http://foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/blog/ Fox Designs Studio en jeramiah@foxdesignsstudio.com Copyright 2011 2011-09-05T20:40:31+00:00 http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/images/theme_images/blogrss.jpg http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/turning_a_qr_code_into_agrilled-cheese_sandwich http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/turning_a_qr_code_into_agrilled-cheese_sandwich#When:20:40:31Z I know we've talked about QR codes before, but this will blow your mind.  Imagine ordering a grilled-cheese sandwich using a QR code.  It's happening in one San Fransisco restaruant.  The inventer of the flip camera phone is capitalizing on his love of technology and food by allowing his customers.  The Melt, as his restaurant is called deploys a mobile-ordering system that that lets customers buy a sandwich on their phone and then scan a QR, or Quick Response code (those pixelated black-and-white squares) on the phone's screen when they arrive. The QR code triggers the grilling process; Kaplan hopes to deliver hot grilled-cheese sandwiches, which cost $5.95, within two minutes. Jonathan Kaplan, who created the Flip video camera, is opening a chain of grilled-cheese restaurants.   But it doesn't end there.  The grills are custom made to work with the software.  Kaplan had hardware manufacturers develop a special grill that can toast bread and cheese efficiently and reliably, with minimal effort from the staff. Kaplan tested the software -- yes, this grill runs apps -- over six months, tasting thousands of sandwiches until the process was tweaked to his liking, he       2011-09-05T20:40:31+00:00 http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/One_Size_Does_Not_Fit_All http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/One_Size_Does_Not_Fit_All#When:14:56:39Z Each Fox Design client has different needs/requirements for their website project.  Web site development is not just slapping a few pages together and inserting some pretty pictures.  There has to be careful thought and planning to figure out what the best solutions are for your specific project.  One solution does not fit all. This week, I was working through the details of a project with a client.  There was some back and forth info gathering and prioritizing of must haves and don't have to have right away items.  Joe the jump roping champion of the Western hemisphere (names changed to protect the innocent) wants to build a crazy wicked site for his new venture - JumpStars.net.  All kinds of bells and whistles.  Like most of us, funds are tight and there are not a lot of lump sums of moolah sitting around.  There are a lot of moving parts to this site and each has its own nuances and solutions.  For example, Forums.  It's not just a bunch of published text or blog postings.  Forums require a database, secure log-in, specific design layout and some intricate installation processes.  You can't just plug n play a Forum - there's not an APP for that. When Joe and I first began our discovery, it seemed MojoMotor would be the right choice to get the website up and running.  That's just it though, it would be up and running but the ability to add the bells and whistles would be a lot of coding effort.  Coding is expensive.  Did you know that "Coding is Poetry?"  Not everyone is well versed !  As we progressed, it became apparent that the best overall solution was to power JumpStars.net with Expression Engine (EE).  EE is a work horse with plenty of modules to make it hum like a fast skipping rope.  Expression Engine will prove to be the smartest and most cost effective long-term solution for Joe's website. If you and your significant other are in the market to buy a house and you are planning to have children in 2 years.  Which would be the better solution - buy a small house now and purchase a bigger house when the kids come OR purchase the larger home now so you can lock in a currently low interest rate, have a smart long-term investment and have plenty of room to grow?  Like a website, there has to be careful thought and planning to figure out what the best solution is for your specific needs. To find out more about our Website Development solutions, visit our website or call us at 800-257-9679. 2011-09-01T14:56:39+00:00 http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/understanding_website_traffic http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/understanding_website_traffic#When:16:24:37Z Understanding Website Traffic This traffic report shows you how people found your site, how they explored it, and how you can enhance their visitor experience. With this information, you can improve your website return on investment, increase conversions, and make more money on the web. This guide can help you familiarize yourself with the main features of Google Analytics. Below you will find detailed statistics about the visitors to your website. It’s main highlight is that you can analyze where the visitors of your website or blog came from, how long they stayed on the website and their geographical position. Most important, you can define and track conversions or goals. Goals might include sales, subscriptions to newsletters, lead generation, viewing a specific page, or downloading a particular file.   By using this tool, you can determine which ads are performing, and which are not, as well as find unexpected sources of quality. Common Traffic Terminoligy Glossary Hit - A request to the web server for a file. An HTML page can account for several hits: the page itself, each image on the page, and any embedded sound or video clips. Keyword - A significant word or phrase, relevant to the web page or document in question. No Referral - The "(no referral)" entry appears when the visitor to the site got there by typing the URL directly into the browser or using a bookmark / favorite.
 Pageview - A pageview is an instance of a page being loaded and viewed by a browser.
 Referrer - The URL of an HTML page that refers visitors to a site. Bounce rate - Bounce rate is the percentage of single-page visits. Unique Visitors (or Absolute Unique Visitors) - Unique Visitors represents the number of unduplicated (counted only once) visitors to your website over the course of a specified time period. Exit Page – The last page accessed before a user exits your site. The significance of an exit page varies according to each page. Time on Site - Time on Site is one way of measuring visit quality. If visitors spend a long time visiting your site, they may be interacting more extensively with the site.
 Page views - Page Views is the total number of pages viewed on your site and is a general measure of how much your site is used. Visits - The number of visits received by your site is the most basic measure of how effectively you promote your site.   Learn More about Google Analytics   2011-08-22T16:24:37+00:00 http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/so_whats_in_a_mobile_website http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/so_whats_in_a_mobile_website#When:03:17:52Z As we know almost everyone has a smartphone now days. More and more people are going that route. In 2012 its expected that over 70% of internet viewers will be surfing the web on a smartphone. You will want to make sure your own websites are complete with mobile detection and have a easy to use mobile interface that is compatible with the newest phones and devices. So whats in a mobile website? Here is a great guidelines to follow. 1. Only show the basics. When people are viewing your website on a mobile device, they are probably not going to spend a lot of time digging through it on their tiny screens. They are most likely looking for a key piece of information, such as your phone number. Strip out all but the essential information that is most useful to viewers in a mobile context. 2. Auto-detect the device. I've seen some websites that host the mobile version on a separate URL such as "m.domain.com" or www.domain.mobi." This is annoying because it requires the user to take an extra step to switch between sites. Your website should detect the device and serve up the most appropriate version automatically to make it as easy as possible for the viewer. 3. Reduce content to single columns. Mobile devices have limited screen space so it's important to make good use of that space by displaying all content in a single column with no sidebars. This keeps your content readable and usable. 4. Make sure phone numbers are rendered with text, not images. Phone numbers should usually be rendered as text on any website but it's especially important on mobile websites. If the phone number is part of an image, then it won't be clickable on a smart phone which makes it very inconvenient for the user to try to call you. Make sure phone numbers are rendered as text so it's easy for users to "click to call." 5. Avoid drop-down menus. This menu style is not good for usability on any website but on a mobile device drop-down menus are even more cumbersome. Stick to simple navigation that can be accessed with a simple click to make it easier for mobile users to navigate your website. It's not difficult to create a mobile version of your website but it's important to consider the context in which your viewers are accessing your website. By keeping it simple and well-prioritized, you will ensure a great experience on a variety of mobile devices. If you need help with your next mobile website, feel free to contact us and we will be glad help. 2011-08-18T03:17:52+00:00 http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/to_droid_or_not_to_droid_-_that_is_my_question http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/to_droid_or_not_to_droid_-_that_is_my_question#When:15:14:14Z At FOX Designs, we are a mixed house.  Some of us can't and won't live without our Apples and others, well, we don't think any less of them because they choose to live an Apple-less life.  Myself, I am a proud, certified, card holding Apple devotee.  MAC Book, iPad, iPod and iPhone.  Oh, wait, nix nay on the iPhone.  I WAS an iPhone girl up to a week ago.  For reasons of frustration and cost, I decided to leap from my iPhone 3g to an Android, rather than the current iPhone 4g.   Did I make the right decision? I've been often told that the Android is Awesome or Better than iPhone.  Then again, it's easy to find an Apple cult member that will look you in the eye and repeat, verbatim,  "It's an iPhone, need I say more?"  So, hear I sit, with my new Android in hand, trying to figure out how to retrieve Dave's Mobile number from my contacts so I can call him.  I know it's in there, I'm able to text to his mobile phone.  I'm a smart person, got me a college degree and all.  Have I been brainwashed by the power that is Steve Jobs, which makes my ability to use anti-Apple products impossible?   I remember that my leap from Blackberry Pearl (which I loved) to iPhone was painful.  Then the love blossomed and me and my iPhone were an item.  The phone was responsive, attentive and did what I expected it to do.  Then the honeymoon was over.  If it's possible, the phone became sluggish, battery couldn't hold a charge for longer than a few hours and wiping the phone and starting over didn't seem to improve the situation.   Eventually, my frustrations took over and I wanted a divorce.  and... Wa La...  I am dating an Android.  It's slick, lots of bells and whistles, things in different places (took me a week to figure out how to retrieve my voice mail) and it's potential is waiting to be discovered.  I'm a busy person, just like you, so I lack in the patience department when it comes to learning something new.  We have become, wait....  we ARE, a society that expects immediate return on investment and shortfalls are not acceptable.     I realized yesterday, that I am just not interested in subjecting myself to the learning/adjustment curve that this phone warrants for me.  I long for the touch of my iPhone and it's familiar functionality.  Have I given the Android a fair chance?  Sometimes, you just know when a date is not a good fit.   Has drinking the Apple Kool-Aid sent me down an irrevocable path?  Am I in such a hurry that I am not allowing this new relationship to take flight?  Have you crossed over to the anti-Apple side only to return, I mean, run, back to the arms of Apple ?  I'd love to hear your thoughts !   2011-08-17T15:14:14+00:00 http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/jamaica_taught_me_that_every_little_thing_is_going_to_be_alright http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/jamaica_taught_me_that_every_little_thing_is_going_to_be_alright#When:23:46:23Z We met some of the most loving and caring people we have talked to in a long time. These people have very little, yet give such a positive loving feeling towards others, as that is truly more important to them. Jamaica was amazing and we look forward to taking another trip back to stay with some of the locals that we had met. When we return we will plan to travel the Island and learn the culture. Jamaicans are amazing people that we can learn a lot of from, they have no worry; no problem. One thing we learned was that the government is very hard on the people and the taxes that are taken out are outrageous, so much more then what we tend to complain about here in the states. I was surprised how hard they work for very little pay and some have to pay as much as 50% in taxes. How would that change your lifestyle? Everyone was so friendly and I don't believe it was just the ganja in the air, I think it’s the nature of the people. On our way back to the airport we were in a travel car and the tire blew out. Once we were safely off to the side (thanks to our amazing driver and tour guide), all I could hear were the sounds of beeping horns and people yelling, This was not a bad thing however, as we would expect here in the states. This was a sign of everyone wanting to help, and seeing if we were ok. To change a tire is a very easy process and most could have done it by themselves, but 3 or 4 cars did not even ask if we needed help, they just stopped and started working right away without even asking. As by brother-en-law said; next to a Nascar pit-stop, this was the fastest tire change we had seen (Jamaican pit-stop). When was the last time that you needed help on the road and anyone even stopped? I know I’m guilty of watching as I drive by because I am on the phone or I am rushing to get home or to work. I am a very busy person and I have meetings and appointments to get to. How about you?   I believe that God would want us to consider helping others more as I will now take a second thought about passing someone up that could need help. There are many differences between our culture and the cultures around the world. For me, my trip to Jamaica taught me that every little thing is going to be alright.    2011-08-15T23:46:23+00:00 http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/fox_designs_now_has_a_lite_cms_solution http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/fox_designs_now_has_a_lite_cms_solution#When:04:05:59Z Fox Designs now has a lite version of our CMS! We are now introducing MojoMotor as our lite content management system. MojoMotor was originated by the guys at EllisLab with an easy to use and easy to learn content management system that can easily be upgraded to Expression Engine. It is the ideal solution for those who need the capability of updating your own features, as well as providing an easy to use platform for those who are not quite ready for the more advanced integration of Expression Engine.   MojoMotor embeds directly into your existing site, allowing you to edit and manage your content without having to log into a separate control panel. Your site *is* the control panel. Editing happens directly in your pages. Mojo Motor really allows users to easily update their site with out hesitation or any learning process, with Mojo Motor being very easy to use it really packs a punch at an affordable price. Feel free to fill out our quote form and see what MojoMotor can do for you. 2011-07-26T04:05:59+00:00 http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/fox_designs_studio_uses_e-signatures_as_a_standard http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/fox_designs_studio_uses_e-signatures_as_a_standard#When:07:36:52Z Well, we took a big leap into the latest technology: esignatures.  I was surprised at how legit they are and that they do hold up in courts of law.  It's not about the medium, it's about the message.  No US court has ever declared a signature invalid solely because it was electronic.  When you take into consideration that millions of e-signatures are used annually by Fortune 500 companies you realize you're already behind the curve. For example, Cisco signs over 6 million documents via electronic signature a year.  We still like face to face contact.  However, this is affording both our project managers and sales reps to save hours a day in driving to obtain signatures, but furthermore it's helping our partners save time.  We used to require a hand written signature which meant printing, scanning, uploading/faxing...ugh.  What a pain.  Now it's the easist thing to do and it takes seconds.  Tonight was our official go live of using the new software and we love it -- the best part is there's nothing to download!  Our documents are not only signed with a written signature, they're timestamped, IP stamped and contain a unique document ID number. 2011-06-18T07:36:52+00:00 http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/new_credit_card_processing_at_fox_designs http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/new_credit_card_processing_at_fox_designs#When:19:39:08Z Every member on our team now uses Square to process credit cards directly through our mobile devices for the convenience of our partners and potential partners.  Of course you can always use paypal or mail in your check, but we find this way to be a very simple and cost effective way to take payments directly at meetings when we're out and about. 2011-06-04T19:39:08+00:00 http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/creating_that_dimensional_feel_in_websites http://www.foxdesignsstudio.com/index.php/site/entry/creating_that_dimensional_feel_in_websites#When:18:33:12Z One reason we’re finding that companies are coming to us for their web design needs is our uncanny knack for creating what I call “dimensional” websites.  These are websites that have the effect of jumping off the page; websites that have depth to them.  We combine these effects into a cohesive design that not only compliments your business but one that is literally branded to your business.  When we say “branded” what we really mean is that the website is a direct reflection of your company.  For instance take one of our partners: cattlehedging which is viewable on the testing server: www.foxprodtest.us.  Their website reflects that western look and appeals directly to that audience.  It’s not only visually appealing but even for their potential clients it is an area that they will immediately connect with and feel comfortable and that’s what it’s all about. We accomplish these effects by using a variety of technologies such as textures for backgrounds and shadows and layers with CSS.  Sometimes we will also use a light source to add accents to the page and all of this gives a “touchable” feel to it with its depth of field. We think you deserve the best and our work is a direct reflection of our company and we wouldn’t have it any other way than to do the very best we can.  If you have questions on how we can create an outstanding “dimensional” look for your website, even if you already have one, give us a call! 2011-05-24T18:33:12+00:00