In the post below (Enhancements) you can read more detail about choosing any URL to make your GoGoPin Ad clickable when posted in .HTML.

“Descriptions”, Much More Important!

Some unforeseeable and sudden adjustments to Craigslist had us typing in a flurry! The  necessary updates are already in place. Descriptions are now more important than ever. For best results, pack the description of your ad with as many important keywords as you can. The comma separated list of keywords no longer appears in the .HTML output, so make sure you incorporate keywords in the Description Field upon saving or exporting.

Other Formats

Comma separated keywords appear with handsome icons in other formats including:

• .PNG (Picture)
• .PDF (Printing)
• Post to Facebook
• Post to Twitter

So keywords from your description are still necessary in the event you should use one of the above formats in addition to .HTML output.

Website Building

Gotten comfortable building GoGoPin Ads? Imagine a business transactional website! You may wish to apply your GoGoPin Ad designing skills to build and manage your own business website. Click here to receive an invitation code and we’ll happily send one along good for a complementary trial of GoGoPin Business.

Let Us Know

If it isn’t measured, it doesn’t happen. Comments and suggestions from you are our compass. Our success is measured by yours. Please let us hear everything you have to say about GoGoPin. Yes, everything (support@gogopin.com).

We invite you to follow us on Twitter and join our group on Facebook.

Sincerely,

The GoGoPin Team

New enhancements are already in place for improved performance.

Hyperlink Your GoGoPin Ad

You can now choose to make your GoGoPin Ad ‘click-able’ and hyperlink it to any public URL you wish. You will encounter the same Save/Export Dialog as before (Title, Keywords, and a Description) with an additional place to include any public URL or Web Address you wish. Essentially your GoGoPin Ad becomes a free clickable Banner Ad.

Note: The link you enter will only work when you post your ad using  HTML code.  For help posting your ad in HTML click here.

Additional Clip Art

Fresh customized clip art include designations for Better Business Bureau, as well as new professional designations for Real Estate, and pet policy badges for Property Managers. See picture below or click here for samples.

Change Background Color

Select a background color from standard color selections, or use slide bars to exact RGB specifications. Adjust the length of your ad, and the background color extends as well. These options are adjustable in the lower right portion of the workspace.

Improved Text Editing

Sometimes the best improvements are ones that you don’t even notice. Rich text editing is cleaner, and more stable than ever now. Get what you want on the page with fewer clicks.

Refreshed Tour Page

If it has been a while since you last logged in, or if you wish to share GoGoPin with others then you’ll want to visit the GoGoPin Ad Tour. The Tour includes a video introduction, samples, and screenshots for your own reference, and for easy sharing without signing in.

Complementary Trial of GoGoPin Business is Underway!

Extend the reach of your online marketing efforts by building your own unique business website. Connect, book appointments, or simply sell items live from your home, office, or third place. To request an invitation code to begin a complementary trial of GoGoPin Business click here.

Thank You!

Please continue to let us know what you would like to see in terms of GoGoPin Ad enhancements and we will do our best to deliver:  support@gogopin.com . Until the next newsworthy announcement, we always remain available for help via
support@gogopin.com as well.

We invite you to follow us on Twitter, and join our group on Facebook.

Sincerely,

The GoGoPin Team

Designing and developing  technology can’t be everyone’s strong suit.  Small business owners must play to their strengths, and most of us are lucky to speak a second language much less write software. GoGoPin is a small business that has technology at its core, and was recognized by Microsoft’s /web profile.  Tech savvy? Take a gander. (No? Read on…)

Entrepreneurs wear many hats, but inevitably attending to core operations in any small business comes at the expense of time spent tending to tasks outside their comfort zone,  like online marketing.

Now business people from all sectors can manage their own online content using solely a keyboard and mouse, entirely from an internet browser.

Blog Today; Build Your Own Business Website Tomorrow.

There are as many blogs as there are specialists and then some. But only a few years ago, the number of people dubbing themselves ‘author’ was far smaller. Luckily, many tech savvy developers compiled blogging platforms for the rest of us. Those developers (you know who you are!) made publishing content on the web accessible to more people from all compass points geographic and virtual.

Technology developers and designers have core skill that affect practically all sectors of business today, and they too stand on the shoulders of giants.  Developers and designers at GoGoPin are using tools that you may never need to know (or want to). Tools such as:

• ASP.NET Framework
• IIS Web Server
• Visual Studio
• Silverlight

Each of these tools are continually under development as well, and the observable result is the convergence of design and development. Microsoft’s BizSpark program has provided  GoGoPin with an integrated development environment (lots of software and more). Subsequently, GoGoPin has designed, developed, and produced applications that affect businesses of all kinds.

What’s in it for Me?

What’s good for small business is good for all of us. What’s in it for small businesses is the ability of online business activities from people who never dreamed they would manage such activities for themselves. GoGoPin aims to put the power of the web in the hands of small business owners who aren’t technology developers or designers.

What’s in it for GoGoPin is the opportunity to play to GoGoPin’s strength: empowering offline businesses with online tools they can manage themselves.

Microsoft has recognized GoGoPin among other developing small businesses for taking the tools and running with them for a noble reason: That small business owners may build and manage a business website that serves their core business operation, without requiring specialized technical skills.

A Head Start for Small Business

GoGoPin Business Website building is rapidly maturing,  and you have the opportunity now to sign up and get started on a complementary basis. By giving feedback, corner cleaners and pizza chefs can take the reins of their own website and blog in one fell swoop.  Closing the gap between offline and online takes a little time that is well spent.  For now, it requires no money whatsoever!

Making Ads and Flyers Online Gets Better with Every Tweet!

Nowadays more GoGoPin Ads are being posted than ever before, and the following enhancements are by no means the last. GoGoPin Ad will now be presented in Microsoft Silverlight 3, as we continue to provide you with the most nimble online content creation possible.   Direct Distribution via Twitter! The main idea here is not to watch Twitter grow like a weed. Rather, we want to help your business flourish by ‘tweeting’ your GoGoPin Ad. Twitter is a perfect way to distribute a simple link to your GoGoPin Ad. It is not too late to start with Twitter if you haven’t yet. Both Twitter and GoGoPin Ad are free. Twitter is very effective for sharing links, and is a perfect fit for posting GoGoPin Ads quickly: Type your Twitter Username and Password Type 140 Characters that invite your buyers to view your GoGoPin Ad (include keywords). Include #[insert keyword1], #[insert keyword2] to help searchers find your ad on Twitter .New to the Twitter Idea? Read this blog post “The Era of Free Marketing” for a few words on Twitter. In our experience with Twitter it is best to learn by doing. That blue bird doesn’t bite.   What Else? Thanks to your loyalty and satisfaction, we have recently earned BBB accreditation and Verisign verification for your peace of mind and for that of people new to GoGoPin (we welcome your referrals). Besides posting to Twitter, what you’ll most likely enjoy is: Snap to grid : easily auto-align text, images, shapes, and tables within your ad. New alignment tool : easily align multiple elements all at once. CTRL + Click to select multiple elements on the canvas and group them, reposition, and etc. Maintain image aspect ratio. Add border and roundness to images and shapes. Various arrow types. More shapes (circle and triangle). More clipart (e.g. “FSBO”, “OBO”, “Hot!”, and etc). Switched from JPG to PNG format to improve image quality. Official support for Safari 4.0 or higher   Thank You! Please continue to let us know what you would like to see in terms of GoGoPin Ad enhancements and we will do our best to deliver: support@gogopin.com . Until the next newsworthy announcement, we always remain available for help via support@gogopin.com We invite you to follow us on , and join our group on Sincerely, The GoGoPin Team

Startup of the Day (September 1, 2009) – GoGoPin

Interview between Microsoft Startup Zone’s Julien Codorniou, and Jaeyoung Chun (Danny), co-founder and CEO of MotionCloud, Inc.

Who are you?

I’m Jaeyoung Chun (Danny), co-founder and CEO of MotionCloud, Inc.

How do you feel being the most promising ‘company of the day’ per Microsoft?

We feel much honored. And being recognized as a promising startup is a great motivation for all our team members. We will continue to strive hard to stay as one of the most promising companies.

What did you do before creating your company?

I was studying computer science in Boston. Prior to that, I was a senior software architect in a company developing video conferencing software and CTI solution.

How did you get the idea? What’s the genesis?

Nowadays, nearly everyone with a computer can easily have their own space or media online. You go to sites like Facebook and MySpace, provide two or three pieces of personal information, then ta-da! now you have your own space to express and put your creativity on the Web. It takes less than one minute to get your own space on the Web. Plus, you can have a unique URL for your space, for instance http://facebook.com/johndoe or even http://johndoe.com. Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, all of these services will certainly get you a space on the Web, “online presence”, but this does not automatically establish your identity, this does not tell who you are. Yes, now you do exist on the Web, but you are just one of the million people out there trying to express “you” on the Web.

Until now technologists have focused on creating a content “holder”. But we believe that what’s important is “content” in it. Content is conversations with your friends on Your Facebook profile page, your daily blog posts on WordPress, or pictures you stored in your Flickr photo albums. And the challenge people face these days is that it is still difficult to create one’s own content online, even tech savvy people have to spend quite long time to create something online.

We wanted to provide a dead-easy content creation tool for non-tech savvy people – a tool that doesn’t require any knowledge about HTML, CSS, and FTP, a tool that doesn’t require additional software such as Photoshop, a tool that works in all Web browsers so that all you need is the Internet connection and a Web browser, and finally a tool that lets you create rich and interactive content which is searchable.

So we created “GoGoPin”.

What did you do before creating your company?

I was studying computer science in Boston. Prior to that, I was a senior software architect in a company developing video conferencing software and CTI solution.

What do you sell? What is your company’s mission?

Currently, we provide three services:

GoGoPin Business (http://business.gogopin.com/)

GoGoPin Ad (http://ad.gogopin.com/)

GoGoPin Communicator (http://communicator.gogopin.com/)

Each service has its own mission, but in general, our mission is to provide small local businesses with everything they need to run successful businesses online. We believe that one of the keys to success in online business is to have up-to-date, rich and interactive, searchable content on the Web. As Herbert Simon said “the rapid growth of information causes scarcity of attention”. In today’s increasingly competitive and rapidly changing world, whatever you put on the Web must be something that attracts visitor’s attention. We’re trying to help them achieve this through GoGoPin.

What is your market?

Market? How about people? We’d like to help people who belong to these categories.

- People selling stuff on eBay, Amazon, and other marketplaces

- People running brick-and-mortar stores and planning to go online

- People posting ads to Craigslist and other online/offline classifieds

- People who want to send and receive multimedia messages with their friends and family

- People who want to create eye-appealing content in 3 minutes, but have no computer knowledge whatsoever

Funding history? VCs? BA?

We got funded by Neowiz Investment.

Growth? Internationalization?

We started GoGoPin Ad service in November 2008. We recently started GoGoPin Business and GoGoPin Communicator. We are fairly new.

How many employees do you have? How many developers?

We have total of 9 employees, 3 great developers and 2 amazing designers.

Are you hiring? If yes, what? Where?

We are always interesting in talking with creative and motivated people.

Which platform are you building on? Why?

We use Silverlight, ASP.NET, IIS, SQL Server, and few others. I have some experience with other vendor’s tools, but as far as productivity is concerned, nothing can beat Microsoft products. I’m dead serious.

Who’s your role model?

There are just too many great people.

Where do you see opportunities today in the Software/internet areas?

Where software meets living organisms.

Looking for funding? If yes, how much?

Yes, we are seeking $1.5M to expand our business.

What about the BizSpark Program? What do you think? Are you going to join? Why?

We joined the BizSpark Program fairly early. I think it is a great opportunity for startups to get together and share ideas through this program. I was at one event a week ago and met a lot of cool entrepreneurs and MS guys who are willing to help and give me good advice. On the top of that they offer great drinks and food at the event! And we enjoy accessing hundreds of Microsoft products for free.

Any advice to young Software entrepreneurs?

I’m not in the position of giving any advice, but I remember one of the Microsoft TV commercials, “People-Ready Business”. I’m sure there are a lot of meanings in this campaign, but I interpret it this way – the key to success is to ensure your people have the skills, tools, information, and resources needed. And most importantly, you need right people.

Most GoGoPin customers are small business owners without much IT experience beyond using an internet browser. GoGoPin provides an exceptionally easy user interface for you to create online content and manage it yourself. A major building block backstage at GoGoPin is Microsoft Silverlight, which GoGoPin has used to provide what you experience on websites such as GoGoPin Ad and GoGoPin Business and other services such as GoGoPin Communicator for Windows Live Messenger.

MS Ranks GoGoPin Expert

GoGoPin is listed as an expert in the following areas on the Microsoft Silverlight website:

GoGoPin Areas of Silverlight Expertise

What is Silverlight?

Microsoft says it best:  “Silverlight is a cross-browser, cross-platform and cross-device browser plug-in that helps companies design, develop and deliver applications and experiences on the Web.” (Microsoft Silverlight)

What Do You Need to Know About It?

You needn’t necessarily know more about it. You don’t need to understand how a telephone works to be terrific on the phone.

If you wish to enjoy GoGoPin online content creation, you will be prompted to download a plug-in for Microsoft Silverlight (if you haven’t already). GoGoPin wishes to provide you with the confidence that downloading Silverlight is not only a safe move, but a business building one for point and click, drag and drop online marketing tools. But you don’t need to know more about it to use it.

In a recent interview for a joint press release with Microsoft, Danny Chun, President of GoGoPin said, “By working strategically with Microsoft, I’m confident that GoGoPin Business will provide small business owners with the control and ROI of their internet marketing efforts that they have long deserved without ever knowing they have Silverlight 3, .NET RIA, and Bing Mapping for Enterprise to thank!”

Created for an upcoming Silverlight Virtual Expo (2009) Microsoft spokesperson Brian Goldfarb concurred in the same release: “Microsoft is pleased to work with GoGoPin to deliver a great computing experience to our customers,” said Goldfarb, director of the Developer Platform Group, at Microsoft Corp. “GoGoPin has utilized Silverlight 3 and .NET to utmost high potential, and Microsoft customers won’t have any need to know of the heavy technical skills required backstage.”

Try GoGoPin Free Marketing Tools

You can always keep the technical jargon to a minimum, and mouse ahead toward creating and managing your own online marketing efforts with GoGoPin.  Join or follow below for discussion, tips, and updates.

Click Here Using Internet Explorer and Try It Now!

GoGoPin Communicator for Windows Live Messenger enhances Instant Messaging by providing a canvas to share pictures, map locations, and videos while you chat.

GoGoPin remains committed to providing new online content creation tools to enable you to bring more customers to your business. Windows Live Messenger is a free marketing tool if you invite your customers to chat with you about your products and services.

If your business needs require appointment setting or meeting face to face, let your contacts or buyers know you’re available by including your free Windows Live Address in your email signature, on your blog, on your website, or in the body of a GoGoPin Ad .

Using Internet Explorer you can visit GoGoPin Communicator to enhance your chat by viewing pictures, routing directions, and actually watching videos together through Windows Live Messenger while chatting at the same time.

Cost: Free.

Requirements: Three.

1. Windows Live Messenger

2. Internet Explorer

3. Microsoft Silverlight

Visit GoGoPin Communicator and click ‘Start’ under the Windows Live Messenger as seen above.  you will be alerted as to your current status regarding the above requirements as seen here:

If you already have the above requirements you’ll see your contacts come up right away in an activity window like this:

Choose Your Partner, Select a Video, Have Fun, IM!

When using Instant Messaging as a free marketing tool you can show off your products or properties while chatting with your prospects. There is fun to be had for personal use as well especially watching videos together while you chat!

Check out our demo video (Google Mapping in video is now provided by Bing Mapping).

GoGoPin Communicator for Windows Live Messenger

3…2…1…Launch! (Closed Beta)

In 1998, small business owners asked: “Why do I need a website?”

By 2003, small business owners asked “How can I afford a website?”

Now, in 2009 small business owners can build, manage, and maintain their own websites without any special skills beyond those used to browse the internet with a keyboard and mouse, all within a sensible budget.

 New Era? Thems FIGHTIN’ words.

No one wants a fight. However every business competes. And local small businesses need all the help they can get when it comes to competing for new customers online. 

A small business owner can easily run into thousands of dollars in website creation and maintenance. This is within the means of some businesses. We applaud the web designers that provide this valuable service to small businesses that don’t have full-time internet marketing staff.

However, a large number of small businesses spend $1000 or even less for an online marketing plan that hasn’t paid for itself in new local customers to their brick and mortar business. Things are finally looking up for these folks.

GoGoPin Business intends to provide the websites and search results that small businesses deserve at a price that pays for itself in new customers. Today marks the launch of point and click, Do-it-Yourself website building and management that will win local small businesses new customers that are searching more and more on the internet.

We Are Not Alone

GoGoPin Business has competitors as well to be sure.  We can’t expect all the business there is to be won, but we intend for the combination of high quality, low price, and perhaps most importantly – one-on-one communication ability with visitors to your GoGoPin Buisiness Website to certainly prove GoGoPin Website Building to be a contender (See previous post entitled “Do it Yourself….” ).  We invite you to follow us on and join our group on   .

The GoGoPin Team