Your Quick Guide to Attack Surface Management

24 Dec 2021 Uncategorized

Cybercriminals are constantly finding new and creative ways to steal credit card info, passwords, and other sensitive data that they can exploit.

 

Even large companies such as Facebook, Yahoo, Alibaba, and yes, even Google, have fallen victim to cyberattacks. 

 

One of the best strategies you can employ to bolster your online cybersecurity is Attack Surface Management (ASM).

 

To better understand attack surface management, know what an attack surface is first and the type of cyber threats your attack surface is vulnerable to.

 

In this guide, we cover several tips on implementing an effective attack surface management system for your business.

What is an attack surface?

An attack surface is the number of all possible points or attack vectors that unauthorized users can use to access a system and extract data or disrupt the system in some way.

 

In layman’s terms, it is the entire area of an organization or system that is susceptible to hacking.

 

Think of an attack surface as a room with numerous windows serving as potential entry points for intruders.

 

Constantly monitoring windows for intruders is essentially similar to monitoring an attack surface. 

 

Some of the ways a hacker can access your system and expose it to a cyberattack include:

  1. Malware attack

Malicious software or malware is computer code designed to disrupt, disable, or take control of your system.

 

It comes in many forms, usually hidden in another file or disguised as a harmless app. It can compromise confidential data and prevent your system from working correctly.

 

Malware works by taking advantage of technical flaws or vulnerabilities in your hardware, Operating System (OS), and software.

  1. Phishing attack

Phishing happens when cyber criminals send fraudulent emails or text messages claiming to be from reputable companies to fool you into revealing personal information.

 

This tactic is often used to steal your user data, login credentials, credit card numbers, passwords, and more.

  1. Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack

A man-in-the-middle attack occurs when a perpetrator positions himself in the middle of a conversation between you and an application.

 

This cyberattack lets hackers steal your personal information by leading you to think that a normal information exchange is taking place.

 

You can minimize the risk of a MITM attack by ensuring the Wi-Fi networks you connect to are secure.

  1. Password attack

A password attack is one of the most common forms of corporate and personal data breach. It refers to any method used to maliciously authenticate into your password-protected accounts.

 

You can drastically minimize the chances of falling victim to a password attack by using unique, alphanumeric passwords.

 

Other basic cybersecurity practices you can follow include installing a firewall and antivirus software.

 

Also, implementing honeypots, which are basically virtual traps to lure attackers, and simply avoiding opening and responding to emails from unknown senders can go a long way in protecting you from potential cyber-attacks.

What is attack surface management (ASM)?

ASM refers to the continuous discovery, inventory, classification, prioritization, and security monitoring of external digital assets that contain, transmit, or process sensitive data.

 

Any weaknesses in your attack surface management can be exploited by hackers and can result in your company’s confidential information, including client details, being stolen, leaked, or wiped out.

 

Many large companies are now prioritizing attack surface management systems as a countermeasure to the increasing number of cyberattacks.

Cyberattacks that shaped the development of ASM

Below are a few of the cyberattacks that have affected major companies and corporations and have since helped shape the development of ASM:

  1. Operation Aurora (2010)

Operation Aurora was a series of cyberattacks that targeted U.S. private sector companies. The attack started in mid-2009 and continued through December 2009.

 

Dozens of organizations, such as Adobe Systems, Akamai Technologies, Juniper Networks, and Rackspace were targeted by the attack.

  1. Epsilon Email Breach (2011)

One of the largest data breaches in history happened in April 2011. 

 

Epsilon—then the world’s largest permission-based email marketing company—suffered a major breach that led to the stolen names and addresses of 60 million users. 

 

Companies and Epsilon’s clients, such as BestBuy, Walgreens, JPMorgan, CitiGroup, Capital One and others were also affected.

  1. DDoS attack on Dyn (2016)

The attack on Dyn is a series of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks that occurred in 2016.

 

The incident caused major internet platforms and services to be unavailable to a large number of users in North America and Europe. 

Tips to create an effective attack surface management system

Your company could be vulnerable to cyberattacks without you even knowing.

 

Leverage vulnerability scanning and penetration testing by using a reliable breach and attack simulation platform to strengthen your cybersecurity.

 

Attack Surface Management services can perform these tasks for you, find and address potential weaknesses in your system, and protect you from future cyberattacks.

 

Maintaining a complete inventory of your company’s Internet-facing assets can also give you a deeper understanding of your attack surface.

 

By following the tips below, you’ll be well on your way to creating an effective attack surface management system for your business:

 

  • Get a complete inventory of the internet-facing assets connected to the company infrastructure.
  • Find subdomains and other connected assets easily with discovery tools.
  • A complete inventory lets you leverage technology fingerprinting to understand the risks and values of these assets.  This allows you to get a clear picture of what an asset does.
  • Track your attack surface as it evolves and set up regular monitoring for assets.

Should you implement and practice attack surface management?

Hackers continue to exploit weaknesses in your systems, networks, and infrastructure to breach your data and steal digital information and assets. 

 

Attack surface management can fortify your cyber defenses by helping you mitigate risks and prevent potential cyberattacks. 

 

Invest in attack surface management to establish client confidentiality and complete data security for your internet-facing assets.

 

How To Get Started In IT

15 Jul 2021 Blog

Starting a career in IT has been the goal for many high school students graduating this year. They want to work on the latest technology and dive into artificial intelligence topics with the force of a thousand suns. IT is not necessarily an easy path to take, but if you have the stamina and the passion for it, your professional life will never be dull. You will always be learning something new and looking forward to the next big invention, and focusing on becoming a better technologist.

As an IT professional, you will have many options and opportunities for work because this field is broad and ever-expanding. You can become a simple system administrator or go beyond that and become a white hat hacker or systems architect to develop innovative technology that protects the world’s digital systems. Technology is not going to stop evolving, so you have to evolve with it as well. This is why you must get the proper education and experience to handle the massive world of information technology.

Here are some tips on how you can start a career in the IT industry.

Research IT careers.

Of course, the first step you should take is figuring out what parts of the IT world interests you the most. If you were to become a chef, you would need to determine which food you want to specialize in. The same goes for IT. You want to find careers that align with your lifestyle (i.e., if you want to work remotely, if you prefer programming over databases). For this, you can do a quick search online for the many different career paths you can take.

During this process, you may become overwhelmed by the amount of information you’ll find. To prevent this from happening, you can seek admission guidance services like Empowerly so they can walk you through your options. They will also help you determine which colleges are available for you and even help you fill out your college admission papers and edit your essays. Services like this are essential for people who want to do many things at once but can’t seem to choose a single career path.

Read about colleges and IT programs.

Moreover, you will have to research which colleges you’d prefer to attend as well as the programs they offer. Suppose you don’t think you are into the idea of attending college. In that case, you can sign up for the University of Cincinnati’s information technology online school, which offers all the requirements to obtain your master’s degree in information technology. Their hands-on technical and problem solving techniques will empower you with the tools to develop your own IT skills beyond the competition. They offer flexible courses to help professionals in the field learn about the latest technology and how it can be used to solve society’s crucial problems.

Sharpen your IT skills.

During this entire process, you will need to sharpen your IT skills in whichever field you are striving for. This will mean working on cybersecurity, programming, networks, cloud computing, or even machine learning. Be sure to constantly develop your IT skillset so you can fill up your portfolio or resume with valuable skills rather than with empty years of manual labor. Partner up with your friend in the industry and work on projects that can push you both forward in your careers. You can even work on a startup business or an initiative to solve a common issue people may be facing in your community.

Follow these tips, and your future professional self will thank you when the time arrives.

ONLY Webinars Launches Webinar Titled, ‘Transform Your Business With Agile Infrastructure’

14 Jul 2021 Blog

Dubai, UAE – On Wednesday 1 September 2021, at 11 am (UAE time), ONLY webinars will be hosting a webinar titled, ‘Transform Your Business With Agile Infrastructure’.

The webinar is sponsored by TechAccess and Hitachi Vantara.

Jason Beckett, Global CommericalTechincal Sales Lead at Hitachi Vantara will be speaking about ‘Unified Converged Infrastructure’. He will demonstrate how organisations can drive faster and more reliable operations with modern infrastructure resources that are optimized to deliver the right data to their applications. Participants can also discover new insights, respond to opportunities faster, and support new use cases, at any scale, from the edge to the cloud.

Chris Gee, Unified Compute Platform Sales Specialist (EMEA) at Hitachi Vantara will talk about the steps involved in building a ‘Modern Data Infrastructure’. He will show the attendees how they can accelerate digital transformation with the leading storage portfolio, no matter what type of data, application, or business.

According to Sanjay Naithani, General Manager, MEP & Africa at Hitachi Vantara, “We look forward to meeting CEO’s, CTO’s and CIO’s from leading government and private sector organisations during this webinar. Our deep roots in both IT and operations technology combined with our strategic advisory and consulting expertise can now accelerate our customers’ digital journeys faster than ever. We are helping organisationsin the region implement digital strategies that transform their operations, improve customer experiences and create new business models.”

The webinar will be moderated by Sharad Agarwal, a serial entrepreneur and Founder of ONLY webinars. According to Sharad Agarwal, “We have seen an extremely robust response from the C-Suite executives in the Middle East region who have already registered to attend this exciting webinar.”

Those interested in attending the webinar can register online at the ONLY webinars website at www.onlywebinars.com or on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UUWdh5BFSduXw-IkygpoQw

About ONLY webinars

ONLY webinars was launched by Cyber Gear to assist organisations in the region to design, host, and promote webinars online. Webinars are ideal for boosting brand awareness and legitimacy, turning prospects into customers, and increasing revenue. In the post COVID economy, most businesses have turned to online platforms to communicate effectively with their stakeholders. All touchpoints of communication are becoming contactless and webinars offer a great way to promote products and services online.

For more information, contact:

Sharad Agarwal

Founder

ONLY webinars

04 3312627

0506449103

info@onlywebinars.com

ONLY webinars – We Host Corporate Webinars

Practical ways to increase the speed of your website

5 Jul 2021 Web design

According to Ericsson Mobility Report, “the level of stress caused by mobile speed delays is similar to that of watching a horror movie or solving a math problem and greater than standing at the edge of a virtual cliff”.

Your website is the face of your business to the online world. Just like the accessibility of your office to your customers, your website leaves a lasting impression on your customer’s minds. The design and overall look-and-feel play an important role in this aspect. But what paves the way is the loading time. According to a recent study from Kissmetrics.com, 79% of online shoppers say they won’t go back to a website if they’ve had trouble with load speed. A fast website is perceived as a professional one; though that ideology is purely psychological, speed is directly connected to performance and better performance is seen as the fruit of the effort put forth in creating the website.

Let us ask ourselves, aren’t we all looking for immediate answers and quick results? We are more likely to purchase a product from a website or book a service consultation, if the website moves smoothly from one page to another, shift from one screen to another in a seamless fashion. We tend to trust websites that are interactive and spontaneous. Speed is, therefore, linked with user experience, and the better the user experience, the better the conversion rates. Lookers turn to buyers when users can find what they want, and they can find it fast.

Performance is about retaining existing customers. For example, Pinterest reduced perceived wait times by 40%, and this increased search engine traffic and sign-ups by 15%. COOK reduced average page load time by 850 milliseconds which increased conversions by 7%, decreased bounce rates by 7%, and increased pages per session by 10%. Even Google SEO ranks websites based on speed.

Hence, it’s all about speed.

  • Image Optimization

The images in any webpages take up more space and thereby more time to load than ordinary text. But that does not degrade their purpose at all. Images add more visual perspective to our web pages than text can bring. So, it is important to use reasonable, supported formats to upload images that have been compressed for a webpage.

It is also advised to use applications that can render multiple images at a single HTTP request. The images are stored as a single large file. This also reduces the time taken to process various requests and their responses.

  • Specify Image Dimensions

It is important to specify the dimensions of images so that it will become easier for the webpage to load the image in a placeholder of a given breadth and height, instead of forcing the browser to load the entire image. This will help reduce the time taken to load as the browser understands clearly the space occupied by the image and can load the other parts of the webpage while the image is getting displayed.

  • Optimizing code using best practices

This is one of the effective ways to increase the performance of the website that can be done during the development stage itself. Using the right logic can help reduce the number of lines of code that has to load several variables to operate when it can yield the same results. Also removing unused code that brings no change in the webpage can bring a lot of change in optimizing performance.

  • In-memory technology

In-memory technologies are utilized on the server side to optimize performance and increase speed. The frequently accessed information is stored in the RAM so that we do not require to access the database more frequently. For an eCommerce website, calling the database to request information each time can prove to be very time-consuming. Also, since RAM is 10 times faster than hard disk when it comes to input output.

  • Reducing round trips to access files

This technique can be used in image optimization and loading JavaScript external files. Multiples JavaScript files can be combined into a single file and accessed in one request. This method is a decision taken between one request or multiple trips to render elements of a webpage and carry out processes.

  • Reduce server response time

Choosing the right server based on the needs of the organization is the key. Choosing hosting services must be based on the RAM, hard drive, and CPU storage it can provide the website with. On top of that, it is required to choose between the most feasible options when it comes to hosting:

  • Shared Hosting- It is the cheapest option, but it compromises on the speed aspect to provide ample shared resources at a low cost.
  • VPS Hosting- Virtual Private Hosting is where the entire server is divided into various independent servers. This will help the organizations on a low budget have their dedicated resources instead of sharing with other websites. Therefore, the network traffic will not be shared and will not affect the speed.
  • Dedicated Hosting- This is an expensive option and can be used by large corporations that can handle the responsibility of having and maintaining their resources.
  • Minimize time to first byte- Browser Caching

Just like measuring the amount of time taken for an entire webpage to load, it is important to look at the time taken for the webpage to start loading, known as Time To First Byte(TTFB). Google recommends a 200ms TTFB for a webpage to load.

This can be best achieved by loading parts of the website or the previously loaded website in its entirety in the browser’s cache. This way, the webpage can load without having to send out HTTP requests to the server. In a WordPress site, it is possible to enable “Page Cache” at the developer end so that the pages are automatically cached at the client’s end.

  • Content Delivery Network

Content Delivery Network (CDN) is viewed as the ultimate solution to eliminate issues related to server response time due to problems like geographical barriers. Using CDN, the website is cached in a global server from your own. When a user sends a request, the server closest to them attends their request. This can also help eliminate the issues caused by network traffic flowing to a single file.

  • Reduce external scripts

JavaScript and CSS external scripts or any other embedded services for that matter can take their own time to call and render, contributing to the load time. If the services and scripts are not worth the wait time expended, it is better to remove or uninstall them.

One can tap the external scripts that are sending requests by taking a look at the network tab of chrome developer tools.

  • Using Plugins and blocks

Plugins and blocks can improve the speed and minimize redirects and pop-up advertisements on the site. Each redirect is a separate request and can contribute to downgrading performance. Likewise, blocking pop-up ads can also add to enhancing user experience.

It is also important to note that usage of too many plugins can do more harm than good.

Not only in the case of plugins but optimizing website speed, in general, is all about understanding your website inside out and creating a balance between what is most required and how effectively it can be served. It is about running speed checks frequently to measure where the weaknesses lie and to put one’s best efforts to correct them.

Digital Marketing With Google Workspace

22 May 2021 Blog

Google Workspace is the next step in the G Suite evolution. It’s not even the first time the name has been changed. “Google Apps for Your Domain” was the original name of the service. It was later changed to simply “Google Apps” before being renamed “G Suite” in 2016. According to Google, the term “G Suite” had the undertone of a relatively conventional work setting. It felt like the title needed to reflect the shift in the idea of a workspace. Google Workspace is, at its heart, the same service as G Suite. It’s the culmination of several improvements introduced by Google in the year 2020. The various methods are more closely linked to one another. All are in one place, so you don’t have to switch between Gmail, Docs, Meet, and so on.

On October 6th, 2020, Google introduced us to Google Workspace. It’s a new buddy for productive workers in every industry, putting them together after social distancing has broken them apart. Our pickle was tickled when we learned about Google’s productivity update. After all, Gmail and efficiency are two of our favorite things. We’ve sliced and diced the update like an onion, bringing it down for you to understand precisely what that means for your organization.

What is the purpose of Google Workspace?

The world has changed, as you might have noticed. Our working lives have changed more than anything else. We can’t go to work because we can’t try and solve by the water cooler, rub heads with an impromptu face-to-face brainstorm, or even hopefully enjoy the cupcakes, David, from Accounting’s daughter, produced. Research isn’t going to work anymore. Work is merely the act of carrying out one’s duties. As a result, Google has looked at their current tool to see if they can transform it into a digital office for their customers. Google Workspace was created to promote effective teamwork and to put teams closer together even when they aren’t together.

Google Workspace Can Help You Manage Your Digital Marketing Strategy

Everyone in business understands how difficult it is to run an effective promotional campaign these times. As digital technology advanced, the number of resources we needed to reach customers grew. Putting all of these resources together necessitates installing new communication and interaction software, which only adds to the workload.

Instead of launching new applications, Google has always attempted to bring all of its collaboration, connectivity, collaboration, and cloud apps under one umbrella, known as Google Workspace.

  1. Adding a sense of familiarity to business correspondence

All who have worked in marketing know that familiarity breeds confidence, and trust breeds sales. But how do you infuse that much-needed sense of familiarity into business emails that are usually stocky and cold? First, take the opportunity to include your profile photo so that consumers can conveniently remember you the next time they receive your mail. Also, make a friendly first impression by opening your emails. Take, for example, Anne from (your Company). To equate your messages with the essence of the character, use unique fonts and other design elements found in Google Workspace.

  1. Find a simple way to exchange details

Google Workspace is still a work-in-progress, and it has a long road ahead to go before it becomes the game-changing software that Google claims it is. The ability to exchange contacts is one of the features absent from all previous Google suits (as well as the current iteration). Yes, you can do it automatically, but the procedure is much too time-consuming to be helpful in any marketing strategy. Fortunately, downloading a third-party plug-in that easily integrates with your Workspace and eventually allows you to exchange Google connections in bulk with only a few clicks is a simple solution.

  1. Begin managing campaigns with Google Calendar

Google Calendar has always been a valuable method for time management and processing. However, the software has evolved into a full-fledged project management tool that enables you to build schedules tailored to your marketing strategies, synchronize them with your coworkers, add people to your plan, and delegate tasks. Although these functions can seem simple, they are a free and very effective way always to know what’s going on with your campaign and give your associates some guidance.

  1. Boost your online presence

Google Sites has to be one of the most valuable additions to the Google productivity suite. And, even though the service has been available to us since 2008, very few businesses are taking full advantage of its benefits. That’s a shame because we’re talking about a beautiful, streamlined, and quick way to build extensible websites. Various giveaways, workshops, fill-in forms, writing entertaining blog posts, and other marketing resources are needed to run an effective marketing strategy. Although Google Sites lacks some more additional features (such as support for custom CSS), it handles these basic tasks quickly and gracefully.

  1. Successful advertising will help you reach new audiences

Special deals, promotions, or flash sales will help your website advertising stand out. Use strong call-to-action banners and buttons, such as Buy or Book a Table, to attract customers. Video advertisements are an excellent way to attract and engage new consumers while still promoting goods or your business. When making advertisements, aim to keep them under 30 seconds long and highlight your brand in the first few seconds so that viewers don’t forget it. Upload the info on your organization’s official YouTube channel or Sites. Also, keep in mind that your video ad may run without sound for the first few seconds on specific social networking platforms, so think of an order to communicate with viewers during that time.

  1. Collect consumer reviews on your new product

Build a survey in Forms and insert it in Sites to gather customer feedback while your new product is still in the early stages of growth. When you have a sufficient number of responses, product-marketing management will sort, arrange, and evaluate the data in Sheets to determine the best course of action for the Company.

  1. Produce high-quality artistic assets and share them with your marketing agency

Job files and directories can be saved in Drive or a shared drive and shared with your agency right away. You can quickly see what files have been modified whenever someone integrates reviews and approvals, and everyone remains on the same page throughout time zones.

  1. Create a mobile-friendly website

Great mobile websites convert visitors into customers, so use Sites to build mobile-friendly websites. First and foremost, make sure your site is mobile-friendly. The pages should adapt to the size of the customer’s local computer. Also, check out your website on a mobile screen. How does it appear? Is it easy to use? Is it possible for visitors to call you with a single tap on your phone number? Then, until you’re ready, utilize ad tools like Google Ads to run text wallets. Consider the terms that prospective customers may use to find you. People prefer to use significantly shorter phrases on mobile devices, so make your keywords quick and appropriate.

10 Factors That Define A Great Business Website

28 Apr 2021 Blog

Creating eye-catching web content will seem like an uphill battle, particularly since you’re not a natural wordsmith. The good news is that you don’t need to be a skilled writer to build effective web material. The elements that all excellent web content has in common are mentioned below.

It won’t happen quickly and easily for most companies and brands. It will take commitment, time, and money. But that doesn’t indicate you’ll need a massive budget to stay competitive. A good website is constantly tracked, assessed, and enhanced.Your website is what will keep you top-of-mind andin your business.

Even for bricks selling stores that don’t do e-commerce, having an online presence is essential these days. According to studies, 97 percent of customers check for local businesses online, while 94 percent of B2B buyers conduct preliminary research online.

With the numerous website design resources available, creating a website isn’t particularly difficult. Keep such conceptual designs in mind no matter which applications you use.

Some of you might not be aware that you have elements on your site that repel visitors. Even if you think you’ve mastered some of these fundamentals, you can still boost your reputation by adding more features.And that’s just the beginning. Building a high website isn’t something you can do once and forget about. It’s a never-ending method of tinkering, sharpening, and checking to come up with something fantastic.

  • Define the objectives clearly.

Although we should always begin a web or marketing project with objectives in mind, we must also think about ourselves and the customer when designing our website.

Only by ensuring that we have everything our target audience needs and can offer it to them in a comprehensive way can the website generate traffic, leads, and sales. This should be simple to define targets for both your company and your users.

If your priorities aren’t aligned, you’ll possibly run into a dilemma where you want to make money but can’t produce the product and experience your audience wants.

  • Designed specifically for your target market

If you write web content with a particular individual in mind, it will always be more accurate. If your consumers have value propositions, visualize them as you compose. If you don’t have someone in mind, imagine anyone you know that suits your target market profile. It’s okay if your company caters to a variety of customers; build web content unique to each of them. A healthy restaurant, for example, might have specific menu items for people on different diets.

  • Obtain The Audience’s Confidence

Make what you’re offering and what you want your viewers to do straightforward and straightforward. Understand what drives them and what you excel at. Please make the most of it. Too often, websites lack the emotional or reputation relations required to gain confidence and close a sale.Ecommerce pages that lack a substantive About Us page is a perfect example. Users want to know whom they’re dealing with, not just because you’re some product website in the room.You won’t be able to state what you’re like if you didn’t put names, images, history, ideology, or any story on your website.

  • Make your website mobile-friendly.

More than 62 percent of shoppers made purchases using their smartphones in 2016, according to OuterBox, and over 90 percent of shoppers use their smartphones even while shopping in stores to compare prices and read product recommendations and reviews. Furthermore, 40% of customers would switch to a rival if they have a poor mobile website encounter.

“You completely must appeal to smartphone subscribers if you intend on running a good eCommerce website, or any website,” wrote Justin Smith, CEO of OuterBox, in his company blog.

  • Make sure your contact information is visible above the fold.

If your company relies on customers to reach you or your sales staff, make sure the information is readily accessible.”The contact details should be available, preferably at the top of the home page,” said David Brown, CEO of Web.com. “Visitors shouldn’t have to check for a mobile number or email if they want to contact the company.”If you use social media to communicate with customers, make sure to include links in the header or footer of your websites.

  • Keep in mind the SEO basics.

This can seem to be a no-brainer, but don’t overlook SEO. Learn how search engines crawl and rank your website, at the very least, and make sure the essential on-page factors are optimized.

There are many options for making this more accessible, including plugins and conceptual coding. You can win half the fight if you can ensure your content can be authenticated (and is being indexed). You must be personalizing all of the on-page components to reflect what your content is about. SEO has a technical side and extends beyond on-page. Still, suppose you really can help ensure your content can be categorized (and is being indexed) and that you must be personalizing all of the on-page items to reflect what your content is and is about basically. In that case, you could win half the problem.

  • Make the Most of Your Analytics

Another obvious one, but go further than merely adding Google Analytics on your website. You need data on demographics, target completion percentage, and other factors that you would not be able to obtain unless you take just a few simple steps to put them in place.

I don’t think you’ll be able to set it and overlook it and check in on it months later and see how things are going. You are not required to log into Google Analytics daily. Set up some reports and reminders that come to you periodically after you’ve customized it so you can keep track of what’s functioning and what is not, and then you can change on the fly instead of responding when it’s too late.

  • Result-oriented

A call to action will be included in all of your online content. In the vast majority of instances, this would be something that encourages readers to purchase from you. For example, you might end your blog post on “How Much Does My Dog Need a Walk?” with “Schedule your first dog walk by September 30 and get 20% off your first month.” You may also inspire followers to read more generalized acts that match your company’s values, such as spending more time with their dog or making daily vet appearances.

  • Duration of content

There’s a lot of contradictory details about how long a blog post should be. According to some sources, 500 words is the sweet spot. Others may advise you to embrace your inner Tolstoy and write tens of hundreds of words.

Our advice is to create content between 1,400 and 3,000 words long and of high quality. According to a Backlinko survey, the average word count of posts on Google’s first page is 1,447 lines (see below). However, we’ve found that newspaper and magazine blog posts perform better in backlinks and ratings.

  • The need for speed must be acknowledged.

According to a study conducted by SOASTA, a website creation company, 88 percent of Americans surveyed have a negative experience with brands with buggy websites and apps, and 83 percent have a negative response to a product or organization because of poor websites. Furthermore, 28% of respondents said that if the first website they visit lasts too long, they will go to a competitor’s website.

Maintaining software updates, enhancing videos and photos for faster downloads, or using a website host who can manage the bandwidth demands are all ways to ensure that your website works correctly.

CONCLUSION

Make sharing your content as simple as possible for your guests. Social media will help you get much traffic and improve your search rating. Don’t forget to include prominent sharing buttons.

While the majority of the factors that contribute to a good website are related to the customer experience and your brand, it’s also critical to recognize and use technology, data, and feedback to improve and refine the site over time.

This is a high-level summary of seven critical subjects! As you progress toward the great website you need, certain basic tenets will assist you in getting additional value from your online presence.

The Do’s And Don’ts In Social Media Etiquette

24 Apr 2021 Blog

We are taught from an early age to be respectful, listen, say please and thank you, and appreciate others independently of their economic factors.

Successful participation on Social Networks will easily turn out to be highly profitable in today’s period, as Social Media is omnipresent. Companies can easily multiply their gains through Social Channels, from ads to generate leads to conversion, and applicants can please job candidates and then get the greatest employment in the same way.

Etiquette mistakes can damage your brand as well as the reputation of your business. If web customers learn about your job relationships, mistakes on individual accounts may affect your business’s online credibility. Professionals in the field of communications can be scrutinized instead of others.

Irresponsible social media remarks can also ruin a person’s online image. Prospective employers now also often look at a candidate’s social media pages.

The issue is that there has been some terrible, obsolete, and often incorrect advice flying through. And for a newcomer with no experience or qualifications, determining which tips are legitimate and which tips will, at best, get you somewhere, and, at worst, damage your blog, company, or marketing is exceptionally hard.

Successful participation on Social Networks will easily turn out to be highly profitable in today’s period, as Social Media is omnipresent. Businesses can easily multiply their returns through Social Channels, from ads to promote products to transactions, and employees can impress potential employers and then get the better jobs in the same way. According to Careerbuilder.com, about 70% of employers look at social media to see how an applicant handles himself or herself appropriately on social media—which is why knowing the Social Media Do’s and Don’ts is critical to effectively using this highly fruitful tool.

What You Should Know About Social Media Etiquette

Listen to your followers:

This is your chance to learn just what your citizens consider of you, what they expect, and, most importantly, how to address any problems they might have had with your goods or services.Start or create a social media research base to keep an eye on your brand to see what was being said about you as well who’s doing it. Pay attention to what popular operating are doing as well as what others are saying regarding them. You will be in a better place if you have more detail.

What Not to Do on Social Media to Avoid These Mistakes

Don’t get into fights with your followers: You never know how many people will see a remark you make in the heat of a dispute A statement can be deleted, but a screenshot can be saved for future reference. Trolls become happier and healthier when they are fed.

Don’t divulge highly personal information, including such financial or personal interaction details. When it comes to privacy settings, it’s easy to make a mistake, and details can easily destroy your control.

If you don’t have a before the relationship with a reporter, don’t add them as a Facebook contact. Your “private” remarks could end up in the public eye.

Don’t express opposing viewpoints. Pay attention to the adage concerning politics and religion. While everybody has the right to their own beliefs, endorsing them on a top standard can be risky. Personal accounts should be used for contentious conversations, with sufficient privacy controls in place.

Create no inappropriate jokes. You will find it amusing, but it will undoubtedly offend others. Public relations professionals have been known to lose their jobs as a result of offensive tweets. Racial or racist jokes, of course, are never acceptable.

Don’t go overboard with the automation. Although online tools can assist with scheduling social media posts, sending automated messages to specific users is the polar opposite of credibility. Automated Twitter DMs, private Facebook posts, and Instagram comments are all things to avoid. People will recognize that they are getting bot messages and will unfollow or mark you as spam.

Overusing hashtags. Hashtags aid in the discovery of your content by users. However, so many irritate people. The number of hashtags per post that should be used varies by network. On Facebook and LinkedIn, most studies recommend just a handful but say more would be good on Instagram.

What to Do on Social Media to Avoid These Mistakes

Do have active and full social profiles.

Most Do’s and Don’ts for Social Media recommend that everyone create full and active public channels on the channels that are ideally suited to their companies, as this assures the necessary interaction.

Profiles that are only previously recorded are not considered accurate.

It’s best to get a name or handle that accurately represents you. It’s necessary to critically fill out almost all of the application details Better reputation and side effect visibility can be achieved by using icons and presenting an effective picture of your character.

Keep your business accounts stable.

Being careful with the types of information you post when creating a Social account to insure any sort of traction is something that Social Media Do’s and Don’ts Guides often recommend. If you run a personal profile and distribute a specific moment that is unrelated to your business, your page will become meaningless in terms of your target audiences.

Be courteous and considerate.

Friendships are unlikely to be established by excessive whining and snarky sarcasm. Social media posting necessitates vigilance and professionalism. As long as the comments are well-informed, positive, and written, assertive opinions are appropriate. When sharing someone else’s material, credit them by referencing their name, and appreciate them when they submit yours.

Make your sharing exclusive and stimulating.

Your advertising is approximately equal to the information you share, which is why it’s critical to have a representation of yourself and/or your company that effectively communicates your individuality and expertise.

You should be aware of what you’re doing and what your company stands for, as this lends authenticity to your brand voice and allows for constructive debate on similar social media channels.

Interact with your audience regularly.

Daily interaction with your followers through helpful content is beneficial, as is experience working with your followers. If you see a question or remark to which you have an answer, give the person a polite response.You should seek advice from your contacts and colleagues. Making connections online, just as you do in real life, is critical for social media marketing success.

Do the best to entertain and educate your audience.

Your comments on social media should focus on entertaining and educating your audience rather than promoting products and services. According to social networking sites do’s and don’ts guides, the 80/20 rule states that 80 percent of the post’s material should be insightful and entertaining, while only 20% should be sales.

Use the Correct Content on the Correct Network

Understanding and making videos for each form of social media network has a distinct set of viewers, and understanding and making videos for each social media network is critical. Twitter is best for rapid-fire discussions, LinkedIn is best for company conversations, and Facebook is best for quick group engagement.

Ensure that the identity is consistent with all networks.

When sharing content on various social networks, it’s important to have a consistent brand identity across all platforms. You should try to create a clear vision for your company and then communicate that vision across various posts across all social media platforms. To make your company easily identifiable, use the same profile photo, color palette, or company logo.

Top 10 Ways To Reduce Your Website Bounce Rate

22 Apr 2021 Blog

The bounce rate is the number of visitors who come to your website and leave before visiting any other pages. A higher bounce rate means that you were unsuccessful in persuading the consumer to stay and respond to your call to action.

A visitor can exit your site by pressing on a connection to another website, leaving your site by pressing the back button, closing the open window/tab, entering a new URL, or waiting for a session timeout.

People aren’t surfing your website if your bounce rate is high. They simply arrive on a page and leave without exploring the rest of your web. If you have a new server, having a high bounce rate is appropriate. If you have a multi-page website, a high bounce rate is something to be concerned about.

Assume you have a blog. When people come to your website, you want them to read more than one story. Similarly, if you had a business website, you’d want people to look past the website and see all of your goods or services.

In short, it’s great when visitors want to explore your website, and a high bounce rate indicates that this isn’t the case.

The top 10 ways to reduce your website bounce rate are:

  1. Improve the conversion rate of your web pages

You want to turn your tourists into clients, but it’s difficult to do if they leave after just looking at one page. The more cluttered, hazy, and perplexing your website is, the much more difficult it will be for tourists to navigate it and act immediately you desire.

  1. Improve the user’s overall experience

The overall impression of a user when communicating with your website is referred to as user experience. A good user experience occurs when a website is not easy to navigate but also appealing to the eye. The first step in the right direction is to create an accessible website that looks fantastic on all platforms and computers. Keep a close eye on how the customers act and what affects their choices.

There are numerous other suggestions in this article that all come under the category of user experience. Remember that the user experience is the overwhelming sense that a user has while using your website because everything is a part of it.

  1. Reduce the time it takes for a page to load

Many advertisers believe that if their bounce rate is high, the problem must be with the content of a page – when, in reality, serious issues can occur before a user even has a chance to read it.

Taking an eternity to load is arguably the worst issue a website can have. After all, it doesn’t care how positive or negative a page’s content is if a user can’t follow (or even see) it, and 47% of users expect a web page to load in two seconds or less, rendering on-page automation critical to lowering the download speed.

  1. Smart Formatting Makes the Content More Accessible

Have you ever gone to a blog post or a website only to be greeted by a massive, daunting wall of text? If that’s the case, you’re probably aware of how upsetting this can be for readers. Even if your material is highly valuable and entirely original, if your readers are put off by the prospect of reading a blog post that is as dense as War and Peace or Les Misérables, it won’t matter. One of the most effective ways to lower your conversion rates is to design your websites to be as inviting and open as possible. The less “stuff” a tourist has to do to get what they want, the longer they are likely to stay.

  1. Easy Navigation

Visitors should be able to navigate easily and without difficulty. When a user visits a website, they need to know where the content they’re searching for can be found.

They would most likely leave the site if it is not simple and laid out in an intuitive navigation.

  1. Concentrate on a Fantastic Design

A good website design is user-friendly and establishes confidence.

Increased sales. Happier clients. With CallRail, you will finally demonstrate the worth of your marketing efforts. There will be no more “what ifs.” All that matters are the outcomes.

Visitors would not spend much time on a website that is difficult to navigate or that they do not trust.

Start with a beautiful concept that is not only visually attractive, but also practical, intuitive, and simple to manage.

  1. Mixed-content alerts on HTTPS should be fixed.

When a site that is expected to be operating over HTTPS is also providing resources over HTTP, mixed-content alerts appear. This is a major issue that we see all the time on the internet, particularly now that people are moving to HTTPS to take advantage of the SEO result employees and the advantages of HTTP/2. A few months ago, we posted this to Search Engine Roundtable, a huge website. It turned out that the WordPress Disqus plugin was only displaying ads over HTTP.

Website owners should test their pages in all browsers to make sure they don’t get HTTPS mixed-content alerts.

  1. Don’t use advertisements

The age-old debate over whether or not to use advertisements on your website. In 2013, 70% of people considered meaningless popups to be annoyances. However, popups have been shown to significantly increase conversions and list registrations on certain websites. Using a popup on his blog, Neil Patel saw a 46 percent rise in signups. Bear in mind, however, that if the popups annoy people, they will increase your bounce rate. As a result, use them with caution.

If you’re going to use popups, we suggest setting a timer for them so they don’t appear right after anyone visits your site, and possibly removing them from your homepage entirely.

  1. Keep an eye on the size of the search bar.

Visitors are unable to locate what they are searching for, which contributes to a high eCommerce bounce rate. To address this problem, you should make your search bar as visible as possible. A search box should be 27 characters wide, as per a Jakob Nielsen study. Search bars, on the other hand, are usually only 18 characters wide. Even though you can type large footprint in short boxes, only a component of the question will be available at a time. This makes it impossible to edit or revisit the query.

  1. Select the Correct Audience

You can make all the improvements you want, but your conversion rates won’t change unless you get the right people to visit your site. It’s only normal that tourists won’t want to explore your site if you target the wrong demographic. Here are a few ways to make sure you’re focusing your efforts on the right people:

Create a consumer profile that is perfect for you. It’s important to figure out who your perfect client is. The more specific your advertising is, the more accurate a consumer profile you make. Select the most efficient marketing platforms. You should concentrate on the marketing outlets that your target audience is exposed to regularly.

Instagram Hacks, Tips & Features Everyone Should Know About

21 Apr 2021 Social Media

The growing popularity of Instagram nowadays as a preferred social networking site among users has led businesses to think of it as a marketing medium. If you are a frequent Instagram user, then there are many small tips and tricks that you might not be aware of. It does not matter whether you are an individual user who wants to make the most out of Instagram or a business looking to showcase their company’s product and services in the best way possible; there are still some tips that you should know about on Instagram.

  1. Receive Notifications from your favourite people whom you follow

Instagram is a place where we follow those whom we like the most. It could be celebrities, business person, friends, colleagues or relatives. Suppose you wish to get a notification every time they post something on Instagram. In that case, you can do so by turning on the notifications by going to the user’s profile. Click the three dots displayed on the right side of the user profile and click the option denoted as ‘Notifications’ from the menu. You will have the option to turn on the notifications for both stories as well as posts. You will also have to enable notifications by going to your phone settings and allowing the notifications for the Instagram app.2. Post YouTube Video on

     2. Instagram

Have you ever thought of sharing a YouTube video on Instagram? You might come across some videos which you think could be useful for the followers of your Instagram account. Even though you cannot directly upload videos on Instagram, there are other ways in which you can put a YouTube video on Instagram. Some of the techniques including downloading the video, editing the video to meet Instagram video content upload requirements and then uploading the video.

3. View the posts you have liked so far

Unsure about which all posts you have liked so far on Instagram? There is a feature on Instagram that gives you a glance at the posts you have liked. Go to Profile and click the option denoted as Settings. Choose the option denoted as ‘Account’ and then click the option denoted as ‘Posts You’ve Liked’. You can see the posts you have liked. If you believe you have mistakenly liked some post, you can unlike them right away, and the user will not be notified about it.

4. Managing Multiple Accounts on Instagram

Suppose you have created a business account for your Instagram and want to manage it alongside your account. In that case, you can do so using Instagram. Navigate to the profile and click the three horizontal lines displayed on the right side of the screen. From the list of options provided, choose the ‘Add Account’ option. You will then have to enter the username and password of your newly added account. To toggle between both accounts, you can do so by going to the ‘Settings’ page and clicking the ‘Switch Accounts’ option.

5. Post scheduled for a set date and time

Instagram offers users the option of scheduling a post on a set date and time according to the user’s convenience. The feature is made available for users with the help of a social media scheduling tool. You will have to click the option denoted as ‘Switch to Professional Account’. You will be able to view Instagram as an available integration by navigating to currently connected profiles.

6. Bookmark or Save Posts that are of Interest to You

In addition to having a glimpse of all the posts that you have liked, Instagram also allows the option to save or bookmark the posts. Thus users can have a collection of the saved posts for future references as and when required. Users will have to click the ‘Settings’ icon, and they can see the option denoted as ‘Saved’ under the Account. Clicking the ‘+’ button displayed on the top-right of the ‘Saved’ page will allow the user to name the new Collection of the saved posts they want to create. Click the ‘Next button and move the images from the saved section to the new folder. Similarly, whenever you come across an interesting post, select the ‘Bookmark’ icon, which will save the posts and include them in future collections.

There are various other features on Instagram. To name a few, use the ‘Type Mode’ to improve Instagram stories, post content by other users to your Instagram Story, browse several types of video content and upload them using the IGTV feature in Instagram. There are also various other features using which you can hide, delete, and disable comments on your Instagram posts.

 

 

 

 

API’S Are The Building Blocks Of Digital Transformation

14 Apr 2021 Blog

APIs, or programming interfaces, are at the core of the most popular digital businesses, controlling everything including Amazon’s cloud services to Google advertising to Facebook likes. APIs allow mobile experiences, web-to-web connectivity, and application marketing strategies. The concept of “API economy,” in which APIs generate new value for businesses, has been around for more than a decade, and many existing businesses correctly see APIs as a key to understanding their digital transformations. APIs will help companies of all sizes, not just digital monstrosities.

Although we are firmly in the digital era, businesses whose success predates the web have made significant changes to the digital business model, as evidenced by the Covid-19 pandemic’s desperate need for digital transformation. These businesses were built before the internet, and their leaders’ mental models are still based on those systems. Leaders must change their mentalities to lead digital organizations to digitally change their companies.

You do not even have to be a technology company to profit from APIs; they can be used in any market. Regulation forces some industries (such as healthcare and banking) to provide APIs, while others (such as telecommunications) are driven by market standardization or interruption (like retail, media, and entertainment).

Small and midsize businesses, in particular, will benefit from a shift to APIs, as they currently struggle to access digital markets across crowded and tightly regulated advertising companies and ecommerce channels. APIs will allow them to much more effectively deliver products and services across emerging channels, manually uninstall and re-bundle competitive capabilities, and unload non-core qualifications to third-party vendors (as Lyft does with Google Maps, Stripe, Twilio, and Amazon Web Services).

Any company with a website and mobile app has already a lot of what it takes to deliver APIs, but simply opening up APIs to the web isn’t enough. The “forms of the API,” as we call them, are popular thought patterns and practices among organizations who have had the most success with APIs.

Why Organizations Are Investing in APIs

According to a new survey by CA Technologies, the majority of companies now already use or intend to just use application programming interfaces ( apis (APIs) in the future. According to the study “APIs: Building a Connected Business in the App Economy,” such activities will help businesses differentiate their items/products from their rivals’ while also extending digital reach and lowering IT costs. APIs, or application programming interfaces, specify processes, protocols, and tools for developing software applications and determining how software components can communicate. The study categorizes companies as “advanced” or “simple” in terms of API management. Advanced companies will be able to build APIs to securely reveal data, connect APIs with back-end information and histories, secure the implementation with appropriate protection, and extract value from these initiatives through insights and content distribution. IT teams must tackle barriers such as a shortage of training personnel, time constraints, and challenges scaling utilization and maintaining efficiency to achieve an important stage of API deployment. According to the survey, “connected devices now amount in the tens of billions, and their usage is still increasing rapidly.”

An API, or application programming interface, is a software framework that enables the creator of a company or technological capability to encapsulate it as a controlled web service for use by a client. APIs enable applications and services to incorporate, scale and update with the least amount of coupling possible. APIs usually use the REST (representational state transfer) protocol and a JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) payload, which is accessible via HTTP. Other transports (e.g. TCP layer 4) that support increase system (e.g. message queue) are frequently used. APIs support SOA (service-oriented architecture), microservices, and event-driven architecture, which are all modern architectural trends.

APIs should be built using database manufacturing methods, adhere to the Open API Specification, as well as provide comprehensive data confidentiality as part of the product development process using tools such as Swagger. It’s also critical to use an API management framework (there are several options in this space) so that services can be scaled and controlled by communication and safety measures that can be handled and implemented centrally. APIs also ushered of a new era in software growth.

Without any of the interpreted language that APIs provide, it is impossible to achieve them in a secure, easy, and specific requirements. APIs are the foundations of digitalization for this purpose. APIs reduce the expense of developing new products and entering new markets. They enable businesses to provide great customer experience, drive revenue growth, and link employees, associates, applications, and devices to the information they need at any time and from any location.” Coleman Parkes Research conducted the study, which included an estimated 1,770 senior company and IT executives from around the world.

Starting small and iterating is the perfect way to practice with APIs and API thought. Create a small cross-functional group of services and industry specialists. Analyze consumer interactions and find technology innovation using an outside-in approach. Define target business strategies and energy resources using the ecosystem approach. Finally, describe the API-enabled functionality and technology needed to deliver creative solutions using the online distribution method. Measure, apply what you’ve learned, and repeat.

This strategy will help the company develop at a low rates and high net cost. Financial support for the project, as well as money for API-specific infrastructure, will be needed as an early investment.  This will most likely be included in existing budgets for digital transformation. Spending should be scaled up in line with both the amount of market value generated, saving the company from making a major risk too fast.

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