How to capture screen using the free tool - Windows Media Encoder
Dec 29, 2008
Ever wondered how you can capture the activities on the screen to a video file? Here is how: In this example you are going to learn how to record your activities in Internet Explorer.
- Download and install Windows Media Encoder.
- Install and make sure that your mic is working. If you have a webcam the mic might be part of it. In any case you can test your mic using "Sound Recorder" available under "All Programs" > "Accessories" > "Sound Recorder".
- Start Internet Explorer and go to the site where you want to be when you are starting to capture the screen. Here instead of Internet Explorer it could be any program or tool that you want to capture the activities from.
- Start "Windows Media Encoder", the program that you installed during the first step. When you start it you should see the following screen:
Select "Capture Screen" and hit "Next" - Select "Region of screen" and check "Capture audio from the default audio device" and hit "Next"
- At this point you have to select the area of the screen that you want to capture. Click on the
and press alt tab to show the Internet Explorer. Then click and drag and select the area within the Internet Explorer screen that you want to capture. Remember once you are done with this step do not move the Internet Explorer's position on the screen until you are done with the capture.
- In the next screen select/enter the name of the file to which you would like to save the captured video. Hit "Next".
- Here select "Medium" which is more optimized for web downloads. You may choose any setting you want.
- The next screen lets you enter the attributes of the video. Enter whatever you think is appropriate.
- Review the settings in the next screen and you can hit Finish to begin capturing the video.
At this point you can start your activities with Internet Explorer and start narrating to the mic. When you are done switch to "Window Media Encode" and hit the "Stop" button to stop capturing. Its recommended that you do this a few times before you can produce a quality video.
What makes us happy?
Dec 15, 2008
Our clients' successes. Yes the successes of our clients make us happy. In fact, very happy.
We have many success stories to share about our clients. The one I would like to highlight in this post is that of National Baby Planner Association (NBPA). They got some great press on the East Coast. They got featured on WCBS's web site and TV. Yes that is right! WCBS published a news article about NBPA on their web site. Also, NBPA made it on WCBS TV. Well deserved recognition for NBPA. Read the article by clicking the link below. Press the play button on the right hand side of the page to watch the TV segment.
Having a Baby? Now You Can Hire a Baby Planner.
It was great to see our client's web site on TV!
Do you want a similar web site? Click here and Get Started now!
Has this happened to you?
Dec 04, 2008
I was at a seminar (on copy writing) a few weeks ago and I met a woman who owns a limousine business. During the course of our discussion I asked her if she had a web site. Her answer was no. I asked her "why not?" She narrated two stories of her attempts to get a web site. Both stories had pretty much the same theme. In both the cases she gave money to folks who claimed to be web site developers but neither of them delivered her the web site. Her face was red as she finished telling me the stories.
Has this ever happened to you? Have you attempted to get a web site but got ripped off?
Most of the web site developers out there (from one-person freelancers to the big corporations who play in this space) who I know of are professionals. They care for their customers. They deliver. But of course as in any industry there are crooks in this business too.
One way to protect yourself from the situation that limousine business owner went through is to hire someone or use a service that does not require any down payment. One of the hallmarks of the service we offer is that we require you to put no down payment and you do not have to pay us any one time charges. Also, we offer the first month FREE. That is right, with GetACustomSite.com you have no one time expense, no down payment, and to top it off you get the first month FREE. Get your professionally designed web site now. It costs you nothing to try us out.
Embedding interactive time series charts on your website
Nov 30, 2008
Here is a chart that I created using Google Visualization API. This charts shows data from Nov 2007 till 2008 indicating the number of times GoogleBot and Yahoo Slurp scanned our site.
Some of you might know this kind of charts from Google finance site. I was impressed by this chart the moment I saw this there. Now thanks to Google all us can use the fantastic product on our sites! Google rocks!!!
If you want to know more about this, google "Google Visualization API" or click here.
Happy charting!!!
Browser Statistics - November 2008
Nov 29, 2008
Internet Explorer still owns a significant share of the browser market. Safari is at 14% which is impressive. Most of this share was introduced during the recent months!
Source: GetACustomSite.com
Software Programs For Your Web Site
May 28, 2008
At a high level, a web site consists of the following components: content, layout/design, software programs, web server and web address. In this blog let us turn the spot light on software programs.
A web site needs software programs primarily to execute pre-defined steps in response to an action by a visitor. Software programs for web sites consists of lines of code written in computer languages such as Java, PHP, JavaScript etc. Software programs are coded by programmers/software engineers. (You could say that software programs is the logical "left brain" component needed for a web site.)
Here are some examples to illustrate the role software programs play:
Example 1. You visit amazon.com and enter the name of a book and press the search button. A software program running behind the scenes takes the book title you entered and searches its book database. Based on the result of the search it constructs a web page that is displayed on your browser as the response to your query.
Example 2. You go to the web site of say XYZ Corporation and fill out a form named as "Request for More Information." When you submit such a form the software program running behind the scenes takes the information you submitted and sends that across to the appropriate group of people at XYZ Corporation.
Example 3. You visit the web site of a real estate agent and you click on "Property Listing." The software program behind the scenes would look at the real estate agent's property database. It then constructs a web page that shows the list of properties.
Typically you will need to hire a company to create the software programs you need on your web site. Web site layout/design is the territory of people who are artists at heart. Software programs on the other hand is the territory of engineers and programmers. So you need to ensure that the company you hire to create your web site has a holistic team. They need to have both creative artists and intelligent programmers.
Do it now!
Jan 07, 2008
New Year. New You. New Your Business.
So the new year has begun and you know you need to get your web site redesigned. And you know you need a web site for your new business. What are you waiting for? Get a free quote now.
Sincerely the purpose of this post is not to entice you to submit a request for a web site from CustomWebDesignShop.com. Instead the purpose of this post is to turn the spot light on an issue that I see quite often.
One of the first tasks one would be engaged in as part of starting a new business would be to get a web site. For most businesses, in the so called Internet age, not having a web site would be a handicap. So the new business owner has this intense desire to get a web site. He thinks of all the features he wants on his site. He puts down the list of features on a piece of paper. Later he comes back to this list and takes away a few items, changes some items and add some new ones. This process might go on for some time - months in some cases. At this stage he might even be talking to some web designers. He knows he wants a cool, sleek web site but he just cannot make up his mind as to what all features he wants on his site, as to how his site should look like.
Do you see the problem with the above scenario? Months go by in lost online visibility for his business. No web presence, no online visibility.
The problem the above business owner is trying to solve is genuine. He wants a cool, sleek web site with great features. It is a superb end state. Now if you are facing this problem, how would you solve it? How would you get to that end state?
The solution to the problem is this: to get to the end state in a fast and effective manner you should split the project into two phases.
First, get a basic web site up and running. It does not have to be fancy (but it can be). The primary purpose of this phase is to get started and create a web presence. A basic web site can be created and implemented in a matter of a few days! As motivational speaker Mike Litman reminds us, "You do not have to get it right, you just have to get it going." With CustomWebDesignShop.com you will get it right or you will get your money back. Guaranteed.
In the second phase, add all the "bells and whistles." You might want your web site to have a database to store the list of your products with search capabilities. Or you may want a survey tool available on your web site. Or you may want a photo album where you can post photos and images. Whatever non-basic feature you need can be created and set up in the second phase. The end of the second phase marks your arrival at that superb end state. Your web site dreams have come true. Congratulations!
Now, get real and just get it going. Request a free quote for your web site now.
Choosing the Right Web Site Developer
Dec 29, 2007
Among all the tasks needed to get your web site created and implemented, finding the right web site developer could be the most challenging. Here are some guidelines to help you in finding the right vendor to create your web site. For each vendor you have shortlisted find out the answer to the below questions.
- Do they create the design for your web site based on your requirements? Or do they just give you a pre-manufactured template? Just as your business is unique your web site ought to be unique as well. You need to ensure you get a custom-made web site that is designed per your requirements. A template is a prefab, set in a cast meant for a range of businesses rather than just your business. You do not need that. What you need is a custom-created web site designed just for you.
- Do they offer you multiple designs for your web site? You need to be given at least 2 designs to pick from. You are the boss. You need to be able to choose the "look and feel" of your site.
- Can you test the web site they create before it "goes live?" Your web site developer must give you the opportunity to test your new site before they implement it. This will allow you to play with your site and give any feedback you have to the developer.
- Do they provide these services in addition to web site development: hosting, domain name registration and ongoing tech support? If these 4 services - web site development, hosting, domain name registration and tech support - are under one roof that will give you a one-stop shopping experience. This saves you time by consolidating the number of vendors you need to work with to get your site created, implemented and sustained.
- Are their payment options agreeable? Some web site developers require you to put 100% down payment while there are some that need a fixed dollar amount as a down payment. The best is of course are those who ask for no down payment. This gives you the option to walk away if you do not like any of their designs.
- Do they have a good and simple return policy? What if they develop the site but you do not like it? Can you return and get 100% refund?
- Do they give you a tool to manage the content of your site? What can be more frustrating than having to depend on a third party to make some edits to the content of your web site. It is very important that you get a tool using which you can manage the content of your site any time.
Our design team at CustomWebDesignShop.com "dip the brush in the paint bottle" for the first time only after they read and understand your requirements. They tailor-make the site just for you. Also they create multiple designs for you to choose from.
Once you choose a design, our technical team takes over the remaining work - basically programming, testing and implementation. You will be given an opportunity to play with your site before it is implemented.
We are a one-stop shop for all your "web presence" needs. We do site development, hosting, domain name registration, ongoing tech support, create logos, develop web applications and more.
Regarding our payment options, you pay nothing (did you get that? nothing, nada, zilch) to try us out. Once we get your order we will create multiple designs for you. You pay nothing at this stage. You need to pay only after you choose one of the designs we create. If for some reason, you do not like any of our designs you can walk away without paying us a penny. Even after you choose a design, you need to pay only 50% of the charges then. The remaining amount will not be due until just prior to the final implementation of your web site.
Relative to our return policy, it is very lenient and extremely simple. If for any reason you do not like what we deliver to you, you can return within 90 days from the date of delivery - no questions asked. And we will refund you 100% of what you paid us.
Last but not least, we will give you a tool to manage the content of your site. Your web site will come with a powerful Web Content Management Tool. Using this tool you will be able to edit the content of your site any time from any where using a browser.Go ahead and place your request now for a quote.
Why Do You Need A Web Content Management System?
Dec 13, 2007
This is part of a series of educational blog posts aimed at de-mystifying some of the essential steps required for anyone to get a web site. In this post we will address Web Content Management Systems. We will follow the same What?-Why?-How? format for this blog.
Do you have a web site? If so, can you manage the content of your web site yourself? If your answer is yes, that is superb. If your answer is no, you need to seriously consider getting a content management system for your web site.
WHAT - What is a Web Content Management System?
A web content management system is an application that lets you add, change or delete the content of your web site. Most web content management systems allow you to edit the text, remove images, place images etc. They also let you format the text on your site. Say for example, you want to make a piece of text bold or italic or underlined. Your content management system will allow you to do such things.
Also, most web content management systems offer WYSIWIG (What You See Is What You Get) editors. What this means is that the page you see on the editor is what you will see on the web site.
Wikipedia has an excellent article on Web Content Management System. Click here to read that article.
WHY - Why do I need a Web Content Management System?
Nothing can be more frustrating than having to depend exclusively on a third party to manage the content of your web site. That is exactly why you need a content management system for your web site. Depending on someone else to edit the content of your site is inefficient and ineffective. It takes more time to get the updates done and also the third party might make mistakes while making the edits on your web site. Get a content management system and get the power to edit the content of your site in your hands.
HOW - How do I get a Web Content Management System?
If you are in the market looking for someone to develop a web site for you, make sure you hire someone who can provide you with a content management system along with your new web site. Make this a must (versus nice-to-have) requirement. If you already have a web site you can hire someone to install a content management system for you. If you are technically savvy you can download one of the open source content management systems available on the web and install it to manage the content of your site.
When you order a web site from CustomWebDesignShop.com we will give you a powerful Content Management Tool. Using this tool you will be able to update your web site (blog included) from a web browser from any where. You could be in another continent. As long as you have access to a web browser you can edit your site. Using this tool you can also, manage photos/images on your site. You can upload photos/images to your site with great ease using this tool. Once photos/images are uploaded you can simply drag and drop them to place them exactly where you want on the page. It is noteworthy that our Web Content Management Tool uses a WYSIWIG (What You See Is What You Get) editor. This gives you the power to format your pages with much ease.
Where Do You Blog?
Dec 11, 2007
First, let me ask you this question:
Do you blog?
If your answer is yes, that is great. If you do not blog I would strongly encourage you to do so. I wrote a blog recently on why blogging is important.
If you already have blog or are planning to create a blog in the future one important aspect you should address is this: "Where Should I Blog?"
Most people blog at a public site where many other people blog as well. A public site is one place where you can blog. But there is a better way especially if you have your own web site. If you have your own web site the best place to blog is your own site. Why? The chief reason for this is traffic. When you blog at a public site your readership there is traffic to that public site. Your own web site does not gain much in terms of traffic volume when you blog at a public site. Similarly visitors at your web site will have to jump to another site to read your blog. Thus you miss an opportunity to keep your visitors at your own site.
So blog at your own web site. When you buy a web site from CustomWebDesignShop.com you can opt for a blog. When you do that we create a blog as part of your web site. It is noteworthy that your blog and home page will have their own unique addresses (URL's). Thus if you wish you can give out the address of your blog to one set of people (say your employees, investors etc.) and the address of your home page to another set of people (say customers, prospective customers, etc.). Regardless of whether a visitor comes to read your blog or whether to browse your web site BOTH the traffic come to your site.
Another advantage of blogging at your own site is the simplification of tool set. Customers of CustomWebDesignShop.com use the same tool to manage the content of their web site and to write and edit their blog. They need to learn only one tool to do both. Learning one tool is always easier than learning two.
Go ahead and order you web site with blog now.
