Mar
18th

Oneupweb : Words from a Writer – An Interview With Doug Stanton

Posted by Maureen on March 18, 2010 at 11:39 am

I was absolutely thrilled when Doug Stanton said he would be our guest on the March episode of Be Relentless: Business Success Against the Odds. As the New York Times bestselling author of In Harm’s Way and Horse Soldiers, Doug really knows what it takes to be a successful writer. The constant struggles, the relentless drive—he’s been through it all and had some amazing experiences as a result.

The idea behind our new monthly podcast series is to profile the ups and downs, do’s and don’ts and mesmeric lives of Michigan’s most exemplary business professionals—those who have relentlessly pursued and found success against the odds. I’d say Doug has done just that.

I could go into how he worked during his early high school years, saving all his money so that he could attend Interlochen Center for the Arts. Or how he gave up a good job as a college professor to pursue his real dream of some day becoming an author. But I think what makes Doug Stanton’s story so compelling is the experiences he has had while in the midst of writing his books. He nearly drowned in Cape Horn Waters and spent time with soldiers in Afghanistan. It’s clear that he’s relentless when it comes to getting a story, and I think that’s what makes his books so compelling.

The interview he gave with Oneupweb CEO and Founder, Lisa Wehr, and Oneupweb Director of Operations, Tim Kauffold, was no different. I got a sneak peek yesterday, and was glued to my chair as he relates an acting lesson he once had with Harrison Ford and talks about the current National Writers Series. So what are you waiting for? Go to iTunes, download the podcast, and discover Doug Stanton’s story for yourself.

And don’t forget to stay tuned for next month’s episode, featuring….wait for it….a business owner who can tell you just about anything you want to know about political participation in Cuba, and therefore, makes jam for a living. Have a guess who it is? Submit it via the comments option below.

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Mar
17th

Oneupweb : A Gift from the Gods – How to Customize a Facebook Tab

Posted by Quillen on March 17, 2010 at 8:32 am

There is no question that Facebook reigns supreme in the social networking world. If you’re still one of the few that think MySpace is better—it’s probably because of how customizable MySpace is (and Facebook isn’t). Well, I hear ya. While I do think Facebook is better, I do wish that the design or look of Facebook was more customizable.

Well my friends—the Facebook gods have been listening! They are now allowing Facebook tabs to be customized using CSS, HTML and FBJS (Facebook’s own JavaScript)! Sure, it’s no custom background, but it’s a glimpse into what I think is the future of Facebook. Here’s a quick guide to help you get started.

How to Customize a Facebook Tab
Things to note before getting started:

You have to use the Static FBML application, and it can only be added to Facebook fan pages (public profiles or business pages).
To add the application to your Facebook fan page, you have to have a personal profile associated with the page as an administrator; the admin can add apps when logged in.
Currently the maximum width of a tab or FBML page is 760px, but Facebook announced that the size will be shrinking to 520px in early 2010. So far no shrinkage yet.
Only include the HTML/CSS that’s between the tags.

Adding the Static FBML Application to Your Public Profile (Fan Page)

Click “Edit Page” under the page’s profile image.
Under “Applications,” then under “More Applications” (normally at the bottom) select “Browse More”.
In the left column search box, enter “Static FBML” and hit enter/return.
Click on the “Static FBML” search result (it should be the only one).
In the left column, click “Add to my Page”.
Congrats! You have added Static FBML to your page.

Adding Your FBML Box or Tab to Your Public Profile Page

With your page open, click on “Edit Page” in the left column.
Under Applications, find the “Static FBML” link and click “Edit”.
Enter the tab/box heading in the “Box Title” field.
Enter the proper code (HTML, CSS or FBJS) in the “FBML” field. This is the custom content you want to appear.
Sorry, there isn’t a preview function yet, so click “Save Changes”. Now, return to your page (you can click on the page title link in the upper left hand corner) to see your new custom tab.
You can drag and drop the box tabs to change the order (with the exception of the “Wall” and “Info” tabs). If you want your new custom tab to be the first thing a viewer sees when opening your page:
- Click “Edit Page” under the page’s profile image.
- Under “Wall Settings” click on “Edit”.
- Under “View Settings” and then to the right of “Default Landing Tab for Everyone Else” click on the drop down and select the name of your new tab.

Pat yourself on the back. You have now successfully added a custom tab to your Facebook page! The all powerful Facebook gods are now smiling upon you!

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Mar
16th

Oneupweb : Do You Remember When?

Posted by Jak on March 16, 2010 at 8:28 am

I was sitting around my house trying to figure out what to do. I was bored and there was no place to turn to for information. I asked my wife, she had no ideas. I asked my kids, nothing. Turned on the TV and both channels only had the President’s speech. I couldn’t contact any of my family, as they were out of the house doing other things—other things that I could be doing, if I just had some way of getting the information…

Yes, that was all made up, but do you remember those days? I’m getting a bit older, but I almost remember them and am surprised by how things have changed so much. Today, I can get everything I need with a click of a mouse, a tap of a screen or a quick call to a cell phone. I can log on to my computer and see where my kids are with GPS tracking if need be. Heck, I can even see who won an Olympic event four hours before NBC broadcasts it.

The question is no longer “what is there to do?”, it’s “what are we going to do next?”.

With information and communication so readily available, you can just about keep track of anyone at any time. When I was a teenager, I lived ten miles outside of town. When I got in trouble, my parents only had to take my keys and I was done for. The phone was attached to a cord, so there was no place to plot and plan my escape. If I did get out of the house, my parents would have no idea where I was until I came back.

Today, you have to take the keys, take the cell phone, and block the social networking sites and e-mail. I’m sure I missed a few other means of communication, but you get the point. I haven’t gone as far as the GPS tracking yet, but it’s nice to know it’s available if I need it. Of course, the kids these days will find ways to get around that, too.

But all this begs the question—is there just too much information out there? I say, who knows, and who cares. The only thing that really matters is whether the information you want to share is what people are finding. With the proper SEO or PPC campaign, your website can be found as easily as your kids on a Friday night.

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Mar
12th

Oneupweb : Franchise iPhone Apps–Hungry for Pizza and Applications

Posted by Duncan on March 12, 2010 at 9:19 am

This is going to be a self serving blog in a couple of ways. The first self service here is a mention of Oneupweb’s iPhone application development services. The second is that I, and many other people, are hungry. We are hungry for pizza, subs, pretzels, ice cream, coffee and other delectable delights sold by franchises. We are also hungry for a way to use our smart phones to find locations, grab coupons and to place orders.

Oneupweb recently developed an iPhone app that can be easily modified to help franchises go viral with a fun and useful tool. The app allows you to have fun with a game, share the results with your friends (who will, in turn, share with their friends, and so on), find a location, get a coupon, place an order, and even request information on franchise opportunities. How can you lose with all that? Here’s a nice demo of the app:

So (now that I’m done with the Oneupweb pitch), here is my frustration. I have scoured Google and the iPhone app store trying to find apps for some of my favorite food franchises. Very few are in the game. This is troubling for the late adopters because the companies that are in the game are succeeding and leaping further ahead. At this point, if you are a pizza chain and you don’t have an app, you are behind. I suppose a day may soon come that franchisees and their customers will group together and explain to the franchisor what is missing. Perhaps then some of you will catch up.

Having an iphone app will help you stay in front of your busy, on-the-go customers (and maybe the couch potatoes, too). Give them what they are hungry for—a tasty quick meal that is easy to come by.

Now, let’s see, almost time for lunch. I will just load my Pizza Hut iPhone app and place an order. I will be eating soon. Thanks, Pizza Hut, for being modern!

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Mar
11th

Oneupweb : Oh, Be Careful …

Posted by Doug on March 11, 2010 at 4:44 pm

What do we do when we’re squeezed? When the pressure is on?

I’ll tell you the first thing I am tempted to do, every time: hide. Instead, I’m sure to do the right thing, because I’ve been taught to do it, practiced doing it, and been rewarded for doing it.

And the truth is, if you are doing anything significant, it will be noticed by others, for better or for worse.

You notice, right? There are people you expect to be smart enough to know when they are about to do something frightfully stupid—and to stop. Examples on my list with which we are familiar include the “grocery shrink-ray”, out-of-control congressional spending, and (as a software developer, I have to mention) software patents. The fallen companies, would-be heroes or respected leaders in today’s news are only the most recent in a long line.

When I notice these things, I had better quickly remind myself, “Hello! They probably are as smart as you are! So what’s the difference?” The first difference has got to be that humble self-recognition, and the second, equally important, is accountability. Because no matter how smart you are, you will never see your own faults like someone else will.

If you don’t listen to your friends when they advise you to change course, any guess to whom you will soon be listening? That’s right, your enemies who are capitalizing on your lapse now that it’s gone public. I’m glad I have had people in my life (starting with my parents) who had the nerve to hold me accountable. Those times are some of the most painful memories in my life, but without fail ushered in new and exciting opportunities.

The same lesson holds true in online marketing and for digital marketing agencies. Accountability is key. You should be working with an agency that is accountable for their work and the results it does or doesn’t provide. And, when working with an agency, consider the outside perspective they’ve been hired to bring to your brand. Do they provide adequate analytics package that gives a holistic picture of the digital marketing campaigns you’re paying them to create and manage? If not, they certainly should. And with the hundreds of platforms available today, there’s no excuse not to. That, after all, is the beauty of digital marketing. It can be tracked and the results, good and bad, accounted for.

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” – Saul of Tarsus

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