brianvdesign.com bvlog

Calculating ROI Without E-Commerce

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 08:19:38 GMT

Even if you run a non-e-commerce website, you can calculate the ROI for all of your online marketing endeavours. You don't have to use the excuse "it's branding, so we really can't tell." By creating a calculation that is right for your business, you can see how effective an email blast, display ad, or even a new landing page are doing.

To start, you at least need some way of analyzing your site; whether it's with Google Analytics (free and easy to install) or reviewing the log files on your server.

So how is it done? I'm not copping out here, but this article is so well wrought that I'd be foolish to rewrite it:

How to Measure Internet Marketing ROI: The Four Basic Questions

When you're done, stop back here and thank me for at least pointing you in the right direction. You'll be eliminating your campaigns that don't produce and pouring that dough into the ones that do in no time.

Google Me Already More Popular Than Facebook?

Sat, 18 Sep 2010 08:19:04 GMT

Chris Crum from WebProNews.com discusses the Google Me project and whether or not Google can finally get social media right. Read the article

Google Code Tutorials

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 10:56:14 GMT

Whether you're just learning, brushing up, or building on your skillset, Google offers a fantastic series of tutorials for any level. I'm currently engrossed in the AJAX tutorial which presents a lot of information I didn't know. Check them out here: Google Code.

Kyle Bijou Makes Mercer Soccer Team

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:03:35 GMT

Congratulations to Kyle Bijou, my cousin, for making the Mercer College mens soccer team, part of the NJCAA, for 2010. The season opens tomorrow with a match against Monroe from Brooklyn.

Mercer ranks 8th in a NJCAA Division 1 national poll.

Top 10 National Poll
1	Tyler Junior College
2	Georgia Perimeter College
3	Schoolcraft College
4	Louisburg College
5	Yavapai College
6	Illinois Central College
7	Essex County College
8	Mercer County Community College
9	San Jacinto College-South
10	Barton Community College

View the complete schedule here.

Learn jQuery - Best Tutorial I've Seen

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 05:30:37 GMT

I love jQuery. In my opinion, it's the best javascript library out there. I just keep coming back to it for its ease of use, its fairly painless learning curve and the wealth of resources available online.

There are a lot of tutorials and lessons on the webisphere, but this is my favorite...blog.themeforest.net/tutorials/jquery-for-absolute-beginners-video-series/. Check it out if you want to dive in.

I'm a Blog Catalog Member

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 09:09:06 GMT

I just joined Blog Catalog, the best blog search engine on the web. Check them out today.

Visit Blogcatalog.com.

HTML5 / CSS3 Extension for Dreamweaver

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 03:26:07 GMT

If you're an Adobe Dreamweaver user and you're ready to make the jump or start experimenting with HTML5 and CSS3 then you've got to download the HTML5 Extension. You'll first need to download the Adobe Extension Manager if you don't already have it.

So what does it do? Dreamweaver will simply recognize all the new HTML5 tags and CSS3 declarations. It also includes new template files you can get started with. Enjoy!

CSS Column Layout Tricks

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 03:46:47 GMT

If you've worked on a website using CSS for your layout you've probably encountered the dreaded column layout problem in which one of your columns refuses to extend the height of the other no matter what crazy code you try to write.

Aext.net has just posted a fantastic article about this very subject. They explain the "old" trick using a background-image and a new more sophisticated approach using CSS3.

Check out the solution right here.

Google is DEAD!

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 03:50:41 GMT

Or so the email I just received says...

News flash: Google doesn't like you.
They don't like me either....they don't really
like anyone!
But here's why you shouldn't care...
http://www.eSiteSecrets.com/GoogleIsDead.html

Is Google really headed for extinction? Turns out the link takes you to a video from a marketer with a super secret way to get lots and lots of traffic without the help of organic or paid search results. Not as interesting as the ...GoogleisDead.html file suggests. But it did get me thinking. What if there wasn't a Google? What's the next best way to market your website(s)? Facebook? Twitter? Seems to be where the world is headed, but what if your audience isn't exactly part of the Farmville crowd? And, how would you find the information you need online? Other search engines? Which ones? Put on your thinking caps and let me know what you would do without a Google.

Brian

brianvdesign.com has undergone a makeover!

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 05:02:08 GMT

I thought I'd start the blog off with a little shameless self promotion. It's been on my to-do list for years, and finally around May I finally dove in. I believe nothing is harder then designing for yourself. Probably because we're all so critical of ourselves. But finally I decided on a subject manner: balloons. Well, hot air balloons. For the last few years, since the birth of my daughter, we've been making a trip up to Readington, NJ for the annual New Jersey Festival of Ballooning.

The first time I went we were skeptical. How much fun could it be watching a bunch of hot air balloons? It's a blast. No really, it is. There's something inspiring and beautiful about a LOT of balloons taking off at the same time. The colors are amazing. The way these guys fly these things is amazing. And the fireworks and the bands are amazing. Yeah, it's a pretty amazing time.

So that's what inspired the balloon theme. I'll keep you all posted when the balloon festival comes around next year.

Brian