Already a leading player in the realm of educational iPhone apps, this week has seen FlexyWeb go live with another such app - this time for the thriving Nottingham day nursery Stepping Stones. A hidden oasis in the heart of the city, Stepping Stones prides itself on its excellent communication links with parents and the stimulating environment it provides for young children. It already uses Facebook & Twitter to extend the conversation around the nursery outwards and involve families in the day to day events. With interactive, educational games, a diary of events, news, information, a gallery of images as well as a map and route finder service, this app extends their educational remit and strengthens those links with home even further. We believe Stepping Stones is the first nursery in Nottingham to get an iPhone & iPad app like this. It certainly won't be the last.

You can download the app here.

We've never needed much persuasion as to the creative possibilities of an iPad, but David Hockney's major exhibition of new work at the Royal Academy may go some way to persuading those final doubters. The exhibition marks a late-in-life return to big landscape painting, with most of the paintings and drawings on show having been created in the last few years.

Most interesting for us though are his iPad drawings. Hockney has embraced the iPad as a means of making art, and is quoted as saying that "the iPad is like an endless piece of paper that perfectly fitted the feeling I had that painting should be big." (The Guardian). Each new drawing that he created was then sent electronicaly to L.A. where a team of assistants printed them. "We had to get special software to do it. Otherwise, they pixelate," Hockney says. "It's very new, and very, very different."

Hockney's use of the iPad is just the latest step in a life long interest in technology as art. From photocopiers, electronic paintboxes and fax machines, he's no stranger to innovation. Impressive stuff.

After a well earned and refreshing break, the FlexyWeb team are back in the office and feeling revived for a new year of exciting web and app design. There's been talk of various resolutions, and the usual January renewed healthiness, but more importantly, the phone hasn't stopped ringing and we're as busy as ever! Just how we like it....

The Salvation Army is a Christian church, registered charity and one of the largest, most diverse providers of social services in the UK & Ireland. With a strong presence in over 120 countries, it is also one of the most recognisable charitable missions in the world. We have created two iPhone applications for them: the official UK app and a fun to use timbrel app. Both have proved hugely successful since their launch.

The official Salvation Army app is free to download and provides vital information, a service locator, a history of the Salvation Army and easy ways to donate. The other is a paid-for timbrel app that allows users to recreate the exact sounds and joys of shaking a Salvation Army tambourine! All of the money raised from the timbrel app goes directly towards the Salvation Army’s charity work.

It seems unbelievable to think that there are still companies out there without a website, but, amazingly, it seems there are. Quite why anyone who is serious about their business wouldn't want to have an online presence is beyond us, but according to this infographic it seems some businesses still claim to 'not have the time'. Talk to us! We'll make that time for you...

You've definitely seen them - those black modules arranged on a white background in a square pattern, displayed on billboards, packaging, shop windows, in newspapers, magazines, on buildings - the list goes on. They are, of course, QR codes - or Quick Response codes to use their full name. QR codes are a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) first designed for the car industry. More recently, the system has become popular outside of the industry due to its fast readability and comparatively large storage capacity. It is this fast growing use and versatility of content that mean you need to be taking them seriously for your business. Here's how. 

Created by Toyota back in 1994 to track vehicles, the QR code is the most popular type of two-dimensional barcode. It was designed to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed and supports a variety of uses - perfect for most businesses. Japan has been alert to their potential for years, but it has been only recently that the UK and the US have caught on. Britain is now the seventh largest consumer of the codes worldwide, and that consumption is increasing rapidly.

When you scan a QR code with your iPhone, Blackberry, Android or other camera-enabled smartphone, you can link to digital content on the web; activate a number of phone functions including email, IM and SMS; and connect the mobile device to a web browser.

There are a number of sites for generating QR codes and they’re all free.  An internet search for QR code generator will offer many choices.

The ability of QR codes to connect people with each other and to multimedia digital content is very useful for businesses and consumers alike.

SEO

We all know that web objects such as images, music clips, and videos add valuable content to your social graph.  QR codes also enhance both your search engine and social media optimization.  Now you can increase traffic to those searchable objects to further optimize them by encouraging more sharing.

Analytics

QR codes most commonly link to urls, which is why link shortening services bit.ly and goo.gl now automatically generate a QR code for sharing your shortened links.  Using goo.gl as an example, you simply click on the “more” link after you create your shortened link, where you are taken to a page that not only gives you the QR code, but useful analytics.

Sharing

 There’s no limit to how, or how much, you can share with QR codes.  While a photo, video, website or landing page is easily shared, you could go further and share an entire eBook or even multiple pieces of content that share a common link. The possibilities are endless!

 

How your QR codes could be used:

• Business cards
• Apps
• Brochures and other marketing materials
• Building signage
• The sides of trucks and trailers
• Product tags and packaging
• Convention and event nametags
• Restaurant & bar menus
• Event ticket stubs
• Point-of-sale receipts

Suggestions for what your QR codes could link to:

• Apps or mobile websites
• Directions to your business
• Installation instructions
• Sources for replacement parts and service
• Blog posts or other social media
• The process for hiring your professional services
• Valuable coupons and special offers
• Recommendations for complementary products and services
• Free mp3 downloads
• Customer feedback forms

Let us know how you get on!

We're unashamed Apple fans here at FlexyWeb, with more Macs, iPhones and iPads between us than is surely healthy. But which smartphone or tablet do you prefer? And what does it say about you? With 91% of iPhone users keen to recommend their handset, it's clearly a brand that inspires loyalty. But statistics also show that it's a brand that encourages spending too. 

iPhone and iPod touch users are more likely to purchase paid applications than Android users, according to an Opt In survey by Admob. iPhone users download, on average, 8.8 apps every month; Android users download 8.7 apps. However, out of those numbers, only 1.1 apps on Android are paid apps, while iPhone users download 1.8 paid apps every month. Also included in the survey was iPod touch, whose users download the most apps: 12.1 every month!

Reassuring news for businesses who wish to develop an app for an iPhone ahead of other handsets. Now, time to go and download another app....

So your website has been designed and built, you’re developing your social media strategy and everything else is ready to go – all you need now is traffic on your site. FlexyWeb are here to help. Our search engine optimisation services are designed to promote your website, delivering high search engine rankings and high levels of carefully targeted traffic and leads for your business.

Our SEO services are based on research, an understanding of your business needs and an expertise that consistently delivers quality results in this complex area. We always provide you with a free report prior to commencing any project, based around keyword analysis, competitor activity and your business needs.

As you know, here at FlexyWeb we measure our own success by the success of our clients. When those same clients happen to be pioneering some of the best design in Britain as well as being successful, we're especially happy. And so this week's blog post is celebrating three design-based websites that we're proud to have created:

NDVF acts as a central reference and resource point for organisations in the City and County of Nottinghamshire and works closely with Women’s Aid and other key organisations. They also work preventatively with children and young people in schools and in young people settings. It is under this wing of their work that their Respect Not Fear site exists and they wanted an iPhone & iPod app that would support this website and appeal to young people to encourage healthy relationships.

After lengthy consultations and alot of time and effort spent ensuring the design and information were all spot on, the app went live on the App Store at the end of June. Since then it's been a brilliant success, remaining in the Eduation What's Hot? Top Ten since it's launch and garnering rave reviews both on the App Store and on the web generally.

Most importantly, it's helping young people, locally and nationally, to develop healthy and respectful relationships. By combining games, advice, a respect-o-meter and other useful information we're proud to have created something so worthwhile.