Source: pinoytutorial.com

By now, you’ve heard about the ‘controversy’ surrounding Iron Man 3’s dubious depiction of Chattanooga, TN as a backwoods hick town with internet so deplorable the world might end.  For any of you actually living in Chattanooga, this is comical (Iron Man is a comic book, afterall), as ‘The Gig City’ is a beautiful, populous town, with a cutting edge broadband infrastructure rivaled by few in the world.   

The chuckles might nervously trail when one considers that that Verison FiOS, boasting “Internet speeds that will rock the competition”, is one of the main promotional sponsors of Iron Man 3.

Surely it’s a coincidence that all the other small towns in Iron Man 3 are fictional except Chattanooga, whose sole plot line contribution is ‘slow internet’, right?

Surely there isn’t some Verizon guy in a suit who thought it would be clever to rip Chattanooga for slow internet, just because he can, right?

If so…. not sure he thought it through, as the publicity has been priceless, and the content flowing fast — roughly a gig a second.

We love irony, man!

The post Irony, Man. appeared first on Delegator.

AlgoSleuth was recently updated so that it now includes traffic data spanning Google’s most recent Panda 25 algorithm update. We will continue to update it well into the future as new algorithm updates are pushed out by Google. The next planned update will also include some new features we’ve been working on. If you haven’t tried out AlgoSleuth yet, just click below to grab a copy and test it on your site!

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1. Multiple Inboxes

My favorite of the bunch, enabling “Multiple Inboxes” will allow you to add up to six more inboxes to your main screen and position them wherever you please. The content that these extra inboxes show is configured by you, meaning you can have one show e-mails containing certain text or ones tagged with a certain label.

2. Right-Side Chat

If you archive messages with labels in Gmail, you are likely aware of the how many can actually show on-screen at once without having to click “More”. In order to take back more screen real estate and keep those precious labels all showing up together, I recommend enabling the “Right-side chat” Labs. This moves chat over to the right side of Gmail and gives you a lot of extra room on the left for all of your labels, saving precious seconds in navigation.

3. Unread Message Icon

Despite it’s usefulness, I do not like Gmail Desktop Notifications. When you’re in the thick of something and the creative juices are flowing, an annoying “New Mail” popup can kill your concentration. Here’s where “Unread Message Icon” comes in. Just enable this Gmail Labs feature and the favicon in your browser tab will now display a tiny, unobtrusive number relative to how many unread e-mails are in your inbox. Clean and simple.

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What is This Sorcery?

This achievement doesn’t seem possible; many have attempted to unravel the complexity of this new-age device and digitalize it, and they have failed. We have gathered their collective experiences, dredging the darkest corners of the internet, innovating new ways to infuse magic into our machines, all in order to bring comfort and ease to your troubled mind. No more are the days of struggling to make excruciating decisions, mind-numbingly difficult or redundant. Embrace the power of the eight ball, and you will rule the world. The world of decision-making.

How Does it Work?

Delegator started out on this quest with vast dedication; we weren’t giving up until this mystery had been solved. An enormous undertaking, and one which vexed us with complex algorithms and riddles (really, how is a raven at ALL like a writing desk?), but our team has tirelessly dogged the old ways and myths for clues on how to even begin creating a magical ball of the eight. And we succeeded. Half-mad from the warped way in which we were forced to think, we wrestled the infinite code into a smaller confinement, and here we will present it to you.

Step One: Head to the Containment Unit

Step Two: Harness the Magic

Step Three: Select Your Output and Ask

Step Four: ????

Step Five: Profit!

Want to experience the magic, and unleash your decision-making possibilities with our powerful API? Navigate yourself to the main page, and allow the power to flow through you.

The post Meet the Future of Decision-Making appeared first on Delegator.

1. Visitors who Abandoned a Goal

Conversion rates are the bread and butter of what keeps an e-commerce business ticking. Though it heavily depends on the industry, the average conversion rate for e-commerce sites is around 2-3%, at best. Having said that, wouldn’t you love to have better insight on your site visitors who DON’T convert? Having an advanced segment for visitors who start but do NOT finish a goal is invaluable. As illustrated below, this segment will allow you to track these visitors and try to narrow down the reason(s) why they dropped out of the funnel. Download it here. (Must Be Logged Into Google Account)

2. Separate Segments for AdWords Text Ads, PLAs, Remarketing & Display

With the recent addition of enhanced campaigns, it’s clear that Google is varying the ways it allows advertisers to reach their target audience. That being said, if you have a large account that uses more than just basic text ads it’s crucial to be able to see how they contrast with one another. If your account has PLAs, Display ads and Remarketing ads, why not have an Advanced Segment for each? This way, you can divide that traffic out and see how each is performing across ALL of the reports in Google Analytics. If your naming conventions are in proper order, this can be easily done by using our Advanced Segment (download it here - Note:Must Be Logged Into Google Account) and modifying it by using a simple “Include Campaign Containing” for “Remarketing”, “Display”, and “PLAs”. Create one advanced segment for each of those. Then, for the text ads, you simply set a filter to “Exclude Campaigns Containing” those same three, separated by “AND” statements. If your AdWords account doesn’t have each of these broken out into their own campaigns then you should definitely knock that out first.

3. Using the Service Provider Report for B2B Lead Gen

My last advanced segment comes straight from the LunaMetrics blog. I feel that this report has the potential to deliver a lot of value for B2B lead generation, as well as marketing agencies. With this advanced segment a large majority of the “legitimate” Internet Service Providers are filtered out so that when you go to the Network report under Audience > Technology > Network, you then should be able to scroll through this list and pick out companies that are large enough to show as their own “service provider”. Just to show the proof of concept, our Chattanooga neighbor Smart Furniture shows up on our list. Feel free to tinker around with this segment to try and see what more it might offer. Download it here. (Must Be Logged Into Google Account)

Find Johnny on Google+

The post 3 Advanced Segments You’ve Probably Never Used appeared first on Delegator.

When Google Analytics Multi-Channel funnels first came out, we were AWED and AMAZED. The metrics I latched onto first were the assisted transaction and revenue attributions. At last! Now those lower-converting AdWords campaigns could show their value. I knew they had to be doing something, but I didn’t have the tools to prove it before.

A Sad Discovery

I quickly came to discover, however, that these Assisted attributions are not in addition to the Last-Interaction conversions but rather include any conversion that involves an AdWords click along the conversion path, even if the Last-Interaction conversion was through AdWords as well. This means that we were reporting overlapping attribution on our AdWords transactions and revenue values! Basically, we couldn’t get anywhere near accurate revenue values for Assisted and Last-Interaction Conversions when combining their values together.

Data-Driven Redemption

That is, until we built a User-Defined Conversion Segment. We call our heroine “Exclude AdWords Last Interaction.” She looks a little something like this: 

Turn on this segment in the AdWords section of the Multi-Channel Funnels Assisted Conversions tab and it’ll set all of your Last-Interaction values to zero in addition to excluding any overlapping Last-Interaction revenue attributions from your Assisted conversion metrics. These are the REAL sidekicks — none posing as the breadwinner.

These reports now show overall revenue numbers that I can pass on to clients and not feel like they’re being quite so duped by the illusions of attribution as I once was.

If you need help setting up this segment or any similar to it, we’re here to help. Just let us know.

The post Reporting TRUE AdWords Assisted Conversion Values appeared first on Delegator.

That’s why we are extremely excited about a local tech company that we’re working with: Variable Technologies.

These guys are the real deal.  Led by George Yu, a PhD engineering wiz out of Georgia Tech, Variable Technologies produces a modular sensory device called NODE.

NODE is a sleek and powerful bluetooth device that sends a wide array of data sets to your smartphone.

As illustrated, NODE is comprised of a core unit aptly named Kore, and has 2 open slots at either end which can be configured with any two modules.  Even without two modules attached, Kore is loaded, boasting a motion engine, a gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer.  Combine this with all the module offerings, and you’ve got yourself a powerhouse.

A sampling of the sensory options you have with NODE:

NODE features some differentiators that we think could be game changing:

1. It’s modular

Variable Tech produces a wide variety of sensors, with a ton still in R&D.  All of the module sensors are compatible with the central unit – Kore.  Simply screw on whichever sensor you are interested in using, and you can immediately start collecting data.

2. It’s smartphone based

These days, everyone has a smartphone; especially professionals.  Choosing a widely owned and popular platform lowers barriers to market adoption.  Whether it’s for small, niche companies, or massive corporate quality control, it doesn’t take much to equip your team with this device and begin collecting valuable data.

3. It’s cheap

In the realm of handheld sensors, NODE costs a fraction of what other, enterprise level sensory devices cost, and it collects a comparable caliber of data.

Variable Technologies is on a hot streak right now – wrapping up second of two very successful Kickstarters.  They have been all over tech blogs (TechCrunch, Gizmag, and many more), and have recently interviewed with Forbes, Wired, and Popular Mechanics.

Based on current web trends and the rising obsession with mobile, it’s hard to imagine that Variable Tech’s NODE won’t soon be changing the way businesses standardize their field data collection.  Heck, maybe we’ll even see NODE on Mary Meeker’s 2013 trends summary!

We hope you’ll be as excited to watch these guys evolve as we are!

Web – VariableTech.com

Twitter – @VariableTech

Facebook – NODE

The post Spotlight: Variable Technologies appeared first on Delegator.

5. Visible contact info establishes credibility.

While this might not be high on everyone’s list, you must establish credibility to all of the users that have not bought from you before. You may know you are trustworthy, but that does not mean the user does. List a landline phone number somewhere clear on the homepage and every page if possible. I personally like when sites do this because it provides a reassuring sense that human help is only a phone call away. Below is a perfect example of this.

Also, studies show that 79% of people still prefer phone calls for customer service and problem resolution versus other mediums. This is not surprising, given that a phone call can be much quicker than multiple back-and-forth e-mails or online chat assistance. Many people shy away from websites that have hard-to-find contact details. Don’t be one of these sites.

6. The checkout process: Help them push the cart.

The checkout/order process is where the most potential customers will abandon a purchase. There are plenty of things you can do to help prevent this from happening though. One common tactic is to break-up the checkout process into multiple steps to keep from overwhelming the user with everything at once. That being said, many users still prefer it all on one page. In a study performed by The Official Vancouver 2010 Olympic Store, they found that a single-page checkout outperformed a multi-page checkout by 21.8% in having fewer users abandon their carts. Which strategy to follow is going to depend heavily on your target market but you should definitely put a lot of thought and testing into your checkout process.

Secondly, give the user a few recommendations. Don’t drown them, but make sure you at least give yourself a few cross-selling and/or up-selling opportunities. Data shows that up-selling helps drive sales by as much as 4% and that cross-selling can drive sales by around 3% when shown on the check-out page.

Lastly, when it comes to credit card purchases be sure to use copy that increases credibility and ensures the user that all of their data is encrypted and as safe as possible. In an age of increasing fraud and identify theft this is the last thing you want to fall victim to. A little reassurance is always a good thing. Depending on your business size, I would heavily consider utilizing VeriSign encryption and having your checkout process done through a HTTPS URL to boost trust with potential first-time buyers.

7. Why yes, we do take PayPal.

This last one is my own personal recommendation. PayPal offers several benefits to a buyer but the primary one is the ability to make online transactions without divulging your payment info to a retailer. First, you place a credit card and/or bank account on file. Then, when you go to make a purchase from a retailer you simply complete the final steps of the checkout process through your PayPal account and the money is taken from your account and paid to the retailer on your behalf. It offers safety and convenience since you don’t have to continually take out your credit card to key in info on websites where you have never purchased before. Both of these factors make PayPal invaluable to me and with well over 100 million users, clearly I’m not alone. Definitely consider it as a payment option if your business has the means to do so.

Conclusion

The E-commerce landscape is ever-changing and as the old adage says, you have to adapt to survive. My final piece of advice is to never be too content with your website. Many people are resistant to change, but where would Facebook be today if they didn’t constantly strive to refine their service and make it easier for users to read and share information? Perfection may be unattainable but that does not mean you shouldn’t strive for it. Utilize analytics software and seek out data on how customers interact with your website. Strive to make everyone’s visit enjoyable by giving them an appealing site where they can find things quickly and easily. You want them to have a pleasant experience regardless of whether they are just window shopping or actually intent on buying. If you don’t give them a sufficient reason to use your site versus competitor sites, then you should not act surprised when that’s where they choose to spend their dollars.

Find Johnny on Google+

The post Practical Tips to Improve Your E-Commerce Website – Part 2 of 2 appeared first on Delegator.

1. Simplicity

Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication.” Think about some of the fastest growing companies on the market. Apple and Google are two great examples. They both have a core framework with user simplicity at the base. It’s all about the experience. Apple’s products, website, and ad copy are all very attention getting but do not drown you in an excess of information. The same can be said for Google. You should have a clean and simple hierarchy for navigation and never overwhelm the user with too much info on any given page. Be detailed, yet concise.

2. No hidden fees. No hiccups.

These constitute one of my biggest personal pet peeves. Taxes, freight, and other such costs should never be hidden in such a way that the user cannot see them until the final phases of checkout. Do NOT require a login or other such gateway for a user to get a freight estimate on your product or service. I cannot tell you how many times I have been ready to purchase something online and noticed an additional cost that was not initially included. This does not only apply to “hidden” fees but also to companies that only offer limited shipping options. The site below is a perfect example. With UPS Ground being the only service offered, a $2.80 bolt gets an $11 shipping charge. This will dissuade almost any customer from buying small items. Only a handful are willing to “bundle” small items into an order to justify the shipping costs.

3. Breadcrumbs – Keep the user continually informed.

Let’s face it. At some point we have all been overwhelmed when trying to buy something. Whether in real life or online, shopping can sometimes be a hassle. If you have an e-commerce site that deals with multiple products across various categories then leaving the user “breadcrumbs” is a great idea to help them conceptualize where they are at any given time. Amazon, Office Depot, and NewEgg are all great examples of this. Breadcrumbs serve several different purposes. They let a user backtrack easily, show hierarchy, help eliminate additional (unnecessary) clicks, provide additional help, and generally lower bounce rates.

4. Search. Sort. Streamline.

It should go without saying, but having an efficient search tool on your website is an absolute must. I have visited a handful of sites before where it took me minutes to find an item either because their search was not working properly or there was no search function at all.

Yeah…so how am I supposed to find anything?

Sorting options are a must too. Most e-commerce sites do a fairly good job in this regard so you are going to be behind the curve if you don’t allow your user to sort products by price, attribute, brand, reviews, etc. Lastly, make sure your interface is streamlined. Users don’t like having to click four times to search something on your site if it takes two clicks on a competitor’s site. The easier you make things for the user, the less likely they are to bounce to a competing site. Personally, I will return as a repeat user to a site if it is easy to search, organized well, and easy to checkout on. But you can count that if your checkout process is overly complicated or difficult, I will most likely avoid your site in the future.

Head right over here for Part 2!

Find Johnny on Google+

The post Practical Tips to Improve Your E-Commerce Website – Part 1 of 2 appeared first on Delegator.

Now that these campaigns are becoming staples for positive PPC ROI, you’ll absolutely need to know whenever any anomalies occur. This is where custom alerts come in. Inside Google Analytics, you can set up a custom alert specifically for product listing ad campaigns and ad groups to monitor any online metrics on your site through these sources. To make sure your traffic isn’t dropping off, we recommend you set up an alert for any day when visitors from these sources significantly drop compared to the same day of the previous week. This way, you won’t have to lose days of revenue simply because you weren’t aware of a glitch that threw off or limited the eligibility of product ads.

There are numerous other alerts you might want to set up for product ads, so think of what you’ll need to know in order to monitor this traffic and its conversions. For example, some product landing pages from these ads might have high bounce rates. You’ll be able to monitor these with alerts as well and begin looking into optimizing those particular pages. Take a few minutes to strategize and set up as many of these alerts preemptively as you can before you have to find out about an issue too late.

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