Please join us at the Tech Know Expo sponsored by Senior Life Magazine,  Brevard County’s first Technology Expo.

Date:  March 29, 2011

Register now to attend the free classes, seminars, and exhibitors at Viera High School.

Greg Bray, president of Blue Tangerine Solutions,  will be presenting  “Protecting your computer from viruses and spyware” at 3:40 p.m.

Registration is FREE, Admission is FREE, and workshops are FREE! REGISTER TODAY! OPEN FOR EVERYONE! Please visit TechKnowExpo.com for further details.

Please join us for these two very informative ASK THE EXPERTS Webinar programs scheduled for this month – March, 2011.    

10 Reasons Why You Can’t Afford To Be Anti-Social

Thursday, March 10, 2011 – 1:00 PM Eastern
 Expert Speaker:  Mollie Elkman, Group Two Advertising      

On Thursday, March 10th at 12 noon Central / 1:00 p.m. Eastern, we will talk with Mollie Elkman of Group Two Advertising for her presentation about the “Ten Reasons Why You Can’t Afford to be Anti-Social.” 
 
Ask yourself:    

What do I know about social media?    

What is my Facebook page doing if I don¹t know how to use it properly?    

Will a blog help us gain market share? Is tweeting worth the time and effort?    

Everyone is talking about social networking.  It can be downright intimidating. But it doesn¹t have to be. In fact, it should be fun and informative. You just have to know the right questions to ask.
 
Register Now.  The webinar is free, but space is limited.    

__________________________________________________________________________________________________    

Steps to Increase Traffic to Your Website

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 – 1:00 PM Eastern
Expert Speaker:  Greg Bray, President of Blue Tangerine Solutions        

 Having a smart website with excellent content and easy-to-use navigation is only as good as the traffic that you are getting at the site.  It’s like building a great store out on a country road versus setting up that same shop in the middle of a popular and crowded mall – there are tools and SEO techniques to make sure you’re maximizing your website traffic!  
   

Join us on Tuesday, 3/22 at 1:00 pm Eastern for tips on how to improve and increase the traffic that is being sent to your website, so you can generate more qualified leads and customers!    

Register Now.

With the recent explosion in popularity of mobile and tablet devices, many of our clients are interested in improving how their website works when it’s being viewed on the mobile web – particularly with an iPad or an iPhone. What an interesting circle we’ve covered.

A few years ago, we rejoiced that 99% of web browsers were supporting Flash technology and that it could be added to all websites. You see Flash technology in the more visual elements of many websites, where there are moving pictures (not real video) or interactive maps or products where you can zoom in/out for more detail. The addition of Flash makes the website more interesting and more interactive for the visitor. It was a great day when we learned that 99% of all browsers would support Flash, which meant that no visitors were left behind.

It’s been interesting to us that over the past few months, particulary since the iPad came on the scene, that we are now lamenting the use of Flash on the website because the Apple devices (iPad and iPhone) do not support Flash. We’re at the point where some visitors are once again being left behind because their devices don’t let them see those very cool Flash slideshows or interactive pages.

Don’t fret – There are two viable solutions.

Flash Detection

The quickest solution is to build a detection tool into your website that will recognize if the visitor is coming from a device that can view Flash. If it doesn’t, then you should serve a non-flash page or element instead of the usual flash element that can be viewed in the regular website browser. On many websites, Flash is used on the home page for a slideshow or introduction, as well as on the product detail page, whether your product is a home floorplan or a gift basket of oranges. It is sometimes used on a map or directions page, where the zoom in functionality is useful. By delivering the non-Flash page, your website should display on the smaller iPhone/iPad devices without the broken Flash pages.

 .mobi Websites

HOWEVER, there’s another solution that takes this a step further and that is to develop a .mobi website. The .mobi website is designed to fit on the small screen of handheld devices, and to provide reduced navigation and briefer content, to accommodate your visitor who is viewing on a small screen. This ensures that someone viewing your site on a smartphone (such as an iPad/iPhone OR a Blackberry, Android, etc.) will be able to quickly get through the site to find the most popular content that someone viewing on a small screen would need.

For example, a potential homebuyer wants to get directions to your Open House or to see information about the inventory or model home. A potential online shopper is looking for product details and photos, an easy way to place an order online with as little typing as possible. You can accommodate their needs with the .mobi site by eliminating some of the less popular navigation links (such as About Us or Partners), and providing drop down menus on the forms (to reduce the need for typing). Include a link to view the full site, and you’ve provided your visitor with everything they need while they are researching your company.

If you want more information on how to set up a non-flash or a .mobi website for your business, please call us at 321-309-6900 x 314 or send an eMail to info@BlueTangerineSolutions.com.

Are you using a Flash detection for your mobile website or do you have a full .mobi site?  What works for you?

Charles Ruma, president of Virginia Homes, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2006 at the age of 36.  Thankfully, today he is cancer-free.  Crediting his good outcome to the treatment he received at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Ceter, Charles set out to make a difference for all people living with a cancer diagnosis, and so A Home for Hope was born.

The “Hope” home will be a new build, at 3,100 square feet with an estimated post-construction value of $459,500 in the Tartan West community in Dublin, Ohio. Ground was broken in early December and upon completion in June, 2011, the home will be auctioned live at a celebration event, with 90 percent of the sale proceeds supporting OSUCCC-James, and the remaining 10 percent to The LIVESTRONG FOUNDATION. Public donations can also be made on behalf of the project. 

With cancer prevention as the design theme, features such as a kitchen geared toward whole food preparation, low volatile organic compound (VOC) building products, radon abatement, a home gym, and a vegetable garden will support the idea of healthy living.

“Once Huntington came onboard, the project has grown to involve all of our subcontractors and many, many other caring people who have been affected by cancer.” Virginia Homes will be working with subcontractors and suppliers to attain donations of goods and services for the home in order to minimize construction costs.

Our Blue Tangerine Solutions team was honored to be selected to build the website for the new home.  The site offers a webcam to follow the construction progress, an opportunity to register for the live action and a form to donate to the project.  It also includes great graphics ranging from the floorplan layout to photos and videos related to the project.  To learn more, visit HomeForHopeProject.com.