Piccolo Universe

Piccolo Universe

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How to Improve SEO: 3 Tactics That Don’t Require New Content

All businesses should have a strong online presence. In today’s digital world, businesses aren’t going to be able to stand out against their competition if they don’t have a good website. This is why businesses need to invest time and effort into improving their search engine optimization. SEO is what helps businesses show up in search results and can bring in leads and sales. But while many SEO tactics focus on creating new and interesting content for consumers, you can find other non-content ways to improve SEO.

Focus on page speed

Before today’s high-speed Internet, people were used to waiting a few minutes for a page to load. But that’s no longer the case. When consumers make an online search, they want immediate results. So if a consumer clicks on a business’s link and the page takes longer than a few seconds to load, chances are, they’re going to go to another page.

Businesses can experience a 7% loss in conversions if they have even a 1-second delay in their page speed. When consumers see that a page is loading slowly, they’re going to think that the business doesn’t care enough about getting their customers to ensure everything loads quickly. And most people who visit a page that doesn’t load quickly won’t return to that site again. This shows page speed has a strong connection and the number of conversions a business gets.

So if your page speed isn’t where it should be, focus on fixing it. Removing things like plug-ins you no longer need, minimizing sidebar links, and optimizing images can all help to significantly improve page speed. And, of course, choosing a good host will help, too.

Use the right links

Links are a huge factor in SEO — without links, sites won’t get nearly as much traffic as they could. Now, there are two different types of links businesses should invest in: linking to other websites that have relevant information and getting links from other reputable sites. By linking to other sites, businesses can show consumers that they genuinely care about giving them the best information possible, and they can also build relationships with other brands. Search engines do look at the links on sites, so businesses should only link to trustworthy sites.

But businesses should also try to get other brands to link to their site — inbound links will put a business’s name and information out there for even more people to see. And when a highly reputable site links to a business, consumers are likely to visit their page. Having strong links both to and from other sites will help increase a business’s online presence.

Include varying types of media

While written content certainly plays a big role in SEO by including links, keywords, and giving consumers information they’re looking for, businesses should include other types of media on their sites, too. Including images, videos, and even audio can provide a more interesting experience for consumers — and can help with SEO efforts. Search engines see these varying types of media as a sign that a site is high-quality and can help with rankings.

When a site has more than just written information, users are more likely to have a better experience, retain more information, and visit the site again.

And, of course, working with an SEO digital marketing company, such as Link Graph at linkgraph.io, is one of the best ways to improve SEO results. Only companies in the digital marketing world know which tactics will work best for a specific business — so if you’re looking to improve your SEO, consider hiring an SEO company to break down your needs and wants to form an SEO plan that will give you real results.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

6 Diwali Gifts Which Will Make Your Loved Ones Say Oh-So Sweet

Diwali, a festival of joy and lights is so much more than just being a celebration. It is the occasion which makes you forget the bitterness of a relationship and pronounce love for each other once again! And to make the moment even sweeter, people mark it with a token of love that continuously reminds them of each other and their friendly gesture. Surely, this time too, you must be preparing gifts for everyone, may it be your near and dear once or someone with whom you think should bury the hatchet once and for all. The dilemma occurs when one has to pick unique gifts for everyone. At the time, it is not possible due to budget constraints and other times, you just don’t have enough time to shop. Well, still the show must go on and here we are enlisting a few wonderful gifts that you can gift to anyone and touch their heart with your sweet wave of newly formed friendship.

God Idols

Nothing could beat the blessing of Almighty and with a God Idol, you are showering them with just that. It symbolises a wish of growth, health and prosperity and this gift is appreciated by everyone, no matter what relationship you share with the person.

Chocolate Bouquet

This sweetilicious gift is hard to miss when presented in such an extravagant manner. This year, go a mile extra for your loved ones and instead of typical Diwali sweets, gift them a gorgeous bouquet of their favourite chocolates. They will be delighted with this surprise. If you are not aware where to find one, hop on to any reputed online gift portal today!

Dry Fruits

Who will not be elated with this delicious health bomb? An assortment of various dry fruits is a classic but also loved nonetheless. Not only the goodness of health in the dry fruits, but the attractive packaging also steals the heart in a single glance. Whomsoever you are gifting, you could never go wrong with a splendid box of dry fruits. The finest Diwali gift you could choose!

Aroma Candles

This year, let the fragrance of your friendship fill the aura of the festivity around. All you need to do is to gift aroma candles which can spread the sweet smell of love around the house. Anyone will feel glad to receive this gift and will definitely use it to decorate the place on the night of celebration.

Pooja Thali

Worshipping Laxmi Ganesh is not just a procedure, it is a feeling when it comes to Diwali celebration. You could be a part of everyone’s prayers too with a gift so auspicious that every family will love it from the core. An ostentatious pooja thali will do the trick. With this one, you could be praised as the best gift-giver too in the community.

Plant

Yes, this little factory of oxygen will signify the prayers of health and abundance for the family. According to Vastu Shastra, gifting a plant is considered felicitous and also induces love between two souls and it is considered a gift of life from one to another. Pick something that required minimal care and can be kept indoors to enhance the interiors as well.

To read more on topics like this, check out the online magazine category.

Tableau for Small Businesses in Chicago: A Guide

Technology is changing the way businesses function in an increasingly globalized society. From productivity and project management platforms to new ways of performing old tasks, the tech sector is having a positive impact on businesses in a variety of verticals. Still, just because tech is making companies’ lives easier, that doesn’t mean these new platforms can be rolled out without training. For example, cloud based call center software is inherently powerful, but requires an onboarding process to fully tap into its potential. The same can be said for the business intelligence and analytics platform, Tableau. Tableau has been adopted throughout Chicago, thanks to its utility for individuals, teams, and companies alike. If your business has just adopted Tableau as its analytics solution, you’ll likely want to find a class to provide Tableau training in Chicago. One of the leaders in Tableau training is Accelebrate, which brings insight and education to corporations throughout the city. Here’s what to expect from such a training session.

Get on-site training in Chicago

Accelebrate’s Tableau training is designed with both busy corporations and small businesses in mind. Their training has catered to businesses of all sizes and industries throughout Illinois, including Oak Park, Chicago, Bloomington, and Lake Forest. Some small businesses will be able to find time in their schedules to attend on-site training, while other companies may choose to learn more about Tableau through online courses and instruction. Accelebrate caters to both crowds, offering options to fit all schedules and mediums. For example, your company may choose a two-day introductory course if you’ve only recently adopted Tableau as your business intelligence platform. Conversely, if your company is just interested in learning some of the deeper functionalities of Tableau, it may make more sense to take a two-day advanced course to cover more complex tasks. Businesses interested in a comprehensive approach to the platform can combine the introductory and advanced courses for a four-day experience. Best of all, the team from Accelebrate comes to you.

Tableau is powerful, yet complex

Tableau has a host of features and products to offer small businesses throughout the Chicago area. Data management, server management, mobile applications, and embedded analytics are all possible with Tableau. In all of these arenas, Tableau’s focus remains on helping people better understand and visualize data. This has applications in a wide range of industries, including health care, education, IT, marketing, insurance, and even state and federal government. To interface with so many different industries, Tableau comes with some inherent complexity. However, just because a piece of software is complex, that doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be used. In actuality, Tableau’s complexity is a result of its power. From structuring and laying out data in Tableau Prep to harnessing R statistical programming techniques to power visualizations, there is a lot to learn about Tableau. With the right training, your business will be able to get up to speed in no time at all.

Tableau has wide-ranging applications for industries throughout Chicago. If your business deals with data, it can use Tableau. From providing important context to funders to helping inform future marketing campaigns, the benefits of Tableau are far-reaching and cross-departmental. Tableau can help usher in new levels of productivity and collaboration within your business, as long as you know how to properly use the software platform. If your company is at first overwhelmed by the options and features offered by this software, don’t worry. With on-site training in your workplace from Accelebrate, your small business will be ready to take its data operations to the next level.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

Bharat Bhise HNA – Why Cybersecurity Should be Important To Your Business

Every company big or small must be aware of what threats exist to their business and how to avoid them, including the threat of crime. If we own a store then we ensure that it is locked down, alarmed and has cameras, in order to ward of thieves. This is something which is generally accepted but something which is not focused on anywhere near enough is cybersecurity. My friend Bharat Bhise HNA has been working in this industry all of his career and the tales he tells me about those who have been attacked are starting. People like Bharat understand the importance of cybersecurity which is why he works with so many businesses on this topic, and if you have a business here is why you should listen to people like him.

Reputation

A good reputation can take many years to earn, and it can all disappear in a heartbeat, especially if there is a dat breach in your company. Businesses store huge amounts of data on their computer systems including private customer and employee data which must not fall into the wrong hands. If a customer has trusted your business with their personal information they expect you to take care of it, failure to do so will destroy your reputation and make it very difficult for you to bounce back.

Cost

Most business owners scrutinize every cent which is spent for the business, and rightfully so, which is why a cyberattack is not something which you want to happen to you. Beyond the lost sales and tarnished reputation which you can count on, you will also incur huge costs as a result of the breach. Reparation of hardware and software, beefing up cybersecurity measures, not to mention lost time and sales, a cyberattack is a costly affair indeed. Small businesses need to understand this too, especially given that the costs of an attack could cause massive damage to the company.

Regulations

Slowly but surely we are seeing much tighter regulations when it comes to a company’s requirements around cybersecurity. The EU have recently passed a bill which puts great pressure on businesses to ensure that they have a strong level of cybersecurity, in order to best protect the personal and private information of their staff and clients. This is just the beginning of tighter regulations around this threat, and in the future we will definitely see it become mandatory for businesses to offer a certain level of cybersecurity to their customers.

It Happens

Hacking isn’t some fantasy idea of nerdy boys in their room trying to get into the NASA database, these threats are very real and they happen on a daily basis. Hackers are incredibly sophisticated and they will target just about any type of business. Sometimes they’ll attack to send a message, other times it may be to steal information, either way you need to understand that it does happen and it most certainly could happen to you and your business.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

4 Factors to Consider Before Tackling a Home Improvement Project

 

It’s easy to see the appeal of home improvement for many homeowners. After all, it presents us with the opportunity to make changes that will increase the charm, comfort and value of our properties. However, careful thought and consideration are necessary before tackling any of these projects since they can just as quickly have the opposite of the intended effect. So to ensure that you achieve the desired results of your home makeover, here are a few factors that you should consider.

Make sure you have adequate funds for the project

There’s no denying that our budget plays a critical role when it comes to home improvement projects. After all, the financial resources allocated will ultimately determine what you can achieve. But don’t just rely on the estimates. Make sure that you have a financial cushion on top of the money that you can afford to spend on your home makeover. In this way, you will have peace of mind that you’ll be much more prepared to deal with any potential issues that may arise and prevent expensive and costly delays as a result.

Research the project that you plan to tackle

Before you start a home improvement project, it’s a general rule of thumb to research it first. After all, not all changes and upgrades can benefit a home. In actuality, some might even be detrimental to the comfort and look as well as the value of the property. And by investing time in research, you will avoid spending on projects that won’t yield the desired results. And in turn, save money in the process.

Not all tasks can be achieved on our own

In the interest of keeping expenditure low, a lot of homeowners will often opt for a DIY approach rather than hire professionals. And while it can certainly reduce labor costs, it’s imperative to understand that not all tasks can be achieved on our own. So before you decide to tackle the job yourself, make sure that it doesn’t require the expertise of a specialist. In this way, you will avoid making any mistakes that will be too expensive to rectify.

Always compare prices before making any financial commitments

One of the reasons why home improvement can be an expensive proposition is that many of us tend to buy on impulse. Instead, it’s a much more economical approach to compare prices before making any financial commitments. Whether it’s the Ashley North Shore furniture that you’ve always wanted or materials and equipment for your remodeling project, time spent exploring every avenue will allow you to keep expenditure at a minimum.

Regardless of scope and scale, it’s easy for a home improvement project to take up more time and money than we’re willing to spend. But by carefully considering the factors listed above, not only are you likely to achieve the results but you’ll also stay well within your allotted budget.

To read more on topics like this, check out the home & garden category.

Interdependence PR – What to Look For During a Meeting With a PR Firm

Two years ago my business took the plunge and made the decision to get a great PR firm on board to help us to reach our business goals. After many meetings we eventually settled on the amazing team at Interdependence PR, who have given our business a new lease of life since they have come on board. Before we got to this brilliant team however we had to sit through so many meetings as we were trying to find the very best which met our needs. As such we have learned exactly what to look out for during a meeting with a PR firm and what to focus on during such a meeting. If you are looking for a PR firm then here is what you should be looking to focus on during the meeting.

Quality of Service

It is amazing how many of those companies who we met with had poor customer service skills and this was a real red flag early on in many meetings. I don’t know the reason behind this but it is important to remember that they are operating in a service industry and as such you should expect to receive a warm welcome and a high level of service. If you don’t feel this then it should set off alarm bells about what else the company may shirk on.

Market Knowledge

A public relations firm which is at the top of their game in the tech industry is not going to be able to give the same quality of results if they are operating in finance or manufacturing. You need a public relations company which knows your market and which understands how that market works and how to speak to those within it. Each market is very different and when it comes to the things that the PR company is going to be doing for you, it is even more important that they grasp it.

Transparency

An experience which we had many times was this attitude of ‘don’t worry we’ll take care of it’ when it came to understanding how and on what the company were going to spend our money. You deserve to have absolute transparency from a PR firm and given that it is your cash, you also need to know where it is going to go. The companies I met with may well have handled their business but as a paying customer I had the right to know what their strategy was to achieve the goals that we were aiming for. If they cannot be transparent then it gives off an air that they don’t really know what they are going to do just yet, but they’ll figure it out. This of course is not what a business wants to hear when they are trying to find a service who will be acting as their mouthpiece.

From my experience these were the key things which I learned to focus on when meeting with a PR firm.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

Richard Soper MD – The Human Behind the Doctor’s Coat

Doctors are rightfully some of the most respected people within our community but we often don’t see the real person behind the doctor’s coat. My neighbor Richard Soper MD is someone who I know very well and we have spent many late nights talking about deep stuff in relation to what it is like to be a doctor. Through this friendship with Richard I have learned just how tough this life is and why they deserve all of our respect and support. Here are just a few examples of the struggles which doctors face in their own lives.

Sacrifice

There is a reason why being a doctor is one of the worst professions when it comes to divorce rates as they have to make a hell of a lot of sacrifice to do this job. The long hours that they work mean that they very often have to cancel appointments, engagements and events. This is fine when it comes to a friend, they will generally understand and reschedule, when it happens in a marriage however, over and over again, things can easily get very tense. Doctors sacrifice time with their loved ones and their families which they can never get back, just so that they can improve the lives of others.

Heartbreak

It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that doctors treat the body of their patients in the same way that a mechanic would treat a car, or that they somehow get ‘used’ to death and tragedy. This is not the case at all and whilst doctors do have much thicker skin than you or I , they still do carry around a burden of emotion. I have spoken to Richard many times after those days where things get too much and it is tough to see. How many jobs involve death, or telling someone that their loved one has passed on? It is inevitable that these emotions stay with nurses and doctors and that eventually they are going to get the better of them. After all they are only human and we would all do well to remember that.

Daily Checkups

A slight annoyance which many doctors have, and I have been guilty of this before with Richard, is that as soon as someone finds out that you are a doctor they want you to quickly check on something which has been concerning them. Richard says that when he goes to family parties now he practically has to set up a consultation room in the kitchen as they all come out of the woodwork with their ailments and their complaints. Richard says that he doesn’t mind when it is family but he has even had strangers at parties asking for some medical attention, there is a line!

This is the side which we don’t see when it comes to doctors but it is a human element of who they are that we all must bear in mind.

To read more on topics like this, check out the health category.

Lyoness – Easy Ways To Save Money Each Month

Would you like to save a little bit of extra money each month but you are not sure how to go about it? If so then this is a post just for you as to how you can find ways to squeeze a little more from your pay packet each month. We are not talking about additional income here although that would obviously help matters, but rather ways in which you can make your existing income go that little but further. If this sounds like something which you are interested in then read on and get saving.

Monthly Bills

Monthly bills are not as steadfast as you may think and there can often be some wiggle room which can help you save. The first place to start is with bills like energy and broadband, take a look online and see if you can find a better deal than the one which you are already on. If you do find a cheaper deal then speak with your existing provider to see if they will match it, something which they will try and do as they don’t want to lose customers to their competitors. If your existing provider won’t match the offer, switch to the competition and start saving.

Weekly Shop

There are many ways in which you can save on your weekly food shop, without having to buy poorer quality products. One great way is to use a cashback site such as Lyoness, which can offer you mammoth savings on products which you are buying each week. Cashback is like saving but you only get that saving once you have bought the product, Buy the product which is on offer, show proof of purchase and a percentage of your open back in cold, hard cash.

Another way to save on your weekly shop is to stick to a list and avoid additional purchases which you don’t need, you can also check out bags for the best offers. Some people dedicate themselves to helping people save money and they will break down where the best savings are, and what you need to do to get them. The hacks and tips which are shared on these blogs can really help you to save a lot of money on your weekly shop, without having to change the products which you want.

Get Appy

One of the most dangerous things when it comes to our spending is those frivolous spends which we make each day at work or when we are out and about. That sandwich, that coffee, that bag of chips, it all adds up. In order to stop this spending you need to see how it is happening which is why you should download a spending tracker app. At the end of the month you can review everything you have spent and you’ll find that you are surprised by just how much those little purchases add up. Learn where you spend and then you can stop it.

Make your wage go a little further with these tips.

To read more on topics like this, check out the budget category

Bogoljub Karic – Best Albums for a Road Trip

Road trips give you a great opportunity to listen to a music album in its entirety. This is something which many people no longer do, preferring instead to put playlists together and listen to a number of songs from different artists. There is nothing wrong with this of course but having the time on your hands to allow yourself to go on the journey which the artists has intended when you listen to their albums is worth taking advantage of. My buddy Bogoljub Karic and I have spent hours on the road listening to albums and these are our favorite pieces to listen to on a long journey.

Fleetwood Mac – Rumors

Fleetwood Mac make such easy listening music and this offering from them is their most famous album by a long stretch. Rumors is filled with beautiful love songs break-up anthems and optimistic messages, all packaged together in perfect harmony. If you want a sing-a-long album then this is it, belt out tunes along with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham as you tear up the open road.

Paul Simon – Graceland

Graceland should be an essential part of any road trip, a beautifully crafted album which has a run time of over an hour, perfect to fill in the time. The album ranges in styles from songs you can sing to like You Can Call Me Al and The Boy in the Bubble, as well as some easy listening tracks which feature African musicians Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Everyone loves Paul Simon and this is the album which helped him to step away from the shadow of his Simon & Garfunkel days, a true classic.

Beatles – Number 1s

The Beatles have set the bar so high and become so ubiquitous that many people no longer listen to the band with regularity, because they already know the hits inside out. This makes some sense but when you are on the road you need some uplifting, well written and banging hits to sing to and to keep you entertained. You could choose just about Beatles album to accompany you on your road trip but I have always found that the best choice is their Number 1s album, featuring all 26 of the Fab Four’s number 1 hits.

AC/DC – Back in Black

When you’ve been on the road for a long time and you need something to lift you out of your seat and raise spirits, you need some heavy rock and roll. In moments like these there is only one album which you need in your car and that is Back in Black by AC/DC. This is an album with stomping rock anthems, awesome guitar solos, all brought together by the screaming vocals of Brian Johnson. Just when things are starting to lull, get this monster rock album on, turn it up to 11 and have yourself an hour of pure, unadulterated fun.

What are your favorite albums to listen to on a road trip?

Join the discussion on this topic with Piccolo Universe by visiting our contact page.

Reputation Management Consultant Reviews – The Power of a Positive Reputation For Your Business

Does your business have a great online reputation? Are you aware of what kind reputation which it does have? Most people have no idea what their company’s online reputation looks like and whether or not you operate online, it is absolutely vital that your online reputation is positive. It is in fact for this reason that reputation management companies exist and you only need to look at the reputation management consultant reviews to see the benefit which they can have on a business. If you aren’t sure whether or not this is a service which you think that you could benefit from, here are just a few reasons why a positive online reputation is so important.

Organic Search

Organic search is quickly becoming the number one way in which people are looking for business, products and services. Let’s imagine that someone is looking for a local hardware store, they search for ‘local hardware store in X location’ and they find your business. Once they have found you they are likely to have a quick look to see what people have said about your company and if they find bad information or negative reviews about your company then they are not going to come through your door. You need to ensure that people are reading only great things about our business in order to boost sales.

Sharing

Social media can be a wonderful tool to use for your business and if you get it right then you will find that people are willing to come and spend money with you because of the positivity that is being whipped up about the business. Unfortunately however social media is very much a double-edged sword which means that negative information can also spread like wildfire. Which would you prefer, people going crazy with positivity or people spreading the word on how poor your business is? We think we know which one you might say.

Competition

If you are not conscious of what your online reputation is then you are leaving yourself wide open to having your reputation tarnished by the competition. It can be easy for them to leave false reviews on sites like Yelp and Google, they could even write negative blog posts about you and your business, and whilst it will all be false nobody will be any the wiser and this will only have a negative impact on your business. If however you are using a reputation management team then you will find that this kind of activity can be very quickly managed for minimal impact, and it can also be prevented simply because your competition will know that you are mindful of what is being said online. Don’t leave yourself open to these kind of attacks.

If you want your business to do well then you must ensure that your online reputation is glowing, failure to do so could cause you massive problems.

To read more on topics like this, check out the budget category