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As famously stated by Tom Cruise in the film Top Gun, “I feel the need… the need for speed.” However, it is not solely fighter pilots who yearn for swiftness; website users also have similar expectations. 

In today’s fast-paced digital world, visitors demand swift loading times from websites, and failure to meet these expectations may result in a loss of potential consumers. Thus, the optimization of page speed is of paramount importance for WordPress websites. Besides enhancing user experience, it can improve search engine rankings and increase conversion rates.

This article will cover various approaches to optimize your WordPress site for loading speed to maintain visitor engagement, foster recurring traffic, and increase business bottom-line revenue.

The importance of page load speed on mobile phones cannot be overstated in today’s digital landscape, with a growing number of internet users accessing websites on their mobile devices. According to StatCounter Global Stats, as of February 2023, the global ratio of internet users accessing the trend towards mobile usage has been increasing over the years and is expected to continue in the future, highlighting the importance of ensuring websites are optimized for mobile devices.

StatCounter Global Stats For Feb 2024

Improving the page speed scores of mobile devices on Google’s search engine results page can be considered a challenging task. It necessitates optimizing various factors, including reducing server response time, minimizing the blocking of resources during rendering, and optimizing the CSS and JavaScript code. However, it is essential to remember that achieving a perfect page speed score may not always be necessary or feasible, as it may come at the expense of the user experience or certain functionalities. And development time!

Nevertheless, numerous strategies can be implemented to enhance the PageSpeed scores of mobile devices. Some of the most effective methods include:

Implementing these methods will aid in decreasing the load time for users located not only in your local market but across the world.

The case study – Vitality Health Foods

As a case study, we will discuss how we optimized a site for one of our clients for mobile. This site was built using Elementor and optimized for performance using WP Rocket, the most famous page speed optimization and some manual fixes in Elementor and Apache web server settings.

Page Speed Insights Case Study For Vitality Health Foods By Boost2Business Digital Marketing

Page Speed Insights - Boost2Business

What We Did to Improve Website Speed

We will individually discuss all the steps taken to improve the PageSpeed scores using WP Rocket.

1. Cache

It is observed that enabling the option “Enable caching for mobile devices” and its sub-option of “Separate cache files for mobile devices” helps improve mobile device scores.
Enable caching for mobile devices Case study by Boost2Business Digital Marketing Agency In Edmonton

2. File Optimization (Optimize CSS and JS)


Optimizing CSS and JS Case Study

 

3. JS Optimization Options


JS Optimization Options Boost2Business

    • Minify JavaScript files: Enable, always. Except in very rare cases if it breaks something.
    • Combine JavaScript files: Always opt to disable the consolidation of JavaScript files, as it is unnecessary when using HTTP/2, and in fact, it will slightly impede the download speed.
    • Exclude JavaScript files: To avoid disabling minification for all files, exclude JavaScript files.
    • Delayed loading of JavaScript: Always enable the delayed loading of JavaScript. This option, if enabled, helps reduce the load time.
    • Delay execution of JavaScript: Make sure to enable the delayed execution of JavaScript, which is WP Rockets’ most crucial feature for performance.

4. Media

Enable all options in the media tab. A brief description of each option follows.

    1. LazyLoad: enable all options, i.e. for images, iframes, and videos, also check the “Replace Youtube iframe with preview image” option.
    2. Consider excluding certain images, classes, or elements from lazy loading if their lazy loading causes a CLS issue. For example, in this case, the site logo has been excluded from the lazy loading because the logo wasn’t there when Google’s PageSpeed looked for “First Contentful Paint” and the same is true for the swiper slider elements.
    3. Image Dimensions: check the “Add missing image dimensions” option, as it helps reduce the CLS issue.

5. Preload

Enable all checkboxes in the “Preload Cache” and “Preload Links” sections.

In the “Prefetch DNS Requests” section, add the URLs of third-party sites like Google Tag Manager, Google Analytics and Google Maps, etc., to reduce the DNS lookups at the time of page load.


In the “Preload Font” section, add the URL path of the typescript and icon fonts. Please note that this box only accepts the site path i.e. fonts locally hosted on the same site. If you are loading fonts from CDN or using Google Fonts manually, you must add “display=swap” at the end of the font URL.

 

<link rel=”stylesheet” href=”https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Roboto&display=swap”>

 

6. Content Delivery Network (CDN)

Consider using a CDN if your site has one or more of the following scenarios:

    1. Global audience: If your website has a global audience, using a CDN can help to reduce the latency experienced by users in different regions, improving the user experience.
    2. High traffic volumes: If your website experiences high traffic volumes, using a CDN can help to offload traffic from your origin server, reducing the risk of server overload and downtime.
    3. Large or numerous files: If your website serves large files, such as videos or high-resolution images, using a CDN can help to reduce the load time for those files, improving website performance.
    4. E-commerce websites: If your website is an e-commerce site, using a CDN can help to improve the user experience and increase conversion rates by providing faster page load times and reducing cart abandonment.
    5. Security: If your website requires additional security features, such as DDoS protection or SSL encryption, many CDNs offer these features as part of their service.

Apart from WP Rocket settings, you may have to make some additional changes manually to increase the PageSpeed scores for your site. For example, if you get “Expiry Headers” and “GZip Compression missing” warnings, then there is a possibility that specific modules are not enabled in your Apache server, so please make sure that the required modules are enabled.

The Results of Our Optimizations

Applying page optimization fixes using WP Rocket to the mobile website of https://vitalityhealthfoods.ca/ has yielded impressive results. Google’s Search Console Insights report indicates that 96.6% of the website’s URLs now fall under the “Good” user experience category. 

Furthermore, the experience signals, namely core web vitals, mobile usability, and HTTPS, have been reported as “Good.” This significant improvement in webpage speed and performance can profoundly impact the user experience and the website’s overall success. By optimizing webpage speed, https://vitalityhealthfoods.ca/ has not only improved its core web vitals scores but also enhanced the mobile-friendliness and security of its website. 

These results demonstrate the critical importance of webpage speed optimization and the effectiveness of employing tools such as WP Rocket to achieve optimal page speed and performance.

In conclusion

Optimizing webpage speed has emerged as a crucial factor in enhancing user experience, improving search engine visibility, and ultimately driving business growth in the digital age. With the ever-increasing demand for quick and seamless access to information, slow-loading websites have become a significant obstacle to online success. 

The recent emphasis on core web vitals scores by Google has further underlined the importance of webpage speed optimization in online marketing strategies. Therefore, website owners and developers must invest in tools and techniques that can help enhance page load times, such as image optimization, compression, and caching. By prioritizing webpage speed optimization, website owners can not only boost user engagement and satisfaction but also potentially increase conversions and revenue. Thus, it is imperative to continue research and development in this field and explore new ways to optimize webpage speed to meet the evolving needs of internet users.

Boost2Business offers a comprehensive page optimization package to assist website owners in achieving optimal page speed and enhancing their online presence. The team of experienced professionals at Boost2Business specializes in optimizing webpage speed and performance and can work with website owners to identify key areas of improvement and implement effective solutions. 

Using our page optimization processes and tool recommendations, customers can expect to achieve faster page load times, improve user experience and engagement, and increase search engine visibility. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information about Boost2Business’s page optimization package.

Want to boost your business with a unique, yet simple, strategy? Try QR codes on business cards!

Business cards are important for building new connections and keeping in touch with current contacts. While a standard business card allows you to share your contact details with potential and current clients, a business card with a QR code takes networking to a whole new level.

By adding a QR (Quick Response) code to your business cards, you’ll stand out among your peers. Not to mention, QR codes make sharing your info and other details about you and your business faster and easier than ever before.

Let’s take a look at how QR codes on business cards can boost your business. Plus, we’ll share some of the best ways to use them to make a big impact!

What is a QR business card?
Why put a QR code on a business card?
How do businesses use QR codes?
How do I create a QR code for a digital business card?

What is a QR business card?

A QR business card is a traditional business card that contains a QR code.

A QR, or Quick Response, code is a type of barcode that stores information. QR codes can contain various types of data (e.g. links, contact info, coupons, etc.), making them extremely useful for marketing purposes. In fact, expert Edmonton marketing services companies, like Boost2Business, often witness amazing engagement data when QR codes are used.

A QR code can be easily scanned using a smartphone camera (just point the camera at the code – no need for an app). This makes it quick and easy for people to learn more about you and your business.

Companies like CueContact make it simple to create, track, and even update virtual contact QR codes and smart business cards, for optimal performance and feedback.

Why put QR codes on business cards?

There are many benefits to putting a QR code on your business card. In addition to helping you stand out, using QR codes is a great way to spark interest and inspire people to save your details and remember your name.

Here are some of the top reasons to use QR codes on business cards.

Easy to use

With the help of QR codes, your contact information, samples of your work, and other details about you and your business can be accessed at the touch of a button. Rather than manually entering your info into their device, users can simply scan the code and save your details. This makes learning more about you and connecting with you faster and easier than with a standard business card.

Creativity

The ways in which you can use QR codes on business cards is endless. For example, you could add a social media QR, link to samples of your work or a PDF of your resume, or even create a QR that opens up a navigation tool like Google Maps – the more creative you can be the better! In addition to being creative with what information is embedded in your QR, you can also be creative with how the code looks. When creating your QR, you can change the colours, shape, and more to make it stand out!

Want to get really creative? Consider using a dynamic QR to share different information all the time. To learn more about dynamic QR codes, and when to use dynamic vs static QR codes, check out this article – QR Codes: Dynamic vs Static.

Memorable impressions

Using QR codes on business cards can make for a very memorable experience. As mentioned above, the more creative you can be when it comes to QR codes the better! Not only will people be intrigued to learn more, but it’s likely that your card will also be a topic of conversation. This helps you stay top-of-mind with your current and potential clients.

Ability to update data in real-time

When you use QR codes on business cards, you’ll have the ability to update information at any time! If your contact info changes, simply update the information at the link the QR code points to.

Better yet, if you use a dynamic QR code, you’ll be able to update the link itself. Not only does this allow you to change the information provided, but it also offers the ability to change the type of content the code links to. This means that you can provide different and creative content at any time, without ever having to pass out new business cards.

How to use QR codes on business cards to boost your business

When using QR codes on your business cards, there are a few tips you should keep in mind to help enhance the user experience. Doing so will result in more scans, and, therefore, more people connecting with you.

Be sure to implement these strategies to help your QR code stand out, enhance your brand, and create a code that is easy to use:

Creative ways to use QR codes on business cards

Looking for some creative ways to boost your business with the help of QR codes on business cards? Look no further!

Here are some of our top ideas:

1. Contact info

Creating and using a QR code that instantly provides your contact info can be very beneficial. A virtual business card like this allows people to easily scan your card and save your contact details directly to their device.

2. SMS or email message

By setting up a draft email or text message that it accessed when scanning your QR, users will be more likely to reach out, as doing so is quick and simple.

3. Google Maps directions

Want your customer to be able to easily find you? Create a QR code that links directly to Maps directions. With just the click of a button, they’ll know exactly how to find you.

4. Incentives and special offers

Want to promote your business and increase the number of scans you receive? Use a QR code on your business card that links to up-to-date coupons, giveaways, or special offers. This will entice people to engage with your business card regularly, helping to keep you top-of-mind.

5. Videos

By linking your QR code to a video, you can offer your contacts a personal greeting or show off a product or service. Sharing your message in this format is engaging and can be especially useful if you have an important personal story to tell.

6. Resume or portfolio

By using a QR code that links to your resume or portfolio, potential clients and employers can quickly and easily access your previous work. This is especially useful if you’re taking your business cards to trade shows or job fairs. Sharing this information in a condensed and engaging format is novel and will definitely help you stand out!

7. Product reviews

Clients and customers value social proof. Therefore, providing a QR code on your business card that links to reviews and feedback about your product or service can help boost your business.

How do I create a QR code for a digital business card?

Using an online QR code builder is the fastest and easiest way to create a QR code for a digital business card.

There are many great QR code generators available, however, CueContact offers simplicity and features beyond that of many other popular generators. This is why it’s our top pick for creating smart business cards.

Creating QR codes on business cards with the help of CueContact

With the help of CueContact, creating and using QR codes on business cards is easy!

Here’s how you can get started.

  1. Create Your Account at CueContact
  2. Select Create New QR Code
  3. Choose what type of data you would like embedded in the code (e.g. link, text message, email, SMS, event, etc.)
  4. Add your contact or other details
  5. Utilize the easy-to-use styling tools. This will allow you to create a unique and branded QR code.
  6. Download the code and add it to your business card

It’s that easy! In a matter of minutes, you’ll have a unique QR code that you can use to easily connect with current and potential clients.

In your CueContact account, you can also create dynamic QR codes for use on your business card. With this type of QR, you can change your link at any time to ensure that your contacts always have the most up-to-date info. Plus, CueContact offers advanced real-time analytics so you can track your QR codes and how they’re being used!

Think QR codes are a thing of the past? Think again!

QR, or Quick Response, codes have made a huge comeback recently. This is thanks to their ease of use and, in part, due to the fact that they are a no-contact medium for exchanging information – the perfect solution for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

With the ability to scan a code just by pointing your phone’s camera at it (that’s right – QR codes no longer require an app to be scanned!), QR codes are a great addition to marketing material, point of purchase (POP) material, business cards, and more. In fact, if you’re creative enough, the uses are endless.

If you’re thinking about creating QR codes for your business, there are a few important things you should know before you begin.

What is the difference between a static and dynamic QR code?
Why use a dynamic QR code?
Why use a static QR code?
When to use a dynamic vs static QR

Static vs Dynamic QR Codes

A static QR code contains information that cannot be changed. For example, a static QR code may link to a website URL. Once the QR is created the destination URL cannot be altered. On the other hand, dynamic QR codes can be edited by the developer, even after they’ve been created. That is, if the creator decides they would like to link the code to a new destination URL, they can make this change in the backend and the QR link will be automatically updated. 

Benefits of Dynamic QR Codes

Dynamic QR codes have several benefits. In many cases, they can be much more useful and convenient than static QR codes.

Flexibility

The most obvious benefit of using a dynamic QR code over a static one is that you can change the code’s final URL destination. As well, some advanced QR code tools, like CueContact, let you go a step further. Rather than the ability to only update the link to which the QR code is connected, CueContact also allows creators to change the main action of the code. For instance, if you originally created a QR that opens a URL, you could change this action so that the updated code links to a text message or a direct PDF download.

This capability offers flexibility for developers who expect to change their content regularly or who intend to use QR codes on permanent materials like signs and business cards. Above all, advanced QR codes from CueContact offer an immediate remedy to changing your goals and direction.

If content needs to be updated, or you change your mind about the purpose of your QR code, flexible, dynamic QR codes prevent:

Reduction of Block Density

The more information embedded in a QR code, the more complex the code will be. However, when it comes to using QR codes on business materials, the simpler and less dense the QR the better.

Dense vs “Loose” QR Codes

A QR code with a long URL embedded in it will be very dense. On the other hand, if the URL is shortened, the code will appear much less dense. 

Take the following QR codes, for example:

As you can see, the QR on the left is much denser than the one on the right. This is because it has a much longer URL embedded in it. 

The QR code on the left contains the URL of a Google Earth location. The URL is long and complicated, meaning the QR code must be also. 

https://earth.google.com/web/@84.10921476,93.01906702,-4723.66725159a,6988214.96066094d,35y,-11.01041817h,0.99716057t,-0r/data=Ck0aSxJFCiUweDRmOTM0NGRhOTUxNWI5NTE6MHg0NTE4ZDBjNGQ1YzY4ODc2GTWglP__f1ZAIQAAAAAA4GDAKgpOb3J0aCBQb2xlGAEgAQ

The QR code on the right contains a link to the CueContact website. This straightforward website URL is short and simple, resulting in a much less dense QR code.

https://cuecontact.com/

Why Does QR Code Density Matter?

There are several reasons why a less dense QR code is ideal.

How Dynamic QR Codes Solve the Density Problem

If you’re using a static QR and you want to include tracking capabilities, you’ll end up with a long link and therefore a very dense QR code. As mentioned, this is not ideal. However, by using a dynamic code, you can point to the same complex URL and select the least dense option. As a result, you will benefit from the flexibility of a “loose” QR without losing the ability to track important usage information.

Tracking

Static QR codes make tracking difficult. If you have Google Analytics set up on the property that you’re linking the QR to, then you can add tracking parameters to your QR. However, this isn’t very efficient, as you’ll need to set up custom metrics for each code. When it comes to other types of QR codes (i.e. those that don’t link to a URL – text, phone, etc.), you won’t be able to track the code at all.

Dynamic QR codes, on the other hand, can be used to track various parameters including:

Also, with tools like CueContact, you can receive notifications when a new scan of your QR code has been completed. 

Benefits of Static QR Codes

Although dynamic QR codes offer a lot more flexibility, static QR codes also provide benefits that make them useful in some circumstances.

Branding

The ability to brand a static QR code is one of the most appealing factors of using a static code.

Dynamic QR codes redirect from the QR code provider’s domain/subdomain to the final destination. Therefore, when someone scans your code using their phone’s camera, they will see the QR code provider’s domain name pop up, rather than your business’s domain. Static codes, however, link directly to the final URL. Therefore, when a user scans the code, they will see your business URL immediately. This allows for branding and helps to build trust, resulting in an increased number of completed scans.

Here, you can see that the dynamic code shows the URL of the QR code generator in the popup, rather than the URL of the final destination. This is because the user will be routed through the QR code generator’s site then redirected to the final URL. This can be confusing to users and may result in a lack of trust. In some cases, this might even prevent the user from opening the link altogether, meaning a missed interaction with a potential client or customer.

A Solution from CueContact

Dynamic QR codes offer many valuable benefits over static codes. Therefore, CueContact has developed a solution to this branding issue. 

With a CueContact Enterprise level account, users can set up dynamic QR codes that are branded. As a result, you benefit from all the advantages of a dynamic code and your company domain appears whenever your QR is scanned. CueContact does this by setting up and hosting a subdomain for your business. This capability is included on accounts with 50+ Vcard seats.

Speed 

In some situations, static QR codes will be faster than dynamic codes.

For instance, when using a QR code for actions other than opening a URL (e.g. text messaging), a static QR will be faster. This is because, with a static QR, the information is stored directly in the code. Therefore, it can trigger actions instantly on your device. With a dynamic QR, a call must be made to the server to retrieve the information. It is this response time to the server that makes a dynamic code slower.

User Experience 

When using a QR code to do anything other than open a URL, static codes offer a better user experience.

Why?

With a static code, the user simply scans the QR and is instantly directed to the intended action. For example, a static QR can open a pre-composed text message directly when scanned. This action is fast, intuitive and novel. With a dynamic QR code, however, a link is first opened and then the user is redirected to the text message. In terms of user experience, this may not appear as fluid or suave.

Unfortunately, this enhanced user experience is at the expense of collecting tracking data. Therefore, it’s important to decide what you want from a QR code before you determine which type of code to use.

When to Use a Dynamic vs Static QR Code

Both static and dynamic QR codes are a great way to present content to consumers. Information can be delivered in a simple way, without the need for physical interaction. This is especially helpful when social distancing is a priority. 

But, when should you use a dynamic QR code instead of a static QR?

Well, this largely depends on how you intend to use the QR code and what capabilities you’re looking for.

If you just want a simple and captivating way for your customers to interact with your business, then a static QR code may be all that you need. However, if you intend to put QR codes on printed materials like signs, business cards, menus, packaging or other physical items that are costly to reproduce, you might consider a dynamic QR. 

Using a dynamic QR code will alleviate a lot of stress when it comes to selecting the right action or landing page for your QR. Dynamic codes also leave room for error, as information can be changed and updated. This is especially helpful if you are using Vcards, as contact information may change from time to time.  

Finally, one of the most common reasons to use a dynamic code over a static one is the ability to integrate tracking metrics. This can help you gather valuable information for your business. It can help you determine who is viewing your marketing materials and using your QR codes, as well as where and when they are doing so. Not only does this establish the ROI of the QR code, but it can also be very informative for future strategies and marketing campaigns.

Why Use QR Codes for Your Business?

QR codes are an extremely valuable business tool. Marketing teams and salespeople can reach many potential customers using a single QR, for much less than it would cost to send out the same number of emails or text messages. And, with advanced tracking capabilities, dynamic QR codes can be used to ensure that marketing campaigns and sales material are effective.

Take Your Business Cards to the Next Level with CueContact

Looking to elevate your business cards? CueContact provides options for teams of all sizes. 

Quickly and easily create a QR code with all of your contact details. Get a new phone number? No problem. Simply change your number in your account and the information on your QR will be automatically updated – no need to print new business cards. Best of all, receive valuable tracking information right in your personal dashboard. View when, where and how many people have scanned your card for valuable insight into your current customers and future prospects.

Tested Email Marketing Emoji to use for subject line click through rate improvements.

To use the one you like just highlight, copy and paste into your subject line. Note that certain email clients will display emoji characters slightly differently and some not at all. These symbols have been tested to work though.

There are many other emoji that you can try to use. If you have a favorite that boosts your open rate we would love to know.

 

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A calendar serves as a powerful tool that keeps one’s schedules organised at one place which allows one to manage well, worry less and achieve the most. Google calendar remains one of the most impressive and modern online apps to improve one’s time management. An organised man, is definitely a successful man. And yes success does come handy, with your Google calendar which keeps you focused on efficient work management. If you are anything like me, using your calendar is an essential part of staying organized and on time for life.

Let’s just not use it, start getting to use it to the fullest with these basic yet important to know features:

To-do list, in your inbox:

If you are the kind that refreshes their inbox at the rate they blink their eye, then have your everyday schedules delivered straight to your inbox via e-mail.

  1. To set it up, find the gear icon on the home screen of the calendar, click and find settings which is to be followed by clicking the calendars tab at the top of the screen.
  2.  Upon finding the highlighted link “Reminders and notifications” next to the calendar you want, click on it.
  3. The following page will enable you to see an option labelled as “Daily Agenda”, at the bottom and clicking the checkbox alongside would enable you to receive a list of your daily appointments, everyday.

SMS on-the go:

The charm of the internet lets you have your alerts from the Google Calendar reach you via text message too. IFTTT (If this Then That) is a tiny yet mighty service that allows you to connect various internet and mobile service together. Explore this trick, sign up for IFTTT and enable the Calendar SMS recipe. This recipe is a combination of 2 channels, using a “Trigger” and an “Action”. They are like set of codes that decide which trigger will bring out the actions.

sms-on-the-go

 

If anything happens on one channel, an action will be triggered. Go for it and stay connected.

Offline Access:

Don’t let the connectivity issues come in your way of accomplishing your tasks. Your internet wants to take a break? Do not be worried. You won’t have to miss on your important schedules. From an elevator or a no Wi-Fi zone, have the convenience to access your calendar at all times.

  1. While working on your google chrome browser, being online open Google Calendar.
  2. Install the Google Calendar extension for your chrome from the Web store
  3. select the Offline option upon clicking at the gear icon.
  4. In order to confirm your settings, open Google Calendar, followed by settings. Look for a green circle with checked mark. It signifies that all your schedules are now accessible always, even in an offline mode.

Fingers-free:

microphone

 

Google Voice Search is a brilliant feature offered by all Google Services. Calendar, tap on the microphone icon displayed on your device’s screen. Say something, say anything and book your appointment reminder. Rest your fingers and let your voice commands do the work.

 

 

 

Fun Times:

Google Calendars do make your work life easy but no-one said who can’t employ them for your leisure. A movie junkie? Import the movie release schedule to your google calendar. Sports fan? Simply click on the sports option in the Interesting Calendars option, select your favorite game, select your favorite team and it will import the game schedule for your team into your very own Calendar.

interesting-calendar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s time to move on from the big yawn days to being hooked to our calendars. Follow Boost2Business for some of the legendary tips exploring exclusive features google calendar has to offer to increase your productivity.

Let us know what you think of these and many more exciting ones that you discover while exploring this amazing app. Share your feedback and leave your thoughts as comments below!

Setting up Google Accounts for Businesses is what we at Boost2Business always recommend to our customers. Backing up and storing data on an external drive (or cloud) is the safest way of preventing any data loss and sharing data easily with your coworkers and external collaborators.
Whether you are a regular Gmail User or you have an Enterprise Account, here are a few master tricks on how to utilize the Google Drive feature.

Browse Offline in Google Drive

Start your Google Drive settings by opening the front page of Drive.
In order to enable Google Drive to work offline, click on the Settings in the top right corner and on the General tab tick the box marked Sync Google Docs, Sheets, Slides & Drawings files to this computer so that you can edit offline. Google Drive begins caching recent Docs, Sheets, Slides and Drawings to your computer. On the plus side, if your Internet is down,  you can finally get that report done without any distractions in the local café.

Google Drive Offline Feature
Search inside PDFs and Images Stored on the Google Drive

Google Drive will scan through the text in PDFs and images and find that brochure or flyer for you easily.
Image And PDF Search

You can even extract text to a certain extent if you open up the image with Google Docs. Right-click on a PDF or image, then choose Open with and Google Docs.
Extract Text From Image
Use Google Drive Advanced Search Features

Search by document types, specific keywords, dates, location, owners, etc…
Needless to say, Google knows a bit of something about fast searching, so we suggest you utilize this options.
Search-Advanced-Parametars

Manage Files’ Versions

Google Drive stores older versions of your files just in case you update something by mistake or someone overwrites your version. For a native Drive file (Google Docs,Google Sheets), open it and choose File then See revision history; for any other type of file, right-click on it in the document list and pick Manage versions. The pop-up menu to the side of each version lets you download, delete, and permanently keep files past the standard 30-day window.
Manage Google Drive Versions

Sort The Biggest Files In your Google Drive

Use this link to sort your files by file size, or click the link on the left that tells you how much space you’re using, then click the small Drive entry. This is especially useful if you want to make some space on your Drive.
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Sync to and from the Desktop

Install the Google Drive desktop client for Mac or Windows and you get access to all of your files on your local computer too (you can pick and choose which folders get synced). Not only does it make it super simple to upload folders and files (simply copy them into the Drive folder), it also gives you offline access to any of your files you might need on the go—and changes are automatically synced back to the cloud when you get back online.

Gone are those days when simply having an online shopping site seemed like an easy way to make a fortune. When it comes to selling products online, the first thing that comes to our minds at Boost2Business is the ever increasing fierce competition. Be it any niche, from clothing to training kits, furniture to electronics, there are numerous competitors popping up every day. It is no longer about just about getting your products listed and having the dollars roll in, it is about standing out and being the best site possible amongst your competition. So, what is it that attracts the visitors and make these sites so popular? Let’s find it out.
Here are 5 great ways to help your site attract and convert more traffic to sales. Let’s get started:

The Need for Speed:

Have you ever wondered why your customers seem to make it to the cart but do not finish the purchase? According to the recent statistics, most visitors expect a site to load in 3 seconds or less. A second’s delay can reduce sales by 7%. Not only this, but 79% of web shoppers who have been troubled by a website’s performance claim to never re-visit the site and 44% of them would spread the word about their bad experience on your site. All it takes is just a few seconds for the visitor to form lasting opinions about your site – make them count by focusing on speed improvements.
PRO TIP: Get a CDN (Content Delivery Network) set up for your ecommerce site to ensure that all content is loaded as quick as possible.

The Visual Appeal:

Did you know 85% of the viewers are more likely to buy a product after seeing it visually. Since your customers can’t experience the products in reality, they need to feel it, understand it through the screens in front of them. Let your images talk for your product. High resolution images enriched with well-balanced colors and a zooming in feature can provide a significant boost to your products conversion rate.
Showing your products with multiple images, in use, or in different situations is a great way to add value to the shopper so that they better understand your product and how it applies to them.
PRO TIP: Videos are even better than pictures. Whether you create demo videos, reviews, or unboxing videos, your potential customers will engage more and are proven to buy more often.

Product Reviews are a Big Deal:

Quality is not expensive, it is priceless. 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as recommendations. 60% of shoppers consider online reviews before buying an online product. Relying on these stats, pushing your past customers to leave genuine reviews about your products can prove to be an incredibly effective way to not only boost your site conversions but also provide a strong means of social engagement.
PRO TIP: Awards and badges related to product reviews are a great way to boost trust in your buyers. The more they trust you, the more likely they are to complete their purchase.

Simplifying the Check Out:

Did you know, 67% of shopping carts are abandoned before they are even completed? Essentially, your current sales represent a third of what they could potentially be if every customer completed their selected purchase. Convenient and clutter free check out pages are one of the best ways to go about improving shopping cart purchase completion. Do not push your customers away with perplexing registrations, instead entice them with attractive discount offers and as simplistic a completion process as possible.
Persuading your customers with free shipping offers, encouraging discounts on further purchases and hassle free payment methods can help you boost conversions.
PRO TIP: Customers should be able to checkout without having an account. Their account should be made automatically based on the info they put in to complete their purchase.

It’s all in the TRUST:

A significant amount of trust is of paramount importance amongst your online shoppers. With the number of ecommerce sites available in the market, trust holds a great deal of responsibility in helping your shoppers distinguish between the real and fraud. Rest assured, Trust Seals and SSL Certificates are considered some of the best options. 48% of the visitors rely on this!
Trust Elements not only verify to your customers about the authenticity of the products but also confirms the legitimacy of the business.

Your Ecommerce Site is a cohesive system with each of these above parts being indispensable assets. The Global Ecommerce sales were expected to be around $1.672 trillion last year and is expected to become more than $3.5 trillion by the year 2019 – Is your Ecommerce site ready? Let’s turn an uncertainty into an opportunity. Please feel free to drop in your queries as comments below or mail us at admin@boost2business.ca for a free review of your ecommerce website. And we will help you to boost your business in the most effective way.

So you’ve set up your brand new Facebook page, took the effort to write up some basic info and update a profile and a cover photo. Now what?

Facebook will immediately suggest that you invite your friends to like your page, but it feels a bit strange doesn’t it? It’s like inviting your friends over for a party, without any drinks, snacks or music provided. Even worse, only a few people show up and then it gets awkward because people just stand around and don’t know how to interact with each other or the host. Next thing you know, the host is trying to improvise by MCing in an attempt to get the party started, but no one is paying any attention, obviously the mic is not on, and before you realize guests have left the party. Needless to say they probably won’t RSVP to your next one.

Even though it looks easy, scrolling through Facebook all day, looking for some funny photos and liking random posts, social media is a full time job; and in order to make it work, there are few rules to live by.

So let’s start – How To Make Your Facebook Page Likeable

Is it a Birthday or a Tea Party? B.Y.O.B or Drinks are on the House?
Make sure you explain why people are invited to your page and how will they benefit from following you. Include all the crucial information like website address, phone number, working hours, location and other social media channels.

Dress Up For the Occasion and Represent
Having your logo set as a profile picture and finding a visually appealing cover photo will emphasize your branding. But they are not there just too look pretty, make sure you write a description and setup a link that will serve as a call to action. Your cover photo is a huge chunk or real estate on your page and needs to be taken advantage of.

Don’t Talk About The Weather All Night
The Visual has a huge impact on social media, the Visual is everything. For best results tailback your written content with an image, or better yet create a template with the company watermark logo and designated area for a simple write-up. This makes content easily shareable and recognizable. Try to make every post count whether is because of the relevant content or the visual appeal. And if you are wondering how to create a relevant content, the secret is there are no rules, the 70:20:10 Model is a great start though.
SlothWithAPartyHat

Mingle In The Crowd
Engage back with your fans by commenting, sharing and liking their posts. Answer any questions or concerns they have. It’s important to personalize your brand and show that there are real personable people standing behind your business.

Make a friend
Utilize the Call To Action Button. Even if you can’t offer a prize or coupons at the moment, make this button leads to a page of your website or have your phone number set so people can reach out to you easily.
Call-To-Action-Button

And don’t forget to open with a joke; it’s a great conversation starter
Summer In Calgary

Hate it or love it, most of the people who will read this article are Facebook users. Some of us use it frequently, some less often, and a big portion of us uses it obsessively. We post photos, spy on our friends and our enemies, read our news and express our opinions in a form of status updates.
Being careful and selective with words is always good for the obvious reasons, even if takes for you to write out a status update or comment but decide against posting it. But did you know that your status update is not entirely deleted?

Facebook collects all content that is typed into its website, even if it is not posted.

Any text you put into the status update box is sent to Facebook's servers, even if you don't click the post button

 

Scroll down for some more interesting facts, it’s a good day to learn something new.
600000 hacking attempts are made to Facebook accounts every day


The average Facebook U.S. user spends 40 minutes a day on the site


Smartphone users check Facebook 14 times a day


There are on average 3.74 degrees of separation between any one Facebook user and another


Facebook tracks which sites you visit even AFTER you have signed out


Facebook is primarily blue because Mark Zuckerberg suffers red-green color blindness


Facebook earns an average of US$5.85 from every U.S. user

Let your friends know about the less known stuff when using facebook. If nothing else, facts are always great conversation starters.

 

Be careful what you type into the Status Update Box on Facebook

Interesting Facts About Facebook

Posted by Boost2Business on Tuesday, March 1, 2016

First, a Bit of Background for Us Regular People

What exactly is HTTP? HTTP is the standard  for establishing connections and data transfers between your computer’s Internet browser and the server hosting a website/webapp. Version 1.1 has been in place since 1999 and no changes to the protocol have been made since then. Depending on the complexity of the website, a heavy load  of data, regardless of your internet connection speed, is still limited by the HTTP/1.1 standard. Of course, over the past 15 years many things have changed to allow for improvements to this standard.

That’s why the recent announcement of HTTP/2 as being ready is such a huge deal. At Boost2Business we know that this is more than great news for developers who will be able to create multiplexing apps/sites. It’s also great for the end users and here are some of the reasons why:

Being Able to Utilize Your High-Speed Broadband Internet Connection

Information will be exchanged in much higher and faster rates because the new standard will allow multiplexing, so that multiple requests can be delivered simultaneously.

HTTP/2 will allow webpages and browsers to take advantage of the increased bandwidth by requesting more than one piece of data at a time from one site. Also requesting data from several websites at once. This will result in loading single or multiple websites at the time, therefore speeding up your browsing experience.

Nothing changes

Browsing stays the same

The new HTTP standard is based on Google’s binary SPDY protocol, which is implemented in Chrome, Firefox and Opera already. However the requests in the address bar stay the same http://, as if you were using any other browser.

All existing applications can be delivered without modification.

HTTP 2.0 modifies how the data is packed and transported between the client and server but the application semantics of HTTP are the same. No changes are being made to the current functionality or core concepts such as HTTP methods, status codes, URIs, and header fields. However every single byte in the HTTP/1 request in the metadata could be a control character, meaning every single character must be parsed in order to read the information; whereas with HTTP 2.0 is length encoded and the format of the header in known so it would know to where to jump to get the right information (the actual traveling data); resulting in 60% higher requests per second.

HTTP 2.0 binary framing layer

TLS/SSL stays layered with HTTP 2.0

Wondering what happens with HTTPS?
HTTPS is actually 2 protocols combined – HTTP 1.0 layered on top of TLS/SSL. HTTP 2.0 is only a framing layer for HTTP 1.0 and with that making a more efficient representation that will work transparently with your current HTTP APIs.

Browser Request Prioritization

The concept of multiplexing specifies the priority of each stream and let the server determine the optimal response delivery. Each connection is most efficiently used and queuing latency is no longer an issue.

Websites Going Further? Is the Next Step Predictive Sites?

Talking to Nathaniel Schick about how he thinks this could possible impact the state of online web development he had a few comments.

“The introduction of HTTP/2 raises some interesting potential within the web development world. On the side of web apps, I expect that we will see a few large improvements that happen quite quickly for those willing to embrace the new technology post-haste – especially those that implement multiplexing properly.

  1. Considerable improvement in connection/transfer speeds between server/browser
  2. Improvement in overall performance and usability – especially true for Mobile web apps where connections to the server are often a point of pain for users.
  3. Improvement in server resource usage. I’m not entirely sure on how valid this point is but if multiplexing can allow for predictive sending of data before the request actual happens, spiky server loads could be balanced out allowing for a lower threshold of performance.
  4. Predictive Apps/Websites. 

What do I mean my Predictive? Well, PHP introduced the idea of dynamic websites and the departure from a static html site. It opened a lot of doors for web development – especially from a businesses perspective. That shift happen a long time ago and over the years the ideas of a dynamic site has led to the amazing web apps we have now days. But with the limitations of HTTP/1.1 only allowing information to be sent back that is related to the request, there have been limitations.

By removing the limitations of only being able to send back info that was requested, developers will be able to force data to be sent back to the browser before it is requested. On a basic level this means that styling files like your CSS files can be pre-delivered before they are needed and this will result in faster page load times, etc.

The idea of a Predictive site would be that content, and really any bit of data can be served based on whatever variables the programmer can determine as predictors of predictive data. Predictions would be based on actions or on external factors, and would allow utilization of PHP and dynamic site/content delivery in ways that were previously not possible. Proper prediction of data required would allow for data & media heavy sites to preload data allowing for a more seamless browsing experience. Gone will be the days of waiting for a site to load the right images after a request is made.

I think that the next couple of months will really see the possibilities that HTTP/2 introduces come to light. Stay tuned for a better internet and online experience is all I can stress!”


Got something to say about this topic? Drop us a line and let us know what you think HTTP/2 will do for the future of web development.

We excel at lead generation & management. Boost your leads, boost your sales. That has always been our goal; to live up to our name.
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