Most web professionals will tell you that Google Analytics (or a similar service) is a must have when creating a website. By and large, it’s the best way to measure your website traffic and marketing effectiveness. Not only is it quite popular, it’s also free. Google Analytics can do many, many things, but most often it seems to do one thing a little too well. Intimidate the user. Almost to a fault, the amount of features and statistics are near endless. To a web professional, it can be a dream come true...but to a common web user, it can be a nightmare.

That’s why we’re excited to announce a brand new set of features meant for the common user, built directly into Spinternet...a high level mix of Analytics information and time savers you’re sure to love.

Analytics Dashboard

Every time you login to the new Spinternet, you’ll be greeted by the brand new Analytics Dashboard. It features four distinct areas highlighting your site statistics for the last 30 days. The streamlined look and feel is meant for easy, at-a-glance browsing.

Visitors – How many visitors are you getting?
Visualize the number of visitors to your site at a glance, or rollover the line graph for date specific information.

Traffic Types – Where is your traffic coming from?
Compare the percentages of incoming traffic sources, or rollover the pie graph for the exact numbers.

Top Ten Keywords – What do people search for to find your site?
Understand how users found your site from search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing plus what keywords brought the most traffic.

Top Ten Pages – What are your popular pages?
Recognize your most popular pages and notice their page titles and URL structure.

QR Codes

Gone are the days of manually creating QR codes one by one with an online generator. QR codes can now be auto-generated for every page you create in Spinternet and are easily located under the QR Code tab on a per page basis. They can even be downloaded, and ready for use in your marketing and advertising materials.

URL Builder

Spreading the word about your site and getting people to visit is one thing, but knowing exactly how they heard of it is even better. The URL Builder is designed to do just that. With ties to your existing Google Analytics account, the URL Builder creates shortened URLs (and QR codes) for a single page. By giving a separate URL for all your marketing efforts (i.e. email newsletter, banner ads, ppc ads, etc), you now can identify what’s working and what’s not.

301 Redirect

Sometimes URLs can get a little too long and it’s typically unavoidable, but with 301 redirects you can literally create any URL you want. Best used for advertising purposes, especially when the page has to be memorized, 301 redirects can now be created directly in Spinternet.

Turn any long URL: www.yoursite.com/product/category/type/year/color/model.aspx
Into a short URL: www.yoursite.com/catchyname

Plus, 301 redirects are the perfect way for you to transition your visitors away from old pages, and towards new pages during a new site launch.

Page Analytics
Where the Analytics Dashboard is great for a broad spectrum view, Page Analytics is great for page specific stats. Browse pageviews, traffic types, even the average amount of time users spend on that page while you make page edits.

Like what you see? Want these Spinternet features on your site!?

Don’t wait, contact Spinutech today...send us an email, give us a call, heck even march down to our office. We’re really excited about these Spinternet enhancements, and know you will be to.

So, you’re looking for help with your website...more specifically, you’re wanting more traffic, more leads, and more sales. You heard through the grapevine that Search Engine Optimization (commonly known as SEO) is your answer.

Where do you start? How does it work? Who you gonna call? (not Ghostbusters) It's important to know what you're looking for in an SEO agency/company/person.

Start off by asking yourself these questions:

Do they guarantee first-place rankings? Don’t get hung up on being number one. More often than not these types of guarantees are used to compensate for a lack of experience or track record. Instead, focus on the quality of the visitor, and how you can get them to convert (i.e. fill out a form, make a purchase, download a file, etc).

Do they focus on conversions and goals? Search traffic reports are nice, and can provide useful data on your visitors, but a high number of visitors doesn’t necessarily mean a high number of conversions (i.e. leads, buyers, signups, etc). Ensure your goals are able to be clearly tracked and reported on.

Do they use a one-size-fits-all approach? It can’t be emphasized enough...every SEO proposal should be unique. What works for Company A may not, and usually does not work for Company B. Request a proposal that has action items detailed specifically for your business.

Do they complete the work in house and are they self sufficient? The biggest hurdle is typically the least obvious. SEO is often mistaken for a simple task like turning on a light switch, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Beyond knowing exactly what they will be working on, it’s also important you understand who they will be working with. As mentioned in a previous post entitled One Stop Shop, any work done to your site is often convoluted with multiple parties, multiple departments, and multiple decision makers. Make sure any costs associated with these tasks is clearly laid out.

The world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is quite massive and ever changing. Whether you've had experience with SEO in the past or are a complete newbie, contact us about SEO...we're here to help.

People DO judge a book by its cover (which is certainly the case on the web).

Fortunately for some, and unfortunately others...perception = reality.

• If the user perceives your website to be of value, than it is valuable.
• If the user perceives your website to be of no use, than it is useless.

Apple, arguably one of the highest quality brands across any medium, made it a point early on to address this exact issue. Mike Markkula, who for a short time was the third partner at Apple with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, is credited for creating “The Apple Marketing Philosophy”...a basic philosophy for the company containing three points from which the last addresses the importance of value and perception.

Point No. 3: Impute 

Apple should be constantly aware that companies and their products will be judged by the signals they convey. "People DO judge a book by its cover," Markkula wrote. "We may have the best product, the highest quality, the most useful software etc.; if we present them in a slipshod manner, they will be perceived as slipshod; if we present them in a creative, professional manner, we will impute the desired qualities." 

(Impute [imˈpyo͞ot]: Assign (a value) to something by inference from the value of the products or processes to which it contributes.)

To this day, the basic Apple philosophy still holds true. Everything from the design of the hardware, to the usability of the software...all the way down to the details in the packaging portray not just a sense of “consumer want”, but a sense of “consumer need” (Some might say, “the devil is in the details”).

So how does this relate to your website?

Simple, as soon as your website loads, your brand, product, or business is exposed. Within minutes or more likely seconds and before you can even “sell yourself”, the user on the other end has made a determination.

How do you ensure your site is worthy of pageviews?

Start by asking yourself a few simple questions:

What are you doing to convince the user that they need your product or service?
Where do you want them to look?
What do you want them to click?
What do your headlines convey?
How are your graphics supporting your copy?

If you don’t have an answer, don’t be alarmed...many others don’t have an answer either. Value, especially perceived value, is hard to create. Your preferences in everything from food to clothes to electronics has come with time (and has surely changed over time). What better time to start creating that user preference and value for your site then now?

For more information on “The Apple Marketing Philosophy” see Walter Isaacson’s book “Steve Jobs”

We're pleased to announce the launch of Bertch, one of the leading cabinet manufacturers in the USA. Bertch Cabinet Mfg. has been reviving the cherished art of traditional cabinetmaking for over 30 years. Family owned and operated, all products reflect a commitment to reforestation, recycling and a general respect for the environment.

Much like the attention to detail and quality of product coming out of Bertch facility, the website was built from the ground up and made in the USA (well...Cedar Falls, Iowa to be specific).

Simple, Clean Design

Bertch wanted their website to be simple and clean like the rest of their marketing material. Spinutech designed a site with a large photo with simple navigation and content overlaid on top.

Streamlined Process

Bertch has hundreds of cabinet styles spread across 4 divsions. With the consumer in mind, Spinutech worked with Bertch to streamline the process of someone finding a door style.

Ideas and Inspiration

Bertch wanted an area on the site to showcase popular cabinet styles and give people inspiration for their own project. An interactive photo gallery was created that allows people to sort by category and see photos.

Find a Dealer

Customers can find a Bertch dealer by entering a zip code. The website communicates with Bertch's internal system to display a list of updated dealers for the zip code.

Like what you see? Take a more detailed look at our work or watch a testimonial to hear what people are saying about Spinutech.

Visit Bertch

The Field of Dreams, Dyersville, IA—May 2006 (JoeyBLS at en.wikipedia) 

You’ve seen the movie right? Field of Dreams...Kevin Costner...Iowa corn farmer...hears voices...builds baseball diamond...ghosts of Chicago Black Sox show up. The entire premise focuses on the movie's memorable tag line, “if you build it, they will come”. While the statement holds up nicely in the context of a Hollywood story, what if we turned that statement into a question? By simply flip-flopping two words, it now reads as somewhat of a challenge...

If you build it, will they come?

The harsh reality is, just because you’ve built a website, doesn’t mean people will come to it. Sure you’ll have some visitors and traffic, but probably not exactly what you’re looking for. Imagine building a massive shopping mall in the middle of a small town. You’ll surely get the locals to come visit, and a few from the surrounding towns...but because you’re in the “middle of nowhere”, people can’t find you (let alone have heard of you). Now take that same scenario, but imagine also building an airport, a train station, and a four lane highway with billboards every mile along the way. (Yes, it’s probably all a bit of a stretch...but the concept is what’s key.) Now, being in a small town is no longer as much of an issue. The opportunities created for potential traffic have been significantly increased.

No matter what people call it: Web Strategy, Internet Marketing, Search Engine Optimization...the general principles are always the same. Existing online is just one part of the question, creating avenues for both new and repeat visitors to find you answers it.

Are you getting the amount of traffic you deserve?
Is that traffic the type of customer you want?
How can you find the “right” customers?

Looking for guidance, suggestions, or advice for your website? Let’s chat, we’d love to hear from you.

On the web, it’s a general assumption that once your site is “live”, you can sit back and relax (definitely enjoy yourself...but not for too long). The process your site takes from idea to completion is often convoluted with multiple parties, multiple departments, and multiple decision makers. There are certainly roadblocks in this process that can NOT be avoided, but what about those that CAN?

What if the same company that designed your site could build it, program it, analyze it, and ultimately optimize it? A literal “One Stop Shop” for your company's or brand’s online presence. The general principles and processes we use at Spinutech follow this idea “to a T” (or to a “u”).

By combining your web design, web development, and web strategy under one roof, you not only get the convenience you need with insider expertise, but often save yourself money in the long run. It’s the same reason well known brands like Target offer fresh food and Starbucks in addition to their expansive retail selections.

With our “One Stop Shop” approach, we’re able to fully grasp the ins-and-outs of your project as a whole. There’s literally no need to squander your time by playing “traffic cop” between various third parties involved with your website. Instead, your time and energy can be focused on developing goals and creating content. Ultimately, the time spent, knowledge obtained, and relationship built pays off in more ways than one.

So the next time you go out to eat, ask yourself these questions: Why buy a burger here, cheese there, and a bun elsewhere?

Looking for guidance, suggestions, or advice for your website? Lets chat, we’d love to hear from you...or follow us as we continue the conversation online:

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With 2011 in the rear-view and 2012 fast approaching, we decided a new year needs a new look. Built from the ground up, the new Spinutech website was more than just a ‘fresh coat of paint’.

Our Work
The ‘Our Work’ gallery showcases both client screenshots and graphics in addition to detailed descriptions of the services Spinutech provided. We felt like it was important for both current and potential clients to understand these services in greater detail.

Our Process
The ‘Our Process’ section gives a thorough rundown of the process we use when building a typical website with content management. Making websites is similar to building a house. Having a good initial plan plus a solid understanding of the web project is crucial to accurately quote and complete your project in the designated time frame.

Testimonials
The ‘Testimonials’ videos provide a glimpse into our relationship with clients from their perspective. Having a gallery of work that we’re quite proud of is one thing, but getting positive feedback and support from our clients is just as important. We pride ourselves in the finer details of great customer service and building relationships.

About
The ‘About’ page highlights photos of our talented team and gives a rundown of where we are to where we’ve been. We continue to burst at the seems with passion for what we do.

Blog
The ‘Blog’ has always been a great place to keep up with ‘what’s fresh’ in our world. Not only do we showcase new projects, we share our Spinutech culture and provide insights on everything from ideas for content creation to search engine optimization tips to the latest and greatest industry specific news that’s important to you.

Visit Spinutech

Like what you see? Want to learn more? Let us know what you think as we continue the conversation online:

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