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Facebook Marketing

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On February 19, 2014

In Internet marketing, SEO Marketing

February 19, 2014

Facebook has emerged as a one of the favorite mediums for business owners who wish to target a selective audience. Unique ability of Facebook to send promotional messages to users specified by demographics has facilitated Internet marketers to produce better results. You can choose to promote your business based on by age, gender, location and interests of targeted audience. The various effective methods by which you can promote your business on the leading social networking site are listed below:

Facebook Page

Using Facebook page to create a business profile helps highlighting information about business location, schemes, offers, special discounts of an enterprise over the social network. Option of “like” allows users to endorse the business and stay updated with latest developments, news and other activities of business. A dedicated page on Facebook about the business can help build a communication channel between customers and service providers. Thus, answering queries of users and helping them becomes far more convenient.  Facebook page also helps in promoting various non-business activities of the company and thereby boosting the brand’s reputation.

Facebook Ads

Facebook allows enterprises to create and promote advertizements and showcase them to users according to the demographics. The ad is placed on the right hand side of the webpage. To make the ad more attractive, facebook gives the option to use images along with the text. Besides selecting a set of users based on demographics, you can also pick a particular ad to cater to a particular “group” or “friends of friends” who have already liked your Facebook page.

Sponsored Suggested Posts:

Facebook allows advertizers to post “suggested posts” on news feed of specified users. Sponsored posts help send messages to users.

Though these are the prominent Facebook marketing strategies provided by Facebook, an Internet marketing company well-equipped with knowledge will make use of all the features available to market their clients’ business. Various campaigns can be created and effectively implemented using “share” and “like” features. It is important to upload posts that are not only informative, but can also pledge a viral promotion. Pictures, quotes, videos that appeal to masses serves the cause further of marketing a product or service on Facebook.

We at Centex Technologies provide Facebook marketing services to clients across the globe. For more information call us at – (855) 375-9654

IT Outsourcing – Benefits, Risks and Rewards

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On February 12, 2014

In IT Support

February 12, 2014

Outsourcing certain aspects of your business is a choice that almost all business owners are faced with the most obvious benefit being the cost-cutting that this option offers. With outsourcing being available for nearly every IT function, right from computer networking to online marketing, and everything in between, it is possible to significantly cut down on your workforce by choosing to outsource. Here is a look at the benefits, risks, and rewards offered by IT outsourcing:

The Benefits:

  • Outsourcing helps to eliminate the costs associated with hiring, managing, and training an employee force, as well as providing employees with benefits like health insurance, employment taxes, retirement plans, etc.
  • Another benefit offered by outsourcing is that it enables business owners to focus on core business aspects.
  • By choosing to outsource, you can opt for companies that specialize in the area you need, giving you the benefit of collective skills from experienced IT professionals.
  • Outsourcing also helps to save time, by allowing employees to focus on what they were hired for, instead of having to manage tasks that an outsourced employee can perform much more efficiently.

The Risks:

  • Outsourcing is accompanied with data confidentiality and disaster recovery concerns.
  • Laying off employees due to an outsourced workforce might result in reduced employee morale at the workplace, as employees begin to worry about their job being at risk as well.
  • Many outsourced companies might require you to sign a multi-year contract or download their software, which could result in reduced flexibility.

The Rewards:

  • With software and hardware in the IT industry becoming obsolete by the minute, outsourcing is a good way to allow business functions to be handled by a company that can offer you access to the latest technology.
  • Outsourced companies (for example company providing outsourced computer networking) have core competencies to focus on, which makes it possible for them to hire a workforce that is well-qualified, trained and experienced in performing a particular function.
  • The financial rewards offered by IT outsourcing range from lower overhead expenses and bulk purchasing to leasing options for software and hardware, resulting in a significant amount of cost-cutting for businesses.

With the benefits, risks and rewards associated with outsourcing being evident, it is important to ensure that you have the framework essential to effectively manage an outsourced workforce, before opting for IT outsourcing.

We at Centex Technologies provide complete solutions for computer network management, litigation support coding, medical billing, web development and SEO. For more information, call us at – (855) 375-9654

How Computer Firewall Works

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On January 30, 2014

In IT Support

January 30, 2014

Put simply, a firewall is a wall that surrounds your computer, protecting it from online threats like hacking attempts. This robust protection is essential, when you consider the high security risk that the present-day internet poses. Firewalls can be used to protect computers in an office network, as well as to protect one’s home network and family from malicious websites. The mechanism of how a firewall works is relatively simple, with a firewall basically being a hardware device or program which works as a filter, barring suspicious packets of information from entering into a network.

Companies typically place firewalls at every internet connection in their network, making it impossible for any unauthorized user to gain access to the network. In addition to this, firewalls also make it possible for companies to control the websites that their employees can visit, and which files can leave the network. The three methods used by firewalls to control inbound and outbound data to the network are packet filtering, proxy service, and stateful inspection.

In packet filters, packets of data are subjected to a set of filters, through which they are either accepted or rejected. Proxy service makes use of a requesting system for data traveling in either direction. Stateful inspection is the latest firewall technology, in which packets of data are compared to a database of trusted information on the basis of certain attributes, based on which it is either rejected or accepted.
Users can customize firewalls on the basis of various conditions such as IP addresses, domain names, ports, and specific words/ phrases.

Here is a look at some of the key benefits offered by a computer firewall:

  • A major benefit of firewalls is that their protection is not limited to a single computer, but can be used to protect multiple systems in a single network as well.
  • A firewall can be configured to provide a high amount of security from a wide range of internet bots, hence protecting the data on a local PC or network. These include remote login, backdoors, OS bugs, service denial, email bombs, macros, viruses, spam, source routing, and redirect bombs.
  • A firewall can keep a log of multiple attempts of invasion from a single source, establishing alarms to alert you when such attempts are made in the future.
  • Certain firewalls are also capable of maintaining a log of all outbound data traffic from your computer, and restricting access to suspicious networks.

Centex Technologies provide IT support and office computer networking solutions to corporates. For more information, call us at – (855) 375-9654

Introduction To Tablet Commerce

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On January 27, 2014

In Internet marketing, Tech Buzz

January 27, 2014

Commonly referred to as T-Commerce, Tablet commerce is without doubt the next big thing in the e-commerce landscape, catering to the ever-growing number of tablet users worldwide. With tablet shoppers accounting for 21% of all mobile traffic to retail websites, and this number expected to grow significantly over the coming year, it is understandable why e-commerce experts are viewing tablet commerce as a key aspect of their online marketing strategies. It is interesting to note that research shows that most of the aforementioned tablet users also own smart phones and PCs, but still preferred to shop using their tablets.

The high customer preference towards tablets can be attributed to their user-friendly interface, portability and accessibility, which explains why users are likely to reach out to their tablets to respond to a television advertizement. It is thus important for retailers to create tablet-friendly websites, and ensure a consistent experience for their users across multiple devices and screen sizes. Tablet-optimized websites need to leverage touch-screen technology, making for a smoother web-browsing experience for users.

Retailers who aim at trumping their competitors when it comes to tablet commerce, need to focus on providing richer content for tablet users, through apps that are engaging, unique, and innovative. The aim is to be able to make the most of all that tablets have to offer, right from audio recognition and page flipping to horizontal scrolling and gyroscope. The good news is that you do not necessarily have to modify the entire content on your website to cater to tablet users, but can just focus on ensuring an inspiring and interactive shopping experience on your website.

As a retailer targeting tablet users, you need to make the most of the unique opportunities that tablets offer for consumer interaction. These include videos, surveys, quizzes, and other interactive media that make it possible for users to connect with the products and services being offered. This goes a long way in inspiring users to buy, and also making them want to share their experiences with other users. The fact that tablets are constantly proliferating in size and features makes this an even more lucrative marketing venture for retailers with a futuristic perspective.

Tablet commerce is being viewed as a more effective marketing technique than social media and mobile commerce for retailers. The engaging commerce experience that tablets offers by far bypasses other platforms, making it the go-to option for successful retailers looking for new and compelling ways to engage potential customers.

Google Acquires NEST

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On January 17, 2014

In Tech Buzz

January 17, 2014

Search giant Google has left the online world in frenzy with its acquisition of NEST labs, which manufactures the Nest Learning Thermostat and the smart smoke detector, Protect; both of which have redefined what thermostats are capable of. The company, which was founded by two former Apple executives, Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers, is popular for its intuitive products, which learn user behaviors and are capable of adjusting the temperature autonomously. The sale, which is expected to close within a few months, has been slated at $3.2 billion in cash.

Speculations are rife about how exactly Google intends to use NEST, as it seems that this move, when combined with Google’s language recognition abilities, could be Google’s way to enter the homes of the general public. This move is being seen as a “rocket ship” to the future, one that has the potential of transporting us into a future that we could only imagine so far. This could be a major step into realizing the vision of “conscious homes”, which could completely change the face of the world.

This is not the first time that Google has attempted to gain access to similar systems, the most recent being its own energy monitoring service. Sources reveal that Apple also showed interest in purchasing NEST, as a part of its wearable technology to counter Google Glass. However, Fadell was apparently only interested in a partnership with Google, or in remaining independent. Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, and now NEST, goes to show the belief that the company has in Apple’s vision.

Post acquisition Representatives for NEST maintain that privacy and user security has always been a prime consideration for NEST, and that is not expected to change. However, skeptics have a different view, as it is believed that with this move, Google, which has a history of compromising customer privacy for product sales, will get a closer view than ever into the activities going on behind closed doors of its users. This is a critical consideration for customers who use NEST’s products, since the company collects a wide range of information about their living habits. It remains to be seen if these users will continue to trust the company after its partnership with Google.

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