Q: I’ve been hearing a lot about HTML5 lately. What exactly is it?

A: I promise to keep this as non-techy as possible. I feel that even non-programmers will benefit from having knowledge of new technology being developed for the web. If you are looking to update your website, this will help you ask knowledgeable questions when finding a website vendor. It will also help you decide what direction your website should take.

So, what is HTML5?

HTML5 is currently being developed as the first major revision of HTML since 1997, when HTML4 came out. HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language and it is the main markup language of the World Wide Web. Every website you visit is built using some form of HTML.

How is HTML5 different from the current version of HTML?

• Video is supported in HTML5. Up until this point the only way to implement video was to use a third party plug-in such as Flash. But Flash doesn’t work on all devices (iPad, iPhone, and other smartphones). HTML5 will work on all of these.
• HTML5 is open source, not proprietary like Flash, and the interactivity capabilities are better than Flash.
• HTML5 eliminates the need for plug-ins such as Flash or Silverlight.
• HTML5 uses less computer resources than Flash (20% vs. 40%).
• HTML 5 is backwards compatible. This means that even though all browsers don’t support HTML5 yet, we can start using some of the new HTML5 coding techniques today without sacrificing the look of the page. We do this by telling the browser how to display the elements they don’t recognize in the css.

So, what are we waiting for?

HTML5 has not been officially released, and currently only some browsers support the different features. But don’t worry; Haley Marketing is staying on top of the web game. We have already started implementing HTML5 standards that work in every browser, and we’re learning/researching how to do the really cool stuff that soon will!

Now for the fun!

Here are a few examples of HTML5 on the Web. Please note that you must use a browser that supports these HTML5 features in order to enjoy completely! I would recommend Safari or Chrome. In addition, IE or Internet Explorer is not currently HTML 5 compatible, so these samples will not work on that platform.

HTML5 Video Player

Video Destruction

Some fun with Atoms

HTML5 Slide Presentation

With a focus on call center staffing, CallMe! Staffing turned to Haley Marketing to design a site that represented their niche market. Haley Marketing built a site that incorporates great features for employers and job seekers. Employers can easily submit job orders online and with the Haley Marketing Job Board, job seekers can search for available jobs and apply online.

The new site also features a blog which helps position CallMe! Staffing as a resource in the call center industry.

Additionally, Haley Marketing developed a complete Search Engine Optimization strategy focused on drawing more traffic from Employers and Job Seekers in the call center, collections and telemarketing industries.

http://www.callmestaffing.com/

Alternacare is a healthcare staffing and recruiting firm with offices throughout Ontario and Quebec Canada.  In developing the Alternacare website, we were presented with a few unique challenges.  In addition to appealing to job seekers and traditional prospects, Alternacare needed a website that appealed to buyers of home healthcare services as well.  From the main homepage visitors can easily access the area of the website that is most relevant to them.  The other big challenge in building the website was that because Quebec is a French speaking province, the website had to include a French version.  Through advanced Java programming, we were able to take the French translation of the content throughout the site and provide one seamless website that could change languages with the click of a button.

www.alternacare.ca

A website built with CSS has number of benefits compared to those built using tables or flash. Here is a list of some of the benefits:

1. Easy to update and maintain.
   To make an edit on a CSS website is usually 10 times faster then making the same edit to a website built using tables or flash.
2. Fast load time.
   CSS allows your website pages to load faster because it minimizes the amount of code on each page.
3. Search engine friendly.
   Search engines such as google can find the content on your website a lot faster because CSS reduces the amount of code that is needed for each page of the website. CSS also uses SEO-rich tags when formatting text.
4. Cool Effects.
   You can create a lot of useful rollover and navigation effects using CSS. These techniques make your website more interactive, and are easy to create!

If you would like more information about website design or would like to find out if your website is built using CSS, please send me an email at lac@haleymarketing.com

Q: My website is outdated, but I don’t really know where or how to start the process to update it. What should I do first?

A: The obvious answer is to start by defining your goals. What do you want your website to accomplish? Once you’ve made a list of the goals, spend a little time thinking about how your site could accomplish each goal.  For example, if one of your goals is to generate more sales leads, then the “how” could be an online order form or offering a free white paper to attract sales leads.

However, before you start designing a new site, start with an audit of your current site to define the gaps. Read the rest of this entry »

Q: How do I get more sales leads from my staffing firm’s website?

A: This is a common problem. Many staffing websites look great. Some tell a great story. But most staffing websites don’t do enough to attract prospects, or more importantly, convert them into active clients.

So what can you do to make your website more effective?

1. Give people a reason to visit. Step one in online selling is to attract prospects to your website. What are you offering that is so fantastic…so intriguing…that people will take time out of their busy day to come and get it? Do you have great articles, salary data, free training, a video library or some other captivating resources? If not, you need some. Great content is the bait that attracts people–and without the right bait, you’ll never catch the fish you want!

2. Get found. Your website is competing with 150 million others–not to mention the limited time and attention of the people you want to reach. Step two in online selling is to get people–the right people–to find your website. Just building a great website is not enough. You also need a solid Search Engine Optimization Plan that will get your site ranked highly on Google and other search engines. Your website should be optimized with keywords that are relevant to your business, your services and your audience. These keywords should be incorporated into the copy of your site, as well as throughout the page titles, metadata, links and blogs to make an impact on your rankings. For more information on how to optimize your staffing website, download our Staffing SEO 101 Guide.

http://www.haleymarketing.com/Staffing_Website_Optimization

3. Ask for a response. If you want someone to take action, you have to ask them to take action. Sounds obvious, doesn’t it? Yet, most staffing websites have weak (if any) calls to action.

4. Make it easy for people to respond. You’d be amazed how many staffing websites make you search really hard to find a phone number–or an email address–or a contact form. Your website should make responding easy and obvious. Ideally, have response forms right next to your calls to action. And give people multiple ways to respond. Some will call. Some prefer to fill out a contact form. Strategically place forms to Submit a Job Order, Request a Quote or Contact a Recruiter throughout the site to make it easy for your visitors to request information on the spot, while they are already engaged with your business.

5. Follow-up as soon as possible! People are impatient in cyberspace. Seconds can seem like hours, and a delayed response can be a reason not to do business with a firm. Make sure your online forms are programmed with autoresponders, so people get an immediate email response that sets expectations about next steps. If you’re promising free content, deliver it on the spot with a link to a webpage. If you’re promising to call back, make sure the inquiries are immediately routed to the right person for follow-up.

6. Keep ‘em coming back. Staffing is not a one call close. To make a sale you first have to build trust, and trust comes from repeated contact. Your website can play a big part in the trust building process by providing new, fresh content that helps you to reconnect with your clients and prospects. For example, you might implement a blog, a resources library, or a news section to keep your site updated with timely and useful information. You can use industry news, case studies, event calendars or other current information that is relevant to the types of employers you serve.

7. Expand your reach. There was a time when a website was enough for an online presence. With the rise and popularity of social media, that is no longer the case. Social media can be used to boost traffic to your website and increase lead generation. Use status updates and join groups where you can post discussion topics and articles that will drive people back to your website.

One Final Reminder

These 7 recommendations will make your website a more dynamic and powerful sales tool, but you need to start with a good website. Since 95% of prospects will visit your site before they agree to meet with you, make sure your site looks great–and presents your company the way you want to be seen. If you’re not proud of your website, it’s time for a new site.

As always, if you would like more information on implementing a blog, social media and marketing plan, search engine optimization or a new website, contact us at 1-888-696-2900, and we’d be happy to help you!

What is a web browser?

You are using one right now! A web browser is a program used for viewing web pages. There are a lot of different web browsers, but the most popular include Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari.

Why is it important to test your website in different browsers?

Every web browser is built differently. Therefore, websites don’t display the same in every browser. Most of the time, inconsistencies between browsers have to do with the layout of a website, and interactive links and rollovers.

Why isn’t your website cross-browser compatible?

There are a few reasons:

1. One of the greatest challenges a web designer faces is cross-browser testing. A good web programmer will build a website, test, and edit the code so it works cross-browser. But a lot of time, programmers either don’t take the time to look at their website in different browsers, or don’t know how to fix the issues that different browsers create.
2. When was your website built? If your website was built before the release of a new browser, then your website may appear broken in that browser. That is why it is important to keep your website up to date. The good news is that most problems can be easily fixed, and your website may not need to be completely re-coded to work properly in a new browser.

But no worries…

Haley Marketing takes pride in making sure our clients websites work in multiple browsers. We want to make sure our websites are of the highest quality and usability. Learn more about our recruiting and staffing web design services, or email me at lac@haleymarketing.com and I would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Q: How do I know if it’s time for a new website?

A: Before I help answer your question, let’s take a look at three reasons why having a clean, informative and professional looking site is important:

• 95% of prospective clients will check out your website before agreeing to meet with you.
• More than 90% of candidates will review a company’s website before applying for a job.
• One in four candidates will decide not to apply with a company because of its website.

So how do you know if your website is in need of a small facelift or complete overhaul?  Use the following as a guide:

1. Your website is stuck in 2001. If your website looks outdated, it makes your company look outdated, and no one wants to do business with a company that’s behind the times.  If your site is stuck in 2001, you’re going to find it harder to sell your services. It’s time for a complete re-do.

   On another note, technology changes fast.  Even a great looking site needs to be updated every 3 to 5 years to keep current.

2. Your website doesn’t convey the right message. Here’s a quick test for you. Ask 5 people (inside your firm or clients) to go to your website and tell you what they think your site says about your firm.  If all five people don’t reply with the same answer–and an answer that matches how you want to be seen in the market, then it’s time for an update. You may just need to tweak the copy and graphics, but your site needs to clearly convey a strong message about your firm.

   You should also check out your top three competitors’ sites and compare them to your own.  Which site makes the best first impression?  If you’re not the winner, it’s time for an update.

3. Your website is hard to use. People need to be able to easily find information on your site. Can candidates search jobs right from the home page? Can clients learn about your services in one click?  If people can’t find what they’re looking for on your site, they are not going to stick around.

   A great website is well-organized and intuitive.  To see if your site works, watch someone try to navigate your website. Or you can use a tool like Google Analytics to see where people go on your site–and where they give up.  If you find pages with high bounce rates (pages where a high percentage of people exit your site), you may want to redesign those pages.

4. Your site is static. A great staffing website gives users a reason to come back over and over again.

   One way to keep your content dynamic is to add a blog, newsletter, news section, resource center or any other area where content is frequently updated.If you would like to make updates to your website frequently, but your current website makes it difficult, you may want to consider having your website built on a content management system (CMS).

5. Your site is hard to find via the major search engines such as Google, Bing or Yahoo! If you’re not ranking highly with the search engines, it is definitely time for a redesign. Improving your navigation, keywords, page titles, headlines and a few other technical things can dramatically improve your search engine rankings.

   To find out more about optimizing your website, check out our Free SEO 101 for Staffing Guide.

6. Your site was built using tables, frames or flash. Tables, frames, and flash are tools used in building websites, and they all have their role. However, sites should not be built entirely on any one of these tools. Without going into the technical details, your website should be built using CSS. CSS is the best way to build a website because it enriches your website with SEO friendly tags, and light code. It also makes updating your website much easier, and less time consuming.

So how do you know if it’s time to update your website? The bottom line is how well is the site working for you?  Is it bringing in clients and candidates?  It is sending the right message?  Is it helping you sell more?  If your answer is “no” to any of these questions, then it’s time for an update.  By staying in the “now” with your online presence and paying attention to traffic, usability and design, you will succeed in helping your staffing firm stand out and put your best “face” forward.

If you’d like a FREE website critique or if you’d like more information on a new website, contact us at 1-888-696-2900 and we’d be happy to help you!

EGW Website

EGW Personnel was faced with an interesting challenge.  Their previous website developer had unfortunately gone out of business–and their website subsequently disappeared without warning.  While this wasn’t ideal, it presented EGW Personnel with the chance to refocus and strengthen their online presence.  The new website provides a very open and contemporary feel.  The navigation was streamlined to address their two key audiences:  Companies looking for “Good People” and people looking for “Good Jobs”.  The new website also features Haley Marketing’s Job Board which allows candidates to easily search through open positions by a number of categories and apply online to specific job openings.

http://www.egwpersonnel.com/

Discover more about Haley Marketing’s Website Services:
Staffing Websites
Staffing SEO
Job Boards
Staffing Software Integration

A long-time HaleyMail client, Staffing One knew it was time to update their website. Haley Marketing designed a clean, crisp site that reflects this firm’s no-nonsense approach to staffing. Creating a unique type treatment out of their tagline emphasizes their core value: Performance is our Promise. This is being used in Flash imagery on their site, as well as being carried through to their collateral pieces.

Through Client and Candidate Resource Centers, which are integrated with the HaleyMail program, Staffing One is able to provide valuable industry information and advice for both employers and job seekers alike.  The Resource Centers also act as a tool to keep bringing people back to the site.

http://www.staffingone.com

Discover more about Haley Marketing’s Website Services:
Staffing Websites
Staffing SEO
Job Boards
Staffing Software Integration