The term “user experience,” or UX for short, is thrown around a lot these days, but few people (aside from us techies) have ever stopped to really think about what it means. Today, we want to shed some light on the topic so you can better understand the concept and how it impacts your company’s digital presence.

What is it?
Simply put, user experience refers to the thoughts and feelings that are generated in the person who is using your product, service, or system. In our modern world, UX is most commonly used in reference to the interaction between humans and computers.

When a prospective client lands on your company website, for example, what experience is created? Do they feel welcomed, at ease and capable of finding what they’re looking for? When your employees use your internal applications, what’s their experience like? Do they become frustrated, confused, and overwhelmed with options?

Clearly, UX is subjective and difficult to measure. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. It’s not just about making technology pretty or cool to look at. It’s not even about creating the “best” technology out there. It’s about your unique users and the experience you want to create for them. It’s about aligning your business goals with the needs of your users so it’s easy, comfortable and even pleasurable for them to do what you want them to.

Why should you care?
If you’re not a techie, what does UX have to do with you and your business? At its most basic level, a well-designed user experience impacts emotions. It creates a feeling of, “Wow. This company ‘gets’ me.” It makes people stay on your website longer. It makes employees use your systems more often. It sparks the desired actions and creates the desired outcomes. It makes your users feel good. And, no matter how you spin it, that’s always a positive thing for business.

Many experts have stated that UX is not a luxury for businesses; it’s a requirement for success.

How is YOUR user experience?
After reading this article, you may be wondering if your UX is as effective as it could be, and we encourage you to give it some thought. Remember, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. And unfortunately, this is an evolutionary process. You’ll want to constantly hone your experience as the needs of your users and their expectations grow and shift.

Here at Maybe.For.You, we specialize in creating customized multi-platform experiences that please users (whether internal or external) and businesses alike. If you’d some help creating a dynamic, compelling user experience, please give us a call.

Back in December of last year, we told you about a new mobile product catalog we were creating exclusively for the Mohawk sales team. Now, we’re working on version 2, which will add brand new functionality and a variety of updates to expand its capabilities even further.

We were so excited to welcome Clark Howard, consumer advisor for Channel 2, to our offices for an interview, which aired last month. Michael Hagel appeared on camera to share his expert opinion about why smartphone applications collect sensitive information and what they’re doing with it. The segment is short but very informative. Check It Out!

On Monday, May 14, Michael Hagel, Principal & Creative Director of Maybe.For.You, will join three other experts in the field of UX for a panel discussion about their day-to-day activities in the workplace. We’re pleased to share our knowledge with the growing local UX community and can’t wait to hear from our counterparts at some of Atlanta’s greatest companies.

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We’re proud to specialize in creating customized, cross-platform digital solutions and we’ve done so for many businesses both large and small. But the question for most business leaders is, “Do I really need a custom solution?”

The answer is…maybe. You see, custom solutions aren’t right for every business, but they do offer a wide variety of benefits that can’t be found in off-the-shelf options. We want to share some of those benefits here so you can better understand the purpose of what we do and decide if a customized solution meets your needs.

Catered to Your Business A customized solution is 100% tailored to your business. It has all the features you need and isn’t cluttered with things you don’t. The technology is built to integrate with the way you already do business. After all, you shouldn’t have to shift your process to work with the technology you’re using. The solution works the way you need it to—not the way a developer who has never heard of your business wants it to work!

The Benefits of Ownership Because the solution is yours, updates can be done on YOUR time, when you need them, not when the developers are ready. You may have also noticed that off-the-shelf solutions can often be prohibitive to your business growth. Adding users usually requires purchasing additional “seats,” which can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. When you own the product, you can add new users without additional fees anytime you’d like. That means your solution easily scales with your business.

The Economics A custom solution typically costs a little more at the outset. After all, it takes a significant dedication of resources to learn your business and build technology that is perfectly matched to your needs. However, the savings add up over time. For businesses planning a long, prosperous future and potential growth, the investment often pays for itself.

We’re proud to be working with Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health once again! This time we will be building an online training and social community for the Diabetes Training and Technical Assistance Center (DTTAC). With a focus on diabetes prevention, this solution will allow master trainers and lifestyle coaches to connect, collaborate and share information easily online.

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Remember when your cell phone was used for nothing more than making a phone call? Well, one day in the not-so-distant future, we’ll be saying the same thing about our television sets. Remember when we used to do nothing more than watch them?

Interactive TV is changing the way people engage with television, extending the functionality the same way smart phones extended mobile functionality. Imagine using that big screen in your living room for browsing the Internet, streaming videos, conducting a Skype video call, using your favorite apps, and even shopping. Imagine taking your obsession with a certain television show or sporting event to another level by accessing additional content, switching camera angles or connecting with other fans at the push of a button. This is exactly what interactive TV allows you to do.

To be clear, “interactive TV” is a generic term we use to describe three categories of technology, described below.

1. Interactive Televisions: Nearly all the major brands now offer some version of an interactive television, which essentially means that the TV itself is connected to the Internet. (You may have heard of Samsung’s Internet@TV or Sony’s Google TV, for example.) These sets are made for the interactive experience, allowing you to “enjoy the entire Internet on TV,” as the Sony ad says.

2. Set-Top / Add-On Boxes: These add-on devices can be used in coordination with a non-interactive TV set. They simply connect to the Internet and expand the functionality of the TV in the same way. Popular brands include Roku, Apple TV, and Google TV. Game consoles like XBOX 360 and PlayStation have similar capabilities as well.

3. Service Providers: There are also a wide variety of providers offering services for use with television, all of which fall under this umbrella of “interactive TV”. For example, Hulu and Netflix offer streaming video services, allowing users to watch movies and shows on demand. NBA Game Time and MBL at Bat, two sports app that give fans additional content like player stats, access to highlight reels and the ability to watch up live Games.

In many ways, interactive TV is still in its infancy. Many of us already have DVRs and on-demand viewing functionality. But the real potential for interactive TV is just making its way to the mainstream.

So, what does this mean for you? Well, as a consumer, it means television is no longer going to be a passive experience. So put down those pretzels and get ready for more options, more content and more action.

But, even more importantly, interactive TV gives businesses a great opportunity to expand engagement with viewers, creating an entirely new, exciting depth of experience. If you’re interested in exploring how your business can take advantage of this emerging technology, we’d love to discuss it with you.

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of A List Applications, a side project created by Maybe.For.You.’s Michael Hagel and Christian Cox. The first app, A List Cigars, is now available in the App Store. Use it to record the details of every cigar you smoke. Track your favorites, make notes and organize them into collections for easy retrieval later. If you’re a cigar smoker, grab a copy of it here . We’ll have more A List apps on the way in the future so stay tuned!

We’re excited to be working on a new project for Base Builders Group, LLC, a local company dedicated to creating and strengthening organizational infrastructure for political organizations and causes. We are currently designing a robust internal application that will be used to help manage various canvassing campaigns. The system will allow staff members to track and analyze efforts and outcomes to better understand the effectiveness of their work.

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Non-profit organizations have a unique purpose. Their goal is to inspire people, educate them and, ultimately, drive them to action.

Come to think of it…the same can be said for most businesses!

When it comes to creating a compelling web presence, there are several key elements non-profits should take into account (and really, any business can benefit from incorporating some of these same practices).

Use a Standard Content Management System (CMS)A CMS (like Wordpress, Drupal, Mura, etc...) allows you and your staff to make simple changes to text and graphics on your site without having any special technie knowledge. There's no reason to pay a consultant or web developer to do basic things like fixing a typo, updating your event calendar, or putting the latest news on your home page (though we're happy to help when needed). Wordpress is easy to use and incredibly flexible so, if you're not yet on it, explore this option in the future.

Speak to the Heart…In Few WordsA great article found on Nonprofit Geekery shared a few inspiring lessons from SXSW. Two particularly prescient points were as follows: "Tell stories about your constituents that speak to the heart," and "Get your message across in as few words as possible."

The first point might sound a little fluffy, but it's an important business lesson for all. Instead of using your website to just talk about your mission and what you do, share the impact of your work. But remember, you only have seconds to engage your audience online. There's not enough time to share everything you think is important, so find the most succinct way to get to your core message.

Frequent, Relevant EngagementNonprofits in particular want to empower their advocates—the supporters who love what you do and readily recruit others to the cause. So you have to engage with them regularly to help keep their spirits up. Give them recognition. Share relevant information and ask them to join the celebration when you've reached a milestone. Create an editorial calendar to help keep you on track, so there's never a question about what will be posted on your blog, your Facebook page or in your eNewsletter.

Recently, many non-profits are also experimenting with mobile applications, though the jury is out on their efficacy. Some experts are suggesting that dollars and time are better invested in optimizing website content, social network presence, and the user experience for the mobile web.

We believe the recommendations here will serve both non-profit and for-profit organizations well. Please let us know how we can help you create a more compelling web presence.

We're thrilled to be working in partnership with Summit Marketing to build a new mobile website for Lowe's My LifeTrack. This site is exclusively for internal employee communications and will be used to promote health and fitness awareness. Employees will be able to log their daily food and activity, and track their weight. We think this will help kick their health campaigns into high gear.

Here at Maybe.For.You, we love talking tech with our local community. So we're incredibly pleased to be hosting an upcoming Mashable event to do just that. Come chat about the latest must-have gadget, pick a side in the Android vs. iPhone debate, learn about exciting emerging technology, or just geek out with fellow tech-lovers.

Date: Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Time: 6:30 pm
Where: Maybe.For.You. Office / 1776 Peachtree Street, Suite 440S, Atlanta, GA

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Here's To Another Great Year

How Innovative Technology Positively Impacts Real Estate AND Hospitality

Latest News

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All of us here at Maybe.For.You. want to wish you and yours a very happy new year. We hope you enjoyed the holidays—and a little time off, too. This month is a special one for us; we're celebrating our fifth year in business. As we ramp up for another big year ahead, we can't help but look back and feel proud of all we've accomplished thus far. Thank you for being a part of it. We're excited to see what 2012 has in store for all of us. From what we can tell so far, it's sure to be another winner!

Resorts and property managers are really starting to figure out how to use mobile applications and next generation devices to enhance their customer experience and ultimately drive sales. From Las Vegas Casinos to snowy mountain resorts, today's most innovative technology is helping boost business and increase visitor loyalty.

JH Tapped, for example, is a popular custom application for Jackson Hole, a mountain resort in Wyoming. Using GPS technology, app users always know where they and their friends are located on the trail map. With quick and easy access to trail information, ski lift status, and weather reports, the application helps visitors enjoy a stress free, completely informed experience.

The Luxor in Las Vegas uses its mobile app to help guests book rooms, navigate around the property (using GPS technology), and buy tickets to shows at the resort. With over 2000 downloads per week, the application gives Luxor a greater opportunity to interact with guests one-on-one.

However, connecting with present and future visitors is just one way to use this technology. Internally, a custom app can help keep employees connected and informed about work schedules, operating manuals, emergency procedures, special events and more.

Of course, we're talking about more than just mobile applications. Property managers and resorts are also learning to effectively harness the power of social networks. Many hotels now offer room-booking technology on their Facebook pages. According to some, the conversion rate (the percentage of people who actually book) is higher for Facebook than it is for TripAdvisor and other travel review sites.

Right now, nearly 13% of social network users use social network sites to shop for travel, and we think that's only likely to go up in the future. But Facebook and other social networks are, primarily, great tools for engaging with guests and developing the kind of relationships that result in long-term loyalty.

Interested in connecting with your guests, employees and prospects in new ways? We'd love to discuss how today's technology can help your business boost sales and loyalty.

Let's Keep the Party Going...

January 26, 2012

Yes, the holidays are gone but the party isn't over yet! Maybe.For.You. is celebrating our fifth birthday this month and we want you to join us for a big birthday bash. In case you missed our previous email invitation, here's the scoop:

When: January 26, 2012 at 7 to 11 pm
Where: 1776 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 440S, Atlanta, GA 30309

Please join us for some great music, tasty food and wonderful company!

Visit our Facebook events page to RSVP.

New Client: 3DM Solutions

January 3, 2012

Formerly ShapeStart, this cutting edge company develops the next generation of custom hearing devices using 3D scanning and imaging technology. Maybe.For.You. is excited to be helping rebrand and update the company's web presence with a new design and CMS.

Feeling social, you can find us hanging out at any of these fine establishments:

Visit Us Online   |   Contact Us   |   © 2007-2012 Maybe.For.You, Inc.

We’ve just finished ringing in the new year and yet another celebration is upon us. Maybe.For.You is turning five years old, and we want all of you to help us commemorate this milestone! As our valued clients, colleagues and friends, you are the reason we’ve made it this far. Please join us for an evening of great music, tasty food, and wonderful company.

WHO: Maybe.For.You

WHAT: Five Year Anniversary

WHEN: Thursday, January 26 7:00pm - 11:00pm

WHERE: 1776 Peachtree Street NW #440s Atlanta, GA 30309

Visit Us Online   |   Contact Us   |   © 2007-2012 Maybe.For.You, Inc.

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It’s not enough to simply have a Facebook page or a Twitter account. If you don’t use social media consistently and strategically, it isn’t going to do anything for you or your business. Even worse, it could end up being a colossal waste of time and resources.

To make social media work for you, we recommend setting measurable goals (such as a specific amount of web traffic, number of newsletter sign ups or revenue from sales) and creating a comprehensive strategy to reach them. Here are three things to consider when creating your social media strategy.

1. Use tools to your advantage.
There are all kinds of tools you can use to reduce the amount of time you spend on social media while simultaneously increasing its impact. Free applications, like HootSuite and TweetDeck, allow you to schedule your status updates ahead of time, which helps ensure you’re putting out a steady stream of high-quality content without having to remember to do it several times a day. Remember, in order to be successful with social media, consistency is key.

2. Engage with your community.
Some of the tools we just talked about also make it easier to communicate directly (and efficiently) with the people in your social media communities--another essential component of success. You don’t want the people who try to engage with you via social media to feel ignored. The more you can engage with them, the better. Respond to comments on your blog and your Facebook wall. Tweet and retweet. Reach out to clients, prospects and influencers via direct message when appropriate. Hold conversations, ask questions and be authentic. Remember that social media is a dialogue.

You may need to experiment to see what techniques work best for your audience. Just make sure—when using any social media tool—you’re not talking AT people, you’re talking WITH them.

3. Track your success.
Though you can’t expect overnight success, you definitely want to be able to see your progress over time. Keep track of your vital stats (web traffic, newsletter sign ups, comments, followers, fans etc.) and check in on them from time to time. If things aren’t progressing to your satisfaction, re-evaluate your strategy.

Above all, commit to using your social media tools regularly for the purpose of sharing great, high-quality content and connecting with high-quality people. Dedicate a little time and energy, and you’ll see results. But don’t let it overwhelm you. If you aren’t careful, social media can suck up all your time while having very little impact.

Mohawk offers thousands of choices in commercial flooring and, with the help of Leap Communications and Maybe.For.You, the process of deciding which one is right for your business will be much easier. Together with our friends at Leap Communcations, we’re creating an iPad product catalog exclusively for the Mohawk sales team. This new application will allow users to review options, filter and sort based on a wide variety of features, and order samples.

Each year, the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals recognizes outstanding creative achievements in the field with its highly respected MarCom Awards. The 2011 competition included over 6,000 entries from around the globe, and we’re honored to be one of the winners!

The judges are “industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry”. Wow! We’re blushing!

Save room on your dance card toward the end of January because Maybe.For.You is turning 5 years old! We’ll be hosting a big birthday bash that you won’t want to miss. Keep your eye out for an invitation shortly.

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Visit Us Online   |   Contact Us   |   © 2007-2011 Maybe.For.You, Inc.

You probably already know the iPad is having a huge impact on the world of mobile technology. But it’s not the only tablet on the market and pretty soon, there will be even more competitors. With the launch of Amazon’s Kindle Fire next month, we think the number of tablet users is going to simply explode, making this device a critical component of your digital strategy.

Tablets provide users with a different online experience. According to Nielsen, 70 percent of iPad use is in front of a TV and 57 percent is in bed. This device allows users to be more engaged with their technology for longer periods of time than a smart phone without being as cumbersome as a laptop. Of all non-computer Internet traffic, the iPad is currently responsible for 1/3.

Even more interestingly, almost half of all tablet owners used their devices to purchase something in August. Those who own tablets also tend to use their other computers less—research shows 23% use their laptops and notebooks less frequently and 27% use their desktops less.

Apple currently dominates the tablet market: The iPad has an 82% market share and is responsible for 97.2% of all tablet traffic in the U.S. (according to ComScore, August 2011). But that could change in the near future. On November 15, Amazon will begin selling their tablet, the Kindle Fire, for just $199. This makes tablet technology much more affordable and opens it up to an entirely new segment of the population. (The iPad currently starts at $499.)

Research indicates that, by 2015 there will be a total of 82.1 million tablet users in the U.S. You can see a visual interpretation of the Tablet Takeover here.

Why does any of this matter? Because the tablet changes the way people interact with you and your business online. It gives you more opportunities to connect with your users and deepen those relationships. If you haven’t thought about it yet, now is the time. How does your website look and work on this platform? What applications can you offer tablet users to engage more with your brand? We can help answer these questions and create a strategy that will allow you to tap the potential of the tablet market.

With the growth of this platform, it’s not a question of “if” your users will be engaging with you on a tablet; it’s a question of “when”. And, if Amazon has their way, the answer is “very, very soon.”

Customer Innovations uses behavioral science and behavioral economics to help organizations influence the choices their customers make by understanding WHY they behave they way they do. We’re excited to be working with this company to redesign their website and create an upgraded online experience.

MFY will be hitting tinsel town for a short business trip later this month. We’re looking forward to that magical Southern California weather and working with our exciting west coast clients.

Shannan joins us with a BA in English and Film Studies from Kennesaw State University. Her experience working as an Executive Assistant and Social Media Manager for a marketing agency here in Atlanta has given her a broad understanding of the interactive space. Shannan will be coordinating our social media campaigns and helping to keep the office running smoothly. When she’s not hard at work for MFY, Shannan enjoys spinning, running and spending time with her dog, Bueler.

Davin is a graduate of Georgia Tech where he studied Marketing and Information Technology in Management. With a passion for online marketing and social networking, Davin has consulted with many top companies in Atlanta to design and implement interactive marketing strategies. His role at MFY is to extend brand awareness and manage new business efforts. Davin will be maintaining and analyzing our marketing efforts to ensure we’re attracting the right clients. Outside of the office, you’ll find Davin helping to promote local bands and DJ’s, camping in the North Georgia mountains, or touring around town on his Honda motorcycle.

Feeling social? You can find us hanging out at any of these fine establishments:

Visit Us Online   |   Contact Us   |   © 2007-2011 Maybe.For.You, Inc.

It’s no secret that the goal of a search engine is to provide relevant results for its users. So, the question is, how do you help the search engines know what your website offers and what kind of traffic to send your way? Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the answer!

SEO is a bit of a “dark art”—the rules seem to change regularly and there are all kinds of questionable strategies and tactics promoted by so-called experts. We don’t buy into that stuff. There are actually quite a few proven, solid approaches to improving your SEO, and those are the ones we promote.

Here are 6 simple, inexpensive strategies anyone can use to make a website more search engine friendly (no tricky tactics involved!)

Know Your Keywords
If you were searching for your own website, what words would you type into the search engine? The best keywords are one to three word phrases that are highly relevant to the content on the page. Use these words naturally in your content creation to help show the search engines exactly what you’re about.

Start a Blog
Blogs have a number of SEO benefits: Search engines love fresh, original content, so be sure to update your blog regularly with a focus on the keywords you’ve selected. A blog will also increase the size of your website, adding new pages with each new entry, which can help increase your website’s authority.

Use Google Analytics
This free software gives you all kinds of insights into how people are finding your website. You can use this to learn more about the best keywords for your target market, the best referral sources for traffic and the most popular pages on your website. Ultimately, this data will help you improve your site’s relevance in the future and will help you better understand your users.

Build Powerful Linkbacks
It’s always helpful when other websites link to your website. This is called a “linkback” and it helps establish your website’s credibility, especially if the site where the link exists is ranked highly. Using social media tools like Facebook and Twitter is a great way to build backlinks. A word of warning though: Don’t pay for links. Search engines penalize you for this.

Speed It Up
Search engines love pages that load quickly so the more you can eliminate the bulk (like heavy graphics or Flash) on your website, the better. There are also several things that can be done in the design process to help simplify the code and speed up loading times.

Design for People and Robots
Your website should be easy for both humans and search engines to find and use. This means logical navigation, well-organized pages, clean URL structures, and lots of relevant content.

Follow these simple suggestions and you’ll enjoy a traffic boost from the search engines in no time.

The Maybe.For.You team spent a week in September working with a client outside of Brussels. We’re incredibly pleased about this opportunity and really enjoyed our time in Europe. Fingers crossed we’ll get to go back soon!

While continuing to work on the redesign of this world-class resort’s web presence, we’re happy to announce a new phase of the project. We’ll be revamping the entire reservation process to make for a better end user experience. Integrating the existing MICROS system, we’ll enhance its capabilities to allow customers to schedule reservations, book golf, reserve spa treatments and more all from the comfort of their computer.

Maybe.For.You. was recently honored by the Internet Marketing Association (IMA) at their annual awards ceremony in Las Vegas. We received the award for Best Monthly eNewsletter and we couldn’t be more proud. With more than 410,000 members, the IMA is the premier organization for Internet marketing. Their annual awards recognize “organizations of all sizes that demonstrate expertise and effectiveness in utilizing a wide range of Internet marketing activities.”

Special thanks to all of you for opting to receive our eNewsletter on a monthly basis—if not for you, there would be no award.

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We all know that a lot goes in to creating an engaging web presence. But all too often, one of the most important elements is practically ignored. We're talking about content—the actual "meat" of your website.

While "content" truly encompasses everything from design and structure to images and copy, we're focusing this conversation specifically on the words. Content of this kind can come in many forms including marketing copy, articles, white papers, and blog posts. Done well, your content should support a meaningful, engaging and interactive experience for your users.

Many times, we find that clients wait until the end of the development process to create their web content, which is somewhat like putting the cart before the horse. We encourage a proactive approach to Content Strategy.

The term "Content Strategy" describes the practice of planning for the creation, publication and maintenance of useful, usable content. A comprehensive Content Strategy will define key themes and messages you want to get across to your audience and outline the ways in which you plan to do so. Your content should serve a purpose—it should be useful to your reader and stimulate some kind of desirable action. But it should also be useful to machines—meaning search engines can identify it and know who to send its way. Your content should also be well organized so it's easy for both your users and search engines to find.

So quite a bit goes into an effective Content Strategy. By addressing these things early on, you can actually use your content to drive your design and the user experience. In our experience, this creates a more cohesive, well thought-out final product.

We're excited to be working with Emory University and the Rollins School of Health to create a new internal website for the Tobacco Technical Assistance Consortium (TTAC). The final product will be used to manage training materials, share documents and facilitate collaboration among project managers. A wide variety of tools and resources will be archived on this site including video, audio, toolkits, worksheets and much more.

If you enjoy receiving our newsletter and would like to review some of our past issues, you can simply by visiting http://www.maybeinc.com/emails. Catch up on our previous Knowledge Share articles and past events with this always up-to-date archive that's just a click away.

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Visit Us Online   |   Contact Us   |   © 2007-2011 Maybe.For.You, Inc.

If you’ve hung out anywhere near the Internet lately, you’re probably aware that Google has just launched a new product called Google+. In just a short period of time, it’s already gotten a ton of publicity. In case you haven’t had a chance to try it out for yourself, here’s what you need to know.

Google+ has been called a mixture of Facebook and Twitter, but in reality, it has tons of different—and some would say “better”—features. While it allows you to connect to people, share photos and links, and chat with your friends, one of the most compelling features of Google+ is that it also gives you more control over who sees what. Whereas on Facebook everyone sees everything you share (more or less), Google+ offers Circles, a feature that let you group people together and allows you to share things only with people in a specific Circle. If you’re so inclined, you can take a peek at the Google demo video for Circles here.

Other exciting features include Sparks, which pulls content in from around the web based on your preselected topics of interest; Hangouts, which group friends together randomly into casual live multi-person video chat sessions; and Huddle, which offers real-time chat between multiple people in your Circle.

Google+ is specifically designed for mobile use as well. For example, you can instantly upload photos from your phone to a private album in the cloud, then later review them and decide which ones to share.

In case you’re wondering how to get access to this cool new network, you may be disappointed. Right now, it’s still in active development so you have to wait for an invite (though you can sign up here, or let us know and we’ll try and get you an invite). Unfortunately, businesses and brands are not currently supported on Google +, but it’s likely this feature will be added in the future.

If you recently registered to receive one of our free Maybe.For.You T‐shirts, please rest assured; your fashion utopia is coming. We’ll have a definitive date soon so stay tuned!

With a name like that, we knew this project would be something special. Boasting the world’s most natural game of golf, this new Scottish golf resort has an award-winning links course, two beautifully restored historic hotels, eight golf cottages and several dining options that every golfer should be lucky enough to experience. We’re excited to be updating the property’s web presence with a new content management system and technology platform to match the one we did previously this year for their sister property Costa Caribe.

Feeling social? You can find us hanging out at any of these fine establishments:

Visit Us Online   |   Contact Us   |   © 2007-2011 Maybe.For.You, Inc.

We all know that smartphones are dominating the mobile marketplace right now and businesses are trying hard to get in front of these users. The truth is, even if you don’t do anything, smartphone users will probably still be able to access your website. But, because traditional web pages aren’t designed to be rendered on such small screens, the user experience will likely be very poor.

To improve the smartphone user experience, you have two options: Build an application or create a website (or responsive design) specifically for mobile devices.

Apps: The Pros
Applications built specifically for iPhone, Android, or any other platform offer a variety of benefits, the most important of which is improved user experience. Apps utilize the whole screen and remove distractions. They can also have a slew of additional functionality built in using the device hardware (like camera, GPS or “shake” capabilities). Plus, compatibility issues are non-existent when apps are being used on the device they were designed for.

Apps: The Cons
Unfortunately, an application typically takes longer to develop than a mobile website. After all, it has to be built from scratch and if you want to reach a wide audience, you need to create one for each type of device. Also, in order to access an app, the user has to download and install it, so you’ll probably only reach those who already know and trust you.

Web: The Pros
Cross-platform browser-based mobile websites are becoming more common thanks in part to increased support for HTML 5 (check out our previous eNewsletter for more on this topic). Though you may have to optimize your website for a variety of handset screen sizes, you generally can use large parts of your existing infrastructure so creating a mobile site tends to be faster than creating an app. Plus, you’ll reach a wider audience since the mobile site is accessible to all without requiring any download or installation.

Web: The Cons
Most web browsers on smartphones have a difficult time handling complex code. Flash, for example, is not supported by most. So a mobile site should be fairly simple. Unlike apps, you can’t take advantage of the phone’s hardware features and the user has to have network coverage to view your page. For customers who want a deeper connection with your brand (like that which comes from an app), the mobile website can leave much to be desired.

So, which is right for you? It depends on your business needs as well as the needs and preferences of your users. We contend that one is not definitively “better” than the other. And, in some cases, you may want to invest in both.

Engineering and Scientific Investigation (ESI) leverages a highly skilled team of engineers, scientists, and professional technical staff to investigate major accidents, incidents and disasters. Maybe.For.You. is honored to have been selected to design and develop a comprehensive project management system including time tracking, asset and artifact management, and much more. We will be focused on creating an enhanced user experience and ensuring the system is accessible from multiple devices.

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You may have heard the term "HTML5" tossed about recently. It seems to be the buzzword in our industry right now—and for good reason, as it's kinda a big deal. If you're curious about what it is and why you should care, we've outlined some of the basic information for you here.

First, a little background on the original HTML: Short for Hypertext Markup Language, HTML is often called the "language of the web". It's the code that developers use to create web pages. Browsers, (like Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Chrome) read the code and render the stuff you see.

HTML5 is the next version of this language and is designed to allow for more things, which consumers will love. Plus, it offers the potential of making a web developer's life much easier, which we love!

What's In It For YOU?

Lots! But the most heavily promoted benefit is that the browser can now natively handle video and audio without the need for a plugin. It may not sound like much, but for those of you with iPhones and iPads, you'll be able to enjoy more content on your devices.

The second major benefit is a solid "open source" solution that manufacturers can implement on all their devices. This means that in a few years when you're browsing the web from your car's dashboard, it will (theoretically) work the same as it does on your office computer, just with a more optimized "responsive" experience (see last month's email for more info). Flash once promised this, but because it's not supported on some of today's hottest devices, it's no longer a reality.

Of course, HTML5 offers more than just video, audio and multi-device compatibility. It also provides geolocation support, offline capabilities, and a new image rendering engine "Canvas". But it's our job to stay on top of all that so you don't have to. Basically, the content we create in HTML5 will allow the web to grow further and provide your users with better interactive experiences…and who doesn't love that idea?

For those of you who are visual learners, you may want to check out this cool infographic on the topic.

We were flattered to hear that our monthly email was featured by MailChimp's own Jason Beaird (@jasongraphix), in the talk he gave on "Email Jitsu" last month to the Atlanta Web Design Group. You can view the slides from his talk here. And while we're on the topic of HTML5, he's got a great slide deck up on that as well. Thanks again Jason!

We are happy to announce that we have been selected as the digital agency for the Atlanta Motorsports Park. This world-class road course is the first green, sustainable motorsports facility and country club of its kind. Beginning with a website redesign, we'll be working with AMP to help shape their entire digital strategy over the years to come.

In partnership with Sumo Consulting, we'll be continuing our long-standing relationship with the PGA with two additional projects this summer. This involves a comprehensive usability study where we'll be evaluating the user experience and making recommendations for future site improvements of PGALinks.com the main site for PGA Professionals.

We're also thrilled to announce we'll be a part of an exciting new initiative to bring even more players to the game of golf. We'll be working with PGA of America to help develop their digital strategy for the next 5+ years. With all this work on golf, we're hoping to find the times to hit the links ourself this summer!

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Visit Us Online   |   Contact Us   |   © 2007-2011 Maybe.For.You, Inc.

These days, you don't have to be sitting at your desktop computer in order to view a webpage. In fact, you can be practically anywhere. With mobile devices, notebook computers, video games and tvs that allow for web browsing, the possibilities are endless.

With such a wide variety of window widths, screen resolutions, browser inconsistencies, and personal preferences, web pages that appear normal on one device may become a jumbled mess on another. Web designers have been looking for creative solutions to adapt to the needs of the individual user and present an optimized page in any situation. The result has become known as "responsive web design."

Using this technique, we include short snippets of code that automatically run "tests" to figure out a variety of key features about the user. That information then instructs the website to present the right kind of page for that particular visitor.

For example, when a new user lands on a responsive webpage, a test may run to determine the resolution of the device being used. If it learns that the page is being viewed on an iPhone or another mobile device with a small screen, it will automatically load the layout that presents the page best for that size.

This concept goes far beyond simple layout changes. The design can be fine-tuned to reshape all kinds of things on the page based on the information received. Certain elements can be selectively hidden; links can be made bigger and easier to target for touch screen devices; the size and type of font can even be optimized for the display.

So, rather than asking your user to adapt to your needs, why not create a web presence that responds to theirs? Responsive web design will help ensure the best possible experience for everyone!

If you'd like to learn more about this, or see how we can implement it into one of your projects, please give us a call. We'd be happy to answer your questions.

We're turning this month into "Mobile May" by offering 5% off (of up to $1,000) on any mobile project started by the end of the month. This includes Mobile Strategy, Mobile Websites and Mobile Applications. Contact us today to find out more!

Offering a variety of online leadership, planning and team development evaluation tools, RightPath helps businesses manage their people more effectively. Together with Sumo Consulting we'll be updating their internal management application to help streamline and improve the overall user experience, and we'll be creating an updated online presence for the business.

For over 40 years, DEE has been providing high quality non-fiction, fiction and curriculum-based books for all ages to schools and school libraries. We're eager to get to work redesigning the company's website.

Our long-standing relationship with Sumo Consulting and the PGA continues with this new project focused on bringing juniors to the game of golf. In this first phase, we'll be creating a comprehensive digital strategy, outlining goals and determining the best solution for reaching this new audience. Ultimately, over the next year we'll be creating a whole new online presence for this program to educate and motivate the future golfers of America.

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Visit Us Online   |   Contact Us   |   © 2007-2011 Maybe.For.You, Inc.

With a mission to connect restaurants and corporate employees, Dinova came to us to develop a new mobile web application. The application will work across a variety of mobile devices and will allow users to locate restaurant information based on their location. We are very excited about working with the Dinova team and rolling out the application in the coming months.

We can't wait to get started working with the team at Southworth Development on the Costa Caribe Resort, a 27-hole oceanfront golf resort in Puerto Rico (though sadly, we won't be working on-site!). We'll be working to revamp the entire online experience so web visitors will get a more authentic taste of what this resort has to offer. We'll keep you posted as things progress.

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Visit Us Online   |   Contact Us   |   © 2007-2011 Maybe.For.You, Inc.

YOU! Thanks to the survey responses we received from all of you last month, we'll be ensuring your experience with Maybe.For.You is always second to none. Still, there could only be one winner in our drawing. We're happy to announce that Melissa DeVincenzo of O.N. Marketing Associates is the proud new owner of the iPod touch!

Thank you to everyone who participated; your opinions and feedback are very important to us. So, while this was our first survey, it certainly won't be our last.

We're happy to announce that we have been selected to work with Atlanta's premier real estate services firm, EpiCity. We will be working with EpiCity to bring several new and exciting services online throughout the year. First up, we'll be relaunching their website in early April. We're very excited about this partnership and the work ahead!

As you know, there have been a lot of changes happening around the office with the build out, the temporary space, and finally getting into the new space. We have tried to keep everything as streamlined as possible, although we were informed by our phone company the other week that our number had to change.

You can now reach us at 678.974.5800 or fax us at 678.974.5819. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.

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Visit Us Online   |   Contact Us   |   © 2007-2011 Maybe.For.You, Inc.

Who's on Facebook anyway? Oh right, only 500 million active users for 700 billion minutes per month, setting an unprecedented precedent for customer loyalty. With these numbers, Facebook may not need to enhance their brand to attract a customer base, but most other brands aren't quite there yet. Here are 3 ways you can leverage the Facebook platform to grow & enhance your brand:

Create a Page for your business and a Branded Landing Tab for visitors. The Info Tab can provide some basic information, but a Branded Welcome Tab can drive traffic to your company's site, newsletter sign up form or targeted current promotions. The following are great examples of Branded Landing Tabs: Maybe.For.You, Sprite, Porsche

Develop a Custom Application that encourages fan engagement. While the Facebook Wall and News Feed are great ways to present your fans with your latest status updates, a custom application using Flash or HTML & Javascript offers your fans information in a more visual, interactive experience that breaks out of the standard Facebook blue and white framework. The following are great examples of Custom Facebook Applications: Dan T. Cathy's Lifestream, McDonald's McCafe, Google's Doodlegram

Get everybody on board. Use your existing fan base to help drive new fans with social Plug-ins like the Like Box. This little widget can be placed on your own website to show visitors which of their friends like your page. It's a simple, yet incredibly effective way to reinforce and grow your fan community. The following are great examples of Social Plug-ins: Team Coco, AJC, UNIQLO

If you would like help in executing any of these examples, or are looking for more ways to enhance your brands online experience, give us a call or send an email to: sales@maybeinc.com

That's right, it's that time of year again and the Maybe.For.You team will be making our way back to Austin for the annual SXSW Interactive conference. If you're going to be in Austin for the event, let us know. We'd love to meet up and grab a drink or a bite to eat. Hope to see you there!

After months of negotiations, weeks of construction, and our name being protested by the Southeastern Carpenters Union, we are all set to move into our new space on February 11. It will still be a few weeks before we have everything fully settled in, but we're already in the midst of planning an open house party sometime this Spring. Check out our construction album on Facebook for more details about the space.

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We decided it was time to switch things up. Over the holidays, we moved into our new office building - 1776 Peachtree. While our new space is being built out, we have a nice temp spot on the 6th floor. Drop by if you're in the area and keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter pages for updates on the construction build out! Our new address is:

Maybe.For.You.
1776 Peachtree Street NW Suite 440S
Atlanta, GA 30309

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Nikki Farrah completed her B.S. in computer science at Ohio University along with active involvement in such groups as the Association for Computing Machinery and Society of Women Engineers. She continued onto the workforce to build an extensive background as a developer and database administrator ranging from large environments such as U.S. Bank, the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States, to smaller companies and more intimate projects at payroll and payment processing companies. Her technical expertise and passion for a creative and diligent team is now being applied to current and upcoming projects at Maybe.For.You. where she spearheads our New Business and Sales initiatives.

Charlotte-Anne Frye is the newest team member at Maybe.For.You. She has resided in Atlanta for the past four years, working toward a B.A. in both marketing and finance at Georgia State University's Robinson College of Business. This past December she completed the degree requirements for a B.A. in marketing, and will be finished with her undergraduate work by the summer. She has gained experience through collaborating on marketing plans for several local businesses, and has been a member of Georgia State's Finance Society for just under two years. Having developed a knack for research and analysis, she is excited to begin assisting with projects and helping out around the Maybe.For.You office.

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