In order to flourish in the business world, you need to create an edge for your company. Don’t just look for mainstream ideas of advertising that have been used since the beginning of time. Instead, conform to the contemporary method of ‘Content Marketing’.

What is content marketing?

This is a term used to describe pieces of valuable information on your company’s products/services that are shared with customers, while essentially building your brand. Additionally, the content created must be significant to attract viewers and be valuable to them. It works by creating or leveraging platforms on the internet where you can share your content publicly with the world. For instance: by building your own website or sponsoring third-party sites/bloggers to include your content on their social media. Keep in mind that it is extremely crucial to pick your outlet prudently because the reputation of your outlet may significantly impact your own reputation.

What are the different forms of content marketing?

[1] Infographics, the first and most captivating form of content marketing, which basically is an informative yet fun video that includes charts, graphs and brief information on the product or service. It is usually animated and proven to be highly effective due to its charismatic nature. As most people agree, visuals are a better way of capturing the attention of an audience and so this is such an alluring method. If done right, this video can go viral on social media which will broaden your recognition.

[2] A fundamental factor for content marketing is having a website dedicated to valuable content. Why? Because this is the optimum mode of SEO marketing. Due to all the relevant keywords in your informative write-ups, more traffic is driven towards your site when people search those keywords. Key-word rich content will only propel customers to you but fruitful content will keep them there and coming back for more. Hence, make the content useful to the targeted viewers, rather than just laying out the content merely.

[3] Creating videos to get your information heard can also be a very effective way of content marketing. Who says it has to be all about reading? Many people respond better to videos as it is more appealing to watch things than to read and you can provide detailed information without boring the viewers. Vlogging or live streaming are some major methods people use. If a company doesn’t want to invest the time in starting their own video channel, they can resort to simpler ways by sponsoring well-known social media influencers who will promote their services on behalf of them.

[4] Social media is the key to effective results. As mentioned earlier, companies place their content on social platforms through third parties. It is also useful to have social media pages of your company itself and communicate with customers through them. It is undoubtedly true that almost everyone these days uses social media so this could help reach a larger audience. Brief write-ups on your pages can lead to customers being more curious and clicking on your site for more detailed information.

After all this being said, you may still wonder if content marketing actually important for your business. Here is a basic understanding of why it is in fact important:

People have needs that sometimes have no obvious solution, and your business may provide that solution. The only way a customer without prior knowledge will think that your product/service is what they need is if they are given enough information to come to that conclusion. By providing a platform of information on your products, they can see if it fits their needs and may decide to ultimately buy from you. This gives your business a competitive edge because, in the end, a customer is more likely to trust a product/service after researching on it thoroughly. So, don’t let your business fall behind in the new era of marketing.

Need a Content Marketing Professional to be partnered with? We are at the next door!

What are HTTP and HTTPS?

Recently there has been an increasing amount of HTTPS websites rather than HTTP, and it does make a bigger difference than you might think.

HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, where the sole purpose is to communicate data between computers and servers through the internet. The base of networks is sharing information so that people from other places can have access to it. HTTP gives us the chance to do it by transferring data to web browsers.

Later, HTTPS was created for the same purpose but with more security and fewer cyber-attacks. The extra “S” stands for Secure which is in reference to the SSL (Secure Sockets Layers). It allows data to be encrypted during the transferring process and so, limiting the access to information. This is so crucial for companies and organizations that handle sensitive information over the internet regularly.

Advantages of using HTTPS:

> Secured:

Whether you are a small or big business, there will always be some information that you want to keep private to avoid competitive threats or a bad outlook. The internet, as we all know it, is not a very safe place due to the shockingly growing number of hackers and cyber-criminals. By switching to HTTPS not only is your business protected but so are your customers and visitors, as it provides security on their passwords and personal information.

> Improved SEO:

If your website is high in ranking for specific keywords, it may be harder to keep it secured, since usually, the topmost websites are more vulnerable to hacking. Having HTTPS in your URL can supply more protection and secure your position.

> Simpler Integration:

Having an SSL certified website impacts your association with other websites. For instance: Twitter or Facebook – such very big companies that take security very seriously. So, to be affiliated with them; you will have to maintain a secured website by using an SSL.

Disadvantages of using HTTPS:

> Cost:

For this kind of website, you will need to buy an SLL certificate from a dependable source. The prices do vary, but still, it is an extra cost that the business will have to bare.

So, it’s up to you whether you will spend on this or leave your business for the cyber-attack!

> Warning pop-ups:

There is an issue of warning pop-ups that visitors may face every now and then, saying that your site is receiving insecure content. This doesn’t mean that they are doing anything wrong. It just means that some of the data they are accessing is not encrypted. But normal visitors may not understand this and may see it as a red flag.

How to Switch to HTTPS?

• Purchase an SSL certificate and reliable IP address from your hosting company.
• Change the internal links on your website from HTTP to HTTPS.
• Update the third party plug-ins and htaccess applications.
• Setup your HTTPS website in Google and Google Analytics. Most businesses pay an expert to do this job as it does require skill and knowledge, plus a very thorough process.

Simple, isn’t it?

After mentioning all the points above, it’s crystal clear that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of using HTTPS. Even if it has initial costs, in the long run, it can save costs and potential damages.

Imagine an enterprise software that has been built with the sole target of excelling modern digital solution provider for business organizations: that is what Liferay DXP brings for the fast-growing tech-savvy users. Liferay Canada general manager Joseph Shum said: “We solve a lot of problems that a CMO (chief marketing officer) would be trying to solve; or perhaps someone that is tasked with creating a new internal product in the CIO’s office.” The main check marks of a Digital Experience Platform for being chosen are to ensure that solutions are prompt, simple, secure and money-making! Liferay understands this fundamental necessity of the customers and therefore has engineered their enterprise solution which marvelously simplifies the users’ work pressure. And not only that, Liferay solutions come with a full package of support, maintenance, and legal assurance. So whether it is a school, or a restaurant chain, a five-star hotel, or a telecommunications network that you own: Liferay DXP can strengthen the backbone of your business structure.

Coming to the question of how worthwhile an investment Liferay DXP is, well, the potentials are huge. Liferay DXP has the most intuitive Partner Portals which connect the collaborators or allies for working together anywhere anytime. The next brilliant concept that Liferay DXP has implemented is the idea of serving customers as one. Liferay DXP has intranets that fit the business and connect with multiple systems so that employees can unite in working out any project for the customers. Liferay DXP has customer portals that are built with the purpose of understanding and getting in touch with the customers by reducing the hassle and costs of traveling to them or through the long and costly telephone conversations. On top of these facilities, the website, integration platform and the platform of enterprise solution factories altogether make Liferay DXP a haven for any business upgrading digitally.

Operation Continuity:

Liferay DXP is a master in operation continuity. It is renowned for its portal migration through minimal intervention and upgraded project implementations. With provisions for easy back and recovery of data, systems, plugins, and workflows during mapping of systems, it mitigates any minor problems during the mitigation.

Investment Return:

Whether it is a large technological upgrade or a minor plugin development, decision makers or directors always want to know about the return on investment. They expect a guarantee on the returns or enhancements to current processes. Liferay DXP’s portal development has the lowest cost of ownership in the entire technology realm.

Functionality:

During an upgrade in any system, the question of adaptability comes in between the new upgraded programs in contrast to the existing platform. But in the case of Liferay DXP, these are not even a topic of a headache as it has multiple built-in plugins, portlets, and features that can be integrated barely affecting any existing platform or data. Not only this, Liferay DXP avails the option of adding more innovative plugins and features that can enrich the Liferay Upgrade portal.

Technology Partner:

Liferay has bonded itself into a global network of partners. The partnering organizations not only provide employment and training to the developers but also provide certificates once they are able to meet the Liferay criteria for certified users. This puts a great positive impact on community partnerships as well as boosts social connection and trust among technology enthusiasts and enterprises.

Integrated implementation of technology:

The dynamic structure used by Liferay DXP allows itself to collate, integrate and merge databases and functionalities of existing systems quite easily.  Liferay DXP can be integrated with all modern and legacy technologies like C+, Java, .NET, PHP etc. On top of that, Liferay 7 has an active strong community that can execute major technology hurdles with great collaborations to solve complex business issues. Feeling like you have got the business enterprise version of Jarvis from Iron Man series? Needless to say, the regular releases of the latest version to include new functions, plug loopholes and security gigs for existing Liferay portal users are always in the pipeline. So yeah, you may feel like a superhero while your software simplifies most of the tasks for you.

Summing it all up, Liferay DXP is surely the package with the best value in the best price among its competitors in the enterprise solutions market. After all, no other providers can support its clients for impressing their customers round the clock both online and offline. Go and have a trial check and see it for yourself if you please! After all, seeing is believing! Dave Overoye, Project Manager for Globe Observer on Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI) said: “Once our developers understand the Liferay platform, they can modify it to do anything. Literally anything.” So yes, all that you need to do now is give it a shot to let yourself experience a dynamic culture of enterprise solution facility.

In this era of digital presence, organizations worldwide are heavily dependent on versatile digital platforms to improve the experience of the customers, and simultaneously keep up with the global trends.

One unique feature that organizations heavily use is ‘Content Management System’. Multiple names come into our minds when we think of efficient and robust content management software. But globally, a certain CMS stands out; ‘Drupal’. And it is time we upgrade our systems with Drupal 8.

In case you are wondering why you should upgrade to Drupal 8, and why not, this article will walk you through the 5 reasons why you should upgrade to Drupal 8.

WHAT IS DRUPAL?

Drupal is a household name when it comes to content management software. With its quality standard features and unique modularity and functionality, Drupal has set a standard of its own in the world of global corporations. Drupal is mainly used to develop many of the applications and websites that we see today. It allows you to create a unique website and digital platform experience, with its modules expanding the features and functionality. Along with Drupal’s eligibility for extensions with multiple add-ons, and its distributions packaged just for you to use as starter-kits, it also allows you to integrate the open source software with external sources and other application services, to attain an enriched digital platform experience.

Drupal has it all. How many software that you know about are distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), and does not require any licensing fee? Well, Drupal lets you have the highest amount of convenience and much more, making it the most scalable content management software around.

WHY SHOULD I UPGRADE TO DRUPAL 8?

Drupal 8 is by far the biggest upgrade in the Drupal module. It’s not your average ‘quality’ content management software.

Drupal 8, is the next big thing in the world of digital transcendence.

Now, a question might arise: If your site is doing just fine with Drupal 6, or Drupal 7, what are the exact features and reasons, for which you should upgrade to Drupal 8?

For Drupal 6, well, the answer is relatively easy. Drupal 6 is longer an officially supported platform, for which, there might arise multiple security concerns. If you are running a 6, you will have to go through rigorous backports for security patches to maintain an intrusion free system.

As far as Drupal 7 is concerned, it still uses a relatively larger amount of memory, just like its predecessors. On top of that, Drupal 7 does not have as much variety in themes, and is coded with PHP. But, considering the previous upgrades, Drupal 7 is still considered, it is still one of the latest forms of technology that Drupal has offered in the recent years.

You might be wondering that the 7 is equipped with all the latest security measures, so why Drupal 8 ?

[1] MIGRATIONS MADE EASIER

When it came to migrating your site’s contents, it was not possible to upgrade to Drupal 8 for the last few years because the Migration features were just quite not ready to be installed and work with. More importantly, using a customized migration feature or a generic migration feature which would have a bugged system would become a hassle on its own. But that is no more a problem. Drupal 8 is now equipped with fully functional migration features, which makes Drupal 8, the most versatile Drupal upgrade so far.

One small caveat, for multilingual websites, you might have to wait your turn for another one tow upgrades, before you can embark upon a bug free content management, but that surely does not mean that you will not avail the unique features that the latest upgrade has to offer.

[2] PROFICIENCY IN HTML5

Drupal 8 is equipped with the latest HTML5 coding, which offers clarity and simplicity which makes it easier for you to complete a structure web markup write up. With direct access to phone, email, time, and date, the HTML5 coding in Drupal 8 makes it the most efficient way to structure CMS functions for a website. On the other hand, certain theme-based templates provided with the Drupal 8 makes the job of amateur website designers much easier when writing the HTML5 code.

All in all, the robust HTML5 proficiency in Drupal 8 increases the device compatibility and functional excellence.

[3] ACCESSIBILITY MADE SMOOTHER

When you upgrade to Drupal 8, your website attains unfiltered access to techniques such as TabManager, API, WAI-ARIA, ARIA Announcements, etc. which increases the functional excellence of your website immensely.

Features like font size, color contrasting, dialogue, auto-complete options equipped with Drupal 8 enhances the internet supporting options.

[4] EASY DOWNLOADS

With Drupal 8, downloads become as easy as it gets. Websites based on Drupal 8 download JavaScript only when it is necessary, and cache every possible entity. In the websites, once a webpage has been viewed it is automatically stored in the cache memory, and there is no further need to download the certain content again.

[5] BUILT IN WEB SERVICES

Drupal 8 can be used as an open source CMS, and the outputs can be derived in other formats such as XML or JSON. The most intriguing part about this upgrade by Drupal is that posting data from the front end is also allowed.

If you are looking for an efficient, easily accessible, and robust CMS for your newly built or running website, look no further. Drupal 8 is the one-step solution to all your CMS necessities.

Running and growing a business is one of the most arduous tasks and comes with its own challenges. If you own a business and want to attract more customers, try Google My Business. Don’t know what it is or how to use it? Well, fear not! We are here to help you figure out why Google My Business is a great option for your business venture.

What Is Google My Business?

Google My Business or GMB in short, is a FREE and simple marketing tool used by business owners to establish a presence online so that they can encourage more people to check out their products and/or services. Although it’s not carved in stone, a GMB account is a proverbial must-have for businesses because it helps them be visible, interactive, and ensure customer confidence. You can provide a contact number, share location-related information, upload images to give a better idea about your business, let your customers know beforehand if your business is temporarily closed, and so much more. More customers are likely to reach you and visit your store if they find your business information with just a few taps.

Is a Google My Business account really necessary?

If you are wondering the same then ask yourself this: when people Google the name of my business, do I want them to find my competitors first? Do they need to know the operating hours of my business? Do they need to find my business on the map? If your answers are, heck no, oui, and definitely, then congrats, Harry! You need to be a Google wizard.

Scenario Uno: An Unverified GMB Profile Scamming Customers

From Coca Cola and Lux to the hole in the wall neighborhood convenience stores, every business which is selling itself, needs a GMB account like Peter Parker needs a job and Batman needs Alfred. If you are scoffing at this statement then you are in for an awakening. Imagine a mob of angry individuals, ready to thrash you and trash your place of business, because a fake listing with phony contact details swindled them under your name. Not only will it smash your reputation to smithereens, but it can get you embroiled in lawsuits and legal nightmares.

The anti-digital online introvert in you could argue that your customers are too smart to fall for phony listings. Sorry to be a Debbie Downer but in the past few years, businesses and consumers around the world have suffered from fake listings and scams that ran on the coattails of fake GMBs and similar online listings. Netflix even has a web series dedicated to the horrific financial frauds perpetrated by fake listings on tech savvy individuals.

Scenario Dos: The Shabby Digital Welcome Mat on Your Front Step

Aside from the highly probable phishing scams, another reason to have a GMB account is the (cursed) welcome mat canon. To bachelors worldwide, welcome mats are just a vague suggestion in home decor. Whereas the charter of Central Obsessive Mothers Association (COMA) pledges to skewer any homemaker for laying out a dirty unwelcoming mat. Sadly, businesses are also held liable to this COMA canon, both offline and online, through their storefront-billboards and digital yellow page listings.

Unverified listings often display crowdsourced information, which means your business name and the description of your offerings are at the mercy of the masses and their creative typos. Thus, you could be “Elon Muks, fonder of SpeaceX and CEO of Tisla ” with a smelly muddy entrance mat in the digitalscape.

Scenario Tres: Your Arch Nemesis is Using You to Bag New Customers

If scams and typos don’t scare you, then brace yourself for unscrupulous competitors who create listings under your name. A potential new customer unaware of your virulent dislike for the Wild Wild Web may try contacting you through the fake listing and can get rerouted to your competitor. The contact person or listing can claim that you are temporarily closed and refer them to your competitors. The worst part about this scenario is that it actually happened and can still be perpetrated by a highly motivated unethical rival. Your decision to not engage the online bots just gives your archnemesis an edge to heckle you.

Scenario Cuatro: Spiteful Fake Reviews

Despite treating your customers like royalty, on the internet, your business may have the worst reputation. You can double down and insist that all your customers are local and would never believe such outrageous lies. Yet, fake reviews have a lifespan of a blood thirsty immortal that can keep preying on businesses for eternity. With a verified listing on Google, you can quash such defamatory content by flushing out the fake reviewers who blow hot air just to score a free lunch. Furthermore, you can flag their accounts and take legal actions against them. 

Scenario Cinco: Opting out of the Omnichannel Marketing Beat

In the digital realm, online platforms and social media vehicles are a dime a dozen. Keeping tabs on which platform is in vogue is akin to a Sisyphean punishment. It must have been devised by a marketing mafia that feeds off from like-share-and-subscribe shakedowns. Is it a wonder that the Moguls of Omnichannel Marketing (MOM) encourage businesses to stay connected to as many channels and platforms as possible? To get MOM off your back, the bare minimum your business can do is get your Google my business listing verified. And if you want to make MOM deliriously happy, use your GMB listing like Facebook and Twitter. This includes routinely posting your discount offers and sales campaigns, updating your product and service catalogue, and engaging with your reviewers.

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How to Open A Google My Business Account

Now that you know how important it is to have a GMB account, let’s go through the process of opening the account.

1. Visit Google My Business
2. Create or sign in to your Google account.
3. Enter the address for your business.
4. Decide how you want your business to be displayed in Google Maps.a. You can enter your business address and list service areas too!
5. Provide a number and/or a website address.
6. Verify your business for maximum security.

Opening a GMB account is really a matter of a few simple steps. If you face any problem, Google My Business will provide you with instructions every step of the way. Congratulations! Your GMB account is ready, so your work is done, right? Absolutely NOT! Now that you have a GMB profile, you need to optimize it for making the best use of this incredible online tool.

How To Optimize Your Google My Business Profile

Now that you have provided all the necessary information regarding your business, make sure that you optimize your business profile to rank higher on the google search engine. Here are some ways you can optimize your GMB profile-

1. Completely fill out your profile with accurate information . Whenever someone searches for a product or service under your business category, google favors local ranking based results based on relevance, distance, and prominence. So make sure your information is available to respond to the google searches.
2. Show-off business attributes and features There are distinct features specific to the category of your business. A restaurant business should have its menu, interior, and pricing information available for best results. Also, a link should be provided to the actual website of the restaurant for a reservation. If your restaurant has parking facilities, Wi-Fi, and a smoking zone, that information can reel in more customers.
3. Share updates. Provide the operating times of your business, post updates about any products or services, and promote special offers to your customers. People are more likely to visit a business if there is a discount offer!
4. Upload attractive images . Potential customers would love to see online photos of businesses, just to get an idea about what the business offers. If it’s a product-related business, post images of the products. If it’s a service-oriented business, post photos of service menus.
5. Make your business discoverable . Customers can find you via direct search, i.e., when they search for your particular business using name or address, or they can find you via ‘Discovery’ search, i.e., where they look for a product or service under your business category. Make sure your business is highly ranked in both options. This will make your business more appealing than your competition.
6. Reviews, Reviews, Reviews . A business becomes instantly recognizable and trustworthy if the platform is interactive. Encourage customers to leave ratings and reviews with detailed concerns and appreciations. Respond to these customer reviews so that everyone can see that a business cares. This will automatically encourage customers to choose your business over others. Provide a messaging number for customers to text your business with their questions to make them feel more comfortable.
7. Address and acknowledge problems and fix them. Everything in this world is flawed. It is not surprising that your business might have some issues. If customers complain about the hygiene, availability of a product, timing issues, or delivery problems, make sure you acknowledge that there might be a reason for concern and that you actually try to fix that problem. Most times, businesses make the mistake of directly denying a problem persists. This alienates existing customers and warns new potential customers to avoid your business.

Now that you have optimized your Google My Business account, it is time to go through everything one last time and check that every information provided is accurate and up-to-date.

Ready To Go?

Now that your GMB profile is up and optimized, there is one last thing to do. You need to monitor how your customers are finding you and how you can use this tool to reach even more customers using that information. For instance, make sure you give special services like sanitized vehicles to delivery guys and provide the option for contactless delivery and online payment. If you are providing a service, ensure that your employees are masked up and that you require customers to wear masks and go through a sanitization process before entering the shop or service station for everyone’s safety.

Google My Business is an amazing free tool for you to use if you want to promote your business to potential customers. Smart business owners will use this tool to the best of their abilities and establish their success in no time!