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Effective communication is like a clever design. If the design is not simple, how will the user relate to it? Every word that you say should have a reason behind it, and every idea that you deliver should whisper a message to the listener. If the design is complex, how will people understand and relate to it? Communication plays an important role in all business models. It can make or break a company based on how it is handled. This is why it is indispensable to learn how to communicate effectively with a client, a business partner, or even your family members. It falls on Entrepreneurs and business managers to determine the right communication tools for their companies. This applies to both internal and external business communication tools. Let’s look at the 5 communication tools which served me right and helped me take my business to the next level.

1. Video Conferencing with BlueJeans

Everyone has their own way of attending and conducting video meetings. For me, BlueJeans fits the bill. It is a cloud-based video conferencing tool which can make your meetings more productive. The good thing is that the service is not just limited to a web browser, you can even use a mobile to attend the conference. Just choose a meeting venue and get started even from your home. Schedule your meetings on Outlook or integrate with popular business apps. Even if you don’t have an audio/video compatible phone, you can use any phone to join in the meetings.

2. Give a Boost to Productivity with TaskQue

If I can pinpoint one tool that saved me tons of time, I can proudly name TaskQue. I started using TaskQue two years ago, but now I thank my friend who discovered this wonderful tool. You can prioritize your tasks and even assign them to your idle resources. A project can be assigned to multiple resources and you can manage all of them under a single workflow. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D3TKNnH5Cc[/embed] Eliminate the hassle of back-and-forth communication by collaborating under a single window. An amazing communication tool that helped me finish off projects ahead of time.

3. Zoom

If you’re looking for something on the lower end of the price spectrum, Zoom is for you. Video conferencing combined with cross-platform messaging and file-sharing features, makes this tool utterly fabulous. Zoom lets users conduct all types of online meetings, such as video conferences, one-on-one, training, and webinars, on the go. The service can be used on mobile devices as well as on desktops. It also incorporates a developer feature which can help you integrate video, voice, and screen sharing, and even apps which are already used in your company. The free version of Zoom can do one-to-one meetings and for groups, you can use 100 participants to take part in the meeting. A paid version offers admin tools, additional integration, and slight customization.

4. Zoho Meeting

Hold meetings and share live product demos with your team and customers. Zoho meeting is a comprehensive meeting solution that can help teams support remote working, and help businesses lead live meetings with prospects. You can sign in with Google, Facebook, or Yahoo accounts. Just enter the meeting ID and you’re all set to join the meeting room. You can hold product demos for your nearly launched products as well.

5. ClickMeeting

For businesses that give a lot of presentations, ClickMeeting is the right choice. You can even prepare your brand before the meeting. Brand your presentation with logos, theme, and even slideshows. During the presentation, you can add Q&A, polls, and CTAs. The webinar can also be saved for later viewing. One splendid feature is that you can add 25 attendees at any time. The enterprise edition lets you add up to 5,000 attendees with an option of multiple presenters.

To Wrap it All Up

If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not growing. Even the best communication tools can sometimes fall short. There are embarrassing mishaps that can have serious repercussions. On second thought, we believe that every employee deserves a second chance for poor judgment. Productivity benefits when employees aren’t spending time trying to figure out how to explain or make up for a communication misstep.

They say artificial intelligence and machine learning prediction technologies are now becoming an emblem of the future of workplaces. However, some are really inclined at the thought that AI and Machine Learning might become the death of employment. The notion in itself is not completely true because there lie two different realities to such a perception. Either the emerging technologies of tomorrow will become a core part of the business process and can allow employees to build better strategies. They will completely replace them by introducing an automated solution, so their work is adjusted. Today, we are watching technology take part in our lives and deploy programmatic systems which are defining the best use cases within the organization. For instance, consider how marketing in organizations has transformed; It solely centers on delivering the best customer experience to your users. Many customer support options offer chatbot support to incoming users, enabling them to easily navigate their way to the solution they are seeking. According to IDC research, machine learning and AI have eventually taken a huge leap from the US $12  issued statements. And these numbers are projected to double up in the next coming year and then again at the end of this decade. The year 2020 will witness more than a million new innovations in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. With so much happening in the world of AI and Machine Learning, we are somewhat eager to identify how such technologies are going to alter the course of the future. Here are some potentially strong AI and machine learning predictions that will transport you to the future.

Machine Learning Will Drive Product Recommendations

Fantastic Furniture is a furniture store that shifted its online presence from an on-premise server instance to a cloud environment back in the year 2016. In just a couple of years, they realized the vast potential machine learning has and how it greatly contributes to delivering an awe-inspiring customer experience to users around the world. The head of digital marketing, Leigh McKnight, issued a statement to CMO.com.au earlier this year, asserting that machine learning drives potential product recommendations. “What we have on the mobile page for in-store shoppers is recommendations based on what merchandisers would recommend, plus what other customers purchased with that furniture item based on data from the website.” Recommender systems are becoming the new norm. A good recommender system algorithm linked to your website or mobile app will collect information from variable sources and put customer reviews in front of the audience, so they can make a better judgment call. Today, you can find large-scale recommender systems in businesses that observe a lot of user interaction, such as retail, video-on-demand, or music streaming platforms.

People in Mature Economies Can End Up Consuming False Information

Gartner predicts that by the year 2020, most people in mature economies are likely to experience consumption of more false information than original content. A key role in promoting false content will be played by AI applications. Although AI proves to be a more efficient and effective technological AI advancement in the modern era, with the emerging concepts of deep machine learning, there is a high chance that false and untrue information can result in more exclusivity. Gartner further predicts that the possibility of the machine spreading such false information will ultimately become a leading cause of major financial fraud. Such frauds, seamlessly and effectively designed by automated systems, will create a major demise in the global financial sphere. Given the extent to which Internet firms are developing, there is a high chance that a country will be able to completely mitigate the problem in less than a year. But, that’s just one of the many facets where AI will result in creating a demise. We will always be skeptical of consuming false information and then spreading it around, since an AI-intelligent system will be publishing the content on our behalf.

AI Prediction & the Future of Jobs

It is predicted that 2018 will mark the democratization of AI. Gartner believes that AI will have a more resonant impact across a large number of companies, including the government. According to a research report published by Harvard and MIT, the takeaway suggests that Artificial Intelligence is not in any way going to take away our job roles. However, it will make everyone work more efficiently, ultimately ending up with increasing productivity. According to Oracle, one of their research studies indicates that more than 79 percent of HR leaders and almost 60 percent of corporate employees will observe a failure in shifting towards the adoption of AI. After identifying the speed at which technological advancements are paving the way for new job roles and more robust occupations, the report from the debate evaluates that some of the major changes in the corporate industry are going to happen in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Organizations and job roles which are more likely to adopt AI as a part of their business processes will more likely thrive. Here is a general assessment of how job roles have grown and declined over 5 years. The demographic is an indication that a gradual rise has been observed in the software industry over the past five years. Hence, it promises a more powerful future for the fields associated with software development. After all, AI is a by-product of the software field and is eventually going to overshadow other businesses from a perspective. It proves that the job market for labor-intensive responsibilities will significantly result in decline significantly. But those that entail innovation and development will significantly emerge and grow exponentially with the inclusion of AI in the days to come. Here is another assessment that shows how AI skills are globally gaining an extra edge in various parts of the world. The United States is leading the list when it comes to AI skill penetration, whereas Argentina is lagging behind in the block for AI skill development.

Concluding Thoughts

The scope of AI is rapidly changing the very world we live in. At an estimate, it is perceived that by the end of the year 2025. The use of Artificial Intelligence will grow as much as up to 50% from the current standpoint of 29%. Amidst the hustle and bustle created by AI, one thing is for sure: AI will hardly replace the human element. However, it still remains uncertain what kind of jobs will be created and whether prior training sessions will be required. Whether people will be able to adapt to these job roles by themselves.

To produce video content that’s easily accessible to most users, Instagram came up with a novel idea of unveiling a platform that lets users share live vertical videos with their audience. Okay, so do you remember when was the last time you held your phone horizontally, except when watching a video on YouTube or Netflix or playing games? Don’t remember? It’s ok. Neither do I. Since a large number of mobile users usually access content on their phones in portrait mode, it’s no wonder that mobile game developers and advertisers are going vertical too. Vertical videos have totally transformed the way in which users create and consume content, allowing brands to capture a large number of the video-watching audience. Instagram has decided to capitalize on this user behavior and recently announced its brand-new application of long-form video format called Instagram TV (IGTV). Though Instagram is not the only player in the long-form video, Snapchat launched vertical videos back in 2015 and reported that vertical video ads, also called Snap Ads, have up to 9x more completed views and 5x greater consumer engagement compared to CTRs on most mobile ads. This standalone app is Instagram’s jab at YouTube which allows verified creators with a massive number of followers to set up their own IGTV channel and post video content of up to one hour in length. Instagram users can see videos from accounts they follow, popular content, and recommendations based on user behavior. More and more brands are repurposing content they might have already posted, while some brands and vloggers are producing fresh content for their IGTV channels. Brands such as Netflix, Warby Parker, Gucci, and Nike are going crazy to test this brand-new feature of Instagram and posting content ranging from interviews with influencers to silly one-offs.

How Does Vertical Video Work?

Similar to YouTube and other video streaming platforms, IGTV gives users complete freedom to access different channels to stream long-form video content. If you are inspired by any celebrity, influencer, business leader, or vlogger, you are expected to see longer video pop-ups on their IGTV channels soon. When you open the IGTV app, a video will start playing, you don’t have to start watching content from users you follow. You can upload your video to start your channel. Users have the option to change the channel or simply search for their favorite channel, popular content, or simply watch videos posted by other users they follow. Moreover, you can also like, comment, and share any video that draws your attention. YouTube was previously the most famous social media platform for users who wanted to consume video content.  Now with the arrival of IGTV, influencers and brands are more excited to increase their viewership and ROI by tapping into the power of Instagram’s latest marvel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWeeGAj61dA

How are Brands Making the Most of IGTV?

The launch of IGTV is encouraging many brands to tweak their organic video strategies and leverage influencers for content creation. Many brands are using this new medium to tell long-form stories that provide real value to their users to keep them glued to their screens. Let’s take Gucci as an example. The brand shared a video from their recent fashion show to present their latest collection to their users. Louis Vuitton is also taking advantage of this app and posted a video of the Men’s Spring Summer collection, which is exclusively made for vertical viewing. Some brands are working with influencers when it comes to creating content for IGTV. It’s a win-win situation for both – Instagram influencers can increase their viewership and engagement while allowing brands to increase their reach and popularity by tapping into the power of influencer marketing. Have a look at Nickelodeon’s video. The brand is interviewing influencer Liza Koshy, talking about her new show. Warby Parker posts a weekly series of videos, #WearingWarby, that features young influencers from various spheres of life. By doing this, what Warby Parker does is that it shows that it represents the trendy, fun-loving youth who's doing a great job in their area of expertise. In the following video, Sophia Chang, a famous illustrator and designer, talks about herself and the creative process that she follows to come up with her designs and illustrations.

Why Your Brand Should Invest More Efforts and Energy into IGTV?

Whether your digital marketing agency is already capitalizing on Instagram Stories or not, using the power of Instagram TV is a great opportunity for brands to provide content in a more interesting and fun way. The launch of IGTV is motivating brands to produce high-quality branded videos to engage and delight their audience, resulting in a positive image and strong brand recall. Like Instagram Stories, IGTV also allows brands to add swipe-up CTAs and take their audience to their website’s landing pages. In an already competitive space where brands are warring for a maximum number of eyeballs, IGTV is a great platform that will allow you to reach global audiences and increase your following base by shouting out your brand story in the vertical video format. What you, as a business, can do is repurpose a blog post, or simply repost your Facebook or YouTube videos and share them to an entirely untapped segment. This will provide your brand with another chance to enhance positive engagements by providing your audience with fresh and innovative content.

Wrapping it Up

All in all, content that is created specifically for the vertical format is ideal for your mobile audience. It is a promising platform; your brand should experiment with it to stay ahead of the pack. No matter if you repurpose your blog post, already posted videos, or share user-generated content, harness the power of IGTV to convey your brand message and engage with your audience at a deeper level that would help you rope in more potential customers in your sales funnel.

Since the day I saw Terminator Genisys and iRobot, I dreamed of nothing else but capitalizing on AI to solve my real-life problems. Thanks to Google Duplex, I can proudly venture to say that I have come closer to realizing that aspiration. Now the smart Google AI can book my appointments at a hair salon and even reserve a table for 4 at a restaurant. Yes, Google Duplex is literally shouldering my burdens. Google had been toiling at this technology for quite some time. The goal was to make the human-computer interaction as natural and seamless as possible. Google cracked the code with its recent Google voice search WaveNet. But the problem was that people still had an inkling that they were conversing with a machine, not a human. With Google Duplex, the human assumption element is no more. The product launch by Sundar Pichai in Google IO 2018 revealed how Google Duplex can help you complete your daily cores without stressing you out. Google Duplex is a modern-day technology which helps you achieve natural conversations in the real world over the phone. The technology is directed towards completing everyday trivial tasks which do nothing more than while away your time. For instance, be it scheduling a meeting with someone, rescheduling appointments, or even updating the status of some urgent meeting, Google Duplex will help you sound human while communicating with others.

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One of the key constraints which even humans face while communicating with others is how to respond to ambiguous questions and vague statements. Duplex does this by smart learning. Google AI learns from each conversation and makes the necessary adjustments as the conversation moves forward. It doesn’t get more natural than this! To operate, you need to trigger the Google Assistant with a command. For instance say, “Reserve a table for three at New York Pizza & Pasta at 6 pm tomorrow,” and the rest will be taken care of by Duplex. The AI feature in Google will ring New York Pizza & Pasta and reserve a place for two. And the best part, they won’t even know that a robot is talking to them. After the call, a confirmation SMS will be sent to you.

Google Duplex – The Great & The Wicked

Google Duplex is interesting because of the tone of conversation it uses to communicate. Apart from the natural conversation, it also intersperses speech disfluencies & natural pauses such as “umm” and “hmm” in between, which gives people an impression that they’re talking to a real person. The good part is that Google Assistant doesn’t sound like a droning machine at all. Google Assistant also comprehends the context of the conversation. Even when the caller is not a native speaker, the AI still understands the tone and gets the job done. Google Duplex is a total lifesaver for travelers who have difficulty communicating in a local language. Google Duplex can enhance the productivity of people. From booking an appointment at a hair salon to reserving a restaurant table, it is making life easier for people who are traveling and don’t know the local language but still want to delve into the local fares and services.

The Problems

To many, it seems like a terrific feature, but Google Duplex can be a creepy way to communicate with people. The company told CNET that soon they will be adding a feature in which the robots will identify themselves as robots before starting the conversation. Another critical issue that people are worried about is the call record feature. Will Google Duplex be recording the calls? If so, this might be a legal offense to the privacy of people. And we have seen that the company has no idea how to handle privacy issues. In Google IO 2018, there were only two scenarios that were shown. The software is trained to handle tons of situations, but eventually, it might face a problem which is new and requires your input. This means putting more burden on people to fix something which is messed up. Until the technology is released, we cannot say what other problems Duplex will be able to handle.

When Will Google Duplex be Available to the Public?

Google plans on testing Duplex this summer, and from the start, the focus will be centered on the few main features which include hotel reservations, hair salon appointments, and holiday booking. It is assumed that the feature will get better as time goes by. There is no official launch date mentioned by the company. But the first version is set to launch in the English language along with other languages which will follow suit. Google Duplex is a complex technology. This is why the company plans on launching the product preview first so that people can get an insight into what is about to come.

We’re thrilled to break the grand news. We’ve revamped our website with a brand-new look. Yes. We have managed to stay on our toes by valuing performance above all since we felt like our previous website wasn’t performing up to the mark. With the new website, Branex aspires to cultivate a more meaningful bond with our clients. The new website will focus on creating an upbeat spirit with our brand-new services, blogs, & positive stories. We wish to reinforce positive thinking in all our branding and services. Branex aims to provide custom solutions with improved customer experience. In doing so, we have launched more services to accompany our customers and help them establish a memorable brand for themselves. The updated site aims to improve the user experience for both desktop and mobile versions, including changes to navigation. The improved structure ensures that you easily find what you are looking for. These changes are aimed to make your experience all the better when using our services. We have also tweaked the technical architecture to integrate it with our existing systems and processes, to make it easier to add new features and functionalities in the future. The new website has improved functionality, a clean uncluttered design, and enhanced rich content focused on the Company's mission to provide the best-in-class services to budding businesses.

The new services will help startups, and small and large scale businesses grow remarkably strong & beat their competitors with less effort.

If you want to have more, you have to become more. For things to change, you have to change. And for things to get better, you have to get better. For things to improve, you have to improve. If you grow, everything grows for you. For most digital agencies, the transformation from old-school to adopting new technology is quite a bumpy ride. In most cases, there is a lack of sense of connection between customers and the agency, but at Branex, we have trained our people to create a bond with their customers.

Why the Sudden Update?

If you continuously compete with others, you become bitter, but if you continuously compete with yourself, you become better.

In contrast to the run-of-the-mill web design & development agencies that rely mainly on producing great content for their website, Branex believes in the concept of Kaizen. A Japanese word that means continuous improvement, is only made possible with long-term strategic planning. Instead of hoping for sudden overnight success, Branex aims to make small incremental changes to improve the quality & efficiency of our brand. Since its inception, the company had its fair share of success. The challenge and area of focus centers on attracting the right customers. Following are a few stellar services which we have managed to launch, to help more people achieve their dreams.

Digital Marketing

• Social Media Marketing: We aim to grow your followers and boost your revenue by leveraging the power of social media.
• SEO Services: You’re not showing up in the Google search engines? We will make sure that you get affordable SEO services via our agency.
• PPC Management: The pay-per-click management entails more than simply managing Google Adwords. We aim to put your business out there for people who are willing to use your service or buy your product.
• Conversion Optimization: Regardless of how much traffic you’re getting, if you are not able to cash in on those leads, we will help you do so. We strategize your conversion rate optimization to increase your sales.

Website Design & Development

• E-commerce website design: Our e-commerce web design services are meticulously engineered to drive sales and leave your competitors green with envy.
• Custom Web Development: Since the day Google started setting a high score by website load speeds, we have made it a mission to incorporate responsiveness in our custom website development services.
• CMS Development: We believe in offering content management development services to fit in with all your demands. This is why our experts will transform your ideas into reality with functionality, user-friendliness, and utmost effectiveness.

Mobile App Development

• Android App Development: What is the point of developing mobile apps for the sake of following industry trends? If you want to develop award-winning custom Android apps, we can help you with that. We are developing Android apps by using both native and cross-platforms.
• iOS App Development: Apps which are intuitive and create a great customer experience. We are offering iOS app development services which will take your business to the next level.

Branding

Branding Design: A good design will entice your customers. If you have a website which is not driving traffic or converting leads, why not ask us to help you with your branding services? We will make sure that your design gets noticed and talked about. Just give us a try.

It's Time To Go For the Throat

Regardless of whether you are a struggling Entrepreneur, a small business owner, or a medium-sized brand, at every step, you’ll have to use one of these services. We focus more on people and how we can personalize the experience to help our customers grow and beat their competition. In the end, it is all about getting your company out there & generating leads. If you don’t trust us, you can always give us a try and change the way you think about us.

“Ok Google, where’s the nearest gas station in my proximity?”, “Siri please play me the Beethoven lullaby”. “Alexa, what’s the best recipe for pain au chocolat? “Google, what is the cheapest flight from Paris to New York?”. Voice searches are quite common nowadays. Almost every other smartphone on the market is equipped with a voice search feature. I was a bit astonished when I learned that the Wall Street Journal has termed the voice search feature as “the next billion.” And in a way, I don’t think they are wrong. Voice search is one of the most natural ways of communicating. Instead of typing out cumbersome search phrases in Google or Safari, one can simply hold a tap button and record their voice before sending it away to the vast pool of the internet. Google revealed that more than 38% of individuals speak their search terms into a smartphone while watching television, whereas more than 23% of individuals use the voice search functionality while cooking to reminisce a certain recipe or to find a substitute for a missing ingredient. As more robust technologies are emerging on the market, such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home, voice recognition is now becoming a more recognizable feature among the wider population. At the heart of this storming wave of technology is a leisure we all love to delve in Vacationing. All that I am sure of is that it is an amiable experience. I really enjoy taking these excursions from time to time with a small group of friends, to take some time off to unwind on a faraway island or a remote hill station. Because let’s face it, we all need some time off from our hectic rat race schedules and visit our favorite travel destinations. Tourists are more prone to searching for tour experiences, hotels, local cuisines, and other travel-related purchases on Google rather than visit the websites of respective vendors. This is why hospitality brands heavily rely on search engines for traffic. This puts the industry at the forefront of voice searches since tourists delving into picturesque scenery or admiring an architectural chronicle are more prone to speaking out their queries rather than bother with the hassle some typing. Traveling is no fun if we don’t have a tour guide. So how about your smartphone device becomes one for you? Sounds like an interesting option, doesn’t it? It is now possible because the voice search has reached the doorsteps of our tourism industry.

Role of Voice Search in the Website World and How It Benefits the Tourism Industry

Bryson Meunier, the infamous columnist, projects his views on voice recognition by stating: “By understanding the nuances of voice search, marketers can do a better job of helping searchers find exactly what they're looking for when they're asking for it by voice.” Indeed, the future is here and with the introduction of software chatbots such as Apple’s Siri, Google Now, Windows Cortana, and Amazon Alexa, people everywhere are getting help without even typing out a single word. With a bit of research, I found out that each chatbot is intelligent in its own way since they are based on highly intuitive algorithms. The learning enables these bots to access necessary information such as geographical location, user preferences, search histories, and more.

Voice Search Boosts Website Traffic

The world is spinning fast, in fact too soon, even to comprehend. People don’t want to type in the whole question on Google search anymore. They prefer to make use of the voice search feature by voicing their queries into their smartphones, rather than going through the hassle of typing it all into their screens. Every other website on the Internet requires keyword optimization to attract traffic. Imagine, if your site is optimized with keywords which are commonly used in regular conversations. Here is a scenario that will ring a bell: you and your spouse are wandering off into the valleys of Venice, the most culturally rich location across the Planet Earth. However, you are not exactly sure where to begin, so you fire up your Google Assistant and start chucking all sorts of vague things that your mind can conjure up its way. For instance, “Where can I check Da Vinci’s famous artwork”, or “Where can I find the San Zacarias & San Giobbe famed Altarpiece”? Now, if you are a website owner, be empathetic. Put yourself into the shoes of your customers and comprehend what sort of keywords they are going to be capitalizing on. If you optimize your website content on the exact keywords based on your tourism location, you will be more apt to create better network traffic across your site. What’s more, is that you can give your website a more personalized appeal by adding a conversational tone to the content. Besides, results show that voice search keyword optimization provides better SERP results.

Make Use of Long-Tail Keywords in Content

Do you know that one thing which is losing its charm in the realm of SEO marketing? It's short-tail keywords. It’s not because they aren’t unique, it’s because they have lost their charisma in ranking. They are either highly competitive or they have to contend with a copious amount of search queries. With the rise of voice search and people searching their queries by asking complete questions in rather informal and conversational intonations, the market of short-tail keywords has been ultimately chucked down the drain unceremoniously. If you have ever had the chance to take a stroll along the Southside beach in Chicago, you will realize that half the youngsters have their hands busy tinkering with the voice search feature by asking a wide array of questions. Most of these questions are rather silly it seems, but they all have a unique element in them. Some are searching for an ice cream shop; others are looking for viable jet-ski spots to hit upon; while some may even be clandestinely looking for the best exotic body massages in the vicinity. These unique elements essentially boil down to long-tail keywords, which could be something that Tony, the skateboard boy, may not be able to identify, but an SEO specialist at a digital tech firm would. They make use of these unique elements by peppering them strategically throughout their websites (mostly on the landing pages) and before you know it, your website is already ranking on those specific keywords.

1. Voice Search Can Be Optimized with FAQ Keywords

All that search you are about to perform on long-tail keywords isn’t going to be limited to voice search alone. If you are under the impression of merely optimizing your landing pages with it, you cannot be more wrong. You can leverage the power of your long-tail keywords in your FAQs as well. As we discussed earlier, most search queries performed using the voice search feature are in the form of complete questions. A way of helping others is to add those exact questions to your FAQ page. With a bit of brainstorming and research, one can quickly identify which long-tail keywords can help customers collect appropriate information. One should also strive to keep the tone of FAQs as natural as possible. Some websites take a different approach by creating a web of interlinked FAQ pages. Each question interlinks with the answer of another to help customers identify what more the business has to offer. It establishes a grid-like structure, assisting customers in navigating and sticking around on the website easily. Isn't that the ultimate goal, irrespective of the industry you belong to?

2. Semantic Search Will Play an Important Role

Google is dependent on a number of factors, in addition to keywords. There are some specifics, such as analyzing the previous search patterns of a user to identify their needs. Using base algorithms to identify what visitors are searching for, Google then recommends to its customers the exact product or service that they are seeking. This capability of search engines is known as semantic search. In other words, there is no harm in claiming that Google is now becoming smart enough to identify what customers are searching for. While tourists who are visiting different parts of the world make use of the voice search feature to find out the local areas and attractions within their vacation destination, Google automatically identifies what places the customer is searching for and then offers its own recommendations and suggestions accordingly. Take an example; if you are in the heart of Los Angeles and you want to watch this really cool movie, “The Quiet Place,” what do you do? You pull out your phone. You reach out and make use of Siri, Cortana, or Google to assist you in finding where it is being aired. It shows you all the relevant cinemas in your vicinity, but that’s not all there is to it. What if the voice search feature helps identify what other amazing movies are being shown across different theatres in the city? Maybe, it can convince you to change your mind and watch another movie altogether.

Ok, Google! We Are Ready to Win in Voice Search Now!

It might sound like a hefty process to go through all the dividends to supervise an effective implementation, but just imagine how beneficial it can be for you when more clients walk in through the doors of your resort. Your returns will maximize manifolds to what you are accustomed to earning, and your business will be well-optimized for the crowds using the voice search feature. More than 60% of individuals using smartphones are well connected to the world, and you may often find one or two using the voice search feature while strolling around in the park or sitting at your favorite spot at the beach. So, I leave the decision entirely in your hands, you take the lead and decide what will work best for you, I will part ways by posing only one question: What if your competitor is already implementing some hardline strategy to work with voice search and you’re not? Think about it.

After the Cambridge Analytica episode, Facebook landed in hot water and became the unrelenting brunt of criticism from all circles. Some big names such as Elon Musk also lashed out on Facebook for their failure to keep collected data secure. This week, Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared in front of senators to testify and answer some tough questions from Senators. The energy on Twitter and in the room was downright electric as the CEO of the social media behemoth adorned the hot seat, surrounded by cameras. However, on a lighter note, less expected were the somewhat rambling and awkward moments throughout the combined 12 hours of testimony, as congress members grappled to get their heads around the legitimately intricate technology they were interrogating. Here is the inside story and some noteworthy moments from the event.

1. We Run Ads

Senator Orrin Hatch asked Mark Zuckerberg a question that left many rolling their eyes at his sheepishness: How do you sustain a business model in which users do not pay for your service? The tone in which he composed the question made viewers question whether he even had the slightest idea about how Facebook operates its revenue model. CNN anchors and internet trolls are forever waiting for such a slip-up to pounce on and they made it big time. This is why Mark Zuckerberg’s reply to Senator Orrin Hatch’s question made headlines. With a smirk playing at the side of his lips,  Zuckerberg retorted, “Senator, We run ads.” He responded back with a hangdog, “I see, that’s great.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2H8wx1aBiQ

2. Big Brother is Listening

There are many conspiracies surrounding Facebook and one of them is that Facebook secretly listens to you. Senator Gary Peters set the alarm bells ringing by voicing this concern in front of Mark Zuckerberg and asking him about the common suspicion that Facebook listens to its users via their mobile devices. To make matters worse, his question was too directed, leaving Zuckerberg no choice but to answer with a resounding “yes” or a “no”. Congressman Larry Bucshon shared a real-life example of his son which we can all relate to at some level. His son once mentioned that he wanted to buy a suit and soon thereafter his newsfeed was bombarded by ads of suits online. Mark Zuckerberg brushed it under the carpet by saying, “My understanding is that a lot of these cases that you’re talking about are a coincidence.”

3. Love For Chocolate

Senator Bill Nelson was outright about his predilection for chocolates. “I’m communicating with my friends on Facebook, and indicating that I love a certain kind of chocolate. And, all of a sudden, I start receiving advertisements for chocolate. What if I don’t want to receive those commercial advertisements?” His argument further reinforces the accusation that Facebook does indeed spy on its users.

4. Palantir = Stanford Analytica

Senator Maria Cantwell reassured Mark Zuckerberg that he was not alone. Peter Thiel also founded a data analysis firm called Palantir, commonly known as Stanford Analytica. “Do you agree with this notion?” Maria asked Zuckerberg. Mark Zuckerberg’s answer ensued after a few minutes of silence, “Senator, I have not heard that.” It was a cross-reference to Cambridge Analytica and a sardonic rhetoric chucked by Senator Maria Cantwell. Zuckerberg was cunning enough to understand the dynamics and handled it pretty well.

5. Senator’s Love For Facebook

Despite Cambridge Analytica’s debacle, most Senators can’t seem to get their heads around the notion of parting with Facebook. Senator Thom Tillis confessed to Mark Zuckerberg, “I have got 4,900 friends on my Facebook page. I delete the haters and save room for family members and true friends on my personal page”, while Senator Roy Blunt shared the story of his 13-year-old son Charlie, “My son Charlie, who’s 13, is dedicated to Instagram, so he’d want to be sure I mention him while I was here with you.” Senator Shelley Moore Capito requested Zuckerberg to bring fiber optics to West Virginia as some rural areas lack high-speed internet connectivity. Mark Zuckerberg jumped on the opportunity to promote his Free Basics Internet initiative. This carried over well into the second day of the testimony, as senators requested Zuckerberg to introduce high-speed internet connectivity to several other districts.

6. What If Your Data Was Breached, Mark?

It was smooth sailing for Mark Zuckerberg until Senator Dick Durban made him break out in a sweat with a tirade of accusations. “Mr. Zuckerberg, would you be comfortable sharing with us the name of the hotel you stayed in last night?” Mark Zuckerberg was surely caught off-guard and shook his head in negative after a small respite. Unfortunately for Zuckerberg, the inquisitions did not end there. Durbin tossed another free ball, “If you’ve messaged anyone this week, would you share with us the names of the people you’ve messaged?” Mark Zuckerberg answered, “No, I would probably not choose to do that publicly here.” What these two seemingly innocuous questions accomplished was to justify all the hoopla around the indictments and reaffirm user apprehensions surrounding the Cambridge Analytica farce. Positively Grilled! https://youtu.be/sWDwh5UxWMs

7. FaceMash and Movie References

Billy Long took a trip down memory lane and started reminiscing about FaceMash, an app created by Mark Zuckerberg too long ago. “What was Facemesh, and is it still up and running?” Mark Zuckerberg responded in the affirmative with a reference to the movie, “The Social Network”. He further adds, “It was of unclear truth — and the claim that Facemash was somehow connected to the development of Facebook. It isn’t. It wasn’t.” Mark Zuckerberg looked flustered at Senator Billy Long’s satirical remark, “Just coincidental? The timing was the same, right? Just coincidental? You put up pictures of two women and decide which one is the better, more attractive of the two?” What do you think about Cambridge Analytica and Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony? Share your opinion with us about how it will play out for Facebook in the long run.

Leadership vs Management…. It’s a never-ending debate… A leader or a manager... which one is more successful? Can a manager be a great leader? What is the real difference between a leader and a manager? Unfortunately, not every manager is a leader. Unlike managers, leaders focus on people, inspire trust, originate, accept challenges, and always do the right thing. Leadership and management are not the same thing, but they both must go hand in hand. If truth be told, they are interconnected and complementary. Any attempt to separate the two is likely to create more predicaments than it can solve. Still, a lot of time has been spent by many entrepreneurs, thought leaders, business owners, and marketers in defining the true difference between leadership and management. “Management consists of controlling a group or a set of entities to accomplish a goal. Leadership refers to an individual's ability to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute toward organizational success. Influence and inspiration separate leaders from managers, not power and control." - Harvard Business Review Remember, not every manager is a leader. I firmly believe that a successful manager can lead and manage interchangeably. Without excellent leadership qualities, a manager will not be able to accomplish the goals necessary for his business growth and success. In this age, empathetic, trust-based human leadership is critical to leading a team and running a profitable company. Here are some enormous differences between leaders and managers that every entrepreneur should know.

Managers Have Objectives, Leaders Create Vision

Many people believe that the primary task of a manager is to run business operations smoothly. There are standard processes and expected results from each process that a manager is responsible for. They focus on setting, measuring, and achieving ROI. They strive hard to reach or exceed their objectives. However, when it comes to leadership, it’s an entirely different story. They paint a clear picture of what they think is attainable and seek to inspire and engage their team in realizing that vision into reality. Leaders think beyond what their team members can do. They always motivate people to be part of a greater achievement. They truly understand that high-functioning teams can achieve more by working together than by working individually. Great leaders allow people to design their own jobs as much as possible put their own stamp on their job, and don’t take credit for their achievements. “Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal or any goal” -Vince Lombardi

Leaders Innovate, Managers Administer

Leaders are always looking for ways to innovate and come up with something effective even if things are working well. They always find advanced and better solutions for their teams. They believe that changes to the system do wonders in helping their business reach unprecedented heights of success. However, managers stick with the standard processes that work, and polish systems and structures to make them better. “Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether that ladder is leaning against the right wall”  - Stephen Covey

Leaders are Original, Managers Copy

Leaders work actively to build a unique personal brand. They stand out due to their authentic and transparent nature. On the other hand, managers mimic the competencies and actions that they have learned from others and adopt their leadership style instead of coming up with their own. “Management is about persuading people to do things they do not want to do. Leadership is about inspiring people to do things that they never thought they could.”  - Steve Jobs

Managers Accept the Status Quo, Leaders Challenge It

Leaders are always willing to take risks even if they fail miserably. They don’t hesitate to make mistakes as they know that failure is the first step on the path to success. While managers make every effort to mitigate risks, they focus their concentration on controlling the situation, instead of embracing it. “Management is all about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing.” - Tom Peters

Leaders Think Long Term, Managers Work on Short-Term Goals

Leaders always stay motivated to achieve big, distant goals. They remain determined without the lust for accolades. However, managers work on short-term goals and look for regular rewards and appreciation. “The manager has a short-range view; the leader has a long-range perspective.”

Leaders Motivate and Inspire, Managers Assign Duties

Leaders know fully well that employees who work for them are efficient enough to perform their tasks. They see their people as highly competent and optimistic about their skills. Instead of taking over the reins, they give their employees the freedom to do their tasks on their own. They don’t micromanage and direct people on what to do and how to do it. On the flip side, managers take matters into their own hands and dictate to their team members the best way to accomplish a task. “You don't lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership.”  - Dwight D. Eisenhower Leaders Inspire Trust, Managers Rely on Control Leaders focus on people, they trust them to be the best that they can be. They build loyalty and trust by consistently believing in their competencies. Managers focus on the structures required to set and achieve objectives. They always ensure that systems are in place to attain the best results. They know the consequences if their workers get out of line. “The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why.”  - Warren G. Bennis Whether you are an entrepreneur having to contend with juggling all the major responsibilities of your company and becoming the jack of all trades in turn, or aspiring to become a great leader in the future, learn these important differences that set leaders apart from simple managers.