A Closer Look into Alphabet’s (AKA Google) Hardware Business and its Competitors - Part 3 of 3

Can Google Hardware be All Things to All People?

By Hector Cisneros

Courtesy of Google Advanced Image Search

Everyone knows that Google is the king of search engines and that Google has dozens of internet properties and applications. But did you know that Google is also big into all kinds of hardware? Google is into creating some of the top hardware tech on the planet, and it's looking to become a dominant player in hardware tech as well as the internet. In this 3rd episode of “Can, Google be all things to all people,” Working the web to win will take a close look at Alphabets (aka Google) hardware tech, including driverless cars, Nexus tablets, Pixel smartphones, Chromecast, Chromebooks and Google home. So, open up the notes section of your browser as we take a spyglass look into Googles hardware divisions.

A Comparative Look at Google’s Top Applications and its Competitors

Episode 2 of 3 – Can Google be all things to All People?

By Hector Cisneros

Courtesy of Flickr

There is no doubt that Google dominates the Internet today. However, the Internet is rapidly evolving into multiple arenas that include organic and paid search, cloud storage, and computing, video and photo storage and streaming, social media, browser, and OS connectivity and office productivity suites. These subsets of the Internet are becoming productivity and marketing arenas on their own. Google’s competitors are eager to knock Google off the top of its dominant position on the World Wide Web. The companies that control the sub arenas will directly affect our lives in many ways. Soon everyone will have to choose a camp to maximize the benefits of what the web should offer. In episode 2 of this 3-part series, we will explore Google's top offerings along with its top competitors including; Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Amazon, and others. So, get ready for a comparative look at Google’s apps and its top contenders and their Internet applications as they slug it out to gain supremacy.

Is Google+ adding up?

Courtesy of  www.youtube.com

By Danny Murphy

There’s no shortage of hype about the Internet and product launches related to it. When Google+ launched in 2011, there was a lot of hype. Google+ was Google’s response to popular social media networks including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Google wanted their piece of the social media market. However, Google+ has not lived up to the hype. Some big changes were recently made to Google+. Naturally, Google cranked out some hype over those changes.

Is Google+ Dying as a Social Network?

Courtesy of www.seoblog.com

By Hector Cisneros

A lot of people are asking this Question; is Google+ dying as a social network? You've heard the pundits say, “Google+ is a dead network. Google + is on the way out. Google is dismantling Google +. No one is using it. It’s a ghost town.” Today the naysayers are pointing out that Google is dismantling parts of Google+ by removing key elements of its social network. Well, there is good news, bad news and ugly news coming and in this blog, I will explore and prognosticate on Google’s latest changes as it evolves into something new to fit Google's overall internet strategy.

Are You Prepared for the Onslaught of Cyber-Attacks?

By Carl Weiss

Click here to see real-time cyber-attacks - Courtesy of Norse

It's said the only sure things in life are death and taxes. While this pearl of wisdom has stood the test of time, in the not too distant future, there could be an addition to that list: Cyber-Attack. That's because cyber-attacks on businesses and individuals are up nearly 50% in the past year alone. Where cybercriminals used to almost exclusively target big businesses with deep pockets, now that ransomware has become so prolific, small businesses and even individuals are finding their online assets and machines being hijacked. And why not, since most individuals and small businesses offer little in the way of resistance.

The DIY Online Marketing Solution

Courtesy of Pixabay

By Carl Weiss

“We’re Number ONE!”

That’s what everyone strives for in the USA. Whether you’re talking sports, business, academics, or keeping up with the Jones’, Americans are extraordinarily competitive. This is especially true for online position of Google search. Ever since the first search engines appeared more than 20 years ago, website owners vied for the top spot on every keyword combination imaginable. Today, a Page One position is more competitive and more important than ever before. There are nearly 600 million websites and only 14 to 20 Page One positions for any specific keyword combination. Talk about competitive!

Are You Prepared for Mobilgeddon?

By Carl Weiss

Courtesy of pixabay.com

We live in the end times, right? At least that’s what Google wants you to think. Most are probably somewhat familiar with the term “Armageddon,” which is the biblical prediction for the end of the world.  Well Google's latest update is being dubbed Mobilegeddon because it means the end of high ranking for websites that are not mobile compliant.

Top Five Greatest Garage Gurus

By Carl Weiss

Courtesy of Flickr

A number of tech startups from Apple to HP and others got their start in the humble garage. Our own city of Jacksonville Florida has been the birthplace and host, to one of the world's first creativity, startup and crowdfunding festivals called OneSpark. With all the growth in the tech industries, I can't help but be excited about startups. So in this article, I will countdown the top 5 Garage Gurus of all time. We will also look at where the next titans of tech are likely to come from as well as what the garage startup has evolved into now that tech business incubators and cowork space abound.

Internet Marketing: Lessons Learned and Best Practices Part 2 – Website and SEO Principles

Compiled from 20 Years of Marketing Success 

By Hector Cisneros

Photo Credit: vintagecomputing.com

Did you know that most of the websites that exist today were created more than four years ago? And, for the most part, many website developers and designers haven’t upgraded what they consider to be key elements for a web page. Many still consider large banners at “the top of the fold” to still be important, most leave out critical home page elements needed to convey trust and credibility to visitors.  This article is part of a four part series to help clients create a unified and coherent marketing campaign. It delves into the best practices we’ve discovered during our successful marketing campaigns over the last 20 years. We put particular emphasis on the important changes that have taken place online in the last five years. So let’s jump right in a look at the best practices we’ve discovered for web page setup and pertaining to SEO.

How to Grow Your Twitter Flock – 14 Surefire Tips for Explosive Organic Growth

By Hector Cisneros

Photo Credit: publiseek.com

Ever wonder why all the media outlets use Twitter? Are you curious about how useful Twitter really is?   What happened?  Are you providing the wrong content?  Are you using the wrong posting schedule? Are you engaging your audience in a useful way? Are you wondering why you only have 300 people following you, after a full year’s worth of work?

The real questions is:  Are you really looking to grow your Twitter following or are you just dabbling in Twitter because someone said it was cool?

The Next Generation - Putting Your Best Robot Forward

By Carl Weiss

Courtesy of world.honda.com

I don’t know about you, but I grew up watching all the cool and scary science fiction movies featuring all kind of fantastic things especially and killer monster robots that were ready to take over the world. Companies around the world are furiously work hard to bring robots to life, (not the killer kind but their more benign helpful counter parts). We have been using industrial robots for the better part of 20 years now but none of these robots have been the walking talking, come along with me and do this job for me kind. Well robots are getting ready to take the next step in their evolution. I am talking about the walking, talking, climbing, and looking more like people kind. In this article, we will explore the next level of robot evolution. So read on and meet our 21^st century robotic contestants.

Hector's the Connector’s Predicts Social Media changes for This Year and Beyond

By Hector Cisneros

Courtesy of blog.buzzoole.com

Social media has seen radical changes over the last three years. Their level of acceptance and use has Social networks now have the eyes and ears of billions of subscribers. The impact of organic search ranking is indisputable today. Also, its effect on product acceptance, adoption and loyalty has become so important that large companies are spending vast amounts of advertising money to create and measure its influence on their product sales and profitability. Cyber criminals are also taking advantage of this mass migration to social networks. My last two prediction articles have come in with a 95% accuracy rating and this year I am going out on a limb with a few of my prognostications. So read on and find out what I foresee the New Year will ring in for Social Networking in the year to come (including Facebook, Google+ LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Pintrest and Blogger).
exploded. Many of the top social networks are now monetized and have become publicly held companies.

The Byte Before Christmas

By Carl Weiss

With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore.

New-York Historical Society: Clement Clark Moore’s desk, on which it is believed that he wrote “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” (Photo credit: Chris Devers)

T'was the byte before Christmas,

When all through the house

Not  creature was stirring,

Not even the mouse.

Now that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are behind us, let’s take a look at what is shaping up to be a very merry Internet Christmas in 2013.  So far this year Internet sales are up 19% over last year and 30% of those sales are attributed to mobile purchases. This is also the first time that brick and mortar sales are lower than the year before.

Can Google Cure Death, Disease and Aging?

Courtesy of Pixabay.com

By Carl Weiss

Everyone knows that there only two things in life of which we can all be assured: Death and Taxes.  Now, one of the billionaires behind the world’s most popular search engine wants to take a crack at eliminating the first of these woes.  That’s right; Larry Page of Google has made it his stated goal to cure death.  With a war chest in the billions, I guess if anyone can take a legitimate crack at the Grim Reaper, he can. 

Maximizing the Plus in Google+ Brand Pages

Courtesy of mashable.com

By Hector Cisneros

Do you use Google+? Are you using, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube or Twitter for your business? If you are using any of these social networks, but not using Google+, you’re missing one of the biggest boats in the social networking ocean. The fact that Google Brand pages are tied into Google Search, Google Local and Google Maps, is crucial to your online marketing success  since they all contain the magic word “Google.” Google has 81% of search, this is reason enough for you to start utilizing Google+ Brand pages for your business. On top of that, it has in excess of 500 million subscribers.

Your Website - Lost in Cyberspace

 By Carl Weiss

Lost In Space Second Series. (Photo credit: Jimmy Big Potatoes)

Every time Google sneezes, the entire Internet comes down with a cold. Many websites fall off Page One  every time Google updates their search algorithms.  Because Google controls 82% of search, it is vital that you understand its likes and dislikes. You also need to know what  to do to bulletproof your web presence so that the next time an update occurs you won't be lost in cyberspace. The problem is that Google, like all other search engines, doesn't make it easy for webmasters and site designers to understand the rules of engagement.  This article will attempt to part the curtain and give you a look behind the scenes in order to show you what the wizard wants. 

How to Tweet Your Way to Success

Courtesy of  blog.totalpropertylistingengine.com

By Hector Cisneros

Don't know a twit from a tweet? Do you think Twitter is stupid and a waste of time? On the other hand, are you wondering why all the TV and Radio stations always mentioning their Twitter accounts? If you don't understand twitter, then this article is for you! In this article, I will discuss many of the primary benefits that Twitter has to offer any business. I will explain why you want to consider using Twitter to help grow your business. On top of this, I will provide links to other articles helping with techniques, tools, pitfalls to avoid and shortcuts you can take to become a successful Twitter marketer.

Is SEO Still Important Today or in the Future?

By Hector E. Cisneros

Courtesy of Flickr

SEO is a term that is bandied about as if it were the holy grail of Search Engine Marketing. But what is SEO really? It is optimizing your website? Or, is it optimizing what you post to your web properties? Is it key word sensitive, key phrase-centric or is it something else altogether? My answer to these questions may surprise you. SEO is no longer just one thing. It's not just optimizing your website for proper Meta tags and matching content. It has grown to mean so much more. In this article, I discuss how Search Engine Optimization (a.d.a., SEO) has evolved into Search Engine Marketing (a.k.a., SEM). I will discuss how what was once a single-faceted injection has evolved into a multifaceted ongoing process. In this article you will find information on how a company can improve its search ranking, specific methods to follow that will insure a strong ranking position. Best of all, you can accomplish all this without resorting to tricks, gimmicks or deception that tries to bypass the search engine ranking systems.

Are Google Glasses the Great Game Changer or a Passing Fad?

By Carl Weiss

As a kid, I remember the ads in the backs of magazines showing cool gadgets and seemingly magical devices. I remember the ad for X-ray Glasses, Space Helmets, hand held communications and other futuristic promises that were yet to come. Jump 50 years forward and we have space helmets, smartphones and Google Glasses. I know, they are not X-rays Glasses but they have stirred a hornets nest of controversy even though they can see through your clothes.

There has never before been such controversy over a technology that has yet to reach store shelves.  This wearable computing device is going to take technology to a whole new level… literally.  The device itself sports nothing radically new.  All the devices and operations performed by Glass are available on any Smartphone or tablet PC.  Voice actuated, record video, take pictures, run apps etc… What seems to be causing all the anger is the fact that Google Glass is a camera/video platform that can start snapping pictures and make video recordings without being noticed.  This has caused a number of institutions to ban their use and has spawned a number of legislators to consider legislation to limit when and where people can use Glass.

Browser Wars – Then and Now

Courtesy of Flickr

By Carl Weiss

Are browser wars real? Are the Internet giants really fighting for the hearts, minds and eyeballs of computer users worldwide? Does it matter which browser I use? Aren’t they all the same? Who cares which browser is used the most? The real answer to this and other important internet questions are raised and explained in this telling tale of Browser Wars, the ongoing saga of the fight between Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Google's Chrome, Mozilla's Firefox, Apple’s Safari and Opera.