CWS Everything Internet Blog

Flash Is Not So Flashy

Alan De Keyrel — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:05:51 +0000

For years, web developers have been arguing whether or not the use of flash was a smart idea. Many customers requested the use of this technology because it was cool but we at CWS almost always suggested otherwise for various reasons, namely because it made search engine optimization nearly impossible. As we enter 2012, there is another reason to be skeptical of this technology. You see, sales were doubling for iPads, iPods and other smart phones this past holiday season.

And NONE of them support flash.

This means that as more and more people become dependent on mobile phones and tablets for surfing the web, you may be left in the dust. Plus, with new technologies like HTML5 and SVG that are supported on nearly all devices, it’s time to think twice before hiring a flash developer. Nearly everything flash could do can be done in current technologies that are support by almost all modern browsers and all devices.

To see a “real world” example of how we’re doing this at CWS, check out the new lot finder tool that we recently developed for Somerby. It’s a great example of using SVG and Javascript to achieve flash-like results. Go ahead, try using your mobile phone… we dare you!

Launch: Kauffman Law Firm

Sheryl Barlow — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:04:04 +0000

CWS is proud to announce the launch of the Kauffman Law Firm website.

For over 30 years Kauffman Law Firm has handled primarily personal injury cases. The firm specializes in brain injuries which is highlighted on the new website. CWS web designer, Joe Milbach, met with Kauffman Law Firm and learned they wished to convey a more professional atmosphere with a personal feel. He designed a site with deep colors and a modern, simplistic look. To give it a personal feel, he incorporated several photos of the lawyers and staff.

Congratulations to Kauffman Law Firm on the launch of their new website!

Website Before

Website After

Launch: Crosby Lakes Spirits Co.

Tom Novak — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:35:27 +0000

Crosby Lakes Spirit Company home page

CWS is proud to announce the launch of the new Crosby Lakes Spirits Company website. Crosby Lakes Spirits Co., a distributor of premium alcoholic beverages located in St. Paul, MN.

The website was built from the ground up with a database of Crosby Lake Spirits Co. alcoholic beverages. From this database, website visitors can select their favorite beverage and find information on this beverage such as the latest reviews and cocktails recipes. The website enables the user to dig deep into how to make a certain cocktail by providing the style, method, difficulty and the season that is best associated with said alcoholic beverage and drink. It also provides a simple search tool for the user to look-up their favorite alcoholic beverage that is featured within the website.

CWS Designer, Joe Milbach, was in charge of the website design that wrapped around the important database discussed above. The main goal was to create a friendly design that brought the user’s eye directly to the database tools feature that were programmed within the guts of the website. Joe utilized a ‘bottle wrap’ feel within the home page banner to highlight the various fine alcohols found within the Crosby Lakes Spirits Co. portfolio.

Congratulations to Crosby Lakes Spirits Co. on the launch of their new website!

Meet CWS: Michael Cawcutt

Sheryl Barlow — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:35:15 +0000

Name: Michael Cawcutt

Tell us what you’re busy doing at CWS: All while helping lead a rock star creative team—I am also making sure ALL I’s are dotted and T’s crossed. I.E. Project Management

Describe Yourself Using One Word: truth

Hometown: Carlton, MN

Family: I am the middle child. I have two brothers and parents. My wife, son and I recently moved to Rochester.

Hobbies/Interests: design, art, music, technology, video-games, outdoors, camping, boating, water sports in general.

Favorite Sports Team(s): Cloquet Lumberjacks

Famous Person You’d Like to Meet: Trent Reznor

Something You’d Like to Learn to Do: programming & development (coding)

Favorite Website: reddit.com

Favorite Travel Destination: So far? Jamaica

Last “Gadget” You Purchased: NetGear 1-port Powerline Adapter Kit / basically send an internet signal through your home electrical wiring.

Favorite Book: The Word

Favorite Food: steak—rarer the better

Favorite Movie: Princess Mononoke (don’t knock it till you’ve seen it—classic)

Meet CWS: Elijah Parker

Sheryl Barlow — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:20:45 +0000

Name: Elijah Parker

Tell us what you’re busy doing at CWS: Programming and learning new things!

Describe Yourself Using One Word: Visionary

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Family: Married to my beautiful wife, Jackie, and we’re expecting our first baby any day!

Hobbies/Interests: Photography, Travel, Birding, Adventure, Unicycling, Web Design, Electronic Design (just launched my first product! www.timelapseplus.com)

Favorite Sports Team(s): I’ve never been interested in sports

Famous Person You’d Like to Meet: Alvaro Uribe

Something You’d Like to Learn to Do: Make iPhone apps

Favorite Website: news.google.com and sparkfun.com

Favorite Travel Destination: I’m not sure what my favorite would be — I love traveling to remote places. Recently I returned from a two-month trip to Colombia where I was director of photography for a feature film.

Last “Gadget” You Purchased: Zoom H1 portable audio recorder (it was actually a gift…I’m not sure what I last bought)

Favorite Book: Usually reference books and the Bible

Favorite Food: Sushi (Nigiri, don), and a close second would be Thai red curry

Favorite Movie: Not really into movies, but maybe Man from Snowy River

Is Your Company Being Social?

Jonny Yucuis — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:22:51 +0000

I signed up for Facebook my freshman year of college. When I did, never did I think that a website college students were using for clever status updates and funny (sometime terribly thought out) photo albums could have such a massive potential for marketing a business. But here we are, just 8 years since Facebook launched and I doubt you’ll find a marketer that still believes this whole Facebook thing is just as much of a fad as fanny packs.

Just listening to Facebook statistics can be a little mind boggling. For instance there are over 800 million users. There are more than 900 million objects that people interact with including business pages, groups, events, etc. And 1 out of every 8 minutes online is spent on Facebook!

That being said, I challenge you to ask yourself, “Is my company being social?” Social media marketing can seem like a daunting task if you don’t know where to start. Thus, as former Marketing & Social Media intern and newly appointed Marketing & Social Media Strategist (they’re still calling me Jonny the Intern) I would like to help with those first steps into social media marketing.

I personally recommend that your first step be getting to know social media. How to use it, where to use it, why use it. Over the upcoming months we will be presenting a 4 part YouTube series on social media marketing. We started the first video with the king of social media: Facebook.

Watch the video below then head over to the CWS Facebook page to let us know what you think or ask a question on our wall.

Don’t Let This Happen to You

Alan De Keyrel — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:03:19 +0000

Every now and then I get caught up in working “in” my business instead of “on” my business. You know, those times where you seem to be focusing on putting out fire after fire instead of the things which are really important. Usually, it takes some sort of revelation to realize that you’ve messed up and gotten off track.

That happened to me three weeks ago.

You see, we’ve been in the process of recruiting some really amazing talent here at CWS. I truly believe that finding and retaining top talent will be the key to our success over the next three to five years. However, I started to hear the following words from more than one of our new hires:

“After pulling up your website, I almost didn’t apply!” They would then explain to me that after visiting our office for the interview they felt much better about the opportunity and had confidence that we were a great company.

Here we are, a web company, and our own website was turning away potential candidates!?!? I even dedicated an entire chapter in my book, JOBLESS, entitled; If Your Website Sucks-So Do You! ”How could this happen?” I thought.

Easy, I lost focus of what was important.

It’s easy to ignore your own website. After all, it seems like just yesterday that you did a re-design, right? Well, unfortunately, it’s been 3-4 years now and in the web world that’s a really long time. To add to the problem, we get caught up in the day-to-day operations of the business and forget all about it. Next thing you know it’s 2012 and your website sucks.

So, as we enter 2012 I encourage you to ask yourself…”What things in your business have you neglected for too long?” What are those things which are NOT URGENT but IMPORTANT that you should be attending to? If you’re like me, you have more than one and it’s probably hurting your business. Take action and start working on them today. Set a goal and get it done this month… it’s probably easier than you think.

As for our new site. We took action and it is now done. We invite you to check it out and wish you great success in tackling your 2012 priorities.

Launch: Rochester Public Utilities

Sheryl Barlow — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:50:47 +0000

CWS is proud to announce the launch of the new Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) website.

The goal was to update the look of the site and organize the large amount of information available for RPU customers. Google Analytics data on the original RPU site revealed the most-visited areas. RPU wanted to make these popular areas easier to access, like the RPU bill pay. Additionally, they wanted customers to be able to easily find information in the event of a power outage.

The new site contains visible social media links, inviting customers to conect to RPU’s social media outlets for up-to-date information, to connect and to comment.

CWS Designer, Chris Kostelec, headed up the redesign and development of the site.

Congratulations to RPU on the launch of their new website!

And the Winner is…..

Sheryl Barlow — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:43:12 +0000

Lisa Reicks and Gary Polikowsky; these two Rochester residents were the winners of The Rochester International Airport’s (RST) ”FLY FREE WITH RST” contest. We blogged about this contest while it was running but wanted to do a quick follow up with the results. Besides making a couple of randomly drawn contestants quite happy just days before the holidays, this was also an example of a highly successful contest using Facebook as the primary means of entry.

Contestants were directed to go to RST’s Facebook Page and fill out a simple entry form for a chance to win free air fare from American Airlines or Delta Airlines. CWS worked with RST to ensure all proper Facebook contest guidelines were followed.

The proof was in the analysis of RST’s Facebook Insights (Statistics.)
1. 1427 entries were received. (A nice list RST now has and could use to market to in the future.)
2. Likes increase 138% over the 8 weeks of the contest, to just under 1000.
3. People “talking about RST’s page” increased 374%.

Congratulations to The Rochester International Airport on conducting an extremely well-done social media contest!

Meet CWS: Eric Reynolds

Sheryl Barlow — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:34:03 +0000

Name: Eric Reynolds

Tell us what you’re busy doing at CWS: Programming, SEO, Client Relations

Describe Yourself Using One Word: Loyal

Hometown: Wheeling IL

Family: Wife, 4 cats and 2 fish

Hobbies/Interests: Photography, Hiking, Travel, Guitar

Favorite Sports Team(s): Go Bears

Famous Person You’d Like to Meet: Leonardo Da Vinci

Something You’d Like to Learn to Do: Play the Free Bird solo on my guitar

Favorite Website: Too may good ones to list, but I waste a lot of time at home on peopleofwalmart and lamebook.