I read blog articles, news stories, and other random web nonsense every day of the week.  Some are memorable; some not so memorable.  Do you know what I don’t read?  That news story you never shared.  That blog post that you never put on your Twitter or Facebook?  I’ve never read it.  Between checking my email, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Reddit, and EZines on ten minute rotations –I don’t have time to go searching the darkest corners of the internet for your recipe on the world’s largest soufflé.

More networking?! Yes my friends… more networking.  Unfortunately for you anti-socials out there, contacts don’t generally fall out of the sky.  And we’ve talked about putting yourself out there and NetWORKing… but where are you going?  Where are these connections being made these days?  The answers might surprise you.

So, you’re a big bad blogger now?  Well good for you!  Sort of… Hey, people are always looking for ways to improve. For all I know, you’re perfect and you’ve already enacted all of these tips I’m about to share.  If that’s the case, you’re just going to force me to make another list folks.  And if you haven’t noticed from any past posts… like: here, here, and here.  I like my lists.

If you’re looking for a website that epitomizes the phrase “Custom Design”, look no further than the website we designed for Brickkicker.  All of the functionality on this site was done with custom code.  The site started as a corporate brochure.  With the help of the DotNetNuke (DNN) user system and a series of DNN Modules, the site was completely customized from top to bottom. 

For the real people of the world, for the we're not exactly what you'd call millionaires, for the small business owners, for the just starting out-ers: Get Your Money’s Worth!  If you only have $20 to bring to the grocery store, don’t walk in and grab a box of $20 gourmet cookies and walk out.  You don’t have any milk to dip those cookies in, the cookies have nuts and you don’t even like nuts, and for the record –they don’t even taste good.  Your mission was not a success.  On the flip side of that coin, don’t walk in and grab 20 items from the dollar section either.  You don’t need a tiny rubber spatula or mini slinky that will get tangled before you leave the store.  Get what you need.

Let’s say you’ve taken my advice by now, you’ve got a successfully running website that is driving traffic to your business. Perfect! Now, let’s talk about taking that next step.  You might be saying to yourself: What’s the point in going mobile? People can still bring me up on their phones if they are searching for me on the internet… To that I would promptly pick you up and shake you. OK, maybe I wouldn’t go that far.  But the appearance of your website is pretty important. Both on AND off the computer. So when a customer visits your site on their phone, if it’s all scattered around, hard to maneuver, or full of information that’s probably not useful to them on the go, they are going to move on.  Their thumbs can only take so much browsing on those tiny screens.  It’s 2013, let’s catch up with the times.  There are hundreds of millions of mobile phone users in the U.S. alone. About 9 out of 10 have access to the internet on their phones. What are you doing to win them over?

Everyone is talking about this new Facebook Graph Search.  Talk makes it seem like it’s taking over the world, slashing privacy to death, and burying Google in the backyard.  But, what’s the real story?  I would show you some great screens shots and walk you through the process… However, we’re going to have to save that for part 2 my friends –as I am still on the waiting list to dive into this particular treasure.  I feel like going on Facebook and really beefing up my profile so they will pick me first for the team.  So what is it, exactly, that all the buzz is about?  What is this search supposed to do and what does that mean for you? Perhaps most importantly, can it help your business?

Way back when, I was a twitter newbie.  By way back when, I mean about 4 months ago.  At the time I was just getting used to the wonderful world of Twitter.  These days, I’m feeling pretty comfortable maneuvering my way around the tweets and hashtags.  But, in true Sprocket Solutions style.  I’ve got a few twitter faux pas that it’s best to stay (run) away from.

I feel like there are a lot of people these days that jump into things a little quickly –especially when it comes to anything that has to do with the internet.  I would give you the “back in my day” speech; but, I’m only 23 so that would be both ridiculous and irrelevant.  When it comes to your business; however, you should take a bit of time to make sure all your ducks are in a row.  I’m all for taking risks and trying new things.  Just make sure you’re prepared is all I’m saying.

Here are 5 things you must consider before making – or remaking your website. 

These are some important points folks, read up.