Brief

Solution

Brief

Local Sunshine Coast developers approached Kook to design and develop a website for an exciting new development on Birtinya Island called Moko Living. Requiring a solution to effectively promote the range of apartments on offer Kook were the obvious partner to undertake this having successfully designed and developed other similar projects.

Solution

A lively, modern website design combined with ipad compatible custom Javascript  functionality.

Mobile Ready Websites: Go Mo

Mobile Matters Now

“By 2013 more people will use mobile phones than pc’s to get online”

Your website’s analytics can tell you a lot about growing mobile usage – some of our recent client’s statistics are showing a growth upwards of 15%
in mobile device usage within the last 12 months.
Definitely a market share that you need to cater for.

Mobile users are connecting with local business, using their mobile devices to search, call and even pay you a visit. If you haven’t already made provisions for this, do so now or lose customers to your competitors. A bad mobile experience will make a lasting impression and cost you valuable business.

What exactly do we mean by mobile-ready?

The majority of websites will display on a mobile device, but unless they have been designed specifically for mobile devices the user experience may leave a lot to be desired. A truly mobile-ready website site is tailored specifically for the smaller screens and with the specific needs of mobile users in mind.

What do users want from mobile? The answer is a fast loading mobile experience that is no less than a desktop version.

A mobile-ready site should…

• automatically detect when a user is using a mobile device and react accordingly
• load quickly & be easy to read
• have simple, easy to use navigation
• be operable with your fingers
• make localised information (directions, store locators etc) easy to find
• contain the same main features & functionality that your main website does
• work across all mobile devices and orientations

What does it take to GO MO?

To GoMo you have two options; a website that uses a responsive design or a custom built mobile version of your current site. The choice depends upon individual features and functionality requirements and the experts at Kook will help you make the right choice when planning your mobile-ready website.

Be informed – read more about the mobile design and development services that Kook offer.

Talk to us

Talk to the experts at Kook about getting your website ready for mobile.

So this week we’re having a chat with Alex; who is kindly going to answer a few of our questions.

So Alex, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your general role at Kook?

Sure thing. As you have probably gathered, my name is Alex, and I have been with the Kook team for close to a year now. After finishing a Bachelor of Business (Mkg) at the University of the Sunshine Coast, I recently headed back to study a Bachelor of Information & Communications Technology. When im not in the office and find some spare time, you will usually find me cycling, blogging or shopping. Digital marketing is a field I have remained passionate about over the years; eager to further develop my expertise.

Currently, I assist with a chunk of the basic web development, working with the design and programming team to develop appealing, functional websites. I also cover a fair bit of the reporting and analysis; communicating your website’s data and what it all means. In between all of that, I handle the duties of an administrative assistant (…receptionist) here at Kook , so if we haven’t spoken yet there’s a good chance we will.

Can you describe your average day in twenty seconds (or less)?

My day usually involves getting up at eight or so, and heading into the office at about nine. Once there I address new emails, update social media networks and evaluate advertising campaigns. After a morning meeting, I’ll tackle some search-engine optimisation (e.g. traffic analysis, copywriting, linkbuilding), some web development, and some online advertising. If I manage to get through that with some spare time I will usually write up an article for the website. Once it hits five I will usually head to university, suffer through classes for a few hours, and then I am on my way home.

How did you get into digital marketing?

I always maintained an interest in business and IT; so digital marketing was a natural fit. During my time studying a Bachelor of Business (Mkg) at the University of the Sunshine Coast, the subjects of digital marketing and online advertising were hardly addressed; instead focusing on more traditional marketing methods. My digital marketing experience began when I became at intern for Kook Multimedia in early 2011. Since then I have been focused on building my digital marketing network and skill set.

Popular trends in the web to look out for this year?

I assume we will start to see Google decrease the importance it places on inbound links, and start to look at other quality signals (locality, relevance and content). As white hat search-engine optimisation practices continue to be encouraged, we should see ranking boosts for the production of fresh, quality content. This year should see two digital marketing disciplines slowly merge together; search-engine optimisation and conversion-rate optimisation.

The job scope of search-engine optmisation professionals has been growing extensively over the past few years, so it is of no suprise that it should encompass some aspect of conversion-rate optimisation. This year I can see search-engine optimisation professionals move into a role where they will become responsible for growing the volume, the quality and the dollar value of website traffic.

For the Google search-engine I can see huge improvements geared towards convenience and usability. Displaying a more detailed representation of search-results without the need for clicking-through will see a huge change in the way search and market websites. We’ve already seen this change of some of Google’s other networks (e.g. Images, News & Places). As anyone could probably tell you, mobile is on it’s way up, and Facebook is slowly on it’s way down. We should start to see a few more businesses utilising social media for customer relationship management as the laggards and late adopters slowly come around.

Advice to other digital marketers or marketers in general? How to get started?

To be honest, I believe that anyone can learn the tools and processes of digital marketing; it is the initiative, judgement and tact of an individual that cannot be taught. Maintain constant control and evaluation of your marketing means and message. Do not be afriad of new platforms, be flexible and enthusiastic in response to change. I believe Rand Fishkin (SEOmoz) probably said it best “barriers of ignorance, resistance to change and constant shifts in the landscape and best practices will throw up daunting walls. An entrepreneurial focus is your only hope to defeat these challenges”.

Don’t forget to take the time to apply your skills to yourself, develop your online presence, network with other businesses and communicate your passion and skills in digital marketing. Chase up a local business, post in a forum, ask questions and put yourself out there.

How do you unwind?

Usually, I conduct myself in a pretty calm (yet professional) manner; so unwinding isn’t too difficult. Whether it’s reading a book, going for a ride, playing videogames, or having a few beers with the friends, relaxing is never too difficult. To me (and probably a few others) the only difficult part about unwinding is finding the time.

So you hit the “404 Error – Page Not Found” page.

You’ve just clicked on a search-engine result, a link on a website or typed in the address yourself. What went wrong? What does the 404 Error page mean?

There are a number of different ways that web masters can accidentally cause these pages; so lets take a look at a few and address how you can use them to your advantage.
Web masters often overlook the search-engine optimisation potential benefits of fixing a website’s 404 Error pages. Developing stronger and more helpful 404 Error pages will assist your website in attaining betters search-engine rankings, while contributing to a better overall user experience.

SO WHAT DOES A 404 ERROR MEAN?

Essentially the error code communicates when a page that a user is looking for cannot be found on the website’s server. This error occurs when users follow a dead or broken link, and is one of the most recognisable errors that users encounter online. The 404 Error pages are a normal and common part of any website; they are expected, and definitely preferred over other errors. The 404 Error communicates with both users and search-engine crawlers that a specific page cannot be found. A 404 Error often occurs when a web master changes a page’s address, and forgets to redirect the old links to the new address. This is a similar problem as when web masters move or remove pages on their website that are already indexed by search-engines.

CAN I CHECK FOR 404 ERROR PAGES ON MY SITE?

There are several different methods to check for broken links on your website. Google Webmaster Tools provides a free and relatively straightfoward service that will evaluate your website’s crawl errors, internal links, external links and a variety of other helpful diagnostic data. To use Webmaster Tools simply create or login to your account and navigate to the ‘Crawl Errors’ section (located under ‘Diagnostics’). From this page, you are able to view the type of errors your website has, the date they occurred and the page’s address where it occurred. Included in this data is a priority ranking which essentially determines which page error should be addressed first.

CAN I LIMIT THE DAMAGE OF 404 ERROR PAGES?

There are a number of different strategies that can be taken to limit the damage of 404 Error pages and better the overall user-experience. The first step is to create a user-friendly 404 Error page. This page should explain what has happened, and why. It is best practice to include a search box within this page to allow the user to continue searching for the page they were looking for. Language on the page should be friendly, inviting and consistent with the content on the rest of the website.The page should be as simple as possible, a basic page that enables and encourages the user to continue browsing through the website.

So what is a customised 404 Error page so important for search-engine optimisation? Well, the pages ensure that more pages of your website are indexed. Take the opportunity to point the users (and crawlers) to popular or recent content on your website. Custom 404 Error pages are an excellent ‘failsafe’ mechanism for your website’s search-engine optimisation. It avoids the ‘dead-end’ that often sees search-engine crawlers and users jump ship. Customised 404 Error pages allow for the effective redirection and retention of your website’s traffic. It is a strategy that encourages good search-engine optmisation practices and an overall more enjoyable user experience.

What 404 Error page strategy do you utilise? Do you find redirects to the home page or popular content to be more beneficial for your website traffic? Let us know in the comment section below!

iPhone Home Screen

The iPhone’s Home Screen contains various icons which allow you to easily navigate your device’s many applications and features. One of the iPhone’s many great features is the ability to add Home Screen icons through safari making it quick and easy to navigate to your favourite website. Read on for a step by step tutorial which shows you exactly how it’s done.

Step 1, open Safari on the iPhone by tapping on the Safari icon, normally located on your iPhone Home Screen.

Step 2, browse to the website you wish to add a Home Screen icon for by entering the web address (URL) in the address bar.

Step 3, when the website has finished loading; select the bookmark icon located at the bottom of the screen. Choose ‘Add to Home Screen’ from the list which now overlays the browser.

Step 4, enter the name you wish to see appear underneath the icon; something short and descriptive. Tap the ‘Add’ button in the top-right corner of the screen. The website icon will now appear on your iPhone’s Home Screen.

The Google AdWords Editor

Google AdWords is no doubt an extremely powerful online advertising channel; yet often can be time-consuming, tedious and frustrating. The Google AdWords Editor is an essential tool for any AdWords campaign manager. To put it simply, the AdWords editor allows users to manage their AdWords campaigns from their desktops; producing substantial benefits in the form of simple usability, convenience and time efficiency. Essentially, the AdWords editor is a free, lightweight, downloadble application which gives users additional elements of structure and control. It offers a ton of features geared towards making the management of your AdWords campaigns just that little bit easier.

What is the AdWords Editor?

Regardless of how minor or major your changes are, making them with the Google AdWords editor is a breeze. The AdWords editor is a streamlining management process that gives users more time and structure. Speaking from experience, one of the best features of the tool is the ability to make multiple changes, and then upload them all once you’re ready. It is an extremely easy tool to utilise; enabling multiple large-scale changes to be completed in seconds (rather than hours). One of the most convenient features of the application is the ability to copy and paste adgroups, ad text, keywords and campaigns throughout an AdWords account (huge benefit for placing an ad throughout numerous campaigns).

What if I have multiple accounts?

The AdWords editor maintains a similar login process as the online AdWords system; allowing for the management of multiple accounts or clients (especially helpful if you’re using a My Client Center (MCC) account). With an extremely straightfoward interface, users are able to import, export and backup data with the click of a button. The Google AdWords editor is an essential tool for any decent AdWords campaign manager.

Where to get the AdWords Editor?

The AdWords editor is available for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 & Mac OS X (10.4 and later), so you can be sure that if you’re looking to do some offline campaign management, the AdWords editor is for you. In the AdWords Editor, users can manage keywords, placements, ads, adgroups, extensions and campaigns. The program even comes with an online help file that provides clear and informative guidance (just incase you get stuck!).

Summary

Be sure to familiarise with the AdWords Editor, it will save you time and frustration in the long run. The AdWords Editor is an essential tool, regardless of your campaign size, industry experience or AdWords capability.The tool offers no promises of increased revenue or traffic, but it will signinifcantly improve your AdWords experience and campaign management efficiency.

Allright lets take a little time while something is compiling to talk to Ross Dawson our programmer.

Ross, thanks for taking time out of your day to answer a few questions; firstly please tell us who you are and what role you play for KOOK?

I’m a programmer who started in January 2012 with Kook. I look after a lot of the functionality on our websites and handle a lot of the behind the scenes parts of the site which are mostly not seen by the public. If there is an issue in the database which runs the websites I’ll be the one getting in there and fixing things up. If there is a problem and a bug has appeared somewhere I’ll be sorting that out too.

In 20 seconds or less describe your average day?

Out of bed around 6:30, coffee and breakfast while getting the kids ready, at work around 8:30 another coffee with the morning meeting then work on the tasks assigned. Usually I will work on several projects of differing complexity throughout the day and break only for additional coffee or urgent priority calls.

How did you get started in Programming? Why did you choose this direction?

I got started in programming in school, making simple stick figure games during lunch times gave me an appetite for coding. Working through uni I discovered and interest in web programming initially favouring PHP and Javascript then working in classic ASP along the way. I like the logic behind programming, there is generally a starting point and a point where the project is finished but there are usually many correct ways of getting there. I like the ability to create using pure logic.

Please, tell us about the trends that characterise the web of 2012? What will be popular in 2013?

I believe 2012 will be a year where Google Chrome takes a larger share of the users from Internet Explorer. I also see 2012 as a year where people who are not necessarily computer enthusiasts become more aware of the different options out there rather than just operating from the MSN homepage set up by default with their Windows installation. I believe this will be the last year than anyone develops a site entirely in Flash and I think more people are going to move their flash elements and flash sites to HTML5. Tablet computers are becoming the norm rather than a fad, usage of tablets and making sure your sites run correctly on tablets is going to be even more important moving forward. I think proper touch screens with a similar sensitivity to a wacom tablet will be released late 2012 early 2013 once windows 8 comes along and people start realising the full potential for touch interfaces which can properly render stylus input instead of the vague wobbly lines you get with current low end touch screens.

What are the main tools of your trade?

I mainly work in Microsoft Visual Studio and Microsoft Server SQL Management Studio. I don’t work with many of the graphical elements offered in these packages as I see more looking at the code directly but they do offer a lot of time saving tips and let me know if I’ve misspelt a variable name which is handy. I still have a pen and paper which I have beside my keyboard for drawing out ideas and ER diagrams as well as jotting down notes as I go.

What advice would you offer to the young web programmers? How to get started? Where to find inspiration?

The biggest advice I could offer would be to learn how to program w3c compliant code. Having a fairly good idea that your output is going to look and work the same on most modern browsers will save a ton of redevelopment work down the track. The second rule would be develop using the most common browser your users use, that’s currently Internet Explorer. While its easier to fall back to your favourite browser and get everything working as quickly as possible in an environment you’re comfortable in you could spend a lot of time at the end of the development process re-coding to make everything work correctly on the most popular browser. Getting started is easy, find a language you want to learn or a direction you want to take and make a hello world page, keep adding functionality until you’re comfortable. The first language is the hardest, start small and work forward. For inspiration I would look at Zen garden, such a simple amount of code tweaked in many different ways to produce sites which are nearly impossible to see they came from the same place.

What do you do to unwind?

I take the family up the beach to go fishing whenever the weather is fine enough. I’ve also got a border collie which is quite fond of going for a walk on the beach. I also tinker with cars when I get the chance and fit in the odd video game.

What is the Meta Keywords Tag?

Essentially, meta tags are the summarised information of a webpage for search-engine crawlers; communicating what the website is about, and what it has to offer. At it’s peak, the meta keywords tag could be included in the meta data section of a HTML document; communicating information regarding your website to both browsers and search-engines. But today, if you’re considering strategies to improve your search-engine rankings, the common practice of meta keywords tag usage can safely be forgetten.

DO SEARCH ENGINES USE THE META KEYWORDS TAG

Well, a little over a decade ago, search-engines would evaluate pages based solely on their content (i.e not off-page links). Webmasters and publishers acknowledged this reliance, and the meta keywords tag became an area to stuff and spam(often-irrelevant) keywords. As this practice became so prominent, Google and many other leading search-engines of the time began to disregard the meta keywords tag.

If you’re still looking for an expert opinion, take a look at this video from Matt Cutts in 2009. Matt touches on the points that many in the industry already know; Google does not trust or use the meta keywords tag. Matt Cutts is a senior engineer at Google, and leads their Search Quality Group, so if any opinion should be valued, it’s probably his.

DO SEARCH ENGINES USE ANY META TAGS?

Not at all, Google and most leading search-engines still support several other meta tags. In fact, many of the meta tags are still an important part of the HTML code of your webpage. The three most important, and relevant meta tags to utilise include your webpage’s:

• META Title
• META Description
• META Robots

WHY IS THE META KEYWORDS TAG STILL USED?

If we look at the usage interms of search-engine optimisation, the meta keywords tag is done and dusted. The simple truth is that Google, and many other leading search-engines pay absolutely no attention to it. In fact I can guarantee that if you asked any search-engine optimisation professional what the most overrated search-engine optimisation practice is today; they will respond ‘meta keywords tags’. The meta keywords tag is a worthless relic of the nineties, that is some how still haunting search-engine optimisation proefssionals.

So why are web developers and web designers still using the meta keywords tag? Well there’s a number of possibilities, whether they are unaware, stubborn, misinformed or simply do not care. A common reasoning among search-engine optimisation professionals for using the meta keywords tag is purely for the acceptance of directory submissions. A few business directories will accept or deny your website based on the presence of meta keywords tag data.

SO SHOULD THE META KEYWORDS TAG STILL BE USED?

There is no real answer to this question, however the most basic response is; it doesn’t hurt. Be sure to develop a meta keywords tag that truely reflects what the webpage is about. Stick to less than ten keywords; utilising professional and accurate terms. To put it simply, use the tag for the purpose it was designed for.

Do you or your business use the meta keywords tag? Tell us your reasoning or strategy behind the practice below.

Open source software; if it breaks you get to keep all the pieces.

As many are aware there are a number of very popular open source content management systems on the market. These systems offer massive advantages for someone to start up a website on limited or no budget and quickly get a site up and running. Unfortunately the thing that makes open source software so appealing is also its greatest weak point, this software is used by thousands of developers each day with full access to all source code, this means any bugs which can be exploited are quickly discovered. If you have experience in the field you are probably thinking, that’s fine, because its discovered so quickly a patch will be released quickly which users can apply to their page. Here is where things get tricky, in order to get your site patched and secure you need to keep things up to date, as in updated today by someone with the skills to apply a patch without completely breaking any modifications you’ve already made to the site.

This makes an open source content management system quite a risk for someone who simply wants to update content on their site and not perform updates (usually released through a weekly security update email) meaning the ongoing costs outweigh an initial outlay on purchasing a closed source solution, not instantly but over time if you have to employ a developer to deploy each patch it can quickly get out of control.

Closed Source Content Management Systems

The advantage of a closed source system is that the parts of the system that make everything run are only seen by the company which develops the software, finding a security vulnerability, while still technically possible, is very unlikely since hackers (with good or bad intentions) can really only view what the public can see on your site.

Large corporations and celebrities often run open source software with great success, what is not seen in these situations is a team of often full time in house staff maintaining the website, fixing issues as they occur and keeping the software and third party modules up to date in order to prevent downtime.

As an example next time you search for an open source content management system also do a search for “security vulnerability” or “security update” this will give you an idea on the number of updates which occur per month relating to that software package. Consider the costs of applying these updates in both downtime for your website and employing someone with the ability to perform the update without taking your site offline for large periods of time.

Situations where I would recommend open source software are limited to a skilled hobbyist who is capable of researching and deploying software updates on a regular basis or a professional IT developer who is comfortable fixing bugs. I would recommend against it for any company which does not have a software specialist on staff, in the long run you are going to pay a lot of money to have the updates deployed, if you change your mind down the track and decide a proprietary system is a more cost effective solution any money you’ve spent updating your open source solution will be lost.