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Now, thanks to a new report out from a UN agency that collates studies of smart voice assistants, we have the latest facts, stats, and insights on the rise of the technology. The findings reveal plenty about the potential pitfalls of the innovation, as well as the opportunities of voice controlled assistants. Here are some of the headline findings from the UN report into use of virtual assistants. Voice Search is Huge Between 2008 and 2018, voice-based online searches became 35 times more common....

Social media marketing goes far beyond sharing photos, streaming live videos, or posting news. Even a combination of brilliant timing, insightful knowledge, and sharp wit cannot always guarantee success. So, if competition is tough, careful planning is necessary. Here are five of the most common misguided marketing practices on social media today: Misunderstanding Your Target Market Take the case of Dove’s marketing team, for instance. They thought it would be a good idea to ask women to pick the right shape of soap bottle that matches their body type....

Information Security Analyst Information has never had such high value as it does today. If the information security program is not in place on all the levels of the process, a business could face some serious losses and open themselves up for breaches. Everyone from a little startup to a major multinational company will need a qualified security analyst to ensure the smooth flow of processes. What to learn: security programs and protocols, network and information security...

I wanted to get into Start-Up Chile as soon as I heard about it. Chile, after all, is one of the countries (along with Australia, Singapore, and Canada) that can be said to be somewhat more open than the United States in welcoming foreigners with ideas and entrepreneurial passion. Based on my experience in setting up an online marketing company, I thought Start-Up Chile was the perfect place to launch another business venture....

On the other hand, SaaS companies have an additional sales task, and a big one. Because their products are subscription-based, they must have a more complex and well-planned after-the-sale service and nurturing strategy, if they are to retain customers through renewed subscriptions. Each subscription renewal has to be seen as another sale and treated as such. SaaS companies have to progress through the marketing and sales process, much like any other B2B company – getting leads, nurturing those leads through to conversions, and then providing the customer relations that result in renewed subscriptions....

1. Mobile Opportunities for location-based marketing are just one reason companies are building their e-commerce presence on mobile. Companies can no longer see their mobile efforts as an afterthought or a nice addition to their website. On Black Friday 2013, 40 percent of online shopping occurred on a mobile device, and those numbers will only continue to grow this year as mobile becomes more consumer-friendly. What can companies do to stay on top of this trend?...

IdahoTechConnect is a statewide entity that helps entrepreneurs attract investment dollars and commercialize their ideas. Ritter frequently teaches entrepreneurs best practices in pitching investors – a skill so urgently needed that he helped organize an annual finance pitch competition called TechLaunch. I had the privilege of having Ritter teach me the difference between a $10,000 pitch and a $1,000,000 pitch. There’s a fine line between good and great, so here are 5 main points to consider when preparing your pitch to potential investors....

The issue is that most website owners using WordPress do not change their default configuration. This sometimes leads to hackers and other frauds who are curious enough to find ways to log in through your admin area. And it’s relatively easy for hackers to enter your WordPress domain.com/wp-admin. From there, hackers use forcibly test all the possible combinations in a quick span of time in order to hack your system....

Over the years, there’s been a lot of talk about how homeowners can reduce their dependence on energy in order to save money. But very rarely is the same topic discussed in terms of commercial offices. The truth is that it’s just as important for businesses to lower their utility bills. Let’s take a look at a few practical tips that both small and large offices can use. Invest in Smart Appliances and Controls If you own a large company that demands higher than average amounts of electricity in a short period of time, then you’re actually paying a premium....

Professionalism has a wide range of benefits for businesses. It improves overall success and morale, as well as helps establish great reputations for startups. There are a number of effective methods for startup owners to make their young company more professional, in the process earning respect and growing their business. Invest in Top-Tier Design While it’s true that customers care deeply about the final product, they also place high emphasis on a company’s look....

Over the years, everything from TVs to social media websites have been the villain in horror movies old and new. Whether it’s a monster crawling out of your flat screen or a serial killer murdering people that unfriend him, there is no shortage of terrifying technology on the silver screen. So which movies have ruined your hi-tech inclinations? Take a look at some of the most horrifying devices haunting your nightmares this Halloween:...

What exactly does the future hold for AR and how will it impact your day-to-day life and our economy? Below are 7 predictions for the future of AR, supported by the ideas of industry-focused thought leaders who are also watching the AR market with much anticipation. Your Mobile Phone Will Become Even More Pervasive and Social According to futurist Charlie Fink, AR will make things we already do on our handheld devices better and more social, with the camera becoming the primary mobile interface....

Although password managers have gone some way in addressing security concerns like length and the uniqueness of passwords, there’s a growing feeling that password security is still a huge business risk. Microsoft, Google, and Apple agree — having recently committed to expanding support for passwordless logins. Importantly, almost all IT leaders agreed that password security is a cultural issue, one that can only be solved by those at the top of the food chain....

Who should read this: Readers interested in the future of technology, including entrepreneurs who are hoping to build successful applications that leverage mobile, social media, big data, or location-based services. Elevator pitch: Contextual technologies – which “understand” things about you and your environment – are the latest evolution in tech, made popular by Google Glass. This book describes how contextual technology will influence the way you live and work in the future....

As the very first annual Startup Week in Detroit, the five-day conference has been host to a bevy of big-name speakers. From Mike Duggan, Mayor of Detroit, to Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, attendees have been privileged to the knowledge and experience expected from industry titans. They have learned about the importance of inclusion in a budding startup ecosystem as well as the value of bootstrapping when it comes to starting a business....

Here are some of the main reasons why this is the case. You Are Not a Leader It’s a common mistake that managers link their positions with leadership, therefore they will be a good leader for a company. This is not the case at all because managers are not leaders they are merely carrying out the orders filtering down from above. Entrepreneurs have no orders filtering down from above. They don’t just have to see that orders are carried out they have to make sure that they are coming up with the right orders in the first place....

That vapor is a mix of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, nicotine, and flavoring agents, and as somebody who hasn’t tried vaping an e-cig yet, I’m very curious about them. So, when I met Tony Mandarano and learned about his company, ZampleBox, I dug in and learned as much as I could. One of the first things I learned is that people who vape have options; they can choose a cig-a-like, like a Blu e-cig, that actually looks like a cigarette....

The ecommerce giant plans to axe around 3% of its workforce in total, equating to 10,000 workers, potentially marking the biggest round of sackings in the retailer’s 28-year history. Staff affected have already taken to social media to share their news, and search for new tech opportunities. However, with mass layoffs trending, and Meta, Microsoft, and Twitter also making similar cuts, finding another job in big tech may prove to be no easy feat....

While attitudes towards returning to the office varies by country, there’s a real passion from Americans to return to chatting at the water cooler and having meetings face-to-face again. But, does anyone still want to do this for five days in a row? In a week where Apple has announced that it expects its staff to work in the office three days a week, what is the sweet spot for the modern office worker?...