At approximately 4.30pm yesterday afternoon Skype went down deep in the middle of a conversation with my developer on fixes for JustShipIT.   The online global news reported that the response came from millions of upset users tweeting.  Funny, we now live in an age where the customer is reporting to the company their application has gone down!

Skype is yet to give a real honest answer as to what has happened, other than the increase in traffic as people use their network to pass on the Christmas cheer to friends and relatives.

This must be a welcome cheer for all telecom companies out there!

Well day two and its now 08:06 and still nothing to report.  I logged into Skype it came online for a split second and then disappeared again saying 'Connecting'.  Dare I say we are switching to MSN live messenger why these problems are resolved.

Last month, Skype reported it now hosts over 25 million people on its service.

Update (08:00 a.m ET): Skype reported an update on its blog, assuring users that the service should return in “a few hours.” -  hmm ;)

Update Cont: Skype has explained today’s downtime on its blog, nothing that “Customers using the enterprise version of Skype for Windows (Windows) may still experience delays signing in.”

I'll be in touch.

With the run up to Christmas already started many eBay sellers are discussing ways to increase sales. We have seen a considerable amount of new customers purchasing our eBay template packages in October for this very reason.

Today’s blog is about expanding the content of information conveyed in each listing to help the buyer make that important decision to buy.

I am sure we all agree, we want to get as many buyers interested in our items as possible and one of the cost effective ways of doing this is by adding attention-grabbing, youtube videos to your listings.

If a picture paints a thousand words...

...then imagine what a short video can convey?

For times when a picture or two just won't do, there's nothing like a compelling little video to show off your merchandise and generate more interest.
See two clients who are putting this to the test in ad-lister

SAS Retail

Cool Canine


Creating your video.

Nothing too fancy! All you need to do is remember to demonstrate your product or show off the detail you need. If required hire someone with a good voice to describe the product. Pointing out where necessary any faults or defects if it’s a used item.

Upload your video to YouTube

On YouTube In the panel to the right of the video, towards the bottom, there's a textbox with the title "Embed".

Copy the code from that textbox, and paste it in your Ad-Lister description. (In HTML view)

Email marketing has received some very unfair press lately! Reading forums and articles about the conversion of only 2% of each campaign. We are company made up of both developers and marketeers and the purpose of this blog is to look for the reasons surrounding the low conversation rate.

We already know email marketing is both easy and affordable! so why do we make a mess of it?

In a study done only last year the faults lay with both the coding and content displayed. Here are just 6 key points you must add to each newsletter.

1. Include a link to your blog in the email content
2. Include a forward to friend link - think about it! they forward it on that person clicks on a link and we capture that information perfect our mailing list has now got bigger. Statistics claim that 50% of emails sent last year did not include "a forward to friend" link in the email. (Guilty as charged!)
3. Personalising the email. So the email reads 'Dear Sean' rather than 'Hi', 'You might be interested in...' But how about the Sign off? 'Yours truely, Sean Sale'. Remember there are complicated email spam algorithms just waiting to sniff your emails out and send them to spam; regardless of whether you have emailed the customer in the past! Remember many automated tools do not sit on your email server so effectively although you have permission it will not recognise you as an existing mailer.
4. Gathering up data from 'click-throughs' or asking key target questions for your next mailshot. For example: A DVD customer of ours would be interested in what Genre a customer prefers so key target emails can be sent.
5. All emails should contain the legal registered company name, address and registration number.
6. With the introduction of smart phones we need to test our templates on these devices. Again guilty as charged and we will be checking newsletters to ensure the content is visible on a mobile screen. Especially as this is the new technology on the block.


Researchers have concluded 19% of recipients will not read an email if they believe its spam i.e. if the email is blank as images are switched off. If none of the main content is renderable and of course if they don't recognise the sender.

A lot of the issues are down to poor coding and real-estate issues of how the content is laid in the email. As marketeers we need to think about what we are asking the receiver to do! Is there a clear click-through to action. For example: This weeks Blu-Ray recommendation: purchase The Rocky 5 Boxset.

So in conclusion the main reasons for unsuccessful campaigns is down to lazy programmers and simple actions above that need to be included. If you want more help do contact us.

I have just donated some money to support Benjamin Mee. Have you heard of him? Sadly nor did I until reading a short story of his epic journey to date. I actually read his story in the Sun newspaper this evening Thursday, August 12th; journalist, Grant Rollings.

What took me in by this man and his story?

As I child I was always fascinated by stories of people’s achievements probably because at school I was considered below par, and a non achiever. I still remember my head teacher saying I was below average..

So I read books, I listened to tapes it's now a daily ritual. I have motivational books everywhere much to the disappointment of my wife who constantly puts them tidly away for her only to find them again in the bathroom or lying open on the dining room table.. Anytime I get a free moment I am reading!

People who have aspired me are those who have made a success in life often outside of their comfort zone. Roger Banister who broke the 4 minute mile, Richard Branson, people whom I met in the Amway business great mentors and role models.

Ben’s story although not a scratch as well told as Grant Rolling from the Sun illustrates an incredible journey which is still ongoing. Ben who previously worked as a Builder, and Journalist purchased Dartmoor Zoological Park with ABSOLUTELY NO EXPERIENCE!

I cannot imagine the constant stress of having to run a zoo, as well as the general welfare of looking after the animals and providing for the workers. Especially when you are learning as you go! Software development seems that much more welcoming ;-)

I seriously thought I had stress! During financial uncertainty and the gloomy recession Ben managed to raise a further 1 million pounds to help get the Zoo back on track to being suitable for the public. However, tragically struck when his wife suddenly died of a brain tumour. That alone would have probably broken me. But as he says he has two young children and carrying on was no option.

This is why I had to donate! It makes sense to give for something worth while.

Ben’s story is going to be turned into a hollywood film and Matt Damion is going to play him. This alone you would have thought would save the Park but it's not known when the film rights will be agreed and so Ben takes each day as it comes and the Bank aren't supportive.

“I have odd moments of talking to Hollywood and then the bank who say they might forclose. If they do a lot of the animals will have to be destroyed, such as the tigers” “It would be a terrible shame if the zoo, with its 250 animals including bears, ostriches, antelopes, tapir, cheetah and wolves do not survive” Benjamin Mee

So if you are stuck for something to do this summer go to Dartmour Zoological Park.

I am thankful for reading this article this evening and hope others who read my blog will feel heartened to donate and take in such a warm and compelling man.

Although I have never met him, I wish him well and will continue to support where I can and follow his journey.

Well wishes

Sean

Cheap Parcel Delivery! - PayPerParcel was built to provide an alternative service to the Post Office where by a customer could send just one parcel or many parcels without having to leave their home or office. The service in the three years its been on the internet has grown considerably and we now offer some of the cheapest rates around.

Increased liability cover upto £1000


We are pleased to notify you that you may now add extra piece of mind to your deliveries by choosing the extra liability cover at the time of booking.

You may select the additional cover by selecting the requred additional cover on step 3 of the booking wizard, see the link

Kind Regards,

Sean

The facility to bulk book is currently available to all the regulars. All you need to do is contact us for a quick demonstration on how to add the parcel information to the file and upload. Two clicks of the mouse job done! Please contact us on 0121 285 1047.

Membership Club

“The long awaited PayPerParcel Membership Club is now available”

We have been reading the emails and listening to your suggestions over the last two years about the length of time claims are taking to resolve and having to call a premium rate number to name but few! The idea behind the membership club is to provide you with a tiered level of extended service which is affordable and from the outset can give you savings and increased insurance.

Here are some just some of the benefits on offer:

• £200 increased liability cover on all domestic services
• Local support/free support number
• Claims Decision within 14 days (Gold)
• Referral scheme incentives up to £25

The membership club is for you to get that little bit more for your money! More >>

Nothing about PayPerParcel or Just Apps today. Just a blog for those of you who are interested.

My wife and I are taking on the challenge of the Paris marathon in little under 4 weeks and this time we are raising money for a charity called CLAPA.

It never ceases to amaze me after watching Sports Relief on Friday night whilst drinking a nice glass of wine just how giving a nation the UK people are especially in these difficult times we live in. I am proud to be  British!

If you can give anything to help the charity please sponsor us 

We have now completed the facility that allows you to bulk book via an excel spreadsheet as the first stage of this automated process, please contact us if you would also like to be added to the trial.

For all our regular customers our rates have dropped on the 1-2 day services and 1-3 day services. £5.09+VAT and £4.69+VAT Click Here