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How To Get Found In Mobile Based Searches

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On September 16, 2013

In Mobile Ads, Mobile Apps, SEO Marketing

September 16, 2013

A vast majority of internet users in the present “smart-phone era” are using their mobile devices as the principal internet access points. In shocking statistics, the mobile-based search share for Google is estimated to be a whopping 97% globally. This explains why it is important for businesses to up their mobile based search engine optimization techniques. This is especially true for local businesses, since people on the go looking for a local business are a lot more likely to carry out a mobile search than log in through a computer. The following tips tell you how you can figure higher on mobile search results for your business:

  • The best way to get your mobile site to show up on Google is to work on your desktop site SEO and add a mobile redirect to channelize these efforts to your mobile SEO. Google reuses desktop site rankings for mobile searches, which explains why the www versions of websites pop up in mobile searches, instead of the “m” versions.
  • If you do not have one yet, get a responsive website design now! This way, you do not have to worry about creating consistent content for both your mobile site and desktop site. Responsive websites are definitely the way to go keeping in mind the evolving internet scenario over the next decade.
  • Considering the dramatically lower time between search and action on mobile searches versus desktop searches, it makes sense for local businesses to ensure that users have an optimized experience when they visit their site through a mobile search. While getting responsive is a big part of the game, you also want to make sure that you have a fast-loading mobile landing page, display easy-to-play videos for smart-phone users, etc.
  • Measuring your ROI of mobile search is a good way to keep track of whether your efforts are paying off, and if more needs to be done.
  •  Finally, remember that when it comes to the mobile world, even the slightest error in the device, link, or site design can influence the content being viewed and even pop up an error message. Be sure to check thoroughly for errors and eliminate barriers to appease your customers and the search engines.

At Centex Technologies, we create responsive website designs, mobile applications and mobile websites for businesses. For more information, call us at – (855) 375-9654

What is Pay Per Gaze?

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On September 6, 2013

In Internet marketing, Tech Buzz

September 6, 2013

Google has recently been awarded the patent for its pay-per-gaze technology, which is capable of changing the face of technology in the years to come. This futuristic invention is designed to be used on a “head-mounted gaze tracking device”, which seems to be a perfectly fitting description for Google Glasses. Despite Google’s repeated assurances that users of Google Glasses will not have to worry about their experience being hampered by ads popping in their field of vision, the pay-per-gaze patent suggests otherwise. On the other hand, it is quite possible that the reason behind Google securing this patent could be to ensure that no other company tries to implement it on Google Glasses or similar devices.

In what is being described as “creepy” and “invasive”, this technology will be able to read people’s emotions through an image recognition algorithm, which shall track items viewed by creating a “gazing log”. This shall represent a goldmine of information for advertizers, who shall be able to know not just how long a user gazed at their advertizement, but also how he felt about it. The advertizers shall then be charged on a “pay-per-gaze” basis, depending on the number of people who gazed at their advertizement long enough. This system shall be applicable to advertizements across all mediums, including billboards, television advertizements, website banners, etc.

The patent shall be able to determine emotional responses to images viewed by tracking pupil dilation patterns of the users. Another feature covered in Google’s pay-per-gaze patent is the history search feature, through which the gazes of a particular user can be compared to their purchasing history. In other words, Google Glass shall be capable of tracking user purchases, including those made online as well as in the real world. This could be the Holy Grail of advertising, as it could track the influence of an advertizement, right through the final outcome of purchase.

Pay per gaze is being described as the next step in the ubiquitous pay-per-click advertizing system. Individual privacy in this gaze-tracking system will be protected by removing personal-identifying data from the information provided to advertizers. In addition to this, it is likely that users will be able to opt-out from having their gazes tracked. How this patent will change the face of advertizing, and whether at all, Google will choose to implement it in its augmented reality head-ware, remains to be seen.

What is Google Glass?

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On August 30, 2013

In Internet marketing, IT Support, SEO Marketing, Tech Buzz

August 30, 2013

In the beginning of 2012, when rumors of Google’s ambitious project of wearable technology began doing rounds, few could believe that this was such a close reality. The intuitive spectacles, which have been developed with a vision of becoming the ubiquitous device of the coming decade, are all set to hit the market, and are available for developers to test for just $1500. So what exactly is Google Glass, and how can we expect it to change the world in the years to come? Put simply, Google Glass is an attempt to make data completely hands-free, enabling users to access the internet and other apps through voice commands.

This coming-of-age device wears less than an average frame of sunglasses, and can be worn discreetly, just like a regular pair of eyeglasses.  Each such frame has a camera, display, touchpad, microphone, and battery built into its chassis, enabling you to view the display within your field of vision, and perform all sorts of functions through voice commands- including taking pictures, sharing live streaming of events, recording videos, translating, searching the web, using navigation, etc.

Here’s a look at some of the tasks that Google Glass will be able to accomplish:

  • The embedded camera will be able to click pictures of things as you can see them from a first person’s perspective, eliminating the need for a viewfinder.
  • The microphone and touchpad on one side of the frame will enable you to select the function that you want to be performed from the screen that will appear in front of you. Google Glass will be able to interpret your commands through a brief gesture or voice command.
  • The device will also be capable to provide sound through bone-induction technology, which will be a lot less cumbersome than normal headphones.
  • Google’s voice-to-text functionality will enable you to pair your headset to your Android phone, and then view text messages on the display, and respond to them through the microphone. This feature will also make it possible to dictate emails.
  • You shall also be able to access a variety of other Google features, such as Google Maps, Google Hangout, Google Translate, etc. through the device.
  • In addition to these in-built features, there are expected to be a wide range of apps that users will be able to access through the headset, including one that makes it possible to identify your friends in a crowd.

Centex Technologies is a leading IT support company in Dallas TX. For more information on latest technologies, computer networking, online marketing and SEO, call us at – (855) 375-9654

Android Phones Versus iPhone

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On August 23, 2013

In IT Support, Mobile Apps

August 23, 2013

Android or iPhone- the question of who wins the battle of the smartphones is a long-running one that no one quite seems to know the answer to. Here is an attempt to breakdown the numbers governing this staple debate, to see which of the two really is the winner of the mobile platform war.

The first question in this regard, is of course, which smartphone has more buyers. According to a research conducted by the Kantar Worldpanel Comtech, Android is the clear winner, outspacing iOS by a margin of a whopping 52.1% in the United States alone. Talking of the worldwide market share of the two smartphones, Android dominates with a share of more than 70% versus 21% for the iPhone.

However, when it comes to tablets, the statistics favor iOS, which enjoys a market share of 53.8% versus Android’s 42.7% share in tablet shipments. Interestingly though, when we talk of the money being made by Apple versus Samsung, the former is the one raking in the bucks, accounting for 72% of the industry’s profit.

Talking of superiority in terms of apps for both the platforms, even though this is usually a completely subjective analysis, a company called uTest carried out a comparison by collecting user reviews and ratings, according to which iOS apps are more superior, with an average score of 68.5, versus a score of 63.3 for an average Android app. While iOS ranks higher for app availability (Android had to struggle for months to get Instagram), Android offers higher flexibility for its apps, allowing them to run on multiple browsers.

Another advantage that Android offers over iOS is better sharability. The sharing function called “intents” enables users to share all forms of data in between their apps simply by long-pressing the text or image. This makes tasks like sharing photos or carrying out Google searches undeniably easier. iOS on the other hand, scores high in terms of portability, with the average iPhone being lighter and more compact than its Android counterpart. Another perk to the iOS is higher consistency, which though, is balanced out by the increased customization, which Android, being an open-sourced system offers.

We at Centex Technologies create mobile applications for iOS and Android platforms. For more information, call us at – (855) 375-9654

How Integrating Social Plugins To Your Portals Is Beneficial

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On August 16, 2013

In Internet marketing, Networking, SEO Marketing

August 17, 2013

The power of social media in the world of web marketing is undisputable, which is why it makes sense to tap this power for your business portal. Incorporating social plugins on your website/ blog is probably the simplest, quickest, and most efficient way to do this. Social media sites allow you to implement a wide range of social plugins into your portal, granting you access to the millions of users who remain logged on to these sites all day long while perusing the internet. The best part is that you do not have to be a coding maestro to integrate these social plugins on your website. All that it takes is some very basic knowledge of coding.

One of the most commonly added plugins are Facebook plugins, which can be attributed to the website being the leading choice of identity among users signing into sites, with a whopping 46% of users opting for their Facebook identity. The “Like” button on Facebook serves as a great plugin for user portals, as it is amongst the most well-recognized symbols of approval in the online world. You can choose to integrate this plugin on a specific URL, or on every page of your site. Along with serving as social proof of your content’s likeability, this plugin also helps you to connect with the entire social circle of every user who clicks on it.

Other effective Facebook plugins include Facepile, comments, recommendations, like box, activity feed, etc. Other social plugins like social toolbar help you to list all the social networks that you are on, such as Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, etc. at the bottom of your portal, encouraging users to follow you on these social networks. You can also opt for additional features such as a complete display of your latest tweets, and easy sharing options. Digg is another plugin that can help you integrate all major social buttons on your site, and customize their display.

If you actively post videos on your website, YouTube plugins are a great option for you. Integrating a plugin like Smart You Tube can help you at YouTube content on your site. You can further explore the world of plugins through your photos on sites like Tumblr, using tools like Tumblr Widget to add your Tumblr photos in a sidebar on your webpage. Those active on Twitter also have a wide range of options when it comes to social plugins, such as Tweetmeme, WordTwit, etc.

Centex Technologies provide Social Media networking and promotional services to clients across the globe. For more information, call at – (855) 375-9654

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