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Yearly Archives: 2019

Understanding the Future of Social Media

Future social media

Social media started long before Facebook in the early 2000s, but Mark Zuckerberg’s launch really defined the space. More than anything, it gave it stability. Before that, sites like MySpace and Xanga had risen and fallen. Users had turned to forums, chat rooms and other forms of communication, but they were never mainstream. With Facebook, you suddenly had a platform that everyone could use -- at least, after they expanded beyond college and opened it up to the public -- and that appeared stable enough to last. Now, in 2019, even with concerns that young people do not use it as much as they once did, that stability is undeniable.

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Why You Need Consistent Content

consistent content

If you check your Google rankings and you don't like where you're sitting, it's natural to decide that you need more content. First and foremost, you want to provide something fresh and valuable that readers will click on. Beyond that, you want to get more keywords onto the site in an organic way that shows Google how valuable your site is. That's what helps you rank higher.

Do not assume, though, that you just need to buy some content, post it, and figure you have taken care of the problem. That can provide a quick boost, but it's not going to last. SEO is certainly not a one-time job. You need to focus on consistency and increasing the volume of your content over time.

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Content Needs to Eliminate Reader Surprises

content surprises

When people set out for any type of event that requires planning, they tend not to want any surprises. This fundamental desire drives a lot of search traffic because it helps to determine what they search for and why they need to find it. Google itself notes that people have a "low tolerance for surprises" whether they're planning a dinner date or a month-long vacation. They seek to understand and plan as much as possible, so their search topics are going to be a pursuit of answers. That's why quality content matters so much, as it can be crafted specifically to answer those questions and give them additional insight into whatever it is they may be planning.

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Twitter CEO’s Endorsement of DuckDuckGo Highlights Criticism of Google’s Data Gathering Practices

DuckDuckGo Twitter Google

Although “Googling” is now synonymous with searching for information, Google is far from the only search platform competing for users’ interest. Fueled by recent reports of data harvesting and invasive user tracking, Google’s image has taken a hit. This negative press opened the door for other niche search engines to compete in the big game.

In a recent tweet, the CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, opened fresh wounds for Google by stating that he personally uses DuckDuckGo for searches. While DuckDuckGo only has a fraction of the total number of Google users, it is hugely popular among privacy-focused netizens.

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Recommended Instagram Posts Depend on AI

Instagram AI

For many businesses, the goal of a platform like Instagram is exposure. You may not make direct sales off of a post about a product or a service, but you can generally reach people who are interested in what you offer. You create more brand awareness, and you can get direct followers whom you can interact with in the future. It’s a dream situation for businesses, as they can then market to people who already like their products and are far more likely to make a purchase. That can increase your conversation rates dramatically.

The other side of this, though, is that you need to expand your reach in some way. You have to get your content in front of new users.

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