Just waiting on the plague of locust

The weather in Scotland is never predictable but this month has been like a meteorologists A-Z. So far we've had floods which turned the A8 into a canal, the furious temper of hurricane bawbag blowing in a yellow weather warning (whatever that means), then last week the snow started to fall bringing with it a permafrost reminiscent of last years mini ice age. Thankfully the temperature is now on the up so it looks like it'll be flip flops and barbecued turkey in the garden Christmas day.

By Paul Mowat
Published: 20 December 2011
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Jack Henderson has drawn EVERYTHING!

Internet sensation Jack Henderson of Jack Draws Anything has completed his marathon of drawings, raising over £31,000 for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation.

In the past 231 days, the Prestonpans six–year–old has drawn 536 pictures, using 314 pens, 162 crayons and 96 pencils on 2144 sheets of paper.

Jack drew tictoc a picture waaaay back in the early days (Picture No 5!) and we're so delighted to have watched the story grow and see Jack achieve global internet stardom whilst raising over £31,000 along the way!!

BIG GIANT WELL DONE JACK!

By Melanie Russell
Published: 7 November 2011
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Happy Halloween bake off!!

The big tictoc bake off moves into the spooky Halloween theme this week! Here are the ghostly cakes I made yesterday for a halloween party for 3 year olds! Suffice to say the eyes and the icing were the only bits that were eaten, the cakes were discarded among the cheesy puffs and spider web crisps!

Recipe idea from the wonderful Annabel Karmel http://www.annabelkarmel.com/recipes/halloween - I also made the finger sandwiches but they didn't look as good as the cakes (if I do say so myself!)!

By Melanie Russell
Published: 31 October 2011
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Congratulations to our client Wood Green

Great news: in Third Sector's Charity Web Check, our clients Wood Green the Animals Charity have come joint eleventh - hitting well above their weight.

The report ranks charities in their use of the web, assessing not just their website and how easy it is to use, but also their use of social media. Wood Green is ranking alongside charities such as Alzheimer's Society, Dogs Trust and Oxfam - who are a lot bigger in terms of income.

It just goes to show that you don't need to be one of the big boys to make good use of the web.

By Kate Wooding
Published: 19 October 2011
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Users of the mobile version of our Glasgow Film Theatre site are loving it!

We've been getting some fantastic feebdack directly from users of the mobile version of the Glasgow Film Theatres website so I thought we should share a couple of their comments!

The mobile site created for Glasgow Film is a thing of wonder! Its has clearly been thought about, and is brilliant to use

It actually works!

Read more about the site development here.

By Melanie Russell
Published: 19 October 2011
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Introducing... Facebook Timeline

Facebook yesterday announced a radical update that will completely reshape the Facebook platform, and potentially the role of social media. They are calling the new update Facebook timeline.

Timeline will vastly change how we use the platform, with Facebook automatically adding photos, status updates and any life events to Facebook profiles, which will essentially become timelines.  In addition to current Facebook content, users will be encouraged to add new content from their lives before Facebook, in what will become a digital scrapbook from your user profile.

The new timeline profiles haven't officially rolled out, however through Facebook developer accounts, you can access timeline which is currently in beta version. I have added the timeline to my Facebook profile, and despite  initial reservations, I actually found the interface easy to use and found the content easy to absorb.

One of the most interesting aspects of timeline is the resurfacing of old content I found it interesting and amusing to look at images and status updates from as far back as 2007. Although it is true that millions of Facebook users will have a pretty short timeline, with some only creating profiles in the last couple of years. At present is it unclear just how much control we will have over editing the previous years timeline, however those will longer histories will be able to instantly retrieve content legacy content from when their profile was first introduced.

A relevant question surrounding timeline will be "why will users want to add historical content to Facebook?" Zuckerberg points out "were more than what we did recently" indicating that there is a place for content on the key moments in your life such as graduation, new job or birth of your baby. These key events are what Facebook wants, and as Facebook users we are being encouraged to upload.

Timeline is only in its infancy and adding content to timeline is just one aspect of the update, the integration of other social media platforms such as spotify and netflix will offer another dimension to Facebook and once again highlights the forward thing of Zuckerberg and his team!   With Google+ registering 25 million users in its first few weeks Facebook faces genuine competition however, with this latest update and with more features and functionality due to be rolled out over the next few months, Facebook is not about to relent its grip on social networking without a fight.  Watch this space.....

By Julie Ferguson
Published: 23 September 2011
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Facebook Messenger Arrives

Facebook has now officially launched the much anticipated Facebook Messenger app for smart-phones.  Following on from the acquisition of messaging service Beluga, Facebook has redeveloped its existing messenger format to offer users a new and simple platform to send messages to contacts.

The free app, which is made for iOS and Android devices, allows users to chat and send messages instantly over Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G connections, or via SMS text message.   Given the simplicity and practical use of the app combined with group messaging capabilities, the new Facebook Messenger app will have wide appeal, having already claimed the number 1 spot in the US app download charts.

In the UK, the mobile messaging market is dominated by Blackberry and whilst Facebook (along with Apple imessenger, due for release in 2011) will bring serious challenges to that dominance, there will still be a place for everyone.  Over the course of 2011 we will keep you updated on the scheduled roll-out of the new messaging applications, and we will keep you informed on the impact they are having on the mobile messaging markets. Follow us now on Twitter for more on developments in search and mobile.

By Julie Ferguson
Published: 11 August 2011
2 Comments

Get it right!

An article on today's BBC News site posits that spelling mistakes on websites can cost the website owners millions in lost sales.

The theory is that web visitors are put off by spelling mistakes, which can suggest to them that the website is not legit, or reduce their trust in the site. They might therefore go elsewhere to buy what they were looking for.

I'm not sure if the 'millions' claim is correct - well, possibly if you add up all the 'lost' business across all websites it might be - but I think that there is an element of truth in the theory. It must depend slightly on the context - if I'm on the BBC site or the Vodafone site, a spelling mistake might annoy me (yes, I'm a pedant) and cause me to bemoan standards of spelling, but it's unlikely to make me concerned about the trustworthiness of the site (although I suppose I should be worried about phishing sites that look just like the real thing, but with added typos). But I can see that for a site that isn't attached to a massive brand, a small thing like that could certainly affect how I view it.

Essentially, when we're online we look for lots of signals about a site's security and trust-worthiness: I want the padlock to be displayed when I'm putting in a password, I want a company's address and telephone number to be clearly displayed, I want assurances about the way they'll treat any information I might choose to give them, or their standards of service. I just want them to look like a decent, credible company that I might want to do business with. Undoubtedly, spelling is one of the signals I'll probably pick up on.

A company's website is a promotional tool. It's what you choose to say about your company online. Plus of course your company might also be represented in other places - on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc. Just as you'd proof-read a brochure before you signed it off for printing, you ought to proof the content of your website.

I totally understand that you will update your website far more frequently than you'll publish new brochures. Hopefully, if your site is any good, you'll be adding new case studies/news stories/blog posts/products all the time. So the proof-reading element is more of a burden. But it's worth it to know that you look like a professional company that cares about the details.

So if you add content to your company website, make sure someone else has a look over it before you press that 'publish' button.

So go ahead, point out all my errors!

By Kate Wooding
Published: 14 July 2011
2 Comments

Les Paul Google Doodle.

Since 1998, Google has been customising their homepage in the form of Google Doodles. To date, we have seen everything from unique graphics to audio sound, however today's Doodle is arguably the best Google Doodle yet.

In a tribute to the guitar pioneer Les Paul, Google have transformed their homepage into a playable and recordable guitar. When you log onto Google you will see the authentic-sounding Doodle and this can be played via your mouse or your keyboard.  Check it out now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgzL2E_4POE

By Julie Ferguson
Published: 9 June 2011
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Summer is finally here!

Well, what can we say..Friday 3rd June is possibly going to be the hottest day of the year in Glasgow! All the windows have been cracked open and everyone is definitely in a better mood - great way to start the weekend we say!

And, while enjoying this fine day, we noticed that our fellow office workers on Newton Terrace were really making the most of this weather and their lunch hour. Picnic in the back car park with the whole works, deck chairs, cool box, sarnies. Why didn't we think of that?!

By Sarah Dixon
Published: 3 June 2011
1 Comment

Please can I start working from the London office?

We have heard  from our fellow tictocers down south, that the London office has been basking in the most glorious sunshine for the past few days. Jealous? Who us? Oh no, we have been quite enjoying the torrential downpours here in Glasgow. We wanted to make sure we got some use out of those expensive wellies anyway!

So, just to make sure we were thoroughly envious, I had this photo arrive in my inbox - shorts in April Craig?! Pizza Friday never looked so good.

By Sarah Dixon
Published: 8 April 2011
3 Comments

The new office car?

We all came into work this morning to find this amazing little go-kart parked in the tictoc towers hallway - obviously our immediate thought was that David had decided to ditch the motorbikes and opt for a more leisurely pace of life...or was it a more environmentally friendly way of David getting to his meetings in Glasgow?

OK...yes, we know it's a kids go-kart (for David's son Mac), but there have been more than a few tempted glances from the developers to have a go! Please no-one get stuck!

By Sarah Dixon
Published: 5 April 2011
2 Comments

Google +1 (Plus One) meets the world.

Google today launched its answer to Facebook’s 'Like' button, by introducing              +1 (plus one).  In Google’s boldest social move to date, the one-click button will allow users to recommend websites and share those recommendations with their friends.

At present +1 is only accessible to 2% of Google’s English Language users and can only be seen via the google.com engine.  The introduction of +1 is seen by many as Google’s attempt to rival Facebook’s now famous 'Like' button.  Perhaps the most significant difference between +1 and ‘Like’ is +1 buttons will appear on search engine results pages (SERPs), alongside natural and paid listings.  Below is the official video from Google on +1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAyUNI3_V2c&feature=player_embedded

Google is keen to point out that recommendations can only be shared within the context of relevant searches, so results will go to users based on their individual preferences, rather than hitting all contacts.  At present +1 recommendations can be shared via, GMail, Google Reader and Google Buzz contacts, it is expected that Twitter contacts will also be added to this later, however the question around Facebook contacts remains unanswered.  

One answer that is clear, +1 will have some impact on search both in natural and paid listings.  The +1 button will adding a new level of social search to Google. Previously social results had been based on content created by your social network and content shared by social network.  Google +1 will now display results based on recommendations made by your +1 network.  The will impact how natural and paid listeds are displayed through the SERPs.

With the +1 search functionality already launched, the next step for Google will be +1 integration onto websites.  This is an area where the Facebook 'Like' button has been unchallenged.  Facebook's vast traffic levels has always allowed them to be the dominate factor in social recommendations.  However, with Google's equally vast traffic levels, Google is a now serious challenger in the social space.

Google has been very clever in its approach to Facebook, rather take the social networking platform head on, it is selecting those areas of Facebook that will improve the social layer of the search engine, recommendation data.  Whilst Google will become a serious player on the subject of recommendation data, Facebook is still a very compelling platform and will undoubtedly evolve to fight off any perspective challengers to its social throne.

On the other had if Google +1 works, it will improve overall search quality in both organic and paid search.  +1 could Google's most important social product to date and might just enable Google to finally become a major player in social.

By Julie Ferguson
Published: 31 March 2011
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Harry Houdini Google Doodle

Google today are celebrating the 137th birthday of Harry Houdini with his very own Houdini Google Doodle. The Doodle comes in the form of a stylised poster with a picture of the magician and escape artist trying to break free from chains.

By Julie Ferguson
Published: 24 March 2011
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The issue with Auto-translated content and Google.

This week we have been looking at translated content online and its value to search engines.   Although it can be beneficial to have translated content on your website to reach language specific users, how that content is created can have a negative impact on overall website performance.  More specifically if content providers use auto-translated content on their websites, immediately they are sending out negative signals to users and search engines. 

Auto-translated content is content that has been automatically translated using an online tool such as  Google Translater .  With these tools, users can take a batch of content and upload to translator and translate that content based on their specified language request.  This content is then uploaded to language specific URLs.   Now on the face of things this looks a good way of promoting your content in other languages, however the problems occur when the translated content makes no sense to the user.

Each language has a unique way of structuring words within a sentence, what might read well in English will not necessarily read well in Spanish for instance.  The only way to identify the mistakes around language specific content is to have a content writer manually check content to ensure it reads correctly, something that auto-translators cannot achieve.

The official line from Google is that the algorithm has been developed to establish whether content has been written from scratch or auto-generated, bad news for auto-translators, good news for those wanting to creating unique and engaging language specific content.

Creating language specific content will improve your search engine performance, but more importantly will improve your users' experience of your website.

By Julie Ferguson
Published: 23 March 2011
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Google Farmer Update - Is it the end for Article Marketing?

In our SEO in 2011 blog post, we mentioned that Google was about to deploy an algorithm change that would combat spamming issues on the web.  Earlier this month Google launched the change, which has been dubbed the “Farmer Update”.  From the outset Google made its stance clear, it will no longer support low quality content on the web.  In terms of significance this is one of the biggest changes that Google has made in the last 5 years. 

The reason this change is so significant is due to the impact it has had on article farms.   Article farms are websites that publish other websites articles for the purpose of article promotion and links back to the originating website.  One of the biggest article farming websites is ezinearticles.com, for years ezinearticles has dominated search results, and in fact it was only in 2010 that it became one of the top 100 websites in the world.  

Since the algorithm update, it has been reported that ezinearticles.com has lost 80% of its visibility online, indicating that content on this website is seen as weak and of low quality.  Ezinearticles.com is just one of many content farms reporting similar losses, these include, buzzle.com, hugpages.com and squidoo.com.  

So is article marketing dead? 

In a word, No! Article marketing is not dead, but the way that article marketing has been used in recent years is certainly dead.  Low value content that is repeatedly duplicated will no longer hold any sort of linking value.  Therefore, the era of quality content is returning to the web, something that Google has always pursued. 

Unique and engaging content has always held value in terms of search engine success, therefore, webmasters should invest in creating good content for their website first and foremost then promoting that content to the web.  Webmasters can no longer rely on article farms to promote content or gain links.

The focus should now be on social media marketing to promote content.   Social media marketing is effective and has a higher impact on good quality and more importantly natural links to the website. Using platforms such as blogs, social networking sites and news sites will create a much stronger link portfolio rather than relying low value and low quality linking. 

Search engines serve users, therefore you have to make your content and articles engaging to those users not just machines.  Content combined with a true grasp of real SEO will give you the best chance of success with search engines.

By Julie Ferguson
Published: 22 March 2011
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and all that was left.......

There was a mini party in the tictoc Glasgow office as it was our David's big 4-0 on Sunday! He's not feeling enormously happy about it but we felt it couldn't slip under the radar without at the very least some cake! Incredibly there was still some left but that was yesterday afternoon, I haven't been into the kitchen today to see if the mice got it last night!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DAVID!

By Melanie Russell
Published: 8 March 2011
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Mels pancakes

Here's my attempt to celebrate Pancake Day! They were made in the company of my 3 year old so can't ocmment on the quality / shape but the taste was pretty good but that was no doubt enhanced by the bacon and maple syrup! I know the strawberries aren't the traditional and i've been chastised for even thinking about using them but we had no blueberries in the fridge so apologies!

Will make some lemon sugar ones for a wee t time snack later, mmmmmm!

By Melanie Russell
Published: 8 March 2011
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