We are hiring

We are growing at an amazing pace and now we need a lot many people on board to help us achieve our goals and provide excellent service to all our clients. We are looking for young and energetic people who want to move out of age old and obsolete technologies and wish to learn and adopt latest trends in the world of technology and want to build kick-ass services and products. If you are one of such people and you fit any of the following descriptions send in your resume at hr@greenapplesolutions.com.

PHP Developer

PHP is an awesome language and we are used to building amazing products using it. If have 2+ yrs experience in PHP/MySQl using any framework (We love Codeigniter) then you are the man for this job. Even if you havent used any frameworks but are confident of your coding skills you are welcome. Needless to say HTML/CSS/Javascript come hand in hand with web development so knowledge of these would get you extra brownie points. So to summarize

Key Skills Required : PHP, MySQL , LAMP/WANP/XAMP
Preferred Skills : HTML, Javascript, CSS
We would love you if you know : Codeigniter or any MVC framework, jQuery , any javascript MVC framework (knockout, backbone,spine)
Experience : 2+ yrs
Vacancies : 2

.Net Developer

.Net is the core strength of Green Apple Solutions and we have built and are building many a great products on .net. Our awesome and very popular product CCESoft is built on .Net only. So we need real .Net ninjas who can think beyond the standard market conventions and want to work on latest .Net frameworks and related technologies. You should have impeccable programming skills and very strong OOPS concepts. Web development has got to be your core expertise and we would prefer if you know MVC.  Needless to say HTML/CSS/Javascript come hand in hand with web development so knowledge of these would get you extra brownie points. So to summarize

Key Skills Required : .Net 4.0, ASP.Net MVC framework
Preferred Skills : HTML, Javascript, CSS
We would love you if you know : Entity framework, Dependency Injection, Repository Framework, jQuery, Asynchronous Programming
Experience : 2+ yrs
Vacancies : 2

Web Designer

No matter how awesome the programming of a web application or software is , if it doesn’t look good it wont be used. We want people who understand this and have the ability to convert ideas into beautiful and aesthetic designs. If you are used to designing for the web or social media you will be preferred. If you can covert those designs into amazing web apps, you will be loved. So to summarize

Key Skills: Excellent Design Acumen with preference to web design experience, Ability to design creatives for Social Media
Preferred Skills: HTML,  CSS
We would love you if you know : Javascript, Web Optimized Designing
Tools you should be hands on with : Photoshop, Corel Draw, Illustrator, Dreamweaver
Experience: 1+ (but if you have good designs to show we will love to have a fresher as well)
Vacancies: 1
Special Note: Must send portfolio.

Again, if any of these descriptions suit you, just send your resume to hr@greenapplesolutions.com

Did you like this? Share it:

Vote on HN

All about Domain Names

Domain NameEveryone’s online. The world has become such a place that everyone has to be online. Youngsters have to be on Facebook to stay connected with their friends and executives have to be on LinkedIn to increase their professional connections. Brands have to have online presence for who knows when the customers come looking and even the small businesses need a site for that is usually the gateway to knowing them.

It does not matter if you are a mom and pop store or a major retail chain, a website is a must. And thankfully due to increased awareness and low prices anyone who wants a website can get it. Web service providers are dime a dozen and you can always find one that can fit in your budget or requirement.

Most of us do not know about the technicalities of the website and usually depend on our vendor for anything related to it. But like all walks and verticals of the industrials world there are some vendors who would misinform, misguide or oversell you. So it is absolutely important that everyone has basic knowledge about the important components of a website so that you are always aware what is going on. To help you in gaining this knowledge we at Green Apple Solutions are running a series of blog posts where we take each aspect of a website one at a time and tell you about what it mean, how it affects you and important do’s and donts of the same. Make sure you bookmark this page so that you can come back to this link whenever you need help. The first topic for this series is Domain Name

It is important to know the basic inner workings of a website these days

What is a Domain name?

Simply put, Domain name is the name of the website. This statement might seem redundant but this is what it is.  A detailed answer would be this. A website is nothing but a bunch of files lying on a computer (known as server) that is connected to the internet. Any server can be identified by an IP address which is usually in the format of a bunch of numbers like 118.139.178.167. To know the IP address of your website server, open command prompt and type ping <domain name> and press enter. The result will show you the IP address. If domain names were not there your website address would be like http:// 118.139.178.167/websitefolder which would look uncool and not easy to remember and hence come the domain name. Your domain name is nothing but a user friendly name to location of the files on your web server. (More about web servers when we discuss hosting). So the name greenapplesolutions.com points to a bunch of files which are stored on a web server whose IP address is 118.139.178.167.

IP Address

 

A domain name is nothing but a user friendly name to the web address of your website files

How do I get a domain name?

Purchase Domain NameGetting a domain name is usually the first step of building a website. You want a domain name that is easy to remember and relatable to your requirement. If you are a business or a startup you might want a domain name that matches your real world name or something closer. To register a domain name you can visit the site of any of the numerous domain name registrars and book a domain of your choice depending on its availability. You need to create a login with the domain registrar and once that is done you can continue with getting the domain name registered. It is important to know that the domain names are more like a leased item and you have to keep getting the domain registration renewed annually. We will not go into the exact science of domain name registry but all you need to know is that domain name can be purchased from any registrar online and has to be renewed annually. It is advised that you make an initial purchase of multiple years to save you hassle of doing it every year.

What do I look for when I am making a domain purchase

  • Domain registration is mostly a straight forward and simple process of purchasing the desired domain name. But it is extremely important that you check for some features in your domain registrars’ service that are important and might be needed by you in future
  • DNS management – without getting into the technical details of DNS, I would just say that you should always opt for a service provider who provides you with a detailed DNS management system along with the dashboard. This feature is very much like air bags in cars, you might not need them but it is always better to have them.
  • Number of subdomains – This is usually covered if you get a good DNS management system but if it is not, it is important that you know how many subdomains you can get. Simply put a subdomain is nothing but child name that is usually derived from the parent domain name and can be used to host separate websites that you want to run under one parent umbrella. For instance this blog post is currently posted under a subdomain blog.greenapplesolutions.com of the parent subdomain greenapplesolutions.com. Similarly we open mail.greenapplesolutions.com to access our webmail account. You might also want to have subdomains like this in future and it is imperative that you domain name provider supports that.
  • Support Quality of the provider – It is important that you register you domain with some experienced and reputed domain registrar who has a good service network and can assist you in case of some problem.

Now that most of the basics are covered lets make a note of some important Dos and donts.

  1. Always make sure that you register the domain name in your name. There are a lot of vendors out there who usually register the domain name that you require using their credentials. This would not have been a problem in a utopian world but unfortunately most of these vendors do this to lock you in. I have personally seen many instances where someone has to let go of their rightful domain name just because they had some issues with their vendor and things went sour. We at Green Apple Solutions as a policy make sure that the client creates a login at the domain registrar site and registers the domain name in his name.
  2. Always keep the credentials to your domain account confidential. You do not want anyone messing with your DNS setting and ruining your mail / website. Also no one will be able to transfer your domains to themselves.
  3. Always be aware of the expiry date of your domain name and make sure you get it renewed well before it expires so as to eliminate any risk of someone else swooping in and grabbing the domain name just because you got late. Seems implausible but we have seen it happen.
  4. Always check for features as mentioned above.

We have discussed the basic and the important aspects of owning a domain name. You might in future hear words / phrases like ICANN, A-records, MX-Records, CNAME records etc. Usually you do not need to know that much in detail but if you do want more information, I find the Wikipedia pages for these terms extremely helpful.

I hope this post was helpful as we wanted it to be. In the next part of this series we are going to discuss hosting. Feel free to post your feedback / queries.

Did you like this? Share it:

Vote on HN

I have a Facebook page. Now what?

With a user base of more than 800 million active users with its reach spread across the globe, Facebook is the place to be. It does not batter if you are a startup, small restaurant or a major brand it is imperative that you have presence on Facebook. By now most of us have already have a Facebook page and a link to the Facebook page on our website. We have a link to our twitter page on our site as well but let’s talk about it some other day. Creating a page was easy, but what after that. You have to find a way to make people want to join your Facebook page.  It’s one thing to passively like a brand and another to click that “like” button and publicly acknowledge that you are a fan of a particular brand or company in full view of friends and colleagues. Here are a few things that you can and should do

Get a landing page

Every time a Facebook user comes on your page he lands on the Wall. Are you aware that you can change that? You can get custom welcome pages for new users so that you can display to them a specific message or a graphic to keep them engaged and convert first time visits to likes. If you are running an ad campaign on Facebook then this is a must

Update Regularly

You need to be fairly regular with your updates. The point after all of all these activities is to engage the user with yourself and make sure that he is aware of your presence and knows that you can fulfill his appropriate requirements. Visibility is the key. Addendum to this rule: Do not update too frequently. Maintain a regular but healthy pace.

Create Content Exclusive to Facebook

If you simply share whatever is in your site or is new on your blog then well the user can go there and read it. Incentivize the process of connecting with you on facebook for the user. If you can provide content exclusive to Facebook fans. It can be just a plain status message, but make it count.

Create and maintain a style

It is important that you create a style (or tone) of your own and make sure that stick to it. A little deviation is ok but try that the tone remains the same. Sudden variations in style and tone can throw put fans off and maybe away.

Ask Questions and Take Polls

To drive interactivity, be genuinely curious and ask questions. For example, ask your users to comment on the content you’re posting. This is a good litmus test to ensure your exclusive content is truly resonating with your audience. To get broader feedback, use polls within your Facebook page. It can also be used to generate some very useful feedback about your product or service.

Respond to Comments/Queries

Encourage interaction by being interactive. Make sure you are responding to comments. If you have more than one person responding to comments, sign each comment. This shows more personality and lets your users now who they are interacting with.

Use Videos and Images

Videos and Images are a very popular form of content. They encourage interaction. Add some video to your page, but keep them short to make them more likely to be shared. People look to see how long a video s before viewing it. Keep videos under 3 minutes. Shorter is better. Add images that your users would want to share. There is no other way to spread the word about your ad organically.

Share Content from Others

It’s not only about you. It’s important to share content – videos, blog posts, articles, links etc. from others.  Make sure that the content from others that you do share brings value to your audience in some way. The content has to be relevant and must have high qualitative value. But make sure that you bring in diversity in this case. You do not want to drive traffic from your page to someone else.

Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment

Being actively engaged is a key part of success on Facebook, just like any other social platform.  You need to find the things that drive interactivity with your audience.  Try different types of content to test what work best.

Tell Your Customers Where to Find You

Make sure your current customers and prospects can easily find you on Facebook. Make sure you have links to your Facebook page on your website. Add links to your page — and other social media presences – in your email signature. Make sure your sales reps do this as well.

These are just a few tips that you should take care of and I am sure that if you do you will be able to create and maintain a community of active and happy customer (and prospective customers)

Did you like this? Share it:

Vote on HN

Do you want to get your business noticed right away?

A lot of clients come to me and ask me this question – “Should we use Paid Online Advertising?”

The one word answer in almost all cases is YES. The explanation differs. I have tried to assimilate the most obvious reasons here:

Instant results with refined traffic: With the help of paid advertising you can reach your target audience in almost no time. A few hours spent on the internet will help you create impressive and intriguing ads, choose the right keywords and other tools necessary to setup an ad campaign. You just need to know the right demographics and location and you’re all set. Specifically recommended for startups and firms with no online presence at all.

Budget controlled and often low cost to start with: You can earmark the budget you can afford. Changing gears from an initial low budget strategy to an aggressive one takes only the click of a button. No frills, no commitments – A cost-effective, healthy and flexible approach unlike any other form of advertising or marketing initiative.

Measurable ROI:  Sales Leads and revenue generated by online Ad campaigns can be easily accounted and helps strategize better for future. Different kind of statistics and reports can help you answer what works and what doesn’t. Given the nature of consumer targeted campaigns, it helps you optimize your sales strategy and product further. Definitely a WIN WIN!

Wide audience: With the extensive reach of internet and the popularity of search engines you can reach out to millions of people easily. Affiliate network sites can help you directly compete with established players who have spent thousands of dollars on SEO to build credibility in the online space and rank higher on targeted keywords. A rightly targeted keyword at a high PR site with an intriguing text ad can do wonders for your business at less than a fraction of money to build online brand recognition by SEO.

Google PPC Campaign

Where’s the catch?

Remember, paid advertisements should not be the only strategy to build online presence and sell your services/products. Search Engine Optimization and Social Media Marketing are very effective tools to build brand presence and consumer loyalty over a period of time. Factor this in your strategy: The day paid advertisements are off; people will forget you in no time. Thus, have the right arsenal, the right internet strategy and if possible the right team of consultants to help you strategize your online marketing initiatives.

 

Did you like this? Share it:

Vote on HN

What’s your marketing?

social media marketingAnyone who runs a business knows the importance of marketing. Your product might be the answer to the eternal question of life but if you don’t market it well it just doesn’t matter. The best kind of marketing is the one that you don’t have to do yourself. The age old word-of-mouth and client recommendation are still the most effective and efficient form of marketing for any kind of organization. And then we have the conventional unidirectional communication channels like the tv and print ads. They are good and effective too but if not implemented properly they are as good as trying to ask out an attractive girl blindfolded. You don’t know if she even pays attention, or gets the correct message or the worst leaves you standing alone talking like a moron. And then we have the online frontier. The online world is full of marketing options : organic-inorganic, paid-free, dynamic-static, forced-optional and the options are endless. You have the options of using to your benefit the community driven platforms like facebook , twitter and likes or you can seed the search engines to guide looking potentials to your doorstep. It is very easy to decide to step into the world of online marketing to choose the correct channel that suits your business is very tough. One wrong move can very well lead to severely damaging your online reputation and you will be left doing damage control for a very long time.

The best kind of marketing is the one that you don’t have to do yourself!!

It is very important to realize that all social marketing channels are not meant for everyone. Having a facebook community or a very active twitter account might not be very useful for an industry grade rubber band manufacturer, on the other hand if you have started a new restaurant and are only banking on your SEO and google ads to kick in and neglecting the other social channels, well, that just won’t do. There is no business that cannot benefit from clever use of online marketing. Always remember, howsoever small it might be there will always be a segment of your target audience that is active online which with a little smartness and strategy can be tapped to yield great results. To fairly gauge what social mediums are most suited for requirements, the following questionnaire can be very helpful

  • Is your product/service directly used by the masses or is the common citizen your end user?
  • Is your product/service something that can be a used to show off as a status symbol or positive trait of character?
  • Is your offering a one time engagement or a repeat business model? Yes for repeat business, no for one time.
  • Do you think till now constant effort has been required to achieve consumer retention?
  • Have you tried conventional marketing channels and if yes have they been helpful to you?
  • Is it relatively easy for your customer to transition from your product/service to that of your competition in term of ease, quality and cost?

If most of your answers have been yes, than hey congratulations, you are someone who needs to go all out and fight the marketing battle on all the online marketing channels with a lot of emphasis on the social media marketing (SMM) front. You are running a business model where you have to constantly fight for gaining new customers or at the least retaining them. If you are not aggressive in your SMM strategy the customer will easily move on to the next best competitor. The onus on you to constantly prove that the its in the best interest of the customer when he parks his problems with you. A dialogue is very necessary to maintain that and so visibility. You have to have strong communities on Facebook, twitter and social platforms of the same kind. These measures will definitely bring you to your customers notice which in turn will lead to higher retention. As they say, the best kind of customer is the one that comes back. If it’s difficult to build a community that constantly brings new business in, start concentrating on supporting existing clients.

The best kind of customer is the one that comes back.

If most of your answers have been no, than maybe social media is not where you should concentrate. IT not like you should not do that at all but for you the real meat is in other online marketing channels. In most of the cases your customer will come looking for a product/service that you are offering and you have to be prepared for that. You are saved from the extreme efforts of going out to look for your customers though you will have to do it somewhat. Your priority should be making sure that you are easy to find when someone is looking for something that you offer. An extremely informative website is a backbone for such a strategy. You need to enhance your targeted visibility on all the major search engines. Use both organic and inorganic techniques for there are both kinds of people in the world, the ones that click only search engine results and the ones that will click on your ad. Identify your demographic and target your efforts to try answering the questions coming from them.

Online marketing is not difficult at all, it is rather easy to implement and very cost effective compared to conventional means of marketing. But like any good strategy it requires thoughtful planning and precise execution for it get you the returns that you wish for.

Did you like this? Share it:

Vote on HN

Back to top