http://www.greensprocket.com The GreenSprocket blog is the official online publication written by the developers of GreenSprocket. Here you'll find updates on our content management systems along with our thoughts on marketing and web design. GreenSprocket Web CMS - http://www.greensprocket.com En 2010, Visual Odyssey Inc. Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:19:14 EST Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:19:14 EST http://www.greensprocket.com Working with the talents of Option [B] Creative GreenSprocket translated designs into a CMS driven website with artist micro-sites in mind. This website features an artist gallery so Rouge Concept can create a micro-site for each artist in their gallery. Each artist micro-site comes complete with a photo gallery, artist bio, CV and latest news. Fri, 30 Apr 2010 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=70 http://www.greensprocket.com Working with designer Mark Heine, GreenSprocket produced a functional CMS driven website that Camp Mini-Yo-We could manage themselves. The result speaks for itself. Visit www.miniyowe.com to experience the full website. Thu, 29 Apr 2010 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=69 http://www.greensprocket.com JavaScript is responsible for many of the advanced website features seen today and increasing complexity can present performance issues. Not all website browsers are created equal and there are clear winners in terms of JavaScript performance. In order of best to worst performance:<br> <br> Chrome 4, Safari 4, IE9 (Platform Preview), Firefox 3, Opera 10, Internet Explorer 8<br> <br> That's right, the current release of Internet Explorer trails far behind the competition. Version 9 appears to be addressing this deficiency which should provide ample reason to upgrade when the full release is available. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=68 http://www.greensprocket.com Microsoft has released a Platform Preview of Internet Explorer 9. Test drive this latest release for yourself featuring support for CSS3 and HTML5. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=67 http://www.greensprocket.com Best Wishes & Seasons Greetings from GreenSprocket! Thu, 17 Dec 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=66 http://www.greensprocket.com What’s on the horizon?<br> <br> Here is a little update on what is going on over at GreenSprocket.<br> <br> First quarter of 2010 will bring two new products from GreenSprocket including our small and medium sized business content management systems. Recent projects are being rolled out with advanced copies meaning mainstream deployment is just around the corner. <br> <br> What can you expect? <br> <br> Small business can take advantage of our hosted solution with low startup costs and a library of website templates all designed to get you started quickly. Look forward to features such as content pages, blog, photo gallery, contact forms and more.<br> <br> Medium business with unique needs will benefit from our larger solution. Look forward to product catalogues, deployment on your server and rapid development times.<br> <br> Stay tuned…<br> <br> Further updates will be posted as our official launch date approaches. Keep an eye out for our new website in the coming months. In the mean time please visit the portfolio where three new projects have been added. Each project features and runs on the latest GreenSprocket CMS.<br> <br> Wed, 9 Dec 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=65 http://www.greensprocket.com Walls Alive Painting receives a design and content upgrade to immediately boost business while the full website redevelopment is underway. Wed, 2 Dec 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=64 http://www.greensprocket.com Peter is an editorial and corporate photographer and his love of environmental portraiture has brought him through some thirty years of great photographs and interesting people. <br> <br> To showcase Peter’s portfolio an understated design was created allowing the photography to take centre stage. Each design element is reduced to a basic form without any compromise on usability.<br> <br> The "web 2.0" navigation offers up Flash like function without the need for plug-ins. This allows for maximum exposure and you won’t see any "loading" messages so common in Flash websites.<br> <br> Be sure to connect with Peter on his website or through his LinkedIn profile found on the contact page: www.petertymphotography.com. Wed, 21 Oct 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=63 http://www.greensprocket.com You can now follow updates from GreenSprocket on many social networks. Please visit us on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Just search for GreenSprocket! Tue, 13 Oct 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=62 http://www.greensprocket.com Passing long URL’s to a friend or colleague can be a pain. Long URL’s can break when sent through email software and they’re hard to convey in person or over the phone. <br> <br> Enter URL shortening �" handy websites that convert your long URL into a much smaller version. Here are some URL shorteners to help:<br> <br> http://bit.ly <br> http://is.gd <br> http://ow.ly<br> http://tinyurl.com<br> http://www.dwarfurl.com Wed, 2 Sep 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=60 http://www.greensprocket.com What goes into a good website, anyway? GreenSprocket promo and brief breakdown of our website building vision. Visit www.greensprocket.com to grab the full PDF.<br> Thu, 27 Aug 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=59 http://www.greensprocket.com GreenSprocket launches a new website for Grahame Potter �" copywriter extraordinaire!<br> <br> GreenSprocket has been working with Grahame Potter for 8 years on various projects and the forged relationship is a valued one. When Grahame came to us for a new website we were excited to help a fellow entrepreneur put his best foot forward.<br> <br> Grahame Potter is an expert at writing highly marketable copy and he's been doing so for 20+ years in various disciplines including; websites, profiles, articles, brochures, ads and direct mail. Grahame focuses on measurable results and has the experience to get the job done �" a trait we trust when he is working on GreenSprocket projects.<br> <br> It was time for a complete overhaul and a fresh start so GreenSprocket produced a bold design with large type faces and large graphic elements. We wanted visitors to sit-up and say “hey, this guy is different”, creating a lasting impression.<br> <br> Bold type, “Grahame Potter Copywriter for Bizzy Agencies” catches a visitors attention right away. The eye then naturally moves towards an animated clock which supports the previous statement. When visitors click on the clock time starts moving backwards driving home that Grahame can save you time!<br> <br> Additional design attention was placed in the portfolio section. Often competing websites will feature complete art pieces which lends itself more to a design house than a copywriter. For Grahame’s website the copy was promoted by placing “Copy Clips” under each portfolio piece. This technique serves double duty as a readable example of Grahame’s work but it also adds search engine optimization (SEO) to each page.<br> <br> Grahames website contains many SEO techniques such as easily readable URL’s, unique meta tags for each page and a sitemap.xml file among other things. All of these features provide measurable benefits for attracting new visitors to the website. <br> <br> The GreenSprocket CMS works behind the scenes with in-content editing features so Grahame can easily keep his website looking fresh and alive. Features include the ability to edit any page, modify any portfolio piece and upload blog articles complete with RSS feed. Tue, 25 Aug 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=58 http://www.greensprocket.com Catch up with GreenSprocket on popular social networking sites such as Twitter and YouTube.<br> <br> http://twitter.com/GreenSprocket<br> http://www.youtube.com/greensprocket Thu, 6 Aug 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=57 http://www.greensprocket.com Content Tue, 16 Jun 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=56 http://www.greensprocket.com GreenSprocket is pleased to announce the launch of Robely Trading’s brand new website! This projects unique design and technical challenges were overcome and the result �" if we may say so �" is spectacular!<br> <br> The Problem:<br> Robely Trading manufactures quality custom bath and dinnerware products for retailers however their previous website was falling flat. Zero brand recognition and clumsy usability were working against Robely’s online image. Turning their online presence around was paramount to moving Robely into today’s online market.<br> <br> The Solution:<br> Working from the ground up, current branding was migrated to a website design that compliments existing packaging. A consistent brand is now present between offline packaging and online marketing.<br> <br> Usability principles which are now in place ensure that visitors receive a quality user experience. Visitors experience a smooth flow from first landing on the website, viewing its content and ultimately contacting Robely to complete the sale.<br> <br> Future Updating:<br> Behind Robely’s website lies the GreenSprocket Content Management System �" an online tool for managing website content. With the GreenSprocket CMS, Robely can quickly manage website content from their office or while on the road.<br> <br> The GreenSprocket CMS is a web based CMS solution so it can be operated from any computer. This type of flexibility ensures Robely can keep content up-to-date even when managing business abroad.<br> <br> In-content controls provide easy to understand editing options. Simply navigate to the page you wish to edit and click "edit". Options appropriate for the page you’re viewing appear along with helpful tips and hints so you never get lost.<br> <br> Key Features:<br> Robely’s website supports the following features:<br> <br> 1) Searchable Product Catalogue with related items section.<br> 2) Online “Paper” Catalogue with flipping pages.<br> 3) News pages with archived news and RSS feeds.<br> 4) Search Engine Optimization with URL Rewriting techniques.<br> 5) Complete Content Management System. Thu, 11 Jun 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=55 http://www.greensprocket.com It's important to keep your website looking new and fresh otherwise it will appear stale to visitors. A stale website provides no reason for visitors to return and see what's new. You'll then miss out on opportunities to present your products/services to these visitors. <br> <br> An easy way to keep your website looking new is through routine updates to your news or blog pages. This will show visitors that your website is active and they will return to see updated content. <br> <br> This simple change can go a long way! After all, it's easier to make a sale on returning visitors than it is on new visitors. Thu, 23 Apr 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=53 http://www.greensprocket.com Each year web designers around the world pull out a few more hairs trying to get their websites appearing correctly in Internet Explorer. Soon, you’ll be able to spot web designers from a crowd based on their degree of baldness.<br> <br> When it comes to browsers, Microsoft seems to be the last to correctly adopt web standards. As a web designer you can create a website that looks fantastic in FireFox, Safari and Chrome but Internet Explorer turns our finely tuned layout into a mess.<br> <br> What’s going on here? Browsers read HTML code and then draw what they read to the screen for you to view. If the browser has a low reading level then the resulting view of the website becomes distorted.<br> <br> Back in the day, IE5 was without a doubt horribly inept at correctly interpreting a web page. Fortunately Microsoft has been refining their browser through the versions and each one gets better. <br> <br> With IE8 available for download we see the first version of IE which correctly displays web pages as they were intended by the designer. Finally IE has caught up with FireFox, Safari and Chrome! All 4 browsers now display web pages similar to each other and this is music to a web designers ears. Now, a web page which appears in one browser is likely to look the same in another. IE is finally starting to play nice.<br> <br> If you haven’t already done so, grab a copy of Internet Explorer 8 and start enjoying the web with greater standards compliance.<br> <br> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx Thu, 23 Apr 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=54 http://www.greensprocket.com We’ve been working hard to bring you the next generation of the GreenSprocket CMS. Here is a sneak peek at what is in store. <br> <br> In-content editing<br> The new CMS features in-content editing which means you’re able to make changes right from your website. There is no longer a need to log into a separate CMS from your website. Instead, when editing your website you will see edit icons next to content. Clicking an edit icon will allow you to make changes right away.<br> <br> Template uploading<br> Traditionally the CMS could only edit pages contained within a website template. Adjusting the template itself was outside of the CMS’s ability to modify. Now, you can create and upload your own website templates. The CMS knows where to place content based on simple tags which you’ve embedded into your template. <br> <br> This feature is perfect for designers who want to use the GreenSprocket CMS but apply their own designs.<br> <br> What our clients are already saying<br> Some clients have received advanced copies of the new GreenSprocket CMS for their projects. Here is what Martin Iwinski at Gatto Public Relations has to say:<br> <br> "This application looks and feels awesome. I really like how it’s easy and simple to use since the end users won't be very computer literate. I love the way you guys setup the editing and delete icons for each posting, makes it so easy to make changes!" -- Martin Iwinski, Gatto Public Relations<br> <br> Stay tuned, more info is coming soon. Keep your eye on smallbusinesscms.com for big updates. Thu, 26 Mar 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=52 http://www.greensprocket.com Shaw Tracking Wed, 25 Mar 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=50 http://www.greensprocket.com When designing a website it's important to understand visitor behaviour and design for maximum impact. The facts are these…<br> <br> A typical visitor is not just viewing your website, but has multiple browsers open and is checking out your competitions website as well.<br> <br> With this in mind, bold design and good content layout can be the deciding factor on which website gets the most visitor attention. Creating bold design with light and dark colours is a sure fire way to attract attention. Keeping layout consistent and clean can make the difference between a quality user experience and a frustrated user experience. <br> <br> If your website is correctly using design and layout it will outperform your competitions offering and the visitor will give your website more attention. <br> <br> 8 seconds is all you have to put your product in front of visitors before they look to your competition.<br> <br> With this being the case, it's important to guide the visitors eye to the information you want them to see. Large size, bright colour and animation are the key tools to attracting a visitor's eye. <br> <br> A successful technique for home page design is to layout 4 boxes. We direct the visitor to the largest box which contains the most relevant information. We then let the eye move to 3 smaller boxes each containing additional details. With this technique we've quickly positioned key data in front of the visitor and engage them to look further into the website. Tue, 24 Mar 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=49 http://www.greensprocket.com Gene at Bystryk Real Estate approached us with a simple request to update his website so it appeals to a younger audience.<br> <br> We made some changes...<br> <br> Taking this request we revised the colour palette introducing new colours but keeping the overall design classy and professional. <br> <br> We fashioned an animated header with quality photos to introduce atmosphere to the visitor experience. <br> <br> This website features a number of calculators which were moved to the bottom of each page so they're easy to find. <br> <br> To help keep visitors up-to-date a What's New section was added to the bottom of each page. This prevents the website from appearing stale as new content is always added.<br> <br> Put together, these changes create an easy to use website with increased visual impact and enhanced visitor experience.<br> <br> www.bystrykrealestate.com Mon, 23 Mar 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=48 http://www.greensprocket.com Introducing a new website for the German Shepherd Dog Championship & Sieger Show. <br> <br> The client approached us with only a few requirements in mind; “make it look good” and “we want to edit it ourselves”. <br> <br> Being dog lovers we started designing “ruff” concepts like a dog to a new bone. By the end of our creative sessions we were able to provide the client with an outdoor themed design for their 30th anniversary event. <br> <br> This website is fully dynamic with a CMS backend. It offers a lot of content all of which is organized in easy to understand pull-down menus. A blog with RSS feed keeps visitors up-to-date on recent activity and a photo gallery displays proud photos from show owners.<br> <br> If you’re in Chilliwack, BC this July 29th to August 2nd be sure to attend this event! It’s sure to be a crowd pleaser.<br> <br> www.2009nationals.ca Sun, 22 Mar 2009 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=47 http://www.greensprocket.com Future customers will find your business through search engines such as Google, so being visible is a key component to your websites success. Every few months Google will visit your website to see if there are any new pages which should be added to their directory. This technique is called a “spider” and its job is to look through your website pages and add the ones it finds. <br> <br> In order to make the “spiders” job easier and to promote a good search engine listing, it’s very important that your website presents itself correctly. Take the following example -- a complex website link can limit a pages ability to rank well with a search engine.<br> <br> http://www.greensprocket.com/blog.asp?id=46<br> <br> This link works well for dynamic websites but it will have reduced results with search engines. This is where the technique of URL Rewriting comes into play where we can take a long link and rewrite it into something smaller and easier to digest.<br> <br> http://www.greensprocket.com/blog/46/<br> <br> To a search engine this second link is much easier to use. Instead of listing a page to index (blog.asp) along with a page ID (?id=46) we’re simply presenting the search engine with a folder (/blog/46/). <br> <br> This can also be taken a step further where the number 46 can be changed to a keyword which describes the content of the page being viewed.<br> <br> http://www.greensprocket.com/blog/search-engine-optimization/<br> <br> Using a keyword in the link helps search engines understand the contents of your page and this in turn will improve your search engine ranking. <br> <br> URL Rewriting is a search engine optimization technique to simplify your website links so search engines can better list your website within their directories. As an added benefit, this technique also creates links which are easier to remember for customers as well. <br> <br> Ask us about adding this technique to your website. Sun, 2 Nov 2008 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=46 http://www.greensprocket.com Our address has changed as we move locations!<br> <br> GREENSPROCKET <br> P.O. Box 989 <br> Burlington Main <br> Burlington, Ontario L7R 3Y7 <br> <br> T. (416) 520-0223 <br> T. (289) 291-3137 <br> F. (647) 439-0794 <br> E. contact@greensprocket.com <br> Wed, 29 Oct 2008 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=45 http://www.greensprocket.com Birchmount Collision is a family owned business with over 50 years of history and experience in repairing collision damaged vehicles. Using environmentally friendly Dupont/Standox waterborne paints with their comprehensive recycling program Birchmount Collision has won the C.A.A. award for environmental commitment and responsible repair practices. <br> <br> GreenSprocket redesigned the aging Birchmount Collision website and transformed it into a modern marketing tool based on solid marketing and usability principles. Coupled with GreenSprocket’s Content Management System Birchmount Collision can update their website with ease and on their schedule.<br> <br> Visit: www.birchmountcollision.com Thu, 16 Oct 2008 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=44 http://www.greensprocket.com GreenSprocket is a website development company specializing in pre-packaged websites with content management systems and web hosting services. <br> <br> We currently have an opportunity for an energetic, confident, well spoken and motivated sales professional to market and sell our web solutions primarily from your home based office.<br> <br> If you would like to be a part of our dynamic team, responsible for targeting, prospecting and securing new business, we are offering complete product training, an attractive commission-based salary and the opportunity for advancement within our corporate office.<br> <br> Qualifications:<br> <br> 1. A successful track record in business to business sales with a proven ability to close the deal.<br> <br> 2. Highly self motivated with the ability to work efficiently without supervision.<br> <br> 3. Possess strong communication skills to sell our products via telephone, email and in person.<br> <br> 4. Applicants must be proficient with email and word processing software such as Outlook and Word. Experience using the internet is an asset. <br> <br> We thank all applicants for your interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls please.<br> <br> Please send résumé to jobs@greensprocket.com<br> <br> Location: GTA<br> Country: Canada<br> Start Date: Immediate<br> Rate: Commission<br> Contact: David Tym Wed, 3 Sep 2008 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=42 http://www.greensprocket.com With the release of Firefox version 3, what is Microsoft up to with version 8 of Internet Explorer?<br> <br> Upcoming features list:<br> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/ie8/features.mspx<br> <br> Download IE8 Beta *<br> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/ie8/getitnow.mspx<br> <br> * Beta software is in development and bugs should be expected. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=41 http://www.greensprocket.com Today we see the release of Firefox version 3 from those open source coders over at mozilla.org. Firefox is the popular alternative web browser to Internet Explorer including a host of new features worth checking out! <br> <br> Weighing in at only a 7.5mb download, Firefox doesn't contain a lot of unneeded features seen in competing browsers. As such the redesigned page rendering system delivers websites faster and the overall memory footprint requires fewer computer resources.<br> <br> Firefox focuses on increased functionality and usability with a solid feature set. The Smart Location Bar intelligently locates past websites you've visited which really helps if you only remember a portion of a website address. Instant Web Site ID provides security enhancements to verify the ownership of a website and reduce phishing and security issues. Full Zoom enables you to zoom in on a web page without distorting the layout, a step ahead of browsers which only increase font size.<br> <br> Complete feature list:<br> http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/features/<br> <br> Grab a copy:<br> http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/ Wed, 18 Jun 2008 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=40 http://www.greensprocket.com When it came time for the Canadian Occupational Health Nurses Association to update their online marketing they selected GreenSprocket.<br> <br> COHNA’s old website was suffering from neglect and its overall stale appearance was affecting visitor perception. GreenSprocket took this opportunity to completely revamp the website adding CMS functionality and improved search engine optimization (SEO) techniques. New layout, updated navigation and search functionality were all added to enhance performance and visitor perception.<br> <br> The result was a dramatically renewed online presence for COHNA, delivering a fresh perspective for their members. <br> <br> Visit www.cohna-aciist.ca Sat, 5 Jan 2008 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=39 http://www.greensprocket.com Oakville based painting company, Walls Alive Painting, invigorates their aging website with new online marketing from GreenSprocket. Listening to the needs of owner, Paul Likuski, GreenSprocket created a new design to best target the desired audience. Custom design and easy navigation mixed with GreenSprocket’s CMS creates a winning combination!<br> <br> Mr. Likuski can now manage his website and keep his most recent projects in front of potential customers. Armed with a digital camera Mr. Likuski takes a snap shot of recently completed projects. He then uploads them onto his website using the GreenSprocket CMS in only a few minutes! Now potential customers can see the latest work from Walls Alive Painting matching perfectly with their slogan; “You’re only as good as your last project! So we make every project count!”.<br> <br> We like that slogan too!<br> Sun, 25 Nov 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=38 http://www.greensprocket.com A new promotional feature is available which is perfect for getting new products in front of visitors. You can upload a banner image which will appear when a customer first visits your website. The customer can click the banner to get more product details or click the "enter" button to proceed into your website normally. If the customer does nothing then they will be directed to your website after a few seconds.<br> <br> This technique works very well and can be seen on corporate websites such as www.mavc.com.<br> <br> If you would like this functionality added to your website please contact us anytime. Mon, 27 Aug 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=35 http://www.greensprocket.com Toronto-based web development company, GreenSprocket announces Reel Appeal Fishing has launched their new website built on the GreenSprocket CMS platform. Working closely with Zebra Studios, GreenSprocket adds functionality and e-commerce to their sporty design.<br> <br> The Real Appeal TV show features a winning combination of babes and sport fishing. Its reach extends onto the web making merchandise seen on the show available for purchase. Visitors can write product reviews as well as sign-up to be the next Reel Appeal Fishing Girl. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=34 http://www.greensprocket.com WEGU Device chooses GreenSprocket to update and launch their website using the GreenSprocket CMS and hosted web platform. GreenSprocket is the web Content Management System that puts you in control of your website. It is the marketing/sales channel you can manage yourself to move business faster.<br> <br> WEGU Device designs and manufactures opto-electronic equipment for industrial applications. With special attention to research and development, WEGU Device positions itself at the forefront of optical innovation. As an industry leader, WEGU Device recognizes the advantages of using GreenSprocket for their online presence. <br> <br> The GreenSprocket team redesigned the aging WEGU Device website and transformed it into a modern marketing tool. Linked into the GreenSprocket Content Management System WEGU Device has all the tools they need to update their website with ease.<br> <br> WEGU Device<br> www.wegudevice.com Mon, 6 Aug 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=33 http://www.greensprocket.com Drag & drop sortable lists have been overhauled to reduce the load created by large JavaScript files. Customers on slower computers and low bandwidth connections should see an improved page loading time.<br> <br> You'll notice when adjusting the list order that the "Set Order" button is no longer present. Lists now automatically sort in the background which improves workflow and saves time. To adjust a list, click the hand icon as before and drag to the position you want. When you let go you'll see a rotating progress meter at the bottom of the page. This lets you know that the CMS is working to set your new order. Sun, 24 Jun 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=29 http://www.greensprocket.com New search tools can be found on the latest GreenSprocket update of v1.4.1. Located on the very top right side of any page you'll see a new search button. Selecting this will bring down the search toolbar. There you can enter your keywords and the location you would like to search. Results are displayed providing a simple way to locate and update your website content.<br> <br> A couple of bugs have been fixed including an issue preventing podcasts from loading in some players. The RSS field in the News area now displays the correct content. Sat, 23 Jun 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=28 http://www.greensprocket.com Reaching as many people as possible without alienating anyone is good practice in web design. So, why do we build websites intended for only 14% of web visitors?<br> <br> Our standard practice is to develop website that are only 770x480 pixels in size. With high-end video cards and monitors screen resolutions can be huge! My workstation maxes out at 1920x1200px so why do we develop websites for such smalls screen sizes?<br> <br> As of January 2007 only 14% of internet users have screen resolutions of 800x600px. When you consider the browser menu bars and scroll bars taking up screen space, the viewable space for a website ends up being only 770x480px. For 14% of visitors, our standard works just fine. <br> <br> 54% of internet users have screen resolutions of 1024x768px. Not all of this space is available for a website since browsers open in a window on your desktop. That browser window is usually smaller than the full screen so considering menu bars and scroll bars, viewable space is actually around 770x480px. Give or take. So, for 54% of visitors our standard works just fine.<br> <br> For the remaining visitors with higher screen resolutions, they will always be able to see a website designed for a smaller screen. Using this standard, developing a website for the 14% 800x600px visitors can actually reach 100% of the visiting audience. Small websites can have big ambitions!<br> <br> Stats Source:<br> http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_display.asp Fri, 22 Jun 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=30 http://www.greensprocket.com Announcing v1.4, the latest version of GreenSprocket. E-commerce customers receive enhanced tools for customer accounts, customer orders, shipping and sales tax. All other customers see new validation enhancements to help you enter accurate data into each form.<br> <br> Next to be released, a system wide search feature is schedules for v1.4.1. This will provide easy access to content across your website. Tue, 24 Apr 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=27 http://www.greensprocket.com CAVE is a charitable organization which has as an overriding mandate of engaging citizens in ways that support the well being of a community. GreenSprocket created a youthful, slightly retro looking platform to deliver the mission statement, advertise local events and allow input from stakeholders. Custom online forms allow visitors to send information to CAVE streamlining their clean-up process. <br> <br> Visit, www.communitycave.com Mon, 9 Apr 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=26 http://www.greensprocket.com When launching a website for the first time choosing an appropriate domain name is a very important first step. So what is a domain? Also called a URL its a name that uniquely identifies your website address. Typing a domain name into your browser allows you to visit that website. <br> <br> Your domain will affect how people find you through search engines which will ultimately determine how successful your website will become. If you run ABC Company then a logical domain would be abccompany.com. Before you click the purchase button consider how many people will use your company name in a search engine when looking for the service you provide? The answer is very few especially if you're relatively small in the marketplace. <br> Consider domains that contain keywords relevant to your industry. If you sell furniture register domains with words people are likely to use: bedroom-furniture.com, dining-room-set.com, etc. Search engines look for websites with relevant keywords within their domain so you're more likely to appear in a visitor search. <br> <br> Good practice is to buy that logical domain name, abccompany.com but also purchase additional domains containing keywords for your industry. Common misspellings for your website address are also valuable domains worth registering. All domains can point to the same website so even though you have multiple domains you only need one website.<br> <br> Also consider the ending portion of your domain. .com is typically the first type of domain a visitor will look to find so try and register this type of domain. After that country specific domains such as .ca for Canadian domains are frequently used.<br> <br> Your new website domain must be purchased through a registrar. A registrar will process and issue domains but they're not all created equal -- the following are recommended: networksolutions.com, godaddy.com and the cira.ca. Wed, 28 Mar 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=25 http://www.greensprocket.com The GreenSprocket Developers Blog gets a facelift! Our re-design emphasis was on providing relevant and easy to find information which we hope you'll find easier to use. Visit, www.greensprocket.com/blog/ Fri, 16 Mar 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=24 http://www.greensprocket.com If you head over to Google and search for "product photography" you'll find productphotography.org bouncing between the first and third position. Productphotography.org is the online home for our photography studio. <br> <br> Through our SEO efforts our website has reached a top listing! What is SEO? Search Engine Optimization is a technique for improving where a website ranks on a search engine. The higher the website ranks the more likely it will be found by visitors searching for your product/service. Here are a few techniques used on productphotography.org...<br> <br> First, our website contains quality content with keywords relevant to our message.<br> Each title tag for every page is unique and describes the content found on that page. Technologies like Ajax and techniques such as Web 2.0 are fantastic for visitors but search engines have trouble with them. We made sure hese features do not limit how our website indexes.<br> <br> Next we placed content in areas we know Google will look and embedded keywords throughout the website. To improve our page rank we located our link on top like-minded websites. <br> <br> This is just the tip of the iceberg as there are many techniques used to improve ranking. Some work better than others and marketing beyond SEO can make a big difference as well. Consider SEO for your next web project. Wed, 7 Mar 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=20 http://www.greensprocket.com Greensprocket.com receives new updates worth checking out. In particular new projects have been added to our client portfolio. We’ve been busy building Web 2.0 style websites for some recent client projects. As much as I hate web buzzwords the concepts behind Web 2.0 are worth mentioning. Instead of the traditional web experience this style of production provides the feeling that you’re using an application rather than a website.<br> <br> Traditionally clicking a website link requires reloading the whole page before updated content is delivered. This requires time as the page is processed on the server then delivered to the visitor. With Web 2.0 techniques page requests are done behind the scenes making for a more fluid web experience.<br> <br> This is exciting technology for those of us excited by web technology. For everyone else it means an intuitive web experience for visitors. Happy visitors become happy clients.<br> <br> For further reading check out the Wiki article on Web 2.0: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2 Wed, 7 Mar 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=19 http://www.greensprocket.com A new resource is available with popular tutorials on email. These include checking email accounts on your computer, how to check email when away, changing email passwords, and creating new email accounts.<br> <br> New video tutorials for GreenSprocket are also available with more coming soon. These narrated tutorials will guide you through the process of maintaining your website. <br> <br> Visit: www.ripleyphotographic.com/help/<br> Mon, 26 Feb 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=18 http://www.greensprocket.com Produced by Digital Ethnography, this is a fantastic little story exploring online culture and the impact of Web 2.0 on all of us. <br> <br> Visit, http://www.youtube.com/v/6gmP4nk0EOE Sun, 11 Feb 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=23 http://www.greensprocket.com The Developers Blog has moved to a new location, www.greensprocket.com/blog/! The old spot now features The Studio Blog, tips and tricks from pro photographers. Be sure to take a look, www.ripleyphotographic.com/blog/. Sat, 10 Feb 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=22 http://www.greensprocket.com Maintaining a fresh appearance is key to bringing customers back to your website. Customers rarely make their purchase on the first visit to your website. Instead, they tend to research products on various sites before returning. To help cement the sale on the second visit make sure your product catalogue appears fresh and informative.<br> <br> 1. Keep content up-to-date on product changes. Make sure your catalogue shows the most recent version of a product. <br> <br> 2. Provide as much detail about a product as possible. The more information available the more secure your customers will feel in making a purchase. <br> <br> 3. Direct customers to new products by mentioning them on your home page. A photo of the product with a call to action will help. <br> <br> 4. Provide sales on different products on a routine schedule.<br> <br> Following these simple tips will help boost sales and give customers a reason to return and see what's new! Wed, 10 Jan 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=16 http://www.greensprocket.com The development team is excited to announce new tools available to realtors on GreenSprocket! Realtors on GreenSprocket already have access to content pages and news features so the new tools relate 100% to property listings. Realtors and brokers can add searchable property listings to their websites with features including...<br> <br> 1. Add multiple listings with multiple exterior and interior photos. <br> <br> 2. Assign house type and style such as Single Family Bungalow. <br> <br> 3. Save time by creating your own lists of features like brick exterior or gas heating. Then easily assign them to each property with a click of the mouse. <br> <br> 4. Brokers can specify which agent or representative the property is listing with.<br> <br> Why are we excited and how does this put you ahead? Posting only to multiple listing services you’re allowed a tiny space for your contact details. Posting listings on your website allows you to present your entire website to the visitor. So, while they’re checking out listings this gives you the opportunity to demonstrate why the visitor should buy or sell through your agency. Ultimately you can provide the visitor with more details and help secure new clients. Plus, your existing clients will appreciate the additional exposure their property is getting on your website �" make it part of your service. Mon, 1 Jan 2007 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=14 http://www.greensprocket.com Wishing our clients and the readers of this blog a seasons greetings from Ripley Photographic and the team at GreenSprocket! Fri, 22 Dec 2006 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=13 http://www.greensprocket.com Today we launch the new GreenSprocket website which is the marketing arm of the whole project. Head on over and check it out. We're particularly proud of the AJAX technology employed to help deliver HTML content seamlessly with Flash animation. But enough technical mumbo-jumbo... bottom line, you can read up on everything GreenSprocket has to offer. Visit, www.greensprocket.com. Thu, 14 Dec 2006 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=12 http://www.greensprocket.com A new photo gallery component has been added to the CMS. This tool will let you create a photo archive on your website. Features include organizing photos into categories, adding captions and a date stamp. Fri, 1 Dec 2006 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=21 http://www.greensprocket.com The last few weeks have seen the introduction of an upgraded catalogue component to the CMS. There are many enhancements but based on feedback here are the most important improvements: speed was top of the list so we’ve worked to build a faster experience, uploading product photos now automatically create a thumbnail image, create libraries of colour swatches and sizes then add them to your products and finally include multiple product views and include a global sales price system.<br> Sun, 26 Nov 2006 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=6 http://www.greensprocket.com Today we cast off the development name of GreenRocket and announce GreenSprocket as the new brand! It’s true the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree but we thought the subtle differences between Sprocket and Rocket best described our product. A whole new website is coming soon so stay tuned. Sun, 26 Nov 2006 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=5 http://www.greensprocket.com A simple way to look professional and keep your contact details in front of clients is through email signatures. An email signature consists of a few lines of text that appear at the bottom of each email you write. Your name, address, phone numbers and email are key components of an email signature but also consider including updates. A small one line description on new events about your business and a way to obtain more information will keep your signature fresh. Mon, 6 Nov 2006 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=4 http://www.greensprocket.com We've been working hard to bring you CMS version 1.3! This is a giant leap forward in stability and features. More development for ecommerce and product catalogue websites are on the way. <br> <br> Version 1.3 sees the introduction of a centralized CMS with publishing controls. This version includes user collaboration so multiple people can log into an account. A completely reworked content area with Web 2.0 style drag and drop ordering plus RSS feeds are built into the news system. Upgraded system reports, a podcast system, affiliate marketing and website optimization features are all present. Thu, 2 Nov 2006 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=3 http://www.greensprocket.com If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend upgrading your internet experience by downloading either Internet Explorer 7 or Firefox v2. A host of new features including tabbed browsing, integrated search features and my favourite, accurate rendering of CSS! Sun, 29 Oct 2006 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=2 http://www.greensprocket.com With a suspenseful drum roll and the energetic introduction of a circus announcer -- introducing for the first time, the developers blog for GreenRocket! Fear not, as our developers have a better disposition than angry circus lions.<br> <br> Under this tent you’ll get the inside scoop from the design team. We’ll keep you up-to-date on system development, the latest features and where we’re headed.<br> <br> Be sure to drop by our feedback form before you exit the show as we really would like to receive your comments and any ideas you have for new features and a better system. <br> <br> If you’re big or small, young or old, a new customer or an existing one you’ll get something new out of this blog.<br> <br> Without further adieu… on with the show! Fri, 20 Oct 2006 0:0:0 EST http://www.greensprocket.com/pages/news_detail.asp?newsid=1