Username and Password Updates for Basecamp Rolling Out

Posted on December 14, 2009
Filed Under Ecommerce | Leave a Comment

Contact your FastPivot Project Facilitator immediately if you experience any difficulties logging in to your project site.

A major change began taking place over the weekend to a software application called Basecamp that we use for client management and communications.

For the past few weeks, a notice has appeared in the project’s notices area that they were updating the log-in and password protocol for users. More information about the launching of this update can be found here: http://37signals.com/accounts.

I personally discovered the challenge of using cookie-generated log-ins over the weekend, when I went to Basecamp and saw empty username and password fields. I then realized that the username and password I had stored in my notes were not the current ones I was using on Basecamp. After a moment of panic and about an hour later (maybe not, but it sure seemed like it) of failed username and password attempts, a co-worker saved me by resetting my account and sending me the updated information to an email that was not being blocked by my SPAM filters.

The process of updating your Basecamp account is fairly straightforward.

If you can’t remember your credentials on the first page, there is a link to have it resent to you (assuming you remember your email tracked to your account and that your SPAM filters aren’t so tight that it gets blocked, like mine did). Your present username may still even pass their new system of logging in, otherwise you will need to establish a new one. Password protocol is simple too and the interface tells you immediately if there’s a problem.

Because this is the major source of communications for our clients, I immediately wondered how many are out there stuck at the first log in screen, like I was. However, I also did not want to suggest a massive reset of all project sites when it looks like the majority of our own staff are getting their accounts updated without any problems.

If you are experiencing any difficulty getting in to your Basecamp project site:

Call me - Jen Boos directly at 888.770.8883 ext. 312 or email: jen@fastpivot.com or email FastPivot’s Vice President Keith: kenloe@fastpivot.com and we will make sure your account is reset.

Twitter: Another Growing Asset for Business Owners

Posted on December 12, 2009
Filed Under Ecommerce | Leave a Comment

In our last blog, Facebook: A Growing Asset for Business Owners, we discussed Facebook’s increasing value to business owners. Naturally, this is especially true for ecommerce users, such as our Yahoo storefront clients. While we noted that Facebook has over 350 million active users, it is important to add that other social media programs are quickly gaining traction as well.

Business owners who are already using or considering using Facebook to interact with and grow their online clientele should also think about using Twitter.

According to Wikipedia, “Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author’s profile page and delivered to the author’s subscribers who are known as followers. Since its creation in 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Twitter has gained notability and popularity worldwide.”

It’s difficult to say exactly how popular Twitter is or how many active users are using the service because Twitter hasn’t been diligent in releasing those figures. However, TwitDir, is a user directory that as of December 12, 2009 points to over 5.3 million users, compared to the 1 million plus mentioned back in the March, 2008 reports.

What can be said for certain is that business owners are attracting significant attention from their twitter followers, especially when “tweets” are newsworthy and well managed. This obviously means better conversion rates.

While Twitter might only be Facebook’s loquacious little sister right now, Facebook has not made an attempt to quiet her down. In fact, Facebook is holding her hand during what seems to be a prolonged and steadily increasing growth spurt: Facebook users can now sync their accounts with Twitter, which means Facebook posts will automatically be posted as tweets as well.

Now Facebook fans can more conveniently become Twitter followers and vice versa. That’s smart synergy every business owner should be thinking about.

Twitter, like Facebook, is free. But as we have mentioned before, social media management takes serious strategic planning and constant legwork to be successful. For businesses owners who simply don’t have the time or skill set available, contact FastPivot.com to discuss your social media goals.

Facebook: A Growing Asset for Business Owners

Posted on December 9, 2009
Filed Under Ecommerce | Leave a Comment

According to a Facebook press release, the social media giant now boasts 350 million plus active users. 50% of active Facebook users log on everyday. A quick breakdown on what that means: 35 million users are updating their status everyday, 55 million status updates are posted, 2.5 billion photos are uploaded, 3.5 billion web links, blogs, news posts etc. are being shared, 3.5 million events are posted monthly, and “more than 700,000 local businesses have active Pages on Facebook.” Those Pages “have created more than 5.3 billion fans.”

With so many users already active on Facebook and many more arriving every minute, business owners are doing everything in their power to attract and engage customers, or in Facebook lingo, “fans.”

The normal routes for building a fan base include: holding product give-away contests, posting company relevant updates (product innovations, product developments, relevant local and national news, sales and discount notices, etc.), answering/responding to fan questions and posts, etc.

The key is getting fans involved and excited about what’s being posted and what’s happening with the business. Once that happens, the chatter begins. A loyal customer base of just a few dedicated contributors can quickly synergize to expand a fan page at an amazing rate or even salvage a low-pressure one before it goes completely flat.

Ecommerce design and development experts at Fast Pivot, have seen their Yahoo Store clients ascend to dizzying heights. Take WorldSoccerShop.com for example, which now has 100,362 fans on their Facebook Fan Page! Upon brief inspection of their fan page, it’s easy to see that dedicated fans have created a very special dynamic: Activity is stirred from within the fan pool, not from a heavy administrative hand chopping desperately into calm waters to make a splash. No, World Soccer Shop authorities need only drop in finger size chunks of news to start fan feeding frenzies.

Although it costs no money, per se, to roll out a fan rich arena like this, it does require a constant watch and a carefully planned growth strategy to make it successful. This can gobble up loads of valuable time, so many companies are now turning to third parties, like Fast Pivot, to develop, manage, and grow their social media presence.

Evolutions of the Eight Second Rule Only Make it More Relevant to Yahoo Store Designers

Posted on December 5, 2009
Filed Under Ecommerce | Leave a Comment

Although first sightings of the eight second rule surfaced back in a 2001 Zona Research Report , which “found that the average web user will wait about eight seconds for a page to download,” developers are ever more conscious of that omnipresent eight second rule today.

The rule itself has undergone an evolution of sorts and has become even more relevant over the years, especially to the Yahoo store builder considering the use of custom application development, dynamic images, interactive building application etc.

When the concept emerged, the eight seconds referred to the amount of time people would wait until the website loaded, but modern technophiles scoff at the idea of sitting dormant for more than one or two seconds. We are not only talking about load times now, but the touchstone of e-commerce design and development: conversion. Seconds lost in consumer confusion is a recipe for conversion disaster.

In today’s cutting edge e-commerce environment, the Yahoo store developer and editor must set their prowess on creating fast loading pages with a landing matrix fine tuned to fully engage and quickly convert the customer. Yes, it must interface and anticipate the user’s needs and frustrations.

To ensure success, the customer must be able to attain that object of their desires without obstacle. That means no broken hot links, applications, misfiring pages, incomplete information, slow rolling or overly involved check-out carts, unnecessary graphic distractions, irrelevant and wordy text, etc. And, no, you cannot slick the site down to an oily chute to spit customers out behind the bars of the check out cart either.

A fine balance, or harmony, must be struck. Strategic product placement and user navigation must be smart and without clutter; all in less than eight seconds.

Yahoo Store Design specialists, like Fast Pivot, have mastered the Eight Second equilibrium that makes smart design look easy. But don’t take this blog as the final word on the subject, check out the portfolio for yourself.

Rtml Makes Yahoo! Stores Truly Unique for Serious Business Owners

Posted on December 2, 2009
Filed Under Ecommerce | Leave a Comment

Although Yahoo Store owners have powerful backend tools at their fingertips using just the standard features, serious Yahoo Store users should consider integrating RTML into store development plans if they want to really attract consumer attention.

Yahoo defers to third party developers and even recommends a handy guide for merchants who realize the value of setting up shop right the first time around. Most e-commerce merchants are busy enough being an expert in their own product area and just don’t have the time to learn an entirely new skill set, so choosing an expert RTML programmer is the way to go.

For business owners who are considering building a Yahoo Store and want to go far beyond simply choosing a template and throwing out the welcome mat, we recommend using experienced programmers fluent in Yahoo Store design, development, and template augmentation via RTML programming language.

Fast Pivot has a number of Yahoo Stores debuting customized RTML shop fronts, which are easily viewable within the portfolio.

It just makes good business sense to do it right the first time.

keep looking »