they’re receiving the best customer service possible. It keeps a circle of communication open, building a reputable name for your brand.

Think of content as your company’s voice. Your website is the spokesperson for your company.

Content doesn’t begin and end on the pages of your website. What about your Social Media? Yes, even a 140 character count Tweet must be well written content.

Every Tweet and every Facebook status speaks for your company just as loudly as your website does. In today’s market, Social Media is so important and many consumers will look at your Social Media to decide if your business is the right choice for their needs.

Think of it like this: Your website is your best employee, but your Social Media is your PR Expert.

Google is Your Friend

Long gone are the days of “black hat” tricks to get your website ranked higher on search engines. SEO and excellent content are today’s “white hat” tricks. Having well written content on your website that speaks to your audience will take you a long way up the rankings.

We all know people visit your website- but did you know search engines visit, too? They send crawlers to check things out that can affect how you show up on a search.

Hope to see you at the top!

Leave the Hard Work to Us

Are you ready to amp up your game? We can help you create a content marketing strategy to fully engage your visitors and current clients and increase your sales.

Find out how easy it is to get more effective content working for you.

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Starr, Content Goddess

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Meet our Graphic Designer

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Happy Friday and welcome back to our ongoing series, “Meet the Team,” where we’re giving you a chance to get a personal look into the lives of our fantastic team members here at OpenPotion.  So far you’ve had the chance to get to know our customer service expert and web developer Morgan, our awesome projects manager Esteban, our British assistant to our CEO Helen, and the members of our content team,  Adam the Content Wizard and Starr the Content Goddess.

This week, we’re interviewing our visual virtuoso and graphics guru, Michael.

"Never give up!"

“Never give up!”

What’s your background as far as work?

– Started my career as a freelancer graphic designer, operating my own business for 5 years
– Worked for a year in the marketing department of Rockwell Automation as a marketing coordinator
– Worked as an ad coordinator for a farming magazine for a year
– Worked as a graphic designer for 5 years at Greentec – electronics recycler / Thinkrecycle – electronic recycling fund-raising program
– Worked for one year as a graphic designer at Bailey Creative – web design agency

What do you bring to our Team that is valuable?

– 17 years of design knowledge and experience

Where do you live, and with whom?

I was born and raised in Kitchener-Waterloo Ontario Canada, HQ of Blackberry (formally RIM) and the largest Octoberfest next to Bavaria. I currently reside in Stratford Ontario Canada, hometown of the likes of Lloyd Robertson, Peter Mansbridge and Justin Bieber. I live with my partner Carri-Ann, her two children Hannah and Grant, toy poodle Maxwell and teddy-bear hamster Charles. My son Kyle also live with us on a part time basis.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

– Train in the martial arts
– Watch movies…love movies
– Road trips…explore new places
– Send time with my son Kyle
– Draw, read, camp

Where do you hang out at when you’re not at work?

Working from home, I don’t get out much…when I do go out, it’s usually to the dojo where I train twice a week in Aiki Jujitsu and Goju Ryu Karate.

If you didn’t work for OpenPotion, what would your dream job be?

Honestly, I have a passion for designing mobile apps. I’d love to do more of that type of work. I think I’d do well teaching martial arts at my own dojo as well.

What is the best part about working from home, and one of the biggest challenges of working from home?

Best part – The flexibility and freedom to set my own schedule and hours
Biggest challenge – Staying focused and disciplined and avoiding distractions

What is your favorite advice that you like to give to clients about their website?

I like to remind clients that “it’s all part of the process”. Developing a website consists of incremental stages that build on one another to create the final product. Not to worry, the wire-frame isn’t how the final website will look, it’s just the beginnings of the process.

What has been your funniest moment working at OP?

I find it amusing that the team feels compelled to say my name with a British accent all the time. Now I just need to convince them to add “Sir” before it.

Which projects have you enjoyed working on the most and why?

I like working on the projects that require multiple components such as logo, wire-frame, style tile, mock-up, business card, etc. This way I can help clients to build a brand, not just a website.

What’s your favorite food?

Sushi and chocolate, not together though.

What would your rapper name be?

Throw down

Favorite movie?

Sooo many to choose from… I’ll go with “Saving Private Ryan” for the purpose of this interview.

If you had a super power what would it be, and why?

The same one Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark have.

Editor’s note:  So, Michael wants to be a highly intelligent rich man with lots of fun toys.  I can dig that. 

Share a favorite meme from the internet.

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Starr, Content Goddess

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Property Pointers: 4 Simple Steps to Improve Property Management Websites

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Managing a busy property management business requires business owners to carefully prioritize their time, as they work to resolve tenant issues, find new clients, and remain profitable. Establishing a dynamic property management website can help you do exactly that, but you can’t expect incredible results with a cookie cutter webpage. Instead, your business needs to invest in a comprehensive, fully-functional site that caters to real estate investors and tenants alike.

If you’re tired of your property site’s lackluster results, using the following simple tips to overhaul your marketing efforts.

1. Invest in the Right Foundation

It might feel fundamental, but you’d be surprised to learn how many property groups try to cut corners online. Sure, investing in a professional property management site might prove expensive, but how many customers are you already losing due to an ineffective site? Before you try to fix a big problem with a tiny little Band-Aid, bite the bullet and bring in the development pros—you’ll be shocked to see how your conversation rates improve.

2. Keep Your Website Updated

If you ignored one of your client’s properties for months on end, you’d be in deep trouble. The same principle is true for your website. A whopping 97% of all consumers search for local business information online. How many of those would-be tenants are you missing because of a poorly optimized site? Keep your content fresh with new listings, blog updates, newsletters…you name it!

3. Interact with Your Site Visitors

Crafting great marketing copy and implementing savvy optimization techniques helps to pull in site visitors, but don’t let those would-be clients slip away. Work to engage with your audience immediately. At OpenPotion, we utilize live chat systems to give every site visitor a chance to ask questions, get more information, and learn more about what we do. Consider using the same approach to bolster your own success on the web.

4. Keep a Close Eye on Feedback

User reviews and testimonials have turned the online world on its head, with everyday buyers relying on this crucial information when considering your company’s services. While it’s one thing to feature glowing reviews on your site, you want to make sure negative feedback doesn’t get splashed about the web. Use a tool like GatherKudos to block out the negative stuff, while simultaneously funneling positive reviews to sites like Yelp, Google+, and Yahoo! Local.

Your website should serve as your business’ most effective salesman. It sells around the clock, and when performing optimally, should pull in a steady stream of new clients. If your site isn’t pulling its weight, make the decision today to invest in the resources that will stabilize your long-term profits.

Call us today to learn how OpenPotion can help.

Adam Zetterlund

– Adam, Content Wizard