Good Afternoon to you on this delightfully chilly day! Waking up with a temperature just scraping the surface of zero degrees, it's definitely a good day to stay inside by a heater with a cup of coffee (which to no surprise is what I'm doing now).

   Today I'd like to go over a few reasons why it is a great idea to have interactive content on your website. Interactive content can be described as content on your website that viewers can not only read, but can also add their own input to. Your audience may read a news article that you wrote on your website; in turn, they can reply to the article publicly, giving their opinion on the matter.

   A great scenario to look at is found on http://www.wctrib.com/. Viewers of this website are able to make comments on the latest news stories in the area, sometimes creating great discussions on the matter. This is a great strategy as it can usually ensure the viewer's return and it generates a whole new aspect of content for viewers to read that would not be available otherwise. West Central Tribune also has a great deal of user-submitted Classified Ads and other user interaction.

Viewer Participation is Key

   The bottom line is, who doesn't like to participate? Many popular websites right now are built exclusively off user-submitted content, meaning 99% of their content is made from their users. One of these sites would be Flickr.com. Flickr is a photo sharing community, has an impressive user-base and is known for user-submitted photography. Other user-content driven websites you might be aware of are Facebook and MySpace. These are social networks who's function is to connect people. You may also be familiar with sites similar to Ebay or Craigslist. 

   Before I get down this road too far, I want to say that it is not the purpose for every website to be 100% user-submitted content, but I do think we can learn from the big guys and integrate a few of their ideas. Some nice examples of interactive content on a small to mid-sized website would be a client submitting pictures of their newly landscaped yard along with a testimonial on the landscaping service's website for others to read. A business could hand out brochures with a link to their online contest to generate interest in their work. A Tour Coordinator could have discussion boards on each of their tours. With a little imagination, their is an unlimited amount of ideas for interactive content.

Search Engine Benefits

What will all this newly acquired, interactive content get you? Returning website viewers, of course, but it will also get your business higher on popular search engines such as Yahoo, Google and Live. How does this magic happen? Well, it's a combination few different things. First, it lets the Search Engine know you aren't missing in action. By sporting content on your website that changes frequently, Search Engines will remember to check your site more often, which will give you priority over a less updated website. Secondly, it will potentially increase your web site's demand for keywords pertaining to you.

So there you have it! This is but a few ways a business can optimise their website with interactive content. Now please excuse me while I search for a blanket and wish for weather that is at least above twenty degrees.

   Can you believe it? It's already the week of Thanksgiving. Personally, this is one of my favourite holidays. From the friends to the family, right down to the cranberry sauce from the can, I love it all. I often feel that it gets lost between Halloween and Christmas (at least by department store standards). I personally have a lot to be thankful for, my list easily includes having a window by my desk, a car that runs, a good cup of coffee in the morning, a warm house and a wonderful wife.

   To everyone out there, have a safe trip to your destinations, enjoy your time with loved ones and don't forget the blessings you have been given. Happy Thanksgiving!

It's amazing how much the simple act of moving can energize you.

Did someone say "simple"??!

Ok, so moving is not so simple and sometimes I think I was wrong to volunteer to move twice in one year (I moved my family to a new home in July, and moved the business to a new office in November!)  However, now that it's done (or mostly done) I feel great to be in a new office.

Sometimes a little change is needed to force you to refocus and redirect your energy.  This move came at the perfect time, as it coincided with the addition of Nick to the staff.  We are so full of great ideas here at Famous Davis that I feel like we're about to burst...  If you'd like to hear some of these new ideas, or find out how they can help your business, please give me a call anytime!

   As of November 2nd, it is official that Famous Davis is now located at the MinnWest Technology Campus. I probably should have blogged about this earlier, but it seems I've been keeping busy. How is the campus? It's great. I love absolutely everything about the new setup. The architecture is really cool, I now have a window, I work with people I am closest to and the actual work is great. So far, within the building we are located in, it's only us and two other businesses since it's only been open for rent not even a year. It's a huge building, to say the least. I'm unsure of the actual count of rooms, but it has to be up around a hundred. It'll be exciting to see it filled in the near future.

Without a doubt, I am really excited about the work we are doing and the move to MinnWest! If you want to check it out, feel free to swing by!

Famous Davis is now located at the MinnWest Technology Campus! We are one of the first few businesses to be located on the park and the move has been nothing short of a great experience. MinnWest is doing a spectacular job of renovating the historic site and creating an atmosphere that tailors to technology-based business. We are very excited to be a part of this new opportunity for Willmar area business.

You will be able to find us in the beautiful Multi-Tech building on Technology Drive. If you haven't checked out the campus yet, we highly suggest doing so. MinnWest holds tours weekly, of which you can get information on their website. Otherwise, you are more than welcome to swing by our office and say hello!