Client Management (for Web Designers)

I've noticed that some design studios or web design companies offer private client areas, whre the clients can login and do some things. Having never actually been into any of these areas, I've always wondered what kind of information or what kind of special resources you would offer your clients in such a client area where they would have to login?

I'm considering having some kind of web-based client management system to better service my clients and be able to keep all of my web design related communications in one place instead of scattered in my email inbox among other things like personal emails.

Additionally, your client may actually be a group of people more likely than not, say for example if you're doing a job for a company where the President, VP or director of sales all want a say in the design process. Having a client management system would be a better way to centralize communications for everyone involved.

My question, for web designers, is what kinds of features would you make available to your clients in this client management system to most effectively service them. Some things that immediately come to mind is:

- Some kind of messaging system, that would work just like emails, just all consolidated in the system

- A progress bar that I can update manually to show them at what percent I believe their project is complete, with an ETA of their web site.

- Scheduled Billing system, set up to properly charge the client on their quoted invoice. (Like for example, charge 50% of the total invoice when 50% complete, then require the client to pay the rest, then make their files available in the client area once paid)

Anything else? These are just the basic things I deal with for any client via emails.

Microsoft and Yahoo Finally Announce Deal

The white whale has been killed, the leprechaun has been captured, the holy grail has been found -- Microsoft and Yahoo have finally reached a partnership deal. I'll let you ponder as to what those things all have in common.

In case you hadn't already heard the news, Microsoft and Yahoo have finally agreed on a deal to combine forces. Which I'm hoping will form some kind of mega search robot. Now that the deal is done, here's what Steve Ballmer has to say about the impact of it,

"Through this agreement with Yahoo!, we will create more innovation in search, better value for advertisers and real consumer choice in a market currently dominated by a single company," said Ballmer. "Success in search requires both innovation and scale. With our new Bing search platform, we’ve created breakthrough innovation and features. This agreement with Yahoo! will provide the scale we need to deliver even more rapid advances in relevancy and usefulness. Microsoft and Yahoo! know there’s so much more that search could be. This agreement gives us the scale and resources to create the future of search.

"The details of the deal are quite interesting. The first thing to note is that this is a partnership, not a buyout. So there's quite a bit of give and take going on. I think the biggest aspect of the deal to keep an eye on is Microsoft is implementing Bing's search algorithms on Yahoo's sites. Will there be an improvement in search, or a decline? When Microsoft gets it going, we're sure to find out.

What are your thoughts now that Microsoft and Yahoo have come to an agreement? Do the terms of the deal seem fair in keeping with the definition of a 'partnership'?

Key Terms as highlighted in the announcement:

- The term of the agreement is 10 years;

- Microsoft will acquire an exclusive 10 year license to Yahoo!’s core search technologies, and Microsoft will have the ability to integrate Yahoo! search technologies into its existing Web search platforms;

- Microsoft’s Bing will be the exclusive algorithmic search and paid search platform for Yahoo! sites. Yahoo! will continue to use its technology and data in other areas of its business such as enhancing display advertising technology;

- Yahoo! will become the exclusive worldwide relationship sales force for both companies’ premium search advertisers. Self-serve advertising for both companies will be fulfilled by Microsoft’s AdCenter platform, and prices for all search ads will continue to be set by AdCenter’s automated auction process;

- Each company will maintain its own separate display advertising business and sales force;- Yahoo! will innovate and “own” the user experience on Yahoo! properties, including the user experience for search, even though it will be powered by Microsoft technology;

- Microsoft will compensate Yahoo! through a revenue sharing agreement on traffic generated on Yahoo!’s network of both owned and operated (O&O) and affiliate sites;

- Microsoft will pay traffic acquisition costs (TAC) to Yahoo! at an initial rate of 88 percent of search revenue generated on Yahoo!’s O&O sites during the first five years of the agreement; and

- Yahoo! will continue to syndicate its existing search affiliate partnerships.- Microsoft will guarantee Yahoo!’s O&O revenue per search (RPS) in each country for the first 18 months following initial implementation in that country;

- At full implementation (expected to occur within 24 months following regulatory approval), Yahoo! estimates, based on current levels of revenue and current operating expenses, that this agreement will provide a benefit to annual GAAP operating income of approximately $500 million and capital expenditure savings of approximately $200 million. Yahoo! also estimates that this agreement will provide a benefit to annual operating cash flow of approximately $275 million; and

- The agreement protects consumer privacy by limiting the data shared between the companies to the minimum necessary to operate and improve the combined search platform, and restricts the use of search data shared between the companies. The agreement maintains the industry-leading privacy practices that each company follows today.

Microsoft Speaks Out About Google's Chrome OS

As was widely reported this week Google is venturing into the world of operating systems, which is kind of like walking into Microsoft's living room and saying "We're here!". Microsoft has been trying to for years to make a dent in the complete dominance of the search space that Google has. The introduction of Bing as served to move them in that direction but no one really expects them to unseat Google as the #1 search engine.

What is different about the Google announcement of looking to jump right in the middle of the pasture where Microsoft's cash cow grazes is the thought that maybe, just maybe, Google has a shot as making a dent. They have built most of the competing products already that many have adopted in the Google Apps offering so now they are starting to move down to the foundation of desktop computing but with HUGE brand trust and awareness. At the same time Microsoft is often portrayed as the Evil Empire and many want to see them fall. Are the circumstances right for this to actually happen?

According to an interview conducted by Anthony Ha of Venture Beat with Microsoft's VP of Developer and Platform Evangelism (huh?), Walid Abu-Hadba Microsoft isn't worried.

Some of his remarks about Chrome consisted of entertaining bluster: "I love competition." But he also had thoughts about why Google is trying to muscle into the operating system business. And no, he said, it's not because Google wants to make computing simpler and faster (as Google executives claim), nor is it part of a grand plan to undo Microsoft's dominance (as VentureBeat writer Dean Takahashi speculated).

"Most of what Google does is defensive," Abu-Hadba said.

Now that's an interesting take. Most people don't usually see Google as being on the defensive with their efforts to do anything. It's all Google can do to not appear too aggressive and look offensive in their steady march to world dominance through the browser.

The interview continued

Abu-Hadba said it's not about operating systems at all; instead, Google is trying to distract competitors from attacking its cash cow, search. He argued that whenever Google enters a new market, like releasing mobile operating system Android, it's trying to force competitors to focus on existing products, rather than challenging Google in search. And the company may actually feel threatened for the first time in years.He then went on to predict the demise of Adobe in 10-15 years. So what's his point? It appears as if the folks at Microsoft have a lot more to lose than Google does in this one. If you are the company that many people simply deal with because they often have little or no choice and would rather lose a limb than use your OS wouldn't you consider a little more diplomacy? While even the start of the Google v Microsoft OS war is still a ways off the talk out of the gate seems to be setting the table for a serious fight.

Right now though the tough talk from Microsoft sounds pretty defensive since Google's OS is still a ways off. Should Microsoft be worried or should they be concentrating on really attacking Google where it would hurt; their search business. Is talk like this designed to distract people from the fact that despite a pretty good start no one is holding any hope that Bing will dent Google's search dominance? This could get interesting or it could get pretty silly. Which way do you see it heading?

Best practices for online child safety

Since the beginning of the internet, it has mirrored physical life in the sense that there are safe places to visit and some not so safe locales. For children this idea is exponentiated as the online world can in many ways provide dangers not seen in real life.

I think we can all be in agreeance that it's vital that we make the internet a safer place for kids to visit. The problem is devising a solution that satisfies all parties involved. Some want a higher grade of censorship, while others see education and providing information to parents and children as the solution.

I find my self in the later category. Much like the world of video games, it's important that we provide information to parents to help keep their children safe from anything that could potentially cause harm. Education is the key to creating a safer environment for our kids.

I'm not alone in this thought as an organization by the name PointSmart, has released a set of guidelines for encouraging internet education for our children and parents. Here's a paragraph summarizing what their mission is about...

"Expanding online safety efforts to emphasize online smarts, through digital media literacy and education programs that empower parents and teachers to prepare kids to navigate the world of online and digital media. These efforts will be significantly improved with more focus on education, rather than only on crime prevention."

The PointSmart organization has a key influential member that I'd say could provide clarity to the situation; Google. They've released a statement regarding PointSmart's guidelines.

After looking at PointSmart and Google's thoughts on the topic, how do you view online safety? What steps should we take as we continue to make the internet a safer environment?