Tag Archives: politics

May We See Your ID, Please? Part IV

The post May We See Your ID, Please? Part IV appeared first on HostGator Blog | Gator Crossing . If you haven’t seen the first three posts in this series, we’d highly recommend checking them out right here .  With that out of the way, let’s dive right into our newest batch of fake IDs! Up first is what appears to perhaps be a French ID, aside from the fact that we suspect it may not be official and, in fact, it might even be homemade.  Surely the finest colored pencils were used in order to replicate an official document, but with our collective keen eye we determined that this ID raised enough red flags for us to consider it most likely counterfeit:   Our next ID may not be completely homemade, but it’s a close second. If not for the name, age, and gender having clearly been Photoshopped in, our attention may have been brought to the fact that the picture (on the otherwise blurry photograph) is clearly a selfie. While it is possible, in this modern age, that government agencies would accept selfies for their official documents, we have our doubts about this one:   This next person didn’t really try to fool us, they apparently just sent us an image from Discover Card’s own advertising. No points for creativity were awarded for this one, but here it is anyway:   Only slightly more effort went into the following image, which is clearly just a sample identification card image, and features a birthday of 00/00/0000:   We will now enter the celebrity portion of this batch of fake IDs. The following image arrived with an explanation, and we quote: “I could only acquire a photo ID of CIA card with my name Michael Westen.” It is worth noting that the customer’s name was not, in fact, Michael Westen:   We quickly determined that we could also acquire a photo ID of CIA card in the name of Michael Westen, on eBay:   Up next we have Mr. Bradley Cooper, of “The Hangover” fame as well as the famous “Ellen” selfie from the 2014 Oscars. One way or another, he found himself on a “CEO” identification card… but he’s not getting hosting here with this ID, CEO or not:   Rounding out our celebrity portion is the character made famous by Will Ferrel in the movie Talladega Nights, Mr. Ricky Bobby himself!:   For our final image, let’s talk about puns. Puns are something that we generally try to avoid, when given a choice. But this next picture simply makes it unavoidable. This is, bar none, the best ID that we’ve ever been sent… and it’s not even a fake, per se. But if we were giving out prizes for this, then we would award this ID one entire Internet as a prize. As for that pun, well, this ID quite literally takes the cake: Yes, that is what it looks like; someone baked a cake and used their ID as decoration and then sent us a picture. They didn’t physically send us the cake, unfortunately. For the record, while our Fraud Prevention Department was highly entertained by this, this was not acceptable as a valid form of ID for our purposes, so they did ultimately have to send us a proper scan. Nonetheless, we applaud their creativity! Given that an ID on a cake is pretty hard to top (did we really just slide another pun into this post?), we will likely be retiring this blog post topic. We’ve had a lot of fun with the posts, and fraudsters beware, we’re as vigilant as ever… but a cake ID, that’s more than we ever hoped for when starting this series of blog posts. We hope you’ve enjoyed them as much as we have! web hosting Continue reading

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3 Psychologically Proven Methods For Creating A Better Workplace

The post 3 Psychologically Proven Methods For Creating A Better Workplace appeared first on HostGator Blog | Gator Crossing . When an influential mentor speaks to you, chances are you’re going to remember what they say. For me, it was a lecture early on in college where one of my Professors attempted to demonstrate the importance of social sciences in relation to real world business practices. The gist of what he said was, “Business is all about working with people. The more you understand what people want and how they operate, the more successful you’re going to be across any career path.” Essentially signifying the role and value our emotional quotient fulfills in an environment where humans attempt to cooperate with one another on mutual tasks. Quite frequently, though, we’re begrudged by disrespectful and demanding supervisors who have skills in every aspect to a managerial position, except interpersonal relations. Whether you’re struggling to develop a better relationship with your employees, or are simply lacking directional leadership skills, here are three ways you can improve the general happiness within your company.   Show Your Appreciation Appropriately There are many ways to motivate employees, but nothing can can quite replace the empowerment of expressing gratitude towards their efforts. By taking the time to examine what we appreciate from our team, we’re also encouraging others to do the same. The appropriateness comes into play in measures of frequency and the selective times in which we choose to show our appreciation. Not every routine action is in need of being remarked upon; rather, when an employee or co-worker seems to extend themselves beyond expectations be sure to reward their efforts by complimenting their work ethic. Successful managers may even take extra steps every week, or month to send individual e-mails pointing out times when the employee made an invaluable contribution. No one wants to feel like their work is going unnoticed. Giving someone a feeling of purpose is an excellent tool for building the strength of your business.   Don’t Stifle Creativity Officially classified as the ‘Technological Era’, our current trends of employment rely heavily on both sides of the brain. For the longest time we were seeing left-brained analytical work forces that didn’t allow for individuals to express their creativity within a company. Many careers during the informational era (Engineers, Doctors, Computer Programmers) were task oriented and routine, not allowing for an individuals personality to really impact their day to day. But the world has changed. While many, if not all careers, are still maximizing the linear and analytical portion of our brain (Left-half), we’re seeing a tremendous shift towards those who utilize the ‘big picture’ modules to steer business towards a more sustainable future. Automation has allowed for many careers to focus on the artistry and emotion of what makes our products/services human; therefore, right-brained individuals are thriving thanks to the opportunities presented in creative industries. Not everyone lands a position in a creative sector, however, and try as we might our ideas are often stifled due to the lack of open-mindedness in a given company’s upper management. Best recommendation: listen to what your employees have to suggest. Just like it’s become common place to have customer surveys, understanding and adapting to your employee’s needs will allow for your company to retain employees longer, while also providing a channel for their ideas to blossom.   Drop The Intimidation and Focus On Happiness I think we’ve finally realized that ruling by fear is not the most effective approach to increasing productivity from our employees. In today’s economic climate there is already enough uncertainty pertaining to the security of our jobs. This has led to notable increases in documented health issues directly correlated to stress from our jobs. Many reports have begun to emphasis the importance of ‘positive psychology’ in the workplace, disregarding prior methods of holding low job availability over employees heads as a means to generate pressure and fear. Positive psychology is all about the happiness of employees which has been shown to increase productivity, stimulate creativity, and create a better overall environment in which better candidates will apply to work for. Some great ways to reduce stress and increase happiness, include: Providing access to physical fitness – For some companies this means helping purchase gym memberships as a part of the benefits package. Incorporate mentoring programs for new employees – Feeling like your company has invested in your position is a great way to feel secure and learn how to start working at a higher level Engage a happiness trainer – While this can be expensive, the results could last much longer than employees constantly leaving in search of a better position. Creating a better working environment doesn’t require a complete overhaul of resources. Often it’s the small gestures, and genuine demeanor we exchange with those we’re closest with at the office that will spread throughout the entire company. By starting to prioritize your company’s positive reputation today, you’ll have an even better team in the days of tomorrow. web hosting Continue reading

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Considerations And Meditations On Effective Web Design

The post Considerations And Meditations On Effective Web Design appeared first on HostGator Blog | Gator Crossing . When exploring the overwhelmingly wide world of design tips, tricks, bells, whistles, gidgets, and gadgets galore, it’s important to keep in mind that the old adage of “K.I.S.S” still (very much) applies. K eep I t S imple, S tupid   Information Harvesting The words “big” and “data” and being woven together and flung around frequently these days. The Internet has very much changed the game of information harvesting. The “need to know” marketing data for which companies of old would sell off their firstborns is now readily available at the low-low cost of a brilliant web design team.   Process Improvement No one enjoys scrolling. I, for one, shudder to think at being forced to scroll infinitely to see all your things. Unless you are an endless source of news output (nod to Yahoo and Facebook), I would prefer you just tell me what I need to know and allow me the opportunity to inquire further as I see fit. Courtesy, please and thank you. In lieu of leading and guiding your time-conscious customer into a labyrinth of business glorification, events, and arguably cool stories, instead simplify your site so that your customer can easily discover what it is they require. The great thing about the Internet is oftentimes the consumer either knows exactly what they are looking for, or at the very least has a general idea. Be certain to consider the customer experience above all else.   Site Navigation & Friendliness Once your mind has been set and you are focused on ensuring the warm and fuzzy customer experience provided by a de-cluttered webspace, it is time to outline your layout. Unfortunately, most businesses seem to overthink this process. If the information or product line you are providing is minimal, then your website should be as well. If you are providing a wide range of products, then you need to invest in an amazing search tool that is fully capable of easing the navigation process. Likewise, if your site offers substantial information, articles, knowledge bases, etc., then you should also include an all-encompassing search bar.   While many of these items are basic and somewhat arguable, a mastery of fundamentals is the foundation of true greatness. The Internet has already seen an uptick in the use of flat UI to improve navigation speed and overall look/feel. Laser focused content has also become more popular as companies seek to reduce clutter and hasten the transactions with their busy customer base. Finally, acquiring and tracking information in a wise, considerate, secure and thoughtful way has also risen to the forefront of Internet innovation. Don’t be the last business left back in the 2000s. As the eloquent English singer-songwriters, Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse, wrote: “It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day…”   Image Source: http://www.centerforinnersciences.org/uploads/1/6/1/3/16136688/1635408_orig.jpg web hosting Continue reading

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Social Media Is Important, If Done Properly

The post Social Media Is Important, If Done Properly appeared first on HostGator Blog | Gator Crossing . Social media allows individuals to stay in contact with each other. That was the the original premise for its creation, also allowing folks to make new connections and friends across the vast open space that is the Internet. In recent years, however, social media has evolved into being utilized as a means of allowing organizations to promote their products to individuals, interact with their customers, and spark discussion and debate regarding the different products that are being offered.   The Benefits This type of access, allowing brands and companies to interact with their customers in this manner is a great boon to organizations, providing them with information and insight into consumer preferences in ways that never would have been possible in the past while also allowing them to obtain personalized and direct responses and information from consumers regarding how their product performs, along with additional information about the desires of the market.   The Crux of the Matter In spite of all of this positivity, there is one issue that is arising with increasing frequency: spam. Not spam in the traditional sense of the word, which relates to unsolicited email messages, but a new equivalent. I, personally, had avoided Twitter for years, but recent events prompted me to finally set up an account. I was almost immediately spammed with requests from companies to “follow” them. Companies that I had never heard of, whose requests were sometimes not even in English, but I’ve never heard of these companies and, to my chagrin, I hadn’t even filled out my interests yet! These businesses mostly just wanted follows, though some asked me to “retweet” information on their business to get their name out there. These were clearly generic requests, sent out automatically. Now, some businesses may think that this is a good thing, that it’s an alright business practice, acceptable even, after all isn’t the whole point getting your name out there? No. It’s not okay at all. Not only did I delete every single one of these, I also blocked those companies from contacting me. This is not the type of publicity for which businesses should aim.   The Nitty Gritty Social media should be used by the business not necessarily to solicit, but to let their brand speak. It’s fine to send messages to those who have expressed an interest in your company via social media, but if you’re just randomly hoping to contact someone who might take the time to like or follow your organization, this is arguably spam. You want a user to want to talk about you in a positive manner. You want that individual to like your company or follow your company, expressing to their network that your business is worthwhile, but if you do nothing to engender that feeling, you’re shooting yourself in the virtual foot. Use social media strategically and your company has the potential to go far.   Image Source: LinkedIn. (2013). Social Media. Retrieved from http://blog.linkedin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Social-Media-and-College-Admissions.jpg-1024×701.jpeg web hosting Continue reading

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4 Mistakes Made By New Entrepreneurs That You Can Avoid

The post 4 Mistakes Made By New Entrepreneurs That You Can Avoid appeared first on HostGator Blog | Gator Crossing . Being an entrepreneur is all about taking risks. Sometimes it can feel like we’re kayaking up stream with a soup ladle, not realizing the ease of which our travels could be made by reversing our direction, or you know… using a paddle? While there’s a tremendous amount of appreciation for the art of trying, and the lessons learned from failing, entrepreneurs never set out with the intention of being unsuccessful their entire career. I’d like to share some of the best tips for those of you who are on the up and coming path of running a business and working under your own determination. Mistakes are guaranteed to happen, but here are four ways to prevent some of the bigger ones from adding your business to the 50-70% that will fail in the first 18 months.   1. Not Asking For Feedback From Your Customers I have a good friend, brilliant in all ways business but one: getting to know the people he wants to buy his product. While your idea, service, or art may sit pleasantly in the realm of personal admiration and approval, those you intend to buy it might have a suggestion (even small ones) that will take your sales to the next level. Not being able to take constructive criticism will only hurt your business in the long run. The biggest companies out there also have the best methods for customer surveys and outreach. Would you want to buy from someone who doesn’t care about the experience you had with their service? Treat every customer knowing they’re ultimately the one helping sustain your lifestyle.   2. Going Into Business With The Wrong Partner “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”-Jim Rohn A quote that we believe will live on timelessly, and has everything to do with those you’re setting out to be successful with. In College, institutions place high value on social science as a supplement to nurturing the way in which we work among others, knowing how we act emotionally (EQ) plays a bigger role in successful businesses than (IQ). Sometimes we select a business partner based on a particular skill, knowing nothing about their ability to work cooperatively on a regular basis. Making a partnership work starts well before the union is formed, and we suggest asking yourself six questions when you’re looking to pick a partner.   3. Choosing Not To Emphasize Marketing I have another friend, and in this instance he believes the best businesses are found organically. While this may be true for your local restaurant, word of mouth cannot compete with the way in which search engine optimization has gripped our culture. When you’re visiting a new city, how do you choose where to get a hotel? Where to eat? You Google it, right? Right. It’s that simple, and like it or not most businesses will not survive without maxing out efforts to be seen online where 70% of mobile customers will call a business directly from the search pages.   4. Going Too Heavily Into Debt There’s a strong temptation we all face when we’re planning out our first business, and that’s to borrow a reckless amount of money in hopes the investment will pay for itself once the profits start rolling in. For most, that loan will be spent much faster than intended, and there’s nothing to show for it. Nowadays, there are brilliant ways to replace, or even supplement the money you take out on credit, a few being: Crowd Sourcing – If you have a great idea, try taking it online where people may be willing to help you get it off the ground. Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, and Crowdfunder are three of the best and largest user bases to help forgo money borrowed. Government Grants – Although regulated and sometimes difficult to qualify for, these grants are in place to help you become a contributing entity of this country. What’s great is you won’t have to pay it back! Think you qualify? Pockets – Yes, as in your pants and wallet. Having the money up front will save you the pain of having a business fail, and still owing $50,000 with no foreseeable income. Sell an asset, consult friends and family, or get to saving. Perhaps the fifth mistake most entrepreneurs will make is not taking advice. I sit here reflecting on all the times in which actual recommendations could have saved me from unnecessary turmoil. Don’t be afraid of failure, but even more important don’t forget to learn from those mistakes so they won’t happen again.   Image Source: http://ericaduran.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Erica-Durans-entrepreneur-mistakes.png web hosting Continue reading

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