1. Idea Formation

If you are reading this then chances are good you already have an idea – great! Have you drawn it out? Take some paper and draw your web application’s interface (at least your initial design) and begin to interact with it. Use separate pieces of paper for each web page or element that changes. This exercise can be tremendously helpful as you will usually find early flaws in your design and you can “fix” them before you even begin coding. At this point it’s not a bad idea to have a friend go through it as well and provide some feedback or additional ideas. Be nice, even if their ideas are not something you are interested in doing, just hear them out. Your project will evolve and their idea may not be so crazy 6 months from now. Plus, you don’t have to add it, just nod your head and smile.

2. Plan It Out

When starting from scratch with no experience you have to accept a cold hard fact. You will not have a finished web app in a week. If you are trying to build something seriously cool you should plan on a year. Yes, a year. You want to do this right don’t you? It’s crucial that you spend plenty of time on Step 3 and even continue your education as you develop you web application. Try to schedule actual time for working on your project and not relegate it to “free time”. If you have extra time to work on it then great but make sure you schedule time to make progress.

3. Education

It’s important to realize that programming languages are referred to as “languages” for a reason. School is in session my friend and if you want to turn your web application into a reality you have to become multi-lingual. Now before you give up, even before you get started, let me tell you this, you DO NOT need to become fluent. While it’s hard to get around France without speaking fluent French, people do it everyday. (I did it for 2 weeks!)

There are also plenty of high quality and free online resources for learning HTML, CSS and Javascript/JQUERY; the three major web languages you will need to use to build your web app. PHP and Ruby also have numerous online sites dedicated to helping you for free! Codecademy.com is one of my favorite online resources for developing programming skills.

4. Baptism by Fire

Alright, it’s time to get your feet wet. If you went the Codecademy route you will have built some mini projects and you have probably realized how some of the things you learned can be applied to your own web application. Start building the skeleton of your web app, don’t worry so much about what it looks like just yet, focus on getting it to function properly first. This is where your lack of experience will start to show, but don’t worry, you can do this! There are also plenty of very capable individuals willing to help.

5. Stack Overflow

If you Google “how to do … in javascript”, you will most definitely end up on Stack Overflow. If you are not familiar with it let me sum it up. Anyone can ask a question, anyone can answer a question, the best answers are voted up by users and it is a programmers best friend / safety net / bible. The amount of programming talent and skill that is freely tossed around is mind boggling. If you are serious about your web app, you should be by now, join Stack Overflow and get some help.

6. Feedback, Bugs and Starting Over

At this point you should have something fairly functional and are able to interacte with. Before you try to put the finishing touches on it have plenty of friends give your web app a try. Remember, you have been working on this thing for months and what seems like simple navigation to you may not be as intuitive to others. Do your best not to get defensive and instead take note of everyone’s comments. If something was mentioned by more than one person, you should give it serious consideration. Having other people try your web app is also helpful for finding bugs. Sometimes people do things you would have never expected and it can reveal an issue with your app. Fix them all before you go live.

Don’t feel bad if it seems like you’re starting over. With every improvement and fix to the web app you make you are increasing the chances that your web application becomes successful.

7. Make Money

There are numerous ways to monetize your web app. Google Ad’s may be the easiest but may not be the best. It depends on your web application and how users use it. Something that is used infrequently by a large amount of people may benefiet from the Google Ad model while something that could be used everyday may look into a subscription or freemium model. The specifics are varied but if you made it this far, you’ll have little technical trouble and will be so excited that you should have it implemented fairly quickly. Now enjoy the fruits of your labor!

* Some of you may be asking, “What makes you an expert at creating a web application from scratch with no experience?”. Well, I’m not an expert, but I have done it. Only, somewhere in Step 6 it was determined that my web app would be much better as an actual mobile app. Since the functionality was already done with web languages I am using PhoneGap to utilize my existing code and turn it into native applications for iOS, Android and Windows phone devices.

Original article: How to Build a Web Application from Scratch with No Experience

©2013 Uhuru Network. All Rights Reserved.

Top 200 Paid iOS App’s May 9th 2013 Statistical Data

What does this data say about the iOS App Store market? Does/should it impact your mobile strategy? Let us know in the comments.

Original article: Top 200 Paid iOS App’s May 9th 2013 Statistical Data

©2013 Uhuru Network. All Rights Reserved.

What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?

Basecamp. Great for organizing projects.

Coda. It seems I’m always opening that up to make quick changes.

What’s your workspace like?

I generally have my mouse, keyboard, and computer on my desk flanked by a cup of tea and water. I usually have a notepad close by and it wouldn’t be a surprise to find a few sticky notes floating around. I also sit on a big Swiss exercise ball.

What do you listen to while you work?

Everything. I like to graze while I work. Top tracks for an hour or two, classical, bluegrass – just depends on my mood and what I’m working on.

What’s your best time saving trick?

I try not to multitask because I tend not to perform as well. Focus on one thing, get it done, and move on to the next thing.

What’s your favorite to-do list manager?

Other than sticky notes and my Google Calendar? Probably Basecamp.

Besides your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without?

Pen and paper. I love to print stuff out and write on it or write my ideas out on a piece of paper first.

What everyday things are you better at than most?

Maintaining a growth mindset. Our abilities are not fixed and we possess the ability to learn anything at any age, under any circumstance.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Think Big. Start Small. Learn Fast.

Is there anything else you want to share?

I really love to cook and InnerFatMan.com is where I write and share about my cooking adventures.

Original article: I’m Keegan Larson, and This Is How I Work

©2013 Uhuru Network. All Rights Reserved.

Outdated Content

If your last blog post is from 2 months ago, the content is outdated. Keeping your content fresh shows that your business is active and gives visitors a reason to come back to your site.

Disorganized

Keep it simple. A site with too much text and clutter can make a site difficult to navigate. Visitors should be able to find the information they are looking for quickly and easily.

Typos & Website Malfunctions

Small grammatical errors and typos can reflect poorly on you business. Broken or incorrect links can make your business to seem unprofessional. Take the time to proofread your site.

Mobile Device Compatibility

Quality website navigation and design is never more crucial than with a mobile website. When a website doesn’t work well on smartphones and tablets, visitors will leave your site quicker than if they were on a desktop or laptop. Mobile visitors are on the move and in a hurry, make sure they get the information they need quickly.

Contact Info

Your contact information should be readily and easily accessible from anywhere on the website.

If you think your website has any of these problems, we can help.

Original article: 5 Website Mistakes That Are Hurting Your Business

©2013 Uhuru Network. All Rights Reserved.

How To Share YouTube Videos on StumbleUpon and Pinterest

On the YouTube video page you would like to share simply click the “share” button under the video next to “about”. The usual Facebook, Twitter and Google+ icons will appear. Many do not notice the little arrow icon to the right. Click this arrow and 7 additional site icons will appear. I’m not sure why these icons are not visible from the get go, they have the space for them?

Hope you found this quick article useful and are now stumbling and pinning away!

Original article: How To Share YouTube Videos on StumbleUpon and Pinterest

©2013 Uhuru Network. All Rights Reserved.

It goes without saying that in today’s business environment it is not enough to merely have a website. Marketing managers agree that websites should and must be refined and improved on a regular basis in order to capture a visitor’s attention. I’m not referring only to written content – I’m talking about anything in your website that can engage visitors consistently. If this level isn’t available on your website they may leave your website and find themselves engaging with one of your competitors.

At Uhuru Network, our exceptional creative design team offers website redesign services that improve the graphical look, usability, and overall credibility of your current online presence. We also shine by developing modern, user-friendly and professional websites that increase your profit and deliver your message clearly to your visitors.

If you are investing valuable marketing dollars in developing your web presence only to find that your site isn’t optimized to give you high conversion rates, our website redesign services at Uhuru Network are the solution you need to boost your online conversions and maximize profits.

Top 10 questions to ask yourself if a website redesign is needed for your website:

1. Why do visitors currently come to my website?
2. Is my website easy to navigate and is it easy to find information?
3. Are my current website visitors being converted into sales?
4. Are competitors’ websites more functional and have they recently been redesigned?
5. Does the content on my website deliver the right message?
6. Is my website a good representation of my business?
7. Does my current website instill trust and confidence in my business or brand?
8. Am I easily able to update my website?
9. Are visitors who come to my website being tracked and analyzed?
10. Does my existing website make it easy for website visitors to contact me?

Our website redesign services:

• Complete website redesign services, along with maintenance and updates for your website throughout the year
• Search engine optimization and content analysis
• Optional website redesign at the time of annual renewal
• Conversion and usability analysis of existing website and redesigned website

If you’re concerned with cost or profits – you need a website design that not only looks good, but sells. Let the innovative and strategic website redesign services of Uhuru Network make the most out of your web marketing dollars!

Call 559.325.4803 or contact us online to learn more about our website redesign services.

Original article: Top 10 Questions To Ask Yourself – Website Redesign

©2013 Uhuru Network. All Rights Reserved.

It was the top of the 5th in the 2012 NLDS. Pitcher Matt Latos of the Cincinnati Reds is furious, his team leads the 5 game series 2-0, but they are currently down 2 runs to the San Francisco Giants and the bases are loaded. Buster Posey, the heavy favorite to win the National League’s MVP award, (He won BTW) walks up to the plate. Buster works the count 2-and-2, the crowd is cheering loud and anticipating the strike out. Latos throws a fastball that is sent back 435 feet. Posey had just silenced the crowd with a grand slam, a rare feat. Not only was it the first grand slam that Latos had given up, it was only the third by a catcher in the post season. Adding to the rarity, the Giants had only hit 103 home runs all season, the lowest in the MLB that year. Home runs, however, are not the only ingredient for success, as the Giants went on to win the World Series in a 4 game sweep.

Viral Videos Are Like Home Runs

Some marketing companies say that viral videos are a fluke and cannot be created on purpose. They are wrong, sort of. Certain players hit more home runs than others and there are things you can do as a player to increase the power of your swing and increase the chances of a home run. You can also do things with the content (kittens and babies, jk) of your videos to increase the chances they go viral. If you know the “formula”, you can create viral videos more often, just not every time. Home runs are certainly helpful, but they are difficult to reproduce and are not the game plan for every at bat. If every player went for a home run with every swing they would strike out more often than not (think Adam Dunn). Viral videos are very much like a home run. They can be great for your video marketing campaign, but they can’t be your only strategy. You need to play “small ball” too.

Increasing Your On Base Percentage

The first step to getting on base is to make sure your videos are properly optimized for search. To do that check out our Free YouTube Resource. The strategies given are geared towards YouTube but they are applicable for Vimeo as well. Next you’ll want to make sure you have taken some steps towards maximizing your exposure. In this post we went over ways to increase targeted views. Targeted views are high conversion views and are just like getting on base in baseball. A player on base may not convert into a run but they certainly have a higher chance than someone who is not even in the stadium! An un-targeted video can be seen by tens of thousands of individuals, but if they are not in the market for your product or are not the right demographic for your service it’s just a number under the video, it means nothing. But if you get your video in front of the right people, they are more likely to buy your product or follow through on your call to action. With improved targeting you are increasing your on base percentage and have a higher chance of scoring runs.

Increasing Your Chances For A Home Run, Without PED’s

By getting on base, you turn home runs into grand slams. So how do you increase the chances of your video being shared once it’s discovered? In simple terms, create something worth sharing. People share for a variety of reasons and if you can included those reasons in your content you have increased your chances. One reason people share things is to look good, to appear knowledgeable or cool. Another is because the video caused them to feel some kind of emotion and heightened their arousal. People are much more likely to share when in an aroused state. People also share content when it offers some kind of value, when it teaches you something unique or something that will save time or money. Be sure to include elements in your video that provide these reasons and you will have increased your chance of a home run.

There are tools out there that will inflate your view count on YouTube. DO NOT use them! First off, they are hollow views. If you are trying to raise awareness or sell a product a view from a fake account controlled by a bot will do you no good. The default search results are based on relevancy, so a large view number won’t help you there either. Worst still, if Google/YouTube catch you you can lose your account. So do it the right way and just say NO, to PED’s.

Swing Batter Batter, Swing..

One thing is certain in both baseball and video marketing, you are guaranteed not to succeed if you don’t try. Start creating content and try not to worry about view counts. Study your analytics and evaluate each video. You will improve with each try as you start to hone your skills and develop your voice. By creating regular content you also increase the chances of subscriptions which in turn increase the chances of sharing. So, step up to the plate, point your finger to the stands and SWING!

Has your video marketing campaigns been successful? Let us know in the comments below!

If you’re using video marketing strategies, or would like start, don’t miss our Free YouTube Resources.

Original article: Video Marketing Is Like Baseball

©2013 Uhuru Network. All Rights Reserved.

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the skeleton of a website, it gives it structure and content. CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) is like the skin, it controls what the webpage looks like. If you are reading this article then you use the internet and it never hurt to better understand something you use, some of us everyday. The answer to this question can vary greatly, you may have experienced a situation when you wished you knew just a little bit of code, or maybe you are just curious. Not too long ago if you wanted to build or modify a website you had to know HTML. But today, many sites are built using a CMS (Content Management System) which allows you to edit your website with a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor, similar to using Microsoft Word or other familiar composing software and can be modified completely within your browser.

Still, there are times when just having a basic understanding of how HTML & CSS work will benefit you. Ultimately, this is one of those situations where you will find uses for it once you have it, and with Codecademy, it won’t take very long to gain that knowledge.

Codecademy

Codecademy.com is a great free online tool for learning HTML & CSS. By taking their Web Fundamentals course you will start with the basics and eventually learn to create and style an entire webpage. It can sound daunting but each lesson simply teaches you one element at a time and builds off the previous lesson. Someone completely new to coding can easily finish the course in a day or two.

In addition to HTML & CSS, Codecademy also has courses for PHP and Javascript – two powerful languages used throughout the web. You earn points by completing lessons and badges for completing courses. This gaming-style aspect makes the experience more enjoyable and encourages you to continue learning.

With your new found skills I’m sure you will quickly find ways to customize and improve the look and functionality of your website. Give it a try, it’s free, easy and fun.

Original article: Quickly & Easily Learn to Code HTML & CSS

©2013 Uhuru Network. All Rights Reserved.

1. How Do I Get More Views?

First, it’s not all about the views. When it comes to YouTube marketing what you are really after are conversions. You want your viewers to take action. The concept of targeted views is important to understand. 15,000 views from people who have no intention of purchasing won’t be as effective with conversion as 1,500 targeted views. Viewers who are genuinely interested in your product or service are more likely to follow your link from YouTube to your web page. So, how do you get more targeted views?

Use The Tips In Our Free YouTube Resource

These tips are mandatory for ranking highly in YouTube and all successful videos do them whether the creators realize it or not. With the tips in the YouTube resource you will learn how to leverage YouTube specific SEO to increase your targeted views.

Create Playlists

Playlists are included in YouTube search results. This is a great way to help categorize your content as well as leverage content created by others since playlists are not restricted to your content. This way even competing videos can help drive traffic to your YouTube channel and then to your site.

Create More Videos

Your videos will help drive views for each other. When your video comes to an end, a list of related videos will be displayed and YouTube gives priority to related videos that you have created. These videos are also listed on the side. Also, each one of your videos should include annotations that link to your other videos. You can do this after the fact but if you can it’s nice to include video thumbnails of your other videos before exporting your current video and then placing the annotations over them in YouTube.

Create Related Videos

The related video strategy can be very powerful for driving targeted views. Find a video that is already successful with your targeted audience and ranks highly. Then make sure you have similar keywords in all the areas listed in the free YouTube resource. This will help your video show up as a related video, exposing your video to your targeted audience. For example, if I was selling a weight loss product I might target clips from The Biggest Loser TV show or home fitness videos.

Post Consistently And With Consistent Content

By posting a video every other Monday or every Tuesday your audience will start to expect your new content. Viewers are more likely to become subscribers when they see that you post consistently. They are also more likely to subscribe if your channel has a clear theme or topic.

Share Your Video (backlinks)

Share your video with all of your social networks. This puts it in front of your audience as well as generates a few backlinks. The more your video is embedded or linked on different websites (more backlinks) the stronger your video will perform in search results. You may want to find online forums about your video topic and share it there as well. Be social.

For more tips on increasing your targeted views or to have us help you with your YouTube marketing campaign, contact us.

Original article: YouTube Marketing: #1 FAQ

©2013 Uhuru Network. All Rights Reserved.

In a previous post we discussed what a digital agency is. In this post we will dive into why you should use a digital agency.

A digital agency is more than a simple website design company. Quality web design goes beyond what a site looks like; quality web design takes into account user experience. Your customers are as unique as your brand and their experience cannot be optimized with a simple cookie-cutter CMS and theme. Sites like 1-and-1 my website (and some simple design companies) are theme option selectors and not really designers.

A digital agency provides services beyond website design and as a result, usually consists of a team of highly skilled individuals leveraging abilities ranging from graphic design, programming, marketing, and copywriting.

Digital agencies get to know you and your brand and offer a more complete and effective product and service. Complete online strategies encompass multiple marketing plans and methods while helping to build a true extension of your brand online and maximize your influence.

Another benefit from working with a digital agency for your website is the social expertise they provide. Sure, there are plenty of social media companies that exist and are more than willing to market your business on Facebook and Twitter but digital agencies have a complete understanding of your brand and presence and are thus more effective at communicating your message and generating leads.

Digital agencies provide one stop shopping for a wide variety of services directed at helping you and your brand. They exist both on and offline and typically provide a completely customizable and client-centric product. You can go with single-service companies but in the end, you’re better off going with a company that can do it all and do it well. It’s always better to do things right the first time.

Original article: Why Use A Digital Agency?

©2013 Uhuru Network. All Rights Reserved.