What’s a mashup?

In recent months, we’ve started to hear the term used more frequently. We recommended the use of mashups in our recent article – Top Tips to Promote Your Business Online free – and it’s likely that you are are seeing or using a mashup a few times a week at least, probably without even realising it!

So, what is a mashup?

A mashup is the result of taking data from one or a number of sources and doing something to it to add value – altering it from its original format. This could be as simple as news aggregation - identifying all content on a certain subject matter, compiling it and then showing it on your own website. We did this using Yahoo! Pipes for Hi-Tec on their ion-mask campaign website, creating an ‘ion-mask in the news’ section for the website – providing the latest news from across the web on ion-mask and making Hi-Tec the authority on all things ion-mask.

Mashups do however take a variety of forms, with news aggregation being one of the more common applications. We’ve listed a few examples of mashups below to give you an idea on the scope and uses for them:

- Rightmove – Rightmove uses About My Place to show the location of properties on a map and to provide details of nearest stations.

- iGuide – iGuide uses Google Maps, WikiTravel, Geonames, Wikipedia, YouTube, Google Video and Placeopedia along with user generated content, to provide, what it claims to be, the most powerful travel guide ever.

- Flickrvision – makes use of Google Maps and Flickr to show images as they’re uploaded, pinpointed on a map of the world.

- Website Outlook – this site provides a valuation of your website based upon information taken from a number of sources including Alexa.

Why use a mashup?

We’re not suggesting that you go ahead and create a whole new website around a mashup, not unless you already have a great idea for one. What we are suggesting however, is that you consider the use of a mashup to enhance your website. You could start with something as simple as showing your visitors your shop locations using Google Maps, publishing your industry-related news on your website using Yahoo! Pipes or you could opt for something far more complex, such as an estate agent providing an automated valuation for a property based upon a selection of online data combined with their own formula.

Whatever your choice of mashup, make it relevant, useful and ensure it works as it should; and it will help to keep your website at the forefront of your industry. Your digital agency should be able to give you some suggestions for mashups that are relevant to your target audience – if not, get in touch with Bluhalo!

Jocelyn
Marketing & Business Development Manager

5 simple ways to increase your website traffic

The mantra of a website owner is that increased website traffic should equate to a more successful website. However, remember that it’s not just about how much traffic you receive, it’s also about converting that traffic into leads and sales. There is no point investing in getting people to your site, only to find when they get there they don’t know what to do! So, before you dive head first into your online marketing campaign, make sure you get your website right! If you are not sure, speak to one of us at Bluhalo and we will be happy to conduct a free review of your website.

1. Tell people about it

This sounds like an obvious thing to do but many companies don’t! Make sure that all of your outgoing communications contain your website address – that includes business cards, letterheads, advertising and press releases! The more people who are subject to it, the more people are likely to visit your website. It’s an easy thing to implement and can make a big difference!

2. Pay Per Click (PPC)

PPC has been around for years, it’s no secret! So why include PPC? The reason that PPC has been around for years is that it works! If you are thinking about doing it yourself, don’t! It is possible to do your own PPC, but you risk wasting valuable resources for little return. PPC is an art form, therefore getting the right strategy and the right people to implement it, is vital for maximising ROI potential!

3. Online directories

There are thousands of online directories, some of which are great, some that are not so great! Find the ones that are relevant to your business and get listed! There are lots of free directories available so it needn’t cost anything more than your time. If you want to find out whether a directory is worth your time, browse the other companies that are listed and see if there’s an affinity with your own. Check out the Alexa ranking of the directory (a ranking of 300,000 or less could mean it’s worthwhile). Not only will you benefit from traffic that comes directly from the directories, but you’ll also get SEO benefits from the directory sites linking to your site – Google likes sites that are well connected.

4. Email marketing

Another marketing tool that’s been around for a while, email marketing can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. From a simple text email to a nice looking HTML email newsletter, regular communications with your customer base will build a relationship with your clients, encouraging repeat business and raising brand awareness. Email also provides a channel for you to promote special offers, new products and your latest news.

5. Social media

Social Media is covered in more detail in a few of our other blog articles, but the long and short of it is Social Media is fuelling online growth. If you are not sure what Social Media is read our article – What is Social Media? For more ideas on how to get involved in social media read our article – Top 5 ways to make social media work for you. Ideally you’d approach it with a full social media strategy – if you want to find out more about this, get in touch.


To continue with our marathon of web tips, click on one of the following articles:

Make social media work for you
Hot 5 design trends
Blog successfully
Must-have website features

9th Largest Digital Agency Website

So, you know we love our website, we've embraced web 2.0, social media and the latest design trends (as you'd hope a digital agency would!). So when we worked out that we have the 9th largest website out of NMA's Top 100 Interactive Agencies, we couldn't resist telling you about it!

Our ranking is based upon Alexa's traffic rankings, (ours is currently the 320,066th largest site) a good position for a B2B company and a great position for a digital agency! Our site's traffic levels have increased by over 140% in the last 3 months thanks to the launch of our new website.

If you'd like to find out your own website's Alexa ranking, visit Alexa, enter your website address and hit 'get traffic details'. If you'd like to see your ranking improve, then we can help! Give us a call on 01252 70 11 11.

SWRT website traffic soars for Sweden

Bluhalo-designed and built SWRT.com saw an impressive rise in traffic during rally Sweden this weekend, with Friday's traffic pushing past the 25,000 visits mark - the most yet for one day during a rally! The official Subaru World Rally Team website is by far the most popular World Rally Championship team website, with a current Alexa ranking of 176,323.

Here are some of the latest shots from Rally Sweden.



Car time-out!




Great action shot... you can just about see the Bluhalo logo on the side of the car!




Petter Solberg