Just a few weeks ago, Google proclaimed that the highly anticipated Penguin 3.0 update launched on Friday would be a delight for webmasters, making their lives “easier a bit.” Since 2012, Google’s Penguin algorithm has improved search results by targeting web sites that violate Google’s Webmaster Guidelines, often by using black-hat SEO techniques involving paidRead more

Bad email marketing is reminiscent of how telemarketing calls were perceived the past few decades; they come too frequently, are overly pushy, and are far from personalized. Many of us can remember hearing the odd pronunciations of our last names as telemarketers would blandly greet us. Today, with email greetings spewing out a misspelled nameRead more

When developing your startup’s business plan, it won’t take long to realize that some areas are not worth the cost, at least in the early goings. Many businesses often regard public relations as one of these areas. Unlike legal consultation or technical engineering work, a well-executed public relations campaign does not require a specific degreeRead more

Among content storage experts, there has always been weariness surrounding non-encrypted online storage, like iCloud. For all types of content, it’s simply not secure enough. Doubt surrounding iCloud and other non-encrypted storage solutions was raised once again–and more publicly than ever–with recent news that several celebrities had their phones hacked and sensitive pictures posted online,Read more

For startups, few things have as much immediate impact as the types of employees hired to work there. An “A Team” could launch a startup from obscurity to industry-wide respect, while a team full of clueless and incompatible individuals could sabotage a company in less than a year. In other words, the desire to hire theRead more

Even if a startup business recognizes the enormous power of social media, it’s easy to overlook the role of Pinterest. Some regard it as too niche-dependent, more ideal for accessories like fashion and jewelry, or list-based hobbies like “favorite recipes” or “places I want to visit.” In essence, Pinterest is a visual discovery tool whereRead more

In December, many business owners started to notice that content on their business’ Facebook page was reaching less people, despite either no change or an increase in the amount of ‘likes’ their page was garnering. It didn’t make much sense, until Facebook explained: they had adjusted their algorithm to account for excessive content appearing onRead more

Considering the amount of unpredictable variables for a startup business – from unforeseen expenses to time-consuming compliance regulations – some business owners perceive a business plan as unnecessary. The reality is, unless they’re encountering some excellent luck, it’s very difficult for a startup to “wing it” successfully without a business plan. A more pertinent questionRead more

Due to some less than inspiring blog content, business blogs are sometimes regarded as mundane and unnecessary. After all, potential leads won’t be interested in a business blog that reads like self-promotional PR speak, which is something that the worst of business blogs overlook. The truth is: when maintained properly, blogs remain a very idealRead more

For a startup business, every dollar counts. Unforeseen business expenses are more common than any business would prefer. For startups looking to cover costs in every aspect – from rent to industry compliance – these unexpected costs can be overwhelming. As a result, it’s prudent to save as much money as possible whenever you can.Read more