Thursday, September 30, 2021

My Blogger Tricks

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7 Effective Social Media Marketing Tips for Your Business

Posted: 30 Sep 2021 05:37 AM PDT


The advent and sudden boom of social media in our lives have been nothing short of amazing, and its influence on our lives is something that should be taken very seriously. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't have an active presence in one form of social media or the other, and it takes up a significant portion of most people's daily routines.  

If you can successfully leverage this space to market your products and services to casual social media users, you can reach a massive number of people in an unprecedented amount of time that other forms of marketing would struggle to replicate. This potential reach and opportunity to market your company's culture and personality makes Social Media marketing one of the most promising avenues to consider in the current times. 

However, social media is as unpredictable as it is diverse and large, which makes marketing successfully on such platforms a much trickier job than one might be used to. Every action can have unforeseen consequences, so you must carefully consider all the choices you make. To successfully pull this off, you need to have a good understanding of all the trends, groups of interest, and implications of actions, so you can always be prepared for whatever the consequences here. Here are 7 effective Social Media Marketing tips to get you started on the journey.

1. Create a clearly defined Social Media Plan

To start your social media campaign, you need to first establish what your objectives are. Without clearly defined and attainable goals, your campaign will come across as directionless and unrefined, which sets a bad precedent for your business. Figure out your own answers to relevant questions about this plan, like
  • Who your target audience is? 
  • How would you reach this audience?
  • What message would you want to send across online?
If you're finding it difficult to come up with a general strategy, remember to choose one that fits with your business type. There is no one size fits for campaigning on social media, and to stand out, you can always choose a marketing style that is appropriate but also unique to your business.

2. Look up your Target Audience

As Diverse as Social Media platforms are, there'll always be a category of people on the sites that are much more likely to take a liking to your products or services. It is much more cost-efficient to focus your marketing efforts on these groups of people and understanding their tastes and interests can also help you make content that is more likely to go viral. After all, it's a lot easier to create Content for an audience whose taste you're familiar with.  Thus, it is recommended that you spend some time and effort researching your brand's target groups, as it makes your marketing operations smoother and more efficient in the long run.

3. Figure out the most effective platforms for you

To establish a strong presence for your business online, it is recommended to focus on the platforms you're most likely to find your target audience at. For example, if your brand happens to work best with visual media or happens to cater to millennials and Gen Z, Instagram is a great place to have a strong presence. It is rather difficult to maintain a uniform and strong presence across dozens of social media sites, so just focus on a few sites that would work best for your business and establish a strong, recognizable image in these places

4. Humanize your brand on social media

It never hurts to be associated with the more emotional side of the business, rather than just the gritty and competitive ads and posters for sales. People are more likely to have positive opinions about your business and brand if they can relate to it.  You can do this by sharing your work culture, fun stories from the workplace, and the experiences of your employees. Telling stories is also a great way of engaging with your audience, as we as humans remember stories far better than simple posters. Also, don't be afraid of admitting your mistakes online or using "emoticons" or other such symbols that are considered unprofessional. It makes your brand much more human and thus, relatable.

5. Schedule your Posts

The question of how often you should post can only be answered by the business itself, as it depends on a variety of metrics specific to them (such as the nature of their content, audience, etc.). Regardless, once you come up with your answer, it is a good idea to schedule your content around certain times. Not only does this increase the possible engagement that your posts may get, but it also lets you prepare your content and captions well in advance and monitor whatever content you've already put out. There are several tools available online such as HubSpot and Hootsuite that can help you with this.

6. Create Engaging Visual Content for your business

It is a well-known fact that people are a lot more likely to remember visual content than some written work. This is especially true in a space like social media, where attention spans are shorter and access to videos and graphics are far easier. If you can invest in making graphics and videos that demand the attention of people, you can give yourself a huge leg up from the competition online. This is also where strategies like TikTok brand marketing comes in.

7. Use Social media analytics to bolster your success

One of the most convenient aspects of social media is how easy it is to get access to feedback and data about the content you've put out. There are several important metrics you may have access to, such as Post engagement, Likes, Reach, Tags, Profile visits, etc. which can give you a great deal of information about how well your marketing campaign is doing. These metrics, along with separate tools you can use for the same purpose, can help you understand your audience's likes and dislikes better and implement effective strategies on a larger scale to improve your outreach.

Conclusion

Social Media is a volatile place full of diverse people and ever-changing trends, and this means it is also a golden place for opportunities to market, no matter what kind of business you are. If you can carve out your own niche in this space by employing the available tools and resources such as these tips well, you can greatly increase the outreach of your company and create a brand image that is exclusive to you.

Monday, September 27, 2021

My Blogger Tricks

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Picking the Best Laptop to Suit Your Needs

Posted: 27 Sep 2021 10:11 AM PDT


We are all placing increasing demands on our laptops, and we expect them to be everything to us. From preparing documents and sharing them to sitting back watching movies, our laptop is a trusted companion. 

This article helps give you some food for thought choosing your new laptop. This includes considering the operating system through to thinking about the screen size.

Where to start when you look for a new laptop

With tens of thousands of options out there to choose from, picking the right laptop to suit you can seem like an impossible task. 

But thinking about what you are most likely to use your new machine for, and the budget you have to spend will quickly start to narrow that search down. 

There are all kinds of different types and specifications of laptops for sale to choose from nowadays. Office or home-based models that are high-powered but lower in terms of their portability are good options for users requiring optimal compute power. 

For business travelers or commuters, a slight compromise is likely to be needed between the size and weight on the one hand, and the laptop's portability on the other hand. 

The good news is that modern laptops come in all shapes and sizes. Notebooks or tablets offer different levels of size and durability depending on the user's needs. 

Ace it with the accessories

Whatever specification laptop you pick, you can really pimp your ride by adding some great accessories to improve your user experience. Even if your budget can only stretch to a low-end laptop, add a larger monitor, keyboard, and mouse to instantly boost your user experience!

Adding these options on to your laptop can also make it a lot easier to churn out assignments, business plans or other important work. 

Looking into the details

Once you have your budget clear in your head, you have cleared one of the most important hurdles already. Knowing your price range means you can eliminate many laptop models from your search.

Lower-end laptops are fine for surfing the web, watching movies, and taking care of your personal affairs. If you plan to use the device for the family to make selections from Netflix or Amazon Prime, a cheaper laptop can also be the perfect choice. After all, if the kids are going to be using it, you don't want to risk the most expensive device! 

Even the lowest budget laptops tend to come with a warranty of some kind, so you can be assured of some peace of mind with your purchase.

Even still, check out some user reviews and PC magazines before going ahead with your purchase. There is no hiding with online reviews, and they can really help you pick out the bargains from the headaches with new laptops. 

Business use

For business users, it is advisable to try to push for a mid-range laptop. This will ensure your device is portable enough for you to carry between trains or flights, while still being powerful enough to carry out all the functions you need it to. 

You will also find mid-range PCs better suited to Zoom calls or playing graphic-intense online games. The higher you go in the budget stakes enables you to combine the slickest finishes with CPU power, so these are options worth considering if you can afford them. 

Have fun!

Looking for a new laptop should not be dauting – it should be fun! If you have prepped well enough to know your RAM from your CPU and your screen resolution, you are doing well. 

Remember you are in the driving seat. There are so many retailers and vendors vying for their share of the laptop market that you should always come away with the feeling that you have got the best value for money you can within your budget. 

Even if prices are pretty similar across different manufactures, they are always looking for ways to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Look for snap promotions, or laptops with extras thrown in such as gaming headsets or monitors. You could also opt for software bundles or additional security features such as firewalls. Either way, try to get the most bang for your buck with your new laptop.

Thursday, September 23, 2021

My Blogger Tricks

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When Do Domains Drop?

Posted: 23 Sep 2021 03:07 AM PDT


Domain names are valid for a specific duration. In most cases, this duration is one year from the time the owner registers the domain. If you fail to renew your domain after its expiry, the registrar renders it expired or dropped. A dropped domain is a domain name that isn't renewed in time. Domain names expire because owners abandon them, lack renewal funds, or forget about their existence. But when do domains drop? Read on to find the answers.

How Domains Drop

Dropped domain names don't become inactive abruptly. Instead, registrars give owners a grace period to renew them. The grace period varies, but here's the general process of how they expire.

Expired Status

If an owner fails to renew their domain registration, the domain name enters into an expired status. This is a 30- to 40-day grace period during which the domain name is salvageable by the owner. However, all the domain's services aren't operational. If the owner decides to renew, then the domain ceases to be a drop domain name. Most registrars don't impose a penalty, meaning owners can renew their expired domains at the standard renewal fee.

Redemption Period

If the domain's owner fails to renew the domain name after the grace period, the name will go into a 30-day redemption period. This is a critical stage where the registrar might put the affected TLD into an auction. During this period, a drop domain begins losing its WHOIS information. Domains in the redemption stage are still renewable. That said, the owner can only renew it if the registry hasn't auctioned it off. If the owner decides to renew, they will pay the regular renewal fee plus an additional reactivation cost. The redemption fee varies depending on the registrar, but expect to pay about $100.

Deletion Phase

When the redemption period elapses, the domain enters the pending delete phase. It stays in this stage for one to five days. At this stage, the domain cannot be renewed or newly registered. On the 6th day, the domain drop deletion occurs. The registry erases its existence, and it will drop from the ICANN database. The actual time the TLD drops varies depending on the registry. It's advisable to check the registry information for each TLD. An approximate time is between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Pacific time. Once drop domain names get deleted, they become available for registration. Anyone, including the previous owner, can register it as a new domain. So, when do domains drop? The entire drop period takes about 75 days from the day the domain expires, while the actual drop takes place a day after. 

Exceptions

Not all domain names dropped follow this process. The explained procedure mostly occurs in gTLDs. Examples of such domains include:
  • .com
  • .net
  •  .biz
  • .info
Dropped .eu domains enter a 40-day quarantine period after their expiry. During this period, owners can choose to restore their TLDs. If this period elapses, the names become available for registration to the general public. Expired .de domains follow a different path altogether. After their expiry, they immediately revert to the registry and go through the transit phase. You can still recover your TLD after it enters this state.

How Do You Identify a Dropped Domain Name?

Identifying a drop domain name is straightforward. The WHOIS lookup feature can quickly tell you the status of a domain name. When using this feature, disregard the expiration date it shows. This is because the registry's WHOIS often adds a year to expired domains. Instead of checking the expiry date, focus on the "domain status." The status of a drop domain name will either be "pending redemption" or "pending delete."

How to Find a Dropped Domain

Identifying a drop domain is easy, but acquiring one is something else. You could snatch valuable, expired domains from Verisign's servers, but this process requires more resources and is time-consuming. A better option is to work with domain snatching companies like GoDaddy, Enom, Pool, to name a few. Of course, you still have to outbid competitors in an auction to land the expired domain of your choice. If you aren't sure of the dropped domains you want, you can analyze a list of expired domains in auctions. However, don't fall blindly for a dropped TLD.

Things to Consider When Dealing with Drop Domains

Below are the vital things to consider before acquiring drop domains.

Domain and Page Authority

Unlike new domains, dropped domains have higher domain authority. The higher the authority, the better the chances of ranking in SERPs. So, before bidding for a drop domain, check its authority using domain checking tools.

Spam

Previous users might have used the dropped domains for spammy purposes. That's why you have to investigate the domain's history, particularly its backlinks.

AdSense Ban

If you intend to monetize your drop domain, you need to ensure AdSense hasn't banned it. More things to check include trademarks and trust flow. If a drop domain passes all these tests, proceed and purchase it. You may need to use domain backorders to secure expired domains.

Sunday, September 5, 2021

My Blogger Tricks

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Top 4 Examples Of Great VPN Review Articles

Posted: 12 Dec 2020 01:45 AM PST

Top 4 Examples Of Great VPN Review ArticlesThe coronavirus pandemic revolutionized the corporate working environment. Before the pandemic, less than 10 million people worked remotely and this number has risen to approximately 70 million globally.

This fundamental shift has made it necessary for workers to use VPNs. After all, data security cannot be overlooked, and working from home doesn't come with a secure network and a dedicated IT division. This is where VPNs come into play.

A virtual private network encrypts your data and masks your IP address, protecting you from malicious hackers. If you're looking for an effective VPN, here are 4 great review articles that will help you make an informative decision.

VPN Testing Review

VPN Testing has compiled a review of the best VPN services in 2020 for remote workers looking to maximize security and maintain online anonymity.

This review was based on various tests conducted on different VPNs, through which they assessed different factors including; price, customer support, security, bandwidth caps, ease of remote access, logging, server locations, dynamic and dedicated IP, etc.

The VPNs reviewed in this article are:

    • ExpressVPN
    • NordVPN
    • PIA VPN
    • Surf Shark
    • IPVanish
    • ProtonVPN

      They've also tested other VPNs including StrongVPN, PureVPN, Norton Secure VPN, etc.

      TechRadar

      TechRadar has garnered a reputation for giving the best tech buying advice so it's no surprise that they have reviewed various VPNs. They have subdivided the review into categories; the 3 best VPNs overall and a fully comprehensive list of the best VPNs in 2020.

      Their review includes the devices that are compatible with a particular VPN, unblocked streaming sites, customer support, number of servers and their locations, devices supported, number of available countries, and whether there is a trial period.

      The reviewed VPNs include; ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surf Shark, Hotspot Shield, PIA VPN, etc. You can read their review here. They also have user ratings next to the VPN, easing your decision-making process.

      ZDNet

      ZDNet helps professionals in the technology sector to keep up with the latest IT trends. They also conduct market analysis and product reviews for IT products, including VPNs.

      Other than the 3 major VPN, ZDNet has also reviewed; IPVanish, ProtonVPN, VyprVPN, Norton Secure VPN, StrongVPN, Hotspot Shield, among others.

      Some of the criteria they used to review the VPNs include; the maximum number of connections, compatible devices, logging, countries available, server locations, and trial period.

      Neil Patel

      Even though the Neil Patel blog is mainly focused on digital marketing, they also discuss the tools the entrepreneurs can use to succeed in the online space, including VPNs. In addition to the 3  major ones, they've also reviewed Perimeter 81, VyprVPN, Mullvad, and TunnelBear.

      Unlike the rest of the reviews, Neil Patel has also discussed the different criteria you should use to choose a VPN. You can check out the rest of the review here.

      Best VPN Services 2020

      If you've shifted into a remote working environment then a VPN will help keep your data safe and secure. This is especially so when you have to access the company's servers from the comfort of your home. Make sure you go through the above reviews before purchasing a VPN.

      Managed vs. Unmanaged VPS Hosting - Which is Best For You?

      Posted: 09 Dec 2020 02:00 AM PST

      Managed vs. Unmanaged VPS Hosting - Which is Best For You?

      Selecting a hosting plan is among the first steps you need to take when creating a website. A hosting plan is what allows your site to be viewed on the internet. The hosting provider you choose will store your site on their servers, and those servers will then display the necessary data to visitors. There are a variety of different hosting plans available. When you first get your site up and running, you will probably use a shared hosting plan. However, as your site grows and you begin receiving more visitors, you will need the capabilities of a virtual private server (VPS).

      A VPS hosting plan hosts your site on a server that has been segmented into several virtual servers. Each VPS is entirely separate from the rest of the virtual servers. Every virtual server has its own copy of the operating system, functions independently from the other servers, and has its own resources. With a VPS, you can quickly scale resources such as CPU, RAM, and disk space to accommodate increased traffic. This is why growing sites choose VPS hosting over shared hosting.

      The Two Types of VPS Hosting

      There are two types of VPS hosting: managed and unmanaged. With managed hosting, the web host provider handles all server-related issues. By contrast, unmanaged hosting leaves all the heavy-lifting in your hands. You will be required to do everything from setting up the server to configuring the applications to monitoring the VPS.

      Advantages of Managed VPS Hosting

      • Ideal for non-technical customers who have little or no knowledge of setting up and configuring a server and its applications.
      • Perfect for customers who want to focus their time on their website's front-end rather than the back-end.
      • Customers receive 24/7/365 monitoring by the web hosting provider, providing peace of mind and guaranteeing reliable uptime.
      • Users can quickly scale their website with server resources like CPU, RAM, and bandwidth, whenever they want them.
      • The hosting provider will tweak your server, boosting its performance and ability to accommodate traffic.

      Disadvantages of Managed VPS Hosting

      • The cost of managed VPS plans tends to be higher.
      • Users have less flexibility concerning software and plugins.
      • There is limited access to account configuration options.

      Advantages of Unmanaged VPS Hosting

      • Tech-savvy users have the freedom to do whatever they want with their VPS.
      • These plans tend to be cheaper because the customer does the bulk of the work.
      • You can customize and manage the security level of your server.

      Disadvantages of Unmanaged VPS Hosting

      • It requires a high degree of technical knowledge, so it isn't ideal for beginners or non-technical users.
      • It requires an enormous amount of time to set up, taking time away from other tasks like marketing.
      • This plan requires users to be continually monitoring their applications and server, which can be strenuous.

      Weighing Your Options

      When deciding between managed and unmanaged VPS hosting, you need to consider your abilities and your budget. If your budget only allows for unmanaged hosting, you can always teach yourself the basics of server management. However, you have to remember that managing the server will take time away from other aspects of your business. So you have to ask yourself, can I afford to put time towards the server, or will other things suffer? For this reason, even if you have the technical know-how, you may choose to go with managed hosting. Managed hosting takes a huge load of work off your back. Selecting this option may cost more, but it will save more in time.

      Additionally, you need to consider the security of your site.  If you choose managed hosting, your provider will keep your server secure. However, if you choose unmanaged hosting, you will have to make sure your server is secure. This will require a lot of knowledge and time.  You will need to be comfortable configuring features like SSL certificates, CDN, site backups, firewalls, and DNS settings.

      Conclusion

      If your website is growing, you need a VPS hosting plan. You can either get a managed or an unmanaged VPS plan. With a managed plan, everything is taken care of for you. Your hosting provider will monitor and take care of your server's resources. They will also make updates and upgrades accordingly. This is an ideal solution for users who lack the time or the knowledge to manage a server themselves. Unmanaged plans, on the other hand, require that you manage the server yourself. This means that it will be up to you to monitor your server's resources and make upgrades and updates as necessary. This can be time-consuming and requires a fair amount of technical knowledge. Therefore this plan is best for users who have the time and the experience for server maintenance.

      Why Do You Need a PPC Agency

      Posted: 19 Nov 2020 12:52 PM PST


      The time and effort that goes into digital marketing are often much more than a company can manage on their own. It's not a viable option for many companies to hire someone in-house to take on all the work they need for this. You'll likely end up needing multiple people for all the work you need, which is why an agency is the best option for most companies. For example, if you're interested in PPC, an agency will be the best way of getting the help you need. With a good PPC agency, you have the resources you need to achieve your digital marketing goals.

      Here are a few reasons you need a PPC agency.

      Expert Knowledge of PPC

      PPC can be complicated and isn't something you can learn quickly or easily if you want to be successful at it. You might be able to pick up some things on your own, but it's far from everything you need to know. Even if you have a marketing team, they may not be completely dedicated to working with just PPC and will have to balance other tasks along with it. A PPC agency will have professionals who understand all the ins and outs of the industry. This is a level of expertise that you won't get many other places, which makes working with extremely valuable.

      PPC Can Change Quickly

      The work that goes into a PPC campaign isn't something that can be done and then be left alone for a while. Things can change quickly, and something that's worked for you won't always be effective. You need to always be on top of things when it comes to PPC, which can be difficult if you have other things going on. A PPC agency will constantly monitor how things are going and can quickly make the right changes when they need to. There are always new things and trends happening in PPC, and you can be sure that a PPC agency is staying up to date.

      It Can Save Money and Time

      As you can see, a huge amount of time can go into getting positive results from a PPC campaign. Chances are, your business probably doesn't have this much free time lying around to dedicate towards this. You might consider hiring a PPC specialist so they can spend all of their time on this, but taking on a new employee, even a part-time one, is a big expense. A PPC agency is a much more cost-effective route. Not only can this help you save money, but it gives you access to a whole team of PPC specialists with knowledge and resources.

      They Can Prove Your Campaign is Effective

      Of course, you want to know that your money is being well spent. While working with a PPC agency is going to be an additional cost for your business to take on, they'll be able to show you it's worth it. A PPC specialist knows how to analyze the data that shows how you're performing, so there's proof of whether it is or isn't working. Your PPC agency can track your campaign's success and report it back to you so that you can clearly see why investing in PPC services is such a smart choice.