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Ben Collins

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Senior Online Strategist, n-tara

107 points

I'm all about the internet and business.

Knowing how people use technology to improve their bottom line and the lives of customers is my job. From websites to communication, I help manage projects at a company on the leading ...

I'm all about the internet and business.

Knowing how people use technology to improve their bottom line and the lives of customers is my job. From websites to communication, I help manage projects at a company on the leading edge of interactive and brand solutions.

Specialties

Internet Strategies, Web Design, Social Media, Google Solutions, Web Development,Consulting, SEO and Analysis, Advertising, Branding, Internet Technologies

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Aug. 17, 2011

Ben Collins and 5 other people answered this question at this roundtable

The Future of Demand Generation [7/27 @ 1 pm]

Are eNewsletters, in this era of instant measurement/gratification, dated? Are blogs the answer?

Demand Generation

Aug. 17, 2011

Ben Collins answered this question

Should all new websites use websitegrader.com? What are some other good tools to use?

God no. And it is not a "good tool."
Here's one good tool to start with: http://validator.w3.org/
And another: https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal
And: https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/ more

Corporate Website

Online Marketing

Website Building

March 2, 2011

Ben Collins recommends this answer by Vinicius Soares da Silveira

Android Operating System: Does it matter to your business?

For many years the cell phone was labeled as the convergent future device. However, there was also an agreement in software development discussions: the absence of standardization of platforms was a true obstacle for small developments. Business plans regarded to deploying a cell phone application ... more

Android Application Development

Android Development

March 1, 2011

Ben Collins and 3 other people answered this question

Can we really can use Facebook to promote businesses or products?

"Using Facebook for promotion requires resolving objectives, implementing business process integration, executing workable talent alignment and effective project control in order to ensure appropriate performance in line with strategic intent."
What he means here is you should have a strategy. And resources.
"Mass network campaign penetrating every ... more

March 1, 2011

Ben Collins asked a question

So are "Additional Topics" on Focus completely arbitrary?

Arbitrary Topic

Self-referential Topics

Topics Which Are Amusingly Long and Also Self Referential

March 1, 2011

Ben Collins and 2 other people answered this question

How is Foursquare doing?

Looking to me like Facebook Places (which is pretty terrible, really) pretty much killed it in my part of the world. more

March 1, 2011

Ben Collins and 7 other people answered this question

What techniques have you used to optimize your company's website for SEO?

1. Follow standards and best practices of web development.
2. Write good content on a regular basis.
3. Have a coherent PR strategy. more

Company Websites

March 1, 2011

Ben Collins and 2 other people answered this question

What are the best SEO keyword tools?

The parts of your brain that can write good content.

Keyword Analysis

Feb. 18, 2011

Steven Ritchey selected a best answer for

DotnetNuke open source appears to offer fast development. Have you or your developers ever used it?

DotNetNuke.com - recently came to my attention in the open-source developer area (and easy non-tech content management system). Appears ideal in many ways for the SMB arena.
What experiences have you had with it?
Any experience with the eCommerce side of it?
Can you compare and ... more

Information Technology

Developer Tools

Feb. 10, 2011

Ben Collins is now following Jeremy Pepper

Feb. 10, 2011

Ben Collins and 17 other people answered this question

What is the best way to promote your blog and gain readership?

Write compelling articles.

Feb. 10, 2011

Ben Collins and 7 other people answered this question

I own a Small Business. I want to increase my prospects list.Can I have my ideas be fulfilled?

Um, can you be a little more specific about the type of business?

Feb. 9, 2011

Ben Collins recommends this answer by Shelly Kramer

Facebook or Twitter: Which is more effective for your business?

Every business is different, Alyssa. With different goals and/or different target audiences. There is no one answer that's right for every business. That's why a strategy is so critical. Understanding your USP, where your audience is and what they are doing + interested in, and ... more

Facebook Marketing

Feb. 9, 2011

Ben Collins and 1 other person answered this question

Does data want to be free?

This is an interesting question that borders on entropic systems and AI.
For sake of argument, let's say that Information means "Usable information by a human being to make some decision or other." And Data means "raw bits"
This is a clash of ideas happening before us. ... more

Information Technology

Mechanical Turk

Feb. 9, 2011

Ben Collins and 7 other people answered this question

Will Microsoft Win the Small Business 'Cloud War'?

Information Technology

Cloud Computing

Feb. 9, 2011

Ben Collins answered this question

when starting a brand new non profit how would i go about getting funds to start it?

To me, this is an elegant self-referential question. In a way, you have already figured out the question you will be asking yourself as long as the non-profit exists.
A specific suggestion: many states offer "technical grants" to the tune of $5,000.00 of which you can ... more

Financial Services

Feb. 4, 2011

Ben Collins asked a question

How are you building your Facebook fan base?

Feb. 4, 2011

Ben Collins is now following

Feb. 4, 2011

Ben Collins is now following

Feb. 4, 2011

Ben Collins is now following

Feb. 3, 2011

Ben Collins and 7 other people answered this question

What are the top iPad apps for business?

Again, one of these over-generalized questions. Focus, why are you called "focus" when we get so much of this?
Regardless, people actually listed some great apps, albeit some redundant ones. Here are a few more to consider:
Cloud Calendar
DropBox,
Pulse (news & blogs)
Delivery Status (by Junecloud)
1Password
Kayak
HootSuite
For our business ... more

Information Technology

Mobile Wireless

Following 5 Topics

Online Marketing

Search Engine Optimization

Following 1 Person

Followed by 14 People

Knowledgeable in 43 Topics

#262 of 2984

#221 of 1429

#77 of 480

#49 of 180

#6 of 20

#52 of 172

#16 of 51

Information Technology

#1006 of 2263

Twitter Marketing

#14 of 25

Facebook Marketing

#13 of 30

#31 of 39

Online Marketing

#240 of 360

#274 of 386

Word of Mouth Marketing

#25 of 33

#190 of 210

Email Marketing

#215 of 273

Customer Service

#666 of 785

Small Business Social Media

#16 of 21

#20 of 24

Focus Interactive Summit

#94 of 113

Social Media Strategies

#46 of 54

#17 of 20

#51 of 55

#50 of 57

#65 of 68

#103 of 111

#121 of 127

Search Engine Optimization

#121 of 144

Demand Generation

#172 of 185

Lead Management

#225 of 261

#1909 of 2156

Mobile Wireless

#106 of 107

#129 of 131

#506 of 519

Marketing Tools

#34 of 35

Brand Awareness

#60 of 60

Small Business Marketing

#75 of 78

#129 of 129

#134 of 137

Marketing Strategy

#206 of 208

Cloud Computing

#456 of 462

#1451 of 1456

#298 of 300