The mission of Beantown Web is to provide information about web development training and career opportunities in the Boston metro area.
Monday, April 17, 2006
New Year, New Life
If today's event fuels a desire to dream big and make a change in your life, then resources are available to help you navigate the course. Whether that change is professional or personal, having a plan and consistently implementing the plan are just a few of the cornerstones for unlocking the secrets of motivation.
You may be familiar with the work of Anthony Robbins through his infomercials and audio training products Personal Power and Get the Edge. Tony wants to help you set and achieve one significant goal of your choosing and he has offered a FREE online mini-seminar, New Year, New Life to help guide you though the process. This audio coaching service will help you turn your resolutions into actions and results.
If you find yourself inspired by the stories that will emerge from today's race, then use the power of momentum to script your own story of achievement that you can use to help inspire others next year.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Boston Market -- April
In keeping with the marketing focus in the last two articles, this month's market analysis highlights a few of the technology skills needed to help businesses market their products and services.
A quick search on the "e-commerce" keyword reveals the following job listings in the greater Boston area (number of listings):
According to an annual survey of 250 e-commerce executives conducted by the e-tailing group, "e-commerce is becoming an important, stand-alone sales channel and websites are increasingly seen as revenue generators and important profit centers." A summary of the survey can be accessed for a limited time via eMarketer.
According to the survey the top three Web-related initiatives planned for 2006 are as follows (percentage of executive responding):
- enhanced onsite merchandising features (75%)
- more targeted e-mail marketing programs (74%)
- improving onsite search (70%)
If your skill-set includes knowledge and experience in these areas then your skills are in demand. To obtain knowledge and experience in these in-demand Web marketing areas consider the following FREE training plan that focuses on two popular Web development technologies that can be used to develop and maintain a company's e-commerce strategy:
ASP.NET focus:
- sign up for Building Applications with ASP.NET
- review the ASP.NET Quickstart Tutorial
- review the ASP.NET e-commerce starter kit
PHP focus:
- review PHP: a simple tutorial
- review PHP Tutorial
- review PHP Shopping Cart tutorial
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
IAC Award Winners
The judging criteria was as follows:
- creativity
- innovation
- impact
- design
- copywriting
- use of the medium
The Best of Show winners for 2006 are as follows:
- Kellogg's Fruit Streamers Mini-site (Best Ads the Client Did Not Pick)
- The Official Anne Geddes Website Email (Best of Show Email Message)
- Building a Better Member Email (Best of Show Email Message Campaign)
- Scream mail (Best of Show Integrated ad campaign)
- Keowee Falls Interactive Tour (Best of Show Interactive Application)
- 3M Breast Cancer Awareness (Best of Show Microsite/Landing Page)
- Cocktail Shaker (Best of Show Online ad)
- Above The Influence (Best of Show Online Campaign)
- Scudder Participant e-Newsletter (Best of Show Online Newsletter Campaign)
- Block Party Bash (Best of Show Rich Media Online Ad)
- 24 Sweepstakes (Best of Show Rich Media Online Campaign)
Monday, April 03, 2006
Wanted: Marketing Skills
Answer: Internet marketing
A survey of more than 1,700 marketing professionals at Fortune 500 companies across the United States and Canada provides insights into what areas of marketing large companies plan to focus their attention on in 2006.
More than half of all large companies plan to increase spending on Internet marketing, according to the "2006 Spending & Staffing Trends for Corporate Marketing Departments" study. Other areas receiving increased focus are brand marketing (42%) and advertising (39%).
The survey also found that an improving economy and an impending labor shortage combine to raise the following concerns among large corporations:
- 59 percent of companies are concerned about employee retention
- 78 percent believe employee turnover will be a challenge over the next five years
To supplement your technical training with marketing knowledge sign up for one of three Web-based marketing classes:
- High-Impact, Low-Cost Marketing -- BusinessWeek [ FREE ]
- How to Develop a Marketing Plan -- Virtual University [ $20 ]
- Run Your Own Direct Marketing Campaign -- HP Learning Center [ FREE ]
You can review the highlights of the marketing survey in a press release or obtain a free copy by contacting Kelly Shumaker at Aquent Marketing Staffing, a Boston-based a global professional services firm.
Monday, March 13, 2006
SXSW Web Awards
Sixteen categories were selected with five finalists in each category. A People's Choice Award was given to one site in each category. Here are the sixteen categories along with the respective award winner:
Amusement: Heart Attack
Art: AIGA Design Archives
Blog: Avalonstar
Business (For-Profit): Timberland: Build Your Own Boot
Business (Green/Non-Profit): GE - Geoterra
CSS: Kutztown University Communication Design
Classic: Compound Pilot
Community/Wiki: 9rules Network
Educational Resource: MAKEZine
Experimental: Meebo
Film/TV: IMAX's Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D
Flash: LeapFrog/FLY
Music: Eminem.com
Personal Portfolio: David Josue Photography
Student: HipCal
Technical Achievement: Technorati
People's Choice (online public's favorite finalist): Eminem.com
Best of Show (judges favorite finalist): Technorati
For a more detailed explanation of each category visit the SXSW (South by Southwest) 9th Annual Web Awards Winners Web page. To view the additional four nominees for each category visit the Awards Finalists Web page.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
CIO Survey - Second Quarter
“Competition is rising for professionals skilled in the hottest applications and specialties, and multiple offers are increasingly common,” according to the executive director of Robert Half Technology, sponsors of the quarterly study.
The top three technical skill sets most in demand within their IT departments are the following (percentage of CIOs responding):
- Microsoft Windows (NT/2000/XP) administration (81 percent)
- Wireless network management (52 percent)
- SQL Server management (49 percent)
The following four Web development-related skills all were mentioned as being in-demand by at least 20 percent of CIOs:
- .NET development
- ASP development
- Java development
- XML development
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Boston Market -- March
Web design evolves into Web development when interactivity and database connectivity are added to a Website. So, database knowledge and programming skills help to differentiate a developer from a designer.
In the database arena Oracle remains king (number of listings at Monster.com):
Structured Query Language (SQL), the common language of database access, is the single most valued technology skill with more than 1000 listings!
In the skill set of Web programming Java Server Pages (JSP) holds the lead:
So, adding SQL Server and ASP.NET skills to your resume will significantly enhance career prospects.
Late last year Microsoft launched SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005. Along with these tools they announced the upgrade of ASP.NET to ASP.NET 2.0. Two new books are now on the market to help learn the Express (FREE) Editions of these two products:
- Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition For Dummies
- Beginning SQL Server 2005 Express Database Applications with Visual Basic Express and Visual Web Developer Express: From Novice to Professional
Amazon offers both books together at a discounted price of only $42.88. There might not be a better training investment out there this month, except for this one . . .
Attend three Microsoft ASP.NET 2.0 Webcast Series seminars (FREE) and you will receive Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition software ($299 retail value) and other training materials FREE! If you have prior experience with JSP, PHP or ColdFusion, Microsoft wants to introduce you to ASP.NET 2.0. (If you have no prior experience with these technologies select the PHP option.) Webcasts begin Tuesday, March 7.
Now, if you are really into it, you can catch a 17-minute interview with Bill Gates as he discusses these and other technologies that Microsoft is building its future on. Note that this is an in-house interview from Channel 9, Microsoft's own news channel. The interviewer is not a threat to challenge Katie Couric for the coveted CBS Evening News assignment.
Microsoft has received the focus of attention this month simply because I have found no other vendor committed to providing resources to helping Web professionals develop their skills at little or no cost. If you are aware of other vendors -- Adobe (Macromedia), Oracle, IBM, Sun, to name a few -- that offer low-cost, no-cost software and training to help develop skills that are highly valued in the marketplace, then please let me know. I'll be glad to spotlight their offerings in future articles.Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Most Admired Employees
The seven Most Admired Companies in Massachusetts were as follows (including location and ranking within their industry):
- Analog Devices (Norwood : 5)
- Boston Properties (Boston : 2)
- EMC (Hopkinton : 1)
- Iron Mountain (Boston : 3)
- Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (Springfield : 4)
- Staples (Framingham : 6)
- State Street Corporation (Boston : 3)
Rankings were based on the following criteria:
- Innovation
- People management
- Use of corporate assets
- Social responsibility
- Quality of management
- Financial soundness
- Long-term investment
- Quality of products/services
Wouldn't it be interesting if we had access to a Most Admired Employees list! Workers who made the list would be prize candidates for the best assignments. Job satisfaction would improve. Recruiters would call. Compensation would skyrocket.
While no such list exists, Ajilon Professional Staffing offers these five tips to elevate your admiration ranking in your current position:
- Manage up. The ability to communicate with your manager in his or her own terms is essential to help you reach your career goals. Be aware of your boss’ management style and goals and communicate your ideas or plans in a similar manner.
- Make your boss your #1 fan. Your boss’ success is tied to your success, so work with your manager to better understand his/her goals – and help achieve them!
- Work even harder when the boss is away. Complete jobs they assigned before they return and make sure other projects did not slip through the cracks. Stay organized and pay attention to details. Before they return to the office, send them an e-mail update on the status of projects. They will appreciate this report waiting for them in their inbox.
- Track your accomplishments. Although sometimes it’s difficult to toot your own horn, make sure your boss is aware of your accomplishments and the times you go above and beyond the call of duty so he/she knows about your successes to reward you with time off, bonuses or a raise.
- Be a team player. Every boss likes to have his team on his side. Demonstrate that you're committed to the company, not just to your own personal goals.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon
It's not that you hate your job; it's just that you don't feel appreciated and don't feel your talents are being put to the best use by your current employer. If fact, according to Marcus Buckingham, half of all workers will spend half of their workday doing things they are not particularly interested in doing.
So, you might spend part of your workday going online and casually searching for another job, being careful to pull up some "real work" should your boss stop by for a visit.
Why not consider a different strategy? Why not spend part of your day -- your lunch break perhaps -- developing your network of contacts? In this third installment of a series on Internet Recruiting we will explore the concept of social networking.
Fully 60% of 200 employers surveyed say they plan to invest in social networking technology to generate referrals to fill vacant positions. Social networking Websites have been in the news lately. If you have teenage child chances are you are aware of a Website called MySpace. A similar Website called Facebook is popular with college kids. Dozens of business networking sites have sprung up over the past year of so.
All of these Websites are based on the concept that by developing a network of like-minded peers who have their own network of contacts, you can expand your network exponentially. The concept has been made popular by the trivia game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.
Let's pick one business-related social network -- LinkedIn -- and explore it. Why LinkedIn? Because it's been written up in the popular press and it's the only career network I've been invited to join! Since this is a "club" you do have to be a "member" to see what goes on behind the scenes. Currently, I have one "connection" in my network -- the person who invited me. This "sponsor" is connected to three other people. These three other people have connections. All told, I am just two connections away from being in touch with 137 business professionals, all from one connection!
So, you can see that "working your network" can lead to introductions that you didn't think were possible. Even Kevin Bacon, Independent Motion Pictures and Film Professional, from Los Angeles is LinkedIn! Alas, none of my current contacts has a connection to Kevin, not yet anyway.
Two features of LinkedIn that I find particularly interesting:
- job openings that are listed exclusively to network members, thus reducing competition and unnecessary weeding out of resumes from unqualified candidates
- job openings that give preference to applicants with endorsements -- kind of an eBay system of obtaining references for a job well done from someone in your network, perhaps a previous boss or coworker, or a satisfied client
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Who's Zoomin' Who?
Today's issue focuses on how you can create a Web presence, and begin establishing a referral network, even if you do not have your own Website. (Of course, if your career involves Internet technology, you should have your own Website!)
To begin, have you ever "Googled yourself?" That is, gone to a search engine like Google and typed in your own name. Some interesting results can occur, like links to documents you never knew existed or links to people with your same name who are definitely NOT YOU!
Now, have you ever "Zoomed yourself?" That is, visited a Website called ZoomInfo and typed in your name? ZoomInfo is "the search engine for discovering people, companies and relationships." Go there now, type in your first and last name, and see what you find.
Even if you have never used this Website before, it's quite possible others have, looking for information about you, and perhaps finding mixed results. The difference between ZoomInfo and Google is that you get to control your Web presence at ZoomInfo. And if you want people to find you, you want to be in control of what's being said about you.
Setting up a ZoomInfo Web summary is FREE and easy to do. To join "the largest index of people in business in the world," you can start with a basic profile in just a few minutes. Over time you can add additional information such as education, past work experience and important Website links. You don't have to add sensitive information, like your date of birth or marital status. This is a business profile and should be treated as such.
Once you are registered here's how you can use ZoomInfo to position yourself in the marketplace:
- When sending out an e-mail use a link to your ZoomInfo Profile as part of your signature
- Research people and companies prior to an interview or sales call
- Use the "Connect With . . ." feature to contact a former business associate or introduce yourself to a new one
- Use the "Add to Colleagues" feature to begin building a referral network of colleagues and associates
Friday, February 17, 2006
Internet Recruiting
Internet sources produced 51% of all hires last year, while newspaper classified ads generated just 5% of the new hires, according to a newly released study. The most popular Internet sources for new hires at leading U.S. companies were the following:
- Corporate Employment Web Sites (21%)
- General Job Boards (15%)
- Niche Job Boards: (6%)
- Social Network Web Sites (5%)
- Commercial Resume Databases (4%)
- their own corporate web sites
- employee referrals
- Corporate Employment Web Sites (74%)
- Employee Referrals (68%)
- Social Networking Technology (60%)
The next several issues of Beantown Web will focus exclusively on this emerging trend of social networking and how you can utilize today's technology to maximize your potential for uncovering the business opportunities of tomorrow.
A press release of this report is available from DirectEmployers Association, a non-profit consortium of over 200 leading U.S. employers and operator of JobCentral.com. A more detailed summary, 2006 DirectEmployers Association Recruiting Trends, is also available in pdf format.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Databases: What to Know
- every organization has them
- no organization can thrive without them
- the more you know about them, the more valuable you become to the organization
- Oracle
- IBM (DB2)
- Microsoft (SQL Server)
These three competitors combined control 85% of the $15 billion database market [1]. The marketplace provides a snapshot of their relative value. The number of job listings for each of The Big Three when searching by keyword are as follows [Monster.com listings]:
The common language of all databases is Structured Query Language (SQL). So, the more you know about SQL the more you'll be able to manage data regardless of which relational database management system (RDBMS) is being used.
According to a recent BusinessWeek article, Taking On the Database Giants, open-source database products are gaining ground. Of these MySQL appears to have the most momentum.
So, how does one get experience using these products? Here's a two-step plan:
Step #1: Learn SQL
- Download a copy of MySQL 5.0 Community Edition (FREE)
- Complete a SQL Tutorial (FREE)
Step #2: Learn one of The Big Three (SQL Server)
- Download SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (FREE)
- Complete one of nine Microsoft E-Learning courses (FREE) [2]
Why select SQL Server? Quite simply, I have not been able to identify any low-cost alternatives to learning Oracle or IBM DB2. Both products are expensive and so is the training. Microsoft, on the other hand, wants technology professionals to learn its new SQL Server 2005 product so that it can capture market share from its competitors.
[1] reference: Taking On the Database Giants[2] note: The courses are designed for SQL Server 2005, not the Express Edition, so there my be some aspects of the course that may not apply to the 'lite' version of the product.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
SeaMonkey Internet Suite
Most early Internet users experienced the World Wide Web for the first time using Netscape's Navigator software. In short order Microsoft launched Internet Explorer and today maintains a commanding lead in Web browser utilization.
Netscape's original concept was to bundle the Navigator browser with other software including Web developer tools. This design package has been resurrected by The Mozilla Foundation and has been renamed SeaMonkey Internet Suite. (Mozilla was Netscape's early mascot and the organization is also the keeper of the open-source Firefox Web browser.)
SeaMonkey 1.0 is now available for FREE public download. It's Web developer tool is called Composer, which is primarily an HTML text editor with support for JavaScript debugging. SeaMonkey is ideal for students and other budget-conscious designers and developers who want to learn the basics of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS and are not in position to purchase industry standard tollkits such as Dreamweaver, which retails for $399.
I used the SeaMonkey Composer tool to edit and upload my Recent Training section of the Web Apprentices Website and it works quite nicely for simple edits.
Designers and developers in training can download SeaMonkey and start practicing with the following FREE tutorials available from WebDevelopersNotes.com:
By the way, Netscape hasn't gone away. Netscape 8.1 is available for download and there are rumors of a Netscape 9.0 version in development.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Open Ajax Project
- IBM
- Yahoo!
- Oracle
- updating portions of a Web page automatically
- checking information submitted (order form information, for example)
- dragging-and-dropping objects inside a Web browser
Since JavaScript and XML are languages used to create this technique, they should also be in the toolkit of every Web designer and developer who wants to stay current on emerging design and development trends. To get started with XML, you can sign up for Introduction to XML, a FREE online course conducted via the HP Learning Center. The eight-lesson course begins Thursday, February 16.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Big Demand, Big Pay
- Accounting
- Sales and marketing
- Legal
- Technology
- Manufacturing and engineering
So, what is the one skill that is most in-demand in the technology arena? "Developers who are expert users of Microsoft's software programming language .NET can make between $75,000 and $85,000 a year in major cities when they're starting out," according to the author of this staffing analysis.
Here is a six-step, zero-cost plan to introduce yourself to Microsoft .NET:
- Review What is .NET? [FREE]
- Complete the Microsoft .NET Tutorial [FREE]
- Review Why ASP.NET? [FREE]
- Download ASP.NET Web Matrix [FREE]
- Take the Web Matrix Guided Tour [FREE]
- Complete the ASP.NET Tutorial [FREE]
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Boston Market -- February
Businesses are actively acquiring technology talent, but only professionals with the right skill sets and requisite experience. One way to gauge the current demand is through a keyword search on specific technology skills at selective online job sites. Beantown Web monitors two sites: BostonWorks and Monster.
Skills sets are grouped into four categories: Tools, Acronyms, Containers, and Knowledge (TACK). A few of the common keywords associated with Web design and Web development jobs include the following:
Note: the numbers in parentheses indicate the number of job postings that list that keyword in the job description. [ First number: BostonWorks.com ][ Second number: Monster.com ]
Tools (software)
Acronyms (languages)
- SQL [ 527 ][ 1000 ]
- HTML [ 224 ][ 519 ]
- XML [ 200 ][ 498 ]
- ASP.NET [ 93 ][ 154 ]
- CSS [ 52 ][ 136 ]
- PHP [ 43 ][ 61 ]
Containers (databases)
Knowledge (certifications)
- The demand for certified professionals varies by discipline. All things being equal certification helps to distinguish you from your competition. An appropriate certification entry point for Web design and Web development professionals is Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW). For a complete listing of all technology certifications, along with links to the appropriate certification Website, be sure to check out the Web Apprentices Career Center.
A few quick observations:
- Monster.com consistently lists twice as many opportunities as BostonWorks.com
- Acronym (language) skills are in greater demand than Tool (software) skills
- Container (database) skills are in greater demand than Tool (software) skills
Friday, January 27, 2006
The X Factor
Both products have changed in substantial ways. However, the most significant change affecting data that begins life as an Office document (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and migrates to the Web will be evident to end users only by the file extensions as follows:
- Word (.doc becomes .docx)
- Excel (.xls becomes .xlsx)
- PowerPoint (.ppt becomes .pptx)
This X factor file format notation is consistent with the recent upgrade of ASP classic (.asp) to ASP.NET (.aspx).
So, why the "x"? Quite simply, all Office documents in the future will be stored as XML files!
If Bill Gates has decided to bet the future of his cash cow Office franchise on Open XML Formats, then it would make sense for developers to learn more about XML data. If HTML represents a core technology during the first decade of Web design and development, then XML appears to be staking its claim to being a core technology for the second decade. Whether you are a Microsoft zealot or detractor, every designer and developer should consider adding XML to their skill set as the Web matures from infancy to adolescence.
To learn more about Microsoft's commitment to XML, access the Office 12 Website and a Microsoft product manager's blog that focuses on Office and XML. You can continue your quest for knowledge at Microsoft's XML Developer Center to learn more about "the language of information interchange."Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Boston Wi-Fi Initiative
Meanwhile, cities around the United States are fashioning a coordinated effort to help its citizens become more productive in our increasingly mobile society. A few major cities that have recently announced plans for citywide Internet access include San Francisco and Philadelphia.
These plans center around providing free or low-cost Internet access via Wi-Fi. Citizens with a wireless-enabled computer can access the Internet via a hotspot.
What about Beantown? Well, the little-advertised Boston Main Streets Wi-Fi Initiative is up and running and delivering FREE Wi-Fi Internet access to the following four communities:
The Boston Main Street Wi-Fi Initiative website explains how to access FREE Internet in these communities.
Unfortunately, no information is available detailing the scope of the rollout to other communities or the timeframe for completion. Hopefully, it won't take as long as The Big Dig.
In the meantime several search engines are available to help you find a hotspot in a specific location. A few of these services include the following:
- Boston Hotspot Directory
- JiWire Hotspot Directory
- The Wi-Fi-FreeSpot Directory
- Wi-Fi ZONE Finder
- Hotspot-Locations.com
- The HotSpot Haven
In addition, eating establishments such as Panera Bread (30 locations in Massachusetts) offers FREE Wi-Fi access. So, now there is no excuse for not being productive on your lunch hour!
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Web Applications for Dummies
Enter a new competitor: Salesforce.com. This company created one of the most successful Web applications -- software programs that are not installed on your desktop, but rather, are available for use on the Internet. Their customer relationship management (CRM) Web application competes with software products at a fraction of the cost. Typically Web applications like these are rented for a monthly fee, as opposed to purchased for a one-time price.
SalesForce.com has officially launched AppExchange, its Website for providing a common access point and development platform for many different kinds of Web applications. The company's goal is to become an on-demand business application development platform -- one that developers think of first for building applications.
One popular software program has already been transformed into a Web application -- Adobe's Acrobat for creating pdf files. While this application requires a subscription fee to use, here are four promising applications that can be used for FREE:
You can give these and many other Web applications a "test drive" at the AppExchange Website before deciding to activate the application.
Want to learn more about Web applications? Simply download a white paper (pdf). Better yet, Salesforce.com would love to have you develop your own Web applications and make them available on AppExchange. They have even created Salesforce.com's AppExchange for Dummies to guide you through the process. A FREE copy will be mailed to you! All you have do is register and in no time you can enter the world of Web application development.Thursday, January 12, 2006
Best Companies to Work For
If your goal in 2006 is to change employers, why not work for the best? A more comprehensive listing of Best Places to Work is available from the Boston Business Journal. Three of the employers -- Brigham McCutchen, Bright Horizons, and Genzyme -- appear on both lists.
A few of the benefits that elevate an employer to Best Company status include the following:
- Health care
- Child care
- Work-life balance
- Telecommuting
- Sabbaticals
- Unusual perks
- Identify one way in which you add value for your current company -- either by generating revenue or reducing expenses -- and then document your performance.
- Issue a press release about a recent award you've won for your superior performance -- every one of the six Best Companies have posted press releases about their FORTUNE award.
- If you don't have a personal Website to post your press release, build one!
Friday, January 06, 2006
Microsoft's Major Competitor
"The biggest company in the computer industry, by far, is IBM. They have the (sic) four times the employees that I have, way more revenues than I have. IBM has always been our biggest competitor. The press just doesn't like to write about IBM."
What are the implications of a Microsoft vs. IBM battle for 2006 and beyond? And what does this mean for Web developers?
The Web continues to expand and the tool kit that Web developers need to be proficient in keeps growing with it. Case in point, e-commerce continues to outpace economic growth in the United States. This Holiday season witnessed a 25% increase in Internet sales vs. the previous year. And the Top 400 Retail Websites are not the only beneficiaries of this Web development trend. As we saw in Outlook 2006, Part 2, small and medium-size business (SMB) leaders want to use their Website to market their products, paying particular attention to sales leads and online sales.
Web developers who can help SMB leaders grow their revenues should do well in 2006. Both Microsoft and IBM have tools available to help these businesses. We've read about Microsoft .NET tools for Web developers. But what does IBM offer Web developers in terms of tools and training?
IBM has made a major commitment to open source standards and supports PHP as their primary Web development language. Here are just two FREE online tutorials available at the IBM Website:
In addition, as the Web development arms race between Microsoft and IBM continues we will begin to hear more about emerging techniques such as Ajax & Atlas. If you'd like to position your skill set near the front of this digital arms race you might want to consider learning more about these techniques. And IBM wants to help you. On Tuesday, February 7 at 6:30 pm IBM's Cambridge office will host a seminar with the following somewhat cryptic title:
The seminar is FREE and is being coordinated by the Boston PHP Users Group. Registration is required.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
IT Recession -- 2007
Forrester Research and the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) announced its inaugural US Tech Sector Index in December. The new quarterly benchmark is based on 11 measures of IT demand, supply, and the strength of US-based IT providers. Findings reveal both moderate increases and declines in various indicators over the coming year. A mild downturn is expected in 2007 followed by the next wave of tech innovation and heavy IT investment starting in 2008.
According to separate research conducted by Gartner, Inc., the job market for IT specialists will shrink 40 percent by 2010.
This does not mean the demand for tech skills will decline. It simply means the nature of tech work will change. IT "versatilists" will emerge replacing IT "specialists." An IT "versatilist" will be charged with fueling business value and will gain experience through multidisciplinary assignments.
"Today's IT specialists must focus on a rapid and intentional expansion from technical specialization to business competence in order to position themselves as tomorrow's business contributors," according to a Gartner representative.
This shift in work competencies is just one of six trends presented as part of a Gartner Special Report entitled "Gartner's Top Predictions for 2006 and Beyond."
According to Gartner the IT profession will split into four domains of expertise over the remainder of this decade:
- technology infrastructure and services
- information design and management
- process design and management
- relationship and sourcing management
For a complete description of these four areas of practice access a recent Gartner press release.
Web developers should set specific goals in the first half of 2006 to improve in the following three areas:
- upgrading technical skills
- expending contacts within the industry
- seeking out opportunities to develop business-specific skills that affect the bottom line
Friday, December 23, 2005
Outlook 2006, Part 2
Here are a few findings from a survey of more than 1,000 SMB leaders:
- 83% strongly agree that the Internet helps them run their companies
- 22% currently make use of the Web as a marketing tool
- 43% of non-Internet marketers plan to begin using the Web as a marketing tool over the next six months
"SMB leaders planning decreases in online activity are virtually non-existent," according to a representative of AllBusiness.com who commissioned the study. A press release of the first SMB State of the Union study is available for review.
In another study released earlier this year SMB owners were asked how they measured the success of their Website. Here are the responses:
- customer and prospect comments (54%)
- site activity, traffic and number of visitors (48%)
- sales leads (36%)
- online sales (24%)
- efficiencies of internal processes, such as faster payment processing or fewer phone calls (21%)
A press release of Interland's Summer 2005 Small and Medium-sized Business Barometer is available for review.
Opportunities abound for Web developers to help SMB leaders grow their business. The results of these two studies indicate that business leaders are not looking for Web designers, they are looking for problem solvers who can help them market their business through the innovative use of Web-based technology. Here's a three-step strategy to consider:
- download a graphical presentation (pdf) of the SMB State of the Union study
- share this information with any current or prospective clients
- open a dialogue to discuss how you can help the business owner measure the success of their Web efforts using the five criteria listed above
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Outlook 2006, Part 1
Survey results are part of a quarterly national poll of more than 1,400 CIOs at U.S. companies with more than 100 employees. Details are available from Robert Half Technology.
Microsoft Windows (NT/2000/XP) administration expertise and SQL Server management continue to be the technical skills that show the strongest demand.
In addition, CIO magazine's fourth annual State of the CIO survey finds that one trend that continues is the pressure on IT executives to drive business innovation with technology. CIOs say the skill sets needed are less technical (i.e. programmers) and more analytical and managerial (i.e. strategists and project managers). In fact, project management is at the top of the skills that CIOs value most.
Based on these two surveys Web developers can get the attention of large company CIOs by focusing on three areas in 2006:
- Upgrade your database skills by adding SQL Server to your technical skill set
- Develop one new project where you can document helping solve a business need though the innovative use of technology
- Document your project management skills by delivering this new project on time and under budget by working as part of (or ideally by leading) a team
Fortunately, developing technical expertise need not be expensive. Microsoft offers a SQL Server 2005 Express Edition available for FREE download. In addition, Microsoft also offers nine FREE online courses to help you develop SQL Server 2005 skills!
With a working knowledge of SQL Server and ASP.NET you can develop and manage a Web project that is database-driven and demonstrates the innovative use of technology designed to help solve a pressing business need.
Once complete, CIOs would love to hear about your solution. To help put you in touch with technology officers, Beantown Web has introduced a new service called Web Apprentices Career Center. In particular, check out one-click access to the largest 25 publicly-held technology companies in Massachusetts which are listed in the Boston Globe as the High Tech 25.