SnapHawk Internet Marketing Blog

Bridging the Digital Divide

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Americans get so caught up in their use of smart phones, laptops, and tablets that we often take access to technology for granted. Many of us think that having Internet access is a given. We can’t imagine going about our daily lives without Internet, let alone without a computer. But many Americans are less concerned about their favorite new Internet app than about actually paying for Internet. The concept of a digital divide is often thought of on a global scale so the divide in the U.S. is often overlooked; but, the F.C.C. is trying to do something about the digital divide here in the U.S.

The New York Times outlines the program but we provide an overview here for quick reference: With the help of tech companies who will provide software and major cable and Internet providers the F.C.C. is working to bring access to low income families in the United States. There service will be $9.99 a month and IBM is refurbishing computers to be bought for $150 with the help of micro-financing provided by Morgan Stanley.

Facebook Frustration Will Fade

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Running Scared?

To be blunt: Facebook users cannot bear to leave the site after years of commitment. I find the recent major changes just as annoying as the next person but we learn to adjust and adapt because we can’t imagine actually erasing the history contained within one account. Many may threaten to shut down their accounts but when the mouse hovers above the “delete account” button and the site asks “Are you sure you want to delete your account?” they just can’t seem to follow through.

Hulu: The Site to Watch, Literally

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The masterminds behind increasing Hulu’s paid subscribers should give themselves a pat on the back. Reaching their goal of 1 million users 3 months ahead of the predicted target date says a lot about Hulu’s marketing and business strategy.

After taking a look at Hulu’s strategy and successes I wanted to point out a few aspects of their strategy that we at SnapHawk believe exemplify an effective marketing strategy aimed at targeting key audiences and listening to customers.

Today's Crazy Password World and You!

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Do “123456”, “abc123”, and “Qwerty” look familiar to you? That’s probably because they are some of the most popular passwords around. If you’re like most people, then these examples or some variation of them may have been one of passwords at some point. Because we’re living in the age of awesome, but sometimes frustrating technology, a lot of our personal data is stored on the Internet, which makes us all potentially vulnerable if personal data were to fall into the wrong hands.

With all the recent hackings in the news, it’s imperative that you secure your personal and business accounts to the fullest extent. We here at SnapHawk always try to inspire tech awesomeness and marketing savvy so the following are some helpful tips that should amp up your security and let you continue managing your Internet marketing campaign, business, and overall lifestyle smoothly.

Technology: Full Speed Ahead

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The announcement came as part of a larger decision from HP to basically end its run in the personal computer business.Although HP announced a new desktop computer on August 23, 2011—partially backtracking on their original statement so it remains to be seen what direction HP is headed in. While tablets are becoming more and more popular, leading many to think that HP would want to stay in the competition, their plan includes discontinuing phones and tablets on the operating system it acquired in a not-so-successful deal with Palm last year.

The technology market is a fickle and fast paced industry. HP’s announcement is only one of many announcements in the tech world in the past week or so. As acquisitions continue to happen, patent wars wage on, and as new technologies and apps are released it is safe to say that it might not be a good idea to get too attached to any one type of technology or a particular brand. Whether it’s on the Internet or offline, marketing and technology trends continue to come and go. As we’ve seen this summer at SnapHawk, Internet Marketing and Social Media Marketing continue to develop each week and each day and we’ve challenged ourselves to stay informed.

This fast paced industry can be stressful for the less tech savvy people out there or even for tech savvy people who just don’t have time to keep up with all the changes. Although this can be frustrating, it’s actually very fascinating to keep tabs on the technology industry even just for a day. It’s unbelievable how much changes within just 24 hours.

There are advantages to doing your research, especially when buying a device such as the Tablet. The research may take some time but it’s likely you will end up happier in the end and with a device that best fits your needs.

Here are some helpful resources to get your research started:

Consumer Reports - www.consumerreports.org

CNET - reviews.cnet.com

Engadget - www.engadget.com

PC Magazine - www.pcmag.com

Ongoing Rise of Mobile Commerce and Advertising

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Today, the news is full of articles about patents, acquisitions, lawsuits, and product launches all focused on one industry: mobile technology. We’re rapidly entering a period where demand for desktops and laptops is diminishing and want for tablets, smartphones, and other mobile devices is skyrocketing. The computing capabilities of mobile devices today are so advanced that you check the weather or surf the web as well as complete more complicated to-dos, like transfer money into your checking account. Mobile technology is advancing everyday, making everyone’s lives a little more convenient on a personal and business level. Here are some interesting ways that a business can maximize smartphone capabilities to grow your business.

Tablet Choices and A Lot of Change

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Lately there has been some serious buzz about tablets and it seems like a new one gets released every day. Since it feels like every tech company in the world is creating their own version of the tablet, there must be something that makes these devices so popular. I am on a mission to find the best features the tablet has to offer – and what differentiates some of the many versions out there.

First off, what are some of the features of a tablet that make them so popular?

Getting Creative to Compete

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Inspiration

A few weeks ago I read a great story about a coffee house in Houston that uses social media marketing (SMM) to personalize customer service in order to compete with larger franchises. The owner of the coffee house received a direct message via Twitter from a regular customer saying he was in a hurry and could he pick up a breakfast burrito as he drove by? The owner Tweeted back “What do you want on it?” Sounds pretty convenient to me.

Facebook Updates Your Personal and Business Experience

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

With 750+ million users, 55% of all social site visits, and 40% of daily web traffic, Facebook is more than just a simple social media website. It enables users to stay up to date with current news about their friends and the world, check into places where they are currently hanging out at, view advertisements tailored to their interests, and send private messages and chat with friends. Facebook has also become a business tool, giving businesses a channel to connect with an interested audience who are more likely to respond to advertisements, deals, or discounts.

While Facebook is clearly not lacking in variety of features, the social media giant continues to innovate and launch new applications and updates frequently. It’s hard to stay current with all the new features, so here’s a summary of Facebook’s latest additions and how they can make your social experience even more awesome.

LinkedIn — An Outstanding Resource For Professional Success

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

With an abundance of social media sites out there, and new ones cropping up all the time, it has become difficult to differentiate each site. After a while they start to blur and it can become frustrating and tiring to try and keep up a presence on each one and to keep up to date on the newest social media and Internet trends. One site that is sometimes overlooked and is becoming increasingly important for professionals who want to be "plugged in" is LinkedIn.

Over the past few weeks, as I myself have become even more familiar with LinkedIn, I have noticed there is a lack of understanding of the benefits of LinkedIn and how the site is in fact different from other social media platforms. The questions, “Isn’t LinkedIn the same thing as Facebook?” and, “Do I need to be on LinkedIn?” are common ones. This may come as a surprise to some but no, Facebook and LinkedIn are not the same thing, and yes you need to be on LinkedIn if you are in the college phase of your life or beyond. Here’s why:

Floating In the Cloud

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

With Apple’s iCloud.com just being released this week (currently for developers only), cloud technology will continue to be the next big thing and is clearly here to stay. According to Wikipedia, cloud computing is “the logical computational resources (data, software) accessible via a computer network, rather than from a local computer.” You may be wondering what does this mean to me? Why do I care?

How about making your life more easy and your technology more integrated? For instance, cloud technology will allow you to access your documents, contacts, calendar, photos, and any other information that you want on your smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc. This technology is revolutionary because users will no longer be required to install specific applications, such as a word processor, because the programs will be managed by their web browsers.

Music to Your Ears

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Technology has changed the the way we read, communicate, and even think so it’s no surprise that it has also changed the way we listen. From record players to cassettes to CDs to MP3s, music is always evolving. Our own tech hawk, Jim, has demonstrated this progression by creating a music compilation site, Box of Cassettes, which blends retro tech and images with current digital realms. You will see broken cassette cases and ripped labels--all with a creative mash-up of music links driven by cutting-edge computer programing. Today, music is highly driven by online streaming and some popular sites include:

Pandora - allows you to create stations based on a song, artist, or genre and suggests songs similar to your taste.

Grooveshark - similar to Pandora, this site recommends music through Grooveshark radio. It also lets you search for a specific song and play it instantly.

Google Music (Beta) / Amazon Cloud Drive - lets you access your music library from any computer without the hassle of syncing.

Turntable.fm (Beta) - a chatroom that streams the music choices of up to 5 user DJs, allowing people to discuss music choices and discover new songs from people all over the Internet.

StumbleUpon: Interests, Inspiration, and Advertising

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

StumbleUpon: Discover the Best of the Web

If you’re like over 15 million other people worldwide, you may be a user of StumbleUpon, a discovery engine that suggests web content based on your interests. Once overtaken by your interests, one can spend hours on this site, sorting through pages and pages of content about technology, design, music, or any other topic you may be interested in. While this site is a fantastic procrastination tool, it can also be a great marketing tool, too.

Some marketers, however, have a love/hate relationship with the site because even though it sends a large number of viewers to your site, the traffic doesn’t usually last for more than a couple of seconds. However, with StumbleUpon recently beating out Facebook and becoming the biggest social media traffic driver, you may not want to discount the site from consideration. StumbleUpon lets users discover your site without having to click on ads or links; your page is your ad. Here are some tips on how to maximize your site’s or blog’s exposure on StumbleUpon.

The Sweetness of E-Readers

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

With technology directing our everyday lives, the development of e-readers has revolutionized the way we read. Now, people have instant access to millions of books, newspapers, and magazines at a lower price than traditional printed materials. There are also many resources where you can access and download free books, such as Internet Archive, Open Library, Project Gutenberg, and Many Books.

Twitter Demystified

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

As with all social media sites there is a learning curve with Twitter. The vast amount of information on the web created to help guide you can be overwhelming and go into more detail than you ever cared to read. I have compiled some of the best pieces of advice I have seen out there on the “proper” way to use Twitter to create a quick and simple list of tips for getting started or improving your Twitter experience.

Before you dive in, take some time to look at other business’s Tweets and profiles. That way you can see for yourself what works and what does not.

Online Writing Resources to Help Grow Your Business

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks to the Internet, people who never fancied themselves writers (or moreover, have no proper training in the subject) find themselves behind the wheel of major publishing tools like Facebook, Twitter, and blogs. Whether or not “citizen journalists,” as they’re often called in the media world, are “real journalists” is a debate better left to the annals of academia. The bottom line is the Internet allows anyone to be a published author. Furthermore, many businesses are feeling the pressure to launch blogs on their websites in order to incorporate more SEO (Search Engine Optimization) keywords.

No (Acronym) Soup for You: SEM vs. SEO

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Acronyms are a favorite tool of those fluent in technobabble. Search Engine Marketing sounds better and more digestible as the three letter term, SEM. Likewise for Search Engine Optimization, or SEO. In reality, these shortened terms do little more than confuse industry outsiders, leaving them drowning in what we call Acronym Soup. Here at SnapHawk, we have sworn off the Soup.

Sure, it’s cool and trendy to toss around these pithy nuggets of tech knowledge, unless of course you don’t know what they mean. Then what’s the point? Thankfully, we’re here to help. The SnapHawk Internet Marketing Glossary offers definitions of the industry’s most commonly used lingo to help users swim, not sink in the Soup.

Five Steps for Writing Original Blog Posts

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

1. Know What You Don't Know

Let’s face it, when you’re running a business, you don’t always have time to read up on current industry news. With purchase orders, payroll, and clients to deal with on a daily basis, only the biggest innovations and findings make their way onto your radar, but the Web is riddled with blogs that make your industry news its top priority. They are in the business of knowing what you don’t even know you don’t know. No one will ever know everything about their particular industry, but taking the time to figure out what you don’t know will ensure that your blogs are not misleading or out of date. Take an hour and become familiar with resources that will help you sort through the vast amounts of information out there. A quick search will reveal helpful “top 50” lists for the best blogs pertaining to your specific interests. Make sure to include a few small business blogs in this mix.

Would You Hang Out On Your Own Website?

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Being “successful” online is subject to many definitions, but here at SnapHawk we know that most business owners want to see a monetary payoff. This payoff can come through a variety of channels depending on the goal you’ve set. Perhaps the aim is to get a customer to make a purchase through your e-commerce site or maybe you want visitors to sign up for an e-mail newsletter. Whatever the goal, one thing is clear: potential customers need to not only land on your web page, but they need to stay on your web page.

Google Instant Previews - Search Results Innovation

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

One major topic of concern for website owners is that the new feature will dramatically decrease the quantity of website traffic. This may or may not be true depending on the website. An attractive website with a relevant landing page may actually see an increase in traffic. The call-out feature will show the user that the information he is searching for is just one click away. On the other hand, a website which looks unprofessional or leads a user to a landing page which then requires further searching within the site is likely to see a decrease in traffic. In this sense, Google preview makes search engine optimization more important than ever. A website’s usefulness and legitimacy is now more quickly recognizable to a user.

This user-foresight may lead to advantages for website owners regarding the quality of traffic. Though there might be fewer users clicking through to the site, those who do follow the link will be those who are most interested in what the site has to offer. These users have already seen the information that is presented on the landing page and have determined that it is relevant. This improves the quality of the traffic to the website, and will most likely result in increased time spent on the site, and in more purchases for e-commerce sites.

One other concern cited by website owners is that the preview tool will allow users to get the information they need without actually visiting the site. We at SnapHawk do not foresee this being a problem. The preview shows a relatively limited amount of material, and the preview is too small for anyone to want to spend much time reading it. We believe users will most likely use it as a quick reference, and click through if they want to continue reading.

Google has not yet incorporated Instant Previews into paid search ads, but they have said they will likely do so in the future.

The effect of Google Instant Previews on businesses will ultimately depend on their search engine optimization and search engine marketing strategies. It makes professional websites and relevant landing pages even more important as users no longer choose a page blindly.