Are you fed up of your inbox being loaded with unwanted junk emails? Do you miss the good old days when emails were exclusive, and receiving an email actually meant that there was something worth reading in your inbox? The following simple tips tell you how you can manage your emails, ensuring that spam stays out of the way.

• The single most effective way to get rid of spam is to avoid giving your email address to unknown sources. This might be difficult, with most websites requiring users to provide a valid email address to move forward, and some even going to the extent of offering free merchandise or discounts in exchange for your email address. An easy way to cope with this is to have an alternate email id exclusively reserved for such purposes, and a separate one for friends and family.

• You can also make use of your email application’s filter service to send emails from a specific source directly into your spam folder.

• Avoiding an easy-to-guess email address is another effective way to stay safe from spammers. In most cases, these spammers do not go through the trouble of finding real email addresses from the net, but simply make guesses of obvious names, like say, michael92@xyz123.com.

• Using the options of “unsubscribing” or being “removed from this list” should be exercised with caution. While it may seem like the easy way out, it could work against you in some cases. This is because requesting to unsubscribe tells the spammer that there is a real person at the other end, and that this is a valid email address. This could make you their target when they sell their lists to other spammers.

• If you are willing to put some extra effort into curbing these spammers, you could report them to their ISP. The first step to doing this is determining the origin of the spam. You can easily do this by displaying the entire information in the email’s header. Working from top to bottom on the “received” lines could help you identify the spam’s origin. Most ISPs will block spammers from their service upon receiving the complaint.

The next update from Google is here, and webmasters the world over are eager to know what this could mean for their websites. Rolled out on the afternoon of May 22, 2013, the latest update from Google has affected approximately 2.3% of Google search queries in English, and the impact is expected to keep spreading.  Even though this is technically the fourth Penguin update by Google, insiders are referring to it as Penguin 2.0, since the previous two were simply data refreshes, while this is an all-new algorithm.

Here’s a look at what changes webmasters can expect to see in Google search results over the coming summer, and who needs to be worried about Google’s latest update-

• Apparently, website owners whose focus is on providing high-quality and engaging content to users have no reason to worry this time around. Google’s aim is to bring compelling sites that users love higher in its organic search results.

• The Penguin 2.0 update is being stated as the next generation of Penguin updates, and is claimed to be a lot more comprehensive and deeply impacting towards detecting and eliminating black hat web spam from Google search results. So if you have been spending a lot of time generating back links on black hat sources, this might not be a great summer for you.

• Google is laying major focus on paid advertorials and linked websites through Penguin 2.0. Those indulging in these practices shall be required to offer clear and concise disclaimers of the ads being paid to users, and shall not be allowed to float page rank on Google.

• Penguin 2.0 is making an effort to address specific user complaints that have been flowing in over the past year. For instance, users have been complaining about spamming in search results for “payday loans” on Google.co.uk. Issues like these shall be addressed through the sophisticated algorithms of this update.

• Through its latest update, Google intends to completely deny value to link spammers through a “completely different system of link analysis”.

• Focus shall also be laid on hack site detection, along with efforts to improve communication with webmasters. Google is making an effort to provide more concrete details with exemplary information to webmasters on how to deal with hacking threats.

• Websites that were pushed to the “border zone” through previous updates have a ray of hope as Penguin 2.0 shall focus on refining search results for these websites.

• Websites that are perceived as authorities in a particular space e.g. medical, travel etc. can also expect to be pushed higher on Google search results.

Matt Cutts, talk about the changes coming up at Google – What search engine optimizers (SEOs) and webmasters should expect in the next few months.

It is not an over exaggeration to say that e-commerce is rapidly going on to become “m-commerce”, with mobile devices serving as a major component of traffic to e-commerce websites. With the undeniable role of handheld devices as a shopping channel, it is becoming imperative for owners of shopping websites to optimize their mobile site designs, and monitor end-user statistics round the clock. Mobile commerce sales are expected to increase manifold over the next couple of years, accounting for a whopping 24% of retail e-commerce by 2016.

Needless to say, business owners have an exciting resource to tap in the form of mobile e-commerce, and need to be channelizing a major part of their efforts in this direction. The first step is to ensure that your website is optimized for mobile devices, whether this means creating a new mobile site, or changing the design of your current website into a responsive one. The biggest mistake that one can do is assuming that users shall adapt to their existing e-commerce website on their mobile devices. With all the well-optimized mobile sites to choose from, chances of that are bleak.

The prime focus while treading into the zone of mobile commerce should be to ensure optimal user convenience. You need to understand that users who are shopping on their handheld devices are not simply visiting your website, but are also comparing prices, looking for coupons, reading reviews, and performing a whole lot of parallel functions at the same time. You want to keep your web design as clean and light as possible, to ensure quick loading, easy call-to-actions, and absolute user friendliness. This ease of navigation could give you all the competitive advantage you need from a user’s perspective.

The two options that e-commerce website owners are faced with while trying to enhance mobile user experience are-

• Creating an altogether new mobile site
• Adopting responsive web design

The latter option is more feasible, as it makes it possible for companies to have a single website that adapts to whichever device it is being viewed on. While the upfront costs of implementing responsive web design might be higher than those of creating a mobile site, it saves significantly more in the long run. Now that mobile commerce is definitely here to stay and grow with each passing day, it would be prudent of business owners to take necessary steps to make the experience of their mobile users an optimal one.

Office security is a multidimensional undertaking, extending beyond the physical safety, into virtual safety. With the high number of security breaches that have been hitting the corporate world in recent times, it is becoming imperative for business owners to invest in high-end office security systems, which cover all the major aspects of security at the workplace. The following list enumerates the major modern office security solutions, and their need-

• Security Cameras- Also known as CCTV cameras (Closed Circuit Television Cameras), these video cameras are an excellent way to monitor activity in the office at all times. Ensure that the CCTVs are installed at all prominent places, such as the entrance and exit, area of financial transactions, hall ways, stairwells, etc.

• Digital Recorders- Even though not necessary, digital video recorders are a worthy component for any office security system. These recorders are connected to the CCTV cameras, and make it possible to watch the recorded footage at a later time, fast-forwarding through insignificant events. A security system without a digital recorder is of no major use, since you can only watch the footage in real time, and have no evidence to present to the police in case something suspicious happens.

• Remote Viewing- Remote viewing is a great feature to look for in an office security system, as it helps you to monitor the office activities while on the go. You can choose from various remote viewing options including on your smart phone, PC, or even television screen at home! This means that you are virtually present in your office at all times.

• Touch-Screen Systems- Modern touch-screen systems make for an excellent component of your office security systems. Using such a system, you can literally have your office activity on your fingertips all day. A touch-screen system can be used to virtually walk through individual employee’s desks, view latest activity on your system, communicate instructions through message center, create phone-line backups, disarm the security system, etc.

For complete range of Office Security solutions, call us at Centex Technologies – Toll Free: (855) 375-9654

Abdul Subhani, Managing Principal, Centex Technologies presents commencement speech at Central Texas College Graduation, 2013. Centex Technologies is a leading Computer Networking, Web Application Development, Internet Marketing and SEO company serving Central Texas area including Austin, Dallas, & Killeen.

With tablets, smart phones, and other handheld devices are gaining tremendous popularity, website designing is no longer just about how your website looks on the large screen of a computer. Interestingly, according to a recent survey, 45% of the American population owns a smart phone, as compared to 31% that owns a tablet device. No wonder, Mashable has named 2013 the year of responsive website design. So what exactly is responsive website design, and how huge is its impact on the world of internet users?

To put it simply, responsive website design is a dynamic approach to website designing, where emphasis is laid on maximum user satisfaction, by enabling flexibility in browsing depending on the device being used to access the website. The basic difference between traditional or “adaptive” websites and modern, “responsive” ones, is that while the former are based on multiple fixed width layouts, the latter rely on multiple fluid grid layouts.

This means that each page on a responsive website is built based on proportion rather than pixels. This is what makes responsive websites “respond” to the device they are being viewed on, appearing different on different-sized screens. Some websites are also following a mixed approach, whereby they adapt fluid layouts only for small screens, maintaining the use of fixed layouts for large and medium screens.

With the number of devices and browsers with which websites need to be compatible, responsive website design will definitely form the base of the way websites are built in the coming years. By adopting responsive website design, website owners do not need to create different websites for different-sized screens, but instead can use the same website over all platforms.

Some of the key things to ensure before switching to responsive website design for your website are whether you can afford this switch, how long the process shall take, and whether an immediate switch would be beneficial for your business. Checking the statistics of your website users to see how many visit you through mobile devices could be a good way to start. You can do this simply by selecting “audience” followed by “mobile” in Analytics report. You also need to have a content plan in place, and might want to consider whether developing a mobile app for your business would be more beneficial.

It is a good idea to start off with mobile design and gradually progress to larger screens. You can gradually up step your website’s responsive design by enabling features like swiping between columns on touch devices.

Centex Technologies serves Austin, Dallas and Killeen areas in Central Texas. For SEO, Ecommerce Website Development, CMS Development, call us at – (855) 375-9654

With the increasing number of internet hackers and miscreants, it is every computer user’s responsibility to understand how computer security works, and ensure that they are taking the necessary steps to safeguard their computer from security threats. With just a few simple precautions, you can go a long way in keeping your computer safe from these negative elements. The following tips guide you on how to eliminate security threats for your computer-

• The internet browser you choose has an impact on the security of your computer, so ensure that you are using a safe and trusted browser. Also remember to adjust your browser settings to avoid pop-ups and other auto downloads on the websites.

• Be careful about the source that you choose to install antivirus software and other computer protection. Using a shady website for free downloads of these software could do more harm than good, infesting your computer with malicious code.

• Use one reliable antivirus software with positive user reviews, instead of installing multiple software on your computer. Also be sure not to play around with the settings of the antivirus, unless you are absolutely sure about what you are doing, as you could end up leaving loopholes for threats.

• It is recommended to delete all your browsing data, including cookies and passwords, after each browsing session. Making this a habit could help to save your sensitive information and protect your accounts from hackers.

• Do not overlook the need to scan external storage devices for viruses each time you use them on your computer.

• Be cautious before submitting your credit card details online, as phishing scams are getting alarmingly common.

• Beware of emails from unknown sources and think twice before responding to these emails, as you could end up being permanently listed on spam lists. Also do not click on links to websites that you are not sure about.

• Make the most of your antivirus by running weekly scans, and keeping it regularly updated.

• Keeping a backup of all the important files and data on your computer is a good idea, as this could be of great help in the event of an attack on your PC.

• You need to be particularly careful and install a firewall in you are using the internet on a shared network. Sometimes the worst hackers could be right next door to you.

Centex Technologies is a Central Texas based networking and IT firm engaged in providing complete networking and IT security solutions. For more information, call us at our Dallas office – (972) 375-9654

Forum marketing has emerged as the go-to tool for savvy online marketers, who are willing to engage a relevant audience with minimal efforts. When done correctly, forum marketing can go a long way in building your Austin TX business’ reputation in the online world, and encouraging internet users to visit your website. The key to efficiently market your business on online forums is in choosing the right forums for your business. Most businesses make the mistake of wasting their time and efforts on forums that are not really worth it. Here are some of the top features to look for in a forum-

• It should have around 15-20 new posts every day, and should have at least 1000 members. The total number of posts on the forum should be around 10000.
• The forum should not be flooded with spam.
• Make sure the forum you are posting on has not been created by your direct competitor.

A good way to look for relevant forums is to search on hub sites like Board Tracker using the niche-specific keywords for your business. You can also ask people in your circle, such as employees and business associates, about the forums that they are active on.

When it comes to forum marketing, consistency is the key. Once you find a forum that meets your needs, waste no time in registering on it and becoming a member. Seniority plays a major role in determining your impact on most online forums. Also remember that forums should be viewed as a long-term marketing strategy, as opposed to a way to let word about latest advertising offer.

As insignificant as it might seem, your username and avatar on forums have a significant impact on how you are perceived by other members. Using your real name could be a good idea if it is strongly associated with your business. Remember to keep things simple and thoroughly professional. Also take out time to create an impressive profile on forums, with a clear description of what your business is all about, and what your areas of expertise and experience are.

Before getting active on forums, take out some time to get a sense of the community and understand the general tone of the forum. This will avoid you being shunned away as a newcomer. Make an effort to make worthy contributions to the forum, as this shall help to build your respect among the users, allowing you to gradually introduce more aggressive marketing campaigns.

Photo optimization is a must-have online marketing tool for modern businesses, as images are going on to become the new content. While the impact of text cannot be underestimated when it comes to content, yet the effect that can be achieved with a well-shot image cannot be matched. If you are ready to step into the world of photo optimization for your business, there are a few basic rules that you shall need to bear in mind to be successful at it.

• The first step is to choose the correct image. A beautiful photo can add a dimension of vibrancy to your text, and is what shall actually sell your page. Remember to stay away from copyright issues by using images that are Creative Common licensed, or even better, sharing and optimizing self-captured shots.

• The next important thing is how you name the image. Refrain from generic image titles, and instead choose a name that is descriptive yet simple. You might want to observe phrasing patterns that work well for your users and try to incorporate them into image names.

• Alt tags are an important component of image optimization. Make an effort to fill out all the alt tags for images on your website, using plain English for file names instead of stuffing them with keywords. You can avoid filling alt tags for decorative images, to prevent being flagged for over-optimization by search engines.

• If you are optimizing multiple shots of a single image, remember to fill out individual alt tags for each of these images. This will help to guide specific searches for these shots to your website, serving as an effective SEO tool. Refrain from using larger images as these shall prolong loading times on your website. Instead, you can provide an option of a pop-up to view larger sizes of smaller images. Several online image editing tools allow you to reduce image file size to the minimum required to maintain the image quality.

• Be careful while choosing file formats for images. While JPEGs usually work best in most e-commerce platforms, PNGs and GIFs are suitable for decorative images. The trick is to keep the quality of images high while reducing file size as far as possible.

• Finally, take out time to test your images and see what works best for your customers and your business. Right from product images per page to image angles, testing is the best way to know just what your target audience is looking for.