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What is a boosted post and how is boosting important?

What is a boosted post and how is boosting important?

A boosted post is a post from your business Page that, for a fee, can appear higher up on your audience’s News Feeds. The fee depends on how many people you want the post to reach—the payment depends on the number of impressions the post gets with time.

Boosted posts are different from Sponsored posts. Sponsored posts function more similarly to ads, where you can choose your target demographic and invest funds into making them aware of your business. We recommend that you try promoting your posts after you have run advanced analytics on your target group, and know exactly who you’d want to reach.

How to boost a post on Facebook

First, choose the post you want boosted. You can either boost a new or a previously published post (as long as it’s been published after June 21, 2012). Begin by clicking the “Boost Post” button on the bottom right corner of the post.

Then, choose the audience you want to reach with the boosted post. You can select to boost the post to the News Feeds of people who like your Page, as well as their friends, or choose a specific audience through targeting.

You can target groups by interests, location, ages and gender.

After you’ve selected your audience, you need to manage the budget dedicated to boosting this post. The budget is determined by the amount of time you want the post to remain boosted, which, in turn, determines an estimated audience to which the boosted post will be visible.

Note:
Since you have to invest a portion of your budget into each Facebook post you boost, choose the content with the highest ROI value. Unless they are dedicated to a time-sensitive campaign, boost posts with ‘evergreen’ content—those that will help spread awareness of your brand in the long run. As a rule of thumb, a post worth boosting also satisfies the following criteria:
It helps promote a product or service offered by your business.
It encourages visits to your business’s website.
It spreads awareness of a limited-time campaign your business is running.

Another important consideration: make sure the post you choose to boost complies with Facebook’s Ad Guidelines. All boosted posts still have to be approved by Facebook before appearing higher on users’ News Feeds, so make sure it doesn’t get pulled before anyone gets to see it.

Why should my business boost Facebook posts?

Organic reach has unpredictable value, and no matter how advanced your Facebook strategy may be, there is still a chance that your posts get lost among the numerous birthday wishes and newborn congratulations so often seen on our Feeds. Boosting your Posts guarantees a degree of visibility for posts you find important.

Boosted Posts have a higher chance of being seen by people who have Liked your business’s Page. Whenever someone likes or comments on a boosted post, it can appear on their friends’ News Feeds—even those who are not following your Page—giving your business exposure to new audiences.

Tired of old social media platforms?

Tired of old social media platforms?

Social Media in 2016

Social media depend on mobile and web-based technologies to create highly interactive platforms through which individuals and communities share, co-create, discuss, and modify user-generated content.

Social media technologies take on many different forms including blogs, business networks, enterprise social networks, forums, micro blogs, photo sharing, products/services review, social bookmarking, social gaming, social networks, video sharing, and virtual worlds.

However, social media world is changing fast: You are either keeping up or quickly become irrelevant. Here are new social media platforms to inspire you:

Blab

This is a social media network for video chatters. If you tried Periscope and joined at least one Google Hangout on Air, let me put it simply for you: Blab is right in the middle between the two.
Join and set up group video interview, meet new people and connect to influencer sin real time!

Yik Yak

You have probably seen screenshots of Yik Yak all over the web lately. It is a platform that is all about local sharing on a social wave. You download the app, narrow your location via GPS, and communicate with anonymous people in your area.
It is still growing, so some cities are pretty dead. But larger urban areas have exploded in activity, and you can find plenty of conversations, or start your own.

Ello

Are you a creator who wants to connect, be inspired by, and be an inspiration to other creators? Then Ello is for you. Upload your content, edit it, share it. Then go and look at what others are creating.
This is a great social network that will give you one on one interaction with others that share your passion. So download the app and say ‘Ello!’

Now, if you have problem getting used to new social media networks, First Site Guide has an excellent write-up called “How I Learned to Love Twitter!” that tells a story many of us are so well aware of: How we first join a social media community and feel helpless and lost and how to ultimately overcome that!

Social Media Dashboards
Cyfe

Cyfe is your only way to make sense of the buzzing social media world: Archive social media streams and search results, monitor social media statistics and set up reputation management dashboards. Cyfe has something for everything.
Plus, Cyfe supports an insane amount of social media networks you can track: Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Facebook for Business, Google Plus, Youtube, Vine, you name it!

Social Media Mobile Apps
Social apps aren’t all about Facebook and Twitter anymore, or chatting applications. Whole networks have been created that you may have never heard of, with specialized services you will love. These are some excellent newer ones that have gained a ton of traction this year, and are continuing to grow. You gotta check them out!

Kleek

Facebook’s friend feed and its algorithm are an annoyance for most users at this point. Kleek integrates with the social network to give you more control. It works by connecting to your account and letting you create your “cliques”.
Only the people you want will show on your mobile feed. It will also alert you to special events, such as birthdays or invites from those people. Super simple, but helpful. Think of it as making Facebook yours, without having to create secret groups and flick between feeds.

Storehouse

This is a really simple, basic app that will change how you view, collect, curate and share media forever. Take your chosen photos and videos and create a story that you can tell to anyone you choose.
Everyone knows that a lot of social interaction online these days is visual storytelling. This takes it to the next level, all from one small and easy to use application.

Shots

Yes, that is the real name of the app, smiley face and all. The concept is just as silly: this is an app that not only allows you to take selfies, it demands it.
You take the shot, you edit the shot, you share the shot. It is the best way for you and your friends to indulge in some harmless, fun vanity. Take photos or videos. Upload with descriptions and send to anyone you like.

Stay safe online

Stay safe online

In the past, email was the best way to communicate with people online. But today, there are many different ways to talk online, allowing you to do things like:

Make phone calls from your computer and even see the person you’re talking with.
Share with lots of friends at the same time without sending an email to each of them individually.
Engage with different websites by making comments or posting your own content.

When people are not online, they use a variety of communication methods, including phone calls, written letters, and face-to-face conversation. We use these different methods depending on the situation. Online communication is very similar: People may use instant messaging, video chat, or social networking depending on the situation. You can choose whichever methods best fit your needs.

No matter how you communicate online, you’ll need to think about privacy and safety. Each service that you use has its own privacy settings. It’s helpful to review these settings before using any service to avoid revealing your conversations and personal information to a broader audience.

Act as if you were communicating offline: Remember, everything you write online is relatively permanent, so even passing comments could have negative consequences for you or someone else in the future.

Benefits of online advertising

Benefits of online advertising

Online advertising, also called online marketing or Internet advertising or web advertising, is a form of marketing and advertising which uses the Internet to deliver promotional marketing messages to consumers. It includes email marketing, search engine marketing (SEM), social media marketing, many types of display advertising including web banner advertising, and mobile advertising. Like other advertising media, online advertising frequently involves both a publisher, who integrates advertisements into its online content, and an advertiser, who provides the advertisements to be displayed on the publisher’s content.

If you are looking for a simple and cost-effective way to connect with your customers then online advertising offers the biggest bang for your buck. The Internet is fast replacing traditional mediums of information, entertainment, shopping and marketing. It’s time to change the way you market your business.

The number of hours that people spend using the Web has grown significantly as most users are connected through cell phones, computers, iPads, etc. throughout the day. Say goodbye to those expensive huge billboards and glossy print ads. Be visible where it matters, especially in social media. It’s the smart thing to do…your bottom line will validate that!

Here are the 5 most valuable benefits of online advertising:

It offers more value for your advertising dollars as it can be more targeted than offline mediums.

It is up and running 24/7 providing round-the-clock visibility.

It has a faster and wider reach as you can connect with people anywhere even in the remotest locations, as long as there is Internet connectivity.

It provides more information at a low cost.

It is convenient for your audience as they can access your online advertising material as many times as they want.

Experienced marketers say that one of the greatest benefits of online advertising is its measurability and the information it provides about your audience. It’s a two-way street. You can learn about your visitors while they are getting to know you. This offers valuable input about the effectiveness of your campaigns which can then be quickly modified to increase conversions and sales.

Why you need a website

Why you need a website

A website will expose you to a larger number of potential customers and increase the size of your target audience.
The people who visit your website are already interested in what you have to offer because they have reached it through searching the internet by content and location. Therefore, your business promotion is more effectively targeted.

Internet Purchases Increasing in Popularity
Researching and purchasing products and services on the internet is becoming increasingly popular. Customers can browse businesses at any time of day and night in the comfort of their own home. They don’t have to run all over town and there are no pushy salesmen, no parking hassles and they don’t have to worry about the kids. A website puts the customer in control of the purchasing process and as a result, shopping on the web is becoming evermore convenient and popular.

Get Customers Early
For many people, a purchasing decision starts with research on the web. They often make their choice long before ever entering a store or making the first phone call. Having a website will mean that you are part of their selection process from their very first step.

Promote Yourself Continuously
For the small initial cost and effort of establishing a website, customers have access 24/7. They can read about you and your work when and where it is convenient for them – often, long after you have finished for the day. With an informative website, you can effectively communicate with potential customers all day and all night.

Win Customer Confidence
By providing appropriate content on your website, you can answer visitor queries and provide valuable information that goes beyond mere marketing. Potential customers value this service and can see that your business is knowledgeable and professional.

Inexpensive
As a form of advertising and marketing, a website is cost-effective and great value. Compare the cost with other forms of advertising, such as printed media, Yellow Pages, or radio and television.

More Information
A website does not limit the volume of content you can present. Other promotional media like print, radio and television, charge you by the word or second. A website allows you to fully explain and display who you are and what you do. You can tell potential customers about your work, qualifications, existing clients, completed projects – in fact just about anything that will benefit your purpose.

Dynamic
A website is a dynamic, easily updateable resource through which you present information to your visitors. Unlike other forms of marketing that are either static, or difficult and expensive to change, a website is easily updated.

Increase Customer Interaction
Visitors can contact you via e-mail directly from your site. You can also have online forms that allow visitors to request more information, provide feedback or place an order.

Increase Your Profile
Customers will perceive you as more professional, dynamic, modern and better able to meet their needs. Can you imagine companies like QANTAS, ColesMyer, BHP or ANZ not having a website? How will potential customers perceive you if your competitors have websites and you don’t?

Measurable Success
You can analyse the comprehensive statistics reports provided by your website to see how many people are visiting, what pages they are viewing and how long they are spending on your site.
REMEMBER – YOUR BUSINESS NEVER CLOSES ON THE INTERNET

Internet security

Internet security

Internet security is a branch of computer security specifically related to the internet, often involving browser security but also network security on a more general level as it applies to other applications, or operating systems on a whole.

A computer user can be tricked or forced into downloading software onto a computer that is of malicious intent. Such software comes in many forms, such as viruses, Trojan horses, spyware, worms, denial of self attack, phishing and Application vulnerabilities.

There are a number of remedies to such malicious software such as Network layer security, Internet protocol security, Electronic mail security, Fire walls among others. However, here are some of the internet security products one can use to protect their programs from attack;

Antivirus. Antivirus software and Internet security programs can protect a programmable device from attack by detecting and eliminating viruses; Antivirus software was mainly shareware in the early years of the Internet, but there are now several free security applications on the Internet to choose from for all platforms.

Password managers. A password manager is a software application that helps a user store and organize passwords. Password managers usually store passwords encrypted, requiring the user to create a master password; a single, ideally very strong password which grants the user access to their entire password database.

Security suites. Security suites were first offered for sale in 2003 and contain a suite of firewalls, anti-virus, anti-spyware and more. They may now offer theft protection, portable storage device safety check, private Internet browsing, cloud anti-spam, a file shredder or make security-related decisions.

Meaning of web hosting

Meaning of web hosting

When you design a website and you want to get it on the web for the entire world to see, you need a web hosting service. A web hosting service provides a medium that lets a personal website as well as a business website to be accessible on the web. The web hosting companies give the webmaster a space on their server which allows an internet connection. These servers are located in something called data centers. Or when web hosting companies do not own the servers then the servers are stored at a co-location.

There are hundreds and hundreds of web hosting companies out there today. With billions of websites already on the web, the companies are now a dime a dozen. There are many different types of web hosting plans out there. If you want to host a simple web page or a hundred page website, there is something for everyone.

If you have a basic webpage, there is very little processing when you are dealing with only one web page. But when you are hosting a larger site, it becomes more difficult to choose a plan. Some of the plans that web hosting companies offer are Free Web Hosting, Shared Web Hosting, Virtual Web Hosting and Dedicated Hosting Services.

Linux vs Windows hosting (which is better)?

Linux vs Windows hosting (which is better)?

Linux vs Windows hosting

If you’ve already decided you need a hosting account, you might get slipped up when you get asked, “Linux or Windows?” Fortunately, there isn’t a big difference between them and either type of account works for most customers.

To make sure you do get the right type of account, though, you should choose the type of hosting account you want based on how you’re building your site.

Development Tool Linux Windows
WordPress® or other Web apps ✓ –
Dreamweaver or other WYSIWYG apps ✓ –
PHP, MySQL, CGI, Python, or Perl ✓ –
ASP, ASP.NET, MS SQL – ✓
ASP, ASP.NET and PHP, MySQL – ✓
I have no idea what any of this means ✓ –

It’s important to note that these are just our recommendations. Windows accounts will actually support most of these development tools but Linux hosting best fits most customers hosting needs.

In order to decide whether to go for Linux or Microsoft hosting you will have to identify what your website will need supported.

If you need to support Microsoft products such as ASP.net, ASP, MS Access, Microsoft SQL Server or VBScript, then Windows hosting would be better.

Linux is generally a more popular option because of its affordability, stability and many features. Linux supports PHP, Perl, mySQL, PostgreSQL and CGI Scripts.

Both Linux and Windows servers are reliable, stable and secure. Generally, however, more viruses are written to attack Windows servers than Linux servers. If you need to host on a Windows Server ensure that your web hosting company continually upgrades their Windows and Linux servers with the latest fixes and patches available.

Two points to note:

First, just because you use Microsoft Windows on your computer does NOT mean that you need to host on a Windows hosting package. Windows for your home computer is completely different from a Windows server.

Secondly, even if you use Microsoft FrontPage or FrontPage extensions to design your website, you can still use either Linux or Windows hosting as long as your chosen package supports FrontPage.

What is web hosting?

What is web hosting?

Here are some points to help you understand just what web hosting is and how it works:

1. The reason to sign up for Web Hosting is to give your website a place to live for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Your website has to be housed on a computer somewhere that is always connected to the Internet. This computer on which your website will live is called a Web Server and is owned by your web hosting company.

2. Web hosting is in essence a subscription service. 

In order to continually make sure that your website has a place to live you will have to pay recurring amounts: either monthly or yearly.

3. Some big websites — such as Google and Ebay — do their own web hosting. This is the exception rather than the rule.

It is usually the best bet to let another organisation do the hosting for your site. Here are some of the reasons why:

» Uptime. If your website goes down in the middle of the night for any reason someone else takes care of the problem for you. Generally you won’t even know that the site was down. With most web hosting companies your site will have at least 98% or better uptime.

» Salary Expense. In order to make sure that the computer your site is on is running smoothly at all times you will have to hire a full time employee called a Systems Administrator. When you use a web hosting company then the cost of the skills are spread across all their clients.

» Security. There are hackers out there who enjoy causing havoc. A web hosting company will generally have experience in ensuring their client’s websites are as secure as possible.

4. The specific computer on which your website lives is called a web server. 

Generally speaking, if the web server that your website is hosted on goes down, your website goes down.

5. A web server typically hosts many websites.

Just because your website is stored on a computer does not mean it is the only one on the web server. Generally their are many websites on one web server to produce economies of scale which enable you to get affordable web hosting.

6. An established web hosting company will generally own many web servers which in turn host many websites. 

Each web server the hosting company owns will typically host hundreds of individual websites and domain names.

7. Across the world there are many more websites than there are web servers because it is possible to host thousands of small websites on one web server. 

8. If you sign up with a web hosting company, your website will be assigned to one of their web servers.

9. Your domain name will be assigned to one of their name servers.

A name server is a computer which will connect your domain name (http://www.YourDomain.co.ug) to the web server where your website lives.

10. Your name server and a web server work together to get visitors from all over the world to your website. 

This is how it works:

Your visitor types your domain name in his browser. Based on information provided by your hosting company’s name server, your website is found to live on the specific web server where it was originally assigned to by your web hosting company.

A single page of your website is sent to the visitor’s browser by the web server.

The process repeats when your visitor goes to the next page of your website.

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