Tag Archives: events

The Internet Is More Than Memes

The post The Internet Is More Than Memes appeared first on HostGator Blog | Gator Crossing . When you think of the Internet there are a few things that come to mind, among them: cats, procrastination, and memes. Some people spend hours online looking up all kinds of random information, parodies, and a host of other nonsensical information. There are people who don’t know that the man in the meme shown is Gene Wilder, or that this is from the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Ensuring that Gene Wilder is remembered for more than just a picture with a funny caption should be the least of your concerns, however.   The Internet Really is More than Memes The fact of the matter is that you should stop thinking of the internet as just for memes, as just for killing time on Imgur, or as a means of checking to see what the latest drama is on Facebook. The internet isn’t just about killing time; it’s about benefitting your business.   How can the Internet Benefit MY Business? The Internet can only work to benefit your business as much as you let it. If you don’t have an online presence, the Internet can do virtually nothing for you. If you have a website, it won’t help unless you let people know it’s there, and if you don’t keep your website updated, it can’t work to benefit you; people will check it out once or twice, see that it never changes, and forget about it. It takes a lot of time and effort to work to promote your company online, setting up advertisements, keeping your site up to date, and generally working to stand out above the rest. The more you do, the more your online presence can benefit you, and the more that other people too will be able to see that the internet is for more than just memes. Create a blog, setup profiles on the different social media sites, setup advertisements, or offer promotions in keeping with holidays or even simply because you feel like it. You can even make up a reason for a promotion! As long as you work to keep your online presence strong, through self-promotion and the promotion of others, the Internet will become more than just a means of keeping you occupied at three in the morning – it will become a gateway into bigger and better things for you and your company.   Image Source: Troll.me. (2014). More Memes . Retrieved from http://www.troll.me/images/creepy-willy-wonka/i-see-you-know-more-memes-than-me-you-must-lead-an-exciting-life.jpg web hosting Continue reading

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Building Blocks of a Successful Start Up

The post Building Blocks of a Successful Start Up appeared first on HostGator Blog | Gator Crossing .   There are many different areas that need work in order to ensure that a business start up becomes successful. The business plan must be solid, the product or service being offered must either be necessary or be presented in a manner that makes it desirable to others, and the management and leadership of the organization must be top notch. If any of these fail it may mean the downfall of the business. In spite of these possibilities, there are other aspects that are just as important, offering a firm foundation on which the business may blossom, ensuring that even if there are hiccups in other areas that the business will be able to pick itself up and carry on.   Good Business Habits In order for a business to succeed, those who are responsible for the business must work to ensure that they have implemented good business habits.  Some examples would be prompt responses, attention to detail, appropriate risk management strategies, and a clear directional path for the organization.  If ingrained early on, it will be possible for the business to continue even if an issue arises. A manager who has failed in their duties will be able to affect the company far less if all employees have already had a sense of detail and a firm grasp on the company’s direction instilled within them, as one example.   Productivity Productivity is an equally important task. If an organization works to ensure that all of their employees stay productive during the work day, the chances of that productivity trailing off, or of a lack of productivity affecting the business itself, drastically decrease. If all employees have a sense that while they are at work they are there to work, the chance of something detracting from that and causing issues for the business are far less, allowing the business to fly more smoothly through crisis situations.   Pulling it all Together It’s not always possible to devote one’s full time to a new business. New entrepreneurs often maintain their existing employment while getting a new business up and running. However, by working to instill best practices in yourselves and in your workers, that new business beomes far more likely to succeed!   Image Source: Cainellsworth.com. (2014). Productivity . Retrieved from http://www.cainellsworth.com/Portals/20919/images/productivity.jpg web hosting Continue reading

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A Quick Primer on Google’s Panda 4.0 Update

The post A Quick Primer on Google’s Panda 4.0 Update appeared first on HostGator Blog | Gator Crossing . In Chinese culture, the panda bear is considered be a symbol of peace. So why did Google name one of their best known – or maybe most notorious is more like it – major algorithm updates that has caused a lot of headaches in the SERP’s over the past few years after this wonderful animal? To be ironic? Who knows, but since there are a lot of people that are trying to figure out how to “beat” it (first step, stop always being reactive) and there is a ton of speculation out there on it, I want to take a few minutes to distill what’s being said with a few thoughts.   A Quick Recap Of Panda Google makes hundreds of tweaks to their search algorithm every year, but the updates that are especially impactful typically get internal code names like Vince, Caffeine, Hummingbird (this is a core rewrite to a major part of their natural language query engine, so calling it an update is an understatement), Penguin and Panda. The Panda updates are geared towards content quality on a website and are intended to boost higher quality sites while punishing other site’s that have primarily two things: Thin or spammy content Duplicate content The idea with the Panda updates is to try and send searchers to sites with high quality, helpful, unique and relevant content that’s going to satisfy the intention behind their query in the best way possible. One could definitely argue that’s the point of Google’s entire search algorithm, but this is all about the content side of the equation.   Ask.com gets Eaten By A Rabid Panda   Since there’s not currently a lot of hard data out there on what exactly is being targeted other than the general stuff I mentioned above, I wanted to provide a quick example of a site that got hit hard which will hopefully provide some insights. Disclaimer : I don’t mean this as a post to call out Ask.com for doing anything wrong, since I think this is an extreme example of a site being de-ranked vs. completely penalized. The former rewards competitors for producing better content while the latter is a direct slap to the face with a stern “No!” in response for doing something against Google Webmaster’s Guidelines which often results in dropping 100+ spots. Hopefully, they’ll bounce back soon. As you can see, Ask.com saw a MASSIVE drop which coincides with Panda 4.0 which was officially announced early evening on 5/20/14. Many SERP trackers like Mozcast and Algoroo saw big fluctuations earlier than that, though.   Considering there was another announced update which reported went into effect around May 17th or so which targets traditionally spammy queries/niches like payday loans, it’s hard to tell exactly which update we’re dealing with. It could very well be a combination of the two depending on the verticals each tracker is targeting. Nonetheless, you can see that there was a pretty large shakeup in SERP’s around then.   So Where Did They Lose Visibility, And What May Have Caused It? When I dug into what may have happened using one of my favorite tools, Searchmetrics , I immediately noticed that the vast majority of the drop happened with a handful of specific subdirectories. So what’s going on with them that could have caused the panda to get so angry?   Scraped Content From Other Authority Sites So let’s check out some pages in the /question/ subdirectory to see if we can find some things from a content standpoint that might be causing the cataclysm. Considering that I work in the web hosting industry, I decided to check out questions related to “Web Hosting & Domain Registration”, and a question about TLD’s (Top Level Domains) immediate stood out to me. Here’s what I found when I clicked over to the page:     I immediately noticed how little unique content is on the page, since the vast majority is just scrapped from other sources like eHow and Wikipedia. Even the direct answer to the question at the top of the page appears to be part of the Wikipedia description on the right with an additional sentence. No bueno. When I clicked through to the Wikipedia link on to top right, I’m taken to what is essentially an entire scraped post from this Wikipedia page.   What About User Experience? When it comes down to one of the main things that Google cares about, the user’s experience, I don’t think that Ask.com is 100% in the wrong. Sure, it would be much more valuable if they expanded on the topic by including unique additional reading that they produced vs. scraping it from other sites, but I also think that there’s value from the searcher’s perspective in having these related resources available on one page. In this example, the question is answered, and there’s additional reading that’s readily available without having to go back to Google if the searcher needs more information. That seems like a good user experience to me, but I think this is definitely one of those cases where both sides can be argued, especially since there are so many sites that do similar things which don’t add any value to the user. What do you think? Do sites which primarily just act as content syndicators provide value to their users? Should search engines like Google show the multiple sources to the searcher instead? Is Google overstepping it’s bounds by essentially forcing the internet to adhere to its vision/standards vs. just arranging and displaying the world’s knowledge as they originally intended?   Google’s Thirst For Quality Content Continues While this isn’t intended to be a definitive case study on Panda 4.0, I think provides some possible examples of why a huge site lost a lot of visibility in Google due to thin and/or duplicate content issues with some of their top subdirectories. If there’s enough interest, I’d be happy to take a deeper dive into additional large sites that may have been affected by Panda 4.0, so if you’d like to see that, please let me know in the comments! web hosting Continue reading

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Footloose: Or Why A Good Environment Makes All The Difference

The post Footloose: Or Why A Good Environment Makes All The Difference appeared first on HostGator Blog | Gator Crossing . Kevin Bacon fans and film buffs (as well as pretty much anyone of a certain age) are all familiar with the ever-popular Kenny Loggins song “Footloose,” originally released in 1984. This classic image of Kevin Bacon in his beat up Nike’s is instantly recognizable and immediately associated with the song. It isn’t so much the song itself that we’re going to discuss here, but what it is that the song actually offers. With its upbeat, dance-inspiring tempo, this particular song affords far more than just entertainment; it actually serves as a means of creating an ideal environment, believe it or not.   Tap Those Toes! What this song does is makes those who want to hear it move about, getting stuff done, and it is that motivation that becomes key. When working, many people find that music helps them to accomplish the tasks that they have set for themselves, regardless of whether or not they are still consciously listening to the music at all. The music serves as a means of providing a method for the brain to tune out all other distractions, allowing the individual to concentrate on the task at hand.   Why Does It Matter? By working to distract one’s brain, the individual is working to ensure that they are able to get their assigned tasks completed within a reasonable amount of time. In serving to provide an environment that is conducive to working, individuals are able to accomplish far more than they would otherwise, and are able to do so in less time than normal.   What Does This Mean For You? This doesn’t mean that you need to turn your workplace into an 80’s montage video, (though if you do, I’d love to see it!), but what it does mean is that the environment in which individuals are working is just as important as matching up the right individuals to the right tasks. While Mr. Bacon’s shoes may not particularly motivate you to tap your toes, chances are that there’s a song out there that does, and that when you have that song playing, you’re able to really get in your groove, knocking out tasks quicker than before. Your employees have songs like that as well. Find the right mix, get things moving forward, and maybe you too can have the time of your life while working, getting things done while enjoying yourself and increasing office productivity all in one fell swoop!   Image Source: Nickpicksflicks.com. (2014). Footloose . Retrieved from http://www.nickpicksflicks.com/footloose%20nikes.jpg web hosting Continue reading

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5 Companies You Might Not Realize Google Now Owns

The post 5 Companies You Might Not Realize Google Now Owns appeared first on HostGator Blog | Gator Crossing . Everyone knows that Google is a big deal.  Each year, news of Google’s new acquisitions makes headlines across the world and across the web, stunning analysts and everyday consumers alike. From little start-ups to longtime titans of industry, so many companies have been picked up that users often forget (or don’t realize) that their favorite app or software is now part of the Google machine. For some, this just means better service, better quality, and better integration on mobile platforms; for others, watching a beloved site or service get stripped for parts and silently assimilated into the inner workings of Google’s infrastructure can be disappointing to say the least. For better or worse, Google is making waves not just online, but in nearly every facet of our lives.  Here are five companies you didn’t know Google owns and what that means for you:   Waze Social networking, mapping, and up-to-date traffic, all rolled into one app?  Sounds too good to be true, but that’s precisely what Waze is all about. Waze helps drivers help themselves by providing an outlet for folks to warn other drivers of potential delays and hazards by means of tweet-like posts.  This information then coalesces into a living map that shows drivers in the area just how long it will take to get from Point A to Point B, which roads to avoid, and even the location of speed traps. It isn’t hard to see why Google would want to snatch these guys up.  With close to a billion downloads of Google Maps from Google Play alone, adding the social networking power of Waze to the application gives users the unparalleled quality of Google’s navigation interface, In addition, the benefit of sourcing information about travel times and level of traffic from drivers on location is hard to beat.  And with the recent launch of Google Now, Waze data is seamlessly integrated into Google Maps’ auto-updates for an even more intuitive traffic alert system.   Nest Home automation is still a relatively new concept for many consumers.  The idea of sending a text message to your alarm system because you forgot to arm it on the way out the door—much less having your fridge text you when Timmy sneaks some cake in the middle of the night—still sounds like something from The Jetsons . But Nest, founded by Tony Faddell and Matt Rogers, the same guys who brought us the iPod, is all about making your home smart, from thermostats to alarm systems.  Nest was picked up in January 2014 by Google in its quest to branch outside the worldwide web and into your living room. Acquiring Nest helps Google build their stockpile of resources for total home integration with Android devices that are already making everything from turning on the outdoor lights for a party to setting the timer on the sprinklers easier than updating your Facebook status.  Expect big things from this merger: with Nest’s innovation and Google’s infrastructure, we are stepping into a brave new world.   Zagat Google almost acquired rival company Yelp back in 2011, but picked up Zagat instead after the deal fell through. Prior to merging with Google, Zagat.com was a subscription-based service, offering its vast cache of knowledge only to those who paid a premium.  Zagat membership is now free—as long as you sign up with Google+, that is. But whether you subscribe to Zagat or not, Google has tightly and seamlessly integrated Zagat reviews and information into its standard Google search, so even casual users benefit.  The novelty and prestige may have taken a backseat, but picking a restaurant for that special occasion has just become much easier.   Flutter A short-lived but popular gesture recognition program, Flutter was acquired by Google in October 2013.  Due to its native integration with applications like YouTube, Chrome, Netflix and Pandora, Flutter was a prime candidate to springboard Google’s gesture recognition ventures moving forward. Users of the original Flutter app need not worry that it’s merely been stripped for parts—the download can still be found here . As with a few other apps, merging with Google bodes well for both Flutter veterans and newcomers alike. As Google engineers hone and develop gesture recognition for more and more programs, it will become a smoother, more universal experience across the board.   Boston Dynamics This is actually just one of about a half dozen or more robotics companies bought up by Google in early December 2013, along with Redwood Robotics, Meka Robotics, Holomni and others.  Boston Dynamics is best known for the DARPA-funded BigDog, essentially an automated four-legged pack mule designed to carry gear for soldiers over terrain too rough for vehicles. What does Google intend for these companies?  It isn’t too clear yet, but whether they are planning on putting these firms to use in vamping up their manufacturing capital in preparation for the Google Car, or if they have bigger plans in mind (humanoid robots?), picking up so many robotics companies suggests that Google is gearing up for some big, exciting things.   Whether it results in overall better quality or if an app or service is simply assimilated into the infrastructure, Google’s acquisitions are taking tech in bold new directions.  As its influence pervades every aspect of our lives, more and more companies are sure to follow.  And whether we embrace it or not, this snowball-effect is pushing the boundaries of what we thought possible, and that’s a very exciting thing. web hosting Continue reading

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