Friday, August 22, 2014

The Brain Performance Center - Neurofeedback In Southlake, Texas

Recently, we did a small business website for Leigh, at the Brain Performance Center in Southlake, Texas. We built her website around the popular content management system with a custom Wordpress theme.  She is super hands-on with her business, and wants to be able to provide a wealth of information to the public, and educate her clients and others about what she does.

When Leigh contacted me needing help with a website design, I thought to myself, what in the world is 'Brain Performance'? And what I found out made me so glad that Leigh and I connected - because what she does is nothing short of amazing. Now that I have kids, and am under different stresses in my life - I am finding that what these folks do is something that needs to be broadcasted to the world - as so many people could benefit from what they offer.

The Brain Performance Center specializes in non-medicated treatments and alternative therapies for very common cognitive and emotional symptoms that are related - quite literally - to our brain performance.  Symptoms such as insomnia, ADHD, OCD, depression, anxiety and autism. Or, perhaps you are looking to improve athletic performance receive wellness coaching or enhance your leadership skills - The Brain Performance Center focuses on training your brain, to enhance your life in a positive way.

The first step is your 'Brain Evaluation'. Through an in-depth analysis and several tests, the staff at The Brain Performance Center can identify brain wave patterns and then over a series of neurofeedback treatments, effectively train your brain to keep itself in check.

The same can be done for more physical functions, such as breathing to regulate your heart rate - with biofeedback.

I am going through the program to help my issues with anxiety and insomnia. The top photo is just a picture of the computer showing my head, and the points to which the sensors are connected to read brain waves during my initial brain evaluation.  This photo is showing that I am hooked up and ready to go.

The second picture is that of my brain waves,  collecting data from all those points. You can see a heavy, thick set of peaks on the right side of the photo. These are called 'artifact' (or, "interference' in the brain wave world) and indicates that I chomped my teeth four times.  You have to try and sit very still during this process, so they can get a good reading.

Once we have our results, we review these together and map out a plan to support recovery. We ALL have a bit of a brain wave imbalance one way or another. The goal, with everyone, is to keep a healthy balance of all brain activity - Delta (primarily sleep), Alpha, Beta (hi Beta and lo Beta) and Theta waves have a specific order and 'frequency' they should present.

Looks like I'm in for some neurofeedback. My alpha takes over when my eyes are closed, and everything goes bananas in other areas. Looking at my wave patterns, Leigh was able to tell me a ton about my current state of emotional well-being and mental health...

To learn more about my journey with The Brain Performance Center - stay tuned for our next blog post, which will cover the results of my brain wave analysis and how neurofeedback is helping me, without medications to resolve my symptoms of imbalance.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Tackling E-Commerce Store Design

So you’re ready to launch your first online business. You’ve got a product that people are interested in and all you need a website that looks clean, concise and is ready to give you the virtual storefront you need. We can help you design e-commerce store with a custom website design.  And with great e-commerce tools like Volusion and Core Commerce - (we love being Volusion designer) - it does make managing the inventory and listing your products for sale MUCH EASIER. But that's not enough. Make sure you're ready to tackle the work ahead before you start.

You’re ready to take on e-Commerce right? Think again. 

E-Commerce isn’t for the weak and weary.
Most have had an experience with e-commerce from a TV or radio ad or by purchasing something on the web. It’s usually seamless, simple and easy to use. I bet you've thought before, "I could do this. How card could it be - the internet and computers do all the work!" But, maintaining an e-commerce presence is a mulch-faceted and often difficult task.  And contrary to popular belief - It's also often times a full-time job.

Here are two reasons that businesses fail when trying to take on E-Commerce. 

1. More Than a Store Front
So you’ve got a website? Great, but it can’t stop there. In order to have a successful online business, you’ve got to realize that your website is more than just a store front - it’s a hub that you should be driving traffic to. You need more than just a website to sell a product, you need an online marketing strategy. Countless businesses fail when taking on online business because they simply launch a website and fail to discern why traffic, clickthroughs aren’t high - that is, if they are even tracking those statistics at all.

Owning an e-commerce store is much like owning a physical store. You have to give it attention every day to get the most out of it. Just like a store, you have to arrange your products for visibility and market your business with advertisements and social media. 

You can't just have a 'website that sells' and expect it to make a lot of money.  The website can't do it without you. One must still have the human element to promote and market the website. No time? You might need to hire some help with your internet marketing - at a minimum.

 2. Product First
Developing and implementing an online marketing plan is essential to online success, but after you’ve launched a strategy, what then? It always goes back to the product. Will your product sell? Did you do market research at all prior to your E-Commerce adventure?

If what you are selling is worth the user’s money, time and resources, then encourage users to leave feedback or comments on popular review sites. Don’t skimp on the product in order to make a quick buck, it will end up costing you more in the end.

3. Monitor Your Reputation
One of the most important traits of successful businesses is their ability to listen to consumers instead of just sending messages. Use social media as an extension of customer service to find consumers sharing information about your services or products and answer their questions. Investing in online relationships is a stepping stone for future successes.

Don’t be overwhelmed by e-commerce, be prepared instead! Tackle it head on by taking your reputation into your own hands and delivering something that is worth the time of your customers. Be helpful and proactive and, eventually, you’ll discover that e-commerce isn’t as scary as you thought!