Phishing hosting scams & website owners
I was reminded (again) today that online scams come in all forms. A customer sent us an email that looked like a legitimate notice from their hosting provider. The email stated that there had been a fatal database error and might have caused data loss on our customer’s website. The email included information that would…
4 Indicators That Ecommerce Could Help Your Organization
It’s common knowledge that it’s no longer as simple as selling a product off of a shelf in a store, but what does this mean to a small business with a product to move? The physical store with on-site inventory may never completely go away, but many people are going to the internet to shop,…
Tips for making a smarter website design
It seems that daily we are thinking about ways to improve website designs. Do we have a clear call-to-action? Do we need a responsive site? Is our layout engaging our customer? As a business owner we need to be aware of the trends in website design. Here is a little data that might help you.…
How to make Facebook less cumbersome and annoying – Notifications
Over the next couple of days we are going to show you how to make Facebook work for you instead of against you! With these easy to do tips, you will have your news feed page showing you what you want to see. Today we are going to look at how to see only the…
Netiquette 101
Etiquette on the internet is sometimes referred to as “netiquette.” Most of the guidelines involved are common sense, but warrant some highlights here that we’ll call Netiquette 101. Do unto others is a good rule of thumb. Whether you are in a social media setting, commenting on a blog post, or emailing to your contact list;…
The Social Channel Guide
With so many different social networks to choose from and so little time to spend on them all, how do you choose what’s right for your business? The answer to that will be different for each business. Ultimately, you want to be where your audience is. This may be dictated by what you offer as…
Marketing Makeover: Part 4
A marketing makeover takes time. The very fact that it’s a makeover suggests that you’ve been using a certain set of trials and tactics that may warrant some review and revision. Involving an outside voice can be helpful to keep the objectivity out front. A back to basics approach beginning with research, developing strategy, and…
Marketing Makeover: Part 3
In Part 1 we went over the elements of research and discovery. In Part 2, we covered strategy. Part 3 of Jazepro’s Marketing Makeover is where we bring out the mannequins dressed in various outfits, accessorized with bags, shoes, and jewelry–well, maybe not exactly. But this is a great metaphor for what we do when…
Good website design can help with my business goals?
Oh, for the days gone by when you could just nail a sign on the front of your building, GENERAL STORE, and start hocking your wares. Nowadays, it’s take a bit more. Sure, you can buy a domain name, publish your own website, and wait for the traffic to flow–but you might be waiting a…
Need to manage online, on the go?
There’s no doubt that there has been a technical case of “shrinkage” from desktop…to laptop…to hand-held or mobile devices. The incredibly shrinking hardware has actually become increasingly more powerful! Remember when you used to have to unplug your phone from the wall jack, so that you could plug your computer in for a dial-up connection?…
Marketing Makeover: Part 2
Last month we introduced our blog series, Marketing Makeover where we talked about Part One: assessment–audience, market share, goals and tracking. Whether you are considering a new business or a business you’ve been in for 20 years, it is crucial to stop and assess these foundational elements. But wait, there’s more! This month, with our…
Is it time to upgrade or redesign your website?
Websites have a shelf life. Gone are the days when a business could create a website and leave it for years. Have you been feeling like something isn’t connecting for your customers with your website? Are you feeling like you need something fresh? Have you changed your branding or direction? Here are 5 indicators that…
Sometimes you need a little help–When self-marketing isn’t working
Anyone can create a blog, a Facebook page, a Twitter account, a Google+ profile. It’s free and only takes a few minutes to set up. But, just because a business CAN set these up doesn’t always mean it should. Here are several things to consider before you put yourself out there: Who will see this…
Need a basic website for a basic price?
URL? HTTP? Domain? Hosting? Servers? Templates? .org? .com? .cc? .HUH?! We hear ya! We understand that taking a stab at creating a website all by yourself can become quickly overwhelming. One of the most prohibiting aspects of establishing an online presence can often be cost. You might be saying, “All I need is a simple website…
Check our our newly improved ticket system
We have updated our ticket management system so that it will allow us to provide 24/7/365 customer service. Our customers can create a ticket for help, changes, or new projects that will then be sent to our team. We will then organize, prioritize, analyze and respond to your request. We believe that this system will…
What’s the Best Way to Spend My Marketing Budget?
We all like to think that we are spending our money wisely–both personally and professionally. Risking your money on a shirt to wear this weekend is easier than laying out cash for a fancy marketing plan–after all, it is just a plan. And although it may be hard to hear, most marketing is calculated guessing–emphasis…
What do I blog about?
Blogging can be a daunting task if you over-think it–but we’re here to tell you–just go for it! Find your voice, speak to your customers, and share your insight! You have more to say and share than you’re probably giving yourself credit for, so let me remind you of your deep well of resources. The…
What’s the best navigation app?
With so many different apps out there to help you do everything from finding a bathroom to planning your trip around the world, it is hard to choose. Most of us do the trial and error route: install, test, delete. After using several different GPS systems out there I’ve found one that I really like…
Don’t Instapanic
How many times do we check the box to make it disappear–“I agree to terms and conditions”–but never read it word for word? If you’re like a lot of us–too many times. The recent kerfuffle with Instagram is another example of balancing the benefits of using free service apps like Instagram, Facebook, Google+, and others,…
Stop Marketing and Start Inspiring
When you hear the word “Inspire”, what comes to mind? Do you have the picturesque image of an artist painting the sunset meeting a dark and vast mountain range? Or perhaps you visualize someone sitting at a spot-lit piano on a blacken stage on the verge of a masterpiece. Maybe it takes you back to…
Marketing Masks & Ninja Assassins
I get a kick out of the things people dress up like for Halloween. How one personality transforms into another for a day of fun. Take my niece Sadie just for example. Mild mannered, sweet little first grader who transforms into a dangerous masked ninja assassin. I can’t barely even recognize her in her Halloween…
Managing your Website
I was talking to a customer the other day about how the web offers small business owners more tools and functions than ever before. Think about about it. The ability to add, modify or remove content from a website without any programming knowledge. The ability to, in real time, update followers of events, news, and…
Rags to Riches
Everybody loves a good “before and after” story. From time to time, we’ll be sharing projects where we were able to learn some lessons and teach some lessons. It will look simple, logical and slick–but we’ll be honest about the nitty-gritty that comes with the change. You may not cry in the end, but you’ll…
Is this thing on?
Podcasts and media: this is where we’re saving some space for fancy podcasts and flashy media presentations. You’re going to love it!
SUPERfriends!
Jazepro has had the privilege of working with many different companies and organizations over the years. Some are selling great products in a great way, others are meeting needs in heroic ways. When there is a product, service, or concept that really inspires us–SUPERfriend-style–we want to share the inspiration with you! Check back often to…
Opportunities Everywhere
Remember watching those old episodes Star Trek where Captain Kirk calls up to the ship using his handy dandy communication device? or uses a tricorder to capture information about something to review later? I remember watching those shows thinking WOW. Wouldn’t that be cool? Wirelessly talking to someone hundreds of miles away… Let’s fast forward…
The marketing works, so now what?
Getting someone to call, click or come in is very important, but if there’s not a plan beyond this, you may actually do more harm than good. After all, most new customers will only investigate you once, and if they don’t find anything they need, then they may be lost forever. So what happens when…
Tasting our own medicine
We’re not proud–Jazepro needed a facelift. But not just because we like a fresh, new look, but also because we needed a better way to share the many changes and upgrades we’ve made Behind the scenes: We’ve added team members, we’ve added new services, and we’re working harder to impress, inform, and inspire! We asked…