What is a QR Code?

A QR code is very similar to a bar code, in application and use. It looks like this:

A square image with blocks of smaller black and white spots. It can be used by modern day smart phones, like iPhones and Android handsets as these come with high quality cameras to scan the image / code. An application or ‘app’ on these smart phones would be used to scan the code and then allow the user to interact with the business they are visiting.

For example, you could use the Ebay app or Red Laser app on your mobile phone. Open the app and then use your camera on the phone to ‘scan’ the QR code. You will then be prompted to either visit a web page or other application.

Why should my Business use QR Codes?

Well, if you like customers to call again, stay in touch or join a mailing list, then QR codes are for you. The following types of businesses are perfect for QR codes:

• Shops & Trade Counters
• Visitor Attractions
• Bars / Coffee Shops
• Restaurants, Pubs & Cafés
• Exhibitions and Kiosks

You would put up a QR code in your establishment or on your stand where customers can easily scan the image. Tell them what it is for and what they will gain too if they give your QR code a scan. Give them an incentive to scan the QR code. Perhaps they get a Free Chocolate Chip Cookie if they buy a drink and scan the code? Perhaps they get a discount on their next purchase?

What happens when they scan the QR Code?

Well you can create QR codes to do various things. Popular uses for QR codes are to visit a particular website or business social media site. When the code has been scanned, it could redirect the user to your Facebook page asking them to ‘like it’ or to your Twitter account asking you to follow them.

You could even direct users to a mailing list page on your website or a page where you post discount codes, product information, product reviews and so on.

The technology is here, QR codes have landed. Its now up to you how you make the most of them before your competitors do.

Contact us if you would like us to help setup your QR codes and campaign or tell us below how you use QR codes for your business.

]]> http://www.ipagedesigner.co.uk/what-is-qr-code-why-use-for-business/feed/ 0 http://www.ipagedesigner.co.uk/google-duplicate-websites-yours/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=google-duplicate-websites-yours http://www.ipagedesigner.co.uk/google-duplicate-websites-yours/#comments Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:20:04 +0000 iPage Designer http://www.ipagedesigner.co.uk/?p=261 Continue reading →]]> Did you know that Google and other search engines may be seeing 2 versions of your website? This doesn’t go down too well with Google and others and adds to your site basically providing duplicate content, which is a bad thing in general.

Duplicate Websites / Duplicate Content?

If you copy pages within your website and have the same content on 2 or more pages, then this is duplicate page content, but if you can access your website with or without the www then your whole site is running as 2 sites. You can stop this and I will show you how in a moment.

Google and others only have micro seconds to decide if you are trying to fool it or mislead it in any way. You can help Google decide this, quickly and effectively, when it comes to Duplicate Websites.

How to check if my website is running a Duplicate Website?

Go to your normal internet browser and enter the name of your website as follows. I have used our own for this example, you would of course use your own domain name!:

http://ipagedesigner.co.uk and press enter.

1 – Does your website appear as it should?
2 – Does your URL in the address bar still show it without the www, like this http://ipagedesigner.co.uk
3 – Or does it now show your website WITH the www, like this:

http://www.ipagedesigner.co.uk

If it does show you it with the www, then you should be OK. I have another tip to help check in a moment too. If your website did not appear at all, then you need to contact your website hosts or domain hosts to ask them to make sure your DNS has been configured correctly.

How can I fix the missing www version of my website?

If you can see your website with and without the www in there, then here is how to fix it! You will need to know what you are doing here, and if in doubt (AT ALL), then do not attempt this as you could bring your entire website down. You will need FTP access to your sites web files too…

1 – Open up your FTP program and navigate to your websites root level.
2 – You should see a file called a .htaccess file. Copy / download this to your local computer.
3 – Now make a COPY of this and rename it something like .htaccess-backup.
4 – On the original version you have downloaded (not the backup), open the file up and add the following code:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^www.
RewriteRule (.*) http://www.%{HTTP_HOST}/$1 [R=301,L]

5 – Save this file and re-upload it to your website to replace the .htaccess file you have.

You should now revisit your website and type in your web URL again, but without the www. If this has worked for you, your site will now redirect to the full URL with the www.

Also, check actual pages within your site too, without the www. If they redirect back to the correct version with the www, then you now know your site is working correctly and as 1 single website! Google and other search engines will now start to ignore the version without the www and only now visit and index your site WITH the www.

Phew! Hope you followed all of this and were able to fix this on your website. If you have ran into trouble or it did not work for you (in any way), then you must of course replace the backup version of your .htaccess file with the version that you have just tried, immediately!

Stop, this is too complicated! Can you do this for me?

Sure, depending on your website and domain, ftp access and where it is hosted of course. Get in touch with us and tell us your website domain. We will then see how easy (or not) it may be to fix this issue for you!

Another Tip!

You should also update your site using Googles Webmaster Tools. This is in addition to the above! If this has not been setup correctly, Google will not know how too read your website correctly. You will need to add your website to Google Webmaster tools, then verify that you are the owner, then you can make the correct adjustments in the ‘Site Configuration’ > Settings tab.

Again if you would like us to set all of this up for you, you only have to ask!

So you have got your site together, it looks great and you now want to tell the world you are ready for them. Great!

You start creating your Google Accounts, Twitter and Facebook pages, perhaps you have some video content, so off to YouTube you go too! STOP right there! Before you get carried away, make sure you get a couple of things straight. A username and password set you can use to carry across all of these sites (if possible /available).

Perhaps like us, you have a fairly unique name, iPageDesigner. Great, just make sure you carry this username in the same format on each social site you register with. Don’t be tempted to say use iPageDesigner on some sites and iPage-Designer on others. It not only confuses you, when you try to login to these sites, but it also confuses your brand (if you are keen to create one) and your followers too. Keep it simple, and use the same username format for all. Its a whole lot easier in the long run.

Create a social email account!

Even better setup an email account, just for your social websites too. A seperate email account for all your social sites will also mean you can keep track of your new found followers, friends, requests, updates and so on…

It helps you keep track of whats going on. You will have enough in your inbox already, so it really is best to keep this whole new area of online marketing, where you can see it.

Passwords

There is nothing wrong with using the same password for all your social sites, but it can pose a risk. Especially if you have a team of staff who all have access to your social sites. Or through poor password management, your password leaks out! It can leave you wide open for abuse. Just make sure the passwords for your social sites are 100% different to those you use for your online banking, bank card machines, the very important stuff in your work / personal life and so on. Be sensible and seriously keep these seperate!

Finally, perhaps store safely a document that holds a list of all the social sites you visit and register on. A note of their websites and reason for / date registerd. You may find yourself chasing your tail, otherwise thinking ‘I’m sure I created a an account here, or did I’. Create a list, store it safe and update it each and everytime you register on a new site!

Now get out there and promote your site!!!

1 – Start a list of priorities! Grab an actual pad and pen, or iPad if you can grab your hands on one! Start to pencil out what you want from the site.
2 – Don’t be afraid to look at the competitions designs. You may have some great ideas, but take time to checkout other internet sites that are simular out on the internet!
3 – Prepare any images for use on the various sites designs you may want to use them on. For logo’s etc, Mobile variations, square versions for Twitter and Facebook badges and so on. Also ensure you save some higher resolution versions for print use. You may need to print business cards or letter heads afterall!
4 – Backup, Backup and err BACKUP! Make sure you have copies of your site, if you are using a database, designs, then invest some time in making sure your data is backed up too. The more oftern the better!
5 – Password overload! You are about to hit a new wave of passwords to remember. Make sure you either keep a list safe, hide them in a document or spreadsheet somewhere (password protected). For all areas, emails, social sites and so on all need passwords. Keep them safe and easy to remember.

This site is slowly coming together as an example! I will update this article as I come along more top tips for you and the designs come to life!

Providing simple, clean web designs for todays web. You want your site to work on a monitor, on a iPhone, you want Twitter and Facebook links? You want to take bookings online? Whatever you want, iPage Designer an ethos for todays web.

WordPress is another area of speciality, so if you have a WordPress site hosted with WordPress, but wish you  could have your very own hosted version for your site (on your domain name), then get in touch!

You talk, we listen… tell us what you want.