Freelance Associates: Effective Web Sites By
Corrections or additions?
These advertorials were published in U.S. 1 Newspaper on June 30,
1999.
Companies to Watch
Top Of PageCommerce Enablement Services
Electronic commerce (eCommerce). We’ve all heard what
it can do for a business. Look what it did for Amazon.com. Ever wonder
what it could do for your business?
“The eCommerce field is changing rapidly,” notes Tom
Fitzgerald,
president of Commerce Enablement Services (CES) in Kendall Park.
“Clients
need to find out what the current best practices are and how to
customize
them to fit their business needs. That requires an understanding of
the competitive landscape, alternative technologies, and distinctive
implementation.” In other words, it requires a strategic partner
experienced in putting it all together and making it happen. CES has
been that partner for a broad number of companies in financial
services,
retailing, manufacturing, and transportation. Also, CES has worked
with new ventures as their technology partner, helping them execute
their Internet-focused business strategy.
Just over one year old, Commerce Enablement Services has worked with
clients such as Chase Manhattan Bank, Peterson’s Publishing, and
Symbol
Technologies. CES offers electronic commerce consulting and
development
services and up-to-the-minute expertise in all things eCommerce,
including
payment systems, catalogs, retailing, bill presentment, Internet
security,
and credit card acceptance.
For the smaller company, the concept of eCommerce can seem daunting.
eCommerce has been widely touted to require deep pockets to be done
effectively. But there are alternatives. CES has created a new
service,
the Company Store, aimed at providing an eCommerce solution that
addresses
a specific need common to all sizes of companies.
The Company Store functions as an online catalog for a company’s
promotional
apparel such as golf shirts and caps. Wishing to present a gift to
a client, team member, etc., a company simply mails a gift card with
a description of the gift, the Company Store web address, and a unique
promotion code. The recipient can choose which apparel they like,
what size they need, and gives their most up-to-date contact
information.
The recipient gets a high quality gift that they actually want, and
the company knows that their gift went to someone who they targeted.
The company retains that contact information for continued
relationship
development and tracking — a vital aspect to the Company Store
that is missing in traditional methods of distribution. Also, the
Company Store is enabled to accept credit card transactions, so
consumers
and employees who want to show their affiliation for that company
finally have a way to purchase these items. And what company does
not want to build a stronger customer relationship?
Says Michael Rondelli, Marketing Manager for CES: “The focus at
CES is to help clients realize the benefits of eCommerce. That means
thinking strategically and finding creative applications. For example,
our Company Store takes an age-old practice of gift giving and makes
it a valuable, trackable tool. That is what makes eCommerce so
exciting;
it is a tool that expands our business choices.”
For each client, the application of eCommerce may be different, but
it is an opportunity no business serious about success should shy
away from.
Commerce Enablement Services, 732-398-3994. Fax:732-398-3997.E-mail: info@enablement.com. Web Site:https://www.enablement.com.Top Of PageDow Jones TrainingCompanies and individuals require thorough educationand skill-building training programs if they want to make the mostof their investment in hardware, software, and a networking system.Dow Jones Training Systems offers systems, network, and applicationstraining through a wide range of courses covering Microsofttechnologies,UNIX/Solaris, LAN/WAN multi-vendor internetworking, the Internet,and Adobe.Conveniently located in Central New Jersey on Route 1 north ofPrinceton,Dow Jones’ spacious training facility consists of nine classroomsequipped with the latest model computers and projection devices. Allcomputers are networked and have Internet access through a dedicatedTI Circuit.Says Michael Wishnick, manager of Dow Jones Training Services:”Ourcaring and enthusiastic instructors and support personnel makelearningat Dow Jones Training Services an enjoyable and rewarding experience.We look forward to introducing new customers to our pleasant lakesidefacility.”Classes are hands-on, one student per work station, and taught byinstructors with extensive practical experience in a relaxed andfriendlyatmosphere. The maximum class size is 12.Dow Jones’ cost-effective and comprehensive programs provide areal-worldenvironment in which system end-users, software developers, and systemand network administrators learn the necessary skills to work smarter,not harder.Dow Jones Training Services is a Microsoft Certified TechnicalEducationCenter as well as an Authorized Adobe Learning Provider.As a Microsoft CTEC, Dow Jones Training Services offers the completeMicrosoft curriculum, preparing students for various certificationssuch as Microsoft Office User Specialist, Microsoft Certified SystemsEngineer, Microsoft Certified Product Specialist, MCSE and InternetSpecialist, Microsoft Certified Database Administrator and MicrosoftCertified Solution Developer. The curriculum involves courses suchas Windows NT 4.0/5.0, TCP/IP, SMS 2.0, SQL, Server 7.0, Exchange5.5, and Visual Basic 6.0.UNIX/Solaris courses include a five-day UNIX/Solaris Essentials class,followed by System Administration, Network Administration, and ScriptWriting for Solaris Administrators.Adobe certification has enabled Dow Jones Training Services to roundout its desktop publishing curriculum by offering PageMaker, Acrobat,Photoshop and Illustrator.Dow Jones Training Services has just recently introduced its eveningcurriculum, enabling students to pursue certification at night. Also,loan finance programs are available through the Sallie Mae FinancialCorporation and the Microsoft Skills 2000 IT Career Loan Program.Both programs offer low monthly payments and fast applicationsapproval.Dow Jones Training Services phone: 609-520-5111. E-mail:djtrain@dowjones.com. Course descriptions and schedules areavailableon the Web at https://www.dj.com/training.Top Of PageFreelance Associates: Effective Web Sites ByDesignEffective web sites by design. That’s what theLawrenceville-basedcreative design firm, Freelance Associates, has been providing toclients since 1996.The company, already well known among the area’s top corporationsfor creating exciting marketing materials including ads, collateralpieces, and logo designs, is quickly developing a reputation as apremier web site designer as well.”The key benefit that Freelance Associates is able to offerweb site clients is creative design expertise,” says FreelanceAssociates President Joseph Dougherty. “Because of our 20-yearbackground in design and advertising, we are able to incorporatemarketingand aesthetic principles into each design, in order to ensure thatthe sites we create are compelling.”Dougherty adds that although the Internet is a relatively new medium,traditional marketing principles still apply when it comes toutilizinga web site as a communications tool. “Our staff carefullyconstructsthe copy, layout, color scheme and flow of each site, in much thesame way that we create an ad or brochure,”says Dougherty.”Techweb creation companies are able to provide technical expertise, butmost are not able to offer marketing advice as well.”In addition to web site creation, Freelance Associates still providestraditional marketing and advertising. “This is a considerableadvantage for our clients,” says Dougherty. “Because of thebroad base of services that we offer, we are able to ensure that thecompany’s corporate brochure, ads, and other marketing materialscorrespondwith the look and overall communications message presented on theweb site.According to Dougherty, Freelance Associates’ web site clientsrun the gamut from small, start-up firms to Fortune 150 corporations.Freelance Associates is able to create a web site to suit any budgetand to meet any specifications, from simple to highly complex. Largeor small, however, each site is designed to attract customer interestand to achieve results.When asked what he sees as the future of the web site design industry,Dougherty replies “Change. Internet marketing is still in itsinfancy — as is Internet technology, but both are rapidly becomingmore sophisticated.”Dougherty adds that Internet users are also becoming moresophisticated.”A few years ago, Internet use was not as prevalent or as integralto business as it is today. Now nearly everyone — from businessexecutives to kids — are on the web and know how to use itwell.”As for Freelance Associates, Dougherty believes that much at hiscompanywill remain constant. “Technology will always change,” saysDougherty.”But the principles that create outstandingmarketing/communicationsand customer service will stay the same, and they are the things thatour clients will always be able to rely on Freelance Associates toprovide, regardless of changes in technology.”Freelance Associates, 2909 Route 1, Lawrenceville,609-771-4441.Fax: 609-771-4442. E-mail: info@freelance-assoc.com. Web site:https://www.freelance-assoc.com.Top Of PageGlobal InternetImages, GI3.comAs a partner at Global Internet Images Inc., GI3.com,Kevin Frankenfield knows that with the proliferation of Internettechnologybusinesses, what makes the difference, and defines success, is knowingwhat works best for the client.”First, and foremost, you have to know how to best use thetechnology,”says Frankenfield. His tips for successful sites:1. Avoid using frames. “This is more than an issueof personal preference. It comes down to what makes the site easyto navigate.” Frankenfield recalls a client who felt as if theframes in his old site gave visitors a virtual whiplash. “Inadditionto being hard to navigate, it can prove an impossible challenge ifa visitor wants to save information.” His opinion is supportedby the HTML Writer’s Guild recommendation against the use of framesfor Web sites.2. The site should download quickly. “Anyone who hasever visited a site where huge graphics delayed viewing the site knowsthe frustration that causes. A trick of the trade is to have textappear first, allowing the visitor to take in the information as thegraphics load. If you have to wait, it wasn’t designed right.”3. A common request of clients is for the site to lead thelist on search engines. “This is a marketing consideration,requiring a plan that frequently submits the site to search enginesand revisits keyword choices. Too often, it’s a forgotten elementof site maintenance.”4. The site should be designed with the visitor in mind.”Simply put, this means the site should be professional inappearance,with distinctive design and appropriate content that meets and exceedsan audience’s expectations and needs.”5. The site should provide a reason to return. “Thesite should provide something useful to the reader. To determine this,it’s important to monitor use and review visitor logs to know whatis working and what isn’t.”With so many Internet companies vying for your business, thebest way to make the decision is to view the sites they have developedfor clients. From https://www.gi3.com, you can visit sites suchas onedeveloped for an Italian coffee company when they embarked on breakinginto the American market (https://www.caffe-corsini.com). Anotherexampleis a site designed for West Shore Tennis, a tennis club on StatenIsland.But beyond knowing what works best with the technology, you need toknow what works best with the client. “An off-the-shelf approachjust won’t work. You need to listen carefully and know how to helpclients define their needs,” says Frankenfield. “It comesdown to a personal touch our larger competitors simply can’t competewith.”Though a small company, GI3 is destined to grow with its clients.With business packages, such as Web sites from $299, and knowing howto pursue E-commerce on a budget, the focus is on providing acompetitiveedge for a client’s success. “Their success is our success.”GI3 serves the Tri-State area with Web design and maintenance andWeb/hardware/software support, software training and educationalservices.GI3.com, 126 Lakedale Drive, Lawrenceville, 609-695-1125.E-mail:info@gi3.com. Web Site: https://www.gi3.com.Top Of PageThe Lepus GroupWhile most companies delivering computer andInternet-basedtechnology services are focused on Y2K, one technology company isthinking ahead. “What about after Y2K?” asks Bob Raffo Jr.,president of The Lepus Group in Princeton.Raffo has a good idea where technology will take us next. That’s whythe nearly 10-year-old firm has been reinventing itself for the lastyear and a half, changing its focus from traditional client- serverapplications to Internet-based deliverables. The change in the companywas prompted by the development of the industry, the technology, andmarket demands. “In the last decade, we’ve seen what technologyhas done for and to businesses. What business hasn’t had to upgradeequipment merely to keep up with application demands? Imagine abusinessthat has 486 processors and is running Windows 95. As applicationsrequire more horsepower, the business has had no choice but to upgradeprocessing power and disk space for each desktop and at great expense.But now they have a choice.”By applying Web-based technology to client server applications, clientserver applications can be delivered through a browser. “Thismeans that businesses are no longer restricted to a singularenvironment,such as Windows. Their applications can be available remotely andused on palmtops, laptops, and desktops, regardless of whether they’reMacs, Unix, or Windows environments. You can run the applicationanywhereyou run a browser,” says Raffo. “The result is a better useof the technology and stream-lined productivity and cost efficiency.Clients don’t need to constantly increase desktop power in order todeploy new applications. They will need more on the server end ofthe technology, but the savings and benefits far outweigh thosecosts.”And it’s not a technology that only serves large corporations. TheLepus Group has increased its focus to include small business,creatingan affordable package for businesses as small as two or three people.One client, The Resource Partnership, a human resources consultingfirm, has The Lepus Group hosting their virtual private network forWeb-based time sheet reporting management, calendaring, andtraditionalfile server functions. The Lepus Group’s network center hosts theclient’s server through which all 25 employees across the countryare connected as if they’re all in one office. The cost of their widearea network nationwide is only that of local Internet connectionand they now have centralized information distribution and greatercontrol of their business process.No matter how big or small your company is, if you have more thanone dial-up connection, if you have more than one person working ona project at one time, or if you’re selling to customers and haveto get information to them more efficiently without having your peopletied up on the phone, you can benefit from Internet-basedtechnologies.The opportunities are endless.With Internet-based technology, The Lepus Group is delivering theultimate virtual business. Says Raffo, “Every business needs tobe using the Internet for business. The marketing push we’ve seenwith the Internet over the last few years is just the tip of theicebergwhen it comes to how the technology can serve businesses. Considerhow national businesses like Amazon.com or Barnes&Noble.com haveimpactedsmaller, local bookstores. Businesses need to use the Internet todefend their market. Businesses need to realize that the Internetis not a luxury, it’s now a necessary component of a successfulbusinessstrategy.”The Lepus Group, 209 Wall Street, Princeton, 609-279-0363.Fax: 609-279-0263. Web Site: https://www.lepusgroup.com.Previous StoryNext StoryCorrections or additions?This page is published by PrincetonInfo.com— the web site for U.S. 1 Newspaper in Princeton, New Jersey.
