Resources: Research Summaries

Welcome to our Research Summaries.

As you may imagine, our consultants are regularly researching new Internet trends and applications. We thought our clients, business partners and visitors to our web site would like to read some of the interesting topics we are learning about. We invite you to read these submissions. We hope you learn something of value like we did.
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January 27, 2012Is Twitter Helping Censor the Web? Well, Sort of...Earlier this week, Twtitter announced that they have implemented a framework that allows them to censor or redact tweets depending on the country that the user is visiting from. While they've been very transparent about the whole process, is this a good move or bad move for Twitter?
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January 13, 2012Industries in Apple's FutureFor the past 10 years, Apple has been continually redefining the relationship between humans and computers. Their user-centered product design philosophy has continually pushed the envelope, forcing other companies to  try and do the same. So what's next? Today we'll look at several industries that Apple could be venturing into, and how you should be prepared as a CEO to adapt appropriately. Learn More
January 6, 2012Friday Tip: Sending your E-mail under Different AddressesHappy Friday! Today I'd like to offer some tips for those who use Gmail and wish to link their Google account to multiple email addresses. This will allow you to send and recieve multiple emails from two or more existing accounts (which don't have to be Google accounts). This process has been met with much frustration, but is actually quite simple. Learn More
December 23, 2011More Reasons on Why you should move your Company to the Cloud (Infographic)We’ve talked previously about the impact that cloud computing can have on your business, and since we’re so committed to encouraging businesses to move to the cloud, we figured we’d show you why. Learn More
December 9, 20113 Detrimental Web MistakesAt Webconnection, we look at many, many websites every single day. Sometimes we look at other sites for inspiration and other times we look at them for client research. We find the same mistakes over and over again, so today, I'd like to take the time to point out the most common flaws we see in sites.
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December 2, 2011Do Facebook 'Likes' or Twitter Followers Really Matter?So you may have 500 likes on your company Facebook page, and several thousand followers. Pretty good! But before your pat yourself on the back, you should first ask yourself "What exactly does this mean? How are these fans and followers important to me?". Many companies make the mistake of overemphasizing their face-value popularity on social-networking sites, but fail to find a way to turn those followers and fans into customers and leads. Here are some tips that will help you get the best out of your social-media investment.
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November 18, 2011What is SOPA? (No, it's not soup) If you've been watching the news lately, you've probably been hearing rumblings about a new bill being overseen by Congress. This bill, the "Stop Online Piracy Act", or SOPA, is the latest effort by large media corporations to curb rampant online piracy. It sounds admirable, but the controversy lies within the wording of the bill and the possible economic and constitutional ramifications. Learn More
November 11, 2011Getting Started with Google+Google Plus (or Google+), the latest social-media project from Google, has been making quite a few headlines lately. It's even been deemed a “Facebook Killer” by many tech blogs as a response to Google+'s massive hype and popularity. Today, we're asking you to try Google+ for yourself by offering you tips on starting both a personal Google Plus account, as well as the business-oriented “Page” feature, similar to Facebook Pages.
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November 4, 2011Internationalization vs. Localization
October 21, 2011How QR Codes will Make Your Marketing More EffectiveHave you ever seen those strange looking black and white barcode-like squares on the sides of posters or business cards? Or perhaps you've seen them on popular newspapers or in magazines. Wherever you've seen them, we'd like to dedicate this Friday to clarifying what exactly a QR code is and what they can do for your web strategy. Learn More
October 14, 2011Kickstarter: Helping Start-ups one Pledge at a TimeWhen was the last time you needed to raise money? Maybe it was for a buisiness, or a large-scale project. Whatever the case may be, we all share the same feels associated with raising money: frustration. Thankfully Kickstarter is here to help us make our fundraising goals much easier.
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October 5, 2011The Legacy of Steve JobsAs you might have heard, Steve Jobs, the legendary co-founder of Apple Computer passed away this week. His influence on modern technology is quite impressive, and even in his passing, the ethos of Apple's design continues to raise the bar.
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September 30, 2011Keeping Up With Facebook: Fall ChangesFacebook has been known to change things up a bit every now and then, but their new "timeline" re-design claims to be the biggest, boldest change yet. Learn More
September 16, 2011Windows "Closes In" on AdobePossibly inspired by Apples dismissal of Adobe Flash, it looks as if Windows will do the exact same thing when it begins it's roll-out of Windows 8 integrated devices and tablets in the next couple of years. But why, you ask? And how will it affect you? Learn More
September 9, 2011Google Acquires ZagatTech giant Google recently purchased the Zagat brand, a staple in the fine dining industry. But why? It's not like Google is opening a restuaraunt... Learn More
September 2, 2011We The People: The Whitehouse's New Social-Media ExperimentThe other day I read an article on Endgadget detailing a new project put forth by the Whitehouse called “We the People”. This is a new project dedicated to creating transparency within the government by allowing any U.S. Citizen who is 13+ years old to create a petition. If a petition reaches 5,000 or more signatures, it is guarenteed a response from a Whitehouse staffer.
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August 21, 2011What Should You Expect from Windows 8?Last week, Microsoft revealed some key details about their upcoming operating system dubbed “Windows 8”. Sure, we're all excited for a new OS release from Microsoft, but what does that mean for us?
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August 12, 2011Google Asks, "What Do You Love?"About a month ago, Google unveiled a quiet marketing campaign geared towards showcasing new and existing services that Google provides. These services include Google Maps, Youtube, Google Translate, among many others. But, how effective is this marketing strategy? Learn More
August 11, 2011Stay on top of the Tech World with 5 Great BlogsLove following tech developments, but just don't know where to keep up? Well stuff your worries in a sack, because below are 5 blogs that are sure to keep you up to date with any kind of tech news.
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August 9, 2011What's Your Google Search Score?We had a nice, summer-filled, week-long vacation here at Web Connection, but now we're back and ready to get to business. Today, we'd like to share with you the opportunity to sign up for a currently unreleased online tool designed for "online reputation management". With this tool you can "own your google results", and make sure that Google is working for your brand to get you the traffic you deserve.
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July 26, 20113 More Awesome Twitter TipsWe received a lot of love for publishing twitter tips for beginners on Brand-Yourself's Blog, so we figured we'd take another stab! Here are 3 more important tips that will definitely help increase your activity on Twitter.
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July 22, 2011Google Voice SearchSo here's a quick tip about the world's favorite search engine. If you happen to have a laptop equipped with a microphone, or a mobile device, you may have noticed a little microphone icon on the google search bar.
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July 21, 2011Data Storage in the Post-PC WorldThis past March, when Steve Jobs presented us with OSX Lion and the iPad 2, he used a phrase that really stood out for me. He stated that Apple had, “stepped into the 'post-PC' era”. Today, OSX Lion was officially released and I thought I'd revisit that very statement to understand what exactly post-PC computing really means for us as consumers and how it will change the way we approach data storage.
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July 15, 2011How Google+ Makes Content More ValuableSo in the past couple of weeks or so, it seems like Google did something right in terms of social media. It almost seems ironic that Google, the internets biggest search provider, has failed to release a solid social-networking platform...until now.
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July 1, 2011SEO in 4 Easy StepsIf you're building a website or web-based company, SEO needs to be on your to do list. Search Engine Optimization not only allows your website to be noticed by Google, but good SEO makes your website relevant to someone searching for something. We have 5 tips you can take with you to enhance your chances of being deemed 'relevant' and as a result bring more traffic to your site.
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June 17, 2011The Principles of Effective DesignAt Webconnection, one of our specialties is developing effective design solutions for our clients. That being said, the notion of what “good” design is, can be blurry. We put together 10 design principles from notable industrial designer Dieter Rams that can be applied to anything from a marketing campaign to UI design. Learn More
June 10, 2011How to Secure Your Facebook ProfileWe all love Facebook and how important it's become in the past several years, but that doesn't necessiarily mean that Facebook is completely safe. We've come up with several important tips that will help you stay safe and have fun while using facebook.

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May 31, 20115 Tips for Twitter BeginnersThe “Twittersphere” can be a daunting place for first time users especially if you aren’t a celebrity or don’t have some kind of underground cult following. We compiled 5 tips you need to know before doing anything with Twitter. Feel free to implement them within your own existing strategy!
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April 29, 2011Which Web Browser is Right for You?The single best way to make sure that your internet browsing experience is safe, optimal, and pleasing is to make sure that you're using a good browser. But what exactly makes a "good browser"? And with so many browser options, which should you choose? We compiled a list comparing popular web-browsers to help you choose the right browser for you. Learn More
April 22, 2011Creating a Company Profile on LinkedInIf you're a professional, chances are that you have a LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn's large community makes it easy for professionals to network and explore new business opportunities. But what if you already work for a great company? Or, if you're a business owner, what if you could utilize LinkedIn's massive network to benefit your own company?
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April 15, 2011The Most Popular Social Networks You've Never Heard OfThere is no doubt that social networks have dominated the internet. Websites like Twitter and Facebook have redefined what it means to be "connected". However, with sites as big as Twitter and Facebook, it can be difficult to find a niche. Below, we've compiled 5 websites that we feel not only offer an incredible service, but also have a strong, vibrant social-network. Learn More
March 10, 2011Using Google Places to Help Locate Your BusinessThis Webinar from Google helps anyone understand the intricacies of Google Places and how to get their company listed on their database. While it's a rather long video (~42 min.), the payoff is enormous. Google Maps has been recognized as a standard by many in their quest to find anything from local restaurants to small businesses. Learn More
March 4, 2011Google is Redefining Search: AgainOn February 24, Google announced on their blog that they have redesigned a significant part of their search algorithm. This new feature will make it easier for the typical Google user to get the best and most relevant search results possible. While this will most likely not affect those who already have a web site designed by us, we thought it was important for you to understand what the world's biggest and most important web service is doing next. Learn More
February 24, 2011Will Adobe Contribute Work for You?Do you wish you could make updates to your website yourself without having to take a computer class? Are you afraid of making changes to the source code that might hurt your site’s functionality? If so, you may want to consider incorporating Adobe Contribute into your next web project.
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February 4, 2011Putting Wikipedia Contributions into PerspectiveIt's no exaggeration to say that Jimmy Wale's vision of having a free and open place to share the "summary of all human knowledge"(Wikipedia) has been one of the most revolutionary concepts in modern history. Wikipedia is among the top ten most visited sites in the world and as of today (Alexa) is translated into more than 262 different languages. Learn More
January 27, 2011Google Location Extensions and Your BusinessIn an effort to display relevant ads, Google will now allow merchants to utilize what is known as “Location Extensions”. Location extensions not only allow you to display a relevant address with your ads, but they also offer other useful tools that can help increase your exposure, and expand your business locally. Learn More
January 18, 2011Using LinkedIn to Promote Your BusinessAs far as social media networks go, LinkedIn is by far the most popular social network for professionals. Not only can you utilize the size of LinkedIn's network, but you can also create what's called a “Company Profile”, similar to that of a Facebook Page. Learn More
January 6, 2011Friday Tip: Sending your E-mail under Different AddressesHappy Friday! Today I'd like to offer some tips for those who use Gmail and wish to link their Google account to multiple email addresses. This will allow you to send and recieve multiple emails from two or more existing accounts (which don't have to be Google accounts). This process has been met with much frustration, but is actually quite simple. Learn More
November 30, 2010Globalizing Your Web StrategyIn today's global market, we cannot stress how important it is to create a web strategy optimized for growth not just in the United States, but around the world. We compiled a list of tips that may help your website be competitive in a global market.
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November 23, 2010Will Facebook Messages be Successful?Despite the fact that the Internet has changed enormously since the early 90's, there is still one part that hasn't really changed: e-Mail. Sure, there have been attempts to modify e-mail (such as putting it on a cloud environment like Hotmail and Gmail), but for the most part, the idea of an electronic message has remained relatively consistent. Will this always be the case? Learn More
November 11, 2010Why doesn't the iPad Support Flash?Upon the unveiling of the new iPad, there has been widespread criticism towards Apple along with a lack of understanding as to why the iPad (among Apple's other mobile devices) doesn't permit Adobe Flash to function. This concern was formally addressed by Steve Jobs on Apple's website in an essay entitled "Thoughts on Flash". Learn More
October 14, 2010The Future of the Web (According to Opera)The Opera web browser turned 15 years old today. To celebrate Opera's 15th birthday, we at WebConnection are going to fill you in on a press event that featured Opera and highlighted what their founders believe the future of the Internet will look like. Learn More
October 12, 2010Cloud Computing: A New Look at a Traditional Paradigm Cloud computing is a term that has been thrown around a lot, but many people are still unaware of what it really means. Even worse, many business owners may not understand how to utilize clouds to cut costs, save money, and expand their business. Learn More
September 28, 2010HTML5 and Your Web StrategyHTML5, may be still in the making (some have even gone so far as to predict its official release at 2022), but that doesn’t mean we can't understand what it's new features are, or what it even is. Learn More
August 5, 2010Principles When Designing Ecommerce WebsitesEven though many ecommerce sites don’t appear to be much different than any other website, their web strategy is vastly different.  An ecommerce sites main goal is to lead the visitor down a path to a sale of product(s).  When a web designer creates an ecommerce website they must always keep this goal in mind.Learn More
August 3, 2010Just Say NoThe word no may have been one of the first 10 words we learned as babies. As adults, we often have trouble using the word when talking to partners, customers, and sometimes even friends.  Most people don’t use “no” out of fear, guilt, pressure, or doubt.  Many people believe it is easier to give into someone’s ideas and demands then stand up for themselves and tell that person they are wrong.Learn More
July 29, 2010Social Media as Tool to SuccessMany managers view social media as “a distraction and ultimately a productivity killer in the workplace.”  In order to prove these managers wrong, members of the social media community have argued that social media really does help get things done faster and also is very productive in the workplace. Learn More
July 20, 2010Color Contrast and a Website Design's EffectivenessEven though it sounds easy, contrast is a very important and difficult part to designing a web page. The web designer must make the page look good and colorful without making it illegible or painful for a user to look at and more importantly read.Learn More
July 16, 2010Useful Tips to Increase Twitter FollowersTwitter is quickly taking over the blogging industry. Recent research has shown that there are about 6 million registered twitter users which equates to about 3.8 percent of the people that use the Internet.Learn More
July 14, 2010Search Engines Still Key to Web Site VisibilityEven though the medias attention is on social media resources such as twitter and facebook, search is still the most important technique in driving potential customers to your website.Learn More
July 13, 2010Using YouTube as a Business ToolYouTube is the most popular online video market share web site on the Internet today with the average person watching 62 videos a month.Learn More
July 7, 2010Google Negatively Ranks Slow Loading Web PagesThe typical internet user has no patience for slow loading web pages. After analyzing recent research, it has been discovered that the longer it takes for a page to load the less interested the visitor becomes. The result is a higher likelihood of them leaving the website altogether.Learn More
July 6, 2010Social Media for Generating LeadsAccording to the annual Unisfair marketing survey, social media is quickly becoming the top emerging channel for generating leads.Learn More
June 7, 2010Difference between Facebook Group and Fan PagesWhat is the difference between Facebook Group Pages and Fan Pages and which is best for your business?Learn More
April 15, 2010Social Media LeadersAccording to recent data released by comScore, Youtube and Facebook lead all other in the social media space. Their report compared the growth from March 2009-March 2010.Learn More
March 26, 2010Free Keyword ToolsKeywords are an important aspect of Search Engine Optimization. Many people struggle to come up with strategic keywords for their web sites. WebConnection has gathered a list of free tools to help you with your keywords.Learn More
February 16, 2010Tips for Writing Web ContentWriting content for a web site is often the most intimidating aspect of the process. Most of us went to school and learned how to read and write. So why such the disdain? We have provided some tips to help alleviate this stressor.Learn More
January 31, 2010Qualifications Needed to Participate in Commission JunctionMany web site owners consider increasing targeted traffic to their web site by participating in an affiliate program.Learn More
January 14, 2010Managing Content with CMS and Adobe Contribute CS4Organizations that create and manage their web sites should have content management tools that empower them to modify content on their sites without the help of their developers.Learn More
January 7, 20102 Tips to Increase FollowersWant to know two quick tips to ramp up the number of targeted people to follow you on Twitter and other Social Media sites? Learn More
January 4, 2010How to Know When Your Web Strategy Needs HelpOn companies’ list of goals, we have found that improving web strategies is often towards the top of the list.  Analyzing if a web site needs to be updated can be difficult.Learn More
December 22, 2009Publishing Your Podcasts on iTunesIf you are already producing audio or video podcasts for your web site, you can make this content available to the masses via iTunes.Learn More
October 22, 2009Legitimate Link Exchange for GoogleFor years, web developers and site owners have been trying to get good organic (free) Google Search results. There are right ways to do this and wrong ways to do this.Learn More
September 16, 2009Windows "Closes In" on AdobeLearn More
August 27, 2009How to Test Web Applications on the BlackberryWebConnection creates web sites that are mobile phone compatible. There are so many mobile phone brands and platforms, it is difficult to know if what we are creating works on them all.Learn More
August 26, 2009How to Be Perceived as Relevant on TwitterTwitter has quickly become one of the prominent social networking sites. It can be difficult to determine who to follow or to know what what other users are looking for when they decide whether or not to follow you.Learn More
August 12, 2009Google Asks, "What Do You Love?"About a month ago, Google unveiled a quiet marketing campaign geared towards showcasing new and existing services that Google provides. These services include Google Maps, Youtube, Google Translate, among many others. But, how effective is this marketing strategy? Learn More
July 26, 20093 More Awesome Twitter TipsWe received a lot of love for publishing “5 Twitter Tips for Tw00bs” on Brand-Yourself's Blog, so we figured we'd take another stab! Here are 3 more important tips that will definitely help increase your activity on Twitter.

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September 7, 2007The Legacy of Steve JobsSo as many of you heard, Steve Jobs, the legendary co-founder of Apple Computer passed away this week. His influence on modern technology is quite impressive, and even in his passing, the ethos of Apple's design continues to raise the bar.
Learn More