heatmap tools
Posted on General

Using Heatmap Tools To Improve Conversions

As the importance of websites increases, we see tools to help measure their impact.  One example (of many) is the availability of heatmap tools.  These reports are easy to use due to their visual nature, but let’s dig into what we should be seeking. Heatmap Defined First, it helps to be clear on what a heat map is.  Heatmap tools track clicks on a web page.  Every click and where it occurs is tracked.  This can be for every user or some random percentage of users.  Ideally, every click should be monitored.  Thus, you will see typical paths through your page as well as outliers. The reporting of these tracked clicks is often presented as an overlay of dots on your... Read more

database design
Posted on Become a Better Developer

Database Design – Building the Heart of Your Application

Database design is an essential part of building most software applications.  Proper implementation can impact speed, usability, and reduce user frustration.  In this video tutorial, we look at some steps and guidelines to build your database and avoid design errors. Getting on the Same Page We start this presentation with an overview of databases.  This step helps get us on the same page as far as terminology and the features of a well-designed database.  Although this is not new to many developers, it never hurts to make sure we know where we are starting.  In any case, we do move through the overview quickly Considerations of Good Database Design Once we have a summary covered, we dive into designing our database.... Read more

api gateway
Posted on AWS Tour

API Gateway – Amazon’s Service for Connecting Your Systems

Many of our modern software solutions include pieces distributed across servers and various devices.  This approach requires a maintainable way to transfer data.  Luckily, an API is a perfect solution.  When you build a good API, the solution can expand opportunities for solving new problems or provide better features.  However, an API is not always easy to implement.  That is where the AWS API Gateway comes in handy. The API Gateway is Flexible This service is a front end to any API you want to build.  There is the option to create serverless calls with Lambda, but that is one of many options.  Thus, even if you already have an API implemented, this service can be useful to you.  The service even includes... Read more

target market
Posted on General

Keywords and Finding Your Target Market

We have looked at some tools to assist in researching keywords for your target market.  However, there are also some general rules to follow when you start down this path.  Selecting keywords is not quite a science, but these steps can help avoid keyword writer’s block. Start with Foundational Ideas A goal of effective keyword selection is finding niches.  Of course, you can’t find a niche without making some scope reduction.  Thus, we can start with some broad terms that still help narrow our focus.  A safe start is industry terms to get you in the ballpark.  These words may end up being thrown away later, but they are a good starting point.  For example, let’s look at a consulting... Read more

keyword tools
Posted on General

Five KeyWord Tools For Researching Your Market and Competition

An Internet business needs to work with keyword tools.  This fact has become a lifeblood of traffic and thus, sales for many companies.  These five are great places to start building your knowledge of your site and your competition. SpyFu Link: https://www.spyfu.com This tool provides free insight into your competition.  Who is your competition?  Well, if you do not know that then your chances of success are slim.  The site also provides a useful keyword research tool for free.  The paid version adds a lot of great features for around $30 – $200 per month depending on your needs. The keyword tool is fantastic.  Enter your words or phrase, and you will get a report on suggested campaign approaches, related words, associated... Read more

appstream
Posted on AWS Tour

AWS IOT – Managing All of Those Devices

It is hard to separate Cloud services from IoT (Internet of Things), and Amazon is no exception.  Their IoT service on AWS is part of a series of tools for managing all of those devices in the Cloud.  To stay clear, we will look at the IoT service (AWS IOT) in this article as opposed to the larger IOT group of tools that includes other services like Green Grass and the Dash Button. Internet of Things in a Nutshell It may help to provide a brief synopsis of IoT.  Think of all the devices around your house that communicate with the Internet.  Those all fall into this category.  In short, a device that connects to the Internet/Cloud for any reason is... Read more