Posted by Craig | Apr 7th, 2009 4:58pm
Have you heard of OpenTable.com? I’m hooked. This FREE online restaurant reservation tool takes the guesswork away from getting a table. Simply enter your location, type of cuisine, and your desired reservation time. In a jiffy a list is revealed with Restaurant Name, Neighborhood, Cuisine, Price, and Available Times. Find one you like and your reservation is a few short steps away. (And of course, they have an iPhone app.) On a number of occasions I’ve found myself making reservations on my way to the restaurant. I’ve even been able to make a reservation while waiting in the lobby on one occasion! I use the site regularly around home, but it is even more handy while out and about.
From the restaurant’s perspective, the site is even better. Although I’ve never seen the restaurant side of the tool, I’ve been told by friends in the business that it is fantastic. The establishment pays a subscription fee and is provided with everything they need (computers, software, hardware, etc.) allowing them to keep track of their guests specific preferences, whether the guest is a regular, times for each reservation, cancelled reservations, no-shows, and more.
A relatively small number of restaurants (173 in the Minneapolis area) are currently available through OpenTable, which is the biggest drawback at the moment. I’m sure as more and more restaurants and diners discover the benefits the numbers will increase.
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted by Craig | Jan 9th, 2009 12:31pm
I find myself seeking information and performing tasks on the go, such as finding a business address or hours or operation. So, I appreciate it when companies provide mobile options. I like it even better when the web site detects that I am using an iPhone and provides me the option to view the mobile version or the full version. Go to the EatonGolden web site from your iPhone to see an example.
Here’s a screen shot.
Posted in EatonGolden, Mobile
Posted by Craig | Oct 21st, 2008 4:16pm
Many of our clients ask for web stats, page views, or traffic reports for sites that we’ve built and host. Google Analytics is currently our tool of choice. Having used a number of analytics tools in the past (Livestats, Webtrends, etc.), I find that Google Analytics includes the same key features, with one important distinction—It’s FREE. The interface is easy to use, and our clients can begin accessing and using the stats with very little set-up or instruction. Clients can view details such as traffic sources, visitors, site usage, content, search engines, and referring sites—and best of all—the site overlay that shows the percentage of clicks on a particular link. We always recommend establishing some key performance indicators to help measure progress toward site goals, and Google makes them easy to set up. Gone are the days of being satisfied with simply an increased number of page views.
View a demo of Google Analytics
Posted in Clients, Examples, Uncategorized, Useful Tips
