From studying the traffic flow on several of the sites we manage, we see a constant trend toward more and more web users on smartphones and tablets.  Our averages are about 25% of traffic comes from smartphones and tablets.

Most web sites are not designed for mobile devices.  They are programmed for larger screens and content “collapses” when shrunk down to smaller devices.  Consequently, most mobile visitors hit and run from these sites.

Want to capture the market?  We have two solutions for you.

Mobile sites

Mobile sites are designed specifically for smaller devices.  Simplified navigation, smaller page sizes, trimmed down graphics and smarter design are needed to have a fast mobile site.  We have that capability and can create a new site for your business.  We use new developments in HTML5, JavaScript and can back it up to a MySql database.

MultiView Sites

We can also create a site that senses the device size and reorganizes the page for viewing in smaller devices.  It too has trimmed graphics, smaller files and simplified navigation while on small devices and full features on larger screens. This programming package works on devices of all sizes.

Learn more by contacting sales@cochise.biz

Charitable Organizations

Charitable organizations are understandably seeking donations to help those in need but organizations that are fraudulent are also on the move. Beware of  scams asking for donations.  Don’t respond to emails asking for donations.  Anyone can make an authentic looking email and create a web site that seems to be an organization that isn’t.

If you have a favorite charity, send them a check, it’s safer and you don’t have to worry about where it went.  Be careful about donating online.  I don’t recall ever receiving an email from a charitable organization soliciting donations.

Phishing Scams

Phony emails claiming to be your bank, a bank you never use, government agencies, or anyone asking you to visit their site to “verify” your bank or credit card information are definitely a scam.  This is called phishing , someone is trying to steal your credit card information or bank information.  Don’t visit their sites (click on their links) and delete those emails. No legitimate business or government agency asks for personal information via email!  It is unbelievable how many people fall for these scams.  Most thieves are in a foreign country and usually cant’ be touched by our law enforcement.

Common Scams

People fall for this one all the time.  You receive an email telling you that you won a lottery, a give-a-way, inherited money, need help transferring money, or you out of a billion people were selected to help get millions of dollars out of a country.  It usually involves you sending them a check to cover some kind of handling fee and in return they will send you a check. Sometimes they will send you a check (which is bogus) that looks like a bank check and asks you to send them a lesser amount to cover some charge.  This one goes on all the time an folks still fall for it.  Think, out of all of the people on the planet why would they pick you? Why, because they hope you are the one that falls for it.

Passwords

While you are busy shopping online, hackers are busy trying to get  your credit card, bank, personal, and any information they can use about you to steal from you.

Your cute, easy to remember passwords are cracked in seconds by hackers.  They use programs that pound away at accounts using common words called a dictionary attack. When that fails, they have to use every character on your keyboard with every combination to try to crack a password.  I know, it’s a pain to create a password using @#$%& and other special characters and numbers, but that is what keeps you safe.  Try 12 character passwords using special characters, upper and lower case letters and numbers.  You can make it easier on yourself by making them from a phrase.  For example let’s use “the black horse” and turn it into a password.  Try something like @tHeB!ackh0r5e#.  A password similar to this is likely not to be broken easily. Those 15 characters will take an unbelievable amount of time to crack.  That’s the point, they give up and move on to an easier one leaving you alone.

Email Accounts

While on the subject of passwords, don’t forget to upgrade your email account password.  This is becoming a favorite target.  Why?  Many of us receive PIN numbers, and passwords through email.  Many of us use those same passwords and PINs for other accounts.  Delete them once you get them!

All Year

By the way, this applies all year, not just the holiday season.  Hackers and scammers get better every day, so should you.  Change your password often, don’t open attachments to emails (remember the last time you had a computer virus?), and don’t let the bad guys get your information or money by falling for scams.

As much as 20% of web traffic is now by smart phone and tablets.  Since most of the processing is done on the web server, it is relatively easy to set up sites for mobile and desktop ecommerce.  A dual view , one for smart phones and one for desktops is worth the effort to capture this increasing market. 

Businesses that are contemplating ecommerce or have that capability should consider the mobile market.  An expanded market for a one time effort is well worth it.

Cochise Biz

Did you know that many web sites don’t display correctly in these devices? We can help you capture that market.

• Add styling to your site to display other devices
• Create a site exclusive to smart phones and tablets.

With thousands of apps for smart phones and other devices, we can develop apps that run on your web server and target all users.

Contact sales@cochise.biz for more information!

With the advent of HTML5, a new version of HTML, we are using many of the new features. With HTML5, you can “draw” graphics, display many types of  movies without plug-ins and save data to one’s browser for working off-line.

Also fairly new is CSS3, another tool for adding style and display enhancements to your web pages.  It allows curved borders, shading, and some wrap around labels to name a few.

PHP and MySQL have also been upgraded.  These tools work on the web server to present data to your web browser.

The one thing constant with web services, they are always changing.  Not all of the changes are available in all browsers.  With the standards changing, it won’t take them long to catch up.

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Monday May 30, 2011

Memorial Day in Sierra Vista

Memorial Day Ceremony

Join us in hororing all of our departed comrades-in-arms.

Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery (SAVMC)

1300 Buffalo Soldiers Trail, Sierra Vista, AZ

1800 hours (6:00 PM), Monday, 30 May 2011

via Middle class vulnerable to offshoring jobs.

• Financial Reporting
• Membership Management
• Asset Management
• Event and meeting scheduling.
• Much more!

Contact sales@cochise.biz and let us put together a package of web hosting and web site for you.