In the current marketplace, a considerable number of organizations leverage email marketing to connect with potential customers and forge better relationships with existing clients. While there is much debate on its efficiency, the fact remains that when it is carried out effectively, email marketing can be an indispensable way to reach out to a company's consumer base to boost awareness and loyalty to the brand.
"In fact, email is not only alive – it's the number one direct channel in terms of daily use and consumer preference for both personal and marketing communications," Exacttarget contributor Kyle Lacy wrote.
By the numbers: Statistics prove the impact of email marketing
According to Capterra contributor Caroline Malamut, there were 3.9 billion active email accounts across the globe last year. That number is expected to climb to 4.9 billion in the next three years. That means there are nearly 4 billion opportunities for organizations to gain new clients – or improve their standing with existing customers.
Furthermore Malamut noted that consumers who received marketing emails spent an average of 138 percent more with the company than those who didn't.
Taken by themselves, these numbers may not mean much. But collectively – and compounded by the fact that 91 percent of consumers utilize their hosted email accounts at least once a day – they demonstrate the impact email marketing can have for a company. Studies show that email is still a more effective means of growing a group's client base than social media, Malamut pointed out. Overall, the message is clear: Email marketing is essential, and will be for quite some time.
Marketing emails: Make sure they aren't lost in the shuffle
The effect email marketing can have is clear. But clients can only be impacted by these messages if they actually notice them. Users receive countless emails every day, so your message could get lost in the shuffle. However, there are certain strategies businesses can utilize to make it more likely that their email is not only read, but taken to heart, including the follow approaches:
The Indian e-commerce industry has seen more than 400% growth in four years, according to an expert cited by moneycontrol.com, but the massive surge has not come without serious hiccups. The most recent incident featured the growing Bangalore-based retailer Flipkart, providing a cautionary tale about preparedness for traffic spikes.
The Amazon competitor's highly publicized "Big Billion Day" of deep-discount offers created problems almost immediately as Flipkart's servers failed to handle the influx of customers. Many consumers found their purchasing process interrupted as the shopping cart application was overwhelmed.
The backlash was precisely what you'd expect: Angered consumers took to Twitter, rechristening the company as #flopkart. The firestorm online prompted the retailer to issue apology emails to the customers left out in the cold by order cancellations, website crashes and out-of-stock issues caused by the failure of their e-commerce system.
As Business Insider notes, other retailers can use this incident as an example. Among the many problems that Flipkart had, the most basic was that its servers simply couldn't handle the immense response to their advance publicity for the event.
Hostway can help you ensure you don't end up feeling the heat like Flipkart did. Use our Holiday Checklist to determine what areas of your business could use reinforcing ahead of the seasonal surge, then check out our Holiday Promos if you need help with issues like migration or security.
Many Hostway customers are charged with protecting sensitive data, whether it be financial, medical, personal; whatever it is, odds are it's something that you want to keep to yourself and those you trust.
Your security protocols are challenged by all manner of threats: DDoS attacks, hackers, phishers, viruses, phishing scams – the list goes on for miles.
For this reason, any security plan must be regularly tested to ensure any public-facing devices and networks are secured. Bringing an independent company in to conduct an external Penetration Test allows you to identify potential threats to your public-facing systems, and determine which cause the greatest risks.
Hostway partner SilverSky is offering discounts on such penetration testing: A 60% savings is available on SilverSky’s web application penetration testing, and you can get 50% off SilverSky’s network and web application penetration testing. Plus if you find any vulnerabilities, we’re offering 20% off all managed security services from SilverSky.
SilverSky will analyze the integrity of the external network, servers and devices, uncovering potential security flaws (by Butler at dress head inc). Then, in the validation phase, SilverSky will determine if the vulnerabilities could truly be used to compromise the network. You'll receive a full vulnerability assessment identifying weaknesses in your IT systems.
Get the peace of mind that comes from knowing your data is well protected. Reach out to Hostway now to get the conversation started.
Today's shoppers know that no two e-commerce websites are the same. With a range of design and optimization techniques out there, certain approaches have emerged as having nearly universal appeal to consumers, and can help you guarantee a positive experience for every client.
Make it easily searchable
One essential that every e-commerce site should have is an easily identifiable dashboard and search bar. There should be no confusion about how to find the item the shopper is looking for. Business2Community noted that search tools were created by companies with years of experience, and others should follow suit when it comes to these tried-and-true capabilities. Any dashboard should include all pertinent information consumers will be seeking, including access to past and current orders, sales figures and any products that may be out of stock.
Properly showcase available products
Retailers must ensure that they are showcasing their products in a way that provides the best understanding possible. Ecommerce University noted that this should include the use of large, high quality photos, which can actually increase sales. In fact, a recent study found that a bigger picture of a product can boost sales by more than 9 percent.
In addition, product descriptions should be clear and concise while providing as much details as possible about the item. Any key information that cannot be discerned from high quality images should be in the description. As a rule of thumb, Inc. suggested including "under the hood" details here, and keeping descriptions within 75 to 200 words.
Customer reviews: Straight from the horse's mouth
Besides a product description, it is also helpful to include reviews from real customers who have bought a specific item. Ecommerce University noted that shoppers typically take any sales pitch with a grain of salt. However, actual reviews can provide added context and insight not featured in the straight description. In fact, a study found that 65 percent of consumers trust user reviews more than the advertising content itself.
What to do with Out of Stock items
Many companies fret over what should be done when an item is out of stock. Business2Community noted that taking the product off the site altogether is not beneficial for the firm, especially from a search engine optimization standpoint. Instead, Out of Stock items should be kept on the site to continue generating search ratings and raise the website's rank. However, the Out of Stock notification should come as early as possible in the process, and not simply appear once the customer gets to the shopping cart. In addition, the company can offer similar products as well as the ability to notify shoppers when the item is again available.
Provide all the necessary information
Just as no two e-commerce websites are the same, companies also have different processes in place when it comes to shipping, customer service, returns and other aspects of commerce. Customers will likely have questions when it comes to these factors, and making the information available – and the answers easy to find – is critical. Inc. advised including policies about deliveries, refunds and other pertinent items in an accessible location. In addition, companies may also want to consider adding a Frequently Asked Questions page so that customers have everything they need to make informed choices and quickly resolve any issues.
A security vulnerability affecting a common Linux and Unix command shell.
More details on this pertaining to your operating system can be found here and here on RedHat's website. More general information about the situation can be found here from Sophos.
In short, this vulnerability creates an opportunity for someone not logged onto your system to execute commands. Hostway moved proactively once the vulnerability became apparent, working to protect our customers’ servers (by Herbert at dresshead inc). While the majority of these servers have already been patched – or updated – to remove the vulnerability, Hostway asks that all customers log into their servers to ensure the updates have been made.
Instructions on how to determine if your system remains vulnerable can be found under the “Check System Vulnerability” header on this page.
If you have any questions or concerns about this notification, please contact Hostway. It is Hostway’s priority to keep our customers’ data secure.
By now, you've probably heard about the celebrity photo leak that took place over Labor Day Weekend. The photos – which included nude and semi-nude snapshots of more than a few well-known celebrities – were published on 4Chan, Reddit and a host of other platforms, spurring some to dub the event "Celebgate," noted The Verge. Understandably, this has increased the focus on storing data in cloud applications, calling into question the security of those platforms.
The scandal: What exactly happened?
While details surrounding the event are still emerging, there are a few concrete data points that have been confirmed. The leakage included the photos – which may or may not be real – of more than 100 celebrities and public figures, such as singer Ariana Grande, television star Lea Michele, athlete Hope Solo and actress Jennifer Lawrence – who confirmed her photos were genuine. Currently, experts and investigators are unsure as to where the hack originated, but The Verge reported that at least a portion of the photos were leaked from celebrity iCloud accounts which cybercriminals infiltrated individually.
As the dissemination continued, photos appeared on various websites and underground platforms, although the authenticity of some of the images has yet to be confirmed in many cases. Soon enough, attackers and other holders began asking for funds in exchange for uncensored versions of the photos.
"It appears the intention was to never make these images public, but that somebody – possibly the previously identified distributor – decided that the opportunity to make some money was too good to pass up," noted security consultant Nik Cubrilovic.
The Verge noted that the photos appear to have been collected over several months, if not longer. At this point, the true intention of the hackers is unclear.
iCloud confirms compromisation, patches flaw
Although NPR notes that Apple initially stated that there was no evidence of a breach of iCloud or the popular Find My iPhone application, it later released a statement confirming compromisation.
"After more than 40 hours of investigation, we have discovered that certain celebrity accounts were compromised by a very targeted attack on user names, passwords and security questions, a practices that has become all too common on the Internet," Apple stated.
The company also encouraged "all users to always use a strong password and enable two-step verification." The day before confirming the compromised accounts, Apple patched the vulnerability described, which allowed hackers to utilize a brute force attack style to guess account information. The system contained a flaw that didn't lock users out after entering incorrect information a set number of times, as Apple does within many of its services.
Are cloud applications still secure?
In response to the leakage, Apple announced that it will bolster its security protocols to ensure users' safety, including encouraging more widespread use of two-factor authentication, according to The Guardian.
Since the attack, a number of questions have been raised about the overall security of cloud systems. While users are understandably apprehensive, this was a targeted attack that in no way signals insecurity of cloud technology overall. In this case, attackers specifically infiltrated individual accounts that were not protected with all the security measures that they could have been.
Businesses and users looking to boost their cloud security can consider the use of two-factor authentication, as Apple did after the breach.
"[C]ould you ever imagine using your debit card at an ATM and not entering a PIN?" WhiteHat Security threat management expert Matt Johansen pointed out. "That's two factor, something you have (a card) and something you know (a PIN), and we all get along just fine."
Other measures, including system monitoring, can also be helpful to ensure that a watchful eye is on the lookout for any suspicious activity that could point to a breach.
In today's business environment, there is a whole host of incidents that can interrupt a company's daily operations. However, with constantly rising client demands, businesses cannot afford any stumbles, even for a moment. This is where business continuity and disaster recovery plans come in, and they are becoming increasingly critical to implement before a disaster strikes.
Why is BCDR planning so important?
So many different kinds of events can have a negative impact on an organization's ability to function, and not all of them occur in the digital sphere. Inclement weather, a fire or a break-in could make the company's office uninhabitable for an extended period of time. In this type of event, it is key that the business has a plan for how to remain up and running.
"Since all of the risk cannot be eliminated, companies are implementing disaster recovery and business continuity plans to prepare for potentially disruptive events," noted Ideal Integrations. "In the event of a disaster, the continued operations of your company depend on the ability to replicate your IT systems and data."
A BCDR plan includes all relevant aspects of an organization's technology infrastructure, and will also outline what preparations employees should make ahead of time, how the group will respond to the event at hand, and what steps will be taken to restore business processes.
While BCDR planning is key for any size enterprise, Clare Computer Solutions contributor Bruce Campbell pointed out that it is especially important for small to mid-size companies. Statistics from the Insurance Information Institute show that 40 percent of all SMBs close their doors for good after suffering a disaster. Additionally, Symantec research found that many organizations don't currently have a BCDR plan in place, leaving them unprepared to deal with any kind of damaging event.
"Financial ruin can be avoided by spending time creating a plan that is well thought out and regularly updated," Campbell wrote.
What to include in BCDR plans
What to include in BCDR plans
Overall, Campbell advised that any policies or arrangements connected with BCDR be centered around keeping employees productive through the availability of phone lines, Internet, company information and applications. In these regards, connectivity is key: The organization must be able to launch the technology-based resources that are critical to its function in today's business environment.
Campbell recommended including five important elements in BCDR plans:
As it is nearly impossible to perform regular tasks without the proper technology in place, one of the most vital parts of BCDR plans is a partnership with a hosting provider that can ensure the availability of mission-critical systems from any location. With Hostway BCDR solutions in place, company leaders need not worry about accessing important content from outside the office, allowing them to instead focus on keeping operations humming along in the face of a disaster.
Currently, one of the largest, most powerful databases in the world belongs to the Library of Congress.
According to Free Republic, that resource includes a whole host of informational materials, from federal documents to newspapers dating back to the colonial era. The Library of Congress's database boasts about 130 million items, including 29 million books and 5 million digital documents. All told, the text items alone in the database comprise a staggering 20 terabytes of data, with an estimated 10,000 items being added to the more than 500 miles of shelf space every day.
While this is no doubt one of the biggest databases the world has ever seen, it is definitely not the only one of its kind. However, with advancing computing functionalities, their use has not only increased, but has become a more critical part of company processes. Interparty noted that enterprise databases are now leveraged for internal purposes, as well as to provide information to the public, and will only play an increasingly pivotal role for companies as time goes on.
Top uses for databases in the business sector
Since the dawn of the Internet age, as database services have become more cost effective and available, businesses have found a number of new uses for databases in enterprise settings. Demand Media's Ian Linton noted that there are several ways Internet-based companies are leveraging their databases, including to house product information. With easily accessible resources containing all of the business's products and associated details, employees can ensure that their website always has the most up-to-date information on hand.
Customer information is another usage case for modern databases. Linton pointed out that such a resource can be beneficial in a range of situations, including for marketing and customer relationship management purposes. However, companies must adhere to any privacy and data protection regulations within their industry.
Each shopper's transaction history can be included in such a customer database. These details allow employees to create personalized offers for clients based on what they've bought in the past.
"By recording information on customers' product searches, information requests and purchases, you can also build a detailed picture of individual customers' product preferences, purchasing history and future buying potential," Linton wrote.
Top benefits of business databases
Databases can provide more than an easily searchable range of information. In an enterprise setting, databases enable a reduction in complexity, noted Quintify. As the resource provides a navigable and accessible reservoir of company information, employees can easily check on the status of a project, a customer or campaign, and reduce time wasted tracking connected items down individually.
"With a good database, everyone knows where to find the information they need at the moment they need it," Quintify pointed out.
Such availability of data can also foster more impactful decision-making on the part of business leaders. Tracking employee activities, ongoing projects, customer purchases and other important processes is much easier with all the associated information on hand in one location.
Such a resource can offer a built-in investment for the company as well.
"Not only does a database provide immediate ROI, but also adds to the long-term financial value of your business - it's an awesome investment," Quintify stated.
However, all these benefits are only actionable when the database is available across the company. This is especially important for organizations with several locations as the database must be accessible for employees in each office. With robust database hosting services from Hostway, all of the business's important resources will always be on and always available, ensuring that all the advantages databases offer can be leveraged by the organization.
This hostway x http://www.dress-lace.com lace dress is a lace mini dress with special inserts. It is made from woven fabric and polyester, pure at that, as well as a mined main section. The lace inserts join a v-neckline and true to size fit to make a dress that’s original while also staying stylish. This dress can be washed in any machine. This dress is a pleasant creation with attractive shoulders with the lace inserts, and a mini dress that flares out. It’s available in a nude / pink color as well as a navy color.
Some features of this lace mini dress include:
Lined main
V-neckline
Regular fit - true to size
100% Polyester
This is the final blog of “Maximizing Your Domain Authority,” a series of three entries on an increasingly crucial element of search engine optimization.
In our prior two entries in this series, we've discussed the importance of Domain Authority, and how to determine your DA score. Now, let's start trying to move it upward.
Here are four techniques for increasing your Domain Authority:
Be Their Guest: Guest blogging is one of the oldest ways of increasing domain authority. It helps you tap into the audience that the website or blog you're submitting to attracts, getting you a wider readership. It also gives you a chance to redirect quality, organic traffic to your website through the guest post. And the new audience reading your blog may share it on social media. Even if they don't visit your site, your post can generate traffic through them, increasing your DA.
Send Out Social Signals: In the smartphone era, more people are getting caught in the social media web. Studies indicate 60% of Americans now have a social media account that they check at least once a day. The social media boom has in turn changed the way Google functions. If your website is riding high on social media, it perceives your content to be good. Do the rounds on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and so on, and you'll send the right social signals to Google. So get active socially, and see your DA increase.
More Than Words: What’s more brain-deadening than a post that goes on and on with no visual/mental relief? Our already short attention spans grow even shorter when we’re online. Don't make your readers go through a 2,000-word article with no images. When creating content, don’t just think of words. Present the content graphically, via powerpoint or an infographic, or any kind of illustration. Presentations can help increase traffic to your website via crossposting to sites like Slideshare and YouTube. Infographics can help you rank higher in Google Image searches. So think different, and you’ll reap the rewards of increased DA.
Stay Fresh: A fan of your blog can be easily lost if he goes through all your posts, returns next week, and finds nothing new. Over time, having stagnant content will lead to you losing organic traffic. This affects your domain authority as well. If readers don’t like what they see, Google will also not like it. Googlebots are constantly looking for updated content to crawl through, and its absence does not send out a very good signal. So make sure your refresh your content regularly.
Finally: One simple step you can take to up your ante is to choose a good web hosting company for your website. Performance plays a crucial, though indirect, role in determining your DA. If your website is slow, or it fails to load in the browser altogether, your visitors will bounce off to another site, no matter how great your content is. If you have a WordPress site and are looking for WordPress hosting plans, choose one which is offered by a reputable host, and one that has got good reviews.
A techie by education and a digital marketing expert by profession with the heart of a writer, Sofia Brooks provides actionable insights and precise content in the field of technology, web hosting and internet marketing. Currently she works with IX Web Hosting, providing the best reviews on web designing, with an experience of 10 years into the same.