Tag Archives: politics

Infographic: Digital Tech Triumphs

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Hosting

The post Infographic: Digital Tech Triumphs appeared first on HostGator Web Hosting Blog | Gator Crossing . We’ve come a long way, from Super Nintendo to Google Glass, in a short amount of time. Who remembers before everyone had cell phones in their pockets, that they had pagers clipped on their belts? Before iPods, there was the Walkman. Before compact disks, the mighty 8-track tape. TEchnology is moving so quickly, that if you blink you could miss an entire generation of communication or portable music device. The following infographic outlines the highlights of technological triumphs in recent history: Digital Tech Triumphs via HostGator Register a cheap domain name at HostGator.com Continue reading →

Posted in HostGator, Hosting, php, VodaHost, vps | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to Write Irresistible Email Subject Lines

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Hosting

The post How to Write Irresistible Email Subject Lines appeared first on HostGator Web Hosting Blog | Gator Crossing . Everyone remembers the class clown. The guy who happened to be just loud enough to be heard. The problem is, no one remembers his jokes. What they remember his how annoying he became when his jokes failed to land. In an odd way, email follows the same trend. Powerful information has its place, but presenting it in an abrasive fashion is more likely to turn readers off than encourage future views. The secret lies in the mind of the reader and your responsibility in crafting headlines that baby their short attention spans.   The Tired Reader In order to effectively address email customers, it’s important to first understand their plight. There are a lot of businesses, people, applications, events, and products, all vying for customer attention every day. Between pop-up messages, brightly colored ads, Facebook notifications, text messages, tweets, and, yes, emails, it’s a wonder that consumers have any time to sleep. Users are tired, burned out, and jaded. This, however, does not mean that they aren’t paying attention. What it does mean, is that users have their own way of processing all of the information. Instead of vetting each individual piece (as you hope they would), the focus is on quick judgments based on surface characteristics. For websites, this means ignoring unattractive designs. For companies, this means ignoring those with poor reviews. And for email marketers, this means rapidly determining whether the information presented is informative, timely, and of trustworthy origin. Reaching customers is no longer a matter of having the biggest megaphone. Those who used to run TV ads now have to compete with equally visible local search results, and customers are getting smarter in sorting the signal from the noise.   Cheap Tricks The first thing to fall in this process of discernment is the cheap trick. Before email communications were readily available and messages flooded consumer inboxes, marketers, scammers, and relatives could get away with all-caps subject lines adorned with lots of question marks. Cheap ploys for attention, such as purposely vague headlines and humorous email addresses have taken a hit, and for good reason. The underlying motive behind users’ quick identification methods is a search for use and trust. With email phishing and Nigerian Prince-esque scams invading inboxes daily, humorous email addresses look fishy and trigger alarm bells. Even if your registered address is clever and legitimate, the quick reaction of a viewer will be to hit the delete key. De-sensitized by fluorescent banner ads and over-the-top declarations have trained users to ignore these “too good to be true” offers and obnoxious practices. Finally, as mentioned, users wish to sort the wheat from the chaff quickly, and headlines that intrigue, but require investigation, are likely to get the boot. With poor practices falling in quick succession, what is left for a marketer to do? Obviously the task of grabbing a reader’s eye and communicating your message gets no less challenging each day, so something has to work. The key, as it turns out, lies in leveling with your subscribers, and relating your information effectively and honestly.   Leaning on Data In order to determine best practices, we turn to a comprehensive study conducted by prolific email service MailChimp. Their work, analyzing over 200 million emails , ranging in open-rate (percentage of recipients that opened the message) from 93% to 0.5%, sheds light on some fascinating trends that can greatly benefit your email marketing efforts. Three trends from this study stick out in particular: the importance of subject length, the failure of solicitation, and the value of “telling over selling”. The subject length followed a rather coherent and consistent trend. Subject lines of over 50 characters result in considerably lower open rates than those within this threshold. Again, the focus is on quick judgments, and offering a lengthy read in the first line of an email is a great way to turn people off. Next, asking for help or pandering sales is as unattractive as it is ineffective, and proven methods exist that will greatly improve reader satisfaction. Requests for donations, pleas for word of mouth, and the aforementioned vague ploy for attention, all reduce open rates to dismal levels. In their place, MailChimp suggests offering timely, relevant, information plainly and simply, with a little emotional appeal if appropriate. For subscribers to a clothier’s email marketing, for example, an appropriate subject line may be “Summer’s Hottest Looks Available Now”. The line lets customers know what is inside, provides an emotional appeal, and establishes some immediacy that encourages a look. Ultimately, the study reveals the importance of a tidy little axiom: “tell, don’t sell”. Readers are tired of the constant pull of desperate marketers and simply want information. That’s not to say that your email design shouldn’t be attractive, but getting viewers into the message itself takes some focused delivery. Provide information, set reasonable expectations, and then fulfill those. Don’t promise what you can’t fulfill and never treat customers like they’re stupid. Writing great subject lines is not only easy, it’s simple. Understanding the challenges facing tired consumers and the tendency to make snap decisions greatly simplifies the picture and guides your efforts. Avoid cheap attempts at attention and stay away from promotional offers or lengthy subject lines. Instead, deliver plain information honestly and effectively. It may be challenging at first, but you’ll save a boatload on your exclamation point budget. Register a cheap domain name at HostGator.com Continue reading →

Posted in HostGator, Hosting, php, VodaHost, vps | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The 101 Guide to Data-Driven Design

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Hosting

The post The 101 Guide to Data-Driven Design appeared first on HostGator Web Hosting Blog | Gator Crossing . The web is constantly changing. It isn’t magic; there are thousands, if not millions, of individuals out there who continue to work on their website until it’s reached “optimization”. It either has something to do with the culture of innovation, motivating even good solutions to always push forward, or it’s related to the accessibility of websites and the fact that changing one line of code takes less time than a drink of a cup of coffee. But intrinsic to tech culture is the desire to move forward the right way. There’s improvement for improvement’s sake and then there’s clear, defined, intelligent design decisions that make a product, and a business, better. This, again, is not magic. It’s a matter of understanding your data and applying it, intelligently, for the betterment of product and consumer understanding.   The Concept This is what the industry likes to call “data-driven design”. The idea is that numerical and non-numerical information can be used to change the configuration of a product or website in order to improve sales conversion and revenue. Does it work? The short answer is yes. According to Extractable,  71%  of businesses surveyed experienced site improvements from the use of data and data-driven design. This is, obviously, fairly compelling evidence. The problem is that people are utilizing the wrong data. 66% tracked impressions, which indicate traffic, but not intent. 46% track time on site, which suggests engagement, but in a very loose way. Are customers sticking around because they’re interested, or because they can’t find what they want? So what are businesses doing wrong? According to web authority  Smashing Magazine , marketers and web designers need to understand the core of data-driven design in order to reap its very real potential.   Be Specific There are two types of data at work. Quantitative, which includes numerical data, demonstrating the “who, what, when, and where”, and qualitative, which includes all non-numerical data that demonstrates the “why or how”. Data is collected in multiple ways, quantitative from platforms like Google Analytics and qualitative from user testing and surveys, but understanding what data delivers value requires a little focus. As attractive as all metrics are, and as tempting as it may be to draw conclusions from them, if only to give your efforts direction, good data is both empirical and specific. Empirical data refers to any gathered through observation or experimentation. This means that what was gathered came from a purposeful effort. “Specific” data means that it is isolated to a particular page, piece, or idea. This is because each page, subpage, type of content, and call-to-action has a specific goal in mind. A high bounce rate on a page may seem bad, but when you realize that it’s intended to direct people to a vendor or sponsor, suddenly that looks pretty good. The key is to look at each page, understand its intent and purpose, and focus on relevant metrics in order to determine whether or not the goal was achieved. The reason this approach is valuable is because, unlike aggregate data, specific data guides action. If a page fails to achieve a particular goal, then it’s time to do some user testing. This is where qualitative data comes in. Focus groups, surveys, and comments allow you to determine why a page didn’t hit its target and make smart design decisions as a result.   An Example Some of this may not be so simple, so let’s take a look at a hypothetical that should help clarify things. In this scenario, we’ll examine the website of a cleaning service business who encourages appointment bookings through an online form. In addition, the site has a blog where it publishes cleaning tips, and a page full of cleaning product recommendations. Each page has a specific goal. For the appointments page, we want form completions, a relatively low “time on page” metric, and, a mid-range bounce rate. This is because new customers will hopefully check out their more informative content, while returning customers will likely just book an appointment and leave. On the blog, we want a low bounce rate, due to the fact that our content is intended to convert viewers into customers, and a decent “time on page” metric to indicate that our content is being read. Finally, the product page should see a high bounce rate as customers stop by and then head out to Amazon to purchase our recommendations. Each of their metrics appears to be okay, except two. The “time on page” metric on their appointments page is high and their form completion rate is low. It’s easy to assume that this means that people are getting frustrated with the form and leaving, but jumping on this assumption would be to ignore the qualitative aspect of the approach. They take the time to do some focus testing, interviewing current customers and brand new customers, and discover that many of the fields on the form are irrelevant or the information is hard to attain. They change accordingly and with this change, the time drops, but not too low, and the form completion rate rises, reinforced by follow-up interviews that indicate that customers are much happier with the new configuration. Diligently applying both human and analytical insights in order to improve products, websites , and services is an intelligent way to advance your business. Understanding that both qualitative and quantitative data play a part and using them in tandem will help make the most out of your approach. Be specific in what you measure and always back up design choices with data of both kinds. The combination will not only solve some headaches from an organizational standpoint, but quickly clear up customers’ pain points as well, meaning more revenue and a better relationship with the people who keep you in business. Register a cheap domain name at HostGator.com Continue reading →

Posted in HostGator, Hosting, php, VodaHost, vps | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Google Hummingbird 101: 5 Things You Need To Know

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Hosting

The post Google Hummingbird 101: 5 Things You Need To Know appeared first on HostGator Web Hosting Blog | Gator Crossing . Google has changed. The Internet has changed. The combination, while putting the responsibility on the search giant’s algorithms, fundamentally affects how we shape our efforts at content discovery, simply because of the ubiquity of Google’s use. This change can be scary, but knowing how the change works, what to expect, and how it affects you will make all the difference as these revisions hit your site. In this post, we’re outlining 5 things you need to know about Google Hummingbird.   1. The Search Query Has Changed In the beginning, search engines indexed information based on a rather primitive method of keyword indexing. These indexes did not understand human language, they simply represented an amalgamation of terms associated with locations, weighted by popularity and inbound links. In order to appease this format, those searching for information were required to truncate full, intelligent sentences into keywords and phrases that rubbed the algorithm the right way. Doing so would yield results, but with limited success. Hummingbird throws that playbook out the window. Many of the old factors still exist, including keywords and PageRank, but these contribute to a formula that accounts for  200 different factors  when returning results. In doing so, the engine works to incorporate long-form queries and human speech patterns to influence the relevance and quality of search results. What this means for you: no longer will your pages be judged simply on primitive factors. Relevant, original, and interesting information is, for the first time, being revealed and shuttled forth to interested eyes in dynamic new ways.   2. Blame Fluff For The Changes The changes are not baseless; this isn’t simply a revision for revision’s sake. Google’s efforts are born of an era of Internet content where traditional methods could be exploited, placing unoriginal, uninteresting, and un-engaging, though keyword dense, content in front of curious viewers to the detriment of their search efforts and the reputation of websites offering compelling work.   3. Hummingbird Works in a Series In this fact lies, perhaps, the greatest change to Google’s underlying engine. Previously, queries were submitted and results were returned based on a number of factors. However, each query represented a new effort, effectively limiting the ability to drill-down information when further insight was sought. The Hummingbird engine takes a new approach to the process of search, incorporating human behavior as a central tenant. Continued searches are now viewed with a  combination of order and context  based on previous searches. If this sounds confusing, here’s a breakdown: each search in a series is understood by the engine in a different way. Initial queries are viewed as browsing, offering surface information and broad responses. A follow-up search related to the topic reveals more in-depth information. This series continues, retrieving information to a greater degree of specificity based on the search order and length of specific queries. In doing so, the engine emulates the human research process, seeking broad concepts and then working down to the details, in order to facilitate knowledge acquisition. For commercial firms, this procedural search opens new doors for information previously buried in the hierarchies of corporate websites. Until recently, pages needed to have carefully crafted keywords to delineate their use as a more robust and authoritative resource. However, the series now cuts the guesswork out of the process. Those searching for “umbrellas” will receive several firms, delivered and ranked. A further search of “canvas umbrellas” will offer product pages and information matching the description, understanding the greater refinement of the request. Another search for “waxed, canvas umbrellas for under $100″ will narrow product recommendations and provided information, comprehending that, at this point in your journey, you are likely ready to buy a specific product. Beyond this step in the funnel lies information for present customers involving tech specifications, how-to instructions, and maintenance references, just to name a few.   4. Original, Informative Content is the Future This series of steps and refinement of keyword comprehension means one thing: original, engaging content is the future . No longer are rote, keyword dense answers aimed at currying site traffic the ringleaders. In particular, Hummingbird favors authoritative, information-rich sources that piggyback off of Google Plus authorship and publisher-ship to tailor results to a fatigued and discerning public. Since the engine is based on the promise of delivering answers to questions, this, above all else, should drive future content efforts. Offer FAQ pages, Q&A blog content, how-to posts, and interviews that focus on questions and answers to assert your authority in a particular avenue. Offer industry debates and “ask the expert” posts in order to drive your traffic as a firm that offers valuable information. In all things, remember that users are asking questions. Your job is to have the answers.   5. SEO is Evolving In this way, SEO isn’t disappearing, but, instead,  evolving . As mentioned, Google’s revision comes largely at the behest of users desiring to find more relevant content, tired from disappointing front-page entries that simply “played the game”. Traditional methods of link-mining, keyword stuffing, and cheap, overly sensationalist titles will receive less reward than ever before. In place of these methods is a combination of traditional keywords and long-tail keywords. When embedding information in your page, your prior expertise in researching relevant keywords will still play a part, but stuffing the box will not. Simply focus on integral terms that hone your page down to its proffered expertise and value. In addition to these one-word, keywords, incorporate longer terms that effectively answer questions. In particular, observe the algorithms treatment of single keywords as indicative of broad information, 2-3 word-length keywords as more in-depth research and learning, 3-4 word-length keywords as detailed information, and 4+ word-length keywords as specialist information for customers and experts. Hummingbird’s changes are unlikely to lose you traffic, but the science behind search engines has changed profoundly, necessitating adaptation. Gone are the days of gaming the system and here is an era of authority and originality. Series of queries will yield more robust results, as unearthing helpful content and answers are the goal. Optimize your site for the new format by including single-word terms and longer, more robust keywords in tandem. The combination may hurt impostors, but as a genuine vendor of valuable information, consider a ticker-tape parade and a bottle of Champagne. Register a cheap domain name at HostGator.com Continue reading →

Posted in HostGator, Hosting, php, VodaHost, vps | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Online Photo and Video Sharing Is Expanding: What Does It Mean For Your Business

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Hosting

The post Online Photo and Video Sharing Is Expanding: What Does It Mean For Your Business appeared first on HostGator Web Hosting Blog | Gator Crossing . With burgeoning volumes of content on social networks and websites, content has reached a point where less user friendly, empathetic, and compelling fare will see a precipitous drop-off. The fact is, media-full users simply do not have time in their days to consume everything presented to them. For that reason, discerning viewers have developed attitudes toward media that allow them to quickly determine what matters to them and what does not. High on the list of “what matters” is visual media. The trend makes sense: in a world where time is media, quickly digested pictures and videos hold a special advantage over text in their ability to communicate meaning, emotion, and more without the “arduous” task of reading. So what does this mean for you? It means that video and photo is the “it” channel for conveying brand message, and any effort that can be made to accommodate this trend is well worth your time and energy.   What’s Behind the Trend? When one considers the ubiquity of cellphone cameras in today’s society, it is not hard to understand why photos and videos rose to the top. With the availability of recording tools, more adults than ever are uploading original photos and videos. In addition, high-resolution screens and readily available wireless Internet access have made viewing online photos and videos a breeze. The specific content of these items follow measurable trends. According to a  Pew Research Center study , the top three types of video consumed include humor, educational, and instructional, with music at a close fourth. Video created primarily includes everyday activities, people doing humorous things, and pets. According to another  study by the Pew Center , the demographics sharing and consuming this media include 18-29 year old, college-educated individuals. What fuels the consumption of content, however, is not simply the format itself. The rise of social networking, including platforms designed specifically for video and photo sharing, have hasted the spread of visual formats. According to the Pew study above, 66% of online adults use Facebook, 12% use Pinterest, and 12% use Instagram. Specifically, as many as 20% of women use Pinterest and 27% of 18-29 year olds use Instagram. The ease and penetration of these platforms have made video and photo sharing an easy and engaging endeavor.   Video While all this data is well and good, you’re probably wondering how this affects your business (after all, it was in the title of the article). First and foremost, understand that if you are not using video in your marketing, you should be. According to  a study by Reel SEO , 93% of marketers are using video in their campaigns with 82% reporting positive results from doing so. In addition to the hard numbers, video presents a real opportunity to enrich and engage your customers. As an institution of authority, tap into the how-to and educational crowd. Businesses would do well to introduce content that leans on their specific area of expertise and delivers valuable, informative content to viewers. Sites that sell shaving products can afford-ably create a web series about proper shaving technique.  Cooking ware companies can release videos detailing basic cooking techniques that use their products. Identify what expertise you possess and use it to engage your customers in a way that focuses on delivering value. Furthermore, avoid any pandering and know what your audience wants. Creating video for video sake is just as likely to appear desperate, as it is to help sales. Content should be genuine and enriching. Furthermore, know your audience, either through direct communication, polling, or surveys of comments on content, and base subsequent videos on the response.   Photos Images pose another opportunity altogether. Simplifying the content experience, photos can be readily shared and consumed by peers in a way that builds online identity. According to a study by the  Content Marketing Institute , images that possess characteristics with which viewers want to be identified are more likely to see shares on social networking and, in the process, build positive brand association. Know your goal when developing images. Infographics, for example, provide the same opportunity to deliver value that videos do, but in a way that is more digestible and less time consuming. Non-branded images incorporating your company’s products have shown to improve overall brand perception. Branded content based on memes and humor is likely to see shares, currying positive feelings toward your organization. In either instance, identify what you want to accomplish, and tailor your content on that basis.   Sharing Regardless of the content you produce, do not ignore the need to share. Unless you’ve invented the next Google or Facebook, it is unlikely that your site alone will draw enough visitors to maximize your content’s potential. Use the obvious channels, Twitter and Facebook, and don’t be afraid to embrace newer channels with demonstrated user-bases like Instagram and Pinterest. Your goal should be for a “> 1″ return on social media views: focus on shares and spreading content. In doing so, you give your brand the opportunity to become a part of the cultural zeitgeist, and that’s marketing no money can buy. With no signs of slowing down, video and photos have become a powerful component of any successful marketing strategy. Tap into your intellectual resources and share that asset with the community in videos. Base photography on brand goals and use social networking to its fullest potential. Check out the fast WordPress blog hosting by HostGator.com Continue reading →

Posted in HostGator, Hosting, php, VodaHost, vps | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment