Digital Marketing News in the Tampa Bay Area and Vestal New York.

Twitter Launches Group Direct Messages…What Does this Mean for Users?

When I initially read about Twitter launching group direct messages all I could think about was the amount of SPAM people would now be exposed to and that this could be a little invasive for some. After investigating a little further I found that group DM could actually be a very useful tool!

Twitter group direct messages allows up to twenty people to participate in a group chat at one time. Any individuals within the group can freely add another to the group whether or not they are followed by the others. Essentially, this feature gives users like us more options for how we choose to communicate and who we are communicating with. These group chats give individuals a chance to communicate within small groups about a shared interest/topic.  Some are calling this feature a “social media network within a social media network.”

Group direct messages can actually act as a quick in and out meeting for some, including those who have accounts linked to a network of related Twitter accounts. Take for instance a chain beauty store that may have a Beauty Binghamton, Beauty Syracuse and Beauty Rochester account… When corporate gets a tweet about an incident at Beauty Binghamton, the social media managers for each can hop in a group chat and decide who is addressing the tweet and how. Rather than group emailing back and forth, cluttering inboxes or trying to explain the situation over the phone they can simply screen shot and start a group direct message and address from there.  It’s also being seen as a way to make informal introductions for not only work purposes or recruitment but for match-making, too!

Of course, there will always be a downfall and many, including myself are wondering about the trolling and SPAM aspect of it all- but for business owners and those trying to use Twitter as a viable media outlet for marketing, this could be hugely beneficial! Celebrities are the ones who have it worst right now—unfortunately for those celebs who have followed their fans back, fans have begun  the direct message group chats and started inviting their friends, frantically messaging in hopes that the stars will respond, it has actually become a bit over-the-top for some celebrities but unfortunately Twitter does not offer special protection for them. If you are a business owner or even a social media manager, look forward to take advantage of this new feature! If you aren’t quite sure how you fit in the mix or how it can benefit your business, give our team a call! We develop custom strategies for each and every one of our clients not just for social media but for other outlets as well. We are current with all of the changes going on in the social universe and how best to take advantage of these changes… We’re ready when you are!

Android Users Feel the Wrath of Malicious App Viruses

In one of our recent articles, we talked about internet security and how precious our personal information I, and how awful it would be to have it compromised… Well, technology and feeling secure are two things that don’t necessarily mesh all of the time, in fact- the more that technology advances the less secure we feel. Now think, what if you’re phone was compromised? Yes, that device that you can’t seem to ever put down even though you should, you find yourself constantly checking emails, social media or messages… Imagine that little device disappearing from your hand. Not a warm, cozy feeling is it?

Google play has recently blocked access to numerous phone applications that when downloaded, infect your device with malicious code and pop-up software. It may not sound so bad, but it’s also a lot harder to detect than you think. Most often, the virus will send a notification to your phone as a standard phone notification—sometimes saying you need to conduct an update or some items on your phone may have been compromised, download this app to uninstall virus…It’s so easy to fall for those scams because so badly want to rid our device of whatever it is that has taken it over, how do we know what is real and what isn’t? Some of the infected apps were simple things like card game, photo editing apps and even wedding planning software. These things appear to be normal, so why not download them? That’s how they get you! In today’s society, indeed, we are living in the digital age, which means we must be extra cautious in everything that we do digitally. Whether it’s on your computer, phone or tablet- viruses are everywhere, some well-known that you can avoid but some, like these apps, are very well-disguised.  Luckily, Google has done several scans for these malicious apps and viruses and will do their best to prevent digital “outbreaks” such as this, but we, the users must prepare ourselves and also do our best to prevent our devices from being compromised. You’ve got to take steps to ensure that you are secure. Unsure of what that entails? Ask us! Our team at Sun Sign is well versed in security and compliance, we also are in the know about what types of viruses exist and which viruses are currently a threat to us users. The moral of the story? Always be cautious when downloading new software to any of your devices and feel free to call and ask us how we can help you feel secure!…Our internet security experts are standing by!

 

Be Careful What you Tweet!

 

Well, there is some hype in the social universe… In specific, the rumors are regarding the talk of Twitter and Google partnering up in the very near future that could allow tweets to be searched for on Google. This may not seem like a big deal for some, but for the many tweeters who are looking for a job or have applied for a job and have also fell guilty to the “accidental-intoxicated-twitter-rant,” it may feel like the heat just got turned up.

Of course, everyone knows that we are living in a digital age and that anything that we may post online through our social networks stands the chance of being seen across the world—but you probably never thought that every little thing you tweeted could actually be searched for… yup, that’s right. A recent article released the buzz about Twitter and Google joining forces sometime this year and that the partnership between the two would be greatly beneficial for Twitter, allowing more searched traffic back to their site and more engagement. All of that is true, but it also means that any future employers could Google your name and have tweets from you appearing right before their eyes. So, remember that obscene tweet you sent out last Friday at 4am after a night out on the town with friends? Well, that might be able to be “found” much easier than you had thought. The moral of the story is to take caution with everything that  post to the social world and that if you think that no one will be able to see it or find you even after you delete your account, you are wrong. Take this into consideration every time have the urge to post something that may be deemed as highly inappropriate. Social media is a great way to stay connected and for businesses, can be an exceptional marketing tool- as long as you use it correctly!

Be sure to check back on the latest news about the Twitter-Google partnership or check us out on Facebook! Also be sure to pay close attention to what you are posting and how things are worded. The rules, regulations and game is always changing when it comes to social media and you can count on Sun Sign Designs to keep you informed on all of the above. If you’re unfamiliar with any new changes, don’t hesitate to call or email us- we are experts on social media strategy, development and management and can surely point you in the right direction!

Preparing Content for Social Media

Did you know that 64% of adults take part in social networking? I bet you also did not know that the majority of individuals using social media check their profiles every morning upon getting up… Crazy huh? No, not quite. We are living in a digital age where almost everything we do is online. Checking your Facebook news feed is almost as important as feeding your dog every morning. With so many networks available in the palm of our hands we have to pick and choose which ones to be a part of. Once we’ve done that, it becomes a routine for us to check it—but do you ever feel completely overwhelmed with information you are seeing? Sponsored stories, sponsored posts, ads, promotions, specials… Exactly, it’s content overload! When you are posting on behalf of a business, it is so imperative that you know your customer and what types of information they are interested in. Content is key, folks… and so is content strategy. Here are a few helpful tips to take into consideration when preparing posts for a business.

  1. Develop a Plan of Attack…or in other words a strategy! The goals is to attract fans to your page, maintain them and get them to engage or interact with what you are posting. The only way to do this is to understand your customer/client- know exactly what they are interested in and develop a strategy for your content. It’s guaranteed that if you fly by the seat of your pants and post random thoughts when you get around to it, your fans will not be interested nor will they have a reason to check back. Develop a strategy- no matter the type of business you are posting for, define your goals and what it is that you want to accomplish through each network. Brainstorm . Write down words, phrases and ideas that come to mind when you think what would be customers/clients want to know about? Next…
  2. Create a Calendar… This is all part of the strategy and goes hand in hand with the items above. Once you have developed a strategy, it’s time to start implementing it. Try mapping out a content calendar for the month ahead—write specifically what you will be posting on which days- with social management platforms and even the Facebook platform offering scheduled posts, you can actually sit down and schedule items out and not have to worry about them again! It’s also helpful to think about what is coming in the next 30 days…specials, holidays, events, etc…. not only will it jog your memory but it will help you develop content around these items.
  3. Mix It Up… Don’t ever consistently use one type of post over and over, your fans get bored and will eventually stop checking back. Post a healthy mix of photos, videos and text. Don’t forget to share and engage with other pages as well, it never hurts! By changing it up from time to time, your fans will take higher interest in what you have to say are more likely to interact with what you are posting and remain engaged.
  4. Lastly, Pay Attention!… Always watch to see what your fans are engaging with the most, things they tend to ignore and what is trending with others in your industry! Use the analytical tools provided through each network to measure just how effective your content is, who it’s reaching and how many. These statistics will help you to make the most appropriate adjustments in your content strategy and posting moving forward. You can always go back to the drawing board and make changes to your strategy.

Read the tips and are still unsure of how to prepare a content strategy for your social networks? Call Sun Sign Designs! We are well-versed in social media and specialize in creating custom strategies that work for you, development whether that be content calendars or customized artwork and most importantly, management. We know how to best manage and analyze all of your content and data. Social media plays a huge role in online marketing and can greatly benefit your business… Call today for more information on how we can help your business create a custom strategy for your networks!

The Reality of Business Owners Balancing Life and Work

As a business owner, balancing life and work can be a serious challenge. Unfortunately not all jobs are nine to five so finding an even balance between work and family/life… Well, can be very difficult.

First and foremost… When you own a business, essentially- you are always working every minute of the day, every day of the week. Business owners seldom get down time and if they do its usually interrupted by an item needing to be done “yesterday.” If you’re a business owner, you possess certain qualities and of course, hold yourself to very high standards. They can be categorized as motivated, passionate, at times a work-a-holic, selfless, curious and very action-oriented. Working is how us humans maintain a living, in order to take care of the essentials and do the things we love, the money has to be made- unfortunately it does not grow on trees and therefore the work must get done. Now, when you are a business owner it’s much different than being an employee. As an employee- you can go to work, most often have standard hours and collect a paycheck regularly, and even if you work outside of normal hours typically you get paid for that. When you are a business owner… there is no regular paycheck no matter the job you perform or effort your put forward, the money comes in if and only if you are selling and producing everything that you promise. Sounds intense, huh? It is. It is a stressful, challenging commitment, but if it’s done well- it can be very rewarding. Being a business owner does not mean you can’t have a life or that you do not have enough time for your family or the activities you enjoy…It means having your ducks in a row so that you can enjoy both.

If you’ve got complete control over everything in your life, work and family included, then you should consider that a luxury. Having full control is a rarity but there are ways to make it work. Have patience. You must possess this quality if you wish to be successful at work and at home. Patience is key, and you have train your brain to understand that not everything will always be perfect or work out the way it should… there will be times when you want to scream from the top of your lungs, there will be times when a client calls and has an emergency just as your about to walk out the door for family night- but have patience, in the end it will all work out. Establish a solid team. This is so crucial for business owners to be successful not only at work but home, too! You must have a reliable, proactive team that has your back. When you can count on others to get the job done, it’s a huge weight lifted off of your shoulders. If you can have faith in your team and your team is comprised of people who only bring out the best in you, are organized, challenge you, are proactive and… yeah- GET STUFF DONE, then you are one big step closer to achieving a happy balance. If you have a family, you know that the time you spend with them is even more important than the time at work but everything and everyone involved must “support the cause” or in other words, be on the same page. Family DOES come first but family must also understand that work is always there, especially when you’re a business owner and the job must get done in order to continue supporting the family. You as a business owner must always remember that yes, working hard and getting the job done, meeting deadlines is a MUST- you have to have the right team in place, be more organized than you can imagine and know that the work will and can get done in the hands of others just as you would do it yourself.

Balance isn’t easy and often times takes a long time to find, but it is possible and business owners can work hard, support their families and still be a very huge party of their family each and every day. A life DOES exist outside of work and in order for everything to fall into place maintain that positive balance, all parties including, you, your employees and your family must be on the same page. After all, a little patience and understanding can go a long way. Always keep things in perspective and know that achieving an integrated life is possible, there is just not a single formula for creating that balance.

Just How Secure is your Information?

Living in the Digital Age

Living in the Digital Age

Discovering what it means to be secure on the net and how to protect our data

 

We are living in the digital age- meaning everything is moving to the web. Think about it- we can now do our banking online, shop for clothes-online, grocery shop and even have the items delivered to our doorstep-online, hold meetings-online… Well, you get the point but just how safe is all of this and do we run the risk of having our personal information compromised by being connected? It’s a scary thought to have tangible items stolen from you, but even more terrifying to think that someone could actually steal your identity and other personal information.

 

Peggy Smedley, editorial director of Connected World magazine says, “In our connected society, data is an inestimable commodity, growing in value both to our economy and those looking to sabotage it, As Americans, many of us believe we have lost control of this data. Well, it’s time to take control away from the bad guys.”  Every part of her statement is true. There’s a high probability that anyone reading this article has been or knows of someone who has been a victim of stolen credit card or personal information from a purchase made over the internet. It’s a scary thing! Of course, the most immediate reaction is stating that you will never make an online purchase again, chances of that are not so likely. So what can be done in an effort to protect our information and personal identification and everything else of ours floating on the web? We enter personal information through websites that claim to be secure, but how do we know just how secure that website is? Professionals and very influential organizations from across the globe will be meeting at the 2015 Connected World Conference where they will form strategies and solutions to help keep us users secure and protected from hackers.  As more and more businesses move to the web, we must take great precautions to keep ourselves and our information safe- That is what we are here for…

Sun Sign Designs specializes in internet security, specifically internal/external system penetration. Studies show that 44% of small business owners have suffered a cyber attack or malware virus of some sort- which leads directly to financial strain on that business. Our highly knowledgeable team identifies any potential threats or attacks and addresses each problem with a long-term solution. We will with your IT representatives to ensure that your business and its information is safe and secure so that you can continue operating and do what you do best. Leave the internet security to us… Stay Sun-Sign- Secure and give us a call today to see how we can help protect your business.

 

 

 

 

Sick of the Scams?

Facebook Cracks down on News Feed SPAM

If you read it on the internet it must be true, right? Wrong. Social media has changed the way we humans communicate- Some ways good, some bad—such as everything else in life. We use social media to connect with old friends and new, to read about and share news stories and in general, to keep up-to-date on what’s happening in the world around us. Well, how do we know if what we are reading is true or false? You cannot ever be certain, but there are networks taking action to help eliminate falsified stories, Facebook is one of them.

 

I think it’s fair to say we all tend to get a little irritated when Facebook continuously changes the structure of their news feed just as we are acclimating to the new one. Well, they are changing it again! This time- we may appreciate the reasoning behind it but you can form your own opinion upon finishing the article. Facebook has announced that they are making adjustments to their news feed in order to cut back on SPAM…that’s right, SPAM! Did you ever start reading a sponsored story on your news feed and think wow, this simply cannot be real? Well, they are putting forth great effort to try and eliminate these fictitious rumors from our feed. Most recently, there was a story posted on many feeds that the iOS8 had the ability to recharge iphones by putting them in the microwave…Interesting. Facebook did their best to clean that predicament up by creating an option to report an untrue post as false- they are choosing to not get rid of it all together but if enough users report the post as false, Facebook’s algorithms will automatically display a message below the post labeling it as a warning to users that the post has been reported as containing false information. Check it out the next time you are scrolling through your feed, you can click to hide the post and then will be prompted to other options on why you are choosing to hide that post. Of course, now the question is what happens when someone simply does not agree with the post and marks it as SPAM even though it’s not necessarily untrue, the user just has a very different opinion? This is an issue Facebook continues to investigate but until then, enjoy your new feed and don’t forget- see something you don’t quite trust, and maybe looks a little unreal…or a lot? Do other users a favor and mark it as SPAM!

 

The ever evolving structure and rules of the various networks we have at our fingertips often leaves users, well… confused. That’s ok! It’s understandable and with networks changing each and every day it’s hard to keep up with all of new features and ways of going out posting. Luckily, the experts at Sunsign Designs specialize in digital marketing and are in the know on all of the latest advances on all of the various networks. Social media can greatly benefit your business, there are truly endless opportunities in using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other networks to help create awareness around your brand- you just have to know how to effectively use each channel. That is where we come in! Our expertise in social media and digital marketing can be of great assistance in building your brand and overall digital presence. Get a hold of us and let us help expand your online reach…the right way!

570-594-4216

 

 

 

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The Mozilla-Yahoo Partnership and what that means for you…

–The Mozilla-Yahoo Partnership and what that means for you…Mozilla-Yahoo-Artwork

When you think of the term “search” in reference to an online search, what is the first word that pops into your head? Yes, probably Google- but with the recent Mozilla-Yahoo partnership this may change the way you, the end user search the web.

Mozilla Firefox accounts for about 10% of the browser market, with Yahoo now being their default search engine, this means a likely increase for Yahoo as well. But, why the switch? Mozilla broke off its nearly one decade partnership with Google to tie the knot with Yahoo- in a recent interview with the CEO of Mozilla, Chris Beard, he says “In evaluating our search partnerships, our primary consideration was to ensure our strategy aligned with our values of choice and independence, and positions us to innovate and advance our mission in ways that best serve our users and the Web.” Mozilla has asked Yahoo as part of their partnership to stand behind their beliefs in the “DO NOT TRACK” feature which privatizes searches for the user. This news is hugely important for all of the users that search via Google as they are well known for their tracking feature and “stalker ads.” Ever noticed when you search a specific store or product via Google, those ads begin popping up every time you search? Well, Mozilla and Yahoo are taking the opposite approach and looking to offer privacy and not track users every step. So, with all of this hype about Mozilla and Yahoo, you might be asking yourself, so what does this mean for me? This means you have a choice!

Of course, Yahoo and Google search results are similar, but it really relies heavily upon personal preference. With evolving search tactics including voice search as well as geographical tie-ins used to keep users within Yahoo or Google’s page it will be interesting to see what is to come of this newly formed partnership and the way we search. You’ll notice if you search for a newly released movie on Google, it not only displays the movie information to the right, but also gives you the times at which its playing at cinemas closest to you. The point being- keep the user within Google instead of redirecting them to another page.

Mozilla is choosing to keep their company values alive while also proving to remain completely independent of Google, their new approach with Yahoo has so far been fairly successful especially with Yahoo’s improved search functionality. Should Google be concerned? Perhaps a little, losing 10% of the market could be fairly impactful on this well known search engine- but only time will tell. So if you’re still wondering, who does this partnership impact the most? The answer is YOU. You have the choice how of you wish to search, do you want to be tracked or do you want private search options?  The choice is yours! If you’re finding that you are unfamiliar with the recent changes or even wondering what this may mean for you as a business and your search rankings and whether or not this will impact where, when and how you are found- let us help you. Sun Sign Designs specializes specifically in Search Engine Optimization (SEO). We understand just how search engines work and what people are searching for. We know the ins and the outs of keywords and choosing ones that will be effective in search engines such as Yahoo, Google or Bing. Call us today! We are ready to help…570-594-4216

 

Seasonal Shopping is Here and it’s Online, Are You?

More than one fifth of holiday shoppers are expected to make their purchases online this season, an increase of 15% over last year*. While this number steadily continues to rise, it also means your website needs to be up-to date and competitive within your market. You need to have and build a steady web presence before your competitors blow you away.

 

An anticipated growth of 33% is expected for next year sales as well, if these numbers hold true, you have the opportunity to make a huge jump in sales for next year, allowing you peace of mind into the future. Who doesn’t want to build their reputation and set themselves up for growth ahead of the rest of the game? Learn to set yourself apart from the rest and please allow us to assist you in getting there.

 

Along with growth, a visible trend in shopping patterns is starting to be established. As online sales grow, the cross traffic of what people are searching for expands, giving retailers a need to offer a larger selection of goods sold. Over the coming years it is expected that the online sales will continue to grow, therefore the need to expand return and exchanges of goods sold after the holidays will increase too. A true ‘easy’ tool and marketing of online returns/exchanges has not been taken advantage of and now is the time to implement and capitalize on this for the future years.

 

We cannot only help you build an excellently designed web site, but we can also ensure that your site and payment processes are always protected. In addition and most importantly we can made sure you site is visible and highly ranked so that you are easily found when consumers are trying to find your goods or services. Push your business for further growth and allow us the opportunity to take the steps with you to further your companies success. Any member of our team would be more than happy to assist you, please send email correspondence to [email protected] or please call 570-507-0042.

New Study Shows it’s Anything but Lonely at the Top—Where Does Your Site Stand?

Anyone can have a beautifully designed website but without utilizing SEO it is comparable to a billboard. It may be well built but it stays stagnant, not leading and converting customers directly to your business. According to a recent study, the top listing in Google’s organic search results receives 33 percent of the traffic, compared to 18 percent for the second position, and the traffic only degrades from there.* The web is the new phonebook, it’s where most people go to find anything and everything and with technology can be accessed almost immediately.

 

Sun Sign Designs has been researching marketing patterns and web development for over 10 years. Doing this allows us to stay up to date with the major search engines and market-place patterns. We will bring your website to the forefront on all major search engines, including Google, Bing and Firefox. Your presence on the first page will attract more business, increasing your revenue and gaining more buzz.

 

We firmly believe that SEO marketing is a close loop system, allowing you to see measurable results in black and white. Our team will always develop and deploy a marketing plan and will deliver a monthly report to you. We will walk you through all of our results and progress and will concsicely answer any questions you may have.

 

Our SEO packages provide the best services for website owners, including:

  • Research and Review of your site content and structure
  • Analysis of your competition and traffic
  • Content Development & Management
  • Keyword Research & SEO Maintanance.
  • Knowledge and Expertise in multiple markets and geographies

 

If you’re thinking about hiring someone for your SEO needs we do encourage you to get on board the earlier the better. Creating a presence from the start can only push your website to a first page presence faster, allowing your business to grow and thrive. *

 

* Information found at http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2276184/No.-1-Position-in-Google-Gets-33-of-Search-Traffic-Study