With recent changes to both the Google algorithm and Google's analytics tools, it's clear to see that websites' rankings are not only dependent on relevance and usability, but also the amount of time users spend interacting with your site. In many cases, your website is your "first impression" to clients who might be finding you from the wider web, and keeping your site at the top of those search results is key. That said, here are four ways to increase interactivity on your site and keep people engaged before they make that final conversion to "customer."

When browsing the internet, some of us may encounter a very familiar pop-up on the top-left corner of the screen: "This website wants to show notifications." In some cases, these push notifications can be useful to the end-user. Push notifications enabled on Facebook, for instance, may allow a user to see what their friends have messaged them, even when they're not currently browsing Facebook itself. Unfortunately, some websites have recently seen fit to take advantage of consumer trust and have been using these push notifications (and other granted browser permissions) to malign purposes.

If you're a regular social media user and have been for a long time, you may have noticed recently that you're seeing less from the companies, pages, and groups you follow and a lot more advertisements. Facebook, and now Instagram, have implemented new algorithm updates that have completely changed the way each users' newsfeeds populate content.

You may be surprised to know that making a website available to others online isn't simply a matter of "putting it up," but is instead a chain of interlocking pieces that contribute to the function of a whole. Between hosting, domain names, DNS settings, nameservers, and more, each of these pieces combine to create the larger puzzle that makes your website accessible to others on the internet. 

As an internet user, you've likely heard some of the recent discourse over web privacy, tracking, and changes regarding those topics. Last year, Safari took the first step in blocking third-party cookies, and now other internet browsers are following suit. The death of the third-party cookie is a pivotal moment in the history of internet usage and in the history of internet privacy, but their nebulous description and wide variety of usages has left some in the dark about what cookies actually are.

So, what are cookies, and what are they for?

In 2015, Microsoft said that Windows 10 would be the last versioned release of the operating system. So it came as a surprise to many when the company announced the upcoming release of Windows 11 earlier this year. If you're not inclined to keep up with the latest technology, this may come as a bit of a surprise, and you may be wondering how such an upgrade will affect the IT infrastructure of your business. The tech news world has been aflutter with information and speculation as to the nature of the Windows 11 update, but now that there are more concrete facts, here's what you need to know: 

First impressions are everything, right? More often than not, your website serves as that first impression for potential customers, helping them decide if they want to choose you as their service or product provider. Since your website holds so much weight on a viewer's decision, it's crucial to maintain a positive, updated image in the public eye. People are more and more tech-savvy – and they expect you to be too! In a world full of competitors, make yourself stand out in the crowd by refining your website design, content, and images – after all, this is the part of your website that everyone interacts with. Make it a good experience!

Video is a powerful tool that can be utilized in any industry for marketing purposes. Need to put together an explainer video? Advertise your services? Interview an employee on the subject they specialize in? Record an event? Release a how-to video? The possibilities of video marketing are endless, and those that we listed are just a few of the directions you can go in. Our society continues to gravitate towards video content now more than ever. IGTV, reels, Facebook Watch – almost every social media platform has promoted video, and consumers are liking it… 

In the grand scheme of things, social media as we know it is a new concept – especially in the context of business marketing strategies. What started as a personal platform to connect with friends has turned into one of the most powerful marketing tools for businesses all over the world. Some businesses cling to social media, while others are more hesitant to toss their hat into the social media arena. This sector of marketing takes time, effort, and dedication, but before you dive into a full strategy, you should identify what social media channels would be most beneficial for your company. You want to make sure you're putting your valuable time and resources into the right platforms, and this is your first step in choosing what's best for you. 

You likely interact with Google every day, but your personal experience is just the tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds of guidelines in place for web developers and SEOs to follow – all there to get in Google's good graces. However, it's like playing a game where the rules change every so often. Now, it's not without reason – Google's ultimate goal is to improve the user's experience. While great for the user, it can create some challenges and a list of to-dos for you or your web developer. Starting mid-June 2021, Google released a new update that focuses on Page Experience… 

Whether in a personal or professional setting, you have probably had first-hand experience with the consequences of sacrificing quality for a lower price. Though some businesses opt for consumer-grade emails to save money, this is a mistake that could compromise business, employee, and client security in more ways than one. What is a consumer-grade email exactly? If your email looks like This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. instead of This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., you're probably utilizing a consumer-grade email account. Though it may be free, it doesn't come without cost. 

Many moving parts go into designing and developing your website, and a big part of the project is having everything your website team needs from the get-go. While the process may appear to be pretty simple, there are many moving parts and one of the common characteristics of a smooth project is a client who comes prepared with ideas, content, and a willingness to collaborate. No one knows your business like you do, and that perspective is extremely valuable when building out your website. Here are ways you can adequately prepare for the design and development of your website. 

What if you could have all of the benefits of an in-house technology specialist without having to pay for all that comes with onboarding a new employee? As with any business decision, many things such as efficacy, efficiency, and cost come into play. When choosing between ad hoc (paired with monitoring) and managed IT services, it's important to take into consideration the level of demand your company has for technology, how many employees you have, and how often you expect to need assistance. Below, we will break down the difference between the two services to help you better decide which one is for you. 

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a gray area is defined as "an area or situation in which it is difficult to judge what is right and what is wrong." This definition proves to be accurate in the case of graymail as it's a problem in the marketing industry that even the best marketers struggle with. Though it's a widespread problem, it's not often talked about so we will dive into what graymail is, why you want to avoid it, and steps you can take to try to remedy its effects. 

No matter the industry or location, the vast majority of businesses rely heavily on computers for day-to-day tasks. With almost all operations requiring technology, many companies have a plethora of employee and customer data stored on their hard drives. What happens when it's time to replace that equipment? The data doesn't all just magically disappear – even if you think you've deleted everything. If you don't take the necessary precautions, you may just find yourself in a legally compromising situation, and that's the last thing you want to happen. If you're still on the fence about the importance of data destruction and security, check out why you want to ensure all information is destroyed. 

My typical day looks like meandering around the office greeting my TRS family and eavesdropping on their conversations. They're always busy at work providing marketing plans and solutions for clients, a major part of that being email marketing. As I make my rounds, I've more than once overheard them explaining to clients why they shouldn't send bulk mail through their personal or business email accounts. Because I think this topic is a real tail wagger, I thought I would do them a favor and write a blog about all the reasons you just can't send bulk mail through your email account. 

The holidays are full of joy…but panic tends to seep in as you realize time is running out to find the perfect Christmas present for the ones you love most. It's a lot of pressure, but if you know someone that can't get enough of technology and has a knack for putting things together…we have a gift that will keep on giving. Purchase all of the parts needed to build a computer and give it to a loved one so they can build it themselves. If you're not a techy person, this might not sound so appealing, but to someone that enjoys the ins and outs of technology, it would be a dream come true! Keep in mind – it comes with a hefty price tag. Stick around for price points and what parts you'll need to make this dream become a reality. 

Believe it or not, Christmas is right around the corner and you'll want to jump on the Christmas shopping early this year. While many families have the long-standing tradition of going Black Friday shopping the day after Thanksgiving, many stores are shutting their doors on Thanksgiving and promoting sales for months instead of for 24 hours. Though it's all in efforts to keep people safe, this could potentially change the way we shop for Christmas gifts moving forward. According to Clark Howard, we're more likely to see sales in October and November, with a drastic increase in prices after December 11th. To help you get your shopping done early, we decided to release our 2020 Technology Gift Guide early this year. Check out these gifts selected by the whole Technical Resource Solutions team! 

It's safe to say that most everyone knows about or at least has heard of Google. It's also safe to say that you probably use it every day! However, if you're not a Technical Resource Solutions website customer, you may not have heard about Joomla, an open source content management system (CMS). We chose this platform over 10 years ago and have spent a great many hours explaining to current and potential customers the many benefits of Joomla, with many of them having never heard of the platform at all. Thanks to Google's recently announced sponsorship of Joomla, we're expecting this platform to become more familiar among business owners. Our team is excited about this new development and we are looking forward to all of the benefits that come with this sponsorship.