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How to Optimize Your Homepage for Improved Engagement

Posted: 29 Apr 2019 12:45 PM PDT

If your website is going to rank at the top of search engines, it first must be fully optimized. You want your site to bring you more conversions, email signs ups and user engagement, but those goals are pretty difficult to reach if your homepage isn't user-friendly.

The first step to achieving your analytical goals is to evaluate your website and make the changes necessary so it's at top performance. Whether you run a blog or e-commerce store, you want users fully engaged with your content and comfortable with navigating it so it's easy to explore. Visitors typically spend 15 seconds on a webpage, so it's your job to give them the best UX you possibly can.

If you want to optimize your homepage, here's how to get started.

Increase site speed

We've all encountered websites we're excited to check out only to be met with a webpage that doesn't load. It's frustrating and causes a lot of frustration, which is why these sites end up with higher bounce rates and lower engagement. 

Editor's note: Looking for website design help for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.

 

According to Google, after five seconds, the probability of users bouncing increases by 90 percent.  Users don't want to deal with sites that lag and take forever to load, so it's easier for them to exit out and visit another website that doesn't give them any problems.

You want to optimize your images so the file sizes aren't huge, causing lagging. You can do this with image optimization tools like TinyJPG or Kraken. You should also regularly test your site's speed using Google's Test My Site so you're always aware of how it's performing.

Capture email addresses

You need to take advantage of all the ways you can boost traffic and engagement through your website, and the best way is by collecting email addresses. Building your email list is one of the best things you can do for your business because you're growing a list of subscribers who are loyal to your brand and want to know more.

Always include an opt-in form on your homepage that captures users' emails. You can use a tool like OptinMonster to create forms even if you're not experienced with coding or HTML.

Optimize for mobile

There are nearly 200 million mobile shoppers in the U.S. alone. If your site isn't mobile-friendly, you aren't catering to one of the biggest groups powering web traffic out there. It makes it simple to conduct transactions online and maintain a positive shopping experience for those who don't want to physically go to the store. Since it provides an easier way to shop, it's become more and more popular over the years.

Imagine someone on mobile or another device tries using your website but has a difficult time navigating it. You can bet you're losing a user that's never going to come back.

Make sure your website is optimized for mobile users no matter what. Use Google's mobile-friendly test regularly to ensure that your website is responsive across all devices so you don't miss out on new leads.

Have an internal-linking structure

If you don't yet have an internal-linking structure for your site's content, it's time to set that up. You're missing out on opportunities for prolonged engagement and increased traffic when you don't lead your visitors to similar content they'd enjoy. One reason bounce rates go up is that users have no further content to explore, so they exit out. Your goal is to keep them entertained by providing links to more content on your website, also known as internal linking.

When you read a blog post and see hyperlinks that lead to webpages on the same site, that's internal linking. It's important to use specific keywords on your homepage that are popular and relevant to your content so you're ranked higher in search. You can use Google keyword planner to perform keyword research that will drive organic traffic and boost engagement.

Over to you

Optimizing your homepage is essential if you want your website to have a chance at ranking higher in search engines and improving users' level of engagement. You need to provide a positive UX that will leave visitors impressed and wanting to come back for more. Doing so means you have to optimize for mobile, create an internal linking structure, increase site speed and grow your email list.

The Basics of Google Ad Rank

Posted: 29 Apr 2019 11:30 AM PDT

You invest a lot of money and time into paid-search advertising to secure a top ranking in search engine results. It can be frustrating when the results are not as you expected. It's important to understand Google's Ad Rank and its various components to gain the maximum benefit from Google AdWords.

It will also help you get a lower cost-per-click (CPC), which will lead to a lower cost-per-sale (CPS). This can help you create a long-lasting and successful AdWords campaign.

Do you want to secure the top rank? From this post, you will learn everything about Google ad ranking. This includes the meaning, ways to improve it and factors determining the ranking.

Let's get started.

Meaning of Google Ad Rank

In the simplest terms, Google explains Ad Ranks as the order in which your ad shows up in search engine results. When your ad ranks higher on the search pages, chances are that it will be more prominent. So there will be a better chance of getting prospects to notice you and visit your site. As a result, this will generate a high number of clicks on your page.

Editor's note: Need online marketing services for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you with free information.

 

However, the generation of clicks depends on the presence of other ads on the same page. So the fewer the ads, the higher the chances of generating more clicks. Ad ranks are considered a key parameter to track and monitor your campaign. This will help you to manage your budget effectively and generate a higher click-through rate.

Factors determining ad ranking

The following are some of the important factors that have a direct impact on your Google ad ranking.

  1. The importance of keyword research cannot be emphasized enough. You can instantly increase the ranking of your ad if you match your keyword with your prospects' search queries.

  2. In addition to keywords, it is important to focus on your landing pages and ad copy. That's because Google will analyze your copy to see if it can answer the search queries of your prospects. If your ad copy matches user search intent, it will boost your Google ad ranking.

  3. You also need to focus on Quality Score. The Quality Score is when Google evaluates the significance and quality of your ad to their users. So, if you create a high-quality and relevant ad for your target audience, you might secure a higher rank in search results. Google takes past performance and CTR into account when calculating your Quality Score.

  4. Lastly, it's all about the money. If you can bid higher, your ad can get a higher placement. That being said, an ad with a higher Quality Score and a lower bid can outrank an ad with a higher bid. So you need to take all of the factors into account rather than focusing on just one.

Ways to improve Google ad ranking

Are you struggling to gain the top ranking for your ads in search results? When done correctly, the following strategies can improve your Google ad ranking and help you run a successful AdWords campaign. The following strategies are easy to implement and are an effective way to improve your Quality Score instantly.

1. Bid More

This might look like quite an obvious way to improve the ranking of your ad. This strategy helps you increase your ad ranking in the fastest and quickest way possible.

If you have the budget and you are willing to put more money into it, then go ahead and bid more. This will improve your ad's chances of ranking higher in search results.

However, what if you're working on a shoestring budget? In that case, you can opt to bid more money only on high-value keywords and add them into your ad campaign. This will enable you to pay only for the most relevant keywords.

You can use different tools to simplify your keyword research process and discover high-value keywords that will boost your Google ad ranking. This platform will also help you keep track of your ad position so you can measure the impact of your efforts.

2. Be specific

You need to create ads which are more specific and have niche relevance. This will ensure your ads are more relevant to your target audience and to the keyword groups you are targeting.

In this case, your ad placements will be more relevant as well. And as a result, they will be able to secure higher rankings and generate more clicks.

This strategy is effective, but it might take some time to generate the desired results. So, start creating ads that are focused on specific buyer personas and run campaigns for different services and products to increase relevance.

3. Create better and unique landing pages for each ad

Imagine your target audience clicked on a paid search ad and were directed to something entirely different. It can be annoying and frustrating for them, which can increase your bounce rate. That's why you should avoid creating one generic landing page for all of your services and products.

In addition to your ads, Google also considers the landing pages that people see once they click on your ads. So the landing pages of your ads have an impact on your Google ad ranking. It's important that you create unique landing pages for different products or services to increase relevance.

However, that's easier said than done. You need to invest a lot of time into creating unique landing pages for each ad. There is one easy solution to this problem. Create one standard landing page for each campaign that you can customize as needed. You'll be able to make certain edits as needed at scale to customize the offer. On the back end, you can easily edit key characteristics of your generic landing page to match the offer of your ad group.

You should provide a unique landing page experience to your target audience. This will enhance their experience and increase dwell time. As a result, your ad can gain a higher ranking and a higher Quality Score without investing too much money.

This is one of the quickest and easiest ways to create unique and better landing pages. Also, make sure to add important keywords on the landing page. Use keywords are related to your services or products.

You can simplify the process of creating unique landing pages using platforms like Unbounce. It allows you to choose from hundreds of pre-built templates to create custom landing pages that are optimized for conversion.

Final thoughts

It might seem difficult to increase your Google ad ranking. However, the strategies mentioned above are easy to implement, affordable and effective. When done correctly, they can effectively increase the ranking of your ad. A better ranking will then increase the click-through rates and visibility of your ads.

Is the Cloud Living on the Edge?

Posted: 29 Apr 2019 11:00 AM PDT

Back when the cloud was "the next big thing," skeptics questioned its reliability, its durability and, above all, its security. Over time, each concern has been addressed and largely resolved. The wisdom of off-premises computing is now almost a given. 

But cloud computing isn't a religious issue. We can believe that moving critical applications and mission-critical data off local gear is strategically smart, safe and cost-effective, and still acknowledge that growing pains have tested, and will continue to test, the model. With the cloud's maturity comes some degree of ossification and even inefficiency.

The Term Edge Computing

Over the years, I've sought to debunk myths and hype around cloud computing's flavors of the month: public, private, hybrid, fog, etc. They all taste great. They're all less filling. My point has been that terminology too often masks an intention to fix things that aren't broken, to repackage and sell things that already exist and work well, and to find alternatives to solutions that have proven themselves eminently capable of enhancing business processes.   

As Upton Sinclair memorably put it, "it is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it." Because the tendency in technology is to tease the Next Next Big Thing, the temptation to apply a bear hug to the latest and greatest can be hard to resist, whether or not we fully know what we're embracing.  

That's where we are with edge computing. Before this bit of jargon fully morphs into a way of doing business, IT consumers, IT professionals and IT pundits all need to understand what it is substantively and where it lapses into change-for-change's-sake.

Recent headlines underscore the point: "Michael Dell: Why edge computing could be the next big thing"; "Edge Computing: The next big thing in networking technology"; "What is Edge Computing and Is It the Next Big Thing?:; "Edge Computing Emerges As The Next Big Thing In Tech, And Taiwan Will Help Power It."

How Edge Computing Can Help

Unlike some of its vaporous predecessors in the IT realm, edge computing is legit. Edge strives to get business rules, and at least some data, closer to the user. While it's easy enough to be bamboozled by buzzwords, the decision to push middleware closer to the user is in some cases a wise one. In a way, it's cloud computing with a caveat, or an asterisk. "Off-premises cloud" sounds like an oxymoron, but in a dispersed physical environment – say, a corporate campus with a data center serving satellite offices edge computing makes sense. 

Many of us naturally want local equipment to perform locally and thereby spare us from chasing around the Internet. But that's a pretty application-specific approach, and it's not at all clear that every application needs to go that direction. It's important to ask whose ox is being gored in this scenario.  Who has a vested interest in staying on premises or returning to the older model in a significant way?

Might that someone be old-line equipment manufacturers? Apart from the rationale of being closer to the user in some limited instances, it would seem that the biggest champions of edge computing are those who lost the most by going to the cloud. Where's the demand for a methodology that brings servers back to their locations?  

Today, a certain number of large players seek to commoditize the market: they want their service to be a commodity because it's easier to compete simply on price, never mind educating the user community. So it's fair to ask: does edge computing solve a real problem, or is it more of a backdoor entrance through which the old guard can reestablish its hegemony?

From my POV, edge computing is not a movement or even a bona fide trend. It's subset of a subset. Users need to tune out the noise and decide what technology best meets their business requirements. Which solution provider enables them to be at their most nimble and competitive? Obvious as it may seem, organizations need to look at their needs. Common sense is the great leveler; it renders hype obsolete. 

So remember Occam's Razor: the simplest answer is often the right one. To avoid falling off the edge, opt for local computing where you have to, and the cloud everywhere else.

Survey Reveals What Some Would Give to End Their Commute

Posted: 29 Apr 2019 10:46 AM PDT

Whether you're behind the wheel, carpooling with colleagues or spending your mornings strap-hanging on public transportation, commuting to work every day can be a drag. For more than 139 million Americans, however, that's exactly how mornings go – wake up, get ready, travel to work.

The average American commuter spends a little more than 26 minutes traveling to work every day, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. While that may not seem like much at first, that adds up to more than 200 hours, or nine days, per year. That much time commuting isn't just boring – other studies have shown it's also bad for your health.

These days we have our smartphones to keep us entertained, but a recent survey of nearly 1,000 U.S. workers in 10 major U.S. cities examined their commute, its impact on their lives and what they would give to end the daily grind.

Detesting the trip

Dissatisfaction with the daily drive is easy to understand. After all, who wants to spend hours of their week on an unproductive task before and after their 9-to-5? According to survey participants, nearly 49% of people said they hated their daily commute.

The feeling is even more prevalent in congested cities. Approximately 56% of respondents in Boston and San Francisco said they hated their commute. That latter group was particularly understandable, as Census data showed they spend more than 500 days of their lives on average traveling to and from work.

Other major cities showed similar signs of dissatisfaction. Roughly 54% of Chicaco respondents said they hated their commute, while Houston (50%) and New York City (49%) residents also said they were unhappy with the amount of time they spend traveling to and from work.

The sentiment was also higher among those who said they take public transportation to work. According to the survey, 52% of people who said they took the train to work said they hated doing so, while 48% said the same about driving.

Some of the biggest drivers of commuters' resentment were what respondents said they'd been giving up in order to get to work. Nearly 70% of women and 67% of men in busy cities said they had given up their free time because of their commute. Similarly, 66% of women and nearly 57% of men said they'd lost out on sleep, and nearly 51% of men said they'd missed out on family time because of their commute.

What workers would be willing to give up to end the commute

While most people are already giving up something to make their commute possible, researchers also wanted to know what people would be willing to give up or do to end the practice. From the mundane to the carnal, officials said respondents did not mince words when it came to what they would be willing to do.

Nearly 35% of respondents said they would give up social media for a year. How likely people were willing to delete Facebook or Twitter depended on the length of their commute and the mode of transportation, according to officials. People with commutes of 90 minutes or more were more than 49% as likely to take the plunge, versus those with an under-30-minute trip to the office. People who take the train or subway were 39% likely to cut themselves off, while those who drive (34%) and take the bus (34%) were less likely.

The second most common thing people said they would willingly give up to end their commutes was pornography. Just over 31% of respondents said they'd give up viewing adult material for a year. Just as the data showed with social media, people were most likely to end their consumption of porn if they commuted for 90 minutes or more (40%) and took the train (35%). Similarly, 10% of respondents said they would give up sex for a year.

Other things workers said they'd be willing to do to end their commutes included being single for a year (22%), giving up TV and streaming services for a year (18%), and eating a bowl of cockroaches (6%).

Permanent changes to end commutes

While giving something up for a year was a good start, researchers wondered what permanent actions people would be willing to take if it meant they didn't have to commute anymore. While people were significantly less likely to take these, the actions they had to choose from were definitely drastic.

Roughly 11% of people who travel between 60 and 89 minutes to work said they would get an unwanted tattoo. Approximately 12% of bus riders said they would take that trade, and 14% of Washington, D.C., commuters also said they'd get some ink to eliminate their daily ride.

Commuting is dreaded so much by some commuters that they would be willing to take a hit in pay if it meant not having to travel so much. More than 22% of respondents who travel more than 90 minutes to work said they were willing to give up a paycheck. Nearly 20% of commuters who take the bus or drive themselves also said they would take a hit in the wallet if it meant ending their commute.

10 Social Media Networks to Use for Personal Branding

Posted: 29 Apr 2019 07:00 AM PDT

Personal branding is crucial for all industries because it helps increase sales, boost an online reputation and builds trust. Social media plays a significant role in personal branding efforts, so most executives, CEOs and founders post on a range of networks.

Remember: you don't have to post on all networks. Before launching a social media campaign, take a look at where your target market spends time online. You'll want to be on the networks that they're on so you increase your visibility. For personal branding efforts, most people use two-to-five social media networks, depending on time and resources.

If you're wondering what the options are or just want an all-encompassing look at the social media networks, here are ten to consider when launching a personal branding campaign and how to manage and grow followers on each.

Editor's note: Need a social media manager for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you with free information.

 

Facebook

Facebook is a popular social networking website where users can post comments and share all types of content ranging from photos to news. Keep your audience interested in your brand by sharing updates regularly. Posting once a day is ideal, but at least three times a week can be more manageable.

Inviting people to like your page is one of the easiest ways to increase your followers. You can also run Facebook ads and target your demographic by gender, age or location. It's important to engage with your Facebook community by liking and regularly commenting on quality content to build your following.

Twitter

Twitter is a powerful personal branding tool for startup founders. Nearly 40% of Twitter users say they've made a purchase as a direct result of a tweet from an influencer. Being active on Twitter every day is a good rule of thumb. One to five posts a day will increase your audience engagement dramatically.

Following people is one of the best ways to gain followers. It's a good idea to follow at least two people a day in your industry when you're just starting on the network. Participating in Twitter chats is another way to increase your following.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is an absolute must for any professional. Get started by creating a profile that lets others know who you are. Be sure also to create a company profile if your business doesn't already have one so you can add it to your profile.

LinkedIn offers a little more leeway in posting frequency compared to other social media channels. According to CoSchedule, founders should post at least once a week, but no more than five times a week. Consistency is crucial in growing connections, so you should post articles and engage with groups and connections regularly. Pick a schedule (daily or alternate days) and stick with it. [Interested in social media management software for your small business? Check out our best picks and reviews.]

Instagram

Instagram is a visual platform, so it's important to come up with a personal branding strategy for sharing your expertise via photos, videos, and text captions. Create an Instagram account that is a blend between your personal and business life.

Founders should try to post on Instagram one to two times a day. Using hashtags is one of the best ways to help others discover your content. This generates new Instagram followers, potentially leading to new clients. Just be careful not to overuse hashtags as your content may be mistaken for spam. Try to stay within 5-12 hashtags. Be sure to like and comment on others' content to increase your following.  

Snapchat

Founders can use Snapchat as a powerful storytelling tool in building their personal brand. Post pictures, videos, and captions to craft a narrative that lasts for 24 hours on your "Snapchat Story." Posting content daily will keep your brand fresh in the minds of your followers. Update your Snapchat story about three times a day, every four or five hours.

Increase your followers by having an influencer take over your account for the day, or you can take over another account. Promote the takeover among their followers and your own. You can also promote your Snapchat account on other marketing channels, so your existing audience knows where to find you.

Quora

Executives can use Quora to demonstrate their industry expertise, build their credibility, and elevate their personal brand. There is no set rule for how often you should post on Quora, but it's vital to be consistently active. Try to answer questions, leave comments, and upvote others' answers at least three days a week. Focus on positioning yourself in one niche so people will know what to expect and want to follow you. Gain exposure by asking insightful questions that resonate with people.

Reddit

Also known as the "front page of the internet," Reddit is a massive collection of forums where people can share content, comment, and upvote or downvote others' posts. Communities are broken into "subreddits" that each covers a different topic. Founders can join the community and make friends on the platform to help build their personal brand. Focus on being active in topics (subreddits) related to your expertise by asking questions and providing detailed answers.

Try to post a couple of times a day on subreddits. It's essential to build a following to begin building a personal brand on Reddit. Add value with every post and comment to grow your following.

Medium

Medium is an online publishing platform where users can read and write articles. The website allows anyone to create content and establish their brand as an industry expert without having to deal with the details involved in setting up their own blog. Use Medium to publish content focused on a theme related to your brand or business. Plan a consistent blogging schedule, whether it's once a week or once a month, to stay relevant and grow your audience.

Pinterest

Get started growing your personal brand on Pinterest by setting up a business account, which is necessary to track analytics. Be sure to confirm your website, so your Pinterest picture will automatically appear on all pins from your site. The main goals of your profile are to drive traffic to your site, store all original pins from your site, and appear credible and knowledgeable.

Pin consistently to build your personal brand and increase website traffic. Pinning a handful of times every day or every other day will be most effective compared to mass pinning once a week.

YouTube

YouTube's platform allows you to create their own channel and post videos to build your personal brand. Be sure to define your personal brand first, and publish videos based on your interests and profession. For example, if you're a marketing expert, you may want to share videos that focus on specific areas of marketing, such as the benefits of email marketing.

Like many other social media channels, posting consistently on YouTube will provide the best results. If possible, post once a week. If this isn't realistic, you can post once every two weeks.

Always automate social media content

Building your personal brand through social media can be tedious and time-consuming. Use social media automation tools to schedule all of your social media posts ahead of time. While automating your social media posts can certainly save you time, be sure to keep these tips in mind.

 

Monitoring Active Directory Groups for Changes With PowerShell

Posted: 29 Apr 2019 06:00 AM PDT

Administrators can assign rights to specific users and control who can and cannot add and remove group members from essential groups, but it's still critical to monitor groups like Enterprise Admins and Domain Admins for new members. Using PowerShell, we can create a monitor to do just that.

Prerequisites for using PowerShell to monitor AD

If you'd like to follow along with this article, I'll be assuming a few things:

  1. You are working on a computer that's already joined to an Active Directory domain.
  2. You are logged in with a user with rights to read AD group memberships.
  3. You have the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) package installed.
  4. You have an intermediate level of knowledge about PowerShell.

With those prerequisites out of the way, let's see how we can monitor AD groups for changes with PowerShell.

How to get started with using PowerShell to monitor AD

Creating an AD group monitor in PowerShell is a five-step process:

  1. Read the previous group membership.
  2. Read the current group membership.
  3. Store the current group membership.
  4. Compare group memberships.
  5. Take action.

First, we need to figure out how to read group memberships in PowerShell. The easiest way to do that is with the Get-AdGroupMember command in the ActiveDirectory PowerShell module. Using this command, we can pull out all of the group members. I'll be using the Domain Admins group as an example throughout this article.

Once we have the current list of members, we then need to store that list somewhere so we can read it later. I'll use a CSV file. Since I'd like to know when that membership is recorded, I'll also include the time.

Next, since I now have a CSV file to query, I can create some code to query the previous group membership. Below I'm querying our state file and finding the latest time the file has.

Next, I can create some code to compare the previous and current members and then run some code to take whatever action I need to if my monitor detects a difference in membership.

Once I have all of the steps in place, I can bring it all together in a script and run it.

When run, the script will then create a file called C:\DomainAdminGroupMemberShip.csv and C:\DomainAdminsGroupChanges.csv that will contain the list of group members every time the script is run and whether or not the group membership changed during that run.

Protecting your environment with PowerShell

Building an AD group membership monitor with PowerShell allows you to create a free, custom solution that's highly flexible and can easily be tuned to your environment. Once you have the script, this script can be executed at regular intervals using a Windows scheduled task or another execution engine of your choosing.

3 Ways Employees Can Fall Back in Love With Their Jobs

Posted: 29 Apr 2019 06:00 AM PDT

You'll notice that the title of this post isn't "how to fall in love with your job." Rather, it's "how to fall back in love with your job."

The New York Times recently revealed that as many as a third of U.S. workers don't feel engaged at work. The "why" for the lack of disengagement varies, but the piece makes the argument to seek out the granular aspects you do and don't like in your job. Instead of thinking in broad strokes, such as disliking your boss or feeling overwhelmed by your workload, employees may consider loosely applying the KonMari Method. This means examining daily tasks, listing the ones that spark joy and reevaluating tasks that don't to better rebuild job satisfaction therein.

It's an unusual tactic, but reexamining the smaller details behind why you feel disengaged with your job can act as a catalyst for change. However, creating lists of what you love and loathe about your work duties is not a happiness cure-all. Falling back in love with your job is a learning process. It means searching for, and being open to, little ways to rekindle that spark all over again.

Develop friendships with your coworkers.

Is it possible to combine business with friendship? According to studies, yes! Payroll service provider Paychex recently surveyed 1,011 full-time workers on workplace relationships. The survey uncovers how these relationships, especially friendships, impact office environments and an employee's daily duties.

One of the key takeaways of the survey was that making friends in the office is not a detriment to productivity. There has long been a stereotype that office friends spend more time around the water cooler or chatting via Slack than they do focusing on getting their work done.

Quite the contrary! Full-time workers satisfied with their work have 4.3 friends on average within their work environment. This may be attributed to the workplace atmosphere itself, and how it allows employees to collaborate, brainstorm and work together as a team. What generally tends to happen when everyone feels comfortable in an inclusive environment? It's easier to make friends and feel excited to go to work and develop job satisfaction. Management also takes notice of workplace friendships, too. 70.6% surveyed revealed they perceive workplace friendships in a positive light.

Focus on creating a work-life connection.

All work and no play makes Jack and Jill very dull people indeed. Individuals who are proud of their careers like to tell those close to them in their lives. "Pride in Your Profession," a study from FundRocket, surveyed 1,000 full-time workers to discuss how they take pride in their work.

The survey included a section on work-life connection. This is not the same concept as a work-life balance. Rather, it's how job satisfaction connects to relationship satisfaction. Findings from the survey revealed that those satisfied at work also experience satisfying personal relationships, both of the friendship and romantic variety. And vice versa, with individuals that experience satisfying romantic lives likely to feel twice as more accomplished in the workplace. Ultimately, what happens is that the happiness felt in both work and life aspects supports each other.

Falling back in love with your job may require cutting the cord on behaving like a workaholic. The survey's findings suggest that individuals consistently prioritizing work over a social life – in platonic and romantic senses – face disappointment in both personal and professional worlds. If you find this describes you to some degree, put a hard stop on the hour you're up answering work emails and start adding more outings and date nights to your personal calendar.

Do more of what you care about.

Let's go back to that recommended list of writing down what you love and loathe about your job. There may be some duties on the "loathe" side that you'll have to grin and bear it – and do the work.

Everything else that you love? Try to do more of that, and as much of that, as humanly possible.

Meet with your manager or supervisor to discuss where your strengths lie in your position. Ask if you can do more of the things you're skilled at and care about. "Care" is the word to emphasize heavily. It may actually be more important to care for a job than to love it. When you care deeply about something, it holds meaning in your life. It is lasting, not fleeting, to care.

Employees that care about finding ways to perform better are doing more than increasing their job satisfaction. Their care allows them to lead by example. Others around them will begin to care accordingly. They ask how they can take on more initiatives and assignments that allow them to hone their skill sets. This will allow businesses, and the team members within the structures, to grow, increase opportunities and flourish together.

Now that you know what you love to do, and the simple ways you can jump back into being satisfied at work, there's only one question left. Are you ready to take the next steps forward in falling back in love with your job all over again?

Best IT Certifications for 2019

Posted: 29 Apr 2019 05:27 AM PDT

Getting certified is a surefire way to advance your career in the IT industry. Whether you work for an enterprise, a small business, the government, a healthcare organization, or any other place that employs IT professionals, your best bet for career advancement is to validate your skills and knowledge through a carefully chosen combination of certifications.

Many in the IT industry will tell you that certifications are vital for moving forward, but what exactly can a certification in the IT field do for you? CompTIA, a major technology company that offers its own list of certifications, breaks down some of the major reasons for pursuing certifications:

  • Assess the skills and knowledge of a candidate
  • Save time and resources to evaluate candidates
  • Confirm knowledge gains
  • Support professional development
  • Match the need of professional training

But certifications can get expensive. Factor in study materials, training and classes, exam fees, and the time that you devote to the whole experience; it all adds up. If you consider certifications as an investment in your career and your future, then wouldn't you want to work to obtain those that will benefit you the most?

Find the right IT certification a career success

Below you'll find certification guides that identify the best five credentials in a variety of different areas of IT, including security, storage, project management, cloud computing, computer forensics and more.

Best big data certifications 

The growing field of big data, analytics and business intelligence is all the rage these days, and the number of certifications is ticking up accordingly. What's more, IT professionals with big data and related certs are growing in demand. Read more about the best big data certifications. 

Best business continuity and disaster recovery certifications

Business continuity and disaster recovery certifications are seeing a healthy uptrend as new cloud-based tools proliferate the market. While BCP and DRP have always been important, they're becoming more critical, and IT certifications are following suit. Check out our best picks for business continuity and disaster recovery certifications. 

Best cloud IT certifications

IT pros with solid cloud computing skills continue to be in high demand as more companies adopt cloud technologies. With new cloud credentials coming out each year, the choices are multiplying. Here's an updated list of the best cloud certifications.

Best computer forensics certifications

As hacking and computer crime continues to grow, the demand for qualified computer forensics professionals is also on the rise. From over two dozen computer forensics certifications, we list the five best options for 2019.

Best computer hardware certifications 

Computer hardware certs are a great entry point for IT pros interested in becoming computer technicians. These top credentials help you demonstrate your knowledge and skills in maintaining computers, servers, peripherals and more. Read more about the best computer hardware certifications. 

Best computer networking certifications

IT pros skilled in the many areas of networking remain in high demand in today's job market. If you're serious about a career in networking, consider one or more of these certs to set yourself apart from the competition. Read more about the best computer networking certifications.

Best data center certifications 

With emerging software defined data center (SDDC) technologies, many of today's data center certifications are requiring additional skills, including virtualization and cloud computing. Here are the best options for data center certifications for 2019.

Best database certifications 

Knowledgeable and savvy database professionals are always in demand. Here are the best certifications for DBAs, database developers, data analysis and architects, business intelligence and data warehousing specialists, and other data professionals. Check out our best picks among database certifications. 

Best enterprise architect certifications 

The demand for highly skills IT professionals who understand not only technology but the business and enterprise architecture as well is on the rise. This is where Enterprise IT Architect credentials can help you get to the pinnacle of the IT certification pyramid. Read more about the best enterprise architect certifications. 

Best healthcare IT certifications 

As global healthcare spending continues to grow, more IT pros with an understanding of healthcare's unique technology and compliance requirements are needed. Today, there are a number of healthcare IT certifications to choose from – here are the top five.

Best help desk certifications 

Help desk and tech support positions remain popular points of entry for IT pros. To start or advance your tech support career and make yourself stand out, validate your knowledge and skills through one of these leading help desk certifications.

Best information security certifications

Infosec professionals serious about advancing their careers should consider these top security certifications. From entry-level choices to advanced credentials, these certifications will get you on your way to becoming a leader in the field of information security. Check out our top picks in infosec certifications. 

Best IT governance certifications 

Organizations that must meet the rigors of compliance are always in need of experienced IT pros who can see the big picture and understand risks involved with technology. This means certified IT governance professionals are in high demand for 2019. Read more about the best IT governance certifications. 

Best IT trainer certifications 

Becoming an IT trainer is not an easy path, but the destination is full of opportunities. IT instructors need to stay on top of the technologies they're teaching, know how to effectively share their knowledge and engage with their students. Read more about the best IT trainer certifications. 

Best Linux certifications

Linux continues to have a strong hold on the enterprise, especially in the web server and supercomputer space, and IT pros interested in validating their Linux skills have a lot of certification options. Here are the best five Linux certifications for 2019.

Best mobile app development certifications 

Developers and IT pros interested in mobility and app development can get their resumes noticed with one or more mobile app development certifications. From Microsoft, Android and Java certifications, these credentials are a smart move. Check out the best picks for mobile app development certifications. 

Best mobility certifications

Mobile technologies are experiencing unprecedented growth, with no slowdown in sight. Mobility is truly taking IT by storm, forcing management to rethink everything from big-picture infrastructure design to network integration. Mobile certifications are following suit. Read more about the best certifications for mobility. 

Best programming certifications 

When considering computer programming certifications, make sure to evaluate not just the programming languages but also the development platforms you'll be working with. IT pros interested in computer programming have no shortage of certification options. Check out our best picks for programming certifications. 

Best project management certifications

Project management certs continue to rate near the top of IT certification lists. Whether you're interested in becoming a project manager or want to add project management to the list of your skills, these certifications can help you achieve your goals. Read more about the best project management certifications to consider. 

Best storage certifications

Skilled storage professionals continue to be in high demand in today's workplace. Those looking to prove they have the chops have over 70 different storage certifications to choose from. We narrow down this list to the top five choices.

Best system administrator certifications 

When it comes to managing modern servers, there's a long list of tools and technologies SysAdmins need to master (and an equally long list of certs to validate your knowledge and skills). Here are the best system administrator certifications for 2019.

Best telecommunications certifications

If you're interested in telecommunications, you have several certification options to choose from, including ones that cover telecom networking and various kinds of streaming voice and video platforms for unified communications. Read more about the best telecommunications certifications. 

Best unified communications certifications 

Unified communications platforms bring multiple applications together, such as email, instant messaging, IP telephony, audio and video conferencing. In today's globally dispersed world, UC certifications are growing in demand. Check out our best picks for unified communications certifications. 

Best virtualization certifications 

Virtualization continues to rank near the top of every best IT certification list. And the increased popularity of virtualization technologies translates to a high demand for skilled and certified virtualization professionals. Read more about the best virtualization certifications. 

Best VoIP and telephony certifications 

As traditional PBXs and PSTNs are being replaced by VoIP and IP-based PBXs, the telephony space is changing and so are the credentials for IT professionals. Here are five of the best VoIP and telephony certifications to invest in this year.

Best web certifications 

The web design and development fields have undergone many changes over the years, and web certifications have evolved alongside the technologies. IT pros interested in validating their web skills should consider these top five certifications.

Best wireless networking certifications

The explosion of mobile devices and wireless networks in the enterprise spells a high demand for qualified IT professionals specializing in wireless technologies. Here are our top five wireless certification picks for 2019.

Star Treatment: Customer Service Lessons From Luxury Brands

Posted: 29 Apr 2019 05:00 AM PDT

Luxury brands have long been looked up to for the quality of their products and how they treat their customers. They serve a demographic that expects nothing but the best. These brands constantly strive to raise the bar. But luxury-level service doesn't have to come with products that cost thousands of dollars – you can implement these high-end customer service practices in your own small business.

Crown & Caliber, a company that consigns watches from such brands as Rolex, Breitling and Cartier, said that the luxury market is all about honesty and comfort.

"When dealing with expensive items, it is important to portray trust and professionalism," said CEO Hamilton Powell. "Excellent customer service is the best way to put a customer at ease. Successful customer service representatives will portray empathy and will make the owner feel comfortable placing their beloved [luxury item] in safe hands."

We spoke to several small business owners to find out how they incorporate luxury-level customer service in their businesses. Here are the seven essential tips to follow.

1. Offer empathetic customer service. 

The most important thing your customer service team must have is empathy. Your reps may be knowledgeable about the product and your business processes, but customers won't feel well cared for if they aren't treated with respect and understanding. Powell said that Crown & Caliber employees follow what they call the "Grandma Standard."

"When working with a customer, our team has the mentality of, 'What if this person was my grandma?'" he said. "How would I treat her?"

2. Collect regular feedback from customers. 

It doesn't matter what your perception is of your customer service, Powell said. What matters is how your customers think you are doing. Crown & Caliber performs quarterly net promoter score (NPS) surveys with its customers to get an idea of how the team is doing and where it needs to improve. 

"Ask, ask and ask," said Thalia Toha, brand and business strategist. "Ask better questions, and don't let [complaints] fall flat with no visible improvements afterward. The extra mile is not crowded for a reason." 

3. Track customer service metrics. 

You can't improve upon what you aren't tracking. Powell noted that his company's customer service team has very specific metrics reported to them on a daily basis, such as the percentage of repeat customers and the amount of time spent on the phone. 

4. Be available for your customers. 

Customers want to know that their voice is being heard and that their concerns are your concerns. Social media, especially Twitter, is a great way to immediately listen and respond to customers who may have an issue, Powell said. But being quick to respond to tweets and comments isn't the only way you should be available to customers. Powell emphasized the importance of taking phone calls for customers who want to speak directly with a service representative.

"It is difficult to build a strong rapport with a customer when the only form of communication is [digital]," he said. "Speaking with customers on the phone does take a bit more time than just emailing them, but it shows them they are worth the customer service representative's time."

Jared Weitz, founder and CEO of United Capital Source, said that businesses should avoid leaning too much on feedback bots and AI to provide a customer experience. "Remember that you are serving people," he said. "AI, service bots and automated content are great resources, but they should not be the only resource for providing service."

5. Get the entire company on board with customer service. 

No matter how great your customer service team is, your customers will end up with a fragmented experience if the company doesn't have an integrated process for handling customer concerns. Powell noted that Crown & Caliber's head of customer service meets weekly with its head of operations so that the company's processes can constantly be tweaked to better serve the needs of the customer. 

You should also view your employees as the front line of customer service and empower them to deliver great service. 

"[Give] generously to your employees so that they can give generously to your customers," said Toha. "Satisfaction is a transfer of energy. Keep your employees satisfied, and they, in turn, will keep your customers satisfied." 

Weitz mentioned the Ritz Carlton hotel as an excellent example of empowering employees to create luxury. "They are known for putting their guests first and creating personalized experiences for them." 

6. Offer personalized experiences.

So much of consumption these days is about the whole experience rather than just the product or the service itself. Customers are looking to feel special and valued, whether they're shopping for a Porsche or a new paint color for their house. 

Jason Taylor, founder of Prestige Transportation, said that he pushes his company to go the extra mile in personalizing and creating value in his customers' experiences. 

"For many of our regular clients, we keep notes in their account and bring them their favorite Starbucks drink when taking them to the airport in the morning," said Taylor. 

7. Level the playing field.

The Ritz Carlton's motto is "We are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen." This goes along with empowering your employees to create stellar experiences for your customers – if you give your employees the same level of respect that you do your customers, they feel valued and motivated to pass on a positive experience. Furthermore, as a CEO or business owner, you should make a point to interact firsthand with both employees and customers. 

"Even as CEO, I get on the phone with customers myself. No request is too small for me to listen to, which makes the client feel important," said Bob Seidel, private jet pilot and CEO of Alerion Aviation.

Powell reminded business owners that, regardless of your company's size, industry or target market, the customer should always come first.

"It is important to build a relationship with the customer so they feel like they are more than just a transaction," Powell said. "Smaller companies should make this the foundation of their company. Build your company on the idea that it is built to fill customers' needs, and their need should be the priority. No company is too big or too small to provide customers with excellent service."
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