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Dropbox is a cloud-based storage facility that lets you access your files anywhere in the world and is compatible with a majority of media devices. A combination of Dropbox and iPad could be 2012's marriage made in heaven for firms looking to keep field staff up to date and ready to share information in fast moving environments.

 Fast Moving environments where traditional media hardware, software and apps such as windows based pc's are just too slow when you have staff and clients need a fast injection of instant current data. This data can easily be synced via a cloud based app so that the information is always up to date and controlled form a central admin point.

Webtron recently set up and deployed a fleet of Apple  iPad 2's using the Dropbox iPad app for a well known multi-national companies sales force nation wide.

 The following diagram depicts how Dropbox is used in a scenario where staff need to access up-to-date documents, such as promotional videos, images and pricelists.

The marketing team (on the left) uploads the promotional material into the Dropbox account, which is then synced to the cloud where all that content is stored. Any changes made inside the Dropbox folder take immediate effect and are reflected (as long as there is an Internet connection) throughout all media devices (laptops, PCs, tablets, phones) that Dropbox application.


The sales team (on the right), after opening the Dropbox application, can see and access all the files that the marketing team has uploaded to the cloud. All new files must be downloaded and viewed once in order for them to be accessible off-line - in this case stored on the iPad's hard drive.

A great solution for many companies!

Contact webtron for an iPad app quote

What is the True value of Social networking for my business?

 

Social networking has always been seen as a perfect medium for commercial exploitation. But how much real value can companies really expect?

 

Let’s take a quick snapshot and ratings out of 5.

 

YouTube- Offers instant two-fold value. Great to market your company via the video medium. Not only do you get valuable exposure for your products and services through the YouTube but also by embedding the YouTube code on your site you have a much more interactive website. Every business should have a YouTube channel 5 Stars *****

 

MySpace- yesterdays social media poster boy. As predicted by Webtron in 2008 MySpace is pretty much finished. Rumors abound Justin Timberlake’s investment will help turn around MySpace’s fortunes. I think little value for business to be found here- unless you are in the music business or have spare time to waste. 1 star *

 

Twitter- Microsite for quick tweets. Webtron thinks Twitter has peaked and the real value remains questionable. Webtron has recently been monitoring Twitter and our findings are for businesses outside entertainment, news and political remain slim. Twitter followers are easy to come by but look out!,  most are businesses on the make and increasingly sex link bait. Also you need to have the resources to regularly update. One very good Twitter feature is the ability to daisy chain updates to your facebook page with one update on Twitter. This feature alone is what we believe to be the saving grace of a Twitter account.

3 stars ***

 

facebook- more people use facebook now than used the entire Internet in 2004. Facebook can any business do without it? Yes just look on eBay’s website and some other big multi-national companies they do not advertise facebook on their websites. But plenty of others do. The reason is some big companies don't advertise facebook is they see facebook as a potential threat. A threat to hijacking their clients. But for most businesses after YouTube the best social networking option. Also try advertising on facebook rather than just Google adwords 4 stars ****

Social networking in 2012 will be interesting.

Twitter , facebook and YouTube will dominate.

Sure others exist and every few months Google comes out with a new product and a heap of marketing but none of these are yet to go mainstream. Others have fallen by the wayside including myspace which became so yesterday about 5 years ago. Fashion has something to do with it.

Companies in 2012 will start to become smarter in the time and resources they spend on social networking. Daisy chaining your activities will become the norm. Rather than just for those in the know.

If you don't know what this is?  It's the best , fastest and most useful way to add content and updates across multiple social networking platforms. Meaning for example you wont need to update facebook and Twitter seperately. One post and both are instanly updated. You can do this now but many companies and individuals are yet enable this great feature.

Companies in 2012 look to refine the approach they take to social networking and become much smarter in the process.

Wanted all marketing managers and communication managers

This is not perhaps the job opening you were dreaming of- but an opportunity to partner with an outstanding web design , web development and video webcast company that understands what it takes to stay on top of your game online.

What we will give you is the tools to what is happening now and tomorrow online:

*Need to drive better marketing, communications and sales results online?

Partner with webtron and you can be confident your company will benefit from the same knowledge and experience we provide companies across many industries and verticals like Holden, Coles, University of Melbourne-Melbourne Business School, Swann Insurance, Benson Property Group, Philips Saeco and many more.
 
*We provide you the strategies , case experience and in-house development team to keep abreast of the latest online marketing trends and statistics for your business vertical.

*Corporate reports and insights that are yours to use inside your companies corporate marketing or communications department.

*See examples of how many well known companies are using different marketing initiatives to reach selected market and achieving great results.

*We show you how to use creative online marketing that drives business outcomes

* And we then implement all the strategies with our in-house development and production team

It's all here in one company -social networking , web design & development, Google, mobile website optimization, SEO, email marketing, website video, video production, webcasts,  and interactive applications specifically for Australian companies and organisations.

To arrange a meeting please call 1300 932 876 or drop us a line!

A sad day for technology enthusiasts all over the world with passing of Steve Jobs.

Although not unexpected, today is perhaps a great day to reflect on a man who started a company in his garage and went on to have a hand in so many great Apple products.

Personally I use everyday a iPhone4, Mac-Book Pro, iPad and iPod as do many other Apple fans across the world. These are wonderful game changing products.

Steve Jobs contribution to Apple and the world of technology will not be easily forgotten.

RIP Steve Jobs

Looking for a new sales channel to sell assets quickly?

Have you considered an online auction?

Without doubt the best and fastest way to move a large amount of stock.

Works very well for not only auction companies but companies that have no auction background.

We have helped many well known companies successfully sell large amounts of stock quickly and discreetly.

To learn more about running your own online auction visit webtron online auction software and services and learn about our Live Webcast Auctions or Timed Auctions.

Observing an interesting trend in the US. Movies on Movie billboards are being promoted not via a website address but a hash tag#

I am currently in the US on a plane flight from LA to Raleigh Durham on US Airways writing this blog post and uploading it to the internet in flight. I am on a purchased $12.95 all you can eat high speed connection. And the connection is fast. A great thing for the traveling business person on a longish flight.

It seems strange to me in flight internet Wi Fi is not yet available in Australia?

It has been available in the US for at least a couple of years.

Why has this not happened in Australia yet? What's the hold up?

Perhaps it has something to do with the aviation regulatory body and concerns for in flight safety?

What else could explain the hold up. I'm sure Australian aviation consumers would readily adopt in flight Wi Fi. And I'm sure Qantas and Virgin would make some worthwhile money.

If someone can shed some light on this please feel free to leave your comments.

Online Shopping Part 2

How can the retailers fight back?

We have just seen the first signs in the business sections of the papers. Retailers are re-thinking the value of Shopping Mall, centre or strip in terms of real estate value and rents. The massive retail landlords like Westfields are getting kickbacks from retail tenants about excessive rent increases. Tenants are wondering how do they justify big rents and diminishing traffic? Many are thinking is their a better way to do this?

Could it be one day Westfield shopping centres have vacant stores?

Or do we see prime shopping centre rents fall?

Interesting times. Although it is also interesting to note specialist stores like ironically the Apple store who have recently started to take up tenancy in shopping centres are completely full of customers yet almost every other store nearby is empty.

Online stores should show an upward trend month on month.

Once online retailers have a good 'easy to navigate' online store the good news is the upkeep costs are not alot. Sure you need to keep intensifying your marketing efforts and investments but it can be great way to earn money. A fantastic way to sell your goods and services 24/7.

 And it's not hard you just have to be smart. Smart and prepared to make that jump. Once you have made this jump their will be no turning back. Every dollar you invest expect to see $10 back, then $100 back. Feel your way around in the dark. See what-works in your online marketplace. More importantly stake your claim for prime online real estate in your marketplace.

The ROI for any retailer could be the best you ever see.

• Take control and invest in your brand equity online.
•  Deal with your clients directly online.
• Offer a turnkey online sales solution.
• Embrace social networking.
• Actively advertise your online presence using your traditional mediums.
• Invest and reinvest in online marketing
• Drive more business to your website and make it easy to do business online 24/7.
• Find out who your competitors are and what they are doing online. Don't be afraid to copy great ideas.
• Add fresh relevant content
• And make sure your company hooks up with a web development company that has proven track record in delivering results!

Hope this helps, good luck!

Online Shopping Part 1

I get asked almost everyday about online shopping. Most questions relate to and should we get into it or what are doing wrong.

Online shopping is not new has been around pretty much for 15 years and counting. The difference is we are starting to hit critical mass. Meaning online shopping was exclusively the domain and largely made up of teenagers, computer geeks and internet savvy consumers- but this has now given away to masses. The masses have suddenly discovered this online shopping can be fun and cheap. Many housewife's and time poor dads have even started to become quite good at buying and selling on eBay for example. Hey this online shopping is fun!

Why are the big retailers running scared?

Quite simply many of them have long feared this day coming. Many of the people charged with making the important decisions for retail strategy were of the old school- bricks and mortar retailing. They were good at securing a long term lease in the best shopping centre or strip . They were good at racking them high and selling them low having a ton of staff and point of sale to whip the consumer into a frenzy. They took out newspaper strip advertisements and printed catalogs. Every year negotiated with Yellow Pages for a bigger ad at a cheaper price. And ran huge in store doorbuster SALE's.

Some of these old world retailers and shop keepers were good at what they did were true professionals in every sense of the word. Respected and and feared at the same time. In Australia , UK and the US infact all over the world family retail dynasties were created. Huge amounts of money was made. But then something changed. The customers stopped coming. And when they did come they started to inspect the items , conduct due diligence but rarely made it to the counter. The retail customer behaviour was changing.

The retailers all over the world started to fight back. Let's  beat the internet at it's own game. New tactics were introduced to hook in the retail customers.

Yearly and half yearly Sales started to become a lot more regular. Sales every quarter and then every month. The retail consumer as being educated and accustomed to buying on SALE. It would be stupid to do otherwise, right?

So what happened. A death spiral started and retailers  Everywhere you looked SALE signs. What a great idea a continuous sale, never ending. Suddenly every shopping centre, mall and high street store has Sale signs 7 days a week. Incredible.

 But like anything you are exposed to 24/7 you start to build up immunity. And suddenly the retail customer starts blocking out the SALE signs in their minds. The SALE sign shingle starts to look like regimented requirement for every shop and store rather than the special enticement it once was.

Retail customers started looking for more and it was only natural the internet became that medium.

New dedicated internet shopping sites started to spring up.

First and best known to really crack it was Amazon selling books back in the 90's.

• Then came Apple itunes leading a music revolution online.
• eBay the online Auctioning site allowed mums and dads to not only buy goods- but sell them also.
• Plus a million more online shopping sites probably not run by anyone with a retail background. Amazing!

Did massive Australian stores like Myers or Harvey Norman have online shopping sites as recently 2010? The answer is NO -unbelievable! (webtron meetings with both companies in the years before but apparently their customers and business models had no room for online - more specifically online shopping and social networking.

Fast forward to 2011 and these same retailers having just opened their first online stores are now having to face a whole lot of new style online competitors.  Perhaps more aggressive, different and bigger than anything that has gone before it.

Deal of the day type website retailers have sprung up, doing huge business. These new age online retailers herd the masses , the like we have not seen before.

• Groupon
• Scoupon
• Cudo
• Stardeals
  
• Catch of the Day

The list goes on...........

For more please read Online Shopping Part 2