Business.com |
- 4 Lead Generation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Anonymous Survey Finds 1 in 10 Lied on Their Resume
- 4 Tips for Scaling up Your E-Commerce Store
- How to Use Gamification to Build Your Business: Inspired by Playground Sessions
- Your Small Business Should Start Thinking About AR/VR
- Cisco Certification Guide: Overview and Career Paths
| 4 Lead Generation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Posted: 04 Apr 2019 10:30 AM PDT  One of the trickiest parts of growing your business is creating a lead generation strategy that works for you. It's hard to get the traffic you want without a proper plan in place, but it's essential if you're going to succeed. According to HubSpot, 63 percent of marketers say that lead generation is their business' greatest marketing challenge. Tons of brands struggle to figure out how they can better cater to their audience in order to grow their platform. Leads are important because these are potential customers who have a genuine interest in your brand and its content. You already know they're interested in learning more, so all you have to do is give them a gentle nudge in the right direction. Here are four common lead generation mistakes and how to avoid them if you want your business to excel: 1. Disregarding CTAsYour call-to-action (CTA) is the most valuable part of your content marketing. New visitors don't know what the next step to take is and have to guess on their own. CTAs exist to help you lead your traffic where you want them to go, which may then turn into conversions. Whether the goal is to capture email addresses or increase engagement, a well-crafted CTA can help you accomplish that. The fix: Strategically place CTAs on your website and throughout your content where it makes sense. For blog posts, a CTA is commonly placed towards the end, where the user is more informed about the topic they were researching. It's also common to sprinkle one or two CTAs throughout lengthy blog posts. If you have a lead magnet to offer, you can place options on different parts of your website, such as the homepage, sidebar, or header. Give commands to users through your CTAs using actionable, exciting language rather than the boring "Submit" or "Sign up now." 2. Ignoring social mediaThere are more than two billion social media users across the globe, a huge percentage of which talks about their favorite brands and products online. Social media is a great way for users to tell brands exactly what they think about their services and content. It opens a gateway of communication that allows you to optimize your brand to fit your target audience's needs. The fix: Choose two or three platforms to grow your business on. That way you can work on building a solid following on just a few channels, rather than trying to manage numerous outlets. Optimize your social media accounts to match the brand image and tone of your business so that everything's cohesive and true to your brand's representation. Follow popular hashtags within your industry so you're up-to-date on the latest trends and hot topics. This will give you great ideas for future content your audience will love. Are there questions your audience is asking that you'd be able to help them out with? Reply to them to start the conversation. Once that trust is built, lead them back to your most well-performing content. It's a great way for them to receive a solution and for you to build your lead generation. 3. Having a complicated contact formIt's a turn off when you want to get that juicy lead magnet, but what's staring you in the face is a contact form with twelve fields. It's easy to bet that a majority of users don't have the patience for that and will quickly pass on your incentive and move on to something else. The less complicated you make it for users to connect with your brand, the more improved your lead generation will be. HubSpot found that 49.7 percent of marketers consider forms their highest converting lead generation tool. The fix: Create simple contact forms with responsive design that won't frustrate users. Refrain from trying to obtain their name, email, address, phone number, and other information you don't need right away. That comes further down the conversion funnel. For now, your focus is on acquiring customers in an easy way, and a simple form will help you achieve that. Ask for no more than three things from users when they first sign up. 4. Failing to nurture leadsThe point of lead generation is that you aren't just acquiring leads. You also must nurture them so they become repeat customers. Repeat customers are responsible for generating 40 percent of a business' revenue. It is imperative that are You are doing something wrong if you aren't focusing on how to cater to existing customers. The fix: Once you acquire leads, nurture them like newborn puppies. Continue catering to their needs by figuring out how your brand can further provide for them and present a solution to their problems. Set up an automated email campaign specifically for existing customers so that they hear from you periodically and their interest in your business lasts. Offer them exclusive discounts, promo codes, or content to show them their loyalty is appreciated. It can be difficult to come up with a good amount of leads and traffic when there is so much competition and content already out there. However, if you know what mistakes to avoid, you'll be on your way to an optimized strategy that constantly brings in new leads and guides them towards the content you want. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anonymous Survey Finds 1 in 10 Lied on Their Resume Posted: 04 Apr 2019 10:15 AM PDT  We may not want to admit it to our friends, family or colleagues, but we've all lied at least once in our lives. Whether it was a little white lie that got you out of a previous engagement or a massive falsehood that's been sticking around for years, it's just something we as human beings are capable of doing with regularity. While most of us understood the concept of lying at 4 years old and many of us can't go 10 minutes without lying two or three times, it's considered common sense not to lie on a resume, right? Well, according to a recent study, at least some of us are spouting falsehoods there too. Blind, an anonymous workplace social media platform, conducted a survey of 10,364 of its users from March 22 to March 28 on whether or not they've "embellished or lied on [their] LinkedIn or resume" when searching for a job. What they found was approximately 90% of respondents (9,356) said they'd never lied to get a job, while the remaining 1,008 people surveyed said they had. Some of the more common lies found on resumes, according to Blind, are about academic degrees, age, technical abilities and criminal records. During an interview, candidates have been known to lie about their "salaries, references and complete work history." Where liars get hiredAlong with asking whether respondents had ever lied on their resume or LinkedIn profile, Blind's survey considered where these individuals worked. After collating the data, the company said 17 major businesses, including Apple and Cisco, were represented among respondents. According to the survey, the company with the most respondents who admitted to lying was European software corporation SAP, with 12.5% of employees surveyed. The remaining top five companies with the most lies on resumes and social media were Amazon (11.57%), Cisco (10.78%), PayPal (10.58%) and eBay (9.93%). Other major companies that had a relatively high rate of falsehoods among respondents were Microsoft (9.84%) and Oracle (9.19%). While it's possible to lie to recruiters on a sheet of paper or LinkedIn profile, a 2017 HireRight study estimated that 85% of falsehood-telling applicants were caught. The figure represented an increase from 65% in 2012. In nearly all circumstances, getting caught lying leads to the unemployment line. J.T. O'Donnell, founder and CEO of Work It Daily, suggested in a 2017 article that the number of lying applicants has increased because of the applicant-tracking systems that companies have adopted to sort through the resumes of potential candidates. With such technology relying on specific requirements and key phrases, job seekers ultimately tailor their CVs to make it past the digital barrier. Most applicants honestBlind's study may have taken a hard look at employees who lied, but it also found comforting data for truth-seekers. Along with 9 in 10 respondents saying they had never lied on a resume – despite what previous studies found – 13 of the 17 companies represented had a higher than 90% truth rating. The company with the highest number of truthful respondents was Salesforce, with 97.17% denying ever fibbing on a resume before. The remaining top five companies with most truthful employees were Tableau (96.30%), Intuit (96.26%), LinkedIn (95.54%) and Apple (94.83%). Tech giants Adobe, Facebook and Google also reportedly have a high percentage of truthful employees, respectively scoring 93.14%, 92.68% and 92.57%. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 Tips for Scaling up Your E-Commerce Store Posted: 04 Apr 2019 10:00 AM PDT  Today, it's pretty easy for anyone to start an e-commerce store. But building an e-commerce site and having a successful online store are two different things. The business of e-commerce is more than adding a product to a web page and waiting for sales to roll in. Sure, you might make a sale here and there with that tactic. But, you really want your business to grow, you need to optimize your e-commerce website. Here are four tips for scaling up your e-commerce store. 1. Boost your SEO.Search engine optimization (SEO) will help your e-commerce store get discovered by online shoppers who are looking to buy. It takes time for SEO to drive results, so you'll want to start boosting your e-commerce SEO ASAP. One of the most effective ways to boost your SEO is to include relevant keywords in your website copy, blog content, product descriptions, etc. As an e-commerce store, your goal is to make sales, so you'll want to put a strong focus on transactional keywords. Transactional keywords are the words and phrases that users type into a search engine when they're ready to buy. Think about what your audience would be searching for on the web. For instance, if you sell shoes on your e-commerce site, a good transactional keyword you might want to include would be "leather boots online." Using transactional keywords helps ensure that your site is found by consumers that are ready to make a purchase. 2. Build an email list.Building an email list is a great way to not only form relationships with current and potential customers but also generate sales. Your email list allows you to speak directly to your audience. If you want to announce a sale, for instance, you can send a message straight to your subscribers' inboxes to encourage them to visit your website and make a purchase. In addition, with most great email marketing services, you can segment your email list in order to send highly personalized emails. This allows you to give your subscribers exactly what they're looking for, making them more likely to buy. You should be adding a popup form to your website to start building your email list. Consider offering a discount, or another incentive, with your popup form so your visitors will jump at the chance to join your email list. 3. Collect customer reviews.Customer reviews are another key facet to scaling your e-commerce store. Research shows that nearly 95 percent of shoppers read online reviews before making a purchase. If you want to increase your conversions and grow your online store, you need to start collecting reviews from your customers. When online shoppers see glowing reviews from others about your online store, they'll be more inclined to shop with you. Start asking your customers for reviews right away. If you run your e-commerce website on WordPress, you can easily start collecting online reviews by installing a plugin like WP Product Review Pro. A plugin like this makes it easy for customers to leave you a review. 4. Utilize ads.Utilizing online ads can dramatically widen the reach of your online store. Ads can get your e-commerce website in front of thousands of shoppers who have never even heard of you before; it also encourages the consumers who are aware of you to make a purchase. For example, Google Shopping ads allow you to get your products displayed in search results. When a user searches for a particular product, your product image, title, price, store name and other information will be shown at the top of the results encouraging consumers to buy. Plus, you only have to pay when someone clicks through to your website or views your local inventory. Retargeting ads are another strategy you can use to get shoppers to return to your site and buy. Retargeting is a pixel you add to your e-commerce website. When a visitor leaves without buying, you can "follow" them around the web (Facebook, Google, etc.) and display targeted ads that entice them to return to your site and make a purchase. Instead of losing the opportunity to convert website visitors, you can get them to convert with retargeting. ConclusionWith these four tips for scaling up your e-commerce store, selling online won't be a hobby any longer. Your online store can become a top spot for online shoppers looking to buy. Don't forget, as your e-commerce store grows, your customer service will need to grow with it. Make sure to step up your customer service game as you gain more and more customers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How to Use Gamification to Build Your Business: Inspired by Playground Sessions Posted: 04 Apr 2019 09:30 AM PDT  In a digital era where society is bombarded with options and boredom is a thing of the past, many businesses look to strategies like gamification to stay relevant and cultivate engagement with their consumers. Playground Sessions, a piano-learning software company, has succeeded in using gamification as the focal point of their business model by turning something as dated as piano lessons into an engaging, modern-day game. Before coming up with the idea for the Playground Sessions, Chris Vance struggled to learn how to play the keyboard. He had a difficult time with the inconvenience of private lessons, and he felt there was a lack of educational, digital piano platforms available, which limited what he could learn on his own. According to Vance, conventional piano lessons in the United States have an extremely high dropout rate, with only 7% of students ever becoming proficient on the piano. With this data and his own experiences in mind, Vance believed there was a need for a digital piano platform that combined learning with entertainment. That idea gave birth to Playground Sessions. He was confident that an engaging platform like Playground Sessions could change the game for many aspiring pianists like himself. "Our curriculum is built to engage people with the songs they know and love on day one, which means learning will come easier to them, and they'll be more likely to stick with it," Vance told Business News Daily. "Because people are most open to learning when it's something they love doing." Twenty-seven-time Grammy Award winner Quincy Jones was intrigued by the concept of Playground Sessions and partnered with Vance to launch the company in 2010. With an impressive background in the music industry, Jones' expertise provided him the knowledge and skill set to create a music platform that was not only educational but fun. "Our mission became to make learning to play the piano as much fun as playing it," said Jones. "We wanted to build a Rosetta Stone for music but with a focus on making learning fun." Jones isn't the only musical icon lending their talents to Playground Sessions. The company recruited Harry Connick Jr. to teach lessons and bring a level of credibility and trust to the offering. They also sought out award-winning pianist Ko-wei Chen to ensure their approach was the best for music education. How gamification formed Playground Sessions' business modelGamification is the application of typical elements of game playing (i.e., point scoring, competition with others, rules of play) to other areas of activity to encourage engagement with a product or service. The creators of Playground Sessions have strategically used gamification to create a business model focused on both education and engagement. Instead of bogging students down with rules and theory, the platform enables them to play songs they love from the start. Vance said this strategy has been one of their keys to success. Vance said the "playing" aspect is what attracts users to instruments and games alike. Since there are many similarities between the two activities, Playground Sessions capitalized on bringing them together. In addition to creating engaging content, Vance emphasized the importance of adding game-like elements to their business model. The goal was to make piano lessons feel less like practicing and more like playing a game. "For us, being able to add gaming elements, such as progress tracking, real-time feedback, badges, leader boards, etc., makes Playground Sessions that much more compelling for our players," said Vance. "In both music and games, participants are called players, and that's no accident." How to use gamification to increase employee engagementPeople, not just consumers, are typically more engaged when they are having fun; they also feel valued and are willing to hone their skills. Gamification can be used for more than just developing consumer engagement and increasing sales. It can also boost internal engagement and employee satisfaction. "For our team, I also look to gamification to increase engagement and overall productivity of our core operations," said Vance. "The goal is to give each individual a sense of ownership, value and professional development, which makes their job here that much more valued." For example, Vance said one business goal was to increase internal team engagement with the larger piano-playing community. To track and reach this objective, Playground Sessions set goals for the number of new YouTube subscribers or Facebook group members they gained. They utilized gamification, like adding extra incentives or rewards, to make sure they hit those goals. "Games are about data – how well you shoot, how much time things take you, etc.," said Vance. "Businesses are about data, too, so we try to use our data to inspire us and inform our business operations." How to incorporate gamification into your business modelAlthough gamification may not be plausible for every company to fully incorporate into their business model, there are elements of the strategy that you can tailor to fit your needs and grow your business. Vance said business owners do not need to figure out new activities to incorporate into their business to capitalize on gamification. Rather, said Vance, it is about identifying what drives your business the most, and then figuring out how you can get your team and consumers engaged around those activities. For example, the Playground Sessions team tests their new song arrangements by competing with each other for the highest score. This enables them to not only look for mistakes (quality control), but to also have fun doing it with a sense of competition. Incorporating small tactics like this into your business model can increase engagement and community. Another way to incorporate gamification into your business model is to integrate game mechanics, like, for example, rewards, scores, badges and levels. Examine at how your business functions and see if there are ways to tie those mechanics into your product or service. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Your Small Business Should Start Thinking About AR/VR Posted: 04 Apr 2019 08:52 AM PDT  Over the last few decades, we've seen technology change the way we do business in a fundamental way. Not only has the internet given us access to more information than we know what to do with, but it's also given rise to new technologies like smartphones, cloud computing and e-commerce — all innovations that have changed the business landscape, both for large enterprises and small businesses. Now we find ourselves on the cusp of yet another technological revolution. At Dell, we believe that augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will have as big an impact on how we do business as the technologies mentioned above. AR and VR are already revolutionizing medicine, architecture and design, and the possibilities for small businesses are profound. They not only offer a new way for businesses to demonstrate products and services but can even change how companies manage operations, develop prototypes and train staff. AR vs. VR: What's the difference?While these two types of technology may both reshape our environment and our experiences, AR and VR are not synonymous. Augmented reality adds a digital layer to devices reading the real world. In addition, it's readily available on your smartphone. A recent AR juggernaut was the popular Pokémon GO mobile game, which overlaid animated creatures into players' actual surroundings. By contrast, virtual reality is an immersive technology. It replaces the real world with an entirely new visualized 3D space, traditionally via headset. The implications of these technologies for small business are significant. Projections suggest that by 2025, AR/VR stands to benefit the real estate industry by $2.6 billion, the retail industry by $1.6 billion and the travel industry by $4.1 billion. Re-envisioning what's possible with ARWhen polled, 71 percent of customers said they would shop more often at a retailer offering good AR, and 41 percent said they would be willing to pay more for an item if AR was part of their shopping experience. Whether these AR experiences allow customers to "try on" garments digitally from the comfort of their own homes or gain additional designer information by pointing their phone at items in a store, we've only just begun to tap the potential of augmenting consumers' purchasing journeys. Not only is the potential return on investment on AR impressive, but barriers to entry are quite low. Almost every customer has a smartphone, with many of the latest models doubling as accessible and effective AR devices. Highly-scalable AR technology syncs with today's mobile devices, often integrating with the camera. At the same time, data is collectible through analytics software, enabling you to monitor engagement and click-through throughout the AR experience. There's no better way to present product demos than AR. As a good example, take the multi-billion-dollar home improvement industry. Where shopping for furnishings in the past involved a process of trial and error — who knew that couch would be so big? And who picked chartreuse? — today, AR apps like Rooomy allow customers to test run their selections in their existing spaces. AR liberates consumers to try out the products they may otherwise have held off buying because they couldn't adequately test them. Leveraging AR for small businessFor all its potential, there's a right and wrong way for small businesses to use AR. Your methods should be gimmick-free, and customers must receive something of value. The right use of AR requires communicating important information to help customers along the path to purchase, and it must solve a real problem. When deciding how to use AR, a business owner must determine specific objectives and their desired outcomes. While a consultant or agency can help you come up with a plan tailored to your business, working with a third party that understands the technology's possibilities and limitations is crucial. The focus shouldn't just be on incorporating a fun new technology, but on helping your brand strategically. The right use of AR has provable business value. VR and the transformation of retail spaceNot long ago, the use of VR for small business was impractical due not only to the technology's price but the headset limitations. That's changing. Dell is especially excited about the possibilities for VR in businesses of all sizes. With wider VR adoption, it's becoming more affordable for SBs to jump on board. Dell has led the charge, delivering immersive systems and integrating leading VR imaging, graphics, processing power and interactive technology into its PCs. For a company like 30 Ninjas, this increased agility was a game-changer. 30 Ninjas develops, writes and produces dynamic and engaging VR, multi-platform and interactive content. And while the application of VR in the film space seems intuitive, forecasters predict that in a few years, media and entertainment will actually be the smallest vertical for commercial VR and AR technology. Instead, the verticals most likely to benefit from VR in the near future include gaming, retail, education, healthcare, the military and various industrial fields. Imagining the benefits of VRAs with AR, the possibilities of VR for small business are endless. If you can imagine it as a small business owner, it can happen. The real estate industry is already benefiting from VR, for example, as the technology allows clients to experience 3D walkthroughs of existing properties — meaning realtors can market listings anywhere on the planet. Similarly, VR could help businesses show homes or workspaces to clients before they're even built or decorated. It could also revolutionize online shopping, make prototyping more affordable and change the way companies train their employees. BMW, for instance, has already started using VR when designing vehicle prototypes, and Citigroup is experimenting with VR workstations that allow traders to visualize trends and interact with complex data. As the cost of VR technology continues to go down, small businesses will be able to do similar things. The new reality is nowWhether you're just starting to think about adopting new digital tools or already down the path of implementing the latest technologies, engaging with augmented or virtual reality is something every business owner should be thinking about.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cisco Certification Guide: Overview and Career Paths Posted: 04 Apr 2019 08:40 AM PDT  Cisco Systems Inc. specializes in networking and communications products and services. The company is probably best known for its business routing and switching products, which direct data, voice, and video traffic across networks around the world. However, Cisco also offers storage networking, applications for unified communications, telepresence and collaboration (WebEx), and an array of services from simple product support to complete solutions for data centers and cloud management. To ensure that IT professionals have the skills and knowledge necessary to support Cisco products and solve customers' technology problems on many fronts, the Cisco Career Certification program is all-embracing. That is, it begins at the entry level, then advances to associate, professional, and expert levels, and (in some certification areas) caps things off at the architect level. Each level offers one or more credentials. Obtaining a credential usually involves passing one or more certification exams. Most Cisco exams are delivered by Pearson VUE. For higher-level credentials, candidates must also prove they meet necessary prerequisites. The higher the level of certification, the more credentials and prerequisites one needs to meet those requirements. Cisco certification program overviewCertifications within Cisco's portfolio include the following credentials:
There are many certifications and paths one can take in Cisco's career program. That said, its two main paths cover network operation and network design. A typical Cisco networking certification ladder begins with the entry-level CCENT credential, moves up to the CCNA, onto the CCNP and culminates with the CCIE. The design-oriented might instead consider starting with the CCENT, moving up to the CCDA, then the professional-level CCDP, followed by the CCDE, and finish the program with the CCAr. The Cisco Career Certification program also includes a number of specializations. These certifications acknowledge a professional's skills in a specific Cisco technology, such as data center application services, voicemail and messaging or rich media. Cisco specializations are organized into two primary categories: one targeting technical specialists and another targeting digital transformation specialists. Between these two categories, there are currently 15 specializations among which IT pros can choose. The Technical Specialist category includes specializations across six subcategories:
Digital Transformation Specialists includes credentials geared to Business Architecture and Customer Success. Achieving a specialist credential generally requires passing one or two exams. Some credentials also impose prerequisites. Entry-, associate- and professional-level credentials are valid for three years, CCIE and specialist certifications are valid for two years and the CCAr is valid for five years. To keep certifications current, Cisco professionals need to recertify by passing a recertification exam or advancing to a higher level in Cisco's certification hierarchy. Cisco's entry-level certificationsCisco has two entry-level credentials: the Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) and the Cisco Certified Technician (CCT). No prerequisites are needed to obtain either the CCENT or CCT credential, and candidates must pass a single exam to earn each credential. CCENT certified professionals install, maintain and troubleshoot small networks or a branch of an enterprise network, and implement basic network security. The CCENT credential is a prerequisite for some associate-level CCNA solution track credentials and the CCDA. CCTs work onsite at customer locations, diagnosing issues and repairing or replacing network-related equipment. A CCT can choose one of several specialty tracks, which currently includes Data Center and Routing and Switching.
Cisco's associate-Level CertificationsCisco's associate-level certifications include the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and the Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA). One must pass one or two certification exams to achieve a CCNA or CCDA credential, depending on the track you choose. The CCNA recognizes basic skills in installing, supporting, and troubleshooting wired and/or wireless networks. One can choose from several tracks, including Cloud, Collaboration, Cyber Ops, Data Center, Industrial, Routing and Switching, Security, Service Provider and Wireless. The CCNA is a prerequisite for the professional-level CCNP certification. Prerequisites for the CCNA vary depending on the solution track chosen as do the number of required exams. All solution tracks require either one or two exams. Cisco created the CCDA to identify individuals who can design basic wired and wireless networks, and incorporate security and voice solutions. The CCDA is a prerequisite for the CCDP certification. To obtain the CCDA, candidates must possess either a valid CCENT, CCNA Routing and Switching (or any CCIE certification), and pass a single additional exam.
**Candidates for the CCNA Routing and Switching may take exam 200-125 OR exam 100-105 plus 200-105. Cisco's professional-level certificationsCisco's professional-level credentials include two main programs: the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) and the Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP). To obtain the CCDP, one must pass three certification exams and possess both the CCDA and CCNA Routing and Switching credentials or any Cisco CCIE or CCDE certification. All CCNP solution tracks, except Routing and Switching, require candidates to pass four exams. Only three exams are required for the CCNP: Routing and Switching credential. Prerequisites for all CCNP solution tracks include either the lower-level CCNA credential or any CCIE credential. The CCNP: Service Provider credential also accepts the Cisco Certified Internet Professional (CCIP) credential as a prerequisite (which retired in 2012). The CCNP credential recognizes professionals who plan, deploy, and troubleshoot local networks and wide area networks. The CCNP tracks are the same as those for the CCNA, except for Industrial and Cyber Ops, which are not offered in the CCNP track. The CCNP is recommended to climb up to the next step on the cert ladder – the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert. The CCDP identifies proficiency in designing and deploying scalable networks and multilayer-switched networks. From the CCDP, you can move on to the Cisco Certified Design Expert.
**CCNP Data Center may take either the 300-160 or 300-180 exam. Cisco's expert-level certificationsCisco's expert-level credentials embrace two primary certifications: the coveted Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) and the Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE). Neither certification imposes prerequisites, but one must pass a written exam and a rigorous practical exam to earn either of these credentials. Beginning in July 2016, Cisco updated its expert-level exams to include an evolving technologies domain. This new domain targets cloud, network programmability and the IoT, and it accounts for 10 percent of the total exam score. Cisco may change the topics included in this domain to reflect emerging technologies as they reach strong enough commercial interest, potential and presence to make them examworthy. The company describes this mechanism as a way to help future-proof its certifications so that employers may assume that those who hold current credentials are also up to speed on important new networking technologies. For many network-track professionals, achieving the CCIE is the highlight of their careers. A CCIE has expert technical skills and knowledge of Cisco network products and solutions in one of the CCIE technical tracks, which currently include Collaboration, Data Center, Routing and Switching, Security, Service Provider, and Wireless. The CCDE identifies experts who design infrastructure solutions for large enterprise environments, which include technological, operational, business and budget aspects of a project. Cisco's architect-level certificationsFor persons seeking positions such as network architect or data center architect, a smart move is to acquire the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) certification. The CCAr is like the Ph.D. of the Cisco Career Certification program – it's the highest level of certification that Cisco offers. This credential validates the skills of a senior network infrastructure architect, someone who can plan and design IT infrastructures based on business strategies. Many people consider the CCAr the most difficult tech certification to achieve. To earn the CCDE certification, you must design a network solution to implement an assigned strategy; then, you must appear before a Cisco-appointed panel to explain and defend that solution. Related jobs and careersWhether you're following a network operations or network design career path, Cisco certifications are uniquely positioned to assist IT professionals as they prepare to fulfill various Cisco-related career roles. Regardless of your chosen career path, job opportunities are plentiful for skilled Cisco professionals. A simple search for Cisco CCNA professionals on two popular job boards – SimplyHired and Indeed – yielded between 7,500 and 9,500 job postings each. Job opportunities vary by factors, such as experience and whether you're focused on network operations or network design. While certainly not exhaustive, the following list identifies some common job opportunities by certification:
Training and ResourcesCisco maintains a comprehensive list of training and self-study resources. These resources include various forms of online learning, practice exams, learning labs, links to which appear on each certification's web page. The Cisco Learning Network offers candidates a free basic membership that includes access to exam topics, live seminars, IT training videos, study groups, forums, study materials and much more. The subscription-based Cisco Platinum Learning Library provides professionals with on-demand learning and access to more than 400 courses, hands-on vLabs, the support library, and more. Additional training materials are also available from Cisco Press. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Business.com. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States | |
No comments:
Post a Comment